"How do you want to start your kitty story?" James asked, sitting next to Elena.
"Um, once in a place where it was very far, there were two kitties named Zoomer and Greenie. Zoomer goes zoom-zoom, and Greenie, well, he was green," Elena smiled as Ricky stopped fussing for a moment.
He knew Elena had a big imagination, but the infant had never heard her tell a story before. Especially a kitty story.
"Zoomer and Greenie played with their sisters Kitty, Pinky and Lily," Elena continued, "They all lived with their daddy Sarge-ant, mommy Bluebell, their sister Butterfly and brother Howie!"
James started writing down what Elena was saying. "Maybe after the story, you can draw the pictures like everyone was doing for my other story," he suggested.
"Okay!" Elena giggled. "The kitties all liked flying with their friends Zebra, Em-er-ald, Ella, their mommy Miss Pais-ley and daddy Re-gent!"
Ricky giggled at the mention of everyone's kitties in the story. He reached out for his own kitties, which Elena gave him. He placed Greenie's wings in his mouth to chew on them as James ruffled his hair.
"What else do you want to happen in your story?" James asked with a smile.
"Ricky pick," Elena suggested. "I'm making it for him after all."
Ricky squealed as Nell and Bobby Lee came in. Since he was nibbling Greenie's wings, he offered Zoomer to Bobby Lee.
"Is this for me? Thank you, buddy!" Bobby Lee grinned, making Zoomer nuzzle him, then giving him back. "How's the new story coming?"
"We're just starting it," James smiled. "But yes, we will take a break if we need one!"
"And Ricky don't want to nap-nap," Elena frowned.
"Maybe it's because his big sister's kitty story is keeping him up," Nell teased, tossing Ricky in the air.
"Hey! That's my game!" Bobby Lee pouted as Nell caught Ricky in her arms.
"You did it with Gabby Bobby Lee. Elena would always cry if you tried," James recalled with a smirk.
"I not like flying when I'm baby, but I like it now?" Elena pouted a little.
"She has been doing a lot of flying on the kitties," Bobby Lee smiled, kissing the top of her head. "But we'll only do that flying game when you really want us to do that."
"Good idea," James nodded, "Writing this story with me is supposed to be fun, right, Elena?"
"Yeah," Elena nodded. "And Ricky goes nap-nap!"
"We don't want you fussy, little guy," Nell cooed, putting Ricky in his crib.
"Yeah! If you're fussy, you'll be a monster with some teeth and a love for kitties!" Bobby Lee chuckled.
"We can work on our story later, Elena," James agreed. "But for now, why don't you start working on the pictures? Kitty and Pinky can help you with ideas, just like my plush friends back home help me with my stories!"
"Oh, yes, we've seen your brainstorming sessions!" Nell grinned as she remembered seeing James with some of his plush animals around him and a notebook in the middle of their circle. "We'll have to see if your friends agree with Zebra's ideas now too!"
"Sir Blaze-a-Lot, Prince Blizzard, Little Rex, and Cammo Kitty are all open-minded, and they welcome everyone's input," James smirked.
"Camel Kitty?" Elena asked.
"Cammo, short for Camouflage," James explained. "He blends in with his surroundings."
"Like Princess Rapunzel's frog?" Elena asked happily.
"He's not a frog honey," Nell smiled, mussing her hair. "Now come on; Ricky has to take his nap."
"Where Gabby go?" Elena wondered, tucking Zoomer in with Ricky. "She with Elena?"
"The last time I saw her, she was with Ms. Luisa, Florence and Bianca," Nell recalled. "They were all having tea in the dining hall, and then they were going to watch Gabby do some stretches, since Ms. Luisa was curious about how they worked."
"Gabby do my dances too?" Elena asked, recalling that she had made up some dances for Gabby to help strengthen her leg.
"We'll have to see, my little dancer," Nell grinned. "The first time Gabby's doctor saw her do them, he was surprised. He said he'd never seen dances like that, and said Gabby must have a wonderful teacher!"
Elena wanted to giggle as loudly as she could before remembering that Ricky was starting to take his nap. She kissed his forehead gently, taking Nell by the hand.
"There you are. Gabby's been wondering where you are," Isabel smiled, ruffling her hair.
"I help Ricky go nap-nap," Elena smiled.
"That's good," Isabel smiled as Sabrina came up to them.
"Sabrina, what's the matter?" Nell asked, seeing her worried expression.
"Madeline wanted me to find you," Sabrina replied, "She said her head was hurting again."
"Don't worry, Sabrina," Nell smiled, "We'll go check on her right now." She went off with Sabrina while Elena looked up at Bobby Lee.
"Auntie Madeline okay?" Elena asked.
"I'm sure she'll be fine," Bobby Lee assured her, "Why don't we let Mommy check on her, and we'll go see what Gabby's up to."
"Okay," Elena sighed. She hated when Madeline wasn't feeling good. If her head was hurting badly, she couldn't play with anyone.
"Elena sad?" Gabby frowned, tugging on Bianca's dress, spotting her sister's expression.
"Auntie Madeline doesn't feel good," Elena sighed.
"Don't worry, Elena Lydia, Madeline Elizabeth will be just fine," Bianca assured her, taking her on her lap. "Florence and I just told her to lie down until she felt better. Fortunately, she said her headache was mild, so she'll be up and about before you know it."
Elena smiled a little. Even though Bianca said Madeline's headache wasn't too bad, she still didn't like it when she felt sick.
At the same time, Nell saw Madeline on her bed with Butterfly. She made sure to keep the lights dim as she came over and sat next to her. "Are you all right, my little Butterflies?" she asked, squeezing Madeline's hand.
"I'm sorry, Nell, this just started a few minutes ago," Madeline murmured. "I wasn't doing anything or thinking about anything. My head just started hurting!"
"Sweetheart, it's not your fault," Nell murmured, "If your head hurts, it hurts. You don't always need a reason for it to happen."
"Really?" Madeline smiled before she frowned. "But Elena doesn't like it when I'm sick."
"She doesn't like it when anyone is sick," Nell grinned, mussing her hair. "Remember back when I was pregnant with Ricky and I would get morning sickness?"
"Elena would get up earlier then you, and if Sabrina or I tried to get her back to bed, she refused," Madeline smiled at the memory.
"She was just trying to take care of me, like you and Sabrina did when I was pregnant with her and Gabby," Nell smiled. "It was even like that when I was sick in the middle of the night. I'd be in the bathroom, and when I was done, she'd be waiting outside the door for me."
"I remember," Madeline murmured, taking the lavender scented cloth Luisa had made for her, putting it over her eyes and laying down again, "She'd be outside the door, and you'd take her to the couch. You'd cuddle her and sing to her until she fell asleep, then you put the blanket over her and went back to bed."
"Elena really cares about everyone," Nell smiled, kissing Madeline's cheek. "She never wants to leave them alone when they're hurt or sick."
"Even if we say no!" Madeline giggled. "Nell, we're going home soon, right?"
"Right. As much as Elena wants to, we can't stay here forever," Nell smirked.
"I'm not really worried about Elena," Madeline admitted, "But I wonder how Sabrina will take it, since Howitzer lives here. Sure, they can be pen pals, but..."
"Exactly," Nell smiled.
"I know how they'll take it," Bobby Lee smirked. "Hey, James, can you come here for a second?"
"Sure. What's going on?" James asked.
Bobby Lee whispered something to him, then took his hands as he said, "I'm going back to Enchancia; I'll never see you again!"
"Don't...don't talk that way, Sabrina," James played along with him, re-enacting one of Nell's favorite movies.
"But it's true! I've just had the best Wassalia of my life, and now I have to go away," Bobby Lee sighed, "It isn't fair!" As Nell and Madeline giggled as James and Bobby Lee hugged them, he begged, "Howie, don't spoil it!"
"I'm not spoiling it, Sabrina; it's only making it better," James said as he kissed Madeline's hand.
Bobby Lee pulled James close and asked, "Howitzer, is this the end?"
"Of course not," James smiled, "It's only the beginning."
"It's official, you're never watching Grease again!" Nell giggled as she and Madeline applauded.
"No Grease for you!" Madeline giggled.
"Mommy, Auntie Madeline okay?" Elena asked, confused at what she was seeing. "Why Daddy and James act like the people from that movie you like?"
"They were just playing, Elena," Madeline smiled.
"I play too?" Elena asked.
"They were playing 'Help Auntie Madeline feel better so she can rest,'" Nell smiled. "Now for the next round, Auntie Madeline rests for a while, but I'll come back later to check on her."
"That sounds like a good game," Madeline smiled.
"I stay?" Elena pleaded. "Please?"
"I can't resist the puppy eyes!" Nell groaned playfully, ruffling Elena's hair. "Okay, but come get me when Auntie Madeline wakes up."
"Speaking of being awake, we better check on Ricky," Bobby Lee smirked, sneaking out of the room.
"If you want me to, we can do some more work on your kitty story," James offered.
"Not while Auntie Madeline sick," Elena shook her head.
"Okay," James agreed. "How about this? I actually got more than one mystery book at that bookstore where I got those puzzle books. If you'll give me a minute, I'll get them, and the mystery books I got from the Feast of Friendship. I'll read those to you until you fall asleep."
"Me too?" Elena asked.
"Why not?" James smiled. "I remember my mommy reading to me and Amber when I your age. She did it all the time when we were sick too. She'd read us to sleep, then she carried the healthy one out so the sick one could rest."
"And guess who's the healthy one?" Madeline grinned.
"Me. But I stay with Auntie Madeline!" Elena pouted. "Headaches can't get spread around over and over!"
"Good point, Elena," James smirked. "I'll go get my books, and maybe Zebra, because kitties like it when you read to them, and I'll be right back."
"Get Pinky?" Elena asked, holding up Kitty.
"Okay," James smiled. "I'll be back in a minute. Just call for someone if you need them."
"Taking care of Madeline, James?" Sofia asked as she spotted him out in the hall. "That's so sweet of you!"
"Well, at least she's easier to take care of then a crying baby!" Amber groaned, covering her ears. "Ricky hasn't stopped."
"Is he growing another tooth?" James wondered, closing the door so Elena nor Madeline could hear.
"Elena, well Queen Elena, along with Nell and Bobby Lee, say that it's not the problem this time," Sofia sighed happily. "But you think maybe babies get homesick?"
"Maybe," James shrugged. "I remember reading something about this in the castle library once about babies in a new location for a long period of time. But I thought he was pretty well adjusted to being here. And like I said, he might even be feeling a new tooth coming in."
"We'll have to ask them, but I thought he was all right the whole time we were here," Amber agreed.
"Me too. But he could be getting restless," Sofia added.
"You two go on. I promised Elena and Madeline a story and I don't want to break it," James smirked.
"Hopefully it's just homesickness," Amber hoped as she and Sofia stepped into Ricky's nursery.
Ricky was in his crib, playing with his little rattle. Sofia and Amber watched as he threw it to the other end, then found his little teddy bear. He held him for a moment, then looked up when he saw the girls enter. He giggled softly and reached out to them.
"How's it going, Ricky?" Sofia smiled as she lifted him out and carried him to the rocking chair. She kissed his forehead, nodding when she noticed that he felt normal. "Are you showing your teddy bear your new rattle?"
"You need some attention, Ricky?" Amber smiled.
Ricky cooed, noticing the Enchancia crest on Amber's blouse before he started to fuss.
"Aw... So you are homesick," Sofia shushed, rocking him gently. "Poor little guy."
"We thought you liked it here," Amber frowned, stroking his hair. "All the flying kitties are here and Queen Elena..."
"It's okay, Ricky, we'll be home in a few days," Sofia murmured.
"Is everything okay?" Bobby Lee asked as he came in. He heard Ricky fussing, and took him from Sofia. "Ricky, is everything okay, buddy?"
"He's fine, but a little homesick," Sofia murmured.
"He started crying when he saw the Enchancia crest on my blouse," Amber explained as Sofia nodded to clarify.
"Poor little buddy. But Daddy knows what'll cheer you up," Bobby Lee grinned, spotting Ricky's rattle and picking it up with his free hand.
Ricky squealed happily as he watched his daddy shake his rattle.
"And you know what else we do with this?" Bobby Lee continued.
"What?" Sofia asked.
"Shake your groove thing, shake your groove thing, yeah yeah!" Bobby Lee sang as he held Ricky with one hand and shook the rattle with the other.
As he was danced around the room, Ricky giggled while Amber rolled her eyes and joked, "You do know that disco's dead, right? I blame James for this!"
"You can't blame James for this; he's helping Nell and Madeline, and keeping an eye on Elena," Sofia smirked.
"You're right," Amber smiled, taking Ricky in her arms. "You feel better, Ricky?"
Ricky cooed, nibbling on her hand in response.
"Amber may be sweet, Ricky, but she is not food!" Sofia chuckled, smiling at the scene.
"I see a certain little guy is feeling better," Queen Elena smiled, watching the scene from the doorway.
"Sorry if we disturbed you, Queen Elena," Amber smiled, bringing Ricky over.
Queen Elena smiled as she took Ricky and hugged him. "You didn't disturb me; I was just taking a walk around the palace when I heard singing here."
Ricky pointed to Bobby Lee who couldn't help but blush softly in embarrassment.
"Did you find out what's making Ricky so upset?" Nell asked with Elena in tow.
"He's just a little homesick," Bobby Lee answered, taking Elena in his arms.
"My fault we stay long?" Elena frowned, looking ready to cry.
"No, of course not," Nell smiled, giving her a hug. "We all wanted to come here."
"That's right," Bobby Lee agreed. "We all wanted a change of scenery after Wassalia, not just you."
"But Ricky got homesick," Elena sniffed. "I sorry, Ricky. I bad sister."
"Elena, it's normal for anyone to miss home," Sofia assured, giving her a tight hug. "Even babies. He probably misses his other toys and his crib."
"You didn't do anything wrong, Love Bug," Nell smiled. "Everything's going to be just fine. It's only a couple more days, then we'll take him home. But we can always come here again."
"You're always welcome," Queen Elena smiled, joining in the hug. She kissed Ricky's forehead. "All of you."
"We bring Snow White?" Elena asked happily.
"I'm afraid not," Sofia smirked playfully. "But you can bring her picture with you next time."
"She loved sitting for the painter man," Elena admitted as Ricky reached out for her.
"That's right," Nell smiled. "And if Queen Elena were to come to Enchancia, she could take a picture with you, Snow White, Ricky, and Gabby."
"But for now, it's all right," Queen Elena smiled. "We've got a special treat for you after dinner: Abuelo's going to play his guitar!"
"James play piano too?" Elena asked.
"If he wants to," Nell smiled. "Wait; what am I saying? Of course he'll want to! But he won't know the music...but that never stopped him before!"
"Auntie Madeline well by then?" Elena asked hopefully.
"She will," Sofia smiled, taking her hand. "You wanna see Gabby?"
"Ricky go too?" Elena pleaded, jumping up and down.
"If he feels up to it," Nell smiled. "For now, let's go see how Auntie Madeline's doing, and see if James wants to make music with Mr. Francisco."
When they came to Madeline and Sabrina's room, they saw that Madeline was feeling better. She had just needed a little rest, and now she, Butterfly, Sabrina, and Howie were working with James and Zebra on the kitty story.
Elena wanted to pout, since this was supposed to be her story. However, she remembered that James had told her before that if anyone had an idea for a story, they could tell him about it, but the story would still be for her. She sat next to James and asked, "How's the story?"
"It's good," James smiled, "But I think I could use a break."
"You can play with Ricky. All he was feeling was homesickness," Sofia grinned.
"Maybe one of the kitties gets that way too!" Elena giggled, flapping her hands happily.
"And you want to dedicate your kitty story to Ricky?" Nell suggested with a smile.
"Yeah! James put Zoomer and Greenie in the story, and Ricky flies with them too!" Elena agreed.
"But this time there's no mystery," Nell smiled. "Everyone has a rest from adventures and flies around on kitties for fun!"
"James said that too!" Elena smiled.
"That's because this is your very first story," James smirked, ruffling her hair.
"But when I get as big as Auntie Madeline and Auntie Sabrina, I write mystery," Elena smiled before seeing her twin stand in the doorway with tears down her cheek. "Gabby sad?"
Gabby shook her head, looking at her feet.
"Were you working too hard on your stretches?" James asked.
Gabby shook her head and gave him a hug.
"Elena, why don't you go get Gabby's kitty Lily?" Sofia suggested as James carried her over to a chair and sat down with her. "That might help her feel better, like Kitty and Pinky help cheer you up."
"Okay," Elena smiled.
As Elena ran off to get her sister's kitty, Madeline stroked Gabby's hair before giving her a hug.
"What got you so sad?" Sabrina wondered. "Are you homesick too?"
Gabby nodded a little before shaking her head again.
"I miss home a little bit too," Sabrina admitted. "I'm going to miss Howitzer when we go home, but his mommy Miss Lily said we can write to each other."
"I name Lily after her!" Gabby giggled a little.
"And I named Howie after him," Sabrina smiled. "That way, we can have a new way to remember our vacation here."
"You like Howie!" Gabby giggled, clapping her hands.
"Yes she does," Nell smiled, kissing her cheek. "If we're lucky, they might fall in love and get married!"
"Nell!" Sabrina groaned, trying to hide her blushing cheeks.
"And they're about the same age you and I were when I first realized that I really like you," Bobby Lee agreed.
"That's true," Nell smiled. "And we even invited them to visit Enchancia."
"That's right!" Bobby Lee smiled. "And who knows, they might move to Enchancia and start a new bakery! That way you can see each other whenever you want."
"Maybe, but we should be pen pals first!" Sabrina agreed.
"Kitty's here!" Elena giggled, holding Lily in her arms.
"Lily!" Gabby shouted happily, hugging her close.
"Gabby better?" Elena wondered with a smile. "I don't like when you're sad."
"Thank you, Elena!" Gabby smiled.
"That's what we like to see," Bobby Lee smiled.
The sisters hugged before Elena frowned. She was starting to miss home a little bit. She missed Snow White. She missed all her kitty friends in the stable.
"Elena, it's okay," Sabrina shushed, seeing her about to cry.
"Snow White," Elena muttered, running out of the room in tears.
Nell quickly caught up with her. "It's okay, Love Bug, we miss Snow White too," she said as she took her in her arms. "But you liked seeing all those other kitties, didn't you?"
"Yeah," Elena murmured.
"And you had fun riding the jaquins, didn't you?" Nell continued.
"Yeah!" Elena smiled.
"Well, when we get home, you can tell Snow White and all your kitty friends in the stable about them," Nell suggested. "I think they know Kitty, but you can introduce them to Pinky. That way, they can meet her sister."
"Okay. Treat now?" Elena asked happily.
"I guess we're all a little hungry," Madeline smiled. "Maybe we can have dinner early tonight?"
"If it's okay with the queen," Bobby Lee smirked. "Remember, she makes the rules. Even if Elena tried to get her to put down some kitty ones."
When they caught up with Queen Elena again, and asked her if it was okay if they ate dinner early, Queen Elena smiled. "Of course it is," she agreed. "I know some of us in the palace have waited a long time to eat, so we're getting ready early ourselves."
"I'll be a good girl and eat everything," Gabby whispered to Nell.
Nell smiled; she knew Gabby, and Bobby Lee, could both be picky, but since she, Florence and Bianca sometimes asked the chefs back home to make the recipes Luisa had given them, they had gotten better about experiencing new foods. "That's all I ask," she whispered, "I like it when you set a good example for Ricky."
"Even when he has very few teeth," Florence smiled, watching as her grandson looked at the food on his plate.
Solid foods were new to Ricky now that he had teeth, but Nell always made sure he had a bottle next to his plate in case he was thirsty.
"So everyone is homesick?" Queen Elena asked in sympathy as Elena tugged her dress.
"Was homesick but we're better now," Elena smiled. "But I still feel bad that Ricky got homesick."
"It's all right, sweetheart," Queen Elena smiled, "Everyone feels that way sometimes."
"Even you?" Elena asked.
"Yes, even me," Queen Elena nodded, "Especially when I was trapped inside that amulet all those years! But when Sofia freed me, and I was reunited with my family, I felt much better. But I never let the feelings overwhelm me. I had the memories of my family with me when I was away, so it was like they were still with me."
"What about the mean lady?" Gabby frowned.
"Sometimes those memories show up on occasion," Queen Elena admitted. "But I won't let them get to me."
"That's great to hear," Bianca smiled, turning to Ricky to see if he made a mess before holding a hand to her face. "Richard Edward!"
Ricky clapped happily at the mess he created with the bowl of mashed food he had been given by putting it on his head.
"Didn't Elena use to do the same thing when she was Ricky's age?" James smirked.
"Yes, and Gabby too," Bobby Lee grinned, "But they learned how to eat like big girls and we're very proud of them!" he added quickly before Elena could start yelling at him or Gabby could look embarrassed.
"At least you and I didn't do that," Amber whispered to James.
"Right," James whispered in agreement, "Or Baileywick would have had our heads on a platter!"
"That's right," Roland whispered in his ear, but he grinned and mussed their hair. "But we can't blame him for that; all children do that at that age."
"Okay, Ricky, you earned yourself a bath for that little stunt!" Nell chuckled, lifting him out of his high chair.
"But he likes baths, Mommy," Gabby smiled.
"I know. He'll just splash away while I wash him," Nell smirked.
"What about dance?" Elena frowned. "You can't go now?"
"Don't worry about that, sweetheart," Queen Elena grinned. "James and Abuelo can practice the song while Helen gives Ricky a bath. And I think Isa might want to join them, since she likes playing her guitardian."
"Can she?" Madeline grinned, since Isabel had shown her and the girls some of her inventions when they were together.
"That's a great idea!" Isabel grinned. "I'll go up to my room and get it."
"And Isabel, I think you might have to make one of those for James," Bobby Lee agreed. "We know he says he can play any instrument part on another one, but I'd like to see him with that invention of yours!"
