Elena frowned as she watched Sabrina and Madeline pack up their things in their suitcases.

In a day from now, they would be leaving Avalor. And in the last couple of days she had gone above and beyond to be happy like she promised Queen Elena. But at the moment, she wasn't happy, hugging Kitty close.

"Shouldn't you be packing too?" Madeline asked, musing her hair.

"Don't want to go," Elena sniffled.

"We know, but don't you want to see Snow White again?" Sabrina asked. "I'm sure she's wondering where you are."

"We know you'll miss Avalor, but it'll be nice to see home again," Madeline smiled. "You'll have so many stories to tell your friends at school."

"Story?" Elena repeated. "I tell them about Andrew story!"

"That's right, you can tell your friends about the stories you helped James write, and you can show them the picture version of the one he wrote for you," Nell smiled.

"Yeah!" Elena giggled, flapping her hands happily. "Where Ricky?"

"Daddy's teaching him to guard his kitties," Nell answered with a smile. "And Gabby's packing."

"I don't wanna pack!" Elena pouted.

"I don't want to either, Love Bug," Nell smirked. "But if we don't, we'll have to stay here."

"That bad thing?" Elena asked innocently.

"No, but if we stay here, all our friends would miss us," Nell smiled.

"We can even ask Queen Elena if she'd like to visit Enchancia," Sabrina suggested. "She could bring Isabel with her, and we could all play together."

"And we could also invite Howitzer to come with them, so Sabrina could play with him," Bobby Lee smirked.

"We're going to be pen pals first!" Sabrina frowned, hiding her red face in her handkerchief.

"I thought you were teaching our little boy to guard his kitties, Robert," Nell smirked.

"I tried," Bobby Lee smirked back.

"Ricky no listen?" Elena asked with a smile.

"Florence and Bianca said they'd get him ready to go," Bobby Lee smiled. "But at least we'll get to take those new outfits Isabel made with us."

"I know! And I heard that Madeline and Sabrina's school is going to have a class party for Valentine's Day," Nell grinned. "They can wear their Presto Changer dresses."

"Nell..." Sabrina started slowly, "I almost forgot that I'd said something I shouldn't have before we came here, and Madeline repeated it to Elena and Gabby. I know I apologized for it, and you said I'd have to play with them and help babysit them after the holiday."

"I almost forgot about that, Sabrina," Nell went silent, but she smiled. "But you've been so helpful while we've been here, and you took care of Elena and Gabby sometimes when I needed to help Madeline, so we'll consider the matter closed."

"Thank you!" Sabrina giggled, hugging her close. "Now you go pack, young lady!"

"Yes, Mommy!" Elena giggled, flapping her hands.

"Elena, why don't we make packing like a game?" Nell suggested with a smile.

"Game?!" Elena gasped excitedly.

"If you help me get your things packed, we'll have James read you a kitty story," Nell smiled.

"Kitty story!" Elena cheered. "We take Pinky home with us?"

"Of course you can take Pinky home with you," Nell smiled. "We're all taking our kitties home with us. James even says Zebra's going to be one of his writing helpers now."

"Yay!" Elena cheered. "Let's go pack!"

Madeline and Sabrina tried to hide their giggles as Elena had dragged Nell out of their room. She had never been excited to pack up before, but they knew their sister. If her girls didn't like something she would make it a game.

At the same time, James was packing his things, he noticed Queen Elena in the doorway. "Come on in, Queen Elena," he smiled as he looked up.

"James, I wanted to tell you that very soon, everyone in Avalor is going to be reading your Feast of Friendship mystery," Queen Elena smiled. "Miss Lily, you know, Howitzer's mother, knows a publisher, and she loved your story so much that she sent it to him. He also liked it, and he asked her if he could publish it. She said she'd have to get permission from you first, but-"

"Yes!" James cheered. "This is brilliant! I mean, I didn't know the story was that good! It was just something we all did for fun that one day."

"Wonderful!" Queen Elena smiled. "And, if you have any other stories, he'll publish those too."

"I have a whole box full of them!" James grinned. "I sent some to a magazine back home, and people back home like them too!"

"Okay," Queen Elena smiled. "You can send me the stories, and I'll get the ball rolling."

"Thank you!" James cheered, giving Queen Elena a hug so hard it rivaled her namesake's embraces.

"Easy, James!" Queen Elena chuckled. "I'm happy you're excited but let go of me!"

"Sorry," James apologized with a smile. "I just can't believe it."

"You should be proud," Queen Elena smiled.

"Indeed you should," Roland said as he and Miranda came in to investigate what was happening. "You've always been a magnificent writer, and everyone loves reading your stories. I still remember the first time you had one published in Adventure Stories Weekly. You were so excited that you bought an entire box full of the magazines and distributed them to everyone in the castle, and to your friends at school."

"He certainly is a wonderful writer," Miranda smiled. "I've even seen Robert and Helen reading his stories to the girls for bedtime stories. Florence and Bianca sometimes read them too."

"They are almost as good as Elena and Gabby's storybooks," James smirked.

"That may be true, but they're still little and like those books too," Queen Elena smiled. "Especially Elena and kitty books."

"I know," James smiled. "I like reading those stories to them too."

"You also sing them kitty songs, which Elena especially loves," Roland grinned.

"And I've got a feeling Abuelo's going to be singing Elena's kitty songs for a while," Queen Elena smirked.

"I know what it's like to have kitty songs in your head," Bobby Lee smirked. "I had to sing one with the girls after I lost a game to James, but even though he played it for us, I still got him back for it!"

"Of course it was all in good fun!" Nell giggled.

"You got Elena to pack her things?" Bobby Lee smirked.

"You'll be surprise how easily she accepts a bribe of Mommy telling her a kitty story at bedtime," Nell smiled.

"You better live up to that bribe, Helen," Queen Elena smiled.

"Of course I will," Nell grinned. "Elena's going to love the new kitty books I bought her."

"Gabby will too," Bobby Lee smiled, "And she'll like the adventure books I saw her looking at."

"Yes, you bought her a few little stories that have people going on adventures," Nell remembered. "But hopefully she'll wait until she's a little older before she tries one of those herself!"

"I think she will," Sofia smiled, poking her head through the doorway. "And James? Congratulations!"

"Thank you, Sof," James smiled.

"But how did you find out about it?" Queen Elena teased. "Were you spying?"

"No, Amber and I saw James hug you, and we figured you must have said something he really liked," Sofia grinned.

"I haven't seen him that excited since he got his first story published in that magazine," Amber added. "But at least he managed to be a little calmer the second time he had a story published; he only bought enough magazines for everyone in the family, and his friends, rather than one for everyone in the kingdom!"

"We can't really blame him for the first time, Amber," Miranda smiled, "I know I'd be excited about something like this happening to me, too, and I'd want everyone to share in it."

"The more the merrier, Mom?" James grinned.

Miranda smiled, mussing his hair at his words that she so often used.

"We'll have Cedric make a copy your story box so you can keep the originals, and we'll send the copies here to Avalor," Roland added.

"That's a good idea, Roland," Nell smiled. "Madeline and Sabrina love James' stories as much as Elena and Gabby, and they've even brought them to school with them for silent reading time in their class."

"They have?" James asked in surprise.

"Of course!" Nell chuckled. "Sometimes they share them with their friends, and they like your stories."

"Kitty story?" Elena asked, walking into the room. "I pack everything, Mommy."

"That's good, Love Bug," Nell smiled, "But we're also learning that James is going to have his story published here."

"Andrew story we all made up?" Elena asked.

"That's the one," Nell smiled. "And he's going to send a box of his stories here to Avalor so they'll be published too."

"You give us story for home?" Elena asked.

"Of course I will," Queen Elena grinned. "I'll send a whole box to you, and James can give you a copy, as well as copies to all his friends, or to anyone who wants one."

"I get pictures?" Elena asked.

"I'll be sure to get some with pictures," Queen Elena smiled, mussing her hair.

"Kitty drawing in there?" Elena hoped, jumping up and down.

"Of course your kitty pictures are in there," Queen Elena smiled. "I read a little bit of the story to the jaquins, and even Migs was excited to see himself in there. In fact, all the jaquins loved seeing themselves in the story, and they even offered to take Sofia, Amber, and James on one last ride...and you, Gabby, Madeline, and Sabrina are welcome to come too!"

"Mommy come too?" Elena asked.

"We'll watch you from here, Love Bug; we just want to finish packing," Nell smiled.

"This reminds me of a story," Francisco smiled as he took out his guitar, "You used to tell the jaquins stories when you were younger. Then when she was born, Isabel would curl up beside you and listen too. And even though he never said it, even Esteban loved hearing your stories!"

"I tell kitties stories too?" Elena asked with a grin.

"If you want, Love Bug," Nell smiled. "I better go check on your sister and brother."

"But Ricky can't walk," Elena frowned.

"Don't worry, sweetheart; Daddy's with him, and he won't be able to get far," Nell smirked.

"He's probably being taught how to guard," Roland added with a smile.

"See Ricky!" Elena giggled, flapping her hands.

"We should tell him about James' story getting published," Nell grinned. "Florence and Bianca will also want to hear about that. They like reading those stories as much as we do."

"Of course, Ricky just likes looking at the pictures," Bobby Lee smirked.

"Well, he has to start somewhere," Nell smirked. "But maybe when he's a little older, he can write a story with James, like Elena wants to."

"Ricky! Ricky!" Elena giggled, running into her brother's nursery. "Some good happened!"

"Oh? What is it, Elena Lydia?" Bianca asked, handing Ricky Zoomer to chew on.

"Kitty story pug-lists!" Elena exclaimed happily, holding Ricky close.

"You mean published," Florence corrected with a smile.

"It's going to be published," Nell added, and she and Elena told Bianca, Florence, and Ricky all about Queen Elena's proposal to have James' stories published.

"That's so exciting!" Florence smiled. "James must be thrilled!"

"You have no idea," Nell chuckled, and told them about James' reaction to Queen Elena's suggestion.

"Well, he certainly has every right to be excited about that," Bianca smiled.

Ricky squealed, clapping his hands at the thought of himself being in one of James' story that was getting published before Elena placed him on the ground.

"Elena, what are you doing, honey?" Nell smiled softly, patting her on the head.

"Ricky smells bad," Elena frowned, spotting Ricky's diaper bag. "I change him."

"Didn't you get sick the last time you tried?" Florence recalled, remembering her son telling her about the twins staying with her grandson after he had a nightmare.

"I try again so I get better changing him," Elena explained.

"That's a good idea," Nell agreed. "You get better with practice, and soon you won't need us to help you with him. We'll just stay by your side, but you'll be the one driving the boat."

"I don't drive you anywhere," Elena looked confused.

"Remember, that means that you take the lead in something," Florence explained, reminding her that she'd used that phrase one other time.

Elena nodded softly, but was still confused as Ricky tried to roll away.

"You can try that with Daddy, but not with your sister," Nell smirked.

"Ricky bad?" Elena asked, not understanding what she meant.

"There's no such thing as a bad Ricky," Nell smiled. "But changing him is a two-person job. I'll hold him while you get him cleaned up, and I'll help put the diaper on him."

"Okay!" Elena smiled. She smiled as Ricky cooed, trying to roll away again but couldn't. Cleaning him up wasn't as difficult as it was the last time, which was a relief. But Elena wanted to be as patient as possible with her little brother, even if he was trying to move.

As she and Nell changed Ricky, Elena told him another story about Zoomer and Greenie playing with Kitty and Pinky. "We write it down later, right, Mommy?" she asked when the job was done.

"If we can remember what happened," Nell smiled.

Ricky squealed, tugging at Elena's hair as she tried to fight him off.

"Richard Edward Johnson the second, is that how you'll always treat Elena after she was helping you?" Bobby Lee teased, taking him away from Elena's hair.

Ricky cooed and giggled as he waved Zoomer and Greenie in the air.

"You know that only gets you so far, right, Ricky?" Bobby Lee smirked.

"Yes, Ricky, you're your father's son!" Nell smirked. "He always does that 'you love me!' bit whenever I try to scold him too!"

"You love me!" Bobby Lee grinned, kissing her on the cheek as he handed Ricky over to her.

Nell smiled, stroking her son's hair as Ricky looked up at her with Zoomer's wings in his mouth.

As the day went on, Elena started to become restless as she laid on her stomach while Gabby practiced her exercises.

Ricky was between them, happily rolling back and forth on his tummy. He rarely was allowed to be in his sisters' room with just them alone, but Nell and Bobby Lee needed some last-minute packing themselves so the girls offered to watch him.

Elena tried to entertain him and Gabby with a new kitty story, but Ricky wasn't interested at the moment. She offered to teach Ricky one of the dances that she was teaching Gabby as part of her exercises, but Ricky would just giggle and clap his hands as he watched her dance. "What you want to do, Ricky?" she asked at last.

Ricky rolled on his tummy, kicking his legs happily.

"I think he wants to play follow the leader," Gabby smiled, stopping her exercises. "Like Miss Milly taught us!"

Ricky cooed at the idea even if he didn't understand what it meant.

"Why don't you three play follow the leader to my room?" Bianca suggested. "I think there are some little surprises Queen Elena wanted you to have before you left."

"Let's go!" Elena cheered.

"Yeah!" Gabby smiled.

Ricky squealed as Bianca picked him up and carried him to her room.

Elena and Gabby immediately ran to the gifts that were awaiting them before looking at Bianca's scolding face.

"Ricky's exam-pole," Elena sighed, stepping away from her gift.

"We be good girls," Gabby added, also frowning.

"You open yours first, Ricky?" Elena asked.

"That's right," Bianca nodded, "Richard Edward opens his first. But I'll get him started."

Ricky squealed as Bianca helped him open his gift. It was a teddy bear made in the pattern of Avalor's flag.

"Zoomer and Greenie got a new friend!" Elena smiled.

"And Bianca, I saw you looking at those hair combs that Mama used to wear," Queen Elena added. "I had Mateo make copies of them, and I put the original ones back in the Jewel Room, so you can take the copy with you."

Bianca smiled. "I'm honored, Queen Elena! Thank you so much!"

"Yay Miss Bianca!" Gabby giggled, jumping up and down.

"Speaking of gifts... Here's yours Gabby," Queen Elena smiled, handing her the gift.

"Oh, it's just like the medal you gave your friend Naomi," Bianca smiled. "With the blue Maruvian crystal."

"That's right," Queen Elena smiled. "Everyone in your family, and Sofia and her family, are all getting a Maruvian crystal pendant as a little memento of your vacation here."

"Pretty!" Elena smiled as her namesake slipped hers around her neck.

"Why Ricky not get one?" Gabby frowned.

"It's because he's a little young, but if he visits Avalor again when he's bigger, I'll give him one," Queen Elena assured, musing her hair.

"Ricky have mine," Elena offered, taking off hers and slipping it around Ricky's neck.

"No, Elena Lydia; it's nice of you to share yours, but Richard Edward can't have one since he may choke on it," Bianca said as she took it off him and gave it back to her.

"I don't wanna hurt Ricky!" Elena gasped.

"It's all right; you were warned in time," Bianca smiled. "And no, you're not a bad girl," she added, seeing Elena look worried, "You wanted to share something with your brother. But I promise, Elena Lydia: Richard Edward will have his own pendant when he's older."

Elena smiled happily at the thought as she hugged Ricky close.

The day she dreaded had finally arrived as she saw Sofia trying to wake her up.

It's not that she wanted to not wake up, it meant that if she did, she would have to leave everything and everyone in Avalor. Including the kitties.

"Don't wanna go!" she cried.

"We'll come back again, Elena," Sofia smiled. "In fact, I heard Queen Elena say that she's going to come to Enchancia in a few months."

Elena perked up a little. "She visit me?"

"Of course she will," Sofia smiled. "She told me that she's going to host a party for an unknown author when his book debuts."

"James?" Elena asked.

"Maybe," Sofia grinned. "But you can't tell anyone about it."

"Not even Susie and Sally?" Elena frowned.

"Okay maybe them," Sofia smirked.

"And Miss Milly?" Elena grinned.

"Now you're just pushing it," Sofia teased. "Nell asked me to get you up. Gabby, much to everyone's surprise, was an early bird today."

"We tell Mommy and Gabby?" Elena asked.

"They already know," Sofia smiled. "Queen Elena told Mom, Dad, your Mommy and Daddy, Gabby, Miss Bianca, and Miss Florence. She didn't tell Ricky since he can't talk yet. She wanted me to tell you herself. But you cannot tell James about this! Promise me!"

"I promise!" Elena vowed. "I be good girl and not tell James secret!"

"Good," Sofia smiled as she helped her get dressed.

Elena giggled at the pink and purple dress she was wearing, frowning as she tried to look for Kitty.

"She's on your bed, remember?" Sofia smiled, musing her hair.

"No. That Pinky," Elena frowned. She soon found Kitty, and holding both of her jaquins close, she went off to find Nell. However, she paused and whispered to Sofia, "We tell Amber?"

"Of course we tell Amber!" Sofia smiled. "I can't believe I almost forgot her! In fact, let's go tell her right now!"

Elena giggled, running ahead of Sofia as she bumped into Amber. "We got news!" Elena giggled, jumping up and down.

"What news?" Amber wondered, brushing off her dress.

"Amber, we'll tell you, but you have to promise not to tell a soul," Sofia smiled.

"I promise," Amber smiled, ushering them into her room.

"We tell Auntie Madeline and Auntie Sabrina too?" Elena asked, seeing them come down the hall.

"Of course!" Sofia smiled. "Madeline! Sabrina! Come in, quick! We've got big news!"

"What kind of news?!" Sabrina asked excitedly.

"Is it baby related?" Madeline frowned. "We got enough of them."

"No, not that kind of news," Sofia assured, giving her a hug. "It's more of event news."

"Queen Elena hold dance!" Elena shouted. "After James has book pug-list!"

Amber, Madeline and Sabrina looked confused, but Sofia clarified, "Queen Elena's going to come to Enchancia, and she's going to have a party for James when his book gets published!"

"That's wonderful!" Amber grinned. "I won't tell him, but James will be so excited!"

"I won't tell him!" Madeline grinned.

"I won't either!" Sabrina agreed.

"Elena already promised me that she wouldn't," Sofia smirked. "Where did she wander off to?"

"Probably to find Nell," Madeline smiled a little.

"Or Gabby," Sabrina added. "I can't believe that she of all people woke up early!"

"It's been known to happen," Amber smiled. "She'd want to do something, but Elena was still asleep. So, since she knew James always gets up early, she'd go to his room and sing with him, or he'd read to her until she fell asleep again."

"Well, soon he'll have a new book to read her," Sofia smiled.

"She'll like it," Sabrina smiled.

"But we'll get to take it to school!" Madeline grinned. "Even the boys that tease us like James' stories!"

"Well, that's the way to make friends," Sofia smiled, "Find something you have in common and go from there."

Sabrina and Madeline smiled at the suggestion, hearing Gabby wailing as they, Amber and Sofia wondered what was wrong.

"Gabby, what's the matter? I thought you'd be happy to go home. Don't you want to see your friends?" Sofia asked when they came to her room.

"Girls, what's the matter?" Nell asked. Her expression softened when she saw Gabby in tears. "Gabby, sweetheart, what's the matter?"

"You can tell us," Sabrina added with a comforting smile.

"Whatever's wrong, it'll stay here in this room," Amber smiled.

"James sad that he won't hear that his story pub-list?" Gabby asked.

"Of course not," Sofia smiled. "This is going to be a surprise for him. You heard Queen Elena say that she's going to come to Enchancia, right?"

"Yeah," Gabby sniffled.

"Well, she's going to surprise James when his book comes out here," Sofia continued. "She's going to come to Enchancia for a big party. But you can't say anything to him about it."

"Okay," Gabby sniffed. "Mommy, I wanna see baby kitties!"

"And they want to see you," Nell smiled, kissing her cheek.

"Did anything else get you sad?" Madeline asked softly, stroking her hair.

"A little," Gabby muttered.

"Don't worry, Gabby, you know that kitties make everything better," Nell smiled. "And they'll miss you as much as you'll miss them."

Gabby smiled a little as they went out to see the jaquins again. She liked the way they purred and made her feel better. "Kitties come with us for a big party for James?" she whispered.

"They probably will, Gab-Gab," Nell smiled. "But they know not to tell James about it, right?"

"I can keep a secret," Migs promised, but he glanced at Skylar and Luna. "I don't know about those two, but..."

"I can keep my mouth shut!" Skylar protested.

"I'll believe that when I don't hear anything," Luna smirked.

Gabby giggled. "Silly kitties!" She giggled again as they purred around her.

Kitties were definitely better than doggies in her mind as Gabby was going to miss the talking kitties.

At least until she remembered her own talking kitties back home.

She also liked James' dog Jagger, since he had been so nice to her when she had flown on that horse. He just sat there and let her cry into his fur as she recovered from the scary experience. She would even sometimes go with James around the castle grounds when he took Jagger for a walk.

"You wanna meet our kitties and Jaggy when you come?" she asked.

"It might be nice to have some new kitty friends," Migs smiled, "But what's a Jaggy?"

"James' puppy! He's not scary like other doggies," Gabby smiled.

"Gabby had a bad experience with a dog when she was younger," Nell explained.

"Well she's been lucky not to see any here," Skylar purred.

"Everyone love kitties like Elena?!" Gabby giggled.

"That's true, little princessa," Skylar purred.

"And we'll protect you from any doggies you run into," Migs added. "But of course we'll give Jaggy a chance."

"I'm sure Jagger would be interested to meet you," Nell smiled, "He's used to seeing Elena carry Kitty around, so he knows what jaquins look like, but we'll stay with him when he meets you."

After saying goodbye to the kitties and getting a kitty kiss from Skylar, Gabby ran to the carriage that was awaiting her and Nell as she heard Ricky giggling.

Elena was playing with his new teddy bear, stroking his hair with one hand and making the bear dance with the other.

"You like that teddy dance, don't you, Ricky?" Elena smiled. "Just like Daddy does with your Teddy back home!"

Nell smiled, recalling how Bobby Lee always danced Ricky and his teddy around when he had to go to the doctor's. "Now your teddy has a dance partner, little guy!"

Ricky squealed and bounced on Bianca's lap, reaching out for Nell. He loved it when people made his toys dance or gave them a voice.

She took him in her arms as Ricky laid his head on her shoulder. Taking the teddy bear, Elena and Gabby giggled as Nell made it dance and gave it a voice. "Look at me Ricky!" Nell shouted happily, altering her voice a little.

"You sure she hasn't been with James lately?" Amber questioned, watching the scene with a smile.

"No, James will do that for Ricky too, but he mostly sings or tells him stories," Nell smirked.

"You like Mommy being your teddy, Ricky?" Elena giggled.

Ricky bounced in Bianca's lap, clapping his hands as he watched Nell dance his teddy around.

Soon the younger kids were starting to get tired, as Elena had fallen asleep on Nell's lap.

"They had a long couple of hours," Miranda smiled, stroking her hair.

"I see a few big kids getting sleepy too," Nell smirked.

It was true. Amber was already asleep on James' shoulder again, while he was trying to read. However, the book slipped off his lap and landed on the floor of the coach. Fortunately, it missed Sofia, who was sleeping on his lap.

"Sorry, Sof…" James mumbled before he fell asleep.

"And James, let's be glad Sofia can sleep through everything," Miranda smirked, reaching over and mussing his hair.

Sabrina and Madeline were the last ones to fall asleep as the adults smiled at the sleeping children, or in Nell's case, sleeping siblings.

"It's never this quiet at home," Bobby Lee smirked, being careful not to wake up Gabby.

"Look at it this way, Robert, being in Avalor tired them all out," Roland smiled. "We'll probably hear a few mumbles at best."

"And they'll get a pretty good sleep tonight," Miranda agreed. "For now, let's let sleeping children lie. And who knows, maybe we'll fall asleep too."

"We were pretty busy there ourselves," Nell smiled. She dropped her voice to a whisper, "But at least Queen Elena will be coming to Enchancia soon."

"I can't wait for that! You-know-who's going to love it!" Bobby Lee agreed. He didn't want to reveal the surprise with James so close to him.

"So will Elena," Nell grinned, seeing Elena cuddle Kitty and Pinky in her sleep.

It was dark by the time the carriage had arrived to Enchancia as Ricky babbled for Nell who took him in her arms.

"Yes, we're back, little guy," Nell cooed, stroking his hair.

Ricky squealed at the thought of seeing his things again as Bobby Lee handed him his new teddy bear before putting a paw in his mouth.

"It'll feel good sleeping in our own beds tonight," Bobby Lee smiled, gathering up Elena.

Florence smiled beside him as she carried Gabby. "Indeed it will, and before you know it, we'll have a visitor again."

"I can't wait to see her face when she comes here," Nell smiled.

"I'm sure she'll be excited," Miranda smiled, carrying Sofia. "This one won't be waking up any time soon."

"I'm surprised she can sleep through anything," Nell teased. "When the girls were born, she was wide awake."

"The times, they are a-changin'," Roland smiled, quoting a favorite song of his as he settled James on his back. "But you're right. Amber's dead to the world when she hits the pillow, and I'm surprised James is still sleeping. Normally he wakes up for every little thing."

"He's probably dreaming about his next mystery adventure," Bianca said as she took Amber. "And he'll be so surprised when he hears about this!"

"But for now, don't tell him," Roland agreed. "He'll want to find out about this for himself."

"My lips are sealed, your majesty," Bianca smiled.

Ricky was the only child awake, happily babbling away as Nell carried him inside the castle, bowing to Baileywick in the process.

"Don't worry, Richard, everything is the same as when you left it," Baileywick assured, stroking his hair.

"Not everything, Baileywick. Ricky learned to roll on his tummy while we were gone," Nell grinned, seeing Ricky reach out for the steward.

"Well, congratulations," Baileywick smiled, patting Ricky's head, "I remember when Prince James and Princess Amber started doing that. I spent so much time running after them, and now I'll probably do it again."

"No, Baileywick, but what you can do is start preparations for a surprise party," Roland smiled. He laid James on the couch, covered him with a blanket, and told Baileywick about the book and the plans for the celebration.

"I'll get the ball rolling right away," Baileywick smiled. "I'll also keep quiet about everything. And will Prince James be on the couch tonight?"

"He'll be fine there," Roland smiled, tucking Zebra in with him.

The End.