*~Rattle~*
Still euphoric about Sam's gift, Tea and Blair went into the kitchen to start dinner. "How about spaghetti tonight?" Blair asked. "Does that sound good?"
"Yeah, that would be great, considering it's Noelle's night off."
"Are you implying that I can't cook, Tea?" Blair asked as she held up a wooden spoon as though it were a weapon.
"Not to save your life," Tea laughed.
"You never complain about my blueberry pancakes and bacon."
"I won't complain about your spaghetti either," Tea said with a smirk.
Still chuckling to herself about Blair's cooking skills, Tea began to gather the ingredients. She had just set the bottles of sauce on the counter when the kitchen door opened and little Hope ran in. "Gamma! Gamma!" the child exclaimed as she ran up to Blair.
In Hope's little hands was a gift-wrapped package. "What's this?" Blair asked as she took the gift from her granddaughter.
"From me and Mommy," Hope stated.
Looking up from where she was kneeling at Hope's level, Blair saw Starr in the doorway. Starr smiled as her mom gazed at the gift. "What's the occasion?" Blair asked.
"Just open it," Starr prompted.
Sudden tears shone in Blair's eyes as she pulled the box open. Nestled inside was a small silver rattle. Blair handed it to Tea.
"It's adorable," Tea gasped.
"It used to belong to Hope," Starr explained. "And it was mine too when I was a baby. I'd like my new little sisters or brothers to have it."
"Ohhh Starr," Blair said as Starr came over to hug her mother.
"Thank you," Tea whispered.
Blair reached over to kiss Tea's happy tears away.