Enjoy!
Lilly went to the forest with her father every day, and sang for Gothel in the tower. When her mother had asked how her day had been, she simply said 'Fine,' and started to walk off. Then turned again, and added,
"I remember where I heard the song," she had said.
"Where?" Rapunzel asked, slightly anxious.
"Grandmother taught it to me." And the little princess left without another word. Rapunzel sighed with relief; she had told her mother of the song, and she must have thought it pretty enough to sing to Lillian.
Even on her sixth birthday, two weeks later, she insisted on having the party outdoors, in the forest, and when she ran off to play with her new, red rubber ball, she took it to the tower, and she and Grandmother played with it together. She had smuggled a few chocolate chip cookies in her pocket, and shared them with Gothel.
"I heard it was your birthday," Grandmother said, as she stroked her hair.
"How did you know?" Lillian asked, delightedly.
"Grandmothers know these things," Gothel replied. "I got you a little present." She pulled out an object, wrapped in pale purple tissue paper. Lilly took it, and unwrapped it. It was a little china doll, about a foot tall, in a red silk dress, with a pretty little face, with bright blue eyes, and red lips, and soft, curly black hair. Lilly's face brightened up, and her eyes sparkled with delight.
"Oh, how pretty!" she exclaimed, hugging the doll tightly. "I'm going to call her Rose." She hugged the doll more, then frowned.
"Something wrong, Flower?" Gothel asked anxiously.
"What will I tell Mama and Papa?" Lilly asked nervously. "How will I tell them where I got her?"
You don't need to," Gothel replied. "You can leave her here, and play with her when you come to visit."
"Okay," Lilly agreed as she stood. She walked over to a small stool that was near the fireplace, and gently placed Rose on it, so she was sitting, her black curls framing her face. "She can sit there and wait for me for tomorrow," she said.
"Are you leaving now?" Gothel asked, sounding upset.
"Mama said I had to come back in fifteen minutes," Lilly explained. "The clock almost says that fifteen minutes is up." She pointed to the small clock on the wall. "So I have to go."
"Come here and give me a hug, then," Grandmother said, stretching out her arms. Lilly ran into her hold, smiling, as Gothel tucked a daisy behind her ear.
"Goodbye," Lilly said, and left.
"There you are, Lilly," Rapunzel smiled, reaching out her arm as Lilly sat down, snuggling next to her. "How have you enjoyed your birthday so far?"
"It was wonderful." Lilly couldn't keep from smiling. Her cheeks were flushed.
"And there's still cake and presents," her grandfather, the King, said. "A large slice, if you please." His wife gave him a playful slap on the shoulder, and the King laughed. Lilly grinned, and jiggled excitedly as Rapunzel laid a large, two-tier, chocolate cake in front of her (Lilly had let the chef decide on the cake this year). She took a deep breath, and blew out all six candles. Her parents and grandparents clapped, and the Queen sliced the cake. She gave a large piece to Lilly, and gave her a second when she asked for more. Rapunzel raised an eyebrow, and smirked.
"She's going to get a stomach ache tonight, Mom," she said. The Queen rolled her eyes.
"Let her enjoy it for now," she said.
Lilly loved her presents. From her father she got a little flute, and when she tired to play a merry little tune on it, Rapunzel said another birthday present was lessons. From her mother, Lilly received lots of colourful paints, and silver-handled paintbrushes. The King had given her the rubber ball early for her to play with. From her grandmother, a white silk dress; the one she promised to make her. Lilly hugged it to her chest, smiling brightly. Pascal crept onto her shoulder, hugging her cheek with his tiny feet. She held him in her cupped hands, and softly kissed his head.
"Thank you!" she said to everybody present. "It's been the best birthday ever!" She gazed at the smiling faces around her. Eugene had his arm around Rapunzel's shoulders, and the Queen was smoothing the wrinkles out of her dress.
"Are you ready to go home now, Lilly?" Rapunzel asked. "You look tired."
"Um…" Lilly thought for a moment. "No. I want to play with my ball some more!"
"All right," Rapunzel agreed. "But stay in our sight; it's getting late."
"Yes, Mama." Lilly stood, picked up her ball, and ran a little way away, and threw it into the air, catching it as it came down.
Please review! :D