My thanks again for the reviews on the last chapter. They do so make me smile, and your insights/thoughts are always interesting. This chapter is admittedly largely based on a rather adorable person in my own life... but I think it fits this scenario too. And of course once "Auntie Em" popped into my head, I just had to incorporate it. Anyway, happy reading!

"Oh, Auntie Em, there's no place like home!" - L. Frank Baum, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz

"Mommy! Mommy! Mommy!" I yell as I run down the hall to her room. "It's today! It's today!"

I push open the door and run toward her bed. With a big leap, I land in the space next to her and bounce on the mattress. She doesn't move, and I can hear her snoring quietly.

"Moooooooooooooooooooommm!" I whine as I shake her arm to wake her.

She shifts a little and turns her head to look at me, "Henry. What is it?"

"It's today!"

"What is?"

"You're going out with Daddy, and I'm going to Auntie Em's!"

She smiles and looks at her clock on the table beside the bed, "Henry, it's only 7, why are you up already?"

"Because we have to go!"

"We have to eat breakfast first, Henry."

"I know! Daddy's making it."

"He is?"

"Yeah, now get up mommy!" I say as I push her to get out of bed.

"Okay, okay, okay. Go help Daddy, and I'll get ready."

"Kay!" I say as I scoot off the bed and run down to the kitchen. I hear her yell something about coffee to Daddy, and then I sit at the table, waiting for my breakfast.

When we finally get to her house, I run ahead of mom and dad and knock on the door. Auntie Em opens the door and holds out her arms. I jump into her arms and give her the biggest hug I can. Mommy says she needs lots of hugs, so I make sure to hug her every time I see her, even if I don't feel like it. She always smiles when I hug her, so I guess I must be doing something right.

She picks me up and twirls us around, "Hiya handsome!"

"Hi Auntie Em!" I say as she holds me in her arms and I wrap my arms tightly around her neck.

"Hey Jayje, hey Will. You two ready for a day free from your baby boy?"

"Honestly Em, I know it's a long time to watch him and I won't take it personally if you-"

"Yes, we are," Daddy says with a smile, interrupting Mommy.

"JJ, please don't worry. The fair prince and I are going to explore all sorts of fascinating things today, right Henry?"

"Yeah!" I say using my outdoor voice even though we're inside, and even though I don't really understand what she said.

"See? He's fine. I've got your cell, and Will's. And if that doesn't pan out, I've got Garcia and her talents, so you don't need to worry."

Mommy looks at Auntie Em for a minute before she responds, "Okay, but when your kitchen has been destroyed and is beyond any hope of repair, I'm going to remind you of this."

Auntie Em laughs and then pretends to whisper to Mommy and Daddy, "Who says Henry is going to be the one to destroy it?!"

"You're incorrigible Em. Absolutely incorrigible. We'll see you later."

I wave bye to my parents and then ask the most important question I have to ask, "So what are we going to do today?"

The day has been super fun so far. We've played with Sergio – well, Auntie Em just sat on the couch and laughed at me while I chased him around the room, watched some cartoons, had lunch, spent some time drawing, and played hide and seek. I was starting to get a little sleepy, but I wanted to stay awake and play.

"Okay handsome, time for a nap, yeah?"

"But I wanna play with you s'more," I use my best whine to try and convince her.

"Hmm, tell you what. How about I stay with you and we can chat until you fall asleep?"

I nod my head yes. Ha! Like I'm going to fall asleep. She sits down on the couch and grabs a blanket to cover me with. I crawl up onto the couch next to her, and lay my head on her lap. She tucks the blanket around me and I snuggle closer to her and into the blanket's warmth.

"So what do you want to talk about, mon ami?"

I turn my head to look at her, confused.

"Ah, je m'excuse. What did you want to talk about, my friend?"

"Who's Jim Skews?"

Auntie Em laughs, "It's not a person Henry, it means 'I'm sorry'."

"It does?"

"Yes, it's French though."

"What's French?"

"It's the language they speak in France, and a bunch of other places."

"Where's France?"

"In Europe."

"Where's-"

"Across the ocean. And yes, it's far, but not too far."

"Oh. How come you know French? We're not in France, Auntie Em!"

She laughs and smiles widely, "That's right, we're not. But I used to live there."

"WOAH. Really? Do they have TVs there?"

"Yes, they have TVs there."

"What's it like there?"

"Different. It's more relaxed there. And the food is better. Much better actually. There's lots of art and paintings and really cool buildings. It's very beautiful there. Maybe your parents will take you there one day."

"You think?"

"C'est possible!"

"What?"

She laughs again, "It means 'It's possible' in French."

"Oh, okay," I can't stop a yawn from escaping my mouth. I'm getting just a little bit sleepy.

"You getting sleepy yet?"

"Maybe a little. But let's talk s'more."

"Fine by me, handsome. What do you want to talk about?"

"You pick something, Auntie Em."

"Hmmm... Oh, how about I tell you about another Auntie Em?"

That doesn't make any sense. "Another Auntie Em? But you're the only Auntie Em."

"No, I'm your only Auntie Em. There are lots of other Auntie Ems. But this one is a famous one!"

"Really? Is she a superhero like you?"

"No, she's not a superhero, she's a character from a very famous book."

"What book?"

"The Wonderful Wizard of Oz."

"Never heard of it. Guess it's not good."

"Oh no Henry, it's actually very good. Maybe we can read it together one day."

"Okay! Wait, so who's this other Auntie Em?"

"She's the aunt of the main character in the story."

"Mmm..." My eyes are starting to close. The blanket is really nice and warm, and I'm officially sleepy.

"You know what?"

"What?"

"Every time you call me Auntie Em I think of that book and it makes me smile."

"How come?"

"Because it was one of my favourites when I was a kid."

"Really?"

"Yep, I read it all the time. And I used to watch the movie too."

"There's a movie?"

"Yeah, but the book is better."

"What happens in the book?"

"The main character, Dorothy, goes on an adventure, and by the end all she wants is to go home to her Auntie Em because she misses her."

"Like I missed you when you were gone?"

Auntie Em doesn't say anything for a minute, and she seems kind of sad. But then she runs her hand through my hair like mommy does when she tucks me in at night, "Yeah Henry. Just like that."

My eyes close because I can't keep them open any longer, but I have to tell her before I fell asleep. I have to tell her because it's important and Daddy says when something is important we should always tell someone.

"Auntie Em?"

"Yes Henry?" she says as she rubs my shoulder gently, probably to make me fall asleep. It's working.

"Don't go away again, okay? I missed you when you were gone."

She stops rubbing my shoulder, and leans forward. She kisses my cheek and promises me exactly what I hoped she would, "I won't handsome, I promise."

If you have a spare moment, I'd love to hear your thoughts, even if it's just that you enjoyed/hated/are ambivalent about it.