Theblindwriter95 asked about this song from Harry James and His Orchestra featuring Kitty Kalen, so enjoy your request! I thought it would be nice if, following Jimmy and his family's execution, Nell and Bobby Lee have some alone time. It gets even better for Nell when Bobby Lee not only assures her that he'll always be there for her, but he also sings one of their old favorite songs to her to help her feel better. Thanks to theblindwriter95 for helping me with the story. Harry James and His Orchestra's music is not mine.
"Sabrina, Madeline, have you seen Helen?" Bobby Lee asked. "Mr. Baileywick said she needed me."
The aforementioned girls looked up from the dolls they were playing with and frowned.
"She's in her room crying," Sabrina answered.
Bobby Lee frowned. "How come?"
"We bumped into these girls your and Nell's age when Nell came to pick us up from kindergarten. They were nice to me and Sabrina, but were mean to Nell when you were brought up," Madeline explained.
"Did they say why?" Bobby Lee asked, but he had a vague feeling why someone was saying something mean to Nell when he was brought up. He knew that people were still giving Nell a hard time about what had happened to her, even after so long.
"It's because of what Jimmy did to her!" Sabrina frowned. "People still can't let that go, even though he, Beth, and Robby are dead now! Why can't they leave Nell alone? We tell people that wasn't her fault, but they don't listen to us!"
"We hate seeing her cry!" Madeline added. She threw her doll towards the door of her and Sabrina's bedroom before crossing her arms. "It's not fair! Nell's not a bad person, so why are people treating her like one?"
"Because they have no empathy for others," Bobby Lee frowned. "In the case of those girls, they showed empathy for you two because you're younger, but when they saw Nell, their attitude changed."
"Is there anything you can do to cheer Nell up?" Sabrina wondered. "She hasn't stopped crying since we got home."
"I think I know something that might help," Bobby Lee smiled a little. "I remember doing something like this when Helen was in the hospital after we rescued you, and she responded really well to it."
"I think I know what it is!" Madeline smiled, remembering James and Bobby Lee singing something to her as she recovered after her rescue. Like James, she responded fairly well to music, but she had fallen asleep halfway through the song.
"That's right, Maddie," Bobby Lee smiled. "And I think I know something I can sing for Helen to help her."
"Can we come with you? Please?" Sabrina asked.
Bobby Lee shook his head. "I'm sorry, girls, but I believe your sister wants a private moment between herself and I without anyone else involved. You understand, right?"
"Yes," Madeline smiled. "But can you do us a favor?"
"What favor do you have in mind, Maddie?"
"Can you teach Sabrina and me some self-defense after you cheer up Nell?" Madeline asked. "We wanna defend ourselves from any monsters that might show up in the future."
"No problem," Bobby Lee agreed, knowing that even though the girls would try to ignore the comments, sometimes people tended to get up in their faces and continue saying them, and Madeline especially didn't like that, tending to fight back. "However, I want you to use the moves that I teach you only when you're in an emergency situation. That does not mean that you can use them whenever you feel like it, like when someone comes up to you during school and starts saying those things. In that scenario, you get the teacher as soon as they open their mouths. You only use those moves if, and only if, the people who are saying those things get physical. No other time. Is that understood?"
"Yes, Bobby Lee!" Sabrina nodded.
"We promise!" Madeline agreed.
"Good girls," Bobby Lee smiled. He closed the door to their room, the sounds of Nell weeping led him to her room before gently knocking on the door.
"Who is it?" Nell sniffled.
"It's me, Robert. Mr. Baileywick said you needed me. May I come in?" Bobby Lee asked.
"Okay," Nell sniffled as Bobby Lee opened the door.
"Helen, are you alright?" Bobby Lee asked as he sat down next to her.
"I don't know," Nell murmured as she leaned against him. "I know you don't blame me for what happened, but some people are still saying terrible things about me! One lady in the village was calling me all sorts of names when I was out for a walk with Bianca! We had to run back here and wash our ears out with soap!"
"I see," Bobby Lee frowned. He took her hand in his and sighed. "Bri and Maddie told me about what happened this afternoon."
"You mean about how you have a whore for a girlfriend?" Nell whispered, feeling disgusted with herself for uttering such a vulgar word. "One of the girls had the nerve to say that you should dump me before it's too late."
Bobby Lee frowned. "What did she mean by that?"
"Before you waste your life away caring for children who aren't yours to begin with!" Nell blurted out before starting to cry again.
"Helen, listen to me," Bobby Lee murmured as he rubbed her back, "I'm not wasting my life. I want to help you. And I know you probably don't want to hear this, but you know Jimmy was right about something." On Nell's stunned look, he continued, "I'm going to be the only daddy your daughters will ever know. They're going to grow up loved and respected. I am going to love them just as if they were my own children."
Nell actually smiled a little at that. She remembered that before he, Beth, and Robby were executed, Jimmy had apologized for what they put her and her sisters through, then he said that Elena and Gabby would only know Bobby Lee as their real father.
"That's true. You being a daddy to the girls was the only thing Jimmy was right about," Nell smirked. "But those girls got just to me, and I don't know why."
"Did Madeline try to fight them?" Bobby Lee asked.
Nell shook her head. "No. I stopped her before she could do anything."
"Did those girls say anything to upset them?" Bobby Lee continued.
"They were repeating the names that other people have called me," Nell admitted. "Bianca and I tried covering Bri's and Maddie's ears and trying to tell them that what happened wasn't our fault, but you know that when it comes to what Jimmy did, the explanation goes in one ear and out the other!"
Bobby Lee sighed. He knew there were a few people who supported Nell, Madeline, and Sabrina, but there was always the second group that would verbally harass them, even after so long.
"Helen, I believe I have something that'll cheer us both up," Bobby Lee smiled.
"You do, Robert?" Nell asked.
"Yeah. I was going to sing this to you two weeks after your rescue, but it slipped my mind," Bobby Lee admitted.
Nell smiled. "It's all right. Whatever song it is, I'll be sure to enjoy it."
"Well, Helen, if you'll come with me to the ballroom, I'll sing it to you there," Bobby Lee smiled as he helped her up.
"What, no private concert here like how James does?" Nell smirked. Bobby Lee had told her about how James only sang in his room with the door closed, but he was starting to keep it open a crack, since Sabrina was afraid of closed doors.
"No, and James will sing with his door open again when he's ready," Bobby Lee assured her. "But for now, come with me."
"All right and if it's not too much trouble, could you accompany me tomorrow?" Nell requested. "I want to be prepared in case I come across those girls again."
"I'll have to discuss it with Roland and Miranda this evening after dinner, but I'm sure they'll say yes," Bobby Lee smiled.
Nell smiled. "They always do. They've never turned down any of the requests the girls and I have made in the last couple months."
"Like having rooms across the hall from each other?" Bobby Lee asked.
"Yes. You'll be surprised to learn how many guest rooms the castle has with how large it is," Nell smirked.
"But at least you have your own rooms," Bobby Lee tried to joke. "I know the three of you have slept in your room at night, and Madeline and Sabrina try to get back to their rooms before everyone gets up."
Nell nodded. Madeline and Sabrina knew when she wanted to be alone, but they tried to be there for her when she needed them. She appreciated them for being there with her, but not as much as she appreciated Bobby Lee, who took her hand and helped her out of her room.
In the ballroom, Nell grinned as she noticed the quiet atmosphere. "The ballroom's usually noisy by this time of day. What'd you do to drive everyone away?" she asked.
"I just told everyone that I wanted some special time alone with you," Bobby Lee smiled. "Sofia and Amber thought that sounded romantic, but James just said he had some papers to work on."
"Don't worry about him, Robert, we both know how boys are at that age," Nell giggled. "And I think you told me that he's already thinking about a girl he likes!"
Bobby Lee smiled. He recalled how James had acted like he was in love when he saw Princess Vivian in his Music Appreciation class. "I have," he smirked, He glanced at Nell in concern as he saw her smile turn into a look of shock. "Are you all right, Helen?"
"I'm fine. Gabby's kicking me as if she's telling us to hurry up!" Nell giggled.
Bobby Lee visibly relaxed. "And Elena?"
"Sleeping."
"Well, let her sleep," Bobby Lee smiled, knowing that Nell told him that Elena would sleep while Gabby was awake, similar to how James and Amber had been before they were born.
"We can sing the song for her again when she's awake, or when she's born, whichever comes first!" Nell giggled.
"That's right," Bobby Lee chuckled as he found the song he was looking for. "And I don't know if you remember this song, but my mother sang this once when we had a playdate after I stopped teasing you."
"I think I do, as Mama still had Bri and Maddie in her tummy at the time," Nell smirked.
"And then you dragged me two whole blocks two days after they were born!" Bobby Lee teased.
Nell smirked. "Can you blame me? You'd be excited too, if you found out you were a big sister to twins!"
"Like the girls are excited to be aunts to their nieces?" Bobby Lee suggested.
"Oh, yes," Nell chuckled. "They do everything they can to make sure I'm comfortable. Madeline gets me tea and the three of us have a tea party, and Sabrina reads to me until I fall asleep, just like Mama used to do when we were sick."
Bobby Lee smiled as he remembered that. Florence did the same thing when he was younger, only they didn't have a tea party. "I'll be happy to join you for that next time, but for now, let's just enjoy the song." He took Nell in his arms and carefully started slow dancing with her as he started singing.
Never thought that you would be
Standing here so close to me
There's so much I feel that I should say
But words can wait until some other day
"I remember Bianca used to sing this too," Nell smiled.
"That's right," Bobby Lee smiled. "She and Mother sang this for some ladies' garden party or some function they attended, and everyone loved it!"
He continued the song, Kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
Whenever he sang the words 'kiss me' Bobby Lee would kiss Nell's hand.
As she giggled at his actions, Nell's smile widened as she heard the pitter patter of her sisters' little feet sprinting into the ballroom.
"I know you said we couldn't see Nell because you said you and her needed a private moment together, Bobby Lee, but Maddie and I heard singing!" Sabrina grinned.
"Yeah! What's the song about?" Madeline giggled.
"I don't think you'll like this song, girls," Nell smirked. "It's about kissing and romance, which you two find to be yucky."
"If it gets too yucky, we can always leave," Sabrina agreed.
"Okay, girls, but don't say we didn't warn you!" Bobby Lee chuckled.
"Now that we got that stuff out of the way, I want you to do me a favor, Robert," Nell smiled.
"What is it, Helen?"
"Close your eyes."
"What for?" Bobby Lee smirked.
"I know! I know!" Madeline giggled. "She's gonna kiss you the same way the princesses do in our storybooks!"
"Don't spoil the surprise, Maddie," Bobby Lee smiled.
"There's nothing wrong with that," Sabrina murmured, recalling how she had gotten her first kiss when she was younger. A boy had played with her when she and Nell were at a park near their house, then when it was time to go, the boy had kissed her hand. Sabrina had held her hand out all the way home, saying that she felt just like a princess.
"You'll find a boy you like one day too, Maddie, don't worry," Nell smiled, as she remembered that day as well.
"Maybe, but I doubt that I'd want to kiss him!" Madeline pouted.
Sabrina giggled, her eyes gazing toward Bobby Lee who gently placed his arm around Nell's waist.
"I thought you said this'd be something between me and you Robert, not the girls!" Nell groaned playfully as she felt Gabby kick her again.
"Just pretend they're not here," Bobby Lee whispered. "It's just you and me...well, and Elena and Gabby, but they're not here yet...in our own little world. It's just like what you always talked about when we were younger. We'd go dancing, and maybe take a walk in the moonlight..."
He gently spun her as he sang, Haven't felt like this, my dear
Since I can't remember when
It's been a long, long time
"Can we still do that?" Nell asked.
"Of course," Bobby Lee smiled. "We can do anything you want as long as it doesn't make you too tired, and as long as it's okay with Mother and Bianca, since they want to help take care of you too."
"How about tomorrow if everything goes well after we pick up the girls?"
Bobby Lee smiled. "We'll see."
"I thought you were already dancing together, Nell!" Madeline giggled.
"Yeah! When are you gonna kiss Bobby Lee? After Elena and Gabby are born?" Sabrina teased.
"Well, as Papa used to say, there's no time like the present!" Nell smirked, kissing Bobby Lee on the cheek.
"Eeeww!" Madeline groaned.
"Well, you wanted us to kiss!" Bobby Lee smirked, kissing Nell's hand, then kissing her cheek.
"Not like that! Yucky!" Madeline groaned. "Come on Sabrina let's go before Nell does something even more yucky."
"Bye, you two! Thanks for stopping by!" Nell grinned. Seeing her sisters immediately leave the room, she turned to Bobby Lee and smiled. "Isn't it nice to be alone again, Robert?"
"Yes," Bobby Lee agreed. "But it was fun having the girls with us for a little while."
"Don't get me wrong, I love them, but it's nice to spend some quality time with you," Nell smiled as she felt a kick. "Yes, Gabby, I love spending time with you and Elena too!"
"You kind of have to spend more time with Elena and Gabby, you know that, right?" Bobby Lee smirked.
Nell smirked and playfully swatted him, but Bobby Lee spun away from her. "No fair, Elena and Gabby threw me off balance," she mock-pouted.
"Why don't we wait until they're born, then you can do that," Bobby Lee smirked as he kissed her hand.
Nell nodded. "I guess you're right, and Robert, I need you to do something for me."
"If it's accompanying you tomorrow, you already requested it," Bobby Lee reminded her.
"I know, but if those girls say anything to me, you'll defend me won't you?" Nell asked.
"Do you even have to ask?" Bobby Lee smiled. "Helen, I told you I'm going to stay right by your side no matter what anyone says. I love you. And I love your sisters and soon-to-be daughters. I will be there for all of you whenever you need me. It doesn't matter what those girls say; I am not going to leave you. I am honored to have a wonderful person like you as a girlfriend and I will do everything in my power to make you happy."
He smiled as he kissed her and finished the song, So kiss me once, then kiss me twice
Then kiss me once again
It's been a long, long time
"I love you so much right now, you know that, right, Robert?" Nell smiled.
"Is that a trick question?"
Nell giggled, nudging him gently as before either of them knew it, the song had ended, leaving the two of them wrapped in each other's arms.
"I really needed this, Robert. Thank you for cheering me up," Nell smiled.
"No need to thank me, Helen. It's what I'm here for if the castle jukebox's not around," Bobby Lee smirked.
"Speaking of the castle jukebox, he's been working a long, long time on whatever he's working on," Nell smiled, remembering how James had left to work on some papers after she and Bobby Lee started getting too mushy for his tastes.
"You're right; we haven't seen him since before we came in here," Bobby Lee smiled.
"Do you think we should check on him?" Nell asked.
"Only if we're not too mushy for him," Bobby Lee teased. "Besides, you need to rest after the afternoon you've had."
"I will," Nell promised. "After we visit James."
Bobby Lee nodded. "I'm holding you to that promise, Helen."
"I know you will, Robert," Nell smirked. "But thank you again for the song. I really, truly appreciate it." She chuckled, feeling kicks from Elena and Gabby as Bobby Lee helped escort her out of the ballroom. "Looks like our daughters enjoyed their daddy's singing, too, with how much they're kicking me right now!"
"Well, we do like the occasional dance party, and if Elena and Gabby want to dance with us, they can!" Bobby Lee grinned.
"That's right!" Nell smiled. "But all that dancing made me hungry..."
"Okay, then let's get something to eat," Bobby Lee suggested. "Mother's chicken salad should be ready to eat right now, and you can't go wrong with Bianca's favorite tea."
"That does sound good," Nell smiled as he led her to the kitchen.
"What do you think? You think Elena and Gabby will like Mother's chicken salad?" Bobby Lee asked.
Nell shrugged. "I don't know. They never had it before."
"They won't know until you try it, Helen," Florence smiled as she saw them approach.
"I heard you singing one of my favorite songs just now," Bianca added as she made up some sandwiches for them. "If you'll pardon the expression, I haven't heard that song in a long, long time!"
"That's right, you and Mother sang that song in a talent show when Helen and I were kids," Bobby Lee smiled. "You even won first prize!"
"That's right," Nell agreed. "Mama played the piano for it, and you and Florence sang. Papa even gave all of you flowers when they announced you as the winners!"
"Well, there are no flowers for your performance this time, but you can't go wrong with tea and sandwiches," Florence smiled.
"No. You can't," Nell agreed.
"Can we have some too? Please?" Sabrina and Madeline begged from where they'd been helping Bianca mix some more ingredients.
"Now girls, you know your sister's eating for three," Bianca teased.
"We'll make another bowl of chicken salad for you and Bri, Maddie," Florence smiled. "And Robert, I heard you sing the song that Bianca, Lydia, and I sang in the talent show when you were younger. You sounded as good as we did!"
"I learned from the best!" Bobby Lee grinned as he helped himself to a sandwich.
"How are you feeling, Helen Genevieve? Do you need anything?" Bianca asked.
Nell gazed at Bobby Lee wholeheartedly as she took a seat. "No thank you, Bianca. I've got everything I need right here."
"Well, if you need anything, Helen Genevieve, don't be afraid to let us know," Bianca smiled.
"We're all here to help you, you know that, right?" Florence asked.
"Yes, thank you, Florence," Nell smiled.
"Don't forget about us!" Madeline pouted.
"Yeah! We were here first!" Sabrina added.
"Of course she won't forget you girls," Bobby Lee smiled. "You'll always be her Butterfly and Baby Girl no matter what."
"That's right," Nell smiled. "But speaking of nicknames, we'll have to think of some cute ones for Elena and Gabby!"
"Or maybe you can until they're born," Florence suggested. "That way, you can think about what you want to call them when you first see them."
"How long will that be?" Madeline asked.
"Not for a few months yet, Maddie," Nell smiled. "But good things come to those who wait!"
"And trust me, Helen," Bobby Lee smiled, "Elena and Gabby will be well worth waiting for!"
