Another quick check-in...

Hi everyone..
STILL no word on Flynn!  :(  I *finally* managed to corner Tangled Fan on Tuesday morning and tried to talk to her, but as soon as she opened her mouth, she got a panicked look on her face and yelped something about a horse halter...I guess it had to do with the fact that one of her shows was yesterday.  Ugh.  She has another one on Saturday, so I probably won't be able to get any further information.  I just hope that those shows aren't hindering her experiments or whatever on Flynn.
Today whilst I was watching Tangled Fan zooming in and out, gathering stuff for Saturday, I decided to ask Rayne to teach me how to dance.
My logic?  I wanted a surprise for Flynn, no matter how small it was, for when he came back.  I know, I know - dancing isn't that huge of a great surprise.  But when you're a doll, there isn't too much you can do to surprise someone.
She agreed, and taught me how.
"You place your...well, this is going to be awkward."
"You think?" I joked sarcastically.  I didn't really think about hand placement when I'd asked her to teach me how to dance.  Merida was in the background, giggling so hard she snorted, which caused us all to laugh.
"You place your one hand HERE, and the other hand HERE.  Then, you..." she kept instructing me, until ultimately, I stopped stomping on her feet, tripping myself, and basically was a bit more graceful with the whole dancing thing.
That took awhile!  You would be amazed at how clumsy a princess doll can be.  I'm quite frankly really embarrassed and ashamed that I can't be more graceful.  I mean, seriously.  Look at Rapunzel from the movie.  She had SEVENTY feet of hair, carried it around with her all the time, RAN from danger, escaped drowning, HUNG from her HAIR to PAINT the walls...danced without even being taught how...and then there's me.  I try sooo hard not to be clumsy around Flynn, because I don't want him to see me being clumsy.  But, I guess since he's my hubby, he's gonna see the good, the bad and the clumsy... :P  If he ever comes back...!  I'm getting a little antsy that I've not heard anything yet about him.
Anyway, I'll keep you updated as I can.  Hopefully, the next post will be about Flynn's homecoming!  Or possibly even a post from Flynn himself!  Ugh, yeah I know - like he's gonna be back by then.  :(

Another quick check in

Well, I was up a LOT last night, because the girls were fussy and Jase suddenly wanted her momma.  When the babies finally quieted down, Jase went to bed with me - not that I minded or anything!  And last night, Tangled Fan was actually in her room for about a half an hour before she went to bed.  I was going to demand an update on Flynn, but she was flying back and forth too quickly for me to catch her attention :(  She was in an out quite a bit thru the day.  Once, I waited for her and tried to slip through the door to find him myself - what would a quick little visit do, anyway?? - but she snatched me up.
"You need to be careful - I almost stepped on you.  You don't want that to happen!  You will see Flynn when it's time."
I was too disgusted to grumble, so I just crossed my arms and huffed when she set me back up on the shelf.  Ugh!

Anyway.  I thought it was pretty comical last night.  Apparently, she's having problems with her show shirts fitting right - she has  two horse shows this week - and she kept flying around back and forth.  Try Shirt 1 on, tuck into show pants. Grumble to self.  Try Shirt 2 on, tuck into show pants. Grumble a bit more.  Try Shirt 1 on again.  Mutter.  Shirt 2 on again.  Mutter.  Shirt 1 on AGAIN.  Sets on hanger.  Shirt 2 on again.  "Hmm."  Sets on hanger.  And then this went on for almost twenty minutes, I kid you not, readers!  That's craziness.  I'm glad I'm not into the horse showing business, if it takes ALL THAT fussing!

Anyway, wanted to let you all know I won't be on to blog when Tangled Fan's not home - I can't get the laptop out of her dresser drawer (she keeps it there because of the lack of a desk in her room.) and the power cord is HUGEMONGUS. I'm telling you guys - It's like, really heavy and at least six feet long - okay, maybe I'm exaggerating.  But really.  A heavy power cord, miles (now I *am* exaggerating!) long, vs. a one-pound doll that's 11 inches tall.  Hm.

I guess I'll let you go, I'll keep you updated as I can!  Talk to you all soon, and I really, really, really, hope that the next post will be about Flynn's homecoming!  Hey, a girl can hope, right? ;)

Quick check in

Hey everyone .... sorry I haven't been able to update anything lately - I've been sooooo impossibly busy with the girls, and helping Merida with Allie.  Friday, Merida's legs were bothering her something awful, so I took care of Allie for the day whilst she rested them - despite her grumbling!

Thursday, I decided to take Jase and Hallie with me to visit the 18 inchers.  Merida stayed home, and I suspect her legs were bothering her a bit then, too.
Elizabeth, Hayley, Christy, and I had a good visit...Kailey's still being unwelcoming towards us.  I'd like to find out sometime why she's that way.

Wednesday was spent with two very finicky little babies and Jase, who hadn't gotten much sleep because of the babies, was Little Miss Grumpy Pants as well.

Tuesday, Merida and I went out shooting for awhile, whilst Rayne and Blondie babysat for us.  It was a very much welcomed outing, because I was still bummed out about Flynn.

I know, I know.  It's pretty silly that I'm so bummed out about him being gone - it will only be about three more weeks -  UGH!  THREE more weeks?  ONLY?  :( - anyway...it's not like he'll be gone forever.  But there's still a small worry in my mind that sleep deprivation isn't what the problem is, and he'll have to be away even longer, and me or Jase or Hallie won't be able to visit.  I wonder how he's been doing, and I worry all the time about it.  Tangled Fan hasn't been around in her room a lot this past week so I haven't been able to ask her about him!  I'm going to be a basket-case soon!  I soo need to get my mind off of things.  I suppose in a little while I'll maybe see if Jase wants to do anything special so we can have a 'girl's day out' or whatever today...it'd do her good!

A Heart to Heart With Rayne

So, something's been kind of bothering me.  Since Saturday, when Rayne said "Because you love him," when I'd been blubbering around about Flynn's departure, I'd been wondering why she'd said it in such a weird tone.  So Monday, I decided to ask her about it.
Merida and Blondie had taken the three girls for a walk to give me a short break, and I took the opportunity to talk to Rayne.
"Hey, Rayne?" I asked, and she turned to look at me.
"Yes?"  She looked at me with a questioning stare.
"You know how the other day you said 'because you love him' to me...when I was kind of falling apart all over the place?" I blurted quickly.
She furrowed her brows.  "Umm..yeah, I do.  Why?"
"You just said it weird, like you were thinking about something else, or someONE else....?" I hinted at my question.
She nodded.  "I just don't really want to talk about it."
"Why?  Was it someone here?  If it was, I'll-"
"No, no, Rapunzel, it wasn't someone here.  I WISH it was someone here."  She sighed and sat down, patting the floor beside her.
I sat beside her and stared at her until she spilled it.
"So you know how you and Flynn met, right?"
I nodded.
"My Eugene and I met the same way, at the warehouse.  We'd been next to each other for months, and were planning on getting married as soon as we were let out of our boxes.  We were so sure we would end up in the same home."  She shook her head, biting her lip.  "He was so sweet and nice and caring.  One day...one of the workers at the warehouse...t-they came over, grabbed my Eugene's box and tossed him into a cardboard box.  I was so..so sure they would put me in there too, and was excited, because I was sure we would get married incredibly soon."
She paused, and I laid a hand on hers.  She gave me a bittersweet smile and continued.
"They started to walk away, and I started pounding on the box as much as I could in my plastic ties...I screamed...they only looked around as if a mere fly was buzzing about their heads.  I screamed until I went hoarse.  But they never came back.  A week later, I was shipped out, along with some gifts Tangled Fan had bought.  I thought maybe he would be there, and we'd just gotten shipped out separately or something dumb like that.  But he wasn't here.  Blondie was the only one here, aside from the bigger dolls."
She wiped her face of the tears streaking her cheeks, and I felt horrible for her.
"I am so, soo sorry, Rayne."  I stared at my hands in my lap, as I thought about how I would have felt if that had happened to me and Flynn.
"It's fine.  What is done is done, and I can only hope that someday, I'll find someone like my Eugene.  But I doubt it will ever happen..."
"You can't ever lose hope, Rayne,"  I bit my lip, trying to think of a way to comfort her.
"Yes..but I can be realistic," she gave me a pensive stare, before finally adding, "honey, you enjoy that husband of yours as much as you possibly can.  Never, ever take him for granted.  Do that for me, please.  And don't be afraid to show your affection towards him, around us.  We don't mind.  And don't think we didn't notice your awkwardness!"  She gave me a wink and I knew she was trying to lighten the mood and distract me from the subject.  My eyes were misted over from her advice.
I just nodded, not trusting that I wouldn't start crying if I opened my mouth.
"And if you ever need to talk to me while he's gone - or ever, for that matter - don't be afraid to.  I don't bite..much!"
"Oh, I saw your crazy-eyes when you confronted Tangled Fan the other day about the babies.  I don't trust that you WON'T bite me!"  I finally joked, wiping at my eyes.  "And if you need to talk to me, I won't bite."
She laughed and leaned over to hug me.  "Don't you worry about him, girl.  He's so twitterpated over you, he'll likely get it in his head to get better quickly, or I wouldn't put it past him to fake a recovery so he can be back with you."
I chuckled, my cheeks turning warm.  "He'd better not fake anything...I don't want to go through this again!"
She nodded in agreement.  "I wouldn't want to be in your position, either.  But everything will be  okay."
I gave her a small smile and turned when I heard the girls coming back up the shelf.
Jase came running over to me excitedly, jumped into my lap, and commenced telling me the story about what her, 'Aunt Blondie', and 'Aunt Merida' had done today.  Merida handed Hallie over to me and went to sit with Allie, who was asleep.
I felt better to have spoken to Rayne, and to have my girls in my arms again.

On another note, I haven't seen Tangled Fan long enough to ask about Flynn.  She's come down with a cold and is also busy with what I overheard is a bunch of horse shows soon in the next three weeks, so I just hope that that won't delay anything!  Oh goodness...if anything is delayed, I might just die!  I know, I know; I'm being way too dramatic there :P

Saturday the 20th

Friday night, Flynn was up tossing and turning plenty, and eventually woke me up, saying he had a migraine.  Tangled Fan promptly applied the same paste that she had last time he'd had a migraine, and told me to  let her know how he was in the morning.
 Saturday morning, I woke up early, and Hallie was crying.
I crept over to her and scooped her up.  She immediately quieted down, so I sat back down beside Flynn, who was still sleeping.  I yawned, looking around groggily at the different surroundings.  Flynn had probably been up more through the night, based off of the fact that he was still asleep, and I felt a pang of concern.
I brushed the hair from his sleeping face and rested my hand on his shoulder, a little worried about his pale face.

After awhile, he did get up, squinting at the light.  And so then I knew why he was so pale.
"Morning," he said, with a gravelly voice.
"Morning, hon.  Still have a migraine?"
"Naw, it's-"
"I'll get Tangled Fan to see if she'll mix that paste up for you or give you some medicine."  I started to stand, but he snagged my arm gently, shaking his head.
I touched his face and realized his skin had gone clammy and sweaty.  I gave him a small smile and turned to go, Hallie still in my arms.
I scaled the shelf and then went over to the chair, which Tangled Fan was sitting on, watching the guinea pigs.
"Flynn's still got a migraine, could you please mix up something for him?"  I asked. She nodded, scooping me and Hallie up, and she deposited us on the shelf again before she headed out.
I walked over to my husband, and gave him a kiss on the forehead.  "She'll be back in a minute."
He shut his eyes and nodded.  It killed me to see him have these awful migraines...
She came back with the world's smallest dosage of Excedrin, and then warned me that  if he didn't start feeling better within the hour, to let her know right away.

I led him over to the wicker chair and tried to keep my shaky hands under control.  "I'll check up on you in an hour, okay, hon?" I said quietly.  

He nodded, staring at my hand a few seconds before he took it and held it tightly for a minute.  Then, I heard the babies start to cry, so I went with Merida to pick them up.

Sitting beside Merida, I took Hallie.  

"He's got a migraine?"

I nodded.  "It's a bad one this time, too.."

"So that's why you're so pale."

"I am?"  

She nodded.  "Everything will be fine, don't worry."

I gave her a small smile. 

Rayne came over and took Hallie from me, just as Jase was waking up.

She came running over to me and I caught her into a hug.  

"Morning, baby girl," I smiled at her. 

"Morning, momma!  Why's Daddy look so sad?"

I glanced over my shoulder and saw his eyebrows were furrowed and his eyes squeezed shut.  "He's got a really bad headache.  So we all have to be really quiet and not yell or anything, okay sweetie?"

She nodded.  "He'll be okay, right?"

I gave Merida a sidelong glance.  

"Of course he will be!" Merida said cheerfully.  

"Why don't we play, um....tea party or whatever you want to play?" I asked, trying to take both my mind and hers off of the migraine.  

She excitedly bounced off my lap and sat beside "Aunt Merida".  

Including Allie and Blondie, Jase excitedly taught us how to play her special tea-party game. 

Next time I glanced at the clock, an hour had passed.

I stood up and put my hand on Flynn's shoulder.  

"How're you feeling?" 

He didn't meet my eyes.  "A-awful..." His voice was faint and gravelly. 

My heart started pounding.  I started to go run to find Tangled Fan, but when I turned around to leave, Flynn grabbed my hand.  "No.  She'll just...I don't know..b-but she'll...just stay with me, please."  

Well, gee.  Way to make someone feel better by asking them to stay with them.  Usually, good outcomes never come from that.  But of course I obliged.  

It happened that Tangled Fan was on her way back anyway.  

"You're not any better, are you?" She held her hand out.  

He shook his head and my heart thudded so hard against my chest, in fear, that I thought I might pass out.  

"Okay.  What we're gonna do is this.  Come with me, and I'll take you to a separate room where there's hardly any going in-and-out of anything - people, dolls, animals, nothing - and I'll record your sleep patterns to see if that's what's causing the migraines.  Once you start onto a good sleep pattern and are getting them less, I'll keep you for awhile to ensure that's the problem and that you get used to the pattern.  This could take anywhere between one week and a month, just depends."  She explained, and by then, every inch of me was shaking.  

"What if that isn't the p-problem?" I asked quietly.  

"We'll go from there if it isn't." 

Flynn looked up at me, trying to give a brave smile, but his furrowed brows told me he felt awful.  

"I'll be able to visit him, right?" 

Tangled Fan shook her head, and my stomach dropped.  Up to a month without seeing him?  

"Why don't we go now and get you settled for tonight," Tangled Fan suggested, and I pushed away the tears stinging my eyes.  

"G-give me a couple minutes."  He whispered, and she nodded, leaving.  He stood and looked me in the eye.  "Will you be okay?" 

I nodded, even though I didn't know if I would be.  "Everything will be fine.  If you can get freed of these dumb migraines, I'll be so glad."  

"Me too," he said, giving me a weak smile.  

So what was I waiting for?  I grabbed him into a hug, as tightly as my arms could hold him.

He bent to give me a kiss, and I hated so badly for that kiss to end.  When he started to pull away, I leaned in to return it.  Eventually, though, we had to pull away from one another.

He held me out from him just slightly, and slid his hands up and down my arms.  "You're sure?" 

I tried to give him a brave smile, but I could feel the corners of my lips shaking and twitching.  Real convincing smile there, not.  He smoothed my hair and I thrust myself towards him to hug him again, putting my head on his shoulder and breathing in the smell of his shirt.  

He turned to sit down, and I still held onto him tightly.  He took Jase and Hallie into his arms and hugged both of them, too.  

"Jase, you be good for Momma," he told her.  

"I will, Daddy!" she said.  "I love you!  Get better soon!"  

And that's when he broke down.  The lump growing in my throat grew bigger.  

Tangled Fan came in, and I took the kids from his arms and gave him one final kiss on the cheek.  He started to reach down as if to give me a last kiss, and I started to turn my head towards him to receive it, but then Tangled Fan whisked him up.  

Taking in a shuddery breath, I gave a small wave, trying not to meet his eyes.  If I looked at those eyes right now, I'd cry like a baby.  And I didn't need to cry in front of the girls. 

When Tangled Fan had left the room, I sat back down with Jase; Blondie took Hallie, and we continued our tea party. 

I tried to keep a smile on my face, and tried to keep my mind on what Jase wanted to do, but my thoughts wandered several times.  How was Flynn doing?  Was his migraine getting better?  Worse?  How long would he be away?  What if that wasn't the problem? What if there was something very serious going on?  What if...

Jase suddenly cuddled against me, and I realized she had fallen asleep.  I scooped her up and gently laid her down on the chair; the babies were already laying there, sleeping.  

Then, I looked up.  I saw our marriage ribbon, dangling from a spare doll stand that had been tossed up on the edge of the shelf.  

I took it in my hands, sat down, and stared at it, holding it tightly.  I remembered our wedding day.  How uncertain I'd been about marrying him.  If we hadn't gotten married when we had, would he be headed for the Dumpster by now, instead of this?  Would he have been ripped away from me like the girls had been?  One day I would've woken up and gone to visit my fiance, and found him gone?  Was this how Flynn had felt, before we were engaged, and I'd been taken away to fix my arm?  

My head swam until I felt like I was drowning.

Merida came over, knelt beside me, and told me everything would be okay.  

And then I just lost it.  

Merida hugged me, and Rayne came over and slung her arm around my other shoulder, too.  I put my arm over my eyes and sobbed.  

"What if he's...he's really sick or something?"  

"He'll be fine."  Merida said.

"And what if he gets worse or s-s-something?"  

"He'll be fine." Rayne told me this time.  

"How can I miss...him s-so bad?" I sobbed, shaking all over.  

"Because you love him," Rayne said in a strange tone.  

I felt stupid.  He'd only been gone for, like, five hours. And how would I deal with the rest of the time he was away?  Up to THIRTY DAYS?!  It sunk in that he'd be gone longer than we'd been married, and I started to cry harder.  I considered how embarrassed I'd been to have him celebrate every week we'd been married.  Now I realized he wouldn't be here for our one-month anniversary.  He wouldn't be here to comfort me when something stupid made me cry or whatever.  I wouldn't be able to be there for him if he had any more migraines during that one-month period.  I wouldn't wake up cuddled in his arms every morning until the end of August!  Oh gosh.  That made it sound horribly far away :(  

I wouldn't see his cute grin.  His silly jokes.  His silly attitude around Jase.  That would all be gone for that  month.  Jase wouldn't have her Daddy for a month.  She looked up to him so; I had no clue how I would deal with her constant questioning about when he'd be back - I knew she would question about it. How would I keep her from being worried?  How....

"Momma?" 

I jumped and wiped my eyes quickly.  Merida and Rayne pulled away from me and the three of us looked at Jase as if we didn't know who she was or something.  

"What's wrong, Momma?"

"Oh, nothing, sweetie."  I tried to smile at her.  

She climbed up into my lap and rested her head on my chest.  "You miss Daddy, don't you?"

How did she know?  "Um...a little bit, yeah."  More like a LOT.  

"How long will he be gone?"

"A long while."

"He'll be back though, right?"  

I told you she'd interrogate me.  

"Yes, he will be."  What if something seriously wrong was the matter and he was just tossed in the Dumpster before a proper goodbye was issued?  I would just die if that happened.  

"Well.." she thought for a moment.  "Then instead of being sad, why not think of all the things you want to do with him when he comes back?  That's what I'm gonna do.  Time'll fly if you do that!"  

Smart, this child was.  "You're brilliant, sweetheart.  You know that?"

She grinned at me with those little dimples.  "Do you want to learn how to play another game?"

If it kept my mind off of things, I'd do anything.  "Sure."  

Hallie started crying, so I picked her up and held her whilst I listened to Jase teaching me how to play another game she'd made up.  

We did this until darkness crept in around us.  

Jase yawned and climbed up into my lap to hug me.  

I hugged her tightly in return.  "Love you, baby girl."

"Love you too, Momma!"  She smiled at me.  

"Why don't you sleep with me tonight?"  I offered, hoping to have her beside me. I needed that so much now.  Please say yes please say yes please say yes....

"Nah...I like my chair," she said.  

"You sure?" I smiled at her, hoping she wasn't just being polite or something.  

"Yeah, Momma!  Night,"  she said before climbing up into the chair.  

Allie was already asleep on the chair, and Hallie was fast asleep as well.  I laid her down beside Allie, and went behind the chair to sleep.  But I couldn't go to sleep. 

So I found Tangled Fan's iPod, found some mood-appropriate songs, and listened to them, with the earbuds close to my head so I could hear the music without waking anyone else.  Eventually, I did turn the iPod off, when I started to feel drowsy. 

As soon as I put the iPod back, the darkness wrapped me in a hard, unwelcoming hold.  I sighed, picking my way back over to my spot, and laid down on my side and just prayed that Flynn would make the world's speediest recovery and he could come back soon. Like, less than a month soon...Preferably by tomorrow morning, but beggars can't be choosers, I suppose.  Rather, desperate dolls can't be choosers of how quickly their spouses can come back home.  All my tears were gone, and I had that awful feeling when you feel like you need to cry, but you can't, and so you just sit around feeling miserable.   I have no idea when I finally gave in to sleep.

Well...I suppose I'll keep you all updated.  I'll see if I can pry some updates out of Tangled Fan, but I doubt if I will be able to!  :(  

New 'room' settling in...

Hey everyone!
So I posted a few hours ago that we've been moved to a different display spot...  and if you've already read it, you already know how challenging it's been to go from having our own shelf to sharing a shelf with Rayne, Merida, Blondie, as well as Allie.
Well, it's been several hours since we've actually been moved...and it's still boring going.  Everyone's kind of awkward and quiet, except the kids.
Hallie's been doing pretty good, but we've been passing her and Allie around between all of us all day long, so she hasn't laid down all day long, except for when she took a nap beside Allie.  :D

Flynn started shifting from side-to-side, and then asked if he could sit.  I stood up and relinquished the wicker chair to him.
"Sit," he said, patting his lap and smiling kindly at me.
"Nah, I'll stand," I said.  I didn't need to feel any more awkward...even though I don't know why I'd be awkward..I mean, we ARE married and everyone around us are our friends, who all know we're hopeless around one another. xD
I went to move away, but he managed to reach out, hook me around the waist, and pull me towards him until I had to either sit or fall down.
I giggled, but my face felt hot, and then my heart surged with affection for my husband.  "You're awful.  I was gonna stand."
"I'm tired of acting like this today.  If someone doesn't like it, they can lump it!"  He whispered in my ear.
"You really are terrible."  I said, rolling my eyes.  "And what about 'not in front of the kids'?"  I added in a whisper.
"It's just sitting.  We could go take a walk," he suggested quietly, and I nodded.
I stood, and he did as well.
"We're gonna go take a walk," I announced.
"Okay.  We'll watch the girls for you," Rayne said.
Jase was napping, so I didn't wake her to give her a see-you-later hug like I usually did before we went on walks.
Flynn took my hand and led me off the shelf.

It was pretty tricky getting down.  There were no boxes to jump down onto, or the chair.  We had to be pretty careful with our steps, or we'd slip!  I had no clue how we'd get back up...!

When we finally reached the floor, Flynn promptly leaned down and gave me a sweet kiss, wrapping his arms gently around me.
My heart soared, and when he eventually pulled away, I lingered in his arms.  "You're a man of impulse, aren't you."
"I couldn't waste one more minute," he said with a wink, and I rolled my eyes.  "So, sweetly sarcastic wife of mine, how are you adjusting to the new shelf?"
"It stinks." I whispered.  "It's not that I don't mind having everyone around us, it's just that it's that way...All.  The.  Time.  And we don't have any privacy at all..." I leaned my head on his chest.
"I presume we will be taking a lot of walks," he said, kissing my hair.
"We're not doing much walking."  I looked up at him.  "But that's alright."  I leaned in as close to him as I could get and he tightened his embrace.  My heart alternated between thundering and leaping.  If there was any difference.  But I didn't wonder about it too much.
He rested his cheek on top of my head and sighed.  "We'll work something out, I'm sure."
"How will all of us sleep?  I mean, there was hardly room for us and the four kids in the other shelf, that was BIGGER!  And now there's three kids, you, me, Merida, Rayne, and Blondie.  EIGHT of us, five being fully grown.  It will be soooo awkward...and we can't have our usual nightly talks or kiss goodnight or anything.  It's gonna be sooooooo weird and awkward...If Tangled Fan would've done this to us almost two months ago, I would've been much, much more comfortable with it, and then if she would've moved us to our old shelf, by ourself, after we got married and stuff....ugh."
He put a finger to my lips, but I still managed to get my 'ugh' out.
"It'll be fine."
"And you'll end up with migraines, I know it!  There won't be any room to lay down, and-"
"Didn't you hear me,  babe?  I said it'll be fine."
"But..." I started up again, but he kissed me long enough to shut me up.  "You're a jerk."
"Hey, call me whatever.  But it worked!" He grinned at me and my heart melted.
"Sorry.  You're not a jerk..you just know how to quiet me down is all.  But good grief, stop making my heart do weird things."  I joked as I willed my heart to settle down.  Could I not be around him without feeling like I was on cloud 9??
He stroked my hair and I finally got too warm and pulled away from him, feeling like my plastic might melt.  I grabbed at his hand and looked up into those chocolatey brown eyes, and I felt almost mesmerized.  "We, um...should probably get back to Jase and Hallie, and...ah..."
He looked up, and I noticed that it was starting to grow dark.  "I don't see or hear them.  It looks like everyone else might just be asleep or something."
"Probably silently spying on us or something."  I mumbled, and he chuckled.
"If they are, why not give them something to be surprised about?" he pulled me in  as if to give me a big, exaggerated kiss, and I pushed him away.
"You really are terrible," I grinned, and he came back to tickle me.  "Stop it. Stop...I'll yell for Merida if you don't - she'll start firing arrows at ya."
"If you do, I'm kissing you.  Then if she does fire arrows at me, I'll die a happy man."
I rolled my eyes and made a mock-disgusted sound.  "Easily pleased, are we?"
"Very much so, around you.  Funny thing is that I wasn't like this until we got married.  But then again, just your smile always could brighten my day, even in those stupid plastic boxes."
"Okay, mister mushy, sappy guy."  I joked, but I couldn't help the smile growing on my lips.
"You wouldn't love me any other way."
"I might," I cocked my head, pretending to think it over, and gave him an impish grin.  At least, until I yawned.
He swung me back in towards him and held me close again.  "Guess what."
"What?" I played along.
He bent to give me one final kiss.  "Love you."
"Love you too..." I trailed off, amazed at how 'warm and fuzzy' those two words had made me feel.
After that, we crept up to the top of the shelf.  Everyone was sprawled out in various spots.
Flynn looked at me, and I at him.  I shrugged, biting my lip with uncertainty.  Finally, we found a small spot up against the wall, where we were able to curl up at to go to sleep.  As we went past Jase, on the chair, I felt a stab of guilt. I'd hardly done anything with her the past few days..and then I decided that no matter what, I was going to stay on the shelf with Jase and have a day all to her and Hallie.
I curled up beside my hubby and took a deep breath in, fumbling until I found his hand.  I held it loosely, and that's how we fell asleep.

Quick drop in...

Hey everyone (:  Refreshed after sleeping in after a longggg night up with Hallie - thank goodness she didn't wake up much, after 3AM.  Anyway.

Today, Tangled Fan got it into her wonderful little head to totally rearrange EVERYTHING.  We're on a complete opposite side of the room, on a bookshelf.  Rayne, Merida, and Blondie are all on the same shelf as Flynn and I - and let's not forget Allie, Hallie and Jase!  

I'm a bit..okay...a LOT disturbed by this.  About a month or a month and a half ago, I would've LOVED to have been on the same shelf as Rayne, Blondie and Merida.  But now that I'm married with Jase AND Hallie, I would kind of like a bit of privacy.  Our shelf was where we were able to talk wholeheartedly and display affection.  But now that we're up with EVERYONE ELSE, it's kind of embarrassing!  Make that a LOT embarrassing.  I have no clue where we're all gonna sleep!  Ugh.  :(  The only plus side is that we're closer to the 18 inchers.  But we're the whole room away from the chair and the window!  :[ 

So, when Tangled Fan randomly snagged me, Merida, Rayne, Hayley, the two toddler dolls, and Punzie, to have a photoshoot to get a picture for her A Dolly A Day blog, we decided to forget what the word cooperate was.  

Cooperate?  Uh...no habla Ingles!  ;} 

At first glance, this one might be okay.  But none of us are looking at the camera, or at least in the same direction.  Scratch that one!  

This one might look okay enough at first glance, but then there's this dilemma:  

Merida decided to pull some of my hair over her face at last minute.  

Scratch that one too!  

I guess she just gave up and used this one for her blog banner.  We got tired of being away from everyone else and being dragged around into different positions every ten seconds...so we randomly all remembered what 'cooperate' meant. 

By the time we were done, I was sooo ready to get back to Flynn.  I was mad that he wasn't brought with for the banner.  But oh well... 

Here's the 'new' bookshelf.  

Toddler Merida & Toddler Rapunzel are right below us, and Punzie and her friend, BFC Ink Addison (Aka Addi) are below them.  

And this is the top level.  

At least Flynn can stand up without being all hunched over - it was really doing a number on his back!  So I guess there's that.  

Several times after I got back, Flynn started to lean down as if to kiss me, but realized everyone was up there and half were looking in our general direction, so he would freeze and stand upright again.  I suppose I'll wait until it's dark out and just dim enough that nobody else can see, and then I'll just give him a kiss so he can quit looking odd, bending over, looking around, and then standing back up.  Heehee..poor guy.  Well, this new display shelf is awkward.  Sooo soooo soooo awkward.  I figure Flynn will have a rant posted here within the near future...if he doesn't, I'll be surprised!  =D  

Flynn here...HB & 2wk anniversary

Hey everyone...Sorry that this post's a day late.  Ugh!  
Anyway.
Thursday morning dawned hot and muggy...just like it has been for the past week!
Rapunzel was still sleeping, and my heart squeezed at how innocent she looked.
After a few minutes, she woke up.  She slid upright, and I did too, still keeping an arm around her.
Suddenly, a line from Tim McGraw's 'Good Morning Beautiful' (I think that's what it's called anyway) came to me, and it seemed appropriate, so I started whisper-singing it to her.
She elbowed me and chuckled at me when she recognized the lyrics, and then kissed my cheek.
Then I heard faint crying.  Hallie and Allie.  My wife and her gang of 'bloodthirsty' buddies hadn't gotten to talk to Tangled Fan yet.
Rapunzel jumped up.  "That's it.  We're gonna talk to Tangled Fan if it's the last thing we do!"
Instead of telling her not to get into a fight, I grabbed her wrist before she stomped off, and got up.  "I'm coming too.  Jase is still asleep, and I can hear and see her from the chair."
She strode over and beat onto the printer.  Within minutes, the trio all came down.  Merida and Blondie were lugging some stuff.
We made our way over to the chair, and I finally saw what they were carrying: a glass jar and a hair brush.  Alrighty then!

Merida set the jar down, Blondie crouched beside it with the brush and started banging it on the jar.  Merida kicked at the jar and waved her bow above her head like a mad-doll.
I protectively linked my arm with Rapunzel's, prepared to take her away from the situation if it went awry.  She looked across me at Rayne, and Rayne looked back at her with a shrug.  "I think she's having just a bit too much fun with that."
"Ya think?" she chuckled. "I feel like I should get in on it, but I think they're making enough-"
"What on EARTH is going on in here?!?"
We all turned towards Tangled Fan, either freezing or trying to act normal.  Rapunzel pressed closer into my side.
Blondie, who must not have noticed Tangled Fan in her frenzied beating of the brush, slammed the brush down again.  Noticing everything was silent, she looked up.
"Ummm...we have, that is...we've..RAPUNZEL!  Rapunzel has something she has to tell you!" Merida stammered, finally gesturing towards my wife.
"I.." She broke off awkwardly when everyone turned towards her.
I grabbed her one hand - she was flapping the other one around aimlessly - and gave it a reassuring squeeze, adding a smile.
Taking a deep breath, the whole story came tumbling out of her mouth.  "So the other day, we heard crying from the top of the shelf, and y'know, we were just wanting to check stuff out to make sure whoever it was, was okay.  So Merida, Jase and I went.  Flynn came up later, so he'll back me up too.  Anyway, HB - the Happy Birthday Barbie you adopted Allie and Hallie out to?  She wasn't paying any attention to the girls, and they were the ones crying.  I asked about them, and she said they'd be fine if she just left them be.  And that she always does it anyway!  She didn't want to mess up her DRESS, because her BOYFRIEND  was going to come over for a date.  By the way, she willingly admitted that she LIED to you about being married!  And THEN, she said that she just left the babies over on the edge of the shelf while she went on dates or whatever! I'm so scared they'll fall.  And since then, they've been crying NON STOP.  Don't you think you should take them away from her?!"
"I talked to Jase.  Apparently, she'd been fostered by HB before.  She said she was terribly mean and never did anything with her.  She was quite adamant about the fact that the babies needed to be taken from her."  I added.
"If you don't believe them, I'll side with 'em.  I saw it myself!"  Merida said defiantly.
"I will, also."  Rayne said, and Blondie nodded her agreement with all of us.
"Well...just to be sure, I"ll ask HB about this.  I'm pretty upset she lied, and i'm upset that she hasn't been doing ANYTHING with Allie and Hallie. I'll go do it now."
We all turned towards the shelf to see HB was gone.  The babies were wailing, and their legs were hanging over the edge of the shelf.  My stomach dropped.
Rapunzel gasped.  "Grab them bef-"
Grab them before they fall?  Yeah right.  They started to plummet from the top of the shelf.
Rapunzel wheeled towards me and pressed her face up against my shoulder, crying. Rayne clasped her hands to her stomach, horrified.  Merida hit her knees and covered her face, gasping.  Blondie loosed a bloodcurdling scream.  I held Rapunzel tightly to me and turned my face away to avoid seeing the certain accident, and I almost hyperventilated.
But then we heard Tangled Fan say 'got them'. Rapunzel lifted her head from my shoulder.  I looked up. We all turned towards Tangled Fan - and realized she'd caught them!
We all gasped.
Tangled Fan looked down at the dolls in her hand as if she didn't know what to do with them.  I could hear them wailing.
"I guess I'll toss 'em in the box up in the attic.  Nobody else'll want them-"
"Wait just a second!"  Rayne stepped forward, growing at least three inches as she bristled and stood straight.  My wife stepped back a step and pressed even closer to me with uncertainty.  "Rapunzel cared for those babies for a week!  The week she should have been honeymooning, and when she had no clue what to do and was overwhelmed!  Don't you think you should possibly ask if she wanted them BACK, after you so rudely took them from her?  And Merida's helped her so much with those kids, and she so loves that little Allie, that don't you think you should pardon your married couples rule just for her?  She will be a lot better a mother than a box full of Barbies would EVER be!  And while we're at it - why do I have to stay locked in that stupidly wretched doll stand ALL THE TIME?  Every morning, Merida and Blondie have to help yank me out of the stupid thing, and yet you put me in it anyway!"  She huffed.
Alrighty then.  How did that last part about the doll stand fit in to the rest of the situation?  I wasn't sure if I should be amused or terrified of her - I'd never seen serene Rayne go nuts like that.
Tangled Fan silently held Allie out to Merida.  She took her, beaming.
"You're sure you're ready for motherhood, Merida?" Rapunzel asked her.  "Trust me, you don't want to rush into it!"
"If I can keep this baby away from HB, yeah, I'm ready!" She stared into Allie's eyes.
Then Tangled Fan held Hallie out to my wife and I.
"I apologize for taking the four of them away from you.  I was in a hurry and didn't think to ask.  Forgive me?"  My wife ndoded.
She took Hallie gently into her arms and I gave her a one-armed hug, kissing her hair.  She smiled down at Hallie and Hallie gave a cute little grin.  My heart skipped a beat when I realized how far we'd come.

Suddenly, though, Merida said my name.
"Yeah?" I was almost afraid to even know.
"You planning on doing anything with her today?"  she gestured towards Rapunzel.
I was confused.  Of course I was - it was our two week anniversary.  "I was..kind of planning on it, cause it's our two-week anniversary..why?"
"I was gonna teach your wife here how to shoot a bow and arrow.  She might have to fend off an angry HB!"  She joked.
She looked at Merida, wide-eyed and slightly terrified in appearance.  She asked her if it was dangerous.
"Dangerously FUN!"  She laughed.
"It's just morning right now, so it can't hurt.  I want to watch this - good entertainment!"
"Hey.  I bet you can't shoot either!"  Rapunzel said, and I gave her a one-armed hug to show I was just jerking her chains.
"Actually, I know how to shoot a bow and arrow."  And I actually did.
"Really now...why don't I believe that?"  She joked before reaching to give me a quick peck on the jawbone.
"Then it's a deal!"  Merida said.  "Why don't we get at it?"
"I'm leaving before arrows start flying," Rayne laughed.
Rapunzel took off after her, and talked with her for a few minutes.
I watched her as she talked.  It amazed me how happy and bubbly she was, after she had been so grievous and everything only about a week ago when the kids had been taken away from us.
Next thing I knew, Rapunzel was back and standing beside me.  And Merida was pulling an arrow out of her quiver to shoot.
I stood back.  I didn't want to be anywhere near that crazy doll when she started shooting arrows!
She explained how to shoot the arrow, and then loosed hers.
Rapunzel was completely awed by Merida's shooting skills.
Merida handed Rapunzel her equipment, and I felt it was safe to come back over.
I leaned against a chair rung, somewhat behind Rapunzel.
She looked at me and laughed.  "If any a time to stand back, it's now.  You shouldn't trust your wife with weaponry she's never used before."
Merida and I both got a laugh out of that one. When the chuckles subsided, Rapunzel started trying to get in position.
Although Merida tried to coach her, she still just couldn't get comfortable with the arrow and the bow.  I could see her face start to go red as she fumbled around, trying to get everything set up, so I stepped up behind her and took her arms into my hands, guiding them to where they needed to be placed.
"There ya go.  That's exactly how you hold it!"
In Rapunzel's excitement to have gotten the position, finally, she let go of the arrow.  It went straight for the metal-edged table, and I knew what was coming. I didn't know if the arrow could inflict injury to any of us, but I didn't want to find out!  I wrapped one arm around Rapunzel's waist, grabbed Merida with the other, and yanked both of them backwards before we all huddled in the opposite side of the chair.  Merida had fallen to her knees.
It ricocheted, but it just landed on its side, on the chair.
"You're right.  Maybe I shouldn't trust you with weaponry you don't know how to use!" I teased my wife.
"Oh hush up," she said, suddenly getting the giggles.  Merida stood and gave her a playful shove.
"You'll catch on.  But your lesson learnt for today is: Never, EVER shoot anything towards something it'll ricochet off of.  Like metal."
She laughed harder and apologized.
Merida left to pick up the arrow.
I didn't even realize I still held Rapunzel in a death grip.
"You can let go now.   No flying arrows to shield me from...right now, anyway!"  I laughed and let her go.
"I'd best head over to see what Rayne's up to with the girls.  I'll be back later, okay?  Don't kill anybody or break anything."  I chuckled, starting to leave back for the shelf.

When I got back, I relieved Rayne of her babysitting duties.  Jase told me how excited she was to have at least one of her baby 'sisters' back.  And she told me how she'd watched Momma shoot the arrow with 'aunt' Merida and how she wanted to learn how to shoot too.  I told her that she'd have to wait a little while till she could shoot.  She got me into a game of tea-party, with imaginative teacups and everything.  I held Hallie in one arm and went along with Jase's game for the majority of the afternoon and part of the evening.  I kept getting this nagging feeling that I was forgetting something, but I couldn't figure out what.
Eventually, though, I got Jase and Hallie both to take a quick nap whilst I went to get Rapunzel for our walk.
"Hey, Merida - can I steal her for a bit?  The girls are napping if you want to go watch them, please?"
"Sure.  And hey, even though stealing is bad, I'll let you take her anyway."
Rapunzel chuckled and thanked her for being her teacher for the day.
They talked for a  couple seconds and then she turned back to me.  I guess I must've been standing a bit too close, because she rammed into me when she turned to face me.  I held my hand out, and she took it.
We went to the floor to walk.  "So how did everything go after I left?"
"It was awesome!  I can see why she loves to shoot!  It's tons of fun.  We took turns shooting.  It was sooo much fun. She's such a good - what do you call it - she's such a good marksman!  Or markswoman.  Rather...marksdoll!" she broke off to giggle.  "I think sometime you'll have to demonstrate your shooting skills, if Merida'll agree to let you use her bow.  I didn't kill or break anything, and only ricocheted the arrow once by accident!  I guess I didn't do too bad, but I've still got a LONG way to go before I'm as good as Merida, if I'll ever be!"
As she talked, I couldn't help but smile at her enthusiasm.  When she was done talking, we walked in silence.  Her face quickly grew red.
She took my other hand and wrapped the other arm around my waist.  "Um..so, no dancing today?"  she grinned up at me.
So THAT'S what I'd forgotten about.
"Oh, I'm so sorry - I totally forgot to ask Rayne to play the playlist I'd made up last Friday...what with the kids and-"
"It's fine - I was just wondering - and half teasing, too, because we'd done it every other time."  She smiled up at me, and I found myself mesmerized by her emerald green eyes.
I snapped out of it for a moment, and suggested we climb up onto the chair.
I kind of embarrassed myself, because I just couldn't stop looking at her and thinking of how lucky a man I was to have her as my wife.  She leaned quite awkwardly against a rung of the chair, pulling her braid over a shoulder to fiddle with it.  "I need to-"
I knew it would make the outing even more embarrassing and awkward, but I couldn't help myself.  An overwhelming urge to kiss her came over me and I grabbed her up into a kiss, cutting her off.
I could feel her arms jerk and then she just put her hands comfortably up on my shoulders.  I could feel her start to go down because her knees went out from under her or something, and so I tightened my grip on her.  Finally, though, I started to reluctantly pull away from her - and she stood on tiptoe to grab me back into a kiss of her own; all the while, my stomach felt like a whole zoo had been released into it as a stampede or something, and a weird sensation gripped my spine.
She finally pulled away from me and slid her hands down around to my waist, sighing.
I reached to brush some hair from her face, allowing my hand to linger on her hair for a moment until I finally spit it out.  "I love you," I whispered.
Her mouth made awkward 'I want to say something, but can't figure out what' movements, before she finally asked what the kiss was for.
Was it awkward that I didn't really know why I'd kissed her?  Yep.  I have no regrets.
"Just because," I said, grinning.  She smiled back at me and I wondered if hearts could burst from your chest.
"Because why?" she asked me.
"What, can't I kiss my beautiful wife when I feel like kissing her?" I said, trying to keep a poker face, in an attempt to tease her.
"It's not that I don't appreciate it..." she winked.
Lesson to everyone:  if you get an opportunity to tease someone - in a kind way, mind - don't ever pass it up.  I don't!
I began to lean down to kiss her again, since she said that, and she pushed me away with a laugh.  "You're laying on the sweetness just a bit too thick, honey."
I pulled her close again and rested my forehead on hers.  She put a hand on my face and smiled before shutting her eyes.  At that moment, I never knew my heart could ever be so full.  I had the most stunning, beautiful, loving, sweet wife on earth, I had two sweet, adorable little girls, and I prayed that none of them would never be taken away from me!
"Two weeks ago, I never would've guessed we would be so open like this.  I never would have guessed we would've ended up with four kids, losing them all, and then getting two back, either.  And I never would've guessed how much I love you!"  I whispered.
"Two weeks ago, I never would have guessed we would be this way, either.  I never would've guessed ANY of this, either!  And I pretty much knew I had the world's biggest crush EVER on you, but I didn't really know how much so!  And by the way...love you, too!"
She opened those emerald green eyes that left me weak in the knees, and I smiled at her, giving her a peck on the forehead before deciding to commence the teasing once more.  "HAD the world's biggest crush ever on me?"
"You're bad.  Now I don't just have a CRUSH on you...now I have the ribbon to prove it!  And you obviously had a crush on me in order to give me that ribbon."  she threw the teasing right back at me, and I chuckled.
Eventually, though, she pulled away and said we should get back to the kids.
I nodded, took her hand gently into mine, and we went back to the shelf.
When we got there, Merida and Allie, Hallie, and Jase were all sprawled on the shelf floor, sleeping.
Rapunzel giggled quietly, and I started to shake with my attempt to not laugh.
She asked if maybe we should just let them be, but Merida awoke abruptly, yelling a 'who's there'.  My wife and Merida talked for a few minutes, and I hung back.
As soon as Merida left with Allie, Hallie started crying.
With a yawn, Rapunzel went over to hold her, bouncing her and reassuring her.
Within minutes, Jase woke up.
She came and hugged me, and I hugged her back, my heart swelling with love for this little girl.  "Love you, Daddy!"  She said.  Then she went over to Rapunzel, hugged her, and told her she loved her, too.  By the time she made it back to behind the alarm clock, I think she was asleep - she sure hit the shelf floor with a thump!
The night dragged on after that, and every time Rapunzel would lay Hallie down again, she'd wake up and cry.  It was almost 1 in the morning, and we'd been trying to get her to go to sleep since 10.
I watched Rapunzel holding her and frantically trying to get her to sleep, her eyes growing heavier by the second.  She plopped down with Hallie, and I walked over, holding my arms out.
"What?"  she asked, wiping her eyes and looking confusedly up at me.
"You go to sleep.  I'll take care of her the rest of the night."
"No.  You'll get a migraine."  She shook her head vigorously.
I raised my eyebrows, wiggled my fingers, and offered again.
"Sit."  she whispered, and I obliged, wrapping an arm around her small shoulders.
"That's better," she joked.
I watched her eyes roll around, and she looked so tired.
"Why don't-" I started to tell her to go to bed, but she refused.
"I'm fine."  She said, leaning slowly into me so as not to wake Hallie.

Around three, Hallie FINALLY went to sleep and was able to be put down without screaming.
Rapunzel set her down and slowly straightened back up, and looked at me, wide-eyed despite her sleepiness.  She added a victorious little grin and I leaned in for a quick little kiss.
And then we both made a beeline for bed before the next crisis occurred.

Surprisingly enough, though, she slept all night long after that!  Which is a really good thing, because I was getting the beginnings of a migraine after staying up so late...but I didn't dare tell my wife about it.  And I would've gotten up with Hallie anyway - Rapunzel needed the rest.  It was good, though, because it went away eventually! Boo-yah.

Happy Birthday Barbie part 2 & 2nd week anni xD

Bright and early Thursday morning, I awoke cuddled up to my husband.  I sat up, and he, who was awake already, sat up too.  Right away, I noticed how hot it was in the room.  Again...it's been soo  muggy lately :(  

"Good  mornin', beautiful, how was your night?  Mine was-" I elbowed him and chuckled quietly when I realized he was singing lyrics from "Good Morning Beautiful" by Tim McGraw; and then I reached up and kissed his cheek.  

As I was doing so, I heard faint cries coming from the top of the shelf.  AGAIN. 

I jumped up.  "That's it.  We're gonna talk to Tangled Fan if it's the last thing we do!" 

He grabbed my wrist and got up too.  "I'm coming, too.  Jase is still asleep and I can hear and see her from the chair."  

I pounded on the printer, and Merida, Blondie, and Rayne all came down.  Merida was lugging some glass jar with her, and Blondie had...the hair brush?  

They set the jar down and Blondie started beating the brush against the glass.  Merida was kicking it and holding her bow high above her head, waving it.  

I looked at Rayne as Flynn linked his arm with mine protectively. Rayne looked at me. 

Rayne shrugged.  "I think she's having a bit too much fun with that."  

"Ya think?" I joked, and she chuckled.  "I feel like I should get in on it, but I think they're making enough-"

"What on earth is going on in here?!"  

Well...it worked.  Merida froze.  Rayne clasped her hands and tried to look normal.  I pressed a little closer to Flynn, not removing my other hand from my hip.  Blondie slammed the brush down hard one last time, and then looked up.  

"Ummm...We have...that is...we've...Rapunzel!  Rapunzel has something she has to tell you!"  Merida said, gesturing towards me with her bow.  

"I-" I broke off when everyone looked at me.  

I gestured aimlessly with my free hand, and Flynn clasped the other one, giving me an encouraging smile.  

I finally spit it all out about HB, and Flynn added what Jase had said.  Merida told Tangled Fan that she would back me up if she didn't believe my story.  Rayne said she would too, and Blondie nodded in agreement. 

"Well..just to be sure, I'll ask HB about this.  I'm pretty upset she lied, AND I'm upset that she hasn't been doing anything with Allie and Hallie."  Tangled Fan said.  "I'll go do it now."  

We all turned towards the shelf.  HB was gone, the babies were wailing.  I saw they were terribly close to the edge.  

"Grab them bef-" 

They started to fall.  

I pressed my head up against Flynn's shoulder and wrapped my arm around my stomach, feeling nauseated.  Rayne clasped her hands to her stomach as if someone had punched her.  Blondie screamed.  Merida hit her knees with a gasp and covered her face.  I started to cry and Flynn held me tight, and I could hear him breathing kind of heavily, as if he were trying to calm himself down.  Either that or hyperventilate.  

"Got them!"  Tangled Fan said.  We all turned towards her and she brought her hand over.  Sure enough, the babies were both in her hand.  She'd caught them! 

The four of us gave a collective gasp.  

"I guess I'll toss them in the box up in the attic - nobody else'll want them-" 

"Wait just a second."  Rayne stepped forward, anger flashing in her eyes.  I backed up a step in surprise and pressed closer to Flynn.  "Rapunzel cared for those babies for a WEEK, the week she should have been honeymooning, and when she had no clue what to do and was overwhelmed!  Don't you think you should possibly ask if she wanted them BACK, after you so rudely took them from her?  And Merida's helped her so much with those kids, and she so loves that little Allie, that don't you think you should pardon your 'married couples' rule just for her?  She will be a lot better a mother than a box FULL of Barbies would EVER be!"  She was shouting by now.  

I glanced over to Merida, astounded.  She looked back at me with wide eyes.  And Flynn looked like he was deciding whether to be surprised, horrified, or entertained by her sudden and unexpected outburst.  

"And while we're at it...Why do I have to stay locked in that stupidly wretched doll stand ALL THE TIME?  Every morning, Merida and Blondie have to help yank me out of that stupid thing, and yet you put me in it anyway!"  She huffed and looked relieved to have that all off of her chest...even though that last part had been completely random!  

Tangled Fan paused, and she looked as if she was thinking.  

And then she silently held Allie out to Merida.  "I assume you will take better care of her, than what HB did?"  

Merida looked up, beaming.  "You bet I will."  

"You're sure you're ready for motherhood, Merida?" I asked her.  "Trust me, you don't want to rush into it."  

"If I can keep this baby away from HB, yeah, I'm ready."  She took Allie carefully into her arms and stared into her eyes - their pale blue eyes matched almost exactly!  I couldn't help but smile at my friend's mesmerized expression.  

And then Tangled Fan held Hallie out towards Flynn and I.  

"I apologize for taking the four of them away from you - I was in a hurry and didn't think to ask.  Forgive me?" I nodded.  

"Did Janet get a good family?" I asked.  

"Yeah.  Non-Barbie, so don't worry.  Non-HB."  She joked.  

"Okay," I laughed.  

I took Hallie into my arms and Flynn gave me a one-armed hug, kissing my hair.  I smiled down at Hallie and she stopped whimpering and gave me a sweet little grin that made my heart squeeze. When I looked up, Tangled Fan had left.

Merida held Allie to her chest, picked up her bow - which she'd dropped - and pointed it at me and Flynn.  "Flynn."

"Yeah?"

"You planning on doing anything with her today?"

"I was...Kind of planning on it, cause it's our two-week anniversary...why?"

I refrained from telling Flynn that we didn't have to celebrate every week we were married.  It's not like I didn't enjoy it, and we might as well enjoy our marriage and our love that was still relatively new..but I was just kind of embarrassed.  I didn't have anyone else to talk to, to ask if it was normal to celebrate two-week anniversaries.  

"I was gonna teach your wife here how to shoot a bow and arrow. She might have to fend off an angry HB."  She laughed.   

I looked at her, wide-eyed.  "Isn't that...dangerous?" 

"Dangerously fun!"  She joked.  

"It's just morning right now, so it can't hurt."  Flynn said.  "I want to watch THIS - good entertainment!"  

"Hey, I bet you can't shoot either!"  I said, and he gave me another one-armed hug to tell me he was kidding.  

"Actually, I know how to shoot a bow and arrow."  

"Really, now.  Why don't I believe that?" I joked, before giving him a quick kiss on the jawbone, which was the furthest up I could reach with Hallie in my arms.  

"Then it's a deal!"  Merida said.  "Why don't we get at it?" 

"I'm leaving before arrows start flying," Rayne laughed.  

She walked past, and I hurried after her.  "Hey, Rayne?"

"Yes?" She turned to look at me with her normal pleasant smile.  

"Thank you so much."

"Oh, anytime!  Why don't I watch Jase and Hallie for you two whilst you and Flynn are out with Merida?"  I hesitated, feeling kind of bad to make her babysit.  "Of course you want me to!  Blondie and I need something to do - Merida's usually our entertainment."  

We chuckled, and Merida yelled an 'I heard that'.  Which made us ALL laugh!  

Anyway, I told Rayne thank you again, gave her Hallie, and Merida gave her Allie; and then I told her where Jase was.  

When I turned back, Merida was pulling her arrow out of her quiver.  Flynn stood back.  

She explained how to shoot it, pausing so I could get an idea on how to hold it.  

"And then ye loose the arrow - like so..." she pulled back just a bit farther on the arrow and then loosed it.  It went flying, and then bounced off the window!  

I gasped.  "That was pretty cool."  

She handed me her arm guard, the bow, and the arrow.  Flynn stepped closer and leaned up against the one chair rung.  I looked back and laughed.  

"If any a time to stand back, it's now - you shouldn't trust your wife with weaponry she's never used before."  

Merida and my husband laughed.

I wriggled into the sleeve, and held the bow up, laced the arrow straight across...but it just didn't seem right.  

"Hold your one arm stra-a-a-a-ight out - like this.  And then use your other hand to yank back on that string and arrow with all your might - like this."  

Merida mimicked the position I needed to have, but I still fumbled, hopelessly embarrassed.  

Flynn stepped forward, took my one arm and pulled it back towards him, and he straightened my other arm out almost the whole way.  

"There ya go."  Merida held her hands out.  "THAT'S exactly how you hold it!" 

I was excited to finally have the right position, and accidentally let my grip go on the arrow.  

It pinged off of the metal edge of the table in front of us, and ricocheted.  

Flynn grabbed me by the waist and yanked me backwards, grabbed Merida's arm, and pulled the both of us away as the arrow bounced back our way.  

It landed on its side, right on the chair.  

"You're right.  Maybe I SHOULDN'T trust you with weaponry you don't know how to use!"  Flynn joked.  

"Oh, hush up," I said.  Now that I knew I didn't hurt anyone, I got the giggles.  

Merida stood - when Flynn had yanked her towards us, she'd fallen to her knees - and gave me a playful shove.  "You'll catch on.  But your lesson learnt for today is: Never, EVER shoot anything towards something it'll ricochet off of.  Like metal." 

I laughed harder.  "S-s-sorry!  I didn't break anything, did I?"  

"Nope," Merida went over to pick up the arrow.  

I noticed Flynn still held me tightly.  "You can let go now...no flying arrows to shield me from.  Right now, anyway."  

He laughed, and let go of me.  

Merida handed me the arrow and told me to try, try again.

So I did...and I actually didn't almost kill anybody!  :D

After that, Flynn left for awhile and Merida and I took turns shooting the bow and arrow.  It was actually a good bit of fun! 

Eventually, though, Flynn came back over and asked if he could 'steal' me.  

Merida said that even though stealing was bad, she'd let him anyway, and I chuckled.  

"Hey, thanks so much!"  I called after her as she hefted up her bow onto her shoulder.  

"Yep!  See, it was a lot of fun, wasn't it?"  

"For sure!" I nodded and watched her walk away.  When I turned back around, Flynn was standing so close I rammed into him.   

He held out his hand, so I took it.  

We made our way down to the floor and walked.  Flynn asked how everything had gone with Merida, so I ecstatically filled him in.  When I was done with my monologue, we walked in complete silence.  I could feel him staring at me, and my face grew red. 

Fumbling for something to say, I took his other hand and wrapped one arm around his waist. "So, no dancing today?"  I said with a grin.

He suddenly looked as if he'd forgotten something.  

"Oh, I'm so sorry - I totally forgot to ask Rayne to play the playlist I'd made up last Friday...What with the kids and-"

"It's fine - I was just wondering - and half teasing, too, because we'd done it every other time."  I smiled up at him, and he almost looked like he'd lost himself in my eyes or something - it made my face get hotter!  Could I embarrass myself any more?  Apparently so...

We climbed up onto the chair at his suggestion.  

He just stood, looking at me, and I leaned 'casually' up against a rung of the chair.  

I fiddled with my braid, which was becoming pretty messy.  

"I need to-"

He suddenly leaned over and swept me up into a passionate kiss, cutting me off.  

My hands made awkward jerking motions, in my surprise, but then I put them up on his shoulders.  My knees started to go out from under me and a tingly sensation gripped my spine.  I was a bit shocked/surprised/whatever you want to call it.  But when he finally began to slowly pull away from me, I stood on my tiptoes to return the kiss, not wanting to let the warmth of his go. 

Yeah, I know.  I'm pathetic.  [ ; 

When I pulled away from him, I let my hands slide down to hold him around the waist, comfortably, with a sigh. 

He reached over and pushed some stray hairs away from my face, and let his hand linger on my head a moment.  "I love you," he whispered.  Chills rained down my arms - but they were happy chills :D  

"What was that for?" I asked, finally finding some words to say around my thundering heart.  

"Just because," he gave me that grin and I smiled back at him.  

"Because why?" 

"What, can't I kiss my beautiful wife when I feel like kissing her?" he said, trying to be serious.  

"It's not that I don't appreciate it..." I winked and he started to lean down again. I pushed him away and laughed.  "You're laying on the sweetness just a bitttt too thick, honey."  

He pulled me close again and put his forehead on mine.  I put my hand on  his face and smiled at him before shutting my eyes.  

"Two weeks ago, I never would've guessed we would be so open like this.  I never would've guessed we would've ended up with four kids, losing them all, and then getting two back, either.  And I never would've guessed how much I love you!"  He whispered, still standing close to me.  

Despite the oppressiveness of the muggy weather, I was in no big hurry to pull away from his arms.  

My heart swelled and I kept my eyes closed until I finished my answer.  "Two weeks ago, I never would have guessed we would be this way, either.  I never would've guessed ANY of this, either!  And I pretty much knew I had the world's biggest crush EVER on you, but I didn't really know how much so!  And by the way...love you too."  

He smiled at me and gave me a quick kiss on the forehead. "HAD the world's biggest crush ever on me?"  

It took me a minute - okay, so my mind was a bit boggled at the time - but I finally got it.  "You're bad.  Now I don't just have a CRUSH on you...Now I have the ribbon to prove it.  And you obviously had a crush on me in order to give me that ribbon."  He chuckled.  

I could've stayed there forever, but my motherly instinct kicked in.  "We should, uh...we should probably get back to the kids."  

He nodded in agreement, took my hand, and we went back to the shelf.  

Merida was asleep on the floor, sprawled out, with Allie, Hallie, and Jase laying sleeping all around her. 

I giggled quietly at the sight, and Flynn shook with the attempt to keep his laughter bottled up inside of him. 

"Should we leave her here tonight?" I whispered...but it was loud enough to wake my friend.  

"WHO'S THERE?!" she yelled, quite loudly.  I was amazed that the babies slept through it.  

"It's just us," I was dying of laughter by now.  

"Oh.  Oh!" she jumped up and smoothed her crazy hair from her face.  "They were good.  The babies were a bit fussy but nothing totally crazily out of hand.  And Jase was very good.  She played herself out."  

"Thanks so much," I gave her a quick hug, and she scooped up Allie.  

"I'll see ya all tomorrow!"  Merida grinned before she left.  

As soon as she left, Hallie started to cry.  Yawning, I went over and scooped her up.  

"It's alright, sweetie-pie!" I bounced her and smiled down at her, my heart squeezing.  

Jase woke up long enough to want a hug from Flynn and I, and then she retreated to the alarm clock by herself and plopped down.  I think she may have fallen asleep before she even sat down!  

After awhile, Hallie STILL wasn't asleep.  Every time I'd lay her down, she'd start screaming.  

I glanced at Flynn.  "I bet this is because of HB."  

"Uhhh-huh." he said, sounding very unhappy, indeed.  

I suppressed another yawn.  "Hallie, baby girl...go to sleep..."  I crooned to her for awhile, but she still would cry the second I put her down.  

My eyes were super-heavy and I needed to go to sleep.  I sat down instead of pacing back and forth.  Within minutes, Hallie was sleeping in my arms, again.  Glancing at the clock, I realized it was close to one in the morning...we'd been at it since 10.  Wiping my eyes, I realized Flynn was standing with his arms out.  "What?"

"You go to sleep.  I'll take care of her the rest of the night."

"No...you'll get a migraine."  I shook my head.  

"Don't worry.  You need sleep!"  He raised his eyebrows and wiggled his fingers.  

"Sit." I whispered.  He obliged, wrapping an arm around my shoulders.  "That's better," I joked quietly, trying to wake myself.  My eyes still rolled around in tiredness.  

He opened his mouth to tell me to go lay down, and I shook my head, saying I was fine.  

After awhile, Hallie FINALLY let me put her down without waking and crying hard. I gave a victorious smile to Flynn, and he gave me a quick little kiss.  

And then we hurried to bed to get some rest before the next scream-fest commenced!  =D