3 month anniversary (=

Friday the 4th, I took Jase and Alexis for a girl's day.  Flynn, for whatever reason, hadn't wanted to come - I thought maybe he had a headache and wasn't telling me, or something.  And he hadn't even breathed a word about it being our 3 month anniversary, at all, all week; so maybe he'd forgotten.  But regardless. 
Despite Jase's request, I didn't let the girls ride today - It was a two-doll job, to lead the horse forward and to make sure nobody falls off.  Instead, at their next request, I took them to see the 18 inchers.  They played with Nells, Samantha, and Julie whilst I chatted with Hailey and a few of the others.  I made a special point to say hello to Kailey, and when she realized I was standing right in front of her so she could read my lips, she allowed herself a small smile, concealed by looking down. 

We spent the majority of the day out; the girls seemed to already have forgotten about Merida's departure.  Which, I must admit, I was a bit relieved to know, because Merida still wasn't out of the box, and we sill hadn't figured out a way to get her out.  Rather, I haven't.  Rose and I have yet to attempt a group effort :P  

So we got home around eight, the girls exhausted. 
Flynn greeted us with that classic grin.  "Well, if it isn't three of my favorite girls..."
Jase ran into his arms.  He scooped her up and carefully tossed her into the air a few times, and she giggled until she squirmed to be let down.  He set her down, and she raced over to Rose, and I overheard her excitedly narrating her day. 
Alexis gave Flynn a shy smile and then hurried off to join her sister.
I smiled, watching them, until Flynn turned towards me and winked. 
"I hope your greeting is better than the last,"  he joked.  "I haven't seen you in...what...twelve hours?" 
I rolled my eyes at him, giggling.  I walked over and gave him a quick hug before Flynn turned me away from everyone else so he could steal a quick little kiss. 
Remembering my earlier concern about him having a migraine, as soon as he pulled away, I asked, "So..how're you feeling?" 
Giving me a confused look, he said, "I'm fine...why?  Aren't you-"
"Just wondering," I said, giving him a smile, even though that had made me even more confused. 

After the girls had finished talking with Rose, an hour later, they went to bed.  Hallie went right asleep as well, thank goodness, and then I started to brush my hair out, getting ready for bed myself. 
"What'cha doin'?"  Flynn came up behind me and gave me a quick hug.  I tried not to accidentally smack him with the brush when I hit a snag in my hair, but luckily enough, he noticed that and stepped back.  (When you're married to someone with such long hair, you learn relatively fast to stay out of dodge of potential harm inflicted by tangled-up brushes.  :D) 
"I'm... getting ready for bed...." I said, working through the knot.  "What're you doing?"  I added, jokingly. 
"Waiting for you," he said. 
"Go on to bed- Ah-hah!  See?  I'm done now, anyway," I laughed to myself. 
"Come with me instead," he requested, holding out a hand to me. 
"Why?"  I asked, quirking a brow. 
"You didn't think I forgot that today was our 3-month anniversary, did you?" 
Well, precisely. 
"Well, uh... Wh..where'd we be going?  It's dark, and it's, like, ten PM!  You need to get to sleep." 
"C'mon."  He chuckled and reached for one of my hands.  "Just trust me."
I allowed him to take me wherever he was taking me, but I was confused as all get-out, and wasn't exactly enthused with his secrecy. 
Finally, he stopped at the windowsill. 
"Why...the window?"  I asked, looking at him questioningly. 
"Look up," he told me, pointing.
And then I saw them.  The millions of gorgeous stars stood out like diamonds against a black velvet sky, and the night was as clear as it could possibly be. 
"Oh my gosh," I breathed.  I went up to the window and pressed my nose up against it, staring up at the sky with amazement.  I backed up a couple of small steps, trying to take in every single thing I could take in, and bumped into Flynn's chest.  "Oh - sorry!  I just...this is amazing, Flynn!  I've never even seen the stars before!" 
I could just see a little bit of the moon, but there was enough light from it to illuminate Flynn's face.  I turned towards him and couldn't wipe the smile off my face.  He was giving me a loving gaze, and I smiled even more when I realized that.  "Thank you so much for doing this, Flynn...it's perfect!" 
"I know it's not exactly a unique thing or original, but we hadn't done this before, just sit and look at the stars...so I figured I'd see how you liked it." 
"I love it...we could do this anytime!"  I exclaimed, giving him a hug before I ecstatically went to look at the stars again. 
Flynn propped himself up against a corner of the window frame, flopping down, and he caught my attention long enough to invite me to come sit on his lap. 
Instead, I came over and curled up on my side beside him, and continued to stared out the window.  I almost sub-consciously put my arms around him and he did the same, grinning down at me before kissing my forehead.  Leaning my head on his chest, we both just stared out the window in silence for awhile.  I couldn't not look at it all!  It was so pretty, and such a clear night. 
"I can't believe it's been three months already," I sighed, and he looked down at me to smile adoringly.  "This is just so perfect!" 
"Isn't it?  But it wouldn't be as perfect if you weren't here," he told me, and I wasn't sure whether I wanted to be annoyed by his sappiness or to like him just a little bit more. 
Eh.  Tonight I'll go with the last option.  :D 
I sat up and he gave me a questioning look until I pulled him into a kiss.  When I pulled away, he gazed at me tenderly and stroked the hair from my face before I curled up beside him once more. 
He put a hand on my arm, and then jerked it away.  "Why didn't you tell me you were cold?" 
I quite honestly had been too busy gazing up at the stars to realize I was cold, but since he had mentioned it, I realized I was, actually, a little chilly. 
"I uh...I didn't really...know."  I said, sure it sounded beyond lame. 
He chuckled and stood up, pulling away from my arms. 
"Wait...no," I said, standing as well.  "It's fine -I hadn't even-"
He turned and put a finger over my lips.  "I have the hankerchief right over here.  I figured it would get chilly up here." 
I felt stupid, but he seemed to be in good humor about it.  He retrieved it, draped it over my shoulders, and then wrapped me up tight in his arms, giving me a kiss.
"Aren't you cold?"  I asked, and he shook his head.
"No, I've got long sleeves - you're running around in a short-sleeved dress!" 
We stood and looked outside for awhile, until Flynn sat back down. I stayed standing for a few minutes, taking in the stars, but then I plopped down beside him again. 
"So...are you bored, or..?"  He asked me. 
I glanced up at him.  "No!  I love this.  We should do this more often." 
"Okay.  Fine by me," he said, and I glanced back towards him just in time to catch his affectionate gaze, which he quickly averted when he caught me looking at him. 
I giggled and nestled close to him and we stayed just like that for I don't know how long. 

Eventually, though, reality hit me and I jumped all over, gasping. 
"You need to get to bed!" I exclaimed, standing up abruptly.
"Just this one night...  It won't hurt me," he reassured me, snagging my hand. 
"But if you get a-" 
"I won't," he said, pulling me back down beside him.  "Don't worry." 
I looked up at his brown eyes and grinned as I melted just a teeeeensy tiny bit.  He must've noticed, because he smiled and leaned towards me.  My lips met his in a kiss that made my stomach erupt with butterflies, my heart flutter, and my head got all muddled up.  When he pulled away, he stroked my cheek with the pad of his thumb, and I suddenly got self-conscious. 
I pulled away from his touch and my eyes darted, trying to find something to look at.  I felt my face grow hot, and was glad he couldn't see-
"You know, you're probably the only doll I know who can pull off that adorable, red-faced embarrassment expression."  He joked, but he let me have some space. 
"Yeah, yeah...I dunno why I'm embarrassed, though."  I mumbled.  "I goober everything up."   I added, suddenly remorseful for leaving his gentle touch. 
"No, you don't.  Quite the opposite."  He pulled me close again, and we sat for awhile longer, looking at the stars and enjoying the quiet companionship.   

Next thing I remember, my shoulder was being jiggled. 
"Wake up, dear girl.  I was gonna try carrying you back to the shelf, but it's dark and I don't want to drop you." 
I allowed one eye to peel open, and then I got the other one open. 
"W-what time is it?"  I asked groggily.  "Wh-ohhh....how long was I out?" 
"I dunno.  I nodded off for a little while too.  It's two in the morning." 
Hardly awake enough for that to compute, I simply nodded and stared sleepily at him, yawning. 
He chuckled before he brushed the hair from my face.  When I got myself woken up the rest of the way, he helped me up and took my hand comfortably into his, folding up the hankerchief to carry it under his other arm. 
When we got back to the shelf, Flynn checked on the girls to make sure they were warm enough, and I waited for him to lay down. 
"So...did you enjoy your evening?"  Flynn asked, crawling under the hankerchief, which I'd spread out. 
"Very much so.  Happy anniversary, I love you way too much for words to express, and good night." 
He chuckled, and started to answer me, but I was out before he was finished. 

2 month anni (:

On the 4th of September, I woke up a little early.  Hallie had been pretty good yesterday, which was amazing.  Alexis was FINALLY starting to slowwwwly warm up to us, although she'd just told us, upon asking, that she wanted to think for a few days about being adopted by us.  Things were looking up! (: 
I woke up on my side.  I smiled and turned my head to look at Flynn...what I saw was his feet. 
His...feet?  Okay...
I sat up quickly and saw I must've thrashed around in my sleep last night enough to have flipped myself to the other end of the bench. 
I looked at Flynn's sleeping face, and a weird feeling washed over me.  I felt like I needed to be close to him, for whatever reason.  Velcro Rapunzel, maybe, as he'd call it?  I dunno.  But regardless, I laid down on my side behind Flynn and carefully set an arm around him, breathing in the smell of his shirt.  I did this for a few minutes, but then he woke up.  I felt his hand on my arm, and then he turned to give me a smile. 
"Well, good morning, darling." He gave me a smile.  "What's up with you?" 
I shrugged and sat up, shoving the hair from my face so I could look at him.  I drew my knees to my chest and shrugged again, a little embarrassed to explain that I felt, basically, clingy today.
"I-I dunno.  It's stupid...but I feel...needy today, I guess.  I feel like I need to be close to you or something, I don't know.  It's dumb...Just - never mind." 
His face slowly created another smile as he sat up too.  "That's fine.  I get that way sometimes, too.  And it's not that hard to fix!" 
I quirked a brow, until he leaned forward and pulled me close into a warm, loving hug that made my spine feel tingly. 
I put my arms around him too, and unfurled my legs until I could lean a little closer into him.  We just sat there for a few moments, and I enjoyed his strong embrace.  But all good things must come to an end, and he slowly pulled away, bumping his forehead with mine and laying down on his back.  I flopped down on my side beside him, and he pulled me super snug and tight into his side.  I put one of my hands on his chest and propped my chin on his chest as well, staring into his brown eyes. 
My hubby, bless his heart, tolerated my oddness.  He gave me a smile and then he pulled me close into a kiss that made my head spin. 
When that was over, I gave him a wide-eyed look, to which he rubbed his thumb on my cheek. 
"I-ah....w-well..." I mumbled, trying to regroup my thoughts.  "Love you."  I finally spit out. 
He gave a quiet laugh.  "Love you too, honey." 
I grinned and shut my eyes, leaving my head on his chest.  Until a thought occured to me.
Hallie was silent. 
Hallie.  Was silent. 
I quickly pulled away from his arms and propped myself up on my elbow to look at him.  "Did you get up any with Hallie last night?" 
He shook his head.  "I slept like a rock.  Did you?"
"No..."
He got a mildly concerned expression on his face, and my feelings inside matched it.
I sat up, turned to face the other direction, and flung myself onto my side, leaning out to look at the babies, who always slept near the bench anymore. 
I leaned really far, and my arm was shaking, so I could likely faceplant hard any second, but I still made sure Hallie was sleeping safe and sound. 
She was.  Her tiny little chest rose and fell rhythmically.  She had just slept through the night, which was a surprise anymore. 
Then, I felt an arm snake out around my waist. 
"Hey, you're gonna smack your face off that dresser pretty soon here...you keep bobbing around."  He pulled me into his front, and held me close.  "Hallie's okay?" 
"She must have just slept the night..she seems fine.  I don't want to wake her up to check on her." 
"Okay."  His shoulders must've drooped an inch in relief, because I felt his arm grow heavier all of a sudden.  He planted a kiss on my cheek and I snuggled a bit closer, curling up into a ball. 
I was allowing my eyes to drift back shut when I heard tiny footsteps. 
Alexis appeared just outside of the bench. 
I jumped all over and quickly pulled away from Flynn, my face blazing red.  I don't know why I was embarrassed, but I was. 
"Hey, honey...why're you up so early?" 
"I wanted to talk."  She looked down, but then she tipped her chin up and stared at me.
"Okay," I resituated myself to sit up against the bench leg, and she came over.  I pulled her onto my lap and gave her a kiss on the forehead.  "What's your topic?"
"I...I want to stay with you guys.  Last night, I decided that you guys were the best family I've ever had, and you've stuck it out with me the longest.  And I like you." 
I smiled at her, feeling as if the weight of the world had gone off of my shoulders...about that topic, anyway.  "Oh, honey...I'm so glad you feel that way.  You know we both love you very much, right?  We'll let Tangled Fan know as soon as we can!" 
"Okay."  Her lips hinted at a small smile,  which I had honestly seen hardly anything close come from her. 
She rested her head up against me and I cuddled her close, turning to give Flynn an astonished smile.  He grinned, and he looked like he wanted to join in and create a group hug, but didn't; knowing she'd not take too kindly to that situation. 

But then she did something even more surprising.  "I love you...Momma."
First time she'd said that.  First time she'd called me her mother.  I was soaring. 
"Love you too, baby girl."  I gave her another extra-tight cuddle, but then she wormed away from me. 
Had I overdone it? 
Nope.  The girl was full of surprises. 
She took a deep breath and walked the few steps over to Flynn, standing to say it.  "And I love you, Dad." 
His face lit into the most adorable, surprised, and loving smile known to mankind.  He said he loved her too, and then, I think almost by accident, he pulled her into a bear hug. 
When he reluctantly let her go, I watched her face.  Flynn did the same thing. 
She looked up at him and gave him a smile. 
An honest to goodness smile. 
"I'm going back to bed."  she said, givng her eyes a rub. 
"Okay, sweetie." 
When she'd left, Flynn slowly turned towards me, wide-eyed.  I matched his expression and grabbed his hand. 
"I think the wall she's built around herself is finally falling, brick by small bri-"
He grabbed me into an excited hug before I could even finish my sentence.  When he released me, I laughed. 
"Excited just a  bit?" 
"I'm just so....so glad she's finally beginning to realize we won't hurt her...that poor child."
"I know...I'm really happy too.  I've been waiting so long for this to happen-"
"Two weeks.."
"Two and a half." 
"Fine, two and a half."
"But anyway...two and a half weeks for her to warm up just the slightest bit...and now it's happening!"  I squeaked at the last one, and he grinned. 
"Yup," he stared lovingly at me and I squirmed.
"I suppose we should get up..."
"Rapunzel.  Alexis just went back to bed because it was too early for even THEM!  Lay back and chill for awhile.  Enjoy that peace and quiet." 
I chuckled, nodding, and flopped backwards. 
He laid down as well, turned on his side to look at me, so I turned to face him. 
"You ready for a day out?" 
It took a second to register that today was our 2-month anniversary.  I will admit that.  xD  When it clicked in my mind, I nodded with a grin.  "Happy 2-month anni, honey."
He gave me a big smile, stroking my hair.  "Happy anniversary to you too, my precious girl."
My stomach fluttered in an explosion of butterflies, and I impulsively grabbed him into a kiss.  He reached over and pulled me close to him, and the kiss intensified before I finally pulled away.  When I did, he gave me a peck on the nose and a smile, but he didn't loosen his arm around me.
"So, you like being called 'my precious girl'?"  He joked, and I giggled quietly.   
I wormed away from him and rolled onto my back, staring up at the underside of the bench.  I randomly thought about how badly I wished I could dress up a bit for him for our anniversary outings - or even simply change my dress! 
"Hey," he said quietly, reaching to push the hair from my face.  "What's the matter?  All of a sudden, you just..."
"Oh, it's nothing."  I knew he'd give me the same old lecture if I told him. 
"Honey, in my experience, when you say something's nothing, it's usually something.  I won't laugh or anything, you know that." 
"I just wish I could dress up a bit for you once in awhile...I mean, you're always making up these great outings, a-and what have I done to thank you or return the favor?  Nothing.  And it's just...ugh.  See, I told you it was stupid."  I didn't meet his eyes during all of this until I was done. 
"Baby, I don't care what you look like.  You should know that by now.  You don't have to dress up or anything.  And you have returned the favor, time and time again.  First of all, you've stuck with me for the past two months, and sure we kind of got off on a rocky, hundred-mile-an-hour ride from being engaged to married with four foster kids in less than a week.  You've loved me when I don't deserve it - such as on Monday - and you're just there; and you've got a heart of gold.  That, precious girl, is what counts."  His eyebrows furrowed as he studied my face.  I was almost in tears over that one. 
"I-I...." my voice cracked, and I wasn't sure what to say anyway.  My lips blubbed uselessly as I tried to make words come out.  Until he leaned over and gave me a sweet, passionate kiss.  I closed my eyes and enjoyed every second until he slowly pulled away and smiled at me.  I was more than just slightly dazzled, and I stared silently at him until I could think up something to say. 
"O-oh, gosh...now I've really forgotten what I wanted to say," I joked, and he chuckled. 
"Good.  Just don't forget what I told you," he gave me that grin of his, and my heart fluttered.  But then that grin turned into his mischievous grin. 
And then he reached to tickle my side.  
With a slightly louder-than-expected gasp, I elbowed him until he removed his tickling fingers. 
"You're a brat," I laughed quietly, turning to my side away from him as if I was mad at him. 
"Oh, but you wouldn't love me any other way, would you?" 
"Hmph."  I tried to sound mad, but it failed....bigly.  He laughed through his nose and pulled me close to him, kissing my hair and wrapping his arm around my waist.
And then I heard Hallie whimper.
Flynn, who had been pulling me a tad closer, froze.  I held my breath.
And then she was quiet again.
I loosed my breath and shot a fist in the air.  "Yes!"  I exclaimed quietly, and then Flynn flat-out laughed. "Shh!"  I exclaimed, sitting to clap a hand over his mouth.
 Merida ducked her head under the bench.  "What is all the laughin' about?!  Or do I even want to know?" 
I turned to look at her, still keeping my hand pressed over his mouth.  If I left him speak now, I'd regret it.  "I, um..well, see, I was listening for Hallie to cry, because I heard her whimper, and when she quieted down again, I shot my fist in the air and was like, 'YES!'..and he found that highly amusing for whatever reason.  We didn't wake you, did we?" 
"Naw, I was up anyhow.  I was just wonderin' what all the laughin' was over."  She quirked a brow when Flynn tried to speak through my hand. 
I left him mumble for a few seconds, but then I felt my hand get wet.  He licked my hand.  He legit licked the palm of my hand. 
"Oh my gosh, you are sick!  I can't-ugh!"  I squealed, yanking my hand off of his mouth and shoving his chest hard enough to knock him backwards, before I wiped my hand off on his shirt.  "I can't believe you." 
Merida was chortling, giving me a gleeful grin.  Flynn was laughing. 
"I can't believe the both of you!"  I grumped, trying to sound disgusted - I didn't have to try too hard - and wiped my hand a couple more times and shook my head. 
"What I was trying to...say...whilst I was so r-rudely...restrained...is that I was wondering if you, Merida...Merida!  If you would watch the kids while we have a day out.  It's our two-month anniversary."  He said between gales of laughter and attempts to get Merida to pay attention. 
Merida allowed her chuckles to subside before she answered.  "Sure...I can watch 'em."
"Not sure I want to go with you today, you sick creature," I grumbled, looking at my hand. 
"Oh, come on..." he laughed, sitting up and grabbing me into a one-armed hug before I could move away from him. 
"That was pretty disgusting there, pal...but it was hilarious."  Merida said, still grinning.
"Says you, she who does not have a wet hand," I laughed. 
She left, and Flynn turned to me. 
"Sorry."  He told me, but I could see that dirty little grin he had on his face.
"No way are you sorry, I see the smirk on your fa-"
He broke me off.  "Okay...it was pretty funny.  Now...since she's up, do you want to just get up and get moving?"
"Sure," I said, pulling away from his arm and crawling out from under the bench. 
I rummaged around, found the ribbons and flowers that Tangled Fan had used in my hair once, got my brush, and got to work.  I might not have any other dresses to wear, but I have a lot of hair, and I could dress that hair up like it was in the movie, when Rapunzel gets to see the kingdom.  Annnd so I did! 
When I was done, Flynn was waiting for me. 
He gave me a huge grin, we said goodbye to the girls, and then we were off. 

When we had made our way to the floor, Flynn stepped away from me. 
"Give me a twirl," he smiled and gestured. 
"Why?"  I furrowed my brows. 
"Because," he chuckled, and I rolled my eyes, but I did give a twirl. 
That failed hugely. 
Remember how I always say I'm not graceful?   Un-graceful people should NOT EVER twirl.  Ever. 
I twirled, and I twisted my back the wrong way.  But then, on top of that, I got one leg tangled around the other.  I stumbled into Flynn, who was standing right by me, and then he staggered backwards. I kept going, and I tried to catch myself, but I couldn't.  Tangled Fan's floor was actually clean of clutter, so there was nothing I could grab onto.  Except for Flynn, and he was stumbling as bad as I was by now!
So finally, I went down right on top of Flynn with an oof and a thump. 
I caught myself before I smacked my head off of his, luckily. 
He gave me a surprised and slightly stunned expression, and I probably matched it. 
"A-are you alright?"  I finally managed. 
He chuckled, staring at me. "Yep...you?" 
"Well, yeah...I mean, I landed on something slightly softer than the hard floor...and you didn't," I laughed. 
"Remind me to not ask you to twirl.  Ever.  But what I wanted to say is that you are gorgeous, and I love your hair that way."  He gave me a warm smile, and cupped my cheek in his hand.
"Oh...well, um...thanks," I realized I was still on top of him, and I sat abruptly. 
He sat up too, and I realized I was still across his legs.  I scrambled awkwardly in an attempt to get up, but he took my hand in his - with such gentleness that I was surprised; he wasn't just keeping ahold of me so I couldn't go - and I stopped to look at him a few seconds before I slowly stood, squeezing his hand and not letting go of it.  He stood as well, and then swept me up close to him and into a tender kiss. 
When he pulled away, he bumped his forehead with mine and I stared up at his brown eyes, which were giving me a loving gaze.  I grinned as the butterflies started up, and kissed his cheek.  He tried to conceal the pleased grin, but it came anyway, and he pulled me a bit closer for a hug.  When we pulled apart, he took my hand in his again and gave me a sweet smile. 
"So...what're we planning on doing?"
"Well...you know how awhile back, when Jase rode Maximus, how you wanted to as well?  It slipped my mind until the other day...so why don't we go ride?" 
I gasped.  He was actually going to do this?  Awesome!  "Really?" 
He chuckled, nodding.  I squeaked with excitement and grabbed him into a quick, excited hug, before I left him lead me to where Maximus was at. 
"Let me ride him first, so he won't buck you off or anything," Flynn told me when I raced over to him excitedly. 
"Oh, he's fine...he was as sweet as pie with Jase," I told him.  "That was just a one-time thing, I think." 
"I just-" 
Maximus nuzzled my hand with his plastic nose, and I giggled.  "He'll be fine, Flynn...if I fall, you can say 'I told you so'." 
Flynn gave me an uncomfortable glance, but he finally sighed and nodded.  "Alright...but just don't get hurt, okay hon?" 
"Okay," I laughed, and Flynn gave me a boost up into the saddle. 

When I was situated, he let go of the reins reluctantly and rested a hand on my leg.  "You sure?"
"Positive," I grinned as I clucked Maximus on. 
He was perfect.  I walked, trotted, and cantered him.  He was acting absolutely perfect, until we went near the guinea pig cage on the floor. 
The guinea pigs in the cage both ran over to the cage side and started squeaking.  Max shied before loosing a round of violent bucks.  I gasped and clung to his mane, wrapping my legs around his barrel.
Mistake. 
He squealed, pinning his ears, and crowhopped in disapproval.  I glanced up just in time to see him almost ram into a bin, and he swerved.  I wasn't ready for it, and I flew off, landing right on my back. 
It knocked the breath out of me and I couldn't even get myself to move.
Flynn was at my side in a moment.  "Are you alright?"  He frantically studied my face. 
Well, it's kind of hard to speak when the breath's been knocked right out of you.  Finally, I managed to squeak.  "Y-yeah, I'm alright.  Just"-I coughed, and cleared my throat before continuing -"Just a bit stunned, and need to catch my breath." 
"I knew I should've gone on him first, or led you, or something...oh gosh,  I just need to listen to my gut instinct...you end up getting-"
"Flynn.  It's fine.  I'm fine" - we'll not mention my aching back quite yet - "Don't beat yourself up about it.  If anything, it's the guinea pigs' faults," I joked. 
"I know, but-"
I stuck my hand out.  "Help me up, please?" 
"Oh.  Sure."  He helped me up, and I gave him a smile. 
"Thanks.  See?  I'm walking, talking, breathing...I am fine."
"What about your back?  You landed hard on it." 
Crumbs.  I couldn't lie..."It does hurt, I'll be honest.  But I'm fine." 
"Let's go back-"
"Flynn, I am-"
He started to pick me up. 
"FLYNN!"  I yelped.  "Put.  Me.  Down.  Now!  And no, we're NOT going back home.  I'm fine.  If I feel like I need a break, I'll let you know.  Okay?  Quit obsessing, please." 
He stared down at me, and got a calculating expression on his face. 
Finally, he nodded and set me down. 
"Fine...but you're positive?" 
"I am positive, dear." 
"Okay."  He trailed his hand down my arm tenderly, and then he grasped my hand, pulling it up to kiss it. 
"I don't think you should ride him, though..." I joked.  "Sorry."
"Oh, I wasn't planning on riding anyhow.  I just wanted to before you, to try and work the sillies out of him.  I still don't trust that creature," he said, staring at me. 
"What?"  I asked, referring to his stare. 
He didn't answer me, he just simply took a stride towards me and pulled me close. 
I could hear his heart pounding, he was holding me so close. 
"W-wh..." I trailed off, and he tightened his arms around me. 
Well...either he'd answer me, or I'd eventually stop breathing from his tight grip.  Whichever came first?  I wasn't sure.

His heartbeat eventually slowed, and only then did he allow me to pull away.  He put his hands on my shoulders and swallowed.  "It just scared me, is all."
"Everything scares you," I chuckled, but I could see in his face that he had indeed been terrified. 
"Everything that includes you or the girls," he corrected. 
I nodded, silently scolding myself for chuckling at his obvious concern.  "Sorry."  I gave him a small, sheepish smile and glanced around, trying to think of something to get his mind off of me falling. 
"Why don't we sit up on the window?"  I suggested, nodding towards the window. 
He wet his lips and nodded, letting go of me.  I took his hand and led the way to the window, thankful for a distraction. 
We hopped up onto the windowsill and I sat down in the one corner, trying to very discreetly rub at my back. 
He saw me, though. 
He quirked a brow, but he sat and didn't say anything. 
Phew. 
Dodged a bullet on that one. 

We sat and watched the outdoors for a good long while.  We just sat in silence and enjoyed one another's presence, which was nice. 
After a good while, though, Flynn got restless.  He stood, and asked how my back was. 
It was pretty sore, but I was fine.  I told him so, and he didn't look very relieved. 
We left the windowsill, and walked around for awhile, just about general whatever, until Tangled Fan came hurrying in.  Great -I could ask her about Alexis! 
"Tangled Fan!  Wait up a sec," I exclaimed, waving my arms so she would see us. 
She stopped abruptly, and bent to look at us.  "Yes?" 
I glanced at Flynn and he gave me a  confused look, but then it clicked.  He gave me a smile and a nod before grasping my hand. 
"Can we adopt Alexis?  I think we're ready." 
She smiled and nodded.  "Awesome!  For sure...I'll just make a note to not toss her up into a box or anything." 
"That'd probabbbly be best," I laughed, even though I was mildly horrified. 
She left, and I turned to Flynn. 
"Well...we just added another to our family."  He gave me a crooked grin and I couldn't help the tingle that went up my spine. 
"I'm just so glad she's warming up to us!"  I continued walking, and he hurried to catch up with me. 
"I almost passed out when she as much as LOOKED at me this morning." 
"I know..I could see it in your face," I grinned as I remembered his expression. 

We walked for awhile, but once darkness crept up on us, we headed back. 
Everything and everyone was quiet, but they were up. 
"Merida!  How were the girls?" I walked over to her and asked.
"They were all good...weren't ye?"  She asked, and Jase and Alexis nodded.  We watched Jase hurry over to Flynn, and I reached to pick Alexis up.  "And Hallie was just a pleasant little girl, like she used to be." 
"Awesome," I exclaimed. 
The two babies were already sleeping, so I didn't bother Hallie. 
"And how did y'two enjoy yer day out?"  She gave me a smirk. 
"It was great, thanks so much for watching the kiddos for us!  I fell off of Maximus, but other than that, it went well.  We also ran into Tangled Fan, and Alexis...you're officially adopted now." 
She gave me a big grin and hug, and then squirmed to get down.  I let her go, and Merida gave me a quick, one-armed hug. 
"So how bad did yer hubby flip when ye fell?" 
"He managed to keep it to a minimum, after I told him to stop obsessing." 
She laughed and rolled her eyes. 
"Hey...you up for a girl's day out tomorrow?"  Merida asked. 
"Well..I dunno.  Flynn, what-"
"Go for it.  I can handle all the kids," he told me.

We sat up and talked for awhile, planning, but then we all went to bed. 
By the time we got to bed, my back was aching like nobody's business.  I sprawled out on my back, trying to stretch it out.  Flynn flopped down beside me and watched me as I writhed around in odd attempts to relieve the soreness. 
"Your back still hurt, baby?"  I glanced up at his concerned expression. 
I considered doing a quick little white lie, but I didn't.  "Yeah, it hurts." 
"Should I-"
Should he go get Tangled Fan? What was his first thought?  Mine was NO.  And so I said so. 
"I was going to ask if you wanted me to rub your back." 
"Oh.  No, it's-" I broke off as he did so anyway.  "Well..that does make it feel pretty good." 
He chuckled to himself and continued for a few minutes, until I suppose his hands got tired.  When he was done, I turned to my side and pulled him into a quick kiss. 
"Thanks,"
"Anytime..I'll do anything to please my girl," he joked, giving me a wink. 
I rolled my eyes and then they crossed as he gave me a peck on the nose.  I grinned and then flopped onto my back, trying to find a comfortable spot.
"Thanks for letting me go with Merida on a girl's day out tomorrow," I told him. 
"Excited?" 
"Kind of..." I smiled. 
"Just stay safe." 
Gosh...well, I do suppose one of the last times we'd gone on a girl's day out, I'd ended up hurting my arm, so he did have a point.  "I will," I laughed, and then he leaned over so we could share a sweet goodnight kiss.  When he started to pull away, I leaned into him and kissed him back, and when I pulled away, he gave me a big smile.  He told me good night and I returned it, and then I was out. 

Month and...four week anniversary :D

Hey everyone! (: 
Today is our month and four-week anniversary :D  I cannot believe that on September 4th, we'll have been married for two months already!!  (:  I guess that time flies when you're having fun....and getting injured right and left, having crazy Barbies trying to take your children, and a host of other things.  Anyway. 

Thursday morning, I woke at eight, just as the open window was beginning to allow the humid-ness of the outside to leak indoors.   The cold streak from last week was long gone; quickly replaced by more summery weather.  
I glanced up at Flynn and saw he was already awake as well.  Laying on his back, he smiled over at me.  I returned it, and then rolled over to face him. 
"Morning, my beautiful lost princess."  he said, a grin teasing the corners of his mouth. 
He'd been calling me his 'lost princess' since we'd watched the movie.  I quite honestly hoped that this phase would end soon, because it sounded weird and I am definitely not princess-like..but I still got a laugh out of it. 
I rolled my eyes and propped myself up on one of my elbows to look at him.  He reached over and gently pushed the hair away from my face and tucked it behind my shoulders, and when his warm hand lingered on my cheek, I took a hold of it and held it there, grinning at him. 
Then, I put a hand on his chest and leaned over to give him a kiss.  When I pulled away, he gave me a surprised, yet pleased grin.  "Morning, hon," I added with a quiet laugh. 
My hubby put an arm around my shoulders and gave them a squeeze, so  I rested my head on his chest and enjoyed a few minutes of quietness.  He broke the silence first, though.
"So...I've got a few things planned for today," he told me. 
"Oh?"  I flopped over onto my back and turned to look at him. "And what's that?" 
"You'll see,"
I shook my head.  "You're impossible." 
"Impossible, yet you still love me."
"Oh, I dunno..." I teased, trailing off and tapping my lip with my finger as if I was actually considering otherwise.  He laughed through his nose, cupped my chin in his hand, and was just starting to give me a slow, tender kiss, when I heard a small cry. 
With slight reluctance, I pulled away from him and raised my eyebrows, waiting to see if Hallie would go back to sleep or if she was up for the morning.  And then a more demanding whimper came, so I turned and crawled out.  Flynn followed me and when I scooped Hallie up, I didn't realize he was right behind me.  I turned to walk back and forth, to calm Hallie, and bumped into him with a thump.
"Oops-sorry!"  I exclaimed quietly.  He pantomined falling backwards, and I laughed...loudly, by accident. 
That woke Rayne.  And Jase. 
My face grew hot with embarrassment, and I apologized.  "Sorry, guys!" 
Rayne chuckled and said it was fine, but Jase just gave me a dirty look and went back to bed. Alrighty then! 
"You guys can head on out to do something, if you've got plans.  I can watch the kiddos when they get up."  Rayne offered, taking Hallie from me. 
"How'd you know-"
"It's Thursday, dear," Rayne laughed.  "You two always do something on Thursday!" 
"I suppose so.  But-"
"We'll wait till-" Flynn started to overlap me.
"Go!"  Rayne exclaimed, giving us both gentle shoves towards the edge of the bookshelf. 
"The queen of the dresser has spoken."  Flynn joked, straight-faced, and then dodged her joking attempt to swat him.  "Better go before she beats us up." 
I laughed and gave him a playful punch on the shoulder, hopping down onto the bed. 
He followed me and we made our way to the trunk.  We jumped down onto the trunk, and then Flynn hopped to the floor from there, holding his hands up to me. 
"I can make the jump, Flynn," I told him. 
"Yeah, but I can catch you as well." 
I rolled my eyes, but I knew there was no budging him on said issue...so I jumped. 
He caught me, and whirled me around in a quick half-circle until he was facing the other way, and then he put me down, giving me that grin. 
I giggled and then turned away to start walking.  He followed along beside for a few minutes, and then he snagged my hand. 
I turned to face him.  "What?"
And then I heard the music come on.  I glanced up and saw he'd sneaked Tangled Fan's iPod out of the drawer without me noticing.  Either that or he'd done it before I'd woken up. 
I laughed.  "You..."
He gave me a wink, and I slung my arms around his neck comfortably.  He settled his hands around my waist and we slow-danced our way through Taylor Swift's "Enchanted".  Then, I heard her new song, "Red", come on...I love that song and can't help but start jammin' out when I hear it... :D 
I started doing some odd jig to accomodate the beat of the music.  Flynn let go of me, and I laughed, juking back and forth and bobbing my head to the music.  After watching my antics, Flynn finally caught my hands and we danced along together to the song.  After that song, the "I See the Light" song from "Tangled" came on.  And I must admit, after hearing it the other day, I LOVE it!  (:  Flynn drew me close again and I rested my head on his shoulder as we slowly stepped back and forth to the rhythm. 
"I love this song," I whispered. 
"Well, it is the song in the movie when we both basically admit our love for one another."
"Yeah, but we've already done that." 
"True." 
When the last notes of 'now that I see you' were fading, Flynn suddenly took my chin in his hand and brought my face up to look at him.  When I looked up at his face, I realized he was giving me the most loving, tender gaze.  I gave him a smile, and he leaned down to give me a passionate kiss.  My heart thundered.  When had my heart really thundered over him? It had been awhile, I think.  But maybe not.  Or maybe I was just getting so used to the feeling that I didn't even notice it anymore.  But anyway.  When he finally pulled away, the next song was just coming on. 
He stroked the pad of his thumb on my one cheek and he still held my chin in his hand.  I gave him another smile and reached up to give him a peck on the cheek.  My heart could seriously stop racing anytime now....I got a little embarrassed, wondering if he could even hear my heart pounding.  I glanced down and fumbled for something to say, but nothing came out, which embarrassed me even worse.  You'd think that after almost two months of being married to this guy, I wouldn't get embarrassed around him over much of anything...but obviously, I still do.  He finally let my chin go and I released a breath I didn't even realize I'd been holding. 
"What?"  he asked, peering down into my face with a mildly concerned expression. 
Geesh, had I been that obvious?  "Oh, nothing.  Just thinking, I suppose."  Thinking about how weird I was to still get embarrassed around him if he as much as gave me a kiss.  Which is a normal thing for husband and wife to do.  But no...I have to go be -
"About what?" 
Oh, crumbs. 
"Nothing..ah.., I um, just really appreciate that you still like to...to dance, and go for walks, and..stuff." 
He chuckled and gently loosened his arm that was around my waist.  After that, since the other song was half over, we just stopped it and quit dancing..since that had been the last song on the playlist. 
When we'd shut the iPod off, he turned towards me.  "So, what do you want to do now?"
I shrugged.  "Whatever you want to do, hon." 
With a sigh, Flynn slung his arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze.  "Love you," 
I decided to tease.  "Well, I pretty much figured that." 
"Oh, really now?"  He asked, turning away to set the iPod up off of the floor.  "Are you so sure of that?" 
My sarcastic streak came out a bit, jokingly.  "Well, we're kind of married, and-"
Next thing I know, he's grabbed me up and started tickling.  I shrieked with surprise and wrestled away from him, slipping under his arms and taking off running. 
I turned to run backwards as I saw what he was doing.  He was chasing after me, and I laughed at his goofy face. 
"Hey, watch-"
"Yeah, yeah...you'll tell me to watch out for something, but-"
THUD. 
Half of me rammed into one of Tangled Fan's bins.  With an 'oof', I stumbled sideways and fell down on my backside. 
Flynn came jogging the rest of the way over, and I couldn't tell if he was worried or if he was trying to keep from  laughing. 
"You alright?"  He asked, holding a hand out to me. 
I shoved the hair from my face.  "I'm fine." 
"See...and you thought I was trying to trick you."  he said, and I could see the grin creeping up on the corners of his lips. 
"Yup.  You're mainly why I have trust issues!"  I joked, taking his hand and standing up. 
"Oh, c'mon...I didn't do anything when I offered you my hand." 
"Oh, but I bet you were thinking of things to do."
"Well...I won't say I didn't think of something, but I had enough self-control not to do it," he gave me a funny, almost soulful expression, and I giggled. 
"It's good to know that you at least know what self-control is."  I gave him a push and he grinned. 
Coming back over, he gave me a playful shove right back, and even though I only stumbled a couple steps, I gasped.  "Hey!" 
He took my hand loosely in his and spun me around.  "Want to go sit up on the window?"
"Sure,"  I smiled at him and led the way. 

When we got up to the windowsill, though...it was sopping wet.  It was raining, and the window was open a bit. 
Just as we were descending back down, Tangled Fan came blasting through the room and slammed the window shut.  I don't think she even noticed us :D 
When she was gone, I looked at Flynn...and Flynn looked at me...and I laughed.  "Well, she was in a hurry about that!" 
"Guess so," Flynn chuckled. 
"Soo...what do we do now?" 
"I say we work on drafts for that month in review thing..for a little bit, anyway?" 
"That could work," I agreed. 


We worked on that for a good while, and when we got back to the dresser, Hallie was wailing like nobody's business. 
"She's been this way ALL day long."  Merida, looking pretty frazzled, told me as soon as we got up there. 
"Ohh my goodness, my poor girl!  What's the matter, sweetie?"  I asked Hallie, taking her from Merida.  Looking up at Merida, I added, "I'm so, so sorry you guys had to watch her today, if she was crying like this!" 
"It's fine.  I just don't get why she's been fussy.  She's like this if someone holds her, but if someone isn't holding her?  Uhhh...you don't want to know.  She hasn't taken any naps today, either, so that can't help matters.  Jase was a good girl, though...she tried to help out with her little sis."  Merida cast a glance towards Jase, who was crashed on the wicker chair, sleeping. 
"Ahh," I said over Hallie's crying.  I looked down at her and bounced her in my arms, but she still kept up her red-faced squalling. 
Flynn gently took her from my arms and asked Hallie what the matter was.  When she still didn't quiet down, he carefully tossed her in the air a couple inches, and then caught her; which usually gets a giggle out of her;  and then tried the 'airplane' method of distraction.  Nooope.  Definitely not.  She started screaming even louder. 
"Flynn, honey.  I don't think she likes any of that...at all...it's doing more bad than good right now."  I said, touching his arm and reaching to say it in his ear, since nobody could be heard over her. 
"What do you think caused her to be so fussy all of a sudden?  She's been sooo good lately." Flynn asked. 
"I have no clue.  She just started crying, and wouldn't quiet down.  Allie got all shaken up after awhile, too, and it was like Screaming War 1 up here - who could scream the loudest?  I think Hallie won - and then...just whew."
"Do you think if we take her for a walk it'll-"
"Blondie took her for a quick walk down on the bed, and it didn't help."  Rayne tossed in. 
"Oh boy."  I sighed.  "Hopefully, she'll calm down.  I bet she'll go to sleep soon and sleep hard tonight, though; if she hasn't slept at ALL today." 
Hah.  Famous last words. 

At ten, we went to bed.  Hallie was still whimpering at a pretty decent, loud rate.  I had tried to get her to sleep by walking back and forth...and back and forth...and back and forth...but she still wouldn't.  Finally, I just took her back to bed with me when Flynn went. 
"What should we do with Miss Cries-A-Lot, hon?'  I asked him, sitting down with Hallie in my arms. 
"I dunno..see if she'll sleep with us."  he told me, stroking the hair from my face.  I was quite sure my hair was disheveled, because I hadn't braided it this morning and hadn't brushed it since. 
"Okay, but I'll probably go out to sleep on the whicker chair with her, if she doesn't quiet down soon." 
"Why?"
"She'll keep you up," I explained. 
"Oh, good grief.  I can hear her just as well out there as I can in here, so you might as well be a little more comfortable, sweetie.  She'll go to sleep soon, I bet." 
I gave him a skeptical smile and yawned. 
"I'll take her for awhile if you want to grab a quick power nap."  he offered. 
"Nope..I can handle her," I said, bouncing her in my arms. 
"Sure?"
"Positive.  Thanks for the offer," I said. 
I went to crawl out from under the dresser, to resume my 'go to sleep, baby' pacing, but before I could leave, Flynn pulled me into a gentle kiss.  "You've come a long way, hon.  About two months ago, you had a nervous breakdown because they were crying." 
I grinned and started to lean over to kiss him back,  but then she gave an extra-loud squeal.  "Okay, okay, honey...I hear ya.  We've all been hearing ya for several hours, baby girl..."
I walked back and forth with her until I thought for sure my legs would fall off.  Her cries started to get a little quieter.....progress, right??  So I decided to fumble my way down to the bed.  Tangled Fan still hadn't come in to bed, so I could walk on it.
I wandered around on it and then sung quietly to her, trying to calm her down. 
I sang 'I See the Light', just because it seemed to be a good, quiet, slow song.  And I sung a couple rounds of 'Twinkle Twinkle, Little Star' as well. 
FINALLY, around midnight or one-ish, I headed back to the dresser.  Hallie was silent and sleeping soundly. 
I laid her down beside Allie and Jase, and prayed that she wouldn't wake up. 
Success!  She took a shuddery breath, but then she went right back to sleep. 
I backed away slowly, and then crept to bed, so as to not wake anyone.  If anyone had been ABLE to go to sleep. 

I quietly laid down on my side, facing Flynn, and assumed he was sleeping.  But he wasn't.
He propped himself up on his elbow and gave me a smile through the darkness.  "Did she finally go to sleep?"
"Yes...knock on wood."  I laughed through my nose when he tapped on the bench we were under.  "Annd here's to hoping she stays asleep!"  I added. 
"I heard you singing to her," he whispered, stroking my hair. 
"Was I that loud?  Sorry-"
"No, it's fine.  You weren't very loud at all.  I was actually going to compliment you on your singing."
"Oh, I'm not that good." 
"Yes, you are."  he said, pulling me close and kissing my forehead. 
I sighed, my eyelids drooping, and he rolled over onto his back, still keeping an arm round my shoulders; pulling me closer to him.  I set a hand on his chest and managed to keep my eyes open long enough to give him a smile, glad to have such a sweet hubby.  I allowed my eyes to go shut, as I mumbled a good-night. 

Flynn here - month anniversary (:

Monday morning, I woke up at 8, which was kind of late for me.  But hey, I had no chance of a migraine attacking me today!
Rapunzel was still totally zonked out.  It appeared to me that she had done a faceplant on my shoulder, and that just looked plain uncomfortable.  And my shoulder was definitely numb.  But regardless.  This was probably the hardest she'd slept since my absence, what with having to get up with the babies and everything.  Luckily, Hallie had only gotten up once through the night, and my wife had refused to let me get up with her.  I managed to lay a quite numb arm around her, and smiled as I considered how glad I was to be back.
After about an hour, she finally woke up.  She promptly reached over to hug me and rested her head on my shoulder again after I propped myself up on my elbows.  I gave her forehead a kiss and said good morning.  She rolled her eyes at me, yet she still grinned.  We both got up, but I hated to even move away from her - Velcro Flynn.  Haven't you heard that's my full name?  Velcro Flynn Rider.
I couldn't help but grin at her.  She mistook it and thought it was because her hair was messy.  Yeah...it was really messy, but I didn't notice until she shoved me and grumbled about it.  I laughed, and she left to fix her hair up.

We left after the girls got up and Merida agreed to watch the girls today.
After we landed on the floor, I took her hand in mine and smiled at her.  She grinned back and my heart jumped.  We wandered around aimlessly and enjoyed a good chat about whatever came to mind.
When we looped back to the bookshelf after awhile, I pulled her close and asked her if she wanted to dance.
"Of course, kind sir!"  She kidded, and I took her hand up to kiss it.  The surprise/delight showed on her whole entire face.
But she surprised me right back, when she started to dance on her own, without me guiding her.
When the playlist on the iPod was done (since I had decided to start dancing when we got back to the bookshelf, I had asked Rayne to keep an eye or an ear out for us so she could start the iPod playlist), my wife stayed in my arms with seemingly no inclination to move away.  I was awkwardly wondering how to ask her how she'd suddenly learned how to dance, without sounding mean.
Eventually, I spit the question out quickly.  She giggled and said, "Rayne taught me.  I asked her to teach me, so that when you came back, I'd have a surprise.  However small that is, but hey - you noticed it!"  
I leaned in to kiss her, and then told her, "I sure did.  You were awesome."  She gave me a sweet smile and I smoothed the hair from her face.  She was starting to reach up to kiss me back, and I was about to lean down to help her reach, and then we were quite rudely interrupted by a "Hey, YOU!"
She pulled away from me, red-faced.  I looked up to see who it was...and surprise, surprise.  HB.
My wife stepped away from me in embarrassment, and then HB stomped right up into her face.  "So, are you happy now?"
"It took you this long to find out they were gone?"  My wife countered, and I was thinking the same thing, to be honest.
"Don't you change the subject!  I want them back, now!" Complete with foot-tapping.  The nerve of that doll-never mind.
Rapunzel explained - I was amazed that she hadn't snapped yet - with growing boldness, why and how they'd been taken away.
HB yelled that she was single now - no, AGAIN - because of the fact that Allie and Hallie weren't with her any longer.  Rapunzel just said it wasn't her fault, but it was a shame her boyfriend didn't stick with her.  At this point, I was horrified at how different the Barbies must be from the Disney-s.  If we get engaged, we stay together for the rest of our days, until one or both of us gets smooshed in a Dumpster or sold on eBay, or sent to Goodwill.
"Oh, hey!"  She suddenly turned towards ME, with a growing, sly smile and brightened face.  Uhh, nope.  "Where have you been?  I haven't seen you around in a few weeks and thought maybe you'd smartened up and left that ugly thing you call your wife."
She didn't just suggest that I would LEAVE Rapunzel, and call her ugly all in one shot, had she??  Oh, boy.  Before I could lay into her, though, my wife did.  She gasped, stepped towards HB, and HB backed off a step or two.  Her face grew to be some mix of surprise and terror.
I didn't know if Rapunzel was going to just yell at her, or jump her.  I grabbed her wist to pull her back, but she wrestled away from me.  I was surprised, too.
"Don't you DARE even look at him!  He is my husband, he is faithful, and he always will be.  He would NEVER do such a thing to me, and I am quite maddened that you act as if he WOULD!  Also, I do not want to see you near me, Flynn, or my children ever again.  You can do whatever you want, call me as many different kinds of ugly and stupid that you wish, but don't you DARE go near my family!  And..."
She started towards her, shaking a finger, and her face growing dark and ruddy, and I thought fast.  I snaked an arm out and grabbed her around her waist and dragged her back towards me, away from HB.  As much as I'd like to see her give it to HB, I didn't want her getting hurt.
"HB, you heard her.  Go back to your own side of the room.  And don't bother trying to make trouble again."  I growled at her with a glare.
She got the last laugh in, though.  "Fine.  If you want to be stuck with that awful, makeupless, awfully-haired thing...fine."  And then she turned and waltzed off as if nothing had ever happened.  I glared after her until I realized Rapunzel was staring at me.  I tried to offer a smile and said that hopefully, we wouldn't see her again.
She nodded and agreed.
I sat and she did too, putting an arm around my waist.  I put an arm around her shoulders and grinned at her.
We talked about how much we've changed and how much we've gone through in the past month and a half.  Really...there had been something major happening EVERY SINGLE SECOND, almost!
"Hopefully, things will wind down and we'll be able to enjoy life, instead of something happening CONSTANTLY!" Rapunzel said with a chuckle.
"I could live with that for awhile," I said, pulling her close to me and kissing her hair.  I couldn't help but smile with my gladness that I was back by her side.
I bent down to look at her face when she turned it away from me, curious as to why.  After I considered her expression for a bit, I figured that it was because HB had called her several kinds of ugly, and though she was NOT ugly by any stretch, she somehow always managed to get herself upset because she wasn't pristinely made-up or anything like HB.
"Hey."  I said quietly.  "I know that look.  What?  HB?"  I cupped her chin in my hand to bring her around to face me.
She sighed and shrugged.  "Just me being...me..," she refused to meet my eyes.
"Spill it.  I like hearing you being you.  Unless you're bothered by your appearance. That makes me sad, because you're beautiful."
My wife stayed silent, even whilst I was studying her face.  I leaned down to bump my forehead with hers, and then I told her not to let HB get into her head.  Then I asked her what I told her every morning.
"Good morning?"  She said, and I could tell she was attempting to skirt around the question and the topic altogether, so I chuckled.
"Good morning, and I usually try to remind you how pretty you are, and how lucky I am to have you as my wife."  I went on to give another speech, asking her why I'd tell her she was pretty, unless I meant it.
When I was done, she laughed, apparently feeling a bit better on the topic.  My heart swelled at the sound of her silly laugh, and so I kissed the tip of her nose.
Referring to what I'd asked her - why I'd call her pretty, sweet, wonderful, and awesome just because I felt like it - she said, "I suppose you have a point..thanks. And I am NOT awesome."
Feeling like teasing her, because I thought it might make her forget about the issue at hand, I said, "Says you,"
"Yeah, says me.  I'm pretty sure my friends will back me up."
"No!  They're on MY side!"  I joked.
She gave me a shove, and I exaggerated falling over, as if she'd shoved me that hard.  She gave me a quick peck on the cheek while I was down.  When I righted myself again, I sat quietly for a moment, and then grabbed her waist with my hands and tickled her.  She squealed in surprise, but then she started to get the giggles.
All of a sudden, I heard a loud, annoying noise.
"What's that sound?"
"Ohhh, no, I'm not falling f-for-" she laughed.
"No, really!" I yelped.  As I said that, the door opened, and Tangled Fan came bustling in with a vacuum.  Since she's not the most observant human on earth, we needed to get outta the way ASAP.  I grabbed Rapunzel's hand and started to make my way over to the bottom shelf of the bookshelf.  She was still giggling - how on earth she could still find something funny to giggle about...I dunno.  But I rolled my eyes in fake exasperation (which made her laugh hard), picked her up, and made a dash for the shelf.
When we got in there, I sat and allowed her to slide from my lap to sit beside me.  When she was settled, she gave me a sideways look.  I gave her one back, attempting to look expressionless.  I had to fight a grin, though.  She laughed again and elbowed me, and then I chuckled, too.
After a couple minutes, her giggling stopped, and she laid her head on my shoulder.  "You're..I don't know.  Awesome?  Great?  Grand?-"
"How about 'I love you'.  That basically covers all bases," I suggested, with a wink, and she gave a silly laugh.
"Okay.  I love you."  She said.  I was slightly surprised at how easily she'd said it. The past month and a half or so, she'd hesitated or given a slight stammer between the words, and then gone red-faced, as if she was embarrassed to say it. She gave me a big grin, and I matched it, my heart squeezing.

After a good while, Tangled Fan left, and so we went back out.  After a little bit, we meandered over to the window.  We clambered up onto the sill and stared outside.  After a couple minutes of silence, I laced my fingers with hers, and she started to sweep her hand back and forth over her braid, which was, I admit, starting to look a bit messy.
"I need to brush it out, or rebraid it, or something."  She muttered, and I glanced towards her.
'It looks fine.  What'd I tell you, like, a half an hour ago?"
"Yeah, yeah...but it still needs brushed."  she said with a smile.
She flopped down and sprawled across the windowsill.  I laid down beside her, and we both just watched the outdoors for awhile in silence, simply enjoying one another's company.  After awhile, though, we did start talking about lots of stuff, including ideas for blogging, to make it more interesting for you guys - so we're not always just documenting our daily lives and going on about how twitterpated we are with one another.  I'm sure you all get tired of reading that!

When we got back, Jase promptly came running over and hugged me.  I sat down with her, and she talked and talked and talked..and talked...and talked...about all the games she'd made up when I was gone.  I would tell you all about her games, but by the time she was done chattering about all the various games, my head was swimming and I couldn't remember half of them.  All I caught was that she wanted to teach them ALL to me.  I hope to goodness she didn't mean to teach them all to me in one day.

After awhile, Rapunzel, with Hallie in tow, meandered over towards the Hallmark box that was right beside the wicker chair.  I managed to snag her by the waist.
"Wait up a sec.  There's room here for you."  She turned towards me and rolled her eyes before giving me the usual 'what if I..' spiel.
I didn't answer her, but I did suddenly pull her backwards to sit down.  So quickly that she gave an awkward, surprised squawk/squeal.
"You can sit here for a couple minutes."  With a wink.  She elbowed me, and I pulled her close to brush my lips with hers.
"Not in front of the kids!"  She grumbled at me.
Before I could say anything, Jase spoke up.  "That's okay, Momma!  I know you like Daddy.  And that's what dolls do when they like someone, right?"  Jase looked up with wide, innocent, questioning eyes.
I had to keep from laughing.  "Umm.....yeah, that's right."  Rapunzel answered her, and I could tell by her reddened face that she was trying to keep from laughing as well.  Then, she pulled Jase onto her lap beside Hallie and gave her a quick hug.  As soon as she released her hug on Jase, however, she scooted back down onto my lap.  I gazed down at her and looked at her bright eyes.  She gave me a dimply smile, and I couldn't help but love the little girl. I shot a glance towards my wife, and saw she was staring at Hallie's peaceful, sleeping face.  I gave her shoulders a squeeze and a kiss in the hair, and she looked up at me with such a sweet expression on her face.  And, which surprised me, I also saw love in her eyes.

I know she had been uncomfortable with me at the beginning, and we'd both been really awkward.  When I'd become more comfortable around her, she still wasn't, but she'd still gone along with my ideas of getting engaged, getting married, and fostering, and also adopting, children.  Even though she'd not been completely ready for all of this, she'd still trusted me enough to go along with it.  I know she loved me the whole way, but this was the first time I can honestly say she looked at me lovingly.  She was just starting to open up enough to be comfortable and display affection around others, let alone towards me.  That, my readers and friends, is a huge, huge, huge step.  And I'm glad.  I still feel bad about rushing her, mind, so I'm especially relieved to know she's finally starting to get used to all this.

Well, I'm gonna let you all go, before I get too mushy about it.  You all are probably so tired of hearing the same old same old...!

1 month 1 day anni =D

Monday morning, I woke up at 9, which was relatively late for me.  

I saw Flynn was already awake, and staring at me with a smile on his face.  

He propped himself up on his elbows and I reached over to hug him and lay my head on his shoulder.  He kissed my forehead.  "Good morning, gorgeous."  

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't contain the grin that played across my lips.  I'd been slightly annoyed by those daily greetings, not used to the attention or anything...but since his absence, I'd missed that!  

He got up, and I did too.  

He acted as if he had to somehow hold me - whether it was my hand or anything.  I didn't exactly mind it, but it was just a tad awkward.  He kept a hand on my side and grinned at me again, staring at me.  I glanced down at my hair, which was kind of messy.  

"Oh, knock it off - I know my hair's a disaster!"  I gave him a shove.  

"No...it's fine."  He laughed quietly, and I promptly left to brush out and braid my hair.   

When I had neatened up, Flynn asked quietly if I wanted to get going.  

I walked over towards the chair, where the girls were sleeping.

I leaned over the chair and put my hand on the top of it, feeling a twinge of guilt.  

"I think we should wait till they're up...don't you?"

He nodded, coming over behind me to look at them.  He held my hand that was on top of the chair.

"Wow, everyone's getting up really late!" 

I jumped, trying to back away from Flynn, and turn around to look at Blondie at the same time.  

He held onto my hand even tighter, in surprise, and I worked to wrestle my hand free.  Finally doing so, I gave her a small embarrassed smile and nodded.  

"For sure!" 

"But we're all gettin' up at the same time," Merida sat up and yawned.  Rubbing her eyes, she stood.

With a grin, she turned towards us.  "I'll watch the kids today for you two lovebirds if you want to fly away for the day."  Flynn wrapped an arm around me and held me close to his side and I rolled my eyes.  

"That'd be great, but don't you ever need a break?"

"You can pay me back sometime when I want to go see Angus or shoot, and don't want to take Allie with me."  She winked.

Just then, Allie started to whimper, and that got Hallie worked up.  

Merida scooped Allie up, and I picked up Hallie.

Flynn leaned over my shoulder and made a goofy face at Hallie, and Hallie quickly responded with the world's silliest, most adorable little smile.  My heart swelled.  

Just then, Jase woke up, looked around...and caught sight of her Daddy.

She thrust herself from the chair up into his outstretched arms and gave him an enthusiastic hug.  

"I'm so glad you're here this morning still, Daddy!"  She gave him a dimple-y smile and he gave her that grin.  

He tickled her, and she shrieked with giggles, which awoke Rayne.  

Her arms flew out everywhere as she jumped up and whirled towards us, a confused look on her face.  

"Sorry!" I exclaimed.  "Go back to sleep."

She laughed.  "That's fine.  Jase is happy to have her Daddy back, and I can understand." 

Merida came over and took the girls from Flynn and I.  

"You two go and have a nice day, and don't worry about coming back quick, either."  She gave me a lopsided grip.  

"Why're you in a big hurry to kick us out?  Got a big date or something?" I joked. 

"Yep."  With a laugh, she went along with it.  

Flynn came up behind me and put a hand on my shoulder.  

"So you're in a big hurry, too," I said, winking at him.  

"Well, I've got a big date, too, after all!"  He joked, with an innocent look on his face.  

I rolled my eyes and started for the shelf edge.  "Thanks, guys!  We'll see you later.  Bye, Jase!"  

She waved at us, and we started the descent.  

When we were down off of the shelf, Flynn promptly took my hand in his and gave it a squeeze, smiling at me.  I grinned back and we just walked around awhile, chatting about general, random stuff.  

I suddenly remembered what Rayne had told me about her backstory, and thought about telling Flynn.  I opened my mouth to say about it, but then I thought better of it and didn't say anything.  

Flynn caught my expression, though.  "What aren't you telling me?"

I shook my head and smiled, trying to think fast.  "Just don't know where I should start with telling you how glad I am you're back!" I substituted, and he chuckled.

We looped back around towards the bookshelf, and Flynn suddenly pulled me close.    

"Dance?" He asked with a smile, taking my other hand and wrapping his arm around my waist.  

"Of course, kind sir!" I joked, and he pulled my hand up to kiss it.  I felt a tingle go up my spine.  But I also had a surprise for him!  As soon as I heard the music come on, I put my arm around his neck and started dancing on my own.  Without stomping on his feet half-a-gazillion-times!  Or tripping.  Or scraping my heels with my own toenails.  (Awkward!)  Safe to say, our one-month dance went a LOT better than our first dance!!!  

When the playlist on the iPod was done, I lingered in his arms for a moment.  

I could tell my hubby was itching to ask how I suddenly knew how to dance, but didn't know how to say it and not seem rude or anything.  

"H-how did you get so great at dancing all of a sudden?  No offense, but-"

I giggled.  "Rayne taught me.  I asked her to teach me, so that when you came back, I'd have a surprise.  However small that is, but hey - you noticed it!"  

He leaned down to kiss me.  "I sure did.  You were awesome."  

I smiled and he brushed some loose hairs from my face.  I was just about to reach up to kiss him back, when we both heard a growling, "Hey, YOU!"  

I pulled away from Flynn, slightly embarrassed, to look to see who it was.  

And, gee.  I never would have guessed...

HB.  She came right up into my face and said, "So, are you happy now?"

I didn't answer her directly.  I was slightly amazed that it had taken her till now to confront me.  "It took you this long to find out they were gone?!"  I asked, mystified.  

"Don't you change the subject!  I want them back, now!"  She tapped her foot impatiently.  

"Sorry...we legally adopted them from Tangled Fan. She took them after she heard that you were leaving them alone on the top of that huge shelf-  and after she realized you lied to her.  And she caught them when they fell off the shelf, because you weren't there to watch them!"  I said, trying to keep my temper, but it was growing hard to.  

"I'm single again, because of it!"

"Well, that's a shame that your boyfriend didn't stick with you during all this, but it is not my fault that your boyfriend thinks that way."  I said.  Wow, Barbies must be a LOT different in mentality and everything, than Disney dolls...

Suddenly, she realized what would make me snap.  She knew she wasn't getting the babies back.  

"Oh, hey!"  She suddenly turned sugary-sweet and looked at Flynn.  "Where have you been?  I haven't seen you around in a few weeks and thought maybe you'd smartened up and left that ugly thing you call your wife."  

I gasped and took a huge step towards HB.  She was surprised, because she backed off a step and her perfectly-made-up face looked mystified.  Flynn grabbed at my wrist, but I slipped away from him.  

"Don't you dare even look at him.  He is my husband, he is faithful, and he always will be.  He would never do such a thing to me, and I am quite maddened that you act as if he WOULD! Also, I do not want to see you near me, Flynn, or my children ever again.  You can do whatever you want, call me as many different kinds of ugly and stupid that you wish, but don't you DARE go near my family.  And if I catch you-"

I started to shake my finger at her and stride towards her, my temper finally snapping, but Flynn grabbed me around my waist and hauled me back away from her.  

"HB, you heard her.  Go back to your own side of the room.  And don't bother trying to make trouble again." 

"Fine, if you want to be stuck with that awful, makeupless, awfully-haired thing..." she gave me a sly look as she probably wondered if I would yank away from my husband to start a fight - "fine."  

She turned and walked away, as if nothing had ever even happened.  I looked up at Flynn and saw such an angry, shocked face, that I hoped I never saw it again.  

He looked down at me as if he'd suddenly broken out of a trance or something, and offered up a small smile.  "Hopefully, we've seen the last of miss HB."  

I nodded.  "That's for sure."  

He plopped down and held an arm out from his side.  I sat down and put an arm around his waist, and he grinned at me.  

"So...what do we talk about now..." I mused, rolling a questioning eye up at him. 

"I'm personally just so amazed at how much we've changed in the past month and a half.  We'd been deboxed.  You hurt your arm and had to have surgery on it.  I goofed up our proposal several times over.  You came back and we decided to get married on the 4th of July...just a couple weeks after we'd gotten deboxed.  Then we ended up fostering four kids. We had all of them taken away, and have most of them back with us again.  You've endured so much, and you've had to take care of me when I have migraines.  I had to go away for two weeks - and one day - to get my migraines taken care of.  And what else are we going to do now?"  

"Hopefully, things will wind down and we'll be able to enjoy life, instead of something happening CONSTANTLY!"  I chuckled.  

"I could live with that, for awhile," he pulled me close and kissed my hair.  

Still, something was bothering me.  I know I shouldn't let HB into my head, but that's what happened.  I still wished that I was prettier, as in Barbie prettier, anyway.  For Flynn, anyway.  

I looked away absentmindedly, thinking about that.  I couldn't even really do anything cute with my hair - just a braid or loose.  The only time I'd ever worn a different dress was when we'd gotten married!  

"Hey," he said tenderly.  "I know that look."  He cupped my chin in his hand and gently brought me around to face him.  "What?  HB?"

Sighing, I shrugged.  "Just me being...me."

"Spill it.  I like hearing you being you.  Unless you're bothered about your appearance.  That makes me sad, because you're beautiful."

I stayed silent, and he studied my face.  He leaned down to bump his forehead with mine, and started to talk.  "Babe, don't let her get into your head.  She's just mean and attention-seeking.  What do I tell you every morning?"

I knew the answer, but I just said, "Good morning?"

He chuckled.  "Good morning, and I usually try to remind you how pretty you are, and how lucky I am to have you as my wife.  You need to keep in mind that I really do mean it, and I'm not just saying it to say it!  Why would I tell you "Oh gee you're the most wonderful, pretty, sweet, awesome doll on earth" just because I felt like saying those adjectives?"  

I laughed and he kissed the tip of my nose.  "I suppose you have a point.  Thanks.  And I am not awesome." 

"Says you."

"Yeah, says me.  I'm pretty sure my friends will back me up."

"No.  They're on MY side!" he said, pretending to be bratty.  

All worries about my appearance forgotten - or at least, temporarily ;) - I gave him a shove and giggled when he pantomimed falling over.  I started laughing when he randomly tickled my sides when I was least expecting it, and then I got a bad case of the giggles.  

Suddenly, he said, "What's that sound?"

"Oh, no, I'm not falling for-" I laughed.  

"No, really!"  

Then the door opened and Tangled Fan came bustling in with the vacuum.  I was still giggling, and must've been taking too long to get out of the way, because Flynn rolled his eyes in fake exasperation, picked me up, and made a run for the lowest shelf on the bookshelf.  

Once we were in there and he'd set me down, I gave him a sideways look.  He gave me a sideways look back, trying to be stone-faced (although I could see that grin sneaking up on his lips!) and I started to laugh again, elbowing him, and he joined in on the chuckle.  

Eventually, my giggles subsided, and I laid my head on his shoulder.  "You're...I don't know.  Awesome?  Great?  Grand?..." 

"How about, 'I love you'.  That basically covers all bases," he winked at me and I laughed again.  

"Okay.  I love you."  I said with a grin, and he matched it with a grin of his own.

  

Finally, Tangled Fan left, and we came out of 'hiding'.  We decided to meander over to the window.  

I ran one hand on my braid, which was getting really messy, and stood beside Flynn as we looked out the window.  It was pretty nice outside!  I was glad.  It matched the cheeriness inside! (:  

"I need to brush this out, or rebraid it or something.." I muttered to myself, and Flynn glanced over at me.  

"It looks fine.  What'd I tell you, like, a half an hour ago?"

"Yeah, yeah.  But it still needs brushed."  I smiled.  

We both laid down on the windowsill and watched the outdoors from there. And, unlike our 'honeymoon', we actually watched the outdoors, instead of staring at each other like two crazed/twitterpated/whatever dolls!  

We discussed lots of things, including blog ideas for a 'month in review' where we'll read one anothers' posts, and then create a post with our own thoughts.  I don't know, it's kind of hard to explain.  Anyone think that's a good idea?  I think it would be fun, but maybe I just want a reason to go back thru and read all my hubby's posts ;)  

After awhile, we finally decided to go back to the bookshelf.  

When we got back, the babies were asleep.  Jase raced over and hugged us both.  

I took Hallie from Rayne, and Flynn sat with Jase, listening to her ecstatic monologue about all the new games she couldn't wait to teach him.  

I giggled at the thought of my big-handed, tall husband playing teaparty with little Jase, but I knew he'd do it if she wanted him to do it.  He did all in his power to make that little girl smile!  As a matter of fact, he did all in his power to make ME smile, too.  I caught him grinning at me, and I smiled back.  Rayne caught this exchange and I finally recognized the quick shadow crossing her features.  I felt terrible!  I wished there was some way to find her Eugene.  But that's, what?  Probably millions of Eugenes?  The odds of that is, well...astronomical.  :(  I wandered over to her and gave her a one-armed hug.  

"I'm sorry."  I whispered.  

"No, no no.  It's fine!  I told you to enjoy that hubby of yours, and I expect you to.  Don't let me get in the way.  I've just..been thinking a lot about him."  she whispered.  

"You have no outlet for that stress, either.." I trailed off, an idea forming in my mind.  "Make your own blog!  Or use mine."  

"No way."  She laughed.  "Me writing a blog would be like Merida falling in love with someone!  She's about as close to her movie character as I've ever seen a doll be.  And it would be so horribly boring.  'Oh, I babysat Allie today, because Merida went shooting.  Talk to you all later!'  And I'm not a great writer."  

"Stranger things have happened." I glanced around.  "And why don't you get out more?  We could introduce you to the 18 inchers, and if I could ever find Maximus again - I think Tangled Fan set him somewhere under a pile of junk - we could teach you to ride, and you could learn to shoot the bow and arrow, and...and all sorts of things!  You never know."  

"Thank you for the offer.  I'll think on it awhile."  She smiled at me and added in a whisper, "Your husband looks like he needs saved before Jase has turned him into a man-erina."  

"..What?"  I said, totally confused.  

"Ballerina.  He's a guy, though, so I say a man-erina.  Although, I know there are male ballet dancers in the human world.  I just think it's more fitting for the doll world."  She explained, and I laughed.  

"See?  People would LOVE you blogging.  And it wouldn't have to just be you.  Merida and Blondie and you could share a blog?"  

"Like I said - I'll think on it.  If you could teach me how to set a blog up sometime, it would be cool.  But right now, go spend time with your guy."  

I flashed her a smile and went over to him.  He was sitting on the wicker chair with Jase, and so I started to sit on the Hallmark ornament box - Blondie had vacated it for once - but of course not.  

He snaked one arm out and wrapped it around my waist.  

"Wait up a sec...there's room here for you," I turned to see his playful grin.  

I rolled my eyes in exasperation.  "What if I want to sit on the box?"  

He quickly pulled me down onto his lap, so quickly that I squawked in surprise.  

"You can sit here for a couple minutes," he winked, and I elbowed him.  He pulled me in for a quick kiss.  

"Not in front of the kids."  I scolded him.  

"That's okay, Momma!  I know you like Daddy.  And that's what dolls do when they like someone, right?" She looked up at me inquisitively.  

"Umm...yeah, that's right," I tried to suppress the sudden burst of laughter threatening to slip from my lips. 

I pulled her up onto my lap beside Hallie for a quick hug, but she preferred to sit on Flynn's lap, so she quickly scooted back down to him.  She was such a Daddy's girl!  My heart squeezed when I saw Flynn gaze down adoringly at her, and I couldn't help the huge smile spreading on my face.  She was a Daddy's girl, and he was wrapped around her tiny little finger.  Undoubtedly!  I stared down at Hallie and enjoyed the peaceful expression her sleeping face had.  Flynn gave my shoulders a squeeze and kissed my hair, and I looked up at him, also enjoying being able to see those chocolatey brown eyes again!  Okay, I'm getting mushy.  I'll stop now :D