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  

Flynn here...meeting some of the neighbors..

This morning, around 8 or 9 or so, I was woken up by Rapunzel shaking my shoulder.
I leaned over to give her a kiss, but she quickly pulled away to ask if I heard something.
"Wh-" she put a finger on my lips, and I quieted down.
"I hear...a baby crying?  No, two - why do they sound so familiar?" she asked, one brow quirked.
I listened.  It sounded like Allie and Hallie.  "Allie and Hallie familiar?" she added.
Her finger was still on my lips, so I kissed her fingertip so she'd get the hint, and nodded.  She pulled her hand away from my face and stood.  "I'm going to check stuff out.  It sounds like they're up somewhere on this shelf."
I sat up and told her to be careful - I decided to stay on the shelf.
She nodded and went to braid her hair.
Before she left - Jase had decided to go with her, and Merida was up and prowling around already, too - she told me she was taking Jase.

I laid back down to go to sleep or something whilst she was away.

But after awhile, I heard Rapunzel's strained, angered voice, along with Merida, who sounded like she was going to jump whoever she was confronting.  Sooo of course I decided I'd better go investigate.
I quickly scaled the shelving unit till I found my wife and Merida.
Merida was saying, with a level voice, I might add..."-You are a complete and utter jerk, you don't deserve these kids!  Why did you even want them bad enough to LIE to Tangled Fan, if you just let them lay and cry?! I'll talk to Tangled Fan.  I'll tell her you lied!  You'll-"
"Everything okay?"  I came over to my wife and took Hallie from her arms.
I gave Hallie a goofy grin, and she smiled up at me.  My heart squeezed and I so wished she was still ours.
"Who are you?  I haven't seen you around.  You're really good with kids, aren't you?' Someone asked.  I looked up from Hallie, and noticed a Barbie doll.  She wore an over-the-top dress, had makeup all over her face, ice-cold blue eyes, and short-ish hair that looked kind of ratty.
I put an arm around Rapunzel, mentally being glad that I had married her and not a Barbie like her, and said, "I'm Flynn, and this is my gorgeous wife, Rapunzel - but you've met already, right?"
"Yeah...and that's too bad.  I guess love IS blind."  She said with a sigh.  I just stared at Rapunzel.  She caught me staring at her and gave me a quick, cute little smile before she turned towards the Barbie.
"We could...you know, babysit them whenever you have, like, a date?" she said.
"I leave them up here all the time - they're okay."
"But they'd be happier if they had-" Merida stopped when the Barbie held her hand up and told us to leave.
I quite reluctantly put Hallie down, took Allie from Merida, and then laid her down, too.  Rapunzel left to grab Jase, and we left.

I wondered what had gotten Rapunzel and Merida so riled. I also wondered if she actually did anything with the babies or if she just left them lay around all the time.  And I wondered what Rapunzel and Jase were talking quietly about - but I didn't press.
When we got back to our shelf, I took Jase from Rapunzel's arms.
"Why don't you try to talk to her, honey?  She seems like she's hiding something that includes HB."  My wife said to me quietly, with a creased brow.
I rubbed a thumb over her forehead to smooth her wrinkled brow and told her not to worry.  "Why don't you go talk to Rayne and Blondie?  I'm sure you and Merida are about ready to start a riot."
She rolled her eyes jokingly.  "Thanks.  I'll be back in awhile."  She turned and left to gather the trio.

While they talked - once in awhile, I could hear loud, conspiratorial noises coming from the foursome - I talked with Jase.
"So, do you know HB?"
"Yeah, Daddy.  You have to get Hallie and Allie away from her."  She said, crawling into my lap when I sat down.
"Why?" I asked her.
"You know why, right?" She looked at me with wide, innocently concerned eyes.
"No I don't, honey, so why don't you let me know why?"
"I don't wanna talk about it."
"If you tell me, we'll be able to help Hallie and Allie out better."  I said, hating to see her go so stone-faced so quickly.  "And if not...maybe I'll have to tickle you!"  I  grabbed her up and started to tickle her.
She shrieked with laughter.  "Okay, okay!  She was just mean.  She never did anything with me and yelled at me if I asked her to play with me or something.  That's all.  And she was never around, she was always going out with some Ken doll."
I nodded.  "Well, thank you for telling me, sweetheart."
She looked me in the eye and took my face into her teensy hands. "You're welcome, Daddy!" she kissed me on the cheek and gave me a dimpled smile.
"So maybe, because you're such a cute little girl, I'll still have to tickle you."  I said slyly, and she started giggling and pushing at my arms even before I tried to tickle her.
I chased her and played with her for the majority of the afternoon and evening, until she collapsed on my lap, instantly asleep.  I put a hand on her small arm and I guess then I dozed off as well.
The next thing I knew, Jase was sleeping behind the alarm clock.
I stood and turned to see my wife was back home, sitting on the wicker chair.  She was chewing her lip, forehead wrinkled, and she drummed her fingertips on her leg.
I walked behind the chair and dropped a kiss in her hair.
"What're you thinking about?  I'm sure Tangled Fan will take care of getting the babies away from HB, so don't you worry about that."
She shook her head and smiled, but faltered when she said she wasn't worried about anything.
"Come on, I know that look."  I grinned at her.
"It's...nothing...so don't worry about it," she said quietly.
"Then why are YOU worrying about it?"
She shrugged, and I took her by the hand, led her behind the lamp, and sat down.
I patted my lap, but she sat beside me instead.
"Tell me," I said, searching her eyes.
"I...It's just that...never mind.  It doesn't matter, and it's dumb."  She turned her face away from me.
I gently brought her chin back around.  "No matter how dumb, I promise I won't laugh and will consider your concern in all seriousness."
She sighed.  "Fine.  I just - after seeing HB, I feel kind of ugly.  I mean, I feel bad that you're stuck with me, and not someone prettier or someone who can actually change her appearance once in awhile!  And I just...I dunno."
I stared at her, concerned, before I answered.  I couldn't believe that my wife thought she was ugly and that I didn't like her because of it!
"Honey, don't you dare ever think you're not beautiful.  You're gorgeous!  And I'm not concerned with outward beauty, more like inward beauty.  And HB...she wasn't even really that stunningly gorgeous!  More like a catty mean girl to me.  And besides-"
She grabbed my shirt collar and pulled me in to a passionate kiss before I could finish.  I was kind of surprised, but I kissed her back.  When she finally pulled away from me, she said, "Have I told you how much I love you lately?  Good grief, most guys would probably be drooling over HB and having misgivings about being married to whoever they were married to!  And all you did was stare at me..lovingly when you were up there!  And even when she was flat-out flirting with you - or at least, trying to flirt with you!"
When you don't know what to say, joke.  "I only have eyes for you, gorgeous."  With a teasing smile.
She rolled her eyes and punched my arm.  I said 'ow' and snagged the hand she'd punched me with.
"That did NOT hurt," she laughed at me quietly, trying to wrestle her hand from me.  I grabbed her other hand in mine when she batted at my arm, and pulled them until she was close enough to kiss.  She continued a half-hearted wrestle up in an attempt to pull her hands away.  I let her pull her hands away when I pulled away from her, and she shoved my chest.
"One of these days...I'm gonna grab YOUR hands first!" she said in between giggles.
I shook my head and told her she was funny, before I teased her by giving her a wet kiss on her cheek.
I put my arm up and looked at her with eyebrows raised, inviting her to sit beside me.  She accepted and cuddled up tightly against my side and laid her head on my chest.  My heart swelled.
"I'm so glad you're back to yourself."  She whispered.
"I'm glad YOU'RE back to yourself, too," I said, pulling her just a bit closer.
Eventually, we went to sleep.

Happy Birthday Barbie...Ugh!

This morning, I woke to the familiar sound of a baby crying. 

I woke Flynn up, and he rolled over to give me a kiss.  

"Do you hear that?"  I asked him.  

"Wh-" he started to ask 'what', but I put a finger to his lips to silence him.  "I hear...a baby crying?  No, two.  Why do they sound familiar?"

"Allie and Hallie familiar?" I asked, not noticing that my finger was still to his lips, until he kissed it and nodded.  I pulled my hand away and got up.  "I'm going to check stuff out.  It sounds like they're up somewhere on this shelf."  

He sat.  "Well, be careful.  I'll stay here, I guess."  

I nodded, and slowly got up.  After I braided my hair, Jase ran over to me.  "Where're you goin', Momma?"

"Just gonna look around," I said, hefting her up onto my hip.  

"Can I come?"

I hesitated, afraid she'd get hurt or something.  But then I nodded.  I told Flynn I was taking Jase with me, and then I turned to go.  

Merida was standing on the alarm clock.  "You going to check that out?"  She gestured towards the direction the sound was coming from.  

"Yes.  Come with?" I asked.  

She nodded, hefting her bow up across her shoulder.  

We started to climb upwards. Merida helped me carry Jase up across the shelving unit, and we had quickly found the source of the crying.  

We met a Barbie doll face-to-face when we popped up on top of the shelving unit. She was like any other Barbie doll - made up to the hilt, pretty blond hairdo, blue eyes, long eyelashes and a huge, poufy dress.  I sucked in a breath when I realized Allie and Hallie had been adopted by her.  

"H-hi," I stammered.  

Merida slowly brought her bow down and held it in her hands, as if she might have to use it.  That didn't help anything!  

I came to stand beside Merida, and Jase buried her face in my shoulder when the doll turned towards us.  

"Who are you?" she asked.  Those blue eyes were icy and piercing.  

"I'm Merida, this is Rapunzel and her daughter, Jase."  

"Oh really.  I've never met any of you.  You look pretty weird to be one of us, though."  

"We're Disney." Merida bristled, and I did, too.  

"Who are YOU?" I threw her question back.  

"I am the Happy Birthday Barbie. You can call me HB.  Or Barbie." She looked at her fingernails.  

The babies still wailed during all of this.  

I almost said how original when she said to call her Barbie, but I held my tongue.  

"Hey, over here!" I heard a jovial voice boom out.  

I turned to see a HUGE version of me, a porcelain doll with - I sucked in another breath - NO ARMS, and another doll.  The huge version of me waved and motioned me over.  

I slowly wandered over with Jase.  

"I can watch this cutie for you!" the huge Rapunzel smiled. She looked so beautiful and sweet.  

Jase smiled at her and scrambled to get out of my arms.  I let her go and she ran over to the huge Rapunzel.  

She looked soooo teensy beside her that I was hesitant leaving her with them, even for just a few minutes.  

"I'm Rapunzel, by the way." she smiled.  

"Me too!" I laughed, shaking off my concern.  

"Everyone calls me Punzie, though. Oh, and this is Saige and Tinkerbelle."  

I smiled in hello and then the babies started screaming louder, if at all possible!  

"You'd better go tend to those poor things.  HB doesn't care for them hardly at all, and I have no clue as to why she was even allowed to adopt them!"  Punzie shook her head before continuing.  "I'll take care of this little one!"  

I smiled politely again, before I marched over, stepped over HB, and scooped Allie and Hallie up.  I handed Allie to Merida.  

Merida's face dawned a huge smile when I handed Allie over.  Allie almost immediately quieted.  I bounced Hallie in my arms to try to get her to calm down.  

"You need to take care of Allie and Hallie, you know," I said, trying to calm the hot fury that was growing in my stomach and throat.

"I do.  I make sure they have a home and that's the most important.  They're fine by themselves.  By the way, I don't really like you just marching in and grabbing them up like you did.  You'll scare them."  When she looked up, she gave me a cold look.  

I snapped.  "You'll scare them!  I know these two babies.  I fostered them!  They were fine for me.  If you just hold them, they're fine.  See?"  

"I might ruin my dress, and I can't.  My boyfriend will just die if I ruin it!"  

"You're not even married?" I asked.  Tangled Fan would never adopt out to someone who wasn't married, right?  

"No.  But see, I said we were married.  She never pays any attention to what I do; just what you Disney princesses to!  So she didn't even notice anything was amiss."  

My mouth was hanging open, and Merida's face was as red as her hair.  

"Y-you..." I trailed off.  "You shouldn't even be allowed to adopt."  I finally spat it out, and Merida sided with me.  

"You don't know me."  She rolled her eyes.  

I raised my eyebrows, and started to lose my temper on her.  But before I could loose a single insult, Merida stepped forward and reamed her out.  

As she was - calmly!  How did she do that?? - throwing insults at her, Flynn suddenly came up.  

"Everything okay?" He glanced around, saw Jase was with Punzie, and took Hallie from my arms.  

He smiled down at Hallie with such a goofy look on his face, Hallie immediately smiled at him.  

And then HB noticed Flynn.  

She looked up with a sly smile on her face.  

"Who are you?  I haven't seen you around.  You're really good with kids, aren't you?"  

Was she seriously flirting with my hubby?  I raised my eyebrows and sidled closer to Flynn. 

He was completely stone-faced and didn't get what she was doing.  He put an arm around my shoulder.  

"I'm Flynn, and this is my gorgeous wife Rapunzel - but you've met already, right?"  

"Yeah.  And that's too bad...I guess love is blind."  She said.  

I glanced up at Flynn's face.  He was staring at me with love in his eyes - probably because he'd just gotten to introduce me to someone as his wife.  

I gave him a quick smile and turned back towards HB, an idea forming in my mind.  

"We could...you know, babysit them whenever you have, like, a date?" I half asked, half offered.  

"I leave them up here all the time - they're okay."  

My eyes widened.  Didn't  she know that either one of them could fall from the shelf?!  

"But they'd be happier if they had.." Merida trailed off as HB held her hand up.  

"Just leave, please."  She said.  

Flynn reluctantly put Hallie down, and Merida handed Allie over to him so he could lay her down, too.  

As soon as the three of us walked away - I ran over to grab Jase and thank Punzie, making a mental note to come visit her again - anyway, as soon as we left, the babies started wailing again.  

Jase looked shaken up.  "HB's mean, Momma.  You have to get Allie and Hallie away from her."

"How do you know that, sweetie-pie?" I asked, touching my forehead with hers.  

She clammed up.  

I tried to act normally, but I was concerned.  We went back to our shelves, and Flynn took Jase.  

"Why don't you try to talk to her, honey?  She seems like she's hiding something that includes HB."  I said quietly.  

He rubbed a thumb over my forehead, and nodded.  "Don't worry. Why don't you go talk to Rayne and Blondie?  I'm sure you and Merida are about ready to start a riot."  He added jokingly.  

I rolled my eyes at him and thanked him before turning to gather up my friends.  

We all decided to go to the chair, sit, and talk.  

Merida and I narrated what happened with HB, and meanwhile, Rayne and Blondie were sitting in front of us, listening with growing anger.  

When we finished, both Rayne and Blondie shared their opinions.

"I'm so mad, I don't want to call myself a Mattel doll!  I don't want to be made by the same brand as what SHE was made by!"  She yelled.  Although it was kind of confusing, I took it as that she was really mad. 

Rayne, on the other hand, was more serene - as always.  

"Why don't we talk to Tangled Fan about the problem?  I'm sure she'll take them away or something."  

"We should talk to her now!"  Merida turned towards me.  Rayne stood.  

"Let's raise a ruckus to get her attention!  We'll get her in the room now!" Blondie said.  

"Where's a plastic bag?  If someone rattles it, those guinea pigs will start squealing really loud - I bet she'll come then!" Merida exclaimed, and she almost bounded off to do so, Blondie hot on her heels, but I grabbed her wrist.  

"No!  Just...wait, guys.  Let's think this through for a second."  I said quickly, and Rayne nodded.  

Rayne slung her arm around my shoulders.  "If we talk to her, I'm sure we'll be able to adopt them, even though she's got that 'married couples only' rule."

Merida followed suit, slung her arm around my shoulders as well, and stood on the other side.  "But Rayne, I still think we should raise a ruckus so we can talk to her NOW!"  

Blondie came in beside Rayne and nodded in eager agreement.  

"She'll be in soon enough, I'm sure.  If she isn't in by 11:30 PM, we'll raise a ruckus then."  Rayne said.  

"But that's FOREVER to have to wait!"  Blondie wailed.  

"Hey, it's just that much longer to think up what we'll do to HB!"  Merida said with a mock-evil laugh.  

"Okay, you're starting to scare ME!" I giggled, and Merida gave me a pretend-insulted-shove.  It knocked me into Rayne, and then Rayne into Blondie, and all four of us ended up toppling over onto each other into a big mound of laughter and rustling skirts.  

Once we'd gotten back up, our laughter subsided, and we continued talking about what to do.  Finally, I said I should probably go back up.  It was starting to draw towards night, anyway.  

We all left to our respective shelves, Merida promising she'd make a ruckus if necessary.  :P 

When I came back, Jase had fallen asleep, obviously played out - seeing as she was sprawled all across Flynn's lap.  

I smiled to myself when I realized that Flynn had nodded off as well.  Must've been a tiring day, because it was only around 8PM!  

I silently scooped Jase up, kissed her forehead, and laid her down behind the alarm clock.  She didn't even twitch, and was soon snoring quietly - sort of quietly, anyway! ;)  

When I turned back towards Flynn, I brushed the hair from his face and wondered how he could possibly sleep sitting up, without leaning against anything.  

I plopped down in the wicker chair, and started thinking about today.  

How lucky was I, to have a husband who wasn't distracted from his own wife, by a Barbie that was nearly perfect on the outside?  I felt a sudden pang of guilt.  I knew I wasn't the prettiest, and I didn't have a perfect complexion, I didn't wear makeup, and I didn't even have an extra dress!  Meanwhile, most Barbies have whole wardrobes, perfect complexions, and are made to be 'drop dead gorgeous'.  I chewed on my lip and wondered if Flynn minded about any of those things.  

I was so lost in thought that I didn't even see Flynn wake up.  I jumped when he leaned over the back of the chair to kiss my hair.  

"What're you thinking about?  I'm sure Tangled Fan will take care of getting the babies away from HB, so don't you worry about that."  

I shook my head and smiled.  "Nothing," I faltered, though.  I felt kind of guilty and embarrassed to admit my other concern.  

"Come on, I know that look."  He gave me his crooked, cute little grin.  

"It's..nothing, so don't worry about it," I said quietly.  

"Then why are you worrying about it?" he asked me.  

Ooh.  Should've known he would do that.  

I shrugged, and he took me by the hand, led me over to behind the lamp - so we weren't right beside Jase and talking - and sat down.  

He patted his lap, but I sat beside him so I could look him  in the eye.  

"Tell me."  

"I..." I trailed off, unsure of how to explain it.  "It's just that..never mind.  It doesn't matter, and it's dumb."  I turned my face away from him.  

He pulled my chin back around until I faced him again.  "No matter how dumb, I promise I won't laugh and will consider your concern in all seriousness."  

I sighed.  "Fine.  I just..after seeing HB, I feel kind of ugly.  I mean, I feel bad that you're stuck with me, and not someone prettier or someone who can actually change her appearance once in awhile!  And just...I dunno."  

Flynn stared at me with such concern, yet love was pouring from his eyes.  "Honey, don't you dare ever think you're not beautiful!  You're gorgeous!  And I'm not concerned with outward beauty - more like inward beauty.  And HB...she wasn't even really that stunningly gorgeous!  More like a catty 'mean girl', to me.  And besides-"

I grabbed him up into a kiss before he could finish.  When I finally pulled away, I said, "Have I told you how much I love you lately?  Good grief, most guys would probably be drooling over HB and having misgivings about being married to whoever they were married to!  And all you did was stare at me lovingly when we were up there.  And even while she was flat-out flirting with you!  Or at least, trying to flirt with you."  

He gave me a teasing smile and said, "I only have eyes for you, gorgeous."  I rolled my eyes and jokingly punched his arm.  "Ow!" he said, playfully snagging the hand I'd punched him with.  

"That did not hurt."  I laughed quietly at him, trying to wrestle my hand from him.  

He took my other hand in his other one and pulled me in for a kiss.  I kept wrestling with him in an attempt to free my hands, and when he took his lips from mine, he finally loosened his grip and I slipped my hands away, giving him a shove. 

"One... of these days, I'm gonna... grab your hands... first."  I said between gales of giggles, and he shook his head.  

"You're funny."  He gave me a teasing, wet kiss on the cheek before putting his arm up and silently inviting me to sit beside him.  

Even though it was unbearably hot this evening, I still cuddled up against him and put my head on his chest.  "I'm so glad you're back to yourself."  I whispered, and he said the same to me.  

I'll keep you guys posted on the situation with Allie and Hallie...and with our weird antics :P  But for now, it's awful hot and I need to get off the computer so Flynn can type his post =D  

Flynn here...wooohoo :D

Hey everyone!  Whoa.  I saw the new blog banner/header thingy and at first was a bit freaked out because I thought I had the wrong blog.  Oh well :D  Regardless..
So this morning I got up early.  Rapunzel was still soundly sleeping, at least until I couldn't help myself and gave her a kiss on the forehead.
When her eyelids fluttered open, I told her good morning and smiled down at her.
"Morning," She smiled up at me.
I told her to braid her hair and get ready.  I was planning on taking her for a walk so we could talk.  I didn't want our relationship to go downhill.
She started hounding after me, asking what we were going to do, and I didn't tell her.  Instead, I just sat down.
She held her hands out and asked me to tell her.
"I just thought we'd go for a walk like we always used to.  And I thought maybe you'd like to go explore the room a bit."  I smiled at her and took her into my arms.  "Wouldn't you like that?  Something to do, anyway."  I took her hands and held them.
"Flynn, I dunno...I just-"
"If you don't want to, it's fine," I said, slightly disappointed.  "I just thought you'd enjoy it."
"I would, Flynn - so, soo much!  But just not now, okay?"
I nodded and looked her in the eye before I started to tell her my concern.
She cut me off with a quick little kiss.  "This won't do anything negative to our relationship, sweetie."
I nodded and sighed in relief.  If she didn't think anything would happen, then nothing probably would.
Then the door cracked open, and Tangled Fan slipped through; something in her hand.
"I'm going to talk to her," Rapunzel pulled away from me quickly.
I grabbed for her hands, desperately wanting her to not fight with Tangled Fan, but she yanked away from me.
"No, Rapunzel - don't!  Don't you-"
"I HAVE to!  Don't you want to know what happened to them?!"
She had a point there.  I silently nodded, and she whirled to face Tangled Fan.
"What did you do to Hallie and Jase?  We've-"
Tangled Fan silently held her hand out towards us.  Rapunzel screamed and I peered around her to see why.  It was Jase!
She grabbed Jase and kissed her repeatedly.  I stepped over and wrapped both of my girls up in my arms, unable to control the smile from spreading across my face.
Suddenly, though, Rapunzel shifted Jase to her other arm, used her free hand to grab my shirt collar, and she yanked me down to her level in order to give me a powerful, delighted kiss.  I returned it, and when we pulled apart, we ended up having to do a photoshoot.
You can see all the pics in my wife's blog post - there are quite a few really good pictures there, if I do say so myself!

My heart was soooo impossibly full at that time, and I couldn't stop my smile.
After the photoshoot, we retreated to our shelf.  Rapunzel and I took turns chatting with Jase and playing with her.  She taught us both her special game she always played with herself, talked about how happy she was that we were her 'momma and daddy now' - My heart squeezed every time she said that - and she talked about various things in general - like how she couldn't wait to visit with Merida, how she wanted to play all night long, and just stuff.  I teased her about how I was going to tickle her, and how she needed to help me pick on Momma - she gaily agreed to that one - and I basically did all I could to hear her little girl giggle and dimpled smile.
Eventually, though, she announced she wanted to go to bed.
"Do you want to sleep with me and daddy?" Rapunzel asked with a bright smile on her face.
"No, momma.  I wanna sleep behind the alarm clock!"  She exclaimed.  "It's...pretty cool back there.." she yawned, cuddled up against my chest, and then fell asleep.
I met Rapunzel's eyes, smiling, and she gave me a knowing, loving smile.  I carefully stood up and carried her over to her customary bedtime spot.  I laid her down and let my hand rest on her tiny arm for a few seconds, dreading leaving her alone.  After having a child ripped away from you in your sleep, you'd be bound to have a little bit of concerns about leaving them out of your sight!
I strode carefully back over to my wife.
"Out cold," I whispered. I held out a hand to her, and she took it.
"I don't think I could go asleep to save my life tonight!" she said.  I could tell she was still pretty wound up.
I nodded and chuckled before leading her back to behind the lamp.
With a content sigh, I sat down and patted my lap, silently inviting my wife to sit on it.
Instead, she sat down beside me, gave a sigh, and threw her arms around my neck.  "Aren't you relieved?"
"Yes, very much so!" I said, and she leaned her head on my shoulder. "Aren't you?"
"You have no idea!" She smiled, and I brought her chin up to give her a small kiss.  When we parted, she nestled up against my side tightly.
"Aren't you a bit sad about Hallie?" I asked, remembering that I'd wanted to ask her that.
"I guess I'm a bit upset, but at the same time, I guess it's a good thing because now we can give Jase our undivided attention."
I decided to tease.  "I hope you have a tiny bit of attention divided for me," I tried to give a puppy-dog pout.
She quietly laughed, before telling me that I was pathetic.
"I know I am.  But you wouldn't like me any other way."  I attempted to be stone-faced.
She shrugged her shoulders, attempting to act indifferent.
"I guess I could always tickle," I whispered, leaning over and acting as if I were going to tickle her.
"Don't you DARE." She half-growled at me, grabbing my hands into both of hers so I couldn't tickle her.
"That's better," I smiled down at her, referring to the fact that she was holding my hands.
She let go of them and let them drop.  She rolled her eyes and flopped down onto her back.  "You...you're just..."
"Pathetic?" I leaned over her to grin.
"Exactly." She reached up and we shared a sweet goodnight kiss, before I laid down beside her, and then I was totally out.

You have nooo idea how excited I am...I didn't want to go to sleep because I want to spend as much time as possible with my girls, now that I have Jase back and we both don't feel so miserable and hopeless.  And I'm also glad to have my comical wife back too.

FINALLY!!!!!!!

Hi everyone!!
Like my new header I made?  I'm not sure if I like it or not yet...probably just need to get used to it.  (: Please let me know your thoughts or ideas!!

Anyway.

This morning, Flynn woke me up bright and early with a kiss on the forehead.
"Good morning, beautiful," he smiled down at me with such gentleness.
I smiled back at him, momentarily forgetting all troubles.  "Morning,"
"Why don't you braid your hair and get ready?  We're gonna do something today."
"Do what?" I asked, sitting up and taking the hand he offered.
He didn't answer me, so I followed him, braiding my hair and demanding an answer.

He just sat down.  I yanked my ribbon's bow tight and held my hands out.  "Tell me, please!"  

"I just thought we'd go for a walk like we always used to.  And I thought maybe you'd like to go explore the room a bit."  

He offered up a smile, stood, and took me comfortably into his arms.  

"Wouldn't you like that?" he asked.  "Something to do, anyway."  

He took both my hands up gently and held them.  

I had my reservations about doing anything.  I didn't feel like it, for one, because of the fact that all my kids were gone!  "Flynn, I dunno...I just.."

"If you don't want to, it's fine," he said, his smile fading. "I just thought you'd enjoy it.."

"I would, Flynn - so, so much!  But just not now, okay?"  

He looked at me and nodded.  "I understand.  I'm just trying to keep our relationship from falling apart, becau-"

I reached up to kiss him in order to cut him off.  "This won't do anything negative to our relationship, sweetie."  

He nodded, looking relieved.  

Then, the door cracked open.  Tangled Fan slipped through the door, something tightly enclosed in her hand.  

"I'm going to talk to her!" I said, pulling away from him.  He grabbed one of my hands as quickly as I'd pulled them away.  

"No, Rapunzel - don't!  Don't you-"

I yanked away from him.  "I HAVE to!  Don't you want to know what happened to them?"  

He silently nodded, and I turned away from him to face Tangled Fan.  

"What did you do to Hallie and Jase?  We've-"

She silently held out her hand.  

Jase was sitting on it.

I screamed in delight, ran over, grabbed Jase up into my arms, and showered her face with kisses.  Flynn came over and wrapped us both tightly in his arms, smiling ear to ear. 

Excitement zinged up and down my spine, and the feeling of joy was just unexplainable!  

I didn't know what else to do, so I shifted Jase to my other arm.  

And then I used my other hand to pull Flynn down to my level so I could grab him into a delighted kiss.  

He returned it and my knees almost gave out and buckled from the joy of having my baby girl back!

So then, of course...we had to do a photoshoot.  This would be my second photoshoot today..Tangled Fan did part of a review series on her doll blog ,and I had to participate in it.  Annnywayyy...here are our favorites from both the photoshoots! (:  

This one is probably my favorite (:

Us four girls (:

I just love every one of the pictures of Merida.  She's soo pretty!  I wish I was as stunning as she is - she won't let me tell her she's pretty, though.  I guess she doesn't think she is!  But look at that face and tell me she isn't pretty...!

There were only two pictures of Rayne, and this was the best one.  

After our photoshoot, we were left to our own devices.  Flynn and I took turns holding and playing with Jase.  

I figured that Jase would tell us all about her ordeal being stuffed in a bag, doomed for Goodwill...but she didn't.  

She just babbled constantly and said about how excited she was that we were her momma and daddy.  I just absolutely LOVE watching Flynn with her. He's so funny and gentle with her - something you would never expect from a guy who has HUGE hands and a cocky grin on his face.  And that's why I love him..well, one reason why anyway - you've probably heard 110-zillion other reasons on here since I started the blog :P  

Eventually, Jase announced she was tired and wanted to go to bed.  I personally wanted to let her sleep with me and Flynn, but when I let her consider the idea, she said she wanted to sleep behind the alarm clock as she had always done.  

And then she sighed and cuddled up to Flynn's chest, and fell asleep instantly.  

Flynn met my eyes with a smile, and I smiled back.  He carefully stood up and carried her over, set her down, and let his hand rest on her arm a few seconds before he came back over to me.  

"Out cold," he whispered.  

I nodded, taking the hand he offered.  Standing, I noticed it was almost 11 PM.  "I don't think I could go asleep to save my life tonight!" I said.  I was feeling pretty giddy yet - wouldn't you be?! :D

He chuckled, nodding, and I let myself be led over to behind the lamp.  He sat down and patted his lap, but I sat down beside him instead.  

I dramatically threw my arms around his neck with a sigh.  "Aren't you relieved?" 

"Yes, very much so," he said, and I leaned my head on his shoulder.  "Aren't you?"

"You have no idea."  I smiled, and he pulled my chin up so we could kiss.  

When we pulled apart, I nestled up against him as much as I could.  

"Aren't you a bit sad about Hallie?"  

I thought for a minute.  "I guess I'm a bit upset, but at the same time, I guess it's a good thing, because now we can give Jase our undivided attention."  

"I hope you have a tiny bit of your attention divided for me," Flynn joked, giving me a puppy-dog pout.  

I laughed quietly. "You are seriously pathetic."  

"I know I am.  But you wouldn't like me any other way."   

I shrugged as if I were indifferent on the matter, and he threatened to tickle.  

"Don't you dare," I grumbled, grabbing both of his hands so he couldn't tickle me. 

"That's better," he smiled down at me.  I let go of his hands and rolled my eyes before flopping down onto my back.  

"You..you're just.."

"Pathetic?"  He leaned over with a teasing look in his eye.  

"Exactly." I reached up to give him a goodnight kiss and he slid down beside me.  

And then I guess I was out pretty quickly, after that.  So much for not being able to sleep to save my life :P  

You have no clue how relieved I am to have Jase back...it's like the weight of the world has been lifted from my little plastic shoulders :P  Mine and Flynn's.  I'm soooooooooo glad to have my Jase back, and I'm glad to have my silly Flynn back.  (: