Home for the Holidays

[Felicity Mason]

They were home. At long last, they were finally home. Felicity could not be happier. Trying to raise a baby at her age with just her boyfriends help had been nearly impossible. A few extra hands to keep an eye on the baby could only help matters.

She had arrived on the wind torn planet of Imerria about a hour ago, and was still unpacking. The baby in question, seven month old Zeldara, also known as just Zelda, had been sleeping (thank the force) the whole time since they'd landed. Owain was off somewhere else, probably catching up with his uncle, or speaking to her Father. Felicity didn't really like to think about what those two might be speaking about. Daddy was probably threatening to take his head, or something.

Her old bedroom was just as she left it, except now it was slightly cleaner. K, the protocol droid, had probably been in here to clean. Made unpacking that much easier. Her bag was open on the bed, it's contents scattered. First she needed to have Owain help set up Zeldas crib. It wasn't safe for her to keep sleeping in that little bassinet on the floor. She was getting too big for it. So that was first on her list for Owain to do when/if he came back.
Thank the Force her room was so big. Hondo, her tauntaun, had his own place to sleep, but the nexu that had been given to her, would probably have to stay in her room. Mom was very allergic to animal fur, and she was already so sick....

Felicity hung one of Owains shirts in her wardrobe, frowning. She really needed to visit mom before she went back to Naboo to finish out her term. Then she needed to visit Celeste. And go see Uncle Barnabus. And-

The list of things she had to do was too long. It made her dizzy.

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

So, apparently her wayward sister had returned, and with some extra population to boot. Celeste had heard about Felicity's child, of course, though she knew not much else and considered it to be of little importance. Celeste's family seemed to grow farther apart each day, and she would admit that she was doing little to help it--if she was not propelling it even speedier towards some sad state of separation. She may not have caused a ruckus with blatant rebellion for all to see, but the 'perfect princess' was hardly an angel herself. She just kept most of her transgressions in her closet and made sure not to get too sassy around Dad.

Celeste had not often gotten along with her blond sibling in years past. Her jealousy could be deep and her bratty accusations could cut even deeper. But she was older now. They both were. And she had not seen her sister in quite a while. It could not hurt to be nice for once, could it? Besides, she had promised their mother that she would try to be on better behavior.

And she had left Felicity's room alone, as much as she craved to trespass and nose into her private business. She had been a somewhat good girl about things in the elder princess' absence. Celeste thought she should be rather thankful for that. And so she deserved some time, attention, and maybe even a gift or two. That was what she thought.

"I guess the naughty girl is back from her running away," the younger princess commented as she peaked into the other's room. She held her nose high to exaggerate the scolding for only a moment, then wiped the arrogant expression from her face and applied a more sincere, bittersweet softness to her eyes. "I didn't touch anything." She offered a slight wave of her hand and stepped out into the middle of the doorway, waiting to be invited in.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

The Princess looked up, startled. Her sister had a way of doing that, just showing up. Still, she smiled and put what she'd been hanging back on the bed. With open arms, she approached her sister to embrace her.

"Of course you didn't," she responded, "I changed the locking code on my door before I left."

Exactly for that very reason. She had her diary in here. Like she'd be alright with Celeste seeing it. She'd left it behind when she went to live and study with Baroness Magrath. A real shame. She'd had so much to write about. What she learned from her, falling in love with Owain, Cyril showing up and threatening the entire Magrath family, The death of the Baroness.... Zeldara.
Running away to take care of her with Owain.
Of course, she'd started a new diary and all of that was in there.

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

The younger sister was not sure how her elder would react given how trustworthy her reputation was not. But Felicity simply accepted her presence, even with the subtle jabs they poked at each other. As spiteful as Celeste could be to her sibling, she could not deny a hug. They had their moments--many of them, in fact--but Celeste would have to admit that she still cared for her. She still loved her. Truth be told, she had missed her while she was gone.

"I could have found a way in anyway," she returned with a smug smile as she wrapped her arms about her sister. Where had she gone? "It's been lonely without you."

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"I know."

Yes. She could have found her way in. Celeste was brilliant. Felicity got great grades in the Academy, but Celeste could blaze through the questions on the exams with zero thought. She really was that good. It made Felicity quite jealous.

She embraced her sister, just as the baby started to fuss in her little bassinet.

"Oh dear..." Felicity sighed, tearing herself away from her sister to pick the fussy baby up, "She's awake again..."

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

Well, so much for little moments. Had to be a baby involved to shake things up a bit. Celeste frowned as Felicity's attention was pulled away by the crying infant, for once not the youngest and not the center of attention. This kind of annoyed the young princess. "Huh," was all she uttered, not disinterested but certainly not enjoying the distraction.

Her eyes tracked the babe and observed the motherly care her big sister treated it with. One might have assumed on first instance that the child was Felicity's blood. She was not exactly a match to the blonde, but it was not impossible. Yet Celeste someone knew in her gut that this was not the kid she had been expecting. "How was the pregnancy?" she asked. But Felicity would not be able to answer from firsthand experience.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

"I wouldn't know," the blonde answered, running her fingers through the childs soft brown locks, "She's adopted."

That was all the explanation she could give. The rest was secret. The childs mother, father, the rest of the Magrath family, were long gone, hiding somewhere, secret. And the childs bloodline needed to stay secret as well. But that did not mean Felicity could not share this one little secret with her sister. Just one. She would realize anyway. Family always knew family.

"Do you want to hold your baby niece?"

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

Celeste nodded knowingly, secretly rather proud of her correct conclusion about the whole adoption thing. Both sisters were known to be a little selective about when they were and were not prudent about things, but there were just some times when one simply does not do certain things. And so she kept mum. This was her sister's return. It was a good moment.

The brunette crept forward a bit upon receiving the offer from her sister. She had never held a baby before. (In truth, she had always been the baby of the family.) And so she held her arms outstretched in a nearly comic-like state and hoped she did not look the fool. She and Felicity still had a rivalry as far as she knew, and she had no desire to give Big Sis some cannon fodder. "Sure. I'd love to." How does a baby work, anyway?

"What's her name, anyway?"

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Her sister had never held a baby before, and Felicity knew it. As far as Felicity was concerned, this baby was her baby in every way. She may not have carried her, felt her grow inside her, brought her into this Galaxy, but Felicity already thought of her as a daughter. So when her sister walked up to try to hold her, Felicity showed a little hesitation.

"Alright, sit down." She gestured at the edge of the bed next to her, "and make sure you support her head. Just like this..."

She showed her sister the proper way to cradle an infant. Although Zelda wasn't a newborn anymore and could hold her head up on her own just fine, Felicity still worried.

"Her name is Zeldara, or just Zelda for short. Don't make a face now. I'm not the one that named her."

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

Celeste rolled her eyes as Felicity got all demanding and particular about everything. Sure, she may not have held an infant before, but what kind of numbskull did she look like? She was fifteen! That was super old and mature. "Fiiine," the teen grumbled, though she did sit down and maintained a soft smile because this was still a fresh reunion and she was getting to hold the baby to boot.

She held out her arms in waiting to receive the child, taking note of how Felicity held her but already pretty sure she had the idea. "Com'ere, Zelda," the brunette whispered. "Aunt Cel wants to meet you." Aunt Cel. She was an aunt! A real freaking aunt!

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Hesitating was over. Felicity handed the child over, trying very hard not to look nervous. She was, of course, anybody would be. This was her child, her little Zelda, her own tiny princess. She needed to be protected, treasure, adored.

The sleepy child made a few gurgling noises, then started to whine.

"Oh. She might be hungry again," she sighed, turning to the bottle she'd prepared for her beforehand, "Do you want to try to feed her too?"

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

Celeste shrugged and spread her lips in a simper. "Why not?" Hopefully that would keep the baby from shrieking or whatever babies do when they get seriously hungry. And it would just be annoying if little Zelda cried the first time she met her Aunt Cel. That could ruin everything for years to come!

Okay, that was unlikely. But Celeste would have preferred everything be perfect from the start. There was not much perfect in her life as it was. Mom was not in good condition, though none of them really saw her much anyway. Felicity had been gone for a good year or more. And Dad was... Dad. Kind of great yet incredibly weird. Just one family relationship needed to be special here. So she hoped that it might begin with Zelda. "I'll do it. Just give her to me," she all but demanded.

[member="Felicity Mason"]

 

[Felicity Mason]

Wordlessly, Felicity made sure the baby was set up perfectly on her sisters lap before handing over the bottle next. She watched, hoping that she knew what she was doing. It wasn't hard, or at least Felicity hadn't thought so, but then again, Felicity had done so much research about this. Celeste had only just met the baby.

"Hold the bottle up," she instructed, "So she doesn't suck down any bubbles. Makes her fussy."

And it gives her tummy troubles. Felicity really was not in any mood to be dealing with that today.

[member="Celeste Mason"]

 

[Beowoof]

"Okay, okay. I got it," Celeste mumbled, slightly annoyed with being treated a bit ignorantly but not wanting to make a fuss about it all. She got to hold the baby. That was what mattered.

She braced her arm behind the child's neck to prevent it from lolling to the side and made sure to keep the rest of Zeldara's body snugly within her lap. Accepting the bottle without waiting for Felicity to finish her instructions, the younger sister slowly inserted the nub at the top into her niece's toothless mouth. She then heard the end part of Felicity's commands and adjusted the tilt of the bottle--but made sure to pretend like she knew to do that all along. To say Celeste had a prideful streak was not inaccurate.

"Hewwo, Zelda. Such a wittle bitty baby. Aunt Cel's gonna make sure you get your vitamins so you grow biiiiig." She frowned after her attempt at 'baby talk' and avoided eye contact with Felicity. Why id people talk to little kids like that? It sounded so silly.

[member="Felicity Mason"]