Sixteen: Isabella's first birthday

Plot: It's Valentine's Day, not to mention Isabella's first birthday, and while things may change, it always stays the same somehow.

Isabella looked through the bars of her crib before standing up and babbling happily at the presence of her mommy and daddy. While she didn't understand what all the fuss was about, she squealed as Sabrina took her in her arms.

"Happy birthday mi amor," Howitzer cooed, stroking her hair.

"I don't think she understands considering the decor around the castle," Sabrina smirked. "To think just yesterday I was helping Nell with Elena and Gabby's first Valentine's Day and now little Elsa's three months old and Elena's engaged with Gabby finally dating."

"Who thought of Elsa again?"

"Ricky. He objected to Florence as her first name, complaining how old fashioned it was. Luckily Nell and Bobby Lee made a compromise."

"They always do," Howitzer smiled.

"Oh, yes, Elsa Florence," Sabrina smiled. "That way they still have the name they wanted."

"But still, Ricky's one to talk," Howitzer smirked, "What's his middle name again? Edward?"

Sabrina giggled along with him. "That's right," she smiled. "He's named in honor of my daddy, and Bobby Lee's daddy."

Isabella giggled at the mention of Edward, clapping her hands before squealing upon seeing Elsa in Gabby's arms.

"Yes Isa. I brought your best friend," Gabby cooed, kissing her cheek.

"Love will thaw huh?" Howitzer chuckled, spotting the lettering on Elsa's dress.

"Mom wanted to be creative this year," Gabby grinned. "She's made all us girls love related shirts or dresses in Elsa's case."

"Nell has been happy more often since Elsa was born. Remember how she cried during Elena's engagement after Jack popped the question?" Sabrina asked.

"It's Mom and Daddy's romance all over again!" Gabby smiled. "Daddy teased Mom from when they were five until they were eight, then they fell in love! Jack used to tease Elena when they were younger, but they fell in love too!"

"And of course we'll have to write to Queen Elena and have her send Elsa a plush jaquin too!" Sabrina smiled, looking over at Howie.

"All our kitties would love a new brother or sister!" Gabby giggled, thinking of her own jaquin, Lily.

Elsa cooed at the thought of kitties as her blue eyes settled on Howie and tried to grab it.

Howitzer stroked her blonde hair affectionately, taking her from Gabby's arms.

"Sorry little one. You share Pinky with Elena remember?" He cooed. "Speaking of, Gabby how is she from last night?"

"Jack told me she was feeling better but was still a little sick. But it won't affect Isa's party," Gabby assured. "Isn't that right Isa?"

Isabella giggled as she cuddled her own kitty, Midnight. She bounced in Edward's arms and showed him her kitty.

"That's right," Edward smiled, nuzzling Midnight against her. "Our little kitty family just keeps getting bigger, doesn't it?"

"And just like James does with Zebra, Elena uses Kitty and Pinky as her writing helpers too!" Ricky smiled.

"All their plush friends do come up with interesting stories," Howitzer smiled. "He's even used your friends to help him, so Sabrina told me."

"That's right!" Ricky smiled. "Zoomer and Greenie helped him write a story too!"

"All our kitties have," Sofia smiled. "I couldn't help but hear of a celebration today."

"That's right. It's Isa's first birthday," Sabrina smiled.

"Already?" Sofia gasped. "It seems like yesterday you and Maddie were the only little ones here Bri."

"The castle seemed humongous back then," Sabrina agreed. "All the fancy toys and dresses we were ever given yet we weren't royalty."

"You deserved the best," Sofia smiled, letting Isabella hold her fingers. "You'd been through so much and we wanted to help you."

"And we still can't thank you enough for all the help you gave us," Sabrina smiled. "You reunited us with Mommy and Daddy, and you helped our family grow!"

"Let's see... Three nieces, one nephew, and your own little girl. Am I keeping track?" Sofia smirked.

"You are," Sabrina grinned. "Unless Elena's sickness is what we think it is, I think our family's as grand as it is."

Elsa started to fuss as Ricky took her from Gabby's arms.

"Let's go visit Mommy shall we?" He cooed. "And Gab? If your and Ellie's twin power happens, be sure to tell us will you?"

"Twin power?" Sofia chuckled as Ricky left. "Should I know what that's about?"

"You know, if one twin feels a certain way, the other one has the same feeling," Ricky smirked.

"Oh, that's right," Sofia smiled. "If Elena ever got hurt, Gabby could feel her pain. If Gabby was sick, Elena wanted to stay with her. Amber even said that would happen sometimes with her and James."

"I just wonder why it's not like that with us," Howitzer added.

"It's because we're lowly onetuplets, not twins like them," Ricky smirked.

"Onetuplets?" Sofia asked.

"You know, people not born with a twin," Ricky grinned.

"You just made that up," Sofia giggled. "But I suppose that's what happens when you spend time with James!"

"He is the only boy in a castle full of girls," Ricky smiled.

"Are you just saying that to make us feel bad?" Sabrina smirked. "Because it looks like it is."

"Do you not remember the times Elena had me play dress up from when I was two until I was in kindergarten?" Ricky pouted playfully.

"That's right, just like they did with Bobby Lee, they'd make you dress up and escort them down the runway," Sabrina giggled.

"I still remember when James played that one song when all of you were playing dress up," Sofia giggled. "Bobby Lee tried to convince us that he hated the song, but Elena asked why he was smiling. Then he, Nell, Elena, and Gabby pinned James down and painted a kitty face on him!"

"Just so long as you don't do that with me!" Ricky smirked.

"Which part?" Sabrina grinned as she and Howitzer pinned Ricky on the couch, "The part where we make you play dress up, or the part where we paint a kitty face on you and play 'Let's get Ricky?'"

"Neither!" Ricky pouted.

"You wanna play with your uncle too mi amor?" Howitzer cooed, taking Isabella from Sofia's arms. "Why don't Mami and Papi show you how it's done."

"Howie, she doesn't understand what Mami and Papi even mean!" Sabrina giggled, grabbing a paintbrush and turning to Ricky. "You don't wanna disappoint Isa do you? You know she loves kitties!"

"Fine. But before Jack gets here with Elena," Ricky grumbled.

"Oh, they know it's all in good fun," Sabrina smiled, drawing kitty whiskers on Ricky's face. "They might want to play like this with you too!"

Isabella giggled as she watched Howitzer paint some jaquin-like spots on Ricky's face too. "What do you think, Isa? Does Ricky look like our kitties?" he smiled as Nell and Bobby Lee came in.

"Ricky, you look adorable!" Nell smiled.

"Ricky, you've got a little something right there," Bobby Lee grinned, pointing at one of the spots on his face.

"Thanks a lot," Ricky grumbled.

"Aw... You used to love this when you were younger," Nell smiled.

"I'm fourteen and a junior guard. This is humiliating," Ricky smirked.

"Remember when we did that to James when the girls had that fashion show?" Bobby Lee grinned.

"Oh, yes," Nell giggled. "And didn't we do this to him too?"

"NO! Not in front of everyone!" Ricky yelped as Nell and Bobby Lee tickled him as Sabrina continued painting his face.

As she watched them, Isabella giggled as she bounced in Howitzer's arms.

At the same time, Jack and Elena came in.

"Mommy! Dad!" Elena greeted them.

"Did we miss something?" Jack asked, watching Ricky squirming on the ground and Sabrina trying to paint his face.

"Oh just some tickling and painting," Nell smiled.

"And I missed it?!" Gabby pouted, carrying Elsa in her arms.

"I thought we were celebrating Isa's birthday," Elena frowned.

"And this is how we kick off the festivities, Elena," Bobby Lee grinned. "And don't worry, Gab-Gab, you can get Ricky too."

"Okay, but first we have a party to help set up!" Gabby smiled.

"Thank you!" Ricky smirked as he scrambled to the couch.

"Oh, and Ricky, you've got a little something right there!" Elena giggled, pointing to another spot on Ricky's face.

"I think he should stay like that for the party today," Jack suggested. "Elsa and Isabella will love it. After all, it's not every day you get to celebrate a birthday with a kitty face."

"No it's not," Gabby agreed. "But thankfully for Ricky, the paint's washable."

"You feeling better Ellie?" Nell asked.

"Yes Mommy," Elena smiled. "Jack and I went to the doctor before we came here and I'd like for him to tell you and Dad the news."

"You mean..." Ricky started.

"That's right," Jack smiled as Elena nodded in agreement.

"Elena, I'll be by your side until it happens," Ricky promised. "I won't let anything happen to you, I promise!"

"He was like that when Elsa was born too," Bobby Lee smirked, "But I shouldn't talk; I was like that with Helen when Elena and Gabby were born!"

"I know, Elena's told me so many times," Jack smiled.

"You're going to be an auntie! Isn't that exciting Elsa?" Elena cooed, flapping her hands.

Elsa cooed in confusion, reaching out to hug her.

"Congratulations Elena. You're making Mom and Daddy grandparents before Elsa can walk," Gabby joked before holding Elsa in one arm. "But with you and your autism, I'm afraid you won't be able to handle a baby. You used to cover your ears whenever Ricky cried."

"We can do research to help her," Sofia offered, James and Amber nodding at her side. "Just like we did for Elena when we first learned she had autism and we looked up all that information for Nell and Bobby Lee. Now we can look up information on autism in expectant mothers."

"That's a good idea," Bobby Lee agreed. "And don't worry, Elena," he added, pulling Elena into a hug and kissing her on the cheek, "We'll do research too."

"It'll be a learning experience for all of us," Nell agreed.

"After Isa's birthday party!" Elena chuckled, taking Isabella from her father's arms.

"Da da!" Isabella giggled.

"I'm her first word? Gracias mi amor!" Howitzer cheered.

"You love her more than me!" Sabrina pouted playfully. "Howie! How could you?"

Isabella giggled and bounced in Elena's arms. She squealed as Elena nuzzled Midnight against her cheek.

"When you put it that way, Isa, how can I stay mad at you?" Sabrina smiled.

"You really can't," Gabby smiled. "She's too adorable to get mad at."

"Isabella Madeline, you have the right to remain adorable. Anything you do or say will be used against you when you're older," Ricky smiled.

"Now who have we used that on before?" Nell grinned.

"You love me!" Elena giggled.

"She picked that up from you, didn't she?" Nell playfully glared at Bobby Lee.

"And I picked that up from Amber when we were younger," Bobby Lee smirked.

"Okay enough playing around. Elena, congratulations on being a mommy but we have my Isa to celebrate," Sabrina smiled.

"That's right. It's not everyday you get to celebrate your birthday on a holiday," Howitzer cooed.

"Da da!" Isabella giggled.

"That's right, Isa," Howitzer smiled. "We're here to celebrate your birthday, and Valentines' day!"

"She's going to be spoiled when she gets two sets of presents, one set for her birthday, the other for Valentines day," Florence chuckled, holding up two packages with different colored wrapping paper.

"Our little Isa could never be spoiled; she's so sweet!" Sabrina smiled.

"Sweet as a rose," Elena agreed.

"But not as sweet as you," Jack smiled, kissing her cheek. "Finding out we're going to be parents is the greatest gift no money can buy."

"And Isa and Elsa can be practice," Sofia grinned.

"And we'll write to Queen Elena to give the baby their own kitty," Ricky agreed.

"That's a wonderful idea, Ricky, but we just found out about it today," Nell smiled, "But you're right. When we ask Queen Elena for Elsa's kitty, we'll ask for a second one for Elena's baby!"

"And while Ricky's guarding Elena, Amber, James, and I will come up with ideas to help her raise the baby," Sofia added. "I know this won't be the same as when we were helping you raise her, but we're up to the challenge!"

"I know you are, and so are we," Elena smiled as Jack nodded beside her.

Elsa started to fuss upon seeing the gifts meant for Isa as Gabby patted her back.

"Let it go. Let it go. Can't hold it back anymore," She sang, walking Elsa around the room.

"Elsa's favorite song!" Ricky chuckled.

"Come on you joker. Go get her present," Nell smirked.

"It's right here," Ricky smiled, holding up a small package. He helped Isabella open the package, and smiled as she held up a plush snowman. "And I know I'm giving it away, but Elsa has one too!" he added as he handed Elsa a second package. "Happy first Valentines day, Elsa!"

"Olaf! What a wonderful idea!" Nell grinned as she helped her unwrap it.

"Two Olafs! That is a good idea, Ricky!" Bobby Lee agreed.

Elsa cooed, putting her snowman plush in her mouth to drool on.

"That means she loves it," Elena cooed.

"What about the rest of us?" Sabrina asked. "I know the babies go first but what about Ricky and us grownups?"

"We've got special gifts for you too," Nell smiled. She and Bobby Lee handed everyone a bag of candy. She then gave Sabrina and Madeline each a gift certificate to the village book store.

Howitzer smiled as Nell gave him a cookie press. "This is fantastico! Now I can help Mama make new cookie designs in the bakery!"

Ricky smiled as he opened a package with a book in it. "James' new Andrew Harmon collection! This is so cool! Now I'll have to read them to Elsa and Isa for their bedtime stories!"

"I still remember when he got that book from his favorite author," Sabrina smiled as she opened a package with a locket from Bobby Lee. "He was so excited, and Mr. Webber offered to write a story where Andrew Harmon, Julie Melody, and Eddington Smith worked together to solve a case!"

"Now that was fun," Elena smiled, seeing Elsa give her snowman plush to her. "Okay Elsa but just one game okay?"

Elsa squealed in response, clapping her hands.

"Where's Elena? Where's your big sister?" Jack cooed.

"Surprise, Elsa!" Elena giggled, taking Elsa's snowman away from her face.

"And just think, soon we'll be doing that with our baby," Jack smiled.

"I can't wait," Elena smiled. "And I know we'll have lots of help preparing for him or her."

"Amber will be nursery ready before we know it," Jack smirked.

"Oh she's not that bad," Nell assured. "When I was pregnant with Elsa, she knew to slow down with the preparations. After all, the third time's the charm."

"After you yelled at her to," Ricky smirked. "The guards heard everything."

"Well, you told me about how she took over Sofia's tea party, then how she and James got her back with the Sweetheart Pies," Elena giggled.

"Sweetheart Pies?" Howitzer asked.

"We'll tell you later, Howie, but it was a very clever punishment disguised as a prank," Sabrina assured him.

Isa giggled, holding up her snowman plush as Sabrina took her in her arms.

Sabrina knew her little girl was excited for the rest of the day, spotting Bluebell near the doorway.

"Mommy did you leave your kitty here?" Elena asked.

"Not that I know of," Nell muttered. "But now that I think of it, Maddie did leave out of the blue after getting the book certificate."

"Maybe she wanted Bluebell to meet Isa's new friend," Ricky suggested. "I know I'll introduce her to Zoomer and Greenie later on."

"She can meet all our little friends in her own time," Sabrina smiled.

"It's not a race!" Elena giggled, remembering what Nell and Bobby Lee always said to her.

"We've taught you so well, Love Bug," Bobby Lee smiled as he kissed her.

"And she's never forgotten any of your sayings," Jack smiled. "Though I'll never forget the tears in your eyes when you gave Elena away."

"Edward did the same thing when Nellie got married," Lydia smiled, coming into the room. "Now then. Is there a little lady celebrating her birthday today?"

"Da da!" Isabella giggled.

"Well then Isa you, your daddy, and everyone else better come to the ballroom," Madeline smirked, poking her head through the doorway. "The kitties with balloons tied around them can't wait any longer."

Everyone came in the ballroom, and they saw everyone's plush jaquins on the tables. They even saw James' tiger Prince Blizzard, Amber's pink cat Duchess Kitty, Sofia's purple cat Lady Lavender, and even Elena's gray cat Bella.

"Everyone loves a kitty party, don't they, Isa?" Ricky smiled, remembering the kitty party he had for his first birthday.

Isabella squealed in response, noticing Pinky and reached out for her.

Elena grabbed Pinky and nuzzled her against Isabella's cheek, causing her to giggle.

"If her next word is Kitty, it'll be Elena all over again," Sabrina smiled.

"But at least we had her tested and she doesn't show signs of autism," Howitzer murmured, knowing that Nell and Bobby Lee had told him and Sabrina about that before Isabella was born.

"Thank goodness for that," Sabrina murmured back, smiling as she felt Nell hug her in agreement. "But even if that did happen, we've got all the notes that Amber, James, and Sofia took when Elena was diagnosed, so we'd know what to do if that happened to us."

"Exactly," Elena smiled, stroking Isabella's hair.

Elsa cooed, flapping her hands like Ricky used to do as a baby as she reached out for Bella.

"No no. That's Elena's special kitty," Gabby cooed. She noticed Elsa not listening and sighed. "Okay Elsa but just for a moment. Sofia can clean her if you get her dirty."

Elena's smile turned a little sad. She remembered meeting the gray kitty in the stable when she was a child, but Bella had died a few minutes afterward. Fortunately, that same night, she had been given a plush kitty that looked like her so she'd have a memento of her. And just like James did with his plush friends, Elena would use Bella, and even Kitty and Pinky, as her writing helpers.

"You told me about that, Elena," Jack murmured, putting an arm around her. "I know how you feel. I was crushed when my dog died, but Dad bought me a plush dog so I'd have something to remember him by, and Aunt Caroline gave me a new puppy the next year."

Even Gabby smiled. She was terrified of dogs, but she liked Jack's dog, since he was so gentle. He even got along well with James' dog Jagger, who still lived in the stables with Elena's kitty Briar Rose and Ricky's kitty Tiger.

Still she had to laugh as Elsa grabbed Bella and placed one of her paws in her mouth to drool on.

Isabella seemed to be enjoying the kitties too as Howitzer placed some on the ground for her to crawl to.

"While she's doing that, I better go get the birthday cake," Sabrina smiled.

"Right behind you," Nell grinned.

"We'll have to sing that one song as we bring the cake out," Madeline giggled. "What was it again, Bobby Lee? Oh yes, I remember now!"

"Don't you dare!" Bobby Lee frowned.

"What's new pussycat!" Madeline sang as she helped bring the cake out.

"That's right, you and James had to sing that for one of Elena and Gabby's fashion shows!" Nell giggled.

Isabella's eyes widened upon seeing the kitty shaped birthday cake and crawl towards Sabrina, tugging on her dress.

"Kitty!" She squealed.

"I knew it! I told you she was like me!" Elena shrieked.

"Easy now before you make Elsa cry," James smirked.

"Don't worry, Elsa; you'll be talking and saying 'kitty' before you know it," Elena smiled. "It's not a race. You just do things in your own time."

"That's a really good lesson," Jack smiled.

"Mommy and Dad said that to me every day," Elena smiled.

"We sure did Elena. But Elsa's only three months old right now," Nell smiled. "She has plenty of time to develop in her own way."

"And her love of kitties is something that'll never change," Ricky smiled.

"Well you're the one that held Pinky up for Mom to focus on," Gabby smirked. "At least before you fainted at the sight of blood."

"But at least I tried to get better," Ricky grumbled. "I tried to watch scary movies to toughen myself up, but of course they didn't work, and along with fainting at the sight of blood I got nightmares."

"But at least Zoomer and Greenie were there to help purr your fear away," Bobby Lee smiled. "James and I also had to sleep in your room with you sometimes, but at least you got over your fears."

"Kitties do make everything better," Elena smiled as she hugged them.

"Kitty!" Isabella squealed.

"She's definitely Elena alright," Sabrina grinned, giving Isabella her own cake.

Elena was about to protest before Jack tapped her shoulder and gave her a piece of the bigger cake.

"I would smash it in your face," he smirked. "But Aunt Caroline told me to save that for our wedding."

"That's right," Bobby Lee smirked. "Even if some people do like a little food fight at the wedding!"

Even Nell giggled at the memory. She had seen Elena and Gabby, who were then three years old, watch as she and Bobby Lee smashed cake into each others' mouths at the reception, and when it was their turn to get a small piece of cake, the girls smashed the cake into each others' mouths too. They were also going over to where Sofia, James, and Amber were, and tried to do it with them, but James stopped them just in time with the promise of a kitty song.

That had distracted Elena from smashing cake in Amber's mouth before Gabby had smashed her piece into Sofia's mouth.

Once getting over the shock, Sofia had taken Gabby in her arms and danced with her.

"Speaking of smashing," Howitzer smirked. "It's time for Isa to do the same." Seeing Isabella shake her head, he stroked her hair. "It's not a real kitty Isa." Howitzer gently took Isabella's little fist and brought it down gently into the frosting. "There you go, mija! You're officially a year old!"

"You're as bad as Robert!" Nell smirked. "He did that with Ricky too! And he said that to him!"

"And don't worry, mi amor, the kitty wasn't hurt," Howitzer continued as he cleaned Isabella's fist.

Isabella giggled softly as he kissed her hand and she reached for him. "Kitty?" she asked.

"You'll have plenty of kitties to play with later," Howitzer promised. "Mami just wants you to eat some of your cake."

"Da da?" Isabella asked.

"Yes you can give some to your daddy," Nell smiled. "And your mommy too."

"Gee, thanks!" Sabrina smirked, taking her own piece of cake.

"We can let Isa have this little piece, and we'll eat our own," Howitzer smiled, taking his own piece.

"We'll have to give Isa a bath later, but at least she doesn't run off like Elena did when it was bath time," Nell whispered.

"No. She's like Ricky when he was small. She loves baths," Sabrina whispered back.

"Except for the one time he ran off, hearing Elena get hurt," Bobby Lee smirked, overhearing the whispers.

"Oh really?" Jack chuckled. "I thought Elena had been the master nudist." Seeing Elena glare at him for bringing that up, Jack held his hands out. "I'm sorry, Elena. I promise not to bring that up anymore."

"I was three! One streaking incident and I never hear the end of it!" Elena frowned. "Do I always have to be reminded of that? And I don't care how cute it was! I moved past that! Why can't you?"

Seeing how upset she was becoming, Nell and Bobby Lee carefully came up and hugged her. "Elena, Love Bug, we're sorry," Nell murmured as Elena started crying. "If you don't want us to talk about it anymore, we won't."

"Thank you," Elena sniffled.

"Kitty?" Isabella asked, holding up Midnight with her cake covered fingers to Elena's face.

"Why not?" Edward grinned, taking Isabella out of her high chair. "Elena, Isa has a little friend for you."

"Even if she's a little sticky," Lydia grinned.

"We can always wash her," Nell smiled. She carefully brushed some of the crumbs off of Midnight before nuzzling her against Elena's cheek. "It's all right, Elena. We didn't mean to make you upset. We'll never bring that up again, okay?"

"Okay," Elena sniffled.

"It's really my fault for saying that," Jack said as he sat on her other side. "I'm sorry, Elena. I didn't mean to make you upset."

"You didn't know Jack," Elena smiled warmly. "Besides, enough tears. We have a birthday to finish."

"Of course we do Lena," Ricky smiled.

"You do realize that was your first word right Ricky?" Elena smirked. "You could've said Ma ma or Da da but instead you picked me."

"What can I say?" Ricky smiled. "I've always looked up to you, and not just because I'm short!"

Elena giggled at the joke that James always made with her, Ricky, and Gabby when they were little. "You're not short anymore, you're almost as tall as Dad!"

Isabella squealed as Edward tossed her in the air before landing in his arms, having Sabrina smile nostalgically and remembered how he used to do it when Elena, Gabby and Ricky were little.

"Elsa wants a turn to Grandpa," Gabby smiled, holding Elsa in one arm and giving Isabella her gift with her free hand.

"Come here, Elsa," Edward smiled. "Come see Grandpa."

Elsa squealed as he nuzzled her snowman against her. She took the snowman and put his head in her mouth to drool on.

"Careful, Elsa, we don't want you to get brain freeze," Ricky smiled.

"And this is what we get for having you play with James," Lydia smirked. "But he always helped you with your writing assignments in school. You'd all get together with your kitties and brainstorm ideas for essays, just like you did for his stories!"

"Not to mention your little story for Elsa after she was born," Sabrina grinned, watching as Isabella was given her gift from Gabby. "Though giving her powers was out there. Even if her namesake does powers herself."

"Blonde hair? Blue eyes? How can they not equal to powers?" Ricky smirked. "Besides Florence and Madeline are too young for big adventures yet."

"I didn't give you your own big adventure until you could talk Ricky," James recalled with a smirk. "On Elena's suggestion, it was kitty related."

"And what better way to start off our first adventures than with a kitty story?" Elena smiled.

"That's right," Amber smiled. "Before James started writing his Andrew Harmon stories, he made up adventures that my dolls and our stuffed animals went on."

Ricky smiled. He remembered one time when he was sick and had to stay in bed, and James came in his room with his 'writing helpers' and made up a story with him about all their plush friends going on an adventure. They had written the story down, and gave a copy of it to Nell for Wassalia.

Now he could make a story for Isabella, kneeling down to help her open her gift.

"What is it?" Ricky cooed. "Is it a kitty?"

"Kitty!" Isabella squealed, chewing on what she was just given.

"Isa!" Gabby laughed, taking the object out of her mouth.

"That's right, Isa, you don't want to chew that," Sabrina smiled, taking the small book from her. "Books are for reading, not chewing."

"Unless they're used as a temporary teething remedy," Ricky smirked.

"And we can always sink our teeth into a good book," James added.

"Okay, you two, that's enough," Sabrina smirked. "We don't want to give Isa the wrong message!"

"You're the one to talk Sabrina!" Nell laughed. "When you and Maddie were Isa's age, you grabbed and chewed on every book you can get!"

Howitzer chuckled, giving Isabella his gift before seeing Sabrina's cheeks turn crimson. Leave it to his sister in law to still have the ability to bring up memories that embarrass his wife.

Elena sat down beside Isabella, taking her in her lap as she shook Howitzer's gift around.

Isabella squealed as she held Midnight up to her face. "Kitty?"

"You're right, Isa, kitties make everything better," Elena smiled.

Isabella snuggled against her, swinging a lock of Elena's hair back and forth as her eyes started to drip.

She wanted to finish opening her presents but was beginning to feel sleepy.

"It's okay, Isa, you can open your presents when you're ready," Sabrina smiled as she took her.

"Sure, we can take a little break from the party, then pick it up again later," Ricky smiled.

"Isa Party Part 2!" Howitzer smiled.

"Enough you jokers!" Nell laughed. "Isa and Elsa are both ready for a nap."

"I could use the practice," Elena added, taking Elsa in her arms. "Jack, do you mind helping me out? I want you to get some experience too."

"Just as long as it's not a diaper change," Jack smirked. "Elsa had a little accident on me last time."

"It happens to all of us at one point," Bobby Lee smiled, remembering how Elena and Gabby had changed Ricky by themselves once, and Ricky had an accident on Elena. He didn't want to say anything about it following Elena's outburst earlier, but that didn't stop him from smiling at the memory.

However, Ricky whispered, "You told me about that, Daddy, and you're right. Better not to mention things like this in front of Elena. But really, I don't mind if we talk about things like that in private."

Bobby Lee nodded his head in agreement.

After the girls had their naps, the party resumed as Jack carried a bouncing Elsa in his arms.

"If you're not careful, you'll just bounce away," he cooed, stroking her hair. "Though I wanted to thank you for not having another accident on me."

"I think she was just protecting me from you last time," Elena joked.

"Just wait til that happens with us!" Jack smirked.

"But we'll face it together!" Elena giggled.

"But for now, Elsa's your practice," Sabrina smiled, carrying a wiggling Isabella in her arms. "Isa! Stop wiggling you wiggle worm!"

"Gabby used to do that too," Lydia smiled. "She never gave Nellie a break!"

"In her defense, Gab-Gab wanted to explore the world," Bobby Lee smiled.

"And maybe I'll take Elsa, Isa, and the new baby with me on my own adventures," Gabby giggled, "When they're older, of course!"

"As long as we go with you too," Elena smirked, Howitzer and Sabrina nodding in agreement.

"I'll come too," Ricky added, "When I went with you on that one Protector mission, the Protectors thanked me for all my help by giving me my own enchantlet!" As he demonstrated by making the loop appear, Elsa and Isabella squealed and tried to reach for it. "And Gab, I know it's not a toy, but sometimes I do go out to the stable and use the lasso as a toy for Tiger!"

"I did that too for Snow White. And I still do it for Briar Rose," Gabby smiled. "Though I've been considering retiring from the protectors in a few years."

"We understand," Edward smiled, patting her head. "We just need to focus on the birthday girl."

"And that means finishing her presents," Ricky agreed, rolling back up the loop much to Elsa and Isabella's quivering bottom lips.

"And if you want, Ricky, you could take my place as a Protector, when you're not busy being a junior guard," Gabby suggested.

"Let's take it one day at a time, Gab-Gab," Bobby Lee smiled.

"That's right," Ricky smiled.

Sabrina had set a wiggling Isabella down who crawled to her presents, taking the one that was in her reach from the pile.

Ripping the paper with some help from Howitzer, she squealed upon seeing a blanket filled with kitties on it.

"That's from your abuela on Papi's side," he smiled, stroking her hair. "She thought you were like it."

"Da da!" Isabella squealed. "Kitty!"

"That's right, Isa, we know you like kitties as much as everyone in the family," Sabrina giggled. "We can tuck you in with this tonight when we put you to bed!"

"Maybe we should start thinking about that right now," Nell murmured, seeing Elsa start nodding off with her snowman.

Isabella pouted, dropping the kitty blanket to the floor as Howitzer took her in her arms.

"No!" He protested, doing a Mr. napkin head with Isabella. "I don't wanna go night-night!"

Everyone giggled at the action before Sabrina took Isabella in her arms.

"Don't worry, Isa, we'll still be here when you wake up," she smiled. "You can play with your kitties, and listen to your new stories as much as you want in the morning." She started humming 'Do You Wanna Build a Snowman' as she carried Isabella to bed. "It's like James says, music makes everything better, right?"

"That's right," Howitzer smiled. "We'll sing whatever Isa wants when she wakes up, and we'll let her play with her gifts too."

"And we should think about putting Elsa to bed too," Nell added.

She got a surprise when Elena took her. "Let me and Jack do that, Mommy," she volunteered, "We're going to need all the practice we can get before we have our own baby!"

Elena started humming "Let It Go" as Elsa yawned, knowing that it was her favorite song.

"After we put her to bed, why don't we finish celebrating Valentine's Day just the two of us?" Jack suggested as they and Elsa bid everyone goodnight.

"Maybe. If Baby doesn't make me sick," Elena smiled.

"Good idea," Jack smiled. "And don't worry, Ricky; I'll keep an eye on Elena and make sure nothing happens to her."

"Okay," Ricky nodded.

Jack patted Ricky on the head affectionately as Elena cradled a sleeping Elsa in her arms.

Isabella was now a year old while she was now expecting a little one of her own. Elena knew she couldn't turn back time but looked forward to her life ahead that always seemed to be changing one way or another.