#melody!

“I really cannot thank you enough.” “Of course! We’re so excited to have her!” Ariel blew her hair out of her face as she slid the overpacked duffle from one shoulder and the bulky tote from the other, bristles from its basketweave catching on her gauzy blouse. Belle got it off before it snagged, and Ariel laughed, half-relieved and half-exasperated. “Thanks.” The two women smiled down at the little raven-haired girl between them. “You’re going to have so much fun this weekend,” Ariel said. “I know Gideon’s looking forward to showing you the new treehouse,” Belle said, and Ariel gasped for effect.  Their combined fuss coaxed a tiny smile from the girl. Her grip on her favorite seashell pillow eased marginally, and she looked up at her mother. Ariel knelt to give her kiss and squeeze her arm. “Mommy and Daddy will be back Sunday night,” she said. “You be a good girl for Auntie Belle and Uncle Rumple, okay?” Melody nodded. Ariel kissed her again.  “Go on.” Melody carefully brushed past Belle’s legs. In the den behind her, Rumplestiltskin was crouched with one arm around Gideon, and the other was out to receive her with a wide grin. Melody’s reserve vanished at this, and she bounded into Rumplestiltskin’s embrace so hard he almost fell over. Belle and Ariel laughed.   “Any idea where Eric’s taking you yet?” Belle asked as she piled Melody’s bags off to the side.  “No,” Ariel sighed. “I thought I’d love that he planned a weekend to just whisk me away, but all I’m going to do is worry about her.” Belle followed Ariel’s gaze over her shoulder.  Gideon and Melody had Rumple on his back, peals of laughter overlapping as he feigned helplessness and suffered the blows of their little pillows. They hit him harder when he “begged” for mercy. “Oh, but I know I shouldn’t worry at all,” Ariel said with a warm, wistful smile to her friend. “She’s in good hands—” “Ah!” Belle’s mouth fell open when she turned around. Rumplestiltskin had a giggling child hovering a foot off the ground on either side of him. They admirably fought against the shimmering purple spell that bound them, but they did so in futility, powerless under their capture’s smug smirk. “Rumplestiltskin!” His smile waned at the incredulous look in Belle’s eye—the one that reminded him she’d specifically asked him not to levitate children moments before their guest arrived. Rumplestiltskin side-eyed Melody as he let their feet touch the ground again. They immediately reached for their pillows again—and groaned in outrage when he cast a barrier spell around himself. “That’s not fair!” Gideon said. “Not fair?” Rumplestiltskin huffed. “It’s two against one!” He looked at Belle. Her lips were drawn in a tight line, promising a proper scolding despite hinting at amusement. Ariel put her hand on Belle’s shoulder and reassured her, “She’s in very good hands.” Belle sighed. Brandished a smile because Ariel did.  “Have fun,” she said when Ariel hugged her.  “Thank you.” She pulled away, tucked her hair behind her ears, and shrugged her shoulders with an excited squeak before turning to trot down the porch stairs. “Call me if you need me!” “We’ll be fine—” A great crash came from the kitchen. Ariel covered her threatening grin with her hands at how big Belle’s eyes got. The clatter and banging of spilled pots and pans took several seconds to settle, and when it did, soft titters followed. “We’re fine!” Rumplestiltskin yelled. Belle shut her eyes. Ariel snickered, touching Belle’s arm before she walked away; this was her problem for the next forty-eight hours, and she could not be more grateful for that. “Have fun!” Ariel said from the car. The moment she and Eric were out of sight, Belle heard another pair of impossibly high-pitched screams from the backyard and made herself take a deep breath. It was going to be a long weekend.

Thanks for knocking on my door!! 🍫👻🍂