Elora Danan I have one thing to say in my defense. I was bored. BORED! It?s the first "rainy day" I?ve had in a while, and I was reeeeeaaaaallly bored. Serena is about five months, but I made the Serenity line develop differently than normal babies. Thanks to everyone who mailed me!!!! It meant a lot to know people actually read my stuff!!! And on request, I?ll start telling you what the story should be rated. J This story is rated G!!!! Disclaimer: Naoko Takeuchi owns SM, I don?t, and I?m sorry to say that suing me will do you no good whatsoever. This story takes place during the Silver Millennium. Someday, should I ever finish my Moon Kingdom Born series, this?ll fit in nicely. J The Princess and The Peas The dismal weather outside had done nothing to improve her mood. If anything, it made the children far more irritable than if they had been allowed out to play. Annae sighed loudly. She had arrived at the Palace two hours earlier than usual, hoping to leave to attend her daughter?s school play. But she wasn?t certain she?d live through the day. The boys had fought her and her assistant, Trea, since the moment she had arrived. They had fought over uniforms, breakfast fruits, wearing rain slickers and various other things until they walked out the door. Pausing briefly for a cup of tea, she watched the wind pick up a bit, scattering leaves about the carefully mowed lawn. She could hear Serena?s faint cry of indignation upstairs in her nursery, and finished the tea hurriedly. Nightlights in each corner illuminated the nursery. Serena?s crib was situated in the center of the room, white ruffles and flounce puddled on the floor around it. The baby Princess was lying on her tummy under a lightweight silk blanket, tucked in snugly. Her eyes widened in recognition and she gooed delightedly, giggling. "Good Morning, your highness." she pulled the blankets back and swung her out of the crib. "Did you sleep well?" She took the faint gurgle as a positive response, and carried her over to the changing table. During her first day, it had taken her nearly two hours to figure out how Serena?s nightie worked. Two safety snaps kept the loose gown on her, and a series of buttons held it together at the stress points. After changing her, she managed to find an absolutely adorable variation on her white flouncy dress; one with less ruffles. Finishing off the outfit with a tiny bonnet, she eased her feet into the soft leather slippers and took her downstairs. Unlike her brothers, Serena was remarkably easy-going. She ate breakfast without fuss, and settled down in her bassinet, content to watch Annae while she read a newspaper. At one point, she even fell asleep for a time. That came to an end as Andren?s kindergarten class ended, and he was dropped off at the Palace?s East entrance. "Annae! Annae, look what I made!" Annae slowly set the newspaper aside and looked up to see Andren holding a battered, rain-soaked finger painting in front of her. "It?s beautiful, Andren. We?ll hang it on the board in your room." "I don?t want it in my room, I made it for Mommy." He stuck his lower lip out, insulted that she would think he wanted it. "All right, we?ll take it up with Maeryi. Now, what would you like for lunch?" She got up, glancing down at Serena as she did so. The baby was still sleeping, though how she had through Andren?s initial entrance escaped her. "I want noodles." Andren began pulling his wet raincoat off, and Annae grabbed the sleeves obligingly, helping him wriggle out. "Andren, I don?t think we have any noodles. Do you want something else?" "I want noodles!!" he yelled it as loudly as he possibly could, startling Serena out of her nap. Her normally easy-going attitude dissipated quickly, and her crying shattered the stillness of the room. Andren, shocked at her screams started yelling louder, hoping to be heard. "All right, that?s enough!" she made certain that her voice echoed, and both fell silent. "I?ll find noodles, but I want you to go change clothes, those are all wet." Andren smiled sheepishly and picked up his backpack, racing for the stairs. Annae reached into the bassinet, tenderly picking Serena up. "Shhh, it?s all right now." the baby sniffled, and yawned sleepily. "Yes, go back to sleep." Serena gurgled, and half-closed her eyes. She was almost asleep when Andren came back down and yelled; "I tied my shoes all by myself!" Annae shifted her as she shot awake again, though thankfully not crying this time. "That?s wonderful, Andren. Let?s go find lunch, and then I?ll read you a story." to herself, she added; *so I can have peace again* Lunch passed by without any further complications, and Serena managed to eat her melon fruit unassisted. She bustled Andren up the stairs, carrying Serena who was awake and enjoying herself immensely by pulling Annae?s hair. "Owww! Serena, sweetheart.." she managed, just barely to restrain herself from hitting away the tiny hands of the child pulling her long brown hair. "Please don?t pull my hair.." she slid the few strands wrapped in the girl?s pudgy fingers out, and massaged her scalp vigorously. Andren bounded into his room, and began digging about on his shelves for his favorite story book. "Annae, I want to hear this one." he held out a battered book with dogeared pages." Okay, just let me put Serena to sleep, then I?ll be right back." She rose, taking Serena with her. Setting the little girl down in her crib again, she slid a stuffed bunny in to take her place. Her little arm curled around it instinctively, and she snuggled with it. Annae pulled the silk blanket up beneath her elbows, and tucked it in. Andren was sitting patiently on his bed when she returned to his room. He settled back against the pillows and listened intently as she read, falling asleep to the sound of her voice. With Andren down for at least an hour, she went back to Serena?s room to watch her. She seemed rather restless, moving her hands and waving tiny fists in the air. The wind had picked up, and now the rain pelted the windows. Thunder crashed in the distance, and Serena woke up, crying. Her big, round blue eyes filled with tears and she screamed loudly. Andren, too, awoke with the loud crashes of thunder, and the blinding lightning. He bolted down the hallway at a run, diving for Annae?s lap and cuddling against her. He hated thunderstorms. Annae was just about to pick a still-screaming Serena up and calm her when the lights went out. Andren screamed and clung to her legs, almost making her fall. "Andren, sweetheart, I need to get to the emergency lights." She tried to unwrap his hands to no avail. "Andren?" she managed to catch his chin and tilt it up. "I can put more lights on, if you let go. Can you be brave and watch Serena for me while I do it?" Andren slowly nodded and released her leg. He crept to the crib and whispered; "It?s okay, Serena. I won?t let the thunder hurt you." He stuck a finger in and Serena grabbed onto it. Annae smiled and crossed the room and knelt behind the rocking chair. Blindly, she flipped the switch and watched as the emergency lights came on. Andren used his freehand to scrub the tears off his cheek and gave her a watery smile. Serena?s cries had faded, and though the storm continued outside, Annae felt like the storm had dissipated inside. "Andren, why don?t you go find another book, and I?ll read it to both of you." He nodded, and crept out into the hallway. While he was gone, Annae reached in and picked Serena up tenderly. "Are you all right, huh?" she cooed, and smiled. Annae set her down on the changing table and quickly gave her a fresh diaper. Andren came bounding back in with one of his alien stories. He had the entire series, which was based off of the concept of people in another system beyond Pluto. No one really thought anyone was beyond them anymore. Not these again, Andren?" she sat down and situated Serena in her lap. Andren started to climb up in her lap as well. He glared at her accusingly. "I like this book, and so does Serena, don?t you?" Serena giggled, and Andren looked at her again. "All right, I guess I?m outvoted, aren?t I?" "Yes, you are." Andren laughed loudly, and that set Serena to giggling again as well. "In a galaxy far, far away?" The book wasn?t that bad, she decided, if you managed past the first two chapters. Andren had fallen asleep, but Serena hadn?t. For some reason, Annae found herself reading on in the book. Serena was actually watching her, and when she had stopped once, the little girl?s bottom lip had trembled as though she were going to cry. As she shifted to make herself more comfortable, Andren woke up. The rain had stopped some time ago, and the wind was blowing the clouds away. He sat up and grinned at her. "Can we have a snack? I?m hungry." As she opened her mouth to answer, the door opened, and Orion came bounding in. "Hi Annae!" Andren slid to the floor, and Annae stood, feeling the blood rush back down to her toes. Serena was set up against her shoulders, and offered Orion a hug. "Hi! How was school?" "Good." Orion smiled, and Annae had a feeling that he would be quite the heartbreaker when he grew up." I get to work on a science project for the school science fair." "Do you know what you?re going to do?" "Not yet. Did you know half of the city lost power? "No, I didn?t." she motioned Andren and Orion toward the door, and they headed downstairs. "What time is it?" "16:30. Can we eat dinner?" Andren turned an excited face to her, and she smiled down at him. "I suppose." "Yeah!" "I want you to go change clothes and then come down." "Okay!" they raced off and Annae turned Serena to face her. "I think that we should go ready, shouldn?t we?" Serena smiled and Annae continued down the stairs. She managed to set Serena down in her high seat before the boys came back. She set out the dinner and started to help Serena with hers when the boys announced their presence by stomping loudly into the dining room. She motioned for them to sit and tied Serena?s bib firmly in place. With Trea?s help, they served all three children and Annae sat down herself to help Serena eat. No one talked through most of the meal, Annae was focused on ending her day and getting home, she barely noticed when Serena finished the rest of her dinner. The peas were the only things left on the plate. Serena hated vegetables. Nevertheless, Annae spooned up the peas and raised the spoon. Serena tried to block it immediately . Frustrated, she said; "Sweetheart, you have to eat your peas." She could feel the boys shift their attention to Serena and her lack of cooperation. Andren looked pleased with her, and Orion watched with grave curiosity. Trying again, she was rebuffed by a set mouth and bobbing head. "Serena?" She raised her head, and watching Annae with determined blue eyes, she said; "No peas." Annae?s jaw nearly hit the floor, and Andren and Orion looked shocked. "She talked!" Orion crowed Andren hopped down from his seat and ran to her side. "Say it again! Say it again!" Serena giggled and banged her spoon on the table. Annae smiled easily, and tried to grab it. Serena?s laughter faded as she spoke again. "No! No!" she screamed loudly in protest as Annae took her hands and forced them to still. "Boys, I want you to sit down." They hesitantly resumed their seats, and watched as Annae rose and picked Serena up, leaving them with Trea for the moment. They could hear Serena screaming all the way down the hallway and to her chambers. She set her down on the floor and waited a few minutes for the child to stop screaming. "Sweetheart.." she knelt down as Serena lost interest in her tantrum. "I know you don?t want to eat your peas, but sometimes we have to do things we don?t want to do." Serena sniffled and smiled at her again. "Should we go eat now?" She helped Serena stand and swung her up in a hug. She nodded happily and Annae carried her back to finish her meal. Annae finally got Serena through her meal and ready for bed. Tired from a long day, she nearly fell asleep during her bath. She changed her into her nightgown and lay her down in her crib. Dimming the lights, she watched Serena fall asleep at last. Slipping out, she slid the door part way closed and headed down to the boys. Trea held out her coat and both Princes watched her curiously. "Where are you going, Annae?" " I have to help my daughter get ready for her play tonight." Both were regarding her with saddened expressions. "Don?t worry, I?ll be back tommorrow." They returned to their homework reluctantly, and Trea walked with her to the door. "See you tomorrow?" Trea smiled at her and Annae found herself grinning in response. "Yes, I?ll see you tomorrow, Trea." Stepping out into the cool night air, she quickly headed for the front gates. She had two daughters, one she had given life to, and the other she taught it to. She wouldn?t trade her life for anything in the world. I?m sorry. I have this thing with the royal family, I guess. Anyway, after the long into, you?d expect me not to have anything down here, would you? Hee Hee, of course not! Visit my page at http://www.angelfire.com/de/edvb5/index.html or mail me at kaima_dralflen@yahoo.com ja ne!