"Reyyyyy!" Rose says, covering her ears and hiding her face in her pillow. "Go back to sleep! It's four in the freaking morning!"
I sigh, but don't reply. Instead I continue to keep the light on, making sure everything is ready for when Stella comes.
"If you aren't going to bed, then at least turn the lights out." Rose grumbles.
"Can't." I reply. "Lyra and Poe will be here soon with Stella. I have to make sure everything's ready." Rose sighs heavily, annoyed. "Come on, Rosie, Jessika is across the hall and doesn't have a roommate. How about you go sleep in there for awhile?"
"No."
"Why?"
Rose sits up, blinking multiple times as her eyes adjust to the light, "Like I said, it's four in the morning. I'm not going to Jess' room because that would require walking. And I'm currently unable to function properly because I am exhausted."
I roll my eyes, "Rosamund Amelia, stop being so extra. You can walk."
Rose looks at me for several seconds, then stands up, and, quite dramatically, falls, face flat on the floor.
"Rose." I say, closing my eyes tightly. "Get off the floor."
"I can't!" Rose exclaims. "This is all on you, Skywalker. This is all on you."
Before I have a chance to reply, I hear a small knock on the door.
"Okay, they're here." I mutter, and go to answer it, giving Rose a slight glare when I almost trip over her.
I open the door, seeing Poe and Lyra, holding a very sleepy Stella.
They both look like zombies.
"Hey guys!" I greet, keeping my voice low. "Come in."
"Why is Rose on the floor?" Lyra asks, her voice in a whisper. "Did you kill her?"
"She's just being dramatic." I state. "Ignore her."
"Okay," Lyra replies, and hands me a small yellow backpack. "everything you need to keep her entertained is in there. She should sleep for a few more hours, unless there's nightmares then she probably won't fall back asleep. She eats fruit and a grilled cheese for lu-"
"Lyra," Poe cuts her off. "you already wrote a list for all this. Stella will be fine. I'm sure Rey won't break her. And if she does.."
"I won't!" I snap. "I will not break Stella."
Lyra gives a nervous smile, "Yeah, I'm sure you're right, Poe."
"I know I am."
With a sigh, Poe hands Stella over to me.
"Bye sweetie," Lyra whispers to her. "have fun with Auntie Rey!"
"Okay... Mama," Stella replies sleepily.
"We love you."
"Love you, too."
Lyra and Poe then hesitantly leave, and I close the door. I place Stella on the wall side of the bed, so she can't fall off the bed and onto Rose.
Then I turn the lights off.
~
"GOOOOD MOOOORNING AUNTIE REY!"
I awake to Stella practically screaming in my face. I roll over, to hide my face in my pillow, only to find my pillow is gone.
Then I feel a pillow hitting my face.
"Stella!" I say. "Good morning."
"Why are you not up yet, Auntie Rey?" Stella asks, sitting down on the bed. "It's time to wake up!"
"What time is it, Stella?"
"Time to wake up."
She is definitely Lyra's daughter.
"Stella,"
"I can't say time yet." Stella states, her voice telling me it's obvious. "I'm three."
I sigh, "For a minute, I thought you were your mama."
"I'm not." Stella replies. "Can we get breakfast, please?"
"Sure."
~
"Okay, Stella," I say, walking to the table, with a trey of food. "I don't know what you normally eat for breakfast, so I just got a few different kinds of pancakes and fruit. So, you can have whatever, and what you don't want, I guess I'll eat or I'll give it to Auntie Rose."
"Okay!" Stella squeals.
I cut up the pancakes, and scoot the plate towards her.
"Yummy!"
"I'm glad you like it."
"Thank you Auntie Rey,"
"You're very welcome." I reply.
Finn walks towards us, and I smile, waving at him to come over here.
"Good morning Uncle Finn!" Stella grins. "Auntie Rey and me are eating pancakes!"
"You are?" Finn asks, she nods. "I bet they're delicious."
"They are."
Finn looks at me and smiles, "Good morning, Sunshine."
"Good morning, Peanut."
"Ewww!" Stella says. "Gross."
I chuckle, "We're just talking, Stella. Talking isn't gross."
Stella rolls her eyes.
"She's really sassy," Finn says to me, quiet so she can't hear him.
"Yep." I agree. "Would you like to join us?"
Finn shrugs, "Sure, if it's okay with you and Stella."
"It is." I insist. "Right, Stella?"
Stella sighs, "Okay."
Finn sits beside me, and to his own request, I give him a blueberry pancake that Stella and I don't want.
~
"I'm done!" Stella announces, shoving her empty plate away from her.
"Okay Stella." I say, sighing. "Finn, can you watch her? I'm going to clean up the table really quick. I'll be back in a minute."
"Sure."
I pick up the plates, and put them away.
After that, I go back to the table.
"Auntie Rey!" Stella exclaims. "Can we play in the snow? Please?"
"I don't see why not." I say, shrugging.
"Yay!"
"Okay, but wait, we need to get our coats."
"Okay!" Stella squeals. "Come on!"
"Wait a minute," I say, turning to Finn. "would you like to join us?"
"Sounds fun." Finn says. "Sure."
~
We all head outside after grabbing our coats.
"Bellamy! Milo! Riley!" Stella screams, seeing her little friends playing in the snow. "Auntie Rey! Can I please play in the snow with them? Please?!"
I nod, "Sure, just don't ru-"
Before I can finish, Stella runs towards them.
"Run." I finish, sighing.
For waking up at four in the morning then again at seven, she sure has a lot of energy.
I feel something hit the back of my jacket, causing me to turn around, only to see Finn holding a snowball.
"Hello," Finn says, dropping the snowball on the ground. "I didn't do anything."
I chuckle, and throw a snowball back at him, "Neither did I."
"I saw you!" Finn exclaims.
"And I saw you!"
"You know, I don't really feel like a snowball fight..."
"I don't really either."
"Would you like to build a snowman with me?" Finn asks.
"Sure!" I say, walking towards him then smashing a snowball on the back of his head.
"Hey!"
"Yes, I know." I reply immediately. "And I'm sorry."
~
"Hey, Rey,"
I look up to see Finn, standing beside the now finished snowman. I smile at him, slightly confused on why he called for me, "What?"
"I gave him a mustache." Finn states, rather amused with himself.
That's when I notice the twig above the poor snowman's mouth.
"Finn!" I say, laughing. "It looks like our snowman here could use a shave."
"No, he says he likes it." Finn insists. "What should we name him?"
"Carl Bert."
"Carl Bert?"
"Yep." I state, nodding. "Carl Bert."
"I like it." Finn says, walking towards me. "Hello, Carl Bert."
Suddenly a snowball flies past us, hitting Carl in the face and knocking his head off.
"CARL!" I screech, dropping down next to him.
"Sorry Aunt Rey, Uncle Finn," Riley apologizes. "I didn't mean it."
Finn turns to her, "Rude."
"Can't you just build a new one?" Riley asks, obviously feeling bad. "I could help."
"You killed Carl." I say, she looks down. "But I forgive you. Want to help us?"
Riley shrugs, and walks towards the beheaded snowman. "Sure."
"Auntie Rey!" Stella says, her and her friends running towards us. "Can I help?"
"Okay."
~
"I'm cold!" Stella whines, stepping into the hotel room.
"I know, Stella." I say, following her inside and closing the door behind us. "How about we get you into some warmer clothes?"
She nods, and I help her change out of her cold wet clothes and into a little grey sweatshirt and matching leggings.
"I'm hungry, too." Stella states. "Can I get something to eat?"
"Umm, sure." I say, grabbing her little yellow backpack and looking inside of it. "Your Mama made you a grilled cheese sandwich and grapes for lunch. Want that?"
"Yes, please."
I take the little plastic baggy out and hand it to her, "Don't stuff your mouth, okay? One grape at a time."
"Okay, Auntie Rey,"
~
Stella finishes her lunch, and lays down on my bed, ready for her nap, "Auntie Rey, can you sing me song? Pretty please?"
"Stella, sweetie, I can't sing." I say, she pouts. "I wish I could but I can't."
"Please?" Stella says, her lip quivering.
"Can't I just read you a book?" I ask.
"Okay," Stella replies, still pouting. "can you read the Ewok Adventure?"
"Okay." I reply, taking out the book with Ewoks on the cover. "A long time ago, in a galaxy far far away, there was a family whose ship crashed on Endor, the planet of Ewoks.."
Once I get to chapter three, I decide to put the book down, only to see Stella is still awake, "Please sing me a song,"
I sigh, "Fine, Stella. What do you want me to sing you?"
"Umm, Twinkle Little Star,"
"Okay," I say, sighing again, and then I begin to sing.
"No." Stella stops me. "Don't say 'star' say Stella. Stella means star. Did you know that? I didn't. My Papa told me."
I smile slightly, then sing her the song.
~
"Rey! You won't believe what happened!" Rose exclaims, walking into the room.
"Shh!" I hiss, putting a finger over my mouth. "Be quiet. She's sleeping,"
"Oh, sorry." Rose says, her voice quieter this time. "You won't believe what happened. Caden, Nathan, and I were sledding, when suddenly I fell off the sled, went down the hill, and landed in a melted puddle of snow. My pants are wet now, and all my other pants are in the laundry room being washed."
"How about you borrow mine?" I suggest.
"You're a giant compared to me!" Rose states.
"Gosh Tico, you're so dramatic!" I say. "I'm five inches taller then you. Not a million."
"Five inches is still a lot."
"Borrow Lyra's then."
"She's only an inch shorter then you, Rey,"
"How about you see if Jyn has any?" I ask. "She's an inch taller then you. That's not much. How about you ask her?"
"Fine." Rose says, sighing. "I'll be right back."
"Okay." I say. "I'll see you later."
~
After Stella woke up, we played a few games, watched a few holovids, and had a little 'fashion show' with Rose. Now it's time for dinner.
"Can I have pasta?" Stella asks.
"They don't have pasta today, Stella." I inform. "How about soup?"
"I don't soup!"
"Yes, you do." I state. "Your Mama told me so."
"Well, I don't like it anymore." Stella replies. "I want pasta."
"They have tacos."
"Pasta."
"They have pizza."
"What kind?"
"Pinea-"
"Pasta."
"Stella." I sigh. "Don't be like this."
"Fine." Stella says, pouting slightly. "I'll have soup."
"Wait a minute," I say. "they do have pasta. Want that?"
"Yes!"
~
"Do you want to go sledding?" I ask, as Stella and I walk outside after eating dinner.
"What's sledding?" Stella asks, keeping her focus on the ground.
"Honestly? I don't really know." I admit. "I've never been sledding before. I think it's where you get a board or something and slide down a snowy hill."
"Oh," Stella says. "yeah!"
I see a board laying in the snow, and I go pick it up, "Let's use this."
Stella grins, and walks up the hill.
I place the board on the hill, and help Stella get on. Then I sit behind her so she doesn't fall.
We then slide down the hill, Stella giggling and squealing the whole time.
"That fun!" Stella exclaims. "Again!"
~
We've been sledding for about two hours.
Stella is still very hyper, not showing any signs of being tired at all. The sun is starting to go down and I want to go in before it gets too cold.
"Stella!"
"What Auntie Rey?" Stella asks.
"We're going in soon, okay?"
"Awwwh!" Stella whines. "One more time? Please?"
I sigh, "Fine."
"Yay!" Stella exclaims, running up the hill with the board.
"Stella," I say. "wait for me."
"I want to go alone." Stella says.
"Okay, but be careful!"
Stella smiles and gets on the sled, and pushes herself down.
I watch with a smile as she sleds, but soon my smile disappears when I hear a loud high pitches scream coming from her.
I run to find her, "Stella?!"
She grips her hand tightly, looking at it with tears in her hazel eyes, "I got an ouchie."
"Let me see," I say, and she places her hand in mine.
I scan her hand, seeing a little splinter sticking out of the palm of her hand.
"You got a splinter."
"It hurts." Stella sniffles. "I don't like it."
"I know." I say, sighing. "It's too dark outside for me to see, so how about we go to the hotel room?"
"Okay."
~
I carry Stella into the hotel room, and place her down on the refresher counter, "I'll get the splinter out, then it's time for a bath. Okay?"
"Okay, Auntie Rey,"
I look through the drawers, searching for a pair of tweezers. I could just get the splinter out with my nails, but it'd just be better if I got it out with tweezers.
Finally I find a pair, and I go back to Stella.
"Okay, Stella, this may hurt a little." I warn. "But it'll only be for a second, then you'll feel all better."
She nods, and I pick the tweezers up.
Stella's eyes widen in horror when she sees them, and she quickly pulls her hand back, "You're going to cut my hand off?!"
"No, Stella," I say, stifling a laugh. "I'm not cutting your hand off. This will take the splinter out, that's all."
She hesitates, but soon shows me her hand.
Slowly and gently, I take the splinter out.
"Ouch!" Stella exclaims, looking at her hand. "It's bleeding."
"I know." I answer. "But it'll heal."
She looks at me unconvinced, but soon takes the small towel I gave her and places it on her injury.
"Now Stella, I'm going to get your bath ready." I tell her. "Don't move. Don't try to get down. You'll fall."
"Okay Auntie Rey," Stella says, grinning.
I leave the room to grab a washcloth and towel. As I'm walking back to the refresher, I hear a thud, followed by a cry.
My eyes widen, and I quickly run inside.
Stella looks at her knee, and then at me, "I got hurt again."
I sit down next to her, seeing a bruise already forming on her lower knee.
"Stella," I sigh. "I told you not to move."
"I saw sparkly."
~
"Stella! Let me brush your hair!" I exclaim, chasing her around the hotel room.
"No!" Stella replies, giggling. "I not Stella anymore! I Supergirl! You can't get me, I'm flying away!"
"St-Supergirl," I sigh, closing my eyes. "I need help! Someone's trying to hurt me! Come save me, Supergirl! Help me!"
Stella's eyes widen, and she walks towards me. I take this as an advantage, and I quickly brush her hair, ignoring her screams and shouts for me to let her go.
"Let go!" Stella exclaims, and I put the brush down and grab the small mirror. "Oh, pretty!"
Rose walks in, sighing, "Hello guys,"
"Hello Auntie Rosie!"
"Hello, Rosie."
"Okay, goodnight." Rose states, flopping down in the bed.
"Aren't you going to brush your teeth?" I ask.
"Already did." Rose replies. "Be quiet. Let me sleep."
"Sheesh, you act like an old man." I mutter. "Okay, Stella, you had your bath, brushed your teeth, and brushed your hair. Now it's time for bed."
"No," Stella answers, and jumps on my bed. "I not tired."
I sigh, then wave my hand at her, "You will go to sleep."
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"Stella, please." I plead. "It's time for bed."
Stella sighs, "Okay,"
"Really?" I ask, she nods. "Okay. Good!"
She lays down, and covers up. I turn the lights out and lay down next to her.
"I love you Auntie Rey,"
I smile, "I love you too, Stelly-Belly,"
—
Authors Note:
Fact about me: I've actually never been sledding.
(Word count: 2713)