#bergen_county

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Sometime after Pennons, a little horse is being spoiled..she was SUPPOSED to go the stables... Somehow Tove made a second stable for Raindrop rather quickly. Mmm

A tiny stable!

No bigger than a dog house

And Dagmar has cut up carrots.

And her dad has been acting WEIRD... in fact, he's pacing.

Waiting on something

Tove says "Jaymes! Can you come in her?" From the bathroom

Carrots, and oats, and hay... just in tiny proportions!

"Fruit would be better... perhaps you have too many apples?"

That from Snow

"Apples for Snow, carrots for Raindrop. MORE apples for Snow, yeah?"

"I like the way you are thinking, friend Dagmar, yes I do" Snow nods "It has been hard work, saving the pie contest. Did you know I helped capture a bad person? "

"I heard. You told me on the way home, remember?"

A nod "yes. Would you like to hear it again?"

"Well, I guess that'd be okay."

She is almost through the story when bouncing is heard from the parents bedroom, and "got to tell her" "she'll be hurt if we dont" "also gwydion, can't lie" "oh poop"

She glances up at the window, eyebrow raised.

"Dagmar. Could you come into the living room when you're done with the food?" Her dad SPOKE a whole sentence.

A brow-furrow.

"Coming."

Tromp tromp tromp

They are holding hands, and then look at each other then at her then finally Jaymes smiles "It's..it's good news. It's just.. a lot to take in"

True

Eyebrow. (What news?)

Tove says "Well, remember when I was feeling a bit ill at the Pennons?"

Wary. "Yeah...?"

"Well, it's not the flu, I'm perfectly healthy, but I will need your help because you have a big job."

She nods.

"Important, we ..we need your help" Jaymes nods (Confidence)

Her brows furrow again. "O..kay..."

"You remember that song?" Tove says

She blushes and nods. "Yeah." A tiny smile.

"Don't forget it. We chose you" Tove says "And you were wonderful enough to choose us."

She bites on her lower lip, but the corners of her eyes crinkle a bit. Still a smile.

"The good news is," Tove says "I..well.. . you are..."

"You're going to be a big sister." Jaymes says, "Tove is pregnant. So... where we got to pick you, we.. have no idea what we're doing this time. "

Tove looks at Jaymes like that's how you want to word that?

"You are thinking of o..."

"...oh."

"Ready to have a little brother or sister think you're the coolest ever?" Tove smiles.

Her mouth pulls upwards at the corners. "Oh. Yeah, sure."

"That's... uh... wow."

"Might help if you'd also help change diapers too" Jaymes says.

"...oh, sure. Um. I know how to do that. I can make bottles and stuff, too..."

"We'll worry about that when it comes." Tove says, "Now your father and I decided that we can discuss a lot, but all three of us need input. So..." she pulls out a paper , and a pencil "What rules would you like regarding your new sibling? I think one is to not go into your room without your permission?" Guessing.

"Um. I guess?"

Tentatively. "Do I get to keep my room?"

She sets the paper and pencil down, "Well, we don't have to do this right now, but write anything that comes to mind if you get an idea or a concern okay? We are asking so don't feel like anything is wrong to put down. We'll all work on it. " Tove says "Me, I got spoiled. My first daughter came pretty darn self sufficient."

"OUR daughter" Jaymes says to Tove.