Set Me Free// L. Staley

19. Fluffy Unicorns

"Merry Christmas!"

Rowan shifted in the bed, stomach down, squeezing her eyes at the noise.

She realized where she was as soon as she felt the bedsheets on her skin and the smell of fresh breakfast wafting through the air. Much to her dismay, she no longer sat next to Layne. Instead, she was back in the real world, back in Tennessee, in the guest bedroom of her sister's home.

For some strange reason, her stomach lowered in disappointment.

Not that she didn't mind being woken by the apples of her eye, Adeline and Toby, but it disheartened her to have left Layne all alone. She felt that leaving him alone was unfair and that he didn't deserve it. In her eyes, no one deserved to feel alone.

"Gggggrrrbbbbb," Rowan groaned, smothering her face in the pillow her head laid on previously.

"Auntie, c'mon!" Adeline cried, patting Rowan's blanketed back.

"Auntie is getting her beauty sleep," Rowan murmured, slowly peaking her face out of the pillow, looking at Adeline and Toby, who stood by her bed, buzzing with excitement.

"Mommy made breakfast!" Adeline remarked.

Rowan raised her head in response, her curly hair a mess on her face as she flitted her eyes between her niece and nephew inquisitively.

"What'd she make?"

"Biscuits 'n gravy!" Adeline replied, putting her hands on her hips.

"...Did she make bacon too?" Rowan questioned, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Yep!" Adeline stated matter of factly.

At this point, Rowan's interest piqued, her eyebrows raised at the thought of delicious food.

"Well, I suppose I'm not so tired anymore," Rowan responded, sitting up completely.

Toby and Adeline giggled as Rowan kicked the covers off her legs, standing up hurriedly, swooping the kids into tight side hugs.

"Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!" Rowan boomed, ruffling the hair on their heads messily.

"Merry Christmas, auntie!" they both cried out in joy as they hugged their aunt in return.

In a trio of three, they raced out of the room, trying to see who could make it down the stairs first. Adeline, utterly oblivious, won the race by a long shot. Toby stumbled behind her, trying to catch up and win, with Rowan following behind him, pretending to run as fast as she could so Toby could feel fulfilled by his slow speed.

"How are you running so fast?" Rowan called out, stomping her feet in exaggeration behind Toby.

Toby's giggles filled up the hallway, young and sweet, as his stuffed bear bounced in his hands. "I am fast!"

Once they made it down the stairs, they all made a beeline towards the kitchen, and of course, Adeline made it there first.

"I win! I get an extra piece of bacon!" Adeline called out in victory as she ran towards the counter, plucking a piece of bacon from the plate.

Luna rolled her eyes in amusement as she saw the stampede approach the kitchen, scooting closer to the stove. "Careful, guys!"

"That ith not fair! You have longer legth than me!" Toby pouted, halting as he reached the kitchen.

Rowan stopped behind Toby, scooping him up in her arms as she held him securely. "You know what they say, Toby?"

"What?" he replied, looking up at his aunt with a twinkle in his eyes.