Melissa

Katie and Manu had just picked up Mokoia, Huia, and Pania from the airport and was bringing them to the house to visit. Stephen had ran out to grab some more groceries. So I was left home alone, for the very first time, with Olivia.

I wasn't afraid, this whole mother thing was coming naturally, but she was such a daddies girl already. "Okay, Princess" I said, bouncing her in my arms. "Daddy is only going to be gone a few minutes"

She began wailing and I sighed sitting down on the rocking chair, cooing at her and trying my best to calm her down before the Bennett's got here.

"Why don't I tell you a story? Want to hear a story?" I asked, she stop wailing but was still crying. "Okay, here's a story. There was once a world, so far from earth that if any human tried to reach it, they would be old and grey by the time their ship reached the solar system it's in, it was a beautiful planet inhabited by beings like humans, but far more advanced. One of the citizens of this planet would become a great hero one day, her name was Kara, but until she grew up, she had to face the biggest challenge yet. Homework."

Olivia had calmed down, no more crying or wailing, just listening. "Kara studied day and night, completing every piece of homework her teacher assigned, she worked extremely hard to get it right. Eventually, her mother grew worried, Kara had been studying so much, she hadn't played with her friends at all" I cuddled her closer, "So mother decided that Kara needed to see her friends, but Kara didn't want to leave her room, she was nearly done her assignments. Mother tried to convince Kara she could do her homework after a quick visit with her friends, but Kara wanted to finish now. Eventually, mother had another idea. All of Kara's friends piled into her room, holding their homework, together they worked and studied all night. Mother made them dozens of snacks and helped them build blanket forts. In the morning, the kids packed their bags and headed to school, Miss Teacher was so shocked at how well they did their homework, she gave them a week homework free. The kids returned home and Kara played with all her friends, promising to never get caught up in homework again"

"I never knew a story about homework could be so interesting" Manu said, I looked up. "We arrived about 2 minutes ago, but I had to hear the story"

"Are they downstairs?" I asked, standing up.

"Yep, Katie is just doing Huia's hair" He said.

"Come on little Liv, let's meet your cousins" I said. We headed downstairs, Manu walking ahead of me on the stairs since I could barely see the steps with Olivia in my arms.

"Auntie Mel!" Pania ran over.

"Careful, Auntie Mel is holding Olivia" Manu said. We sat in the living room and the girls crowded around me.

"She's so tiny" Mokoia said.

"Yea, she was only born 5 days ago" I said, "Olivia, these are your cousins Mokoia, Huia, and Pania"

"Hello" Huia leaned over and kissed Olivia's forehead, "I'm gonna call you Via"

"Awe" I coo'd.

"Hello" Stephen walked in with the groceries.

"Uncle Stephen!" Pania jumped up, Mokoia following behind her. They tackled Stephen in a hug, making him drop a bag.

"Careful girls" Katie said. Manu and Katie went to help.

Huia stayed beside me, watching Olivia. "You going to babysit her when you're older and I need rest?" I asked.

"Of course, Auntie Mel!" Huia smiled. "I'll teach her how to play dolls and to eat gummy bears!"

"Sounds like a plan, Huia" I smiled.

"Huia, come one, Uncle Stephen got you some snacks" Manu said. Huia jumped up and followed her father and the other girls into the kitchen.

Stephen came over and gave me a kiss on the forehead and than a kiss on Olivia's cheek, she giggled. "You okay, Angel?" He asked me.

"Mhm" I nodded, "Just perfect"