Chapter Text
Stolas spread the picnic blanket out on the backyard lawn outside and began setting everything up for the tea party. He hummed to himself proudly at the food he prepared: strawberry tea, strawberry muffins, and strawberry jam and scones. He cooled the tea down to room temperature so it wouldn’t be hot for the little lamb. He left some refreshments aside for Via as he promised. He then placed some bubbles and children’s books for the activities.
Once Stolas was finished, he looked at the time on his phone and saw that Maisy’s naptime was drawing to a close. He headed inside and approached the nursery. He opened the door and smiled softly at the sight in front of him. Maisy was sleeping peacefully, their pacifier bobbing up and down in their mouth. She was also cuddling Hazel and their turtle blankie.
After taking a few moments to soak in the precious moment, Stolas walked over to the curtains and drew them open. He switched off the white noise machine and approached the bed.
“Time to wake up, Maisy,” Stolas cooed as he gently shook Maisy to wake them up.
It took a minute for Maisy to open her eyes. She sat up and rubbed their eyes. They let out a big yawn, her pacifier falling out of her mouth and onto the covers.
Stolas chuckled lightheartedly, picking the soother up and placing it back in the sheep’s mouth.
“Nice nap?”
Maisy yawned again in response. Stolas took her to the changing table and changed her Pull-Up. He then grabbed a hairbrush and began brushing the sheep's hair, humming a song he learned from Ms. Rachel.
“Mummy’s got a surprise for you,” Stolas said as he dressed Maisy in a pink, flower-patterned dress and clipped the pacifier to it with a pacifier clip.
“Baa (“Su’ise?”)?” the sheep asked as she tilted their head, now more awake. “Baa (“Bu’ i’s your day, Mama.”).”
“I know, but spending the day with you is the perfect Mother’s Day gift to me.”
Stolas picked Maisy up and handed them her hedgehog stuffie and turtle blankie. He then carried them downstairs and to the backyard outside.
Maisy's eyes widened in surprise when they got to the decorated area.
“Baa (“Wow!”)!” Maisy cried out. “Baa, baa (“Wha’s all t’is?”)?”
“It’s a backyard tea party,” Stolas explained. “I figured I could make some treats out of the strawberries we picked and we could have a party together. I even brought out one of your pretend tea sets so Hazel could join in on the fun.”
“Baa! Baa, baa (“I lo’ it! T’an’ you, Mommy!”)!”
The Goetia set Maisy down on the picnic blanket. He sat down next to them and placed the plush, floral tea set in front of the sheep.
“Baa (“Wan' tea?”)?” Maisy asked Hazel, making the hedgehog nod. She then grabbed the plush teapot and poured imaginary tea into a cup. They held the cup to Hazel’s mouth and pretended she drank the tea.
“Would you like to try some strawberry tea?” Stolas offered.
Maisy nodded. The Goetia poured some strawberry tea into a plastic tea cup and helped them drink it.
“Baa! Baa, baa (“Mmm! I’s rea’y good, Mama!”)!” Maisy commented.
“I’m so glad, dear,” Stolas said.
The sheep started to feel sad.
“Is something wrong, dear?”
“Baa (“I wis’ Via wa’ here.”),” Maisy replied.
“Me, too, sweetheart,” Stolas understood as he patted the top of Maisy’s head. “We can do this again tomorrow when she returns home. How does that sound?”
“Baa! Baa (“Yeah! We nee’ to sa’ t’e tea an’ foo’ fo’ her, too.”).”
“Already had that in mind, Maisy. She’ll love the treats.”
Suddenly, Maisy had an idea. She wanted to drink out of a tea cup all by herself like their mommy.
“Baa (“Ca’ I t’y holdi’ a teacu’?”)?” Maisy asked.
“Yes, darling. Try to be careful, okay?” Stolas replied as he handed the sheep the tea-filled plastic tea cup.
Maisy held the cup the best they could, but when she tried to take a sip, she accidentally dropped it. The tea splashed onto their dress, Hazel, and the picnic blanket. Her eyes widened and filled with tears.
“Baa… baa (“‘m so’y… I di’n’t mean it…”)…” she quivered.
Stolas’s own eyes widened, but he wasn’t angry.
“It’s alright, are you okay?” He asked, starting to clean up the mess with a snap of his fingers.
Maisy responded by starting to cry.
“Oh, duckling…”
Stolas picked Maisy up and rubbed their back.
“Shh, shh, it’s okay. It was an accident,” he reassured. “Everyone drops things all the time, including me.”
Maisy continued to cry.
“Baa (“I turn’ your day into a sa’ day…”)…” the sheep hiccuped.
“No, not at all,” Stolas shook his head.
Stolas snapped his fingers again, magically removing the stain off of Maisy’s dress. He also magically cleaned up Hazel and handed her to the sheep.
Maisy tearfully whined as she hid her head on Stolas’ shoulder. He gently patted her back, humming and rocking them gently.
“Everything’s alright. You are safe,” Stolas crooned. “It’s okay to cry.”
The Goetia started taking deep breaths to help the sheep regulate their emotions.
After ten minutes, Maisy finished crying and began to take deep breaths with Stolas, even though their breathing was shaky.
Stolas popped the pacifier that was clipped to Maisy’s dress in their mouth. The sheep suckled on the soother and they slowly, but surely, calmed down.
“There we go,” Stolas cooed softly as he wiped Maisy’s tears. “It’s okay.”
“Baa (“'m so'y fo' making a mess...”)...” Maisy apologized.
“I accept your apology, dear. Everyone makes messes from time to time. Would you like to continue our tea party?”
Maisy nodded as she hugged Hazel.
“Baa (“So’y fo’ spi’ing tea ove’ you, Ha’el.”),” the sheep said to her hedgehog stuffie.
“I’m sure Hazel has forgiven you,” Stolas reassured. “Do you want to drink your tea out of a sippy cup? That way, you won’t have to worry about any more accidents?”
“Baa (“O’ay.”).”
Stolas stood up and carried Maisy to the kitchen inside. He grabbed a pink sippy cup decorated with flowers from the cabinets and headed back to the backyard.
“Baa (“Mama?”)?”
“Yes, dear?”
“Baa (“I’s it ‘ti’ a tea pa’y if I don’ drin’ ou’ of a tea cup?”)?”
“Of course, sweetie,” Stolas confirmed as he poured some of the strawberry tea into the sippy cup. “Even if you drink out of a sippy cup, it’s still a tea party because you and I are drinking tea together.”
Maisy started to feel better after they and Stolas clinked their cups together. The rest of the tea party was a hit. They spent it drinking tea, blowing bubbles, and reading stories together.
When the tea party ended, Maisy and Stolas cleaned up the picnic. The Goetia handled the silverware and food while Maisy picked up the books and bubbles.
“Baa (“T’an’ you fo’ today, Mama. I ha’ fun.”),” Maisy thanked.
“You’re welcome, my sweet girl,” Stolas smiled as he gave Maisy a big hug. “Thank you for being my little one. You and Via make me so happy, you know that?”
“Baa. Baa (Yeah. We ca’ do t’is again tomo’ow?”)?”
“Of course, we will, dear. Of course, we will.”