Over The Rainbow (COMPLETED)

Athena

August 2023, Faulkerson Residence:

"Hey, Charm. Come here, sweetheart." M calls her three-year old daughter to join her on the garden table. She is scribbling some notes while Charm eats her morning snack.

Seb is staying with their Popsie Richard for the day. R has left earlier with Thirdy. He will be driving their son to school on his way to work. That leaves M and C half a day to themselves.

Charm takes one more big bite from her chocolate chip cupcake that M baked before scuffling her way to the chair beside M.

"What is it, Mama?" C asks as she rests her elbows on the table and tries to peek on M's notes.

"Here, baby." M says moving the notepad in C's direction. "I know you can't read that much yet that's why I drew some pictures for you."

C furrows her eyebrows as she tries to concentrate and figure out M's scribbles. M grins at he little girl's expression.

"This, baby, is Mama trying to plan your birthday party."

"A buwthday pawty, Mama?" C asks with her eyes and mouth round with surprise.

M giggles. "Yes, love. It will be here in 2 months."

"2 months?!" C shrieks. "Mama, how long is two months? Is it soon?"

M grins and couldn't help but pinch C's cheek. "Oh, Charm, you're the cutest. Yes, sweetheart, it is soon that's why we have to start planning for it."

"How soon, Mama?"

"Hmmm... Let's see. Remember how we go to your Tatay and Nanay and Kuya Matti every two weeks?" M pauses to make way for C's eager nods. "Well, after we go there four times, you're birthday will be here."

"Wow!" C exclaims. "That soon? What do we do, Mama? What do we do?"

"Well, for starters, you need to help me out with the theme. What do want, sweetheart?"

"What's a theme, Mama?"

M snickers. "You're too cute, baby. A theme is how your party will look like? Do you want it too look like a fairy kingdom? a princess castle? a mermaid cove? Or you can choose any favorite character from a movie or series or game and we'll make the whole party look like the show. We could dress up like the characters and all."

"Wow! Amazing, Mama!" C gasps.

"Yes it is, sweetheart. It is quite amazing. So have you decided what theme you want? You want Barbie, Sofia The First? My Little Pony? Disney Princesses?"

C thinks and strums her fingers on the table, frowning and pouting, as she thinks of what she wants. "Mama, I don't know. I wike evewything."

"Well, if you can't think of a character, we can make it about you." M points out. "What color do you want your party to have?"

"Pink! And Yellow! And Purple!"

"Wow, baby, that's a lot of pretty colors." M smiles and writes in her notepad. "We can work with that. How about your dress?"

"My dress?!" C's eyes widen with excitement. "I get to choose that too?"

"Ofcourse, baby. This party is for you and about you so whatever you want to wear, whatever you want us to wear and however you want your party to look, that's what we're having." M smiles.

"Can I have a pawty in Disneyland?"

M is momentarily shocked at her daughter's request but soon recovers. "I guess so, sweetie. That can be arranged, I guess."

C hugs M and kisses her on the cheek. "Mama, this is amazing! Best buwthday evew!"

"You deserve the best, love because you are such a good girl." M says as she kisses C's forehead.

"I wuv you, Mama."

"I love you, Charmaine Athena."

"Mama, who's Ath... Athe..."

"Athena, sweetheart." M smiles.

"Athena. Who's Athena, Mama?"

M guides C to sit on her lap and hugs her. "You're Athena, my love. You, my dearest Charm, were born on a stormy day of October 24, 2019 as Charmaine Athena Mendoza Faulkerson at 6.2 pounds."

C looks up at M to listen with eager ears.

"We barely made it to the hospital. You're Papa was so scared that I might have you in the car." M laughs remembering R's reaction.

"We'we you scayed, Mama?" C frowns holding M's hand.

"A little. I was more excited than scared. I couldn't wait to hold my little girl in my arms like this." M smiles and hugs C tighter. C laughs.

"You were already so beautiful. You're hair was a lot lighter than this brown color almost gold. You're skin was so white and rosy like your Papa. You had a tiny button nose, pink lips and puffy cheeks that showed cute dimples when you moved your mouth. And your eyes... When you opened them... your eyes were the most beautiful pair of hazel brown eyes I have ever seen."

"Did I cwy a lot, Mama?"

M giggles. "You did. Yes, you did. Your Papa said you look like a little angel but when you cry you can easily beat an entire army like a brave warrior. That's why we aside from Charmaine, a name we always liked we also named you Athena, like the Greek goddess of war."

C smiles. "I wuv it, Mama. I wuv my name."

"And we love you too. I knew even before I saw you. The very first moment I knew you were in my tummy, I loved you with all my heart and soul and I promised to always take care of you and only give what's best for you."

"Thank you, Mama. I wuv you."

"I love you, sweetheart. Always." M hugs her beloved little girl and kisses her cheek. "Okay, now, let's call Papa to tell him our plans so far. You can go back to your snack now."

"Okay, Mama." C slides down from M's lap and runs back to her seat.

M dials R's number.

"Hello, Love. Kumusta?"

"Okay naman, Love. Nahatid ko na si Thirdy. Nandito na ako sa branch ng resto near his school. Kayo? How's the planning?"

"It went great. Charm is really excited. Yun nga ang tinawag ko, Love. She told me what she wants already."

"Ano daw, Love?"

"Uhm, Love, you might want to sit down for this. Nakaupo ka na ba?"

"Ayan. Nakaupo na. Love, ano ba yun? Kinakabahan ako."

"Before anything else, I want you to know that I love you so much and our kids love you very much too."

"I love you more and more, my Menggay and kids. Ano na ba yun, Love? Baka himatayin na ako bago mo pa masabi."

"Hahaha... Okay. Here goes. Charm wants her party to be in Disneyland."

"Uhm... Ah... Okay..."

"Love, are you okay? Love? Oh my god, Love. Did you just drop your phone?"
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