The brunette closed her eyes as she fell back against the plush cushions of the sofa even though she'd only enjoy a few precious moments of silence. Her eyes flew open as soon as she heard the sound of little feet barreling towards her. She lunged forward with open arms as Skylar tripped over her own feet and tumbled. Robin shook her head as she grabbed the almost 14-month-old and steadied her. It was the third fall she'd saved the child from. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think you snuck by me and indulged in the champagne," she said with amusement, knowing the child wouldn't understand what she'd said. Sky threw her dark head back, giggling wildly. Robin laughed at her and groaned when the girl began climbing into her lap. "Not again," she muttered and wondered how long it would take her best friend to get changed for the party. It had been a half hour too long already in her opinion.
Skylar pulled herself up and held onto the collar of her aunt's blouse, choosing to remain standing in her lap. She grinned and bounced as Robin grimaced. "Don't pull my earring out again, Sky." She knew it was futile to make that request. Last week, the adorable menace had broken the chain of her favorite necklace. Sky squealed loudly into Robin's ear and placed her hands on her aunt's cheeks. "You're silly, you know that? And that's my eye," Robin mumbled as one hand went over her eye. "No, I don't think so," she said, pulling the baby's hand away from her dangling gold earring. Sky fell forward into Robin's chest and pouted, waving her arms and beginning to fuss. Robin smirked and met the child's eyes. "Pout all you want. Not gonna happen," she said seriously. Skylar wiggled and whined, sliding off Robin's lap and landing in the floor. Robin folded her arms over her chest and gazed down at the child. "Does that make you feel better?" she questioned as Skylar kicked her feet and screamed in annoyance. Robin grimaced at a high-pitched squeal came from the small girl. "Mama!" Sky shouted and pulled herself to her feet.
"Thank God. Take her!" Robin stood and lifted Skylar up into her arms, placing her on her hip. She quickly and gladly carried her to her mother.
"Mama!" Sky shrieked and clapped her hands together.
Stevie's lips curled into a smirk as she took her daughter from Robin. "Hey sweet girl." She kissed Sky's forehead as her little fingers started playing in her curled strands. "Don't pull, baby. Were you good for Aunt Robin?"
Robin snickered at the remark and sat back down on the couch. Sky babbled quickly to her mama and held onto her when she sat down next to Robin on the couch. The toddler turned her head and talked faster, pointing and glaring at Robin. Stevie bit her lipstick covered lip to hold in her laughter. "Robin, what did you do to her?"
"Me? To her?" Robin responded indignantly. "I did nothing. She's a twenty-pound hellion today."
"You know," Stevie began as she adjusted Sky on her lap. "I think you just need to chill out. Smoke a joint. Get into Lindsey's stash."
Robin rolled her eyes and moved from the sofa, mumbling and cursing under her breath. She needed a strong drink and headed into the kitchen. Minutes later, she returned with a Cuba Libre in her hand and glanced at Skylar, sleeping soundly across Stevie's lap. Robin took a long sip of her drink and gingerly sat down.
"What happened to my little baby?" she pondered aloud, stroking the budding toddler's ringlets away from her eyes. Skylar was always in constant motion and testing out her abilities, especially since she began walking months ago. Stevie had learned babies do not keep. She sighed softly and glanced at her friend. "What's that look for, Robin?"
Robin shifted in her seat and faced her best friend. "Did you mention to Kat that Sky is going to be around during the birthday party?"
Stevie shook her head. "No, I didn't mention it," she answered, furrowing her brows. "Do you think it'll be a problem? I mean, I thought Kat would realize that Sky would be here. Like where else would she be?"
