The Twins Birthday - Chapter Seventy Three

Today was a special day for the twins; they were going to become children and embark on a new part of their lives. James and Amelia invited several people to attend the party, which were arriving. The cooks had their cakes finished and waiting in the banquet hall for them. Lady Carrie and Lady Molly got the twins dressed when James and Amelia arrived to take them to their party.

Everyone cheered and sang while Annabell leaned over and blew out her candles.

Amelia placed Annabell down on the floor. She stood and watched as Annabell began to grow up.

Next was Arthur's turn, James handed Arthur to Amelia, and everyone began to sing and cheer as he leaned in and blew his candles out.

Arthur was placed on the floor. Amelia stepped back to watch Arthur grow up.

After both the twins grew up and got dressed, they had them stand beside each other to get a good look at them. Annabell really looked like Amelia. She was almost an exact copy of her. And Arthur resembled James a lot. It was like looking at them when they were kids.

After the party, they all posed for the artist to get a picture of them together.

After the family portrait was done, James and Amelia headed up to the twin's room to give them their birthday presents. As they entered the room, Arthur began to squeal with delight. Amelia and James each had a little dog, one for him and one for his sister.

"This is your dog, Annabell. You need to take care of it and make sure you give her plenty of love," she told Annabell. "Oh, she's so cute. Can I name her Bell?" Annabell asked her mom. "She's yours; you can name her whatever you like. I really do like the name Bell," she replied as she handed the little dog to Annabell.

Arthur looked at his little dog and was thinking of what to name him. "I will call you Spot," he told the little dog as he chased him playfully around the room.

After a long day, the twins started looking really tired. Lady Molly took them up to their rooms and got them into their sleep clothes. Amelia came in to get them ready and into bed. "I want a story!" called Annabell. "Ok, a quick one; she began to tell them a ghost story. They watched her act out parts of the story. "Ok, time for bed. Climb into bed," she told them both. 

"Mommy, can you read me a book?" asked Arthur. "Ok, let me get one off the bookshelf," she replied and headed over to pick one out.

"Me too!" called out Annabell. "I'll read to you, my little princess," James replied. They both sat down on the bed with the kids and began to read to them quietly.

Annabell was the first to fall to sleep. James leaned over to tuck her in and kiss her goodnight.

Next was Arthur. He took a little longer to fall to sleep but drifted off no matter how he tried to stay awake to finish the story. Amelia tucked the covers around him and kissed him goodnight.

James and Amelia looked over to see the kids sound asleep. "Tomorrow, we will start them with their learning. They have to have a good education." James told Amelia. "I agree; I will get Lady Molly to prepare to tutor them in their studies," she replied.

Arthur And Annabell Learn New Things - Chapter Seventy Two

Annabell laid sleeping peacefully in her crib.

Arthur slept in his crib, not far from Annabell.

Amelia walked into the nursery to find the twins up and dressed. She walked over to pick up Annabell. She tossed her up in the air, causing Annabell to giggle with delight. "Mommy is going to teach you how to walk today," she told Annabell.

Amelia stood Annabell up and lead her by her hands across the floor. "This is how you do it," she told her.

"Now it's your turn to do it all by yourself. Try to walk to me on your own," she told Annabell as she stood her up and walked several steps back. She bent down and held her hands out, motioning Annabell to come to her. Annabell paused for a second, then took several steps to reach her mommy.

As Amelia was trying to get Annabell to walk, Lady Molly helped James with his walking. "There's my little prince, time to learn how to walk." she cooed at Arthur.

Lady Molly stood Arthur up and helped him walk across the floor. He seemed to catch on pretty fast. He was able to keep up with her pretty good. "You're doing so good, now let's try it all by yourself," she told Arthur.

James came in to see Arthur take his first steps all by himself. He took several steps until he got to Lady Molly. "That's so great!" shouted James with excitement.

After spending lots of time learning how to walk, Arthur managed to walk around the nursery by himself. He was getting really used to it, a bit unsteady but was getting better at it.

After spending so much time learning how to walk and talk, Arthur spent some time playing with his toys, he giggled and sang to his little friend.

Amelia enjoyed watching them play and learn, Arthur sat playing with his toys, and Annabell exploring the nursery. 

Arthur began to squirm a bit, so Lady Molly decided to try to get him to use the potty. "Come on, you can do it," she told him, trying to sound excited at the fact he was using a little wooden toilet. He sat there for a bit, then with success, he managed to figure it out.

Lady Molly tried to get Annabell to use the potty, but Annabell chooses not to have anything to do with it. She kicked and cried when she tried to put her on it.

"Let me see if I can get her to do it," Amelia asked Lady Molly. "Ok, sweetie, it's really easy, give it a try for mommy," Amelia asked Annabell. It took a few minutes, but Annabell decided to let her set her on it. She had already soiled her pants but managed to use it again.

Amelia had left the nursery to have dinner with James. Kristen came into the nursery to see her grandchildren. "Oh, I see they are progressing very well. You may take a break, and I will take care of them. I want to spend some time with them," she told Lady Molly. "I'm not supposed to do that; Amelia would not be pleased with me," she replied. "These are my grandchildren. I can handle them on my own. I demand you leave at once." she scolded at Lady Molly. Fearing that she might anger Kristen even more, she left and headed to find Amelia.

Lady Molly left, leaving Kristen alone with her grandchildren. Kristen walked over and took Arthur out of his crib. She held him up to kiss him on his cheek.

"You are so handsome, my little prince. One day this will be your kingdom to rule," she told him.

Arthur, fascinated by Kristen, chatted with her a bit. He could only say a few words but was well on his way to progressing to full conversations. 

Kristen sat Arthur down and walked over, and picked up Annabell. She looked at her, and all she could see was Amelia in the little girls face. This angered her; she already felt like Amelia had stolen James away from her and turned him against her. "I wish you were never born, you and your mother. I should have killed her when I had the chance." she scolded the Annabell while pointing her finger in her face.

Annabell didn't quite understand exactly what Kristen meant but realized by her tone and her face expression she didn't like her. Annabell jerked backward, trying to squirm away from Kristen.

Kristen sat Annabell down immediately on the floor and watched her cry.

"Your tears do not fool me. I was fooled a long time ago, and I will not fall for it again." she scolded Annabell, making her cry even harder.

Lady Molly managed to find Amelia and let her know that Kristen was in the nursery with the twins. Amelia sent her back to tell her that she was on her way and that she needed to dress the twins for the day. "What's going on?" Lady Molly asked as she opened the door to hear Annabell screaming on the floor. "She's just upset! A little temper tantrum, I suspect. She has a lot of her mother in her." she replied in a cold tone.

Amelia arrived to find the twins now dressed, playing on the floor. Kristen stood, watching them. "So I see you have come to see your grandchildren?" she asked Kristen with suspicions to her intent on her visit. "They are my flesh and blood, I wanted to spend time with them, but now I must go. Lots to do at the castle," she replied and headed out without another word.

Amelia was lying on the floor with the twins playing when James came in. He came over and sat down beside Annabell. "How're my little ones?" he asked. "Fun!" Arthur said. Annabell said nothing as she played with her doll.

James had a painter come in and paint their family portrait. It was hard to get the twins to hold still long enough to get them posed. The painter did his best, and James seemed pleased with his work.

Arthur And Annabell's First Birthday - Chapter Seventy One

James gently kissed Amelia. "Our babies are turning one today. It seems like yesterday that they were born." James told Amelia.

"My ladies are bringing them down to celebrate their birthday with everyone else. I think they will like their cake that the cooks have prepared for them," she told James.

Lady Molly and Lady Carrie came in with Arthur and Annabell. They walked over and handed over Arthur and Annabell. James and Amelia walked over to the table for them to blow out their candles. Everyone stood there, cheering as each of them blew them out.  First, it was Annabell; after her candles were blown out, she aged up. She looked a lot like Amelia with her golden eyes and her pale skin. She had the curse like Amelia. Next, Arthur blew out his candles, and then he aged up. His skin was pink in color, and his eyes as blue as James. He had no signs of the curse at all. Everyone stood looking at him in shock that he was normal.

Kristen grabbed up Arthur and hugged him. It was like holding James all over again. She looked him over and smiled at him. He was normal, just as she had hoped. It didn't seem possible, but there he was with his rosy cheeks and his blue eyes. 

James handed William Annabell. She giggled as he tickled her. She looked just like Amelia when she was a baby. She had her golden eyes and her soft pale skin.  

Kristen walked over to William. "I'm so happy; he looks just like James, and he's not cursed. I truly have an heir that it didn't touch," she told William with excitement in her voice. "Yes, we are blessed, but we also have a granddaughter that is just as sweet and special as Arthur." he reminded her.

"I don't really care about her and never will. I told them that I would have nothing to do with the curse. They knew my wishes. But Arthur will be my pride and joy." she told him. A shocked William looked at her with displeasure. "You don't mean it. Please tell me you don't. Shes of your blood; even though she has the curse, she still is James's daughter. Please don't make a difference between them!" he begged. "I will try not to, but I make no promises," she replied.

Kristen kissed Arthur on the forehead before handing him over to Amelia. William handed Annabell over to James and waved bye-bye to her. James and Amelia headed up to the nursery with them.

Amelia tickled Arthur 'til he giggled with delight.

As James played with Annabell, he couldn't get over how much she looked like Amelia when she was a baby. He adored her laugh and how she held onto him.

Arthur was handed his birthday presents but sat there, giggling and looking around.

James sat Annabell down and handed her her birthday presents. She began to go through the toys with excitement.

Annabell was given a doll for her birthday and seemed to really like it. She sat on the floor of her nursery, playing content with it. But out of the blue, she bent down and bit into its neck, showing the curse was definitely in her blood.

"Annabell, stop that!" shouted Amelia. Annabell looked up with shock; she didn't realize she was doing anything wrong. "You can't do that. You're not allowed to bite anything." she scolded her.

Arthur wasn't interested in any of the toys; he took off out the nursery door and down the hall with his head nurse on his heals.

Lady Molly, now in charge of the twins, picked up Arthur and brought him back to the nursery. "We need to stay in here; you might get hurt out in the hall," she told him.

"It's time for a nap; you guys have had a long day. Tomorrow we will learn all kinds of new things." Lady Molly told them as she put them each into their cribs.