you're only as tall as your heart will let you be;

[fantasies]

Who: Henry and YOU
What: Saying hello to the horses.
When: This afternoon!
Where: The stables.
Rating: G for kidlets.

[It seemed like the logical next step, even without Charming to teach him. Go to the stables, learn about the horses, maybe learn how to ride one. He didn't suss through all the steps, but the first one is the most important, right?

Now, though, standing on tip-toe in a front of a stall with his hand outstretched and a horse ignoring him, he realizes it probably would have been good to have a better plan.]

Come on, I just want to say hi.

Comments

[fantasies]

[He jerks and makes a very high-pitched, very un-boy-like sound.]

Stephanie! You scared me!

[secondchances]

Sorry!

[Very obviously not sorry, given how hard she's laughing.]

Couldn't resist.

[fantasies]

[He pouts for a second-- but wait! This could be a good development.]

Why're you even out here? Did you come to ride the horses?

[secondchances]

Hmm? Riding wasn't really the plan, I was just going to say hi. Why are you out here, huh?

[fantasies]

I was trying to say hi, but I don't think they like me very much.

[secondchances]

I'm sure they do. Try again.

[fantasies]

[He sighs, and turns back to the stall. He gets up on his toes and holds both hands out this time. He even clicks his tongue!]

Hey, hello! Come here.

[secondchances]

[Steph sees the problem.]

Here, try this. [She'll hand him some hay.]

[fantasies]

[He takes it and holds it waaaaay out.]

Hey!

[And like clockwork, the horse swivels toward him. Henry laughs, delighted.]

Yes!

[secondchances]

[That's better. Nothing beats food as a motivator.]

Want a boost so you can pet him?

[fantasies]

[He beams.]

Do you mind? Real quick?

[secondchances]

I don't mind.

[Henry looks like he weighs two pounds. She leans down, wraps her arms securely around him, and hoists him up so he's more level with the horse's face.]

There, now you can see more than his knees.

[fantasies]

[He reaches to pat the horse's nose, who nuzzles into his hand.]

I can't wait until I get tall. This'll be way easier.

[secondchances]

Until then, you get to be picked up. Just don't eat too much.

[fantasies]

[He grins over his shoulder at her.]

Don't worry, I run around a lot.

[secondchances]

Yeah, me too. So it makes cheeseburgers okay.

What made you wanna say hi to the horses?

[fantasies]

I wanted to learn how to ride them. You know, eventually.

[secondchances]

I just learned how to ride horses recently. Lucrezia helped teach me. Maybe she'd be willing to help you learn, too.

[fantasies]

[Any other time, he'd be enthusiastic about Lucrezia teaching him anything, but...]

I don't know. Maybe.

[a beat]

I don't really want to bug her, though.

[secondchances]

Why not? I'm sure she'd love to teach you how.

[Though she can suspect why Henry's hesitant.]

[fantasies]

I dunno, I just... [He chews his lip, thinking.] I know what it was like for me, when my family left.

[secondchances]

[She tightens her hold on him a little, reassuringly.]

She misses her brother a lot, that's true. But I think she could use a distraction, too. You can always ask her to teach you when she feels better. She can have something to look forward to.

[fantasies]

Yeah, maybe. [He sounds a little more hopeful, now. He also remembers how much better it was when he was with friends after Emma and Charming left.] Okay, I'll ask her.

[secondchances]

Besides, Lucrezia likes you a lot.

[fantasies]

[He beams.]

Yeah, well, she's really, really great.