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Aurora had meant, so many times, to seek out advice from someone who would know more about raising a clam. She'd meant to do other things, too. However things often didn't go as planned and she knew that better than most. So that she had never had a chance, three dear fairies keeping her occupied before and now a pup that was filled from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail with energy and curiosity and playfulness, was not so surprising.

Today however, she was going to make sure that she did at least one of those things she meant to. Namely seek out one mother who would know what she should do. And Elizabeth was the only one she could go to.

So it was that the two Roses, each tightly wrapped in a cloak--a princess in blue and a child in red--made their way towards the den of Elizabeth Swann and Hector Barbossa.

"Elizabeth?" Aurora called out once in the vicinity. She gave a giggle as the normally rambunctious Rosebud seemed to dart behind the angel, feeling shy for who was going to meet them.

The princess smiled and headed towards Elizabeth's voice. She walked slowly, one pup clinging tightly to the back of her cloak, as she found the pirate lord resting on her stomach. She didn't notice the clams at first, her attention being pulled to the little one still hiding behind her.

"It's all right. Elizabeth won't hurt you," she murmured quietly though the pup did not yet come out. Aurora turned her head to apologize her friend when she spied the clams nested inside a blanket. "I think someone's family grew by three since the last time I saw them," she teased.

This caused a small patch of red hair to appear around Aurora, a curious pup wondering if that meant there was someone to play with.

It was probably best she didn't know of the turn Elizabeth's thoughts had taken, she would have likely been beet red for days! She instead encouraged the pup to take the chance to see the clams. It took a moment but the normally energetic pup stepped forward, still feeling shier than she usually did.

Rosebud sat near the clams looking at them thoughtfully. As much as she enjoyed her family, they weren't so wonderful as playmates. Aurora didn't care for tree climbing though she would try to help, and Rosebud really wouldn't want her too. The fairies were another story. They weren't nearly as fun as Aurora when it came to outings. Though they were fun when she had to stay inside, she enjoyed the tricks they showed her.

"They are lovely--" she paused, head tilted unsure of how to address the elder named Elizabeth. Instead she let it hang in the air unfinished with a somewhat clumsy curtsy that was adorable to see. "Do you think they'll play with me when they're older?" she inquired.

"I think I'd like to call you Lizzie. I'm Rose Red but you can call me Rosebud," the pup replied. She turned her attention to the pups then, "Hello--" she paused once more, "What are their names?" She gave a soft giggle at the thought of calling them Clam, Clammy, and Clammy-kins. They probably wouldn't like that.

Aurora turned her attention from Rosebud to Elizabeth, "Congratulations on the additions to your family," she started off with. She gave a slightly embarrassed smile, "I meant to tell you sooner about Rosebud but my aunts have kept me busy." She gave a bit of a sigh, "I'm not sure how to raise a pup, Elizabeth."

Rosebud said the names to herself, pointing to each clam, until she was sure she had them memorized. She listened to the sounds coming from inside the shells, chirps and scratches from the one with ones and softer sounds coming from the dark blue one. She wondered if the one called Anne was sleeping then, Mary seemed wide-awake and Samuel was making some sort of noise. "I would like very much if one of you grew up and liked to climb trees and I could teach you how to sing like Aurora is teaching me," she told the clams.

With a sigh, the princess shook her head lightly causing her corn colored hair to sweep against the cloak. "I wasn't raised by my parents, Elizabeth. I didn't meet them until I was older, you see. I was raised by squirrels," she explained. "I didn't know they were fairies until shortly after I was told I was a princess. I adore my aunts but they never wanted me to speak with anyone. And I do mean never. I know they, I can't be that way with her."

She frowned, she didn't think she was explaining it very well but she didn't want to go into all the details of her childhood or her past at all really. It was always so hard to explain. And it seemed Rosebud would have the same problem. She didn't feel like a mother, a mother figure perhaps, but that was Rosebud needed. She somehow saw herself more as a motherly older sister for the pup. What if that wasn't good enough? What if the pup's enemy came here to find her? What then?

Truly Aurora probably didn't need the advice so much as the affirmation of what she already believed. Although she disagreed that she was a mother at all. She felt too young, knew that she was naive though not at all unintelligent. She believed easily in the goodness of others--but then hadn't her own mother? The Queen, in all the stories she'd heard, had always hoped that her child wouldn't be cursed.

"I should cherish this. It's not fair that I should help raise her instead of her own mother..." she murmured to herself.

With a smile that was probably a bit forced, she nodded. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I imagined as much but you're right. Although this one is hardly shy," she narrowed her eyes, "She's a right imp when she's sitting up in trees playing hide-and-seek!" She was clearly teasing about the imp part but it was obviously amusing to her.

"I'm not an imp. I'm a girl," Rosebud giggled in reply as the last remark reached her though she'd been unable to hear anything else. She sat up, having lied down by the clams, telling the two that seemed to be awake a story.

"Oh dear. All this time I thought you were a boy!" the princess returned.

"Merryweather would like that, more blue." This caused the two to giggle. Oh how the fairy would love that. Flora would never be able to win with a boy about.

"Oh, I am sure they will. Even I managed to get up to things," she grinned. Not that she was anywhere near as wily as most pups, she had had her moments. And she was sure Rosebud would have hers, much as the newest members of Elizabeth's family would have theirs.

Samuel seemed to make something akin to sounding afronted, as if he would be trouble. Already playing up his innocence it seemed.

"Thank you for advice, Elizabeth, we should be heading home. Aunt Flora was very clear that she doesn't want her Roses out in the chill for too long," she shook her head. She smiled, used to the over-protectiveness once again, and embraced Elizabeth. "I look forward to seeing your newest children when they grow," she said as Rosebud bid good-bye to the clams then scurried to cursty and bid farewell to Lizzie.