The best present
This is set in my alternative universe where Dan has a father Simon Saunders (fan fictions the tangled web trilogy). Just before Christmas a face from the past brings asks Bill Regan to help save the children's home where he was raised from demolition.
"Hello can I help you", Marjory Trask greeted the elderly woman who waited at the Manor house door. She looked about 70 with a slightly stooped posture that was aided by a thick walking stick. Her hair was a mixture of grey and a soft brown, eyes of pale blue regarded Marjory anxiously.
I'm not sure this is the right place", the woman said. "Who you are looking for", Marjory asked curiously. She knew Mathew Wheeler was not expecting any visitors and this woman did not look like she could be a business acquaintance. "I'm looking for a William Regan", the woman stated. For a moment Marjory was going to say she had the wrong address, she'd got so used to using the name Bill that it almost seemed unnatural that his full name was now being used. "He's got an apartment out back by the stables, I'll show you", Marjory offered. She was sure the woman could actually find her way but was rather curious as to who she could be and why she was seeking their groom.
"This is a grand home", the woman commented as they walked slowly their breath coming out in wafts of mist as warm breath hit cold December air.
"Yes, it is", Marjory acknowledged with a smile. She looked over at the woman unable to control her curiosity, 'do you know Mr Regan", she asked. The woman smiled softly, "yes", she remarked, but to Marjory's disappointment she did not elaborate.
They entered the stables to hear the sounds of Christmas Carols playing, Marjory saw the visitor smile, "it's nice to hear the Christmas Spirit", she remarked. "Bill", Marjory called out loudly.
He appeared from out of the back and Marjory had to smile at the bright green reindeer horns that adorned his head. It was nice to see Bill finally embrace the Christmas spirit. "Bill you have a visitor", Marjory told him gesturing toward the woman.
Bill stopped and looked at the guest with a puzzled frown. Not many people ever came to visit him.
He noted she stood quietly just looking him up and down, familiarity tugged at him as he looked into the pale blue eyes, but then it was gone again. "It's been awhile Billy", their guest remarked.
Marjory saw Bill's face change as the woman called him Billy, shock lingered for minute then he came forward to wrap his arms firmly around the woman, "Sister Agnes", he remarked.
She reached up and stroked his cheek, "my dear one ,you have grown", she said.
Bill thought that was an understatement as he'd been only about 14 when he'd seen her last.
"It's been a long time", he stated softly. 'How on earth did you find me". Sister Agnes smiled, "I'll explain that one later, she told him. Looking over at Marjory Trask and seeing the curiosity in her eyes Bill explained, "I know Sister Agnes from the children's home where Patricia and I resided after our parents death." Bill found a lump rising in his throat Sister Agnes had been almost like a mother to him. But like Patty she'd left the home and not long after he'd decided he'd had enough and run away. Now she was back again and Bill didn't know what to feel
"Dear one I didn't expect to go back to the home and find you gone", the sister told him. Shock rippled through Bill, "you came back", he stated. She nodded, "I went away because I thought I might have found your sister Bill and was hoping I could bring her back to you that Christmas. " Her eyes looked sad, "in the end I didn't find her and came back to find you gone."
Bill felt a tear forming as he wished he'd stayed just a little longer. "I'm glad you found me now", he said gruffly as he tried to control his feelings. "Uncle Bill", Dans' voice interrupted the emotional moment and Bill pulled back from the embrace to greet his nephew.
Dan was surprised to see an elderly woman being hugged by his Uncle and even more surprised when that woman walked boldly up to his and took his face in her hands, "yes, I think I see some of his mother in there", she remarked. Dan was startled by the comment and Bill was about to explain who she was when someone else interrupted his words. "He is more like his father", stated Simon Saunders. Sister Agnes took her hands off Dan's face and looked over at the new arrival. "Sister its lovely to see you again", Simon remarked as the nun moved in for a cuddle.
For a moment Bill was surprised, then he remembered that of course Simon must have met Sister Agnes if he'd been seeing Patty at the home. "I read your story in the papers", Sister Agnes told Dan, Bill and Simon, "that's how I found you.
Of course almost every newspaper had vied to carry that story and he was sure some author was going to feature all of them in a book one day. It'd be an amazing read, the story of an orphan boy called Daniel Mangan who had found he had a living relative when he was brought to Sleepyside to meet his Uncle Bill. That same boy had concealed the fact he was a champion skater as he was mourning the loss of not only his mother but of her boyfriend and his skating coach Simon Saunders.
Then Simon was found to be alive and coaching the U.S team right here in Sleepyside. An emotional reunion took place which set in motion other stunning events that had led to Simon revealing he'd married Patty at the age of 16, before she met and had a second illegal marriage to Dan's father Timothy Mangan. He'd been forced aside by Timothy who had used his gang affiliations' to wage a campaign of terror against his rival. It was discovered that Tim had hated Simon because he was his half brother, having the same father Giles Mangan. That of course had made Simon Dan's second uncle but then an accident proved that Dan was something more than that. Inheriting a serious medical condition from the Mangan line Dan could only be cured by blood of his father. So when knife wounds had caused Dan and Simon to exchange blood and Dan to be cured both of them were stunned to find themselves father and son.
"I'm so happy for you", Sister Agnes told them with a smile, she quickly sobered however. I've come because I need your help", she stated seriously.
Looking puzzled the three exchanged glances, "what can we do for you sister", Bill asked.
The nun hobbled slowly to a chair and sank down, "they are going to pull the home down and put the remaining children out on the streets", she told them.
Simon and Bill were shocked. "That's awful sister but we are just a skating coach and a groom how can we help you", Bill asked. For a reply the nun pulled out some papers from under her thick coat."I have a few days to convince the new owner not to proceed and need you to help me". She put the papers ordering the demolition down onto the table where they could clearly see the signature at the bottom, Mathew Wheeler.
As the three turned their horrified gaze onto the nun, she remarked, "now you know why I came".