They embraced for a long time, over ten minutes. Rosalie finally let go and looked him in the eyes "Can I have a word with you.." she noticed everyone staring, including her husband "Alone?" the boys scattered as he began "Okay, I realize-"
She slapped him hard across the face, he stumbled as he rubbed it gently "You've been alive this whole time!"
"I guess that's what I deserve.." Richard saw her pace around the floor and he shook his head "Rosalie I-"
She stopped "How did you even survive? They told me no one on board lived!"
He slumped on a crate "The boat did indeed crash, worst storm of the century.." he combed his paw through his beard "We all had to abandon ship, I jumped off and when I made it to the surface the boat sank.. I found a piece of wood big enough for me to land on." He watched her sit across from him "sailing for hours without food until I made it to another boat sailing along, they picked me up and I graciously worked on board for about ten months.." he sighed "Once the boat made it to America I made it my first priority to come home.. to my surprise the house was closed, furniture gone.. my house staff.. gone.. my only daughter.. gone."
"So that's it? You don't understand what you've done! You left me, I was alone.. afraid. I had no one but Nora to let me know it was alright. What else was I supposed to do? Wait for you to come home? They told me you died.. I had no other choice." She started to tear up and cross her arms. Her father attempted to embrace her "Do you know how it feels to be left alone, to wake up and hear that your only parent passed away." She hugged him "It's like your back from the dead.." she looked up at him "But what are you doing in London?"
On cue, the boys walked back to the family in their tight embrace. Alex was grabbed by Richard and hugged "You cheeky little monkey, when were you going to tell me you knew my daughter!" Alex let go in annoyance, he pointed to Uncle James when Richard picked up his bags "Well, we shouldn't be moping around here any longer.." he pointed to Ratigan "You, sir? Can you help me with these bags?" Ratigan quirked an eyebrow at Rosalie, who shrugged in return. Richard nudged Rosalie "Looks like you need to hire a new butler Rosalie.. this one is kind of slow."
The professor marched towards Richard as Rosalie stopped Ratigan "Father!" she grabbed his attention "This isn't a butler.. He is-"
"Oh well he isn't doing his job, whatever that is.." Richard took a double take at him "Wait a minute.. YOU!" he crossed his arms "You were the one who stole my shipments years ago! TEN TIMES!" he huffed "I knew I wouldn't forget those yellow eyes!'
Rosalie gasped "Daddy, you don't mean.."
"The one I told you about years ago! Who stole my ivory statues! The paintings! The jewels of Zanzibar! My livelihood gone! IT WAS ALL HIS FAULT!" he pushed him "What are you going to do now hmm? Steal more loot eh?" he pointed to Rosalie "Kidnap my daughter?" Ratigan was beginning to turn red "Well actually I have-"
"You criminal! You Vagrant!" he spat the words out like poison "Rosalie come, we are leaving!"
That rage was recognizable by Rosalie, who stood in front of Ratigan. "Father this is no criminal!"
"Then who is he?!" Richard screamed.
"HE IS MY HUSBAND!" Rosalie stomped her foot down, as her husband calmed down and snickered, as if HE himself won the argument. Richard started to wobble "NO!" he said as he fell down, unconscious, laying on the cold ground. Ratigan snapped his fingers as the boys picked him up, resting him on Felicia. Rosalie sighed to herself as Ratigan held her on the shoulders "My dear, I have never seen that rage in you.. it's very… appealing."
She smiled and kissed him on the cheek, making his ears perk up "You're my husband, he's gonna have to get used to it… now get the bags 'Butler'.." she boarded Felicia as Ratigan huffed and grabbed her father's bags.
I KNOW IT'S SHORT.. BUT I REALLY WANTED TO ESTABLISH WHAT HAPPENED TO RICHARD!
REVIEW AND FOLLOW!