The Miracle-Redux
A/N: In this chapter the Reunions begin…
A/N #2: This story "kind of" follows my other stories, so you might recognize a few of my OCs here that are still awaiting their full development there… I am also providing this spoiler alert. That said; I hope not to spoil things too much.
A/N #3: This is my own tear transference story. I hope you enjoy it. And, oh yes, I do not own Tangled or its primary characters, though I do own mine and the idea…
Chapter Ten: The Reunion, Part 1
"Dad, I am quite sure that nothing you saw on your trip back here to Corona could match what just occurred. So, I invite you to try to amaze me…" The tearful Rupert smirked to his father, knowing for sure that nothing his parents had seen on their journey back from the mountains of Orion could match the wonder of actually meeting what he thought were forever lost parents-in-law.
Rupert Senior and Annalisa were shocked by his overly confident reply and suddenly noted that he was shedding what must be tears of joy as he was also chuckling between the gentle sobs.
"Why are you crying, Rupert? Is everything alright? What is going on here? Who is that couple over there with Amanda?" His quite concerned mother, Annalisa, asked as she finally noticed an older couple hugging her daughter-in-law.
"Mom, Dad; it is just the most amazing thing…" Rupert softly stated between gentle hiccups; the twin streaks of joyful tears very evident on his cheeks.
"What…?" His father asked, as equally concerned as his wife.
"They are the quite wonderful couple of Mistress Katelyn and Lord Kevin McAllister; Amanda's parents and my in-laws!" Rupert happily blurted out, drawing the entire room's focus to him, even more tears coming down his cheeks, as he pointed out the equally tearful but brightly smiling pair of Katelyn and Kevin as they continued hugging their daughter, attempting to put fifteen lost years of affection into every single moment together.
"But…, But…, But!" Rupert senior and Annalisa sputtered, having heard the tragic tale of the untimely and gruesome demise of Amanda's parents so many years previous.
"This is what I meant. There isn't a thing on Sonnen III that could or would surprise me more than actually seeing the parents, not only of Amanda, but of Eugene as well, here in the flesh, all four as alive and as real as you and I are. I cannot describe how happy I am! It is the most wonderful dream a person could see come true. Now, you were saying…?"
"Hmmm, it can wait…" Rupert senior mumbled; his mind suddenly transported back to the here and now.
"So, from your expressions of yearning, I take it you would like to meet them?" Rupert asked, an even larger toothy grin gracing his handsome features.
"Of course we would!" The elder Rupert and Annalisa happily blurted out, their own tears of joy gently coming down their cheeks as well.
The quite happily smiling group of Katelyn, Kevin, and Amanda looked over to where Rupert, Rupert senior, and Annalisa were standing and gestured for them to come over.
"I cannot begin to tell you how happy and amazed I am to get to meet the parents of the most wonderful woman my son could have had the privilege of marrying." Annalisa happily said; two tears of joy running down her cheeks as well, as she walked up and gave the three the biggest hug she could.
"We too are quite amazed as well. We cannot believe that something once thought to be irreversible; death, could suddenly be so changeable. Nothing could prepare us for such a revelation. We also have watched over our daughter every day for the last fifteen years and found so much joy in seeing the happiness that the kind and benevolent Rupert brought to her." Katelyn happily replied.
"How did it…? I am so sorry! Please forgive me…" Annalisa began, before suddenly stopping and blushing at the inappropriateness of her question.
"It is alright…, um;" Kevin began.
"Oh, my! How rude of us! I am Annalisa MacIntyre and this is Rupert MacIntyre, senior; formerly of Avandell."
"I, no; we are so pleased to make the acquaintance of they who did such a wonderful job raising their son to be compassionate and honorable." Kevin said with a large smile on his face.
"We too are so happy to finally and most amazingly get to meet the amazing parents of the most wonderful girl our son could have had the privilege of joining in marriage!" Rupert senior said as he too hugged the three.
"Now, for the actual physical process that concluded with our return to this living and breathing form, we truly have no idea. One minute we are spectral spirits visiting with Cassiopeia, and then one blinding flash of light later we find ourselves in this solid form and right outside the front entrance of the palace. The look on the royal palace guard was such that one must witness it to truly appreciate it."
"Do you have any ideas and can you describe it?" Annalisa eagerly asked.
"Yes; we can also state categorically that nothing feels like it! As for the how; it seems to focus around the amazing Eugene Fitzherbert." Katelyn said.
"Eugene? Really? I always knew…"
"…yes. But, please be very cautious, here is not the place to tell the tale." Kevin said, with a seriousness not to be mistaken, before adding in barely a soft whisper, "Palace grapevine, don't you know…?"
"Oh, yes. Of course, it is quite adept at getting the story wrong 99 percent of the time with no regards to the damage the falsehood can cause or the effort required to make it right. I think that perhaps later after lunch we can go out and have a little more freedom to speak." Rupert senior replied.
"Yes, that would be quite the ideal circumstance. In fact, Amanda and I know the perfect place for this very special conversation." A smiling Rupert junior replied.
"Did somebody say food?" Eugene asked from over in the corner where he too was still enjoying the wonderful touch of his parents as they continued to hold him as well.
"Eugene!" Catherine said with a happy smile.
"Dad…?" A little voice hesitantly and very softly called out from the front parlor doors. All conversation ceased as everyone looked towards the door and involuntarily smiled at the beautifully dressed little eight year old Becky as she shyly entered the parlor, her hand held by a similarly smiling maid, stopped in the opening of the double doors and looked longingly at her new adoptive dad. Her new gown was a beautifully flowing, two tone blue mix that perfectly complimented her bright blue eyes and similarly beautifully brushed out and adorned golden blonde hair. It simply amazed the gathering that such a wonderful gown could be put together so quickly.
"Right here, Becky." Eugene happily replied with a huge toothy grin on his face and his arms widely opened as he got down on one knee to welcome the child into his waiting arms.
"Dad…!" The ecstatic Becky eagerly called out as she began to run towards him.
"You are such a good man, Eugene." William stated as he watched the brightly smiling little girl run into Eugene's waiting arms.
"You know, William, I am truly beginning to believe that myself…" Eugene replied, some of the self-doubt slowly leaving his sub-conscious.
"Dad…?" Kimberly and Keith blurted out, more towards their son; they both having totally forgotten the tale as told by both Cassiopeia and Rupert, as they too watched the little girl happily giggling as she ran into her new dad Eugene's waiting arms, amazed that not only did they get to see their son again as living, breathing parents; but, their new granddaughter as well as they were soon to be grandparents.
"Um, yes."
"When?"
"Well, as soon as the adoption papers are signed and all. I think within the next few days, actually." Eugene replied.
"We will finish up the administrative items tomorrow, and formalize things once Rapunzel gets home." Amanda stated.
"Formalize things; as with the lantern? When Rapunzel gets home? Is there something we are missing here?" Kimberly asked with a look of absolute confusion on her face; a look shared by Keith.
"Yes, my friends. You see, a few days before this entire situation arose, a certain young man came to my office to discuss something very important to him, and to ask me a question. I would rather not go into further detail here, but suffice it to say, after telling him I needed time to think about it, which was more to make him sweat than in any decision making, I have come to an affirmative decision."
"REALLY!?" Kimberly, Keith and even Eugene exclaimed.
"An affirmative decision?!" Catherine similarly exclaimed, very perplexed; no, make that irate that she was totally in the dark, though somewhat understanding.
"Um, yes Kat. I was fully intending to discuss it with you before I gave him my answer…" William quickly added.
"You big silly! You know I fully support your decisions. I also know how trying the past two weeks to a month have been with the dismal crop and other yield reports from throughout the kingdom, although I must say things are really looking up and definitely getting better!" Catherine replied as she grinned at her husband's apparent discomfort.
"This will definitely help him as he gains full redemption…" Cassiopeia whispered to an agreeing Kimberly and Katelyn.
"So, how does everybody feel about having a little lunch?" Catherine called out to the room at large.
"Yay!" Little Becky happily called out, ever the eager and definitely not a finicky eater; smiling at the grown-ups as they lightly chuckled at her comical outburst as it lightened the mood even more considerably than before.
"Ok! Lunch it is! You ready, Becky?" Eugene replied as he stood back up, looked down at the brightly smiling and eagerly nodding Becky, and slowly moved towards the door and headed towards the dining room with the beautifully dressed little girl walking beside him; he gesturing for the others to follow and the pair holding hands.
"What a wonderful pair they make!" Katelyn and Kimberly both tearfully sighed.
"Yes. I feel better about the entire thing with every passing moment. But right now, I could use with my first good meal in how long?" Keith replied as his stomach let out a loud rumble.
"KEITH!" Kimberly exclaimed, laughing so hard that she was crying; or is it crying so hard she was laughing? Oh, well, you get the point.
"MEN! I suppose you feel the same Kevin?" Katelyn asked, with a huge smirk on her face as she took in the sound of his similarly growling stomach.
"Ummm…"
A/N #4: Please review…