Author's Note: I don't know which one I can't believe more: that this is the last chapter or that Markaleen and I have let this story turn into the monster it's become. A year ago, when we first posted this, I fully didn't have any intention of it continuing on for over sixty-thousand words with so many twists and turns-and yet, I'm so glad it has. Though this movie isn't excellent, far from it, it still gives me a warm, fuzzy feeling inside, be it from the nostalgia associated with various watches, or just how hilariously bad it is. At any rate, thank you for reading this, and thank you so much for all the support up to now. Definitely still keep an eye out for my account - there may be a sequel in the works ;)
The knighting was more or less a blur for all members of the Warbucks family—Hannah and Molly included. The girls running on little to no sleep, Oliver and Grace running on none at all, it was honestly a miracle they arrived to Buckingham Palace with appropriate outfits, nevertheless on time. For Grace, especially, she was just about counting down the minutes until they were back in the limousine. It'd be an honor to see Oliver receive this recognition, of course, she wasn't backing down on that—however, crippling exhaustion and morning sickness were not two things that went very well together.
"Leaping lizards," Annie breathed as they stepped into the hall where the King was to host the occasion. Her usual chipper demeanor had been brought down about ten notches, but the smile on her face was unmatched. Looking at Hannah and Molly, she shook her head. "We're with royals right now. Can ya believe it?"
"I can't believe we're not dead," Hannah shook her head. "Are you sure I'm not a ghost?"
Molly stepped forward, pinching the back of her arm. Jumping, Hannah yelped.
"What was that for?!"
Molly giggled. "That's how you make sure you're not a ghost," she said, and Annie laughed, too.
"She's got a point," she said, while Hannah scowled.
"I think I need a break from you two once we're back in the States," she huffed. "My head hurts too much when I'm around you guys."
"Fine," Annie stuck her tongue out. "Guess you won't get to know about the secret thing Mom and Daddy have with the Webbs. Only Molly will know!"
"What secret thing?" Molly's eyes lit up. "Why didn't you tell us before?!"
Grace quickly looked over her shoulder now, having been walking ahead with Oliver and now biting on her lip. It'd be quite a leap for the girls to guess what exactly was going on, but she still didn't want the surprise ruined without the Webbs being the ones to tell Molly. Oliver seemed to have the exact same train of thought, and as Grace smiled and patted his arm, she fell behind to catch up to the girls.
"Perhaps we should save our investigation skills for after the knighting, yes, dear?" she wrapped an arm around Annie's shoulder. "I know you girls have a lot you need to burn off right now, but let's just be quiet for a little bit, for your father. Does that sound good?"
Annie scrunched her eyebrows together. "You just don't want us guessing. Why is it that big?"
"It's a surprise," Grace said simply. "And what's the fun in one of those if you know beforehand?"
"Does it have to do with Annie and Michael?" Molly smirked. "She likes him."
Annie's cheeks grew almost as red as her hair. "Do not."
"Yes, you do," Hannah laughed. "We can all see it, you're not good at hiding the way you feel, Annie. Even he knows, I bet."
"Shut up," Annie hugged her arms over her chest, and Grace chuckled.
"The good news," she said, "is I'm fairly sure he returns the sentiment, dear. But, again, this is another conversation for another time."
The girl kept her arms folded, a scowl forming across her face. However, just as soon as it did, a fanfare began blaring through the room, and her eyes lit up as King Edward stepped through a set of wooden double doors.
"Leaping lizards!" she exulted, her enthusiasm returning full-force. "You're the king!"
"Shush," Hannah scolded, her cheeks growing red now, too, although it was for embarrassment of her friend's behavior than a crush. "You can't speak out of turn around the King, do you want to get shoved in a dungeon again?"
Annie paused, clamping both hands over her mouth. "Sorry," she mumbled, as the King moved further towards the Warbucks'. He stopped just in front of the girls, eyebrows raised.
"Did you say, again?" he asked, looking at Hannah. "I didn't realize America utilized dungeons."
Annie and Hannah exchanged a glance, and as Hannah laughed, nervously, she shook her head.
"We don't, sir," she said. "I don't think we do, anyways. But… we were locked in one last night." She looked at Grace and Oliver. "It's a really long story."
"Quite sounds that way," he chuckled, looking also at Oliver. He held his hand out, and Oliver stepped forward to shake it.
"Thank you for this honor, sir," he said. "This is my wife, Grace. I'm sure you know Annie, and these are her friends, Hannah and Molly."
The three girls all curtsied, and the King smiled.
"I'd like to hear more of this long story of yours," he said. "We're hosting a luncheon this afternoon, please come and join us. It'll be good to hear about how America is doing from the perspective of someone other than a politician."
"Especially a blasted democrat," Oliver grumbled. He looked at Grace, noting how pale she was. She was glowing, too, something he'd noticed especially since the early hours of this morning, since Annie's return. Being with child—if their suspicions were correct—seemed to bring a certain peace about her, but he knew she still wasn't feeling her best, and he placed a hand on her back. "I'm afraid we've had a rather hard time of it the past several days," he said. "We'd be honored to accept the invitation, but I'm not sure if any of us are up to it. We're, uh… not very good travelers," he chuckled. "We've had a concussion in our group, among many other things, if that says anything."
The King smiled a little wider. "Then, tea, if nothing else," he said. "Have any of you had a proper cup yet?"
"Leaping lizards," Annie breathed again. "English tea with the King of England!"
"You can pinch me again now," Hannah whispered to Molly. "I think I'm definitely dreaming."
"That'd be lovely," Grace said, smiling, wrapping her arm around Oliver's. "You have a beautiful country."
"Besides the dungeons," Annie said, and the King chuckled.
"That's a fair point," he replied, before stepping back and looking at Oliver. "Very well. I wouldn't want to take up more of your time than necessary. If you wouldn't mind, Mr. Warbucks, come and follow me."
Oliver nodded, kissing Grace briefly before he walked behind the King to a podium at the front of the room. Kneeling before it, as the King stood behind it, the King cleared his throat.
"Oliver J. Warbucks, as you stand before the English public this twelfth of April 1936, I bestow you the honor and valor of a knight of my court. Entrusted in you with the title is respect for the throne, and an obligation to the English people. Now and forevermore, may you be an asset to our great country and commonwealth."
Oliver bowed forward as the King spoke, eyes shut as the sword was passed from one shoulder to the other. Then, as the King stood tall again, Oliver rose back to his feet, smiling as Grace and the girls walked over to him, no one moving faster than Annie.
"My daddy's a knight," she said, wrapping her arms around his stomach. "That's really cool."
"Congrats, darling," Grace whispered, giving him another kiss. "We're all very proud of you."
"I couldn't have made it this far without you," he whispered, an arm around her again. Then, he smiled down at the girls. "All four of you, really."
"Do you get to keep the sword?" Annie glanced back at the King. "Does he get to keep the sword?"
"I think I can make an exception," he winked, and as he passed the sword over to Oliver, Annie hugged her father again, even tighter.
"Leaping lizards," she said. "Trapped in a dungeon last night, with the King today… this just keeps getting better! And there's the surprise with the Webbs, too!"
Oliver and Grace exchanged a glance at this one, both deciding, silently, it was probably for the best if the Webbs joined them at the hotel that evening. She nodded as though to say she'd extend the invitation as soon as they were back, and while the King started leading them all towards a different hall, one he explained was specifically for occasions such as these, Grace leaned her head on her husband's shoulder. It truly did seem to just be getting better. In fact, she was pretty sure this was the first calm day of the entire trip.
She only hoped there'd be smooth sailing—literally—on the way home.
...
All the Webbs arrived to the Savoy around seven that evening, after Oliver, Grace, and the girls had spent essentially the entire afternoon napping. Hannah, Annie, and Molly were none the worse for wear and actually seemed to be finding amusement in their kidnapping now, and while Oliver was also doing well, having grown accustomed to function on little to no sleep over the years, Grace could not say the same for herself. The nausea was raging as she woke, and it was all she could do to force down some water. She wanted, desperately, to join in on the dinner plans; however, both she and Oliver knew it was for the best if she continue to rest.
"Especially since we're ship-bound again as soon as morning comes," Oliver reasoned, helping her back into bed and covering her. "I'm sure the girls will reenact everything once they come back up here."
Grace smiled. "They're going to be so happy."
"Our luck is turning around," he placed a hand on her stomach. "All of our luck."
"This little one's going to have quite the story to hear about how we found out about them," Grace placed her palm over his. "In England, dealing with concussions and evil masterminds with dungeons?"
"I wouldn't call her a mastermind," he laughed. "Just desperate."
"I'm so glad that's all over," she reached up, placing a hand on his cheek. "I can't wait to go home."
"New beginnings for all of us," he smiled, kissing her. "I'll be back soon. Lord knows the girls will burst in screaming."
"God help us," she chuckled, keeping hold of his hand until he was too far away to hold onto anymore. Turning onto her side, she settled in for another nap, while Oliver started down towards the dining room, greeting the Webbs. The girls were yet to come down, something about needing 'more time' to get ready, and though Grace alluded to this having to do with Annie's feelings towards Michael, he was very much not letting himself focus on that. Instead, he smiled as he greeted the Webbs, standing off to the side with David and Susan as all the kids chattered—rather loudly—amongst themselves.
"How's Michael doing?" Oliver asked, feeling awkward to broach the subject. Though it wasn't directly his fault the boy had been kidnapped, it still was to some extent.
Susan gave a small smile. "Much better than I, that's for sure," she said. "He was tired this morning and slept a good majority of the day, but now he's just teasing the others for how much better he fared in the dungeon than they'd have."
"The girls are joking about it, too," he laughed. "Funny, isn't it, how resilient they are?"
"What I wouldn't give to be that innocent again," she nodded, straightening up now as Annie, Hannah, and Molly bounded into the dining room. At once, Annie's gaze diverted towards Michael, while Hannah and Molly headed to David and Susan.
"We're real sorry we got Michael kidnapped, Mrs. Webb," she said. "He helped us out a bunch, though."
"I'm rather glad he was with you, then," she smiled, crouching down so she could look at the girls better. "How are you two doing?"
"We were just tired for a bit," Molly shrugged. "But I'm never going into a dungeon again."
David chuckled. "That's a good idea," he agreed, before also crouching down. He exchanged a glance with his wife, and Molly's eyebrows furrowed.
"Are you okay, Mr. and Mrs. Webb?" she asked. "You're not mad at us, are you?"
They smiled at each other, then at Molly, as Susan reached out and took Molly's hand.
"How would you like to call us 'Mum' and 'Dad', dear?" she asked, to which Molly let out an immediate gasp. Hands clasping over her mouth, she looked at Hannah, then at the two of them.
"Really?!" she asked.
"We've always wanted a little girl," David grinned. "And, thankfully, something tells me all the boys won't bug you that much, will they?"
"Leaping lizards!" she exulted, one of the few times she was the one to say it, rather than Annie. At once, though, Annie glanced over.
"What happened?" she asked, and Molly just threw her arms around David and Susan both.
"Oh, did I forget to tell you?" Michael asked, smiling at the confusion across Annie's face. "Mum and Dad are adopting Molly. And we're all moving to America!"
Annie's eyes just about bulged out of her head. "What?"
"We only felt it was right," Oliver said. "You girls can't possibly be separated from one another—and there are so many opportunities for jobs back home. It's a big change, of course, but the Webbs are ready for this adventure."
"Whoa," Molly said, arms around David's neck as all the other Webb boys ran up to surround their parents. She beamed, wider than she had since the death of the Fishers, and hugged David tight. "Instant brothers."
Annie just let out a laugh, tears springing to her eyes. "You have a family again!"
"And I don't have to move to a country with a bunch of dungeons!" Molly laughed, too.
"And you can keep getting me into trouble!" Hannah interjected, also with tears in her eyes, and as Annie headed over to Oliver, wrapping her arms around him, she buried her face in his stomach.
"I take it back," she said. "I'd be okay with coming back here—a lot of good stuff happens to us when we are."
"No more resentment about the dungeon?" Oliver laughed.
"Mrs. Lewis is behind bars now," she shrugged. "I think we're okay."
"Very good attitude, my dear," he hugged her. "Very good."
She squeezed on tight again, while Molly did the same with Mr. Webb, Mrs. Webb running a hand through the girl's hair. And, as Oliver just kept a tight hold on his daughter, he sighed, finding it odd, yet perfect how their trip had turned out in the end. Not every moment had been great—many of them hadn't even come close. However, when it all came down to it, they all wound up exactly where they were supposed to be. It was poetic, in a way. Beautiful.
He, too, was more than okay with coming back if their luck continued on.