AUTHOR'S NOTE: Thank you all for reading all of these stories so far! I prefer doing this over publishing numerous one-shots since the characters Diana, Karena, Wesley, and Berethor (Diana's boyfriend) are mine. But I am glad you are enjoying these. I also want to thank the viewer who left a review on my one-shot "Game Night," which was so fun to write! Enjoy this one!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own anything related to "Meet the Robinsons," I only own Diana and Karena.
STORY #9: Return to Todayland
STORIES OF REFERENCE: Hope (Ch. 20)
NARRATOR: Franny
DECEMBER 21, 2045 – TODAYLAND, NORTH MONTANA, USA
"Thank you guys so much for coming with me," I told my husband, aunt-in-law, cousin-in-law, and our robot friend as we approached Todayland Airport.
"Franny, we all know how much it means for you to see Wilbur and his family again," Aunt Billie replied with a smile on her face.
"We're all excited to see them too," Tallulah said.
"I'm more worried than excited," I replied, and my husband frowned at me.
"Why are you worried, Fran?" Cornelius asked me.
"You know how severe my empty nest syndrome was, Lewis," I explained. "What if I tear up when I see our son for the first time in what feels like forever?"
"You won't, Franny," Carl assured me. "Wilbur will be very happy to see you again. But don't forget, you're seeing your granddaughter for the first time since May, too."
I smiled at the thought of seeing Diana again. The last time I saw Diana, she was over three months old and was just learning to roll over. She was over ten months old today, and while Wilbur had talked nonstop about how much his daughter learned, I was excited to see her in action. Diana looked very much like her father, having black hair and brown eyes, but I don't know too much of her personality yet.
"Franny? Are you okay?"
I turned to see my family giving me worried looks.
"I'm fine, guys," I answered with a smile. "I was just thinking of how Diana looks like her daddy."
"Well, we should try to catch Wilbur and his family at the gate," Carl suggested.
I nodded in agreement, and I walked with Carl, Cornelius, and Tallulah to the gate while Billie stayed behind with the train.
"Hey, look, Diana! It's Granny and Grandpa!"
I shot up and looked forward, where I saw a familiar black cowlick: Wilbur. I smiled as he held his daughter in his left arm on his left hip, and his wife Karena was standing next to him.
"Granny," Cornelius repeated after our son. "It suits you."
"Yes, yes it does," I replied, putting on a big smile as the little family walked over to us.
"Hey, guys!" Karena greeted us with a smile on her face and gave us all hugs.
"Welcome back!" Carl replied back.
"Wilbur."
"Mom."
Wilbur hugged me with his right arm while I hugged both him and Diana. I let some tears fall from my face onto Wilbur's shoulder.
"I've missed you so much," I told him.
"We've missed you too, Mom," Wilbur replied.
We pulled apart and smiled at each other before Diana made a happy sound.
"Diana, look at you!" I exclaimed in a high-pitched voice. "You're getting big!"
"Gaga!" Diana replied enthusiastically, giving me a big smile.
"Look at you and those pearly whites," I said, pinching her cheeks. "They're growing in."
"I think her teeth growing in is her least favorite part so far," Karena replied. "But she still looks so cute! Isn't that right, Diana?"
"Ay!"
We all chuckled at Diana's enthusiasm.
"Can I hold her?" I asked my son.
"Absolutely!" Wilbur answered, handing Diana off to me.
"So, you are almost a year old!" I said in a high-pitched voice, and Diana laughed in reply. "You are the cutest baby ever!"
"Oh what, I wasn't?" Wilbur sarcastically replied with a smirk.
"Sorry, Wilbur, but Diana just barely beat you out for world's cutest baby."
"What is Diana's favorite food so far?" Cornelius asked as we made our way to the baggage claim.
"Chicken and peas," Karena answered. "But that's the baby food. She loves macaroni and cheese, and she still loves my milk."
"So, little buddy, how's TIME treating you?" Carl asked as we made our way to the train.
"I absolutely love it!" Wilbur answered with a big smile on his face. "Do you remember all of those times I told you I was Special Agent Wilbur Robinson?"
"Boy, do we remember!" I replied.
"I actually get to live that out, but I'm simply called Agent Robinson. I do get to go on a time machine and go investigating with my teammates. Well, by investigating, I mean analyzing historical documents and books. Sometimes I'm out on the field with someone."
"Wilbur!" Aunt Billie exclaimed.
"Hey, Aunt Billie!" Wilbur and Karena said at the same time, hugging Billie.
"Where's Diana?" Aunt Billie asked.
"Right here, Aunt Billie," I answered, giving the baby to her.
"You are so big, Diana!" Aunt Billie said, holding her up high in the air.
We all watched as Diana squealed with delight, and then Billie handed her back to her father.
"Let's go home!" Billie said excitedly, and we all got on the train.
"So, Karena, what are you doing now?" I asked her, and I noticed that she had lost all of the weight she gained during her pregnancy.
"I am a teacher at Westport Elementary School," Karena explained. "I'm teaching the junior high chorus and the music classes from the kindergarten through the third grades. It hasn't been easy being away from Diana, and sometimes I'll bring her with me so that the kids can see her."
"Russell has been a big help, taking care of Diana while we're both at work," Wilbur chimed in.
"Wait, who's Russell?" Tallulah asked with confusion in her voice.
"Russell is the friend I've met when I first moved to Connecticut. He's also my boss's husband."
"He and his wife have two kids together, one of which just graduated from Westport High School," Karena explained further. "The older kid is attending college in near Chicago. The younger kid is a sophomore in high school and has babysat for Diana whenever Wilbur and I want to get away from parenthood for the night."
"It's good that you are still making time for each other," I commended them, and the couple shared a smile.
"Oh, hey, Diana, don't play with that," Karena told her, trying to pull Diana's small hand away from her hair. "My hair is not food. Come on, let's go in another car where you can have some milk."
We watched as Karena carried Diana to another car, and then we turned to face each other.
"Is Karena still breastfeeding?" I asked my son who had a smile on his face.
"Yes, she is. I think that is why Diana is learning so many things ahead of other babies her age. She can already stand without needing support! I won't be surprised if she learns to walk before her first birthday."
"It's almost been a year already," Cornelius said, letting out a content sigh.
"It does not feel like a year," Wilbur replied. "It only feels like yesterday that we were bringing Diana home from the hospital for the first time on this train."
"I remember that day, too!" Aunt Billie yelled from the controls. "It was her birthdate, right? You guys were released from the hospital twelve hours after her birth?"
"Actually, yes it was," Wilbur answered.
Before we knew it, we were back in our house, and we were greeted by the rest of the family. We were immediately crowded, but Wilbur and Karena made sure to greet our family one member at a time. Diana was met with kisses from everyone in the family, and she beamed with a smile this whole time.
"Wilbur, Diana looks more like you every day," my brother Art told him.
"Why, thank you, Uncle Art," Wilbur replied. "What do you think, Diana? Do you look like Daddy?"
"Eh."
"Apparently she thinks otherwise," Karena chimed in, and Art and Gaston laughed.
"Diana! Welcome back to Todayland," Laszlo greeted her. "How about I paint you purple?"
"No painting my daughter, Laszlo," Wilbur warned him with both a pointed finger and a smirk.
"Where's our great-granddaughter at?" my mother-in-law Lucille asked with a big smile on her face. "Oh, there she is!"
Diana let out a loud laugh as Wilbur handed her over to his grandma.
"She's getting big!" my father-in-law Bud exclaimed, clearly missing his teeth. "How old is she now?"
"Diana's over ten months old," Karena answered. "She'll be one in a couple months."
"Time flies when you're having fun," Lucille replied.
"Isn't that the truth?" Wilbur said in agreement. "Diana has certainly kept us entertained."
"Is Diana more like her dad or her mom?" Fritz asked.
"Umm… her dad!" Petunia 'answered.'
"Actually, I think she's equally like the both of us," Karena answered with a laugh. "She has her daddy's optimism and my laugh."
"Does she like music?" Gaston asked.
"She loves music," Wilbur answered, and I couldn't help but smile. "She's always playing on her toy xylophone."
"Why don't we all go into the dining room for dinner?" I suggested loudly over the noise. "Wilbur, Karena, and Diana have had a long trip and I'm sure they want to eat and rest."
"Alright Frankie, let's hit it from the top!" I said happily.
I started to wave my baton, and my frog band started to play our jazzy version of various Christmas songs.
"We wish you a merry Christmas," Frankie sang. "We wish you a merry Christmas. We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy new year. Good tidings we bring to you and your kin."
"Hey, guys!"
I signaled the band to stop playing, and I turned around to see Wilbur carrying his daughter into the room.
"Hi!" Diana greeted me with a big smile.
"Well hi there, Diana!" I replied back in a high-pitched voice. "You are smart like Daddy!"
"Yes, she is," Wilbur said in agreement, smiling fondly at his daughter and giving her a kiss on her right cheek. "And she certainly isn't shy."
"Just like her daddy. So what are you two up to?" I asked as the piano started to play in the background.
"I'm giving Diana a tour of the house. Because the last time she was here, she was only three months old and could only recognize her mommy and daddy."
"Is this room your first stop?" I asked with a smile.
"It is! We heard your band playing and thought we'd check it out."
"Well, how about we give Diana a little Christmas concert?"
"She would love that!" Wilbur replied enthusiastically. "Wouldn't you, Diana?"
I watched Diana slowly nod her head, and Wilbur and I both chuckled.
"I take it that's a yes?" I asked.
"Let's hear it!" Wilbur replied.
I walked back up to the podium while Wilbur sat down on a chair with his daughter on his lap.
"Let's do Jingle Bells," I suggested to the band.
I waved my baton, and my frogs played a jazz version of the song.
"Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way," Frankie sang slowly but with some jazz in his voice. "Oh what fun it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh. Oh, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way. Oh what fun it is to ride on a one-horse open sleigh."
I walked over to the box of instruments and took out some maracas. Then I walked over to Wilbur and handed him the maracas.
"Why don't you teach Diana a new instrument?" I suggested.
"Do you want to learn how to play the maracas, Diana?" Wilbur asked, and she looked up at him before taking one of the maracas. "All you have to do is shake it, like this."
I watched Wilbur gently shake his maraca, and then Diana raised the maraca in the air and shook it over her head with a big smile on her face.
"That's one way to play the maracas," Wilbur said, bursting into laughter.
"Hey, I'll take it!" I replied enthusiastically. "Good job, Diana!"
"Deck the halls with boughs of holly," Frankie sang. "Fa-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la."
"Can you sing along, Diana?" Wilbur asked. "Fa-la-la-la-la-la, la-la-la-la."
But Diana continued to shake the maraca.
"Not much of a singer, huh?" I asked.
"Dada!"
"Not yet," Wilbur answered as Diana started her baby talk. "Her mom sings her to sleep every night, so I won't be surprised if Diana starts to sing because of her. But no, Diana loves to just laugh and play with her instruments."
"Do you think she'll be a music teacher like her mom?" I asked him with a smile.
"That's not up to me," Wilbur answered. "Diana's her own person. Karena and I already agreed to not interfere in Diana's decision-making when we get to that point."
"Oh, Wilbur, I've been meaning to talk to you about something. Is there a good time?"
"After dinner would be best. Karena and I have been having dinner with Diana and we put her right to sleep after that."
We heard a thud, and we looked down on the floor to find a maraca on the floor. Then we looked to Diana, who was starting to cry.
"Diana, hey, hey, hey," Wilbur soothed her before picking up the maraca from the floor. "I know you want to see what happens when you throw things, but princess, this isn't a toy. You can break this and Granny won't be able to play with it. You have to hold on to this and be careful."
"Wilbur, does she understand anything you're saying?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Hey, she's almost eleven months old," Wilbur replied, handing the maraca back to Diana. "She knows not to do things based on the tone I use."
"You haven't been stern with her, have you?"
"Mom, I'm stern when I have to be," Wilbur answered, giving me a small glare. "Meet me in here after dinner. Diana, it's time to give Granny the maraca back."
Wilbur gently took the maraca from Diana's small hand and handed it to me before carrying her out of the room. I slumped on one of the chairs as my frog band started to play a jazz version of Sleigh Ride.
I waited in the quiet music room for Wilbur after dinner. I was anxious. Sure, it was nice seeing my son for the first time since he moved to New York in May. We also talked about my empty-nest syndrome and how he helped me through it. He has given me updates on how Diana was doing, but never spoke of his job.
I heard the door open, and I turned to see Wilbur walking in by himself.
"Did Diana go to sleep?"
"Yes, her mother sang to her as always," Wilbur answered before we both took a seat. "Before we talk about what you have in mind, I need to ask you something. Are you doubting my ability to be a dad?"
"No! Why would you think that?"
"So why were you and Dad stern with me when I was a kid if you don't want me being stern with my daughter?"
"I'm not telling you to not be stern, Wilbur," I explained. "You're right. You are allowed to be stern if it helps Diana learn. But don't overdo it. Wilbur, I've known you all your life. I carried you, I've birthed you, and I've raised you to be the man you want to be. You're doing a terrific job as a father. Diana is smiling a lot, so you're doing more than terrific. Just… don't let your temper take control of you to where you're yelling at her when she gets in trouble. Because despite you working on yourself, you still have the tendency to get angry easily. I may have touched a nerve, and I'm sorry. I was thinking that your dad and I may have been a little too stern while we raised you."
I paused, letting out a sigh.
"While you grew up, your dad and I were afraid."
"Wait, afraid?" Wilbur asked with a perplexed look. "Afraid of what?"
"You wanted to be your own person, Wilbur. We were worried that because you wanted to do your own thing, you wouldn't learn how to be responsible. All this time, I asked myself, did I do enough to raise my son to be the dad Diana needs him to be?"
"Mom, you did," Wilbur assured me, putting his left hand on my right shoulder. "You, Dad, Aunt Billie, you all taught me how to be my own person. Even my wife taught me how to be the Wilbur Robinson I need to be. I don't take myself lightly anymore. I have a wife and a daughter. I love them both and want to live my life with them. As for Diana, I want to teach her how to be a confident woman, just like you and Dad taught me to be confident. You were worried all this time that I was a bad son?"
"After you left, I was bawling my eyes out," I explained. "I always worried that I didn't do enough and worried that I didn't love you enough. And Wilbur, I'm sorry—"
"Mom, hey, it's okay. Don't apologize. Sure, I was a handful. Heck, Diana is a handful. She's not even eleven months old and she's already standing on her two feet! And she crawls so fast that Karena and I have to catch up with her! Mom, if it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here. Well, actually, I'd still be here because I wouldn't have been a responsible person. But the point is, without you, I wouldn't have been able to move on with my life and have a family. I don't thank you enough, which is something I should have done while I was growing up. Moms are the most powerful people in the world. They go through the most pain to raise their children and make sure they have everything they need, all while teaching them to be responsible. Moms don't get enough credit as the kids grow older, so I'm going to start today. Thank you, Mom, for raising me and for giving me everything I need to be the best son, the best dad, and the best agent."
We both got up and we hugged each other for the longest time.
"I love you, Mom."
"Oh, Wilbur," I replied, letting some tears fall on his shoulder. "I love you, too. I always will."
A few days passed and it was Christmas morning. I got out of bed, showered, and dressed in the red-and-green dress Tallulah made me. I decided to leave my hair down, but then I decided to put it in a Belle-styled ponytail with my red bow.
I arrived in the dining room to be greeted by my husband.
"Merry Christmas, Fran," Cornelius told me before he looked up.
I looked up to see mistletoe hanging above us.
"Merry Christmas, Scrooge," I replied teasingly, giving him a kiss.
"Hey, he's no scrooge!" Tallulah yelled. "He's anything but a scrooge!"
"I was teasing!" I explained with a laugh. "Besides, he's my husband. I can call him anything."
"Also, I do have money," Cornelius explained himself, giving me a kiss on the forehead.
"And you're getting old," Bud chimed in, and we turned to look at him.
"We're not that old yet," Cornelius replied.
"I did just become a golden girl," I said with a smile. "We've still got years to go."
"Karena, take a look at this!" we heard Wilbur yell from the living room.
"Uh-oh," Laszlo said.
"I hope it's nothing serious," Art chimed in.
"Let's see if everything's okay," I suggested.
I led the party out of the dining room and found Wilbur with a big smile on his face. We turned to look at Diana, who had just stood up on her two feet.
"Wilbur, what's going on?" Karena asked with a worried expression.
"Watch this," Wilbur replied, turning back to their daughter. "Diana, can you do that again? Can you come to Daddy?"
We watched anxiously as Diana shifted one foot in front of the other, and she did it over and over again with a big smile on her face… until she was met by her father's arms!
"Oh my goodness," Tallulah gasped.
"She can walk!" I exclaimed.
We all cheered as Wilbur picked her up from the floor, and even Diana started to cheer.
"Hands down, this is the best Christmas present," Karena said, giving Diana kisses on her right cheek while Wilbur kissed the other cheek.
"Mama!" Diana said, and her mother let out a gasp.
"Karena, she just said 'mama!'" Wilbur exclaimed happily.
"Oh my goodness," Karena said in awe as she took Diana from Wilbur's arms and held her close.
"So, which Christmas present is better: Diana's first steps or her calling you 'mama' for the first time?"
"The best Christmas present, Wilbur, is being Diana's mama," Karena answered, kissing Diana on the forehead. "And being your wife."
We watched Wilbur and Karena share a kiss before we sat around the tree, giving each other presents and enjoying Diana's first Christmas.