Christmas Plans
The year was almost over, and everyone was excited for what changes the new year would bring. In Rapunzel and Eugene's case, the new year would see them become parents, as Rapunzel was about 7 months pregnant now and looking forward to seeing their beautiful baby be born. For Kiera and Catalina, a new year meant mastering new skills, as they were showing great improvement in ballet class (along with Varian, who was still bemused at how he'd ended up joining their lessons.) For Varian, a new year meant refining old inventions and creating new ones as the Royal Engineer. For Quirin a new year meant new crops to harvest and new livestock to raise. And for Lance, a new year meant passing on the parenting tips he'd learned and showering his daughters with love and praise.
They were all bundled up and wandering around town, looking at the winter decorations. Even Eugene had been persuaded to come see the sights, He was grumbling, but not as much as usual, as every so often he would look at Rapunzel and smile. Rapunzel was absolutely in awe of everything she saw. Growing up, Mothel Gothel had never celebrated the holidays, even Rapunzel's birthday was just another day where she made hazelnut soup and Rapunzel did chores and sang her healing song to rejuvenate Gothel. Rapunzel hadn't realized how much she'd missed, until she left her tower. And even now, 3 years later she was still amazed.
"Look at Monty's! It's so festive!" she squealed. Monty had placed gingerbread houses and peppermint sticks in a window display. Attila had hung a wreath on the door and some garland. The other shops were similarly decked out in red and green, and several stores had Christmas trees still out.
"I hope we find a good present for Dad." Catalina said as they walked. She and Kiera had pooled their allowance, and had a good amount of gold and silver pieces saved. They excused themselves to go into Monty's Sweet Shoppe. Rapunzel smiled, thinking how much the girls had grown since they'd first met them as cautious and bitter thieves, to selfless and loving young ladies who wanted to surprise their Dad with something nice. Lance even teared up a bit, hearing they were going to get him a gift.
"I bet the girls find something great. Corona's a good place to shop." Varian noted. He looked longingly at a cucurbit in a shop, a rounded container meant to hold a substance being distilled.
"You know Varian, if there's something you need for your engineering or alchemy work, you can request money from the Royal Treasury." Rapunzel told him.
"I know, but I feel guilty about asking, like I still owe everyone in Corona an apology for what I've done in the past, and I don't deserve to take their money. I'll find another way to get what I need." Varian explained.
"Varian, you're a good kid. But I understand if you don't feel like asking now. Just remember the offer always stands." Rapunzel said. Varian nodded and continued to walk around town with the group.
Eugene spotted a canvas painting bag in an arts and crafts store and knew he'd have to come back later to buy it for Rapunzel. Picturing her happy expression on Christmas Day was worth being outside in the chilly winter weather.
"We'll see you all tomorrow for the Christmas party, right?" Rapunzel asked as the girls came running back, holding a medium-sized wrapped present.
"Of course, there's no way we'd miss it." Lance assured her.
"Dad and me have a lot of work to do on the farm in the next few weeks, but we won't start until after the party." Varian said.
"That's right. Christmas is a time for visiting friends and family." added Quirin. For nearly 14 years, it had been just him and Varian, but now he counted Rapunzel, Eugene, Lance, Kiera, and Catalina as friends of the family and he looked forward to baking an apple pie for all of them. It was good that Varian had made so many friends, back in Old Corona he only really got along with Katie the seamstress and Pamela the jeweler (and it was a bit hard to tell in Pamela's case.)
"I'm so excited, you're all going to be there! Mom and I had a blast setting up the ballroom for the party. All that's left is the Christmas tree, because I wanted us to put on the ornaments together. I even painted a few myself. And of course, it wouldn't be a Christmas tree without a star on top, which Eugene is gonna place this year." Rapunzel detailed.
"Really? But that's the most important part! Shouldn't your father do it?" Eugene was taken aback.
"Dad wants you to, he's really warmed up to you Eugene. He's been in a great mood all December, I think he's really looking forward to being a grandparent." Rapunzel smiled.
"I know how he feels, being a Dad feels like it's going to be the biggest and best change in my life, after marrying you of course." Eugene replied.
"Parenthood's a big step but I know you're ready, just as I was ready to adopt my girls." Lance spoke up.
"I don't know if any father's really ready for all the challenges parenting brings." Quirin chuckled. "But it's worth any trouble your kid causes."
Varian looked a little sheepish. Even at 17, he could still feel called out. Still, he knew his father loved him, and Varian loved Quirin in return.
"It's great that we had this talk. But don't you guys think it's getting cold out here? We really should go back inside." Eugene wouldn't be Eugene if he didn't complain about the winter weather at least once a day.
"Yeah, we should start heading home. But we'll come back tomorrow for the party. See you guys soon." Varian said. Quirin nodded as he and Varian said goodbye.
"See you tomorrow! Let's go home, girls and maybe take a peek at that present?" Lance suggested.
"No peeking, Dad!" laughed the girls. They were determined to have their gift be a surprise. Lance sighed, he knew when he was outmatched, so he picked up Angry and carried her on his shoulders, while he held Catalina's hand as they walked together.
Rapunzel grinned. "We have the best friends, don't we?" she mused.
"And we have the best castle, where it's nice and warm." Eugene said pointedly. Rapunzel laughed. Eugene had his quirks, but she truly loved him, and would do whatever it took to make him happy. And right now, that meant going back to the castle, where she would kiss him under the mistletoe.
The End
Christmas is really coming! We have all the holiday books on display at the library now, and the WalMart I go to has their Christmas food and decorations in store. It's still pretty warm where I live, but there are other signs of Christmas everywhere I look.