Chapter 13

Eugene opened his eyes and looked around. Nothing looked familiar at all.

"Where am I?" he called out to no one in particular.

"You're in the tower, Eugene," a woman's voice called out from the darkness.

Eugene squinted. "Who are you? Come into the light where I can see you. I recognize your voice. I just need to make sure you're still here."

Elvira walked out of the darkness into the light. She was holding a cup of her special herbal tea. She smiled and held it out toward him.

Eugene smiled and accepted it. "What are you doing here, Elvira? I know that you're…"

She shook her head and held her finger to his lips. "It'll be explained in due time, grandson. Right now, we need you dressed and ready for the ball. It's already late morning and the ball is supposed to begin in only a few more hours. You also have an appointment with the Princess Rapunzel in 5 hours. We want you there ahead of time so that you and Rapunzel will get to know one another."

Eugene frowned. "We? Who is 'we'?

Elvira smiled a bit and then shook her head. "Don't worry right now, Eugene. You'll find out soon enough."

Eugene nodded. "What is this Cinderella or something? What are you doing Elvira? Are you my fairy godmother?"

Elvira, by now, had turned her back on her grandson. She was in the kitchen pouring another cup of her special tea.

"More like your fairy grandmother, Eugene." She walked toward him and held out with the cup, which he greedily swallowed. He handed her back the cup and she went back to refill it.

Eugene watched her walk away not realizing until now what she said to him. "You're my grandmother?" he said frowning.

"Well," Elvira answered, still in the kitchen, "I was. I guess I should have owned up to it sooner. I should have come to claim you all those years ago." She put down the blue and white flowered china teapot and picked up the small matching cup. "You should never have gone to that orphanage." As she neared him, Elvira stretched out her arm, handing Eugene the cup. "I should have…"

"Shoulda, woulda, coulda," Eugene answered, reaching out his own hand to accept it. "It's all over and done with. No one knows what the future holds. Besides which, I found you when I was 8. Believe it or not, I've always considered you my stepmother, Elvira. You took me in and raised me and I'll always be grateful for that."

He brought the cup to his lips and swallowed. He gave her back the cup which Elvira accepted graciously. She smiled and turned her back on him, headed for the kitchen again.,

"Geez, Elvira. How much of this awful stuff do I have to drink?"

Elvira shook her head and walked toward him, "Not until I'm satisfied that you're good to go, Eugene. I need you at that ball, grandson. I have my own reasons."

She came closer and handed him the cup. "Besides, this is the last one."

Eugene held out his hand to accept it.

"You never complained before, Eugene. Not even when you were small."

"I guess we all grow older, don't we?" He drained the cup and handed it back, but Elvira placed it on the table in front of her. "Now stand up and let me take care of the rest. You're going to that ball, Eugene whether I have to carry you or not. Now get up and let's get you dressed and ready."

XXXXXX

Gabe was still hanging around when Rapunzel opened her eyes. He was shocked and surprised when their eyes locked, but was relieved when he realized he was still dressed as a guardsman. The King and Queen rushed forward to embrace her, but was held back by the physician.

"She'll need a bit more rest; she's gone through quite a lot. I want you all out here until I say she's okay."

"She's got to be ready for the ball tonight," the King said, shaking his head. "I can't postpone it…."

The doctor nodded. "Just a few hours more, Your Majesty. I will send the guardsman here to let you know when she's ready. Until then, you'll all leave until I say everything is alright."

"What about you?" the King asked, frowning.

"I will accompany you, Sire."

The King looked into the guardsman's eyes. "I'm counting on you to take good care of my daughter, guardsman. You will be rewarded handsomely."

The physician turned toward the guardsman. "I'll come in from time to time to see how she is. Just keep her safe."

Gabe just smiled. "You can count on me, Majesties," he told them. "I won't let you down."

XXXXX

"There you two are," Flynn said, hands on his hips. "Where have you been? I've missed you guys? What the heck are you two doing outside the castle when you're supposed to be…"

"Alright, the three of you," the guardsman at the gate said. "You have to move along."

"But…"

"No buts. Everyone needs to clear out. We have to get this section ready for the ball, so get going. The three of you will be back with all the rest of the Princess' suitors."

Flynn Rider looked into the guardsman eyes. He screwed up his face and raised an eyebrow.

"And no smolders, Rider. Get the heck out of here, before I throw you out."

Rider shrugged and herded the twins out.

Michael, the guardsman, just shrugged his shoulders. Everything would turn out fine.