Ch 2
Lillian was still up. She was thinking about what her son in law had said. She felt sorry for him and his family. It was early morning and Fiona was still asleep but Shrek had snuck out of the castle and went back to where the swamp was.
He sighed as he used his strength to put it back in it's normal position. But it was still destroyed. The window panes were broken, the pots and vases which contained the things he kept for making food were smashed and eyeballs and food were littering the floor. Books had fallen onto the floor because the shelves had broken. "This place… can't be fixed. I hate to say it but it's beyond hope. I can grab some things and head back to the castle before anyone notices I'm gone." He thought as he grabbed the triplet's favourite bottles, teething rings and toys as well as his book and a framed photo of them as a family. He sighed as he was about to close the door but grabbed his alligator easy chair.
"No way am I leaving this place forever without you." He thought as he got back to the castle before Fiona and the others woke up. Fiona saw him asleep with his head on the dining room table. "Dada!" the triplets said touching their father's head. "Poor Daddy. He must've tried to fix the house but it didn't work out. That's why our stuff's here." Fiona told them. She then went into the kitchen to cook breakfast. The triplets were babbling to their father. He woke up to them. "Hey my sweeties. Daddy's in a sad mood. He tried to fix the house but it's a lost cause. Not even Ogre Claus could help." Shrek told them as he held them in his arms. Artie then came down the stairs in his pyjamas.
Shrek noticed he was looking weird, like he was freaked out. "Are you okay? You look spooked." he said to Artie. "It's just this guy in a Santa suit visited me last night only it was an ogre. He said that he'd heard about the blizzard and that you guys had nowhere to go." Artie explained gently. Shrek smiled at him. "So Ogre Claus visited ya? Maybe... he wants to help. He probably would seeing as that's part of his job." he replied to the teen. "What're you talking about?" Artie asked. "It's okay Artie. Ogre Claus is like Santa but he comes to ogre houses that have too much cheer and smell like unicorn poop. He uses magic to transform the houses into something that suits us at this time of year. He also gives presents and good Christmas gooses to the women and sickly swamp juice to the babies. I don't know why he'd wanna see you." he explained calmly. "I might have an idea why. I wanted to help you guys because that storm made you homeless." Artie told him.
Fiona then came out carrying plates of eggs and waffles in mud. Shrek smiled at her. The triplets giggled as they were put in high chairs so they could eat breakfast. Artie wondered where Lillian was as he sat own to eat. Fiona noticed that the alligator easy chair was here too. "Did you drag that all the way here?" she asked Shrek. "Aye. It's a family heirloom. I couldn't leave it without a tush to call it home. The food's great by the way." he answered her as he drank coffee. Lillian watched as her family ate together, enjoying each other's company. She was feeling depressed because it was times like this that she missed Harold. She then went to the pond in the garden where his froggy body rested. "Hey honey. I know I haven't talked to you in a while but a lot has happened. Your son in law and his family are homeless because a storm destroyed their house and they've nowhere to go. I've been tutoring Artie on being a good King. I know he'll make you proud. I wish you were still with us and to see your grand children grow up." she said as tears welled up in her eyes but she wouldn't let them fall. She needed to stay strong for the family right now or chaos would break loose.
Fiona saw her Mom there and felt sorry for her. She missed her father too and was still secretly grieving but was too busy taking care of her family. "I'm sorry Mom. I know how much you miss him. If only we could turn back time. That way we could find a cure and save him. I know it must hurt seeing us all together and still not think of him." she thought as she turned her attention back to her family. Lillian then entered the living room somberly. "Are you okay Mom?" Fiona asked her softly. "I'm fine dear." she replied as she walked out of the room. "Lillian." she heard somebody say as she went into the throne room. She assumed a karate stance. "Who's there?" she asked angrily but her anger faded when the stranger revealed himself. It was Harold as a ghost. "Harold? How did you... come back?" she asked softly. "I wanted to come back but I couldn't pass the test which could let me come back. I miss you more than you ever know." he answered her. Tears escaped her eyes at that as he faded.
"Please don't go!" she said but it was too late. Harold was already gone. She sank to her knees in agony. She was unaware that Fiona had seen this... "I'm sorry he went again. I know how much you loved him. I would be the same if something happened to Shrek that way." she thought as she went back to the dining room...