Surprise Return

A couple of days later, Fauna stood grazing in the main courtyard of Mirana's palace. She was waiting for the others to wake up, which could be anytime between now and noon, so she decided to get herself some "normal" breakfast.

Valiant Heart was the first one to get up, having taken less serious injuries in his battle he had been up and refreshed more easily and he went to grab some of the food that was available. He spotted Fauna out in the courtyard as he passed through a walkway and called to her.

"Morning Fauna! How's the grass?"

She lifted her head, finishing her mouthful, "Surprisingly sweet actually. Plenty to go around if you want some."

"Thanks for the offer, but you know I've never been much of a vegetable guy, guess it's just cause I'm a wolverine," Valiant Heart chuckled, "the others should be up soon." He turned and continued on the way to get his breakfast.

Swift Heart was in her room pulling on the shirts and jeans Mirana had the Hatter create for her so she wouldn't be stuck wearing her White Rabbit uniform. Checking herself in her mirror she exited her room and knocked on the door next to hers. "Grumpy, you awake?" There was no answer. Easing open the door she slipped inside. Grumpy was sound asleep still with the pillow over his head. Tip toeing over to his bedside she slid the pillow off and proceeded to blow in his ear. Dashing away to avoid being hit by his flailing arm, she threw open the curtains. "Wake up Grumpy!"

Grumbling he opened one bleary eye, "It's barely morning yet. 2 more hours." He pulled the covers over his head.

Rolling her eyes she walked from the bedroom, "Fine. Find me when you're up."

Loyal Heart was up and had heard the commotion in the next room, but he was unconcerned. He lay in his bed but he had not slept since the previous night. He had slept the day after the battle from sheer exhaustion but now that he was healed and not so tired he had been unable to sleep. Sighing he got up and stumbled to the door, pausing for a moment as he heard Swift Heart pass by.

In the kitchen, Valiant Heart was grabbing some breakfast when Swift Heart came in.

"Morning, Swift Heart," he said, "Grumpy still asleep?"

She sat at the table, "Yup. He still refuses to get up, despite my best attempt at annoying him awake."

"I'm surprised he was able to get any sleep last night," Valiant Heart groaned remembering the previous night.

"Are you kidding me? That bear could sleep through a fireworks display going off next to his head." She picked up a purple polka dotted fruit from the fruit bowl and bit into it. "I'll send Fauna in in an hour if he's still not awake. She has a certain talent when it comes to getting him awake."

"Yeah well, your room isn't next to Loyal Heart's," Valiant said, "all night that dog was up talking to himself, I had to pound the wall to get him to shut up. He's sure been antsy the last couple days."

"I bet he's anxious to get home to his bonnie lass and wee whelp." She winced, "I have got to stop talking to that Hatter."

"I would say you do," Snowy Heart said as he entered the room, "but I think the reason is that Proud Heart due date was fast approaching the day we left and Loyal Heart promised he'd be back in time to be at her side when their son was born."

Valiant rolled his eyed, "And 'chivalrous' little Loyal Heart does not want to ask us to leave unless we want to go ourselves."

"I'm ready to go home." Human Fauna walked in. "I never got a chance to tell anyone at the Falls that I was coming on this rescue mission so I'm sure they're getting a bit antsy themselves."

"I am ready as well," Snowy added, "the rest of the Care Bear Family must be worried about us and I'm sure they're like to know that we were successful."

"Good, then why don't you wake up Grumpy and drag the dog down here, I don't think he slept at all last night," Valiant Heart said, addressing Fauna.

She got a wicked little smirk on her face. "Oh it would be my pleasure." She skipped from the room humming a little tune to herself.

"I wonder what she's got in mind," Snowy asked.

"Don't ask, I don't think we'd want to know," Valiant added, smiling at what he thought Fauna might do.

It was at that moment a loud elephant trumpet was heard, followed by a thud and an equally loud, "FAUNA!"

She came running into the room laughing, "Grumpy's awake and I passed Loyal Heart and told him to come down." Valiant Heart and Swift Heart were in fits of laughter while Snowy, who had covered his ears, just sighed but managed a chuckle.

Loyal Heart entered the room, covering his ears, "After all those sonic attacks from Shatter Heart, you'd think that wouldn't bother me." The dog's eyes showed clearly that he had not slept at all last night.

Fauna grinned at him, "At least Shatter Heart didn't jump on your bed so hard you bounced off while sonic attacking you."

Swift Heart wiped her eyes as her chuckles subsided. "Hey Loyal Heart, heard you couldn't sleep last night."

"No I could not," Loyal Heart, he was about to continue but Valiant interrupted him.

"Cause you're worried about 'your lady' right? Well good news, we're going home today, just as soon as we figure out how."

"Well, unless we go back the way we came we should probably ask Mirana," Snowy Heart suggested.

"Oh we don't have to bother her. I know how we can get home." Swift Heart turned to the door with a smile as Grumpy stumbled through, "Good morning sunshine!"

He scowled at her, "Don't good morning sunshine me. I know you had something to do with that." He pointed to Fauna who smiled angelically at him.

Valiant snickered but asked, "So tell us, Swift Heart, how do we get home?"

"We take the door at the other end of the Labyrinth. It opens up in the topside world, in the rabbit hole."

"I hope you know how to navigate the Labyrinth," Loyal Heart said, voicing his concern, "I do not want to get lost in there," the dog yawned as he finished speaking.

She held her hand over her heart as if he'd insulted her, "This is the ex-White Rabbit you are talking to here."

Grumpy sat in the chair next to her and placed his arm over her shoulder, pulling her against him. "How is it you kept that knowledge now that you're normal again, but when you turned into the White Rabbit, you lost all your memories?"

She shrugged, "I dunno. I guess it's just one of those things."

"Perhaps she will forget the things about Wonderland once we return home," Snowy Heart said, "but nevertheless we should probably leave as soon as possible."

"Yeah cause if we don't Loyal Heart's going to fall asleep standing, or have a nervous breakdown," Valiant chuckled. Loyal Heart was about to protest, but yawned again.

"What about breakfast?" Grumpy protested.

Swift Heart shoved a fruit in his mouth. "That's what you get for sleeping in."

"Hey lovers, I know you two are close but the three of us have girls waiting for us at home," Valiant stood up, "and I'm sure Fauna wants to see Blue just as much. Let's get moving, lead on Swift Heart."

Leading them out of the castle they walked through the main gates and back onto the main road of Wonderland. It took them through a garden full of flowers that were larger then they were and had faces. These flowers carried on conversations with one another as the travelers walked by.

"Hey Fauna, hope nothing you ate was talking," Valiant Heart said, noticing the flowers.

"Ha...Ha...Ha...very funny Valiant Heart." She eyed a snap dragon suspiciously as it sniffed her. When its tongue flicked out at her she regained her Pegasus form and snapped at it. It withdrew quickly.

Once they arrived at the labyrinth, Snowy gulped, he was clearly nervous, "Well, here we are, show us the way," he said to Swift Heart.

She gripped Grumpy's paw, "Follow me closely and trust nothing you see. The Labyrinth is meant to confuse you to keep you in Wonderland." Walking into the Labyrinth she took them down the corridor on the right. At the first fork in the path, she took another right. Fauna looked down the path on the left and saw it opened onto a portal that showed a wide open field full of wild flowers. She forced herself to look away and continued to follow Swift Heart. Valiant Heart was busy helping keep Loyal Heart standing. Snowy was sticking really close to Swift Heart. Having his extra natural senses dulled made him feel scared, but he focused on keeping himself going.

After many more twists and turns. They arrived at a door embedded in the grass wall. The doorknob was of a golden lion head and there were carvings of rabbits all over the door. "Here we are gang, the door to the rabbit hole." Loyal Heart suddenly dashed forwards and gripped the knob, turning it and pulling the door open before dashing through.

"Don't want to be left behind," Valiant Heart said following after Loyal Heart.

"I say that was a rude way to get past me what what." The door knob spoke.

Swift Heart smiled down at him, "Sorry. He was in a hurry." She ushered Grumpy, Fauna, and Snowy through the door before going through herself.

As soon as Loyal Heart was outside, he tried to conjure a cloud car, but Snowy Heart, no longer scared, stopped him. "Perhaps it would be better if one of us drove," he said.

Consenting, he allowed Grumpy to conjure a cloud mobile. With Loyal Heart in the front, and Swift Heart sandwiched between Valiant and Snowy in the back seat they took off for the Kingdom of Caring. Fauna flew next to the car. She was going to make sure everyone got back safely before returning to her home.

The car landed in the Kingdom of Caring, which looked about normal, albeit a bit deserted. Loyal Heart was the first out and noticed Treat Heart jogging so he managed to grab her, "Where's Proud Heart," he asked, "is she alright?"

"Oh, hey Loyal Heart, she's in labor I was..." but once he heard "in labor" Loyal Heart had taken off towards Take Care's clinic, leaving a dazed Treat Heart behind him.

"Well, welcome home everyone," Treat Heart said smiling, "Looks like you all had an exciting time."

"And it's not stopping anytime soon." Swift Heart hopped out of the back. "Let's go boys! We have a new member of the family to greet." She stood next to Treat Heart.

"Yeah let's get going," Valiant Heart said as he took off after Loyal Heart.

Snowy looked up at Fauna, "Are you coming or are you returning home now?" he asked.

She hesitated. As much as she wanted to see Blue, this was more important. Especially since she hadn't been near Proud Heart since she found out she was pregnant. "I'm coming." She trotted next to Snowy and together they headed for Take Care's clinic.

By the time they all arrived at Take Care's clinic, Loyal Heart had already gone into the delivery room. The returning family members were greeting joyously by the rest of the family, none of whom had been able to see Loyal Heart for more than a fleeting moment. Snowy Heart and Valiant Heart were greeted with hugs and kisses from Share Bear and Love-a-Lot respectively and everyone was relieved to see Swift Heart alive and well.

Defiant Heart noticed Grumpy holding hands with Swift Heart and smiled, "So you two finally hooked up huh? Guess I should lay off the flirting then."

"Awww but where's the fun in that. It took me getting kidnapped for him to tell me how he felt. I think a little competition would be good for him."

Grumpy pulled her against him and scowled at Defiant, "I beg to differ."

"We'll see, but I'll back off for now besides, I'm sure there's someone out there for me," Defiant Heart actually looked sad for a moment.

"Don't worry," Love-a-Lot said, leaning against Valiant Heart, "You'll find someone if you really want to."

"And if not Love-A-Lot will be more then willing to lend a hand." Fauna joked. Love-a-Lot was about to reply when a loud cry of pain from the delivery room drowned out everything else, followed by silence and soft crying.

Take Care emerged smiling, "It's a boy, and a dog," he said, smiling, "If you want you can go see the family but only a few at a time."

Valiant pushed Grumpy and Swift Heart forwards, "you two go," he said, "we can wait."

Being as quiet as they could the couple entered the room. Proud Heart was reclining in the bed with Loyal Heart next to her. In her arms was a small form. "Hey Proud Heart." Swift Heart spoke softly as she came to stand next to the bed.

Exhausted and happy, Proud Heart's usual haughty attitude was absent and she smiled, "Welcome home Swift Heart, meet Trust Heart Dog, the newest member of our family," she held the bundle forwards, revealing a blue dog with an orange heart shaped patch over his right eye.

Swift Heart ran her finger down his little cheek. "He's so tiny. Can I hold him?"

"Of course, just be careful," Proud Heart said, carefully passing her son to Swift Heart.

She supported his head in the crook of her arm and put her other paw on his bottom. Grumpy leaned over her shoulder to look at Trust Heart. "He looks kinda squishy."

Fauna poked her head into the room, "Got room for one more?"

"Of course," Loyal Heart said, smiling weakly and trying to stay awake.

Fauna walked over to Proud Heart first and gave her a hug, "Sorry I was so weird around you. I'm really happy for you guys."

"I understand," Proud Heart said, hugging her back as best she could, "it was just another consequence of our actions that night but," she smiled over at baby Trust Heart in Swift Heart's arms, "I don't regret any of it." Proud Heart lay back and yawned. Exhausted from having given birth she closed her eyes and fell asleep. A moment later Loyal Heart lay across his wife and fell asleep, worn out from not having slept the last night. Swift Heart noticed this and lay the newborn Trust Heart Dog into the cradle set aside for him and she, Grumpy, and Fauna all quietly exited, letting the young family get some much needed rest.

Much had happened in the Care Bear Family this week but now everything was right. Swift Heart had been returned to where she belonged and she and Grumpy were now together, and the first baby had been born to a couple in the Kingdom of Caring. Things were looking bright, very bright indeed.