The Miracle
A/N: In this chapter Eugene and Amanda are, in a word, quite surprised…
A/N#2: This story "kind of" follows my other stories, so you might recognize a few of my OCs here that are still awaiting their full development there… I am also providing this spoiler alert. That said; I hope not to spoil things too much.
A/N#3: This is my own tear transference story. I hope you enjoy it. And, oh yes, I do not own Tangled or its primary characters, though I do own mine and the idea…
Chapter Nine: The Miracle Revealed, Part 2
Eugene and Amanda slowly and gingerly walked into the room; accompanied by the others and wary about whom or what they were to see. As their eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, they soon made out their visitors.
"GAH!" The pair screamed out as they both fainted; Amanda into a shaky Rupert's strong arms and Eugene into William and Catherine's.
"Do they always do that?" Cassiopeia asked, quite surprised by the reaction of what she thought was the brave and sure Eugene; and the prim and graceful Amanda.
"Eugene? Yes, pretty much all the time. He is both quite brave and quite the expert at freaking out. Amanda? I cannot really say for sure … although I can say that I have not been a party of any such occurrence. I do believe that she, no both of them, can be forgiven for this momentary lapse in bearing."
"Well, he is quite dramatic, is he not?" Annabella asked her wonderful husband of twenty years.
"It would seem that way, my dearest." Andrew replied, as he helped Eugene's father to carry the unconscious Eugene.
"I guess we should carry him over to that couch; yes?" Keith asked as he and Andrew took the limp Eugene from William and Catherine.
"That would be good, Keith. And let me also say, welcome home." Andrew replied, a single tear unavoidably streaming down his cheek.
"Thank you, Andrew. It is an amazing turn of events, yes?"
"That it is."
"I guess I should start with formal introductions, yes?" William asked the gathering.
"That might be good, William. Although, I am quite sure I know who is currently gracing my presence." Catherine replied.
"I am…" Annabella began.
"…the brave and sure Lady Annabella. I am most happy to make your acquaintance. William has told me so much about you." Catherine replied, as she took in the sight of the stunningly beautiful auburn haired and forest green eyed former warrior.
"I am most pleased to meet you, Catherine." Annabella said.
"And, you must be the amazing Lord Andrew. I am so honored to meet he who did so much to help William so many years ago."
"That I am. I too am honored to meet the graceful queen of Corona." Andrew replied as he gracefully bowed and reached out to kiss her hand.
"Of course, I cannot begin to say welcome to you; Katelyn and Kevin, Kimberly and Keith. I am so honored to finally meet you under these amazing circumstances. I am still, however, completely confused at how you are; well, here. How did it happen?" Catherine said, as she gently hugged the four parents of the amazing Amanda and humble Eugene.
"Thank you for the very warm welcome, Catherine. We too are quite amazed to be standing here. I am sure that Cassiopeia will tell all once Eugene and Amanda wake up. Well, how about that, sleeping beauty awakes." Kimberly said.
"Where am I?" Eugene asked as he sat up, his hazel eyes darting around the room as he tried to figure out where he was.
"Oh, very good, Eugene; you are awake. We have so much to talk about and so little time." Cassiopeia said, as she walked over to him from where she had been standing by the door.
"Mistress Cassiopeia? How do I know of you; and you of me? What happened?" He asked rapid fire, not initially recognizing the two couples standing in the shadows by the door leading to the library.
"Well, let's see. I cannot tell all here or now, but will give you the short version. First, you were given the gift of life and death by the tear cried on you by Rapunzel five weeks ago. Second, you were warned in your dreams of an impending disaster that you quite bravely, ably and single handedly defeated; leaving you the hero of not only Corona, but all of Io; a fame that troubles you. Third, you are now the proud adoptive father of a wonderful little girl named Becky. Finally, in the wake of these events, you apparently called out to and resurrected both yours and Amanda's parents; who happen to be standing right over there." Cassiopeia stated in one quick breath as she gestured to the two couples standing near the window.
Eugene, fighting and winning the battle to maintain his calm composure, slowly stood and walked over to the couple consisting of a brown haired and hazel eyed woman and a man who shared his perfect nose. As he neared them, he shyly reached out to caress the cheek of the mother he had not seen in over twenty years. Amazed at the firmness, yet the softness of her skin, he gently sighed in amazed wonder. He then reached out and gently touched the cheek of his father as well, running his hand over the beard gracing his weathered face. Satisfied that he was not seeing things, he reached out to hug them both.
"How are you here? Oh, how I missed you!" Eugene sobbed. His tears of joy quickly soaked the shirt of his father and the blouse of his mother as they too cried. Catherine and William both teared up as well at the sight.
"If only Rapunzel was here to see this." The tearful Catherine sighed to the room at large.
"I see Amanda is waking up as well." The tearful Rupert replied as he helped his wife to a sitting position.
"Rupe, what happened? Why are you crying?" Amanda asked, she too not noticing the one couple standing by the door to the library or the other, tearful couple currently hugging a similarly tearful Eugene.
"Well, Mandy, as Mistress Cassiopeia so eloquently stated, Eugene was first given the gift of life and death by the tear cried on him by Rapunzel; as you so adroitly figured out a couple days ago. Second, he was informed of the impending disaster that he quite ably and single handedly defeated; leaving him the hero of not only Corona, but all of Io; a fame that troubles him. Third, he adopted a wonderful little girl named Becky. Finally, in the wake of these events, it just so happens that he somehow called out to and resurrected both his and your parents. He is being embraced by his over by that window and yours happen to standing right over there." The quite tearfully happy Rupert replied; in a single breath, it too must be said.
Amanda, shocked by Rupert's words and knowing that they were quite truthful, also rose from the chair where she had been seated after her fainting spell, ever so slowly, and looked over to where her mother and father were standing. Taking the brightly smiling Rupert's proffered arm and unavoidably smiling as well, she slowly walked over to where Katelyn and Kevin were standing. She walked tentatively up to the raven haired woman with startling blue eyes, and the brown haired man, also blue eyed.
"Thank you for being there for our daughter." They mouthed to Rupert; their appreciation for Rupert's great care of their daughter unmistakable.
"She is simply everything to me. I love her with my entire being." Rupert mouthed in reply.
"Mama, is it really you; Daddy, can it be true?" Amanda asked, oblivious to the conversation her parents were having with their son-in-law, as she too reached out to softly caress the cheek of the mother she had not seen in over fifteen years. Satisfied that the woman standing before her was real, she soon turned her attention to the man. Slowly and ever cautiously she reached out to touch the bearded face of the father she had also not seen in over fifteen years. Satisfied, yet again, of the reality of the entire affair, she let out a loud squeal and tightly hugged her once lost, now found parents.
"Oh, how we missed you Mandy!" The pair exclaimed as they hugged their daughter, tears galore spilling everywhere.
"This is totally amazing!" Rupert exclaimed as even more tears streamed down his face; the happiness of the situation all the more amazing by the unexpected arrival of his own parents; they having returned from the Royal Kingdom of Orion a day earlier than planned.
"That it is Rupert. I missed them so much…" The tearful Annabella happily replied; her further reply cut short by an unexpected opening of the parlor doors and the entry of yet another couple.
"What are you doing home so soon? I thought your vacation had another two days to go!" Rupert asked, pleasantly surprised by their arrival and the wonderful news he couldn't wait to tell them.
"We decided to return earlier and cannot believe what is happening!" His parents both replied, the amazement evident in their voices.
"What do you mean?" Rupert asked.
"You mean you do not know?" His parents asked, quite dumbfounded.
"No. What has happened?"
"Just the most amazing of events; all over Io, it seems! You have to see it to believe it!"
"Try me…"
A/N #4: Please review…