The Miracle
A/N: In this chapter; a final miracle reveals itself (I am still working out the timeline so the ages might not work when linked to the prequel)…
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 Thirteen: The Miracle Revealed, Part 4
The happy group, the introductions finally at an end, reseated themselves, playing a round of musical chairs of sorts as they once again arranged themselves; this time by family. The king, William, still sat in his appointed place at the head of the table with Catherine to his right and Cassiopeia to his left. Rapunzel and Eugene, with little Becky between them, sat beside Catherine. Andrew and Annabella sat beside Cassiopeia. Kimberly and Keith took their place beside their son Eugene. Katelyn and Kevin took their place beside Andrew. Amanda and Rupert sat between their two sets of parents with Annalisa and Rupert senior sitting to their left. Stephanie and Chelsea sat across from each other at the end of the table. Two unnoticed and vacant places remained at the very end of the table.
"Now, I think I can safely say that we are all here. Yes?" King William asked, sure that the intimate group was complete.
"I think…" Catherine began.
"No. There are two that we are missing." Eugene interrupted, his eyes closed as if in deep reflective thought. Catherine noted that Eugene had a similar look to the one he had at orphanage when he healed Becky and ended the threat.
"Two?" Everyone asked.
"Yes. They have just reached the front parlor doors and are being escorted, as we speak, to our presence."
"Yes. I can sense them as well." Rapunzel replied, her eyes also closed, but with a soft smile directed to Katelyn and Andrew.
Katelyn and Andrew were completely perplexed by the look gracing both Rapunzel's and Eugene's faces as the two shyly smiled at them. Cassiopeia, Kimberly, Keith, Kevin, Annalisa, and Rupert senior, were as much in the dark and looked longingly to the princess and future prince consort. None of them was able to detect who the visitors could possibly be. Amanda and Rupert junior, on the other hand, also somehow easily sensed who was coming and found it very hard to remain stoic as they awaited the surprise to come.
"They come at my request. All will soon be revealed…" Eugene responded as he opened his eyes and looked towards the door.
"Come at your request?" The others around the table asked; Amanda and Rupert being conspicuous in their silence as the others looked around.
Simultaneously as Eugene finished speaking and as both he and Rapunzel faced it, a firm and confident knock was heard at the door.
"Please come in." William replied; perplexed by who these additional visitors could be.
The double doors slowly opened and two Royal Palace Guardsmen announced; "Your highnesses, presenting Mr. and Mrs. Andrew MacLemore, of Avandell."
"It is our sincerest pleasure to be gracing your presence." Andrew senior replied as he gracefully bowed to the Coronian king.
"Welcome into my modest home…" William replied as he stood to greet the visitors.
The two siblings, Andrew, whose last name happened to be MacLemore, and Katelyn, both jerked their heads towards the door and slowly stood; their eyes wide, as the elegantly dressed older couple entered further into the dining room. The man, about 68 years old with gray streaked blond hair, was accompanied by raven haired woman of about 64 years old. Her lightly graying hair contrasted with her startling blue eyes; eyes that glowed with an eerily familiar internal fire. Andrew, as he slowly walked towards the couple with Katelyn trailing closely behind, was the first to speak, although his words were almost choked to incoherence by the intense emotion welling up within him. As the others watched with complete disbelief, the similarities between the two men became apparent the closer they approached to the other.
"Dad?" The 45 year old Andrew choked out; looking first to the father he had not seen in over 39 years and then to Eugene before looking into the blue eyes of his mother.
"Son?" The senior Andrew asked; unwilling to believe his eyes.
"Andy? Is it really you?" The woman, whose name happened to be Annamarie, asked.
Andrew could not find his voice so he nodded his head in the affirmative.
"Mom?" Katelyn stutteringly asked the woman who shared the intense fiery blue eyes.
The woman slowly nodded her head in reply, her voice suddenly leaving her as well.
"How is this possible?" Katelyn sobbed as the two women and two men suddenly embraced each other; the unlikely miracle bringing tears to everyone's eyes.
"Eugene…?" The tearful William began, instinctively knowing that Eugene had all the answers.
"It is a story for later, William. This is really not the best place for this discussion. We can add it to our topic list, yes? In the meantime, why do we not go ahead and seat our guests and enjoy our much delayed lunch." Eugene kindly added.
"What a splendid idea, my love." Rapunzel replied, as she too teared up at the sight of the unlikely final miracle and rose to help the late comers to their seats.
"I do not understand…" Stephanie and Chelsea mumbled to the other.
"In good time, my dears." Rapunzel replied to her new friends.
The lunch progressed quickly with only the barest of small talk as the adults knew it would be better to wait until later to learn the entire amazing story. Most of the conversation centered on little Becky and her upcoming christening and introduction to the citizens of Corona.
"Becky?" Rapunzel asked; giggling at the sight of Pascal, who had scampered down Rapunzel's arm and onto the table, helping himself to some of the fresh fruit placed before her.
"Yes, mommy?" She replied as she too giggled at the comical Pascal as he continually changed colors to match the food and contentedly gazed into the deep emerald sea of her new mother's eyes.
"We will complete the adoption papers tomorrow and have the lantern ceremony the following evening, and I was wondering if you had thought of a name fit for a princess." Rapunzel asked, smiling brightly at her.
"A name fit for a princess? What do you…?" She asked, not understanding where Rapunzel was leading her.
"Oh, of course! You, as the daughter of the crown princess, will become a princess as well." Catherine replied with a grin.
"I will?" Becky asked; the surprise very prominently displayed on her young features.
"You are already a princess in my eyes, Becky. Everyone will absolutely love you as much as we do and will eventually look to you to lead our wonderful kingdom." Eugene confirmed with an even larger smile on his face.
"But…" Becky began as she looked around the table and saw smile after smile on all the faces of the adults.
"What do you think of Rebecca Catherine Rapunzel Fitzherbert, Becky?" Amanda asked; a huge smile gracing her features.
"What a perfect name!" Rupert junior agreed.
"Um…" Becky replied as she thought about it.
"You do not have to decide right now, Becky. We want you to have the chance to pick the perfect name for such a perfect little girl." William added with a smile.
"Ok, grandpa." A blushing Becky replied as Eugene and Rapunzel smiled at their daughter.
The meal quietly ended and the gathering followed Amanda and Rupert to the same outcropping of rock along the shore that had seen and would probably continue to see much Coronian history made. William, bringing up the rear with Catherine, ensured that no one had followed them. The group soon seated themselves as comfortably as they could among the many rock outcroppings and awaited Mistress Cassiopeia to speak. What she was to say would leave everyone more shocked than ever.
"I first want to welcome our unlikely guests into our presence. I cannot begin to express my extreme delight that this unlikely reunion has finally occurred."
"We too are quite delighted to be here, Mistress." Kimberly and Keith replied.
"As are we." Katelyn and Kevin responded.
"I am sure that Andrew senior and Annamarie are also quite delighted. Yes?" Catherine stated.
"Definitely; your highness," Andrew senior confirmed.
"Now, I guess we can learn the rest of the story…?" William asked.
"Yes, my good king. This story begins with not just one, but three drops of sunlight…"
A/N #4: What happens next?
A/N #5: Please review…