One day had passed. That meant the crew had to make a decision now, unless they wished Ahiru's death. The good news was that it didn't take much convincing to get Drosselmeyer to agree that saving Ahiru took a higher priority over his revenge on Mytho's brother.

Their problems could be sorted out later, but for now they needed to help Ahiru, from losing all control.

Besides Jaden's uproar the other day, the rest of the crew seemed to be very still. Not too many people really talked to one another. Even Jaden was keeping to himself for once, which was rather… odd.

It wasn't until Ahiru wanted to tell Fakir something.
"I think you should talk to your grandfather…" She said in a small voice. She understood how sensitive this subject was to him, but he couldn't see how much Drosselmeyer really wanted clear the air between them.

Fakir only stared at her.
Did he hear that right? She told him to talk to her kidnapper? To the man who abandoned his family before his mother was even born? To the renowned criminal between all three countries?
"You can't be serious." He said flatly, "I can't talk to him."
"Can't or won't?" Ahiru said tapping her foot.
Fakir watched her for a moment.

Nope, she wasn't backing down.
He sighed, "Give me one reason why I should?"
"Because he really cares about you. He wants to mend the broken relationship you two have."
"How do you know that?"
"Because he punched Jaden in the stomach for insulting you. And he seemed really sincere when I asked about your family. Please Fakir, just five minutes with him?"

She gave her most irresistible pleading look that would have anyone in the palm of her hand. (Are we sure her gypsy talent isn't charming people?)

There was nothing Fakir could do but give in. He could never win against that girl. And before he knew it, he was five steps away and about to speak with the man he had no words for.

Once he was close enough, he cleared his throat.
"Um… Drosselmeyer?" Fakir croaked, "Can we… uh… talk…?"
Drosselmeyer's eye's actually began to shine upon hearing those words.
"I would be delighted to speak with you. But you don't have to be so distant Fakir, call me grandpa."

The two went off to speak in private about… well… actually, Fakir wasn't sure what to talk to him about. This man who was his grandfather had a life shrouded in mystery. Where would he even begin if he didn't even know who he was?

Right before Fakir said anything, Drosselmeyer spoke first.
"You don't have to pretend you want to talk to me Fakir. I'm not stupid. I've seen how you don't want anything to do with me."

Fakir looked down at the floor trying to find the right words to say.
"It's hard to want to talk to someone when they were never in your life to begin with. You just suddenly now show up after years of not being here and for what? Because you're a pirate seeking revenge for mother? I think I deserve a little more than that."

Drosselmeyer looked away and placed his hands on his legs. "I owe you a lot of things I can't give to you kid. I'm sorry about that. But I can tell you about why I left and what became of it…"

Drosselmeyer was deemed a gypsy and abandoned by his parents before he was four years old. The dangerous technique of puppeteering he had first used on one of the neighborhood children had caused a huge riot among the Emesstresians and he was sent out on the first ship to Gold Crown.

Once he was taken in by a troupe, he actually had a very happy life. But things took an unwanted turn to moment he met Clara.
She was an ordinary woman, to the rest of the world, but to Drosselmeyer she was what gave the world meaning. And although there relationship only began as friends, they quickly fell for one another.

The tragic thing was, they could never be together without ridicule from the rest of the world, and it became hard for them to survive. Drosselmeyer had to leave the troupe to be with her while Clara had to leave her family behind.

As they planned to start a life together, Drosselmeyer did his best to hide his ability. But the struggle was too great to hold back. However, he still worked to the bone to make sure his secret wife and future child could survive. Even if that meant leaving them behind to give them the life they deserved.

Yes, if he left, his wife could go out in public, live a life with her fellow citizens, while he was out hunting for treasures to send back to her. He agonized with the idea of leaving her behind, but understood what this would mean to her. And that made it all worth it.

After talking it over, with a few tears, she reluctantly agreed to let him go off on his own, while she raised their family alone. He made sure to keep in touch and constantly send letters back and forth to see where life had taken them.

While he began to take up the life of a pirate, she was a single mother back home.

Years went by, and Drosselmeyer got to hear about his daughter and grandson through the letters Clara wrote. However, they were becoming fewer and fewer with time passing. His worry grew and in time, he chose to come back to her.

Sadly he came to her alone on her death bed. Her last word were telling him where his daughter Retzal lived now with her family. She told him how she was worried if people found about who Retzal's father was she would surely be killed.
Sure enough, Drosselmeyer heard the rumors going around of some scandal going on with Emesstress that was quickly spreading towards Gold Crown. And his daughter was next.

Drosselmeyer tried to prepare for the worst without any knowledge as to what the attack was going to be.

It came in a fire.

Retzal's home was burned to ash. Drosselmeyer didn't know where his son-in-law or grandson were, but he found his child right before her final breath.

Overcome with sorrow, Drosselmeyer asked his daughter if he may hold onto her spirit in a spirit jar.
She accepted. She thought then she could be with and protect the father who looked after her from a distance all those years ago.

Fakir was silent after hearing his grandfather's story. It was a lot to realize with how things had turned out.

"Wait, if they were after mother because you were a gypsy, does that mean mother, or even I, have a gypsy ability?"

"Well not quite. Although you do have gypsy blood running through your veins, abilities can sometimes skip one or more generations. Puppeteering usually skips about three."
"I see…"

...

An uncomfortable silence filled the air. What was Fakir supposed to say now?

"You know," Fakir began, "I'm still not quite sure how I feel about all this, but I guess I am grateful that you've told me why you we're never there. And in time, this family might just work out…"

Fakir could not believe what he was saying, but he did mean it. Ahiru was right, he just wanted a mended relationship with the grandson he never got the chance to meet. But where they would go next would be solved when the rest of their problems were settled.

"Fakir, I'd like you to have something."
Drosselmeyer pulled up a chain from under his shirt. Hanging off of it was a strange glowing orb that had twisted metal wrapping around it and holding to the chain. Drosselmeyer pulled the necklace over his head and handed it to his grandson.

Fakir examined the orb carefully. It gave off a warm and familiar sensation that overwhelmed him just by holding it. Fakirfelt a strong sense of nostalgia from its presence.
"This looks like one of those objects you were taking from the Emesstrian wall."
"Yes Fakir, they are the same objects. Those were spirit jars in the wall of Emesstress. And that spirit jar you hold is the spirit jar of your mother. She had been protecting me for so long, but I think it's time she take care of her little boy now."

Fakir was just on the brink of tears. To think the man he had no words for actually got through his wall and left him so weak.

"Thank you… grandfather." He whispered through the tears.

A/N: I give my thanks to:

Mayuralover (for reviewing and making my day)
Wrightless (for following)

fabian1nina1 (for following)
91kaycee (for following)
tng11dance (for following)
And Momochan77 (for following)

And of course, thank you for reading this far with me!