"Edmund?" Flynn asked warily, breaking out of the hug himself. "What are you doing here?"
"FLYNN!" his mother exclaimed. "Watch your tone. This is your father."
"Father? Really? And where were you when we got separated from Mom? It's not like you've been a father to us." Flynn wasn't going to just accept the situation without trying to get answers. "Eugene and I had to raise ourselves. In fact, I've been more of a father to Eugene than you were to either of us."
Sofia was outraged. "Flynn Fitzherbert! You apologize right now. I taught you better than that."
Flynn and Eugene glanced at each other.
Our dad? Seriously? Eugene was the first one to speak.
What are the odds that we would meet him years ago, while still at the orphanage, and he almost takes us out of there? I mean, did he have any idea who we were? Flynn was suspicious as usual.
Don't you think we should give them the benefit of the doubt? I know Mom would never have left us if she had had a choice. Why can't we give Edmund - er, Dad the same courtesy? Eugene was ever the peacemaker.
Sofia cleared her throat, interrupting their conversation. "Edmund, let me officially introduce you to our sons. Flynn and Eugene. Flynn is the eldest by about 10 minutes. Eugene, Flynn, this is your father, Edmund Fitzherbert, Duke of Cambria." Sofia made the introductions as they moved away from the balcony doors and allowed them to close, leaving the two families alone.
"My sons," Edmund said softly. "How I wish I had been able to raise you. I missed so much. Can you ever forgive me for not getting you out of that orphanage?"
"I'm sure you would have gotten us out the minute you found us if you had had an idea that you were our dad," Eugene replied. "You always did everything you could."
"You're right, but I let my work come between us before. Had I known, I would never have left you."
"But what about Mom?" Flynn asked. "Why did you leave her? If you hadn't left, you would have known about us from the beginning."
"That is between your mother and me. We have come to terms with it, just know that if I had had any idea what you all would have gone through, I NEVER would have left any of you."
"To be fair to your father, Flynn. I am the one that left him. I did not feel that I was a good fit to be a duchess, and there were some in your father's family that did not approve of me. Rather than talk and work it out with your father, I chose to leave. My choice, Flynn, not his. I ran away in the middle of the night, without leaving any clue where I was going. I ended up at the cabin I had visited as a girl. Do NOT blame your father for my choices and mistakes." Sofia's voice cracked at the end, the emotion too much to hold in.
"What? You weren't good enough, Mom? That's crazy. You're the best. Who would be cruel enough to say that?" Even though Eugene hadn't seen his mother in almost 20 years, he was very quick to come to her defense.
"Eugene," his mother admonished him. "You don't know what happened, so don't go judging them. I refuse to tell you who it was, I have moved past that. I don't want to revisit it with you now." Flynn looked at his father, then at his mother before speaking again.
"I guess I can understand that. I guess we know where we get the runaway gene from then huh?" Flynn attempted a bit of humor to get the focus off of himself.
It was now that Arabelle interrupted. "Duke, Duchess, why don't you come over and meet my sister? Rapunzel is amazing."
"She's right. Rapunzel is amazing." Eugene was quick to agree. Sofia and Edmund looked at each other knowingly.
"I'm sure she is, Eugene. Arabelle, you're right. We should get to know your sister." Sofia responded.
Arabelle turned back to Rapunzel, beckoning her to come over. Reluctantly leaving her parents, she walked across the balcony where Arabelle was standing with Flynn and Eugene. Not to be outdone, the king and queen also walked over. Excitedly, Arabelle pulled Rapunzel up to introduce her.
"Rapunzel, this is Edmund and Sofia, the Duke and Duchess of Cambria. You already know their sons, Flynn and Eugene."
Rapunzel glanced quickly at Eugene, looking for a bit of courage before looking at Edmund and Sofia.
"It's nice to meet you both," Rapunzel said quietly. "Your sons are amazing. I wouldn't be here without them."
Before anyone could respond, the balcony doors slammed open again, revealing a young girl looking extremely annoyed at being left out.