* Joseph King of Dreams AU. Inspired by an idea of mine. What if Rachel survived the childbirth of Benjamin, and got to reunite with her long-lost son?

-December 10 or Sif, (Rh Wr)-

Somewhere in Ancient Egypt, in the city of Thebes, in the reign of Pharoah Ahmose I, and under the guidance of Joseph (Zaphnath-Paaneah), it's rather a warm day, though not terribly hot.

There are several queues of people across the horizon across the sandy ground, to line up at several canopied tents which contained thousands of bags that has grain.

In one such queue, a late middle-aged woman in a well-worn shroud of blue and little-prized bronze decorations is in awe and shock to see so many kinds of people of color, shape, size, with many of them animatedly talking in their native languages here and there.

She couldn't believe how many people gather like this, surviving together though many hard years of famine, to ask for help from the capital of the world around here, having come here over several days much like her and her beloved family of stepsons, but sons nonetheless...She only wishes that her husband and youngest son would come, but Jacob was still greatly grieving after such a long time, not that she would blame him, especially with being quite overprotective of Benjamin since the near-dangerous yet miraculous birth.

Her heart still pains greatly at the memories of her most beloved son, Joseph who was taken away too soon...She wonders if he was still here, would he marvel at the sheer size of those people, the great work of the Grand Vizier and the Pharoah to save such a great amount of grain and such over the years of abundance for the incoming famine, and save all those people from such starvation?

She feels a hand on her shoulder, and she sees Reuben looking at her, "Are you alright, Mother Rachel?", and Rachel smiles warmly, "I am well, dear Reuben. I'm just in awe, that's all, and perhaps I was lost in thought, but would you blame your mother for wondering?".

Reuben shakes his head, "No, course not. And yes, it is very awe-inspiring to see how many kinds of people has come for salvation from the famine.".

Rachel nods, "Indeed, it's very awe-inspiring. I only wish that your father and Benjamin was here to witness it all...through I must admit it's not quite the same without my beloved elder son...", with a soft sigh.

Reuben looked pained, "I'm sure he's relieved that we are striving through hardships...", and Rachel smiles gently, "Yes, you're right.", before hearing a cry of surprise and fear, and they look over to see Judah picking up a doll, and warmly giving it to a little girl.

"Looks like it's our turn, Mother Rachel.", Reuben replies softly as Judah responded to the noble man behind the desk, "We are, milord.", and they moved on, and then Rachel notices a beautiful Egyptian woman, in great finery...

That must be the Grand Vizier's wife or a friend of the noble man, as Rachel sees her, and she becomes a bit confused when the woman became concerned, looking over and walking to the back, and she only can hear soft words from the woman, and a man.

Rachel was curious, but was polite not to overhear, as the group became a bit animated, hearing Simeon claim that they can pay for the grain with silver. Rachel had asked for an explanation when she found it in the bags of rations and such, and Judah explained that it was a trade for one of the sheep, one of the young males, and she accepted that, though she was a bit concerned when she saw the guilt in many eyes of her sons, but she assumed that they did it for their father, without him knowing.

Rachel couldn't blame them as it was very tight to buy any remains of food and all through the famine. She hears Judah reply, "There's 10 of us, along with our mother here, while our father and youngest brother is waiting at home.".

The noble man started to accept, "I see, that's very understandable, and I will give you-", before another man's voice pierces the air, "Nothing! 10 foreigners, and nothing but a measly bag of silver to pay for grain. For all what I know, you're lying about your mother as coming a long way, without a horse or such to show that you're wealthy.".

Judah replied, "Milord, please, we're telling the truth.", kneeling down, and the group followed his example, with Rachel looking up at the man, in such grand finery, showing that he's the Grand Vizier.

Yet there's something very familiar about those eyes...Her eyes...The only other pair of eyes she knew is Benjamin, so it couldn't be true...Her sons said he was killed by wolves! Yet as she looked more, she can see her beloved husband's features within him, and even if he's smooth-shaven, with a fake goatee, he looked a lot like her dear father...

Rachel's heartbeat got faster as she stood up, removing her shawl, "Joseph?", as she heard the faint protests of her other sons trying to tell her to get down, and the man froze, exhaling, and his eyes softened up with tears, "M-Mother?".

Rachel walked to him, tears swelling in her eyes as she raised her hands to stroke Joseph's cheeks, looking at him, whispering, "It's you...You've grown up...A mother knows her son...", with a tearful smile.

Joseph sobbed, wrapping his arms around her, "Mother!", and Rachel relished in her son's presence that she missed so long, "Oh, my dear child...I'm here. I thought I lost you forever...This is a miracle...".

"Yes, it's a miracle...", Joseph whispered, "I missed you, Mother...", before exhaling sharply, "What did they tell you?", and Rachel looks at him in confusion, and Joseph replied, "Them...".

Rachel notices his glance at her other sons, seeing the shock and guilt and fear in their eyes, and she replies, "That you got killed by wolves...", and Joseph exhales, "Potiphar, would you put the men in single rooms, guarded in my residence until I and my wife return with my mother?", looking at Potiphar.

"Yes, my lord. It shall be done.", Potiphar nodded, and signaled many guards to take the shocked brothers to Joseph's residence, while Joseph looks at Rachel, "Can you come with me, Mother? I...I have a story to tell you and Asenath.", glancing at his wife.

Rachel nods, "Of course, Joseph. I'm your mother, and I'd love to meet your wife...I have suspected that your brothers lied about the bag of silver, but it wasn't a young sheep they traded for...But I thought you loved them, my son...".

Joseph sighs deeply, "I have thought my anger was gone until I saw them today...I still love them, Mother, but I don't know if I can forgive them...", and Rachel replied softly, "Come, my son, lead me to a peaceful place so we can talk, and I can know your wife better.", with a warm smile at Asenath.

Asenath smiled warmly, "Joseph has talked a lot about you, my elder, along with his father...I never knew that he had brothers...Now I know why he is quite kindly and stern towards our sons.".

Rachel gasps softly, "I'm a grandmother?", and Joseph smiles, "Yes, Mother. But yes, let's go to a peaceful place I know of, and then you can meet our sons...I hope you aren't mad at me for not coming back, but I...I had responsibilities here...".

"Joseph, I will always love you, my beloved son, and that will never change in my heart. I'm just so happy that the Lord gave us a miraculous reunion.", Rachel reassures her son, and Joseph smiles brightly, "Yes, Mother...", overjoyed to have his mother, holding his hand and smiling at him with patient, warm eyes.

Not even the prospect of telling the story and facing his brothers once more when they return home would defer him from hearing his mother's voice again. Yes, she's right; it's a miracle.