Grumpy awoke early the next morning and couldn't get back to sleep, so he rolled out of Sneezy's bed and got ready for the day. Deciding to get the inevitable out of the way, he walked right out of the room and toward the kitchen as soon as he was dressed. Nobody was awake yet, and Grumpy looked around before lighting the stove to get it hot. There were holiday foods everywhere, and he remembered Happy talking about the holiday breakfast. He began to make coffee, following calculations scrawled on a note for anybody who didn't know what to do. He figured that was for Empathy and her siblings and cousins. He didn't mind the work, and he used his magic to make breakfast. An hour after he'd lit the fire, Honesty came in and looked around.
"Well I'll be," she muttered. "You sure are good with that magic."
"Yep," Grumpy said. He poured her a cup of coffee. "How do you like it?"
"Sugar and cream. I've lived long enough to deserve as much as I want," Honesty said, and Grumpy agreeably made her coffee heaped with cream and sugar. She took a sip then nodded. "You done good. What are we makin'?"
Grumpy showcased what he'd been cooking, and Honesty took over a couple dishes. Charming and Constancy came in next, and they stopped talking at once as they saw Grumpy in their kitchen with Honesty. Grumpy poured them coffee and gestured at the sugar and cream.
"Figure you can make yours yourselves."
"Figured right," Charming said cautiously. She peered at him with wonder. "Are you really Brother? Or did you find the stone somewhere?"
"I got the memory back when Doc got his," Grumpy said, shrugging. "He remembers me bein' kidnapped instead of drowned, and I remembered bein' forced to forget everythin' I knew."
"Can you prove this?" Rationality asked, coming in to peer at him over his spectacles.
"When Doc and them get back, sure," Grumpy said.
"Fair enough," Rationality replied. "I am getting worried about them. They should've caught him by now."
"Emil's a coward," Grumpy muttered, rubbing his left shoulder roughly. He'd had another nightmare, and that was why he couldn't sleep. "He'll run until he can't no more."
Rationality caught his hand and gave him a stern look. "You stop that."
"I know," Grumpy said tiredly. "But sometimes I can't help it."
"I would assume it's the brand? Phantom pain?"
"That's what Doc calls it," Grumpy said. "Don't feel like no phantom to me. Feels awful real."
Rationality squeezed his hand then held out a cup. Grumpy filled it and glanced around. "How'd everybody else take it?"
"We didn't stay up too much later once you went to bed," Rationality replied. "I don't think any of us could really process what you said." He shook his head and studied Grumpy's face. "That's why you seem familiar. You look just like Determination, now that I think of it."
Grumpy's face went scarlet again and he set aside the coffee and went back to cooking. Constancy and Charming took over another couple dishes each, relieving the amount of magic he needed to use. Rationality watched, amused.
"You know, you're the first man in that kitchen," he said.
"First up, I get to cook," Grumpy said. "How it works at home, at least."
"Well, you haven't burned anything," Constancy said.
"I ain't Sneezy," Grumpy replied, and they all laughed.
Grumpy assisted with breakfast until a few of his female cousins got up and took over. He didn't complain about being kicked out, just poured himself a cup of coffee and doctored it before sitting with Rationality. His magic and early rising meant that breakfast was on time despite how late everybody else was getting up. The womenfolk were happy with his preparations and had nothing to complain about with his cooking. It wasn't the fanciest, but it was good, hearty food and there was a lot of it. The rest of the cousins had to be dragged out of bed to eat, and they all came plodding up the stairs, looking exhausted.
Empathy rubbed her eyes as she came upstairs, unable to stop yawning. "Grandmama, staying up late ain't that fun the next day."
Honesty laughed. "And that's why you have a bedtime, Em."
Diligent didn't come out, and Constancy stopped cooking when Honesty asked about him.
"I don't think he came to bed last night, Honesty. He wasn't there when I got up."
Silence. But just then, the front door opened and Diligent came in. His eyes were bright and his face was flushed with the cold. He didn't say a word about where he'd been, just joined them for breakfast. Grumpy curled up in his corner and ate, aware that he was being discussed by everybody in small groups, but this wasn't the first time, nor was it the worst thing that could have been discussed by them. Empathy came to him, of course, and sat beside him. Her eyes shone with curiosity, but no questions came out today. Instead, she cuddled into his side and ate her breakfast. Grumpy didn't complain that he couldn't use one of his hands; he simply used his magic to eat.
After breakfast, there was an awkward time where nobody quite knew what to say or where to start. Then Grumpy stood abruptly as green sparks burst around his head. He got his coat and went outside. They followed him out in time to see him whistle. A silver sheet opened up and that Adele came through.
"I thought we weren't allowed here?"
"Get Snow," Grumpy said. "They're too far away for me to get them here by myself."
Adele popped back in then hurried through with Snow. Grumpy turned and linked his spell with his raven. Instantly, sparks flew again, and Snow and Adele both threw their own magic forward, pink and orange respectively, and it combined into a large silver doorway. There was a pause then Grumpy's raven came through, croaking. An instant later, Emil, bound, gagged, and roughed up, came sailing through and landed in the snow, writhing. Doc and the others hurried through, and they didn't look too good either. Sneezy and Dopey both sported a black eye, and Doc's spectacles were gone. Sleepy looked wide awake and ready to kill, and Happy was frowning and limping along with Bashful.
"That stupid little—" Doc began then noticed Snow and Adele. He calmed at once. "Snow! What are you doing here?"
"Give me his bag," Grumpy ordered, not daring to get any closer.
Happy carried it over and Grumpy opened it and dug around. He pulled out several expensive necklaces before he found what Emil had so proudly shown him at the forge.
When Doc saw the tiara, he let out a yell. "That's the one I bade, ah, made for you!"
"He stole from you?" Sneezy demanded, then turned and kicked Emil in the ribs.
"Please don't do that," Snow said.
"Sorry," Sneezy muttered, but he was clearly unhappy.
Snow peered at Emil then looked to Honesty. "Certainly he could stay in jail until the holiday is over?"
"That would be best," Honesty agreed. "We'll get him down there. You two better head back. And thank you."
They turned and headed through yet another sheet of silver before disappearing.
"That is just fantastic!" Rationality burst out as soon as the women were gone. "Where did you just come from?"
"Havenstone," Sleepy groused. "That bastard simply wouldn't stop!"
"He's a coward," Diligent said. "Boys, let's get him down to the jail while your cousins wash and take care of their injuries. Then our holiday can properly begin, now that we're all here."
The male cousins headed off with Emil, who struggled and tried to shout at them the whole time. Doc hurried over and embraced Grumpy, the others following close behind.
"We got him," Sneezy said, reaching up to cup his black eye.
Dopey waved his hands and stomped his foot.
Grumpy snorted. "Sure did take long enough."
"I'm just glad for the raven," Sleepy yawned, wilting with tiredness. "Sure nice that you came through."
"Was that Adele with Snow?" Happy asked.
"Yep. They're all here," Grumpy said.
"All?" Bashful asked, and his face lit up. "Wait, all your girls are here?"
"In town. They came with Snow. Surprise," he said dryly.
"We'll have to talk with them!" Bashful exclaimed.
"Not today," Honesty said. "Today is for family. Rationality, go help Doc tend to them. And you all better wash, too."
Grumpy followed his brothers in, unwilling to be out of their sight. Or perhaps he didn't want them out of his. After three days, he was glad not to be alone again. He washed with them then helped them all upstairs. Rationality got the kit, and Grumpy frowned at the injuries then got to work with his uncle's help. Luckily there were no major injuries, the worst that Bashful's ankle was swollen and sprained. They were tended to, but they were all obviously in pain. So Grumpy went to his room and pulled out a healing potion. He'd brought several to be prepared, and he shook it as he came in. Popping the cork, he handed it to Doc.
"Two," he grunted.
Doc took two swigs out of the bottle then passed it on. The theory that it was alcohol to numb the pain was disproved when a burst of golden light surrounded Doc and his noticeable injuries became fainter. Rationality gasped and everybody watched as the potion was passed around before ending back with Grumpy. Grumpy didn't take a drink, and Doc made a noise.
"Your eye still looks awful."
"I'll live," Grumpy said and corked the bottle. He went to put it up then came back and sat down beside Doc. Everybody began staring again.
"What are you booking, ah, looking at?" Doc demanded.
"What did you do when you found out?" Belligerent asked.
"I'm more interested in how they found out," Diligent replied, eyeing Grumpy, not with suspicion but curiosity.
"Found out what?" Sleepy yawned.
"That Grumpy is Brother, of course," Belligerent said.
"I done showed you the stone," Grumpy said while his brothers nearly hit the ceiling with shock. "And we got our memories. If that ain't proof, I don't know what is."
"Wait, you told them?" Doc asked.
"We had a late night that turned into an early morning," Honesty said. "And since it was after midnight this morning, he brought out the treasures to keep the promise you made. Though that disc is made very strange. We can't figure that one out."
"I couldn't get near the forges to make it like everybody else does. I used magic," Grumpy replied.
"Why couldn't you get near the…" Belligerent trailed off. "I guess you have been branded like Papa thinks."
Grumpy nodded and rubbed his left shoulder. Doc immediately took his hand and squeezed it. Grumpy leaned into him, grateful that they were back.
"I want the story," Diligent said after a few moments. "And I want to hear it before the kids do. I have a feeling it's not something to be telling everybody."
"What about Empathy?" Sleepy asked.
"I think she can handle it," Honesty said. "She'll be helping with the clan business tomorrow. But it's up to Grumpy."
"She can stay," Grumpy muttered. "And Sleepy can tell the story however he wants. But it's gonna take awhile."
"Then this will be our holiday story," Empathy said. "And then we can do the usual one when the others get back. We'll tell them we just couldn't do it without them, and we'll open presents then. That way we still have our holiday. We can do it the day before the party and that way it can last for two whole days."
There was a pause then Grumpy chuckled. "Well now, how can anybody argue with a prospect like that?"
Everybody agreed with a burst of laughter as Empathy blushed and grinned at Grumpy. Grumpy smiled back then leaned against Doc.
Sleepy glanced around. "Well, I guess I could tell the story," he said. "But are you sure, Grumpy?"
Grumpy waved his hand, and Sleepy considered where to begin. He decided to start at the very beginning again, with he and his brothers marching home from the mine only to find a stranger half dead in their way. The rest of the family settled in to listen, spellbound almost at once by Sleepy's voice and the incredible tale he told of the Dwarf that would come to mean more to them than they had ever imagined.