Page 242 - Nuts to You - The Nutcracker Retold

And they were very happy just to sit there and be normal, very happy not to be apart, and very happy not to have to worry about any mice.
Eventually though, they heard noises below. And through the windows they could see all the happy parents running to meet their children, and they knew the house would soon be flooded with the entire village. Then they saw Drosselmeir walk from the house to the front gate, and the flood of people ran around and around him, as they slapped his back and shook his hand for bringing their children home. They had no idea Drosselmeir was to blame for their children being gone in the first place – instead, imagining foul play, or fowl play. For they blamed a chicken-hearted chicken-farmer for the loss of their children. (Don’t ask – it’s another story entirely.)
And as Drosselmeir shook hands and accepted thanks, he turned and looked up from the gate and through the windows, to Franz and Clara. And nodded his head in thanks to them.
“He’s giving us time.”
“Yes.”
“Then let’s enjoy the time we have.”
“Yes, let’s.”
So, Franz and Clara continued to sit there at the top of the stairs to just enjoy being alone.
Except that they weren’t. Alone, that is.
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