A/N: First and foremost, thank you for reading this story I hope that you enjoy it as much as I am writing it. These are not my characters, they are Disney's and I am making no attempt at Copyright infringement or whatever their lexicon is for those crimes.

I love these characters to death, so I had an idea to try and push their boundries. I have done the best I can to keep them in character with how we see them in the movie, but I hope that new challenges can develop them in ways that are fun for all of us observe. Just as a forewarning, I understand that my initial chapters may be slow in action. But where they are slow in action, I think that some romance between our favorite couple will help move things along in a meaningful way for the plot. The M rating is just to be safe. I hate misleading people if the action doesn't turn out as violent as I forsee it being, but I just want to be safe for now.

Please don't hesitate to give feedback, suggestions, etc. I would love to discuss the story with anyone who might be interested. Even if it's just about the characters in general, not pertaining to my story, I am all ears. I love these characters. I could talk about Rapunzel all day (she's the prototype of my dreamgirl lol).

Thank you for reading, I sincerely hope you enjoy :)

Falling Stars

by CoramDeo


Gusts of winds harassed Eugene as he scaled the cliff's precipice. He paused for a moment while he spotted the next rock jutting from the terrain that he could grab on to. His arm stretched as far it could, but it remained just out of his reach.

He pulled his arm back in frustration. Pondering his options, he looked below him and began to panic. Thousands of feet down was the dark abyss, which as far as he knew might have been bottomless. He glanced up to the top of the cliff. A heart, beating as if it was still in its owner's chest, rested on top of a stone table. With one hand still securely gripping the precipice, he touched his chest over where his heart should have been. He didn't feel it beating within his chest, a cruel reminder that he had to keep climbing to get it back.

He closed his eyes and did his best to compose himself as mustered the strength to move onward.

"C'mon, Eugene!"

The words growled up through his throat; he felt adrenaline rushing through his veins. Boosting of the ledge, he lunged for the next rock just beyond his grasp. His fingers caught a grip of the stone while his feet scrambled to find any kind of footing that would support his grip.

Throaty grunts strained from his larynx as wind gales threatened to free him from his grip. After seconds of struggling for his life, Eugene exhaled as he gained a stable hold of the ledge. With the next rock in reach, he continued upward.

Finally, his arm was within reach of the top of the cliff. His eyes were caught by the sight of a large root growing out of the ground. After brief hesitation, he lunged for the root and gained a firm grasp of it. He peered over at his heart once more. He was almost there.

Pulling himself up by the root, he kicked his feet in to the cliff's side to boost himself up to the precipices crest. As his feet chugged upward he felt his leg falter as the soil gave out from underneath him. His heart rate skyrocketed.

"No. No no no no."

The root started tearing through the soil while the rest of the ledge began sliding out from underneath him. His limbs churned at full speed to help him get to safety on the ledge. The nails on his fingers peeled back and tore from their cuticles they clawed in to the grass on top of the cliff. His grip failed him, releasing him to fall his imminent demise. Eugene howled in terror as he plummeted in to the dark oblivion.

"Nooo!"

Eugene leapt from his sleep. His chest heaved sporadically as it fought to catch its breath. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead and his lip just below the nose. The tips of his hair conglomerated with each other, united by the moisture seeping from his pores.

After several seconds of hyperventilation, deep breaths began to soothe his exasperated condition.

"It was just a dream," he muttered to himself reassuringly.

He flopped back on to his back when he finally began to relax. That's when he realized his sheets, pillows, and pajama bottoms were completely drenched in his perspiration. He cringed at the soggy touch to his shirtless back.

After rolling out of bed he opened his window. His eyes squinted in their response to the magnificent morning sky. It did not match the brisk temperatures or colorful leaves that hung from the trees and sprinkled the ground below.

It had been a nearly two months since Rapunzel had first returned to the palace with him, and he still wasn't used to the oceanic view outside his window every morning. It was only a medium sized room in the palace staff dormitory, but he was more than content simply being welcomed within the palace compound. The frigid breeze blew through his sweat dampened hair, allowing it to dry some before he washed up for the day.

He turned when he heard the pecking of someone's fist outside of his room. The tapping mimicked the tune of a nursery rhyme against the wooden door. Old McDonald had a farm, eee-i-eee-i-o! He couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Only one person in the world would knock on his door in such a manner.

He opened the door just enough so he could poke his head through playfully. "Good morning, Blondie!"

Rapunzel leaned against the wall next to his door. She too was poking her ahead around the corner into the small crease of Eugene's doorway with a glowing smile. She was garbed in a royal blue dress; and though Eugene always looked upon Rapunzel respectful eyes, the way her corset enhanced her already petite physique was not lost to his attention. As usual, shoes were absent from her dainty feet; nobility proved unsuccessful in making conform wearing them on a full time basis.

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead!" She smiled once more then lowered her tone to that of a whisper. "Can I come in?"

Eugene opened his mouth to welcome her in, when he noticed Pascal sitting proudly on her shoulder next to the brown locks that draped to her shoulders. "Sure, but HE can't." Eugene smirked at Pascal whose gaze began to narrow.

Rapunzel giggled. "It's okay Pascal; he's just cranky in the morning." She began pushing her way in to the door as Eugene resisted slightly.

"I'm not cranky. I just don't want a frog running around my room. There are a lot of people who would agree with me." Eugene finally let go of the door and let Rapunzel stumble gracefully in to his room.

She immediately wrapped him in a hug, nearly tackling him. "Good morning to you to Blondie! Or should I say – Princess!" He was caught off his guard by her overflowing excitement as she barreled in to his chest. "Today's your big day!"

"I know I'm so excited. And really scared. But I think I'm mostly excited. But still a little scared." She released him from her arms and began to jump in place, unsure of how else to express her enthusiasm.

He placed his arms on her shoulders to ease her tension. "Don't worry. You'll be a great princess and an even better Queen!"

"Do you really think so?" Rapunzel searched for inspiration in his eyes as he smiled at her.

"I know so! I'll be there to see that crown of yours finally return to your head."

Her smile extended from ear to ear. He loved seeing her smile because of the way it exposed her tiny overbite. It was a trait that on any other woman would be a minor flaw to an otherwise perfect form. But on Rapunzel, it seemed to match her beautiful physique perfectly along with her adorable, innocent persona. He pulled her in for a reassuring hug that she melted in to.

"The one that you stole." Rapunzel giggled as she poked his stomach teasingly.

"I think of it as I was returning it to you. I was doing everyone a service."

"Uh huh." She puckered her lips and narrowed her gaze in as if she were suspicious of him. "Surrre!"

With a chortle he released her from his grasp. He pulled a shirt from his cupboard and pulled it over his head so that it covered his sculpted form.

Rapunzel plopped down on the end of his bed. She propped her elbows on her knees, and rested her chin in her hands. "Do you have to work today?"

"Yea." Eugene dabbed a towel across his face after splashing it with some water.

Though he lived in the palace compound, he was far from living the good life. The king was grateful that he'd rescued her, but couldn't just release him of all his crimes at the drop of a hat. Still bound by his duty to justice the king pardoned Eugene of his grievances under the condition of parole of one year. He could live within the palace compound amongst the staff and earned a reasonable wage, but was under constant surveillance from the palace guards. One wayward step and he was back in jail.

The work was hard, and sometimes gross. It often felt like a janitor's job. But he was content with it as long as he wasn't in a jail cell and was able to see Rapunzel.

Her lower lip stuck out in a pouty fashion, her eyes drooped like those of a stray puppy.

"Don't worry," Eugene said with a reassuring grin. "I'll be there for the ceremony. You don't want me getting in trouble with my boss now do you?"

She grinned. "Well, we wouldn't want that!"

He offered her a hand and lifted her up from her seat. "Besides, don't you have princess business to attend to anyways."

Rapunzel's shoulders drooped as a sigh exited from her mouth. "Yes. I have to go to a final rehearsal for the ceremony and then get prepared by the maids with mother."

"Well that's not that bad." He furrowed his brow some. He didn't see how this was so much worse than any other day, except for perhaps the coronation part.

"But, before I do that father is introducing me a few suitors."

Eugene's eyes dilated. His heart skipped a beat. He figured that her father was probably not too fond of their relationship. He wouldn't know since they never really spoke of the idea of him and her actually getting married. His mind raced for answers while he simultaneously remained intent on Rapunzel.

"Supposedly, they 'fancy' me, as father says. He isn't quite ready to let me marry. He wants me to enjoy what bit of my childhood I have left."

Her words did nothing to reassure him.

"Besides, I have you." She offered him a warm smile, completely oblivious to Eugene worries.

"And I have you."

He smiled and wrapped her in another hug. She pressed her head in to his chest and enjoyed it while she could, until the next time she could hold him. They released one another and she began to exit the room. She stopped in the doorway and turned around once more.

"Eugene!" He looked up in to her glittering eyes as she smiled back at him. "I love you!"

A small grin formed at the corner of his mouth. "I love you too!"

She snickered like a schoolgirl after receiving a glance from her secret admirer, and skipped out of the room.

Eugene sat down on the end of his bed and ran his fingers through his hair apprehensively. She said she loved him; but for the first time that he could remember, doubts whispering in his head began to question the permanence of their love.

Amidst his perplexity, he felt something crawling up on to his shoulder. He looked over to see Pascal staring at him blankly. The chameleon sort of shrugged his shoulders as if he were saying: What are you looking at me for?

Eugene sighed. He pushed aside his worries for the time being and finished getting ready for work.