While bemoaning the fact that we wanted to write something in Tangled-verse for our remaining days at Disney_Advent but not sure what Tangled tales to tell, just-a-dram and I discovered we both had vague ideas for something related to "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Which could only be a sign that we should put our heads together and co-author a fic. We've had a fun, festive time writing it, and hope that's what all you Rapunzel/Eugene fangirls feel while reading it. Happy holidays!

I.

I don't particularly like Christmas. Not to be a bad sport about it, but when you're an orphan it isn't exactly the big hoped for day of all days like it is for other kids. So, I'd always just tried to let the day go by with as little fanfare as possible, so that it didn't seem so different from any other day. Maybe steal something particularly good to eat. Or steal something shiny to pay for something nice to eat. That was the extent of it.

I should have known Rapunzel would change all that.

I'm not completely clueless: after all, Flynn Rider was pretty good with women, and Blondie might be a rather unusual young woman, but I knew to get her a good gift for Christmas. It was her first one outside the tower, and her parents were bound to be looking on when I presented it, so it couldn't be just any old thing I'd picked up on a lark. It had to say I love you to the Princess without saying Move my bedchamber to another floor to the King and Queen. So I casually chatted her up to see what she might want, I went to street vendors, merchants, and royal artisans, and I even took the damn frog with me just in case he gave some sort of signal when I'd found The Gift. All very coolly of course. I wouldn't want anyone to think I was trying too hard. That can be hard on a guy's reputation. Even if it is only a fake reputation.

When she threw her arms around my neck with a squeal on Christmas morning, I was pretty sure the microscope was the perfect gift, and I couldn't help but smile to myself. I might have been new to it, but I was good at this Christmas thing.

I kissed her on the cheek and ruffled her hair, when I saw her parents watching silently across the way, their expressions speaking louder than words that the embrace had extended a little beyond friendly. "Glad you like it, kiddo," I said, peeling her off my neck.

"Have you ever looked into one?" Rapunzel asked, her red skirts spinning as she swung around to address her parents.

"No, my dear," her mother said with a serene smile. "You'll have to show us after you've figured it out."

Rapunzel bent over the instrument, the brass reflecting back her face in distortion as she drew close, but then she stopped abruptly and turned wide eyes on me. "Wait! I almost forgot!" she exclaimed, before skittering from the room, her slippers making no sound on the carpet.

I smiled my now patented the princess is a little unpredictable smile at the King and Queen, but I was spared any awkward conversation, because we were nearly immediately interrupted by the sound of something scraping along the floor.

"Merry Christmas!" Rapunzel shouted, as she rounded the corner, dragging with her a four foot tall potted tree.

"Oh, my," the Queen murmured, as Rapunzel straightened up, hands on hips, cheeks flushed rather prettily.

"What's that, sweetheart?" the King asked.

"My present for Eugene. Do you love it?" she asked, clasping her hands together in barely contained excitement.

"Umm…" I hummed, stuck my hands in my pockets, and strolled towards the tree. She'd gotten me a tree. Not even a particularly big tree. I got her a microscope, which was no easy thing, and she'd gotten me a little, weird tree. I didn't want to hurt her feelings. Watching her face crumple up in tears was the last thing I wanted for Christmas, but I didn't really want a tree either.

"What kind of present is that exactly, dear?" the Queen asked, and I could have hugged her for it.

Rapunzel's brows drew together, contorting her face as if she couldn't believe we hadn't figured it out. "A pear tree."

"Well isn't that thoughtful. I'm sure Eugene will enjoy the pears, whenever it bears fruit."

The Queen could afford to be positive. She'd gotten a pillow that Rapunzel embroidered with World's Best Mom. A World's Best Boyfriend pillow would be embarrassing, but I wouldn't have been above using it to nap on when the Captain was hanging around just to enjoy his hissy fit.

"And when it buds out," the King put in helpfully.

Oh, sure. When it buds out this tree will really come in handy for…gazing or sniffing or something. Even I couldn't figure out what Rapunzel wanted me to do with this tree, and I was getting pretty good at seeing the world through her eyes.

I scratched my head. "Yeah, uh…pears are great. Thanks." She still looked back at me expectantly, so I continued, trying for something a little more convincing, "And you can make me pear tarte tartin or something. It'll be really fun and tasty." That was something I never thought I'd say.

Maybe I didn't sell it like I should, because she looked a little crestfallen, her shoulders curling in, as she squinted at the tree. "You don't like it."

"No, no…I'm just surprised, at a loss for words, bowled over. This is my shocked face," I assured her.

"Oh. These faces of yours aren't very helpful. It's as bad as the Smolder," she sighed.

"It's Christmas, you're excited and not thinking clearly. My Smolder is awesome," I said, looping an arm around her waist, forgetting her parents in the all consuming need to cheer her back up. "No, I've got to tell you: this pear tree is the best Christmas present I've ever gotten." And, because it was my first Christmas present, that wasn't even a lie.

Sliding her arm behind my back, her head found my chest, as her pride in her gift was restored. "Oh, Eugene. It's really the best?"

"Absolutely, babe."

"And it isn't even all here," she cooed.

"No? There's more? There can't be. This is already too perfect." Hopefully the rest of it would redeem the gift, but if not, I'd plant the darn thing myself in the middle of the palace lawn even though gardening really wasn't my thing.

Rapunzel slipped free of me and peeked into the branches of the tree, her voice high and excited as she said, "Oh, yes. There should be a funny little fat bird in here that must have hopped off somewhere, but I'm going to find him, Eugene. Don't you worry! And then it will be perfect."