I Love You Most
Summary: -"She was such a naïve child. Did she really think that everything Gothel had ever done, that all that love, was for her?" ~ There is only one thing Gothel loves more than anything in the world – and it wasn't Rapunzel-
A/N: So this was a little drabbly idea that popped into my head after reading the TV Tropes page for Tangled. More notes at the bottom; enjoy the story!
Disclaimer: Tangled is the property of Disney, not me.
Gothel was a paranoid woman; you had to be to live as long as she had. For as long as she could remember, Gothel has been worrying about 'what if' and wondering about 'maybe'. She hadn't lived in peace; her childhood was full of furtive glances and monsters lurking around the corner. Gothel knew the world was a horrible place.
The only thing that made her feel safe was her flower. Her flower that would always be there for her; always, forever.
So when she picked up that little baby girl and watched her golden hair fade to brown, Gothel knew what she had to do. She took the child; what else? Her flower was safe and sound and with her again. And that was all Gothel needed to be happy.
The child grew, older and older and wiser to the world.
Gothel made sure Rapunzel knew what the world was like, that it was horrible place full of men who were fanged and thirsted for your blood.
('You know why we stay up in this tower')
('That's right, to keep you safe and sound dear')
Gothel told her stories of the horrible monsters that awaited you in the dark; the plague that wiped out your entire family, thieves and criminals and everything that just wanted to hurt you.
Gothel knew the world was a terrible place, and all she ever wanted to do was to protect her flower.
Not the girl, not Rapunzel who dared to steal her flower away and keep it all to herself. She was such a naïve child. Did she really think that everything Gothel had ever done, that all that love, was for her? Gothel didn't love thieves, not ones who stole away everything that made her happy and safe and wrench it away all in one fool move. Rapunzel was undeserving, clumsy, ditzy, naïve, vague; everything that Gothel despised.
But it was worth it. For her flower.
So when Rapunzel asks to leave the tower, Gothel says 'no' and it's final. And when Gothel grits out, "I love you", she does it lying through her teeth.
"I love you more." (Of course you do, child, I hate you.)
"I love you most." (And Gothel kisses the crown of that long golden hair and caresses the power of her flower still flowing through the blond strands.)
Then everything is alright, because Gothel has her flower.
A/N: So when I was first watching the movie, I thought the exchange between Gothel and Rapunzel was pretty sweet. Until, of course, I realized that after Gothel says, "I love you most," she kisses Rapunzel's hair. Then, I realized that during "Mother Knows Best", when Gothel sings, "That's right to keep you safe and sound dear" while talking to the hair, along with the emphasis on 'you'.
So that's where the inspiration to this little drabble comes from, really. :D