Eugene Fitzherbert was freaking out.

We're not talking about a small freak out here, no. Eugene was having a full out panic attack (Queen Eleanor thought he was on the edge of schizophrenia). After pacing back and forth in Eleanor's office for twenty minutes, muttering non-stop to himself, he slumped into a chair, completely losing his mind. Eleanor was sitting behind her desk and watched Eugene curiously. She had never seen him so unstable.

"I can't do this... what am I… crazy… there is no way…" Eugene spluttered, hardly able to string a sentence together.

"Eugene!" Eleanor snapped. Eugene sat right up in his chair. He looked at Eleanor and she caught a glimpse of fear in his eyes. "Relax."

"Relax… relax? How do you expect me to relax when I'm…? I'm… oh gosh…" Eugene dropped his head into his hands and shook his head furiously.

"Eugene, what is wrong with you? Are you really this nervous?" Eleanor asked, standing up and walking over to him.

"I never thought…didn't think I would…" Eleanor placed her hand on his shoulder and he slowly lifted his head from his hands. He looked up at Eleanor and bluntly said, "I can't do this."

"Of course you can! Eugene, you're worse than Jonathan was. Do you really think Rapunzel would say no to you?"

"It's not that. It's the fact that I'm going to be"-he gulped-"married."

"What's wrong with that?" Eleanor asked.

"Nothing," Eugene replied, waving his arm. Eleanor raised her eyebrows and Eugene exclaimed, "Oh, everything! It is such a huge commitment and I honestly don't think I would be able to handle it and Rapunzel-gosh, Rapunzel doesn't even know how much of a comm-"

"Eugene! All Rapunzel knows is that she loves you. Isn't that all that matters?" Eleanor interrupted. "Getting married doesn't have to be some huge thing. Yes, it's a lifetime commitment, and yes, you would be marrying into royalty and would eventually become king, but that's not the point!" Eugene's eyes widened and he pulled at his hair, but Eleanor continued. "Eugene, if you truly love Rapunzel, you shouldn't even be worrying! Which is a dumb thing to say, because you obviously love her, so what's the point in freaking out? She'll say yes, you'll get married and live happily ever after." Eugene grimaced. "Too cliché?" Eleanor asked and Eugene nodded. "Fine, she'll say yes, you'll get married and… and you and Rapunzel will be happy," Eleanor said, sitting on the arm of the chair and gently rubbing Eugene's shoulder. "Isn't that all that matters?" Eugene didn't respond right away. He was contemplating what Eleanor had just told him.

And you and Rapunzel will be happy. Isn't that all that matters?

Yep, Eugene thought.

"But," Eugene began, suddenly thinking of a legitimate point, "what if I become some stupid prince who only cares about becoming a king?" Eleanor groaned and threw her hands in the air.

"Why on earth would that happen? This marriage thing has definitely gone to your head," she said, standing from the chair and heading for the door. "You obviously have some fear of becoming king, so I honestly doubt that that need to become king would surpass your need to be with Rapunzel." Eugene watched as she reached for the door handle and pulled the door ajar slightly.

"I think you could use some more practiced hands. I haven't helped you all that much, I think. I'm going to find Jonathan. He'll have some words of advice," Eleanor said before slipping out of the room. Eugene sat, with his hand under his chin, thinking. Was this panic attack really worth it? Did he really need Jonathan to come talk to him? No, what was he thinking? He didn't need anyone to tell him about marriage! He was Eugene Fitzherbert for God's sake!

Just as Eugene was about to run for it, the door creaked open.

Oh, great, Eugene thought. He didn't see Jonathan, but Rapunzel. She came flying into the room once she saw him.

"Eugene, I've been looking everywhere for you!" she cried as she flung her arms around his neck. At the sight of Rapunzel, Eugene's throat seemed to constrict. When Eugene didn't say anything to Rapunzel, she loosened her grip on him and looked at him curiously.

"What's wrong?" she asked. He opened his mouth to say, "nothing," but instead, a small squeak came. Horrified, he clapped a hand over his mouth, but Rapunzel giggled.

"That was cute," she said. Eugene cleared his throat.

"Cute?" he asked.

"You sounded like Pascal. What's up with your hair?" she asked, looking at his hair that was sticking out slightly, due to him pulling at it.

"Oh, nothing," Eugene replied, flattening it out. Rapunzel smiled and said, "Would you like to go into the village with me? I was going to buy some bread."

Despite having chefs cooking constantly for her, Rapunzel enjoyed going to the market and buying from the vendors.

"They're friendlier," she would say.

"Well, all right," Eugene said.

"Okay, let's go!" Rapunzel grabbed his hand and tugged him out of the room. As they walked down the hall, Rapunzel rambled to him, but he wasn't listening. He was still thinking about that ring. He had planned to propose to her today, but he did not know when. Wait, did he have it with him? He lowered his hand and put it in his pocket, feeling the small, velvet box.

"On second thought," Eugene said, turning around as a rush of fear went through him. No way. He needed to talk to Jonathan.

"Hey, Eugene! Where are you going?" Rapunzel called after him.

"I'll be right back! Just have to put something away!" he yelled back, walking quickly. He made it to his room and threw the box into a drawer. There was no way he could think about that when he was at the market with Rapunzel.

"You okay?" Eugene nearly screamed.

"Rapunzel! You scared me!" he said, putting a hand over his pounding heart.

"Eugene, what is with you today?" Rapunzel asked, laughing. He let out a shaky laugh and quickly closed the drawer.

"Ready to go to the market? I sure am," he said and quickly pulled Rapunzel from his room.

"I think I would like to buy some jewelry today," Rapunzel said as they walked down the same hallway.

"Yeah? What kind?" Eugene asked.

"Oh, I don't know. I've got bracelets and necklaces." She held her hands out in front of her. "Maybe I'll get a ring."

Of course.

Hey guys! I'm excited for this story :) I hope you are too! Don't forget to review :D

(I'm a poet and I didn't even know it.)