Rapunzel

The party was in full swing and it had been for three whole days already. Although I was enjoying spending time meeting the people and getting to know my parents, I wasn't sure what lay in store for myself and Flynn, or should I say, Eugene? It was the strangest thing…I didn't know what to call him anymore. It was as if since the moment they had arrived at the palace, all I could do follow everybody else's instructions.

After being on the run from Mother Gothel in the last few weeks, it felt strange to not be free. But I supposed being a Princess that I had to price to pay. It wouldn't be all so easy! I ate every morning at eight, then had to be ready to go outside and greet more and more people my parents wanted me to meet. I hadn't complained, but by the fourth day it was getting rather tiresome, and all I wanted to do was sit with Eugene and asked him what was on his mind. I had thought I'd known him pretty well up until now. Even though he was living in the palace a few bedrooms away from me, I barely saw him at all. It was annoying, to say the least.

It was the fourth morning of the party and guests and people practically lining up to see the lost princess. Rapunzel had had just about enough. When she was getting fitted with the perfect outfit after breakfast, her mother came in and smile, "Oh my dear, pink really is the perfect color on you." I smiled in embarrassment, "Thanks mom. Can I ask you a question though?" She nodded and replied, "Of course, dear. Ask away!"
I smiled timidly before asking, "Is there any chance I can spend some time with Eugene today?" My mom frowned. She got confused when I called him Eugene. And then she twigged, "Ah! You mean Flynn? Sure honey! I'm sorry it's been so busy. The people have been wanting to meet you as long as we have!" The first day I'd returned I'd been able to spend every minute of it with my parents. I was extremely happy about that and Eugene and I had told them about how we met and our adventure.

Since then, it had just been a whirlwind of chaos and every day I had to sit the lobby of the castle meet hundreds upon hundreds of people. My mother checked her diary, "We could do lunch…oh no you're meeting Prince Windsor…or maybe dinner…no that's when you have to make an appearance the royal theatre…" I gasped in surprise, "The royal theatre?" My mother nodded, "We're going to a production of Beauty and the Beast. Flynn is of course welcome!" I frowned and said, "Mother, what I mean by alone time is just me and Eugene without anyone else."

My mother sighed and asked the tailor who had just stuck a needle in my hip by mistake and I said, "Ow!" in response. She apologized profusely and my mother asked her, "Dear Susan, would you mind please leaving us alone for a moment?" Susan nodded and scuttled out of the room. My mother pulled me to her and gave me a hug as she whispered, "My darling, being a princess comes with these kinds of sacrifices unfortunately. You won't always be able to do what you want to do and when you want to do it."
I sighed and nodded, "I know, mom. I just…I think I just need to speak to Eugene. He's barely spoken to me since we got here and I feel like I don't know if he still feels that way about me." My mother sat down on the bed with me and giggled, "Oh he most certainly does dear. The way he looks at you during meals and such…I think he's in love with you."

I smiled briefly and said, "I think…I hope so. I just need him to confirm it and with everything that's been going on, I just haven't had the time." My mother smiled kindly, "I know dear. But he will wait for you I promise you. The only thing is…your father isn't so keen about him." I frowned and whispered, "Why? He returned me when nobody else could!" My mother nodded, "It's this silly issue of him not being a royal…"

I rolled my eyes and huffed in irritation, "Well I don't plan on marrying anyone else anytime soon! At least I know Eugene!" My mother nodded in sympathy, "I know my dear. I'm trying to convince him otherwise. Your father is like most men and can be very stubborn." I rolled my eyes, "Tell me about it." She smiled softly and then I gasped, "Is that why he's making me meet all this prince's during my free lunch hour that I could actually be spending with Eugene?!" I snapped and I instantly felt bad. I'd never gotten angry with my parents before, but this all felt a bit much.

My mother nodded ashamedly, "I'm sorry darling. I told him you love Eugene and he can see that, but he insists that there's no harm in trying…" I shook my head and lifted my hands up in the air in frustration, "I don't want anyone else except Eugene!" My mother couldn't even look at me and I decided to leave the room. I couldn't bare this conversation anymore. I was supposed to go downstairs and meet the people in a half hour, my dress wasn't fitted yet but I couldn't give a toss.

I opened the door and found Eugene and Susan eavesdropping outside…

Eugene:

The door opened and I found the girl of my dreams glaring angrily at me and Susan. I grimaced, uncertain of what to say. I knew was furious though by that look on her face…she could kill. I didn't blame her after the conversation I just heard. I smiled meekly, "Hey Rapunzel." She pulled my arm away from her bedroom door and I half expected her to yell at for eavesdropping.
Instead, she yanked me down the passageway to where my bedroom was further down the corridor, without saying a word. This made me nervous. Instead, she slammed me against the door once inside and began kissing me furiously. I smiled against her lips…knowing it was the pent-up frustration from the last few days that was getting to her.

She sighed and that sigh I felt like I was on fire. She trailed her hands down my chest and I smiled happily. Then there was a knock on the door and she sighed as her mother said worriedly, "Rapunzel dearest?" I laughed as she pushed her lips against mine like she didn't care. I felt the door opening behind me and she whispered, "Don't…you…dare…move."

I chuckled at her naughtiness but I didn't want to make her mother have more reason to dislike me so I quickly moved aside. She practically growled and her mother walked in gracefully as if she hadn't just been banging on the door. Queen Arianna grimaced at her daughter and I smiled, "Should I give you two some privacy?"
The queen shook her head, "No, Flynn. Thank you. I guess I should talk to the two of you together." She sighed and gestured for us to sit on the bed. She pulled from the dresser and came and sat down opposite the bed. Queen Arianna looked at both of us and then sighed, "Clearly keeping the two of you apart isn't going to happen." Rapunzel shook her head, but I just stared at the floor and said nothing. This was it. This was the moment she was going to tell me that I couldn't be with her daughter because I was a thief and not a prince. She had been nice until now, but I had feared that my expiry date was looming, which is why I had kept my distance from her daughter.

Queen Arianna surprised me and said, "So I suggest we find a way to solve this problem." Rapunzel practically beamed and got up to hug her mother, "Oh mom! Thank you!" Her mother got her to sit down and sighed, "It's not going to be easy trying to convince your father my dear. He's set in the old fashioned mindset. But Flynn, this is going to be your issue. You're going to have to prove to my husband that you are worthy of being the future king. You see, it will be even more tricky because you'll be king through marriage, not blood. That's highly unusual."
I was so shocked I could only flounder around like a goldfish. She smiled at me kindly and said, "It's not going to be impossible, you're just going to have to work hard. If you want to be with my daughter enough, you will." Rapunzel interrupted her in protest and gasped in exasperation, "Mom! He's already done more than most people! He's bought me back to you. Isn't that enough?"

I swallowed hard. Queen Arianna nodded and smiled, "To me it is. But you not only have to convince my husband, you have to convince the whole kingdom, Flynn. It's going to be a mammoth task, and one that you're going to have to put your heart and soul into. You already have your reputation against you so it's going to be doubly hard. Are you willing to try though?"

I glanced at Rapunzel and I saw her exasperated expression. I knew that my heart wanted her more than anything in the world, but my mind was going all Flynn Rider on me and telling me it wasn't worth it. It was a battle between my head and my heart. Eventually I let my heart decide as I murmured softly, "Of course my Queen. I'm going to try my best to convince everyone that I am worthy of your daughter." The queen beamed, "Perfect! Now, Rapunzel, you need to go and finish dressing my dear or you'll be late!"

Rapunzel got up, kissed me again on the cheek and hurried out of the room. The queen turned to me and said softly, "I know how much you care for her, Flynn. But you've got to think about that every time someone deters you from your path. There will be many who try. You've just got be strong enough." Then she surprised me by hugging me. I smiled and when she pulled away I whispered, "Thank you. For believing I can do it." She grinned and said, "Prove me right."

A/N: Hi all! So this is my first Tangled fanfiction! Hope you guys enjoy it! Pretty please let me know what you think in the reviews! Thank you!