Chapter 1

Rapunzel pulled the brush through her short brown hair and looked at herself in the mirror. Her light green tunic was a little on the large side but she smiled, happy with her appearance. She reached over to the table near her and grabbed her name badge, attaching it to the front of her tunic as she left the room. She skipped down the stairs and in to the kitchen, grabbing a granola bar to eat on her way. She was looking forward to getting to work today, much as she had every other day since she had started. After the police had found her at the old farm house and arrested Mother – Gothel, she reminded herself – they had helped her to find a job and some accommodation. Even after they had found her parents, a wealthy couple who owned a large amount of businesses in the city, she had still wanted to keep her job. It was the first thing she had that was really hers and she enjoyed meeting people on her own terms. Her parents had understood and although they wanted her to live with them, they knew that she needed her own independence after 18 years locked away from the world. Rapunzel started the short walk to the care home that she worked at. She enjoyed looking after the elderly residents and especially enjoyed the activities that she did with them and was glad that she had a lot of talents that could be used in the real world. She mused over how different her life had become in the year since she left the farmhouse. It had been difficult at first, trying to think of her parents as her parents, instead of as strangers and trying to remember that Gothel wasn't her mother, not really. The police had told her that she was mentally ill, the torment of not being able to have her own children had driven her mad, causing her to take it out on her first husband – but Rapunzel didn't want to think about that and was glad that she hadn't gone the same way as he had. She stepped inside the building smiling at people and saying hello as she made her way to her unit. She greeted all over her patients with a grin before setting up the activities she had planned for the day – painting and board games. Pascal, the first real friend she had made since leaving the farmhouse, came up to her with a mug of tea.

"Morning, Sunshine!" He greeted her, with a grin.

"Hey Pascal!" She took the tea from him and smiled up at him. "Isn't it a lovely day today? I thought maybe we could take the paints and games outside this morning."

He ran a hand through his bright green hair and nodded.

"Sounds like a good idea too me! Just make sure everyone has a hat on, the last thing I want is for them all to get sun stroke!"

Pascal had a naturally caring nature and he made a very good nurse. He had just finished his training when Rapunzel had joined the staff at the care home and the two of them had hit it off instantly. He and his brother, Max, often had Rapunzel round for dinner, when Max wasn't working security at the museum. Max had a small crush on Rapunzel when her had first met her but once he and Rapunzel had gotten to know eachother, both him and Pascal thought of her as a baby sister.

"We've got a new lot starting today." Pascal frowned. "One of them is actually one of Max's conquests."

Rapunzel nodded, knowing what he meant. A new bunch of cons carrying out their community service by working off some hours at the care home. They weren't allowed to interact too much in a care-giving way with the patients so they normally ended up helping Rapunzel with the activities or the handyman, Ted.

"What did Max catch him for?" She asked, meaning the one that Pascal had referred to as Max's conquest.

"He was trying to steal that painting, you know? The Crown? The one of Corona's lost princess from however-many hundred years ago?" Rapunzel nodded to show that she knew which one he meant. "Somehow, the guy managed to get off with a suspended sentence and community service. But keep an eye on him, Rapunzel, he does anything else and he is going straight to prison."

"Okay, Pascal, but don't expect to use any of those moves that Max taught me if he tries to steal anything, I could lose my job!"

"Jeez, Rapunzel," Pascal chuckled, "I said keep an eye on him, not knock the guy over the head if he does anything you don't like!"

Pascal had insisted that she let Max teach her some self defence moves about a month or two after she started here, he knew bits and pieces of her story and about her past but not the full extent, so he knew that she didn't have much experience in the outside world. He wanted her to be prepared if anything happened to her, especially since she insisted on walking and catching public transport every where, regardless of the time of day.

Together, Pascal and Rapunzel assisted the patients with zimmer frames and wheelchairs to take them outside. She set some of them up with small easels and they began painting while she taught others how to play the card game Happy Families. Pascal had asked the kitchen staff if the patients from their unit could have their lunch outside today and come lunch time, Rapunzel had all the garden tables set up with pretty table clothes and picked some flowers from the large garden of the care home and placed them in glasses.

"What time are the new guys getting here?" Rapunzel asked Pascal.

"I think Conli said they were arriving around 2." Conli was the manager of the care home, "Any bets on how many of them will be late?"

Rapunzel and her friend laughed, there was always at least one of the community service lot who would turn up late on the first day, until Pascal put on his firm voice. They generally were never late again after that.

xXxXxXx

Flynn rolled over in his bed and glanced at the clock. 12.30pm. What time was he supposed to be at this stupid community service again? He sat up on the edge of his bed and rubbed his head. He looked at the bed behind him and cursed. She was still here. What was her name again? Damned if he could remember. He'd just go by her hair colour. Red. That was her name for now. He got up and headed for the shower and the girl in the bed next to him stirred.

"Where are you going?" She purred, reaching out for him as he stood up.

"Shower," He grumbled, annoyed that he hadn't suggested they go back to hers last night so that he wouldn't be stuck with her this morning.

"Need someone to wash your back?" She asked him seductively.

"No thanks," He smirked, he didn't want this girl here anymore but she obviously still wanted him. Maybe more so after last night.

He headed in to the bathroom of his small apartment, making sure to lock the door behind him. After he had showered, he headed back to his bedroom. She was still there in his bed, smiling at hi seductively.

"So, what are we gonna do today, Flynn Rider?" She looked at him through hooded eyes, obviously wanting more of what they had done last night. She reached for his hand.

"Well, you are going to leave," He told her, pulling his hand away, "I am going to damned community service."

She pouted, obviously annoyed that he wanted her to leave but he shook his head.

After the girl had gone, Flynn glanced at the piece of paper she had thrust in to his hand, a little too desperately, before leaving. There was a number and small note.

Call me for a repeat. Louisa xx

Louisa? That was definitely not the name he would have guesses. Good job he avoided using her name this morning, he could have sworn it was Sarah. Oh well. He looked in the mirror and was pleased with his reflection. Slipping his watch on – 1.30, better get a move on – he winked at himself in the mirror before leaving his apartment and heading for his motorbike. His most prized possession. He really wasn't looking forward to today. He thought about it as he drove for the care home. It was at least better than going to prison but really? An old people's home? He would have rather been picking up litter or cleaning graffiti off the walls. He supposed the judge probably thought he was being funny, he knew that she didn't like him. But then, he thought again that it was at least better than prison. He pulled up to the building, looming and brown, and hoped that it wasn't this dank looking inside. He pulled up on his bike and headed to the reception. Here comes the dullest day of my life, he thought.

XxxXxXx

Rapunzel smiled triumphantly. She had been right with her guess that 1 would be late. Pascal, ye of little faith, she had said, had thought at least 3 of them would show up late. So far there was 4 of them there and they were waiting for the fifth to show. Rapunzel was surprised that the majority of them were girls. There were two blonde girls, twins, who had been caught for fleecing tourists, a short, round boy who maintained that he was innocent but Rapunzel and Pascal already knew that was here for vandalism, and the fourth was a tall girl with a shirt pixie cut, dyed pink, who was here for the, uh, creative, graffiti she had sprayed on the side of the Corona museum. Rapunzel had to admit that these were pretty normal crimes for the community service types that had in here, which is why she was impressed that the newest guy, the one they were waiting for, had managed to get out with community service. Stealing a valuable painting was well above what any of these guys had done. The doors to the garden swung open and the one they had been waiting for strolled out in to the garden. Rapunzel had never seen anyone as handsome as him. He had floppy brown hair and a small goatee. She stared at him dumbstruck, before remembering why she was here and fixed him with a firm glare.

"You're late," she told him, a hint of disdain in her voice.

"Sorry," he smirked and offered her his hand, "But I'm here now. The name's Flynn, Flynn Rider."

I wanted this to be longer but I have to leave for work soon so leaving it here, please review and let me know what you think. I wanted it to be a bit more modern but wasn't really sure what to do. I work in a care home so figured I would stick to something I know. Rapunzel is roughly 19 in this and since I'm in England, the age for drinking etc. is 18, just to clear up any confusion that might come from future chapters. Please review!