AN - I've never written or posted anything like this before. Let me know what you all think.

Disclaimer - I don't own Tangled. Disney does.


It had all happened so fast. Eugene had cut the massive seventy foot length of hair from her head, erasing it's healing powers. It was like losing a limb. Rapunzel watched in horror as the magic faded from her mother and the youth that Gothel had maintained for centuries faded with it. Gothel, in her grief had stumbled and tripped and fell out the open window of the tower.

Rapunzel stared, breathing heavily and mouth agape, out the open window when an eerie silence crept through the tower.

She quickly spun to face where Gothel had tied Eugene to the staircase to find him laying completely still on his side.

Rapunzel rushed over to him and turned him where she could see his face. He was very pale. His vest had darkened a sickening deep shade of red where Gothel had stabbed him. Her heart sank at the sight.

"No, no, no, no, no." This couldn't be happening "Eugene?"

He coughed weakly.

Her heart skipped a beat. He wasn't dead. Not yet.

"Eugene, look at me. I'm right here. Don't go, stay with me Eugene! Everything is gonna be okay."

She wasn't sure if the words were meant to comfort him or herself.

Rapunzel gently grabbed his wrist and placed his hand on her head and hoped against all odds that it would work.

Flower, gleam and glow,

Let your power shine,

A sob escaped her, choking on the words.

Make the clock reverse,

Bring back what once was mine,

"Rapunzel." Eugene said with as much force as he could muster, which was very little, to get her attention.

"What?" She stopped her healing incantation with tears in her eyes. Rapunzel took his hand in hers, gripping It tightly, never wanting to let go, looked into his eyes. Tried to, at least, but he could barely open them. His strength was waning quickly.

"You were my new dream." He said weakly. His voice was almost a whisper.

Rapunzel sobbed once again.

"And you were mine."

Rapunzel watched his face, taking in everything at this moment. His breathing was very shallow, it made almost no motion or sound.

And then it happened. His gaps between breaths getting larger and larger with each intake, until they stopped completely and his grip on her hand loosened. Eugene Fitzherbert was dead.

She was alone.

She fought back the emotions that were tearing away at her insides.

Heal what has been hurt,

Change the Fates' design,

Save what has been lost,

Bring back what once was mine,

What once was mine

Rapunzel had barely managed to finish her song before she let her emotions run free, no longer holding back the tears.

She cried. Hard.

And cried.

And cried.

It was all her fault. If she hadn't been so selfish and conned him into taking her to the lantern festival this wouldn't have happened. If she had just given him his satchel back the day that they met he would have been on his way. That's what hurt the most. That she was responsible and there was nothing she could do to make it right. Eugene had taken his own life when he cut her hair. She felt so helpless.

A cold wind blew through the open window of the tower, making her shiver.

She was utterly alone.


Rapunzel awoke with a gasp, greedily sucking down gulps of the cool night air as her mind was quickly thrust back into reality. Her hand was clutched to her chest in a vain attempt to steady her heartbeat. She was drenched in sweat. She glanced over at her other pillow to see her chameleon companion still sleeping soundly. She hadn't woken him.

With several deep breaths she managed to steady her heartbeat. Untangling herself from her sheets, she swung her legs over the side of her bed. She sighed heavily and brought her hands to her face, rubbing the sleep from her eyes. This wasn't the first time she had a nightmare about her last visit to the tower she called home all those years, but it never got any easier.

Eugene always comforted her when she sought him out. The first time she had this dream was the worst. Empathy did not come easy to Eugene and he wasn't sure how best to ease the mind of the crying girl his arms beyond simple I'm here for you's and Everything is gonna be okay's but it seemed to help.

How close that nightmare was to being real was what shook her to her core. Were it not for some miracle that the last drop of the sun's magic had been passed through her tears, Eugene would have died for good on that day.

She shivered as a cool breeze blew through her open window, amplified by the moisture on her skin. Rapunzel quickly crossed her room, her simple nightgown billowing in the breeze and closed it.

She knew it was just a dream. That she should just lay back down and go back to sleep. But there was something nagging her at the back of her mind. She had to see Eugene. Just lay her eyes on him. To know that he is here in the palace with her.

Without bothering with slippers or a cloak, she crept from her room towards Eugene's, careful to avoid any guards that might be patrolling. They wouldn't be happy to catch her sneaking to his room in the middle of the night.

Carefully, she moved through the vast, daunting halls of the palace. It was so different from the tower. It was small and compact and everything she ever thought she needed was just a few steps away. Not like this place. It was so enormous. Where Rapunzel had only a single bookshelf in her room containing scant few books, the palace had an entire library, wall to wall with books. It blew her mind that something so large and spacious could be home. Her home.

Reaching the door to Eugene's room, she stared nervously at the handle. She didn't know what she would do if she opened that door and found no one inside. Her pulse was rising as she touched the handle, carefully and as quietly as she could, opened the door and crept inside, silently closing it behind her.

She looked towards his bed and could see his sleeping form, facing away from her. Lying on his side like he had that night. She made her way to a chair by the window on the far side of the room and sat, just watching him sleep. She listened to the sound of his breathing and smiled whenever he snored. He was sound asleep.

How long had she sat there? She didn't know. Just being in his presence, even if he was sleeping, was soothing. He was here and he was okay and not going anywhere.

So lost in her thoughts was she that she nearly jumped out of her skin when Eugene mumbled in his sleep.

"Extra large pancakes..." Eugene mumbled and rolled over in his sleep.

Rapunzel stifled a laugh, not wanting to wake him. She smiled. At least he wasn't bothered by what happened. Not that he advertised it.

She eyed the empty spot next to him in his bed. They hadn't slept together since her return to the palace. Her parents told her that it was improper for a young lady and Eugene agreed but didn't explain. She didn't understand. How was it improper for her to sleep in the same bed as him? They had slept in the woods just fine and no one complained. Surely one more night wouldn't hurt.

As carefully and quietly as she could, she approached his bed lifted the sheets, taking the place next to him. If he had woken, he hadn't made it known. She inched closer to him until she was up against his back. Her heart began to race at the contact. She nuzzled her face in the back of his neck, breathing in his scent. She felt his warm, rough skin as she reached an arm over his side and placed her hand on his bare chest. She sighed a sigh of contentment as she felt his heart beating.

He was here, he was alive, and he wasn't going anywhere. Rapunzel quickly drifted off into sleep.

There were no more bad dreams that night.