AN: I couldn't help myself. I had to write this. Later updates probably won't happen as quickly.
Anyway, thanks for such a warm response! I was expecting maybe two reviews, and to my surprise, I got six, and a lot more people favorite'd and put this on their alert list. So thank you very much! It helped me write this oneshot. I hope you enjoy it!
And I'll learn to get by
On the little victories
And if the world decides to catch up with me
It's a little victory.
– Matt Nathanson
2. The Best Birthday Ever
"Eugene?"
"Hm?"
"When is your birthday?"
Flynn glances up from the book he's reading to find Rapunzel looking back at him with a quizzical look on her face. He realizes this is going to take a while so he puts the book down on the table next to his red velvet chair and drags a hand through his perfect hair. She waits patiently on a couch across from where he sits. Pascal, on her shoulder, also looks at him with a questioning look on his little face.
He knows that this question would have come sooner or later, but he had no warning. How is he going to explain the orphan life to her? They had bigger things than birthdays to worry about. Like being warm at night. And how many meals they were going to have that day.
"Eugene?"
"Well, Blondie. I don't know when my birthday is," he says, rubbing his hand on his neck. "I never have. I just don't think about it."
She narrows her eyes at him. Then she starts laughing. "That's funny, Eugene. Everyone has to have a birthday!"
"I know I have one," he says indignantly, as if she's insulted his intelligence. "I just don't know when it is."
She thinks for a moment, staring thoughtfully into the distance with her hand on her chin. He doesn't know if she's seen someone do this clichéd pose in the short time they've been here in the castle, but she does it perfectly. He watches her with a blank look on his face and wonders what kind of evil torture she's going to put him through. He hopes she doesn't throw him a party. He could survive a few more decades without dancing again.
"I know!"
He cries on the inside.
"I'll make one week from today your birthday! I'll need a whole week to plan and get everything ready, so next week is perfect. Isn't that a good idea?"
One look at her excited face and he knows he's lost. He died for her. He could put up with a party or two. Maybe. If dancing wasn't included in the festivities. He sighs.
"Whatever. Just don't make me dance, okay?" he says as he picks up his book, slouches down in the huge chair, and rests one boot on the armrest his back isn't against.
"This will be even better than my birthday was," Rapunzel says mostly to the frog. Traitor. "We'll have a huge cake, lanterns, of course, and presents! And lots and lots of guests! To make up for all the years you didn't celebrate!"
Flynn doesn't even look up from his book. "Sure, sounds great!"
On the inside, he's dying a slow, painful death.
He spends the rest of the week on edge. He sneaks around corners, asks the cooks loaded questions, stares down Rapunzel as she hums quietly to herself while sewing the frog a shirt.
He finds no evidence of a large party being planned, but he grows increasingly suspicious. Three days after her decision to celebrate his "birthday", he and the frog have a staring contest that lasts nearly ten minutes before Rapunzel waltzes in the room, excitedly describing her princess lesson of the day. He listens and comments in all the right places as she describes how to behave at a state dinner, but the whole time he wonders what kind of torment she has already been able to plan for him.
That night, she disappears for three hours, leaving everyone frantic and worried. Flynn wonders what kind of trouble she's gotten herself into as he shoves on his older pair of boots and gets ready to go searching for her. It's useless getting ready, though, as she flings open his door right as he reaches out to open it, banging his head in the process.
He wakes up on the floor and sees her face a mere three inches away. The closeness startles him and he yelps, shocking her and causing her to fall back against the footboard of his bed.
"Blondie!" he exclaims when he remembers the events leading up to him waking up on the floor. "Where have you been?"
"That's for me to know and you to find out in four days," she says, giggling mischievously.
He rubs his head where the door whacked him and groans as he stands up. After his head stops spinning, he offers a hand to Rapunzel to help her up. "Come on, let's show your parents that you're still alive."
"Were they worried?"
"Well, you were missing for eighteen years and when no one sees you for a while, they start to get suspicious."
"Eugene."
"Yes?"
"Were you suspicious?"
Embarrassed silence.
"Eugene?"
"Oh, alright! Fine. I was worried about you. You may not have that magic hair anymore, but you're a princess. Be careful, okay?"
She complies, then excitedly shows him some ribbons she found while she was out.
On the fourth day after the verdict, he sneaks around a corner next to the great hall, where all the important royal events take place – like birthday parties, maybe? – he runs straight into Rapunzel herself.
"Hello, Eugene!" she greets him happily as she gathers up the papers she dropped upon impact. He attempts to help, feeling guilty, but she picks up the papers quickly and straightens them before he can react. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing." Suspicion returns. He leans down and narrows his eyes, trying to be funny, but it doesn't have that effect. Their faces are so close and she wonders if he's going to kiss her again. His eyes widen; he's thinking along the same lines. She drops the papers.
His lips meet hers fiercely, and she wraps her arms around his neck almost instantly. He lifts her up at her waist and presses her back against the wall, not breaking the contact. His thumbs, still at her waist, rub circles in her skin. Her fingers are twisting, pulling in his hair. She sighs happily into his mouth as his tongue pushes past her lips. She copies him by running her tongue against his lips, making him groan in pleasure.
He's so glad he taught her how to do that.
But it ends too quickly. He somehow remembers why he's in this part of the castle and almost reluctantly tears himself from her. He regrets it immediately when he looks at her, sees her against the wall, panting heavily with red cheeks and swollen lips.
"Why'd you stop?" she asks, making him feel even more annoyed with himself.
He has to look away to control himself from ravishing her right there in the hall, where anyone could walk by.
"Just give me a second," he pleads. He breathes deeply. When he looks at her again, she's composed herself as well. Her dress is in order and her hair is in place.
"I'm sorry," she says unsurely. "I didn't mean to make you upset."
"No, Rapunzel. I'm not upset." He smiles at her, which makes her smile in return. Suddenly, Pascal peeks out from behind her neck, looking traumatized. "But your frog might be."
Rapunzel takes Pascal into her palms and apologizes profusely. "Oh no! Pascal! I'm so sorry. When Eugene kisses me, I forget about everything!"
Flynn rolls his eyes and begins to walk away. "Have fun with your frog, princess. I'm going to go to the library and read about kittens or something else as sickeningly cute."
"Sure, Eugene. I'll see you at lunch, right? Pascal, I am so, so, so sorry. No, I don't love Eugene more than you. You know you're my number one."
Before he knows it, it's the night before his "birthday". Rapunzel has been able to keep the celebration a complete surprise. He has no idea how many people are involved, what festivities have been planned, or even what food they will eat. He hopes no one he's victimized will be at this party. That would make things awkward.
He wakes up and it's like any other day. He meets Rapunzel outside the dining room and they smile and look cutely at each other before entering. His fondness of this girl is embarrassing and sometimes gross, but he can't help himself. Inside, her father talks about the new addition to the library he's planning in Rapunzel's honor and her mother comments on the garden and how much Rapunzel has done to bring it to new life.
His "birthday" is not mentioned once, but he swears on his life Rapunzel sends him secret smiles behind her napkin.
The rest of the day is the same. Flynn enters each room slowly, waiting to be ambushed, but nothing ever happens. He feels a little disappointed, honestly, and he wonders if Rapunzel discovered pranks and decided to try one on him.
At lunch, she is the same, unusually quiet and secretive, but obviously not troubled. The King and Queen look between them, trying to figure out what is happening. Rapunzel excuses herself halfway through the meal and essentially runs from the room, leaving three very confused people behind.
Then he discovers that she had cancelled her princess lesson of the day, and he becomes wary again.
At five, a servant hands him a folded piece of paper and runs away. Flynn stares after him, wondering what the hell just happened. He opens the paper.
Meet me in the tallest tower. – R
He practically runs there.
What he sees when he gets there is not what he expected. She has cleaned the entire room at the top of the tower, leaving the old wood looking clean and polished. A table is in the middle, covered with a white cloth and at least a dozen lit candles. Two plates are piled high with his favorite foods.
"I hope you like it," Rapunzel says, breaking the astonished silence.
"Are you kidding?" Flynn exclaims. "This is great, Blondie."
"I'm so glad."
Then they grin at each other like the love-struck fools they are and sit down. Rapunzel lets Flynn dig in first, and he does so eagerly.
"I figured out which foods you like the most," she said, "because you eat them last. You save the best for last!"
He laughs between bites.
"Do you like the food?" she asks. He doesn't speak, but answers with a nod. "I made it myself. The cooks thought I was crazy when I asked, but I thought it would mean more if I made it. I knew you wouldn't really enjoy a big party."
"You were right," he tries to tell her, but it comes out more like, "Ooo ere ight."
She laughs this time and they eat in a content silence. When they are both full, Rapunzel stands and takes Flynn's hand. He lets her lead him to the window, where they both watch the sun start to set.
"Eugene," she says, turning to look at him. He grins down at her.
"Hm?"
"Happy birthday."
"Thanks, Blondie." He's so glad she didn't plan a whole festival for him.
"I have something for you," she says, going back to the table. She lifts the cloth and pulls out a paper lantern much like the ones they launched on her birthday, only this time it's a bluish green color. Using a candle from the table, she lights it and brings it over to him.
"Blondie, this is great," he says as she gives it to him. "Let's let go of it together."
She likes this plan and they stand at the open window, waiting for the sun to disappear beneath the horizon line. When it does, she and Flynn push it up into the air together and watch it rise over the city below them. Flynn wraps an arm around Rapunzel's waist and she snuggles up against his side. When it disappears from their sight, Flynn leans down and kisses her gently. He's able to control himself this time before it gets too far and when he pulls away from her, he whispers, "This is the best birthday I've ever had."