Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or Tangled. If I did that would be awesome...

Pascal

Rapunzel was bored, but that wasn't a new sensation. After her 12th birthday, her Mother didn't visit as much. Rapunzel never thought much about why her mother didn't live with her, she had never seen another family, so how was she supposed to know that this wasn't normal parent behavior.

Rapunzel sighed, she had done everything she could think of (cleaning, sewing, baking, painting...etc) the problem was that it was only noon. Rapunzel climbed into the window sill letting her hair drop outside. It was getting long, more than five feet, still not long enough to reach ground.

Rapunzel heard a sound from across the room.

"Uncle Rumple!" Rapunzel cried out, running over to hug Rumplestiltskin.

"Uh What have I said about the hugs" Rumplestiltskin said stiffly

"To not to" Rapunzel said smiling brightly, "But when do I ever listen to you?"

"Never dearie, I know"

"What are you doing here?" Rapunzel asked circling Rumplestiltskin.

"Looking for something of your mother's" Rumplestiltskin said pointing Mother's desk.

"Does she know that you're doing that?" Rapunzel asked with a smirk on her face, already knowing the answer.

"Of course not. Don't be silly." Rumplestiltskin began to dig through her drawers.

"Mmmm" Rapunzel stood over Rumplestiltskin's shoulder. "You know I might need something...you know, to keep quiet."

"You are a devious child." Rumplestiltskin laughed.

"I am not a child." Rapunzel pouted.

Rumplestiltskin raised an eyebrow. Rapunzel glared right back.

"Fine. What do you want?" Rumplestiltskin crumbled.

"There is nothing to do here-"

"I cannot let you go outside" Rumplestiltskin immediately pointed out, "Your mother would have my head."

"I wasn't going to ask that."

"Of course you weren't" Rumplestiltskin said condescendly.

"What I was going to ask for was for someone to talk to."

"What? Like a pet?" Rumplestiltskin asked, genuinely confused.

"Sure like a pet...what is a pet?" Rapunzel said slowly.

"An animal that belongs to you."

"Oh! That would be so much fun!" Rapunzel jumped up and down in excitement.

"A deal is struck. Remember not a word from you." Rumplestiltskin said, poking her nose gently.

"I wouldn't dream of it." Rapunzel said brightly.

Rapunzel meandered towards the kitchen. She had baked a peach pie that morning. She got it out and cut a slice. It smelt delicious.

"Rumple, would you like some pie?" Rapunzel asked, turning around. He had vanished, all the papers on the desk were put back exactly the way they had been before he showed up. He left without saying goodbye. Rapunzel stabbed the piece of pie angrily. She hated when he did that.

Rapunzel lied on her bed reading a book her mother got her. It was her third time reading it. Suddenly she heard muffled voices. Slowly Rapunzel crept out of her room, to the top of the staircase.

Her mother was in the room below, but she wasn't alone, another woman has with her. The new woman was tall, with long brown hair cascading down her back. She was wearing tan leather pants under a loose white shirt.

"Regina, you have to help me!" She pleaded with Rapunzel's mother. Rapunzel wondered for a brief moment why this woman called her mother, Regina. Her name was Gothel.

"Cheshire, there is only so much I can do. Where is Jefferson and Grace?"

"At home. They don't know the danger yet."

"Well you shouldn't have angered the Queen of Hearts."

"How was I supposed to know she had magic?!" Cheshire cried out.

"By using your own magic. How bad is the curse?" Regina/Gothel asked reaching out for Cheshire's hand. Rapunzel stifled a gasp. That woman's hand had a black mark in the middle of her palm, black tendrils went to her veins.

"I'm not going to make it, am I?" Cheshire asked nervously.

"It depends. The person you should be asking is Rumplestiltskin, but I might be able lessen the curse."

"Would you really! Thank you! I knew I could depend on you!" Cheshire said gratefully.

"You saved my life, I owe you a favor." Regina paused, "Most likely you will never be able to see Jefferson or Grace again." Regina pointed out.

"I know" Cheshire said softly, "If I do, this curse will pass to them as well. I can't let that happen. It is better they think me dead." Cheshire held back tears.

"As you wish." Regina headed to her desk, but paused, cocking her head to the side.

"Rapunzel?" She called out carefully.

"Yes" Rapunzel dutifully responded, standing up to let her mother see her.

"I want you to stay in your room, until my guest is gone."

"Is she your daughter?" Cheshire asked, smiling a watery smile.

"Yes" Regina lied. "Shut the door behind you, dear"

Rapunzel went back to her room, slowly closing her door. The last thing she heard was her mother asking:

"How do you feel about cats, Cheshire?"

Rapunzel pressed her back on her door, thinking quickly, how did mother know that woman? and why did she call her mother Regina? A few minutes passed by before Regina came to the door.

"Rapunzel, honey?"

"Yes mother?" Rapunzel answered obediently, opening her door quickly.

"How much did you hear?"

'Nothing important, I swear I wasn't eavesdropping."

Regina quickly studied her, "I believe you"

"Though...I did hear her call you Regina? But that's not your name...your name is Gothel." Rapunzel said puzzled.

"Just a nickname, my name is Gothel, but my name to you is mother. Understand?" Regina lied smoothly.

"Yes mother."

"Anyways I am going out, I will be back tomorrow."

"Goodbye Mother. I love you." Rapunzel kissed Regina's cheek.

"Good bye" Regina turned away and left the tower.

"She didn't say she loves you." Rumplestiltskin whispered into Rapunzel's ear.

"Aaahhhh!" Rapunzel screamed, shocked, and just a tad bit scared. Rumple laughed.

"You weren't expecting me were you?"

"You just startled me, that's all." Rapunzel said quickly, brushing her skirts straight. "And she does love me."

"If you say so. I brought you my side of our little deal."

"Really?!"

Rumplestiltskin opened his hand up. There on his palm was a little baby green lizard. I lazily opened it's giant eyes, and gazed up at Rapunzel, happily."

"It's so cute...what is it?" Rapunzel asked quietly, leaning in towards it.

"A chameleon. They even change colors when their mood changes. Open your hand." Rumple instructed.

Rapunzel opened her small hand, and Rumple placed the little chameleon there. It sat there and nuzzled her palm gently.

"Does it have a name?" Rapunzel asked, "Names are important to you."

"Good remembering, his name is Pascal."

"Pascal" Rapunzel whispered. She looked up, Rumplestiltskin was gone. But this time it didn't bother her because she had someone now.

"Pascal...we're going to have the best day ever!" Rapunzel squealed with excitement.

And so Rapunzel and Pascal stayed in their tower getting occasional visits from Regina and Rumplestiltskin. Regina wasn't particularly happy that Rumple got Rapunzel a pet, but there was little that she could do. For years everything was calm, and nothing really happened other than Rapunzel's hair growing absurdly quickly, until 3 days before Rapunzel's 18th birthday, when a mystery man came and changed everything.