Disclaimer: I own nothing only the story line.

Chapter 4

For the next few weeks Gothel had requested for Rapunzel to be dressed in the same manner from when the Sirs first arrived to the manor. Rapunzel found it to be appalling having to dress up just for the sake of Flynn's present. She even begged her mother just one day to go about the mansion in her usual attire with her hair flowing loosely and her feet bare, but her mother quickly dismissed the thought.

A couple of days after that, Rapunzel was found missing from the group's activities. She wouldn't show up for breakfast or lunch, only dinner. She didn't attend the small strolls around the island or the garden events they would hold. Instead, Rapunzel kept herself busy in her tower or the many shelfs of the library. Lessons had been cancelled since the Sirs arrival, only to give her more time to be in their presence. Unfortunately it was one thing Rapunzel wasn't willingly giving any more.

Sir Rodney had grown tired of Rapunzel's rude behaviour and had approached it at breakfast one morning that he and his son would be leaving in the next week because of it.

"You must give her some time Sir Rodney," Gothel defended her daughter as she took a sip pf her morning wine, a thing she had added to breakfast since the Overlands funeral.

"I have given her much time, Lady Gothel, and I have grown quiet tired. And I'm sure my son has too," Sir Rodney sternly said as he took a bite from his freshly poached eggs.

"Father, I do not mind Ms Rapunzel's absence," Flynn stated from where he sat. "I'm sure she will come around, it is only a matter of time-"

"Yes, time that we don't have."

"Sir Rodney," Gothel said placing her glass of wine back onto the table. "Let me talk with my daughter, I'm sure I can handle her absence."

"I could, if you like Lady Gothel," Flynn proposed with a smile.

"Oh?" Gothel looked surprised at the young man seated across from her. "And how do you suppose to do that?"

"Tonight, I think I shall tell Ms Rapunzel why I had travelled from England," Flynn stated as he picked up a glass of water seated nearby.

"Good suggestion son," Sir Rodney said with a smile.

"It will get the ball rolling I'm sure," Gothel agreed with a smile.

"So it's settled then?" Flynn asked raising his glass. "Tonight?"

Gothel and Sir Rodney exchanged a glance before mirroring Flynn's actions with their own glasses, they clinked as they touched.

"Tonight," they agreed in union before taking a sip from their glass. Flynn followed, a satisfied smile creeping across his lips as he did so.

~0~

Meanwhile, Rapunzel was seated in her room. She had been dressed for the day earlier that morning. Since the Sirs had arrived Emily would awaken her at the break of dawn just to dress her. Today she was wearing an olive green dress which made her figure bulge from all the ruffles hidden inside the skirt. Her hair had been done up in the same high bun from the first dinner with the Sirs and her makeup now was glittering with green. She absolutely hated her reflection when Emily had finished.

She sighed heavily in between her bites of the small piece of bread she had managed to steal the night before. Pascal made worrying chirps in her direction, she only gave him a small smile before placing the rest of the bread in front of him to eat, he did so happily.

"I guess it's going to be another day in the library," she sighed as she stood from her seat. "Not that I don't mind, maybe I could even go from a stroll in the garden? That's if I'm lucky," she mumbled to herself. She had tended to do that recently.

She excited her room and quickly retrieved to the library. Usually she would be interrupted by either her mother or Flynn, but today had been quiet; she was even able to read three books without interruption. She sighed pleasantly as she sat her last book down. This book had been about a love so pure it drove them both to the gates of death. She wondered if her love for Jack would have been this pure, but she quickly pushed it away.

Deciding to refresh her mind with a little fresh air, she retrieved to the garden. Her favourite part of the mansion garden would have to be the flower garden. All different kinds of flowers bloomed there. It gave the white mansion a spurt of colour and pleasant smell. Besides the grave yard, the flower garden had been her second sanctuary from the suitors and her mother, mostly the outside world.

She walked through the many rows of different spring flowers, inhaling their sweet smell. She stayed clear of roses. For weeks she had smelt like them, another whiff would make her double over in sickness.

She walked through the garden with her eyes closed and her nose in the air, unaware that a pair of eyes was watching her from afar.

~0~

Flynn stood at the balcony watching the maiden with the strange long golden hair. He remembered his conversation with his father a few weeks ago before they ventured out in search for the beautiful maiden.

~0~

"I think it's high time you settled down son," his father approached him quite blankly.

"But I like my fun," Flynn replied with a devilish smile.

"Yes well, Sarah doesn't like cleaning up after your hags every other morning," his father objected sternly.

"Oh Sarah will be fine, all she has to do is wake the young laddies from their sleep and scoot them out into the street, no harm done." Flynn brushed it off with a shrug as he walked away from his father.

"A young maiden on an island out at sea is in search of a husband," his father sighed, sitting at his desk once more.

"Oh, is that so?" Flynn asked holding his chin within his hand. "Body size?" he asked as if this were an everyday thing, which it was.

"Slim, but an hour glass none of the less," his father replied in the same tone.

"Skin?"

"Sun kissed, but slightly pale as well."

"Lips?"

"Lush and pinkish."

"Eyes?"

"Her mother stated that they were a spring green colour, quiet large in fact, and all most innocent like."

Flynn smiled at the thought; the innocent ones were always the most fun.

"Hair colour?"

"Blonde, although some say it's golden. And it is rumoured to be long, very long."

Flynn's smile wavered a little bit, he had a thing with brunettes, but, who could by pass by an innocent blonde?

"Marriage you say?" he asked, turning to his father once more.

"Yes. Please Flynn, it's time you settled down. Besides, this girl is so beautiful, you can have your way with her all you like."

~0~

Flynn thought of his father's proposal. He had grown quiet bored swooning almost every woman in the country; maybe something new couldn't harm anything. So he agreed. Only now he wishes his father had mentioned Rapunzel sooner. Rapunzel was beautiful, that was no lie, and her knowledge bewildered him and also her spicy attitude. Rapunzel was the only woman he had come across who actually knew her way with words. When Flynn was in Rapunzel's presence all he could think about was how strong of a woman she was and wonders if she brought those strong characteristic to the bed chambers.

He watched the innocent Rapunzel below him glide lightly around the garden, all awhile thinking about her in a manner he wouldn't dream talking about aloud. His father approached him, interrupting his devilish thoughts.

"Should you do it now?" his father asked, he watched the unaware Rapunzel below.

"I suppose so. The flower garden is a romantic place for the moment, isn't it?" Flynn chuckled slightly.

"Yes it is," his father agreed before looking out at the horizon. "In a couple of minutes, dusk will fall over the garden, and it looks like Ms Rapunzel will not be leaving the garden anytime soon," his father stated, looking back at him.

Flynn nodded at his father's words, "I understand father."

"Good," Sir Rodney turned and placed a hand on his sons shoulder, "Good luck, my son," he nodded at Flynn before leaving.

"Thank you father," Flynn called behind him.

Flynn waited until dusk had fallen over the flower garden, like his father had said, before retrieving from the balcony to stand next to Rapunzel.

Rapunzel stood still. Eyes closed, nose in the air, breathing softly, tasting the sweet smell of the flowers on her tongue. Unaware that Flynn was sneaking up on her.

"Hi there."

A cry of surprise left Rapunzel's lips as she darted off to the side, heart pounding. When she properly arranged herself Flynn was chuckling hysterically beside her.

"You know, Sir Eugene Flynnigain Ryder," Rapunzel huffed as she straightened her frightened state. "It's not polite to sneak up on unexpecting laddies."

"Ah, come now, Ms Rapunzel," Flynn chuckled, giving her his hundred dime winner smile. "Where would the fun be in that?"

Rapunzel rolled her eyes at the man before sorting out her hair in its large bun. "How may I help you Sir?" she asked, taking up her stroll once more, Flynn followed closely in her step.

Flynn cleared his throat before speaking, "I think it's high time I took our relationship further."

Rapunzel stopped in her tracks. She did so abruptly that Flynn almost ran into her back side. "I didn't even know we had a relationship till now," she said plainly, looking over her shoulder at him. She dreaded for what came next, she made a promise and she couldn't break it now.

Flynn straightened his black leather vest before propping to one knee in front of Rapunzel. Shakily, Rapunzel turned around to face him, her small sweaty hands swept up by his.

"Ms Rapunzel Corona, would you do me the pleasure of becoming my bride?" Flynn asked, it sounded so used, so rehearsed. Nothing came from the heart that much Rapunzel knew.

They stood together in silence. Rapunzel's breathing became rugged and heavy, oh how she wished Jack was alive at that very moment. "Yes…" the word slipped through her lips without her knowing.

Flynn returned to standing, taking something from his trousers pocket. "I do not have a ring at this time, but take this simple flower as a step in," he said, handing the blue flowers to her. Rapunzel studied the flower, her heart sank even further.

"A for-get-me-not…." The words barely passed through her lips. Tears beaded her lower eye lids, Flynn saw this and brought her towards him. She pushed herself from Flynn's embrace, mumbling a short apologise and retrieved from the garden.

She had no idea where her legs were taking her; all she could think about was Flynn's proposal. Her body came to a stop. When she looked up to where she was taken her breath hitched. She was standing in front of Jack's empty grave.

~0~

"What do you mean? You don't know where she could have gone?" Gothel spat at the young Flynn.

They stood in her small office. It wasn't much, just a desk and chair with few papers and the walls surrounded by books, plus the small fire place off to the left side. Gothel and Sir Rodney had retrieved here to speak a silent word about their children's relationship when Flynn had interrupted them telling them he had proposed but Rapunzel had gone missing shortly after wards.

"I mean what I said," Flynn defended himself. "After our small meeting in the flower garden she disappeared. I checked everywhere, the library, the kitchen, I even had Emily search her tower and still no sign of her."

Gothel sunk into her chair, worry circled her once pride figure. "Where could she have gone then?" she asked quietly to no one in particular.

"Well we must find her," Sir Rodney proposed. "We cannot have a missing bride-to-be at this very time."

"Yes, yes, I know that Rodney," Gothel said behind her hand that held her face. "She would not have gone off to get away from this, I can guarantee you that much."

"Then where could she have gone?" Sir Rodney scoffed. He, personally, had quite enough of Rapunzel's disappearance during their stay and now to find that she had ran off after his son proposed she wasn't in his good books right now.

"Lady Gothel is right, Sir Rodney," Emily informed the steaming man, she had been silently standing in the room the whole time. "Rapunzel did not run off, she is just taking in the sudden news," she looked at Gothel who had now looked up from her hand to watch Emily speak. Understanding filled Gothel's brown eyes, she knew where her daughter had taken off.

"Oh and I suppose you know where she has taken off to house maid?" Sir Rodney asked.

"I do indeed, but I will not tell you. Rapunzel wishes to be alone right now," Emily replied sternly, she did not like this Sir Rodney.

Gothel could feel the tension in the room grow as Emily and Sir Rodney glared at each other. She cleared her throat catching every ones attention again. "Do not fret Sirs, my daughter will return later on this evening, for now let us not worry about her whereabouts. I know where she is and that's all."

Sir Rodney and Flynn took Gothel's word for it and left it at that.

~0~

Rapunzel stayed at Jack's grave well and truly into the night. She wept until she could no longer cry tears. "Dam you Jack," Rapunzel cursed through her dry sobs. "Dam you, why did you have to go and die on me?" Her unanswered question only left her to cry more.

There was not a living soul, beside Rapunzel, in the grave yard. No one comforted her as she wept, only the moon's light, somehow, gave her some comfort.

"The moon will always give you comfort Punzie, even if I can't, remember that." Jack's boyish voice echoed through her head. She smiled softly at the thought. She wiped her tears from her cheeks before turning to the moon in its beautiful state.

"Thank you," she whispered to the large rock in space. "I suppose I should return the favour, for your beautiful light." With that she undid her bun, the golden strands fell to the dry earth pooling out behind her back. She gathered some of her hair into her lap and stroked it like with was a kitten.

"You have such a beautiful voice Punzie." Jack's voice rang through her head.

"Would you like me to sing for you?" Rapunzel's girlish voice replied.

"No, no. Leave your voice for your powers. I wouldn't want to be selfish."

A series of giggles from Rapunzel's old self erupted in her mind. "Jack, I would love to sing my song for you for the rest of my days."

"Promise?"

"I promise."

At that moment her present self began to sing.

"Flower gleam and glow

Let you power shine

Make the clock reverse

Bring back what once was mine

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 stroked her glowing hair with slim fingers. Her powers didn't do healing this time, she had no damage to herself, but it did make her feel happy at that moment. When she finished her song she sighed at the moon. It seemed to glow a little brighter now, as if thanking her for her little show. An image of Jacks young face crossed the moon's surface, he smiled down at her and she smiled back. Her eyes brimmed with tears once more.

"Rapunzel?" a voice asked into the night.

The image of Jack's face disappeared from the moons face as Rapunzel looked to the earth in confusion. When she looked up she noticed Emily was standing behind her.

"Emily?" Rapunzel sniffed, wiping her nose with her dress sleeve. The olden maid nodded at her, and then she began to cry again.

"Dear, sweet Rapunzel," Emily cooed as she sat beside Rapunzel's crying figure, rubbing her back for comfort.

"What is going to happen to me?" Rapunzel asked, looking back at Emily. "What is my fate?"

Emily took a moment to think. In this moment she studied Rapunzel's fragile state. The poor girl was covered in dirt from where she had laid from crying, her eyes where blood shotted and dry, and her golden hair seemed to shine a little less, even after the show Emily had just witness before. Rapunzel must have only just realised Emily had watched her hair glow for she pulled out of Emily's arm quickly.

"You must think I'm a freak," Rapunzel said, turning away from her.

"What? No, no Rapunzel," Emily reached for the girl again. "I could never see you as a freak," she assured Rapunzel, slightly patting her back.

Rapunzel smiled at Emily's words. She wiped her nose again, "he said he would never either," she sniffed, turning her gaze towards Jack's tome stone.

Emily looked past Rapunzel's head and read the tome stone with a sad smile. She said sadly before turning back to Rapunzel, "You loved him, didn't you?"

Rapunzel shrugged under Emily's touch. "I do not know what love is. And even if I did-no-I couldn't. That would mean I love a ghost."

Emily took another moment to think. "Before you asked me what your fate is now, would you like me to answer?" Rapunzel nodded numbly. Emily sighed, bringing Rapunzel into her arms. Once Rapunzel was comfortable, Emily stated to caress her hair.

"You are going to marry Sir Flynn, and it's going to be a glorious wedding, the biggest wedding the island has ever seen before. After that, you will bore five beautiful children and live in the mansion to the end of your days, and during those days, you will think of your friend Jack, and thank him for showing you what love and lost was like. You are going to die in your warm bed, surrounded by your children and your loving husband, Flynn, and you will reunite with Jack and live happily ever after."

Rapunzel sobbed throughout Emily's words. She would have liked what Emily had said if she wanted it, but she didn't. Her life was planned out for her. And there was no getting out of it.

Poor Rapunzel :/ Will she ever be happy again? Only time will tell! I promise you the next chapter she will be happy, but what for? Well your just gunna have to read to find out ;) Until next time! Bye!