It's cupcake time! :D As always, I'd love to know what you think!

She turns her head slightly in confusion, but she follows my lead as I walk down the road. "Is this place like the Snuggly Duckling?"

"This place is nothing like there, I promise."

She surprises me by seeming to be almost disappointed at that revelation.

No, there were no ruffians or thugs at this place. Just mouth-watering pastries and coffee. Oh yeah, I could definitely handle a cup of java after the past twenty-four hours. Though the idea of Blondie having caffeine is enough to make me nervous. She seems to have enough energy for the entire village. Maybe I'll introduce her to coffee another day.

We walk to the area where the little girls had braided her hair. Instead of going to the right as we had earlier, I steer her to the left. A large building with delicious smells is before us: Gusto's Bakery. I gesture for her to walk inside the shop.

She doesn't even take two steps inside before spinning around with a stunned look on her face. Somehow I knew she would have a sweet tooth. "Eugene," she whispers excitedly, "look at all of this!"

Dozens of pastries, cupcakes and pies are on the shelves behind the large counter where a plump man is working. I smile at her. "Everything here is good." I raise my voice slightly. "Isn't it, Gusto?"

He looks up from his work and scowls. Well, it's nice to know that his feelings for me haven't changed since I last saw him. "Flynn Rider." His greeting is accompanied by a stern look. "I hear you're in trouble with the guards again."

He doesn't seem too impressed with the rumors that are circulating around Corona. That's too bad really. Some of them are really quite entertaining.

Before he starts telling me what he really thinks about me and my illegal activities, he notices Blondie standing there with her amazed look on her face. All traces of anger vanish from his face and he gives her a wide, friendly smile. "But, where are my manners? Welcome to Gusto's Bakery, my dear. This man isn't giving you any trouble, is he?"

I tense for a second, imagining Blondie in all of her wide-eyed innocence telling Gusto that "Eugene" is a perfect gentleman and she is perfectly safe in his company.

I shudder at the thought.

My fear, however, is unwarranted.

"Who? Flynn?" Though it seems strange for her to use my alias, I relax as I realize that she's willing to keep my fake reputation in place. She shakes her head. "You don't have to worry about me. I've got a frying pan nearby to keep him in line."

Though Gusto has no idea what she's talking about, he seems amused that Flynn Rider has apparently found his match. He laughs heartily. "I like her already, Rider. What can I get the two of you?"

"I don't know," Blondie says, looking worried. "There are so many thing to choose from. Mother and I don't have much in the-"

This is really not the place to be discussing her place of exile. "House," I quickly interrupt.

Her eyes widen as she realizes her near-slip. "Oh, right! The house."

"About a couple of cupcakes?" I suggest. "Perfect for celebrating a birthday."

She nods as Gusto brings out a tray of the sugary sweets. Cupcakes covered in blue, green, pink and white icing are presented before us. Blondie picks out a pink one for herself and I choose the cupcake with the vanilla frosting.

"That will be twenty-two duits," Gusto says after he comes back from replacing the tray.

I cough and sputter. Twenty-two duits? They should buy me the entire tray of cupcakes! "Did you say twenty-two duits?"

Gusto crosses his arms. He is absolutely serious. "That's to make up for the muffins you stole from me the last time. Plus interest!"

"Oh come on!" I grumble. "I was hungry! You don't want a poor kid to go hungry, do you?"

He is unmoved by my attempt to guilt him into changing his mind. "That might have worked when you were a lad, but you are a grown man now! Thieving is unacceptable." He shoots a look at Blondie. "You don't want your lady friend to get into trouble because of your unsavory habit, do you?"

I glower at him. That was low to pull Blondie into the conversation, even for him. I pull out the proper amount of coins. "Twenty-two duits."

A smug, satisfied smile spreads over his lips. "Pleasure doing business with you, Mr. Rider." I always knew Gusto was a talented baker, I just never knew he made such a crafty businessman as well.

Less than a minute later, our hands are full of cupcake goodness as Gusto reminds Blondie not to go far from her frying pan.

As we walk outside to the high-back chairs and small tables, I glance back inside where Gusto is animatedly talking to his wife. Probably about Blondie and her unique method to "keep me in line" and the fact he pushed me to pay that ridiculous amount for two cupcakes.

I set down my cupcake on the table furthest from the window. I'm not planning on giving Gusto any more ammunition.

"Is everyone here so nice?" she asks.

Is she kidding me? She thinks Gusto is nice. Well, I guess he was kind to her. "Sure, as long as you're not a wanted criminal," I respond dryly.

"Did you really steal from him?" she asks quietly. "He seems so friendly!"

I shrug, not really wanting to talk about it. "I was hungry." The truth was, I wasn't. It had just been a few days since I had the opportunity to...acquire something that wasn't my own and the muffins called to me as I was evading Corona's finest. But, I don't think Blondie would appreciate what really happened.

"That's terrible, Eugene! Why didn't-"

To my shock and horror, two royal guards suddenly turn the corner. Without thinking, I grab Blondie and pull her under the table, hiding us behind the cloth. "What are you doing?" she hisses.

"Unless you want to be watching the lanterns from a jail cell, don't say a word! There are two guards that are coming this way," I whisper.

Her eyes widen in horror at the thought. She clamps her hands over her mouth for good measure.

All right, Rider, how do you get out of this mess?

I can see the guards' boots from the sliver of ground I can see from under the tablecloth. They are close. Too close. I subconsciously hold my breath as they take a step in our direction.

"If they find me, you need to run," I instruct, my voice barely audible. "They won't follow you."

She shakes her head and removes her hand from her mouth. "I'm not leaving you, Eugene," she whispers. Tears are starting to form in her eyes.

I knew she was going to say that. "Listen, Blondie, you're going to have to trust me. Go and find Max. He'll be able to take you somewhere safe. I should be able to lose the guards."

I hope.

She swallows thickly as they guards take another step towards us. "I can't," she admits brokenly. "I can't leave you." She draws herself up slightly. "I won't."

The entire situation is quite endearing when I think about it: a wanted criminal urges the only person in the world who likes him for who he really is to flee from the law but she refuses to leave his side.

"All right," I acquiesce. "If they find us, we'll go back to the sea wall where we had lunch. We should be safe there."

She nods, looking far more braver than I feel.

Just as I am accepting my fate of making Blondie a fugitive, an unexpected savior speaks.

Gusto.

"Alder! Hans! Got stuck with doing patrol today, eh?"

To my astonishment, their booted feet start moving away from our hiding spot towards the front door of the bakery. Oh, those twnety-two duits were well-spent, I think.

Now that they are distracted, I tilt my head sideways, silently telling Blondie to follow me. She carefully grabs our cupcakes -which somehow survived our quick dash under the table-and we sneak from under the table to the intersection down the main road.

I know we're not in the clear; Gusto won't be able to distract them for long. I scan the area for somewhere we can hide until the soldiers pass by.

There!

On the corner of one of the smaller side streets, I see a small archway that will allow us to tuck away, out of sight from the guards. "This way." I guide her through the throngs of people, hoping we don't seem too suspicious. She follows me without hesitation and we step into the arch not a moment too soon.

"Here," she says, handing me my cupcake.

The unmistakable sound of the soldiers' boots booming off the cobblestone is approaching us. But, as I expected, they make a left turn towards the city center and away from us.

We did it. We managed to elude the guards.

I let out a sigh of relief and give Blondie a sincere smile. She grins back at me.

"Come on," I say, stepping out of the shadows. "Let's find some place to go eat these."

We decide the safest place to devour out treats is back where we came, knowing the guards were unlikely to return to the bakery. I don't even have a chance to sit down before Gusto comes out wearing a rather pleased look on his face.

"Do you have something you want to say to me?"

Look, I know he just helped us from escaping a potentially bad situation, but I find myself having trouble forming the words of thanks. Flynn Rider doesn't need people to help him flee from the law.

Or, at least he didn't. Not before yesterday.

"Thank you," I mutter.

"What was that?" He holds his hand up to his ear. He is enjoying this far too much.

"You heard me."

He lets out a loud belly-laugh. I swear, if he hadn't just helped us, I would have some choice words for him. Instead I roll my eyes. "Are you done yet?"

He nods and I feel myself relax. "Though I make no promises if they come back." Gusto studies me for a second. "I don't know what you did, Rider, but you've gotten them pretty upset."

"It's part of my charm." I lean back in the chair and cross my arms.

This time it's his time to roll his eyes. "You know, you didn't have to go down this path. Your apprenticeship with Mr. Popper was all but certain."

I notice Blondie watching our exchange with unconcealed interest. She already knows too much of my back story for my liking.

I shrug. "This seems like the better option."

Gusto looks pointedly at Blondie for a second. "Are you still sure about that?"

I don't have an answer for him.

Finally, he turns to Blondie. "I apologize for my lack of manners, my dear. I'll let you enjoy your dessert with your friend." He walks back inside the bakery.

She's about the open her mouth, not doubt full of questions about what Gusto just said when I cut her off. "No more back story. Let's just enjoy the cupcake."

Maybe she knows how Gusto's comments bothered me because she doesn't press the issue. Instead she studies the cupcake. "It looks delicious!" As if she is unsure about the icing, she carefully sticks her tongue out and tastes the sugary coating.

"It tastes even better!"

As if by magic, all gloom that threatened to overtake me by thoughts of my past fades away. If I had taken that apprenticeship then there is no way I would have ever stumbled onto Blondie's tower. So, I have to say, I'm pretty happy with the decisions that I have made in my life so far.

"Yeah, Gusto is the best baker for a hundred miles." I take a bite out of the spongy cake.

"Yum!" she squeals before taking a bite of her own cupcake.

Let me just tell you, Blondie is a very enthusiastic eater when it comes to sweets. I'm pretty sure I enjoyed watching her eat the cupcake as she did tasting it.

"Do you think he'll give me the recipe? I'm a pretty good baker."

Despite my improved mood, I'm not ready from anymore time with Gusto. "We'll come back later." Well, if later means never, anyway.

"All right," she agrees.