Ana was exhausted but made sure everything was being taken care of for Rapunzel. Manny sent the police to the hospital to question Ana about the report of abuse. She confirmed as well as the doctor the abuse Rapunzel was dealing with at home. Because Rapunzel was still knocked out she couldn't answer any questions yet, but in the meantime, the police took care of taking Miss Gothel into custody.

Ana had no time to celebrate however because now she needed to find a home for Rapunzel and one in Berk at that. She made some calls to her social worker friends and managed to find a child custody agent to take on Rapunzel's case. The lady came straight away to the hospital to talk to Ana about where to put Rapunzel.

"There are actually a few families here in Berk who could take her temporarily." The social worker said, "But it would be temporary unless they tried to adopt."

"No." Ana said, "I want someone I can trust and I want her to finish out the year. Give us time to find her a good home."

"Well…let's see, here are some names if you want to take a look. See if you know anyone." The lady said, handing her a sheet of paper.

Ana skimmed it and her jaw dropped and she burst into a fit of laughter at having forgotten.

"I know exactly where she can stay." She smiled, getting out a pencil and circling the name on the paper, "And if you want we can give him a call now."

The agent was all too thrilled, considering her job was made ten times easier now.

Ana got out her phone and speed dialed the very familiar name, "North? Hi it's Ana; I have a favor to ask you…"

…..

Rapunzel groaned as she woke up. Everything was fuzzy and for the life of her she just couldn't stay awake. She needed to get up or her mother would beat her up again.

She worked at moving her legs and then tried her arms only to realize her right arm felt restrained in some way. She did her best to keep her eyes open and adjust to the bright light that greeted her. Her throat hurt and her tongue was fuzzy. Everything on her body felt like it was being pressed down by unseen hands; it was painful and suffocating all at the same time; and yet she was deeply relaxed and sleepy.

She managed to adjust her eyes and look up at a fluorescent light attached to a tile ceiling; a ceiling she didn't recognize. As she came to a little more, she began hearing strange beeping sounds. She looked to the left and saw an IV that hooked her arm to a machine. She had wires checking her heart rate as well. Then she turned to the right to see her arm encased in a cast. She looked down at the bed she was on and it hit her that she was indeed in a hospital.

Tears came to her eyes when everything came flooding back to her; the math class, passing out, begging not to be taken to a hospital…

She choked on a sob, her throat dry.

"Rapunzel?" a soft voice said in the room and she nearly jumped out of her skin. She looked over to see Miss Ana sitting in a chair by the bed. She looked disheveled and tired and Rapunzel couldn't help but remember that Ana had told her she wasn't leaving her and that she'd indeed kept her promise.

"How are you feeling?" she asked quietly, putting on a gentle smile.

Rapunzel didn't know what to say. She had so many questions and worries.

"Here, do you want some water?" Ana asked as she found a cup of ice water with a straw on a table.

Rapunzel nodded and Ana held the cup while Rapunzel drank the icy beverage greedily. It felt so cool and wonderful against her burning throat.

Ana put it down and then pressed the nurse button, "I'm going to order you some food." She explained.

"What happened?" Rapunzel asked her nervously, hardly caring about food, "Where's my…m-mother?"

Ana frowned and put a hand on Rapunzel's and caressed it with her thumb, "You're safe now Rapunzel. She's not coming near you ever again."

"What?" Rapunzel gasped.

"She was taken into police custody. She no longer has parental rights and is not allowed near you." Ana told her firmly.

Rapunzel stared in shock at her teacher. Yes her mother had beaten her, treated her poorly, starved her and neglected her; but she was the woman who raised her. A small part of her really did love her mother…and now she was gone…just like that.

"I never…I never wanted…"

Ana nodded, "I know Rapunzel, but this is serious. Who knows what could have happened had you not come to school when you did."

"I just…I just didn't want anyone to…" Rapunzel cried, "To ask questions."

Ana sighed, "Rapunzel we knew from the beginning you were in a bad place, but we didn't realize how serious it was getting until now. I'm glad we were able to get you out before it got any worse."

A nurse suddenly came in and Ana smiled at the woman, "She's going to eat some food now, can we see a menu?"

The nurse took out a sheet of paper and Ana looked through it, crossing all the soft foods and then asking Rapunzel if she wanted anything else on the list. Rapunzel didn't know if she could form a coherent sentence, let alone eat.

"Soup and liquids are probably best for her. She's pretty starved so best to start slow." The nurse admitted, "I'll make sure she gets extra soup."

Ana nodded as the nurse left and then looked back at Rapunzel who was staring forlornly at her arm, "What will happen to me?" she asked weakly.

Ana smiled then, "Don't worry, you'll stay here in Berk and continue at Berk Academy. I found a wonderful foster family who will be letting you stay with them for the year. Gives us time to find you a good home until then."

Rapunzel stared at her, "You know them?"

"I do." Ana smiled warmly, "And you will be very safe, I guarantee it."

Rapunzel lay back and looked up at the ceiling, feeling so confused and lost about everything that had happened to her.

"What about…my mother?"

Ana shrugged, "Well, the state may press charges against her, and you may have to testify, but I wouldn't worry about that right now. You just focus on getting better."

The nurse came back in with a tray of food and smiled as she put it in front of Rapunzel. An assortment of Jell-O's, puddings, soups, and juices lay before her. And yet, she didn't have the strength or drive to eat any of it.

Ana thanked the nurse and scooted her chair closer to help Rapunzel. She opened up some beef broth and let it cool. She helped put straws in the juices and opened up the pudding and Jell-O.

"Did you want to try some Jell-O or pudding first?" she smiled.

Rapunzel shook her head weakly.

"Rapunzel," Ana said sternly, "You need to eat, and I'm not letting up until you do."

Rapunzel looked up at her tearfully, "I…can't…"

Ana looked back with sadness reflected in her violet eyes. She sighed and took Rapunzel's hand, "I know this is hard, sweetie, and it's not going to get any easier. But this is your time and you have to make it easier."

"I don't know what to do…" Rapunzel cried.

Ana leaned forward and kissed Rapunzel's forehead with the gentlest touch, "That's why I'm here."

They locked gazes for a few moments and Rapunzel managed to swallow a choke as a feeling of betrayal sank into her stomach. Miss Ana had kissed her and held her hand, telling her it was going to be alright. Not even her mother had done that with the sincerity of love and compassion. It burned her inside to feel as though she were betraying the woman who raised her.

"Rapunzel?" Ana asked her, cocking her head to the side.

Rapunzel swallowed, "I'll have a pudding first."

Ana helped feed her slowly, at one point turning on the TV to watch a cooking show. Ana did it purposely so Rapunzel could have a distraction that involved food to give her an unconscious feeling of hunger.

Before they knew it, she'd eaten everything on the tray. It had taken almost two hours, but they did it.

Rapunzel had never felt fuller. She lay back down and Ana adjusted her bed for her, "I'm going to stay here all night if you need anything, okay?"

Rapunzel nodded. And although she felt like a traitor inside, she still couldn't shake a feeling of relief knowing that Miss Ana wasn't leaving her here, that she was looking out for her.

"Tomorrow I'll take you to your new home. All of your things are being taken there tonight."

Rapunzel nodded and then decided it was best not to worry about the strangers she'd be living with. True Ana had told her that she knew them, but it didn't ease her worry any.

The lights were dimmed and Rapunzel found herself drifting, drifting away from her worries and her memories. Tonight she was surprised to have the lantern dream again and although it was still a mystery to her, she was just glad that it wasn't another nightmare.