A/N: Thanks guys for all the reviews. I'm so glad that you are all still so dedicated to this story (And that I haven't given up yet lol).

Lot's of dialogue in this chapter, and hopefully it makes up for the crapiness of the filler last time. Enjoy :)

…

Chapter Ten

It wasn't long before they found themselves bursting through the doors of the precinct, Fergus leading the way as his wife tried to keep up along his heavy strides. There had been contact! Finally a voice to the mystery. Max had barely finished his sentence before the King had abandoned the phone, grabbing Corrine and racing for their car.

They found the detective pacing back and forth in the bull pen talking to his team; a white board behind him scribbled with messy handwriting with pictures of Rapunzel, her apartment and the club scattered all over it. Max was soon snapped out of his informative speech at the sight of the King and Queen, their wide eyes dancing with hope.

"...Well..." Fergus began, panting slightly as he tried to regain his breath.

Smiling a little, Max removed his glasses before giving a deep breath.

"We've almost got him."
…

The hours seemed to pass by slowly as Rapunzel lay on the bed staring up at the ceiling. The sun had long set, the cold night air once again invited into her room. She had heard the two brutes come back from their walk, and she had to admit that she was a little shocked that there had been no shouting and bawling. After a while she was surprised that there had actually been sounds of joyous laughter, the muffled cries of 'Eugene'ringing throughout the house.

Sighing, Rapunzel wrapped her arms around herself, closing her eyes as her thoughts drifted to her parents. She couldn't believe how much she missed them, even though she had been living herself for a few weeks. She missed her Father's strong hugs. His loving words of encouragement. No matter what she did, no matter what road she wanted to go down, he always supported her, whether he agreed with her or not. And her Mother, her best friend. She missed her Mother's laugh. Her stories. They way that she used to sing to her. Rapunzel couldn't help but think of her favourite song that her Mother used to sing to her as a child whenever she was hurt or ill.

"Flower gleam and glow...let your power shine, make the clock reverse bring back what once was mine..." She could feel fresh tears burn the back of her eyes "Heal what has been hurt, change the fates design save what has been lost, bring back what once was mine...what once was mine..."

Rubbing her teary eyes with the heel of her hand, Rapunzel let out a shaky breath. She didn't know what to feel anymore. What to think. Her mind was going haywire.

"You have a beautiful voice." He spoke softly, causing her to snap out of her daze.

She hadn't even heard him come in.

"Flynn..." She replied, sitting up on the bed "Is everything ok?"

"Yeah..." He responded, making his way over to sit next to her "Yeah, everything's fine...Good actually..."

Pulling her knees into her chest, Rapunzel tucked a lock of her golden hair behind her ear. She was thankful for his presence, unable to look away from him. He sat hunched forward on the bed, his brow screwed up as he stared off into space. She could tell that something was puzzling him, almost positive that it had to do with his two accomplices.

"Flynn..." She began, reaching out and gently resting a hand on his shoulder "What's going on? Please tell me."

"They...they apologized." He finally replied, almost not believing the what he spoke himself "...Said that they had lost sight on why we were here..."

"And you don't believe them?" She asked, leaning forward so her eyes met with his.

"I just..." He began, getting off the bed "They're pissed all day, go out for a 'walk' and come back as reformed characters...something just doesn't sit right with me..."

"Well...What are they doing now?" Rapunzel asked, following his actions and standing up.

"They're busy drinking they're body weight in beer." He scowled, a hand running through his shaggy hair "...I escaped for a few minutes to come and see you."

"Oh..." She smirked, thankful that the dimness in the room hid her blush "Well...I don't really need anything just now...But if you want to sit and talk for a while..."

Smiling, Flynn took a small step towards her.

"I'd love to stay..." He began "But it's nearly time for me to call back that Detective..." He could see the hidden sadness in her eyes and wondered if his showed the same emotion "All goes according to plan, you'll be home by dinner time tomorrow."

Swallowing back the tears that she knew were threatening to fall, Rapunzel took a step forward herself, her arms that were once wrapped round her slight frame falling to her side.

"...You know it's funny..." She said with a slight smirk "If you had said that to me two days ago, I would have been jumping for joy..." Again she took another step towards him "...I love my family dearly...But, and I know this is going to sound crazy...but...I'll miss you, Flynn..."

"...Remember 'Goodnight'..." He replied, his voice thick with pain "Goodnight means 'I'll see you soon'...Remember 'Goodnight', Rapunzel..."

"But what if I don't want to say 'Goodnight'..." She all but whispered.

Reaching out, Flynn ran his fingers through her hair, cupping the back of her head as he took a step forward. She looked so tiny in his arms, her small hands coming up and clutching at his hoody.

"I don't want to say 'Goodnight, Flynn." She continued, a hand coming to caress the side of his face "Don't make me..."

Leaning down, Flynn rested his forehead against hers, breathing in her scent as he willed himself to pull back. He couldn't be this close to her without letting his heart cloud his mind. But he neither could he move away. They just continued to stand, their lips millimetres apart...and that's when it happened. That's when she took a deep breath, pulled back slightly and looked up at him.

"I..." She began, her hand tightening on his hoody "...I love you, Flynn..."

Blinking back his own tears, Flynn let out a breath that he didn't know he was holding in, his head spinning as he tried to absorb what she had just confessed.

He didn't know what to say, simply because he didn't know if he would ever be able to find words strong enough to tell her how he felt for her. Instead, he just pulled her into his chest, wound his fingers into her soft hair and finally did what he had been wanting to do for far too long. He kissed her.
…

It had taken every fibre in his being to pull away from her, knowing that the Detective was expecting a phone call at any moment. Reluctantly he had said his 'goodnight', and left the room, making his way down the stairs towards the living room. He wasn't surprised to find Scott and Mike exactly how he had left them, a can in their hands as the TV sat blaring. He could feel their eyes on him as he went to grab the cell phone.

"Time to phone this cop back." He mumbled, struggling to meet their gaze "Arrange a drop off for tomorrow hopefully."

"...Great..." Scott forced out, hoping that Flynn didn't notice the anger dancing in his eyes "Take all the time you need."

Nodding a little, Flynn made his way out of the house and took a seat on the porch steps. Looking up at the sky he couldn't help but stare in awe. He had never seen the sky look so beautiful, countless stars littering it from as far as the eye could see.

Sighing, Flynn drew his attention back to the matter at hand, typing in Max's number as he lit himself a cigarette. It didn't take long for the Detective to pick up.

"Detective Guard..." Came the strong voice of Max "Is that you, John..."

Swallowing a little, Flynn gave a small sigh before resting his head in his hand.

"Yeah..." He replied "6 hours, just like I said...Did you manage to make arrangements."

"Well..." Max began "After some serious persuasion with our department, and the Princesses parents we have managed to come to an agreement."

"Good." Flynn said, nodding his head slightly "So noon tomorrow? $250,000..."

"Noon tomorrow..." The Detective agreed "We'll leave a duffel bag with the cash in it in the trash can out front. You bring the girl out into sight, take the money and then that's it."

Flynn knew it sounded too easy.

"No funny business." Flynn said "The minute I get the cash and you get the girl that's it. No following us. You leave us be."

"OK..." Max replied quietly "Deal. The King and Queen just want her home...If I was having it my way though I'd be making sure you never saw the light of day again."

"Well isn't it a good thing that you're not having it your way." Came his retort as he dubbed out his cigarette butt "...And Detective Guard...I'm expecting you to be watching from the sidelines. If I so much as see someone who resembles a cop out there, I'm leaving."

There was a pause at the other end of the phone, Flynn becoming more and more conscious of the length of time he had left before they had a chance of locating him.

"You're smart, John..." Max finally spoke "I'll give you that...12 noon tomorrow. You won't see me. The money will be in the trash can out front. Take it, leave the girl then that's it. We part ways."

"12 noon..." Flynn replied "Until then..."

Hanging up, Flynn stood and dusted himself off before heading back into the grungy house. He was immediately greeted by a slightly tipsy Mike and Scott, who were ready for heading up to their room.

"What did he say?" Scott slurred, holding onto the banister for dear life.

"12 noon tomorrow." Flynn simply said, hoping that the sadness in his voice didn't betray him "It'll all be over then."

"Gotta hand it to you Rider." Scott smirked "I didn't think you'd pull this one off."

Without saying another word, Flynn watched the two brothers as they headed upstairs for the night, never moving until he heard the door shut. With a heavy heart he collapsed onto the bottom stair, his hands flying to his hair as he tried to process everything that had happened in the last half hour. The phone call, their kiss...her deceleration. It had all seemed so surreal. She loved him. Why, he'll probably never know, but she did, and he'd be damned if he didn't love her back.

He remembered briefly from high school reading Romeo and Juliet for English, the whole concept of two people unable to live without each other throwing him a little. He didn't believe that that type of love was normal or healthy. Hell, he didn't even know if that type of love existed. But at the thought of living the rest of his life without Rapunzel, Flynn was quickly coming to realise where this Shakespeare fella was coming from. Star-crossed. That's what they were.

After about 20 minutes, Flynn got up and began to head upstairs himself, his body begging him for sleep but his mind running a hundred miles an hour. Coming up to the landing her stopped, looking between his bedroom and door that led up to the attic. He knew he had to speak to her, and now since the twins were sleeping, was probably the best time he was going to get.

With a shaky breath, Flynn ran his hand through his hair before quietly making his way towards the door that led up to the attic. He practically tiptoed up the stairs, the whole journey feeling like a thousand years had passed before he finally got to the battered door that separated him from her. He couldn't remember being this nervous in his whole life, not even when he grabbed her behind the club that night as she made her through the alley way towards her apartment. With fumbling fingers he picked through the keys in his pocket, eventually finding the one that would unlock the door between them.

After what felt like a lifetime, Flynn unlocked the door and slowly opened it, finally coming face to face with Rapunzel who stood by the window, her arms once again wrapped round her slight frame. She looked beautiful, her hair shining in the moonlight as she gave him a small smile. A smile that would melt even the most hardened of hearts. He couldn't help but smile back, all fear that he had felt quickly vanishing as she began to make her way over, quietly coming to a stop in front of him.

No words were exchanged as he brushed some hair from her face, his hand coming round the back of her head once again as he pulled her in for a heated kiss. It was different from the first one. A kiss filled with hunger and passion, whereas the first had been sweet and loving. The type of first kiss that she deserved.

Pulling back slowly, Flynn looked down into her emerald green orbs, and without saying a word gently walked her further into the room, quietly kicking the door closed behind him.

...

A/N: Soooooooo, what did'ya think? I really hope that you all enjoyed this chapter, I was a little nervous writing it.

Reviews are so much appreciated (Plus they put a HUGE smile on my face) :-) Please leave me one to let me know what you thought and what I could do to make the story even better.

Thanks :-)