A/N: It's doooooooooone! I can't believe it. This was probably the most difficult chapter so far. And the tragic thing about it: I had all the ideas in my head. For weeks. I just couldn't write them down. Don't know why.

But it's done now and I'm DELIGHTED, AMAZAED and totally ENTHRALLED about the feedback for the last chapter. It was so wonderful to receiving all these review-mails. *sigh* So many, many, many thanks to: Liliththestormgoddess, adrilabelle, cacrulz, RLS, kittyhawk09, Ashlinka, Elizabella and quoththeraven5. Hugs and kisses to all of you! ;)

About the chapter there's only one thing to say: Never before it took me 14 chapters to come to this point. You'll see what I mean. ;D

And I'm done now. Hope you love the chapter as much as I do. Never forget: Reviews are love! And make me dance around all day and sing about rainbows and unicorns. I'm quite sure most of you don't want to see something like that, but me it makes happy. ;) ENJOY!

*waves and jumps out*

Disclaimer: Not mine. Disney's the genius.

Chapter 14

"You're insane!" The angry growl from his brother was very similar to a bark. Even if Eugene never saw him in his cursed form, he could imagine vividly how his voice must have sounded.

"You must be under the false impression that it will make me stay the more you say it. Sorry, bro, but this needs to be done." His voice was dripping with sarcasm while he clamped Max's saddle securely.

"This is suicide, Gene! You can't do this!" The bark was gone; now Adam's pleading voice reached his ears. He could hear the worry within, but he simply ignored it.

They were going to return to Laventie the next morning. This was his last chance.

"Watch me!" The younger one replied swinging himself up into the saddle and before Adam was able to grab the reins his brother was riding off the estate.

oOo

Corona was asleep. As far as she could tell just a few soldiers were patrolling around the palace and most of them were quite a bit drunk after the three days of non-stop celebrations for the return of the Lost Princess Rapunzel.

It was the beginning of her fourth day back at the palace and the beginning of the sixth day since she last saw Flynn. She missed him. Terribly. Every other moment something would happen and her thoughts would drift off to something he did, or showed her, or told her, or when he smiled at her with this lovely smirk of his, and this mischievous glint in his eyes.

Fennimore had kept his word. The day after she returned to Darrington he presented her to the surprised royal couple and the rest of the court. A murmur was going through the crowd, a shocked and surprised expression on the King and Queen's faces, when the Viscount stepped in front of them – the hooded figure of a young woman beside him – and announced in a clear and ceremonious voice, "Your Royal Highnesses! It is my pleasure and uttermost joy to finally be able to fulfill your heart's biggest desire and return to you your long lost daughter: Rapunzel Victoria Adelaide Marie Louisa Andromeda, Crown Princess of Corona."

Surprise gasps, shocked cries and even more murmurs were the results when said Princess lifted the hood, and in front of them stood the accurate copy of Queen Lilian.

After that, all she felt was two pairs of arms wrapping themselves around her. Tears on the skin of her face. Joyful sobs shaking her body. Endearments in her ears. For the first time in two days all her thoughts were completely on something else other than Flynn.

She was back. She had her arms wrapped around her parents. She had finally returned home.

Court was closed for the day. The King announced an official holiday; celebrations for the whole country were organized. Everybody should feel the Royal Couples joy of their child returning after so many years.

This was three days ago and her happiness of returning to her family was constantly overshadowed by the loss she felt whenever her thoughts returned to her royal thief. She promised herself to not cry anymore. She cried so many tears the last couple of days, she was drained of them; she wasn't sure one of the salty drops would leave the corner of her eyes even if she wanted it to.

No more tears. No more tears. No more tears. Please, Lord, no more tears.

Her new mantra, repeating itself over and over again.

The nightly breeze coming from the great lake made her shiver and she decided to return to her chambers. It was late anyways and she probably should get some sleep. Tomorrow her tutoring would begin, as well as meeting all members of the royal counsel, the rest of the royal court, and her new ladies-in-waiting.

She wrapped the shawl tighter around her shoulders and just turned around to go back when a movement at the corner of her eye caught her attention.

And in the dim light of the moon a figure emerged from the shadows.

oOo

The newest turns of event made the Lord almost giddy. Everything seemed to fall in place for him. Truth, it wasn't his finest moment when that horde of barbarians took him by surprise and let him hang upside down from the gallons. It made him angry that Rider always seemed to be one step ahead of him.

But not this time. Because now all advantages lay with him.

First and foremost, Flynn Rider no longer was a threat. He got discovered, he was on the run, he could never return, Prince or not. The Kingdom of Laventie was no longer seen as an ally. The renitency had to take not only one but two blows at once with losing their leader – Comte Victor – and at the same time their most efficient tool: the Master of Thieves. It would take them weeks, maybe months, to recover their losses. Months Erevan could use to concentrate on other things.

Which led him to his second advantage: His betrothed.

A silly girl, not knowing what it meant to lead a country, to be part of a royal court. With no idea of handling herself, arriving in a world absolutely unfamiliar to her.

And he would take full benefit of that. Would ensure that they got married as soon as possible. How tragic it would be when shortly after the wedding his dear in-laws would die in a tragic boat ride? Or during horse ride through the woods? Maybe an ambush?

The King and Queen are dead. Long live the Queen.

His lovely bride would be devastated, losing her parents so shortly after finally returning to them. The grief would make it impossible for her to lead a country. Lucky for her that by then she was going to have a husband at her side.

The Lord – in his obliging, generous demeanor – would be happy to support his wife by taking over the state affairs. And – oh no – suddenly the new Queen would fall sick! What was happening to her young body, to her young mind? Was it the grief? Was it the new responsibility?

Was it the loss of her true love?

Erevan wasn't a fool. From the very first beginning he knew that Viscount Fennimore's story of his downright luck to stumble upon the princess was a big fat lie. Not only because the Brothers Stabbington told him what happened in the woods the last time they ran into this bastard Rider. Every feature of the princess was the perfect description of the thief's companion, except for the hair.

He was not interested in the story of what had happened that 70 feet of blond hair turned into waist long brown locks. It wasn't important to his plans.

Important was to get married to the princess. If everything worked out as he planned this would happen within the fortnight.

oOo

A surprised gasp left her lips and her eyes widened. Silver moonlight was falling on him, bathing him in a soft glow.

The next thing she knew her body crashed into his, her hands finding their way into his hair, his arms pulling her into him. Their lips meeting in a frantic kiss.

An unknown hunger consumed both of them, hands roaming, lips meeting again, and again, and again. Every time more passionately, more urgently, more breathtakingly. A sob finally escaped her and he stopped kissing her, his lips hovering only inches from hers. His hands brushed through her hair, over her cheeks, his thumbs grazing her lips and softly wiping the tears away that now fell freely; the new mantra forgotten.

"What is it, love?" he whispered, before pressing kisses on her forehead, her cheeks, her eyelids.

"You're safe," she sighed, holding onto him for dear life when another sob shook her body. "You came back to me."

"Rapunzel …," his hands caressed her hair and then he embraced her tightly, his face pressed to the soft skin where her neck met her shoulder, and mumbled "… we don't have much time." He felt her nodding softly, another sigh reached his ears, but he wasn't ready to let go of her yet.

They stood like that for some time, breathing in the scent of the other, memorizing every curve, every detail of them. Realizing that their bodies seemed to be made for each other. Her fragile figure complimented his broad stature, fitting perfectly together, leaving no space between them. Her breath brushed over his shoulder, her hands clasped the material of his shirt, her heart beat in synch with his own.

Surprisingly it was the princess who leaned back first.

"Tell me what's going to happen, Flynn." Her green eyes were full of worry, but he was able to read her other emotions as well: hope, relief, total trust. Love.

Once again he took her face in his hands, his thumbs brushing her cheekbones, "I need to leave, Rapunzel. Corona is no longer safe for me and my family."

He felt her gulp, but nodding nonetheless, and softly begged, "Take me with you."

He was tempted, oh so very tempted. She begged him to take her with him. Never before had anything sounded so appealing, so right in his mind, so perfect. And still this was not an option.

"Don't tempt me, Rapunzel. I would love nothing more than to take you with me. But we cannot do this, love. And you know that."

Rapunzel nodded again, her gaze turning to the ground, understanding but still disappointed. And even if she understood, she still felt betrayed. Why was everyone else more important than them? Why couldn't the both of them live happily ever after? Why did she have to be the freakin' princess? Why was everything so complicated?

Wasn't he a prince? Didn't everyone expect her to marry a prince someday? Why not him?

She took a tentative step back, but Flynn was fast to react, and embraced her again.

"Don't misunderstand me, love. This doesn't mean I'm giving up on you. On us."

Her head shot up. "Flynn …"

"I promise you, Rapunzel, I'll come back. I'll find a way. Nothing can keep me away. Nothing will ever be able to stop me from returning to you. I'll find a way to get back to you. I promise, love. We will be together again."

She nodded slightly, cupped his face in her hands and pressed her lips to his for a brief second.

Afterwards they stood together calmly, their foreheads touching, eyes closed. Memorizing their last moments together. The mingling of their breaths. The fingers of their hands interwoven. The warmth of their bodies.

One last moment and he took a step back, their hands still touching each other, eyes now open and not wavering for a second.

"I love you, Rapunzel."

"I love you, Flynn."

He stepped into the shadows and was gone.

TBC