Just when you think that everything is fine and nothing could go wrong, everything does.

Chapter 21 – Unlucky Circumstances

The next day, Rapunzel had the afternoon shift at the art store. During a lull of customers, Rapunzel was doodling in her sketch book. She was drawing a sketch of a man with gentle eyes. At one point, her boss peeked over her shoulder at her paper.

"That looks like your boyfriend," he said. Rapunzel realized it did. She flushed.

"I didn't mean for that to happen."

"Oh, don't be embarrassed about it. Art is a reflection of the heart." Her boss smiled at her. Rapunzel grinned back.

It had been a long hour with no customers. Rapunzel stretched up her arms and took a deep breath. She got a whiff of her boss's late lunch burrito in his hand.

Her nausea from the night before came back, just as heavy as it had been at the scent of Eugene's coffee.

Rapunzel practically threw her sketch book away from herself as she ran for the restroom in the back. Her boss followed her, but stopped short when he heard her retching moments after slamming the door.

"Rapunzel," he called," are you alright in there?" It took awhile for her to answer.

"I don't know," she moaned. "I think I caught a bug. I probably-" there was a long, rather loud pause in her speech. "I probably shouldn't have come into work, but I was feeling fine-" another pause, not as long, but much louder than the last. "This morning."

"Do you want to go home?" Her boss heard the flush of the toilet and then water running from the faucet. He heard Rapunzel gargle some water. She opened the door.

"And just like that, I feel fine again. It is the weirdest thing. This happened last night too." Her boss put his hand to her forehead.

"You don't feel hot." He eyed her bandaged knee. "You're not reacting poorly to the medicine they gave you for that, are you?"

"I've been taking it for the last few weeks, so I think it would have bothered me long before now."

"Hm." Her boss looked up at the clock. "Well, it's been a slow day. Why don't you go home early?"

"Oh, no. Really, I feel fine now, and-"

"And I said go home. If you've been feeling sick, you really should be in bed, not out in public and running the risk of getting others ill."

"I guess you're right," Rapunzel mumbled. She gathered up her things and took the bus to the apartment. Unfortunately, Eugene was home, so Rapunzel had to explain why she was home early.

"You threw up again?"

Rapunzel flailed her arms trying, to think of a way to get out of saying yes.

"Yes," she said, defeated. "But really, I feel fine."

"Then why did your boss send you home."

"Slow day."

Eugene crossed his arms at her.

"Don't give me that look," Rapunzel said indignantly as she passed him to get a drink from the fridge.

"I'm going to give you this look. Rapunzel, you threw up last night. You're obviously not fine."

"But I feel fine."

"You still look green." Actually, Rapunzel had woken up with a greenish tinge to her face, but she wasn't going to tell Eugene that. "Rapunzel, why don't you go to the doctor, to know for sure? It could be something worse than an upset stomach. There are illnesses out there where the person feels fine, but wakes up dead the next day. That's how Jim Hensen went."

"The Muppets guy?"

"Exactly."

Rapunzel was sick of listening to Eugene. She had to get him to drop it.

"Eugene, you're being silly. It's probably just a bug, it'll go away. My boss even said it might be me reacting poorly to the medicine they gave me for the scrape on my knee."

"Or it could be your birth control. Maybe antibiotics and birth control work funky together." Rapunzel rolled her eyes at him. He saw. As she turned away from him, he caught her wrist and turned her around to him. "Rapunzel, I'm serious, and this could be too. What if it's more than just a slight queasiness? I don't wan-"

Rapunzel planted a kiss on Eugene. She realized that was the best way to get him to stop nagging her. When she finally released him, he was glaring at her, but not unkindly.

"I know what you're trying to do, and it may work."

"I don't know what you're talking about," Rapunzel said innocently. She put her arms around Eugene's neck. "I'm just thanking you for caring about me, even when it's unnecessary."

"I wouldn't say it's entirely unnecessary, but you're welcome." He kissed the end of her nose, then gave her big bear hug. Still holding her tight, Eugene began to drag her to the bedroom.

"Eugene," she protested, "We just did it last night!"

"Oh, no, I'm forcing you to take a nap. I don't care what you say, sick people stay in bed."

"Fine, but only if you take a nap next to me."

"I don't have a problem with that." Eugene said, grinning more than he really should have.

It was Thursday, and Eugene was scrambling to get out the door. His alarm had not gone off when it should have. Rapunzel was in the kitchen, quickly making him a to-go breakfast and a lunch. She cooked an omelet in the microwave and slapped it down on two pieces of toasted bread with a slice of cheese and some deli cut ham. She wrapped it in a paper towel and quickly set about putting leftovers in smaller containers for him.

Eugene stepped into the kitchen, fixing the collar of his button shirt as he tried to start his pot of coffee.

"Eugene, you don't have time to make coffee."

"You don't deny a man coffee, Blondie."

As soon as the smell of brewing coffee hit Rapunzel nostrils, she ran for the bathroom, a hand over her mouth. Her stomach churned on the way and she almost didn't get to the bathroom in time. She slammed the door shut and collapsed in front of the toilet.

Eugene had to recover from being thrown aside, but he followed her and stood outside the door listening to Rapunzel heave up a nonexistent breakfast.

"Rapunzel, you are not allowed to tell me you're fine today," he said through the door, seriously concerned. Rapunzel didn't, or rather, couldn't answer him. When her body finally stopped working against her, Rapunzel answered him.

"I don't know what else to tell you; I'm not going to the doctor for something that's nothing." Eugene tried to not explode at Rapunzel as he heard her turn on the faucet to wash her hands and face.

"Rapunzel, this isn't a nothing!" She opened the door and brushed past him, returning to the kitchen to finish his lunch. Eugene followed her, still pleading his case. "Rapunzel, this is the third day in a row that you've thrown up. I really want you to go to the doctor."

"Eugene, I'm fine. I told you, it's probably some bug I caught." Eugene looked like he wasn't going to be moved from his point. He tapped his foot and crossed his arms, then promptly uncrossed them to poor his coffee into his usual travel mug.

Rapunzel sighed. "How about this; if I throw up tomorrow, I'll go to the doctor." Eugene drummed his fingers on the counter and thought. She could tell he didn't like the idea, but that was usually the case with compromises.

"Fine," he grumbled. He grabbed all his food and stuffed it into a lunch box and stomped over to the door. He turned around and set his things on the table. "I'm staying home today and so are you."

"Oh, Eugene, no, go to work. You already called Mr. Hook and told him you were coming in, and you're late enough as it is."

"I'll call him again and explain everything. He'll understand."

"No, go to work. You can't skip your day job and then go to your night job. You have that big party to serve for at Vlad's." Eugene chewed his lip. Rapunzel could see she was getting through to him. "If it will make you feel better, I'll stay home today, okay?"

"I guess it's fine if I know you're here." He didn't sound like it was fine.

"Oh, Eugene, don't start the day all upset and pissy." She put her arms around his neck. "You'll feel stupid when you learn that all this is nothing to worry about." She kissed him. "Now get going."

"Alright. I'm going." Eugene gathered up his things again and pecked her on the cheek. He was annoyed enough with her to punish her by not kissing her lips. Rapunzel shook her head at how ridiculous he was being.

Eugene gave one last concerned look at Rapunzel and left for work. Rapunzel crossed the apartment to the window to watch him leave. He pulled out onto the street in his blue Toyota and was down the road. Rapunzel sighed in relief that he was gone.

Something had been bothering Rapunzel. It wasn't the throwing up, but it was greatly related. The day before, when Eugene had forced her to take a nap, a thought struck her as she dozed off, like a horrible bolt of lightning. She did not want it to be true and she didn't even know the safest way to figure out if it was. Who could she talk to, call? Not Eugene, she didn't want Eugene to even know. None of the other boys either, or Mr. Hook or Vlad. The only person that came to mind was Raven, but could she be trusted?

Rapunzel found her purse in the bedroom and dug her new smartphone out. Just like he had said, Eugene had bought her a new cell with a new number. Rapunzel was so thankful to have her aunt finally stop calling her, but she didn't think that Eugene needed to have gotten a smartphone, but he said it would be cheaper on his plan. Rapunzel wasn't sure how she felt about being on the same cell plan as Eugene. It was almost like a marriage license.

Rapunzel scrolled through her contacts, all of which, except her aunt, had been transferred over from her old flip phone. She found Raven. Her thumb hovered over the send button.

During the summer, the school that Raven worked at had a summer daycare program. It was for parents who worked during the day, but didn't have the funds for a babysitter or daycare. Raven was one of the volunteer teachers for the job. Rapunzel debated about calling her. Would she even pick up at work? Could she trust her with her horrid suspicions? She could certainly try.

Taking a deep breath that almost made her light headed, Rapunzel hit send and listened to the rings. There were only two.

"Hey, Rapunzel. You usually don't call me. What's up?" Raven sounded so carefree on the other end. Rapunzel took another breath, but didn't say anything. "Rapunzel, you there?"

"Yeah. I'm here. Um, are you busy right now?"

"Well, it is 9: 23, the kids are at recess throwing dirt at each other- hold on a sec." Rapunzel heard Raven scold two children named Samantha and Chester. "Sorry about that. You gotta watch 'em like a hawk. What was your question? Oh, right, busy. I can't talk for long, but is there something you need?"

"Well, I have the day off today, and, well, I was wondering if you'd come over today. After work."

"Sure. Is it because Eugene is working late at Vlad's tonight? And you don't want to be lonely?"

"Yeah. There's a party at Vlad's tonight and Eugene has to head over as soon as he gets done at Mr. Hook's." As an afterthought. "And I will be lonely."

"Well, we can hang out. I don't have any lesson plans or anything, so you will have my undivided attention."

"Good. I'll need it." Rapunzel paused. "And, before you come over, can you get me something? I'll pay you back." Raven was silent. She finally noticed Rapunzel's uneven tone.

"Sure," Raven said cautiously. "What?"

Rapunzel inhaled and shut her eyes.

"A pregnancy test."

Raven was dead silent.

"Sure, sweetie. And I know this drill; not a word to anyone." Rapunzel almost felt like crying, and Raven could hear it when she next spoke.

"I'm sorry, Raven. It's just… I don't know." The tears started down her face and Rapunzel wiped them away. "I've been a little sick lately and…and I'd be too embarrassed and it's not as weird if a married woman –"

"Rapunzel! Calm down. I get it, okay? I'll be over around four. Just, just don't over think this until you know for sure, okay? Promise me."

"I promise."

"Alright. I really gotta go. Samantha just shoved dirt down Marcus' pants. Put in a movie, relax, make a BLT. We'll take care of this." Rapunzel nodded, even though Raven couldn't see her. "I'll see you this afternoon."

"Right. Bye. And thanks."

"Don't mention it. I know I won't." Rapunzel forced a chuckle at Raven's attempt to be lighthearted. The two hung up. Rapunzel stared at the phone. She felt like throwing it across the room, but Eugene had just bought it for her. Rapunzel had no idea what to do.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck." She collapsed onto the couch and pulled a pillow up to her stomach. She moved it over her face and screamed into it. This could not be happening, it just couldn't. She did not want to be pregnant.

At least it's Eugene's.

Rapunzel told her inner optimism to shut the fuck up.

But you don't know for sure if you are pregnant, it said back.

Rapunzel sighed, the pillow still on her face. She stayed like that for awhile, until she had hunger pangs and the urge to use the restroom.

Just like she had said, Raven was over around four and she had the pregnancy test.

"Okay, so the directions just say you pee on this end and in five minutes it tells you if you're prego or not."

"Raven, do you have to say prego?" Rapunzel moaned.

"Do you want me to say pregnant?"

"No."

"With child?"

"That's even worse."

"Well, just go pee on this thing and you'll know for sure." Raven handed her the test. Rapunzel took it and ducked into the bathroom. She came back out a few minutes later. She put a cap on the used end and set it on the table. For the next five minutes, she and Raven stared at it, like it was the enemy of all humankind.

Something flicked across the little screen. Rapunzel scrambled for the test. She turned away from Raven, her shoulders hunched.

"Fuck," she muttered. "FUCK!" Rapunzel threw the test across the room and fell face down on the couch. Raven retrieved the pregnancy test. It was positive. She had a pang for Rapunzel, feeling the same pain that was flooding through Rapunzel.

Raven walked over to Rapunzel on the couch, where she was loudly crying. She got down on her knees and rubbed Rapunzel's back.

"Sweetie, I'm not going to say anything right now, because I know you won't want to hear it."

"No," Rapunzel mumbled. She turned her head to look at Raven. "Talk to me. What do I do?" Raven stared at her.

"Well, that's an easy one; tell Eugene."

"No! I don't want to! I can't." Rapunzel sat up. She wiped her tears away. Raven sat beside her.

"Well, you could not, but he'll notice eventually. In about three months."

"Fuck it, Raven!" Rapunzel pulled her knees up to her chest. Raven looked at her thoughtfully.

"This is the first time I've heard you cuss."

"I think I have a pretty damn good reason to cuss." Rapunzel's voice was shrieky. Raven rubbed her ear.

"Oh, yes, yes, you do. I'm not arguing that point." Raven paused. "Rapunzel, how did this happen?"

"You're married. I think you know how sex works." Raven blinked at Rapunzel; she was surprised by how snippy she was being. She said her next thought carefully.

"No, I mean, you told me you were taking birth control. You didn't miss any days did you, cause that screws things up."

"No, I never missed a day. I have no idea how I'm pregnant." God, she said it. It was out in the air now. It was set in stone. She was pregnant.

Raven stared at Rapunzel's bandaged knee, from when she scraped it on the sidewalk. She clicked her tongue in thought.

"Rapunzel, didn't the doctor give you something for your gash?"

"For my knee? Yeah. Why?"

"What?"

"Just antibiotics."

Raven breathed out through her teeth.

"There's your problem."

"What?" Rapunzel turned her body to Raven. Raven took her hands.

"Rapunzel, antibiotics nullify the effects of birth control. They don't work while taking antibiotics."

"WHAT?" Rapunzel stood and angrily paced the floor. "Why was I not told?"

"Well, there's a disclaimer on birth control packages that tells you to talk with your doctor about medications that make the pill stop working. Medicine companies must think it's your responsibility to do the research. But seriously, your doctor should have seen you were on birth control when they prescribed you the antibiotics."

"Fuck!" Rapunzel sat herself back down on the couch.

"Hey, don't freak out. You can deal with this. You're strong." Rapunzel glared at Raven.

"Raven, I am a nineteen year old girl who is now pregnant. In nine months, I am going to be a mother. How am I supposed to deal with this?"

"I told you, talk to Eugene. He needs to know."

"He'll freak out!"

"You don't know that." Raven put her hands up to brush the concern away.

"Uh, he's my boyfriend, I think I do."

"He might be your boyfriend, but I have known him longer than you have." Rapunzel felt like she'd just been slapped. That comment hurt. Even if it was true. "Eugene might freak at first, but once the initial shock wears off, I can guarantee you that he is going to be ecstatic. He's just that kind of a guy."

"That's what I'm worried about. He'll want to do the 'right thing.'"

"And you don't want to do the 'right thing' with him?" It was a serious question and Rapunzel didn't have an answer.

"I don't know, Raven. I don't know. Yesterday I was just a girl who was living a happy life with her boyfriend. Today, I'm a soon to be mom and I've saddled said boyfriend with a kid for the next eighteen years."

"Eugene won't feel 'saddled' and you know it," Raven snapped at Rapunzel. "Whatever his first reaction is, he will not hate you; if anything, he'll love you even more than he does now and he'll love the child you two made."

Rapunzel was silent for a long time as she thought.

"I just… I just feel like I've cheated him out of…freedom." Raven put her arms around Rapunzel.

"Rapunzel, at this point, only you and Eugene can work this out. If he does freak out and do what I know he won't do, you can always come live with Jeff and me." Rapunzel held onto Raven's hand at her shoulder.

"Thanks, but you're right; he won't hate me."

"I'm always right. Now, promise me you will tell him. The moment he gets home, tell him."

"I think I might make him dinner first and tell him to sit down."

"That might be a good idea." Raven squeezed Rapunzel. "I don't want you to feel I'm abandoning you, honey, but I've got to get home. I didn't tell Jeff that I was coming over here and I forgot we had a dinner planned tonight. Plus, I fed him a lie about grocery shopping and I better show up with groceries." Raven kissed Rapunzel's cheek. She stood up. Rapunzel followed her to the door.

"Don't get too stressed about this, sweetie. In the end, everything will be alright, because you have Eugene and he has you. You two couldn't ask for more."

"Thanks, Raven." The friends hugged each other good-bye and Rapunzel closed the door. She wandered back over to the couch and waited for Eugene to get home.

It was a little after two in the morning when Eugene opened the door. He saw Rapunzel sitting at the dining table with a sandwich set aside for him.

"What, no frying pan?"

"No." In that one small, short word, Eugene heard a tremble in Rapunzel's voice. He put his things down and sat down at the table with her.

"Rapunzel? Is everything alright?"

"Take a bit of your sandwich first." Eugene looked from the sandwich to Rapunzel. He did what she asked him to do, and even swallowed.

"Is everything alright?" he asked her again.

"No," she said, shaking her head. She took a breath. "I know what's wrong with me, why I've been throwing up." Eugene looked at her expectantly taking her hand. She swallowed and looked squarely at him, having a sharp intake of breath first to calm her. "I'm pregnant."

The blood drained from Eugene's face as it slowly sagged into horrified shock. His eyes grew to the size of half dollars. His mouth opened, like he was going to scream. Rapunzel put her hands up.

"Please don't freak out!"

There was a pause between the two as she begged him to not scream with her pleading eyes.

"IIIIIIIIIII'm not freaking out. Are you freaking out? I'm just wondering how this could have happened. How long have you been pregnant exactly?" Eugene was trying very hard to not completely freak. His voice was up many octaves and he rocked in his seat. His hands were firmly under his arms, as if this would hold him together.

"Uh… a week, maybe. I don't really know." Rapunzel trailed off. She glanced at Eugene; he was chewing a fingernail, his eyes still wide and deep in thought. He was holding his faux fetal position and staring at the floor, but Rapunzel knew he wasn't seeing anything.

"How could this have happened?" He looked up at her, as if he was seeing her for the first time. "You got on birth control."

"Yeah, I was also on antibiotics, and turns out, antibiotics nullify birth control pills. For some reason doctors don't tell you that."

"Wha… son of a bitch," Eugene breathed out. Rapunzel tried to stay calm for Eugene's sake; he was getting terribly upset. "You'd think," he continued, "that doctors would mention something like that. There's a reason why people get on birth control." Eugene was talking to himself. He rubbed a hand over his mouth, his breathing forced. He was thinking intently. "Pregnant…" He looked back at Rapunzel. "What do you want to do?"

Rapunzel was shocked. She did not know the answer to that. She wanted to know what Eugene wanted to do.

"What do you want to do?" she asked slowly.

"Why are you asking me that? It's your body."

"Well, you put this in my body! You're part of this decision too!"

"Well, yeah, I know that, but you're the one who's going to gain thirty pounds or more, get stretch marks, and be miserable for the next nine months. Not to mention push the watermelon out."

"Oh, God, Eugene." Rapunzel pushed herself away from the table and began to pace the floor.

"What? The birth might have to be caesarian."

"Shut up!" Rapunzel shouted, pressing her palms over her eyes. Eugene shut his mouth. Rapunzel continued to pace. "Fuck," she said.

"Yeah," Eugene agreed. "Fuck."

"Seriously, Eugene, what are we going to do?" She sat back down. Eugene smiled softly at her. He took her hand in his.

"I'll say it again; what do you want to do?" She frowned at him.

"It's your kid too. I can't be selfish and say I don't want the baby because it's yours too."

"Do you not want the baby?" There was a slight hint of alarm in Eugene's voice. It made Rapunzel a little distressed.

"God, I don't know, Eugene." Rapunzel was close to tears. She folded her arms on the table and rested her head on them. "Half of this child is you. I could never kill that."

"Well, I don't want you to have an abortion," Eugene said. Rapunzel heard his chair scrape against the floor. She looked up and saw him kneeling on the floor in front of her. "You know, I'm okay with this. Yeah, sure, I might not have planned on it, at least not yet, but I can be fine with this, if you are. I'm not going to abandon you or this kid."

Rapunzel felt butterflies in her stomach. She pulled herself back to reality.

"You're fine with being a dad?" she asked him.

"Well, geez, when you put it that way, I sort of want to rethink my decision." He grinned at her and Rapunzel smiled feebly. Leave it to Eugene to get her to smile.

"Eugene, what sort of parents would we make?" She paused. "What sort of mom would I make?"

"A great mom." Eugene stood and pulled Rapunzel up into a hug. "You will be a great mom."

"No, Eugene." She pushed away from Eugene and started to walk the floor again. "My mother died when I was seven. And my aunt was not the ideal maternal figure. I have no model to go off of."

"Sure you do." Eugene caught her in her walking and pulled her into his arms. "You know to not be like your aunt. That's got to count for something." Rapunzel sighed into his chest.

"How are you okay with this?" She looked up at him. "I mean, I'm pregnant and you're not, throwing a tantrum at all." She sighed. "The way you let things roll off of you, there's got to be a limit to that, Eugene." Eugene smiled down at her and kissed her forehead.

"I don't think throwing a tantrum is the best option at this point, especially if we'll be dealing with them soon enough. But, yeah, you're pregnant. It's not the best thing that could have happened to us right now in our lives, but it's a new life and I'm not going to get mad about that. Especially when that life is my child's. Shit happens, Rapunzel. But not all of it is bad." His hand went to her belly. "Sometimes it can be used as fertilizer."

"Oh, geez, Eugene." She pushed herself away again, laughing. "I wonder about you." He only shrugged. She let out a long exasperated breath.

"And I'm okay with this, because it's with you." He put a hand over her stomach again. "I mean, there is a little life in there and you and I created it. That's amazing. Don't you think?"

"I guess." Rapunzel pulled away from Eugene. She crossed her arms. "I don't want to have an abortion either." She put her hands on her hips. "I've always wanted a family, so I'm not giving this kid up." A hand came up to her stomach. "I'm not ready to be a mom, but I guess if you're willing to be a dad, we can…give it a shot. I mean, what's the worst we could do; cause years of therapy?" Eugene's shoulders jumped as he laughed at Rapunzel's joke. He came up and put his arms around her, kissing her too. "I still don't really know what to do though."

"Well, I think we can start by going to the doctor. I mean, we do need to know what we're doing." Rapunzel smiled.

"I suppose you're right."

"Hm, it's just so weird."

"What?" Rapunzel looked at him

"We've been doing it with a kid in there." Rapunzel frowned at him.

"Eugene, the fetus doesn't even have a brain yet. I highly doubt we've left any emotional scars."

"No, no, I know that, but there's been a third party. We've been having threesomes." Rapunzel could not hold back from laughing. She punched his arm.

"Eugene!"

"What? I got you to laugh, didn't I?" Rapunzel sighed and shook her head. Leave it to her boyfriend, Eugene Fitzherbert to make light of any serious scenario.