Chapter Thirty Seven Azalea's Point of View

It was a struggle for her to open her eyes. "Rapunzel?" Eugene's voice helped her feel her way back into her body.

"Eugene?" She blinked her sticky eyes open.

"You slept late, Blondie." She felt his hands stroke her hair. "Time to wake up."

He helped Azalea sit up. "What day is it?"

"It's the day of the Ball." He peered into her eyes. "You all right? You're very red."

"I'm fine," she mumbled. Azalea was hot. She slid off the bed and stood up.

Eugene was already dressed in his trademark clothes. "Need some help?"

Her nightgown hung on her despite her large stomach. "Please?" She smiled at him. Rapunzel would have done that, right?

Eugene helped her into a loose fitting green dress. It had short sleeves and flowed to her ankles. She pulled on matching sandals. She looked to where her hidden gown for Rapunzel was and realized that it would no longer fit Rapunzel. She'd have to give Rapunzel the very dress she was wearing.

Eugene grabbed her hand and escorted her to the Dining Hall. Through the large windows that covered the walls of the Palace, Azal could see that it was late morning.

"Mornin'!" Guy greeted her with a peck on the cheek. Michael was munching on a piece of toast while one hand was holding Fernidia's, who was eating strawberries. Olivia held open the door for them and the King pulled open Azal's chair. She sat down and smiled as he pushed it up. The smile faded a bit when she realized that when she came back tonight, she'd be someone else.

"When does the Ball start?" She looked into the eyes of Rapunzel's mother.

"The Ball starts at sunset." Fernidia said from her side of the table.

When they finished eating break feast, Azalea was allowed to walk out to the garden by herself. She sank down onto the cold grass and wiped tears from her eyes.

She stared around the cloudy sky and realized that it was nearing the end of winter.

"Rapunzel?" Nathan's voice sounded behind her. She glanced behind and saw that he was holding a plate of pineapple. "You forgot this."

She managed a tiny smile. "Thanks, Nathan."

He sat down on the ground with her. He was wearing a bright yellow vest, white cotton sleeves that were short, and khaki pants. He wore the same boots from the time she had told him her secret.

She bit a piece of pineapple. "Why do you want to help me?"

Nathan kissed her cheek. "I just want to."

"But why?"

"Does it matter?" He kissed her cheek again.

After a small silence, he told her. "I want to be with you, that's why."

Azalea felt her heart clench with her next words. "You might get in trouble for helping me, Nathan. I can't let that happen to you."

"Try to stop me, doll." Nathan stared into her eyes.

She looked away and wiped away tears. "Promise me that you'll run if things go bad."

What about Dwayne? A small voice asked her. She ignored it for now. She would cross that bridge when she got to it.

"I promise." Nathan wiped away stray tears. "Don't cry anymore." He pleaded gently, his eyes staring at hers.

She tried to laugh. "I can't promise that."

Nathan helped her off the ground eventually. She made her way to the door, but he stopped her by grabbing her arm. "Wait."

Azalea turned back to him. "What is it?"

He pulled her tightly to him and his hand went to her stomach. He held it there, not moving.

Their eyes met. His smoldered gently while hers glistened with tears as she understood.

Azalea understood, and made a wish for him.

Rapunzel's Point of View

"I'll be back, darling." Jacob's voice woke me up. I stared at him with groggy eyes. "Once I come back, we'll get ready to go, okay?"

"All right." I mumbled. My body was numb with sleep. I must have been hanging there for a while. The chewed up herbs he had put on my flower had made it finally stop stinging. The infection made me hot, and he had shackled me to a wall to let me cool down.

He closed the door and I fell asleep again.

Azalea's Point of View

Azalea looked at Olivia from her side of the table. She was in the Dining Hall eating lunch. "Can I get some fresh air?"

"Take Nathan with you." Michael looked up. He and Fernidia were always around each other lately.

Eugene looked at Nathan. "Have her back an hour before sunset."

"Will do, sir." Nathan spoke, his voice quiet. He glanced at Azalea and smirked quickly.

Azalea stood up, wanting to give them –and herself- something to laugh about. She bowed to her sitting down friends.

Guy and Olivia burst out laughing. Guy howled, "She gets funnier every day."

Olivia eyed her. "Don't do that so often," she said when she finally stopped giggling. Stephanie waved the two of them away.

"Before long, you won't walk." Stephanie called to them.

"That's encouraging." Azalea grumbled when Nathan closed the door. He grinned and kissed her hand as he took it.

"Need anything?"

Azalea blinked and remembered the dress. "Yes! I, um. . ."

Nathan guided her to the room she and Eugene shared. "Have you done something you're not proud of?"

How could he read her so well? "I hid a dress for her."

"Smart." Nathan ruffled her hair.

He was so different than Dwayne! It was hard not to like him.

"I've got it." She opened the door, grabbed the dress, and then rushed into the washroom as her skin flushed fire.

Nathan knocked on the door. "You all right?"

"Just fine!" Azalea mumbled. "I don't feel so good."

"Let me in, doll." He knocked on the door harder.

"No, I'm not sick but I feel hot." She was sweating as she sank onto the floor. She wiped dew from her forehead.

Azalea crawled over to unlock the door and Nathan took her in with wide eyes. "You still want to do this?"

She nodded and he wet a cloth. He wiped hurriedly at her face and arms. He tucked the damp cloth in his pocket. "I'll bring this."

She looked at him as he helped her off the floor. "Can we hurry?"

Nathan blinked at her. "So you want me to fly?" He stiffened. "All right, climb on."

They burst out laughing, and were still laughing as they left the Palace.

Nathan stopped when they walked into town. The town was strangely busy and her skin felt warm because of the humidity in the air.

"You know how to ride a horse?" Maximus was nibbling grass on the lawn of the house she and Dwayne had. Nathan looked at her.

"What?" Nathan asked.

"We're taking Maximus." Maximus looked up at the sound of his name and stared at Rapunzel. Pascal was on his shoulder and blinked.

Maximus trotted to her and sniffed her hair. He burst into a grin and moved to the side. He flicked her hand with his tail.

Nathan helped Azalea on, and then got on himself.

Pascal played with Azalea's thumbs as Azalea guided Maximus to the edge of town.