January came quickly. On New Year's day, Rapunzel got up bright and early to talk with the castle doctor, seeing as she'd gone way too long with her odd nausea and dizziness. She did so before her husband and daughter were even up yet; thank goodness. She'd been afraid to explain to Eugene why she was going, because he'd just started cheering up and she really didn't want to give him any false hope...right away, anyway.

At six in the morning on a cold January day, the shorthaired princess dashed down the hallways of her large castle. She threw herself through her bedroom door and on top of a lump under their thick blanket. "Eugene! Wake up, wake up, wake up!"

Eugene's head emerged from the blankets and he blinked tiredly at his wife's face. She had way too much energy for it being six AM. "What on earth, Rapunzel...?"

She slid onto her back beside him and grinned. "I'm two and a half months pregnant."

He was sitting up and wide awake within moments. "You're what?!"

She giggled, sitting up as well. "You heard me."

Before anyone could say or do anything else, he grabbed her face and gave her a firm, excited kiss. When he pulled away breathlessly, he didn't even try to conceal his smile. "Rapunzel, that's amazing! So amazing. Oh, honey! I can't believe-you're...!"

She threw her neck back and laughed, exposing her white neck. "Yes."

They didn't tell her parents, at Rapunzel's request. She said that if something went wrong, at least they wouldn't be upset. They did, however, discuss it lightly with Aisling, asking her what she thought of having siblings...to which, she replied eagerly, "I wan' FIVE. Thwee sisters an'... twooo bruthers."
To which, her parents exchanged amused - and slightly terrified, Rapunzel noticed - glances and overlapped one another in the response of "We'll see."
"But it be jus' like that book Daddy read wif me las' night!"
"Hmm...what about Flynnigan Rider, where he saves a family of twelve kids?"
She shook her head so hard that her long hair sprayed out around her and covered her face. "Nuh-uh! That's cwrazy!"
Rapunzel laughed, reaching to hug her little Rose. "You're a silly goose."
"And what's wrong with Flynn Rider?" Eugene asked teasingly, reaching to tuck her hair behind her ears.
"Nuffin," she grinned, displaying the dimples on her chubby cheeks.

That night, Rapunzel couldn't sleep. Her excitement had evaporated and left behind panic. What if something went wrong, just like the last time? What if it was just some weird fluke and the doctor was wrong? She didn't feel like he was wrong, but what did she know? And what if something went wrong later on? During the delivery? What if the baby was too weak? What...
She paced around the floors of the castle before finally arriving in the sitting-room to gaze out of the floor-to-ceiling window, surveying the kingdom. There was nary a light to be seen, but the stars were out full-force. She grinned wryly as she remembered the old chant she'd said endless times as a young child.
Star light, star bright, star I see tonight
I wish I may, I wish I might-
"What's a gorgeous lady like you doing up so late?" she heard this just as she felt strong arms wrap carefully around her shoulders, but she jumped all the same.
"Eugene!" she gasped. "You scared me!"
"Sorry," his white-toothed smile stood out in the darkness. "Are you okay? I mean, not because I scared you, but..."
She bit her lip and turned her gaze back to the outside world. "I'm terrified," she mumbled, placing a hand subconsciously across her stomach.
"The baby?" he asked, catching the gesture and placing his hand over hers.
"Mhmm," she was going to chew a hole through her own bottom lip if she didn't stop. "I'm just scared that something goes wrong. Oh, Eugene, what if something does go wrong? What if the baby...what if...It...it can't die! And...maybe this was a mistake. Maybe we should've-"
"Hey," he turned her around so she had to look at him. "Where's my optimistic girl?"
She gave him a look. "Aren't you even worried in the least?"
"Rapunzel, I'm scared to death. For both you and the baby. But we can't worry about that 'til the time comes. Okay?"
She licked her lips and dropped her gaze to her feet. "Yeah. But-"
"No buts," he tried to give her a cocky, full-of-himself grin to assure her that she didn't need to worry; one Flynn Rider could've pulled off, but it ended up being a shaky grin like the kind you give when you're about to cry but have to smile anyway. Darn it anyhow. He tipped her chin up so she had to meet his eyes. "It'll be okay, honey. Plus, you can't worry and stress out, or something will go wrong."
She wanted to say he was wrong, but realized he definitely had a point. "Okay."
"C'mere," he kissed her cheek and pulled her into a hug, rubbing her back comfortingly. "Everything will go alright, and in about seven months, we'll have a new addition."
She couldn't help but smile - she missed the days when Aisling was a wee baby, and was eager to have another in her arms - of course, she still went to the orphanage and got to hold babies a lot over there, but it just wasn't the same. You couldn't take them home and cuddle them and give them all your love, for one. "I can't wait."
"That's a better attitude, precious girl." he hugged her just a bit tighter before letting her go.