AN: Chapter 10 for Tangled's 10-YEAR-ANNIVERSARY TODAY? Say no more…

I genuinely cannot put into words what this movie has meant to me since I was ten years old. Ten. I remember seeing it in theatres for the first time, crying my eyes out at Eugene dying on the big screen. And thus, my decade-long crush on Eugene Fitzherbert would ensue. In all honesty, I still cry every time he dies, even though I know what happens. Don't we all? Regardless, New Dream is the most beautiful couple Disney has ever thought up. They have a love that will always prevail, no matter what. Let's not forget that as this story starts to ramp up. Today, a new character will be introduced… one that I think you'll be… surprised to see. I have a newfound soft spot for this chapter, so I hope you like it!

Today's featured song is Misery Business by Paramore, because some serious misery business is about to start. Also, I'm going to share the designer that I pulled inspiration from for the gold and red dresses that I envisioned Rapunzel wearing, both in the mini flashback sequence and the present tense of this chapter, because their work is utterly beautiful. Her name is Teuta Matoshi, and I encourage you to look her up if you like visual references. I would personally give pretty much anything to wear one of her dresses, and I think their whimsicalness suits Rapunzel really well.

Okay. Sorry for the long introduction this time. Enjoy this slightly spicy chapter. Because why wouldn't the 10-year-anniversary chapter be at least a little spicy?

Chapter 10: Did I Ever Tell You I've Got a Thing for Brunettes?

One month has passed since Rapunzel's wedding day — one month of Eugene and Rapunzel sneaking around, sharing fleeting moments and losing plenty of sleep just to spend time together. Rapunzel has snuck to his room in the middle of the night at least a dozen times now, which typically ends in tangled limbs, and moans, and giggles, and the occasional heartfelt conversation.

Basically, when they are able to see one another, the young couple have been having a lot of sex, and Eugene isn't complaining about the princess's newfound interest in further building their physical bond. It had been a while since he'd gotten laid, after all – well over a year. He would've waited for Rapunzel as long as necessary, would've loved her just the same, even if she'd never wanted to take that step with him. But she had, and he's going to enjoy it for as long as he possibly can; even if there is a big, dark cloud named Charles raining over them, and their only protection from the storm is living in a bubble of delusion with one another. He'd enjoy it anyway, because it's with her, and Eugene can't keep himself from wanting Rapunzel as much as he does.

In the past month, the young lovers have been kept plenty busy in their own respective ways, what with the palace absolutely bustling, everyone working tirelessly in anticipation of the big Christmas Eve ball this evening. This constant busyness has kept Rapunzel and Eugene rather frustrated, longing for more time together, but they'd fallen into a steady rhythm of making due with what they had. Ideally, this frustration would find some relief soon, what with the four-week Christmas festival coming to a close tonight.

The excited princess and her not-so-equally-excited best friend are standing in her bedroom, preparing themselves for the Christmas Eve banquet and ball, in which Rapunzel will be expected to reintroduce herself into royal society as a married woman. Just as Princess Rapunzel and Cassandra will be tonight, the palace is dressed to the nine's, decorated in its best Christmas attire. A massive pine tree that stretches to the ceiling is standing tall in the grand foyer, ready to greet the hundreds of guests that will surely arrive soon. Rapunzel had insisted that she help the maid staff decorate the tree, and she'd proudly hung each ornament in its proper place, resting each string of tinsel gently on the perfect branch.

The princess couldn't help but fall in love with Christmastime in the palace, if only because it was so cozy, and cheery, and bright – and for just one moment, she would be able to forget what a horrible year it has been. In her tower, there hadn't been much to celebrate, and the holidays hadn't been high on the priority list for Gothel. But now, with her parents and Cassandra, and Eugene, sort of, there still was a lot to be thankful for, even if their world had been turned upside down in the last three months.

Now, Rapunzel is pulling herself into a heavy, beautifully detailed red dress, one that loosely resembles some of the ornaments she'd hung from the towering tree.

"I look like a deranged snowman." Cassandra motions to the cream dress resting upon her shoulders, not even trying to disguise her disgust for the many layers of tulle she's drowning in. "This is going to suuuu…"

The lady-in-waiting trails off after receiving a hard look from her dearest friend.

Gosh, she's had a pretty bad year. Maybe, Cassandra thinks to herself, I shouldn't dump on this one day Rapunzel has been so excited for lately. After all, the princess could use one joy-filled night, even if it is only short-lived and a little on the ignorant side.

Cass would try, she decides. She would at least try to enjoy this, if only for pretend, for her best friend's sake.

"I mean... I can't wait to waltz around with a bunch of stuck-up, stuffy nobles on Christmas Eve! There's literally nothing I'd rather do!"

"Oh, come on, Cass. Lighten up!" The princess nudges the older girl's shoulder, though the gesture doesn't elicit a smile as she'd hoped. "You'll get to be with me, and we get to wear these big, pretty ball gowns," Rapunzel twirls a little, watching with delight as the bundle of red skirts sparkle in the chandelier light. "And we'll get to dance to Christmas music..." The young princess sighs dreamily, clutching her hands to her chest, recalling last year's Christmas Eve ball. "It's all so... magical."

"You of all people would think so, Raps. Unfortunately for me, two of those three things you just said, I absolutely despise."

Rapunzel turns to Cassandra with a laugh, always dumbfounded by how the two girls could be so utterly different, yet love one another as deeply as sisters do.

"Well, if you're glad to be spending time with me, but hate doing all the rest, I can be happy with that."

"Come on." Cassandra can't help but chuckle a little herself. "Turn around so I can zip up your dress."

She does, and the two young women begin light-heartedly bickering back and forth about whether or not it's completely necessary that Rapunzel wear shoes tonight, when the door suddenly swings open, a maid tentatively stepping into the room. She's holding Rapunzel's crown in her hands, an easy smile on her face.

"Oh. Hi!" Rapunzel greets the maid sweetly, stepping toward the woman with a welcoming smile of her own. "I guess this is for me, huh?"

The princess takes the crown from the maid's hands and places it on her head, oblivious to the way the maid is eyeing the headpiece closely. Cassandra notices, though, always on high alert, narrowing her eyes at the maid's sudden interruption. Maids are always taught to knock whenever entering a closed room in the palace. New employee jitters, Cassandra supposes, but she can't help being rubbed the wrong way by the woman's intrusion. The princess turns back to the maid with a grin, sticking out her hand.

"I don't think we've met before. I'm Rapunzel."

The maid is gorgeous, with long, thick chestnut hair. She's slender, but taller than the petite princess. She has dark eyes, eyes that look like they've seen a lot of things and met a lot of people. Her eyes look worldly – they kind of remind Rapunzel of Eugene's eyes in that way. The unnamed maid is altogether beautiful, in an 'I'll steal your boyfriend without even trying,' kind of way.

"Oh, I know exactly who you are, Your Highness." Rather than taking her outstretched hand, the woman decides to bow deeply to the princess, smiling pleasantly back. "Excuse me, for my rudeness. I asked the head maid if I could bring you this." She motions to the crown, a gleam in her eye. "I hope you don't mind me saying so, Princess, but I've wanted to meet you for... well, for a really long time."

"Really?" Rapunzel is taken aback, flattered, still not used to being a figurehead or a person of high popularity – honestly, it had taken some adjusting to having anyone but Gothel knowing she exists at all, let alone an entire kingdom.

Cassandra cuts in suddenly, before the maid has a chance to respond.

"You know, I haven't seen you around the palace before. Are you new or something?" Cassandra crosses her arms, studying the maid closely, looking the woman up and down with her naturally intimidating eyes. Rapunzel elbows her gently in the ribs, always playing angel's advocate on her best friend's shoulder.

"Be nice, Cass." Rapunzel whispers through gritted teeth, before turning to grin at the woman again, hoping she doesn't feel too off-put by Cassandra's generally un-trusting attitude.

"It's alright, Your Highness." The woman brushes off Cassandra's comment, clearly unphased by its accusing tone. "I am new to the palace, actually," The maid shoots the lady-in-waiting a pointed look, "But I hope to stick around… for a while. If I do my job right, that is."

"I'm sure you'll do great. And it was great to meet you!" Rapunzel says brightly, always sincere and inviting to everyone she's in contact with. "But I think we should probably get going, before we're late for dinner. My parents would not be happy with me. What do you think, Cass?"

"Yeah… we should get going." Cassandra responds to Rapunzel, but doesn't take her eyes from the new woman in the room, noting that she hadn't subsequently stated her own name when Rapunzel had introduced herself – and hasn't taken her eyes from the crown now resting in its proper place on the princess's head.

The maid nods in understanding, swiftly exits the room after bowing to Rapunzel once more, closing the door quietly behind her. Cassandra turns to the still-smiling princess, folding her arms across her chest, unimpressed.

"She seems nice." Rapunzel comments, returning to her vanity to make sure her short hair isn't too out of place under her crown.

"Umm, that was kind of weird. Don't you think, Raps?"

"Not really. There's a lot of maids that work here. New people are hired all the time, especially around the holidays." Rapunzel shrugs in the mirror, adjusting the crown on her head one final time. She's obviously unphased, having thought she'd just made a new friend, but Cassandra isn't so easily trusting. "Everyone could use some encouragement lately, Cass."

"Yeah…" Cassandra responds distractedly, looking back to the door. An uneasy feeling settles deep in her stomach, because the maid's eyes had been just a little too attached to that crown. The lady-in-waiting concludes that it's going to be a long night.

Eugene whistles his way down the hallway, in a surprisingly good mood for the first time in three months – give or take a few recent, fleeting nights of happiness spent tangled up with Rapunzel in his bed.

It's late in the evening on Christmas Eve, and Eugene is just returning from a long afternoon spent in the village. He's finding it hard to wipe the goofy smile from his face, reveling in the weight of the ring box in his pocket.

He'd spent the entire month agonizing over whether or not he should even get Rapunzel a Christmas gift this year, wondering if doing so would give their little affair away. But, he'd decided, life is short, and she deserves to be shown that he still loves her with all of his heart, and jewelry was a good way to do that. Right?

Eugene honestly isn't too sure. Mostly because he's only bought jewelry for a girl once before, and that hadn't turned out very well.

This is Rapunzel, though, and she deserves to know that she's desired and appreciated and treasured, because she's the greatest treasure this kingdom has ever seen – the greatest treasure Eugene's ever seen with his own two eyes – and he'd seen a lot of priceless treasure in his thieving days. After the horrible second half of the year they'd had, the least Eugene could do is give her a little reminder that he would always be with her wherever she goes, even when he can't really be with her.

Maybe it was a bad idea to buy her a gift, especially one that would be so obvious, but he couldn't help himself. Eugene reasons, she could always say she'd found it, or that it was a gift from Cass, if anyone were to question her about it; meaning, if Charles were to question her about it.

Eugene makes a face as he strolls the palace halls, thinking about the arrogant prince and the way he'd slipped his arm around Rapunzel in the carriage ride a few weeks ago, when the month-long festival had just begun. The possessive gesture hadn't sat right with Eugene at all, and honestly, he was having trouble shoving down his jealousy lately – even more so than usual. Rapunzel would surely be expected to spend the entire evening with the prince, as they reintroduce themselves as a married couple to Corona's most stuck-up and arrogant noblemen and women at the Christmas Eve ball tonight.

She probably looks so pretty, Eugene recalls as he walks along, just like she had last year on this very same night.

Rapunzel had been incredibly excited to spend her first Christmas with her parents, and things are so different now. The thought of Prince Charles touching her, even just to dance – well, the thought of anyone but him touching her – churns Eugene's stomach. Selfishly, a really selfish part, Eugene hopes she doesn't look too pretty, lest the prince get any interesting ideas. Although, that's nearly impossible for her to do.

Asking Rapunzel not to be insanely pretty, was like asking the sun not to rise in the sky each morning. Could he really blame any of the high-ranked noblemen that would be attending the ball tonight, or even Charles for that matter, for surely looking her up and down every chance they get, for wanting to know what she feels like, wanting to know how to get her attention? Eugene himself had thought the same things when he'd first met her.

He'd used the power of the smolder on her the day they'd met, after all. It hadn't worked that day, of course, but that's beside the point. She hadn't fully understood what it meant then.

But, Eugene reassures himself, he knows that her heart belongs with him, and his with her, regardless of the prince that was now playing third wheel to their love story. Eugene isn't sure how long he and Rapunzel can go on like this, sneaking around and whatnot, but he knows he'll do so for as long as he has to, even until his hair has gone grey and he's retired from the guard. He supposes Charles wouldn't like that very much, if he really were to stay in the palace for that long, but Eugene only sees the opportunity to piss the prince off, as more reason to stick around.

Despite her busy schedule and the many responsibilities she can't avoid as the princess, Eugene hopes that he'll see Rapunzel at some point in the next day or two, so he can give her the gift he'd spent hours painstakingly trying to find this afternoon. Visiting several different jewelry shops, Eugene had searched high and low for the right piece. He'd wanted the gift to be perfect, something that would really suit her. When he'd found just the thing, Eugene paid for it with his own money (which can't be said for the one other piece of jewelry he'd given to a woman before), and had been proud of his purchase, excited to see what her reaction would be.

Enveloped in the thought of his princess, Eugene doesn't initially realize that he's walking past the main banquet hall doors on the way back to his bedroom. He's caught off guard by the loud voices and laughter, remembering that there's always a formal Christmas Eve dinner before the actual ball itself.

Last year, he and Rapunzel had gotten into a little competition of who could eat the most cranberry sauce, and she'd won by a landslide. He'd had to wipe the dark juice from her lips, but she'd been so proud of herself for beating him. She'd just beamed right up at him, brighter than every chandelier that had been lit in the banquet hall, always making him feel as though he were the only other person in the room there with her.

He hadn't beaten her in their little cranberry sauce escapade, but he'd easily beaten her on the scale of how many alcoholic drinks he'd had that night. He'd definitely been buzzed, enough to forget some of the more nuanced details of that night, leaving him a little warm and fuzzy around the edges.

Despite the slightly blurred memory from the alcohol, Eugene can still easily recall every time she'd squeezed his hand under the dinner table, and all the times they'd danced together at the ball after dinner, which had been most of the night. The experience had been reminiscent of the evening they'd spent dancing in the square, the first time he'd brought her to the kingdom, before they'd watched the lanterns rise in the sky in the harbor. Except this time, Eugene hadn't been afraid to dance with her, hadn't been afraid of what falling for her might mean for him – that Christmas Eve night, he was just damn thankful he had – thankful that he'd traded a crown for something much better.

Honestly, Eugene doesn't remember most of that night. At least, none of the things that don't concern his utterly beautiful princess. Not the faces of all the people he'd talked to, and definitely not any of their uptight, royally stuffy names. But he does remember the stunning gold dress she'd worn that night, and the make out session they'd had in the courtyard well after two in the morning, when the ball was still in full swing back inside the palace.

Eugene had dragged his princess to the courtyard, complaining that the ballroom had grown too hot, what with the hundreds of guests still crowded inside. In all honesty, the tight-lipped royal events weren't really his style – he endured them for her sake, wanting to be supportive. When Eugene had pulled her outside, he'd really just wanted a moment away with her – away from prying eyes and the hushed whispers about his past.

Rapunzel had giggled as he'd dragged her through the winding courtyard garden, telling him that she loved him so much, that she would follow him anywhere. And he'd known then that he'd follow her anywhere, too. Eugene recalls her rosy cheeks, and how he'd leaned down to kiss each of them, warming her cold skin. She'd complained that the icy, winter night was nipping at her too harshly, what with her bare arms and only her fancy ball gown to protect her from the late night air.

So, he'd nipped at her neck with his lips instead, promising that he'd always be there to keep her warm.

Eugene recalls the way she'd drug him from the courtyard and to his bedroom that Christmas Eve night. Because everyone, even her parents, had been too busy having fun at the ball to notice their disappearance. He thinks about the way she'd kissed him well into the early morning. They had only been living in the palace for about three months at that point, and he recalls that night as the first time he'd fingered her – and subsequently given the once-so-innocent princess her first orgasm.

She'd just started questioning him about sex a few weeks prior to last year's Christmas Eve ball, when she'd discovered those books about reproduction and intercourse in the library. They'd only then begun exploring one another's bodies more frequently. Eugene had honestly considered letting her parents broach the subject with her, but he didn't want her to feel embarrassed, and he knew that he was the person she trusted most. Eugene hadn't wanted to betray that trust by telling Rapunzel's parents about her deepest, darkest questions and thoughts.

Selfishly, he'd wanted to be the one to educate her on all things sex life. He'd wanted to be the one to guide her through it, so everyone around her wouldn't fill her head with fear about sex, making her feel like it wasn't a totally natural, normal thing to experience as a young woman. She'd spent her entire life having her head filled with lies, told she should be afraid of things she needn't be afraid of, and Eugene wouldn't let that continue.

From what he could tell, royals were not exactly encouraged to fool around before marriage, but that hadn't stopped Rapunzel's always-curious spirit.

Still, Eugene had wanted to be as gentle as possible, to take things painfully slow with Rapunzel, not wanting to scare her. He'd wanted to give her every opportunity to adjust to the new world around her, and all of the overwhelming emotions that come with it. He'd wanted everything that happened between them to be her choice, because nearly all of her own choices had been stripped from her for most of her life.

Eugene remembers the way they'd gotten so caught up in one another that night in his room, as the royal guests continued to party into the night without them – so caught up, in fact, that his hand had found its way between her thighs, a step they hadn't taken up until then. Until that night, the furthest they'd gone was French kissing, and occasionally feeling one another up outside of their clothes.

In the midst of her desire, and still on a high from the hazy excitement of her first Christmas Eve ball, Rapunzel had bunched her golden skirts around her waist, tugging at his hair with her free hand. He remembers asking her if she was okay, and she'd nodded feverishly, begging him to keep going. She'd moaned his name relentlessly, riding out her orgasm, clutching his wrist between her legs. He remembers her flushed cheeks, her hair a tousled mess, shamelessly enjoying one of the best feelings life has to offer for the first time. He remembers the huge grin she'd had after she'd finished – he'd never forget the look on her face, and how good he'd felt about knowing he'd made her feel so good. They'd fallen asleep together in his bed, in their fancy ball clothes, and she'd rushed back to her own bedroom as the sun came up, kissing Eugene passionately goodbye.

That had been a good freaking night.

Eugene suddenly feels a little warm and fuzzy as he tromps past the banquet hall in present time, knowing he'd do anything to spend the entire night kissing her now.

He considers, with a bit of a huff, a lot can change in just one year. Now she's inside the same banquet hall they'd enjoyed Christmas Eve dinner in together last year, with another man – with her husband.

Lost in a mix of nostalgia, jealousy, and longing for the way things used to be, Eugene jumps back when one of the massive dining hall doors swings open, revealing a beautiful girl in a red dress. She steps into the hallway, her back still turned to him as the door slams shut, encasing the sound of the noisy guests inside.

Eugene notices that the girl is wearing a familiar, gold crown on her head, and isn't wearing any shoes under her heavy skirts. Hey, he knows that girl.

He'd just been thinking insanely dirty thoughts about that girl.

"Oh! Hi, Eugene." She smiles brightly, realizing she's not alone in the hallway, both surprised and delighted to see him so unexpectedly.

"Holy… shit." Eugene breathes, frozen in his footsteps, because she looks like an angel walking on earth.

"Is something wrong?" Rapunzel presses her eyebrows together, hurriedly looking down to her skirts, twirling them this way and that. "Did I spill something on myself?"

Eugene tries his best to swallow a chuckle, and even harder to swallow the lust burning in the bottom half of his body at the sight of her looking like… like this.

"No. I mean, not at all. Everything's… wow."

She giggles a little, creeping toward where he's standing, just past the banquet hall doors.

"Are you… feeling okay, Eugene?"

He clears his throat, smiling at her, trying his best to cover his desire.

"Me? I'm great! How are you? How's dinner?"

"Oh, you know." She edges closer to him, her little bare feet padding on the marble floor. He wonders how her feet aren't perpetually cold, walking around barefoot like that. "Just trying my best to keep a smile on my face, I guess."

Because it's not the same without you there, Rapunzel thinks, recalling last year's Christmas Eve ball for herself, remembering the special night they'd shared, the things he'd made her feel for the first time.

Eugene smiles softly in return, dragging her from a long walk down memory lane.

"That's my girl."

She's just a foot or so away from him now, and he realizes they've backed themselves into the shadows of the hallway, where there's a jut in the wall, concealing them from a direct line of vision at the banquet hall doors.

"How are you?" Rapunzel asks in kind, reaching out to finger his collar, gently tugging him toward her, wanting to be close to him.

"I'm…" Eugene breathes in her sweet scent, wanting nothing more than to plunge his fingers into her short hair and press her up against the wall.

If Eugene is being completely honest, he's all kinds of messed up – a ring in his pocket, wishing he could get down on one knee and freaking marry this gorgeous young woman already, if not take her right here in the hallway.

He really needs to find that black market guy that knows how to make people disappear.

"Look, Rapunzel, I should really get back to my room…"

"Why? What's the rush? There's plenty of food to enjoy, if you're hungry –"

She motions to the closed dining hall doors, where he can hear the jovial laughs and clinking of champagne glasses.

He's hungry, alright. Just not for food. Because Eugene can't stop himself from replaying last year's Christmas Eve night in his mind, over and over again, on an endless loop of hearing her moan his name and sigh in relief – knowing she's finally able to let go of all that frustration that's been built in the last three months. Because she's standing here, in this beautiful red dress, looking like an absolute sin he would die to commit.

Well, die again.

"There isn't any… rush, I just –"

Oh no. His breathing is starting to hitch, and he's starting to feel a little dizzy, actually. Eugene knows they would be in deep trouble if someone were to step out of the dining hall and look around the corner, finding them standing so close, whispering to one another.

Keep your head clear, Eugene. You can do this. If you can just get back to your room without —

"Then what's the problem?" She peers up at him, a little bit of annoyance etched across her cute face, her hands on her hips. "You shouldn't be alone on Christmas Eve, Eugene. I know my parents would agree."

She's so sweet, and thoughtful, and she cares about him, and she doesn't want him to be alone for the holidays.

"Don't you worry about me, Princess. I've got Lance to cuddle up with beside the fire. Besides, the problem is..." Eugene lowers his voice, deep and sultry, slowly pressing his body against hers, his lips to her ear, because he just can't help himself. He's pushed her against the cold wall, making her shiver. Concealing them away into the dark shadows of the hallway, Eugene fingers the material of the deep red dress resting on her slim shoulders. "You don't even look real right now… and I can't stop imagining myself fucking you."

He blurts what's really on his mind, immediately wondering if it was the right thing to do.

Rapunzel blinks in surprise, taken a bit aback by his blunt, hushed honesty. Eugene typically isn't so forward; at least, not with her parents and husband just on the other side of the banquet hall door, only a few feet down the hallway.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"I didn't realize —"

"And with your husband in the same room..." Eugene swallows, hard. "I don't think it would be a good idea. I mean, I just don't think I can handle —"

His voice is tight. His eyes have gone dark. His grip on her hair at the base of her skull has tightened, just slightly. Something registers in Rapunzel's mind, all the signs pointing to what she knows he wants, and she understands what he's trying to say.

"Eugene, you're..." What was that strange word Eugene had used before, to help describe the tingly feeling she'd felt when they'd first starting kissing passionately, and when they'd first done a little more than kiss? She giggles a little, whispering as quietly as she can, just in case anyone were to walk by. "You're... horny, aren't you?"

Eugene looks away, as if trying to swallow a smile at the naughty word falling so nonchalantly, so curiously from her lips.

"Maybe. A little." He actually looks a little embarrassed to admit his mind has wandered so far into the gutter.

Rapunzel wonders why. There isn't anything wrong with how he's feeling, is there? She'd felt it often, too – just like he is now, like a fire lit deep inside your belly. Eugene had always told her to never be ashamed of that tingly feeling she always feels when they kiss, to never listen to the stuck up tutors that told her she shouldn't do anything with a man until she was married. Eugene had reasoned, "They're just bitter because they can't get laid." And a dark part of him liked teaching her the 'wrong' thing to do – when safe for her, of course. Maybe it was the part of Flynn Rider that still lives inside of him, showing his face now and then.

The princess leans closer, almost tentative, kissing him deeply. Eugene hungrily kisses her back, as if he's been waiting years just to touch her. He groans into her mouth a little, their lips melting together in perfect harmony. She pulls away far too soon, a bit breathless, knowing she can't be away from the dining hall for long before Charles comes out into the hallway looking for her. Eugene knows he should pull away too, so he doesn't send her back into the dining hall with flushed cheeks, swollen lips, and hair knotted by his hands.

"Don't worry, Eugene. I was planning on visiting you later tonight..." She pokes at his chest playfully, holding onto his collar with her free hand. "Unless you'll be too busy cuddling by the fire with Lance?"

"Are you kidding? I was hoping you would." He smiles down at her, running his hands up and down her arms, sneaking a quick kiss on her nose. "In that dress, preferably."

"Noted." She laughs, scrunching her nose at the contact. "I should go, though. I said I was just going to the bathroom down the hall, and people will start to wonder."

"Okay, Princess." He says, not wanting to let her go, but knowing he has to. For now.

"I'll see you later tonight, then. I promise." She whispers, standing on the tips of her toes to peck his lips quickly, before turning to scamper back into the dining room. Eugene holds onto her hand for as long as he can before he has to let go, a goofy smile still lingering on his face, because he's just so darn in love with her.

"Just don't get caught sneaking around, okay?"

"I won't." She reassures him, disappearing again into the loud banquet hall.

When Eugene returns to his room, he immediately lights a fire in the fireplace. The small bedroom had gone quite damp in his absence, in the hours he'd spent out in the village shopping for Rapunzel's gift. He paces the room for a while, anticipating her arrival, wishing she didn't have to spend so much time with Charles tonight. It would probably be late when she finally gets here, Eugene considers, but that's okay. He doesn't really care, as long as he gets to see her – if only for a little while, before anyone realizes she's missing.

He's jumpy, overly excited to see his love, to caress her soft skin, to feel her yielding body move against his. The last few months have been hard, but the agony of knowing she has to be married to someone else always melts away when he's able to share fleeting moments with her, to touch her – to tell her how much he still loves her, despite their less-than-ideal circumstance.

Despite her being married now, Eugene remains so consumed by Rapunzel – it's a little pathetic, really, as Lance had so elegantly pointed out to him, but he can't help it. Eugene couldn't fall out of love with her if he tried, couldn't even pretend to – even if doing so probably would protect his heart a little better. In all honesty, he doesn't really care what happens to his wellbeing, as long as she's happy. If staying is going to make her happy, then that's what Eugene is going to do, even if his heart winds up tattered and broken beyond foreseeable repair.

Pulling the small ring box from his bedside table, Eugene inspects the flower-shaped ring for a while, noting the intricate details of the tiny, pink pedals. Eugene recalls the guy who had sold the ring to him, a big, gruff man who'd had a piercing dangling from his nose – not that Eugene had been intimated. He's hoping Rapunzel will like the gift when he gives it to her later tonight, and wondering if he's a total idiot for buying a ring for a married woman. He reasons, she doesn't wear her wedding ring, even though she probably should, because she's only meant to wear a ring that's from him.

Because her heart still belongs with me… right? She wouldn't have promised to come here later if that wasn't the case. Maybe it was stupid of me to buy her a gift, but this might be the only way for me to ever buy a ring for her, even though I'd always hoped to buy her a different kind… Eugene thinks to himself, fighting his own conscience with his desire and love for her.

Caught up in his deep thoughts once more, something Eugene has been doing a lot of lately, he doesn't hear the initial knock at his bedroom door. When he finally does notice the persistent knocking, he scrambles to return the ring box to the bedside table, shoving the drawer shut. He hastily stands, striding to the door, swinging it open with an excited smile, bursting at the seams to spend some much-needed time with his gorgeous princess.

But the person standing there isn't the person Eugene had hoped for – not by a long shot.

"Hi, Flynn. Long time no see."

AN: Did anyone notice the little tribute to 'The Return of Strongbow?' Also, WHO on earth is at Eugene's door? And why are they calling him Flynn? Someone from his past, assumedly… any guesses? You'll have to wait to find out in Chapter 11.

Now, go do something fun to celebrate the 10-year-anniversary today! All my love, my fellow Tangled fans, and thank you for reading. I hope we're here together for many years to come.