Prompt from Guest: Another idea if you like it Hans x Rapunzel story. Taking the place after Post- Tangled. Hans is visiting in Corona and meets Rapunzel. Musically talented Hans who lost all the joy play anything because his older brothers mocked and made fun of his talents. In Corona Hans and Rapunzel fall in love. And Rapunze teaches to Hans how to enjoy music again

( Rapunzel and Eugene stayed just friends in this AU. )

…..

Hans knew that any other prince would be honoured to be sent as a representative for his kingdom to the biggest event of the decade, nah, the century!

The return of the Princess of Corona.

But he wasn't going to kid himself.

He knew why he was here.

So that his brothers and parents didn't have to look at him.

Hoping that his flute was still safe in its' hidden compartment, he moved through the streets, gazing around at everything.

His kingdom was nowhere near as cheerful.

So lost in his thoughts it was no surprise when he collided with someone, his flute flying out of his pocket and onto the ground as a female voice cried out in shock.

"Sorry, I'm sorry!"

Quickly picking his flute up from the floor, examining it for damage, he almost missed the delicate hand reaching out for him, prompting him to look up.

Wow.

Short, brown hair tousled around her face, large green eyes… she was beautiful.

"Are you alright?" She asked, helping him get to his feet, "I'm so sorry, I'm not used to being out like this, so I got a bit distracted and- "

"- I can understand the feeling." He chuckled, tucking his flute back into his pocket, "I think we can say we both may have been to blame for this one, for not paying attention."

She nodded, her hands behind her back as she rocked back and forth, smiling warmly up at him. "So… are you here for the celebrations?"

Hans nodded, and the girl beamed.

"Great! I'll see you there then!" And then she was gone, before Hans could even get her name.

….…

Hans was used to an atmosphere like this. People all dressed in their finery, spinning around as the music played in the background.

No flute though.

If it weren't for the fact that it would get back to his parents and brothers, he would get up and join them.

Hearing laughter nearby, he glanced over to his right, only to see a familiar girl spinning wildly towards him, a panicked looking man wincing as she over-balanced and fell right in front of him.

Thinking quickly, Hans reached out and grabbed her hand, just before she hit the floor.

"We really have to stop meeting like this." He chuckled, as she stared up at him in shock for a moment, before beaming.

"It's you!" She straightened back up, "You still have that flute, right?"

"I- "

"- C'mon! I'm going to borrow a guitar and we're going to liven this party up a little!"

"Won't people be angry?!"

She shook her head, "Don't worry. I asked my parents and they said it was okay." She gestured across the room, as Hans looked over…. To see the King and Queen smiling at the girl fondly.

Rapunzel.

This girl was the once-missing princess.

"I-I- Your Highness!" Hans bowed quickly, "I-I- "

"- Don't worry. It's still okay for us to play with the musicians!"

She tugged on his arm, only stopping when Hans dug his heals in.

"Please!" He begged, looking around, noticing that they'd gathered quite a crowd.

Who knew how many of these people were working for his family, ready to spill the dirt on him at a moments notice?

Dodging the princess's attempts to grab him, Hans made his escape towards the balcony, trying not to panic. Eventually, he made his way outside, bracing himself against the railing and taking a deep breath.

"I'm sorry."

He turned, watching as Rapunzel moved closer, an apologetic look on her face.

"I didn't mean to upset you." She sighed, "Eugene says I still need some work on my inter-personal skills."

"Eugene… your betrothed?"

Rapunzel giggled and shook her head, "No. We decided that we were probably better off as friends." She hopped onto the railing and took a seat, "So… why didn't you want to come and play some music."

Looking away, Hans sighed wearily, "It's…. it's nothing. Nothing you need concern yourself with Your Highness."

"Rapunzel… please." She was quiet for a moment, before cautiously speaking up again, "Is it… is it about your family."

"I- "

"- Mum and Dad were talking about it when they saw you'd arrived." She continued, focusing on her hands. "They didn't seem to think much of them."

Hans felt like his heart was in his stomach, "It-it's complicated. We can't all have a family as nice as yours. I think if I'd been kidnapped as a baby, my parents would have considered it a miracle."

… He didn't mean to say that much.

"… Is that why you don't want to play music on the stage?"

"Hmm, they wouldn't approve."

They were silent for a few moments, before Rapunzel leaned forwards in glee, "Then we have to change their minds!"

"I- "

"Starting tomorrow!"

….…..

Rapunzel collapsed onto her bed, still in the dress from the party as she smiled up at the ceiling as there was a knock on the door.

"Permission to enter, Your Highness?" Eugene's teasing voice came through the wood, causing her to giggle.

"Permission granted!"

Eugene slowly entered the room, closing the door behind him before perching on the bed, "Soooo?"

"So what?"

"You and that sad Prince?"

Rapunzel pushed at Eugene's shoulder and rolled her eyes, "He's a friend… just a friend."

"But you want it to be more?"

Rapunzel shrugged, "I just… want him to be happy."

"Well, you're definitely the person to help with that."

…

"Hey!"

Hans yelped as he was pulled into a side room.

"Why have you been avoiding me?" Rapunzel demanded to know, her arms folded over her chest.

"I-I haven't, I- "

"- Is it because of the music thing, because no-one around here will care, I promise!"

"You don't know that!" Hans snapped, flinching as the princess frowned at him, "You just don't know that!"

And with that, he ran again, rushing to hide in his rooms.

…

She just wouldn't give up though.

Really, Hans shouldn't have been surprised when she grabbed him again, a guitar in her hands as she pulled him through the corridors and towards a rather closed off staircase.

"W-where are you taking me?!"

"You have your flute, don't you?"

"I- "

She pulled him up the stairs, pushing open a door and pulling him out onto the roof, encouraging him to take a seat as she sat down on the edge, resting the guitar on her knees.

"We can play music here." She whispered, "This way, no one can see us… can see you."

She had a point; they were so high up there was no chance of them being seen.

As Rapunzel started to pluck at the strings of her guitar, Hans slowly took out his flute and started to try and play along. For a moment, all that could be heard was the odd, slightly dis-jointed tune, echoing through the night sky.

They continued to play for a few more minutes, before the song seemed to come to a natural end and Rapunzel turned to him and beamed, "That was… amazing!"

"Yeah…" Hans ran his fingers over his flute almost reverently, "It was."

….

They met up almost every night after that.

Hans knew his parents expected him to go home soon, but he also knew that they didn't particularly care when he got home.

It was a week after their first musical meeting, that Rapunzel turned to Hans with a soft smile on her face, "I-I know this might be a bit sudden but… I was wondering if you would be interested in staying."

"Staying… up here?"

"No!" She giggled, "Staying here… in the kingdom."

"I- " Hans turned away her, "- I don't think I'll be permitted."

"…. What if it was because- because- "

"- Because?"

"… Because the princess liked you, and wanted you to stay?"

Hans felt frozen, eyes widening as he stared at her, watching as she flushed bright red and turned away from Hans, clearly embarrassed.

"Sorry." She whispered, "I just- just thought- nevermind." Before Hans could say anything, Rapunzel was making her way back to the staircase, rushing down it like she was being chased.

And all Hans could do… was sit there in shock.

….

"Did he actually say no though?" Eugene asked

"… I didn't want to hear him say it."

"How do you know that was what he was going to say?"

Rapunzel was silent for a moment, before shrugging. "He didn't exactly look happy with the question."

"He might just have been in shock." Eugene sighed, "You do tend to have that effect on people you know."

"… Do you really think he might like me?"

"How couldn't he?" Nudging her in the side, Eugene smirked, "Everyone loves you."

When she remained silent, Eugene sighed. "Just… talk to him, okay?"

…..

The next day, Rapunzel was shocked to hear that Hans was planning to leave that very morning, in the next hour, on the next ship back to the southern isles.

"MAXIMUS!" She screamed, racing out of the throne room, her mother and father rushing after her.

"Rapunzel!" Her Father called out, "What are you doing?!"

"Stopping him from leaving!"

…..

She arrived on the docks just as Hans was boarding, jumping off of Maximus and rushing over as quickly as she could.

"HANS!"

He stopped, turning to face her as she ran onto the ship and grabbed his hand.

"Don't go!" She begged, tugging on his wrist, "Please?"

"I- "

"- I really like you Hans." She continued, "And I don't care if you don't like me back, but I want you to at least give me a chance! Just a small one?"

"Princess." Hans's smile was shy and a little unsure, "I do like you but… maybe we can take this one day at a time?"

"Yeah… one day at a time."