"And...is that height a bad thing?" Eugene asked, trying to break the tension. His attempt at levity flew right over Rapunzel's head, however.

"Of course it isn't bad -" she said hastily, holding up her hands.

"Because I can slouch if you want," Eugene interrupted, trying a bit harder this time, his shoulders slumping over so suddenly that it even startled Pascal a little. "How's this, now?" The sight of Eugene arduously trying to appear permanently humpbacked, even with his lush upper body was so ridiculous that both Rapunzel's and Pascal's eyes bugged out and their jaws dropped. A spontaneous snicker escaped Rapunzel in spite of herself and one of her hands flew to her mouth.

"So….no?" deadpanned Eugene, on a roll now. "Because I can always go lower, you know." Then he bent his knees until he was bow-legged in combination with the super-slouch, and he was schlumping around in front of her, back and forth, like some court jester. Rapunzel and Pascal burst out laughing. When he was satisfied the tension was fully dispersed, Eugene dropped the goofball routine, happy to see that Rapunzel's nervousness had disappeared. The young man never wanted her to be afraid of him, even if it was merely over their height difference.

"That's my girl," Eugene grinned and affectionately set his hand against her cheek. Rapunzel perked up even more after he said it. "Hey, that's really what I am now, aren't I?" she replied wondrously, covering his hand with her own. "I'm your girl!"

"Only if you wish to be," Eugene amended softly.

"Of course I do!" Rapunzel exclaimed. Unable to contain herself, she bounced from the pads of her feet to her toes. "More than anything!", and she bubbled over, launching herself into his arms with such sudden and wild abandon that Eugene nearly lost his footing. As soon as he regained balance, Rapunzel again sealed her lips over his and urgently showed him just how much she wanted him, wanted to be his girl and nobody else's.

After they came up for air, chests heaving, Eugene braced Rapunzel against him so their foreheads could touch. "I want to be your girl," she whispered, still breathless from their most recent dalliance. "Eugene's girl." And oh, how Eugene's heart soared! "I believe you," he answered fervently, positively giddy at the prospect. He could have sung….Eugene's girl, indeed! It still sounded so fresh to his own ears. For Eugene hadn't ever dared to approach a girl before; that territory had been exclusively reserved for one Flynn Rider. Until two days prior, Eugene had always felt too shy or insecure to approach girls as his authentic self. Now he knew he'd found a great woman who wanted him for who he was, and not just for good looks, not for a projected façade, not for his illegal skills, nor ill-gotten gains, nor anything else. But it wasn't just that.

For the first time in his life, Rapunzel had actually made Eugene love hearing the sound of his given name. It was both an unintended consequence and serendipitous gift. As far as Eugene was concerned, this gift was every bit the mystical miracle that Rapunzel's tears saving him had been. Even the lilting musicality of the way she pronounced "Eugene" made it all uniquely special. He felt almost silly for asking, yet had to hope she would "get" it. And as intuition would have it, he wasn't wrong.

"Could you….could you say that again? For me, please?" the anxious young man requested, so softly that Rapunzel nearly had to ask him to repeat himself. His thumb gingerly skimmed her bottom lip as he cupped her chin in his hand. She gazed into his eyes questioningly, but only for a mere second before she understood.

"I'm Eugene's girl!" Rapunzel stated proudly, her smile beaming even brighter than midsummer's day.

Overcome with lover's euphoria, Eugene lifted her high above his head as effervescent laughter escaped from his throat, filling the air. Rapunzel's laughter immediately joined him as he spun his princess in tight happiness circles across the cleared portion of the floor...and back. Hearing her say that with such love and sincerity meant more than he could've ever imagined.

Following their spinning, it was Eugene's turn to be breathless as he pondered, utterly awestruck, "Whatever did I do in my miserable life to deserve someone like you?" He trailed a fingertip down from Rapunzel's forehead and booped her nose. His question was rhetorical, of course, but the young woman answered him anyway.

"Hmmm…" Rapunzel considered. "Maybe it's because you….finally made some better life choices?" she quipped, with a twinkle in her eye.

"PffffSHahahaHAHA!" The simple baldness of her reply caught Eugene so off-guard that he instantly released Rapunzel and burst into raucous guffaws in spite of himself. "I-I-" he attempted to reply but continued spluttering through his laughter so hard that tears leaked from his eyes. "I cannot argue with that! Not even a little bit!" And wow, did Eugene ever need this release! It had been one hell of a morning (or week) - even according to Flynn Rider standards - that's for damned certain.

Rapunzel pondered innocently, "How can a person even 'deserve' another person, anyway?" Her face scrunched up in genuine confusion, which in turn made Eugene want to boop that adorable button nose of hers again. He had enough tact to refrain, though. She pondered, "Besides, it isn't about what you deserve….it's about sharing what you have, right? Sharing time, life, and building new dreams together."

"My dear Sunshine….." and Eugene clasped her hands within his, "once again, you are correct." He brought her right hand to his lips and kissed the back of it. Before Eugene knew it, his diligent princess was once again checking up on his former wound.

"Sunshine, sweetheart, I can assure you that I'm quite all right at this time - all thanks to you."

"Yeah, I know….I know," said the princess, hesitating. "It's just that, well….."

"...you keep waiting for life to drop the other shoe and just end the suspense? Get things over with already?" Eugene finished for her gently.

"Yes!" Rapunzel replied, "But….but how could you know? I'm always worried you'll think I'm just being stupid or naïve or something..."

"I could never," assured Eugene with utmost sincerity, shaking his head and again taking both of her hands in his own. He meant it, too. "And as far as me having anticipated your answer? That's easy," he said with a sad smile, "it's because those self-defeatist emotions are nearly always born out of genuine need. It's a hallmark of someone who never possesses quite enough. And...admittedly," Eugene again tilted his head in that self-deprecating way of his, "it's something I've seen an awful lot amongst those of us who must live life on the run. Your basic daily needs of food, clothing, shelter, and positive human companionship aren't being met, no matter how hard you try," he elaborated, looking down at the floor with a pained expression. Eugene tried hiding it, yet it seemed clear he seemingly wrestled with some long-buried memories that were closer to the surface than he'd let them come in a very long time. "And...then….without even realizing it, you become so accustomed to life's tiniest happiness crumbs….that you actually start to believe it's all there is to have. Without anything real to look forward to, you've overtrained yourself to expect the inevitable, which winds up being….." Eugene paused briefly in spite of himself before continuing.

"...bit-bitter disappointment," finished Eugene acerbically, stumbling over the words. "Bitter disappointment," Rapunzel said in unison with him.

"I'm so very sorry," she continued worriedly, openly concerned that she had inadvertently caused Eugene to recall his own pained past, "we can talk about something else," Rapunzel suggested. "The last thing I wanna do right now is dredge up painful memories from your childhood-"

"-it's….it's quite all right!" Eugene held up a hand and cut her off mid-sentence, eager to let her know that wasn't at all the reason why he sounded so bitter and angry. "It's not what you're thinking."

Rapunzel was clearly puzzled. "Then….why were you sounding so bitter?" she tilted her head at him quizzically. He self-consciously smoothed a hand over his hair.

Again, she saw that sad, pinched smile - and Eugene replied softly, much to her surprise, "It's….it's because I was thinking about your past, not mine. Your upbringing….what it must've been like for you being lied to and promised things your whole life, only to have them yanked away when it mattered most." He reached up a hand and tucked Rapunzel's hair lock behind her ear and tugged her closer by grasping her wrists. She reflexively winced and sucked in a breath.

"What is it?" Eugene hastily pulled back in alarm. "What'd I do?"

Rapunzel's eyes had squeezed tight shut, and he looked down to see angry-looking red weals on her wrists from those god-awful manacles Gothel had shackled upon her that morning. Eugene gasped in spite of himself.

"I'm-I'm sorry!" exclaimed Eugene, mortified it had taken him so long to notice her wounds.

"I-it-it's okay!" Rapunzel reassured hastily, "truth be told, I didn't even notice them myself until just now. Far too much happening at once, I suppose," she smiled weakly.

If she weren't already dead, Eugene would've had some very choice actions to visit upon Gothel at that time. Having been at times held in some of the world's most notorious prisons (however briefly), he was already far too familiar with nasty chafing from iron chains. It's the main reason he got such an infamous rep with picking locks. But he refused to dwell on that now.

"Do you have any healing salts?" he asked Rapunzel.

"Yes," she said. "Across the floor in Gothel's potions dresser. The second drawer on the left, clear corked bottle."

"How about water and clean rags? Oh, and a spoon and saucer?"

"We're out of water. But Gothel always got it from the spring behind the Tower. Spoon and saucer are over there in the cupboard."

"The little waterfall? It's also a water spring? That's so cool!"

"Why, I s'pose it is!" Rapunzel agreed, having tilted her head in consideration. "I've never thought about it before."

"I say we've definitely spent more than enough time in this place," said Eugene, as he was gathering up a small bit of Rapunzel's lengthy cut-off hair. "I have a feeling we're gonna need this later," he said seriously. Rapunzel was momentarily concerned with the sudden gravitas Eugene projected but it was gone before she could mention it to him.

Eugene was so pleased with Pascal's helpfulness, he was nearly beside himself. As Eugene had turned toward the wall in order to tuck in his shirt properly without, ah, exposing things, the little chameleon had shown up at their feet again. This time he had Eugene's satchel that contained Rapunzel's crown, the healing salts, clean rags, and a few other things. "He's so strong for something his size! Thank you, Froggy," Eugene said, "for all your help. Just don't hurt yourself, hmm?" And Eugene took his satchel from Pascal, who was suddenly indignant. He squeaked out something angrily to Eugene.

"It's okay, Pascal," Rapunzel soothed, "he was actually admiring your strength. Not insinuating that you are weak."

"That's right!" Eugene agreed, again taking his lead from Rapunzel. "Pfffsh. Weak? I could never think that. Not now, after watching you haul around something that's gotta be 100x your size." The little lizard grew proud and puffed up, and dropped the angry stance entirely.

"So," Eugene turned to Rapunzel, who was again on the stairs, "were you needing anything else here?" He grabbed a purple ribbon from Pascal and tied it around the furled up lock of Rapunzel's hair, stashing it carefully in his satchel. He slung the leather bag across his body.

"Nope," Rapunzel stated firmly. "Nothing." If Eugene was surprised by her resolve, he elected not to show it, instead saying, "Then let's get the hell out of here." And he looked around. "But….uhhhh," he asked, suddenly stymied, "is there a way to get out of here that doesn't require using the window?" He no longer had his arrows nor Rapunzel's blonde hair to scale the side of the Tower.

"Over there is a trapdoor in the floor to a second staircase," Rapunzel replied, pointing all the way across the floor.

"Right you are," Eugene said, once again full of purpose. "However, as you are a barefoot maiden, I simply cannot have you pick your way across all that broken glass." He bowed deeply to Rapunzel, much to her surprise. "Might I offer assistance to milady?" He straightened up and held out his arms to her where she stood above him on the stairs.

For a second or two, Rapunzel couldn't tell if he was joking or not. After all, she really was royalty….but then she caught the quirk of his top lip.

"Oh, you…." she reached out and ruffled Eugene's hair as they both laughed.

"In all seriousness, though, you can't safely walk across this floor without shoes," said Eugene and Pascal squeaked in agreement. "See? Even the Frog agrees with me." Then, "Hey! I'm learnin' your language, Froggy!" Eugene turned around to face Pascal, who had folded his arms in pretend annoyance. Yet Eugene's enthusiasm made Pascal think better of it and the chameleon instead gestured the young man closer toward him on the floor. Eugene crouched down and Pascal hopped up on his knee, then up to his shoulder, and nuzzled against Eugene's cheek. The man legit giggled. Like a little boy.

Rapunzel's hands flew to her mouth in utter delight. She had no idea someone like Eugene was capable of laughing like that! It was so endearing that she was almost afraid of ruining the moment. In turn, Eugene had unexpectedly reached up toward the little chameleon. "And you're ticklish, too!" exclaimed Eugene, as Pascal laughed in his own adorable scratchy-voice way.

As Eugene went to stand up with Pascal still on his right shoulder, Rapunzel said, "You're right about the broken glass and my bare feet. "I saw someone in the town square doing this one thing….carrying someone on their back. Could we try that?"

"One piggyback across the broken glass, coming up!" confirmed Eugene with a smile. He stood with his back in her direction and instructed her to gently wrap her arms about his neck. "I'm gonna reach my arms backward and hook them behind your knees, okay?"

"Okay!" Rapunzel answered, with far more confidence than she felt. She needn't have worried, though. Eugene's arms were so large that even while reaching backward, he could support most of her thighs on just his forearms. It was only after he had situated her around his hips that it occurred to Rapunzel just how intimate her position could be. Instantly she had become supremely aware of just what proximity this piggyback might bring for the two of them. Pascal was also watching her, having hopped from Eugene's shoulder to hers.

"Are you all situated, then?" Eugene asked. Rapunzel got the distinct impression it wasn't the first time he'd asked the question. "Mhm…" she replied distantly, trying to deal with the sudden electrifying sensations overtaking her body as she sat with her legs around Eugene's hips, her arms surrounding his neck and shoulders. "Off we go, then…." he continued.

Rapunzel's lustful little button nose inadvertently brushed the nape of his neck. As she took in the now-intoxicating scent of his hair, Rapunzel quite nearly forgot how to breathe as Eugene's walking motions across the floor awakened something deep within her netherregions. With each step he took across the floor, Rapunzel's hips twitched and quivered a little bit more beneath her.

How was this possible?! A mere two days prior, when she had freaked out over the terror-bunny, Rapunzel had unintentionally wound up on Eugene's back in a fit of pique. Back then she hadn't felt anything like how she felt now; rather, she had been extremely embarrassed afterward! Yet the feelings she had at this very moment - ones that made her want to bury her face into the man's soft silky hair and the urge to wrap her legs and her entire self around Eugene and never let go weren't exactly unpleasant but they were definitely unfamiliar. Unable to fully suppress a sound between pleasure or longing from escaping her throat, Eugene came to an abrupt stop and worriedly asked her if she was still okay. "Don't worry, I'm fine," she quickly replied, trying desperately not to blush yet again.

"Are you sure?" Eugene asked, showing uncanny perception with his ability to know when Rapunzel was keeping something from him.

The young woman quickly slid off of Eugene's back and onto the floor by the trapdoor. Mumbling a distracted "thank you" to him, the princess mentally resolved to herself to have no more piggybacks until further notice. And to think she had so erroneously believed piggybacks would be a bit less intimate than having Eugene outright traditionally carrying her in his arms...

Rapunzel opted to let Eugene believe that her current, ah, frustrations(?) were related to something else other than the pinching tightness growing in her groin. It was just too blasted intimidating at that time to even think about bringing up her newness with romantic physical intimacy, especially with someone like him.

"Yes," Rapunzel finally answered Eugene. That clipped reply had sounded almost mechanical, even to her…..and utterly foreign. The perceptive man folded his arms and replied gently, "Wellllll, that doesn't sound very convincing. At all. Sooo...out with it. You can tell me anything, you know."

"I'm-just-" she stuttered, not certain where to begin, only to blurt out, "have…..have you had many women?"

Eugene's eyes widened and he blanched. He had known this was coming but he hadn't expected the questions to come quite so soon. In his mind, the only woman Flynn Rider ever truly had was his ex-fiancé. And even then….he'd since learned Stalyan had been such an over-controlling viper that it was her who'd secretly manipulated him into proposing in the first place. His discovery of the following became a huge part of why he'd walked away from her in the end.

Not to mention that in large part, Stalyan had been directly responsible for grooming him into the womanizer he had become. Once upon a time, when he was very young and still extremely naïve, it's true that quantity of sexual conquests was what he sought - exactly like most randy teens. Along came Stalyan who was so hyper-attractive and had such animal magnetism that it was almost unreal. She was six years his senior when she first recruited him and Lance and it had been far too simple for her to mold, coerce, and gaslight the impressionable 15-year-old Flynn into doing and becoming whatever she wanted.

But how on earth was Eugene going to explain all of that to his dearest Rapunzel without scaring her away? He was already almost too terrified to even approach Corona again - especially in light of his most recent escape that was witnessed by the entire royal guard - though he wouldn't let Rapunzel see the depth of his fear. The last thing Eugene needed to do was arm the noose-happy Captain with the knowledge of even more of Rider's lousy past.