Updated as of: September 16, 2015 – simple rewrite cuz I wasn't happy with a few things, like got a character's lack of reaction to something slightly wrong, nothing different plot wise.

A/N: One major goof in Ch1, though I fixed it within a couple days of uploading. The King & Queen's names are Walter and Lillian, respectively. & to answer a particularly worrisome question I got, NO, Eugene is not 'planning to kill himself'- he just recognizes that life without Rapunzel would be meaningless, & that his plan to bring her back is incredibly risky.

If you're a fan of the TV series Chuck, starring the voice of Eugene himself, Zachary Levi, then you may notice that the chapter titles are taken from episode titles. If you're not a fan, then I highly suggest you join us. Otherwise they mean nothing. ;)

Casual reminder: this is Rated M for reasons.


Chapter 2: Tangled vs The Colonel

"Careful of the stones," Eugene warned her as he turned to take her hand with his free one.

"I've got it." Rapunzel carefully navigated her bare feet from the back door of the tower to the grass.

Suddenly an excited whinny snapped them both to attention; though Eugene was more so horrified. Guards!

Max came sprinting around from the front of the tower, elated.

Eugene let go the breath he was holding. "Oh, right."

"Oh, Max!" Rapunzel exclaimed as he trotted over to her. "What are you doing here, huh boy?" she asked knowingly.

Max ignored her babying question and instead began nuzzling her face. He paused for a moment in slight confusion, however, and sniffed the new ends of her hair. He simply nodded sweetly and continued gushing over her.

"He helped me escape I told you," Eugene answered for him as he stepped next to the pair. He patted Max's neck as he continued. "Can't believe how fast you got me here." He paused to make sure to look Max in the eye. "Thanks, buddy."

Rapunzel stepped back to face Max as well, while still holding his snout in her hands. "Thank you, so much..."

Eugene set down the items he had been carrying next to Max and began securing them. A ribbon tied between the paint case set's handle and the bumbag made it perfect to sling over the horse's back end as a makeshift saddle sack.

The painted paint case caught his stray thoughts. It seemed the only sentimental thing she wanted to take. He imagined it had to be what her soul looked like- beautiful layered splotches of color, that no one merely gazing at her paintings could ever truly see or hope to understand. This was what she used to create, how she chose what to reveal or hide behind. Only he had seen it. She may have been locked away from the world all her life, but she was not a blank canvas.

He looked back to her, as she was relaying to Max what had transpired once he had lost sight of him. He stepped back beside Rapunzel as he wrapped his arm around her waist to pull her closer, both of them beaming. "Yep, and- guess what?" He motioned for her to finish.

"Max," she wound herself up and bounced a little before losing it. "I'M the Lost Princess!"

Max merely nodded and continued grinning.

Eugene chuckled and rolled his eyes. "Ugh, he's a horse." He brushed away from Rapunzel to secure the bags from the other side. "He doesn't understand."

Max hit Eugene's shoulder with his snout as he passed, and grunted.

"Ow, what?!" He glared him down, fully expecting an explanation.

As best as his long face could, Max smirked and rolled his eyes. That transformed into a more serious, expecting grin and raised waiting, knowing eyes.

"What..." Eugene's face fell. "You knew?! This whole time and you didn't say anything?" He contorted, working his frustrations out into a grimace and a couple arm flails. "Urgh, why didn't you say so before I-" fell in love with her. He caught himself. A glance back to Rapunzel, who was giggling at him, reassured him he had no regrets, nor choice in the matter. "Nevermind. Thank you," he sighed. "For letting us figure this out on our own." He turned back to fixing the packs.

Rapunzel drifted into a daydream as she watched the stream alongside the tower, possibly for the last time. It was teeming with life, just as every Springtime before. Dragonflies and cattails, frogs and lily pads, fish and gnats, butterflies and dandelions. For a decade and a half, she'd pondered their cycles, their purposes, their places in the world. Now she was finally onto a new stage of her own life, to find her own place.

"Here," Eugene grunted as he mounted Max's saddle. "Rapunzel."

"Oh," she blushed as she broke out of her reverie and turned back to them. She had seen people riding horses around the kingdom the day before, but now she was confused. Am I... going to walk?

Eugene reached his hand down for her with a smile. "Here, gimme your hand. I'm gonna pull you up, and your butt's gonna go right here, okay?" He patted an empty space on the saddle between the horn and himself.

"Okay," she giggled. She gripped his hand.

"Ready?"

"Yeah." She jumped a bit and he pulled her into position as he had said, until she kicked Max's jaw as she tried to swing her leg over.

Max thrashed and stomped around a bit, trying to recover his senses.

"Whoa!" Eugene giggled as he snatched her waist and held tight. "No, no, no- You've got a dress on. Just-" He grabbed at her knees and fixed her legs and dress to sit side-saddle.

Max quickly settled down and composed himself.

"Sorry," Rapunzel cringed.

"No, it's okay. I got you," he soothed. "There we go. Side-saddle for you, Princess," he chuckled with her. He still had to fidget his own seating, adjust where she was situated against him, and make sure she was secure enough. At last, she fit perfectly in his arms, turned just a quarter to the side and supported against his chest. "Okay. Well, that was romantic," he huffed. He turned Max around and directed him towards the tunnel. He pressed Rapunzel's head to his chest, keeping her facing away from the dusty cloak behind her. He cleared his throat. "I suppose all that's left to do now is ride off to my kingdom in the clouds, hmm?" He leaned down to peck her cheek.

"What?" Rapunzel and Max both scoffed in confusion.

"Nothing, old fairytale." He shook his head, but smiled at the thought nonetheless. That would be nice, he sighed, But a 'fairytale' is right. Even this 'deal' is just a way to get her to agree to return to her family. Then, high-tailing it to Snow's kingdom doesn't sound like THAT bad of an idea right now...

Rapunzel, on the other hand, nestled into his embrace, fully relying on their agreement. Although, her ignorance was not entirely blissful. More than the worrying, repeating thoughts about her true parents and princess-hood, or about leaving behind her tower and anything she ever felt for Gothel, she focused on her most important goal. I have to keep Eugene SAFE.


Eugene leaned down as close as he could to the horse's ear. "Coast clear, Max?"

Max had been on alert since they had left the tunnel. Nothing had seemed suspicious thus far. They had taken the same route as their first trip, carefully winding through the forest. Now they had to venture out from the safety of obscuring trees and onto the road to reach the Snuggly Duckling pub. The immediately surrounding area seemed just as quiet as the rest of it. He looked around with slitted eyes a bit more, sniffed the air, and curtly nodded.

Silently, they pressed on. Rapunzel held her breath as she gripped Eugene's waist tighter and her hands latched onto his belt from both sides. He squeezed her a little tighter for a moment, and she began breathing a little easier again.

"Round the back," he whispered.

Rapunzel popped her head up over Eugene's shoulder to watch behind them.

Max quietly rounded the tree beside the pub, hopefully hidden from all sight.

"Okay, Blondie, can you hop down?" He kept his voice as low as possible.

She nodded, but instead slowly slid herself off. As she fixed her skirts, Eugene dismounted. She caught a small smile in her direction he could not suppress; she blushed back.

Eugene noticed, but proceeded to sneak over against the tree, and creep over towards the pub. There was indeed a back door, a few nearby barrels swarming with flies, but also a couple windows. As he crouched underneath them, he motioned for Rapunzel to follow.

She finished untying the frying pan from Max's saddle and brandished it before her. She repeated Eugene's movements without fail, and scooted up next to him against the wall, awaiting his next direction.

He smiled again. Sneaking around is definitely better with a competent partner. He locked his eyes back on the door, and pressed his ear to the wall. What? He leaned away with an utterly confused look.

"What is it?" Rapunzel whispered, touching his shoulder behind him.

He hesitated, and checked again. "Laughing, and... is that a fiddle?"

Rapunzel looked down thoughtfully for a moment, then stood straight up to peek through one of the cloudy little windows. Her eyes could barely focus on anything before Eugene grabbed a fistful of the crossed laces from the front of her bodice to yank her back down.

"What do you think you're doing?!" he hissed wide-eyed at her.

"They just looked like they were sitting around like normal," she defended.

He had to agree, that's what it sounded like. "But they couldn't have gotten away from all the guards at the prison..." he pondered quietly.

She shrugged.

He bit his lip and crept around the barrels to the door. Silently, he rose to his toes, pulled the dagger from his belt and found a comfortable grip on it with a flick of his wrist. In slow, controlled movements, he leaned against the door and wrapped his hand around the handle. He pulled it open just a crack. Sure enough, jovial rabble-rousing, music, and laughter seeped out. Eugene sneered in confusion once more. He glanced over to Rapunzel, and motioned for her to check out the window again.

She nodded, but this time more furtively peered in from the side. Her face lit up and she gasped a little.

"Oh, it is them!" She hopped around the barrels and up to Eugene's side.

Still cautious, and worried, he creeked the door open. His breath caught and heart dropped for a split second. In the corner, there were two royal guards- tied up, and unconscious at least. Oooh-kaaay... He frowned and quickly pulled the door open the rest of the way and stepped inside, dagger still drawn.

Only he nearest laughter ceased, as Hook Hand turned from his conversation at the end of the bar to see who was coming in. "Rider!"

Big Nose looked but merely nodded, tipped his mug to him, and continued talking to Vladimir.

Eugene didn't even register the name for a few seconds. He shook his head clear. "Um, what...?"

"You're alive!" Hook Hand exclaimed with open arms.

"I'm alive? How did you guys get away?" He gestured around to them casually with the dagger, then to the tied up guards, "And what's with this?" before returning it to his belt.

"Ah," Hook Hand dismissed the guards with a wave of his hand. "Don't worry about our 'babysitters' over there." He swung his good arm around his shoulders.

Eugene recoiled from both the weight and closeness.

"Welcome to your trap."

"What?!" He jerked away with a worse grimace. His hand gripped the handle of the dagger again as his eyes darted all around him.

Hook Hand laughed heartily. "Yeah, those two Sleeping Beauties there were supposed to catch you if- and I guess when- you came back here."

"I... see..." Eugene relaxed a bit, not yet completely unperturbed. Am I REALLY so predictable? They ALWAYS know where I'm gonna be. Gotta work on that...

"So where's Blondie? You get her?"

"Oh," he finally perked up. "Yeah, she-" He stepped away from Hook Hand and turned around. She wasn't behind him. He jumped on his heel to the door and looked back outside. "Rapunzel?!" Suddenly his ears picked a girl's giggle out from the crowd inside. Still hanging onto the door, he leaned back. In the corner of the pub, there stood Rapunzel, her fingers covered in cupcake and her mouth in frosting. Eugene gave a weak laugh as he waltzed over.

"Ya know, I can't pay for that anymore." He smirked with one hand on his hip and the other jiggling his empty pouch.

"Oh!" Rapunzel gasped, then turned on the puppy dog face for Attila.

He waved her worries away with his oven mitt.

"Thanks!" she chirped, then wiped her mouth.

"Hey, Rider?!"

Eugene jumped as Big Nose came up next to him.

"What'd ya do ta Goldie-locks here?" Big Nose asked as he leaned an elbow on Eugene's shoulder.

Rapunzel dropped the last bite of her cupcake from her fingers, along with her expression.

Eugene dropped his jaw, but immediately bounded to her side and grabbed her shoulders from behind. "First of all, her name's Rapunzel, and..." he held his head high, "I cut her hair- to save her."

Rapunzel shrank into his side, but smiled a little.

"Aw," Shorty spoke up, "That's a sha-"

"HEY!" Eugene yelled. "Look, you guys have no idea what's happened!" He pointed around to all of them accusingly. "She's better off without it, trust me." His hand squeezed her shoulder a little more. He looked down to her. "And I like it," he smiled.

Rapunzel's heart warmed from his support, despite anyone else in the room. She could tell he was looking at her, but just tucked her chin down and smiled politely, still conscious of everyone else's stares. And he still hasn't said he 'loves' it, just that he 'likes' it...

"Hah," Hook Hand called, "Looks like you needed a little saving yourself."

Eugene's hand flew to his side, the bloody tear in his clothes. Her magic- I probably still shouldn't tell about that. That's up to her. "Oh, heh, this?" he chuckled. "Tis a flesh wound!" he brushed off gallantly.

The thugs erupted in a round of laughter, but he watched as Rapunzel's smile disappeared.

"But..." he started again, then waited til they quieted down, "But I'd be dead if not for Rapunzel here."

She instantly perked up and smirked up at him.

Eugene took her hands in his and bowed slightly at the waist, "You're my hero, Princess."

"PRINCESS?!" The room boomed. Beers were spit out. The music died unceremoniously.

Rapunzel blushed furiously, but burst out into such a fit of giggles that Eugene straightened up and hugged her from behind, just to keep her grounded. She rested her hands across his arms. He caught her contagious laughter just a bit. Swept up, he tenderly kissed her already burning cheek. "I know you saved me more," he whispered in her ear as he leaned his forehead against her temple, just for them to hear. She grinned from ear to ear.

That single peck stopped the show. The ruckus fell dead silent, but only for a moment, before erupting into whoops and howls, cheers and whistles- for Rapunzel bagging the Pretty Boy. She blushed all over again.

Eugene hid his face in her shoulder, but was snickering as well. This was exactly the release he needed after the past 12 hours.

"Well," Hook Hand spoke up, "Come on, let's hear the story then."

Eugene picked his head up with the biggest grin he'd had in a while, which in turn infected Rapunzel. In just 3 short days, they were proud of all they had accomplished in their story. "Alright," he replied, "But, it'll cost you a meal and a room for the night."

"Hah, you owe US!"

"Ain't you said she's a princess?"

Suddenly Eugene gulped. These guys wouldn't be THAT uptight. "Um, yeah."

"I'm the Lost Princess," Rapunzel finally joined in, then stammered a bit, "Of Co-Corona."

"THE Lost Princess?!" Big Nose exclaimed. Murmurs spread through the others.

Rapunzel nodded shyly.

"Yeaaah..." Eugene answered. And they CAN'T possibly want her for some kind of reward! Or would they? -Shit. His grip on her tightened.

"Well!" Hook Hand concluded, "The boy's a hero then! And anything for our long Lost Princess, Blondie."

"'Boy?'" Eugene rebuked too quietly under the roar of the crowd cheering. And 'hero?' Don't go putting ideas in her head... He looked down in time to see her spring from his arms.

"Yup, he is!" she squealed as she bounced over to Hook Hand to hug his arm. "And thank you so much!" Maybe now he'll start to realize he really is a hero, too...

Eugene took a deep breath and one more glance at the motionless guards in the corner, before following her to a table with his uncertain smirk on again.

The rest of the afternoon and some of the evening, the unlikely crew ate and drank, laughed and joked, but mostly listened intently to Rapunzel spin her story together for the first time. Eugene interjected for his parts, and helped her point out important parts of her own, ever careful not to step on her toes. Still, by the end, both were getting even themselves so riled up that they spoke in pace with each other in only partial sentences. The pub thugs oohed and ahhed, laughed and teared up, awwed and cheered throughout.

Where Eugene hadn't been sure about how much of her magic to reveal, Rapunzel felt comfortable enough to explain it all to them. She even included how the last of her magic, in the form of the tear, and brought Eugene back from death itself. He had to hold her hand tight through that part, for both their sakes. Their deal, however, for her to meet her parents but then still run away together- that neither breathed a word of.

They ate hearty garlic broth and herb roasted pheasant, so savory that Rapunzel thought it a worthy royal feast already. She never cooked anything that fattening or well seasoned, but today seemed enough of a special occasion to make an exception and at least eat as much as she pleased. She excused herself from the smelly ale, however, and likewise Eugene stuck to water.

As soon as Maximus had entered the story, Eugene jumped up and excused himself to go tend to the poor forgotten, worried animals outside. Max insisted on coming in to curl up by the fireplace, and Pascal scurried back to Rapunzel. Eugene brought Rapunzel's belongings up to an empty bedroom and set them at the foot of the bed.

He rejoined the group half relieved and half worried all over again, but kept it to himself. There's only one bed. Some random smirks and frowns escaped in response to his random ideas. Every so often he would absently stroke the side of her hair away from her face, and they would smile sweetly at each other. This prevailed above all other pleasurable yet guilt-inducing thoughts. I'm going to protect her.


"Um, Eugene?" Rapunzel whispered to him. She was practically sitting in his lap at the booth table they were in.

"Hm?" he immediately leaned his ear down.

"I'm sorry, but, um, I'm getting kinda tired..." she cringed. "I mean I don't mean to-" Shoot, now everyone's going to think I'm rude and don't like them and-

"Yeah, of course." He smiled sympathetically with her. "You've had a few really long days, huh."

Just this evening was the most socialization she had ever participated in in her life, actually. "Thanks," she sighed.

He urged her to get up, and he followed. "Come on, I'll take you upstairs."

She took a few moments to bid everyone thanks and goodnight, as well as more apologies for cutting her own time short.

At the first eyebrow waggle of insinuation, Eugene piped up. "I'll be back down. Come on, let's go." She followed his direction up the stairs. "First on the left."

They stepped in and he lit the candle on the nightstand. The new lighting immediately struck him as quite romantic, and made him flinch. He turned around to see Rapunzel digging through the bag; she emerged with her hairbrush, then frowned at it. Eugene chuckled as he stepped over to her. "I don't think you need to worry about brushing your hair as often anymore." Hesitantly, he reached to run his fingers through the short lengths. He held his hand at the base of her head.

She blushed, and looked up to him. "No, I guess not."

The flickering candlelight reflected in her eyes, and instantly he was mesmerized. His lips fell apart a little.

Rapunzel noticed the effect on him, and licked her own.

His mind could not pick a track all evening, but right now it decided, "Sorry there's only one bed." Not sorry. Without thinking, his other hand sensually smoothed over her side. After all, his hands had been on or near her waist almost the entire day.

She drew in a deep, shuddering breath, waiting to find which of them would make the first move in.

But that shudder in her broke his trance. He blinked back to protector mode. "Are you okay?"

"Oh," she blinked out of it, too. "Uh, yeah," she lied with a smile. "Yeah, um, we should both fit though, right?" Where else would he sleep?

He smiled back, unsure. "Yeah. Alright then. Good night." He slipped his fingers out of her hair, and slid his hand off her side as he stepped back towards the door. "I'll be downstairs a bit longer." He turned to go; his eyes left last.

She gasped a little. "Eugene-..."

He eagerly stopped and turned back. God I so wanted her to stop me from leaving!

She hurried over to him, latching onto the collar of his doublet again, but not pulling him much at all. "Uh..." Now that she was here, she just froze and stared at his lips. "Good night..."

This time was deliberate. He slowly eased down, touched their noses, slid his nose down to the side of hers, and ever so little puckered his lips out to just barely ghost near the tips of hers.

She took them the rest of the way into the soft, delicate bliss.

Eugene's arms flew around her back to pull her close, but he quickly broke the kiss to look at her. She's not 'scared' of kissing me or anything- it's something else. Still holding her with one arm, he ran a thumb over her cheek. "You're still anxious, aren't you? You're worried about heading back?"

She broke any bit of happy facade she had up, and nodded with a pout. Not really what I was thinking about this moment, but yes of course... Especially after going through the whole story again. "Whether they confirm it or not- I'm worried about you."

He half-smiled and kissed her nose. "I'll be fine. Just try to get to sleep. I'll bring you up some milk or something to help in a little bit. Okay?"

"Okay," she smiled again.

"Okay," he repeated, "I'll be back in a bit." And they reluctantly parted.


Eugene climbed the stairs carefully, steadying the three drinks as he tried his best to tiptoe in his boots. There's always the chance she might actually be asleep already. He had been gone a lot longer than anticipated after getting lost in conversation and dodging investigations into his obviously conflicted intentions. He smiled to himself, though, that all he had to do now was climb into bed with his beautiful love. In one hand, a small shot of their sweetest liqueur. The other was hooked through two pint glass handles; one full of mead, the other half full of milk. He wasn't personally experienced with mixing liqueur and milk, but was sure it would be better than her staying awake all night from anxiety. She needed to sleep.

He needed to figure out how to actually get some sleep himself, while he'd be right next to her. He'd known this all along. She didn't know anything about men. Their fooling around and romantic moments were mild enough for children – so far. He'd known this all along. He'd been the first other person she'd ever even met. He couldn't. He wouldn't. He'd known this all along. Though, there were as many reasons saying he should. He knew this, too.

Silently, he drifted to the open doorway, his hazy eyes already absently gazing inside. She wasn't asleep. "Rapunzel?" he still whispered for no reason.

She was perched kneeling on the edge of the bed, with her eyes barely open, and her skirts askew.

Finally, his eyes registered. His boots loudly halted him in his own shock.

Rapunzel slammed into instant horror, terror, and shock. "EUG-!" She squeaked as she let out a scream. Her eyes were at their widest, but her irises their tiniest as they honed in on him. "No- It's not what it looks like!" Her hands were already up and waving all about. Had they ever really been where he thought they were? "I'm not- I'm not..." Full on panic freak out had already commenced.

That snapped Eugene back into action. He rushed over to the nightstand to set the drinks down.

His sudden movements scared her further, as she jumped away from him, first to the corner of the bed. Then, as she stumbled, she left the bed and retreated over to the far window clutching her arms. There was too much instant panic to cry. "Eugene, I'm sorry-!"

"Blondie..." he tried to soothe her. The actual act, and what his normal reaction would have been, were both gone from his mind. Now he was scared, too. Why is this suddenly so scary? He noticed how hurriedly she had moved away from him, so he paused and slowed down his approach. His hands were up as if surrendering, but he was also ready to snatch her in case, for some unfathomable reason, she would run past him.

She stood petrified, eyes locked on him. "I didn't- I wasn't-!"

He was still slowly making his way around the bed.

Rapunzel shrank even more into herself. "Can we just forget that-"

"Shhh," he whispered. "It's okay."

"Am I in trouble?" Her poor little face was all tied up in a knot.

"No," he forced a smile as he shook his head. "Blondie, it's perfectly okay. Just come here. Why would you think that-" Oh.

She wasn't budging. "I just-"

"Blondie, it's okay." He tried tilting his head down to the side towards her. He was merely a yard away now, but still didn't want to frighten her anymore than she already was. His hands lowered, but one to his side, and the other he held out for her. "Rapunzel," his voice fell deep again, but then so soft, "You're not in trouble. Just let me explain..."

She breathed a little easier now, finally believing that she at least wasn't in trouble. "Explain what?"

"Yeah." His unrequited hand tried slowly, gently cupping her cheek. The contact sent a spark through her, that made both of them jolt a little. "You liked, doing... that, don't you?" This is never easy to get girls to talk about...

She cast her eyes down.

He never stopped searching for her eyes, but did not try to influence her chin, allowing it to relax in his palm. "You like what you were doing, because it feels good, right?"

After locking up for another moment, she nodded a little.

"Then you should do what makes you feel good."

Suddenly a question, a question that had actually been nagging her for years, came to mind, now that it realized it could side with him. "Eugene..." she tried to start, then stopped. Is this like how he's probably justified stealing?

He noticed her stop herself, and it wasn't just a nerve-gathering pause. "It's also okay to be embarrassed about it," he chuckled, trying to lighten her up. "It is something private, that you normally do all by yourself, and no one's the wiser. But I'm guessing you were told it was bad and that you should never do it?"

At long last, she drew a deep breath, and he saw he could retract his hand. Yes, exactly! She looked back up to him. "Then why would she tell me it was bad? What's so bad about it?"

Eugene just shrugged with a frown, hands on his hips. "Some people just don't want other people to have any fun, even if they're only enjoying themselves. She's not the only one to try to get people to believe that it's bad. Lots of people go through that, til they realize it's actually good." His memory jogged. "Healthy even! To let it all out. Another part of growing up. But trust me," he touched his chest, then waved it away. "Everybody does it." With that, he shifted his weight to one leg and folded his arms, and allowed himself to beam with confidence in just successfully explaining the second -okay maybe third- most complicated thing ever, after sex and babies. He fought to keep his smile sweet, though, not too cocky.

She was finally smiling, too, soaking up his radiance, basking in it. "Thanks." She stood up straight and hugged him over his folded arms, which he quickly corrected.

"You're not alone anymore." He squeezed her tighter for a moment.

"You mean, you want to... too?"

Eugene's breath caught, and he stiffened. "Uh..."

Rapunzel pulled away from his chest, but leaned back against his supportive arms, leaving her hips pressing deeper into his. "And you said it's 'normally' by yourself, but..." She had a bit of realization. The ending... In front of HIM?! She bit her bottom lip. It's just, something else new, I guess. She bore deeper into his eyes, where she always found so much courage to siphon. "I like it when you show me new things. Like kissing." She pecked his lips.

Despite his tightening throat, Eugene finally found words to use, to try to brush this off. His voice came out almost nervous. "Well, I like showing you new things." Wait, what? I'm supposed to be going the other direction. "But..." He ran his hands down to her hips, almost forgetting to carefully pull them away from his own. "But I think you looked like you knew exactly what you were doing." He couldn't help but grin strangely at that thought.

Rapunzel grinned back. "Well, then... Um..." She backed off, reaching for her hair to hang on again, but instead just rubbed her neck. "So?" She squeezed her knees together. I didn't get to finish...A frown took her over.

Eugene sighed. "You um..." He stood back and rubbed his face. "That was only your first kiss before! This is too much, isn't it?" He kicked himself for not being rhetorical and instead genuinely asking her that.

She thought for a moment, but thinking about kissing him just glassed her eyes over and curled her lips dreamily. "I just..." She closed her eyes for a moment, looking about for how to describe it. "I didn't, like, finish? If that makes any sense? I thought that it would calm me down and help me relax for the night, like it usually does."

USUALLY?! At that Eugene's brain suffered a minor explosion, though he willed his expression to freeze up.

"Especially since kissing you got me feeling close to like that kind of-"

Eugene forced a fake cough. "Um, excited?"

"Yeah, but with kissing you, there wasn't- well..." She didn't want to insult his kissing. He certainly seemed like he knew what he was doing there.

Both his hands were over his face now, rubbing away. "Yeah..." Instinctively, his hands went back to his hips, drawing a few unwanted glances from her to the region. "Yes, Blondie, you're on the right track. But kissing, just kissing by itself, doesn't, well- like usually I mean it- um..." He took a deep breath and emphatically set his hands in front of him. "It doesn't end the same."

"Oh..." She guessed she understood, but seemed almost disappointed somehow.

His gulping didn't help make her little acknowledging "oh" any less cute. He shook his head. "Look, just- I brought us some drinks. I'm gonna take mine back downstairs, and give you some time for yourself, okay?"

She half-smiled and shrugged. "Okay." Fair enough.

"Okay," he parroted. He rubbed his hands together, then furtively planted a peck on her cheek. Mead back in hand, he bowed a little as he backed out the door, and closed it.


Downstairs, he busied himself with balancing a most distressing equation. By the time she was done, how many drinks did he need to lower his blood flow enough to kill his issue; versus how many drinks could he have without losing his inhibitions? But there were too many variables. It was much easier to count 1, 2, 3 days since they met. 18, 26, 8 years age difference, but she was at least solidly within marrying age. Had she not been kidnapped as a baby, the king and queen would have made arrangements for this sole female heir as soon as possible, planned the wedding as soon as she bled, and she'd have a child or three by now. That scenario alone deserved a chug until it was driven from his mind.

So yet here she was, very much single, unawares, and in his charge. Then, averaging out the learning curves between a well-cultured and very matured but overly sheltered young-woman, and a suave but overgrown man-child...

He was at three pints right now, after only 10 or 15 minutes, which meant the initial equation could go either way from here. He lifted the fourth to his lips. His issue was taken care of for now, though he knew it was only sitting on the back burner til-

"Um, Eugene?" A tiny, far off voice called down to the pub area, barely audible over the just-getting-started nighttime rowdiness of the thugs.

Three it is. Whichever that meant. "Yeahp." He called up to her.

"Hah, little boy's gonna be made a prince tonight!" Hook-hand guffawed, slapping him on the back awkwardly with the broadside of his hook.

Eugene stumbled a bit as he was thrust forward. The room erupted into laughter and other jeers. Some similar, some just smoochy faces, some vulgar. Big Nose was the only one in the crowd defending him. At least Shorty was too out of it to participate right now. He looked like he was trying to woo a goat. And they're picking on me? Stone faced, lock jawed, Eugene stoically marched through them all without making eye contact once. I thought the walk of shame came the morning after. You know, after you actually did something.

Upstairs, he ushered Rapunzel back into the room.

"What are they talking about, making you a prince?" She unfortunately sounded hopeful.

"Nothing, Blondie." He sighed. "They're just making fun of me. Ignore them." He closed the door and locked it. "And they're kinda too stupid to know how it works." Not exactly what they were intending to make fun of, but this is how it actually is... And that's just how I feel, alright, not that they're getting to me because they are NOT.

"Oh." She tried not to be too sad about mistakenly thinking there was hope, when there wasn't.

"They like you. And now they like that you're a princess." His eyes rolled and arms flailed. "So, of course they have to make fun of me for not being a prince." He wasn't bitter about this at all.

She turned to show him a smile. "I like you."

Man, forget being a prince. She likes me, hah! So there. He smirked back at how happy she could make him feel, so effortlessly. "See, now that's what's important, right?"

"Yeah," she chuckled.

Eugene sat down on the edge of the bed facing the door. He leaned over to take his treasured riding boots off. There was another back story behind how he got these bad boys, but he didn't feel like opening up about that right now. Still, the thought somehow oozed into a warm fuzzy feeling. She would love to hear his silly weird stories, just to cradle and fawn over them.

Anyway, there was still the issue of tonight right now. "Hey, you should have changed while I was downstairs." And he really hoped she had, so she wouldn't have had the chance to give him anymore issues.

"Oh, I can't take it all off by myself."

He cringed. "Alright, com'ere." She was already seated on the bed behind him. He turned and knelt on the bed, ready to help.

"Oh, thanks!" She repositioned her back to him. "Hold on." She untied the laces from the bodice in the front. Undoing the bow and loosening them was enough, and gravity began to take that part. Her hands pressed over her chest to keep the front up, but the rest slid down her shoulders. One at a time, her arms wriggled out of the sleeves. She tried reaching behind her to pull the back lower, then suddenly brushed Eugene's rough hand, and she recoiled her own.

"I got it." The buttons on the back of the underlying corset were what she needed him for. He began slowly unhooking each tiny one from its loop. Despite the heat already trapped in the room, he could feel her own rising from her smooth skin. This close, he could see tiny hairs so soft, he wanted to see just how close he would have to get before his breathing disturbed them. Back to the buttons. He had to stare hard at each one just to remember how to undo them. Even so, he imagined placing a kiss behind each success.

"You okay?" Heh, he seems more nervous than me.

"Yeah..." he breathed. He cleared his throat. "I've just um, never seen a dress like yours before."

"Hm, thanks." She settled in, proud of her personal work.

Halfway down, he could tell just how much of her chest he was releasing to freedom. The lower half still jealously hugged her form tight. He reached the end of the visible buttons. The rest was covered by the back of her dress. "How much more is there?" His voice was raspy again.

"Under this part," she tugged the back of the dress again. It wasn't going down any further, unless she let go of the front.

He took a deep breath, and slid his fingers down, between the two layers of fabric. His fingers moved more quickly now, picking up the pace before he could be too affected. However, his breathing only recognized it as a frenzy to get the clothing off for the wrong reason. With his fingers down as far as they could reach without pulling the dress down further in front, he finally felt flesh with a sharp inhale. He snatched his hands back, shaky.

Rapunzel didn't move right away. Now what... I mean, he's right here- shouldn't he not see me?

Eugene sat back and gaped at her, just quietly sitting there with her clothes hanging off. He tried to dig his nails into his thighs. "Blondie." Now it sounded gruff. He had totally lost control over his speech tonight. "Hey. I'm finished... Did you need help with anything else?"

She swung her feet out in front of her to reach the floor. "Um, yeah," she looked up with a puppy dog pout. "I'm sorry, could you get me my night gown?"

"Oh!" Eugene exclaimed. "I- yeah, sure." He got up and retrieved it from the makeshift sack on the floor at the foot of the bed. "Here." He kept giggling to himself, at his giddiness.

She was already blushing when she reached to take it, and now she was on the verge of giggling too. "Thank you."

Eugene felt himself stiffen again at the sight of her from the front now, sweetly gazing up at him, with her dress half off but held up by only her clutch. His cheeks burned. Maybe the threshold was two pints... He clutched his belt buckle, which he instantly realized was the opposite of what he really needed, unless what he needed was a hole in the head.

"I... uh..." He dipped his head quickly. "You're welcome." Once again, he swiftly headed back to his side of the bed. He sat back down on the edge with his back to her. Elbows on his knees, his head hung in his hands. "Go ahead, I'm not looking."

She was beat red now, too. That fluttering, good, anxious feeling was definitely coming back. She pursed her lips, fighting the tiny grin trying to spread. "You promise?" It was coy, like she almost sounded like she wanted him to look.

He laughed, a little bit of release. "Look, I promise I want to. You like that?"

"Eugene!" She turned and poked his shoulder, scolding his bravado.

He continued laughing, "Okay, okay, yeah I promise I won't look, as much as I want to. Better?"

"Okay then." She stood up, and faced his back. They both fell silent again. She let go of the dress, letting it fall to her hips. The corset fell into her hands, which she tossed to the end of the bed. She kept a careful eye on the back of Eugene's head. Then, on his shoulders. Then, his waist. Then, how was his frame still so slim for a man, yet so much larger than her own? Those broad shoulders flowed down smoothly to his thin waist. The lines on his vest followed, as if sculpted just for him, as if it were a part of him. Rapunzel shook her head and blinked hard. This hadn't happened with any of the other people she had seen.

Eugene heard the slipping, sliding, and bunching of every bit of fabric, ribbon, and skin. He sighed hard.

She shimmied the dress down the rest of her her body, and stepped out. The silk night gown was flung up over her head, and slipped down over her like a waterfall. She caught the little sleeve openings at the top and shrugged them into place. "Done!" I can actually pull it on over my head now!

"Okay." He couldn't undress himself while she was undressing herself; he wouldn't have been able to think enough to do that. But now, he pulled his belt buckles loose and flicked open the rest of the latches on his doublet and shrugged it off. He reached for the top of his back, grabbed at his white shirt, and swooshed that off. Both landed on the floor.

"Oh..." Rapunzel gasped, and brought a palm to her mouth. He didn't even wait! And oh my Goddess his BACK!

"You watchin me, Blondie?" He shot a smirk and a glance over his shoulder, but didn't actually catch her expression.

"Well-!" She stamped her foot, still grinning. "You're the first man I've ever seen!"

Eugene chuckled. "I know. And that's why I'm trying not to frighten you."

She relaxed and sighed. "Eugene, you haven't frightened me since I had you tied to my chair," she chuckled.

"Ohhhh," he feigned belief. "But I mean I don't want to frighten you with my Greek-godly frame. We both know what a weakness you already have for my smolder."

Now she was outright squealing in laughter. "Eugene, what on earth are you talking about..."

He sighed, but gave her a little laugh as well. Then he had to concentrate again. He could bounce on the bed for a second and pull his pants free from under his butt in a discreet instant. Or, he could stand, at full attention, and dramatically let them fall -and maybe even catch- as he watched her expression. He decided to bite his tongue. Yeah, I'm the first man she's ever seen- that'll definitely freak her out... "Um, do you mind if I take my pants off? I'm really-" he caught himself but blamed the alcohol, "I mean it's kinda hot in here."

Rapunzel was happily enjoying the sight of his bare back, and wondering if it would ever be appropriate to touch it. "Oh, um, sure. I guess?" Not like I know!

Eugene stood, keeping his back to her. "Ready?" he teased. Still with his back to her, he slid his pants down, revealing most of him to her now. Only his own short undergarments, around his privates and behind, remained. He struck his best Adonis pose, carefully positioning the turn of his contrapposto to keep the front of his loins from her view.

She burst out laughing again.

He could no longer stand it; he had to hold that laughter close to him. Eugene quickly turned a bit, grabbed the corner of the blankets, and slid under them. Thinking he was safe, he stretched out, raising his body off the mattress a little. "Ah, come on," he yawned. "Lay down. You know I don't bite."

"Uh, Eugene- what was that?"

He looked straight down himself and his heart stopped. "Oh!" One hand swooped under the blankets as he turned to his side. "Left something in my pocket." Carefully, the unseen nothing was pantomimed as being dropped to the floor beside the bed.

"Oh, okay." She hopped in on the other side.

Whew, that was close.

"I guess it is a little small for two people, isn't it?" Somehow she still seemed innocently cheery about being proven wrong.

"Aw, you don't wanna be so close to me?" He pouted.

"Oh, Eugene..." Rapunzel chastised, snuggling as close as she could to his chest.

"Do you want to leave the candle lit?" he asked worriedly. "It's okay if you do."

She snorted. "Don't be silly. You should always put it out before you go to sleep," she recited.

"Okay." He leaned over to the table and blew it out. Right before the light ceased, though, he noted that the shot glass was untouched.

"Besides, we don't need it while we sleep; it'll ruin your eyes."

Eugene sighed, "Sto-oooop," but it devolved into a yawn. I don't wanna think about whose words those actually are right as I'm trying to go to sleep. His arm draped around her shoulder, but found more comfort at her waist. His own waist, on the other hand, he kept bent as far away from her as possible. "Goodnight, Blondie."

"Goodnight, Eugene," but she paused. "Ah-... I love you," she ventured.

He opened his eyes once more and grinned for her. "I love you, too."

They kissed ever so delicately, then settled down to sleep.


Half an hour later, they were even farther from it. Slight shifts, subtle movements; with their eyes closed, every other sense was heightened. As they each concentrated on emptying their minds for the abyss of sleep, the other was all that would remain. Occasionally, a toe would find a leg. A hair would fly away to a face it didn't belong to. Mis-angled nostrils would blow a sweet breeze that was actually disturbing. Four hands were a lot to keep track of. Every moan, sigh, and grunt seemed but a prelude, stoking the embers that already boiled them inside, speeding their breathing. This was anything but settled.

I've never slept beside anyone... Except her, as a child when I was scared. But this is entirely different- an entirely different feeling. Not exactly scared. And oh! I can't calm down. How am I supposed to sleep like this? I wonder if he's awake, still, too. But she wouldn't dare open her eyes. As an excited yet terrified, and curious yet inexperienced teenager, she was a lot more normal than she realized. Her eyes were squeezed shut a little too tight; her arms bunched underneath her uncomfortably.

Eugene's Adam's apple pulsed and twitched as he lay on his back and kept still. Won't she just go to sleep. He had spent the past 30 minutes blaming his sleeplessness on her sleeplessness. More so than any cohesive inner monologue, his mind's eye played out scenes from, or perhaps for, his imagination:

/In dim candlelight, Rapunzel lay out peacefully on her back, arms draped about her torso, the blanket only coming up to her waist. She wore the blue silk nightgown he had just seen. Her long blonde braid, dotted with flowers, gracefully curved about her./

/Or maybe the nightgown wasn't there- just the hair adding modesty./

/No, she had her back to him, without the blanket at all. Just the perfect curve of her tiny waist, rising up over her bottom, gently fading into her slim but powerful thigh, which the nightgown prudishly hoarded from full view; her thin leg delicately draped over the other. Radiant!/

/Where was her hair? Was he dreaming? No, her magically long blonde hair was chopped away, leaving the cute brown pixie cut to suit her new courage, that bounced freely with her and couldn't be tamed let alone held in any place for long./

Smiling to himself, Eugene lifted his arms above his head, reveling in how he loved her spirit. His mind proceeded to take advantage of his physiology and new position.

/His wrists were tied. There was the panic before he realized it was hair, and had been done to him by a beautiful girl. His love! Unlike last time, now it looped his wrists above his head, attached instead to somewhere at the head of the bed. His ankles? Spread, but he couldn't see them. She was above him with the pixie cut, leaning her weight on her hands, pressing down on the exposed inside of his biceps, further restraining him. He arched his head back, begging her permission to thrust as his pelvis began to throb. She had situated herself too far up his body. He groaned, but faded to a soft moan as she tantalizingly raked her nails down his chest. He tried leaning up for a kiss, his eyes pleading with her to save him from this torment./

Eugene grunted exasperatedly and fitfully curled up on his side away from her, crossing his arms. I hope I'm not disturbing her... Hmph, would only be fair with how she disturbs me, though! -But, she's only a young girl who's just, just trying to get through all this... Being with me in any way or manner of speaking- is all new to her, she has no idea... He sighed, turned back over towards her, and opened his eyes.

Rapunzel was likewise scrunched up facing him, but with her eyes still forced shut tight. Her breathing was also too fast to be asleep.

Even in his own sleep he would have been able to tell she was obviously upset. She had every reason to be. Maybe he shouldn't have coerced her into going back and claiming her crown. If she weren't the princess, he could have shown her all she was asking about tonight. As just a parentless maiden, whom he wanted to marry and protect anyway, he would have had nothing to worry about. They could have run off to another kingdom and lived happily ever after. Pure fantasy. In reality, right now she was just lying there, nervous, admittedly curious, and completely available to him. Tomorrow she would be recognized as the princess and forever out of his reach, but tonight... She was in love with him. He shouldn't even feel bad, for he was in love with her, too, right? Tonight was his last chance to be with her. It was his last chance to touch the princess in all sorts of unholy ways, before any other man ever even knew she was real. The princess could be all his. He could. I could never. He sighed again. I know that our little 'deal' isn't going to work. Whether I'm recaptured or not on the charge of stealing the crown- her crown, there's no way I'll be able to essentially re-kidnap the Princess once they get her back...

"Blondie," Eugene whispered. "You awake?"

Her eyes shot wide open at him. The pout remained.

"Hey..." He gave her a smile as he ran his fingers down her cheek. "Can't sleep?"

She shook her head and moved her eyes away from him.

"Still too worked up?" he asked, worriedly again.

She blushed and nodded, looking back to him sheepishly.

"C'mere." His heart went out to her, frightened of the future, and he knew that part of that was actually her fear for his own safety. He urged her as she turned over, her back spooning into him, his strong arms holding her close. There was still enough of a tiny urge of bravado to finally press his hips against her bottom. Besides, his issue had subsided.

Settling into him was as comforting as her hair fort. Her panicky heart instantly felt at peace. I have to make sure he stays safe. "Eugene..."

"Hm?" Shit I'm not really poking her am I?

She remained silent. How could he understand all he's really done for me...

And her not answering is not good. He eased up on his waist. "You okay?"

"Yeah. I dunno. But, everything's fine when I'm with you." Like this whole new world is just amazing...

"Aw..." How on earth am I going to leave her with her parents... He burrowed his face into her sweet hair. Strawberries, is that it? Never noticed it when it was blonde, hm... Then again I only noticed that it smelled like flowers, when she actually had flowers in it-

He was suddenly aware of her hand atop his, gliding it down her stomach.

He stopped it. "Rapunzel..." he breathed heavily, "What are you..."

"Show me." I want to see what this is like, to...

His head perked up and nuzzled into the crook of her neck. "You trust me?"

"I trust you." ...what it's like to feel that with him.

He bestowed a single kiss on her lovely bare neck, causing her to gasp and shiver. He switched his hand to top hers now, and continued moving down. The rest of his body could feel her heart start racing. "You okay?"

An overexcited giggle escaped her. "I'm fine! It's just new."

Their hands reached the warmth of her center, bunching the nightgown up at this intersection point amongst her thighs and belly. "You sure about this?"

"Euge-e-ene!" she chided with another giggle.

"I just worry," he whispered, before he reached up the hand of his arm that she lay in, to brush the short pesky ends of her hair away from her neck. His mouth dug into devouring her neck, his apology for going too slow for her needs.

Rapunzel gasped and bucked away a bit before they both froze. "What-" Did he just BITE me?!

"Just kissing you," Eugene whispered again, but urgently. "No biting, no marks, I promise." Really, returning the Princess with hickeys? I don't think so. He smiled to himself, then touched his lips to her skin again, in another slow, chaste kiss. "Okay?"

She gasped again, tingling from the spark he sent through her, titillated from the coarse hairs of his goatee just barely grazing her. Impulsively wanting more, she leaned back into him. "Okay," she whispered back breathlessly.

He resumed his quest to have sucked every spot on her neck, and his bottom arm to her clutch her torso. Between tongue pressure and rolling her flesh through his opened teeth, he made extra sure to move slow enough so she could savor it and recognize each movement, but not to linger so long as to leave any discoloration. Below, his hand left hers for a moment, and headed straight for the hem of her nightgown. From there, his palm and calloused fingers pressed firmly around her bare thigh as he dragged them back up to her bare hip, raising the nightgown. He slowed down, but only to tease her side as she showed she understood, and really wanted it.

Rapunzel's breathing intensified. Each inhale seemed a gasp, each exhale a little moan. She unfortunately realized this as well, and caught herself. "Oh-! – I-I'm sorry..."

"No," he strained his neck forward and urged hers to turn back to let their lips meet. "You sound beautiful..."

She hummed a smile and carried on through their kiss.

They both flinched when he reached hair; short, coarse, curly. He resumed with pressing small circles, inching his way along. She clung to his arm, desperately bracing herself.

Something about that made him feel uneasy again. This is too much at once for her. He released her lips and retreated back to her neck. "Gimme your hand again." She did, and he intertwined their fingers in a little dance before placing his hand atop hers again. "There ya go, gonna take it nice n' easy." He guided her hand the last bit to her slit. Instantly he felt the warm moisture welcome their fingers. Oh sweet death... He cringed into her hair. I'll hang forever surer now.

Rapunzel gasped desperately, and lost track of all reality from that moment. There was only the feel of them, together, that remained. She allowed him to expertly maneuver around there, working it up just so perfectly, it confused her how he could know just what to do. Gracefully, he swirled them around, making her dizzy. At first, it felt more like what she was used to, since her own fingers were against her, but he was the one moving them. On the edges of her lips though, and the insides of her thighs, was the distinct otherness of his hand. Larger, rougher, and not controlled by her mind. His breathing on her neck was quickened and heavy, but offered no clues to what he would do next.

She decided that since she did trust him, she could trust whatever he did to her on his own. She retracted her hand. Only he was left, spreading her lips with two fingers, the rest busy driving her mad. Her mind felt like it was about to fly away from the overload. She moaned to get back in the rhythm she knew she needed, to catch the waves that were washing over her, to ride them.

Eugene squeezed her tighter as he noted she did know exactly where they were going, and how to get there. After 18 years alone, she at least knew her own body so well. She was amazing for it, and it was going to be amazing to witness her.

Spreading her lips allowed too much dryness to take over, for his liking at least. He slid a finger back to where he knew she would give him more juice. Without fail, he collected it, circling around just outside the opening.

Goddamned 'princess!' He grunted as he bemoaned what he hadn't even lost yet.

The palm-side of his knuckle pressed against her spot while he lingered there, and finally she had her big wave to ride. Her thighs clenched, and she shivered a bit, but continued rocking against his hand.

Before he could question her, she choked out a command, "Keep going."

He continued without question. This time, she picked up the pace. He slowed down, teasing her perfectly. Sometimes he would give her a little relief. In another couple minutes, she had another well formed wave, caught. She tensed up despite the ripples shuddering through her. Eugene kept his hand in place while she rode this bigger one out. He could feel for himself how every tiny muscle under his fingers pulsed within her, ushering more liquid as reward. But she hadn't stopped rocking him.

She finally caught her breath, and her moans resumed. Her muscles relaxed, but were not done.

"More?"

She nodded furiously.

He moved his fingers to start again, but she squealed and he paused. So you're gonna be like that, huh, he chuckled.He took to only alternating applying pressure around her spot ever so slightly, while he got them situated. Urgh Rapunzel you're too good. "Trust me." He hooked his top ankle around her top leg, pulling it back, spread, and pinning it down. His bottom leg laid over her bottom leg, pinning that one down. His hand let loose with a fury, swiping her spot mercilessly. His ears sinfully played in the sloshing noises he could make in her juices.

Rapunzel could not contain herself. The beginning of a little scream escaped, but they both reached a hand to her mouth; he held his hand over hers.

"But don't let them hear you," he whispered urgently. The screams still came, just as muffled squeals. She bucked violently; the wave was already taking her. While she managed her volume herself, he shifted his hand from helping cover her mouth, to back across her chest and clutched her tighter. His teeth gently ran over her earlobe, if only so his mouth could find it. "I love you, Rapunzel," he whimpered softly.

A whimper of her own escaped mingled with her screams. She was so far gone, her entire body seizing against his. It had a mind of its own now, and was trying to rip away from his restraining efforts, which he redoubled, and she was thankful for. She caught sight of his forearm, the sinewy muscles flexed as he struggled to ride her wave with her. She ran her hand over his arm, through the slight perspiration and light hair, the rock hard muscle and smooth skin, really intentionally feeling him simply for the sake of. Even he was joining her moans, getting off on everything about her being. She never noticed the bulge pressed between them.

Eventually she froze up stiff for an immeasurable few moments. Her mind had already knocked her out with the uncontrollable pleasure washing over her.

Eugene waited til he felt her relax, then carefully released his grip on her, and shuffled her legs back together. He pulled the nightgown back down, and the covers up. This was the first time he actually didn't want to leave, but had to. Then again, there wasn't really anywhere else to go to in the pub. Even rolling away from her pained him, but he did.

At first he was smugly pleased with how he was able to give her everything she wanted and how she loved it. She was so beautiful through and through. He could barely comprehend her paradoxical pure innocence and hidden sexual desires. He could, however, imagine her, just a short time from now, as the smartest, most caring, sweetest mother ever, and best fuck of a wife ever. The other day, there had been vague worries of what a cute little thing like her could do to make him want to stay and be tamed, while he would still crave something more carnal, despite how much she intrigued his heart and mind. After finishing taking care of himself, though, and ruining a handkerchief, he just felt pitiful. I can't truly stay by her side... And she'll never be my wife. His face twisted in on itself as he spiraled down into misery.

Eugene heard as Rapunzel hummed a happy groan in her sleep. Her backside reached out, followed by an arm wandering backwards, both wondering why they were finding only more bed.

But tonight... He resumed his spot as her big spoon. His arm wrapped around her side to her chest, protectively. "I'm here," he breathed. "I'm here, Love." Tonight I can dream.


A/N: Classes start later today for me. I screwed up. Classes start Oct 6. But I don't know if I'll have Chapter 3 ready by then. So, while I will always adore the cries for updates, do not expect anything until Christmas break. And I work the Christmas season dawn to dusk outside til the day itself, so I mean the end of Christmas break. So sorry, but I shall return!

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