Rapunzel pulled her hair into a bun at the nape of her neck, making a mental note to cut her hair again when she got the chance. She waddled down the hallway, her stomach protruding out in a way that made it impossible to not be noticed. An apple was in one hand, and she munched on it lazily as she walked through the halls of the palace. She wondered vaguely to herself if the chefs in the kitchen would get a little upset if she stole a bit of cake before dinner. She was a little puckish, and she had a craving for a good red velvet cake right about now.
She hummed to herself, turning the corner of the hallway, truly happy and content with her life. Her baby was due in a month, and she was surrounded by a loving family and dear friends. Even the kingdom was prospering – trade with other countries and territories was flourishing thanks to a slew of new treaties she had made in the past few months, and crimes was down tenfold since Eugene and Maximus had taken over the guard.
She once thought that she had everything, but she had been wrong. Now she had everything. Not only a kingdom, a family, Eugene, but also a child to love. Something that was a piece of her and a piece of the person she loved most. Something about that felt special, and she wondered if her mother had felt the same way when she was carrying Rapunzel. Before the sickness that had descended upon her.
Rapunzel frowned as her thoughts twisted. If she was honest, she had feared her body would reject pregnancy the way that her mother's had. There was no way to know if that kind of sickness was something that had been passed down to her until she got sick, if she ever did. So far it had seemed that Rapunzel was in the clear, as her mother had fallen sick six weeks before the birth and it had taken five weeks of searching to find the Sundrop flower that had saved her.
But still, the fear was there. She still had a month to go, and any myriad of things could happen between now and then.
"Your Highness!"
Rapunzel looked over her shoulder, and she turned to see Nigel hurrying over to her.
"Your Highness," he repeated, stopping in front of her. He seemed slightly out of breath. "Someone has arrived to see you."
"Really?" Rapunzel furrowed her brow and motioned for Nigel to lead her wherever it was this person was. Nigel began to lead her down the hallway, and Rapunzel's thoughts once again twisted. Who could possibly be here to see her? She had been sure to make sure all political meetings were to be done by her parents or Eugene until after she gave birth, just to make sure there wasn't too much stress on the child.
And she wasn't expecting any social calls today. Lance was off with Kiera and Catalina, he had promised them that they would spend some time together before the end of the winter holidays at the Corona school. Her other friends in the village also hadn't expressed any interest in coming by today, and she knew that Varian was still in Terran.
Nigel led her through the hallways, seeming slightly on edge himself.
"Yes, they insisted that it be some kind of surprise," Nigel said, a little put-off. "And, well, I was not one to not acquiesce to their demands…."
Rapunzel raised an eyebrow. "Demands? You make it sound like a kidnapper is here to see me."
Nigel was noticeably silent at Rapunzel's little joke, but Rapunzel paid it no mind. Nigel was not a very humorous person, and he very rarely laughed at her jokes. Rapunzel had learned over the years not to take it personally.
They landed at the doors to the grand hall, and Rapunzel brought a hand to her stomach protectively. Though she had faith in Nigel not to lead her into a dangerous situation or meet someone who could hurt her or her child, she still had a little bit of maternalism in her that called for her to protect this child for everything and everyone. And she still didn't know what was on the other side of the door.
Rapunzel reached for the doorknob and twisted it, opening the door to reveal the Great Hall before her. The Hall looked relatively normal, the thrones in the back lined up four in a row. The symbol of Corona tapestries hung from the ceiling, one for the Dark Kingdom hanging near the thrones. Technically her marriage with Eugene was considered an alliance, and they were sure to make it said that Corona supported the rebuilding Dark Kingdom in all it's endeavors. The carpet leading up to the thrones was pristine and unscathed from stains, Cassandra was standing in the center of it, a bag on her shoulder –
Cassandra!
"Cass!"
Rapunzel ran forward and through her arms around Cassandra's neck, bringing her in for a tight hug. Cassandra laughed and pulled her arms around Rapunzel's middle. Rapunzel buried her head into her sister's neck and relished in the feeling of having her back. It had been years since she had last seen Cassandra in person, she had almost forgotten what her sister looked and sounded like.
"I missed you too, Raps," Cassandra laughed into Rapunzel's brunette hair. Rapunzel let go of Cassandra and stepped back, smiling at her older sister with all the exuberance she could muster.
"Oh, my goodness, I've missed you so much Cass!" Rapunzel exclaimed, clapping her hands together. "I've enjoyed your letters, but it's not the same as the real thing! You simply must tell me about what you've been up to, there's so much that's happened here in Corona, and –"
Cassandra laughed under her breath and put a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder.
"Raps, slow down," Cassandra advised. "Take a breath."
Rapunzel laughed in return and folded her hands across her stomach.
"You have to join me for tea Cass," Rapunzel insisted. "We can catch up, and there's a new baker in the kitchen that makes the best scones! Chocolate chip, your favorite, sis!"
Cassandra did not have much of a sweet tooth, but she knew that Cassandra had a sweet spot (pun intended) for chocolate. It was one of the few weaknesses her sister had.
Cassandra frowned, and Rapunzel's stomach pinched uncomfortably.
"I, uh, wanted to talk to you about something first," Cassandra said slowly. Cassandra rubbed the back of her neck. "It's something I couldn't really explain in a letter, but I, uh, oh how do I say this?"
Cassandra sighed and hugged an arm across her chest, reaching for her other forearm. Rapunzel gave her a sympathetic smile and put a hand on Cassandra's shoulder.
"Cass, whatever it is, you can tell me," Rapunzel assured her. "I promise I won't get mad or upset at anything you have to say."
Even years later and a reconciliation later, Rapunzel knew her dear sister had trouble vocalizing her feelings. Even in her letters, Rapunzel could tell her tone was hesitant, afraid as she tried to get her feelings and point across. Cassandra had a deep-rooted fear of vulnerability, and that did not die overnight. Rapunzel would do anything to put Cassandra at ease, reassure her that there was nothing wrong with sharing how she felt.
Cassandra gave another sigh and looked up from beneath her eyelids, looking at Rapunzel with just a tab of nervousness and anxiety.
"Alright, if you're sure," Cassandra said hesitantly, their voice uncharacterizable as soft. She shut her eyes. "I, uh, don't—I don't like it when you call me your sister."
Rapunzel blinked. "Oh."
She had not been expecting that to be what Cassandra said, if she was being honest.
"It's just," Cassandra explained, "I've—I've realized that Gothel was never my mother, or yours, really. And I love you, Raps, I really do, but – I'm not – I don't—"
Cassandra shut her eyes and turned away from Rapunzel. Rapunzel was having trouble understanding what exactly that Cassandra was saying, but that didn't make the feelings behind what she was trying to get out any less real or valid. Rapunzel just listened, waiting for Cassandra to explain what it is she meant.
"You're not my sister," Cassandra eventually got out. "I realize now that what Gothel did to you wasn't your fault, and I understand that you think our connection makes us sisters. But when I look at you – I just don't see a sister, I see a friend. A dear, dear friend. But not a sister."
Rapunzel nodded, taking in this information. Her relationship with Cassandra was complicated, perhaps the most complicated one in her life. Rapunzel had decided that Cassandra was her sister all those years ago when Cassandra revealed that Gothel was her mother, but she realized now she hadn't really asked Cassandra how she felt about that. That was an error on her part.
So, she decided, she would just have to rearrange. Cassandra was not her sister, but her best friend. That didn't change how much she loved Cass, or who they were to each other. All that changed was the label they put on themselves.
Rapunzel took Cassandra's hand and squeezed it tightly.
"Cass, if you don't want to be called my sister, then I won't," Rapunzel said simply. "I don't care who you are in my life, as long as you are in my life." Rapunzel patted her stomach and gave Cassandra a smile. Cassandra grinned in return and squeezed Rapunzel's hand as well.
"Well, look who made her grand return," Eugene's voice drawled, entering the Grand Hall. "If it isn't Cassandra the Ice Queen."
Cassandra crinkled her nose mischievously.
"Hello, Your Royal Travesty," Cass teased without missing a beat. Rapunzel's heart beamed, as did her face. It was like none of the years had passed, as Cassandra and Eugene fell into their usual banter. As much as they claimed to hate each other, Rapunzel knew they did care for each other, beneath their rough exteriors and veneers.
Eugene smiles honestly at Cassandra, and Cassandra actually smiles back.
"All jokes aside, it is wonderful to see you again, Cass," Eugene greeted.
"Thank you, Eugene," Cassandra said, then she turned impish with a well-placed grin and she crossed her arms. "Let's see if you say the same thing in two months, when I won't leave."
Rapunzel's eyes widened. "You're staying?"
Cassandra nodded, and Rapunzel reached to hug her best friend again. Eugene sighed and crossed his arms.
"Oh, goodie," Eugene said, but there was no bite to it. Rapunzel stepped back from Cassandra, and Cassandra put her hands on her hips.
"I figured I might as well stay, to make sure Eugene doesn't mess up the tyke too bad," Cassandra said. Cassandra reached inside her bag and pulled out a small package wrapped in brown and paper with a string ribbon. "I also got this, once I learned you two were expecting."
Rapunzel raised a brow and opened the package slowly, gasping at what was inside. Inside was a beautiful mobile, the centerpiece a wooden sun painted a magical gold color. The strings had small moons and stars coming down from them, made of small prisms that caught the light and caused little rainbows to appear in the air. She lifted it up, and Eugene reached to take one of the moons in his hand, eyes wide.
"You just 'picked this up'?"
Cassandra blushed.
"I might have commissioned it, from the local wood smith in the town I was staying in." Cassandra rubbed her forearm again. "Look, I know we've had our ups and downs, but I want to be apart of your lives again. I know we'll never have the relationship we once had, but I hope you're okay with me being back in Corona, at least for a little while."
Rapunzel was more than okay with that. Rapunzel knew that Cassandra would always be important to her, she was the first friend she made outside of the tower after Eugene. Cassandra had been her greatest enemy at one point, threatening everything and everyone she loved. No matter what, in the story of Rapunzel's life Cassandra would be more than a footnote in it. Cassandra was her best friend, and nothing was going to change that.
"Of course, Cass," Rapunzel assured. "We'd be more than happy to have you here, for as long as you want to stay."
Cassandra smiled. "Thank you, Rapunzel. It's more than I deserve."
Eugene shook his head. "Don't start with that. Don't forget, in the end you and Rapunzel were the ones to save Corona. We owe a lot to you, and you are deserving of kindness and forgiveness."
"Couldn't have said it better myself," Rapunzel echoed.
And with that, Cassandra smiled.
"Now, about tea…."
