Chapter 2

Flynn found himself in bed, finally, around six in the morning. He told himself this is the last time he was ever going to sneak out, that no amount of roaming the countryside in the dead of night, visiting pubs, gambling away what little of his own money he had left was worth losing Rapunzel. He rubbed his eyes, yawning, and curled up into his blankets, fully prepared to just fall asleep. The night was eventful, and yet it did nothing for him. It didn't fill up that place in himself that was so used to hiding and running and stealing and lying to everyone he knew.

He wanted to feel like Flynn Rider again, but all he felt was lost.

A hand lightly touched his shoulder, and he looked up, half asleep, to see Rapunzel staring at him, her face looking hurt, tears rimming her bottom lid and he sat up straight, watching her in shock. "What happened?" he coughed out, hardly able to keep his eyes open he was so tired.

"Eugene," she said, her voice strained as if she was trying not to cry. "Where were you last night? Honestly, truly, where were you?" He blinked, suddenly very awake and sat up, his eyes staring straight into hers. He couldn't tell what was wrong, but she looked incredibly terrified and he finally decided he needed to come clean. He couldn't keep lying to her anymore, he couldn't hold any secrets from her. She deserved the truth, and if he was a disappointment to her, well, then she would decide what to do from there. He couldn't make her decisions for her.

Looking away from her, he mumbled, "I was gambling, Rapunzel. Gambling, drinking, gallivanting around like a complete idiot. But," he said sternly, making her jump slightly, "that is the last of it. I decided that I was going to make sure I was a model citizen, make sure that I would be good enough for you. No more am I going to act like a fool for fun." For a moment she was silent, their eyes locked so intensely that Flynn was scared to breathe. He didn't understand what was going on, but Rapunzel was clearly shaken.

"You promise?" she whispered, clenching the front of his teal vest tightly, looking terrified. "You promise that is all you did, and you have nothing else to tell me?"

He nodded shakily, his eyes wide. "I swear, Rapunzel, that is all that happened." She nodded and pressed her forehead to his, letting tears drip down her cheeks. "What is going on?" he asked quietly after a few minutes, unsure of how to bring the subject up. She sat down beside him on the bed, wiping her tears off and he furrowed his brow, never before feeling this worried about her before since he thought the Stabbington brothers had made off with her.

She whispered, "Something was stolen last night Eugene. And when the guards realized it was missing, they noticed other stuff was stolen too..."

Flinching, he looked at his hands, feeling miserable. "And you... thought I stole it?"

"No!" she shouted, jumping to her feet. "No, never. But..." The door opened and Rapunzel glanced to it, the captain of the guard standing in the aperture. Flynn stood up, looking concerned, but she stood between them, her hands held out in front of her. "It wasn't him," she said defensively, keeping Flynn behind her and looking serious. Flynn looked between her and the guard, trying to find his voice but he didn't have the right words to say anymore. He didn't know what to do.

"Princess Rapunzel," the guard said hesitantly, "he's our prime suspect right now."

"He didn't do it!" Rapunzel's faith in him was almost overwhelming, it was almost faith he didn't deserve, except for the fact that he really didn't do it. The guard paused in his step, shackles in his hand, waiting for the sign that he could just throw Flynn back into the cell he'd been before. "You have no right to take him."

Flynn shook his head. "I'll prove it to you," he said, putting a hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. "Give me a chance, and I'll find whoever stole from here and get whatever it was back." She looked up at Flynn, her mouth slightly agape, her green eyes wide in what looked like admiration. Or maybe he was imagining things; he couldn't tell. He might be so delirious and confused that maybe all this wasn't really happening. Pascal peeked out at him from Rapunzel's hair, and they met eyes, a for a moment, it looked like the little chameleon was worried too.

She turned to face him and said, "Eugene, you don't have to do that. I know you didn't do it, I'll keep you safe." For a moment Flynn was taken aback but the captain of the guard stood his ground, unwavering under the stare of the princess.

"It should be easy," the man said, standing up straight, not taking his eyes away from Flynn. "For a thief to steal something back, shouldn't it Rider?"

"His name is Eugene," Rapunzel said testily, and Flynn felt a little bad for mentally referring to himself as the notorious outlaw he was so used to being rather than as his princess's Eugene, but he still couldn't adjust to his new life yet. All he needed was more time, and all life gave him was more complications, like the mysterious thief that stole and now he was in the executioner's chair once more, and this time, he was completely innocent.

Flynn gently made his way past Rapunzel, squeezing her hand for a moment, as he stood before the captain. "I'll get it back, and I'll prove that I'm innocent," he said with a spark in his eye that Rapunzel would admit she hadn't seen in him in a long time. He was fiery, determined, and not prepared to be pushed around by anyone ever again. "What was it?"

The captain said, "The king and queen's wedding bands were stolen last night from their room, right off the bedside table. Previously before that, the sword of the first knight of Corona from it's case as well as Princess Rapunzel's coronation crown." Flynn looked back at Rapunzel, and she stared at her feet, looking slightly embarrassed. It struck him that, for a tiny moment, she truly did think he took the items, though not maliciously. Just to be funny, just to tease her and get at her until she whacked him enough times with the frying pan to get them back.

Flynn was increasingly glad that she didn't have the frying pan with her. He caught her eye and gave her a smile, letting her know that everything was going to be okay. Pascal rubbed against her cheek, and she covered him with one hand, holding him close to her face. "I'll get them back," Flynn told him, turning around to find his satchel. "I'll start now, and I won't stop until my name is cleared." The guard was slightly surprised, and Rapunzel, with a silent wave of her hand, ordered him away and closed the door behind him.

"I'm coming with you, you know," she said in a voice that was not to be disputed.

Flynn smiled to himself and replied, "I know." He tossed her the frying pan that had gotten them through so many rough patches before and pulled his satchel over his head. "I don't know if your parents will agree, but I'm not going to tell you what to do, Rapunzel. I don't want you to come, but I won't stop you."

She looked confused. "Why don't you want me to come?" she questioned. "I can handle myself, you know that."

He nodded. "But that was when we knew exactly what we were dealing with. Now... I don't know what's out there. I don't want you to get hurt." She smiled at him, that perfect smile with the slight overbite, accentuating her freckles and make her green eyes shine like emeralds. He couldn't help but fall more in love with her at that moment than he ever had before.

"I'm going with you, Eugene. No matter what. Clearing your name is as important to me as it is to you." Flynn didn't doubt it by the look on her face, but her coming was not a good idea. Not at all. But he would not be like Gothel, he wouldn't deny the princess her freedom to do what she wanted and go where she pleased, including into unknown peril for his sake. The sake of someone who wasn't truly worth it, but for some reason, Rapunzel believed he was. He wished he could tell her that he wasn't worth her effort or her time, but he knew she would laugh it off and ignore him.

He's save the dramatization for another day.

AN: Poor Fly- Eugene! I can't wait to see what happens next!