A/N: I thought I uploaded these chapters a few days ago but apparently I uploaded the documents and then didn't update the story. So here's 3 new chapters for you all at once. Please forgive my stupidity.

Chapter 27

Eugene winces as he slowly wraps a bandage around his hand.

His knuckles are stained red, with purple bruises and deep gashes embedded in each one. He'd washed them as best he could, but he'd be lying to say they don't still hurt.

He'd forgotten about them until now. His mind has been too preoccupied with more important things, but he figures he might as well do something about it, since he has the time, and Varian has the supplies.

He's sitting on a bench outside of Varian's bedroom, where Rapunzel currently is. The kid is in there with her, doing some work on her. Eugene isn't quite sure what. He'd debated going back inside, but he's not sure he can. Not after the way she had reacted to him when she woke up.

Varian could probably use the space, anyway. Eugene imagines this kind of stuff requires a lot of focus. It's probably best he stays out of everybody's way. Including Rapunzel's, apparently.

His hands are still shaking. They have been ever since they fled the wreck.

The cotton of the bandage brushing against his skin stings, but Eugene forces himself to continue, because even looking down at them is too painful of a reminder of what he had done.

The cut in his side still hurts. He'd bandaged that himself too, though Eugene has felt worse pain.

It's the early hours of the morning now. Lance probably fell asleep somewhere. Varian has been in the bedroom for a while. Eugene hasn't heard a sound from the other side of the door the entire time. Hopefully that's a good thing.

The hallway he's sitting in is silent and empty. There are various archways and doors leading to other parts of the lab. There's an arched window on either end, revealing the clear night sky. Firelit lanterns hang from the ceiling, illuminating the area dimly.

There's still no sign of Cass. Eugene wonders if they should've gone back for her. But he can't leave this place now, not while Rapunzel is still here. She's probably fine. He supposes Cassandra is just another thing they're going to have to wait for during this hellishly long night, whether they like it or not.

Eugene finishes tying the bandages, pulling it tight with his teeth. Just as he does, the door to the bedroom slowly opens next to him.

Varian steps out into the hallway. He closes the door behind him, intentionally being quiet about it.

He'd expected to find Eugene sitting there, waiting. Silently, Varian lowers himself onto the bench next to him, on the opposite end of it.

They don't look at each other, only stare forward as the dire energy of the situation lingers in the air between them.

The last time they'd seen each other, Rapunzel had been screaming, and Eugene had stormed out of the room soon after. They don't even know how long ago that was. Maybe hours. Though, there would be no pointing in talking about that now.

"How is she?" Eugene breaks the silence.

"She's asleep," says Varian, speaking softly. "It took some time, but I was able to conjure a mixture that contains all the core ingredients of the original antidote. Which means it should work in the same way the potion would have. There wasn't much of it, but I think it'll do the trick. At least, if my calculations are correct."

Eugene feels himself physically release tension just from hearing that. Finally, it sounds like they are getting somewhere.

"I did some tests. And… it's true," Varian reveals, warily peering over at Eugene, "She is pregnant."

Eugene inhales deeply, his heart skipping a beat.

He hadn't been sure of it. He'd gone through every scenario in his head, and thought he had prepared himself for whatever outcome it may end up being. If he's honest, he wasn't certain whether he'd be excited or nervous to learn that it is in fact true. Maybe it's a bit of both.

But now it's real. There's no going back. Rapunzel is pregnant. They're going to have a kid. For the rest of their lives.

The realization of it paralyzes him, and all he does is stare at the ground, gripping the edge of the bench on either side of him, feeling absolutely terrified. Not because he isn't happy about it, but because he doesn't have a clue how to be a dad.

"I'm no doctor, but… I've done a lot of research on this kind of thing. Anatomy and what not," Varian continues. "It seems the pregnancy didn't react too well to the memory potion Donovan had given her. If anything, it only heightened her symptoms. It would make sense that her body was trying to fight it off. High fever, nausea, general disorientation... At least, that's my theory, from all the information I was able to gather. The good news is, now that she's taken an antidote, all of that stuff should go away in no time. Or at least bring it down to what a normal pregnancy should look like. And her memories will be back, hopefully. All we have to do now is wait for her to wake up."

Eugene realizes how ironic it is that Donovan had thought the potion would benefit things. In reality, it had only ended up making everything worse for Rapunzel, and may have ultimately killed her if nothing was done about it.

Maybe he knew but didn't care. Maybe all he cared about was her not remembering, even if it meant physically hurting her.

But Eugene can't explain what a relief it is to hear that Rapunzel is going to be okay. He just feels awful that any of this had to happen in the first place, and the fact that he'd basically dragged Varian into it all without really giving him a choice.

"I'm sorry," says Eugene. "For bringing her here. I didn't know where else to go."

Varian blinks at that, as if he hadn't expected to hear an apology. He tries to brush it off. "Eh, don't worry about it. I'm happy to help."

But Varian didn't have to do any of this. He doesn't even know Rapunzel. It isn't often people will go to such lengths to help somebody that they've never even met.

"Why are you helping her?" Eugene asks.

Varian leans forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "Because… it's kind of my fault that any of this even happened." He sighs heavily, defeated. "I should've never sold that potion to him in the first place."

He may have created the memory potion, but Eugene never blamed him for any of this. The thought hadn't even crossed his mind.

"You know, my dad used to always tell me I had a knack for this stuff. Alchemy," shrugs Varian. "Even though he didn't really understand it, he told me to never give up on the things that I love." His expression turns suddenly glum, his eyes glazing over with regret. "But he… died. Because of me." He lowers his chin shamefully, losing himself in the memories of it all. "It was a failed experiment. I thought I knew what I was doing. But just like most things in my life… I screwed up. And now he's gone."

Varian thinks back to what he had overheard Eugene saying to Rapunzel, when they first arrived here. He told her everything was going to be okay, and that he loved her. Varian never even got the chance to tell his dad that, one last time.

"I couldn't let the same thing happen to Rapunzel. I won't be responsible for losing somebody else," Varian promises. "I want to save lives. Not destroy them."

It's admirable, how strongly Eugene cares for Rapunzel. Varian can tell just by the way Eugene looks at her. So if Varian isn't doing this for himself, he's at least doing it for them. And for his father.

"You'd think that what happened with my dad would make me wanna quit, but… if anything, it just gives me more reason to keep going," he laments. "To prove that I'm not a screw up. That maybe I can actually do some good in the world. So, when you showed up on my doorstep… I couldn't turn you away. Not when it's my job to fix what I started."

Eugene stares absently at the ground, thinking. He had no idea the kid was going through any of this. He's so young, living here all on his own, and dealing with all of this at the same time.

But Eugene knows what it's like spending his entire life trying to prove himself to the world. It reminds him of a similar conversation he'd had with Cassandra. Rapunzel felt the same way too, back when she was the princess. It seems they're all more alike than they'd thought.

Not like Eugene ever had parents of his own, but he can't imagine what that must have been like for Varian. Rapunzel is all he has. He wouldn't be able to live with himself if he were ever the cause of losing her.

At least, she's still alive. Now Eugene feels guilty all over again.

"You know, we can both find every reason in the world to blame ourselves for this," Eugene admits. "But I think the only person we have to blame here is him."

Though, Eugene knows that's easier said than done. He'd be lying to say he doesn't also blame himself for this. It isn't until now that he realizes maybe he should take his own advice.

He looks over at Varian sitting next to him, who is still lost in thought, "And hey… I'm sure your dad would be very proud of you."

Varian looks over then, his eyes lighting up immediately. His heart warms in his chest as he realizes that the person he has looked up to since he was a kid is actually sitting here with him, telling him what he's wanted to hear for so many years.

But Flynn Rider isn't just a name or a face on a wanted poster anymore. To Varian, he may even call Eugene his friend, after all that has happened. At least, he'd like to call him that.

"Thanks," grins Varian. "That… that means a lot."

Varian doesn't talk about this stuff often. He doesn't even talk to people very much, having lived here for so long, out in the middle of no where. He must say, it's nice to have a visitor every once in a while. Not to mention, three of them. But the sudden change is quite overwhelming.

He clears his throat after a while, suddenly feeling awkward.

Varian rises to a stand, brushing his gloved hands over his trousers, "I should, um… I should go check on her," he points a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of the bedroom door. He turns to face it, pressing his hand against the surface.

"Varian?" begins Eugene.

Varian stops himself, peering over his shoulder.

"Thank you," says Eugene. "I mean it. I don't know what we would've done without you."

Varian smiles again, the same sense of warmth filling his chest. Maybe he is doing some good in the world, after all. "You're welcome."

He pushes the door open, and disappears inside.