People talk about how it feels like a firework show when they have their first kiss, but that's not what Rapunzel would call it. It's a shiver followed by heat, ice melting into fire, a chill chased away by the sun. As his mouth presses in harder, surer, against her own, she feels like wings have sprouted on her back and the weight that had been holding her on the ground her whole life has suddenly fallen away. Jack's hand slips around her waist, and she doesn't protest when he pulls her closer and tilts his head to deepen the kiss.

Out of breath, Rapunzel reluctantly breaks away but cranes her neck to rest her forehead against his as she steadies her breathing. The small crooked smile on his face melts her heart all over again, but even though the hot blush is telling her to be embarrassed and look at the ground, she can't seem to tear her eyes away from the bright pools of cerulean holding them captive.

"Wow," Jack breathes without looking away, a smirk toying with the edges of his mouth, "I didn't realize until now how long I've been waiting to do that."

"And how long is that?" She asks while a shy smile spreads across her face.

He squints dramatically at the air above her head as if trying to calculate his answer before shrugging. "Since you slapped me on the dock and then tried to tell me if was my fault, I'm pretty sure."

Rapunzel rolls her eyes, but a warmth like honey still spreads throughout her entire body as her brain buzzes with excitement. He likes me, her mind sings, and he actually kissed me!

Jack slowly rises to his feet and swipes at the loose grass stuck on his shorts from sitting on the ground then promptly holds out his hand to her. She reaches up to take the proffered arm, but he pulls her so hard that her nose stops only inches from his. Blades of grass are still tangled in his hair, so she gently ruffles the white blond strands to shake them out, her fingers lingering to play with the fringe near the nape of his neck. His eyes are locked on her, filled with amusement laced with something else she can't quite put her finger on, but she doesn't have long to look before he's ducking down to peck a quick kiss to her lips.

Interlocking her fingers between his own, he nods his head towards the other rides. "Come on," he urges, pulling her along the path, "we still have an hour to burn."

As much as she'd like to just stay here and see how many kisses she can steal before the spell he's surely under pops like a bubble, she reasons wistfully that if tomorrow is anything like tonight, there will be plenty more where those came from.

This has to be one of the best nights of Rapunzel's life, hands down. There is nowhere she'd rather be than right here - walking hand in hand with Jack. She had never thought that she would ever be doing this, and the realization that it's actually happening overwhelms her. He smiles down at her, and her heart melts instantly. She's never met anyone who can make her feel the way that he does. Just one look can turn her to liquid in seconds. What's even more exhilarating is that she doesn't mind. Around him, she feels like she can be herself and he won't judge her or make her feel small. He's so easy to talk to and tease with that it's almost too good to be true.

Suddenly, something coils up in the pit of her stomach. Rapunzel squeezes her eyes shut and a spine-tinging laugh inside her head forces herself to keep her feet firmly on the ground, no matter how weightless she feels right now. She wants to just float up into the sky, but Gothel's condescending voice holds her down. How many times have you gotten your hopes up, it asks, and how many times has that let you down and broken your heart? Rapunzel steals a glance at the boy holding her hand and defiantly sends those thoughts to the back of her mind. Nothing, not even her step-mother's taunting, will ruin this perfect night.

She squeezes Jack's hand and points to a ride over to their left. The word "Scrambler" is spelled out in lights above the entrance, and they cross underneath it as they board the spider-like contraption. Jack helps her into the paint-chipped bench seat and climbs in next to her. The attendant pulls the safety bar down across the riders' laps, winking at them as he clicks it into place. Rapunzel just stares at the worker as he walks away, wondering why he had winked at them. Slowly, it occurs to her that he thinks they're on a date, and her cheeks grow warm. Are they on a date? It certainly seems like it to her, especially since Merida seemed to think it would be when they were back at the cabin, but she wouldn't really know if this counts because she's never been on one. Is it really a date when he never actually asked her out?

She doesn't have time to think about it any longer because the worker starts up the ride and she's thrown against Jack. As the Scrambler flings them left and right, she tries to pull herself over to the other side of the bench, but gravity forces her right back at his side. She stutters out an apology, but Jack shakes his head, laughing. He brings an arm around her waist and instead of trying to push her off, he pulls her closer. Rapunzel smiles into the fabric of his shirt, curling into him. Throughout the ride, she finds that she can't stop laughing no matter how hard she tries to stifle it. Her hair whips around, long blonde strands coming loose from her pony-tail and flying across her eyes. Jack brings a hand to her face and tucks the stray hair behind her ear, his fingers gently brushing against her cheek. Electricity shoots up her spine at the touch, her eyes never leaving his even though the world is spinning around them.

The Scrambler slows to a stop, the wind and her laughter dying down as the attendant walks around to each car to unlock the safety bars. Jack climbs out first, offering her his hand. Blushing, she takes it and jumps down, slipping a little on a patch of wet grass and throwing her off guard.

He catches her around the waist, slowly helping her back upright and asking with a laugh, "Is this a habit?"

With her cheeks flaming hotter, she replies, "Sorry, I'm not usually this clumsy, no."

Jack shrugs with a wink, "I don't mind catching you."

Rapunzel rolls her eyes at him and notices that his arm doesn't leave her side as they leave the Scrambler behind.

~Jack~~~~

Jack feels like the luckiest guy on earth right now. Never in a million years did he think he would ever be walking down the middle of a carnival holding hands with bubbly Rapunzel. It blows his mind how perfectly her fingers fit together with his and how natural she looks bundled up in his sweatshirt. It is so surreal to realize that this is actually happening, and that he's loving every single moment of it. He remembers talking with Hiccup only hours ago in their room and seeing his face light up when he talked about Astrid. Jack had smiled and been happy for his best friend, but he couldn't help feel a twinge of sadness thinking that Punzie probably never talked about him like that. Now, he can't keep the smile off his face because when she looks up at him, the sparks in her eyes are brighter than stars.

Neon lights flash all around them, and people are laughing and yelling wherever they go, but all of it fades away. Her green eyes shine like emeralds, and her smile melts his heart like the sun. He slings his arm around her shoulders and gives them a squeeze. The way she leans into him and casually wraps an arm around his waist in reply sends a bolt of pride up his spine, causing him to stand a little straighter.

An intoxicating aroma of fried dough and sweet sugar finds its way to Jack's nose, and he immediately cranes his neck to search out the source. Nestled in between rows of ice cream, snow-cone, and corn-dog vendors, a bright yellow and green painted booth boasts the best funnel cakes in Wisconsin. Just staring at the sign makes Jack's stomach growl. With more tugging than leading, he pulls Rapunzel with him to the vendor window and practically drools as he orders a pastry. Within a few minutes, the man behind the counter hands Jack a perfectly golden funnel cake dusted in powdered sugar. Jack barely contains his hunger long enough to carry the flimsy paper plate over to a picnic table before diving into the deliciously warm desert. Opposite him, Rapunzel tears off edges of the fried dough closest to her and pops them into her mouth in between bouts of laughter.

"What's so funny?" Jack asks, licking the sugar residue off of his fingertips.

Rapunzel shakes her head with another laugh. "You've got powdered sugar all over your face."

"Hey," he retorts, "you can't just eat a funnel cake! It's about the experience!"

"Half of the sugar is stuck on your face!"

Jack shrugs, but as he pointedly traces a finger through the piles of powder left on the plate, an idea inspires his smile to form into a smirk. "Half, schm-alf. Besides," he teases while silently gathering a batch of powder on the tip of his finger, "there's plenty here for you!"

With that, he reaches across the table and drags his finger along the side of her face, leaving a trail of white down her cheek.

Rapunzel squeals and tries to duck, but the streak is made before she can move away.

Jack proudly leans back and laces his hands behind his head as if lazily laying on the ground. "There, now we match."

Snatching several napkins from the center of the table, Rapunzel rubs off the offending powder, but not without sticking her tongue out at him first.

"You're welcome," he replies to her silent protest, his smirk never slipping from his face. Polishing off the rest of the puffy pastry, Jack scoops up the paper plate and Rapunzel's napkins and deposits them into the trash. With a full stomach and an easy smile, he uses his phone to check the time before heading towards the entrance of the makeshift fair. Just as he and Rapunzel pass the ticket booth where they first came in, Hiccup pulls up in the now familiar SUV with a tired-but-happy looking Astrid riding shotgun.

"Look at that, Punzie, I'm actually on time for once," Jack comments while helping her up into the back seat of the car.

As Hiccup drives away from the music and laughter, Jack can't help but turn around in his seat and watch the bright lights of the carnival fade into the dark summer night.

Ever the cheesy host, Hiccup clears his throat and asks, "So, did everyone have a good time?"

With his gaze on the fiesty blonde beside him as she smiles and nods enthusiastically, Hic doesn't notice Jack take Rapunzel's hand.

"Well, I know I sure did," Jack answers back, mocking his best friend's overly cheerful tone. Hiccup just throws his head back and laughs, but it's Rapunzel who glances over and catches Jack's eye as he tosses her a wink.

A/N - I'm so so so so sorry this is so late! I never meant for this to take so long to post... you'd think with summer that I would have even more time to write than during the school year, but it's the opposite. Time off of school means more time to work at my part-time job... so less writing :(. That, and I'm the biggest procrastinator in the entire world, so that never helps, either. I know this chapter was a lot shorter than some of my other ones, but I just needed to finish off the carnival scene before I can work some other things out to move this plot along. Please review and tell me what you think! It's been months since I've even looked at this story, so I'm sorry if I'm a little rusty, but any comments or suggestions you may have are always encouraged! Thank you all for sticking with me through this unintentional hiatus!

~Jackunzelhayniac3~