Chapter 4

She moved quickly through the maze of cobblestone streets desperate to arrive on time. She'd always been late and he'd always laugh and make some kind of joke about it. They'd been seeing each other on and off for almost a year now. It was a miracle that no one knew, no one had caught her.

The two of them had met when she was on her daily ride. She never went the same way twice and this time she was headed towards the woods. There was a waterfall there that she loved to sit by and read most of the afternoons. She had known about the tower and she'd been up there a thousand times in the past, no one there to bother her. It had started to rain and she ran for it, uncovering the stones to the entrance. She made her way up the stairs and into the round room. The entire place was a mess. Someone was actually living here!

She pushed open the only window to let some light inside and set to work cleaning the place. She didn't how long she was at it when a male voice interrupted her thoughts.

"And who might you be?"

She turned around at the sound, dropping whatever she had in her tiny hands.

The two of them stared at each other.

"It's you," they both said.

They talked all that day until the rain stopped and then he asked if he could take her home, but she refused. She'd be fine, she'd say.

They met in different spots from then on, but had to be careful so as not to get caught. It just wasn't good if they were spotted together, not just yet.

And so tonight she ran, the only thing that ran through her mind except being in his arms and staring into his big brown eyes.

"Hey, beautiful, did you remember to bring it this time?"

She turned to face him, the two staring at one another. If only they could do what they'd been planning, if only they could run away and just be together, even for one perfect second. But there were duties and obligations to fulfill, some on his side as well. After all, he wasn't what she had thought he was, at least he told her he wasn't.

The posters were wrong. That wasn't him, that someone just looked like him. Couldn't she see the differences between him and his dead brother?

She nodded and handed him the invitation.

"The party is set for 7:30. I'm hoping that you'll be there before then. We'll need to get some things straightened out…"

"Same here, Megan," he whispered taking her hand in his. "By the way, how is our Princess?"

Rapunzel smiled. She'd been going on with this charade for almost a year. Could she really tell him who she was?

"Don't worry, Fitz," she answered. "She's fine as usual. She's a little anxious about this party, but I think she'll be expecting you to show up. And please, don't forget to bring Flynn Rider with you. There's an invite for him as well."

He smiled and grabbed her around the waist. "You know, he's a wanted thief, but he's considering going straight if the right woman came along."

She smiled, kissed him lightly on the lips and pulled apart from his grasp. "The princess has been trying to convince her parents about that one. She told me that just this morning." She frowned. "You saw him?"

He nodded. "I know where he is, Meg. Don't you worry; I'll get word to him."

"Is he living in that tower?" Rapunzel asked, knowing she wouldn't get an answer. He'd skirt the question again, just the way he always did.

"No one's in that tower, love," he said, hoping that she'd believe him, "not really."

It was half true, Eugene and the Stabbington's moved around from place to place, he still kept an eye on the farm from time to time, especially when they needed food. He was trying his hardest to reform, but the twins had kept coming up with wonderful quick rich schemes, it was really hard to stop.

And he didn't want to share what he had saved with anyone else.

The clock in St. Basil's struck midnight. Had she been gone that long?

"I've got to go," she said, giving him a peck on the cheek. She started to back away.

Eugene smiled. "Tomorrow afternoon, right?"

Rapunzel nodded. "Yes, by the waterfall as usual." She blew a kiss in his direction and turned to run.

"Hey, maybe you can bring Rapunzel with you tomorrow. It would be nice to see her …." Eugene stopped mid sentence as she turned toward him again.

She frowned. "What did you say, Fitz?"

"No nothing," Eugene said, "I was just thinking out loud."

She smiled, not pursuing the subject anymore. "Alright, see you tomorrow."

She ran back to the castle just as fast as her feet could take her, looking behind to see if anyone was following. Thank the Lord he wasn't.

But she couldn't get his statement out of her mind. When and where did they meet before or had they ever? And why was he always asking about the princess?

And why was she so attracted to him? Why was she constantly painting his likeness all over the castle?

XXXX

Eugene smiled as he watched her sprint off. He shook his head. He wasn't sure. They'd been seeing each other nearly a year. Megan had the softest brown hair he'd ever touched, but it was those big green eyes that got him. They reminded him of the way the princess looked up at him when she was little. They were almost the same. In fact, when he first met her at the tower, he could have sworn it was the princess staring back at him.

It took Eugene only a second to realize that it couldn't be her at all. She had blond hair, right? And when he asked her name, she'd told him it was Megan, no hesitation there. She swore that she worked for the princess and only had little snatches of time here and there to do things. He didn't know if she was lying or not, but he couldn't fault her.

He lied about who he was himself and he didn't even know why.

He clutched the two invitations in his hand and smiled. He guessed he'd find out the truth at Rapunzel's party. And of course, he'd have to bring Flynn Rider.