Disclaimer: I do not own Disney or Tangled...as awesome as that would be
The next morning Eugene awakes to Pascal sticking his tongue in his ear. He opens his eyes to see Rapunzel sitting in a chair across the room. She's wearing her winter clothes and she's holding an axe.
"Ahhh" Eugene screams.
"Oh Eugene, are you okay? Did you awake from a bad dream?" Rapunzel asks as she rushes to his bed.
"What are you planning on doing with that thing?" Eugene points to the axe.
"It's to cut down our Christmas tree. Mamma and Papa said we could go this morning before my etiquette lesson. They also said that I shouldn't wake you up, so I've been sitting here ready and patiently waiting"
"Who gave you that? I don't think you should have it. I mean, I've seen and felt the damage you can do with a frying pan. I'm terrified of what you'd do with an axe"
"Conli gave it to me. He said I wouldn't get too far cutting down a tree without an axe. Don't worry Eugene, I won't hurt you"
"Hmmm, well I guess I'll just take my time and get ready" Eugene smirks.
"No Eugene!" Rapunzel pouts.
"Maybe I can get ready a bit faster if I get a good morning kiss, that would energize me" Eugene says.
Rapunzel climbs on his bed and gives him a quick peck on the lips.
"I have your clothes ready on the chair over there" Rapunzel points to the other side of the room.
"You picked out my clothes?" Eugene laughs
"Yes, that way you can get ready faster. Now get going!" Rapunzel commands
"Okay, but Blondie, you'll need to leave the room. Your parents would not approve of me undressing in front of you. I promise I'll be quick" Eugene kisses her forehead before she gets up and leaves.
Eugene is surprised to see not see Rapunzel waiting for him outside his room when he's finished. He looks out the window to see her laying down in the snow making a snow angel. Outside Rapunzel, the king and queen are waiting. Maximus is hooked up to the sleigh. There is also one of the stable attendants sitting ready to steer the sleigh.
"Here son, you'll need some nourishment for the trip. Rapunzel didn't want to wait for you to have breakfast" King James hands Eugene a muffin and an orange when Eugene makes his way outside.
"Thank you sir" Eugene says.
Eugene honestly is surprised that the king referred to him as "son", it felt good. For a while her parents just called him ""Mr. Fitzherbert", then they started calling him by his first name. He wanted so badly to be liked by her parents, perhaps he was actually succeeding in his efforts. Eugene is lost in thought for a moment before he is interrupted by Rapunzel yelling, "Come on Eugene!" she pats the seat beside her on the sleigh. Eugene sits down beside her and they set out. Pascal climbs down from Rapunzel's shoulder to sit on Eugene's lap.
"You want some of my orange, don't you?" Eugene asks the little green chameleon. Pascal nods. Eugene hold out an orange segment and Pascal snatches the whole thing with his tongue, turning orange when it reaches his mouth. Meanwhile, Rapunzel is staring wide eyed out the side of the sleigh at the beautiful snow covered world. That blanket of white made everything look so different.
"Why have we stopped" Rapunzel asks
"We're here, it's time to pick our tree" Caroline says.
"Oh goody" Rapunzel jumps out of the sleigh. , her feet making a crunch sound as they hit the fresh snow.
"Look at this one! It's simply adorable" Rapunzel points to a little three foot tall tree.
"It is nice, but that one is too short. We need a tree that is tall and grand" James says.
Rapunzel skips along for a few more feet before she stops again.
"This one! It's taller than me" Rapunzel says.
"yes, but it's very…bald. We need a tree with more branches to hang decorations" Caroline says.
Pascal points ahead to a tree that seems to be tall and have a lot of branches. Rapunzel gets excited and starts to run towards it. She catches an icy patch and starts to slip. Eugene rushes to her and is able to catch her before she hits the ground.
"Be careful Blondie" Eugene places her hand on his arm, "there, hold onto me so you don't fall" When they get to the tree Rapunzel wraps her arms around it.
"Oh, it's perfect. My arms can't even fit around it and it's taller than Eugene. Even Pascal likes it" Rapunzel says.
"Looks like this is the one" James smiles.
"Papa, hand me the axe! I'll cut it down!" Rapunzel says.
"Sweetie, though I love your enthusiasm. Cutting down a tree is a man's job" James says. He holds out the axe to Eugene, "would you do the honours of cutting it down?"
"Of course sir" Eugene says. He really is honoured. Since he was a little boy he always wanted to cut down his own Christmas tree. The kids at the orphanage never got to help pick the tree and when he was older, well he didn't have much of a home to put a tree in. With a few swift chops the tree falls to the ground. Eugene and the king grab the trunk and start pulling it back to the sleigh. They secure the tree to the back of the sleigh and begin the journey home.
"Are you cold dear?" Caroline asks Eugene. He's sitting there rubbing his hands together.
"I'm fine really" Eugene replies. Rapunzel grabs one of his bare hands and places it on her cheek.
"Eugene, your hands are freezing. Let me warm them for you" Rapunzel takes his hands in her's, Her tiny hands barely cover his. "Why are you not wearing the mittens I set out for you?"
"Because I don't need them" Eugene shrugs.
"Clearly you do" Rapunzel says, "Mamma always tells me to wear my mittens, don't you mamma?"
"Yes, I find my hands get cold so quickly. Your father was the same way as Eugene, I had to nag him all the time to wear mittens. I still have to sometimes" Caroline says.
"Well, I have learnt my lesson. Though I love it when you hold my hands" Eugene smiles.
They reach the castle, as they are starting to take the tree off the sleigh, Maximus lets out a loud neigh. He thinks he did a good job and deserves a treat.
"Max, how could I forget? You were such a good boy, yes you were" Rapunzel says. She runs to the stable and returns with an apple that Maximus eats right up.
"Rapunzel, your etiquette lesson is about to start. You better get cleaned up" James says.
"But we have to decorate the tree" Rapunzel says.
"We will when your lesson is over. It will take a while to get the tree ready and get all the decorations out anyway" James says.