A/N: i'm not sure i'm too happy with this chapter. but it's more of a filler than anything else. also, i'm going to be changing a few things plotwise, such as abandoning the whole idea of some guard wanting to get rid of eugene. i'm going to be formulating some other ideas. but if you have any i'd love to hear. anyways. i hope you can somewhat enjoy this chapter.

A few days after hearing the news, Eugene went to go resign from his duties of the Royal Guard. With a family member on the way, Eugene didn't want to miss a moment of it, nor did he want to have to frequently leave. Or have Rapunzel plagued with the fear of him never returning home. He left her once and he didn't intend to leave her again. Plus, he was sure Rapunzel would prefer for him to stay with her throughout her pregnancy. Not that he checked with her. Eugene didn't even tell her he was planning on resigning today. Hopefully this wouldn't all blow over.

Eugene walked down the hall, hands stuffed in his pockets as he headed towards the captain's office. The casually nodded at any maids or guards that he happened to pass. Once arriving at the captain's room, Eugene knocked on the door, waiting for a reply. After hearing approval to enter, Eugene slightly shoved the door open and closed it on his way out. The captain looked up Eugene, simply raising an eyebrow before setting his papers down.

"And what can I do for you Mr. Fitzherbert?" He asked as his hand went to rest under his chin. The captain motioned for Eugene to take a seat, which he did. Eugene looked at him for a minute before pursing his lips together and letting out a sigh.

"I'm asking to resign." Eugene simply replied. The captain gave him a questioning look. Obviously the news of her pregnancy hadn't gotten around over here yet. Which was slightly surprising seeing how much the gossip liked to travel among the servants. The captain was giving him a look as to explain why. Eugene looked at him and cleared his throat, "Well, sir. I don't know if you heard but Rapunzel is , well uh, pregnant and well I'd like to be there for her. And this job would get in the way of trying to raise a family."

The captain cleared his throat, and looked at him, "Well Mr. Fitzherbert. Seeing as you have been blessed with a rather joyous occasion, I'll see what I can do. I can't make any promises yet." He replied, "Not to mention that we are in fear of a war breaking out. But we won't go into details about that."

Eugene simply nodded before standing up, "Thank you very much, sir. I'll see you later." He said before heading out of the door. Eugene leaned against the wall in the hall, letting out a sigh of relief. Hopefully it would go through. He wanted nothing more then to be with Rapunzel.

Speaking of which.

Eugene headed down the hall, wanting to go off and find Rapunzel. He was quite sure where she would be at the moment, but might as well look. Eugene headed down, figuring he might check the gardens first. His thoughts were still clouded with the thoughts of a war breaking out. Corona's been in peace for years. What could bring the sudden change of this? Much less, who would want to declare war on the kingdom. The Kingdom of Corona had always been honest with their dealings. Payed off any debts. Upheld treaties. You name it. So what would possibly be the issue?

Eugene shoved those thoughts from his mind, not wanting to think about it. He headed out in the gardens, going to the normal spot Rapunzel would take vacancy in.

Nope.

She wasn't there.

Eugene was positive that she didn't have lessons at this time. It was afternoon. Maybe she was at lunch?

No.

She would have also found him by then.

Eugene let out a defeated sigh and decided to head back into the room. Maybe she'd be in there. But he wasn't hopeful.

After walking back inside the castle, Eugene finally made it too the room. He opened the door, only to be welcomed with an overbearing smell of paint. Eugene closed the door before looking around, seeing Rapunzel standing on a bookshelf, painting. He immediately frowned. Though the case wasn't too high, she could still fall and that could spell absolute disaster.

"Rapunzel! Get down from there, dear." He said. Rapunzel sharply turned around once hearing Eugene. She stumbled before catching her balance, triumphantly smiling. Eugene let out an exhaled breath as he was prepared to catch her, but luckily, she had good balance. Rapunzel had set her paints down, quickly, but carefully, climbing down the bookcase. She walked over to Eugene, pulling him into a hug.

"Hi, handsome." She said, quickly pecking his cheek. Eugene smiled down at her. She was too adorable for him, some days. Rapunzel had some pink paint smeared on her cheek as some blue was speckled in her hair. Eugene pulled away to examine his wife. She was wearing a light green dress that hung loosely around her small frame. He figured they must have already gotten on making her some new clothes to fit her growing stomach.

"You look gorgeous today." Eugene said, kissing her forehead. Rapunzel rolled her eyes and wrinkled her nose. He loved it when she did that.

"You always say that when you have something to say." She replied curtly. Rapunzel folded her arms around her chest, popping out one side of her hip. Eugene rolled his eyes and took her hand. He laced their fingers together as he started to lead her outside, "Eugene. Where on earth are we going?" She asked.

"Out to the gardens. The room smells terrible and I both think we could use some fresh air." Eugene replied. Rapunzel rolled her eyes and just went along with it.

Once outside, the couple headed to their normal spot. It was a cozy patch of grass that was underneath a shady tree. The spot was secluded from the other parts of the area which gave the couple plenty of privacy. Eugene was the first to sit down against the tree. He tapped his lap, inviting Rapunzel to come and sit. She did so, and curled up against his lips. Rapunzel rested her head against his and smiled.

"So. I have something to tell you gorgeous." Eugene said. Rapunzel looked up at him, raising an eyebrow, motioning him to continue on with what he was going to say, "I went to the captain and asked to resign. I want to be with you through the next months, and I don't want to be leaving for anything and leaving you to take care of the kid. I hope you don't mind."

Rapunzel let out a bit of a frown at first. She didn't really mind. She was actually glad that he thought of her in that way. But it was also irritating that they didn't talk it over at first, "Well. Thank you for giving me much consideration about that. I'm glad you'd want to stay with me when I become a hormonal monster. But, I am slightly irritated that you didn't talk it over with me first." Rapunzel said, "I know that the job was more or less to keep you out of trouble for a while, but it would have been nice to discuss it at first."

"Well I know, Blondie. But it was more or less of a doing without thinking thing." Eugene replied, shrugging. He was just glad Rapunzel didn't explode over this. He wasn't going to lie, half of him expected her too. Eugene wrapped his arms around her, leaning his head against hers.

"Well next time, let's talk about it first." Rapunzel said. Eugene simply nodded, "And thank you." She added, reaching up to give him a kiss on the cheek.

xxxx

A few months had passed since that day. Rapunzel's stomach had grown more than she had anticipated but it was still a beautiful thing, none the less. Luckily, Eugene hadn't been called to any mission or training, so he assumed that his request to resign had gone through.

The day was rather nice as Rapunzel and Eugene were talking a stroll through the garden. She wanted to make it a daily habit now. Not that Eugene minded. He loved spending anytime he could get with her.

As the headed back inside to attend to a few lessons, one of the guards came up to the couple, looking as if there was something bad going on, "Your highness." He said, addressing the two in front of them, "The captain has requested to see both of you. Right now. He says it is utmost important." Eugene nodded, patting the shoulder on the back as they had began their way to the office.

Eugene was becoming worried. It's been about three months, what one earth could the captain want? Eugene shoved any ill thoughts away and continued onward. They arrived at the office, both walking in at the same time. The captain was standing, staring out the window, seeming to observe the outside world. He looked over once hearing the pair come in.

"Ah. I'm glad my message had gotten to you two. Please sit." He said, taking a seat in his own chair. Rapunzel and Eugene both sat down, their hands still locked together. Eugene raised an eyebrow.

"So what's going on captain?" Rapunzel said, breaking the silence. The captain looked up at the two, not seeming to happy with whatever he was about to tell them.

"Well, Princess. As of today, the kingdom of Falria has officially declared war on Corona. They are beginning this war over a treaty that was broken. Though what the treaty was, I'm not sure. Only the King knows. But we are down on commanding officers for the war. I'm sorry to say that Mr. Fitzherbert is required to take part in the war as one of our officers." He explained. Eugene frowned.

War? This was more serious then the small missions they went on. This time, there was a possibility of never returning home. And Eugene wasn't going to lie. That scared the living hell out of him. He couldn't leave Rapunzel. Who knows how long he would be gone. He could miss the birth of his child and there was no way in hell that he was even going to miss that.

"No." Eugene simply replied. The captain raised an eyebrow, "I will not be going. I have a wife to take care of." He looked over at Rapunzel. Tears streamed down her face as her was feeling a mixture of utter grief and much rage.

"You don't have a choice, Mr. Fitzherbert. We'll be departing next week. Make sure you have your uniform and necessities." And with that, the captain went to leave the room. But Rapunzel wasn't going to have any of this. She stood up, catching the captain by his forearm, yanking him back. Eugene frowned. She was pissed. All hell was about to break loose. The captain looked at her with a look of surprise, "Excuse me, Princess?"

"You are not taking my husband away from me." She simply said. Rapunzel was surprisingly calm for the time being. Hopefully she would stay that way. At least until they returned to their room. Then she could wreck havoc there. Rapunzel let go of the captain's arm, "Eugene could die out there! I lost him once and I don't want to loose him again. He's going to have a child, and you are just going to shrug that off because you're down in experienced guards? Give someone else the chance to help lead an army. But not my husband."

The captain looked at her with a grave expression, "Your highness. I did not have a choice in this matter. I would not be sending your husband to war if I had a choice. But it's necessary. You can take this up with the King, but there is nothing I can do." And with that, he left the office.

Rapunzel looked at Eugene as more tears had started to run down her face. She still looked quite mad. Eugene hesitantly approached her, wrapping his arms around her. Rapunzel's first action was trying to break away from his embrace, wanting to tear something apart. Though Eugene wasn't letting go. Rapunzel squirmed more, hitting at his chest to let her go. He wasn't having any of it.

"Hey. Sssh. Rapunzel." He muttered, trying to calm her down. Rapunzel stopped for a moment, looking up at him. She buried her face into his chest as she began to sob. Eugene rubbed comforting circles on her back, whispering soothing words.

He knew that he had to go regardless. There was no way out of it.