AN: Hello again. So I've been thinking and I've decided that Rapunzel is the same age as Clara because that way they can get along better? I actually tried to do some math and I had to calculate how long it is between the King and Queen of Arendelle's death and when Rapunzel would be married and whatnot so here goes nothing. Enjoy!

~Seven Years later~

Clara woke with the sun on her face. That was one thing she loved dearly about her new home, the sun. She corrected herself almost instantly, 'No this isn't your new home, this is your only home' she thought mentally.

She wished to hear from Elsa or Anna or her parents, but there was to be no contact from either side of the relationship. Her father had made that quite clear three years ago. She had written Elsa everyday as promised, but never received a reply. Naively Clara thought Elsa was still dealing with the curse, until one day she received a letter. The handwriting was neat and regal, her father's. The letter forbid Clara from further contact, it was only making Elsa worse. That was the end of writing letters to home, and of all hope of ever returning to Arendelle for Clara. She cried that night, deep heart wrenching sobs that caused her to be sick for a week. Her Aunt and Uncle did not question why she was under the weather, just let her take a week to do whatever she needed to feel better.

Clara pulled a simple dress from her closet; it had many different shades of blue. She called for the help of Lucile, her handmaid, just to lace up the corset. She wished her Mama were here to see what a beautiful young woman she had become. "Ma'am when you're finished here the queen would like you to join her for breakfast." Lucile informed Clara as she was playing with her hair.
"Thank you Lucile," Clara responded letting her long brown hair drop down her back looking herself over. This dress was the perfect choice for today, the blue of the bodice matched the sleeves that covered three quarters of her arms. She decided her hair could wait until later and went to the dining hall.

"Good Morning Aunt Primrose," Clara chimed sitting down across the table from her aunt.
"How are you this morning?" Her aunt asked with a smile having a bowl of oatmeal placed in front of her. "Thank you Elizabeth."
"I'm fine," Clara responded trying not to sound disheartened. Before her aunt could ask more questions a plate of toast, bacon and eggs was place in front of her. She quickly picked up her fork and stuck eggs into her mouth. Taking the clue her aunt simply nodded and the two ate in silence.
Unable to take the silence any longer, although she had started it, Clara burst "Why don't my parents want me?" The eighteen year old addressed her aunt.
"What makes you think that?" Her aunt placed her spoon down on the table knowing this day would come.
"It's been seven years, they've stopped writing to me all together, and frankly I feel as though they've just shipped me out here to get rid of me." Clara exhales.
"Elsa hasn't gotten better, and Anna is still too small to know about Elsa's power." Her Aunt assures. "Now go on and work on your studies. And don't forget to be back for the release of the lanterns." Her aunt pushes her away. Clara simply nods and leaves the room before she can cry.

Her studies are as dull as ever and once she was done for the day, she leaves the castle and goes into the kingdom. She pulls her hair into a very messy braid and changes into her commoner clothes. Everyone completely ignores her in her commoner clothes and that's something she's always loved, no one knows she's a princess.
She buys pastries from the bakery and as unroyally as she can, stuffs the delicious baked goods in her mouth. The young man behind the counter laughs at Clara as she does this. "And what do you think is so funny?" She catches the boy off guard.
"You just look like you haven't eaten in weeks," He states picking up an empty tray. This man had quite the chin, and chocolate hair that was styled precisely, but looked untouched. His hair fell in such a way that it nearly covers his right eye. His eyes were light green orbs that look so much older than he appears.
"Well nothing this amazing." Clara admits with a giggle as the boy nearly trips taking the tray into the back. "Are you alright?" She asks with more concern than she meant to.
"It's sadly a daily occurrence for me," He admits with a sigh, "I've got left footitis." The boy grimly states.
"Oh sounds serious," she mimics his tone. "What exactly is it?" She questions this time.
"Well I just so happen to have two left feet." He laughs as she gasps in false horror.
"I suppose I should get you out of here and get you to the best doctor I know." Clara exhaled.
"But you don't even know my name." He simply smiled. "I'm James," He adds trying to ease the tension.
"Clara" She smiled in return holding out a hand for him to shake it. He takes it with a cautious eye.
"I'm off in like five minutes, if you want to go have some fun before the lanterns rise." He offers.
"Yes absolutely." She nods in agreement. "I'll just wait outside." Clara points to the door and walks out bumping into the door after grabbing the handle. "Ow-" she moans backing up and opening the door first this time. James laughs before going out back. The baker gives him his pay and he comes around the building to find Clara patiently waiting for him.
"I thought you'd be long gone by now." He mused.
Clara puts on her best offended face "How dare you think that I wouldn't stay to go have fun!" She exclaims and seeing the hurt look on his face she smiles. "I'm only joking. And you promised me fun, so you best keep your end of the deal."

"But of course!" James replies and holds his arm out for her to take. She accepts it almost instantly and they're off for an afternoon of fun.

Clara and James spend the afternoon running around the kingdom, dancing, creating chalk art and eating their way through the festivities, until Clara realizes she has to get back to the palace. "I have to go," She says as the clock strikes six.
"I'll walk you," James insists, Clara wants to protest, but can't bring herself to do so, this is the most normal contact she's had since she arrived in Corona seven years ago. They walk in silence, both thinking of their next move. Not wanting James to know yet that she was indeed a princess, she stopped him at the guard's quarters. "So you live here?" He questions.
"Yes," She nods.
"Daughter of a guard?" He asks.
"No actually I live with my Aunt and Uncle," Clara responds trying to be as honest as she can without revealing everything.
"Oh," James says with a slight sigh of relief. "Okay then, do you want to meet tomorrow?"
"I would," She affirms "how about three outside the bakery?"
"I don't get out of work until four, can we meet then?" He inquires hopeful that she can agree.
"Sounds wonderful." Clara smiles and quickly gives him a kiss on the cheek "I'll see you tomorrow." And she enters the guards' quarters.

The events of the next day flew by until at around two in the afternoon. Clara was summoned to meet her long lost cousin, a moment she thought would never come, one that everyone had given up hope for so long ago. Her Aunt and Uncle were running towards the doors to the terrace where she was told to meet them. Clara joined in the chase; she knew this was the biggest event to happen to her since the births of her younger sisters. She reached the doors and stopped to assess the scene. The true royal family of Corona were all joined in a group hug. There was another man on the terrace, one that looked distinctly looked like the thief Flynn Rider.

Queen Primrose looked up to the man standing there and brought him into the hug, 'grateful surely' Clara thought. She waited for the moment to pass, and after minutes of waiting Clara turned and went back to her room. She knew now that her time here was over, nothing left for her really. Her cousin was back in her rightful home, and Clara was now without one. She had learned that seven years ago, when something changes she's going to be sent away. "Clara!" her aunt's worried voice called from the hall, but Clara chose not to move. Her aunt, uncle and newly found cousin entered her room. "There you are," Her aunt says with a loving smile.
"Here I am," Clara tried to make it out to be that nothing was wrong, "I just thought you'd all like some time together as a family." She admits and stands.
"Clara, you are a part of this family." Her uncle confirms what she had doubted, "Rapunzel, this is your cousin Clara." He pushes the girl forward. The two look over one another, one could note that they could have been sisters they looked so alike. Each almost the spitting image of her mother, with just a hint of their father. Clara's memory strained to place her cousin's face, they met once when they were only toddlers. Rapunzel expecting no deep roots to this girl was shocked when Clara fell into her and wrapped her arms tightly around.

The two cousins had spent much time together over the weeks following Rapunzel's return getting to know each other. Often times Flynn, who Clara learned is actually named Eugene, would interrupt them and try to get Rapunzel to spend time with him. Today Clara allowed it knowing Flynn was Rapunzel's distraction before the celebration of her return in a few hours. She smiled as she watched her cousin dance off with the man who had given her the push to free herself. Clara made her way to the bakery to "check on the treats". She had actually written James the day after Rapunzel's return to tell him that a family emergence had come up, and she planned to tell him the whole truth. Well maybe not about Elsa's powers.
"Ah there you are!" James called as Clara walked in the door. "You've been avoiding me." He says with a sly smile.
"No I have not," She retorts with a hint of anger. "I've just been busy trying to get things ready for the celebration today."
"I was only pulling your leg, and the treats are coming along, another ten minutes and they'll be finished!" He exclaims with pride. "The King and Queen's niece should be here to check on them any minute and then I have to help bring them to the castle when they're complete. But other than that I'm free for the festivities."
"Brilliant, that means you can meet my cousin and my aunt and uncle, the royal family in fact." Clara adds on to the end.
James stares at her for a moment, "What?" He questions. He had only noticed her glimmering green eyes, and cute little nose that crinkles when she laughs. Realizing he missed all the signs of her royalty, the small tiara placed perfectly in her hair, the fancier clothes she wore, everything about her that he loved was altered. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't want to be treated differently from any other person you know." She states calmly "I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I've already lost so many people James and I didn't want to lose you. " Clara admits.
"But you've lied to me." He responds hurt.
"I didn't tell you that I'm the king and queen's niece, that's it. Everything else is genuine, I come from the kingdom of Arendelle, my parents sent me here after my sister Anna had an accident, and my sister Elsa won't write me. So I need you to forgive me." She begs.
"Alright, it is true that's all you didn't tell me, but no more secrets okay?" He asks.
"I promise." She smiles and wraps her arms tightly around him. "Let's go get those pastries back to the palace."

AN: So this chapter is kind of all over the place but I wanted to get closer to bringing Clara back to Arendelle, that's where the action is going to ultimately happen. I also thought it woud be nice for Clara to have made a friend other than Rapunzel, so thus James was thrown into the mess. Next chapter is Rapunzel and Flynn's wedding, and the king and queen's death (sadly). So please review and I'll have the next chapter up ASAP.