Flynn gasped for air as the undercurrent of the stream carried them along. Oxygen had never seemed so beautiful until this moment. He was so desperate to fill his lungs that he almost forgot that Rapunzel had glowing, magic hair. Glowing, MAGIC hair.
The two of them washed up on the moss bank, still coughing and spluttering. She still had her frying pan clutched in her left hand and Pascal, her frog, perched on her shoulder. Flynn was surprised to see that he made it through the disaster.
"She has hair that glows!" he couldn't control his utter disbelief.
Flynn built a fire to warm them up and dry them off while Rapunzel wrung out her hair. After she had done the best she could, she offered to heal the deep cut on his palm. To his amazement, his palm left no mark that he had ever held a gash there and the pain vanished in an instant. No wonder her mother had wanted her for her own.
When Flynn retreated to the forest to collect more firewood, he started to think. She knew about his past, and even admitted that she liked the Eugene side of him better. Inconceivable. But, Blondie wasn't very good with telling lies, that was for sure. If Rapunzel liked Eugene better, and Eugene liked Rapunzel in return, maybe it was time he showed her. Metaphorically speaking, he threw the façade of "Flynn Rider" on the ground and accepted Eugene Fitzherbert with all of his imperfection and tenderness. It was then that he realized that he was willing to change his life for a girl. Not just any girl; only Rapunzel. With the confidence of a valiant steed, he marched back to their camp. He was going to ask her to dance.
Rapunzel stood with her back to him. It was hunched slightly, and Eugene sensed there was something wrong. However, when she turned to face him, she assured him she was fine.
"Rapunzel, I have a question," Eugene started, awkwardly. Her eyes glowed in the firelight as she waited for him to continue. He cleared his throat. A tiny piece of Flynn made its way to the surface. "Well, I was just thinking that maybe it's my responsibility to show you how to properly dance before you go into town. There's going to be a big festival for the Lost Princess so there will definitely be a lot of dancing. I wouldn't want you to be lost and confused. What do you say?" Eugene was rambling; something Flynn would have never done. In fact, Flynn would have never asked a lady to dance either. "May I have this dance?"
Eugene held out his hand, hoping very much that she would take it. She looked at it for a long moment, too long for Eugene, before finally filling it with her own. He smiled. Her hand was so soft and warm, exactly what he expected it to be like, only better.
Gently, he positioned her right hand atop his left shoulder, and grasped her left hand in his right. Even more carefully, he slid his free hand around her tiny waste and drew her in closer. She looked up into his eyes, and smiled. What did that mean? Did she like the closeness? Or was she just being polite? Eugene was becoming paranoid, but he didn't let it show. "Okay, follow my lead."
He stepped delicately forward with his right foot, but she wasn't ready. "Ow!" she cried. Eugene gasped and looked down to see he had squashed her toes.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" Eugene apologized. "Here. Take my shoes; you might need them." He slipped them off and handed them over. She was delighted to wear them again.
"Really! Oh, thanks, Eugene!" Rapunzel hopped into them one at a time then staggered to her feet. "Now, where were we?"
A playful smile spread across his face. "At the beginning." Cliché. Again. He was full of them today. They resumed their position, and this time, Eugene told her what do to ahead of time. "First, I'm going to step forward. At the same time, you step back. Got it?"
She nodded. She bit her lip in concentration. She was so cute when she did that. Rapunzel watched his feet, trying to stay in harmony. Luckily, she was a fast learner.
"Follow my lead," Eugene said. Discreetly, he inched closer to her, attempting to shorten the space between them.
Rapunzel looked up into his eyes and her breath caught in her throat. It was funny, because he did the same thing. She was so beautiful he couldn't see how he had looked it over before. But, here she was, in his arms. And he was complacent with staying there all night. Eugene could definitely get used to this. Yup, he was used to it.
He continued to lead, and she hesitated to follow every time, still learning. Without really meaning to, Eugene twirled her in a spin which she did quite slowly. She closed her eyes and smiled. In my leather boots, she rose on her tiptoes, gently padding the moss-covered, forest floor. He couldn't contain the overwhelming emotions that coursed through his veins. It was exhilarating, like he would suddenly sprout wings and fly. Like he could run a marathon if it meant she would be at the finish line. Maybe it was her magic hair that gave off that positive energy, but he couldn't help but let it take him over.
Then the dance was over. They continued to stand there, frozen in the moment, both just happy they could share it with the other. Rapunzel giggled, and butterflies fluttered through Eugene's stomach. She cleared her throat and began to lead another dance herself.
This took him by surprise, but he let her take control of the situation. She was so different. She laughed at his expression, and sped up the step slightly. He smiled and accepted her challenge, following her easily. Never had a moment been so perfect in Eugene's life. He could do this every night as long as it was with her.
They spun and they spun and they spun until both were completely tangled in Rapunzel's golden hair. They were so close that their noses touched and he could smell her sweet breath.
A little chirruping noise and a tickling feeling up his arm let him know that Pascal was uncomfortable with this setup. He perched himself on Eugene's shoulder and did that awful tongue-in-ear thing, making him scream and jump slightly. Unfortunately, the jump was enough to tip them over and send them crashing to the ground.
The two of them rolled on top of each other, still tangled in her hair, laughing all the while. When they stopped, Rapunzel sighed and looked up into his eyes again. "Thank you, Eugene," she said. "That was great. I've never had so much fun in my whole life." And he knew she meant it.
"Me too." Her eyelids fluttered softly and she dozed off into a deep sleep. It had been a long day.
As much as every cell in his body wanted to stay tied up next to her, he felt in best to free himself and find his own rock-pillow. When he was free, he covered her in her own hair for warmth and smiled. She was perfect; exactly what Eugene was looking for. He wasn't even sure he was looking, but he had certainly found.