Yay, new chapter! Thanks again for all the reviews, faves, and alerts. You make my world shine brighter than a magic, golden flower could ever think of shining.

Now this is probably gonna be the last fluffy cute chapter for a while, because the next chapter gets a wee bit more… intense. But, we'll climb that tower when we get to it. Here is chapter two of Life Ever After.

Disclaimer: If I don't own Tangled. I do own various cups, a poster, a bowl, a bag, and hair clips, though. Do they count?

Chapter 2

Breakfast and Planning

Eugene walked with Rapunzel, her arm warm against his as they traveled. He looked down at the girl he was lucky to call his own. He frowned slightly as he watched her brow furrow. She looked like she was thinking hard about something, and it bothered him that he didn't know what. He lightly touched her cheek.

"Rapunzel?" he asked worriedly, searching her bright, green eyes. "Whatcha thinking about?"

She gave a slight start as she was jolted from deep within her thoughts. "Hmm? Oh, nothing. Just… nothing." She gave him an strained smile.

Eugene took her shoulders in his hands, stopping her and turning her to face him. "Hey," he said, putting a finger under her chin to lift hr gaze to meet his. "I know you. Well enough to know that it's not nothing." He gave her an encouraging smile.

Rapunzel gave a heavy sigh. "I don't know, I just… I just keep thinking that this is all too good to be true. That I'm gonna wake up and be locked away who knows where, and not have you, and-"

Eugene silenced her with a short kiss. "Hey, hey. It's gonna be all right." He ducked his head to get on her eye level. "I know it. Now, let's go get some food in you. I don't know about you, but I'm famished."

Rapunzel smiled and rolled her eyes. "Since when are you not?"

Eugene laughed and kissed the top of her head as they continued their walk to the dining room. Within a few minutes, they found themselves passing through the doorway to the small, private dining room, reserved exclusively for the royals and their special guests.

Eugene pulled out a chair and pushed it in as Rapunzel sat down, before he took a seat next to her. He reached under the table to grasp Rapunzel's hand in his as they waited for the King and Queen, Rapunzel's parents, to arrive. Shortly, they entered through the dining room door.

"Good morning, Mother. Father." Rapunzel beamed as each kissed her forehead before they were seated.

"Good morning, dear," said her mother. "Did you sleep well?" The Queen gave her daughter a kind smile.

"Oh, yes, Mother. Very well." There was a slight awkward silence. Rapunzel was still getting used to having a father in the first place, and a mother that actually cared about her well-being. The silence was cut short as some servants brought out some platters of food. Breakfast.

There was a moment of silverware clinking against china as plates were filled with food, and then they began to eat. The silence echoed loudly, conversations were not to be held whilst eating a meal. Rapunzel and Eugene had learned that very early on after they had received stares while from her parents as they had conversed animatedly at one of her first meals in the castle.

After a near half hour, everyone had set their cutlery down. The servants came and began to clear the table as the King cleared his throat to speak.

"Rapunzel, we have canceled your etiquette lessons for the rest of the week in respect to the celebration of your birthday." The older man smiled as his daughter's face lit up.

"Oh, thank you, Father!" she gushed. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" She ran to her father and threw her arms around him in a hug.

"It's nothing, sweetheart, we just thought you'd like to get away from it all for a while. We know how hard these lessons have been for you," the Queen chimed in.

She was right, truthfully. Since her very first lesson, Rapunzel had struggled to fill her impending position as Princess of Corona. She really had tried to wear shoes every day, to learn the history of Corona and the surrounding kingdoms. She had really had trouble changing every little thing that she had once known to be the truth, only to find out they were complete and utter lies. Lessons had only reminded Rapunzel that she had been cheated out of a real life, and sometimes, it still hurt her to think about the days she had had growing up in the tower, and it hurt her to have to admit that.

Rapunzel gave a slight shake of her head, clearing out her thoughts. "What will I be doing, then?"

"Well, we thought that you and Mr. Fitzherbert here might like to spend some time together. Maybe visit around town." The King and Queen exchanged a smile as Rapunzel's grew even wider.

"Really? Do you mean it?" The young woman looked back and forth between her parents, perhaps waiting for them to say "Just kidding!" and send her to her bedroom, as she was so accustomed to.

"Well, of course, sweetheart. You deserve it. Now, run along," the Queen said.

Rapunzel hesitated a bit, lingering in her chair at the dining table, not sure if she should go. Eugene took her hand in his and squeezed it lightly, trying to let her know it really was okay.

"Go on, it's okay," the King encouraged her. "Go have some fun with Mr. Fitzherbert." The King gave a hearty chuckle before looking at Eugene. "But, ah, not too much fun, now." He winked at Eugene, who was unsure if he really saw it or not and gave a small gulp.

Rapunzel smiled and hugged both of her parents together. "Thanks, Mother and Father. I promise Eugene and I will stay out of trouble."

"Absolutely," Eugene said nervously. "No trouble whatsoever. Not at- whoa!" Eugene was pulled out of the dining room by Rapunzel before he could finish his sentence, leaving the King and Queen behind to smile at their daughter's quirk.

Okay, so that was probably the last light chapter for now, at least. Things are going to get a little more involved and rolling in the next chapter with the introduction of our antagonist.

So, let me know what you think. Any ideas you have for the story, things you liked and didn't like, things you want to see. The only catch is that you have GOT to press that little button down there that says review.

So go ahead, make my day, make everything a-okay. Just review, please. :)

EugeneLoverRapunzel