AN: So another long period without updating. Thanks for being patient! I started working and volunteering this week, so I'm very busy. This is the last chapter, but I'll probably write some sort of short epilogue just to make sure all loose ends are tied up for you.

Do you have a preference of what story I write next? If you do, please message me or write which one you'd like in your review.

Thank you for your loyal following of this story! I hope you liked reading it as much I loved writing it. :)

Daydreamerxo15- thanks! i'm glad you like it.

Over the Weather- Rapunzel is so sweet. Eugene is very lucky to have her. :)

UnraisedClock-aw, thanks! I just thought that she might want to thank them because they basically saved Eugene from being hung. Originally, I actually wrote that they went to the Snuggly Duckling in BA to use up time so I could write her having a nightmare. Silly, isn't it? Haha.

Kaydee-Thanks! I'm glad you liked them. did you have a fun time camping? I hope it wasn't too hot!

Delilahgirl- good pun. Very punny. Well, I couldn't see him NOT worried about it, because he doesn't want to die again. and truthfully I really couldn't blame him.

Crystalicefire- Thanks!

FL6

Disclaimer-I do not own Tangled.

Chapter 18-Rapunzel vs. the Guards

Nothing compares to the precious- and priceless- gift of a family.

The next morning we both woke up early and headed toward Caermoor (on Maximus of course. Though Rapunzel told me he demanded more apples now as payment). You might find this surprising, but we didn't talk much then either. We were both too occupied with thoughts of meeting her parents. For me, the ride couldn't last long enough, but eventually we drew near the castle. I heard Rapunzel sigh deeply. "Hey…everything okay?" I asked her.

"I'm….I'm fine," she said.

Yeah. She was fine….and the sky was purple too. "No, you're not."

She glanced back at me. "And how do you know, Mr. Socrates?"

That was the second time in two days I'd been called that. What was up with him anyway? "Well, Rapunzel, it's pretty obvious to me that you're nervous about this."

She sighed again. "I am," she said softly. "I have…I have a new family, Eugene. I'm supposed to be a princess. And I don't know anything about being one."

My arms tightened around her-as if I could somehow make her feel better. "Rapunzel, honestly you act like a princess already. And I'm sure anything you don't know, they'll teach you."

"You mean like princess lessons?" she asked.

Probably. "Yes, I think so."

Her eyes were thoughtful. "Hmmm."

Silence descended between us once more, until we reached the castle-which was absolutely surrounded by guards. Stupendous.

Trying to act normally, I dismounted and then helped Rapunzel down. As I did, and held her in my arms, she whispered something to me. "Don't worry, Eugene," she said. "I won't let them put you in jail; I promise."

I forced myself to smile at her, but part of me doubted that she could do too much to stop it. I knew she would try her best though, because she had promised- and if she promised something, she would never break it.

Still, I wasn't sure what she could do. I didn't know how she thought this might go, but there was the distinct possibility that the guards wouldn't believe that she was the princess, and then she could do nothing to prevent me from being thrown in jail again. I glanced over at the guards, and it was clear by the way they were talking that they had spotted me. One of them looked like Irwin. I nearly groaned to myself because I clearly remembered how horribly he had treated me. Well, this was turning out splendidly- I got to be at the mercy of somebody who couldn't be a bigger jerk.

Irwin and the Captain walked over to me. "Well, well, well," said Irwin mockingly. (Just between me and you I really hate that guy). "If it isn't Flynn Rider. Came for another trip to jail?"

I felt Rapunzel's hands on my shoulders, as if to protect me- which of course shows how nice she is, but she couldn't save me from them. Could she?

Anyway, in any case, I hadn't come for another trip to jail, thanks. And I didn't mind telling him so. "Well, actually-…" I began.

Irwin ignored me. Figures. "Because that's where all criminals like you belong," he said. Then he noticed Rapunzel and sneered. "What, you need your little girlfriend to protect you?"

What, and I thought he couldn't be any ruder. I guess I was wrong. Rapunzel said later that he was being very unprofessional too.

Luckily, the Captain called him out on it. After a short pause, he cleared his throat. "That's enough, Irwin. Remember your job."

He nodded, managed to pull me away from Rapunzel and toward the jail. His hands yanked my arms behind me in an almost death grip. As they were about to cuff my hands behind my back and haul me off, I threw absolutely panicked looks in Rapunzel's direction. Rapunzel, help!

She nodded, rushed over to me, and placed herself between me (and consequently Irwin) and the Captain. "No!" she said. "Please don't. You can't arrest him."

The Captain smiled at her…though it seemed like a condescending smile to me. Like who was this little nobody and why is she telling me what to do? "Certainly I can. Now move please. "

Of course, he underestimated who he was dealing with, because she could be absolutely fierce when she wanted to. Rapunzel held her ground. "No, you can't do this."

His face expressed great annoyance. "Lady, I'm not sure if you know who I am or who this is. I'm Edward Wallace, the Captain of the Guard…and this man is Flynn Rider, the most wanted thief in Corona."

Rapunzel drew herself up regally…almost like a princess. "I understand who both of you are," she said in a soft, but absolutely firm voice. "But I don't think you know who I am. And I'm telling you that you can't arrest him-not today in any event."

He crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow. "Really. And just who are you?" He stared her down.

She stared at him right back. "I'm Rapunzel," she said. "Your lost princess."

He looked at her for a minute, then laughed- laughed literally right in her face. "Right….and I'm the King of Siam." Then he gestured toward me. "How much did he pay you to say that?"

Rapunzel's face was shocked for a minute, but then two red spots appeared in her cheeks. And I knew she was mad, but I wasn't sure if she was mad that he was mocking her, or at the insinuation that I had paid her off (though in all honesty, finding some girl to impersonate the princess so I could get out of jail actually might have been something I would do before I met Rapunzel). Regardless, her eyes started to flash, and it was obvious to me that she was furious. Uh-uh, Captain, I thought to myself. You don't want to see her mad, especially around a frying pan. "How dare you!" she cried. "He didn't pay me anything! How much do they pay you to be a bully?"

Well, I had to say that it was actually fun to watch Rapunzel yell at somebody who wasn't me. She was so brave and gutsy! He drew himself up proudly, because I guess that he didn't think that being called a bully was necessarily an insult. "Well, not nearly enough, but that's really none of your business. Besides, I do a good job." Then he started talking down to her, and it was a good thing Irwin was still holding me, otherwise I would have punched him the eye for talking to her like that. "What's a nice girl like you hanging around the likes of him anyway? Why don't you run home to your mother? And leave Flynn Rider to us."

The two red spots in her cheeks increased, because, as I had already found out, there was nothing she hated more than when somebody talked condescendingly to her. In this case, I really couldn't blame her: the Captain was talking to her like she was five. Besides, he just insulted me too. Of course she wouldn't like that. "This is my home," she insisted. "Because I am the lost princess. And I won't go anywhere without Eugene."

He continued to look skeptical and their little tete-a-tete (no, you aren't-yes, I am) would probably have continued if somebody else hadn't come over and joined our little party.

Yes, you're right. Luke came over to us, thankfully (between me and you, I really like that guy). "What's the trouble here?" he asked the Captain.

He harrumphed, like the grump he was. "Nothing," he told Luke. "Except this girl here won't let us arrest Rider. Claims to be the lost princess."

He looked over at me, and understanding dawned in his eyes. "Rapunzel?" he said softly. He remembered from our conversation in the jail! Luke is, without a doubt, the nicest guard I've ever met.

"Yeah, that's right," said the Captain with a nod.

Luke studied Rapunzel, and then whispered something to the Captain. Irwin continued to hold me in a death grip, but he looked quiet interested in what they were saying. But it didn't seem like he could hear them. Lucky for me, though, I have perfect hearing and heard what he said. "With all due respect, Captain, haven't you noticed how much Rapunzel looks like the Queen? She has the same green eyes, same brown hair?" The Captain muttered something indistinguishable. "I know," continued Luke. "But think of the King and Queen. Surely they'll know…..Can't you just give her a chance and take her to them?"

He harrumphed again. "Well, it's against by better judgment….but fine. Take them to their majesties. But if she turns out to be a fake, Rider here goes back in jail. Do you understand me?" he said to both to us.

Rapunzel beamed. "That seems fair to me."

I guess it was, but what would happen if she didn't convince her parents? Maybe we both would be thrown in jail.

XxXxXxXx

Soon Luke took us to a balcony overlooking the sea and informed us that he was going to inform one of the palace guards to tell their majesties that Rapunzel was here. After he left, Rapunzel smiled at me. "See, Eugene," she said. "I promised that I wouldn't let them throw you in jail."

She was right, though it had been a close call. And if it hadn't been for Luke….In that minute, I knew that I needed to go thank him sometime soon too. "Yes," I said. "Thank you."

She nodded, but then the smile vanished from her face and my own spirits fell. "Hey," I said softly to her. "What's wrong?"

"I'm nervous," she whispered as she anxiously chewed on her lip. "What if they don't remember me?"

I took her hand comfortingly. "Don't worry," I said. "They will." They had to, and I tried not to think about what might happen if they didn't….

We stood like that, hand in hand, for a pleasant minute, and she gripped my fingers tightly- almost as if she was taking strength from me. I was more than happy to give it to her because I wanted to help her in any way I could. Soon, though, she heard the creak of a door. We both turned toward it, and she pulled her hand out of mine.

The King and the Queen walked unto the balcony, and stared at Rapunzel for a long moment. Then the Queen started walking out to her, and Rapunzel tentatively stepped out to meet her.

As I watched the Queen approach her, I knew Rapunzel had nothing to worry about: because she looked just like her mother. They had the same brown hair, the same big green eyes…and I was sure that the Queen was fully aware now that her daughter had returned to her at last. How could she not when Rapunzel was practically her twin? She touched Rapunzel's face tentatively, then wrapped her arms around her. Rapunzel let out a happy sob, and embraced her mother- her real mother, a mother who would actually love her like she deserved. I know that some who hear Rapunzel's story think that Gothel loved Rapunzel, but I was never able to believe that after personally seeing how condescendingly she treated Rapunzel. In my opinion, the only thing Gothel loved about Rapunzel was her hair. And to me, Rapunzel was the kind of girl who could never be loved enough, especially after Gothel nearly destroyed her life. Ugh, it still makes me so furious to think about…

Ahem. Right. So I could rant all day about how much I loathe Gothel, but then you wouldn't hear the rest of the story. So, anyway, Rapunzel and her mother hugged each other, but soon the King let out a happy chuckle and put his arms around both Rapunzel and the Queen. All three of the sank to the ground in their joyful embrace.

While I looked at Rapunzel and her parents hug, I was so happy for her. And even if I was thrown in jail tomorrow, bringing her back to her family would have been worth it. And even if I was hung the day after that, bring her back here would have been worth it because if something ever happened to me, she had her family now and they would watch over her for me.

But even as happy as I was for her (and incredibly enough), I also felt almost jealous of her. I said I cared about Rapunzel, and yet I was envious of her?

Um. Well….Yeah. I was jealous of her, and the fact that she had a family that loved her. Rapunzel belonged with them, and I knew that she'd be very happy. I was happy for her too because she really should have this after the horrible "mother" she had in Gothel. Besides that, Rapunzel must have been terribly lonely too, trapped up in that tower, with only a chameleon for company for so many years. She deserved to have a real family after all she had been through and she would never be alone again- not with her parents and me around.

Still I couldn't shake my envy. Ugh, sometimes I really hated myself. I felt very stupid – because of course I hated myself often when I was Flynn, but I didn't expect to hate myself when I was Eugene- because although Eugene was still charming, witty, and clever, he actually was nice to people and wasn't jealous of his beau.

In truth, though, I had constantly wanted the same thing that Rapunzel had now. I had always felt so lonely growing up especially after my mother died (and as I've told you, my father wasn't part of the picture). Naturally, the stigma of my last name didn't help anything either. And the thing is? Being alone is horrible.It really, really is, and it's something that people who grew up with loving families never understand. Living with no one caring about you was like having an empty hole inside your chest that no matter what you did or what you tried, you couldn't ever fill it. And believe me, I had attempted to do that with all my Flynn Rider shenanigans and it never worked. The only time I felt better and whole was when I let Rapunzel into my heart and she was everything to me now. She had helped ease the utter loneliness I had felt. I couldn't lose her; I just couldn't.

Suddenly I noticed the Queen smiling up at me (of course I noticed how much her smile was like Rapunzel's) and extended a hand toward me. I took her hand, thinking that she wanted to thank me for bringing back her daughter. I also smiled a little, because what she was doing was so nice- and so like Rapunzel. But much to my surprise, she grabbed my hand and pulled me into their hug….as if she was welcoming me into their family.

As I put my arms around Rapunzel, I felt at peace because for once it seemed like I belonged-here, with her, forever and always.

And that would always be better than chasing down some silly daydream.