A/N: Hi everyone! Sorry this took a week, this one was hard to write, even though I had part of it already typed up. I'm still not sure I'm completely happy with it, but maybe it's just cause it's not too fluffy. I don't know. And just so you know, I re-named chapter three bc it went with the lyrics, and I also added a phrase at the end that I realized I hadn't put in there when I was working on the songfic for the end of this! So that's why yall might've gotten more than one chapter update alert. Anyway, here we are!

I don't own Tangled!

The sound of doors opening met Eugene and Rapunzel's ears and they turned to see the amazed King and Queen standing on the steps.

Rapunzel nervously took a few steps forward, and the Queen fixated her eyes on Rapunzel before slowly walking towards her.

The two never took their eyes off each other with each step they took closer toward one another. The Queen reached out a hand and cupped Rapunzel's cheek with it before breathing a sigh of relief, almost laughing, as if confirming that Rapunzel was her daughter.

Rapunzel, too, smiled and sighed before the Queen gathered her into a hug, which Rapunzel gladly returned.

She looked up at her father with her big green eyes, and he chuckled before wrapping his arms around both.

Eugene watched them contentedly knowing that his job as Rapunzel's guide was completed: he'd returned her home safely, just as he promised. He wanted to stay with Rapunzel – oh how much he wanted to – but he knew that if he still had to be hanged (because he did deserve it, after all), he could do it knowing that Rapunzel was safe, and with a family who truly loved her.

A voice in the back of his mind wished that he had a family like that. But he pushed away the thought, scolding himself. This was Rapunzel's moment, and he shouldn't ruin it by feeling sorry for himself.

Then, the Queen gratefully reached out her hand to him. When he took it, she unexpectedly jerked him into a hug with the rest of the family.

How long they stayed like this, they didn't know, but they knew one thing: Rapunzel was home.

When they finally broke apart, Queen Rosemary settled back and looked at her daughter.

"So, tell us how you got here." She said.

"Well," Rapunzel said, "First, just so you know, this is Eugene. He's the one who brought me back."

Rosemary smiled warmly at Eugene and King Jonathan reached out a hand to him. As Rapunzel watched Eugene take it, she couldn't help but smile at Eugene's nervousness he was trying to hide. She didn't think anyone else noticed, but she did. Either way, it made her smile.

"Anyway," she started, smiling at Eugene, "I lived in a tower my whole life. That is, until two days ago when a thief stumbled inside…"

oOo

An hour or two later, the Queen and Rapunzel were sitting in the library after Rapunzel told the story of her return. Jonathan had requested to speak with Eugene, so the mother and daughter took the time to get better acquainted.

"Ah, Rose must be back." Rosemary said upon hearing the sound of footsteps darting down the hallway. Soon, the library doors flew open and a young girl – who, in fact, was the same one Rapunzel had seen with her beau in the village earlier this evening - emerged.

"Mama! You'll never guess what just happened!" Rose exclaimed, bursting into the library, giggling a bit. Her hair was damp, her white dress, though dried a bit by the sun and ocean air, had dripped salt water on the castle floors a few times, and she had sand in her shoes and so many other places, but she couldn't care too much less.

Her mother, talking to a young woman sitting next to her with cropped brown hair and big green eyes, looked up at her with a smile, and Rose stopped in her tracks. Was that-? No, it must be some relative. Though she was young at the time, she distinctly remembered her baby sister had blonde hair that everyone said was unusually long (Rose had never seen what the big deal was. Yep, her baby sister had long hair. It was cool. So what?). But those eyes…they were so much like her mother's…

"Mama?" Rose asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Her mother smiled warmly. "Rosie, darling, you remember your sister, don't you?"

Rose lifted her left hand to her o-shaped mouth, her diamond ring sparkling in the last beam of sunlight before the sun disappeared into the horizon. The girl before her smiled hopefully and a bit nervously, and in that instant, it clicked. This girl's brown hair, the brown lock of hair in the bassinet…this was her baby sister.

The Queen, taking note of her hand, kept smiling as her eldest daughter ran forward and gathered her youngest into a hug. "Ah, and I see Wilson has finally popped the question."

"Oh, yes, Mama, we were at the beach, and we had our picnic, and it was amazing, and-well, that's not that important right now. I wanna know where in the world you've been for eighteen years!" Rose exclaimed, with a huge smile on her face.

Rapunzel smiled and looked at her mother.

"I think this is the fourth or fifth time I've told this story today!" Rapunzel said.

"And I have a feeling you'll be telling it many more times in years to come, darling." The Queen smiled.

Meanwhile, the King was having an interesting conversation with Eugene in his study.

"If you don't mind my asking, I'd like to know your intentions with my daughter." The King said.

From the look on the King's face and his tone of his voice, Eugene dared not say he minded being asked.

"Intentions?"

"I may be persuaded to pardon you of your crimes, as you've returned and sacrificed your life for my daughter." Jonathan stated simply.

Well, then. That definitely answered Eugene's question.

"Thank you, Your Majesty, I – "

"As you must know, whoever brings back the Lost Princess is to be rewarded. What is it you're wanting as a reward?"

Eugene didn't know what to say. The riches and islands that he was sure the King could provide didn't even tempt him now. What he really wanted was to be with Rapunzel, but he was pretty sure that wasn't possible or what the King had in mind.

"Um, well, I…I'm not really sure…"

"If you're wanting wealth and such, if I find it suitable, I will give it to you, and you may be on your way. But I have a feeling that's not exactly what you want anymore."

"I-I don't really know..." Eugene nervously put his hand behind his neck. "I'm not exactly sure that's what I want anymore. A few days ago, maybe. But…Rapunzel…she…"

Eugene could feel the beads of sweat on his forehead as the King looked at him expectantly.

"Well, Sire, I'd just kind of like to…you know, stay with her for a while."

Jonathan nodded knowingly.

"I see. I'll give you about a week for you to make a final decision and for me to think it over."

Eugene nodded.

"Thank you, Sir."

As the King continued, Eugene knew this was going to be a nerve-racking, long, and unpredictable conversation. But thankfully, he survived it without getting sentenced to the gallows or anything, and the two men returned to the library to be met by the three ladies inside.

"Eugene!" Rapunzel squealed, running to him and giving him a hug. "You're back!"

"Did you think I wasn't going to come back?" he asked jokingly as she pulled back.

Rapunzel shrugged and Rose hurried to their side.

"This is Eugene?" Rose asked excitedly.

"Yes! Eugene, this is Rose, my sister!" Rapunzel explained animatedly.

Before Eugene could say anything, the King spoke up.

"We've decided we'll tell the kingdom of Rapunzel's return tomorrow, if that's all right with her. Of course, we could wait until later, if you'd rather. "

Rapunzel clapped her hands in excitement.

"No, that sounds wonderful!" she said. "I can't wait!"

oOo

Later that night, Rose and Rapunzel sat in their nightgowns in Rapunzel's room, getting to know each other better in hushed tones and giggles.

"So, I've got a question. Is my name really Rapunzel?" Rapunzel asked.

"Yep." Rose responded, "Rapunzel Aubrianna. I remember when we named you. It was a big deal, since you were a princess. But everyone thought it was cute that both our names started with an 'R' and were names of flowers."

Rapunzel smiled. "That is a cute idea."

"So tell me about Eugene." Rose said, rolling over onto her back.

Rapunzel gave her a questioning look.

"What are you wanting to know?" she asked.

"Well, you know, you already told us your story, but how exactly do you feel about him?"

"Well…" Rapunzel began, looking around the room, trying to figure out what to say. "I…Oh, they just can't hang him or take him away for being Flynn Rider! I know what he did before, but he's changed. I know it. He has."

Rose nodded her head knowingly.

"So I'm guessing that the whole dying for you thing was…you know, more than…"

Rapunzel nodded.

"Know what he told me?"

Rose nodded and leaned forward excitedly.

"Well, right before we saw the lanterns last night, I was terrified because I didn't know if they'd be everything I dreamed they'd be. But even if they were, what was I going to do afterwards? And he told me that I got to go find a new dream. Then, right before he died, he told me that I was his new dream."

Rose beamed and squealed, quite elated, and hugged a pillow to her chest.

"That is so adorable!" she bubbled. "So, uh, can we expect him to be sticking around?"

"That's the thing! I want him to, so much, but I don't know if they'll let him. But he can't just leave!"

Rose nodded sympathetically.

"He can't. It'll work out, you'll see." She assured her.

"I hope so. So tell me about Wilson." Rapunzel said slyly, pointing to the ring on her sister's finger.

Rose giggled.

"Oh, Wilson. He's such a sweetie, I love him. Well, you heard how he proposed this afternoon. I'm sad he had to return home before you could meet him, though! He's from a small neighboring island. His father is the king of the island, and he has an older brother who's to inherit the throne. So, when we get married, he'll come to live here, and whenever Mom and Dad are done ruling, then Wilson and I will be the king and queen. And I've been told that in the event that you returned, you and I and whoever we choose to marry would all rule together. Unless one of our husbands is in line for the throne to his kingdom."

"Ooh!" Rapunzel said. "So how did you two meet?"

"At a ball a few years ago. We kept in contact since then, and a year ago he asked Father to court me. And here we are!"

"That's sweet." Rapunzel smiled. "When are you going to get married?"

"I don't know. Soon, probably. Probably in the spring. Oh, I just love him so much. I can't wait for you to meet him! I'm just so unbelievably happy and excited right now! This is seriously the best day of my life!" Rose exclaimed, grabbing Rapunzel's hands and falling back into the pillows.

Across the hall, Eugene lay in bed, trying to go to sleep.

It had been a very long day, and he was exhausted, but he just couldn't sleep. You'd think after a day of escaping prison and the gallows, getting stabbed, coming back to life, bringing Rapunzel back to the kingdom and her parents, and having that conversation with the King – all on three, maybe four hours of sleep - that he'd be able to sleep now.

But he couldn't.

Too much on his mind, he guessed.

He couldn't believe he'd actually gotten Rapunzel back without getting killed. Well, okay, technically, he did die this morning, but not trying to get her back home. Although, he was pretty sure that the Snuggly Duckling thugs had something to do with the fact that the guards never saw him.

But what was he going to do now? Yes, the King and Queen had told him that he could stay there for the time being (at least until the end of the week, anyway), but would he really be allowed to stay here? If anything, the guards would kill him.

And if he couldn't stay here, he didn't know what he'd do.

How could he leave Rapunzel? Even against his will?

He sighed and rolled over, willing himself to go to sleep. Right now, Rapunzel's return was to be announced in the morning, and he was sure he'd need rest for whatever adventure Rapunzel would find.

Meanwhile, the King and Queen of Corona were in their bedchambers, about to settle down for the night.

"They seem to be quite attached to one another." Rosemary said to her husband as she stood in front of the mirror, removing her earrings.

"Indeed. Eugene didn't seem to want a reward when I asked him tonight. He finally got it out that he wanted to be with her."

"You seem to have the intimidation tactic down." The Queen observed.

"Probably due to the fact that I can order him to be hanged any time at the snap of my fingers."

Rosemary laughed.

"Probably. You do think he's changed, don't you?"

"Perhaps. I'll have to watch him around Rapunzel this week."

"He saved and died for her." Rosemary stated.

Jonathan came up behind his wife, wrapping his arms around her and said, "But to think that he died for her, not even knowing she was the Lost Princess makes me think he has changed."

"I do hope so." The Queen responded. "Do you think we'll be able to be good parents to her?"

"I should think so, dear. We raised Rose just fine."

"Yes, but Rose wasn't kidnapped days after her birth, dear. I'm just…afraid we won't be the parents Rapunzel needs. And it just kills me to think that she thought that woman was her mother for all those years. And there's nothing I can do about it to change it. No matter how hard I try or want it to happen, I'll never be able to get back that lost time." Rosemary sighed sadly.

"You're right. There's no way we can get back those eighteen years. But we can be the best parents to her now that we have her back."

Rosemary nodded, knowing that everything they had gone through and were going to go through would be worth it to have their daughter back.

A/N: How did you like it? I thought it was a little choppy, I don't know...but anyway, review and tell me what you thought!