A/N: One thing I could totally envision was a domestic Rapunzel and Eugene. So this is a small look into their everyday lives as humble working folk. Hope you enjoy and don't forget to drop a review!

Chapter 2

Rapunzel arose early the next morning to begin her day. She crept over to Eugene's door but found it open and Eugene gone. She sighed as she walked towards the kitchen. He had gone in early to work again.

She felt slightly better when she noticed that the bag of stolen articles was no longer on the kitchen table. Eugene had dealt with it and she was happy for that because she didn't want to see it.

Hurt as she was that he continued to steal, she knew that he only wanted to provide for her and make sure she was healthy and happy. She knew that if he could go without food or clothes and give everything to her, he would. He had already shown her that.

However, she vowed that she would find a way to keep themselves afloat without having to resort to larceny.

After a small breakfast, she dressed herself in her working dress – a simple dress she had sewn herself out of blue cloth – and quickly cleaned up the small house. It didn't take long, and soon the house was spotless. Then she threw a shawl over her shoulders to ward off the chill, grabbed a basket, and set out with Pascal riding on her shoulder.

Stepping outside was the remedy for any ailment, she believed. The sun was just peeking out over the horizon, but the people were out and alive, already busying themselves with the days work. She loved to watch everyone set up for the day; sweeping in front of shops, cleaning signs and others herding children off to school. She smiled brightly at everyone she passed, calling out greetings to those she knew and nodding to those she didn't know.

She walked the dusty dirt path that she walked everyday towards the forest. Inside were several trees that bore fruit that Rapunzel would pick and sell at the market. They didn't usually bring much, but it was something.

Whistling a jaunty tune, she began to pick the fruit and fill her basket. Though she never worried about money for the first eighteen years of her life, she didn't exactly have much either. She liked her simple life and never asked her mother for much. Living with Eugene wasn't much different; they still lived simple lives, but she now helped out and constantly worried about money. But she never let it get to her because they were together. She and Eugene were together and nothing could go wrong if they stayed together.

When she arrived back at their modest home, she collected a bag of her handmade jewellery, balanced the basket of baked goods on top of the basket filled with fruit, and headed out to the market.

"Good morning Rapunzel," her friend Susan called out cheerily from behind her table.

"Good morning," Rapunzel replied cheerily, setting down her wares beside her friend, and arranging them all just so.

Susan leaned over to get a look at her new pieces of jewellery. She gasped as she held up a bracelet with turquoise beads. "Oh, Rapunzel, this is gorgeous!"

"Thank you," she blushed.

Susan was still gazing at the bracelet. "Oh, Rapunzel, this would look wonderful with my new dress I made myself for the festival." She rested a hand on her heart, looking Rapunzel in the eye. "I…hate to ask, Rapunzel dear, but…could we trade for the bracelet? I don't really have the money…"

Rapunzel beamed. "Why, of course, Susan! Those beads do match your eyes."

Susan blushed.

"Alright," Rapunzel said, "do you still have that material left over from that suit you made for your husband?"

"Yes."

"Would you trade the bracelet for the material? I want to surprise Eugene with a new vest," she smiled.

Susan threw her arms around Rapunzel. "Done!" she cried.

Eugene whistled merrily as he walked down the street on his way back from work. A voice calling out his name ceased his whistling and he looked up to see his good friend Philip waving at him.

"Evening, Philip," he said, sauntering over to him.

"Hey, Eugene," he grinned, carrying a load of firewood in his arms. "You heading over to the market?"

"Sure am."

"Alright, give me a second while I put these in the house." Philip dashed inside his house and reappeared empty handed.

As the two headed to the market, Eugene reflected on how much had changed since he'd met Rapunzel. She'd changed him, in more ways than she would ever think.

She'd made him stop wanting to be a thief. He didn't want to do it anymore; which was a far cry from his earlier days. He simply didn't enjoy it anymore. And while Flynn Rider had a history of women and a trail of broken hearts behind him and not a care about it, Eugene Fitzherbert was living with and providing for one woman that he hoped to marry and spend the rest of his life with. If you'd asked Flynn Rider if he was ever going to fall in love and get married, he would have laughed in your face. But he wasn't Flynn Rider anymore; he was Eugene Fitzherbert.

Philip Stone, his next-door neighbour, was another one of those things he'd never thought he'd have: a friend. An honest to goodness friend who actually cared about him and not how much money he could get from him when he wasn't looking. Philip was the kind of person Flynn would have preyed on: a hardworking goody two shoes who was naïve about the world and happy about it.

Rapunzel had made friends with Philip's wife, Susan, when they had moved in, and the two men had made that secret pact that men make when the women start discussing things like clothes and hair. Now the four of them were quite close.

Philip was tall like Eugene, with sandy blond hair and bright blue eyes that always seemed to be smiling. He chattered all the way to the market, and Eugene found that he really didn't mind it.

They approached the quiet market where all the people who had set up tables were gathering unsold items and packing up. Eugene and Philip walked over to where Rapunzel and Susan were conversing.

"Eugene!" Rapunzel squealed upon seeing him. She threw herself into his arms and kissed him on the lips.

He pulled away, grinning. "Hey, nice to see you too, Blondie." He nodded to the woman still standing by the table, smiling at them. "Susan."

"Eugene," she replied. Susan wasn't an idiot – she knew the man was Flynn Rider. What woman didn't know about the cunning, handsome thief? However, it didn't bother her one bit and she wasn't about to tell anyone about it. Eugene had proven to be a kind-hearted man who truly cared for her friend, so she wasn't worried. Philip, on the other hand, was completely unaware of just who his friend was. She decided it was probably for the best.

"How did sales go today?" Eugene asked, noticing that Rapunzel's load was lower than usual.

She beamed at him. "Great! The people are so friendly!" It never ceased to amaze her how the people in the kingdom were always so lovely and joyful. It didn't even occur to her that perhaps her ever-smiling face and upbeat attitude attracted people to her and instantly brought out the best in them.

"Oh," Philip cut in, an arm around his wife's waist. "I forgot to mention, but you both are invited for dinner tonight." He smiled down at his wife. "Susan's making hazelnut soup, and she makes a mean soup."

Rapunzel's eyes widened and she clapped her hands with delight. "I love hazelnut soup! We'll be there."

Then the foursome walked back to their respective houses, chattering comfortably while the sun sank into the sky.