A/N: Thank you to all who've read/reviewed/favourited/alerted! Here's the next chapter. I'll post another one later today to make up for not being able to upload yesterday.

Chapter 3

Today was a special day. Not only was it the day of the Lantern Festival, but it was also Rapunzel's birthday. Rapunzel thought it was wonderful that her birthday and the festival resided on the same day. It was her favourite day of the year and she and Eugene were going to spend the entire day in the kingdom, enjoying themselves.

It was also the day Eugene was planning to propose.

He had been waiting for this day, the one special day of the year. He was going to take her out in the boat to watch the lanterns, like they did when they met, and he was going to propose there. It was much more romantic than proposing in the tower, like he had originally planned when he'd come back to life. He almost did propose – but he wasn't sure if that was the best thing for Rapunzel at the moment and decided he wanted to do it a little more romantically.

He quickly donned his cleanest shirt and pants and made his way into the kitchen where Rapunzel, a ball of pent up energy and excitement, had already cleaned and made breakfast.

"Good morning!" she chirped, skipping over to kiss him.

"Good morning, Blondie," he smiled. "And a very happy birthday." He pulled her back to him, kissing her a little more deeply.

She grinned. "Thank you! I'm so excited for the festival!" She scooped some bread onto a plate and set a jug down beside it. "Quickly, eat your breakfast! I want to get to the kingdom as early as possible so we have more time!"

Eugene chuckled. "Relax, sweetheart. There's plenty of time. The sun's barely in the sky yet."

"But it is in the sky and we're wasting daylight!"

He smiled and set down his meal. "Alright, alright. But first, I have something for you."

She beamed. "Me too! Wait, let me get mine first." She scampered out of the room, nearly colliding with the wall in her eagerness. Eugene just smiled and shook his head.

She dashed back around the corner, with a small black bundle in her arms. "Here," she said, thrusting it towards him. "I made this for you, so you can wear it tonight."

Unfolding the bundle, he found that it was a handsome black vest with a golden sun stitched in the top left corner. Slipping it on, he spread his arms and posed for her. "How's it look?"

"Wonderful," she said. "You look very handsome."

He kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you, darling. But now everyone will be jealous of the dashing, handsome man on your arm tonight." She giggled. "Ah," he said, pulling a small box from his pocket. "And this is for you. Happy birthday."

Lifting the lid, she gasped at the delicate golden sun on a thin golden chain. "Oh, Eugene," she breathed, pulling it out. "It's beautiful."

"Here," he said, taking it from her and putting it around her neck.

She beamed. "Now everyone will be jealous of me," she joked.

"As they should be."

Suddenly, she jumped up and grabbed his hand. "Now let's go!" she cried, and pulled him out of the house.

Halfway through the day, the pair had met up with Philip and Susan. After sitting down for a quick bite to eat, the women had wandered off to buy flowers to lie at the mural of the lost princess. Eugene and Philip stayed behind.

Philip glanced at his friend, noticing that he seemed nervous today. He kept fidgeting and playing with his hands, shoving them repeatedly in his pockets. "You all right?" he finally asked.

Eugene jumped, as if just noticing he was there. "I'm fine," he smiled, running a hand through his hair.

Philip raised an eyebrow. "You seem really nervous."

Biting his lip, Eugene glanced quickly around before pulling a small box from his pocket. He showed it to Philip.

His eyes wide, Philip looked at the ring sitting in the box. "About time!" he laughed, and clapped a hand on Eugene's shoulder.

Eugene grinned and stowed the box away, worried Rapunzel would see it. "Yeah, well, don't tell Rapunzel."

Philip shook his head, holding his hands up, palms outward. "Of course not! She's going to be so happy."

He nodded. "Yeah, I hope so," he said as the two women wandered back towards them.

Eugene couldn't help but love the sensation of dancing with Rapunzel. They hadn't gotten the chance to dance with each other at the last festival. Now, as an official couple, they skipped around the square, being the first to start dancing. The townsfolk smiled at them and some eventually joined in. There were more musicians and dancers there this time; it seemed that the blonde girl who was the life of the party last year had captured their hearts. The pair reminded them of the girl with the wide, excited green eyes, and the people couldn't help but wonder sadly just where she had gone.

But now the sun was setting and it was almost time for the lanterns. Eugene and Rapunzel, carrying their own lanterns, walked over to the docks. They rented a boat and set off into the water, eagerly waiting for the King and Queen to light the first lantern so that they could release their own.

When the first lantern appeared in the sky, many followed, and Eugene and Rapunzel lit their own and cast them into the sky. For a few moments, both watched in blissful happiness the way all the lanterns seemed to light up the night sky. It was almost as if the stars had come down to greet them.

Looking at Rapunzel, whose eyes were illuminated by the shimmering lights, Eugene felt his heart begin to pound. This was it. His palms began to sweat, and he felt suddenly light-headed. He mentally chided himself. He was Flynn Rider, thief extraordinaire! But it seemed as if Flynn Rider had gone and only left Eugene Fitzherbert, a nervous wreck.

"Rapunzel," he said. She turned to look at him, still smiling.

"Yes, Eugene?"

He took her hands, and looked into her eyes seriously. "Rapunzel, from the moment I met you, I knew that you were special. I didn't realize it for a while, but I had fallen in love with you. Ironic that for the most wanted thief in the kingdom, you had stolen my heart and I didn't even notice."

Rapunzel's eyes had widened during his speech, and she stared at him. "Eugene," she said softly, her pulse beginning to race.

"When they began walking me to the gallows, that was when I realized just how much I loved you, and how I couldn't go on without you. You don't see what you have until its gone, right? Well, it's true. And when I died…" he took a deep breath. "I died happily, because I knew you would be alright. You're happiness means so much to me, and I've gladly spent the last year trying to be an honest man, and making sure that you are happy and healthy, and Rapunzel…" he pulled a small box out of his pocket and she let out a gasp. "…I want to continue to do that, for the rest of my life. But I'd like to do that as you're husband, if you'll have me. Will you marry me?"

She let out a shriek and threw her arms around his neck, nearly toppling the boat over. "Oh, Eugene! Yes yes yes yes yes! Yes, of course!" She pulled back, grasped his vest, and planted a passionate kiss on his lips.

Pulling back, he grinned at her, then grabbed hold of her hand, gently slipping the ring onto her finger. Then he kissed her again.

Smiling, she rested her head against his chest, watching as the lanterns began to fade away. She gazed at her ring, with a gorgeous diamond in the middle, and she suddenly felt worried. "Eugene?" she asked.

"Mhm?" he responded, stroking her hair.

"You didn't…I mean, I hope…" she struggled for the correct words, not wanting to upset him but still wanting to hear the truth.

He caught on. "No! Of course I didn't steal the ring," he defended indignantly. "I saved up for that, for nearly a year now. I earned that money working hard."

She sighed. "I'm glad. I know you're not the man you were before." She tightened her arms around him. After a few long moments she said, "I would have said yes a year ago."

He looked down at her in surprise. "Really?"

She nodded. "Mhm. Right there in that tower."

He smiled. "I don't know why I was so worried. Believe me, Rapunzel, I wanted to ask you, but I didn't think it was appropriate after what, three days? And after everything that had just happened…" he trailed off.

She tipped her head and kissed his cheek. "But I have to say, this was more romantic."

A grin spread across his lips. "Well, good. Glad you liked it. That's what I was hoping for."

"So, when's the wedding?"

"Whenever you want, Blondie."

"Tomorrow?" she sounded so excited.

He laughed. "Sure."

It was probably the most interesting wedding the priest had ever seen. A relatively small crowd that consisted of mainly large, hairy men that scared the life out of him. It seemed that for the occasion, they had attempted to dress up: most wore ill-fitting suits, some had tried to groom their hair back, and they all fidgeted throughout the entire ceremony.

In comparison to the guests, the wedding party stood out. The groom and his best man along with the bride and her maid of honour beamed throughout the entire ceremony. And when he announced them man and wife, the bride shrieked and threw herself into the groom's arms while the rest of the guests cheered. The priest attempted to take it all in stride, while stepping aside to avoid being trampled by the well wishers.

Then there was a shout of laughter as the groom picked up his new bride and carried her down the aisle and out the door, followed by the wedding party and the guests.