Chapter 12

Rapunzel became well known in the palace, as she made constant appearances and spent much of her time with the queen. Whether or not she was painting the queen herself, Queen Marie always made it a point to join her at her easel and chat with her. She found Rapunzel easy to talk to, and they were becoming fast companions. In fact, it did not take long at all for Rapunzel to confide in the Queen that she was, in fact, pregnant. The queen, even though it was not her own child or even grandchild, was overjoyed for weeks on end. Rapunzel noticed that with each painting she finished, she received a little more pay. When she inquired about it, the queen simply told her that she would soon need to feed another mouth.

It was an honest statement, but it struck Rapunzel like a bag of bricks. Another mouth to feed. She knew she would soon have a child, but sometimes reality would hit her and she would find herself wondering if this was all real. She was going to be a mother. Eugene would be a father. Could she be a good mother to her child? Could she take care of him? Could she provide? She didn't really know what it was like to have a loving mother. She'd grown up with one, but in light of her recent discoveries, those happy memories had seemed to slip away and twist, until she saw nothing but lies and deceit left over.

What seemed to help ease her was the simple fact that Eugene had no idea what he was doing either. Eugene had not grown up with parents.

So, it seemed that they were in this together, whatever may come.

Months passed, and Rapunzel's stomach grew. She grew frustrated too, when her clothes seemed to no longer fit, and she was required to fashion another dress. She found it horribly inconvenient and frivolous, because with every dress she made she knew that soon enough she would wear it no longer, because her size would once again change. Also, the notion that she was dipping into the little money that they had kept gnawing at her.

Rapunzel tried to keep her head, she really did, but some days she just couldn't tolerate Eugene. She knew he was just trying to help, but she really could do things for herself. Honest. She finally had had enough one day and blew up at him for pulling her chair out for her at the dinner table. His crestfallen face had immediately reduced her to tears and she cried for fifteen minutes in his arms, apologizing over and over again.

It was safe to say they were both new at this.

Susan spent a lot of time at the house; sewing baby clothes and blankets, while Philip and Eugene prepared the nursery. Philip was an excellent carpenter, and fashioned for them a beautiful crib. Needless to say, Rapunzel painted all the walls and the ceiling of the nursery. It was a collection of flowers, animals, and pictures depicting the story of her and Eugene. She told Eugene that she just painted whatever came to her.

When the baby came, he came early. Five weeks early, to be exact.

Eugene was reading a book while Rapunzel knitted, when she suddenly dropped her things, a horrified look on her face. Then she fell forward, letting out a low, pained moan.

Eugene leaped from his seat and dashed towards her. "Rapunzel? Honey, what's wrong?"

She gave another moan. "Eu-eugene," she hissed. "Get the doctor. I think the baby's coming."

"WHAT?"

She grasped the front of his shirt. "Get. The. Doctor."

Eugene made it back from the town doctor in record time. He stopped at Philip and Susan's house, hollering and banging on the door. The trio dashed back into the Fitzherbert household, Susan immediately dropping to Rapunzel's side to whisper soothingly and hold her hand, while Philip attempted to calm Eugene down.

The doctor arrived not long after, and Rapunzel was taken into the bedroom. Susan disappeared along with them, scurrying from room to room grabbing whatever the doctor needed.

Five hours later and Eugene thought that he was going to lose his mind. At the rate he was going, he was sure that he would wear a hole in his floor from all the pacing he was doing. Sure, the doctor had said that babies take time, but this was just too long!

Philip had made several pots of tea and coffee, and had found some of the biscuits Rapunzel had made the day before. Eugene drank the coffee but couldn't stomach the biscuits. Especially when Rapunzel's cries echoed throughout the house.

When a shrill wail finally cut through the house, Eugene thought he might just pass out. Susan appeared in the doorway, face shining with sweat, and sporting a large grin.

"Eugene," she said. "Come see your son."

Eugene didn't remember walking into the room. All of a sudden, he was holding this little, impossibly tiny bundle in his arms. His son. His son, he told himself. He could only stare at it in awe, and he realized that he'd been wrong all these years.

This, this child right here was the greatest treasure in the entire kingdom.

And it was already his.