Okay, so seriously, I know it's been FOREVER since I updated (two months and two days, to be exact), but I'm not going to lie and spin tales of alien abduction and crazy adventures through the multiverse; no, instead, I'll tell you the truth.

I have been extremely, extremely apprehensive about writing this fic. For more reasons than one, but the most prominent being that I'm terrified that I won't be able to write this fic to everyone's hopes and expectations. I've delved into this with my followers on tumblr, and my friends, and they've assured me that I can write it no matter what, but I've still been very nervous. I'm almost at end with every word I write, with every paragraph that flows, I feel like I'm letting everyone down. And I don't want to let anyone down, and I want to be happy with what I write. I'm getting there happiness-in-myself wise, but I just don't want to let everyone else down, you know?

Also, I DID have this chapter written completely, but then, BAM! FFnet decided to DELETE IT THREE FREAKING TIMES IN A FREAKING ROW. So THREE TIMES I had to start all over from scratch, which is why it's pretty short. It is now safely written in a Word document. I am so pissed right now, no one even understands. Once, shame on me. Twice, shame on you. Thrice, SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE.

But, I've decided to plow through it and write it anyway. :)

So enjoy chapter two! I feel like Rapunzel deserves a little center stage before we really get into the story, because we know Eugene's feelings about what happened three months prior, but we don't really know Rapunzel's, so...yeah. :)

Chapter song: "Clocks" by Coldplay (I highly recommend listening to this while reading this chapter!)

Disclaimer: Tangled is not mine. Damn.

Smoke & Mirrors

A "Tangled" fanfiction

by doodlegirll

...oOo...

Rapunzel couldn't help but feel like she was turning into a liar.

She had been having nightmares for quite some time now, and she hadn't told anyone. Well, she had told Pascal, of course, but she knew he wouldn't tell anybody. But she had always been taught that keeping something from someone was just as bad as lying, and she hadn't gone to her parents once about this. Not a soul knew. Not even Eugene.

But how could she tell him, when the nightmares revolved around him?

It all went back to that fateful day at the gallows three months prior. The scenarios leading up to the nightmare were almost always different, but the finality of it all was always the same. Eugene never came out alive.

Tonight was no different.

Despite the cool air that blew around her as she lent against the railing of her balcony, ruffling her already tousled short brown hair, Rapunzel felt extremely hot, almost as though she had just run a mile through a fire. She felt jittery, and scared, and as though she were standing at the edge of a cliff. When would these nightmares ever stop? Wouldthey ever stop? Eugene was safe! He was not dead. The council had acquitted him of the charges against him, and his name had been cleared. He had not hung that day.

And yet no matter how hard she tried to forget about it, somehow it all kept coming back to Rapunzel in terrifying clarity whenever she tried to find solace and peace in slumber. And then it followed her into her waking life, the horrifying images playing across her mental stage, taunting her, haunting her, with every heartbeat, making the memories inescapable.

She had almost lost Eugene that day. Wasn't that enough? Wasn't it enough that she had lived in pure agony for nearly a week, knowing that he was going to die, and that there was nothing she could do about it? Wasn't it enough that she had had to visit him in the castle dungeons, and leave him there in squalor each time? Wasn't it enough that she had had to sit back and watch as her life fell apart right before her eyes? Wasn't it enough that she had had to actually witness him falling through that trapdoor, even if he had survived? Wasn't it enough that she knew that it had been all her fault? Must she continue to relive it, over and over, every time she closed her eyes?

All she wanted was peace.

She sighed as she gazed down at the garden below her balcony, finally finding herself beginning to calm down. As she did, her eyes were directed towards the movement at the fountain, and with a start, she realized it was Eugene.

What was he doing up at such a late hour? In the garden?

She watched him for a few moments as he paced, running his hands through his hair. He looked very much as she did: nervous, almost restless. She saw him raise his head and stare at the moon, and she couldn't help but muse that he looked handsome, even from the distance at which she stood from him.

Rapunzel knew it was about tomorrow. Tomorrow was when he officially became Prince Consort Eugene Fitzherbert, and made his public debut. And she knew he was anything but excited about it.

She was just about to turn and make for the door to go out and make sure that he was alright when another movement caught her eye. It was her father, the King.

She couldn't hear what he was saying as he approached Eugene, but she saw Eugene turn to face him, bowing as he did so. Stooping down behind the balcony railing so as not to be seen, she watched through the small gaps as the two most important men in her life conversed in the pleasant night air.

Before long, she saw her father lay a hand on Eugene's shoulder, and Eugene seemed to relax just a little. Her father and Eugene parted ways, and she watched the King walk down the path before she turned her attention back to Eugene.

His gaze was once again turned back towards the moon, and he reminded her of all the times she had spent watching from her window back in her tower. She saw him sigh, and he turned away from the fountain, following the same path the King had taken moments ago towards the castle, where his warm bed awaited him.

"Don't worry, Eugene." She whispered as he passed below her, even though she knew he couldn't hear her. "Tomorrow's when your life begins."

...oOo...

Rapunzel awoke early the next morning and dressed in her favorite lavender dress before making her way to breakfast, a light skip in her step.

Today was a very big day!

Despite her nightmare the previous night, Rapunzel had slept fitfully. She had finally fallen into a nightmareless slumber not long after witnessing the interaction between her father and Eugene in the garden, and now she felt that she was ready to face the coming events this day was sure to bring.

She walked into the dining hall, where she found her parents already waiting for her. She greeted both of them with a warm smile.

"Good morning, Mama, Daddy!" She said brightly as she embraced the two of them.

"Good morning, dear." Her mother said. "Did you sleep well?"

"Yes, thank you." Rapunzel lied, wincing just slightly as she did so.

She hated keeping things from her parents. It wasn't fair to them.

She looked around the room, noticing that one important person was missing from the table.

"Where's Eugene?" She asked.

"I saw him last night during an evening stroll in the garden," King Leander said. "But I have not seen him since. Could it be that he slept late?"

"Could be." The Queen answered. "He has seemed quite apprehensive about today, hasn't he?"

"I believe Eugene just has a case of cold feet," the King replied. "Any man would! Today is a grand day, a wonderful day, but it also comes with a great burden. Today announces that one day, he will be the will become the King of Corona, and I feel that that is a title Eugene does not feel that he deserves."

"But he has me!" Rapunzel said. "Why does he think he has to go through this all alone? Even when he is King, I'll be there right beside him!"

"While that is true, and while it is also true that you will preside over him in authority because of your royal lineage, you know Eugene feels as though not everyone in Corona will forgive him and accept him for who he is now." King Leander explained. "The kingdom knows of his pardoning, but I fear that Eugene does not believe that everyone will agree that he deserves it as you and I do."

"Eugene just has a lot to think about today," the Queen said. She looked at her daughter. "Why don't you go find him and make sure everything is okay? I'm sure he'll open up to you."

Rapunzel nodded. "Alright." She agreed. "I'll be back soon."

"Take your time, dear." The Queen said. "No need to rush."

"Do remind Eugene, however, that he has a final fitting appointment with the royal tailor at noon." The King said. "Just to make sure everything is in order!"

"I will, Daddy!" Rapunzel said. "Don't worry!"

She made her way down the hallway, towards Eugene's room. She soon found herself outside his door, and she raised a fist, knocking lightly.

"Eugene?" She said through the door. "Are you in there?"

A few moments later, the door opened to reveal a disheveled Eugene, still clad in his night clothes. His hair stuck out in even more odd angles than her own, and he had bags beneath his amber eyes. He wasn't smiling. In fact, he looked rather irked at having been pulled from what appeared to have been a deep sleep.

Rapunzel couldn't help but laugh a little at his appearance.

"Time to wake up, sleepyhead!" She said, standing on her tiptoes to peck him on the cheek. "Today's the big day!"

"What big day?"

"Your public appearance as Prince Consort, silly!" Rapunzel said.

"Oh yeah. That." Eugene yawned, widely, running a hand through his hair in an attempt to get some of it out of his face.

Rapunzel frowned, concerned.

"Are you alright, Eugene?" She asked.

Eugene rubbed his face.

"I'm fine, Rapunzel." He said, his voice growing less tired. "I just…didn't get all that much sleep."

"Daddy said he met you in the garden last night," Rapunzel said, carefully avoiding the fact that she knew of this fact without anyone having to tell her about it.

"I just went for a walk to clear my head, that's all." Eugene assured her. "I'll be alright."

"Okay, if you're sure." Rapunzel said, not wanting to push him. "Mama and Daddy and I were wondering where you were. Breakfast will be starting soon."

Eugene yawned again. "Just give me a minute." He said. He opened the door wider, and Rapunzel followed him inside. He crossed the floor and stepped into his closet to change while Rapunzel waited patiently outside.

A few moments later, he reemerged, clad in a white shirt and brown pants, and he pulled his bare feet into his favorite boots. He ran a comb through his unruly hair at the mirror in the corner, and splashed some cold water on his face in the basin next to it. He looked considerably more awake as he neared Rapunzel.

She smiled.

"Ready?" She asked. "Mama and Daddy are waiting."

"Not quite," he said, pulling her close for a gentle kiss on the lips. After a few short moments, they pulled apart, and he smiled down at her. "Now I'm ready."

Rapunzel giggled and took his hand.

"Good!" She said. "Oh! And Daddy wanted me to remind you that you have a final fitting appointment today at noon with the tailor for your suit today. He just wants to make sure everything's in order for today."

Eugene gave her a grateful look as he squeezed her hand. Clearly he had forgotten this little piece of information.

"Thanks, Blondie." He said affectionately as the two walked out of his room back into the hallway. "What would I do without you?"

"Be very very lost and much less informed on how to wield a frying pan as a weapon?" Rapunzel threw out gleefully.

Eugene laughed.

"That's for sure." He said. "Frying pans! Who knew, right?"

Rapunzel smiled.

Today would turn out perfect.

She just knew it.

Again I apologize for the complete crappiness of this chapter! But I hope you enjoyed nonetheless! :D

Chapter three coming up here soon. I promise it won't take two months this time! ;)