Enjoy!
Matthew pointed out his house standing lonely in the forest. A light was on in the upstairs window.
"Stay here, kid," Eugene instructed.
"Yes, sir," Matthew nodded. Eugene crept slowly up to the house, carefully opening the door. He cringed as it squeaked loudly, but no one in the building noticed, and he let out a relieved sigh. He went up the stairs, and into the room with the light. He peered around the door. The two Stabbingtons were fast asleep and snoring, one on the bed, the other on the floor. In the corner of the room, Lillian sat, tied up, and gagged. When she saw her father, she let out an excited, though muffled, squeal, and struggled against the ropes. Eugene gave her a sign to shush, and she obeyed. Eugene tip-toed into the room, and as he was about to make his second step, Lilly squealed again, and frantically shook her head. He stared at her.
"What's wrong?" he whispered.
"Mmf!" was the reply.
"Squeaky?" Eugene asked. Lilly nodded, and Eugene moved his raised foot and stepped onto a different floorboard. A couple more times Lilly had to stop him from stepping on squeaky boards, but in the end, she was untied, ungagged, and safe in his arms.
When they were far from the house, and approaching Matthew, who was still hidden, Lilly finally spoke.
"Daddy!" she cried, hugging his neck, and crying. "I was so scared! Daddy!"
"Shh," Eugene said. "It's okay now." He looked at her. "Mommy was very scared, too, you know."
"Were you very scared, Daddy?" Lilly asked, pulling back and looking at his face. Eugene was silent for a moment.
"Yes," he said at last. I was very scared." He placed her down on the ground, and Matthew came into view.
"Matthew!" Lilly cried, flinging her arms around his neck. "You're all right! Where's Ping? Is she okay? What about the kittens?"
"They're at the palace," Matthew said. Lilly grabbed his hand, and they started the walk back to the palace.
By the time Eugene walked through the front door, he was carrying two little children in his arms, both sound asleep, and he was exhausted himself. Rapunzel took Lilly from him, and hugged her gently, careful not to wake her.
"Put the little boy in the spare bedroom and I'll take Lilly to bed," Rapunzel told him.
When Matthew woke the next morning, he had no idea where he was. He sat up in bed, just as the door opened, and Lilly leaped onto the bed.
"Matthew!" she cried, hugging him tightly. "Did you have a good sleep?"
"Yes," Matthew replied.
"Well now you can have a good breakfast!" She grabbed his hand, and he winced. Lilly looked at his hands.
"Oh, your poor hands!" she cried. "They're covered in nasty scratches!" She quickly wrapped her hair around them, and sang the song. Her hair glowed dimly.
"Much better," she said, satisfied. "Now, come and have breakfast!" She led him down the halls to the dining room.
"Mommy!" Lilly cried, running up to her mother, and jumping into her arms. "I'm sorry I scared you."
"It's all right, Lilly, honey," Rapunzel smiled.
"Please, your majesty," Matthew said shyly. "H-how is my cat?"
"The kittens would be all right, Rapunzel said sadly. "If their mother was all right."
"You mean…" Matthew swallowed hard. "You mean Ping's not going to live?"
"Probably not," Rapunzel said gently. Matthew burst into tears, and Rapunzel kneeled down and wrapped her arms around him.
"It's okay," she said, but the little boy continued to wail. Lilly had an idea.
"Follow me!" she called, and ran into the kitchen.
Please review! :D