Rapunzel cuddled Estelle's head under her chin. It was late, but the lanterns couldn't be lit until a while after sunset. Eugene passed behind her, brushing her waist with his hand and kissing her neck. Rapunzel smiled and reached her hand back, touching his as he walked away. He was back. It was so good to have him back! He was smiling at Leora, who was handing her lanterns out to her brothers. Flynn was busy rolling his eyes, Nicholas looked all too interested in the fact that there was going to be fire, and Matthew was just excited to be up that late again. Rapunzel looked at the lantern that she had decorated for herself and Eugene. She usually played with the design, making each lantern significant for the previous year. This year was different. This year Rapunzel had painted it to look like the lanterns that Eugene had bought for them on her eighteenth birthday. It was so simple, but it meant so much. She touched the edges gently as she watched it float an inch from the pedestal tied down by two ribbons; a gold and purple ribbon and now a teal and cream ribbon. Her and Eugene. Estelle reached down and patted her mama's arm urgently, pointing to the left. Rapunzel looked up to see Matthew staring over the edge of the balcony with his lantern tight in his eager little hands, and Nicholas behind him - singing the ends of his brother's hair with his lantern. As Rapunzel was about to leap forward, Eugene saw the same thing and smacked the back of his head and shaking his head with a tight-lipped dad stare. Nicholas cleared his throat and stepped away, fidgeting with a wide-eyed stare away over the balcony. Rapunzel relaxed and shook her head. Yes, everything was certainly back to normal! She peered over the balcony, seeing how dark the sky was getting. It would just be a few minutes before they started. Her parents would come out when it was time. But it seemed like there was something missing. Rapunzel craned her neck longingly seeing her sons holding their lanterns and Leora with her own and Mite - Estelle's in hand. There were two missing. She turned away, taking her baby girl's hand and kissing it to push away her tears. Tonight was a night to celebrate. She felt Leora's hand on Estelle's and reached out to take it for her, but Leora shook her head, letting her sister hug her soft framed lantern as she brought out her last two lanterns. They were quite small, with ribbons that matched the ribbons on her parents' lantern. One for the little girl, one for the little boy - Rapunzel had always felt certain hat her first loss was a girl and the second a boy. Leora knew that. Rapunzel took one in hand at a time with tears springing from her eyes. Soft gold and violet flowers swirled the base of one with her and Eugene's silhouettes, while on the second; bound with courses of teals, blues and brown, she and her husband danced across the lantern. Rapunzel accidentally let a quiet sob break out of her lips as she gathered Leora into a joyous embrace. They weren't missing - they were there; maybe not as much as the rest of them, but she knew that her babies were celebrating with them. Eugene came behind her, put his hands on her waist and kissed her from behind.

"Are you ready, Blondie?" He whispered. Rapunzel smiled and nodded. Leora finished tying her little lanterns onto her parents' and joined her brothers as the king and queen came out onto the balcony. Rapunzel handed Estelle to her mother and took Eugenes hand, starting to sing. Eugene smiled in surprise, waiting with his hand near the pedestal until Rapunzel came to her chorus. She wasn't looking at the lanterns, the people, not even the children. Her hand touched that of her husband as they released the lantern. Eugene was singing to her again. He smiled and brushed her loose hairs back, gathering her into his arms as they watched the lanterns rise in the sky. It was not, perhaps their exact dream. It was more than they dreamed it would be. Estelle yawned and reached for Eugene.

"Mite like lights." She sighed dreamily. Eugene kissed her head with a smile and pulled it down into his chest. She sounded tired. Maybe they would be lucky that night and she would sleep.

Eugene flopped down onto the couch and puffed out an exaggerated sigh.

"Well, they're all in bed!" he said, leaning his head back and glancing at Rapunzel. She smiled at him.

"Yes, Flynn and Leora are such a chore!" She said sarcastically. Eugene rolled his eyes.

"Estelle is a monster!" He exclaimed. "I swear I told her five stories and she was still more awake then I am!"

"They're just happy to have you back." Rapunzel whispered with her hand gently rubbing the back of his neck. Her voice sounded a little husky, but she was still smiling at him. Eugene leaned forward and kissed her. Rapunzel sighed and leaned into him. It had been so long! His arm swept down over her waist and down to her knees before he lifted her in his arm, not separating once to take a deep breath. "Eugene. Mmmm, Eugene."

"Yeah?"

"They're all in bed, but are you sure they're sleeping?" They meaning one in particular.

"Well I was pretty sure she looked it." he answered a little testily. He didn't really want to cool off.

"Estelle gets around. I don't want to have her sneaking in on - um, you know - anything."

"Why would she do that?"

"Well I don't know! When you were sick she found a way up here."

"So Mite was playing the spy. Do you think anyone else knew about it?"

"She showed it to Matthew."

"Little stinker."

"Just like her adorable father."

"Pft. I am not adorable. At least not in this state."

"Oh, you've started filling out again." Rapunzel replied smartly, poking his flat midriff. Eugene moved his hand quickly to stop her.

"Hey! Stop poking the fat old man!"

"You're not old." She corrected him.

"Oh, just fat. Have it your way." He answered, wrinkling his nose.

"Mite."

"I will." She quipped back. "I am the spoiled princess, after all."

"Yeah, we all know that eighteen years in a tower will do that to you." he muttered. "You know, speaking of towers -"

"We weren't, Eugene."

"I was. Try to keep up, Zel!" He said with mock authority. "I was about to point out the lanterns. I don't ever remember their looking quite that bright - except for one time." He said smoothly.

"That first time, on the lake." she whispered with a hand on his face. Then she ruined the moment by sitting up with a revelation. "Oh, we should have taken the children out on the lake!"

"Are you kidding me? " Eugene grinned, accepting temporary defeat. "Mite would have been trying to drown herself the entire time."

"You need to stop calling her that." Rapunzel insisted.

"What?"

"Mite."

"Why? It's cute!"

"Eugene? Really? Flynn I can handle; that's adorable - and it makes me think of when we first met."

"Yep, frying pan and all." Eugene sighed as if being knocked out with one was his dearest memory - he actually had pretty spotty recall about that part Of their introduction. "Besides that," he reasoned, "it's an attractive name." Rapunzel rolled her eyes.

"To each his own."

"I liked it." Eugene shrugged.

"Yes. Alright. So, Flynn I understand. But Mite?"

"She's so little! It fits her!" He exclaimed, leaping up in defense of his favorite nickname. Well, he didn't actually move - he was too comfortable where he was - but his voice got louder.

"Eugene, really?"Rapunzel moaned. "People are going to think she's a bug."

"Princess Mite?" Eugene asked, his face initially twisted before he just shrugged. "Nope, still adorable."

"Ugh! Eugene Fitzherbert, I don't know what I'll ever do with you!" She said, throwing her hands up in the air. Eugene pretended to think for about three seconds before taking the opportunity to nestle his head into her lap, grinning ridiculously.

"Kiss me and call me cute?" He suggested, looking up at her. Rapunzel rolled her eyes before laughing and kissing him, but she didn't say he was cute. Instead her eyes lingered on his face; every shape, every line as her fingertips ran down his cheek to the beard on his chin - which was once more trimmed to its customary tameness. She had almost lost him again. Her lips opened a little as she smiled, but only a broken sound came out, and her eyes filled with tears. His hand reached up quickly to her face, caressing her cheek. "Hey." He breathed, getting up and gathering her in his arms. "It's just me." Rapunzel let out a sob, trying to turn it into a laugh.

"There's no such thing as 'just' you, my beautiful Eugene Fitzherbert." She sniffled,wiping her nose with her sleeve as he pressed his lips onto her temple.

"I'm just - Rapunzel, I'm so sorry for this whole last month." He whispered.

"Sorry?!" Rapunzel gasped. "You talk like you enjoyed almost dying like that! Eugene, you were miserable, what do you have to be sorry about?"

"Making you so miserable." He whispered. "Maybe I shouldn't have...but the poor kids without anyone in the world - well I couldn't just..."

"No. You should NOT have stayed from the orphanage. You were the only help they had, Eugene. And those poor kids were so worried about you that they sent word asking after you every day!"

"Every day? Poor kids. I should go visit them - Rapunzel, did they all recover? Are they alright?" He gasped, ashamed that he had been too busy to think about them. Rapunzel turned away a little, not facing him.

"No." She whispered. "Little Ginny. It was too much for her."

"When?" He asked, his voice cracked with pain.

"The day after you didn't recognize me." She gasped. Eugene wasn't looking directly at her and couldn't see why her voice wasn't any louder. "I'm afraid that I was just so wrapped up in my own pain-"

"No, Rapunzel, don't -" He started, but she broke out suddenly in tears with the pains she had held throughout most of the last two months.

"Eugene, when you almost died - Eugene, I knew you just couldn't die! I just knew there was more for you to do." She cried desperately, her head turned away from him. He held her closer. There would be time to grieve his little orphan friend, but now was not it. His darling wife was breaking open on the inside, he needed to finally be there again. "I was dying inside, Eugene." she sobbed. "I don't know if I could have lived seeing you die again, even with our poor children. I just...every time I came upon someone unexpectedly they were busy planning your funeral! And the meeting of delegates! Well, I'll not tell you what it was he said."

"Your mother told me."

"What? Why..."

"That way I know how to act around them next time." He shrugged and Rapunzel could hear that his teeth were clenched tight.

"They are horrible men."

"Most of them."

"Stop trying to calm me down!"

"It's working, isn't it, babe?"

"Yes." Rapunzel replied sulkily.

"Listen, babe; I know that this is a lot to ask - but don't you think that you can just...let that go?"

"I've been trying. I've been trying since I stormed out of the conference room. I know it'll come."

"You're amazing, Blondie." He whispered. She smiled when he kissed her again and draped her arm over his shoulder.

"Well, they'll be happy when you're back. I don't think they liked me very well."

"They aren't used to stunning women biting their heads off. Besides, I think you were a little preoccupied."

"Just a little bit, not like most of them seemed to care."

"I'm sorry, Rapunzel. If I had just -"

"Eugene! Will you stop that?"

"Stop what?"

"Blaming yourself! Why do you think I hold it against you? I don't!"

"I'm not, Zel. I just...I know you aren't mad at me...I - I don't know." He sighed in exasperation. "There has just been too much happening, my poor Rapunzel."

"I know." Rapunzel whispered and then smiled quickly. Eugene knew that look. She didn't mean to, but she recalled something else immediately. Her eyes cast down and away from him. She was trying to hide her pain again.

"I'm sorry." Eugene said quickly, pulling her head down on his chest. "I'm sorry, babe. I didn't mean anything."

"No, it's not you. It's alright, Eugene. I don't - baby, don't feel bad!" She moaned. "See, I'm just fine." She smiled, turning her face up to his. "I'm alright."

"Are you sure?" He asked, looking quite concerned into her green eyes while his one hand rubbed her thin belly gently. He knew what was wrong, and he felt like he hadn't been there for her. Her small hand moved up and clasped his.

"I'm sure." She answered.

"How are all of the kids doing?"

"Eugene, you weren't out of it for that long."

"Babe, this is the first time I've had in a month to really talk to you."

"Oh, you talked plenty for part of it."

"Rapunzel. I don't remember any of that, and you know I couldn't get that doctor out of my hair in the last two weeks."

"I know it. For once he was acting like you were something special."

"I just think that he didn't want to believe I had survived."

"Yeah, he was treating you a bit like a fair entry."

"But in all the time that I was ill, he never once asked you-"

"No." Rapunzel whispered with both hands over her stomach. Eugene's jaw was tight, but he didn't say what he was thinking about Fredrics. Had anyone cared what Rapunzel was going through that whole time? In the first week of course they did, and then they were all ill, and then he was ill for close to a month. She had needed him and he couldn't be there like she had needed him to be. "I - I want to try again, Eugene. I'm ready to try again." She whispered. Eugene nodded and drew her close, wrapping his arms around her protectively. "Are you?" She breathed.

"I think so, Zel." He whispered after a second. "I just - I wish I had really been there for you. You were always so busy, poor little thing." He whispered, kissing her hair. She turned around and looked into his eyes, but Rapunzel saw his eyes go from contemplation of one thing to something else. He was staring out at nothing and she saw a pain start to form in those deep dark eyes. His mouth was trembling just the very tiniest bit. She never saw Eugene's lip quiver. "Rapunzel, you don't think that - because it was so close in time - I...I probably should have died, and what if the baby -"

"No!" Rapunzel gasped, forcing him to look at her. "No, Eugene. Don't you ever, EVER blame yourself in any way for having lost our baby."

"Babe," he moaned. Unwanted tears came into his eyes. It was so much pain! "How-"

"Stop! You stop, Eugene!" She whispered, covering his mouth with her hand. "Don't torture yourself like that for something you couldn't change! None of us could change it, Eugene!" She gasped with tears flooding out of her eyes. Eugene gasped and fell into her shoulder, letting her encircle him. Shouldn't he have been doing that? They sat like that for a long time. Neither of them noticed how warm it was outside or how much warmer the crackling fire made them.

"Shhhhh." She said softly. "It's alright."

"We keep telling each other that, Zel. Do we really believe it?"

"You know we do. We just think that we have to keep reminding ourselves. We don't have to, it just feels better. All we have to do is look around us. All we have to do is remember the five reasons that we know everything will be alright."

"Even the one that doesn't sleep?" Rapunzel heard him ask. She smiled. Even in his pain he had to try to lighten things.

"Especially the one that doesn't sleep!" She insisted.

"I love you, Rapunzel." He whispered, sighing in a deep, weary breath. She kissed him again, stroking his back soothingly and listening to the soft clank of his loose buckles with the sound of his calming breath. Rapunzel's eye caught sight of the half finished bottle of wine on the table. This wasn't quite how either of them had envisioned the night. She had another garment laid out on the bed, but if it wasn't needed for that night she would understand. She could sit there and hold him all night, listen to him breath steadily and strong without that horrible coughing and choking, without feeling him burn up in her arms. "Is this how it's going to be all night?" He asked. "You and I taking turns breaking down in sobbing heaps?"

"Doesn't have to be." She answered with a smile. "This is a night for celebrating. And our babies are both watching us from heaven. You know they are."

"I know it, sweet." He breathed as he pulled himself up to look into her eyes.

"And all the more reason to celebrate, Fredrics said that you are in complete health."

"Shouldn't I be?"

"Well, when you were ill he told us that if you survived that you would be an invalid for the rest of your life - and that the rest of your life wouldn't be very long." Rapunzel's voice fell into a whisper at that last part. It didn't seem to matter how many times she said it, or how many different ways. The fear and pain of losing Eugene again was not a memory that she could erase. Eugene's eyes widened and he fell back in the chair, shaking his head.

"I had no idea. Zel, I didn't know what you were going through - babe, why didn't you tell me?"

"Because I didn't think it mattered. I - I knew that you would be alright." She said with just the smallest bit of doubt in her voice. "Even if you were bedridden for the rest of your life - Eugene, I still would have had you. I just - I thought that not telling you might help."

"I think we were both keeping secrets from each other."

"You?"

"I knew that I might die." Eugene admitted. "Actually I knew that I probably would die. I - I told Eugene and Leora."

"And you didn't -"

"I couldn't tell you! I didn't want to. I don't want to leave you! And - and with the delirium of those last few months -"

"It was only a week, Eugene." Rapunzel corrected him with her voice catching in her throat. Eugene smiled gently and held her.

"It seemed so long. It was so dark and so...painful. I was lost, and I was dying. I know what it feels like to die and I know that I was dying, Rapunzel, and I couldn't find you. I may have dreamed I was doing other things, but I only remember trying to find you, looking for your light to tell you good-bye if I had to. And then I finally saw it. I finally heard your voice, and I heard you saying my name and I saw you. I finally found you, and you pulled me out of the dark."

"I didn't do that."

"You always do that. How did I ever deserve a wife like you?"

"For the same reason I deserved a husband like you." She whispered.

"Don't degrade yourself." He muttered, kissing her hair. "I don't know why you ever wanted me to stick around, but I'm glad that you did."

"So am I. I'm glad you decided to stick around. Don't ever leave me again?" She begged, her green eyes peering up pleadingly, brilliant in the firelight.

"Never again." He whispered, bending down to kiss her lips. Two weeks ago he had woken from the delirium with no sign of the fever other then having wasted away, but he was starting to gain weight back, and two weeks was all that Fredrics had wanted them to wait until he was sure that Eugene wasn't suffering from any after affects of the fever. "I'm here for you for good. No getting rid of me, even if Fredrics doesn't like me."

"He doesn't like either of us." She added.

"And he thinks that we have too many children."

"Oh does he?" Rapunzel gasped, almost like she was accepting a challenge.

"Probably because he never had any." Eugene shrugged.

"I'm glad that we have." Rapunzel sighed happily, running her toes along his leg. "Speaking of which; I mean since he doesn't like either of us anyway, why not plague him more?" She asked coyly.

"What?" Eugene mumbled, only partially paying attention to her words as she leaned further into him, wrapping one hand about his shoulder and kissing his neck, feeling his warm breath against hers.

"Hmm, what about those dozen kids you promised me?" Rapunzel cooed softly in his ear. Eugene swung away from her a bit, his 'charm' grin glinting softly in the firelight. Rapunzel leaned back and looked at him with a smolder of her own and gleaming eyes. He snuck his hand around her waist, pulling her slowly closer.

"Wanna go make a baby?" He muttered in a low voice, leaning down enough so that their noses touched.

"Mhmmm." Rapunzel answered, pulling him swiftly down on the couch and kissing him with a deep sigh. Eugene returned the kiss even more deeply and held her closer.

"Me too! Mite wanna help!" A two year old's head bobbed over the back of the couch, making both parents bolt up in surprise with reddened faces.

"Estelle!" They cried together, neither of them able to regain a firm composure at once.

"What are you doing out of bed?" Eugene demanded.

"Not tired! No time for bed!" She cried. "Mite wanna make a baby!" She yelled emphatically, clambering over the top of their seat.

"Oh no you don't." Eugene muttered, prying himself off of the couch and snagging her with one arm. Estelle squealed. "I'm going to put you under a guard tonight." Rapunzel heard him grumble as he walked through the door.

"Wait! Dada, Mite's bed over there!" She said, pointing to her room. Eugene didn't stop or look in her direction.

"Will you stay in it?" He asked.

"Nope." She answered with blatant honesty.

"That's what I thought." He walked past several doors and to the central staircase. Then he went down said staircase, past several guards in their nightly sentinels. At first glance some of the guards thought it was a surprise inspection - until Estelle would giggle at some awkward moment. One look from Eugene was enough to tell them not to make the same mistake. He had already decided on Mite's next victim. "You're mother is so afraid people are going to think you're a bug." He muttered to his giggling toddler, "But I think it's fair warning. Right, Mite?"

"Me dada's Mite!" She agreed profusely, trying to hug his leg as he kept moving.

"Dada's Mite needs to listen and go to sleep."

"Mite want sleep with you and mama."

"Not tonight."

"But wanna make baby with you!"

"No."

"Can Mite watch?"

"Be quiet, Estelle." Eugene said even more tersely as her words echoed down corridors and to the ears of every guard in the palace. It was no secret now what he and Rapunzel were doing.

"But mama-" Eugene stopped her words abruptly with a large hand over her chattering mouth. This wasn't fair! The two year old could be running laps around him and it was almost midnight. After all of five minutes that had taken an eternity to get over, Eugene came to the door that he was after and knocked loudly. It took a few minutes for someone to finally come in answer.

"Prince Eugene!" The guard yawned in surprise as he snapped to attention.

"Rudolph, I'm calling in a favor. Sorry about the time of night-"

"Anything, sir. You name it." The guard replied. Eugene tipped up a grinning toddler, moved the hair away from her face and pushed her toward the startled guard.

"Guard Mite under lock and key if you have to, but whatever happens, don't let the little imp out of your sight!"

"Sir, I...uhhh."

"Just one night, Rudolph." Eugene muttered, barely keeping his voice away from pleading. Mite shook her head and grabbed the guard's collar, explaining quite seriously,

"My mama and dada are gonna make a-" Eugene covered her mouth again, his reflex slower than it normally would have been, but it was late and he was frustrated. Rudolph colored a little bit and wrapped his arm a little tighter around the toddler.

"I'll keep a watch on her, sir." The guard said, watching her yawn.

"If you're going to fall asleep then tie a bell around her ankle or something. That girl can get around."

"Yes, sir. I will, Eugene. Enjoy -er- good night, sir."

"Good night, Rudolph. Good night, Estelle."

"Mite!"

"Goodnight, Mite."

"Nighty, dada." She said cutely, leaning on Rudolph like she was sleepy. Well, he would see how that had gone once morning came. Right now he bounded back up to the room, invigorating himself with the quick pace. He opened the main door, closing them behind him quickly before he came to their bedroom suit. The fire was still crackling, and he hoped his lovely wife hadn't fallen asleep waiting for him to make love to her. Well, if she had he wouldn't wake her. He would be happy to spend the night watching her sleep in the firelight. He opened the bedroom doors quietly, turning and locking them before he even looked up. He felt a hand slide around his waist under his vest and he smelled roses as Rapunzel embraced him. She had taken that time to prepare herself for her husband. Eugene turned and saw his Rapunzel glorious, arrayed in torrents of silk, smiling like a flower at dawn. He lifted her into his arms and kissed her, not ready to release her until the morning light. It was good to be well again.

And they're living happily ever after

A huge thank you to everyone who has read this story!

I apologize gofer how long it took me to get this last chapter together! It was bust hard to have all of this without repeating myself over and over! There is a lot more story that I wanted to include in it, but twin e it was an epilogue that really didn't work! If you thought this was a bit risqué in the least, please let me know so can fix it!

Again, thank you so much! Look for more in the future ;)