Okay so, many of you guys were suspended xD. Well, here's the next chapter :D dedicated to you peeps!

FrozenLantern: lol xD I can hear Sweetie Belle's voice in my head with that :D

Guest: Thank you! :D Here's the awaited chapter!

Guest: wow, so many grrr's xD did I hang you with a thread back there? I'm sorry but here's the next chapter!

Guest: Hahahaha :D Find out in this chapter if he kisses her :D

PrancerDancer: Thanks! Here's what you've been waiting for :D

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I do NOT own Tangled, ROTG, brands/companies or any of the like mentioned in this fic.


Chapter 16: Moment of Truth

Rapunzel stared at him, rummaging in her thoughts about excuses she should give so they wouldn't go just yet. She couldn't find any. There were loopholes and she knew Jack would slip his way through the need-hole-sized loopholes. She felt nervous. She thought of all the possibilities that could happen if she was the one who confessed first. The negative thoughts swelled but she didn't lose hope. She continued to search for excuses—even just a little excuse that could delay them for at least three minutes or so. She found a sly way but the chances were fifty-fifty. It was that or nothing.

"Jack, can you sing me a song?" she smiled at him. He had a horrified expression and didn't reply. She chuckled, "Well?" she raised a brow but he still didn't reply. She gave him a pout, "Please?"

Jack couldn't resist and gave up. He swallowed and avoided her gaze, "Fine. But I warn you—I don't have a good voice."

She giggled, "It's fine! What matters is you sang to me."

He was bowing his head down slightly, looking at the floor. He rolled his eyes to look at her, still bowing down, raised a brow and smirked, "How about we do a duet?"

She jerked back, "W-what?"

He straightened himself and crossed his arms; "It's not fair if I'm the only one who sings. You should sing too."

She didn't know what to tell him so she sighed and smiled, "Alright. What song should we sing?"

Jack scratched his head. Most of the songs he knew were in the 1990's and early 2000's. He wasn't sure if there was any duet he knew. He scowled and scratched his head, "I honestly don't know what to sing." He looked at her; she was biting her lower lip and had her almost close hand pressing at the edge of it. She's really cute, he thought and smiled lightly. His heartbeat was fast and he felt a heavy feeling in his chest. He trembled. He was going to tell her soon. He swallowed at the thought. What if she wouldn't like me anymore?, he asked himself. He wasn't prepared for that; no matter how much he thought of plans what to do, deep in his heart he knew he would never be ready for rejection. But there was this part in him that was full of hope. He still hoped that she felt the same way and accepts him. It doesn't matter if they wouldn't be a couple—he just needed to tell her what he feels and find out what she feels. He frowned a bit, It's now or never, he sighed.

Rapunzel smiled brightly at him, "How about Someday We'll Know?" She chuckled, "Do you know that?"

He raised his brows and made a lopsided smile. He knew the song, "Alright." He nodded and looked at North who bobbed his head at him and instructed the orchestra again.

The two faced each other. She was smiling at him and held his hands. She started singing, "Ninety miles outside Chicago. Can't stop driving. I don't know why." He was staring at her. She continued, "So many questions—I need an answer. Two years and later you're still on my mind."

Jack swallowed and held her waist with his other hand, "Whatever happened to Amelia Earheart? Who holds the stars up in the sky? Is true love just once in a lifetime?" They smiled at each other, "Did the captain of the Titanic cry?" their voices raised a bit and they swayed with the beat, "Oh, Someday we'll know."

Rapunzel's hand found its way to his shoulder, "If love can move a mountain." He pulled her closer to him, "Someday we'll know." He looked at her eyes, "Why the sky is blue."

"Someday we'll know why I wasn't meant for you…" Both of them felt a small poke of pain. They hoped what they just sang was not their story.

Rapunzel smiled despite this, "Does anybody know the way to Atlantis?"

"Or what the wind says when she cries?" he made a one-sided smile.

She looked up at him, "I'm speeding by the place that I met you…" They looked into each other's eyes, "For the ninety-seventh time…tonight." They smiled softly, "Someday we'll know."

She swayed her head, "If love can move a mountain."

"Someday we'll know."

"Why the sky is blue." Jack pulled away for a bit and pulled back again, pressing his body against hers a bit more. She blushed, "Someday we'll know why I wasn't meant for you..." she tried suppressing her smile but failed, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Someday we'll know."

"Why Samson loved Delilah." Jack tilted his head slightly to the side and smiled at her, "One day I'll go."

She poked his nose with hers, "Dancing on the moon."

Their heartbeats paced fast, "Someday you'll know that I was the one for you…"

While there was still an interlude, Rapunzel pulled away and chuckled, "You don't sound as bad as you think, Jack." She grinned. He raised a brow, "Really?" she nodded and by instinct, they pulled themselves together, their faces close to each other, "Oh, whoa, whoa!" they slowly pulled themselves away slightly with the high note.

She absent-mindedly wrapped her arms around his neck, "I bought a ticket to the end of the rainbow…"

He, also absent-mindedly, placed his hand on her waist, "Watched the stars crash to the sea…"

Rapunzel looked into his eyes, "If I could ask God just one question…"

He pulled her closer to him and they stared into each other's eyes intimately, "Why aren't you here with me…tonight?" they smiled at each other and pulled away, "Someday we'll know."

"If love can move a mountain." He continued to stare at her.

They swayed to the beat, "Someday we'll know."

She sang to him with emotions, "Why the sky is blue!"

"Someday we'll know why I wasn't meant for you! Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah! Someday we'll know!" They now felt the song as they never lost the gaze into each other's eyes.

"Why Samson loved Delilah." He sang to her as if he was talking to her.

They slowly slid their hands away from its position, "One day, I'll go—!"

Rapunzel's heart swelled as she neared her face from him; "Dancing on the moon!" she pulled away.

"Someday you'll know—" their expressions softened, "—That I was the one for you…" they unconsciously pulled together. Their faces were extremely close to each other. When they realized, they pulled away, blushing.

Jack was looking at the ceiling while Rapunzel was looking down at the ground. He tightened his lips, "Nice voice, Goldilocks." He decided to look at her. They simultaneously glanced at each other. She smiled at him, "You're not bad yourself."

There was silence between them. Sandy tugged on North's sleeve, signaling him to do something. North raised his hands, "Ah! Good song! You have a very nice voice, Rapunzel." He gave a cheeky smile to Rapunzel.

Tooth looked at Jack with amazement, "I didn't know you could sing!"

Jack made a one sided smile with one brow arched. He shrugged, "I didn't know too."

Bunnymund elbowed him, "Aren't you going somewhere?" he winked.

This made him gulp and frown. He remembered what he was supposed to do and it made him nervous like hell, "Y-yeah…" he said lowly.

Tooth grinned at him, "You don't want to miss out on your own finale, Jack." Then she whispered to him, "They yetis are ready. They're waiting for you." She pulled away and smiled.

He nodded and gathered himself, "They're right," he said, facing Rapunzel. "Let's go."

Before they left, they said goodbye to the four. They flew to Paris and settled on one of the top beams of the Eiffel Tower. The entire city of Paris was filled with lights. Rapunzel smiled at the sight. "This is so cool!" she looked around. She saw people eating out, having a stroll and whatnot. She looked up at the moon and marveled at its gloriousness, "The moon's huge!"

Jack chuckled, "Yeah. Manny's always like that." He said, looking at the moon also.

A memory struck her, "Oh yeah! That's Manny…" she trailed off. A few moments later, she waved at it, "Hi, Manny!"

He laughed at her gesture and settled down a few seconds later, "He says 'Hello'."

It made her excited, "Nice to meet you! I'm Rapunzel!" she said, still looking at the moon with big eyes.

He laughed again, "Likewise, he said. He already knows you."

She glanced at him, surprised, "He does!?"

Jack bent his knees up and placed his elbow on his knee. He placed his hand to lean closer to her, "Yeah."

She blinked at him then glanced up at the moon again, "Amazing…" she said in a whisper.

And there was silence. Jack rambled in his mind on how to start the conversation about his feelings to her. Every time he comes up with something, he'll think it was stupid of some sort. He inhaled and thought to himself that he should man up. Here goes nothing, he thought.

He swallowed and looked down at the streets, "Hey," he called to her.

She glanced at him, "Yeah?" she smiled. It made him even more nervous. He thought that if he told her what he felt, he would never see that smile of hers ever again, but a part of him thought he should tell her no matter what. When he didn't speak, she looked at him with worry, "Jack, are you okay?"

He exhaled through his nostrils, "I'm fine." He smiled at her.

She inhaled slowly and tucked a loose hair behind her ear, "So… your best friend, what is she like?" she smiled softly. The thought of him liking someone else was almost unbearable. Negative thoughts made tears form at the base of her eyes and her throat ached.

He smiled at her, "She's smart, nice and beautiful. She's helped me a lot of times and took care of me too."

She blinked her tears away while listening to him. She faked a scratch to her left eye when her tears threatened to fall, "Oh…" she smiled, "Does she like you?"

He frowned a bit and chuckled, "I don't know…"

"You never asked her?"

He shook his head, "No…"

"Why?" she looked at him with concern. She couldn't dismiss the pain she felt but she thought he was more important then herself.

He looked up at the moon, "Every time I try to, I get nervous and back off. I'm a coward, huh?"

She frowned at him, "You're not." She said firmly and looked at the moon also. Her expression softened, "I'm like that too…"

He looked at her. His nervousness faded a bit, "What's he like?"

She glanced at him, "Hm?"

He avoided her gaze, "The guy you like…" he trailed off, "What's he like?"

Rapunzel chuckled, "He's nice. He's a gentleman… well, most of the time." She laughed, "He's fun to be with."

That's not me, he thought. He inhaled and pretended a smirk, "Is he handsome?"

She grinned knowingly, "Yeah. A lot of girls at school like him."

Yep, it's Jonathan, he scowled at the thought, "He's one lucky guy." He faked a smile.

She laughed, "You think so?"

His expression softened, "I know so." They stared into each other's eyes.

Rapunzel broke the eye contact. She looked sad, "Well, I don't think he likes me back…"

"Why? Because of his fan girls?"

She had a sullen expression, "…I don't know…"

He straightened himself and held her hand, "You should tell him." He looked at her seriously. She looked at her, eyes a bit wide. When she didn't speak, he continued, "It's the only way to be sure of what he feels about you." Rapunzel swallowed and avoided his gaze when she felt that he was searching her soul, "You should tell her too." She told him, still avoiding his gaze. Again, there was silence between them. They both took their time to prepare themselves. They took so long that fireworks suddenly popped up in the sky. They looked at it. Jack chuckled. The yetis must've gotten impatient… oh well, he thought. He inhaled. I might as well tell her…

"Rapunzel…" he muttered. She inhaled abruptly and looked at him. He said my name again…

Jack clenched his fist and looked at her earnestly. It was her first time to see him look at her that way… as if there was something he wanted to tell her for a while now.

"Jack…" she whispered.

He placed his hand on hers and held it, "I've been meaning to tell you this…"

Rapunzel's heart paced fast as a blush slowly appeared on her cheek. She was freaking out in her mind but she maintained control of her physicality. She waited for him.

He had a look of confusion and nervousness. She saw him take in air and open his mouth. Jack closed his mouth again. God damn it Frost! TELL HER ALREADY!, his conscience shouted at him. He swallowed and exhaled. He saw that she was anticipating what he was going to tell her. He felt his heart banging on his chest as if it wanted to break out of him. Here goes nothing…

"Rapunzel…" he muttered again. She was lost in his eyes, "Jack…"

"I think I like you…" he whispered. YOU THINK!? You love her, you idiot!, his mind scolded. He tightened his lips. He saw her eyes widen and swallowed, "No, scratch that—" he finally made a gentle smile, "—I love you." He made a sad smile. He felt pain.

"Jack I…" she made a soft expression, "I… I…"

He still had the sad smile. He thought she didn't feel the same way so he decided to take her home. All the way back to Rapunzel's home, they were silent. Rapunzel wanted to tell him but she just couldn't. There was something holding her back. When he settled her on her bed, she wanted to go after him when he decided to change his clothes in her parents' room. She sighed and decided to change to her pajamas. "Punz, how could you be so stupid!" she mumbled angrily to herself as she came out of the bathroom. She lied down her bed and covered herself with her blanket. She was facing away from the door so he thought she was already sleeping. She heard him open and close the door and lie down his bed. In her mind she knew she had to make it up to him. After five minutes, she got up.

Jack had his back facing her bed. He couldn't sleep because of the pain he was still feeling. He sighed. He tried to cheer himself up by thinking that at least he already told her his feelings. He closed his eyes, trying to sleep. After five minutes, he felt something move and not too long, he felt someone lie beside him and hug his waist. His eyes flung open. He heard her call him but he didn't reply.

"I know you're awake." She said calmly. He still didn't respond. She sighed, "Jack… I want to tell you something."

"I'm fine." He said with a bit of nonchalance in his voice.

She scowled, "It's not that." When he didn't speak, she continued, "You see Jack, I…" she inhaled, tightened her lips and furrowed her brows. Say it, Punz!, she thought to herself. She pressed her forehead against his back and hugged him tight, "I love you, Jack." She whispered.

She felt him move so she loosened her hug. He slightly turned, "What?"

She moved up to see his face and neared hers to his, "I love you." She whispered.

He fully shifted his position to face her. She lied back down and hugged him again. He smiled curtly and wrapped his arms around her waist. They shared a staring moment. Jack's gaze went down to her lips and back to her eyes again. He leaned in to her and kissed her. She was caught in surprise but closed her eyes and kissed him back moments later. They pulled away. Rapunzel snuggled her head by his neck and hugged him tightly. They fell sleep together that way with smiles on their faces.

The next morning, Jack woke up without Rapunzel. At one point, he thought it was just a dream. He decided to go downstairs and see what was for breakfast. He smelled chicken nuggets and smiled slightly. He prepared the table.

Rapunzel turned to him with a bright smile, "Good morning!" she greeted cheerfully.

He smiled back, "Good morning, Goldilocks."

She passed by him and kissed his cheek. It caught him by surprise. So I wasn't dreaming after all…

"So how was sleep?" she asked as she sat down across him.

He made a genuine smile, "Great. Yours?"

She blushed, "Never been better."

The two of them ate. For them, it was the most awesome feeling in the world. They weren't officially a couple yet of course, but their school knows about them so it was like they were an actual couple. When they went to school, everyone was fussing about their relationship. Jack kept her close to him. Whenever his fan girls would get close to her, he'd step in the scene and make sure nothing happens to her. She would smile whenever he blushes when he tells her he loves her. Their relationship was just for show but their feelings for each other were real. Most of the time he offers to carry her bag and get their food during lunch. Girls around them would look at her with looks of envy and jealousy. She never tells him that but Jack wasn't too ignorant not to see that coming. Friday came and the club tour was the next day. Jack was given two assignments and he decided to do it on lunchtime.

Rapunzel continued to munch on her pudding and swallowed. She looked at him, "So, have you figured it out yet?"

He nodded, "Yeah. The flashcards were great help." He scribbled down his answer. He was smart but Algebra was a bit hard for him. If he were not as inspired as he was now, he wouldn't be able answer eight (out of fifteen) of the given problems.

She stood up and looked over his shoulders. He was almost done. She smiled, "Anything you want to have as a snack for tomorrow?"

He stopped writing and sat up, "Pretty much everything you cook." He gave her a surprise kiss on the cheek and smirked when he saw her shocked face.

She blushed and smiled shyly, "O-okay."

He pulled her chair beside him; "Sit here."

She obediently followed him. As soon as she sat down, she continued eating the pudding. Twice, she fed him and it made her blush, thinking that it was an indirect kiss. When Jack finished his last assignment, they headed home. They prepared their things.

"Jack, you don't have a sketchpad right?" she asked him, peeking inside his bag.

Jack nodded, "Yeah."

Rapunzel got her other sketchpad and shoved it inside his bag, "You'll be needing this. We'll just share with the pencils. I got more." She smiled at him.

He scratched his head, "Although, I don't have enough clothes. Didn't they say to bring a jacket or a sweater?"

She chuckled, "Don't worry. I already got your clothes from the laundry shop." She stood up from the floor and carried their bags. He helped her and went to the kitchen to put their snacks in another bag. In total they had six bags. When they finished, they decided to sleep. Even though they knew about each other's feelings, they slept on their own beds. For Jack, he wanted to take things slow. After all, he only confessed and he didn't say he would court her. Maybe he would but not right now.

The next day, they woke up at four a.m. They assembly was at six so they had to hurry and check their things before leaving. Jack wore his old hoodie, jeans and his now favorite shoes. Rapunzel wore her pink sweater, jeans and pink boots. She braided her hair loosely. When they were done checking their things, they went to CU in time. They went in the mini bus and saw some of their club mates. They decided to sit on the driver's column on the fourth row. Jack placed four bags on the overhead compartment and the snacks bag at their feet. After fifteen more minutes, everyone was there.

"Alright everyone!" Miss Claire looked back at them. She sat at the front row. "The trip will take about four to five hours so make yourselves comfortable." She smiled and with that, they began the trip.

Rapunzel stared out the window. I wonder what's going to happen…, she thought with anticipation.

End of Chapter


Okay, so that settles it! :D yay! THEY CONFESSED. FINALLY! I wouldn't have a headache about it anymore! Yay! So did you like the chapter? Sorry if it's not as good as you guys hoped it to be. See you next chapter! THANK YOU FOR READING!

Questions, reviews and the like are welcome!