Rapunzel stared at her keyboard. Flynn had to go into work and couldn't go on the double date with Thomas and Meg, so Rapunzel ended up staying home. She had been practicing a couple songs on her keyboard all night, but couldn't help being curious about how the date was going. She kept her cellphone on her music stand and was constantly checking it, but she still hadn't heard from Thomas.

Rapunzel started playing another song, but got bored and didn't finish. She got up and went over to her bed. Max was lying on her bed and she sat down next to him.

"It's just us again, Max," Rapunzel said, petting him. "Do you think the date is going well?"

Max picked up his head and yawned. Rapunzel smiled and kissed the top of his snout. She then lied down and Max put his head on her stomach. She continued to pet him. Rapunzel looked over at the clock on her nightstand. It was almost ten o'clock. He should be home by now, Rapunzel thought. Maybe I'll just stop by his house and see how the date went.

Rapunzel rolled off her bed. She picked up her phone, put on her jacket and walked down to Thomas' house. She knocked on the door and John answered.

"Hi, John," Rapunzel greeted cheerily. "Is Thomas back from his date, yet?"

"I'm the only one home right now," John said.

"Have you heard from him? Do you know how it's going?" Rapunzel asked.

John shook his head. Rapunzel started to leave, but noticed that John looked pretty upset.

"John, is everything all right?"

"Yeah."

Rapunzel tilted her head to the side. "Are you sure?"

John hesitated and Rapunzel knew something was bothering him.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Rapunzel asked.

"Not really."

Rapunzel walked into the house and John closed the door behind her. By now, John was used to Rapunzel coming in uninvited. She draped her jacket over the railing and sat down on the couch. John still stood by the door. Rapunzel motioned for him to sit by her. John ignored her and went upstairs. Rapunzel followed after him and knocked on his bedroom door.

John flung open his door. "Leave me alone."

John started to close the door, but Rapunzel stopped it with her hand. "John, we've known each other most of our lives. You can talk to me about anything."

John sighed in defeat. "Fine."

Rapunzel led John back downstairs. They sat down on the couch and Rapunzel waited patiently for him to talk.

"It's Pocahontas," John finally said.

Rapunzel remembered Thomas telling her that John had broken up with Pocahontas, but she thought they'd be back together by now. She was surprised to hear that they weren't.

"She went to Wendy's party with another guy tonight," John continued.

"Aren't you broken up?" Rapunzel asked.

"Yeah, but I didn't think she'd move on this quickly."

"Well, maybe she hasn't. Maybe this other guy is just her rebound to you," Rapunzel suggested.

"I don't know. Tonight, at the party, she told me she wanted to be with me and not him. But she also said she wasn't sorry for going out with him and that she wasn't doing anything wrong," John said.

"Technically, she's not. You broke up with her, which means she is free to date whoever," Rapunzel said. "But, if she wants to be with you, then she shouldn't be with someone else. She should be trying to make it work with you."

"I don't know what she wants," John admitted. "When I left the party she came after me, but then she let me leave. She refused to apologize and just let me go."

"John, you know better than anyone that Pocahontas is stubborn and prideful. She'll never admit she's wrong and apologize," Rapunzel said.

"I know..."

"Which means you have to," Rapunzel continued. "You let her go, so now you have to fight to get her back."

John leaned back. "I can't compete with Rolfe."

"She's on a date with John Rolfe?"

John nodded.

"You know he's the most popular guy in school. He's good-looking, smart, charming, respectful and-"

"I know!" John snapped.

"You don't have to worry about him," Rapunzel said, quickly. "Pocahontas told you she wants to be with you and not him. She's just waiting for you apologize. As soon as you do that, she'll be yours again."

John stood up. "She's the one who betrayed me, Rapunzel. I have nothing to apologize for."

"You broke up with her. You have to tell her that you want her back."

"No. She made her choice."

John went back upstairs, but this time Rapunzel didn't go after him. This is what happens when two stubborn people butt heads, Rapunzel thought as she put her jacket back on. They both end up miserable.

XXX

Meg and Thomas walked up to his front door just as Rapunzel was walking out.

"Rapunzel? What are you doing here?" Thomas asked.

Rapunzel looked surprised to see them. "Oh. Um, I came over to see if you were home yet and ended up talking to John." She frowned. "Your brother is so freakin' stubborn."

Thomas laughed. "I know."

"I guess I'm just gonna get going," Rapunzel said. "I'll see you tomorrow, Thomas. Bye, Meg."

Meg followed Thomas inside. They went upstairs and stopped outside a closed door.

Thomas knocked on the door. "John?"

John opened the door, wearing only his boxers. Meg quickly dropped her eyes to the floor.

"We're gonna be in my room," Thomas said.

John nodded and closed the door. Thomas led Meg into the room across the hall from John's and closed the door behind them. Meg was surprised to see that Thomas' room was actually very clean.

"I'm having a good time," Meg said.

Meg really had enjoyed their date. They went to the movies to see Sucker Punch and Meg had loved it. Then they went to dinner at Bella Notte. Meg was also really glad that Rapunzel and Flynn hadn't come along.

Thomas smiled at her. "I am, too."

Meg sat down on his bed. Thomas looked a little uncomfortable and sat down on his desk chair.

"How-how are you feeling?" Thomas asked.

"I'm still pretty sore," Meg replied. "The bruises have pretty much faded, but the cuts are still there."

"Thank you for standing up for me."

"You're welcome," Meg said. "Don't take anything Helga says seriously. She's just a bitch."

Thomas started going on about how he didn't understand why Rapunzel looked up to her, and Meg tuned him out. She didn't mean to, but she was distracted by his mouth. She watched it as he talked and wondered what he tasted like. I hope he kisses me, Meg thought.

Thomas stopped talking and neither of them could think of anything else to say. Meg looked around his room and noticed an acoustic guitar sitting on a stand in the corner.

"You play guitar?" Meg asked, pointing at the guitar.

"No. John's uncle gave that to him for Christmas, but he didn't want it so he gave it to me," Thomas said.

"Why didn't he want it?"

"It's his mom's brother and he wants nothing to do with her side of the family."

Meg stood up, grabbed the guitar and brought it back to the bed. She took a couple minutes to tune it, then looked up at Thomas.

"Any requests?" Meg asked.

Thomas gave her an amused smile. "You play guitar?"

Meg nodded. "My parents had me in violin lessons when I was younger, but I hated it. The lessons were held in a music store and there was a guy there who taught guitar lessons. I would watch the kids he was teaching; they were having so much fun. I begged my parents to let me take up guitar instead. When I turned thirteen, they finally gave in."

Meg reached into her purse and pulled out a guitar pick. She thought for a second, then started playing "Kryptonite" by 3 Doors Down.

"Do you sing?" Thomas asked.

Meg laughed and shook her head. "Not with other people around."

Thomas listened to her play. When she finished the song, she set the guitar back on its stand.

"You're really good," Thomas said.

"Thanks. But, I've only been playing for about four years. I still have a long way to go," Meg said.

Thomas got up and joined Meg on the bed.

"I like you, Meg."

Meg bit her bottom lip. "I like you, too, Thomas. You're not like other guys."

Thomas brushed Meg's hair off her face. "I'm not like Hercules."

Meg leaned forward and kissed Thomas. His lips were soft and his kiss was gentle. Meg's heart was beating so hard she thought it would burst right out of her. The longer Thomas kissed her, the weaker her body became. She lied down on the bed, bringing Thomas with her. Thomas rested his hand on Meg's stomach and it never strayed. He slid his tongue into Meg's mouth and she greeted it with her own. She sighed; it felt like electricity had entered her body and Meg wanted more. Thomas slowly pulled his tongue out of her mouth, gave her one last quick kiss on the lips and sat up. Meg kept her eyes closed for a couple more seconds and bit her lip. She wasn't sure, but she thought she actually whispered, 'wow'. When Meg opened her eyes, Thomas was back at his desk. Meg propped herself up on her elbows.

"Is everything all right?" Meg asked.

Thomas sat down. "I shouldn't have moved so fast. I'm sorry, Meg."

"Don't be sorry," Meg said. "It was kinda awesome."