Chapter 11: Sinking In

Okay first of all I want to thank you all for your continuous support and lovely reviews! You guys make this story worth writing and I cannot thank you enough. Special shout out to the ones who have consistently left more than one review for this story: I see you and I love you!

Now, I'm about to apologize. I know last chapter I promised a certain scene for this one, and believe me I had planned it that way, however once again it was getting way too long, and it was either cut it here and give you an update or wait another month to finish and post until December.

So I decided it was better to give you a faster update. But don't you worry, this one I believe is not entirely devoid of romance if you know what I mean ;)

Hope you enjoy it!

I gave up a long time ago trying to find love (...)

I couldn't beat it or join it so I just avoided it

Come what may, then you came

And I wanna hold you in my arms

I wanna let you break my heart

I wanna feel the way it feels to make you stay

And I know you'll bring me to my knees

I know you're way out of my league

I know I can't afford the price I'm gonna pay

But I want you anyway

~Want You Anyway

Loss was not exactly a concept he was unfamiliar with. Quite the contrary in fact. Eugene was very well acquainted with the feeling. Growing up an orphan and then becoming a thief meant that there were very few things in his life he didn't end up losing eventually. So he learned at a young age not to hold onto anything, or anyone for that matter. After all, orphans didn't belong with anyone or anywhere, they were just misfits, unwanted, a burden.

If he was meant to be unwanted then he better not yearn for things way beyond his reach. Money wasn't the problem, he could steal whatever riches he desired. Freedom wasn't an issue either, he traveled the world and left whenever he so wished, never staying in the same place for too long, never having a place to properly call home. He had always preferred it that way.

Affection, however? That was the single thing that he could never let himself want, the only thing unattainable to him. He couldn't steal it, he couldn't posses it and it had never been given to him, so why then would he ever make the mistake of wishing for it? No, he had spent enough sleepless nights in his childhood fruitlessly yearning for love, only to be met with the harsh reality of the world; orphans weren't meant to be loved.

So he wouldn't waste his years chasing impossible dreams. He was enough for himself, and he had never needed anyone else.

As Flynn Rider he understood this concept perfectly well. In a world as cruel as this it was every man for himself.

He wondered now if perhaps a part of him had forgotten about that golden rule as soon as he let Eugene Fitzherbert resurface within himself after so many years keeping him locked in the deepest corner of his soul.

Softie Eugene Fitzherbert, so starved for affection he couldn't be strong enough to fight his growing fondness for a bubbly young princess. He could almost imagine his own subconscious sneering at his weakness, that dark part of himself that had once been Flynn Rider taunting him, foretelling his own demise. He had sworn to himself he would never chase impossible daydreams and here he was, chasing Rapunzel like the moon follows the sun.

How awfully pathetic.

And yet he couldn't help himself.

Eugene had given up on fighting it. He recognized he would only be fighting a losing battle, a war with himself he had lost the minute he had unconsciously leaned in for a kiss that day in the candle-lit park.

Both he and Rapunzel had pointedly avoided the subject ever since. Rapunzel had not dared bring it up after her little drunken incident, too mortified with what she had said that day to even hint at the almost-kiss once more. Eugene for his part thought it was better that way, he was all too happy trying to pretend it had never happened himself. That, however, didn't stop him from teasing her about her complete lack of alcohol tolerance, and the amount of silliness that had spewed out of her mouth in her tipsy stupor, while artfully skirting around the subject of her insistence on finishing what he had started back in the park.

He would be lying if he said he didn't enjoy the way her cheeks flushed whenever he brought it up. And he found especially amusing the way she would clam up whenever he mentioned her bellybutton comment. Eugene was still at a loss with that particular statement, seeing as Rapunzel adamantly refused to clue him in about when exactly she'd had the chance to see him shirtless. Regardless, he found that he didn't mind quite as much as he probably ought to. Given by her odd praise, Rapunzel clearly had enjoyed whatever she'd seen, and that could only mean a boost to his own vanity.

It also meant a whole new problem that he wasn't quite ready to address just yet.

It was evident now that his growing attraction towards Rapunzel wasn't exactly unrequited, if her tipsy confessions were anything to go by. And if he was honest with himself, Eugene didn't know what to do with that knowledge.

Despite the fact they had been pretending that almost-kiss had never happened, it was very much clear the nature of their relationship had changed considerably since that day. Eugene had stopped walking on eggshells around her, it was pointless to keep lying to himself about his feelings for the young princess, and distancing himself from her had only managed to peeve Rapunzel. That didn't mean he was about to act on those feelings, though.

And Rapunzel... well he was surprised to say he was now privy to a whole new side of her exuberant personality. Eugene already knew she was completely incapable of masking her true feelings, wearing her heart on her sleeve was one of her most remarkable traits. However, he discovered that she was also quite affectionate once she was comfortable enough around someone, that someone being him in this case. Having Rapunzel's loyal friendship now -and he suspected also a certain amount of affection that ran deeper than platonic feelings- meant that she would constantly seek his close company and approval.

She would drag him around town, hands wrapped around his arm, babbling excitedly about the things she liked and pointing at others she thought he might find interesting. It was quite endearing really, that she was concerned enough about his own interests to ask for his opinion on what he would like to do or see during their time exploring the city. She constantly held his hand too, her fingers interlocking with his perhaps almost unconsciously, as if she was afraid if she didn't cling to him, if there wasn't a part of her touching him, he would up an leave at some point. Eugene didn't know how to tell her he had long since given up the idea of trying to escape her.

And sometimes, when she was particularly excited, she would wrap her delicate arms around his waist in an enthusiastic embrace, reminiscent of that time right before they left Corona when she had hugged him out of the blue in her excitement to leave the kingdom. Back then he had stiffened under her touch, too startled by her sudden gesture to even react to it. Eugene sometimes wished he could regain that level of indifference towards her. Now every time she touched him he felt his heart squeeze in his chest.

It was a bittersweet kind of torture.

They remained in the kingdom of Cygnus for a few more days, exploring the city to Rapunzel's heart's content until he was certain he could map every nook and cranny in his mind's eye with uncanny accuracy. They ventured towards the outskirts of town and into the wildernesses of the forest surrounding the village once Rapunzel was satisfied with her strolls around the city, and she marveled at the difference between the rocky landscapes of Cygnus compared to the soft lush hills around the forests of Corona.

And every night per Rapunzel's insistence they would return to the Snuggly Duckling tavern, despite Eugene's misgivings, to visit Rapunzel's new unlikely friends. The once menacing thugs had taken a liking to her, and every time she crossed the rickety threshold they hooted their greetings, glad to see her again. They never spared Eugene a single glance, and he couldn't say he was quite bothered by that. Better to remain unnoticed lest they were reminded of their previous intentions to exchange him for a bountiful reward.

Rapunzel for her part, was content to spend the last hours of the day singing and dancing with the Snuggly Duckling thugs, while being careful to avoid drinking any alcoholic beverage offered to her again. After a night of joyful conversations with the thugs they would go back to their shared room at the Winter Rose Inn, and Eugene would be faced with the same problem that had haunted him since that very first night in Cygnus. Sharing a bed with Rapunzel was getting increasingly more frustrating, but Rapunzel refused to let him sleep on the floor again and he was now a soft-hearted fool apparently, so he didn't put up much of a fight before snuggling under the covers next to her, impossibly close to her petite frame yet so far away he might as well be in another room for how much he could not touch her. Not while being on the same bed, not as intimately as he would have liked.

And so the days went by, almost in a blur. Every day they set out to explore a new part of the kingdom, and every day Eugene dreaded the moment Rapunzel would deem it time to go back home.

But no amount of silent apprehension from his part would have the ability to freeze time and prevent it from happening, he knew that. And the dreaded moment finally arrived one sunny afternoon.

He sat upon the soft grass, hands outstretched behind him supporting his own weight as he leaned back leisurely. Eugene watched with a relaxed sigh as the fluffy clouds above him slowly tainted with shades of pink and purple as the sun made its decent over the horizon, Rapunzel's soft giggles filtering in the background combined with the rushing sound of water. They had stumbled upon a rather large waterfall that day while exploring the woods, and Rapunzel had been so utterly delighted by the discovery of that particularly isolated haven that she had insisted on staying for longer than they probably should've.

He couldn't find it in himself to care though, as he watched her contentedly splashing her bare feet upon the shallow water of a nearby stream, the cascading waterfall framing her silhouette in the background. Eugene was hardly aware of the soft smile displaying on his lips as his eyes followed her. After a while she turned to face him, green eyes sparkling and golden locks in wild disarray, the hem of her dress completely drenched, and he could honestly say no other look was more becoming to her than the one she had right in that moment; soft and wild and completely free.

She waddled her way across the shallow brook and sat right next to him at the edge of the stream, her feet still dangling over the cold water. Rapunzel contemplated the astounding view before her for a quiet moment, as if trying to save every single thing her eyes stumbled upon to her memory.

After a few minutes of relaxed silence she leaned her head against his shoulder, and Eugene felt more than heard the deep sigh escaping her lips.

"What is it?" He raised a curious eyebrow, not sure whether to wrap an arm around her shoulders and bring her closer or just stay right where he was, pretending her closeness didn't affect him.

Rapunzel hesitated for a moment before answering. "I thinks it's time."

He knew the moment was coming, had been expecting it for a while in fact. It probably shouldn't have felt like a bucket of ice cold water being poured over his back, sending chills down his spine. But it did anyway. And he selfishly tried to stall it.

"Huh?"

Rapunzel's shoulders dropped, as if it almost pained her to say the words clogged in the back of her throat. "I think it's time to go back home."

A selfish part of him wanted to convince her to stay a bit longer, wanted to hold onto her for just a few more days. He knew she could be easily swayed, that he could convince her with just a few words.

He said nothing instead.

"The past few days have been... amazing, much more than what I could have ever hoped." She continued, her feet swirling over the brook, toes touching the surface and sending ripples across the crystalline water. "But I've been away long enough, I should go back now."

Rapunzel heaved a soft breath, her back stiffening as she closed her eyes. "I have to go back."

It sounded more like she was trying to convince herself of that statement. And as much as he wanted to be the selfish one again, he would not try to deter her from her decision.

"You're right... we should go back now." Eugene forced the words out of his throat as he shrugged, moving to stand up once more. He held up his hand to help her up, and he felt her eyes set upon him, a hint of regret buried deep within her emerald irises.

It was a bittersweet kind of irony, really. Rapunzel was probably the most precious treasure he had ever stolen, and the very first he would have to return.

So no, Eugene wasn't a stranger to loss, that much was certain, but that didn't mean the thought of eventually losing Rapunzel's company didn't left a gaping hole in his heart, one that he was still not sure how he would ever mend again.

They returned to the Snuggly Duckling that night, just like every other night before that. This time was different though, Rapunzel could feel a sense of foreboding as soon as she entered the tavern. Unlike previous times, the thugs in the pub didn't greet her with quite as much enthusiasm as before, their smiles and cheers dimmer than usual, their tone not quite as boisterous.

She supposed it should be fitting for the situation. She entered the tavern knowing it would probably be the last time she visited the place, and although her acquaintance with the thugs had been brief she already felt like she could call them good friends, or at least better friends than the ones she had pretended she didn't really need back in her life in the palace of Corona.

They were genuine at least, and although tough and menacing-looking they weren't exactly unkind, unlike the members of the royal court. The Snuggly Duckling thugs might not have been the most innocent crowd she had mingled with, but she at least had the certainty that when they dedicated a gap-toothed smile towards her they meant it.

Rapunzel had shared many stories with them, and she came to know their names and their dreams after numerous conversations. She knew about Hook Hand's dream to become a concert pianist, about Big Nose's deep desire to find love, she was amused by Ulf the wannabe mime, and Vladimir's strange fascination with ceramic unicorns, and she was surprised to find Attila's cupcakes unexpectedly delicious. It was almost hilarious how they all shared perfectly innocent and almost silly hobbies while still looking like a bunch of murderous ruffians, further proof that she had been spending a long time judging a book by its cover.

Just like she had done with Eugene.

Rapunzel couldn't deny that the first time she'd met him she had thought him nothing more than a shallow selfish thief. Never in her wildest dreams would she have expected to find a whole new side of him buried deep within that cocky facade of his.

Yet here she was, pining for him like the lovesick damsel in a romance book.

She shook off the thought as soon as it materialized in her mind. Now was not the time to be thinking about it. Instead, Rapunzel examined the faces of the thugs with curious eyes, noticing how they seemed fidgety and somewhat nervous all of a sudden, a far cry from their usual rambunctious mood. She and Eugene slowly made their way toward the bar at the furthest corner of the pub, and her eyes instantly settled over a particularly large figure.

"Hey, Hook Hand!" Rapunzel greeted her friend with her usual bright smile. "What is going on? Why does everyone look so gloomy tonight?"

Instead of smiling like she had come to expect, Hook Hand regarded her with a serious frown, which would have been unusual in and of itself had it not been for the fact that his scrutinizing eyes also traveled towards Eugene, his moody frown only deepening at the sight of the younger man before him.

It made Rapunzel's heart quicken in trepidation. Normally the thugs would completely disregard Eugene's presence, it was rather obvious they didn't quite favor him as much as they did her. The fact that Hook Hand was paying any attention to him could not foretell anything good.

Hook Hand's eyes narrowed as he towered over Eugene with quite the menacing stare, and she could see Eugene visibly gulp at the sight of the threatening thug antagonizing him.

"Listen here fella, I'm only gonna ask this once and I don't want any of your cock and bull stories this time around." Hook Hand's gruff voice took on a dangerous tone as he waved his finger in front of Eugene, who firmly stood his ground and raised a questioning eyebrow.

"What are you-"

"Are you or are you not Flynn Rider?" Hook Hand interrupted. An eerie silence settled over the crowded pub and Eugene's eyes widened just for an instant, his gaze briefly drifting towards her before turning back to Hook Hand's narrowed eyes.

"I already told you who I am." Eugene crossed his arms over his chest, trying to keep a self-assured stance.

That answer didn't seem to please Hook Hand much and he took a threatening step forward. "Well, something tells me you're lying."

Rapunzel quickly stepped between them, trying to prevent a very much unpleasant confrontation before it even began. She kept a protective hand over Eugene's arm as she turned to look at Hook Hand with a bewildered smile.

"Hook Hand, what is this all about?"

The thug's stare softened just slightly, but it was enough to calm Rapunzel's frazzled nerves. "The red head twins came back earlier today. They were evidently looking for the so-called Rider. Weren't very pleased to say the least."

"In fact they were quite angry." Interjected Big Nose, an unsettled murmur following his statement as the other thugs agreed.

Rapunzel felt Eugene stiffening under her touch at the mere mention of the twins as she heard him swear under his breath. She supposed whoever could provoke such a reaction from him and unsettle a crowd of big menacing thugs could only mean a very real danger.

Rapunzel averted her eyes while Hook Hand continued. "They seemed very convinced that Flynn Rider was here, said they wouldn't leave the kingdom without him."

"And they made sure to add there would be hell to pay for anyone hiding him." Added Vladimir from the corner of the room, his stormy stare appearing threatening to Rapunzel for the very first time since that first night she'd met the thugs.

"So, are you or are you not Flynn Rider." She could tell Hook Hand's patience was wearing thin as he stressed every word in his question. Rapunzel couldn't look him in the eyes.

They had been able to escape the Snuggly Duckling pub once completely unscathed, but Rapunzel doubted they would be able to fool them twice. She wondered if they would betray them to the Stabbingtons, if the nights they'd shared telling stories and trading dreams ultimately meant nothing compared to a prized reward in exchange of one Flynn Rider. It was her fault, it was her fault for blindly trusting them despite Eugene's warnings, her fault for insisting on returning against his better judgment. Her breath caught in her throat.

Her raising thoughts were interrupted by Hook Hand's gruff voice. "Listen lassie, we cannot help if you don't tell us the truth."

Her eyes snapped back to him with a bewildered stare, lips working against words that she could not quite form. She heard Eugene heave a sigh behind her, reluctantly stepping forward as he faced the taller thug.

"I am. I am Flynn Rider."

Rapunzel couldn't tell if Hook Hand was pleased or not with that statement. He regarded Eugene with an almost blank look, as if testing him to tell the truth. His glare didn't seem to deter Eugene.

"The Stabbingtons are looking for me, but Rapunzel has nothing to do with it." He continued, stepping between Rapunzel and the bigger thug in a somewhat protective stance. "So if you want to hand me over go ahead, but let her leave first. She needs to go before they arrive."

Rapunzel's brow furrowed and she almost voiced her protest. She would sooner be captured by the Stabbingtons before she left him behind. Hook Hand and the rest of the thugs remained silent for a moment, exchanging meaningful looks between them before nodding subtly as they reached an unspoken agreement.

"I was going to question why you trusted the idiot." Hook Hand turned to her as he nodded towards an offended Eugene. "But now I see he seems to have good intentions, so I'll let it slide... for now." He added the last part as he shoot Eugene a warning glare.

Rapunzel felt like she could breathe easily again, and her hopeful eyes set over Hook Hand's large frame. He smiled reassuringly, spreading his arms to gesture at the rest of the thugs surrounding them. "How may we be of help, missy?"

Rapunzel's lips lifted into a relieved smile. "We need to leave the kingdom, as soon as possible."

Hook Hand nodded. "Where to?"

Eugene and Rapunzel exchanged a glance. She thought she was ready, it was time to go back home.

"Corona."

Turns out arranging their trip back home had been far easier than planning their escape from there. Big Nose had been the first one to volunteer to help, apparently he had a sailor cousin who conveniently would be heading to Corona the very next day, and could easily accommodate them both if he asked.

Plans were made and many thanks were exchanged between Rapunzel and the rest of the Snuggly Duckling thugs, who all agreed to stall the Stabbington Brothers if necessary and conceal their knowledge of Rapunzel and Eugene's whereabouts.

When the time came she bid them a tearful goodbye, hugging each of her friends with a thankful smile and misty eyes. Hook Hand was the last, and surprisingly enough he seemed almost as teary-eyed as she was as he squeezed her hand in encouragement.

"Go, live your dream." He smiled.

Rapunzel wasn't sure she wanted to say she had already done that, she wasn't leaving to fulfill her dreams, in fact she was doing exactly the opposite. But she settled for a watery grin as she nodded in assent.

"We will." Eugene reassured as he came to stand next to her, and Hook Hand's soft smile instantly slipped from his face, a disgruntled frown in its place.

"Your dream stinks. I was talking to her."

Eugene rolled his eyes and proceeded to exit the pub with one last careless wave goodbye. Rapunzel giggled at the hostile exchange and stood on her tiptoes to deliver a soft kiss upon Hook Hand's rough cheek.

"Thank you, for everything." She smiled, and spared the odd but ultimately good-hearted thugs one last look before she crossed the threshold of the Snuggly Duckling tavern for the last time.

Sleep eluded Rapunzel that night. She lay awake upon the pillows, blankly staring at the peeling paint of the ceiling above her, Pascal's little snorts the only sound interrupting the stillness of the night.

She had known all this time that this trip wouldn't last forever, that she would eventually have to go back home and face the aftermath of her reckless decision to escape. That didn't make the thought of returning home any easier on her.

Rapunzel knew what would await her once she returned to Corona, however she wasn't sure she was quite ready to go back to a life in the palace, forever trapped inside once more. Her life now seemed to have a before and after, and it was all linked to the man sleeping beside her, his back turned to her, his figure only a silhouette in the darkness of the room.

Returning to Corona meant giving him up forever, but never going back wasn't an option. She sighed as she turned on her side, now facing him completely. She desperately wished there was another way, another path she could take that didn't mean losing one thing to keep the other.

Eugene seemed to sense her uneasiness, and turned on his side to face her.

"Everything alright?"

Rapunzel could barely make out a frown on his face and she lifted her hand up to his face, her fingers softly tracing the lines between his brows trying to smooth them.

"I'm fine... just... thinking."

"About what?" His voice sounded thick with sleep, just barely above a whisper. She thought she would miss it when the time came where she couldn't hear it again.

"Will you be coming back with me? To Corona?" She blurted out, barely thinking her words through.

The thought had just occurred to her, but it stuck to the back of her mind with stubborn tenacity. He had the choice, he could stay if he wanted to, or escape to any other place of his choosing. Going back to Corona only constituted a threat to his safety, he was the most wanted thief there. After all, he had already fulfilled his end of the bargain. However Rapunzel was acutely aware she had yet to fulfill her own.

Eugene looked at her as if she had suddenly lost her mind. "What do you mean? Of course I'm coming with you, why wouldn't I?"

Rapunzel shrugged. "I thought perhaps you'd rather not go back to the place where you are most wanted."

Eugene's gaze softened, lips lifting into a small smile. "I have a rather big incentive to go back."

The statement tugged at her heart, and she felt herself returning his smile with a bittersweet grin of her own. "Right, the crown."

"Hmm... the crown..." He hummed, not quite an agreement. Eugene let out a small huff as he turned to lie on his back, no longer facing her.

"Well Blondie, regardless, I'm still coming with you." The teasing tone was back in his voice now. "Unless you want to leave me behind to face the Stabbingtons on my own."

A soft laugh escaped her lips. "Hmm, not really. I would rather keep you with me."

She snuggled closer to him, she didn't really think before she wrapped an arm around his waist, her head resting comfortably on his shoulder, body pressed close to his. Who cared about what was appropriate or not at this point? Her time with him was running low, so propriety and decorum could be dammed for all she cared.

Eugene hesitated for just a moment before he wrapped an arm loosely around her shoulders, his chin setting upon the crown of her head.

"Good." He murmured just before she drifted into a dreamless sleep.

They woke up the next morning at the crack of dawn, and wasted no time in gathering what little belongings they had before they left the Winter Rose Inn for the last time.

Pascal was none too pleased at the early awakening, and he constantly made his displeasure clear as he grunted and huffed from his spot on Rapunzel's shoulder.

"I know, Pascal, I know. But you'll have plenty of time to sleep in the boat." She tried to soothe as they swiftly made their way toward the docks.

Pascal grunted in reply. "Fine then, think about this; soon we will be back home and you'll be able to rest to your heart's content."

Pascal shot her an unimpressed look. Apparently he was as thrilled at the prospect of going back as she was.

It wasn't long before they spotted the masts of the ships docked in Cygnus' port, and soon they found Big Nose waiting for them at the previously discussed place they had agreed to meet on near the harbor.

He led them toward a medium sized trading boat anchored to the pier, and introduced them to his cousin, who would be taking them back to Corona. They quickly exchanged greetings and goodbyes accordingly and soon enough boarded the small ship, with everything ready to start the journey towards their new destination.

Before she knew it they set sail, the boat already moving forward with every crashing wave, the harbor appearing smaller and smaller as they moved further away, until Cygnus and its quaint port were only a speck in the horizon.

Rapunzel's heart thundered in her chest, a strange feeling -not quite dread nor quite expectancy- settled in the pit of her stomach, making her as queasy as the first time she had boarded a ship.

And as Cygnus disappeared behind the hazy marine mist, she wondered if she was ready to face the last part of her hectic journey.

Two cloaked figures moved with acute stealth across the rocky wilderness of the dark woods, their steps muffled by the thick underbrush scattered upon the ground.

One of them paused in their step, thinking for a minute as they inspected their surroundings. The person next to them huffed under their breath, lifting a tired hand to remove the cloak obscuring their features, reveling the face of a young man.

"Are we close yet?" The young man asked with a hint of annoyance.

His companion grunted in response, the gruff voice coming from within the depths of the cloak indicating it was another man hiding behind the garment. "The village shouldn't be much further away. Let's keep moving."

"How do we know we're going to the right place this time?" The younger man complained. "We've been searching for weeks and it seems to be futile."

"Well then we just keep searching until we find what we need." Replied the cloaked man beside him with a dismissive tone, already moving ahead.

The young man huffed. "How much you wanna bet we won't find anything, again."

His statement was met by silence.

He continued unfazed. "Nobody seems to have seen or heard of him for weeks! It's like he disappeared from the face of the earth."

"He has quite the reputation, I'm sure he will turn up soon enough." His cloaked companion argued with a displeased huff. "Besides, we got a hint he could be hiding around here."

"We had a hint months ago and he wasn't there either when we went looking for him."

He was answered only by silence once more.

"Don't you think we should just give up? He's nowhere to be found, no matter how long we look!"

The cloaked man groaned under his breath, evidently tired with the conversation. "You know the King's orders; we are not to return without him."

"Well he clearly doesn't want to be found." Huffed the young man trailing behind him. "What if we fail again?"

"We keep trying." Came the nonplussed reply. "You know our duty, His Grace wants him found come hell or high water, and he has His Majesty's favor, therefore we are tasked to bring him back with us and not return a moment sooner."

"What's it to His Majesty anyway? We are not even sure he-"

"Enough!" The cloaked figure snapped, successfully silencing his companion. "We know their reasons and it is not our place to question them. His Grace is rather desperate and so is the King, so we will keep looking until we find our target. Understood?"

The younger man nodded reluctantly, and they resumed their walk in tense silence.

Before long they stumbled upon a cozy-looking cottage in the middle of the woods, a rickety sign hanging by the side of the road indicating it was an establishment rather than a living space, the name The Snuggly Duckling came to their attention upon closer inspection.

The two men exchanged a contemplative look, before one of them shrugged and stepped towards the tavern with a decisive gait, the other one following close behind.

The tavern turned out to be overcrowded with burly men, looking more like thugs than honorable patrons. The new guests weren't deterred though. Such a pub seemed to be the perfect place to look for their appointed target.

The thugs inside the tavern barely spared them a glance, not quite interested in the new patrons visiting the pub for the first time. They both sat upon the rickety stools in the corner of the bar, eyes scanning the crowd with careful scrutiny.

One of the burly men who seemed to be the bartender approached them with a menacing gait. "Anything to drink?"

The two men exchanged glances before the younger one spoke. "No thanks. We're actually looking for someone."

His no-nonsense tone seemed to catch the bigger man off guard, and he cocked an eyebrow in a silent question.

"He seems to be rather infamous around these parts." Continued the younger man, eyes searching for any hint of a reaction. "Name's Flynn Rider."

Upon the mention of said name a disturbed hush seemed to settle over the entire tavern. It lasted only a second, but it was long enough to alert the two newly arrived men. "Ever heard of him?"

"I'm afraid not." Answered the burlier man before them with a noncommittal grunt.

"He's lying" replied the gruff voice of the cloaked figure, while his companion narrowed his eyes.

"I know nothing of Flynn Rider." The bartender shrugged, but his eyes widened just the slightest bit, enough for the two examining men to notice.

The younger man leaned forward, setting his elbows upon the bar in a gesture that indicated he was about to discuss business. "Listen buddy, we can either do this the easy way, or the hard way."

The bartender remained silent, giving nothing to indicate any kind of reaction towards the vague threat. The younger man continued undeterred, trying a different approach. "We are willing to compensate any kind of information that leads us to the whereabouts of Flynn Rider."

The bartender's eyes drifted towards the thugs standing in the far corner of the pub, he nodded his head once in a discreet gesture before turning to face the two men in front of him once more. "Very well. I'll be right back then."

He disappeared along other two thugs towards the back of the tavern. The two cloaked men waited for a few minutes, one completely unfazed, the other fidgeting slightly.

"It couldn't have been that easy, could it?" Murmured the younger of the two. His companion remained silent, as usual.

After a few minutes of waiting the thugs returned again, carrying a rather drunk elderly man by the scruff of his stained shirt. They dangled the drunken man before the awaiting men like a lifeless puppet.

"So, this seems to be the man you're looking for." The biggest of the thugs announced firmly. The pathetic elderly man stretched his hands out before exclaiming triumphantly, "Arrest me!"

The younger of the two cloaked figures eyed the drunkard with a somewhat disgusted sneer before his narrowed gaze snapped back towards the thugs. "Is this a joke?"

The man hiding behind the cloak let out an impatient grunt. "We don't have time for this. Flynn Rider has been here, hasn't he?"

"Indeed he has." A new voice filtered across the tavern, and everyone's eyes turned toward the source of the deep baritone. A pair of tall men stood from the spot where they had been sitting within the shadows of the pub. This time the silence that stretched over the tavern carried a different kind of tension.

The two redhead men approached, their steps like predators approaching their prey. It was evident they were twins, both of them almost identical save for the fact that one carried a distinctive eyepatch. The one with the sideburns let his lips curl into a smirk that conveyed nothing but danger.

"You've met him, haven't you?" The redhead addressed the thugs, a murderous glint in his eye. "You have been hiding him from us."

The thugs exchanged a look between each other before one of them answered. "He's not here anymore."

"Where is he then?" The burly redhead asked, his knuckles cracking behind his tightly bound fist, while his twin fingered a considerably large sword strapped to his back with a threatening smile.

The thugs didn't appear to be quite as intimidated as they should've been under the twins' murderous stare. "We have no idea where he is now, only that he's not here anymore."

"That is another lie." The raspy voice of the cloaked man called out again. The twins exchanged a look.

"You won't find him in the kingdom, that's for sure." One of the thugs argued, apparently already tired with the conversation. "You are free to go search the rest of the world for him, for all I care. Now leave the tavern, the four of you! There's no Flynn Rider to be looking for here."

The twins smiled, as if the knowledge that Flynn Rider wasn't to be found in Cygnus was a triumph rather than a setback. "If he's not here, then... Corona."

The twin with the eyepatch nodded in agreement.

"Yes, you're right." His twin continued. "The slimy bastard wouldn't waste the chance to ransom the princess for enough money to last him three lifetimes, he must've been biding his time."

"Corona... the princess... so it's true then?" Murmured the younger of the cloaked men, a contemplative frown setting over his face. This attracted the attention of the burly twins, who set their predatory eyes over the two mysterious men.

"If you're looking for Rider... we know exactly where to find him." The twin with the sideburns approached them, an evil grin on his face. "And for the right price, we can bring him to you..."

He shoved a piece of parchment towards the shorter man, clearly a wanted poster depicting the face of none other than Flynn Rider, their appointed target.

"...dead or alive."

To both Rapunzel and Eugene's utter surprise, they didn't need to be aboard the boat for long before they discovered that Big Nose and his cousin couldn't be more different to one another, both in looks and in attitude.

While Big Nose wasn't a ruffian per se -or at least not in the sense that he had committed any major crimes to be granted an arrest warrant- he did have the misfortune of possessing all the wrong looks, enough to make him appear like a threatening thug. His cousin Gunther on the other hand, couldn't look less threatening if he tried.

He was a rather simple man, somewhat short and on the thin side, and with the distinctive lack of a... well... big nose to be precise, unlike his less fortunate cousin. He was a cheery and easy-going fellow, owner of a trading boat in which he carried small shipments to the neighbouring islands and kingdoms surrounding Cygnus. Admittedly, Rapunzel's first thought had been that the man was some kind of smuggler, given by his dubious connection to the Snuggly Duckling thugs and the small scale of the cargo aboard the ship, however Gunther didn't appear to be the kind of man who would be involved in illicit activities, and she wasn't about to ask either.

The trading boat was decidedly much smaller than the large merchant vessel Rapunzel had boarded on her way outside Corona, that much was certain. She had to admit that fact made her just a little bit less queasy. Rapunzel didn't think she was quite ready to be aboard such an enormous vessel again any time soon.

Which was just as well, with a boat so small there were less formalities to fulfil. No one asked for any papers to identify them or documents to be able to cross from one kingdom to another. No one questioned their identity, nor the nature of her relationship with Eugene. Gunther just seemed to accept they were friends of his cousin in need of help, and that was enough for him. He found no need to question them any further as he led them to the small cabin she and Eugene would share for the duration of their trip.

This time their assigned quarters were even more austere than the ones they had shared before, with only a pair of hammocks to act as a place to sleep. Rapunzel was reluctant to admit the lack of a firm surface to rest in wasn't the only thing she would miss from their previous accommodations. Still the tiny cabin was cozy enough for the two of them, and provided enough privacy for Rapunzel's delicate modesty, which she was infinitely grateful for. She would've certainly hated to have to share a cabin with the rest of the people aboard.

The small size of the boat meant there was really no need for a big crew. Gunther took no more than five men with him, just enough to have things running smoothly, along with his wife and their two little children. The wife, Mary, was a plump and demure-looking woman, sweet and soft-tempered and with a patience that Rapunzel could only admire to be able to control her mischievous and energetic kids. The daughter could be no older than eight, pigtails ruffled with the sea breeze and puffy cheeks splattered with freckles. The boy must have been around 5 years old, with a messy flop of hair falling over his eyes and a contagious toothy grin.

The kids were instantly drawn to the new strangers. Both Eugene and Rapunzel had been walking along the main deck that first afternoon aboard, enjoying the view of the sun setting over the horizon, when Rapunzel heard tiny footsteps approaching before a soft tug on the hem of her skirts caught her attention.

"Who are you?" A pair of curious blue eyes met hers, and Rapunzel could only smile at the little girl examining her.

"Oh, hello!" Rapunzel knelt before the girl. "My name is Rapunzel."

She stretched a hand out in a friendly greeting, which the girl seemed reluctant to shake. She noticed how her blue eyes roamed her face, as if trying to assess if the stranger in front of her could be trusted.

"Are you a friend of mommy?" The girl asked, her head tilted in curiosity.

"Uhh... I am a friend of Big Nose." Rapunzel replied instead, unsure if that was an answer the girl would be satisfied with.

It seemed to be enough. A small grin stretched over the girl's lips. "I'm Nadia."

She reached behind her, and Rapunzel noticed for the first time the tiny figure hiding behind the girl's back. "This is my brother, Theo."

The boy seemed to be a bit timid, but soon warmed up to her when Rapunzel greeted him with a bright smile. The siblings were just a tad less inclined to meet Eugene with as much cheerfulness, apparently it was easier to approach an innocent-looking Rapunzel than the much taller man beside her. Rapunzel was quick to reassure them that her companion was just as harmless as her, and it only took one of Eugene's smooth smiles and a good natured 'hello' for the kids to greet him with joyful grins.

Their meeting was cut short, however, by the voice of their frazzled mother approaching. "Nadia! Theo! Good heavens, how many times do I have to tell you not to bother the rest of the crew!"

Mary quickly ushered her kids back towards the trapdoor leading belowdecks, shooting them an apologetic smile. "I am so sorry, they are curious kids. I hope they weren't bothering you too much."

"Oh no, not at all!" Rapunzel reassured. "We were just getting to know each other."

"I tell them to stay belowdecks, but they never listen. Always running around the main deck bothering the sailors with their incessant questions." The plump woman sighed with a slightly disapproving shake of her head, as if this was a regular occurrence. "But oh well, that's just the way with kids, constantly a hassle."

Rapunzel had the vague impression that despite her insistence that the kids had been anything but trouble, the older woman would still feel like she had the need to keep a careful watch over her children in case they started bothering the crew aboard.

Which led to an idea slowly setting in the back of her mind.

Rapunzel contemplated the cracks along the wooden wall above her that night as she swayed softly in her assigned hammock, Pascal snoozing peacefully over her stomach.

"Eugene?"

"Hmm?" Came his half-hearted reply from his spot across the other side of the small cabin, the thickness of his voice indicating he was already half asleep.

"How do you feel about babysitting?"

There was a moment of silence in which Eugene seemed to be contemplating if he had indeed heard her correctly.

"...babysitting?"

"Yup, babysitting."

"Do I want to know what this is about?" Eugene's voice took on an edge that usually implied he was certain Rapunzel was about to suggest something crazy.

Maybe she was, but she had already made up her mind.

"I just think we could help taking care of Gunther and Mary's kids while we are aboard." Rapunzel shrugged, although she knew in the darkness of the room he could hardly see her.

"Why exactly should we do that?" He seemed more confused than judging, and so she continued unfazed.

"Well, because they are already helping us enough by taking us with them to Corona without expecting anything in return." Rapunzel chewed on the inside of her cheek, contemplating her next words. "And Mary looks like she needs a hand. It's the least we could do to repay the favor."

Rapunzel wasn't quite sure if Eugene was just tired enough or genuinely liked her suggestion, but it didn't take her long to convince him to agree to her scheme.

And so, to Gunther and Mary's utter surprise, they took on babysitting duty during their trip.

Rapunzel was happy to find she quite enjoyed spending most of her time with the children. Having spent her whole life in a special kind of almost isolation inside the palace meant she'd rarely, if ever, had the chance to interact with little kids before. Now that she was an adult she couldn't help finding their company quite endearing. She was surprised by their sheer amount of energy, and their enthusiasm was enough to rival her own. Rapunzel was content to spend her days playing with them, she giggled at their wonderstruck gaze and the way they found Pascal fascinating, and didn't mind answering their curious questions whenever they arose. It also helped that this way she felt like she was actually being useful instead of just an added burden to the crew, she could keep an eye on the children while their parents occupied themselves with important tasks.

Rapunzel knew Eugene was less enthusiastic about the prospect of spending most of the day entertaining Gunther's little kids. He seemed to find the children's endless energy a bit daunting and didn't have quite the patience to satisfy their curiosity or answer their every nuanced question in as much detail as Rapunzel did. Despite this, it was undeniable he had a certain way with them, an easy-going charm that became apparent whenever the kids requested to play with them.

Rapunzel had gotten a glimpse of that part of him that first day in Cygnus when the four redhead sisters had braided her hair, however this time she could witness in full detail just how much experience Eugene seemed to have in handling younger kids, an experience that he undeniably must've acquired in all his years spent in an orphanage.

He regaled the two children with fantasy stories, his words narrating with vivid detail tales of mysterious lands and chivalrous heroes and their astounding feats. Nadia and Theo seemed to hang onto his every word, eyes widening and breath held whenever something particularly exciting happened in the story. It was evident story time with Eugene was one of their favorite parts of the day.

Rapunzel and Eugene soon found a healthy balance with their newly assigned task. Rapunzel had the patience to entertain the kids with silly games, riddles and songs, and sometimes lengthy conversations that enlightened the children's curiosity. Eugene for his part seemed more content to play with them until he exhausted their energy.

Just like in that particular moment.

A soft breeze brushed Rapunzel's hair as she watched the very last rays of sunshine dissolving into a splatter of reds and purples tainting the sky. The children's loud giggles caught her attention, and a soft smile played upon her lips as her eyes set over the scene playing before her.

The sight of Eugene playing with the kids never failed to make her heart stutter in her chest, for some unexplainable reason.

"They are a handful, aren't they?" She heard Mary's soft laugh beside her, startling her out of her reverie.

Rapunzel smiled. "That they are. But they are also quite adorable, so that kinda makes up for it."

Mary's smile widened, her eyes taking on a loving sparkle as she regarded her kids. "That's parenthood for you. Kids may be hard to handle but at the end of the day you can't help but love them all the more with each passing day."

Rapunzel's eyes drifted back towards the young siblings at the sound Eugene's deep chuckle. She watched as he lifted the little boy over his shoulders while Theo squealed with delighted laughter, his sister impatiently waiting her turn for a piggyback ride as she bounced on the tip of her toes.

"Have you thought about having any of your own?"

"Huh?"

The question took Rapunzel by surprise, and she could do nothing but stare in a confused state as she tried to decipher Mary's words.

"Kids." Mary clarified after a brief pause. "Have you thought about having kids of your own?"

"Oh! Uhm..." Rapunzel mumbled, not sure how to respond to that.

She would be lying if she said she hadn't. As future queen and only heir to the throne of Corona, it was Rapunzel's duty to eventually provide the kingdom with an heir and secure her family's lineage. However, the thought of having kids had never been a very easy one to contemplate, it usually led her mind to wander toward less pleasant conclusions, like the fact that the father of her children would ultimately be someone of her parents or the royal council's choosing instead of her own, any child she might have would be the product of an arranged marriage and not one brought by love.

The mere idea made her feel faint.

So she settled for a half-truth. "Ah... no. No, I haven't really given it much thought."

Mary hummed in acquiescence. "Well, you are both young, you have your whole life ahead of you. I have to say though, I do think you two would make amazing parents."

Rapunzel's breath caught in her throat, she was sure if she tried to talk only a faint croak would escape her parted lips.

She shivered at the implication behind Mary's words. Her and Eugene... parents? As in... together? Rapunzel hadn't really stopped to consider the way in which Gunther and Mary regarded her relationship with Eugene, they had never questioned it before. It was pretty evident now it was because they were quite convinced they were actually a couple.

How awfully ironic it was that this time around they hadn't even tried to pretend being a married couple and still had apparently been mistaken for one.

Mary's words only seemed to echo within her, permanently stuck in the back of her head where Rapunzel couldn't quite shake them off. The thought had never once even crossed her mind; she and Eugene parents? Together? It was laughable, ridiculous even!

And yet...

She watched, her breathing faint, as Eugene kept playing with the little siblings, his laugh contagious and his smile bright. He brushed a playful hand over Nadia's head ruffling her hair, and lifted Theo in the air, his grin only widening at the boy's delighted giggles. And she allowed herself to picture it, if only for a flitting instant.

Perhaps, if destiny had played their cards differently... in another life where she wasn't a princess and he wasn't a thief, if they had only met under different circumstances, just maybe, she might have been allowed the chance to choose.

As it was now, it could only be a ridiculous dream, one Rapunzel had no interest in exploring any further.

She couldn't help but agree with Mary, though. She doubted Eugene had ever given it any thought, Rapunzel supposed it wasn't something high on the list of priorities of a wanted thief always on the run. But she could tell, if Eugene ever decided to settle down, if he ever allowed himself the chance, he would be an amazing father.

It only hurt that she wasn't meant to witness it if the time ever came.

The thought dampened her mood, wrapping her in downcast silence for the remainder of the day.

Rapunzel didn't sleep well that night. A million thoughts jumbled into her mind, a thousand worries and fears she had been trying so hard to silence seemed to be coming to the surface of her brain, making her dizzy and restless.

The hammock where she lay swayed with the rolling tide, only adding to her already queasy state. Rapunzel drifted in and out of sleep, her dreams a mix of her worries; a sinking ship, the freezing cold of the relentless sea waves, a sneering face, a pirate's sword, the screams of sailors as they fought for their lives, a booming cannon, Eugene, always Eugene, drifting further and further away and impossibly out of her reach. She couldn't shout for his name, she couldn't reach him, and he never turned back, he couldn't see her despair, he didn't care. He disappeared.

A particularly large wave crashed against the boat and she bolted upright as the wood around her groaned. Looking around the dark room she found nothing but shadows. She felt breathless, like the walls were closing in on her.

Rapunzel carefully lifted a sleeping Pascal in her hand and set him over the hammock on his own before she slipped outside the stuffy cabin. She needed fresh air.

Her bare feet tiptoed with careful steps towards the main deck, where the cool night air hit her face making her cheeks flush with cold. She leaned over the boat's railing, her hair billowing behind her, tangling it in messy strands.

Soon they would be reaching Corona, she knew. Just another day or two before they docked. And then...

'And then you will lose him forever...' a voice whispered in her head.

Rapunzel heaved a deep sigh as her eyes roamed the starlit firmament, the world around her so dark she couldn't make out the line where the sea met the sky. What she wouldn't give in that moment, to become one with the sky, just another distant star.

In that very moment, Corona seemed so far removed from the place her heart wished to call home.

Having a fairly light sleep was one of the things that came with being a wanted criminal constantly on the run. Eugene's body was used to being always half alert even while asleep, in case danger arose at any given moment.

Therefore, he instantly picked up on the muffled footsteps treading across the room and the sound of the door softly opening and consequently shutting just a second later.

His groggy eyes opened to find Rapunzel's sleeping silhouette decidedly absent, and he instantly shook himself awake, heart raising and mind panicking for just a second.

Eugene was out of the cabin not two minutes later, feet rushing up the ladder leading to the main deck and pausing at the sight of Rapunzel before him.

Her frame was just a shadow against the darkness of the night, but he could've recognized her even half asleep and blindsided as he was.

Eugene approached her with slow hesitancy, mindful of her seemingly distracted state.

"Rapunzel?"

She startled despite his soft tone, and whirled around to face him, eyes wider than usual.

"Oh! Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

Eugene shook his head in a dismissive gesture. "Everything alright?"

Rapunzel hesitated for just a moment, before her shoulders slumped in silent defeat. "I'm fine... just... couldn't sleep, that's all."

"Nightmare?" Eugene's brow furrowed. She might've tried to hide it from him, but he knew she hadn't been sleeping well for the past few days, not since they boarded the ship.

"I guess I'm just a bit worried." He heard her sigh as he came to stand right beside where she leaned against the boat's railing.

"Want to talk about it?"

Rapunzel's breath hitched, and suddenly Eugene had the slight suspicion she was trying hard not to cry. In an instant his hand came to rest over her shoulder almost on its own accord.

"Hey Blondie, it's alright. You can talk to me." His voice was soft as he brushed his hand in slow circles over her back, the urge to pull her closer strong even though he suppressed it in favor of trying to comfort her.

"I just..." Rapunzel trailed off, her voice barely above a whisper, and he leaned closer in an effort to understand. "When we get to Corona... once we get back everything will be different."

Well, that was one thing that wasn't in his power to change, as much as he would've liked to. It made him feel utterly useless, to not be able to come up with anything comforting to say.

"We knew that was going to happen since the beginning, Blondie." He sighed, dejection evident in his voice.

"I know but... it seems all too real all of a sudden and I'm-" Rapunzel caught herself off, apparently swallowing a muffled sob. "I'm not ready for things to change. I don't want to go back to the way things were before..."

Eugene knew all too well what she meant, even though she never said it; before they left Corona, before they became a team and later friends, before their feelings caught up with them and left them in the tangled mess that they were now, one word away from caving in and one suppressed whisper from staying silent forever.

They still had time.

"I guess we can only try to make the best of the time we have left." Eugene shrugged, not exactly sure that he knew what he meant with those words.

They seemed to be enough for Rapunzel though.

She turned to face him fully, letting his hand slide off her shoulder to rest limply by his side. She took a step closer, and Eugene suddenly had the acute urge to retreat a step back.

However, her intense stare held him in place. "What if I don't want things to change, ever?"

Rapunzel's closeness was sweet agony and her whispered words were only a knife to his already bleeding heart. He could only stare in dumbfounded silence but that didn't seem to deter her. Emboldened, she rested a hand over the crook of his neck, pulling herself even closer.

"What if I don't want to let go of this?" Her breath brushed against his cheeks, and nothing could've pained him more in that moment than having to reject her again.

"Rapunzel..." Eugene's voice was half a pained groan and half a defeated whisper. "You know this isn't possible."

The hand over his shoulder only tightened in response. "Why not?"

He could've cried out in frustration.

"Because it isn't right. Because of who you are... and because of who I am..." The heat of her body only made him dizzy and he wasn't even sure if his words were making any sense. He felt drunk on her presence, but Rapunzel had no mercy. Not this time.

"I don't care about that. And time is running out." Her voice took on an almost desperate edge as her hand traveled across his shoulder to rest on the back of his neck. "I don't want to let this moment pass me by, not again."

Eugene knew in his heart of hearts that this would only seal his fate, that it would only be a blow from which he would never be able to recover.

However he was tired of pulling away, and his resolve was weak. His nose brushed softly against hers, half lidded eyes boring into hers.

"Eugene..."

He only needed that one whisper to crumble the last wall standing between them.

Eugene wasn't sure who moved first, but a second later his lips were brushing against hers, his skin humming with the feel of her body tightly pressed against his, her hands burying in the hair at the nape oh his neck, pulling herself even closer.

And the intensity of the feelings crashing in his chest couldn't match the softness with which he kissed her, his lips moving slowly against hers, soft and sweet and tentative at first. It wasn't a rush of passion, it wasn't hunger consuming him on the inside, it wasn't urgent. It was just the relief of finally giving into temptation, and the need to make it last as long as he was able to.

Eugene's hands came to rest firmly over her waist, holding her close, as if he needed the two of them to melt into one, and Rapunzel sighed against his mouth, her lips parting slightly as he deepened the kiss. His tongue brushed against her bottom lip, no longer thinking, hardly aware of his own existence outside of her, and she eagerly granted him entrance as her hands tightened in his hair.

But it wasn't enough, none of it was enough. He needed more, needed her closer, all the repressed emotions he'd tried to hide were crashing over him like a wave threatening to drown him. But if Rapunzel was the sea he would be happy to sink in. He broke the kiss, her name a prayer whispered against her cheek, but couldn't stop. His nose brushed against the shell of her ear as he trailed open-mouthed kisses down her jaw, past her throat, sucking on her pulse point and grinning when Rapunzel sighed his name, her blunt nails digging into the back of his head, pulling him impossibly closer as she arched her back, breasts pressed against his chest.

He nibbled softly at the spot where her neck met her shoulder, delighting in the way her breath hitched in her throat, and slowly made his way back up to her mouth. He was addicted to her, a frenzy of feelings he couldn't seem to stop nor did he want to. Not now, not ever. He deepened the kiss, catching her bottom lip softly between his teeth, and heard her whimper in response.

And it was as if that sound, the only one that had escaped between them louder than a whisper, was enough to shake him to his very core, snapping him out of his exalted state and back to his senses once more.

Eugene drew back and pulled away from her as if he'd been burnt by her touch, chest heaving with every erratic breath he took. The world suddenly came crashing over him as the magnitude of the irreparable mistake he had just made dawned on him.

"Eugene... what...?"

Rapunzel seemed disoriented as she looked at him with hazy eyes, lips swollen with his kiss, evidence of his complete and utter lack of self control.

Fuck

"Rapunzel... I...I-I'm sorry..." He stammered, running a hand through his hair as he tried to steady his raising heart.

He'd fucked up, he'd fucked up bad.

She had been in a vulnerable state and he had taken advantage of it, he had let his feelings get the better of him like a complete idiot.

And now she looked at him as if she couldn't understand, and he couldn't take it, it was entirely too much.

"I'm- I'm sorry, this was a mistake. I should've never..." Eugene trailed off, not sure how to fix what had already been done.

He couldn't look her in the eye, not after what he'd done. "Forgive me... it won't happen again."

"Eugene... wait!"

He couldn't stay a minute longer, couldn't face her after this. Eugene whirled around and walked the other way, as far away from her as his feet would carry him.

Rapunzel had trusted him, had given him her friendship, her loyalty, despite him not deserving a single of those things. She'd trusted him enough to let her guard down, knowing he would never take advantage of that trust, and he had failed. She'd trusted him with her virtue and good image and he had defiled it, and perhaps he would've donde worse had he not come to his senses sooner.

He felt vile.

Because Eugene might have been the best thief in the kingdom, he might've stolen many invaluable riches over the course of his life.

But he would not steal Rapunzel's heart, not when he didn't deserve even half of the affection she had already given him.

Welp there it is... 100k+ words in and they FINALLY shot their shot. Now someone please knock some sense into Eugene because this guy is dense af. But don't you worry your pretty little minds, dear readers... the scene you've been patiently waiting for is just around the corner.

So if you liked this chapter and are looking forward to the next, please remember to leave a review and let me know what you think!