Wasn't Love, Blondie

by little princess 15

AU: Flynn wanted to steal the princess' crown, he never planned for the Princess herself to tag along. One thing is for certain; no one messes with Flynn Rider, and he wasn't going to let this girl start now. He had to find a way to get rid of her, and losing his heart along the way wasn't an option. Of course, that was easier said than done.

12. Bittersweet

Chapter 12: Bittersweet

You guys with your kind comments and continuous encouragement, seriously I can't thank you enough! Your reviews are the main reason why I keep writing, so to everyone who has left a comment in this story, huge thank you!

I apologize for the long wait but life has been pretty busy. Anyway! I have a feeling most of you have been waiting eagerly for a certain scene, so here it is in all its pining and unrestrained romance, so I hope you enjoy it while it lasts!

Psst! I'd recommend listening to Rewrite the Stars for this particular chapter, cause that song has the perfect vibes for this one... just for your consideration, anyway enjoy!

---

Don't know what to say to you now, standing right in front of you

Don't know how to fade in and out, don't know how to play it cool

Lose your little guard, let it down

We don't have to think it through

We've got to let go

I wanna give you wild love, the kind that never slows down

I wanna take you high up, let our hearts be the only sound

I wanna go where the lights burn low

And you're only mine

I wanna give you wild love

~Wild Love

---

Something had ignited within her the moment his lips touched hers, something primal and raw and intense that Rapunzel couldn't quite understand yet. It was as if a spark had been waiting dormant deep inside of her until his touch had kindled it awake, turning a lulled warmth into a raging inferno in her chest.

Never had she felt more breathless yet so alive at the same time.

And it was all over before she could even process it, that spark had been snuffed out so suddenly she hadn't even had time to really get a grasp of the raw intensity of her feelings.

Rapunzel watched in a bewildered daze, chest heaving and heart beating wildly, as Eugene swiftly disappeared within the shadows of the night. Her breath felt trapped inside her throat, preventing her from even calling out his name, from begging him to stop, to come back, to tell him that what had just happened between them felt like anything but a mistake to her.

But he was gone before she could even form the words in her mouth, leaving her lightheaded and breathless and swaying with the movement of the ship. The sudden loss of his warmth only served to emphasize the chilliness of the night breeze, sending a shiver down her spine that just moments ago would've come out of pleasure rather than cold.

Had it been a mistake? How could something that could leave her so wonderstruck and amazed be a mistake?

But she was alone now and he was gone, and Eugene had been very clear on one thing only; he considered it a mistake that would not happen again. With a dejected sigh Rapunzel made her way back to their cabin, the warmth that had ignited in her heart now cooling into a bitter frigidness she had never felt before. Part of her was expecting to see him back in their cabin, resting over his hammock and pretending to be asleep as if nothing had happened, and part of her actually dreaded seeing him again so soon. Her slight worry came to a stop as soon as she opened the rickety door to their quarters to find them empty, safe for Pascal still asleep on her hammock.

The little reptile stirred as Rapunzel sat upon the hammock, her body sagging in a strange mix between relief and dejection. Pascal chirped questioningly, his little feet climbing over her legs, and came to rest on her lap. Rapunzel wished for a moment that her long-time friend didn't know her quite as well as he did, perhaps then she would escape the interrogation that would soon follow.

"I'm fine, Pascal." She tried to dismiss, but Pascal wasn't that easily fooled and a second curious squeak demanded she tell him the truth.

"Truly, I'm fine. Just a little... shaken, that's all."

Pascal raised a would-be reptilian eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. A few more squeaks told her he wanted to know the reason for her unusual sullen mood. The chameleon's eyes swept around the dark cabin with astute curiosity, immediately noticing Eugene's absent sleeping body in the hammock next to theirs. It didn't take him long to put two and two together. He gestured toward the empty hammock with his tail, another chirped query demanding an answer from her.

"I don't know where he is." Rapunzel sighed, which ensued another set of questions.

"He probably won't come back for a while." She replied somewhat bitterly.

Another squeak. Rapunzel bit her lip.

"Yes, I know why... and no, I'm not upset with him, just... confused."

A concerned chirp followed her statement, and she suddenly found herself trying to quell the righteous anger of her oldest friend. "No, he didn't hurt me... not really... not physically at least."

Pascal tilted his head, clearly confused and probably with half a mind to hunt down whoever had hurt his friend's feelings. Rapunzel let out a resigned sigh, might as well tell him now, he would sense the tension between her and Eugene eventually anyway.

"Uhm... Eugene and I... we um... w-we kind of... kissed?" She grimaced as she finished her sentence, not knowing why she'd phrased it more like a question than a statement. Pascal released a surprised yelp, and soon a string of squeaks and chirps followed, so many and close between that Rapunzel had difficulty answering them all.

"Yes, like kiss kiss, like that kind of kiss. Yes, I am aware it was inappropriate, thank you for reminding me. And- wait, what do you mean it was about time?"

Pascal answered Rapunzel's bewildered exclamation with a roll of his eyes, he then pointed his tail toward Eugene's empty hammock and subsequently changed his usual green color to a bright red as he made a heart-shaped sign with his front feet.

Rapunzel blinked in surprise. "You think he likes me like that?"

Pascal nodded resolutely in reply.

"H-how... how would you know?"

The chameleon shoot her a deadpan look, as if the answer was stupidly obvious. Then his expression changed to impossibly googly eyes as he let out a dramatic lovesick sigh.

"Cmon, Pascal. You're exaggerating, Eugene has never looked at me that way." Rapunzel frowned, uncertain even as she felt her heart racing. But Pascal insisted, and suddenly Rapunzel wasn't quite so sure anymore.

"It was just a kiss. I'm sure it didn't mean much to him." Even if to her it had meant everything. She sighed, her previous gloomy thoughts returning once more. To him it was most likely just another kiss, another one in a probably long list of meaningless kisses with meaningless lovers. After all, the infamous Flynn Rider could probably get any girl he fancied. Why would she, silly naive Rapunzel, be more special?

If only it could be the same way for her. Her lips were still swollen with the intensity of his kiss, her skin still tingled where his mouth had traced her flesh, searing a mark in her soul. If she closed her eyes she could still feel his lips moving against her own, even when that kiss was only now a memory, however vivid. Eugene had awakened an intense kind of hunger deep within her, and then he had left her to deal with it on her own, quell it even when she didn't know what exactly she was craving anymore. He'd just disappeared without a trace, taking with him whatever had started between them before it had even begun. In fact, if it weren't for the obvious signs against her skin, the swell of her lips, she would perhaps think it all a dream.

Rapunzel wished the dejected sigh that escaped her didn't sound quite as heartsick. Pascal squeaked as he rested his head by her side, eyes sympathetic. She knew what he asked.

"Well, he said it was a mistake and that it wouldn't happen again... what am I supposed to make out of that?"

Pascal replied with another series of squeaks, eyes rolling in an impatient gesture. "Scared? What would he be scared of?"

Rapunzel eyed Pascal skeptically while the little chameleon shot her a pointed look. Realization slowly hit her, dawning within her like gradually clearing mist. What if his fears were the same as her own? "You think he's scared... because either way, eventually, we are going to lose each other?"

Pascal nodded firmly.

Rapunzel contemplated the thought for a moment. It certainly would make sense; the way he seemed to pull away every time he drew closer to her, the way he avoided her right after they'd shared a more intimate moment, the way he'd kissed her with such tenderness, such ardor, only to draw back a moment later and insist it had all been a mistake. Perhaps Pascal was right and Eugene indeed was afraid, afraid to grow closer to her than what was safe, afraid to feel more only to get hurt in the end.

If so then his hesitation wouldn't be so baffling, in fact she would do well to act the same way. But it was too late for her, Rapunzel thought despondently. She already felt too much, way more than she ought to. After that kiss there was no going back for her. But for Eugene...

"What if he's right and it was just something that shouldn't have happened?" Rapunzel wondered, already fearing the answer. But Pascal wouldn't be swayed from his already formed opinion. He shook his head, as if the mere suggestion was absurd. Then the little reptile pointed his tail towards the vacated space Eugene usually occupied with a determined frown. The suggestion was clear; talk to him, let him explain. The gesture made Rapunzel's lips slowly crack into a smile, a soft giggle escaping her.

"Pascal! Are you actually advocating for Eugene? Who would've thought. I thought you didn't like him?" She scratched Pascal's little head in a tender gesture. The chameleon squeaked in response.

"Yes, he has changed..." Rapunzel sighed, determination replacing the bitterness previously clouding her heart. "And so have I. You're right, I need to talk to him."

She needed to know what that kiss had meant to him, even if the answer hurt her. With that in mind she slowly lay down and rested her head upon the hammock, her eyelids dropping as sleep overcame her. Rapunzel would be lying if she said Eugene's kiss didn't make its way into her dreams.

---

Dawn broke over the horizon as the salty breeze picked up, tainting the rolling water with golden sparkles and the sky in shades of pastel pinks. The morning air tussled his hair and the chill bit at his cheeks, and perhaps in another life he might have enjoyed the calming view. But the beautiful scene before him did nothing to soothe his mind. In fact, the whole night awake trying to quell his racing thoughts hadn't really helped either.

Eugene let out a defeated breath as his head came to rest over his folded forearms, leaning over the railing of the moving ship. His eyelids felt heavy with exhaustion, but he wouldn't let sleep overcome him. Giving into his body's desire to rest only meant having to return to his cabin, and well... he wasn't quite ready to face Rapunzel just yet.

Actually, hauling himself overboard seemed like a much more appealing option than having to confront Rapunzel and what he had done.

His bitter thoughts were suddenly interrupted by the sound of Gunther's cheery voice accompanied with the flutter of activity coming from the sailors preparing for the day.

"Eugene! What are you doing up so early?" Gunther wondered amicably as he came to stand by his side.

"Oh, um... couldn't sleep." Eugene replied somewhat shortly. Saying that he wasn't in the mood to talk would be an understatement, but Gunther had been nothing but kind to him and Rapunzel during their trip, so acting like a jerk to avoid making small talk like he would usually resort to wasn't one of his first options this time around.

Gunther, however, didn't seem to mind his rather curt answer. "Hah! I would've thought that an entire day entertaining the kids would leave anyone worn out. The little hellions can be exhausting."

The shorter man's amused chortles trailed off as he seemed to sense Eugene's lack of humor. "Everything alright?"

"Hmm, peachy." Eugene's attempt at a smile failed miserably.

Gunther hesitated for a moment before trying to change the subject. "Where is Rapunzel by the way. You two are usually joined at the hip."

Eugene tried not to grimace at the question. The poor man was probably trying to find a more appealing subject to discuss with him and utterly failing to notice his reluctance to talk about anything or anyone, much less Rapunzel of all people.

"Dunno, still asleep I assume." Eugene shrugged trying to give off an air of nonchalance he didn't possess at the moment. He was half certain that his easy sense of calmness was well and truly lost after last night's incident.

After an awkward silence that to him seemed to stretch forever, Gunther finally cleared his throat. "Er... well, in any case, we will be arriving to Corona a little after noon I expect, if the winds are favorable." The shorter man gave him an amicable pat on the shoulder, trying to ease the somewhat tense atmosphere. "I'm sure you and your wife will have enough time to rest a little before disembarking"

"My- my what now?" Eugene couldn't quite restrain the choking sound that escaped his lips after Gunther's statement. "You mean Rapunzel?!"

At Gunther's bewildered nod Eugene felt the air suddenly constrict in his lungs. "No- no! Haha! No! Rapunzel is most definitely not my wife." He blurted out, releasing an almost hysterical chuckle at the absurdity of it all. He tried not to notice his voice raising an octave higher as he continued. "We are not together. Like that. At all."

"Oh! Oh my, I'm so sorry! Mary and I were so sure... you two seemed so close we just assumed..." Gunther rubbed the back of his neck, clearly embarrassed by the misunderstanding. His eyes suddenly bulged as he seemed to realize something. "And we gave you a single cabin to share! Heavens! Had I known...!"

"It's alright." Eugene interrupted, wishing he could just disappear into thin air to avoid the awkward conversation. "We have been forced to share sleeping quarters before."

"I'm so sorry for the misunderstanding. It's just... the way you two... I thought, well..." Gunther trailed off with an embarrassed shrug.

Eugene shook his head, silently wondering what on earth had given the older man the idea that he and Rapunzel shared any semblance of a romantic relationship and simultaneously wishing he never got an answer to that particular question.

"No, Rapunzel and I... we are just..." Friends... his subconscious whispered as he trailed off, not sure how to sum up or even define their absurdly complicated relationship. Friends wouldn't really be the right word, Eugene wasn't even sure the term could even apply to them anymore after his massive screw up. He sighed, dejected and defeated. "We've just been through a lot together, that's all."

There. That at least was an accurate description that didn't involve having to give any further explanation. He hoped this would mark the end of the uncomfortable exchange, however Gunther didn't seem as convinced or satisfied with the statement.

"Oh... right. I'm sensing the lack of the aforementioned relationship is the root of your downcast mood, then?"

Eugene frowned. What was it with this man and his questions? "Huh?"

"I don't mean to pry but... the way you two look at each other... I could've sworn you were in love."

If he'd felt like choking before, he was now sure Gunther's incessant assumptions would wind up giving him a stroke. He felt the air clog up in his throat as he tried to force words out. "Huh, love is a rather strong word..."

This was the second time someone had suggested he was in love with Rapunzel and to be honest he was finding it an annoying pattern. Gunther however wasn't privy to his inner thoughts and so Eugene supposed he couldn't really blame him for not picking up on his silent exasperation.

"Well, I should know! Trust me, I can recognize love when I see it." Ah, so this was the resemblance with his cousin that had been lacking so far. As if conveniently reading his sardonic thoughts, Gunther continued unfazed. "Big Nose and I, we have kind of a thing with love."

"You mean you're both obsessed with it?" Eugene replied drily.

"No, I mean we have an eye for it." Gunther returned, just the slightest bit miffed at his dry remark. "It's a family thing. But believe me, I can tell when I see it. And you two, there's definitely something there that-"

"Let me stop you right there, Gunther." Eugene interrupted abruptly, taking a step back with raised hands, as if he could physically block whatever absurdity was about to spurt out the shorter man's mouth. "You can stop playing matchmaker or whatever it is you're doing. I'm not in love with Rapunzel."

And he wasn't, really he wasn't. He couldn't be, it would be absolutely ridiculous, positively stupid. No, whatever he had going on with Rapunzel, it definitely wasn't love. It couldn't be love. What kind of idiot would he be if it was? No, what they shared —or had shared up until last night— was trust and camaraderie and friendship, perhaps even unconditional loyalty above and beyond all else. Sure there was endearment and attraction mixed in between. He cared for her, of course. But love? Infatuation wasn't quite the same as love... was it? He couldn't love her, he wouldn't allow himself to love her. That would be as idiotic as throwing himself overboard like he had half been contemplating to do the whole night. He might as well just shoot himself with an arrow for all good it would do to him.

A wanted thief wasn't meant to fall in love with a crown princess.

Not remotely aware of Eugene's internal musings nor the events that had led to him brooding the whole night away, Gunther settled for shooting him a skeptical look. "All right... if you say so."

The older man shrugged as he retreated a few steps, clearly preparing himself to resume his duties on deck. "I only have one piece of advise for you. Love doesn't always give second chances... so you would do well to seize the chance when you get it."

And with that Gunther walked away, leaving Eugene to mull over his own thoughts. Eugene stifled a scoff. Second chances? What use were second chances when he didn't even have a single chance to begin with? Even if he were to listen to Gunther's pointless ramblings, what good would it do? He was meant to part ways with Rapunzel and never see her again. To think about love in their hopeless circumstances would only open a wound that he didn't care to heal.

Eugene had been well aware of the consequences of developing an attraction for the princess of Corona, he'd had a plan to avoid doing just that but he'd gone and screwed that up too. After that reckless kiss he now had no option but to pretend to himself it hadn't thawed out his long since numb heart. Rapunzel didn't deserve this, not when she was susceptible to the same weakness as he.

No, he was resolved not to let the situation spiral out of control, at least not more than it already had. Because if he failed to keep a tight rein on his confusing feelings he might lose himself into much stronger ones and Rapunzel would surely go down the same road soon after. Whatever they'd shared last night, it wasn't love, it couldn't- wouldn'tbe love. When he saw her again he would act the same as he did before; nonchalant and self-assured. There had to be no evidence of his inner turmoil, no sign that their shared kiss had shaken him to his very core. Once they stepped foot on Corona he would have one and only one purpose in mind; get Rapunzel back home safe and sound just as he had promised, and he would be damned if he let his foolish heart take a hold of him once more.

---

As much as she hated the pessimist outlook in any given situation, it would be a lie if Rapunzel said her mood hadn't taken a sour turn ever since she woke up that morning.

In a perfect world where everything could work out just as her heart desired, she would've been able to talk to Eugene, perhaps he wouldn't even have left at all in the first place. She would've told him about her feelings, about how her heart skipped a beat whenever he was too close, how it longed for what was forbidden. And he wouldn't have minded at all, in fact he would've returned the feeling and this all-consuming affection burning within her wouldn't be unrequited at all.

But things never did work out as she planned, Rapunzel should be used to that by now.

She'd rose out of her hammock with her mind firmly set on seeking Eugene and talking to him. Her plans had been thwarted almost as soon as she'd stepped out of her cabin. Mary had intercepted her before Rapunzel had even had time to cross the threshold, her two children in tow, and asked Rapunzel if she could keep an eye on the kids while she helped her husband prepare for their oncoming arrival to Corona. Rapunzel had had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

It didn't help that dearest Eugene was doing an espectacular job avoiding her at all costs, the little coward. He hadn't come to sleep the night before, she hadn't seen a single glimpse of him for the most part of the morning, and when she'd gone to the main deck to play with the kids he had been nowhere to be found, despite Gunther informing her that he had been there a few minutes before.

To say she was beginning to get more than a little frustrated would be an understatement, and as the sun rose higher up in the sky so did her irritation with the whole situation, despite her best efforts to hide it. They were two reasonable adults, they could very well act the part and discuss what had transpired between them in a dignified way. But Eugene seemed set on either avoiding her or pretending like it had never happened in the first place. Well if he wanted to reject her, he needn't go through all that trouble. Rapunzel could take it, she could handle his rejection, she thought bitterly.

However, when the sailors hustled about the main deck shouting order after order at the first glimpse of land peeking over the horizon, her despondent thoughts instantly drifted away, replaced by an ever escalating trepidation clawing at her chest. Corona could be clearly spotted in the distance, the familiar lush forests and soft hills characteristic of her homeland could be glimpsed through the marine mist, growing bigger and bigger as the ship approached land.

Rapunzel supposed she should feel happy to be back home, however only a bittersweet kind of nostalgia took hold in her heart. Her trip had finally come to an end.

As their ship sailed closer to the harbor she could spot the tiny port village at the foot of the hills, small and picturesque and nowhere near as busy with incessant activity as she remembered from the first time she had set sail for Cygnus. She could tell now, this was not the same port she had visited back then.

"Sunburst Bay." Gunther informed her when she inquired. "Port MistHaven is where the big deal is, only important merchant vessels and larger foreign ships dock there. We are better suited here, our cargo is rather small and the boat as you can see is not that big. Corona's capital is only a few miles away, although it is farther away than MistHaven."

Rapunzel supposed it was for the best. The last time she had been in Corona, MistHaven's harbor had been crawling with patrolling guards searching for the kidnapped princess and the sheer amount of people bustling about the streets had made their chances of having no one recognize them rather slim. She hoped now they wouldn't encounter quite as many troubles as they had in the beginning of their journey.

As if sensing a conversation pertinent to his interest was taking place, Eugene chose that precise moment to emerge from wherever he had been hiding belowdecks. "Excellent choice Gunther! I do believe Sunburst Bay is a much better option for us too."

Rapunzel raised a questioning eyebrow, trying to ignore the heat slowly creeping up her cheeks. "Where have you been all morning?"

"Oh, you know... here and there, preparing for the inevitable." Eugene shrugged noncommittally, all suave attitude and airy unconcern, if there was even a hint of the deeply troubled man that had walked away from her the night before she couldn't detect it. He extended a hand to pat Gunther's shoulder in a friendly gesture as he continued unfazed. "Gunther, I think it's best if we say our goodbyes now before you are otherwise occupied with the unloading of the cargo and all that stuff."

They would make port soon, although anchoring the boat and docking safely at Sunburst Bay would take a while. They would still have time before having to disembark, nonetheless Gunther agreed with Eugene's suggestion without missing a beat, going to fetch his wife and kids and leaving Eugene and Rapunzel to themselves.

They slipped into a charged silence that made Rapunzel struggle not to squirm under the tension.

"We could've said our goodbyes later, we still have time left." Rapunzel mumbled under her breath, hating the way she slipped into old habits with such ease. How many times had she been chastised for mumbling? That was no way to speak for a princess. Eugene, however, had never been one to criticize her etiquette flaws.

"I think it best if we slip away undetected as soon as we dock. Guards will surely be patrolling the harbor and inspecting any incoming ship." He answered, not a hint of nervousness or unease. Unlike her, always so unlike her. She didn't have time to retort before Gunther was back with his family.

Their goodbyes were quick and mostly uneventful. The children were certainly more effusive in their farewell, saddened that their temporary playmates were leaving. However, as is the case with most kids, they soon forgot their downcast mood when they were distracted by the sight of the closely approaching docks. Mary thanked them for taking care of her children during their journey and wished them luck, before she was called away by her kids, who were trying to hop over the gangplanks the sailors had just barely finished setting.

By the time Gunther approached them with an amused chuckle they had already docked. "Farewell, friends!" He shook both their hands firmly before throwing Eugene a pointed look. "May you two have a safe journey home and find what you're looking for."

It felt more like an advice directed specifically at Eugene than parting words, Rapunzel thought. But Eugene gave no indication of understanding any hidden meaning behind Gunther's statement.

Rapunzel for her part smiled in gratitude. "Thank you so much for bringing us here, Gunther."

"It was my pleasure. I'll tell Big Nose you send your regards when I see him again."

And with that he left to tend to his business, leaving the awkward and tense pair behind.

---

There was very evidently an issue hanging over them both, one that Eugene was thoroughly reluctant to acknowledge. He knew it. Rapunzel knew it. Hell, even the frog knew it, if the pointed glares Pascal directed his way were any indication. Rapunzel walked steadily before him, while the little frog glared from his spot on her shoulder and pointed his tail towards her. Eugene however, wasn't about to accept advice from a pet frog. The mere fact that he was even considering the absurd possibility that a frog was capable of giving advice was proof enough of his spiraling delusion. Nope, he would settle for walking along the streets of Sunburst Bay drawing as little attention to himself as possible.

It wasn't an overly complicated task. Sunburst Bay was a sleepy little fishing village, few foreign boats docked in the harbor and the few that did brought about little merchandise with them. Certainly much different than the places they had visited before. The streets were narrow and quiet, the limestone buildings few and close between, overall the small town presented a languid and picturesque atmosphere. A place where no one would expect one Crown Princess of Corona sneaking down the street with wanted Flynn Rider trailing behind. Nevertheless, they couldn't risk being spotted.

As soon as Gunther had left them alone to busy himself with commanding his small crew, Eugene had seized the opportunity to sneak belowdecks and into the sailors' sleeping quarters. Going through the few personal possessions of the sailors, it wasn't difficult to spot a decent enough trench coat to 'borrow'. He'd tried to ignore the nagging guilt welling up inside him, it had been ages since he'd stopped feeling any remorse for stealing and he found the feeling foreign and quite frankly pointless. He'd told himself it was for the greater good, keeping Rapunzel's identity hidden until she was safely back in the palace was in their best interest. Besides, it wasn't like he was going to leave whoever the poor owner of the trench coat was completely exposed to the elements of nature while they were sailing the high seas. No, the sailor would have plenty of opportunities to buy another coat while they remained in port. So really, Eugene had more need of it anyway.

Rapunzel had been reluctant to wear the stolen item, but seeing as she couldn't very well walk around the streets of Corona without being recognized, she'd grudgingly accepted to conceal her identity hiding underneath the hooded trench coat, not without shooting him a pointed glare, which he had a feeling he'd earned for more than stealing that coat.

And thus they found themselves in this very awkward situation in which Eugene refused to acknowledge the obvious, and Rapunzel kept to herself in uncharacteristic silence, alternating between pursing her lips and scowling, the sight so unfamiliar it was almost unnerving.

They'd been able to discretely disembark Gunther's boat well past noon, and as the sun began it's slow descent across the sky, Eugene recognized there was no way they would be making it to Corona's capital city that same day. He didn't know whether to feel relieved or not over the fact that he would most likely get another day to spend with Rapunzel. It was easy to tell how he would've felt before, however after the whole kiss debacle he wasn't quite sure anymore if spending more time with her was an ideal situation.

He was only glad the amount of guards patrolling the sleepy town was almost insignificant. Sneaking past them undetected had been, so far, quite easy.

After a while of walking through the tranquil village, Rapunzel finally broke the tense silence. "Where are we even going?"

Eugene tried not to wince at her rather terse tone. "Uh, walking to the outskirts of town? The main road that leads to the capital is a few miles away from there."

"Is it wise to travel through the main road? Won't there be guards patrolling there?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Yup. Which is why we are actually following the main road through the woods close by."

Rapunzel didn't seem quite convinced. "And... we are getting to the capital traveling on foot?"

Eugene swallowed a derisive snort. "Well, seeing as you get peeved every time I suggest stealing something to accommodate us, and we don't actually own a horse, I'd say that's our only option." He knew his clipped tone wasn't helping ease the already tense atmosphere, but somehow he couldn't help himself. "Unless you have a better idea, I'm open to suggestions."

"There's no way we are getting to the capital before nightfall." Rapunzel sighed. "We will have to stop somewhere for the night. Besides, we still have to get the crown on our way."

Oh. Right. That crown. The crown that had gotten him into this mess in the first place. Somehow the priced tiara that had been the sole reason of him agreeing to this little adventure seemed like a poor consolation knowing what he would have to give up in return. Eugene chose not to dwell on that fact.

"We can make camp in the woods for the night." He suggested.

Rapunzel shook her head. "I don't think that's quite safe. The guards could be patrolling anywhere in the forest. Plus, you said it yourself before, the woods in Corona aren't exactly safe. What if we encountered ruffians, or highwaymen?"

Eugene fought the urge to laugh, however he couldn't help the smirk curling his lips. "You've dealt with pirates, a pub crawling with thugs and you managed to coerce the most wanted thief in the kingdom to do your bidding, but you're worried about highwaymen?"

Rapunzel shrugged. "I just think we would be too exposed in the woods. I would feel much safer if we could spend the night somewhere else."

"Look, Blondie," Eugene sighed, scratching his forehead in slight frustration. "We can't exactly stay here. Any innkeeper with functioning eyes would recognize me."

"What about the seedy inn we stayed in the first time?"

"It's too far away. In fact it's closer to the capital than it is to here." He countered. "Besides, I didn't exactly leave the place in the best of terms if I recall correctly."

Actually, he was almost certain Gustav, the innkeeper, had sold information of his whereabouts to the Stabbingtons. It wouldn't be surprising.

"What about the tower?"

Huh. Going back to that tower would sure be a trip down memory lane. The last time they'd been there they had been more enemies than allies. The irony of the situation didn't escape him.

"Hmm... the tower would be a good option, except it's still closer to the capital than it is to here. It's even farther than the inn you suggested."

Rapunzel let out a dejected huff. Eugene was sure she had resigned herself to the idea of spending the night camping in the woods when her face suddenly brightened. "I know where we could stay! MistHaven!"

Eugene brows furrowed in confusion. "Why would we go to MistHaven? We would only deviate from the route."

"It's closer than the capital." Rapunzel pointed out. "And the capital is closer to MistHaven than it is to here. It's a good midpoint. We could stay the night there and travel to the capital tomorrow morning."

"You are forgetting one very important detail, Blondie." Eugene argued, not at all convinced with her idea. "That place is Corona's most important port, it's full of guards and the whole kingdom is looking for you. There's no way we are staying there and not getting caught. Where would we even stay?"

"What about your dressmaker friend? The one you took me to when we were there?"

"Mrs. Maldine?" Eugene raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"Yes! She seemed like a nice woman, she didn't call the guards on you the moment she saw you, and you two seemed like good friends." Rapunzel listed, as if the whole plan was infallible. "We could ask her to take us in, just for one night."

Eugene rubbed the back of his neck, unsure. "I don't know, Blondie. It seems like a lot to ask."

"It's a safer option than risking spending a night in the woods, I'd say."

He supposed she had a point. They would get nowhere near Corona's capital city before nightfall, traveling through the woods by night would be rather dangerous, and the possibility that they might find safe shelter along the road was slim to none. However, Port MistHaven was near enough to travel to by foot, in fact they would just have to follow the shoreline, surely they could manage to get there before night rolled in if they quickened their pace.

So Eugene reluctantly agreed to Rapunzel's plan. If worse came to worst, Mrs. Maldine would reject helping them and they would just have to make camp in the woods near MistHaven anyway, but he doubted the dressmaker would call the guards on them.

It didn't take much longer before they were exiting the outskirts of Sunburst Bay and venturing into the wilderness surrounding the small village, however they had now lapsed into the same tense silence that had hung over them the whole day. It was ridiculous, really, how returning to Corona only seemed to make them go back to the way they had interacted before leaving the kingdom; strained, moody and reluctant to communicate with each other. How Eugene longed for the easy camaraderie they'd shared before, the way they could talk about everything and nothing at the same time, the long hours spent exchanging inconsequential thoughts without ever getting bored. Talking with Rapunzel had been so easy before. But Eugene had stupidly decided to take a different road, and now he had gone and ruined it all.

He knew what Rapunzel wanted, and yet he couldn't give it to her. So they threaded through the dense woods without exchanging a single word, making the minutes tick by in agonizing silence that seemed to stretch forever.

However, after what seemed like eons of wordless walking, Rapunzel finally seemed to reach the cusp of her ever thinning patience. The heavy sigh that escaped her cut through the silent atmosphere, almost startling him.

"Eugene, this is ridiculous." She stopped abruptly, making him falter in his step. The pointed look she threw his way could pierce his very soul. "We need to talk."

Ah. Eugene would be lying if he said he hadn't been expecting that. In fact, he supposed he had been preparing to hear those words the entire day, which was part of the reason the tension between them had been building up ever since he approached her earlier in the morning. He had deliberately refused to have this conversation and now she was forcing it. He couldn't have it, though. No, if he discussed his feelings he would only end up saying things he would regret later. Because he had no logical explanation to give for his actions the previous night.

What had he been thinking? He couldn't say, in fact he was quite sure the lack of thinking was what led to that foolish kiss. Why had he acted on that impulse? He wasn't sure, although he had been berating himself the whole day for his lack of self control.Did he regret it? He should, he really, really should, but despite his best efforts he couldn't bring himself to regret his actions. Had it meant something to him? Eugene was actually scared of just how much it had meant to him, definitely much more than it ought to.

All these questions were sure to spill out of Rapunzel's mouth if he gave her the chance. But he couldn't tell her the truth and he couldn't lie to her face either, so he would just have to not give her the chance.

"Yes, absolutely." Eugene nodded as he resumed his walk with as much nonchalance as he could muster. "We need to talk about what we are going to tell Mrs. Maldine."

Rapunzel's brow furrowed, her uncharacteristic frown an obvious sign of her ever growing frustration. "That's not what I-"

"We need a cover story."

"Eugene-"

"If we are going to pull this through..."

"Would you stop for a second? I-"

"...we better come up with a good excuse as to why we are asking for her help, and-"

"Eugene!"

He finally stopped at her harsh tone, one she hadn't used since the day he had kidnapped her. Her green eyes were ablaze, and he was sure he hadn't seen her quite so vexed before. Rapunzel opened her mouth, an argument clearly building inside her, but she was abruptly stopped by the rather worrisome rustle coming from the large bushes nearby.

She jumped at the sound as he whirled around to face the shaking bushes, he did not miss how she seemed to unconsciously take shelter behind him.

"Are they ruffians? Thugs? Guards? Have they come for me?" Rapunzel whispered as she peeked from behind his shoulders.

Doubtful, Eugene was quite sure either of those wouldn't exactly be hiding behind bushes waiting to make a dramatic entrance. He didn't have time to make a sarcastic quip as the culprit of the disturbance emerged from beneath the foliage.

A bunny. A tiny, fluffy, completely harmless bunny.

Eugene allowed a second of silence before the witty comeback he had tried to swallow before blurted out his mouth. "Careful, it can probably smell fear."

Rapunzel's previously embarrassed smile instantly vanished from her face. Her lips pressed into an unamused purse letting him know she didn't appreciate him joking while she was mad at him. But before she could continue with her argument, another jostle in the shrubbery distracted her from her task.

This one made far more ruckus than the slight disturbance the bunny had caused, sounding like a heavy body trampling through the woods and taking down whatever stood on its way.

"Seems like a rather large bunny, that one." Eugene tried to make light of the situation, not quite sure whether to take Rapunzel's hand and make a run for it or pray whatever was trampling through the forest wouldn't notice the two very vulnerable and very weapon-less creatures frozen on the spot close by.

Stomping steps, agitated huffs and grunts... it sounded almost like a-

His train of thought was interrupted by the big creature breaking through the shrubs with an almost triumphant whinny, making Rapunzel gasp and him jump back in surprise.

Eugene only had a moment to focus on the white pelt and familiar deranged eyes. He could recognize it, he'd seen it before.

It was the horse. That horse. The crazy maniac horse that had chased him through the forest and made him fall off a precipice while he'd tried to escape with the stolen crown and a kidnapped princess.

"You!" Irritation flooded within Eugene as the horse regarded him with an almost murderous glint in his -to his opinion- soulless eyes. Eugene could've been almost sure he was about to be stomped to death. But the threat of death had never stopped him before, had it? "Well, I hope you are here to apologize."

Evidently that was a wrong move. As if snapping out of his momentary pause, the horse released a furious neigh and charged at him. Before he knew it, he was being dragged through the forest ground by the foot.

In any other circumstances Eugene would've probably been embarrassed by the terrified scream that escaped him. This, however, was clearly a dire situation. "No, no, no! Put me down! Stop it!"

He tried to dig his fingers into the ground, grab at any root or fallen branch that he could get a grasp on, but the devil horse was stubborn and all of Eugene's efforts were futile. Rapunzel meanwhile seemed to choose that moment to snap out of her befuddled state an run to his rescue, barely managing to grasp his hands firmly into her own before the horse dragged him any farther.

"Let. Me. Go!" Eugene yelped as Rapunzel did her best to pull him back towards her.

"Give me him!" Her voice was strained with the effort of trying to pull him out of the horse's grasp and Eugene felt like he had suddenly become a rag toy trapped between two playing dogs. The horse shook his head in refusal, and with it he shook Eugene's entire body. But Rapunzel was equally stubborn -and apparently quite strong- and she adamantly refused to let go of him either.

His boot, however, wasn't quite that resilient.

Eugene was sent flying with the force of Rapunzel's pull as his boot suddenly dislodged from his foot, making both of them stumble into the ground.

The horse -who came straight from hell, Eugene was sure- was only momentarily distracted by the fact he had now only the boot of the man he was pursuing, and promptly came charging back at him at full speed. Eugene had to admit, when he'd envisioned his death it had never resembled anything close to this, but as the hellish stallion approached him with stomping hooves while Eugene braced himself against a tree trunk half trying to sink himself into it, he couldn't help but think that this was it. Death by a deranged horse. That beast would drag him straight to the gallows himself and have him executed for his crimes, he was certain.

Thankfully for him, Rapunzel wasn't one to cower in the face of difficulty. Much to his surprise, and slight dismay he had to admit, she threw herself between the angry beast and himself, arms raised trying to block the stomping horse from reaching him.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Easy boy! Easy!" The stubborn white beast was too busy trying to reach Eugene to listen to her, however. Despite Rapunzel's attempts to calm him, he kept his furious neighs and angry huffs, dodging her at every turn with stomping hooves and rearing quite intimidatingly once he noticed Rapunzel wasn't budging.

"Slow down! Easy boy, easy." The horse finally seemed to shift his focus from Eugene to the petite blonde trying to tame him, and really, it shouldn't have come as a surprise by now that Rapunzel's charm could work even on the hellbent animal. Still, it really couldn't cease to amaze Eugene how Rapunzel's soothing voice actually seemed to be working on the horse from hell.

"That's it!" The stallion's angry snorts shifted into softer huffs as he calmed down, and his eyes traveled from Rapunzel to the frog comfortably sitting on her head as if in a daze.

"Now sit! Sit!" Rapunzel's voice was firm, yet sweet enough as she commanded the horse, which was reluctant to obey her command. And then, to Eugene's utter bewilderment, the animal actually sat at her insistence, however begrudgingly.

"What?" He couldn't help the perplexed exclamation escaping his lips. Because in this weird alternate universe in which Eugene had, surely, somehow ended up in since he kidnapped Rapunzel, horses apparently sat like obedient dogs.

Rapunzel however wasn't the slightest bit fazed by this turn of events. "Now drop the boot. Drop it!"

After a reluctant pause, the horse unceremoniously dropped the boot as she commanded.

"Aww, you are such a good boy! Yes you are!" Rapunzel didn't waste time before she was praising the large animal, scratching it's snout as if it were an oversized dog, which wouldn't be too odd of a comparison considering Eugene could've sworn said horse was in fact acting more like a dog than a member of its actual species.

Unbelievable!

"Oh, you are tired from chasing the bad man all over the place?" Rapunzel cooed with a sympathetic pout. The horse nodded in response.

"Excuse me?!"

Rapunzel payed no mind to Eugene's indignant remark as she continued cuddling the horse, wrapping her arms around the animal's large neck. "Nobody appreciates you, do they? Do they?"

The horse actually had the gall to shake his head with a pout, if Eugene was seeing correctly.

This was utterly ridiculous.

"Oh, cmon! He's a bad horse!"

"Oh he's nothing but a big sweetheart!" Rapunzel replied, sending a brief glare his way before resuming her cuddles with the beast from hell while inspecting the name tag branded on his harness. And Eugene was definitely not feeling even the slightest bit jealous of a horse. "Isn't that right, Maximus?"

The so-called Maximus whinnied happily in reply.

"You got to be kidding me."

As much as Rapunzel had apparently charmed the white stallion, Eugene was definitely still not in Maximus' good graces, given by the dangerous glare the horse shoot his way.

"Listen, I know that you've probably been chasing him for a while," Rapunzel began, trying to catch the horse's stare as she approached Eugene, pulling his arm to help him to his feet. "But the thing is, I'm gonna need you not to get him arrested."

That didn't seem to sit well with Maximus. The large horse instantly changed his puppy dog eyes for a look that was both a mix of suspicion and distaste.

"Just for 24 hours." Rapunzel insisted. "Then we will get back to the palace, I'll be back safe and sound with my family, we will tell everyone how you were the one to find me, and then you two can keep chasing each other to your heart's content. Okay?"

It was a testament to how much Eugene actually cared for Rapunzel the fact that he was willing to make a truce with the devil's horse. With a resigned sigh, he extended his hand to shake with the horse in a mutual agreement. Maximus, however, wasn't as easily persuaded.

"And, I'm also the Princess so this could technically count as an order." Rapunzel added, almost innocently. "Just so you know."

That seemed to do the trick. Maximus grudgingly extended his hoof to shake with Eugene's hand in a very much forced pact. They both exchanged hostile glares before Rapunzel pushed past them to resume her trek across the woods, apparently not keen on wasting any more time.

And so they trailed behind her, though not before Maximus decided to let him know who had the upper hand by shoving a hoof into his gut.

Eugene supposed he'd had that one coming.

---

Rapunzel was okay. Truly she was fine. Perfectly and absolutely fine. She didn't mind the agonizing silence. Not at all. No, her mind, Pascal and Maximus were enough of a companion. Who cared about Eugene anyway? He could stay silent and evasive all he wanted, it was all the same to her.

Okay so that was a lie. She did care, she cared so much his silence was slowly killing her on the inside. More so, his confusing attitude was what was truly making her lose her mind.

Rapunzel had tried to initiate the same conversation one more time after Maximus' assault, but it had gone just about the same as the last time. Eugene blatantly avoided every attempt. The thing was, she might have considered it a clear sign that he didn't care at all, that what had happened between them the night before had meant nothing to him, that perhaps she was being too pushy and really it had just been an unimportant kiss to him. Except the look he had given her the last time she had addressed the issue held much more hidden meanings than just mere indifference. No, Eugene's eyes had been exactly the same as they'd been right before that kiss; pained, almost pleading. Pleading her to stop.

And Rapunzel might have been more inclined to feel slighted had he acted in a more Flynn-like way. His nonchalance was certainly hurtful, but it wasn't quite the detachment with which he had treated her at the beginning of their acquaintance. No, Eugene seemed mostly unperturbed by the events of the previous night but he wasn't completely indifferent to her. Under his obviously rehearsed disinterest there was still a hint of tenderness. He constantly checked if she was tired, asked her if she was hungry, if she was feeling alright, if she needed a break.

What Rapunzel really needed was a break from all his mixed signals, that's for sure.

And so they treaded on in mostly undisturbed silence. At least from his part. Rapunzel was happy to cheerfully chat with Pascal and their new companion, it was all she could do to distract herself from the looming reality of returning to her trapped royal life. Being back in Corona was sending uncomfortable jitters down her spine that she carefully tried to ignore.

Thankfully, Maximus proved to be a rather welcome addition to their little party. The grand stallion graciously allowed Rapunzel to mount him when she started feeling remarkably exhausted by their long walk. They certainly would've saved a considerably amount of time had Max allowed Eugene to climb onto him too. But as it was, Maximus adamantly refused to interact with Eugene in any other way that wasn't sending him a threatening glower. Apparently, a wanted criminal was so far beneath Maximus, he did not deserve to ride him.

They finally caught a glimpse of Port MistHaven through the dense woods right as the sun set over the horizon. The busy town could be visible from the top of the same cliff from where she had observed it in the past, the sight familiar to Rapunzel in a nostalgic way. She supposed it was fitting, her journey had started here, it was only fateful that it should end in the same place.

It took them a while longer to enter the village as they carefully descended the hill, and by the time they entered the outskirts of town dusk had already fallen, painting the stone buildings in that characteristic shade of cobalt blue that spread over the sky right before the last remnants of light gave way to the darkness of the night.

Being the largest port village in Corona meant that MistHaven was never really without bustling activity, however as night rapidly fell upon the kingdom, all the hustle migrated mainly down towards the docks, leaving the rest of town thankfully less transited.

Finding Mrs. Maldine's shop didn't take them long. Rapunzel could hear the faint sounds of busy activity coming from the docks farther down the road, where the taverns were surely full with eager sailors waiting to enjoy their nights. The dressmaker's shop was exactly as she remembered, old and battered, all faded paint and opaque windows, and evidently closed by the time they arrived.

That didn't deter Eugene from firmly knocking on the rickety door. Once, twice, several times until his knocks became more urgent, waiting, hoping that the older dressmaker would take pity on them and open the door to let them in. They waited for a few agonizing minutes before the sound of someone lifting the latch on the door could be heard from the inside.

The door opened just enough to catch a glimpse of Mrs. Maldine. "I'm sorry, we areclearly closed. You can come back tomorrow."

Eugene swiftly caught the door before the woman could close it on them. "Mrs. Maldine, please! It's me."

The dressmaker hesitantly opened the door further until she could see them clearly, her face changing from disapproval to surprise. "Goodness! What are you doing here at this hour?"

Instead of answering her question, Eugene rubbed the back of his neck in slight discomfort. "Er... could we come in?"

The woman hesitated, her lips pursing as she regarded both him and Rapunzel's figure still hidden beneath the heavy trench coat.

"Please?"

With a heavy sigh, she finally opened the door enough to usher them in, leaving Maximus outside to stand guard. Mrs. Maldine carefully inspected the empty street outside her shop before promptly slamming the door behind her. She turned to face them with a suspicious frown set firmly on her brow. "I thought you'd left the kingdom."

Eugene let out a nervous chuckle. "I did, but now I'm back... and I kinda really need your help."

The woman raised an inquisitive eyebrow, arms crossing over her chest. Rapunzel thought she looked considerably less friendly than the last time they had visited her shop. That didn't stop Eugene from asking.

"We need a place to stay for the night."

Mrs. Maldine's eyes narrowed momentarily. She bit her lip, apparently pondering over their request before she heaved a breath. "Dear, you know I appreciate how much you helped me back in the day..."

"I'm sensing a 'but' here." Eugene grimaced.

"But," the woman continued, "this is getting too risky for me. I've heard some very concerning rumors."

"Regarding what?"

"Regarding you, of course!" Mrs. Maldine didn't seem to appreciate Eugene trying to play ignorant, however this didn't affect him much. Eugene approached her with his characteristic winning smile, all charm and charisma once again.

"My dear Mrs. Maldine, I'm sure whatever you've heard was blown way out of proportion."

Mrs. Maldine wasn't quite convinced. "Oh really?"

"Most certainly."

She gestured towards Rapunzel, her eyes roaming over her hidden form. "Then tell me, who is this mysterious girl you've apparently been traveling with?"

A tense silence fell over the room. Eugene and Rapunzel shared a hesitant look, and their lack of an immediate response was answer enough for the dressmaker.

"They say you kidnapped the princess!" Mrs. Maldine hissed.

Eugene tried to play cool. "Oh please, that's ridiculo-"

"I won't let you stay here unless you show me who she is." The older woman interrupted firmly, and Rapunzel could tell she was anxious, her eyes kept darting from Eugene to the window close by as if afraid someone might see them. "I need to know who she is."

Eugene couldn't deny her any longer. If he showed her the woman would surely recognize Rapunzel, and if he refused he would be confirming the dressmaker's suspicions.

Rapunzel didn't give him the chance to decide. Without hesitating she stepped forward and removed the hood obscuring her face, letting the faint light coming from outside illuminate her features. Mrs. Maldine's eyes widened almost comically, hands flying to her mouth as if to cover the surprised gasp that escaped her lips.

"Good heavens! Boy, what have you done?!" She squeaked, taking several steps back clearly alarmed and apparently not able to decide whether to kick them out of her shop immediately or bow before the Princess of Corona standing in the middle of her shop. "Y-your Highness... I-I..."

"It's okay!" Rapunzel extended her hands in a soothing gesture. "It's okay, don't freak out!"

The woman was clearly way past freaking out, in fact she was probably about to have a stroke. She whirled around to point an accusing finger at Eugene, who was standing motionless beside her. "You kidnapped the Princess! What were you thinking?!"

"No, he didn't!" Rapunzel backtracked. "Well he did, but it was all me. It was my fault!"

"Wha...?"

"It was my choice." Rapunzel continued, trying to calm the other woman as much as possible. "I asked him to take me away from Corona. You could say I hired him. It's all on me."

"But... b-but you were taken! The guards-the guards, they saw everything... Y-Your Highness...!" The dressmaker stammered, clearly having difficulty grasping the whole situation.

"I know, I know, but it's all my fault." Rapunzel pleaded. "Please, Mrs. Maldine."

The woman seemed to be unable to look at Rapunzel directly without flinching, and she chose to turn towards Eugene as if waiting for a more logical explanation, which he couldn't really give. Instead he scratched the back of his ear in a nervous gesture, attempting a smile that looked more like a grimace. "Please, we need a safe place to stay just for tonight."

Mrs. Maldine sputtered. "Are you- are you aware of what you are asking me... what I would be risking hiding you in here?! They will have my head if the guards find out!"

"Mrs. Maldine, I'm begging you, please..." Rapunzel took a few steps forward. "Just for tonight, and tomorrow I will be back in the palace. No one will be the wiser, I promise you, the guards will never find out. I give you my word."

The dressmaker hesitated, probably debating whether denying a royal a direct request would be a wise choice as opposed to potentially committing treason by hiding an allegedly kidnapped princess and a fugitive in her home. After a long pause, she finally conceded with a resigned sigh.

"My home is in the second story... above the shop." Her voice came out in a soft low mumble, as if afraid that if she spoke too loudly the guards would burst through the door. "I'm afraid I only have one spare room, right behind the workshop over there."

She gestured to the back of the room with a shaky finger. "It used to be my apprentice's room. She's gone now... so..."

Rapunzel could've hugged her in gratitude. Perhaps she would, once poor Mrs. Maldine wasn't quite so spooked. "Oh, thank you so much!"

"It's only one spare room, though." The dressmaker remarked somewhat apologetically, looking between Rapunzel and Eugene. But Rapunzel could have cared less, a roof over her head where she could sleep through the night was all she really needed.

"Ah, that's alright. We can accommodate ourselves in a single room just fi..." Rapunzel trailed off, noticing Mrs. Maldine shooting Eugene a pointed glare, her lips pursing in a disapproving frown.

An uncharacteristic blush crept up Eugene's neck as he attempted a nervous smile.

"I can just crash on your couch."

---

The spare room that had once belonged to Mrs. Maldine's apprentice was considerably small. A simple bed pushed against the wall, a single wooden nightstand next to the bed, an opaque and chipped floor-length mirror and a rickety old wardrobe was all that the small room had to offer. Nevertheless, Rapunzel had to admit it was the nicest bedroom she'd had the fortune to sleep in since she'd left Corona's Royal Palace. And despite Mrs. Maldine's self-conscious apologies, Rapunzel reassured the dressmaker that the room would do just fine. It was small, but cozy enough for her.

She decided to leave out the fact that she had been forced to sleep in much less favorable conditions since her kidnapping, or the fact that she would have much preferred that Eugene could be allowed to share the small room with her.

That last one would've been pushing on Mrs. Maldine's reluctant hospitality. After thoroughly making sure that Rapunzel was as comfortable as could be in her assigned bedroom, the older woman left, carefully closing the door behind her with a resounding thud that left no doubt that she would be keeping a close eye on Eugene's whereabouts, making sure that he wouldn't be getting any ideas on joining Rapunzel in the spare room.

However disappointed Rapunzel might be, she supposed it was probably for the best. She had grown so used to Eugene's constant presence over the course of their acquaintance, so much so that she now felt it odd to be left alone in her assigned sleeping quarters, and the silence that enveloped the room once Mrs. Maldine left was pointedly deafening. That no longer mattered though, it was time to start getting used to being alone again. Eugene wasn't going to be a constant in her life anymore, so she might as well start letting that sink in.

She didn't even get the chance to have a real conversation with him during their last day together. He had done almost everything in his power to prevent it, so what was the point in trying anymore.

It felt too much like a loss, but she couldn't really lose something she never had in the first place.

Rapunzel sighed as she flopped over the mattress, a feeling akin to dread suddenly taking hold of her heart, squeezing her soul and leaving her breathless. By this time tomorrow it would all be over. Her lower lip quivered at the thought, and she didn't trust her voice not to break so she remained quiet, even as Pascal squeaked sympathetically beside her.

The entire room was silent, no noise could be heard coming from outside, which let Rapunzel know Mrs. Maldine had already retired to her apartments above, probably taking Eugene with her. This was the reason the sudden soft knock on her door startled her quite considerably, making her jump in surprise.

"Come in..." She called out hesitantly, her voice slightly hoarse. Perhaps the older dressmaker had forgotten something.

To her surprise, it was Eugene's silhouette that she could make out in the faint light coming from the single candle lit in her nightstand as he slowly opened the door. He stepped into the room with silent footsteps, careful that Mrs. Maldine wouldn't hear the noise coming from below. Knowing Eugene, he probably had escaped Mrs. Maldine's careful watch without the woman even noticing. Before he had the chance to close the door behind him, Pascal swiftly scurried out of the room, making Rapunzel inwardly wonder at her friend's bizarre behavior. She didn't have much time to dwell on that, however, as Eugene cleared his throat somewhat awkwardly.

"Hey, Blondie."

"Oh, hi!" She tried to will her voice into a cheery tone, one that wouldn't betray her inner sorrow. Eugene seemed none the wiser.

"Just came to check on you." He approached the bed, rubbing the back of his neck in that telltale nervous gesture that Rapunzel had come to know so well. She remained silent, and so he continued unfazed.

"Guess I've been so used to you being, you know, right there beside me in case anything happened..." he shrugged, standing right before her and looking uncharacteristically uncomfortable. "...just wanted to make sure you were alright."

She wasn't. Rapunzel was anything but alright at the moment, but he didn't need to know that. She wasn't quite sure if his presence was only making everything worse.

"I'm fine." She forced a watery smile, however the silent tears welling in her eyes betrayed her real feelings.

She should've known Eugene wouldn't be so easily fooled. A concerned frown set over his brow as he sat next to her on the bed. "You don't seem fine though."

"No, no! Why would you think that?" Rapunzel scooted farther away from him, trying to hide her face and failing to prevent a lonely tear from slipping past her eyelids. "These are happy tears, I swear! Just happy to be back home."

"Sunshine..."

His voice, soft and concerned all at once as it pronounced the unfamiliar nickname, only broke her heart a little more. She hastily wiped the tear away as she stood up from the bed, trying to put a little more distance between them.

"I'll be fine, don't worry about me." Rapunzel waved off, hoping he would take the hint and leave the subject alone.

"You sure?" Eugene looked unconvinced as he stood up as well, taking a step closer to her.

"Yup, positive."

She did her best to avoid his searching gaze, wondering why he had even come in the first place. The whole day he'd acted distant and now he was concerned? Honestly, this endless dance around each other was becoming quite tiring. And Rapunzel was soexhausted. She didn't think she had the emotional stability to keep up this ridiculous pretense for much longer.

But Eugene didn't budge. Instead of leaving like she had expected him to, he stood there in the middle of the room, looking hesitant and almost nervous. He cleared his throat once more.

"There's... another reason why I'm here."

"Uh?"

Her heart beat erratically in her chest.

"I've been thinking... and I wanted to tell you something."

Rapunzel bit her lip as her stomach clenched in nervous knots. Could it be he finally wanted to talk about the previous night? He stayed silent for a moment, and so she prompted.

"What is it?"

Eugene sighed heavily. "Well, tomorrow will be a complicated day and... there's a good chance we might only have tonight and we might not get tomorrow, so..." he trailed off, as if looking for the right words. "I guess what I'm trying to say is... I um... I..."

"Yes?"

A silent moment, a nervous beat of her heart, she swallowed the lump in her throat. And then...

"I-I wanted to say goodbye... before I don't get the chance to."

"Oh."

She wasn't sure if disappointment was what was causing the pangs deep inside her or just the pain of his goodbye. Either way, she closed her eyes against the tears threatening to spill behind her tightly shut eyelids. That lump in her throat wasn't going anywhere.

Rapunzel allowed herself only half a second before she tried to compose herself, opening her eyes and plastering a very fake smile on her face. Eugene wasn't looking directly at her as he continued, as always, trying to lighten the mood.

"Yes, so um... Blondie, it's been a blast." A small smirk graced his lips, the smile never reaching his eyes. "Surprisingly I didn't have as much of a bad time as I initially expected."

Her soft laugh might as well have been sob, however she played his game, allowing the tiniest of smiles to pull at the corners of her lips. "And you're not half as much of a bad guy as I initially expected."

He chuckled at that. "Yay! Guess we all learned something, huh?"

"Guess we did."

Silence settled over them, both reluctant to continue the conversation and yet unwilling to completely let go. As usual, he was the first to draw back. Taking a step towards the door, he shot her a fleeting smile.

"Welp, sleep tight, Blondie. Tomorrow will be an eventful day."

Eugene stood before the door now, just one step away from leaving, and fear suddenly clawed at her throat, her whole body itching to reach for him.

Instead she lifted her hand in a small wave. "Goodnight, Eugene."

"Night."

He reached for the doorknob and it was as if a powerful urge suddenly took hold of her. She couldn't let him go, not without trying, not without a fight. This was her only chance, and if he crossed that threshold she would die with the words trapped behind her lips forever.

"Eugene, wait!"

He paused right before opening the door, his head turning to look at her behind his shoulder. Rapunzel took a hesitant step forward, her breath shaking.

"You're right, we only have tonight and we might not get tomorrow, so I need to know." He was facing her fully now, his deep brown eyes searching her face, and Rapunzel forced the words that she had so desperately tried to say out before she had a chance to regret it. "That kiss... last night... did it mean anything to you?"

Eugene closed his eyes, perhaps trying to hide his true feelings away before she could catch a glimpse of them.

"Blondie..." His voice was a strained sigh, as if it pained him to even say her name. But Rapunzel wasn't deterred.

"You can tell me, y-you can tell me if it didn't, if it was just meaningless... I just-"

"Rapunzel, please, stop."

When he finally opened his eyes there was an unmistakeable agony hidden behind his usually warm irises, and Rapunzel suppressed the urge to touch his face, to try to caress the pain away.

"There's no use in discussing this, you know that." Eugene shook his head, evidently resigned with their already written fate. "Tomorrow you'll go back to being a princess, we'll part ways as unlikely friends just like we agreed to and we will most likely never see each other again."

The reminder hurt her, cutting a wound deep inside her soul for how much of it was true. But it didn't hurt as much as the sudden realization that her suffering was also his own. It pained him just as much as it pained her.

"That's the way it's supposed to be..." he all but whispered, eyes mournful. "What does it matter what it meant?"

"It matters to me!" Rapunzel's breath hitched, her secret was already out so she might as well just confess the whole thing and get it over with. "Because... because it meantsomething to me."

Eugene was silent for a moment, as if he was trying to process the information suddenly dumped on him, but his silence didn't deter her.

"Look, it might not mean as much to you. You'll get plenty of chances to find this again, to have something meaningful with whoever else you choose." Rapunzel took a step closer to him, her earnest eyes trying to catch his. "But it's not the same for me. I don't have that, I do not get that chance."

Once she was trapped back in the palace her life would no longer be her own. She wouldn't get to chose who she wanted her partner in life to be. Her heart would have no say in the matter — the council, her parents, other royals would chose for her. But this, this thing that she had with Eugene, this intense swirl of feelings trapped inside her chest, this she wouldn't get with anyone else, her heart was sure of it. And Rapunzel would sooner give her life away than let this chance escape her.

"And... that's the thing," She moved closer, until she was only a breath away from Eugene's motionless body, her eyes pleading. "I don't want to part ways as unlikely friends. I want to share something special... with someone who matters to me, someone I actually care about."

His eyes caught hers, half-lidded and intense, desire evident in his stare, and her insides caught on fire. She was so close she only needed to whisper. "I want to know what it's like... before I don't get the chance to."

"Rapunzel... I-"

She surged forward before he had a chance to finish whatever he was about to say, her lips crashing against his own as her hands cupped his cheeks, pulling him closer. And that spark that had burnt in her chest the night before reignited with newfound intensity. Her kiss was hesitant at first, soft and sweet and brief, but it was enough to send her heart soaring. And it was enough to break Eugene's inhibitions. Rapunzel broke the kiss but she didn't pull away completely, drawing back just enough to brush her nose against his, to look into his eyes and see the same raw passion she felt reflected back in his own stare. He didn't put any resistance as she kissed him again, this time without hesitation, without restraint, her hands still pressed against his cheeks in the softest of caresses.

As her lips slowly chased away his doubts his mouth came alive beneath hers, responding to her kiss with equal intensity, rough hands coming to rest firmly against her hips, pulling her closer, bodies pressing together in the most tempting friction Rapunzel had ever felt. She pulled away, just enough to catch her breath, and he chased her lips as if he couldn't get enough of her. She wasn't afraid to admit the feeling was mutual.

His searing kiss sent a shiver down her spine. She parted her lips with a gasp as his tongue brushed the corner of her mouth, granting him entrance, eager to taste him just as she had done the night before. His teeth dragged against her lower lip, making her toes curl, making her hands travel from his cheeks to the back of his neck. She couldn't be close enough, and she wanted more, more, more.

And Eugene didn't disappoint. As if reading her mind, his mouth slowly made its way from the corner of her lips to her jaw, trailing open-mouthed kisses down her throat and then back up, until he reached that sweet spot behind her ear that made her hands tighten in his hair, pulling him closer. When his teeth softly nipped at the sensitive skin of her throat, Rapunzel couldn't hold back the soft moan that escaped her lips, which only seemed to encourage him more. Eugene was evidently delighted by her reaction, she could feel the smug grin against her neck but at this point Rapunzel couldn't care less.

She wanted him, all of him. She wanted to chase that scorching feeling that made her skin tingle and her whole body tremble, she wanted to quell the raging inferno burning in her chest and let the feeling consume her whole. She wanted to be as close to him as possible and this wasn't close enough.

As his lips traced the exposed skin near her shoulder, her fingers swiftly traveled to the buttons of his doublet, intent to remove the offending layer of clothing keeping her away from her target. But before she had the chance to do it his hands expertly caught her wrists, stalling her movements. His breaths came out in erratic puffs, wild and disoriented as he rested his forehead against hers, eyes still closed. "Blondie, you need to stop."

The husky cadence of his voice made her skin break out in goosebumps. She pecked his lips.

"Why? I think this is in the way." Rapunzel tugged at the collar of his shirt as her mouth traced soft kisses against his collarbone, eliciting a quite pleasant sound from him.

"I don't think you quite know what you're doing." Eugene's voice was a low whisper brushing her cheeks, half a sigh and half a groan, and she laughed softly against his lips.

"Sure I do." Rapunzel might be a thoroughly inexperienced, sheltered maiden but the blazing hunger tightening in her belly was unmistakeable, and she was intent to chase it wherever it may lead her. Plus, she'd read enough science books in the forbidden section of the palace's library not to be completely in the dark. "I want this. I want you."

Eugene was far too distracted with her mouth to stop her this time, and her fingers made quick work of the buttons on his doublet, her hands brushing past his broad shoulders as she pushed the garment off his body, her lips pressed against his pulse point. She felt more than heard his low growl.

"Sunshine... don't tempt me like this."

But Rapunzel had made up her mind. She wouldn't let him push her away this time, not when this was the only chance she would ever get. She silenced him pressing her lips firmly against his own, while her hurried hands now worked on the very important task of unbuttoning his white shirt, fingers tracing the warm skin slowly being exposed to her. Eugene didn't put much restraint this time, however his sleeve did get caught on his wrist as she hastily tried to remove his shirt, making both of them chuckle at the slightly awkward pause.

"Hmm, someone's in a hurry." Eugene murmured, his gruff voice sending tingles through her body. She laughed softly in response.

"Hush, you."

It was a pleasant relief to still be able to laugh with him at a time like this, Rapunzel thought fleetingly, even as their breaths became heavier and their kisses needier. It made her slight nervousness disappear, replaced by a warm flutter in her stomach. She drew back just slightly, her eyes slowly tracing his figure, his now bare torso completely exposed to her view. And her heart skipped a beat.

To be fair, Rapunzel had seen him like this before, however the very brief glimpse she'd caught of him that day in the lake couldn't do justice to the sight before her now. She felt heat creeping up her cheeks, surely coloring them in a deep blush. He was lean, of course, but she already knew that, his muscles firm and taut beneath slightly tanned skin and Rapunzel thought he would make just the perfect model for her to sketch if she had the chance to. She felt the sudden urge to trace her lips against his warm flesh, across his broad shoulders and down his firm chest, to make him feel the intensity of what she felt.

She'd thought he would tease her for her shameless ogling, act as smug and arrogant as he used to whenever he would catch her staring back when they first met. Instead only a soft smile pulled at the corners of his lips, his hand tenderly stroking her cheek.

"Are you sure about this, Blondie?" His intense eyes searched her face for any trace of doubt hidden beneath, and Rapunzel pressed her cheek against his palm. "We can stop whenever you ask."

She shook her head firmly. "No, I'm sure. I want this."

She was sure, never been more certain of anything in her life, in fact. She wanted him,needed him as the air she needed to breath. He was the moon pulling the tide and she was happy to let herself be guided by him. She wanted to let herself be his, if only for one night. Wanted to let him have her, body and soul, and have him completely give into her in return.

A soft gasp escaped her as his lips slowly trailed down her throat and his face buried in the crook of her neck. Eugene had helped her undo the laces of her dress countless times before, but none of those times had been remotely like this. Nimble fingers expertly unhooked tight laces from hoops, slowly revealing more patches of skin for him to caress, and where he once had ignored the temptation of her exposed flesh with surprising indifference he now traced every freckle on her skin with a reverence that left her breathless.

Slowly, more clothes were shed as Rapunzel let herself get carried away, the sound of her loudly beating heart the only thing that she could hear as blood rushed into her ears. She felt her back being pressed against the mattress but she was hardly aware of her surroundings, all that mattered was Eugene. Eugene pressing searing kisses onto her skin, hands and mouth roaming her body in the most exquisite exploration, his lips scorching every bit of flesh they traced; her mouth, her cheeks, the hollow of her throat, her chest right above where her heart beat wildly, her breasts, her belly, her hips... every corner of her body left marked with his calloused hands and heated kisses, leaving an imprint in her very soul. And she sighed, his name forever the name on her lips, a plea and an oath all at once.

As her own hands traced his body in soft caresses and sometimes clenching fists, Rapunzel thought she never wanted this moment to end, she wanted to freeze time and live in this moment forever, reverently saving the memory into the deepest corners of her mind, wanting to remember his every reaction to her, every throaty moan that escaped his lips, every sigh uttered with her name like a prayer against her skin.

And the slight sting that the loss of her maidenhood caused was nothing compared to the pain in her heart at the knowledge that she would lose him come morning. Rapunzel forced the agonizing thought off her mind, even as her eyes slowly blurred with unshed tears, mournful and melancholy. Because all the feelings threatening to spill from inside her chest were a tragic tale, a romance come undone. It was all so bittersweet, and intense, and perfect for all of its heartbreaking imperfection.

Eugene paused as a single tear escaped past her eyelashes, worried that he might have hurt her, that she wanted him to stop. Rapunzel hushed his tender concern with a soft kiss against his lips, she didn't trust her voice enough but he had to know. Everything that she couldn't say, all the things she couldn't confess, those three words trapped inside her lips, all of it she tried to pour into her kiss, hoping, praying that he could understand, for she couldn't say it out loud. She silently hoped he felt the same way, inwardly begged that he wouldn't say it either, that the words wouldn't escape his lips like her name moaned into her ear. Because if he said them she would never be able to let him go.

He didn't ask any questions, just kissed her silent tears away as her arms wrapped tightly around his sturdy frame in a passionate embrace, bodies moving together in perfect sync. And she never wanted to let go. She wanted to chase the feeling coiling inside her, pulling at her heartstrings and tightening her core, making her toes curl and her hands clench into fists buried in his hair. She wanted to come apart in his arms.

One last flitting thought filtered through her mind before she lost herself into the overwhelming feelings unraveling inside her. Tonight she would let herself be held by him. Rapunzel would be completely his, and Eugene would be completely hers in return. She would allow herself to let the love bursting in her heart consume her whole. But tomorrow? Tomorrow she would learn to forget it all.

---

So... there you go, hope the wait was worth it for that last scene. I'm really excited to know what you guys think of this chapter so if you liked it please don't hesitate to leave a review! All your comments are very appreciated and they always inspire me to keep writing. So if I see a good amount of interest I'll give you the next chapter soon enough! Until next time :)