A/N: I hope you like getting punched in the heart, cuz I'm here to punch you in the heart.
And if you think this is gonna be like Broken Dreams, then No it's not.
Edited as of: March 30, 2022 to reflect corrections, additions, and general changes since publishing Ch9.
Suitors of Rapunzel
Ch7 □ Day -30 ⌧
playlist on YouTube as SoR - Ch7 - Day -30
All was right in the world.
Gothel was defeated. Eugene was alive. Rapunzel was free.
With the warm sun spilling over her newly uncovered back, that goofy smile back in front of her, and no more danger lurking about, nor uncertainty between them, she yanked to smash them together.
That euphoric first kiss…
Desperately trying to not let his grin break their connection, and therefore possibly break whatever delicate spell this was, Eugene tried to focus on being sensual for her, while also being distracted by his fingers in her minutes-old drastic haircut. He had not expected it to come out looking so amazingly gosh darn cute on her, but he also had not expected to be alive, so he was certain he was ready for anything else the universe could possibly throw his way. And the kiss- Oh, the kiss- Her all-important First Kiss. On his lips. With his tongue sliding along the unseen side of those adorable buck teeth. And concealed in the tower now, they were both unseen from the rest of the kingdom, which was surely on a manhunt for him. He moaned into her mouth, gloating just a bit in this heavenly victory.
And she showed no signs of stopping. Easily following his lead, she did not even fumble anymore like she had at that first step. At least, not beyond her own giggles and moans, as his movements and vibrations tickled her, hyper-sensitive to every nerve, brushed even slightly. Yet she could not get enough.
Wariness of her life circumstances still sat in the back of his mind though, where he suspected that was now a permanent fixture. So, rather than tackle her back, or advance any farther than his initial tongue and nose adjustment, he merely let himself lay out on his back on the floor. He managed to avoid both the morbid thought of, and the actual puddle, of his own blood, still pooled nearby. She moved with him, her weight now fully spread atop him. Again, his wide grin from her cooing giggles threatened to break them apart.
Safe and sound, on this floor, in the middle of somewhere so hidden and hard to find it might as well be on a different plane of existence, in the hopeful light of early morning, they relaxed together in their victory. Reveling in this newfound freedom. Slowly exploring this New Dream.
She shimmied up to better lay on him, and straddled her legs around his slim torso. Her wide skirt spread out, pushed up to accommodate her, spilling back over him. Her hands slipped from his collar to his neck inside, where she could feel his moans vibrate her fingertips. A whimper fell from her, for only moments ago, she had thought all of this lost forever. Even before that, she thought she would never see or touch him again. And before that, the dreadful twisting back and forth about whether he had betrayed her, whether he was in danger himself, whether she could ever forgive him. All that fell away. He had proven himself true; he was alive and well; they were together again. Her next whimpers fell like sobs, though her eyes were dry again and her smile full.
His last moan morphed into an articulated but still love- and lust-filled "Fuck," as he pushed her face up off of his. His tone dropped to delicately airy concern as he gazed up at her. "Are you alright?"
"You're okay!" she cried to him, her own gaze settling back into his eyes, so full of life again.
"Yeah," he chuckled, sparkling eyes pinching at her. "Yeah I am." His hand ran through her hair again. "Are you okay, though?"
Rapunzel nodded. "She- she said you were sentenced to hang! But you came back for me! And you- you-!" She leaned up on one arm, hand splayed beside his head on the floor, and reached back to feel the shocking new ends of her hair. "You cut my hair," she squeaked in a dazed monotone.
Eugene leaned up on his elbows, cringing, but bringing their faces back close together again. "I- I'm so sorry-"
"You saved me..." Her voice finally showed the shock was a joyous one. She turned back toward the window though, til he began gushing his own worries.
"I- I guess so, but- Rapunzel-" He tried to sit up straight, and she moved off of him to sit cross-legged right beside him. "Listen to me, please. I never meant to leave you. I was gonna come right back." He gulped, then plunged ahead rambling. "I went to give the Stabbingtons the crown so they would leave us alone but then they knew about you and they knocked me out and tied me to some boat and the guards found me and- and- and oh my God, I was so worried about you all night!" He gripped her shoulder reassuringly, while his face knotted up with dread. "D-did they get to you? Did they-"
She was already shaking her head. "No, not really. I thought it was you coming back, but it was them and they told me you'd run off with the crown and left me for them- but!"
He was already shaking his head. "No. No no no, never. I would never leave anyone to guys like that. But- so what happened?" he strained, desperate for her side after a whole night of assuming the worst.
"Mother- Well, Gothel- Sheknocked them out and 'saved' me from them, but-" She trailed off, emotional confusion gripping her as she stared into space. "But she just wanted me for herself..."
"Yeah…" he quietly agreed. "I… I saw them in the prison, too- They must've gotten picked up sometime in between- And they told me that 'the old lady' told them about you." His voice had devolved to a whimper, pained for her. "I would never- well, I never would have- EVER told anyone about your secret, Rapunzel. But, I'm so sorry…"
She jerked her full attention back to his face. "Sorry for what?"
"For everything you've gone through, all because I stole that stupid crown. You didn't deserve to get mixed up in my problems..."
"It's alright," she shrugged, a smile tugging at her. "Certainly made it quite the adventure."
He could not help but return the smile. "But- and your own mother?" He gestured to the window. In a most practical strike of passion, he took in all of her, so charmingly disheveled from the battle but looking to him with such hope; he grabbed for her hand. I can step up. I will! "Don't worry. I love you. I'll take you away from here. I just wanna stay with you. We'll go anywhere you wanna go."
Awestruck at the resoluteness and gentle care she saw in his face, she simply stared for a moment. Compared to her own worst assumptions of him that had been plaguing her mind all night, she giggled, hunching her shoulders over again. "Really?!"
"Yes," he smiled softly. "I love you. I promise. I'll take care of you. I've got it all figured out." For the most part. Basically. I guess.
Oh- wait… A dozen mood swings played across her face.
"I'll take you anywhere at all!" he motioned excitedly. "Except, we should probably steer clear of Corona, considering how I'm 'wanted' there more than ever, hah!"
Her mood swings finally settled on crushing despair. Oh no, that's right...
His heart dropped. "What? What is it? The lights? We can still come back next year! We'll make it like an anniversa-"
"Eugene," Rapunzel cringed.
"What..." Pensively, he watched her.
"I am the Lost Princess."
It took a second before he did a double take. "What?" What's she talkin' about? The Lost Princess- Saying that she's the- Her birthday…
"I…" she twisted her hands together as she sat up straighter and shrugged away, "Gothel, who I thought all my life was my mother, she admitted the whole thing. She said she did it to protect me, but really? She... I guess, she kidnapped me? For my hair. That 'Lost Princess' 'they do the lantern thing for?' Is me."
Eugene absently looked down at the winding brown locks left behind as he listened. "How… You-" Eighteen. The 'magic' that healed the Queen? The baby- Kidnapped. Eighteen years ago! The lanterns were for HER birthday?! Suddenly his eyes widened and he shouted incredulously, "You WHAT?! You're- you're the- Princess?!" His jaw dropped at her as his mind short-circuited. "And you wait til now to tell me?!"
"No, no! I didn't figure it out til she dragged me back here!" she flailed in defense.
"Oh," he blinked, still trying to put it all together. "But THEE Princ-! I was with the- That was YOUR crown all along?!"
"Oh," she looked away, piecing that part into place as well, then looked back to him, "Uh, I guess so?" She giggled.
"So- wait…" He desperately tried to kick his brain into parsing out their next steps. "You…"
"I mean I guess that makes the King and Queen my... dad and mom? My real parents?" she wondered, hesitant at the yet-foreign ideas.
"Yeah…" he answered in a daze, then snapped to a bit. "Rapunzel, I've been sentenced to death! I just barely escaped being dragged to hang! By order of, yeah, your DAD, apparently! Sheeeeeesh, if it's not one parent who wants me dead, it's another, I suppose! Ohhh my goddd… What am I supposed to do? Like- I'll help you back, but what am I supposed to do..."
She fidgeted as she panicked with him. "Well, what if you come back with the Princess?"
He stared at her, trying to catch his breath. "Well," he gulped, "I suppose there might be some kind of reward… Which is hopefully equivalent to at least my life…"
"Ohhh," she whined out, "But you found me! You saved me!"
He continued gasping and sighing as he looked her over again. I fell in love with The Lost Princess? "I guess…" he shook his head and shrugged. "We should get you home then..." But already he could not deny the hook in his heart, could not fathom ever untangling the way they both had been snared together. Already he knew he could not ignore the way his soul ached for her mouth when it was not on his.
She smiled back sweetly. Eager to meet these people, to learn the truth, to set everything right once and for all. But it would require risking the life of the only person who mattered to her anymore. He had stolen into her life, and now she would see to it that he stayed there. "Hey, Eugene?"
He bit both lips as he looked up to meet her eyes, his brow pinched together. "Hm?"
"I think…" She bit her lip shyly, but mustered the courage to stroke his cheek again. She hummed a smile as the stubble brushed her fingers. "Everything's gonna be alright. For real, this time," she smirked.
He smirked back as his hand came over hers, his worries suddenly calmed. "I believe you, Princess. But whatever happens, we gotta get you back..."
"And you?"
"I'll be fine," he blushed at his own butterflies, confident he could physically escape again if needed. Emotionally would be a different story that dare not cross his mind. She was so enchanting and all that had already happened was already so wild, any possibilities the future held, good or bad, he could hardly imagine at the moment. "And hey," he finally whispered, his expression sultry again. "For the record, I like brunette Princess Blondie just as much as any other version. You're so beautiful, any which way." He sighed.
She giggled, blushing herself. As she dipped her head, her swoop fell worse than ever over her eye.
His hand instantly moved to finger-combing it away and back into the rest of her hair. "So, Princess Rapunzel, hm? Ya know they never released the baby's name to the public…"
"So you're the first who gets to call me that I guess," she shrugged, "And ya know you're also the first to ever call me beautiful- and mean it- I suppose…"
His expression fell. "Of course I mean it." He glanced around, then back to her lips. She really is starved for way more than just physical affection... "Can I still call you 'Blondie,' though?"
She felt that tingle again from having an affectionate nickname, for the first time where the affection was real. Her smile pursed, and she nodded.
"How about 'Sweetheart?'" he smoldered at her somewhat.
Her cheeks tinged red, but she still laughed at his face. "Ya know, that looks more like a natural smolder. Much better." Nevertheless, she nodded to his question, giggling. "So uh, yes. Of course. Call me whatever you want."
"Just don't call you late for dinner?" he giggled himself, then knelt up to pull her into another endearing hug. "Come here, then, Sweetheart."
She gripped his neck through his own silky brunette hair, carefully exploring around a large beauty mark she found. Then she leaned away to hold his cheeks as they solemnly stared at each other, nose to nose again. "You've protected me this far. Now let me use whatever power this gives me, to protect you."
Entranced, he nodded.
She led him into another kiss.
"I trust you," he gasped, grinning. "So let come what may."
This time, she pulled him down to lay atop her on the floor.
The sunlight streaming in flashed his eyes and he fumbled this time, as he also tried to be careful about how he leaned down on her. She had pulled him between her legs again, but he shifted so his waist was not pressing into hers, where he wished it was. Practically holding his breath, his one hand gripped at her waist. He eventually let his hands wander to her arms, shoulders, and neck, but no farther.
After all, they had all the time in the world to get going, to get back to Corona, to see how this would continue changing their lives...
While the rest of the newly reunited family stood up, Eugene remained on his knees, falling even lower as he tried to escape the reality he feared settling back in after all.
"Oh?" Rapunzel worried back to him, holding his shoulder and back comfortingly. "Are you alright?!"
"Yeah," he choked out quickly, "I just-..." He squeezed everything back up tight, bracing for her parents to at last realize who he really was.
The King's deep but curious voice still came as too soon of a blow. "Flynn Rider?"
He cringed, further looking more like a ball on the ground.
Rapunzel startled, and whirled back to her father, trying to wave the entire persona away. "Oh! He's not-"
Her parents chuckled, but the Queen spoke up now. "Dear, we know who he is."
He flinched.
"No!" Rapunzel insisted, "But he's not-! He's- um…" She looked back to Eugene, uncertain if she should share his real name, or if that should be left to him.
The King hummed a pleased grin as he came to put his arm around Rapunzel, while he too looked down at him. "Sweetheart, I'm sure, if he's brought you home safely to us, that he indeed can't be all that bad. Besides," he stressed to the cowering mess in front of their feet, "The crown has already been safely returned as well."
Rapunzel was not sure whether this side-embrace was one to lean too much into, or if the rug was about to come out from under both of them. "Um, heh, yeah…"
"Young man," he suddenly commanded, eliciting another shudder through them both, "Stand up here."
He did, but kept his face down, with the exception of one quick, terrified glance at Rapunzel.
Suddenly he was being yanked again, this time more strongly, right to the King's chest again in a bear hug. In response to the King's rumbly chuckle, Eugene happened to make some pathetic gacking squeaky sound, utterly helpless til he was placed back on his feet. Then wavered as he was roughly patted on the back.
Rapunzel unexpectedly giggled at them, her nerves finally fully eased by her new intimidating father's warm reception of her hero. "Oh, Eugene, your face!" She continued giggling at the stunned awe there, though she frantically gasped and covered her mouth with her hands, as she realized what she had just called him.
'Eugene-' He finally snapped-to as well. "Uh, Your Majesty?"
"'Eugene?'" the King repeated back to Rapunzel, then resumed analyzing him.
"My real name is Eugene Fitzherbert." He then quickly averted his eyes and bowed his head. "And-"
"And-!" Rapunzel sharply interrupted. "And he saved me." She smiled fondly at him, which he, after his shock wore off, returned.
Her parents looked between the two of them carefully, then to each other.
"You," he began touchingly, "You saved me, too."
"You died!" she exclaimed. "My magic saved you, but…" She dove deep into his eyes and shook her head, then turned back to plead to her parents. "I wouldn't be here if he hadn't so selflessly given his life for me…"
"'Given his life?'" the Queen repeated with great concern, looking the young man over for an entirely different reason now. "But you're alright?"
"I am now, Your Majesty," Eugene gasped faintly. "Thank you."
"'Magic?'" the King questioned, however.
"She-!" Eugene pointed, instantly nervous again.
"My hair!" Rapunzel answered at the same time, though, startled at being questioned about it at all. "Well, my hair used to be magic, when it was long and blonde, and it could heal anything, even, aging… That's why, the old woman who kidnapped me, and who I thought was my mother all my life, she… was keeping me in a tower and…" She looked to Eugene again, scared for him and embarrassed all over again that she had never just left on her own. "It wasn't until Eugene here showed up that I was able to escape, the other day…"
Eugene narrowed his eyes at her slightly. That's not exactly true?
"Is this true?" the King's attention darted to him.
Eugene straightened up, looking the King right in the eye. "Of course!" With no doubt immediately challenging him, he relaxed and continued on his own. "This morning when I escaped the prison, it was to rescue her. 'Cause only I knew she was in trouble, back with either the Stabbingtons or that witch, and only I know where the tower is. Well, maybe Max, too, now."
Rapunzel continued, "And about this morning, he- what, um-" Her stomach churned thinking about the possibility of what could have happened to him before he had escaped himself. "I know he was sup-p-posed to be- um…"
The King smiled warmly and held his hand up to Rapunzel, to pause her begging. The Queen grinned, stifling a giddy chuckle. "Rapunzel," he said tenderly, "Clearly, that would have been a grave error."
Eugene had been watching him, and now perked up. YES?!
The King turned to him. "Eugene…" He looked him up and down, and sighed, though his smile remained soft.
"Your Majesty?" he asked, almost hopeful.
"Obviously, this far outweighs stealing the crown."
He still cringed slightly, a pouty lip frowning anyway. "What about everything else?"
The King paused, eyeing him even closer.
"You're not the only ones I've stolen from…"
"But I am the one with the final say. And I say that can all be erased," he waved his hand in front, shoving all those matters aside.
"...if?" Eugene expected him to continue.
The King shrugged. "If you give me no reason to rescind that absolvement."
The Queen had taken to holding Rapunzel side by side, watching them and beaming. Rapunzel's anxiety eased from the comfort, and finally she heaved a great sigh of relief. She and Eugene grinned and giggled to each other.
The Queen reached to hold Eugene's arm as well, though addressed her husband. "And surely some sort of reward?!" she asked excitedly.
The King chuckled, "Of course, of course! Now, come, stay, while we get this all sorted out."
"Thank you, Your Majesty," Eugene sighed, filled with a deep and humble gratitude.
The rest of the day was filled with everyone tentatively trying to get to know one another better, each with their own brand of anxiety-based attempts to prevent themselves from being known at every turn. At least the welcoming friendliness was indeed earnest.
Then, that night…
Ever since Rapunzel had been whisked away to her new room, Eugene had been working on figuring out where that was. By the time he was shown to his own room in the servants' quarters, he had a pretty good idea. As soon as he was left there alone, he slipped out his window.
Creeping around the outside of the castle, he spotted what he figured should line up as her balcony. He stayed out of sight for a while, watching.
After a lot of creative climbing, jumping, and shimmying, he made his way up to her balcony, while avoiding her parents' one. Silent and stealthy, he moved fast, flattened against the wall, completely hidden. Heart pounding, he tapped his fingernail against the glass door.
No response.
He tried tapping it to a pattern, like the rhythm of the song they had sung at the Snuggly Duckling. "Blondie?" he risked trying to whisper between the French doors.
Finally, the familiar tune sparked curiosity rather than fear, and Rapunzel slipped out of bed to investigate. Frying pan raised high over her shoulder, she crept toward the balcony doors. Carefully, she pulled the edge of one curtain aside, and peered out. After just one more heart pound at seeing it was indeed a person- a man- her joy soared at recognizing which man. "Eugene!" she quietly squealed.
His eyes darted to where she was spying, to which he gave a huge grin and tiny wave.
She set the pan on the floor, threw open the curtains, unlocked the doors, and opened one of them grandly with arms wide.
He stepped through as soon as he could, grabbing her in his arms instantly. "Oh I missed you!"
"I missed you, too-" she giggled, but was cut off with a kiss.
He firmly held the back of her neck, fingers dipping up into her fresh cut. His other arm wrapped around her waist, pulling them flush.
Her hands hovered in space, even as she giggled and moaned against his lips. Once she settled on one hand behind his neck as well, and the other on his arm - which she had just begun discovering she enjoyed simply feeling - she felt his tongue slide against her lips. A tiny gasp from her again parted her lips, and he slipped in, fluttering her pounding heart at all these relatively new sensations and all the curiously exciting emotions. His twirled around hers, caressing her so gently. She felt herself swooning into his arms, merely hanging there where he held her.
A light sea breeze blew in, swirling their hair around against each other. With a deep, satisfied breath and moan, he left the kiss but leaned forehead to forehead. As his own dizzying head settled down, he suddenly darted back to close the door and relock it, lest her parents look down from their own balcony and notice anything askew. He finger-brushed his own bangs back as he returned to her, then took her hands. "Hey, Blondie," he grinned crookedly.
"Hey," she giggled.
"Thought I could stay away that long?" he teased.
"I hoped you wouldn't!" She blushed, but gestured to her door. "I thought about going to find you, but I didn't wanna get lost," she chuckled.
"Well, yes, I'm sure everyone would prefer you to now remain an Un-Lost Princess."
She giggled, covering her mouth to try to keep quiet.
He smoldered at her in the dim moonlight. "And your guide is here now, so, have no fear," he continued playfully as he puffed his chest up momentarily and she continued laughing, though he quickly lost it as well. "You gettin' settled in here?" He tried to look around the enormously huge but dark room.
"Ehhh," her humor fell and she cringed, looking around as well.
"Lonely?" He smirked charmingly.
"Yes," she whined with a chuckle, tugging on his hands.
"Me too," he sighed.
Her eyes darted to his. "Thanks for coming to find me…" She giggled and shrugged. "Again."
He giggled back, dipping his hand into her hair to pull her close for a kiss on her forehead. "Anytime, Sweetheart." He pulled away, admiring all of her face, her freckles, and the new look the spiky brown gave her. "Gah, you do just look so cute with it like this!" he practically squeed, "Like, you've always been gorgeous, but, wow…"
She blushed, but hesitated. He means it. -does he, though? He- He DOES mean it! "Th-thanks!" And about it being lonely here… She was hopeful, but feared asking too much. And I mean, I'm pretty sure he means it… I hope?
But he was not so sure about the reasons behind that hope versus fear he saw in her. "I mean- I was going to say- about being lonely here- But please, if you want me to leave and go back to my room I will- but-"
"Will you stay with me?" she blurted.
He sighed in ecstacy. "I thought you'd never ask," he giggled as he dove to kiss her sweetly again, hands gripped between them.
She broke it this time, turning back to look at her bed. "This bed here is absolutely huge!" She went to pull him towards it, "So we should both be able to-"
But Eugene did not budge. He stood frozen, his outstretched arm tautly connected to hers, but staring at the bed in terror. Oh boy… I know this is what I came here for, but like, oh my God!
"Eugene?" She turned back to him, "Is... everything okay?"
"I- I was going to ask if I could sleep with you, yes, but- oh! Hooo, boyyy, but I mean- I'm not expecting any, uh- I mean just sleep, okay?"
She chuckled, scrunching her face up, suspecting she might be a bit lost. "What else would you do?"
His cringed shoulders went completely limp, eyes wide, and jaw dropped. He blinked at her, dumbfounded himself.
"What?" she giggled.
He snapped out of it, gulped, and just pulled her back to him, into a hug, cradling her like the most precious thing in the world. Tower… Right… I can't just explain ALL this right now! "Oh, Blondie… You know I would never, ever hurt you, right?"
"Uh, of course?" she answered, only getting more confused by the moment.
He loosened his hold, ran his hand back through her hair, searching her eyes deeply. "And you trust me?"
She searched his eyes back, not understanding, but indeed found only the most honest hope there. "Yes…" she whispered.
"And, ya know, I- I promise," he cupped her cheek,"I would NEVER do anything you don't want me to, okay?"
She laid her hand over his, turning concerned. "Eugene? What are you actually talking about?"
"Just, ya know…" he tried to shrug it off coolly, though his mind was racing for how to succinctly explain or at least brush this away. "I… I wouldn't ever make you do anything you don't want to, or touch you where you didn't want me to, okay?"
"Oookay?" She looked him up and down again, still confused, realizing there must be some great unknown thing here raising her heart rate.
He sighed. "Blondie, all I'm trying to say is… You're safe with me. Okay? You know you are. You have been safe with me."
"Of course, but, I feel like there's something more here you're not telling me here," she lowered his hand from her cheek, though she still held it tenderly.
He gulped. "There is. I'll explain later. But it's been a long day. Tomorrow, okay? Basically, all I wanna make sure you know is, according to like, unspoken rules, I shouldn't be here with you, and with another man that may very well be with good reason, but you are SAFE with me, you're in charge, and…" He sighed again. "Just know how much I love you..."
"Alright then," she smirked at him. "You can explain in the morning," she yawned, though it turned into a giggle.
"Thank you." He kissed her forehead, and ushered her back towards the bed. "Alright then, um, I'm just- I'm just gonna take my doublet and boots off, okay?"
"Oh yeah, of course," she casually allowed.
"Oh, and my- belts…" He winced.
Finally she turned back to him questioningly, accusingly, more frustrated. "Eugene, just what are you getting at here?"
"Weh- Ah- W-well, for starters," he stuttered as he began sweating, "Right now I just mean I'm not gonna get naked, okay?"
"Oh," she giggled, relieved and feeling a bit silly, "Well, yeah. Okay."
He took a deep breath, thankful for the dark hiding his blush. Quickly, he lost the doublet, belts, and boots as he said, then turned back to the bed, where she stood on the other side - and his heart did not know if it was freefalling or soaring but oh did his nerves rattle like he had never before experienced nor expected. "Uh, heh, which- ah, which side do you want?"
She tucked her chin down, grinning, and blushing fiercely as well. "Pascal's already made a perch on this side, so…"
Pascal chirped sleepily over to them, but remained nestled on the night table.
"Okay," Eugene grinned, then pulled the covers back and slid in. He paused and watched her do the same, already facing away. "Blondie?"
So much for hiding her own blush. "Hm?" she looked all the way back at him.
"Could we snuggle? Or would you be more comfortable at opposite ends here?" She looked so far away over at that other side, he could not help but sound pitiful.
She tried but failed to hold back her joyous but nervous excitement, "I- um, yeah- I guess-"
"You guess?" he teased, already scooting closer.
She giggled. "Yeahhh…!"
"Com'ere," he rumbled low on her ear as his arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her back to him, while they both giggled.
She twisted in his arm, so she lay on her back looking straight up at him, propped up over her.
"Blondie," he gasped, starstruck.
"Hey," she cooed.
"Hey," he chuckled back, but leaned down for another kiss.
She kept it shorter, as she suddenly swelled with questions. "Eugene?"
"Hm?" He slowly rubbed his hand around her tummy, from hip to hip, cautiously. "You okay?"
"Yes, I'm fine, but," she sighed. "What's gonna happen to us from here?"
His hand stilled. "I have no idea, Sweetheart."
"Well, you got pardoned, I'm the princess…"
His brow furrowed. "I don't know if I'll be able to marry you, though-" He froze.
She tensed. WHAT?! "Marry me?!" she gasped, though kept her voice low.
He looked down in horror as he lifted his hand off her entirely. "I mean- I'm sorry, I just- Oh," he facepalmed, "God, Blondie, I am so sorry, I didn't mean to assume, but, I thought…" He finally just bit his lip. "I guess, uh, heh," he smiled nervously, "Well, would you want to- I mean- Wait- do you even know what, um…?"
"I-..." She was stunned, but could at least answer the last question. "Yes, but- I mean! Yes, I know…"
"I mean, and I know that's crazy fast," he tried to laugh it off, "And a huge, major life decision, and you've only just gotten out of there, and you're already starting a new life here and all, but…" His eyes settled calmly back with her, though his brows furrowed deeply. I didn't even think about any of this stuff when we decided to bring you back… "But you're a princess now. You're the Princess. And the only heir..."
She sighed a deep breath out. "I know, I've been hearing that all day…"
"Sweetheart," his voice strained, "That means, it's really important who you marry, like, not just for the rest of your life, but for the whole kingdom. I know there's probably rules about who's eligible, but I don't know what those rules are exactly, yet. I'm pretty sure at least, though, that whoever you marry- you'll be giving them at least as much power over this kingdom as you'll have."
"So, you…" Her brow twisted as she cringed, "Want that?"
"Ye- What? No… I mean- Wait." Alarmed, he tilted her chin to look at him, where his brow was furrowed with such worry.
With the cutest pout, she obeyed in looking at him.
"No. No, I don't want power. Blondie, trust me, the only thing I want anymore, is just to stay with you." He winced. "But that's… what that would mean. If I married you, I could stay with you. But then, yyyes, all that power would also come with a marriage. And honestly, I don't know if your parents would want to give me that much of a chance…"
Her eyes roamed over his face and neck and shoulders and chest, even with his white shirt still on but half unbuttoned, completely enraptured. "I would." They locked eyes. "I mean," she giggled, "So, um, I guess that would be a yes!"
"'Yes?!'" He burst into a giggle as well and collapsed atop her to pull her into a hug. "Oh, Blondie! I love you!" He then rolled back with her in tow, to position himself on the bottom.
She enjoyed tugging on his shirt collar this time, as she pulled him in for a deep kiss. She tested how far she could reach, and just continued to explore and further map out his side of their mouth situation.
He welcomed her as much as possible, thrilled to give her all that he could. A lil early, but that's great! I wouldn't count that as permanent or official yet, but, oh man is that good news! She wants me!
Between more giggly, infatuated, sleepover conversation, and jittery butterflies of even just snuggling for this first time together, nearly another sleepless hour passed.
Suddenly, one of the double bedroom doors clicked open, and a guard immediately, nonchalantly, poked his head in. "Yor Highness, is everything al-"
Wrapped around each other, arms in arms, in the center of her bed, faces pressed together, shamelessly canoodling - they both turned their heads up toward the intrusion.
The guard froze in shock.
"Oh shit," Eugene breathed, his rapid-firing wits registering first.
Rapunzel realized the horror on the guard's face, the tone shift in Eugene, and the way he tensed up. He said he wasn't supposed to be here! "Uhhh…"
All stomachs dropped like stone. Hearts thudded like charging into battle. Adrenaline shot through all their veins, slowing time to a crawl and shakily speeding up every other nerve in their bodies.
Eugene threw the covers back off himself and lept out on his side of the bed, eyes locked on the guard - but then he froze as well. Anxious fists clenched and unclenched, over and over at his sides, but never raised. I can't just assault a guard here!
The guard, however, stepped all the way into the room, his stance at the ready carrying his halberd pointed forward at him. "Youu!" he sneered, "Wot are youu doing here?!" He steadily advanced, straight toward Eugene.
Eugene jumped back a step, and held his open palms out. "Nuh- W-wait a minute-"
"On yor knees!" the guard commanded well with a deeper voice, brandishing his halberd and meaning business, pointed out at him and advancing still.
Eugene glanced back to the bed; Rapunzel was gone. His heart sank in a chilling thought he suddenly fell into: She left - did she really not want to?! I totally thought-
"Kneel!"
Did she not- Did she NOT?! Did HE scare her or- or- or?! Or did I… Eugene's chest caved in with shock and guilt. God, if I DID upset her, then- He hung his head, and slowly raised his hands as he lowered to one knee- til he heard a telltale clang.
He looked up only to see the guard hit the floor, revealing Rapunzel standing behind him, frying pan in hand. She stood there frozen, panting, gaping down at the guard sprawled out between them.
"Blonnn-diiie!" Eugene strained in a squeaky high pitch at her.
She finally blinked out of it, coming back to her surroundings. "What?"
"You just knocked out a guard!" He laid his hands out before him as he stood back up.
"Uh," her voice shook nervously. "So? He was threatening you!"
"Ohhh mannn…!" he whined, running his hands through and through his hair. "He was threatening me 'cause he was worried I was gonna hurt you!"
"Oh- so- uh… Well what do we do…?"
Eugene looked all around, while picking up the halberd to set aside and whisper-shouting directions. "Go check outside if there's anyone else." He slid the guard's helmet off and began hoisting him up under his arms. "If anyone asks, tell them you're fine, smile- Blondie. Look at me."
She had frozen again, but blinked back to his face. "What…"
"Smile, be nice, make them believe it. If they ask where he is, tell them you're just chatting with him in here."
"Right…" She nodded, then scampered back to the door and cautiously peaked out.
Eugene hoisted the guard into a fancy cushioned chair from a small breakfast table, then looked around again.
Luckily, Rapunzel was able to quickly return. "I don't see anyone, so…"
"Put Pascal out to play look-out, then close the door." He proceeded to pull a long sheer curtain down from the canopy around her bed, and started tying up their new prisoner. The center wrapped tightly around each wrist and then both of them together, then the ends continued through and around the back posts, slats, and his chest to secure him to the chair itself, finished off with a tight knot.
Rapunzel followed with briefing Pascal, as she set him outside the door. He saluted her valiantly, to which she grinned, then closed it silently. She came back over to Eugene, eyes glued to the unconscious guard and hands ready to swing the pan again.
Eugene turned around, immediately recoiling from seeing her with the pan, and him so close to lining up with it. "Gah- geeze!" He fell back a step grabbing at his chest.
She giggled at him. "Sorry!"
After a deep, steadying breath of relief, he took the other identical chair, set it across from the guard, but to sit on backwards. Resting there, he tried to catch his breath and calm his own nerves.
"Well?" she asked.
He shook his head, brow furrowed. "It's too late for anything else- we gotta bribe him to keep this quiet."
She took a deep breath. "Alright…"
"Well…" He stared over at him. His head had lolled down to the side, and sandy hair, with waves evident even given its short length, spilled about. This man of the law, his very antithesis, however, seemed about his same age, with skin only a touch paler, and freckled high cheekbones on a narrow handsome face. Eugene sighed. "Wake him up. We gotta get this settled quick, before someone realizes he's gone."
Rapunzel poked him with the end of the frying pan.
The guard groaned as his head tilted to the opposite side.
She finally sighed, and moved right in to hold and lightly slap at his cheeks.
Just as the guard's eyes were fluttering open, Eugene lunged forward to clamp his hand over his mouth, his other bracing his neck.
That had his eyes shooting wide open, terrified.
Eugene smiled, still a bit too much of a smirk. "Nothing personal, buddy. But I can't have you sending me back to hang already. Besides," he cocked his head towards Rapunzel, "She hit you, not me."
Rapunzel followed warily, holding the frying pan at the ready again. "Okay," she began likewise whispering to the guard. "We need you not to scream, or anything. Okay?"
The guard's frantically worried steely blue eyes darted about Eugene's steadfast face, to the frying pan, and Rapunzel's cringing brows.
She continued, "We're not gonna hurt you-"
"Well I don't want to," Eugene clarified, cringing himself, "Thaaat might also put a damper on the pardon."
Rapunzel tried to catch her breath. "Okay, so, see? We don't wanna hurt you. But… You can't tell anyone, about any of this!" She began panicking. After such a draining day, exhausted tears were a mere gasp away. "Please! You can't get him in trouble for this!"
"Blondie," Eugene suddenly soothed, "Blondie, look at me. Calm down. Take a deep breath. Okay?"
The guard watched him intently.
She did take a deep breath, as instructed, then locked eyes with the guard but jerked her head toward Eugene. "He's here because I want him here. If my parents don't like that, well, I really only just met them today. I've known him longer. And they may have had hope and faith all these years that those lights would lead me home, but it was Eugene who led me to those lights, and… he saved me. I don't know what anyone has told you about us yet, but I'm only safe, and I'm only here, because of him."
"Seriously, buddy," Eugene chimed in, glaring him down, so close face to face, eye to eye. "I love this girl more than life itself, and I even proved that this morning. So I am not here to hurt her. I would never do anything against her wishes. We just missed each other. WE, both, just wanna be together. So, please, tell me that's not a crime."
The guard narrowed his eyes at him, suspicious, yet taking it all in. Then he switched to Rapunzel.
She pleaded with his eyes, and nodded, confirming all that Eugene just said.
Eugene deepened his voice at him. "If I let go of you, are you gonna be calm?"
The guard looked back to him, and struggled to nod a little bit.
"Blondie?" He asked for confirmation, wanting a second opinion and unanimous decision between them.
"Yeah," she had been watching the guard's face carefully. "Yeah I think we're good."
Slowly, Eugene eased up on his hold, until he finally was able to step away from him.
The guard gasped to catch his breath. "Thank you," he sighed strenuously, his British accent coming out right away, more clearly than before. He tried to sit up straighter, huffing and clearing his throat indignantly the whole time.
"You're welcome… Well?" Eugene asked, crossing his arms over the back of the other chair as he returned to sitting on it, still backwards.
"Look," he tried to gesture with at least his shoulders and head, "I was just doing my job." He looked pointedly to Eugene. "Yor not supposed to be here."
Eugene jutted his chin toward Rapunzel. "She says I can be here. And for the record, we haven't even really done anything. So?"
He sighed, shrugging back and forth. "The intrusion is still not allowed. But, alright, well, if she says you did nothing else…" He glanced around between the two of them. "Wot now?"
Eugene shook his head. "We can't let you go til we know you're not just gonna go run and rat on us."
"Then I need youu to leave. Set this right, and I won't report it."
"I'm not leaving her. Not unless she wants me to." He looked over to her. "Blondie?"
Arms crossed and glaring from the sidelines, her brow perked but immediately furrowed again. "Of course I don't want you to leave!"
"There you have it. Just pretend you never saw me."
"No." He shook his head. "I'm sorry. I con't do that. You con't do this."
"Well we're gonna have to find some way to work this out."
The guard heaved a deep sigh, merely staring at Eugene in complete exasperation. "Fine, then. Untie me, and we can talk about this."
"We'll talk about this, and then we'll untie you."
"Wot are you going to do?" He chuckled, pinching his shoulders up together, trying to gesture. "Leave me tied up til the morning guard comes and finds us awll like this?"
"Seriously?" Eugene gawked at him, then turned back to Rapunzel, but pointed at the guard. "This is what I mean, there's only one guard on your door? All night?" Back to the guard, "Is anyone even supposed to be coming to check on you?"
He sighed with great annoyance again. "No…"
"Un-believable," Eugene threw his hands up, then pointed to Rapunzel. "Now I'm definitely not leaving you alone here."
Rapunzel grinned and blushed at his concern. And despite the first analyzation thoughts about Gothel's over-protectiveness forming in the back of her mind over the course of this tumultuous day, she knew she simply felt warmed by the prospect of him staying with her through the night, even with an intent to protect her.
Eugene sneered back to the guard, "What if someone were to actually break in here, huh?! What if they think she still has mmm-" He stuttered and froze, glancing with fright at her, then took a deep breath and sighed. "Or even just that the Princess is back, and a young woman now! What if, hm?! Com'on, man!"
The guard merely glanced between them, confused. "I beg yor pardon? Didn't youu break in here?"
Eugene deadpanned him. "She let me in."
"I did," she piped up, then hmphed in her own triumph.
The guard scoffed, slumping back in his seat, looking around into space, thinking it all through. "Alright…" He pursed his lips and squinted at Rapunzel. "If you say it's alright, then that's a good enough place to start."
"You promise you won't tell anyone about him being here?"
"Yes, yes, I promise, alright?"
"Aht-ta-tah," Eugene held a hand up to stop him. "Your new princess here has this thing about promises." He then flicked that hand to hold it out towards her. "Blondie?"
"I'm serious," she stressed, with as much genuine authority as she could manage at the moment, especially with Eugene on her side now. "When I promise something, I never, ever, break that promise. Never. Not in my entire life. And I'd like to know I can expect the same from others."
Eugene raised his hand, while smirking at the guard. "Bingo. Never broke a promise to her."
Rapunzel broke and suddenly giggled at him. "Eugene, you may have kept our deal, but that wasn't exactly a promise on your part."
He scoffed back in friendly offense. "Well I came to think of it as one! So there. And this morning I did promise to bring you back here safely, too."
She giggled at him again. "Alright, yeah, I forgot you did say you promised that." She breathily sighed, reverting to trying her best to look and sound as cute as possible. "It's been a, very long day."
Eugene giggled back. "To say the least! You've had an extremely tough few days in a row."
She blushed away. I didn't want to be overdramatic, but then I suppose that's right!
"Anyway," Eugene tore his own blushing smirk away from her and back to their prisoner-guard. "So ya see, you better mean it when you promise her something."
The guard's sparkling eyes had been darting back and forth between the couple, his own grin growing at their banter, til he chuckled out loud at them. "Alright, well then, perhaps we can come to an arrangement, that'll satisfy everyone."
Eugene glared him down. "Why don't you just listen to your princess here?"
He nodded, slightly annoyed but rather over it all. "Yes, yes, of course, for now, personally. But my orders come from the Captain, and ultimately," his brow furrowed as he looked back at Rapunzel, "Yor father."
Rapunzel sighed, a bit unnerved all over again, yet more comfortable with this man in particular. He seemed to be open to reason and at least a little agreeable. "What's your name?"
"My name's Tomaeus, Yor Highness," he smiled cheerfully and bowed his head to her. "I'm the night guard."
"Oh- uh-" She cringed, suddenly fidgeting her hands around the pan handle.
Eugene jumped back in, ready to point out something he was proud to have picked up on throughout the day. "She doesn't like the 'Your Highness' thing. Just Rapunzel's fine."
"Yes, please," she confirmed, "Just Rapunzel."
"Rapunzel, then," he grinned, politely flattered. "I've had the night shift for about two years now, and now that you've returned, I've been assigned to your door here, from eleven o'clock in the evening, to seven A.M." He then turned to Eugene. "And, ah, I'm sorry, I know it's not Flynn Rider anymore, but wot is your name again?"
Eugene breathed a deep sigh of relief. "It's Eugene. Eugene Fitzherbert. And thank you. Both for asking, and for not raising an alarm. 'Cause, no offense, but I would do more, and have done more, for this girl here than any guard would ever."
"Eugene," Tom repeated, nodding.
They both looked back to Rapunzel, who looked like she was about to burst.
"I. Have. Somanyquestions about what it's like being a guard!" she did indeed burst.
Eugene chuckled and sighed at her.
Tom did as well, though he nervously watched Eugene.
Eugene noticed him immediately. Stop mirroring me. Could you be any more obvious? But thanks for being scared I guess. He took a deep breath to answer Rapunzel. "Sweetheart, we need to get this settled and get some sleep. Neither of us slept last night." He turned back to Tom. "So, I guess, what do you want? Neither of us have any money on us right now, but I'm sure she could get you something tomorrow or sometime soon."
"Ah," he chuckled but cringed. "Now that is a crime."
"Alright, Mr. Goody-Two-Shoes," Eugene snarked with a yet-friendly smirk, "What will get you to make this OUR little secret, and not a crime?"
Tom looked off hard in thought.
Eugene sighed. "Well, what are your orders exactly? 'Protect the Princess,' or something?"
He cringed still, "And to alert the guard to any other disturbances or anomalies. To keep the area secure."
Eugene threw his hands out, looking all about him. "I don't think I was causing a disturbance, do you? And I think it would be safe to say the Lost Princess simply being back is an anomaly." He crossed his arms. "But me being by her side isn't. She's more secure with me here."
Worried and frustrated, Tom argued back, "I'd say you're certainly disturbing my shift, having me tied here and all. This is ludicrous. And wot would the King and Queen say about you spending the night with her? I con't imagine them being alright with any of this!"
Eugene rolled his eyes. "Yeah, alright, so I didn't exactly go and ask the King and Queen if I could sleep with their daughter. Hence the whole keeping it a secret thing."
Tom balked. "I'm sorry, I con't do that. I won't say anything about tonight, but you con't stay here."
Eugene groaned, rolling his whole upper body around. "We gotta be able to work something out here. 'Cause I'm not leaving her- not unless she asks."
Tom turned his pleading face to Rapunzel. "Your H-... Rapunzel, may I speak with just you?"
Rapunzel blinked out of watching their back and forth. "Oh, uh, sure," she chirped, then looked about between him, Eugene, and the rest of the room, though she was uncertain.
Eugene merely raised his brow and tipped his head to them, smugly conceding, then stood up and wandered off clear to the other side of the room to lean against a wall, looking out the balcony doors over the sea.
Tom addressed Rapunzel with utmost concern. "Yor certain yor alright?"
"Yes!" she gasped with a chuckle, finding his persistence a bit ridiculous.
"Then, untie me won't you?"
"Um, not untilll…" She trailed off as she looked over to Eugene again. She caught his attention, but he just smirked and waved at her.
Tom continued whispering, "If you want him out, or if you want to leave, just say the word."
She laughed a little more at him. "Eugene just made the biggest dream of my life come true, then he saved my life. What harm could he even possibly mean here?" She shook her head. "Thank you for your concern, but Eugene is staying."
Tom actually huffed a chuckle himself and grinned charmingly at her. "Yor gonna be a stubborn set, aren't you?"
Rapunzel giggled. "I guess so!"
Tom rolled his eyes at her, but could not hold back a smile at her adorableness. He stared her down hard for a few more moments, then hung his head and sighed. "Fine, alright, if you say so, then…" He took a deep breath. "I won't say anything," but he locked eyes with her again very carefully, "Unless you ever want me to."
Rapunzel sighed exasperatedly, but in good faith. "Alright then, thank you so, so much!" She leapt at him in a hug.
Tom squeaked and wobbled at the unexpected gesture, especially given how he was still tied.
From the other side of the room, they heard Eugene giggle.
Rapunzel waved him over, and he obeyed.
Eugene meandered over, shaking his head with a grin. "How do you do that? First the horse, then," he gestured up and down to Tom.
Tom narrowed his eyes at him, not appreciating the comparison.
"Alright," Rapunzel nodded, "He's promised not to tell on you."
"Prooomise?" Eugene repeated to Tom.
He nodded solemnly. "Promise."
"Promise you won't get me in trouble? At all?"
Tom's seriousness flicked to a glare. "Not unless she, or I, ever deem you deserve it."
Eugene cocked his head. "Define 'deserves it.'"
Tom snarled his lips back. "You treat her perfectly, or else I tell all."
"Heh," he scoffed, "My own terms exactly."
"I'm serious," Tom insisted.
"So am I." Eugene stared him down a moment. "Blondie," he touched her waist, while keeping eye contact with Tom, "My turn."
She looked up to him, a bit disheartened, but brightened up as he pecked her cheek. She smirked at him slyly, then headed back to sit on the edge of her bed, but continued watching.
Eugene set to untying the curtain securing Tom, but only then spied two daggers lashed behind his back, where his wrists would not yet allow his hands to reach. Eugene watched everything carefully…
Tom watched closely as well…
Then, just as the curtain dropped away, Eugene snatched one of the daggers himself.
Tom simultaneously grabbed for the other, erupting the face off.
Arms suddenly swished and crisscrossed back and forth as both men swiftly got to their feet, grunting as each mark was blocked and missed.
Rapunzel gasped, but covered her mouth and jumped back farther up the bed.
Deftly slashing and sidestepping, they danced around til Eugene finally, with Tom's dagger well out of line, pushed forward. Forcing him to step backward, he shoved Tom back up against the wall with only one arm across his chest, as he gasped in surprise at the pin. Eugene then leaned in close, smiling, enjoying the victory. "You're not as dumb as the other guards, but that's twice you've been bested tonight, between the two of us."
Tom sighed and rolled his eyes. "Really, this isn't necessary," he attempted to chuckle, rather than concede the loss. He held his position, locked pressing back against Eugene's arms, which did not budge.
"Eugene!" Rapunzel hissed over, cringing in worry.
"No, no," Eugene cooed sarcastically, diving deep into his eyes, "Let me really spell it out for you. See, I scaled the castle walls and got in here, easy. You weren't even aware I was here, for a while. Then she snuck up on you and knocked you clean out. Now, what if I did have malicious intent? I could've already had her; I could've snapped your neck while you were unconscious. Tossed you off the balcony. Or even just tied you up and left you there. But if I just wanted her- if I only wanted that, then why would I have brought her back here at all, in the first place?! Right under your noses?!"
Tom could not help but dart his eyes around, keeping watch on their blades, as he thought about what he said, though he continued struggling. "You make some excellent points there, yes…"
"So wouldn't she be safest, right beside an accomplished fighter? And…" Eugene licked his lips, staring him down hard. He ducked his head beside his to whisper. "Her whole life in that tower? Never even set foot outside. Only person she'd ever met was the kidnapper, supposedly her mother, tried to control her- like how much she knew about anything. I'M really the first person she's ever met.
"That adds up to: she doesn't seem to really know anything about men. But I've been alone with her for three days now. We only just kissed this morning, and kissing and cuddling is ALL we've done. It's all we're gonna do. Because I love this girl.
Eugene leaned back away to glare at him again. "Nothing is going to happen here tonight. And never anything she doesn't want to happen. Capeesh?"
Tom watched the fire in his eyes, and finally nodded, fully respecting it.
"She's even a full adult now. And, last but not least, why am I the only one who cares about what SHE actually wants?"
Tom's brow quirked, genuinely considering his words. His gaze flicked back over Eugene once more, ending up just as determined as he. "Let's remedy that, then, shall we?"
"Yes. Please." With one last shove, Eugene pulled away, lowering the dagger.
Tom slowly lowered his own dagger, and held his other hand out and open in surrender, while he resheathed it.
Rapunzel rushed over to hug Eugene, forcefully positioning herself between them.
Eugene automatically brought his free arm around her, and flipped the dagger around to hand back over.
Eyes warily locked with each other, as Tom took it back and resheathed that one as well. They both sighed as they calmed down completely. Brow furrowed, he looked for her attention again. "Rapunzel, are you shor about this?"
She turned around to face him, sure to keep her arm around Eugene's waist. She looked down at their feet, nervous all over again, as her fist clutched the back of his loose white shirt.
Eugene felt it, and looked down to her, worried for her.
"Yes…" she said meekly at first, then shook her head out and straightened up defiantly. "I've never been more sure about anything. He saved me, and I know I'm safe with him. And whatever anybody else thinks about that, I don't care," her voice shook with desperation, "I want him to stay."
Tom's concern turned to sympathy. He briefly bowed his head. "Then you have my apologies for interrupting. You have my word that no one will bother you."
"Seriously?" Eugene questioned.
Rapunzel wound up with excitement, a huge weepy grin opening up. "Oh, thank you!"
Tom shrugged, a giddy sly grin on his face. "It's a, private matter of the Princess. No harm, no foul? Then it's nobody else's business. I, promise." With his hand over his stomach, he bowed at the waist reverently to Rapunzel.
Eugene's brow raised in surprise, however pleasant the news.
Rapunzel broke away from him and tackled Tom in another hug; this one he had to brace for. "Thank you," she stressed more calmly.
Eugene grinned sweetly, thrilled that she seemed to have made a new friend, nevermind how he was saying he would help them.
When they finally parted, Tom held his hand out. "Well then, Eugene," they gripped to shake, "I'll be keeping my eye on you." He smirked, friendly but cautiously.
Eugene chuckled. "You just keep an eye on her. Well," he shrugged, "Her door, tonight."
Rapunzel switched back to holding Eugene. "He's got his eye on me for tonight." She snuggled him close.
"Hahhh…" Over her head, Eugene cringed slightly, as Tom shot another accusatory look. "Ah, yeah…" Eugene just sighed, brushed her hair back and kissed her forehead, as he hugged her back. "Yeah. I'll keep my eye on you."
Tom continued watching them closely, but eventually began averting his eyes from their blatant displays of affection.
"Good night," they all said more or less at the same time, after their chit-chat had carried on long enough that the couple could not stop yawning. Pascal had long since scampered back to bed.
Eugene nodded to Tom with his hands clasped behind his back. Rapunzel waved, her other hand gripping her opposite elbow.
Tom finally closed the door.
They both let out a long sigh.
Eugene spied her fallen face. "Blondie?" They locked in on each other. "I mean it- Your parents set me up with my own room, too. It's small, but nice enough. And I am serious about protecting your freedom and comfort. So if you want me to go back to my room, I will, no hard feelings, still love you, and I'll still be around in the morning. If you want me to. You don't owe me anything. I'll do whatever you want."
She had been blushing harder and harder. "And I mean it," she took his hands in hers, "That I want you to stay."
He smirked. "Well then of course, Your Highness," he drew out playfully.
She giggled, shaking her head at him. "You know, you started off as my prisoner, desperate to get away from me, and now look at you."
He guffawed at her. "I prefer to think of it as blackmail with a change of heart, on both our parts, really." He sighed as she giggled more. "That was before I got to know you."
"Aaand before you even let yourself be yourself."
He nodded along, tugging her back to the bed as he yawned.
"So what do you think of this Tom guard guy?" she asked as they turned the quilt back down together. "I don't think we have to worry about him."
"He will betray us."
"Ohhh, he's a sweetheart! And so polite!"
"He's a snake!" he quietly shrieked. "If not tonight, then tomorrow, or who knows. Next week? Next month? Maybe whenever it best suits him."
"Eugene," she scolded with rolled eyes, "You're just saying that because that's what you used to do."
"That's why I know how it works!"
"But I trust him. Like you said, we both won Max over, why not him? And then maybe more guards..."
Eugene sighed, still struggling to get comfortable back under the covers with her, his eyes glued on the door. "I hope you're right, Blondie." He planted a kiss on her forehead. "Are you comfy?"
"Yeah," she cooed, snuggling against his arm, her own arm strapped across his chest. "Mmm, I'm glad you snuck in."
He chuckled. "Well it seems to be my specialty." He rubbed her arm, trying to get relaxed himself. "You're safe with me, Darlin'. Always. I love you."
"Thank you..." she moped out. "Eugene, can I…" she squirmed under the covers as she hesitated, "Can I be annoying for just a minute?"
"Only a minute?" he laughed at her approach, but quickly reassured her, "I'm kidding. You're not annoying. What is it?"
"Uhh…" She hesitated, but found herself laughing back, genuinely. "Well, I guess, first of all, do you really mean it, that I'm not annoying?"
He kissed her cheek immediately. "You're not annoying. You're weird. In good ways. And I like you. So no, you're not annoying."
She giggled at that, nearly forgetting the rest. "And you mean it, that you won't leave me?"
Oh. "Blondie," his voice fell deep and solemn. "I haven't lied to you since that first day. Ever since I first told you my real name, I have meant everything I've said and promised you. I love you, you're beautiful, I won't leave you, and I will never let anyone hurt you. I promise all that and more."
The butterflies were back in her stomach, but strangely enough, they felt like they were making their home there. Lying there, his arms around her, his body warm at her back, felt like the truest thing she had ever known. This place finally felt like home when they were like this. But she did not trust her voice to respond right now, did not know what touching any one of those subjects would do. She simply nodded, and whimpered, "Thank you…"
"And…" Eugene continued, too sleepily enamored to think anything through, "I wanna marry you someday..."
She chuckled a bit, "Yeah…" Pretty soon though, she peacefully drifted off, her dreams completely saturated with him, and their future.
A/N: Hey, the daggers were there before the series even came out. But sure, the metaphor still works. eue
"Love is a dagger."
And aw, see? I love my readers!
Follow me as MiraNova23 on tumblr, at miranova23 dot tumblr dot com for Tangled Fandom Resurrection, messaging, keeping up with what's going on in my life, how the writing's going, my other fanworks, lots of Chuck vs Tangled, and all-around general Disnerdiness!