Suitors of Rapunzel

by MiraNova23

(What if we ripped the communication out of New Dream?) It's been 11 months since Eugene returned Rapunzel safely to her true parents. She claimed her title as the Lost Princess. He refused his reward. Now he works odd jobs around the castle, while she must reluctantly choose a Prince to marry from the multitude of suitors. Mutual "unrequited" pining. Movie-verse. AAANGST! - ACTIVE

8. Ch8: Day -23 Part I

A/N: The gobbledygook coming up, (you'll know it when you see it) is called "Polari."

Previous chapters are getting a few tweaks! So far, what I know I will be going back to change:

Ch1 Day 303:

- More loose charms in the hidden drawer.

- Brenna's descriptions. (Zawe Ashton)

- …something else in the convo between Eugene & Tom the night of Ch1, that could read as a continuity error readers just can't tell yet.

Corrections:

"What's that about the Princess I hear?"

Eugene finally looked up to his face, smugly. "Brenna already told me you saw us leaving. Well, me."

Tom dropped his shoulders and chipper attitude. "Yes, I know she was last seen leaving with you."

"Alright, well…" Eugene quickly whipped around to better scan who was hanging around that night.

Tom's nerves began rising. "And so now where is she?"

Hookhand answered for him. "She's at his place."

Tom's eyes bugged out. "Whot?!"

Eugene splayed his hands out defensively. "Just til Sunday. Nothing's happening. And I didn't have a choice."

Ch2 Day 304:

- I don't know why I made Big Nose fall asleep, too. That kinda goes against… Just, no. Big Nose stays awake.

---

Suitors of Rapunzel

Ch8 □ Day -23 ⌧ Part I

---

"Does it look okay?" Rapunzel fretted, repeatedly trying to smooth down the ends of her hair, without disturbing the crown atop her head - and failing. The crown began to slide.

In the castle's foyer, they were huddled waiting as her parents just outside both droned on to the awaiting crowd from the balcony.

Eugene smiled but groaned, yet again tending to smoothing down her worries. He plucked the crown right up off her head, which he was getting good at, then looped it onto his wrist and finger-combed her hair back out.

Rapunzel in turn groaned, frustrated at his undoing.

"Darlin'..." He walked a fine line between chastising and loving as he also sighed in adoration, however exhausting her self-deprecation. "YOU, look amazing."

"NoOo," she whined stubbornly. "I mean my hair!"

"Your hair looks fine," he brushed off, but kissed her bared forehead and grinned. "I promise, you look super-cute with it just like this." He replaced the crown just so, as he continued, "But nothin' wrong with a lil added glitz n' glam."

That finally made her crack a smile.

He smirked back as he trailed a finger down under her chin, deepening his eye contact. "Sweetheart, I get it," he whispered softly. "And I am sorry if you truly don't like it, but Blondie, you look perfect."

She took a deep breath. "Thanks, Eugene. I, get it, too, but, I guess I like it. Like, I like it, but I don't like when other people don't like it. And I'm just, nervous. Because last I saw, that looked like A LOT of people out there!"

"Hey, hey," he took her shoulders. "That's just your family and friends out there, and all those strangers are just the same people you roped into dancing on your birthday. They love you already."

She grinned and chuckled. "Yeah, I guess so."

"And don't forget about your biggest fan," he smirked with extra charm.

A devious glint at last sparkled behind her eyes. "Ohhh! Of cooourse!" She smiled wide and rose to her tiptoes, leaning in close, as he followed likewise. But then she suddenly switched to merely peer over his shoulder. "Tom! Thank you so much for being here!"

Tom finally raised his eyes, and bemused brow to her, from where he stood off to the side waiting against the door. He wore the dress uniform this time, red with white straps and black hat, but no weapons.

Eugene guffawed and collapsed around her into a hug.

Tom snickered but rolled his eyes. "I swear, youu twoo are going ter make even my sweet tooth fall out."

Eugene smooched her neck instead, then stood up straight again, giggling. "You're gonna be fine. 'Cause I know you already. You'll be all nerves til you actually get out there, then you'll be unstoppable."

She giggled back at his observation, shrugging at the pattern he could discern already, that she was apparently too close to see. "I am excited for the rest of the party! But anyway," she drooped again, "You really think everyone else will like it?" She brushed the shorn tips with the back of her hand.

Eugene shook his head. "It doesn't matter if they don't like it. It's just personal taste; there's nothing anyone can really do about it now; and besides, you're the Princess, so I doubt anyone'll be rude to you about it. And Darlin', it's just hair."

That perked her back up to tease him again, as she fixed how his starch white shirt collar sat within the outer collar of his black satin doublet. "Oh, this coming from the man who spends an hour in front of the mirror every morning?"

He smirked, but did not find any humor in that comparison. "Well, we each got our own baggage."

She smirked sadly at that, "I suppose we do…" then at the door impatiently. "Ugh, can't we just get this over with! The longer we wait, the more I'm driving myself crazy!"

He chuckled, and got in position beside her. He crooked his elbow, then with his other hand, directed her arm through and where to go holding his arm. Staring straight ahead at the door, it got to him a tiny bit, too. He muttered quietly, "Ya know I could only reach so far…"

She bit her lip to hold back sudden emotions from the flashback. "I know," she gulped. Her other hand came around to grip his arm as well. "I'm not blaming you."

He nodded a few times, then gave her a signature soft 'natural smolder,' as she had coined. "But Blondie," he placed his other hand over hers and waited til he had her attention, "Ya do look absolutely stunning. Like a dream come true."

She beamed back at him, finally put at ease with his steadfast approval and adoration at least. She popped up for a quick kiss.

"Alright, sounds like that's it," Tom announced as he gripped the door handle, "You two ready?"

They both took a deep breath and nodded.

---

As she stepped out onto the sunlit balcony, to see her parents, then the multitudes of cheering citizens beyond, she was indeed charged up again. She burst out into a giddy laugh, and practically ran to the railing beside her parents; complete with Eugene in tow. She waved to the crowd, while she scanned it for anyone she could possibly recognize. At each face she found she knew, she waved more eagerly, then yanked on Eugene's arm and pointed them out.

He automatically obliged, more awkwardly joining her waving; it was mostly the Pub Thugs. While they had helped spring him from prison, and then he and Rapunzel in turn had easily petitioned for their own release, he was not exactly sure where he personally stood with any of them.

They may have been at ease with the crowd in general, but being on display above them was more nerve-wracking. The rest of the King and Queen's speech turned into white noise, blending in with the background, as the whole thing seemed too surreal. Then suddenly everyone seemed to be kneeling, and, while she had gotten many bows over the past week, it was still something else to experience en masse. Both she and Eugene froze, a little woozy already. Before they knew it, they were up and cheering again, and music was starting.

Rapunzel found the source, dropped Eugene's arm, and continued waving: Hookhand on piano.

"Eugene," the King's voice, however cheery, boomed behind him.

He whipped around. "Yes, Sir!?"

He smirked. "You'll keep an eye on her?"

He grinned and nodded frantically. "Absolutely, Sir. Of course!"

Tom jumped to and strode over from waiting beside the doorway to between them. "And me."

Yeah, I'll keep an eye on you, too, heh- The King had come to have the effect of locking Eugene's jaw up at times, which he was thankful for helping bite back his smart tongue at the moment. He smirked, and instead remarked, "Oh, yeah, and you'll keep an eye on me?" Dammit.

Tom nodded to the side as that angle just occurred to him as well. "Somebody's got to make sure nobody wants petty revenge for petty theft."

Eugene chuckled, completely not at ease with the new thought himself, but amused with the added protection.

The King nodded to the two of them, then returned to accompany the Queen down into the crowd.

Eugene idly watched them, still trying to figure them out. Everything seemed good enough to believe he could enjoy the day with Rapunzel however she pleased, at least. Hopefully, the rest of the week, as well.

"Fitz," Tom said, trying to conceal the humor in his voice.

"Huh? What?"

"Where's Rapunzel?" Tom laughed.

He turned back to where she had been: empty. Immediately thrown into a panic, he spun around and back again, scanning the balcony: only snickering Tom and another guard, who remained by the door. Finally he leaned over the railing, and luckily spotted her like a lighthouse amidst the sea of people. And he finally caught his breath.

She was down in the courtyard with the little troop of girls in matching pigtails, and Pascal, and her parents were just approaching her for a hug.

Eugene barged right through Tom, who was in stitches, and maneuvered past all the people meandering up the side ramp. How! How is she the only person who can sneak up- or sneak off- on me like that?!

Her parents left to head deeper into the crowd, as another family approached her…

Two can play that game, Blondie. He mischievously stared the new little girl down, his finger over his grinning lips to signal her to stay quiet.

She stared right back at him, starstruck, and covered her giggly mouth before she could give him away.

Rapunzel conveniently thought the girl was looking at her, as she slid the flower into the little girl's own hair and hugged her. Even Pascal was distracted.

His other hand reached out and snatched the crown right off her head again, so successfully swiftly that she did not notice. Then he fell back, very nonchalantly holding it behind his back.

When Rapunzel stood back up from hugging the little girl, she noticed there was nothing pinching her hair as it should have slid; should have been a slight weight there. She looked up and finally fully noticed. No sooner had she panicked, I lost it! than out of the corner of her eye, she spied its thief, originale even. She smirked at him.

He coughed to conceal a laugh, then whistled to contain his grin and giddy playful adrenaline. He side-eyed a glimpse at her.

Oh, you… Rapunzel crossed her arms, then held her hand out for it.

He obliged with a slight bow, patronizingly holding it up to her in his sly fingertips, from behind his back - then pulled it even higher as she reached for it.

She gasped, then leapt at him, but rather than going after the crown exactly, she dragged him down into a dip he clearly was not expecting, stealing his breath instead.

The next thing he knew, he was looking up at her and the bright clear blue sky behind her.

She grinned rather voraciously down at him. Gotcha!

Whoa… He froze there in awe.

She shook her head at him, playing along with being vexed at him 'stealing' her crown again.

Not that they could keep up a charade fight for long; he replaced the crown atop her head, and they met in a kiss.

Once their nerves of kissing in the middle of the crowded courtyard began taking over again, he sighed out of it. "Wow. You really know how to sweep a guy off his feet."

She guffawed into his shoulder as she helped him back up. There, they stood toe to boot, holding hands between them. She snickered, quiet and close to him, "Do you think my parents saw that?"

"Naw, they headed out deeper into the crowd." He swung her hands out and back. "So! What would the Legendary Found Princess of Corona like to do first?"

She vibrated and bounced in place. "EVERYTHING! Everything we did on my birthday, and everything we didn't get to do on my birthday!"

He laughed at her unbridled excitement. "Alright, but first?"

She grabbed his hand. "I wanna dance!"

He blushed and laughed at her, then swept one arm out to where a bunch of people were already involved in a group dance.

"First," Tom clamored up beside them for some lighthearted chastising already, "Fitz, you were supposed to bow to her before, too."

"Ohhh," he petulantly acknowledged, smiling slyly to Rapunzel, playing with a snobby cadence. "Well, pardon me, Your Royal Highness; you won't throw me in the stocks for that, will you?"

She giggled at him hysterically, bubbly as ever. "Oh, come on," she assured Tom moreso, "I don't even care about that stuff, especially when it comes to you guys."

Eugene swooped down to kiss at her ear, and for a husky taunt. "If I ever get on my knees for you, it won't be in public."

She imploded into a blush. "Eugene!" she laughed, both scandalized and intrigued, not understanding what exactly he meant, but she recognized that tone now and knew what sort of thing he was getting at. Not to mention, the thought of him on his knees before her, looking up at her with that way he did, mostly at night but other times, too, shot a thrill right through her veins.

Tom rolled his eyes. "Save the talk like that for there, too."

Eugene looked back to the dance area, heart suddenly pounding. He found her hand already in his, and gripped it tighter with a gulp.

Rapunzel felt his mood change. "Eugene?"

He looked back down to her, with a flustered smirk. He took a step away, held her hand up, and bowed slightly at the waist. But his stomach teemed with butterflies for all he felt, all he truly wanted, encapsulated both within and beyond this simple question. "May I have your first dance, Princess?" I already have so many of your firsts…

Rapunzel's butterflies likewise kicked up in a flurry. Ohhh… She got stuck staring at his tender face, his warm eyes in the bright sunlight, looking at only her, and hers likewise looking at only him, but both seeing far into their future. And like running headlong into the tunnel out of the hidden valley of her tower, she pulled his hand toward her, pulling him to stand up straight, pulling him close. "Who else could it possibly be?"

Yes! He laughed into a huge grin, and pulled her hand back again to kiss.

Then they both turned to run right into the group dance.

"Ah-?" Tom held up a finger but could not even begin to get a plea out, before they were gone.

This time, they resolved from the start they would stay partners throughout. And sure enough, through every turn, they always came back to each other. Both heads constantly turned, staying honed in. In the end, they relished how they now knew they were bound to collide together again.

Without giving them time to settle like on her birthday, however, Rapunzel was so thrilled at having had the whole dance with him, that she immediately jumped around instead, never dropping his hands. Finally, not knowing what else to do with all this happiness bursting out of her at only the start of a weeklong celebration of such things, she leapt up right at him.

"Whoa!" he laughed as he caught her, then spun her around.

That took them right into the next dance, one-on-one.

Rapunzel stopped, watching everyone, but was snapped-to as Eugene yanked her hand as he darted deeper into the crowd. Just as suddenly, he halted, hand on her waist, spinning around with her right away. After a couple rounds himself, he continued spinning just her, twirling her arm up above her head. Dizzy and laughing, just barely following his lead in all the excitement, she spun back to him and grabbed onto his arm to steady herself, but she fell against his chest nonetheless. Once she found herself there, though, she did not want to leave.

He leaned his face down to her, chuckling, nuzzling his nose against her, his lips eventually finding her temple. He kept his lead, and slowed it down with her, and less spinning. But just as close, and with more kissing.

A third rowdy and high energy tune wore out any jittery nerves left, settling them more into comfort with the whole crowd. Another kiss, and they pushed off from each other, hands still locked, to swing around and come back together. Eugene jerked his head aside, to direct them to head out of the dancing. All giggles and looking to catch a breath, they dropped one set of hands, to merely hold the one pair swinging between them as they made their way back through the crowd.

Finally, out of the din of music and chatter, where they had been hearing what sounded like "Princess" and different variations for him the whole time, Tom's voice made it through with a different approach: "FITZ!" They turned to see him trying to make his way back through the crowd to them.

"What's up?"

He pulled a paper from his jacket and unfolded it, showing it to Rapunzel. "Itinerary."

She looked it over, smile vanishing as her face turned to crushed.

Eugene snatched it.

"Ah- hey!" Tom balked.

He gave it a single once-over, then bit one side of it, and tore it into two strips. He shoved both back at his shocked chest. "She'll do what she wants. Blondie?" He jerked his head again. "Water."

Stunned herself, she let Eugene moreso drag her by the arm to a refreshments table. It was an open area where she could finally take a relaxing breath, and before she knew it, Eugene was shoving a wet chilled glass of water into her hand.

She did immediately start gulping it down, both physically and emotionally thankful for it. Then she finally really looked at it. Oh, nice!

Oh. Ew. Eugene looked from his own glass over to her, likewise fishing her lemon wedge out of her water, and grinned with yet another, if silly, heartfelt connection. "You don't like lemons in water, either?"

"Hm?" The lemon wedge was lining her teeth.

Eugene guffawed at her. "Oookay, well then. Do you want my lemon?"

"Oh! Yes, please! Ah, if you don't mind."

"Allow me, M'Lady." He plunked his in her glass.

"Thaaank you, kind Sir," she chuckled, making cute eyes up at him. So, does this mean I'll always get his lemons? That'd be sweet! "Ah, my mom had told me I shouldn't be doing that at the table, but I figured now would be okay. Don'tchya think?" Though she did not seem all that worried about it.

He nodded, then turned to lean back against the table as he drank his, watching back the way they had come, waiting for whatever was coming to him.

Tom did indeed catch up to them, but looking rather sheepish himself.

Rapunzel could tell from Eugene's face when Tom appeared behind her, and so turned around. "Let me see that again." She held her free hand out.

Tom took a deep breath, but, with furtive glances to Eugene's deadpan, took out both pieces and handed it back over to her.

Without even looking, she asked, "What on here is actually important? And I see the times are spread out and filled up, but maybe we could just finish it all as fast as possible?"

Tom sighed, trying to gesture diplomatically between them. "Rapunzel, this celebration is for the entire kingdom, to welcome you home. People want to meet you- both of you!"

Rapunzel exasperatedly dropped her arm with the papers, whining. "See, that sounds fine! I get that! But-" she whipped the papers up and down again, "You can't just fill up my day, bit by bit, with things just to keep me busy!"

Eugene cleared his throat loudly behind her, both for emotional grounding backup, and as physically threatening backup. He crossed his arms, leveling his stare at Tom.

"Well, I-..." Tom stuttered defensively, "It's not coming from me. I just-...!"

"I would love to meet people," Rapunzel conceded, "But a lot of this looks…" She groaned. "I wanna enjoy the party, too!"

He held his hands up in surrender. "Alright, alright. Listen, one of those meet-and-greets is right now, with people -townsfolk- already waiting to see you two. Then there's another later. The daytime lanterns, and the evening lanterns. Those are the most important things, besides of course lunch and dinner. I can tell them to cut you from the other ceremonies and presentations and scheduled private meetings, I suppose."

"'Private meetings?'" Eugene's brow flew up.

Tom brushed it off. "Visiting royalty, but," he smiled between them, "I'm sure you'll both feel the people of Corona are more important. We can just give them an excuse."

Rapunzel perked back up.

"There ya go," Eugene agreed, "That sounds more reasonable. Change it to like, 'mingling with the commonfolk,' or something. Ya know, I have been to a garden party before."

Tom's brow flew up, spotting the wide opening for a jest. "With yor own agender, I'm shor!"

Eugene laughed back with him, but shoved his arm for the tease. "Yeah, yeah."

"Alright then!" Rapunzel threw a hand in the air. "Let's go see that first meet-and-greet!" She finished off the water, fully revitalized again.

Eugene likewise downed his, then took her arm again. "Ready, Your Royal Highness?"

"Yup!" she bounced up against him, squeezing his arm.

Tom bowed slightly, and led the way.

---

They spent the next hour with a crowd of families, all with young children.

The farthest thing from feeling like a royal duty or Princess work, Rapunzel loved meeting all the different people and talking with everyone. She was apprehensive with the children at first, but did not know much better than to talk to them just like any other person she had met, which worked out perfectly, as the children became all the more enthralled with such an intimate and engaging meeting.

"Oh! I love your dress! Your mother made it for you? Awww, wow, that's so nice. You're very lucky." Urgh! No time to get weepy! "Um, what's your favorite color? Pascal can change into it! …And do you have any hobbies?"

Eugene, somewhat conversely, was fearful of the parents worrying he would be a bad influence by mere proximity. But their children certainly had no such fear, and as soon as the first tiny one broke loose and made his way to his ankle, he was right back in big brother mode on his knee.

"Oh- hah, ah, well actually I have been on a pirate ship- but ah, I mean- no, no! Oh- uh, yes, yes of course, I was fighting them, the scoundrels! Yep, just like Flynn. Aaand, what do you wanna be when you grow up?"

Rapunzel held Pascal out for them to see him change the colors they called out. Eugene feigned brutal defeat in miniature but dramatic arm wrestling matches. All together, they tried toy frying pans against wooden swords.

Chalk was brought out for all again, but this time Rapunzel had to think for inspiration, which she put to the crowd. Various forms of the same answer returned: each other.

Rapunzel blushed to Eugene, but he blanched at her.

"I- I can't!" he protested.

"Oh, just try!" she goaded.

Which she of course won.

Inbetween their mismatched portraits, he thought and worried a moment, but finally dove in to grab a deep bright pink. He drew a heart in between, then R + E, before kneeling back and proudly showing her the finished joint project.

Her grin deepened, and she tackled him with a hug, smearing pink chalk all over them both as they laughed. But finally they stood up to admire the rest of the group.

Rapunzel shook some of that bright pink chalk dust from her skirt and hands. But, brushing her swoop back with her forearm, only smeared more onto her forehead.

Eugene clapped his hands back and forth to shake some dust from them, but it was already on the cuffs, sleeves, and elbows of his white dress shirt. Heh, oh well. This lil activity wasn't MY idea! He grabbed Rapunzel's side to his, the pink still left on his hand at least matching the pinks and purples of her dress. He tilted his head atop hers as they watched over the kids and their parents, still drawing on the ground. "Aww, aren't they just so cute?"

"Yeah," she replied in a chuckle that turned sad. I thought I had so much… but I never had anything like this… I mean- it's not the toys, or the chalk, it's… The kids showed off their works to each other, feeding off all the others' reactions, as parents otherwise idly chatted with other parents, or nodded or even congratulated their children on their good works. She felt she was about to get choked up, and felt all the worse that it was for self-pity – when that large hand on her hip moved to squeeze her side and jolted her against him.

"I see that," he whispered, still keeping his eyes ahead. "And no, we'll never get that time back, either of us."

She suddenly looked straight up at him. You! YOU understand! You who had your own version of missed childhood… Not even 'loss,' it was just… an absence. "Then at least I'm not alone," she tried to sound cheery and offer her own comfort likewise.

He looked down at her, but smirked charmingly. Carefully, he found a chalk-free spot on her brow to kiss. I may not have all your answers, but I do have this one. And I know you've already been putting in the work yourself, just like me. "We can always catch up now on the things we missed. And we get to do it together." His hand brushing her swoop back, transferred some more remnant chalk still, to her hair and ear.

Her own smile shone bright again. "Ya know, I think that actually sounds better."

---

After that meet-and-greet, they managed to clean up at least a little better, before heading back to dance and wander and mingle. After yet another dance with the two of them came to settle, a young man eagerly approached them.

He was just as finely dressed, decorated in gold, and moved with a manner of refinement, though accented with an excitable youth. He was just about her age, about his height, with weight mis-distributed somewhere in between. He was graciously polite about it all. "Excuse me?" His voice could still use one more bout with puberty, though it was confident enough.

They both looked at him, innocuously, unsure what he could want.

"Yes?" Rapunzel granted.

Aw, cute kid. "Heyyy, what's goin' on?" Eugene offered a friendly greeting.

This was the most highly anticipated moment of his whole trip. He took a big deep breath, then burst with a huge hopeful grin, still politely regarding Eugene, "I wanted to ask," then he addressed Rapunzel, "Your Royal Highness, may I have the next dance?!"

Rapunzel did a doubletake at him. "Uh…"

"Oh," Eugene said with surprise, but also felt stupid for not realizing the obvious. He then had to try to hold back a smirking laugh. "How old are you, kid?"

"Eighteen, Sir!"

Eugene's mirth died flat, but he gulped and turned back to Rapunzel with a grin to reassure her. "Blondie?" He held up her hand questioningly.

She giggled at Eugene's squashed amusement, but then his honestly questioning tone was obvious to her. So, this should be fine. And interesting! "Sure!" she chirped.

Eugene kissed her hand. "See ya later then." Then, with a deeply pursed smirk, passed it off to the young noble.

His excitement bubbled over.

Rapunzel giggled at him, but they were off.

Eugene turned away quickly to avoid showing his silent chuckle at how ridiculous he found the kid, and paced a few steps away before turning back to watch. Partly almost as eager, he could not wait to see how she enjoyed herself making friends, but his paranoia instead won over. Friends- right? That's all… 'Cause he… He's her own goddamned age. He twirled on a heel, and headed straight to Tom.

"Hey," Tom greeted, "You ok-"

"Watch her." He brushed past him, while pointing behind himself.

In a secluded corner that still got full sun, Eugene pulled out a pocket mirror, and checked himself over. Sideburns, goatee; no chest hair showed past his shirt at least.

Under his breath, he still blanched, "Ei- ei- eighteen… eighteen SIR- Oh-oh- uh, oookaaay… That's… that's just…" He took a deep breath. "It's fine. It's fine."But he checked his hands over. Already starting to see it wear off after a week. That's GOOD. I wouldn't want that bullshit - but I still don't wanna look like… He sighed deeply. I can't help what ages we met at. I can't help that I have the same issue as– NO. NO. It is NOT the same issue. But she still shouldn't have to see me trying to deal with this.

He finally thought he spotted a shimmer in the thick of his hair. "Oh no…" He fished the single strand out, and yanked. "Gotcha."

Upon closer inspection, however, it turned out to just be a lighter, natural highlight. "Oh…"

"Eugene?"

Rapunzel- His stomach dropped as his attention darted to her. He froze, arm still holding that incriminating mirror out.

She watched him, as her expression fell utterly disheartened. I know exactly what you're doing and you're wrong. You're so wrong…

"Blondie," he suddenly panicked, "This isn't what it looks like-"

"Oh, it isn't?" she whimpered, entirely scornful.

"Blondie," he cried back, as he pocketed the mirror and held a hand out to her, hoping to make her stay until he could cautiously take the few steps to her. "I'm sorry-" His shaking hand grabbed hers, and gripped her tight.

She watched him, but shook her head sympathetically. "I've told you-"

"I know. I know," his voice shook too, now. "Please, I'm sorry. But Blondie," he held her hand up, against his chest. "These issues are my own. This has nothing to do with you."

"Yes it does!" she cried out. "You said you-" looked so much younger from the healing!

"Alright, alright," he soothed her with his other hand. "Yes, it's worse from the healing, but that's not your fault. Yes, it's worse because you- you're eight years younger than me, but that's nobody's fault!"

Her lip trembled as she looked away. I don't wanna think about this-

"But Blondie," he searched for her eyes back, "I'm not her."

She locked eyes with him again. "Please don't-" Do we have to talk about this?!

"I don't expect you to fix anything for me. Nobody likes getting older- after like, twenty-two, it just… feels different and it can suck-"

"Eugene, you are not old! You look exactly the same as when I first saw you!"

His hand patted the air again. "I'm not that bad, I know I'm not that 'old.' But Sweetheart, Blondie- she-" was different-

She waved her arms around, shaking his hand off hers. "I don't wanna talk about her! I don't wanna even THINK about her! Not today! Today we're supposed to be celebrating!"

"Okay- okay- okay!" He fumbled gently, trying to get ahold of her again, eventually collecting her into his arms. "Okay. No more. I'm sorry. No more talking about her." He kissed her temple. "I'm sorry. You're right, you're right, today's a happy day." He pulled away and gathered her hands, looking deep in her hurt eyes. "I am so sorry. Like we've said, I've got my issues, too. But I certainly didn't mean to ruin your party…"

She smiled again, fully, cupping his cheek. "You didn't ruin anything. As long as you're here with me. I mean, no, I obviously don't wanna talk about her, but I came over here, because I'm worried about you. I feel I owe that poor guy a dance now, since I cut out so soon, but…" She sighed.

"That's fine!" Eugene perked up, eager to accommodate. "I wasn't g-"

She smirked at him and interrupted, "But I mean, I noticed you disappeared. And I saw how you reacted. Just to his age?"

"He's your age," he whimpered.

"So?" she scoffed. "Eugene!" she laughed, thumbing his cheek and hanging on his hand, as she tried to explain the ridiculousness she saw, "What do I really have in common with anyone else here?"

He looked around for an answer, besides the only thing he could instantly think of. Status…

"Eugene," she called him tenderly back to her face, as she slowly caressed his entire cheek. "You can't let this like, destroy your life."

He scoffed and smirked.

"Your age, the age healing wearing off -wherever- you can't- you have a whole second chance at life now! And you know, that YOU are the one person here who knows me best, better than anyone else ever could."

He finally let himself smile at that, safe, gazing about her face; the first thing he saw after he got that second chance. "I know, I know. Guess I'm actually not worried about you, like, running off with someone else," he said with a steadfast sarcasm, "But really, I-..." He shook his head, upset with himself. I'm the older one yeah, and as such- "You shouldn't be coddling ME about age shit. Please don't worry about it. And I don't think it's really 'destroying my life,' though." Then he pulled out the full charm. "You're right, got a whole second life now, and an amazing one at that to really live up. Just, a momentary weakness. I'm fine." He kissed her forehead.

"Oookaaay," she sang out warningly, "You're sure you're alright?"

"I am now." He picked her hand up to kiss as well, before she finally just tackled his neck to get a signature passionate open-mouth kiss while they had the chance. Eventually he gasped, breathless, but tired of hiding with her, "We should get back to the party."

She snickered. "Sure."

"That 'poor guy' is still waiting to dance with a certain beautiful princess," he smirked.

She continued giggling as they headed back. "And the sooner I dance with him, the sooner I can get back to you!"

Just before they were back within range of the noisy crowd drowning out their voices, Eugene leaned down to her ear. "I'm just gonna go get a drink. Tom's watching you." He pointed him out; he waved back.

"Okay!"

He kissed her temple and smirked. "Have fun!"

She hugged his arm, then trailed her hand down to keep contact as long as possible. "You too!"

He waved back as he headed away.

---

At the refreshment table, Eugene tried to busy himself with the decision of which drink to try first. A whole tither of nosy gossipy giggling finally seemed to be pointed in his direction. Eugene quirked, not sure how to think or feel about it at all. He looked up towards the group of girls it was obviously coming from, not really looking at any of them in particular.

They exploded into a bout of even-higher-pitched squealing.

He smirked and tipped his head toward them, though his brow remained furrowed. Then he quickly turned back to just grab a wide glass of Champagne and split, all the while rolling his eyes.

Well, at least I got my own fanbase, too, heh…

He took a sip and scanned the crowd. This is nice… Head back to Tom, or?... A cluster of older men were blustering amongst themselves, their scowls and cigars clearly referencing the short-haired brunette on the dancefloor. Ooh, trouble! –NO, no, he chastised his rowdy impulse. …just gonna go check it out.

As he approached them, the bits Eugene could make out, did not bode well. But whatever reason he would use to explain later, most of them seemed justified. A couple of the men noticed that he was taking interest in their conversation and welcomed him to join in. He smiled graciously, playing along til he figured out his part. Ego-driven or not, I can't imagine ANY of the Royal Family or Guard thinking you polite guests right now!

One of the men who had stepped aside to include him in their group, then clamped a hand on his shoulder, encouragingly. "Here, here! You're a sensible looking young man! Not like these other youths of today!" He pointed back and forth, "See what he thinks!"

"What's your name, lad?" the apparent ringleader asked.

Seriously? You're not even paying attention? Eugene kept his gaze and smile steady, his voice a notch higher and innocent. "Michael. What I think about what?" He brightened up, looking eager. You fuckers. Came over here to shut you down.

"The princess's hair - Surely she won't be keeping such a peasant style? Now that she's back, I mean. What do you think?" He pointed to him with his glass. "Girls cutting their hair so short nowadays?"

It was as if a forcefield had glazed over Eugene's eyes, as if he had stepped out of himself entirely into a different person completely; not even Flynn Rider, but someone who had no stock in this Princess whatsoever. "Is that really a trend?" He looked around to see half the men nodding and the other half shaking their heads.

"Well, sure, you see it all around- But anyway, we're trying to figure out why they didn't do something -anything!- about it, before this celebration. Girls with short hair- that's a red flag."

Eugene played apprehensive, yet interested in his supposed wisdom. "Red flag for what?"

"Lemme tell ya, boy, girls with short hair like that? Gonna be trouble."

Yes, trouble, heh, but-? "Well, how do you know that?"

The rest of the men laughed, clearly privy to stories he was not.

"Oh ho, you'll see someday when you have a daughter of your own. Just stay away from them now, if you're smart."

Eugene shrugged. "Maybe she just likes it like that. Or maybe it wasn't her choice."

"Oy, listen here, boy," the ringleader was suddenly frustrated with his unexpected arguments. "That doesn't matter-"

Another man piped up, grabbing Eugene's elbow, but mainly addressing the ringleader. "No, no- haven't you heard the story? The thief cut her hair!"

Eugene did not need to fake the shock at hearing it summed up like that, but quickly recovered. "So it wasn't her choice. But she seems happy."

"Augh, she's a young girl. She doesn't know what's best for her. They'd do better with a proper presentation, a normal debutante ball. Not this-" He made a disgusted sound, gesturing back out to her again. "Open faire," he sneered.

Debutante-? For what? Eugene stood up straight, visibly dropping the facade. The change in his stance alone immediately challenged the old man. His voice resumed his deep seriousness, and bitter at that. "Ya know, my own hair's about that length, and yours is even shorter. What's wrong with it? Hm?" He kept his accusing eyes on him over the ridge while he delicately drank from his Champagne.

He noticed the shift, but merely adjusted his manner as if he were speaking more respectable adult. "Well," he shrugged smugly, "I mean, on a girl, it shouldn't be so short."

"Why."

"Well, it's just… you know."

"No. I don't know. Enlighten me."

"Well I mean, why didn't they cover it up? She certainly should grow it ou-"

"Again, what is wrong with it like it is?" He crossed his arms as much as he could with the Champagne glass. "I really would love to know what the big deal is."

"You don't see wha-!"

"If I'm such a dumb kid, why don't you spell it out for me?"

Finally, the man caved to his annoyance. His face balled up in his anger and he took one step to lean toward Eugene. His voice unbridled its rage. "Because she'll never find a husband like that! It's unbecoming of any woman, especially a princess!" He pointed out at her and raised his volume, "It shows she will not submit to authority- the authority of her father or God, so why should any other man have to put up with that? -it shows that she shirks the simplest standards of womanhood! Unless he's got such a strong will as to overpower such insolence, how will she ever secure a suitable prince looking like that?"

Eugene's eyes finally widened a bit, incensed. He uncrossed his arms–

"Eugene!" Tom's hand suddenly clasped around his bicep, as his startled voice likewise grabbed his judgment.

Eugene suddenly had to hold back a laugh. I wasn't gonna do anything- just moving to make a point. But thanks! Helping with the intimidation.

The quickest of the men dropped his face in shock. "Eugene- Fitzherbert? The-..."

Eugene narrowed his eyes on the ringleader as he watched the old man pale at the realization of his real name; he smirked, not caring how insolent he came across. Heh, good enough.

The rest of the men fell back and stared at him.

The ringleader finally choked, "Sir-"

"Save it," Eugene snapped. "You will show the Princess the proper respect she deserves while you are guests in her kingdom."

Tom's brow raised beside him, glancing back and forth. "Indeed," he backed up Eugene's declaration.

Eugene turned on his heel and headed back toward his homing instinct, where Rapunzel had just finished the dance.

Tom stayed behind to continue chastising the men.

---

The young noble bowed to Rapunzel, who reflexively bowed back a little, still holding her skirt out, close enough to a curtsy. He still looked eager to continue a conversation.

But Rapunzel felt another set of eyes on her, ones that she had also kept an intuitive track of since she had left them. She turned to see Eugene standing behind her.

At her smile, he approached.

The disheartened youth simply thanked her for the dance, and excused himself.

"Well, Blondie," he snarked at her, "Looks like you just broke your first heart."

Shocked and upset, she gasped, "What?!" Oh no- what did I do?!

He stifled a chuckle, but nodded to the shiny young noble, now drooped over and moping away.

"Oh, but I-? Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry! Was I rude to him?"

Eugene shook his head, as his free arm wrapped around her waist and he kissed her cheek. "You were fine. It's alright. He'll get over it. Plenty of other girls around here." He shrugged back to the refreshment table, though he truly had no idea where those girls had wandered to. "Found a group of them ogling me, too, actually." He smirked.

She blushed, hearing that other girls found him attractive as well, but still worried, wringing her hands. "I really didn't mean to like, hurt his feelings though?"

"Well, uh, I mean, what, you wanna go call on him?" he giggled.

Wait, what? And- sarcasm? So… "But-?" she looked at him, confused.

"I'm kidding. Unless you are planning on leaving me?" he said humorously.

"Oh my gosh- NO!" she balked, finally chuckling back, grabbing his arm for her to hug instead.

Eugene chuckled at her, only feeling slightly guilty at the guilt-trip, but overall more secure though. "Well, then sorry, but only supposed to date one person at a time. Which means all the rest are gonna be heartbroken going home Rapunzel-less tonight." He patted her arm, entwined around his, as he nuzzled her temple.

She giggled, and beamed up at him. "Well then, yeah, too bad for everyone else then; all those girls are also going home Eugene-less."

He giggled back. "See? Now you got it."

"So…" Rapunzel's voice hushed back down to the size of her nerves. "Dancing's okay, but not-? I'm sorry, I just-" She scoffed and groaned at herself. "I don't wanna- I mean don't know what-" I don't wanna break YOUR heart!

He had been amused, but then grabbed her other shoulder, to interrupt her spiral. "Rapunzel." He turned her to hold both her shoulders and look her right in the eye. Others?

She cringed, begging his face for forgiveness. "Should I not have danced with him?"

"No, no! That's fine!" he quickly and happily countered. "But, ah-..." As hazy memories of too much flesh danced through his mind, he cleared his throat and shook his head. He had to think a moment. With a bit lip, and downward cast eyes, he explained the lines he knew she should stay within - "You're the Princess. You can dance with anyone you want. But any other kind of farther touching or kissing? Generally, no. That should only be- one person." - if not necessarily the lines he believed in. He tried to chuckle, "Even if we're nowhere near public about us yet."

She smiled with him in relief. "Okay, thank you," she sighed.

"No problem," he cheered up.

"Oh, what about kissing like - my hand, though? Or cheek kisses?"

"Ah, hand is fine for anyone you want, especially for them to show you respect and deference. Cheek, for close friends or family. Or me, if we're in front of your parents."

"Alright," she chuckled happily. But she noticed him uncharacteristically staring at her hair. "What?" She reached to hover over where she thought it must be out of place.

"Huh?" His eyes flicked back to her face, then caught her wrist, to bring back down and hold. "Nothing," he grinned. "I just love how this haircut really says 'kickass.' Kinda sends the message that you won't take any shit from anyone anymore." His most loving blush came over him as he thought about not only her being 'insolent,' but pissing off a bunch of old guys just by being herself.

Wow… She beamed back at him, eating up the honest and unconventional compliment. She swished it back and forth, enjoying the still-fresh feeling of the tips brushing over her ears and neck. "Well, thank you! And you know, that is certainly true!"

"Yep!" He brushed that short insolent piece back over her ear, then kissed her forehead.

She could not stop blushing, and tucked her chin down flirtatiously. "In that case, if it really looks like, 'don't mess with me,' then…"

"It does," he smiled, watching her carefully.

"Then I really am, very happy with how it came out." Her eyes finally climbed up to his.

"Yeah…" He gazed back, humbly surprised. He simply nodded, entranced. Like I'm the… the perfect one who did that, brought the real you out to shine…

"Thank you…" She lifted her face to line their lips up.

He began drifting in, but here in the open, left it a sweet and quick chaste kiss.

"Mm," she licked her lips, "Is that Champagne?"

"Yeah, another one. You want some?"

She nodded eagerly and took it.

"Just a bit left- you can finish it. But, ah, while we're talking about who you're going home with tonight, ah, I actually wanted to talk about that before we really started drinking."

She brought her other arm up to rest on his shoulder, reaching back to twirl the ends of his hair. "Mmm, what about tonight?" she teased out with pleasure.

He fought his blush, as he imagined an incredibly picturesque romantic night full of candles, passionate heated sweaty bodies, and nothing else – He cleared his throat. "Ah, just wanna make sure you know that I DON'T wanna do anything NEW tonight."

"Oh, well, alright?" She was suddenly overanalyzing that, though. I hate being clueless about so much - I don't want him to think I'm stupid - but he knows I don't know anything about that stuff, and obviously why-

"Sweetheart," he tenderly called, watching her face carefully as she spaced out. "Hey, come on," he chuckled, "Come back to me."

"Oh, urgh- sorry! I just- Why? Because it's gonna be a long day and we'll be tired?" I hope?

He shrugged. "Well, that may be enough for why to not do anything, heh, but I mean… I'd like to drink, like really drink- unless you mind?" Do not need to be making her uncomfortable…

"'Drink' like alcohol…"

"Yeah..."

"Like, that Champagne?"

"Yeah. And wine."

"Oh. I actually haven't been too crazy about the wine at dinner."

"Well they have different things for a daytime party like this. Looked like at least sangria, Chardonnay, and some others… All sweeter stuff."

"Oooh, sweet?"

"Yeah," he smiled, but then shook his head clear. "What I'm trying to get at here is…" He sighed and looked away. "You know how even the little bit you've had so far, makes you feel? Like, lighter, looser?"

"Yeah, a little?"

"And that's only a little because you've only had a little bit at a time. But, if we're gonna be drinking stronger stuff, all day, then… Think of the most sleepy you've ever been, but you're trying to stay awake, or maybe you're even overtired and couldn't possibly imagine laying down to go to sleep. You know how silly every little thing seems? How you may do silly things yourself, like without thinking? Maybe even dizzy?"

She had been more and more amused as she listened, chuckling along with him. "Yeah, and?"

"And that's kinda what actually being drunk feels like."

She looked up at him through her lashes, on the verge of being insulted, underestimated. "And you're worried, that I'll, do something without thinking?"

He grinned. Oh you sweet thing… I wouldn't let you. "No."

Oh? "Then are you worried… You'll do something without thinking?"

His grin deepened, but his brow rose. "No." Never.

"Then what?"

"I'm worried," he licked his lips, grin vanished with a gulp, "That you'll be worried, about me doing something without thinking."

She began chuckling, "Like what?" But as she watched his eyes, she could feel what he meant. "O-oh…"

"Blondie," he said very seriously as he picked her hands up between them.

She yanked back on him though, chuckling even as she scolded him. "Ohhh, come on! I know you wouldn't do anything like that!"

"And I'm not worried about that, either. Alright?"

"Of course! What then-?"

"Even 'without thinking,' I would never do anything to you. You know you're safe with me. You can trust me."

"Eugene," she gasped, "I do trust you." Her grin returned. "And getting silly and dizzy and even a little less thinking, with you, sounds like so much fun!" She cupped his cheek, thumbing over the smooth round of his cheekbone. "As long as it's with you."

That brought his whole blush back, as he rested his forehead against hers. "Who else could it possibly be?"

Tom finally found his way back to them, not looking all that pleased. "Could you NOT make me have to try to be in TWO places at once? I con't watch her while yor MAKING trouble!"

Rapunzel was taken aback, and physically stepped back so they stood in a triangle. "What?" she laughed, the thought that Eugene had actually caused trouble so far from her mind.

Eugene scoffed at him. "Hey, I wasn't the one insulting the entire Royal Family. So, I'm sorry that I care now?"

Tom sighed, exasperated. "Oh, yes, very shrewd there, Prince Hal."

"What?" he quirked at him, completely confused. "I didn't say I was a prince?"

Tom scoffed back. "Henry V?"

"Henry th- Is that the one with eight wives? What?"

"Ah-?!" Tom broke down into all sorts of disbelieving sounds as he shook his head. "Oh, nevermind!" He glared at the empty glass in his hand. "How much have you had to drink?"

Eugene laughed, holding it up. "This is my second, Champagne! When I didn't even finish the first from the toast, and that I had one sip of right before I headed over to them, and which she finished. Come on!"

"Oh," he relented.

Eugene smirked indignantly. "Not my fault they're assholes. Or that I don't know a bunch of medieval English kings?"

Tom clenched his jaw and rolled his eyes with a groan at him. But then he looked around uncomfortably, clearly trying to alleviate the tension he had just brought on, not entirely intentionally.

"What happened with- insulting us?" Rapunzel asked to both of them.

"Well," Eugene explained, "I just happened to overhear some very rude guests saying things that I should not repeat to your delicate little Princess ears."

"Eu-geeene," she chastised.

"Hoh, pardon me," a deeper voice behind Eugene interrupted - that they both recognized: her father, the King himself.

Eugene's eyes bugged, but had normalized back to a normal level of fearful respect by the time he whipped around. "Sir!"

"Dad!" Rapunzel chirped, happily surprised.

"May I?" the smiling, jovial King held a hand out to her, which she immediately grabbed without a thought.

Eugene half bowed as he stepped back, calmly grinning as he watched them.

They headed out to dance.

Tom looked extra uneasy being left all alone with him now. "I'm sorry, I just- As wrong as they were, we con't just chase down every dissident comment. Let alone remarks about styupid hair."

Eugene sighed with a smile. "I know. It's just, the hair thing in particular just rubbed me the wrong way. And you've seen how she worries about it sometimes."

Tom nodded sympathetically.

"Sorry for causing a fuss, though. And when you grabbed me- I wasn't gonna do anything. Not some common brawler, alright? Come on, let's go get some actual drinks, while she's out with her dad. We got a moment."

As they looked out at them, though, they failed at holding back laughs. In the group dance of other common folk, the King and his daughter looked so out of place, yet so happy.

"Shor." Tom noticed how entranced Eugene was, and so gripped his shoulder. "You can sit tight though. I'll get us something."

"Just another Champagne, thanks."

"No problem." He patted his shoulder and left.

Eugene was left to soak up watching two-thirds of the family he had helped reunite.

"Oh, dear," a motherly giggle sounded beside him.

"Your Majesty!" Eugene cheerfully perked up at seeing her, the woman who already seemed to want to be his mother as well. He bowed his head.

She was watching them as well, and trying not to laugh. She shook her head, but finally held her hand out to Eugene.

He chuckled at her, but scooped it right up. "Of course! Who could say no to such a lovely lady?"

She laughed back. "You waste that flattery and charm."

"Nonsense. Why not?" he shrugged.

They chuckled together as they headed out to join in.

---

Straight from that dance, the four of them left all together for the daytime lantern release, more speeches, and another toast.

From there, Rapunzel had had enough of the dancing to satiate for the time being, and could still use more of a break from that high energy demand. She opted for strolling around through the town, with Eugene in tow. However, Tom stayed behind, needed for some other work for the time being.

---

"Ooh!" Eugene pulled on Rapunzel's arm, his eyes already darting from shiny object to shiny object, sparkling back at all the precious stones and metals in the window. I wanna get her something! And–! Something for me, to remind me of her… "Here, come on!" He pulled her into the small jewelry shop, her giggles trailing behind them.

"Eugene," she whispered, excited to see all of the trinkets, but nervous about disappointing him, "I don't really wear jewelry…"

"That's fine, you don't have to wear any of it. But would you still want anything like this?"

"Iiiii, really don't think so…" She cringed, upset with denying the idea, but could not help but be open with him. "I'm sorry?"

Well, bet I can find SOMETHING. But he heard the anxiety still in her voice. He grasped her hand, fingers interlocking, then kissed her forehead. "Not a problem, Sweetheart. But, I got an idea."

"What's that?" she giggled, incredibly at ease simply for having her refusal acknowledged.

"I think I want a ring that looks like your crown."

She burst out a tiny laughing fit at that. "You're still after my crown?" she teased, poking his side.

He gasped in playful shock, but merely grabbed her whole waist back to him. "No, I already got this one! Now I want a travel size, to always keep with me." He kissed at her neck past the shorn edges.

They laughed together as they wavered around like that for a while. Eventually they got to actually looking at the items for sale in the display cases.

"How about this one?" He pointed to a teardrop-cut diamond ring, but then squinted at it. "Oh, what is that? Is that-"

"Uhhh, diamond?" Rapunzel leaned away but smirked shyly. He said he wants it like my crown – but he also said that's what 'engagement rings' are!

He glanced up to the jeweler.

The man gave him a supposedly knowing look, and nodded. "It is diamond." 'Knowing,' but wrong.

Eugene frowned. "Oh, naw then…"

The jeweler's face turned to scandalized surprise. "Sir?"

"What would be closest to crystal?" he countered. "I just know crystal's obviously too delicate-"

The jeweler rolled his eyes. "Sir, I assure you, either of you would be able to afford anything in this shop, including any diamond."

"But I-"

He continued on, though, as he took Rapunzel's hand. "Though of course for the Princess, we would-"

"Blondie?" Eugene interrupted the man back, redirecting everything towards her. But Eugene continued smirking at him. "Have you seen anything you'd want around here?"

She blushed, but shook her head, tugging her hand back, and eventually getting free. Although, she only wrapped her hands back up themselves in front of her. "I'm sorry… Everything's very nice and looks so pretty, but I've never really worn jewelry - oh! Except for these friendship bracelets I made for Pascal and I one time! And some other things I braided from embroidery thread, maybe with beads or shells and sometimes painted-! Ah," she cut off her own rambling. "But, I'm sorry, I don't think I'd really wear anything like this…"

Eugene perked up. "Me, on the other hand!"

She giggled at him. "Yeah, I already have my crown and this," she held up her new regent ring from her father on her left ring finger. "But you should get whatever you want!"

Eugene chuckled at her, then pecked at her cheek. "If you see anything you want, let me know." A devilish grin came up. "Promise me you won't be afraid to ask."

"Awgh?!" she scoffed at him, incredulous at him using her unbreakable promises against her. But she eyed him right back, pulling his kept arm closer. "I promise I won't be afraid to ask."

"There we go," he chuckled, his focus lingering on her face. Shopping for something that was reminiscent of HER crown was different than THE crown, but suddenly he got sucked into another idea. He blinked, ever taken with her simple beauty. "Wow…" With the precise lighting in the shop, several lights were making her emerald eyes sparkle most poignantly.

"What?" she chuckled at him shyly, noticing his stare.

"I- Your eyes…" he mumbled, then chuckled back, feeling a heat flush his cheeks. "Well, I know what I want now."

She giggled, teasing him with feigned annoyance. "And what is it you want nooow?"

"Well, exactly what's standing in front of me."

"I meant from the shop."

He smirked at her, falling into bedroom eyes, but then turned back to the mortified jeweler, who had been desperately trying to not pay too much attention to them being overly affectionate. "Do you think…"

"Yes! Sir?" The jeweler jumped back to attention.

"Do you have an emerald," Eugene reached to tilt Rapunzel's gasping face up towards the man, "As beautiful as her eyes?"

Stunned, it took her a moment to process herself. Then the nerves took over. And her fingers on his other arm dug in-

Triggering him to action, he abruptly tacked on - "I mean it."

She relaxed against him, but still gulped and stared awkwardly, though the man was somewhat awkward himself to even look in her eyes.

Eugene leaned forward on the counter to openly gaze back at her himself though, and seeing his silly smile come into view made her giggle.

"Ah, of course, Your Highness," the man concluded to her instead, "I'm sure we'll find a suitable emerald to rival. If you'll excuse me, let me see what I can find. I won't be too long." He disappeared to the back, leaving them with only another clerk who was busy with other things.

Rapunzel finally breathed normally again.

Eugene slid his arm out of hers, trailed his hand down to hers, then plucked it up to kiss. He continued running his thumb over her fingers, as he held her attention. "You okay?" he whispered so gently.

She took a deep breath, but nodded, beaming back at him.

His crooked smile grew. "Ya know, if you wanted everything in this shop, I'd buy it all for you."

She snickered. "I don't know if my dad gave you that much."

"Well," he shrugged, "Buy most of it at least. Then..." He smirked at her.

She gasped naughtily. "Nooo…!"

"I'm joking," he threw his head aside. "But, you really don't want anything?"

"Welllll..." she looked around again. "I really don't think so…"

"Would you want me to surprise you with something?"

She giggled. "Iii, would certainly appreciate the thought, and I know I'd treasure anything you give me, but I just don't think I'd want to wear any of this stuff. It's kinda not me, ya know?"

"That's perfectly fine," he soothed. "You don't have to." He kissed her hand again. "Sweetheart, you don't have to do anything you don't want to. Especially around me. Okay?"

She grinned sadly at him, heartache coming over them both, though this felt like healing. "Thank you," she barely whispered.

"And you don't need to thank me for respecting you."

"Well," she smirked, "I appreciate it." As she stared at him, she finally thought to ask what she had been meaning to for a few days since she had noticed. "By the way, is your ear pierced? Like," she pointed, "Just the one?"

"Oh," he rubbed the bare spot on his lobe and blushed, then finger-combed his hair down toward it, though it did not reach. "Yeah. Just the one. But I don't… Um." He cleared his throat uncomfortably. "I've been thinking of letting it close up." Not looking to advertise any of that anymore.

"Oh. Why?"

He shrugged and glanced away, but quickly flipped it back on her, watching her critically now. "Why do you ask?"

She shrugged, unsure why he suddenly seemed defensive over it. "I dunno. You know I'm curious about everything," she chuckled off. "And I guess just- I mean there's earrings here." She gestured to the case they were in. But if it's a touchy subject, I guess this isn't the place to talk about it. She shrugged, content to leave him be.

His eyes drooped as he noticed the minutest exchange that just happened. At least she dropped it, but now she knows I dodged it. Doesn't matter, though. Plus for her, that'd be a much more involved explanation. He sighed, took her hand, and whispered, "Later, Love. Okay?"

Oh. She nodded. "Okay."

He glanced around real quick for a new idea. "Um, did you maybe wanna get your ears pierced?"

She giggled, noticing the previous question on him was indeed completely brushed aside. "What?" she asked shyly, "Me?"

"Yeah," he smirked. "Sure your parents would love me bringing you home tonight with a few more piercings than you left with." He rolled his eyes pointedly for her, with a played-up aloof charm.

She laughed out loud at him, but it did make her slightly worried. "Um, would they really be upset?"

"Sweetheart, I'm joking. About that part. I'm sure if you got your ears pierced - with some fine, clean, precious metals and shiny rocks - it'd be perfectly fine. And actually they may want you to. Ya know? More royal jewelry you can show off." He shrugged. "Up to you, though."

"Hmm…" She wandered over to look at the earrings.

"But I'll warn you," he followed, "It hurts to get it done."

She looked up at that, surprised more than worried. "Really? I- I mean, that's real?"

"Wha…?"

"Um, her ears were pierced-"

"OH."

"Aaand, she told me I should never get mine pierced, because it hurts so much…" She shrugged aside.

He sighed and mirrored her. "Yeah, for this, I'm sorry, but that is actually true. It's a needle going right through it," he held his lobe out to show and demonstrate, "Then you gotta keep an earring in it constantly for a while, like, a couple months."

She pinched her own earlobe between her fingernails and winced. But then she shrugged. "That doesn't sound too bad."

"Yeah, no, it's not too bad actually, but the worst is cleaning it while it heals." He frowned and hissed at the memory. "Stings every time; at least only for a couple weeks on that one, then at least it's less and less each time. Once it's healed, though, just feels normal." He twisted it around a bit to show there was no pain.

"Hmmm," she looked around, but just landed back on him. "Do you think I should?"

He chuckled, hands up in surrender. "Ohhh-hooo, you can't make me answer that! I am a completely neutral party here. This is between you and your ears."

She smirked over at him mischievously.

"I already left my mark on ya there." He smirked back as he flipped his fingers through the tips of her hair. Forever guilty now of technically going against her wishes, but confidently admiring the resulting cut nonetheless.

He always knows just how to look at me- just how to get me! She blushed, but returned the look. "Welllll, if I did, which ones would look good?"

He relented and joined her at that counter, looking them over again. "Studs, definitely, then maybe diamond, to go with anything. Orrr, pearl, for your birthstone. Or I guess emerald." He looked back at her and caressed his finger under her chin. "To complement those eyes."

She sucked in a huge excited gasp. "Eugene! We could match!"

He perked up, smirking. "Okay, yeah, sure! That'd be nice!"

She shook in place with excitement, then set to picking out what style she wanted exactly.

His arm naturally wrapped around her without either thinking, as he joined her in checking them out the gold studs. He found he was still drawn to the simple silver studs or tiny hoops, but said nothing.

---

Eventually the jeweler came back out with a velvet lined tray, with an assortment of different cut emeralds. They started pouring over the selection, as the man talked about each one.

Suddenly Rapunzel realized Eugene was hiding his face in his hands. "Eugene?"

He picked his head up, with his biggest goofiest grin, and the two biggest, shallowest cut emeralds squeezed in place where his eyes were closed.

She guffawed, bursting into laughter.

The jeweler sighed in exasperation, looking to heaven for help with the new "royals."

"Aw, what?" Eugene teased sadness, "You don't like my green eyes?" He lost it, laughing himself by the end.

Rapunzel shook her head at him, but swooped in to kiss his forehead.

"Ah-!" He jumped, startled, dropping his hold on them as he opened his eyes. The precious stones fell back to the counter and rolled around. Finally able to see again, he set his playful sights on her. "My eyes were closed I missed that one." He held his bangs back and leaned his forehead down for her to kiss again.

Continuously giggling at him, she leaned over again-

And he darted his head up to catch her lips on his.

Not that it lasted long; they quickly fell apart laughing again.

Finally, the jeweler came to the last emerald he had to show off. "Ah, I wasn't sure if you would want this one. I almost didn't bring it. But it is the largest I have. However, if you- see? My apprentice cut it too deep. The center looks too dark, because the angle of the pavilion, compared to the proportions of the crown, it does not allow it to reflect back enough light, and thus appears smaller than it really is. But I thought, if you wanted it to be reminiscent of an eye, then…?"

As he spoke, they remained riveted, and Eugene struggled to control his growing grin. "I… think I love it."

The man nodded, "Then it's yours!"

Rapunzel watched the man's face, nerves see-sawing as the jeweler ran the ice around her ear. The bite from that alone hurt already.

"Hold my hand," Eugene said, taking her hand, as he watched her face. "And look at me."

Her neck had frozen in anticipation, but her eyes darted to him. She put a deathgrip on his hand.

"It's okay, it's okay," he soothed, while he could not even help but to smile. "C'mon, you're my brave girl. This part'll be over quick."

"Ohhh, Euuugeeene," she cringed. Her heart was racing.

His smile dropped. "You sure about this?" If you do go through with this, please don't regret it!

It simply felt like such a rebellious thing to do, even though she was only rebelling against a ghost. But the urge to establish her own claim over her own body felt eternally insatiable right now. Even her hair, while she agreed with his decision afterwards, had not been her own choice. THIS right now, IS my choice. Something pretty permanent, that will be beautiful, with no other function, other than showing off that personal control, with my own personal taste! Her expression turned hard-set. "I'm sure," she said, full of undirected resentment.

He watched her, somehow understanding all of that, and overjoyed himself at all he saw in her.

The needle went through.

In a rather delayed reaction, her heart dropped and she meeped.

"It's okay, it's okay," Eugene smiled again. "You're doing great."

The pinned stiffness certainly felt awkward, but before she knew it, it was replaced by a thicker post, and left there. It did feel like the hardest pinch ever, followed by throbbing pressure, but she also suspected it was already done. "That's it?" she asked, surprised.

"Yup," he laughed. "Gotta do the other side now though."

"Oh," she giggled off the shattered anxiety, "That was nothing! Hurts a lil, and like it's sore, but that wasn't too bad! Guess I just psyched myself out."

He kissed her hand. "Told ya!"

---

"There you are," Tom sweetly announced as he entered the shop.

"Tom!" Rapunzel bounded from the counter to leap at him for a hug, which he had quickly learned to brace for.

"Hello again," he chuckled, helping her regain her balance on her feet, and she pecked his cheek.

Eugene watched, snickering as always. "Hey man. What's up?"

"I, ah," he eagerly looked back and forth to address them both-

But Rapunzel pulled on his jacket. "LOOK!" She turned her head and pointed to her beat red ear, with the tiny shine of gold-encircled emerald in the center.

"OH!" He exclaimed. "Wow, wouldjya look at that! Oh, they're gorgeous."

She stood up straight again, nodding, bouncy and giddy with pride. "Thanks!"

Tom glanced up to Eugene, looking wary of sounding accusatory. He gave a friendly chuckle, "Did he put you up to this?"

Eugene chuckled back.

But Rapunzel had her hand on her hip and her other thumb pointed at her puffed up chest. "Nope! He brought it up, but this was my decision."

Eugene beamed proudly behind her.

"Well then. Nice job!" Tom nodded, then continued with his original business. "And I was just wondering if you two had eaten yet? Or if you were getting hungry?"

"Oh, no," Rapunzel answered, "We haven't, but I am getting hungry!"

It was the answer that he had apparently been waiting for, as he got excited himself. "There's a wonderful cafe I'd love to show you, then! If you'd like."

"Oh!" Rapunzel clapped a bit before clasping her hands together and curling her arms up under her chin. "That sounds lovely!"

Eugene grinned crookedly, enthralled with how adorable she looked, ready to follow her wherever she wanted. "Sure."

As Tom and Rapunzel babbled back and forth about the cafe and what sweets might be found there, Eugene's attention wandered back to the jewelry. Apart from all the gleaming precious stones, there were also plain precious metals, still glistening, but in a more subtle way than the rest of the rainbow sparkles the crystals reflected back. One such item: A chain bracelet, with simple loops, large enough to clip on any of the smaller charms displayed around it. His eyes flitted about the selection of charms quickly, and he got an idea.

"Eugene?" Rapunzel was asking.

"What?" he snapped-to.

"Was there anything else?"

"Oh, nope! Just gotta pay the man," he smiled as he stepped between her and the counter with the bracelet. With a slight embrace around her waist and a peck on her forehead, he ushered her to turn away, back toward Tom and the door behind him. "Why don't you and Tom head over to that cafe, and I'll catch up."

"But," Rapunzel protested.

Tom looked to him, confused.

Eugene locked wide eyes with him, then pointedly looked down at the bracelet, then to the top of Rapunzel's head, and finally back to Tom, pleading.

"We can just wait for you," Rapunzel insisted.

"Ah, actually," Tom smiled to her, "It tends to get very crowded there, right around this time of day. So we really should hurry up." He looked back up to Eugene, "La Belle Normande. We'll save you a seat?"

"Sounds great," Eugene smiled back and nodded.

Rapunzel looked back to him, as she smiled but shook her head at him and sighed.

"Just order me whatever," he shrugged to her. "I don't care."

Tom scoffed at his disinterest in the food he had just described. "Wot?" But he dutifully played along. "But alright then."

"Didn't exactly grow up a picky eater, ya know?" he narrowed his eyes at him playfully.

"Alright, well I'll be sure to order you something just perfect!" Rapunzel chirped. She hugged and kissed Eugene goodbye more fully, then took Tom's arm as they left, back to happily cooing in anticipation as he continued gushing over this cafe.

Eugene waited til they were completely out of sight, then turned back to the jeweler, who was already waiting by the diamond rings again, expectantly. He did glance at them. Someday… But it's a life-long decision- how can I alone pick that out for her? "Ah, show me that charm bracelet." There. Lay out all the options for her. And… the girl does have options…

---

"Ah, while I have you alone here for a moment," Tom lowered his voice and glanced around, where they sat in the back of the cafe.

Rapunzel paused chewing, suddenly intensely worried but also interested in whatever he had to share. She leaned in.

"Our boy's been behaving himself?"

Her anxiety popped and washed away in an instant. She giggled, nodding as she covered her mouth to finish chewing and swallowed. "Yes, Eugene has been absolutely wonderful."

Tom chuckled in relief. "That's good to hear then."

But Rapunzel eyed him now. "Tom," she followed up with a serious tone. She waited til she had his full attention. "I know it hasn't been very long, but Eugene is…" She sighed. I know we've told him everything, but this is still 'in public…' She glanced to some other tables, full of patrons, all of them within a careful earshot. "He saved me."

Tom nodded. "Yes, yes, but… Dating, is different. Especi'erlly with a start like that." He took a sip of tea as he thought more. "Trust me, if he continues proving to everyone that he's just this noble lost soul, and wisely treating the chances awarded to him now, then I'm glad. Couldn't be more pleased to see that. And if you're happy with him, I'm happy."

"You don't need to be so suspicious of him," she moped.

"Well," he smiled, "Luckily, I assure you, it's at least been less and less each day. You two have been fun!"

"Hey," Eugene smiled excitedly, though rather nervously, as he came up on the small table. He sat down at their 4-seater table, only able to focus on her.

Tom nodded to him, finishing another sip of tea.

"Is everything okay?" Rapunzel asked, blushing at how he looked at her, but confused why he also looked somewhat worried. Is he worried about Tom the way Tom's worried about him? Also ridiculous!

"I, uh…" He blushed, too, as he pulled two small velvet pouches out of his breast pocket. "Well- Hey, lies are different when it comes to surprises, okay?! I had you leave so I could get you a lil somethin' after all."

She gasped, a huge open grin spreading over her. "You did getme something!?" I know I said I didn't want anything, but coming from Eugene- yeah, that is different!

"You don't have to wear it," he gladly reassured her. "But I," he shrugged, "This just really struck me as so you, each lil thing made me think of you, and, I just, I wanted to get you something." He shyly handed the jinglier of the two pouches over to her.

"Ohhh!" Rapunzel exclaimed, merely at accepting the pouch. She cooed and squeed, "Eugeeene!" as she worked it open, and reached her fingers inside to find whatever trinket or bobble he had seen her in. When she pulled the bracelet out, her eyes widened on it and her jaw dropped. Oh my- I didn't see anything like this? Interesting! She solemnly poured over each different piece on it.

Eugene cleared his throat, eyeing her carefully. "It's a charm bracelet. See how each 'charm' is connected there? You can take them off, or add more on."

"Yeah," she answered dazedly, studying the clasps. As her blush deepened, both their smiles grew.

He pointed along. "Got the Corona sun, of course. Then a chameleon," he chuckled, "A ruthless warhorse, a Snuggly Duckling…"

She giggled along with him. "And the bird?"

"Well you're…" he blushed harder than ever, "You're free now."

Instantly sobered, she locked eyes with him. Thanks to you… You- She pitched forward to plant a kiss on him.

He recovered quickly, kissing her back, hand in her hair, spanning her jaw and neck, but kept it brief. "Do you like it?"

"Yeah!" she laughed, "Oh my gosh, yes of course! And especially the thought behind it." She leaned away and tried examining the clasp holding the whole thing closed.

"Oh, here," Eugene put his hands out, "Let me."

Oh? Oh-! She realized he meant to help, and handed it back over.

They watched their hands carefully as he nimbly opened it and brought it to close again around her petite wrist. Once finished, though, he continued holding her hand, and looked back into her eyes. I'd give you the whole world if I could… Can only hope helping you get free and out into the world is enough…

She noticed him staring at her eyes again. "Ah," she sighed away, "It's beautiful, Eugene. Thank you, so much! And you got your ring, too?"

"Oh, ah, yeah, yeah!" He shook it out of the other velvet pouch, the huge clunky piece landing in his palm. His thumb immediately went to rub over the smooth zircon teardrops on one shoulder, as he gazed into the deep emerald again.

"Oooooh," Rapunzel cooed out. "That does look amazing!"

"Whoa!" Tom finally coughed back into the conversation. "That's what you-?!"

Eugene laughed, "Yeah, and look!" He held it up for him to see. "It looks just like a certain Princess's, gorgeous green eyes herrre," He cooed out as he smirked back to Rapunzel.

She was snickering herself now, still bashful over his adoration.

"Well, yes, they certainly are," Tom amicably, if a bit awkwardly, agreed.

Then she noticed the zircon teardrops. "Oh!" she gasped, "And those are-"

"Like on your crown," Eugene finished softly, glancing up at it. "Your crown that brought us together."

"Awww," Rapunzel fawned, holding her hands over her heart as she melted in the way he looked at her. "Here," she reached for it. "Let me put it on you."

"Oh," he choked, "Uh, alright." He handed it off to her, and held out his left ring finger, as he lost his breath.

She slid it on him, and, getting a bit dazed herself, simply held his hand a while longer there in both of hers.

---

After a full glass of sangria with lunch, Rapunzel continued dancing with other princes and nobles, while Tom and Eugene stood off to the side, sipping, chatting, and of course watching her. Eugene of course, being the more hopelessly distracted of the two.

"Fitz," Tom tried to call him back to Earth. "You alright?"

"Yeah, yeah…" Eugene said in a daze, a dumb smile creeping up.

"You know," Tom said delicately, "Being involved with a princess, in any way, means sharing her with the world."

His tone did not match how Eugene actually felt about knowing that conclusion himself, therefore confusing him. "What?"

Tom nodded out to Rapunzel, laughing and spinning with another chuckling and chatting, dazzling, young man. "She's going to have to dance with lots of others."

Eugene's eyes had never left her. "I know…" he trailed off, merely thinking, She's finally out in the world, getting to meet so many people! It was the singular point of justice he would ever care about. "So? What's your point?"

Tom quirked at him. "Yor just that far gone for her?"

"Yeah," he giggled and blushed, futilely hiding his face in his goblet for another sip, only exasperating the issue. It was his second glass after his own full glass at lunch as well. His eyes still never lost her. "So?"

But Tom watched him, getting confused himself. "Do you even care that she's dancing with all these other handsome young nobles?"

He snorted a laugh that stuck in his throat. "Isn't she amazing? She's so much fun, and smart, and beautiful…"

Tom waved his hand in front of him.

Eugene blinked at the annoyance, finally looking at him, but assuming it was playful. "What?"

"Yor not jealous?"

"Ah…" Eugene studied him back. "Ummm…" he fell back on a smirking chuckle. But his eyes still sparkled, still drawn to her, always knowing right where to find her in the crowd, however many times he glanced away and she spun around. He shrugged. "Why would I be jealous? And look at her out there!"

Tom's brow remained perplexed, but his smirk softened. "Yeah, I see her out there, dancing with other men; other princes."

Eugene chuckled, tucking his chin down, hiding in taking another sip for a moment. "I'm insecure about a lotta things, but never her." That conjured up the memory of proof of her devotion, however awful: her wriggling the gag off, to bargain her future and freedom for his life. With a sharp inhale, he looked back up at her shining in the present. "I helped make that happen." He chuckled again, tossing him a dirty smirk, "Besides, yeah, they're dancing with her. And who's going home with her tonight?"

Tom visibly stifled his laugh at that. "Welllll… alright then."

When the dance ended, they bowed to each other, with some parting words from the gentleman that made Rapunzel chuckle and blush gratefully. He kissed her hand, which she enjoyed in a childishly haughty way, then he took his leave. She turned to look - and found Eugene's eyes on her right away, deepening his own smile. She scurried over to him.

"Hey!" she burst up against him, his arm smoothly wrapping around her side.

"Hey, Blondie." They kissed a quick but solid greeting.

Mm! He still tastes like that wine, too! -besides the cologne that already normally spun her head.

"You havin' fun?"

"Yep!" She took his goblet to drink from.

"Indirect kiss?"

She giggled at him as she handed it back.

"You looked gorgeous out there."

"Hm, thanks!"

They giggled as they bumped foreheads, til their noses led them back to their lips.

Tom watched, incredulous, but just shook his head.

---

Another meet-and-greet was more of a receiving line with more adult townsfolk, come to pay their respects, collect autographs, and generally get a chance to chat with them.

As odd as the wanted and missing posters had them feeling, at least they were together. The looked to each other with similarly conflicted looks, but then merely giggled and continued on, signing their names. -his real name.

Some other more difficult items, like a flag or other commemorative items, Rapunzel had to pause, certain the pen she held would not work.

"Princess, please," Eugene teased offense, "We run a very professional operation here."

She looked over to see Tom had paintbrushes and paints at the ready for her. They both giggled at how she lit up, ready to start accenting anything brought before her with not only her name, but Corona suns and flowers and vines of leaves…

---

While Rapunzel was out for yet another dance, Tom and Eugene continued chatting and drinking to the side.

They both shared a chuckle – but then just as in sync, both froze, a spike of alarm shot through them out of seemingly nowhere. Smiles dropped and eyes moved from comfortably connected, to subconsciously darting right to the disturbance neither could even identify yet, and Tom even had to turn around.

Another group of fine-dressed young men stood around in a circle, laughing, drinking, eating, and smoking all the same as anyone else.

What…? Eugene tried to listen in on what their greater instincts had just alerted them to. At least he noticed it, too. That's good to know! But what even is it…?

"Ya know what I mean? Heh." An overheard voice thought it was funny.

"Yeah, I'll bet that's tight," a man laughed back, holding out a cigar gesturing, but also curling a single finger around it tight. "Mmmrph! And, well if she's been lonely all this time?" A raunchy smug chuckle from the speaker inspired his audience to join in kind.

Eugene's ears burned, eyes twinged and pupils dilated. He was usually the one to mock repressed, pearl-clutching, old prudes, but for that moment he wished he could steal some to clutch himself. Then again, guess we should expect this kind of nonsense. He looked the man's clothes up and down. But a noble?! …vulgar brat.

Tom grabbed his arm casually at his elbow, but then squeezed tight. "Eeeasy," he whispered.

Eugene kept his attention on the man even as his eyes moved back to Tom. "Ya wanna take care of that?"

Tom looked back and forth between the new enemies and Eugene. "Whuh… Fitz, I told you, I con't just arrest someone, let alone a Prince, just for overheard comments like that. And come on now, every man around here's thinking something or other about her!"

Eugene smirked with a calmness suddenly pulled from an old box of masks. "I didn't say arrest. I said take care of it, with my help of course."

"Well, mark's on the move," Tom nodded ever so slightly.

"You get him, I'll get her."

"Alright, I got something."

They nodded to each other, then passed as they casually walked off in different directions. Both appeared to just so happen to meander around towards and converge on the same point as the Prince's own "mark:" Rapunzel.

A song was just ending. She and her partner finished and bowed to each other. They parted, and she looked for the next most eager person to dance with her: that Prince.

With a strange smirk, bolder than any others had been thus far, the young man asked, "Might you enjoy a dance with me?" He bowed, and held his hand out to her.

Rapunzel wrote off the odd feel of the man's introduction; she certainly had had a few herself that day alone already. "Of course!" Intrigued, she lifted her hand to place in his-

-only for it to land in another's that had swooped in to intercept: "No," Eugene stepped up from directly behind Rapunzel, but answered directly to the Prince's face, glaring knowingly, "No she would not enjoy it." He pulled her hand to turn her towards him.

"Eugene!" Rapunzel gasped, scolding him with a shocked outrage. "What on Earth-"

Eugene's hand tightened on hers, as his own new smarmy expression looked right through her. "My apologies, Your Highness. But your father would like to see you, right now."

"Oh," she relented to Eugene, despite his odd behavior as well. "Uh, okay." What is going on?

"Thank you." He nodded with a smile, already hauling her off.

The other man quickly retreated, turning to hurry the other way, only to be met face to face with Tom - and a red drink that poured all over him.

"Sir!" Tom exclaimed at the collision, talking fast, as his grip did not leave where his hand had landed on the man's arm. "Oh, my dear fellow, do excuse me, I am terribly sorry. Here! Here, allow me to help you with that. Come now, we'll get that taken care of. I really am so sorry. Awfully clumsy of me, I must say. Forgive me." He finally paused to listen carefully. "What is yor name?"

By the time the young prince tried to look over his shoulder, there was no sign of them anywhere in the crowd, nor even which direction they had gone.

---

Suddenly, Eugene yanked her into an alcove, where, already tipsy, she fell into him.

"Ugh, Eugene," her frustration returned as she crossed her arms at him. For all his tugging her along, he had not even seemed playful about it. He seemed more worried than when they had been trying to avoid arrest on her birthday. "What are you doing?"

He checked that no one was looking, then whirled back on her. "First thing," he locked deep eyes with her and held a finger up, "You trust me?"

Confused, she shook her head clear. "Yes?"

"Then if I ever lie to you again, I promise, it's always with your best interests in mind, so even if you can't believe me, you can always trust me."

She sighed, though the annoyance was indeed already waning. "So obviously my father didn't ask to see me right this second, in a dark secluded niche. Then what did you drag me over here for?"

A devilish smirk sparked across his face. "For this." He took her face in his palms and brought them together for a meltingly sensual kiss.

She smirked on his lips, eventually giggling out of the kiss, acting scandalized. "Eugene Fitzherbert, are you jealous?" She tittered over the idea, "That you had to pull me away to hide again?"

Hey, that'll work! He chuckled, "Oh, absolutely."

She began chuckling back, watching him, but then realized she knew him better than that. "Wait, no you're not. And you've seen me dance with lots of other guys already, and you didn't seem upset about any of that?"

Shit… He licked his lips and looked away. "Look, Rapunzel," he sighed, moving to gesture with his hands, "I... You're right. No, I'm not a jealous person. But the thing is, if there's something I can shield you from, I will. That guy? I- I just don't want you to get hurt. Or anything. Ya know?"

She immediately began to balk-

He held his hands up in defense. "Unless you think even that's too over-protective! I don't wanna do that, either. I just want you to be safe, and free and happy."

He says he doesn't want to be overprotective, but… "Well why do you even think he would've 'hurt' me?" she asked, completely confused. "He just asked to dance! Just like anyone else!"

"Listen," he sighed deeply again. "I don't care if I look like an asshole for a minute if it's to keep you safe. That guy might have let you decline and excuse yourself, but you had no reason too. I did, though, and he definitely wasn't gonna start a fight with me. I lied to pull you away because one, I didn't want you to start an argument with me right there on the dancefloor, and two, I… I didn't wanna hurt your feelings by telling you the whole thing, but…"

She retreated pensively, bracing. "Just tell me. Please."

He locked eyes with her again. "Blondie…" He sighed. "I overheard him and his friends talking before. Saying that you must not know anything, and wagering how far they could get, like what they could get away with… with you."

"Wha…" she gasped, terribly disheartened, but only a little frightened.

"Like…" His anxiousness was only growing, over directly referencing it all. "Like how we talked about like, all that, and whether you want something or not? Honey, the- the way they were talkin'..." His brow furrowed and he shook his head.

Rapunzel likewise sighed. "I remember. But if we would've just been dancing?"

He shrugged. "That would've let him get close. Everyone else seems to have been respectful, but, if he was, it would only have been to try to get you later."

"Later?" she questioned.

That had him crack a smile. "Well, adding onto all the other false assumptions I've already heard about you, I'm sure they don't expect you to already know who you're going home with tonight."

She finally burst into a giggle as well. "Well, if anyone else here thinks they can ever compare to you, they do indeed have another thing coming!"

"And hey, but- but- hey, ya know, they don't know you! They don't know anything about you. They're just assholes. For real. And if you wanna go prove them wrong, be my guest! I'll be right over your shoulder, but I couldn't let you just blindly walk right into that."

She shook her head. "No…" He really is always there for me!

"Sweetheart," he cupped her cheek, "I'm sorry, did I even handle that right?"

She cooed a smile at him, "Yes, I suppose that was just fine, then. Thank you, Eugene."

That brought a grin to his face. "I don't want you to feel like I'm being too over-protective, but I'm always lookin' out for you, Darlin'. Even when you don't see me."

She popped up to peck a kiss on his humbly gracious lips. "I know you are."

"So what do you wanna do now?"

"I think I would still like to go back to dance," she sadly looked back toward the crowd.

With a bit of trepidation ebbing back, he nodded but bit his lip, trying to look like he was not desperately analyzing her.

Suddenly she smirked back at him. "With the hero who saved me."

He got it, but huffed a laugh off. "I think a mirror might have more claim to that than me, but I suppose I could stand in, if it's for you." Quickly scooping her hand up, he kissed it.

She adored the gesture, but ultimately cringed. "Could you try not to lie to me though?"

He burst out a laugh at such a blunt request. "Of course, Sweetheart, I will try not to lie to you."

"Like, I understand about how you pulled me away, but," she scoffed and shook her head, "Then you could have just told me outright what that was all about."

His face pursed into a grin, and he nodded. "Alright then."

She reached to cup his cheek. "I may be younger and so new to the world, but you don't have to keep me in the dark. Please."

He sighed into her touch, but took her hand, to kiss her palm. "Promise."

---

Back in one of the courtyards, she pulled him into the latest group dance going on, til he spotted Tom again waiting around the edge, and grinning too innocently. Rapunzel ended up flying into Eugene's arms for the ending, where he then spun her around, laughing but groaning with curious concern over what had happened to that particular prince.

Still savoring the brief private moment, he dipped to her ear again as he hugged her. "Ya know, on your birthday, I felt like the luckiest guy in the whole kingdom." He leaned back to see her face, and smiled sweetly, but knowingly.

She blushed. "And, I hope you feel that way again?"

"Sort of," he set his most charming smirk on her. "Because now I know I'm the luckiest guy in the whole world."

She smiled back so tenderly, but then looked around, worried. "Do you know what happened to that other, unlucky guy?"

"We're about to find out," Eugene nodded off toward Tom.

They met up, the couple still looking wary of what the story would be.

"Well," Tom started proudly, "I think that shut him up. He won't be trying anything so bold again."

Rapunzel blanched. "What did you do to-"

Tom laughed, "He just was unfortunate enough to bump into someone who spilled a whole glass of red wine all over that brilliant white suit of his, the poor thing."

Eugene likewise laughed with him.

Rapunzel looked slightly confused, til she noticed a few drops of red wine on the white straps of Tom's uniform as well. She snorted into a laugh.

"Sent him back to change, with our sincerest apologies," he reported with grandiose sarcasm.

---

"Thank you, Kind Sir," Rapunzel chirped.

Eugene held onto the goblet, even as she grasped it, to pull her closer, so he could kiss her cheek and speak close to her. "If you really wanna get drunk, you make sure you stick by me, okay?"

"Well, yeah!" she giggled back against his cheek.

He smirked, but it quickly fell away back to worry. "I'm serious. You can have all you want, but you stay glued to me. And tell me all that you have, so I can keep track."

She leaned away to look at him, falling serious herself, as she investigated that look on him curiously. He's… really not controlling, but somehow still so… concerned?

He turned the charm back on with a shrug. "It's my job to take care of you." He lifted the glass between them again. "Which, I believe, should also include a decent alcohol education."

Her pursed lips puckered back in a seductive smile, as she reached for the glass again. "Aaalriiight," she drew out temptuously.

He pulled it back again, brow flying up in playful suspicion. "That means no running off alone 'cause you saw a butterfly or disappearing into a store 'cause you saw something shiny. You got no problem yanking me places sometimes, but now I'm actually insisting. You go, I go. Deal?" He offered it back again.

She giggled at his elaboration, "Deal. I promise, I'll stay right with you." She finally was allowed to take the new glass, and sipped from it immediately, making cute eyes over the rim at him.

He nodded. "Atta girl." His hand slid around her waist, pulling her a step closer so he could smooch her cheek again. "Or Tom, I guess, but it's just best if we can keep good track of what you've had, okay? By my count, that makes your third glass of wine today."

She nodded. "I believe so."

He shrugged. "But since this morning, so that ain't bad."

She pouted in thought. "What if anyone else wants to dance with me?"

"Then I'll wait on the sidelines." He pecked her temple. "But I'll keep an eye on ya, hold your drink - Don't put it down anywhere else. If you lose a drink, just get another. Got it?"

"Hm, yes. And thank you." With her arm through his, she moved to start heading back again.

One of the dances she had been seeing, mostly sitting out of, but tripped through a couple times, desperately trying to follow a lead, was before her once again. But this time, she had Eugene on her arm, and thus his ear.

"What is that one? I actually had trouble following it. Just seems so different from my usual, but, I'd like to try it!"

Eugene chuckled. "That's just a waltz."

"Oh…"

He finished another sip, then looked her over, hopeful. "You wanna go somewhere and practice?"

---

Rapunzel stumbled over her own two feet, and stumbled forward, cracking up hysterically, right against Tom's chest.

"Oof!" he jolted. Where his hand had been on her waist suddenly held nothing, and his hand that held hers suddenly gripped tight to hopefully brace and stabilize her from falling farther.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry!" she laughed out hysterically.

Eugene likewise laughed from where he sat on the ground against a wall.

It was a secluded area around the side of the castle, usually reserved as a lot for deliveries and other such work and maintenance. While Rapunzel was a natural dancer, and took very well to learning the group dances, this pre-ordained couples dance proved difficult to stick to.

"Stop looking at yor feet," Tom said, frustrated.

"Sorry, sorry!" Rapunzel giggled, then got back in position. But, besides the pursed smile barely holding in more laughter, she stood stiff as a statue.

Tom stood up to her in his position, but quickly fell to glaring at how she could not get ahold of herself. In a huffy sigh, he dropped her arms and backed away. "This is impossible."

"Ohhh, come onnn," Rapunzel followed, trying to goad him back, grabbing his arm.

"No," he turned back and held his other hand up to stop her. "We'll do it some other time. You don't need to know how to waltz for this. It's not a ball."

"Naw," Eugene shrugged, "But she wants to learn."

Tom sighed, absolutely exasperated. "Then youu teach her. C'mon, that's yor thing."

"I told you," he giggled, "I'm rusty."

Rapunzel pouted, extra exaggeratedly, with big puppy dog eyes.

Tom chuckled at her silly face, but shirked her hold off. "No." He pointed between Eugene and Rapunzel, while approaching and laughing at Eugene, who was laughing at them. "You! Get off yor arse and get up here!"

"Alright, alright!" Eugene got up and bowed to Rapunzel. "May I cut in?"

"What?" "Wot?" they both asked, baffled.

"Blondie." Eugene took Rapunzel by the shoulders to move her aside, back to where he had been sitting. After a mutually indulgent kiss, he directed her down. "You just take a seat on the ground before the ground takes you."

"Oh, no-" Tom shook his head, hands on his hips.

"And watch how it's done," Eugene finished, then stood back up opposite Tom.

Rapunzel broke out into more squealing giggles anyway.

Tom tried not to smile as Eugene approached him with a mockingly sultry look. But as far as their task of teaching Rapunzel, it did seem the best option. With a deep breath and rolled eyes, he held his hands up into position.

Eugene stepped in easily enough to position, but then looked down and about. "Wait…"

"Yeah, thought you said you were rusty?" Tom chuckled.

He shrugged. "Well, yeah, I've been drinking, too, and now it's backwards to me!"

Tom smirked at him. "Fiiine." He stepped slightly to the left, and switched his hands.

"Theeere we go!" Eugene exclaimed, trying to contain his own giggles now. "Alright, now, Blondie, Tom's the girl here-"

Tom balked.

"Wh- Well what?! You want me to say I'm the man?"

Tom finally broke into a giggle himself shaking his head.

"There ya go, Mr. Uptight. Get that stick outta your ass already and loosen up a lil. It's waltzing day one, not some stage show for royalty."

"It will be!" he protested, gleefully. "That's all that balls might as well be!"

Eugene sighed and shook his head, then looked back to Rapunzel. "Filthy mouth. I can't take him anywhere."

Rapunzel fell over guffawing.

"Alright, alright, c'mon, c'mon," Tom tried to get somewhat settled again, clearing his throat. Locking eyes with Eugene got them both pleasantly serious finally, but then they just waited there…

…

Tom finally prompted him, "Yor leading!"

"Oh! Oh right!" Eugene chuckled once more at that. Then he finally started, taking off a little hesitantly and slow at first, but he quickly fell into the proper rhythm of it.

"There you go," Tom commented, "Smooth."

"Thanks!"

Together, they explained their movements, and the patterns to look for, until it clicked for her. From there, Eugene pulled Rapunzel up to try again, this time with Tom directing from the center as they spun and danced around him.

Somehow, with no music, in the peaceful quiet here of only nature sounds, shrouded by distance and stone, yet a view out to the bright blue sky and shimmering ocean… With their eyes so contentedly lost in each other's, the tipsy buzz already floating in their heads, and the world rushing past as they swirled around - but those eyes stayed constant… It all seemed so dreamlike.

After a few revolutions, they slowed down and settled, but stayed locked in position. Her blissful grin hung there in his arms, and his dizziness could not tell what was causing any of it: her eyes, that smile, the cute freckled cheeks, powerful hair cut, petite hands, pounding heart and gasping lips - or if the drink and dance had anything to do with it at all. However, rather than fall into a kiss, he cupped her cheek dearly, forehead to forehead, preferring to stay in the daydream where he could still see and feel her.

---

Back out in the midst of the party, a foreign Princess approached Eugene, who still held Rapunzel on his arm.

He stopped short, expecting the Princess to address Rapunzel, at least first.

But her eyes stayed studying his face carefully, and just as carefully, asked, "Voulez-vous danser?"

"I'm… sorry?" Rapunzel quirked at her, completely confused. She looked up to Eugene.

He blinked, processing. Oh. "Uh," he smiled and nodded, "J'aimerais beaucoup!"

Rapunzel darted her attention between the two. What?

"Ah, Blondie," he looked down to her, "Would you mind if I danced with her?"

The foreign Princess smiled politely, watching the two of them.

"Oh, uh," Rapunzel shook her head, mostly confused by the language, "Of course! I mean- no, go ahead!" She giggled from nerves as she let go of his arm.

"Are you sure?" he asked, worried.

"Yeah," she gasped, but kept her huge smile, "Yeah, it's fine."

He winced as he gave her a parting smirk. Aw, Blondie… More than your eyes turning green? "I'll see you right after." He took her hand back to kiss goodbye.

She giggled away, stepping back beside Tom. He will, she tried telling herself, to mixed results.

Eugene bowed to the other Princess, took her hand, and headed off to the dance floor.

Tom watched them walk away, pursing his lips and thinking hard as he stepped up beside Rapunzel. "Hmmm, snatched up by a Princesse. Tch." He shook his head and looked down to her; once he had her attention, he smirked. "How ever shall you compare?"

Rapunzel blushed and giggled. "I am being silly, aren't I." She dropped her head against his arm, holding onto him. "I mean, I've been doing that all day I suppose."

"And he's been taking it like a champ!" he chuckled brightly.

She sighed there on his jacket sleeve, watching how impossibly handsome he looked dancing, from this new perspective. "He… looks so good out there…"

After a little while, of her eyes never leaving him, and her nails on Tom's arm tightening, he sighed. "Darling, you have nothing to worry about," he chuckled. "Now, are you ahctually enjoying the view, or would you like to dance?" He held his other hand out across himself for her to take.

She laughed out her pointless anxiety as she perked up, taking his hand, before they dashed out to join the dance.

---

[see translation afterward]

"Toi et la princesse…?"

"Wha- oh," Eugene blushed, but chuckled to get this awkward lie out, even in foreign tongue. "No, no… Ah, nous ne… courtisons pas."

"Pourquoi pas? Tu es beau, charmante…"

"Eh, bon ben, merci beaucoup…" Is this what she's been dealing with all day?

Throughout the dance, the Princess made small talk, that Eugene had no problem keeping up with. All along, he graciously kept her flirtations at a moderate bay, playing back just enough reciprocation. Surely it was the polite, diplomatic thing for both of them to do. His blush remained for all of the reasons though, and his smile and smirk slid back and forth on their own. A meaningless ego boost, in the midst of such a crowd for all of the coming week, certainly would only do good.

The Princess whose bed he had woken up in this morning, and whose bed he planned to return to tonight – as much as there were so many feelings there, she never struck him as out of his league. He did not meet, nor fall in love with, her as a princess. The young woman locked in step with him right now, however, rang all the bells and whistles of otherworldly out-of-reach celebrity.

She set her most sultry look on him. "Embrasse-moi?"

His smile dropped. Heart pounded; but not in a good way. In a disaffected deadpan, but soft voice and perfect pronunciation, he replied directly to her eyes. "Vous devrez me pardonnerez, Votre Altesse Royale, mais mon Français n'est pas très bon."

[You and the princess...?]

[No, no... Ah, we're... not dating.]

[Why not? You're handsome, charming...]

[Ah, well, thank you very much...]

[Kiss me?]

[You will have to forgive me, Your Royal Highness, but my French is not that good.]

---

Eugene ever so delicately extricated himself from the Princess, who seemed merely all the more amused at flustering him. He looked back to where he knew he had left Rapunzel and Tom, but they were gone. He began to turn around to search-

-when a group of multiple giggles again caught his ear, forcing him to become self-conscious of them, again. He turned back to see what that tiny gossip group was up to now.

Out of the giggly, more middle-class dressed, young women, the most extroverted one bounded forward. "Can we dance?!"

"Ah-" he chuckled at her awkward energy. One more head turn around, and he spotted Rapunzel still with Tom on the far side of the crowd, both laughing. Whew, good. He came back to the young woman. "Sure," he shrugged.

---

"Oh," Rapunzel's laugh dropped off as she spotted Eugene with a different woman already. Well, at least this time he's not turning red…

"Oh," Tom spotted him also. "Well, another?"

Rapunzel giggled again. "Sure!"

"He'll get the next one, don't worry," he grinned widely for her.

---

"Now, if you'll pardon me, Miss," Eugene kissed the young woman's hand, to more of her high-pitched titters, "This lil lady has been waiting so patiently for me."

Enthralled nonetheless, the young woman curtsied and ran back to her friends.

Eugene's smile actually dropped though, as he turned to Rapunzel, took her hands, and rolled his eyes - all in relief. "Finally."

Rapunzel giggled at him. "What?"

After a deep breath, he dipped to her ear. "That princess asked to kiss me."

"What?!" She jolted back from him, alarmingly searching his face.

"So I suddenly stopped understanding French," he giggled, pulling her right back in to smooch her cheek.

"Oh…" She took a deep breath of her own relief.

"Hey." He touched his forehead to hers. "I'm yours. Promise. Okay? That's all there is to it."

She closed her eyes, at peace with it all. "I know. You looked really nice out there, though."

---

After another round of drinks and their next dance finished, Tom waved them back over. Another one of those giggly gossip girls had broken off from the pack, and waited beside him.

She was more serious than the others, especially on her own. Her dark brown eyes and full lips in a tight smile lit up sweetly as she got excited. Wavy black hair ran down past her shoulder. Light golden brown skin was complemented by her brightly floral patterned dress of pink, violet, and blue blooms, with green leaves, over a white background.

"Eugene," Tom called, "This lovely young lady would fancy a dance with you."

Huh, pretty. Eugene smirked, inebriatedly-confident enough now to have some fun. He gave Rapunzel's hand an extra squeeze before he let go.

Rapunzel bowed out, truly calm this time - as she found herself taken with her, even more than Eugene. Oh my- Wow! She's gorgeous!

And he let loose the heavy charm, even beckoning her up to him with a curled finger. A lil drunk playing here, then we get each other all night. And in the meantime, everyone else we dance with'll act as a sort of beard! "C'mere, darlin'."

She immediately blushed, stunned, dazedly holding her hand out.

He chuckled as he coolly grasped it, and pulled her close before they even made it back to the dancing. Chest to chest already, he kissed her hand. "Enchanté." As they headed out, though, over his shoulder, and above his new dance partner's head, Eugene winked back at Rapunzel, his lips puckering in the air at her.

Rapunzel blushed fiercely, giggling to herself.

Tom handed her drink back, which she began coyly hiding in, taking sips. But his brow furrowed, mouth frowned. "She asked me if you two were together."

She looked up suddenly.

"I told her no." He looked back down at her. "That's the story, innit?"

Rapunzel retreated back to the sweet wine, and nodded. For now…

While Eugene showed off, Tom found someone else to chat with beside them, and Rapunzel was left people-watching, which she did rather enjoy. Especially the two beautiful people who had just left to dance. She also overheard some others, with curious singsong accents, saying words that sounded like she should understand, and yet…

[see translation afterward]

"I thought he was, 'so,'" a man speculated, "But bibi maybe?"

"Mmm. Naff," another man disagreed.

"Naw, he was a miracle of dexterity, a Dilly boy in the rough trade trolling Beauvoir. With an aunt nelly fake."

"That feele omi, mauve? Maybe a Fancyman, but not a Dilly boy to be had. Walloping in gildy clobber and buvare'ing with a lilly? And what of the dona?"

"Maybe he's mollying the lilly. Dona's just a bencove."

Tom's ear pricked, and he glanced to Rapunzel, noticing she was listening intently though she was completely baffled.

The dissenter laughed. "Scharda if nante."

"Aye, but anyone with ogles can varda that bona dish in those kaffies."

He had to nod, conceding. "Bona lallies on the omi and dolly old eek."

"Better esong than the posters, too."

They both laughed.

"You just wanna reef that fortuni lacoddy."

"Oy, stop yor cackling now. That orderly daughter's ajax…"

Tom sighed, and said loudly, without turning around to look at them, "This is Corona, not Piccadilly Square or even Covent Garden. In fact, it's not England at all." He finally turned back to glare at them.

"Apologies, guv-"

Tom rolled his eyes and jerked his head over his shoulder. "Just shutup and get out of here."

Rapunzel looked up to him, obviously questioningly.

He leaned down to her ear. "They wann'er grab his ass."

Her eyes bugged out and jaw dropped. As she watched him out dancing with that girl she could not stop gazing at, now she suddenly could not keep her eyes off of that area of him. Her cheeks burned as she could tell he was playing up his flirty act, but her own heat was only because she was imagining doing such a thing to him herself.

[I thought he was gay, but bisexual maybe?]

[Mmm, straight.]

[Naw, he was excellent, a male prostitute (rough trade: a working class or blue collar sex partner or potential sex partner; a tough, thuggish or potentially violent sex partner) working in Beauvoir. With an earring.]

[That young man, gay? Maybe a male prostitute for women, but not a male prostitute for gay sex. Dancing in fancy clothes and drinking with a cop? And what of the woman?]

[Maybe he's having sex with the cop. The woman's just a friend.]

[It's a shame if not.]

[Aye, but anyone with eyes can see that's a nice ass in those trousers.]

[He's got nice legs and a beautiful face.]

[Better nose than the posters, too.]

[You just wanna touch that gorgeous body.]

[Oy, stop your gossiping now. That cop's nearby.]

---

"Cat got your tongue, doll?" Eugene asked as they danced.

She giggled. "Oh, I'm just-..." She looked directly at his face, and blushed away giggling again.

Aw, shy. Cute. "Well, here: You from Corona?"

"Yes! Hah, ah, my family lives just over the bridge on the mainland."

Eugene nodded along, but not really logging any of the information. "That's nice. The city can get a lil stifling sometimes. I'm from here, too, but, ehhh, only just, settling back in." He chuckled out the insinuation of referencing his recent adventurous criminal past.

She chuckled with him, but remained nervous. "Ah- would you mind if I- ask?"

"Ask away," he assured her. "Don't be scared." He knew the seduction always won out over any girl's trepidation over the 'bad guy' reputation; in fact it usually added to it, especially since that reputation never included being bad to girls. But sometimes they took a little more coaxing, more hooded eyes, bigger smirks, and more eyebrow moves.

Despite how that all threw her back into a blushing inferno, she finally asked a real question. "So, like where all have you traveled to?"

"Oh," Eugene chuckled happily. He spent the rest of the dance rambling about all the different places he had been to, what was most beautiful and delicious in each place, and sometimes even a risque mention of what he had stolen.

She listened, enraptured, interjecting her amazement along the way.

As they parted, he kissed her hand again. "Well, au revoir, cherie. It's been a pleasure."

"Oh," she chuckled, but had gained nerves with him along the way and so finished more assuredly, "Well, the pleasure's all mine."

He nodded as he bowed and she curtsied, before they each graciously went their separate ways again.

---

Eugene eventually took a turn with each of the gossipy friends, just as flirtatious with all, and Rapunzel with more princes. Tom kept her drink and she returned to him each time, both for sips and for him to be a second, sober opinion on whomever she danced with next. The sun was low, already leaving the island kingdom in a thin layer of encroaching blues, though the party was surrounded by warmly glowing lights.

The man she danced with now, seemed just as routine as all the rest. Only he asked, "Would you like to get a drink with me after this?"

"Oh," Rapunzel smiled. Didn't he already see that I have one? "Uh, thanks, but I already have a drink."

"Then perhaps we could just take a walk?"

She chuckled at his flattering persistence. "No, I don't think so."

Only that persistence never seemed to be far off as their small talk continued.

And this time, Rapunzel had trouble keeping up, as her head spun, both from dancing, and as he steered the conversation to whichever things she seemed to not understand. They were boring and mundane, though, like economics and politics, both of which she still had yet to even study. But knowing that she did not understand only added to her fluster.

As the dance mercifully ended, she breathed a sigh of relief, putting a smile back on to at least say goodbye. She gave him her hand to kiss. "That was, certainly something," she chuckled. Something annoying.

He bowed and kissed her hand, but the next thing she knew, he had her wrist instead, and his other arm was around her waist, pulling her flush against him.

OH NO- Panicked adrenaline shot through her.

"Ohhh, you only dance with your big hero like this? Everyone sees you two keep disappearing. Let me show you what a real Prince is like. Come on, a walk? A drink?" The hand on her waist slid down a bit.

Rapunzel glanced around. Eugene's back was to her, where he was chatting with his own dance partner as they said goodbye. Tom saw her, but was on edge about making a move into the middle of such a big crowd. With a singular idea, she looked back to her current captor, and gulped, but then chuckled out a teasing smile. "Welllll, alright, then!" She giggled, willing her nerves to show as shyness and not the terrible fear icing her veins over. "I know a place."

He smiled back, and readjusted how he held her, to look just like any normal escort.

Rapunzel held his arm to steady herself and those nerves. I've done this before. I'll be fine. "Come on, over this way." She pulled him to change direction, which he then took up as his own heading as he resumed leading her. It was away from both Tom and Eugene.

Eugene finally turned around toward where he had seen Rapunzel's dance end but she was not there. He looked to Tom, who frantically redirected him to the pair heading off. Beyond the crowd, there was a refreshment table, and beyond that, the opening to a side street, darkened now. It led down to a tight turn of stairs under an arch. But the whole street was roped off, and a single armored guard stood watch. Something's not right… He kept his watch on her as he followed behind them slowly but steadily. Blondie? You know not to go off alone - or are you actually too drunk?

Rapunzel grabbed a goblet of wine from the table as they passed without stopping. She held it up to her mouth to fake taking a sip. With another naughty giggle, he let her go enough and she pulled him toward that rope, and guard.

Eugene froze at the edge of the crowd, second-guessing making it all so conspicuous, and merely watching in disbelief. What… What did I do? Was I flirting too much with those girls? She knows that's fake! Even if she does want to - even if everything's fine - I'm not letting her out of my sight.

She pushed the drink into his hand playfully. "Here! You want some?"

"Hm, yes please," he leered toward her, but still paused to take a drink.

Rapunzel snatched the guard's frying pan off his belt, and in one fluid motion, smacked the wide flat bottom straight across his face, goblet, hand, and all.

He dropped with a sputtering cut-short cry.

The guard freaked out. "Your Highness?!"

Rapunzel kept her stance a moment more, ensuring he was indeed unconscious. At last, her adrenaline broke and she heaved a deep breath. The guard was trying to ask her what had just happened, but she did not hear him through the ringing in her head. Besides, she felt other eyes on her. She looked up back at the crowd, and saw him.

Eugene's jaw was on the floor, where his eyes had also fallen out to.

Rapunzel whimpered out a gasp of true, full relief.

The sound and sight of her snapped him out of it, and he rushed to embrace her. "Are you okay?!"

She squeezed him back tightly and nodded against his chest.

"Come on," he pulled her with him, "Come on, let's get outta here." He turned to the guard. "Get him gone." He led her back to the party as she did at least quickly calm down, which he noticed. "That was, ah," he giggled, "Well that was fucking amazing."

She burst out into a laugh. "I know, right?!" Her giggle turned hyper. "He actually believed me!"

"Yeah," Eugene gasped, certainly proud and impressed, but with a twinge of terror left, "I kinda believed you, too, there, just didn't really- Like I knew it was something you wouldn't do, but you even had me almost convinced!"

"Ohhh, no, nooo!" she continued laughing the tension off as she clung to his arm.

"I think I saw a tooth go flying," he giggled.

"Wot?!" Tom cried out, as they reached him. "Wot happened?!"

She shrugged. "He was bothering me-"

"Yeah, I sawr that. And then?"

"Then she fuckin' decked him!" Eugene exclaimed with glee.

Just as shocked, Tom burst out laughing, too. "Well, then, mercifully, it is time for dinner."

---

On their way over, however, the young not-couple disappeared on him for a moment.

Eugene pressed her into the same alcove he spotted where they had hidden away with cupcakes. Only this time, their mouths were locked on each other.

"You see where we are?"

"Yeah!"

"Mmm, may've had fun teasing those girls, but God I want you."

She giggled, the closeness there with him only making her heart soar. "And those princes are the ones with the real ego problem."

"That was so hot, seein' you trick him and knock him out!"

"Saw it all over your face!"

He smirked. "And now we gotta behave for your parents? Awgh, c'mere."

"Only til tonight."

Frenetically all over each other, they had to get some of it out before heading to dinner.

A clearing British throat and tapping foot finally broke them into giggles. "Is this how you avoided us that whole day?"

He hid his face in the opposite side of her hair, unable to stop snickering.

"Well, we were a lot quieter!" Rapunzel rebutted.

Tom smirked openly and shook his head at them, chuckling. "Come on." They rolled out, but Tom caught Eugene's arm from behind to whisper. "She's drunk."

Eugene smirked back, wavering a flat palm out, see-sawing it. "Eh."

"And so are you."

"Yeah? Everyone is. Why aren't you?"

Tom tossed him back a sarcastic grin. "You may not have heard, but I have a shift tonight. There's a pair of drunk miscreants I've got to keep an eye on."

"Oh, really?" Eugene giggled as they all headed off.

"I've had a bit," Tom confessed.

"Mein Gott! Maybe you're not made of stone."

They kept serving their banter back and forth as they walked with Rapunzel in between them, who was cracking up in stitches at them.

---

"Oh, MOM!" Rapunzel dashed from between Eugene and Tom over for the Queen to catch her in her arms.

"Oof, Sweetie!" she cooed as she recovered, "Are you having fun?"

"Yep!" she chirped, but the moment hit her a little. "Yes," her lubricated gratitude weeped out, "YES! Everything's been so perfectly wonderful and oh my gosh, just, thank you so much for everything, I just can't believe that this is all just- oh my gosh!" She threw her arms around her.

The Queen quickly recovered from her shock, and hugged her back dearly as she took in her state.

Merrily a bit bleary-eyed himself, Eugene gestured and quietly mouthed out to her where she could see him over Rapunzel's shoulder, "Just a liiittle drunk."

"Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU!" Rapunzel continued almost crying to her mother's shoulder.

The Queen just chuckled at them both. "Oh, I'm just glad you're enjoying yourselves!"

"Mm-hm!" she leaned back and turned her head aside, so grateful and excited. "And look!" She giggled, suddenly nervous she had been a little too forward. "Um, I got my ears pierced? A-and Eugene bought me these!"

"O-oh," her mother said, rather startled, her smile slightly fading.

Oh no. She dropped her mother's hands as she backed away, bringing her arms up to her own chest. "I-is that alright?"

"Ah- oh, yes!" she stammered, her smile coming back fully, even as her brow furrowed. She held her hands back out, cupping her daughter's cheeks, as a comforting apology. "They look absolutely stunning on you, my Baby!" But she froze on that, obviously internally fighting something, but choosing to only let love shine out.

...oh. Eugene frowned as well, and cautiously stepped up beside Rapunzel. "Uh…"

"What's the matter?" Rapunzel asked her mother, nervously curious, but also feeling safe enough to be intrigued.

"I'm sorry," the Queen apologized, "You just, surprised me. That's all. You look so beautiful with them- and green for your eyes, I see." She got a little choked up, and took her hands to hold again. "It's alright, Sweetheart," but here she looked to Eugene, too, "Really, it's alright."

Eugene's tender voice tried to show he understood. "Your Maje-"

She held a hand up to pause him. "It's fine, Darling, please." She turned back to Rapunzel to confess and explain. "I just thought I would be the one to take you to get them done, if you ever wanted."

"I didn't think of that," Eugene quickly mumbled.

"Ohhh…" Rapunzel thought a moment on it all. "I didn't think of that either. I didn't know- I didn't even know if you'd be okay with it at all really. But, I mean, it was okay! Don't worry, I was perfectly fine. Eugene was with me the whole time at least!"

He grinned awkwardly at her mother. Guilty. But hey I did do good with her! …just didn't mean to steal that moment…

The Queen nodded back apologetically. "I know, I know, and, oh, you didn't know, neither of you could've known." She sighed, but released Rapunzel and moved on to hug Eugene.

"I'm sorry," he whispered, instantly heartbroken.

"Nonsense," she insisted, despite the emotion in her throat. "You've been wonderful with her." As she released him, she cupped his cheek.

He looked away as he nodded, unable to face her disappointment.

"Eugene," the Queen urged, sweet but strong, "Look at me."

He did, brow completely furrowed.

"At least you were with her," she beamed at him.

That acceptance and approval of his own self, was finally enough to put a smile back on his face. He bowed his head to her with a bit of proud nodding. "Of course." He chuckled a bit at long last. "And, ah, for the record, she WAS sober when she decided to do it!"

---

At dinner, Eugene was sure to pull Rapunzel's chair out for her to sit. On one broadside of a long table, she sat beside the Queen, then the King, and then Eugene sat on his other side.

Rapunzel and her mother turned into a dual chatterbox, as they recounted the day.

After a wonderfully happy day well spent, and plenty of alcohol, with more on the way, he had no qualms left in him. He spent the meal joking with the King, actually making him laugh like any old buddy. When he got beyond too comfortable, he began regaling him with all their stories from the day, particularly ranting about the assholes bothering Rapunzel.

The King was not entirely surprised such things happened, but was still shocked to hear about them happening to his little girl, and already. But he was always righteously relieved to hear how each story ended, and proud of the storyteller's passion.

---

The night time lantern ceremony. As beautifully reminiscent it was of her birthday night, that night also terrified her. She refused to let go of Eugene's hand for the entirety of the event.

"Blondie," he whispered to her. "I'm not going anywhere."

"I know," she sighed back, but her voice was tinged with pain. "But, please."

He sighed out loudly, then twisted his hand out of hers, in order to wrap his arm around her waist, holding her close against his side.

She choked back a whimper. "Thank you." She held onto his arm there anyway.

They eventually got back to staring up at the lanterns. Though it was the same vantage point as earlier in the day, the glowing nighttime was different. And this time, they were not only close to the origin of these lanterns, they were standing on this very terrace, the same footsteps as so many other events revolving around Corona's Princess.

While it was a sobering experience, Rapunzel's emotions were still looser, and she teared up at the very idea of where she stood in the universe at this moment, surrounded by whom, why, and how…

The King looked over at Eugene's arm around her. His face sat stoically neutral, except for his raised brow.

Eugene felt the stare, and looked back at him. The weight of so much meaning passed over him, but he did not tremble.

The King's stare did not falter.

Eugene glanced down to the ground, then to her. He rubbed her side comfortingly, then gave her a good side squeeze. Strong, daring, confident, but gracious, and aspiring to that stoicism, he looked back at the King.

The King's eyes flicked up and down them once, then blinked away, back to the lanterns in the sky.

Eugene gulped. I can do this. Just, give me a chance…

---

For the last official dance of the night, Eugene noticed Rapunzel was getting tired, or rather, at least her feet were getting tired. "Here, Tiny." He stopped them to a stand still.

"What?" She pouted in alarmed disappointment. "No, I-"

"Stand on my feet."

"Wait, really?"

"Yeah."

Giggling, she stepped her bare feet onto his boots. She had to get up chest-to-chest with him again, but he held her there securely. She wrapped her arms around his waist, settled into his doublet like a pillow, and sighed out in complete relaxation.

"There we go." He chuckled and nuzzled into her hair, as he shuffled them around slowly.

She giggled. "This is silly. You're silly."

"You're silly." Cheek to cheek, he began humming out their song, for just the two of them.

---

In a secluded area, off the main road but still a rather open space, their crowd had dwindled to just half a dozen familiar faces. Under the warm amber glow of the lit street lanterns, softly illuminating the cobblestone, tanned stone walls, and worn wooden structures around them, they kept their own little party going.

Hookhand kept the music going between his harmonica and their accordion player. Tom plucked at a guitar, watching with idle pleasure their audience for whom they were playing.

Big Nose was dreamily lost waltzing around in circles with his new date. Rapunzel and Eugene moved more or less in place, as one together, her back to his front, casually swaying to the rhythm. Bottles of various drinks, some empty and some still in use, lined the base of the short stone wall their musicians sat on.

Eugene held one such bottle of port in his hand, that arm wrapped around her waist, while his other arm was secured over Rapunzel's shoulder, across her bosom, to hold her opposite side. Her hands held his arm there, feeling up his wrist and forearm and bicep, over and over. Temples nuzzled cheek to cheek. Waists locked in sync, while hips gyrated around, revolution after revolution. He mumbled along singing to the folk song they played, every so often taking a sip from the bottle, or helping Rapunzel take one. Sloppy but delicious kisses followed, abounding.

"Ah," Tom sighed inbetween pieces, "He sings, too."

Rapunzel and Eugene smirked at him, while Hookhand and Big Nose pffted.

She took the opportunity to rave, "Isn't his voice just amazing?"

Nods and shrugs and chuckles responded to her.

Eugene pressed his lips to her ear again. "You enjoy your Welcome Home party, My Darlin'?"

"Yes," she chuckled. "And this is just the start of the week!"

"Mmm-hmm," he moaned as he held her tight. "But nobody is happier you're safe, than I am."

She gripped his arm tight and reached her head back, to press her cheek up against his shoulder. "You were the only one actually there."

He turned her around in his arms, drowsy eyes pinched and pouted in sympathy for her all over again as he brushed her swoop over her ear, then went in for a kiss - only this time, their lips actually connected.

She whimpered into him, but it turned into a euphoric giggle as she cupped his cheeks, pulling him in further.

A smile spread across him, as his arm holding the bottle draped along her back.

Tom chuckled as he picked up a tune again. "Come on, you two. One more?"

They blushed and giggled out of the kiss. She threw her arms around his neck; he pecked her forehead then pressed his own against hers. His free hand instead casually rested on her hip, her face hid in the crook of his neck for a quick kiss on his neck, and they both began swaying around again.

He nosed into the hair at her temple. "God you're so pretty!"

She snickered at him. "Whyyy, thank you, handsome."

"N' smart, n' fun! Mmm…"

Tom joked to Hookhand, "Like we're not even here."

Hookhand snarked back, "Better than the sourpuss he was last week."

Both lovers chuckled, their eyes all narrowed on their players.

"Ohhh, nooo!" Tom laughed. "I can imagine, but I guess that's an improvement, then."

Eugene opted to ignore him a bit longer, and spun around with Rapunzel. He continued spinning her out from him, instinctively finding her hand to hold without looking, then stepped out himself to twirl her around back again.

She fell against him laughing, but then mirrored the whole action on him all over again.

"Oh, now I'm-? Okay," he laughed back at her. He had to duck extra low to help her twirl him, while he laughed with extra childlike delight.

"Mmmmm-HM!" She sidestepped around him, to wrap her arms around his waist, back to swaying with him as she rested her blissful face against the back of his shoulder.

He tried to somewhat look behind himself at her, lost in the perfect romance of their give and take. His free hand spanned both her arms as he held her there.

She looked all around at their friends, cooing so contentedly as she squeezed Eugene's waist in her arms. Hey, wait a minute… She looked around again. "Tom, what's your dream?"

He looked up at her, confused. "Beg pardon?"

"Your dream. What do you want most in life? Or like, what's something you're really into?"

"Hah," he smiled bashfully, "Um, wellll… You could say I'm 'really into' Shakespeare."

"But what do you want?" She stepped out around Eugene, while their arms seamlessly switched around, but she drew one out to gesture grandly."What's your heart's true desire?" she directed dreamily.

"That reminds me," Eugene murmured behind her, "I gotta at least show you Romeo and Juliet. That one I know."

Tom thought long and hard on her question, gazing back at the both of them. "I don't know," he concluded calmly.

"Well, I dunno," Eugene threw out there, "Ya wanna act Shakespeare? So like, actor? Or playwright?"

Tom chuckled, shaking his head. "Nooo, no…"

"There has to be something!" Rapunzel goaded.

"I suppose then… Security."

"Your great aspiration was to be a guard?" Eugene scoffed humorously.

He shrugged, looking back down to the guitar.

"Okay, so," Rapunzel tried more tactfully, "You're already a guard! What's your new dream, then? Now what? What's next?!"

He shook his head idly a bit, staring out into space as he plucked away. "I just want everything to be okay. A good life. You know? Job security." He nodded along, still staring into space, "And then, of course, inside that 'security job,' is making shor yor okay."

Eugene still questioned it. "So that's why you're such a hard-nose?" Bullshit. 'Security.' And what's underneath that?

"Yeah," Tom chuckled shyly.

Eugene raised his brow but nodded. Abusive dad? Maybe no family at all? He doesn't really seem power hungry… Mm, lonely guy floatin' through life? No wonder we get along, despite the law.

Rapunzel got stuck staring at Hookhand and Tom playing, then suddenly wandered away from Eugene, though she kept hold of his hand without thinking, and he followed just as well. Her grin grew as she approached, and where uninfluenced judgment would have at least been more reservedly polite, she instead reached right out.

"What is it, Love?" Tom asked.

She blurted her distraction. "Can I play?"

"Play?"

"I know how," she assured him.

"Oh." He stopped gracefully, then stood and handed the guitar over. "Well shor then! Here ya go!"

She perched up on the wall where he had sat, and after a few plucks and strums to get the hang of it, then took the lead in feeling out a new song. Hookhand and their accordion player picked it up with her.

Tom slowly stepped back away, sliding his hands into his pockets as he smiled, watching her.

But he was stepping back into the dance area, where Eugene started approaching him. He slid up next to him, fully expecting him to join in.

Tom noticed, and ducked away, with a hand up to apologize. "Oh-ho, sorry!" he laughed.

"Naw, naw, naw, ya gotta dance, son!" Eugene exclaimed as he pulled at his shoulder.

Tom guffawed at him, "Not again."

"Who's she playin' for if you're not gonna dance?! You here- Yo gon dance!"

Rapunzel giggled at the appreciation, and at merely watching them.

Eugene continued, puffing his chest out, shaking his collar out. "Unless you don't think you can stand up to me?"

Tom darted a look back at him. "Oh, well, now it's a challenge!"

"That's the spirit!" he laughed.

"Oh ho, yor on!"

Only a bit hesitant, he reciprocated Eugene's smile, as he joined in. They mirrored and complemented each other's dancing side by side. Soon they were both laughing together and going all in at it.

---

Big Nose and his date took off for the night. Rapunzel got weary of playing, trying to enjoy herself, and stay awake at the same time. Tom came to take the guitar back, wondering if he would keep playing again, or if it was time to turn in. But Eugene was still riled up.

Rapunzel headed back to Eugene, but he got a spark in his eye and sat her right back on the end of the wall.

"What're you doing?" she giggled.

"You'll see…" He stepped back, getting ready. "So about having the best seat…" With a solid grip on his belt buckle, and his sultry eyes locked on hers, he smoothly lurched forward and rolled his hips right up in front of her.

She squealed and laughed, holding her hands over her face. "Oh my gosh- what?!"

"Whoa!" Tom exclaimed, but just burst into a laugh, and picked up playing again.

His legs spread over her lap, as he continued the very controlled gyrations, so close to her, yet not touching. "Don't miss the show," he chuckled, as he took her wrists, and laid her palms over his pects. Down the silky black satin, he ran them down himself, for her to hold his waist at those moving hips. "You just sit there and enjoy."

She continued cackling her head off, way past blushing, where everything was just too hot, in all ways.

Slowly, sensually, teasingly, with very little actual contact, he made her lap his personal dance floor, just for her. Eventually he sat down on her knees, his hands came up to her cheeks, eyes connected with hers more easily than ever before, and he kissed her. Still holding them there face to face, he smirked. "Happy Birthday again, Rapunzel, and Welcome Home… My Love."

She nodded, and gripped his wrists to keep him there. She kissed him again.

---

While they were finally packing up, Tom held a bottle out to Eugene, that still had some port left in it. "Don't forget yor schooner."

Eugene took it, gratefully, but then did a double take on Tom. How do you know that word? But rather than ask, he just stared back carefully.

Tom likewise stared deeply back at him with a slight, pensive smile.

Eugene expected him to say something else, or even wink at any moment; but he did not. So he cleared his throat. "My what?"

"You heard me."

Eugene glared at him now. "I don't know what you're talking about." Got a girlfriend now - and obviously planning on this being forever, so?

Tom looked away as he popped his brow up. "Alllright then." He smiled impishly, chuckling. "And surely you picked up that kind of a dance from being a thief."

Eugene finally laughed back with him, but pffted him off. Hm, you do keep secrets good.

---

Back inside the castle, Eugene leaned back against a wall in the dark, head back, with his lip in his teeth, trying to bite back his excitement.

---

Rapunzel hugged and kissed her parents good night in a main hallway of the castle. She was obviously wavering around, with eyes half closed, continuously giggling, and only responding with the simplest platitudes. "Thank you sooo much," she slurred drowsily but so sweetly, "Everything was so wonderful!" She stumbled back to lean against Tom, who caught her on his arm.

The Queen chuckled at her, a little shocked by seeing her baby as a drunk young adult all of a sudden, yet she could not deny she was so pleased to see her so happy. "We're just so glad you enjoyed yourself and had a good time."

The King and Tom were having a silent conversation with their eyes.

"You'll see she gets to bed safely?" the King finally voiced.

"Yes, Sir," Tom answered.

The King nodded, and the two parties went their separate ways.

Tom sighed down at her, but smirked adoringly. "Come on, Dear, let's get you to bed."

She snuggled up on his arm already, simply floating from the whole day.

Around the very first corner, she was immediately snatched back into a kiss.

Tom stepped back and merely raised his brow wearily, hands clasped in front of himself. Waiting.

Secure in Eugene's arms, Rapunzel let them slip out of the kiss. Unfocused gazes connected, foreheads touching… as they both fell into giggles.

---

A/N: I'll do you one better- WHY is Tom?! n.n;

Oh-ho-ho, but the DAY is not over! This chapter just got too absolutely monstrously long, that I actually cut it in half. But that 2nd half should be up by the time you're reading this. ;)

Please comment and review!

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