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

9. Ch9: Day -23 Part II

A/N: Oh yeah, the other thing that I need to change from Chapter 1 - It was such a nice flowery bit from the foundation of this story, but, well of course I let them get carried away. As if I was gonna be able to NOT. lol

Ch1 Day 303:

She whimpered at his confident quickness with her. During that first week of celebration at the castle, there had been furtive pecks stolen in secret, in mere spare moments. Prude nights only broadened their palette to meandering, chaste touches and some Frenches. But that all ended when they had assumed the status roles currently plaguing them. They had not kissed like this since he had brought her to the castle to begin with, and other than that, well... Despite the barrage of suitors, he had been her first kiss, and the only one with whom she counted them as true kisses.

Corrections:

…yeah, about that… "chaste" pfft, um… There's obviously that hard *line*, buuut…

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Suitors of Rapunzel

Ch9 □ Day -23 ⌧ Part II

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Rapunzel had had some celebratory champagne and tastes of wine at dinner the week before the public celebration started. But once she had gotten ahold of the sweet wines and concoations there, and how tipsy they made her head, she did not want to stop. Only Eugene even could possibly hold her back, which he barely did. He only worried about her getting sick, not if she wanted to get plastered for her first time, especially with him. As they both got more falling-over-drunk, at least they were only falling into each other…Wrapped up in each other in all ways, Rapunzel and Eugene stumbled down the hall to her bedroom doors. Tom led the way, with his usual cheeky look, though tonight he was much more wary. Eyes all closed and locked in a kiss, the drunk lovers fell against the door, which broke them into more giggles.

Eugene finally looked up but right through Tom, as his eyes doubled his vision. "Well, g'night, Buddy," he slurred with a sloppy smirk, as Rapunzel hung on his shoulders and found a new spot for her lips to reach on his neck. Eugene's eyes fluttered back as she did so, while he fumbled for the door handle. It finally popped open, and they both moaned in relief at having reached their most secluded destination at long last.

But Tom yanked the door shut again before they could move. They both brought their hazy attention to him. Carefully, he instructed, unmistakably to Eugene alone, "Say good night."

"What?" It did not compute at first. "Why?" He glanced down to Rapunzel in his arms, eyes immediately drawn to the top of her bosom. Awgh how I'd love to- OH.

"'WHY?!'" Tom repeated, harshly but quietly through gritted teeth. "Do you SEE yorself right now?!"

"Oh," Eugene surrendered, somewhat, "Oh oh oh, yeah, yeah, I gotcha, but, I mean, oh c'mon, man!"

Rapunzel likewise unleashed the saddest eyes and frown at the energy alone that she sensed.

"Like I'm gonna do anything… fuck outta here…" His own grimace just looked sad and crushed.

"Fitz, yor drunk, and she's about to pass out-"

"Yeah, so?! I'm not- not gonna do anything," he scoffed in dirty offense. "Not that drunk- or whatever. N'- c'mon, naw, just, c'mon man…"

The combined unbridled pouting was too effective. Tom sighed. "At least let me speak with her alone."

"Alright, yeah, 'course!" Giggling again, Eugene merely slid out from under Rapunzel, prying her off as she protested, then handed her off to hang on Tom's arm instead. He stayed against the door, though, and continued sliding away over to the nearby corner.

She gave up fighting the separation from Eugene at least, once she had Tom's jacket to hang on instead. "Hmm-mmm, heyyy, Tommm," Rapunzel cooed, as she pecked his cheek.

He smiled awkwardly, readjusting his hold on her to keep her up. "Ah, Rapunzel, Darling, I think you two are done for the night."

"Heh heh, yeaaah," Her attention drifted back towards Eugene.

"Nooo, no, Rapunzel, I think…" He looked over to Eugene, though Tom seemed mostly worried they would hate him for what he was about to say. "I think it'd be best if Eugene slept in his own room tonight."

"What?" she cried, "Whyyy?!"

"Because yor both so drunk you con't even stand."

"But... Eugeeene…" She pouted back, looking back over toward him in question.

Eugene was smirking with hooded eyes. "Not planning on bein' 'standing' much longer, if you know what I mean." But then he himself realized all of what that could mean, so he dropped the smugness in his shoulders and instead shrugged, "Well I mean-"

Tom pointed to Eugene. "Oh I know what you mean, and youu know exactly what I'm talking about." He then removed Rapunzel's handsy hand from his shoulder. "And she should."

"She does now," Eugene crossed his arms as he updated him. "But yeah, I know we're both drunk. We were having fun. N' we already talked about it- Not doin' anything new tonight. Would you also like to see a signed permission slip and a full report in the morning? Or ya wanna just watch?" He at least ended in a chuckle.

Tom glared him down. "Princess and thief or not, you expect me to leave a drunk girl alone with-"

"With her drunk boyfriend," Eugene finished, getting tiredly annoyed as he reapproached them, "Yes. Because this is me. I know myself and you both know me. Just kissin' n' cuddlin', n' worse comes to worse I-" He waved his hand through the short tips of her hair, then giggled. "Well I guess I don't really hafta worry 'bout holding her hair outta the way if she pukes. Already took care of that! Hah-HAH!"

Tom licked his lips, considering. "And how long's it been since you even last dipped yor wick?"

"Not too long," Eugene shrugged casually. "But c'mon, I knew what I was getting into here. And I got a right hand, man-" Suddenly he giggled, then set sultry eyes on him. "Unless you're offering?"

Tom rolled his eyes. "You were sooo worried, allll day, about what everyone else was saying about her, what everyone else was thinking- And here yor just doing it yorself!"

"I am not," he whined, then smirked smugly, "I been the very picture of a gentleman today! N' I wasn't bragging, just I knew that I was the one gonna end up here tonight."

Tom sighed. "If I hear anythin'-"

Eugene mockingly laid one hand on his chest, held the other up, and laid on his own fake British accent. "You can come charging in, her new knight in shining armor, be my guest."

Rapunzel giggled at him.

Tom frowned at him. "This isn't funny."

"No," Eugene likewise said seriously, "It's not. But the day I hurt her, is the day I do need my head caved in."

Tom grumpily turned her to face him again. "Rapunzel?"

"Hm, what?" she asked, cutely pleased with them both as she blissfully had not paid all that much attention to their discussion, but felt warmed by the passionate concern in each voice.

Tom sighed, exasperated. "Rapunzel, are you shor yor okay staying with Eugene tonight?"

"Nnn why wouldn't I be?"

Both men sighed and rolled their heads aside.

"Blondie," Eugene reached for her arm. "We're both drunk. But- you trust me to take care of you?"

"Of course!" she tittered out.

Tom sighed, "She doesn't know wot she's saying."

"Heyyy," Rapunzel whined. "I… I know! My head jes… Just is a lil..." She made a sour face and waved her hand around away from her temple out to the open air.

He shook his head at her. "Rapunzel, Dear…"

"No…" She shook her head, and shoved off of him a little, though she had no footing of her own.

Tom gripped her upper arms tightly, cringing that she was about to fall.

"I jus want Eugene!" She twisted away-

-just as Tom let go, passing her off right into Eugene's hands.

Eugene sighed. He collected her back into his arms from Tom, kissed her forehead, and nestled her back on his chest. "It's okay, Blondie. I'm right here." Then he readdressed him. "Look, you know I appreciate you lookin' out for her. But you also know how much I love her. I- man, just think for a second- what I really want. I ain't even been pushin' her to do anything. Already been dealin' with this all week. I know what I'm doin'. And I told ya, we're not gonna be doin' anything new. You know she's safe with me."

Tom drew in a deep breath. "I do know all that."

Eugene looked down at her, a grinning happy mess in his arms. "I died for her just to be free. I'd never even try anything against her. Or anyone, for that matter."

He nodded with a conceding sigh. "I know you wouldn't."

He shook his head. "I'm dizzy. Slurrin', stupid... But I didn't suddenly because an asshole- a… a jerk, like I'd-..." He made an utterly disgusted noise in his throat, mixed with the feel of tears, and squeezed her tighter to himself. "NO."

Tom watched him carefully, as he stared down at Rapunzel's dozing face on his chest, full of that sweet, loving affection. With his own tender voice, he smiled and said quietly, "I know, Eugene." Then he chuckled, trying to lighten them all up again. "Ah... Suppose I, er, just wanted to make shor you had yor head on straight."

Eugene smirked and nodded. "She's got me head over heels, but yeah, straight enough." The lessened inhibitions did let out a reflexive wink with that, then he returned his attention to Rapunzel. "We'll be fine."

---

On the other side of the door, Eugene whispered on her ear as he brushed her hair away. "You fallin' asleep, Blondie?"

She leaned away and shook her head vigorously, bouncing her short ends around, still getting used to playing with the short length. "Nuh-uh!" she giggled, as her feet fumbled with the ground and she ended up helplessly hanging on his shoulders.

Her shifting weight threw him off balance as well, as he stumbled back to catch them against the wall. Her back landed flat against it, and he landed on her, an open palm having flown out to smack down beside her to brace his fall. "W-whoa, there, ho-kay-!"

Through the door, they heard Tom call, half annoyed, half amused, "Oh, now come on!"

To which, Rapunzel loudly squealed out a giggle as reply to him, before shushing herself. But it made her all the more giddy, with the idea of getting away with being naughty.

Eugene chuckled as well, "Well, you're fallin' someplace!"

She laughed back, "Fallin'..." ...in love. The thought was enough to wake her up a bit. She felt the jolt to her brain, as the same old involuntary connections of synapses fired along the beaten path to the past. She winced and curled up into herself, as if the sour thought physically tasted as such. But she was pulled back to the present as Eugene maneuvered her body himself, in order for them to both lay sideways against the wall. She grinned, and petulantly teased him by purposely tipping forward into him, chuckling, "Fallin' into you!"

"Rapunzel?" Tom called through the door, sounding more annoyed than anything.

"WE'RE FINE!" she yelled back way too loud, to compensate for her drowned ears. "G'NIGHT, TOM!" she giggled.

Eugene snickered, then pulled her up away from the wall entirely, and helped her walk over to the wall farthest from the door. "Here we go. Lil more privacy, away from prying ears."

She held on around his neck as he walked her backward, and she made silly cute noises along the way.

There, he held her close against him, but they leaned their sides against the wall for support, so neither was pinned.

His lips lazily kissed at hers and all about, he trailed his fingers around her ear and down her cheek. "Guess I still have to learn how to properly treat a Princess," he smarmed, as thickly sweet as the dessert wine still on their breaths. His fingers came back around to caress her neck, temptingly wandering down, slipping fingertips along, just barely under the hem of the dress's neckline at her shoulder. "But I already know how to treat a woman."

His hand hooked her there, clamped over her shoulder, and pulled her in with surprise, not lip to lip, but for him to kiss hard along her cheek, back toward her ear, then down her neck, sucking skin in along teeth, though careful to be quick and keep moving to avoid leaving marks. Meanwhile his other hand pulled her hip against his likewise, pressing himself against her thigh, and easily digging a knee between hers.

Nothing about them could stay still, whether because of inebriated balance or nerves engulfed in these raging flames of passion exploding like a newly formed sun. All of him leaned over into her, his giggles turning into low, deep chuckles bordering on moans.

Hers turned to gasps… Something about it all at once suddenly drove her heart to panic, not knowing where this was going, and how fast everything seemed to be moving at the same time, with no clear destination in mind as far as she could really tell. But he himself had already told her what to fear. She tensed, her breathing grew frantic, and her pulse spiked. This adrenaline felt slightly different than any other night, and her head was too loose and thick all at the same time to make sense of his likewise looser and thicker movements.

Though the wall was only to their sides, she instead did feel pinned there, with how heavily he was leaning into her, and pulling her against him. She froze.

His hand on her waist dragged upwards- instantly feeling how stiff her torso and tense her diaphragm now were. It was so subtle, but plenty enough for him to notice the mood had dropped like a brick. He stayed his hand there, decidedly only to monitor her breathing. He stepped away from the wall, letting her keep it for support, and leaned away to get a look at her face.

She stayed frozen, not even realizing how he had switched.

"Blondie?" His tone had lost all pretense and had flicked like a switch back to concern, sounding as sober he could manage. "Hey, Blondie..."

The second time she finally realized she was being addressed.

He searched for her eyes, as they drowsily drifted closed and pointedly away from him. "Y'okay?"

"Yeah!" Rapunzel finally gasped with a shaky cracked voice, cheeks burning red and looking anywhere but at him, and unable to get proper breaths to speak. He sounds upset- have to fix- make it better- smooth this over! "Yeah, yeah, I'm fine, of course-"

"No, you're all-" Eugene shook his head, suddenly alarmed and confused at her state, combined with her obviously lying about it. "Darlin', whoa whoa no, no no no, Blondie? I thought you were fine, but- No, come on, you know Tom's just worried for nothin'. It's okay, it's okay, come on. What's the matter?" ...did she actually really want me to go to my own room? "Is it your stomach? Do you feel like you're gonna throw up? Or pass out?" Hopefully?

A whimper escaped as she shook her head in confusion, gripped his other hand off her hip and held it away from herself; he allowed it to be manipulated. "What're you doing?" she whined. ...and yeah, what you and Tom've said...

"Blondie, I'm not doin' anything. I was just-"

"No- You just explained to me-!" She ended in a snivel of frustration.

"Blondie," he said more loudly than their usual hushed lover tones, and more seriously, but still as if he were cradling the fate of the entire world in his voice. "Everything is okay. You're okay. Just breathe-"

But her mind and nerves had gotten away from her, when they lost track of him before. She kept shaking her head. "NO, I-... I…" With the feeling of crying coming upon her, she leaned toward him for comfort.

He sighed, exasperated, confused, but still intensely worried. "Do you want me to call Tom in?" If he didn't hear that already…

"No!" she frantically threw back, as quietly as possible, but panicked all the more. "Nonononono, pleeease-!" she whisper-cried, begging. "I told you- Okay? I'm okay, it's okay…" Maybe he'll slow down eventually? He said nothing new but this feels different. "J-j-just please forget I said anything!"

"Th-that wasn't a threat," Eugene scrambled in reply, "I'm not worried about him getting mad - I'm worried about you being upset." He struggled to gently get her to willingly let go of his wrist. "Come on-"

She took to pushing away his other hand on her ribs.

"Blondie," he whined, "Come on, I dunno how to help you without touching you-"

"I'm fi-i-ine," she insisted, still sounding terrified, trying to turn away from him again. I just need him to stop- but not? Ohhh…! I just want- well, HIM- but?

"-and you can barely stand on your own right now-"

"I'm fine, I'm fine," she cried over and over, muttering it quietly between them, as she still pushed away at him.

"No, no- Sweetheart- Sweetheart, you are not 'fine.'" At his wits' end, his hand from her ribs definitively dove behind her to yank her close again, colliding their chests to one another again. "Hey," his voice squeaked out. Then he twisted his wrist that she feebly held, and instead gripped her fingers back, jingling the charm bracelet on it, and used that same hand, as his ring brushed her neck, to tilt her chin up to face him. "Blondie. Look at me," he whimpered the demand.

Their startled eyes locked, each savoring the other's healing warmth there even in the dim glow from the side lamps, and the ever-loving proof of expanded pupils blooming for each other.

Eugene gulped, hurt on some level he knew enough not to let on to her about, for the first time he ever had to try to argue such a thing. "I'm not gonna do anything to you. You can trust me."

His shocking but firm grab had reset her breathing into simply hitching with emotion, and her heady nerves clicked back to a happy excitement. Like when we've danced together- oh and today was so much MORE than the first time on my birthday! An easy grin popped up on her at the memories. Her eyes drifted closed again from how relaxed she finally found herself.

Eugene looked her over as carefully as he could, desperate to show how all he had in him was loving care, terrified himself of being misunderstood, as what he feared she must be thinking. Finally a legit fear for her to have - but not of ME! "No, no- Open your eyes and look at me. Look me in the eye."

She did, easily commanded for a simple innocuous task. "What?" she whimpered in defeat.

And he swore another beloved oath to her. "Blondie. No matter how much I ever have to drink, I would never do anything you don't want me to." But what if I did already? But that was hardly anything! And nothing new! "I mean, I'd never mean to, ya know? This is me here. You're safe with me. It's just me. And I would never… 'hurt' you. EVER. Okay? I promise. I swear. I- I shouldn't even have to promise that; tha's just a fact. Even if I was so blitzed out of my mind, I do know I would never, ever, ever, do anything against you. Nothin' you don' want. I'm not like that. Never have been."

She turned her face away, ashamed of her own worry and doubt, however fleeting. I was worried about upsetting him by refusing him, but now he's upset that I assumed he-! Well, I did think he was… kinda...

"Alright?" he whimpered, trying to follow her eyes. "You know me. You know… what I've done for you- you know how much I love you," he dry-sobbed out, but then cringed. "But that's not to say- I mean- you don't owe me anything; it's me who owes you, my life. I would never…"

She winced. "I'm sorry..."

"Don't you apologize," he rubbed her knuckles. "I'm sorry- I- I'm so sorry, really. I didn't mean to upset you. Never. I was just playin', but I felt you freeze and you did get upset there…"

Pouting, she nodded ever so slightly, her voice so small, "Yeah…" But all that? It did feel like what he warned me about...

"And- my God, My Blondie, I am sooo sorry, My Love. So I stopped! See?! Well I stopped with the sexy touching- But I can't just let go and leave you upset here! All alone?! -not to mention, yeah, I don't think you can stand… And I don't even know why exactly you got upset. So, what was it, huh?"

She tucked in on herself. He is so worried! Oh I'm so sorry!

He continued babbling, as he watched her clam up, and he now had to figure out how to get her to open back up at all. "Talk to me, please! What was it? I mean, yeah, I don't wanna have told you all these warnings and then turn around and tell you not to trust yourself when you don't feel right. But - I mean- it IS ME- so, you're still safe. Just tell me and I'll fix it. Or tell me to stop altogether for the night, it's okay. Whatever you want, Sweetheart, it's okay. You are okay here with me. You always are. You know that. Just, talk to me..."

She whimpered, "I don't know…"

"I think you do know," he countered. He licked his lips as he considered taking out this stop as well, but pushed on, desperate. "I think you're worried about offending me, 'cause you think that I'm gonna be just like-" He stopped short with a scoff. "Rapunzel. I'm not her. I'm practically the opposite of her. And I don't wanna be like any of those jerk-offs today. I just wanna make you happy. It is perfectly fine to be on the lookout for that, but I swear to you, I will always prove you wrong if you look for it in me. But- Just, come on, Blondie, why don't you take a deep breath with me?" His hand around her waist moved to brace her back.

I know. He is totally the opposite. And… Not supposed to be like- 'taking on his emotions.' 'It's not my fault.' She repeated some of his other mantras from the past week, and finally managed to take a deep breath.

"There ya go… Now, what was the matter? And do you want me to go?"

No, don't leave! "I-! No, I don't want you to go! Please! And I don't even wanna stop for the night, but I'm sor- rgh... I- I don't know, I was dizzy and I think, maybe, just that, like, everything at once was too much? That- you- it was all happening so fast…"

He smirked, sadly. "Okay, noted."

"Plus, I mean, Tom was saying, and what you told me..."

His drunken brow pinched in confused interest and drifted closer, eyes squinting with his vision and balance struggling. "You sure you don't want him to come in? It's okay with me. I don't want you to feel like…" Trapped. Isolated. -by me… He cringed. "Ya know?"

She still pouted, but shook her head. "No, no, he'll just start fighting with you."

Not if I'm happy to back off to make you happy. "I just don't wanna leave you alone, especially if you're upset, and Tom's just worried about you, which is great, but- Honey, I've told you lotsa things. So what do you meeean, what I told you?" I'd never! Unless it's something else?

"About, um… 'all the way'…" She stared at him, so close she could barely still keep both his eyes in focus in her sight. "I think it just has me…" Scared. "Nervous?" And so conflicted…

"What, sex?"

"Yeah…"

"Oh," he pushed off and leaned completely away, but then turned back to face her again, "Sweetheart, I am not…" He sighed. "I'm not. N' I'm sorry, I didn't mean to scare you."

"Well it did." She pouted again and tucked in on herself.

"Do I scare you?" he blurted before he could think better of it.

She actually chuckled at first without thinking either. The very idea of her being scared of Eugene, in so many words, was just so far gone and ridiculous. "No. No, I guess not. I'm definitely not afraid of YOU, Eugene!" she laughed out loud.

He chuckled back, happy enough with that answer, glad to get her to laugh, though still worried. "Then, and please don't be afraid of like… I wasn't- I wasn't going there. I told you, 'nothing new,' and I mean it. And yeah, that's exactly what Tom was worried about, but, fuck no, NOT doin' that tonight, there's no way. All I been thinking about it is - just that: Not yet."

She remained smiling as he so emphatically denied any stray intention.

"But, I guess… Those warnings do include even me. I can't say I'll never make a mistake, but I'll always listen to you. Like, I was just trying to make you feel all sortsa good things just now. Like always! I want YOU to feel good! I never wanna make you upset! But - it's okay, just tell me, please - I wanna know - I guess, I overstepped? Too far?" How could I? Is it really SO easy to-? I never thought...

That one she really struggled with. "I don't know…" Overstepped? It wasn't like… too 'far.' Not really.

"Blondie," he whined, "If I accidentally, literally, stepped on your toe, maybe I'd notice or maybe you'd need to tell me, but I don't mean to obviously and I'd apologize and see that you're alright, and I'd be more careful. It's the same here."

"But- no, I..." she rejected his analogy. "I kinda liked all that, like, I would want that - but it just, right now, was all too…" She waved her hands about, unable to harness the feeling.

"Ah, too fast? Too much?"

"I guess? Just all at once- and all-" she waved a hand around, "I'm sorry, it just all got to me, and- I-... I panicked. I'm not used to anything about- this whole life, and sometimes it's just so overwhelming, even you. And it's been such a long day. My head feels so sluggish like I gotta fight through pudding to even… urgh! Even when it's good and I like it, sometimes it's too much. I got scared, thinking you were gonna… keep going, I guess. But I guess I wasn't thinking about how… You're right. You wouldn't. I know you wouldn't. We even talked about it before, but I just…" She sighed. "I just got scared for a second there."

He nodded, then leaned them together again, forehead to forehead. "I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, and I get it. Too much too fast too soon, even with talking before. Even just that, really, though? But it's fine. I gotchya." He sighed, content now that he had the full answer to his offense. "Sweetheart, do you want me to head back to my room tonight?"

"What…?" she gasped.

"It's okay. We are, very drunk and I'm gettin' sloppy. Tom's right outside your door, so you're not that alone. I'll see you tomorro-"

"No, no no please! Please don't go! No, please!" She continued whining, gripping his doublet, then got distracted staring at it. And I was planning to-!

"Alright, alright," he soothed as he took to rubbing her shoulders, even as his words still slurred. "Ya know, n' I was just sweet-talkin- I'm sorry," he stressed. "I'm not gonna do anythin' more'n kissin' you tonight."

"And touching?" she teased as she held his other wrist back on her torso.

"No more than you're combterfull- comferbatle-" he giggled as he lost the word. "Than you're okay with!"

"No sex?" she blurted outright, sounding frightened again despite her best efforts.

"Noooo, noooo, God no! No way," he giggled, but still with concern. "That's a definite noooo from me tonight, Love. And not for a while even!"

"Alright, I'm sorry, but it's still just felt like- like, overall, I dunno, like you want more."

"Blondie?" his voice rasped. "I do want more. So long as you do, too. I want all of you. Someday. Whenever. But not now. Definitely not now." His giggle returned, "I'm also just plain nowhere near with-it enough to deal with a virgin, no offense. And you- yeah we already hit your threshold. But you don't want me like this anyway, definitely not for a first time. I literally can't."

She blushed stark red at him so plainly talking about it, and tucked her face in. "You certainly felt like you could." Since that 'dance,' really!

He bit his lips together, holding back a huge grin, and held his face to the ceiling, till he lost control of his humming chuckle escaping. "Listennn…" He leaned back down, brushing his nose against hers, before leaning back to explain further. "Need more'n a hard on to do that. And I can't. I know I can't. I can't just slide into bed with you, slide into you, and both just go at it- Your first time's like a whole thing that I just can't deal with like this. I can barely see straight," he ended up giggling, and all the more at her blush. "And besides, trust me, you are sooo far from ready for that."

"Well then I guess I'm sorry, again, I- I thought you might at least want to see how far-"

"Pfsh, NO!? Not like all those losers today- Told you. I mean it. N' not something YOU to be sorry about." He grinned openly at her, drunken stupidity all over his face, but innocent awe in his eyes. "But God I love you," he casually drawled out. "You're amazing, and I do want you, just not yet, but someday, promise," he babbled out, not completely aware of it as a promise, but envisioning it nonetheless.

She giggled at the state of his delivery, though her mind would never stop worrying. 'Not yet?' But he did promise 'someday.' "'Someday?' You really promise?"

"What?" he asked. Oh, someday sex? "Oh, yes! Fuck, yeah, of course! I want that, too! N' I'll promise you anything you want."

She burst out laughing, arms back around his neck. "Eugene Fitzherbert," she teased his name out sensually, "I just don't know what to do with you…" Although, she knew enough to kiss him again. She pulled him down, honed in on his luscious lips, and slipped her tongue right in, to take that delicious familiar taste for herself, as she was welcomed in by his own now furtively shy tongue. Oh, I do want you, too- please don't ever think I don't! I need to go slow, but I want all of you! And 'someday,' I want you to hold nothing back! I'll get there eventually. Just don't let me lose you. You're… mine… Her teeth took a slow drag on his lower lip as he moaned for her.

"Fuck I loVe you…" His lip broke free on the "V" and he could not help but snicker at her. "But what to do with me? WELL ACTUALLY, theee most prudent thing to do, would be to send this drunk party animal back to his room, ya know, to actually sleep there for the first time." He smushed an exaggerated kiss on her giggly cheek. "Or you could give me a strong talking to, to keep my hands to myself." He squeezed at her sides, tickling her into a giggling writhing mess as he held on, eventually collecting her into a hug, his mouth latching onto her ear, to whisper over her gasping. "Orrr, you could continue trusting me, to just cuddle you all night, just like last night, just like every night this past week. 'Cept I'll prolly fall t'sleep faster!" He leaned away, to give her a single simple kiss on her stunned lips. "It's whatever you want, my Blondie."

"Hmm, and what do you want?"

He stood up straight and serious, focusing on her as hard as he could. His voice fell flat and unaffected. "I want us to stop playing coy and you tell me if you're really okay with me staying tonight."

Her brow furrowed with a sigh at his seriousness. "I really am okay with you staying!" Although, her pensive mouth and eyes still came across as uncertain. Why does he keep drawing all this out? I trust him- but after all he said earlier today, and now even after clearing this up, he makes it sound like I shouldn't…?

"You don't seem so sure anymore…" He kissed her forehead. "It's okay, it's not a problem-"

"Noooo," she whined underneath his voice, clutching his sleeves. "This isn't what we planned!"

"No, it's okay… And, I'm sorry, I got a little carried away before. I didn't mean to scare you. I guess I didn't really know-"

"NO," she pouted obstinately as he kept talking over her, "I don't want you to go!"

"-if you'd be okay with all that, or like that; but I guess I shoulda just asksed first. With words. And I didn't mean anything really by, what did I say, 'knowing how to treat a woman?'"

She latched her arms around his waist, pulling them close again as she happily nuzzled into his chest. "It's okay, I just-"

He giggled on her temple, "But I do know how to treat a woman, though! With respect, and care, and-an-an! Bein' nice 'n' gentle, an'… 's all I meant."

She giggled into his chest. "I just, this is all still so new to me, I mean I don't know what to do, and sometimes I don't know what you're doing. But I do want you to stay. Please. Please don't leave me. We said before, we were gonna stay together tonight!"

"Alright, then." He held her dearly to him, this time not as a pretense to tease her. "And I really am sorry, I'm so sorry, but just know I would never go farther than you want, Sweetheart. I never wanna upset you. I just wanna make you feel good. So if you don't feel good, just tell me. I love you, Darlin'."

"I know, I know…" She grinned and squeezed him tighter.

"You're safe with me. You've been safe with me. You just tell me what you want and when. If you want me to stop I'll stop. If I make a mistake, I go too fast, let me know. Just tell me. You can always tell me, please. This is me, Blondie. I'm yours. I'm here for you. At your command, at your beck n' call. I only ever wanna make you feel good, make you feel amazing. So you just help direct me how to do that." He leaned back and kissed her temple. "Alright?"

She nodded. "Please, stay, then? I don't want you to leave. I just- I thought I didn't know where you were going with, getting so into it back there, but, just, take it easy? But I still wanna be with you! Come on, pleeease? I've been looking forward to tonight all day! You're not gonna do anything bad I know, and I really am okay now. So there's no reason for you to leave, please. I just don't want you to leave…"

"Okay." He kissed her forehead, then took her cheeks in his hands, and kissed her lips soundly again. "Then I'll stay. I won't leave." He smirked. "Not that I'd ever leave you, not really anyway."

"Thank you." She latched onto his wrists, holding him there, her only tether between past, present, and future. "I need you here. And I need to know you're okay."

"I'm okay, I'm perfectly okay." He took her left hand and held it to his abdomen, right below his ribs. "I wanna stay, too. So I know I'm okay," he finally whined back, but then chuckled, "I did fall asleep in my room yesterday just for a nap and I uhhh…" He bit his lip and looked away, shrugging off a shudder.

The sympathetic worry that came over her understood perfectly. Oh, my heart…!

He laughed it off, "Well let's just say it wasn't a very long or good nap!" Still he winced, "I just don't wanna be alone either. But I just wish I could prove you can really always trust me…"

"I do trust you!" she insisted, and pulled them together into a hug, though it was more her collapsing happily into his arms.

He looked into her eyes, her big, drowsy, unfocused, and indeed innocently trusting eyes. Whatever other indecisiveness he thought she might still have about the idea of them sleeping together alone, again, she had finally once again draped her body so comfortably against him, hanging in his arms, completely relying on him to hold her up. "How did you feel about our first night here? Before you even knew what 'else' I was referring to?"

She smiled fondly. "Yesss, I did feel safe. I've always felt perfectly safe with you. I just, got scared before, over nothing I guess."

He smiled back, feeling that trust warm his soul. "It wasn't nothing then." He shook his head. "If it felt like too much for you, then it was too much." His hands on her upper arms rubbed them up and down, desperate to get her to believe herself one way or another.

She sighed into him, so cozy and secure. "I guess. That's why I need you, though. You are always so honest and trustworthy with me…"

His fingers brushed her hair over her ear. "You deserve the absolute best, after the life you've had."

Her cooing grin continued burrowing into his chest. "You're the best. And you'rejust so caring and wonderful!"

"And, well, Blondie, then let me be completely honest in that, I want more than 'more.' I want everything with you, like that, in every way, so bad, but only if or when you're ready, when you want, and how you want. However far away that is. Alright?" His sheepish smirk accompanied his confession.

Her grin stretched ear to ear across glowing cheeks. "I want you, too, to- uh, to do that with." She giggled in embarrassment. "Someday!"

He basked in what he had also wanted to hear confirmation of. "And I just… I promise, I wanna be the 'best' for you… So you can always trust me, in anything. I love you."

"I already trust you in everything."

His eyes twitched the slightest bit at her. Aaand? He waited.

But she quickly fell away from him, heading towards the bed, with his arm in tow as counterweight. "Come on!"

"HO-chi-mama!" He cheered right back up as he was jerked, falling into step stumbling behind her, giggling for all their private nighttime shenanigans still to come. It was easy enough to blame inexperience, honest oversights, and of course the alcohol, and just let it slide. Maybe I'm even mistaken and I missed it? Oh well, only been a week anyway, and she just said she DOES want me! Besides, I know I feel it from her. Things like that'll come in time...

He caught up and grabbed her waist back to him just as they reached the side of the bed. She yiped a laugh, playfully holding his arms around her now, which pulled her back and turned her around. "C'mere, you!" he teasingly growled.

As she turned in his arms this time, neither had any balance left. Both intoxicated equilibriums assumed they were two fine upstanding companions - but no. They were one falling mess of drunk lovers, hitting the bed without warning.

"Whoa!" "Ah!" They became just a pile of giggly limbs rolling around, laughing too hard to kiss, but loving too hard not to brush their faces around anyway.

"Sorry-" he started, still laughing, but trying to get ahold of himself and get off her.

"No-" she held onto him tightly, urgently, soothing him, "No, stay."

He paused, stunned, but then dove back in to kiss her.

Her vertigo now cared only about how perfectly he belonged laying atop her, even as he squirmed, never keeping still, nor creating a rhythm. All she felt were his soft lips playing with hers, while she explored his, the same buzz on both their tongues, the taste of each other familiar already but extra sweet tonight. His weight on her here was protective, all-encompassing, comforting, replacing the weight he had cut off from her back. His hands fingered through what he had left of her hair, not just the only hands allowed there but even welcomed. Her tired arms stretched up to rest above her head, and his soon traced over them to hold hands up there. He moaned at merely their fingertips interlocking; she giggled at him.

He dropped his smiling voice near her ear to avoid taking his lips off her skin. "You okay?"

"Yeah," she laughed. "You're fun."

He chuckled sarcastically, "Oh, thanks."

She laughed at that too, "What?"

"Well, fun, yes- you're fun, too, but I was kinda going for romantic?" He chuckled his explanation, too. "Mmm, must have to try harder. Should kiss you more." But he only returned his lips to her cheek, then suddenly stilled, breathing picking up and voice falling, nervous himself. "Blondie…"

"Yeah…?" she gasped, noting this change.

"Where else can I kiss you…"

Cheek to cheek there, she had never felt lighter, or more thrilled, heart pounding.

He waited, in the same state.

"I… Uh…"

"You can say no," he whispered, then left an even smaller kiss on her cheek, but squeezed her hands he held. "Whatever you want, Sweetheart."

With a deep breath and sigh, she answered, "I want more, but not that…" Her nerves switched gears, but more calmly prepared for where she was headed.

He leaned up to see her face, curiously intrigued. "Oh?" he smirked.

She giggled back, slipping her hands loose to instead plant on the shoulders of his shiny new black satin doublet, and then ran them down to his own thudding chest. "We need to change," she cooed directly to his awe-struck eyes.

"O-oh… Y-… You're still..." He looked down. She was still in her dress. Every other night Tom had let him in once she had already changed into her nightgown.

She grinned at him, mischievously. "Can you help me?"

"Yeah," he choked before even thinking. "What? Uh, what…"

"My corset," she reached for her shoulder to demonstrate, "Actually laces in the back."

"Oh- yeeea-hah…" He smiled stupidly, but then giggled at himself. "Yeah okay…" He tried to keep his voice steady then, especially once he realized how far he was gone for her. I'm probably not even gonna see anything tonight, but God she's got me goin' with just this! Just fuckin' loosening her corset. As if I ain't been doing everything else for years… Ah, Blondie… He giggled at himself, blushing, as he stood up, then pulled her up with him.

She immediately turned, and held onto one of the bedposts like usual now with her maids.

But he took one look at her there, waiting for him. He stepped right up against her back, wrapping his arms around her front, head dipped to the crook of her neck, but not kissing. "Thank you," he murmured.

She chuckled, enjoying the embrace, but confused. "For what?"

"For everything. For saving me, for vouching for me here, for trusting me, for… this…"

She tilted her head against his. "It's alright."

He leaned back with a deep breath, and ran his fingers over the crossed laces, only then realizing he could not see too well, between the dim light and spinning eyesight. "Where?"

"Bottom."

He found the knot there, but a minute later, laughed off his futile attempts. He grabbed her sides and twisted them to a better angle with the single side light, and knelt on one knee to get his face closer. "How the hell…"

She kept giggling at his dramatic frustration.

Eventually, he felled the knot and, with a deep breath, began deftly loosening the crisscrossed laces. "Blondie," he gasped, not sure of why, just that she was taking his breath away every moment since she had given it back to him in her lap.

She took a deep breath herself, then let it go in order to unhook the busk, but simply held it there. As her head spun, she could just barely recognize that she felt more careless than even the night before - and the realization alone was enough to startle her again. I should NOT feel so comfortable taking clothes off in front of him! - Oh, but-! I do trust him…

His ears pricked at the sound, and he saw the whole form hanging there, held up only by her hesitating hand. He stood up straight and close behind her again, head dipped. "It's okay," he whispered, then squeezed her shoulder reassuringly. "It's okay. I'm not looking, not gonna touch you." He even released her shoulder.

He… The difference between his care, versus the combined neglect and invasion all the rest of her life, quivered her lip. Her neck tingled from his whispers, though overall she calmed. Whether it was natural or substance-aided, she could not tell, but also no longer cared, so long as it revolved around him. Slowly, she let one side go, then gathered it to roll together in front of her. Again she paused.

"Here," Eugene held his hand out around her, "Where do you want me to put it?"

"Oh, uh," she handed it over, as a smile returned to her face. "Just leave it on my vanity, thank you." He's just the same, just as perfect as always…

He nodded and took it. "Where's your nightgown?"

"Oh, I've got it," she blushed, arms crossed over her thin shift, to hold herself in place, and cover anything else poking out. She awkwardly made her way over to her dressing screen. "It's just- hah, uh, it's um, right over here, still, from, this morning, ya know-"

He took a single step to follow, hands out and upturned. "Do you need help with anything else?"

"No!" she bolted out, "Uh, no, no, I'm good, I got it from here! Uh, thanks!" She hopped behind the screen, but peeked back to check him. "Just, ah, do you mind waiting there?"

"You got it, Blondie." He stepped even farther back, shoved his hands in his pockets, bit his lips together, while nodding and bowing his head. He sighed as he paced around, waiting for her, as he heard fabric rustling and tiny grunts here and there, each sound making him smirk and blush. His heart pumped his blood faster, and as overcome as he was with emotion, as useless as he knew it, it was still all headed to one spot.

When she reemerged, she was back in her usual new deep purple silk nightgown, and she finally approached him again. Infinitely more comfortable in familiar night clothes again, she traipsed right back up to his chest.

His hands automatically went to her waist, as she expected. "So, uhhh…" he looked down at himself, "What about me?"

She giggled, already setting to work unlatching his doublet. "What about you?"

"Oh, well," he played, "Thank you for returning the favor!"

She laughed harder at him, continuing down his chest, until she looked a little too long and hard at it. He's nervous, too? He was trembling underneath her touch, his dress shirt quivering where his doublet had concealed it, and short choking gasps were all he could breathe. "Are you okay?"

"Yeah," he choked, entranced, watching her work. "Trust me, I am in heaven here with you." Just, not used to being with someone I actually love...

When she undid the last latch, she looked back at all of it, hanging wide open on him now. Her hand went out to palm over his heart; his tightened on her fleshy hips.

"Well…?" he sighed again, knowing how hard his chest was thudding under her hand, and loving every second, loving that she could see exactly how much she affected every part of him.

She gulped, but added her other hand, relishing the warmth radiating from him. She slid them over his chest, across that fine new Merino dress shirt, to the open sides of his satin doublet. Then up, over his strong shoulders and molded trap muscles, she pushed it off.

As it caught on his arms, his hanging head and eyes drunk on both wine and love now, set that heady look on her.

She looked back into his eyes, startled yet thrilled yet again at the power of his unbridled affection for her.

"Take it off," he whispered, then held his head up just a tiny bit. "And Blondie?"

"Yeah?" she breathed, drifting in close, under the same spell.

"I'm yours. I am all yours. And I want you to touch me anywhere you want."

She giggled. "Aaanywhere?"

He bit his lip grinning, "Yeaaahhh… 'Nothing new' for you. But on me? I don't care. You can take whatever you want…"

"Hmmm," she hummed out in singsong, letting those loosened inhibitions take over before she could think too much and psych herself out with shyness. She slunk around to his back, to continue pushing the doublet down. She tossed it around him over to the bed, then trailed her fingertips around under the curve of his butt -

Which he clenched in surprise as he gasped sharply.

"Like that?" she tittered.

"YES," he demanded breathily, "Like that."

She giggled, then bravely palmed both cheekfuls. "Ya know, Iii also overheard some people today, saying how they wanted to do this to you." She squeezed around.

"Oh God…" he sighed, feeling his pants tighten at the front as well, his brain screaming at him for how he knew all this foreplay would inevitably end tonight. He groaned out, ecstatic with such wonderful torture nonetheless. Still, he tried to remain calm to at least keep his mind somewhat functioning, if not collected. "Wait, 'people?'"

"Well," she snickered with some confusion, "It was a couple of guys, actually."

His brow flew up as he bit his lip, where she could not see, thoroughly appreciating such compliments, but then soon enough realized and shocked himself- "Umm…" I know I said I would. But… I'm already explaining this stuff to her - how on Earth do I explain that, too, then?! "Well, I've been known to, uh, have many a variety of admirers…"

"Ohhh reeeally? Even guys?"

"Yeah…" Now not only was he getting hard, but his face was reddening and a nervous heat was getting trapped under his shirt, threatening to make him start sweating already, but for the wrong reasons.

"Wait…" Her brow quirked. If guys like him… has he liked them back? With no other social qualms or frame of context, she simply asked curiously, "Do you like other guys?"

Even though the constant prefix of her tower circumstances made her lack of tact make perfect sense- even though she was not thinking as clearly as normal- even though he was fully expecting it- it still threw him for a loop. Anxiety flipped his vertigo around all over again, making him borderline nauseous. He reached out and luckily found the bedpost to lean against himself. She doesn't understand - so she won't care, right? She trusts me. And it's not like I can lie to her. I want her to know everything about me. I do. And it's a nonissue, but… Still faint, he finally kicked out a tiny "Yes…"

"Oh," she accepted as easily as anything else. "Like-?"

"Yes," he snapped a bit, but only out of nerves. "I like both." His mouth dried up.

"Oh." She only giggled some more, noting she was somehow making him nervous, and how she was enjoying teasing him. While she simply played around, feeling him out here, she slid a finger down the centerline in his pants, following to dip right between his buttcheeks.

"Fuck… Sweetheart, please," he begged pathetically, "Especially you keep doin' that, l'm gonna want outta these pants."

She snickered mischievously behind him. One hand remained on his ass, but she leaned up to the back of his ear, her breath blowing air on the back of his neck.

"Ah-dahhh…" His neck twinged at first, but he leaned into it.

"I have a present for you."

"Ohhh?" he moaned out.

She stepped around to his side, dropped to her knees at the bedside -

He tripped, stepping away in shock and getting dizzy, both knocking him back til he caught himself on the bedpost. "Blo-! Oh…"

She was pulling a sizeable box out from under the bed.

"Oh thank God," he tried catching his breath. 'SURE! I'd LOVE a blowjob right now!' - Arrre youuu NUTS?! She's so drunk and such a newbie - Sorry, Sweetheart, everything else aside even, don't trust puttin' my dick in those teeth right now! But God don't make me hafta actually SAY 'No!' I can't say no to you!

"Mmmwhat?" she giggled, still looking up at him from the floor, the box resting on her lap.

Oh. "N-nothing- nothing…" He sat down on the edge of the bed, moving the doublet for her to sit beside him.

She plopped down while handing the decorative box over to him. "Hm," she cooed, "I made you something!"

"You-? You made me something?" He hesitated awkwardly, staring at it. Here they unexpectedly stood at the edge of his comfort zone, for the second time within a mere minute. "Blondie, I…" His face turned more red than at any other point that night.

"What's the matter?" she whined, confused.

"Oh! No, no, it's not you- it's just… I'm still not used to being given things, and especially you said you made this- whatever it is?"

She laughed again, "Well it's inside the box, silly."

He chuckled, "Yeah, I got that. But… well okay… Well, um, thank you…"

She bounced in her seat. "Well probably no one else will really be seeing them, though," she giggled, "Just us.

Newly intrigued, he finally lifted the lid.

Inside looked like dark fabric. He began pulling it out, impressed to see a button-down pajama shirt. "Oh, wow… And-?" He pulled the next out; matching drawstring pajama pants. "Oh wow- wow! Sweetie?! And you made this?!"

"Mm-hm!" She lit up with pride. "I kinda stole your old clothes to get your measurements," she giggled.

"Pretty da- I mean, I'm just, surprised you went with such a dark color, even for me, but-"

"It's actually 'midnight blue,' 'cause, ah," she giggled, "Well, if you ever need to be sneaking around in the middle of the night-" They both snickered. "-I figured this would help hide you the best."

"Ah, so it's practical, too," he laughed, his way of fawning over such forethought.

"Do you like it?" she still fretted, worriedly watching his every subtle reaction.

"Do I-?" he laughed ridiculously. "Oh Darlin'! Come here!" he leaned over for a hug.

She gladly dove into him, almost unexpected emotions bubbling back up to the surface. Those more volatile emotions seemed to be amplified by the alcohol as well. For now she just hung on tight.

"I love them," he confirmed as he squeezed her tighter.

She let out a breath she was holding, and with it fell out a tiny sob. "Good," she chirped, though it sounded waterlogged.

He sighed, readjusting his hold on her. "Blondie, they look amazing. The fabric feels so nice already. You went by my clothes so they should fit. And, my God, my LOVE," he pulled his face back to see hers, hand brushing her hair back as her lip trembled from it all, "You made this, for me?"

She nodded, then traced in the air with a finger to explain, even with a soggy voice. "Well, I went a half inch bigger all around, so they'd be looser, and hopefully more comfortable for sleeping in, so, I mean, yeah, it's still- I hope they fit. Except for the bottom of the pants, so they don't drag. And I could still alter anythi-"

He cupped her cheek. "Blondie," he interrupted gently, beaming at her, even as her face tightened up. "Thank you."

She chuckled with a smile bursting even as a tear escaped.

His thumb wiped it right away. "And I get it, okay? I get it." He pulled her back into his chest as she sighed. "And things are gonna be different now. I absolutely appreciate this- the thought and effort you put into this! Hell, even if somehow they don't fit, I still love them." He chuckled, "Ya know, you're the first person I've ever had give me a gift like this at all."

She sniffled as he made her laugh, clearing the threat of tears away for good.

"You're a lotta firsts for me, too, Blondie."

She nodded, shy but proud.

His own smile of admiration took him over. His hand on her cheek guided her in for a kiss. "You're amazing," he barely left to whisper. "You're so amazing... And the world's gonna see that… Gonna fall down in awe of you… Just like I do."

She turned her head out of the kiss to giggle. "Not quite like you get to." She trailed one finger down his cheek, while her other laid over his holding her cheek.

He giggled back, biting his lip at the special place she continued confirming that he held in her life now. "No…" he agreed, "I'm the luckiest guy in the world," he grinned. "But, ya know, I'm afraid the only other gift I have for you is, myself."

She hummed a chuckle, "You got me the bracelet before," but it turned into a snicker.

"Yeah, that was before. And it kinda was a spur-of-the-moment thing when I saw it. So? You gon' finish opening your present?"

"Finish?" she asked, balking at the full idea of completely undressing him.

"Or, whatever," he chuckled lightly, "As much as you want, I guess?"

"I'lllll, get your shirt," she blushed.

"That's fine. Here…" He set the box and pajamas aside, farther away on the bed, then scooted up so he was laying entirely across it. He reached for her hips, pulling to direct her.

"What?"

"Straddle me. Go on."

She knelt up, managed to throw a knee over his waist, then settled in sitting on him - too far south to make any other connection. "Are you okay?" she worried, tentatively resting her weight on his thighs..

"I'm great, heh." He leaned back on his elbows, watching her with an impressed smirk already, trusting she would make them both enjoy this.

She ran a hand down all the buttons of his dress shirt, then back up to the first button, that was still done that is. Even for a dressy occasion he would not button them all up, she smirked. Slowly, she slipped each one open, all the way down, till she reached where it was tucked in. "Uh…"

"Go ahead," he chuckled, too thrilled from her at last doing even this to him.

She bit her lip, but grabbed a fistful from each side and pulled it out. One more button remained, which she quickly separated. Then she got lost staring at the sliver of chest and stomach revealed running down the center, between those two sheets of white.

"Heh," he bit his lip at her gaze, "Well?"

Falling back into that artificially induced headiness, she slid one hand under the fabric as easily as she thought it, to his heated ribs, and he threw his head back. Her other hand traveled up to cup under his pect, while he moaned.

"Awgh, whatever you want, Blondie…"

She smirked at that, then slowly lowered herself to lay down atop him. He let his elbows buckle under them, allowing his hands to go play in her hair anyway. "Whatever I want?"

"Always," he grinned. "You know I'd give you anything, do anything for you… You name it."

She sighed with happy chuckles, snuggling up on his chest. "I'm afraid I don't even know what to ask for then… But this does feel… well, more relaxed, I guess? Than against the wall."

"Hey, I know you need me to lead sometimes, but you are always in charge. Got it?"

She blushed. "Mm-hmmm…"

"If you wanna be on top, then fine. But no matter how we are. You were in charge before there, too, we just, I dunno- a lil hiccup or somethin…"

She sighed, "I guess."

"You know I wasn't tryin' ta like, try anything, right? Was just- a mistake. I guess maybe I just didn't realize how it was coming across…"

"I just, wasn't thinking either, but I know - I do know - you're- you would never, like, force me to-"

"Never. I would never. I could never force you to do anything. I don't even think I could even like, make you eat your veggies even."

She giggled. "But I like veggies! But yeah, I know you're good." She grinned at him, though her look seemed quite silly.

He chuckled at her. "Well, and that won't happen again. I can be more careful. But, if you don't mind," his devilish smirk returned, "I'd love to try on those pajamas you made me, sooo…"

She picked up the sultry baton pass. "Oh, would you, now?" Her hands slid back under the sides of his shirt, without spreading it open any more than it was.

"Yes…" he gasped, the feel of her palms on his bare skin driving him crazier than they had been above. "Oh fuck," he rolled his hips up against her- but froze and retreated before he even finished the move. "Sorry! I'm sorry, but you- You just- God, Blondie!" He flopped his arms up above his head, trying to surrender to her as much as possible.

But she was already chuckling at his floundering. "Mmm? I just what?"

He sighed in relief that she had not minded. "You just makin' me feel so good already."

"And you want this hot, stuffy, shirt off?" she teased with a babyish voice, shimmying her shoulders back and forth, toying with his collar.

"Yes," he panted, "Please…" Ohhh, Lord, any other idiot I heard out there today, that she's some clueless shut-in, a burden - Awwwgh, Baby, no way! Smart, hot, funny, sexy, strong! And… He gulped. Powerful… And I'm the only one who knows. "Please, Princess…"

"Hmmm…" She looked about their positioning, then scooted back even farther onto his thighs to the edge of his knees..

"What're you-?" He tried to look.

But she pressed down on his chest as she sat up, then tugged on the edges of his shirt. "Sit up."

"'kay-" He did, but his breath hitched-

She used his movement to peel his shirt back, off his shoulders, and down his arms, all in one motion. A surprised smile came over her, proud that it worked.

He was caught in her eyes, unable to move until her next command. And from her eyes, she demanded a kiss. His lips hungrily dove for hers, meeting just as expected.

She pulled on his neck, brushed a rough hand through his hair, and kissed him as fervently as she could. Suddenly she understood perfectly what he had wanted before when they were fumbling against the wall - because right now she felt like she wanted the same thing- I want ALL of you! Oh, could I ever possibly get you close enough?! She moaned into him, unable to get enough, unable to quite scratch that itch.

He moaned back, both for all that she was doing, and for how through it all, he did not have use of his hands. She had left his shirt sleeves restraining his wrists at his sides. Finally, desperate enough, he twisted out of the kiss, transferring his lips to her jaw. "God Blondie, let me touch you… Pleeease…"

She chuckled. "And why can't you?"

He leaned back and smirked, trying to show her his wrists. "You got me trapped here in some very fancy French cuffs, and I do believe your father just recently pardoned me so if you'd be so kind as to release me?"

She giggled throughout his teasing analogy, such that he started giggling, too. "Here, gimme." She undid the cufflinks on just one-

And that hand immediately whipped out of the sleeve and dug into her hair to pull her into another kiss. This one he kept shorter, to ask, "Can I get on top?"

Entirely over her little scare from earlier, she found herself craving everything about him, like how all his grabbing and devouring her made her feel so wanted. "Yeah-"

He immediately flipped her onto her back, in another kiss, him remaining between her legs, his other sleeve still stuck on his wrist, trailing the rest of his shirt, only half on his lower back still, and falling. His entirely free hand glided from her hair to down her arm. "Can I…" he gasped, the exact words not coming to him, but he could envision what he wanted. "Can I do this?" he settled on, as his hand slowly moved from her arm, to her waist, and lightly trailed farther down the side of her hip to her ass.

She gasped, but gripped him tighter.

He pulled his hand away to just hover over her. "Blondie?"

"Y-yeh…" she stuttered out, curious to feel what he wanted, but not knowing how it would affect her; and not even thinking about the latter.

"What about," he pinned her nightgown against her thigh, and let it drag up with his hand. "Just a little. Just to get your leg."

"Okay." She easily fell into trusting him wholeheartedly again, as he informed his every move. Soon he was palming up her bare thigh, giving her tingly goosebumps on the back of it. "Oooh, Eugeeene," she moaned out to his face so close, both panting with mouths hanging open. As soon as she noticed his lips free, though, she grabbed his cheeks to pull him down and recapture them.

He moaned into her mouth, pressed up against all his self-inflicted frustration, desperate to move his hips. Because he was certain now that nothing else in the world existed but them, here, together, and he needed her to know this desire, the same as him. Then he would not be staring down this edge alone. Where he held her thigh, he pulled it harder against himself, his muddled mind only knowing he had only this restricted area to play with, and groaning out as he tried to at least tame this raging new feeling suddenly accompanying his more familiar lust.

He knew he was practically physically incapable of ever doing anything more than she allowed - he would steal a sword to fall on before he ever maliciously overstepped - but he could still whine and cry and beg and plead, if only for her to know just how much he felt he needed her.

"Blondie!" he moaned, straining, his face showing all his effort.

She had been getting so comfortable, but his exclamation startled her that something was wrong. "Are you okay?" she gasped, thumbing over his cheeks.

"I need to…" he gasped, but shook his head, knowing damn well it only felt like a need right now. "Can I move?" he whined out.

"Oh! Uh, of course?" She released him

"No," he cried to her, grabbing her hip, and pressing his down just a bit. "Here. Like before. But, please?"

Her breath was still stuck from just this sample. "Eugene," she held his chin, but caressed his temple for him to open his eyes; he did, and they connected. "I trust you. With anything and everything. I know you're right: I have nothing to be scared of with you. So, whatever you wanna do, please. You're good. Just go easy on me and tell me what you're doing. Because, however far away 'someday' is, I want to see everything with you, too."

He thought he would choke on all the emotions stuck in his throat, so he just kissed her. He kissed her like he needed her to breathe, and his drunk head was sure it was drowning in this overflowing heart. His one hand slid down around her clothed waist for her ass; his other held her shoulder to hold her in place; both pulling on her. His own center, already uselessly hardened, creating this problem in the first place, surged up on her.

They both gasped in surprise at even this tiniest of merciful purchases.

The welcome pressure on her own spot of pleasure, tightly coiled, now sparked into action. She lost her breath; he really was going to give her everything in the world, to make her feel so amazing and alive, yet safe. He was going to help her explore this freedom to its fullest extent, he himself being her safety net. She stared at his ragged expression, flushed from all the wine, hair mussed wherever her fingers had left it, shirt half off, and ever holding her with so much love.

He was hooked. Desperate, disheveled, and drunk, he continued, all while locked in her eyes. With every movement, his every breath made this new something yell out through the depths of his soul, and confusingly as if all that was connected to every vein in his body, coursing from his limbs and loins into his chest to pool and gather before it burst out. "What the…" he wondered aloud, but all he could hear inside himself was: I LOVE HER… "Oh, God…" he exclaimed, choking on those words in the moment. "I…"

"Mmmwhat?" She chuckled, hands playing in his hair, while her arms braced on his bare shoulders. Her own shuddering breath heaved and quivered beneath him. For her, it was not only the effect of direct contact, nor only the emotions, but every new feeling and sensation all over combined, coated in the sweet haze of actual intoxication. Not to mention, watching the effect on him up close and personal was the cherry on top. They had snuggled and kissed and cuddled, but tonight was indeed rather new.

"Ohhh," he moaned at that Eros alone taking him over, a goner for that laugh, for how she held him, the rest of the world spinning away, leaving just them in each other's arms. "I love you," he gasped, dizzy, despite already being horizontal. "I love you. I love you…"

Oh my-! Her eyes sparkled at him, her bright pink lips smiling in bliss. She pulled him into a kiss.

Again, he devoured her - til her tongue slipped in, suddenly too close to that edge for himself. "Oh fuck-" He suddenly rolled over, off of her, onto his back, arms over his face. "Oh fuck oh fuck… I… I don't know what…"

"Eugene?" she called over, following somewhat, suddenly confused, but still kept a friendly chuckle in her voice. "What's the matter?"

He laughed out loud. "Everything's fine," he laughed more. "It's all fine - more than fine! I just… Whew…!" With a deep breath, he lowered his arms and turned his head toward her. "Blondie, I've never done this before."

"What?" she blurted, incredulous. "But you told me, like, that you've had lots of-"

"Blondie." He grinned wide. "I've never done any of this with someone I love. I've never felt anything like this before..."

She smirked, propped up on one elbow to face him. "This really is a lot of firsts for you, too, huh?"

"Yeah… Yeah, so much of this is. I mean, besides the pardon, and the castle, and all this respectably earned hob-knobbing with royalty," he chuckled, then fell solemn. "I've never met anyone like you before." He smirked, "And that's not just a cheesy line, I really mean it. I love everything about you. Everything that's different."

She continued giggling, "And you said 'Nothing new!' Hah!"

He chuckled back. "Yeah well - WE agreed on that, but…" He leaned up on one elbow beside her. Smirking, he reached over and ran the back of a finger down her cheek. "You won't regret me in the morning, will you?"

Still high on both infatuation, excitement, and simply everything being funny this drunk at this hour, she was still giggling. "'Regret YOU?' Hm, never!"

"I mean this…"

She looked down between them. "...'this' what?" He's not thinking to… go 'all' the way yet, is he? I didn't say that, did I? I didn't signal him for that, did I?! We already said-

"Just, rollin' around like this, undressin' each other even a lil…"

"Oh!" She laughed. "Nooo, nooooo…"

He looked down at the one sleeve still on his arm and laughed as well. "God I'm so drunk! And I'm-!" He flopped down onto his back ran a hand down his face, giggling. "I'm in the fucking castle, with THEE Lost Princess, who just happened turns out to be the love of my life!"

She giggled along with him. "I can't believe how close I've gotten with you, too, ya know- the thief who broke into my tower."

"Ya know I didn't expect anyone to actually live there; I wasn't lookin' to fight or threaten anyone. Thought I could just be left alone there for a bit."

"Yeaaah," she laughed self-deprecatingly. "It's certainly someplace to be left alone. Forever!"

He chuckled, but sought to bring back the more celebratory side of their story. He rolled to his side again, gazing over at her, head resting on his bent up arm. "Not alone anymore."

"Well, we're alone here," she teased as she wiggled her hips.

"Yeah," he laughed. "Ya know, I never thought I could be this happy." He reached out to cup her cheek.

She reached out to him likewise. "Me neither. You really are my New Dream, and you're amazing…" Her hand absently ran down his bare chest, then flowed around to his side.

He grinned broadly at that. "And you are mine." He sighed out, relaxing. "No past tense." But, as relaxed as he was with her, with her draped across him, he found it was not quite softening anything. Thinned blood kept him running hot, even around his bare collar, and most problematically- most anticlimactically, between his legs. Nothing five minutes in her bathroom could not solve, though. "I really should try those pajamas on though…"

She giggled. "I almost forgot! Here, gimme your other cufflink."

He sat up and handed his wrist over.

Once his shirt was completely off, though, and with all of the drinks, sleep, hormones, and curiosity pushing her, Rapunzel ended up simply running her hands up and down his arm, shoulder, and that side of his back. But especially his forearm.

Eugene watched her, smiling to himself, entranced, aroused, and amused all at once. "Ya like that?"

Her laugh hummed out of her, "Yeah…" And he… HE… Suddenly she dove against him, landing awkwardly half in his lap and half across his chest, but he caught her there with both arms.

"Bmph!"

"You came to save me… You did save me… And I just know… I'm safe here."

He pulled her upright, and hugged her dearly. "Awgh, Sweetie… Yes, yes you are. I was ready to do whatever the fuck I had to, to get you outta there. And I did. So yes, you are safe with me." He brushed her hair away to kiss her cheek. "And I promise you, I really promise- I'm gonna keep protecting you. I'm not gonna let anyone else hurt you. Never again. Not if I can help it. I'll do whatever I can… You're safe and free here. With me."

"Thank you…" she whimpered into him.

He patted her back for her to sit back up. "Here, come on. Lemme go try on my present!"

But she caught one glance of his face, and the next moment, she was grabbing at his neck to bring them together for another kiss.

Surprised though he was, he happily kissed her right back as well, but with a little less sloppy fervor than she was being taken over by. In pushing her off of him, while still connected at the mouth, he ended up again pressing her into the bed on her back.

She giggled out of it, her hands still holding him. "What if I don't want you to go?"

"I'll be right back," he giggled too. "I'm just going to the bathroom, 'cause I really wanna check these out." I mean I do, but also… He groaned in amused frustration.

She groaned, too, fists up to her forehead in frustrated regret, but with a huge grin. "Ohhh, but I made those before realizing how wonderful you are without clothes!"

He guffawed and snorted at her, shaking off her ridiculousness, and finally pulled away to find the pajamas elsewhere on the bed. "But nobody's ever made me something like this before!"

"But then you're gonna have a shirt onnn… And…" A likewise pouty hand reached out in the air toward him futilely. "Hmph."

He checked the buttons on the shirt. "Well, if you're regretting not making me something sluttier, the least I could do is leave it open." He smouldered over at her.

She snickered and rolled over, closer to him. "I gueeess that'll do…" Still laying down beside him sitting up, she tried to throw her arms around his waist- but her hand across his front lap fumbled around a little too much.

"WHOA-" he jumped up at the first hint of contact. "Nononono! I'm goin'- Okay-yyy, I'm goin' to- goin' to change. In the- in the bathroom."

"Whaaat?" she whined, confused. "Eugene, what-"

He sucked in a torturous breath as he turned back for just a moment. "Blondie," he said with a ridiculous seriousness, shaking the pajamas, gripped in his fists, in front of him to gesture. "I need a minute. Just. Just gimme a minute. Okay?"

"Okay…" she moped at him, still confused.

He chuckled at her. "Sweetheart, I love you. I can deal with all the tension for, a very long time, but- ya gotta let me go take care of myself then. Otherwise I'm gonna be verrry uncomfortable and not be able to get to sleep. So please…"

Her eyes widened. "OH. Oh you mean…?"

"Yeees," he groaned, already unhooking his belt, walking backwards toward the bathroom. "I've been doing it before I come over to see you, but tonight- I'm sorry," he chuckled, "I dunno, welcome to dating, I guess!"

---

When he re-emerged shortly later, sated, washed up, and changed into his new pajamas, she was dozing in bed. He sighed out with a peaceful smile, for how perfect she looked. Conked out, she had not settled in too gracefully, but half curled up strangely, with her face half hanging off a pillow. Her hair was a wild mess, the covers haphazardly pulled around her feet. She had just had the second most - or new top most - crazy long day of partying in her life. She had just celebrated being recognized as one of the few most powerful people in the whole kingdom, among the top 1% in the world. Most of all, she was a just-freed teenager and new adult.

His brow pinched and he blushed. Quietly, he headed to 'his' side of the bed, and slid in beside her. How the hell am I lucky enough to be here…?!

She stirred at his disturbance, and quickly tried to wake herself up as she turned over toward him.

"No, no, no," he whispered sweetly, "Go back to sleep. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to wake you."

"No," she grumbled, "I want you." She aggressively snuggled into him.

He chuckled, "Oh, you 'want' me?"

"Mm-hm," she pouted.

He shoved her around with him to get situated where she could snuggle onto his chest, with his arm around her. "There ya go."

"Mmm, these are really soft," she cooed, running her hand around his chest, slow to realize there was fabric there at all. "Wait…"

He chuckled again. "Oh yeah, well I wanted to see how they fit. And they fit great!" He kissed her forehead and hugged her. "Buuut, I did promise you…" His free hand began flicking his buttons open-

Til she grabbed that hand, sensually and firmly feeling out his palm, the back, all around his fingers.

"Thought you wanted me to leave it open…" His voice came out raspy.

"Uh-huh…" She woke herself back up as best she could, and rolled over to straddle him again.

"Blondie," he gasped, "We should get some sleep."

Her fingers worked down the buttons on his chest again, til he was bared again. She dropped her face to kiss at his exposed flesh.

He gasped and wheezed, throwing his head back into his pillow. "Oh, fuck, you fucking lil…" He raised his arms above his head and arched up to her. "God, everyone is so wrong about you!"

She snickered, her breath tickling him. "Wrong about what?"

"That you don't know anything, but Sweetheart, you're already the most amazing person I've ever been with!"

She giggled, "Well I don't know what I'm doing, so!"

His hands came to run up and down her sides. "Oh, you know enough and you're figuring it out just fine." His thumbs stopped just under her breasts, and he groaned. "But urrrgh, you fucking virgin," he chuckled.

"Wha-a-at?" She giggled cutely, picking her head up.

Grinning wide, he shook his head as he laughed, "I got a drunk virgin sitting on my lap, who can't keep her mouth off my chest…"

"And what's wrong with that?" she cooed cheekily, as she wiggled over him.

He giggled and blushed at her. "Not a goddamned thing." More solemnly, he shook his head. "There's not a single thing wrong about you." He stared at her, openly and hungrily for another moment. "God I want you. You're mine and I want you."

She snickered up from his chest to his neck to his mouth. A searing hot kiss pushed him deper into his pillow as he moaned. Her lips barely left to speak, "And you're mine."

"Awgh," his arms strapped her in there, "Fuck yes I am."

She groaned and squirmed atop him, still so pent up herself.

"You okay?"

"I just…" She rolled her hips up on him.

He chuckled. "Oh, Sweetie, you… I don't think I should…"

"I knowww…" she whined.

He slid his hands around her waist, where his thumbs then reached down along the crease all the way to her thighs. She gasped and moaned, and rolled up against him again. "Blondie, I'm not…" He slid around to her buttcheeks, to pull them up and apart, to more gasps from her, but also, he heard how wet she was. "Oh, wow."

Having him manipulate such a sensation in her did send even more tingles through all her nerves, but also froze them, anxious. "What're you-"

He flopped his arms back, hands wide open beside his shaking, chuckling head. "Nothing! Well, was just checking, that."

"My butt?" she giggled.

"You freaked out just from me leaning against you kissing your neck. And just now. I am not doin' this, not tonight. If you want, you do it."

She dropped back to his side, merely snuggling up. "Okayyy…"

He gathered her back into his arms. "Besides, you're exhausted. Just go to sleep."

She settled her chin atop his shoulder, arm draped across his chest, where her hand then slipped below the other side of his shirt. She sighed though, trying to get the horny half of her nerves to join the sleepy ones.

He sighed back, as he squeezed her a bit, his hands rubbing her arm and back so lovingly. Even knowing how pent up she is, I can't even imagine…! "Blondie…?" he whimpered.

"Hm?"

"About before…" His voice warbled and cracked. "I know I said those warnings include me, but, I don't want them to- Like, you know you can just tell me- if I did something wrong, or you wanna stop or change something. Anything, in any part of life. I'll listen. I promise. I'll always listen to you. You really can trust me..."

She noted how comfortable she was, lying there with him, despite how riled up she felt, just like any other night. The only difference was how her head swam from the excess drinking. Everything else was the same cozy cuddling she had been getting used to all week. She cooed out sweetly, "I know, Eugene… Iii-" she yawned, "I know you said not to apologize, but… I am sorry. I… I really don't think you'd ever be like that. So I'm sorry-"

"But Sweetie, it's okay-"

"No. No, it's not okay. I don't wanna just be assuming the worst of you like anyone else either. I know you better than anyone."

He bit his lips together, silently accepting the apology, along with his own guilt, knowing full well it was his own fault anyone thought him such a lowlife to begin with. "Okay…" he whispered. "I mean I've never even had someone worried that I was gonna- Well…" He sighed again. "I know I'm just being whiny, but, you're the first one where all this stuff didn't lead to sex immediately, so I guess no one ever thought I could be taking advantage like this, 'n no one else was worried about 'going too far,' but… I dunno. I know I'm a guy, but I just wish you didn't have to ever worry about those kinds of things. And I especially don't want you to worry about them from me."

She squeezed him back. "Well, I'm not worried about you like that anymore. Iii just, I wasn't thinking before. But I do trust you."

"'Anymore?'" he questioned.

She yawned, "When I untied you."

"Yeah, I wasn't lookin' for that. Not yet again, anyway." He smirked down at her, only to see she was about to truly conk out again any second. "Actually, Blondie, could you do us all a favor and go let Tom know everything's alright and we're going to sleep?"

"Hrmmmmm," she grumbled, "Can't you do it..."

He chuckled. "No, it's gotta be you." He began shoving her off. "Come on. Go. I'm sure he'll appreciate a status report."

"Ugh!" She finally gave up trying to flop her way back into his arms, as he rebuked her, and instead rolled back out of bed, immediately dropping a knee to the floor.

"Careful!" he laughed over.

Continually groaning, she got back to her feet, all woozy, but managed to stumble over to the door, and opened it. The brighter hallway stung her eyes closed.

"Ah!" Tom startled, "Rapunzel!"

She cracked one eye open, expecting to see him about to grab her, but instead, she spied him scrambling to shove a novel back into his jacket pocket as he stood up from the floor. She instantly began giggling at him.

He quirked at her, leaning close, "Is everything alright Dear?" He reached his hands out to possibly catch her, should she lose her grip where she was hanging on the door frame and knob, or simply pass out.

"No, no," she laughed off hysterically waving it away, "Everything's fine!"

He simply stared as she tried to get control of her laughter.

"Good night!"

"Um," he worried, "Good night." Still, he peeked over her head through the doorway.

Eugene smirked at him from where he sat up in bed, and from his crossed arms, drew his hand out to wave with a chuckle. "G'niiight!"

Tom rolled his eyes with a chuckle, and looked back to Rapunzel, dozing against the doorframe. "Oh no- no you don't," he laughed, grabbing her shoulders.

She grumbled, eyes closed again, propped up only by the door.

Tom tilted her toward him, and as she collapsed into one arm, his other swooped behind her knees.

"Oh shi-" Eugene lept out of bed, stumbling himself towards them. "She okay?"

"Mmmfiiine," she still tried to insist, even as limp as she was.

Eugene held his arms out, expecting a transfer. "Ya got her?"

"Yeah, yeah, I got'er. Go on." Tom urged gently, as he jerked his head towards the bed. "You've had just as much as she's had."

"Uh, you sure-?" Eugene still worried, about everything in general all over again.

"Just get the quilt."

"'kay." As Eugene passed them though, how she was turned, he noticed that her short nightgown, scrunched at her waist somewhat and hanging down below, revealed all from her backside, though shrouded in the darkness. As he pulled her side of the covers down out of the way, it registered with a delay, but he blinked even that silhouette out of mind anyway.

Tom laid her down, and her arm immediately searched the other side of the bed.

"Blondie," Eugene chuckled, "I'm over here."

She groaned and twisted around again, then latched onto his pant leg.

"Sweetheart," he chuckled.

Tom snorted and shook his head. "Well I was in the middle of reading."

"Oh, sorry- I just didn't want you to worry. But thank you!" Eugene held his hand out to shake.

Tom began to reach for it, but stopped short, on the verge of disgusted.

Eugene guffawed at him. "I washed my hands!"

Tom chuckled and shook it finally.

Before he let go, Eugene pulled him closer to slap backs. "Really. Thank you for everything."

Tom nodded. "Don't mention it."

"Well no, that's kind of the point."

He chuckled, and headed back to the door.

Eugene set to pulling the bottom of her nightgown down as far as it went, then pulling the covers up over her. He gently pried her hand off, and directed her to roll back the other way.

Then he himself made his way back to his side and snuggled in. As he settled in, staring at her, he noticed a line light out of the corner of his eye, and turned to investigate.

Tom had not closed the door all the way yet, and, though he stood outside, was watching him through the opening. But his expression was soft, sympathetic. He smiled as he was noticed, and gave a small two-finger salute.

Eugene smirked and sent his own back.

With a nod, he closed the door.

Eugene turned back to his sleeping Rapunzel. He brushed her hair out of the way, then dove his lips onto hers.

She stirred, just barely an automatic response.

He pulled back, smiling, but tinted with worry. "I love you, Blondie. And I'll always protect you. I'm here for you... No matter what. Promise." He cuddled them close, and finally relaxed for sleep. He watched her smiling so peacefully in her own slumber, til he could no longer keep his eyes open either.

---

A/N: So apparently, that lil hiccup or somethin', was inspired by Chapter 26 of Killing Me Slowly, where I got an idea lodged in my head of, "What if Eugene?" Well, immediate divergence, that's what, of course! But still. For all the preemptive reassurances we always see, and all the ones I've even written, we never even get a real scare from him. And apparently this is just the story where I do all sorts of groundbreaking stuff lol

Please comment/review!

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