A/N: Sexual assault tw…

Anyway, who's ready to break up?! =D

Suitors of Rapunzel

Ch13 □ Day 0 ⌧

playlist on YouTube as SoR - Ch13: Day 0

"Fitz."

Eugene's arm was yanked hard, finally, successfully jerking him awake.

"Come onnn!" Tom pleaded, pulling him to slide across the mattress.

Eugene groaned. "Hurm? Wha…?" He opened his eyes and looked around, eventually finding his assailant.

"We have to go get ready. Guard's switching out. You need to leave."

"What?" he asked again, groggily rubbing his face and clumsily sitting up.

"I tried to give you two as much time as possible, but come on, we've got to go."

Every horrible piece fell back into place for Eugene to remember what was going on. What today was. Where he had to be. What he had to do. Who was coming… His attention darted down to Rapunzel beside him.

She was still sleeping peacefully, and heavily.

"Are you dressed? You got trousers on?"

"Yeah, yeah, got pajamas on." Eugene tossed the covers off himself. He hopped out of bed and over behind her dressing screen to change clothes as fast as he could. His pajamas got stuffed into a large decorative vase.

He dashed back to the bed and shook Rapunzel. "Blondie? Blondie, wake up."

She did not even stir.

"Blondie." He tried shaking her again.

She made the tiniest groan, but still would not wake up.

"Whot's with her?" Tom asked. "I was shocked to find the early bird wasn't up first."

Eugene was growing panicked about the time, too. "She had too much to drink last night."

"Well, come on, we gott'er get going."

"Blondie!" he hissed. He knelt up over her, and tried her shoulders again, tapping her cheeks, and moving her arms around.

Nothing but an annoyed murmur at the disturbance.

Her clock chimed.

"That's it- Leave her! The maids'll get her up. But you and I have to GO. NOW."

Still holding her hand, Eugene climbed off her. "Sweetheart pleeease-" Tom grabbed his other arm, but he jerked him off. "I wanna say good-bye!"

Tom rolled his eyes. "Yor not leaving forever. You'll see her later."

"But-" He scrambled for an excuse. "She's scared-"

"She's dead asleep is whot she is, now co-"

They heard another guard arrive at the door.

Their attention darted over to it, then back to each other.

A desperate plea crossed Eugene's face, to the universe itself. Just lemme see her off!

Tom sighed at him. "Roof time."

Eugene looked back down to her hand he held. He followed it to the rest of her: still passed out but now sprawled across the bed. He whimpered as he kissed her hand, "Love you, Blondie."

He held on as he backed up, til it fell from his grasp. His eyes remained on her.

Tom ushered him through the balcony doors. "I'll meet you there."

Eugene bit his lip but nodded. Outside, he leapt up to grab the ledge above and beside the door, and took off, right before the door opened.

"Oh, hullo," he heard Tom distantly, "Good morning. Yes, I was just checking on her."

Rapunzel let herself be dressed, in a daze. A maid had her standing before she even registered she was awake.

Physically, she felt almost as exhausted as the mornings after each night of the Homecoming Celebration. Everything was too bright, and everything else made her head hurt.

Emotionally…

I slept too long, and missed Eugene leaving! I hope he did at least try to wake me up.

I just want this to be over. Or canceled. That'd be nice… She sighed.

As she was laced up and fussed over, she tried to occupy her thoughts, not thinking of what was coming, but rather tracing her steps back. I have a 'hangover' 'cause last night… I had that wine with Eugene… A LOT of wine. My favorite. That he brought up. Then we snuggled up and- Oh.

She blinked her eyes open wider.

OH. MY GOSH.

Her face reddened, and her body suddenly sparked faint echoes from the points he explored last night.

A judgmental squeak harkened nearby.

She grinned hard, eyeing Pascal over on her night table.

One of the maids piped up with friendly small talk, "Oh, my, what's he so upset about this morning?"

Rapunzel giggled. "I had trouble sleeping last night, and I miiight've woken him up in the middle of the night."

Pascal just smirked knowingly and shook his head.

She wore her own unabashed smirk.

Throughout breakfast, Rapunzel's stomach turned, worse than that celebration week. Back then, Eugene had been beside her, urging her to eat, and guiding what to eat. Slipped her spiked drinks or flask sips to alleviate the effects. Made her laugh to forget her headache altogether.

This morning was just a pallor of clinking sounds. And she could not tell how much of the appetite lack was from the hangover versus unchecked anxiety.

Standing with her parents, the headache and upset stomach persisted. Distracted, she hardly noticed as they were all introduced to each other.

When he kissed her hand, she finally realized this was the Prince.

She had gotten used to meeting people at the Homecoming Celebration as well. It was easy enough to be polite and smile; much harder to look at his face and admit he was real – and most certainly not the face she wanted to see.

Eventually, her parents left them to get acquainted.

Rapunzel was supposed to have four guards acting as subtle, hidden, chaperones as she spent the late morning with this first suitor. However, she had only noticed three.

She exchanged a knowing look with one of them; Tom.

Both were certain of the obvious reason the fourth might want to be absent for this particular assignment. Not despite it being her, but precisely because it was her.

She nodded at their friend's attempted comforting smile.

I can't blame him. If I were him, I wouldn't wanna be here, either. Heck, I'm ME, and I don't wanna be here! I know he promised he'd be here, 'watching over me' with everyone, but, oh, Eugene, of course I forgive you for this one!

As they strolled around the gardens, Rapunzel could only make bland mindless small talk, like discussing the weather or flowers. Her mind was entirely elsewhere…

For, everywhere she looked, she saw a memory, even after this one short month. How they helped each other first learn their way around. Hiding away together, and chasing each other around. Heated passionate rendezvous in the cool shade. A somber melancholy stroll, looking right through everything, but clinging to each other, just yesterday.

She sighed.

Buuut, I know I need to get him to like me. And- HEY! Ya know, I'm sure it'd be fun to make a new friend! He probably really does want me to like him, too!

She picked her head up with newfound motivation and rediscovered sunny disposition.

They entered the music room, but the Prince abruptly closed the door, leaving the guards stuck trying to look inconspicuous in the hall.

The harsh sunlight reflected off every shiny and sparkly surface, bouncing back and around; the grand piano in the center of the room, the polished bright oak wood tables, decorative mirrors, the chandeliers. It shrouded the room in hazy golden rays.

For the first time in a while, Rapunzel was nervous. Good butterflies, right? After all, he had been so sweet so far. He certainly seemed better than the one who had refused to let her go after that dance during her Homecoming Celebration.

Another sadness flashed. The best butterflies, had of course been with Eugene. Now she tried to ignore them entirely, even if this type of anxiety did feel more like when she had first discovered a strange man climbing her tower, rather than the dashing rogue's flirting once she had him tied up.

It was at his suggestion that she take this suitor here to the music room. With a frog in his throat and the glimmer in his eye darting elsewhere, he had said it would be 'romantic.'

High in the three-story rafters, neither of the royals noticed a dark figure in the hazy shadows, where the late morning light streaming straight down in from the soaring windows, did not reach so well. The figure smoothly slid closer into the corner upside-down-T of two beams, mostly blocked by the drape of a great purple banner decrying the gold kingdom seal.

As they meandered around the room, Rapunzel at last noticed the Prince staring at her.

"Is everything alright, Princess?"

"Oh," she glanced down, hiding behind a flushed grin. "I'm fine, I just..." She thought a moment, then, consciously, slowly lowered her eyelids and bit her lip. "It's just that, we're all alone..." She took one shaky step closer to him.

He responded fully to her clear advance, particularly to how feebly it was executed.

"I've never really..."

"Never really... what?" he asked with entrancing eyes and a coy smile.

She kept staring, but thought a moment more. Wait, I have actually... But Eugene likes it when I tell him things I haven't done yet! "I've never really been alone with a prince before."

"Oh?" The Prince's brow popped. "Is that so…" He took another step closer as well, completely sure of himself.

Above them, the figure drooped dramatically and silently facepalmed, dragging its eyelids down as it shook its head.

She looked up to him through hooded eyes, and carefully played out a shy smile. "Yes," she chuckled.

The next thing she knew, there was a completely foreign set of lips on hers.

Rapunzel was caught off guard with the kiss, but tried to ease into it, as nervous as she was. Well, I guess he does like me?!

The mysterious watcher's head raised, neck stiffened, and jaw jutted out. Leaning over more, but keeping the post.

She hardly noticed that the Prince's hands were on the move, gripping her waist. A-alright, this is... this is good. After feeling up the bodice of her dress a bit, one hand dipped lower towards the top of her thigh, headed around to her butt. His kiss kept a hard lock over her mouth.

Rapunzel gasped -through her nose, but merely tried to hang onto his shoulders. This is... She closed her eyes tightly and just tried to go with it.

Oh my gosh no, no, no, he's just awful...! He was moving too fast, too sloppily, and not even in the same way Eugene had gotten too fast and sloppy when drunk. No, this man did have a goal in mind, deliberate movements, and somehow felt like he was completely ignoring her, even while she was his sole focus. It was not that she merely could not keep up, but she was getting nothing out of it herself.

Once more trying to get into the feeling of it, the feeling she expected it should be, she fumbled to hold his neck. Her fingers flinched at touching him. This is all wrong... Her heart pounded in her ears, but this did not feel like it ever had before.

The Prince brought a hand up to her neck, his fingers tangling into her short ends at her nape.

NO- Internally, her mind shrieked as if the contact burned. The whole scene flashed through her again, culminating in this bastard's intrusion. NO! My hair! I can't- NO! She whined, finally breaking the kiss, as she pushed his chest and offending hand away. I think I just realized I don't want anyone else EVER touching my hair! Only HIM.

He paused, but refused to let her go entirely. His eyes narrowed on her, allowing slip a glimmer of frustration. "What's the matter?" He sounded more personally annoyed than comforting.

Panting, Rapunzel stuttered out, "I- I'm sorry..." It IS just hair. That'd be such a weird thing to explain, wouldn't it be? Especially as a past thing, that I can't even show him… "It's nothing."

He softened and smiled again. "Well, good then." He immediately leaned in close again.

She ducked away. "Can we just- um..." She tried looking around for an idea, something, anything to make her more comfortable in whatever kind of situation she had just found herself in.

"Would you like if we sat on the sofa?"

"Oh," she looked behind her at the nearest one. She gulped and put back on her most polite voice. "Yes, that would be nice." Even though her legs felt like gelatin.

"You know, you're such a beautiful young lady, I never expected the Legendary Princess would also be so stunning."

"Why," she blushed again, at such a lovely compliment, however boring it, and ones just like it, were getting. "Thank you." Her apprehension melted a little. Perhaps, we can get there…? She tried to focus on all of Eugene's reassurances: that this did not matter that much in certain ways, but was important in others. But in the jumbled panic of her mind at the moment, all those thoughts blended into each other. Just gotta be nice and friendly. Just gotta get through this…

He gripped her arm as she sat on the sofa, and he beside her.

She crossed her legs and angled herself toward him. She looked up at him, but then flashed back again – she and Eugene had sat on that log that night, positioned just like this. Oh no... All her mind's eye could remember was how utterly gorgeous he had looked sitting there, smirking at her in curious admiration, in the warm light of the campfire dancing across such alluring features. They had been alone, in the dark woods, in the middle of the night – And yet, somehow that had been the least frightening part of their trip.

At least, she had thought they were alone. But even in the hindsight of learning they were being watched, she knew even then, she felt safer with Eugene that night, than she did her 'mother.'

Suddenly, her vision of him spoke.

"You seem upset, Princess."

That's not what he said? Rapunzel snapped back to the reality in front of her. The Prince was leaning very close to her face. He looked like any other plain and average man. In just a moment of daydreaming, she had nearly forgotten what he looked like already.

Her eyes superficially darted around his face, looking for something nice to say. Overall, she supposed he would count as classically handsome – to others, though. Not her.

Hmm, I don't like hair that short. I love Eugene's bangs, and that little flippy thing it does in the back, and the wave down to that, so silky…

Her fingertips clenched, as they remembered how it felt to sink her fingers into his thick hair, tugging him ever closer, making him moan for her.

His cheekbones are too high. Eugene's are rosier, perfectly situated.

Her thumb ran over her own left hand, this time seeing that heroic face turn troubled, woken in the night from scars that left no physical trace.

Something about this guy's expression just does not look attractive to me at all.

A tiny huff of a chuckle escaped, as she pictured how he had initially introduced himself as Flynn Rider, as even he had distorted his face from charming to loathsome.

Lips are thin, eyelashes stunted…

His stare unsettled her too much to focus on.

His eyes don't look as sparkly pretty, either.

She startled at being dragged back into reality yet again, but tried to regain her poise. "It's just that- we just met, I mean, you don't really know me that well-"

"I'd like to get to know you better." He leaned over her.

Her adrenaline spiked again, and everything intensely slowed down.

With just one hand on her knee, he pulled it aside, uncrossing her legs and parting them. "You're already amazing."

She slunk back, and, unwittingly, lowered herself. "I- I don't think we should-"

"Sure we can. Sweetheart, there's no one around," he continued pushing on and reaching for her lips, despite her pushing his chest back and leaning away.

She turned to sit facing directly forward on the sofa, thinking to avoid getting trapped in the corner, but she could not correct how she was slouched.

"Everything is fine," he soothed. But then he turned and rolled over just one of her legs, pressing himself down onto her in between, and driving her skirt upwards to her knees.

Her heart pounded. The sofa had a stiff back and the cushion had little give, preventing any escape.

"Come on." He had her lips again.

Rapunzel was grateful his hands were busy holding him up, though they pinned her shoulders to the back of the sofa. I am always a lil anxious– But NO. Enough of being coy, this is too scary, I don't know what – What is he even trying to do! She got her lips free just for a moment, "I just don't think-"

Then he was back, one hand holding her whole jaw, tightly. She again tried to sit back up, which he allowed a bit, as it kept her powerful legs out of the way.

"It's okay. You know I really like you, Princess," he giggled.

"I know-" her voice caught in fright. She could not keep track of anything else he was trying to do, nor anything she could do. She did not know where he was trying to get to, but his hands only made every nerve in her body cry out someone else's name. "I like you, too," she tried, but it came out as a sob, ending in a whimpering appeal, "But please-"

He silenced her again; he seemed to be claiming total control over her mouth. He closed his eyes, but Rapunzel kept hers open wide and worried. Over his ear, she thought she saw a banner swaying.

But then again, everything was happening so fast and yet so tunneled, that everything seemed blurred. She closed her eyes again, assuming it might be best to just go along with, whatever this was.

His hands held her tightly in place, til one dove downward. He grabbed a fistful of her skirt and shoved it entirely up to her waist–

Rapunzel squealed as loud as she could through the kiss, but cut it short as she quickly fell too scared for even that.

His hand returned to her bare thigh–

Her hand flew to stop him, but he instead grabbed it and slammed it against the back of the couch. His death grip on her wrist, pressed against the hard frame, hurt, so her other one froze in fear. She tried to squirm around, to find a way out, to convince him to stop, but it was no use. She was too trapped and too terrified.

"Just be a good girl," he blurted without even attempting the charming tone this time. His knee dug in between hers, spreading them. "Just be quiet, okay? I don't wanna hurt you, just be good for me, okay?"

"Okay," she repeated in terror. If I listen to him– will I be okay? Other new things were a little scary at first, too... she tried reminding herself. But she could not convince her body. This is– Oh NO…

Her mind raced. I just want Eugene! Admitting she needed the back-up, though, flipped her feelings about this morning. WHY weren't you there when I woke up?! Why didn't you wake me up?! When did you leave?! Did you really leave me alone after last night?! You let me wake up ALONE, the morning I have to deal with THIS?! Where ARE YOU?! She whimpered out for all that hurt and confusion.

He moaned at the sound.

A hopeless hope formed in her mind, as her breathing seized up, though her heart raced.

I haven't seen Eugene all day, and with only three guards, it's not like he was replaced – Did something change or-? And he suggested this place – will he find me here?

Oh, she prayed, by imagining over and over, the sound of the door banging open and Eugene yelling out in a jealous rage. Please, please find me! You've found me in the nick of time before! EUGENE!

The thought gave her strength, and she began pushing the Prince back again. Finally, she wrenched her face free at least, turning her head down to her shoulder.

Her head was dizzy and ears were buzzing from the panicked oxygen-poor bloodrush, but she knew there was no sound of a door opening, nor the sound of any footsteps. There was only the Prince's moaning, groaning, and clothing rustling.

But then she did hear an iron-on-bone clang right in front of her.

The Prince fell heavy with his dead weight on her for a moment, before being shoved away to the floor. The frying pan landed next to her, tossed to the sofa.

Her tiny fists slingshotted up in front of her face. She was still frozen; eyes still shut tight. Just ignore it- just ignore it-!

"Blondie..." His voice was flat and quiet, successfully masking the rage behind it.

He leaned over to pinch a bunch of skirt from her waist and yanked it back down over her knees, causing her to reflexively jerk with a high-pitched yipe.

"Whoa-" He backed up and stood up straight, hands up in surrender. "Hey. It's just me."

Finally, her eyes blinked, assured this was also reality, or at least a preferable dream. Lowering her fists from her face, she saw his waist: his uniform-clad but undeniably Eugene waist and belts.

"Are you o- oof!"

He did not have a chance to continue before she pitched forward, flinging her arms around his waist and smushing her face against his stomach. "Euge-h!"

He gripped under her arms and pulled her up to her feet. "Comon, I gotcha."

She let him drag her up, then threw her arms around his neck, and jumped on him, legs wrapped around that waist as he caught her. "You-! You're here!"

He held her securely against himself, one hand strapped across her back and the other supporting under her ass. "Of course I'm here. It's okay. You're safe. He's knocked out."

What TOOK you so long, though?! she wanted to cry at him.

"God," he continued with his own relieved sighs, "I am so sorry- That all happened so fast! I wish I coulda stopped him sooner, but that was just a few seconds! Christ…"

She hid her face in his neck, and dug her nails into his deltoids. Few seconds? "It felt like forever…"

As he cradled her head, he twisted and swayed, rocking. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry. It's okay, now. I gotchya," he whispered. "I gotchya now. Here here here, shhh…"

Every fiber of her being relaxed into him. Her breathing eased. Her nerves calmed. Her heart settled. "Eugene," she cried, "He-"

"I know, I know." He kissed her cheek. "You don't have to tell me. I saw."

His hands on her, and his lips on her neck, and his words in her ear, all locked her in safe and sound. She whined her thanks to him.

Suddenly, he lifted his head away from her and yelled out as loud as he could. "GUARDS!"

She tensed again, squeezing him more. "No- No, Eugene-!" Other people meant she would have to let him go.

"Shush, it's okay-"

She returned her feet to the ground, but otherwise remained latched onto him. "No, please-!"

"Shhh sh sh sh- No no no, it's okay. Don't worry. I'm not lettin' you go." Indeed, his hold remained just as tight, securing her there, pressed against his own body. "You're staying right here."

"Thank you…"

"You are not fucking leaving my arms til this is settled and he is gone. You understand me?"

Nodding, she melted into him, the warmest, most perfect refuge she could ever imagine. Already, she could forget what had just happened.

But the door flew open, letting reality back in. The other three guards ran in, rapiers drawn, but stopped in their tracks at the scene. From the door, the Prince on the floor was unseen, lying on the other side of the sofa from their point of view, but the Princess was clearly being comforted in the arms of their colleague.

Eugene resolutely held his head high, with no sign of removing his own hands any time soon. "Go get the King," he ordered, calmly resigned to whatever happened from there on out.

Two guards nodded and ran off.

But Tom put his sword away and made his way around the sofa. His expressions made it clear he did not disagree with the solution lying at their feet. "Well then. Looks like we can cross that one off."

Eugene ignored his want to chew their friend out, and instead nuzzled against Rapunzel's temple. "Are you okay?"

"I am now," she managed as she took a deep breath. "Thank you, so much…"

He breathed a heavy sigh himself, dipping his head to bring their foreheads together. "Don't thank me. Oh, My Precious Sweetheart- I am so sorry I didn't stop him sooner, but - my God, it really was only seconds- And I- before it really got outta hand, I wasn't sure if you... if you wanted me to. Then I saw I was too late and… God, I'm so sorry."

"Don't you apologize! I was trying to- I did want to- just to get it over with, but he just- I didn't know what to do. And then he…" She choked and fell into a sob, hanging in his arms, as he cinched them around her again to hold her up.

Eugene's blood reached boiling again, remembering the scare he had given her himself. But I know what I was doing and it was NOT– "He was trying to… to, take advantage of you."

"What?" she asked, in a daze.

He sighed. "Blondie," he lowered his voice til only she could barely hear it. "You know exactly what he was trying to do."

Rapunzel let out another cry, clutching him as tight as possible. "But here?! And you've-? I mean you and I, do, kind of like, what he was doing? A little?" She looked up to him. "It was just- all so different, than… when you…"

"Yes. Because… It is different."

"But you…" she shook her head, indeed understanding the simple juxtaposition, but still unable to resolve or rationalize that difference.

"We do that but I don't force you. That one time, the first day of your homecoming celebration, when I even just startled you?" He gulped, glancing to Tom.

They caught eyes, but Tom did not react further.

Does he even know what all happened that night? He looked back to goad Rapunzel. "What happened then?"

"You…" were perfect… "You stopped and we talked about it. You offered to leave. You wanted Tom to come in…"

"And even just seeming a lil too eager at my drunkest– I would never do anything like this. I did not mean to frighten you. I wasn't trying to go that far, or get away with anything, or trick you or whatever. I touch you because you want me to, and how you want me to. If you're not into it, we stop."

She nodded along with him. "I know, I know. He… He wasn't stopping or even slowing down… And it seemed like he wasn't even paying attention to me!" Tears popped over her lids.

"And THAT is why it's wrong, no matter what he said. Don't give any heed to anything that came outta this Cretin's mouth. Okay? All lies and garbage. You got it?"

"Got it," she repeated, her voice but a faint whine. "Okay…"

"You're okay now. You know I'm paying attention. You know where you're safe." He kissed her temple. "I love you, Blondie."

She nodded against him.

Tom cleared his throat at Eugene.

"I know," Eugene replied to him, his voice still forcing calmness over his own desperate rage, let alone his lingering confusion over her not reciprocating the words. "Rapunzel... Rapunzel, your dad's coming."

She sniffled and stood up straight, finally looking into Eugene's eyes; just as scared but relieved as her own. Before he knew it, she grabbed his collar and yanked him into a kiss.

His eyes flew wide, before he quickly settled in to give her the healing she needed, to wash the intruder out of her mouth. He brushed the fingerprints out of her hair, with his own hand sunk deep, cradling her whole head. But he knew he could not stay long on her lips. He soon opted for trailing kisses along her jaw until she was safely, and more platonically, nestled back on his shoulder. "Easy, Blondie. It's okay now. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere."

She let out a sob against his shoulder.

"Sweetheart, you still trust me?"

"Uh-huhhh," she whined. "Of course!"

"Then trust me, when I say: No one is ever gonna do anything like that to you ever again. Okay? I swear, that I, will make sure, nothing remotely like this ever happens again. I promise you that." I should've voted against him. I could've. I'll never hesitate again!

"I know you will…"

"I told you, you can always count on me." But I could've prevented this. I WILL prevent it from happening again.

"My dad's gonna be mad…"

"Ohhh, he certainly will be, but not at you. You didn't do anything bad."

"But-"

"NO," he sharply cut her doubts off, as he pulled her away, jostling her on purpose. He leaned down and held one finger up to her, seething. "You listen to me. This is NOT the least bit your fault." He pointed to the body on the floor. "He is one-hundred percent at fault. HE- chose to act like that. He's responsible for his own actions, not you. And this scumbag knew exactly what he was trying to do. You are NOT gonna be in trouble, I promise. Neither of us will be."

"Okay…"

But then he shrugged and cringed. "Although, you… could have done some things, differently, to protect yourself, but it is his FAULT he attacked you."

"Well, he didn't really attack me-"

"You couldn't move or get him off you- he was assaulting you."

Rapunzel bit her lip and looked away. 'Couldn't…' I know. I felt like I was completely helpless! I… And I believed what he was saying at first. I LET him!

"Everything else he was doing, the whole time- all red flags. And this isn't like me, where you already knew me, and I stopped 'cause I just noticed something was wrong - even though you actually denied it at first - and we talked about it. I did give you a red flag. But I'm pretty sure the rest are all green ones that fixed it. This guy? You don't know this guy."

"I know…"

"Hell, even before you got to know me, knowing I was a thief was a red flag!"

That cracked a giggle out of her, for what felt like the first time in ages.

He grinned at her raised spirit, but continued on in all seriousness. "If you EVER see or hear anyone acting like that again, you leave. If you can't leave, you fight. Don't be scared to- Doesn't matter WHO they are. Nobody is allowed to treat you like that. Not a prince or lover or whoever. Bite, kick, scream, anything so you can get away. Because someone like that will not just stop just because you asked them to. If they won't stop for something small, don't trust them to stop at all. You get outta there."

She nodded along.

He motioned to the ground and shrugged, turning humorous, desperate to lighten up. "Or if you can knock them out and tie them up, that'll work, too, and I know you're perfectly capable of that." He smirked and winked.

She giggled again. "You would know."

"I do know." He chuckled.

She sighed. "I'm really lucky you found me."

His grimace returned. "You shouldn't need luck for a man to treat a woman with respect."

She pouted. "I mean, I know you're right, but…"

Eugene sighed. "Com'ere," he soothed as he pulled her crying head back to his chest.

She quickly leaned back again. "Oh! You're shaking too!"

He growled lowly, "I'm furious."

But he returned to nurturing. "But you're okay now, you're okay. You're safe now. You're safe here. I gotchya." It did feel like his own heart was trembling. He dipped his face beside hers and whispered, "I love you, Darlin'. I love you so much." No matter what you ever feel about it, you will always be so precious to me. "I will always take care of you."

She nodded again.

"You sawr the whole thing?" Tom finally asked.

Eugene gravely nodded at him. "I'll talk to the King." He felt Rapunzel whimper and squirm; he squeezed her tighter. "I was up in the rafters," he explained, as he felt a cry shudder through her.

He WAS here! He really WAS here all along! "Eugeeene," she cried, mumbling into his chest. "You're always there for meee…"

"By the time I saw what was really happening, and got down here, he had her skirt all pushed up- fuck I'm so sorry." He ran his hand through her hair again, clutching her as tightly as he could.

With his boot, Tom rolled the Prince over onto his back.

His belt was undone.

Eugene's fingertips dug into Rapunzel as his own eyes widened. He pinned her head against his chest, turned where she could not see. His own breathing seized in a new layer of fury. He snarled at Tom and mouthed silently, 'Flip him back.'

He did. "Well," Tom replied, "Certainly no doubt what his true intentions were at that point."

"This asshole, thought he could just-?!" He bit his tongue, trying to balance both of his job positions, and his true place in her life. "I never should have-..." He groaned out to bite himself back. "He never should've made it to our shore. She deserves someone who actually acts noble, for Chrissakes, not just with a pedigree certificate."

Dropped out of the conversation even though it was about her, Rapunzel burrowed into him, trying to ignore anything that was not him. He obliged, as his large warm hand covered her bare neck, fingers tangling with her hair, and kept his other arm strapped across her back.

"Easier said than done, Fitz." Tom shook his head. "And you've still got a lot to learn about 'royals.' Another girl might've been just as eager to get frisky. With a real prince?"

Eugene clenched his jaw. "But she's not. She clearly was not. She was trying to stay polite, but she was pushing back."

Tom made a sympathetic look at him. "You could tell, though. Maybe he cou-"

Eugene grit his teeth. "If I could tell from the thirty-foot ceiling that she didn't want it, there's no excuse for this bastard."

Tom nodded but offhandedly gestured at them. "Alright, but come on. King's gonna be here any second."

Eugene sighed and squeezed her so tightly, just briefly. "Blondie, are you okay? You know your dad can't see us like this."

"I know," she whined, "I know, but please." She gripped fistfuls of the back of his red shirt. "Let me stay here! Please- I'm- sorry, but I'm still scared. And I feel like… Like my skin is crawling!"

"Okay," he relented to her like butter. "It's okay, you can stay." He kissed her temple again, and abandoned any thought of loosening his arms. "Whatever happens here, you know I'll see you tonight. Alright?"

"Alright."

He nodded curtly. "And he's not gonna bother you anymore. He'll be gone as soon as someone can drag him out of here, then sailing on the next tide. You'll never see him again."

"I'm off tonight," Tom shot over.

Their heads perked up at him, pouting.

"Whot?" he whined back at them. "Already had my normal shift last night, and then this morning? I need to sleep, too, ya know."

Smiles cracked at his friendliness, then they turned back to each other.

"Welllll," Eugene tried to cutely tease out, "Then I guess someone's gonna have to keep an eye out for me on her balcony."

She whimpered but nodded.

He took to rubbing her arms up and down. "You're not physically hurt anywhere, are you?"

She shook her head.

Just for her to hear, he breathed, "And - please just tell me, it's okay - did he… actually touch you? Like how far…"

She shook her head again, repulsed at how close he did get. "He didn't." He was too busy holding my wrists down.

He sighed deeply, rubbing her back, down to her waist, which he pulled flush with his.

"Okay. You're gonna be okay then. No one's ever gonna touch you like that, ever again, I swear to God. I swear to God, I promise, you're safe. You will always be safe."

"Thank you," she sobbed.

"Stop thanking me for this - just for being a decent human being-"

"Still…"

"I know, I know."

But there was something he could not resolve either. "But, why didn't you try stopping him sooner? I mean, I almost wasn't sure at first from where I was- I thought maybe you..."

"I thought I had to get him to like me."

"Oh, God, no, Sweetheart. Blondie. You have to marry A prince. And you know there's lots of possibilities on that list already. Don't just settle for the first thing the cat drags in. Don't ever do that again, please. He was entirely in the wrong and this is ALL his fault, but Darlin', don't just put up with that because you think you have to."

Some more tears escaped, wetting his uniform. I just want this whole thing to be over with!

And we'll never have a normal life… But I have to keep you safe. He shook his head. "Now," he curled a finger under her chin and looked deep in her eyes. "Look at me, Darlin'."

Her nerves shook again, but this time it was a swoon, as she fell into his fierce eyes.

Both hands gripped the sides of her face, holding her gaze steady and only on him. "Blondie. I want you to take a big, deep breath, and take a look all around you."

She stared at his lips as she breathed in deeply, then slowly let it out, in sync with his. She turned around, remembering the rest of their surroundings outside of Eugene's arms. Tom nodded to her. She finally let her eyes fall upon the unconscious Prince. Seeing him again startled her, but then noting he was laying there motionless, with Eugene and Tom towering over each end of him, did feel like victory at last. Eugene, who would always do anything she asked or needed of him, and Tom, who was also friends with them, but as her guard, had to do anything she said as well. She was back in the top position of strength and power here.

Eugene rubbed her arms. "We got you, Blondie. We got you, okay?" She turned back to him, and he locked eyes with her again. "Your dad's gonna come in, and if you want, I'll explain what happened so you don't have to." He motioned a hand between her and himself. "We got this, right?"

She nodded, and weakly smiled. "We got this."

He nodded with a mirrored smile. "I love you, my brave girl. But you want me to do the talking?"

She held all the power, but she did not always need to be strong on her own. "Yes, please," she whimpered. "And, Eugene?"

"Hm?"

She rubbed his thumb in her hand, rested her other over his heart, and pouted up at him through her lashes. Her cheeks burned in embarrassment. Just thinking about ever touching at all with another man felt wrong. "I'm sorry."

His smile disappeared, but he could never imagine being upset at her about that. "I understand. That's not your fault either. I'm not worried about that, though, so please don't you worry about that. Okay? It's okay. Just don't worry about that part of it."

She sighed, disheartened for him more than herself now.

He grumbled a bit, but quickly pecked her forehead. "We'll talk tonight, I promise." Then will you finally say it?

She gave a small nod and latched onto his wide glove opening, but moved to his sleeve to feel his arm beneath better. She felt safer the closer she was to those arms. And the thought of tonight made her heart soar.

The sunlight withdrew to behind clouds, leaving the room much dimmer than before. Especially since, those clouds were of a gathering storm front beginning to move in.

Coming from the hall, they could hear an over-dressed man running and huffing, surrounded by the muffled clanging and smart stepping boots of the other guards. The King burst through the door.

"Your Majesty," Eugene and Tom addressed in unison, their boots clicking to attention. Tom saluted the King, but Eugene's right arm, Rapunzel clung to tightly. She slunk behind him, only peeping out to watch her father.

The now-6 guards behind him filed in around the king.

"Rapunzel!" The large but desperately worried King hurried straight towards Eugene.

He inhaled stoically and stood up straight in the old man's face, choosing to still shield Rapunzel, even from him.

The King stopped short at his nose, and reached past him, but let his hand fall empty. He noticed the Prince on the floor between the two young guards, then turned back to the one blocking his way. "What happened here?!" he raged to all three of them.

Eugene immediately explained, "The Prince... made a move on the Princess."

The King huffed again, half in disgust and half in disbelief.

"A highly inappropriate move," he stressed with a grimace.

This time he eyed him suspiciously.

"Your Majesty," Eugene whined and broke his noble stature to gesture in defense. "Don't you HEAR me?! RAPUNZEL was attacked! It's not her fault-"

"But YOU, her GUARD-?!"

"YES!" he yelled back, subconsciously satisfied with the King pointing the blame he already felt. "ME, her guard, and THEM, her guards, and YOU for allowing this pig on Coronan soil for anything but the purpose of being served up as bacon!" His shouts punctuated with whipping the frying pan down out of his hand, into the Prince's gut.

The King watched him, then raised just his stern eyes back to his face.

"She tried! She really tried! An' I let her! But I will not stand for this!"

"You will not stand for this?!"

"No! Of course not!" he wailed, flabbergasted. "Never! I'm here to protect her!"

"Mr. Fitzherbert," the King gravely leveled his voice at him. "I appreciate your endless concern for my daughter, but I believe it would be best if from here on out you directed your assistance elsewhere."

Eugene's heart skipped a beat. His eyes quickly widened and his stomach flipped at the possible extent of the King's assumed meaning. "Eh- else... where…?" But he snapped to and flailed, stooping over to grovel and plead. "But Your Majesty! The Princess-! I am the one who was here the whole time! I watched them, I did my duty, and I protected her! They weren't even in the room! If I must be blunt, he assaulted her- physically- se-seheh-… He was trying to-!" Dear God if I say it, will it actually break her?!

The King only grew sterner toward Eugene, who then lost it.

His face bunched up nasty and red in exasperation. His rage became unbridled, and thought to scream in the King's face, but instead lowered his voice and growled from behind gritted teeth. "She was fighting him back when he pinned her down, FORCED himself between her legs, and had his hands up her skirt!" He reached back to usher Rapunzel to stay behind him. "I never liked the look of this guy. But I am telling you, sure as hell, I am the one person here who can best PROTECT her."

"And I am telling you, you are OFF the Princess's guard detail."

"B-but..." Defeat smacked and washed over him. His face gaped open at what that simple statement meant. I can't be with her whenever I want– effective immediately, I'm sure… He looked away, searching for a counter.

Rapunzel grabbed the cuff of his glove. Don't- Don't make this worse. It'll be okay-

He huffed a sigh, then roughly jerked it away from her. Maybe he still doesn't understand? How could-? "But I-"

"Do not make me repeat myself again."

Eugene's chest buckled and wavered, as his mouth turned dumb and his lips flapped in the air. He slowly hunched his shoulders and hung his head. If I keep fighting him, he might make this even worse- drive me even farther away- where it'll be even harder to watch over her. "Yes, Your Majesty."

"But, Daddy!" Rapunzel burst past Eugene's arm.

"Augh- hey-" he protested momentarily.

"Eugene is telling the truth!"

"Rapunzel," Eugene quietly hissed.

She now held her arm out behind herself to shield him. "And he needs us! You- y-you can't just, fire him! Please just give him another chance. I- I know how I could have prevented this from happening myself now, so I promise, it won't happen again."

The King finally addressed her, "I said nothing about 'firing.'" He glared at Eugene again, who now would not even look in his direction. "We'll find some other work for him to do. There are dozens of other guard duties alone he could tend to."

Rapunzel brightened back up a little bit, but Eugene remained sour and looked away, more knowingly. "Great!" she swung a fist up. "See?! You know he makes a wonderful guard." She put on her smug, determined face with the wiley smile. "So you know I'd have one of the best guys for the job if I, personally, requested, that Eugene stay on my own, uh, personal guard detail!"

Eugene hardened his stare at a certain tile on the floor, arms locked behind him, and focused all his will on not reacting to his lover's impossible, and dangerously wonderful, proposal.

The King watched him, and the corner of the old man's mouth turned up beneath his mustache and beard. He looked around at all the men watching them, particularly watching Eugene, like a show. He turned back to Rapunzel, "And I have my reasons," then ordered Eugene, "And you, sir, I want to see in my office tonight."

Eugene jumped to a mechanical response. "Yes, Sire."

"Now, get this riff-raff cleaned up." He motioned down to the Prince, as he stepped away.

Eugene nodded. "Right away, Sir."

The Prince began to stir and reached for his head.

Tom clanged him back out.

Eugene and Tom hoisted up the limp Prince and roughly tossed him onto a stretcher the other guards had brought. Then those other men carried him out.

"Rapunzel," the King held her shoulder, "Sweetheart, why don't you go find your Mother?"

She glanced to Eugene's purposely subdued, pensive face. He was having a hard time of it, but he was pretending to ignore her. "Uh, sure. Yeah."

"She's in her reading room."

"Okay." She ritually gave her father a peck on the cheek, but a decidedly much more emotional hug. Over her father's shoulder, she saw she suddenly had Eugene's full attention.

Tonight-moon-out-will, he signed quickly to her.

She whimpered and nodded, but made it seem as though she was just cuddling into her father's embrace. Then she quickly scurried out of the room.

As soon as the door clicked behind her, Eugene and the King simultaneously turned to each other.

Whether he ever lets me back on her guard or not, I NEED things to be smooth with him!

"Your Majesty, I am sorry for how I spoke to you before. I'm just- I've been worried about her, too. And seeing that…" Disgusted, he frowned hard and shook his head, but quickly continued with another apology. "You know I care about her. And I'm sorry I didn't speak up about this guy at the council meeting."

The King regarded his words and nodded. "Apology accepted. But, why didn't you speak up?" His face proved it was a true unknown to him.

Eugene shook his head and shrugged. "His file seemed pretty basic, so I just went along with everyone else. And I figured a Prince suitor would at least be polite, if nothing else. Since then, I've just had a bad feeling, though, but... I just didn't want to seem like... I was, too... defensive. Just 'cause I'm the one who found her and helped rescue her and all- We're friends, but I didn't want it to look like- ya know? I didn't want to just shoot down the first suitor. And I didn't want Rapunzel to feel we were being too overprotective of her, if she found out."

"She still doesn't know you're on the committee, though?"

"No, Sire."

"Hm, well then..." He stroked his beard a little, and stared off to a corner. "I had wanted you there because I valued your opinion regarding Rapunzel above anyone else's."

Eugene raised his head and stood up straighter, professionally eating up the compliment.

"However," the King continued.

Eugene's shoulders sagged.

"If you feel you can't be brutally honest about this, for any reason, then perhaps we should reconsider that position as well..." the King openly mused, but quickly recovered. "I'll think about it. We can talk about that later tonight."

Eugene's stomach was doing flip-flops. "Uh, yes, Sire. See you tonight, then." He reached to retrieve his helmet from the sofa.

The King headed for the door. "Oh, and Eugene."

He perked up yet again. "Yes?"

The King suddenly looked extremely shaken. "Thank you," his tight voice croaked.

Eugene reflected that same look right back. "Of course."He frowned. "And you said the guarantee of a job, right?"

The King nodded. "That is our agreement. And oh, don't worry about that. I'll keep you busy," he smiled mischievously.

Once the King left, Tom walked up beside Eugene. They did not need to look at each other. Both, with masks down, let the gravity of their anger and disgust come over them.

Eugene spoke with a deeply seething quietness. "Can you 'take care of" THIS one now?"

"Yes, sir," Tom answered, sounding more like a giddy snarl. "This one I can."

Eugene looked over at him again. "And I'm going into town to get something, if she asks where I am. Don't know how long it'll take, but I will see her tonight."

Tom nodded to him.

Rapunzel spent the rest of the day waiting.

She did cry, and rant, to her mother at first, who consoled her as best she could. The care and effort alone was enough to genuinely calm and reassure her.

"Rapunzel, Baby," she said as she held her arms, "I- I am so sorry. But I promise you, that nothing like that, will ever happen again."

Rapunzel nodded, smiling. Between you and Eugene, I do actually believe that.

"Okay?" her mother continued. "Come here, Sweetie."

Rapunzel flopped into her arms.

"I love you, very much, Dear."

She squeezed her tighter, wincing; but with the topic focused on boys, she did not consciously place why. "Thanks, Mom," she cooed, surprisingly pleased with her mother's response to the whole situation.

She passed much of the time by letting her mother distract her with reading, gossip, tea, and a refreshing walk around the grounds outside; all free of anymore disturbing talk. Although the disdain and rebuke was obviously there, making it clear to her daughter that such a thing was awful, not tolerated, and not in any way her fault.

All day, Rapunzel kept an eye out for Eugene, and even Tom, everywhere they wandered, but saw no sign of either.

"Eugeeene…" Tom threw his bedcovers up over his head to block out the new light, muffling his voice in the process. "Whot are you doing' here…"

Clad in all black still-dry rain gear, Eugene finished lighting a lamp on Tom's dresser. "I need to talk to you." His hands wrung themselves over and over nervously.

"I knooow it's raining, but con't you just be extra careful on the roof or something?" he groaned, curling back up. "How'd you get in here?"

A rote response: "Thief." Then Eugene was back to licking and biting his lips, as he had been doing obsessively all evening. "I think I need to break up with Rapunzel."

"Whot?!" That had Tom throwing the covers back and jumping out of bed. He tried rubbing and blinking his eyes to focus on the curveball he was just hit with. "Wha- Ha-ha-have you gone to see the King yet?! Whot did he say?!"

"Not yet-"

"No- No no no no no-" Tom waved his arms around, "Are you mad?!"

"Am I?!" he turned his distraught face to him, then went on to pace around the small room.

"Possibly! If you're thinking of giving her up!"

"Or am I insane for staying with someone who doesn't love me?" He threw his hands out as he continued to pace.

Tom grabbed his shoulder to stop him, and looked him over hard. "Are you on something?"

"Whuh- No," he scoffed. "But am I insane for thinking we could ever have anything worthwhile? That we can have any kind of decent 'future?'"

"Eugene, calm down-"

"We can't get married-"

Tom rolled his eyes. "Euge-"

"She can't have my kids. Or at least she shouldn't– or we risk that kid's life, too– I'm never gonna be anything more than a secret lover-"

"I know! I know… But that's… beautiful."

Eugene swiped his arms away. "But I want more than that!" He stared him down, trying to hold back tears already. "I want a family! I want her to not have to lie to her family! And what if we get caught? It's been a month and I'm pretty sure her parents already suspect there's something between us." He grabbed at his hair and threw his arms back out wide. "But is there even?"

"Fitz," Tom shook his head, brow furrowed, but smiling just enough to humor a friend he truthfully thought had lost it, "Whot are you talking about?"

"She- still- has never said she loves me."

"Whot?"

"And any time I've said it? She practically ignores it!"

"Weh- Well of course she loves you, though!"

"Does she?"

"Well- I donno, I'm not a mind reader!"

"Has she ever told you that she loves me?"

"Eh… No."

"And she's gotta marry a prince anyway. She was really trying with that guy today…"

Tom shook his head. "That doesn't mean she has to fall in love with any of them."

"So she gets a loveless marriage and we get- I don't even know what!"

"Again, whot are you talking about?"

"I mean what am I even doing here?!"

"Oh Fitz," Tom tiredly sneered, "Shut. up. I love the girl, too, but yor fucking a bloody Princeghhhl-!"

Eugene fisted his shirt collar, nearly punching his throat, stopping him mid-word. He yanked him roughly to shove against his dresser.

The lamp rattled, sending each man's shadows into a tizzy as well.

He leaned into him so Tom had to bend backward over the vanity top. Right in his face, he growled sharply, "I am not!"

Tom stared at him in wide-eyed confusion, gagging.

"I've told you! We haven't gone that far, and I'm NOTlying. She's still a virgin."

"Oh… Uh, okay, then…" He backed off, and so was released, but turned back, incredulous. "I could've sworn I heard… Really? Not even last night?"

Eugene relaxed and sighed. He plopped down onto the bed, leaning forward on his knees. "I guess we've still been louder than we thought. But it was only last night, I… She asked me to, to finger her. For the first time. First time I've actually made her cum. Just above her nightgown even. And I even kept that part as short as possible…"

Tom watched him with baffled disbelief. He stood back against his dresser, arms crossed. Perhaps turning his own brand of humor on him in the face of such dire straits would help. "Flynn Rider was secretly a prude all this time?"

It worked. Eugene huffed out, deflating into a laugh. "No, no he was not. Far from it. And I don't feel I am, either, but… She's different- She's different because I love her, and she's different of course because I know she's had to go extra slow there."

"I've just been checking in with her, asking if everything's alright. And she has always said she's happy with you, that yor 'wonderful.'"

"I'm a 'wonderful' boyfriend and she's happy, but…" He gritted his teeth and shook his head.

"Fitz," Tom said gravely, "Don't do this."

He balled his hands up together to press against his lips as he rocked back and forth. "And why shouldn't I?"

"Because you promised to protect her. You promised to always love her. You promised to never leave her! And YOU were the one who told me how strongly she feels about promises."

"I can do all those things without touching her. Without sleeping in the same bed."

"And how will you feel sleeping alone?"

"I don't know," he shook his head.

"How will you feel letting some Prince fuck her?"

"I DON'T KNOW!" He leapt back to his feet, eyes bloodshot and wild. "But I do intend to stay on the committee, so I do still have some control over that!"

"I think, you'll regret it if you don't. If you don't, at least…" he sighed, "Not to be crude, but, 'have her first.'"

Eugene's face broke at that. "I've never had sex with someone I love before."

"Well then congratulations-"

"I don't know what to do- This ain't just fucking any other girl, even for their first time. I don't know how to be when there's an actual relationship at stake. When I love her. And- but what if SHE really doesn't?!" He grabbed at his heart. "I can't-!"

Tom rolled his head around. "Oh, you know what I mean. If she doesn't wann'er, then no, I don't think yor going to just, take her-"

"No- What? No! God no, I know you don't mean it like that! But if she just- I mean, what if there's no relationship to be at stake? What if I'm just there as her comfort zone? She knows she's safe with me so- is that all it is? What if she's just forcing herself to follow my lead, and just do whatever she thinks will make me happy? Because I saved her life? What if she is just being too nice to break it off?"

Tom's brow remained raised, as he listened, unbelieving. "What if-!" he chimed in mockingly, raising his voice, "What if she was raised in a tower awrl her life and has no idea what the fock yor tawrking about?!"

Eugene deadpanned him. "She knows what 'love' is." But saying that L-word yet again, screwed his face and voice up. "But what if she doesn't love me?" he cried.

Tom pushed off the dresser to stand up straight and gesture widely. "What IF-! Her father were to find out how yor here mulling over how to break her heart!"

"I can't break her heart if I don't have it! And I think her father should be a lil more grateful that I'm this concerned about her to begin with!"

Tom pushed back on his shoulders roughly to shake him, but then spoke calmly. "Eugene. Go to her."

"I'm gonna," he balked. "I just stopped here on my way to ask for advice."

"Good. You go, and comfort her about today. Regardless, you know she needs that."

Eugene nodded to the side. "Of course I know that…" He motioned to the satchel he had plopped on the dresser. "I got her a knife and thigh holster." He shrugged. "Not your average romantic gift, but I figured something practical, something she could use to defend herself with, would make her really feel better, ya know."

Tom smiled sadly at the gift idea. "Well, great. Then, bring all these questions to her."

Eugene shook his head. "I just need to hear her say it. I need that. Or for her to explain herself. If she hasn't realized, or still needs more time, then fine, but…"

"These aren't things anyone else can answer for you two. What do you want? For yourself? For her? And what are you willing to do to get it?"

Eugene hung his head a moment, then with a sniffle, raised his face to the ceiling. "I have another whole shot at life now. A great one. And I want all the same things I did as a kid." He rolled his hand out and around to ramble off. "I said, I want a family! I want someone to love me! I want her! But not if she doesn't even love me…"

"And if she does say it? If it's just all been a gross oversight on her part in not specifically saying she loves you? Or not being ready to say it just yet?"

He closed his eyes again, and answered faintly, but knew he was resigned to it. "Then I'll stay… If she tells me she does love me, or needs to wait, or even just asks me to stay, I won't be able to say 'no.' I know that."

"So go ask her. Especially after all I've seen and heard, especially after today," Tom shook his head, "There is no way that girl will ever let you leave."

Eugene cringed. "But what kind of life is that? Do you understand me here? I don't want to be sneaking around. I don't want to keep lying. I don't wanna be scared, for all of us, anytime I lay a finger on her, or am even just alone with her! I don'twanna leave, but… but… But I wanna marry her. I wanna have a family with her!" He broke down, trying to catch his breath. "And we can't!"

"Eugene," Tom sharply directed. "I know all that. I have seen all that. And I'm telling you. DON'T. Please... Just-..." He wrestled with it himself, til he gave up. "Just trust me."

Eugene stared back at him long and hard.

"You've already decided," Tom continued with dismay, "Haven't you…"

Eugene bit his lips, nodding, in resignation. "It's all up to her."

"I swear, then, there's no way she denies you."

Eugene's neck tensed. "We'll see."

Tom sighed. "Careful on the roof."

Rapunzel curled up near her headboard, with the lamp lit on her nightstand. She sat rereading the art history book she and Eugene had already poured over before. There were colored lithographs of specific paintings she had remembered, that she currently was staring her own daggers into, alongside the other pictured heroine plunging one straight through a man's throat.

Never thought I'd be into paintings with so much blood and gore… She sighed, shaking her head with a slight smirk. "Well, serves him right, though."

She relayed the stories to Pascal. What was otherwise dismaying, she currently, ultimately, found comforting.

"...a friend of her father's…"

That had her choking, as the words got blurry. She had to close the book and put it aside, then took to wiping her sniffling nose.

I don't trust my dad, either, after today. And… beyond that… 'She' did say – a grunt and head shake – that it was just 'all men.' Beyond this, whoever I end up with, whatever happens to me, what about our - MY children? Will their father also not care to protect them?!

I can't imagine Eugene ever being like any of this…

'I wasn't sure if you wanted me to.'

Though I do wish he would've come and stopped him sooner.

Her own arms wrapped around her, trying to remember his from earlier.

"Sometimes I wish we'd never come back here… Ohhh, where is he already?"

It was early enough in the evening that her parents would still be awake. But with another guard at her door, and how badly it was storming out, she did not know how or when to expect him.

Eventually, through the rain, she thought she heard a step outside her balcony. More excited than scared, she leapt off the bed, and scampered to the curtained French doors. Somehow she contained herself to wait for the signal.

Sure enough, the tiny tapping pattern, from a fingernail on the pane, was next.

She unlocked and opened one of the doors, trying to keep silent her exhilaration. "Eugene!" she quietly squealed out.

Eugene quickly slipped inside, completely soaked through and sputtering. Yet, as always, he found he was unable to not smile at the sight of her. "Hey," he gasped.

"Hey," she beamed back, already raising her arms to embrace him, wet though he was.

He hugged her back briefly, then took her face in his hands to quickly kiss her, wincing the entire time. "Are you okay?"

"Yes," she chuckled. "I'm fine, thanks to you." She set to wiping his wet hair away that had stuck to his forehead.

He breathed a sigh of slight relief and nodded. He reached for the door.

"Oh, leave it open," she requested. "It feels nice actually." The cool breeze and spritz from the rain cleared out the hot stuffiness in the room.

He nodded in compliance, rather dazed and distracted. "I, uh, I got ya something." He pulled the small bundle from his concealed satchel under his slicker cape. "Sorry I wasn't around the rest of the day, and sorry it's not exactly gift-wrapped, but it took long enough just to get it and get it personalized."

She smirked at him, newly intrigued. "'Personalized?'"

He took a deep breath, heart pounding. "This is for you." He held it out, wrapped in red velvet cloth.

She blinked in awe. "Wow, um, thank you. I wasn't expecting…" She took it from him and began folding the cloth back. "Oh-..." A knife…

"For you… to protect yourself."

She lifted it away and dropped the cloth to a side table. She twirled it as she examined the intricate pattern of vines and leaves, inlaid with gold, wrapping around the dark brown wooden handle. She recognized some patterns as matching her crown.

Just as exquisite, the white leather sheath fit snugly around it. White stitching and embossing decorated it with starbursts and swirls. Two sets of white leather straps hung off of D-rings. "What are these for?"

"It's a-..." He gulped. "It's a thigh holster."

She locked eyes with him in realization, but neither said anything else. They did not need to.

A familiar panic struck him: the urge to rewrite the worst of her past for her. Let me give you the healing that I can. Whether you're in love with me or not, I know I'm welcome there. Let me reclaim it for you.

"Uh… Oh," she recovered. "But- my dress?" She looked down at her nightgown.

"It's for under your dress." He reached out for her to hand it back. "Could I show you?"

"Sure-" but she gasped, "Uhhh.." realizing what that meant. 'Under' my dress- under my nightgown?! But it is Eugene after all. She took a deep, steadying breath, nodding. "Of course."

"Alright then." He reverently took it back from her.

First, though, he pulled it out.

"Ooh!" Her eyes went wide at how shiny the blade was as well.

He ran his thumb over the middle ridge. "Crucible steel. The different metals are melted together to give it a uniform look, then polished to a fine sheen. But if you look closely, you can see the lattice pattern."

At a careful angle, he traced his thumb along the sharp edge. "The recurve blade makes it easier to draw, but the straight spine transfers more strength through, from your hand, to the clip point tip here." He turned away to demonstrate drawing it, then jabbed it out into the air.

"It's really called a Bowie knife, but this is much smaller than a normal one would be." The blade measured about five inches, and the handle about four, for a total of nine inches. "Should be the perfect size for you to carry. Concealed."

He flipped it on end to show the pommel, where the wooden handle merely ended in a curved knob with no other capping. "Tang goes nearly the whole length inside, so the blade can't break off from the handle."

"Which is polished oakwood, so it's light, but still inlaid with gold leaf in the etchings." Four small brass pins held the tang in place through it, but blended in well enough with the decoration. Tiny rounded brass studs also banded around each end. "Sun sigil, and vines and leaves swirling all around, like you like to draw over everything."

They both chuckled.

"And what stone is this?" A round, flat-shelf purple quartz was deeply seated in the center of the golden sunburst around it.

"Amethyst. Not only does it give it Corona's colors, but amethyst symbolizes healing."

He watched her inspect the sparkly purple stone. Turning it over, he added, "Sigil on both sides, but only one stone. Tried to keep it lightweight. And flat."

Holding the handle in practice, he pressed his grip up against the guard. "Got enough guard to brace for thrusting, but none of the curvy stuff going on, so it doesn't catch on anything for ya." The guard was only as wide as the blade, then the handle was thinner.

Then, lastly, he showed her the engraved script branded on the ricasso just above the guard. "'Potestas,'" he read in a whisper, gravely.

"What does that mean?"

"Power." He gulped. "Or- or more specifically: the power of authority."

Her eyes darted back up to his.

"Don't ever forget it. Please."

She looked all of him over again.

He stood there, otherwise looking pretty scraggly from being out in the storm. Clothes dripping wet. Hair plastered down. And, he simply looked tired.

He held the knife out, presenting it to her, in all its beautiful, personal detail. Things he had picked out just for her. The item itself was not even simply a token of affection. This was a tool, with the express purpose of protecting her, from… people just like himself.

She remembered when he gave her back the frying pan after she broke down, even though she could very well have used it against him again.

No, not people like him. These suitors, any other men– but not him. He's the maidservant, helping me. "I know, Eugene."

He smiled slightly, a little sadly. He nodded, then dipped his head as he dropped to one knee.

Her nightgown only came halfway down her thigh. She stuck her right leg out for him. As she watched him get nervous, she chuckled. This is just My Eugene.

He reached around and between her legs, buckling it securely, as high as necessary.

"Hold your nightgown," he delicately instructed.

She looked, and saw where she had to press it down, even as he reached underneath.

When he had it set, he sat back, taking in how her nightgown was so short, it only covered half of the knife. A chuckle popped out and put a smile on his face. "Alright, that's hot."

She laughed back as she checked herself out. "Cool!"

He stood back up. "Try drawing it."

She tucked the edge of her nightgown over the handle. Then she tested how to position her hand. Once she decided, she drew it out slowly, hesitatingly.

"Practice," he pleaded, "So you get used to it."

She nodded, then resheathed it and drew it again, a lot faster already.

"Good," he beamed with pride.

She giggled, grinning up at him. "Thank you, Eugene."

"You're welcome," he mumbled, "Anything for you…"

She returned to inspecting all the exquisitely fine material and detailing. Her heart fluttered, as it so often did for his most heartfelt and romantic gestures. Wow… I still can hardly wrap my head around how protective he is of me, and yet how much freedom that gives me.

She ran her hands over his chest. "And, I'm sorry my dad was so hard on you. He was glad you stopped him, of course. I heard he's already left."

He looked away, savoring that touch, but wondering about the exact feelings behind it. "I know…" He gulped, and tried to steer the subject. "I'm off guard duty for you, though."

"Really?" she whined.

He nodded. "Your father doesn't seem entirely convinced that we're not..." His voice caught as he looked her in the eye, "Ya know..." His smile faltered, though, as his heart pounded again. Okay, second order of business. His voice shook as he opened that avenue. "And from now on, I don't know if we should."

"Wha-" She was expecting a quiet evening of unwinding, but suddenly she felt her adrenaline shoot skyhigh again, rattling her whole body. Her hands drifted off him as she took a step back. She shuddered at his tone change, and her grin vanished.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," he rushed to follow that step in, wanting more than anything to just smooth everything over. But we gotta talk about this! "But– That's also-o, uh, something… we need to talk about…" Pleeease don't let this be a doomed 'we need to talk!'

"Oh? Oh-h, a-and…" She trembled, at a loss for how this was suddenly making her feel. "What do you mean?"

He took a deep breath, a self-deluded smile creeping back. Surely he would just be guiding her through another tough relationship talk, and certainly not the last. "Look," This is gonna be fine! We'll be fiiine. "We both know how I feel."

"Okayyy," she nervously chuckled. WHAT-

"Blondie, you're the greatest thing that's ever happened to me. You've saved my life, and- and- and not just physically, but emotionally, spiritually… You're smart, funny, pretty– beautiful, graceful, and you're this wonderfully weird princess. You're brave, an- and strong, talented…"

The compliments at least lulled her into flattered blushing.

"The truth is, I'd given up on life and love a long time ago. Never expected anything good to ever come around again. But then you came along and proved me wrong. Made me believe in everything good again.

"You are everything I could ever want. You have to know that.

"And I want nothing more, than to ride off into the sunset with you. I wanna marry you, I wanna have kids! With you! I wanna just be with you. Forever."

She smiled with him, til the realization crashed in on them both. "But-"

"But we can't," he finished for her.

"What…" she gasped, falling into a shock.

"And you know why we can't."

"Well, yes," she smiled, panicking, "But-"

He held his palms out, at a loss. "It's all secrets. It's all a lie."

"Yeah, but- We're together. We still have each other."

"But this…" he reluctantly argued back, "This 'half life' we were trying for? It's just like our old lives. Where you have to stay hidden and can't be honest with your parents, can't be yourself. And I have to lie 'cause my life depends on it, and hide my heart, deny my feelings– And that's not how I wanna live anymore! For either of us!"

Rapunzel deflated, hearing it framed that way.

"I want more than that! I wanna be able to go to sleep with you, and wake up with you, and not worry about someone finding out. I wanna be able to be with you during the day, and not find out I can't because of your husband."

"I want that, too- but-" You make it sound like- Her mouth fell open and she started shaking her head. She gripped his arms. "No- You- can't be serious-"

"I want more than this, Blondie! And you're the one who showed me that! You showed me what it's like to put someone else first. It's because of you, that you make me wanna be that good man you deserve. You showed me what it's like to dream again." …but if you want me to stay…

"And I thought I was-"

"You are. You are– but maybe," he took a big, defeated breath, "Maybe that's all we were ever meant to be."

"No- no no no, that can't be. We talked about all this. This isn't what we said before. We said we'd get through it-"

"Rapunzel, I love you, with all my heart, but you and I can never have a future together. You know that. This can never, really, be real. And if the wrong person found out? We'd be a lot worse off."

She just shook her head and jerked him closer. "EUgene," she cried, "Stop it! This is no time for your jokes! Don't- don't tease me like this!"

He winced, wanting to cry himself. "I'm not kidding…"

She whimpered, then dared to hold his cheek. No. You don't really mean any of this.

He grabbed her fingers to hold it there. Eyes closed, he shook his head. "I just needed to make sure you were okay."

She retreated, suddenly indignant. That's ALL? "I'm fine," she snapped.

"Sweetheart, please… You know– I love you, more than anything in the world…" He paused, waiting, listening.

"I know, and…?"

He sighed deeply. Stay calm. She doesn't mean to be mean. Calm. Deep breaths. "I know, you're going through a lot. And…" I'll help you - I wanna help you, but…

"And?" she prompted.

"And, actually?" He huffed and shrugged. "I'm only gonna make things worse, for both of us, fooling ourselves..." I can't do this anymore! Not like this- Not if you don't love me – what's the point?!

She turned on the watery puppy eyes. "What could be worse than-?!"

"'Cause I feel like I'm fooling myself even more than you, thinking that we can ever have anything. YOU-! You make me feel like we can do anything, like we're living in a fairy tale and any second, everything's gonna be 'happily ever after,' but that's not the world we live in. You're amazing, alright? And you're gonna marry an amazing prince. But I… just wanna have a normal life." SAY IT. Stop me and say it! Say it and this won't mean anything! But he equally frightened himself with how much he really did feel what he was saying.

Her face fell to her hands, head light and spinning.

"Blondie," he stepped back up to her, a hand on her waist and the other cupping her cheek. That usually made everything all better. "It'll be okay. No matter what happens, we'll always be friends, at least, ya know? Right?" Do you at least want that?

"NO!" At that, she pitched forward to his chest, the wind knocked from her and tears spilling.

"Awgh, Sweetie," he accepted her and held her dearly, but he could not help but think, I'm gonna miss this – Does she not feel the same?! "I will always love you. Nothing will ever change that."

She sobbed. "No! You promised. You PROMISED ME!"

"I promised I'll always love you, and I will. I promised I'd stay here with you. But- ugh…" He pulled them apart. I have to just ASK her.

"But you do wanna-...?!" Leave?! She could not bring herself to even say the word.

He sighed again, at the peak of both his frustration and patheticness, and losing his breath as his own nerves rattled. "Rapunzel. I've been trying to get this across to you, and I've tried every eloquent way I can think of to say this, so I'm just gonna be blunt."

She flinched, waiting for some verbal backhand.

"Blondie, I love you. – Can't you say it back? Can't you at least give me that? Can't you just tell me once…" he whined, his own heart suddenly feeling shaky and petrified and fragile. "Just once. We're alone. This may be the last time I'll sneak in here. But if you want me to stay-!" His voice cracked. "Please! Just this once?" Do you really not care about keeping me at all?

I CAN'T! Her lips pursed tight, her cheeks turning red as she held her breath. The very thought of those words sank a rock on her stomach, spun her head, and gripped her chest. I can't… That voice swarmed her mind, all at once, incoherent, but all of it awful.

HE can't - He can't do this to me. He wouldn't. But it's all because of her- and because it does matter so much! He says he doesn't want a lie? Well, it's only ever been a lie when I've said it! Eugene I can't do that to you!

You DO deserve so much - that apparently I can't give you… And even THAT- that word… it's tainted in me.

She shook her head, her own voice a plopping wet whisper catching in her throat. "I'm- sorry…"

He blinked wide, mouth hung open, ears ringing from the unexpected hit. He stared blankly, trying to wrap his head around hearing anything but what he had just asked for.

She cringed in on herself, watching his face fall apart. Please don't-

"Wow…" he breathed out in a sarcastic chuckle, as he realized the wind had been knocked from him. Like any other sudden injury, his heart split open but the pain was yet to come; severed heart string nerves were rendered numb. The need for a safe landing gripped him, but as he stared at her, he did not see a will to catch him. He backed up, stood straight, stunned stiff. Gasping for air, he shook his head and scoffed in shocking offense. "I don't believe you."

A knock came at the door.

Both heads jerked toward it, breaths suddenly heavy with adrenaline shots, but then back to each other. Pained grimaces begged the other for everything they could not give.

You DON'T-?! With a shake of his head, Eugene flicked his cape up and slipped back out the balcony doors, leaving them open behind him.

I just can't- "Eugene, wait!"

He did not.

The knock came again, distracting her for a moment too long. "Just a minute!" By the time she turned back to her balcony, her expert thief had vanished into the stormy night.

"No-" She scrambled out to the balcony. Bare feet slapping in puddles on wet stone, the rain immediately matting her own hair down, and soaking through her nightgown. "NOOO!" she launched a blood-curdling scream out to the dark void of shimmery rain, no longer caring to police her voice. "NO! EUGENE!" she screeched into the darkness. From the railing, she scanned the ground below; no sign of him.

High up above her, Eugene held onto a small turret on the roof, watching her below. His own tears mixed with the rain. He struggled to hold on, through jagged breathing. Part of him took her crying as a consolation. Oh, Blondie… But you're gonna get me in trouble! On top of just crushing my heart…

The Queen finally opened the bedroom door herself and rushed in, looking shaken already. She startled even more at the wide open balcony doors, letting the storm blow in. "Rapunzel?!"

"EUGENE!" she screamed again, through tears, desperately searching the ground as lightning flashed.

He bit his lips and looked away.

"Rapunzel?" her mother called again, at least less alarmed now, after hearing her calling Eugene's name.

Sounds like her mom? Now she knows I was here. With another flourish of his cape, the sound blending in with the wind, he took off across the rooftop. Everything's falling apart…

"EUGEEENE!"

She hurried over toward the balcony doorway. "Dear, what is going on?!"

"Oh," Rapunzel whimpered as she turned around, then ran straight into her mother's arms. "Mom!"

The Queen held her sopping wet and crying daughter. "Where's Eugene?" she asked, in a panic herself.

Rapunzel stiffened, trying to hold herself together as she squeezed her mother tight. "He… he- he…" But she sobbed out again, and only gave a small whisper, "I can't…"

"Sweetheart, you know you can always tell me anything. Please, I promise- I promise you. It's alright."

"But he…" She shook her head.

The Queen tensed, pulling her away to look her in the face, deadly serious. "What did he do?"

Rapunzel snapped to, hearing what sounded like she was supposed to accuse him of something awful; the same tone she had heard all day, though that had been with good reason. A reason that could never apply to him.

"Nothing! He-..." He left me… He LEFT me! He left me here all alone– forever?! "He just- He came to see me, and-..." Doesn't matter now…

The Queen sighed in relief. "He came to check up on you, too?"

That should be harmless enough, right? She nodded.

"Oh, Sweetie, it's okay!" She embraced her dearly.

"You're not mad?" she cried into her chest.

"I wish he hadn't left you crying, but no."

"Wait, you're not mad about him though?"

"Baby, I've known he cares for you, and how can I be mad about that?"

She gulped and looked away.

"And has he been good to you?" she asked carefully.

"I…" Her mind flashed through his every tender touch. "I don't want to get him in trouble."

Worried again, the Queen gripped her shoulder. "Rapunzel, what's he- If he's ever done anything to upset you, please-"

She pushed her away. "What! No! I know- I know you're extra worried because of today but- No! Eugene - He's never! He would never! He's only ever been good to me! So good! He's gentle, and considerate, and sweet! He's always taken such good care of me!" The juxtaposition broke her down again. Still, she managed to whine out, "But I know he's not supposed to be… sneaking in here..."

Her mother calmed as she listened.

But Rapunzel's panic increased. "But! But please, you can't get him in trouble, please! I know he wasn't supposed to be in here but I let him in- I wanted him here- I- I- I NEEDED him here!"

"Rapunzel, Rapunzel," her mother held her steady, "It's alright. If you say so, he's not in trouble."

"But please don't even tell Daddy. If he-" She hiccuped on her tears, and struggled to get coherent words out. "I just don't want-…!"

"I won't, I promise. It's okay." She pulled her into a hug. "You know, sometimes, even the nicest boys, they can change their minds from one day to the next…"

"Not him… He-..." I want to protect him, but, oh Mom! I don't know what to DO!

"He what?"

"He said- He said we could be friends, but…" How can we be friends if we still want each other? Unless he– doesn't… But– he's right… How can he have a real life if he's… trapped. Stuck, forced into hiding everything about us? She hid her face back in her bosom.

The Queen sighed again, immense disappointment now slipping through. "Well, he knows you're to marry one of these suitors- and there are lots of them, I'm sure you'll… find somebody..." She cupped her cheek, with worried hope.

She whimpered and leaned into it.

"I know you're upset now, but a lot has happened today. Just get some sleep, please, Dear. Things will look better in the morning."

She closed her eyes, her head still spinning, and tears still pouring out.

"And Sweetheart," she treaded carefully with her perfect diplomat voice. "He cared enough to come see you, and to tell you that…"

She idly nodded. ...but he still got mad when I didn't say 'I love you' back…

"Oh- um," the Queen looked down, "What is that?"

Rapunzel followed her eyes, to the knife. "Oh," she sniffled. "He gave me a knife…" She drew it to show off the ornate handle. Everything about it suddenly looked different, and tore her face apart again. A sorry reminder…

The Queen studied the whole knife, and seemed even more at peace. Brow raised, she nodded to the side. "That's… very beautiful. And was very thoughtful."

It only made her cry harder. He does such wonderful things for me – how could he wanna LEAVE?!

Another knock came at the door. "Rapunzel?" her father's voice was muffled.

Rapunzel gasped. "Just a minute!" She resheathed the knife, and threw a robe on over herself to hide the whole getup. It also served its pretense job of covering her skimpy and rain-soaked nightgown.

Her mother had headed over to the door, but waited til Rapunzel nodded that she was ready.

The King entered, glancing to his wife first. Then he looked to his daughter, so sympathetically worried, despite his efforts to not appear so. "Rapunzel, Sweetie, are you alright?"

Reflexively, she smiled and nodded. Even though, she wiped tear remnants off her cheek. "Yeah," she gasped, anxious once more. "Yeah, yeah- Mom was just… Talking with me about everything, and I feel a lot better, thanks!" Please leave so I can just go cry with Pascal…

Her mother's eyes pinched at her, with a sad smile.

Her father faltered for words. "Ah- well then… Al-alright."

"We'll let you get to sleep then," the Queen said to Rapunzel, then took her husband's arm. "Let's go, she's alright for tonight."

"What happened?" he still questioned.

"Nothing!" Rapunzel defended, too quickly, too high-pitched.

"Nothing," the Queen corroborated, chuckling, "Nothing else happened. She's fine."

Outwardly, she bravely smiled for her dad.

"Well," he said uncertainly, "Good-night then."

"Good-night!" she perked up, and bounded up to hug him.

"I love you, Sweetheart."

Rapunzel worked her cringe into squeezing harder in the hug.

"Good-night, Sweetie." Her mom was next to get an eager hug. "We love you very much."

Again, Rapunzel merely squeezed harder, before sharply withdrawing. "Yeah, um, good-night!" She gave them a little wave, expertly avoiding their sad smiles.

As soon as the door was closed, she whipped her robe to the floor with a frustrated cry. She tugged roughly at the straps of the thigh holster, and once she had wrested it from her body, she flung it clear across her room into a dark corner.

A little while later, back in his office, the King sat at his desk. He kept only the two oil lamps atop it lit but turned down low, one near each end. With his necessary workspace aglow in the warm light, the rest of the room quickly faded out back to darkness. It was long past since he expected to see that last meeting to show up, but he had a few more things to keep him busy a little while longer. There were a few late messages that had just arrived, and had to be checked for urgency.

Tomorrow's schedule could also be checked one last time. The first order of the next morn's business was to narrow down who would fill in as the fourth guard on his precious daughter's personal detail, as well as enhancing their roles. His pursed lips disappeared into his mustache with a crooked frown, as he remembered the incident from earlier in the day. The thought of who was being replaced brought out a long sigh and a shake of his head.

Speak of the devil, the King's attention snapped to his wide open doorway. This late, everyone else should be asleep or quietly cleaning up the lower levels. The King's initial instincts had feared the presence of an assassin; the figure stood perfectly still, waiting silently, clad in all black, and just out of range of the desk light – though illuminated in silhouette from a lightning flash, from the windows out in the hall.

But even as the man knew he had been seen, he remained slumped with his back against the frame, head hung, face covered by a hood, his wet hair dangled down, and a high collar additionally blocked his jawline. His black slicker cape and black leather boots shimmered with streams of silver in the outside hall's dim moonlight, as did the reflective puddle below him where they dripped.

The King set down the schedule and took a deep breath of relief. "Ah, Eugene! You startled me for a moment there!" Even in this lighting, he recognized what features he could tell. "Well, come in, come in," he waved. "I've been waiting for you."

Another labored breath, and Eugene painfully pushed off the frame to muddle toward the King's bright desk. He stopped a few feet from it, just barely within the reach of the golden light now. Not once did he raise his head. He licked and bit his squirming lips repeatedly, itching to speak, but shuddering at anything he had to say, let alone how it would be received. His arms remained locked behind his back, though his position was concealed by the cape closing in near his midline.

The King looked him over with concern, as he reclined back and leaned on one armrest, expectantly. "What is it?"

A gulp, and his eyes glanced up as he began brokenly, "Your Majesty..."

The King waved the title away as he always did; though he did understand the younger man's undeterred attempts to show every ounce of his immense respect and gratitude.

"I just wanted to let you know," he choked on every word. "That you don't need to worry about Rapunzel and me anymore..." At last, he lifted his head to face defeat. His eyes and cheeks were reddened, proving his face was not only wet from rain. His knotted brow, strained neck, and twisting mouth, in this light, showed him as downright wretched. "I know you've seen it. And… You were right about us."

The King was taken aback. Having just found Rapunzel in a similar state, but both her and his wife unwilling to explain, now he was all the more confused, and more interested. "Eugene," he said softly, almost sympathetically, "What happened tonight?"

Eugene kept eye contact with him, as his lips pursed and eyes pleaded to command him instead to swallow his words. Giving them air would be too torturous, would make them true all over again. But he would obey.

"If you don't know already, you'd know soon enough… I went to her balcony. I-..." He shook his head and dropped his eyes to the floor. "I'd said it to her lots of times before, but tonight I told her, I love her, so many times. Like a dozen times. But she has never said it to me. And when I outright asked her, tonight, apparently... I've misjudged her affections..."

At that, the King sat up again. "What did you do?" It was not an accusing tone, merely that of worry, from a man who trusted that they were equally concerned.

But to hear a repeating internal question, actually voiced by the King, made Eugene jump. "Nothing! I didn't DO anything!" he squeaked. "Like I- I know she was crying when I left, but, I never meant to hurt her- I- I mean! I didn't mean to upset her, but- I would never hurt her- I- I didn't-... I didn't-..."

He locked eyes with the old man, hoping the depth and breadth of these simple statements would be understood enough. With the worst possible thought already in their minds from earlier in the day, he did not need his face imagined over it. "I. never. did. anything. to her." And now I don't even know if I wish we had…

The King narrowed his eyes at him, though his mouth remained a perfectly flat line. "Obviously, I don't believe you would ever, take advantage of her, else you would not have been welcomed in to begin with; let alone been her guard. Just, tell me what has been going on then."

"We just- We've just been..." He cast his eyes to the ground with a quick sigh. "We never told you- I fell for her before I ever had any idea she was the Princess. We've kissed, hugged... just a little of like... you know, like… Just, a little, here and there… Nothing like-..." He let out a wet groaning scoff, "Not 'all the way.' We knew that nothing could ever come of it. I knew it was doomed, but… So, yes, that's why I rejected the offer of Duke. Yes, that's why I wanted to be a guard. And yes, I wanted to be her guard because – I thought – we were more than friends…"

Furtively, he returned to facing him once more, terrified, with new tears, and waved a hand out to dismiss any negative assumptions. "But I swear, and you know me now. I'd NEV-"

"Eugene, Eugene," the King held up a hand, then waited for his smile to be noticed. "Yes. I believe I do know you well enough there by now. And you know, that I trust you."

But you DON'T know! YES I have treated her the best as can be, but YOU don't know that! Why do you trust just ANYBODY with her– even me?! You don't know how much I- He suddenly burst, "I love her. With all my heart, I love her. I always will. I have always loved her, that's why I gave my life for her! But, she's not in love with me... I thought she was. But she's not." He hung his head, one hand covering his face. "I'm so sorry…"

The King's smile disappeared back to thoughtful neutral, and he paused a while.

Eugene was too distraught to continue. There it all is. My grave's dug. Now what.

"Are you… trying to get back on her guard detail?"

Eugene was taken aback, that his full confession was ultimately merely met with a practical administrative question, rather a change of subject even. He blinked over and over, trying to process the jerking switch. "Uh, no. No, I agree with you now, that I probably shouldn't be shadowing her." Or at least now I don't wanna be.

"But I did want to clarify about the committee for screening her suitors. You said to come see you about that, and," he needed a deep breath, "I would still like to stay on. I need to be there. I just want what's best for her. Still. I promised her we would find the best prince for her, and I just," saying 'prince' was always harder than anticipated, but getting easier, "Just want to make sure she'll be safe and happy."

While the King looked like he was thinking on it, Eugene continued. "I promise I won't unnecessarily block anyone. Or- or be afraid to speak up when something doesn't seem right. Today was everyone's mistake. I need to make sure that doesn't happen again. Please."

The King closed his eyes as he nodded. "Alright, you may stay on the committee. But, you know I'll be scrutinizing your every decision, don't you?"

Eugene likewise closed his eyes and bowed his head. "This was the last thing I had to hide, Sir."

The King nodded again. "Good. Then, uh, you'd best get some sleep. Meeting first thing in the morning, and selecting the new guard. And I want you to pick him."

Eugene blankly nodded. "'Course, sir." He dragged his feet back towards the door. "Good- Good night."

"See you in the morning."

"Yeah…" he called back, then disappeared down the hall.

One of the lights on the desk flickered.

"Passscaaal…" Rapunzel whined into his pillow. "How could he…?"

Pascal had been gently petting her brow for a while already, still at a loss himself for how to answer the repeated question. But he cooed in solidarity.

"Did you have any idea?" she sniffled, "That he was gonna do this?"

He shook his head.

"Do you know if he's coming back?"

He shook his head.

"...ever?"

He frowned, hesitant to answer at all.

"If he's… gone… then…" She choked on the hiccups, "When I have to marry one of them- It's really just gonna be me and- whoever he is!"

Pascal gripped her finger and patted it.

"He's never asked anything of me before… Why then- todayyy?"

He began shrugging.

"You know… Whenever she said, she 'loved' me… it was a lie! She never meant it. And I've said it to her, too! When I didn't know any better! And then-! Then I've said it when I didn't mean it! How could I ever say it to anyone else now?! I don't even know… if I really know anything about it…"

Pascal chirped in defiance.

"Well," Rapunzel blubbered, "I know we…" But she cracked again. "Ohhh, Pascal, you know how much I care about you, right?!"

He reluctantly nodded, trying to remain sympathetic.

"She broke me… But Eugene? He's been perfect! It's not that I don't… But saying it like that just feels so wrong! And- confusing…

"He's said he's dated so many other girls, and he knows I do – But how am I supposed to know – What was I supposed to do?! …or how to say it then?! She is all I know and I'm- I'm just broken, from her… I can't… I just can't…!

"If he'd just come back, then I could explain!"

Eugene wandered back down the hall, only noticing his surroundings when he had come to a stop at a T. Where… do I go now? Should I-... even stay here? He shook his head. Got that committee thing in the morning. Gotta make sure she's okay. I even promised I wouldn't leave, and where else could I even go? Got nowhere else to go– I thought I'd found everything here.

His lip quivered at the thought, both of when he had re-promised that again just last night, and yet again this evening, and at trying to fathom the idea of never seeing her again – which he could not. Blondie? What do I do now?

But for tonight, his more rational side broke through as lightning flashed, Where do I go to just, collapse after this awful day?

If she finds me in the castle, she'll make up some excuse, beg me just to prolong this- the inevitable. I can't take THIS rejection, let alone any more. She doesn't want me, so- was I better off dead?

No. Who woulda saved her from that guy this morning? Now I know she's safe. At least, forever safe from that one now. The others I'll get to go over with a fine-toothed comb, under a magnifying glass. She'll find someone to be happy with…

But me? She doesn't LOVE me, and if she doesn't love me by now? After everything...

The still-fresh confirmation made his head spin and breathing turn shallow, again.

A long rumble of thunder, that ended in a loud crackling boom, sounded throughout the night, echoing in these empty cavernous halls. And where it had come from called to his panicky, uneasy heart, trapped inside his tight chest. Restless nerves, feeling claustrophobic, not certain about anything…

Out. I just need to get OUT.

His feet dragged down the hall toward the exit nearest the stables, eventually wandering into picking up speed, stumbling into a run, then getting faster and faster.

RUN. It was his oldest go-to solution, that had been the inflection point of so many changes in his life. RUN! Running away from problems, running from dangerous places, running from hurtful people, or people he had hurt… RUN AWAY-

NO. His heart, just as stubborn as his mind was predictable, cried out, digging metaphorical heels into the ground. NO! Not leaving. Just- I just need to get out- away- run- I just can't be here tonight- I can't bear staying here tonight- ALONE?! I'll be back for that meeting, but… I… I can't breathe…

If he loves me how could he do this – NO, that's exactly what SHE wanted you to think – But if he loves me-?!

"Whyyy!" she screamed into his pillow, muffled. "Why don't you understand!"

"What if-" Rapunzel gasped to Pascal, "What if that was the last time I ever see him?! Is he coming back? Tonight? Or ever…? I- I just can't believe… He- he gave me a test? And I think I already failed it…" Her sobs compounded and intensified, til she could barely breathe past her red-faced and tear-streaked, albeit silent, wailing.

Outside in the torrential pouring rain, the cold shower felt so refreshing on his face, cooling where tears and panic had reddened it. He could breathe deeply again in the fresh air and salty wind. The emotional ringing in his ears was replaced with the reality of nature. Roaring thunder, for the most part indistinguishable from the crashing waves from the nearby tumultuous sea. Sheets of rain, and its wet spatters and splashes. Howling gusts. Lightning flashing like blinking his eyes clear, as if he were waking up, realizing that bright sunny wonderful world of Day, had only been a glimpse of a dream, while the world was, in actuality, only the cruel darkness surrounding him now.

He pulled open one door of the stable, winning out against the raging wind, til it was taken wide and smacked back against the wall.

Some of the nearer horses startled at his frightful appearance. A caped silhouette, backlit by that silvery rain and flashes of lightning. Drenched again, he trudged in, all the way back to Max.

Max shook his head clear, shocked to see him, and in such a state.

"Max…" he whimpered up to him, but then bit his lip and shook his head. "I'm sorry, Buddy, I just wanna be alone-..." His throat caught on that last word. I DON'T wanna be alone- not ever again! …Tom? No, he needs to sleep. And I wanna get OUTta here.

He wandered away from a very concerned and confused Max.

In the middle of the stable, he spun around, already dizzy.

The most fidgety horse was an all black one who did not look too friendly.

"You'll do," Eugene declared. He saddled it up, and led it out of its stall, all in a daze.

He had to pull it out into the rain, as it had of course changed its mind about wanting to go anywhere.

"Cooome onnn!" he yanked it, not even thinking about how hard he was pulling.

Once they were outside, he mounted it in an instant, and was immediately goading it to run.

The horse brayed and whined, but it indeed broke out into a racing gallop as fast as it could. It seemed as if it thought it could outrun the rain, which was almost as fast as Eugene wanted to outrun his own thoughts.

Away from the castle, through the town, and over the bridge, he urged the horse to go faster and faster. In the whipping wind at the height of the bridge, his hood blew back off his head, leaving him squinting and sputtering, as the buckets poured down and the speed smacked his face into the driving rain.

He leaned forward, hiding his face in the horse's mane, which he also grabbed in his fists, even as he also held the reins. With blurry vision, shallow breathing, and wet face, his chest shuddered into sobs.

Rapunzel stared blankly out through her balcony door, watching, and waiting, for any sign. The French doors remained wide open, swaying a bit in the wind, while the sheer white curtains were whipped up and blew around sporadically.

Through that ghostly portal, the storm raged on. The rain sputtered in, wetting the floor, as it reached inside her bedroom. The lightning still flashed, but the roar of the thunder was getting farther away. It made the empty silence feel even more wrong.

She lay on his side of the bed, his pillow smushed up to her nose, and breathing deep. It brought his comforting scent into her, but in return, she stained it with a steady stream of salt.

The gifted recurve knife, in its sheath, had been recovered, sitting on his night table, which she faced. The top Shakespeare book of his pile there, all lent from Tom, hand blown open, its pages turning back and forth in the wind.

She kept her eyes out on the rain. Watching. Waiting. Alone. Just come back… Explain this to me. Like you have so many other things. Let ME explain myself… Explain how it's STILL… ALL… because of HER…

Every so often, Eugene would feel the horse slowing down, as forks popped up. He would pick his head up then, choose an arbitrary direction, and then close his eyes again as he continued crying.

Eventually, in the dark stormy night, under the thick tree canopies blocking out even the lightning, and narrowing roads that looked more like beaten paths, the horse lost the road entirely.

Eugene did not notice, but kept directing anyway.

The ways he chose, just felt right. They felt like something his mind had actually tracked out over and over on the backburner, day in and day out, like a worry stone. Even though, he could not consciously tell where he was. Even though, he had not been out for a ride this long in over a month.

Or exactly a month.

Finally, one time he picked his head up because the horse had completely stopped, in somewhat of a clearing. And he was looking at a vision of something from his nightmares. Like a dark, twisted memory born of trauma to begin with anyway.

The trees on his left were just so, with a young sapling right there. A boulder in front of him; and he knew what the unseen other side looked like. To the right, a rock face that looked like ivy was growing over it.

Heart pounded. Blood ran cold. Mind screamed. No…

But for all that this memory had mindlessly led to, and that his heart flinched away from – his soul desperately reached out for.

While he was frozen there in the saddle of the standing-still horse, his insides that had been directing him, still felt like they were desperate to run. There was danger. Both chasing him, and where he was headed, and he had to RUN! It felt like he was sure he was still running. He may not get there in time. What if they catch him again and stop him before he can get to her? What if where he was heading was not even the correct guess at all? What if he was already too late?

But when he looked down, he had not moved.

IS this a dream?

Maybe it's ALL some terrible dream…

…or had been an absolutely wonderful dream!

He blinked and rubbed his face, trying to figure out what was real.

His sleeves were rough against his cold wet skin. The sound, feel, and smell of the rain and thunder surrounded him. The breathing animal beneath him was indeed another living entity.

This was real alright.

He had led himself right back here.

But rather than be too cross about it, those deep parts still reached out. His gut still felt like he was frantically racing to save the day. His heart felt like she was right there. Right on the other side of that ivy, through the tunnel, across the valley, towering fifty feet above, in a few quaint rooms – She was right there. Everything he had ever wanted.

So it was not a question of if he would follow that trail that led to her.

He dismounted, remembering. He remembered how frightfully low the roof of the cave was. He had been worried for a second he would knock himself out on a low-hanging rock before he ever made it to her, and at the very last leg, too. Not that I got that much farther in the end, anyway.

He led the horse through the ivy curtain.

It tried to shake dry once covered, but Eugene barely flinched as he was pelted.

He left it there, rather than pull it back into the rain, simply dropping the reins without a word. Then he continued on ahead.

It still did not look real. But it did look more terrifying, this time. In the dark, in the rain, one could barely make out that there was a manmade structure there at all.

But he knew it was there.

I'm the ONLY one who knows…

Flashes of lightning lit it up as bright as that last morning he had seen it. But only for one ghostly moment. Then the darkness of reality set back in with the thunder.

He wandered toward it, pulled by this ad hoc spirit. He stared up at it, even as the rain splashed over his eyes, and plastered his hair down.

At the base, he did finally look down again. The cloak was still splayed out there.

We just… left everything… just like it was…

With a deep breath and steeled nerves, he headed around the back. He despairingly ripped the door back open, over weeds that had grown in front of it already. Then he practically fell through it, and ran up the stairs as fast as he could.

At the top, the stone tile was still pushed aside, where they had left it. He hoisted himself up, and saw the rest of the aftermath they had left as well. Just as it was. There was nothing new to be found here. No one waiting.

Flowers wilted. Food rotted. A single drip coming through the roof. Rust stains around the neglected sink. Dust and cobwebs everywhere.

Lightning flashed again, lighting up the interior with an icy blue hue. It reflected off of every bit of glass and mirror shard scattered about. The light from which then revealed the sixty-nine feet of dead brown hair strewn all around the space. Following the winding mess, and also somewhat reflecting the lightning as well, his eyes landed on the chains and shackle, still wrapped around the banister. Beneath them, was a darkened area of the floor that merely absorbed all the light, rather than reflect it back at all.

Hair… Blood… we left parts of ourselves here…

Through the open window, the storm raged on, flashing and roaring, over and over. Out of breath, he stood there…

…then collapsed to his knees.

A/N: Poor kicked puppy… D=

Follow me as MiraNova23 on tumblr, at miranova23 dot tumblr dot com for Tangled Fandom Resurrection, messaging, keeping up with what's going on in my life, how the writing's going, my other fanworks, lots of Chuck vs Tangled, and all-around general Disnerdiness!