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"This would have been real handy if I had known this was here," said Eugene, hands on his hips as he surveyed the hidden door to Rapunzel’s tower with a loathing glare. By not, most of the plants that grew over the base of the tower had covered it up. “I really should’ve just checked before shouting up to you to throw down your hair. Being stabbed really isn’t one of my fondest memories.”

He glanced back at Rapunzel, hoping his little quip of a joke would be enough to break the silence vigil she’d held the whole way here. It didn’t. She was staring up at the tower with wide eyes and trembling lips. To her, the tower was like a sleeping monster, ready to awaken and swallow her up again and hide her from the world she’d come to love so much more. Eugene scooted back a few subtle inches and took Rapunzel’s hand, hoping it would help to calm her.

“Come on, Blondie,” he said, knowing the use of her old nickname was just another attempt to garner a pretty smile from her,

“There’s nothing to be scared of.”

“I’m not scared!” She said immediately, but the tears peeking out of the corners of her eyes betrayed the strength she’d mustered in her voice. That and he could still feel her pulse quicken when she held his hand.

“Really?” He asked.

“Really, really!” She confirmed, dropping his hand and shooting up the stairs first. She took them much faster than she needed to, sometimes hopping up three at a time. Eugene was right behind her, albeit at a much slower pace. He knew there was no use in the rush. After all, they were both well aware of what they’d find at the top of the staircase.

To be perfectly honest, fear had very little to do with how Rapunzel felt. It was the memories associated with it that made her nervous. So many good times, so much safety and happiness, marred by a moment of pure terror. It was the equivalent of finding out your favorite, cherished teddy bear and a hidden set of fangs all along. It made all the goodness associated with it feel… filthy.

Rapunzel scolded herself mentally for her analogy. Teddy bears. Really. She should have thought of something else. After all… she was a princess now.

But for all her gusto she had for climbing that high set of stairs, she felt weak the moment she emerged in her old home, the wind knocked right out of her. A lungful of air escaped her in one big sigh as she laid eyes on the room she’d called home for the better part of eighteen years. The home where she realized she was royalty, that she had a real family. The room where the woman she had called mother had tied her up and killed the man she loved. The room where she’d lost her beautiful, golden hair.

Rapunzel could fight it any longer. She crumbled, the flaring of her skirt creating a ring in the dust on the floor. Her hands were pressed over her mouth, tears fighting their way out and stinging her eyes and cheeks. The walls seemed to close in on her as she sat there, her breath hitching with each sob and her vision blurring with tears until she can’t…

A comforting warmth came to rest on both shoulders. She rubbed her eyes, the same sources of warmth helping to dry her tears. On one shoulder was Eugene’s hand, his free one gently cupping her cheek and wiping the tears away with his thumb. On the other was Pascal, quietly sitting back with Eugene until they’d found her crying, and was carefully clearing the tears away with his tail.

Eugene knelt beside her, holding her tightly and protecting her as she cried. He didn’t know what to say, but refused to let go until she smiled again.

“It all changed so fast…” She said, voice cracking.

“I know, Rapunzel, I’m sorry,” he said, eyes closed, “I’m sorry.”

She knew Eugene was the one who’d finally set her free, but Rapunzel did blame him for the loss of her hair. She’d tried to tell herself it was a silly notion, because no one else cared quite so much about their hair as she did, but for so much of Rapunzel’s life, her hair defined her. While she knew it was a sick and twisted sort of affection that her mother… that Gothel, had for her, the worst part was that Rapunzel had been exceedingly proud of her hair. She’d been raised to be proud of her hair for the constant reminder it was of her mother’s love, and that it was so special and so unique that people would do anything to get it.

And now it was gone. When she was nervous about the new home she was a part of, she no longer had a handful of hair to twist and knot at her discretion to help make her feel better. She didn’t hold it against, but it did hurt sometimes.

“Don’t be sorry,” She told him, words muffled by his shoulder, “You set me free. The bravest and the best. Flynn Rider, gentleman thief.”

She could hear the rumble in his chest when he laughed.

“Not really. Flynn was a coward. I spent my life running from everything. I was never really brave. I only ever did anything daring or risky when I was sure I could get away with it.

“So… you knew you could save me?”

Eugene paused before giving another bark-like laugh.

“Nope! I was pretty sure things would end up badly. And they did. And that was the first time I’d ever really done anything for someone other than myself. I just had to take that risk. And... nothing else has ever been more worth it, you know?”

Finally, Rapunzel moved away from Eugene enough to stare up at him, lips still quivering as she fought back another cry. Her eyes were still swimming with tears, but as she saw the patient smile on his face, she broke out in one, too. He gave her a small kiss on the cheek, firm and gentle, enough to take away the last of the tears that spilled free. Kisses weren’t that new to Rapunzel anymore, but just as fascinating at the first.

“Let’s get the rest of your things, shall we?” Flynn said, gesturing with his head towards the empty bags he’d brought up with him. He ruffles her hair a little as they stand, catching her in one last hug before going about with the job they’d originally intended to do.

It would take a long, long time to heal. It’d probably take far more hard work than he was used to, more effort than he’d put up with for anything his whole life.

But it was worth it.