#eugunzel

“It’s not so bad, Eugene,” she says. “Some fresh air will be nice, and we just spent the afternoon getting the guard back in order, so there’s no danger.” 

“Yeah, I mean, what are the odds we get attacked twice in one day?” Eugene agrees. 

“Pretty high now that you’ve said it,” Cass puts in. 

Rapunzel laughs and sets Pascal on his perch before flopping down on her bed on her back. “This was a good day.” 

“Sunshine, we almost got stomped by a giant demon sorcerer lady,” Eugene says. 

“The key word is almost,” she says with a sigh. Her body feels liquid against her silk bedding. 

“It’s certainly been a day to remember,” Cass says dryly. “I guess I’ll head back to my room. It’s still there, right?” 

Rapunzel sits up on her bed. “What? I mean, yeah, it’s still there, but you’re gonna leave? You just got back, Cass.”

“Well, yeah,” she says, but she hesitates. 

“Well, I’m not going anywhere,” Eugene says, throwing himself on the bed next to Rapunzel. “Pretty sure Zhan Tiri trashed my room anyway.” 

Rapunzel laughs. “You’re welcome here anytime.” She takes his hand, and he squeezes it. “Cass?” Rapunzel says. 

Cass huffs as she sits on the edge of the bed. “Someone needs to look after you two.” 

“Yay!” Rapunzel squeals. She leans over to kiss Cass on the cheek before she stands up and darts behind her dressing screen to change into her nightclothes. 

When she gets back, Eugene has taken off his jacket and boots, and he smiles when he sees her. “I’m gonna have to get used to not calling you blondie anymore.” 

“You’ve always been slow on the uptake,” Cass says. She’s still wearing her black and gray bodysuit with the hole where the Moonstone used to be. 

Rapunzel digs around in her drawers until she finds what she’s looking for—a white blouse and brown leggings, leftover from a long ago sleepover with Cass. She hands them to her without a word, and if Eugene is surprised that Rapunzel still has some of Cassandra’s clothes in her room, he doesn’t show it. 

“Thanks, Raps,” Cass says. She stands and ducks behind the screen. 

Rapunzel lays down in bed and rests her head on Eugene’s chest. He plays with the ends of her new haircut. 

Cass returns in soft white and brown fabric, and Rapunzel beams at her. She rolls her eyes as she climbs into bed on the other side of Rapunzel. 

The princess’s bed is big enough for the three of them, and Rapunzel curls up between Cassandra and Eugene. Eugene drapes an arm over her, and Rapunzel wraps an arm around Cass with a sigh. 

“The last time we did this, we were all on the way to the Dark Kingdom,” she says. 

“Feels like just yesterday,” Eugene says. 

Cass huffs a laugh. “Feels like a lifetime ago to me.” 

Internally, Rapunzel agrees with both of them. “Are you still going to leave tomorrow, Cass?’ 

The former lady-in-waiting is quiet for a moment. “Yes,” she answers. “There’s a big world out there beyond Corona, and we only saw a bit of it.” 

“Okay,” Rapunzel says. She knows what Cass means. She knows Cass has to leave for the same reason she did, and for the same reason that she turned down Eugene’s first proposal and floundered at his second. “Will you be coming back?”

“Of course. Just don’t ask me when,” she says. 

“We’ll hold you to that,” Eugene says. “So don’t take too long, or Sunshine’ll send the Royal Guard after you.” 

“Eugene! I wouldn’t do that!” 

“You would,” Cass and Eugene say in unison. 

“Only if I was really worried,” she concedes. 

The trio falls silent for a moment. Eugene’s arm is warm and comforting around Rapunzel’s waist. She can feel Cass’s steady breathing as her chest rises and falls under Rapunzel’s arm. Eugene lets out a sleepy sigh. 

“Will you still be here in the morning?” Rapunzel whispers. 

“Yes, Raps,” Cass says, fond and exasperated. “I won’t leave without saying goodbye.” 

“Okay.” 

“Now get some sleep.” 

“Okay. I love you,” Rapunzel says. 

She can practically feel Cass rolling her eyes through their connection. “I love you too.” 

“That’s great, but can we have this discussion in the morning?” Eugene says with a yawn. 

“Can it, Fitzherbert.” 

“Love you too, Cass.”