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Literature Text
Chapter 7
"Happy anniversary, Eugene." Rapunzel whispered, snuggling next to him in the heat, ignoring the sweating and discomfort. She took his face in her hands and kissed him fully. Eugene moaned a little. Not exactly up for that kind of kiss.
"Happy anniversary?" He asked. It most certainly was not their wedding anniversary. Maybe Rapunzel had lost it. Then his eyes widened out. "Babe, it was your birthday yesterday! It was your birthday and I forgot!" he gasped, clearly worried about it. Rapunzel paused. The thought hadn't occurred to her, no one had made any mention of her birthday - she didn't think that she had even left their room the day before.
"I guess it was, wasn't it?" She mused. "You know I completely forgot?"
"You're making Estelle a dress just like yours. I mean, clearly it didn't remind me, but it never dawned on you that it was your birthday? You always wear your old dress on your birthday."
"I know. I guess I've just been working on it for too long to notice." She shrugged. Then she gasped. "The lantern thing! Eugene, I forgot about the lanterns! We missed the lanterns!"
"I know." He moaned. "I guess we fell asleep. Nicky said that he chased Estelle in here and your mom told him to just let us sleep. It bothers me that I didn't remember your birthday. Bothers me a lot." Eugene was serious, and very frustrated, but Rapunzel waved her hand carelessly.
"Eugene, I forgot my birthday. Don't even worry about it. Besides, it's just a birthday. Nothing special." She shrugged.
"Yes it is special. To me it is." Eugene insisted. "Your birthday showed you the lanterns, showed you life - it brought you home!" Rapunzel lay her hand on his chest, trying to quiet him down. No exertion - at least that's what Dr. Fredrick had said at the beginning. He never bothered saying things like that anymore. Now Rapunzel knew why. Should she tell Eugene? His voice was just so very harsh.
"No, Eugene. You did." She whispered with her hand on his face as she gazed deep into his eyes. "You showed me beauty, kindness, joy. You showed me love,Eugene. And you; you brought me home."
"But that was nothing." He mumbled, wishing he wasn't blushing - wait, he wasn't. That was still the rash.
"Eugene Joseph Fitzherbert, you died for me. You looked into my eyes, and when you did you poured your soul into mine." she gasped, the memory forever fresh, forever real in her eyes. "You gave me your life by taking away my chains - by taking away the one thing that could save your life." Her voice sank to a whisper, shuddering with tears. "Oh, you loved me! You wouldn't let me live in that hell-"
"You loved me. You chose that hell over any possibility of escape, of freedom. No, Rapunzel. You gave me everything. You taught me to live, you taught me to love and to dream." He gasped. There were tears in both of their eyes, Eugene's hand was weakly touching her hair, trying to sweep it back while she held his face firmly in one hand, her other hand pressed gently over his lower chest, where beneath it was a ragged scar. A beautiful scar, unlike any other. Her hair had healed scars, her tear did not.
"I would do it again." They both said at once, lost in eachother's eyes. The years made no difference. He loved her more than anything, more than he had ever loved himself.
"So what's this 'anniversary' stuff?" He asked finally, deciding to break the intense atmosphere.
"The day after my birthday, Eugene. Come on! Sixteen years ago today Max broke you out of jail and you came to rescue me.Sixteen years ago you-" Rapunzel choked up. She couldn't say it. Any other year it would have been nothing, but now? Now, when she had caught her father making funeral plans for her husband? She felt that same fear of the sixteen years ago when Eugene stumbled into the tower and Gothel had stabbed him from the shadows. Or even when he had come back to her, as they entered the kingdom. Thank God for Max; Eugene would never have gotten through otherwise. That was a nervous, hollow fear, when they didn't know if he was going to be hung even though he had returned the lost princess. But she had a hard time pushing down that deep pit of fear in her stomach. It was like he had cut her hair all over again - but there was nothing more in her tears, or she wouldn't have lost either of their children; not with as many tears as she had shed.
"Sixteen years ago today, I died." Eugene sighed. He sounded a bit incredulous, as if he couldn't believe it had really happened. His left hand moved shakily to her head and Rapunzel immediately leaned down to his chest. She could feel him breathe - but the breath was shallow and strained, as if it took great effort. His heart beat in her ear, slower than normal, but to her it sounded strong, just a little tired, like a good night's rest would bring it back. She nestled her head deeper. Nothing comforted her more than the touch and sound of his beating heart. It couldn't stop again. No. Not until they were older, until their children were grown and ready to take care of themselves.
"Stay with me this time, Eugene." She cried, grasping his shirt in her hands.
"Rapunzel..."
"Please, Eugene!" She sobbed. "Stay for Eugene, he can't really grow up without you here. And Leora. Eugene, no one understands her as well as you do. Nicholas and Matthew are just so young....and Mite! Eugene, what would my baby do without you?" Rapunzel's face was still buried deep in his chest. She couldn't see his face, how he looked at her - how he always looked at her. She didn't hear his breath quicken or see the tears in his eyes. If it was his choice? Yes. Of course he would stay with them! He would fight harder than he had ever fought. Rapunzel and his babies were everything that he had in this world. But was it his choice?
"I will fight for you." He whispered, and Rapunzel could tell from his eyes; from the gentle touch on her chin that caused her to lift her eyes to his that he meant for it to be a whisper. "I will always fight for you. Forever. You're going to plan another lantern festival, right?"
"Hmm?" Rapunzel asked, her mind not registering things quickly at the moment.
"It'll be silly, of course. Incredibly silly, but we can make up for your birthday when I get over this."
"And you are going to get over this!"
"Yes I am." He smiled. He wasn't completely sure of why he said that, because his already queasy insides were shaking as he said it. But somewhere in the deep, deep of his heart there was a small solid spot. Whether it was stubbornness or faith he didn't know, but he felt it there. Barely there - like the tear that fell from his beloved's eye - but there. "Oh, I love you, babe." He gasped, suddenly overwhelmed by her familiar, beautiful green eyes. He would have fallen to kissing her, but at this point the only thing his weakened body would have done was to have fallen. Rapunzel understood. She held him in her arms and started to smother him in gentle, passionate kisses. Eugene smiled, not really doing much of the kissing, just breathing her air, tasting her lips on his. He didn't think his kiss could taste very good at the moment anyway. Her arms encircled him tighter, drawing him closer and pulling him into her. She pulled her head up, cradling his under her chin and swaying to and fro just a little. He kissed her neck and sighed, relaxing completely in her arms. He was so tired.
"Rapunzel." He yawned.
"Shhh." Rapunzel answered. She knew he was falling asleep. She pressed his hot forehead to her lips. "I'm not going to leave you ever."
© 2013 - 2024 Whytegriffin
Comments14
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I been reading this story for a while and love it! I tell these last two chapter I was about to cry! I really don't want to see Eugene die, it break my heart as well as others! I agree with both you about the Rapunzel and Jack shipping,it's gonna out of hand! I totally disagree with the shipping. I prefer Rapunzel with Eugene anyways. They make a better couple plus they did a lot of sacrifices for each other to get where they are. I highly doubt either one of them would separate the other after what both went through. They both have a strong bond that I see can't be broken easy.so those other people who shipp the jack and Rapunzel needs to stop!
If I was Rapunzel I voice my oppion about this shipping too! Rapunzel loves Eugene and she has no plans of leaving him so stop this nonsense shipping!
If I was Rapunzel I voice my oppion about this shipping too! Rapunzel loves Eugene and she has no plans of leaving him so stop this nonsense shipping!