So, back to business I guess.

I just want to let you know what you're getting into here:
First of all, I will say that I won't update regularly and I really, really, really hope I will have enough inspiration to finish this story, for a change. I know I'm not the most reliable person but I'll really try this time.

Eugene's name will change to "Rider" or "Flynn" through the course of this and it's intentional because there are different characters talking, even if it's in third person all the time.

So, I've seen other authors apologize for writing much dialogue. I have to tell you, I love dialogue, so there will be much of that in this story. And if you're not a fan of it and blah blah blah find it's really annoying (hey, that's just a play on Gothel) then you should probably skip this story. Or maybe not. I'm not yet sure if I'll be able to stomp much dialogue in here.

As always, I'm not a native English speaker, dictcc is my best friend and that won't change in the near future, so any correction of idioms, grammar or unsuitable words is greatly appreciated.

Eugene is hard to write. So is humor.

Also, there's no whump in this first chapter, so don't get your hopes up. Sorry. There will be in later chapters, though, because I have done an outline (4 pages in Word) and well, that's just the way I am.

Anyway, enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Tangled. I do own two Rapunzel dolls, one of which I got for my birthday two days ago. (Thanks, little sister!) But I don't own all the hours that I spent on thinking about where to go with this fic anymore. They're gone foreverrrrrrr

Summary: The lost princess has returned. So has a certain thief. And who the hell is this Eugene guy the princess constantly fusses over? Name-play, misunderstandings and Eugene!whump all around.

I'm not really sure about this. I mean, really, Eugene is amazing. I'm really afraid I can't capture him correctly.

(By the way, why can't I join awesome fandoms earlier? Like I'm just such a late bloomer.)

Meeting the Parents

Somewhere during the journey to the castle, a few promises had snuck in. And this time, Rapunzel was determined to keep hers. When she had promised her Mother (she should really start referring to her as Gothel) that she would go with her without trying to run or escape and everything would be the way it used to be, she had wished with every fiber of her being that she could break away from that promise. When she finally did, she wished she hadn't.

Which is why she was now hugging Eugene from behind, Maximus striding steadily forward, and whispering in his ear with as much confidence as she could muster: "I promise to never let anything happen to you again."

After a moment of tense silence, Eugene chuckled. "I'm not sure you'll be able to do that much about it, Blondie."

She pressed her cheek against his back. "It doesn't matter. I'm determined to keep this promise."

Eugene didn't say anything for a while but when he spoke again, his voice had adopted a more serious tone itself. "That's really nice of you. And I want to promise you something in return... I promise to never leave you again." Subconsciously, Rapunzel tightened her embrace. "Or to get ripped away from you, for that matter. It's not like I have ever left you before," he added nonchalantly, making Rapunzel smile.

"Well, then I'm set on ruining your reputation. Or rather, improving it."

"What did I tell you about a man's fake reputation?" Eugene reminded her playfully.

"I could also correct your nose on those wanted posters of yours."

"Now that's what I call a vital decision for the kingdom's continued existence! You make an excellent ruler already."

Even if she could have suppressed the carefree laugh that escaped her throat she wouldn't have wanted to. What she wanted to do was to show the world how much she loved this man and how happy she was that he was by her side, alive, how relieved she was that he was still there, even promising to never leave her. She couldn't be more happy as Maximus added a joyous bounce to his brisk walk, taking the couple, and Pascal (ever present on Rapunzel's shoulder and, occasionally, on Eugene's) to the Lost Princess' royal parents and her soon-to-be home.

The next thing they knew, they were both pulled into a long-overdue embrace by the King and Queen.

Literally everything seemed perfect. And, as we all know, that's not how things stay for long.

Which meant, in this case, that it was time for the name exchange.

The cue was Rapunzel's issue with what to call her parents, now that she knew them. She explained that it would take some time to get used to the whole "Mother" and "Father" thing, especially since the whole ordeal with a certain woman who 'knew best'. But Rapunzel was confident that, at some point, she would be able to get over her past and embrace her parents as what they were. Her parents. For the moment, she was content with calling them "Liam" and "Melissa", though.

They were astonishingly sympathetic. Or not so astonishingly, Eugene mused, for they were Rapunzel's parents after all and the apple never falls far from the tree.

They knew her name, of course, because apparently Gothel hadn't bothered changing it.

Then it was his turn and, man, did he not want to ruin the moment.

Rapunzel, apparently, did.

Liam and Melissa's gazes bore into him, shockingly similar to that dagger that had impaled his abdomen. He stared back at them blankly and Rapunzel gently nudged his arm, her huge green eyes urging him to respond when they connected with his brown ones. And who was he to refuse her?

"Go ahead, tell them."

Melissa couldn't quite really grasp what was happening. Had her daughter really returned? Wasn't this just wishful thinking? A dream maybe?

No.

It was real. It was more real than anything when she wrapped her arms around her little girl for the first time in forever, it seemed.

And then there was this man. The one she couldn't be more grateful to.

And yet.

There was something about him that was familiar to her. She knew this man. And by the look her husband gave her he did too. Her suspicions and curiosity were piqued even more when he was so hesitant to tell his name.

But fortunately, her daughter seemed to have a good grip on him. Her daughter. She made her so proud.

The man cleared his throat. "My name's Eugene Fitzherbert," he said with a slight strain in his voice that could either be interpreted as him not liking the name or hiding the pivotal catch.

Huh. That certainly didn't ring any bells. And she couldn't escape the feeling that there was more.

There was more. Because her daughter (her daughter! She couldn't refer to this beautiful girl in that way often enough) gave him another reassuring look that dispelled most of the unease from his features.

Wait, reassuring?

He took a deep breath. "But… you may know me by the name 'Flynn Rider'." He added a sheepish look after that statement.

Melissa's eyes widened and her mouth formed a small 'o'.

Of course.

She looked at her husband who mimicked her surprise, with a hint of suspicion gleaming in his eyes.

Honestly, Melissa didn't know what to think at that moment. A moment ago he had been a hero to her. And now...

What was he now?

A fraud?

An enemy?

The next corpse dangling from the noose?

No.

Absolutely not.

No matter what he had done, he had still returned her daughter and she was forever grateful for that.

Before she could voice her thoughts, though, whichever part of them, Rapunzel raised her voice.

"Now, before you say anything, I know what he's done. I know who he used to be. But he isn't that person anymore. He's the reason I'm standing here now," she pointed to the ground for emphasis, "He has done much more for me in the two days that I've known him than the person who I believed to be my mother. All I ask for is that you trust him. Please."

And she did. She did because her daughter did. She did because she was grateful. She did because she knew about the good he had done. She trusted him.

But her husband didn't. She knew that even before he began to speak. "I don't think I can do that." Rapunzel threw him a pleading look. Oh please, give this poor girl a break. "Rapunzel, you must understand that this is not easy for me. He's a wanted criminal in this kingdom and we're its rulers. I can't trust a stranger just like that."

Melissa had to refrain from stomping on his foot. She knew how her daughter would react because she would react the same way and this was her daughter. (No, she definitely couldn't grasp the fact that she was back yet.)

"And what am I?" Rapunzel yelled in frustration. "I'm a stranger to you, too! And don't say I'm not just because I'm your daughter!"

Melissa couldn't help but notice how tense Rider, err, Eugene had become over the course of the conversation. She sympathized with him, for some reason.

Liam sighed heavily. "You're right." Then he stepped forward and placed a firm hand on Rapunzel's shoulder. "Why don't you two come inside and join us for dinner?" he suggested soothingly.

And that was a much better approach. But Melissa had the inkling that it was rather due to the fact that he didn't want his first conversation with his daughter to turn into an argument than him taking her words at face-level. He could be so stubborn and self-righteous.

Nonetheless, Rapunzel smiled up at her father with teary eyes (who could blame her?) and grabbed his arm affectionately with a delicate hand.

Of course, the King and Queen had heard stories about Flynn Rider. Unpleasant ones. In the most recent one he had stolen the crown of the Lost Princess. And here he was, that criminal scum, standing next to said Lost Princess who looked affectionately up at him.

How did that happen? They were determined to find out.

But not before sending word to the publisher of the local newspaper to spread the news of the return of the Lost Princess as well as the man who had returned her, Flynn Rider.

She had to reassure the disbelieving messenger at least three times that no, she hadn't mixed up any names and yes, she was serious.

She wasn't mad, though, because she was aware that he knew about Flynn Rider. As did most people in the kingdom since the crown incident. Or rather, since the evening of her daughter's eighteenth birthday when every conversation revolved around the princess, so it was only a matter of time before everyone knew about the theft. And the thief.

And wasn't that going to be interesting.