Chapter 14 – An Ending

"She's the girl that no one ever knows"

A police car was ready and waiting in a matter of minutes. It took us down the winding roads of Corona to a hospital. It was a very tall building clad in white. A neon science shown it's name "Corona Emergency Hospital." As soon as we entered I was overwhelmed with the smells and the amount of people. A child was crying in the main room while others rushed around. Everyone was busy, and I didn't know what to do. Max placed a hand on the small of my back, guiding me to a window inside with a woman sitting behind it at a desk. He showed his I.D. to the woman. I could barely hear him over the sounds surrounding us.

"We're here to see Flynn Rider."

"He's in police custody, I'm afraid I can't let you." The woman shook her head.

"Captain Gainey should have called and said that Maximus Gainey and Rapunzel Gothel would be here to visit with police escort." Max talked diplomatically. It was weird to hear the words come out of his mouth. He sounded like a different person.

The woman let out a sigh, "Let me talk with my supervisor." The woman stood from behind the glass pane and left. The few minutes we waited felt like hours, but she eventually came back and motioned for the police officer that had tailed us. She talked quietly with him keeping her voice low so Max and I couldn't hear it. She slipped him a piece of paper.

"This way," The man said in a gruff voice before leading us through the hospital to an elevator. He glanced at the slip of paper and pressed a floor when we entered. There were other people standing in the elevator. I didn't like it. The walls were too close to me, the people were all crammed together, and it felt overwhelming and like the air had been sucked from the room.

I clutched to Max's side as he wrapped an arm around my shoulders holding me close until we got to the floor. We followed the officer to another lady at a desk. She wasn't behind a window though; she was just sitting in the middle of a room at a circular desk. He handed her a piece of paper and his badge.

"This way," The new woman at the desk stood up and walked away from us. We all followed in complete silence. Every door was closed. Behind some of the doors I could hear moaning and groaning, others were completely silent. The hallway was empty except for us. My anticipation rose as we walked.

"He just got out of surgery an hour or so ago. He's out of the ICU, but he hasn't woken up yet."

"Woken up?"

It appeared the woman had been talking to the police officer rather than me, because she looked back shocked.

"Yes, we had to put him under to perform surgery. He hasn't woken up yet. It's a miracle that he's still alive. A clean wound, right through his abdomen like that. It barely missed some of his vital organs. He lost a lot of blood, too." The woman continued to talk. Her terms gradually became more complicated and I tuned them out once I saw two guards stationed outside of a room.

"Eugene." I gasped knowing that the guards were for him. I attempted to run for the room, but Max grabbed me by the waist holding me back.

"Patience, Rapunzel." He urged me. Keeping the pace with the group was hard, I wanted to see Eugene, but they walked so slow. My heart was pounding wildly knowing that I would see him and my legs ached to run to him. He was hurt because of me. Everything that happened was because of me.

"Captain Gainey tells me you'll be staying here for some time."

"I need to talk to him." I told her, but Max pushed me back.

"We will be staying until the morning, if that is alright."

"Just don't get in the way of the nurses and doctors." The woman urged before opening the door for us. She let Max and I, and the guard, into the room. I let go of Max's hand as soon as I saw Eugene lying in a bed. Tears welled in my eyes as I noticed the machines tied to him. The sounds in the room weren't as bad as the hallway noises or the lobby noises. Just beeps as machines calculated. His life was in their hands.

"Eugene." I breathed, tears beginning again in my eyes. I ran towards the bed careful of everything. His face was peaceful. My fingers reached out touching his face where a shadow of hair graced his jaw line.

There was no response.

I leaned against the bed staring for awhile. My fingers found their way to his hand taking it gently to hold it. I gave it a small squeeze. Nothing. No response. It was limp.

"Eugene," I breathed again.

"Why don't you sit down?" Max offered pulling up a chair beside Eugene's bedside. I sat, my body thanking Max, but I didn't say a word. I stared at Eugene's hand as I traced small circles into his lifeless palm. I glanced at his peaceful face. What had I done?

Max flipped on the television. I glanced at it for a second. While the television might have entertained me because I never watched growing up, I was more focused on Eugene. I didn't want to watch it right now. I just wanted Eugene to wake up. I glanced towards the door where a guard was standing. He watched me closely making sure I didn't do anything.

I looked back at Eugene giving him my full attention. Over time, my eyes started growing tired, my body heavy. I leaned forward resting my head on the bed, my fingers still clinging to his. I didn't mean to fall asleep, but my body willed it.

Before I knew it, I heard talking.

"Why did you bring her here?"

"It wasn't my choice!"

My ears perked as my head slowly rose from the bed. I wasn't in a familiar place, but I knew both of the people talking. Then I remembered everything. Eugene had been stabbed by Gothel. I was taken to a police station and forced to retell the events. Then, Max had helped me visit Eugene in the hospital. I fell asleep waiting for him to wake up, but now we were both awake.

"Eugene," I gasped realizing he was awake. He was sitting up in the bed. His eyes were trained on Max, but shifted to me when I woke up. I saw a small smile spread on his face.

Barely thinking, I threw my arms around his neck hugging him close. I was on the hospital bed with him. His arms were around my waist holding me close. I could feel his face in my neck. I didn't want to let him go, but I needed to see his face. I pulled away slowly, laughing twice, and looking into his deep brown eyes. My hands fisted in his hospital gown near the collar. I felt a tear run down my cheek as I pulled him close to me, my lips clashing with his.

I kissed him.

It was my first, so I had no idea what I was doing, but he seemed to. His fingers slipped through my short, choppy hair, pulling me closer to him. His lips glided over mine as he controlled my head. I didn't mind, I just held him tighter. I needed this. I waited so long to kiss him. I wanted to kiss him.

"Rapunzel," He laughed pulling away and resting his forehead against mine. I wanted to keep kissing him. It felt good, the way he knotted his fingers into my hair. Goose bumps ran along my arms.

"I've wanted to do that forever." I admitted quietly looking anywhere but his eyes.

"Me too," He admitted. I smiled and looked back into his eyes. He gave me a small peck on the lips before pulling away. "We need to talk though." His fingers brushed through my hair pushing it back.

"About what? You're okay, that's all I care about." I fought the urge to kiss him as I adjusted myself to sit on the bed next to him. One of my hands braced itself on the bed, holding me up, while the other played with the wrinkles of his hospital gown.

"You shouldn't have come."

The words made my heart fall and I looked away putting my hand in my lap.

"I had to see you."

"Rapunzel," His voice was breathless, pleading. His hand reached out for my face making me look at him again. "You have a change to start a new life. Find your parents, whoever they are, find someone, and start over."

"I want to start over with you." I sighed leaning forward as if to kiss him again, but he held me back.

"I'm going to go away for awhile once I'm healed."

"Why?" I asked him not understanding. Why would he leave me?

It was his turn to look away, and not meet my eyes.

"I did a lot of bad things. I stole. You know that."

"But you don't anymore."

He sighed, and I took his hand out of comfort. "I have warrants for my arrest, and I'm going to admit to everything. That'll make my sentence shorter." No matter what he had done for me, and even if he had stopped stealing, he was going to jail.

"I'll wait for you." I promised, pressing my forehead against his.

"You have a chance-."

"I don't care if I have a chance or can start over. I care about you, Eugene, and I need you in my life. You were my new dream." I repeated to him and sealed my lips over his again. It was short, but sweet.

With a small smile on his face, Eugene laughed, "It might be a couple years."

"It could be a hundred years and I wouldn't care."

"Rapunzel-."

"Eugene." I pleaded. "Just trust me."

"I-," He sighed staring up at the ceiling. I determinedly stared at him until he looked back at me. "Okay, if that is what you want to do." We stared at each other for awhile before I kissed him once more. This time it was longer, his lips moved against mine as I felt his tongue touch my lips. He knew exactly what he was doing and guided me through the motions.

I pulled away slowly, "I'm going to stay by your side for as long as I can. I want to help."

"I think you've helped plenty as it is." He pushed my hair back. Then, he turned my head slightly to look at it from the side. "I like your hair like this." Eugene changed the subject. "It's cute."

I brought my fingers up to touch it. "It's kind of brown. I never realized that at the base of my head it's brown."

"I like it." He admitted. I let out a small laugh.

"I like you." He was serious.

"I like you too." I professed. He kissed me once more before moving to look at the television. I forgot it was on. I looked back and saw Max just watching it. I forgot he was there.

"Thank you." I reached out for Max's shoulder; he looked back at me and smiled.

"No problem. I'm here to help too."

"Thanks," Eugene grinned, "You're not so bad, kid."

"Yeah, whatever." Max waved the two of us off. "Just get some rest, both of you."

I smiled and retreated back to my seat by Eugene's bed as he settled into it. It suddenly felt okay to sleep. My feet were tired, my body was exhausted, but my mind was buzzing. I felt happy. I felt something new bubbling in my chest.

Taking Eugene's hand in mine, I leaned forward. "I'll wait for you, from a day to a year to forever. " I saw the small smile appear on his face, his eyes closed.

"I know, Blondie."

"For like the first time ever I'm completely free. I feel so at home."

The room was quiet after that. No television. No talking. Just a peaceful quiet as the morning sun began peaking into the room. It was uninterrupted from any trees. There was just Eugene, Max, and me sitting as the run reached through. I was home when I was with them. I had grown so much.

Eugene and I were no longer just a rogue and an artist. We were something more.

A/N: This is the last chapter for A Rogue and An Artist. I would like to thank everyone for reading! If you'd like to leave a review, I do read every single one. I greatly appreciate all of the reviews I have received and the audience that I have held captive for half a year. Thank you. -Keiliykuckoo