Tangled After The Series - There's No Such Thing As 'The End'

Chapter 26: All of me loves all of you

     The Old Captain stood waiting two doors down – with Quirin which Cassandra hadn't been preparing for.

     "This is why in some ways I'm glad Eugene didn't know Edmund when we first got together, I didn't have to deal with the awkward conversation," Rapunzel smiled, "He did though." The two ladies laughed, and the sound caused the two gentlemen to look towards them. They appeared to have been deep in conversation.

     There was an awkward pause before Cassandra spoke up, "If you must ridicule him Dad then save it for a later date."

     The Old Captain crossed his arms, "Doesn't mean he gets out of it, any man who catches your eye has got to be good enough – no offense Quirin,"

     "None taken Raymond, you want what's best for your kid. Can't fault you for that."

     Cassandra couldn't help but sense there was an undertone to that statement. She played with a loose thread on her gloves as she turned to the ex-knight, "Sir, you have every right to hate me and I know I should have sooner, but I am deeply sorry for all I did to you." She turned to both of the fathers for the next part, "I have never felt about anyone how I feel about Varian. I want him to be happy and never want to hurt him again."

     Silence. Cassandra stood tall; her gaze unwavering. Rapunzel blinked and her eyes darted between the three of them.

     Raymond caved first. He nodded with a small smile, "Then that's enough for now."

     Afterwards, Quirin sighed, "And the least I can do after months of Varian singing your praises is give you a chance to prove them,"

     "And I won't waste it Sir."

     "Please, call me Quirin." With a barely contained sigh of relief, Cassandra took Quirin's outstretched hand and exchanged a calm handshake.

*~*~*

     "Ah the awkward parent talk. Glad that part of my relationship is over," Eugene said shuddering.

     Varian laughed, "That bad huh?"

     "Mine made much worse by the fact that I was a former criminal, I stole twice from the family I was hoping to be accepted into and that they were the King and Queen of the Kingdom."

     Varian looked down at the bed, "Well I share the first point with you."

     Eugene sat on the bed, "Yeah but so is Cassandra. Old Cap can't judge you for something that his own daughter did." He hit Varian's arm with the back of his hand encouragingly but turned slightly more serious, "You two are happy together, anyone can see that. If you've got the chance to be as happy as I am with Sunshine, then take it. As much as I sometimes can't stand CassANdra, don't let anything hold you back now that you finally have what you've always wanted."

     Varian smiled, "Thanks Eugene."

     It was then the swordswoman and the Princess walked back into the room followed by Quirin. Raymond stood in the doorway and Varian couldn't help but go tense. Cassandra shot her father a look to which he nodded then bowed his head to Varian, the alchemist relaxing slightly. He knew it was far from over with the Old Captain if he kept hoping to see his daughter but at least he wasn't getting killed today.

     Cassandra moved some of Varian's clothes off a chair so she could sit down but her eyes caught on the shirt he was wearing a week ago – dried blood still surrounding the tear. "I don't think this stain's coming out anytime soon."

     Eugene laughed, "Right replacement shirt for a Winter Holiday gift it is," Varian laughed with him.

     Rapunzel sat down on the bed - beside where Cassandra stood, Varian tried to push himself up but couldn't keep his arm steady. Eugene moved around to the other side of the bed and offered him and hand, Varian took it with a sigh and Eugene kept an arm around his shoulders to hold him up and Eugene propped Varian up on his pillows.