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Chapter six: loose ends

Everyone waited in silence, as Rapunzel hugged the crying boy.

They all saw what happened, and the shock was even more so when they figured out Nigel was in on the whole plan.

Varian pulled back looking Rapunzel in the face, tears streaking his.

"She- " his voice trembled" she died for me."

Rapunzel held the sides of his face, smiling softly.
"Yes she did Varian. She loved you. More then we'll probably know. Whatever it was that sparked between you to- it was more then a mear friendship. "

He looked into Rapunzel's eyes as she continued.
"She - she loved you as her own. The way she stood up for you when me and Max tried to get near you- she was protecting you Varian.
She -"

"I- I felt like she-" he said softly, voice wavering " she was the closest I've ever been to a mother. "

Raps smiled softly, and leaned forward and kissed the young alchemist on the forehead.
"I know, I could tell. And I know she felt the same way. "

Eugene walked over and put his hand on Varians shoulder, the boy looked over at him.

"Hey kiddo" he said, a soft smile on his face.
" we- we brought her back, and - we buried her under the apple tree on the hill over there " he said, pointing to one of Varians favorite trees.

He looked between the two of them, and Rapunzel nodded her head.
Varian gave a sad smile, and pulled away, running up the hill.

Eugene and the princess slowly followed the boy, as he stumbled up the hill, tears rolling down his face.

Reaching the top, he saw an empty Boulder placed against the tree, over the packed down dirt.

He feel on his knees, hands wringing as he choked out a sob.
He reached into one of his pockets and pulled out a metal tool.

Rapunzel and Eugene watched from a few feet away as the sound of the metal against stone rang out into the early morning air.

Varian sniffed, and wiped his face with the sleeve of his shirt.
Leaning back he stared at the words that now lay carved into the Boulder.

Meara
Closest mother a boy could have.

He let a few more silent tears roll down his face, and ran a shaking hand over the stone.
"I won't forget you " he whispered.

He turned around and looked at Rapunzel and Eugene.
He smiled, as a few last tears rolled down his broken face.
Getting up he ran over to Eugene, suddenly hugging him tightly.

"Thank you thank you " he said softly crying." Thank you for not just leaving her out there. "

Eugene swallowed, holding back the tears that threatened to run down his own face.
"Yeah, kid, I wouldn't leave her out there. And well- Rapunzel was the one you really should be thanking."

The boy looked at her and smiled, and she smiled back, pulling both of the men into a hug.

They all heard panting, and turned to see Lance slowly walking forward, gathering his breath from the uphill run.

"How you- ran up this and aren't- huh- dead yet- phew!- I'll never know " he managed to say between breathes.
"Anywho- the king is going to have a trial for those basterds, and I thought maybe Varian should be there, to ya know, speak on his own behalf. "