Dark Hearts (Golden Heart AU)

Chapter Seventeen

~Twelve years ago~

"Uncle Varian!" the young man turned around just in time to catch the little blond princess Ella Fitzherbert. 

He let out a laugh as he caught her, "Slow down there sunshine." he set her down, "What have I told you about running in my shop." 

She rung her little hands together, "To not to Sorry uncle Varian!" 

"Its okay" He ruffled her hair, "Now where are you parents?" 

"Varian!? Please tell me Ella ran in here!" Eugene called running down the stairs. 

The young engineer gave Ella a look, she just gave him a sheepish smile, "Yeah she's down here." 

The tired father of two scrambled down the stairs with his two year old son in his arms. "Ella you can't run off like that. It doesn't matter if were in the castle or not I have to be able to find you. Especially when your mom isn't here." He explained in a calm yet tried voice. 

"Sorry daddy," She apologized with no argument. 

"Why isn't Rapunzel here?" 

"She Belle, Jasmine and Ariel went on a 'Queen's day' I recon Adam and Eric got it easy." 

Varian lets out a laugh, "If you need some help I'm willing, I can teach her a few things about alchemy. I'll leave it PG and I wont let her play with anything dangerous." 

Eugene wasn't sure, "Please daddy please." Ella begged pulling on her fathers pant leg.  

She gave him the baby doll eyes that he couldn't deny, "Oh alright. As long as you listen to your uncle so you don't get hurt." 

She nodded with a big smile and ran over to her uncle. He swung her up on a stool and placed a pair of brass goggles over her eyes and a pair of white leather gloved on her hands, "I'm going to pretend that doesn't worry me," Her father said walking back up the stairs. 

Ella loved her Uncle Varian he was probably one of her favorite people, maybe even her very favorite. She loved her parents but there was something about that fact that they were her parents that made that made her more attached to her uncle.

Varian adored the little girl, She was such a ray of sunshine, and it felt good to have someone who didn't know about his past. Someone who didn't see him as a ticking time bomb that could go off at any moment. Even Rapunzel, who saw the good in everyone, was tense around him from time to time despite his actions being about nine years go. Ella just though he was good through and through. One day he would have to tell her but right now all she saw was her fun uncle Varian someone she wanted to be with all the time. 

when Rapunzel came home she kissed his cheek and he wish her goodbye. "Are you coming back tomorrow Uncle Varian?" 

"No sunshine I have to finish working on something for your birthday but the day after okay." Ella's birthday was coming up and he wanted to surprise her 

She pouted but then giggled as he tickled her and nodded. 

~~~

Varian pulled up to the castle two days latter as promised. The atmosphere was gloomy as he walked in. Ella wasn't there to greet him like she normally was and Neither was her parents or Ryder. "Rapunzel! Eugene! Ella! Ryder!" he passed Ella's Room and heard soft sobs. He knocked on the door, "Ella, kiddo are you alright?" He didn't expect the sight he saw as he walked into the room.

Eugene Fitzherbert the thief Flynnigan rider, his hero growing up, was laying on his daughters bed sobbing into a bare stuffy. "Eugene? what's going on where's Ella, Rapunzel, and Ryder?"