Elizabeth's POV: 2 years later

I crept up to Varian's room.

I didn't want him waking up, all i was doing was leaving a note.

I grabbed a pen and paper.

Hey Varian,
I didn't want to wake you up so i just left this here.

By the way, Rapunzel says she needs you're help with something but it's not till later tonight.

Love, Ellie♡

I set it down on his bedside table as Ruddiger, who was sleeping at Varian's feet woke up.

I put my finger over my mouth signaling him to be quiet.

"Keep him distracted till Athena shows up ok? Don't let him go to the castle" i whispered.

Ruddiger nodded.

I think.

"Thanks buddy" i said, patting his head before walking out.

At the castle

"How's it going guys?" I asked as i entered the throne room.

Everyone was prepping for Varian's suprise birthday party.

It's still hard to believe he's turning 18.

"How's it feel pigtails!?" Eugene asked.

"What?" I asked.

"What Eugene is trying to ask" Lance said "is, how does it feel knowing your boyfriend is officially old enough to...oh i don't know...get married?"

I felt my face turn red.

"What are you talking about?" I asked.

"You two have been together for how long?" Eugene said "Don't be suprised if he pops the question soon"

"Yeah right! Is this because i caught Rapunzel's bouquet two years ago? First of all, that was Lance's fault" I laughed "besides that's probably not gonna be for a while"

"We'll see" Lance said as he and Eugene walked away.

Later

"Ok is everything set!? Cause if so i'm sending Athena to get Varian and Ruddiger"

Rapunzel turned to me and nodded.

I looked down at Athena and nodded.

She ran out.

Varian's POV:

"So if my calculations are correct-" i said as i was testing out a new compound.

I was interrupted by barking at the door.

Ruddiger climbed up on my shoulders and i opened the door to see Athena.

"Oh" i said.

I bent down.

"Hey girl, do you know where dad and Ellie are? I haven't seen them all day" i asked.

She barked happily and ran off.

"I'll take that as a yes?" I said, following after her.

She led me all the way to the castle.

I stopped for a minute to catch my breath.

I just ran who knows how many miles to get here, the sun was going down.

I went to knock on the door of the castle.

It opened but nobody was there.

"Hello!?" I called out.

I didn't hear anything but my voice echoing through the halls.

Where is everyone?

Athena ran to the throne room.

Is that where everyone is?

I walked up and opened the door.

"Hello?"

All the lights were off.

I stepped into the room and suddenly something exploded in my face.

Confetti?

Suddenly all the lights turned on.

"Suprise!!"

I looked around the room.

"How did-" i started to ask.

"Tripwire" Ellie said.

"Right, of course" i laughed "Is this why Ruddiger has been stopping me from coming here all day?"

"I kinda asked him to, i wanted to suprise you" Ellie said "so...suprise! Happy birthday!"

"You guys actually remembered?" I asked.

"Of course we did silly!" Ellie said, brushing some of the confetti off my shoulder.

She grabbed my shirt collar and i leaned in to kiss her but before i could Lance and Eugene walked up to me.

"Can you believe it Lance!? Our favorite little alchemist is all grown up!" Eugene said.

"No Eugene i can't! It seems like just yesterday he was fanboying over you thinking you were the real Flynn Rider!" Lance said.

I laughed awkwardly.

"What is happening?" I whispered.

Ellie shrugged.

"Oh sorry Goggles, we don't mean to interrupt your moment with your girlfriend" Eugene said before coughing something that i couldn't hear.

Elizabeth's POV:

"Oh sorry Goggles, we don't mean to interrupt your moment with your girlfriend" Eugene said.

"And potential future wife" he coughed.

"What was that?" Varian asked.

"Nothing! Absolutely nothing you need to worry about Hair Stripe!"

"Ok..."

"Who wants cake!?" Rapunzel asked.

That seemed to distract Eugene and Lance long enough to give us a minute.

"What was that about?" Varian asked.

"They've been acting weird all day" i said.

"When are they not?" He joked, making us both laugh.

Later

So.

Half an hour into the party and the birthday boy disappeared.

He wasn't in the throne room so i went into the hallway.

I looked around until i heard talking.

I turned to see Varian sitting on a balcony staring up at the moon.

I walked up to him.

"Hey Var?" I got his attention.

"Oh..hi Ellie" he said still looking at the moon.

"What are you doing out here?" I asked.

"Oh, i was just talking to mom" he said.

"Oh Varian" i sat next to him.

"I miss her..." he started to cry.

I wiped his tears.

"I know you do, but i'm sure if she were here, she'd be just as proud of you as your dad is...as i am" i said.

I noticed he was holding something.

"What's that?" I asked.

"Oh" he held it up "just a little something i made, to remind me of her." He said.

He wound it up and music started playing.

"She sang this song once, when i was younger" he said.

"How does it go?" I asked.

He smiled and wound it up again.

"Let me see if i can remember"

The music started playing.

Varian's POV: 15 years ago

It was like any other night.

An eerie silence throughout the village.

An open Flynn Rider book on my nightstand that my parents had read to get me to sleep.

I was in bed, my arm wrapped around Ruddiger who was only a baby at the time.

The only difference was that any other night i would be sleeping.

That wasn't the case tonight.

I has just learned my mom was going away for a while, and i was scared how long she would be away for.

I kept thinking how different it would be without her around.

The thought of it became to much for me and i started to cry.

After a few minutes my mom walked in.

"Varian...darling, what's wrong?" She asked.

"I'm gonna miss you mama" i cried.

"It's ok, i'll be back" she said.

"Ok..."

"Goodnight, I love you"

"I love you too mama" i said.

As she got up to leave i grabbed her hand.

"Hm?" She looked back down at me.

"I can't go back to sleep right now" i said.

She smiled and brushed my hair out of my face.

"Do you want me to sing to you?" She asked.

"You can sing?" I asked.

She smiled and picked me up out of bed, carrying me in her arms.

Look to the stars

My darling baby boy

Life is strange and bright

Filled with wondrous joys

Face each new day
With eyes clear and true

Unafraid of the unknown
Because i'll face it all with you

She walked over to the window where the light of the moon shined into my room.

Look to the stars

And gaze up at the moon

Even as these days pass

I'm always thinking of you

Face each new day
And keep your hope alive

I promise i will be there soon
It won't be long till

I'm with you...

Elizabeth's POV: present day

Varian sighed and put the device back in his bag.

"Judging by that second verse i'm guessing it wasn't long before she disappeared?" I asked.

"I had a bad nightmare the night before, i don't remember what, she had to sing that song to get me to go back to sleep...by the time i woke up the next morning she was already halfway out the door" he said, taking off his goggles and staring at them.

"Your goggles belonged to your mother didn't they?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Just a few little things i hold onto" he said putting them back on his head.

"Varian, i'm so sorry..." i said, turning his head to face me.

He smiled and kissed my forehead.

"Enough of the sad stuff, let's head back inside, we've still got a while before the party ends" he said.

As we went back inside i noticed Varian glancing up at the moon one more time.

(Now's a good time to say i own none of the songs used in this book)