Chapter Twenty-Seven:The Color Of Lies, Love, and Jealousy

Eugene P.O.V

It wasn't new.

The whole brother pop out of no where bit. He always did have a dramatic flare appearing in the worst and strangest of times. Flynn was the darker twin the more troubled. I wouldn't go as far as labeling him evil but he did use the sick ways of a demon.

He had a less pleasant way of getting what he wanted, and he always got what he wanted. I'd like to blame it his incredible skills at blackmailing for what I was about to do but then again he was my brother.

"I've gotten my self in a bit of a jam Gene," it was one statement that I heard the most of out of his mouth, "I need  your help bro."

An as easy as he could pull the blackmail from his pocket I was doing his dirty work. An as much as I wish I was strong enough to turn away from him even with blackmail I couldn't. He was family and that was my weakness. He was basically all I had.

Pushing my hair back I raised my hand to knock on the door my lips pressed tight. I forced a apologizing smile as the door swung open. She looked at me in shock standing covered in paint and flour pink icing stained her shirt and fingers. 

Her face flushed, "Eugene," She smiled.

"Hey Blondie," I said.

Rapunzel smiled softly her eyes filled with something so unfamiliar I knew it was only one thing it could be. Love. An suddenly the guilt I was forcing to my face was real. I couldn't do it. Just as I was about to turn and run I remembered Flynn looking at me pleading.

An suddenly I forced my words to tumble from my lips in thick remorse. "I'm sorry Punzie for ignoring you but I...Its just been crazy," It was true, which calmed me a bit for the lie I was about to tell, "Listen I want to make it up to you, which is why I planned a whole night just about  you."

Her eyes brightened, and I broke. A smile spread across her lips so wide it was painful. I couldn't breath I felt like I swallowed fire and it was burning my heart eternally never melting or turning to ash. It wasn't the spark that glowed with love, no its the the one that stings with the loss of it.

"I'd love to go on a date with you," She spoke as if I gave her a whole world of her own.

"Great lets go," I reached grabbing her hands that were sticky with sugar. 

"Now!"  She squeaked.

"Yep do keep up Blondie," I state opening the passenger door for her.

"Wait I can't go anywhere looking like this!" She exclaimed.

"What I think you look perfect," and she did, so perfect that it scared me.

Unworthy was clearly planted on my forehead and yet she over looked it. She kissed my flaws and smiled at my failures as if I saved orphans from a burning building or a kitten from a tree.

Why?

Love.

A thief I was, a thief i'd would always be. An here I stood with the greatest heist one at which I couldn't return if I offered it on a silver tray. Her heart. One at which was beating in my hand so fragile and easy to crush. An that what scared me the most. All I stole was always destroyed or taken from me.

Rapunzel smiled again it made me heart stab me in the ribs, ¨Thank you but I really can go out like this just give me like ten minutes to change.¨

¨Fine ten minutes! Even a second over and I'm leaving you behind!" I joked.

She rolled her eyes before pulling me back towards her house and I through the front door. I knew her house like the back of my hand. I knew every camera, every alarm pass code. I studied the house before breaking in the first time, the time Punz caught me and I convinced her it was so I could ask her to prom.

Gullible she was but I was grateful for the wonderful night we had. Dance weren't  my thing but I had to admit it had been the most fun I had had in years. Plus i'd spent plenty of days playing Romeo and sneaking around her house had become more of a routine than anything.

She scurried up the stairs and I stayed planted in front of the steps debating whether I should raid her kitchen or watch TV. Food sounding like the better option. Stepping into the kitchen I flinched at all the sweets piling the counters.

"I'm a terrible boyfriend," I concluded. Not feeling so hungry anymore I went to the living room only to feel even sicker. Rapunzel's art supplies littered the area along with the occasional children toy, "Scratch that the worse boyfriend in the history of worse boyfriends."

"Yes you are," a voice sounded. I turned quickly to face one of Rapunzel foster siblings. She stood in a glow of neon and leather, "Your Rider aren't you?"

"Uh Eugene Rider yes," I answered she narrowed her eyes as if questioning my words.

"Right," She muttered, "I know what your doing."

"What?" panic was a feeling I shrugged off easier than I would like. It just showed how many times ive be in similar situations. How many times i'd lied, convincing the best detectives. 

"Your using her," she said, "All of your Riders are the same!"

"I think you've got it all wrong-" I started.

"No, I don't think I am," She narrowed her eyes they appeared darker than I was comfortable with, "She loves you, and that makes you a problem."

"Raven is it?" I frowned, "The only problem here is you, I love Rapunzel don't think for one second that I don't love her back!"

"I never said you didn't," Raven pointed, "I'm just looking at the obvious, you'll only hurt her." 

I pressed my lips tight. 

"An you know that don't you?" She spoke barley above a whisper.

"I can't control who falls in love me!" I exclaimed. I couldn't he that Rapunzel loved me. I couldn't stop her from getting hurt by me. I am me, I am a disaster, I was trying to prevent the unavoidable. Only to realized that I couldn't stop Punz on coming tears.

I could only make her smile while I could before I tore that away to. "No, you can't but you can do all you can to stop from hurting her."

"You don't know what I do," I glared.

"Tell Flynn I said to go to hell," She growled. I froze, "An if she knew what you are going to do she'd be devastated."

"I warned her about who I was," I stated, "I don't know how you know what my plans are but don't underestimate my ability to keep a secret, she won't know."

"Is that a good thing?" Raven ask.

"Probably not but someone once told me that the best liars are the best protectors."

"Best destroyers to, I guess that's the price people like us need to pay," Was her last comment before Rapunzel popped up.

"Oh, hey Raven," Rapunzel smiled before turning to me, "I'm ready."

"Yeah me too," that was the one lie I wished I could believe.

---

She smiled at me. Like I was good. Like I was perfect. An for a moment I believed I was until I remembered why we were here. The Art Museum was 'thoughtful' seeing as I hated art. Rapunzel thought I brought her here because I cared and I wasn't selfish.

I wasn't here for her smile. Although I wish I was. I wish I had brought her to the place she'd been begging me to take her because I was a loving boyfriend trying to make up for being a distant dick.

It was all a lie.

Everything was a lie.

I was a lair, I was the lie.

Eugene Rider.

A wolf in sheep's clothing.

'Always trying to be what your not,' Flynn pointed every time I brushed my hair. Every time I considered Rapunzel's feelings. When I smiled, when I laughed, when I was happy. Every breath I took in this town wasn't my own, not really.

It was a fake image, a false person. A lie.

"Look," she squeaked pointing to a picture of a girl in pink swinging.

She seen something in it, she deduced more than paint on a canvas. Why couldn't she see the painted lie I was dripping in?

"Hmm," I hummed in response. My eyes were not focused on the paintings as much as the where the guards. They where placed near every entrance and emergency exit. Cameras were placed in each corner with there small lights blinking red.

"Eugene are you okay?" Rapunzel suddenly ask drawing my attention to her. She was dressed simple in jeans and a pink sweater. She had lip-gloss that made her lips appear sticky. It made me want to kiss her but I held back.

I didn't deserve her especially not now, "Yeah, I'm fine."

"You seem out of it," she said softly putting her hand on my cheek, "Have you ate today? Your all clammy."

Removing her hand I gave a sideways smile, "I'm perfectly fine Doctor now would you please stop worrying and look at the splatter paint."

"Whatever you say patient," she smirked, "Just remember I'm the doctor and I know something wrong and I'll find out what it is."

When she turned her to the next painting  I glanced back to the guards for only a second. "Hey, lets look at that one over there," I suggested pulling Rapunzel across the room to a random painting. 

Rapunzel squeaked slightly before chuckling. We reached a boring oil painting of a crow. It had a dark demented its burning gold eyes glared into my own. I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my stomach.

"What are we doing over here?" Rap smirked, "Hiding form prying eye?"

"Can't a man kiss his girlfriend in private out of camera and tourist sight?" I asked innocently.

'Your using her,' Ravens voice echoed in the deep parts of my mind.

Rapunzel blushed beautifully leaning forward to press her lips to mine. The where soft and sweet. Innocent they screamed it made me wonder if mine tasted of guilt.

'All of your Riders are the same!'

I'm not like Flynn.

'Can't escape your past, because it is your future,' my brothers voice sounded in my head suddenly.

I could feel the crows eyes burning into me. On fire. My veins burned. 'Guilty!' the jury cried.

I plead insanity!

I plead DNA!

I plead loyalty!

Rapunzel pulled away slightly, "I love you," she whispered.

'Got yourself a Bonnie don't you Clyde?' My brother smirked in my head.

No, I can do this on my own! She don't need to get anymore involved than she already is. I told myself.

'She could be useful,' my brothers voice insisted, 'she'd do anything for you, just ask.'

No.

'You already have her and because why?' Flynn chuckled a small devil on my shoulder, 'Three petty words that mean nothing, yet are such a strong weapon against the naïve. Just like your little princess of gold.'

No.

"I love you too," I chocked on guilt. Rapunzel smiled at me eyes wide in adoration.

All I could hear was laughing.

Jack P.O.V

The world has a funny way of showing you your place in it. Never once does it consider your feelings your, hopes or dreams. The universe places you in one specific corner and leaves you. It doesn't care if you'd be better if placed only a few feet over. I discovered much to my distaste that the difference between life on earth and hell was the small amount of joy and love.

It comes in very small dosses to the corner at which you've been thrown. Sometimes when the worlds feeling incredible cruel it dangles the positive feelings just slightly out of reach. I release that my corner has been developing shadows with each passing moment. Those dosses have become nothing more than drops smaller than tears.

I Jackson Frost was unhappy, I was lacking my carefree, fun personality.  The doctors say I'm depressed. I say I'm simply just no longer naive. The world does nothing but let you down. It doesn't believe in you; it doesn't see you for who you are or who you could become.

In fact if the world is just a head of hair, and where just lice. Sophie curled up tightly in my side on the couch. Her nightmares have be getting worse, so where mine. In her hands she clinched a bunny rabbit. The story behind it was a surprising one. It had been my first stuffed animal, it then became the twins first, one of the many things they had problems sharing.

Now after its long journey through the Frost children it was in the small blondes. Sophie was the youngest, the smallest, and possibly the most fragile. She was born premature, almost didn't make it her first couple years of life where spent with tubes up her nose. When she go sick it was horrid her body hadn't completely developed a good immune system. 

Now she was fine, health, but still small.  When our mother died Sophie was left in my care, I believe it was to hard for my father at the time Sophie resembled mother in a lot of ways especially as a baby. 

Her first steps where toward me, her first words where spoken to me. Her like the twins where the only true family I had left. My father was a good man, but he lacked parental guidance. I guess I can't blame him, my mother had told me once that my father was still learning his place as a parent.

Back then he was tying but once mom died I guess he gave up. Sophie curled closer to my side. I smiled softly. "I think its time to get you to your bed," I whispered. Standing up I scupped the small girl up into my arms.

I groaned at her weight, really need to stop feeding her candy. The stairs creaked with each step I took. I could hear the twins (probably constructing a bomb) in there room. My fathers room was dark and empty and Sophie's was lit by a light that casted gold designs across the walls.

I laid Sophie down softly tucking her in tight. My phone buzzed lightly but I ignored it. Most likely Hiccup complaining about his future father hood. I stoked Sophie's mess blonde hair. It wasn't as hard as they say.

"Jackie," mumbled Sophie. Her eyes fluttered tiredly I felt guilty for waking her.

"Yes Bunny," I soothed.

"What's it like?" She asked slightly more aware than I would expect.

"Huh?" I sat lightly on the edge of her bed.

"Being in love?"

If I had water in my mouth it would surely be across the room now, "What!?"

"With Angel," She yawned, "what's it like?"

"I won't say I love Elsa, Sophie," I said my face surely red.

Her green eyes blinked at me, "You think she's pretty?"

"Well yes-"

"You enjoy spending time with her."

"Yes but-"

"You're married!"

"You see-"

"You have to be in love with her!"

"Sophie being in love is complicated its more than thinking she's pretty or enjoying our time together," I tried to explain, " Love is not looking past the flaws but loving every single one of them, there the air to your lungs, the nerves to your limbs, love is caring more about them than yourself, its sacrificing anything and everything for them despite consequences."

I finished explaining looking into the tired green eyes of my sister I smiled softly. She yawned again sitting up slightly clinging to her bunny. "Would you?" she asked, " do anything for her?"

I didn't know the answer. That scared me dearly. Lightly I pushed Sophie back taking her blanket and tucking her in tightly. Her eyes became heavy but she refused to closed them until I replied. Brushing back a messy curl.

"Maybe," I said. She huffed at that reply. Kissing her forehead I muttered, "goodnight."

I left the door cracked slightly before going to my room. It was average with blue everything. Yawning myself I rubbed my eyes knowing that something horrid would occur when I closed my eyes. I slid into my covers looking at my phone. It was nearly past midnight but that didn't stop me from sending a message to Elsa.

'Sweet dreams wife' - JF

I didn't expect a reply but I got one. 'U 2 husband' - E

"Maybe," I repeated closing my eyes.

Merida (P.O.V)

"HURRY UP YOUR GONNA MAKE ME LATE AGAIN!" Hiro yelled his fist pounded on the bathroom door.

"Boohoo! Ye try hurryin' with mornin' sickness along with fetuses pressing on yer blatter!" I huffed opening the door to the bathroom. Despite the rarity of morning sickness now days it did pop up like a unwanted bitch.

Hiro glared at me as I pushed past him. He murmured something about woman before slamming the bathroom door. Rolling my eyes I hobbled on my injured foot down the steps winching with each step. I was pregnant and useless two things I never thought i'd uses to describe myself.

When I made it to the bottom I found another rare unwanted bitch.  Astrid stood in all her glory arms crossed.  Her eyes met mine with a disappointing glare. "Where are your crutches."

I sat down at table watching as early morning customers got there orders. "Oh, ye mean those horrid armpit penetrators?"

She didn't laugh she must have gotten the lack of sense of humor from our mother. A horrid trait I must say. Who knew bitch was hereditary!

"Yes, your not supposed to be on that leg of yours and you know it!" she huffed sitting across from me.

Before she said anymore a familiar head of messy hair took a seat by he offering a cup of coffee and a donut. He was dressed in a green flannel and jeans. He looked decent to say the least. Well our children defiantly had looks going for them if not anything else.

I scrunched my nose, "Haddock."

"Red," he replied taking a sip coffee. Something flickered on his face for a moment. It was gone faster than speedos in style.

Astrid continued with her lecture, "You can't walk on a broken leg."

"Hiccup only has one and he still walks," I pointed, "Mine still attached just a little internally disconnected."

"Where are they?" She demanded. I really need to by her a book on amusement at least a knock-knock joke book.

"Ay threw them away," I lied. I'm a pretty good liar perhaps pregnancy was wavering my abilities for she seen right through my fib.

"There in your room aren't they?" before I could protest she was making her way up the steps.

Groaning I reached for her abandoned coffee. Hiccup slapped my hand, "AT! Caffeine isn't good for the babies."

"Go ta hell, ay can drink what ay want!" I hissed, "If ay wanted a over protective prat I would have gotten someone with two legs."

"No room to talk Frizzy," He pointed to my cast unamused, "You can't do what ever you want! Its no longer about just your Merida! You can't be your naturally selfish, self conceded, bitchy narcissist! You have to think more than about yourself now!"

I blinked, "Lot of insults in just a few sentences," I looked at my stomach whispering to my unborn children, "Ye hear that yer daddies a dick!"

Hiccup gave me an unamused look. At least I know him and my sister have one thing in common 'no sense of humor.' If they get married my gift is going to be all the movies on comedy I can find.

Suddenly I felt sick. If they did get married imagine the wedding. Mine and Hiccups children dressed in nice clothing. That's if were even invited. I wouldn't blame Astrid from disowning me completely once she figured out the I got pregnant by her boyfriend. I guess there won't be a wedding when she found out that her boyfriend got her sister pregnant.

"We gonna have ta tell 'er," I said suddenly surprising myself.

"Astrid?" He said, "No! Not yet listen this might be hard for you to process with you small brain and all but I really like her, and I don't want to lose her."

I'm gonna throw up. "She deserves ta know, every one my family even yers."

He ran his hand through his hair, "I know...but she's the only normal thing in my life right now! I'm gonna be a father the mother of my children is my girlfriend sister, my best friend is married to your bestfriend, my father is being unbearable with collage and wanting me to follow in his footsteps, Astrid is the only good thing in my life right now."

Out of all the things he's ever said to me the last part hurt the most. Had I really thought for a second that he liked me even a little bit? Our day at the library I thought we were perhaps friends. At least a step up from enemies.

"Yeah well she's the only family member that is actually supportive of me," I said softly, "I'm willing to lose that for the fact that she deserves to know, yer the one being selfish and only thinkin' of yourself."

I must have looked on the verge of tears because Hiccup flinched. Damn hormones! I closed my eyes taking a breath. I was just jealous I knew that, I was willing to tell my sister not just because it was the right thing to do but because I despised there relationship. I wanted to crush it.

All those years playing enemy with Hiccup because that's what was expected. I had  hated him because of my stupid forbidden crush. Like Romeo and Juliet I had thought because of our divided families I didn't stand a chance. Yet here I was pregnant with his children and him with my sister showing that the family rivalry didn't matter.  An I still didn't stand a chance.

Why is it that know guy I ever like returns the feelings? I mean Tadashi dead and Hiccups taken. What a girl got to do to get a guy who can return feelings? I sighed.

"Whatever Hiccup," I sighed checking my skin hopping I hadn't turned green. "We'll wait awhile but we gonna 'ave ta tell everyone even Astrid some secrets just can't be kept."

"What secrets?" Astrid asked thrusting me my crutches.

I leaned in slightly and whispered, "The secret kind," hopping up I adjusted to the horrid death traps, "As much as I love being a third wheel, at 'ave more important things to do like sleeping and eating."

With that I made my way to the counter. Hiro came rushing down the stairs and out the door before Cass could tell hem to have a good day. She sighed looking at me handing me a donut with a smile.

"I heard a little of your conversation, if you need to talk I'm always here," She said softly like I was a skittish animal.

"Thanks Aunt Cass but somethings are best kept inside the dispute," She nodded with a small smile.

I glanced over to my sister and Hiccup they leaned together kissing each other lightly. I heard Cass give a sad sigh, "Greens not a good color on you Merida definitely not this shade, you don't need a guy to make you happy take it from me, besides you have two future babies there all you'll ever need, they'll be your world."

She left me sitting there not before I caught that distant gaze in the distance and the sadness that made her forehead crinkle. She looked old like my mother old for a second before shaking her head and returning to normal.

Before she left completely she pointed to a fresh pot of coffee. I turned it down with the shake of my head. I didn't know it but Hiccup had saw me declined and he smiled. I was just sad I missed it.

(A/N: Sorry not great but I wanted to give you another chapter. Next will hopefully be better. Who's P.O.V would you like?

I'm sorry it to so long but I've been busy with school. Thanks those who are still reading.

Advice go see the new beauty and the beast its so wonderful seen it twice already!)

Bye Cornflakes

-Skye