Untitled Story

Life is funny sometimes. When you least expect it, it pushes you into a set of circumstances that you never even realize could happen. Sometimes they turn out for the better. Sometimes it changes you for the better.

Eugene’s life had changed as soon as he stepped foot inside that tower all those years ago. Of course he didn’t know it at the time. His life changed further still when he married Rapunzel. He was now a prince consort with the responsibilities of helping Rapunzel rule a kingdom. Being married to Rapunzel was great. After so many years of asking, she finally said yes and he couldn’t be happier. They finally fulfilled their new dreams. What he didn’t expect was that becoming a father could change your life even more. Well of course he knew being a parent could change anyone’s life but it never was in the cards for him. His dream of having a castle and living on an island did not include marriage much less having kids so he never expected himself to be a father. But when Rapunzel came to him one day in the library where he was reading to tell him she was pregnant he was left speechless.

He didn’t know how to react.

It wasn’t that he didn’t know this would happen one day. In the back of his mind he always knew that marrying her involved having kids one day. But he never really sat down and thought about it. He sure as hell never planned it, much less planned for her to be pregnant so soon. And it’s not that he didn’t want to have kids, especially if it was with Rapunzel.

But mostly he was just scared beyond belief. He didn’t know a thing about raising a family. He never even had a family of his own on which he could use as a frame of reference.

What if he did it wrong? What if he messed it up? He tried not to show it but Rapunzel knew something was wrong with him when he didn’t react like she thought he would. When she asked him what was wrong he tried to be smooth and deny it and said that he was happy with the news. But she could see right through him. He eventually caved and told her how he really felt about it. Rapunzel couldn’t help but smile. It was kind of sweet to hear his worries because really he just wanted to do it right and also because she thought it was silly of him to worry over that. Not to mention she felt relieved that he wanted to raise a family too.

She reassured him that he would be the best father in the world because she knows how much he loves her, and the many ways he shows it to her is proof enough that he will be a good father and that’s really all that was needed to raise a family. He never felt happier and at the same time less worthy of having someone in his life who loved him so much. He did feel a bit better about it after that but the fear was always at the back of his mind all throughout her pregnancy, poking him like a pinprick that wouldn’t leave him alone.

Until the day finally arrived and he saw his little girl for the first time. When he held her a whole slew of emotions rose up in him, bursting to get through and spill all over: joy, happiness, and a sense of awe that the little creature he was holding was actually his and Rapunzel’s. That she was a product of their love. And the emotions were intense. So intense that he couldn’t contain it. He wanted to run through the castle hallways, into the kitchens, right up to the stables where the horses were kept, and into the village while shouting to the world that his daughter Rose was born and brag about how beautiful she was. But of course he didn’t do it because he didn’t want to look like a sap. However, he couldn’t contain his smile. The biggest smile Rapunzel had ever seen. Sure he smiled a lot when he was with her but it was a different kind of smile. It was as if that smile was kept bottled up just waiting to be opened, reserved especially for their daughter. She immediately fell in love with that smile.

He suddenly had this surge of confidence and courage. It’s as if he knew what he had to do. He knew that from then on he would do his best to protect her, cherish her, teach her, and above all love her. He never had something or someone to take care of before, much less something that he made, something that was really his. Sure he had Rapunzel, and he did take care of her and he protected her whenever possible but she’s a grown woman who is more than capable of taking care of herself. This was different, in so many ways. It was now his duty to take care of Rose. So he made a silent promise that he would always be there for her when she needed him. And just like that his fears of becoming a father melted away.