Chapter Text
There were various traits acquired by the son of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. Some protrude particularly more than others, like his envious intelligence for one or, in this case, his staggering forthrightness. Alike everything else he did, his words were quick and snappy, similar to a rushing waterfall which flowed graciously yet in a blink of an eye, the very water was at your feet. Or to put it simply, there was no fucking about with him. And as he was soon to be crowned King of Auradon, perhaps this attribute would come in handy. However, when he had undoubtedly introduced his first major proposition to his parents as future king, they were not exactly the happiest.
Most people would wait until dessert to announce this sort of decision: to see the satisfied smiles on their faces after finishing their last bite of cake, to watch the pleased nods exchanged with one another, to actually wait before possibly ruining this delightful dinner. But not him, not Remus. After a few bites of the appetizers, he placed down his cutlery, gently wiped his mouth with a napkin, and cleared his throat. The three heads looked up at him and he exchanged eye contact with all pairs of eyes. First Lily, who already knew of his 'very odd' plan, (as she quoted) looked back at him with a subtle, reassuring nod. Then his mother, Rapunzel, who tilted her head sideways at him, perplexed. And finally, his father, Flynn Rider, who Remus knew would be the most difficult to persuade.
His father propped his elbows on the table and asked, "You alright, Remus?"
"As I'm soon to be crowned king next month, I've decided what my first official act will be." He didn't wait for them to ask further. "I want a group of children from the Isle of the Lost to live here with us."
"What?" Both his parents asked and put their cutlery down on the table with a short clang.
"They've been surrounded by horrible role models throughout their lives and they deserve a chance at a normal life where they can learn that there are good people out there who actually enjoy being good."
"Are you forgetting who their parents are?" Flynn asked, sternly.
"That doesn't necessarily mean they're evil too. And even if they are, people are still capable of change."
"Well, not them! Are you forgetting what their parents have done to us? To the people of Auradon? The people who will be your responsibility next month!"
"Their parents," Remus replied, rather sharply. "I'm talking about their children that deserve a chance at a normal life and it's not fair to them to be stuck there. Just because they're on a different island doesn't mean they're not my responsibility either."
Rapunzel glanced at Flynn and back at her son. "You're right," she spoke softly and turned to Flynn, placing a gentle hand on his arm. "They're just children." She turned back to Remus. "Who are their parents?"
"Maleficent, Captain Hook, Cruella DeVille," he took a deep breath. "Mother Gothel."
"Mother Gothel?!" his father stood up, abruptly, shaking the plates on the table. "You must be kidding me!"
"Their children are innocent!"
"But she most definitely is not!"
"Which is why I'm not saying she should live here," Remus calmly rose from his seat, containing the ball of anger forming inside his chest. "I'm saying her child should."
Flynn stroked a hand through his hair with a deep inhale. Remus knew he was close to an agreement. A small shove was all he needed now.
"We'll start small, Dad. First, a small group and then eventually expand. They shouldn't be punished for crimes their parents committed."
"You're right, sweetheart," his mother nodded and turned to her husband. "They deserve a chance."
Remus watched as his father exhaled, nodding. "Fine."
Remus nodded, thankfully, with a triumphant smirk creeping up on his dark face. He sat back down, placed his napkin on his lap, tucked his chair in, and turned to Lily. She placed a supporting hand on his leg and they exchanged a content smile.
The four of them continued eating with sprinkles of small talk here and there before his parents asked the question they had been dying to ask. They were half-way through the main course before his father pointed his fork between Remus and Lily.
"You know, every King should have someone by his side," Flynn said, casually, shoving a forkful of food in his mouth.
Remus exchanged a glance with Lily and nodded. "I know."
"Preferably someone who would be there for them. For support."
"I know."
"Like a good friend."
"Mhm."
"I just want you to have someone who will support you all the time."
"I'm aware."
His mother sighed and put down her cutlery. "What your father is too embarrassed to say-"
"I am not embarrassed."
Rapunzel rolled her eyes and continued speaking. "Is that you should have a princess by your side."
"I know," Remus nodded and nonchalantly took another bite of his food. He was very aware of his parents wanting him and Lily to pursue a romantic relationship with one other. He started realising it since he first mentioned Lily to them and ever since then, the encouraging comments had never stopped. Remus and Lily had of course discussed this, both agreeing that it would never happen and although they were a little in love with each other, they were at the very most, platonic soulmates.
His parents fell silent, waiting for more.
"And what do you think, Lily?" Remus turned to his best friend beside him and raised an eyebrow, nudging her leg with his own. "Do you think I need a princess by my side?"
"Perhaps," Lily replied, a kind smile on her face, and nudged him back. "But I think you'd rule remarkably on your own."
Remus hid the grateful smile stretching across his face and looked back to his parents. "So there we have our conclusion. I'd rule Auradon remarkably on my own. Don't you agree?"
His parents shared a glance between Lily and Remus, then between each other and nodded.
"Of course we agree, honey."
Leaving the dining room, Remus tucked his hands into his pockets with a relieved sigh. He nudged Lily beside him and raised his dark eyebrows.
"You really think I'll rule remarkably on my own?"
The redhead girl rolled her eyes as her lips quirked up into an amused smile. She subconsciously looped a hand through his arm and confidently nodded. "Without a doubt."
Remus felt the heat creeping up on his cheeks. He would forever be thankful for the extraordinary girl walking beside him. He truly thought there was no one better than Lily. And he was right. From the very start of their friendship as toddlers, throughout their entire childhood, and now, when he was soon to be crowned King, she had always been by his side. Supporting him no matter what.
Finally, he said, "I want you to be by my side at the coronation." He stopped walking. "As a princess."
"What?"
"Yes," he nodded, repeatedly. "You've been with me through everything. And as my Dad said, I should have someone beside me who supports me in the decisions I make. And you're that person, Lily."
"Your Dad meant someone you love romantically."
Remus shook his head. "It doesn't matter which way I love you. I love you and I want you beside me when it happens."
There was a beat of silence before Lily sniffled, scrunching her nose, and smiled with a row of glistening teeth showing. "I would love to."
She wrapped her arms around his slender shoulders, lifting herself on her toes to reach, and nodded into his shoulder. "It would be a delight to be beside you, Remus."
Remus lifted her off the ground and spun her around, her dark green dress elevating off the ground. He placed a gentle kiss on her head and put her back down, his smile stretching from ear to ear.
"Will Your Highness be willing to walk the lovely princess back to her room?" she asked with a posh accent, looping her arm through his again.
"I would love nothing but," he responded with the same accent.
Lily picked her dress up with her other hand and began skipping down the hallway, dragging Remus beside her to do the same.
"Lily!"
"You will address me as Princess Lily from now on," she said, again with that accent.
"Princesses don't gallop to their dorm! And especially drag me with them!"
"Princesses can do anything they want!"
The two arrived outside Lily's dorm with Remus' heavy breaths echoing through the hallway.
"I can't believe you made me skip that entire way."
Lily shrugged and placed a hand on the door knob. "You need to work on your stamina."
Remus rolled his eyes and they both entered the room. And there, on a double bed in the centre of the room, lay Mary and Dorcas, feet in the air, hands holding fashion magazines.
"Lily! Remus!" Mary sat up, a wide grin on her face.
"Good evening, ladies," Remus shut the door behind them, and walked over to the bed.
"Opinions," Mary said. "Dorcas' hair: dyed black or keep the natural ginger?"
"No!" Lily exclaimed, jumping onto the bed right in the middle of them both. "If I'm not changing from my natural ginger roots then neither are you!"
"See, Lily said no and Lily is always right."
"Yeah, well, Lily also said you have horrible bed head," Dorcas replied.
Mary gasped, standing up from the bed. "I'll have you know I have no such thing as bedhead."
"How about," Remus interrupted before things got ugly. "We stop talking about bedhead and celebrate my parents agreeing to my plan."
Mary and Dorcas' eyes widened in shock.
"They did?" Mary asked.
"They did." Remus confirmed.
"I hope a beautiful girl comes along and falls in love with me," Dorcas dreamed.
"I'm a beautiful girl who could be in love with you," Mary responded.
"Not my type."
"I'm everyone's type."
"True," Lily shrugged.