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There was no grave. In fact, this made sense because there was nothing to bury, and essentially, there was no one to mourn over the dead. However, Rapunzel still found herself looking out of the gilded windows of her castle, an action so similar to what she had done a million times in the past, only in a different tower, overlooking a different view...
"What are you thinking?" her husband asked, his footsteps still as silent as ever in his approach. So many years have passed since his time as a notorious thief and yet he still had the whispers of one. It didn't matter to her, but his silence and sudden appearance did always manage to make her jump.
And jump she did, her hand fisting in retaliation, but then she was greeted by his mischievous smile and all was well. She snorted at his silly, triumphant expression. "I abhor you, you know that?"
His smile grew into a more genuine one. "Now, is that the right way to greet your husband?"
Rapunzel grabbed the hand that was snaking around her waist and tugged on the golden ringband. "Perhaps so, when he is one so rude!"
He laughed and they bantered a bit more, but the heaviness from before never truly left. With the last of their giggling, she pressed once more against the window, green eyes searching in the distance. After a few moments of solitude, Eugene tried once again. "Is it becuase of today?"
She nodded curtly, her lips pressed thinly. "... Yes, and I know, I shouldn't be moping around. There's even a banquet tonight and I-"
"You know it's alright," Eugene said firmly, though in a much softer tone. He held her hand, gripped tightly against the windowsill, and slowly unravelled it.
She looked up at him as he held her, his touch so soft it felt like the flutter of butterflies. When he spoke, her soul shook with his sincerety. "It's alright to mourn her. She was still your mother."
"Was she?" she countered, a sudden rage bubbling up, replacing the melancholy that was engulfing her just a moment ago. "Was she really my mother?"
But at the sight of him, utterly concerned and perplexed at her reaction, she melted. She took a deep breath and faced him fully, their hands between them. "I'm sorry. I still don't know why I get like this when this day of the year comes along. It's been so long, and I do get you. She- She wasn't perfect. She wasn't even good or nice or kind, but... she was still my mother. It's just that... I don't get it, you know?"
"What?" he asked, his thumbs running against her knuckles in the way that calmed her.
"Just... I've always wondered why she never lied about my birthday," Rapunzel admitted, and watched as Eugene's eyebrows went up. "You see, if she lied about it --and wouldn't it be so easy to? -- but if she lied, I never would have felt so enchanted by the floating lights. I- I never would have dreamed about seeing them up close if I didn't know it happened every single time on my birthday, and only on my birthday! I just..."
"You're still wondering if she loved you."
She took a shuddering breath, her shoulders sagging in tiredness. "I- I guess so."
When she looked up at her partner, he was smiling softly at her. "I think you already know."
It hurt her heart, but she knew he spoke the truth. She felt herself nodding, tears running down her face. Eugene had her in his arms the very next moment, and she sobbed.
"Yeah. Yeah, I do."
~~~
It happened on the eve of a particularly happy day. Rapunzel had managed to sing the first verse of the healing incantation all on her own, and they celebrated with assorted pies and a sweet juice from a source she never got to know the name of. Her mother had then told her romantic tales of a maiden and her knight, one so different from the haunting stories of the world outside that she had always read to her. Then she showed her mother a dance she made and was delighted when it made her elusive mother laugh. When she went to cuddle with her, she obliged, her long fingers running through her hair as she hummed softly -- a lullaby with no words.
Rapunzel woke hours later, when the sun was already well down and the moon up on the night sky. She fretted when she realized she was alone, a blanket draped over her, but then moments later, her eyes caught a moving star against the darkness. It surprised her since she had always been afraid of the outside world, where it was ink black as soon as the sun was out... But soon enough, more of those moving stars came up on the atmosphere, filling the void with a warm, golden light.
Far, far away in the distance, she heard the vague tinkling whisper of a song. In fact, it almost felt like a prayer.
"Happy birthday, little one," her mother spoke softly as she gazed at her from across the room, and Rapunzel watched her mother still smiling as she joined her by the window. She held two cups, steaming and smelling sweetly of warmed milk.
Rapunzel smiled toothily back as she received her cup, ever-careful not to spill any and anger her mother. She then looked back at the floating lights, wondering what ever they could be. It would be years later when she finally truly understood what a birthday was, but by then she knew it was the day when the darkness was lit up with magic, and when her mother's touch was gentle and sweet.