Billy came out fully from his hiding place, moving closer to Rapunzel, listening so quietly that he was actually holding his breath without realizing.

But then he was close enough to touch her, and all the raw little threads of hurt ached in his chest. He didn't know what to say - he was really bad with emotional words - but he looked down at her hands, and then reached out and took both of hers in his.

"I'm sorry." For stalking her? Yeah, that wasn't his finest moment. For challenging her to get out of a situation that everyone but her could see was bad? For loving her?

He squeezed her hands gently in his.

Hell no.