A/N: I had posted a similar story previously(literally years ago), but it wasn't going where I wanted it to. I have quite a few chapters already written out. So I'll probably release two now and then release them either once a week or bimonthly. Anyway hope you like it:3 I always enjoy reviews and suggestions.

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It's Just a Fairy Tale

"Sarah," his big brown eyes widened in disbelief when she finished the last lines of his bedtime story, "that was the worst story ever" he declared.

He stared at her, mouth open making it clear that her actions were unforgivable.

"Toby, it really wasn't that bad" she defended from her seat on his bed.

"It was too!" he fought crossing his arms.

"In the end she got her brother back" Sarah pointed out.

"Yeah so? The king was in love with her, and she didn't get her dreams" he pouted sitting up from his pillow.

"What do you know about love? You're seven. I bet if you were the brother, you would be more than thankful!" Sarah retorted standing up hands on hips.

"Wouldn't" he said defiantly, "Cuz I would have to come back to a sister who is bad at telling stories"

She gasped.

"Toby, you traitor!" she playfully accused.

"You didn't even have a 'happily ever after'. What kind of story is that?" he argued.

"Fine," she cleared her throat, "And the girl got her brother back and they all lived happily ever after thee end. Happy?" Sarah asked raising her eyebrows.

"No, how is the king supposed to be happy?"

"He was totally the bad guy in the story" she explained, "Remember the cleaners and the LSD peach?"

"LSD?"

Sarah tickled him, "I would've left you. You'd make a good goblin."

"Hey!"

"Sarah!" Karen barked from the doorway of Toby's bedroom, "The last thing he needs is to wound up with your ridiculous stories before bed! He needs to be able to sleep. Don't you Tobias?"

Karen had mastered making Sarah feel like she was back in high school.

"Yes ma'am," he pouted, his chipper mood quickly died.

"I'll be going then," Sarah said to Karen bitterly then turned to Toby with a smile, "Goodnight Toby," she giggled him pulling him into a tight hug and kissing him on the cheek, so that he could wipe it away.

She walked out of the room Karen stalked after her down her childhood home's hall.

"You can't keep brainwashing him with those fairy stories, Sarah," Karen chided.

"He knows they're just fairy tales, Karen," she answered putting emphasis on her name.

Ever since Karen first came to live with them she had always told Sarah to call her, 'mom', -especially in public. Sarah assumed that Karen felt like she was being socially portrayed as the perfect mother when she did so.

"Speaking of fairy stories!" she started going off again, "You, Sarah, have a problem!"

"Oh, do I now?" Sarah snorted as she made her way down the stairs.

"You are twenty-three Sarah, you need a better education. You need to face the fact that you aren't going to be that famous writer. What you need in your life is a man."

Sarah hadn't been in a relationship that lasted more than a few months her entire life, and Karen had no quarrels with reminding her. Despite this, she understood more than anything that she didn't require anyone but herself. Ever since she was ten she wanted her own independence, and she finally had it.

"You are so right, stepmother," Sarah replied, unshaken by Karen all too common lecture, "but the day I face facts is not today. Night Karen"

Sarah practically ran out to the car to get away from her stepmother.

"Whadda bitch" she muttered to herself as she pulled out of the driveway.

She took a deep sigh, her and Toby's conversation lingered in her mind. She tried not to think too much about the Goblin King. He just confused her. Any conclusion that she drew from their last encounter wasn't settling.

She rolled down the window to breathe in the crisp autumn air. Her head cleared and a small smile grew on her face. The night was dreamy and the chill wind soothing dotting her arms with goosebumps. Suddenly everything was better. The streets were mostly empty, and the light of the moon was bright and hypnotizing. It was one of those nights where you smiled for no reason. The kind where you feel like you're flying and alive, even though everything sucks. Paying rent sucks, your job sucks, your wicked stepmother sucks, but in at the moment none of that matters because you know that things are going to get better. The world is beautiful as much as it is painful.

Now she was almost home. Home was in the city. No moon there, but it wasn't bad. Occasionally she felt a bit claustrophobic, but those feeling were always forgotten when she remembered she wasn't living with Karen anymore.

She parked along the road and climb up to one of the higher floors of the building. Before she could get to her destination her apartment door opened.

"Sarah!"

It was the lovely, slightly emotionally unstable, Erica. Sarah and Erica met about four years ago, back when they were both waiting at a restaurant. Erica is a sweet khakis by day, weird scandalous outfit you'd never expect her from her by night, kind of girl. Sarah has built a theory that Erica is the way she is because her parents never let her do much of anything, and the moment she got away from them she went a little overboard.

"Sarah you remember Steven, right?" she grinned proudly hanging off of her "prey's" arm.

He nodded to her. No she did not remember Steven, and Steven and her probably never met but whatever he wasn't all the creepy looking.

"Hi," Sarah smiled, "You guys going out?"

"Yeah, you wanna come?"

"Uh no, not tonight," based on the spandex dress and neon tight Erica was going clubbing and Sarah wasn't up for that tonight, "I have work first thing so.. You have your phone, keys?"

"Yeah, of course, we'll see you later."

"Bye, call me if you need me. Have fun you two."

Sarah slipped by them and closed the door behind her. She smiled then sighed tossing her keys on the countertop and opening the window. She was happy to find a kettle of tea and poured herself a nice cup before taking refuge in her bedroom.

Sarah's room was much different from her childhood one. She didn't live in such a nice neighborhood like she did when she was younger. It was much smaller and not as colorful as her one back at Toby's house. She liked the change though.

She plucked up an over-sized shirt from the pile of clean clothes on the floor and flopped onto her bed. She was feeling uplifted. It wasn't common for her to have a nice quiet night all to herself. Feeling inspired, but far too comfy to move from her bed, she pulled everything on her desk onto her comforter. Nights like this were made for creativity.

She cracked open her journal and read over several pages she had already written. She tried to continue her own story, but alas it didn't very far. The Labyrinth seemed to catch her mind like this every so often, sometimes for days, making sleep a challenge. How much of that was real? she wondered. She would never dare call on her friends for help, that was insanity, and she wasn't sure if she really wanted to know the truth. She'd never let her imagination get out of hand like it did that night. It felt more like a dream than anything. A very vivid dream and that's what she dismissed it as. Her mind caught up with her and she was scribbling little goblins and little swirly labyrinths on the paper.

Glancing over at the clock on her nightstand, she decided it was bedtime about an hour ago, and it'd probably be a good time to give up so she could make it to work on time tomorrow. Luckily she was far too tired to be distracted by bothersome thoughts and drifted off to sleep almost immediately.

"Sarah, Sarah, Sarah" the voice slowly increased in volume.

Beeping began to ring with the chant.

Sarah sat up to find Erica standing over her bed with two cups of coffee. She moaned and slapped off her alarm clock. Erica handed her a cup of coffee.

"You're gonna be late," Erica yawned scratching her messy blonde bedhead.

Sarah groaned and rolled out of bed to pick out an outfit. Erica was still wearing most of what she was wearing last night.

"Up late last night?" Erica asked plopping down on Sarah's bed.

"Not as late as you," she smiled.

Erica gave a half-hearted chuckled.

"Did you have fun with Steven?" she asked pulling a clean shirt on over her head.

"Who? Oh, nah he was pretty boring. We ending up splitting up before the end of the night."

"You ditched him? Why am I not surprised?"

"Psh it was mutual," she defended, "I don't know he was just blah. Not very bright, he didn't seem to challenge me intellectually. Not that I was exactly looking for a romantic time. I just wanted to party with someone who can hold my focus for more than five minutes. Ya know? Anyway, how was Toby?"

"Gwood," Sarah responded with toothbrush in her mouth, "It's wike he's growing rweally fast"

"Yeah didn't understand that. Gonna go make toast" Erica said and turned for the kitchen.

Sarah shrugged and spit out her toothpaste, quickly brushed her hair into a ponytail, and applied a bit of makeup.

"Sarah!" Erica called. "You know it's like five thirty right?"

"Shit," she muttered, grabbing her paperwork off her desk and stuffing it into her messenger bag.

She stumbled over her messy clothes pile and into the kitchen, coffee in hand. She dropped to the floor pulling on boots.

"Toast," Erica warned shoving the burnt bread into her mouth, "And it's starting to get cold out so wear a coat," she firmly suggested draping a coat over Sarah, "Also I made you lunch" she said dropping a paper bag next to her.

"You made me lunch?" she beamed peaking in the bag then stuffing it in with her paperwork.

"I don't know why, but after I got home last night I decided to make pasta. Drunk cooking"

"You, darling, are the best roommate a girl could ask for" Sarah smiled.

"Don't tell me what I already know" she returned the smiled.

"I'll see you this evening then," she said as she ran through the door.

She made record time down the stairs and down the block. There was no point in taking the car work was only a few blocks away. She was happy Erica suggested the coat the wind between the buildings was an unforgiving and the hoards of people she weaved through didn't provide much of a shield from the elements. When she arrived few people were already lined up at the door, per usual.

"Good morning Patty" Sarah greeted one of the regulars as she pulled the store front's keys from her pocket.

"That it tis, Miss Williams," said the cute old woman through a thick welsh accent.

She held the door open for everyone releasing the scent of old books into the street, then took her place behind the counter. She hid her bag under the counter and laced up her apron.

The front of the shop held a the counter and quite a few tables and chairs for customers, while the rest of the shop was practically constructed of books. Some stacked almost to the ceiling, but most just formed a disorganized maze waiting to be discovered.

She put on the coffee and returned to the register.

"Two eggs sunny side, and a cup of coffee, creamer, two sugars, thanks," ordered the well-dressed businessman who after paying with a fresh twenty wandered to his makeshift workplace he had set up at one of the back tables.

"Something different this mornin," Patty said, "I know it's a bit early in the day, but these autumn chills call for some soup if ya don't mind"

"And coffee?"

"Well a'course a cup of coffee," Patty smiled.

She held out her worn hands full of rolled up ones and took one of the seats at the counter.

"Um a cup of coffee, black," Jack another one of her regulars ordered.

"Is that everything?" she asked.

"Uh y-yes,"

He paid with exact change and went to sit at the far table by the window.

Sarah began to start the eggs and put another pot on for soup.

When the coffee maker finished she poured Jack a cup and went over to the table where he was busying himself with a book.

"Here you are," she said sitting it in front of him.

"Thanks," he smiled.

She returned in time to put the eggs on a plate, perfect the businessman's coffee, and stir the soup a few times.

The businessman made a grumble of thanks keeping his eyes on his laptop as she sat his food next to him.

She poured Patty's soup into a bowl and coffee into a cup.

"Thank you, dear," she said.

Sarah poured herself a second cup of coffee and pulled stool over to sit across from Patty. Patty was a strong little woman who was quick to make it known that she had worked all her life. Which was true, and now she was happy to settle down in the city. Sarah looked up at her for her mind and bold behavior. She was like the outspoken grandmother she never had.

"So how was your evening, dear?" Patty asked emptying a tiny flask into her coffee.

"I visited Toby," she recalled.

"Oh yes, the young man. Trouble with the step-mother I take it?" she correctly assumed.

"No more than usual. Going over there doesn't remind me of home anymore," Sarah confessed resting her face in her hand, "it just reminds me of stress and pressure to have a successful future. And I have enough to worry about as is."

"That you do, and you know what my gran used to tell me? She'd say 'Patty, Ni all ne wasanaethu daur arglwydd'"

"I have no idea what that means."

"Of course you don't, it's welsh," she chuckled, "It means: nobody can serve two masters. You must separate conflicts. If you're dealing with two conflicts, or two ideas, with how you should live you'll get nothing done."

"That was really wise," Sarah mused.

"I know you, didn't expect anything less from me. And if ya keep worrying like that, that brown hair of yours is gonna turn white as mine," she teased, "Now a little more coffee if you would dear."

As she topped off her cup the bell on the door rang.

"Morning Sarah."

"Morning Jim."

He was the closest person to the owner that Sarah had ever met. Jim was an old man, but always up and about and pretty sharp for his age.

"Morning Patty," he nodded before turning back to Sarah, "Got the financials?" he asked as he would every other Thursday.

Sarah was trusted to handle just about everything having to do with the shop. Which was a real challenge at first, but it didn't take too long for her to master it. She was paid really well so she couldn't complain either.

"Finished them a few nights ago actually," she explained already getting them out of her bag.

She handed him the papers. In return, he sat a stack of books on the table. All of them were hardback, old, and worn. The one on top had depictions of pixies and flowers on the cover.

"Dug these up," he informed, "Thought they'd be something you're into."

"Thanks, Jim. I'll take a look."

"Okay, I'll be in the back if you need me." he replied gruffly before disappearing between the walls of the books.

"Oh, how nice," Patty hummed and took one of the books to page through, "Me family and I'd read books like this very evening of the year."

"Why especially today?"

"The girl asks why," Patty scoffed, "It the Autumn Equinox, don't ya know? The day of harvest. The day where the sun and moon share the day equally."

"I didn't know that," Sarah confessed.

"Poor dear, never celebrated the day of harvest," she muttered to herself as she sipped at her soup.

She smiled at Patty and put the rest of her books in her bag.

"Have a good day, Sarah," Jack waved as he left the shop.

"You too."

"Now it's not my place," Patty stated, "but that boy fancies you quite a bit. A nervous wreck around you."

Sarah sighed, "I catch him looking at me pretty often," she scrunched her face, "Do you think I should say something?"

"Well not with an attitude like that," she said, "The boy is cute, good lad, well educated, but you're not interested there's no point."

"I didn't say I wasn't interested," Sarah countered.

"You didn't have to. It's not a sin not to like the boy. Can't like everyone. Be patient you'll find one ya wanna keep. I did and pardon my language, but damn you're not gonna get one as attractive as mine"

Sarah playfully rolled her eyes.

"Now leave me be, child. Get back to work," she shooed pulling out her newspaper.

Sarah spent the rest of the day as usual. Taking the rest of the morning's customer. Patty and the businessman left just for their seats to be filled by others. There was a bit of a rush around noon but afterwards it was dead.

"Oh heyyy. It's meee," Erica said announcing herself and taking what was once Patty's seat at the counter.

"What are you doing here?" Sarah asked putting away the last of the dishes.

"I'm on a lunchbreak and thought I'd stop by to have pasta with you. Plus work is super boring. Retail is full of morons."

"Ya know the food industry isn't much better," Sarah admitted.

"Whatever. So what's up?" she said popping open her tupperware container, "Can I borrow a fork?"

Sarah sat down with her own food and passed off a utensil, "Nothing really. Pretty slow day actually."

A mother and daughter appeared from the books. The mother busy on her phone while the little girl led her to the counter with a firm grip on a thin book.

"Hello there," Sarah greeted her.

"Hi," smiled the girl pushing the book onto the counter.

It was a newer books with color designs and pictures of animals about. Sarah rang up the item and looked to her mother for the cash who turned away.

"I'm paying with my allowance," the little girl said pridefully handing her a ball of money.

"Wow, that's very grown up of you," Sarah complimented handing her the change and book.

As they left Erica turned to her.

"See Sarah, that's your audience. And you are depriving them of well-written fairy tales and moral life lessons, or whatever you put in those things."

Sarah lowered her voice, "Well, I kinda put my two of my manuscripts into a publishing company last week. I mean like it's no big deal or whatever. I haven't been thinking about it really. They probably won't even call back."

"No way! It's a super big deal!" she squeaked, "My friend Sarah Williams, the famous children's author. Payer of my college debt."

"Someone's awful entitled."

"I can't believe you didn't tell me! We have to celebrate tonight!" Erica exclaimed practically jumping out of her chair.

"I don't really want to go out tonight," Sarah playfully pouted.

"Fine loser," she teased pointing her fork threateningly at her, "We'll stay in, but we're still celebrating."

They continued their meal. Erica began rambling about the cute new boy at work, and Sarah smiled and nodded every so often.

"Okay," Erica said looking at her phone and grabbing her bag, "I got to be going. Probably gonna be late. I'll pick up something special on the way home."

"Okay, I'll see you then."

The rest of the day went pretty fast.

"You can go home Sarah," yelled Jim through the books, "I'll lock up then."

"Sounds good. I'll see you tomorrow," she shouted back.

She grabbed her bag and coat and left as soon as dark was beginning to approach. Dead leaves followed her as she hurried home.

"Hello?" she called opening the door.

No answer. She dropped her bag and coat and approached the kitchen counter to sit down her keys. A note sat in her keys usual spot.

"Hi Darling," it read, "I got a weird voicemail from my mom so I had to head over. You know how much I love it there, so hopefully it won't be long. We'll party tmr. Love Erica."

Sarah shrugged sitting it down and grabbed out some Chinese leftovers from the fridge, and then took her bag into her room. She ran herself a bath, so she could achieve appropriate leftover-Chinese-food-eating ambiance and washed off the stress of the day. She streaked her way to her bedroom and put on a record. Her phone lit up. It was a voicemail from Karen. She rolled her eyes and ignored it.

As she thought about her day a bit, she remembered how Patty said she'd read some of the books Jim lent her. She pulled the books from her bag and crawled into bed. One was thick and from the cover it appeared titleless. She opened it randomly and pressed her nose against the aging page. It was written in old English, and it seemed to be entirely on identifying magical creatures such as fae, centaurs, gnomes, vampires, etc.. She read through it at random, flicking to a new page frequently. Although it wasn't all that late, she was still exhausted from staying up so late the night before. She sat the books to the side, she curled up in her blankets and soon fell asleep.

"Sarah, wake up," said a man's voice coming from the dark.

"No," she heard herself mumble.

"Wake up."