Please note that I do not own rights to any of the characters, stories referenced, or anything to do with the movie The Brothers Grimm and humbly beg that you do not sue me for my dinette and television.

Rated Teen at the moment; rating will change with future chapters. Beware! Talk of incest and homosexual urges! Picking up where the movie left off.

The Perils of Dancing Princesses – or, a Most Humble Sequel

Chapter One – In Which Jake is Lost

"Not. You."

Well.

Those words were causing problems for Jacob Grimm, and he just didn't know what to think. It was true that, ever since he was a boy, he had lived in his own little world, focusing on some things and ignoring others. It was also true that he obsessed over little things, and made much of what (to others) were small details. These two small words were now the victims of Jake's obsessive mind.

He had time to think, now, time to breathe, after the celebration. In fact, he had left a bit early – slipped away to sit on top of a sunny barn, close to the tree line. The sun was setting warmly, just brushing the tops of the tallest trees. Everyone else was still celebrating the defeat of the queen, the French, and the return of their daughters.

Overjoyed as he was that his brother was alive, and as happy as he had been to hear him speak, he could not shake his slightly dour mood. Why, though, was the question. Was it Will's pursuit of Angelika? Was it the fact that he asked for her when he was revived? The fact that he wanted a kiss from her?

That he didn't want a kiss from Jake?

Sounds of disgust escaped him, and his hands came up to grip his hair. His glasses hung precariously at the end of his nose.

"Not. You."

Ass.

Stupid, doubting, faithless, slobbering idiot of an ass.

In spite of it all, Jake nearly vomited as he recalled the feel of his knife sliding into Will's chest. He could still see it, amplified by his fear. Will, near death, crawling to the skeletal queen; Will, under her thrall, hurling out the window; Will, lying still among the leaves like a beautiful sleeping prince. Will, breathing, alive.

Jake supposed he should be happy with that. Usually, when people's prayers were answered in tales and in books, they were content. Instead, all Jake wanted to do was put a foot up his own ass for being such an unerring prat. Here he was, on top of a dusty barn, while his brother was chasing around the woman he might, possibly, have been happy with. He might have had children. He might have had a normal life – or as normal as it could get with a huntress as a wife. He might have forgotten this obsession with getting Will's attention and approval. Maybe, he would have completely forgotten his brother, and been able to live a healthy and decent life.

"It never has been me, has it, Will?"

The ladder to his right creaked in answer, and Jake started upright, scrabbling to stay on the slippery roof. Straw thatching came out in clumps as he struggled to gain a hold. His right foot went off the edge, his shin hitting the wooden beam painfully, just as both hands lost any semblance of purchase. He slid six inches before a powerful hand slammed down on top of his own, halting his descent.

The most beautiful thing that Jake had ever seen was, at that moment, the thatch two inches from his face.

And then, there was Will, foot hooked through a hole in the thatching, stretched out with a look of panic on his face, knuckles white where his hand grasped Jake's.

"Good God, Jake! Is it so hard to stay on a damned roof?"

For the second time, Jake's hand hurt because of a poorly angled punch; now, however, he held back his exclamations of pain, and was half way down the ladder before Will recovered enough to call after him.

- o -

"What is this about, Jake? Jake!"

Jake, who was at the moment focused on not smacking into branches, huffed in irritation. "I believe I'm not speaking to you at the moment, brother. Therefore, would you please refrain from speaking to me!"

"No! Augh, Come back here, you idiot!"

Jake whirled. They were deep in the old part of the woods, Jake thinking he could escape there, and Will pursuing him. The village was long out of sight, the sun mostly down; the eastern sky, or what could be seen of it, was turning a dark blue. None of this had deterred Jake from marching forward, however, in a blind determination to be away from his brother. "Why?" he demanded, spreading his palms. "Why should I listen to you anymore, Will?"

Will was aghast. "What do you mean? You know you can't take care of yourself, Jake! Beans, brother, remember?"

"I will always remember!" Jake took a step forward, his tone wild. "This is not beans! I am not seven! You are not my caretaker, Will, or have you forgotten? Have you forgotten that we are supposed to be partners? Equals? Or, or, maybe, since you're still so damn immature, you think that I am too!" He stomped off again, his boots viciously subjugating twigs and bramble.

"Is this about Angelika?" Will called out, following after his brother, having a hard time keeping pace. "Is this about the kiss?"

"Maybe it is!" Jake called out, not slowing his pace.

"She's all yours, Jake! I was just having a bit of fun! She's not even my type! Come on, slow up! Let's go back."

Jake paused, breathing heavily, hands braced on his thighs. "This is pointless."

"So it is, Jake, and I'm glad-"

"I'm still angry."

"About what? What did I do?"

Jake threw up his hands and walked past him, in the direction they had come.

"I refuse to follow you like a jilted lover, wandering through woods that we have already established move. Do you even know where you are going?"

Jake stopped short, looked around, and realized that they had not come across the stream in front of him before.

He took a deep breath in, and readjusted his spectacles. He put his hands on his hips, looked around, and sighed.

"No. I don't think I do."