Silence filled the chill autumn air, and then all of a sudden Cinderella asked the question every one of them had in mind, "What happens now?"
"Perhaps we should find a place to stay for the night" George, the baker, suggested as he calmed the babe in his arms.
"We could stay at Granny's house." Little Red suggested.
"But isn't that in the woods?" Cinderella asked with a look of worry plastered on her face.
"Yes, but what other options do we have? We can't go to my house, Jack's house has probably been smashed by the giants, and we all know the situation with your house Cinderella." The thoughtful Baker explained to the group "It's our only option."
"To the wood!" Jack bellowed as he raised his fist to the sky and lead the group on their journey back into the woods.
xxxxx
Finally, after an exhausting journey, the rag-tag bunch of travelers approached a quaint cottage surrounded by tall oak trees. Breaking the silence Red said "This is it." In a tone less chipper then usual.
"You guys go on inside. I think that I'll gather some wood for a fire." George said as he examined his surroundings.
"Would you like me to take Joseph?" Cindy said gesturing to the infant.
"Thank you, and please make sure those two behave themselves." He said as he handed off the baby while watching Jack and Little Red bicker over who-knows-what.
Cinderella responded by laughing and taking the small child into the cottage.
xxxxx
Alright so George, Joseph and I will be sharing your Granny's room and you two can share the bed in the guest bedroom." Cinderella said as she tried to sort out the living arrangement.
"Do I really have to share a room with HER?" Jack asked.
"Yes, now go off to bed children." Cindy said as she scooted the children off to their room as Jack pouted and Red stuck her tongue out.
"Now what to do with you," She said to the child in her arms.
xxxxx
The Baker tip-toed back in from gathering firewood and noticed how tranquil the house was, the children were in bed, the baby was swaddled in a pile of blankets on the floor and Cinderella was peacefully lying on the bed. "This is something a man can get used to." He thought to himself as he took off his boots and jacket. Not wanting to disturb Cinderella as she slept he quietly laid down on the hard dirt floor.
Right as he was about to shut his eyes he heard a faint voice whisper "Why don't you come up here? It's a lot more comfortable."
"But I do not want to disturb your rest." George simply replied.
"I don't mind" Cinderella said as she patted the bed beckoning him to join her.
The baker, worn out and tired, wearily got up from his resting place and laid down next to the beautiful princess and could only say "Thank you." Cindy just smiled to herself and drifted off to sleep.
xxxxx
In a room down the hallway laid the two adolescents all snug and comfortable. Then Red sleepily told Jack "Sometimes I wonder what life would be like if we never had gone into the woods."
Half asleep Jack replied "But if you hadn't gone into the woods then you wouldn't have met do many amazing people like Cinderella, George, and his wife."
"And you," Red whispered "you forgot about you, Jack."Suddenly she moved closer to Jack wrapped her arms around his waist, rested her head on his chest and began to dream.
Jack then sighed and said " And me Red, don't forget about me."