Love from Ashes

She kneaded the dough roughly, pounding all the hurt and pain she had experienced over the last ten years into it. If it was a living thing, it would probably cry out: "Stop! NO MORE! Please."

"No more." she had whispered as she watched her dear father lowered into his grave the only consolation being, that he would not be alone.

"Oh Johanna." she sobbed, into the woman's chest. The woman stroked her hair softly and kissed her forehead. "Where will I go? What will I do?" Tears came down as hard and fast as her natural namesake.

Johanna gently pulled her face up. "You will come home with me and I will make you supper and tell you everything is going to be alright just like I promised them."

Arm in arm they left the sleeping couple and, for the first time since their deaths Snow White felt… Hope.

It was that very voice that stopped her next assault. "Heavens Snow, whatever's the matter?" Johanna's voice was full of motherly concern so, Snow abandoned the poor dough and turned to face her. "Prince James is the matter. He wanted me to lie with him."

"That little wretch." Johanna fumed. "He thinks we don't hear him pleasing Lady Jacqueline every night."

"You refused." Snow rolled her eyes. "Of course."

"What did the prince say?"

She shuddered to think about it: his filthy breath on her neck, whispering darkly. "I will have you. One day…"

"It doesn't matter now." Snow said trying to cheer herself up. "Now, can you help me save this?" Johanna took one look at it and howled. "No. But you know what I can do?" "What's that?" her adopted daughter chuckled.

The cook only smirked. "Give it to Prince James."

Being a servant in King George's castle was not at all what she had dreamed of when she was a child. Her mother told her tales of True Love and Happy Endings not of tyrannical kings and spoiled princes. No, they were not in any fairy-tale she had ever read. But as the weeks passed an uneasy silence fell upon the castle. The king, who had once adored and worshipped his son and heir, now seemed to look upon him with disdain and loathing.

"Perhaps he slayed the wrong dragon." Ruby whispered while they watched the nobles dancing. "No." Prince James was talking to Johanna. Making her laugh heartily admittedly, Snow had kept her distance, wary of him keeping her greetings to simple one word answers as much as possible. "Snow, I know that face. "

"He barely spoke to her."

"She has worked in this castle for over ten years and he barely uttered a word of thanks." Snow's words became distant and confused.

"He looks thankful to me." Ruby beamed.

And that's when Snow realised as she was turned that the suddenly thankful and kind prince couldn't take his eyes off of her.

Before her heart could even flutter she broke away. "I-."

"Snow?"

He had been thrown into his brother's life barely a handful of weeks ago and was not surprised that his new "father" hated him but, he didn't understand this. Why was this woman running from him?

"Wait." David called as he followed her down the halls. Hair wild and tears running carelessly down her face he was ignored.

"Please wait." Noticing his voice was verging on begging she stopped and finally found the courage to face him.

Bowing as lowly as she could her dress sinks to the ground with her for barely a moment before...

"Give me your hand." He whispers gently. Something inside her stirs and she does but, not without knocking him on his ass first. Thank god there were no guards around.

She's straddling him awkwardly. "AGH! What was that for?" David gasps; he feels blood and the gentlest fingers stroking the skin.

"A test."

"A test." David chuckled. She is smiling, a mischievous smile her tears having dried. "And what have you discovered?" he quirks.

"Aren't you a real Prince Charming?" Snow breathes lightly, feeling like he could stare into her eyes forever he retorts playfully, "I have a name." It's not James. Snow thinks to herself cheekily.

"Don't care. Charming suits you." They are beaming at each other radiantly and her heart is beating ten to the dozen. He failed her test.

She dabs a wet and warm rag across his injured chin as he sits dutifully in the kitchen chair. He flinches.

"I am so sorry." Snow says honestly, wiping more gently almost sensually. He tries to hold back a moan but… "Oh." he breathes beautifully. "Whatever I did to deserve that. I am truly sorry."

She puts the bowl and bloody rag to the side and sighs sadly. "Your Highness, you did nothing wrong." she emphasises as gently as she can without letting on that she knows.

He lifts her head up to face his. "What did he do to you?" "Did he hurt you? Snow please…" He has given himself away and he doesn't even care. Suddenly silent he feels the softest of kisses pressed to his lips before she pulls away leaving him breathless. "I shouldn't have- MMM." she squeaks as he virtually lunges to catch her lips again and again. They move as one, the chair left far behind, he cradles her back and kisses her more deeply before they finally break for air.

Unfortunately, before either of them can say another word they are interrupted. "Ahem."

The new lovers spin around, shocked to see Ruby standing there with wolfish pride on her face. "Does he kiss better than he speaks?"

Blushing furiously she looks at her newly dubbed Prince Charming whose cheeks are just as flushed with so many emotions. Joy, surprise, lust… what looks like love.

"Go."

"Charming." she protests only to feel his fingers stroking the side of her head as if she is the most precious thing in the world to him.

"I'll find you." David promises.

Snow beams radiantly. "Goodnight Prince Charming."

"Goodnight." "Snow White."

When Ruby has finally succeeded in tearing the two lovebirds away from each other she drags Snow down the hallway and exclaims excitedly. "What the hell was that?"

"A- first kiss." She stutters.

"Start from the beginning." Ruby says faux sternly. Oh, how she wishes she could start the kiss from the beginning.