Oh. My. Gosh! Reviews! They were the cause of this "random" giddiness that I was feeling as they came in! Yay! I really like feeling that happy so… Review? Please?

And now, back to Ferryport Landing!

...

The Final Battle

Chapter Two

THREE YEARS EARLIER

"Granny! I want to go! She is the only one that can save them! Mirror said so! Ms. Lancaster said so!" Sabrina was close to tears.

"I know liebling. I want to go too. But–"

"No buts! Why can't I go?"

"Granny, if 'Brina gets to go, I want to go too!"

The cries filled the kitchen. Granny had told Sabrina and Daphne that they were not allowed to go with Jake on the trip to find Goldilocks. The protesting had gone on for days, but it had reached the climax that afternoon. Jake would be leaving after dinner, so the girls were getting desperate.

Granny shook her head. "Lieblings, I cannot let you go! It may be dangerous! We already know that the Scarlet Hand is not contained inside the Barrier! Already you have been attacked by the Black Knight, and who knows how many others have been turned!"

Jake sided with his mother. "Girls, Mom is right. You can't come with me. I have had a few decades worth of training in magical protection. Sabrina hasn't had it because of her addiction," Sabrina shifted uncomfortably, "and Daphne, as much as you'll hate to hear it… Kiddo, you are ten. I know you both have faced horrible things in all those foster homes–"

"And a giant! And a jabberwocky, and some dragons, and–"

Jake held up his hand to stop Daphne. "And a giant, a jabberwocky, and some dragons. However… Peanut, the Scarlet Hand has already proven themselves worse."

"Uncle Jake, Granny, what if Daphne and I are the only ones that can convince Goldilocks to come back? The fact that she is the cure is proof enough that she still loves Dad. We have all watched enough TV to know that she won't want to risk seeing him. We are living proof that he isn't the only one affected!"

Granny and Jake exchanged a glance. "We have thought of this already, lieblings. Jacob thought that maybe you would write Goldie a letter explaining what has happened to you. He can give it to her when he sees her."

Sabrina and Daphne looked at each other. Sabrina deflated; they could see that this was one argument they had no hope of winning. They turned back to their grandmother, and nodded.

"Excellent! You two take your time, and I will go finish packing. I have to make a few calls, see if some of my old friends will let me crash at their place in London. After them, I suppose I could call up Gerda and Kai… Hmm, maybe Robbie would let me stay with her in Tokyo."

"Jacob, Gerda and Kai moved back here to join up with Charming. I sent them a letter telling them what was going on here, and they thought that their powerful love would be a nice addition to the protection spells around Fort Charming."

"Fort Charming? Is that really what they are calling it?"

Sabrina's question, however, was masked by Daphne's much louder "Who is Robbie?"

"Oh, Robbie is Roberta Miller." Jake, seeing that she was still confused, elaborated. "I keep forgetting that Hank never told you anything. Roberta Miller is the girl from 'The Robber Bridegroom'. You familiar with that story?"

Sabrina frowned. "I always though that she was kind of stupid. I mean, she continued down the path, ignoring the birds telling her to go back, and then an old woman hid her behind a barrel. And she didn't even have a reaction to a severed hand landing in her lap!"

Granny laughed. "Yes, in the published version. You should read the original tale in your Great-Great-Great…Great Grandfather Vincent's journal. Still silly, but much more exciting. Robbie is a little ditzy, and has never been very quick on the uptake." She smiled, pointing at a picture of a woman actively tripping. She was still totally engrossed in her book, even as she fell to the ground. "She was very surprised to find herself in a mud puddle about a minute after your Opa Basil took that picture. Anyway… lieblings, why don't you two go write your letter, and then I will need your help making dinner. Jacob, why don't you call up Princess One-Eye, and see if she might be able to lead you through Tokyo…"

"One-Eye? Huh?" Daphne didn't read as fast as Sabrina, so she still hadn't read the story of One-Eye, Two Eyes, and Three-Eyes.

Sabrina pulled Daphne out of the kitchen, leaving their grandmother giving Jake instructions.

Dear Ms. Locks,

My name is Sabrina Grimm, and I am Henry Grimm's oldest daughter.

Dear Goldie,

Hello, I hope that your vacationing is going splendidly. Did you enjoy Paris? How about Rome?

Daphne scowled. "Sabrina Grimm, you are not including me! This letter is from both of us, write it that way!"

"Daphne, you are drawing unicorns and rainbows on Granny's special stationary! Don't tell me what to do!"

Daphne looked hurt and turned away, huffing as she put the unused paper back into its box. She sat pouting as Sabrina tried again.

Dear Ms. Locks, Sabrina wrote.

"Daphne?"

"Hmumph."

"I'm sorry."

"Hmumph!"

"Will you please help me write the letter to Ms. Locks?"

Daphne turned back with a gigantic smile. "Sure! Only, I think you should call her Goldilocks. Wait, I'll get my thesaurus! We can sound smart!" She dashed out of Sabrina's bedroom.

Sabrina smiled and crumpled up the now ruined stationary. She got out a new piece as Daphne reentered the room.

Dear Goldilocks,

We hope we find you well. Our names are Sabrina and Daphne Grimm. We are Jacob's nieces, and Henry and Veronica's daughters. Five years ago, our parents were kidnapped by the mysterious group known as the Scarlet Hand. After being placed in foster home after foster home, our grandmother, Relda Grimm, finally located us and brought us to Ferryport Landing. Here we have been caught up in the usual activities: giants, princesses, talking animals, the works. Two years ago, we defeated the jabberwocky that terrorized the town after your departure. We also rescued our parents. The problem is that they are asleep. It is the sleeping spell used on Briar Rose and injected into Ms. White's poisoned apple. As you probably know, the only way to break the spell is a kiss from someone who truly loves them. This is the problem. They are both asleep, and for the longest time we thought that they could only wake each other up. However, a few months after the jabberwocky's death, one Bunny Lancaster, alias the Wicked Queen, paid us a visit. She "fixed" Mirror so that he could show us the back door out of the spell, and you are the back door. As much as it may pain you, you must come back to Ferryport Landing and wake up our parents. Please, we beg you. The last five years have been awful for us. For a while, we thought that they had abandoned us, and now we barely have them back. Please come and save our family.

Sincerely,

Sabrina Grimm

Daphne Grimm

Jacob Grimm had traveled throughout Europe with no success. It wasn't until he started searching through Asia that he located Goldilocks in a secluded Hotel in Tokyo. She had been very wary of him, but after he proved that he had no harmful intentions toward her, she became her old cheery self. They went out on a few tours, and it wasn't until she was packing to move on to her next destination that he brought Henry up.

"Goldie… As much fun as this has been, I do have an actual reason that I tracked you down."

Goldie straightened up over her suitcase. "I knew that it had been no accident, Jakey. I keep on the move so much, only you could have found the means to find me." She paused, her big blue eyes staring at Jake fearfully. "Are… are you going to take me back?"

"I… I would like you to come back. There is a… situation, back in Ferryport Landing, that requires your assistance."

"Jake… Is Henry okay? Oh god, is he hurt? Jake!" Her eyes shone with tears. It was clear that she was still in love with Henry, and that she really was the cure for the spell.

"Goldie! Hank is fine… or will be if you come home. He and Veronica–"

"So he did marry her." Her face had a dead expression.

Jake hesitated, but decided that it would be best to be honest. "Yes. They got married about a year and a half after you left."

"Is he happy with her?"

"Yes."

"Then that is all that matters." Goldie turned away, wiping away a tear as she reached for another dress.

Jake took hold of the same dress. "Goldie, he is happy. But he is under a spell! He is asleep, and only–"

"Only a kiss from someone who truly loves him will wake him." She was silent for a moment, before whispering, "Why can't V–Veronica wake him? Surely she loves him…?"

"She would be the perfect cure if she wasn't also asleep. Goldie," he let go of the dress. "You must come back. There is a war brewing, and we need Henry and Veronica awake."

"I can't go back Jake. It's full of too many hurtful memories. Too many people paid to get me out before, Jacob, and are still paying. Did your mother remarry? No. Because Basil was the only one she could ever love, ever marry. And he is dead because of me. I can't go back." Her harsh words made Jake wince, but her eyes were still full of tears.

Jake looked at her. He knew then that Goldie would not return. Knew then that perhaps Sabrina had been right in saying that only the daughters of Henry Grimm could get her to go back… The letter!

After a long silence, he finally spoke. "Fine. We will continue to search for someone, or something, that can save my brother and his wife." Putting his hand into his pocket, his rough hands grasped the letter. "Goldie, please don't cry." He pleaded, handing her a handkerchief.

Wiping here eyes, she stepped into the bathroom to clean up. He slipped the letter from Sabrina and Daphne out of his pocket, and stared at it. The envelope merely said "Ms. Goldilocks" on it. Praying that this letter would be found soon, he stood up and placed it under the stacks of dresses already in the suitcase.

When Goldie came back out of the bathroom, Jake told her that he was leaving. "Goldie, if you cannot come back now... Please remember that it will never, ever be too late to save Hank and Veronica from this spell." And with that, he left. He didn't even say goodbye.

Goldie looked at the closed door, hiding the man that looked so much like Henry. Tears gathering in her eyes, she pulled a picture out of her purse. It was of her and Henry. They both had rosy cheeks from the snowy weather, but their eyes were warm. They looked at each other, practically glowing with love.

A tear rolled down her cheek and landed upon the already tearstained picture.

PRESENT

"But why are you here? Jake said that you didn't want to come back!" Sabrina leaned against the doorframe, staring at the woman who had once been her father's girlfriend.

"I found this a few months later." Goldilocks pulled out the letter, worn out from being read so many times. "He put it into the bag where I keep my warmer dresses. I didn't need it in Hawaii, Belize, or Jamaica. It wasn't until I got to Nepal that I found it."

"Do you realize the pain you have caused this family? Every day, I get to hear the Marshmallow talk about all of the amazing things that will happen once her parents are awake. And Ugly here? She hits harder when she is angry. Hits me harder."

Sabrina's eyes widened, and she stared at the fairy. Puck's outburst was completely unexpected. Even his noticing what was going on outside of his own personal fantasy land was an… improvement. 'Who knew he cared? I… wait, Puck cares about how I feel?'

Goldie stared also. Even though she had been gone for years, she still remembered all the stories about Puck. His determination to stay forever eleven. The constant pranks. This outburst was completely out of character. And at a closer look, she saw that Puck was older. Although she had never met him, she had heard his retreating laugh many times after a prank was set. His voice now was deeper. He was tall, taller than both she and Sabrina, and his muscles were nicely toned from sparring with Sabrina daily.

Puck's cheeks flushed a tad as her saw the two women staring at him. Not knowing what else to do, he sat down in a kitchen chair, putting his faded sneakers up onto the table.

Goldie squealed. Both Puck and Sabrina jumped, staring at the woman. "You can't put those feet in those shoes up on that table! This house is already going against the grain of the Seasons. I mean, who puts a cherry wood table in a brick house? And don't even get me started on the Elements!" She shuddered. "Relda let this place fall into disrepair. She will have to let me set up the Symbols again. She hasn't moved them since… 1992? They were supposed to be rotated in '97, '03, and… '09! They are due for a rotation –following the old pattern– in six– no, eight days. No wonder this house feels…" She trailed off, seeing the expressions of the two teens. "What? It is important for things to be Just Right. It keeps the world in balance, everything in harmony." She smiled expectantly.

Still, they looked stunned. Confused. Sabrina mentally shook herself, saying "Uhm, Ms. Locks– "

Goldie sighed. "Please, call me Goldie."

"Goldie, then. Will you… Are you planning on…? Is the purpose of…? Dad?" Sabrina felt her face grow red. She had started out planning to ask if Goldie could get a move on, but as it turned out, it was not as simple a question as that.

Goldie started. "Oh, yes… Very well." She stopped, staring at her feet. Taking a deep breath, she glanced at Sabrina. "I suppose that it should be done sooner rather than later...?" Sabrina nodded, trying to keep herself from looking too enthusiastic. Goldie looked back at her feet. "I…" Her breath hitched, and Sabrina realized that kissing one's ex-boyfriend to save them must be very nerve-racking. And it probably didn't help to still be very much in love with said ex.

"I… Why don't I take you up to their room…?"

Goldie nodded, obviously trying to keep the tears from falling. Sabrina got up, her knees shaking a little, and slowly left the room. Glancing at Puck, Goldie followed her. Puck slowly brought up the rear, still looking confused with Goldie's "everything in harmony" comment. Sabrina stopped in her room to retrieve the key to the locked bedroom where her parents slept.

Goldie looked around the small bedroom. "This was your father's room."

It wasn't a question. Sabrina looked over at the woman and hesitantly nodded. Goldie rotated slowly on the spot, looking at the model airplanes that still hung from the ceiling. Wanting to get Goldie out of her room before things were rearranged, Sabrina gently nudged the woman, nodding at the door. They exited to find Puck reappearing at the top of the stairs, holding a peanut butter sandwich.

"Whak? I gign't blno how gong dis woulb pake!" Peanut butter spewed from his mouth and onto Sabrina.

Sabrina made a face, wiping peanut butter off of her cheek. "Puck, she is going to give my dad a kiss. It should take about thirty seconds, tops!" She threw a particularly large piece of sandwich back at Puck.

Puck ducked and swallowed with difficulty. "Two things: First, ew! Kissing! And second, thirty seconds? What kind of kiss do you think it will take?"

Goldie blushed, but Sabrina rolled her eyes. "He needs a few moments to wake up, Doris' journal said so. The power of the kiss is dependant on the love and also how recently the said people kissed while both were awake. I did the calculations Doris came up with, and my parents should both be awake in about five minutes!" She looked back at Goldie, suddenly brave. "Come on, I have waited long enough. Can we do this?"

"What's going on? 'Brina? Puck? Why is the kitchen table three feet from where… Goldie!" Jake's voice rang up from downstairs. As soon as he came to the conclusion, he dashed through the house, knocking chairs over. He ran up the stairs, taking them two at a time. He flung his arms around her, saying "I knew you would make the right decision! Come on, they –he– is right over in this room… Hang on; let me go get my key."

As her uncle began digging through the thousands of pockets on his jacket, Sabrina sighed. "I have mine here, Jake" Jake snatched the key from his niece's hand, and Sabrina scowled.

Goldie tilted her head to the side, looked confused "Uhm, why is the door locked?"

Sabrina glared at Puck, who made a disgusting noise and grinned. "Well, a certain fairyboy realize that there were two unprotected people he had yet to play pranks on. I… Well, some of the side effects haven't disappeared yet.

Goldie gave a confused giggle, looking apprehensive. Jake opened the door and flipped on the light.

The small room was brightly lit. It only contained a bed, a table, and a few chairs. The table was littered with many jars and tubes, and there were stacks of books, both Grimm journals and others, scattered on the floor. On the bed lay Henry and Veronica Grimm. Both were pale, as they had not seen the sun in several years. They looked like they were merely sleeping, but for their stillness. They breathed, but never rolled over. Never moved. They each had scarlet handprints covering their shirts; the Grimm family had been too busy finding a cure to change them into new clothes. They lay under a simple sheet.

Goldie took in the whole room, and when her eyes fell on Henry, she burst into tears. Running forward, she fell to her knees next to his side of the bed. Her hands trembled as they reached for Henry's.

"Henry! Oh Henry…" She grasped his hand, tears streaming down her face.

Sabrina looked away. It was hard to see a woman who was not her mother holding Henry's hand. She wanted Goldie to just kiss him and leave, but she knew better than to say so. She instead chewed on her tongue, watching the reactions of Jake and Puck. Jake had a stony face, but his eyes were smoldering. In them, she saw the pain of losing his father, the horror as he had to face the consequences of letting Goldie out. She also saw a little hope. Hope that this woman would wake up Henry, and that Henry would forgive him.

Sabrina looked away from her uncle. The emotions were so deep, so complex, that they did not have the calming effect she was looking for. Instead, she turned to Puck. But she was surprised at the range of emotions that played across his thin face and green eyes. When he saw her staring at him, he gave her a weak smile that didn't reach his eyes. His eyes held a surprising level of sadness and worry.

She looked back at the woman kneeling at her father's side. Suddenly, she felt unsure that this was the way to go, the way to solve all of her problems. 'We need to find a different way. Goldie read our letter and thought that she was causing us too much pain, but I see her now, see her tears, her trembles, and I know that this is breaking her heart.' Sabrina opened her mouth to stop the woman who was so deeply in love with her father, but Goldie was already leaning down. The words caught in Sabrina's throat.

Goldie's lips met Henry's. Her eyes snapped open, and she jumped back, hand on her mouth. "Oh! The– It– I–" A look of confusion crossed her face, her right index finger tracing her bottom lip.

The deed done, Sabrina turned to her father, hoping to see his eyes flutter open, his mouth curving up into the crooked smile that she missed so much. She closed her eyes and counted to twenty to calm down. Her eyes snapped open, joy already evident in them.

Nothing happened.

*gasp* I love cliffhangers… Anyway, has a bunch more chapters coming, don't worry. And as I said before, reviews make me happy. My feelings are in your hands! Not meaning to be dramatic but... Well, yes I do. I like being dramatic. Lurvies!