Prequel

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Into the Woods

Part I

"Come on, Cait! Do it again!"

She would've teased him by the way he's acting, nothing like the future ruler of the kingdom should behave. But she couldn't bear to see that beaming expression on his face fading because of her, not when she knows he rarely does so when he's out there in the real world, where he belonged.

"Alright, alright. But this is the last time, okay?"

He nodded a bit too enthusiastically and she was weak to fight the urge to roll her eyes at that so she did. But his smile widened a bit more, for he knew she'll do it nonetheless.

For him.

They were in the heart of the forest, where the trees had given a way to create a small clearing. A small pond found its way on the center of it all, its waters clear as crystal in the daylight.

Caitlin carefully took a step towards the pond, closing her eyes as she does so. She immerses herself to the water completely, feeling the surroundings wholeheartedly as she becomes one with nature. She started moving gracefully, like a ballerina on the dance floor. Her hair's slowly turning blonde, almost white, as she continues to indulge herself to the sensation only the calm of nature could give.

Barry could only watch in awe, mesmerized not only by the magical illusion unfolding before his eyes, but mostly by the woman who does more than make his heart skip a beat. Her powers had grown together with time, he notices, far from all the uncertainties it had when they were still kids.

She had a tough time controlling them before, he remembers. But he would always make sure he was there to cheer her up. All his efforts paid off though, especially when she would gleefully drag him here to show him one or two of her newfound skills.

The performance ended way too soon than he would've like, leaving him craving for more. But he would give her an applause nonetheless, complementing her until she would shy away and tell him to stop. Of course, he doesn't.

"That's just beautiful, astounding."

He said, eyes still fixed on her and the disappearing flurries of snowflakes surrounding her beauty.

"You've seen it like a million times before, Barry. I don't see why you still find it amazing."

She shrugs, tried to, but the blush creeping up her cheeks is something beyond what her magic can manipulate.

"What can I say? The act is always so much better than the last one. I'd be a fool not to be mesmerized by you."

The words came out without his permission, his grasp on them loosening each time he adds a piece of his heart to that container full of his bottled up emotions.

"Not by you, you…I mean by the magic…of you... but certainly not-"

He's nervously scratching the back of his neck, face flushing red as he tries so hard to turn away from her. It's always a sight to see, how the future king, so brave and articulate in front of his subordinates, can easily turn into a puddle of nerves in front of her. As much as she was tempted to push him a little bit more, she doesn't. She saves him instead.

"I know what you mean, Prince Bartholomew."

That seemed to do the trick, it always does. And all his nervousness faded away with her teasing.

"Why on earth did I ever tell you my full name?"

She giggles and the whole forest seemed to join her in laughter. He could stay like this, watching her smile for the rest of his life and he would've died a happy man. Of course that was just a dream, as the successor of the king, he was gifted with a lot of responsibilities than he would've willingly take. As if reading his thoughts, she pulls him back to the real world.

"You should probably go. King Henry would be disappointed if he finds out you wandered into the woods again."

"Don't worry about it. I get the feeling that he already knows I'm here. Besides, he's very fond of you. I don't see where the problem is."

She heavily sighed at that, took a couple of steps and settled herself on their usual spot on the huge tree trunk lying a few meters from the pond. They've had this conversation before, neither of them wanting to put much weight on it but maturity certainly gets on the way of things.

"Things have changed Barry, we both know that. We simply can't do the things we want like we used to when we were younger." She buries her face in her hands for a moment, took a deep breath and said the words Barry had been expecting her to say, "When Queen Nora died-"

"No. We're not having this conversation again. I know what I saw that night, Cait. And I still refuse to believe that it's one of your kind who killed her. For all I know, it's just some scheme to force my father to implement this-this stupid decree!"

He's been pacing back and forth in front of her, clearly agitated. She knew he would act this way but this discussion has long been overdue. They couldn't risk other people knowing that the future king is stubbornly defying the very commandment of his own father.

After a couple of heavy steps and a mix of deep inhales and exhales, Barry found himself settling beside Caitlin, their backs leaning on each other for support.

"I just couldn't stand being away from here." From you.

"I know."

"I mean, I've spent almost all of my childhood here. This is where I feel free, being myself you know. It makes me…makes me forget about all the responsibilities I had to take on."

"Oh, Barry."

"Sometimes, I wish I could turn back time. Go back to that night and save my mother. That way I could've prevented the war that followed. I could've preserved the harmony between your world and mine. I could've… I…could've stopped them from taking away your mother and father, Cait."

"They sacrificed their lives for our kind, Barry. It's not like you can do something about it. It's their choice, their duty and I would've done the same if I was in their place."

He closes his eyes at that, leaned a little closer to her because he knew, when they would both come of age, they'll have to take on the duties assigned to them. They would have to put others' lives before their own, live not only for themselves but for the sake of rebuilding the harmony that was once lost. They would have to go their separate ways, fulfilling the fate destiny have put before them.

And it scared him.

It wasn't about the intensity of the duty he had to take on, no. He had been raised to be a leader, meticulously reared to be what the kingdom needs him to be. He knew all the technicalities, memorized the outlines like the back of his hand.

What scares him the most is the thought of not being with her. She's a vital part of his being, like he couldn't let a day go by without seeing her. He just hopes she feels the same because, believe it or not, as much as he spends almost all his free time with her, he never got the opportunity to tell her how he felt.

Well, that's a lie.

Of course, he had. And it just makes him hate himself a little more because the opportunities came like a stream of flowing water, generous and forgiving. Maybe he doesn't want to risk losing her, whatever they had, it's more than enough for him. It's just that sometimes, he wishes they could be something more. He could be something more to her.

"Cait?"

"Hmm?"

"There's something I want to tell you."

He shifts on the trunk as she did too, soon they were face to face. Their eyes lock, creating a bubble of their own, shutting off the world behind them (his or hers, it doesn't matter). If only time was theirs to take, they wouldn't have to leave this very moment.

"Well, there's something I've been meaning to tell you, too."

His ears perk up to that, is this the moment he's been dying to capture? Her telling him the very words his heart was only capable of saying?

"Go on, then." He says, a little too excitedly he missed the sadness sparkling in her eyes.

"Are you sure? Don't you want to go first?"

"Nope. I'm a nobleman, so after you milady."

Little did he know that that was one of the choices he'd regret making, because as the words stumble out of her mouth, he suddenly was incapable of hearing anything else.

"I…I don't think we should see each other anymore."

Anymore.

Anymore.

Anymore.

"What are you talking about? Cait, I don't understand. If this is some kind of a joke then this is not funny."

"It's not. I've been doing a lot of thinking and-"

"Since when?!" He rashly cut her off, couldn't believe that she's capable of thinking such things when all he can think about is-

"Since they've announced the date of your coronation. I just don't think that-"

"That long? I couldn't believe that I have always been by your side thinking that maybe, just maybe, we could have a future together. That maybe we could find a way to settle this dispute and return to how things were like before. But I was just a fool for thinking that, am I?"

"Barry-"

"No! I can't believe you, Caitlin. How do you manage to do that, huh? How can you pretend to be happy, to fake a smile whenever I'm with you when all this time you've been thinking of getting rid of me?"

He's way beyond furious, keeping his distance from her as he stood a couple of steps away. A lot of thoughts flooding his mind, clouding his already hazy sense of judgment. If he had grabbed even one of those fleeting opportunities, would she still be thinking about this? Would she still want them to be apart if he had poured his heart out to her? Or would she be dreaming of the same things he'd been dreaming all his life?

"I'm not trying to get rid of you, Barry." She says, trying to make him look at her, trying to make him see how sincere she was. But he kept his distance, gaze firmly placed on his feet.

"Please, stop pretending Cait. You don't have to lie to spare my feelings. I get it, you-"

"No, you don't."

Her words are heavy, laden with emotions, and that seemed to turn his attention from his feet to her eyes. He had never seen her like this, so vulnerable yet so disconcerting.

"I never… I never faked a smile when I'm with you. I could have, you know, but you…you just make it so easy for me to smile. I never have to pretend when I'm with you and I hate it."

She took a delicate step with every word, actions still as graceful even though he knew she's fuming inside. He knew of the oath she would one day take and this display of utmost control is only fitting for what her future may hold.

"I hate how you make me forget. I hate how you make me want to throw all rationality out of my system. I hate how you make me feel things I shouldn't. I hate how you effortlessly make me fall for you with that…that… Stupid. Smile. Of. Yours."

She dabs his chest with her index finger, one for every word she just uttered. She stood too close to him, so dangerously close he almost lost himself.

And maybe he did.

"I hate how-"

He silenced her with a kiss.

He had seen magic and she was made of one but what they're feeling in that moment is certainly beyond what they call magical. It's a sensation neither of them can explain, best of both worlds in such tiny expression of love.

His hands travel down her waist, hers coming up to snake around his neck. He tightens his hold as he deepened the kiss, neither of them wanting to stop. The kiss is the totality of every stolen glance, every lingering touch, every wildest dream they'd rather keep to themselves.

But they both have limitations, reluctantly pulling away as they ran out of breath in more ways than one. They keep their hold tight, foreheads leaning into each other as they indulge themselves in the presence of another.

"Cait…I love you. You can't even imagine how much."

"Barry, I…"

She hesitates.

"Say it."

"I ca-"

"Please. I need to hear you say it."

"I can't."

"For heaven's sake, Caitlin. Say. It."

His gaze pierces through her being, disarming her in the most excruciating of ways. She buries her face on his chest, tears soaking his clothes of fine linen. She looks up at him a moment too soon, his face the same display of hurt and pain as hers. It makes breathing even harder seeing him like that, so broken because of her. She caresses his face with lithe fingers, as if trying to memorizes his features because maybe this… this maybe the last-

"No. Don't do it. Don't ever think of considering it. Cait, please, if there's even an ounce of concern for me in your heart please don't do this. I'm begging you."

She doesn't answer.

She pressed one last kiss on his lips, lingering a moment too short before she pushes him away. She completely turned away from him, not bothering to look back even when his cries of agony reverberates through her being.

This is for you.

The whole kingdom is buzzling with excitement, each corner is absorbed in their minute way of contributing to the upcoming celebration. The crown prince is turning twenty-seven and as much as the elders reluctantly came into a conclusion that maybe it's too early for his impending coronation, his utter display of readiness managed to convince them otherwise.

He stood before the floor-length mirror, smoothing down the invisible crease on his robe. He checks himself once, twice, and wondered how the elders succeeded in seeing even an ounce of readiness in him when he only felt empty and broken inside.

He misses her.

And it killed him everyday.

Cisco's voice jolted him back to reality, his ever joyous smile doing nothing to ease the pain eating him up inside. If he noticed how lifeless his eyes were, he didn't let him know. He would only pat his back and supply him with comforting words that he wishes he could appreciate.

His father was no stranger to what had happened to him. When he went home that day, clothes soaked in the raging rain that evening, he looked at him with understanding in his eyes. He welcomed him with open arms, letting him shed the tears that has been falling endlessly since she left him.

His father didn't say anything. But if there were words, he knew he would've sympathized with him, tell him that he, too, was conflicted to implement such decree. He'd tell him that a king is a father to his kingdom first, a destiny they didn't choose but chose them instead.

Barry found himself standing before the crowd, the priest's word incomprehensible to him as the inauguration came to a close. He felt the weight of the crown on his head, but it does more so in his heart. If he only had his way on things, she would've been standing beside him and the people would acknowledge her as their future queen.

The night is quickly approaching but he knew the celebration was far from being over. He forgot the most incredulous part of the whole ordeal and it almost hit him like lightning when he realizes the reason why almost all of the women in the kingdom started fawning over him a little more than usual.

King and Queen.

Marriage.

His face ashen with the reality and in that instant he only wanted to be with her, hold her in his arms and forget about everything. He started thinking of ways on how to be banished and he knew his mother would've given him with a piece of her mind if she was still alive. He chuckled to himself, feeling the senseless bliss of insanity take over his mind for a moment.

He took a couple of deep breaths to clear his mind, closing his eyes to assure himself that he can do this and there's not a tad of craziness in his system.

But then he sees her.

She was standing there in disguise, her form mixing with the crowd effortlessly, making her almost undistinguishable. But there's no way he wouldn't recognize her eyes. She could change into anything, morph into something beyond imagination but one look in those alluring hazelnut orbs and he will know.

She disappears.

Again.

He was up on his feet before his mind can even register what was happening. His heart always one step ahead of him and sometimes it scares him knowing that it'll do something his rational side would clearly disagree on acting upon.

He catches his father's gaze and he pleaded with pain-stricken eyes, telling him that this will be the last time. The former king took a moment to decide, but when a tear threatened to spill from his eyes, he immediately let him go.

He abruptly wandered into the forest, his instincts the ones guiding him through the darkness. He caught a glimpse of something…red…her dress! And he almost stumble on his own foot as he rushes after her.

"Caitlin!"

His voice only made her run faster, her own hands commanding the shrubs to cover her tracks. He didn't seem to mind the pain from their thorns, the wound in his heart much too painful for him to be able to feel anything else. He senses a different kind of danger but he paid no mind. He kept running until-

Then there was darkness.

He woke up to a blinding light, his eyes squinting fervently in attempt to recognize something. His hands felt the soft material from where he lay, his body jolting awake with the sensation.

"Don't move."

"Cait? Is that you? What happened?"

"You tripped." She shrugged.

"I…tripped?" He asks unbelievingly, eyes sizing up the amount of wounds he attained.

"Yes. And somehow managed to stumble down the steep slope on the side of the forest."

He laughs.

"What's so funny?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.

"Nothing. It's just that I knew these wounds doesn't just come from plain tripping. Not to mention the deep gash on my forehead."

"There's nothing funny about that. You could've di-"

"But I didn't. Thanks to you."

"Well, don't expect me to patch you up every time you break something."

She takes the space beside him on the bed, careful not to come too close just to be sure. She dips her fingers in a bottle of liquid, running it through his wounds. She almost stops when she reached his naked chest, suddenly too conscious of her movements. She can feel his gaze on her and it didn't help her case a bit. She tried to focus on her task anyway, making her eyes turn blue and her hair, almost white.

He just watches in amazement as he takes in everything that's happening in his surroundings. He's never been in this place before, he takes a mental note. He felt the weight on the bed shift as he noticed her figure about to depart once again.

"Hey." He said, catching her hand in his. She stopped in her tracks but never spared a glance his way.

"I'm still mad at you, you know. And if you think that you patching me up is enough payment for the pain you put me through then think again." He teased.

He couldn't see her face but he knew she was trying hard to fight the smile forming on her face. Her hand relaxes on his and he takes that cue to continue.

"Besides, it was your fault why I came stumbling down on the forest in the first place."

"How is that my fault?" She finally turned to face him, brows furrowed in confusion.

"You wanted me to come after you."

"I certainly didn't imply that."

"Really? So when I saw you in the palace hall earlier, I can say that you were just passing by?"

"Probably."

He let out a heavy sigh at that, running his hand on his hair in irritation. He could've done something ugly but instead he eases her into the bed, placing her between his legs as he wrapped his arms tightly around her belly. Heaven knows how long he craved for this very moment.

"I missed you so much it's making me lose my mind." He whispers into her ear, sending sparks down her spine. She closes her eyes before replying,

"Me too."

"Care to tell me what you were really doing inside the palace earlier?"

"I…I wanted to see you. One last time."

"Why do you always have to do that, Cait? Why can't you just let us have a moment of happiness for once?"

"Because I'm afraid."

"Of what?"

"I'm afraid…that if I do, if I let myself believe even just for a second that I could be with you, then I might not stop."

"Then don't."

"Barry-"

He silences her with a kiss.

For the second time.

Caitlin quickly reciprocated the kiss, letting him know she wanted this as much as he does. She's suddenly aware of the feeling of his bare chest against her skin, setting her body on fire in the most tantalizing of ways.

He slowly turns her around as he deepens the kiss, his hands tightening around her as he does so. He lifts both of her legs onto his lap, her arms winding around his torso to keep him even closer. Then his lips where traveling down her neck, so demanding and hungry it almost makes her heady. He kisses her collarbone, her shoulder, every exposed skin he could find, leaving a delicate bite each time.

She knows he was branding her his and for once, she didn't want to give a damn about the consequences, about the rules they were breaking. He wanted her to give them a moment of happiness and perfection and she obliged. She tensed at the feeling of his nakedness against her own but soon relaxes as he whispers honesty into her ear.

"I love you."

Just as the words left his mouth, he readies himself to finally be united with her. Before he could advance any further, she stops him. She gathers his face on her hands, making him look her in the eye.

"I love you too, Barry. I'll always, always, love you."

His smile is the widest she'd seen yet, making her do the same too. He began kissing her hard and passionate yet again as he finally made his move.

Then they are one.