Part 3
Red was sitting on the road, staring into nothing. It was as if she was willing Storybrooke to just open up. She didn't know how long she sat there, but her leg had definitely fallen asleep when something finally happened. Something flew out as from thin air and landed a couple of feet in front of her. She jumped up and got closer to it.
It was a paper scroll, sealed with a red ribbon. It looked old. But there was also a post-it note attached to it. Hold this and walk forward.
Red looked up, confused, but did as the note suggested. She walked a couple of steps and then suddenly she was stepping through a dry waterfall of an invisible barrier. What before was just an empty road in front of her was now occupied by three people, a baby carrier and a car. She got in! She was in Storybrooke!
The person closest to her hurried forward and wrapped her arms around her. Red hugged her back tightly.
"Hi Snow", she said.
Snow let go of her and held her at arms' length. She looked concerned.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm okay", Red nodded. "I'm happy to see you."
"I'm happy to see you too, but I don't understand what you're doing here", Snow said.
"I'll tell you everything in a bit", Red promised.
"I'm glad you're okay", Emma said and stepped forward. "You kind of freaked us out a little with that phone call."
Red just hugged her instead of saying anything. When she let go David wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"Why don't we go to Granny's Diner", he said. "You can explain everything there."
Red nodded, gratefully. She was dying to see Granny.
"I'll drive", Emma said and they all moved to the car.
Red remembered the scroll in her hand and handed it over to Snow.
"What is this?" she asked.
"A key, I guess", Snow said and picked up the baby carrier from the ground.
Red forgot all about the scroll when she peeked into it. Little baby Neal was awake and squealed happily at her.
"He is so adorable", she told Snow, who beamed back at her.
The three of them occupied the backseat as David rode shotgun.
"How did it go with Hades and Zelena?" Red asked.
The last time she had seen her friends had been when she had followed Zelena into the Underworld in a quest to find and help Dorothy. Hades, the ruler of the Underworld, had been causing troubles for Emma, Snow and the rest when they gone there to save Killian.
"Hades is dead", Snow said.
Good. But even though he was evil, Red didn't say it out loud.
"And Zelena is… different", Emma said. "Different in a good way, I mean."
Red scoffed. Zelena had terrorized Oz, caused Dorothy so much hurt and put her under the sleeping curse. Red would believe that Zelena had changed when Hell froze over. Emma seemed to sense her disbelief and refrained from saying anything else on the matter.
"Is Hook okay?" Red asked.
"Yes, he got out", Emma said.
But Red saw her and David sharing a look and Snow suddenly looked sad.
"What?" Red asked.
None of the three seemed to want to explain the sudden change in mood. After a moment, Snow sighed.
"We beat Hades", she said. "But…"
Red felt a ball of dread in her stomach. Something had happened. Someone had not made it.
"Who?" she asked.
"Robin Hood", David said. "He's dead."
Red sighed deeply. Robin Hood was a good man. He was part to thank for the change in Regina. Red knew she loved him so very much. And he was a father of two… Mulan had mentioned Roland, his sweet then-four-year-old son. Mulan… Mulan didn't know her friend was dead.
Not for the first time in the last two days did Red feel the loss of Dorothy. She longed to be back with her girlfriend. But with longing came more determination.
"We're here", Emma said unnecessarily and parked on the street by Granny's.
Red got out after Snow and followed her through the front door. A smile came to her face as she took in the sight of her diner.
"Ruby!" Henry jumped up from a booth and hurried over to her.
"Hi kid", Red grinned and hugged him. "Did you get even taller since last time?"
Regina, who had been sitting across from him rose as well. Red tried to wipe any traces of sympathy from her face when she greeted her. She didn't think Regina would appreciate it.
The diner was rather empty save from them.
"Where is Granny?" Red asked.
"Upstairs", Henry said.
"We mentioned we were going to get you", Snow said.
Suddenly the kitchen door swung open and out bolted Granny. Red grinned and received a close warm hug from her grandmother.
"It's good to see you, Granny", Red said.
Granny was a blunt, no-nonsense person but she was also very loving. To not mention protective.
"You're hurt", were the first words out of her mouth.
"I'm okay", Red said. "A friend patched me up."
"Who?" Emma said at the same time as Henry said: "How?" and Regina asked: "What happened?"
"Maybe I should start at the beginning", Red said and Snow nodded in agreement. "Okay. So I was in Oz with Dorothy and Mulan."
"Dorothy is the girl?" Granny interrupted.
"Yes", Red said after a beat. "I know I didn't tell you much last time, but it was all very new then. But yes, Dorothy is my girlfriend."
She felt her cheeks reddening slightly; it was a bit uncomfortable talking to her grandmother about this in front of so many other people. But Granny didn't press for further information.
"I want to meet her someday", she said instead.
Red nodded and gave her a touched smile. Say what you want about her Granny, but few things fazed her.
"I want that too", she said before continuing. "Oz was in previous years terrorized by Zelena, as you know, but before that another witch ruled parts of the land. The Wicked Witch of the East. But you know this part of the story: Dorothy managed to kill her when her house landed in Oz when she was a kid."
"So that part is true?" Emma asked.
"Yes", Red nodded. "But it turns out that the Wicked Witch of the East had a daughter, who is also a witch. She's grown up and decided she wanted revenge on Dorothy. We ended up fighting her and somehow she managed to send me to the World Without Magic. To Los Angeles to be precise. Luckily for me, I ran into a friend right after I got there. Or he ran into me actually."
"Who do you know in Los Angeles?" Snow asked.
Red turned to Granny.
"Do you remember Eric?" she asked. "From our village?"
Granny frowned, thinking for a moment.
"Oh that poor boy", she said when she remembered and Red nodded. "That's where they sent him?"
"Yes."
"Who's Eric?" Henry asked.
"Eric was childhood friend of mine", Red said. "When we were teenagers he fell in love with a princess, Althea. She loved him back but they kept their relationship a secret because it wouldn't be approved. Althea was a princess and Eric was just a stable boy."
"'The princess and the stable boy?'" Emma asked. "From the story?"
"Right", Red said. "But in real life their love story didn't have a happy ending."
"What happened?" Snow asked.
"Someone found out and told Althea's father, the King. He was furious and demanded an immediate arrest of Eric. He was going to kill him."
"For loving his daughter?" Emma stared disbelievingly at her and Red nodded.
"In the end Althea managed to convince him not to, but the King decided on another punishment: banishment. And apparently he doesn't do things halfway, because just sending him out of the land was seemingly not enough. So Eric was banished to another world and landed in the World Without Magic."
"That's terrible!" Snow said.
"Why didn't he come with you?" Henry asked. "Is his family not here in Storybrooke?"
"They are, but he has a new life in LA", Red said. "He has new friends. He has a job; an important one, and a home. And if he can get himself to admit to his feelings: a girl."
"Good for him", Granny said. "He was always a very sweet boy."
"Yes, and he helped me a lot. Dressed my wounds, let me sleep on his couch and got me to Boston. So he's staying where he is. But I need to get back to Oz."
Emma and Regina shared a look.
"Do you know a way?" Red asked them.
"The only way I can think of", Regina said, "is Zelena."
"Zelena?" Red's eyebrows rose.
"She can make a portal with her wand", Emma said.
"And you think she will help me?" Red questioned. "She hates Dorothy; why would she help me get back to her?"
"She has changed", Regina said. "Her best interest is with her daughter, Robin."
"She named her Robin?" Red said.
Regina nodded.
"That's sweet", Red said with a gentle smile.
Regina gave her a small smile back.
"She will help you", Emma said and put a hand on Red's shoulder. "It'll be fine."
"If you believe so", Red said.
"But before you leave: dinner", Granny said.
"Granny, I have to get back to Oz", Red said. "I don't know if they're okay. I don't know what happened after I disappeared."
"You won't be any good for them without food in you", Granny said stubbornly. "I know you, girl, and my guess is that you haven't eaten much in the last few days."
"You should probably listen to her, Red", Snow said with a grin. "You know better than anyone that she won't back down."
"Right, okay", Red chuckled. "Dinner it is."
She sat down by the bar but promptly jumped up again. The sealed envelope in her backpack had been forgotten up until now. Eric had trusted her to give it to his family. She was not going to dishonor his trust.
"I'll be back soon", she said. "I have something I need to do before I go back."
She left no room for arguments or questions as she disappeared out from the diner. Storybrooke looked exactly the same. She passed some people on the street, a couple of which recognized her and stopped with a confused frown. But Red didn't stay; she had things she needed to do, people she needed to see.
Eric's father lived towards the edge of Storybrooke, close to the dog shelter. In hindsight Red probably should've asked for a ride there, but it didn't take too long to walk. As she stepped up the path to the red house she heard barks from the shelter. One golden retriever, owned by Markus, was resting on the porch. He jumped up to greet her as she came closer.
"Hi there, buddy", she grinned and scratched behind his ears.
She stepped around him and knocked on the door.
"Coming!" came from further inside.
The door opened and there stood Eric's little brother.
"Red?" he said. He had mostly known her from their childhood in Enchanted Forest and therefore used that name rather than Ruby. "What are you doing here?"
"I have to talk to you and your father", she said. "I'm glad you're here."
"Alright", Evan said. "Well, come in."
He stepped aside and let her pass through.
"Dad! We have company", he called.
"I'm in the living room!"
Evan showed Red in there. Markus stood up from the armchair he was sitting in.
"Red", he said warmly. "It's good to see you. It's been a while."
"It has", Red agreed. "I've been… away. I live somewhere else now, and I am going there soon again. But before I leave I had to talk to you and deliver this."
She took off her backpack and pulled out the envelope from it. Both Markus and Evan looked questioningly at it and her.
"You see", Red continued, "I saw Eric the other day."
Markus went pale and Evan stared at her.
"I was sent to the World Without Magic and I accidently ran into him. He wrote this to you and wanted me to tell you that he loves you and that he misses you."
"Is this true?" Markus said with a shaky voice and held the envelope carefully in his hands. "Have you really seen my boy?"
"It is true", Red nodded. "He has another life now. He has a home, friends and a job that he loves. He is happy."
Markus was still in shock but Evan started to smile.
"He's happy", he repeated and brushed away a tear from the corner of his eye. His eyes met Red's. "I have been so worried about him, wondering whether or not he was alright. If he was even still alive. I am so…"
He was cut off by his own sob. But even through his crying he was smiling and Red could fill in his sentence for herself: I am so glad, relieved, so happy. Red smiled back at him and patted his back. Markus sunk down on the couch heavily; the information had finally seemed to sunk in. Both of them asked her to tell them more about Eric.
"He lives in Los Angeles", Red said. "He works with computers. I only saw him for half a day, so I don't know everything. But I met some of his friends and they are very nice and seem to really look out for him. There is a girl, Nell, who he really likes and she likes him. I am sure they will realize it themselves soon. I don't know much else, except that he is the same sweet, caring person he always was. You would be proud if you saw him."
"I'm proud even from afar", Markus said. "Thank you, dear Red, for giving us this."
"It was my pleasure", Red said. "I'm going to let you read that letter in peace."
Evan stood up.
"I'll walk you out", he said.
When they got to the door, before Red could step out, he stopped her and hugged her tightly.
"Thank you", he said. "I really mean it."
"I know you do. And you should know that I told him a little about you and he is so proud. He loves you a lot."
Evan grinned and ducked his head. Red smiled at him and waved goodbye. The golden retriever lifted its head hand gave out a bark as it watched her leave.
Red found her way back to the diner. Everyone was still there and had been joined by Hook.
"There you are", Granny said and pushed her down in a chair. "Have some lasagna."
A plate was placed on the table in front of her.
"Where were you?" Snow asked her quietly.
The rest were still talking among themselves so Red bent towards her.
"I was talking to Eric's family", she said and Snow nodded in understanding.
"So Red", Killian said loudly from several places down. "Good to see you."
"Nice to see you too, Hook", Red said. "Glad to know you're alright."
He rose his glass towards her and nodded. Henry who was sitting next to her, nudged her elbow.
"What was Los Angeles like?" he asked.
"Hot and sunny", Red said. "And way too much traffic. Everyone seems to drive a car."
"I can't wait until I get to drive", Henry said.
Red had to laugh at the look on Regina's face when she heard Henry's statement.
"You'll have to wait a couple of years, kid", Emma said and Regina nodded in agreement.
"I know", Henry said matter-factly. "But it seems fun."
"Not as fun as horseback riding, if you ask me", Red said. "And that you do already."
"I would like to fly sometime", Snow said.
"No you don't", Red said immediately. "It was my first time on an airplane going from LA to Boston and it was terrible. I will never do it again even if someone pays me. My feet are supposed to stay on the ground."
They had a good time, talking and eating, but as soon as Red's plate was empty she was up and going. Regina, Emma and Snow would go with her to Zelena, as they thought it was a bad idea for everyone to go. It was unnecessary to make Zelena feel like she was ganged up on. Granny had to see to the diner, so she was staying anyway.
"Take care, girl", she said and hugged her.
"You too, Granny", Red said. "Hire more people to the diner; I don't want you to exhaust yourself."
Granny just gave her a look and patted her cheek.
"One day I want to meet this girl of yours", she said.
"I'm sure she would love to meet you too."
They shared a smile before Red hurried out of the diner to join the others out on the street. She said goodbye to David, Hook, baby Neal and Henry.
"Zelena settled down a little outside town", Regina said.
"We'll take the bug", Emma added.
So they crammed into Emma's tiny yellow car and drove out to a cute wooden house.
"She lives here?" Red questioned.
"Yep", Emma said and put the car in park.
The house seemed too sweet and too normal to be the residency of the Wicked Witch of the West.
"She has changed", Snow said.
"If you say so", Red said, still not really convinced.
Regina went up to knock on the door. Red stayed behind, watching carefully. She was not going to let her guard down anytime soon. She saw Zelena opening the door, greeting Regina and embracing her.
"What are all of you doing here?" Zelena asked and let her gaze fall on each of the people in front of her house. In the end it landed on Red. "Isn't this the wolf?"
Red rolled her eyes.
"Red needs your help", Snow said.
"Misplaced yourself again?" Zelena asked smartly.
"No, someone else did that for me", Red snarled.
"She needs to get to Oz", Emma said.
"To Oz? What do you have in Oz?"
Red just raised an eyebrow at her.
"Can you help her get there?" Snow hurriedly asked instead.
"Sure, I can", Zelena said, but was interrupted by a cry from inside the house.
"I'll get the baby", Regina said and disappeared inside.
Zelena watched her go before turning back to Red.
"What are you going to do in Oz?" she asked again.
"I'm going back to my family", Red said before sharing a smile with Snow and adding: "Well, the other part of my family."
Zelena looked at her intently. After a long silence, Red sighed.
"Dorothy is fine", she told her. "I woke her from your curse."
"You did?" Zelena raised an eyebrow.
"I did", Red challenged.
"And that's who you're going back to?"
Red nodded. Zelena's face was hard to read, but Red thought for sure that she would refuse to help. Because why in the world would Zelena want to help someone dear to Dorothy? But then Regina came back out with a bundle in her arms and Zelena's expression softened. She looked down at her little daughter with a sweet smile Red had never seen before and never thought she could ever see on her face.
"Sure, I'll make you a portal", Zelena said, still looking at her daughter.
Red must have looked shocked, because Emma grinned at her and said:
"Close your mouth, Ruby: you'll catch a fly."
Snow laughed and wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"You're going home, Red", she said.
"I'm going home", Red repeated and gave out a relieved sigh.
Zelena had gone into her house and came back out with a wand. She stepped down from the porch and joined the rest on the ground.
"You keep my daughter far away from this", she said to Regina.
"Of course", Regina said and started walking away until Red stopped her.
"Hey, Regina", she said and Regina turned back to her. "Thank you."
"No problem", Regina said.
Red stepped forward and carefully hugged her, to not squish the baby in her arms. Regina seemed surprised at the action, but not displeased. She even gave Red a smile before she walked away with the baby. It was extremely hard to believe that was the same person as the one who'd terrorized the Enchanted Forest. Maybe it wasn't the same person. Regina wasn't the Evil Queen anymore; she was just Regina.
Once Zelena was satisfied with the distance from her daughter, she flicked her wand and conjured a door.
"This will take you to Oz", she told Red.
"Thank you", Red said.
Zelena just nodded.
"Bye Snow", Red said and hugged her best friend. "Take care."
"You too, Red. Say hello to Dorothy from me when you see her."
"I will."
"And Mulan", Emma added.
"Of course", Red said.
Emma patted her shoulder.
"Safe trip", she said.
Red grinned back nervously and stepped up to the door. She glanced around to make sure the others had backed up a bit for safety, before opening it. The light from the portal temporarily blinded her. With a hand shielding her eyes, she walked into it.
She was inside it for only a moment and then the light cleared. Red blinked and found herself standing in a forest. A very familiar forest. With her heart thumping loudly she started trying to orient herself. She was in Oz, that much she knew. But exactly where?
For a moment she thought Zelena had intentionally dropped her somewhere in the middle of nowhere. But then she started walking around, trying to pick up scents, and suddenly she found a familiar one. Dorothy's. She followed the trail and as the scent became more and more prominent she walked faster and faster.
"Dorothy?" she called out.
The forest was seemingly empty.
"Dorothy!"
Still no answer. The sun was almost setting; it would be dark soon.
"Kansas?"
"Wolfie?"
Red stopped and listened carefully.
"Kansas?" she tried again.
In the far distance she could hear her calling back to her. An excited smile grew on her face as she set off towards the voice. She ran, the backpack bouncing against her back, her steps used to the uneven ground of the forest. Through a tight group of trees and bushes she could see someone moving. She charged through and found exactly what she wanted to find.
"Kansas!"
Her cry was of relief and joy. Blue eyes met her green ones across the grove. Dorothy was dressed in her usual blue, with hair tousled from the wind, and finally standing in front of her. Red wasted no time in crossing the distance between them and wrapping her arms around her.
"Wolfie", Dorothy breathed and clung to her just as much as Red clung to her.
They stayed in their embrace for a while, before Dorothy stepped back a little and took Red's face in her hands. She traced the cut above her eyebrow and her bruised cheek.
"Are you okay?" she asked in a whisper.
"I'm fine."
"Honey, you're crying", Dorothy said and caught one of Red's tears from falling.
"I'm just so happy to see you", was all Red managed to get out and buried her face in her girlfriend's shoulder.
"I'm so happy you're okay", Dorothy said and kissed the top of her head. "I was so… I was so scared. I'm so happy you found your way home."
She lifted Red's head from her shoulder, tilted it upwards and placed a gentle kiss on her lips. When they broke off, Red brushed away her tears.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"I'm fine", Dorothy said. "The witch disappeared right after you did."
"And Mulan? Is she alright?"
Dorothy hesitated slightly and Red instantly knew the answer.
"She got hurt", Dorothy said and hurriedly added; "But I am sure she'll be alright", when she saw Red's face.
"What happened?"
"The witch threw a curse at her and in the fall she dislocated her shoulder. I'm not entirely sure what the curse did, but it gave her a bad fever. The fever broke a couple of hours ago, though, and I see no other signs of anything else wrong. I couldn't try to find you; I had stay with her. I couldn't leave her when she was down."
Red traced her finger along Dorothy's shoulder and swallowed down the initial panic at hearing that her friend was hurt.
"Thank you for doing that", Red said.
"No need. She's my friend too", Dorothy smiled and took her hand. "Come on. Let's go back and see her. It's not far from here and Toto is keeping her company. I went to get some more wood for the fire when I heard you. Where did the witch send you?"
"To the Land Without Magic", Red said and Dorothy stopped in her tracks and stared at her.
"What?"
"To Los Angeles", Red specified.
Dorothy looked shocked.
"How did you get back?" she asked.
"It's a long story", Red said. "The short version goes like this. An old childhood friend incidentally found me right after I was dropped in Los Angeles. He helped me and got me to Boston. From there I called Snow's phone and she, Emma and David got me into Storybrooke. Then you won't believe who got me from there to here through a portal."
"Who?"
"Zelena."
"The Wicked Witch?"
"Yep."
"Impossible", Dorothy said, frowning.
"That's what I thought when Emma and Regina told me the plan. But she's different now. I don't know how different, but having a daughter has changed her. My guess would also be that Regina and Emma and Snow and the rest have had a good impact on her."
Dorothy looked very disbelieving, not that Red would've thought otherwise.
"Anyway", she said. "Then I landed here in Oz, picked up your scent and found you."
Dorothy kissed her.
"You are a wonder, miss Wolfie", she said.
"I take that as a compliment", Red grinned. "Come on, let's go back to Mulan."
Dorothy led her through the forest, her hand firmly in hers. They came to another grove, which was lit up by a fire. A tent was put up on a safe distance from it, with the side in its direction completely open. Against a large boulder beside the tent sat Mulan, curled up in blankets.
"Look who I found", Dorothy said and Mulan looked up.
She saw Red and shone up.
"Red", she said. "You're here."
"I got back", Red said, threw her backpack aside and sat down on the ground by her side. "How are you feeling?"
"Fine."
Red rolled her eyes. Mulan could be stubborn and a bit proud sometimes. Mulan caught her expression.
"My shoulder is killing me, but otherwise I'm good", she said. "Maybe a little tired."
"You don't look great", Red said.
She really didn't. Pale and sweaty, with shiny eyes.
"Thanks", Mulan said sarcastically. "You don't look so good yourself. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine", Red said.
"Where were you?"
"First in the World Without Magic and then I got to Storybrooke."
Mulan's eyebrows rose.
"Snow and Emma says hi, by the way", Red remembered. "To you too, Kansas", she called out to her girlfriend, who was making them some tea.
"Are they well?" Mulan asked.
"Yes, they're fine", Red said but her mood darkened and a stone dropped in her stomach. She remembered Robin Hood. She had to tell Mulan about him; they had been friends. Mulan had even been part of his Merry Men for a little while.
"What?" Mulan asked.
No backing out now.
"I have to tell you something", Red said. "I'm very sorry, but… Robin Hood died."
Mulan stared at her in silence, the information slowly dawning on her.
"Oh", was all she said.
Her gaze dropped to the ground and Red put a comforting hand on her uninjured shoulder. She looked up and met Dorothy's sympathetic gaze. When she looked down again, she caught two drops landing on Mulan's lap. The woman grieved for herself, her head bowed. She kept her position even when Dorothy sat down with them and handed her a cup of tea. She mumbled a thank you.
Red leaned against Dorothy, but kept her hand on Mulan. She was so exhausted; it had been a long day. She was glad to be with Dorothy and Mulan, but sad to be the bearer of bad news. Dorothy wrapped an arm around her shoulders and held her close.
When Mulan finally looked up again, her eyes were dry. Red gave her a tentative smile and received one back. They sat together in silence, the three of them.
Red must have drifted off for some time. She looked around and found Mulan sleeping a little bit away. The fire was almost out and cast only a dim, shadowy light on Dorothy half-sitting next to her. They were both leaning against the boulder, but with blankets behind them and one draped over their legs.
Dorothy was awake, looking into the dying flames.
"Did I fall asleep?" Red asked in a whisper.
Dorothy looked over at her and smiled.
"You did", she said. "Which you probably really needed."
"I'll sleep later", Red said and snuggled up against her side.
They sat quietly for a bit.
"I saw bandages under your shirt", Dorothy said.
"It's a cut that's a bit longer and deeper than the rest", Red said. "But it's not too bad and Eric cleaned it and dressed it for me."
"Who's Eric?"
"He and I grew up in the same village in the Enchanted Forest", Red said. "But not too long after I was driven out with pitchforks and fire, he was banished to the World Without Magic."
"Banished? What did he do?"
"He fell in love with a princess who just happened to have a crazy king for a father."
"That's awful", Dorothy frowned.
"I know", Red sighed. "But it was amazing to see him now. He has a whole new life. A home, a job, friends, a girl… He's happy. And I got to tell his father and brother that when I got to Storybrooke."
"Well, that's sweet."
Red rested her head on Dorothy's shoulder.
"I'm so glad to be home", she said.
"I'm so glad you are home", Dorothy said.
Slowly, Red's eyelids began to drop and she fell asleep listening to her love's breathing.
Somewhere else, in another land, in another world, Eric sat in his usual chair by the computers of OSP. The place was quite empty, as most personnel had gone home for the night. He was shutting off the last standing technology and watched all the screens go black. He stood up and stretched his back. It had been a long but good day. Well, it hadn't just been good; it had been quite trying as well.
Seeing Red off at the airport had been strange. He had never believed he would ever see her again, and then he did. Now he had said goodbye to her and this one was sure to last forever.
It had been good talking to her. He was very relieved that his family was doing well. He hoped Red would manage to leave them the letter. He wanted them to know that he was doing well as well.
"Coming, Eric?"
Eric looked up. Nell stood by the doors.
"I thought you had gone already", Eric said.
"I thought I should wait for you."
Eric ducked his head to hide his excited smile. He loved every opportunity he got to talk to her. Apparently he wasn't so discreet about it either. Red had figured out he liked Nell before she even met her.
Don't wait too long to tell someone you love them.
That's what Red had said.
Consider taking a leap.
Was he considering? He was so afraid that Nell wouldn't feel the same and that it would ruin what they already had. Eric valued their friendship so much. Was it worth risking it?
He looked over at Nell, who was looking back at him.
"So", she drew out the word. "Are you coming?"
"Yeah", he said and turned off the last screen.
He joined her and together they walked down the stairs. Everybody else seemed to have gone home. Even Hetty's chair was empty. The lights were off almost everywhere.
"Guess we're the last ones left", Eric said.
"Seems so", Nell said. "You work too much."
"Me? You're here too!"
Nell grinned and held up the door out for him. The sun had gone down and it was getting a bit chilly. They walked side by side out on the street. Where they would usually part to go to their respective cars, they stopped.
Consider taking a leap. Consider telling her how you feel.
"I'll see you tomorrow, Eric", Nell said and turned to leave.
Take a leap.
"Hey, Nell!"
She turned back around.
"Yeah?"
He was on the edge.
"I, um…"
Tell her how you feel.
"What, Beale?" Nell grinned with an eyebrow raised.
Tell her!
But he didn't say anything. Instead he took two steps towards the redhead he held so dear in his heart, gently put his hand under her chin and tilted her head upwards.
"Can I kiss you?" he said, in a voice he almost didn't recognize.
She stared into his eyes, her gaze boring into his soul. She nodded. Carefully, Eric bent his head down towards hers and let their lips meet.
