Lovers part 2 – The Morning After

She could see him there, sitting in his ratty blue chair in his apartment, staring at the floor. She was standing all around him; a countless number of Snow White's all looking at the darkened figure of Bigby Wolf, all of them angry and all of them yelling at him.

"I can take care of myself!"

"I don't love you Bigby Wolf!"

"I hate you!"

"I don't need you to look after me!"

"Why don't you go back to the Homelands where you can die!"

"I'm not yours to lose!" Snow shuddered awake at the sound of her own voice yelling; "It's ok, it wasn't real, it was just a dream... no... it was a nightmare."

Snow shifted herself enough to look over Bigby's shoulder at the alarm clock on her bedside table, 5:01am, great, she had about an hour left to sleep before she had to get up and get ready for work.

It was then she realised why the nightmare had woken her; looking peaceful, years younger than usual and merely centimetres away from her face was Bigby Wolf, the man who had only last night revealed to Snow that he had loved her since the first hour they met and through a deeply moving confession and a night of passionate love making had made her realise the error of her ways and cause her to admit that she had loved him as well for the longest time.

Snow felt something on her cheek and wiped at it with her hand, it was a tear; a singular tear that turned to more as she felt her eyes become watery and she began sniffling; as her crying continued, Snow pulled herself away from Bigby's warm and tender embrace and buried her face into her pillow to contain her sobbing, but it didn't help though as Bigby stirred at the muffled sounds and then awoke to the scent of her tears and sadness, he looked at Snow to see her hiding from him in shame.

"Snow, what's wrong?"

Bigby's concerned voice alerted Snow and she relaxed a little at the feel of his hand rubbing her back as a means to comfort her, she turned her head to face him and noticed his concern.

"Why me, Bigby?"

Snow's words tumbled from her mouth and served to increase Bigby's confusion more than anything; she turned back onto her side to stare into his friendly brown eyes better, Bigby then spoke:

"What do you mean Snow? You know why already-"

Snow cut Bigby off by shaking her head and wiping more tears from her pale cheeks.

"I don't mean that. I-I'm a tainted person Bigby! For 6 years I was raped and abused by seven evil dwarves for their own sick pleasure, my less-than-a-year-long marriage to Charming ended in him and my sister betraying me and I have been cold and mean to you every time one of us got to close to the other, why do you still love me knowing all of this?"

Bigby pulled a half smile and started stroking Snow's cheek, casually wiping away her tears with his thumb but she pulled away and turned her back on him, he could hear her sobbing continue and embraced her from behind, pulling her close to him as his large hands stroked her stomach and he kissed the back of her head slowly and breathing her in before moving to her neck.

She accepted the offer of comfort and placed her hands over Bigby's and melded against his body, she had never felt so safe and secure in her life; her moment turned more pleasant as Bigby began to kiss the skin beneath her ear and she tilted her head to give him a better angle, though she was still sniffling.

In amongst the intimacy, Bigby pressed his lips against Snow's ear and whispered softly.

"Because you are just as stubborn and full of pig-headed stupidity as me-" He received a light elbow to the gut for that but she was smiling regardless.

"And because you are a survivor; you never gave up Snow, you fought through it all and came out the other side swinging, I admire you for your beauty and your personality, but I love you for your courage, for the fire that drives you on the inside. Plus you were the only Fable to ever give a damn about me when I first arrived here and over the centuries you were the only person I ever truly grew close to. The reason why I know where you are all the time and what mood or condition you're in through your scent is because you are my mate, my one true love; you became my mission and now you are my existence."

Snow turned around to face Bigby again and had never felt as loved and content as she was right now; Bigby re-wrapped his arms around Snow's back and pulled her on top of him, melding their naked bodies against each other and touching foreheads, their eyes closed.

"I love you Snow White, always have and always will, nothing will ever change that and I will NEVER leave you"

Bigby closed his mouth around Snow's and she responded in kind; their tongues dancing passionately as they relayed every ounce of love and forgiveness into each other, her hands tangling in his hair.

"I love you too, Bigby"

Snow finally managed to breath out her words before the couple slowly fell back into a peaceful slumber. Snow didn't have that nightmare ever again.

The alarm clock went off at 6am and was quickly silenced with a thump from Bigby's fist as he reached over to get to it, moving Snow from being on top of him to being on her side as he sat up onto the edge of the bed.

Lifting himself from the bed, Bigby quickly slipped on his extravagant outfit from last night; Snow woke to the lack of heat and left the bed as well, donning a grey bath robe that had been hanging from her bathroom door and walked over to Bigby; she wrapped her arms around his chest from behind and rested her head on his back as he replaced his hat to his head.

"Won't you stay for breakfast?" Snow asked as Bigby turned around in her arms and looked into her eyes lovingly, placing his hands on her shoulders.

"Sorry Snow, I don't think its best if I stay too long or people will put two-and-two together"

Snow looked at Bigby with understanding and nodded "I get it, but you were so perfect last night and this morning that I want to make it up to you"

Bigby cupped Snow's cheek and stroked it with his thumb "You don't have to do anything for me Snow, you did everything you had to by simply returning my affections"

Snow leaned into his touch and closed her eyes "I never expected last night to be so... wonderful; in the past I was made sore and bruised by the dwarves most nights and Charming only ever pleased himself but at least it was better than being rough-housed"

Bigby pulled Snow into his chest and stroked the back of her head "I've always looked out for you Snow and I promise I will never hurt you like everyone else has"

Snow felt overwhelmed in Bigby's presence "I know you won't, that's why I love you; but won't you at least stay a bit longer?"

Bigby pulled away chuckling "Snow you have quite a reputation in Fabletown, if people discover that you and me went from being colleagues to lovers in one night then the rumours that follow will ruin us both!"

Realization hit Snow like a punch in the face and she nodded her concurrence "Ok, so what do we do now?"

Bigby gripped her shoulders tenderly "We keep things professional, in public at least. Tell you what, we'll give people an idea of something between us on Friday; I'm taking you out to dinner."

Snow pulled a mischievous smile "Are you asking me out on a date Mr Wolf?"

Bigby pulled a wolfish grin in response "Subtle wasn't I?"

Snow leaned in to place a longing kiss to Bigby's lips before they retracted from each other, albeit with reluctance. Before he could leave, Snow quickly tapped Bigby on the shoulder and turning around his eyes widened in surprise at what was in her hand, it was a key.

"What's this for?" Bigby's confusion was evident on his face and in his voice.

"It's the spare key to my apartment; you know in case you, um, need anything from here or from... me" Snow looked a little embarrassed after finishing her sentence, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear out of habit. Bigby just smiled before pocketing the key and kissing Snow on the cheek.

"Thank you" With those words Bigby turned and finally left Snow's apartment, closing the door quietly behind him; Snow then headed towards her bathroom, unable to stop the joyous smile that was gracing her face; it was Tuesday and in 3 days time she would be going on a date with the Big Bad Wolf... the new love of her life.

Next time: Bigby recieves new info on a Fable he thought was dead