I UPDATED TWO DAYS IN A ROW. THIS HASN'T HAPPENED IN MONTHS.

I'm kind of proud of myself right now.

But seriously, the reason for my semi-frequent updates is you guys! Your reviews are so encouraging. They make me smile! Anyways, thanks for reading.

-Homey :D

Disclaimer: A wise homeschooler once said, I do not own the Sisters Grimm. Okay, not really. That was me.

©HomeschoolGirl 2012, or at least this actual post is. The characters, not so much. But anyway, please don't use this as your own. Thanks!


Moment Seven: Sadness

When Granny told them she had two years—two impossibly short years—Daphne crumpled to the floor in a heap, crying, pleading for her to stop aging. Puck stood and strode angrily from the room. And Sabrina felt herself start to die.


The next morning cheerful, bubbly Daphne refused to get out of bed. Sabrina shook her shoulder and tugged on her arm, but she was relentless.

"Don't you see?" Sabrina shouted at Granny Relda that afternoon. "You're killing her! You're killing us all!"

"It is no different," Granny replied, "than what would have happened naturally."

"Don't do this."

The Old Woman raised her head, looking fierce and brave. "It's the right thing to do. I want to be with my Basil."


Henry and Veronica eventually had to come and retrieve Daphne. Sabrina watched as her mother went into the room that had used to be Henry's and shut the door. She stayed in there for a long time. When she emerged she looked at Sabrina, and something in her face told her that Veronica wanted to talk, so she turned and went down the stairs to wait. She didn't feel like talking.

Henry didn't even mind Puck's presence, since he was absent for most of their stay. He preferred to stay in his room, sending chimpanzees out to retrieve food when he grew hungry. And he was hungry frequently. So it didn't take long for Sabrina to get used to walking in on them rooting through the kitchen cabinets.

After hanging around for two days, they left, taking a damaged Daphne with them. Granny Relda surprised them all by telling them to take Elvis. Sabrina had begun to notice that the loving dog was also at the end of his journey.

Daphne deserved to spend it with him.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Veronica offered, hesitating in the doorway. Down the driveway, Mr. Canis was loading Daphne's things into his trunk. Sabrina shook her head.

"I need to stay here, mom. For a little while."

Veronica seemed to understand. "Okay. I love you."

Sabrina reached forward and hugged her, squeezing her close. "You, too."

Then she was gone, along with Daphne and Henry and Elvis.

Her family.


Sabrina didn't know why, but she felt the need to hang around. Even though Granny Relda spent most mornings in bed and most afternoons reading, Sabrina couldn't bring herself to leave. She was drawn back to a place where she felt she was needed.

Her two-week stay came to an end, but she didn't go. She called and postponed it for another two weeks. Then another after that.

The days were boring but Sabrina was content. She was spending time with Granny, albeit it being time that didn't involve any emotional contact at all. She avoided that like the plague. But the Old Woman was sure to want to have a talk eventually. The threat of it was a huge, dark cloud hanging over Sabrina's head.

Puck stayed in his room and didn't come out until July. He looked surprised when he saw Sabrina. They sort of stared at each other.

"I thought you would be gone," He said at last.

"Yeah, well." She stood up from the couch. "I better make dinner."

He looked at the ceiling, shoving his hands into the pocket of his hoodie. "I'd like you to know that this goes against every fiber of my being, but can I…ugh…help?"

Sabrina laughed. She actually laughed, for the first time in weeks. "Yeah."

She hurried to the kitchen, somewhat giddy, and he ambled in after her, muttering about pain and suffering under his breath.

"Okay, I want to make one of Granny's recipes," Sabrina said once they were positioned in front of the fridge. She pressed her fingertips together. "Maybe it'll cheer her up. Squid ink pasta, or something?"

Puck shrugged. "Doesn't matter much to me. It's all food."

Sabrina turned toward the shelf that held Granny's cookbooks. She stretched up on her toes, reaching. But her hand didn't even come close.

"How in the world does she get these down?" Sabrina wondered aloud.

"That's where I come in," Puck announced. He moved forward, so close that his chest was against his back and her butt was against his leg. Then he reached above her and easily plucked one of the books from the shelf.

They stood like that for a moment, completely quiet. Thoughts ran through Sabrina's mind, thoughts that she shouldn't have. A vision of Puck kissing her entered her mind, and she blushed deeply.

"It would have been easier if you'd have just moved," He said at last, stepping away. Then he practically hurled the book at her. It narrowly missed her head and landed primly on the counter.

"Thanks," Sabrina said, letting out a breath she hadn't known she'd been holding. Then she added, "Gasbag."

"No problem, Ugly."

She flipped the book open and rooted through the yellowed pages until she found the recipe for squid ink pasta. She wrinkled her nose in distaste.

"Puck?"

"Yeah?"

"We're going to need sand."


"Are you sure you're okay with this?"

"Absolutely!"

Sabrina and Puck were standing on one of the docks that were used for the Ferryport Landing marina. Sabrina sat down on the edge of it and dangled her feet in the water.

"It's going to be freezing."

"It's the middle of summer, Grimm. I live for this stuff."

"Look, we can make something else."

"Are you kidding me?"

"The Little…" Sabrina took a deep breath and lowered her voice. "The Little Mermaid lives around here. But you wouldn't know. You weren't there when we faced her seven years ago."

"Yeah. I've heard she's a real hottie."

Sabrina laughed. "Yeah, right."

Puck looked at her. "What?"

"Nothing."

He peered over the edge of the dock, into the black abyss below. "You think she still lives here?"

"Who knows? But how would she hear about the barrier being lifted, and if she did, how would she leave?"

He shrugged. "Don't know. And I really don't care. So, I'll be going now."

"Wait—Puck!" Sabrina reached out to grab his sleeve.

He looked at her. "Yeah?"

She was going to tell him to be careful. But the words suddenly felt too personal, too her own. They would give her away.

"You're still…wearing clothes."

He guffawed. "Wow, Grimm. You'll use any excuse you can to get me naked, won't you? But I'm not having it."

"Shut up," She said, unable to think of a better comeback.

He shook his head and jumped in. He was gone in a second.

Then he came up gasping, struggling.

"I kind of forgot…a little…something."

"What?" She asked.

"Faeries can't get their wings wet."

"What?"

"Yeah…uh…you see…" Puck struggled some more. "I'm kind of drowning right now. As we speak."

Sabrina reached toward him, flustered, scooting even further to the edge of the dock. Puck grabbed her hand. He looked nervous and scared.

Sabrina pulled. And so did he.

She yelped as she went crashing into the water, which was frigid, despite the warm day. Puck, meanwhile, was laughing like a hyena.

"You stupid idiot!" Sabrina growled, struggling to stay afloat. Her limbs felt stiff and cold. "You're going to give me hypothermia!"

He just laughed some more. "You're too easy, Grimm. Too easy."

She grabbed him around the neck and shoved his head underneath the water, holding him there for a moment before she let go.

He splashed her as he came up. "Thanks a lot. You almost just killed me."

She splashed him back, furious. "So sorry."

He rolled his eyes and dove back underneath the water, presumably in search of some sand. Sabrina took that opportunity to paddle back over to the dock and pull herself up and out of the water. The sky had darkened, and a light mist was just beginning to fall. She shivered, hoping Puck would hurry up and come on.

But he didn't come out. When a minute passed, and then two, Sabrina began to get nervous. She fiddled with a loose thread in her shirt. She gazed up at the sky and watched the clouds move.

Okay, She decided. I'll count to ten, and if he's not back up yet, then I'll go on. One…She counted all the way to seven and then slowed down drastically. Seven, seven and one fourth, Seven and two fourths…seven and three fours.

She reached ten and took to pacing. It had been at least three minutes, and he wasn't back up. So he was either part fish or…or something.

She was just about to jump back in (cursing Puck under her breath) when the boy emerged from the water, holding two fistfuls of sand. He flew cleanly out of the water and landed on the dock, grinning at her.

"I got the sand!" He announced.

"Obviously," Sabrina grumbled. "What took you so long?"

"I decided to see about the Little Mermaid for myself. So I turned into a fish and swam around until I saw her castle, and I paid her a visit, but we got distracted talking and when I looked at the time I realized I'd been gone for a while, so I said goodbye and grabbed the sand and here I am!"

"Puck," Sabrina said, feeling the beginnings of a headache. "You were gone for three minutes. Not three hours."

"Crud. I hadn't considered that when I made up that story. Other than that, it was utterly brilliant, though. Right, Grimm?"

She shook her head.


"Oh my goodness, what is this?"

Both Sabrina and Puck turned around to smile at Granny Relda, who was gaping at the kitchen with openmouthed surprise. A pot of squid sauce was bubbling on the stove. It looked like black tar. Although Sabrina had followed the recipe to a T, so she guessed it was supposed to look that way. They were just putting their homemade sand pasta on to boil when the old woman had walked in.

"Surprise!" Puck said buoyantly. "I made dinner, and Sabrina kind of helped!"

She elbowed him. "Yeah right. I made dinner while you watched."

"Oh, libelings," Granny Relda breathed, ignoring their spat completely. "It's wonderful! And it smells so good."

"Good, because…" Sabrina tested the pasta with a fork. "It's ready!"

Puck carried the sauce and spaghetti over to the table while Sabrina grabbed plates and silverware. Granny Relda asked if Sparkling Pumpkin Cider was okay. Puck whooped his agreement while Sabrina nodded. Anything Granny wanted would be great.

They all sat down to eat.

"This smells so good," Granny Relda said, taking a hearty amount of pasta. She spooned some of the black, sticky sauce on top. "It's my favorite!"

"It tastes good, too," Puck said, a rarity.

"Did you just compliment me?" Sabrina asked, shocked.

"No, Brainless. I complimented the food." He took a second serving and smiled at his pasta. "We're in love."

Sabrina sighed and dished some out onto her own plate. She tentatively took a taste. It wasn't half bad, once you got past the grittiness of the sand pasta and the sludge that the sauce left in your mouth.

"I want you two to know," Granny Relda said softly, after a few minutes. "How much you both mean to me." She grabbed each of their hands in her old, gnarled ones and squeezed. "I hope you know how much I love you both."

Puck pulled his hand away and wiped it on his jeans. "Thanks, Old Lady. But I don't like physical affection. So…I'll be going know." He took his plate and tipped the remainder of his food back into his mouth, chewed it three times, and swallowed it all. Sabrina grimaced.

Then he smiled at them, showcasing a mouthful of gray-tainted teeth, and hurried away. Granny Relda laughed.

"Oh, that boy."

"That's exactly how I feel," Sabrina muttered.

Granny Relda leaned over to kiss her forehead. "Thank you for such a splendid meal. It was wonderful to not do any cooking."

"Sure."

"I think I might go lie down for a moment. Leave the dishes and I'll clean up after my nap." She stood up slowly, kissed Sabrina once more, and slowly walked off.

Sabrina sat in her chair for a long time after that, until her eyelids began to droop. Only then did she stand up, head into the kitchen, and begin cleaning.

But the ghosts that haunted her lingered.


She knocked on his door at twelve because she couldn't sleep. She'd been thinking about her life these past seven years, and how empty it was, and how full it felt when he was around.

Like it or not, Puck was a part of her. She wanted him back. If not in a romantic way, then maybe the way they had used to be. Friends.

"YOU MAY ENTER!" He bellowed, reminding her of Mirror. The thought of him shocked her so much Sabrina faltered and stood for a moment, rooted to the spot.

Mirror. She hadn't thought of him in ages. Yet he had been the starter of her family's suffering, the one who stole two years with Basil from them. But she didn't feel animosity when she thought his name. Almost relief, or thanks.

Without him, undoubtedly, there wouldn't be a Sisters Grimm.

"I said—" Puck opened his door and sighed when he saw her.

"Oh. It's you."

"Um. Yeah." Sabrina tucked a piece of hair behind her ear. "Can I come in?"

He reluctantly moved to the side. "I guess." Then he shut the door and bellowed, "Hold the balloons, chimps! The girl has something to say."

Sabrina frowned. "Geez, Puck."

"I have to be prepared for an attack at all times."

She walked forward and he silently followed. They didn't say anything for a little while. Then she got to the trampoline, and she sat down, and he sat next to her. The ice seemed to break just enough.

"Um…so guess who I was thinking about a second ago?" She said.

He looked at her. "Who?"

"Mirror." She laughed to herself. "All the sudden."

"I find it weird you choose to spend your time thinking about lunatics who planned your family's ultimate demise, but I'm intrigued. Go on."

"I…think…maybe…I'm not so mad at him."

Puck cocked his eyebrow. "And that's because…?"

"He bought us together."

Puck frowned. "He did no such thing!"

"Not us Puck. My family. Granny Relda and Mr. Canis and Daphne and I."

"Oh, yeah. Well. He was nice in that respect."

"Agreed."

Another silence overcame them. Sabrina stared at her hands.

"Puck?"

"Yeah?" He scooted closer to her.

"I love you. I always have."

He stiffened.

"And you don't have to love me. It's okay if you don't. I just thought…" She looked up at the sky, which was dark, glittering with a thousand stars. "I just thought I should tell you so that you know."

He didn't say anything for a moment. Then he took her hand in his, and he squeezed it a little too hard, like he wasn't sure how to hold hands properly, but Sabrina loved it all the same.

And they sat like that for a long time. Just them and the stars.