Hey guys! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, I kinda sorta did, but meh, weekend is weekend lol.

First off, I like to thank everyone for all the awesome support and love for my story, I hope I didn't scare you guys off TOO much on the last chapter, I have also gotten comments on where Bigby and Red's relationship is gonna go, all I can say to you guys right now is to just stick around and find out. ;p hehe

This chapter contains some BigbyxSnow for the shippers out there, hope you enjoy.


Chapter 9

"you're going to regret it when I catch you. "

Red grew afraid for a moment when he said it, afraid for her friends than for herself. Red felt heaviness in her chest on the trip home, she stripped out of her clothes and turned on her heater to her room as she lays in her bed with nothing but her bra and skirt. She was shivering, freezing half to death but it's not the cold room and wet clothes that makes her shiver, but the cold words of Bigby as he stares at her with his eyes.

"you're going to regret it.."

Red heard a light scratch at her window, she glances over and sees her black cat Aiden, meowing outside at the fire escape, begging to get out of the rain. She cracks open the window just for Aiden to run inside.

"Where have you been Aiden? I was worried sick. " she said to her pet as he shakes of the water off his fur before jumping back on the bed to Red, nuzzling his face on her shoulder. " You're getting me wet silly! " she says, only to have her cat tilt his head at her and nuzzled his face to Red's face.

Red starts to giggle and wraps her arms around her cat, bringing him close to her chest and started to cuddle. She stops for a moment, getting lost in thought as she thinks back to Bigby's voice. A tear escapes her good eye, rolling down to her cheek and lands on top of Aiden's ear, her cat looks up at her and starts to meow loudly to her before pushing his head up to her chin and starts to purr.

Red curled up into a ball on her bed and held on Aiden closer to herself as the soft sobs drown out the sounds of raindrops against her window, replaying the words in her head.

" Regret..."

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Time seem to have slipped away for everyone, it was the the month of October and Halloween is around the corner. During the time Red has been able to hide her bruises from her family thanks to the magic of make up and mundy's style clothing, which didn't last too long since she healed within a week, perks of being a fable. Red tried to avoid people and friends for a while, just going to work, then the Trip Trap, then home, thats how it was for like 2 weeks, work, Trip Trap, home every day, she would keep telling herself it's so she can avoid questions about her injuries at the time. If there's anyone Red knew that's more observant is Travis and Kristen, nothing passes their keen eyes, so Red used the excuse of being grounded and catching the flu bug that's been going around.

She does however call them when she could with the payphone that's on the first floor of the apartment building she lives in. It's how she knew what's been going on with them, since the trouble they all had of looking for another permanent place to jam they all have been sticking to what they each do best for money. Cindy selling her paintings, Randy selling weed, Travis playing his guitar on the streets and Kristen? Well she's been just hanging out at her place since she still has her crazy religious mother to support her, even though they both hate each other. That's how they been, the artist, the drug dealer, the loner, and the rebel, roaming on there own for a while. It was barely this week they have started back up on the band since Randy's arm has completely healed.

As for Red working at the Trip Trap, it got her a little nervous at first, fables would look at her in surprise when they would see her pour there drinks or clean up the bar, even ask her questions on why she was there and if her family knows, lucky no one would talk to her mother and grandmother, making Red be thankful for her family being shut ins as well as naive, they still believed Red was still working at the made up soup kitchen she would tell them.

The tips were still a problem however, greedy fables would rather buy booze than to tip the ones who serve it, so Red came up with the idea of playing her guitar at the bar for the extra money and wearing little bit of less clothing. It helped somewhat, but Gren wasn't too fond of the music part so Red would only play on Tuesday and Friday and play mellow music to try and ease him.

That's how it's been, thus, making the time fly by. Their's still been a problem with the sheriff for Red however, a problem she didn't like but can't control it. It's as if everything has been a set up for her, ever since the day they last spoken face to face, Red's neighbors would get into trouble, making the sheriff come to her apartment building to do what he does best, keeping the peace, whether it be one way, or the other...

The first time it started Bigby was going down stairs while Red was heading up, getting home from work. He had one of the goblins from the 2nd floor in handcuffs, arresting him for burglary. When their paths crossed on the stair way Bigby nodded at her a greeting as Red looked the other way and ignored him. 3 days later as Red was coming up the stairs someone was falling down the stairs and heading right towards her, with her quick thinking she moved to the side, having her back against the wall as the stranger fell right by her. Once he made it down Bigby was running down the stairs and quickly grabbed him before he could get away.

4 nights after that Red and her cat jolted out of there sleep by a loud 'thud ' sound by the neighbors just above her apartment. She was about to get up and take a peak outside her apartment until the sound of windows breaking and a man landing right outside her window on her fire escape, making her gasp in horror and opening her window.

" Oh my god! Are you-" she started, until she heard the man moan out and turned to lay on his back. It was none other than Bigby, groaning in pain and with bloody knuckles, signs of him beating up some poor bastard. " Oh..it's you.."

"Mmh..hey Red.." he moaned out to her as he pops his neck. "Give me a minute. " Red let's out a sigh of annoyance then heard the sound of another window breaking the floor below hers, seeing a troll out of his glamour and using the fire escape to run away.

" Your troll is getting away with no glamour, you should do something about that sheriff. " She said to him to give him a harder time. Bigby let's out an annoyed groan as he gets up and pops his joints.

" Working on it" was all he said as he pulled back to pop his spine then jumps off from the 3rd floor, landing on solid ground and taking off after the troll.

After that, Red just gave up on keeping track as Bigby started showing up every day, whether it be for breaking and entering, domestic violence, stupid complaints, you name it. It's hard enough to have a regular day here in this broken down building filled with fables with problems, it was like this everyday, just something normal. But lately it seems like everyone living here is either getting sloppy at covering their crap up, or the business office is finally giving a damn about the people here.

Red needed a break, a break from seeing the wolf. She got off work at the bakery like always but instead of going home to get ready for her other Job, she went to her little home away from Fable Town. she went to visit the coffee shop, where she saw her mundy friends sitting in their usual table outside, all bundled up with coats and sweaters.

" Hey guys, how have you been? " she asked them while sneaking up on them.

" Oh my god! Red! " Kristen jumped out of the chair and gave Red a tight hug.

" We were worried if we'd ever see you again Red, you should really tell us where you live. " Cindy said to her as she got up from her chair and hugged Red as soon as Kristen was done.

"Sorry about that, didn't wanted to get you guys sick. " Red lied as she wraps her arms around Cindy.

" Well now that you're all better, we can tell you the good news. " Randy said as he leans back on his chair.

" What is it? "

"We got ourselves a new permanent place to play! " Kristen cheers

"And it's this really cool new dance club that's opening up in 2 weeks. " Cindy spoke next.

" Yeah and our first night is gonna be on Halloween! " Kristen continued

"Under the blood full moon!" Randy shouted out as he stood up on his chair and stomped one boot on the table, howling out as if he was a werewolf while the people in the area looked up at his little performance.

"That's really awesome guys, congrats." Red said to them with joy in her heart, she glances over to Travis, who as always, sat there quiet in his chair. He Looked up at her and his serious features went soft, giving her a half smile.

" You are part of us too you know, even if you've been away and sick, you're in are hearts" he said to her as he leans back. Red blushed at that, feeling embarrassed and flattered at the same time. She looked around for a chair to sit but frowned to see every chair outside was taken.

Kristen notices Her Search and looks around as well. " coffee shops pretty full, sorry Red. You can have my chair if you want. "

Red was about to object when Kristen got up but Travis spoke first. "Nah it's cool Kristen, she can have mine" Travis was moving some stuff out of the way to scoot his chair out until Red rested her hand on his right shoulder.

"Or I can sit on your lap...I-if you don't mind that is." Red's cheeks turned from light pink to rosie red, embarrassed by her sudden outburst that even shocked herself. Kristen, Randy, and Cindy all looked at her than back to Travis as he stared at her.

" Sure, why not" he says to her as he gently reaches for her hand, Red's heart started to pound as Travis guided her body to his lap, grabbing her waist and sitting her down to the side so her legs were both on top of his other knee as she sat on his left one. Travis rested his right hand on top of her knee, while the other he started to rub on her back, soothing out her nervousness as Red leans on him and rests her left hand on his chest, his leather jacket was unzipped and open and he only had a thin grey cotton t-shirt on so Red felt his hard chest under her finger tips.

Cindy smiles at them until she glanced at Randy and Kristen than down at her cup. " Oh great, my coffee is cold. I'm gonna go get some more. " she urges Kristen and Randy as she quickly stood up.

" Oh, yeah. Mine too. Be right back. " Kristen said next and got up.

" What are you guys talking about? We just got-" Randy was interrupted by Cindy as she kicks him on the leg, making him jump up and looking back at Travis and Red, finally getting the hint. " Oh! Hey, uhh..yeah. Mine is too, be back. Uhh, you want anything Red? "

" hazelnut capuchin o would be nice. Thanks Randy " she replied as she looks up at him.

" Sure no problem, be right back. " he quickly said as the 3 friends rushed inside, leaving Travis and Red alone.

Red looked back at Travis, her blush going deeper by the closeness they were, she was just an inch above eye level, feeling his steady breath hitting the curve of her neck.

"They really like hot coffee." Travis jokes then gives out a nervous chuckle as Red started to giggle in nervousness as well.

" It is pretty cold outside so who would blame them?" Red said to him, he smirks at her and leans in on her, nuzzling her cheek before going up to her ear.

" I missed you." He Whispers to her, making Red's heart beat faster.

" I missed you too, you had no idea. " she whispers back, she smiles down at him as he looks back up with his thin lips parted. It was far from being a lie, she really missed being with him so much, his serious eyes, the smell of his scent, the feel of his long black hair in her fingers, she even missed the silence around him. Red kissed him on the forehead as Travis sighs out and starts to kiss her chin. He was inching up at her face as Red starts to kiss down as well, where there lips almost meet.

" Get a room you two! " a man with a heavy New Yorker accent called out, making Red snap her head at his direction. She straighten her back and clears her throat as Travis reaches over for his coffee. Feeling the awkwardness after their intimate moment be ruined.

" So this new place you guys found, who found it?" Red asked, trying to break the ice.

" I did, I saw these guys putting up a neon sigh up on this building that's been on construction. Talked to the owner of the place and well, after he heard us play he hired us to play every Thursday, Friday and Saturday. " Travis answered "have you been practicing your guitar lessons? "

" Every chance I get," she proudly answered.

" Well good, cause I want you to be our permanent lead guitarist, I'm just gonna stick to singing after we're done our Halloween gig."

" Really? You want me to play every gig?"

" Yeah, I dont see why not. You're getting better and I want you to be officially part of the band."

Red's face lit up with joy, she wrapped her arms around his neck and closes in for a hug as he wraps his around her waist.

" This is gonna be awesome! Thank you Travis! "

He pulls out of the hug and looks back up at her with a smile. " Anything for you Red"

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Bigby's eye lids went heavy, his grip on the pen in his hand starts to slowly slip away from his finger tips, it was yet another sleepless night for him, it was becoming an unhealthy habit, and his body is starting to not agree with it, he closes his eyes just for a moment when someone was knocking at his door. He Jolted back awake by the sound and shook his head before getting up from his desk. He heard the door being knocked for the 2nd time as he made his way to open, revealing Snow White with a Styrofoam cup in her hands and a file under her arm.

" Morning Bigby, sleep well last night? " she asked while adjusting the file.

"Can't say that I have, stayed up all night trying to finish up the paper work. " he said to her as he walks back to his desk and picks up the large pile that's on the side. Snow let's herself in places the cup on his desk.

" Brought you some coffee, wasn't sure how you liked it so it's black. Hope you don't mind. " she said to him as she puts down the documents on his desk.

"That's just how I like my coffee, thanks" Bigby hands over the files he finished as he takes a drink from the cup when Snow quickly scans over the pages.

"So many complaints in a short about of time, and all from one place. " Snow sighed as she shook her head. " Hollow Hill Apartments...isn't that around where Toad lives?"

" This is in the Hunts Point of South Bronx" Bigby answered

Snow creased her forehead and looked back down at the files. "I've heard that Hunts Point is under the mundy category of 'red light district' due to the large crime rate and prostitution..."

"Live in a bad neighborhood for too long and it'll rub up on the Fable community" Bigby shrugged as he takes another drink but stops as an image of Red standing in a street corner shot in his mind, making him rest the cup on his lips in thought for a moment before putting it back down.

" Well, we can't do anything about the Mundies crime rate, but at least we can try and keep Fable Town safe" Snow said to Bigby as she rests her hand on his shoulder. " I know you've been up working late, and you've been working hard for weeks, take a break. Get some shut eye for a bit at least. "

Bigby looks back at Snow and gave her a half smile, as he reaches over to her hand on his shoulder he gave her a light squeezes before rubbing his thumb on her knuckles, "thanks Snow"

Snow smiles in return before retrieving her hand back and looks the other way as she clears her throat. " Well then, I should be getting these back to the office, enjoy your day" she bids her good byes than walks out the door.

Bigby locks the front door and let's out a sigh before rubbing his tired face with his hand, "should watch what I do.." he said to himself.

Since the night Red left home Bigby and Snow became a bit awkward around each other due to the comment Red said to her, not to mention it embarrassed him as well. He liked Snow, no matter how much he tries to deny it or keep it professional. But after what Red said, he's been trying to be less obvious, and that night when Bigby was heading to his small apartment and saw Snow waiting for him outside, he was anything but discrete.

" I'd assumed you were going to take her home" she said

"She refused for me to tag along so she said she would call a cab and go straight home"

" Oh, well I that's good, " Bigby unlocked his door and nodded Snow to come inside, "Oh, I forgot, I brought you a slice of the cherry pie you bought earlier. " Snow said to him while showing him the wrapped up plate.

" Uh, thanks Snow" he reached for the plate, making Snow jump as his hand touched hers.

They stood there, quiet for a moment while looking away from each other. " Snow""You know-" they both spoke at the same time as they looked back at each other, Snow started to rub her right arm while Bigby looked away and cleared his throat.

" You go first" he said to her as he glanced back at her.

" Thanks...you know, about what Red said...about you being 'my wolf' I don't want you to think like I own you or something.."

" No, I know...she was shaken up and all, you know with...that and...she didn't mean it like us dating or..." Bigby got quiet after that, the heavy awkward tension getting thicker in the air.

"Well, I should be getting going then.."

" Yeah, me too. I mean well, going to bed and all, since I'm home" he awkwardly chuckles as Snow smiles at him.

" Well, good night Bigby" she said to him before she started heading out the door.

That night, Bigby cursed himself for acting like a jackass as he walks towards his window, he secretly cursed Red as well for saying the stupid comment, until he saw her out of his window staring back to the other street in the rain.

" The hell..." Bigby mumbled out as he reaches out and opened the window, she was lost in thought, her make up ruining by the cold rain drops, her lips trembled but she kept standing there staring at the opposite direction of her way home. Red took a few steps forward then stopped, hesitant on to continue or not. Bigby was about to call her out until she took out a long red ribbon from her coat pocket, he couldn't see exactly what it was in her hand but Red caressed it with her thumb and then held it tight in her fist before turning the other way and started to head home.

Bigby felt something inside of him that moment, when she saw her in the rain, he felt guilty...she went through hell that night and even though he saved her, she still faces the same danger in the hell hole she lives in. He wanted to see her happy, to see her safe, he owed her that much...so that night he went back into the office and took out the files from Hollow Hill Apartments, researching and reading the complaints. After that, he started to make his rounds there, making sure theirs nothing bad going on.

The Fables started to notice him so they started to call more often for help, and that's how it's been going for weeks, all just for trying to make it a better place for her. Bigby took one last drink from his black coffee before he started heading out the door, deciding to work today after all, all in order to keep her safe, even if he had to arrest every single bastard of Fable Town.


I had a hard time writing this chapter, I got bit by the writer's block bug, but I hope you guys still liked it though, I'll try and continue to improve my writing and dish out some more good stuff so don't worry :)

Until next time