Next chapter up again c: I was a bit preoccupied by our school's prom last night, so unfortunately I wasn't able to update then- but here it is. Enjoy you guys~ and thanks as always for giving a read~
Yet another small side note- I've started working on my first RubySlippers centric fic, and as of now, the first Chp is up for those of you who might be interested in giving it a read. I'd really appreciate it! The name is "Nook n Granny's" (cheesy I know..) anyway, new chapters should hopefully be up for that soon as well since I'll be working on both. Thanks for listening. Drop a read if you're interested maybe c: (though Dorothy will also be mentioned in here a bit more as well if you guys would prefer. If so, please let me know.
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After her rude awakening, Red pushed herself up out of bed, dropped her cloak on the sheets, and walked into the cottages small dining area. She pulled herself back a chair, sat down and sighed dreamily as Snow entered from the back.
"Hmm... Someone's chipper than usual. Have a good sleep?" Snow commented smiling.
"You have no idea..." Red smiled back and chuckled a bit. Snow pulled up a chair across from her and sat, looking at her friend with her head resting on an arm.
"So? Do tell. From Grumpy's report I'd say it was a positive, right?"
"Yea... It was-" Red leaned forward in her chair and looked down nervously, becoming more interested in the floor. "It's a bit embarrassing..."
Snow arched an eyebrow in interest. "I'm sure it's not that bad. Was it about Peter?"
Red shook her head. "No, actually..."
"Hmm." Snow paused a moment and looked at her friend suggestively. "Was it someone special?"
Red looked up slowly in surprise. "H-how did you know?"
Snow shrugged. "It's how I get around Charming. Same thing... Basically." She cleared her throat and blushed, Red chuckled at her poor flustered friend.
"Well actually... I'm not even sure..." Red started, and Snow tilted her head curiously. "Well, the thing is I've- I've never met her before but-"
"Her? Oooooh~" Snow leaned in more.
"W-what?" Red was taken back a bit, scared of what her friend would think.
"Nothing. It's just interesting is all..." Snow's eyes sparkled a bit, hearing about the possibility of love always excited her lately. "So this woman. What was she like?"
Red gulped and blushed a bit. "Well.. She had messy brown hair, and deep brown eyes and... soft lips..." She paused and cleared her throat, chuckling a bit at Snow's wide eyed expression. "She seemed strong, and kind, and genuinely cared for me for some reason. I figured I just thought her up, but I'm not so sure... The whole thing felt so real."
"Hmm..." Snow grabbed a nearby cup and played with it before looking back over at Red. "So you're hinting that something... Intimate happened in this dream of yours?" Red's eyes widened and she quickly looked away. Snow chuckled sweetly. "It's alright. When I first met charming I-... Never mind..." She stopped herself quickly, so nothing too personal on her end would slip out.
"Well...Yes. We- we kissed, but that was it really. She was beautiful, and the way she looked at me and moved, and her voice were all-" Red trailed off and stopped, she could tell she was spacing out by this point. She looked over to Snow who smiled at her knowingly. "What?"
"I dunno'. It's just, to me it sounds like..." Snow stopped and teased her friend, looking at Red's embarrassed face was priceless. "Someone's in love." She ended firmly and without hesitation.
"L-love?" Red chuckled nervously. "Snow, I haven't even met her, let alone know that she actually exists."
"Well, a small journey was all it took for me and Charming. Maybe someone or something is trying to tell you something."
Red looked down and scanned the floor again in thought.
"Have you exchanged the 'L' word in your dream?" Once Snow finished, Red's eyes shot back up again.
"A-alright there Snow... You're scaring me a just a bit..."
"So you're admitting to it?" The bandit smirked, watching the pieces fall into place before her.
"W-well I... Maybe."
Snow arched an eyebrow and crossed her arms over the table.
"Alright... Yes. Yes we did. Well, she did first and I almost... Almost did."
Snow smiled brightly and quickly got up to hug her friend. "I'm so happy for you."
Red paused, and unsurely returned the gesture. "How are you so certain about this?"
"Because. Love may be strange, but it really is worth it. I learned that with Charming..." Snow chuckled and blushed. "You just have to go for it."
Red paused in thought and nodded. "Alright... I'll- I'll try." She smiled and chuckled, pulling away from her friend's embrace. "W-wait, I didn't even get her name-"
Snow shook her head. "Doesn't matter. So long as you know, you just know." She shrugged and pushed both of their respective chairs in.
Red smiled and nodded, stepping back. "Thank you."
"No problem. Just thought I'd give you some hope, that's a powerful thing too you know?" Snow nodded. "Anyway, I'm sure you'll find her, and when you do I wanna be one of the first to meet her."
Red nodded and smiled warmly. "Alright. I'll remember that."
The two heard a growling fill the room and stood in a defensive stance. A bit later, Grumpy walked in from his room and mumbled low and under his breath. "Eugh... Keep your lovey-dovey girl talk to yourselves please. It's making me sick to my stomach..."
They smiled and looked at each other, Red being the first to speak. "I think he needs more help than me in that department honestly..."
Grumpy growled lowly and waved his hand at them sleepily. "I wouldn't be talkin' wolfie."
"She called me that..." Red growled back at him.
"Yea yea..." He rolled his eyes and scoffed. "How bout' you stop fantasizing for like five minutes, get your head out the clouds and into the real world kid? Love only means heartbreak."
"Someone must've woken up on the wrong side of the stool..." Red growled.
"Its alright... I'm sure he actually means well this time." Snow said calmly- Red openly scowled. "Anyway, I'm curious. What would you do if you were to find her?"
Red thought for a minute. "I'm... I'm not sure. I'm still not so experienced with this sort of thing in general..."
"You mean relationships?" Snow asked, and Red nodded sadly. "It'll be alright Red. You just gotta be yourself, and if she's worth it at all, then she'll accept you for you."
Red smiled and her heart fluttered at her friend's kind words. "Thank you. Really... If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't know what that was even like." Snow tilted her head. "Acceptance. A place to belong, you know? For now anyway."
"It's no problem. You're welcome here as long as you want to be here." Snow smiled warmly and stretched. "I should get going... Charming wanted to wanted to see me.
"Oooooooh good luck~" red chuckled.
"Y-you can come if you want to. I wouldn't want to exclude you... I'd feel bad. Plus you haven't really talked to him much, have you?"
"No, but it's alright Snow. You have fun with your man." Red wiggled her eyebrows and Snow blushed and sighed.
"You always wait back here when I go..." Snow looked down an idea popped into her head. "Wait... Once I get back, we could go looking for her." Snow smiled. "It's only fair."
"I-I... I'm not so sure that's a great idea..." Red looked up uncertainly.
"Well why not?"
Red bit her lip. "... Honestly? Because I'm scared..."
"That's a great sign though, you do know that?" Snow smiled.
"I- I know but... Just... Maybe I should take some time to process all this first." Red finished, making it sound more like a question.
Snow went to the door and opened it slowly, looking back at her friend. "Well... Alright, if that makes you feel better. We can talk about this again later once you get it all sorted out."
Red smiled. "Thank you. I'll think about it, I promise."
"You better." Snow said, part firmly and part teasingly, as she walked out into the crisp air.
Red sighed and looked down, putting her arms close to her and playing with her fingers. She walked back and forth, across every space in the cottage. She couldn't get her mind on anything but that mysterious woman all night.