S3E16: IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

(Storybrooke: One year later)

Zelena had left for Granny's Diner to arrange a duel with Regina and left Fawn in charge of guarding Rumplestiltskin. The old man had been sitting in his cage sulking over the death of his son. If he hadn't been the cause of Peter's death she might have felt bad for him. Baelfire had spent time on Neverland as a Lost Boy and during that time he had earned Fawn's respect.

"You gave up your life to save him from Peter's rage and he ended up dead anyway."

"I loved my son. Which is more than you can say about Pan."

"It ended up saving my life though, didn't it? If Peter had loved me it would have been my heart he needed to enact that curse –"

"Then you'd be together in death right now – "

The bars of his cage shook with a loud BANG as Fawn's fist collided with the metal.

"We'll be together in life when Zelena's through! You took my happy ending from me, so it's only fair I help Zelena take away yours!"

"Indeed." Zelena's voice came from the staircase, "My message has been sent Fawn, the heroes are plotting to free the Dark One as we speak. Best you go back to the barn and hide unless you want your cover blown as well."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~TIME SKIP (still Storybrooke)~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In a cloud of smoke Zelena and 'Stiltskin appeared in the cellar, a few moments later Fawn joined them. The door to 'Stiltskin's cage clanged as Zelena locked him in.

"What? No meat pie?" he mocked. With the dagger in hand Zelena flicked her wrist causing the Dark One to fall.

"She's clever, Rumple, but so am I. Regina's heart is somewhere in this town, and it's only a matter of time before I find it."

"Whatever twisted curse you have planned, it won't change anything. If I had to do it all again, I'd still choose Regina."

"Would you now? Well, I suppose we'll just have to wait and see."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

"We are doing it all over again. What I'm casting isn't a curse. It's a second chance!" Zelena yelled as she turned and left the cellar, Fawn following close behind.

"He certainly has a way of getting under people's skin doesn't he?" Fawn asked as she poured Zelena a glass of wine. She sat at their kitchen table looking rather down but accepted the glass and took a large sip.

"They'll all pay Zelena, in time." The fairy reassured her friend as she returned her attention to their dinner on the stove.

"That day can't come soon enough, Fawn." She sighed taking another sip of her drink.

"Well we've waited this long and that Charming baby is due anytime now." Fawn replied moving the finished plates of food to the table. She set down a decent sized bowl of salad in the center and put a plate of pesto linguini in front of Zelena and herself. Instead of sitting on opposite ends of the table Fawn took her seat beside Zelena and reached across the corner of the table and took her hand. "We just have to be patient."

Zelena only sighed in response before taking a bite of her supper. "Pesto?" she asked when she had swallowed the food.

"I thought you would appreciate the color. I know how much you like green." Fawn said jokingly. Zelena had the smallest trace of a smile on her lips, "That's incredibly cheesy Fawn and you know it."

Fawn slightly tilted her head while she looked at Zelena, "But it made you smile." Zelena faced Fawn with a now unamused expression but the mask quickly cracked and melted away as Zelena began to giggle quietly. Fawns own laughter soon joined in.

It felt good to laugh, neither could remember the last time they had been so at ease with another person. Zelena only had her flying monkeys as company, and Fawn had Peter's demise looming above her head while they searched for the Truest Believer. Yes, they hadn't yet had their revenge but a friendship had bloomed between the two over the past year of scheming and plotting. They didn't have their happily ever after but they still felt relaxed enough to enjoy the moment.

When their laughter calmed down Zelena turned to the fairy again, "Fawn, you are truly a one in a million friend."

"Well, I try."

"And you succeed."

"Only with you by my side." She sipped at her glass of water, "And we will succeed. We have the Dark One in the palm of our hands, Charming's courage, and this town's wiped memories all to our advantage. Soon you'll get Regina's heart and we'll pull that brilliantly twisted brain from Rumplestiltskin. Snow's baby will be born and we'll have every ingredient for your time travel spell. Then you and I shall get everything we ever wanted and more."

This one's for the girls, who've ever had a broken heart

Who've wished upon a shooting star, you're beautiful the way you are.

This one's for the girls, who love without holding back,

Who dream with everything they have.

All around the world, this ones for the girls. . .

"This One's For the Girls"

Martina McBride