Heartbreak
Once she felt she was out of Rumpelstiltskin's line of sight, Red shifted both herself and Juniper into wolves, and hurried back to Granny's cottage.
Scratching at the door, she waited until Granny opened the door.
Said matron raised an eyebrow and smirked.
"What, you tied the knot with him that fast? Of course I'll watch June, but don't get used to it"
Do not speak to me about Jiminy. He has no place here any longer. Red growled in anger.
Red didn't realize that her growling caused Granny's guest, Snow, to jump.
Red changed back, grabbing Juniper, who lay asleep in her arms.
She gave Granny a look not to discuss Jiminy.
Snow came closer to Red, squealing at the sight of baby Juniper in Red's arms.
"Oh! How adorable! Is this...?" Red nodded awkwardly, feeling a jump in her stomach.
She thought she'd gotten past Snow's desertion the day of Juniper's birth, but apparently she had not.
"May- may I hold her?" Snow asked, taking off her gloves.
Granny eyed Red. This couldn't be easy for her granddaughter, her guardian having done something to infuriate her, and her sister having returned after six months, having no word since she left.
This particular moment wasn't exactly prudent for Snow White to pretend that all was well, and that Red was not angry with her.
"Just for a moment" Red said in a hurry. "I'll need to set her down for a nap soon" Snow nodded, shifting the baby to a more comfortable position.
Juniper whimpered for a moment, but fussed no more.
"How old is she?" Snow asked, as she crooned over the child in her arms.
Granny winced, but stayed silent as she observed.
"Six months" Red answered quickly, though Snow didn't seem to catch the ire in Red's answer.
Red eyed Granny, who shrugged.
"Six months" Snow murmured. "It's been that long... Seems just like yesterday we were running for our lives from a pack of wolves."
Snow paused, as Red wondered just what the princess was leading up to.
"How's Jim?" Snow asked, smiling knowingly in Red's direction as if she knew that there was something going on between the handsome stranger and Red.
"Jim who?" Red glowered. Just thinking about the thief and his deception, caused her teeth to clench.
Granny cleared her throat, taking the baby from Snow.
"You girls catch up. I'm gonna put this little one to bed, and then make some lunch. You'll stay won't you Snow?"
Granny gave Red a knowing look. Yes, she told me
As Granny walked away, Red looked at Snow. "Jiminy... the man who was here...when you gave birth to your child"
Red's ears flicked at the tone of Snow's voice. "Snow, if I didn't know better, I'd say you were jealous"
Snow pretended to look astonished, but failed. "Me? Jealous? Now what would I have to be jealous about, Red? I'm a princess- I can have anything or anyone I want-"
'A princes on the run from the Evil Queen' Red wanted to say, but didn't.
"But you- you have everything a girl could ever ask for- at least you did until Peter passed away."
Red whimpered in shock. What on Earth was Snow insinuating? Was she here to bring that all up again?
"And now, it seems you are working on husband number two" Snow looked at Red, the lichen's eyes turning yellow.
"But that's not going to happen is it? Apparently you ran him off, so you'll do what you do best, live as a single mother off of your looks and charm"
Snow gasped as Red slapped her, the heat of the hit echoing off of the walls of the small cottage. Red wouldn't admit it, but it felt good to put Snow in her place for once.
"It is not my fault that Peter died. It is not my fault that Jiminy made a deal with Rumpelstiltskin to..."
She didn't finish, so disgusted was she at his plan to be rid of the very people who had given birth to him.
"That is enough!" Granny hissed, storming into the room.
"I don't know who you think you are, Your Highness, but you have overstayed your welcome! How dare you insult my granddaughter, who by her own merits saved your selfish, spoiled hide!"
Just then a wail from Red's bedroom sounded; Red picked up her skirts and rushed to the baby.
Picking Juniper up, she did her best to sob quietly into her daughter, inhaling her daughter's fresh scent.
She wasn't sure why Snow was so upset, or taking out frustrations on her, but she knew that this was not what she needed to discuss.
She would continue to forgive Snow, and hopefully the princess would see the error of her ways.
Right now she was so exhausted from her journey, she just wanted to sleep...
Crawling under the blanket of her bed, holding Juniper close to her, that is what she did...
Some time later, Granny came into the room, and ran her hand through Red's hair.
"Mm... what time is it?" she asked as Granny sat on the edge of the bed.
"Time for supper... this little one is wanting love and attention"
Red giggled and kissed Juniper's cheek.
"So... you feeling better?" Granny asked, playing with the tassels on the quilt.
"Yes, just confused, and saddened. I thought Jiminy..."
Granny nodded. "You thought Jiminy was your knight in shining armor and the answer to your prayers"
Red nodded.
"Well, he is a million times better than Peter, I'll give him that, but you know who the real Prince Charming is, whom will save all of us from death and destruction one day."
Red smiled. She knew.
When she was younger, her grandmother would read to her from John and Acts. Jesus Christ was her real Prince- a King no less...
Jiminy was just a man.
"As far as Snow is concerned you know what Jesus said to the Pharisees"
Red nodded. "He who is without sin cast the first stone"
Granny smirked. "You have no stones... Give her some food instead. The one thing she needs the most right now, is love and understanding. From what I understand she's in love with a man who is promised to another."
Red sat up. "James?" she asked.
"You know him?" Granny asked.
"No, but I know of him. I had a run in with George when I was away yesterday."
"Let me guess... Jiminy called Rumpelstiltskin to get you three out of a mess, when you found out he made a deal with the imp"
Red nodded and rolled her eyes. "That's not all I found out"
Granny nodded and shivered.
"I'm sorry about that. He told me he gave you something when he brought you to me. He said it was safer for you that way. If the Queen knew of you, she would have probably tried to use you against him."
Red nodded. "Yes. He told me she was one of his enemies... can he be trusted?"
Granny shook her head. "That's up to you, dear one. I can't tell you whom to trust and who not to. That is what life is all about."
Granny stood up. "However, if you give your heart to both, and see where it leads, what's the worst that could happen?"
Red nodded, recalling of the 'she' that Rumpelstiltskin had been referring to.
Did Red have another mother, someone who took her in, someone who loved her, who put Ruby's needs before her own, and didn't try to kill someone that she loved?
Again, a young woman's face with blue eyes, fair skin and brunette hair came into Ruby's mind. Try though she might, she could still not remember the young woman's name...
A month later. Red gleaned all she could about talk of this James, who he is, what he was after.
It was rumored that his heart was not into marrying King Midas' daughter, but was being forced to anyway.
Red decided she would turn the tables by giving Snow all of the information she desired, as long as she was honest about it.
Red hoped beyond hope that her sister would not do anything foolish, if she were truly in love with James...
Snow White, formerly a princess, was now fugitive living with a group of seven dwarf brothers, who all loved her each in their own special way, even Grumpy.
Due to George's wickedness, they had lost their eighth brother, Stealthy, in an attempt to rescue her from assassination.
Now, as she stood in the edge of the woods of the Enchanted Forest, Snow was ready to hunt a turkey with a spear, when suddenly the turkey got away.
Snow, hearing a tree branch snap, readied the spear to attack...
"Hey!" the person called. "It's me!"
Snow looked surprised. "Red!" she said, surprised to see the young woman, certain the young lichen mother never wanted to see her again.
"The spear, Snow" Red drawled, an expression of 'really?' on her face.
Snow blanched and put down the spear. "I wasn't expecting you for a month." she said, meeting Red, who had a basket of food in her hand, enough for a month.
"It's been a month" Red reminded Snow, concerned about just how much time Snow was spending alone.
After an argument with Grumpy, Snow had left for a few days, wich turned into two months.
"Has it?" Snow asked, looking around at the sky.
Red gave her friend another look of concern. "You're really taking well to the solitude, aren't you?" she asked.
"Well... it's exactly what I wanted... to be out here...Away" Snow looked around again, not wanting to meet Red's eye.
"And that you are..." Red shook her head. "Here you go"
Thank you Snow said as she took the basket.
"So, how are things in the world?" Snow asked, inferring about Granny's welfare, but Red saw right through her.
"Come on, ask what you really want" Red smirked.
"I don't know what you mean" Snow lied. Red rolled her eyes.
"Fine" snow said, realizing she couldn't win. "tell me"
"The wedding is happening" Red said. "Prince James is marrying Midas' daughter in two days' time."
Snow winced. Red's heart went out to her. "You okay?"
"I just thought the longer I was out here, the easier it would be to forget him, but all I do is think about him" Snow grumbled.
Red would never admit it, but she felt the same way about Jiminy.
She guessed it was true about true love, absence makes the heart grow fonder.
"I'm sorry" she said, sympathetically, finally releasing the dread of her past ire towards Snow White.
The princess may never realize why Red had been upset, but all that anger was doing, was dragging Red down.
"I wish there was a way to get him out of my head"
Red blanched. She knew of a way, but that could be fatal...
Unfortunately for Red, Snow caught the look in Red's eyes.
"What, is there?" she asked.
Red tried to avoid Snow's gaze... "of course not, I mean that would..."
that would be ridiculous! Red thought... trying not to think of the one man who could help her sister...
What if I do it? She thought. It's in my blood too...
but then Red heard Snow talking again.
"Red, what do you know?" Snow asked. Red still didn't want to say.
"Come on, I helped you when no one else would...what do you know?"
So, they were back to that again...
Red decided Snow was right. There wasn't a way to talk the girl out of it; Red could only pray that her father knew what he was doing...
"There are whispers" Red began, "of a man who can achieve even the darkest of requests, a man who can do what you ask"
Red gulped, hoping her father wouldn't do anything foolish...
"Who is this man?" Snow demanded, not bothering to question or back down...
Red, not wanting any part of it, hoped the anonymity would help her and the imp.
"His name is Rumpelstiltskin"
That night, Red waited by the well that she had been brought to by her father.
She hoped that if Snow White had found him, he wouldn't do anything foolish...like kill her...
"Now why would I do something foolish like that, dearie?"
Red turned and glared. "I'm, just... making sure... is all"
the imp giggled, approaching her. "Never you worry, dear... that would never happen..."
Carefully he stroked her cheek. Red turned away.
"You wanted to do it yourself, didn't ye?" he asked with a grin.
Red frowned harshly. "Of course I did... at least I can use it for good"
the imp wagged his claw like finger at her. "Ah ah ah, dearie... all magic comes with a price...even giving the bairn a bath"
Red glowered at him. "What do you know...?"
"You're my daughter" he hissed. "Of course I know if you use magic!"
"Well, why can't I use it for good?" she pleaded, a tear coursing down her cheek. "Didn't you want to?"
"Yes" he whispered. "And I had hoped for your mother's sake that things would've gotten better... that I could win..."
he shook his head.
"Mother" Red said. "Where is she? Who is she?"
Rumpelstiltskin eyed her compassionately.
"Well, unlike Regina and... snow white" he spat with disgust, "Your mother was truly the fairest of them all..."
A tear coursed down hs cheek.
"I- keep seeing her" Red pleaded. "I keep thinking I know her, but I... I don't remember"
her father approached her. "Where she is, I'm not certain" he answered truthfully. "But drink this."
He handed her a bottle. "What is it?" she asked.
"It will help you remember" he answered with a smile.
Red cheered him and threw her head back. AS she swallowed the vile liquid, she coughed.
The imp laughed, lowly... sounding more... human...
How do you feel, dearie?" he asked.
Red couldn't answer... images, pictures, scenes from her childhood came flooding back to her...
Happy birthday my love! Five-year-old Ruby squealed as she opened a parcel, a book that she adored lay before her... The Cricket on the Hearth-A Children's Version
Oh Mama Belle! Thank you! Thank you Papa!
Both parents hugging a smaller Ruby
A game out in the garden
Take that! And that! To death you horrible beast!"
Ten-year-old Ruby was laughing as she and the imp were swordfighting...
You'll never catch me, dearie! The imp giggled,
Especially once I reveal my secret tickle attack!
Little Ruby screamed with laughter as the imp tickled her.
Alright you two... time for lunch!
Laundry day
Mama Belle, can we play hide and seek?
Not today little one, your father needs his clothing
Mama Belle glared at the castle behind them. Ruby giggled.
Ruby, your birthday is in a few weeks Have you given any thought to what you want? Twelve year old Ruby looked sad. Papa always said that when she turned thirteen, she'd have to leave him but he never said why. I wish I could stay here with you and my papa...
Red sank to her knees in tears. "Belle" she whispered. "Mama Belle"
Rumpelstiltskin nodded, his own tears shedding as he took his daughter into his arms.
She loved you, so very much. He whispered.
I know now why you brought me back Red said. It wasn't your fault... you wanted to protect me"
she fiddled with her cloak. "That's why you gave me the hood, isn't it?"
The imp nodded. "Yes, dear it is"
"Where is she? Where is Mama?" Red asked with a smile, excitement now that her memory was itself again.
"She... she passed away... six months ago"
Red eyes filled with tears instantly, she shook her head, not believing her ears...
Belle, was ...dead? She died when Juniper was born?
"Papa..." she sobbed.
Rumpelstiltskin, quickly gathered his daughter into his arms, attempting to quiet her tears.
"Shhhh... dearest...shhhh..." he could no longer do this for Bae, comfort him when he needed a shoulder to cry on.
But Ruby... he could do this for his beautiful rose, Ruby.
"Hush my beautiful gem" he whispered, hoarsely. "Your mother wouldn't want you to weep so..."
Red looked at him, tears in her eyes. "She would want you to live, a long and happy life" he smiled, brushing her tears away... perhaps the last time he would do so...
Demetrius was insistent on Regina casting the Curse. There were still a few pieces left, but first, Rumpelstiltskin owed it to Belle to see that their daughter was happy.
He could do that, by leading her in the direction of her True Love, Jiminy.
Heavens kneew what would happen during their life together, but the first thing was to start.
What better way to start than to find him?
A month later, Red was looking for Snow, in the brush around the clearing that they had met in, when a horse had ridden up.
"Snow! Snow White!" A man called.
Red looked up at the stranger, clad in dark leather and a plum colored cloak.
He was striking indeed, but Red wasn't so sure about him...
"Snow!" the man continued calling. "Are you there?"
This was the man that Red had sent Snow to her father for? Humph!
"She's gone!" Red called, as she made her way to him through the brush.
"She never came back after she went to find you" the man, James turned to her with surprise and intrigue.
Red, concerned, wondered what he was planning to do.
James was thinking about what to do, more than the ramifications.
"Then I'll find her" he stated bravely. "I will always find her"
Red beamed for her sister's sake.
Finally! Snow White would get her happy ending! With a dashing prince at that!
"And I will convince her that we belong together. I will always fight for her no matter what comes between us" James walked closer to Red, as if to convey a message to Snow through her.
"It won't be much of a fight" Red said, thinking of her own renegade. Of course she had been angry with him, but how could anger compete with True Love?
James looked confused. "What are you talking about?" he asked.
Red gave him an obvious stare. Was she missing something?
"Snow wants to be with you more than anything."
"Don't mock me" James commanded. "Snow told me that we can't be together, because she doesn't love me"
What in the world? Red thought.
"Snow left to break up your wedding because she's in love with you..." Red's voice trailed off. "Unless something changed her mind along the way."
She inwardly groaned. Papa, what did you do?!
"Not something" James growled. "Someone"
Both suddenly heard horses in the distance.
"Who's that?" Red asked.
"Someone" James answered. "King George" He hurled himself on his horse and grabbed for Red's arm. "Come on"
"Bring me his head!" George yelled.
Red winced as she felt an arrow whiz past them as they rode on.
Both she and James rode until they came to a dead end.
Red jumped.
"Red what are you doing!"
Red looked up at the moon. Wolves time was beginning again. Now, she knew how to control the wolf. Perfect.
"Giving you a head start." She nodded. "Go, Find Snow. That's all that matters!"
When James didn't move, Red growled. "Find her!"
James nodded, not liking the idea of leaving Red alone by herself, to be killed by George and his men.
Little did the prince know, she and George had a score to settle...
He rode off in the distance to find Snow as fast as he could
"Yah... Yah!" the horse rode off, and Red broke off into a run, charging toward George and his men.
The wolf howled. The battle had begun...
"Well well well... so we meet again, wolf... and this time, there's no red wolf to protect you, you bitch!"
George hurled his sword at Red, whom dodged it quickly,
"Kill her! Kill her now!"
The wolf growled long and loud at George.
As my mate said once before, you shouldn't point objects at others. You might just get bitten!
with a roar, Red pounced, and clamped her jaws on George's arm.
"AUGH! GET IT OFF ME! NOW!"
One of the soldiers kicked Red in the side in the same place she had been kicked before.
But this time, red had braced herself. She clamped harder on George's arm!
"Your mate?!" George roared. "You have no mate, you wench! Hah!"
He punched her temple, which she hadn't been expecting. Unfortunately, that low blow caused her to lose concentration and consciousness.
One of George's soldiers went to check on her, but George waved a hand...
"Leave it... it'll be dead by morning anyway. We have more important things to do. Ride!"
As George and his men rode off, they didn't notice, two golden eyes light in the dark...
When George and his men rode off, a certain imp rushed to the side of the fallen lichen.
"There now, dearie... take it easy now... that's it... up ye go"
Red groaned as she was hoisted into a seated position by her father.
"Wha- what are you doing here?" she panted.
Rumpelstiltskin smiled, placing a warm hand through his daughter's unruly dark curls.
He stroked his thumb on her cheek, lifting her eyes to meet his.
"I told you I'd find you, my dearest Ruby" he whispered, as he brought her into a warm, fatherly embrace.
"Come hell or high water, wherever you are, I will always find you"
And, despite last month's and today's events, all that had happened, Red was grateful for once that the imp was right...
More coming soon! Read and Review!