Author's Note:

Hello!

This is a story I've had on my mind for a long time but I never really knew how to start it. I had to pick up my pace just in case Wolf Among Us 2 came out because I have a feeling the romantic tension with Snow and Bigby will be tenfold in that. I do love the pairing of Snow and Bigby but sometimes in the game it felt like she treated him too coldly (not that I can blame her, she's been through a lot) or maybe she just wasn't ready for a relationship. She had enough on her plate as it is, plus I wouldn't be too keen on dating so soon after finding out my boss had lustful and creepy fantasies about me.

I wanted to write more cases for Bigby to solve mostly because I didn't want to plug in a character for the game whose just is...there. I wanted my character to have a stake in this. In my research for a character Bill Willingham (the creator of the Fables comic) had not already introduced, I discovered Hans Christen Anderson's "The Wild Swans" and the Grimm Brothers " The Twelve Brothers". Those two and many others like it had basically the same premise, a princess whose brothers who were turned into swans. I plan to do a separate fanfic of the real backstory instead of the Mundy version that you can Google.

This is mostly in the game universe and categorized as such because as amazing as the Fable comics are, there is a lot going on in them. This is just more simple and doesn't require reading all 150 comics to understand.

This is set a few months after the Crooked Man business.

Enjoy and let me know your thoughts on it!

Paris, France

1:00 AM

Two women lugged multiple suitcases through the glass doors at the Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport straight to the bag check. The strain from the heavy luggage left them breathless and unable to talk, for at least a while. This left the two thankful, as they were hesitant to talk. They had already spent their last night together hours earlier and felt they had nothing more to say. Decades of being with each other left them able to communicate without words and the two already knew what the other felt.

The blonde fidgeted with her shirt, smoothing out the design of the glass slipper that sat squarely in the middle. The other secured her cap on her head and tossed her backpack over her shoulder whenever the strap began to slip. The reality of the situation came crushing down on them as they walked to the gate. But the two both knew the importance of a mission and at long last it was time for their tearful goodbyes. The blonde hugged the other tightly, so much that her sunglasses got tangled in both of their hairs. They laughed to themselves as they untangled it but soon went back to their somber expressions. The blonde brushed the sunglasses over her head.

"You can stay, Elisa. You can change your mind and we'll head back to the hotel and drink and dance until the sun comes up."

It seemed like the seventh or eighth time she had said that. Elisa didn't need the reassurance but it was nice to have all the same. So she smiled and shook her head. Adjusting her backpack, she sighed.

"I think we've done plenty of that tonight. No Cindy, I have a century's worth of drinking and partying behind me. It's time for me to go home."

Cindy held her by her shoulders and looked deep in her eyes.

"And there's nothing? Nothing at all I can do to make you stay?"

Elisa hugged her tightly once more and blinked back tears.

"No. But I will miss you, you made the last part of my century away bearable."

Cindy clutched her back but after a few beats she whispered in her ear.

"I feel like you're hiding something from me."

She didn't answer. Just hugged all the more tighter. Cindy gave a big sigh and the two stood in silence.

"Oh! I almost forgot."

Hoping to lighten the tension, Cindy pulled out a box from her large tote bag and placed it in Elisa's hands. Elisa's eyebrow raised as she had heard the tote slap against Cindy the whole way through the airport. Now she stared at a box with the Glass Slipper etched in beautiful cursive on top. She made a move to hand it back but the blonde took a step back and held up her hands.

"I know, I know, but this is the last gift.

Elisa shook the box lightly and nearly rolled her eyes.

"I thought the Glass Slipper was just a cover."

"It is, but it would be a pretty lousy cover if we didn't have shoes."

"I could've picked them up from the store." Cindy scoffed at that.

"It's more meaningful given from yours truly. Now quit stalling and open it!"

Lifting the lid and shuffling through the paper, Elisa found a pair of black suede heels and white baby lace to go with them.

"Oh Cindy, they're beautiful! But this is too much, there so fancy! Where will I even fit them?"

"They're too much? Be grateful I didn't give you those ghastly, glittered high heels. And you weren't really gonna wear those scuffed up track shoes. I would have never allowed it."

Elisa kicked off her track shoes, socks and placed them in the box. Cindy took it and put back in her tote, "to burn later". Standing up, Elisa tested the shoes out with Cindy playfully wolf whistling. She loved them. One last big hug between the two, with Elisa promising she'd check in on her shoe store, the two parted ways.

It had only taken a few steps that Elisa stopped mid-way from the waiting area. She felt her stomach sink and called back to her friend.

"Cindy!...what if...there is something wrong?" Elisa knew she probably gave away too much after saying that question. She felt that this was her responsibility and hers alone to deal with, as she had centuries ago back in the Homelands with her brothers. It seemed her family could never stay out of trouble and it was time to reprise her role as the Princess and savior. Something she wasn't looking forward too but wasn't going to resist. Elisa was grateful her friend didn't react the way she thought she would have. Maybe she saw something imploring in her eyes. Maybe Cindy realized that if she needed her help, she would've said something on the car ride over. She stood with her arms and crossed and looked right in Elisa's eyes.

"Then I say you can handle it."

"Vol direct de RCG à JFK à bord...Direct flight to JFK now boarding..."

Elisa Swan's head snapped forward after staring at the airport ceiling in a sort of meditative state. Her body still ached after the spending her last night in Paris running around to different parties and bars, almost missing her flight after taking a long nap at the hotel. Rising slowly from the squeaky chair, Elisa shuffled in line with the rest of people. Her drunkenness was not uncommon for most Americans, even though she felt more like a European after a century living in Europe. A right of passage for the foreigners, though she felt she had a very good reason besides just getting shit-faced.

It was time to go home and she had never felt so unprepared. Thankfully a flight from Paris to New York was going to give her the much-needed rest. For seven hours and forty-six minutes Elisa could sit peacefully. They all moved one step at a time until she gave the flight attendant her ticket and was mechanically wished a good flight. She tugged at her burgundy hair and adjusted the cap, slightly annoyed that Paris' minimal humidity was making it wavy.

Not as humid as New York is gonna be, she thought sullenly to herself, but in the States they at least have air conditioners.

She practically sunk into her seat, letting her eyes flutter back as her body settled into the cushioning. Gently taking her new heels off and crossing her ankles, she breathed a heavy sign. Having a whole row to herself felt nice, as she wasn't in the mood to converse with anyone. Even after buying her ticket, packing all the stuff she had together, Cindy wouldn't stop asking.

"Why are you going back to Fabletown?"

She changed her answer every time. "To see my brothers", "See New York again" or "'Cause I want to Cindy!". Never naming the exact reason. It wasn't for nostalgia, though she would be the first to admit it was part of the reason. As soon as Fabletown formed, Elisa felt disconnected. Everyone had relied on each other throughout the escape from the Homelands but even with this newfound community there were issues.

The riches of the Fables, those who had taken what they had and ran have developed a class system that abandoned those without influence. It hadn't escaped Elisa's watch that there were injustices. That some people were left to deal with this new world on their own. What remained of her brothers are safe and could live happily and that was good enough for her. What she was going to do after that? She didn't know but she knew there was nothing there for her. So she left.

Decades of living on her own made her resilient and fascinated with the Mundies. Decades of no responsibility, no job, and all fun. A few parties here and there, some run ins with the law, and even more of each after meeting Cindy. She was originally trying to make up for six years and ended up making up a lot more.

So why was she heading home after nearly a century away?

It was in part to the letter that sat heavy in her coat pocket that made her come home. An ominous note that made her nearly fly out the door. She pulled it out once more and read it like she done the a million times before, the words ingrained in her mind.

"Dear Elisa,

Entering the home was easy, even more so since he lived alone.

His face went pale when he saw me.

He ran up the stairs so fast I thought he'd trip.

I made my up and saw him trying to get the window open.

It's a shame that wing can't fly, especially now since I've broken it.

Come save your bird."

The abrupt and confusing beginning that lead to a cold realization. That letter was talking about the youngest brother of her family, Benjamin. He refused to live to in the South Bronx with the rest of the princes, settling for a mundy neighborhood that was unnaturally quiet for the big city. Being away from other Fables was concerning enough, but even more so because of his arm, or lack thereof.

He permanently had a wing instead of an arm, a constant reminder of their fairytale and the most terrifying moment of Elisa's life. And someone had to have been real close to her family to know of his wing, the one he regularly kept glamoured. She wasn't invisible to the Fable community, but she hadn't been there in years. How did they know her? And how did they know her family? Considering Cindy and her were hoping around all over Europe, how did they know where to send it? Thinking about it made her feel sick to her stomach. Someone was watching her.

That's why she couldn't tell Cindy. This was personal.

She breathed slowly through her mouth and out her nose. Panicking would do her no good, and if she wanted to help her brother, she needs a clear head. So she handed the flight attendant seven dollars and quickly put on her headphones.

"On March 3, 1969, the United States Navy established an elite school for the top one percent of its pilots..."