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I worried about Melanie a lot. Even when I was with her, she was still quiet and nervous but exceptionally so around everyone. Melanie had to make a deal with another waitress at The Looking Glass so she never had to serve a man who was sitting by himself, the only man she's been able to be alone with was Schaffer.

He was very understanding of Melanie and her situation when she told him, but wanted to know everything. I didn't blame him, but Melanie said she was a little uncomfortable with it all. To help, I drew her a bath to calm her nerves. She insisted I climbed in with her.

Most of her marks and bruises were gone, but she had numerous scars and one yellowing bruise on her back. She could tell I was staring, but she didn't tell me to look away. Instead, I kissed each permanent mark and told her that she can remember me kissing them so that the memory of getting them would get replaced by this one. Melanie laughed and sunk her body into mine, making sure I continued until each and every mark on her body was tended to. Like every day, I wanted to stomp James's kneecaps backwards.

I didn't lie to myself, I missed my old Melanie. She was bold and bubbly and could change your mood faster than you could tell her to talk slower. I still loved Melanie just as much, but she wasn't the same as before. She was more shy than Riley, she got scared if she asked for the simplest things from you and she wanted love and affection. I would too if I ever experienced a night like she did.

"How are you feeling?" I asked her.

"I'm okay, I think," she said softly. "Sleepy."

"Then rest, honey."

"Honey. You haven't called me that one yet."

"I'm not usually a fan of using pet names," I admitted.

"Why?" I froze for a second, but immediately kissed her head.

"I don't know why. Just because." Melanie turned slightly and kissed my shoulder, then looked me in the eyes for a moment. She turned back around and drew patterns on my calves.

We got out of the bath and wrapped ourselves in towels as Melanie looked for a snack. She dug out two oranges from the fridge and peeled hers as she sat next to me on her couch, resting her head on my shoulder and taking small bites out of her orange slices. I ate my orange faster than her and left to find my pyjamas.

I dropped my towel and put on my panties, looking for a pair of pyjamas when I heard Melanie enter almost immediately after me. I smiled to myself but didn't turn around as I pulled on my clothes.

When I turned around, Melanie was still in the doorway, eating the final piece of her orange. I smiled at her and reached out my hand to her. She smiled back and grabbed my outstretched hand, bringing it up to her lips to kiss the back of my hand, going up my arm until she was close enough to kiss.

"I have the morning shift tomorrow," Melanie said after our kiss.

"I go in at three." She nodded and looked down at her feet. I brought her to the bed and climbed on, waiting for her to join me. She hurriedly climbed the bed and draped her left side over me.

"Thank you," I whispered.

"For what? You're helping me."

"Everything." I kissed her forehead and brushed my fingers through her hair until she fell asleep.

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I don't know what woke me up, Melanie's quick and laboured breaths or the scurrying noise on the sheets from beside me. After I looked to my left, I realized both sounds came from Melanie.

She was curled up, grasping at the sheets and breathing heavily, looking around the room looking for something; what I would bet my money on was James.

"What can I do?" I asked Melanie. "How can I help." I scooted closer to her slightly, but she moved away from me. I realized she needed space and moved off the bed entirely. The room was dark, but I could clearly see her eyes stop darting around the room to look at me. Her big deep eyes brimmed with desperate tears.

"I'm guessing you had a dream?" I asked Melanie. She nodded and opened her mouth to speak, but the only sound coming from her was a strangled sob. I almost got back in bed but stopped when Melanie flinched.

"He was there, but he…hurt me more than once. We were somewhere weird, there was a castle and lots of trees. I think we were the king and queen of the castle but I don't know."

"Did you notice anything weird about him?"

"He talked about our daughter. Does that mean that I'm having a girl? He also had longer hair and strange clothes." I almost laughed. She dreamed about the Enchanted Forest? I didn't think that could happen. But then again, I didn't know someone who can't physically age could get pregnant.

"Do you want me to leave?"

"No! I just need a second." I nodded and watched her catch her breath. She was still crying when she nodded to me, but I made sure she knew she wasn't alone. She was still very careful and stayed away from me, but as soon as I was on the brink of sleep, she clung onto me and kissed my collarbone. The last thing I remember feeling before sleep was her wet kisses mixing with both of our tears.

The next morning, Melanie was in the restroom doing what I thought was washing her hands, but I could hear her coughing behind the sound of running water. I got up and found my clothes on the floor near the foot of the bed and changed. I was nearly done when Melanie came out of the bathroom and smiled at me before frowning.

"You're leaving?" She asked in a small voice.

"No, I just wanted to change."

"Why do you have your purse?"

"I needed to find my phone. I'm not leaving you." Melanie still looked uneasy but nodded. "Hey. I don't want to leave. If I did, I already would have." Melanie met my insistent gaze and smiled.

"Okay. Can I just ask you something?"

"Of course."

"Am I being too...attention-craving? If I am, I'll stop, but I just-"

"You aren't being too affectionate or anything. You just wanna be loved and you deserve it. I really like spending time with you and, I never was one for 'cuddling,' but you're always really warm." Melanie laughed, and it sounded so bubbly and happy, it gave me hope that she was still down there after everything James put her through. "Are you hungry? I can make you breakfast."

"I think so." I grabbed Melanie's hand and led her out to the kitchen where I started making pancakes and she sat on the counter behind me, watching me with glossy, moss green eyes. I grinned back at her and held her clasped hands.

"Are you feeling better since your dream last night?"

"I think so. You helped a lot."

"I'm glad." I pecked Melanie's nose and turned back to the batter in the glass bowl.

It didn't occur to me just how much Snow changed me. I'm supporting her through a pregnancy, helping her deal with her experience with sexual abuse, and actually hugging her. If I never cast the curse, Snow would be dead and rotting on the side of a dirt road near my palace by now. Once this curse breaks, I'm going to owe my life to that woman, as long as she'll have me.

I made our pancakes and served them up with extra whipped cream like Melanie asked, but none for me; whipped cream tasted weird. As soon as we both finished, Melanie got dressed and checked the time. She had fifteen minutes until her shift started. She tried convincing me to let her get coffee on the way, but I told her that having coffee when you're pregnant isn't a good idea. She sighed and pouted the rest of the way down the elevator and to our cars, but I want her and the baby safe.

"Will I see you tonight?" She asked. I nodded.

"I'll be off work at seven, so you can let yourself into my apartment."

"Actually, I think I'll meet you at the bar." She grinned at me, so I could only smile back and hug her.

"That's great, but I don't want to make you feel uncomfortable."

"I'm always uncomfortable, but I want to see you."

"Haven't you seen enough of me yet?"

"Nope. Not even close."

"Am I not annoying?"

"Not even close," Melanie repeated. She quickly kissed me and waved me off as she climbed into her red car. With seeing so much of Melanie wearing all shades of crimson, every time I see something red I think of her. At least anyone can tell where her car is in a parking lot.

I got into my own car and drove back to my apartment. After getting Melanie's phone call about her possible pregnancy, I haven't been to my apartment much. We both went there a few times, but I mostly stayed at her apartment. I have laundry I need to do and dirty dishes I probably need to wash. I wish I still had maids to do housework for me.

My apartment looked the same as it always did, but it just felt more lonely, with my small bed, even smaller bathroom, and single couch and coffee table in the living room. Why did I have to be cursed with being lonely? Couldn't I have been drunk but helpful like Lacey?

It's the most fitting punishment, I thought, but I've already been lonely for years now. I felt hungry, so I looked around in my fridge and everything was nearly expired. I just shrugged and pulled out a cup of yogurt that had a little too much liquid for my taste, but I could eat that or a block of cheese.

After I finished my yogurt, I went to my room to collect my garbage bag of laundry and a twenty dollar bill from my nightstand. I hauled out my garbage bag and descended the stairs with the bag over my shoulders and something hard digging into my shoulder blade. I put the bag into my car and drove to the Looking Glass. I went in through the back and talked with Schaffer while I loaded up my laundry. I pretended to not notice him staring longingly at my underwear.

I went around front to order some food, and none other than Charming himself was sitting dead centre in the diner, with nobody else in the room. Nobody but Melanie, hiding behind the cash register, tears steaming down her fair cheeks.