"Juliet!"

A small bunny named Cosette hopped towards her, ears tucked behind her head. Juliet smiled at Cosette and picked her up, slipping the bunny into the basket resting on the crook of her elbow. Cosette smiled from her place in the basket and her head was peeking out from inside, leaving only her face and ears visible.

"Why are you in the forest today?" Cosette asked. Juliet ducked down beneath a tree branch to avoid hitting her face. Her ponytail swished behind her, the ends of her hair gently swiping at the wooden bark.

"I'm going to try and make pie," Juliet said. "I thought I'd get some strawberries from the patch I saw a few weeks ago."

Cosette's tiny nose wriggled curiously. "Pie? What's that?"

Juliet smiled. "It's a human food, Xavier told me about it. It's where fruit or vegetables are put inside some kind of flour crust."

Xavier had also told her that sometimes meat was put inside, but she had no interest in that. She also didn't think Cosette, who was still a rather young rabbit all things considered, would react kindly to that information. Juliet understood it was the circle of life, one day would Cosette would have to die, but that didn't mean Juliet had to be the one to tell her. At least not yet.

Cosette's ears shot up, a clear sign she was excited.

"Can I have some when you finish?" Cosette asked excitedly. Juliet laughed and rubbed the top of the bunny's head gently.

"Provided that I don't burn it," Juliet said. "Or that Ruddiger doesn't eat it all." Cosette laughed and snuggled deeper down into the basket, making her head disappear completely. Juliet rolled her eyes. "And also that a certain baby rabbit does her share helping get strawberries."

Cosette made a sound in the basket, most likely an assurance that she would help, but it was weak. Juliet smiled softly and continued on, the soft padding of the forest's grass beneath her light pink shoes. Juliet had found them in the Old Corona market two days ago and hadn't been able to resist them, having devolved a bit of a slight obsession with shoes following her first pair. It may have cost her a good quarter of the coins she earned from sewing dresses, but so far it was turning out to be a good investment.

Juliet arrived at the strawberry patch, and almost on cue Cosette popped up from the basket. Juliet could see the hunger in her eyes, and she had to stifle the laugh in her throat.

"You'll get some strawberries Cosette," Juliet said. "But first we have to pick them." Cosette nodded in the basket, solemnly, but Juliet knew that Cosette was probably going to eat more than she was going to pick. Cosette was still really little, and rather impulsive because of it.

"Now come on," Juliet said. "Only so many hours in the day." It was the early afternoon, and Juliet really wanted to finish the pie in time for dinner. Xavier seemed liked he really liked pie when he explained what it was to her. She wanted to surprise him.

Juliet reached into the basket and pulled out Cosette, setting her gently down by her shoes. Cosette hopped into the patch, reaching out and taking a strawberry. Juliet moved closer and put down the basket, reaching for strawberries slowly and carefully to not get stuck by a thorn. The strawberries, thankfully, were just ripe enough to be ready to pick but not so much that they would spoil quickly if she had some left over.

Juliet collected the strawberries in the basket, and she felt a slight hunger in her grow as she watched the red fruits fill up the wicker basket. Juliet resisted the urge to eat one, however, until after she finished getting the amount she needed, knowing full well that once she ate one she would never get around to putting any more in the basket.

Juliet looked down at Cosette and Juliet noticed that the patch of fur around Cosette's mouth was stained red with juice. Juliet leaned down to look Cosette more closely, who was pointedly not looking Juliet.

"I see someone has been eating some strawberries," Juliet said. Cosette shook her head and took one of the strawberries into her paws.

"No, I haven't!" Cosette squeaked. Juliet hummed under her breath and pointed at Cosette's mouth.

"Then how come you have so much strawberry juice on your mouth?" Juliet said. Cosette frowned sheepishly and rolled the strawberry on the ground with her paw.

"Okay! So I ate one or two –" Juliet raised her brow sternly "—or seven strawberries. But can you blame me?! They're so good!" Cosette bit into the strawberry now, teeth sinking into the flesh of the fruit rather dramatically. Juliet sighed softly and looked over at the basket and estimated that she must have enough by now for the pie.

Juliet plucked one off the vine and bit into the fruit. Cosette squeaked with shock, ears folding behind her head.

"You just ate one too!" Cosette accused. Juliet smiled happily and took another bite.

"Yes, well, I finished picking first," Juliet said. "Unlike a certain little bunny I know." Cosette grinned.

Juliet reached down for the basket, finding the added weight of the strawberries to be a bit more than she had expected. Juliet looked down at Cosette and then back down at her pocket. Would Cosette fit in her pocket, or would it be best for Cosette to hop?

Juliet decided to just try it, and she reached down to pick up Cosette again. Thankfully, it turned out that Cosette was just big enough to fit in the pocket on the front of her dress. Juliet noted to herself she needed to sew more pockets like this into her dresses. Cosette looked up from her pocket and smiled at Juliet thankfully.

"Are you ready to go home?" Juliet asked. Cosette nodded but her smile flickered for a moment. Cosette was the smallest of her liter – the runt. If Juliet hadn't happened across them at just the right time and managed to keep the little bunny from starving, Juliet was certain that Cosette would have died. Juliet knew Cosette's mother and siblings loved her, but Cosette was still the smallest of them all. It was hard for her to get the attention she needed.

With that in mind, Juliet nodded and slipped Cosette another strawberry before they set off towards where Juliet knew Cosette's family kept hidden in a shade of trees.

"I had fun with you today Juliet," Cosette said. Juliet petted Cosette's head and shifted the basket in her arms.

"I had fun too," Juliet said.

"Juliet!" Ruddiger burst from the underbrush, eyes urgent as he stopped in front of them.
"I need your help!" Cosette shrieked and tried to bury herself deeper into Juliet's pocket.

"A raccoon!" Cosette yelled, afraid. "Juliet, don't let him eat me!"

Juliet quickly shook her head and reached down toward Cosette.

"Cosette, Ruddiger isn't going to hurt you," Juliet said. She looked toward Ruddiger sternly, plainly telling him without words that he was not allowed to eat her friend. "Isn't that right, Ruddiger?"

Ruddiger blinked in confusion, looking between Cosette and Juliet, before shaking his head.

"No-no, I-I won't," Ruddiger said. Ruddiger focused in on Juliet, tail swinging back and forth in worry. "Juliet! You have to come with me! Varian's really upset and he won't talk to anyone, not even his dad!"

Juliet felt worry rise in her. Ever since Quirin had been free of the amber, Varian had been trying his best not to shut off, to actually open up to his dad. If something was so wrong that not even Quirin was not privy to it, Juliet knew it was something really wrong.

Juliet peeked down at Cosette. Cosette nuzzled Juliet's dress with the side of her cheek.

"I can go home by myself," Cosette said.

"Are you sure?" Juliet said. Cosette glanced at Ruddiger for a second, worried, but shook her head, smiling comfortingly.

"I'll be fine," Cosette assured. Juliet sighed, worry for Varian outweighing all her other emotions, and she reached down and placed Cosette on the ground. Cosette took off like a shot, not even bothering with a goodbye. Juliet didn't blame her. Despite Ruddiger's promise not to eat her, raccoons were a predator. Cosette would always be afraid of him.

Juliet turned to Ruddiger now, crossing her arms.

"Where is he?"

He had just been trying to help.

Varian slumped back in his chair, hair falling into his eyes. His goggles, which normally kept his bangs off his face, had been discarded onto the table onto the front of him. He had been angry, reaching for anything to take his anger out on and had slung them off before he could even think. He wondered if they were broke. He didn't look up to check.

It had started out rather simple. One of the farmers, Manny, had been complaining about how his carrots hadn't been growing enough. And Varian had decided to make a formula to help him, that way his crops could be stronger. It hadn't taken much work, just mixing together a simple combination of iron and potassium that would help strengthen them.

It would have worked, Varian knew it. But, as usual, they hadn't even let it have a try.

"Well, at least you started taking my fashion advice and took off the goggles for once."

Varian's head snapped up, and he found Juliet standing in the doorway of his lab. She was frowning at him in concern, one hand gently resting on the doorway, like she was prepared to turn around if he asked her to. In her right hand was a basket of strawberries, clutched so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. Varian smiled wearily at her.

"Hey Jules," he greeted. Juliet pursed her lips but didn't move.

"What's going on?" Juliet said. "Ruddiger told me you were upset."

Of course, he did. Damn him.

"It's nothing Jules," Varian said. Juliet wrinkled her nose and came closer to him. She sat the basket down gently onto the table his goggles were. She made a 'tsk' sound and picked up the goggles.

"Looks like I know what to get you for our anniversary," Juliet said. Varian could see clearly what she was talking about. Down the middle of one of the eyes was a think crack that ran the whole circumference, while the other eyes were almost completely shattered, the glass being held together just barely. Varian growled under his breath and stood, tearing the item from her grasp.

"Great, just what I needed," Varian grumbled under his breath. Juliet's eyes widened, mouth forming a small 'o' in surprise, seemingly at a loss for words.

"Varian, what's going on?" Juliet said, her voice returning to her.

"Nothing Jules," he repeated. Juliet didn't look like she believed him. She reached out to touch his shoulder, eyes soft in a way that made him want to scream. He didn't want her pity.

"Varian –"

"I said it was nothing!" he yelled. "Just go already!" Varian spun on his heel, refusing to look at her. Juliet was silent for a good, long moment. So long that Varian wondered if Juliet had taken him up on leaving, just in that silent way she called her predator walk.

"I shouldn't make you talk when you don't want to," Juliet said. Her voice was calm but cool, and Varian could tell she was hurt a little by his yelling. Varian felt a sinking feeling at that. Making Juliet feel bad was never something he wanted to do. "I'll leave if you really want me too."

"I don't want you to leave," Varian said softly.

"Then tell me what to do," Juliet said. "Tell me what I can do to make you feel better."

Varian thought for a moment.

"I don't know. Just stay."

"Okay."

A few seconds later, arms were slipped around his waist; small arms covered in red fabric and a slight sunburn. He felt her cheek squish into his shoulder blade at the same time, arms tightening around to embrace him.

"Is this okay?" Juliet asked, voice hushed.

"Perfect."

They stood there for several minutes, and Varian just let time go for the time being. Just let himself melt into the feeling of her arms around him and forget the events that had happened today. The angry way Manny had looked when Varian arrived, the harsh sound of the glass of the vile hitting the ground, the barking voice of his dad having to come to his rescue again.

Varian shut his eyes tightly.

"Tell me what you did today," Varian said. Varian felt her shift, most likely to shrug.

"Me and Cosette picked strawberries. I'm going to make pie later," Juliet said. Varian managed to crack a smile at the mention of the little bunny. He had only met the young animal only once or twice, but Juliet talked so fondly of the creature Varian couldn't help but feel like he knew her too.

"You've never made pie before."

"I know. I'm going to surprise Xavier. He seems to like it."

Juliet made a quiet whirring noise before speaking again.

"Do you want to tell me what happened today?" Juliet asked. Varian shuffled his feet once.

"It's stupid," Varian said.

"If it's making you upset, then it's not stupid. Not to you, and not to me."

Varian sighed.

"I was trying to help Mandy. He said his crops weren't growing well enough. So, I made him a mixture that would help them." The words were spilling out now, hot and fast, like if he kept in any longer than it would burn his tongue. "But he didn't want my help. Told me that he didn't want the help of a traitor and thief. He ripped the vial from me and threw it onto a patch of dirt, making all the work I did to create it worthless. And just like always, Dad had to be the one to come in like always and save my ass because I tried to do the right thing, and no one would listen to me."

"Oh Varian…" she whispered.

"I'm eighteen! I know I've messed up before and that I've done bad things. I know I'm a bad person. I'm just trying to do the right thing. But all anyone ever sees is the boy who betrayed Rapunzel or the one who blew up the village. Like the pardons or the times I rebuilt the town or the fact that I'm more successful now than I was when I was fourteen and didn't know better doesn't mean anything."

"Varian," Juliet said, "I know this hurt, and I know how you feel –"

"No!" Varian said, tearing out of her grasp and rounding on her. "You don't know how this feels!"

Juliet looked at him in shock, like his words had personally struck her like a blow. Still, he continued anyway, sill unable to stop.

"By time you came along, and everyone moved back, everyone had forgotten that you were a criminal too. You were just one of us now. I didn't get that. The second people came back, I was an outcast again. They always knew I was trouble, they said. They always knew I would make a mistake I couldn't take back, they said. But you- you, you're an oddity. They may look at you strange, but they don't refuse your help, they don't call you freak, they don't hate you! So don't say you know what this feels like."

Juliet blinked at him. Varian could see the pain in her eyes. Varian immediately regretted everything he had said, Juliet hadn't deserved him berating her for just trying to make him feel better. What kind of boyfriend was he? To make her feel bad for trying to make him not feel that way?

Varian sighed. "Juliet, I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to –"

Juliet cut him off with a shake of her head, and she took one cautious step towards him.

"Yes, you should feel sorry for yelling at me," Juliet said. "But that doesn't mean you weren't right." Now it was Varian's turn to blink in surprise. "You're right 'Rian. I don't what it feels like to be treated like that, at least not by an entire village. I do, however, know what it's like to be an outcast. And it hurts. It hurts a lot."

Juliet sighed and Varian didn't know what to say. The quiet blossomed between them for what felt like forever, but Varian didn't feel like he was suffocating in it. Instead, he just let the moment pass, let the quiet silence overtake them, since there wasn't much else for him to say.

"I wish they saw what I do," Juliet said suddenly. Varian didn't say anything, just kept looking at her. "I wish they could see how much I've seen you grow, I wish they could see how smart and kind and wonderful you are. Then they would know how wrong they are. And I wish you could see it too, because then you wouldn't have to feel like this ever again."

She reached up to hold his face, thumb sliding across his cheek gently.

"And they can't see it now. But they will, one day, when you show them just how smart and kind and wonderful you can be. One day you'll be all they have. But when they see it Varian – when they see it, maybe one day you'll see it too."

Varian couldn't think for the life of him to say anything, to try and come up with some kind of poetic response to her. All he could do was feel. Tears welled in his eyes and he reached forward to embrace her, which she accepted wordlessly, hugging his back tightly. Varian cried into her shoulder for what felt like forever, just letting every emotion pass as they came.

Anger at Manny, for refusing to let him help. Resentment for the town, for not letting his past go. Loathing for himself, for ever doing any of that stupid stuff to begin with. Love for Juliet, for refusing to let him hurt. Shame for himself, for still needing his dad to come rescue him. Embarrassment for Dad, for having a son who still needed him so desperately.

Varian pulled her even tighter and kissed her temple just ever so slightly. Varian wasn't even sure she could feel it. Varian pushed back from her and looked down at her, smiling a weak smile that was the probably the strongest he could make right now.

"I love you Juliet," Varian said. Juliet smiled at him, hers much more genuine than his was.

"I love you too Varian Wry," Juliet said. "Are you feeling better?"

"A little. Why?"

Juliet smiled and turned around, reaching for her basket of strawberries. "Because I'm making pie and sad boyfriends don't get to help me make it."

Notes:

...Suprise?

Guess who's not dead? This isn't Mercy - Part 4, and to be real, that probs won't be coming until mid-Summer. More one-shots will most likely come out in that time, but for now, Mercy is on the backburner as I do some smaller stories for V and J. It'll come eventually, but for now, I need to stick with smaller stuff for personal reasons.

And thank y'all so much for being so patient. The last few months have been rough, and I want to thank you all for not getting outrageously upset that it took so long to get any fresh content out of me for this.

Questions, comments, or concerns? Let me know!
Have a blessed day!
-PrincessChess