"I want to see him."
Derek looked up sharply from where he was bent over the table, examining maps of the Kingdoms in search for some way – some miracle – that might stop her mother and her evil plans. Eyebrows high on his forehead in surprise and consternation, he declared, "No, Emily! Absolutely not!"
"I want to see him!" she repeated, more emphatic than before. One hand rubbed the side of her swollen belly where two tiny feet were pressed into her ribs.
"It isn't safe – he's locked up for a reason. He's too powerful." He shook his head gravely. He loved his wife and he'd do anything for her, but he wouldn't give her this.
"I need to know – I need to know our baby will be safe," Emily argued, "He can guarantee it." She clasped her hands on either side of his face, forcing him to stare into her pleading eyes. "Please..."
Derek rested a hand on her belly, almost as if waiting for a sign. Finally, he sighed and then nodded.
"I knew you'd come to see me..." a voice sing-songed from the shadows. Ordinarily, Jason Gideon wasn't one to sing anything. But, as punishment for abusing his magic, the Kingdom's fairies had banded together to use their magic to turn him into a bird.
He could still speak, still see the future, but couldn't use his magic.
The bird fluttered from perch to perch in its massive cage before alighting on the branch closest to them, head cocked to the side to study them curiously. "I know why you're here..."
"Then you know the answer," Derek stated. It wasn't a question, but a threat. His hand landed protectively on Emily's shoulder, keeping her from approaching any closer.
"I want to hear you say it," he hissed. "But do come closer, Dearie – I'm getting hard of hearing in my old age."
"First name your price," Derek demanded, hand tightening on Emily's shoulder, sensing her impatience.
"Will our baby be safe?" Emily asked, shrugging off Derek's hand and stepping into the pool of light before the cage. "I need your word that sending her away will protect her from the curse." One hand caressed her belly tenderly, if a little fearfully.
"Ah ah," he tsked. "First I need something from you..."
"Tell us what you want," Derek called from behind her. "Enough games."
"Let me go back to my old life," he begged, "I miss it so. I want to be a man again. I want to use magic again..."
"Absolutely not! You were imprisoned for a reason and I'm not about to unleash your evil back on the Kingdoms, even if it means a promise of my child's safety."
Gideon shouldn't have been able to smile with a beak, but somehow a wicked grin crossed his avian face. "In that case, I need her name."
"Her?" Derek repeated skeptically. "There is no her – we're having a boy." He grabbed for Emily's hand, turning to leave. "He's wasting our time."
"Princess? Princess!" Gideon called after them as they retreated from the dungeon. "Princess!"
"Don't call her that!" Derek lashed out, rounding on him with fury in his eyes.
"You know I'm right, Dearie," he insisted, gaze fixed on Emily. "A mother knows..."
Emily's hand landed on Derek's chest, halting his advance. "Derek, wait," she whispered. She took several cautious steps closer, footfalls echoing through the cavernous dungeon. "Promise me she'll be okay," she begged.
"She'll be just fine," he insisted. "Now, tell me what name you'll give your daughter."
She glanced down at her belly, then over her shoulder to meet Derek's eyes, soft smile playing about her lips. "Clara. Her name is Clara."
Steam from the shower billowed out into the room as Clara stepped out of the bathroom, towel wrapped tightly around her body, combing her long damp locks with her fingers. She moved to rummage in the small duffel bag that contained her meagre possessions in search of pyjamas, then paused, glancing over her shoulder at Henry.
"What are you looking at?" she asked quietly, approaching behind him to look over his shoulder.
He looked up suddenly as if surprised by her presence. "Just some old photographs..." he answered vaguely.
She settled down next to him on the end of the bed, leaning her head on his shoulder, watching as he shuffled through the stack of old pictures of the two of them.
As a baby, Clara had been adopted by the Stahlbaums – a rich childless couple looking to carry on the family name – and, for four years, she'd been the apple of their eyes and life had been perfect. Then, to everyone's surprise, they conceived a son.
Fritz quickly became the centre of their world, being their blood heir and only son, and Clara's existence became an afterthought.
Her parents enrolled her in ballet as a way to keep her occupied and out of their hair while Fritz was a baby, which is where she'd met Henry.
He was a few years older than her and had grown up in foster care, so he'd never truly belonged anywhere until he'd met her. From that moment on, the two of them knew instantly that they belonged together.
"We look so young..." Clara lamented, looking at the picture of the two of them the first time they'd danced the Sugar Plum Fairy and her Cavalier together.
"We were so young," Henry agreed. "We were just kids. Hell, we're still kids." He was right, Clara knew – barely eighteen years old and running away from home together.
Before she could comment, though, there was a knock at the door. She shot Henry a look of wary confusion – no one knew they were here...
"It's probably just housekeeping," Henry guessed with a shrug. "And you're still wearing a towel," he added. Clara slipped into the bathroom just as Henry opened the door to see a well-dressed older woman holding a basket of roses and wearing a smile with just a hint of a threat in it. "Can I help you?" he asked.
"I'm Mayor Prentiss," she said by way of greeting. "I heard we had some guests in town and I just wanted to personally greet you."
"That's...nice," Henry said slowly. The words all sounded perfectly pleasant, but there was a distinct air behind them that said they weren't welcome at all.
"I hope you'll enjoy your stay in our little town."