Merry Christmas! What a year huh?

Thought I'd make a nice little one shot to get into the holiday spirit. And just to clarify, this is specifically from the Telltale universe. I have not read the comics yet sadly :(

Nonetheless, enjoy!

Christmas Eve, 10:28

Bigby sighed as he stared out the window of his apartment. Through the blinds he could see the quiet city. Snow glittered on the streets below like a soft blanket. Colin's snores were the only sound to disturb the silence, save the shitty heater in the bedroom. He took another puff of his cigarette, watching the world as he contemplated. His eyes were specifically watching Snow's car. It was supposed to be gone by eight, but it was still there. Bigby blew a cloud of smoke.

Not again…

He had hoped the holidays would put an end to it, but Snow was persistent. He pinched the bud between his fingers, watching it crumble to ashes. Bigby quietly left his apartment, careful not to wake Colin. He was not in the mood for his friend's sarcasm.

The hallways were empty, but then they always were on his floor. The wallpaper was starting to peel off, and Bigby wasn't helping matters. He grabbed a piece as he walked by, letting it tear away from the wall slowly. If maintenance didn't care, why should he?

He thumbed the button next to the elevator. The bell chimed before the doors slid apart. Bigby stepped inside, pressing another greasy button. The doors closed, and he descended down a few floors. The elevator jerked to a stop. He strolled out and down the hallway.

He was relieved to see that for once there was no line waiting outside of the office. He knocked on the door lightly. No answer. He knocked harder. Still nothing. He tried for the doorknob. The door slowly opened, emitting a terrible creak as it did. Bigby stepped into the massive room. Everything was in its usual place. Bigby wandered over to the mayor's desk. Snow was passed out, her head resting on a stack of papers. There was a shot glass half full of bourbon on the table, but the bottle was missing.

Bufkin…

Bigby walked around the desk. Snow was snoring softly. He ran his fingers through her jet black hair. It was soft and silky.

"Snow?" Bigby whispered.

A finger twitched, but her eyes stayed shut.

"Snow?"

Her eyes fluttered open. They found Bigby after a moment. She sat up slowly, rubbing her stiff neck.

"What time is it?" she asked through a stifled yawn.

"About eleven."

Snow groaned. "And I haven't even finished half of what I had planned to do."

"Snow, it's practically Christmas." Bigby reasoned. "I'm surprised you even showed up at all today."

Snow looked offended. "Bigby, I've fallen so far behind this past month, I have no choice but to be here."

"This is the third time this week you've worked overtime." Bigby pointed out. "Wouldn't you say it'd be fair to take at least one day off?"

Snow sighed. "I guess. It is technically a holiday."

Bigby rolled his eyes. "Yeah, technically."

Snow eventually got up from her chair. She stifled another yawn as she reached for her car keys. She looked toward the archives. "I'm leaving Bufkin!"

"Yes, Miss Snow..." Bufkin slurred from somewhere in the back.

Bigby and Snow exchanged a look. He followed her out of the office. As she locked up, Bigby tried to form his question carefully.

"Snow-"

"Bigby-"

They stared at each other in awkward silence.

"You go first." Bigby said.

"I forgot what I was going to say..." Snow played with her set of keys nervously. "It probably wasn't important."

"Well, all I was gonna ask was if you wanted to spend some time together. You know, to celebrate, I guess."

Snow smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that."

Bigby rubbed the back of his head. "So...your place or mine?"

"My place would be better, I think." Snow suggested.

Bigby smiled, knowing Snow hated his apartment. "Sounds good to me."

Snow led the way. The guard at the reception table was passed out; no surprise there. The air outside was like a smack to the face. Snow pulled her scarf up until it covered the tip of her nose. Bigby, who had forgotten to bring his jacket, was feeling the full force of winter as they walked from the building to Snow's car.

As soon as they got inside, Snow took off her scarf. It was a nice one. Bigby only ever got to see it around this time of year. It was a woolen scarf, dark blue with light blue snowflakes.

Snow noticed him looking at it. "Why do you like it so much?"

Bigby looked up. "What?"

"My scarf. Every year, you always admire it like you've never seen it before."

"I don't know. It's just a nice scarf."

Snow started the engine. Once a taxi passed, they were moving. The streets were eerily quiet. Bigby kept waiting for a patrol car or a greyhound to pass, but it was like a ghost town tonight.

"So," Snow began, her eyes still glued to the road, "How's your week been?"

Bigby grunted. "Slow."

"The weather getting you down?"

"I doubt it." Bigby side-eyed her. "Toad still hasn't gotten his glamour."

"Don't the prices go down this time of year?"

"I'm starting to think Toad wouldn't get one even if it was free."

Snow shook her head. "You really need to send him back."

"I know."

There was another long pause. Snow made a right, looking at Bigby as she turned. "I've been worried about you."

"That's a first."

"I'm serious, Bigby." Snow sighed. "Ever since the Crooked Man, you've..."

Bigby looked at her. "What?"

"Well, I just feel like there's been some tension between us...one that wasn't there before."

"It's not just you and the rest who were affected by it." Bigby reminded.

"I'm aware of that." she assured. "I just...I don't want you to think that we're not a team anymore."

"I'm touched."

"Will you please just listen to me?" Snow said, her voice thick with impatience. "I know it was difficult for you too. I'm sure it brought back some memories you've had to repress. But whether it's fair or not, the Fables aren't going to look at you the same."

"I don't give a damn what anyone thinks about me." Bigby said.

"And that's fine, but you need to remember that these people are the ones going to run to you for help. They need to feel like they can trust you, and you have to make them."

"How Snow? In my eyes, what I did, it saved this town from a helluva lot more deaths. The Crooked Man would've found a way out, and you know it. You saw how he was persuading everyone. Trying to make it look like I was the bad guy. That kind of character is more trouble than they're worth."

"I agree with you Bigby, but you have to remember, a lot of those Fables were working for him. Now that his money's not coming in, they're going to be more desperate now than ever."

Bigby sighed. "So you think I'm the bad guy too. Great."

"Bigby, do you really think I'd let you wear the badge if I thought you were a bad person?" Bigby didn't answer. "Because the answer is no. I know what kind of a person the Crooked Man was. I'm simply trying to impress upon you what's going to come from this."

"I know what's coming Snow. I've already gotten a taste of it."

Snow glanced at him. Bigby knew she wanted to ask what he meant, but she never did. Bigby knew what they had was special. He always knew what she was thinking. Sure, being able to smell emotions helped, but it was almost as if he could hear every word and see every image in her head. He couldn't do that with anyone else. Not even with Nerissa.

Bigby massaged his temple as he thought back on that day. It still confused the hell out of him. He hadn't had a lot of time to mull it over with so many complaints. It was only at night, when he was left with nothing but his thoughts, that it haunted him.

The car slowed down to a stop. Snow lived in a nice apartment, in a nicer part of town. Bigby never asked where she got the money from. Part of him had expected her to move after the Crooked Man's demise, but she didn't. Thank god.

Snow grabbed her scarf and her purse before exiting the car. Bigby stepped outside, trying not to shiver as he followed her to the front steps. Ms. White was written in bold on the mailbox just outside the door. Snow checked it, but it was empty. She unlocked the door and led Bigby inside. The air was toasty, much to the sheriff's delight. A fire was crackling in the living room fireplace. A modestly-sized Christmas tree was gleaming in the far corner of the room. There were no presents beneath it, and the stockings hanging above the fireplace looked empty as well.

"I know it's not much," Snow was saying from the kitchen counter. She had a bottle of wine and two glasses already set out. "I'm not much of a decorator."

"Well it's a lot more effort than I put into it." Bigby remarked, stepping into the light of the kitchen.

"Don't like the aesthetic?"

"It's just a waste of time, if you want my opinion. I'm the only one who's gonna see the shit anyway."

Snow smiled. "Really now?"

"Snow, if I was throwing Christmas parties, you'd know."

Snow filled up the glasses. "Uh huh."

"What?"

Snow walked over to him, handing one of the glasses. "I know you haven't sent Colin back."

Bigby frowned. "Considering all the shit I put him through, the least I can do is let him stay at the apartment."

"I know why you're doing it." Snow said. "But if guilt is you're only reason for doing it-"

"It's not. I know he gives me hell for it and all, but I really do consider him a friend."

Snow tapped her glass thoughtfully. "It's hard to come by those, nowadays."

"You can say that again."

Snow looked away. "I just hope you still consider me one."

Bigby stiffened in shock. "Why wouldn't I?"

Snow shrugged. "I don't know. I just thought after what I said to you...the day you..."

"I'm over it, Snow. No hard feelings."

Snow loosened the tension in her shoulders. "Good."

Bigby scratched the back of his head. "So...did you hear about the Trip Trap?"

Snow shook her head. "No. What about it?"

"The Woodsman told me the place is getting a face lift."

"That's...surprising."

"Yeah. I knew Holly was saving up, but I didn't expect it to happen so soon."

Snow looked around the apartment. "Would you like to sit on the couch?"

"Sure."

Bigby followed Snow into the living room. As he walked past the Christmas tree, he got a better look at the ornaments. Most of them looked like they belonged to a set, but there were a few here and there that were clearly handmade. One in particular caught Bigby's eye.

It was a globe filled with pieces of gold flecks and clear liquid that allowed them to float freely. A familiar photograph had been cut out in the shape of a circle, fitting perfectly in the center of the globe. It was a picture of Bigby and Snow from last Christmas.

Bigby looked at Snow, who had already taken a seat on the couch. "Was this one of the pictures Crane took?"

Snow's eyes found the ornament. "Yes."

"Why?" Bigby looked back at the ornament. "I mean...doesn't it bring back bad memories?"

"The picture itself or the person who took it?" Snow asked. "I won't let what he did ruin my memory of us."

After admiring the picture for a moment, Bigby eventually made his way over to the couch and sat down next to her. The fire was dying down, just barely illuminating the room. Bigby noticed Snow had fixed the picture of her and Rose, which was resting on the coffee table in front of them. The thought of Crane sneaking into Snow's apartment and going through her things made Bigby's blood boil. It made him so enraged, he almost broke the glass in his hand from clenching it so hard.

"Bigby? Are you alright?"

Bigby looked at Snow. The hatred left him in that moment. "Yeah, why?"

"Your eyes..." Snow said quietly.

"Oh. Right." Bigby blinked hard. He looked at Snow. "Better?"

"Yes."

Bigby took a swig of the wine. It was dry, but it had character. He downed the rest of it, hoping it would take off the edge. He couldn't deny these feelings inside of him anymore. He had to open up, and Snow was the only one who wouldn't run away.

He looked at her again. He suddenly could see every line and crease on her face. He could the see bags under her eyes and the dullness of her hair. She was suffering too.

She has enough to worry about.

"What is it, Bigby?" she asked. She looked at him with concerned eyes. "I know you have something you want to say."

"It's not important. Really."

"I know you're lying, but it's okay if you don't want to talk about whatever it is."

"It's not." Bigby sighed. "I should be able to talk to you."

"Things are different now." Snow reasoned. "It's not personal."

Bigby nodded. "I guess you're right."

"Do you really need to guess?"

Bigby looked at her. There was a smug grin on her face. "Wise ass."

Snow chuckled. "So, any new year's resolutions?"

"For crying out loud." Bigby groaned, rolling his eyes.

"What? I'm genuinely curious."

"You know damn well I don't do that crap."

"Some folks swear by it you know."

"I'm not one of them." he grumbled. He looked at Snow, who was still grinning. "Well? Do you have any?"

Snow considered. "I think I'm gonna try to take more time off this year."

Bigby was surprised. "You mean it?"

"Yeah, I've thought about what you said. Not just tonight, but before, when I was still working for Crane." Snow hesitated, and Bigby didn't need to guess why. "I think I'm over doing it."

"You think?"

"I know I am, but hey, you trying being the mayor. It's not as easy as it looks."

"I never said it was. But that doesn't mean someone can't fill in for you."

"It just feels so complicated now. No one cared who I was before, but now that I'm sitting at that table, and it's my name on that plaque, everyone's got something to say."

Bigby placed his hand on Snow's. It felt cold. "Not everyone."

Snow looked at him. Those blue eyes...they were always so strained and worried...but now? Now there was a different likeness to them. One Bigby rarely got to see.

A gentle force pulled them towards one another.

I do not own any of these characters.