Some meetings are meant to happen (StepCandy)

Summary : Two years after Henry's and Nick's wedding, someone else arrives in the coffee-shop's team : Ivy Belfrey, one of Margot' former friends, who has troubles with her family. At the same time, Gretel, Nick's sister, now owning her own confectionery making, finally accepts to go to this famous coffee-shop where her brother found the love of his life. Gretel and Ivy meet, and immediately form a strong bond. But, as Ivy's mother comes back in her life, things go wrong. Will Gretel succeed to save Ivy from her painful past and from her evil mother ? (You're really asking ?) StepCandy as the main pairing + Law Believer, RebelGlass, Curious Archer, Gideon/Roderick, Zelena/Chad evoked.

One Shot in several parts.

Part 1 : A proposition.

Margot sighed.

It had been a long day, she was not going to contradict it. She looked at the outside and grimaced as she saw that it was already the night, asking herself again why on hell she was always the one who was the last one to leave the coffee-shop.

"Because you're the youngest of us, Roni always answered to her with a smile, when she asked her the question."

Well, it was not as if she didn't like her job, it was not the case, so, it was not really a problem, except when it was winter and that the night was falling early, as it was the case this day.

She smiled when she looked at her phone and saw that Tilly had sent her a message. She answered to her rapidly, before preparing herself to close the shop.

It was time for her to go home.

But then, the door opened, and Margot frowned, ready to tell to the new customer that she was going to close the shop, but then, she recognized her.

And it astonished her.

"Ivy ?"

It had been like, what… eleven or twelve years that she didn't see her ? Yeah, Margot, as Ivy, was now twenty-six years old, and the last time she saw her, they were both thirteen.

What the hell was her former best friend doing here ?

And why ?

It had been raining outside for the two or three previous hours, and it looked like the young woman had been under it without an umbrella, because she was freezing.

As Margot looked at her more carefully, she saw that her eyes were reddened, and it looked like she had cried.

And there was so much pain in her eyes…

Something seemed to be broken in her.

So, yes, she couldn't let her outside.

The other woman tried to smile.

"Hello Margot… I know it's not really the right moment to go to see you, especially after all these years where I didn't give you any news, but… I need help. She was chattering and trembling. My mother just chased me from our house."

Margot' eyes opened wide, and she didn't find anything to say.

"Alright… take a seat and try to warm yourself while I close the shop, okay ? And then, I will call my wife and tell her that I will not be coming home yet.

Ivy sat down and almost sneezed.

- Your wife ? Oh, do you mean Alexandra or is it someone else ?

Margot chuckled.

- No, it's not her, Alexandra and I, we broke up a long time ago, it's an old story… And then, I met Tilly… And now were are married. And happy."

Then, she did what she said she would, closed the shop, and called for Tilly.

"Hello Tilly… I have something to tell you, something really important.

- Hi Margot ? Is something wrong ? She asked her wife, as she felt that her tone was different.

- One of my former friends is in the shop, and she needs help. She has… a lot of problems with her family, to say the least, so I will stay with her sometimes, to talk with her and I will try to find a solution. I will call you again when it's done, okay ?

- Alright. Good luck."

Margot then sat down in front of Ivy, and looked at her again.

Ivy Belfrey was… someone, to say the least.

Being the daughter of Victoria Belfrey, one of the most powerful and richest people of Seattle, she had been always perceived by almost everyone as someone arrogant and superficial.

But Margot had learned rapidly that she was everything but this.

As they became friends, Ivy changed and learned to open up to people and make friends, well, other friends than just her sister Ana or her friend Margot.

In fact, until it happened…

Until Ana, who was sixteen years old at this time, had an accident and fell into a coma, from which she never get out from, and everything changed.

Her mother did, and so did her sister.

Nothing was the same anymore, Ivy severed all contact with her friends and relatives, just being focused on Ana and on what she could do to help her wake up.

She became the way her mother wanted her to be, and turned into a completely different and cold person.

It was the last thing Margot knew of her, as she hadn't saw her again after the accident happened.

Apparently, Ivy finally became fed up of being forgotten by her mother, who just cared about her first daughter.

"So, let both dropping immediately all the platitudes we could tell to each other. What happened Ivy ?

- I… I couldn't do this anymore. My mother… she was so obsessed by Ana's wake up that… she completely forgot me… Me and Jacinda. She ignored me and she turned her into a servant or something like that.

- Yes, I know, I discussed with Jacinda sometimes… She told me about how terrible Victoria became. What a monster she is now.

- She was braver than me, and she fled while I never got the courage to do this. I just wanted mother to love me again. I would have done everything to be loved by her, even turn into a horrible person… At first, I thought that she was right, that only Ana mattered, that I had to make everything to make her wake up, but…

- Something changed, right ?

- Mother definitely doesn't care about me. And I realized that I couldn't support being ignored… What definitely made me change my mind is that… Ana will never wake up. The doctors told us this, and mother didn't accept to listen to them… I tried to reason her that night, and I also told her that she was ruining my life, that I was tired of living under the shadow of her precious daughter…

- So she simply chased you ?

- Yes, she did… And I have nowhere else to go… I'm sorry I come here, without calling you first, but…

- Don't worry, I understand… Jacinda told me that Victoria was someone… intoxicating. Bad and evil. So yes, even if I don't know what you lived, the thing is that I know how terrible it must have been to live with her. Ten years without being loved, without someone caring about you… It must have been horrible.

- I just went out of the house, she told me to leave it, and I obeyed, as I always did… I never was able to face her properly… I had nothing with me, literally nothing, not even my phone or my handbag. I need your help Margot.

- You're alone and lost Ivy… Of course I will help you. In fact, I have even a proposition to make to you, she said, understanding that yes, she could help her former friend. I can offer you a job."

Ivy raised an eyebrow.

"A job ? In your coffee-shop ? For real ?

- Yes. By the way, how did you find me ?

- Thanks to Jacinda. I am still in contact with her, and she told me about your shop and where it was. So, you were the person I thought about first. You can really do this ? She asked again.

- I think so, I still have to ask Roni and Roland for this, but yeah. I guess I can.

- Well… if it's the truth, thanks. And I say yes to your offer then… I really need a job if I want to completely get free of my mother. Knowing her, she must think that I will come back at home tomorrow, and I refuse this. I refuse to live with her again, to be under her influence.

Margot gave her a great smile, and gave her her hand, that Ivy shook.

- So, I guess we have a deal."

To be continued…