It was early in the morning and Laurel was ready to continue on her way.

The old woman stood in the doorway while she packed her bag. "You weren't planning on leaving without saying goodbye, were you?" Laurel shook her head and brushed her hair, looking at herself in the mirror. With a little cleaning done the night before she was looking a little healthier, actually looking like a decently pretty girl. The old woman watched her keenly and sat down on the bed while she continued to primp. "You could take the other dresses with you, you know. The one you have now won't do… my daughter's not coming back for them…and if she has a daughter, well..."

The woman threw them into the bag and helped Laurel tie back her hair with a black ribbon. The ribbon perfectly matched the fabric of the black and red corseted dress that the old woman picked out for Laurel from the chest-of-drawers. She helped lace her into it. Laurel had never been in a dress quite that nice, and she didn't recall ever being properly laced into a corset. The woman had her twirl around and smiled as she caught glimpse of herself in the mirror—for the first time in Laurel's life, she felt beautiful.

"Well you must keep going, mustn't you? I think I've got some bread or a sticky bun for you to take as breakfast…" Laurel smiled and wrapped the kind old woman in the biggest hug she could muster. The woman nearly fell back. Laurel detached herself from the kind soul, smiling hugely and darting into the kitchen. Laurel took two of the sticky buns off of the plate on the table. "I think there's leftover soup in the pot, too, if you want to take it. I won't be eating it…"

"Thank you, ma'am, but I will be fine. You've already been so kind to me." Laurel, although her morals were weak enough to allow her to impose on an old woman, was strong on one belief—she didn't need help as much as other people needed her help. She was helpful, hardworking… that's what she always was. She could help herself.

The old woman saw Laurel in her doorway and, for a moment, she saw her as someone different. She saw Laurel as a younger girl, with less of a figure, and brown curls on her shoulders. Her eyes were hauntingly brown, and around her shoulders hung this bright red cape, much like the one she had been sewing the day Laurel came in. She didn't look like Laurel, only the innocence in her face, but she actually reminded the old woman of her daughter. The old woman came to her senses and realized she was just staring at Laurel. "Yes, well, I suppose you should be on your way. If you need anything, you know where to find me." Laurel nodded, and with a small smile continued on her way through the woods.

The woods weren't frightening in the daytime. Laurel saw the flowers along the path and wondered how some place so beautiful could be so terrifying in the darkness. The sunshine painted more vivid colors than the shade. How did people find themselves living in the woods, was it because they had no fear? She had been so afraid in the darkness, but in the light she forgot all the fear she had.

There were signs pointing her in the direction of a close village, and she walked as quickly as she could carry herself. The bag was growing heavier and heavier, and she continued to carry it as best she could. Eventually she saw the trees begin to clear and a farm-like community filled with hustle and bustle. Everyone was running to and fro, and animals were running through the streets just like the children. She walked down the little street and came upon a small butcher's shop. Oh, the food looked delightful, but she realized she had no money. She'd need to find a job, and quickly. Somehow she would make money so she didn't have to depend on the fleeting kindness.

The further Laurel walked down the street, she realized that she was walking towards an old farmhouse where she could hear the bickering of the people inside. Why, she wondered, am I heading over here? There's no business here, it's the edge of the village. But for one reason or another she was walking towards the house, like she was being pulled by some force. Suddenly the argument stopped and there was only a woman screaming and a man leaving. He had a flannel shirt on with the sleeves rolled up, suspenders holding up his dirty brown pants. He glared at Laurel and continued to mutter things to himself. The door to the house was still wide open and Laurel went to close it, only to find that the woman was sobbing and there was a child crying and sitting on the floor.

The lady was not particularly beautiful, but she was not an unattractive woman. Her son had sandy hair and was lying on the floor and crying, slamming a stuffed cow on the floor angrily. The sobbing woman looked incredibly stressed, but also relieved to see Laurel in the doorway. "Young miss!" The woman called, looking at her through her blurring tears. "Would you do me a favor? Come in, please."

Laurel looked at her cautiously, mostly focusing on the child. "What can I do for you, ma'am?" The woman picked up her child and handed her off to Laurel. She grabbed her shawl off of the hook on the wall and started to wrap it around her shoulders.

"Just for a few hours, miss, I'll reward you as best I can… Jack's a good boy, little ditzy, won't cause you any trouble. I've got to go after his father… oh! I needed to go get some bread too, would you mind? I'll reward you generously. Please…" The frazzled woman looked into Laurel's eyes and she saw nothing but determination and honesty. She couldn't refuse her. There was too much that the woman needed, and the boy needed a father. Every child needs its parents…until the day they don't need you anymore, she thought spitefully. The woman, on her way out, threw some money at Laurel. "For bread, and anything else you need." She ran out, closed the door, and left Jack with Laurel.

Maybe, thought she, this is my purpose.

…later…

Laurel coddled the little boy and played with him and his stuffed cow. The boy was so fascinated by the toy that he hardly noticed his mother was gone and had left him with her. Besides he didn't mind Laurel much to begin with. Now that all the shouting had stopped, he had stopped crying. Jack, well, he was a well behaved child. He was so much better than the princes and princesses, at least as far as Laurel could tell. "Wanna go to the bakery?" She asked him and he nodded without probably understanding what she said. He wasn't the most intelligent of toddlers, but he seemed to understand the concept of go. He was probably the same age as the littlest princess, and he had a lot of similar mannerisms (maybe it's the age, she thought): grabby hands reaching up for her to pick him up. She picked him up and slung him on her hip, clutching his stuffed cow with the other hand. As they exited the house she handed him the cow and he started to pet it. He loves his cow, Laurel observed, what would he be like with a real one? That would provide them with milk, cheese…

Laurel, with Jack on her hip, headed back into the woods with a new motivation—she was no longer running from her job, she had found one (no matter how temporary it was) and she was ready to help Jack and his mother as best she could. For now, all she was needed for was to watch the boy and get the bread from the baker.

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Yay! The woman in the woods, in case this chapter didn't help clear it up, is Red's Grandmother... I hope that this installment went over well with you all, and I want to keep posting speedily! Next time we will be meeting the baker... please review and let me know if you have any ideas!