Hey guys, been a while huh?
Been meaning to come back to this fic but never got the chance.
This is actually in response to a prompt from a guest reviewer some time ago
I would give credit but I have no idea who they are... so 'Guest" thanks for the idea.
IMPORTANT NOTE: This story takes place during winter and close to Christmas. I just liked the time period for this story and it's theme.
It had begun to snow, nature was funny that way.
Honestly, the amount of people whom had told her 'looks like today's your day', was absurd, as if they thought they were so clever. It happened every year, and yet no would ever thought she was tired of hearing it.
Snow White tread through the crowds of people amid the streets of snow filled New York city.
She'd decided to go for a walk and get some much needed time away from the business building.
Ever since Crane had been taken, Snow White had been left to run things.
She'd done so unofficially for years now anyway while King Cole was away on 'business'.
Before, it had not been an easy job. Now it was even harder, before she didn't need to smile and mince words with people she'd rather not, that had been Crane's role.
Now for the sake of Fabletown, Snow often found herself playing to Bluebeard's ego.
Bluebeard, one of the only Fables to escape the homelands with their riches in take, and was one of, if not, the biggest funder. He provided donations on the annual Remembrance Day that supported the Fabletown government in keeping its exist a secret to the Mundies.
Snow had met repeatedly with Bluebeard since taking over Crane's job. She found the man incredibly rude and often 'chose' to ignore the not so subtle hints he threw her way.
To top it all off, she'd still had to deal with all the complaint from every Fable currently living in Fabletown. That included the Business building, the Woodlands, and those Fables unfortunately enough to live in the Mundy slums of New York.
Sheriff Bigby had done his best to lighten the load for her, he usually did. And the Fabletown community had taken more of a likening to the once feared Wolf. But there was only so much the Sheriff could do.
She also had to deal with the witches and wizards on the thirteenth floor complaining about the unreasonable complaints concerning the cost of glamors. Then vice verse, the Fables whom could not pass for human on their own complained that the cost of glamors was too high.
She'd even gotten Bigby to speak with the witches and wizard, they'd turned him back within an hour.
"They say there's nothing they can do. Glamors are hard to make and maintain, they say they work with what little magic they have left" Bigby had said.
Snow had frowned at that, she'd known Bigby a long time and his own version of a glamor had been free.
"I'm a different story and you know it. I'm not technically using a glamor , it's in my nature to shape shift. I don't have to pay someone to do it for me" Bigby said grabbing a cigarette from his pocket.
"But its Magic! How can they not have enough?!" Snow White had said frustrated.
"How the hell should I know? They told me they can't lower the prices because they wouldn't be able to meet the demand anyway. We're shit out of luck, gonna be hard explaining that to the other Fables" Bigby had said taking a whiff of his cigarette.
That had been the last time she'd seen him since yesterday.
The Sheriff was always busy it seemed, being called away with issue after issue.
She still didn't know what exactly she felt for the Sheriff of Fabletown. He'd proven invaluable and always got the job done, though she didn't always agree with his methods.
They were... what exactly? Coworkers? Friends?
Those were questions for another time Snow decided.
She'd only come out to get a bit of fresh and somehow found herself wandering the streets of New York until she'd realized she was several blocks away.
The weather was stirring and the snow began falling harder and harder as Snow began to make her way back.
What's been going on with the weather lately? Maybe it really has something to do with the Mundies? Global Warming they could it? Snow thought as she struggled to walk through the throngs of people.
Normally she would have called a cab, but then she'd have to compete with everyone else trying to escape the cold.
Walking was actually faster.
She turned an alley and decided to take a shortcut, avoiding the crowds of people hurrying along in the cold weather.
She nearly tripped as she stepped upon frozen pavement but a hand suddenly caught her by the arm steadying her.
"Odd weather we're having isn't it? Must be wary of frozen pavements" a voice said.
Snow looked up at her savior and found an old man with wild unruly hair and matching mustache clutching her by the arm.
The man was wearing a long trench coat, but as Snow looked him over she thought that he might be homeless.
"Thank you... sir" Snow said once the man let her go.
I hope he doesn't ask for money. Its not that I don't sympathize, but I'm struggling myself Snow thought.
"And just where are you off to in such a hurry, miss?" the old man said
"Miss White, I was just heading back to the office. Thank you, but I must be on my way" Snow said politely.
She turned heading back into the cold and immediately regretted it.
Should have brought my coat. Why did I leave it behind? Snow thought as she shivered.
Suddenly the old man appeared, wrapping his trench coat over her and saying "there Miss White, that should help."
He just gave me his coat? Snow thought confused as she turned to look at the old man battling the cold alongside her.
Without his coat, he wore a plain white shirt a pair of plain trousers.
Yet he stood completely still, as if the cold had no effect on him.
"Aren't you cold?" Snow said tugging the coat closer around herself, it was surprisingly warm... either the mundies discovered magic or else this was a very well made coat.
"No, my dear. I actually enjoy this weather. The cold and I are as old friends greeting each other warmly" the old man smiled.
Snow felt bad, this old man had given her his coat out of the kindness of his heart and she had nothing to give him in return.
"Do you drink coffee? There's a place not to far from here, once the weather dies down I'll give you your coat back" Snow said.
"I'd like that" the old man said. He gestured for her to lead the way, and she did, tugging the coat tightly around herself while he followed seemingly immune to the weather around him.
The coffee shop was thankfully open, and the two of them found a small table for themselves amid the other new yorkers trying to escape the cold.
Snow had bought a coffee for herself and the old man, and though he'd protested, she interrupted saying "it's the least I can do, you gave my your coat."
Funny, even now, sipping their coffee at their table the old man never once asked for it back.
"Have we met? I feel like I've seen you before?" Snow asked.
She'd been wondering that ever since they'd taken their seats.
Something about his eyes seemed so familiar...
"It's possible. I'm an old man and something of a traveler" he said.
"Not a new yorker?" Snow asked taking a sip of her coffee.
The old man shook his head saying "I'm sure the city is lovely, but alas I'm from very far away."
"It is lovely, at times it can hard for people to make a living here. But during Christmas the lights are wonderful and I like to think there's a sense of community among the people" the old man said.
"The city is living thing to you, not just the people, but a home" he said softly.
An unusual observation, but Snow thought he had picked up on something. She took her job very seriously and I tried to make a difference in the Fable community.
"And so what bring you here? Seeing the sights? Visiting family?" Snow asked.
The old man smiled but there was no warmth in his eyes. He had such a sad look about him that Snow thought she might have hurt him with the question.
"I'm sorry, that's a very personal-" she began only to be cut off.
"It's quite alright Miss White. I'm visiting family... in a sense" the old man said.
"In a sense?" Snow asked confused.
The old man smiled sadly.
"Family is messy. I had come to see my son, but I kept my distance. We had a falling out you see... tis my fault I suppose" the old man said looking wearily into his mug of coffee.
"How could it be your fault?" Snow asked, he was such a kindly fellow that she had trouble imagining doing anyone harm.
"I was not there for him when I should have been. I tried later in his life, but he does not think very highly of me. Still, he is my blood... and I watch over him" the old man said.
"Maybe he just needs time" Snow said slowly.
"Perhaps. I have waited years, why not wait longer?" the old man said.
Snow raised an eyebrow at that. She didn't want to be rude, but he was an old man. How time did he have left? Still, she said nothing.
"What of you, Miss White? So close to the holidays, are you visiting any family? Or perhaps spending the holidays with someone special?" the old man said.
"I don't have anyone special in my life" Snow said softly.
The old man tilted his head at her curiously.
"I'm surprised. A beautiful young woman such as yourself would surely have her share of admirers. No one in your life? Not even a friend or a coworker" he said.
Admirers? I've had plenty of those. Crane and his kind... but then there others. Others like... like... a coworker Snow thought.
"Maybe one" she said in low voice.
"Ah to be young again. Have you ever considering getting to know this 'one' a little more?" the old man said smiling kindly at her.
Funny, if it had been anyone else, another Fable or even a mundy, she'd have stopped the conversion there and then. Would have gotten offended at someone prying into private business... but with this old man she felt strangely calm.
Like he wasn't teasing her, but genuinely wanted the best for her.
"No, not really. With my job, it'd be hard for that kind of relationship with anyone. What about you? Anyone lucky women out there?" Snow asked in turn.
"Oh no, I've not always been the best man for a relationship" he said chuckling.
Snow nodded, she understand that in her own way.
"But you're young. You have your whole life ahead of you Miss White. I'm lived a very long time, and I dare say I've learned a thing or two in that time. If there is someone special in your life, you should consider pursuing it." he said.
Snow looked away thinking of a certain sheriff she knew.
"It's complicated" she said.
"Life is complicated" the old man said and she chuckled.
Snow took another sip of her coffee.
"It is in our nature to form bonds with people. Friends or else something more. Life is complicated, but short. It never hurts to find what joy where you can... that too is in our nature" the old man continued.
Snow smiled lightly. She liked talking to this strange man.
Suddenly he got to his feet saying "thank you for the coffee Miss White, but I believe I must be going now."
Snow frowned reaching for the coat he'd given her.
"No, no. Keep it my dear, a gift from an old man who does not need it. Besides, I believe you'll find that the weather has cleared up nicely." the old man said.
Snow glanced at the window and saw, to her astonishment, that the weather had indeed died down considerably in the time they'd spoken.
"You're right, but still I can't keep this. I..." Snow said turning back only to find the old man was gone.
Snow got to her feet and looked around the coffee shop, but he was gone.
As if he vanished into thin air.
What a strange man. But kind, very kind. I never even learned his name... Snow thought running her hands softly through his coat.
She wrapped the old man's coat around herself, again finding it to be surprisingly warm, and left the store. Her entire way back to the business building, the weather seemed to have calmed down, as if providing a path just for her.
Oddly enough, as time passed Snow had trouble remembering what the kind man looked like...
Within moments of entering her office, Bufkin appeared with another stack of papers for her.
Sigh, always more work to do Snow thought.
Hours later, after reading through countless Fabletown documents and complaints, Snow found herself getting ready to go home.
She mentally braced herself for the cold outside, and wrapped the strange man's coat around herself again.
As she was leaving the office, she bumped into Bigby as he was leaving his.
"Sorry Snow, didn't see you there" the sheriff said in his rough voice.
"It's alright. What are you doing here so late?" Snow asked.
Bigby pulled a cigarette from his pocket and lit it, taking a deep whiff.
"Filing out some paperwork. Got into a fight with some assholes outside the Woodlands. Didn't have their glamors, and this was the fourth time I'd caught them out in the opening" Bigby said.
Always the hard way with him she thought.
"Please don't smoke in here" she said frowning at her.
"Oh... sorry" Bigby said crushing the cigarette tip between his fingers.
Suddenly, the sheriff seeming to take note of the coat Snow was wearing.
The coat the kindly old man had given her.
Snow watched bemused as his eyes traveled up and down.
"Bigby, my face is up here" she teased.
"Yeah... sorry" Bigby said sounding surprisingly bitter.
Suddenly she remembered the old man's words.
"You have your whole life ahead of you Miss White. I'm lived a very long time, and I dare say I've learned a thing or two in that time. If there is someone special in your life, you should consider pursuing it."
"See you around" Bigby said turning to leave.
"Bigby... wait" Snow called suddenly.
The sheriff stopped in his tracks and turned back to face her expectantly.
"I just realized, I haven't eaten in nine hours" she said awkwardly.
Bigby said nothing, only looked at her curiously with those eyes of his.
"I just... you want to grab a bite to eat? Not too many places still open but..." Snow said.
"Yeah. I'd like that. I know a good burger place close by, open twenty four hours a day" Bigby said surprisingly seeming to brighten up, well brighten up as much as his brooding would allow.
"Lead the way" Snow said.
Of course he'd pick a burger place she thought as Bigby lead the two of them outside.
"You really like meat eh?" she asked him as they walked side by side.
"Heh, I'm a wolf remember. It's my nature" he said.
Snow pondered that.
"No, not just a wolf. But a man too, you're not the beast from before" Snow said suddenly and Bigby looked at her curiously.
He nodded at her seemingly at a loss for words... but he seemed happier than he normally did.
Epilogue
A day later, Bigby wolf found himself walking through central park again at some ungodly time of night and finding the same damn bench from before.
Bigby took a whiff of his cigarette and glared angrily around the empty park under the night sky.
The winds stirred and Bigby clenched his cigarette tightly in his hands as it was nearly ripped from his grasp.
"That's bad for your health" a voice said echoing through the night air.
"Cut the crap. I know you're there asshole! I told you I never wanted to see you again" Bigby snarled into the night.
"Can you see me?" the voice said sounding bemused.
"Smart ass" Bigby muttered darkly.
Still the North Wind did not appear, and Bigby grew increasingly angry at shouting into the night like a madman.
"I saw your coat" Bigby said glaring around the park, but still finding it empty.
Show yourself! I told you to stay away from Snow he thought.
"You should be thanking me. She was cold, and I but lent a hand" the voice said.
"Stay away from her!" Bigby snarled.
"She will never see me again. Did you enjoy your date?" the voice said.
Bigby's fist clenched but he said nothing. Somehow... he'd known his father had had a hand in that.
The God's playful laughter filled the night air and Bigby cursed.
"God damn you. Leave. Me. Alone!" Bigby shouted.
"Excuse me sir" a voice said suddenly.
Bigby turned seeing a mundy police officer heading his way.
"The park is closed. Why the hell are you yelling to yourself at this hour" the cop said striding his way, before coming to stop in front of Bigby.
Bigby took a long whiff of his cigarette.
"Fuck off" he said and the officer narrowed his eyes... but stopped suddenly.
Somehow, the officer knew that this was not a man to trifle with.
"I'm going" Bigby said turning his back to the officer and heading for the exit.
The police officer thought about following, but a gust of wind his way made him think twice.
It seemed the weather was beginning to change again, and he didn't want to be caught in it for some madman in the park.
I wrote this in less than an hour, so not my best work
But I'm happy with it. I like the idea of the North 'lending a hand'
Thanks for Reading and please Review.