Hey guys, did you miss me? I know I missed sharing D: so I made this chapter super long, like super! 2 chapters in one!

I didn't get a lot of votes as I thought I was for the little game idea I had, that was a little let down cause I was thinking of maybe doing that once every chapter or two, to make it interesting. But you know what, it's cool, I'm still so very grateful for all of my readers and followers for this fanfic. You guys are just so awesome!

P.S.

As some of you know, I write my stories by phone and sometimes I get a little trouble by it, example of posting the wrong chapter when I was trying to add a Arthurs note I forgot at the end, so I'm sorry about the mix up guys. x.x I should really invest on a computer

Enjoy


Chapter 7

Bigby arrived at this rundown looking apartment building, the place was literally falling apart, almost looking abandoned if it weren't the poor or unemployed Fables living in here. He looked down at the new piece of paper Snow gave him as soon as he arrived at the office after having a chat with Red. It was annoying that as soon as he steps foot into the office door, he was given a list of complaints he had to check out, the 'perks' of being the only Sheriff.

However before the list he was asked about the specific types of desserts, the ones he forgot or in truth, didn't bother bringing them just to piss Crane off, Snow White wasn't too happy with him for not being the apple jelly donuts like he said he was, so of course the two of them had an ear full from Crane.

" Even you! Mr. Wolf, forgot about what I wanted and bring something completely different?! What did you buy anyways? " Crane asked as he kept glancing at Bigby then the rolled his eyes and opened the box in front of the man, to his surprise Crane's ugly sour face turned into a face of joy and delight.

"You ordered one of Red Riding Hood's famous cherry pie? Thought they didn't have any more" Snow asked raising her eyebrows.

" Not sure I'd use the term 'famous' but yeah." Bigby shrugs at the famous part, a pie is a pie to him, frankly, he honestly had no idea why he asked for a specific pie in the first place. The faint smell of blood was in her hands when she looked away from him to fix her bandages, that's when he realized that Red was working all alone, getting no help from anyone.

The cuts on her hands must have been giving her a hard time... He thought to himself when he saw her fingers twitch in pain, he felt like 'rewarding' her or something, wanted to help her out by giving her a little bit of money in her pocket, he gave her half the amount he has in his wallet actually, ordering something was just for show.

" Well, despite getting the wrong order I can see that you tried. " Crane said to Bigby as he was cutting slices. " Here's a piece for you. " he offered as he passed him a paper plate. Bigby just raised an eyebrow at it before taking the plate, he sniffed the slice before cutting a piece with his plastic fork and was about to take a bite until the phone rang.

" Business office. Oh, uh..One second. " Snow covered the mouth part of the phone and looked over at Bigby, "it's for you. " she said to him as she passes the phone.

" Hello? " He he greeted to get a reply, only to get a loud ear full of a woman screaming on the other side. He moved the phone away from his ear for a moment, making Snow roll her eyes and rest her hands on her hips and raises one eyebrow at Bigby with a growing smirk on her face, finding it a little funny by Bigby's reaction with the call. " Calm down, I'll-..no no, there's no need- I'll be there as soon as I can, just relax. "

Bigby hangs up the phone and starts to rub the inside of his ear with his pinky finger, trying to make the loud ringing sound go away. " Who was that? " Snow asked.

" That was one of Cinderella's step sister" he replied to her as he scratches the back of his head, "something about loud music from the neighbors."

" Well I'll leave it to you then Bigby, oh before you go you have two more places to check out as well " Snow grabbed the list on her desk. "First one was from Mr. Geppetto, appears he had a break in at his toy shop, and the second is of course from Mr. Toad, called a complaint about his neighbors fighting. "

Bigby scanned through the paper Snow gave him, collecting information of the locations as he scratches his cheek. " I'll go to Geppetto's shop first, then check on Toad then the sisters after. " he folded the paper and stuffed it in his coat pocket and started to get to work.

That's how his day went, that's how his days always goes actually. Just going to one fable to the next, trying to help and keep the peace between everyone. By the time he was done, well almost done, it was already in the evening, he had one more place to visit and it was just a silly complaint about noisy neighbors. The sun was going down, staining the skies with a red orange color by the time he reached this rat nest looking place. Bigby looked at the paper again for the room number and started climbing to the 3rd floor of the building and knocked at the door to room 8.

Just as he knocked the second time, The blonde haired ugly sister forcefully opens the door, her one good eye angerly staring at Bigby while her right glass eye stares off on the ground. " Oh wow, thanks so bloody much for coming when you FELT like it sheriff! " she spat out.

" Yeah well, I tried to come here as fast as I could. Sorry. " Bigby apologize, even though the tone of his voice showed differently.

" Who is it Ella?" The sound of the other sister was heard from the inside of the trashy apartment. The black haired sister opened the door wider, revealing her left glass eye to Bigby. "You're late wolf! Where were you when we needed you earlier! " she yelled at him with as much anger as her other sister.

Bigby let's out a sigh, getting tired and annoyed to be explaining again. " Look, I said I tried my best to get here, but I had to take care of other complaints as well, but seeing how I'm here now let's not waste anymore fucking time."

The two sisters gave him a sickening look than shifted there good eyes at each other. " Well Sheriff seeing how the little twat stopped with her racket, the best you can do is talk to threaten her to keep it downloads. Her apartment number is 6."

" I'm not here to threaten anyone, I'm just gonna talk to them. " Bigby said as he started to walk towards the other apartment.

" Never send a bloody dog to do a man's work. " the black haired sister spat as she crossed her arms and walked to hallway to see the action. Bigby tried to ignore on what she said and knocked at the door, but not getting a reply.

After banging again there was still no answer. "Don't seem to be home, how about you give me their names and-" Bigby was walking back towards the sisters apartment, as he made it to there door the sound of another door opening was being heard. Bigby turned back and saw Red giggling and talking to someone as she was coming out of apartment 7. what the...

" there she is sheriff, the little red twat that makes all the ruckus! Threaten to eat her again or something to the damn brat!" Said Ella, the blonde sister.

Red turned her head towards the sisters and Bigby and froze in shock. "Red? What are you-" Bigby's question was cut short by the sight of Gren coming out of the apartment behind Red and closing the door behind him.

" Alright, ready to go," he said her before looking at what the 3, Gren followed Red's eyes and saw Bigby with an angry look at his face. " oh Shit!"

" Anna look! So Red riding hood is sleeping with the Grendel brute! Who would have thought! " one of the sisters said to the other.

Bigby's eyes were wide with shock. "Red..when..how.." he tried to ask her why was she in this rundown place, was she with him? But the words wouldn't come out, only leaving him with his mouth open.

The sisters started to laugh as Red's face became a light shade of pink. Gren's started to tremble in anger and punched the green paint pealing wall. "Hey! Why not you two ugly skanks just mind your fuckin business for once huh! What the fuck did Red ever do to you guys!" He pointed at the two sisters, then pointed at Bigby as he pushes Red behind him. " And you! Don't know what the hell you're doing here but you better not be following Red, you leave her alone! You understand Dog!"

" Oh my, how he defends her so Ella. She must be his whore."

" You know what, suck on this!" Gren grabbed a hold of his crotch and shook it before he puts Red's hood up to cover her face and wraps one arm around her, keeping her close to him as he leads her out of the building with his middle finger up in the air, flipping all 3 while walking away.

Bigby just stood there, staring at there backs as they walked away. Confused and in all completely honest, he felt a bit of rage growing inside of his chest when they walked away together. " I could have sworn Red would have broken into tears when she saw you. " Ella said to him.

" Why would she? It's not she's still-" Bigby tries to explain

" Because Its your fault the girl changed, she was such a sweet QUIET girl, until the attack, and here I was hoping she'd beg for her life and swear she'd never make noise again " said Anna.

The sisters words, shot him in the chest like a silver bullet, blaming him for Red being the way she is now " Is that the whole fuckin reason I was called here?! To scare the hell out of Red?!" Bigby was pissed Once he realized that was the real reason for calling him, Because of the reputation he has, not because he was a sheriff trying to help.

" Of course sheriff, what better way to shut a girl up, than to use the very wolf that traumatized her. " Ella said as she gives him a evil grin as the sisters walk into there apartment. " You have a good night, Wolf" she said to him as she slowly closes her door, leaving Bigby alone in the hallway.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

The day was finally over for Red, she was out by 4 from her job and she couldn't wait to get back home, she put the two remaining pies in white boxes with fancy bows on top, Damn wolf taking my 3rd pie. She pouted as she gets into a taxi, she originally made 3 for her close friends but since Bigby came to the bakery and bought one Red had to now figure out on who to give the special treat. Having the sheriff come into the bakery today got her in a sour mood, ruining her day even worse now than it already was. He could have ordered something else or just left. He was so rude when it came to Gren and Holly. thinking back on his bad attitude towards her friends just made her mood turn bad all over again, making her grow a backbone and stand up against the wolf.

Once home Red placed the pies on the table and called out for her family. " Mother? Grandmother? I'm home. " she said out loud only to receive nothing from the empty apartment. " Guest they are working. " she told herself as she starts to get undressed as she walks into her room, she dressed up into a long black sleeved sweater that exposed her right shoulder and a black high waist pleaded winter skirt with a red bow on the side, and replaced her red shoes with black untied combat boots that complimented well with her red stockings.

When Red finished changing out clothes she went to the refrigerator to get something to eat until she saw the note on the counter. " Silvie, gone to work, dinner is in the fridge, and your mother called me saying she's feeling sick so the cough syrup is in the medicine cabinet, take some for yourself so you won't catch it. I'll be home soon, love grandmother." She read out loud as she opened the fridge, once done she too out the pot and took a peak inside, homemade chicken soup.

of course. Red thought to herself as she set it on the stove and turned it on to warm up the food, as she waited to for the food she looked through her records and pulls out 'The Rolling Stones' "perfect" she said out loud as she sets the track to 'Paint it Black' and turned up the volume. Red started to dance around the living room as she takes off her braid and untangles her hair.

Red started to stir the soup until she heard banging at her door. " Yo Red! Keep the damn music down!" It was Gren Complaining about her music. She rolls her eyes and turns off her music and headed for the front door.

" What are you doing here Gren? Shouldn't you be at work? " Red asked him when she opens the door.

Gren was about to answer her until he let's out a loud sneeze in the sleeve of his jacket. "Left early to get some rest, but I can't even sleep with your loud mu-ACHOO!" He sneezes again.

Red let's out a sigh and closes the door. "Meet me at the fire escape in 3." She said to him at the crack of the door before closing it completely. Red raided the cabinets and took out the medicine, 2 spoons and a soup container and filled it up with the chicken soup before turning off the stove. Once everything was ready she placed it all on top of the white box and started heading into her room and outside to the fire escape where Gren sitting, waiting for her and cursed at the city noises.

" Here, drink this. " she filled a spoon up with the red syrup and held it in front of Gren.

" What are you my mother? " He eyed the spoonful of medicine.

" Yes." She flatly replied. " Now take your medicine and eat your soup or no dessert for you. " she teased with a phony New Yorker accent of a strict mother.

"Ha ha, my mother don't sound like that. "

"Still has some truth to what I said though" she opened the lid to the box, showing Gren the cherry pie she has promised him. Gren raised an eyebrow and smirks.

" Haven't gotten the money for it yet. " he said to her before leaning in closer and opening his mouth. He bit down the spoon, drinking down the medicine as Red let's go, leaving it in his mouth in order to open up the lid of the chicken soup and passed it to him.

" Don't worry about the money anymore, I stole the ingredients at work since my jerk of a boss left me to run the place all morning. " she grumbles at that, rubbing her sore hands thinking about it.

" All bosses are pricks kid, don't let them get to ya." He Advised her as he blows the soup before taking a drink.

" Sad to say that wasn't the worst part of my day, the sheriff came to see me this morning. "

Gren looked at her with his mouth full of chicken broth, then swallowed hard and made a face. " What did the dog say to you? "

" Just asking me questions about last night, and pushing my buttons about the company I keep. " she spat out, her cheeks turning red of anger just thinking back at Bigby's tone.

Gren drank the whole soup, chugging it down then putting it down hard, making it 'clank' against the floor of the fire escape. " One day I'm gonna kick his ass, I swear. "

Red blinked at him with surprise. " How did you finish the whole thing without choking on the chicken bits?"

" There was chicken in here? " he asked her before taking a peek inside the soup container.

Red laughs at him and takes out the pie from the box. " Time from dessert then!" She cheers as she passes it to Gren.

" That's what I'm talking about. " he says to her as he takes a big scoop from his spoon, Red prepares her own spoon to get a scoop but Gren pulls it away from her reach. " Nuh-uh. I don't share my pies." He said with a full mouth.

" Aww come on I'm hungryyy" she wined as she reaches over to try and steal a scoop but Gren pulls away again and pretends to lick the pie, making the 'bleeeeeh' sound by doing so. " Ugh! Your like an annoying brother sometimes!" Red gave up and threw the spoon in her open window. She puffed out a sigh and lays herself down on her stomach, moaning out and made fake crying sounds before she started to crawl towards her room window.

" Where you going? "

" Must...get...food...energy...running...out..." she said to him as if she was dying

"Alright alright, I was just kidding. On the condition that we eat inside, I'm getting a headache with all this traffic noises outside. " he said to her as he gets up and steps inside his apartment window. " Oh and that you come with me to Holly's after we eat" he called out.

" Okay, let me get her pie first then so I won't forget. " Red called back as she sprang to life and rushed to her apartment. Red and Gren spent at least a half hour talking about anything that comes up as they eat, than almost a full hour of Red scolding Gren about the mess he lives in as she cleans up his place. Once done they started getting ready to head out to the Trip Trap.

Red was looking down at the last remaining pie as she opens Gren's front door. " Do you think Holly will like it? He asked Gren as she looks back at him when she steps out.

"I wouldn't worry about that, she'll eat just about anything, maybe even the wolf if were lucky. " Red laughs at that, liking the idea of sheriff Bigby getting a taste of his own medicine. Until she heard someone call her out.

" There she is sheriff! The little red twat that makes all the ruckus! "

Sheriff? Red thought to herself by the sound of the word, when she turns to face the voice who spoke out, her eyes locked yet again with Bigby.

" Red? What are you - " Bigby called her out, as she kept staring at him, wondering if he was real or not. She felt the presence of Gren behind her and say something but she was too shocked to even transfer.

What the heck is he doing here? How does he even know where i Live...Red's voice in her head repeated the last question as she kept staring in his eyes that appears to be in the same shock as she was. He knows were I live!

" Red..when...how.." Red heard him say, the only thing she can hear while everything else becomes a blur.

He's never gonna leave me alone! He's just gonna continue to be a pain!

Red felt anger leaking in by the thought, making her face hot and her hold of the box tighten. She felt Gren's hand on her as he pulls her behind him, thankful for being hidden away in order to hide her rage.

I'm not gonna let you break me wolf, not gonna let you ruin my life! .

Gren covered her head with her red hood, shielding her from Bigby's heavy eyes as he pulls her closer to him like how a protective brother would and leads her away from the 3, "Hey don't worry kid, he's not gonna get you. Holly and I will make sure of that. " she heard him say as he calls for a taxi and guides her inside.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Gren opens the door for Red as they walk into the bar, Holly serving up a drink to Woody until they both look up at the two. " Who pissed in your cereal? " Holly asked Gren while studying his face.

" long story, need a drink first" he sat down on his usual stool as Red quietly sits on the stool between Woody and Gren.

" Red? Haven't seen you in ages," Woody greeted her with a surprise look.

" How have you been Woody?" She asked as she places the box in front of her.

" Well...you know, been around. Here and there. How about yourself? I didn't know you came here."

"Red here became our new regular recently. " Holly replied crossing her arms. " Which reminds me, I need to talk to you about something. "

" Get some drinks in her first Holly, Red had a long day. " Gren spoke for her as Red said nothing. Holly and Woody looked at Gren then Red with confusion.

" What happened? " Woody spoke up first as Holly pours a drink.

" The damn wolf went to see Red at her work and apartment today, I think he's following her around. " Gren replies as he takes a shot.

"What?" Both Holly and Woody said at the same time while staring at Red. Holly passes her a drink but Red shook her head.

" I don't drink Holly, but thank you. " Red kindly refuses the alcohol.

" Take the shot kid, it'll do you some good. " she urges her, Red just looked down at it before taking a sip and started a coughing fit, feeling her throat burn.

" Taste terrible" she choked out

" Mhmm" was all Holly said as she starts to clean up the bar. "Since the sheriff is following you for some fuckin reason, you better be clear away from your new 'friends' for a while. " she looked up at Red on the friends part, throwing out clues to her meaning the Mundies.

"Wait, what friends?" Woody asked Red, catching the hint by Holly's tone. " Who have you been hanging out with? "

" With people she shouldn't be with in the first place. " Gren replies, "so stay away from them from now on or the dog is gonna sniff you out. "

"No, thanks for your concern but I'm not gonna let this ruin what I worked so hard to build! " she snapped at him, Red cared for Travis and the others too much to stop seeing them. " All I have to do is be extra careful is all. "

They all just looked at Red as she gives them a stubborn look. " I hope you know what you're doing kid, I don't want any trouble so they better not be coming back here Red, not even off your shift." Holly warned her.

Red stared at Holly for a long while and blinked, "W-wha? "

" That's right, you're gonna be working for me now. Until you pay off the jukebox your friend ruined." Holly grinned at Red.

" What! I can't work here! I have to get a job that pays! My family will ask questions if I don't show up with money, they would start to follow me again! " Red starts to panic by the very thought.

" the tips you make is what you keep, but other than that, that's the best I can do for you Red."

"Gren was the one that started it! Why doesn't he work for you too? " Red pointed towards him as if a child would play the blame game.

"He's paying me his part of the damages his own way too."

"Yeah by bleeding me dry with doubled priced drinks. " Gren grumbled as he took another shot.

Red was about to protest again until she looked down at the box in front of her and opened it up and passed it to Holly. " Can this make up for ut? I baked it just for you. "

Holly raised an eyebrow as she took the pie, then started to cut it in slices and passed a slice to Woody. She then cleaned the side of the knife with her finger, slowly so she wont cut herself and licks up the cherry filling, giving it a taste test. " Very good flavor Red, but ain't gonna cut you slack. "

" Ugh..." Red let's out a loud sigh before she banged her head on the bar table in defeat, "I'm dead..I'm so dead..."

" Look on the bright side Red, see this as an opportunity to get experience on working as a bartender or something. " Woody tried to comfort her.

Red knew Woody met well, but it didn't help her worried mind. She wished everything was simple again, not worrying about money, or rent, or secrets being revealed. The only time she ever felt that way was the time she lived in the..

The forest!

Red quickly sat up and ran to the back of the bar to check out the newspaper Holly would have. " Red what are you-" Holly asked as she moves out of the way. Red scans through each pages quickly until she sees in bold letters of front page of one news paper that's 3 days old.

"Central Park! " Red read out loud before throwing it all back and started to head out the door.

" Where you going Red we just got here? " Gren called her out.

" To go clear my head. " Red called out then slammed the door,

"'What was that all about, " Woody asked before taking a drink.

" No idea, but she could have cleaned up the mess she did. " Holly sighed as she picks up the news paper Red didn't read the entire title.

'Murder in Central Park'


I was reading back at my story and forgot to add the 2nd note, lol sorry.

Hope you liked the chapter, I was reading the Brothers Grimm version of Cinderella, where the each step sisters got one eyes poked out by doves and I was like, "omg that's awesome lol" sooo yeah.

Warning for the next chapter guys. It's bound to get real and more Bigby and Red so don't worrys.

Till next time

Xoxo