Chapter 11

Who ever said it was a good idea to have the man who saved your life sit in a bar next to the wolf who ate you up. Nobody, cause it was only common sense not to even have them under the same roof together with the former damsel in distress caught in the middle.

The entire bar fell silent when Bigby entered the bar after Red, all chatter died down and eyes shifted to them. Woody's eyes however were the most dangerous looking one in the room, making Red realize that this could get ugly fast if it goes south.

" Take a seat and I'll serve you a drink Mr. Wolf..." She said in a calm voice as she starts to clean up an empty table, Bigby pulls out a chair and Sits himself down as he glances around the bar then to Red as she picks up the empty bottles.

" I'll have a Midas Gold," he casually said.

Red nods and heads up to the bar while feeling the heavy eyes on her. She started to pour the drink and placed it on a tray when Holly came up to her. " Red, mind telling me why the wolf is in my bar? " she asked with a low hiss

Red grabbed a dish cloth as she looks up at her and shrugs, "even wolves need a drink from the watering hole "

" Rather have him die of thirst" Woody joined in with a hint of anger in his voice, Red could tell right away he was holding most of it back. She threw the cloth over her shoulder and reached out for Woody's hand.

" Hey relax hun, he'll be gone before you'll know it. I don't want him here anymore than you do" Red let's go of his hand but he grabs it back and pulls her closer to his face.

" I don't want you near the wolf Red, he's dangerous" he whispers to her as he glares back at Bigby, Red looks back at the wolf as well and sees his eyes staring intensely at them, not happy with seeing Woody and her so close together.

" I'll be fine Woody, I have you here to protect me right?" She tries to humor him as she playfully grabs his chin and lightly shook his head before heading back to Bigby. She quickly wipes up the table and places his beer down, " anything else sheriff? "

Bigby broke his dark gaze at Woody and looks back up to her, "Yeah, keep me company. " he said to her making Red blink with surprise. She glanced back at Woody to see his teeth clench then back to Bigby

"Sorry, can't while working"

" How about when you're done then? I'll wait for you "

"It's gonna be a long wait" she warns him in order to dismiss the thought in his mind, but Bigby simply leans back on the chair, making it squeak and lit up a cigarette. Wordlessly telling her that he's not going anywhere.

Red went back to the bar while eyeing Woody who's not even bothering to hide his dislike of Bigby, he for sure as heck didn't like what he said about waiting. Red tried to ignore it and just continues on to work by pouring drinks and maintaining the bar, time flew by due to the rush of serving crazy amount of drunken fables. The Trip Trap slowly became empty as fables decide to go home, whether because they were too drunk to continue, had work, or where scared of the wolf among the sheep.

It was now only Holly, Woody, 3 other fables and Bigby who never moved from his spot. "Go clean the tables while I take care of the bar" Holly ordered as she starts to clean the bar, Red nodded and grabbed a tray and cloth and started whipping down the first table.

" Where did you get that choker? " Bigby asked out loud, Red glanced at him and caressed the pendant as she blushes, she looks away from his eyes and glances at the mess he made on his table that had 4 empty mugs of beer and a full ashtray. By the look on his posture Red can tell he was buzzing.

" I bought it...thought it looked pretty..." she said as she thinks back at her mundy crush. Red continued to clean the tables in order to hide from the wolf so he won't figure out the lie.

" Looks beautiful on you" he commented on the pendant as his eyes stares at her neck. " Though to be honest it looks kinda strange looking at myself in jewelry"

"You should see the Halloween costumes they have, the wolf ones are dressed up like pimps"

Bigby chuckles at that as Red hides her own amusement of the thought of having the real big bad wolf in a pimp suit. " For how long have you been working here Red?" He asked, changing the subject.

"Like 3 weeks? I think, lost track" she replied then went back to cleaning and went to the next table.

Bigby flicked some ashes in to the tray As he kept his eyes on her. " Bakery wasn't enough? "

" Not with a boss like Mr. Gingerbread, practically a slave working there" she said with a fuss, "but..it's what pays the bills"

" Why not get a better job? Better than these jobs" he gestures his hand around, as if saying to have a look around.

Red stops at the last table and rests her hand on her hip. " You think it's that easy looking for jobs I want? " she asks with annoyance of what he suggested.

"Never said you'd look for one alone" he held her gaze as he took another drag.

Red steps up in front of Bigby's table and studies his expression of his face, trying to figure him out. " Why are you suddenly interested in me? You never leave me alone and you just pop out of nowhere, why stay here for hours just to have me 'keep you company' "

Bigby exhales the smoke he held on and puts out the cigarette. " you'd make a hell of a detective with all your questions"

" I'm serious, you can cut the jokes and answer them"

"All I wanna do is get on your good side Red, we all came to the mundy world to get a second chance, and I'm-"

"If you think you can earn Red's grace just by being nice to her you got another thing coming wolf! " Woody cut into the conversation as he got up from his stool, he grabbed Red's shoulders and pulled her back with a little more force then he intended to. A squeak of surprise came out of Red by the impact.

uh oh..please don't butt in with your drunken state! Red thought as she glanced up at Woody, his words were slurred and his breath smell of alcohol.

"How about minding your own fuckin business Woody! This is between me and Red" Bigby growled out between his teeth.

" Well now it's between you and me! So leave Red alone! "

"Oh my hero" Red quietly said to herself while rolling her eyes but Bigby still caught it, by the look he glanced at her, Bigby didn't like it very much. He let's out a low growl as he gets up on his feet and glared down at Woody.

"Hey sheriff! If you and Woody want to kill each other, take it outside! " Holly yelled out, getting pissed off to the point of getting out of her glamour, revealing her true forum.

feeling the tension rise the remaining fables in the bar ran out, fearing of getting caught in a crossfire. Red clicked her tongue and scoffed off to the situation. "Can't you guys give it a rest already? My god what is it with Fables stepping up to 'defend my honor' like as if were still in our damn homeland! " Red waved around her hands in a hysterical manner then grunts out in frustration between the two fables, she grabbed the tray from the table and rushed to the Bar to throw away the bottles.

" Red, you know I was just trying-" Woody said after her but got interrupted.

" Ah bah bah bah! I don't wanna hear it Woody! I know you saved me and my grandmother in the passed and I'm forever grateful to you because of it, but I am not yours to be defending for! " she said while forcing down the tray, Red folded the wash cloth and glared at Bigby, " and YOU Wolf, I don't know what your deal is but trying to be buddies with me ain't happening! Thanks for saving me and all those two times but it's still not going to change my mind about you, I still hate your guts sheriff! " Red was fuming mad and threw the cloth to his face and grabbed her coat.

" You're more trouble than your worth kid" Holly said to Red while eyeing the two speechless fables and tabbing her crossed arms with her claw.

" Surprises myself too Holly, you should fire me."

"Not a chance Red " Holly glances at her and smirks at her attempt.

Red smirks back as she puts on her pea hooded coat, she collects her rolled up money and pockets it as she passes Holly and packs her on the back. " I'll see you tomorrow night Holly, and screw you guys, I'm going home. " Red shot back at both Woody and Bigby as she walks pass them while flipping the bird.

Woody rubs the back of his neck, looking guilty by the outburst from Red, putting him in his place. " I'm heading out too...sick at staring at this fuckin wolf.." he shook his head and started heading out. " See you around Holly" Woody zipped up his checkered jacket and headed out the door, leaving Bigby alone in the bar with Holly, with a scolded look on his face.

He sighed and rubbed his eyes while getting out his wallet "Gimme one more Midas Gold and I'll be out of your hair..." he sat down on a stool and placed the money down, Holly looks down at the cash and back at Bigby, with an unsure look on her face.

" I better not see you here again after this sheriff" she said to him as she pours a drink, after she sets it down Holly goes to the back room, not even bothering to stick around for small talk.

Bigby sat there staring at the bottom of the mug, getting lost in thought about what happened tonight here. I should give up on this shit, if Red wants nothing to do with me I should just leave it as that...He thought to himself as he raises his glass. And it was true, every time he goess one step forward then shit happens that throws him two steps back, he was just getting tired of it.

" Can't say that I didn't try..." he said to himself as he drinks up to that. Holly barged out of the door and started muttering to herself while folding a white dress with red buttons, catching Bigby's eyes by the familiarity.

" Damn it Red, you're gonna get your ass in trouble" she spoke to herself while placing the dress in a paper bag and grabs her jacket. " You better get the hell out of here sheriff, bars closing. "

" Red's uniform, " he asked already knowing the answer.

" Yeah, she forgot it so I gotta take it to her or she won't have nothing for tomorrow" Holly placed the bag down on the bar and kneels down to collect her things.

It could have been the 5 beers he had, it could have been because he wanted to one up Woody after Red called him her 'hero', he'll it could have been because deep down Bigby didn't wanted to give up on trying, despite the facts he said to himself. He took one more quick drink from his beer, finishing it up before he grabbed the paper bag and storms out the bar to find Red.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

Red was freezing by the time she made it to her ghetto apartment building, she walks into the building and started to rub her hands together for friction as she walks up towards the mail and sees a sticky note on her mailbox.

" Red, When you see this note come visit me, ASAP! -Piper" Red sighs and face palms herself by the note, "When can I get a break" she asks out loud as she starts heading up the stairs. Her legs started to ache as she reaches the 5th floor but sighs in relief by the sight of the apartment number above the door, Red never really comes up to the top floor due to the smell but she would rather get things over with before things would get out of hand like a rat infestation at her home, Red covers her nose and knocks 3 times at the door.

" Come in" said a man inside, Red turns the know and lightly pushes the door, making it squeak as it slowly opens itself for her. Her skin started to crawl in disgust by the sight of the rat infested apartment, critters were running all over the floor, there was droppings everywhere and a large over size nest in th corner of the room.

oh gross..Red mentally said to herself as she slowly walks inside, watching on where she steps to avoid poop and scattering rats. " Hello? Piper you here? " she calls out, Red hears the sound of music from a flute instrument in the far corner of the kitchen. She carefully steps towards the location of the music while calling out again. " Hello? "

"Over here child" said a man as he pauses his music before continuing. Red turns to the corner of the counter kitchen and sees a tall skinny man with black matted hair and dark eyes sitting on the floor playing the wooden pipe, he had rats all on his lap while two were on his shoulder and one on his head, all just relaxing on the dirty mouse looking fable as he continues to play the same melody over and over.

"Pied Piper..." Red spoke his name while still holding her nose.

He stops playing his pipe and starts to pet the two rats on his shoulder, "Hello dear Red, so glad you got my note" he said to her as he smiles, exposing his two large front teeth.

" How could I not? You had it on my mailbox" Red reminded him while showing off the crumpled up sticky note. "I don't have a lot of time for chitchat Piper, I'm tired and want to go home so tell me what this is about? "

Pipers grin turned into a frown "home? That's all you care about? Home?!" He asked her with a demanding tone. " All of my friends get tired to of the day and yearn to come home too you know! " He says to her as he gestures to his rats he speaks of. "One little friend in particular is little Thomas the 3rd! A very good friend of mine that never came home last night! " He started to shout as he gets up, making all of the rats fall from his lap.

Red tries to hide her disgust and dodge the rats as they started to run around the tiny kitchen floor. " What does that have got to do with me? "

Piper gets the shoe box that was on the kitchen counter and opens the lid to show her a large dead rat as he starts to cry, "it has everything to do with you since it was YOUR damn cat that killed poor Thomas! " He cries out.

Red shrieks out and steps back, causing her to jump up and scream by the sound of a rat shrieking who's tail she stepped on. " How would you even know it was my Aiden? What if it was another cat?"

" I know it was him! I'm sure of it! And there's no way you're gonna squirm out of this Red!" He started screaming as tears continues to pour. All of the rats in the apartment started to circle around Red, making fear grow inside her.

" Well what the hell do you want me to do about it! " she yells out as the circle around her closes in on her.

Piper wipes his big runny nose and looks down at his little filthy friends and back at her, " you have to pay us for Thomas ' funeral, plus for our pain and suffering so you better cough up 1000 dollars! "

"What?! That's crazy I don't have that kind of money! " Red said with shock on her face, she knows that this man was crazy but this was crossing the line.

" I don't care! I don't care how you do it but you better get the money in 3 days or I'm gonna have my friends eat you and your family alive while you sleep! " He threatens as he steps closer to her.

" You can't do that! That's not possible to-" Red tries to protest but stops and screams as the rats started to climb on her shoes and coat. She felt a rat jump on her shoulder, making her grab it and throw it across the kitchen, she runs towards the door, slamming her body as she looks back and sees Piper walking towards her with the rats following him, Red struggles with the doorknob and starts to bang the door with her fist to get it loose until she finally opens it and ran out the apartment, causing her to lose balance and fall in the hallway.

"3 days Red, or you and your family will face the same fate poor Thomas faced!" He yelled out before slamming the door.

Red leans against the wall with her knees to her chest as she covers her face with her shaky hands. A small sob came out of her as she shook her head. "What the hell...where am I gonna get the money? " she asked herself as her thoughts ran a hundred miles, this has turned out to be a terrible night for Red and there really is nothing that can make it worse...

" When you said you live in a rat hole, didn't expect it to be so literally" A familiar voice said to her, making her freeze completely and the growing fear she had inside transformed into pure terror. Red looked up from her hands and stared at him with wide eyes. " You sure look surprise as hell to see me here." He says as he waves at her then reaches for her hand to pick her up.

No, no freaking way this is real. This CAN'T be real! she thought to herself as she stares at his light blue eyes. " Randy?!"


hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, we have a mundy in the fable house! Oh noz! Stay tuned to see what happens, D:

Till next time.

-Nelly

P.s.

I'm starting to notice I have been losing some faves and followers since I have changed the rating to M. I like to apologize to those who have lost interest and would like to know what reasons you guys have, I know I'm not the best writer in the world, writing was never my best subject in class to be honest, but I like to hear both the good AND the bad from you guys, instead of having me here scratching my head as to what I'm doing wrong.

If it's due to lack of writing skills, let me know so I can better myself. If it's due to the sexual content I have been adding, please let me know. I do have a one shot fanfic of Bigby Red called 'Seeing Red Again' that I can start to continue it so I can throw all the smut there as a alternative choice or something. If you got no reason and just got bored with it I'm sorry and I hope you will find a fanfic that will fit better for you, can't please everyone I guess. :c

Anyways, as for the rest of the fans, thank you all for sticking around and commenting on my story. I'm so grateful for the support and honored to have my story part of your favs and follows.

My one shot

s/10265424/1/Seeing-Red-Again