I don't know much on how the economy was back in the 80's I was born in the fall of 89 :/ all i know from what i remember growing up is that everything was cheap, so let's just say 1000 bucks is like 'holy hell' of an amount.


Chapter 13

It was just the excitement of it all...the adrenaline, Red kept saying to herself over and over as she thinks back to last night's event. She was scared, tired, and desperate, her friend's life was in danger so her body reacted fast for a distraction. So why can't she get the kiss out of her head? All morning Red has been messing up and tripping on her own feet in the bakery that her mother thought that she could be coming down with something, it was thanks to her that Mr. Gingerbread over heard her and sent her home, Red was gonna protest on the demand but her mother cut in and said that she should go home and sleep. Unfortunately for Red, sleep was the last thing in her mind.

She didn't wanted to stay home alone with her thoughts, so she called up Travis and asked what where they doing since it was Saturday. He simply replied " gonna go make money". That got her attention, so Red went home to collect her acoustic guitar and met up with her friends, she ended up helping Randy and Travis carry Cindy's paintings on the way to the 5th Avenue near Central Park while Kristen pushed a metal shopping cart full of pots and cans and other stuff from the streets.

haven't been back here in a while...not since Bigby save me..Red thought to herself as she looks around the familiar streets in the daylight, The awful memory of that night came back to her, making shudder and shake her head. come on, think of something else! she told herself, and with that command her vivid memory of the kiss went back into her head again. Aww come on, what the hell brain! Red kept scolding herself over and over again whenever her mind went there, she shook her head and let's out a sigh. am I really bothered with the fact That was my...Red couldn't finish the thought, she refuses to finish it and accept her incident with the Wolf was her first kiss.

" Hey Red, you okay? " Kristen asked her as she rested both feet on the cart and started to ride.

" She's-" Randy tried to say something but was cut short.

" I'm fine, totally fine. " Red answers quickly while glancing at Randy, he just made a face and continues to walk.

oh Randy, what am I going to do with you? She thought to herself as she stares the back of his head.

When Red arrived back at her apartment last night she found Randy cleaning her bed from the glass, she was thanking her lucky starts that Randy didn't notice anything different from the residents of the building as well as the other way around, what he picked up however was that she had to get a certain amount of money for 'rat boy' as he nicknamed Piper and that the 'owner' of the Hollow Hill Apartments was a hell of a free runner, Red had to hit herself in the head for the false title she gave to Bigby to cover up his real identity.

" How much is Rat Boy asking Red? What is he gonna do in 3 days? " Randy asked her that night.

"H-he wants 1000 dollars or he'll try to...hurt me.." Red had to lie to him on the killing bit.

"What? Is he serious? Wait till I tell Travis and Kristen about this guy Red, we'll kick-"

" No Randy! Promise me you won't tell them anything, and I mean anything! This is my burden, and violence will just make it worse! " Red begged him, he gave her an unsure look but after so much begging from Red he finally caved in and promise to keep quiet if only he'll help out with her money problem.

" This maybe your problem but theirs no way I'm gonna let you face it alone, you're the baby sister of our little family Red" was all he said as he gave her the 60 dollars he had collected from his customers, and with that promise he left home, much good it's really doing since his body language is a dead give away that he's hiding something.

" You don't seem like yourself too Randy, what's going on? " Cindy asked as she shifts her large over sized bag of art supplies up higher on her shoulder.

" I...just got a lot on my mind right now" he answers as he pauses and shifts up the two paintings he was carrying for her.

You and me both man. Red thought to herself as she let's out a sigh, she didn't have time to be having a fight with herself about a silly kiss. She had work to do, bills to pay, and 1000 dollars to collect or her mother and grandmother will get eaten by Piper's disease infested rats, and Red doesn't want to even question it if it's a bluff or not. A man who kidnapped every child of Hamelin and drowned them in the river because they didn't pay him for taking care of there rat problem. Red always thought that the entire situation was set up by Piper from the very beginning, there's just no trusting that man, and the village did just that.

Once they arrived at an empty spot Kristen started to unload the stuff and placed them the best she could until she looks up at Randy, "Do I put them anywhere or what? "

" Here I'll handle this, trade" he said to her as he hands over the paintings, he quickly shifted the stuff around and placed one buckle down as a tip jar and flipped another one over to sit on. " Let's see how this goes" he said as he pulls out his drumsticks from his big back pocket and started to bang the pots and buckets as he sits himself down, the people who were passing by quickly stopped and looked in awe as his loud banging soon became a rhythm of the streets.

" sounds good" Cindy says as the nod their heads with the beat.

" Yep, I can work with this. " He said without stopping, "see you guys later. "

They all waved him goodbye as the rest continues to search for their own spot, next was Cindy who found herself a nice spot for advertising her paintings, so she took out her fold up table from the cart and started setting up as the rest puts her paintings on display with a sign that says "Speed Painter".

Next was Kristen who set down her own boom box and added her own mix tape, "good luck guys, see ya" she waves goodbye then starts to stretch her limbs as she prepares to dance.

Finally it was just Red and Travis alone with their acoustic guitars, "you think we'll do good? "Red asked with concern.

Travis reaches for her hand and gave it a kiss "we'll do great, come on, let's find us a spot. " he said to her as they continued walking while holding hands. After they walked for like 20 minutes they found themselves a good spot with full of people and away from the other performers, Travis sets down the last tip jar from the cart and took off his guitar and starts to check if it's tune. " You ready? " He asks her when he was done.

Red takes a deep breath then nodded at him, Travis smiles and starts to play 'Where is my mind', Red follows him with her guitar as he starts to sing the first verse, catching onlookers with the sound of his smooth voice.

"With your feet on the air and your head on the ground

Try this trick and spin it, yeah,

Your head will collapse, But there's nothing in it, And you'll ask yourself

Where is my mind?

Where is my mind? "

Red's mind suddenly went to Bigby again by the chorus Travis sang, catching her by surprise, her hands tingled as she remembers the feel of his hair when she wrapped her arms wrapped around him, when her slim fingers combed through his dark brown hair, a spark ran up her spine when she remembers the feeling of her lips touching his in that brief moment, making her heart suddenly pound against her chest.

" Where is my mind?

Wayyyy out in the water, see it swimming"

Travis continues until it was Red's turn to sing. He gave her a little nudge with his elbow, causing her to come back to reality, she quickly cleared her throat and started to sing her next verse.

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

It was getting dark, the park was close to being abandoned as Travis and Red started to pack up. Red placed her guitar in the shopping cart then reaches down for the tip jar. Once in her hands Travis scoops her up bridal style and spins her around, making her giggle out loud.

" You have the most amazing voice I have ever heard in my entire life! " He says to her when he stopped with the spinning, he gave her a kiss on the cheek and puts her down in the cart.

" You're amazing too you know, it's not just me" she said to him, making him grin then pull on her red boots that were sticking out, making her gasp and giggle, "Hey now, leave the boots alone" she says with amusement.

" Yeah, yeah. You women and your shoes" he teases her as he starts to make his way in search of their friends while pushing her in the cart.

Red looks up at his face and smiles then reaches into the bucket to stack up the money and starts to count as Travis gives a push and starts to get a ride from the cart as well. " I can't believe we made so much, all I see is five dollar bills, a lot of ones and woo! I found two twenties! "

" Gotta count first babe, then we celebrate" he reminds her as he puts his feet back down on the ground.

" That's what I'm doing silly, " Red sticks her tongue out at him before going back to the cash. Travis smirks down at her with gently brushes a lock of her hair from her face.

" I see you're finally wearing the pendant I gave you" he says to her as he rest his hand on her cheek, Red glances down and starts to blush.

" I always had it with me, it's my good luck charm. Seems like it has more effect when I wear it though"

" Well I'm glad it's of use to you then" he says as he moves the cart around a curve of the park sidewalk.

" even if it wasn't my good luck charm, I'd still have it with me, it's from you. I'm never gonna get rid of it"

" You wanna know what's my good luck charm? " Travis said to her while slowing down the cart.

" Oh what is it? " Red asks without looking up from the money.

"You..." Red pauses as the single word sank in, she looks up at his face as he stares down with serious eyes, no longer pushing the cart.

" Travis..." she whispers to him but he leans in and gives her a gentle kiss. The kiss was a bit awkward, due for Travis leaning over Red as she looks up, but she still saw sparks nonetheless. If she had to admit it to herself, Bigby may have been the first person she kissed but this moment for her was her first true kiss. It made her heart pump and her palms sweaty, it made her want him more. Once Travis pulled his lips away he stares into her eyes.

" I love you Red " he whispers to her as he starts to caress her cheek.

And that ruined the magic moment.

Red felt her sweaty trembling hands still and her breath stuck in her throat. She quickly stood up but completely forgot where she was and tumbled over and out of the cart, bringing it down with her as she lands hard to the ground.

"Red?! Are you okay? " Travis rushed to her side but Red pushed his hands away as a reflects.

"No, uh I mean yes! I i mean I'm sorry! I didn't mean to-"

"it's okay, Don't worry about it. Here let me help you up" he tries to calm her down but Red quickly gets up on her feet on her own and brushes her red coat with her scraped hands.

" Oh the money! " Red calls out as she points to the fallen bucket. Travis quickly picks up all the cash and stacks it up neatly and rolls it up, he Then removed the rubber band that held his short ponytail up, and tied it around the rolled up cash before handing it over to her.

"Here, take it.."

Red blinked at his hand and shook her head, "I wasn't finished counting though, we have to split it. so far I was up to 70-"

"I know you're in trouble Red" he interrupted her, making her gasp.

"I - I'm not in trou-"she tries to protest but Travis kept on talking.

"Randy told the girls a bullshit lie, but he told me everything, the neighborhood you live in, how the guy threaten you for money...We didn't do this today to make money for ourselves Red, we did it for you. "

Red brought her hands to her lips, hiding her open mouth as she takes it all in. her green emerald eyes became shiny like glass as tears filled them in to the point of rolling down her cheeks. " Travis..."

"I..I don't know why you never told us where you live, or how bad you have it, but I shouldn't really be surprised..it's just like you to look out for us...I don't really like this idea, of giving him the money. But I trust you and will do as you say on this..." he walked closer to her and placed the money in her hand as he caressed her cheek. " But after you give this guy the money, you're going to move in with me. I want you out of that place Red, I want to take care of you... "

A small sob escapes her trembling lips as Travis pulls her in for a hug, he rubs her back to soothe her cries then tilts her head up and gives her another kiss. Red felt blessed, she felt honored, she was grateful to have such wonderful friends like them, a man that loves her, even though she was terrified of the emotion, even though he shouldn't love her at all. She has danced around the dangers of being close to Mundies all for the sake of freedom, yet because of that she has gained more than freedom, she found a family. A family that was willing to do anything...which Is why it was that much harder for her...

"No..." she whispers to him as she pulls away

Travis looked at her with eyes that was filled with heartbreak, "No?"

Red silently nodded as she places the money back in his hands, "No" she repeated again as she shook her head. Red quickly turned away and started to walk away, leaving Travis alone in the dark as her heart grows heavy with pain. She may need money but she refused to drag her only mundy friends in on this mess of a fable's problems, she wants to get the money without dirtying other people's hands. If anything has to get dirty, it should be her owns...

XxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxX

paperwork...mountains and mountains of paperwork, same old thing every day. Except today was a little different, Bigby couldn't keep Red out of his mind.

It was nothing new to him that the girl in red made herself at home in his head for weeks, but now the lingering feeling of her lips occupied his mind as well. Bigby was sitting at his desk in his office, bouncing his leg and tapping his pen on the documents he should be working on. He tries to focus on the black ink that shape like words and tries to note the ones circled in yellow highlighter, but green eyes and red lips would come into mind to break his concentration.

"Fuck this" he grunted out frustration as he pushes himself up from the chair. He rubs his face with his rough hands and let's out a sigh, he didn't understand why it was bothering him so much. it was just a kiss, a small, meaningless stupid kiss. "I was drunk, that's why it hit me so hard... and i haven't gotten kissed in a while...that's gotta be it." he said to himself to help put a stop to this torture,

He fixes his tie as he looks up at his calendar on the wall, today's date was circled in red with a note saying 'Release Jack'.

'Shit, forgot it was today. " he looks up at the clock and sees it was just passed 5, Bigby was supposed to let him go in the morning. "God damn it" he cursed again as he pullsout the keys from his drawer.

He made It down to where the cells were and saw a pissed off Jack pacing around, the blonde haired fable glanced up and went to stand in front of the door. " What the hell sheriff? You said you were gonna release me this morning, I had shit to do you know! "

"Calm down, I had other things to take care of. I came here as fast as I could. " said Bigby to try to smooth things out, he unlocks the cellar door and opens it wide as Jack heads out.

"You know you should really get your shit together Bigby, then you would have let me out on time" Jack complained

"Or I should leave you here for another night, do you prefer that? " Bigby asks while crossing his arms, Jack crease his forehead and raises up his hands.

"Okay, okay. There's no need" Bigby grabbed him by the collar of his shirt and forcefully turns him around then pushes his back.

"Come on, I'm escorting you out of here"

"Wha? you think I can't find my way out of here? " he asks as he raises an eyebrow.

"Do you prefer for me to DRAG your ass out? "

"escort sounds good" Jack said to Bigby with nervousness, they both started heading up the stairs and out the door and stopped at the gates.

"Stay out of trouble Jack, you don't want me to catch you again"

"Right right, don't worry. " He waves it off as he walks out, Jack tilts his head and greets Snow as she goes through the gates herself As he continues to walk on his way.

"I thought Jack was supposed to be released this morning" she said to Bigby as she walks up to him.

"Yeah well, I lost track of time" Bigby answered as he scratches his cheek.

Snow looks at him with worry and shakes her head, "been working hard as always Bigby, haven't you" she calls him out.

"I'm alright" he tries to push the subject to the side, knowing well that it wasn't hard work that made him lose track of time, it was because he got distracted by thinking about Red.

"No you're not alright, you look terrible Bigby. you really need to take some time for yourself, rest up, maybe even have some fun out or something" Snow says to him. She shifted the strap of her purse and started to head to the entrance, Bigby raised up an eyebrow and thought of an idea.

"You know what Snow, you're right. I should go out and have some fun" he says to her, Snow stops midway and looks back at Bigby and smiles.

"See that's the spirit"

"And you're coming with me" he said to her, Snow's eyebrows rose up in surprise. " How about we go to the movies together, my treat"

Snow was about to deny his offer than paused and thought for a moment, "There is this new movie I really wanna go see" she confessed with a smile.

Bigby smirks back and holds out his arm, "Let's go, " Snow smiles again and takes his arm as they both head out the gates together.


It's taking so long to get to the good parts I know! I just like writing slow burner fanfics :3 sorry, I also got a bunch of new ideas and fables I wanna introduce so stick around!

This chapter was kinda of like a tribute to all the awesome street performers out there, there's so many different talents and art that everyone should look it up at least once. I looked up some videos as examples of what I'm talking about, do take the time to enjoy them.

As for 'Free Running' comment from Randy, it's an urban sport that I think originally came from the UK. Not to sure, all I know is that it's amazing. I couldn't find the original video I saw that introduced me to FR years back but this is the same video nonetheless.

Hope you guys enjoyed the chapter, tune in next time for Bigby and Snow's date! Plus, Red gets a little help from a certain someone on her money problems. Oh noz!

Oh and btw, I love reviews, they what feed my confidence and I am truly grateful to the ones who do leave me one, but for the ones with 'guest' or no name, come on guys. I got something special cooking up for you guys and I need Le names D:

These videos don't belong to me, they belong to there respected owners.

Cindy: watch?v=flXP8T4lKYE

Randy: watch?v=pkOgTrFx8Ic

Kristen: watch?v=devZwn6tSuQ

Travis and Red song they played: watch?v=qrdpliMfoAM

Free Running, PLEASE don't try these at home: watch?v=yCoFSmqnIjI