A/N: Prompt on this one were a series of words: garden path, bird bath and red rose. Something came to mind about another 'what if' situation on where a very young Red first meets Jiminy. This is not a romance; it's more of an exploration of first meetings. Enjoy.

"Garden Path"

"I can't believe your handiwork!" Widow Lucas cooed at the block of wood slowly becoming the likeness of a young boy. She ran a few fingers over the small face, "Your boy is going to be quite a handsome young man."

"Everything I have ever wanted, he will be," Gepetto smiled in pride, "He won't be finished for years yet."

There was a small yet hard tug on Widow Lucas's skirt and she looked down at the small six year old girl at her side, "Yes, Red?"

"Are we going to be going soon?" Red asked with a pout.

"Not much longer, Red," she reassured her granddaughter and turned back to her long time friend, "How many years do you think?"

"Probably not until Little Red grows to a young woman," the friendly toy maker chuckled.

Red turned her attention to other things as the adults began to talk about things like the sudden death of the queen. From what she knew Princess Snow White was her age, maybe a bit older. As the talk turned to yet another boring topic, Red's eyes caught sight of a garden path that wrapped around the side of the toy maker's home. She took a glance at her granny and knew that her' not much longer' was going to last much too long. She sighed when her granny laughed with her friend and made up her mind. Without a word the little girl, still clad in a much too large red cloak, walked from the two adults and down the garden path.

Unseen by the young girl and the two adults, a small green form jumped from the overhanging roof and flew toward the garden.

The young Red jumped from rock to rock on the path and hummed a song to herself. She spun around the small bird bath toward the middle of the garden and scared the birds from the lip of the bath. She then stopped at every flower and greeted them between her breaks in the song.

"Hello, Mister Daffodil," she pursed her lips and turned her head to the side, "And to you Miss Red Rose. You and I have a color in common."

"Along with natural beauty."

Red gasped and turned back to the daffodils, "I have only heard of flowers talking. Alice told me it only happened in a place she called Wonderland. I thought that she made it up."

"Well, Wonderland may be just a dream filled with talking flowers, but I am no flower," a smartly dressed cricket came into view and bowed at Red.

Unsure of what to do, Red yelped at his sudden appearance. At her yelp he jumped back and right into the bird bath. He quickly climbed out of the water and shook out his clothing. As he shook off his umbrella he heard the light laughter of a child.

Red giggled and leaned toward Jiminy who was balancing on the bird bath, "I am sorry, Mister Cricket. I was not expecting you any more than I was expecting a Wonderland flower."

"It is quite all right, Miss Lucas," he waved a reassured hand at her, "Please call me Jiminy."

"You have a nice name, Jiminy," she giggled again.

"Thank you," he bowed, "I heard your grandmother call you Red?"

"It's my favorite color," she nodded enthusiastically, "It's also my name. Momma named me Red before she died."

"It suits you then," he was happy to see that the thought of her mother didn't make her sad.

"I like picking names," she said and sat next to the bird bath so that she was looking up at him. Something that he was definitely not used to. She looked up at the sky and began to name off different names that she could think of, "I like names. Gepetto was listing off names the other day for Granny. Trying to name his puppet."

"I heard. There are quite a few that he is looking at."

"I like Pinocchio," she said suddenly and looked at him again.

"We will see."

"Do you know Gepetto?" she asked and whispered at him loudly, "You know, this is his garden."

Jiminy laughed at her curiosity, "Yes, he is my best friend. Much like your friend Alice."

"Alice isn't my best friend," Red frowned and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Oh?"

"She's ten and too old to be bothered by me," Red said as if she was mimicking someone who had told her that before. He little head dropped to watch her shoe scuff against the soft grass, "I don't have friends."

"That can't be true," Jiminy flicked off the last of the water from his wings and flew in front of her face, "You are quite a pleasant and wonderful young lady."

"Granny and I move a lot," Red sighed, "Ever since momma and daddy died, we've always moved. We're moving from here too. Granny says so."

Jiminy watched the young girl's eyes begin to water. His heart tore for her. He let out a deep breath and landed on her crossed arms. He patted one hand and she looked down at him, "If you would like, Miss Lucas… I will be your friend."

"But I will be leaving," she said again and felt her throat tighten.

"Doesn't matter," Jiminy shook his head and flew up to be eye level with her, "Friends are friends no matter how far apart we are."

"Will I see you again?" her voice cracked with tears.

"I promise," he nodded and touched her nose with his small hand, "I always keep my promises."

"Then you are my friend," Red nodded and giggled, tears immediately forgotten.

"Where are you going?" Jiminy suddenly asked, "Maybe I can come to visit you."

"Somewhere safe," she nodded.

"Red?" Granny's voice called out, "It's time to go, child!"

"You are going to see me again, right?" she asked quickly and then pointed at him as if she was scolding him, "You promised."

"I will see you again," he reassured her and she smiled before she ran off after her grandmother's voice.

Soon, Jiminy came out and landed on Gepetto's shoulder. The two friends watched the two Lucas females make their way down the road.

"Where did you go off to?" Gepetto asked Jiminy.

"I went to meet a friend," Jiminy answered and kept his eyes on how Red held the extra material of her extra large cape and hood, "Did Widow Lucas say where they were heading?"

"Back to where Red was born. Haven't been there since she was a baby, but it's a small hunting community. Close knit. Something that the little girl needs."

"She'll make friends," Jiminy sighed in relief.

"Yes," Gepetto nodded and turned to his masterpiece, "Now, I must make a decision. What to name my boy…"

"I like Pinocchio," Jiminy echoed Red's words from earlier, his eyes straining to see her disappearing form.

"Pinocchio," Gepetto smiled and said it in a warm tone, "Great choice, my friend."

END