The final chapter to Familiar And Freedom, thank you all for the reviews and favourites. It means so much to me that you enjoyed it. This will be my first ever multiple chapter story I completed. Hopefully it won't be the last. I plan to work on another Wolf among us fanfic that also stars Bloody Mary :), some of you might know it as "A kick in the teeth is good for some," I plan to continue that one-shot. Now without further ado please enjoy the final chapter of this tale.

Fresh ending

Chipped nail polish fingers tapped against an eggshell white coffee mug. Wishing she had more time to prepare herself but due to recent lack of sleep from excitement and worry that caused her to stay up later then intended. Beauty would has fixed up her nails if she had the chance, but that slipped by her... like many things.

This whole... journey, gave her the insight she needed on her life. Bringing the white mug of coffee to her lips, the bitter taste of the hot drink soon traveled down her throat.

Indeed, she needed a view on her life, HER life. Not Beast's, not Bloody Mary's, just her. Beauty needed to think just about her life and her life only, herself, she had to stop thinking about herself as a pair, whether it was with Beast, Mary, or any other Fable that dwelled in the world. She had to start thinking about herself, just herself for once. What was best for her, not what would please everyone else.

A quiet sigh from her echoed through the small diner, it's been a rough and hard few days... but she wouldn't 't change a thing about it... Well maybe the part about Beast getting thrown out a window by Bloody Mary... but other than that this was the experience that open her eyes.

Who was she kidding? Her marriage had been anything but happy for the longest of whiles. Beast would always hold a place that was near and dear to her heart. They shared good memories and they would always remembered them. But in the end the past and present are completely difference things, although similar they don't link up and connect to her present right now. Beauty and Beast were happy in the past, but in the present they weren't, with that being said the future seemed like something Beauty didn't desire to explored.

And then there was Mary...

There was no doubt in her mind that Bloody Mary lived a life everyone yearned for. A life that had no chains to be chained down with, no rules and restrictions that held her back from doing what was fun. It was a good life she wanted, and she was lucky to experience that for a little while, and get a taste of the freedom we all want. But Bloody Mary was no saint, hell Mary was the furthered thing from a saint you could get, although very charming and had a very suave witty personally... that could never excuse her for all the pain and suffering Mary had caused to this town.

"More coffee?" offered a red haired waitress with bright blue eyes.

Slowly a weak smile cracked from her lips. "Of course..." The waitress poured her around cup of coffee then left to tend to the rest of her customers. After adding a packet of Sugar to the coffee she sipped at it again, hoping the caffeine would awake her from the lack of sleep the blonde woman had gotten. Beauty was up all night in her god awful apartment, tossing and turning. This choice... unlike the other two were not very well though out... but then again neither were the other two. How would she even get Beast or Mary to talk to her? No way in hell would Beauty go to the lucky pawn, and Beast haven't answered her calls at all. But she wouldn't know, maybe if chose one of them she could think of something.

The thing is... she chose neither of them. Beauty planned to keep both of them in her heart, just not her life. She could never live with herself if she picked one of them to spend the rest of her life with... So here she was, neither of them by her side as Beauty sat in the diner. However she wouldn't be alone at all, it was just a matter of waiting for the right Fable to turn up. Bringing the mug to her lips once more she took another sip, this place wasn't known for its food, but it sure as hell had great coffee at dirt cheap prices.

After one last long sip a pair of footsteps echoed in the nearly empty diner. Beauty's head perked up as Snow White walked over to the booth and sat across from her. A weak smiled spread from her plump, glossy lips. Here she was, Snow White, just the Fable she needed to to talk too as well as discuss certain matters with.

"Hey..." Beauty greeted weakly shifting in her seat.

"Hey Beauty, it's nice to see you again... On better terms." Snow greeted back. Once again the waitress came.

"Can I offer you anything? " the waitress asked.

"Just a small coffee." Snow informed. The mundy waitress nodded and left to retrieve a coffee mug.

Beauty tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ears. "Yeah, it's nice to see you on much better terms... kind of." her tone sounded rather meek, Snow raised an eye brow at her.

"Is... Is everything okay Beauty? If it's about the debt your in we're doing everything we can to ensure Fables can get the help they need." the waitress returned with a white mug and filled it was a generous amount of coffee. "Thank you."

"No problem." the young waitress who's name tag read 'Mallory 'replied then left the two to attend to other customers.

"Beauty... what's going on?" asked Snow. Her blue eyes clouded with worry for the young woman.

"Me and Beast are separating... Chances are it's going to end in a divorce." saying that made her feel uneasy, like there was a lump clogging up her chest... but she finally said it out loud.

Her black eye brows raised in shock, a hand covered her red lips which hung open upon hearing the dreadful news. "Oh my... I'm sorry Beauty... are you sure your getting a divorce? I mean you two fought before-"

"It's over Snow, I just can't do it anymore..." Beauty confessed glancing down at her cup. "I just can't keep pretending it's going to work out... I've been pretending for centuries...it's time to stop.

"I'm sorry Beauty... I know what's it's like." Snow reached out and touched Beauty's shoulder, referring to own divorce with Prince Charming.

"It's fine, I'm hoping things go over smoothly..." she sighed. "But that's not why I called you here, I didn't call you to vent." her heart felt like it would burst from beating so rapidly. After gulping loudly she lifted her head and looked at Snow White. "I... I called you for a different reason."

The deputy mayor crossed her legs and raised an eye brow at Beauty. "And that reason is?"

Beauty took a deep breath, she has known Snow White for centuries, this situation shouldn't be anything different just because the woman sitting across of her was now deputy mayor.

"I...I was wondering if it was possible ... If I could get a job working for Fabletown office." Beauty finally manage to say.

Snow's bright blue eyes widen in surprise. An eerie moment of silence passed between the two women. The deputy mayor lost in though as Beauty just sat there, twiddling her thumbs. This was a lot to ask for, it wasn't like a child asking for a cheap chocolate bar... This was a full grown adult asking for something not so simple. A job would keep her from being stuck in debt and being homeless... It was know she wished she pawned that necklace Bloody Mary gave her instead of flushing it down the toilet... It may not had been a wise choice, but Beauty couldn't live with that constant reminder of the cruel woman.

Snow took a long sip of coffee, after setting the mug on the oak table Snow then stared at Beauty. "Beauty-"

"I-I know it's a lot to ask for... But hear me out, Since you taken on the role deputy mayor... I figured you could use some help." her tone was meek, too meek for her own liking. "I'll clean the office, run errands... I'll do whatever it takes, I need the money more then ever." Her pleading eyes stated staring into Snow's eyes. She needed this... this was her last chance, Beauty had to find a way to start fresh and support herself. "Snow, please... I need help more then ever right now. I dug myself into a hole that I can't climb out of... Please , I'm begging you."

Snow White averted her gaze at the woman begging before her. Her hands gripped the coffee mug lightly. An uneasy and eerie pause from Snow caused Beauty's palms to sweat. This was her last chance to try to live a happy life... It would be a lot of work, but it would get her somewhere at least.

"I... I can try Beauty, I can't promise you anything... But I'll do my best. I'm not going to have another Fable fall through the cracks like Lily..." Beauty could pick up easily on the sadness and regret in Snow's tone. The cruel and unlucky death of Holly's beloved sister Lily... A troll who turned to working at the Pudding N' Pie. As if that wasn't bad enough Lily was glamoured to look like Snow White to feed into Crane's fetish for her.

Beauty did her best and offered Snow a weak but warm and grateful smile. "I know you will..."

Weeks later

Beauty tapped a pen against her desk as she went over the tall stack of paper work before her. An annoyed and tired sigh escaped her lips as she read the endless stack of paper that needed to be filled out and dealt with. Of course she knew right away that working for Fabletown office was anything but glamorous and relaxing, even with the decent pay check it offered. The hours were long and work was demanding of her. Still... she couldn't help but feel a little pride.

Beauty manage to earn an honest living on her own, The Crooked man and his little habit of using down on there luck fables for his own greedy needs was done with... Dead upon arrival, Bigby claimed he killed him in self defence. But there were times she and everyone else doubted that... The only last concern was Bloody Mary...

When Beauty asked the sheriff he claimed the villainous woman was killed while in a deadly duel with him. It only seemed to make sense that Mary's ending in this would be death, the ally of The Crooked man seemed to have a. "You're never take me alive!" Vibe .

"Almost done? Flycatcher needs to sweep the floors." Snow White informed gathering up her things.

"Far from it." Beauty scoffed looking at the mountain high pile. Snow offered her a kind smile.

"You can do the rest tomorrow, it's been a long night."

"You can say that again." Beauty rubbed her tired eyes and glanced at the silver watch on her wrist. It was nearing midnight.

"Take care." Snow said her farewell and left the office.

Beauty yawned and got up, her blue eyes wandered to every corner of her desk. 'Where did I put my purse?'

It was then Beauty caught sight of her lavender purse, about a foot away in front of the magic mirror. "How the hell did it get over there?" figuring Bufkin might had knocked it over by mistake (most likely drunk or hungover) the blonde woman got out of her seat. Walking over to the mirror she retrieved her leather purse. The relief to go home after a long night of work was cut off shortly when an eerie feeling filled the room... like she wasn't alone

Feeling two arms wrap themselves around her torso and pull her back, Beauty looked up at her capture, her eyes widen in shock and fear.

"Y-you..." Beauty stuttered in shock feeling her pulse race upon looking at the familiar face. "I-I though you were dead!"

Heart shape lips form a signature sly smirk.

"Miss me? I sure missed you... Beauty."

The end! Hoped you all liked this :D Please review and tell me your thoughts about this fanfic and the finish product.

Till next time folks!