AN~ Reminder:

.

.

The name of this story is scheduled to change. This is a warning, and I will not be changing the title quite yet, because people will no longer be able to find it. Soon, though (probably next chapter), the Never Gonna Happen Challenge will be renamed 'The Long and Winding Road'.

.

Also a shout-out to Lara D, who wanted that as her prize. This chapter is dedicated to her. I hope you appreciate it, Lara. I gave you the fangirl's biggest chapter.

.

The Winner of Last QotD: Archer Princess, who had the longest and most detailed escape plan.

New QotD: Given the opportunity to design the interior of your house (maximum sixteen rooms) with no budget, what would you put in it?

.

Maddy: I know. But know what's funny? You're the first person in over one hundred chapters to point this out to me. I'm well aware of this rule, and you're probably going to be kind of ticked because I'm ignoring it. I realized at around chapter thirty that I'd been using periods instead of commas, and instead of replacing them all, I decided to be consistent and use periods for the rest of the story (and most of my other fanfictions). Also, as we're pointing out grammatical errors: in your review you said 'other then that' when you meant other 'than that'. ;)

mj: Thank you very much! I hope this was soon enough for you.

dfzxv of chapter 76: I know. It's been pointed out like a billion times. I just haven't gotten that far in my editing process. But I'm glad you like it. :)

oah ehm gee: Glad you liked it. :) QotD: I hope your knitting factory is in the woods.

PenguinLoverGurl: But where do you get these things inside a knitting factory? It's good that it's simple, 'cause that means it's plausible. I love our little Mermaid and Nottingham, 'cause we all know he likes his woman large. I was thinking the same thing about the fight scene, but I was too lazy.

"Puck, your breath smells like sardines." Daphne said, waving at the air in front of her nose and pushing Puck away from her shoulder, which he was staring over in an attempt to see what she was writing. "Go brush your teeth, then you can look at my diary."

"I like sardines." Puck said. "And you just took all the fun out of it."

Daphne shrugged. "That's your problem. And I like sardines, too, but not when I smell them on your breath. Go brush your teeth."

"Fine." Puck rolled his eyes and stood, heading for the bathroom.

Sabrina was already in the bathroom, spreading toothpaste on her brush. Her hair was wet, and it dripped down onto her shirt, making the fabric stick to her torso. Puck licked his lips nervously before heading into the bathroom and joining her.

She just stood there on the other side of the sink, brushing her teeth, with no idea how attractive she was, not saying anything to him (well, duh. She had toothpaste in her mouth), and he suddenly couldn't stand it anymore. Mr. Seven had said to jump right into it, so he would.

"Sabrina?" He asked, taking a deep breath. "Can I... talk to you for a second? About something important?"

Sabrina turned to him and raised her eyebrows, her mouth still full of toothpaste. He could still back out. Make something up. Insult her.

But no. He was braver than that. He took another deep breath. "I... I like you. A lot."

"Wel'f 'course y'do, dummy." Sabrina said around her toothbrush. "We're friends."

"No, I mean like like you like you." Puck said.

Sabrina stared at him for what seemed like a very long time to the reddening Puck, her toothbrush still hanging out of her mouth, her hand attached to it limply. Eventually, she took the toothbrush out of her mouth and put it on the sink, leaned over slowly, and spit a mouthful of toothpaste into the drain. Then she looked back up at him and said, "What?"

"I've liked you for ages." Puck continued in a rush. There was no turning back now. "And I wasn't going to tell you, only with Seven and all the times you've nearly died I changed my mind. I don't care if you don't like me back anymore. At least this way you know your options are open. I mean, gosh, Grimm, what's not to like? You're smart even when you're stupid, you're brave, you're strong, you're so sexy it drives me insane, and you don't even realize what you're doing to me half the time, and you'll do anything for the people you care about, and you care so much even if you act like you don't, and you're so much more than you were when we met, but you're still the same and it's amazing."

He'd been looking down the whole time he said this, afraid to see the pity or disgust or just lack of similar feelings on her face, gripping the bowl of the sink tightly. But after he'd finished, he felt a hand cover his, and he looked up. Sabrina was just as red as he was, but she was grinning.

"I like you, too." She said quietly. "Like that. Is it my turn to make a speech?"

Puck nodded, his face cooling a little and a lopsided smile slipping onto his face.

"All right." She said. "Puck, you drive me insane. You're a childish prankster who couldn't be serious if it would save your mother's life. You're immature and you act stupid all the time, and you'll do anything to save face." Puck felt himself shrinking at this, but she was still smiling. "I love that about you." She said, her hand squeezing his. "I wish I could be like that. And that's not all you are. You're caring, even though you don't let other people see it, you're brave, you're smart- don't deny it- and you always know how to set me back on the right track."

Puck stared at her, his smile growing. Her hand was still over his, and he slid his thumb over hers. "So... what do we do now?" He asked.

Sabrina smiled crookedly. "I think you can figure it out, stubbytoes."

They leaned forward simultaneously and pressed their lips together. She tasted like toothpaste.

When they parted, Sabrina made a face. "You need to brush your teeth before we do that again. How many sardines did you eat?"

"Umm..." Puck said, looking towards the ceiling, "A lot." He picked up his toothbrush and began spreading toothpaste on it. "I was hungry."

"So sardines." Sabrina rolled her eyes and shook her head. "Brush long and hard, buddy. Your breath is rancid."

He did, and when he was done, they pressed their lips together again. This time she smiled as they did it.

When they pulled apart, Sabrina looked at him and asked, "So... what now?"

"Hm?" Puck asked, running his thumb up and down along hers. This was much easier than he'd thought it would be.

"We can't tell people." Sabrina said. "I mean, we could, but... well, half of everyone would be all 'I told you so', and my parents would not be OK with me dating a guy that lives in the same house as me."

Puck, caught up in the fact that she'd just said 'dating', took a few seconds to answer, then shrugged. "I guess we keep it a secret, then. Shouldn't be too hard."

Sabrina nodded and pulled her hand off his. She still had a big grin on her face, as did Puck. They'd just left the bathroom when they bumped into Bella.

"What were you two doing in there?" Bella teased. "Making out?"

Sabrina and Puck scoffed, though not as much as they normally would, and looked slantwise at each other, trying not to blush.

Bella put a hand to her mouth and shrieked (thankfully it was a quiet shriek, and muffled by her hand), "Ohmigosh you were!"

Sabrina pulled Bella around the corner and pushed her against the wall. "You can't tell anyone, OK? Nobody."

Bella nodded. "Fine. But you have to tell me everything tonight."

Sabrina made a face and nodded. "Fine."

Bella sauntered off, humming, and Sabrina watched her go, shaking her head. "What were you saying about this being easy?" She asked Puck dryly.

Puck shrugged. "So I was wrong."

"Hey, what brought this on?" Sabrina asked suddenly. "Less than a month ago you were telling me about some girl you liked and assuring me we were just friends. And I did the same thing. So what made you change your mind?"

Puck shrugged. "Hope." He said. "Stupid hope. Also I talked to Mr. Seven and he convinced me it was worth it. I kind of figured that if I lied to you, then there was plenty of chance you lied to me, too."

"Oh." Sabrina said quietly.

"Plus I just wanted to get it off my chest." Puck said. "I was tired of secrets."

"Yeah." Sabrina nodded. "It just seems kind of... sudden. And random."

"I know." Puck shrugged. "But that's what I'm all about. Surprises."

"Well, this was a good one." Sabrina smiled at him crookedly. She ran her hand down his arm and said, "I've got to go. See you later, ferretface."

"Not if I see you first, furryfeet!" Puck called after her, a stupid little grin on his face.

"Come here." Bella told Sabrina that afternoon. "We're doing a checkup on your wing. Now."

Sabrina had a funny feeling that 'checkup' translated to 'talk about your love life', but she went along with Bella anyway.

Sure enough, as soon as the door to Bella's room shut behind them, she rounded on Sabrina and said, "So. Tell me everything."

"Not much to tell." Sabrina said with a shrug. "He told me he liked me today, and I told him I liked him, and we kissed, and he tasted like sardines, and we're not telling anyone we're together. Have you talked to Wendell yet?"

Bella shook her head, "No." She said. "Today is about you. Today we're discussing my best friend and the fact that she and the love of her life have finally admitted they're meant for each other."

"I think you're exaggerating just a teensy bit." Sabrina rolled her eyes. "For one thing, I'm not in love. This is a crush. I mean, maybe someday, but... I think I'm too young to be in love. And for another thing, how do you know we're meant for each other?"

"Because you are." Bella said. "Everyone can see it except you two."

"Listen, if we have to have this conversation, can you at least actually check out my wing?" Sabrina asked. "I want to fly again."

"Sure." Bella slipped around behind Sabrina and began examining the large gash in her wing. "So talk. Even you have to be dying to gush."

Sabrina grinned. "Maybe a bit."

"How was it?" Bella asked.

"Nice." Sabrina said. "Even if he did taste like fish. And after he brushed his teeth, it was better. He's... I dunno. Even when we're arguing, we... fit, somehow." She drew in a hissing breath as Bella touched her cut.

"Sorry." Bella said.

"It's OK." Sabrina assured her. "Just hurts a bit."

"So-" Bella started again, but Sabrina interrupted.

"Can we talk about you for just a bit?" Sabrina asked. "I'm not exactly... comfortable... with Puck and me yet."

"Fine." Bella said, and Sabrina could tell she was rolling her eyes.

"Have you talked to him yet?" Sabrina asked.

Bella shook her head. "What would I say? He's made it perfectly clear that he doesn't want me unless I can promise I only want him. And I can't do that yet. I'm just... confused. I mean, what if this happens again? What if he's right, and I am just using him as a backup plan? Am I nothing but a flirt, Sabrina?"

"You're a lot more than that." Sabrina said. "And I can't really help you work out your feelings, but I can tell you that, among other things, you're an excellent nurse, my best friend, and a caring person. It's not your fault your emotions are a bit flighty. I mean, you're fourteen! How steady are you supposed to be?"

"You've managed." Bella said. "I mean, you've liked Puck for... how long now?"

"A couple years." Sabrina said. "It's not like he's the only person I've ever liked, though."

"That kid from the orphanage?" Bella asked.

Sabrina nodded. "Sometimes I wonder what would have happened with us, if we'd been able to stay together. But I'm never going to see him again, and Puck is here, now, and he can be everything I need."

"I wish I could think like that." Bella said sadly. "It seems like I'm never happy with what I have."

"How do you mean?" Sabrina asked.

"Well, for one thing, I couldn't just stick with Wendell. I had to go notice other guys, too." Bella said with disgust. "And I'm the best healer we have here except Nurse Sprat, and I'm not happy with that, either!"

"You can't help it, Bella." Sabrina soothed. "But what do you mean, not happy with that?"

"What we're doing here isn't good enough." Bella said. "I could have you almost better right now if I knew what I was doing. Or even if I could use magic. But I can't 'cause we're rationing it and I don't. So you're stuck on the ground, and there are people who die because I can't be there to save them!"

"So... what do you want to do?" Sabrina asked.

Bella shrugged and blushed, looking down. "I want to be a doctor. A surgeon if I can. But there's no way that'll happen, even if I survive long enough to go through all that school."

"I could..." Sabrina started, "I could let you out, you know. If you wanted to go."

Bella smiled. "That would be the most amazing thing you could do for me, but I'd still have to pay for it. That's another nine years of school after high school. I can't get a job here, and there aren't any local scholarships I can get. I won't get any money from my parents, and Rumpelstiltskin's as likely to spin me some gold as he is to give your grandma a kiss."

"We'll figure out a way." Sabrina promised. "I don't know how, but you'll be a doctor someday if I have anything to say about it."

Bella laughed. "What, you going to threaten the board into giving me a full ride?"

Sabrina nodded and grinned. "I think I can be frightening enough, don't you?" She pulled out her sword. "I won't hurt them too much. They'll maybe be short a toe or two once I'm done with them if they don't cooperate, but nothing they need."

Bella snickered. "That might work. But it's only our last ditch plan, OK?"

"Sure." Sabrina said. "We'll start with legal ways."

"Mostly." Bella said. "Is blackmail illegal?"

"You know, I have no idea." Sabrina said thoughtfully. "I'll have to check."

Bella, when she was done laughing, said, "But back to you and Puck."

"I'm nervous." Sabrina confessed. "What do we do now?"

"What do you mean, what do you do now?" Bella asked.

"Well..." Sabrina shrugged, running a hand over her neck, "What do couples do? And what if we do it all wrong? What if I do it all wrong? What if we try this, and it goes awful, and then we're all awkward?"

"Every couple does different things." Bella said. "Though most of them kiss and hold hands and things like that. And I'm betting Puck and you have about the same amount of experience, since he was a little kid for all of four thousand years. He'll probably be just as nervous as you are. I can't promise you guys will never break up, or that you won't be awkward around each other, but I know that you like him, and he likes you, and that if you both want this to work enough, it will."

"How do you know?" Sabrina asked. "There's no way you can promise two people can make it work. I mean, do you know how many people divorce per year?"

"Yeah, well, some of them probably made a mistake or genuinely didn't love each other." Bella shrugged. "But I kind of think that if you care enough about the relationship, you'll make it work, because you'll be willing to make sacrifices for each other. The only thing that would make you guys break up unless one of you does something really idiotic is if you're too stubborn to compromise with each other."

"Yeah, and we're both some of the most stubborn people on the planet." Sabrina said.

Bella shrugged again. "I guess you'll just have to decide if it's more important for you to be right or together."

Sabrina sighed, puffing out her cheeks as she did so. "This is going to be hard." She muttered.

Bella nodded. "It's worth it, though. Wendell and I..."

"You know, it's obvious you really like him." Sabrina said. "Why don't you tell him again?"

"Because I can't promise I'll never like someone else again, too!" Bella said.

Sabrina shrugged. "Well, do you like someone else right now?"

Bella shook her head. "I'm over Marcus, mostly."

"So... maybe it's worth it." Sabrina suggested. "To try, even if it doesn't work out. Just be honest with him."

"What?" Bella asked. "Tell him I can't control who I like, but I just like him right now, and I liked him best even before?"

"Yeah, pretty much." Sabrina said. "I mean, if you're sure that he's the one you'll like most even if you do notice someone else..."

"All right." Bella agreed. "I'll talk to him, I guess."

Sabrina smiled. "Good. It'd be weird if you were single and I wasn't."

"We can go on double dates!" Bella exclaimed.

"Yeahno." Sabrina said quickly. "Nobody can know we're together."

"Why not?" Bella asked, pouting.

"Do you know how awkward that would be?" Sabrina asked. "Everyone would be all like 'I told you so' or 'aw so cute, we knew you'd be together', and even if they weren't going to do that, Puck and I live in the same house! My parents would explode!"

"Yeah, I guess." Bella made a face. "But... you're really going to make me keep this a secret?"

"Yes." Sabrina said firmly. "Speaking of which, I've got to go see him. How's my wing?"

"I don't want you flying yet, but you should start stretching it, so it's not stiff." Bella said, then grinned. "Have fun on your date!"

Sabrina rolled her eyes, masking her nervousness, and went to meet Puck on the rooftop.