"So," Red said, gently brushing Lynn's hair. "Do you have a favourite fairy tale?"
The little princess looked up at her, eyes wide, but then nodded.
"Do you want to tell me what it is?"
Lynn took that in, sighed, and blew on her overgrown bangs.
"Okay," She eventually said.
Red smiled. "So?" She prompted. "What is it?"
"Little Red Riding Hood," Lynn said. "She's strong. And sweet! And wears red cloak! Like you!"
Red paused, taken aback, and wrapped her cloak tighter around herself. Does she know the original story? About Red being the werewolf and her grandmother protecting her? Does she know…that has basically been my life? She paused and set down the brush, treading her fingers through Lynn's hair. She doubted the little princess could hear it but, even still, she started to breathe slowly, and deeply. Her heart had started racing the second Lynn had said 'Little Red' and she didn't want to risk scaring her. Lynn was tired, though she had been refusing to admit it, and she needed to go to sleep. It had been over an hour, and Red could tell that the little princess was finally starting to calm down enough to fall asleep. The last thing she wanted was to both scare and ruin the progress towards sleep they had made. Lynn didn't seem to be bothered, however, merely humming to herself and playing with her tiny, pale hands. While she had gotten healthier of late, her skin was still almost ghost like, though thankfully much less translucent as it had been. Red took in and released another deep breath. She was fine. Lynn was fine. And, knowing that, everything was going to be just fine.
"It's really sweet you think that," Red said, regaining herself. "I'm glad to know you like me."
Lynn leaned her head back and grinned at her.
"Hey, I'm serious," Red teasingly patted the little princess' cheeks before delicately tilting her head back forward. "Now, okay," She said. "I need to finish brushing your hair, okay?"
Lynn sighed. "Okay…" She mumbled.
Red smirked to herself, affectionately tapping Lynn's nose with one hand and picking up the hairbrush again with the other.
"Do you want to tell a story, or do you want me to?"
Lynn considered it.
"I like tiara," Lynn started to babble. "They sparkle, and momma wears one too! And you get to be fancy! Like a pretty dress! They soft and flow and pretty!"
Red couldn't help but smile. "I wonder what that's like. I've never had one myself. I've seen a few, however. Not very often, but on the rare occasions I've gotten to see one, I've always…marvelled at them. They're gorgeous."
Lynn giggled. "Momma wears lots of jewel too!"
"I'm sure," Red said, laughing a bit with her. "Have you gotten to wear any jewellery like her?"
Lynn went silent but then reached into the tight silk belt around her dress and tugged at it, eventually tugging out a small, gold and sapphire necklace in the shape of a tiny butterfly.
"I hide," She said quietly, looking around nervously and clutching it tight in her hand.
Red was silent, completely stunned.
"May I?" She spoke softly, extending her hand. Lynn stared at her but then, after a long hesitation, pressed the necklace into the palms of Red's hands.
"Here," Red slowly and carefully unclasped the necklace and put it around the little princess' neck. She clasped it back up even more carefully, and let it slowly fall onto Lynn. "Does that make you happy?"
Lynn turned around to stare at her again, her tiny hands wrapping around her necklace again. Then, she nodded.
"Thank you…" She said, starting to cry. Without warning, she hugged Red, holding onto her for dear life. "You…love you."
Red tried not to cry herself and instead cradled the little princess in her arms.
"I love you too," She promised her. "And everything is going to be absolutely fine. That is something I'll ensure for you, Lynn. And I never break a promise."
Regina -
I know it's been awhile since I've been at the estate, but I'll be returning soon. I had to travel to visit family. My sister recently had her third child, a real cutie of a girl. She did bite me, though. I can't quite say how I feel about that. What I can say is that I miss you and love you, and can't wait to see you again. Maybe one day we'll have a daughter and -
No. That was too close. She all but flung that letter across where she was sitting on her bed, letting it land on a pile of others she had already gone through.
Regina -
This morning, while I was cleaning and pressing the riding gear, I couldn't stop thinking about how you looked riding yesterday. I don't know why, but the way you ride is captivating. It's almost like you become one with your horse. It's the most beautiful thing to watch. I'm always in awe of it. You are as aware of your horse's needs as you are your own, and I will always admire that. It's such a rare sight, one that I love. You -
No. She was starting to cry.
Another letter flew across the bed.
Regina -
I'm so glad you're good at finding these. The last thing I want is for your mother to see let alone take them. I can't imagine what she might do to you, and the thought frightens me. You're the most wonderful person I have ever met, I -
No. It wasn't going to be of any use, was it? The tears were already blinking away.
That letter, too, flew across the bed.
Regina -
I trust you'll understand how grateful I am for what you did the other night. I can only hope I'll be able to repay you for it. Cora…well, perhaps we should just try to set it aside. Thank you. Thank you so much for covering for my mistakes. I just hope it won't cause her to see through to -
And so another one was flung across the bed.
She paused, however, when she saw two letters attached to each other.
One from him, and one from her.
Regina -
You said before that ambition is your folly, but it is not. It is one of your greatest strengths, something I'm in awe of. Please know, too, that the moments I get to spend with you are the best of my life. Our time alone, when you kiss me, when I am able to be fully one with you…they are the signs of how much life is worth living for. I know it feels like you or I might as well be an ocean away most of the time. But it's all okay, because we are able to still weather the storms, so to speak. There is nothing I won't do for you, no price I won't pay for your happiness. I love you, Regina, more than I can say. I am stunned every day that you love me back, and for that I promise I will always do what I can to show you my love, to remind you that you are loved, you are -
She was crying, unable to stop it, and quickly flipped to the one she had written attached to his.
Daniel -
If I'm an ocean away, then I'm by your side even across the sea. I have a secret for us, one that I need to tell you soon. I promise I will, that I'll be able to say it. It isn't something I want to tell you over writing. It's something I need to speak aloud. I -
"Regina? Is everything -"
Henry cut himself off the second he saw the state his daughter was in. All around her strewn were letters, and he knew from whom and of what they were without even looking at them. By her side, too, was a drawing of Lynn, one she had done herself.
"Oh, Regina," Henry said, sighing when his daughter looked up at him. "I am so sorry, but Lynn -"
"She is the only reason I've been able to handle Daniel's death," Regina snapped. "I would never have been able to get over that without her. I just wouldn't have."
Henry sighed, coming over to his daughter and setting his hands to her shoulders.
"Regina, I know that," He said kindly. "And that is why I am so proud of you."
She struggled to breathe, still crying.
"I'll find her," She choked out. "I have to."
"I just don't know what to do," Snow said, cutting through some undergrowth. "It's as if…nothing we do is right. It's as if she…she hates us."
"We are doing the right thing," Charming gently reassured her. "You said it yourself: Regina's abuse of Lynn must have been absolutely horrible. She just needs time to adjust, to realise that life doesn't have to be - isn't really - like it was with her mother."
Snow fell short, her hand slackening around the reinforced arrows in her hands.
"It scares me to think about, you know," She finally said, taking a look around. "What Regina could have done - could have been doing - to her, even when I was still…still there."
"It isn't your fault, if that's what you're thinking," Charming sighed, approaching her. "Hey," He said when she turned so she could meet his gaze. "It's not on you. You did everything you could, and you're doing the right thing now, even though it's, in some ways, hell. That's admirable."
Snow chewed on the inside of her cheek. "I know that," She said, almost numbly. "But what could Regina have done to her to make her this way? How is Red the only one she's comfortable, feels safe with? None of it makes sense!"
Charming was silent in thought.
"It doesn't," He agreed. "But that doesn't mean we stop trying. We'll get through to her, eventually, she just needs time. If she's already opened up to one of us…then I think she'll come around to you and me soon enough."
Snow sighed. "I know, but still."
Charming watched her for a moment.
"I wonder what Regina could have done to her, too. And you know something? It scares the hell out of me too."
The two of them met eyes again. It was unclear for how long they stared at each other but, nevertheless, they persisted. There were too many thoughts running through both of their heads for any semblance of comfort.
"You don't think…" Snow's eyes went wide in horror and her voice wavered. "You don't think Regina hit her, do you? Oh my God, is that why she's afraid of us? Because she thought we were like Regina when she was with us that time we were hunting?"
Charming was startled, his mind picking up pace.
"If Regina was hitting and kicking and physically abusing her," He eventually said, his voice hard in fury. "I will kill her personally for that."
Snow blinked back tears, her hand rising to her lips in absolute disbelief.
"Oh, God," She whispered. "Did we…did we bring back that trauma for her? Is that why she is only comfortable with Red? Because she's so…steady…calm…warm…and…and…and just…"
"I don't know," Charming looked around, worried for a flash of a minute that Regina or her guards had found them. Realising they were alone, safe, came just as quickly as that brief fear came and went. "I wouldn't be surprised, though."
Snow slowly put her arrows back into her quiver, one by one. It was almost as if she were afraid of what would happen if she moved any faster.
"I can't believe her," She said quietly. "Who could…who could be so heartless to their own child?"
"It's okay, Snow," Charming slowly approached her but then, seeing it was okay, embraced her. "She's safe, now. She'll never have to be afraid of Regina again."
Snow sniffled, starting to cry.
"It's hard, it really is," He went on. "But you're doing the right thing. I've never seen anyone as strong, as brave, as kind as you, Snow. It's honestly amazing. A once in a lifetime sight. And I am honoured to be able to be a part of that."
She looked up at him, her breathing still unsteady, but then kissed him, taking in the moment. He kissed her back, and the two of them stood there, held in each other's arms, drinking in every second of happiness. That had been all too hard to come by.
"She's going to be just fine," Snow finally said, breaking their kiss. "You're right. She will be."
"And it wouldn't have been able to happen without you," Charming replied with a smile. "Really, Snow," He reached up to cup her cheek. "You do so much, care for so many people. It's incredible."