Willowsand.
The first thing Red thought when she saw it was that it was surprisingly understated for a manor.
The second thing she thought was that she was glad she had taken Lynn up to the manor's front steps instead of waiting in the town.
Lynn excitedly jumped out of her arms the second they were but a few feet away from the steps, though she stumbled before reaching them, looking dizzy. Red took her hand, and, helping her back up to her feet, they approached the front door together. Feeling just about sick to her stomach, Red pushed that anxiety to the side and knocked on the door. Much to her surprise, it was not a servant who came to the door. Instead, it was a petite woman, paler even more so than Lynn yet still healthy. She had thin, gilded glasses, and long, dark hair piled up on and held up on her head with a large butterfly clip. She startled upon seeing Red but, upon seeing Lynn, her hands went up to her mouth in disbelief, and a beautiful, sapphire ring wrapped around her wedding finger, shaped almost like a vine. Lynn squealed in excitement and ran into the manor, leaving Red and the woman staring at each other. After a moment, she motioned Red into the manor, and closed the door behind her, pulling the curtain across it too before turning towards her.
"Do you know who she is?" The woman finally said, her high pitched voice soft. She glanced to Lynn, who ran into the arms of another woman, slightly taller than this woman, a little less pale, and with shiny black hair. "The girl, that is."
Red let out a heavy sigh, meeting her gaze through lidded eyes. "Princess Lynn Mary Anne."
The woman took in a sharp breath and crossed her arms.
"How exactly did you find her? And why bring her here?"
Red hesitated. "Maybe you should ask her that yourself."
The woman raised an eyebrow but, nonetheless, turned to Lynn and the woman Red realised must be this woman's wife.
"Sherry, Lynn," She finally said. "Hey," She knelt down in front of Lynn, who hugged her tightly. "How did you meet this woman? And why did she bring you here?"
Lynn grinned. "She save me!" The little princess babbled. "You and Sherry closer from…Lea…Stef…"
"Queen Leah and King Stefan?" Sherry pressed.
Lynn considered that, then nodded, looking somewhat scared. "Yeah…" She whispered.
"Who was there with them, before this woman saved you?"
"Fenella," Sherry said gently. "I'm sure she's been through a lot. Don't scare her."
Lynn was quiet, her eyes wide, looking in between Fenella and Sherry before turning to stare at Red.
"She save me from Snow…" Lynn mumbled. "And man. Scary."
"Oh my God," Sherry stood up suddenly, and Fenella picked up Lynn, who started to shake but curled into her arms, feeling protected. "Okay," Sherry said, brushing off her pants. "I'm going to the palace, alone. I can be there by tonight if I leave soon. Regina needs to know her daughter is safe with us."
"Momma?" Lynn looked at Sherry. "Momma here?"
"She'll be here soon," Sherry promised her, slipping on her riding boots, briefly kissing her wife, and then turning to Red. "Come," She said kindly. "You helped save Lynn. I'm sure the queen will be more than happy to thank you in person."
"Let her rest," Fenella said firmly. "She's travelled just as long as Lynn, maybe even more. She needs to rest. Regina will be able to see her and Lynn soon enough anyways."
Sherry hesitated but eventually nodded. "Alright," She agreed. "Lynn?"
The little princess stared at her.
"You're safe, now," She promised her. "And you'll see your mother soon."
Without another word, Sherry stepped out of the room and towards the stables.
"Snow took her?" Fenella asked Red in a hushed tone while they walked towards the lounge, where Lynn could take a nap that she seemed to so desperately need. "That's what we all thought, but there was no real…"
"She did," Red said shortly
That's true enough. I just have to find a way to eventually meet up with her and Charming again…and explain why Lynn and I disappeared and she didn't come back with me. Shit. Fuck.
"I'm starting to worry about them," Snow said, pacing across the library. "Charming, what if Regina's guard caught them? What might happen to Red? Or Lynn?"
"Try not to worry too much," He said, his voice steady. "Red can defend herself and, I am absolutely sure, Lynn."
Snow collapsed into a chair and buried her face in her hands.
"I'm just terrified of what might happen if Regina is the one who finds them."
"I know," Charming said heavily. "But that's not too likely. Regina goes out plenty, yes, but the odds of her running into them are slim to none. They'll be okay. I'm sure of it. Even if they got lost, they're going to be just fine. I trust Red, and Lynn does too."
Snow sighed. "I suppose," She mumbled. "Still, it's hard not to worry…after everything Regina's become, I just can't…the thought of…"
She closed her eyes, trying to let the dust settle enough for her to be able to sort her thoughts out. It was damn near overwhelming. She startled when Charming sat down beside her and rested a hand to her shoulder.
"I wouldn't lie to you, Snow," He murmured. "If I didn't truly believe they'll be okay, then I wouldn't even put the thought - the hope - out there. The evil queen isn't going to hurt them. She just can't."
"I really hope you're right," Snow whispered. "Because I can't stop thinking about what…about the worst that might happen."
Charming was silent for a long time, unsure of what to say.
Regina, what the hell did you do to both of them? What the hell did you do to Snow?
"It's hard to believe that she wasn't always like this," He eventually said. "But I know you Snow. And you shouldn't blame yourself for what she's become."
"But it is my fault," She said weakly. "If I hadn't told her mother about Daniel, things would be as they should be, my father would still be here, we…"
"That isn't your fault," Charming gently reminded her. "That's on her mother, and Regina was the one who made the choice to marry your father, and she made the choice to kill him. That is on them. It is absolutely not your fault."
She chewed at the inside of her cheek and then nodded.
"Maybe you are right," She whispered, curling up against him. "I suppose I wish I could make everyone happy, set everything right."
"And that's noble of you," He said, wrapping an arm around her and cupping her cheek with his free hand. "I know you, Snow. And you are one of the most caring people I've ever met. You are one of the best kinds of people in the world, especially when, out there, there is a whole lot of evil."
"There shouldn't have to be," She replied, meeting his gaze. "There's far more good people in the world than there are bad people."
"You're right," Charming quietly agreed. "And -"
Before either of them realised it, her lips pressed against his. He melted into it, kissing her back and holding her still. There hadn't been much happiness, much joy of late. There hadn't been much to find solace in. This was different. This was something they needed, something they hadn't known they needed but embraced nonetheless.
"Snow?" He breathed when they finally broke their kiss.
She was quiet, her eyes lingering on him for a while before, trembling a little.
"I love you," She finally said. "I really do."
Charming smiled. "Hey," He said, lightly brushing her cheek with his thumb. "I think I love you too."
He briefly kissed her again, and let her then rest her head against his shoulder.
"It's going to be okay," He gently whispered. "We know what we're doing, we know who we need to protect, how, and why. And that's exactly why it's going to be okay."
Snow closed her eyes for a second but then nodded.
"You're right," She said. "It's more than we bargained for, but we know who we need to protect…and that's why we can."
"Your majesty! Lady Sherry of Willowsand just arrived, says she needs to speak with you!"
No sooner than the words left the guard's mouth did the tired and somewhat frassled woman enter the room, and Regina took a small step back in surprise.
"You don't usually let your hair look even the slightest bit untidy."
"You're right," Sherry agreed, awkwardly running a hand through it. "Regina, listen -"
The queen raised an eyebrow. "You know, I don't typically like people just coming here unannounced and -"
"- You also don't ever object when it's me or Fenella."
Regina and Sherry stared at each other for a long moment before the queen smirked.
"What could have possibly made you sacrifice your hair just to be here?"
Sherry smiled. "Lynn's with us," She told her. "She's fine."
Regina fell completely silent.
"She is?"
Sherry nodded. "She is."
Silence.
Then, Regina embraced her, starting to cry despite herself.
"She's alright…" Regina tried to blink back tears. "I…do you know what happened?"
"Yes," Sherry said, hesitating as the queen quickly began to gather things to leave with her. "Regina, the first thing you should know is that a woman saved her from Snow and a man with Snow, who, from what I understand, are hiding with Leah and Stefan."
Regina paused, anger rising in her. "I knew it," She hissed. "It was Snow all along."
"Lynn has grown really attached to this woman who saved her," Sherry went on, the two of them starting to walk down to leave. "But I don't think I've seen her more happy than she was when I was able to tell her that she's going to be able to see you soon enough."
Regina breathed a sigh of relief.
"I've missed her so much," She said softly. "I…I don't think you know just how hard it is to…to think you've lost your child."
"I'm sure," Sherry agreed. "But you don't have to worry about that now. We're going to be there soon, you'll be able to see, be with your baby girl soon."
She paused halfway down the stairwell, her own hair being whipped around by the autumn breeze.
"I have killed for her, for her safety, for her happiness," Regina eventually said, glancing around, arms crossed. "I brought her into this world. No one is going to take her out of it."
"I know," Sherry hesitated but then shook her head. "Leopold felt betrayed by you, didn't he?"
Regina flinched. "Because of her or because of Daniel?"
"Either, really," Sherry's eyes widened when she saw the brief look of fear that crossed her friend's face. "Oh, Regina, I'm so sorry. I know we haven't talked much about it because it's such a sensitive subject but, I just -"
"Don't worry about it," She said shortly. "It doesn't matter now. It's over."
Several seconds passed between them. Sherry eyed her closely whilst the two of them made their way towards the stables. It may be over, but things like that take much longer to die.
"Regina?"
The queen and the lady turned around.
"Sherry," Henry inclined his head towards her with a smile. "Good to see you."
"Pull the carriage around," Regina ordered one of the guards, then looking back to her father. "They found Lynn. She's in Willowsand with Fenella and the woman who rescued her. From Snow, I might add. We're leaving in just a few minutes."
"Might I come with?"
Regina raised an eyebrow.
"She's my granddaughter," He said, looking to Sherry. "I haven't seen her in months, either, and I've watched my daughter be almost destroyed by grief because of it. Please, let me accompany you both."
"Of course, and, you know," She briefly hugged Regina. "We're all just happy she's safe."
Replies To Reviews:
jasouatfan: Red has definitely grown to care for Lynn almost as if she were her own daughter, and it's really sweet to be able to show that care for Lynn's needs above whatever thoughts of right and wrong she might have herself.
barattajennifer: Snow's biggest flaw is that she can't always remember that there's more to love than just what is on the surface, and that struggle is absolutely impactful on her.