*A/N: Hello again gentle readers! This will be the last installment of Path of Destruction. But fear not, there is an epilogue coming! I hadn't intended for it to be a full-blown story, but here we are! Thank you to everyone who has read, followed, favorited, or left reviews.
Red was dreading Family Day.
Of all the events in Auradon, this was the one she wished didn't exist. It was the one day in every school year that parents of all the students would be able to come visit them and see their upcoming projects. It was a huge event. There were plays to be put on, culinary classes prepared enough food to feed all of Wonderland for days, the sports teams held scrimmages against each other. It was safe to say, everyone was excited.
Everyone but Red.
For her, Family Day meant dealing with her stuffy, judgmental mother who would make crude comments about Red's life choices. Her mother would ask what she was doing here in Auradon anyway, even though Nana had been the one to sign her up at AP, and what Nana said was the rule. The only person who could reign in the Queen of Hearts was her own mother. And on top of each snide comment would be the disgusted facial expressions.
Red was anxiously getting Hattie ready for the day, trying to work the girl's hair into two pigtails but she just kept squirming. It was a warm spring day, and there was no doubt in the redhead's mind that Hattie would eventually want to play outside. "Hattie, be still for Mommy please and then you can play with your toys," Red told her. Hattie quickly stopped moving around as much, and just as promised, once Red was finished the girl went back to playing. No sooner than Red let out a sigh of relief that she was done, her phone started ringing.
"Hey, Ches," she said after accepting the call. "What's up?"
"Nothing, I was just checking if you wanted me to watch Hattie today? You know, so you could go out with your family and not have to worry about anyone finding out about her," Chester answered.
The thought weighed on Red ever since Chloe brought up the fact that eventually she'd have to come clean about her secret. Of course she knew it would have to happen, but she didn't think that it would have to be so soon. She would rather wait until after high school, but she didn't really feel like she had a choice. People were starting to wonder why she never went to any school events, why she never let anyone but a select few people in her dorm. In fact, Chloe had even confided in her that some of her so-called "friends" had been asking if she were selling drugs because of how often she was seen with Red. Her options were to continue to let Chloe's reputation be trashed, or come clean and risk more bullying, but at least the target wouldn't be Chloe anymore. Red couldn't allow Chloe to be bullied just so she could keep living in her small bubble.
"Are your parents coming over from back home?" Red asked.
"Yeah, but I'm sure they'll be okay with me watching her," he answered.
"I'll keep her today," Red said with a harsh finality to her words.
"A-Are you sure? I mean I thought you wanted to keep her hidden for as long as possible?" Chester asked, and his tone was questioning.
"I'm sure," Red responded. "I'll have to tell the world about her eventually. And Chloe's starting to be affected by my secrets so I think it's time to come clean."
Chester blew out a breath, "Okay, if you're sure."
"I'm sure," she answered. "I'll see you later today, yeah?"
"Yeah, see you later." With that, the conversation was over, but Red was hardly free from other people. She could hear people moving about in the hallway just outside her door, and almost as if to seal her fate, a gentle knock sounded her attention. When she opened the door, her mother faced her, and Nana was standing close by. Red greeted Nana with affection, hugging the older woman tightly.
"Hello, mother," Red said, a distinct coldness to her voice after she and Nana broke their hug.
"Red," the Queen of Hearts responded. "Good to know you're still alive, especially since you don't talk to me."
"Cut that out, Bridget," Nana scolded. "Where's my great-granddaughter?"
"Nanny!" Hattie screamed, running to the oldest woman as if on cue. Nana bent down to hug the small child.
"Should we take a walk outside?" Red asked, a small smile on her face. Nana sent her a questioning glance, but trusted her granddaughter's judgment. If she was ready for others to know, they could know.
Red walked between her mother and grandmother, holding her daughter's hand to make sure she didn't get lost in the crowd of people. The group of women found a large courtyard filled with wildflowers and dandelions and sat at a picnic table. The scent of sweets lingered in the air from the refreshments table.
Hattie broke free from her mother's grip, running around with the younger siblings of Red's classmates that were close to her age. Red scanned the area, looking for any familiar faces, but at first all she found were curious glances and quiet whispers. A quick flash of bright blue curls caught Red's eye, and soon enough Chloe was walking over to Red, her own family in tow.
Red felt herself get nervous. She hadn't anticipated meeting royalty today, even though she was pretty sure it was bound to happen regardless. She also didn't plan on meeting Chloe's family today, either.
"Red, this is my family. Mom, Dad, brother figure, this is my friend, Red," Chloe said happily.
"Hi," Red said quietly, plastering a small, polite smile on her face. "Wait, should I address you as Your Majesty? I didn't mean any disrespect."
Chloe's mother—Cinderella—let out a sympathetic laugh, a soft hand on Red's arm in an attempt to comfort the girl, "No, dear. No disrespect was taken. Chloe's told me a lot about you."
"O-oh?" Red glanced over at Chloe, whose face was about as red as Red's hair.
Chloe drops her gaze to the ground, "Mom," she bites out, trying to get her to stop talking.
"What? I was just going to tell her about how you gush about—" Cinderella started before Chloe cut her off abruptly.
"Okay! That's enough conversation from Mom. Dad, how about you?" Chloe said nervously.
Her dad laughed a little at his daughter's antics before turning to Red, "How has Chloe been treating you? I know her excitement can be a little overwhelming sometimes."
"Chloe's been great," Red answered. "We do our homework together a lot and she tells me about Swords and Shields practice. She's always been nice to me."
"I'm glad to hear that," King Charming answered, a loving expression aimed at his daughter.
Hattie ran up to her mother then, barreling into the redhead's legs, grabbing onto them and giggling. Red pried the child free, picking her up and carrying her on her hip, peppering kisses to Hattie's cheeks.
"Chloe didn't tell us you had a little sister," Chad commented, and Chloe shot him a glare that could kill.
"Oh, um, I don't," Red said, and Chloe just stared at Red, an expression of shock on her face. "This is Hattie, my daughter."
Cinderella softened at Red's words, "She's beautiful, Red, just like her mother."
It was Red's turn to blush now as she let out a quiet, "Thank you," to the older woman. Meanwhile, Chad's eyes were bugging out of his head.
"Chad, fix your face," Chloe sassed, and he seemed to remember to do just that.
"Why don't we let you spend time with your family?" Cinderella said to Red. "Bridget looks like she wants to talk to you."
Red returned back to Bridget's side, and they all sat at an empty picnic table while Hattie sat in a patch of flowers. Red couldn't help but feel a sense of joy as she watched over her child, happy and giggling in the grass—something she herself had never done at that age.
"I see you didn't learn from your previous mistakes," Bridget sneered. Red was confused, she did learn from her mistakes, so what was her mother talking about?
"What?" Red asked, confusion evident on her face.
"Charmings are not good company to keep. All they'll do is stab you in the back," Bridget whispered, a crazed look in her eye.
"Oh, hush," Nana scolded. "You're being very immature. It's time to bury the hatchet and move on."
"No, mother, I will not 'bury the hatchet.' She hurt me in ways you can't understand," Bridget answered, and Nana only shook her head in response.
"You used to be so nice, so sweet, and then you went to Castlecoming and it was like an entirely new person came home to me that summer. You never did tell me what happened, but I think it's time you stop acting this way. Quite frankly you're acting like a child," Nana said.
"Mommy look!" Hattie shouted, running toward Red, a fistful of flowers in her hand. An array of heads turned toward Red, but she didn't care. "I picked you flowers."
Red took the bundle of pink and white wildflowers and dandelions from her daughter, breathing in their scent before setting them on the table.
"They're beautiful, mi amor, I'll keep them forever," Red said, picking up Hattie and settling her on her lap, kissing her cheek and making the girl giggle.
"You coddle that child too much, Red. You'll spoil her," Bridget said. Red's once-happy facial expression turned bitter. "Children should not be seen or heard."
"What?" Red questioned, not quite understanding why her mother was acting this way. She was confused; Hattie was supposed to run around and play. Red loved hearing her little girl's laughter and being able to snuggle her all the time.
"You were raised right. Children should fear their parents so they behave. Except you were so spoiled you acted out all the time," Bridget sneered. "I hope she turns out just like you so you know exactly what I went through."
Red's mouth dropped open at her mother's words. She looked like her mother had just slapped her, which had definitely happened once or twice in Red's life. "You know, mother, I do hope she turns out exactly like me, that way I can show you how easy it was to love me. I was a child, just like she is, and all you ever did was hurt me. I wasn't spoiled. I wanted your affection, your love." Tears were gleaming in Red's eyes as she remembered her own childhood, and how it was a stark contrast to Hattie's. Even though she was raised with a cold, cruel mother who abused her to no end, Hattie would never know that type of pain. Red's little girl would get all the love Red had and more.
"I think it's time for you to leave," Red said, sniffing back the tears that threatened to spill over. From afar, Chloe watched the tense scene carefully play out. The blue-haired girl debated on if she should intervene or not, but decided against it. Red would probably get mad at her for sticking her nose in business where it didn't belong.
"Very well then," Bridget said coldly before getting up. "Don't come crying to me when you're older. You'll thank me later, Red."
Red sat stiff as a board as her mother walked off. "I'll talk some sense into her," Nana said, standing up and kissing the top of Red's hair. "I love you. Keep in touch, my Rose."
"I love you, too," Red answered, her voice cracking as the woman walked away. Red tried to keep the tears inside, but they slid down her cheeks anyway. She hoped that even after all those years, her mother would change, but she didn't. Red didn't know what hurt worse, the fact that she didn't change, or the crushed hope that now sat at the bottom of her heart.
Hattie looked over at her mom's face, "Mommy why are you crying?" she asked, tiny hands wiping away the tears. The little girl looked as if she might cry herself by seeing her mother upset.
"Mommy's just a little sad right now, baby. I'll be okay," she tried to give Hattie a reassuring smile, but the toddler didn't buy it. Hattie wrapped her arms around her mother's neck in a hug.
"I want you to be happy, Mommy. I love you," Hattie said. Red just squeezed her daughter tighter, the tears now flowing freely in rivers down her cheeks. People were starting to stare but she didn't care. Instead, she just got up from the picnic table, grabbing the flowers Hattie had picked for her and stormed off toward her dorm. Her mind was made up, the rest of Family Day would be spent with Hattie, probably in her bed watching cartoons and eating snacks together.
"I'm gonna go take care of something," Chloe told her parents in a hurried tone. "I'll be right back, I promise." Chloe rushed off in the same direction Red was headed. By the time Chloe caught up with her, the redhead was full-blown sobbing. They were near Red's dorm now, so close that Red could reach out and open the door. Chloe was shocked to see red cheeks covered with tears on the normally walled-up girl.
"Red, wait!" Chloe hollered after her.
"What? What do you want other than to shove your perfect family in my face?" Red snapped at the blue-haired girl. Chloe was taken aback, but she wouldn't let Red's words get to her. She was hurt, and she didn't actually mean that.
"Can I hug you?" Chloe asked gently, and Red broke even more at Chloe's words, her soft voice. Red set Hattie down on the floor and she hugged onto her mom. Red threw herself onto Chloe, violently sobbing into her curls as Chloe stroked her hair, trying to calm the girl.
It was like the events of the past three years unloaded itself onto Red. Everything that had happened, each layer of her trauma came undone, just like the girl in Chloe's arms. All Red wanted was her mother to love her, but it seemed like even that small ask was too far out of reach. Red didn't regret her daughter, she never could. But she did regret everything that happened before Hattie came along. She regretted choosing Ace. She regretted turning to the drugs and alcohol and sex to dull her hurting heart. She hated that she spent her entire pregnancy planning to get rid of Hattie. She hated how she didn't want to be a mom all those years ago, but now it seemed as if Hattie was the only thing keeping her going.
Chloe held onto Red for five, ten minutes before they broke apart. Red's eyes were bloodshot, her cheeks blotchy, and Chloe ever so gently reached out to wipe away the lingering tears on the girl's cheeks. "I'm sorry," Red said, staring at the floor.
"Why are you apologizing?" Chloe asked, her voice was soft, like she was speaking to a child rather than an adult.
"I shouldn't have done that. You shouldn't be the person that has to regulate my emotions for me," Red said.
"But I'm here for you," Chloe took the girl's hands in her own, and Red just stared at the unfamiliar contact. "You aren't alone anymore. Talk to me. Please."
Red turned and opened the door to her dorm, taking Hattie and Chloe inside. She quickly fixed a snack for Hattie and gave it to her, giving her her phone with a cartoon on it. Red and Chloe sat face to face on the bed, the redhead's breathing still shaky from her earlier breakdown.
"All my life I just wanted a mother that loved me," Red started. "And I hoped that today my mother would see me, see that I've changed, how happy Hattie is with me. I hoped that she would change."
"I'm sorry, Red," Chloe said.
"I don't feel like I have a family," she said. "The only person who cares about me is my Nana."
"I care," Chloe whispered.
"No," Red answered. "You only care because you have to. If the principal didn't tell you to look out for me there's no way you would've talked to me on your own."
"You're right," Chloe said quietly. "That's how it was in the beginning, but that's not how I feel now. I know you're not someone who wants friends or love in your life, but please don't think of me as someone that just thinks you're a burden. Because you're not."
"Chloe, I don't know what love feels like," Red said sadly.
Chloe smiles hopefully at this, gently lifting Red's chin so she has to look the blue-haired girl in the face, "Maybe I can teach you."
For a second, Red is filled with hope. Maybe she could trust this girl to show her what love was like. Maybe Chloe would be the one that could see right through her, she already seemed to be doing just that anyway. But then reality came crashing down. Chloe wouldn't want her. Chloe shouldn't want her. She had a bad history, trauma that came with lots of baggage, and a child. She couldn't ask Chloe to take all that on.
"No," Red said, breaking free of her gaze, "Chloe, you don't want me. I'm too much for you, too bad for you. Imagine what people would say. I'm not good enough for you."
"Red," Chloe said, and Red brought her eyes up to meet the girl's face again. "Your past doesn't define you. Everything that happened, happened, there's no changing that, but you've learned from it. You're a better person because of it. That doesn't justify everything that you did, but clearly you've changed for the better, and if people can't see that, they don't deserve to be in your life."
Red remained silent, internally debating on what Chloe was saying, "Just give me a chance. Spend the rest of Family Day with me and my family and then decide. If you say no after that, I won't push it further."
She contemplated Chloe's words. They almost echoed in her head. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad. Maybe she could pretend that they were her real family and that everything was perfect. Just one day and then she could tell Chloe no and that would be over with.
"Okay," Red said hesitantly, earning a bright smile from Chloe, who was practically beaming with excitement.
"Thank you," Chloe said. "Now, let's get back outside because I have a sparring match in fifteen minutes."
"What?" Red asked, her eyes wide in surprise. "You're gonna leave me alone with your family after I just met them?"
Chloe stood up and told Red, "You'll be fine. My parents won't eat you alive, I promise." Red almost regretted giving in to Chloe, but she would hold up her end of the bargain. "I'll meet you outside in five, I have to get my stuff for Swords and Shields." Chloe got up from the bed, bounding out of the room and into her dorm while Red just threw herself back onto her pillows, groaning at the thought of spending the rest of the day with Chloe's family. Just one day, she could do this. A few minutes later Chloe was back in Red's dorm, eagerly waiting for the other girl to get up.
"Hattie, baby," Red said as she stood up from her bed. "Do you want to go outside and watch Miss Chloe whoop some boys' butts?" Hattie immediately started giggling at this and headed over to her mother. Red picked up her phone and found multiple text messages from Chester. Apparently he had seen her dart away from the social event and wanted to check on her. Red sent him a quick text before taking Hattie's hand in hers and walking beside Chloe as they headed to the field. As they passed their peers, other students shot Red questioning glances, not brave enough to ask what they most likely already knew to be true.
They quickly rejoined Chloe's family, and the conversation flowed just as easily as if they'd never left. Chad seemed to be a little standoff-ish in the beginning, but Hattie had taken a liking to him, and soon enough he had the little girl in a fit of laughter.
"I'm heading down," Chloe said to her parents, kissing each of their cheeks before giving a beaming smile. "I'll see you all after!"
Cinderella turned to Red after her daughter left, "How are you, sweetie? I know your family was here earlier, did something come up?" The older woman had an expression of concern on her face, and as much as she didn't want to open up, it almost felt impossible for Red to keep her emotions buried right now.
"Something came up back home," Red said, not a total lie, but it would be enough to keep some privacy. "My mother had to go back to Wonderland and take care of it."
"I'm sorry to hear that. It must be hard having your mother so far away," Cinderella said. Red couldn't help but feel like there was another meaning to the woman's words. Sure her mother was physically far away, but so was the emotional connection, too.
"Yeah," Red said, watching Chad and Hattie run around and play. "I wish things were different."
"How old is she?" Cinderella asked. Her tone wasn't judgmental, far from it in fact. It was almost as if she herself could relate in some way.
"Almost three," Red said with a smile. "Her birthday is about a month out."
"She's precious," Cinderella commented. "I also had my children young. Chad was born when I was eighteen and Chloe when I was twenty-one. It was hard then, and I can't imagine being younger. In all the times Chloe's talked about you she's never brought this up…"
"I asked her not to," Red answered. "I'm sure you know that she came to see me when I was still in juvie, and she found out then, but I asked her not to. At the time I thought she'd just blab about it to anyone who would listen, but I'm glad she didn't."
"How long have you had her?"
"She's been staying with me in my dorm. One of my friends from Wonderland watches her while I'm in class and everything has been okay. No one else found out about her—until today," Red said, watching Chloe fight on the field. She was enamored by Chloe, her skill, her precision. It was like she'd been doing this her whole life, and she probably was. Every opponent she went up against she had beaten. No wonder she was deemed captain.
"What made you bring her out today?" the older woman questioned, and to be honest, Red herself didn't think she knew the answer. Sure, she didn't want Chloe to suffer because of Red's choices, but maybe there was something else, too.
"I was tired of hiding," Red said. "I'm an adult now, and I knew I would have to be honest about her some day. All of Auradon would do the math eventually so why not just get it over with now? The school year's almost over anyway so I can handle a couple months of occasional bullying if means getting to be free again."
Chloe comes over, one of her perfect smiles on her face. Her mom welcomes her into a hug before she goes over to her father who places a kiss to the top of her head. "Did you see me, Mom?" Chloe asked brightly.
"Yes, of course sweetie. You always win. Your father and I are very proud of you," Cinderella said. Chloe's gaze lingers on Red before falling back to someone behind her. Not even a minute later Chad approaches his family, a laughing Hattie slung over his shoulder.
"Mommy save me!" Hattie laughs as Chad passes by Red. She herself giggles at her daughter before Chad hands her back over to Red.
"Did you have fun with Mr. Chad?" Red asked, kissing the girl's forehead.
"Oh, Uncle Chad," Chad piped up, and Red sent him a confused look, but ultimately decided to go with it.
"You know what this calls for?" Chloe asked, earning a questioning expression from everyone around her. "Ice cream."
Chloe was right. The spring day was starting to get quite warm as it neared late afternoon. Family Day was nearly over now, and soon enough Chloe's parents and brother would need to leave for their own kingdom. Chloe's parents exchanged knowing glances before Cinderella spoke again.
"Actually, your father and I need to head back soon. We would love to, but you know how far Cinderellasburg is from here," she said kindly.
"Yeah, and I've got turney practice at college in the morning. But if you're buying I might be easily swayed," Chad teased, nudging his sister's shoulder.
"Yeah yeah," Chloe said with an eye roll before her face lit up and she turned her attention to Red. "That just leaves you, Red." Chloe sauntered over to where Red stood, closing the gap between them. "What do you say? Do you want to go out for ice cream with me?"
For a second Red just stood there, blinking as if she were trying to load a response in her brain. She couldn't. There was no way she could tell Chloe yes.
"Are you asking me out?" Red asked, confusion evident on her face.
"Would the answer change if I was?" Chloe asked, a playful smirk on her lips.
"I—I don't know, it's getting late and—" Red started, trying to find an excuse to say no but Chloe cuts her off.
"It's four-thirty in the afternoon, Red," Chloe stated matter-of-factly. "It's not like I'm asking you to bury a body, just one date with me is all I'm asking. Which would you rather do anyway?"
"Bury a body," Red teased without missing a beat, earning a laugh from Chloe's family. Despite her joke, she still felt hesitant. Red brought her eyes to meet Chloe's, searching them for any sign that this would be a bad idea. Searching for something, anything, that would give her reason to say no. Chloe's gaze broke free, turning to Hattie.
"Hattie, do you want to get ice cream with me and your Mommy?" Chloe asked the child sweetly.
"Yes!" Hattie screamed, and Red just looked at her daughter in shock.
"Okay, there's your answer. You're coming with me," Chloe smiled devilishly.
"Now you're playing dirty," Red grumbled. She knew she would have to go now, otherwise Hattie wouldn't let it go the rest of the night.
Chloe bid her family a quick goodbye, complete with hugs and kisses. When the three of them left for their cars, Chloe held out her hand, waiting for Red to slip hers in. A heartbeat passed, and Red let her hand fall into Chloe's.
Chloe would be one of Red's biggest risks up to date (and she had taken plenty of those), but without risk there could be no reward. Chloe was different. She was soft, and kind, and loving. She was always there for Red, even when she didn't want her to be. From the very beginning of her year at Auradon Prep, Chloe had treated Red like a person, not a mistake or a lost cause. Deep down Red knew that Chloe was what she needed, someone that remained still in Red's rapidly-changing life. Maybe, just maybe, she would be able to find her very own happily ever after, and maybe Chloe would be the one to give it to her.