First thing Snow did after she started work was calling Beauty to make sure she truly didn't need any help. She was quiet all throughout working on her task, and that was suspicious. Or a good sign, but she had to check. On the phone Beauty assured her everything was on track, so… she had nothing left to do regarding the ball aside from trying not to stress about it.

Maybe despite everything she should just do it all herself to be sure it's done right and sleep well, or at least try to. She would at least have something to focus on instead of the unexpected death of her wild child sister. In theory it probably would be healthier to give into the grief, but she really, really didn't want to. She would prefer to get herself overwhelmed by work instead, that would be perfect, actually. Unfortunately, she wasn't able to convince herself there was a point in starting anything new and the only task at hand was doing her hair and make-up for the night.

Years, decades before she used to set an appointment at the hairdresser to get ready for such occasions, but at some point she found it to be too time-consuming, so she practised and learned to style her hair into an elegant updo that looked like it took way more work than it really did. For one night Bigby would have to manage seeing her with her hair neatly put in place with pins instead of freely flowing how he liked it.

Putting on make-up didn't take much of her time. After so many years her hands moved almost by themselves, yet it was enough for her to focus on and not think about anything that had to do with the murder. She had to believe Bigby was taking good care of the case and was right with telling her there was no need for her to be involved.

Trends and cosmetics changed, but the basis of putting on red lipstick, mascara, eyeshadow and powder stayed mostly the same, at least for her. She wasn't the most adventurous when it came to fashion. For the ball she of course put in bigger effort than on a casual morning and she made her eyes and lips darker than everyday for work, but it wasn't a lot more work than usual and it looked similar to make-up she wore to the ball last year and the year before.

Only thing left to do was putting on the dress and a pair of pearl earrings she picked up a month ago, as well as picking up her black purse and using perfumes. As she was picking the smell, she wondered about Birby's preference, but came to the conclusion he would prefer her natural smell anyway, so his taste wasn't really helpful. The earrings fortunately had no silver parts.

It was a bit of a hustle to put on the dress alone, with no help with the zipper on the back, but if years of living single enriched her in any skill, it was exactly this one. as she put on her high heels, she was good to go and face the night, no matter what it was about to bring.

"Did you dress so nicely just for my benefit?"

She would spill her drink if she had one. Why was he even talking to her? Wasn't a divorce supposed to prevent that?

"What on Earth would make you think that?"

"There's no one on your arm."

True, she was there alone, for now, and she didn't know where in the hell Bigby was, but she assumed the thing that was stopping him had to be important, whatever it was. Anyway, she always used to go to those things alone.

"It's a real talent to spew such nonsense with a straight face."

She wanted to walk away from her ex-husband, but he stopped her by putting his hand on her elbow. She looked at it as if there was a bug on her arm.

"How much have we made so far in the lottery?"

Snow glanced over a crowd of fables dressed in suits and flashy gowns buying tickets at Grimble's desk, pouring small fortunes in a shot at winning a useless title and grounds in the war-torn, occupied world they had slim to nonexistent chances of getting back to. Not that she was taken-aback by how well it worked out, but… maybe a little. She did not expect to see Beauty, the same woman who was willing to take any job, desperate for money, buying tickets. Snow could only guess the nostalgic allure of a castle lost to the enemy was too much for her weakness for useless stuff from old days to oppose. At least she could see Beast was fully human again, so apparently this waste of cash put her in a good mood.

"In the morning it was three hundred grand. I wouldn't be surprised to learn it doubled by now."

"Who would have thought that so many would willingly spend so much for a slight chance to win absolutely nothing of substance?"

He was throwing this small talk on her, but she really just wanted to go anywhere else.

"No wonder they call lotteries taxes on stupidity." She could withstand only so much time in his proximity. "Pardon me, I should be on my way to the reading. Enjoy your final evening as Prince Charming."

A smile escaped her as she finally left him alone and maybe he noticed it, but she wasn't sure as she did not look back.

Just a glance at the ceremonial hall ensured her that Beauty managed to pull everything together as she should. It was impressive, really. Maybe Snow would object to some of her choices when it came to the decoration, but it was clear Beauty had a better sense of what this celebration was all about than she ever did, so Fabletown citizens probably enjoyed all of the throwbacks to the lost worlds that seemed plainly kitsch to her.

King Cole walked to the podium and Bigby was still nowhere to be found. No way he stood her up, so what happened? Did he have another fight with Bluebeard? She hoped not.

Before the reading started, she was left with too much dreadful time to think, so against her will she remembered how Rose loved those balls. She showed up every year and danced through the whole thing until morning.

She could not allow herself to cry right now, it would destroy her make-up and everyone would see that, it was too bright in the room for tears. She had to stay focused on the reading she heard countless times before and try to ignore the sudden heavy burden in her chest.

As much as she could complain about King Cole, and she could complain a lot, he was a great speaker. She knew the old tale word by word, but yet the way he read it once again, recounting the story of the occupants of disconnected worlds undermining the enemy and realizing they should've banded together to fight the Adversary long time ago and now were left with their only way of survival being running away into non-magical Earth and forming a community of exiles, was engaging and fresh. When they got to the toast and empty promise of coming back to the Homelands, she was a bit sorry that Bigby missed it all, even though she knew he was a tougher audience than she was.

Snow had some appearances to make as the deputy before the dancing started. The band was getting ready to play on stage in the corner and as she saw Boy Blue tuning his trumpet she felt proud of Beauty once again for seeing the organization through to the end. She had to thank her for her help the next time she saw her.

Right now she unfortunately had to personally thank every rich fable for showing up and, hopefully, making a generous donation at the hands of the mayor in an hour or so. It was humiliating and she hated every moment of it, but she endured it for the greater good. At least for now there was no other way to get a substantial amount of money for the city budget.

When she was done, she went straight to the bar to get champagne. She had the misfortune of hearing just enough dishonest condolences from people she didn't like to desperately want to get drunk.

"Sorry for being late." Finally. The voice she waited for for two hours.

She turned to face him and raised her brow at the sight of the Fabletown sheriff wearing a full tuxedo.

"I started to think that you forgot there's a party today." She took a sip from her glass.

"I wouldn't forget." He smiled under his breath. "I had to finish work." She knew something about it.

Bigby took a glass of champagne from the bar as well and they moved into the crowd, towards the center of the hall. On their way she saw Bluebeard walking around the space so she asked about that, because she did not recall a conversation about letting him go from the arrest.

"I'll catch him back if he starts shit. He has a donation to make." He took a sip of champagne. "You look amazing."

"I guess so."

"Let's go eat something, I didn't have dinner."

"You were so late that most good food is already gone. But I know the caterers always steal the best for themselves. They keep the good stuff locked away in the back, then sneak it home after the party. If you like, we can raid the kitchen and get some for ourselves."

"That's it." Huh?

"What's what?"

"That was the lacking bit of the mystery and you solved it."

"Did I?"

"Rose had a house party every other day. Her apartment was full of mundies and fables all the time, often when she wasn't there. She put a padlock on her freezer to keep the guests from the good stuff."

"So far, I'm not following you."

"Rose is alive. There was so much blood on the crime scene, because she was collecting it in the freezer. I noticed there were holes drilled on the sides of it, but I didn't know what it was for."

"So she was trying to get out of the deal with Bluebeard."

He looked around the place as if he was wondering about something.

"I might be on track to find her, but we don't have to hurry. Let's get that food you advertised so well."

Jazz music as well as chatter of tipsy fables surrounding them was making it so they could only talk whispering in each other's ears on their way back to the hall.

It felt nice, his low voice in her ear, his warm breath and touch of his stubble on her skin. A few heads turned their way, but she would only care if she was less drunk on alcohol and news of Rose being alive. Besides, who was that giving them looks? Pinocchio, Crow brothers, Rapunzel and Cindy of all people. She didn't mind them. A month ago she would be appalled by the mere idea of anyone seeing her act so familiar with Bigby, but right now, after everything that happened and taking into consideration what Fabletown was gossiping about already - she didn't feel like it mattered much.

"I noticed you peeking at my breasts." And she wasn't surprised, this strapless cut was doing wonders for her course he appreciated it.

"Yeah, I'm guilty. Because fuck, they look splendid."

"Just don't stare too obviously."

They were in the crowd of the main hall again, pleased with dinner and drinks negotiated from the cook. They were forced to even closer proximity if they wanted to hear each other. They talked about some unimportant matters, like how the ball compared to the previous ones or who showed up and who didn't. It was refreshing after days spent on worry, sorrow and work.

"Shall we dance?" Only now she noticed no one else asked yet, and typically by now she would have danced with at least seven men who wanted to make a good impression. Was the presence of Bigby scaring them off? Possibly.

"Since when are you a dancer?"

"I've never danced before."

"Are you sure you want to try right now? With all of those fables who already stare at us?"

"Why not?"

Okay, so he really didn't give a shit.

"If you're so eager, I'll teach you."

She reached for his hand and led him to the dancefloor, where among the crowd she noticed Briar politely smiling in dance with King Cole and Ozma doing pirouettes with Pinocchio.

"Put your hands here and here." She guided him to make the frame. "Follow my lead and try to stay off my feet." His steps were fine, but oh no, he was taking her words to heart too much. "Look up."

"Then I can't see my feet."

"Do it anyway. You look like you're trying to peek down my dress. We talked about this."
"I'm not doing it on purpose. This time. I'm trying to not stomp on your feet."

"Move to the rhythm and you'll be fine."

He tried, he probably put in his best effort but the result was… maybe not really that bad… All eyes were on them as they were moving past Flycatcher and Jack… Jack?

"You let him go, too?"

"I caught him a hundred times already. It's fine, he's still under arrest."

"And what if Bluebeard kills him?"

"Not in front of that many witnesses."

"If you say so…"

The conversation was taking his focus off powering through the waltz, so she stopped talking to not make it any harder for him.

"I don't feel like I'm doing good." He was right, so she didn't say anything. "Let's do anything else than this."

They were about to walk away from the floor, maybe to get some desserts, but suddenly Bigby stopped and turned to look through the dancing crowd, seemingly at some woman wearing a big carnival mask, dancing with one of the dozens of fables dressed in tuxedos.

"I think I know you," he said and walked her way, bringing to himself a lot of attention - and half the people on the floor were already looking at both of them. The moment he lifted his hand Snow understood what was going to happen next.

When he took off her mask and wig of black hair with one smooth motion, Snow saw exactly who she was expecting.