our steps seal fate (four)
Our Steps Seal Fate
Four
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Timeline: one week after “you lied to me”
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, suggestive content
Genre: General/Drama
Beta: the lovely pandorasimp and the instigator josiefier
Word Count: 1,419
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Emma Swan, Red, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Abigail, Snow, Ella, Jiminy, James, Thomas, Frederick, Jefferson, Adam (OMC), Grumpy, Fairies,
Summary: History teaches us our greatest lessons and tales as old as time help our steps seal fate. (Or how Emma Swan learned to embrace her heritage and destiny as the daughter of The Charmings.)
Emma stared at Red for what seemed like hours, waiting for the girl to wake. Emma had to admit it, she was creeping herself out but anything Rumpelstiltskin did had her on edge. But, Red seemed calm and at peace in her sleep. She was partially laying on top of Belle, who looked down right terrified, though she didn't move a muscle.
Abigail and Snow were talking to her quietly, trying to sooth her. It seemed to be helping, Ella had left to tend to Alexandra and to give Granny a break from all the children. With a sudden yawn, Red woke slowly, blushing as she realized she was vaguely spooning someone who spacial issues. She murmured a sorry as she sat up, immediately looking for her cloak. She spotted it on the floor, then ran her hand over the back of her neck.
"Sorry to invade your personal space, Belle, your scent reminded me of Jiminy..."
Emma's brows met in the middle of her forehead, "How do you figure?"
Red smiled, "We of the Enchanted Realm rarely wear perfume, so people usually have a distinct sub-scent. Belle, you smell like roses...Jiminy smells like fresh grass..." there was a dreamy smile on her lips.
"What about me?" Abigail asked with a wink.
"Gold. And dear Snow, you smell like your namesake. Fresh, crisp..." she inhaled deeply, "James smells like summer while Ella will always smell of cinders. James and Thomas smell like metal..."
"I'm almost afraid to ask about Rumpelstiltskin," Emma said.
Red's look became more distant, "Magic. Pure magic. But yet again so do the dwarves after mining it for so long."
"This is an utterly fascinating conversation," Came Adam's voice from the doorway. He was leaning on the door frame, his head brushing the top of it. "You have an interesting take on life, Little Red."
She shrugged, "It's either adapt or go mad. I choose to keep my sanity when for all purposes, I should be as mad as the Hatter."
"He smells like tea," Adam said with a wink and tapped he nose, "I pick up on all those scents as well. but you, Miss Swan, you are...different."
That was was news to her, "How?"
Adam shrugged, "Your scent tells me you are the daughter of Snow and James but what else are you?"
"It's more than magic," Red said, with a nod of her head. "It's why I didn't say anything."
"Weird." was all Emma could think to say, so instead of dwelling on how odd these people were, she focused back on the Prince. "What brings you up here? Thought you were watching Genie."
Adam shrugged, "Frederick gave me a break. Since I heard Red fall earlier, I came to see if everyone was alright. I do not trust Rumpelstiltskin."
"Why?" Curiosity filled Red's face, she even tilted her head like a dog, Emma would never say that to her face.
Adam looked to them all, "I don't trust anyone or anything with magic. Not after what happened, remember Snow?"
A haunted look crossed Snow's features, "That Enchantress."
"Yes, but thankfully so many years have passed and with that curse gone. I have control again but I still do not trust anyone who can bring such darkness with the flick of a finger. I'm glad in my Realm, the closest thing to magic is our legends of the Melusina."
"What is that?" Emma asked, having never heard of it in her life.
Abigail was the only one who knew immediately as she answered, "A Melusina is close to a mermaid. Instead of one tail, it's two and possibly winged. The woman in the tale actually turned into a dragon whose roars you can hear as she mourns her children she left behind."
"You are correct, Princess," Adam smiled.
She grinned at him, "Duty of a Princess, learn your tales, you never know what it will teach you."
"Says the daughter of King Midas, who is talking to The Beast who is checking up on Red Riding Hood!" Emma stated.
Snow giggled as Abigail blinked at her, "You're not adjusting to this well, are you?"
"I'm trying," Emma stated bluntly.
"Well, Sister, try harder," came Grumpy's growl from behind Adam. "Snow, the fairies are here."
Snow stood, excusing herself, shooting Emma a grin, "Eventually you'll have to except it. You are my daughter and I am Snow White..." she said this in a sing song voice as she vanished into the hall.
It made Emma shiver, given it sounded like the old movie. It was too eerie to hear that voice from Snow and from Ella. Adam lingered in the doorway.
"Anyone need anything?" he asked, looking at them all.
Belle looked up at him, "Tea, please," Emma realized the woman was still dreadfully pale.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked.
Emma heart ached and she couldn't figure out why, maybe it was because she was looking at an iconic couple who hadn't even begun. Their story was just beginning but if they only knew the magic they could share...
"-said once I stabilize I will be better but it may still be another week." Belle was saying as Emma drifted back in.
Adam nodded, "Well he never steered me wrong after all this time. I trust him greatly."
Emma assumed they were discussing Jiminy. "I don't need anything," she stated, hating to break their bonding. "Red?"
"Nope, Jiminy will probably bring me something soon. He always knows when I'm hungry," the beautiful grin on her face was spellbinding. Within seconds of speaking he was making his way in, handing her a plate. "See? Jiminy, you're doing it again," she was trying not to laugh. Jiminy blinked twice then blushed, he opened his mouth, Emma assumed he was going to apologize, but Red cut him off. "It's ok, don't apologize, it's sweet."
Still blushing as red as her name, Jiminy walked out, but a smile lit his face. "You two are charming," Abigail said, "It's cute how flustered he gets and how positively giddy you get."
Red paused, mid bite, and through what seemed to be a fistful of grapes, mumbled, "Giddy? Well, a little..."
"And how do you feel when you're with Rumpelstiltskin?" Belle asked, looking nauseated at Red's food.
Red gulped very loudly, "That's a horse of a different color..." she then paused and looked at Emma, "Oz is real too. Only we call it the Outer Zone."
"Stop avoiding and answer the question," Emma stated, she wanted to know as well.
Red sighed, "He came to me at the lowest point in my life and took care of me. After I ate Peter, I couldn't function. I ate the man I thought I was meant to be with. Later I learned a wolf will never harm it's mate, but to find out you're this monster that eats humans and has been for years...I just...became so lost. Snow had to go into hiding to keep away from the Queen and that's when he found me. He took me in and told me everything I needed to hear, he tended to me and helped me with control. Just like he did here," she said, rubbing her neck. "A part of me loves him for it, most days I loathe him, but sometimes the way he looks at me and I know it doesn't matter how many I kill, how much blood I have on my hands...he loves the monster in me. For someone who can watch you devour a human being and still desire you is a powerful thing."
Emma arched her brow, "you have some severe issues, don't you?"
Red just smiled softly with an almost wistful grin on her face, "Yeah."
"Uh...I'm going to get that tea..." Adam stated, clearly freaked out, given how quickly he disappeared into the hall. From the sound of it, he vaulted from the top of the stairs to the main floor.
"Wow, you totally freaked him out," Abigail stated in awe.
Belle laughed softly, "I find you oddly fascinating," she told Red, who arched her brow and continue to nibble on her fruit.
Emma waited for Red to say something but when she didn't, Emma finished, "Why?"
"Beasts fascinate me," Belle grinned, "I have had a very sheltered life."
"God, why is this my life?" Emma asked, burying her face in her hands.
Snow reappeared with Ella, "Because I had you."
Emma clenched her eyes tight, that was the last thing she wanted to hear.
---
to be continued
Four
Note: I do not own “Once Upon A Time” and I do not make a profit from writing this story. I’m just amusing myself.
Timeline: one week after “you lied to me”
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, suggestive content
Genre: General/Drama
Beta: the lovely pandorasimp and the instigator josiefier
Word Count: 1,419
Cast: (in order of appearance/mention) Emma Swan, Red, Rumpelstiltskin, Belle, Abigail, Snow, Ella, Jiminy, James, Thomas, Frederick, Jefferson, Adam (OMC), Grumpy, Fairies,
Summary: History teaches us our greatest lessons and tales as old as time help our steps seal fate. (Or how Emma Swan learned to embrace her heritage and destiny as the daughter of The Charmings.)
Emma stared at Red for what seemed like hours, waiting for the girl to wake. Emma had to admit it, she was creeping herself out but anything Rumpelstiltskin did had her on edge. But, Red seemed calm and at peace in her sleep. She was partially laying on top of Belle, who looked down right terrified, though she didn't move a muscle.
Abigail and Snow were talking to her quietly, trying to sooth her. It seemed to be helping, Ella had left to tend to Alexandra and to give Granny a break from all the children. With a sudden yawn, Red woke slowly, blushing as she realized she was vaguely spooning someone who spacial issues. She murmured a sorry as she sat up, immediately looking for her cloak. She spotted it on the floor, then ran her hand over the back of her neck.
"Sorry to invade your personal space, Belle, your scent reminded me of Jiminy..."
Emma's brows met in the middle of her forehead, "How do you figure?"
Red smiled, "We of the Enchanted Realm rarely wear perfume, so people usually have a distinct sub-scent. Belle, you smell like roses...Jiminy smells like fresh grass..." there was a dreamy smile on her lips.
"What about me?" Abigail asked with a wink.
"Gold. And dear Snow, you smell like your namesake. Fresh, crisp..." she inhaled deeply, "James smells like summer while Ella will always smell of cinders. James and Thomas smell like metal..."
"I'm almost afraid to ask about Rumpelstiltskin," Emma said.
Red's look became more distant, "Magic. Pure magic. But yet again so do the dwarves after mining it for so long."
"This is an utterly fascinating conversation," Came Adam's voice from the doorway. He was leaning on the door frame, his head brushing the top of it. "You have an interesting take on life, Little Red."
She shrugged, "It's either adapt or go mad. I choose to keep my sanity when for all purposes, I should be as mad as the Hatter."
"He smells like tea," Adam said with a wink and tapped he nose, "I pick up on all those scents as well. but you, Miss Swan, you are...different."
That was was news to her, "How?"
Adam shrugged, "Your scent tells me you are the daughter of Snow and James but what else are you?"
"It's more than magic," Red said, with a nod of her head. "It's why I didn't say anything."
"Weird." was all Emma could think to say, so instead of dwelling on how odd these people were, she focused back on the Prince. "What brings you up here? Thought you were watching Genie."
Adam shrugged, "Frederick gave me a break. Since I heard Red fall earlier, I came to see if everyone was alright. I do not trust Rumpelstiltskin."
"Why?" Curiosity filled Red's face, she even tilted her head like a dog, Emma would never say that to her face.
Adam looked to them all, "I don't trust anyone or anything with magic. Not after what happened, remember Snow?"
A haunted look crossed Snow's features, "That Enchantress."
"Yes, but thankfully so many years have passed and with that curse gone. I have control again but I still do not trust anyone who can bring such darkness with the flick of a finger. I'm glad in my Realm, the closest thing to magic is our legends of the Melusina."
"What is that?" Emma asked, having never heard of it in her life.
Abigail was the only one who knew immediately as she answered, "A Melusina is close to a mermaid. Instead of one tail, it's two and possibly winged. The woman in the tale actually turned into a dragon whose roars you can hear as she mourns her children she left behind."
"You are correct, Princess," Adam smiled.
She grinned at him, "Duty of a Princess, learn your tales, you never know what it will teach you."
"Says the daughter of King Midas, who is talking to The Beast who is checking up on Red Riding Hood!" Emma stated.
Snow giggled as Abigail blinked at her, "You're not adjusting to this well, are you?"
"I'm trying," Emma stated bluntly.
"Well, Sister, try harder," came Grumpy's growl from behind Adam. "Snow, the fairies are here."
Snow stood, excusing herself, shooting Emma a grin, "Eventually you'll have to except it. You are my daughter and I am Snow White..." she said this in a sing song voice as she vanished into the hall.
It made Emma shiver, given it sounded like the old movie. It was too eerie to hear that voice from Snow and from Ella. Adam lingered in the doorway.
"Anyone need anything?" he asked, looking at them all.
Belle looked up at him, "Tea, please," Emma realized the woman was still dreadfully pale.
"Are you feeling any better?" he asked.
Emma heart ached and she couldn't figure out why, maybe it was because she was looking at an iconic couple who hadn't even begun. Their story was just beginning but if they only knew the magic they could share...
"-said once I stabilize I will be better but it may still be another week." Belle was saying as Emma drifted back in.
Adam nodded, "Well he never steered me wrong after all this time. I trust him greatly."
Emma assumed they were discussing Jiminy. "I don't need anything," she stated, hating to break their bonding. "Red?"
"Nope, Jiminy will probably bring me something soon. He always knows when I'm hungry," the beautiful grin on her face was spellbinding. Within seconds of speaking he was making his way in, handing her a plate. "See? Jiminy, you're doing it again," she was trying not to laugh. Jiminy blinked twice then blushed, he opened his mouth, Emma assumed he was going to apologize, but Red cut him off. "It's ok, don't apologize, it's sweet."
Still blushing as red as her name, Jiminy walked out, but a smile lit his face. "You two are charming," Abigail said, "It's cute how flustered he gets and how positively giddy you get."
Red paused, mid bite, and through what seemed to be a fistful of grapes, mumbled, "Giddy? Well, a little..."
"And how do you feel when you're with Rumpelstiltskin?" Belle asked, looking nauseated at Red's food.
Red gulped very loudly, "That's a horse of a different color..." she then paused and looked at Emma, "Oz is real too. Only we call it the Outer Zone."
"Stop avoiding and answer the question," Emma stated, she wanted to know as well.
Red sighed, "He came to me at the lowest point in my life and took care of me. After I ate Peter, I couldn't function. I ate the man I thought I was meant to be with. Later I learned a wolf will never harm it's mate, but to find out you're this monster that eats humans and has been for years...I just...became so lost. Snow had to go into hiding to keep away from the Queen and that's when he found me. He took me in and told me everything I needed to hear, he tended to me and helped me with control. Just like he did here," she said, rubbing her neck. "A part of me loves him for it, most days I loathe him, but sometimes the way he looks at me and I know it doesn't matter how many I kill, how much blood I have on my hands...he loves the monster in me. For someone who can watch you devour a human being and still desire you is a powerful thing."
Emma arched her brow, "you have some severe issues, don't you?"
Red just smiled softly with an almost wistful grin on her face, "Yeah."
"Uh...I'm going to get that tea..." Adam stated, clearly freaked out, given how quickly he disappeared into the hall. From the sound of it, he vaulted from the top of the stairs to the main floor.
"Wow, you totally freaked him out," Abigail stated in awe.
Belle laughed softly, "I find you oddly fascinating," she told Red, who arched her brow and continue to nibble on her fruit.
Emma waited for Red to say something but when she didn't, Emma finished, "Why?"
"Beasts fascinate me," Belle grinned, "I have had a very sheltered life."
"God, why is this my life?" Emma asked, burying her face in her hands.
Snow reappeared with Ella, "Because I had you."
Emma clenched her eyes tight, that was the last thing she wanted to hear.
---
to be continued