20in20 challenge (OUATLand)
Queens Never Make Bargains
20 drabbles on the rise, fall and rehabilitation of the Red Queen of Wonderland.
(Slight spoilers for OUATIW 1X03, crossing over with OUAT)
These are very mild but prompt for 'water' and the authors choice get a bit hotter. Just a warning but no graphic anything.
Life Story
5
All she could remember was her mother sobbing. Her wails ran through their manor like a ghost howling in the night. Drizella clutched her stuffed doll as Anastasia looked out into the night. The moon was high and the stars sparkled. I wish, Anastasia began, a sob building in her chest. I wish…
The sudden cold words of her mother came into her mind. Wishes are foolish. Wishes get you no where. Who would help a child like you? No one. Wish all you like, but no one will hear your foolish words.
Anastasia shivered, though she was just a mere child, she knew one horrible truth.
Their father was never coming home.
Soon their Mother’s sobs stopped and they heard her coming. Anastasia grabbed onto her sister, her heart skipping a beat in fear. If their Father was dead, who would save them now?
10
She winced as her Mother ran the brush through her hair. Each stroke was so rough that she felt the wood and bristles would penetrate her skull. She did not cry out, she did not make a sound, her eyes watered but no tear fell. She knew what would happen if she did.
“We must be perfect for him.”
To the outside world, Anastasia and Drizella seemed to be the spoiled children of Lady Tremaine, but they were not. They had to obey their mother and put the airs of royalty, if they did not, then they would never gain that title. Anastasia looked to the man her mother bowed to, and as he kissed her hand. Anastasia pitied him in that moment. As a small, blonde child peered around the corner and deep within, she knew that she would share in their fate of the wrath of Lady Tremaine.
15
Anastasia looked up at the sky, it never looked so beautiful. The stone fountain beneath her was like ice, as was the air. The thought of wishes never entered her mind as she looked above. She heard soft sobs from somewhere below. It was the Cinderwench…Ella, she corrected herself. The name her mother insisted on them calling her was cruel, but they had to. As her new husband found out, you never said “no” to Lady Tremaine.
In this moment Anastasia tried to find peace, but it was hard. The hatred for her mother boiled beneath her skin and self loathing filled her. She was pampered and preened everyday, her education on every subjected filled her days. The stress of having to be perfect and look perfect was overwhelming.
Her eyes caught her reflection in the water beneath. She knew the girl looking back at her was beautiful but she would never believe it.
“Anastasia, what are you doing out here, you stupid girl!” Her mother snapped, seizing her by her arm and dragging her inside.
20
This was it, this was the ball they had been waiting for. Someone would become the new Princess. Prince Thomas was choosing his bride tonight. Excitement raced through her veins at the thought. A sharp slap of a fan against her knuckles brought her back to reality.
“Stop daydreaming, that is no way to win this Prince. So help me if either of you do not become his Bride…” Lady Tremaine murmured as they climbed from their carriage and looked up the grand staircase.
“Yes Mother,” the Sisters chorused at once.
As the night wore on and the new day dawned and as word surged through the kingdom that the Bride was chosen, but ran, Anastasia felt a sigh of relief. She didn’t even favor the Prince; she didn’t want to be his Princess. As the family returned home, Anastasia knew her nightmare had only just begun.
25
Escaping her mother was the single most joy in her life. The freedom of living in a small cottage, the freedom of not having to worry about her vanity or rank, but there was one thing more important. Love, the freedom to love. Her heart raced at the thought of Will’s return, the promise of an adventure all their own on the horizon, the promise of true happiness for the first time in her life. It was all she ever wanted and it was within her grasp. With a happy twirl she spun around her small home.
Little did she know, it would start her transcendence to royalty and would break her forever.
Themes
place
Wonderland was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was…intoxicating to say the least. Before this, she had only been drunk once, and now she felt like she was drunk with every second. None of that mattered however, since Will was at her side. This was the joy she had longed for so longer.
Suddenly they were dragged from the yellow path by men in red, hauling them towards a castle. Everything was a blur and she never knew such fear. She heard Will demand where they were being taken and the only reply back was a gruff. “To the Queen of Hearts.”
heartbreak
She made her choice. Let Will become the Queen of Heart’s assistance as the Knave or let him die. Though her heart was breaking, she knew it was the only way to save him.
“What do you want of me?” she asked, as the Queen stared down at her coldly. Anastasia repressed a shiver, she was reminded of her own Mother.
The Queen of Heart’s laughed. “You? I don’t need you. But you are a pretty young thing, so beautiful. I do know of a King in need of a Queen…or you can die.”
As her heart broke, Anastasia chose the King, in hopes that one day she would see Will again.
team
As the man strode into her throne room, looking mischievous and unafraid of the royalty he stood before. It was intriguing.
“I heard you gained a new Queen. My, she is lovely.” He drawled, while the King rolled his eyes.
“What do you want Jefferson?” the King asked.
The man grinned, “I just said. I wanted to meet your Queen.” His attention turned to Anastasia who eyed him warily as she did all the inhabitants of the land. “Hello, your Highness, I am Jefferson, known as the Hatter. Anything you need, I am your man.”
This perked her up. “Husband, may I travel through the land?” she asked.
The King waved his hand. “I don’t care.” He didn’t care about much, her included.
She looked to Jefferson. “Come along, Hatter, show me my world.” As soon as they were out of earshot of the King, she leaned into his ear and purred. “What a wonderful team we shall make.”
badass
Jefferson was a man of his word. He had taken through the land and helped her slip into others. As they wandered the marketplace of Agrabah, their fancy clothes hidden beneath robes to blend in. They listened to the talk of the locals, about a sorcerer named Jafar that was in search for a lamp. He would kill if he did not get his way and Anastasia had to admit, she was intrigued.
She let the hood of her robe slip down, exposing her grand ruby crown before covering it once more. She grinned as soon the word that a Queen had graced their marketplace began to spread.
royalty
With the air surround Jafar, you’d think he was royalty. She was amused as she listened to him speak. He fancied himself a magical man who was hell bent on finding a lost lamp. One that would allow him to give her whatever she wanted. The very rules of magic would change, Jefferson laughed merrily. She, on the other hand, was intrigued. With a smile, she leaned in close, batting her eyes at him.
“I will offer you help if you do me one thing,” She said.
Jafar merely arched his brows. “What would that be, your highness?”
“Kill the King.”
water
She watched Jafar wash the blood of the King off of his body, she couldn’t help the lust that rose within her. They both knew he could have turned the man to dust but instead took the more visceral approach. She praised the Gods silently for the man before her, not just for his dark nature and his fine physique.
As he wiped his face, he cleared his eyes and looked over to her. “What?” he asked.
“Nothing, darling. I just find myself jealous of that water,” she purred.
Caught off guard, he grinned, it was a lovely smile. “You are more than welcome to join me.”
She thought about his offer for a moment before releasing the clasps of her gown. Sashaying towards him, she saw the lust in his eyes. As she stepped into the water, he pulled her to him, locking her in a passionate kiss.
love
She was no longer a naïve child. The love she once felt in her heart was a shallow dream. The idiotic dream of a girl looking to anyone to help her get away from her abusive past and gain stability. She was weak then, trusting the first man who swore to give her anything she ever desired. That failed her, he failed her.
As she felt Jafar come up behind her, placing his fingers along her neck. She sighed, knowing at any second, he could strangle her. Instead his fingers were replaced by his warm lips. Shivering at the contact, she knew this wasn’t love, but she would take it for now. Though they would never admit they needed each other, they both knew it. She would remind him from time to time and though he seemed bitter, these moments would show that he did actually realize he needed her.
deception
Will promised he would save her. When the time came, he failed her, like he always had. Trapped in Wonderland as the realm went to war, her status of Queen meant nothing. Hiding away her jewels, she picked up a sword and for the first time in her life she fought with everything in her.
No matter who crossed her path, they would feel the pain she was forced to live with. Each person would take on the form of those who had abused her, left her and deceived her. She was covered in blood when Jefferson found her and he seemed frightened but took her hand.
“I’m taking you from here,” He promised.
She laughed cruelly, “If you’re lying…” she warned, she couldn’t take anymore lies. He shook his head and the next thing she knew, she was falling.
family
When she woke up, she was in an unfamiliar place. Her vision was blurred but there was one thing keeping her calm. It was a voice, a soft voice she knew very well. It was singing to her softly, an old lullaby she hadn’t heard in ages.
“Sing sweet nightingale, sing sweet nightingale, high above me,” Ella was singing softly.
As her vision cleared, Anastasia saw her younger sister looking as radiant and young as ever. “Ella?” she whispered softly.
“Anastasia, I’m here,” Ella’s worried voice was so loud but so was an infernal beeping noise.
Looking around, she saw tubes in her arm and she seemed to be under cotton blanket. “Where am I?”
“A hospital in Maine, a hospital is where Doctors tend to your wounds and heal you. No magic involved. Maine is a state here in this realm where magic is…rare.”
Licking her lips, Anastasia struggled to find her voice. “Jefferson…saved me?”
Ella nodded. “Yes, he surprisingly is a man of his word. But please relax, I’m here now. You’re safe.”
For the first time in a long time, she let her guard down and as Ella gripped her hand; she felt that she was no longer in danger. Closing her eyes, she let sleep consume her.
blue
Anastasia hadn’t been out of red in so long, it was odd to see the color blue against her skin. Ella was at her side constantly, helping her adjust to this…modern world. She even learned that Ella had continued to suffer, losing Thomas to Rumpelstiltskin’s deal, being pregnant for almost 30 years. That one had Anastasia horrified, pregnant for 30 years? It still frightened her at the prospects of becoming pregnant. Not that she had thought about children in a long time, but the idea of having a little niece made her think of it.
As the curtain was suddenly pulled back, she felt her mouth drop. Before her stood Jafar, someone she thought was dead. But here he was in the modern realm, looking amazingly handsome as ever. He looked at her with a hopeful look in her eye, all trace of malice and hatred that used to emanate from him were gone. From how he was dressed, she assumed he worked at this hospital.
“Jafar?” she whispered, ignoring the horrified look from Ella at the mention of his name.
“Hello Anastasia, you look beautiful as ever. Though I must admit, blue is not your color,” he said cheerfully and side stepped as Anastasia tried to slap him.
Authors Choice
I'm literally writing what comes to me as a place my mix on shuffle, the title are the songs that inspired the text.
to be with you
“Here is my home,” Jafar said, opening the door for her. She took in all the sights, figuring this was pretty opulent for this world. It would never be as grand as a palace but she figured it was close enough. His hand cupped her hip, steering her around. He showed her each room, ending at his bedroom. She had a feeling it was on purpose. His hand trailed up and down her sides, his forehead coming down against hers. She was surprised at the tenderness of his mannerisms. This was not the Jafar she knew but she was enjoying it, after all the years of war and pain she had lived with. She didn’t think she had any fight left and apparently he didn’t either. “You’re welcome here for as long as you like.”
“I’d be happy to be anywhere, as long as I was with you.”
valentine
Shopping was a wonderful experience; she hadn’t had new clothes or luxury in a long time. Not that luxury were necessary, given what she’d been through even something new was a luxury. The fashions of this realm were odd to her but she had to admit, she looked good in everything she found. Jafar insisted she get whatever she wanted, as long as it was red. She didn’t argue that the color suited her still. Silk tops, tight pants, high heels…well the heels were odd. Given the mutilation of her feet, she refused to try them on in stores. She bought the size she thought would fit and would try them on in private. The one thing she learned, the tales told here never said that it was her mothers forced mutilation on her feet. Most claimed it was by her own hand, but she would never cut up her own feet for a Prince she never wanted. Jafar pulled a pair of red shoes from the box and gently slid it onto her foot.
“You look as beautiful as always, my Queen,” he whispered and she felt her emotions take over. He was too damn charming for his own good.
broken bridge
As she lay in Jafar’s bed, he had rushed out once his…beeper had gone off. The odd little device had informed him there was some kind of incident and he was needed at the hospital. In this realm he was a Doctor, in charge of healing people. Apparently it had been some kind of a joke by the Queen Regina when she brought people here with her curse. She thought it would be funny to put him in a position of healing and not harming, giving him extreme guilt for every life he lost.
It had changed him a great deal and Anastasia felt that weak little girl inside her falling for him. Sure they shared lust through the years but she knew better than to love him. But now she felt it was safe to, that they had both changed for the better. It was time for her to start trying to love again.
tear you apart
He was back, she didn’t know what time it was, but given she didn’t have anything to do, that didn’t matter. She tilted her head as she observed his actions…he seemed shaken.
“Jafar, what’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up.
There was no answer, he just shook his head and continued undressing. Usually she would enjoy the sight but concern was taking over. “Talk to me!” she demanded, pulling every once of Queen into her tone.
“It was a long night, Darling. I almost lost someone, I still take it hard. Who knew someone like me could be reformed?” he asked.
She shrugged, “To be honest, I wouldn’t say I would have but I see it and I admire you for it. But either way, I love you.”
“Even when I spent my time strangling you?” he asked.
Anastasia grinned slightly. “It was a fetish I still enjoy. I am a horribly messed up person, like you, that’s why we fit. Now come here, I’ll make your worries disappear,” she offered and he came willingly into her arms.
promise of you
The next morning they lay entwined, the heat of their bodies was almost too much. His nuzzled her forehead, pressing his lips against her flesh. She sighed, trying to get closer to him. He chuckled softly. “Darling, I don’t think we can get any closer.”
“Sorry, I’m just so…” Damaged. Scared. Lost. Needy. Broken. Hopeless. In love with you.
“Nothing,” she cut off her thoughts.
Jafar cupped her face, “Hush my darling, you are more than nothing, you are everything. It is party why I agreed to work with you all those years ago. I knew I couldn’t resist you. At first I thought it was just for your wicked thoughts and your flawless body, but all this time apart and time I had to focus, time to realize what I needed in life. I needed someone like you, someone who was with me for all my faults and never excused them. I never had such acceptance in my life, until I met you.”
She shrugged, “Well when you’ve suffered extreme emotional abuse and mutilation at the hands of your mother and then the first man you let yourself love betrayal and leaves you, it does things to a girl. But I want to be better, I don’t want to fight anymore, I don’t want to fear anymore, I want a home and stability. Its all I ever wanted.”
He gave her a long, lingering kiss, “And that’s what I will give you, Ana, as long as you let me.”
20 drabbles on the rise, fall and rehabilitation of the Red Queen of Wonderland.
(Slight spoilers for OUATIW 1X03, crossing over with OUAT)
These are very mild but prompt for 'water' and the authors choice get a bit hotter. Just a warning but no graphic anything.
Life Story
5
All she could remember was her mother sobbing. Her wails ran through their manor like a ghost howling in the night. Drizella clutched her stuffed doll as Anastasia looked out into the night. The moon was high and the stars sparkled. I wish, Anastasia began, a sob building in her chest. I wish…
The sudden cold words of her mother came into her mind. Wishes are foolish. Wishes get you no where. Who would help a child like you? No one. Wish all you like, but no one will hear your foolish words.
Anastasia shivered, though she was just a mere child, she knew one horrible truth.
Their father was never coming home.
Soon their Mother’s sobs stopped and they heard her coming. Anastasia grabbed onto her sister, her heart skipping a beat in fear. If their Father was dead, who would save them now?
10
She winced as her Mother ran the brush through her hair. Each stroke was so rough that she felt the wood and bristles would penetrate her skull. She did not cry out, she did not make a sound, her eyes watered but no tear fell. She knew what would happen if she did.
“We must be perfect for him.”
To the outside world, Anastasia and Drizella seemed to be the spoiled children of Lady Tremaine, but they were not. They had to obey their mother and put the airs of royalty, if they did not, then they would never gain that title. Anastasia looked to the man her mother bowed to, and as he kissed her hand. Anastasia pitied him in that moment. As a small, blonde child peered around the corner and deep within, she knew that she would share in their fate of the wrath of Lady Tremaine.
15
Anastasia looked up at the sky, it never looked so beautiful. The stone fountain beneath her was like ice, as was the air. The thought of wishes never entered her mind as she looked above. She heard soft sobs from somewhere below. It was the Cinderwench…Ella, she corrected herself. The name her mother insisted on them calling her was cruel, but they had to. As her new husband found out, you never said “no” to Lady Tremaine.
In this moment Anastasia tried to find peace, but it was hard. The hatred for her mother boiled beneath her skin and self loathing filled her. She was pampered and preened everyday, her education on every subjected filled her days. The stress of having to be perfect and look perfect was overwhelming.
Her eyes caught her reflection in the water beneath. She knew the girl looking back at her was beautiful but she would never believe it.
“Anastasia, what are you doing out here, you stupid girl!” Her mother snapped, seizing her by her arm and dragging her inside.
20
This was it, this was the ball they had been waiting for. Someone would become the new Princess. Prince Thomas was choosing his bride tonight. Excitement raced through her veins at the thought. A sharp slap of a fan against her knuckles brought her back to reality.
“Stop daydreaming, that is no way to win this Prince. So help me if either of you do not become his Bride…” Lady Tremaine murmured as they climbed from their carriage and looked up the grand staircase.
“Yes Mother,” the Sisters chorused at once.
As the night wore on and the new day dawned and as word surged through the kingdom that the Bride was chosen, but ran, Anastasia felt a sigh of relief. She didn’t even favor the Prince; she didn’t want to be his Princess. As the family returned home, Anastasia knew her nightmare had only just begun.
25
Escaping her mother was the single most joy in her life. The freedom of living in a small cottage, the freedom of not having to worry about her vanity or rank, but there was one thing more important. Love, the freedom to love. Her heart raced at the thought of Will’s return, the promise of an adventure all their own on the horizon, the promise of true happiness for the first time in her life. It was all she ever wanted and it was within her grasp. With a happy twirl she spun around her small home.
Little did she know, it would start her transcendence to royalty and would break her forever.
Themes
place
Wonderland was unlike anything she had ever seen. It was…intoxicating to say the least. Before this, she had only been drunk once, and now she felt like she was drunk with every second. None of that mattered however, since Will was at her side. This was the joy she had longed for so longer.
Suddenly they were dragged from the yellow path by men in red, hauling them towards a castle. Everything was a blur and she never knew such fear. She heard Will demand where they were being taken and the only reply back was a gruff. “To the Queen of Hearts.”
heartbreak
She made her choice. Let Will become the Queen of Heart’s assistance as the Knave or let him die. Though her heart was breaking, she knew it was the only way to save him.
“What do you want of me?” she asked, as the Queen stared down at her coldly. Anastasia repressed a shiver, she was reminded of her own Mother.
The Queen of Heart’s laughed. “You? I don’t need you. But you are a pretty young thing, so beautiful. I do know of a King in need of a Queen…or you can die.”
As her heart broke, Anastasia chose the King, in hopes that one day she would see Will again.
team
As the man strode into her throne room, looking mischievous and unafraid of the royalty he stood before. It was intriguing.
“I heard you gained a new Queen. My, she is lovely.” He drawled, while the King rolled his eyes.
“What do you want Jefferson?” the King asked.
The man grinned, “I just said. I wanted to meet your Queen.” His attention turned to Anastasia who eyed him warily as she did all the inhabitants of the land. “Hello, your Highness, I am Jefferson, known as the Hatter. Anything you need, I am your man.”
This perked her up. “Husband, may I travel through the land?” she asked.
The King waved his hand. “I don’t care.” He didn’t care about much, her included.
She looked to Jefferson. “Come along, Hatter, show me my world.” As soon as they were out of earshot of the King, she leaned into his ear and purred. “What a wonderful team we shall make.”
badass
Jefferson was a man of his word. He had taken through the land and helped her slip into others. As they wandered the marketplace of Agrabah, their fancy clothes hidden beneath robes to blend in. They listened to the talk of the locals, about a sorcerer named Jafar that was in search for a lamp. He would kill if he did not get his way and Anastasia had to admit, she was intrigued.
She let the hood of her robe slip down, exposing her grand ruby crown before covering it once more. She grinned as soon the word that a Queen had graced their marketplace began to spread.
royalty
With the air surround Jafar, you’d think he was royalty. She was amused as she listened to him speak. He fancied himself a magical man who was hell bent on finding a lost lamp. One that would allow him to give her whatever she wanted. The very rules of magic would change, Jefferson laughed merrily. She, on the other hand, was intrigued. With a smile, she leaned in close, batting her eyes at him.
“I will offer you help if you do me one thing,” She said.
Jafar merely arched his brows. “What would that be, your highness?”
“Kill the King.”
water
She watched Jafar wash the blood of the King off of his body, she couldn’t help the lust that rose within her. They both knew he could have turned the man to dust but instead took the more visceral approach. She praised the Gods silently for the man before her, not just for his dark nature and his fine physique.
As he wiped his face, he cleared his eyes and looked over to her. “What?” he asked.
“Nothing, darling. I just find myself jealous of that water,” she purred.
Caught off guard, he grinned, it was a lovely smile. “You are more than welcome to join me.”
She thought about his offer for a moment before releasing the clasps of her gown. Sashaying towards him, she saw the lust in his eyes. As she stepped into the water, he pulled her to him, locking her in a passionate kiss.
love
She was no longer a naïve child. The love she once felt in her heart was a shallow dream. The idiotic dream of a girl looking to anyone to help her get away from her abusive past and gain stability. She was weak then, trusting the first man who swore to give her anything she ever desired. That failed her, he failed her.
As she felt Jafar come up behind her, placing his fingers along her neck. She sighed, knowing at any second, he could strangle her. Instead his fingers were replaced by his warm lips. Shivering at the contact, she knew this wasn’t love, but she would take it for now. Though they would never admit they needed each other, they both knew it. She would remind him from time to time and though he seemed bitter, these moments would show that he did actually realize he needed her.
deception
Will promised he would save her. When the time came, he failed her, like he always had. Trapped in Wonderland as the realm went to war, her status of Queen meant nothing. Hiding away her jewels, she picked up a sword and for the first time in her life she fought with everything in her.
No matter who crossed her path, they would feel the pain she was forced to live with. Each person would take on the form of those who had abused her, left her and deceived her. She was covered in blood when Jefferson found her and he seemed frightened but took her hand.
“I’m taking you from here,” He promised.
She laughed cruelly, “If you’re lying…” she warned, she couldn’t take anymore lies. He shook his head and the next thing she knew, she was falling.
family
When she woke up, she was in an unfamiliar place. Her vision was blurred but there was one thing keeping her calm. It was a voice, a soft voice she knew very well. It was singing to her softly, an old lullaby she hadn’t heard in ages.
“Sing sweet nightingale, sing sweet nightingale, high above me,” Ella was singing softly.
As her vision cleared, Anastasia saw her younger sister looking as radiant and young as ever. “Ella?” she whispered softly.
“Anastasia, I’m here,” Ella’s worried voice was so loud but so was an infernal beeping noise.
Looking around, she saw tubes in her arm and she seemed to be under cotton blanket. “Where am I?”
“A hospital in Maine, a hospital is where Doctors tend to your wounds and heal you. No magic involved. Maine is a state here in this realm where magic is…rare.”
Licking her lips, Anastasia struggled to find her voice. “Jefferson…saved me?”
Ella nodded. “Yes, he surprisingly is a man of his word. But please relax, I’m here now. You’re safe.”
For the first time in a long time, she let her guard down and as Ella gripped her hand; she felt that she was no longer in danger. Closing her eyes, she let sleep consume her.
blue
Anastasia hadn’t been out of red in so long, it was odd to see the color blue against her skin. Ella was at her side constantly, helping her adjust to this…modern world. She even learned that Ella had continued to suffer, losing Thomas to Rumpelstiltskin’s deal, being pregnant for almost 30 years. That one had Anastasia horrified, pregnant for 30 years? It still frightened her at the prospects of becoming pregnant. Not that she had thought about children in a long time, but the idea of having a little niece made her think of it.
As the curtain was suddenly pulled back, she felt her mouth drop. Before her stood Jafar, someone she thought was dead. But here he was in the modern realm, looking amazingly handsome as ever. He looked at her with a hopeful look in her eye, all trace of malice and hatred that used to emanate from him were gone. From how he was dressed, she assumed he worked at this hospital.
“Jafar?” she whispered, ignoring the horrified look from Ella at the mention of his name.
“Hello Anastasia, you look beautiful as ever. Though I must admit, blue is not your color,” he said cheerfully and side stepped as Anastasia tried to slap him.
Authors Choice
I'm literally writing what comes to me as a place my mix on shuffle, the title are the songs that inspired the text.
to be with you
“Here is my home,” Jafar said, opening the door for her. She took in all the sights, figuring this was pretty opulent for this world. It would never be as grand as a palace but she figured it was close enough. His hand cupped her hip, steering her around. He showed her each room, ending at his bedroom. She had a feeling it was on purpose. His hand trailed up and down her sides, his forehead coming down against hers. She was surprised at the tenderness of his mannerisms. This was not the Jafar she knew but she was enjoying it, after all the years of war and pain she had lived with. She didn’t think she had any fight left and apparently he didn’t either. “You’re welcome here for as long as you like.”
“I’d be happy to be anywhere, as long as I was with you.”
valentine
Shopping was a wonderful experience; she hadn’t had new clothes or luxury in a long time. Not that luxury were necessary, given what she’d been through even something new was a luxury. The fashions of this realm were odd to her but she had to admit, she looked good in everything she found. Jafar insisted she get whatever she wanted, as long as it was red. She didn’t argue that the color suited her still. Silk tops, tight pants, high heels…well the heels were odd. Given the mutilation of her feet, she refused to try them on in stores. She bought the size she thought would fit and would try them on in private. The one thing she learned, the tales told here never said that it was her mothers forced mutilation on her feet. Most claimed it was by her own hand, but she would never cut up her own feet for a Prince she never wanted. Jafar pulled a pair of red shoes from the box and gently slid it onto her foot.
“You look as beautiful as always, my Queen,” he whispered and she felt her emotions take over. He was too damn charming for his own good.
broken bridge
As she lay in Jafar’s bed, he had rushed out once his…beeper had gone off. The odd little device had informed him there was some kind of incident and he was needed at the hospital. In this realm he was a Doctor, in charge of healing people. Apparently it had been some kind of a joke by the Queen Regina when she brought people here with her curse. She thought it would be funny to put him in a position of healing and not harming, giving him extreme guilt for every life he lost.
It had changed him a great deal and Anastasia felt that weak little girl inside her falling for him. Sure they shared lust through the years but she knew better than to love him. But now she felt it was safe to, that they had both changed for the better. It was time for her to start trying to love again.
tear you apart
He was back, she didn’t know what time it was, but given she didn’t have anything to do, that didn’t matter. She tilted her head as she observed his actions…he seemed shaken.
“Jafar, what’s wrong?” she asked, sitting up.
There was no answer, he just shook his head and continued undressing. Usually she would enjoy the sight but concern was taking over. “Talk to me!” she demanded, pulling every once of Queen into her tone.
“It was a long night, Darling. I almost lost someone, I still take it hard. Who knew someone like me could be reformed?” he asked.
She shrugged, “To be honest, I wouldn’t say I would have but I see it and I admire you for it. But either way, I love you.”
“Even when I spent my time strangling you?” he asked.
Anastasia grinned slightly. “It was a fetish I still enjoy. I am a horribly messed up person, like you, that’s why we fit. Now come here, I’ll make your worries disappear,” she offered and he came willingly into her arms.
promise of you
The next morning they lay entwined, the heat of their bodies was almost too much. His nuzzled her forehead, pressing his lips against her flesh. She sighed, trying to get closer to him. He chuckled softly. “Darling, I don’t think we can get any closer.”
“Sorry, I’m just so…” Damaged. Scared. Lost. Needy. Broken. Hopeless. In love with you.
“Nothing,” she cut off her thoughts.
Jafar cupped her face, “Hush my darling, you are more than nothing, you are everything. It is party why I agreed to work with you all those years ago. I knew I couldn’t resist you. At first I thought it was just for your wicked thoughts and your flawless body, but all this time apart and time I had to focus, time to realize what I needed in life. I needed someone like you, someone who was with me for all my faults and never excused them. I never had such acceptance in my life, until I met you.”
She shrugged, “Well when you’ve suffered extreme emotional abuse and mutilation at the hands of your mother and then the first man you let yourself love betrayal and leaves you, it does things to a girl. But I want to be better, I don’t want to fight anymore, I don’t want to fear anymore, I want a home and stability. Its all I ever wanted.”
He gave her a long, lingering kiss, “And that’s what I will give you, Ana, as long as you let me.”