However, his actions set you off. He's never bounced his knee before, even if he was nervous about something. You sighed before getting up. You snatched away the file, finally catching his eyes. "Hey!", he exclaimed.

You placed a hand on your hip. "Mind explaining to me why you've been giving me the cold shoulder all day?" He scoffed. "I haven't been giving you the "cold shoulder", he says, reaching for the file. Before he could get to it, you snatched it out of his grasp.

"You have so!", you say, backing away. "You have not once looked me in the eye today or even spoke to me once…" Your shoulders slump. "Did I do something wrong…?"

His eyes widened a bit as he stood, furiously shaking his head. "N-No! No, it's not you. I'm not mad at you."

You placed your fists on your hips. "Okay, so what are you mad about? You know I'm here for you but you're not even letting me in. We talked about this, Bigby."

He sighs and lowers his head. "I know. I just…", he sighs harshly and drags his hands over his face. You set the files down and pull him over the couch. Both of you sit down in silence before he opens his mouth, gaping open and closed like a fish.

"Just say it. Anything you have to say, we'll figure it out together. You know that.", you reassure him. He nods. He was so glad Colin wasn't here right now.

He takes in a deep breath and lets it out slowly. "I've been doing a lot of thinking… and these thoughts I've had kinda scare me."

Your eyes widen. "You? Scared? That's a little unbelievable.", you joke.

He gives you a small smile and a roll of his eyes. It was progress. "You know how I told you that I was a runt of my family...and we split up?"

You nod. He rubs behind his neck. "I-", he sighs again. "I was thinking… I wanted to do better than them..."

Your eyes widened at his implication. "Are you-"

He nods. "I want to start a family with you.", he says, looking in your eyes. Your own (e/c) hues well up with tears as you throw your arms around him in relief. "You're not mad?", he asks, wrapping his arms around you.

"I should be mad at you for distancing yourself from me because of that.", you say. "I would love to. I want a family with you."

Hearing your response lifted so much weight off of his heart. His eyes fluttered close in relief. "I love you.", he says. You smile and kiss his scruffy cheek. "I love you."

He smiled and kissed you softly, cupping your cheek. You returned the kiss and pulled away to pepper his face with kisses. He hummed before placing soft kisses under your chin to your collarbone.

Each kiss felt warmer and warmer, practically making you puddy in his hands. He growled lowly in satisfaction, picking you up and carrying you into your bedroom.

His soft growls rumbled against your neck as he nipped on your skin, grinding into your clothed core. "Bigby...", you whimpered, feeling warm.

He pulled away from your neck and looked down at you. From the darkness of his room, you could see specks of yellow flickering in his eyes.

The one that demanded answers.

The one she only used when she was worried.

No little girl wandered into Bigby’s office without a cause.

And she had a bad feeling.

“I’m taking care of her.”

Snow raised a brow.

Bigby stared at her.

Then stood.

Tugging her out of the room.

“She needs help so I’m helping her.”

“Where are her parents?”

Bigby only stared.

And Snow sighed.

Knowing what his silence meant;

Like so many Fables, she’d been abandoned.

Her family, probably unable to care for them.

“Let me know if you need anything.”

And she turned away.

Bigby wasn’t entirely lying.

The young girl had been abandoned.

He had just taken her in.

Long ago.

He had just kept it a secret.

He wanted it to be only his.

He wanted to be a father without external pressure.

He wanted to learn how to care for her;

How to cook and clean,

And braid her hair,

And buy her school supplies,

Without any help.

He deserved to be able to focus entirely on her.

His reputation shouldn’t have been a factor in her life.

“Who was that, daddy?”

Bigby closed the door firmly behind him.

Praying Snow hadn’t heard her.

But he could hear her heels stop in the hallway.

And he knew she was returning to his door.

She stood there.

Face pale.

Jaw gape.

Eyes bright and twinkling.

With possibly an underlying hint of hurt.

“Daddy?” Snow asked, horrified.

Bigby didn’t think he’d ever hear her say that.

They were taken to Snow’s office.

There, the girl could sit and play.

Colour and draw.

And Snow and Bigby could talk over coffee.

Privately.

But just as they were to begin, the girl whined.

Sitting on the couch.

Casting a gaze toward her father off to the side.

He offered her a sweet smile.

“I’ll be right there, little one.”

And she smiled.

Easing back in her seat.

Glancing around the room.

Fiddling with the rubix cube Snow had given her mindlessly.

And Snow passed.

Staring at him.

Cheeks ed and ears pink.

Amazed.

“I can tell you really care about her.” Snow said softly.

Her gaze, unable to leave Bigby’s.

Bigby raised a brow.

Taking a sip of his black coffee.

Snow gave a meek smile.

“You wouldn’t protect someone this much that you didn’t care about.”

Bigby smiled to himself against his coffee mug.

Grumbling to himself as he gulped.

“I do really care about her.”

He was looking at her.

Smiling.

Chuckling lowly when she excitedly showed off to him her non-solved rubix cube.

And Snow sled.

Her chest, warm and fuzzy.

She couldn’t wait to see how everyone else would react.

Because she knew everyone would be surprised.

But she also knew that deep down, everyone would find it endearing.

Since his banishment, tensions had been low.

Fabletown had slowly been getting back on its feet.

Crane resigned.

Snow had taken over his position.

While Bigby remained in his same position.

But a different man.

“Morning Snow,”

Every day, like clockwork, he would call out to her when he arrived.

As she was already at her desk.

Already with a cup of coffee.

“Your cup is ready.”

“Thank God.”

Their exchange was the same every day.

As Bigby wandered into her office, she passed him his mug.

She always made coffee for the both of them.

And Bigby always gave her that sweet, thankful smile.

He’d become a lot quieter over the past year.

Calmer.

More patient.

With the Crooked Man out of the way, he had way less on his plate.

Life was more manageable.

And Fabletown noticed too.

“Hey Bigby. The usual?”

“You know it.”

Holly smirked, sliding Bigby his beer.

“Good, because I already had it poured.”

Bigby smirked.

Tossing the same few dollars he always did in the top jar.

“God bless ya, Holly.”

And he meant that.

And genuinely, Holly knew he did.

That was why she enjoyed having him in her bar.

Those days she did, at least.

The past had been another story.

Jack and Grendel would always sit to Bigby’s left.

Shooting the shit.

Teasing him.

Digging for work details.

(Even though they knew he wouldn’t give).

And as Fabletown noticed, their demeanour changed.

The exact level of Bigby’s workload had come to light.

How hard he’d worked to catch the Crooked Man.

How much he worked in an average week because of his chaos.

How much calmer he was.

How much work he seemed to get done.

Maybe they’d been wrong about him.

Maybe he was only ever trying to help.

He just struggled to express it.

And he was too overworked to care to explain.

When he walked down the street, people would smile.

Shyly, but they still would.

And over time, they’d wave.

And say hello.

And ask how he was.

And Bigby began to wonder if this was what being a real person felt like.

As cold as Holly could be, she had a big heart.

She cared about people.

Especially little ones.

She just didn’t tolerate bullshit.

Especially toward the little guys.

“What’s your name?” She asked.

Darting to the child’s side.

Ushering her in as quickly as she could.

Demanding Grendel grab a blanket and hot water.

Fumbling and frantic, he did.

More scared of Holly than anything.

Bigby stood from his seat.

Turning off the ‘open’ sign.

Giving the group some privacy.

From that moment onward, they were inseparable.

The child primarily stayed with Bigby.

(As he had the most space).

But the group almost always spent time together.

Sharing custody.

Cooking.

Cleaning.

Whatever they could.

Holly was the most patient with the child.

Teaching them how to cook and clean.

Talking to them about their past life.

At least, what they could remember.

Grendel was passionate about his spot as a ‘father’.

He always asked about the girl’s day.

Ask how she was feeling.

If she was doing well.

And if she wasn’t, he’d have a problem.

But for Bigby, he was the silent parental figure.

The one that watched from the side and smiled.

Offered head pats, hugs, and hand-hlds.

But also admired Holly and Grendel’s passion.

And their passion was always made clear.

It was 8pm.

Bigby went into the back room of the bar.

Off to check on the child.

And am racing out a moment later.

“She’s not in there.” He snapped.

Voice low and gravely.

He barely cast a look at the two before heading for the door.

Ready to run.

“Bigby, wait!” Holly hollered.

Going after him.

Snagging him before he vanished through the door.

“What do you mean?”

“All of her things are gone too,” Grendel said.

Darting out of the room.

Bee-lining for the front door.

Holly flipped toward Bigby.

Eyes wide and frantic.

“What do we do?”

“Well we can’t call the police.” Grendel snapped.

Bigby glared.

“Boys.” Holly asserted.

They eased off.

She sighed.

Running frantic fingered through her hair.

Trying her best to just think.

Semi-clearly.

“I guess we just need to look for her.”

“What?” Both men asked.

Holly flipped around, quivering and glaring.

“That could take us all night.” Grendel grumbled.

“And it isn’t guaranteed to find her.” Bigby added.

Holly’s hands slapped by her sides.

“What other choice do we have?” She snapped.

Her voice raising.

But then, the door creaked.

And a small figure wandered in.

A small plastic bag hanging from her wrist.

“Oh my God.” Holly sighed.

Darting forward.

Wrapping the child urgently into her arms.

“We’re so glad you’re safe.”

The little girl blinked.

Looking confused up at Bigby and Grendel.

After Holly gingerly slid away, she stayed knelt in front of her.

Spotting the plastic bag.

Confused, the young girl reached in.

Pulling out three chocolate bars.

“I wanted to buy you gifts.”

Holly’s hands slowly worked to her chest in awe.

Grendel’s shoulders relaxed.

Bigby’s crossed arms unfolded.

“I saved all the change you gave me from dishes.” The girl said.

Smiling thankful toward Holly.

And teary-eyed, the woman brought the child back into her arms.

“Oh my gosh,” she hushed.

Bigby and Grednel lanced to each other.

Chuckled.

Then turned to the little girl.

He was used to being scolded for mistakes.

Being screamed at when he missed something,

Having something thrown at him when he forgot something,

And sometimes he was scolded for things he didn’t do.

He tried his best,

Lowered his head,

And kept going.

But he didn’t need to do that with Snow and Bigby.

They were always patient and kind.

And he was always thankful.

“Good morning, Fly.”

It was the nickname he had requested.

For the ease of Bigby and Snow.

Every morning, he’d smile and wave.

“Morning, Snow and Bigby.” He’d always say.

Feeling seen.

Feeling like he mattered.

The first time Snow invited him in on their coffee run, he was stunned.

“Me?”

Snow blinked,

Taking a moment to understand what was happening,

Then smiled softly.

“Of course,” she cooed. “You’ll always be invited to order with us.”

Flycatcher felt his heart swell.

And he smiled,

A hand faintly on his heart.

“Thank you, that means a lot.”

Snow found his shock endearing.

And slightly sad.

But she appreciated having him around nonetheless.

Gradually, they taught him about kindness.

Peace and gentleness.

Bigby made casual conversation and thanked him for his work,

Snow greeted him every morning and evening,

Catching him to talk in their break rooms.

Flycatcher never felt appreciated at work before.

He felt amazing.

And it translated to other parts of his life too.

His apartment became spotless.

He began changing up his fashion,

Saving more money,

Smiling more,

Slouching less.

He pinned his bangs out of his face,

Tucking them under his hat,

Wanting to get a better glimpse of the world.

At Snow’s first glance at him, she froze.

And smiled sweetly seeing the new look.

“Good morning, Fly.” She said.

And he turned.

Grinning ear to ear her way.

Eyes bright and flashing.

Heartwarming to see.

“Morning, Snow!” He said.

Pressing on the elevator button for her.

“I hope you have a good one.”

Snow smiled sweetly and stepped into the elevator.

“I’ll see you at 2 for coffee?” She asked from inside.

Fly smiled. “Absolutely.”

And Snow smiled back, heart warm at the thought,