#twaus2

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.

Y/N followed him to the office every day.

And sat on the couch in Snow’s office.

And read.

And read and read.

Anything they could get their hands on.

Snow was often the one who supplied the books.

Y/N was the one who returned them.

“What did you think of the last one?” Snow asked.

Passing Y/N a new book.

“I thought it was really interesting!”

“What was your favourite part?”

Y/N chuckled. “The meat costume.”

Snow giggled alongside them.

And Bigby, off in the corner, smiled.

Those were moments he’d miss once they were adopted.

And every night, Bigby offered his bed.

And made sure they had all they need.

Even though Y/N always asked him not to fuss.

Snow tried to offer her home as often as she could.

And offered Bigby her spare bedroom.

But Bigby declined.

Resting on the couch instead.

“Bigby.”

It had been almost a year.

Of this back of forth.

And he had free roam of the house.

Both of them knew that.

Bigby looked up from the couch.

And sat upright.

Eyes, tired.

Demeanor, exhausted.

And Snow hugged her robe tighter around her body.

“Please come upstairs.”

He stood.

And sighed.

Pacing closer.

“Snow, I—”

“Please.” She said softly.

Stepping closer.

Making their gaze more intimate.

Then, she looked away.

“I would prefer that.”

Bigby hesitated.

Running a hand through his hair.

Stuffing one into his pocket.

Then, he set a hand on the small of her back.

Guiding her up the stairs.

Following behind her.

“Thank you.” She whispered.

Bigby said nothing.

And when Snow crawled under the covers,

He crawled on top.

But Snow’s head slid onto his shoulder.

Her hold tightened on his arm.

And she closed her eyes.

Sighed.

And was off to sleep.

And Bigby smiled.

His cheek resting on the top of her head.

Resting alongside her.

Routinely, Bigby popped in to visit the two in Snow’s office.

Y/N on the couch reading.

Snow working away.

And Y/N would pop into Bigby’s office whenever Snow had a meeting.

“I like your office.” They’d say softly.

And Bigby would smile.

And chuckle.

And toss them a candy from his dish.

(Fresh ones he’d bought just for them).

“I need a couch like Snow.”

And Y/N’s lit up like stars.

Excited at the idea.

And Bigby was amazed they were interested in that.

At night, Y/N would slip their hand into Bigby’s.

And smile to themselves.

Saying nothing.

And Bigby always smiled.

Feeling the most important person in the world.

“Can I watch a movie with you?”

Y/N asked almost every night.

Bigby would say yes a few times a week.

Then they’d excitedly mark a spot on the couch.

And when they fell asleep,

Normally only an hour in,

Bigby would scoop them into his arms and take them to bed.

His bed.

And tuck them in.

And vanish to the couch.

He had no words for how badly he’d miss them if they were adopted.

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.

It wasn’t unusual for Snow to leave Fabletown for the bigger city.

It was needed from time to time.

For work meetings and conferences.

Seeing as they were still city representatives.

Albeit strangely.

But Bigby refused to let her go alone.

“I’ll be fine, Bigby.”

“I don’t trust it.”

Originally, she used to go with Crane.

That didn’t fly anymore.

And it made Bigby especially worried.

So they ventured into the city together.

Spent a day wandering around a conference centre.

One the two of them were both bored sick of.

Before getting ready to leave.

Snow fell a step behind Bigby,

Grabbing her keys from her bag,

When it happened.

A sharp hand clutched her wrist,

Ripping her backwards.

Bigby sixth’s sense went off.

He flipped, eyes blazing.

And immediately began leering.

“Stay back.” The culprit said.

Pinning Snow’s back to his chest.

His arm around her neck.

“I’m only here for her bag.”

Snow squirmed.

Coughing under his grasp.

“Let her go.”

“When she gives me her purse, I will.”

Snow at first had tried to fight,

Trying to slither her way out of their grasp,

But gave up,

And cast Bigby defeated eyes.

“There,” Bigby snarled. “Now?”

He took a daring step forward.

Barring his teeth.

And the culprit thrust the girl toward him.

Forced into his arms.

And he caught her,

Tightly and gracefully,

Holding her securely and safely,

Until she broke free.

She slammed her heel on the male’s foot,

Tore her bag out of his hand,

And uppercut his chin.

Then, she ran.

Ran toward the car.

Pleading for Bigby to follow behind.

And he did.

At least, he started too.

But then he noticed the glint of metal from the culprit’s pocket.

The glimmer against the dimming moon.

And his brain froze,

But his body didn’t.

Only one thing consumed his being.

’Snow’.

He grabbed her.

Wrapping his arms around her.

Throwing her behind him.

Letting the bullet slam into his back.

“Bigby?” Snow whispered.

Her hands pressed in panic to his chest.

Processing all that had just happened.

But just as she had, the culprit fled.

And she didn’t have the heart to chase after them.

“Bigby, oh my /God/!”

She forced him toward the ground.

Demanding he sit up right.

Ripping off her cardigan to act as a bandage.

“Snow, I--”

She wasn’t listening.

She was too focused.

The corners of her eyes, sparkling with tears.

Her hands, shaking as she frantically worked.

Never giving herself a moment to process.

Only react.

And he reached up as she worked.

Brushing a single tear off of her cheek.

“We need to get you to Dr. Swineheart now.”

“I’m going to be okay, Snow.”

“I can’t risk it,” she breathed,

Her voice wavering,

Catching Bigby by surprise.

“I can’t risk losing you again.”

She shook her head.

Turning to her purse.

Pulling out her keys and rising to her feet.

Unlocking Bigby’s door to help him inside.

But he stood,

And beat her to it.

He caught her arm in one of his hands.

She flinched at first.

The skin, still delicate there.

But eventually relaxed into his grasp.

Her eyes daring to meet his own.

He gave a tired smile.

His face, paling.

“I’m not going anywhere without you.”

And Snow blinked.

Then smiled.

Then blinked back her tears.

But before Bigby could catch the one escaping down her cheek, she did.

“Please, I’m taking you to get patched up.”

And Bigby wouldn’t argue.