Work Text:
Red hadn't stopped smiling since they returned to the present day, and she couldn't say she had experienced that much before. She looked over at Chloe and couldn't help but laugh when the other princess beamed at her. The sun was shining down brightly and everything just felt so warm , not anything like the Wonderland she had grown up in. It was... nice.
She looked to her mom and wondered if it was still just as dark and cold beyond the rabbit hole. It was hard to wrap her head around her whole world being different now, but the sound of Bridget's voice pulled her from her thoughts.
"I'm so proud of you, sweetie," Bridget said with a wide, beaming smile. "I know you'll do great here."
She grabbed her daughter's hand and pulled her in for a hug along with a tender kiss to her forehead. Red was stiff for a split second before she melted into the embrace, bringing her arms up to hug her back. This was all she had ever wanted, she had to close her eyes so she wouldn't cry.
"I'm gonna miss you," she replied, keeping the ‘I haven't even gotten to know you yet’ in her brain.
Bridget teared up a little and held Red tighter. "Oh, I'm gonna miss you, too, sweetheart."
Red buried her face a little deeper in her mother’s shoulder. She had never heard her say those things, and it was wildly overwhelming. She never wanted to let go, but she didn’t want Bridget to see her cry. She wasn’t a baby.
Chloe stood by her own mother watching her new friend. It was so heartwarming to see Red getting the affection she deserved. Everything was truly right with the world once again, and this was going to be the perfect year.
Ella smiled at her daughter. "I'm so glad you two will finally get to go to school together. I had the best time here with Bridget."
Chloe smiled softly and nodded but her eyes stayed on Red. “I can't wait.”
Ella pulled Chloe into a side hug just as their driver appeared.
"All of the Princess's bags have been delivered to her room, your majesty."
Ella nodded at him and let Chloe go. "Thank you, sir." Chloe bounced excitedly on her heels. Ella laughed. “Go on, go get Red and settle into your room.”
She didn’t need to be told twice. As Red pulled away from her hug with Bridget, her partner in time came running over. “Our room is ready!”
Bridget chuckled. “You two are going to have so much fun sharing a dorm, I wish Ella and I had gotten to.” She sighed, seemingly reminiscing on the past.
“You two should catch up,” Chloe said as Red turned to her and reached for her hand. Bridget smiled and gave Chloe a pat on the shoulder.
“Take care of my girl,” she told her before kissing the top of Red’s head one more time and making her way over to Ella.
Chloe had a faint flush to her cheeks before Red drew her gaze back to her. She smirked. "Lead the way, Princess." She started to walk away before suddenly looking back at her mom. "Bye mom!"
“I’ll visit soon!” The Queen of Hearts waved, and Red waved shyly back. She let Chloe pull her towards their home for the next nine months, taking in the beautiful campus that was Auradon Prep as they went.
The shorter girl threw open the door excitedly, rushing into the room. Their luggage was stacked neatly off to the side and everything was shiny and clean.
“I call the bed by the window!” Chloe went racing for the further bed, jumping onto it.
Red smiled fondly and took a deep breath, surveying the room. She slid off her shoes by the door and walked over to her own bed. Everything was painted in a pale pink, it reminded her of Bridget's room in the past. She wondered who was staying in that room now as she flopped down onto the bed. She stared at the canopy above her, feeling her limbs getting a little heavy as her thoughts wandered.
Chloe looked out the window for a bit, watching students outside walk to their respective dorms and parents seeing them off. The memories of the coup that she and Red successfully stopped seemed so far away.
"So, whatcha wanna do?" she asked, turning her gaze over to the Wonderlandian. "I could use some food."
Red didn't seem to register her words at all, totally lost in her head. Memories of her childhood swirled and she felt paralyzed.
"Uh, Red?" Chloe called out a little louder.
The other princess still didn't respond. It took several repeats of her name before she startled back to the present, suddenly jerking into a sitting position and breathing heavily.
"Y-yeah? What did you say?" Her face was a little pale and her hands trembled ever so slightly. She slid them under her legs so Chloe wouldn't see.
"Are you okay?" she asked softly, getting up from her bed.
She eyed one of her bags she knew her stuffed animals were stored in; she had packed them all herself and spent nearly an hour organizing them all to fit, nobody could be left out. Chloe unzipped it and grabbed one sticking out towards the top, a little pink cat, before walking over to Red with it in her hand.
Red pulled her eyes up to Chloe slowly, like it was agonizing. She couldn't find the words to respond, she just opened and closed her mouth several times like Ursula had stolen her voice.
Chloe held the plushie out in front of her. "What's the matter?"
Red reached for it after a moment, pulling the cat to her chest and curling up around it. She pressed her forehead to her knees, like the pressure could make her forget everything.
Chloe climbed into the bed next to her. "I want to help you, but I don't know what's wrong."
Red sniffled. "I..." was all she could get out before the tears started to roll down her face. They were silent at first, like they had been every night she cried herself to sleep growing up. She started to rock back and forth, clutching the plush like a lifeline.
Chloe wrapped her into a hug, wiping some of the tears away.
"Whatever it is, it's okay," she whispered. "I've got you. The kitty's got you, too."
Red couldn't help but giggle through her tears a little bit as she rested her head against Chloe's chest. She felt her hand start to card through her hair, and more memories filled her head that brought her sobs back at full force.
“None of it was real…” she choked out.
"What?" Chloe asked, still petting Red's hair and holding her.
It took Red a minute to calm down enough to speak again. "It wa-wasn't real... She hurt me, Chloe... And none of it is real any-anymore." She dropped her head back down to hide her face in Chloe's top.
"Oh..." The realization very quickly hit Chloe. "Oh, honey..."
She held her princess a little tighter, determined to protect her from everything bad in the world. She was Red’s protector now, she decided, and anyone who messed with her would be meeting the tip of her sharpest sword.
Red was thankful for the hug, it felt grounding even as the worst parts of her childhood filled her mind. She brought the plushie up to her face so she could nuzzle her cheek against it. She closed her eyes and tried to even her breathing. "One-one time, I was trying on her tiaras and I accidently dr-dropped one... She c-cut off all my hair. It was so pretty and l-long, Chloe..." She started to cry again. "She cut it all off!"
"I'm sorry," Chloe responded, sweeping her fingers through Red's hair and struggling to imagine it gone. Red’s hair was gorgeous, it was so soft and silky. She felt like she could just pet her forever, running her fingers through her waves and watching them bounce back. “You didn't deserve that. You never would deserve that."
"I loved my hair..." was all Red could mumble, crying steadily. "B-but now none of that matters, and it's all still in my head..."
Chloe was near tears at this point too, hugging Red as tightly as she could. "Oh, Red... It does matter. I'm sorry you have to keep those memories."
Red kept going, it was like once she started talking she couldn’t stop. "I thought it would all be fixed if she loved me... But I still remember all of it." Red looked down at her wrist and found none of the scars that should have been there. Even the cigarette burns and papercuts were gone. "She-she would throw cards at me until I bled..."
Chloe took note of where Red's eyes were drifting and gently held her wrist. "I'm so sorry. You didn't deserve that at all, even if it didn't happen in this timeline." She felt like her blood was going to boil, she was angry like she had never felt. She wanted to run her sword through that awful woman, but she didn’t exist anymore. Chloe couldn’t imagine how frustrating it was for Red.
Red let her hold her there for a moment before she pulled away and instead grabbed her hand. "I sound like I'm fucking mad..."
"I know you're not," Chloe replied. "Whatever happens, I know your memories are real, and I'll be there for you."
Red sniffled. She had never had a friend before, certainly not someone as sweet, and kind, and passionate, and loving as Chloe Charming. She looked up at her, suddenly struck by how gorgeous she looked in this lighting. Did she always look so kissable? "Promise?"
Chloe smiled, lifting her hand to wipe away some of the tears. "Promise."
Red dropped her eyes back down to the cat plush, biting her bottom lip gently. Her tears began to dry and she started to feel insanely tired despite how early it was.
"Forget food," Chloe said after a few moments. "Do you just wanna stay here where we are and cuddle for a while?"
Red's brow furrowed. "Cuddle?"
Chloe tilted her head. "Yeah. Or, do you not like to do that?" She rubbed her back a little hesitantly, and Red seemed to enjoy her touch, so the Cinderellasberg princess was thoroughly confused.
Red still looked equally confused. "I've never... done that."
"Oh." Chloe smiled. "Well, if you want to, now you can. We can just lay here holding each other."
Red thought about it for a moment, feeling weary. She was so overwhelmed with all this new affection, but Chloe’s touch felt like heaven and she wanted to stay in her arms forever. “Yes. Please.”
Chloe laid them both down on Red’s pillows, leaning her head down so her chin was resting on top of her princess’s hair. She began to play with her hair again as they laid together in soft silence.
Red kept the cat hugged close to her chest, snuggling into Chloe's hug and closing her eyes. This was so nice, she would definitely jump back in time just to experience this again. Chloe closed her eyes, too. After everything they'd just been through together, it felt nice to just relax. Red smelled like cherries and something sweet she couldn’t name. She was almost drifting off when Red broke the silence.
Red sighed softly, not opening her eyes. "I think I'm gonna like this new timeline, as long as you stay right here."
Chloe felt her heart beat a little faster and her face get a little hot. “I’m wouldn’t leave you for the world,” she said sincerely. Red giggled.
“Good, because you’re stuck with me now, Blue.”
Chloe giggled. “I’m happy to be.”
Red smiled, the tear tracks dry on her face and her heart full for the first time in her memory. "Me too."