Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

One week after saving Red's mom,

"Chloe! Can you help me get that box up there?" Red asked, pointing towards the box on the shelf.

"Ofcourse, here lemme help." Chloe grabbed a small stool from beside her wardrobe and stood on it as an attempt to grab the box.

But ofcourse not everything goes according to plan as in an attempt to get the box she stands on her tippy-toes to grab it, but as soon as she got the box in her hands she loses her balance and trips backwards.

Luckily Red was paying attention and caught Chloe right before she could hit the ground.

"Are you okay Chlo!?" She asked in a sort of shock while she slowly helped her up again.

"Yes I'm fine, thanks to you." She says with a bit of giggle in her voice,

"That's not funny, boo!" Red says whilst giving Chloe a little stomp on her upperarm.

"You could've seriously hurt yourself!" She says with a bit of angst in her voice.

"Well I didn't and since when do you care about things like that?" Chloe put her hand on Red's shoulder before walking up to her bed.

"I- I don't know" Red thought to herself. She turned around to walk towards the box that had fallen out of Chloe's hand and picked it up.

"What's in that box anyway?" Chloe asked whilst giving Red a curious look.

"Oh uhm n- nothing important." She said stuttering a little.

"Red stuttering? Something's not right." Chloe said in her mind.

Suddenly there was a knock on the door and both of the girls looked up to the door.

"I'll get it." Chloe said.

She opens the door and to her surprise it was Chad.

"Chad? What are you doing here?" She asked still quit shocked.

"Just visiting my baby sister or am I not aloud to do that." He says.

"No ofcourse you can come I was just a bit surprised that's all!" She says in an apologetic way.

"I was only joking no need to apologize." Chad responded.

As a young girl Chloe was always easy to manipulate or take advantage of because she was a little clueless at some times just like now.

"So how long are you staying here?" Red asked not caring much about it.

"I'm only here to say goodbye and stuff like that because I'm going to college and we won't be able to see eachother anymore as often." He said while pulling Chloe in for a hug.

She hugs him back and then they say their final goodbyes and Chad leaves again.

Chloe shut the door and turned to Red. "Now tell me what's bothering you." She said with a concerned look on her face.

Red turned to Chloe before saying "Nothing is bothering me why would you think that?" She says going back to what she was doing.

"Well you usually talk a lot more to me and now you're just.. well a bit more silent."

"Oh" Red said in her mind not realizing how obvious her silence was.

"Well it's still a little weird you know the whole situation." 

"I get it but I'm here for you if you want to talk." Chloe said while walking over to her wardrobe to pick out her pyjama.

"You know I'm not good at that." Red said silently but Chloe definitely heard it.

"You can always try." Chloe said as she walked into the bathroom to change and do her hair.

Red was left to think if she wanted to talk to Chloe but she did not think she was ready to talk to Chloe about her past.

Chapter Text

Both the girls were asleep, until Chloe woke up to a sound that she just simply couldn't ignore.

She sat straight up scanning the room looking where the sound came from. She couldn't find where it came from because the sound had stopped.

She decided to lay back down on her bed and so she did. After a few minutes she heard the noice again but this time it sounded like muttering.

So Chloe looked at Red who was curved up in a ball. Next thing she knows she's standing beside Red's bed.

Chloe kneeled down and put her arm on Red shoulder and said: "It's okay Red, it's just me."

Red relaxed a bit by Chloe's touch but then her eyes sprung open as she woke up with Chloe right beside her.

"Oh hey Chloe, what time is it?" Red said still a bit sleepy as she wasn't a morning person.

"It's like something around 2 a.m." She said a bit unsure.

"Wow that's early why are you awake?" Red asked hoping Chloe would leave her and go back to her own bed, but we know Chloe and she would not do that.

"I heard you muttering something I think you had a nightmare Red." Red was a bit shocked by the fact that Chloe knew she had a nightmare and now she would definitely not leave Red be.

"Oh it's probably nothing princess, you should just go back to sleep." Red said while she sat up facing Chloe.

"Is there something you're not telling me?" Chloe asked with a curious tone even tho she knew that Red was hiding something from her.

"N- no why would I hide something from you?" She said hoping Chloe would believe her.

"And that's supposed to be convincing?"

"Fine, I had a nightmare." "Happy now?" Red said with a no one cares about me anyways expression.

"I am happy, now do you want to talk about it?" Chloe said while sitting next to Red on the side of her bed.

"Not really but okay." Red said looking away from Chloe.

Chloe grabbed Red's hand and started talking to Red.

"Red, I know what's happening is hard for you with your new mom and stuff." Chloe paused to catch her breath before continuing.

"But I can't help you if you don't talk to me." She said hoping that Red had listened.

"Why do you even care Chloe?" "I'm a lost cause."

"Red look at me you are not a lost cause!" Red turned to Chloe but she didn't have words to answer to that.

"You do so much good Red, I promise." 

"I always heard that I was a disappointment and that I could never do anything right."

"Your mom isn't her anymore we saved her."

"And if anything she would be proud of you, she loves you Red"

"Do you really think so?" She asked looking Chloe in her eyes. 

"I know so." 

Chloe stood up to walk towards her own bed to sleep again when Red pulled her back by her hand that she was still holding.

"W- will you sleep with me tonight?" Red asked looking down to the ground.

"Of course Red!" Chloe said while making her way over to Red's bed and crawling under the sheets.

She opened her arms for Red to lay in and so she did. Red was sleeping with her head by Chloe's neck. And her arms around Red's stomach.

"Goodnight Bluey."

"Goodngiht Red."

Chapter Text

Saturday morning, 

Chloe's pov:

Chloe ( as usual ) is up early for her morning run and while on her run she bumps into someone.

"Omg! I'm so so so sorry." Chloe says to the person she bumped into.

"It's okay Princess. Here let me help you up." 

"Thank you- uhhh what's your name?"

"Oh I completely forgot. Im princess Raven, daughter of King Naveen and Queen Tiana." Raven says while taking Chloe's hand and shaking it.

"Nice to meet you Raven! I'm princess Chloe Charming, daughter of King Charming and Queen Cinderella." 

"I thought I recognized you. Of course, you're Chad's little sister!"

"Yup that's me!" Chloe said with a happy face.

"By the way you out on a morning run too?" Raven asked.

"Yeah, I love to run plus you are more likely to be the first in row in front of the coffee shop!"

"That's true, wanna get some coffee together?" She asked Chloe.

She thought about Red and how she wanted coffee today so Chloe decided to say yes.

"Of course! But we gotta be fast because my roommate is probably wondering where I am right now." Chloe said while starting to run.

They both make it to the shop and what felt like they just made a world record for fastest run in the world, was just a quick run of 5 minutes they probably could've just walked.

"Here we are." Chloe said catching her breath. 

"Finally, it felt like forever!" Raven said with a relieved but also funny tone which made Chloe giggle.

Slowly they walk into the shop and order 3 coffees

"I gotta go back now." Raven said handing Chloe a note.

"Here is my number, this was fun we should definitely go on a run together soon!" She said hoping Chloe would agree.

Chloe was reading the note and there her number was. She wasn't so sure about this but, she agreed.

"Sure I'll text you my planning for the rest of the week!" Chloe said.

"See you later!" They both said as they started walking away from eachother.

Red's pov:

Red woke up to an empty bed and a ringing phone.

It was her phone. She picked it up seeing the missed texts and call from Chloe. While she sat up straight she opened the texts and started reading them.

10 minutes ago

Chloe💎: Goodmorningg, I'm out on a run!

Chloe💎: Imma grab us some coffee. I'll be back a bit later!

You have 1 missed call from Chloe💎

Chloe💎: Reeeddddd, are you awakeee???

Now

You: goodmorning Chlo

Chloe💎: Finallyy, I'm almost back just walked into the gardens!

You: great cause I'm thirsty

Red never really cared about her grammar while texting but Chloe on the other hand. Her texts were always so perfect and she.. she was just-

Before Red could sink into her thoughts she was interrupted by the door opening. It was Chloe.

"Oh Reeedddd, guess what I've got for you!" Chloe said while holding a coffee cup up in the air.

"My coffee! Finally I was starting to really get thirsty."

"I'm sorry I bumped into someone on my run." Chloe said with an apologetic smile.

"Who is someone?" Red asked curiously.

"Princess Raven-" Chloe said but before she could finish Red grabbed the note Chloe was holding in her other hand.

When Red was reading it she started to get a little overprotective at that her number was on the paper but she just said to herself "it's just a note Red, just a note."

"I think little miss goody two shoes has a little admirer!" She said as she handed the note back to Chloe.

No right? Never. She was just someone she met. Nothing special. Chloe thought.

"Hellooo? Earth to Chloe??" Red said waving her hand in front of Chloe's face.

"You zoned out there, boo." Red said taking a sip of her coffee.

"Sorry I was just a little lost in thought." Chloe said also drinking some of her coffee.

"What ya thinking about?" Red said a bit curious.

"Oh uh nothing important, anyway how is your drink?" Chloe asked.

"It's nice but I am starving!" She said as response.

"Let's get something to eat downstairs then." Chloe suggested.

"Let's do that!" Red said just wanting to eat something

They walk out of their dorm room and downstairs to the cafeteria.

The second they walk into the cafeteria Raven came walking up to them.

"Heyy, Chloe!" Raven said greeting Chloe.

"Hey, Raven! Raven meet Red, Red meet Raven." Chloe said.

Red looked at Chloe who wanted her to befriend Raven so she greeted her as nice as she could.

"Hey, I'm Red." She said waving a little.

Raven waved back. 

"We're gonna get some lunch, see you later Raven!" Chloe said pulling Red with her to the line for food.

"I am starving." Red said to Chloe while looking at other people who had already gotten their food.

"Me too." Chloe said putting a hand over her stomach.

Finally it was their turn to get food. As the lunch lady gave them their food, Raven was waving at them signaling to come sit with her and her friends.

Chloe and Red came walking up to them. But instead of saying that they will sit and eat lunch with them, they said:

"Maybe next time Raven!" We're gonna eat this up in our room, but thanks for the offer tho!" Chloe said smiling.

"That's okay, have fun!"

Chloe and Red said goodbye and started walking up to their room again.

Chapter Text

Back in their room.

Chloe closes the door behind them and goes to sit by her desk.

"Chloe will you eat with me, instead of sitting at your desk while doing your homework?" Red asked hoping Chloe would for once not do her homework.

"Red.. you know I have to finish this." Red gave Chloe puppy eyes that Chloe could just not ignore.

"But I suppose I could make an exception, for now." Chloe said leaving her desk and eating with Red.

"Finally." Red said with a sarcastic tone which made Chloe scoff.

"You better watch your tone missy, I could go back to my desk anytime I want!" Chloe said while making the movement of walking towards her desk.

"Stay.. Please?" Red said grabbing Chloe's wrist with her hand that wasn't holding her lunch. 

The sudden movement made Chloe turn around within seconds, looking at Red's hand that's holding her wrist and then back at Red's eyes.

They locked eyes for a few seconds before Chloe broke the eyecontact and said.

"Don't worry princess, I'm not going anywhere." Chloe said reassuring Red.

"Sit down boo." Red said patting the space next to her.

Chloe sits down next to Red and they both eat their lunch.

"Its familyday tomorrow, you know?" Chloe asked Red.

"I know, but I'm kinda nervous cause yeah well my mom." Red said turning away from Chloe.

"I get it, but you gotta face her at some point, they can't get suspicious."

"I know, it's just weird." Red said still staring at the floor.

Chloe grabbed Red's chin and pulled her face up to face her. (PS: It gave Red butterflies)

"I'm here for you through everything Red." Chloe said releasing Red's chin.

Red's cheeks became a light shade of pink by the touch of Chloe hands on her face.

"Thanks, boo." Red said looking up, while Chloe got up and put her hair up in a mid-hight ponytail, grabbing her sportsbag of the ground.

"I"m off to swords and shields practice, see you later Red!" Chloe said while opening the door.

"See you later." Red replied.

She heard the door close and plopped on her back. 

Red was left to think about what had just happened 

Chloe... everything about her, she's- she's just perfect. 

Red was lost in admiration for Chloe, when she suddenly got a flashback of seeing Chloe's sad face after sentencing her mother to death

How could someone like Chloe like someone like me. That's just simply impossible, never gonna happen. 

Red's face started tearing up by tears flowing down her face 

Chapter Text

Both girls were packing for winter break, both completely lost in thought

Red thought to herself how Wonderland would look, since they went back in time. And Chloe thought how her parents would react to her kissing a girl. She promised Red that it wouldn't break their friendship and wouldn't become awakward, but it kinda did become awkward.

"Do you promise we'll text everyday?" Chloe asked without turning towards Red.

"Sure, but I don't know if I have wifi back in Wonderland." Red said while stopping to pack her bags.

"I hope you do cause winter break is 2 weeks long!" Chloe said finally turning around facing Red.

"Well I'll try." Red said while going back to packing her bags.

Chloe was a bit shocked from her responses and how simple they were and with how weird Red was acting. I mean I don't blame her cause I did kinda promise her we'd still be the same after- Chloe stopped herself in thought because this isn't what she wanted, right? She wanted to make her parents proud and bring home a prince. 

So Chloe turned back around continued packing her suitcase.

Suddenly Red broke the silence.

"Why are you acting so weird, Chlo?" Red asked turning around slowly.

"What do you mean? You're the one acting like I'm that annoying girl you wanted to feed to the jabberwocky!" Chloe said still not turning around.

"Me? You promised me it would all still be the same! That we would still be the same! But you lied..." Red said slowly walking towards Chloe.

"I know I promised and I'm sorry, but you're not the only one with problems!" Chloe said slowly turning around facing a Red who was only standing a few steps away from Chloe. 

"I know I'm not the only one, but we could've just talked about it? You always said to me that you should always try! But why aren't you trying?"

"Because-" Chloe stopped and looked at the ground.

"Just tell me already, Chlo." Red said getting impatient with Chloe because she wasn't made for things like this, but she knew what she had said offended Chloe a bit because she pushed Red away and turned around to get her fully packed suitcase and walked to the door.

"Chloe, please don't go..." Red said hoping to get a reaction from her which she did but not the kind she was hoping for.

"I did everything for you. I WAS ALWAYS THERE FOR YOU! And yet.. you can't even have the sympathy to wait a few seconds so I can pull it all together and tell you. So please, just leave me alone!" She opened the door and walked through it but before closing it she said: "Have a nice Christmas, Red." Then the door closed.

Red was left there to think. 

In Wonderland

Red was standing on her balcony watching the sunset when suddenly her mom appeared from behind her.

"Hey sweetie!" Bridget said while walking towards her daughter.

"Hey mom." Red replied still with her head deep in her thoughts.

"Okay, tell me what's bothering you?" Bridget asked worried.

"How did you know?" Red asked turning her head towards her mother.

"Im a mom I see when my daughter is hiding something from me.." She said also turning her head towards her daughter.

"Anyway it doesn't matter, it won't fix anything." Red said turning away from her mom.

"Its okay if you don't wanna tell me, just know I'm here if you want to talk!" She said patting Red's back.

"Thank you mom."

"No problem darling." Bridget said while she started to walk away.

"Wait!" Red said hoping her mother would stop walking away. "I'll tell you.."

"Are you sure sweetie?" Bridget asked.

"I'm sure, but I do wanna go inside to talk."

"That's alright."

They started walking inside and sat in Red's bed.

"Well uhm.. I kinda got in a fight with Chloe about something dumb a- and-"

"Hey, hey it's okay, slow down!" Bridget said in a comforting way.

"I let her down mom, I was impatient with her and now I made her upset..."

"It's okay darling, I don't know what happened but I know she'll forgive you! She always forgave you."

"I- it's different this time! I really really upset her." 

"What happened my rose?" Bridget asked.

"I- we were in a discussion and I was pushing her to say what was bothering her, I was getting impatient.."

"And? What happened next?" She asked signaling Red to continue.

"She pushed me away and that's were it all started- I- I said I was sorry! But I was too late she was hurt because she was always there for me and I couldn't even have patience to let her figure things out and-"

"It's okay my dear. Maybe she just needs some space. Just be there for her when she's ready to talk again!" Bridget said pulling Red in for a hug.

They hug for a little while.

"Thanks mom" Red said.

"You're welcome sweetheart!" She responded.

The 2 weeks went by and instead of taking her mothers advice, Red ignored Chloe's apology texts and left her on opened and after that Chloe also stopped texting Red. Red felt bad but she felt like it was what was best, Chloe needed some space and Red needed to sort her mind on how to handle seeing Chloe at school again. But what's done is done... Maybe Red could do something to make Chloe less pissed? You'll never know until you actually try...