Chapter Text
Anne tried to steady her breaths as best she could as she approached Juliet’s door. Telling the characters- people, she reminded herself gently- telling the people from her and her husband’s story that they’d been in control the whole time went… about as well as one could expect. Juliet was angry. She stormed out of the room, an uncharacteristically quiet Romeo hot on her trail. May and Francois had left the room together, Francois specifically looking shaken up. Lance and Angelique hadn’t stayed long, but they said not a word to her or her husband. They had a silent conversation, one Anne wished she could be privy to, but alas, could not.
Divide and conquer. That’s what William had said. She knocked lightly on Juliet’s door. “Juliet?” She called, voice uncertain. She leaned her head against the door, the cool feeling of the wood calming her nerves somewhat. “It’s Anne. I- please. Please let me in so I can explain.”
The door opened slowly, an audible creaking noise resounding in the empty hallway. Anne could only see the left side of Juliet’s face, but the eye she did see was red, like she’d been crying. Anne didn’t need to guess why. Guilt clawed at her heart, because she did this.
“Juliet-“ She began, but no sooner did she open her mouth did the girl open the door fully and step aside for Anne to enter.
“Why was I created?” She asked as Anne stepped in, wringing her hands to try and calm her nerves. Anne spun to face Juliet, who was leaning against the now closed door.
“Why did you make me?” Juliet rephrased, eyes anywhere but Anne. Anne inhaled sharply, and let out a soft exhale. She thought better of trying to reach out and touch Juliet in this moment.
“I didn’t.” Anne confessed, pulling the quill out of her pocket.
“How do I know you aren’t lying?” The girl countered. “I thought you wouldn’t lie to me. I thought you were the only one not keeping secrets. But you kept the biggest secret of all.” Juliet brought her hand to her chest, grasping her necklace tightly, the metal cooling her palm. “I trusted you, April. Or is it Anne? I don’t think you’ve decided.”
Anne let the silence sit for a moment, holding her breath without realizing it. The only sound in the room was Juliet’s sharp, quick breaths as the girl neared the edge of a panic attack. Anne felt for her. How often does one have to question their own existence?
“It’s Anne.” She said after another moment of quiet. “And you were created so that my husband could write his next great tragedy. Two young lovers, destinies intertwined, and your end was meant to be after you and Romeo tried to elope.”
“The carriage driver?” Juliet questioned softly.
“His name is William, really. William Shakespeare. He is hailed as the greatest playwright of all time- the immortal bard. Your story was meant to be told as a play, until I decided we needed to rewrite it, and thus…” she gestured around the room. The silence was as loud as the screams of grief, heavy in the air as Anne ran her fingers along the feather of the quill, relishing in the soft texture it provided. Juliet nodded to Anne, prompting her to continue.
“William and I re-wrote the ending. We went back and forth, over and over again, until now. Here we are. Everything I told you is true, Juliet. About William, and my girls… and….” Anne paused. No matter how much she talked about her son, it never got easier. She didn’t think it ever would. “And my little boy. My real name is Anne Hathaway, and you are alive, though you are meant to be dead.”
“Like Romeo.” Juliet concluded, eyes far away but as close as can be at the same time.
“Like Romeo.” Anne echoed. She stepped closer to Juliet, who made no move to run but instead looked to meet Anne’s eyes. “Listen, Juliet, we- I, I never meant to hurt you. I wanted to give you the chance to make a choice. Partially because you deserve to have a say in your own ending and partially because I do as well. I understand you better than you could ever imagine, because I have been you. I fought for you. I know what it’s like to feel out of control in your own destiny. If you’ve proven anything, it’s that you don’t need someone else to control it.”
Juliet smiled softly at that, a small victory in Anne’s eyes. Small, because the girl still looked so sad. Anne ventured to take another step forward and hold out her hands for Juliet to take.
Juliet grabbed onto Anne’s hands. “I wish you hadn’t lied.”
“I do too.”
“Every memory I’ve had is fabricated? Every experience?”
“Technically, yes.” Anne pressed her lips together. “But Juliet, even so, your experiences make you human. They make you real. The rest of your story isn’t up to me or William…” she let go of one of Juliet’s hands to press the quill into the younger woman’s palm. Symbolic, because she knew Juliet would never use it. “It’s up to you, now. Your beginning may not have been ideal. It may not have been in your own control. However, your beginning does not dictate your end. Do you understand?”
Juliet let go of Anne’s hands to inspect the quill. It was Juliet’s turn to let the silence linger for a bit, and then she let it go. Anne was crashed into, a tight hug enveloping her as Juliet held on tightly. Anne hugged her back. And for a while, neither of them let go.
Eventually, Juliet pulled away and wiped her eyes with her inner wrist. “Where is that husband of yours?”
Anne smiled fondly at the mention of William. “He’s talking to that boy of yours. I just hope it’s going well.”