Archive of Our Own

FIRST TIME

It had been six months. One hundred and eighty-two days, to be exact, since Red of Hearts and Chloe Charming traveled 25 years into the past. Where their parents were still teenagers, where the Isle of the Lost hadn't been created yet, and where the border between Wonderland and Auradon was still open.

The two of them had rewritten reality just by pressing the button on the pocket watch. To the rest of the world, the United States of Auradon had always been this unified utopia where Wonderland wasn't an isolated nation, but an eccentric one—yet still a member of the alliance.

And most shocking of all: Bridget.

The Queen of Hearts was no longer a tyrant obsessed with beheadings. In this timeline, her mother was an absurdly sweet monarch who ruled with cakes instead of axes, who wore red but softened with pink lace, whose laugh sounded like bells rather than a death sentence, and who was famous for her flamingo cupcakes.

In theory, everything sounded perfect.

It meant Red no longer suffered cruel punishments or constant fear. Her mother didn't turn her friends into cards or cats. The citizens of Wonderland weren't unjustly beheaded, and there were no longer demanding rules like curfews. However, Red's mind hadn't adapted to the peace yet; her head was still a battlefield.

Red now lived at Auradon Prep, sharing a room with the girl who made the change possible. The rebel, though she wouldn't say it out loud, thanked whatever entity put Chloe Charming in her life. The blue princess helped her adapt, navigate Auradon's stupid customs, the subjects Red had never heard of in Wonderland, and keep the gossip about Wonderland's "instability" at bay.

Red was sitting on the edge of her bed, staring at her phone screen as if it were a bomb. A message had just lit up the glass.

Bridget: Good morning, my strawberry cupcake! ❤ Hope you did excellent on the chemistry exam. I can't wait for Family Day, to visit you and Pink... Send greetings and a hug to Chloe. Love you!!

Red swallowed hard, a knot forming in her throat. Love you.

Those two words appeared on her screen daily. In this timeline, she had a mother who adored her and, to Red's surprise, a fifteen-year-old younger sister, Pink; a cheerful, teenage version of Bridget who followed Red around like a lapdog. Pink had no trauma, only happy memories of the three of them in Wonderland.

"It's too much," Red whispered, locking the phone and tossing it onto the black sheets covered in hearts.

Red could never say "I love you" back to anyone. Her brain still held corrupt files from the other timeline: screams, fear, and a mother who rejected any display of love and only smiled at the misfortune of others. Reconciling that tyrant with the woman sending heart emojis made her feel like she was walking a tightrope, waiting to wake up one day and discover that nothing had changed. That she and Chloe had failed, that it was impossible to change people's destiny.

The door to the room burst open, snapping Red out of her thoughts, bringing in a gust of fresh air and the smell of orange blossom soap.

"Red! You won't believe what happened at practice!" exclaimed Chloe Charming.

She walked in wearing her fencing uniform, impeccable despite coming from two hours of combat at Swords and Shields. Not a single blue hair was out of place, and the sweat on her dark skin only made her glow more. Red looked up and felt that familiar lurch in her stomach. That vertigo only Chloe provoked.

"Let me guess," Red tried to sound casual, adopting her rebel girl façade. "You won without losing a point, helped your opponent up, and gave an inspiring speech about fair play?"

Chloe stopped, blinked with that innocence Red knew wasn't entirely naive, and smiled. A bright, flirtatious, and dangerous smile.

"Almost," said Chloe, walking over to sit next to the redhead, invading her personal space with total naturalness. "But you left out the part where I was thinking about you."

Red felt the heat rise to her cheeks. She hated how easy it was for Chloe to say things like that. "You're cheesy, Charming," she snorted, looking away and inching away a centimeter, though Chloe pulled her back instantly.

"And you're a grump, Hearts," Chloe replied softly. Her voice dropped a tone, noticing the tension in Red's shoulders and the abandoned phone. "Are you okay? You look... tense. Is it your mother again?"

Red sighed, defeated. Chloe was her anchor in this sea of changes. "She sent me a message. She said 'I love you.' Again."

Chloe tilted her head with empathy. "That's good, isn't it? Bridget is wonderful. The time change worked, mon cœur."

"I know, I know." Red ran her hands through her red hair, frustrated, leaning more into Chloe's shoulder and feeling the princess wrap her arm around her. "It's just that... a part of me is still waiting for her to come decapitate everyone. And I know Bridget feels something is off because I barely reply. I see everyone here in Auradon saying 'I love you' to each other like it's saying 'hello.' I never had that, and the word feels heavy, too loaded."

Because of what it meant to Red, the redhead understood why it would be hard to say that back to her mother. Having both versions of Bridget in her head. But for the rebel, it was frustrating how she couldn't even say it to Chloe.

Chloe brushed a red lock of hair from Red's forehead. "You don't have to force it. You have two lives' worth of memories competing in your head. Give yourself time. There are many ways to show affection without saying it."

Red looked at Chloe. She saw the kindness in her brown eyes, the infinite patience. She remembered the time travel, how Chloe had fought back-to-back with her, how despite going against what Chloe believed and what she had been taught, she trusted Red, how she sacrificed her parents' gift, the glass slippers, just to save Red.

I love her, Red thought.

The thought was so clear and potent for Red. The redhead loved the blue princess's annoying perfectionism, how she crinkled her nose when she studied, how she looked almost arrogant when competing, how she was the only person who wasn't afraid of her and challenged her, how she comforted her when she had nightmares, and how Chloe admired Red's scars.

The silence in the room became dense, charged with electricity. Chloe watched her expectantly, with a slight smile on her lips, as if waiting for Red to take the next step. Chloe never pressured, and more than once Red wondered why. Chloe didn't say those three words to her either, even though the redhead had heard Chloe say them to her family.

Tell her, Red ordered herself. You are Red of Hearts. You faced tyranny, you traveled through time. You can say those three damn words.

Red's heart began to beat against her ribs like a trapped bird. Her palms started sweating, and panic began to rise in Red.

"Chloe..." Red started.

Her voice came out a bit higher than normal. Which made Red want to smack herself in the forehead.

"Yes, Red?" Chloe leaned in a little closer. They were so close Red could count the princess's freckles.

I love you. I love you. I love you. The words were there, on the tip of her tongue, ready to jump. But then, the trauma got in the way. The fear of vulnerability, the fear that if she said it out loud, this perfect reality would shatter and return to the nightmare. Her brain short-circuited.

"I... I..." Red stuttered. She looked at Chloe's lips, then her eyes, then went into total panic seeing the hope on the blue girl's face. "I..."

Chloe waited. There was no impatience in her gaze. She knew. Deep down, Chloe knew. She could read it in the tension of Red's shoulders, in the way she looked at her when she thought she was distracted.

But Red's brain decided that "fleeing" was the best option.

"It's dinner time! I... I bet you can't beat me running to the cafeteria!" Red shouted suddenly, jumping up with a nervous and explosive energy.

"What?" asked Chloe, blinking softly, though the smile on her lips widened a bit, becoming more understanding than confused.

"That I'm hungry!" insisted Red, backing toward the door, pointing down the hallway with an exaggerated gesture. "And if you don't run, I won't treat you to the fries from my plate."

Without waiting for an answer, Red turned around and shot out the door, running from her own feelings faster than she ran from her mother's guards in the other timeline.

In the room, silence returned. Chloe remained seated on the edge of the bed, looking at the empty spot where her girlfriend had been a second ago. Far from looking disappointed, she let out a small laugh, a soft laugh full of affection. She stood up calmly to go after her. Chloe didn't plan on losing that race.

"Coward," Chloe whispered to the air with affection, shaking her head as she went out after Red.

SECOND TIME

Three days had passed since the "cafeteria escape" incident. Chloe hadn't even brought it up, but Red had been avoiding the subject with Olympic dedication. Still, the tension bubbled under her skin like a poorly made potion.

They were in the Auradon Prep gardens, taking advantage of a free hour. Chloe was leaning against an ancient oak, reviewing notes for History of the Kingdoms, while Red was lying on the grass, her head resting on Chloe's lap. The rebel tossed a playing card into the air and caught it, again and again.

The afternoon sun illuminated Chloe's blue hair, making some strands look almost silver. There was no one nearby; Red had purposely chosen one of the trees furthest from other people. The air was calm, and spring had the flowers in full bloom. Both were relaxed.

Red caught her card. It's now or never, she thought. You can't run away this time.

The redhead sat up abruptly, almost hitting her head on the book Chloe was holding. The blue-haired princess arched an eyebrow at the sudden movement, but she just assumed Red wanted to shift positions, so she went back to looking at her book.

"Hey, Blue," said Red, breaking the silence. The redhead greeted her as if they hadn't just been sitting there.

"Yes?" Chloe murmured, though she kept looking at the book, since she was actually reading an interesting part.

"Charming!" Red exclaimed.

Chloe dropped the book at the exclamation, which sounded more like nerves than anything else. The princess looked at the rebel, giving her time to speak.

Red took a deep breath, feeling those brown eyes now attentive to her. She felt the Wonderland magic, that chaotic energy she had inherited from her mother, stirring in her chest. Normally she used it for small tricks, though she still had to learn how to control it, but right now, her emotions were in command.

"The thing about the other day..." Red looked at her boots. "I didn't want to bet on a race. I wanted to tell you something. Something real."

Chloe sat up straighter to match Red's position and gave the redhead her full attention. "I'm listening, mon cœur."

Red felt her heart beating in her throat. Tell her. Tell her she is the only thing that makes sense. Tell her the three words she deserves.

"Chloe you... you make being here less... weird. And I..." Red squeezed her eyes shut, forcing the words out. "I feel things. Big things. Things... about hearts."

Red felt closer to the three words; she was sure this was the moment. Her own heart felt like it was about to burst out. And that should have been the warning—Red's magic was not yet fully stabilized and was connected to her emotions; the magic took the words and the things Red felt literally.

Both Red and Chloe felt the air around them crackle. A glowing reddish energy began to surround them.

Chloe opened her eyes in amazement. "Red?"

Red opened her eyes. Around them, floating in the air like soap bubbles, dozens of bright red hearts had appeared. They were beautiful, translucent, and pulsed with a warm light.

"Oh..." Red looked around, surprised but relieved. Well, this isn't so bad. It's a bit cheesy, but at least I didn't summon an executioner.

Chloe let out a delighted giggle, reaching out a hand to touch one. "Red... this is beautiful. Is it your magic? It's the sweetest thing I've s—"

Suddenly, the heart closest to Chloe began to vibrate. The soft red color turned a furious crimson and started emitting a high-pitched sound: tick-tick-tick-tick.

Red's eyes went wide. She recognized that sound. It was the sound of emotional instability. It sounded like the devices Maddox Hatter created before they exploded.

"Chloe, don't touch it!" screamed Red, lunging toward her.

"What?" asked Chloe, confused.

BOOM!

The heart exploded in a cloud of pink smoke and black glitter, with the force of a small firework.

"Get down!" ordered Red, tackling Chloe to the grass just as three more hearts decided to join the party.

BOOM! BAM! POOF!

The hearts began to detonate in a chain reaction around the tree. They weren't lethal, but they were loud, released a cloud of smoke smelling of gunpowder and burnt roses, and threw sparks everywhere.

"Are your declarations always heavy artillery?!" shouted Chloe from the ground, trying to protect her hair from the sparks. Even with Red on top of her.

"I'm just nervous!" yelled Red, trying to stop the appearance of more hearts. "My magic reacts to my panic! And I am panicking a lot!"

"Well, calm down!" laughed Chloe, who, incredibly, seemed to find the situation funny despite the explosions.

"I can't calm down if you're laughing!" retorted Red, feeling her face burn.

One last explosion, bigger than the others, shook the tree, causing a rain of leaves to fall and leaving both girls covered in pink soot. Silence returned, broken only by both of them coughing and the dissipating smoke.

Red got off Chloe. The perfect princess was covered in pink dust, with tousled hair, but she was laughing heartily.

"I ruined it," groaned Red, letting herself fall back onto the grass. "Again."

Before Chloe could answer, a long shadow was cast over them. The sound of boots stepping, and the scent of the sea gave away who it was.

"May I ask why it looks like someone detonated a Valentine's factory in my garden?"

Red and Chloe froze. They looked up to see Principal Uma, arms crossed, wearing her turquoise leather jacket and an expression that mixed exasperation with a touch of amusement in her tone.

Uma looked at the pink grass, slightly scorched by the sparks. Then she looked at both of them. Also covered in dust. Finally, she locked her eyes on Red.

"Red," said Uma, arching an eyebrow. "I know you come from an intense family, but at Auradon Prep we have a strict policy regarding emotional explosives."

"It was an accident..." murmured Red, standing up and helping Chloe.

"It was an attempt at... expression," intervened Chloe, trying to brush off her jacket, defending Red automatically.

Uma sighed, rubbing her temple. "Look, I don't care if it's girlfriend problems, existential crises, or fairy tale declarations. Clean this up. And Red..." Uma leaned a bit towards her, lowering her voice, with a glint of pirate complicity in her eyes. "Next time, say it with flowers. They are less flammable."

Uma turned around and walked away, muttering something about "teenagers and their magical hormones."

Red stood there, mortified. "Flowers," Red repeated. "Yes. Flowers. Definitely not heart bombs."

Chloe shook the soot off her shoulder and nudged Red gently with her elbow. "Well... you certainly know how to make a scene, Hearts. No one has ever thrown explosives at me before. It's... original."

Red hid her face in her hands. "I'm a mess."

"You are my explosive mess," said Chloe in a low voice, almost inaudible, before starting to pick up her books. "Come on, let's get cleaned up."

THIRD TIME

The third attempt didn't take long to arrive. It happened that very midnight.

The room was submerged in that bluish darkness typical of the early morning, broken only by the soft glow of the moon slipping through a crack in the poorly closed curtain.

They were sleeping. In the bed on the right. Technically it was Chloe's, although both had stopped pretending they used separate beds months ago. They used to take turns, but Red, deep down, knew she always preferred the blue bed; the one that enveloped her in the scent of flowers and Chloe's expensive soap.

Red was sleeping, but not resting.

In her mind, the sky wasn't blue, but an oppressive blood red. She was back in the Throne Room of Wonderland, but not Bridget's. It was Hers. The Queen of Hearts.

But they weren't alone. In front of the throne, on her knees, was Chloe. She was gagged and her hands were tied behind her back, held tightly by two Cards. Red was there, standing, frozen, powerless.

"Auradon has humiliated us, and yet you have fallen in love with Cinderella and Charming's little princess. It's pathetic." Her mother's voice rumbled like thunder, cold and devoid of love. "I cannot allow you to weaken yourself like this."

Red saw herself, small, her hands trembling, also being held by a card guard.

"Do you want to give the order, or shall I?" asked the Queen, with cruel amusement shining in her eyes.

In front of her, another guard raised the axe. The crowd screamed, a dull roar. The sound of steel being sharpened filled her ears. Chloe squirmed, desperately trying to free herself, her panic-filled eyes searching for Red.

"Off with her head!"

"NO!" screamed Red's voice. Her throat burned, tears stung. She felt her knees hit the cold marble floor, Chloe's muffled scream...

Red woke up with a strangled gasp, shooting up in bed. Cold sweat soaked the back of her neck and her heart hammered against her ribs with such violence it hurt. Her hands blindly searched the darkness for a threat, a sword, something, anything to protect Chloe.

But she didn't find cold steel. She found warm arms.

"Shhh, shhh... Red. I'm here. You're in Auradon."

Chloe's voice acted as an instant balm. There was no fear in her tone, nor surprise at the abrupt awakening. It was a routine that, sadly, they already knew well. Chloe sat up enough to wrap her arms around Red, pulling her firmly against her chest.

Red slumped against her, trembling uncontrollably. She buried her face in Chloe's neck, breathing in her scent desperately. The redhead wanted to merge with the princess; she needed the touch, the physical certainty that Chloe was there, that her head was still on her shoulders, that it had all been a fucking nightmare.

"It was... she was..." stammered Red, her voice broken.

"It's over. It was the other timeline. That reality doesn't exist anymore. We're safe, mon cœur," whispered Chloe, stroking Red's tangled red hair with long, rhythmic movements. "Bridget is in her castle sleeping, probably dreaming of recipes. You are here, with me. No one is going to lose their head tonight, or ever again."

"I couldn't save you..." whispered Red, so low that Chloe wouldn't have heard it if the world hadn't been in absolute silence.

"I'm here."

Chloe began to hum. It was an old melody, a lullaby from Cinderellaburg that her mother used to sing to her. A low sound, vibrating in her chest, resonating directly against Red's ear and blocking the echoes of the screams from the dream. Chloe's hand moved rhythmically up and down the redhead's back, marking the beat of calm.

Gradually, Red's trembling ceased. Her breathing, previously erratic, synchronized with Chloe's. They stayed like that for a long while, wrapped in the safe silence of the room.

Red looked up slightly. In the gloom, Chloe's profile looked soft, serene. Despite having been woken up at three in the morning by her girlfriend's demons, there was no trace of annoyance on her face, only a quiet and absolute devotion. Chloe wasn't there out of obligation; she was there because she wanted to be. Because she loved Red, even with all her broken baggage and bloody nightmares.

Red's chest swelled with an emotion so strong it almost hurt more than the fear. There were no magical explosions this time. No urge to flee. Just a crystalline certainty.

She is my home, thought Red. More than Wonderland, more than any place in time. Her.

She had to tell her. Not because she felt she should, but because the truth was too big to keep inside. In the darkness, protected by the arms of the perfect girl, it seemed like the unique and right moment.

"Chloe..." whispered Red, her voice barely a husky thread.

"Mmm?" Chloe didn't open her eyes, simply continuing to trace circles on her back.

Red swallowed, gathering every ounce of courage she had left after the night terror.

"Thank you. For waking me up. For being here."

"Always, Red," murmured Chloe, her voice thick and sleepy. The caress stopped, leaving only the comforting weight of her hand on Red's back.

Red tried to find the exact words, not realizing that Chloe was already walking back toward the world of dreams.

"No, seriously," Red tried not to move too much, but raised her gaze a few millimeters to look at her, even though the darkness barely outlined her features. "No one has ever taken care of me like this. And I... I don't want to be afraid to say it anymore."

Red's heart beat fast again, but this time for a different reason. The adrenaline of fear had given way to the adrenaline of love.

"Chloe, I l..."

Red stopped. She came out of her thoughts abruptly upon noticing the silence.

She realized something had changed in Chloe's breathing. It had become deeper, slower, and heavier.

Red blinked in the darkness, confused. "Chloe?"

Chloe seemed to briefly squeeze Red's shirt in her fist, but it was an unconscious reflex. A movement of habit rather than wakefulness.

Red froze for a second, the confession hanging in the air like an unfinished musical note. She leaned in a little closer. Sure enough. Chloe had fallen deeply asleep in the middle of the conversation, exhausted by training, heart explosions, and the nocturnal interruption.

The dramatic tension of the moment deflated like a popped balloon.

Red looked at Chloe's sleeping face. Mouth slightly open, eyelashes resting on her cheeks. An incredulous, and slightly lopsided, smile appeared on Red's face.

"Unbelievable," whispered Red to the air, shaking her head. "I'm about to open my dark and traumatized heart, and you fall asleep. You're impossible, Charming."

But there was no anger in her voice. Only immense tenderness, which only Chloe had had the privilege of seeing.

Red settled back down, snuggling against Chloe's chest again, careful not to wake her. She closed her eyes, feeling the steady and safe beat of the heart of the girl she loved.

"I love you," whispered Red finally, so low that only the sheets could hear her. "I'll tell you when you're awake... someday."

Red went back to sleep. Hoping this time not to dream, or at least to dream something happy with her princess.

FOURTH TIME

Two days later, the weekend arrived. Which meant freedom from classes and extracurriculars. This fourth time, Red decided she wouldn't leave anything to chance.

No sudden races. No unplanned emotional fireworks. No conversations at three in the morning with a half-asleep brain. This time, Red Hearts had a tactical plan.

She had taken Chloe to the Enchanted Lake just at sunset on Saturday. It was such a big Auradon cliché that it made her nauseous, but Red knew Chloe loved these things: the water shimmering with golden magic, the fireflies starting to dance, and the absolute silence far from the school.

They were sitting on an ancient stone dock, feet in the glowing water. Chloe looked radiant; she was wearing a pastel blue dress where the sleeves were straps that exposed Chloe's muscular arms. The fabric of the dress was simple, but that only made her look softer. Red, on the other hand, was wearing her usual leather jacket and felt like she was wearing a corset two sizes too small (it was the right size, the redhead was just nervous).

"It's beautiful, Red," said Chloe, swinging her feet and breaking the surface of the water, creating blue ripples. "I thought you didn't like this place."

"It's not the place's fault, it's just that I don't want to hear for the fifth time all the Auradon girls sighing over Mal and Ben's story," admitted Red, leaning back on her hands and trying to look relaxed. "But I thought you'd like it. You know, for a change of scenery from campus."

Chloe smiled, that smile that made Red's operating system reboot. "I like it. A lot."

Red nodded. Good. Step one completed. Atmosphere established.

She mentally reviewed her list.

• Quiet place: Check.

• Chloe awake: Check.

• Magic under control: Check (she had been practicing breathing exercises all afternoon).

Red sat up and turned toward Chloe. The princess looked at her, curious, sensing the shift in energy. Red took a breath. She didn't want to make a long speech, she just wanted to let it out.

"Blue," Red started, her voice firm this time. No stuttering.

"Tell me."

Red reached out and took Chloe's hand. The princess's palm was warm. The contact sent an electric shock up Red's arm that almost made her smile.

"You know I'm not good with words. In me... in my old life, words were used to give orders or beg for mercy. Not for this."

Chloe's expression softened, her eyes shining with anticipation. She gently squeezed Red's hand. "You're doing fine."

"I'm trying." Red looked at their intertwined hands. "The thing is, since we changed time... everything is different. My mother, my life, myself. Sometimes I feel like I'm going to wake up and everything will have disappeared. That I'll be alone again in that castle full of screams."

"I won't let that happen," assured Chloe with unwavering firmness.

"I know." Red looked up, connecting her eyes with Chloe's. "I know because you are the only thing that feels real in both timelines. You are the only thing that makes sense. You are my partner. And I wanted to tell you that... that I'm not scared anymore. That I'm with you. That I..."

The moment was perfect. The wind stopped. The fireflies glowed. Chloe's lips parted slightly.

Red took a breath for the final strike.

ZUUUUUUUM.

A deep, vibrating buzz shook Red's jacket. It wasn't the usual ringtone. It was the sound configured specifically to alert.

Red froze. "What was that?"

The sound came from the inside pocket of Red's jacket. It was her cell phone. But it wasn't a normal call. It was the "Wonderland Royal Level 5 Emergency" alarm, a code Red had programmed solely for life-or-death, catastrophes or monster attacks, at Bridget's explicit request.

Red's face paled. "It's the kingdom alarm!" Red let go of Chloe's hand and frantically pulled out the phone. "Something happened! A coup? Did Mom turn evil again? Did the Jabberwocky get out of control again?!"

Chloe went into combat mode instantly, jumping to her feet. "Answer it! I'm ready if we have to go!"

Red swiped her finger across the screen with a tremor, expecting to see fire, destruction, or her mother with an axe.

The screen lit up.

But it wasn't the Queen of Hearts. It was Pink of Hearts.

Her sister, who had gone to spend the weekend at the castle in Wonderland, appeared on the screen. Pink was wearing an apron covered in flour, had dough in her pink hair, and looked to be on the verge of a nervous breakdown, but not because of a war.

"RED! THANK THE CHESHIRE CAT YOU ANSWERED!" screamed Pink's amplified voice, resonating throughout the forest.

Red stared at the screen with her mouth open, panic slowly transforming into murderous rage. "Pink? What's wrong? Where are you? Is there an attack in Wonderland?"

"What? No one is attacking anything!" exclaimed Pink, waving a spatula. "It's worse! Mom went out to a meeting with the White Rabbit and isn't answering her phone, and she left me in charge of the royal oven! AND I DON'T KNOW HOW LONG TO LEAVE THE RASPBERRY SOUFFLÉS IN! THE RECIPE BOOK IS NOWHERE TO BE FOUND!"

There was a sepulchral silence at the Enchanted Lake.

Red blinked. A vein began to throb dangerously on her forehead. "Did you use... the Level 5 Emergency code... for some soufflés?"

"YES!" squealed Pink. "It says if I open the oven too early they'll deflate! And they're for the tea party tomorrow! Red, it's a crisis! They're going to be flat! FLAT AS A PLAYING CARD!"

Red closed her eyes and exhaled a long, trembling sigh that sounded suspiciously like the growl of a dragon holding back fire.

Chloe, who had been ready to fight monsters, lowered her shoulders. She looked at Red, then at the teenager hysterical over baking on the screen, and bit her lower lip to keep from laughing.

"Pink," said Red with a dangerously calm voice. "I am in Auradon. I am... busy."

"Busy doing what? Making out with Chloe?" asked Pink with total innocence and sass. "Hi Chloe!"

Chloe, in the background, raised her hand in a shy wave. Red turned red to the roots of her hair.

"PINK!"

"Oh, please! I always find you two kissing. Anyway, how many minutes?" insisted the sister.

"Twenty minutes at 180 degrees and don't open the door!" shouted Red, losing her patience. "And don't ever use this code again unless someone has literally lost their head!"

"Thanks, you're the best big sister, love you both, bye!" Pink blew a kiss to the camera and the video call cut off abruptly.

Darkness and silence returned to the Enchanted Lake. But the magic of the moment had evaporated, replaced by the smell of stress.

Red lowered the phone slowly. She didn't dare look at Chloe.

"I'm going to kill her," Red muttered through gritted teeth. "I'm going to travel back in time, prevent her birth, and make sure she never exists, just like in the original timeline."

Red felt a hand on her shoulder. Chloe was shaking. Red looked up, expecting to see Chloe annoyed by the interruption. But Chloe was laughing. A clean, crystalline laugh. "You won't do that. You adore that little girl."

Red covered her face with her hands, letting herself fall back onto the dock. She snorted, and an involuntary laugh escaped her too. "She's lucky she's my sister. Otherwise, she'd be history."

Chloe sat next to her, still laughing, and rested her head on Red's shoulder. "I can't believe Pink actually used the emergency call for some soufflés. It's... very on-brand."

Red sighed, defeated for the fourth time, but feeling Chloe's comforting warmth against her arm. "It was an adorable attempt, Red," said Chloe, linking her arm with hers. "Although I think the universe doesn't want you to say it today."

"The universe hates me," grumbled Red.

"The universe just wants it to be memorable," corrected Chloe, kissing her cheek. "And trust me, I won't forget the raspberry soufflés."

FIFTH TIME

Red hadn't given up on her plan. But she did let a few weeks pass. Mid-term exams were approaching, and she knew Chloe stressed out over even the color of the ink in her notes. So Red decided to wait for the mid-term break.

Chloe had suggested going to Cinderellaburg, assuming Red still had qualms about returning home. However, Red surprised her: they would go to Wonderland. And she wanted Chloe to go with her.

It would be the perfect setting. Wonderland was no longer the dark land of red skies and laments from her memories. Now the sky was a vibrant light blue, the colors were almost offensively vivid, and people smiled without fear of losing their heads. There were parties, dances, and children playing in the downtown streets.

Pink joined the trip, and after arriving at the castle almost at dusk, they had dinner with a Bridget exultant with happiness at having her three girls home. They talked about everything and nothing before going to sleep.

Red's master plan began the next day.

She had taken Chloe to the most exclusive and (theoretically) private area of the Palace of Hearts: the Rose Maze. A place tended almost religiously by the Queen, where the silence was only broken by the wind.

"This place is amazing, Red," said Chloe, admiring a rose that swayed gently like a bell in the wind. "I never saw natural flowers that actually looked hand-painted. I thought that was just part of the exaggerated tales about Wonderland."

Red walked with her hands in the pockets of her red jacket, feeling strangely in control. "It's my favorite place. I used to come here when... well, in the other timeline, I came here to hide. But now it's just a pretty garden. And the best part: my magic here is much more stable."

Red gave a small demonstration. She snapped her fingers and a blue butterfly materialized from thin air, landing gently on Chloe's nose. No explosions, no smoke, no chaos. Chloe smiled, admiring the girl who created it more than the butterfly itself.

"See?" Red said with a smug smile. "Total control. I'm in my territory. Wonderland magic and I are synchronized. Nothing can go wrong."

They reached the center of the maze, a clearing surrounded by flowers of every species imaginable and a white marble bench under an arch of heart-shaped vines (courtesy of Bridget's obsessive decorating). It was the ultimate romantic setting.

Chloe sat down, leaving her sword—which she had gotten used to carrying everywhere—leaning against the bench. "I'm glad you brought me here. You look good in your lands, mon cœur."

"Stop flirting," said Red, though she didn't mean it and her smile gave her away.

The redhead sat next to her, leaving no space between them. The atmosphere was intimate. Perfect. No sisters with soufflé crises. No pirate principals. Just the soft tinkling of flowers rocked by the breeze.

It's the moment, thought Red. I have control. I have the setting. I have the girl.

"Chloe," said Red, turning toward her. Her voice sounded sure, soft. "I brought you here because I wanted us to be alone. Without Auradon interruptions."

Chloe caressed Red's hand, looking at her with those deep brown eyes that seemed to read her soul.

"I've been trying to tell you something for weeks," continued Red, leaning in a little. This time, the words flowed. The magic of the place seemed to calm her nerves. "Every time I try, something explodes or someone shows up. But the truth is, I don't need grand gestures. I just need you to know that... that you have changed my world. That before, everything was black and red, and now..."

Red paused dramatically, taking a breath to release the "I love you."

Suddenly, a high-pitched, squeaky little voice broke the silence. It came from a Tiger Lily right behind Red's ear.

"Oh, for the love of cards! Just say it already!"

Red was so startled she almost fell off the bench. "What?"

Another flower, a Giant Daisy next to Chloe's feet, opened its petals and yawned loudly. "She's been beating around the bush for five minutes. 'You changed my world,' blah, blah, blah. How cheesy! We want action!"

"Yes!" squealed a Rose from the arch. "Kiss her already, redhead! We're wilting from boredom here!"

Chloe looked at the flowers with wide eyes, and then at Red. "Red... do the flowers talk?"

Red jumped to her feet, her face burning with fury and embarrassment. "They're supposed to be decorative! Mom said she had enchanted them not to talk because they're always criticizing!"

"We have opinions because with that courting technique, you won't even make it to the wedding!" shouted a Sunflower.

"Shut up!" ordered Red, casting a silence spell toward the garden.

But Red forgot a basic rule of Wonderland: magic here has a sense of humor. Instead of silencing them, Red's spell acted as an amplifier.

Suddenly, all the flowers in the maze, hundreds of them, began to speak at the same time, like an audience on a gossip show.

"I bet three dewdrops she chickens out again!" wagered the violets.

"Stop! Silence!" screamed Red, waving her hands, but the chorus of shrill voices only increased.

Chloe, far from being scared, was covering her mouth with both hands, shaking. "Red..." she said with a choked voice.

"I'm sorry! I'm going to prune them! I'm going to bring a lawnmower and finish them all!" threatened Red at the plants, completely losing her "bad girl in control" composure.

"Ooh, so scary! The rebel girl is going to prune us!" mocked the Lily. "Better prune your fear of commitment, honey!"

That was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Red grabbed Chloe's hand. "We're leaving! Now! This place is a botanical hell!"

Red dragged Chloe out of the maze at a brisk pace, while the flowers shouted dating advice at them.

"Call us for the wedding, princess!"

They ran until they reached a stone bridge, far from the chatty garden. Red stopped, panting, resting her hands on her knees. The "perfect date" and "total control" had gone down the drain.

"I hate it," panted Red. "I hate this place. I hate the flowers. And I hate that they're right."

Silence fell. Red expected Chloe to be annoyed or stunned. But when she looked up, she saw Chloe had tears in her eyes.

"Are you crying?" asked Red, panicking. "I'm sorry! Those flowers are rude, I'm going to..."

"No, Red." Chloe let out a loud laugh, wiping away a tear. "I'm crying from laughter. 'Better prune your fear of commitment?'" imitated Chloe in a high-pitched voice. "That was brutal!"

Red stared at her, incredulous. Then, the absurdity of the situation hit her. A smile appeared on her face, and soon, both were laughing heartily in the middle of the bridge, with the echo of the impertinent flowers in the distance.

"Fine," admitted Red, catching her breath. "Maybe my magic is stable, but Wonderland is still... well, a wonder of disasters."

Chloe walked over to her, still smiling, and picked a petal off her shoulder. "I think I got the message, Red. Even if the flowers interrupted you before you finished."

"Someday I'll say it without a plant insulting me," promised Red, taking Chloe's hand.

"I'll be waiting," said Chloe softly. "Though I admit that the show was fun..."

+1 I LOVE YOU

Two days later, they were in the safety of Red's bedroom in Wonderland. Outside it was raining buckets, a summer storm battering the glass with fury, creating the perfect contrast to the cozy atmosphere inside.

Red had decided to simplify. No magic lakes, no time travel, no sassy talking flowers. Just the two of them, comfy pajamas, and a pizza Red had specially ordered from the castle chef.

Okay, Red. Breathe. You're a warrior. You defeated your mother (technically). You saved the fabric of time. You can say three words to the girl who is eating the pizza crust with such elegance it's offensive. Red muttered to herself in front of the bathroom mirror, giving herself an aggressive pep talk while washing her hands.

The rebel exited the bathroom with military determination. Chloe was sitting on the rug, leaning against Red's bed, flipping through the sketchbook she had found on the nightstand. She looked so calm, so... at home.

Red approached. Strategy: Walk, sit, look in the eyes, say it. Fast. Like ripping off a band-aid.

But the universe had one last joke prepared.

Just as Red was about to sit in front of Chloe with a move intended to be smooth and cool, the lace of her combat boot (which she hadn't taken off out of sheer nervousness) treacherously snagged on the leg of the nightstand.

"Chloe, I have to...!" Red started with impetus.

But impetus transformed into basic physics. As she took the step, the lace pulled, the table wobbled violently, and the lava lamp on top of it slid toward the void. Red, with her ninja reflexes, tried to catch the lamp in mid-air, but only managed to swat the cord, unplugging it with a sharp tug. There was a brief spark, and the lamp fell with a thud, though luckily it didn't break.

The room was plunged into complete darkness.

"Dammit!" shouted Red in the gloom, falling to her knees onto something soft.

"That was my leg," said Chloe's voice, calm but with a clear note of amusement in the darkness.

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Red moved frantically, trying to find her phone. "It was going to be a romantic moment and now it looks like the start of a horror movie! I ruined it! I ruined it again! I'm a mess, Chloe! I just wanted to tell you that... that...!"

A beam of light cut through the darkness. Chloe had turned on her phone's flashlight.

The light illuminated both of them. Red was disheveled, with one knee between Chloe's legs and her hands in the air. But Chloe wasn't looking at the disaster around them; she was looking at Red. She had that expression again. That soft, patient, "I know everything" look.

"Red," said Chloe softly.

"No, don't look at me like that. This is ridiculous." Red covered her face with her hands, groaning in frustration. "It was going to be perfect. It was going to be serious this time."

Chloe burst out laughing. A singsong laugh that bounced off the walls. "Red, stop fighting. I know what you're trying to say."

Red spread her fingers to look through them, one red eye visible. "I'd be worried if you didn't, princess, but I'm ruining it every time."

"Maybe you're making it even more special." Chloe set the phone on the floor, creating dim, dramatic lighting coming from below. She leaned forward, getting closer to Red. "I've known since the first time, when you challenged me to a race for some fries. I knew when you almost blew us to pieces with magic hearts. And I definitely knew when the flowers criticized your courting technique."

Red felt the heat rising up her neck to her ears. "Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because I wanted you to say it." Chloe smiled tenderly, brushing a lock of red hair from Red's face. "But I see you suffering so much that I'm going to take pity on you, rebel girl."

Chloe took a breath, her eyes shining with an intensity that made Red's heart stop dead. She leaned in even closer, her lips inches from Red's. "I love you, Red. I l..."

In a move that was pure instinct and territorial panic, Red lunged forward, pushing Chloe onto the rug and planting her hand firmly over the princess's mouth.

SLAP!

Chloe's "love you" was trapped, muffled against the leather palm of Red's glove.

Chloe's eyes went wide with surprise. They froze in that absurd position: Red on top of Chloe, covering her mouth, breathing heavily. The position was chaotic, but incredibly intimate.

"No!" exclaimed Red. "Mmm-mmm! Don't say it! You can't say it first!"

Chloe frowned, amused behind Red's hand, and let out a muffled sound that sounded suspiciously like a: "Mmmphf?" (Why?)

"Because you are perfect, Chloe!" Red spoke fast, desperate, without removing her hand, looking at her intently. "You are kind, you are brave, you are the daughter of Cinderella and King Charming. Saying 'I love you' for you is easy, it's natural, it's in your blood, it's what you do."

Red brought her face close to Chloe's, her gaze becoming fierce and vulnerable at the same time.

"But I am a Hearts. I come from a place where love was a weakness that cost you your head. It has taken me six attempts, three near-heart attacks, and a ruined soufflé to get to this point. So, for the honor of my dysfunctional family and my own rebel pride... I say it first."

Chloe stopped trying to speak. Her eyes softened, melting into absolute sweetness. She nodded slightly behind Red's hand, giving her permission. You win.

Red felt her pulse calming down. The silence in the room, broken only by the rain outside, became electric.

Red removed her hand from Chloe's mouth slowly, but didn't pull away. She left her hand cupping the princess's cheek, her thumb brushing her cheekbone with adoration.

"Chloe Charming," whispered Red, her voice husky but firm as steel. "I love you."

She let it out.

"I love you in a stupid, explosive, and totally terrifying way. If I could only live in the terrible timeline to be with you... I would. Because I love you more than my freedom. I love you. I love you."

There it was. She had said it. Four times, just in case.

Chloe smiled. Not the fairy tale princess smile, but a real, human, radiant, and slightly disheveled smile. " took you long enough, Mon Coeur," whispered Chloe. "I love you too, by the way."

"Shut up and kiss me before something explodes again," ordered Red.

"Yes ma'am."

Chloe closed the distance and kissed her.

It was a deep, liberating kiss. Neither held back. Chloe wrapped her arms around Red's waist, pulling her closer, settling their bodies better on the floor. It wasn't a fairy tale kiss, perfect and clean. It was a kiss where Red grabbed the lapel of Chloe's jacket too hard, desperate, and where Chloe smiled against her lips. It was chaotic, it was intense, and it was, finally, real.

And for the first time in six attempts, nothing exploded, no one interrupted, and no flower made sarcastic comments. It was just Red and Chloe, in the middle of the mess of her room in Wonderland.

+2 CONFESSION

The silence that followed the kiss wasn't awkward, but heavy and sweet, like a wool blanket in the dead of winter. Red and Chloe were still on the floor, surrounded by the chaos of the fallen lava lamp and the gloom. The phone flashlights had turned off a while ago, leaving only the silver light of the moon and the rain hitting the glass as their only company.

Red rested her forehead against Chloe's, their breaths mingling in a slow rhythm. Her hands still held the princess's face firmly, as if fearing that if she let go, Chloe would disappear in a puff of smoke.

"Nothing exploded," whispered Red, with a mix of relief and amazement. "Not a single spark."

Chloe let out a soft laugh, her fingers playing with the collar of Red's leather jacket. "I told you you didn't need fireworks. You just needed you."

Red pulled back a few inches to look her in the eyes. She still felt her heart beating wildly, but the paralyzing fear was gone. "Well, I won," said Red with a crooked smile, recovering a bit of her usual arrogance. "I said it first. Victory goes to the House of Hearts."

Chloe arched an eyebrow. A spark of mischief shone in her eyes, something Red couldn't interpret instantly. "Mmm... technically, yes. You said it first to my face, while we were both conscious. But if we're strict with the rules of the game... you had already said it before."

Red blinked, confused. "What are you talking about? The other five attempts were failures. The race to the cafeteria, the soufflé alarm, the rude flowers... I never got to finish the sentence."

Chloe bit her lower lip to suppress a wider smile. She settled better on the floor, crossing her legs with that natural grace she had. "I'm referring to the third time. The night of the nightmare."

Red felt the blood freeze in her veins. The memory of that night hit her: her waking up screaming, Chloe comforting her, and then Red whispering to the darkness, believing the princess had fallen fast asleep.

"You..." Red started shaking her head, horrified. "No. You were asleep. Your breathing was deep. You barely moved."

"I was halfway between asleep and awake," corrected Chloe delicately, though her eyes danced with amusement. "I heard your voice, but I thought I was dreaming. Until I felt your weight settling."

Red's jaw dropped. She pulled away sharply, sitting on her heels and looking at Chloe as if she had just confessed to a state crime. "You're a cheater! A liar! A...! Argh!" Red ran her hands over her face, mortified. "You heard me! You heard me the whole time!"

"Every word," confirmed Chloe softly. "'I love you. I'll tell you when you're awake... someday.' It was very sweet, Red."

"It was humiliating!" groaned Red, hiding her face between her knees. "I spoke to your pajamas. And you were there, pretending to be asleep, laughing at me on the inside."

"I wasn't laughing."

Chloe's voice turned serious. Red felt a soft hand land on her knee, asking for attention.

Red looked up. The amusement had disappeared from Chloe's face, replaced by infinite tenderness. "Even though I wasn't sure if it was a dream or not, I wanted to tell you 'me too.' I wanted to turn around and hold you until the fear went away. I almost did."

"Then why didn't you?" asked Red, her voice small, almost vulnerable again. "Why did you let me suffer three more attempts?"

Chloe sighed and caressed Red's cheekbone with her thumb. "Because that night you said it to the darkness. You said it to my back to calm yourself down. You weren't ready to say it to my eyes. If I had answered in that moment, you would have been scared."

Red opened her mouth to protest, but closed it. Chloe was right. If that night, vulnerable after a nightmare, Chloe had answered, Red probably would have panicked.

"I know you, Red," continued Chloe. "You needed to feel like you had control. You needed to be brave on your own terms. I just... gave you the space to get there. Even if that meant enduring explosions and insulting flowers."

Red looked at the girl in front of her. She was too good. Too perceptive. "You are irritatingly wise, you know that?" murmured Red, though there was no venom in her words.

"It's part of my charm," smiled Chloe.

Red let out a snort and, in a quick move, grabbed a pillow from her bed and gently hit Chloe on the shoulder. "Debatable."

"Hey!" protested Chloe, laughing.

"For being arrogant, you're going to have to help me clean up the lava lamp mess," retorted Red, tossing the pillow aside and pouncing on Chloe to trap her in a hug, knocking her onto the rug again.

"I accept the punishment," said Chloe, turning her head to look at her from the floor.

Red turned her head too. Their noses almost touched. The game stopped, giving way to sincerity. "I love you, Chloe. And I promise that the next time I tell you, I'll make sure you never doubt if it's a dream or not."

Chloe smiled and closed her eyes, settling better against Red's shoulder. "I love you. But, Red..."

"Yes?"

"If you dream about your mother again... wake me up for real, even if I accidentally fall asleep. You don't have to whisper to the darkness ever again. I'm here."

Red felt a knot in her throat, but this time it wasn't from anguish, but from pure gratitude. She slipped her arm under Chloe's neck and pulled her closer, protecting her from the cold of the storm.

"I will."

And while the rain continued to beat against the castle window, Red thought that, maybe, just maybe, her happy ending wasn't in a predictable storybook, but in that messy, imperfect, and wonderful moment on the floor.