Chapters 111 through 120

Margurite smirked as she watched Ritchie rub his head where it had hit the tree, then she turned to her brother, “This one might actually be useful in our plan. He’s close to one they call ‘Mai’…a most annoying but powerful member in their village. If you could get into the village with them thinking you were Ritch…there would be all kinds of possibilities.”
Ritch didn’t like what he was hearing. Pain or not, he lunged at the witch. With one wave of her hand, suddenly by magic Ritch’s hands and feet were bound with ropes, and he lost his balance and slammed hard onto the ground with his shoulder. He winced from the pain and then uttered through gritted teeth, “I thought you were dead.”
”I am…although not forgotten, obviously. You see Ritchie dear, I’m a witch. I can hang around as long as I want…even if I’m dead.”
”With a little help…”
”Shut up!” She threw a warning look at her smart arse brother, “I didn’t ask for any comments from the peanut gallery!”
As Victor eyed the stranger, he changed the subject back to more important matters, ignoring the comments of his sister, “So you’re saying we’re going to continue with our original plan…or begin a new one?”
”The original of course! You know I never give up.”
Victor hissed as if remembering some long ago annoying habit of his sister’s, “How well I know. So then tell me, Ms. Genius…how are we going to do that? The original plan was for myself to marry Snow White. You were going to then kill Snow and I was to inherit the kingdom of White. We would then rule it together. So currently first of all, Snow is married now and second this…mortal, “as he looked Ritch in disgust, “ is spoken for by this Mai woman you said.”
”AH!” The witch interrupted in a triumphant tone, “But I didn’t say they were ‘happy’!”
”Oh. OK…I get it. So I go in, play the home wrecker to these two and then go in and play the home wrecker to Snow and her hubby?”
Ritch had about enough, “You bastard! Over my dead body!”
The witch’s tone was low and threatening, ”Don’t push me!”
”You bitch! You’re fucking nuts if you think that Mai is going to buy this guy as me for a second! You need to keep your stinkin’ noses out of our business and out of our village! Mai would…”
With a roll of her eyes at the rattlings of this new nuisance, Margurite waved her hand in Ritch’s direction. His voice stopped mid-sentence. He stopped…confused. He didn’t know what was going on. He tried to speak, but no sound would come out.
Margurite laughed, ”That’ll shut you up! If we didn’t need you as insurance, I would take great pleasure in killing you now!”
Victor sighed in annoyance, “Now as I was saying…so I’m supposed to break it off with Mai and then go in and break up Snow’s marriage?”
”It’s not quite that simple, actually. Unfortunately the little pest and her puppy dog of a husband are quite attached to each other. “ She then looked at her brother then sneered sarcastically, “It will take more than your…’good looks’ or ‘charm’…to sway the little snipe away from dear Michael. Of course I know that’s hard for you to believe.”
Victor showed his displeasure at his sister’s sarcasm as he folded his arms.
”So...” she continued, “You’ll need to put some kind of ‘amnesia’ spell on her…perhaps trip her and make it look like she hit her head. Then have her not remember any of her relationship with Mike. And the mortal brings up a good point. “ She then threw an evil smile to Ritch. “You'd better conjure up a spell for ol' Mai. She's shrewd as well as annoying and would see through your disguise immediately...that is unless you put a spell on her...something to confuse her senses. She's actually part wolf."
"Wolf? So would that make her a bitch?" Victor chuckled at his joke.
"In more ways than one." Margurite replied not seeing Victor's humor in the least.
Victor's smile then vanished, seeing Margurite's lack of a sense of humor, "Well, that helps knowing she's a wolf, then. Without their senses, you're right...they're not very perceptive."
”Oh…and one more thing. “ Margurite began, “Mike is just the sort of sap that Snow is desperately attracted to…sensitive, kind, sickeningly sweet…that sort of thing, so it will take more than just amnesia. You’ll want to add an extra bit of effort to the spell…conjure up in her mind some additional memories of you and she together.”
”What kind of memories?” Victor asked with suggestion in his voice.
Margurite looked at him with suspicion, “I know you too well, Victor. Snow is an innocent…even married…so be careful what you imply around others. I don’t care what kind of memories you give Snow…just try and make them something she would actually believe happened…is that clear? Otherwise, you could blow this whole thing.”
Victor puffed at his sister’s accusation that he might be at fault, “ME? Look who’s talking! None of this would be necessary if you’d have just done the job right and nixed Snow a long time ago. That way when her old man finally croaked, the kingdom would be yours. You’re the one who fouled this thing up…”
”ENOUGH!!!!!!” The witch’s angry ghostly voice echoed throughout the woods surrounding them. “This bickering will get us nowhere! There’s too much at stake and too much to do to point fingers here.”
He looked at her transparent hands, ”If you had some.”
”That’s quite enough Victor! Now, first we have to get this one out of sight.” She motioned to Ritch.
”No problem. Where do we go?” Victor prepared to magically transport them to another location.
”The mine. It’s the best place to hide. And if that dwarf gets in the way…we can get rid of him, he’s useless to us. But this one…” she then touched Ritch’s cheek which he pulled away, livid at the pair, ”…this one we need just in case.”

Snow in WW: Chapter 241 – “Fall Season”

The leaves on the trees were finally losing their hold on their branches after turning colors of gold and red and brown, and the air had become crisp more often than not…it was finally fall. Pumpkins adorned the porches of the residents…some with smiling faces and some with scary ones. There was talk again about the annual Halloween party in the Willows…who was going to dress up as whom? The villagers had started to gather as many crops as possible to prepare for the winter reserves. And much firewood was now piled high next to the hut.
”So my love…” Snow then squealed as Mike swooped her into his arms taking her by surprise, “What costume are you planning on donning for the party this year?”
Snow giggled then ran her finger down his chest, “You mean for the Willows party…or for OUR party?” With a wink and a twinkle in her beautiful blue eyes, Mike quickly caught her meaning and grinned like mad before kissing her. His face still close to hers he whispered, ”Next year, you might be coming to the party as ‘Mother Goose’, “ and he lovingly rubbed her tummy. Both had the same wish…he could see it in her eyes how badly she wanted what he said to be true. As they melted in each other’s gaze, it was obvious that tonight would be…as Snow would say…another ‘babymaker’ night.

Ritch spotted Snow and Mike immediately upon entering the hut. He strolled casually to the bar as he observed the “goo-goo” couple’s nauseating display of puppy love affection. ‘Margurite was right’…thought the sorcerer…’they’re sickeningly sweet, alright. Something I’ll have to put a stop to immediately.’ He watched Mike tear his eyes from the dark haired girl as one of the other villagers brought in more firewood for the pile, and they both headed outside. Perfect chance, Victor thought, as he looked in Snow’s direction.
”So, Snow…care to play a game of cards later on?” He smirked in remembering Margurite mentioning the village men’s obsession for those little floppy picture things. “Let’s say we make it…what do they call it? Oh yes…’strip poker’?”
Snow looked at Ritch as if he’d fallen out of the fool tree…then laughed it off, although uncomfortably as she turned to go into the kitchen. Ritch followed. Though surprised, Snow was not too alarmed at his presence. After all, it was a ‘free’ village. Her ease came back somewhat when she noticed he did seem to have a purpose there besides her…as he seemed to scan the counters. He then looked up in the cabinet and to his delight he found an empty jar of what looked like honey and pulled it down. “Snow, do you know where Mike keeps the additional honey? We appear to be out and I was so in the mood for some?” He tried to not allow his statement to sound how he would really mean it otherwise. Luckily, Snow being an innocent, took it exactly how he wanted her to at this moment, “Of course. There’s more in the storeroom. I’ll show you where.” Victor’s plan couldn’t have worked out better. No sooner had Snow grabbed a lantern and started down the stairs, than with a wave of Victor’s hand did the poor girl go tumbling down the steep staircase.

Snow in WW: Chapter 242 – “Fall Season (part 2)”

“Snow? Snow, honey wake up. It’s Mike. Snow?”
Snow stirred and opened her eyes slowly.
Ritch added matter-of-factly, ”Poor thing just slipped. I tried to catch her, but I couldn’t act in time.”
Mike didn’t look at him…he stayed focused on Snow. She’d taken a nasty fall down the storeroom staircase. He had to make sure she was alright…she was everything to him.
”Snow!” Mike seemed relieved to see her come back to consciousness.
The girl looked around at all the faces staring at her…then she saw Mike's face and smiled.
Quickly Victor, now disguised as Ritch, reached over and touched Snow’s face, “Nope…don’t think she has a fever.”
Snow’s smile then suddenly faded. What she thought for a second was a familiar and important face in her life, quickly faded into the sea of identical faces that she didn’t know.
”Where am I?”
Mike sighed in relief, “You’re in the storehouse, sweetie. You took a nasty fall…had us all worried to death. How do you feel?”
Timidly, she answered, although still looking at this man and the others with question in her eyes, “I…I have a headache.”
”Now that’s always hard on the ears…eh, Mike?”
Mike frowned at Travis, as this was not the time or place. He then looked back at his beloved, “We’ll get you something for that…don’t worry. Let’s get you home.”
”Home?”
Snow’s questioning demeanor was overlooked by the others, except Ritch of course. They whisked Snow away to her cabin, and Jennifer went to get her a potion in some herbal tea to ease her aching head.
Mike settled her into bed with a hot cup of Jennifer’s tea. As the remaining villagers were leaving, including a very reluctant Ritch, Snow finally spoke up, “Wait…but WHERE am I? Who are all of you? I don’t understand?”
A look of horror spread across Mike’s face and the others slowly returned to the room. No one noticed the smirk Ritch wore as he stood at the back of the room.
Mike took her hand, her eyes were wide with fear, “Sweetheart, what do you remember? What is your name?”
Suddenly the girl burst into tears, “I don’t know…I DON’T KNOW!!!!”

Snow in WW: Chapter 243 – “Playing Catch-Up”

Mike was devastated. Snow had been his whole life for the past going on four years. And now she had no clue who he was…or even herself for that matter.   He was speechless. Mai and Jennifer offered to stay with her and talk to her for a while. It would be less intimidating to Snow than a strange man…even if that strange man was her husband. As Mai looked to the back of the room and saw that Ritch was still there, she gave a sarcastic grin, “You need your ears cleaned lover? We said that we thought it would be better for some of the WOMEN folk to speak with Snow…or did you get a recent sex change? If you did, you should get your money back…’cause they did a shitty job!”
Victor, now disguised as Ritch, was unaffected by the attempt at humor and confused as to what the woman meant by ‘sex change’?
Mai’s grin faded as she realized her attempt at humor was lost. Annoyed, she spat, “Would you just beat it? This is important!”
Victor very much wanted to stick around and be sure these foolish women didn’t foil his plan by somehow ‘wooing’ Snow into believing that she was indeed in love with that Mike fellow after all, “I thought I could help…I’m pretty good friends with Mike.”
”Well thanks for the thought…but I think we can manage, really.”
Covering his frustration, Ritch smiled weakly and left.
It was bad enough that Lily and Liz had decided to sneak back to the kingdom for some of their things. Good luck not being seen, thought Mai. Liz thought it might be good for Lily, and Travis accompanied them. Although Mai was sure that Thomas would have been the better choice if they were wanting to cure that crazy girl from her ailment. But they should be here right now…be here for Snow. They didn’t even know what happened yet.   Then she smiled, remembering the task at hand, ”Now Snow…Do you remember anything? Anything at all?” Mai smiled and placed her hand in the confused girl’s hand.
There was a faint knock at the door and Mai exploded, “ARGH! What the hell do you want NOW?”
Timidly, Stevie peeked around the door, “I’m sorry ta bother ya…but Kahlua asked if Jennifer could whip her up a tummy potion. One of the little ones has an upset tummy.”
Jennifer smiled, “Of course. Can’t have the little angels sick, now can we?”
Once they’d left, again Mai smiled. Snow answered her question from before, “I can’t remember anything. I don’t understand. It’s like I was born yesterday…but I know how to talk and stuff. What is wrong with me?”
”You have a condition they call ‘amnesia’ where you have forgotten parts of your life…or in your case, apparently all of it.
Snow began to cry. Mai was very unversed in comforting ‘criers’…she usually taunts them, like Snow’s pain-in-the-arse sister Lily. But this was different. Uncomfortably, she patted Snow’s head, “Don’t cry…it’s gonna be alright. You’ll remember. You just have to give it some time.”
The girl looked up with new question in her eyes, “Tell me…tell me about my life here. Tell me about how I’m married to…to…”
”Mike?”
”Yes…Mike.”
”Well, you’re fourth year wedding anniversary is coming up soon…on New Year’s Day as a matter of fact.   You’re a princess, you know…and your name is Snow White.”
As Mai began telling Snow of her life in Waddingtyn and before, Snow listened with very intent ears. Snow wasn’t the only one listening. Hiding beneath the window frame outside was Victor, also catching up on Snow’s life. Somehow he envisioned that there were parts of the story that Snow didn’t hear from Mai…parts that only ‘Ritch’ would know. He smiled to himself as he thought up a brilliant plan.

Snow in WW: Chapter 244 – “The Affair”

”Thank you Mai. I really appreciate your taking the time to tell me about everything. Hopefully this will help me to remember.”
Mai smiled as she tucked Snow into her bed, “I’m sure you will soon.”
”But if I was married to Mike, where is he going to sleep?”
”Don’t you worry about that. He can stay with one of the guys for a while. I’m sure it won’t be for too long.”
Mai said goodnight and went back to her cabin.
There was a sudden knock at Snow’s door, “Yes Mai? Did you remember something else? Oh, I’m sorry...you’re not Mai. Mike?” All the men still looked alike to Snow.
Victor chuckled, “No, sorry. It’s Ritch…or Ritchie as I’m also called. Just wanted to see how you were doing?”
”Fine.” Snow said softly, nervous about being alone with a man who was a stranger to her.
”You’re not fine…and I’m no stranger to you Snow.”
She was startled that he knew what she was thinking. He took her hand and suddenly visions of memories started to form in her mind…visions of she and Ritch talking, laughing, then kissing.
”Snow, we were lovers, but no one knew, least of all Mai or Mike. I was supposed to be with Mai and you with Mike. We could never let them know of our secret rendezvous.”
Snow was horrified, “But NO! I’m married…and Mai said it was a happy marriage…that Mike and I were very happy.”
Victor smirked and walked around the room, “On the surface, sure. That’s what everyone was supposed to think…and it appeared to have worked. But you knew the truth…we both did. Now I don’t know about Mike, but you were miserable. You two were fighting all the time. I was only one you confided in. I was your shoulder to cry on. But over time…” he sat on her bed and touched her face, “you needed more than just a shoulder to cry on Snow. You needed to be loved, to feel cared for and desired. I gave you those things and we had a very passionate affair.”
At his touch, the visions returned to Snow’s mind. These visions were explicit and graphic with her and Ritch. Snow grabbed her head and screamed, knocking Ritch’s hand away from her face, “No, no! This can’t be! I wouldn’t be an unfaithful wife!”
”What choice did you have Snow? You were unhappy. You didn’t feel loved. You felt abandoned and used…and empty. You shouldn’t have to feel those things…and you didn’t when you were with me.”
Over her blanket, Ritch rubbed her leg, then up to her knee, then her thigh…those visions now returning to Snow’s confused mind…visions of passion and lust. Snow quickly moved her leg aside, “Ritch, I’m quite tired. Perhaps we should discuss this another time.”
He masked his disappointment. He had hoped the suggestions he was feeding her mind would then lead to the act in real life, thus making it all the easier to have her agree to marry him and him inherit her kingdom. “Of course. There will be plenty of time for you to remember. I will see you again tomorrow…at the Halloween party no doubt.” He turned to leave then remembered, “Oh, and Snow…you know it’s best not to mention our conversations to anyone, don’t you? After all, no one knew of our affair.” Snow nodded reluctantly.
As Victor smirked and shut the door, a frightened Snow was left with these new memories. They were crude and uncomfortable to her…things she could not even fathom doing, much less enjoying. Only the onset of slumber could drown out the nightmarish visions now in her head.

Snow in WW: Chapter 245 – “The Perfect Costume”

As desperately as Snow wanted to remember her life, at the same time, she wanted to block the recent visions she’d had during Ritch’s visit the night before. She would have to try very hard to act normal around the others, especially Mike and Mai…as normal as she could anyway for an identity she knew nothing of. Tonight would be a true test...the infamous Halloween party, and she had no costume to speak of. Mai suggested she try Ophelia’s little shop. True Ophelia had many nice things she said she just “conjured up”…whatever that meant. But nothing really grabbed Snow’s attention. Plus she was rather distracted at Ritchie’s “lurking” over her in the store…or so she felt. So she returned home…well, what she knew to be home that is…not that she remembered it yet.
She searched through her closet. Mike had come and taken some of his things while she was gone. Part of her was disappointed she missed him. Funny thing…just as she thought of him, the dream she’d had the night before came to her mind. It was about Mike as a matter of fact…a husband she didn’t know…yet it was the loveliest, sweetest dream ever. She could now remember the dream perfectly. It was definitely NOT Ritch, it was Mike…even for as little as she knew them, she knew it was him. He was the most gentle and kind and sweet man. The dream was of a romantic date in the woods…a picnic. And he was the perfect gentleman. He had made her favorite meal and they had her favorite wine. Favorites? YES! She could remember her favorite foods…from the dream! Could it have possibly been more than a dream…could it have been a memory? Then she recalled the horrid images that she remembered the night before when Ritchie paid her a visit…what a difference in the two. It made her want to go back to sleep. Still she continued to search through a closet of clothes that were supposedly hers...but seemingly not. She decided it was good to get a feel for what kinds of clothes she typically wears. Finally, she spotted a large box in the top of the closet. She pulled it down and opened it. It was a beautiful white ball gown. What a wonderful costume! She wondered if this was perhaps a costume she’d worn at a previous Waddingtyn Halloween party…as Mai said they were pretty notorious here in the village. She tried on the dress…it was perfect. She had found her perfect costume.

Snow in WW: Chapter 246 – “Party Pooper”

‘The virginal bride...’ Ritchie’s words still resounded in Snow’s head. ‘Oh my gosh!’ she thought…this wasn’t just an ordinary ball gown…this was her WEDDING gown! She just thought it was something she’d worn at a previous famous Waddintgyn Halloween party. She also found some old what looked like ‘fairy’ wings in the back of the closet and so, put together with the gown, she had come as a “fairy princess”. How stupid she now felt. It all became clear now…everyone’s puzzled look when she came in, and now Mai’s comment on her “interesting choice of costume”…now it all made sense. She barely heard Ritch going on and on about how they were friends through the pain and how they couldn’t deny where their hearts were and blah blah blah. What WAS going through her mind was now the realization of WHY...why Mike ducked out of the room as soon as she arrived. Here she was so proud to have found this perfect costume and how strange she thought it was when Mike immediately turned and went into the kitchen. In fact, she hadn’t seen him since. Gosh, she felt so stupid! Why didn’t it occur to her what this dress actually was? ‘What a dope I am!’ thought Snow as she started her search for Mike…to apologize for her naïve stupidity. Suddenly, she didn’t feel like ‘partying’ anymore…she just wanted to crawl in a hole. Truly, she just wanted her memory back.

Her image was still in his mind. She’d entered the party all smiles, so proud of the treasure she’d found. Mike had to assume that she didn’t realize what she was wearing…with the added wings…she must have thought the dress was just a costume of sorts. He could only hope. After all, he couldn’t imagine her doing it on purpose…as a torture or mockery? No…not Snow. Even without her memory, it simply wasn’t in her nature. But he couldn’t take it. Suddenly time rushed back to that New Year’s Day…that beautiful day that was their wedding day. She hadn’t changed…even now. Tears immediately welled up in his eyes and he had to get away. He rushed into the kitchen and then out the back door without even so much as a ‘hi’ to his wife…much less telling her how so very beautiful she was. He would never win her back this way, he thought. He must have studied every facet of that old storehouse as he stared at its wooden entrance. Then he cursed it…for it was that fateful trip down it’s staircase that caused Snow’s amnesia to begin with.

“Mike?”
Though her voice was soft and timid, it resounded through Mike’s head like thunder. She was standing right behind him…and he could only hope he didn’t look as bad as he felt.
He turned and smiled, then hearing himself practically choke on his own words, ”Hi, Snow. You look…so beautiful tonight.”
Snow looked down, feeling guilty as ever. The evidence was obvious… his eyes were so red. She wanted to cry herself…she just couldn’t decide if it was because of the pain she caused this man or because she was frightened that she could actually be this stupid.

“Thank you. I…”

Her voice cracked. Mike had no clue what she wanted to say, he just knew that no matter what it was, he wanted to pull her into his arms and tell her everything was going to be alright. But for now, he would just have to keep that dream to himself.

“I’m so sorry. It didn’t even occur to me until just a few minutes ago what this dress was.” She looked up at him with pleading in her eyes, “I didn’t know…I wouldn’t have worn it…really…if I had known.” Again she looked away, “But then I should have known, shouldn’t I? I’m so stupid!”
Mike tenderly clutched her arms and pulled her close, ”You’re not stupid, Princess.”
Snow froze. ‘Princess’. The name resounded in her ears with familiarity…like she was used to hearing this name from his lips. And in her dream! He also called her Princess in her dream!
”Princess… I remember Princess.”

She said it ever so softly. Inside Mike half laughed and half cried. They were on their way…just one step closer to that dream called “yesterday”. Ironic how one ‘trip’ of fate can take away a lifetime of memories…a lifetime of dreams. But she was here now, and she wanted to remember. He had to allow her to do so at her pace, and not his. He couldn’t rush her. He simply smiled and touched her cheek, “It will come…don’t worry. And don’t worry about the dress, sweetheart. You look radiant…that’s all that matters.”
How wonderful he was, Snow thought…just like in the dream she had. It had to be a genuine memory…it had to be. And she was aware of how much more comfortable she felt here with Mike than when she was with Ritchie. She shuddered at the thought of him…the visions that still haunted her mind.
”Sweetheart, you’re shivering. Let’s get you back inside.”
”No, I’m alright.” Her unspoken words were ‘No, I want to stay here with you…not go back in there with him!’
”Nonsense… I won’t have you catch cold. Come on. I’ll fix you a hot cocoa.”
He tenderly put his arm around her as they headed inside.

And whose glaring eyes would first meet Snow’s as they entered…but Ritchie’s.

Snow in WW: Chapter 247 – “We’re Back!”

Snow tried not to notice Ritch’s eyes burning a hole into her soul. And if looks could kill, Mike would have hit the floor with a coronary. Having quite enough of the fairy princess’ “fairy tale”, Ritch moved in close enough to Snow to begin casting his images into her mind again… images of the two of them engaging in lude forms of intimacy. As Snow danced with Mike, she tried to shake the images from her head. Victor pushed harder, forcing his spell deep into her brain. Her head was pounding such that she though it would explode. She tried to think on the lovely dreams she had of Mike the night before. She clutched her head.

“Snow, what’s wrong?”

She looked up into the eyes of the man of her dreams, the sweet dreams she had been having at night…as opposed to these “day-mares” she had been suffering as of late.

“I—I have a really bad headache all of a sudden.”

Mike put his arm around her shoulder and led her to the sofa by the main hut fire, then here…sit down and rest Princess.”

“We’re back!”

The subject was broken by a cheerful voice entering the hut. The voice belonged to a pretty and smiling woman, followed by an image that nearly made Snow faint. She slid from the sofa to the floor. Mike, realizing the situation, caught her and pulled her back up to the sofa.

“Dear God, who let them back in? I should have smashed that damn mirror when we I the chance!” chimed in typical Mai at the sight of Liz and Lily.

Ignoring Mai’s remark, “There’s my other baby!”

Liz rushed over to Snow and hugged her. Snow was still wide-eyed at the sight of her twin, Lily.

Mike gently took Liz by the arm, “Liz, there’s something you need to know…” then he looked over at Lily, “…and Lily too.”

Mike took them both to a quiet room in the back for a few moments while Ophelia gave a quick explanation to a clueless Snow, “that was your mother and twin sister. They have just returned from…a journey,” she added quickly.

“Twin sister…and mother? I have family here?”

“Of course Snow…and I am sure you will remember everything in good time.” Quickly, Ritch nudged Ophelia out of the conversation and sat with Snow on the couch, holding her hand. He had to keep her under his spell, lest these newcomers take her away.

The band of three exited the back room. Liz wore a look of confused distress. She promptly came over and sat by Snow on the couch between she and Ritch, practically sitting in his lap. Hardly even heeding his presence, Liz pulled Snow’s head to her chest, “My poor little baby. It’s alright Snow…I’m your mother. I’m going to take care of you.”

In a strange way, Snow did indeed find the woman’s words soothing…or perhaps it was simply that the woman had sat between her and Ritch. This was somehow quite comforting.

Ritch pulled himself out from under the woman and moved to the other side of the room, cursing at her silently. The images that still swam through Snow’s head were starting to nauseate her.

Lily cautiously knelt beside Snow, as if she were searching for something in her sister’s eyes, while Liz continued, not missing a beat,

“Well, no sign of the prince…or whoever he was. While we were gathering our things posing as servants to do the laundry, we heard someone mention he had disappeared supposedly on leave, or whatever. I’m sure he is searching for Snow…or me rather…since I was the last person he saw who looked like Snow anyway.”

Victor’s blood ran cold, “So you’re the one,” he muttered under his breath.

Snow in WW: Chapter 248 - “The SEE-Sickness”

He would deal with Snow’s mother later, thought Victor, as he was still in a close enough proximity to force ever so faint images into Snow’s mind.

‘Oh God,’ thought Snow…’I think I’m going to be sick.’

“I need some fresh air…I’ll be right back.” Snow quickly got up from sitting with her mum and sister and bolted out the front door. As Lily started to go after her, Liz gently placed her hand on her daughter’s, “Perhaps she just needs to be alone for a minute. After all, she is getting a lot of new information to sort through all at once.”

The night air was cool and she was feeling better already, physically…but not emotionally. She really did need a few minutes alone…she was feeling quite overwhelmed. She crept around to the back of the hut and spotted the storehouse. She went inside and saw that Mike must have left the lantern lit, as if he were planning to return for more supplies for the party. Smiling at this, she sat on a stool near the lantern to sort her thoughts. She was so confused. She thought back to what Mai had said about her and Mike’s marriage…that it was happy. And Mike was so kind and gentle to her. But then she remembered what Ritchie had said about their affair…that it was because she and Mike always fought and she felt unloved and abandoned. She didn’t understand it. Mai never mentioned that they fought…and Mike was so kind, and her dreams with him were so sweet. But then, the images she kept remembering of she and Ritch were so…well, she definitely had an affair. Why would she do that? Mike didn’t seem like he deserved that. Perhaps that the woman she was wasn’t someone she wanted to be again. She certainly did not relish these images as much as she seemed to in her memories…but they were HER memories. So what of the dreams? Was she a different person now altogether? Could that fall also have changed her personality? Well, she certainly didn’t want to go back to being what she was, whatever that was…someone who would have an affair on her husband, among other things. She shuddered. The thoughts made her sick all over again and she willed to push them from her mind. So why were her ‘memories’ so different from her dreams? Were her dreams really memories after all…or simply the vision of what the new person she has become would see? So would that mean that maybe Mike wasn’t the wonderful man she saw in her dreams after all? No, she could see it in his eyes. He was so troubled at her…what did they call it…amnesia? Her dreams HAD to be memories, they had to be. Like him calling her “Princess”...she remembered that through her dreams. Maybe just by believing it, she could make it so. Lily and her mother…she needed to talk to them. Maybe they could help her remember more of her life. And affair or not, she wanted nothing more to do with Ritchie. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but he made her extremely uncomfortable…memories or no memories. Just then the storehouse door opened…it was Mike. He stammered,

“Snow! What are you doing in here? I mean…I didn’t know you were in here. Are you alright?”

She couldn’t speak. Something about this man just made her melt…she couldn’t explain it. He made her feel so…safe.

When she didn’t answer, he was concerned and knelt down in front of her, “Princess?”

She reached up and touched his face, then he touched her hand, “I want to know more…” she began. “…more about our lives together.”

He smiled, relieved and delighted at her words.

“Can we talk somewhere, like tomorrow? Can we get away from here? Like…” she remembered her dream, “Like a picnic? Can we go on a picnic?”

Mike was practically beaming. It was almost as if she had just asked him on a ‘date’. Under normal circumstances, he would have asked her that very thing in a flirtatious way, but this wasn’t the right time for that. So he simply smiled, “I would love that, Snow. I can come and get you, say 11am?”

She smiled and nodded. After an awkward pause, at least awkward to her, as he was simply basking in her beauty, she inquired, ”Mike, did we ever…like fight?”

He was taken aback slightly, “Fight? Well, not really, no. Not much anyway. We were usually too busy fighting witches and trying to have a baby.”

As soon as he said it, he wished he could take it back. He said it in all innocence, as it was the truth. But now he was afraid that this statement might have frightened her.

“A baby?” Her response was not that of fear, but of curiosity. “So, we had a good relationship then, like...I mean that we often…I mean rather, that we were happy when we…”

Snow’s awkward stammering made Mike chuckle, “You mean when we made love? Yes…we had a healthy relationship there.”

Snow’s face was crimson, as she shied her eyes to the floor and grinned, “Sorry…I’m just nervous on that subject, I guess. I mean, I know that we were married and all…I mean ARE married…”

Mike smiled and took her hand, “Princess, don’t you worry that pretty little head of yours. I’m fine just like this. I want you to take all the time you need to re-acquaint yourself with your life. I think you have made huge milestones already. I would rather you were back to your old self before we are…together. OK?”

“OK.” She smiled and signed in relief, then added, “And you are right…I would like to have a baby.” She was relieved in thinking at least THAT part of her was still the same…that she did want a child someday. And she was also glad to hear that they didn’t fight and they did have a good relationship in the ‘bedroom’…in that she would have no reason to seek out an affair. So she was still perplexed at why she did…and with someone like Ritch no less, who just made her skin crawl. She shivered visibly.

“Snow, are you cold? Maybe we should get back to the party…the fire is blazing nicely there,” he said as he rubbed her arms. Suddenly, Snow grabbed him and hugged him to her, almost knocking him out of his squatting position. He hugged her back, then stood up…her standing with him. Then he pulled back to look at her. She smiled, then rested her head on his chest, “First, just hold me for a moment.”

He was happy to oblige her. He did indeed make her feel safe…she didn’t quite know exactly why…but assumed it was her memories trying to come through. This is why she knew it was right…that HE was right, and NOT…well, she didn’t even want to think of that other person right now. She just wanted to concentrate on Mike and Mike alone.

Snow in WW: Chapter 249 - “You’ve Got Personality…”

Victor was very aware that both Snow and Mike had disappeared…a thought that displeased him greatly. Just then through the kitchen door, the two appeared…together, just as he feared. Where Snow was just feeling better…feeling safe, all that went away when she saw Ritch. Then she started to feel sick again.

She looked at Mike, “You know, I’m really not feeling that well…perhaps some water?”

“Of course. I’ll get you some.” Mike rushed back into the kitchen to fetch the water.

After a second in thought in looking at her almost ‘green’ daughter, Liz offered, “Maybe you’d feel better if you lie down for a few minutes in the guest bedroom?”

“Well, OK. I just hate to be a burden here at the party.”

“Nonsense,” was Mike’s reply, already back with her glass of water. “You’re never a burden, Snow.”

Liz took her arm, “I’ll go with you.”

Liz shut the door behind them, and Snow took a sip of water then lay down on the bed. “Mother, I would like for us to talk. I feel so silly that I have a mother and sister in the village here and know nothing about them. Of course, I really know nothing about ME either.”

Liz laughed, “Yes, we do need to catch up. There is rather a lot to tell. But right now you’re not feeling up to it. Take a few moments and see if you feel better. If not, it would probably be better if we took you on home.”

Snow nodded.

“I will come and check on you in a few. I love you, Snow.” She smiled and shut the door behind her.

Thomas hadn’t been able to take his eyes off of Lily since she and Liz entered that evening. When they left to pick up some of their things, he was so afraid they would not be back. Imagine his delight when he saw her face. Lily had been troubled as of late. Kahlua called it a “nervous breakdown”…whatever that was. Right now she seemed fine…in good spirits even. He sighed as her eyes met his once more. He swallowed and made the brave step in her direction…to ask her to dance. To his relief, she said ‘yes’.

As they danced, he basked in the feel of her in his arms again. The feeling was mutual for Lily.

“How are you feeling?” he asked with sincerity.

“At the moment, I’m OK.”

She wanted to be OK for longer than just ‘this moment’, but she would lose herself in this moment while it lasted. Before her and her mum’s most recent journey back through the mirror to get some of their things, she pondered what both her mother and sister had said to her, ‘Thomas is your medicine’. She seemed normal when she was around him, not blurting out nonsense phrases and acting all crazy. She truly hoped they were right. Snow had tried to get her to talk to Thomas alone about it all, but she just wasn’t ready. She wasn’t ready to embarrass herself by admitting the lunacy she suffered…the voices in her head, the lack of control, the blackouts…not knowing what she had done. Snow had given her a book from Kahlua on some possible conditions that describe her symptoms, and what she read frightened her. She might be suffering from what the book called a ‘split personality’. This scared her to death. She wanted to talk to someone about it. She was going to talk again with Snow, but with Snow’s new memory loss, this seemed futile. And her mother worries so much. Who she really wanted to talk to was Thomas…she was just denying this to herself. She was afraid…afraid of the embarrassment, and worse…would he reject her if he though her mad? She couldn’t bear that thought. But, she was so frightened. Now dancing in his arms, the urge was stronger than ever to spill everything to him…her feelings, her fears, her love for him…but it just wasn’t the right time. Still, she was so fragile as of late, her will was not that strong, as the voices had slowly been tearing down her defenses…so much so, that Thomas could see it in her eyes that something was wrong. He knew this already, but as the tears welled up in them, he thought maybe she needed to talk about it now. “Lily, what is it? I wish you would talk to me?”

Her tears let go and began to stream down her cheeks, “I will…I want to. I’m ready. I need to talk to you, Thomas.”

Quickly, he stopped mid-dance, “Let’s go to the kitchen then, OK?” She nodded.

He’d rather have taken her somewhere more private, but he thought this was a miracle in itself to get her to possibly open up to him about what had been going on. They met Mike in the kitchen, “Mike, I really need a minute with Lily…is there any way you can keep the kitchen clear for just a few minutes?”

Mike could see in his eyes that Thomas was desperate, and from her face, so was Lily.

“Sure Thomas…I will do what I can.”

“Thank you.”

As the door shut behind Mike, Thomas turned to look at Lily. She looked as though she would break down any moment and sob, but she didn’t. She merely wiped at her tears and turned toward the counter, looking out the window as she began, “I don’t quite know where to start, except to say that I have some kind of sickness…one that I don’t understand, and can’t really explain, even. It’s really hard to talk about…in that I can’t control what happens most of the time. According to a book I borrowed from Kahlua, I have a condition called a ‘split personality’. Apparently, trauma can cause ones’ subconscious to create alternate personalities in one’s head.” Her crying worsened some as she continued, “I’m so scared Thomas…I can’t control what I say or what I do sometimes…and sometimes I don’t even remember what happened. And I know everyone must think I am mad.”

Thomas touched her face, “I don’t.”

She looked at him. It was like his eyes could see inside her soul and she just wanted him to kiss her and make everything better….she wanted to just fall into his arms where he could keep her safe from the voices…these personalities that haunt her.

“I’m glad,” she smiled. She was glad that he didn’t think that of her, but what else did he feel?

Resisting the urge to kiss her he whispered, his hand still on her cheek, “I want to help you through this, Lily. We will get through this. I will be there for you every step of the way. I won’t leave you Lily, I promise.” She closed her eyes and leaned into his touch, as though his words were a lullaby to her soul. He couldn’t resist any longer. Her eyes still closed, he leaned in and kissed her gently. But what he feared would happen was about to happen. After a little too much to drink, Slater was having words with Mike on the other side of the door for a refill. Finally, Mike couldn’t hold him back any longer, “Don’t worry Mike, I’ll be out of your precious kitchen in no time. It’s not like I’ll be in here baking cookies or anything.” Suddenly aware that he just walked into something, he grinned, “Sorry Thomas…now I know what all that fuss was about. You can just ignore me then…please continue.”

When Thomas looked back at Lily, she had a wild look in her eyes, very different than the demeanor she just displayed to Thomas before the interruption. The wild look turned to horror as the girl slammed her back against the counter, “Oh God! He’s after me…he’ll find me here! I have to get out of here!” Quickly she bolted through the door and into the main room. “He’s coming to get me!” A hush fell over the room as everyone stared at the scared girl. Mai rolled her eyes. Liz knowingly and quickly went to comfort her, “Lily, you’re alright…no one is going to get you.”

“He’ll find me here!”

“No, he won’t, I promise.” Liz nervously looked around at the questioning gazes. As all eyes were on her, Ritch decided this would be the perfect time to sneak out of the room, unnoticed.

Quietly, he entered the room.

“Mother, is that you?”

“No, it’s me. I just thought I would check and make sure you are alright.”

He sat on the bed beside her. Her smile quickly faded when she realized by his costume that this was not Mike, like she thought…but instead the one person she preferred NOT to see anymore this night.

“Oh it’s you. Ritch…I’d really like to just rest here for a while.”

“Alright…I’ll let you.”

At his words, Snow expected him to get up and leave…but he didn’t. Why? What did he want?

“You know Snow? I’ve been thinking. And I really think the best thing for us, is just to pick right up where we left off. I think that your memories will come back to you faster that way.”

Just having him here seemed to bring those horrible images to her mind again. And what did he mean by ‘us’? There was no ‘us’, thought Snow. When was he going to get that through his thick skull?

Victor’s thoughts were…if he could ‘take’ Snow now, it would make it all the easier to have her agree to marry him, and then him inherit her kingdom.

“You see…” as he began to slip his hand under her covers and up her leg, “we were close, you and I. And I think that it will all come back to you, if you just relax and let it happen.”

Alarmed, Snow sat up, “What? What are you doing? Stop it!!”

He threw the covers off her, “Just relax Snow…we were meant to be, you and I. You’ll remember it all in just a minute.”

With one hand he covered her mouth to stifle any cries for help, and the other he began to unfasten his belt under his cloak, “And remember…” he put his face down close to hers, “…it would be in your best interests to NOT speak of this to anyone. After all, do you want the village to know just what a little WHORE you really are?”

Snow’s eyes shone horror as she tried to cry for help beneath his hand. As he raised her gown, he was preparing to climb onto the bed when he heard a knock at the door.

“Snow, it’s Mai. Just thought I would check on you.”

“Bloody hell.” He grabbed her covers and pulled them back onto her as he also pulled his cloak closed to hide his unfastened trousers. He then looked at Snow and whispered, “You remember what I said…” as his removed his hand from her mouth.

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