Apple Pie

If it wasn't for the fact apples are the most suspicious of fruits, or that her step-mother had used magic in them, surprising Snow with an apple pie would've been pleasant. But right now, Merlin wanted to zap all of his companions into an early grave. Well, one more than the others.

"How was I supposed to know? It's been a year, I thought she was over it," Hans shrugged.

"Oh, I don't know. Maybe try asking next time."

"Don't worry, Merlin, it's just a pie," Arthur said, not taking his eyes off his flexing muscles. "She'll like it just because it's food. All girls love food." Arthur lost himself in thought. "In fact, Red can pretty much over power me if it's anything having to do with chicken."

"Aurora likes anything as long as it smells and is filling." Hans commented.

Pino nodded his head. "Our girls like oil." Kino and Noki agreed enthusiastically, bobbing their heads while giggling.

"You made your girls. You have it easy without their cravings," Arthur said. "I almost wish I had your skills, Hans."

Merlin was rubbing his forehead in frustration as he watched his companions discuss how their girlfriends craved different things. 'This is a nightmare,' he thought bitterly. 'How am I going to fix this?'

Tomorrow was the day Merlin and his beloved fiancee, Snow, celebrated their engagement with the kingdom and allies. Snow had told Hans to make 'whatever seemed right for these occasions.' Hans, with the rest of the kitchen crew, decided that apple pies were the most appropriate for the dessert. Five thousand apple pies that needed to be thrown away or hidden before Snow found them.

Merlin paced a bit before snapping his fingers when an idea popped into his head. "Pino, Kino, Noki, start catapulting pies into the dark forest. Arthur, take three pies home for Red, I'm sure she'll love them. Hans, start preparing a new dessert for tomorrow with the kitchen crew; get it ready for tomorrow. I'm going to start shoving pies in every hiding place I possibly can find. Snow can not find them."

Merlin gathered as many pies as he could, but didn't notice his friends giving him a look. They were all worried for him. Pino, Kino, Noki, and Hans all looked to Arthur for what they should do. Arthur sighed. "Go ahead and start working on tomorrow's meal like originally, but make it seem as though you're making a dessert, " he whispered to Hans. "You three, pretend to catapult pies. I'm going to have a chat with Merlin's lady."

Snow and Jack were discussing what jewelry she was going to wear tomorrow when a knock sounded from the door. "Come in," Snow shouted without looking up.

"I'm sorry to bother you, My Lady, but I believe I need your help."

"Arthur? What happened? Is everything alright with Red?" She asked, worried.

"Oh, no. She's fine."

"Oh, good," she sighed in relief.

"Merlin, not so much."

"Merlin? What's going on with him?"

"Hans made apples pies for tomorrow and Merlin is trying to hide them so you don't have to feel like you have to eat any of them."

"Why can't I eat them?"

"Well," Arthur scratched the back of his head. "you know, with everything your step mother did with apples and turning into a tree because of one. That sort of thing."

"Ah," she nodded. "I see. Where is he?"

"Trying to hide all the pies, so you might find him in the kitchen the most."

"Thank you, Arthur. Jack, I'll be back. Don't have too much fun with these gems."

Jack huffed. "Just because I like diamonds doesn't mean I find them fun."

Snow giggled before shutting her door on the way out.

Merlin has been overprotective as of late. He's nervous and tired considering the sizable bags that lay under his eyes. Apparently, the stress was really getting to him. They had planned this party for about a month now, and the wedding was planned for a year from now. Maybe he wasn't ready yet. Maybe he needed more time.

Snow walked in the kitchen just in time to see her love picking up more pies to dispose of. He was too distracted to notice her standing there. "I have to hide these," he kept repeating. She finally stopped after he tried shoving yet another pie into their over-pied pantry.

"What are you doing, Merlin?" She asked, worry written across her face.

"I..." he stumbled. "I-I was just-"

Snow signed as she took the pies from his hands and placed them on a nearby counter before grabbing his hand and pulling him out the kitchen and into a more private room. Merlin sat himself down and waited for his pacing fiancee to say something.

"What were you doing, Merlin?"

"I was trying to save some dessert?" It came out as more of a question than an answer. She gave him a pointed look causing the poor wizard to flitch back. "Alright, I was trying to hide the pies," he admitted, crossing his arms over his chest like a child. "I was only trying to protect you."

"Protect me? From what? Sugar?"

"No, your Step mother. She used apples and turned you into a tree." His heart pounded in his ears as the memories rushed in. The settled look she had when Snow decided to eat the apple, but not just for her father, but for him, the man she loved.

"Merlin, it's okay-"

"No, it's not okay. Every night I see you eating that apple and I being held tight by a tree, unable to help you, to fight Regina and her magic. All I see is me failing to help you. You, the woman that changed me as a man, who loves you with all my heart. And I could do nothing because of that tree. Not until the rest of the seven got there." Merlin stood up and ran his hands through his hair before he rested his eyes on the bookshelf full of his spell books.

He picked up 'The Book of Spells to Make You Fall in Love'. He chuckled, "And to think at the time, I believed I needed this silly book. You fell in love without it, and while you fell, jumped off after you, falling right back in love with you." Merlin signed, turning back to his future wife, her beauty was unmatched to any woman in the world, universe, and spell.

Snow was standing there, a wonderful smile gracing her lips. "I understand now." She said, sitting on the couch and patting the seat next to her for him. Merlin obliged.

"I understand that I gave you quite the scare last year, but it's okay. The apples they are using have no magic, Regina is gone, and Hans is in charge of making the pies. We both know he would never do anything to hurt me or you. So, it should be fine. But if it makes you feel better, we can have the pigs eat the pies and help them start from scratch to make a new batch of fruity pies. Does that sound fair?"

Merlin nodded, feeling much more at ease than moments before. "Thank you, Snow."

"You're welcome. Now, let's get down stairs and start helping with the cooking. If anything, we can cook at least something else to eat."

Snow moved towards the door before she was turned around and engulfed in a pair of long arms. "You're a miracle, Snow."

Merlin heard a sweet giggle. "Oh really? How so?"

Merlin pulled away and placed a hand on each of her cheeks. "Because you opened my eyes to a world I have never known and a world I never want to leave."

The kiss they shared was simple and sweet. A message of love, endurance, and peace. One they shared over and over through the years with each other and their children.