Beauty had been awake for hours, listening to the birds wake up and leave their nests for the day, listening to Ted and Charlie get ready and head to work -- but she hadn't left her room except to quickly shower. The window in her upstairs guest room was open and she was brushing her wet hair out in the breeze. Horse would want his clandestine apple soon -- the same apple she gave him every morning, once Ted and Charlie were gone.
When the doorbell rang, Beauty frowned. She knew it couldn't be for her -- no one except Maggie knew she was here. But neither were Ted or Charlie here, either. She hesitated, truly uncertain as to what she should do. What if it were important? ... What if Edward Nigma found her again? Oh, surely, he wouldn't ring... But then, that's almost exactly what he'd done at her bookstore, and she'd just...
Running her hands over her face, Beauty crept down the stairs quickly and edged around the living room until she could peek through the side window. She couldn't tell who it was, but whoever it was, that was blonde hair, not dark. It wasn't Edward Nigma. It wasn't Dr. Crane.
It wasn't Errol. It wasn't Megan. Or Maggie. Beauty twisted her hands together and eased to the door. Nothing to fear.... (and nothing to smile about).
She forced a smile anyway, then opened the door with that smile plastered on her face, hair still a little stringy from her shower.
"Hello," she said to the very beautiful woman in front of her.