**If you are unfamiliar with Into the Woods, it combines the stories of Jack and the Beanstalk, Little Red Ridinghood, Rapunzel, Cinderella, and a couple of bakers.

Tremaine is a penniless baker, having set off into the woods with his husband to search for Emika Chen, the young girl they had been responsible for watching. However, the clock is ticking; an angry giant runs rampant in these woods, destroying everything and everyone in her path. Deciding to split up to search for Emika, Tremaine finds himself alone - that is, until he encounters a dashing young prince named Roshan Ahmadi.**

100 paces.

That was as far as Tremaine was willing to part from his husband. No use risking them getting lost...or crushed.

81...82...83...

"Emika!"

Good Lord, where could that child have strayed to?

84...

~

When Prince Roshan's darling newlywed was nowhere to be found in the palace, he immediately set out into the woods. The leaves crunched under his boots as he searched every inch of the trees for his beloved. In actuality, the young princess had gone to her mother's grave, which lay beside a healthy hazel tree in the far end of the woods. Roshan did not know anything about his wife's whereabouts, and therefore was indignant on making sure she was alright.

That was when he encountered a handsome peasant, who carefully counted his steps as he approached the prince.

      He was very handsome.

     Roshan had no intention on straying from his path. Still, he supposed, a small delay...

When the baker noticed Roshan, he startled and immediately sunk into a bow. "H-Hello, sir," he stuttered in such a regal presence.

"Hello," Roshan replied, "And why are you alone in the woods?"

"I came with my husband," the young man explained, preoccupied. "We were...well, it's a long story."

Roshan was never one to lose his smooth demeanor. After all, he was raised to be charming. "He would let you wander alone?" he asked, stepping closer.

The stranger shook his head politely. "No. It was my choice. I'm looking for the girl."

"You choice?" The corners of Roshan's lips turned up in an amused smile. "How...brave."

"B-Brave?"

"Yes. Anything can happen in the woods..." Roshan took the baker's hand, swaying with him gently. He stopped briefly. "May I kiss you?"

Tremaine blinked.

"Any moment we could be crushed, don't feel rushed."

"Uh..." Tremaine stammered, his usually pale cheeks now redder than Little Red Ridinghood's cape.

Roshan closed the distance between them, kissing Tremaine's lips for a just a second.

Tremaine had a moment to himself as Roshan traveled farther down to nibble at the skin of his neck. This is ridiculous! What am I doing here? I'm in the wrong story-! In a rapid change of his mind, gazing at the handsome prince, he resumed the kiss quickly before pulling away once again. "W-Wait! We can't do this, you have a princess!"

"Well...yes, I do."

"And I have...a baker."

"Of course," Roshan huffed. "You're right. How foolish." He blinked. Then smirked. Stepped closer. "Foolishness can happen in the woods."

"Wha-"

"Once again, please."

He kissed him again, just as quickly, then pressed a finger to Tremaine's lips. "Let your hesitation be hushed...

"Any moment, big or small, is a moment, after all! Seize the moment, skies may fall, any moment..." he said, wrapping an arm around Tremaine and pulling him in for another kiss.

"Mm-! But this is not right!" Tremaine protested, placing his hands on Roshan's chest so he could disconnect their lips.

"Right and wrong don't matter in the woods, only feelings," Roshan bargained, smirking. "Let us meet the moment unblushed...life is often so unpleasant; you must know that, as a peasant," - Tremaine scoffed in offense - "Best to take the moment present, as a present for the moment," Roshan resumed.

Taking Tremaine's hand, Roshan tugged him into a secluded glade.

**Lots of dialogue between Cinderella and the Baker later**

     Had it been minutes? Hours? Years? Tremaine had lost track. All he knew was the feeling of Roshan's lips on his own, the prince's warm breath on his skin, their bodies so so, close together, the minimal clothing that had been discarded in those impulsive moments of what if...

      "I must leave you," Roshan suddenly announced, pulling away.

       "W- Why?" Tremaine blinked, dumbfounded.

        "The giant," Roshan answered. The beast wouldn't slay herself.

         Tremaine bit back his disappointment. "Oh, yes. The giant. Will we find each other in the woods again?" he asked hopefully.

           The prince smiled fondly, cupping Tremaine's cheek. "This was just a moment in the woods...our moment...shimmering and lovely and sad..."

           He began to move away, still grasping Tremaine's hand. "Leave the moment, just be glad for the moment that we had! Every moment is of moment, when you're in the woods..."

            Stepping forward to kiss Tremaine once more, the prince nodded in farewell. "Now, I must go off to slay a giant," he said, keeping up with his excuse for parting. "That is what the next moment holds for me. I shall not forget you, how brave you are to be alone in the woods..." he leaned down, kissing the back of Tremaine's hand lightly. "...and how alive you've made me feel."

           And with a wink, he was off. Onto the next moment.

        Tremaine was left shocked, as if waking up from a dream.

      A very...very nice dream.