Left behind and almost forgotten when her twin sister Snow married Prince Charming, Rose Red exacted her revenge by seducing Charming when she was invited to come and live with them. Their mutual resentment kept the sisters apart for many years, though when the Adversary invaded, they found themselves traveling together in the mass of refugees fleeing the Adversary's army. Taking refuge in an abandoned house, they discovered a living skeleton in the oven. As the skeleton slowly retook shape it told its story, revealing itself to be Frau Totenkinder, the bad witch of many legends. Snow was immediately distrustful and disdainful, but Rose continued to treat the old woman kindly.

After Snow and Rose settled in the Mundane world, Rose continued to rebel and embarrass her sister by unseemly and raucous behavior culminating in allowing her boyfriend Jack to convince her to become engaged to Bluebeard in order to borrow a large sum of money to repay his debts. When Jack fell through, Rose was forced to fake her own death in order to buy the couple more time. Fable Town's sheriff Bigby Wolf unraveled the mystery and Rose was condemned to months of community service on the Farm. Snow drove her up to the Farm in the hopes the sisters would reconcile, but they arrived just as a full scale revolt among the non-human Fables was beginning. In order to buy time and save her sister's life, Rose pretended to join the rebellion. When it was over, Rose was granted amnesty and took over the responsibilities of governing the Farm, a job she enjoyed and took to very well. Feeling on equal terms with her sister, and after heartfelt discussion, Rose and Snow are reconciled and Rose helped Snow raise her children in their father Bigby's absence.