"Someone ran him through with their sword," He finally said quietly.

"Who?"

"Our son." When I didn't immediately say anything he looked up at me. I could see the panic on his face but it didn't matter. all i could see was a red haze.

...Ash…

I had no idea what i was going to tell Meghan. I was hoping I wouldn't have tell her at all. So it was as much a surprise to her as it was to me when i said

"Our son." That i admitted it was our child who had nearly killed his only uncle. I knew as soon as the words left my lips it was a mistake.

Meghan went stiff, her eyes glassy. I think she even stopped breathing. She didn't say a word to me. Shit. Shit. SHIT.

"Me and Puck helped him kill the Elemental in the frozen wood," I blurted out. Wait, What?

"What?" Meghan looked at me with a confused look. Well, at least it wasn't an angry one. Was I trying to change the subject by diverting to the mistakes I'd made all day? Yes. Apparently i was.

"And i turned away from crowd control with Mab for a feeling in my gut." Her eyes went wide in concern and confusion. I guessed she had no clue what i was talking about or why i was telling her. So i carried on.

"The feeling led me to Puck, who was being torn apart by Titania's dogs all because Keirran couldn't take no and Kenzie got hit with a lightning bolt meant for him." Meghan tilted her head at me in an odd way.

Brilliant. Signed my own death certificate. How the hell did i survive in the Winter court.

"Well," she started slowly. She took a long breath without taking her eyes from her hands on the table. "That settles it."

"Settles what?" I asked tentatively. Her eyebrows furrowed in her adorable way when she was trying to be stern.

"I'm going to kill that boy next time I see him." I nearly fell to the floor from my relief.

"Sweetheart there may be a line for that."

"I'm his mother and I'm a Queen. I'm at the head of the line."

"Course you are dear." I thought it'd be better to agree with everything she said for a little while. I may not fear anything but that does not mean I'm not afraid of my wife. Having Mab or Sage or even Rowan angry with me wasn't bad, I'd learnt to handle that. Meghan's anger was a different type all together. Straightforward, singeing and if she's very angry, long.

And being locked out of heaven for a long while is not fun. A man has needs.

"You two alright?" Puck asked lightly, walking slowly from behind the bar. Behind him Iris closed the door they'd taken Ethan through. Meghan sighed and leaned back in her chair.

"As we can be. How's Ethan?"

"Better." He gave her a gentle hug before pulling up a chair. At least he was handling this better than me.

"Alder, call Grim to collect the boy and send Ture to get the girl," Iris, the nurse who was fey instructed the dark haired man who had been behind the bar when we walked in. She went to walk but turned to him again. "Tell them to bring them in through the back."

Alder nodded and disappeared again. Iris walked over to us with her arms crossed and a stern expression.

"I've heard of royal screw ups but your boy seems to take the cake." Puck snorted. Iris glared at him. "Problem Robin?" He went quiet as soon as she said his name. There was certainly something going on between the pair.

"Seeing as you decided to take shelter in my bar, I think it best if you tell me what happened so I might prepare for anything that decides to follow you," Iris said with a deep voice. She was most definitely older than me. But her aura said summer more than winter, so i couldn't be entirely sure.

"Me and Puck helped Keirran kill the frozen wood elemental," I said. Iris nodded slowly.

"Mab's elemental?"

"Aye."

"I know someone that deals in ancient beings. I'll see if I can get a larva."

"What?"

"Well it may have been killed, and it may have been old but mortals don't know that. Ancient beings like elementals are different than us fey. If one dies but there is still belief in it, another will be created," Iris explained.

"That is true," Puck nodded.

"No, why would you help us?" Meghan questioned. I glanced at Puck but he didn't look concerned at all. Instead, he looked proud.

"Oh I'm not helping you. I'm helping myself. Mab loves that creature and she won't be too happy to know its dead. I give her a new one, then she owes me. And it may get her off my back for awhile." It was a straight answer if I've ever heard one. I hate straight answers. They're worse then dodgy answers.

"And what do you want from us?" She smirked at me like she knew the greatest secret in history.

"Nothing. Nothing from you or your wife. Robin. He's the one I want something from." Puck's face fell to the ground. I don't think Iris could've looked any happier at his response otherwise her face might have cracked. Meghan's eyes flicked between the two.

"No."

"Excuse me?"

"Keirran is our son, we're the ones who owe payment," the iron queen stated. Iris's eyes narrowed dangerously.

"And with everything that's happened, can you really afford to owe another debt?" Even i had to admit, she was right. With everything our son had screwed up the last thing we needed was another debt hanging over our heads. I could tell by the way Meghan was clenching and unclenching her jaw and fists that she wasn't about to agree with Iris, even if she saw Iris was right. Sometimes her pride was bigger than mine, and the last thing she was going to do was let Puck take a debt for us.

"As long as we know the terms of Pucks debt," I said quickly. Meghan glared at me, looking surprised. I didn't acknowledge her reaction at all. We couldn't afford to let our pride win right now. Iris smirked and shrugged.

"As you like." Puck let out an audible breath but didn't speak. Apparently he was fine with taking the debt for us, otherwise, knowing him he would have protested. Loudly. Iris watched him as if waiting for him to decline. All he did was flash an obviously fake smile. The debt was sealed.

Someone banged rather loudly on the front door several times. Adler, who had come out from the back slipped back inside at the first knock. I think he knew who it was. And from the way Iris sighed, she knew too.

"Your early," Iris said in monotone. Apparently she didn't want to see who was knocking. Whoever they were kept knocking. Groaning in annoyance, Iris went to the door and yanked it open. A tall woman with black hair and a large white coat stomped inside. She had a fur hood covering her face with her hair spilling out its sides. Iris slammed the door shut before the snow could pour inside. That was odd. It hadn't been snowing when we arrived with Ethan.

"Your early," Iris repeated. The woman chuckled lightly. It sent chills down my spine.

"I did tell you i wanted this sorted as quickly as possible," she said. I could feel my own eyes go wide. I knew exactly who it was. How could I not? The woman who semi terrorises you for years is not easy to forget. She threw back her hood revealing the face i knew it hid. Meghan on the other hand had not recognized her voice and looked visibly shocked by her arrival. The winter queen can have that effect.

"And I told you Mab, I don't have as much spare time as i used to. I'm not one of your subjects that will jump at your beck and call," Iris replied sternly. She appeared to have no self preservation. Or want to live. But for the first time in my life, My mother didn't freeze the person talking rudely to her on the spot. Instead she smiled, like this was a game.

"You know exactly what and who i want. And you know what for. Must we go through this everytime?"

"Aye we must. Until he willingly agrees, we must," Iris stated. Her monotone and blank expression showed how serious she was. She looked almost tired of repeating that sentence. My mother let out a sigh and removed her coat. She threw it over the bar and moved around to the back of the bar.

"Am i serving myself again?"

"Aye. As long as you don't mind waiting. I find it easier to deal with one problem at a time."

"It's not as if i need to be anywhere urgently," Mab shrugged, pulling out a cup and reaching for a bottle of something on the shelves. "Besides, I'm beginning to feel in the mood for a long chat."

"Now that i can do," Iris nodded. "You mind looking after the bar for a moment?"

"It would be my personal pleasure," Mab smirked. She took a sip from the mix she'd made and hardly looked like the mother i knew. But i guess this was what she was like when she felt on a level playing field. She was communicating with someone of the same skill. This must be what she was like behind closed doors, without the Queen fanfare and castle to surround her. She was less here. Which was probably why she hadn't acknowledged me or Meghan or Puck.

Iris went to the door she'd taken Ethan through.

"We can continue our conversation in the back room," She said while motioning to us. Puck and Meghan stood quickly, wanting to get away from my mother's gaze i guessed. I took my time walking over to the door, watching Mab as she looked through Iris's selection of grog behind the bar. She looked like my mother, she moved like my mother, she spoke like my mother but she seemed to open to be my mother. She still gave birth to me even if she disowned me. Somethings you can't change by law.

Iris grabbed me by the collar and pulled me down a hallway then into a room. It was dark and small with a single bed in the corner.

"There was no need for that," i hissed when she finally let me go.

"You were taking too long." Meghan walked in before Puck, he gently closed the door behind himself.

Took a little bit and here we are. Please let me know how you feel about the stories direction so far, what you think of it and what you think may happen. Your guys opinions and thoughts help me greatly and it pretty much makes my day :-)

So please R&R :-P Love ya!