Disclaimer: I don't own anything, and most obviously not Grimm or its characters. Some story concepts may have been borrowed and adapted unintentionally or intentionally from other fictions, books, tv shows, movies, religions, geography, history, theology, etc. This is what happened when I ran out of Nadalind stories to read.

WARNING! THIS IS MY FIRST FANFICTION (no beta)

Author's Note:
I am very unsure about this whole -ness! This writing business 'n stuffs! Please tell me if its crap or too slow or boring etc.

General Notes:
Hexenbiest and Zauberbiest are used as both singular and plural nouns. (I don't speak German)
Italics – thoughts or memories
Bold – quotes from TV series
"unspaced dialogue" – telephone conversations


Chapter 7
May 2
nd – Around 11:30 PM

One kiss led to another and so on. Such that neither Nick nor Adalind took any notice of the back-door opening. Monroe and Henrietta walked into the shop with the supplies and books needed for the bonding ceremony. Rosalee incidentally chose that moment to wake from her nap. The door was right by her head.

"That didn't take long." Monroe deadpanned.

"I'll say…" Rosalee yawned. "How long was I out for?"

"No idea…"

"I guess this means I win, and you get to take out the trash for a week," she chirped. Her husband grumbled good naturedly about making bets with scheming Fuchsbau. Rosalee then began helping Monroe clear an area on the worktable for him to place his burden. They snickered quietly at the oblivious couple kissing at the other end of the room. Making-out more like. Monroe amended to himself.


As far as Nick and Adalind were concerned, the rest of the universe ceased to exist, the moment their lips touched. It wasn't unlike the intense magic they'd felt during their previous moments. Their claiming and their betrothal had both been monumental. Except this time, there was awareness on the part of both parties. This time there was conscious intent. It made all the difference.

Adalind felt the heat of his breath, long before his lips touched hers. Gentle, yet firm. His temperature, just a touch cooler than hers, as his mouth worked over hers. The tickle and prick of his scruff against her face, set her nerve endings on fire. One slow massaging kiss became another as Nick gained confidence. She felt his large rough hands massage her biceps before growing restless and moving on. One hand came to support her neck while the other trailed down her sleeve. Fingers were tentative, before she felt his entire palm caress the swell of their unborn son.

He exhaled heavily against he lips at the contact, but quickly took advantage of her responding gasp.

The sweet taste of the breath between her parted lips was more than Nick was able to ignore. He'd intended to be sweet and gentle, elevating his reassuring words with a more physical expression of his attraction. Her reaction to his nearness, her delicate weakness, undermined all his good intentions. One taste led to another deeper sampling. And that wasn't even taking touch into consideration, as he mapped her delicate frame, caressed the evidence of their unwitting union. This was his. She was his.

It took every ounce, every brain cell, left at his disposal, to remember NOT to crush his son. He just barely remembered to remain on the bed and off of his temping fiancé. His hand trailed up her side. His thumb barely grazed the underside of her breast, when he felt the most wonderful magic erupt from beneath her skin.

Adalind lost control and her power began to leak as Nick teased and tempted euphoria.


The last person to come upon the scene was the least surprised out of EVERYONE in the room. Glad to be proven correct, Henrietta meant to allow the couple their moment. However, once she felt the magic of their connection begin to flare, she knew she needed to bring their exploration to a halt.

"Ehem!" Henrietta cleared her throat, as she dropped the two large tomes she had carried onto a cleared portion of the table. Like a pair of guilty teenagers, the couple sprang apart.

"Eek! Sorry, Miss Henrietta!" Adalind apologized reflexively. The brief embarrassed tension broke into amusement at the younger witch's preconditioned response. Her old teacher grinned. Still got it.

"Heh. I guess you really were her teacher." Nick laughed beside his still reddened betrothed who shoved him playfully in response.

"I'll assume this means you're ready now." Henrietta brought them back to the situation at hand.

"Uh… yea." Nick shared a smile with his fiancé as he gently laced her hand with his.

"Good. Monroe and I took the liberty of finding the correct books and necessary items before leaving my home."

"Urgh…," Monroe moaned at the memory, "Dude. you so owe me. Her entire basement is like a freaking library! It had multiple rooms!"

"Wow really?!" Adalind was shocked. "I remember your extensive collection from upstairs… How come I never knew about your basement?" The witch fairly pouted at the past knowledge denied.

"I know you would have appreciated it as a child," Henrietta consoled. "but I couldn't risk Catherine knowing what I had. In your more recent visits, you left too quickly." Adalind made a face at her own impulsiveness. "I wish I could have shared it with you. You above all else would have appreciated it. However, knowing how much influence Catherine and Sean had over your behavior until recently, it's a good thing I was so cautious."

Nick was surprised to hear Henrietta refer so casually to Catherine's bespelling her own daughter. I JUST told her… He nearly brought it up, but the Hexenbiest caught his gaze with a knowingly raised brow. He sighed. He didn't even want to know how she knew.

"Don't be disappointed." She continued to Adalind. "Once you are protected fully by your Grimm, I'll be expecting many visits from your family in the future." Henrietta smiled warmly. "As for now, we really should get on with this. We don't have much time." The overall mood decreased as everyone recalled the less than celebratory circumstances for this bonding.

"I do believe this needs to be done under the height of the moon's rise and within 12 hours of peak fullness. Coincidentally, the moon was scheduled to be full today at 11:44 PM." Everyone checked the time. It was exactly 11:45 PM at that moment.

"Really?!"

"Again coincidentally, the moon's peak height will occur at 12:33 AM."

"Spooky. Holy shit man! It's like destiny! I mean, like, what are the chances?!"

"That is kind of freaky." Adalind agreed. Nick however, felt a calmingly reassured by that knowledge. That this could honestly be 'MEANT to be'. And destined to happen even with all their past difficulties. Maybe all the bad happened for a reason too.

"Regardless, we need to move quickly. I've brought two books with me. One which had the most detailed account of the spell and its effects for the two of you to read, and another with the actual instruction." She lifted the top book and carried it over to the couple. Before handing it to Nick, Henrietta Woged and the book fell open to page required.

"I can't read this." Nick stared blankly at the High German text. Henrietta sighed.

"You REALLY should invest in more languages Mr. Burkhardt," reminded them all of teacher she was. "Adalind can read it to you." She then rejoined Monroe and Rosalee by the table to begin preparations.


May 3rd – Around 12 AM

A short while later, Nick and Adalind had finished their reading and subsequent discussion. The ceremony was short and simple, and the magic appeared relatively straight forward.

The couple would share blood during what was vaguely reminiscent of a handfasting. Then, afterward, they would share a kiss, at which point the betrothal spell would be released and Adalind would get that portion of her magic back. That was it.

The other subsequent effects, however, were much more vague. Apparently, their relationship would somehow improve, and their "magic" would strengthen. Also, over time they could expect to share in some of each other's abilities. The spell would supersede the claim as well since it ensured complete fidelity. The couple supposed they would have to play it by ear.

Henrietta quickly ran through the actual procedure while Monroe and Rosalee packed everything needed into their picnic basket. The ceremony couldn't occur in the shop. Stereotypically, it required a clearing in the woods, under the moonlight. Incidentally, Juliette had provided one. They had moved the trailer behind the shop yesterday, so they could more easily rescue its contents. The space left behind was perfect for their needs.

Henrietta continued her explanation as the five of them locked up the shop and left. Time was of the essence. The five of them squeezed into Nick's Land Cruiser and drove to the woods. They had exactly enough time with only a few minutes leeway. The truth was, that aside from minimal requirements, the spell was flexible to whatever the couple's desires or means were. It didn't even require and officiant but could accommodate one as well as attendants easily.

For the ceremony, Henrietta would further "prepare the space" and wait with Monroe and Rosalee in the center of the clearing. Nick and Adalind would approach barefoot from the South and the North respectively. Once they met in the middle they would be bound and share blood.

They arrived at the plot without difficulty. Traffic had been clear for the entirety of the short trip. Monroe hopped out to open and close the gate. And followed on foot the small distance to where Nick parked just outside of the clearing. Henrietta was just finishing her explanation.

"And then, finally, you share a kiss," A small pause, "—while Woged."

"What?!" Adalind was embarrassed, but that emotion quickly became shock when all Nick did was shrug as he unbuckled his seatbelt. He walked around and removed her stilettos before helping Adalind out of the car. "Nick, you DID just hear her, right?"

"Yea. Kiss you when you're Woged. At least you have lips that can close now and eyes. It'll be a lot less awkward then it would've been before, just kissing your teeth." In truth he wasn't only thinking of her current Woge versus her last one. He recalled Juliette's hideous form and shuddered at the memory. It was almost odd how easily he could accept Adalind's other self, now.

"Huh, he has a point. Plus, on the upside it's dark." This earned Monroe and elbow from his wife. "Ow! No offense!"

Henrietta told them all to stand back as she entered the clearing with the basket and walked to the center. Suddenly, she Woged and let out a terrifying screech. A large wind of palpable magic rushed outward, forcing all four of them to duck and shut their eyes. When they looked up again, the clearing was now a perfectly cleared circle of grass in the trees with a large four-pointed star, free of grass, in the center. None of the trees were damaged, they'd simply moved. The finished clearing was surprisingly well lit by the moonlight. Everyone could see clearly.

Nick carried Adalind over to her starting position due to her lack of shoes. Nick, Monroe and Rosalee then moved into position before removing their shoes and socks just outside of the circle, in the tree line. I was only then that Nick noticed Henrietta had removed her shoes before leaving the car and that she had yet to retract.

In the center, Henrietta removed five items from the basket and set them on top. A long stiletto-like dagger, a long ribbon of linen, a bottle with a simple potion she'd mixed earlier in the shop, and two silver goblets.

Fortunately, only Nick and Adalind had to be completely unadorned except for their clothing. Unfortunately, that meant a pile of Nick's things were quickly accumulating on the ground. Adalind only had to remove her earrings, which she left in the cupholder of his cruiser. Nick on the other hand, removed his jacket, gun, badge, watch, belt, and had to empty his pant pockets completely. He was supremely relieved that the buttons on his jeans and shirt were considered acceptable.


After a long pause, during which they assumed Henrietta was waiting for the correct time, she called Monroe and Rosalee to take their respective points near the center. Rosalee took the East point, representing communication and Monroe took the West point, representing commitment. As soon as their bare feet touched the cleared soil, they found themselves forced to Woge. She handed them each a goblet to hold, and she poured the potion into the goblets. After placing the empty vial back into the basket, she took up the dagger in one hand and the linen in the other.

Nick was nervous, but a happy excited sort of nervous, as he watched Adalind fidget across the clearing. Their eyes met, and they shared a smile. He was so unbelievably grateful. For just this moment, he would cast aside his guilt, it had no place in his bonding, and Adalind deserved better. Without that guilt, he felt nothing but happiness and gratitude. He couldn't believe how lucky he was. Adalind was his dream girl. She was so beautiful under the moonlight, small and barefoot in her witchy maternity dress, belly swollen with his son. He meditated on the present and let the magic of the moment fill him.

Adalind was grateful she didn't have to pee. Aside from that, she had no idea how she ended up here. She felt happiness and hope in a way she'd never experienced before. She still couldn't believe Nick chose to be with her over Juliette. AND he was okay with it… more than okay. She didn't feel like she deserved this, but hell if she wasn't going accept it with both hands. She watched Nick shyly from beneath her lashes. He looked like a dark warrior in the moonlight, even unarmed. The father of her children. Nick is so much better than a prince. She let out a shuddering breath and accepted the gift fate had granted her. She aligned herself with the magic of the ceremony and allowed her hopeful joy to fill the air.

Henrietta called to them. It was time to begin. Together, they walked towards the center of the clearing, towards each other. Adalind approached from the North as a paragon of hope and fertility. Nick felt the intense passion of the South as he approached his soon to be bride. As with their friends, once their feet touched the soil Adalind Woged, and Nick assumed his Grimm eyes had also darkened. Strangely enough, Nick found only beauty in her decaying face.

Henrietta instructed Adalind to press her left palm straight out, face down against Nick's. Then Nick placed his right hand on top, so he had Adalind's left palm sandwiched in between his. Finally, Adalind sandwiched his left palm, pressing her right hand to the bottom of the stack. Straight fingers overlapped wrists, so that the centers of all four palms were in alignment. Monroe and Rosalee held the goblets below the hands on either side.

The old witch then used her magic wrap their palms with the linen in a complicated pattern. The two loose ends were left to drape into each of the goblets.

"Are you ready?"

"Yes." They answered together. The linen tightened sharply, before Henrietta plunged the long dagger through all four palms.