"What in God name are you talking about?! Mates? Almost killing Robin? What is going on, Emma? Have you lost your mind?" Snow had finally thawed, immediately unleashing a stream of continuous questions at her daughter. "And how is it that you are 'mates' with two people who supposedly share true love, huh? This is absurd." Snow didn't bother trying to hide her doubt, letting the disdain she felt drip from every word of her last statement.
"Snow, I know this is a lot to take in, believe me, and I will gladly explain everything, but not until after I ask you a question or two of my own. The answers are very important, so remember, I will know if you are lying." Waiting for an affirmative nod from the confused woman she had started to accept as family, Emma continued. "From everything I said, the biggest reaction that you had was regarding Ruby and Belle's relationship, and the fact that they share True Love. Why does that bother you so much?"
Scoffing, Snow crossed her arms petulantly, sulking as only a princess could. "Because they are both women, Emma. True love can only be shared between a man and a woman, the way God intended. Peter was Ruby's True Love, and as disgusting as it is, Gold is Belle's. Just because they want to carry on with this… this… whatever this is, doesn't make it right. Finding comfort in your friends is one thing, but their relationship is just unnatural." The clear look of revulsion on her face left no room for doubt as to where her mother stood on homosexuality, and it was everything Emma had ever feared. "And as for turning into a Werewolf, I am sure we can figure out a way to break that curse. Ugh, I can't believe she would try and do this!"
"First, Belle was under several spells and curses for her to be with that bastard. You can't call what happened with Gold love! Second, I don't want it to be broken. I want to be a wolf, to run with my mates. And who would do what? What are you talking about?!" Emma asked, already knowing the answer, but needing to hear it spoken to confirm her suspicions.
"RUBY. Who else could have bitten you? I mean, I know she and Belle have been having their problems, which isn't all that surprising, given the 'relationship' they are in, but to try and drag you down with them, it's a new low even for her."
'She DARES to talk of our mates in this way?! She needs to learn her place. This is our territory, not hers, and they are our MATES, our FAMILY. OURS!' As the thoughts snarled through her mind, Emma could feel her control slipping slightly as her anger increased, and a low growl began building in her chest.
"Ruby did bite me, but it wasn't intentional. It was an accident, and beyond that, it was part of a prophecy that I would become a wolf, so it would have happened if it was Ruby, or another wolf. I am glad it was Ruby because, even if it was an accident, it was someone I care about. And the only issue that she and Belle had, has been resolved. Whether or not Belle should be bitten is not something to be taken lightly, something Ruby would never force on her worst enemy, let alone someone she loves. So, it's understandable that they were fighting. And I can see why you aren't as close to someone you claimed as your best friend now, especially given how you are acting about them even being together. How are you going to behave with the knowledge that I am willingly choosing to be with them? To become a wolf? That I want them, just like they want me? Are you going to push me away now too?"
"You are just confused, Emma. You don't actually want to be with them, they are just making you think that. You aren't like that, you are a princess. But don't worry, we will get you sorted out in no time and everything can go back to normal." Snow continued to lecture in her most patronizing tone, ignoring the tension building in the room.
"NO!" Emma was immediately standing and her fist slammed down on the table with enough force to have it almost crack in half. "There is nothing wrong with their love or our relationship. They are my mates, and I love them. Are you really that blind to have not even noticed that I like WOMEN, and have even dated a few since I moved here? Or is there something wrong with that now, too?" The yellow had returned to Emma's eyes, as had the surge of protectiveness and power that came with the need to defend her mates. "Our love is the same as any other person's love, and we are just as normal as any other people out there. You will not disrespect my mates or our relationship in my presence. Do you understand?"
Leaning heavily on the straining table, Emma failed to notice the threatening posture she had taken, towering over her still seating mother. It was very reminiscent of her first disagreement with Ruby, when Henry had been mentioned, but that was the furthest thing from her mind in that moment. Her wolf was pushing for further action, wanting to defend its mates, its family, not caring that the woman in front of them was her birth mother. It wanted to put the challenger in its place and assert itself as the one in control of things.
Snow's eyes widened, her mouth falling open in shock, before she stood up and narrowed her eyes in the fiercest glare she could manage. "They are not your mates, and their relationship is not normal. It's disgusting. And the fact that they are trying to drag you down with them is revolting. You are coming with me to see Blue, and then you are coming home with me to your brother and father. You will NOT see Ruby or Belle again. You will find a man to be with, and you will be happy. I forbid you to continue to do this to our family. Do YOU understand? I am your mother, and you will not disgrace me with your behaviour."
Fighting back the instincts roiling inside her, Emma closed her eyes and took a deep breath, focusing on the hurt to keep her in the moment. Anger had always been difficult to control, but putting a mask on pain was one of her specialties. Emma straightened her posture, locked her jaw, and gazed at Snow with as little emotion as she could. This was not her mother, the one she had dreamed of as a child, and this was not the caring roommate she had come to love as family in her own way, not any longer. This was Queen Snow, rightful heir to the White kingdom, and someone she didn't want to know. "Thank you for answering my questions. I can see now that we will not be able to speak about this as calmly as I had hoped. As this is a difficult topic for both of us, I think it's time you leave, until we can be civil."
"There is nothing to discuss Emma. We are leaving now, together, and going to see Blue. This is not up for debate. I am sure since you haven't changed yet, she can break the curse, and when we do, whatever confusion you are having regarding your feelings for Ruby and Belle will be over." Not realizing that the volume of their conversation could be heard in the kitchen by the three other women, Snow failed to hear the twin growls coming from the doorway behind her. Emma heard and knew that neither of her mates would be able to contain their anger and hurt for much longer and she decided to end this as quickly as possible.
"I am not going anywhere with you. I am happy; I have found my mates, my family, and I would never leave them for any reason." Pulling the neck of her shirt down to bare her freshly healed mating mark for Snow to see, Emma spoke in a calm, even tone. "Do you remember the blast last night; the one that had the town in a panic because it was so powerful? That happened when Ruby and I completed our mate bond. It was like the power that comes from True Loves Kiss, but more, right? That's what everyone is saying, isn't it? Want to know how I know? Because we were there, and it came from us! They are my mates and they will not be taken from me!"
Anger rising, Emma was panting at the strain on her control. She needed to get Snow to leave now, before she began to feel just how much this rejection was going to upset, and it pushed her beyond what she could control. "We are happy, we are not disgusting, and the only person who needs to leave is you."
"If you don't leave with me right now, do not bother coming back to the apartment. I can't have you around your brother like this. You are clearly not thinking correctly, and you are probably as dangerous as Ruby is without her cape, if not more so. You shouldn't even be around Henry! But at least Regina will protect him from you and what you are doing." The haughty princess levelled a look of disdain at her daughter, as she added, "You are not welcome in my home until you are better. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly. Now get the hell out of my sight, you insipid, self-centered, bigoted, egotistical, MORON!" Having finally reached her breaking point, Emma was unable to stop the snarl that began to leak heavily into her voice. "If you are going to be like this, here are some conditions of your own. You are not welcome around any of my family if you are going to have your head that far up your own ass. You are the one who is disgusting! You claim Ruby as your best friend, yet you act like she is a monster for loving someone you don't approve of. Well guess what? You are the only monster in this room. You sent me through a wardrobe when I was 5 minutes old. You weren't even sure it would work, where I would end up, and you expected me to survive 28 years on my own, just to show up and happily break the curse for you. What did you think would happen then, hmm?" Emma had begun to circle Snow, forcing her slowly back up towards the front door of the diner. She could smell the waves of emotions rolling off of Snow, and the scent sickened her.
'Fear. Anger. Disgust. Confusion. She was a leader? Why would the people follow her? We are Alpha. We will protect our lands from her, from her kind. She is WEAK, pathetic.' The thoughts coming from the enraged wolf part of Emma were pushing her towards something, but she was too lost in her anger to care at this point. The woman before her was everything she had wished for as a child, the fairy-tale come to life just for her, but the reality was that Snow was not what she had needed anymore. She didn't need a fairy-tale, she needed her family, and Snow wasn't it.
"Did you think we would all live happily ever after? That I would just do whatever you said, and play your pretty princess the way you always wanted, perfect in every way? Are you forgetting that I am older then you and grew up in the real world? You always got everything you wanted, didn't you Snow? Well, guess what? Not this time and never again from me. You wanted a second child, one you could raise properly, so go take your second chance, and enjoy it while it lasts. Because we will have our kingdom, our family will rule justly, without your hatred, my mates will be happy, and the wolves and people of our kingdom will be happy and never have to fear the likes of you again! NOW GET OUT!"
Having finally snapped, the wolf pushed fully to the front of Emma's mind, speaking the words it knew to be true. They would rule, and their mates would be happy. As the wolf lunged at Snow to put her in her place, strong arms encircled Emma's waist from behind, making the blonde snarl and thrash.
"They are not your mates, and their relationship is not normal. It's disgusting. And the fact that they are trying to drag you down with them is revolting. You are coming with me to see Blue, and then you are coming home with me to your brother and father. You will NOT see Ruby or Belle again. You will find a man to be with, and you will be happy. I forbid you to continue to do this to our family. Do YOU understand? I am your mother, and you will not disgrace me with your behaviour."
Hearing the words from Snow's mouth left all three of the women standing in the kitchen in shock. She had been Ruby's trusted friend, her loyal soldier and confidante, and a second granddaughter to Granny. Belle had thought that she and Snow were developing a tentative friendship, albeit a minor one. But to hear her so openly degrade the women and their love opened their eyes to just who Snow really was. She was still the Black-and-White viewing Queen of the Enchanted Forest, no longer the girl who had asked for her help all those years ago.
"Fuck," Ruby breathed as she began to feel the power build in the air. She knew that Emma would have trouble controlling her emotions, and therefore her magic, if things became strained between them, but this was shocking. The power was almost tangible at this point, especially when Snow started talking about the relationship between Belle and Ruby. It was a dangerous thing to piss off a magic-wielder, but one who was becoming a werewolf? That was like kicking a nuke to see if it would explode.
When Snow began talking about taking Emma away from them, something in Ruby began to doubt that Emma would want to stay. And the thought hurt both her and her wolf. Snow was Emma's family, her mother, who she had longed for her entire life. How could she ask Emma to choose between her and her family?
For Ruby, Emma had been a breath of fresh air from the second she had sat down in the diner for the first time. Before the curse had broken, she had been drawn to the blonde like no one else she had ever met. She was worldly, confident, and charming, as ironic as that came to be. There was nothing that Emma could have asked that she wouldn't have done.
After breaking the curse, Ruby had been afraid to see the blonde for fear of her pulling away in disgust at what Ruby had done in her past. And then she had met Belle. And then Lacey. Both parts of a woman who held her attention no matter who else was around, with the exception of two other people. But Belle had enjoyed her company almost as much as Lacey, after Belle had fallen across the line. Once Belle had her memories back, Ruby had kept her distance, only seeing Belle at the diner or in passing around town. She had missed her friend, both parts of her, and it was painful to watch the woman you had a crush on be with the vilest person she could name.
When Belle had married Gold, something in Ruby snapped. Seeing the ring on Belle's hand had triggered her to transform in the middle of the street in broad daylight. Belle deserved better, deserved her, and she would fight for her to the death.
When Belle pulled the dagger and demanded that Gold not harm Ruby, there had been no effect. He had blasted Ruby across the street, landing her on the roof of Emma's beloved Bug and crushing it under the force. She had lost consciousness immediately.
Ruby had awoken in the hospital later that day to see Belle sleeping in the chair beside her bed. After Gold had tried to force Belle to leave with him, Emma had stepped in, having seen the whole confrontation from inside the diner. Gold had ignored Emma, and tried to force Belle to go with him, and Emma had blasted Gold with her own magic to stop him.
They had taken Ruby to the hospital in the cruiser, and called Regina to help them put wards up. When Regina had gotten to the hospital, she could feel residual magic on Belle, and with her permission, she had quickly examined her. The spell or rather spells that Gold had placed on Belle had altered a great deal of her memory, as well as the things she could see and hear with respect to him. It had been almost like he put blinders on Belle so that she could only see the positive and slightly less evil things that Gold said and did. It was only when Ruby had attacked him that Belle could see what he was doing.
When Belle had drunk the potion that Regina made, with the help of Blue, she had begun to remember and see things that she never had before. Deals Gold had struck, people he had tricked or killed; it was horrific. The marriage was immediately annulled, and Gold disappeared from the town. They knew he wasn't gone forever, but they would deal with him when he came back.
Ruby was in the hospital for only 2 days before being released, her wolf accelerating her healing enough that she was anxious to leave. Shortly after Ruby and Belle had shared Tue Loves Kiss, breaking the final curse Gold had placed on Belle to keep him with her, a curse of perpetual guilt. Blue had confirmed that it was True Love's Kiss when sceptics had voiced concern, and the women had been together ever since.
The initial fears that Ruby had felt with Belle, the uncertainty that someone could love her unconditionally and want to stay with her, were raging back to the surface as she listened to Snow confront Emma. Either way Emma was going to lose something, and Ruby could not help but feel that it was all her fault.
Watching the emotions play across Ruby's face, Belle knew that she was doubting Emma's love and conviction to be with them, just as she had when they had first gotten together. Ruby had been so scared to fully open up her heart, all because she believed that she was a monster.
"Ruby, sweetheart, come here." Belle opened her arms for her love, knowing what she needed in that moment was comfort and reassurance. Snuggling deeply into the embrace, Ruby, breathed in the scent of her love and soon to be full-mate, mixed with Emma's scent. It soothed the anger and fear Ruby was fighting within herself, and reminded her that Emma had already chosen both of them, and that all she could do was be there for the blonde when it was all over.
"There is nothing to discuss Emma. We are leaving now, together, and going to see Blue. This is not up for debate. I am sure since you haven't changed yet, she can break the curse, and when we do, whatever confusion you are having regarding your feelings for Ruby and Belle will be over."
Although Granny had not changed in a great many years, as she stood at the doorway to the kitchen, her eyes briefly turned yellow and she let out a deep growl. It was matched by one coming from her granddaughter, who was still wrapped in her love's arms. Snow had no right to attack her family the way she was, or the love that the feelings that they shared.
"I am not going anywhere with you. I am happy; I have found my mates, my family, and I would never leave them for any reason. Do you remember the blast last night; the one that had the town in a panic because it was so powerful? That happened when Ruby and I completed our mate bond. It was like the power that comes from True Loves Kiss, but more, right? That's what everyone is saying, isn't it? Want to know how I know? Because we were there, and it came from us! They are my mates and they will not be taken from me!"
Hearing the calm declaration from the other room, both Ruby and Belle broke into soft smiles that quickly faded when the next part of the conversation reached their ears.
"If you don't leave with me right now, do not bother coming back to the apartment. I can't have you around your brother like this. You are clearly not thinking correctly, and you are probably as dangerous as Ruby is without her cape, if not more so. You shouldn't even be around Henry! But at least Regina will protect him from you and what you are doing. You are not welcome in my home until you are better. Do you understand?"
"Perfectly. Now get the hell out of my sight, you insipid, self-centered, bigoted, egotistical, MORON! If you are going to be like this, here are some conditions of your own. You are not welcome around any of my family if you are going to have your head that far up your own ass. You are the one who is disgusting! You claim Ruby as your best friend, yet you act like she is a monster for loving someone you don't approve of. Well guess what? You are the only monster in this room. You sent me through a wardrobe when I was 5 minutes old. You weren't even sure it would work, where I would end up, and you expected me to survive 28 years on my own, just to show up and happily break the curse for you. What did you think would happen then, hmm? Did you think we would all live happily ever after? That I would just do whatever you said, and play your pretty princess the way you always wanted, perfect in every way? Are you forgetting that I am older then you and grew up in the real world? You always got everything you wanted, didn't you Snow? Well, guess what? Not this time and never again from me. You wanted a second child, one you could raise properly, so go take your second chance, and enjoy it while it lasts. Because we will have our kingdom, our family will rule justly, without your hatred, my mates will be happy, and the wolves and people of our kingdom will be happy and never have to fear the likes of you again! NOW GET OUT!"
Hearing Emma's voice rise throughout her tirade, Ruby, Belle and Granny all knew that Emma was losing the battle with her instincts. If she wasn't calmed down, quickly, it was likely that she would end up hurting Snow, something they all knew she would never forgive herself for. Rushing from the kitchen, Ruby reached Emma just as she lunged towards Snow. She wrapped her arms around Emma's waist, knowing that she was only able to stop her because Emma's wolf would never hurt her.
"LEAVE! NOW!" Ruby barked at Snow, further tightening her hold around the thrashing and growling Sherriff. Turning her back to the woman who was again frozen in shock as her daughter's display, Ruby began attempting to calm Emma. "Baby, I need you to calm down. I know she upset you, but I need you to come back to me. Emma, we need you to come back to us. Please baby, come back to us. Please."
Seeing that Ruby had a hold on Emma, Granny moved towards Snow and dragged the woman out the front door of the diner, letting the former princess stumble along the path. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Belle join Ruby in calming Emma down, blocking the blonde's view of Snow.
"Leave, Princess. And don't come back. Not unless you can be respectful of their relationship. Ruby loved you like family; she fought for you, even when I told her not to. She killed her own mother to protect you. And now, for whatever narrow minded reason you think you have, you have turned your back on her, along with your own daughter. I think the Queen has been right all these years. You are an idiot!" Not bothering to wait for a reply, Granny turned back to the diner to check on the women she knew would be upset.
Shooting a final glare at the scene taking place in the diner, Snow turned to leave. "My daughter will not be pulled into this. She is a princess and she will love a prince, and have her happy ending. I will make sure of that."