Mulan: Hey, Regina and I need to run. Tell the other's we said bye.
Aurora: So soon ? And you can't even say goodbye face to face ?
Mulan: Sorry, Princess. I promise I'll see you soon, it's urgent. I'll tell you everything when it's time. I love you.
Aurora: I love you too. I hope everything is okay, tell Regina I said goodbye.
"It's all good now." Mulan said as she tucked her phone into her back pocket of her jeans. "Did she tell you ?" Mulan asked as they reached the park.
"I found out. Ingrid walked in on us-"
"You were doing it?!" Mulan asked as they sat on the deck of the park's swing.
"What ? God, no! Focus, Mulan! We were just kissing after Emma's competition. She came out of no where and tried to drag Emma out, but when Emma refused to, Ingrid slapped her across her face."
"Did you do anything ?" She asked with concerned eyes.
"I warned her. But she told me that I should stay away from her. Emma staying in Storybrooke is all up to Ingrid, if she adopts her she can stay-"
"But the abuse continues." Mulan continued her sentence.
"And if she doesn't, Emma's going to another foster home away from Storybrooke." Regina finished with tears forming in her eyes. "I don't want to lose her, she's the best thing that has ever happened to me since Daniel."
"I know, Gina." Mulan put her arm around Regina and pulled her into a hug.
"Did she tell you ?" Regina asked as she wiped her tears and tried to regain her composure.
"I found out. We were changing in the locker rooms after sparing and when she took off her jumper, she tank sort of went with it and her back was covered in marks. I asked her and she got defensive then eventually she gave in crying, telling me about Ingrid. She told me not to tell anyone, I wanted to but seeing Emma like that, I couldn't go against her." Mulan explained.
"The carnival is a couple of days away and I don't want to go without her." Regina as she stared out at the view of the town.
"Regina, I think you should go to take your mind off things. Who knows ? Emma, - being Emma - might sneak out and come." Mulan assumed. Regina gave it some thought and she decided that maybe it wasn't a bad idea. She needed her mind to relax from the information she had learned today about Emma.
"I'll go."
~•~•~•~
"So, what are you going to where ?" Belle asked as she rummaged through her closet. The three girls were at Belle's house since Belle called it an emergency because she had no idea what to wear for the carnival.
"I'm thinking a red tank top with my black leather jacket and jeans. Oh! And my maroon doc martens to top it off." Mulan answered as she helped Belle find an outfit for herself.
"I have no idea what I'm wearing for the carnival." Belle whined. "Gina, any suggestions ?"
Regina was sitting on Belle's bed taking a sip of her sparkling apple cider with her eyes glued onto her phone, waiting for Emma to text her back or return any of her calls.
"Regina ?" Mulan's voice snapped her back to reality and looked up at her two friends.
"I'm so sorry guys, it's just that it's been three days and we haven't heard from or seen Emma around at all." Regina said with worry.
"We've been blasting her phone too." Mulan said sympathetically.
"I asked Ruby to call me if Emma comes to the diner, but she hasn't. Why is she avoiding us ?" Belle asked oblivious that her friends knew the reason why. Regina and Mulan exchanged quick glances of consideration saying 'Should we tell her?' eventually Regina shook her head silently and Mulan nodded in agreement.
"She's just busy I guess." Mulan lied. Mulan hated lying to her friend or to anyone, she had more respect for herself and to others than that. But after all, she's white lying for Regina but she still had a strong feeling of guilt in her stomach.
"I think, you should wear that floral top with a black leather skirt. If it get's cold at night, wear nude stockings and top it off with a cardigan. And for shoes, wear your ankle boots." Regina suggested trying to change the subject. Belle thought about it, and nodded smiling as she took out what Regina had listed from her wardrobe and laid it out onto her bed.
"Thank you Regina!" She squealed like a little girl and hugged her friend.
"Belle!?" Her father's voice called from downstairs.
"Yes, Papa?" She called back.
"Regina's mother is here to take her back home!" Her father called back. Regina sighed and got off Belle's bed.
"Goodnight girls, I'll see you guys tomorrow at the carnival." She hugged her friends and left the room in silence.
~•~•~•~
The day of the carnival has come and everyone seemed to be looking forward to this little celebration. But for Regina, she felt empty. How could she congratulate her student if she wasn't going to be there ? Soon, Ruby was going to pick her up to go to the carnival with Belle, while Mulan wanted to take Aurora by her was five thirty and Ruby had pulled her car up on Regina's porch to pick her up.
"Mother ?" Regina called as she gather up her purse. "Ruby's here! I'll be back by eleven."
"Have fun, dear!" Her mother called from the kitchen. "Be safe." She warned as Regina closed the door behind her.
Regina pulled the car door open and slumped herself in the back seat, indicating that she was not looking forward to the night without her other half. Emma.
"Here, take this." Mulan handed Aurora her fairly large black helmet. In the situation, it seemed like she only had one helmet for Aurora and nothing for her.
"Do I have to ? And what about you ?" Aurora whined. Mulan rolled her eyes and walked over to the helmet holder of the motor cycle and pulled out a purple helmet in which Aurora stared at in awe.
"Well ? If not the black one, I presume you want this one ?" Mulan said as she put it on Aurora's head. "You look adorable." Mulan said as she clipped on the helmet, making it secure.
"Thank you." She said as she kissed Mulan on the cheek.
"Cheek ? I do recall being patient." Mulan joked as she raised an eyebrow. Aurora chuckled as pulled Mulan in for a kiss as her hands roamed around Mulan back to the back of her neck. Before Mulan can deepen the kiss, she pulled away. Leaving Mulan unsatisfied as she pouted. "You're such a tease." Mulan said as she helped Aurora onto the contraption.
"I know." Aurora said. Mulan hopped on turned on the engine, which roared to life. Aurora immediately wrapped her hands around Mulan's waist since she has never been on a motorcycle before.
"Hold on tight." Mulan chuckled as she flipped the face shield over her face and drove to the carnival.
~•~•~•~
The five met at the carnival, walking around and stopping by to play some games and winning prizes. The couples seemed to enjoy themselves and Regina trailed along behind them. She tried to have fun and join in on the games and joked with her friends, but the night didn't feel complete. As they walked around, Belle and Ruby decided play "Shoot the Ducks."
"Good shot, Wolfy!" Belle cheered as Ruby managed to shoot down the metal ducks with a clang sound from her gun's ammo hitting the metal ducks. Ruby smiled as she continued to shoot down the ducks without missing.
When the game was over, Ruby was allowed to pick a prize. "Which one would you like ?" Ruby asked Belle. Belle scanned the choices of stuffed animals and she pointed at the husky.
"That one." The person who ran the game handed her the toy. "This game is so barbaric." Belle said once she was given the toy.
"Well, it got you a toy. Didn't it?" Ruby asked.
"I guess so." Belle smiled as they walked over to Regina, who was watching Ruby play the game nearby.
"Hey, you have a pretty good aim Ruby." Regina complimented.
Mulan and Aurora walked over with soft serves in their hands. "Where to next ?" Mulan asked.
"Let's go to the ferris wheel!" Aurora suggested. The group nodded in agreement and headed over to the noticeable ride. Regina was once again, trailing behind the couples. She didn't want to be the awkward third wheel, but she had no choice to be it. Her eyes scanned the crowd as they made their way to the ferris wheel, when her eyes came across a familiar blonde wearing a red leather jacket who seemed to be looking for someone.
"Emma?" Regina asked herself, as she began jogging up to the person in the distance. Green eyes met Regina's and Regina knew that it was Emma.
"Regina?!" Emma called her name and Regina could help but smile as she missed her voice so much. Emma began jogging up to her and once they reached each other, Regina wrapped her arms around Emma's neck as Emma lifted her up and twirled her in the air.
"Cliché" Regina said as Emma put her down, but before she could say anything else, Emma pulled her in for a longing kiss. Emma couldn't feel any better, she had everything she was yearning for for the past three days, wrapped in her strong arms. As the kiss eventually ended for the couple to gasp for air, Regna spoke up.
"What happened ? How did you get here ? Emma, I was so worried." Regina had a million questions that Emma would answer.
"Ingrid took my damn phone. I drove my bug here, I snuck out but I had to see you. I didn't want you to think I was avoiding you or anything." Emma explained. Regina looked deeply at her lover's emerald eyes.
"Did she do anything to you ?" Regina asked with concern.
"Regina, it's nothing to worry about-" Before Emma could finish her sentence, Regina's eyes went wide open as she frantically lifted Emma's shirt up to reveal a nasty bruise on her stomach. Emma tucked her shirt back in before Regina could say anything, as their friends came up to them.
"Emma! You came!" Mulan said as she hugged her friend. "You okay ?" She whispered in her ear as they held the hug. Emma nodded stiffly and smiled at her.
"Hey guys! Now that we're all here, you dont need to babysit Regina and I can take her from here." Emma joked. "We'll see you guys later ?"
"Sure thing!" Ruby replied as the three couples dispersed to enjoy themselves separately.
Mulan and Aurora was seated in the ferris wheel, taking in the view of the town and everyone else enjoying themselves at the carnival. Mulan sat on the seat with her arm around Aurora who sat with her head leaning on her shoulder. Everything seemed to be perfect Mulan smiled to herself at the thought. That was until Aurora gasped and got up from her seat and leaned up against the glass with her nose pressing against it like a child at a zoo looking at an exotic animal. God dammit, Mulan sighed.
"Mulan look! I never knew they're putting up fireworks!" Aurora said with excitement.
"You've never seen them before ?" Mulan asked as she got up from her seat and wrapped her arms around Aurora's waist with her head leaning on her shoulder. Aurora sighed as she leaned back into Mulan's strong frame and smiled to herself.
"No, I haven't." Aurora replied, surprising Mulan with her response.
"Seriously? Wow. You need to see them, they're amazing." Mulan said in awe. "How come you never seen them ?" She asked.
"I asked Phillip once but her was never bothered and my parents are always so busy." Aurora explained.
"Well, I'm honoured to be the one to witness them with you for the first time." Mulan said as she kissed Aurora's neck, leaving a trail while Aurora tilted her head to give Mulan more access. Mulan knew that she was the dominant one, so she decided to have a little fun. Mulan kept on continuing on kissing her neck until the fireworks came on, she stopped leaving Aurora confused.
"Look." Mulan said as the fireworks were going off, Aurora opened her eyes and focused on the beautiful sight of the different colours spreading through out the night sky. Mulan then continued on kissing Aurora's pulse, marking Aurora as hers. Aurora's eyes fluttered as they closed at the feeling and Mulan smiled against her skin, teasing her.
"I hope you're looking at the fireworks." Mulan mumbled.
"Mmhmm..." Aurora hummed as she struggled to keep her eyes open.
"Don't lie to me, Aurora." Mulan sing-songed as her hands were now tugging at the hem of Aurora's lavender shirt making Aurora shiver in delight.
"Alright, ladies. Ride's over." Ruby said as she leaned against the side of the carriage, with Belle holding her hand blushing at the sight waiting for their turn on the ride. Mulan rolled her eyes and mumbled in annoyance as something or someone (in all cases, Ruby) would interrupt them. But at least it wasn't the ferris wheel operator.
The couple decided to walk along the beach as the night seemed to come to an end for them, since Aurora had a curfew. They held their hands intertwined with each others as they walked along the sand with their shoes in their other hands. They walking in silence, listening to the sound of the waves crashing on the shore and the laughter of the townspeople enjoying themselves. That was when Aurora decided to break the silence.
"So, why did you run out Granny's ?" Aurora asked and when she did, she would feel Mulan tense up at the question. What is she hiding ?
"Regina and I needed to- plan our outfits for tonight." Mulan improvised as she moved a strand of hair out of her face and tucked it behind her ear.
"You're lying." Aurora said.
"No, I'm not." Mulan lied once again.
"I saw your give away, Mulan. You tuck your hair behind your ear when you lie." Aurora sounded hurt that Mulan wouldn't tell her the truth and trust her with it.
"You're not cheating on me with Regina are you ?" Aurora asked afraid all of a sudden of her previous relationship.
"What ?! No! Aurora, you're putting words in my mouth. We had to discuss something." Mulan partially told her the truth, but not the whole truth and bit her lip as she knew more questions were going to be asked.
"About what ?" Aurora asked innocently.
"I don't know, the carnival. Aurora, I want to enjoy this night, let's change the subject." Mulan begged.
"Just tell me, I promise I won't do anything, judge or tell anyone." Aurora shouted taken aback, clearly showing that her anger was beginning to overwhelm her feeling of stubbornness.
"I can't, I promised-"
"Regina!?" Aurora assumed as she stormed off the beach.
"Aurora wait!" Mulan called after her, but it was too late. The brunette already hailed a cab and Mulan watched in guilt and devastation as the vehicle drove away.
Author's note:
Sorry for the long wait! But as AmazingGracieGurl wanted, I focused this chapter on Sleeping Warrior. Now to think of it, I realised I neglected the couple for a while. However, I had to end it with this cliffhanger with the couple. So what will happen to Emma ? Should she stay in Storybrooke, or be sent to another foster home ? Should Mulan, Regina and Emma come clean about Emma's secret to their partners ? Let me now! Merry Christmas and thank you all so much again. Review your suggestions! :) Happy holidays x