Hey! Here is Family Tradition Part 2, I hope you enjoy it!


The rest of the day, they spend it getting ready. Bad Wolf was collecting more wood than usual, Red was at the kitchen preparing some treats and all the girls were at the room were nothing but giggles were heard.

"Ok, stay still already!" Ramona laughed tracing with her finger some marks on Cerise's face.

"Why did you have to do this again?" Darling asked amused by the paint in their faces.

"Tradition" both chanted

"That's our excuse for everything" said Cerise.

"Don't move" Ramona scolded lightly "Once I am done with her I can do your mask too" she offered Darling.

She seemed surprised by the offer "I am allowed?" she asked doubtful.

"Sure, it adds dramatism to the occasion"

"If you are ok with it" said Cerise.

"It...sounds like fun"

"Great!" both sisters dedicated to paint the guest.

"Since this is part of the initiation, lets draw minor traces, like the ones for cubs"

"Hey, I am stronger than a cub" Darling countered playfully.

"Yeah? You wouldn't survive a day babysitting a Wolf kid-cub at the reserve"

"If that's a challenge I am afraid I'll pass"

"Cerise! Sweetie, can you help me please?" they heard Red call from the outside.

"Sure!" she called back "It's time!" she said thrilled.

"Run ahead and help mom, I will finish her mask"

"Thanks sis" she ran to the other room.

"Just a couple of lines more and you are done" she announced, but for some reason Darling was very quiet.

It was not until Ramona declared it a masterpiece and stood up that Darling tried to meet her gaze.

"Well, lil' princess, it's time for the fire, the sun is coming down already, so let's go, I don't want to miss this family tradition"

"Should I...stay here?"

"What?" she turned to face her utterly confused "Why?"

"You said...family tradition"

"Yes" she nodded "That's why I am inviting you" she smiled walking towards her, laying a hand on her shoulder "Listen, Charming...I can't always protect my little sister and in school I can barely interact with her without drawing attention to us. Now that I got the chance to meet you, it's good to know that Cerise has someone to watch her back when I am not around" she raised a brown with a daring smile "Can I count on you to protect her in my absence?"

Darling smiled confidently "With cloak and dagger"

"That's what I thought" she drove her to the door "now come on, you have to take part in this family tradition if you intend to come again next year" she said excited, but truth being Darling repeated the sentence in her head not for the invitation to take part, but for the idea of actually visiting again.

Just when she was about to follow she heard her mirror phone.

"That's strange " she said gazing at the screen "It's...Apple, I better take it, I will catch up in just a minute"

"You better, Charming" she ran to the outside, Darling could see them all through the window.

She turned her back to answer "Hello, Apple"

"Darling? Oh, thanks Fairy God Mother!" she said in a relief tone

"What's wrong?" she asked confused.

"Your parents called my house asking for you"

"What?"

"They wanted to pick you up the last day of the break for a family reunion, I covered for you, but I think your mother might know I was lying, she caught me off guard"

"Curses!" she said, then watched her tone "Thanks for the heads up, Apple"

"Darling, you know I am your friend and I really feel bad about this, but please, please, where are you?" she pleaded

Darling looked over her shoulder to Cerise and her family "Apple, you know you are my friend as well, we were raised together basically as sisters in law our whole lives, so please, you have to know that if you ask me again my whereabouts, the next thing I am going to say is a lie, and I really don't want to lie to you, but I won't be able to tell you my location"

"Darling! Why so secretive? Are you alright? Is something the matter? Are you in danger or-?"

"No, nothing like that, I promise, it's just that... I am...I am happy" she muttered "I am happy where I am right now and...I can't give it up yet" she closed her eyes sighting frustrated "Can you understand that?"

An almost eternal silence was broken by a subtle sight "A few weeks ago I thought my destiny was assured and I was...I was happy, my illusion didn't last long. So if we can steal a couple of more days for yours...then so be it"

"Thank you, Apple" she said hardheartedly, she knew Apple meant her words, that she did cared.

"I will call to pick you up when break is over, so we can reunite your with your family" Apple declared.

"Very well"

"Make sure to call your mother too. I told her you went for a horse ride, try not to contradict my story"

"Done"
"See you soon, Darling"


Hey there! I am thinking of making the next update tomorrow to close this Family Tradition serie, anyone in favor? As always, thanks for the favs, follows and great reviews.