Halfway through, when Emma reached the furthest ally kingdom north of them, she and Ruby found out that they were still able to hear each other. So when Emma and her father were snowed in, while in mountains with the Dunbroch wolf clan, she was able to inform everyone that their twelve-month mission was going to be a little longer. Which meant missing their eighteenth birthday festival.
"Regina she said not to mope around. She wanted you, girls, to enjoy your birthdays, not be depressed because she's not here." Belle stood in the middle of Regina's room with her hands on her hips. She had been the one to tell the witch of Emma's news. Ruby had been too scared of the outburst with how finicky Regina's magic was. It had started reacting to her emotions without her control, which didn't help when the woman had become irritable lately. Not even Mal was brave enough to stand next to Regina as Belle gave the news. She had already dealt with a Mills witch acting like this when it was Jefferson. That was Ruby's excuse to not having to be the one to break it to her and instead, guided Mal out of the room to both hide behind the door to hear the news.
Instead of a fireball being set loose or something flying, the witch had actually gone quiet and nodded.
"Take Mal somewhere else, this needs to be private," Belle told Ruby
"Yes, love." She nodded to her and took Mal to the training fields
"Regina, she's okay. She wanted to be here, but we can't predict the weather." Belle sat slowly beside her and gently took her hand
"I know. She always keeps her promises. I know she'd be here if she could. Nothing could keep Swan away from me if she had everything her way." She whispered and continued to stare into the fire.
Belle tsked and pulled the woman to her.
Regina buried her face into the wolf's shoulder and sniffled, holding back tears. "I just miss her."
"I know love." Belle stroked her hair
"And it's hard being the only one who can't hear her voice. Or her laughter, or her annoying cockiness when she's being an idiot." She huffed and pulled back
"Consider yourself lucky then. You know half the shit I have to listen to when she and Ruby get into it? It's like listening to two hyenas. And even this far apart they manage to challenge each other to stupid ideas. Last week they wanted to jump into lakes and see who would last longer in the cold water. I had to talk the idiots out of it" Belle rolled her eyes
Regina giggled and Belle smiled, knowing she at least got a smile out of the witch.
One month later, this is where they are at. Regina had taken to staying in her room at every chance she got. Reading more and had learned new magic where she could take memory's and copy them to a sheet of paper. She now had all of her childhood memories with her friends all over her walls, hanging from fairy lights. And two frames next to her bed was a memory from her mother from two years ago. The memory showed her with her mouth open in a gasp and Emma and Mal smiling at her mother at the time. They had been walking back from a nature trail and Regina was wrapped around Emma's back for a piggyback ride back to the castle. Mal and Emma had laughed as Cora teased by saying that was where Emma was truly getting all the muscle from. It was the perfect picture, making her laugh along with it. And a picture of Emma sitting on a boulder at the lake. Her knees up with her arms draped over them, smiling down at her as the setting sun reflected down on her golden locks and shining in her oceanic eyes to make them glow. It was her favorite out of all the memories because, at that moment, she truly did look like the guardian angel she believed Emma was.
They had celebrated their own and Mal had tried cheering her up but tonight was different.
Emma was originally due back two weeks ago and tonight was Emma's birthday.
"What am I to do? Emma isn't here to celebrate her birthday with us so I don't have to do anything. Thus I am not moping around."
"You were barely there for your own and you can celebrate her birthday for her because she's always with us in spirit, I say we go to a bar and celebrate it as if she's here with us," Ruby stated
"Good idea but the only ones allowed in a bar are you two because wolves are the only ones allowed to drink at eighteen." Regina deadpanned
"Don't be mad, we have such high metabolisms that it is practically impossible to get a wolf drunk," Ruby argued
"Not the point, you and Mal can disguise yourselves, you both have the magic to do so. Enjoy the night, have a beer for our girl" Belle said
Regina huffed but agreed.
Later that night they ended up at the local bar called the Rabbit hole.
"Why is it named that?" Regina asked over the loud voices
"Alice owns it. She named it after she actually fell into one. She said it was the perfect name because that's how she met her mate, Robyn. She got hurt and broke her leg but Robyn saved her and carried her back to a village to get her healing. It was a blessing and a bitch. Just like drinking is. It's a reprieve from reality, a way to have fun but it's a bitch in the morning if you overindulge. " Ruby laughed at her wolf sister's logic.
Regina chuckled nonetheless and thanked her when a beer appeared in her hand.
"Now beware, this stuff Alice made to actually get us drunk. I know this is your first so just keep aware of your body and if it starts telling you to stop, do it or you'll end up sick." Belle informed Mal and Regina as they stood around each other at the bar.
Ruby lifted her glass "happy birthday Emma"
They echoed and clinked their glasses together, commencing the celebration.
An hour later Ruby and Belle sat at the counter drinking their beers and watching as Mal and Regina danced.
"I should go third wheel them," Ruby grumbled, watching as Regina laughed and spun around with the dragon
" No. Regina's actually smiling and having fun. That's what Emma wanted." Belle rubbed her shoulders as Ruby huffed
"But Mal is too close." She growled and Belle chuckled
"What?" Ruby pouted
"Nothing. Just now I know what you'll be like when we have children and they start dating." Belle smiled and curled a hair behind her mates ear
"Phht no, as long as it's their mate, I have no reason to third wheel." Ruby sneered
"It'll be alright, love. Emma's too sweet for Regina to give up. Think about it. Emma's never dated bc she's been imprinted since six, Mal has been around the block and just started seeing Regina in a different light. You can't beat being loyal for twelve years."
Ruby sighed, "you're right."
"I know." Belle smiled and wiggled her eyebrows, making Ruby laugh
"Come on, I wanna dance with my girl." she smiled back at Belle and held out her hand.
They smiled at their two friends across the dance floor, who waved back a bit more excitedly due to how buzzed they were, as the band started playing something slow.
Regina giggled and wrapped her arms around Mals neck as they swayed
"Regina, I have a question." Mal slurred
"And I may not have an answer." She smiled and both giggled
"No seriously, we're eighteen now. Why have I not seen anyone snatch you up yet?" she asked
"Because I am guarded by a very protective wolf and a dragon. Who is stupid enough to kidnap with that." Regina replied, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion to the question
"No not like that, I mean dating. Courting. Has no one tried?" Mal explained
"Oh well I have had offers, but none of them caught my eye. And I don't have time to court. I have had classes and learning how to run the kingdom to even think of a partner." She waved it off
"I've had the same but I had a few partners during the time. It was nice getting the affection"
"Yeah, but I have no need for it when I don't get lonely. I get affection from Emma and you. Why would I need a partner when I have all I need." Regina stated confidently
"Regina, that's not the affection I am talking about. Have you even been kissed yet?" Mal sighed
Regina squinted as she thought about it. "No"
"No?"
"No." she shrugged
Mal looked from Regina's eyes and down to her plump red lips. She licked her own and looked back into honey brown eyes. "May I?"
Regina's eyebrows shot to her hairline as she leaned back in shock. "You want to kiss me?"
"Who better to be your first kiss than your best friend?" Mal smiled shyly
Regina scanned the blondes face, finding all sincerity in her expression, so she nodded
Mal smiled and cupped the back of her neck, leaning in slowly until their lips met, closing her eyes and sighing at the velvety touch
Regina kept her hands on the dragons' shoulders and her eyes open, not knowing what to do
Mal felt her uneasiness and pulled back to say, " Relax. Close your eyes and kiss me back." before she connected their lips again.
Regina closed her eyes and felt the slightly chapped lips against hers and kissed back.
Ruby was laughing with Belle, dancing along to the fast pace song. As she spun Belle, she looked to their friends and froze. Seeing Mal kissing a stiff Regina. Watching as the witch closed her eyes and leaned into it.
She growled and started forward but was held back by a hand on her chest. She looked up into Belle's baby blues as the woman shook her head. "Emma said to not interfere. No matter how much we want to. Come on, let's get you another drink."
Ruby groaned but allowed her mate to pull her to the bar
Mal pulled back after feeling Regina finally relax into the kiss. "So?" she smiled
"Eh." Regina shrugged
"What?" Mal yelped
Regina started giggling and Mal relaxed seeing the mischievous smirk erupting on the brunette's face.
"That was cold." she pouted
"I'm sorry, but thank you for my first kiss. It was lovely. Come on, I want another drink." Regina giggled and pulled her to the bar with Ruby and Belle.
Across the kingdom, David was leading Emma into her first bar.
"Come on kiddo, let's get your first drink." He led her to the bar top where a bartender instantly placed two pints in front of them.
"Happy birthday baby girl." he held up his drink to her. She clinked her mug to his and they both took sips.
"Actually not as bad as I was expecting it to be. Everyone said it was bitter." she hummed
"This is a special ale. Meant to get wolves drunk since we have such high tolerances. The witches and dragons beer is bitter, ours has a different recipe and makes it a smoother sweeter kind." he explained
"How many does it take you?" she sipped again
"About three of these and I'm buzzed. Five and I'm drunk." he shrugged
She giggled and was about to say more but was interrupted when someone clapped her shoulder
"Hello, Swans." A petite blonde smiled
"Hey Tink, wanna join us on my birthday celebration." Emma smiled at her and the two women behind her
"Merida, Elsa, come on first rounds on me" she smiled at them
"Please, you're the birthday girl, we each pay for a round," Merida stated in her rich accent while the two blondes nodded
"Well thank you, let's get this party started." They laughed and got their drinks, clinking them all together and whooping.
Later they all sat in a booth while they shared stories.
"So have you all just been in the pack?" David asked
"Merida is the Dunbroch princess, our Alpha heir just as Emma is yours. Tink was born into it with her mother but I actually traveled here with my sister after our parents passed." Elsa explained
"Did you not have a pack other than each other?" Emma asked
"We did, but where we're from, they didn't agree with mixing blood so to speak. I'm a witch wolf. My mother was a witch and my father was a wolf. It was my father's clan that didn't believe in "tainting pure-blood". And my mother's clan, they reside here in the dark kingdom but she had left her clan for him. They decided to come back here, knowing that it was a safe haven." Elsa told them
"What happened to your parents?" David questioned solemnly
" We were making our way here when hunters came after us. Father was taken down first while protecting us. Mother went to keep them away from us and they got her too. My sister and I escaped and made sure to finish the journey so their deaths weren't in vain. We stay with our Aunt Ingrid now."
"Well cheers to you making the journey and to your parents for wanting a better life for you and your sister." Emma raised her glass. They all raised their glasses and said cheers
Emma nudged Tink with her shoulder, "you guys should come to the kingdom, I want you guys to meet my Regina and Mal. I'll even give you guys the grand tour."
"Send us a letter when you get back and we'll be there." Merida smiled
"I'll make sure to have lodging for all of you then." Emma smiled back.
They continued to tell stories and throughout the night Emma brushed off a few offers to dance. David tilted his head at her actions.
"Em, it's your night. We won't be offended if you go off and dance with someone." David said
"Yeah, or go off with whoever catches your fancy." Merida laughed
David groaned and shook his head at that, making the other women laugh
Emma smiled and looked down at her drink. "Nah, no one has interested me enough yet. And no one has caught my fancy. I'd be happy to just sit here and talk with friends." she looked up with a small smile
"Em are you-." David began but then looked up wide-eyed as a woman walked up to her and caressed her shoulder, leaning into her ear.
"Mind if I have a dance wolfie?" A sultry sweet voice whispered.
Emma turned around and gasped, then turned to her father.
"Damn that is a close likeness." He said
Emma turned the olive-skinned brunette and scanned her whole body. She knew it wasn't her Regina but the woman could've been her twin
The woman looked between the two, confused by the surprised reaction. She looked to the others for an answer but the girls were just as confused by the Swans reactions.
"Uh sorry, you look exactly like someone we know back home." Emma apologized, seeing the uneasiness in the woman after she went unanswered
"Oh, I thought I was barking up the wrong tree for a second. I'm always right with my assumptions, but there's always a first time." She smiled in relief
"No you're spot on." she smiled brightly
The woman nodded her head to the dance floor, "So how about that dance wolfie?"
Emma opened her mouth and turned to her table about to ask them but as she looked, they were all waving their hands and pushing her out of the booth.
"Uh yes of course." she stood up and offered her arm
"Ooh so gentlemen-like." the woman smirked and took her arm.
The tune was soft and so Emma put her hand on the brunette's waist and took her free hand in hers, setting them to a lazy waltz.
"So what's your name wolfie?" she asked
"Emma. And yours?" She looked over the woman's face, even down to the lip scar on a red upper lip. Regina had the same one from falling off Rocinante once. The horse had spooked and knocked the girl off when they were nine. Regina fell to the side of a rock but it nicked her lip on the way down.
"Roni. You're not from these parts. I surely would have remembered you darling." she smiled and used her hand on Emma's shoulder to start playing with her hair
"No, I'm not. I'm of the Mill's kingdom." She stated proudly
"The ruling of the Dark Kingdom Mill's? As in the family that started the safe haven?" Roni asked
"Yes. My family and I are Swan Wolfpack that helps rule." she smiled
"Well well well wolfie. You got your hands full, no wonder I haven't seen you. If you haven't been able to get away from that area until now."
"Eh, I guess you could say that. But I am happy in my kingdom, no reason to branch out other than my missions and meet with the other kingdoms." she shrugged
"Mission?" Roni asked with her eyebrows furrowed
"I want to become a knight. The champion of my kingdom. I've been training my whole life, starting missions where I go and help our neighboring villages, protect our people, get rid of bandits, and that is how I earn my title." she explained
"So I'm in the arms of a warrior princess right now?" Roni jokes
"Ehh I guess you could say that, though I have never been used to the princess title. Though I do like the sound of warrior. Think it's charming?" Emma smiled
"Hmm, I think it's the smile and luscious blonde hair that will have all the girls flocking to you and give you the title of charming." She tucked a piece of hair behind Emma's ear as the blonde chuckled
"Come, let's go for a walk, it's too loud in here" Roni pulled her hand to the door
"Em, you got something to tell me?" David chuckled
"We're going for a walk, I'll meet you back at the room," Emma responded and followed Roni out the door
"Should we have had the open door policy with you and Regina back home?" he teased
"Nothing ever happened you pervert" she teased back causing him to laugh out loud and have to explain to the young women still sitting with him as to why he was laughing all of a sudden.
Before the door closed behind them, Emma blushed at hearing Elsa, Tink, Merida, and her father whooping at her,
"Friends of yours?" Roni smiled
"And one of them is my father," she grumbled
Roni threw her head back and laughed. Emma took the notice that her laugh was deeper and had a huskiness to it. While Regina had a deep smoothness to it. She knew though, huskiness came with age. She could hear her own getting its own gravel to it. Emma could guess, this is what Regina would sound like in a couple of years. She liked it.
"If you don't mind my asking, how old are you?" She held her arm again to guide them and keep them together as they walked.
"I'm twenty-two. What about you?" she smiled as she took the blonde's arm and hugged it to keep from the cold.
"Today is actually my eighteenth birthday."
"Oooh and you're spending it with little ole me, I feel honored." Roni chuckled, grabbing an apple out of a tree as they passed by and biting into it. Offering her some as well
"Well, in all honesty, I've spent a year and twenty-three days being with my father. I love him to death but I needed a break. I know for a fact I was easier raising than he has been on this trip. That man takes every chance he has now to mess with me." she huffed and smiled brightly at the genuine laugh that came out of her company. Sharing the fruit with the older woman
"Well I feel special nonetheless, what did you wish for?" Roni asked, guiding them towards the river
"What do you mean?"
She looked at her confusedly. "What do I mean? You get one wish on your birthday. At least that's what they do from where I come from."
"Oh, well I mean we do. I just stopped doing it. I forgot about it. I never wanted anything more than what I already have. I have my pack, the safety of all of them. I have my friends, I'm becoming a knight. That's all I could ask for." she shrugged and took a bite of the apple
"What? Come on there's gotta be something." Roni exclaimed
"Not anything I have to wish for. I just have to wait. I don't have to wish for things I can be patient with or can do myself."
"You make a good point wolfie, so what did you get for your birthday?" she nudged the blonde
"My father gave me my first beer. I'm sure my friends at home are going to have a party for me when I get home," she responded
Roni stopped them and looked at her, "Nothing else?"
Emma shook her head, "I'm not really a person to give gifts too. It's not that I'm picky but I don't want anything other than what I already have."
"Well aren't you noble wolfie." Roni smiled and took the apple, finishing it off and leaned down to bury it in the dirt to grow anew.
Emma smiled, "If you know my name, why do you keep saying wolfie?"
She shrugged and stood back up, wiping the dirt off her hands ``Well I'm not using charming because I am guessing by the looks of your father, your mother already claimed that for him. I'd call ya blondie but it didn't fit and you had two other blondes with you. Wolves are strong, brave, lovely creatures. It fits you. Plus no other wolf would want to be called it but yet I sense you like it." she smirked
Emma blushed, "Little bit, seems to be growing on me."
"Glad to hear it. Have you kissed anyone yet?" Roni blurted out
Emma starred wide-eyed at the bluntness but looked down and shook her head.
"Well, then that can be my birthday present to you." She determined and pulled Emma's face up, looking into her eyes to see if it was okay. When she got a nod, she smiled softly, caressing Emma's cheek.
"You've got such beautiful eyes," Roni muttered
"As do you," Emma whispered, seeing honey orbs shine with the light of the moon, staring back at her
The woman leaned forward and connected plump red lips to thin pink.
Emma sighed at the softness of a woman's lips, tasting the sweetness of the apple. Reminding her of home and the smell of Regina's apple orchards.
They pulled back and leaned their heads together
"How was that for a happy birthday." Roni teased
Emma chuckled and pulled back, guiding them to a boulder to sit on. "I thank you for my first kiss."
"But that's all I'm getting huh?" Roni asked.
"I apologize."
"No, no sweetheart it's okay. You're a wolf, I'm guessing you got a girl back home." Roni held her hand.
"I'm imprinted yes, but she doesn't know. And I suspect at the moment she is with our best friend." She grimaced
"Your father, he said "that's a close likeness." I look like her don't I?"
"Yes, even down to the lip scar. Though I can still tell the difference. Your voice has the gravelliness that she'll have in a couple of years from age. And you talk like me rather than sounding like an old lady. Though no one else would be able to tell the difference." Emma told her
Roni laughed, "talk like an old lady?"
Emma chuckled, "yeah she's got a proper way of talking. Sounds like her grandmother because even her mother doesn't speak like that unless they are in front of other rulers."
"How long have you been in love with her?" Roni stroked the blondes hair
"I've been imprinted since six. Didn't realize I was in love with her until we were thirteen and her mother gave us a biology lesson and told us how'd it feel." She spoke softly, looking out across the water
"God's I wish I could find someone that loyal. Hopefully, I get myself a wolf." Roni sighed
"What are you? If you don't mind my asking?"
"A witch, with the seventh sense of seduction." She whispered playfully
"For real? A Siren?" Emma's eyes widened
"Nah just fire." She snapped her fingers and a fireball appeared in her hand.
They both giggled and leaned against each other as they stared at the moon
"Don't worry. Everyone has someone. You'll get them. Just make sure to walk around making eye contact, you're bound to trap somebody." Emma said
Earning a laugh and slap her playfully on the arm from Roni as she chuckled at her own joke.
"Aren't wolf imprints the first sign of soulmates? Because you know before they do?" Roni asked
"Yes, we are stuck first if we're with them at a young age. She's a witch and your kind doesn't get your imprint until fifteen." She nodded
"So tell me about her, your home." Roni smiled
"As long as you tell me the same. Where you come from and all." Emma smiled back
"Deal wolfie." She winked
And they carried on the rest of the night, talking about their homes, their lives, next to that river until the sun came up.