Sorry I am a day late. Spent the day doing schoolwork and just needed to proofread this. Hope you all enjoy. Dont forget to comment, I truly love them.
Emma and David had been stuck in the Dunbroch Kingdom until they were able to clear the road that had been a victim of a snowslide, a mini avalanche that blocked any way of getting out of the village safely. It had taken two weeks to do so and in those two weeks, Emma spent it with Roni, Tink, Merida, and Elsa. All at the same time or individually. The majority of the time was with Roni and talking as the sunset and the sunrises. Even though she knew it wasn't her Regina, it still gave her comfort to be looking at her in a way and she loved the comfort of company Roni brought with her. She was funny and witty, a mix of Regina and Ruby. In those two weeks, they had become the best of friends. Emma learned that Roni had actually owned the bar in the village and how she escaped her witch coven from the deep southern areas. Her mother was the Queen of it all and tried to force her to marry a King that was so much older than her that he could've been her grandfather. That was when she made her escape, cloaking herself by passing through wolf clans and then residing in one. Dark magic was forbidden to touch anywhere wolves were. An ancient rule that started the first of werewolves. They are dangerous when their kind is threatened. Always going after whoever dared to threaten their kind. No one wanted a war with them, it was practically suicide to do so. Even her mother was smart enough to keep to that rule. There was no way around it when they were able to feel the magic, another way the Moon Goddess protected her children. Giving them the sense of danger of the unseen, able to trace the smell of the magic back to its owner.
As promised, Emma told her about her home, Regina and Mal, Their little secret paradise. Roni was able to project their memories forward so as they talked about it, it was like watching a movie in front of them. They sat on that same boulder every day to watch the images go by.
"We really do look alike," Roni whispered, her head leaning against Emma's shoulder as the image in front of them was her last memory of Regina smiling at her.
"Yes. You do," she muttered
"If you two are imprinted, then why would she be with Mal?" she asked, Emma had gotten Ruby's update a few days ago after their birthday celebrations, along with talking to Regina through Belle to find out that her best friends had kissed. When Regina had talked about it, it had sounded as if she just shrugged it off but when Mal talked through Ruby, Mal sounded elated.
"I don't think she realizes it yet. Ruby and Belle, even my mother has told me how she's been acting. How she found the spell to project her memories onto paper and now she has them everywhere all over her room, many of them me." Emma sighed
"She'll most likely realize it when you come home. The stories I've heard are whenever their wolf-mate comes home, it feels like slipping into a hot bath, soothing everything that was all out of order along with a sort of epiphany."
"Even so, I don't know what to do about Mal. She's taken to living in her room, always around her, more than before. Ruby says she's touchy with Regina and that they kissed while celebrating my birthday."
"If they are together, what would you do?" Roni brushed her blonde hair out of her face
"I wouldn't do anything. I consider Mal my sister and I love Regina. But if they are together, if they are happy together, I would let Regina stay with her until she realizes she's mine. Wolves wait. We can be with other people at that time, it won't be the same but as long as I can stay in her life, I can be happy as long as she is."
"You are so noble that your stupid Wolfie." Roni chuckled
Emma gasped, feigning hurt, Roni laughed, "But a romantic nonetheless. She's a lucky lady, but an idiot if she stays with less than what she deserves. If she's stupid enough to stay with someone else while looking at her true love in front of her, I will personally accept making you happy until the woman gets her head out of her ass."
Emma laughed and wrapped her arms around the older woman. They both held each other, flipping through their memories and finally just watching the sunset on the water. "I'm glad I met you, Roni."
Roni tilted her head up and smiled, "I'm glad I met you too."
Emma leaned down and kissed her forehead, "You are welcome anytime in my kingdom. No matter where I am, I'll be there for you. Just call when you need me."
"Same to you wolfie. Here give me your arm." Emma handed over her left arm and Roni laid her hand over her forearm, closing her eyes. Emma felt that familiar stinging sensation and smiled. When Roni lifted her hand, it revealed two crossed arrows.
"There, anytime you need me, touch this and I'll be there for you. And it works both ways. If I need you, my magic will alert that mark." she explained
"And I'll be there for you." Emma smiled, pulling the woman back into a hug as they watched the moon rise in the sky.
After those two weeks, they said their goodbyes.
"I'll write to you as soon as I get home." Emma hugged Roni and the three wolves she had gotten to consider as family.
"You better wolfie." Roni teased and pushed her shoulder as they pulled away for her to hug the others
They all chuckled and gave some kind of symbol for her to keep them with her. Elsa gave her snowflakes in a glass that was enchanted to stay frozen. Merida gave a bow and arrow she had carved herself, just for Emma.
"Even if we can defend ourselves easily by just transforming, it's still easier to just defend yourself from a distance. Saving your clothes on your back and time. It's like fighting with a sword, only ya look cooler and can tease someone for taking an enemy out before they even reach em." she joked in her rich accent. Designs of both their families emblems carved into the wood, along with protection symbols Roni had personally asked for and enchanted them when it was finished.
Tink gave her a hand-carved dagger. Designs of the moon and stars etched at the hilt.
"When did you guys find the time to do this? We've spent every day together?" Emma gaped at them
"Sometimes we were doing it in front of you and you didn't notice. Though we also hardly sleep so whenever you would leave is when we did it." Tink shrugged.
"Thank you so much. I mean it." Emma smiled
They all nodded, hugged one last time, kissed each other on the cheeks, and then Emma and her father set off straight for home.
And the twelve months she was to be gone, turned to fourteen before they were even close to being home.
Regina looked out the window towards the mountains as she and Rumple took a break from their training. They had been kept busy during this time. Their training had increased both with magic and hand to hand combat.
Regina's seventh sense had yet to come in and they were trying different ways to bring it up. Only little hints here and there would show but nothing definite to tell what it really was due to her magic being finicky.
With the aches and pains going through her body, they thought that was the reason for her magic not cooperating.
And it didn't help with the fact she thought she was going mad.
She could swear she heard Emma call her name every once in a while. Or feel like the wolf was with her
She chalked it up to being the only one not being able to hear her best friend's voice along with missing her so much.
She smiled at the thought of the blonde, knowing she was due home soon from the news Belle had gotten. Three weeks ago Emma informed them that they had left Dunbroch and we're making their way home. Ever since she had come to the habit of looking out the window towards the hills to see if she could spot Emma before anyone else.
She was brought out of her musings when Rumple asked for her to try again with conjuring her flame. That had always been her specialty but with her magic haywire, they were trying to get it settled and do things that came naturally to her.
She tried conjuring the flame. And it worked. The ball sat in her hand, swirling and licking her fingertips. She smiled in joy but then the ball flew towards the wall next to the door
"Regina you got this, just concentrate," Rumple stressed, looking at another one of his instruments being destroyed
"I don't know what's wrong. It was working, you saw that." She whined
Mal then walked through the door, "Hey what's going on?" Noticing the smoldering staff next to her head
"My magic is still awry." Regina sighed
Mal walked up behind her and rubbed at her shoulders, the princess sighed.
"What about this?" Mal asked and wrapped her arms around Regina's waist and stayed there in a hug.
Rumple squinted at Mal, "She can't have you being a monkey on her back if you are in a battle."
"But for right now it can help her focus it if she gets the feeling of it right," Mal argued
"Fine, why don't you try, I doubt with you it'll work but we can see." Rumple scoffed
Mal narrowed her eyes at him and held the witch tighter, whispering encouragement in her ear, kissing behind it as she did, as Regina raised her hand to the target.
Though as Regina closed her eyes at another kiss placed on her neck and shot her fireball, it missed again and did a roundabout to hit Mal instead.
The dragon sighed as her shirt smoldered, "Damn this was my favorite." and looked to Rumple.
He rolled his eyes and magiced it fixed, "Told you, you being a damn koala to her wouldn't work."
Mal glared at him, "My presence should have helped."
He snorted, "Yes sure dearie, if you believe so."
She eyed him but before she could question anything, he spoke up again.
"Why don't you go relax, I know part of it is the stress of your regal training love. We'll continue this later." He placed his hands on Regina's shoulders and rubbed up and down on her arms, making sure to knock Mals hands off his favorite God-daughter.
"Let's go, Regina." Mal huffed and walked towards the door
Regina nodded and started for the door after hugging Rumple but he grabbed her hand to stop her.
"If you can wait out in the hall, I'd like to talk to Regina," Rumple asked
Mal nodded, "yes Godfather." and walked out, closing the door behind her.
"Is everything alright?" Regina asked
"Yes dear, I just- what is going on with you and Mallory?" He patted her hand in reassurance
"What do you mean?"
"Darling she was kissing your neck, wrapping around you thinking she'd calm your magic."
"She's been doing that since Emma left. It's her way of comforting me." She shrugged
Rumple looked at her worriedly, "My darling, the way she is doing it, is not one of a friend, or even sister, the way she is doing is of what is one of a lover."
Regina scrunched her nose, "me and Mal aren't like that. We've kissed once but that was it. I don't love her like that"
"Does she know that?" He raised an eyebrow
"She should. She knows I love her like a sister. Why would she love me as anything other than that?"
He patted her hands again, "just making sure little one. Because I can tell you one thing, she is not the one who will calm your magic."
"I know. Mother said it'd be my soulmate at this point. Though I'm trying to think who I made eye contact with to cause a bond. One that stuck. One that made me feel the lightheadedness and the pull of gravity. One that I haven't seen in so long it's making my magic go finicky." She sighed
He smiled, "how long has Emma been gone?"
She furrowed her eyebrows, "fourteen months as of today."
He smiled, "just making sure I had it right, my dear. Go run along. You'll have a busy day tomorrow I'm sure."
She smiled and nodded, " love you Rumpy."
He chuckled, "I love you too, now run along, little one."
With that, she joined Mal in the hallway.
Mal continued living with the princess just to help her sleep at night.
Even then she still laid awake but the comfort of having one of her best friends with her helped, even a tiny bit. It helped her not worry too much about if her best friend was safe since if something was to happen, she knew they'd both feel it. And every night they were together Mal would console her. And only some nights she was able to rest
Later that night Regina was standing at her balcony, thinking of what her mother and Rumple said.
"With how long this has gone on and the way you've been feeling, this is not one of your monthlies. I believe you've acquired an imprint and that person is away. You've met your soulmate, your true love and now they are away." Cora said to her as they sat in their personal library, staring at the fire and having a conversation. That had been doing this every night for years and it's always what has kept them close, trusting each other and sharing everything.
"So that would be why it didn't really feel right in kissing Mal," Regina stated
"Yes." Cora smiled
"But how would I not notice, I thought you said it makes you lightheaded and you feel a pull from the very beginning even before your own imprint?" She asked and started thinking of when it could've happened
"Sometimes we mistake it for being out in the sun too long by how it feels. A trip of balance and such. You'll figure it out my darling I am sure of that." Cora smiled at her and patted her hand before standing up and walking to the door.
"You know who and are not telling me, aren't you?" Regina followed her
"Yes, but it is something for you to figure out on your own. And who it is, asked me not to. They want you to figure it out for yourself, so you don't feel obligated to be with them."
Regina gaped, knowing her mother keeps to her word. "So whoever it is, is close to the family?"
"Phht yes darling but with how many friends and family we have, that's hardly a hint," Cora smirked, kissed her cheek, and wished a goodnight as she walked out the door and to her room.
Regina then thought of Rumple's question of how long Emma had been gone. And now that she thought of it, it had started just a week after the blonde had left. And with how close Cora was with Emma. Considering the girl another daughter and having a great deal of respect for the blonde. Emma fit the bill of someone who would ask such a thing and someone her mother would keep such a thing such as this, away from her own daughter because she wished it so.
She tried to think of when an imprint may have occurred
"But the witch would experience the imprint as well, not until their fifteenth birthday,"
She tried thinking of when it would've occurred. They had spent every day of their lives together which meant Emma would have had her imprint since they were children. She tried thinking of it but came up empty. Though a pull in her heart told her, she was right. But she wouldn't know until Emma came home. "I know I'm right" she muttered to herself.
"Regina, are you coming to bed?" Mal walked from the bathroom and laid herself in the bed. Regina sighed and walked into the room.
"I have to make sure we throw a big party when she gets back. It must be killing her that she wasn't able to be here for our birthdays. She's never missed one." Regina stated, getting into bed next to Mal and snuggling into her best friend. Her back up human heater.
"We'll do that darling," Mal whispered, kissing the top of the girl's head as she wrapped her arms around her.
"I hope she's okay," she muttered, the lack of sleep finally pulling her under
"She's with her father. Of course, she's alright, love. And even if it wasn't because of her father. It's Emma. You really think she's going to let anything defeat her. She made a promise to come back. You know she keeps her promises darling." Mal pulled the girl tighter to her body, relishing in warmth.
"Yes. Emma always makes sure to come back to me." The witch mumbled sleepily and played with her necklace
"Regina?"
"Hmm?" She hummed half asleep
"You remember when your mother gave us that biology class?"
Regina chuckled, "yes, the look on our faces was priceless."
"But you remember when she brought up the bonds. How even though we're different, our kinds can pair together?" She bit her lip as she asked this
"Yes, it's why no one cares who you love. You can't help the pull you feel towards them. Why?" She whispered tiredly
Mal swallowed harshly, "have you ever felt that pull?"
"Yes." Regina smiled, her eyes closed, a movie of her life flashing before her all the scenes featuring Emma. She finally drifted to sleep with the sight of Emmas smile
Mal looked down, shocked, "Who?"
But by the evening out breathing, she could tell she was asleep. Regina cuddled in closer and Mal smiled. Kissing her forehead before following her into sleep.
"Well Em, get some sleep. We should be there in the afternoon tomorrow." David patted her back as they say in front of a fire.
She sighed happily, playing with her necklace
"Sorry about the delays though. Making it longer than it should have been." He grimaced
"Not your fault. You can't control the weather. Besides, I earned some new friends and I liked this daddy/daughter adventure." She bumped him with her shoulder
"I'm proud of you Em. Never lost a fight with any of the bandits we crossed. Or any challenges with the other kingdoms champions. Gained the love of the people. You're all grown up." He sniffed
"Well even with my rank and how it changed me. I'm still your daughter. Looking up at her father as her idol. Though I know you're looking forward to being with mom again." She smiled
"You got that right. Do you think Regina will let you go back to sleep with her every night? Your mom and I got some making up to do and I don't think you're going to want to be at the house." he teased
"Ugh, yeah I'll definitely stay with Regina. Hell I'd be willing to go more days camping outside to be away from that." she gagged
He laughed, knowing his daughter was joking. They had finally crossed the line of parents being the best friend now that she was all grown. He and Snow had done their job. He knew their pack was in good hands. He could play now, and he was going to tease while he was at it.
"So. Now you'll be back with everyone and you're officially done with lessons and can focus on you for a bit. Do we need to have the talk or did Cora cover it when she made us agree to allow her to teach you the biology class?" He asked
"Oh no, we're good. That woman covered everything. Half of it I don't even know how she knew." Emma laughed and shook her head.
"I gave her pointers." he shrugged
"Though I do have to ask. You and Roni?"
"No dad, we are just friends. We kissed once but that was it." she chuckled
"So not only did you turn down suitors at the bar, but also only had a kiss with a woman that was interested in you. Have you imprinted?" he asked gently
She looked at the fire and continued to play with her necklace.
"There's nothing wrong with whoever your soulmate is Emma. You know me and your mother don't care. We love you. Hell, I tried being your wingman half this journey. But nothing bad in saying this, but you're acting like I did whenever I first imprinted on your mother. Loyal. Committed. I don't see a mark or sense a mark on you, so I know you're not mated. But I can sense your emotions. " He explained, placing a hand on her shoulder in comfort.
"It's Regina." She whispered
He smiled brightly at that.
"I didn't know why I felt like I did until Auntie Cora did the biology class. Explaining what imprinting felt like. What you had told her it felt like. I realized then, I've been imprinted on Regina since I was six years old." she sighed again and looked at him
His smile faltered at her troubled expression
"Why aren't you happy about that? It's your best friend. The one you've been saying for years that you wanted to be her knight."
"Because the day we left and two days before then. Mal seemed like she felt the same for Regina. Holding her. Kissing her head. She had a dreamy expression on her face. And Ruby has been telling me that since I left, Mal has practically lived with Regina in her room. On my birthday they were celebrating and they both told me they shared a kiss." she growled
"Em, that doesn't mean anything. The law states an imprint is not to be messed with, you can tell Mal and she has to back off." He argued
"No. If Regina is hers. If Regina tells me she is with Mal, then I will not fight. Mal and I are sisters. I will not try to steal her. Auntie Cora told us that even if a wolf is imprinted, we can have other people if our imprint is with someone else. No one can compare and it'll be hard to try, but we will live. I won't ruin my best friend's happiness if they are each other's." She declared.
"You won't be happy Em. And the whole point of an imprint means that they are our soulmate, we are bonded for a reason. Our Goddess made it like that so we wouldn't be miserable, everyone is meant to be happy, beings with magic are lucky because we get that sense early to be happy for longer. We have imprints so we can protect them and know they love us just as much as we love them. That's why no matter what they are, they get their own imprint to connect our souls. You will both be miserable until you are together." he clarified
"Then I wait until she realizes she is mine. I won't tell her so she feels like she has to be with me and then have her be unhappy being with me if she was happy with Mal. I want it to be her choice. If they are not together, I will tell her my feelings. And if she tells me that it's me she wants, that she loves me too, Mal will have to face me because I won't go down without a fight. I'd protect Regina with my life. I won't let anyone or anything take her from me. Sister or not." she looked up from the fire and to him. And even if there was a reflection of the fire in front of them in her eyes, he could see the real fire in her soul.