Ruby noticed the change in her friends for the rest of the journey. It was uncomfortable riding with them when they were clearly dealing with something big. She didn't dare ask what it was, but her instincts told her it was something to do with Emma. She let out a huge sigh of relief when they arrived at the cottage later the next afternoon and pounded on the door. "Please tell me there's ice-cream!"

Regina opened the door and handed her a cone smirking. "And hello to you too, Miss Lucas. How was the trip?'

She licked the creamy goodness making appreciative noises and rolled her eyes. "Could have been better." She leant in and whispered, "Take me with you next time, please."

Regina had to admit, she admired Ruby's insistence at being overly familiar with her and it felt quite nice having another ally who also found Snow annoying at times. They were friends, but Regina sensed the wolf struggled with her demons on occasion. Emma appeared behind them sweating and panting.

"Ooh bad timing?" Ruby smirked earning her an eye roll from both women.

"I was trying to get her outside. The box is really heavy." That was only part of it and Ruby didn't buy it. Her eyes flitted back to Regina and settled on the bead of sweat trickling down her neck.

"Where's Henry?" She asked shaking her head at the pair of them.

Regina gave her winning smile trying to shake the effects of the seduction from her mind. "He's playing video games upstairs." Her voice was trembling almost imperceptibly but Ruby caught it and saw her eyes darkening.

She offered a pained smile and groaned. "Want me to take him out for half an hour?"

Regina's eyes widened. She knew Ruby could tell something was happening. She looked back at Emma doubled over supporting herself and clutching the countertop then saw Snow and David approaching behind Ruby. "Stay here. We'll be back."

"What do I tell them?"

"Errands." Regina panted just before she grabbed Emma's shoulder and poofed them away.

Snow and David came into the cottage. "Where are they?"

"They'll be back soon. I'm gonna check on Henry." She scuttled up the stairs leaving Snow and David alone with a curtained box. David went to lift the cover but Snow batted his hand away.

"Are you crazy? We need to wait."

Enma looked around and knew they were back in the palace, specifically Regina's bedroom. "Ruby is there. They're fine, but you aren't and neither am I." She crashed their bodies together and Emma whimpered as she felt the mayor's touch for the fifth time that day. Relief and desperation poured out of them as they hurried one another to a release.

"When will it stop, Regina?"

The brunette panted and grimaced as another wave of pleasure assaulted her. She was tender and over stimulated but edging towards another climax. "I don't know. Maybe another day."

They came quickly and tried to straighten themselves out. Emma squeezed her legs together and felt like crying. She was exhausted. They'd barely slept after the first interruption last night, and each itch only begged harder to be scratched. "There's gotta be a way to stop it. Fuck, I'm down for a lot, Regina, but we gotta ride back with my parents, Henry, your Mom and Ruby. If this happens in front of them, I'm gonna die!"

Regina nodded in agreement and grabbed her hand before poofing them back outside by the stream. "It should subside for a few hours now. We can sneak away if necessary."

They walked back up to thecottage hand in hand and Ruby shook her head knowingly at them. Snow was quiet and could barely make eye contact with her daughter and Emma didn't feel like pressing the matter until they were literally out ot the woods.

The five adults positioned themselves to begin lifting the box onto the cart behind the carriage. It took almost an hour of slow and steady movements to get Cora out of the kitchen. The box was tricky. It wasn't quite solid, as Emma and Regina had discovered upon bringing food that first night. They could slip their hands through but Cora couldn't penetrate it. David, Snow and Ruby could only lift it while Emma and Regina concentrated their magic to make it stable enough to grab onto. Regina huffed and regretted the prison idea. A cuff would have been better. They all stopped, heaving on the doorstep, Cora was chuckling to herself in the magical box. Regina tilted her head calling Emma over.

She planted a kiss on her lips, not wanted her Mother tohear the plan.

'I've still got Mal's bracelet. I'm charming it so it also acts like a cuff. I can slip in and put it on her while you take down the barrier. What do you think?'

The small group didn't know where to look while the women locked lips. Henry explained. "They're having a private conversation. They can do that when they kiss. It's weird."

"Oh.." The small group moaned.

Emma broke the kiss and shoved him playfully. "You tattle-tale!" She kissed Regina again not caring if her parents felt awkward. Henry would get over it anyway. Regina smiled at the naughty thought about her parents.

'I think the bracelet might work. If it could contain a dragon, it's gotta be fine on her, right?'

'Exactly. Just concentrate on taking it down so I can get out. I'll do the rest. On three. One... Two..'

"Three." She said aloud and Emma blasted the box as Regina slipped through and snapped the bracelet over her Mother's wrist. Emma was struggling to break the barrier.

"Can you get out?" She called and Regina tried but the magic contained her power too. She shook her head.

"Harder. Smash it."

Emma blushed, her mind flitting somewhere else for a second and she grinned feeling that surge of passion sparking her magic on. Regina knew what she'd done to enhance it and smiled proudly as the box disintergrated into nothingness with a flash of white light. Cora breathed in the fresh air relieved to feel the breeze on her skin again. "Get in the cart." Regina spat, refusing to look at her.

"Thank you. This is much nicer. I trust my quarters at the palace will be large enough to perhaps lie down in, dear?"

Regina growled as they all got in the carriage. "You'll have plenty of space. I'm sure the rats won't mind sharing." She slammed the door of the carriage a little more forcefully than intended behind Henry and jumped in the cart along with Emma. David and Ruby rode up front and Snow and Henry were alone inside.

Regina wiggled her fingers and charmed the horsesto go faster. "Woah, what's the rush, Regina?" David called back trying to keep the reigns steady.

She could already see Emma squirming again so she willed the horses to go faster. A seduction was one thing, but an awakening was quite another. Regina had realized that Mal's magic was only partly responsible for Emma's current state. A seduction usually subsided somewhat after intimacy, at least for a few hours. That didn't worry her in the slightest. If it weren't for the plans of the day, they could easily deal with the effects.She'd hoped they had another year before the awakening,and that they'd be back in Storybrooke where the magic wasn't quite as potent. She hadn't even told Emma about it yet. She wasn't prepared for this. Not with everything else going on in their lives.

She sighed watching Emma clutching to the side of the cart, her body trembling with not only sexual tension, but her full power coming into being. She should have called it when she saw her doing smaller tricks more regularly, and the outbursts with her emotional flare-ups.

Cora giggled lightly feeling that surge in the Savior. "She's on the cusp, Regina. There's still time."

Regina glared at her mother. They both knew all too well what Emma was going through. Her mother never thought to warn her either. It was like growing pains and hormonal shifts, but on an energetic level. Cora shook her head chuckling. "Oh, don't tell me you are taking her, Regina?"

"It's none of your business."

"Ah, of course not.I thought I recognized the bracelet. It would make sense for an elder to do it."

"Mother! I knew you brought her back! When? And towhat ends?"

Cora smiled. "I had a lovely week in that quaint little town of yours before the Savior ruined it. I thought you might enjoy having an old friend to remind you who you once were. These people are beneath you, Regina. At least Maleficent is quite fearful."

It caught her off guard. She had no idea her Mother knew anything about her friendship with Mal. But then, why wouldn't she? She had her hands in everything she did in those first few years as Queen.

"What have you done with Rumplestilskin?"

Cora laughed again. "I have done nothing with him. The coward ran off to find his son the moment he saw me in town. He was never worthy of the title Dark One. Pathetic."

Ruby was listening intently. She had no clue what was happening but Emma was going through a huge transformation. She felt it in the air and looked back with concern. "Regina, tell me, please. I can feel something."

Regina's head whipped forward. It was nobody elses business but she could tell Ruby was concerned for her friend. She'd heard enough from her Mother, anyway. She poofed herself up front and informed both David and Ruby. It was only fair. "I'm assuming as a wolf you went through a certain, change one day?" Ruby nodded in realization.

"Oh. Oh shit. Poor girl."

Regina nodded with a pained expression. "Hence the speed. We need to get back quickly. Plus, something else is also at work. Unrelated." She hesitated but felt it only right they were prepared if anything should be said, or screamed.

David looked confused. "What is it? What's wrong with her?"

"It's a transition. Like magical puberty, except, more formally acknowledged." Regina explained. "I thought Henry would be first. Not the magic part, obviously." She shook it off feeling the dragon's seduction ramp up. She was angry about this additional annoyance, but she couldn't do anything about it other than what they were already doing. Regularly. "It's nothing to worry about. But we need to go faster." Her words were labored.

Ruby frowned sensing the ramp up in sexual heat. David was listening to every word. "Regina, do that spell thing so he can't hear. Sorry, man. You don't wanna hear this."

David began protesting but she rendered him mute for a second. She whispered and spelled her hands so only Ruby could hear. She didn't want Ruby assuming this was something she and Emma were doing deliberately "I know you heard what was said and you know who is around. Do you know the legend of Draca Beswican?"

Ruby nodded.

"Well, it's no legend. It had been so long I forgot and she caught us off guard. We are countering it,but I didn't imagine an awakening at the same time. It's alot. I need to take care of it before she's summoned."

Regina stared her down hoping she'd get the hint not to talk about this in front of Emma's father. She waved her hands and restored his voice. "The quicker we're back, the better."

Ruby looked back again seeing Emma biting the side of the cart. She couldn't help but laugh. She was glad she wasn't going through it again. "So, uhm, does she have to go today?"

Regina looked back with apained expression. "I hope not." Oh, the unfortunate timing! She laughed as she caught Ruby's knowing eye.

"Can you do anything?"

Regina shook her head. "Just ride it out."

"Can I do anything?" Ruby asked as her pitch shifted up two semitones andnot sure if she wanted an answer.

Regina had an idea. "Perhaps." She studied the wolf closely. It could work. Ruby looked worried now sensing what Regina was thinking.

"What if I don't want to?"

Regina rolled her eyes and whispered again. "You forget, I've read your book." She saw the blush creep up the wolf's neck and chuckled darkly. "A distraction might weaken the effects long enough for me to prepare her for the meeting. There's no guarantee, but there is a chance.Do not tell David or Snow. Do not mention her name to anyone. There are other issues that complicate this matter."

David was shouting about the injustice of not knowing what was going on. Regina whipped her head around and spat. "You're a fine one to talk! We know what you did. We'll discuss it when she's ready. Don't push it." He hung his head in shame feeling his cheeks burn. Ruby wasutterly confused.

"You're a really messed up family, you know that, right?"

Another wave of the seduction hit her and she grabbed the ledge of the carriage It took all her focus not to scream but It wasn't as strong as she remembered it being all those years ago. Perhaps being older, or maybe because of the love with Emma it was bearable. Still, she'd rather be quite literally riding it out in the privacy of her chambers than trying to contain it.She'd learnt her lesson after the second time it happened. She never stood in the same room as Mal without an amulet to protect her from the effects but, she had not expected to see her again. Only a few more hours.

If she'd been in her clear mind, she'd have realized back at the cottage that after applying the bracelet, her Mothercould have easily been transported magicially, however, she sadly wasn't thinking straight.

Regina chuckled as Emma groaned loudly behind them.She had to laugh. It was utterly absurd. At this rate, they'd be lucky if she made it half way. Ruby grinned and nodded towards a tree up ahead covered in bright purple flowers and berries. "Would that help?"

Regina squinted to look at it better and a huge grin spread on her face. "It would! How did you know?" She broke off a small branch and levitated it towards her with magic.

Ruby shrugged. "I might have had them a couple of times."

Regina picked off a few of the berries and shoved them in her mouth smiling. It wasn't a strong anaphrodisiac, especially without concentrating into a potion, but it should help somewhat diminish the effects. "Good call, Miss Lucas. Thanks." Shepoofed back into the cart and flung her arms around Emma. Cora averted her eyes. She kissed her so her Mom couldn't hear.

'Eat these. They're chaste berries. They should help lower your libido.'

Emma shoved a handful in her mouth and slowly began to feel less horny. After twenty minutes of munching the purple berries, she took a deep breath feeling much more in control. Regina took the opportunity to broach the subject.

"I know this is bad timing, I thought you had another year to go. You see, all magical beings go through something. Usually in their third or fourth year."

Emma groaned. "Just hit me with it."

Regina laughed. "You're having your awakening. It's when you reach your full potential for power. There's a meeting with the gods and goddesses you'll be called to soon. Someone will guide you there for your blessing."

"My what?"

Regina rolled her eyes. "I'll explain more another time, if there is time,but just in case, be prepared. Wear white, take an offering, and act virginal." She popped another berry into her mouth and tried to hide the giggle,failing abysmally.

Emma stuck her tongue out. "Pfft! Yeah right! This is another cow, isn't it?"

"I assure you, it is not. I'm dead serious."

"She is telling the truth. I would listen, Savior." Cora added.

Emma blew her lips again in disbelief. Like she was going to listen to Cora.

"It's true, Em." Ruby shouted from up front. "Had mine fifth year. I took a basket of cake and wine." Snow stuck her head out of the window.

"What is going on?"

"Get back in your box, Snow." Regina sassed without turning around.

Ruby sat down and facedfront. She sat in silence for a few moments and deadpanned so only David could here. "Sleepy Storybrooke is sounding pretty good right now."

"Couldn't agree more."