Gold's Mansion
"This is ridiculous!" said Neal, as he suspended the cushion in mid-air. All he'd done was imagine it floating, as instructed - and here it is - floating! "I can't believe it - I'm really doing this? You guys can do all this just by thinking about it? I mean, what the hell?"
Merlin had taken the block from his magic a few minutes earlier. He'd felt a little faint at first, so the Sorcerer had decided to start his induction with soft objects incapable of harming anyone. "That's very good, Mr. Cassidy. It normally takes a little longer for someone to grasp the idea that you can do this. Only by force of will, can you make this happen! Now, why don't you try picturing it lowering itself, slowly, onto your lap?"
The cushion slowly moved across the room, until it levitated just above his knees, before slowly settling it onto his knees. Ariel, Belle and Henry all politely applauded, as he looked up at Persephone.
"You must think this is nursery school stuff?" he winked at the goddess, standing back from them.
"Everyone has to start somewhere! Magic isn't natural to the human world…" she comforted, smiling at his simple feat. "You've only had it a few minutes. Small steps…"
"Yeah, they won't know what hit 'em in DunBroch, when I start lobbing scatter cushions at 'em!" That made them all laugh.
Merlin grinned. "I'll be giving you the lessons shortly. It'll be a mind link, so it shouldn't take long. After that, you just need coaching. Perhaps your father could help?"
Rumple had sat in his armchair, silently looking on, as his precious returned son received his first induction. A day after waking from the coma, he still hadn't fully come to terms with the reality of him being here. Coming out of his daze, he realised all eyes were now on him. "Sorry, did you say something?"
"I suggested you could coach your son in the use of his new magic, Rumple?"
"Oh," he looked sadly at the group. "I'd love nothing more than to help my boy, but I'm somewhat 'depleted' on the magic front, as you'll no doubt be aware!"
"What do you mean?"
"I've no magic. You saw to that yesterday!" Need he rub in the fact that he was now useless?
The Sorcerer looked down at him, confused, then realised what he was getting at. "My dear fellow, we removed the Dark One from you. You still have magic, it's just…white magic!"
"Nonsense!" growled Rumple, irritated at being patronised. "I assure you, I would know! had magic for the best part of three centuries. I'd know…"
Persephone stepped forward. "Rumpelstiltskin, when you brought about a spell before, what did you focus on before you cast it? What was the thought that made it happen?"
He looked at her sternly, considering the question. He'd usually thought of a memory that brought back hatred. The abandonment by his father. His stepmothers making him spin for them, refusing him food if he refused. Milah and her deceitfulness and betrayal with the pirate. The witch and her causing his son's death!
"I think of something that caused me intense emotion, as you're well aware!"
"You need to think of something hateful, don't you? A memory that brought you pain? Well instead, try looking at something that inspires happiness. Look at your sons, your grandson, your wife? Think of what you now have. Think what they mean to you…"
Rumple looked over at Belle and Ariel, now standing side-by-side, backs resting against one of the cupboards, looking at him, concerned. Belle had that sad, resigned smile on her face, knowing her husband was feeling weak and powerless. He looked at Ariel, who mouthed back to him silently 'I love you!'. At Baelfire, who had dropped to his knees, picking up a soft toy his little brother had dropped as he chewed on a teething ring, handing it back. My boys, finally back.At Henry, who sat looking at him intensely, with a sad smile of his own.
"See the love for you, in this room, and tell me you don't feel it?"
"I…" he hesitated, feeling choked. "I know. I just can't…" he could hardly get the words out.
"I love you, papa! We all do…" Neal encouraging him, knowing the goddess's intention. Henry, Ariel and Belle all nodded.
"NOW – CATCH!" yelled Persephone, quickly curling a hand behind the half-empty blue teapot sitting on the table, launching it, and its contents directly at the former Dark One's head!
It took a moment for Rumple to look up from the yell, seeing something blue racing towards him! His left hand rose from his lap, flattening itself in an instant to deal with the danger. In milliseconds, the entire teapot, now on its side with the lid off and contents starting to spill, was frozen in mid-air, as though time had stopped! The rest of the room stood aghast.
Rumple's jaw dropped in astonishment. "I…I have it back?" he breathed, incredulous. "My magic's returned?"
"It never left, Rumple! It merely…changed. Now return the teapot to the teatray, without spilling!" the Sorcerer instructed. A moment later it appeared in its rightful place. "The darkness is gone, but from the moment it took over your mind, it put magic in your bones! That remains."
Henry grinned at him. "That means you're a white wizard now, grandpa!"
The Jolly Roger – that afternoon
"I can't believe he's back?" said Killian Jones, astonished at the news. Henry's father, the man who he knew, and betrayed, as a boy, had returned from death? "How did Emma take it?"
"Nervous, at first. We left them alone and they talked it out." Dorothy collected a dropped baby shawl from the floor. "I don't think Robin and Regina have anything to worry about though. I get the impression Neal's moved on too!"
"Yeah, with a certain hot blonde goddess, by the look of it!" said Ruby, sniggering, but seeing her wife raise a brow at her. "Aw, c'mon Dot – like you'd kick her out of bed?"
"Aye, as I recall, Persephone was, is, extremely beautiful." Killian recalled meeting her in the underworld. "Not as beautiful as you mind, Rosie!" he cautiously added, seeing his wife's face. "I met her in Hades' crypt. She tried to restrain that foul bastard from his baser instincts, but he was not too be swayed!" he grimaced, remembering his torture at the hands of the devil's apprentice.
"Still, it must be a bit odd for Emma, Killian. Henry's father coming back three days before her wedding? Especially after you did last year!"
"Aye love. I'd best pay him a social call. I still owe him an apology. Still, onto happier things. You said you had something to ask us?"
"Er, yes." Dorothy coughed, moving to grab Ruby's hand in her own, now looking nervous. "Ruby and I had something we wanted to ask you both. It's a little bit…sensitive."
Rosie stepped across, dropping to her knee to take Dorothy's other hand. "Come on girls, it can't be that bad! We're friends, remember? Hell, we're family now. Nattie and Liam are brothers, after all. So, come on…" she encouraged the pair.
"It's nothing bad, Rosie. It's just…embarrassing. It's about Killian's…sample."
"His sperm sample? The one he left here two years ago?"
"Yeah. Well, here's the thing. Nattie's about fifteen months old now, and we figured that, as neither of us are getting any younger, we'd like to give him another brother or sister sooner than later. Having Liam around is great, but you're going to be travelling and, well, Ruby told me she'd also like to give birth to the next one, if she could!"
"Well, if you still want to use my sample, it should be straightforward enough, shouldn't it? I recall Rosie's father saying something about freezing it until you're ready?" he looked across at Rosie, who already knew all the details. Plus, the fact that, despite leaving the sperm sample, they'd used the old, reliable method!
"There was a power failure at the hospital! About four months ago. All the samples in storage, and some donated blood, were ruined. One of the doctors rang to tell us…"
"Okay," said Rosie, realising what they were trying to ask. "So, what you're saying is Killian's sperm sample was ruined? And, as he's got magical ability, which you need to successfully conceive after my dad's melding of your eggs, you need him to give you another sample?" she looked across at her husband. The other women nodded.
The three women stayed silent for a moment, waiting for Killian's thoughts. The Captain looked at his wife, waiting for her to go first. So, she did.
"Killie, we'd never even met when you helped them before. You told me all about it once we started going out together. I went to see Ruby and Dot straight after and I told them that, although we were just dating at the time, I had no problem with them continuing and using your sample. And if they wanted more children, or they weren't successful at first, they should continue…"
"Aye love. But we're married and have Liam now. I'll give you my thoughts, but I need to hear yours, first."
"Well, as I said, we're not just friends with Dot and Rubes, we're close friends! And family, linked forever by our children. I have no problem with it. In fact, I think it's a good idea. We already know they're fantastic mothers," The Lucas couple blushed at her compliment, "and that way, their son or daughter gets two great brothers and a pretty brilliant dad! But it has to be your decision, Killian. It's your body. Your sperm!"
Killian stayed silent for a minute, absorbing his wife's words. This was a serious decision, not to be taken lightly. Though he'd already fallen in love with Nathaniel and regarding him as just as much a son as Liam. As he looked up, he saw not just two anxious women staring at him, waiting for his thoughts, but three.
"Well. I can't argue with any of her points. You two have proven to be excellent mothers to our son. Plus, you've never let me feel that I wasn't a part of his life, so hopefully I'd be part of another little one's too? As Rosie's given us her blessing, I guess I'd be honoured to help you give him a sibling…"
Ruby gasped with relief, jumping up and moving over to Killian to pull him into a tight hug. "Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she yelled. Dorothy had similarly stood to hug Rosie. "Thank you too, Rosie! You have no idea what it means to us!"
"You two! You're just…the best!" said Ruby, tearfully putting her hands on the Captain's face and a quick peck on his lips. Seeing the surprised look on Dorothy and Rosie's faces, she pinked slightly. "Erm…sorry."
Dorothy looked into Rosie's eyes, smirking. "She's right though – you two are the best!" before briefly dropping her own lips onto Rosie's, then whispering, "thank you."
Killian's wife didn't seem at all flustered. In fact, to ease the slight tension between the four, she leaned back and said, "Don't I get one from you too, Rubes?"
"I guess," said the wolf, moving into the place vacated by Dorothy, wrapping her arms around Rosie as Dorothy now did the same to Killian. "Thanks for letting this happen!" Now feeling less awkward, Ruby pressed her lips lightly onto Rosie's, for just a little bit longer, as Dorothy now did something similar to Killian. Rosie pulled her head back, to see her husband now clearly enjoying his own kiss with the former Hero of Oz. So, with a wicked smirk, she leaned forward to give Ruby a second, rather more enthusiastic kiss. Out of the corner of his eye, Killian saw what she'd done. Two can play that game! So, with an evil smirk, drove his own lips down onto Dorothy's.
My, how the mood changed in a matter of seconds. As the two hugging couples turned to look at their respective partners, Rosie then said something that changed that mood completely. "You know…I seem to recall that you never got around to actually using Killian's sample, did you? Dot got pregnant by the usual method, didn't she?" She enjoyed how both the wolf and the other woman's cheeks almost went scarlet at the reminder. "How about we try that method first?"
The other three looked at her as though she'd gone quite mad! "Are you suggesting…that we…?" Dorothy couldn't finish the sentence.
"Why not? After all, you had a nice little threesome, didn't you. I know you enjoyed yourselves. It's in a good cause. How about we upgrade to four?"
Dorothy and Ruby stared at each other, open-mouthed. But Killian's jaw could've hit the floor!
Mifflin Street
"Snow, it really isn't necessary - he won't even be seeing the dresses till the wedding anyway!" she moaned, irritated at the woman's obsession with minor details. "He doesn't need to move out beforehand!"
"For heaven's sake, mum, Regina's right. Robin lives here now. We've been sharing a home with him for eighteen months; I hardly think it's essential he's nowhere near us for two whole days!"
The imminent brides sat around the coffee table, Emma's parents on the other side while Neal fiddled with his new obsession, a guitar. It had been a recent birthday present from his parents, after endless requests, and it hadn't left his side for nearly two weeks. David sat beside Snow, rolling his eyes at the latest minor detail his wife seems to insist on for the weekend wedding.
"I disagree. Robin's rather sensibly moved his bachelor party back to Thursday night, to allow everyone time to recover if some people become too 'refreshed'. He'll be out that night anyway, so staying in Sherwood Friday night too shouldn't make much difference. Besides…" the woman's voice went silent as she mouthed something incoherent to the other two.
"Sorry, didn't hear that mum! Say again…"
"David? Could you take Neal into the dining room with that thing? It's starting to give me a headache."
"What?" said David, wondering what was bothering her. Neal had been gently practising some early tunes and seemed to be keeping to himself. Although seeing Snow's brow raised, she clearly wanted to discuss something alone with the women. "Er, yeah okay, I'll take him. Neal?" he looked with disbelief at his daughter. Emma glanced at her own wife, holding her hand, indicating she needed to mind-link her thoughts as father and son left the room.
"Alright then…" the crop-haired brunette started. "I know Robin and his friends were planning to go to Sherwood on Thursday night, but I wanted us to have a girls' night out, too. Ruby and the girls are up for it…"
"Is that all? Why all the secrecy? groaned Regina. "Why did you need to send Neal out of the room?"
"Well, I just thought…there's some entertainment I've provisionally booked. I thought I'd check with you first…I can always cancel."
"Entertainment? What sort of entertainment?"
"Well…" Snow hesitated, "Some dancers. Malcolm and some of the health club guys were planning to put on a bit of a show. I just thought…" she pulled a leaflet out of her back, showing several topless, oiled young men, several of whom they barely recognised.
"Snow, are you seriously suggesting we hire male strippers for a hen night? Two days before the wedding?" Regina glared at her mother-in-law. "Because I hardly think-."
"I'm game!" interrupted Emma, looking at the front cover. "Haven't done something like that for a while, and certainly not in Storybrooke. Could be fun!"
"Emma, you can't be serious?" her wife admonished, as the blonde handed her the leaflet. "I hardly think seeing grown men taking their…Ooh, I say! He's rather nice! Erm, taking their clothes off in…are those jeans sprayed on? Sorry, taking their clothes off and…that's more an eight-pack then a six-pack! Er…where was I?"
Emma and Snow laughed loudly as Regina blushed. "I think you can take it that Gina's game too, mum!"
"Good!" said Snow. "I'll confirm and let the girls know. Now then, for Friday, I thought we could just have a quiet dinner at the farm." Regina wasn't really listening now, looking to her wife to telepathically say something:
[Emma, I'm going to be horny as hell after that! It'd be nice if Robin was home too…]
[Are you saying I won't be enough? Or you enough for me?] Emma smirked at her.
[Don't be silly. You know exactly what I mean!]
[Yeah, but I know how randy you get when you've been deprived, even for a few days. Robin's like that, too. It'll just make the wedding night even better, won't it?]
The Diner - later that evening
"Sorry we had to order take out, guys! The time just flew!" apologised Ruby as she served up the Chinese food laid out on the table in their dining room. Neal and Persephone had immediately noticed, on arriving, just how exhausted Ruby and Dorothy were.
"Yeah. Ruby and I didn't leave the Jolly till gone six! We didn't have a chance to prepare dinner, so I hope you don't mind too much? More lemon chicken for you, Persephone?"
The goddess, now sitting at the opposite side of the table from Neal, gave Dorothy a knowing smirk. That's when they realised – she knew! "Yes please, Mrs. Lucas. It's no problem - I'm sure it'll be delicious!"
"Please just call me Ruby? You're letting me call you by your first name, after all!"
"You seem like you've had a really long day, you two?" said Neal. "You know, if you were too tired for this, all you had to do was say so. We could have left it for another day or brought something in ourselves…"
"Persephone, I hope you don't mind me asking," said Dorothy, cautiously, "but if you've been around for thousands and thousands of years, you must have seen and done just about everything, eaten just about everything and been just about everywhere. We must all seem so boring! Is anything new to you?"
The goddess smirked. "You might think so, but you'd be quite wrong. All of this is new! This food, the smells, so many things. I've spent most of my existence on or near Olympus, having only come to the human world twice before. Thousands of your years are but a short span to us. My interactions with humankind have been limited to those departing for judgment and other realms. Unfortunately, my departed brother Hades made that process much harder. However, this man here," she stroked his hand before closing it in her own, "has taught me much about you all in my brief time with him."
"Does that mean you're both together? Like boyfriend and girlfriend?" asked Ruby.
Neal jumped in. "The gods think differently to us, Rubes. For example, they could never marry us humans. It's strictly forbidden by Zeus. But they do often take lovers. Perse will need to go home soon, which I'm still getting used to, and we won't be reunited till I die. Or gets herself attached to the nearest passing lightning bolt!"
"That's horrible! So, it could be years till you see each other again? That seems so sad."
"Years in your time, but moments in the afterlife," said the goddess, "For me, it won't be long before I get to be with this rogue again!" she leaned in taking Neal's lips in hers.
"So basically, no more partners for you till you die then, Neal?"
"On the contrary, Neal is free to find and fall in love and commit to anyone in the land of the living! Humans find it hard to understand this, but after judgment, if you have been granted the 'better life' rather than damnation, your soul becomes divisible. You are able to spend as much time as you wish, with all those you care for or love, at the same time, without any jealousy. So, if Dorothy here had multiple true loves during her life, she can be with all of them, and you, concurrently and without any form of jealousy. Same goes for you!"
"Sounds like heaven!" gasped Ruby.
"That's because it is!" said Neal, returning his lover's kiss. "Now less talking, more eating!"
Thursday night – Mifflin Street
Emma sat on the living room sofa as Emily, the teenage daughter of one of their friends, played on the floor with Faith, who happily burbled while Hope chewed one of her numerous dolls. "So, Emily, before we leave, do you want to run through everything again?"
"I think I've got it. You'll be settling these two in bed before you go. Honour and Margot need to go to bed before eight, even if they object…" the child-minder looked over at the blonde girl, who seemed to be sulking near the window. "The babies shouldn't need feeding, but if one of them wakes up, the bottles are in the fridge. There're numbers for you, your wife and Mr. Locksley. Or failing that, call Mr. Nolan if I get stuck?"
"Absolutely correct, Emily!" said a voice from the stairs as Regina came down the final steps. "Normally we'd also give you a list of other friends who can help, but all of them seem to be out tonight. So, thank you for being available. And don't forget, if you still need help-"
"I'll be fine, Mrs. Swan-Mills," she assured the slightly nervous older woman. "And so will your girls. You know my friend Rebecca Whitehand is coming to join me in an hour, so we'll be just fine. You go and enjoy yourselves and relax. I'll text you from time to time, so don't go worrying. You both look lovely by the way! Where are you all off to tonight?"
Regina wore a black and green knee-length cocktail dress which showed her legs and rear to perfection. "Thank you, my dear. We're off to the Rabbit Hole for a little pre-wedding girls' night. I'll leave my phone on…"
"Oh, you're going to the Male Stripper Night?" she smirked. "You'll bump in to Rebecca's mum there. She's going!" That made Regina's cheeks pink as Emma just laughed.
"Strippers? Really?" she attempted the lie, but couldn't carry on as Emma carried on giggling. "Well…"
"I saw all the posters and we tried to get tickets, but they're all gone! Someone bought up a whole shedload of them. I think half the married women in Storybrooke are going to be there with you. I'm dead jealous!"
"She got you there, Gina!" Emma continued giggling, earning a glare from Regina that slowly dissolved into a chuckle and an "Oh do shut up, Swan!" before a key was heard jingling in the front door as Robin appeared.
"Hi, miladies! Just thought I'd drop by before we're all heading out…" Then he spotted the cocktail dresses his fiancées were wearing. "Hey, you two look ravishing. Perhaps I should be joining the pair of you tonight? Oh, hi Emily – didn't see you there?" Just as well, as I was about to suggest what I'd like to do to said fiancées!
"Oh, I hardly think you'd enjoy a night out with just a lot of women talking, Rob! You'd hate all that…" said Emma, now noticing what he was wearing. The classic styled black dinner jacket and trousers hung on him perfectly, with a crisp white shirt and dark red bow tie making him look sexier than she'd ever seen him! The Saviour stood, walking over to him before sliding a hand into the jacket and over his chest. "Hmm. You've scrubbed up rather nicely too!" she breathed, leaning in and placing a short, yet open-mouthed kiss on his lips, enjoying the brief scrape of his light beard on her cheek.
Regina watched the little moment. Two years ago, her wife hated the outlaw. Now it was obvious throughout Storybrooke and Sherwood that Emma loved her man just as much as she did. Nonetheless, seeing Robin take Emma into his arms never failed to induce a little thrill in her, as it did now. "Hey, you two, we need to get going!" Regina tried to walk past them to get her coat, but Robin's left arm swung out to gently pull his brunette fiancée close.
"Not until I get a goodbye kiss from both of you. This is our last chance before we wed! Two nights without my loves. How will I survive?" he whispered. The three were now wedged together in their familiar cuddle, or thruddle, as he called it. Emma looked across at the child-minder, her arms still wrapped around the others. "Emily, you may want to look away for this bit? We don't want to make you uncomfortable!"
"Oh please," said Emily, unabashed "you guys are renowned for snogging in public; don't mind me!"
"You heard the lady!" said Robin, dropping his lips onto Regina's as Emma kissed his cheek, quickly followed by Regina to Emma then finally Emma to Robin. Their practised demonstration of their love. "Even now, I still can't believe I'm really going to be marrying you two. Regina Maria and Emma Ruth Swan-Mills, I love and always will love you!" The little trio continued hugging and whispering sweet nothings before finally separating.
"Okay. I'll see you on Saturday. Enjoy your girls' night out. Oh, and miladies?" The women both nodded, waiting for him to continue. "Try not to take photos of the strippers. Those younger, leaner, fitter lads might make an old codger like me very insecure…"
"I shouldn't worry," whispered Emma, smirking. "You may be an old codger, but you have got a big todger!"
"Emma! Please!" gasped her wife, while the other two burst out laughing.