Snow and Blue were in their favourite location within Snow's palace, the study. It was not as well stocked as the main library, but here could be found all the magical tome's that Blue had been researching from, old maps of the realm, and a convenient door leading to a secret room where Blue made any potions that she needed. It was a comfortable room, and faced south, meaning they got the best of the light all day long, and it was relatively warm, despite the time of year.
Granny had come to give them an update, repeating all the information she had gathered in a strangely robotic voice that secretly disturbed Snow slightly. She had known the woman for so long, and she was always larger than life, a colourful personality. Hearing her like this, repeating facts in such a monotone way, with such an empty look in her eye, was unsettling.
"You can see yourself out, Granny. Go back to the castle and forget all about this conversation," Blue dismissed the woman, holding her heart as she gave her instructions.
Granny turned and left the room, without a further word or a second glance, and Blue felt a twinge of satisfaction at the submission she felt from the woman. She glanced across at Snow, 'maybe I should take her heart too and save myself a headache' Blue mused to herself silently.
"They're giving up?" Snow said, the disbelief in her tone was clear. It was the last thing either of them had expected to hear today.
"That is the information that we've had from Granny, though I'm not sure that I am willing to trust in its reliability anymore," Blue told her.
"What do you mean? You have her heart, she can't possibly be lying to us!" Snow argued, "they think that they're heros. Maybe they are doing this for the good of the people."
"It wouldn't be out of character, for them not to want to risk blood shed of any kind," Blue agreed, "however, it just feels 'off'. Like it's too easy. I think they might be on to us."
"They can't know that we are planning to take their magic, because the only people here that know that are me and you, and I know I haven't told anyone," Snow replied.
"It would be easy for someone experienced in magical ingredients and artifacts to put the information together and realise what we are doing, but that's not actually what I meant," Blue explained, "I tried to take another heart, of one of the gardeners that works the veg patches at the castle. He had slipped outside the main gate to meet up with a tavern wench. I thought it would benefit us to have another source of information. However, when I tried to take his heart, it was protected."
"What do you mean protected? How? From what?" Snow asked.
"It had been magically protected to prevent us from taking it, I believe. Therefore, if they know we have someone's heart, then we can't trust any information coming from Granny. It's likely that they could be feeding us false information," Blue advised her.
"That's ridiculous," Snow scoffed, "they would never have been able to work out that we had taken a heart, let alone work out who it was."
"Do not let your hatred for them cloud your judgement, and allow you to make the mistake of underestimating them," Blue warned her seriously. "They are not only powerful, but intelligent. We know they have a spy in the palace here, which is why we have been so careful only to discuss things in this room, but we don't know what information they may have gained before we started to do so."
"I still think you're wrong," Snow sulked, not liking being treated like a child and having things laid out for her in such a way, as if she were stupid.
"Well, right or wrong, we shall see, but we need to be careful," Blue told her, "I do believe Granny has actually asked Ruby, Lily and Dot to come here with her, but if Granny has been compromised then I am uncertain that it will be on the date we have been told. I will arrange round the clock lookouts for Lake Nostos, so we don't miss them arriving."
Snow threw up her hands, "fine! Do what you must, but I really think you're giving them far too much credit," and she turned to walk out of the room.
'Enough of this' thought Blue, grimly, getting up and walking behind Snow as she prepared to leave the room. Plunging her hand into Snow's chest from behind, she took her heart, and promptly told the princess to forget that she had done it.
Speaking out loud, holding her heart, "Snow, go and wait for me in our chambers."
As Blue watched, Snow docility left the room, not looking back. Blue was smug. The Princess always liked to think she was the one in control of their encounters, and it was time to show her that she was wrong.
xxxxxxxxxx
It was getting late in the evening, and the Swan-Mills suite was buzzing with activity. Emma and Mal would be leaving soon to go and meet the entourage from Oz. They had decided that Mal would fly them there so they could scope out the area before landing, just in case Snow and Blue had somehow found out the time and location of the meetup. Transporting themselves by magic and materialising into an unknown area was a bad idea. It could lead to them walking into a lion's den, if there was anyone other than the three from Oz, waiting for them.
Emma and Mal were in the kitchen, waiting for a pot of coffee to brew, so they could have some caffeine before they left.
"Are you sure you're ok to do this?" Emma asked Mal for the umpteenth time since they had got up that morning.
"I'm fine, Emma, I don't have much pain now and the bruising is minimal," Mal reassured her, "I will take more of the healing potion before I go, but it works better when it is spread out and not taken all at once. So I will do that right before we leave."
"Show me your shoulder," Emma demanded, narrowing her eyes at Mal. The shoulder had popped back into place easily when Emma had healed her, but the bruising had been significant.
Sighing, Mal lifted her loose cotton shirt up over her head, leaving herself in just a bra, so that Emma could examine the area. She tried not to wince as Emma prodded with her fingers, checking the area carefully.
Regina walked in, and stopped in the doorway, raising an eyebrow at the scene in front of her. Her wife was standing next to a partially undressed dragon, with her hands on her naked skin. She smirked at them both as they blushed, "do you two need some alone time?" she quipped, "should I come back later?" and then laughed, unable to keep a straight face.
"It's her fault!" Mal and Emma exclaimed, pointing at each other, just making Regina laugh harder.
"How's the shoulder, dear?" Regina asked, concern dropping into place on her features.
"It's fine," Mal told her with a roll of her eyes, "this one worries too much," she jerked her thumb towards Emma.
"Only because she cares," Regina countered.
"Hmmmm," was the only response from Mal but she knew the older woman was pleased.
"Ok, I'm going to pour us a coffee then I think we should go," Emma cut in, "I'd rather be early and have the chance to look around so we know it's safe before they get there."
"I agree, drink up, Emma," Mal said, taking her own mug of coffee from her and bringing it to her lips, drinking deeply as if it hadn't just been brewed.
Seeing Emma's confusion at how she was able to drink it so hot, she reminded her with one word, "dragon," as if that was the only explanation necessary.
"I think I'll add a drop of cold to mine, thanks, or I'll end up with blisters!" Emma claimed dramatically.
"Will you be ok here, Regina? We've arranged people stationed throughout the grounds, on the lookout, just in case Blue and Snow have been warned about tonight and try to take advantage of our absence," Mal looked concerned at leaving the brunette here alone, with a whole castle to protect.
"Everything will be fine, both of you, stop worrying," Regina chided, "we are all far more concerned that you are leaving the grounds tonight."
"We will take good care of ourselves and each other, I promise, baby," Emma told her, "it will be fine."
Tipping up her mug, and draining the last of its contents, Emma looked at Mal, almost nervously, not that she would ever admit it, "ready?"
"Let's go, Saviour," Mal said, much more confidently than she actually felt. She summoned the promised vial of remaining healing potion and swallowed it down quickly.
Regina stepped forwards and hugged Mal briefly, "take care of each other, ok?"
"We will, I promise," Mal assured her.
Emma was next and as soon as Regina had released the dragon, she pulled her into her arms, their bodies held flush against each other.
"I'm going to go and say goodbye to Belle," Mal told them, leaving the kitchen, knowing they needed a minute to say goodbye.
In a manoeuvre very unlike her, Regina pinned Emma to the counter, snaking a hand up into the soft blonde hair at the nape of her neck, gripping tightly as she brought their lips together in a fiercely possessive kiss. Emma kissed her back, and laughed when Regina growled when she had tried to pull back from her. Kissing her again, more softly this time, they just let themselves enjoy the moment.
"Come back to me, Emma," Regina whispered, "I have to know you're coming back to me. Promise me," she demanded harshly.
"I promise, baby," Emma told her with sincerity, "nothing could ever keep us apart, ever again."
Regina kissed her again, and then stepped back, searching her face for any sign that Emma was worried about the night ahead. Seemingly satisfied that Emma was confident, she cupped her cheek, and brought their lips together, softly, one final time.
"I love you, Emma,"
"I love you too, baby," Emma replied with a goofy grin, at the sight of which Regina's tension drained from her body and she allowed herself to smile back. Taking Emma's hand she led them back into the main living area, where everybody else was waiting.
"Bye, kiddo," David pulled his daughter into an unyielding hug.
"Dad," Emma jokingly complained, "I need to breathe!"
He let her go and stepped to one side allowing Kathryn to step forwards, who also hugged Emma, "take care my sweet girl, come back safe."
"I will, Mom," Emma said laughingly, as Kathryn couldn't help looking pleased. It had started as a joke between them, when Kathryn was a little overprotective of the younger blonde. Now Emma found herself saying it more and more and it became less of a joke and just something that 'was', even though she and Kathryn were nearly the same age.
Her substitute Mom had become so, because she always showed her never ending support, and consistent love. Even when they disagreed, Emma had never had acceptance like this from a parental figure in her life growing up and now she had David and Kathryn. It was overwhelming at times, but Emma enjoyed the feeling more than she let on.
Laughing, Emma looked around the room, "stop worrying! This is not goodbye, we will be back just after midnight and you will realise you have all been worrying about nothing!"
"Unless Emma decides to call me old," Mal said jokingly, "then I may accidentally drop her!"
"Oh dear, was it really a good idea to send these two off together?" Belle wondered.
"Mal wouldn't dare drop me," Emma gloated proudly, "not now she's so scared of my Superhero lightning powers. I do believe she remembers how it feels to be hit with them!"
"No throwing lightning, Emma," Regina scolded playfully.
"Come on, let's transport to the courtyard, and I will transform there where we have room to take off," Mal suggested.
"Laters, skaters," Emma mock saluted them all, before they both disappeared in their own individual colours of magic.
xxxxxxxxxx
The flight went smoothly, Mal had placed the usual enchantment to make sure Emma wouldn't fall off and so they could communicate. They spent the flight idly chatting about Willow and Izzy and their magical abilities, both of them sounding like proud parents, despite Mal being their Aunty. She may only be blood related to Willow, but Henry had adopted the moniker Aunty Mal and they all referred to Izzy as the dragon's niece.
"Would you like to have children?" Emma asked curiously.
"I would love the chance, if that's what Belle would like too," confessed Mal, "I'm worried it would be strange for her, because I already have a daughter who is older than her by a few years."
"You know, you're the only one of my friends who really gets me," Emma confided, "no one else knows what it's like to have a child taken away from you at birth. To spend year after year wondering how they are, if they're ok and alive, if they're happy."
"It's just another thing that bonds us, Emma. When I was trapped under the library, I spent every waking hour wondering about Lily, and when I finally got resurrected, it was too late. She was already a grown woman. I don't think she will ever see me as her Mom," Mal said sadly.
"I don't believe that's true," Emma told the dragon, "when we met as teens, she had an adopted family that she had been with since birth. She never felt part of their family though, no matter how hard they tried to make her feel like she fitted in. It's like she always knew she didn't belong with them, you know?"
"That doesn't make me feel much better, knowing she wasn't even happy in a family," Mal told her.
"Sorry, I'm not explaining that very well," Emma hastily tried to correct herself, "don't get me wrong, she had everything she could ever want, and never had to go without anything. I think maybe she just always felt like you were out there, and that she belonged with you, wherever you were."
"It's a nice thought, and truthfully, maybe she could feel me. Dragons have a unique bond," Mal explained, "space and time don't always matter, so maybe we were still connected all those years. It's too late now though, it's been too long."
"I'm in a unique situation here. Not only do I understand what it has been like for you, not knowing your child when they were growing up, but I also understand Lily," Emma disclosed, "I also didn't meet my parents until I was a grown up. I had the same questions as Lily growing up. 'Why did my parents abandon me, Why did…"
"I did NOT abandon her," Mal said angrily.
"Hey, chill, I know you didn't, Mal, but what do you think Lily thought growing up? She thought you left her, she thought maybe she wasn't good enough, she thought she wasn't loved. None of that is true, we both know that, but I know that's what she was thinking," Emma told her, "I know because we talked about it, but also because those were all things I believed and wondered about too."
"It breaks my heart that she felt like that," Mal confided softly.
"I know, honey, I do. I just think that she needs time. I truly believe that you and Lily can be close, if you approach it in the right way," Emma advised her "you didn't get very long with each other in Storybrooke, because she went off travelling and we ended up here. You just have to be careful when dealing with her, and understand that nothing can immediately erase all the years of questions and hurt that she had."
"Any advice?" Mal asked, genuinely curious what Emma might have to offer her in terms of advice. She trusted the woman.
"Be supportive and accept that she makes her own choices in life. Accept that it's too late to make parental decisions for her, because if you push too hard, you will push her away. No matter what, just let her know consistently that you love her, no matter what, even if you don't agree with her life choices. Just love her," Emma recommended, "it will take time, of course it will, but one day you will get there. Just be patient, ok?"
"I'll try, but it's just so hard knowing I've missed out on so much in her life already. I feel like I hardly know her," Mal admitted.
"Well, you are part of our family, and I imagine I will spend a lot of time with Lily now she is back. Spend time with us," Emma offered, "Lily has magic too, maybe you can teach us both? We can have family dinners, and do things together with the kids. Lily is Willow's cousin, it's important they get to know one another, because I know Willow will be thrilled."
"It's that easy?"
"Well, no," laughed Emma, "but it will get easier, I promise, and I will help you as much as I can."
"Thank you. I don't know how to express this sincerely enough to get my feelings across, but I really am grateful to have you in my life," Mal professed.
"Back at ya, dragon!" Emma giggled.
Spotting the fairy glade in the distance, Mal warned Emma to hold on tight, before swooping down low to check out the area. After circling the glade a few times, she declared it to be safe, and they gently landed in the centre of the glade.
"I guess we just wait now," Mal said, after transforming back to human form.
"Nope!" Emma said excitedly, "look! There they are!" and she took off at a sprint, throwing her arms around Lily, then Ruby and finally Dot.
Mal walked up to Lily and hesitantly opened her arms, and Lily willingly stepped forward to hug her mother, though slightly stiffly. Mal inhaled her scent, and then stepped back, eyes wide.
"You're… You're pregnant," she stuttered out.
"Really?!" Emma asked as Lily nodded.
"Yes! Baby dragons!" Emma excitedly bounced around, ecstatic at the news.
Dot and Ruby wore curiously proud smiles as they stepped forwards, both putting one arm around Lily and the other on her stomach.
"Nope!" Ruby laughed, "you're finally getting puppies! You're gonna be a godmother, Emma."
Emma looked stunned, pointing to Lily, "you? And you?" she said pointing to Ruby, before pointing to Dot too, "and you?!"
The three women from Oz laughed happily and confirmed.
"Wow, I would love to know how that happened!" Emma exclaimed, "well not how 'it' happened exactly, but the three of you becoming a throuple."
"We have lots to tell you, but let's get back to the castle first, we're all exhausted and we need to take care of our little babies," Ruby told her with a laugh, pointing to Lily's stomach.
The glade went quiet as they noticed Lily staring at Mal, obviously waiting for her reaction. Mal, remembering Emma's advice, smiled widely at her daughter, hoping it would comfort her, "congratulations, darling, I'm so happy for you," she told her sincerely, "I'm so happy for all of you," she smiled at Dot and Ruby too.
That was all Lily needed, her mothers acceptance. She threw herself forwards and the hug they had this time was relaxed and emotional, both of them had tears in their eyes by the time they let go of each other.
"Shall we go?" Emma suggested, shivering in the night air now the excitement was wearing off.
"I'll take Dot and Ruby," Mal told her, "you can take Lily."
"Really?" Emma asked, noticing the flash of hurt across Lily's face.
"You are far more powerful than me, Emma, I know you will get my daughter, and their babies home, and keep them safe," Mal smiled.
Lily smiled then, holding her hand out for Emma to take, as they all transported into the living area of the Swan-Mills suite.
