Rifiuto: Non Miriena

A/N: Written: 2015, Found: 2018- Licia

Raven spent her first week back at school crashing between Cerise and Cedar's dorm, Ashlynn and Briar's dorm and with Mika's dorm, so that by the following Monday, she knew she had no choice but to go to her dorm. It wasn't the room that was the issue, it was the person who shared it.

"I don't see why I just can't stay with you. Headmaster Grimm knows that we're married. And despite what he likes to think, we aren't doing anything that any normal teenage couple isn't doing-"

"But we're not a normal teenage couple, Raven. I'm older than you, remember?"

She rolled her eyes, storming up the stairs, her husband on her heels. "By five years, Mikalos! Five years is not that big a deal! Ten years- now that would be a huge difference!"

"Regardless, it's still Headmaster Grimm's school, and his rules, Ravenna-"

She whirled on him, black locks swirling around her like a skirt. "So what? Headmaster Grimm has no say in our lives. He does not advise me on how to rule over my country, nor does he advise me how to handle conflict with other countries. He will not be there when I return to Marberly in the summer, nor will he be there when we begin our own family. He is an insignificant little man who believes he is solely important to the world, when in reality, he is a gnat. An ant. An insignificant grain of sand in the beach that is the world, who will do nothing after the students graduate but pathetically attempt to shape the destinies of generations of students after them." She pulled the key from the pocket of her jacket, turning back to the door of her dorm.

"I'm still older than you, Raven."

"Again, Mika, five years." She slid the key into the lock. "In four years, I will be twenty-two, and you will be twenty-seven, and by then, I will have given birth to our first child. We will have a family of our own to raise, and will be back where we both belong. Ever After High will be a distant memory for us.

She pushed the door open, stepping inside. Mika followed, closing it, though it didn't latch. He watched in silence as Raven kicked off her heels and removed her jacket, tossing it on the back of her desk chair. With a wave of her hand, she quickly unpacked, watching in silent satisfaction as everything levitated and flew to their proper places. Once done, she turned back to him.

"Cleo will most likely have taken the Vispen throne and Laia could be crowned queen... it will be a new generation ruling the Seven Kingdoms, and our ties will be all the stronger for it. And while we are thriving, Ever After will be choking under her old, out-dated ways. They will wither away and die off while our countries grow stronger. And that, my husband, will be a good thing." He went to her, and she slid her arms around his waist, meeting his gaze. "And who knows, by then your brother could very well be on the throne, and I could be heavy with your child." She smiled softly. "In five or ten years, we will have children to chase after through Redarnia's gardens, little princesses and princes that will look like us and have aspects of our personalities."

"They'll be beautiful, just like you." He whispered, reaching up to brush a lock of hair off her cheek. She grinned, pressing a kiss to his palm.

"I look forward to that future." He leaned down, kissing her soundly. Her arms tightened around his waist, and his tangled his hands in her hair, deepening the kiss. He slowly walked them back to her bed; her knees hit the edge, and she sat, shifting until she was balanced up on her knees. Her hands worked on the buttons of his shirt, and he slid his hands down her back, grasping the zipper on the back of her dress and gently tugging it down. His mouth moved to her neck, sucking gently at her pulse, and she let her eyes roll, even as she tilted her head back, allowing him better access to her throat. She tugged his shirt free, sliding her hands beneath the material to caress his skin-

Without a word, he broke the kiss and pushed her back on the bed, climbing up after her. Their gazes locked, and after a moment, he nuzzled against her cheek. "You know when we do have a child, it will be my chromosomes that determine whether we have a son or a daughter." She reached up, caressing his cheek. "We could have a son first."

"I know." She kissed him softly. "But eventually, we will have a daughter, and she will one day inherit my throne, regardless of whether our son is first in the birth order."

"We will just have to make sure that we love them both equally, but that they understand that it's his sister that will one day rule." She grinned. "And that it doesn't mean we love him any less, but it's tradition ancient tradition that the women rule Marberly."

"And we will need to-" But she never got to finish, as the door swung open. The pair looked up, to find Raven's roommate standing in the doorway. Instantly, Raven's mood soured, and she gently pushed Mika away, sitting up. He quickly buttoned his shirt, as Raven tucked her legs beneath her. "Apple White. I wish I could say it was nice to see you, but," She stopped, turning as she felt Mika tug the zipper of her dress back up.

Apple's blue eyes studied her roommate, before darting towards the Hero Training professor. "I was hoping that the rumors were wrong, but I guess they weren't. You're really back. Both of you."

Raven sighed, scooting to the edge of her bed as Mika stood, tucking his shirt back into place. "Look, I know the little trick your mommy tried pulling, but the board didn't fall for it. They're not stupid. They see the value of charting your own course in life, and they agreed that Mikalos is a good professor. My relationship- my marriage- to him is not going to hinder his teaching. He deserved to get his position back, and everyone here deserves not to be bound to some stupid story if they don't want be."

"All you've done since you came here was destroy this school! You've destroyed the good standing of not only this school, but everyone here! You're-" But Apple never got to finish, as Raven stood, slipping into her shoes and going towards her roommate, blowing gently on her, casting a silencing charm over the blonde. Apple stared at her, but didn't open her mouth.

"Now you listen to me," Raven's voice was low, commanding; the tone one she often used when she spoke to her generals or advisers. "I know it may be difficult for the blissful, blonde, bubble-headed brain of yours to comprehend the possibility of free choice, but it's real. This school is changing- for the better- and no matter what you think, you can't change it! You fear choice, only because you've never had choice. You've been told what to do and what you would inherit from the day you were born; you grew up in the lap of disgusting luxury, while the people of your land suffer and starve. Honestly, I'm amazed your people haven't revolted against you and your family yet, because they should. Your kingdom shows others what not to do, and you should be ashamed." She snorted in derision. "And you've dared to call me selfish? If you ask me, you're the one who's selfish."

And without another word, she and Mika left the dorm, shutting the door behind them.