"We finally made it big brother are you ready for this?" Gina held her breath waiting for Daniel to back out. They had switched a few times before. They'd only tried to do this once though. Instead of joining together like twins that used to be in the pack, Gina and Daniel could both share a body and leave the other behind. Gina was nervous but this wasn't her magic. This was them working as a team. Instead of the previous sensation of switching, there was a pulling sensation as if everything was being torn away. Even the ground seemed to be tugged out from under her. When it was finished Gina and Danny had shared consciousness. It was odd at first as Gina tried to figure out how to move again. Daniel was in her? Or was she in Danny?

Let's see if this doesn't fuck us up in years to come thought Daniel. He was feeling his was around while trying not to be too intrusive. Gina was thankful for that.

Please we're been messed up for years before this replied Gina. She was trying to act like this wasn't a big deal but Daniel could tell that she was pleased that this worked.

Have a heart you said that you met the alpha already you know that was our grandfather right? asked Daniel even though he knew the answer. He felt her wince a bit and immediately regretted calling implying she was cold. Gina had put up with too many people calling her emotionless. She worked hard like their dad and that tended to alienate people. Sure she could work a room if she needed to but that wasn't who Gina was and a lot of people held that against her.

I needed to get out of that situation replied Gina defensively. Now at least when we need anything it'll be easier. They let their defense down she finished.

You've been spending too much time with Aunt Lydia replied Daniel. Besides you don't shift enough, maybe you could fight them if you needed to normally but as a wolf-

I can still fight I was still trained like you Gina cut him off. Besides you've spent too much time missing our parents for us not to be here.

And you haven't? Daniel was right. They had both always been curious but there had been no way to get answers in their own time. Besides we have parents. I know you want to see them more than I do. There was a pause. We have parents. Daniel emphasized.

Enough! Gina silenced him. We are going out there to find out more about ourselves. We're learning about our real pack. Daniel tried to reply but was quickly cut off as Gina shut him out.

Gina walked out bracing herself. This was it. Daniel would be quiet and she would learn more about who they would have been. Dinner was nice but it was all very formal. It was easy to see that they were under tight control of this Alpha. The Alpha himself was at the head of the table.

"Alpha Hernandez thank you for welcoming me into your home," Gina nodded as she sat next to someone who smelled like mistletoe. It put her on edge but if the rest of the pack felt it was odd they didn't show it. The thin girl barely gave any acknowledgement when Gina went to shake her hand. Maybe this was just the pack not responding well to an outsider. Gina couldn't blame them, she reasoned to herself.

"Always on duty I see," Joe said as he leaned closer to Doug on his right hand side. "See that is how you all should act not just the emissary." Doug just gave Gina a dirty look. She held a blank face and tried to remain calm knowing that the rest of the pack would file in and she would get to see her parents. A couple filled that would have been an aunt or uncle judging by the age. Single wolves who were probably cousins filled in individual seats. Any other time and this would have been amazing to see her own pack. We have a pack. Daniel thought trying to get her angry but they both knew he was getting excited. These people even looked like the twins. This is where they came from. All the seats started to fill and Gina began to worry. They should be here.

"Would you like to say something for our guest?" Joe tuned to Doug. No, wait that didn't make sense to Gina. "You're going to replace me son you need to be able to talk to your pack," he said sternly.

"Oh so she's counted as pack now," a beta murmured. She was glaring at the girl sitting next to Gina. Ok so not pack Daniel interjected. Gina wanted to quiet him down but this was getting interesting. Pack dynamic was always interesting to her. I wonder why Daniel added as she shushed him.

"She's pack," Doug said fiercely his eyes changing.

"You can't pick and choose when you want to be Alpha," Gina said sharply. She knew it wasn't her place but it needed to be done. She winced though for speaking out of turn hoping that the Alpha wouldn't give her crap for that.

"You shouldn't even be here," the girl whipped around to look at Gina. It was in that face that Gina recognized her own frown. Oh shit Daniel thought and for once Gina could only agree as all the pieces clicked into place. These losers are our parents Daniel supplied as Gina tried to steady herself. Go back to being an emissary they're just another pack Daniel ordered. Gina took a breath remembered her training and slowly started to calm down. Not that they pack noticed. They were still too wrapped up in their own drama.

"You are still not officially part of this pack even if we are merging," the alpha said firmly. "Don't presume to speak for the rest of us and you," he rounded on his son. "Need to listen this is the reason that I brought an actual emissary in. You need to toughen up you need to be more than you are Doug. Be the alpha." Joseph finished strongly.

"I don't want it. I don't want any of it. Neither of us do. We're going to leave you one day old man and when that day comes you're going to be wishing you trained Maria to be the Alpha." Doug said fiercely. A beta sitting down the table stiffened. Gina presumed that it would be Maria. This was too much. She didn't want to see them like this. Not this mess of a pack that she could run better. No wait she didn't want to lead. That was Danny trying to break his way out. To yell at these people. Gina felt a twinge of at the thought of these people they were supposed to be family. As familiar as the pack she had back home. Gina started to hear Daniel's voice stronger as the fight continued.

I'll try not to say I told you so said Daniel.

Don't threatened Gina.

Don't what? We both figured it out a long time ago they were just some punk kids who wanted to leave. You knew that and tried to convince yourself otherwise. Daniel was trying to keep his anger at bay but it wasn't working. He was angrier at their parents than anything but he was taking it out on George.

I'm sorry ok Gina said I was tired of seeing the regret on our dad's faces.

What? Daniel asked. This was not the way he thought this conversation was going to go.

Wolves can sense and smell but I hear and see differently than you do. Gina tried to explain that this wasn't just about her getting closure it was about their dads too. I feel the regret that they never got time with their families. When we came along we brought so many issues Danny. They would have had different lives and packs. We owed it to them to be able to see our families because they'll never get the chance. It was a breaking point and they both knew it years of training and bottling up any doubts of pack had led up to this. They had always been grateful to their dad for taking them in. Never openly questioning like Gina was now.

Don't you dare even think they regretted us we're pack not these random people that you wanted to get validation from said Daniel fiercely.

You're a wolf of course you'd say that Gina said darkly. Meanwhile more bickering at the kitchen table. She had to control her shift from the anger but Daniel helped her anchor herself.

Hate to break it to you sis but you're not human either and you have way too much dad in you to ever be anything other than pack Daniel said. It was a while before either of them spoke.

I'm sorry Gina came through softly.

Don't be we wouldn't be Hale's if we weren't as fucked up as possible said Daniel. Gina could hear the smile in his voice. She had to agree. Looking at the continued fighting in the pack, she couldn't help but think that it also came from their genes.

Dad would kill you if he heard you say that Gina said smiling back.

Yeah but we all know it's true said Daniel listen when you tune back in to these people. You can leave. There's no obligation here, Daniel reassured her.

Yeah thanks plus I still need to see our dad, our real dad. Gina felt good about everything. She was ready to move leave and opened her mouth to excuse herself when she got dizzy and passed out.

Derek got to the Hernandez pack late at night. Pulling up he already knew something was wrong he could sense the tension surrounding the house.

"Alpha Hale we have your beta" someone said walking up. She was young and didn't smell like the rest of the pack here. It felt strange to Derek but he needed information more than anything else right now.

"What happened?" Derek asked playing along.

"We think it was the arrow we pulled out of her shoulder," a new beta walked up and explained. The first girl gave her a dirty look but walked off when the beta met her challenging gaze.

"When did she get shot?" Now Derek was getting confused how did so much happen when it came to these two. The arrow had to have been Allison but when did that even happen? Derek should have at least gotten an update from Scott. He checked his pockets and realized that he didn't have his phone. Oh.

"Just before arriving. I'm Maria. I cleaned her wounds when she came it but I couldn't smell anything wrong with the them," she finished. Damn it Argent. Derek was going to have to talk to him about dipping their bullets and arrows in wolfsbane.

"Do you have wolfsbane?" Derek asked. Maria looked surprised but nodded.

"Yes but we don't know what kind they used on her," Maria replied seeming to catch on.

"I know what these hunters use. Show me your supply and I can help," Derek explained.

"If you're having hunter problems we'd be happy to-"

"No thank you. We can handle our own this was a misunderstanding" Derek said. Maria raised an eyebrow but didn't say anything. As he walked though he saw that the betas were all staring at him. When he started to get closer Derek could smell Gina mixed with the wolfsane. It was starting to smell like death. Luckily they had a good supply and Derek was able to identify it quickly.

"Someone needs to help me hold her down," he said looking up for anyone to help.

"Here," Maria walked over and pinned down Gina. Derek was wondering where the alpha was and it must have shown on his face.

"Our alpha is dealing with some pack issues. I'm sorry," Maria looked him in the eye and tightened her grip. There was definitely something going on here. Derek would check it out later but for now they had their own problems to deal with. He pressed in the wolfsbane in the wound and lit it. Gina yelled and shifted, struggling to get free but they held her down tightly. After she passed out and lay on the table. It smelt like burnt flesh but the wound would heal in time. He lifted her and turned to the beta.

"She's coming back home. Thank you for your help but we can take it from here," Derek said as respectfully as he could.

"Let us know if you need anything, Claudia too. She's a good kid" said Maria. "Put our alpha and his son in their place."

Seriously this kid was gone for a few hours and already took another name and challenged an alpha. Then it hit Derek what Maria had said.

"Claudia?" he asked.

"Claudia Hale. She told us who she was and that you've rebuilt after the fire and I'm impressed by everything she's been through. You guys seem like fighters. I know my alpha was impressed too. He said we'll take a trip down soon to see your pack," Maria said. In that moment Derek was glad he was so used to controlling his emotions. He couldn't think about what Maria had just said, what it really meant. Instead of lingering on it he thanked Maria assuring them that a visit to bring the packs together would be welcome.

The whole drive home, he tried to keep his mind off it. Claudia Hale. How was that even possible? Derek tried to explain it away in his mind. As soon as he laid her down on the couch he could see a little bit of Cora in her face. It hurt his chest more than he thought. She started to toss a bit and his wolf couldn't help but lean down to comfort her.

"It's ok you're home pup" he said kissing her on the forehead.

Lots of Notes:

I'm so sorry this is so late! I promise that I have been writing so there is more it'll just take me a while to actually get it posted. Encouragement would be loved if any of you were in the mood. I know this feels a little off or maybe it's just me being stuck on it for so long. Anyways I'm excited for the next chapter in which everything starts coming to a head and hopefully it'll be up faster!Let me know about mistakes I kind of just wanted to finally get this up.

(If anyone cares it's taken me a while because I'm now studying in Oxford! Anyone want to talk FF? We'll do tea)