Chapter 8

Rachel sat on the back deck with Brittney. They were drinking tea and looking out over the yard. Belle was inside cooking dinner and waiting for the other three to return.

Rachel let out a breath, a little louder than a sigh. Brittney turned to look at her, questions in her blue eyes as she watched Rachel breathe. Finally, it hit her. Rachel was upset about something.

"What is it?" Brittney asked her.

"What is what?"

"You're upset and it has to do with Quinn. Why? What's wrong?" Brittney questioned.

"It's nothing."

"Rach...talk to me. I can tell that it's bothering you. Just let it out and then you'll be able to go talk to Quinn about it. You can't bottle it up. You'll both end up saying things to each other that you don't mean. And. you both know that I don't like when y'all light," Brittney told her.

"I know that, Britt, but I think that I am just being irrational. I'm seeing something that isn't there and I'm letting my imagination run away. I'm sure it's nothing," Rachel answered.

"You're talking about how close Danni and Quinn are?"

"Yes," Rachel admitted a little ashamed.

"Don't worry about it, Rach. We both know that Quinn loves you. She wouldn't do anything to jeopardize your relationship. She is close with Danni, yes, but that is because they understand each other on a level that we never will," Brittney replied.

"I know they both had hard upbringings, but I can't help but feel that Quinn seems to be happier with her than she does with me. I know it might seem silly, but I do. I have nothing to base it on but her relationship as with you and Santana. She isn't like that with you guys," Rachel countered.

"She was in high school. She was scared then and she isn't as much now. She was scared for you after the attack. She swore to Santana that you would never be alone again. She made us promise to shadow you until she got there. She wants to make sure that you are sate. She cares for you. She'll do anything for you. Rachel and you know that. But, Danni...well, she can communicate with Santana and Quinn on an emotional level that we don't understand. Our parents loved us. We weren't always seeking their approval or love. Danni had other reasons, but both she and Quinn have had to tight for everything that they have. They've fought and bled for it. They are going to continue to fight for it. They don't take 'no' for an answer until they have exhausted every possible avenue. That's why they work well together," Brittney explained.

"But they seem like soul mates!" Rachel stated.

"They may be, but only as friends. Listen, Santana would kill me for telling you this, but she missed Quinn when we were all in school. She needed her friends. She needed someone to back her up. She understood that Quinn went to Harvard on her own to prove herself, that's why San went to New York. She needed to prove to herself that she could make it in the Big City. She wanted to get out of Lima and living with you and Kurt was the only way she thought she could."

"She gave up her scholarship for New York?"

"And, she survived. Ohio was strangling her without any support. I was at MIT and Quinn was at Harvard. She decided that she would come to you because you were a link to Quinn. She didn't know how strained things had become between the two of you though. She assumed that you two were still talking then," Brittney answered.

"Things were a lot different after I got to New York, for everyone it seems."

"To be honest, Rachel, you were the one that kept everyone together. Without you and glee, we all fell apart. We didn't want to admit it. We weren't ready for real world like you were. Santana was floundering in Cincinnati. My limits were being tested and pushed at MIT. Kurt and Blaine were trying to get things work. You grew up really quickly and made something of yourself. Everyone else just kind of faded into the background."

"You mean until everyone tried to move in with us in New York?" Rachel asked.

"Exactly. We all needed our Berrilicious to help us figure things out. You were so well put together and so sure of what you wanted that you went for it. The only other one of us that had that kind of ambition was Quinn and she was New Haven not talking to anyone. She cut everyone off because she thought that she would start over and be herself. There wouldn't be this stereotype following her around. It wasn't until Finn died and we all came back to Lima that we understood what was really wrong with us. We all lacked true direction. You gave us that. You gave us something to light for."

"I didn't do that. You all decided what you wanted and went for it. I never did anything for you.

"Yes, you did. You made your way in New York. You proved to us that we could get out and not only survive outside of Lima, but we could thrive. We could follow our dreams and be big stars or be well known behind the scenes. I looked at things differently then. I realized that I wasn't happy at MIT and I still loved San. I fought to get her back, thanks to you and you pushing her to fight for me. That would have never happened if it wasn't for you."

"And, Quim?"

"Would have still been pouting in New Haven to a degree if San hadn't pushed her," Brittney said.

"What does that mean?"

"It means that she liked you in high school. She was just afraid to admit it. Plus with her father who could blame her? She needed a break and a new lite. Once she had one established, she started talking to Santana weekly in New York. She was trying to figure out how to win you over. She wanted to...what's the word she used...oh, yeah, she wanted to court you. She wanted to prove to you that she was worthy of your affections and your esteem. Her words, not mine." Brittney stated.

"Why didn't anyone tell me this?"

"It would have ruined the surprise," Brittney replied matter-of-factly.

Rachel shook her head. She knew that Quinn had suddenly shown up towards the end of their senior year in college. She had started making more trips to New York on the weekends. She spent every moment she could with Rachel and not Santana.

"She really did all that for me?"

"Yes, silly, that's why I know that you don't have to worry about Danni. Danni is just a friend. Besides, Danni is still hung up on some person named Will. She talks about her in her sleep. She doesn't think that me and Santana know, but we do," Brittney told her.

"Who's Will?"

"We don't know, but we think that it is someone from her world. That's why we never met them. Whoever it is, they did a number on her or she did a number on them. But, she can't shake 'em."

Rachel just nodded. She could understand what Brittney was saying even if she didn't know what had Danni so bent out of shape when it came to whoever Will was. The more Rachel thought about it, the more she wondered how Brittney knew and she didn't.

"How do you…"

"When we stay over at your place, we stay in the room with her, Rachel, remember?" Brittney answered cutting her off. "Besides, nothing ever happens. We get so drunk that San passes out. Will always helps me get her into bed. And, yes, it is usually after she breaks down and cries about something. Danni has always been there for us. We never brought it up because we didn't know what to say. I do know that she loves them. That much is obvious, but I don't know what happened to them that is keeping her so torn up. That's her story to tell."

"I know that, Britt. I am not asking for that. I just...I still get worried that someday someone is going to come and Quinn is going to leave me. I still don't understand why she loves me the way she does. She wasn't exactly my biggest fan in high school. She still has nightmares about slushies sometimes."

"I am sorry for that and I wish that she'd told you sooner, but you know how Quinn is. More of the point, you know who her father is. It is amazing that she is as sane as she is. I saw how much she changed after she moved back in with her Mom after having Beth. They got close again and she started to repair some really old wounds. If it wasn't for her Mom taking her back in, I am sure what would have happened to Quinn. She was lost for a long time, Rach. It wasn't until Senior year, after the accident I saw the Quinn that San and I became friends with back in grade school."

"I know all that. Brittney. I am just wonder about what being in that world is going to do to all of us. I know that the magic aspect of it is cool, but we really don't know how to function there. There may be rules of etiquette that we don't know and we may make fools of ourselves. Do you want that? Because I don't. We don't know how we are supposed to approach her parents, much less the fact that they are the Queens of this realm. And, then there is the fact that her grandmother is Snow White," Rachel said.

"Don't worry about them too much," Belle told her as she joined them on the back deck. "Emma was raised here. She'll cover for any breaches in etiquette that you might make. And, trust me, she's made them all. Regina corrects her still almost daily. It is actually quiet amusing."

Rachel looked at her dumbfounded. She wasn't sure what to make of Belle some limes. Knowing that she was the lover of Danni's aunt and someone from that realm, she was a little concerned that they didn't more about what would happen once they got there. Rachel decided to finally just ask out right.

"So, what protocols should be worried about following?"

"Direct aren't you, dear, Regina is going to love you. Well, that depends on how Danni plans on dealing with you all once we get there. She is still considered a crown princess to the realm even though she doesn't accept her title. She's like Emma in that way. She doesn't want it, but she wants her family. She is a conundrum just like Regina can be. But as far as protocols, don't worry. Like I said, Regina will give you a pass. They aren't so hung up on them anymore. The only time they worry about them is for formal dinners or when friends from other kingdoms come to visit. But, I doubt that Regina is going to have a state dinner while you're there. The biggest thing to worry about is what is going to happen once Will and Danni get alone. That is going to be when the fireworks fly. And, fact of the matter. Will knows that she's coming back to help with Ruby," Belle told them.

"Will knows we're coming with her?" Rachel asked, suddenly very concerned about the situation.

"Yes, Rachel, I did inform Emma when we spoke that you all were all coming. I figured that she would want to warn Regina about Santana and Quinn. No, don't worry. She'll like them. But, if I didn't give her fair warning, my friend might be a little upset with me," Belle told her.

"Why is that?" Brittney asked.

"Besides the fact that she is the Queen?" Belle quipped with a laugh. "She's also Ruby's older sister. She is a dear friend of mine. She is Danni's mother. She has a lot to deal with and she tends to overreact sometimes. I like to keep her in the loop. Surprises don't always work out well or in her favor. I don't believe that there is anything wrong with you four. Honestly, you remind me of the four of us. And, after seeing you with Danni, I can understand why you are all friends."

"Really?" Rachel questioned.

"Yes, Rachel, I can. You are all special in your way and you each give Danni something. She draws strength and stability from you all. Even in the craziness of everything that is going on, she has been relatively calm for her. She can't help her want to over analyze and overreact. It is in her nature and with her having so much power at her disposal..."

"Keeping calm and collected is a wonderful thing?" Rachel inquired.

"It is a blessing," Belle stated.

"But that still doesn't explain who Will is or why Danni is so upset about her," Brittney added.

"That is a long and complicated story."

Rachel sat back in the chair. She looked over at one of the empty ones, giving Belle a look, asking her to take the other chair and tell them said story. Belle looked from Rachel to Brittney and saw the pleading look in her eyes. There was just something about Brittney that Belle couldn't say 'no' to, and she realized that the others couldn't either. She decided not to tight it. She sat down.

"I don't know where to even start. There really isn't a good beginning to that story. But, I guess the best place to start is here in Storybrooke about five years ago. I believe that you were all still in your little town, in Lima. Coraline, as she was going by at the time, landed, literally here in town just outside the Abbey were the fairies lived." Belle started.

"Fairies?" Brittney asked.

"Yes, I believe Blue and Tink will be there for you meet once we get to the castle."

"The Blue Fairy and the Tink as in Tinkerbell?" Rachel questioned for qualification.

"Yeah, they are friends of the family. Well, actually, Blue is the fairy godmother for Snow's clan and Tink is the fairy godmother for Regina s. so...they are both the fairy godmothers to Coraline, Henry, and Remy, now, too. Because Regina married Emma, Blue tried to help Ruby when Tink couldn't help her. But, that really has nothing to do with the story." Belle explained.

"Wow..." Rachel said quietly.

"I told you. Forget what you know. It is all just half-truths and filler. Names and place arc mostly correct, but well, you'll see for yourself," Belle stated.

"Will they teach me to fly?" Brittney asked.

"I am sure that Tink will if you ask her nicely. And, if she won't, get Coraline to ask her. She'll do it for her. It is like she can't refuse her. Well. Blue can't refuse her either. She has a way with fairies."

"I am sure she does, but the stony," Rachel urged.

"Tink and Blue found her and healed her."

"Healed her?"

"She had suffered a lot before she found her way to us or back to us really. I know that she won't mind me telling you the story because she told me to answer any of your questions, so... She is from the future. Regina and Emma are her mothers, but she hadn't been born yet. In her time line, everyone but Ruby and I died in a massive battle with a dark, evil entity called the Darkness or the Blackness. She was coming back to save us all from it," Belle stated.

"But, somehow she got cursed?" Rachel asked because she had been following everything that Belle and Danni had been saying since they got to Storybrooke.

"Yes, but that was well later. She hid among us, not telling us who she was. She wanted to learn more about her family without them knowing who she was and treating her any differently. She was in town, posing as mv sister and working at my family's flower shop for six months, before anyone learned the truth. She even talked like me with an accent. We had no reason to doubt her."

"What happened?"

"She used magic and Regina caught wind of it."

"She confronted her, didn't she?" Rachel asked.

"She did. And, that is when things got tricky. She ran away because she wasn't ready to face her

mothers. She was around twenty-five at the time. The last time that she saw them she was five and she almost watched them die. It was the first time that she used her power and she was scarred by that memory. Somehow I think she believes that it is her fault that Regina died that day, besides the fact that she blamed Regina for sending her away to safety and not coming with her."

"She sent her away?" Rachel questioned. "That is why she's so worried about me and Shelby...Things are starting to make a little more sense. I thought that everything she told us was just glossed over because she didn't want to talk about it. Now, I know it was because of the magic and the pain."

"Yes, well, Regina fought her tooth and nail to have a relationship with her. But, it was amazing. When things got bad for her, she ran to Regina for help. Regina was surprised, but it brought Emma and her together more quickly. They bonded over their daughter and their son. The love between them had been there, but they fought and bickered, trying to deny it until with the arrival of Coraline they couldn't. I don't think they realized how bad they loved each other until Blue couldn't deny that Coraline was both Regina's and Emma's. She was their child. And, for the all the magic in all the realms that they knew, the fairies couldn't explain it. They just knew that she was created from Regina and Emma's magic. She was their child. She was conceived by them, carried by Regina, and born in the Enchanted Forest. She wasn't born here."

"And, that bothered them?" Brittney questioned.

"No, but they were curious. Coraline told them of her history, her rearing at my and Ruby's hands, the destruction of the Blackness, and her torture by the Black Queen who had taken over in her retreat. She was the only royal spared. The Enchanted Forest had its apocalypse and she was tired of hiding and hiding her time to retake her throne, a throne she didn't want, but a throne of leadership that she already had earned, and was ready to use."

"She was captured?" Rachel probed.

"And, tortured for sixty days before she magically broke free and found herself here in this realm. She was confused, but she'd read about it in Regina's journals. She knew a little about her family, but she knew that Emma thought that Boston and New York were important. After Regina caught her using magic and questioned...lightly...she ran to Boston to find one of Emma's old friends. She was a fellow bounty hunter, and she was actually the one that taught Emma the job. For Coraline, it seemed like a win-win situation. She could learn more about her elusive mother without causing too much fuss."

"But, Regina went after her," Rachel stated more than asked.

"Yes, she and Emma went to find her. They wanted to bring her home, talk with her, learn more about her and the fate that we were so doomed for. They wanted to prepare. She had the knowledge but she wasn't sharing it with anyone. She was determined to solve the mystery of the Blackness on her own."

"So what does this have to do with Will?" Brittney inquired.

"She was he bounty hunter that trained Emma."

Rachel gasped. It was not the crazy turn that she expected. Nor was she expecting Will to be female.

"What happened in Boston?"

"She met Will before she knew who Will was at bar."

"She didn't? Did she? Did they? Tell me she didn't," Rachel demanded.

"She did. They did. And, it was very awkward afterward for all of them. But, upon learning that Coraline was Regina's daughter. Will hid."

"She has history with Regina?" Rachel asked.

"Yes, you could say that. She was...is...was Regina's personal guard, knight, whatever you want to call her. She was the one you had to go through to get to Regina. But, due to some prophecies and other magical complications, Will left Regina's employ and came here."

"But…"

"She's immortal," Belle said simply.

"But..."

"I told you this was complicated. But, her being immortal doesn't matter. Because she'd met Coraline, Will couldn't leave her. In our world, Will is a Vulcannonian. It is a race of immortals. For some they were knights. For others they were an army for hire. For Will, she was a friend, a scapegoat, and a whipping post for Regina, but she was always there for Regina. She kept her in check. Vulcannonians generally mate for life, so her sleeping with Coraline and wanting to do so again caused some issues between the former Queen, her knight, and her daughter."

"Oh, this is getting good. We should have popcorn. This is better than a movie," Brittney said.

Rachel smiled at her friend. Belle looked at her questioningly, but smiled when she saw the usually gleefulness and innocence in her bright blue eyes. She magicked herself a drink and took a sip.

"Yes, well, be that as it may, it isn't a movie. This is Coraline's lite. Well, Danni's life, her history, her past and she loves Will. She can't deny that. She didn't try to until after she became the Dark One. In our world…the strongest magic is True Love. It is what created Coraline. It is what drew Will and Coraline together, but due to the fact that Will was still bound by contract to Regina, they couldn't be together until Regina gave them her blessing," Belle explained.

"She withheld it?" Rachel asked.

"No, she finally relented. She released Will from her obligation to the throne. But, Coraline had become the Dark One. She'd faked her death and took all the memories anyone had of her. She thought that it was for the best. She searched out ways to light the Darkness inside her, but eventually she came back to the Enchanted Forest," Belle stated.

"But you knew who she was?" Brittney questioned.

"I did, because of some magic that she did before she faked her death. I was the only immune to her spell, but we didn't know that at the time. We are linked, Coraline and I. It is another reason we are so close. She may not be my real sister or my daughter or my ward, because I never lived through the Hells that she did, but love her just the same as she had been."

"I can tell she loves you just the same, too. It's in your body language and eyes. I can see it."

Brittney told them. Belle blushed at Brittney's comments. She knew that Coraline cared for her. She loved her and they would do anything for each other. That is why she knew that she was coming back for Ruby and not for herself. Coraline was coming back out of duty and love for her aunt, not her entire family. She also knew that it was going to be a sore spot with her mothers, but she didn't want to think about that, now.

"Will is her True Love and since she's been released from her bond to Regina. They are free to be together, but after everything that happened with King George, Coraline fled. She was afraid of herself and what everyone else thought of her. She couldn't take the stares and it had only been a few hours after she'd come back with George's head, literally. She had a pocketful of beans and we didn't know. I don't know if we could have even stopped her, but Will tried. She tried to use their love, but like my former husband, she let the Darkness consume her. She thought that it was safer is she found a way to contain the dark magic in herself. She fled because she loved Will enough to let her go. She knew that the pain she would feel would be enormous. She knew that Will would be pained by their separation, but she hoped that Will would give her the time she needed to find her way back. And, for her part, Will has," Belle told them.

"But, what will happen when she sees Will again?" Brittney asked.

"I don't know. And, if she doesn't put in her heart, I fear what it will do to Will more than her. Will might not show it, but she aging because she doesn't want to live without Coraline. If she can't find a way to be with her, it might actually kill her. I know that Coraline doesn't want that. She even tried to break their bond with magic, but True Love can't be just magicked away. The only thing to stop True Love is death. And, since they are both immortal...Will is going to be in pain for a very long time."

"Is there something that we can do?" Rachel questioned.

"I don't know. She loves Will. I know she does. I was hoping that her years away would soften her some, but I am not sure that it has enough. Trust me. I've never been afraid of her. Neither has Will or Regina. Emma uniquely understands her more than she thinks, but Coraline is just so damn stubborn that she won't see the help that is front her when she needs it. That is why I am glad you are coming."

"Why?" Rachel inquired.

"Because you all temper her in a way that her family can't. There is no standard that she has to live up or meet with you except to be your friend. She is freer with you than I have ever seen her with us. Mind you, we only had her for a little over a year total. You've had her longer than we have," Belle answered sadly.

"Then we do everything we can to make her who she was and earn Will's love back," Brittney said.