Chapter 23

Rachel sat up at the moan that she heard coming from the bed. She hadn't meant to fall asleep in the chair next to Danni's bed, but she had. She knew that she could get Quinn to work out the soreness in her muscles later. She looked around the room, her brown eyes taking in everything and finally landed on Will. The poor Vulcannonian woman had slumped over and was sleeping half on the bed next to Danni. She looked around again and saw Quinn in the corner, watching her.

Normally, it would have unnerved her, but she knew that Quinn was dealing with something. She figured that she'd talk to her about it when she was ready, but for now, Rachel would let it go. If earlier had been any indication of how Quinn was handling things, she knew that Quinn was trying to process everything and learn to forgive herself. It had been the one thing that scarred their relationship, too.

"Mmmmm," Danni moaned from the bed again.

Rachel never broke Quinn's gaze as she pushed off the wall and started towards the bed. She heard Will start to stir beside. She reached out and put her hand on Will, letting her know that they were there as well with her as she woke. She felt Wilhelmina reach up and place her hand on top of hers as she straightened up beside her.

"Danni?" Will asked gently.

She moaned again. Now, Rachel and Quinn were standing directly behind Will. Danni stirred slightly in the bed, but she didn't make another noise. She looked so peaceful, but they really wanted her to wake up. They all huddled together as Will stood up and looked down at her.

The door slammed open and a dull thump could be heard at even spacing. Quinn turned to see what could be making that noise and found Santana and Brittany. As soon as she went to open her mouth to say something, Brittany waved her off with a hand gesture that she knew all too well. She gave her a quick nod to let her know that she understood. She just watched as Santana and Brittany made their way across the room. Brittany was holding her up and letting her use her as support. Quinn could tell that this was Santana's idea and Brittany has tried to dissuade her from leaving the make-shift infirmary that she had been in.

"She's starting to wake," Brittany told us as she got Santana situated against the other side of the bed.

"How-?" Wilhelmina started to ask.

"I could feel it," Brittany replied and shut down any form of rebuttal.

Santana and Quinn knew that they were still playing catch up with Brittany about the Empath thing, but they were both still dealing with their own issues. All together they were a mess, but they put all that aside because they were worried about Danni. They all just wanted her to wake up. There was an uneasy agreement between them, but they knew that they would deal with it later. They had to or they wouldn't be able to face each other or themselves.

Santana looked over at her again. Danni was shifting on the bed. As Santana watched her, everything else just faded away. Sure she could make out Brittany's breathing from everyone else's, but she'd always been able to do that. It was nothing new. No, the new thing was that she could smell the fear rolling off of Quinn, but she didn't know what the blonde had to be afraid of. Rachel smelled, well, like Berry. San shook her head as she tried to focus on Danni. She knew that Danni needed them and she could tell that she had taken the potion. She had seen the worry still on Will's face when they entered the room.

San shifted on the bed to take the pressure off of her injured hip. As she did so, her eyes met those of Quinn. She could see the war inside her hazel eyes and shook her head. She scooted closer to Danni. No one stopped her.

Everyone knew that Santana and Brittany would sleep with her after they'd all gone out or partied. So watching San get closer to her didn't upset anyone, but possibly Will, who watching every move that the new Wolf was making. San gave her a knowing look but didn't stop until she was stretched out beside Danni, lying on her good hip.

She reached up with her hand and brushed it across her face. Danni's eyes fluttered but they didn't open. San looked up at Britt and they shared a silent conversation that the rest of the room wasn't privy to; nor did they care at the moment. San turned back to Danni. She ran her hand across her cheek in a loving manner again. Danni's eyes fluttered but still didn't open. San didn't give up. She kept touching her face trying to wake her as Regina and Emma came in the room as well.

"Come on, mija. I need you to wake up. Show me your grandes ojos marrones," Santana told her as she continued to run the back of her hand down Danni's face.

Everyone else seemed to be transfixed by the scene before them but Regina. She seemed to be agitated by the words that Santana was speaking. She knew that she shouldn't be upset, but she couldn't help it. These women were closer to her daughter than she had ever been. She had been mad at Ruby and Belle before she realized that they weren't at fault for Danni's upbringing. Regina could see their influence in her behavior. She had to admit that Danni had four mothers. But, this was different. She would have cared as much if Ruby or Belle had claimed her as a daughter, but this Latina friend calling her "mija" almost set her off.

"Mija," Santana stated again a little louder as her eyes fluttered a little more fully.

"¡Cómo se atreve a hablar con ella de esa manera![1]" Regina almost hissed as she got closer to the bed and Danni.

Brittany reached for Regina's hand. The Queen immediately deflated. She looked at the blond Empath. Quinn stepped around to Regina's side. She reached out and took her hand, calming the fiery queen even more.

"Give her time, Majesty," Quinn told her. "She has a way about her with Danni. We don't understand it. We don't question it. There is something about Santana's voice and her demeanor that Danni responds to when she is beyond our comfort. It's always been that way. It's one of the reasons that we let Santana handle all our legal work."

"And, what's that, Little One?" Regina asked.

"Because she is a force to be reckoned with," Brittany replied.

Regina looked at Brittany's hand that was still on her, and then cocked an eyebrow when she met the Empath's bright blue eyes. Brittany didn't move her hand. Instead she cocked an eyebrow back at her. Regina closed her eyes and then opened them slowly.

Brittany squeezed her arm. Regina turned her attention back to the bed and waited. She was calmer. She didn't know if it was because of Brittany, Quinn or Emma, or if in fact she had actually calmed down on her own due to what they told her. She knew she really didn't care as long Santana, wounded or not, could get Danni to open her eye.

"Mija?"

"Si," a soft voice answered.

Everyone in the room's head snapped to the bed. They all had goofy grins on their faces. Santana brushed her hand across her face once more. Danni began to actually wake from her fever as her eyes fluttered and her body stirred under the covers. Santana gave her a big smile as she opened her eyes and looked up at her.

"San?"

"Si, mija," Santana replied.

"What are…what happened?"

"It's not important, mija. What's important is that you are awake. You've given us quiet a fit."

"So, we are really in the Enchanted Forest?" she asked as she caught sight of Regina and Emma.

"Yes, mija, we are. Your moms have been worried about you. We all have," San told her.

"I'm thirsty," Danni told her.

"I know, Danni. I know. We'll get you some water, okay? First, tell me how you feel," Santana urged her as she reached behind her blindly expecting someone to hand her a glass of water.

When the glass didn't hit her hand immediately, she snapped her fingers. Quinn understood the gesture and motioned to Regina. Brittany just nodded at the queen, who created a glass of water in Santana's hand. She pulled it back across her hip, slowly, making sure to avoid her scar.

"I feel better, but I have this bitter taste in my mouth. Can I have some water please? I really feel drained and I want to get rid of this taste in my mouth," Danni stated.

Santana handed her the glass of water and watched her down it in one go. She started to sit up, but started to catch a cramp in the injured hip. She stopped moving, but didn't so any pain to them. She just waited to see what Danni was going to do.

"How long?"

"How long what, mija?" Santana asked.

"How long was I out?"

"A week," Brittany told her.

Danni's dark brown eyes scanned the room to find those of her friend, the dancing Empath. When she saw the icy sapphire orbs watching her, she tried to sit up a little more in the bed. She allowed Santana to help her, but she continued to watch everyone in the room. Her eyes darted from Brittany to Quinn to Rachel. When she met Rachel's eyes, she saw that they were swimming with emotion and the young woman looked to be on the edge of tears.

"Du zalst nisht veynen, kleyn Rkhl. Ikh bin fayn. Kumen zen far zikh.[2]"

"Ikh kenene nisht helfn es. Ir geven zeyer krank. Ir hat nisht afilu viln mir tsu zingen tsu ir,[3]" Rachel told her as she moved closer to the bed and took Danni's free hand.

"Keynmol! Ikh vet always viln meyn fir mlakhim tsu zingen far mir. Deyn kul makht mire tsufridn aun halt mir royk,[4]" Danni told her squeezing her hand.

"Okay, mija, you need to spend time with your moms. We'll go," Santana told her and then gave her a look that dared her to defy her.

Danni nodded in ascension and watched as the injure Wolf rolled onto her back to work her way off the bed. When she got into a seated position, both Quinn and Brittany helped her up. The pain, obvious in her movements, didn't go unnoticed by Danni. Her eyes tracked her as they started to walk towards the door. When Santana stopped to say something to Will, Danni perked up and cut her off instead.

"Santana Maribel Lopez, why are you limping!" Danni demanded.

San smiled at the woman. She turned around more fully and faced her properly. Brittany and Quinn were standing behind her, just in case. Rachel stepped around them and was at Santana's side, arm at the ready to steady her. San took two small steps forward.

"I had a very minor run in with a knight. Nothing to worry yourself over. I'm fine. Your Mom fixed me up right as soon as I got back," Santana replied with a huge smirk. "You know that nothing keeps me down for long. I am just sorry that I couldn't go all Lima Heights on him."

Danni let out a weak laugh, but nodded at her. Santana took that to mean that they could leave. She knew that Danni would bring it up later and she didn't care. Right now, the Unholy Trinity and Berry needed to talk. Too much had gone unsaid between them and they needed to air it out before it destroyed them all. And, Santana knew just how to make that happen.

She sat outside the Fox Theatre in Atlanta and waited just outside the stage door. She knew that the show was over and the cast would be leaving soon. She wondered how her young niece would react by seeing her. But, just as she promised her years ago, she'd been to ever show that she had ever done. Business had kept her away from Broadway for too long and now that her niece was in the travelling shows for the summer, she made the time to see her while she was in Atlanta on business.

The stage door opened and a few of the actors and crew began to filter out. She smiled softly at them as she got out of the car. She recognized a few of them from other shows that she had done back in New York. They were probably surprised to see her there. It wasn't often that someone was waiting outside like that for someone at the show unless they were paparazzi.

"Can I help you?" one of the more beefy men asked her as he walked by.

"I'm just here to surprise my niece. She didn't know I was in town. I usually catch her in New York, but I missed the opening this time. But, I sure all that is boring to you, sir. I am just waiting on Shelby," she replied with a thick accent.

"You're Shelby's aunt?"

"Yes, I am," she replied.

Just then Shelby exited the theatre and saw her. She walked over to the gathering crowd and hoped that no one would suspect anything. She didn't have time to make everyone understand. Hell, she didn't understand it all and Nicola was her aunt.

"Aunt Nick?!" Shelby exclaimed as she crossed the street.

"Shelby, darling," she replied.

"What are you doing here?"

"I came to see you. I missed you in New York, but I heard you were touring. I had business, so I saw the show tonight," the woman explained.

"You good here, Shelby?" the burly man asked, still unsure whether or not he believed the woman before him was really Shelby's aunt.

"Yes, Gus, I am fine. This is my Aunt Nicola. She is away on business a lot and well, you heard the rest. I'll be perfectly fine."

Gus wasn't exactly sure about Shelby's explanation. He pulled her away and made Shelby pull out pictures to prove that Nicola was really her aunt. He walked away muttering under his breath, but gave Nicola a mumbled apology as he walked away towards his vehicle.

Once everyone was gone, Shelby looked at her and waited for an explanation. When one didn't seem more forth coming, Shelby cocked an eyebrow at her and gave her a look. Nicola still didn't speak. She was waiting on Shelby.

"Should we take this elsewhere?" Shelby asked her.

"Unless you want family business being discussed out in the open in an alley behind a theatre, yes," Nicola told her.

"There's a little diner up the way that we can go to. Do you want to follow me or meet me there? Your choice," Shelby told her.

"Just tell me the name," Nicola stated.

Shelby told her the name of the diner and walked away. She wasn't sure what to make of the fact that her aunt had shown up in Atlanta without any prior contact, but she also wasn't that worried. She thought about Rachel again. She hadn't heard from her in weeks and she doubted that Nicola knew where she was. She thought that Nicola could help her. She shook her head as she made her way to the car.

She pulled out her cell and called Beth's sitter. She was asleep and well. Puck would be there tomorrow to collect her for her summer trip with him back to Lima. She idly wondered if Puck had heard from Rachel or Quinn.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized that she hadn't heard from Quinn either. They had been steadily planning a summer trip with Rachel and her fathers. It was going to be a big deal. They would all meet in Lima and then go somewhere off the wall. Last year, it had been a photographic trip through Switzerland and Austria. It had been Rachel's pick from Quinn's list, and it was only because of the Van Trapps. This year was supposed to a trip to Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. Quinn picked it because she wanted to photograph the land, the wildlife and the people, and for once, Rachel couldn't tell her "no."

"So, want to tell me what's brought you here?" Shelby asked as Nicola sat down in the booth across from her, their eyes meeting and almost warring each other for information.

"I just got back from Petra."

"Again?" Shelby asked.

"Seems some people don't when to leave enough alone. I thought that I had scared off enough archaeologists, but I guess I was wrong. You would think that being where it is, most people wouldn't want to visit. But, no, it has all that wonderful architecture. Please. Gag me with a spoon. Why can't people leave sacred areas alone?"

"Because we are still trying to define religions and our meaning as man," Shelby offered.

"Well do it somewhere else."

"They got to close to the fissure?"

"Yes."

"Who called you?"

"The Dragon," Nicola answered.

"And?"

"I got there in time, but…. It is getting harder. I need to find a way to close it or hide it better."

"What would really happen if they found it, Aunt Nick?"

"Have you not watched the movies? They would keep digging, looking for answers that they are ready to deal with, and they would destroy lives in their pursuit. It isn't just me I am worried about. The people of this world aren't ready for that kind of power. You've all proven it time and time again with your wars," Nicola stated.

"True."

"But, that is nothing for you to worry about. I came straight here because I've been checking up on the family. I was wondering when you would have actually told me, but for you to have waited this long hurts. I can't believe you didn't tell me about her," Nicola said.

"Rachel?"

"No, not Rachel. I know about Rachel. We talked about Rachel. I've checked on her enough. Made a small trust fund for her that her fathers think came from some old Aunt Nitzchiya Adhom. Trust me, they won't be looking at you or me for that either. It's fine."

"She can't know about you."

"She doesn't," Nicola replied quickly. "I've done as you asked, but I've still be watching out for her. She is still part of the family and I've sworn to protect it."

"That doesn't mean the same here. It doesn't mean the same thing for us, Aunt Nick. She wouldn't understand it all if you told her. Hell, I still don't."

"Is that why you didn't tell me about the newest edition?" Nicola asked.

"Newest edition?"

"To your family?"

"Beth?"

"Yes, Beth. She is quite sweet, but very blond. She isn't yours by blood, but she bears your name. Why? Why would you bring someone else child into your life when you gave up your own? Does Rachel know about her?"

"Yes, she does. I don't have time to explain it all to you and it isn't your business. Beth will never have need of you. She is by law Rachel's younger sister and that is how they behave in public. The only strangeness in their relationship is that she is married to Quinn, Beth's birth mother. We've worked it out. We function as one big misguided family. There is no need for any of your interventions," Shelby added.

"She doesn't know?"

"No, I haven't told either of them who you are or what you are."

"And, the wee one doesn't know that she is touched too?"

"What the Hell is that supposed to mean?" Shelby asked.

"She is the daughter of one from my land. I can smell it on you. And, an old one at that, her line is pure and magical. I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't start showing some sort of prodigy soon. You won't be able to hide that, Shelby. They will see it. They will know she is special."

"She is smart, like her mother. She is beautiful, like her mother. And, she is rebellious, like both her parents. They will see nothing more than a gifted girl who has been given the best and told that she can do anything she wants," Shelby replied.

"It will manifest. The time will come and then you will need me again. I know. Magic is coming and we can't keep it at bay. Something will happen. You'll see," Nicola answered.

"What do you know?"

"Nothing more than I've said," Nicola stated.

"Do you know where Rachel and Quinn are?" Shelby questioned.

"You don't?"

"They haven't responded to me in two weeks. Normally, I wouldn't be bothered by this because they would be producing a show, but their last showed closed almost a month ago. I know that they are adults and allowed to be free to enjoy themselves, but they both love Beth. They wouldn't leave Beth like that unless something happened," Shelby explained.

"And, you didn't call me?"

"I didn't think anything was wrong until you showed up tonight."

Nicola shook her head. She knew that Shelby had never taken her seriously. Not twenty years ago when she watched her break down after she gave away Rachel. Not the five years before that when Nicola showed up on her doorstep the day of her father's funeral. No, Shelby had never honestly believed until she saw her in the balcony of Rachel's first Broadway show, clapping and cheering like a wild fan of the girl. She knew that Nicola was proud of the young woman, but she was still upset that she Rachel didn't know the whole truth.

Nicola rummaged through her bag. It was a worn out satchel, knapsack-style bag that had definitely seen better days, but the leather was well cared for and barely scared. It was dusty and dirty, a testament to her days in Petra. She kept digging until she found it. A small piece of mirror, unframed, but not quite a large shard, enough to cut you, but small enough not to really worry about it actually happening.

"What are you doing?" Shelby hissed the question.

"Looking for your daughter," Nicola stated as she dropped the glass piece on the table.

It swirled and pictures flew across the glass. Then like walking thru a haze into a clearing a picture showed up plainly and clearly. It was a road sign, green with white lettering, on a darkened two lane blacktop road. There were trees on either side, like a dense forest. The road looked damp like after a rain and it seemed to have a line of bright, neon orange marking paint across it when there were no other markers.

Shelby leaned across the table and looked into the glass. She studied the picture and then looked up into Nicola's blue hazel eyes. She saw the woman get tight lipped, but that was the only real change in her demeanor.

"Do you know that place?" Shelby asked her.

"Storybrooke? No, I don't. I've never heard of it," she stated as she was quickly searching on her phone for the name as well.

"Why do you look so mad, then?"

"Google doesn't know it either," Nicola answered in a huff as she dodged Shelby's question.

"How are you going to find it, then?"

"Magic?"

"Aunt Nick…"

She picked up the mirror and breathed across it. The image faded away. She then brought it close to her lips and spoke to it. Shelby watched in horror and hoped that no one else from the diner would know what she was doing. A few minutes later, she pulled the piece back and stared at it again. Another picture formed and her eyes widen, in more than one emotion.

"So?" Shelby asked.

"Rachel has a lot of explaining to do."

"Huh?"

"She's gone home, Shelby."

"To Lima?"

"No, to the Enchanted Forest…"

[1] Spanish: "Don't you dare talk to her like that."

[2] Yiddish for "Don't cry, Little Rachel. I am fine. Come see for yourself."

[3] Yiddish for "I can't help it. You were really sick. You didn't even want me to sing to you."

[4] Yiddish for "Never! I will always want my four angels to sing for me. Your voice makes me happy and keeps me calm."