"Baby, I need you to calm down. I know she upset you, but I need you to come back to me. Emma, we need you to come back to us. Please baby, come back to us. Please."
Registering the fear in her mate's voice, the instincts driving Emma to attack began to clear from her mind, allowing her to realize she had lost control. Blinking rapidly, she found that Ruby had her wrapped in her arms and Belle was directly in front of her, gently stroking her face. Taking deep, shuddering breaths, Emma forced her anger-driven instincts away completely, and focused on calming for her mates.
"I-I'm sorry. I don't know what happened. I just… just lost it there. She, she just…" The tears begin to roll slowly down Emma's cheeks, as she pulled Belle completely flush against her front, wrapping her in a tight embrace. Ruby tightened her grip on Emma from behind and wrapping one hand around Belle as well, cradling Emma between them.
As angry as Emma had just been, Belle knew that Emma would never harm her mate, and so she had stepped in front of the raging blonde and begun gently quieting her. As the Emma she knew returned, eyes fading from yellow to vibrant green, Belle knew Emma was just realizing what had happened. "It's ok. Shhh. We have you babe, it's going to be ok," Belle whispered to Emma, keeping her hold on the blonde tight.
Belle knew Emma had just been turned out by her family, and that it would be one of the most painful things she would ever have to endure, even if she had not fully realized what had just happened yet. Emma had searched for them her entire life, and when she had finally found them, she had risked everything, including her life many times over, to save and protect them. Her parents spoke of love and acceptance, and were the ideal representation to every child everywhere of perfect love, in this world and theirs. And then in one conversation, Emma was forced to choose between her mother's conditional love, and the love of the people she had chosen as her own family. It was a wonder she had not resisted the call of her mates more.
The choice was never truly about her family though, or even the relationship with Belle and Ruby. It had been a choice between Emma being who she was, and who the mother that had abandoned her wanted her to be. Emma had never made it a secret that she liked women, but she had never sat her parents down to blatantly tell them either. Shortly after Belle was freed from Gold, she had begun to have lunch at the diner with Emma several times a week, much to Snow's silent dismay. Emma had been supportive of Belle when her father had disowned her after finding out about her relationship with Ruby, and their friendship had flourished. They had talked a great deal about sex, sexuality, and the cultural differences between this world and the Enchanted Forest.
When Belle asked Emma how Snow felt about Emma liking women, Emma had shrugged, and said if she ever found someone as amazing as Belle or Ruby, someone that she wanted to spend the rest of a very long life with, she would find out. But until then, she would not force the issue with Snow. Belle had blushed at the compliment, and the accompanying wink, and she had thought to herself that Snow would have to be a fool to ever not appreciate someone as amazing as Emma. Whoever it was that Emma fell for would have to pass every test Belle could think of, if she wanted to be with her. Emma only deserved the best, and Belle would make damn sure that is exactly what she got.
Thinking back on that conversation, Belle knew that Emma would not regret her choice to stay with her and Ruby. As much as it would hurt, Emma had always maintained that when she gave her heart to that special someone, nothing would ever force her to leave them behind. Not like she had been.
Belle also knew that every fear and insecurity that Emma had ever faced had been brought straight to the surface by her family's rejection, and she would need her mates to be there for her now. "We have you and we aren't going anywhere."
Ruby held Emma tightly and buried her nose in the blonde curls gathered around Emma's neck. The scent soothed her riled wolf with every breath, as she tried to deal with her own pain and sadness over Snow's words.
Snow, the woman she had thought was her best friend, who supposedly loved and accepted her unconditionally, had just insinuated every derogatory thing that Ruby knew had been said behind her back since the curse broke. They called her a monster, disgusting, unnatural, a beast, not to mention every variation of the term 'slut' that could be made.
During the curse, she had flirted shamelessly, had worn the most provocative clothing she could find, antagonizing her Granny to no end. But she didn't sleep around. She went out, partied, and had fun, but at the end of the night, if she was too intoxicated to make it home on her own, she slept it off in the back seat of her car. And Snow knew this, or at least Mary Margaret did.
But after the news about Ruby's reaction to Gold reached her, and then she found out that Belle was Ruby's True Love, Snow had grown distant. There had always been a reasonable excuse, wanting to spend time with David or Emma, or even with Henry on occasion. Heck, even just wanting some time to unwind with an evening alone. Ruby had never pushed and just taken it in stride that Snow had been through a lot, more than most with the curse, and then with every major danger that had come since. She never dreamed that her friend, the woman she had chosen over family, over her own mother, would feel that way about her. It hurt more than when she had abandoned the pack after her mother had died, leaving her a lone wolf.
And as badly as she felt about Snow saying those things about her, it was equally matched by the anger she felt over how she had treated Emma. To throw her own daughter out like that for simply being who she is, for loving someone, it raised Ruby's ire to newfound levels. Her mate hurt, and she could feel that pain.
When Belle had been cast out by her father, she had no one left in the town that could offer the type of friendly support that she knew Belle needed. Emma had stepped up and filled that roll without any fanfare. She had simply seen Belle eating alone and asked to join her. The joy in Belle's eyes by the end of that meal had been remarkable. She had been alone for days, aside from Ruby and Granny. Most of the town had shunned her because she had been with Gold, and the rest didn't care to get to know her.
Emma however, had seen someone who needed an easy smile, and had given it freely. They had become fast friends, often sharing a meal several times a week at the diner. They would frequently engage in debates about everything and anything. From movies, to books, to soda, everything was a topic open for debate. They were both so happy spending time with someone who was as new to this combined world as they were, they were almost as inseparable as Belle and Ruby themselves.
The day Belle finally asked Emma about how her own family had taken the news of her orientation, Ruby had held her breath, waiting for the answer. And true to Emma Swan tradition, she managed to brush off the worry for another day, while also comforting her friend in the same breath. Ruby knew then that whoever finally caught Emma's eye would be in for the most brutal friend-test ever endured, from both Belle and herself. Emma deserved the best.
"We have you and we aren't going anywhere."
Still holding Emma as tightly as she could, Ruby felt the blonde start to shake at Belle's words.
Letting the tears finally fall, Emma began to cry. She had always worried that she would do something or say something and Snow would reject her. But this was never what she had expected; Snow had hit every nerve Emma had ever revealed to the woman, and even a few she hadn't. She had outright rejected her completely for something she should be sharing her joy in.
She was homophobic, didn't care about what Emma felt, said that there was something wrong with her for being who she was, and that she shouldn't be around Henry because she was dangerous. Emma knew Regina was a good person, that she had changed since her time in the Enchanted Forest, and that she loved Henry with everything she had. But for Snow, who had always treated Regina as something less, someone untrustworthy, to place her above her own daughter simply for falling in love, hurt all that much more. She was lower than Snow's worst enemy, literally.
And to think of the way Snow saw her mates, her best friends, broke Emma's heart. These amazing women had literally been through hell in their lives, but they came through it together, stronger than ever before. They loved each other with their whole hearts, and now they extended that love to her as well.
Unable to hold herself up any longer under the weight of her pain, Emma let her knees buckle, trusting her mates to support her as she fell. Sobs wracked her frame as she couldn't hold back the anguish she felt over the rejection from the family she had always searched for, and thought she had finally found.
Taking large gulps of air, Ruby's and Belle's combined scents began to calm the wild thoughts rushing through her head. A now familiar thought pattern interrupted her despair, whispering strength directly into her heart and mind. 'Snow isn't worth this pain that you are feeling. We chose our happiness, our mates. We are a protector of our family, not a danger to it. She is wrong.'
With a final sniff, Emma was able to stop the tears. Lifting a watery smile to Belle, she gave her a gentle kiss. "I know you both are. Thank you. I will be fine." Tugging on Ruby's hand, she pulled the brunette to her side, and gave her a tight hug and a gentle kiss as well. "She is the one who is losing out. I have my family right here."
"Damn right you do, pup. Don't let her Royal Prissiness make you think otherwise. You are staying here until you three find a place of your own." Granny piped up from behind the three women. She had observed the entire interaction, and knew that they would be fine. It may take a few battles, but they would end up exactly where they were needed in order to be a family. And she would be there to kick their tails back in line when they needed it too.
"Thanks Granny. I know you will need the room back as soon as possible, though. So I do have a surprise for everyone." Still sniffing, Emma stood and took a seat at the closest table, linking her fingers with both Ruby and Belle. "I knew I couldn't stay with Snow and David forever, especially with them starting another family." Emma grimaced at the thought, but pressed on. "I bought a property a little over a year ago. It's at the very end of Mifflin Street, not far from our clearing. The house there needs work, and I have been doing most of it myself and saving as much as I can to have professionals finish the rest. But now that I have a bit better control of my magic, I think I may be able to have it ready by next weekend!"
The other three women stared at Emma in open shock. Everyone knew about the property at the end of Mifflin, but no one had any idea who had bought it and been fixing it up.
Ruby was the first to recover from the surprise. "You already have a house, a huge one at that, and it's right by the woods?"
"Yep. I may need some help decorating and stuff, but yeah, I do." Emma grinned at her mates, happy that they had not rejected her surprise yet. She looked back and forth between the women hoping that they understood what she was offering.
"Is this your way of asking us to move in with you?" Belle finally chimed in, a mischievous glint in her eye. "Isn't that some kind of lesbian cliché that you told me about? Moving in on the second date?"
Granny was unable to hold back her laughter as Emma turned five different shades of red at the teasing. "Considering you three did the equivalent of eloping on the first date, I don't think it's a bad thing. Might save some of my customers their innocence if they don't have to hear a repeat of today's performance."
It was Belle's turn to blush, her cheeks and chest burning crimson. Ruby tries hard to hide her chuckles at her mates embarrassment, remembering how often Granny used to tease her for the very same reason.
"So does that mean you will move in with me then?" Emma asked shyly, barely above a whisper, eyes flicking back and forth between the women.
Hearing the vulnerable tone to their mate's question, Ruby and Belle share a look before tackling Emma in a tight embrace. "You silly almost-wolf. Of course we will." Ruby grins at Emma before nuzzling into her neck, nosing the mark she had left the previous evening.
"On one condition." Belle states, a sombre look on her face. "I get to decorate the library. And Ruby gets to decorate the media room." Shooting a quick wink to the blonde, Belle knew that Emma would remember their conversation about when she and Ruby had claimed the same room to decorate in their shared apartment above the library, and the battle of wills that had ensued.
Collapsing in a fit of giggles, Emma happily agreed to the demands, knowing that so long as they were together and turning the house she bought into a home for all of them, she would have everything she needed.
"As much as I hate to go, I should get back to the station, and then go find Regina. I need to put in my request for a leave of absence until after the next full moon. What do you, my beautiful mates, think about asking for her help in finishing the house as well? I am getting better, but a little professional supervision might not be a bad idea." Emma asked before she lifted her hands, still laced with Ruby and Belle's, placing a gentle kiss on the back of each.
"I think that may be a good idea. Maybe we can have her and Robin over for dinner, and you two can apologize for the incident last night?" Belle asked, attempting the most innocent look she could adopt. "I mean he's such a wonderful-"
"You know full-well that Robin is an ass, and that we did nothing wrong last night." Ruby said before she caught the sarcasm in Belle's tone at the mention of the former thief. "But I agree we should all spend some time with Regina. If she is our fourth mate, we will know pretty quickly. At least Emma and I will. You probably won't start showing signs of the transformation for another couple of weeks, Belle."
"I agree, we should spend some time with her, even if it just as friends. But I think that if Regina is happy with Robin, we shouldn't interfere with her happiness. So can we just take this as it comes, and see about having a friend over for dinner for helping us out?" Emma reasoned, not wanting to ruin a relationship, especially if Regina was happy, but also not wanting to upset her mates. As much as Belle and Ruby seemed to think Regina was part of this, she still wasn't sure, and didn't want to ruin a friendship on a guess.
"Sound like a plan, babe. But you really do need to get back to work, and so do we. Come back here later, and we can all spend some time together?" Ruby asked, her eyes wide and hopeful.
"I will be home by 8pm. Just need to sneak into Snow's to get my helmet and some clothing," Emma answered, a smile on her lips that did not reach her eyes. It would be painful for Emma to talk about Snow, and both Ruby and Belle knew that she would need time to process.
With a gentle kiss to both Ruby and Belle, and a tight but awkward hug to Granny, Emma left to gather her things from her former home.
"And I will be home by 6pm, so we can talk about everything that's happened." Belle gave Ruby a look that said they had some things that they needed to work out, and soon. "No excuses either missy."
"Of course not. I will be here and we will talk." Ruby smiled easily and gave Belle a quick peck as she left to make her way to the library down the street.
"Alright girl, let's get this place cleaned up and open again. Time's a-wastin'." Granny barked, heading back to the kitchen to put away the lunch that had been forgotten in all the family drama from the day.
Heaving a sigh, Ruby started to clean up the dishes scattered around the various tables, wishing she could have just gone back to bed this morning and spent her day with her mates.