Several of you have been asking for it, so here's a one-off about our favorite pair of Gemini...don't be surprised if this turns into an arc of their own eventually.
"What the hell did you do, Ondine!"
"Me! What the hell did you do?" She looked around with a bit of panic, her head swiveling as she surveyed her surroundings. "We appear to be in a city."
Zale turned his body slowly, looking around. "Yes, but not in our realm, I'd wager."
"Did we...portal jump?" Ondine's eyes widened. "But we didn't have a portal."
"Not unless you were hiding a magic bean that I didn't know about," Zale remarked. "What the hell were you doing?"
"Nothing!" she protested. "You were yelling at me about that stupid piece of cheesecake and I turned to get away from you. Then you grabbed my hand and here we are."
"People don't just portal out, you know," he said scathingly. "You had to have done something. I felt the magic."
"So did I, but you know we get that anytime we touch."
"Not that strong," he pointed out. "Think, Ondine." He ran his fingers through his blonde hair, giving his sister an exasperated look. She stared at him blankly, until her eyes followed his hand.
"My hair..." she bit her lip. "My hair got caught in my talisman."
"So?" Zale put his hands on his hips.
"So...I was holding it when you grabbed my hand."
"And it amplified us." Zale let out a gust of air. "We've really done it now."
"Yes," Ondine agreed. "But how did we do it, exactly?"
"I was reaching for you because you took the last slice of cheesecake," he reminded her. "And I was remembering that trip we took to New York."
"And I was thinking it wasn't nearly as good as the one I had in New York." Ondine said. "So that's it, then. We think of the same place, and channel through our talisman, and we can portal all on our own."
"Bloody hell," Zale said, his eyes lighting up. "We are amazing!"
Ondine grinned back. "We are, aren't we?"
People passing on the sidewalk couldn't help but look when the strangely garbed young man suddenly high-fived the just-as-strangely-garbed young woman. One passer-by looked around, just in case there was a film crew around or something.
"Probably a college project," she said to her companion. "They must go to NYU."
"What's NYU?" Zale asked, watching them go.
Ondine gave a shrug. "We'd better get back. The family is probably going nuts."
He waved a dismissive hand. "I should think they would be used to our antics by now."
"Zale." She gave him a look. "We just winked out of existence in the middle of a birthday party. In front of fifty people."
Zale raised a brow, looking very much like a certain grandparent when he did it. "Good point." He held out his hand. "Shall we return?"
Ondine's eyes sparkled, amazingly blue and like her brother's, a stark contrast to that pale blonde hair. "There...or here?"
He lifted a careless shoulder. "There first...then we'll come back here later."
"That sounds like a plan. And a really good one, too." She gave him an impish grin, put her hand in his, and closed her eyes.
###
Snow let out a shriek as the twins suddenly reappeared, causing Killian to whirl around, looking for a weapon. Kai put his hands on his hips in pure exasperation.
"What are you two playing at - disappearing like that! Have you been having a good laugh, watching us all look for you?" he thundered.
"We weren't here," Ondine said. "Papa, you'll never believe it - "
"What do you mean you weren't here?" Meriel asked, her eyebrows shooting up in a distinctively 'Jones' sort of way. "You weren't playing a trick on us?"
"We're all quite used to you cloaking yourselves," Killian pointed out, "But it really is bad form to ignore the guests at your own party."
"Especially when we're all looking for you," Emma pointed out.
"But that's just it," Zale remarked. "Ondine is telling you the truth - we weren't here."
"Then where did you go?" Kai folded his arms over his chest, still looking a bit perturbed.
Ondine took a breath, looking over at her brother. He gave her a short nod.
"We made our own portal. We went to New York."
"You what?" David pushed away from his seat at the table, looking at the twins with wide eyes.
"We made a portal," Zale repeated. "Apparently, we can do that. How amazing are we?"
Emma rolled her eyes. "It's nice to know the arrogance gene hasn't been bred out of the line." She gestured toward the table. "Maybe we'd all better sit down."
"You made your own bloody portal?" Finn asked as they all moved to the table. "How is that even possible?"
"In this place anything is possible," Bryony reminded him. "But that really is amazing."
"We did it by accident," Ondine said. "I was touching my talisman and Zale grabbed my arm just as we both thought about New York."
"And you just...poofed across the realms and into New York?" Emma asked, clearly startled.
"Yes." Zale's eyes slid to his sister, who gave him a grin in return.
"Can you take anyone with you?" River asked. "I haven't been to New York yet."
"River." Finn's voice brooked no argument. "You're all too young to be realm jumping without an adult along.:"
"I'm almost an adult!" she protested.
Zale looked annoyed, and Ondine rolled her eyes.
"We're twenty-one," Zale said, with a good deal of exasperation. "For God's sake, we are adults."
"You cannot possibly be that old. I won't hear of it." Finn glowered.
"You?" Killian's eyebrows raised. "I'm done with the whole bloody lot of you growing up. But the fact is they're old enough. And something tells me we're not going to stop them anyway."
Kai leveled a look at his children, then let out a sigh. "No, I suppose not." He pulled out a chair, falling heavily into it. "I've never heard of Gemini having the gift of portal travel."
"You can travel to other realms," Meriel pointed out.
"But only through the water, as the mermaids do," he reminded her. "I can't just produce a portal out of thin air. No one can."
"Third generation true love Gemini with Triton for a grandfather can," Emma deadpanned. "My grandkids - the WonderTwins."
"So now what?" David asked.
"Well, we might be able to use that," Snow mused. "Think of the things they could get for us from the other realm. Medicines. Toiletries. Shoes..."
"Coffee!" Finn volunteered.
Henry looked thoughtful for a moment. "If we got a Playstation or a Blu-Ray player, could we magic it up and make it work? I'd love to have movie nights and game tournaments."
"Do we really need all that?" David asked. "I'm not sure I want the children of the kingdom turning into slaves of technology, here."
"The minstrels would lose business," Snow pointed out. "And the theatres."
"It was just a thought," Henry said wistfully. "But I'd be happy to settle for some decent bagels."
"Bagels..." Emma closed her eyes. "Oh, I'd love a good bagel."
"I don't see any harm in the twins bringing back a few creature comforts," Killian said. "What do you say?" He looked over at the spot where Zale and Ondine had been sitting and wasn't terribly surprised to see that they were gone.
###
Ondine pushed her hair back off her face, and signaled the bartender for another drink. Before she could pull out her money, a hand came out, placing a twenty dollar bill on the bar.
"This one's on me," he said.
She turned to look up at the man, giving him a smile. "I can pay for my own, you know."
"I know," he said. "But why start now? You've had a line of guys buying you drinks for most of the night."
She reached for her drink after the bartender set it down, taking a healthy swallow. "Really? I hadn't noticed."
"I realize that. I was wondering what a guy has to do to get your notice." He gave her an entreating look. He was actually cute, in a puppy-dog sort of way. That seemed to be the problem. Most of them were either really obnoxious, or really needy. Compared to the men of her realm, they were...lacking.
"I'll let you know when I figure that out," she said, toasting him. "Thanks for the drink...uh..."
"Mike."
"Mike. Thanks. I've really worked up a thirst tonight." She finished the last of her drink, setting the glass down on the bar.
"Well, I'd ask you to dance, but I'm not anywhere near your level," he complained. "Do you dance professionally?"
"Professionally?"
"Is it your job? Dancing?"
"Ah," she said, understanding. "No. No, it's not my 'job'. My aunt taught me, and she's the best dancer I know."
"I can't believe you can move that well after that many drinks," Mike observed. "What are you drinking, anyway? Straight soda?"
"Rum and Coke," she replied. "And I'm good with rum. It's in the genes."
"I'd like to be in your jeans," Mike said coyly, sliding an arm around him. Two seconds later he was flat on the floor with a stiletto-booted foot on his chest.
"Really?" She said, with a good deal of exasperation. "I travel all the way here, buy this amazing outfit," she looked down at her short leather skirt, thigh-high black boots, red stretch-lace camisole and black leather jacket, "And this is the best I can get? Please."
She took her foot off his chest and walked away, not even noticing the crowd parting for her or the lingering stares that followed her.
###
"Come on," she said, grabbing Zale by the collar. "We're going."
"Going? What? Wait!" He swatted at her hand while desperately trying to hang on to the girl he had his other arm around, only succeeding in dragging her with him.
Ondine stopped, turning to address the unfortunate girl. "Sorry. He's busy."
The girl gave her a very unfriendly look. "Yeah. With me."
Ondine rolled her eyes. "How many is this tonight, Zale? She's got to at least be number three."
"Why are you keeping count?" he asked. "And you've had a stable-full of men around you the entire evening, so you're a fine one to talk."
"A stable-full?" The girl looked at him oddly, then took in an offended breath. "Number three?"
He gave her a devastating grin. "I was waiting for you all along."
She fell for it, smiling up at him with mega-watt force. Ondine had had enough.
"Zale. NOW."
He dropped his arm with a heavy sigh. "You're serious?"
She raised her brows. "Yes."
"Auuugh." He glowered at her. "All right." He reached for her hand, and a moment later, they were standing once more in the great hall of the castle. The party had long since broken up, but their grandparents were sitting on a tufted couch in front of the hearth at the far end of the hall. Killian got to his feet, motioning them over as soon as he saw them arrive.
"'Bout time, you two," he complained. "Your parents have gone to bed but I daresay your father would have gone looking for you by morning."
"Why?" Zale asked. "We're not children, you know."
"I know," Killian replied. "Believe me, I do. But you can't blame him - or us - for worrying a bit, can you?"
Zale sat down in the rocking chair across from the couch as Killian regained his seat. Ondine threw herself down into the cushy, overstuffed chair beside him, reaching down to pull off her boots.
"Ooooh, that feels good," she moaned. "These heels were killing me."
"They look awesome," Emma said. "Did you bring back a pair for Regina?"
"She can have these," Ondine offered. "I won't be wearing them again. I doubt I'll be clubbing in New York anytime in the future, either."
"That's where you went? Clubbing?" Emma's eyebrows raised and she looked over at Killian, who wasn't terribly pleased at the thought of his granddaughter clubbing in that outfit.
"Speak for yourself," Zale said. "I was having a marvelous time."
Emma closed her eyes briefly, a bit uncomfortable having to say this. "Zale - you were...careful, weren't you?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean...this is New York. If you're going to be..." she let out a stream of breath, but soldiered on, "Promiscuous...you need to have protection."
Zale looked at her warily. "From who?"
"Not from who - from what," Emma explained. "I'm going to assume your father passed on the spell that would keep you from getting someone pregnant - "
Zale reddened instantly. A sex talk from his grandmother was hardly how he'd planned to spend his night. He started to push to his feet. "You know, I'm suddenly quite tired - "
"Listen to me," she cautioned, holding up a hand. "I'm talking about diseases. Sexually transmitted diseases."
Zale's eyebrows shot up. "Diseases?"
"Yes. You have to be careful because some people have them, and you have no way of knowing who. They do make things you can...uh...wear...that protect you."
"Wear?" Zale's face showed his complete and utter distaste for that idea.
"Splendid." Ondine sank back in her chair. "The men are pigs and the women are diseased. What an enchanting realm. Whyever did you leave it?"
"Not all women are diseased," Emma qualified. "And for the record, men can carry those diseases, too. And the place isn't all bad. It's just not...like here."
"The men were so...I don't know...bland." Ondine sighed.
"That's because you're comparing them with the man-candy that roams around this realm," Emma pointed out. "And I do have to say, there's a lot of it here."
"Hey!" Killian voiced an objection.
"It's true. You are a prime example." She reached out, squeezing his hand.
"The women were a bit lacking as well," Zale pointed out. "Giggling, simpering - too much makeup. Fun for an evening but not much beyond that."
"What did you expect to find in a nightclub?" Emma asked. "You're not exactly getting the cream of the crop, there."
"I guess I was expecting more," Ondine said. "I'm ready to find a destiny."
Killian looked over at Emma, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.
"Sometimes, love, destiny finds you."
"A Jones makes his own destiny," Zale said firmly, and his grandfather gave an approving nod.
"Well, destiny is rarely found on a barstool," Emma expounded. "Please tell me you at least brought back some bagels."
"Next time," Zale promised.
"And when do you think that will be?" Ondine arched a brow.
"Not right away. We've somewhere else to visit first."
"Oh?" Emma asked. "And just where is that?"
"Another land with magic. I took a bean there by accident a few years ago - I was trying for Disneyworld - and always wanted to go back...I sailed on a magnificent ship, and even had a bit of an adventure before I came back."
Ondine sat forward. "And you never told me?"
"You would have snitched on me and gotten me in trouble. I was only sixteen."
"So what was the name of this magnificent ship?" Killian asked.
Zale smiled, clasping his hands behind his head and closing his eyes with the memory.
"The Dawn Treader."