Chapter 2
The bell rang above the door as the three entered and Granny’s voice was heard, “Have a seat!” Ruby smiled because she has missed her Grandmother the most. They had their problems but they always had each other.
In a voice loud and barely hiding her excitement, “I don’t want a seat I want Granny!” A pan was dropped and the diner went quiet. In a flash the old woman was there in front of her granddaughter. Red took her in her arms then pulled away with teary eyes. “I’m happy your doing good Granny.” Her voice was filled with so many emotions.
“I’m doing alright. How are you?” Granny wasn’t one to get to emotional but she was happy to see her Red.
“I’m good. Better actually.” She cleared her throat and pulled Dorothy closer, “Granny, this is Dorothy. Dorothy, Granny.”
Granny took in the two in front of her. Red was holding onto this woman like her life depended on it. Dorothy was doing the same. The blush that crossed both their faces told her so much. Her granddaughter had finally found her happiness. A growl was heard from Dorothy’s side. “Good to meet you. Are you wolf too?”
The two smiled and some of the tension went away. “No, it's my dog, Toto.” The dog had managed to get his head out enough so he could see what was going on.
“Just keep him in the bag.” She looked to her granddaughter, “Are you staying?”
Ruby’s eyes grew sad, “I wish we could but we have something we have to do.”
Mulan stepped to the other side of the wolf, “We could go tomorrow. You need rest after all the traveling you’ve done.”
“Mulan?!” A male voice interrupted the group. Mulan turned to see two people she had missed yet didn’t want to see. In Aura’s arms was a baby. They both had smiles on their faces as they walked towards her. They all hugged. “Thank you.” Philip said as he took his friend in.
“What for?” Mulan hasn’t seen her friend in a long time so she wasn’t sure how she could have helped him.
“Just for making it. I was worried that you were dead. With all the curses and going back and forth between lands there wasn’t much I could do to find out how you were.” His eyes were so full of relief that Mulan just let a small smile play on her lips.
“I find my way no matter what.” Her hands rested on the hilt of her sword.
“A true warrior.” Aura said as she adjusted the baby.
Though her heart ached a little at the voice of the woman before her, it wasn’t as bad as it used to be. She realized that she was finally moving on and in the right direction. Red interrupted her thoughts, “I didn’t realize you knew people here?”
“It would seem that I know more people than I thought. Everyone I know seems to know everyone else. An odd circle to be a part of.” Mulan said with small smile.
“I have to agree on that.” Red looked to Granny. “Can we have dinner together tonight?”
“I’ll make your favorite.” Granny said as she grabbed Dorothy and Ruby’s hands. She dragged them into the private room in the back. A waitress was behind her with drinks and cookies. As the three sat down Granny could see that Dorothy was uncomfortable in her surroundings. “So how did you meet?”
Ruby looked to Dorothy because her mouth was full with cookies. Dorothy smiled and shook her head as she looked to the older woman, “We met in OZ. I was looking for my dog Toto,” She patted his head as it rested on her lap. “He was after something and wouldn’t come to me. I ran into her because Toto stopped to bark at her. When she explained who she was he was off again. She helped me track him down.”
Red interrupted, “But I wasn’t fast enough. Zelena grabbed him and took off saying that if Dorothy didn’t give the silver slippers to her then Toto wouldn’t make it.”
“That woman is a pain.” Granny noted. Both girls smiled at the statement.
“Well Dorothy and I got some poppies to make a sleeping potion for her.” Red continued only to be stopped.
“I decided to go on my own after it was made. Zelena caught me and put me under a sleeping curse.” Dorothy was focusing on Toto. She still felt bad about leaving Ruby like that.
“I forgive you Kansas.” Red said which made Dorothy blush as a small smile played on her face.
“It would seem you have been on another adventure.” Granny stated as she finished a drink from her glass. “So why can’t you stay longer than a night?”
“In order for me to help Dorothy I needed help from the witches in OZ. They wanted a trade. They help us, we help them.”
“So what are you going to do for them.” Granny wasn’t sure she like the sound of the deal that was made.
“Glinda, the good witch of the south in OZ, was banished by Zelina to another world. We have to find her and bring her back to OZ so balance can be restored.” Dorothy answered.
“Does this mean you two won’t be coming back?” Granny felt a little pain of loss at the thought.
“Not right away,” Red answered.
“That doesn’t mean we can’t come and visit though,” Dorothy pointed out. “With the silver slippers we can go anywhere we want.” Dorothy felt the strong connection between her love and her grandmother. She wasn’t going to take that away. Especially because the woman reminded her a little of her Aunt Em.
Granny’s heart felt a little lighter knowing that her granddaughter would be back to visit. “Then I will make dinner and you two will tell me more about what you’ve been up to.” Granny stood and left the room to get started.
“Thank you.” Ruby said as she looked at Dorothy.
“For what?” Dorothy wasn’t sure if she could get used to someone really seeing her like Ruby seemed to be able to do.
“Thinking about her. She is the only blood family I have left. I would like to come see her as often as possible once things get settled.” Ruby stood and sat next to Dorothy on the couch she occupied.
“She reminds me of Aunt Em. If she were still alive I would want to see her as much as possible. I just hope your Granny likes me.” Ruby’s head rested on Dorothy’s shoulder as they spoke.
“I’m sure she will like you just fine. You earned some points when you said we would visit.” Dorothy laid her head on top of Red’s. “I just hope we can get through this.”
“I have no doubt we will.” Dorothy felt like she had all she needed to fix what Zelena has done. Mulan was a strong warrior and Red was a fighter in her own right.
“With you I’m sure we can get it done.” That threw Dorothy off. The only people she was used to speaking highly of her were the munchkins and her Aunt.
Red sat up and turned Dorothy’s face towards hers. She looked into the brown eyes wondering how she found someone that could make her feel like this. Slowly kissing the woman she could feel her heart pick up its pace. She wasn’t sure when this happened or how but she knew she was getting hooked on it.
Dorothy for her part didn’t stop the kiss. She was feeling more at ease with herself the longer she was around Wolfie. She was still in awe of how kind this woman could be even though she had been through so much. Dorothy grabbed the back of Ruby’s head to pull her closer so they could deepen the kiss. Suddenly there was a bark. Toto didn’t like being squished. The two pulled apart and laughed at the dog.
“There you are,” Mulan walked in and sat across from the two.
“Get loss did you.” Red said with a smile.
“Got stuck.” She sat back and for the first time that Red can recall she slouched back into her seat. She looked tired and worn.
“Are you alright?” She asked her friend.
“I haven’t seen them in so long they wanted to know what I have been up to.” There was something else there but she wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about it.
“Which one is it?” Red asked.
“What do you mean?”
“Which one did you love?”
Pausing for a moment she couldn’t believe Red could read her so easily, “Aura.”
“I’m sorry.” Was all Red could think to say. Dorothy just sat there listening to the two talk.
“I’m fine. I just want to get going as soon as possible in the morning. I would like to get back to the Enchanted forest.”
That peaked Dorothy’s interest, “Why?” Ruby was about to ask the same question.
“Because it's my home.” She wasn’t sure if she wanted to talk about the real reason she wanted to go back.
“It's your home or someone there is your home?” Red asked. Mulan looked down and was avoiding all eye contact. “So who is it?”
Mulan was looking at the ground when Red asked. She cut her eyes up sporting a slight blush. “I’m not even sure she likes me.”
“Does it matter?” Red asked. “Remember you told me to speak up before it's too late. Don’t you think you should practice what you preach?” The saying made Mulan stop and look at Red with confusion. Red for her part laughed slightly then explain, “When you tell someone else to do something then when you are in the same situation you should follow your own advice.”
Mulan sat up and smiled as she shook her head, “You're right.”
“So is it Merida?” Red had a suspicion when they first met but wasn’t sure if she should say anything.
“How do you seem to know exactly what is going on?” Mulan questioned her friend.
“I’ve gotten to know you Mulan. You have become a very dear friend of mine and I want you to find happiness.” Red wasn’t going to hide how she felt about the warrior. She had done too much for the wolf for Red not to acknowledge it.
“When we get back maybe we can find this Marida and she will come with us?” Dorothy suggested.
“I’m not sure that’s possible. She is Queen and I don’t know if she will be able to just leave her people like that.” Mulan explains.
“Wow, in love with a Queen, you have high sights.” Dorothy joked with her. Mulan just smiled and shook her head. Looking at Wolfie, “Do you think we will eat soon? I didn’t realize how hungry I was until we had some of those cookies.”
“I can go check if you would like.” Red commented. Dorothy nodded her head. “I will be right back.” With a peck Red was gone to find Granny.