A/n:
Hey there! Thank you for reading I hope you enjoy!
A few quick things I'd like to thank oh_my_helena for being my beta angel and reading my crap when she's super busy! Love you!
Also my other multichap 'runaways' should be out soon so look out for that. And please advert your eyes from 'the weekend' it's getting a facelift when I add the second chapter! (So thank you willow141 for your review on that your sweet.)
This has Cora Locksley in it bc it fits like that sorry that I'm not sorry haha ;)
This is for a because she liked the idea when I tossed it at her!
Xx
Imma shut up now Enjoy!
The Wrong Brother - Chapter 1
At 6 am on Sunday morning, Cora Locksley wakes up to the slightly irritating ringing of her alarm. Not willing to leave her husband's arms quite yet, she blindly flings her arm around and ends up hitting the nightstand a couple of times. She accidentally knocks the clock off the nightstand and it falls to the ground with a loud bang. Shit. She winces at the sound, turning to see if it woke her sleeping husband. Nothing. God, that man could sleep through a hurricane.
"I might as well get up now." She mumbles to herself as she throws the covers off, grabbing her black silk robe to put on. The children will be here soon anyways, she thinks to herself as she pads her way down the hallway to the kitchen.
Turning the coffee maker on, she lets the rich aroma of the beans to overflow her senses. Gods, she loves coffee. There's nothing better than coffee. Wine perhaps, but that's it. Waiting for her coffee to brew, she checks some emails for work. A few minor problems but nothing that can't wait until after the holiday week. She is the mayor after all.
She grabs her large cup of coffee before opening one of the French doors leading to the back deck and leans against the door frame, breathing the crisp smell of freshly fallen snow.
Cora has always enjoyed the family cabin this time of year. It's surrounded by pine trees, deep in the woods but not too far from town, just a short drive away. It's really is spectacular all year around with the trees and the animals but the winter it's like their own personal winter wonderland. They bought it after her husband Richard's sister Grace, or 'Granny' as they all called her, had passed away after a long battle with cancer, leaving her two daughters Ruby -who was nine at the time- and her two years younger sister Mary Margaret, in the care of Richard and Cora herself.
With two boys of their own around the same age -Daniel ten and Robin eight- they decided that it would be the best to take the children for a little stay away to connect and grow as a new family. It was an adjustment at first but quickly became a family tradition. As the years went on and the children grew and moved away, the stay always became less and less frequent.
But this year, with Richard's cancer scare during the summer, Cora has refused to hear any excuses and let her family know that they're all to come home for the holidays. Everyone. Spouses, grandchildren, pets. You can bring anyone or anything, she told them. And she really couldn't care less as long as they come home.
With the slight chill of the soft wind breaking her train of thoughts, she closes the door. Not expecting her husband to be in the kitchen, Cora lets out a yelp, grabbing her heart, startled. "Son of a bitch, what are you, a vampire? Don't you make any noise coming into a room?" She hisses.
She keeps her face neutral as she flashes her husband a glare, taking in the sight of him. He is wearing a fitted white tee and a pair of dark blue flannel pajama pants hung loosely around his waist. His once thick, sandy brown hair is now mostly grey, tousled here and there, and smokey blue eyes looking tired. She would have kissed him senseless if she wasn't so pissed at him for causing her to spit out her coffee when he startled her.
Grinning at his wife, he walks over to the coffee pot, pours himself a cup and picks up a towel, handing it to her.
"Vampire? Eh, that's the best you can come up with?" Richard says before wiggling his eyebrows. "Well if that's what you're into now, I guess we can try a little role playing tonight."
Cora tosses the towel at his face.
"That's what you call an apology? Offering me kinky sex for making me spill my coffee? That's stooping pretty low, even for you, dear." Cora laughs, raising an eyebrow to challenge him.
"I didn't hear any objections to it now did I?" Richard says with a mischievous grin. Cora just scoffs at him and walks away. Before she can get far, he grabs her hand, pulling her back to him, turning her to look at his eyes, her whiskey brown orbs peering into his blue.
"I'm sorry my love, you just looked so peaceful I didn't want to disturb you," He apologizes, tucking her long, chestnut hair behind her ear, exposing her neck. Licking his bottom lip, he continues "and I certainly did not mean for you to spill your sacred coffee, I do value my life, thank you very much."
Cora gives him a bright smile and rolls her eyes inwardly but closes them right away when she feels his lips on her neck, placing a peck one, two, three times. "So about that role play?" Richard whispers as his hands begin to travel down on her rear, giving her butt a little squeeze as he pulls her closer, pressing his body to hers.
"Down boy, the children will be here soon. We have to get ready." Cora shakes her head and pushes him away. As she slips out of his grasp, Richard lets out a sigh and lowers his head in defeat. Cora chuckles and swipes his coffee from the granite island.
"Hey, that's mine." Richard shouts, acting outraged.
"Well, you made me spill mine."
"It was only a drop!"
Cora just shrugs her shoulders. "Maybe you'll think about that next time you want to sneak up on people, Dracula." She tosses a glance at him over her shoulder before leaving him in the kitchen.
...
Richard watches his wife from over the top of his news paper, she is pacing back and forth from the window in the living room to back to the brown leather sofa, every time she hears a noise from the outside. Her long chestnut hair is pinned half up, the strands that loosely flow down surpassing her shoulders. She's wearing a deep violet, knitted sweater, paired with black dress, slacks and the pearls that he had bought her for their anniversary.
"My love, why don't you come sit down for a few minutes. I'm sure they'll be here soon." Placing the paper down, he tries to coax his wife to sit. Cora just ignores her husband's efforts and stays by the window, waiting impatiently.
A few moments later, she sees the front of a black SUV pulling up the driveway. Cora's face lits up. "They're here Richard!" She practically shouts as she starts running toward the front door to let them in.
"You see, what did I tell you." Richard says as he gets up from his place to follow his wife behind and snakes one arm around her shoulders.
"Oh shush." Cora taps on his chest. "Be a dear and help them with the bags."
"As you wish, my queen." He gives her a smile and a quick peck on the forehead before putting on his grey wool coat. He is trekking his way through the snow covered driveway over to the girls when a little four year old comes right at him running.
"GRANDPA!" She shouts and she leaps into his arms, throwing him a little off balance as he catches her.
"Anastasia! My little jelly bean, you've gotten so big, let me take a look at you!" Richard leans back to get a better look. She straightens out as best as she can, fixing her long blonde braided pigtails that are tied off with pink ribbons, her aquamarine eyes staring at him waiting for approval.
"Ah yes, jelly bean, I think you've grown three whole inches since I last saw you!" Richard nods as he taps on her button nose that has slightly turned pink due to the cold weather. Anastasia's eyes grows wide and her little mouth goes agape before shouting excitedly to her mother.
"Mommy! Mommy! Grandpa said I grew THREE WHOLE INCHES!"
"Whoa, is that so?!" Mary Margaret asks her daughter, mirroring her enthusiasm, as the pair reach her. She is wearing a cream colored pea coat with a red scarf that's hanging loosely around her neck and she has traded her long brunette locks for a pixie cut that fits her face much better and brings out her green eyes.
Richard and Mary Margaret hug and exchange hello's.
"Well, Mary Margaret you're.." Richard begins while taking in the pixie haired brunette's swollen, clearly pregnant belly.
"Huge!" Ruby interjects giving Richard a peck on the cheek. The long legged brunette comes to stand with them handing over some of the bags. Her tight black leather jacket, black leggings and thigh high boots make her attire more risqué compared to her sister's more conservative style. Mary Margaret just gives an accusing look between the two. Richard backs up, shaking his head
"I was not going to say that, I was going to say glowing, radiant even."
"She's huge," Ruby teases before giving her sister a tight hug. "but you're still beautiful." Turning to Richard to give him a smile. "Anastasia, why don't you come help me and mommy bring grandpa and grandma's gifts, while grandpa helps Auntie Mulan with the rest of the bags."
"OKAY!" She says a little bit more excitedly than she intends to as she wiggles down from Richard's arms over to the leggy, long haired brunette.
Richard makes his way to the back of the SUV, where he greets the Asian beauty.
"Hey, Richard." She gives him a warm smile and a hug. "Ruby sent you to to grab the bags, didn't she?"
Richard chuckles and gives a nod.
"There's nothing much left but those two." She says pointing at the grocery bags. Richard grabs the two bags, takes a look at the inside of one of them and questions Mulan. "Apples?"
"Yeah! I thought we could convince Cora to make her famous apple turnovers for Christmas Eve." She answers as she slams the trunk close.
"Oh, bless you." Richard groans as they make their way back. "I knew you were my favorite." He winks, making her laugh.
...
Everyone gathers in the kitchen around the island rather quickly. Mary Margaret is sitting, sipping her hot coca, watching Cora make brownie batter with Anastasia, who licks a spoon full once or twice as Ruby steals some from the bowl.
"Grandpa, Auntie Mulan, I'm helping grandma make brownies, do you see!" Anastasia holds out her spoon with her face covered in chocolate.
"Mulan!" Cora gives her a tight squeeze once Mulan places the grocery bags on the kitchen island.
"Cora!" Mulan manages to let out a little strangled sound during the embrace. "Are we the first ones here?" Looking around, she asks when Cora finally lets go of her.
"Yes, we are, and you thought we were going to be the last ones here." Ruby says as she shakes her head at her wife and begins taking a few items out of the bag and places them on the counter.
"I could have been sleeping," she pouts. "and did you know Daniel is bringing her with him."
"Who? Regina?" Mulan knits her brows as she takes off her jacket, exposing the new addition to her numerious tattoos. It was a Phoenix, rich in red and a deep orange coloring that covers her forearm, catching the attention of Richard.
"Would you look at that, Cora? It's bloody brilliant," putting his arm out next to Mulan he asks if she could give him one.
"Absolutely not! That's completely out of the question, Richard." Cora states as she places Anastasia down and wipes her face clean.
"Oh, but it's alright for you to have one."
Mary Margaret nearly spits out her hot coca. As silence falls over the room, they wait for Cora to deny the statement. Instead she shoots Richard a death glare before addressing her granddaughter and tells her to go into the living room and watch for her uncles. Richard swallows hard knowing he's going to pay for letting her little secret slip. Going back to making brownies, Cora clears her throat.
"So Ruby, I take it as you're not so fond of this.. Regina?" She asks in her most regal tone, acting as if nothing about tattoos was just said. Typical Cora.
Ruby groans in annoyance. "You haven't met her yet?" Letting out a sarcastic laugh, "Mulan and I met her when we went to visit Daniel in October about the adoption lawyer friend he has. Anyways she had this little freak out when Daniel moved the furniture around in the living room. She owns nothing but pantsuits. I swear she only wears black or grey. And get this," Ruby leans in a little bit "they don't even sleep in the same bed!"
Cora raises her eyebrow, visibly surprised.
"I'm sure she's not as bad as you say she is, Ruby, and for Daniel to bring her here, there surely must be a reason." Mary Margaret says hopefully. And then her phone rings, "It's David." she says with a smile.
"Uncle Daniel is here!" They hear a shout from the living room.
As they all make their way to the living room window, they see a black Mercedes parked outside.
"Why aren't they getting out of the car?"
...
"This is your family's cabin?" Regina asks Daniel, knitting her brows in confusion.
"Yes. Is there something wrong?"
She laughs sarcastically and nods her head, pointing at the house.
"That is not a cabin, Daniel, that is a mansion that they probably had to cut an entire rainforest to build."
Daniel just smiles and unbuckles his seat belt.
"Come on, it'll be fine."
Regina, lost for words, shakes her head in protest.
"You know they're probably watching us right now." He says, leaning over her to point at a window.
Giving a sigh, she unbuckles her seat belt as well and they get out of the car.
...
"Daniel!" They all greet in unison at the door. Regina stands by as she watches the happy scene play out before her. Holding in her nerves as she mentally prepares herself meeting the rest of his family. Cora is curiously glaring at Regina when Daniel makes the introductions.
"Regina, this is my mother, Cora, my father Richard, you've already met Ruby and Mulan in October, my sister Mary Margaret-" Looking around, Daniel pauses for a second. "where is David and Robin?"
"David's working till Christmas Eve, he should be home for Christmas and Robin's flight from London was delayed earlier but he'll be here soon." Richard answers. Daniel gives out an 'oh' before scooping up Anastasia, giving her a few tosses in the air and turning to Regina.
"And this little munchkin right here is Anastasia, Mary Margaret and David's daughter."
Regina gives a bright smile and comes closer but before she can even say hello, she notices Anastasia is turning a sickly green color.
"Mommy I don't fe-" and that's it. Anastasia vomits right down on Regina's pant suit. Regina's face drops, eyeing the new shade of brown on her grey Armani blazer.
As Mary Margaret suddenly can't stop apologizing to Regina, Cora tells Richard to grab a towel for Regina, before taking Anastasia from Daniel.
"Oh dear, I do hope that isn't an expensive blazer, Daniel should have told you that you could have wore casual clothing here." Cora says soothing her now crying granddaughter as she watches Regina try to take the stain out with a towel.
Regina looks at Cora. "These are my casual clothes.."
Cora gives a cunning smile as she calls for Ruby to come and show Regina to her room and to give her a change of her old clothes she has laying around up there. Ruby just rolls her eyes before leading Regina up tairs to a guest room.
"You can stay in here. This is the guest room, since I know you and Daniel don't sleep in the same bed. What's that about anyways?" Ruby asks while walking over to the window before opening the pale blue curtain, letting light into the white colored room.
Regina crosses her arms.
"I don't find how that's any of your business."
They stare at each other for a moment before Ruby shrugs. Then she pulls a few pieces of clothing from the wooden dresser and tosses it onto the bed.
"The bathroom is right there, you might want to take a shower and wash your hair. You got a little puke in it." She says motioning to the bathroom before closing the door.
...
"Is she alright up there?" Daniel asks Ruby as she makes her way downstairs but before she can answer, she notices someone coming through the front door.
"Is who alright?" The newly arrived man asks.
Daniel turns around to see his little brother who has just come in and is currently giving all of them a smile, flashing his dimples. "Well don't just stand there looking like bloody idiots, a simple hello would suffice." Giving a whistle before closing the door, he let his dog Jack trail behind him.
"Ah, hello Jack, we've missed you." Daniel jokes while bending over to pet the old dog.
"Is that how you you feel? You miss my dog more than you miss your own brother then?" Robin asks while holding something behind his back. "That really hurts you know,"
Giving him a devilish smile, he continues. "Well not as much as this." Robin says as he chucks the snow ball he was hiding at Daniel, hitting him right in the chest. Ruby is toppled over, hysterically laughing at the staircase.
"Oh you think that's funny, do you?" Daniel asks while opening the door scooping some snow into his hands.
"You wouldn't dare!"
Daniel just smiles darkly as he throws it at her. Ruby ducks the snow ball and it lands right above her and hits the step Regina is standing on coming in contact with her bare feet.
Freshly out of the shower, her hair still wet and slightly curled, wearing a loose grey sweater that comes out low cut, reveling her bare back (clearly Ruby's) and skinny jeans with tears on it, Regina puts on a tight smile as Daniel lets out an 'oops'.
"Who stopped the fun?!" Robin teases as he make his way back from the kitchen.
Daniel motions to the top of the stairs, just above Ruby.
Robin's sapphire blue eyes quickly interlocks with the coffee colored ones.
"Robin, this is Regina."
Robin lets out a breath he didn't know he was holding, and with it comes one word from his lips.
"Beautiful."