#doq ff

Regina’s eyes flutter open and she grins--a bit shyly and a bit lazily--as she bites down on her bottom lip, watching the way that Robin watches her.

He’s still between her legs, sitting back with his legs folded beneath himself; and his hands are still holding on to her hips, his thumbs rubbing firm but absently drawn circled into the bone--and he’s just watching, watching as her bare chest rises and falls as she tries in vain to catch her breath, slowly lulling herself down from her high. Her breaths are heavy and labored, and her heart is still beating wildly. Her skin is tingly and flushed with warmth, and her limbs are limp--and if it weren’t the middle of the afternoon, she’d be tempted to let herself fall asleep with him, just as as they are.

“You’re gorgeous,” he tells her, his voice husky as his eyes trail back up to hers. “Bloody gorgeous, you know that?”

“You might’ve mentioned it… once or twice.”

He grins, sighing a little as he pulls himself back and she feels him slip out of her.

She’s lost count of how many times they’ve been this way together--happy and content in each other’s arms--and it’s quite amazing that she has. She’s always been a planner, and for most of her life there wasn’t a single decision she made that she didn’t plan out completely. She was careful to a fault and she knew ever move she made was scrutinized by a group of men who wanted to catch her in the wrong. Yet, here she was--completely oblivious to anything and everything other than him and the way he made her feel. If she thought about it long enough, she could probably figure it out--after all, this had only been going on for a couple of months--but she didn’t want to do that. She didn't want to think about it--thinking about it might ruin it, it might make her consider the risks involved and the rational part of her might decide that it was too risky and that a little fun wasn’t worth everything she stood to lose. And the thought of giving up these wonderfully lazy afternoons--these stolen moments she’d come to crave--in this little cottage with its leaky roof and its dusty dirt floors made her sadder than she’d ever care to admit.

“How long can you stay?” He asks, rolling onto his side as his combs his fingers through the front of her hair. “Is it wishful thinking that you could be mine until the sun sets?”

“It is,” she replies, biting harder at her lip. “But I can take another hour or so, I think.” She turns herself toward him, rolling onto her side. “Henry has an archery lesson.”

“Archery?” He asks, brightening.

“Mm,” she nods. “He saw one of the guards practicing and he’s decided he wants to try it.”

“And I’m sure no one can say no to the prince.”

“No, they can’t,” she laughs. “It’s law.”

“Would it be asking too much for me to show him a few little tricks some times?”

Her breath catches in her throat. “Oh, I…”

Her eyes fall away from his. She wants to say yes--in fact, she’d love to say yes--and she has no doubt that Robin would be a wonderful instructor for her son. She imagines that he’d be patient and kind, and unlike the knight who’d been tasked with teaching her son to shoot, he wouldn’t be doing it out of some sense of obligation or because he had no other choice.

But she’d never invited him to come any closer and she wasn’t sure how she felt about bringing him into her son’s life. She worried that he’d be confusing for Henry or that the spark between them would fade and her son would be hurt. And though she hated to admit it, she worried how the Council would respond. Any indication that she’d taken a lover would cost her her crown, and though she didn’t care about her title or position, she wasn’t ready to force her child onto the throne.

“You don’t have to say yes just because I asked,” he tells her, likely sensing her discomfort. And then, before she can explain, his smile grows coy. “I just figured you’d want him to learn from the best of the best.”

“And you’re the best?”

“I am,” he says with a decisive nod. “And everyone around knows it.”

“Do they? Because I didn’t.”

His eyes roll as his fingers strum gently over her arm. “To be fair, you and I don’t do much talking.”

“Why would we?” She asks, grinning as a little laugh rises into her voice. “When there are much more enjoyable things we could be doing.”

“It is pretty enjoyable, isn’t it?”

“It’s why I keep coming back for more.”

He laughs, “And here I was thinking you were here for my charming personality.”

Her stomach flops a little and her grin fades. “I do care about you, Robin. This isn’t just sex.” She blinks as she bites down on her lip. “At least, not anymore.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” he says, his voice soft as his smile shines through his eyes and his fingers continue to strum gently. “Because I think I love you.”

“You… think…”

“No,” he cuts in, a soft chuckle rising into his voice. “I don’t think it. I know it. I know that I love you.”

Her breath catches his her chest and her smile fades--and if her whole body wasn’t frozen in place, she’d pull away from him. “Robin, I… I can’t… I’m not…”

She swallows hard as her mind floods with all of the reasons that he shouldn’t love her--and the one reason that keeps rushing forward and taking precedence over all the rest, is Mal.

Mal, the woman she loves, and the woman she can’t ever truly have.

“I know you can’t marry,” he says, his voice still soft and his grin still sweet as his eyes narrow. “And that’s not at all why I told you that.”

“But isn’t that the point of falling in love? To… to marry and build a life together and… and grow old together and…”

Her voice trails off and her eyes press closed; and despite her best efforts not to, she finds herself imagining having that sort of life with him--and she finds that the mere thought of it fills her with a sort of warmth that she didn't anticipate.

And then, she feels guilt stabbing at her core as she thinks of Mal and as she thinks of Henry, and she pushes away those thoughts, not allowing herself to indulge in them.

“Maybe it is to some,” he says easily. “But not to, and based on your reaction, I don’t think that’s what it means to you, either.” Reaching out, he brushes the back of his fingers over her jaw. “I just… I thought you should know.” He shrugs and his grin brightens. “It doesn't really change much. Neither of us are in a position to marry. We both have…” His voice trails off and his eyes narrow a bit. “We both have other, um, obligations.”

“Yes,” she says, her mouth dry. “We do.”

“I don’t want to hold you back or complicate your life. I don’t want any more than you can give,” he tells her, his voice honest and soft. “And I know you’d never ask for more than what I can give.” She nods as a smile draws on to his lips. “I just wanted you to know, so that on the days when you can’t sneak away, on days when you feel lost and alone, on days when you feel you can’t quite measure up to the impossible expectations put on you… you’ll know that you’re not really alone, that someone loves you and is on your side.”

“That’s… sweet,” she murmurs, not really knowing what else to say. “I…”

“You don’t have to say it back.” He shakes his head. “I don’t want you to say it if you don’t feel it or if you’re not ready to.”

Her cheeks flush--and she finds herself wanting to say it back, but the words stick in her throat. She’ll say it, eventually, she decides, just not now. So, instead, she pushes herself toward him, pressing her lips to his as her tongue parts his lips. She kisses his hard--hard, but not hurried--as she pushes at his shoulder, easing him onto his back as she shifts herself over him. Grinning she breaks the kiss and sits up, pressing her hand to his chest as a smile stretches across her lips and a soft giggle escapes her, and she decides that, perhaps, words aren’t the only way to express feelings--and until she finds herself able to say the words, actions will have to suffice.

It’s almost too easy.

Mal ups the ante, drapes herself over Regina, each making sure to order several more drinks that they never consumed. Regina forces herself to relax into her hold, less on edge now that they have a solution. Towards the end of their allotted twenty minutes Mal’s phone beeps again, this time with a picture of a highlighted route.

All it takes to make sure he decides to follow them is Mal tripping to the bathroom, which had her stumbling right past his table, and knocking over his beer on her way back with a lazy apology before turning her back to him and dragging Regina out of the bar.

It’s almost so easy that for a second, just a second, Regina pitties him for being so stupid and following them for several blocks, and down an alley. Just for Robin to step out of the shadows behind him and put him in a choke-hold until he passes out.

“Evening, ladies.” He’s smiling at them, wide and bright as he lifts the man over his shoulder in a fireman's lift. “How was your date night?”

Regina steps forward to press a kiss to him before stepping back to let Mal get hers. “I have a feeling it’s about to get very eventful.”

Robin winks and jerks his head down the alley. “Down that way—there’s a derelict apartment block with a basement.”

He’s got everything ready for them. A couple of camping lanterns are spaced throughout the room, bathing it in enough dim light to let them see the centre of the basement. Rope hangs from a beam over sheets of plastic, all ready for him to have them tie the man’s wrists above his head and let him go, leaving him hanging there, head lolling forward and his feet barely scraping the ground. Robin stretches duct tape across his mouth, pressing down firmly to make sure it’s stuck.

“My, my. You have been busy,” Regina purrs as she moves to squat down beside a collection of tools. There’s a bucket next to them and three bottles of bleach.

“Told you—I was a boy scout.”

Mal snorts. “You’re full of shit.” She kisses away the mock-offended look on Robin’s face before stepping back and turning to look at their guest. “Time to wake up Sleeping Beauty.”

“After you, my loves,” Robin bows, arm sweeping out towards the man in the middle of the plastic, content to wait—for now.

Mal ducks down to pick up a hammer, twirling it around in her hand, studying him for a beat before lashing out, and crashing the hammer down to shatter his knee cap, bringing him screaming back to the land of the living. For now anyway. “Wakey, wakey,” she coos. “Remember us?”

His eyes dart between Mal and where Regina stands at the edge of the plastic with Robin’s arm around her shoulders. His eyes are so wide she can see the white all around his irises. When he yells, muffled by the tape, Mal laughs. “I’m going to take that as a yes.”

“You have been known to make quite the impression, love,” Robin teases. “I’d be a little offended if he didn’t remember you, to be honest.”

She hums and turns back to face the man suspended in the middle of the basement. “Well. I’m Mal. And those two over there, are two very important people to me. Robin and Regina. And you,” her voice hardens, velvet covered steel, “you made Regina feel very, very uncomfortable earlier. Don’t you know that homophobia is really rather antiquated nowadays?”

He struggles against his bonds, still screaming at them from behind his gag and Mal rolls her eyes at them from over her shoulder. “You know, I really don’t think he’s getting it.”

“Doesn’t look that way, no,” Regina agrees. “Perhaps you need to dumb it down a bit.”

Mal grins, full of teeth and violence, before she is whirling back around to swing the hammer into the opposite hip to his already smashed knee. Regina can feel herself relaxing as his stifled screams grow in volume.

“Screaming won’t help you,” she says when they die off, leaving him panting, dripping sweat down onto the plastic sheets, and his pants darken at the crotch. “I think we’ve scared him.”

“I wonder what that feels like,” Robin spits out before he steps forward, picking up a long, thin knife, and tracing it from the corner of the man’s terrified eye all the way down to his hips. “I wonder what it feels like to be scared shitless by someone who doesn’t know the first thing about you, by someone who makes a snap judgement of you and yours, all because they don’t understand you.”

He doesn’t change, doesn’t harden or snap as he stares deep into his eyes and says, soft and gentle, barely whispering, “you know, this could have all been avoided had you not been so ignorant,” and he pushes the knife into his side, inch by inch. The man jerks, his screams racking back up, before they seem to catch and gurgle in his throat. Choking him.

Regina likes to keep to herself, to find a place as close to a fire as possible and sit while her wet clothes warm and dry.  But she finds this woman so intriguing, she wants to talk to her.  And not out of some obligation with Granny, either.

So she grabs her mug of ale and moves to her table, sitting where a disgruntled drunk has just left, cursing about Maleficent being some sort of tease.

“You must be Regina,” Maleficent says, holding out her hand.  “I’m Maleficent.  Though I’m sure you know that.”

Regina nods.  “I’ve heard of you… but Stephan’s… I mean Aurora’s kingdom is far from here—”

“Yes, well…” Maleficent looks down at her soiled dress and sighs.  “I was doing just fine.  I had made quite a life for myself in the neighboring kingdom.  But then… Aurora employed the use of fairies.” She wrinkles her nose.  “Rather unpleasant creatures.  They put a locator spell on me and found me an instant.  I escaped from the dungeon knowing it was only a matter of time before I was caught, unless I ran far.  Even here… I’m not sure…”

She looks around, making sure none of the men are currently looking at her.  Thankfully nearly all of them have their eyes focused on a newly erupted bar fight on the opposite end of the room. “I traded nearly everything I had for this.  She grabs at the necklace she is wearing, to free the pendant that is currently hidden in her cleavage.  

It glows bright green.

“Pixie dust?” Regina asks.

“Anti-pixie dust.  Fairy repellant.  Makes me invisible to the little blood suckers.” She puts the vial away, safely sandwiched between her perfect breasts.  

“Of course, this means I have to start over. I stole this from a clumsy merchant,” she looks at her dress grimacing.  “It’s not my style. but it was better than the burlap sack I was wearing before. The sea witch needed the clothes off my back to make this.”

“Ursula gave you this?” Regina asks incredulously.  She has always been fascinated by Ursula, so many myths about her. She admires the woman, so resilient after the entire sea has been set against destroying her.

Maleficent nods.  And then she leans over to a nearby drunk’s messenger bag and scoops up an apple.  She grabs a knife from somewhere (perhaps it was in her boot) and starts to cut it into slices.  

“I’ve been on the lamb for years, little bandit.  I keep my ears and eyes open.  I’ve had plenty of time to build favors and make connections.  Unfortunately I had to call in every last one to get to this. But it’s been two weeks and there’s not a fairy in sight, so I’ll take it.”

“I heard you were a fairy,” Regina whispers, “or some sort of—”

“Witch?  Yes, so I’ve heard.  I feel there’s something inside me I haven’t harnessed but…”  She throws the knife she holds up in the air.  It spins and tumbles up, then boomerangs down and falls into her hand, the handle right against her palm, the sharp blade pointing away from her.  “So far my talents are quite… ordinary.  Now, I’ve heard you are anything but ordinary.  Please, tell me the story of the masquerade ball heist, I’ve heard it many a time, and still don’t believe it.”

They trade stories then, enjoy each other’s company.  The men around them are shut out, ignored.  Until a particular man makes his entrance.

“Well, if it ain’t the prince of thieves!” The dwarf shouts.  Regina can’t help but glance up, finding the handsome thief staring back at her with those annoyingly beautiful blue eyes.  He smiles and winks at her.  And then he must notice the woman next to her, because he cocks his head a bit as if to say Who is she?

She sees John whispering something into his ear and assumes that he is explaining the identity of the blonde woman next to her.

“Well, I wouldn’t mind sharing a hay tick with that specimen over there,”  Maleficent whispers in a sultry tone.  

“Who?” Regina asks innocently.  

“Who do you think? The gorgeous one.” Mal points directly at him.  Regina fights the feeling of jealousy in her, the voice inside her head that keeps repeating Mine. “Who is that anyway?”

“Robin,” she breathes, staring back at him.  He must be celebrating.  There’s plenty of ale being passed around, and men keep slapping him on the back. He’s laughing and talking animatedly about something… but his eyes keep wandering back to her, offering her that smile of his that makes her heart skip a beat.  She glances back at Maleficent who has her eyebrow cocked up, and it’s only then that Regina remembers she didn’t fully answer her question. “Hood,” she corrects, “Robin Hood. The thief.”

“Ohhhh, Robin is it?”  Mal says, mimicking her earlier smitten tone.

 “What?” Regina dares, scowling at her.

“Someone has a crush.”

“On him?  Not in the slightest.  We’re competitors, but he… well, we help one another out.  He’s not… horrible.”

“Mmm,” Mal says, her eyes never leaving Robin’s.

Regina can’t help but look at him too, and she misses Granny approaching until she’s slamming plates down on the table.  “This is from the gentleman — and he did tell me to call him that, just so you know — over there.”  Granny points at Robin with a roll of her eyes.  But she likes the thief, Regina can tell by the way she smirks and smiles.

It’s a loaf of crusty bread and a large bowl of that hearty meat stew, clearly meant for the two of them. Regina’s stomach grumbles.  It’s been too long since she felt full, and this meal could make her feel just that.  But… it’s charity.  She doesn’t take charity.

“Tell the gentleman to save his money,” she grumbles, “I’m more than capable of getting my own food.”

“Then why are you so god damned bony?” Granny mutters.  “And he specifically said to give this food to you two ladies, so this time, Regina, you don’t have the right to refuse.”  She turns to Maleficent, waiting for her response.

“Give him my thanks,” the blonde responds, breaking the bread hungrily.

When Granny leaves, Maleficent leans in, a knowing smirk on her lips. “I think your crush reciprocates your feelings.”

Regina rolls her eyes. “He doesn’t.  And I wish you wouldn’t have done that.”

“Regina, darling, we’re bandits, we’re outlaws.  There’s no sense in saving face.  We take what we can get in this world.  I’ve been at this long enough to know that wounded pride hurts much less than an empty stomach.  Or the pain of illness that comes from malnourishment.  Eat up.”

And so she does.  She downs the last of her ale (which was supposed to be her dinner) and ravishes the stew and bread.  Gods, she was hungry.

She glances up at Robin, half expecting him to be looking smugly at her as she finishes her helping of stew, but his attentions are on his men now.  

Good, she supposes. The last thing she wants is to see that smug little smile on his face as he stares at her from across the room.

She wonders what great sting he’s participated in this time, and how successful it was.  If he can afford to be buying this amount of bread and ale, she assumes it was quite successful.  

He usually invites her over. Usually comes up to try to charm her, and they banter and trade insults until he leaves.  She tells herself she finds it incredibly obnoxious and dull. But now that he is standing at the opposite end of the tavern, laughing and gabbing with everyone but her, it feels like, well… she finds she misses it.

She puts those thoughts aside, and focuses on her new friend.  Who has time for men, anyway?  Especially when there are interesting women such as Maleficent.

When Granny shouts that it is the last call for drinks, Regina thinks of her key.  Perhaps her new friend deserves a good night’s sleep more than her.  But…it’s raining out, and her fur is still damp, and she’s unwilling to let this room go.

“The tavern owner over there — Granny, as she likes to be called — she gave me a room for the night.” She shows her the key.  “It’s most likely one of the big rooms that no one can afford to pay for.  If you’ve nowhere else to sleep, I suppose we could split the room.”

Maleficent smiles broadly. “I do like that idea.”

They slip upstairs, Regina pausing to steal a glance at Robin.  He’s three sheets to the wind now, a hand on that new barmaid’s hip as he makes her laugh and laugh.  He doesn’t even notice she’s leaving.

So much for that crush, huh?

She swallows the bitter resentment down, that green and envious feeling she has no right to feel. He’s not hers.  

And she doesn’t even like him, anyway.

.::.

The room is fit for the queen’s guards, should they ever wander to this abandoned corner of the forest. It comes with a fireplace and a tub. The fire is going already when they walk in, a cauldron of water already on the hearth.

“Well, little bandit, it seems the thief isn’t the only one you’ve charmed.  This is quite the room.”

Regina smirks.  She doesn’t mind admitting that she’s a favorite of the old woman.  Besides, she’ll steal some chickens for her and deliver them to her kitchen like she always does.  A proper payment for the room and the service at the tavern.

“Oh christ, it’s a bath.”  Maleficent moans, running to the fireplace.   “Help me carry this over there.”

It’s a heavy, full caldron of heated water.  There are buckets of cool water nearby, to mix, and when they’ve filled the tub with all of it, the end result is a perfect, warm bath Regina would just love to sink into.  But Maleficent deserves this more than her.  Her body itches with jealousy as she watches her undress.

“I left my modesty with all my belongings back at the water’s edge.  I hope you don’t mind,” Maleficent gropes at the lacing of her dress and pulls it apart.  She slides it off her body, and… well, she’s quite the sight.  Years of living on the run has done nothing to harden her curvy female figure.  She’s… gorgeous.

Well, at least this will distract her from thoughts of Robin and that wicked woman in the tavern.

Regina has always known this about herself, from a young age she’s known the thoughts and attentions she’s paid to other females isn’t exactly… the norm.  She knows what the other noble ladies had to say about women like her, women who feel this way about other women.  She bites back the feeling of shame that courses through her, a reflex, residual pain from a previous life she should have all but blocked out.

Those judgy women aren’t here.  And Queen Snow may have made such thoughts and acts illegal, but the woman cannot see into her damn head.  

Negative thoughts all but leave her mind when Maleficent leans over the tub, testing the water with her hand.  She looks gorgeous bent over like this.  Regina’s breath catches in her throat, and she does her best to look away as the blonde enters the tub, letting out a sinful groan.

“Oh gods, Regina, this feels so good…” she moans, “Can’t tell you how long I’ve been dreaming about a warm bath.”

“Yes, must be nice.” Regina can’t quite keep the bitterness out of her tone, as her envy overwhelms her.  She finds some towels, and hell, she can maybe rub out some of the grime with them.  Her leather rucksack has her change of clothes.  She can dry her current clothes by the fire.  If she won’t be nice and warm, at least they will be, by morning.

She tries her best to shield herself from Maleficent’s sight so she can remove her clothes.  

 “Regina, aren’t you coming in?”

What?

She turns abruptly at the question and looks incredulously at her.  Maleficent’s hair is soaked with water now. Curly strands frame her face in a way that looks so positively delicious.  She wants to run her hands through her hair, wants to feel those wet locks in her fingers as she kisses her.  “I… are you asking me to share this little tub with you?”

“Mmhmm,” Mal hums. “It’s only fair you get to share.  I wouldn’t be here if not for you.”  She raises an eyebrow and cocks her head.  “Unless you’re uncomfortable with the idea.  Afraid of me?”  Her voice goes deeper, and it’s both seductive and taunting.  

And hell, the idea of soaking in the heavenly warm water sounds amazing… and she’d be lying if she said she doesn’t want to touch and feel the wet, slippery skin of the beautiful woman before her.  So she puts aside the worry that she may embarrass herself by gawking too noticeably, and focuses on proving she isn’t afraid of anyone or anything.

She’s careful to undress by the side of the tub, so she isn’t directly in Maleficent’s line of vision. But she feels her eyes on her, and when she dares to look up, she catches her staring.

Her cheeks flare red, but Maleficent’s do not.  She just smiles, and continues to stare at her.

Regina removes the last of her clothes, and her hands fly over her most private areas on instinct. It draws a small chuckle out of her new friend, just a light little bubble of a laugh that she tamps down quickly. Yet, it’s  enough to make Regina embarrassed of her modesty.  She removes her hands and enters the tub from the opposite end of Maleficent.  It’s small, but she fits, sitting down between that gorgeous woman’s legs. Regina’s own legs are bent at the knees, her feet precariously close to Maleficent’s core.  It’s a bit dangerous, a bit unexpectedly thrilling, being all wet and close and naked with a beautiful stranger.

But she does not seem like a stranger, not really.  She feels as if she had known Maleficent her whole life.

“You are beautiful,” Maleficent murmurs, eyes burrowing themselves deep into Regina’s body.  She doesn’t hide her predatory stare, has no intention of ignoring the obvious physical attraction they have for one another. But… well… this is new for Regina. She blushes, and babbles incoherently before finally managing to offer a You too.

  The captivating woman reaches to a nearby table and grabs a bathing rag and a rope of soap.  She soaps up the rag and hands it to her.

“Sorry, don’t want to be keeping all this soapy goodness for myself,” she says seductively.  “Wash up.”

“Thank you, Maleficent.”

“You can call me Mal, little one.”

Mal.  Regina nods and swallows heavily.  And then she focuses all that wanton desire, channels it into ridding herself of the grime of the forest that she carries on her body.

There’s stubborn dirt that’s clinging to her, pieces of debris she’s longed to wash out, but the river is too cold this time of year  for her to get a proper bath.  Regina scrubs her arms and shoulders vigorously, paying special attention to her filthy hands.  The dirt lifts away, and she feels more like herself, here, in this tub she’s sharing with an alleged witch, than she has in ages.

When it’s time to clean her chest and torso, she has a shy moment.  Mal has been watching her, mouth parted, eyes sparkling.  Regina feels her insides turn liquid, desire flaring up even more than it had already.  She wants… she does not know what she wants.  Not really.  Well, she wants to touch her.  To kiss her, to trace her curves with her tongue… where did that thought come from?

Regina takes a deep breath and washes her breasts, her pert, tight nipples far too hard for such a warm bath.  She lifts a leg straight up to wash it, and that’s when she realizes she’s won.  Mal lets out an indulgent moan, and now looks more… affected than amused.

She does the same with the other leg.  Mal licks her lips and hums.

“You’re a limber little one, aren’t you?” Mal murmurs, “But as flexible as you are, I bet you can’t wash your own back.  Turn around, let me get that for you.”

Well, the prospect of sitting between Mals legs while she rubs at her back does not sound bad in the least.  She stands in the bath and spins, situating herself torturously close to the object of her desire.

“You have beautiful hair,” Mal says, swiping it aside to rub the expanse of her neck. “So shiny, so soft.”

“You do, too,” Regina purs. Something about not having to face Maleficent makes this… easier.  The rag rubs gently as her skin tingles and turns to goose flesh.  She moans a bit when Maleficent finishes rubbing, feeling the loss of her touch too acutely.

“Tell me, have you ever been with a woman before?”  

The question shocks her, has her gasping audibly, then blushing (thank god her back is turned).

“N-no.” She recovers a bit, and adds, “I’ve been with a man before.”

Mal scoffs.  “And so have I. That doesn’t mean much, does it?” She reaches for a pitcher of tepid water and pours some over Regina’s head, then repeats the action.  It’s oddly soothing, sensual, as she plays with her wet hair, combing it through her hands.  “Don’t get me wrong.  I’m not blind, I see the way you look at that thief.” Mal lathers soap into her hair while scraping slightly at her scalp.  “But you are like me, are you not?”

Like her.  

 She’s not blind, either, it seems.  And she hasn’t misinterpreted Mal’s stares.

“Yes.  I am like you,” she agrees, in a voice that sounds surprisingly strong.

“So you are.”

Regina’s insides grow white hot.  There’s a bit of a pulse she feels down below, a subtle throb that makes her want for things she should not.  She wants to touch herself, or maybe be touched, by this beautiful woman she barely knows, until the ache between her legs is soothed.

She never feels like this, not for anyone but Robin, and he… he’s not an option.  He’s too busy with his men and his barmaids and his mind games to ever start something with the likes of her.  And here’s a woman she wants, who is warm and willing and she suddenly feels like a little virgin, unable to know what move to make next.  

Mal pours more water over her head, washing away the soapy bubbles.  She repeats the action until her hair is clean and free of the suds.

“My turn,” Regina breathes. She needs to touch her, to put her hands on the creamy flesh of her back and neck.  Regina turns around, prepared for Mal to do the same so she can wash her back.  

Mal doesn’t turn her back to her yet.

 “Hmmmm…” she says instead, running a hand through her hair, skimming through the locks that frame her face before shifting to slide down her jaw, to her mouth, letting fingers dance over each lovely lip.  She cups her hand over her chin.

“I think it’s still my turn.”

It feels so natural, the way they meet for that first kiss.  It’s sweet, just a peck, and then Regina draws back to check Mal’s expression. It seems unbelievable to her that a woman so perfect, so strong, would want her.

 It’s Mal who draws her back for a longer, deeper kiss.  Tongues meet and dance and smack together.  And one kiss becomes another.

And another.

And another.

Kissing her feels good. It feels right.  She’s only kissed Robin once.  It was a mistletoe kiss, nothing serious.  But she’d kissed him good and proper as he would say, deeply and truly, and it’s the only time a kiss has felt like this does now, with Mal.

It’s only been with Mal and Robin that she’s felt this need, this desire to go further, to touch and press her body against theirs, and oh!

 Mal touches first, a hand gropes expertly at her breast while her other grips underwater at her hip, moving slowly down, down….

God, to be touched there by someone she actually wants touching her, the mere thought is just—-

There’s a loud knock at the door, a frantic, uncoordinated thing, but loud as the hounds of hell. Regina and Mal both part from the kiss, moving to get out of the tub with a stealthy reaction of those who have spent too much of their lives hiding from certain death.

“Reginaaa!!!” a voice cries.

She knows that voice.

“Shit,” she whispers, scrambling out of the tub.  Mal looks confused, until Regina motions for her to stay where she is.  She nods, and sits back down.

The knocking is louder now.

“Regina please open the door, please, I beg you.”

She grabs a towel and makes her way towards the door.  The blasted thing is small, and she’s barely able to cover her breasts and ass at the same time, but it will work for this.

“What do you want?” she asks, cracking open the door ever so slightly.

“I need to talk to you, don’t do this, please Regina.”

He looks… well, drunk. But also desperate and sad.  She’s not sure what has brought him here, on a night where he was so obviously celebrating.

“Do what?”

“I… I was looking for you…” He’s craning his neck, trying to see what’s behind her, “I… I care for you so much Regina, you’ve no idea what you mean to me.”

She’s unable to get that image of him with the barmaid out of her head.  She rolls her eyes and sighs.  “You have a funny way of showing it.  Why don’t you go back to Ingrid?”

Robin’s eyes go wide, and he shakes his head furiously.  “Because I care nothing for Ingrid!  Her father is a guard at the dungeon, Regina, she can get me a key and find me a way to get those prisoners out and freed, that’s all it was, that’s all it ever was.”

She looks at him skeptically, trying to hide the relief that washes over her.  She knows he’s been trying to free the wrongfully accused for months, but the dungeon is well guarded, and the inside is one long, confusing dark maze.   And well, maybe it’s wrong, to be happy he hasn’t moved on and into some woman’s bed when that’s exactly what she was about to do (god, she hopes it was) but… well, she rather likes Robin unattached.

“Why are you here?” She asks, her lips curving into a smile.

“I was looking for you, and John said, he said you went to a room, that you were sharing a room with someone and I would lose you forever, and you need to know, Regina, you need to know, I’ve fallen completely in lo— “

A warm wet body slides behind her, and opens the door just enough for him to see.

Mal wraps her arms around her somewhat possessively, peering over Regina’s shoulder at a startled Robin.

“I know you…”  she purrs at Robin before dropping a very small, sweet peck to Regina’s shoulder.  “The good looking thief who gave us bread and stew.  And what can we give you, Prince of Thieves?”

Regina is frozen in fear, in shame, in….

The thief’s eyes grow wide. “I–I–my god, Regina, milady, I— had no idea…”

He sputters, and looks so absolutely mortified it all but washes away all that negativity. Suddenly the whole thing is amusing.

“No, you must come in!” Mal insists, opening the door wide.

Regina turns to her angrily. “Mal…”

 “Oh hush, let him in, my dear.”

She walks away naked, back towards the tub.  “I’m going to finish my bath.  You are more than welcome to sleep it off.  It’s a big bed.  And I can use all the friends I can get.”

Robin is smirking now, giving Regina that look she absolutely hates (loves) that he seems to give every time he rolls the dice and ends up with snake eyes.

The look changes though, this time, and grows more serious, more… sensual.

“I shouldn’t have interrupted,” he whispers to Regina, reaching up to run a hand through her wet hair. “I just… this thing between us, I’m not the only one who feels it, am I?”

Regina cannot help but feel young and silly as she laughs and ducks her head to hide her smile.  “No, you’re not the only one.”

“I’ll leave you ladies to your own devices, then,” he offers, kissing her cheek. “She’s gorgeous, by the way.”

Regina snorts.  She supposes it’s Robin congratulating her on her successful pick-up, and it should be offensive, but coming from his mouth, it’s just cute.

“Have your men left?” Regina asks.  

Robin grimaces and chuckles. “We were halfway back to camp when John spoke.  I… I rushed back here high on whiskey and low on sleep.”

She doesn’t want him to leave just yet, she realizes. There’s a storm outside, and the man is alone and not quite sober yet.

“Come on in,” she sighs. “But I’m locking you in the wardrobe while I get changed.”

“I wouldn’t want to intrude,” Robin says even as he teeters into the room on unsteady feet.  

“You’re not intruding,” Mal calls out from the bath.  “You’re making things more interesting.”

///

Twenty-eight years. It had been twenty-eight years. Her baby was no longer an infant, she was a young woman. A young woman who had faced the challenges of the world, hardships, battled internal darkness without the love of a parent.

She feared she would never get Lily back, and it wasn’t easy, not in those early days. Both were trying to gage the other. There was too much to discuss, things that needed to be said, but the time passed. They found their place together. Two badass dragon bitches.

///

Regina had always thought family was about a series of expectations. She blamed her mother for that. Her childhood was spent shuffled between tutors of literature and economics, learning the names of royalty. She would have elocution lessons. Present herself in a certain way for one day she would be Queen.

Her father loved her, but it wasn’t enough. His love meant that he would dip his head, close his eyes. Blind to the injustice. The passive avoidance making him just as guilty. She didn’t blame him, didn’t hate him, She loved her papa but she wished for more.

//

Henry had taught her that family was about the struggles to make things work. It was the undeniable love for someone else. It was the push you needed to get up in the morning. It was the smile on her face.

//

Robin had created his own family- The Merry Men were a crazy bunch of outcasts, people that for some reason didn’t fit, or refused to fit in. Yet they were some of the kindest people he knew. They would be there without question, to laugh, to cry, to give space and time.

///

Regina and Mal’s relationship had been, turbulent. As a young princess she was infatuated with her, the sorceress was irresistible. She was fierce but loving. A loyalty, a desire that was infectious. It hadn’t worked. It could never work.

She supposed then they had been enemies. There was no hatred, not really, jealousy tinged with disappointment maybe, but not hatred.

So when Mal had returned, back from the dead (Regina probably shouldn’t have locked her up and allowed the saviour to kill her) moments after Robin’s departure she didn’t know what to feel. She was hurting, and Mal knew. Mal had always known. She was reluctant at first, felt awful for cheating on Robin, even though he was now happily living with Marian. It was a couple of months when they had shared a few drinks. Spilling their sordid life stories over a whiskey or several. They had found that the connection, had not wavered in the thirteen years, two lonely broken souls had comforted one another again. The comforting touch on a shoulder, a friendly hug would, over the course of the night turn into something more heated more passionate. Two friends, lovers reigniting a flame. Both had a good night, one of the best in a long time, the morning hangover would not be so fun. As loathe as they were to admit it they were older than they once were.

//

The debacle that was discovering that Marian was Zelena, and that she was pregnant sent Regina into a searing rage.

Her soulmate had been raped by her own sister as some sick twisted, entirely fucked up way to get back at her.

Meanwhile in Storybrooke she had been lamenting and fucking Mal. Well wasn’t she just girlfriend of the year.

It was Robin that found her, in a secluded corner of Central Park, and Regina was hit with a new wave of guilt. Robin was the one that had been raped and here she was feeling sorry for herself.

“Regina”

She refused to look, couldn’t look into his eyes, too afraid of what she was going to see”

“Regina, look at me please.”

She found she could not deny him.

“Regina, we’re both still trying to process what happened, and that’s going to take a lot of time, but we can’t change anything, and pretending it like it never happened, that’s not going to achieve anything. We have to go with what we know. I love you, in these past few months I have tried to live the life I should, a life of honour,  as husband and wife, or rather the person I believed to be my wife and it wasn’t the same. "  he looked up at Regina, finding some kind of comfort in her expression.

"I didn’t love her because my heart no longer belonged to her. It belonged to you. I thought she was still alive, and whilst I didn’t want to be with her anymore, it would be unfair to both of us. I wanted her to be happy, find her own soulmate in the world. I mourned her all those years ago, had learned to live with the ache in my heart. Now I have to deal with it again. I think that’s what angers me the most, the fact that that witch could manipulate me like that. Live a lie, so complex, to deceive and manipulate, it can be nothing but malicious. She took the memory of my wife, the love I will always feel for her, and used it for vengeful sex. I was nothing more than a pawn in her fucking game. Day in Day out she would act so sweet, trying to fit in. Trying to understand everything. It was all a lie. I didn’t even realise it was a lie. Who can’t tell the difference between an imposter and their own wife. That monster betrayed her, but so did I. I do not know what to trust. If I can even trust myself. If I’m just a fool? It will take me some time to try and figure everything out, I can never forget this feeling of resentment, betrayal.  The only other thing I know is that that child is mine, and regardless of the circumstances of its conception, I will fight for that child. If I have to, I will do it alone, but I want to do it, as we shall do everything from now on together.” It was an emotive speech, and Regina smiled, placing her head on his shoulders

She looked up at him then, squeezing his hand. “Robin look at me, please”

Robin slowly turned his face towards hers- taking deep breaths, trying to calm down. “There is nothing that I can say that will make this go away, that will turn back the clock. Nothing that will make the pain any easier to deal with. I will tell you this though, It is not your fault. You believed that woman to be your wife, you said yourself she was trying to understand a world she was not familiar with, you believed her to be dead, you harboured feelings for me. It wasn’t going to be the same. You aren’t a fool. You didn’t betray your wife. I know whatever the future holds will be hard, but I want to be there for you. I want to do this together”

He didn’t say anything just buried his head in the crook of her neck, seeking a familiar comfort

She memorised his face, knowing that what she was about to say could break him, could leave him hating her. Both. That was unimaginable but she couldn’t lie to him.

“Robin there is something else I need to tell you something and please just let me finish before you ask anything okay?”

Robin looked puzzled and anxious- “Regina, what is it, what’s wrong, is Henry okay? What’s happening in Storybrooke?”

Regina sighed; she was going to lose him, seconds after finding him again. “Henry is fine, wonderful in fact. It’s me, I’m alright. It’s just after you left I….I didn’t handle it very well, you came into my life and for the first time I thought that maybe a villain could get a happy ending that maybe Henry would be able to have a father figure, that perhaps I would have a family, and I knew that it was foolish, that you had Henry, and Marian was your wife, that I wouldn’t compete with her. That it was unfair for me to even think that it was a fight, or that you were some sort of prize, so I just didn’t cope. I locked myself in my office, wouldn’t speak to anyone. I didn’t know what to say. Of course it being Storybrooke and the Queens of Darkness turn up (Cruella, Ursula and Maleficent), insistent on getting a happy ending for the villains.  I have a history with Mal, old friends turned lovers, turned enemies. She always understood me though, in a way few else could. One night we shared a few drinks and our life stories, things got heated, you were gone I didn’t think I would see you again. I just wanted to feel something other than pain.

"We’re friends, but it was getting more serious between us, I love you though. Once we get back to Storybrooke I will tell Mal that whatever was blossoming between us is over”

She searched his eyes for something, anything to tell her how she would feel.

“Thank you for telling me Regina, but why don’t we just wait until we get to Storybrooke, today has been an intense day and I think we both need a rest. Know this; what you just told me doesn’t change how I feel about you.”

//

The entire return trip Regina was nervous, petrified, she had no idea what was going to happen, how Mal or Robin would react to each other.

//

Robin hadn’t been shocked that Regina had found comfort in someone else, slightly jealous yes of course, but not shocked or hurt. Her heart was something she kept so well guarded, so if someone managed to view it, claim it, they were honoured.

He would admit to being curious as to what this Mal would look like.

//

Mal was waiting for Regina at Granny’s, she was anxious- Regina had rang her saying she needed to talk, Mal already knew that they had found Robin, the man that had claimed Regina’s heart. She knew that whatever they had was about to end. She expected to be sad, to hate this Robin, but she could never hate someone that made Regina’s eyes dance.

//

Regina entered Granny’s and her and Mal awkwardly hugged each other, breaking the embrace when they heard the bell, signalling Robin’s arrival.

//

Robin assumed the blonde was Mal, and he had to bite the laugh that threatened to escape his mouth, she was so like Regina, the pantsuits that perfectly accentuated her curves, a smile that was rare but bright, and eyes that had seen unimaginable pain, but shone with fierce determination. The hug was awkward, and he really hoped it wasn’t on his account.

//

“Mal… “ Regina began.

“I know little one. This can’t happen anymore. Don’t apologise. We have both come too far to apologise when life grants us a chance at happiness”

//

It took a week before Robin suggested it. Regina was happy yes, but he could tell she was still thinking of Mal and truth being told he had thought of her too.

“Regina, my love, you still love Mal, don’t you?”

Regina wanted to scream. How could he ask that? What was she supposed to answer? “I don’t know what you want me to tell you”

“Truth always the Truth”

“Yes,” it was barely more than a whisper.

“This is going to sound strange b

“We’re not Mormons” Regina couldn’t help but shout.

Robin laughed; Regina always had the best timing.

“What would that mean though? How would it work?”

“I don’t know, or even if it will work, but would you be willing to try?” he replied.

///

Regina spoke to Mal and despite the initial shock she agreed.

///

The three found on that they got along splendidly- all of them had a dry humour which helped to dissipate any initial awkwardness. They would go on walks under the moonlight; they didn’t want anyone to see them…not yet.

Mal would come around for tea, it was on one of these occasions, when the friendly flirtatious banter progressed into something more. Robin was cooking; something which Mal in particular found attractive about him, and Mal and Regina had been regaling stories of their younger years. The exploration of bodies, kisses being trailed down each other’s spines, bringing each other to their peaks, before the sweet release. Robin was turned on, and they knew it. Smirking Mal turned to Regina and asked “Are you still a bad girl Regina?”

With a smug laugh she replied “The worst” before both of them went to tease Robin mercilessly, turning the oven off- dinner could wait. Mal kissed Robin deeply, and Robin couldn’t help but respond, the kiss intensifying causing Mal to moan into it. Regina meanwhile had moved to his tightening cock, taking it in her hands. Robin wouldn’t last much longer.

///

It was three weeks after that um frolicking and the trio were finding it increasingly hard to keep it from people, Henry already knew. Deciding to inform Regina casually one morning that there was someone’s shirt in the laundry that wasn’t hers or Robins, but Mal’s. Similarly Lily knew, had asked her mom why she wouldn’t come home sometimes.

That night none of them could be bothered to cook so they made their way to Granny’s hand in hand.

Leroy sent them a questioning glance; well it was no longer a secret now. Maybe Regina should text Snow, it would be around the town in half the time if they both knew. Mal had only heard stories about the dwarf but if he wanted a show, she pulled Regina closer towards her and kissed her. Robin would never tire of seeing them kiss, but there was no way he was being left out. Regina it seems knew him too well, and turned to kiss him; he didn’t have the self-constraint of the ladies, and begged for more. Regina refused but whispered- later.

It was only then they realised people was staring. This was Storybrooke surely the people had witnessed stranger things than three people in love.

///

Two years later and things had finally settled down, Regina, Mal and Robin were three lost souls, three outcasts who hadn’t asked for much, they knew they would get by, but fate had brought them together.

The Mansion had never been so full- Henry, now seventeen was in his senior year, he was currently looking at colleges. Regina was cursing the fact that she hadn’t included one in her town plan. Lily worked in Boston, she was a lawyer in Kathryn’s firm, but made regular trips back home to see the family. Roland was seven and still had the cutest dimples in existence- Mal had practically melted when she first met him, Regina and Robin was indignant because they weren’t the cool ones. Dragons are the best, everyone knows that Roland had exclaimed. Eleanor or Elle had lived with them since birth- Zelena would take her alternate weekends, the situation was still something that Regina had not fully comes to terms with but the three of them knew how important it was to know where you came from.

They were led down under the apple tree, the silence comforting, all three of them smiling. Finally understanding what Family meant. Family was not something that you could define; it wasn’t two parents, two kids and a picket fence. Family was the feeling of just being free to be you. The network of people without whom you could not imagine your life without. The people who were there without you needing to ask.

For so long Mal had wondered how does a moment last forever? How can happiness endure? The answer was family.

Well that marks the end of the longest piece of fanfiction I have ever written! I hope you enjoyed it. Remember this is my first DQ/DOQ so any and all comments would be greatly appreciated.