#doq week

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.”

Robin’s eyes flutter open at the sound of crashing thunder and heavy rain drops pelting against the window panes. He sighs as he rolls onto his side and looks at the alarm clock, and no sooner than the time registered, he heard the beginnings of what would soon be Esme’s cries.

“Not it,” Regina and Mal’s groggy voices say in unison, shifting and stretching out as they adjusted the blankets around themselves.

“Why do I always have to get her?”

“Because,” Mal murmurs, “You sleep closest to the door.”

“It’s less steps for you,” Regina adds.

Rolling his eyes, he gets out of bed, shivering a little as the cool morning air touches legs, and he mutters something under his breath about taking turns--something he knows neither of them will acknowledge hearing. Nonetheless, he smiles as he looks back at them--legs tangled in the blankets and Regina’s head tipped and resting on Mal’s shoulder--and then, he heads down the hall, leaving them to doze back to sleep.

When he reaches the nursery, Esme is standing up in her crib, her face scrunched and her little hands gripping the rail as she whines. A lopsided grin tugs onto Robin’s face as he greets her--she always looks so grumpy in the morning.

“Good morning, sweetheart,” he coos as he lifts her from the crib, kissing her cheeks and her forehead and chin, as his hand smoothes her wild red wisps. He chuckles softly as they spring back up and he carries her downstairs to the kitchen. He grabs a bottle and she’s quick to reach for it, finally flashing him a gummy smile as her fingers stretch out and she grunts with excitement. “Okay,” he murmurs, kissing the top of her head as he kicks the refrigerator door closed. “Let’s go cuddle.”

Esme’s blue eyes turn up and she grins as she gnaws on the bottle; and quickly, he makes his way back to the bedroom, finding Regina and Mal in the exact same positions as they’d been in when he left.

Regina’s eyes open and Mal lifts her head as Robin slides back into bed--and no sooner than he does, Esme is reaching for them. Regina pulls her Esme to her as her knees draw up and Esme flops back against them, giggling as Mal makes silly faces at her. With a content sigh, Robin rolls onto his side and props up his head in his hand--and Esme laughs out as he blows a raspberry against her tiny palm.

It’s not long after that Roland’s head peaks into the room and Regina waves him in. Roland runs to the bed and dives in head first--earning a scowl from his baby sister--and he crawls up between Robin and Regina. He lays back against the pillows, and somehow ends up with the remote, turning on the old Batman cartoons he loves to watch on Saturday mornings.

Mal turns Esme around as she settles down, her blue eyes widening as she stares at the TV, suddenly captivated by the colorful images. Robin grins over at them as he lays back, his head propped up just enough to see the screen--his grin brightening as Regina’s fingers lace through his and her head falls to Mal’s shoulder.

“What’s going on in here?” Henry asks, rubbing at his eyes as he stares into the room--still half asleep.

“Watching Batman,” Roland says simply, not looking away from the TV.

“Oh…”

Robin watches as Henry blinks a couple of times, then cranes his neck to have a look at the TV, a faint smile forming on his lips. For a moment, he just stands there in the doorway, watching the cartoon; and then, he looks hesitantly back to the bed. His bottom lip catches between his teeth as he stares, and Robin wonders if he finds their unconventional arrangement a bit uncomfortable, and maybe even unsettling. But then, Henry takes a breath and struts forward, eyeing each of them as he stands at the foot of the bed.

Maleficent tears herself away from Regina to grin at where Robin leans against the doorframe. He’s a little looser in how he holds himself, Regina has no doubt most of his men - if not all of them - are in far worse states, but Robin had never been one to overindulge. Not anymore at least, not since the early months after Marian passed. “Good, you’re home!” Mal sits up and pulls Regina with her to make room for him to slide into the space on her other side. “Will you please tell Regina that tonight hasn’t somehow convinced you that you’d be better off without us?”

Robin slips his arm across Regina’s shoulders to tangle in Mal’s hair. “What?”

“She seems to think there’s a possibility of your men being against us, and that being enough to change your mind about what you want.” When Robin shakes his head and chuckles Mal shoots her a look that screams I told you so, little queen.

“Can you really blame me for thinking that?”

Robin drops a kiss to her hairline and sighs. “You know we don’t,” he says. “But that doesn’t mean we have to like it. Or, for that matter, that we’ll stop trying to get you to ignore that pessimistic inner voice of yours.”

Regina smiles ruefully as she leans into his chest a little, Mal following to lean across and claim a trio of kisses from Robin. “That might take a little longer.”

“I’d say we’re more than up for that challenge, love.” His smile takes on a darker hue as his hands start to wander a little over both of them, Mal’s eyes flash violet, the dragon within her showing through for a moment before she’s ducking back down to lick at Regina’s collarbone. And she should probably try a little harder not to melt into the pair of them as quickly as she does, but Regina has never been good at saying no to them, and now they’ve teamed up against her she’s even worse. So she mutes the voices telling her she’ll lose them sooner or later and falls into them.

Once the Merry Men and Charmings are told (Regina is still waiting for Snow to stop biting back her very obvious questions and show up in her living room, stroller and all, to demand answers), Regina finds herself more and more comfortable with the idea of being a little freer with her affections outside of the house. She lets herself reach for Mal’s hand when they walk to meet Robin for lunch, holds herself back less and less when the urge to mold herself into Robin’s side bubbles up, gives herself permission to start brushing soft kisses to both of their cheeks when she has to leave them and head back to her office.

She’s freer with letting others see them together, but she still only does it fleetingly, and though it’s technically in public because it’s not within the safety of their home, she normally only feels comfortable enough to do so when no one is really paying attention, or they’re at the Merry Men’s camp, Emma’s house or the loft.

Roland begs for them to go out for breakfast one morning, asks if they can go to Granny’s because he really needs to show Lily that he beat the latest Mario Brothers game on her old gameboy. Robin glances over the top of the paper at her and shrugs, it’s Zelena’s turn to have the baby so breakfast with all of them will probably help keep him in a good mood until they pick Olivia back up tomorrow afternoon.

“Sure, honey, we can go. Why don’t you go and wake up Henry and then you can ring Lily and see if she’s up?”

“Who’s ringing Lily?” Mal asks as she walks into the kitchen, passes Robin a grumpy but awake Olivia, and squeezes Regina’s hip before moving to the coffee maker. The one kitchen appliance she can actually work.

“I am!” Roland bounces up to her. “Regina said I can invite her to Granny’s for breakfast so I can show her my game!”

Maleficent squats down in front of him. “Well then, I guess you’d better go and call her! She might still be sleeping - you know she hates getting up on Sundays.” She darts forward to peck his nose before Roland tears away into the hall, only slowing a fraction when Regina calls after him don’t run on the stairs, Roland! You’ll hurt yourself before they hear him barging into Henry’s room. “I’m sure the son of Robin Hood has done much more dangerous things than run indoors, Regina,” she teases as she moves to drape her arms over Regina’s shoulders, grinning at Robin. He rolls his eyes at them before Olivia demands his attention once more.

“We should probably get ready then,” Regina says when she hears grumbling from Henry as he stomps into the bathroom.

Roland spots her as soon as he slips past Regina holding the the diner’s door open for Robin to maneuver the stroller inside. Olivia manages a garbled half sound that could be Lily’s name from where she sits in Regina’s arms.

“Lily!”

“Hey little man!” She leans down to return the enthusiastic hug he gives her knees and bites back a laugh when she locks eyes with Regina. “Why don’t you go and grab a table for us, kiddo, while I help Regina and your dad?”

Roland nods before darting over to a booth near the back of the diner as Lily moves to the doorway, grabs the front of the stroller and helps get the damn thing inside. “Thank you, Lily,” Robin says as he gives her a quick hug before following his son to the last booth in order to get it out of everyone’s way.

“Where’s mom?” Lily doesn’t trip over the word mom anymore, she’s still a little hesitant when it comes to being hugged, or any talk of moving to Storybrooke for good - even though she only left once to pack up some of her things and has been renting a room here for close to six months. She’s better with the kids, something Regina understands - it’s so much easier to show affection to a child than anyone else. And though her and Robin can see Mal struggling not to constantly reach out to her daughter, they make sure she knows they’re there for her.

“Her and Henry were just behind us, they’ll be here in a minute.” They move towards where Robin is now helping Roland out of his jacket by his chosen booth as Olivia twists and turns on Regina’s hip to look at the handful of people scattered throughout the diner.

“So…” Lily shoves her hands into the pockets of her jeans and glances at where Regina is attempting to keep her necklace out of Olivia’s hands and mouth. “Breakfast with the whole family, that’s new.”

“We’ve had breakfasts together before...”

“Well yeah,” Lily says as she slides in beside Roland and Regina passes the baby to Robin so she can take her coat off and slip in next to them. “But that’s only ever happened at the house. Or it’s just been mom and one of you - all three of you out together with the kiddos, it’s a big deal.” Lily quirks an eyebrow at her, like she’s daring Regina to disagree (it’s not a big deal, but at the same time it is), but doesn’t say anything else because Mal and Henry have finally caught up and she’s standing up to pull her mother into a casual hug before she’s slinging an arm around Henry and messing up his hair.

Mal seems struck dumb for a moment, Lily has never hugged her so casually before, like she did it instinctively and Regina finds herself wanting to tug Mal into the booth and her side when she sees her bite her lip and blink rapidly.

“Maleficent?” Robin does too, if the softness in his voice is anything to go by. “Darling?”

Robin calling Mal darling, something he does without thinking back home, out in the open sends something stirring within her. It has her reaching for Mal’s hand, weaving their fingers together and tugging her into the booth. Robin slips an arm across the top of the cushions to cup the back of Mal’s neck, and she squeezes Regina’s hand back as Lily starts teasing Henry across the table.

“You alright?” Robin asks. Mal nods and turns to press a kiss into the palm of his hand, not caring that two of the dwarves and Ruby can see her do it. All she does is turn her attention to where Lily is saying dude, I’m basically your big sister now. Teasing you mercilessly is in the job description, and Roland is asking Henry why he keeps blushing.

And this is all that matters really. It hits her as Lily enlists Roland in winding Henry up about his girlfriend, as Olivia grunts and wriggles her way out of Robin’s lap into her own so she can jabber away to Mal in gibberish, that this is her life now. She’s somehow gone from it being just her and Henry and a house far too big to ever really fill, to having constant noise and chaos with two children under six and a teenager at home. And she’s somehow ended up being allowed to love both Robin and Mal, and have them love her and each other too.

Regina’s never been this lucky before. And the rug might well get yanked out from under her one day, but right now she thinks she couldn’t care less. She makes up her mind when Robin starts to get quieter as the morning stretches towards lunch, no doubt dreading the moment she’ll be taking Olivia over to Zelena’s for the night. She’s felt eyes on them on and off throughout the morning, but no one’s said a word - not even Grumpy who saw Mal’s quite-clearly-more-than-friendly kiss - and honestly, when the hell has she ever cared about what the people in this damn town think of her?

“You should probably head off in a minute, Regina,” Robin sighs as he tickles Olivia where she sits snuggled into his lap.

She doesn’t say anything, just ducks forward to press her lips to his, ignoring the soft “ew” from Roland, she nips lightly at his bottom lip before soothing it with her tongue and pulling back. Gathering up Olivia she presses another kiss to his jaw and slides out of the gap Mal creates for her. Regina settles the baby on her hip with one arm and when Mal moves to grab the stroller she tangles her fingers into her blazer and yanks her forward for her own kiss.

Mal tenses against her for all of two seconds before one arm moves to cup the back of Regina’s head and she melts into it. She pulls back after what feels like both an age and far too soon, bites her lip and smiles at the half amazed look on Mal’s face. “I’ll be back soon,” she promises.

“You better be,” Mal teases before giving her another quick peck and sliding into her now vacated space beside Robin, pressing herself happily against his side and grinning into the kiss he drops onto her upturned lips. Roland grumbles another louder ew! before Lily is getting him to show her the new level he’s reached on the gameboy.

She doesn’t even need the potion to tell her, truthfully. She can tell, just like she could with Lily. That hand held to her lower abdomen pulses with magic, a little tendril exploring until it feels the flickering deep inside of her, a little spark slowly building to a flame. Her stomach twists even as a small smile catches at the corners of her lips.

The potion will only confirm what she already knows, but she wants it anyway. She wants something she can actually show to Robin and Regina when she inevitably has to tell them, because she can’t hide this forever.

Maleficent takes a deep breath, lets her magic brush against her womb once more, and then she focuses her gaze on the potion. It’s almost ready.

After it’s done, she stares at the potion, the little vial of liquid now turned milky pink. A positive result, as if she had any doubts when that tiny spark burns in her stomach. Tears well in her eyes, and that hand at her abdomen presses tighter, her free hand going to her mouth to hold in her sob. A mix of emotions rush through her, and all she can think is Regina and Robin and how she has to tell them.

Her magic is swirling around her before she’s consciously called upon it, whisking her from her hiding place in Regina’s vault back to the house. Regina isn’t supposed to be at home, it’s during the work day, but when Maleficent orients herself enough to realize she’s in the living room, there’s a similarly confused Regina on the couch. Robin, too, and he’s glancing around, as if he can’t quite believe he’s in the manor.

The unexpected results of her magic flusters Maleficent, red creeping up her neck as she clears her throat. When Regina asks if this was her doing, she mutters, “Sorry,” and then Regina’s brow is knitted with concern along with her confusion.

“Is everything all right?” Regina asks, and Maleficent is sure she can read the tension in her frame. Not to mention she had been crying earlier, and she’d hazard a guess that her eyes are still red-rimmed.

“I didn’t mean to — I was just trying to transport myself,” and she’s stumbling over her words, tongue working itself into knots, and their concern only grows. Those tears are back, prickling at her eyes. “I’m sorry, I don’t want to worry you…”

“Mal, just tell us what’s wrong,” Robin murmurs, and he’s approaching her now, reaching for her.

She collapses into his arms, unable to deny herself his comforting warmth. The smell of forest surrounds her as she presses her face to his neck, and then Regina’s there, too, her hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles as Maleficent’s shoulders tremble with barely contained sobs.

“I’m pregnant,” she gasps out, biting her lip hard once the words are free, and she feels the tension in Robin’s frame as Regina’s comforting hand freezes.

Her blood slows in her veins, even as her heart beats harder, fluttering in her chest. She shouldn’t have — she needed to — how could she just blurt it out like that—

“Did you say—?” and that’s Robin, he’s got his hands on her shoulders, gently holding her as he stares into her eyes, and Maleficent can’t read his expression, almost a year together of gazing into those eyes and now she has no idea what they’re saying.

It terrifies her, almost as much as hearing Regina’s voice next. It’s just a soft, disbelieving, “You’re pregnant?” but it slices straight through her, because she doesn’t know what it means. All that history and she cannot gauge her reaction, cannot fathom what either of them are thinking in this moment, when she’s dropped this into their laps without any sort of warning.

“Yes,” she confirms, and she holds up the little vial of potion, knowing Regina at least will understand what it means.

As expected, Regina’s eyes are locked onto the object in her hand, and when she shakes her head, a little breathless gasp of “How?” escaping her. Maleficent’s heart clenches when she continues, “You said it wasn’t possible…”

“I know,” she says, ducking her head. She can’t bear to look Regina in the eyes, not when she’s disappointed them like this. “I thought it wasn’t, otherwise I would have taken more precautions…”

“Wait,” Robin interrupts, his hand catching her chin, urging her to tilt her head back up but she shakes out of his grip, takes a few steps back for some much needed distance. She can’t be near them when she’s done this to them, when she’s been so careless and now there’s a child that they don’t want.

They’d discussed this, back when this entire relationship started. Talked about whether they’d need protection of some kind, because it wouldn’t be fair to have a child, and she had told them there would be no need. That dragons breeding was rare anyway, rarer still when disturbed from the natural order of things, and being transported to a realm without magic, killed, and then brought back to life certainly counted as a disturbance.

She hadn’t even realized her cycle had synced with this realm until it was too late, and she could feel the presence inside of her.

“Mal, look at us, please,” Robin says, though he’s dropped his hand to his side, had let her step away from him without a struggle.

Maleficent glances up, but her eyes are swimming, tear-filled as they are, and she can’t properly see them. Perhaps if she could, she’d be able to discern the compassion on his face, and the slight hurt from her rejection. As it is, she just feels miserable, that hand pressed to her middle once more, her magic instinctively seeking out that little flickering inside of her.

“Are you — you’re upset, is something wrong?” he asks, and she’s a little dumbfounded, her brow knitting together as she regards him.

Of course she’s upset. She’s messed up, she’s gotten pregnant after they had discussed no children, that they weren’t ready for it, and they thought they couldn’t have them anyway.

“I know you two didn’t want more children,” she manages to say around the lump in her throat. “And I honestly didn’t think it was possible, I’m so sorry, I should have — I should have been on a potion, or something, just in case…”

“Maleficent,” and that’s Regina, her voice suddenly firm in a way it wasn’t before, and it has her eyes snapping to meet hers. Whereas before Maleficent couldn’t read her expression, this one is crystal clear to her: that thin line of her lips, the dark spark in her eyes. “Do you think we’re angry with you right now?”

She raises her eyebrows at her, somehow pulling together enough of a look that says With that tone, yes, and Regina scowls for a moment.

“You know what I mean,” she says with a little roll of her eyes. She takes a hold of Maleficent’s hand, urging her onto the sofa where she and Robin both surround her. “We never said we didn’t want more children.”

“You did,” Maleficent argues, frowning. “You said it wouldn’t be wise to have any accidents with our arrangement, that bringing babies into it would be too complicated—”

“Mal,” Regina interrupts, and she looks at her, at the tears glistening in her eyes as Regina brings a hand up to cup her face. “God, Mal, that’s not what I meant. It wouldn’t have been wise to have children then. When we were just starting out, unsure of where this was all going.”

“Not to mention,” Robin says now, and Maleficent turns to look at him. He’s teary-eyed too, but what shocks her is the profound look of love on his face. “You know we both adore children. How could you think we’d be angry about this?”

Oh.

“You’re… You’re not upset?” she murmurs, something in her chest unclenching as she looks at them properly now. Those expressions that seemed so unreadable before are a lot clearer to her now, as she realizes how she had the situation all wrong. They weren’t disappointed at all, weren’t judging her failure.

They were simply stunned, overwhelmed by the impossibility they hadn’t realized was more probable than they had guessed.

“Of course not,” Regina says, and then she leans in, kissing her, those tears spilling over now, and Maleficent can just barely taste them on her lips. “The thought of having a baby with you — with both of you… I didn’t expect it, but I’m so overjoyed at the prospect. I love you.”

Maleficent turns then to Robin, wanting him to confirm it as well, and yes, of course he’s just as thrilled. A wide grin splits his face, and he nuzzles her cheek as he says, “I love you, too,” and then his hand slides to her belly, just resting there. He can’t feel the spark inside of her, not without magic, but she loves the comforting warmth of his palm even over her blouse. “And I cannot wait to raise this baby with the two loves of my life.”

She was so foolish earlier. She laughs, relieved, that crushing despair gone as she’s encircled in the arms of her lovers.

“I guess now all that’s left is to tell our children,” she says, biting her lip as she momentarily worries about what they’ll say.

She needn’t have.

They have dinner that night, Regina inviting Lily over so they can tell them all at the same time. The boys are immediately excited, plying Maleficent with questions about dragon pregnancies and will the baby be a dragon too and all sorts of fantastical things. Roland puffs up with excitement at the thought that he’ll be a big brother to someone, and Henry promises to teach him all the things he’s learned about being an older brother. Lily is quieter, more reserved, and when she takes the plates into the kitchen, Maleficent follows her in, regarding her daughter carefully as she scrapes food into the garbage disposal.

“Are you upset?” she asks, and Lily stills in front of the sink, but doesn’t turn around, doesn’t say anything.

When she does finally look at her, Maleficent’s heart sinks into her stomach. There are tears in her eyes, eyes so wide and brown and fathomless just like Regina’s, and this is Maleficent’s fault.

“There were times when I was on the street, and I wished I had a brother or a sister to look after me. Or even for me to look after. Something I could have responsibility for,” Lily says with a shrug. “It was stupid, of course. And then when I got older, I got over it. I was glad I didn’t have somebody else to give a damn about me, because then I didn’t have to give a damn about anything. I could just hate you, and Snow White, and this fucking place I didn’t even know for sure existed.”

Maleficent stays silent, though she wants to say something. To comfort. But she doesn’t think Lily is telling her this to hurt her.

“I thought I didn’t want this,” Lily continues, and she waves a hand. “You, the house, this whole ‘family’ thing.” She laughs then, a soft little thing, almost disbelieving. “But I’m so damn glad I have you, and Regina, and Robin, and the boys. And Mom… I am so happy for you and Regina and Robin.”

Lily is not a hugger, by any means. She tolerates the boys, particularly Roland, and more rarely indulges Maleficent or Robin. Regina shares this trait with her daughter, so Maleficent thinks she can count hugs between those two on one hand.

But Lily steps forward and wraps her arms around her mother, holding tight for a moment. Maleficent feels the tears return, pricking her eyes, and can’t find it in her to care as she holds her daughter. She feels something, a spark, a shock, and Lily gasps, pulling away.

“Was that—?”

Maleficent nods, takes Lily’s hand and presses it to her abdomen. “The baby,” she confirms. “I’m not far along by any means, but the magic is already there inside of them. It’s responding to you.”

“Wow,” Lily mutters, looking more than a little awed. “Hey there, spark plug,” she says, thumb rubbing over the material of Maleficent’s dress.

///

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.