#doqweek

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.”

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.

Checking her voicemail, she’d found a tiny town emergency that really needed to be fixed before Monday morning--they’d just shaken their heads at her and decided to wander around the hallways--and hadn’t come back, which meant that Regina went looking for them once she made  a few calls and had the city running again.

Evidently, they’d wandered into the copy room, because they were both staring, puzzled, at the copy machine--an old but reliable model that took up a large portion of the available floorspace.

They had the top open and Mal was staring into the glass as if trying to divine its function by looking at the revealed machinery. Robin was examining the outside--he found one of the paper drawers and tugged, revealing nothing more than a stack of plain white copy paper.

Regina quietly got out her phone and started recording.

“It’s electronic,” Mal said. She peered at the buttons on the panel, some of which had little pictures communicating the general idea of what they were for, but which were probably incomprehensible to Mal.

“I can see it’s electronic, but what’s it for?” Robin said, obviously frustrated. “Why keep paper in these drawers when there’s plenty of paper stacks on the shelves?”

Mal ran her fingers over the panel. “Green is good, right?” Without waiting for an answer from Robin, she pressed the big green button that was the default copy setting.

The machine whirred, a little unevenly--well, it wasn’t clanking, at least, which was a good sign--and Robin straightened up and away in a hurry.

“What are you doing?!”

“Green is good, usually,” Mal said calmly. “It probably won’t--”

Now suitably warmed up, the machine made an adjustment and the bright light of the copier flashed out of the glass, moving down and then back. Mal and Robin both watched in silence as the light went dark and a paper--almost totally black with toner--slid out of the tray on the side.

“That… can’t be what it’s supposed to do.” This from Robin.

“No,” Mal agreed, thoughtful. She closed the lid and pressed the button again. Again, the machine whirred, faster this time since it was warmed up, and seconds later there was a plain white paper in the tray.

“What?” Robin said, picking up this sheet. “It’s warm!”

“Hmmm,” Mal said. She lifted the lid and looked at the underside--plain white--and nodded. “I see.”

“I don’t.”

Mal held up a finger, scanning the shelves. She plucked an old flyer off the scrap paper pile and set it face down on the glass. Then she pressed the green button without closing the lid.

This time the paper was only dark around the edges of the copied paper’s dimensions. Inside, it was a less-than-ideal copy of the flyer.

“Oh,” Robin said. “I could have figured that out.”

“But I did,” Mal said, triumphant. She turned and smirked at Regina--and the camera. “I hope you got all that on the record.”

Regina laughed. “Most of it, anyway,” she admitted, ending the recording. “I think my favorite part was ‘green is good.’”

“Street lights, Clean dishwasher, the coffee pot, your green underwear…” Mal shot her a look even as Regina laughed.

“I’m surprised Robin didn’t remember the underwear first,” Regina said.

She wasn’t really surprised when Robin brought his arms around her, fitting her against his chest. “I prefer the red,” he said, voice low, breath tickling her ear.

Mal shook her head. “Red means stop.”

Robin hummed in mock concentration. “That hasn’t been my experience.” His hand trailed to where Regina’s sweater ended, pulling it up a little so his hand could rest on the waist of her jeans, his thumb skimming just underneath to bare skin.

Regina said, “And what kind of experience have you had with the color black in this land?” She couldn’t see his reaction, but she felt it in the way his arms stilled and tightened. She could see Mal, though, eyes dark, drawing a quick breath even as she stepped closer.

“Black means it’s time to go home,” Robin said. “Don’t you think, Mal?”

Instead, she smiles at them as she wanders up and puts the box of cereal into the basket, “Careful you two. Someone might catch you making out in the grocery store like teenagers.”

Robin gives her a playful nudge with his shoulder, leaning in to whisper in her ear, “Jealous, Darling?”

She wraps her arm around his waist and the tiny laugh lines at the corners of her eyes deepen as her amusement grows. “You know I’m not. I just like teasing you.” The look she shares with Regina speaks volumes, and she reaches out to her, taking her hand so that she can entwine their fingers together. Abruptly, the three of them are having a group hug in the middle of the aisle, and that’s not any less awkward, but it makes her chuckle all the same.

“I think we need to get this shopping done so that we can get back home,” Regina suggests, and there’s that devious look in her eye that Mal knows so well. The house is empty of children at the moment, so there’s no doubt what she’s hinting at.

“That is a brilliant idea, Love.” Robin’s clearly seen the look too, because a husky sort of note has crept into his voice. Mal just smiles and nods her agreement. She’s ready to share her warmth and happiness with the two of them.

She gives Robin a last squeeze and lets him go so that he can push the basket off toward the checkout. Regina follows him, and Mal goes along with her, refusing to relinquish the grip on her hand. She receives a raised eyebrow and matches it with one of her own; they both can play that game. A brief, silent, battle of wills ensues, but Regina finally relents with a slight shrug. Walking hand in hand to the register, the women garner a curious glance or two along the way, but there are no untoward comments.

It’s not like Mal doesn’t understand the hesitation. She and Regina are both very private people, but damn it, she wants the world to know just what these two are to her, what they mean to each other. If she could hold Robin’s hand at the moment, she would do that too, but instead she contents herself with one of her loves. There will be plenty of opportunities to show affection in future, she’s certain.  

At last the groceries are paid for and Maleficent has to reluctantly let Regina go. Robin doesn’t have enough hands to carry all of their purchases, so she and Regina each grab some of the bags and follow him out to his car. As they pile the bags into the trunk, Regina swipes Robin’s keys – she still doesn’t trust his driving – and goes to start the engine. Mal and Robin share an amused look, then a quick kiss.

“Milady?” he says, as he opens her door for her.

“Such a gentleman,” she teases him as she ducks into the backseat.

“But of course!”

Regina gives them a fond, yet exasperated look, and waits until they both have put on their seat belts. They’ve gone about a block before Robin’s hand settles on Regina’s knee and creeps slowly under the hem of her skirt, fingertips rubbing along her inner thigh. The action brings a low moan and a soft admonishment. “Robin…”  

Maleficent smiles as she sees the innocent expression on his face as he turns toward Regina. “Problem, Love?”

“What am I going to do with you?”

“I’ve a few suggestions.”

“I’m sure you do.”

From the moment he had first returned from New York, Mal had been a fixture in their lives.   Occasional dinners at Granny’s had turned into walks for dessert with Roland, into dinner parties where only Mal and Lily seemed to ever be invited.  It had been clear to Robin from early on that Regina thought of Mal as family.

Mal had initially been wary of him, but he wasn’t phased by her coldness.  Afterall, Marian’s family had reacted similarly when he first started dating her, and frankly, he quite liked the challenge of winning over those who seemed completely averse to him  (his courtship with Regina being evidence of that).

So he had accepted Maleficent in his life, put up with her little put-downs and snarked her back. They had traded insults, rolled eyes and pointed stares, but even a few weeks into his stay in Storybrooke, he was fairly certain she already liked him, deep down inside.

But whereas it had taken awhile for Mal to warm up to Robin, the dragon’s heart had opened for his children immediately.  

He's not surprised that she loved Roland.  Who could not?  Loving Roland is easy.  Roland is a happy boy, all dimpled, sweet goodness, with the endorsement of the likes of Snow White.  He’s pure, the product of good parents who loved one another.  In the eyes of everyone, he is a perfect, good little boy.

But Robin’s daughter is a whole other matter.  Even before she was born, there was talk of her curse, of a future that would be plagued with dark magic and an inability to love, of a corrupted heart and a dark soul.

But Maleficent paid no mind to the rumors and warnings.  In fact, every whispered comment or pointed stare she caught was met with fierce words. Mal was her biggest defender, even before she was born.

Of course he understands now, why Mal feels so strongly connected to the child, why the issue was so important to her.  Mal had lost her daughter because people feared her darkness, her potential for evil. And so perhaps a part of Mal sought to learn from that unfortunate lesson, and prevent history from repeating itself.

Mal offered her services to them, promised to protect the child at all cost from the “idiot villagers” who might threat her.

“Oh, that won’t be necessary,” Robin says immediately, “I’m sure no one would want to hurt a child.”

“You’d be surprised,” Mal drawls, “You’ve no idea what they are saying, and what they are capable of.  Fear drives people to do crazy things, to see a monster in the most innocent of children.”

Her eyes never leave Regina as she says that, and it makes the woman flush red, and she’s ducking and tucking a strand of hair behind her ear in a way that makes her look so young, so innocent.  

“What exactly are you proposing?” Regina asks.  There’s a small soft smile on her face that Robin hasn’t entirely seen before, and it intrigues him.

“I’m offering the child my protection.  I’ll always look out for her, if you let me in, I’ll always care for her.”

“Her?” Robin asks, skeptically, “we don’t even know—”

“Oh I know,” Mal waves, “I forgot you did not yet.  You are having a daughter.”

“How do you—?”

“It’s a dragon thing,” Regina answers.  It’s the first time he’s heard her answer like this (there will be many questions answered with these words in the future) and he's reminded that these two are connected in a special way, understand each other in a way few people do.

“I’m just asking for you two to let me in,” Mal says slowly, “I won’t intrude on family business, but I think if you let me know her, care for her, I could help, I could—”

“You want to be involved in her life.” Regina looks slyly at her.  

Mal nods, and follows with a curt “For her protection.”

“Could you... give us a moment to discuss this?” Regina asks.

Mal doesn’t hide emotions.  She feels it’s all wasted energy.  So she lets her face fall in disappointment before nodding and giving them space.

Regina walks Robin into the study, shutting the door tight.

“I realize you may have some… feelings about Maleficent being involved in the child’s life, especially given how difficult things already are and let me tell you—”

“Of the dragon who has burned villages and poisoned princesses?” He asks, unable to hide his smirk.  “Now why would I ever have qualms about her caring for my child? Especially when the woman I love once had a penchant for the same activities?”

Regina cannot fight the giggle that bubbles out of her. Perhaps it is a bit dark to joke about this, but between them, it just works.

“You don’t mind her involvement?” Regina asks.

“I like her,” Robin shrugs, “I know she may not like me—”

“She likes you,” Regina assures, “she likes you more than she will admit.”

“That’s not Mal, she doesn’t hide the way she feels, if she liked me, I’d know—”

“Mal doesn’t know she likes you yet,” Regina says with a sigh, “she’s not as guarded with me but there are some walls up.  And this is important to her.  She lost a child.  She wants to help prevent other children from being lost.  Including yours.  It’s important to her.  And I…” she looks so nervous, so unsure,  “I know this isn’t my daughter, and I have no right to ask…”

“You have every right to ask anything of me.”  It is too soon to say it out loud, but he already wanted to ask her to be the mother to the baby, to assume the role he knows Zelena could not.  

“I was wondering if you might consider making Mal a godparent,” Regina says, then laughs at the idea.  “I know, her history with godparents is… tricky.  But I think it would be good for her, they are protectors, and that’s the role she wants, and given her history, and—”

He cuts off her rambling with a kiss.

“A god-dragon.  I like it.”   And with that he takes her hand and leads her out of the study.

“Mal,” he says, still holding Regina’s hand.  “We have something to ask you.”

.::.

Regina isn’t one for ceremony.  She hates weddings (of course, it has something to do with her own being so traumatic).  She finds graduations far too full of frills and self-praise.  She doesn’t care for religious rituals (if there is a god, or gods, she questions whether they would require a lily white dress and snacking on crackers for their souls to be saved).  She believes in theatrics, sure, in making a grand entrance and a brilliant escape, but she’s never been much for following tradition.

So it surprises Mal at first, that she’s here, in town hall, in front of many people, having a little naming ceremony for their baby.  Regina, the beautiful little spitfire that she is, had insisted upon it, insisted that the daughter of the hero Robin Hood deserved recognition.  

But then Mal realizes that this is not about the ceremony but about the statement it makes about Regina’s relationship with Eliza.  She’s telling the town not to mess with her. She's letting the villagers know that she, the Evil Queen, loves this child, will protect this child, and will not stand idly by if she is mistreated.

Mal knows the whispered insults and rumors get back to Regina, and hell, they have to hurt. These people don’t know her at all. They don’t know who she truly is.  Because beyond the heavy mask of her past crimes and her frightening reputation is a timid girl who just wants a family who love her, and who she can love, without any of the mind games and manipulation that came with her own.  So of course she loves this baby, this innocent, new addition to Robin's life.

And so Regina's determination her own protective instincts, and strong, resilient heart bring them here, in the town hall, with a precious, fair-skinned, beautiful strawberry blonde infant.

The townspeople actually showed up.  Perhaps out of fear, or out of sheer curiosity.  Mal is sitting up there, on this ridiculous stage, amongst a group of people she isn’t quite sure she belongs to:  Regina and her family, all three Charmings, Emma and the pirate.  That ridiculous fat man who smells of sweat and wet earth is here too, and perhaps he's an odd man out too - but he’s Robin's very best friend, at least.  He's raised Roland from an infant.  But she and Lily… they just don't have the same ties to this family.

Zelena was afforded the option of attending (with magical cuffs and under the watchful eye of David, of course), but she declined.  She’s not a mother.  Mal can sense it.  She may change one day, but that part of a woman that longs for their child, longs to care and love and nurture, it’s not in her.  

Which is fine because it overflows in Regina.

“People of Storybrooke,” Regina calls out into the mic, as Robin stands next to her with his daughter, swaddled in pink blankets, held tightly in his arms.

The crowd dies down, loud shorts dying into low murmurs.  

Before Regina can continue, Robin is tilting the baby in her direction, handing her over, and Maleficent’s heart nearly stops beating.  Robin is a Locksley, a noble, who has no doubt been dragged to his fair share of naming ceremonies. Oh, he knew exactly what that simple gesture means, that change of hands of the baby.

It’s part of the ritual, of course.  The child is to change hands, from father to mother before the name is revealed.  

He just told the town, and Regina, all in one move, that he considers her to be the child’s mother.

Regina is taken aback, clearly, choked and at a loss for words.  Maleficent sees the way her eyes shine and water.  She can’t fault this idiotic man and his gigantic heart for much, but damn it, he probably should not have sprung the move on Regina like this. She doesn’t like to be emotional in front of others, she’s afraid to be vulnerable.  In fact, it’s her biggest fear, other than losing a loved one.  

But then perhaps….Mal tries for once to see things from this man’s perspective.  Regina is stubborn and filled with self-doubt.  She doesn’t see that she’s the best person for the job, and had Robin asked her to take on this role as mother before, Mal has no doubt that Regina would have argued, chased him away, denied and refused to hear him.  

So, yes, maybe Mal was too quick to think the worst of Robin, and this was in fact the best way to bestow upon Regina the duties of a mother.  

But now Regina can’t talk, she’s fighting tears and staring down at a baby while her lip quivers, Robin’s arm wrapping around her as he whispers things that thankfully a nearby mic does not pick up.

And Mal spots her first opportunity to protect her family.

She stands up, walking towards the mic when Henry stops her.  

“I’ve got this.”

He walks towards the mic, while smiling at his mother sweetly.  

“There’s a new addition to our family,” he says.  It catches Mal’s breath, the way he says our family.  

It sounds like he’s referring to everyone sitting up here, though that can’t be true.  Henry doesn’t see her as family yet.

“Her name is Eliza Cathryn Mills Locksley,” he says, looking back at his mom.  “Her name is a tribute to the fact she is blessed, and chosen by us, and innocent.”  

Mal watches as Henry looks over at his mom, who has regained some of her composure.  She walks back to the mic to finish the ceremony.

It's a bit screwy now. Typically this ceremony would not be administered by a parent.  But up until moments ago, Regina didn’t know she was a parent, so performing the ceremony did not seem all that odd.  

“With us today are Eliza’s godparents, sworn to protect, and love, and care for Eliza should  Rob— we be unavailable.”  Regina bites her lip, as she usually does when she tries to keep from crying.  It works (always does) and she finishes.  

“Maleficent, please rise.”

The town already knew, of course they did, but it still causes a commotion, nervous laughter and mumbled voices make her ears burn red.  She reminds herself she does not terrorize villagers anymore.  Now she’s got more important people to care for than herself.

“Do you promise to ensure that this child is never without love, and care, should...Rob— her parents not be available.”

“With all my heart,” Mal responds, her eyes never leaving the beautiful baby in the arms of the woman she loves.

“Do you promise to protect her, care for her, and be a resource for her all her life?”

“This child shall want for nothing.”  It’s part of the ceremony, but saying the words still make her misty-eyed.

Regina hands the baby to Mal, who takes her willingly, and plants a kiss on her forehead.

“I am forever yours, Eliza.”

Years later, Maleficent will cite this as the very moment she felt she joined Robin and Regina's family. And Regina will confess it is the first time she felt a true part of Robin’s family.

Maleficent cherishes that they became a family before she fell into bed with Robin and Regina, before drunken one night stands were repeated too often with too little alcohol.

It's special that they became a family together, outside of any romance.  They were united by their love of children, by their belief in second chances, by the way they embraced and accepted both darkness and light.