Hi there! So this is my first attempt at writing DQ. I don't know what it is but this ship intrigues me so much. It's AU (cause they're the most fun to write in my opinion), obviously. Give it a try and let me know what you think.

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

Enjoy :)

Chapter 1

"Regina, get out here! You have to see this!"

Ruby's loud exclamation pulled Regina's attention away from the arrangement of flowers she was putting together. The brunette hurried out to the front of the store to see what all the fuss was about.

"What going on?" Regina questioned, glancing around to see nothing out of the ordinary inside the shop.

"Look!" Ruby practically squealed from her place at the front windows, her face nearly pressed into the glass.

Regina rolled her eyes affectionately at her young employee's antics. Over the few years they'd worked together, Regina had come to love the girl like a younger sister and considered her one of her closest friends. Even if she was a bit much to handle at times.

"What am I looking at?" She asked, humoring the girl and stepping up to the window beside her.

Ruby groaned, exasperated at the other woman's lack of enthusiasm, but tapped the glass excitedly, pointing across the street nonetheless. "The new place across the street is opening," she explained.

Regina couldn't deny that she was intrigued and peered around her window displays to get a better look at the previously abandoned building. Across the busy small town street there used to be an art gallery. It closed a few years ago and sat empty for years until recently. A small crew had begun work on the building, but they were very secretive about the whole thing, keeping a wooden wall blocking the storefront the entire time. Regina and the employees of the flower shop made a game out of guessing what the new business would be and now they were finally going to see.

"Queens of Darkness Tattoos and Piercings," Regina read out as the final board of wood was removed, giving them an unobstructed view of the sign.

"Woah," Ruby commented. "That's awesome."

"It's definitely something." Regina said taking in bold signage and animal prints at the end that seemed out of place.

Ruby rolled her eyes and playfully elbowed her boss.

"You sound like my granny," the younger woman complained.

"I'll tell her you said that," Regina replied dryly.

Ruby sighed and rolled her eyes again. "Stop being such a mom. Come on, let's go check it out."

"And you just leave the place empty? Maybe later." Regina reasoned, causing Ruby to grumble and turn her attention back out the window.

She wanted to have a look at the new shop as well but it would have to wait until after closing time. Based on the longing glances Ruby was sending across the street, she didn't think she'd last that long. With that Regina turned and started for the back room and her abandoned arrangement, but Ruby's shrill squeal stopped her in her tracks. Regina spun around so fast her long braid nearly smacked her in the face.

"Ruby!" She chastised, bringing her hand to rest over her heart, willing it to return to its normal rhythm.

"Sorry," Ruby quickly apologized for her outburst and looked toward the window. "Someone just came out of that place and she's headed this way."

"Okay?" Regina didn't understand what the big deal was.

Ruby bit her lip as she watched the woman crossing the street. "She's hot," she muttered under her breath.

Regina rolled her eyes for the thousandth time it seemed and grabbed Ruby by her elbow to pull her away from the window, where she was visible to the entire block. Regina lead the girl toward the back room, where she wouldn't be seen if she decided to start drooling.

"Kathryn and Jefferson should be back any minute. You can help them unload the van." Regina instructed, her tone leaving no room for argument. Ruby grumbled something Regina couldn't hear and sat down to wait for her co workers.

Regina started to say something, but was cut off by the sound of the bell above the door jingled. She narrowed her eyes at Ruby one last time, a clear warning to stay put, before heading out and behind the counter. She put on a big smile and cheerfully greeted the tall, blonde woman who had her back to the counter.

Her greeting was met with silence, the woman didn't even turn around she just continued to examine flowers as if Regina hadn't spoken. Regina's smile fell into a pout momentarily at being ignored, but she quickly adopted a neutral expression and made herself busy going through online orders for Jefferson.

Some time passed and Regina was so absorbed in her task of sorting through the orders that she didn't notice the woman looming over her until the blonde cleared her throat. Even the short noise was startling after the long stretch of silence and Regina's cheeks colored when she jumped slightly at the sound.

She avoided looking up for a moment to gather herself, but before she had the chance to look up, a single white daisy was dropped on the counter. The sight of the simple flower caused Regina's heart to drop to her stomach. Slowly her gaze lifted until big brown eyes met piercing blue.

Regina was stunned. All she could do was stand there and stare at the woman holding a second flower to her nose, inhaling its sharp, fresh scent. She smirked before dropping the flower beside the next.

"Mal?" Regina breathed out when she finally found her voice.

"Hello, dear." She responded, her smile anything but friendly.

What do you think? Should I continue?