A/N: One day I'll manage to respect deadlines... but it is not this day. Here is a very late submission for Day 1 for the bisexual Regina week: Regina realizes she's bisexual. This is the first part of a longer fic. The working title for this was DOQ Storybrooke Mafia, so don't worry Robin will appear in the next chapter. Let me know if you want more of this. Big thanks to my dear Manon (Lolymoon) for her beta work!

Chapter 1: Enter the Dragon

Regina Mills has rarely been able to focus so intently during a meeting that was essentially about numbers, cash flow between offshore accounts and complex financial set-ups. Their former bookkeeper, Archie -who had suddenly found himself a conscience and felt the need to explore it far, far away-, used to drone on for hours leaving her confused, and feeling like she had wasted two years of her life getting her MBA from Harvard. This new one (poached by her right-hand man, Sydney) seems much more promising. She brought colorful charts, and one should never underestimate the power of simple graphics on a group of thugs.

Sydney introduced her as Malyssandre Drachen - I prefer Mal, the woman quickly corrected him-, investment strategist, a legend in her field, a highly recommended fixer when it comes to companies toeing the line of legality, or in the case of Regina's inherited business, companies who want to give the appearance of being legit without ever actually trying to be. The IRS has nicknamed the woman "the Dragon" for she leaves them only ash to dig into after she's through doing her magic.

It's a constant challenge for Regina to bring the business into the 21st century, to modernize their methods and their approach now that the authorities have so many new techniques to track their activities. Miss Drachen appears to understand her mindset, and they both know that the first step should be about upping the efficiency on money laundering and cleaning the books. Racketeering is so last millenium, after all.

Something strange happens as the meeting unfolds; while Regina's attention is still on the words being pronounced and the rather important points Mal is trying to make, her gaze shifts to the blonde woman's lips and the bright red lipstick coating them. Randomly, seemingly out of nowhere, she wonders how they would feel against hers, and once the thought has taken root in her mind, it just won't leave.

It's not the first time she entertains this kind of fantasy, though it's been quite a while since a woman has caught her interest like this, since anyone has actually. During her college years, there would be moments when she would watch fellow female students around her, during parties, walking down corridors, even sometimes during classes, and imagine the soft curves hidden by clothes pressed against hers, the silky texture of hair flowing between her fingers, how different it would be to move between sheets with them rather than with her fiancé, Daniel, or even to have both. She never voiced those thoughts, never acted on them, even if college was the perfect time for those kind of experiences, or so she had been told.

Sex before marriage with her (then) fiancé was one thing her parents could pretend to ignore, but the strong Catholic guilt enforced by an Italian mother and Mexican father from an early age made her repress those daydreams and concentrate on her studies. After Daniel died in a shoutout, and her parents gave her more important responsibilities in the family business, she became too numb to think about it again… until today.

The meeting concludes and Regina sends everyone out, except Mal. Sydney lingers by the door, but she dismisses him with a flick of her hand.

"He is persistent that one," Mal remarks derisively, shaking her head and turning back towards Regina once the door is firmly closed.

"My mother used to call him "the family pet." Or "the lapdog" depending on her mood," Regina replies absentmindedly, her eyes sweeping over the other woman's face, the way her long blonde hair is curled and rolled in a style inspired by the Roaring Twenties, the sky blue eyes, her smooth skin, before settling back on her lips.

"Fitting. I'm sorry, but is there something stuck between my teeth?" Malyssandre interrupts her musings, and Regina startles.

"Excuse me?"

"Is there something stuck between my teeth? You've been staring at my mouth for the past twenty minutes," the blonde repeats, a slightly confused frown on her face.

"I didn't even realise…" Regina stammers, fighting against the flush starting to creep up her chest at being caught, and then she trails off, pulling herself together -never let them see you sweat, her father used to say. "I didn't mean to stare, but I'm rather intrigued as to how Sydney managed to recruit you," she covers, before heading to the liquor cabinet and offering her a glass of homemade cider.

Mal acquiesces, and slowly and quietly approaches the brunette. "Well, it certainly wasn't his charm," she deadpans once she is standing right behind Regina, and smirks when the other woman stiffens. "My interests lie elsewhere."

Regina recovers quickly, and turns around to hold the full glass out to the taller woman. She didn't notice the height difference until now, but while it usually bothers her when she has to look up to talk to a man, this time she finds she doesn't really mind.

Mal encircles the round glass in her hand, covering Regina's fingers, and she is quite certain she isn't imagining the shiver that runs through the brunette. "I have to admit that once he mentioned just who he was working for, I became rather curious. You have quite a reputation in some circles."

"Do I?" Regina leans back against the bar, putting just a small amount of distance between them to be able to think straight, and takes a sip from her own drink.

"Oh yes," the other woman nods. "People thought that it was complete madness for a well-established Sicilian clan like your mother's to unite itself with an ambitious Mexican cartel, but not only did it pay off beyond expectations, you managed to take over without a hitch, and now the major part of the East Coast organisations don't dare to take a leak without informing you first. That's impressive."

Regina's nose wrinkles at the image, but the praise makes her smile. "I was taught well," she replies modestly, her brows arching when it makes the other woman laugh.

Mal leans down, putting herself at eye level. "We both know it takes more than that." She puts down her glass on the bar, placing her hands on each side of Regina, effectively trapping her. "I have traveled around a lot, helped out many people, but in the end they always bored me. The challenge was never enough. You, on the other hand, you fascinate me. How such a little thing can wield so much power?" Her voice has dropped lower and lower until it's no more than a sough raising goosebumps along Regina's arms, the scent of expensive perfume filling her senses.

"Wouldn't you love to find out?" Regina tells her, her right hand raising to find a hip and bring the woman closer to her. The gasp that Mal lets escape tells Regina that the move surprised her. Good, she thinks, two can play the game.

"I certainly would," she sounds a tad breathless to Regina's ear. " I'm sure we could do great work together if we got to know each other better."

"And what do you have in mind?" At this point there is no space left between them, chest pressed against chest, Regina's hand gripping Mal's hip desperately, the other hand still somehow clutching her drink.

"Let me show you," a hand plucks Regina's glass and puts it safely aside, fingers trail along her arm, her neck, until they reach her face. A slight pressure has Regina tilting her head back, she barely dares to breathe, and then those full lips are kissing hers.

The sensation is so familiar, and yet so different. There is a gentleness, an ability to rein herself in, which Daniel had never been able to demonstrate where Regina was concerned. Mal's kiss conveys experience and respect, she is not controlling her in any way, the slightest pull would put an end to it, but Regina isn't willing to stop it now.

When the basic need for oxygen forces them apart, Regina feels dazed and content in a way that has evaded her for years. Is this really what she has been denying herself all this time?

"Mmmmh, for someone who has never done anything like this with a woman, you're quite bold," Mal comments, smudging the traces of her lipstick from Regina's own lips with her thumb.

"What makes you think that?"

"I can usually tell, but don't worry I'm a very patient teacher."

Regina has absolutely no doubt about that, and she is quite eager to learn.

Thoughts?