Modern AU: Fashion magazine Editor in Chief Maleficent Moore and long time assistant/best friend Diaval Darkwood attend a work Christmas party. Maleficent begins to notice she has feelings for her colleague. (SO MUCH FLUFF TO COME AND HOPEFULLY MULTI-CHAPTERS) Enjoy!

"What do you think?"

Maleficent Moore examined herself in the full-length mirror. She bit her lip anxiously, scanning the floor length silver gown that hugged her hourglass figure. It had been one of those spur of the moment purchases and she was beginning to regret it more with every passing moment. Combined with a pair of black-laced stilettos and her mother's amethyst pendent it all seemed too much. Too formal, forced even and not for the first time that day Maleficent felt a knot tighten within her stomach.

As always her Goddaughter was not as skeptical. Aurora squealed when she saw her.

"Oh my goodness, you look perfect!"

She was clapping her hands with enthusiasm. Maleficent had to smile at the child's positivity; she had claimed the last seven outfits had been 'perfect' yet they had all been disappointing to her Godmother. She pulled a face of disgust and Aurora rolled her eyes in frustration.

"Come on Godmother, tonight's a celebration! The least you could do is act a bit excited!"

The older woman laughed out loud at that.

"It's hardly as if I'm attending a ball dearest, it's simply a silly office party."

"Then why are you spending so long on your appearance?" Aurora smirked with a knowing look on her face. After a pause she continued with a gleam in her eyes. "I know he'll love anything you put on, he always does."

Maleficent felt her face heat up and turned away too quickly.

Aurora knew she had hit a nerve but decided to push it anyway.

"You don't have to always conceal your feelings, you know." When there was no reply Aurora wondered whether she had spoken those words at all, but then her Godmother turned to face her.

"I have no idea what you're insinuating." She replied coldly. Aurora raised her eyebrows and opened her mouth to reply, but was interrupted by the clang of a doorbell. Maleficent was grateful for an excuse to divert from that particular topic. Some things were better left unspoken.

"I shall have to wear this I suppose!" She called back to the beastie as she made her way towards the door. She could almost feel Aurora's grin burning into her back. Ignoring her, Maleficent opened the door. There stood her assistant and the 'he' her Goddaughter had been referring to. She was almost glad she had made such an effort, Diaval Darkwood cleaned up well. He was wearing a black pinstriped tuxedo, which would have been tremendously pretentious if it were not for his unbuttoned shirt and the converse trainers he never failed to sport, his hair was rather than matted and disheveled, had been gelled back and revealed his entire face. Maleficent liked it that way, but he only wore it like that once in a blue moon. Perhaps Aurora was right about this night being exciting. Diaval grinned from ear to ear when he set eyes on his mistress.

"You look absolutely stunning." He declared with absolute certainty and Maleficent felt the heat creeping back to her cheeks. But this time she didn't bother to hide it, he always saw right through that anyway. Instead she smiled gratefully and stepped back to let him in.

Aurora squealed yet again when they walked in together.

"Diaval! You look great! You both look so amazing! Oh, I think I'm gonna cry." The girl placed a hand on her chest dramatically, causing the pair to chuckle in unison.

"You'd think she were the mother in the scenario!" Diaval whispered, his lips dangerously close to Maleficent's cheek. She tittered in agreement and went to embrace her daughter.

"You'll be alright on your own, won't you my dear?" Her tone had softened since Diaval had arrived, Aurora noticed, and this brought a beam to the young girls face.

"Of course Godmother, Go now! Enjoy yourself." She commanded. Diaval linked Maleficent's arm and winked at the girl he had always considered to be his offspring.

"Don't you worry your majesty," He bowed comically as the two women laughed fondly. "She's in good hands."

Then he lead her outside arm still linked around hers. It dawned on Maleficent as they reached the end of the street, that her nerves had completely dissolved and Aurora's words echoed through her mind;

"You don't have to always conceal your feelings, you know."

And for the first time since she had met Diaval, she almost believed it.