Making her way through the woods, Regina came to the abandoned cabin which had belonged to Gold. Since his reconciliation with Belle and with Ursula finding her happy ending, the place was now left in the hands of Maleficent...and Cruella, but the pup obsessed woman was still under the sleeping curse that the blonde had placed on her to save Henry. It was better this way, for now. Quieter at least.

Knocking on the door sharply, the current mayor lifts her head high and waits for the owner to answer. Watching as the door is pulled open carefully, Regina takes a quick breath then looks to the woman head on.

"I am on your side..."

Chuckling in disbelief, Maleficent rolls her eyes and heads back inside, leaving the door open in case the brunette decides she wants to enter. "Of course you are..."

Looking down from the blonde's reaction to her presence, the brunette walks in slowly and closes the door behind herself. "Maleficent.."

Stopping by the lit fireplace, the dragon woman turns to face her with what appeared to be fear in her eyes. Especially as her former friend seemed to look guilty.

Regina then gives her a stern look and repeats with more force. "I am on your side.."

Shaking her head, Maleficent glances to the fire again. "You do not care for my being Regina, that much is clear. You kept me captive beneath a clock tower for 30 years in my dragon form.." Gulping at her voice becoming shaky through the painful memory, the blonde closes her eyes allowing the heat from the flames warm her face in comfort.

Becoming teary, the mayor fiddles with the ring on her finger while trying to find the right words. "This may sound crazy but it was never to hurt you, it was to protect you. Keep you where no one could find or hurt you..because..you know yourself how the power, the revenge takes over you..and I was scared. I was scared that if I had allowed you to be a part of this town, someone would take you from me..or you would want to go..to someone else.." Biting her lip to prevent a tremble, the brunette grips her hands into fists. "Rumple had already taunted me for what was to happen and well you can see for yourself that the curse never worked because the saviour was able to break it..everything was being taken away from me again. Who do you think allowed you to keep reforming? I couldn't be in this town without a safety net and you were mine. I have always felt safe in your presence..even now when I know you probably want to kill me"

Opening her eyes, Maleficent looks over again seeing the sincerity in the woman's face. As much as it sounded crazy like Regina said, she understood exactly why she did it. The need to hold onto to anything when everything around you is crashing down. As for the use of magic, well that was clearly so no matter what, she couldn't leave, she couldn't leave her. "I..understand...and if I recall correctly, you visited me on more than one occasion despite my form"

Regina nods. "You were the only one I could talk to, who would listen..yes the cricket would talk to me but he didn't know who he was..I never took your memory from you like I did the others.."

"I know, because I remember everything, all that you told me, about your mother, Daniel..and Snow White who you now seemed to have befriended"

Seeing the confused stare of the blonde, the mayor gives a small smile. "Times have changed and so have I, everyone deserves a second chance. That, and she is my son's grandmother"

Maleficent frowns. "I don't even want to know the ins and outs of that one, unless you are trying to tell me you and the saviour..."

"No...no. Henry is biologically Emma's but I adopted him"

"To fill the hole in your heart"

Smiling more in amazement, the brunette once again nods. "You did listen.."

"How could I not listen to you? Last time I didn't listen I was so unhappy, I had failed on my revenge against Briar Rose..but you were persistent and told me to fight for what I wanted..and it helped..but do you know what I wish now?" The dragon woman looks sadly towards the former Queen. "I wish we could stop fighting for what we want and just have what we want"

Regina chuckles. "Sounds too good to be true but out of curiosity, what is it that you want?"

Growing quiet, the blonde looks back to the fire feeling an emotion she never wished to feel. She was scared, answering with barely a whisper. "You...us to stop fighting each other and just be..us" hearing the silence, Maleficent sighs and tilts her head down to face the floor. At the sudden touch of a hand being placed on her shoulder from behind, she flinches.

Filled with regret over her actions, Regina squeezes the woman's shoulder briefly then turns her round, guiding the blonde into her arms. Hitching her breath, Maleficent lets her resolve go and hugs her, wrapping her arms around the brunette's waist, allowing a few tears to glisten her eyes as they threaten to fall. The mayor tightens her grip on her as she feels the dragon woman crumble before her and all she could think of, was how it was all her fault, she brought the monster back out of the blonde like Rumple did to her. She pushed and goaded until Maleficent gave in to a new anger only then to be trapped in her most hated form for a number of years.

Letting out a small sniffle, the brunette manages to speak out those long awaited words. "I'm..so sorry..Mal..I wish I knew how to make it all better but I don't.."

Pulling herself together, Maleficent lifts her head to face Regina. "What you are doing now...it's a start"

Leaning closer, the brunette rests her forehead against the blonde's. "But I don't know what I am doing..."

Taking a moment, the dragon woman reaches up hesitantly and takes hold of the former Queen's face. "You asked me earlier what did I want, now I am asking you, what do you want?"

Regina smiles a little at the thought going through her head, knowing exactly what she wants to say.

"To love you..."

A/N: so I'm guessing this fic is kind of going to be left open for more if requested. Up to you guys! Thanks for all your responses!