Warning, this chapter is fluff!
Waking up in unfamiliar territory, Maleficent rubs her head as the memories of yesterday's events come flooding back. Feeling a warm presence against her back and a tightened grip around her waist, the blonde glances over her shoulder with a raised eyebrow seeing the brunette she has cared for, for many years, pressed against her with the woman's head dipped down ,buried so her face is hidden. Clearing her throat as her mouth had gone dry through sleep, something which you think the dragon woman would be accustomed to by now, Maleficent gently takes hold of Regina's arm and lifts it up to place down by the mayor's own side so she can get up.
"Do not even think about it..."
Hearing the husky mumble, the blonde cannot help but smile looking towards the brunette who opens her eyes one at a time, adjusting to the light. "Sorry for waking you.."
Smiling up at her, Regina shakes her head. "No need, I prefer waking up with you here"
Watching the brunette for a moment, Maleficent then sighs while laying herself back down facing her. "I wasn't exactly sure if I should have been here or not..I didn't know what would be best so I chose the cowards way..."
Laughing lightly, the mayor lifts her hand to cup the woman's face. "You my dear, could never be a coward, besides...despite who you are, last night was the best night's sleep I've ever had"
"I'll admit, it did feel safe...for a change. Loneliness can definitely make you doubt your security" moving closer towards her bed companion, Maleficent hesitantly wraps an arm around Regina's waist to feel the closeness.
The brunette smiles more then peers over the blonde's shoulder at the time. "Oh.."
Frowning, the dragon woman takes in the mayor's face. "What is it?"
"If Lily is like any other child, she will make herself known just like Henry used to, in...5...4...3...2..."
Hearing the bedroom door fly open and the sound of small feet padding along the carpet, both women look to the foot of the bed seeing a pair of dark eyes and a nose staring back at them.
Suddenly aware of the situation and with her daughter present, Maleficent pulls away from Regina's embrace and sits up. "Good morning Lily..."
Blinking between them, the smaller blonde crinkles her nose. "Why are you sharing a bed?"
"I..well..it..." Growing panicky, wanting to make a good impression for her child, the dragon woman blurts out probably the worst thing, worst for the brunette anyway. "It was a one off...I grew too tired"
Trying to mask her hurt, Regina clears her throat and rises from the bed, grabbing her robe. "Lily dear why don't I go and make you some breakfast so you can erm..spend some time with your mother"
Maleficent watches the brunette's movements with guilt and goes to interject but is prevented by a pointed look by the woman who then leaves the room, leaving mother and child to stare at one another with the smaller one grinning.
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"Regina..."
"Save it" not even daring to look in the blonde's direction, the brunette continues to clean her work surface from having breakfast.
"But I.."
"No, its fine..really who was I kidding? To think that all these years could go past and nothing change?..it wasn't the first time we kissed but I can put your fear to rest right now, it was our last" trying to hold it together, Regina scrubs the surface harder then chucks the cloth in the bin before leaving to room to see to Henry who has just got home.
Entering the kitchen, the small blonde stands beside her mommy, Lily tilts her head back as far as she can go to look at her. "Why is that lady sad? Did I do something wrong?"
Looking back to her child briefly, Maleficent then looks towards the empty space where Regina was standing. "No..dear, I did.."
Pursing her lips together, the small blonde places her hands on her hips. "What did you do Mallie?"
Realizing she has to be honest, the blonde turns on her heel and crouches down to the small girl's level. "You remember this morning when you came into Regina's bedroom and you asked why I was there?"
Nodding, Lily looks intrigued. "I remember..."
"I told you it was a one off when I shouldn't have..Lily dear, Regina is very important to me, she's...special and we care deeply for one another in the same way any other..couple would, do you understand?"
"Yes.." Lily smiles at her then wraps an arm around her mother's neck when the woman takes hold of her hand with a smile of her own.
"Mallie?...do you love her?"
Maleficent looks at her daughter thinking about it and how their life could be. "..with all my heart.."
Giggling at having known all along, the small blonde points to the doorway showing Regina stood frozen within its frame, mouth partly open. Following the girl's direction, the blonde also looks shocked by the fact that the brunette is standing there. Glancing between the pair, Lily bites her lip as she is met with silence then skips out the room to leave them to it.
Rising to her feet with the use of the counter, Maleficent looks worried about how much Regina may have heard. "Regina please let me-"
"Stop talking..just.." Walking back into the kitchen slowly, the mayor doesn't break eye contact with the woman. "...just stop talking and kiss me.."
Meeting the woman halfway, the blonde leans over and kisses her softly while keeping her hand still on the counter as leverage. The brunette kisses back deepening it and slides her hands up to the woman's forearms needing to know that this is real, that she is real and it is happening, that they are kissing and Maleficent did just in fact declare her love for her to the small child belonging to the blonde.
Smiling into the kiss, the dragon woman reassures her, as if knowing exactly what she is thinking. "I meant every word. I love you"