Disclaimer: I own nothing beside my crazy mind and my computer… and sometimes it's more them owning me…

Note : Author's POV (final chapter)

The next morning when Regina woke up, she was cuddling Maleficent. They were both exhausted, emotionally and physically and they just collapsed in the same bed. Waking up next to someone who really cares about her made Regina's heart beat faster. A warmth was spreading in her chest: friendship. Real friendship was something she never knew.

When Maleficent woke up, she immediately felt Regina's arms around her. Her fingers drawings lines and circles on her bare shoulder. She felt safe. She had never felt so safe.

"Good morning" said Mally

"Good morning indeed…" answered Regina "I haven't slept that good in years!… But come on I have something to show you today. Get up and get dressed, it's already the middle of the morning!"

"Yes Sir!" joked Maleficent.

Regina smiled and rolled her eyes. She got up to order some breakfast and dressed herself with just a snap of her fingers. She was wearing some dark leather pants and a beautiful and classy shirt. The perfect traveling outfits, Maleficent thought.

"It's not fair Gina. You get to use magic for all your simple tasks like getting dressed or take the covers back on you… yeah don't try to deny it! I saw you!" she said pointing an accusing finger at Regina. Regina raised an eyebrow, smiling even harder, but never to deny anything. "Yeah… that's what I thought…" smiled Mally.

"All right then…" Regina snapped her fingers once more and in less than a second Maleficent was fully dressed in a beautiful purple dress. She gapped like a fish out of the water. Regina, on her side, burst out laughing.

"Come on now, we have things to do today."

A few hours later, the purple smoke in an empty dark room signaled that they have arrived.

"Here we are, dear" casually Regina said. Maleficent was still a bit dizzy and tried to steady herself holding on Regina's arm.

"But where are we?"

"Well… I've been thinking about it for most of the night… You can't stay at my palace even if I really want you to. I… I don't want you to see the Evil Queen. I want you to keep what we shared, I want us to be like that for as long as we can. In order to keep it that way, I had to find you a place you could stay. Not far away, though. I want you close to me. But with your dragon, you need space. In this place, you'll be left alone. No one will bother you in the Forbidden Fortress…"

"But Gina…"

"No, no buts. This castle… I own it. And I give it to you. If you'll take it. It's the best I can offer you. I know it's dark and empty but with a little bit of magic, you can make it a cozy place…"

"Gina, I don't have magic, did you forget?" Regina saw questions in her eyes when they finally locked with hers. Regina smiled at her, with mischief in her eyes.

"Yes you do…" She conjured a beautiful staff with a sculpted dragon on top of it. Between the wings of the dragon was an orb. Beautiful. Maleficent's eyes lit up.

"This staff… well the orb actually… contains some of my magic. It will give you everything you need: food, furniture, books, fire, water, everything. You just need to say it and it will appear."

"Regina… it's too much! I can't -" she tripped on her own words. Too much emotions to handle.

"Yes dear, you can. It's yours. The power I put in it was born during the night. Well during all the time we've spent together. That power belongs to you as much as it does to me. I don't need it. I have enough powers to hold a siege! You will need it. There is also a mirror in the master chamber… just in case you wish to talk to me, stand in front of it and say my name."

Maleficent could not hold her tears any longer. She finally had a place of her own. Somewhere safe where she could be herself again. And all of this thanks to the Evil Queen. No, not the Evil Queen but Regina. Her friend.

"There are but two things I have to ask of you…" Regina was chewing on her bottom lip.

"Anything, just name it and it's already granted!" Maleficent said in a rush.

"First, you cannot kill wolves. They are protected in my kingdom. I made this promise and I intend to keep it. Just as I will declare Dragon hunting outlawed."

"No problem, I never liked the taste anyway…" they both chuckled a little.

"What is the second thing?"

"Promise me we'll be friends forever" she shyly exclaimed, looking at the ground. Maleficent softly smiled. She cradled Regina's face in her hands and gazed in those dark brown eyes, feeling almost lost in them.

"You've mended my broken heart. I owe you everything. You know me better than anyone ever has. You're stuck with me for a very, very, very long time, Regina. For as long as you shall have me."

THE END