Groaning, Regina flopped back onto the bed. "WHAT?" She cried, making it clear that no one should enter but should tell her what was going on immediately.

"Maleficent has arrived, your Majesty," the guard called through the closed door, confirming Regina's previous thoughts.

"Take her to my sitting room," Regina instructed. She heard the guards concur before the two were left along once more.

Emma glanced at the Queen. "I didn't know you were expecting her?" The blonde's voice raised at the end, turning her statement into a question.

"I asked her to come back to help us with new charms on the castle after yesterday," she revealed as she slipped out of bed, glancing at the blonde with a slight frown. "You were there when we discussed it. Don't you remember?"

The blonde's brow furrowed before she shook her head. "No, but there was a lot on my mind yesterday evening," she muttered, almost snapped at the Queen. She slipped out of the bed and stalked off to their dressing room, leaving a very confused Regina behind.

Slowly, Regina entered their dressing room but ensured to keep a small distance between the two of them. Emma was sitting on the silk red pouffe in the centre of the room with her face in her hands. Regina watched as the blonde took a deep breath.

"Em?" She called softly, not wanting to overstep.

Emma looked up, looking guilty. "Sorry, I shouldn't have snapped and I definitely shouldn't have walked away like that. I promised I wouldn't anymore."

Realising it was now safe, Regina crossed the room and took Emma's hands in hers, thumbing her soft skin gently. "Don't apologise. I shouldn't be surprised after last night. Plus, the dreamless sleep potion does knock you out something crazy leaving you a little grouchy the next day." She sighed. "Now let's go and put the charms up with Mal and then how about we join Alexandra with her Nanny this afternoon?" Regina suggested.

"Sounds great," Emma agreed before she reached up and kissed Regina softly. "Let's go see my new best friend." She smiled to show she was joking making Regina laugh quietly.

With the tension cut, the two dressed quickly, just slipping on a simple dress. Well, Emma did, wearing a plain light blue dress, but Regina couldn't do that as she stepped into her leather trousers and slipped on a deep purple blazer. Emma thoroughly enjoyed the fact that Regina had started wearing her leather trousers again now that she felt comfortable after giving birth to Alexandra.

Looking up, Regina saw the expected look on Emma's face whenever she wore those trousers. Her expression went a little blank, her eyes glazed over and her mouth opened slightly.

Regina smirked. "See something you like, dear?" She teased.

"You bet!" Emma replied as she crossed the gap between then and pulled Regina close, kissing her passionately. Almost a little too passionately as they started to lose themselves in the kiss.

"Regina!"

The two pulled apart at Maleficent's call. The dragon had clearly gotten bored of waiting and had gone to the Queen's bedroom.

"At least she hasn't come in here," Emma said rolling her eyes.

"She wouldn't dare," Regina chuckled before stealing one last kiss from the blonde, pulling back a fraction early, leaving the blonde wanting more. "Come along, dear," she smirked before turning and leaving the room.

Emma quickly followed like a lost puppy until they were back in their bedroom.

Maleficent was perching on the bottom of their bed. Her right hand was aloft, and she was looking at her nails while she waited for the two to finally arrive. At the sound of their footsteps, she turned and smiled which soon turned into a smirk that could rival the Queen's when she saw the look in Emma's eyes.

"There you are!" She greeted instead of simply saying hello. "I half expected to see the two in a state of indecency." She waggled her eyebrows suggestively, hoping the two would blush and reveal what had happened but it didn't quite go how she expected.

"If you'd arrived ten minutes earlier, you would have done," Regina sassed and finally, Emma did blush as the Queen admitted what they had been doing.

"Ooh, tell me everything!" Mal teased, showing that she was finally in the place she belonged, being their friend.

"You wish," Emma joked, getting over the embarrassment quickly, before turning to Regina. "Now, can we get some breakfast before all the charm casting. I can barely think straight before eating." She smirked. "I was interrupted earlier." She winked at Regina who just raised her eyebrow.

"Too much info!" Mal said, holding her hands up in defeat. "Let's get some food in the Princess and get the spells done. I'd like to see Ally sooner rather than later."

"Of course you're only here to see Alexandra," Regina sighed but laughed to show that she didn't take it badly.

"Well, she is my favourite royal after all," the dragon sassed before standing up suddenly and walking out of the room and toward the dining room.

oOoOo

"Right, are you ready?" Maleficent asked, glancing at Emma.

"Yeah!" She affirmed as she looked out to the balcony.

The three had settled for some breakfast, Maleficent joining as she hadn't eaten before setting off to the castle as was the plan that she and Regina had decided on. Emma was surprised again when she realised that the dragon would be joining them but Maleficent knew not to mention anything from just the look on Regina's face and the fact the Queen didn't mention it.

They enjoyed a plate of scrambled eggs with bacon and avocado, washed down with freshly squeezed orange juice for the blondes and apple for the Queen as she was rather partial to it first thing on a morning. Well, she was known to drink it throughout the day. She just couldn't get enough of apples.

Once breakfast was done, Mal went over the different charms she had over her castle and which ones she thought would work best with Regina's. Some would be redundant, like water resistant charms as Regina's castle was well equipped for rain and earthquake resilient as they were extremely rare in Regina's Kingdom unlike the Kingdom where Maleficent lived.

"Surely if Rumple got through Cora's curses, he'd be able to get through these?" Emma had doubted as the sorceresses were discussing the pros and cons of the soundproof spell.

Maleficent looked at Emma with a smile. "He won't," she replied easily. When Emma still looked doubtful, and a little scared, not that Mal pointed that bit out, she continued. "Rumple taught Cora everything she knew, he didn't teach me," she revealed. "He knew her magic like the back of his hands whereas mine is completely unknown to him. It's like Regina would be able to take down any spell you thought to put up because she taught you."

"Then won't he be able to get through Regina's spells?"

Regina glanced over to Emma and it broke her heart seeing Emma look so, well, scared. She'd never seen the blonde look like that. She'd always been the stronger of the two, the protector. Whatever had happened during the attacked the previous night was a lot more serious than Regina thought. However, with Maleficent there, now was not the time to discuss it.

"No, honey," Regina said softly, "because we won't be using spells he taught me. Most of these are Mal's creation."

The blonde's eyebrows raised, impressed with Mal's skill. "Okay." She nodded. "Just tell me what to do."

Before long, the three were spaced out on separate balconies but able to hear each other. They had decided to each cast the same spell to amplify the power around the castle. They would cast each spell at every side of the castle. It shouldn't take long and it didn't. However, at the end, they were all pretty exhausted and found themselves sitting in Regina's favourite sitting room nursing a strong cider.

"Now I understand why your mother cast the spells over a long time," Emma murmured.

Regina chuckled quietly. "She was clever, you couldn't deny that," she said with a wistful sigh.

Just as Maleficent was going to add to the conversation, there was a knock on the door before Pedro, Emma's favourite guard, entered the room.

"I'm sorry to disturb, your Majesty, your Highness, Maleficent," he said quietly, dipping his head in respect to the three ladies, "however, Nanny Kala has said the Princess is wanting her momma's attention."

Regina nodded and stood up. "Thank you, Pedro, I'll be right there."

"Right you are, your Majesty," Pedro bowed low before stepping out of the room.

"I'll be right back," Regina said as she put her half drank cider on the small coffee table. She made her way over to the door before glancing back. "Please don't kill each other," she laughed, before bighting her lip, only half joking.

"We'll be fine," Mal reassured the Queen who nodded absentmindedly and left the room.

Once the door had shut, Emma reached out and filled her goblet up with more cider, her hands shaking a little bit.

"Is everything alright, Emma?" Mal asked quietly. Their friendship was still very new and she presumed that Emma wouldn't answer her and if she did, it probably wouldn't be the truth but she was worried. Every time she had met the blonde, she had been cocky, strong, and, well, a little bit bratty, but today it was like she'd retracted into a shell. Mal missed her feistiness.

"Yeah," Emma said quickly, too quickly to be truthful, "why wouldn't I be?"

She brought the goblet up to her lips, taking a deep mouthful, repeating the action twice until her goblet was half empty. She reached forward to the decanter on the table, ready to refill but the dragon placed her hand on top of Emma's, preventing her from doing so.

"Tell me what's going on?" She requested calmly. "I might be able to help."

Emma bit her lip and slipped her hand back into her lap. She pulled her legs up to her chest, her go to position when she felt vulnerable.

"The Chernabog," she whispered. "It made me see things I didn't want to ever relive. Its eyes," she shivered, "were hell. Then on top of that was what Rumple said."

"The Dark One was here?" Mal asked, her eyes furrowed in concern. "When?"

"Last night. He was in our room when we came to bed. He…he tried to kill me," Emma's voice waivered as she remembered the anger and fear that flooded through her. "He wants me dead because I have the most potential to have the darkest heart. I felt so angry, I tried to kill him."

"It wouldn't have worked," Mal said quickly. "You can't kill him without his dagger."

"I know!" Emma snapped, sending the dragon into more of a panic about the blonde. "Sorry," she said quickly. "But it was working. I don't know how. It was like when I trapped you," she blushed guiltily, "sorry about that."

"Don't worry about that," Mal said kindly, "please continue,"

"When you couldn't fight back, only Regina could get through to me," Emma revealed. "Like last night, he couldn't fight back, he was dying, until Regina told me to stop. Only then did I do it. What if he's right? What if I am becoming dark or I'm already dark? What if something I do hurts Regina or Alexandra? What if it's a dark deed that triggers the portal to get me home?!" Emma was so lost in her monologue of despair that she hadn't realised what had just slipped out.

"Emma?" The dragon called uncertainly, trying to get the other blonde to snap out of whatever was going on. She didn't want Regina to come back and see Emma going a little crazy, not just because she didn't want to worry Regina, but she also didn't want the Queen to think it was the dragon's fault.

"I mean, surely time travel can't particularly be light magic with half of the ingredients. I got pulled through to the past with dark magic."

"Emma?" Mal tried again but Emma was having none of it. She had now stood up and was pacing the room, talking to herself.

"That must be it! I'm dark!"

"Emma!" Maleficent yelled, finally snapping Emma out of herself.

The Princess looked up, her eyes wide like a deer in the headlights.

"You need to calm down!" The dragon instructed. "Sit." Emma did so before Mal snapped her fingers and produced a glass of white liquid. "Drink."

The blonde was reluctant, thinking it was the same as the potion the night before. "I don't need a dreamless sleep potion."

Maleficent sighed. "Regina probably shouldn't have given you that," she murmured quietly, "it's just milk to calm you down."

Emma looked slightly wary nonetheless but slowly picked up the glass. With a sip, it confirmed that the dragon had been telling the truth and Emma downed the glass of milk, immediately feeling better.

"It's not your usual milk," Mal revealed, "it's mixed with a little bit of chamomile, like in the sleeping draught, but it's just mixed with milk to sooth. Do you feel better?" Emma looked a little sheepish but nodded. "Good." Mal leant back and looked at Emma, taking her in. "Now, could you please fully explain what happened last night when Rumple was here if you can without getting yourself worked up?"

Emma nodded. "I guess–"

"Good," Mal said, cutting her off, "and you can tell me what on earth you meant about being from the future while you're at it."

"What?" Emma's eyes flashed wide, not realising she'd mentioned it before sighing. She wished Regina was there, but she was with Alexandra and the baby would always need her more than Emma did. With a deep breath, Emma asked, "how much time do you have?"

"Infinite."

Emma exhaled slowly and flicked her wrists, removing the cider from the table and replacing it with tea. She made herself a mug and lifted it to her lips. After a long sip, she swallowed and placed the tea back on the table and started her tales.

"I'll start at the beginning."

After what felt like hours, Emma finally finished her tales. All while she spoke, Maleficent stayed quiet, allowing Emma to speak. Emma started first with being from the future as she felt it was better. She told Maleficent the truth about Zelena being Regina's sister, but told her that Regina had no clue that the portal was opened by her half-sister that she had no clue existed yet.

She then went onto tell her about everything that had happened since she arrived here, from getting close to Henry, naturally being with Regina and having Alexandra to unlocking her magic and facing her fears of jealousy and insecurity with how Maleficent felt about Regina. Naturally the dragon was a little apprehensive when Emma mentioned that, but she tried to skim over it as quickly as possible.

Emma even had to admit that she was the one who let Snow and Charming go all those months ago. All Maleficent did was raise her eyebrow, still not speaking.

Once Emma was up to date, she told her about what happened with Rumple, telling the dragon of what he said and how she reacted. What she felt and what she did.

By the time she finished speaking, her mouth was as dry as a dessert. She waved her hand over her teacup to reheat it before sitting back and sipping her tea, simply waiting for the dragon to say something.

"Well, that explains how Snow White and Charming succeeded in escaping when I was pretty sure I'd made it impossible with Snow's cursed chains," Maleficent mused, she smiled when Emma's eyes widened in fear. "I'm not angry," the dragon added quickly and Emma soon relaxed, "I was just very confused."

"I had to save them otherwise I wouldn't have been born," Emma defended which just made Mal laugh before she became serious.

"Look, Emma, it's okay to feel angry sometimes," Mal said quietly. "Sometimes anger is what you need to get things done and create spells needed. You didn't kill him, and I don't think you would have done even if Regina hadn't stepped in. Emma, you are good." She slowly reached out and took Emma's free hand that wasn't holding her mug. She squeezed it reassuringly. "Just because you have the potential for great darkness, doesn't mean you will fulfil it."

"I was destined to be the Saviour and that's what I became even though I tried to fight it," Emma said quietly.

"That's different," Maleficent said quickly.

"How?" Emma asked incredulously, not quite able to believe her ears.

"Being the Saviour was built into a powerful curse," Mal explained. "The potential for darkness is all theory, there's no proof to it. Rumple has just decided that you're the person because you're not from here, so he thinks it's you. Besides, so what if it's true? From what I've seen, Emma, you're not dark. In fact, you're so full of light magic, it emits off you. I felt it when we were protecting the castle earlier. You're going to be fine, I promise."

After hearing all that, Emma dropped her mug and pulled Maleficent into her arms, hugging her tightly.

"Thank you!" She cried.

The two were so wrapped up in the conversation, they didn't hear Regina re-enter the room with Alexandra on her hip.

"So what's going on here?" Regina asked quietly.

The two blondes pulled back as if they'd been electrocuted. Emma shot off the sofa and rushed to her love, pulling Regina into her arms before kissing her and Alexandra on their foreheads.

Regina pulled back, her eyebrows raised in shock and confusion. "What is going on?"

"Just getting reassurance," Emma replied eventually. "You were right."

"Now that's something I love to hear," Regina sassed with a laugh, "but what about this time?"

"Just because I have the potential to be dark doesn't mean I will be," Emma admitted. She ran her fingers through Ally's hair and smiled. She wrapped her arm around the Queen's waist and turned to face the dragon. "I just need someone to keep me light." She turned back to the Queen and saw she was looking at her with heart eyes that just melted her soul. Leaning forward, she pressed her lips softly against the Queen's. "I love you."

"I love you too."

"Love oooo!" Ally added making all the adults laugh.

Regina and Emma then made their way over to the sofas joining Maleficent. Alexandra wriggled in Regina's lap and reached for the dragon who happily accepted her unofficial god daughter.

"Hello there, Ally!"

"Hi Mally!"

It was the simplest of things that made Ally laugh but Emma still loved seeing how happy it made her.

Mal then turned to Regina. "What was up with her?" She asked.

"She was just fussing," Regina replied, shifting slightly in her chair. Emma wanted to ask more but Regina beat her to it. "So what was going on while I was gone?"

"I may have accidentally revealed the truth about me," Emma said quietly, nervously biting her lip.

Regina raised her eyebrow. "Oh?"

And that was all it took, Emma then explained how she accidentally let it slip. Regina wasn't angry, she couldn't be as it wasn't her secret to tell, she was just intrigued about how it all happened.

Maleficent ended up staying for dinner before she finally headed back home. Emma and Regina curled up in front of the fire while the former read to the Queen, telling her about the adventures of Gideon, introducing her to Her Handsome Hero until it was time for bed.

Nanny Kala had already put Alexandra down for the night and had retired to her quarters, so Emma and Regina were able to straight up to their room. Emma was rather hesitant to enter their room, half convinced Rumple was going to be waiting for them again.

Regina seemed to sense Emma's hesitation and squeezed her hand. Slowly, the two stripped down and slipped under the sheets. Automatically Emma slipped into Regina's embrace. Usually Regina would cuddle into Emma, but she didn't mind the mix up. She shut her eyes, but as soon as her lids closed, flashes of the night before flickered before her, making her tense.

"Emma?" Regina said quietly, trying to figure out what was going on.

Emma's eyes shot open, her breathing already erratic.

"Em?" Regina tried again. "What's wrong?"

Slowly, Emma looked to the Queen. "Could I have some more of the dreamless sleep potion?"

Regina was reluctant, starting to regret giving it to her the night before as it was possible to become addicted to it. Alexandra was alright after her fussing earlier. It was a typical side effect to be ratty the day after, something Emma had also experienced during the day. As Ally was only a baby and had only had a couple of drops, she would be fine tomorrow. For Emma, it would take a couple of days to be out of her system properly and until that was the case, she would always crave more. Perhaps she shouldn't have suggested the potion knowing what could happen. She just had to hope Emma was strong enough for what was to come.

"Only tonight," Regina agreed when she saw Emma's pleading eyes.

Emma nodded, "I promise."