Maleficent watched as fireflies danced around them as they walked, Aurora sometimes having to take hold of her arm in order to regain balance after stumbling in the dark.

"Feeling better?" she asked, breaking the silence after Aurora had drawn herself against her side upon hearing an odd noise.

"A little."

Aurora responded though Maleficent was sure that wasn't the full truth either.

"You know Balthazar and I used to do this sort of thing. Just walk around, enjoying each other, and nature." She said instead of pressing.

"Really?"

That seemed to get Aurora's attention.

"Yes."

Maleficent debated rather or not to act on the one memory she had that came to mind the more she watched her ward look dejected. There was a risk of her hurting herself but she also knew she wanted to cheer Aurora up someway.

"Balthazar was like a father to you, right?"

Aurora asked, bringing her from her thoughts.

"Yes. He knew my parents and took me in after my biological father died." Maleficent answered.

Why all these questions suddenly?

"Why don't you call him dad?"

Maleficent shrugged.

"I just never did, well not that I remember anyway. We were family no matter what and that is all I needed." Maleficent replied, watching as Aurora bit her lip again.

She does that when she is nervous. Maleficent realized before gently nudging the girl.

"Something on your mind?"

Aurora closed her eyes as if preparing herself before she asked

"How can you be sure that someone loves you?"

That was not the sort of question Maleficent expected.

"Well," she began "there are a lot of ways."

"Like what?"

Maleficent had not been prepared for this, not at all.

"Well, like remembering a favorite thing of a person or just doing something nice for them just for the sake of it."

She tried to explain, wondering why she was bringing this up and where this was even going. She didn't have to wait long to find out.

"Diaval said you loved me, is it true?"

Aurora's voice trembled worse with each word and even in the darkness, Maleficent could feel her eyes pleading with her.

Did she love her?

Aurora's heart sank when her godmother didn't answer for several minutes. Of course, she didn't. Why should she?

She just got in the way and caused problems.

"Sorry, that was a weird question." She began, nearly choking on the words as her eyes burned. She wanted to get away but when she tried, Maleficent held fast.

"No Aurora."

The teenager heard her godmother say and at that moment, barely could comprehend the other part of that sentence.

"It was not a stupid question."

She was only vaguely aware of being pulled into an embrace and that she was crying until she felt her godmother's knuckles trace across her face, wiping away the tears.

"Aurora, you are a very hard person not to love."

She heard the words come in a tone softer than anything she had heard Maleficent use before.

"I know what you overheard would prove anything else but in spite of all attempts to keep you at arm's length...in these few weeks you managed to worm yourself into my heart."

It wasn't a direct answer but Aurora couldn't help but wrap her arms around Maleficent.

She had known her aunts had loved her, certainly but Maleficent had no reason to, and neither did Diaval. She began to cry harder as she buried her face against her godmother as emotions begin to bubble to the surface, even things she had been holding inside since her father's funeral.

She was only faintly aware of a warm pressure on top of her hair or that Maleficent was speaking to her, then after what seemed like a long while, she finally was calm enough to pull away though she was still trembling.

"Sorry."

Maleficent just sighed and shook her head before forcing the girl to look at her.

"None of that Beastie. No more apologizes just became you need answers or show a little emotion."

Diaval wasn't sure what to make of it when they returned to camp, Aurora glazed faced and still sniffling while Maleficent kept a hand on her shoulder.

Had the girl gotten into trouble? He wondered though he couldn't read Maleficent's expression.

"Here, you're going to make yourself sick." He heard her say once Aurora was seated, handing a bottle of water to her.

"What happened?

He finally asked after watching for a couple of minutes.

"We just needed to talk is all."

Maleficent replied, sounding tired as she took a seat next to the girl, who quickly leaned into against her.