Regina paced across her throne room as Maleficent sat on her seat beside the throne with an amused expression.
" I don't know why you act so surprised dear, I had told you I felt the magical potential and you had not believed me." She stated in a 'I told you so' fashion that caused Regina to roll her eyes.

"I am because logically someone who is born in a realm that has no magic, will have no magic themselves." Regina snapped as she let out a low growl. She in some way felt betrayed because she had let some of her own secrets, dark secrets that she does not discuss with anyone be told to someone with such powerful appearing light magic.

Maleficent shook her head while triumph filled her being at the feeling of not having to no longer share the queen with that insolent blonde. "It will be fine Regina, I mean if you really want I can take care of her." She offered and she watched as the brunette slumped in her seat. She had sent Emma to a holding cell in one of her isolated towers with magic blocking cuffs that her mother had left behind in a chest of hers.
"What will you do, just torture her?" Regina spat, a feeling of discomfort filling her as she recalled that simply a night before that the blonde was crying out in her sleep and that they were not much different one from the other.

"Well what do you want to do Regina?" Maleficent huffed out impatiently. She was beginning to grow increasingly infuriated at how the once merciless ruler was becoming soft towards a subject, Regina would have simply killed the woman with a flick of a wrist merely a month or more ago and now she was considering to spare her life. "She has light magic, light which means that her magic is far superior to that of ours and on par with the dark one. Why are you being so soft?"

"Why are you being so cruel?" Regina challenged back. "Last I checked I was queen Mal and what I say is law and if I say she lives she lives and if I want her to go with you to your castle then she will." She growled, her fingers working in circles at her temples as an impending headache was beginning to grow.

Emma had began to work a place into the cold heart of the queen and within that small speck of a spot, a festering of a foreign warmth and likeliness began to grow within her. She didn't know if she was more frightened or intrigued by the fact that the girl had light magic. Regina had always thought light magic such as the one that the blonde had had been snuffed out and a thing of legend, there had only been dark magic and the type that those insipid fairies so carelessly flaunted around.
"I'm trying to protect you Regina, I always have and I am beginning to wonder where you stand." The woman sighed heavily as her heart began to feel heavy and slightly tight. She stalked over towards the queen and stood in front of her, her blue eyes gazed gently within the brown pools that she had grown to love so dearly. "Are you still bad Regina?" Her fingertips gripped the woman's chin and tilted her head upwards so that the two women were fully eye to eye with no escape.

Regina felt a lump in her throat prevent her from swallowing, air had stopped flowing from her lungs, and her heart was racing. Maleficent was always a weakness, a weakness that had protected and nurtured her when she had needed it most. It was always Maleficent that stood beside her without fail, the dragon would probably move heaven and earth for Regina's happiness and the latter knew that. She knew without a doubt in her mind that the older woman had loved her unconditionally, but she knew that she wanted those emotions to be reciprocated.

"The worst." Regina whispered as she felt lips against hers, emotions intertwining with hers, and a heart that wanted to join within hers. She let her eyes close and her body go limp into the kiss as she reciprocated with a heavy confused heart. She had done this act and much more with this woman and now, only now did it feel wrong and she asked herself, why?

When Maleficent had left after further activities, Regina was left alone within a mussed mess of her wardrobe
surrounding her on the throne. Her eyes fell closed and her head pressed back against the cold metal of her throne. The dragon was awaiting in her quarters as she had expressed that she was going to give Regina a moment to collect her thoughts, and boy did she wonder how long that would take. Perhaps a lifetime, or two? She couldn't quite think straight nor could she even begin to think about what she was going to do with Emma; was she going to try to please Maleficent or, perhaps, was she going to let the blonde be free and help her with her magic in a way that Rumple didn't do for her. Kindly, compassionately, and without a price.
Her lips pursed and as she pulled her dress up and fastened her ties, her lips parting as she breathed out a grumble of irritation. She couldn't seem to clear her mind well enough to continue on with Maleficent and she needed her questions answered. Her hands flicked upwards in front of her as a plume smoke enraptured her being, leaving nothing of her within the throne chamber.
Appearing outside of a large iron door, the queen felt her heart drum rampantly within her chest. "Don't be weak." She whispered angrily at herself, Emma was nothing more than a subject to her.
Or is she?

She opened the door and saw a small mass lumped against the wall, blonde curls falling messily over a slightly bruised cheek, and knees pulled too close to the latters chest to make her figure defined.

"Can I do anything else for you, your majesty?" Emma hissed, irritation laced within each word. She was pissed, angry, and hurt. She did something to try and save the queen and even though it had been a mistake to display her magic, it wasn't a mistake to save her and this is where she ended up because of that.

Regina gazed over the figure whose legs outstretched and stood taller than she, shoulders squared and her jaw tense. Emma was like a marble sculpture that one would see in Olympus and by god, Regina couldn't help but ogle at her in even the most inappropriate times.

"You can explain why you concealed this knowledge from me." Regina shook her head, eyes closing as she pushed any further thoughts from her mind.

"Knowledge, you mean of that weird burst that saved your life? I didn't know I could do that, much less what the hell it is I did." Emma threw her hands up in exacerbation, finding no point in this conversation. Emerald eyes gazing over brown, holding the womans gaze long enough for her to walk closer and tug at the chains that bound her wrists together and to the wall opposite the door. Her eyes looked pleadingly. "Regina…I didn't know I could do that." Honest, Emma was being honest and she barely knew the limits or the extent her magic went. "But…I'd do it a million more if it were to save your life…I'm sorry that this somehow brought up ill will against me but, I didn't make a mistake." Her voice firm as her teeth clamped together at the end of her plea.

Regina walked closer, closing that damned gap that was caused by the chains that separated them. "I don't know what to do." Her eyes dropped from the beautiful gaze that her own personal saviour held and went to the bound hands that fell between them. The two were merely inches apart and Regina could see the feint red marks that dug into the woman's pale flesh.

"You should do what feels right, not what your mentor wants or what I want…but what you think is right and whatever option that is….I'm sure it will be the right one- and, Regina…" Emma whispered as she cocked her head to the side slightly.
Regina tilted her head closer and hummed. "Ye-"
Before she could finish her statement, thin pink lips captured hers and she couldn't help but melt within the sweet reverie that was Emma Swan. Her eyes slowly fell shut and arms snaked around the woman's neck.

Emma's chained hands gripped the robes that clung to her queen; pulling the woman as close as she could as lips brushed longingly against the others, the want and desire escalated within the blonde and fueled an even greater need. Emma had wanted this, she had wanted this for so long and had only realized this upon traveling back in time, but it was better than never realizing at all.

Magical, passionate, and powerful; these words were the only thing that could describe the kiss and Regina could feel magic surround them as she continued to kiss this woman, this woman who interrupted her life with a simple glance. Emma made her drunk with such surety and passion, soft words and eyes, unselfish hands and loving touches, things that were so foreign to the abused queen. Regina clung to her tightly, holding onto Emma as she poured out every emotion into the kiss, the need, the want, the longing for belonging and she could feel a warmth surround her and a sort of magic enrapture her. This feeling, this lightness must have been Emma's as it was far from the darkness and seclusions she felt upon other actions, this, this was a feeling indescribable to her and so unknown. She was terrified, every brush of Emma's warm tongue was so tender and almost careful and she couldn't help but let her in. Parting her trembling lips, Regina welcomed the warm appendage with an inviting caress of her own; spilling a soft moan that shook both women to the core.

No sooner than the kiss came, it finished and Regina's forehead pressed against Emma's as she tried her best to catch her breath as it came out so labored. "Emma….what are you doing to me." She asked, her heart thrumming in such an unfamiliar way as magic tingled through her body.

"The question, Regina…is what is going to become of us." A breathless whisper came from the lips of the Saviour as she gripped Regina's clothing a bit tighter, knuckles white and shaking. She was completely blown away by the kiss as it was unlike the soft pecks and light touches they would do before this week.

Regina looked up into the woman's eyes, finding herself drowning within those beautiful green seas. She could lose herself happily within that ocean, if it meant never leaving this woman and that absolutely terrified the queen who never could be happy. "I-" Her throat cleared as she tried to even her breathing.
"Yes Regina, what do you propose as I've been awaiting and dear you know I hate waiting." A vicious smile graced the lips of a hurt blonde that stood by the door.

Two heads whipped around and looked up at the tall blonde who was adorning a silken night robe that hugged her in all the right places and her hair let down with soft curls. Maleficent leaned against the doorframe with crossed arms as she looked at the flustered brunette then to the younger blonde with a scowl. She didn't like to share and it was enough to know that her queen had relationships with a mountainous man known as the huntsman, but no, now it was with a young blonde wench who fell from home. How long would she wait or be humiliated?

"Mal I'm sorry, I just can't kill her or punish her for a crime that is not even a crime." Regina's voice came out as firmly as she could, she never once went against what her mentor had said and now to defy her was something completely else.

Emma stood and looked at Regina with a risen brown, she didn't necessarily think Regina would kill her yet, it surprised to see her stand up to the woman who counseled her.

"I've been patient Regina." Maleficent husked out as she stalked towards the brunette. "How much longer my dear, how much more do I have to do?" She asked and Regina knew that this wasn't even about Emma, but about Maleficents greatest need, her.

A warm hand stroked up against her cheek as the brunette looked up into beautiful icy blue eyes who held nothing but adoration. "You know it couldn't work…" Regina whispered.

"Because of me or because of you." She asked with a tone that wavered.
"This can't happen now Mal, I just…I'm going to free Emma and you and I will talk about this another night…please." Regina urged as she raised both hands up to the woman's hand and held her still close. With a bowed head, Maleficent silently agreed and she disappeared within a black smoke.

"Regina, you don't have to and I understand." Emma whispered knowingly. She was changing so much in this time period already and she was hoping none of these actions would impact their future in a catastrophic way. "I just appreciate the fact that you stood up for me, that is enough." She smiled softly.

Shaking her head, she walked back to Emma and with a wave of her hand, the chain and the magical restraint was lifted from the blonde and dropped loudly to the floor. Emma rubbed her wrists slightly, hissing silently at the burning sensation that spread across the reddening flesh.

"See yourself to your chambers and….we will talk ok? I just need to clear my head and I pray you don't exploit yourself in such a manner again until I figure out what I'm to do next." Regina's deep brown eyes glanced over Emma once more and she too had disappeared into her chambers to find Maleficent sprawled out on the couch, her arm covering her eyes.

"You know I hate seeing you like this?" Regina sat at the woman's feet and looked at the older blonde who chuckled humorlessly. It tugged at the brunettes heart, knowing that the strong woman who often protected her was indeed being hurt by none other than herself.

"You could have fooled me dear; you know….I thought I could do this and make you see me, but nothing can make you see me like I wish you to." She whispered painfully as she swallowed her own sorrow. The sight of Regina kissing that girl, that mere child comparatively was like a dagger being put into her own heart.
"I was there when that horrible man put his hands on you, I was there when the dark one was a sadistic twisted man that molded you further, I was there after that looking glass incident, and I was there when you miscarried…each god damned time I saw you die and I tried to put you back Regina and why couldn't you look at me like you look at her!?" The dragon roared out painfully, her eyes clenching shut as tears burned her eyes painfully and she wouldn't cry in front of Regina.
Her heart was breaking and not that she deserved happiness because god knew her sins, but she felt that perhaps she would find a comforting solace within the brunette as she found a warmth in the woman that she never found in anyone else. Since the day that young girl came to her castle with such innocence and hope, she knew Regina would be her saviour and she vowed to be that for her but, now she could never be.

"Mal.…You know if it wasn't for you I don't know how far I would have spiraled…" Regina whispered as her fingers brushed softly against bare soft legs that were tucked beside her. "I just, I can't explain it and I'm sorry. I don't know what is going on with Emma nor do I understand what's going on with myself, but regardless that doesn't change that you are very special to me. You saw me, you know me and believed in me when everyone else hurt me and I can't help but be thankful to you. I don't want to give you hope nor do I want to hurt you…I just really don't know what to do, but I can't lose you either…" Regina confessed tearfully, Maleficent had always been good to her and though she knew of the woman's feelings before, now with it all out it made it so much more real.

They sat there just like that, Maleficent was feeling a spiral of so many emotions that she couldn't properly think straight. "You know…when I went to that ritual there is a chance I could be pregnant and have my egg at any time and I thought perhaps you would help me." She whispered and brought her arm from her eyes, glancing at the shocked expression that crossed over the brunettes face. "But, that's only because I thought maybe the feelings I had were mutual but, it looks like I could be wrong don't worry. "

"Maleficent I just, I can't tonight ok. It's been a long day and I need rest…" She stood up and walked over to the blonde, pressing a soft kiss to her forehead and letting her lips linger. "If you do not stay I do understand as it would hurt me too if I were to be you, but just know that I do thank you for everything you've done. " Regina's breath tickled the skin as she pressed her lips once more over the woman's forehead before fully standing and walking to her large bed, flicking her hands so that her lamps were out and in a gust of purple smoke she changed her clothing to her powder blue silk night dress and crawled into bed; laying her head against her pillow and closed her eyes.

Maleficent laid there for a moment longer before she stood up and sighed, looking at the small lump under the covers that so often clung to her in the darkest of nights. The body that would lay wantingly into hers and would submit to her, the Regina that was just about unconditionally hers. Sighing sadly, she ran her fingers through her hair before walking to the bed and undid her robe before climbing into the bed beside the woman and laid behind her, her arms enveloping the queen in a soft embrace and pulled her close.
"Perhaps this is my price for putting Aurora to sleep…that my own loves heart would forever sleep and never awake to see me." She pressed her lips to the nape of the woman's neck. "Regardless of your choice my dear you are the stars that light my dark sky. Sleep well my dearest and find comfort within your dreams tonight." Maleficent lovingly cooed to a sleeping Regina as she too fell into sleep.

Emma paced within her room. She needed to figure out before it was far too late as she was beginning to fall a little too hard for the queen of the past. Her hands were beginning to wring together as she paced nervously in front of the warm fire.

"Well well dearie if you continue that, you'll walk to the floor below and that would be a nasty fall wouldn't you say." An impish high pitched voice giggled from behind her, causing Emma to jump and press a hand to her heart.

"Holy fuck." Her eyes went wide as she breathed raggedly from the intrusion of the dark one. "Give me a warning, Jesus Christ." She groaned a bit before turning and seeing the man sit primly upon the back of the couch with one leg folded over the other.

"Well I'm not Jesus but I can turn water into wine." He grin sadistically before brushing off his pants of any dust that may have gotten on them. "Anyway dearie, or should I say princess." His teeth gnarled in an unsightly grin that sent chills down Emma's spine.

"What H-"
"How did I know, are you really asking me…the dark one how I knew you are Snow White and Prince Charming's true love child?" He stood up in a faux bravado, his hands outstretched towards the heavens before giggling madly at the girl. "Well dearie you insult me." He walked closer before looking over the girl and bore his teeth in a predatory snarl.

Emma could feel the dark power oozing off of the man, nauseating her with his darkness. "Now, I'm assuming you came back in time as Snow White isn't even pregnant yet." He grinned and clapped his hands. "Wonderful wonderful wonderful" He giggled in such a way that made the woman's stomach churn.

"Rumple, why are you really here." She asks, finding his presence very unwelcomed within her bed chambers and quite frankly she had enough drama for one night.

Emma clenched her fists as she saw the man look at her like a lion looks at a zebra and felt herself restrain from squirming. "You see it's not why I'm here you should be worried about dearie, but why you're here you see- you're back in time you can mess up whatever is going on in your future simply by being in your parents enemies fortress and yet the queen doesn't even realize who she is with. Oh the irony of this, yes yes." He grinned and began to walk, turning on the ball of his foot before stopping mid way and smirked, pointing at Emma. "You- you change her and she may not enact my curse, a curse I've been cultivating her for since the day she was born and if you so much as ruin that you will wish you never had been born." He snarled. "So break her damned heart and I don't care how you do it." He patted his chest where that damned black heart pumped. "Just make sure she knows who you are and break her heart, make her want to forget so it gives her that much more motive to enact my curse; because apparently whatever you do affects me and if it affects me then I have to intervene and you do not want me to intervene because if I do….you may not show back in your time." He reached out and made a choking motion in front of him and all of a sudden Emma felt the air leave her lungs as she gripped the invisible hands that were wrapped around her throat and lifting her up.

"I-I understand." She breathed out and coughed, feeling a vein in her forehead pop slightly as her usually pale face began to grow red .
He lowered his grip and released it, causing the saviour to fall in a gasping mess to the floor. "Good because the next time I see you should be when you and that infuriating pirate friend of yours goes back to your time line in my castle and we forget all of this happened, you understand?" He giggled before he was gone in less than a blink of an eye.

"Regina.…" Emma whispered and looked to the mirror, when was that last night with her going to be and would she ever be the same to go back and not be able to gift the brunette with more than just a kiss.