Chapter 7:

Aurora held her chin in thought as she looked at the maps over the table in the meeting hall. Phillip was on the other side of the table, his side had healed well enough that he was able to get around once more. Borra, Shrike and a few of the tree warriors stood at the far end of the table. At the other end of the map covered table Maleficent stood with only a couple of members from the councils of the Moors and Perceforest. Percival and Smiling John stood together and studied the map for any strategic plans the other side may have. Prince John came to the meeting to represent Ulstead, despite the bleating of the council for more to be privy to the war council. The majority of the council was left out of the meeting as it was, they needed to focus on the next steps and not on the old grievances between different beings. Percival also mentioned that the men that had attacked them in the glen were from Ulstead, or had talked as if they were. Trust was hard to earn from then on when it came to any battle plans.

Borra marked another section of the map to show the newest attack area, "There have been three more attacks over the last three days."

"How many?" Phillip asked and looked at the marked areas.

"Altogether, a small clan of forest Dark Fey, ten Wallerbogs and five mushroom fairies," Shrike counted with a frown, "They are not staying to one area. One attack was toward the middle of the eastern lands, the next at the base of the northern mountains and yet another at the border of Perceforest, going into human lands. There were a couple of human causalities there as they were with the fairies that were attacked that first night."

"What are they doing?" Aurora asked with a frown.

"Gaining power," Maleficent said quietly and leaned over the table to run a hand over the affected areas as if it would set them right. It hurt her that she wasn't able to heal the Moors from this plight. At least not yet.

"Mother?" Aurora asked as Maleficent leaned back.

"Humans do not have magic naturally, unless they have had some fairy blood in their line," Maleficent explained carefully, "They must collect it and focus it in something. More often than not that something was born of magic. Like a crystal from the Pool of Jewels or ore pulled from the magic seeped caverns deep in the ground."

"So they need to gain more to replenish that which they use," Phillip nodded.

"It looks like they are growing the number of victims each time they attack," Percival noted, "They started at the mushroom fairies, the Wallerbogs... and then the clan."

"These men are sorcerers. Some have been known in the past, but the majority of them died out because of the need to use dark magic. There were those who used this magic in battles against the Moors during the past wars. They were a very powerful and hate-filled group," Robin was the one to speak up as he looked over the map and then looked to Aurora, "Most were banished from their homeland at the end of the war. When we fought them back from the Moors decades upon decades ago, we found out as much as we could. Some can focus to counteract fairy magic. The opposite from the magic we thrive on in the Moors- the same magic that they are using to deplete ours now."

"How do we stop them?" Aurora asked and put her hands on the table to overlook the kingdoms with him.

"We find where they are keeping their power, their source... and we destroy it," Maleficent growled.

"Until then, the borders have been opened for those who wish sanctuary?" Aurora looked up to Percival.

"Yes, your majesty," he nodded, "We have temporary lodging for who and whatever may seek it."

"Good. I will not have my people in fear to even sleep," she sighed and looked from Maleficent back to the map and then to Borra, "Any news on..."

Borra eyed Maleficent carefully and turned back to Aurora, "We have not found anything on our raven-man."

Maleficent's jaw tightened and then she turned from the table and out the door. The heavy door shut behind her and Aurora pursed her lips.

"She isn't taking it well?" Borra more stated than asked.

"None of us are. It's been seven days now," Aurora shook her head and looked at her husband, "What else can we do?"

Maleficent walked through the halls and caught sight of the windows as she passed. Dusk had already arrived in the kingdom, there would be no sky watching tonight. She shook her head, her shoulders and wings felt so heavy. They dragged behind her even heavier as she had no extra energy to keep them up. She hadn't been sleeping well, if at all, and her energy couldn't sustain itself the way she was going. There was no sleep to be had except for minutes here and there fraught with memories and fears.

She stepped toward the family wing and her chambers in the tall tower. She would need to try to sleep again tonight. She would try and fail, but she promised Aurora she would try.

Why did he have to go? Why did he have to volunteer? She bit the inside of her lip to keep a ragged breath from escaping, Why did they have to take him? He wouldn't say anything to them. He won't say anything. How long would it be until they decided to do away with him because of his abstinence to their questions? How long would it take to lose him forever?

Her steps slowed until she was still at the side of the hall that led to her tower room. It was more than a lack of sleep. It was the lack of him. She had become too accustomed to him at her side. He was her stable footing, her compass when she was lost. And she was so beyond lost now. Her head fell into her hand in exhaustion and she fell back on one of the stone benches that lined the wall.

In front of the council and the humans outside of Aurora and Phillip, she kept her emotions in check. At least she had for the last seven days. She couldn't show weakness in front of anyone. It would look bad on the Moors and on Aurora. She would not allow any weakness of hers to reflect badly on her daughter. But this... this was growing harder to hide. This was worse than Stefan's betrayal. This was staying strong when she had no foundation to stand on. She would carry on because she needed to. There was no other choice.

Heavily eyelids fell and all she could see was his face. His smile, his quick wit falling from his lips so easily and that look that held her eyes as he held her hand to those same lips. The soft press of his lips against her skin was burned into her memory and she urged her mind to never release it. She couldn't help but think it may have been the only and last time he gave her a kiss. She opened her eyes again and found tears had slid down her face.

Other thoughts- regrets flew to her mind. What would have happened that night were it not for the first attack?

Maleficent may have starved herself from that kind of affection, but she wasn't totally unworldly. She knew what was possible from that moment shared in the Heart of the Moors. How her heart wouldn't slow, how his eyes wouldn't leave hers and how that feeling flew through her like a new untamed magic. She must know what it is, but will not put a name to it. She couldn't. Especially now, when it may be taken from her once again.

She put a hand to the wall and pulled herself up with the wall at one hand and her staff in the other. She stumbled a little in her effort, but then felt a small hand at her side. She looked down to see Robin had followed her and now held his hand out in an effort to help.

"You didn't have to follow me," she sighed but took his help without further comment.

"I helped to raise you after your parents died. You think I am going to let you suffer now?" he asked and walked with her toward her room, "Besides, Diaval will want to know that someone had helped you while he was gone."

"And if he doesn't come back?" she asked in a flat voice and looked down at the older fairy, "It wouldn't matter."

"It would because we still need you," Robin frowned at her and pulled her up the next few steps, "I am going to make sure you go to bed and actually get some sleep. Under the queen's orders."

"You can't make my mind stop, Robin. No matter how much poppy dust you may blow at me," she almost challenged him and let go of his hand at the top of the stairs, "I can make it on my own. I will have to."

Robin motioned her to lean down and he wiped at the tears that had fallen over her sharp cheeks. He cupped her face in his hands, something that he hadn't done since she was but a child and looked at her eyes, "He isn't gone yet."

Maleficent touched her hand to her chest, "I know."

"Then don't fall into despair. He will come back to roost. That raven always has."

Maleficent took a shaky breath and nodded her head, "Goodnight, Robin."

"Sleep tonight," he told her and poked a finger into her side as he knew she wouldn't let him into her chambers now.

She only gave him a small smile and then walked into her chambers. She turned from the door and saw a maid with an armful of dirty bedding. Maleficent tried to give another small smile to the maid to calm the flustered looking girl. Even took into account her fangs.

"Pardon me," the maid bowed her head quickly from behind the pile in her hands, "I was just changing out the last of your linens, mistress."

Mistress...

Maleficent froze as the word passed the maid's lips. She took a deep breath, "Out."

"Mistres-"

"Get out!" Maleficent roared, her eyes shut and her wings unfolded from her back.

The young maid hurried out of the room and fled down the hallway, her arms still tightly held the linens.

After the maid made her hasty escape, Maleficent turned to the door and locked it tight. She didn't want any more visitors, she didn't want any more servants to take care of her. She didn't want anything except the return of her raven. Her eyes stung from tears once more and she cursed each and every one of them as they fell from her eyes and to the floor.

"I can't do this anymore. I can't just wait here," she hissed out and shook away the promise that she made Aurora to stay. These men are just that- men. She had fought them before, she can do it again, "I will find him."

A moment to breathe was taken before she planned to take care of her wings to fly out to the Moors. She would not remain idle any longer against this threat.

She tore herself from the door and walked briskly to throw the windows to the balcony open. To the side of the room a small desk was placed for her to work council issues or to send word to the Moors by a messenger. Hesitantly, she took a few steps to the heavy piece of furniture and sat into the chair. A letter to Aurora will have to be made to explain her departure and apologize. She would have to break her oath to her daughter, the first in a very, very long time. She tore some parchment and began to write. It was short and to the point, but she didn't have time to waste. It seemed like these men did not attack too often in the dead of night. It may be her best chance to find them unaware. She turned the parchment over and scrolled Aurora's name on it. She hoped that the young queen would forgive her someday.

The small chair, much like the one that she had in Aurora's chambers, creaked as she stood and then reached for her right wing. If she going to be able to fly to the best of her ability, she would have to preen them at least a little. It would give her the time to wait until the dead of night. Her arms stretched and pulled as she was so unused to the process herself. In the many years past, Diaval was there to take care of them before she had the notion to do so herself. He had spoiled her, it seemed. She paced as she straightened her first row with a slight pout on her face. She would be at this longer than she originally planned.

The sound of her door lock shifting distracted her from her wings. Aurora pushed herself through the slightly opened door, peeked up and down the short hall outside and then closed the door behind her. Maleficent was about to ask her how she undid the lock, but then saw Aurora stow a large key into a pocket in her day gown. She locked the door quickly and then turned to face the Dark Fey in the room.

"Mother, I know you don't want to talk about it, but we must discuss this," she began and looked at Maleficent, her wing still in her hand. Aurora looked at the slight preening of the wing and the open window behind her. Things fell together in her mind and she crossed her arms over her chest, "You aren't ready for bed. Going somewhere?"

"What gave you that idea?" Maleficent asked tiredly. She did not want this discussion. Of all people, Aurora may have been the only one to talk her out of going once again.

"Oh, this and that," Aurora waved her hand in front of her haphazardly and then pointed to the windows, "It's just past dark. You want to go out now?"

"Best time as I can estimate. They don't usually attack during the dark of night," she offered, "I can be back before too long."

"You do not mean just to take a short flight. Do not take me as one of my councilmen," Aurora frowned and walked over toward the desk to gain some space. She peeked over and saw her name on a piece of parchment on top of the desk, "What's this?"

"Aurora," Maleficent warned her and tried to reach her in time to take the paper from her.

Aurora gracefully danced from her and turned the parchment over, "'Aurora, I am sorry to break my promise, but I should have done this from the moment I knew he was taken. I am going to get Diaval and bring him back. Seven days is beyond too long. I'm sorry. I love you. Will be back soon'..."

"Beastie-"

"This is what you were going to just leave here?" Aurora asked and waved the parchment between them, "This is what you would be okay with to possibly be your last words to me? Just like some of the last words he gave us. Will be back soon. Mother! These men can hurt you past what your phoenix powers can save you from! And you willfully run to them!"

"I willfully go to him! To save him! To bring him back!" Maleficent shouted back and held her head in her hands as she paced the room between Aurora and the window, "I... I am not strong enough!"

"Enough for what?" Aurora asked now getting confused, "You are not strong enough..."

"Without him!" Maleficent threw her arm out and pushed it toward the window, "I cannot keep doing this every day when I can bring him home. I am angry and there is very little anyone else can do to temper my anger. I am in anguish, and the only one who can make me smile is gone. He has spoiled me even to the point that I cannot preen my own wings in a timely fashion. I cannot find my footing or the will to soar as my wings have been taken again."

"Mother..." Aurora took a breath and walked toward Maleficent to comfort her, but Maleficent pulled away from her further.

"I know you wish to protect me, but I cannot stay here anymore without answers," she shook her head and looked at her daughter, her eyes shimmering. A hand went to her chest to feel the pull of the magic they shared, "He is alive, he is out there, and I will find him. I will find those who took him and tear them apart as they tried to do to our family."

Aurora's face fell. She knew that her mother was in pain. They all were by Diaval's disappearance, but she never knew the depth of the pain for her mother. He has been by her side for decades now, never leaving, never faltering, always her rock, her compass. Now she was without him and she was lost.

Maleficent tried to collect herself again and closed her eyes, her fists clenched shut. The green magic flared at every knuckle of her hands and she reined in the emotions that flared high. Her back was to the window and she tried to concentrate on the noises of the night to soothe her enough to gain control. Instead of the song of crickets and night owls, she heard what sounded like the flapping of wings coming close to her balcony. They sounded familiar, yet not beating in the rhythm she knew. She growled at the thought that it was all in her head. The want for them to be smaller wings of the darkest black manifesting in her traitorous ears.

Then there was a large gasp from her daughter in front of her and shifting of feet against the rug that lined her stone floor.

"Mistress?"

Eyes flew open at the word, now not spoken by a maid or servant to check on her. No, she knew that voice better than she knew the sound of her own. Could it be not of her imagination? Could she brave the heartache if she turned and he wasn't there? She would have to, even if it was to calm her own mind before her flight. She turned slowly from Aurora's astonished face and there stood Diaval the man. Clothes torn, skin punctured and bruised, his left arm hung at his side as his right held on to his ribs. His breathing came in heavy gulps of air as if he had climbed the tower in one go.

"I have some news," he said in a breathy voice and winced as he tried to smile for her.

Her legs, her arms, even her lungs stopped working at his words. She stood paralyzed and unable to move in fear of him flying away.

"Diaval!"

It took less than a moment for Aurora to race across the short distance and tackle him in a massive hug. Diaval groaned a little at the impact of his injuries, but still held his happy, painful grin. She giggled and laughed through tears as he hugged her back with just his right arm. He kissed the top of her head and looked down into her face when she pulled away from him.

"Hello, Fledgling," he greeted when he connected with her eyes.

"How?!" she asked and patted him on his shoulders as if to goad him to tell her the whole story.

"They couldn't hold me forever," he nodded to the open window at the balcony, "I am one intelligent raven, you know."

"But it's been days! We've been so worried!" she punched him in his right shoulder, "We've been absolutely sick! We didn't know where you were, what they had done to you! Haven't we, mot-?"

She turned her head to Maleficent as if she would support her rant at him, but then noticed the unsure stance she held in the middle of the room. Aurora flicked her eyes between the two of them and unwrapped herself from around Diaval so that her mother had a chance as well.

Maleficent pushed herself to move and slowly took steps toward him. As she drew closer she saw his eyes search over her as if he was on the hunt for any injuries. Satisfied that he didn't find any at the moment, his eyes went back to her face. When she reached him, she held out both hands and held his face in her hands. Her eyes scanned his face, the gash on his eyebrow still open and angry, bruises along his cheeks and jaw, but his eyes still strong and so Diaval.

He let out a breath and a half-smile when she reached his eyes once more. He brought up his right hand and pushed a strand of her silk-like hair out of her face, "You're still safe."

She took a step back at that and then hit him in the right shoulder much like Aurora had done before her, "You ridiculous, feather-headed raven! Don't ever do that again!"

At first, he stepped back from her hit, but then quickly gathered her in a hug with his good arm and struggled with the left arm to work just to hold her. He took a deep inhale once he was surrounded by her and didn't even care that she was still struggling to hit him again.

"When I tell you to come back, you don't go and get yourself swallowed by magic... and disappear... and make me- make me-"

Diaval leaned back to hear her answer, but she didn't look at him. He ducked his head to catch her eyes, "I missed you too, but you should know I am too stubborn to die now."

"Stupid bird!" she spat and walked out from his embrace. She grabbed his right arm and pulled him to the bed, "Sit."

"Malef-"

"She said sit," Aurora said from behind Maleficent and he instantly sat back on the bed. Arguing with one could be fun, but arguing with both women in his life would not do well for the raven. Maleficent knelt down in front of him to look him over more completely. Aurora sat to the side on the ottoman stool still in reaching distance to both of them, "You're injured and we have to make sure that nothing is permanent."

Diaval took a deep breath, but with a look from both of them, he let Maleficent do what she felt needed to be done. Her hands scanned over the bruising on his arms and she was happy to feel her magic respond with the injuries. They hadn't used their magic for these injuries. They would heal much quicker with her golden magic. Her hands scanned his legs and his chest where it stopped at his ribs. She shot him a glance when she felt the cracked ribs. He coughed a little with a wince and she continued her work. He felt the magic meld into the cracks and the injuries and the warmth of healing magic took his pain away. Finally, her hands came up to his left shoulder and she gasped.

"How did you get up here?" she asked him.

"I flew, of course," he said as if she should have already known.

"You flew on a sprained wing?" she frowned deeper in worry.

"Sprained?!" Aurora asked and noticed that his arm did seem to hang almost uselessly at his side, "Oh, Diaval..."

"I felt it important to get here before one of those men took something from you, or hurt you," he growled at the men that had held him and looked pointedly at Maleficent.

Her hand gently laid over his shoulder and he felt the same warm presence as before. He let out a gasp of relief from the muscles released from their pain.

"What happened?" she asked and kept her magic focus on his injuries. Aurora wiggled on the ottoman to listen to the tale.

"They wanted information about you. How to defeat you and your weaknesses. You need not worry, I didn't say a word. They sure did, though. I am not sure that they had an idea of how much they let slip as much as they actually had," he turned his head to Aurora, "You and Phillip will have a lot more information to go off of. I would have stayed a little longer for more, but one of them threatened your mother and I couldn't have that."

"Didn't you think it prudent to get yourself out before they hurt you?" Aurora asked with a sharp look.

"I couldn't get information if they didn't think that they controlled me to a point."

"Information is not worth this," Maleficent pushed at his shoulder which felt much better. She stood up over him and tapped the bottom of his chin, "Look up."

With no hesitation, his head tilted back to look up at her. Delicate hands glided across his face and his injuries there. Bruises began to disappear, the gash closed on itself over his eyebrow and she smiled as he came back to his original, calm self. His eyes had closed as she worked her magic over his face. It looked like he basked in her attention. She leaned back a little to re-position and almost lost her footing. Without opening an eye or even saying a word, his hands came out and held gently at her hips to balance her. She finished her healing and he opened his eyes to look up into hers.

Her breath hitched and her brows furrowed. There was that damned feeling again.

"Maleficent... they were hoping for you. To hurt you," he said in a serious tone as he stared up at her, "Some pain is worth it if it meant that I found out what they knew. I won't let them get to you. Ever."

His hands were still on her hips, in a way they trapped her. She was confused and unsettled by both his words and her rapid heartbeat. She tapped him on the shoulder to make sure it was healed and quickly turned out from his grip to the middle of the floor.

Aurora watched the intimate interaction between them and knew that more needed to be said without her fragile ears in the mix. She stood up and dusted off the skirt of her dress, "I will have breakfast brought up for you in the morning. We will discuss all the details of your captivity and escape when you come down."

"Thank you, little one," Diaval nodded up at her.

She held his head in her hands carefully and kissed his forehead, "I missed you. Don't ever do that again. I don't know what I would do if I ever lost my father."

Diaval nearly jumped in shock at the title, but nodded all the same to her as she left the room. The lock slid into place from the key on the other side still held by the young queen.

"I never thought that I would have heard me being called father," he muttered as he still stared at the door.

"She has said it many a time, just not with words," Maleficent answered and he turned to her once more. Her mind was running on fumes and she couldn't decide whether she needed to go back to him or keep her distance. She was so happy that he was back in more or less one piece, but so enraged at the injuries that he sustained for her benefit. In her ruminations, she began to pace and he followed her with his eyes.

"Will you stop pacing?" he asked as he blinked hard, "It's making me dizzy."

"You do not have to watch my pacing," she bit back.

"Yes, I do. I'm worried about you."

She stopped then and looked him over once more as if she missed a spot, "How many times did they hit your head?"

"Not enough to damage my charm," he answered with an easy smile.

"Clearly," she huffed and just stared at him. She was so unsure about what to do. She felt so out of place and flicked out her still partially preened wings, "I should go for a fly and let you rest."

Diaval was off the bed and caught her arm before she got further than the end of the rug. She looked at his hand around her wrist and how it asserted no pressure, just a gentle hold to get her attention.

"Diaval..."

"You don't have to say anything, but I am tired of going through what-ifs in my mind every time something happens to us. First, the final fight with Stefan in the castle that neither of us thought we would survive, then it was the iron cage with you in the mines, then your resurrection and now me getting swallowed by magic and held prisoner- I want you to know a few things."

He took a breath and paused to see if she would actually listen. She kept her eyes on his face and he pulled her over to sit on the bed with him. He held her hands in his and started.

"Do you remember the first time we met?"

"You were under a net..." she said unsure if she was really supposed to answer him.

"No, the first time we met was in the castle ruins the night before. You blew me off my perch with a wisp of your magic. Didn't make too good of an impression," he smirked and pulled at her hands with her surprised expression, "I saw you before that too. The first time was in your battle against King Henry. I was amazed by you. Your strength and your passion as you pushed the invaders back from your home. You nearly glowed in grace and power.

"Then a week later you chose me to be your servant. You chose me, saved me, a dashing raven to be your wings. I couldn't even imagine what I did to earn such luck to be a familiar to the most powerful and awe-inspiring Fey of the Moors. Day by day, each time you changed me to man, my mind began to understand things I never knew before. Then I began to know you and you changed me so completely that I would have it no other way, be nowhere else, nor be at anyone else's side. I am who and what I am because of you and I can never thank you enough for that.

"You have given me so much, I can never repay the kindness. All I can do is to stay by your side, like I want to. It isn't a matter of pride or duty, it's a matter of want and need. I will be there for you and protect you for as long as I am able. I would gladly give up all my raven-ness to make sure that I was able to ensure your safety and happiness."

With the exception of her answer at the beginning, she stayed quiet the entire time. Her face was frozen in a bit of shock and wonder.

After a few moments of agonizing silence, he shrugged, "Okay, I know I told you that you didn't need to say anything, but I do need a little something. Even if it's a scream- a curse... anything would help."

A deep shuddering breath left with a whisper.

"What?" he asked and leaned toward her.

She blinked and tears fell down her cheeks again, "I am not worth that."

"You are," he answered with an exasperated laugh, "You are a hero, mercy in this hard world and a light that shines as bright as any star. Believe me, I would be the only one in this entire land to know this for certain. And if you don't believe me today, then I will say it tomorrow and say it every day after that. You can't ignore me forever."

She felt more tears fall and she shook her head as she turned from him, "Please... please don't say you love me."

He stood with her as she moved to the balcony. He followed close behind as he was afraid that she would take off into the night sky. Instead, she settled against the balcony railing, her hands gripped at the marble so hard that her knuckles turned white. He ran a hand through his hair and then stood next to her, gently so he wouldn't spook her.

"This is really different from our usual arguing. I really thought I would be a dog by now," he said to try and lighten the mood.

"Every time I have heard someone say they love me, they have left," she explained and her grip loosened just slightly on the railing, "My parents, though I have very little memory of them, I do remember their voices at night. When they bid me sleep they always left me until morning with a whisper of love. Stefan called that kiss true love and he took my wings and killed my heart. All those in the Moors who raised and loved me as a child and guardian, they left my side when my heart became dark. Aurora even left when she found out who I really was. They all leave, and I cannot lose you. I am weak, Diaval. Love has done that to me."

"Love has only made you the strongest being I have ever seen. Your love for Aurora- who came back to us- and the fair folk, the Moors- and humans are growing on you."

She huffed a sarcastic laugh, "Only a few."

"I am not going to leave you," he said rebelliously against her fears, "I made a vow long ago, that you may have released me from, but I will never break it. I hold that vow not as a raven that had his life saved, but as a new creature that you helped to shape and create- that had his soul renewed and gifted."

Fear still in her eyes, she looked back down at her hands on the railing.

"I am making a new vow," he decided after a suffocating moment and stood closer to her again, "I vow that I will never be too far from you. Even if you are to send me away, I will still be there for you when you call me back. Even when I become frustrated and take off, I will come back to roost in the only home that I have really known. With you. I will not leave you and though I may not be your servant, you will always be my mistress. For you hold my heart."

Maleficent took a weary breath with fresh tears as she turned to him to stare at him as if he had wished his life away to an unworthy cause.

He put a hand over one of hers, "If you don't feel the same, that's okay. I won't force you to feel anything that you don't, but I didn't want something else to happen and regret never letting you know. It sounds quite selfish. I am sorry if that caused you pain."

Now that she faced him, he gave her a sad smile. The hand over hers lifted and carefully smoothed the tears from her face.

She shook her head and batted away his hands. She took a hard look at him and the moonlight fell on his face in just the right way, that it reminded her of the Moors- of home. He was a part of home and as that realization fell over her, she thought that just maybe she was in love with him. A gasp tumbles out of her mouth as she turned to look away. The feeling that rampaged in her chest, the humming of her heart, the overwhelming joy that she still held from him being back... it all came together in one swoop.

"Fie and Damnation," she cursed under her breath.

"What?" Diaval asked and leaned in closer to hear what she had said.

It took a half step for her to turn, grab the collar of his shirt and pulled him to her. Her lips pushed up against his with a force that even surprised her. After a shocked moment, Diaval's head finally caught up with him and he kissed her back. His arms quickly wrapped around her so she wouldn't let go and pulled her closer. When she felt the pressure from his kiss back, her hands abandoned the collar of his shirt and climbed higher. One settled in his hair and the other the back of his neck, her fingers gripping at his smooth hair. Too short of a moment later they broke from the kiss and Maleficent was the first to open her eyes.

"... I hate you."

He chuckled out of breath and kissed her briefly again, "You love me."

"I hate that I love you," she blurted.

"But the important thing is that you love me."

She stared up into his giddy smile he couldn't keep off his face. She took one cheek in hand and ran her thumb over his cheek, "Unfortunately."

His smile continued even when he kissed her again. He held her as close as he could in a small attempt to keep her against him. She didn't fight against him if anything her hands still around his neck pulled him down to her. The final piece of her heart fell into place and she felt her lips shift into a smile as well. As they pulled back from their kiss, Diaval pushed his forehead to hers and closed his eyes to imprint the moment to his memory. Her fingers danced in his hair and at the back of his neck as they both seemed to sway with one another, only their foreheads touching.

"Can I say it now?" he asked, his eyes still closed and they both swayed to unheard music.

"Say what?" her eyes still closed, but her brow furrowed against his.

"You pleaded with me not to say it. What use is to follow that plea if I am to say it now?"

She finally opened her eyes and looked right up into his, "Say it."

"I love you," he said slowly and vehemently so she would not only hear it, but feel it. After a solid moment, he picked his head up and looked from side to side before he looked back down at her, "Would you look at that? I am still here."

Before Maleficent could chide him, she yawned loudly right in his face. He chuckled and took her hand in his to kiss it and then led her back to the room. He closed the window before he turned to her again.

"I will relent and admit that I do need to rest," he said and eyed her, "So do you from the look of it. I can shift to raven again and curl up-"

"Come," she interrupted him and pulled at his hand to the bed. She quickly laid on one side while she left the other side open for him.

"I...I..." he uttered and felt his face begin to flush.

"Do not turn yourself into a wide mouth guppy, Diaval. It's sleep and the gods know we both need it," she rolled her eyes and motioned to the other side of the bed, "Besides, you didn't have any problem in the nest."

At the memory of his last night in the nest with her at his side, he quickly shucked off his shoes, blew out the candles near the bed and climbed in to face her. As soon as he became as comfortable as he could be on his side, Maleficent came closer and wrapped her arms around him. His body responded in kind and his arms found their way around her, but able to mind her wings. His lips rested at her forehead as she nuzzled into his neck. She took a deep breath through her nose and pulled herself in closer one more time.

He kissed her hairline and smiled.

"I need to know you are still here," Maleficent whispered as sleep began to take her, "Be here in the morning?"

"And every morning after," he promised against her skin.