Disclaimers and author's notes on the first chapter

Author's note: I am taking longer to start writing Maleficent love interests but I wanted to give a little context first. I would also like to ask you guys your sincere opinion, since this is Swanqueen but will focus a lot on Maleficent, her friendship with Regina etc... Is this something you are interested in? I worry that this might be a bit misleading – should I change the title?

A Happy Ending for a Dragon

Regina and Emma entered Grannies for lunch, spotting Mal at one of the tables with with Lily who quickly ducked her head as soon as she saw Regina. Emma tried not to laugh... Yes, she was mad that Lily had been so forward to Henry, but she was sure Maleficent had already given her a piece of her mind and the look her wife had plastered on would put murder to shame.

They approached the dragons and Regina and Mal greeted each other with what Emma had baptized a darling-dear... "Oh Darling!", "Hello dear!" Before anything else could be said Mal eyed her daughter who promptly said "I'm sorry 'bout Henry" and even sorrier that Henry snitched thought the younger dragon to herself, but Regina leaned over all threat (and seduction on Emma's opinion) "Now dear, let's try it again... this time with feeling" Lily's jaw dropped, the witch couldn't read her mind could she? She dared a look at her mother who just gave her a

you-got-yourself-into-it-you-get-yourself-out look before turning and chatting to Emma.

In a semi-shaking voice Lily managed to blurt "I am very sorry mayor Mills it won't happen again I didn't know the kid knew what it meant" it was so fast Emma had lost herself mid-apology but Regina seemed satisfied ending the subject with "You better hope so dear" that actually made the young woman gulp. Leave it to the former evil queen to intimidate dragons...

They sat for a while discussing how things were going with the society. It was going to be word of mouth for now, but both Lucas were already on board and they would help spread the word. Mal wanted to have different training schedules depending on the type, at least for novices so there wouldn't be wolves chasing ducks or anything of the sort.

When the conversation was ending Lily excused herself to go to the bathroom and Mal turned to Emma "Won't you be a darling and go settle the tab?", "Hey, why me?" She asked teasingly "well darling since you stabbed me under a library, the least you could do is buy me lunch" Regina was about to interject when she saw her wife erupt in laughter "Well Mal, I guess you are right" and she got up to pay Granny and also take the opportunity to have a chat with Ruby regarding Operation Cupid.

Before Regina could open her mouth Maleficent raised her hand "I just wanted to have a word in private darling. The next lunch is on me" that brought a smile to Regina "Go on..." the dragon took a deep breath "I wanted to ask your permission to make Henry an honorary member of the society" Regina just looked at her so she continued " Your son is a natural with creatures. I mean you saw him with me...And its a skill very few possess" she looked at Regina "C'mon, you have to know that this dull knight in shinning armor thing is just a phase. He must be destined for far greater things" Regina looked thoughtfully "I won't push him if he doesn't want to, but I won't forbid him either... It's true, it's an amazing skill. However," her look meant business "Not a word about Henry's great potential to my mother!" Maleficent agreed "It wouldn't be my place and I know you had a terrible experience. But I must say darling, Cora being Cora, she probably already knows... the woman is a lot of things but blind isn't one of them" they cut their conversation short when they saw Lily arrive.

Regina got up to where Emma and Ruby were talking excitedly suspiciously hushing when they saw her approach "Miss Lucas don't forget our appointment this evening" Ruby smiled "wouldn't dream of it Regina!" and with that the couple exited Grannies and Regina explained Mal's proposal once they were out of earshot.

They kissed before heading their separate ways with Emma reminding her "Oh don't forget tonight is the family dinner, do you want me to pick something when I get off work?"Regina cringed "Some ricotta cheese, and the strongest sedative you can get" at her wife stern but amused look she corrected "oh, just the cheese dear".

Emma got home, placed the cheese on the fridge and picked up a thick slice of carrot to munch on.

The office door was open so she peeked, and there was Regina with her mother and Ruby. "I knew magic was a bad idea.." she was saying "Nonsense dear.. We just didn't count on the effects on new materials" Cora countered, Ruby just watched the interaction, this particular topic should be discussed only among the witches. She motioned for Emma to sit beside her. Regina acquiesced "Well, then, all the spells to be used have to be tested first on every material that did not exist in the other realm" Cora agreed "That sounds fair"," this way will be sure to avoid another.. " a very undignified snort erupted at the recollection of their description of Charming's attack "Incident." She was amazed her mother hadn't reprimanded her, but when she looked Cora was clutching her sides trying to hold back laughter but when both Ruby and Emma started she couldn't hold any longer and joined in. Regina couldn't remember ever seeing her mother laugh like that, she was still not used to the version of Cora that had a heart.

A question suddenly sprung to Emma's mind "If you didn't have silicon or rubber what did people use to.." and the other three women just looked at her carrot slice "Oh my god! Gross!" the three women just laughed and Regina was the first to compose herself "Dear, to be honest, cucumbers were much more popular" Emma was really disgusted "why not wood?", "Oh and risk getting splinters all up in y'er lady-bits... that was the option for most people, the wealthy could get some made of ivory" Ruby explained, "Cold as hell" Cora added "Mother!" but Cora just teased her "Surely Regina you know I am telling the truth" which made the evil queen turn beet red. Emma mentally stored the idea of Regina pleasuring herself with ivory for those lonely shifts at the station.

They ended their meeting since Regina would have to start making dinner soon. She invited Ruby to stay for dinner but she politely declined "I have to go back. Granny is a bit on edge because she has her first appointment with Mal tomorrow" Emma frowned " I never knew that Granny could turn too.." Ruby smiled "She never wanted anyone to know. She always repressed the wolf tightly. Things weren't easy on my day, but for her generation..it was awful. There was a supposed cure from the fairies, but even before my generation there had been so many accidents that it was stopped going to them altogether" Regina and Cora shared a knowing look.

But Ruby smiled "Anyway she will have her first appointment tomorrow during the day, Maleficent figures it will be best to try for the first time outside of Wolf'sTime since she hasn't done it for years" Cora was the first to speak " I am sure she will be alright. She couldn't be in better hands than Maleficent" assuring the young woman. Emma found herself oddly jealous... strange as it was she kind of wanted her mother-in-law's approval. Cora probably would consider Maleficent worthier of Regina, she shut down her line of thought as soon as it came. Better not go down that green eyed monster road.

After Ruby left, Henry and Emma went about setting the table, while Regina was in the kitchen starting to cook the meal, with Cora helping her, the older woman had started to try her hand at cooking, and would often turn to her daughter for tips and recipes. Henry had rushed into the kitchen to get the cloth napkins and turned jumping at the opportunity to finally tell Cora "I saw my first dragon today grandma" Cora smiled indulging him "oh really? What kind?" , " I am not sure... whatever Maleficent is. She is awesome!" Cora just kept looking at him dumbfounded as he proceeded to tell his tale in every detail of how the dragon looked when it flied around and spit fire.

Regina grew pale. She suddenly couldn't breath, how could she forget to tell Henry not to say a word to Cora! She had always hoped that he would be safe from her, given that as she always placed so much importance of bloodlines that he would be nothing but a Charming. She hoped that if anything, he would be just a pawn to be used to manipulate her into doing her mother's bidding... But what if she believed him to have power? What if she tried to.. She was interrupted by her son's hand on her arm "Mom are you okay?" Cora eyed her daughter with interest "Oh it's nothing dear" she said smiling to him, doing her best to calm him without raising her mother's suspicion.

The child did not look convinced but Cora jumped in "Henry, you know that I wasn't very good to your mother", "Yeah but you didn't have a heart. Now you do." Everything was so simple to him the innocence of a child with a wisdom beyond his years.. "Well that may be. But it doesn't change what I did,and some scars take long to close. May I have a moment with your mother?"

Henry looked to Regina who just smiled and said "It's alright dear, just go help Emma okay?" He smiled at her and took off, napkins in hand.

Alone in the kitchen Cora decided to open up to her daughter "Regina, I know I haven't yet earned your trust. And, you do have more than good reason to suspect me" she took a deep breath "But I swear to you upon my heart, may it be turned to dust, that I do not wish Henry Daniel harm. I have know long enough dear, that this boy is special, while I wasn't aware of that particular skill, I mean, we both know that the knight thing is just a phase..." If it weren't for her nervousness Regina would have rolled her eyes at the deja vu...

" Well even if you don't believe me for now, you must believe I have no desire to take down a whole town, specially for a child that has the protection of a dragon... From what he told me he must have been pretty close, and for Maleficent not to squish him... she must have liked the boy" Cora resumed helping Regina with dinner "And while I would love to have our magic tradition passed down to my grandson. I promise you I won't impose it on him." Both got caught by the use of the word, Cora for saying it out loud, and Regina for her having said it at all... Did her mother really recognized her son as her own?

Cora smiled again "You know? He might take after your father. He had a nack himself for it, although he never developed it. He gave it up in favor of other affairs, and plus, there was no one to teach him at the time" Regina smiled thinking that her son might take something after her daddy "I wish he had met him" she found herself saying "He would certainly approve of him" Cora added.

At that moment Emma entered the kitchen "Is everything okay?" Cora smirked elbowing her daughter playfully "and there's another thing he would approve of". Regina wasn't sure if she was ever going to get used to this version of her mother.