Disclaimers in the first chapter
Author's note: this one is a wee bit longer to introduce the first amorous candidate for Maleficent. A special thank you for those who reviewed, followed and favorited this story
A Happy End for a Dragon
Family dinner consisted in having Snow, Charming, Cora and Gold over for dinner. A suggestion Archie had made to allow Henry to bond with his eclectic family. One of these days Regina was going to smash that well meaning bug.
The Charmings were the first to arrive and greeted Cora still a bit uneasily, specially Snow. Henry was quickly fished out of his room by his mothers in order to help keep conversation on common ground.
Soon the door bell rang again and Regina opened the door to her former mentor and stepfather "I brought wine" said Gold extending his bag "Thank god!" Regina sighed, Gold choices were always perfect in taste and plentiful in quantity.
He got in, found a place to put down his cane and before he knew it he was already being hugged by his grandson. It still took some getting used to but he liked it.
There was always an unofficial rounding of the troops before the games begun. A few minutes where the Charmings and Emma stood talking quietly in one area, and Mills-Gold in another, with Henry circulating diplomatically between both groups. Emma, Snow and David were with Henry in the living room, while he showed David some new games he had gotten. Charming was fascinated with video games, but was yet to admit to Snow he wanted a console of his own.
In the kitchen, Cora and Regina were putting the finishing touches on dinner, while Gold opened one of the bottles of wine, serving himself and Regina a copious amount of pre-game libations (of which David often partook when Snow wasn't watching).
"It's almost time to join the heroes" Gold joked "Oh c'mon don't you start" Cora chided and Regina smiled "We will never be part of the heroes like Regina here," Cora teased "but retired evil will more than suffice" Regina smiled at the thought, it did was how she still saw herself. "With the rising number of retired villains here, might as well change the name from Storybrooke to Evil Florida" Regina couldn't resist laughing.
Gold was just taking a sip from his glass, while Cora and Regina discussed how to better test the spells with Regina adding "Well at least Charming won't be attacked again by raging plastic phallus" In a very undignified, un-Dark One moment Gold spluttered his glass laughing "I thought you said you were going to tell him" Regina said to her mother "I meant to dear.. I was going to.." Cora actually blushed, Gold suddenly grabbed one of the opened bottles, his own glass and an extra for Charming "If ever a man needed a drink..." he said still laughing under his breath as he exited the kitchen.
Dinner followed a usual routine, the wine was brought usually either by Charming or Gold, Cora made the appetizers, Regina the main course, and Snow the dessert.
Conversation was made as civil as possible with topics going from recipes, the weather and Henry's endeavors which lead to the following conversation "Oh and it was super cool I saw Maleficent and she was my first, just like mom!" The whole room froze except from Cora and Emma who were laughing hysterically, Snow especially, looked like she was going to have a heart attack and Regina blushed furiously adding quickly "Dragon! first dragon!" Making Charming sigh in relief, Snow gain back some color and Gold exchange an amused look with his former disciple, refilling her wine glass.
Henry looked puzzled for a moment "Of course! What else would it be?" Cora and Emma had both regained they bearings and quickly cut in "Of course Henry. It just seeing a Dragon like Maleficent at your age is quite a feat", "Yeah kid. She can be quite imposing and you weren't afraid least bit". Dinner continue without further mishaps with Cora and Emma exchanging a few amused looks each time they recalled everyone else's face.
As they were about to go to bed Emma tried to ask nonchalantly "Regina what are dragons like, as partners?" Regina turned her neck so fast if was comical "I beg your pardon Miss Swan?" oh brother red alert!
" I mean... are they monogamous? Do they live with their mates?" Regina eyebrow rose "Do you mean all dragons in general or just Mal?!" she huffed "Frankly Emma..." the sheriff raise her hands defensively "No! I mean... It just that its not a creature I am familiar with and I was curious." her look said that's-my-story-and-I'm-sticking-to-it. Regina's look on the other hand was more oh-I'll-tell-you-where-you-can-stick-it-alright. "But erm... since I suppose Mal was the only dragon you dated maybe you could give her as an example" Smooth Swan... Regina just raised an eyebrow "who is to say she was the only?" at her wife's distressed look she just ended up confirming "Actually she was" she really is becoming too soft lately, Regina mused to herself. "Emma you can't think of things like that. Animal-folk, therians, mythfolk etcetera. They are part human too. And with humanity comes complexity. There may be a few traits but mostly people are just unique in their way".
She wondered why her wife looked so dejected by that answer so she tried a different approach "Dear, forget dragons for a moment and lets considered something you are more familiar with.. like wolves, for example" Emma looked up to her still confused "Eugenia and Red are both werewolves yet they have very different and distinct personalities" she saw her wife smirk slightly so she continued "Take Ruby for example... how much is she like a regular wolf? Or even dog?" Emma just raised an eyebrow at her, but Regina kept making her point " She is loyal to a fault. Has a certain pack mentality...But, for instants, wolves are very monogamous and I think Ruby only ever even grasped the concept when she meet Belle." Emma would like to defend her friend out of habit but it was true... Ruby never was as easy as some people though she was, but she was the definition of a player until she got involved with Belle. It was one of the things Granny was thankful for, that she was finally settling down.
Emma looked a little like their son when he was deep in thought, but she then gave a soft smile "I see your point 'Gina." Regina got close and hugged her wife "And as I am sure I have said before Miss Swan. Mal and I where in a very specific set of circumstances at the time, we both were too focused on our own issues... so it probably made things a little different" Emma sighed... no luck. She and Ruby would just have to cast a wider net.
Ruby and Emma were hunched over the table on one of the booths going about their plan "So did you get any intel?" Emma cringed remembering "No.." Ruby laughed "Do I even want to know?" Emma shook her head no "Did you make an ass of yourself, and made her think it was still you stupid insecurity regarding Mal?" Emma just blushed furiously and Ruby smirked "Nice going Swan" Emma tried to change subject "Hey focus here... So have you any ideas?" Ruby shrugged "a few, but I will take a while to get all the contacts" Granny was about to shout to Ruby, when she spotted Regina coming in and, to their amazement, rushed over to talk to her, they couldn't only make out Regina's assurances that it would all be well. Ruby and Emma approached them since everything was ready for them to close hours ago, and all the early morning orders had been compulsory made to go, with Granny shoving people out and Ruby saying "sorry" and handing a coupon for another day.
As soon as they got to them they could hear the interaction "Anyway, just in case, you swear to me you'll do me in, if push comes to shove!" It dawned on them what Granny was asking of Regina "Gran! Really! The only thing that will happen is you finding the joys of chasing your tail" Emma had to hold her laughter when Granny just clipped Ruby in the ear "Ouch! Dammit Gran! Relax will ya?!", "Mind yer business pup!" Regina looked sympathetically to Ruby and turned to the elder Lucas "Ruby is right. There is no need to worry. However if it makes you feel any better, if necessity should arise, which it certainly won't, I won't let you harm anyone" Granny seemed a bit more reassured.
" Tell you what" Emma said "We will just get somethings done, get Henry, and we will meet you there" Granny's eyes got wide a the mention of the child but Regina just smirked "Mal is going to have a talk with him. Plus more incentive for me, if anything goes awry" which oddly calmed the old woman, Regina sighed "Why does everyone cone to me when they want a hitman.. there's also Gold you know..." they all laughed but Granny said "Because you were always more merciful and you know it. Specially for our kind" and then actually she hugged Regina!
Emma and Ruby just traded a confused look...
Emma came back from the station after making sure that Mulan and David had all they needed for the morning. Regina and Henry meet her by the park and they walked together to the Society. Regina had taken a day off, to keep an eye on their son.
When they arrived, they used the key Regina had to the side gate.
They could see the paddock from a distance, where a huge wolf that looked just like Ruby ran wild, although as they approached they could see the wolf looked older, with specks of gray and white on its fur.
Maleficent waved at them leaning on one side of the paddock, and Henry trotted off to join her. Emma and Regina approached Ruby "I take it all is well?" Regina asked smiling, Ruby's grin was brighter than the sun "Yeah! Mal helped her transform because its not Wolfs Time but" she let out a laugh " The old woman can run! I might have trouble keeping up on her first full moon"
They all smiled at the elated wolf that ran to its hearts desire.
Then once she calmed Mal entered the paddock with Henry in tow. The wolf saw the boy, and froze. Henry on the other hand, just looked in admiration, and took a careful step forward under Mal's watchful gaze, and stretched his hand so the wolf could sniff him. In about 15minutes Henry was calmly petting the wolf and talking to it.
After a while Henry joined his mother's to give the elder Lucas and Maleficent privacy so she could change her back and they could talk. Regina and Emma hugged Henry tight.
"Nice going kid!" It was Emma's first time watching her son interact with a creature from beginning to end. "That was amazing Henry!" Ruby said surprised.
Soon they saw Mal and Granny approaching, the old woman had a beautiful smile on her face and looked far from the constantly frazzled look she sported on her daily basis. "Wow I don't think I ever saw your grandmother that happy!" Emma commented "She finally got to scratch her tail again" Ruby said laughing, and after the confused look she got from Emma and Henry, explained quickly "Hey I am serious! As humans its the only counterpart we don't have! Tail-bones are only a remnant of what once was.. so while humans we don't have tails but we feel them anyway like a missing limb or something...I spend almost as much time grooming over my tail as I spend running every WolfsTime" Emma wasn't sure she had been given too much information or not.. But before she could say something Mal and Granny had joined the group. "Not bad old woman!" Ruby teased "Watch it pup!" Granny replied with a smile still plastered on.
Mal turned to Henry "Darling, since you are so good with creatures I would like to offer you a honorary membership to the society. You could help out as human contact and develop your natural ability. Would you like that?" Henry was beside himself with joy "Yes! Awesome!" but quickly remember turning to his mothers "I mean.. can I?" Emma and Regina pretended to exchange a look and before they could said anything he quickly added, raising his right hand, " I promise school will come first and I always do homework!" Maleficent mockingly raised her right hand too "And I promise he will lose his membership if it even so much as becomes an issue" Regina laughed "Well I don't see why not then".
Suddenly a new voice joined in "Well, I see you are ready to join the girl scouts Mal" they turned to see Ursula "Darling! I didn't hear you crawling in..." the dragon responded in kind.
Ursula smiled greeting the rest of them and looking to Henry "so, young man, you've come to see the creatures?", "Actually darling he is the new Society's Human Liaison" Mal said and Henry look very proud.
Ursula looked thoughtfully at him "Isn't he a bit young? To be amongst us?" she summoned her tentacles at the end of her sentence, looking quite impressed when the boy didn't even flinch. "Darling he is comfortable around dragons, you in some places are an entrée" Mal joked, patting Henry's back. Ursula pretended to be offended "I would sure like to see your dragon survive my waters" she said with a just a hint of flirtation.
Maleficent explained that she had enlisted Ursula to help with aquatic beings, specially for the first forays at sea.
They bid they farewells and left the two witches mock bickering. "What was that about?" Emma asked Regina, as soon as Henry was out of earshot, Regina smiled "Oh, Fire and Water, those two have always been at it since I've known them. One of those relationships that seems to always be almost ready to take the final step... God knows Ursula always thrives to get Mal's attention. But Mal always had other obsessions on her mind, and then there was a certain mermaid fiasco..."
Emma smiled, Regina made it all sound so normal. One plus for the list, Emma thought, she had to tell Ruby.
