Disclaimer: Maleficent and its characters belong to Disney.

Note: Sorry I wasn't able to update earlier! The chapter was done. And so was my internet connection. I have to go to college every time I want to go on the internet. It's rather horrible. But I'm doing it for you guys!

"Mr. Rose, did you know about your daughter's relationship with Mrs. Moore? Or did you discover it at the same time as the rest of us?" a journalist asks as she stands up to make herself seen.

Stefan's jaw clenches immediately at the sight of the woman. He is sure she's the one who asked the question about the rumors of his ex-wife's pregnancy during his last interview - the one that got him into this mess in the first place. He needs to play it cool and control his desire to insult her. All he has to do is remember the lies he prepared and act, which shouldn't be too complicated, as acting is his specialty.

"I knew she was hiding something from me. I knew there was something happening in my daughter's love life." Stefan shakes his head and sighs loudly as he tips his head down. "But she wasn't comfortable enough to tell me about it. And like any good father, I respected that and didn't force her to tell me anything. I just waited for her to open up... and she finally did!"

Stefan lets a small smile appear on his lips, even though what he really wants to do is smirk and laugh maniacally; he has never been prouder of his acting skills. The journalist is still standing up. She wants to keep talking. Stefan nods in her direction.

"How do you feel about it? Are you happy for her?"

Stefan blinks and then frowns.

"My daughter found someone she loves and trusts. Why would I not be happy?"

"Mrs. Moore is your ex-girlfriend!"

Stefan glances around to find the man who interrupted him in the middle of his explanation and wonderful demonstration of skills in lying and faking emotions. And reminding him that he had been stupid enough to date Moore.

"My ex... Yes." He pauses to take a deep breath. "That's all Moore is to me, an ex. We were young and foolish when we started dating. It's not important."

He stops talking once more, looks down and up again after a few seconds.

"What is important though, is my daughter's happiness. If it's with a woman my age, then be it with a woman my age!" Stefan smiles brightly and laughs as he finishes his sentence - he only wishes he could groan disapprovingly or flip over the table.

"Will you attend the wedding?"

Stefan tightens his grip on his phone. Stupid wedding. He needs to remember his lies, to be his lies.

"If I'm invited, I'd be more than delighted to go!" He laughs again. "Walking beside my daughter would make me the happiest man on Earth!"

Rather than just smile or laugh this time, Stefan looks absentmindedly at the wall in front of him, grinning.

"Do you think that your daughter revealing her relationship with another woman could have something to do with the fact you are accused of homophobia?"

"The accusation might have... triggered something. I don't know."

Stefan shrugs nonchalantly.

"You should ask my future daughter-in-law!" He has to force his laughter so much that it's a surprise even for himself that it sounds almost completely natural.

Aurora looks up from her cup for the third time in not even a minute, catching a glimpse of Mal sitting on the couch, Diaval next to her. He had arrived at the apartment early in the morning to discuss business meetings and Mal's schedule. At least that's what they told her. Their conversation seems too agitated to only be about a schedule, but with the TV on, Aurora can't hear a thing. Sometimes Mal's voice raises, allowing a very curious Aurora to understand a few words like "illegal funding" or "prison". Aurora is about to look away and take a sip of her tea when a picture of her father appears on the screen. She instantly gets up to walk to the living room.

"Stefan Rose finally opens up about his young daughter's relationship with the infamous Mrs. Moore."

Mal and Diaval stop talking, turning their heads toward the TV at the same time.

"When will they learn that it's Ms. Moore?" Diaval asks as he shakes his head. But before he can say anything further, Mal gestures for him to shut up with a flick of her hand.

Aurora, her eyes still fixated on the screen, sits down next to Mal, closer to her than what she had planned. She doesn't move, though. Maybe Mal doesn't mind them being close. At least Aurora hopes she doesn't.

"Rose surprised everybody when he said he was happy about his daughter's relationship and her wedding to come. He hasn't expressed himself on his future daughter-in-law but it's obvious that family reunions will be interesting. Especially with Leila Simmons, Rose's ex-wife, and the rumors of pregnancy surrounding her."

Diaval reaches for the remote on the coffee table but Mal stands up and grabs it before he can, to turn off the television.

"Aurora, I'm driving you home. I have work to do."

Diaval sighs, defeated, and leans toward Aurora for an instant.

"Now we've got an angry Mal on our backs," he whispers before rising to his feet to follow his boss.

No matter how poorly decorated it is, Stefan likes his girlfriend's tiny apartment in Brooklyn more than he likes his own. It's not really the fact that paparazzi don't follow him that far in the city - Stefan doesn't mind - but rather that he can finally enjoy himself without being interrupted by his daughter, her annoying nannies or that Phillip boy. Here, it is just him, beers and a gorgeous woman in her mid-twenties who likes to cook for him while only wearing one of his shirts.

Stefan smirks as he gets up from the couch - the report about his interview has just ended - to step closer to his girlfriend, who is preparing breakfast for both of them. He puts his hands on her arms and tilts his head so he can kiss her on the neck, but she shrugs her shoulder to stop him. Stefan sighs with exasperation.

"It's a damn good thing I'm such a good actor. Otherwise, all these lies about Moore would have been impossible to tell to anyone."

His girlfriend turns around to face him, frying pan held tightly in her hand so Stefan has to step back. She starts frowning.

"Don't you think it's quite a coincidence that your daughter comes out and gets engaged to one of your exes just after I told you it'd help your image to attend a gay wedding in your family?"

Stefan laughs but his girlfriend doesn't seem the least bit amused. Maybe she, just like the others before her, got bored of the perfect life he is offering her. Apparently, expensive jewelry and flowers just aren't enough to keep a woman around - it didn't even work with the very naive Leila. He shrugs.

"It's convenient, indeed." Stefan answers with a smirk.

His girlfriend lets the frying pan fall on the table.

"Could you please stop treating me like an idiot, Stefan? You're going too far with that wedding." If her words are motivated by annoyance, her voice is as soft as always. Confusing. "Selling your own daughter to some ruthless businesswoman..."

"Neither of them complained."

Stefan's words are finally not lies. It is true that neither of them said anything against the idea. Moore was content with getting a business deal and Aurora... she hasn't said a word. It's not like they talk about the arrangement, but his daughter is everything like Leila, so if she thought the idea was ridiculous, she would have said so. At least, Stefan thinks she would.

"Your daughter could be getting taken advantage of by this Moore woman and you wouldn't give a fuck."

Stefan clenches his hands into fists and forcefully hides them in the pockets of his pants - the last thing he needs at the moment is to get angry and end up accused of beating up his girlfriend. He takes deep breaths, his nostrils flaring, but it does little to calm him down. He needs to respond to the accusation, though. He might be able to lie well enough to convince even himself that what he says is the truth.

"I do give a fuck about that. Choosing Moore was not a random outburst."

Stefan snorts, and so does his girlfriend; they both know that he trusts his instincts more than anything else, leading to troublesome situations like being accused of racism and homophobia. He has to find an excuse for choosing Mal, and to put a stop to this ridiculous conversation he shouldn't even be having.

"She is a feminist, you know. And my daughter has a name."

"Oh really?"

At this exact moment, all Stefan wants to do is groan and slam the door of the apartment. First his girlfriend reminded him of Aurora, with her bright blue eyes, and now of Moore, with this new attitude.

"Sorry, I never heard you saying it once. Maybe I'm just going deaf. Or maybe I realized that you treat every woman like a possession."

Why would the fact he never said his daughter's name matter? It's him she is dating. She shouldn't be caring about this kind of things. And she knew exactly what she was getting herself into when they started dating, didn't she? She should know that he is not sweet or that he doesn't want a serious relationship. Stefan could break up with her and leave just like that for no other reason than the fact she is being annoying and suddenly complaining about the way he treated her from the start. But he appreciates this girl more than the previous ones - she is good. He has to keep her just a little longer, maybe for Aurora's wedding.

"Don't take it like that, babe. You know it's not what I mean. I'm just being protective of her- of Aurora, I mean. And of you, of course."

Stefan smiles and wraps his arms and his girlfriend's waist. She doesn't push him away. Perfect.

Mal leans back in her armchair and lets out a sigh. She closes her eyes and loosens her tie slightly. She had forgotten how much she could despise meetings that lasted for hours; it had been a long time since it last happened - not long enough. The day is far from its end, but Mal already wants to go home and settle down on her couch to watch a movie with Aurora.

Aurora.

Mal abruptly open her eyes again. God. She can't be thinking about the girl as a new part of her life. Aurora is just a pawn that will allow her to get her revenge on Stefan. That's what she is supposed to be. Had Mal known Aurora could be so endearing, with parents like hers, she wouldn't have accepted Stefan's ridiculous proposal. Or she would have. Because there is no way she is starting to like Aurora. It is only respect for her strength and forgiving nature, no matter how many times she's been mistreated, betrayed and used.

"Boss? You all right?"

Mal looks up at Diaval, standing at the door of her office. He seems worried.

"Yes, I am."

"What's on your mind, then?"

For a moment, Mal is taken aback by the question. Of course Diaval would notice that she is distracted. No, not distracted. Her mind just keeps going back to the previous night. Aurora clinging to her arm at the movies had been a weird and unsettling feeling. But watching the movie she was so ashamed to enjoy had been confusing. Well, Aurora falling asleep not long before the end of the movie and suddenly resting her head on her lap had been the confusing part. Such a close physical contact hadn't happened to her in months - maybe even years.

"I'm only thinking about the many things I have to organize for wedding."

That, and the bride. Diaval arcs an eyebrow and a smug smile appears on his lips. It is obvious that they are thinking the same thing.

"Go back to pretending to work if you don't want Balthazar to replace you as my best man."

"Wait! I'm the best man?"

Mal smirks and tilts her head slightly, eyebrows arched. Diaval's face lightens up with excitement before he closes the door. Mal almost regrets telling him that he'd be at her side during the ceremony. He will probably never shut up about it now that he knows.