"I'm sorry, I forgot, how old did you say your godmother is now?"

"Eleven," said Aurora. Phillip raised his eyebrows.

"Good Lord."

Aurora nodded, and the two fell into silence. They were walking along the familiar path from the castle to the Moors. Phillip was visiting, and his family was arriving later that day. Apparently, Phillip's parents wanted to meet Aurora's godparents. Aurora explained about Maleficent's condition, concerned that her godmother wouldn't feel comfortable performing the role Phillip's parents expected her to. Since it was Maleficent's happiness, it was best to let her decide, so Aurora and Phillip were going to the Moors to ask her.

Phillip broke the silence by saying, for the fifth time that day, "I'm so glad I'm able to visit you, Aurora. I've missed you."

Aurora beamed at him. Phillip was so sweet, wanting badly to make sure Aurora knew he had missed her, that he did like her. She touched his hand and said, "I know. I've missed you, too."

"Do you think your godmother will receive me well? I don't think it matters if she remembers me or not. She loves you so much, she doesn't need memories to be fiercely protective of you."

"She likes you," Aurora insisted. "I know she does. But she is protective of me, and after everything with my father, she's wary of men. So naturally, she wouldn't immediately welcome you with open arms. But once she gets to know you better, and realizes you mean me no harm, she'll become more accepting of you."

Looking a bit relieved, Phillip said, "Alright. Good. I hope she realizes soon that I would never do anything to hurt you."

"She will. Diaval knows it, and if Diaval trusts you, it isn't long before Maleficent will, too. They're very close, as you know."

"Indeed. And you say they're only friends?"

"Yes. Very, very close friends. Well, alright, maybe a bit more than friends. I think," Aurora said, her voice getting excited. She had never spoken this aloud, "I think they both almost feel as though they are my parents. So they must feel a little like mates. Maybe they don't act as romantic as some human couples, but they rely on and care for one another. They love one another."

"That's wonderful."

"It is," Aurora agreed happily. She loved her godparents, and how with them she had found such an amazing family. She had never been sad in her time with her three aunties, but she had always felt a little like they were taking care of her because they had to, not because they wanted to. Of course, they loved Aurora, and she, them, but they never had anything that resembled the relationship Aurora had with Maleficent and Diaval. If Knotgrass, Flittle, and Thistlewit were her aunts, there was no doubt that Maleficent and Diaval were her parents. The thought made Aurora feel warm and happy inside.

Aurora and Phillip chatted until they reached the Moors. There, they extended their conversation to include greetings to the creatures of the Moors. Aurora loved watching Phillip in the Moors. He was so fascinated by everyone and all the magic, just like Aurora. He never stopped smiling at everyone.

Eventually, they made it to the Rowan Tree. Aurora called, "Maleficent? Diaval? Robin?"

A figure swooped out of the tree, followed by a smaller faerie, a raven, and a girl. "Hello, Aurora," Maleficent greeted Aurora cheerily. "It's so good to see you! Who's this?"

"Maleficent, Robin, this is Prince Phillip of Ulstead," Aurora introduced Phillip.

"Hello, Phillip. It's nice to see you again," Diaval said once he had transformed. He shook Phillip's hand. Even though Phillip had known Diaval for several months, he still looked amazed by his shapeshifting.

"Who is your guest?" Aurora asked, gesturing to the girl who had climbed out of the tree. She had blonde hair and brown eyes that reminded Aurora of a doe. A frightened doe, actually. The girl was about ten, and stood close to the Rowan Tree.

"This is my friend Katherine," Maleficent said.

"Hello, Katherine, I'm Aurora," said Aurora, beaming at Katherine. Katherine gave her a small smile in return.

"Hello, Your Majesty. Maleficent's told me all about you," Katherine said in a voice that was hardly louder than a whisper.

"Please, just call me Aurora," she said. Katherine nodded, then let her gaze wander around the group.

Maleficent was looking between Aurora and Phillip suspiciously, as if she were trying to find the connection between the two of them. Aurora was almost positive that at her side, Phillip had broken into a nervous sweat, possibly afraid that Maleficent would realize his wishes to court Aurora and would throw him off the cliff.

Aurora hoped that Maleficent would warm up to Phillip during his visit. Perhaps she would be more willing to, as she was now a child. But her emerald eyes were as sharp as ever. Maleficent's wings rustled, like they didn't approve of Phillip. Casually, Maleficent walked over and stood by Aurora's side. Aurora suppressed a smile - it was very sweet of Maleficent, that she meant to protect Aurora. Phillip was right - it didn't matter what Maleficent remembered, the faerie would always be there for Aurora.

It took Aurora a moment, but with a start, she realized that Maleficent's head came up to just under Aurora's chin. Aurora knew that the last time she saw Maleficent, two days before, the faerie was not nearly that tall.

"So, Phillip is a friend - "

"Did you grow?" Aurora asked, cutting across Maleficent. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt, but I just suddenly realized - you got taller."

Maleficent exchanged a glance with Diaval and Robin. Katherine walked a bit closer to the group, wringing her hands anxiously. Diaval cleared his throat and said, "There was an incident the day before yesterday. Maleficent tried to use the time spell again, and ended up growing younger."

"Oh, no. Are you alright? Wait, younger? But you got taller," Aurora said, confused. "What happened, after she grew younger?"

"The spell isn't meant to be used twice," Katherine said in a trembling voice. "It reacted badly, and Maleficent was forced to grow older."

"Are you terribly hurt?" Aurora worried, stepping in front of Maleficent, putting her hands on her shoulders. and looking the faerie up and down. "I'm so sorry…."

"I'm alright now," Maleficent assured her. Her voice was strong, steady, and casual, but Aurora could just tell, looking in her eyes, that while Maleficent was fine at the moment, she had been hurt. So Aurora left the others to socialize while she went up in the tree to talk to Maleficent.

At first, Maleficent denied that she had been in pain. But Aurora was persistent, and once she got so worried and upset that her voice was about as squeaky as a mouse's, Maleficent confessed what had happened.

"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you," Aurora said, a tear sliding down her cheek as she hugged Maleficent. "You've always been protecting me, and the one time you needed me to be there for you, I wasn't. I'm so, so sorry."

"Aurora, it's alright. I'm alright, now. You couldn't have known what was going on. No one told you," Maleficent said, pulling out of the hug and taking Aurora's hands in her own.

"I know, but I'll still feel guilty for the rest of my life," Aurora sighed. "If there's anything I can do to make it up to you - "

"There isn't anything you have to do for me," Maleficent said. "Except, please, just please don't worry. There isn't anything that can be done about it now."

Aurora nodded. "Of course. But Maleficent - if there is anything you need me for, ever, please know I am here for you. You're family to me, and I want to help you when you need it."

Green eyes glimmering, Maleficent said, "Thank you." The two embraced again. "So, that's Prince Phillip down there."

"Yes," Aurora said, smiling.

"He isn't courting you yet, is he?"

"Not yet. But I think he wants to," Aurora beamed. "His parents are arriving at the castle soon to see me. I'm excited, but I'm also a little nervous." Aurora's voice dropped to a whisper. "What if they don't like me?"

Maleficent looked exasperated. "Aurora, how could they not like you?"

"I don't know, what if they think I'm not good enough for Phillip and they forbid us from seeing one another?"

"That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. You're the kindest person I've ever met! Phillip's parents will love you," Maleficent said.

"Would you be willing to meet them, too? I think they want to see you and Diaval, since you are my family," Aurora said.

"Will the pixies also be coming?" asked Maleficent, wrinkling her nose.

"Yes. I know they aren't your favorite people, but they're my aunties," said Aurora. She tried to make a sympathetic face, but she ended up having to suppress giggles at the memories of her godmother and aunties. The pixies could often be unintentional nuisances to Maleficent, occasionally getting in her way and bickering constantly with one another. In return, Maleficent played jokes on them. Aurora - and probably most of the other Moorland folk - would never forget the time Flittle had turned Maleficent's horns blue. It took about an hour to restore Maleficent's horns to their natural color, and had Flittle taken any longer, Maleficent probably would have cursed her. Or better yet, turn her dress a drab brown. Maleficent ended up scaring Flittle by putting a hissing cat in her home. The cat turned out to be Diaval.

"I know, and I suppose it isn't my place to say who you let in your castle," Maleficent said. "Although, if this Phillip harms you in any way, I must insist on turning him into a squirrel."

"Godmother!" Aurora cried out of habit. Maleficent blinked at the name.

"I - he'd make a cute squirrel," Maleficent said, squinting over the side of the tree and down at Phillip.

"So, will you come?" Aurora said, eager to change the subject. She didn't doubt that Maleficent might actually turn Phillip into an animal if he so much as hugged Aurora.

"What - oh. Yes," Maleficent said. "May Katherine come too?"

"Of course," Aurora smiled. "I would like to get to know her."

"She's quite timid," Maleficent informed her. "She's been with her sister Lydia for years, basically a servant. And Lydia - well, she's become a little… unhinged. But Katherine and I have been friends since we were young."

Aurora frowned. "What? But she's only ten."

So Maleficent explained that Katherine, a sorceress, had been the one to create the curse, in hopes of taming her sister's violent attitude. Aurora was stunned, almost angry. The spell had hurt Maleficent - it had placed her in the most bizarre situation, where she had been introduced to the horrors her future held, and then it really had physically harmed her. If it was Katherine's fault…. No. Katherine hadn't meant to hurt Maleficent. She had been trying to protect her. Even if all had not gone to plan, Aurora couldn't be truly angry at someone who was trying to save Maleficent from Lydia. Aurora did not like the sounds of this Lydia character. Shivers had run down her spine when Maleficent had informed her that Lydia intended to make Maleficent suffer. It scared Aurora that there was someone who wanted to hurt her godmother, especially when Maleficent was in such a vulnerable form. She didn't know exactly who she was, and she wasn't as powerful as Aurora had always known her to be. But Aurora had to trust that with her friends' help, Maleficent could protect herself. Aurora decided it would be best to check up on the faerie more often.

Aurora climbed down from the Rowan Tree, Maleficent flying after her. "Diaval, Robin, Katherine," Maleficent said, "could you come to the castle with me, to meet Phillip's parents?"

"Of course," Diaval said immediately. Robin and Katherine nodded in agreement.

"Good. Thank you," Maleficent said.

"I hope you don't mind that my aunties will be there, too," Aurora added. Diaval was fine with it, as he wasn't as annoyed by the pixies as Maleficent. If anything, he was rather amused by them. The group set off down the hill.

…

The sun was setting when Phillip's parents arrived. The king and queen of Ulstead walked into the entrance hall and Phillip's mother quickly hurried up to Aurora to hug her.

"Oh, it's so good to meet you, at long last," she gushed. "Phillip's told us so much about you. I am Queen Mary, Phillip's mother."

"It's a pleasure to meet you," Aurora said, beaming. She was relieved that Phillip's parents seemed so kind. Phillip had never said they weren't, but Aurora had gotten so nervous she jumped to conclusions that the king and queen of Ulstead would be cold and utterly opposed to a relationship between Aurora and their son. Aurora mentally chided herself, reminding herself to not do that again.

King John also greeted Aurora warmly. He then went over and clapped his son on the shoulder.

"Mary is right, we've heard quite a bit about you," King John said. "It's quite remarkable, being a young queen of two kingdoms."

"I have plenty of guidance," Aurora said, blushing. Behind her, Diaval and Maleficent's pride practically radiated off them. "The Council helps me with Lapidem, and my godmother has been wonderful about mentoring me in the Moors."

"Ah, yes, your godmother. Maleficent," King John said. "We've heard about her, too. She cursed you, did she not?"

Aurora stiffened. "She was provoked. My father did a very cruel thing to her. While revenge wasn't the right thing to do, Maleficent has been forgiven for what she did," Aurora said loudly.

Though he still looked a little wary, King John nodded. "Will we be meeting her tonight?"

"Yes, you will," Maleficent proclaimed, stepping forward to Aurora's side. "I am Maleficent, Your Majesty." She gave a slight curtsy, her wings fluttering. King John looked stunned.

"But you are only a child..." From the sound of it, King John had been expecting someone more intimidating.

"Appearances can be deceiving, Your Majesty," Maleficent said, raising her eyebrows. To prove her point, the raven on her shoulder hopped to the ground and turned into a man. Queen Mary gave a cry of shock.

"Pardon me, Your Majesty, I didn't mean to startle you," Diaval said, bowing. "I am Diaval of the Moors."

"Hello, Diaval," the Queen said, clutching her heart. But she laughed off her fright. "I admit, you did quite catch me by surprise."

"My apologies."

"Oh, no, no, it's fine! I honestly shouldn't have been so startled. After all, I have raised Phillip, I should really know to expect the unexpected!"

"Mother," Phillip groaned softly.

"Why, when he was a small child, I nearly had a heart attack when I came to his room and discovered no less than a dozen frogs hopping around his room! To add to it, their little feet were covered in ink. It took ages to get it out of the carpet," the Queen said. "And of course there is the time he and a young servant girl switched attire so he could sneak into one of his father's parties - "

"Alright, Mother, thank you!" Phillip interrupted loudly. "Ah, would it be a good time to go into the Great Hall? I'm quite famished."

"Yes, it would be an excellent time," Aurora said. "My aunties are in there, probably dying to meet you."

The group moved into the Great Hall.

"Once dinner has been served, I would love to hear the rest of your story, Your Majesty," Maleficent told Queen Mary sweetly. Diaval guffawed, and Aurora had to suppress a smile as Phillip's face turned red in embarrassment. At least Maleficent appeared to have lost interest in turning him into a squirrel.

...

Hey Malefifreaks! Sorry for the long wait, I've had some unfortunate writer's block. :/

I named Aurora's kingdom "Lapidem," which apparently means "stone" in Latin. To me, Stefan's reign turned his kingdom to stone - cold and dead, Especially compared to the magical, thriving Moors.

Hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! Please review. Constructive criticism and random jokes welcome (shout-out to Callistrotta for being the first to submit a random joke, that made my day :D)!

Kitty