A/N: I'm so sorry it's been forever and ever since I updated! My usual excuse: school, work, life. I hope those of you still willing to read will enjoy this chapter and the rest to come!

"Your highness! Slow down, please!"

Aurora let the shouts of the men fall behind her, she could wait no longer. Not now, not when the Moors were in sight, the large stones standing as sentry for the fairy folk had been looming in the distance for hours and were now, finally, so near. She could not help but to take up a gallop, racing towards them. Now with each stride she drew nearer to her real home. Nearer to Maleficent.

A few men had been sent ahead as sentry, she could see them now, slowing her stead as she approached, all but one of them sat astride their mounts. The queen looked about her as she neared, looking for Maleficent. The man who was not ahorse rushed towards her to help her dismount, but Aurora was already swinging down. She had spent too long cooped up behind stonewalls and forced to act the part of a royal lady when her heart longed to be here, to run free and enjoy the splendor of the open air and blooming flowers. To let her feet touch dewy grass and to dance with the fair folk. The closer she came to the Moors the boulder she became, leaving the stiffness of her father's tradition behind her.

"Maleficent! Maleficent!" Aurora called, out of breath as she took up a quick gait towards the boarder.

Taken aback for a moment by her abrupt behavior, the sentry fumbled to regain his composure; he was younger, not as stern as those who had served the late king longer, "Y-your majesty! We've scouted this area and there has been no sight of the-"

There was a shout from the other men and with a gust of wind and the sound of thick feathers against the air, the horned fairy descended.

Aurora gave a squeal of delight and threw herself into Maleficent's arms, "Oh I've missed you!"

For a few seconds, Maleficent was stiff in her embrace, but softened after a moment, her arms encircling the queen with a whispered, "I missed you as well, beastie. But you are not in the Moors quite yet."

Oh.

The gentle words brought her back to the realization that she had displayed a behavior very unbecoming of a monarch. Aurora dropped her arms and backed away a bit, straightening her skirts and then her back, raised her chin. She looked to the fairy for approval.

With a smile tugging at the edges of her lips, Maleficent gave a small nod and Aurora turned to face her men. Those of the sentry wore expressions of recovering bewilderment. The main guard was making its way across the field; a few of those who had followed on Aurora's heels reigned up to the stones and were beginning to dismount.

They all fussed over her, worried mostly. Some of the men even called out praise of her unusually man-like riding ability for such a delicate looking queen. The captain of her personal guard, though exasperated, kept his anger well handled. Although if it was out of respect for his queen or fear of Maleficent who stood behind her that he did not reprimand her, Aurora was not sure.

Originally, it had been planned for a whole battalion to be deployed for her protection on a visit to the Moors, but Aurora had argued against it. The council had said they wanted to ensure her protection, but even as young and inexperienced, as she was, Aurora knew that doing so would intimidate the fairy folk and make them uneasy. The merger was new and there was still tension between the two kingdoms. Though there were no fairy folk that meant Aurora harm, they were perfectly peaceful if unprovoked. She thought one or two men with her would suffice. So in the end a compromise had been made, a personal guard was formed, a company of thirty men, much to the displeasure of her council yet still too large in Aurora's opinion. They would not actually enter the Moors though; again a demand that had put the council and the captain of her guard on edge, but Aurora would not budge on that part at least.

Although she did hope for the two kingdoms to live in harmony, Maleficent had advised that activity between them too quickly could do more harm than good.

"Are you sure you don't want a few men with you in there?" the captain asked, nodding towards the Moors where the wall of thorns had once stood. A dark look came over his features then, the siege on the wall not too far gone in his memory.

"I thank you for the concern, but I assure you, I will come to no harm in the Moors."

With a final queenly nod to her company, Aurora turned from the world of men and, with Maleficent began to make her way towards her kingdom of fairies.

"You made good time." Maleficent noted as they walked. She had been silent up until they were out of view from the guard.

Aurora slipped her hand into Maleficent's and the fairy entwined her fingers with the girl's almost immediately. The queen smiled. The first few times Aurora had attempted to do this, Maleficent had been reluctant, but ever so slowly she had given in to the insistent gentleness, Aurora was always patient, letting the fairy become comfortable with these little physical acts of affection in increments.

"I might have rushed them a bit. It's just been so long! Each time between visits feels like longer than the last. And I don't see you often enough for my liking. Then when I do it's only long enough to discuss my duties and how to go about being queen-like." she sighed, looking down at their hands with a sweet smile, cheeks pink, "I just miss you so fiercely."

"And I you." More than Aurora knew. She relished every bit of the girl, every touch and word, though she was careful not to let it show in excess. The more time she spent away from Aurora the more she realized she could not live that way. And yet for her beastie to live by her side was impossible. Her soul belonged here, but the rest of her belonged to the kingdom of men.

For nearly a year she had sat back and watched Aurora dance and play and chat with the other fairies of the Moors. In fact most of the girl's life Maleficent had been satisfied as a spectator of her smiles and laughter. Yet now she sat back against a twisted tree in the twilight, annoyed.

"Jealous, are ya?" Diaval commented, plopping down next to her on a rock.

"I've no idea what you're going on about." Her fingers itched to turn him into a cawing bird, but Aurora had asked that she be kinder to the pesky raven.

He smirked, "It's plain as day on yer face."

"No it's not." Maleficent replied in as flat a tone as she could hold.

"Oh so now yer admittin' it?" he grinned at his cleverness.

She resisted rolling her eyes, "Go find some bread crumbs to peck at."

He chuckled and stayed sitting beside her, watching as Aurora twirled with smaller fairies flittering around her curls.

"Maleficent!" Aurora called, rushing up to her, "Dance with me!" she took one of Maleficent's hands in her own smaller ones.

"I don't think so."

Aurora plopped down in front of her, drawing the fairy's hand to her chest as she leaned forward, "Do you not like to dance?"

Maleficent was hyper aware of Aurora's proximity, of where her hand brushed the girl's collarbone. Of Aurora's breathlessness, her flushed cheeks from twirling about, the light in her curious eyes. And Maleficent was struck still there before her. Aurora was as beautiful as the day Maleficent had first brought her to the Moors, except now illuminated by the fading light of day.

"No, I don't." she pulled her hands gently away, but the disappointment in Aurora's eyes was a dagger to her heart.

"Oh, I just…wanted to do something with you." She looked away from the fairy and began to rise, but Maleficent reached out for her hand to stop her.

"Aurora, would you like to see the Moors as I do?" She stood suddenly, flexing her wings.

The girl tilted her head at the queer question, "What do you…" her eyes flickered at the movement of the fairy stretching her wings wide, Aurora's face lit up in realization of what she was being asked, "OH! Oh Maleficent you don't mean…really? You would?"

Maleficent chuckled, "Is that a yes, then?"

"Yes!"

By the time Maleficent's feet touched the grassy hill overlooking the Moors the light had slipped below the horizon and the land was now blanketed by night, just as they had been for sixteen years previous. Except now the bright, silvery moon and stars could be seen above. Carefully, she let Aurora's legs slip from the crook of her arm to the ground and the girl unwound her own arms from Maleficent's neck, her touch, the very scent of her drawing her in now that the wind no longer swept around them.

Aurora faltered, her legs still wobbly, she fell against Maleficent, the fairy catching the young queen by the waist and holding her weight easily. She could feel the warmth of the girl's body; feel her pounding heart, her uneven breath.

"That was beautiful." Aurora whispered.

"You gave the sky back to me, it's only fair that I show it to you." She replied, unable to tear her eyes from Aurora's face, her gaze lingering on pink lips.

Aurora's hands gripped the fabric of the fairy's dress from where she had steadied herself with Maleficent's shoulders; Aurora was searching her face, needing some sort of approval, some conformation.

"Maleficent, why won't you dance with me?" It came out like a sob she had been holding back, "I just need to know the truth, of what way you want me with you."

Aurora knew her too well. The girl saw right through the pathetic attempted repression of lust.

"You don't call me fairy godmother anymore." She said, in a tone Aurora did not quite recognize, it was lower, richer yet quieter.

At that Aurora looked away. They were so close though that there was nowhere to hide from the fairy's gaze.

In the daylight, it was easier. To hold hands, embrace, to talk. To exist effortlessly in each other's company. On her visits she would always leave Aurora before the sun set. After the first night she knew it was better that way.

"We won't be able to go back. I don't want…" her voice caught. If somehow, some way she hurt Aurora she could never forgive herself. A kiss on the forehead was safe, it was ambiguous. It was love without specificity, it merely was.

Aurora met her eyes once more, now confident, "Maleficent, I am not my father. It is true love between us, I know that now, no matter what form it takes, that will never change."

Maleficent's pulled Aurora closer so Aurora was flush against her and the young queen gasped, her nails digging into the cloth and feathers of the fairy's dress.

Slowly, she leaned in. Giving Aurora, and herself, the chance to object, to escape. But neither did. Aurora stretched up on her toes. "I love you." She breathed against Maleficent's lips just before they touched her own.