Author's note: And I'm back. I told you guys I wouldn't stay away from this for too long, though I really do need to update a long-standing work for another fandom, so I think I'll update this every other week till it's completed so I can get my other piece done as well. I hope you guys enjoy this absurdly sweet chapter. There's fluff and a touch of sexytimes (I can never write full-blown smut), and as such I'll raise the rating just to be on the safe side. Have fun reading the chapter!
Part Six: We're In This Together Now
When Maleficent considered her history in the law profession, she was slightly ashamed to admit that none of her previous cases had been nearly as stress inducing as her current one: the divorce proceedings of Killian and Belle Jones.
Though the fashion designer was quite sweet in general, there was something about her husband that brought out a nasty streak in her.
Maleficent couldn't help being impressed by Belle's determination to make Killian's life a living hell (especially since the man deserved it), but there was a limit to what could be done legally, and the petite brunette seemed to have trouble understanding that.
As a result of the couple's tendency to scream at each other during every meeting, the attorney ended up taking most of her work home with her, where she could actually concentrate.
Her saving grace in all of this was Diaval. As a lawyer himself, he understood entirely what she was going through and offered a helping hand in whatever ways he could.
Those ways varied: sometimes it was ensuring that she actually ate something during a 24 hour period. Other times it was cleaning her apartment or picking up the laundry. When he wasn't swamped with his own work, he'd even assist her with all her paperwork and research.
All in all: the man was swiftly becoming her rock- the steady presence in her life that kept her from going completely insane, and she was deeply grateful for him because of this.
Typically, Maleficent would arrive home after a long day to find her boyfriend bustling around the kitchen, but one evening: she returned to an eerily quiet apartment.
"D?" she kicked off her heels and removed her coat before stepping into the living room, wondering if maybe he'd had a long day as well and was running late.
Her answer came when her cell-phone beeped at her and she glanced at it to see a text message.
I'm in the bath. Come join me.
She laughed softly before typing a reply. Just don't drop your phone in the water. I'm not buying you another one.
I told you before that was an accident! And I'm not actually in the tub so get back here and help me choose bubbles!
Chuckling, she pocketed her phone and then headed down the main hallway until she reached her bedroom, which had an adjoining master bathroom.
She pushed open the door and was treated to the sight of a robed Diaval, who was kneeling next to the tub and testing the water temperature.
Maleficent leaned against the doorway. "So…bubbles?"
He looked over at her, a warm, welcoming smile crossing his handsome face. "Yes. Bubbles. I figured your day was about as crazy as mine, so I got some take-out, which is in the fridge, and thought starting the evening out with some relaxation was just what we needed."
"That sounds perfect," she sighed and walked over to him, holding out both of her hands in order to haul him to his feet.
Once he complied, she pulled him close and greeted him properly with a loving, tender kiss.
Diaval smiled against her mouth and tugged her flush against him, his fingers delving into her hair as the embrace deepened and, for that small moment at least: all that existed was the two of them.
Eventually, Maleficent pulled back for air. "Is it sad that all I could think about today was coming home to see you?"
He grinned. "Nope, because it means that you've finally come to the realization that you can't live without me."
She rolled her eyes and playfully pushed him back, and then wandered over to the cabinets in order to rummage through them and find the bubble bath. "Why was your day tiring?"
"Well…"
She arched an eyebrow when his tone shot up an octave, which usually meant that whatever she was about to hear, she wasn't going to like.
Slowly, she turned. "What's going on?"
"Uh…it turns out that all that research we were doing for your case has now become our case. Jones brought me on as his new attorney."
Judging by the silence that followed, and the glare that suddenly marred her lovely features: Maleficent was not pleased by this turn of events.
Diaval shifted from foot to foot nervously. "You're pissed, aren't you?"
She glowered for a few minutes more. "Yes. But mostly because that bastard didn't have the decency to say something at the meeting today, because now this is going to make things incredibly awkward for my love life."
"Not necessarily," he took a cautious step forward. "We've been opposing counsel before."
"Before we were involved."
"Well yes, but…" he rubbed at the back of his neck, a nervous habit she had noticed early on in their relationship. "Look, our clients may not be civil with each other, but that doesn't mean we have to get nasty. We're good at our job and we're good with each other. I think we can do this."
She arched an eyebrow skeptically. "You're certain?"
He nodded, and then reached out and took her hands between his. "Who knows…maybe if we're in this together we can make them see reason."
She could never quite fathom where he constantly got his positive nature from, but then: his optimism was one of the many reasons she loved him so much. "All right, but consider the subject dropped for the evening though because right now: I want to think about anything other than my job."
Diaval smirked and leaned forward. "Then let's start by getting you out of these clothes, shall we?"
Her expression mirrored his, and she bridged the space between them, claiming his lips in a fervent kiss that told him just how much she liked his line of thought.
He drew her towards him, his skilled fingers attacking the buttons to her blouse, undoing them one-by-one until he could part the black silk over her shoulders and slide it down her arms.
She shivered as cool air hit her bare skin, curling closer as he drew the zipper of her pencil skirt down.
Soon she was in nothing but her underwear, and then that hit the floor as she divested him of his robe.
Once they were both naked, he wasted little time in scooping her up in his arms, carrying her the short distance to the tub and depositing her into the warm water.
The bath hadn't filled entirely yet, so she took a few moments to pour some vanilla scented bubble bath under the running water, and watched as the bubbles began to surface.
Diaval climbed in and drew her back against him, his hands settling on her shoulders before beginning a gentle massage.
She leaned back into his arms, enjoying the pampering as he placed a brief kiss to her nape and then focused on helping her forget her worries.
After their bath, Diaval told Maleficent to wear something comfortable and find something fun to watch, and it wasn't long before she wandered into the living room wearing yoga pants, a Sailor Moon tee-shirt, and carrying a copy of Thor.
He smiled as he came out of the kitchen, carrying two plates piled high with just-warmed chow-mien and pot stickers. "Good choice."
"It has action for you and gorgeous men for me," she teased, accepting the plates as he ran back to the kitchen to grab two beers to go with their meal.
He chuckled softly and sat down beside her. "Hey now, it also has attractive women."
"True," she started up the movie and dug in to her noodles.
Diaval tugged her close to his side, and for a while it was quiet as they enjoyed their food and the movie.
It never took long for their attention to stray. One minute: they were watching two Norse gods fighting on screen, and the next they were in the middle of a very heated make-out session on the couch.
Maleficent managed to gather her senses long enough to pull away, shut the movie down, and then mutter "bedroom" into Diaval's ear so he understood just how she wanted their evening to conclude.
She felt him smirk against her neck, where his lips had just gained purchase, and then she was swept up in his arms and carried off.
They sank back together on her bed, embracing wildly as desire took over, their clothes forming a pile on the floor until it was skin against skin.
Her head fell back, a low moan escaping as Diaval pressed soft kisses along the column of her throat, his long fingers skimming over the curve of her hip to pull her as close as possible.
He was an incredibly attentive lover: always taking his time to ensure that every inch of her skin was worshipped.
She retaliated with explorations of her own, her touch lingering over each scar that she discovered on his otherwise soft, warm skin.
She hissed when he nipped at the sensitive junction between her neck and shoulder, her entire body arching towards his on instinct.
He locked eyes with her briefly to ask permission, though by this point he didn't really need to (but she was touched that he continued every time they made love), and after she nodded, he joined them together in a fluid motion.
She wrapped her legs around his waist to encourage the motion of their bodies, and then everything ceased to exist save for the pleasure that they shared.
"Do you really think we can do this?" Maleficent whispered, hours later while they were recuperating from several bouts of love-making.
Diaval twisted onto his side so he could face her, reaching out and curling a lock of her hair around his index finger. "By this do you mean us or the case?"
"The case, idiot," she slapped halfheartedly at his chest.
He smiled and tugged her body up against his. "Yes. I think we're unstoppable when we're together."
She searched his gaze, her heart skipping when she realized just how much he believed in the two of them.
Tenderly, she framed his face between her hands, leaned in, and kissed him.
As far as the rest was concerned: for now, nothing more needed to be said.