The past few weeks had been lovely for all three women. Since that first night together they had been spending every moment they could with each other.
Which was why Regina had woke up pouting.
It was Friday morning. Henry had spent the night at Violet's and planned on spending the weekend there too, and both her lovers were scheduled to have the day off. In other words, everyone had a very nice relaxing day to look forward to...except her. Deadlines did not care if she would much rather be in her lovers arms all day.
It also did not help for her to think that it would be the first time that Emma and Maleficent would be spending the entire day alone. That was something she had actually dreaded since their relationship began. Regina was beyond scared that the two of them would not hit it off together, that they would decide that they could not be together. She hated the very idea of either walking out on their new relationship.
"Are you two sure you'll be alright today?" Regina turned around and asked just as she was about to head out the door.
The blondes look at her with amused smiles, both still wearing their night clothes.
"Yes, Poppet. Don't worry, we'll be fine."
"She's right. We're looking forward to spending some time together, so no need to worry," Emma wrapped an arm around Mal's waist and leaned up to kiss her cheek for emphasis.
The kiss and the small giggle that escaped Mal's mouth made her feel a little more at ease about leaving. "Okay, if you say so. I went ahead and made breakfast for you both."
"You didn't have to do that," Emma went over and kissed Regina lovingly, "but thank you. Have a good day Angel."
"And again, don't worry your pretty little head about us Regina," Mal followed Emma and gave the brunette a kiss of her own. "We love you."
"I love you both too. I'll see you tonight," with nods from both blondes, Regina left the house with a small smile on her face, her fears still swirling in her head, but not as intense as before.
When the door closed Emma and Mal exchanged a kiss themselves before taking hold of each other's hands and walking into the kitchen.
While they ate the healthy breakfast their lover made for them, Mal spoke up, "Is there anything you wish to do today?"
"Not really. I'm just happy to finally have a day off. I've had to chase that dalmatian five times this week," Emma said while rolling her eyes.
"Yes, I know," the dragon giggled. She and Regina had heard the sheriff complain about that for days.
"I kinda just want to spend the day doing nothing, to be honest."
"Oh. Nevermind then," Maleficent's voice conveyed her disappointment.
"What is it? Was there something that you wanted to do?"
"Well, yes, but it's nothing terribly important."
"No," Emma reached across the table to place a hand on Mal's wrist. "Tell me what it is you want to do. Please?" She playfully batted her eyes, making the dragon roll her eyes and smirk.
"If you're really interested, I was wondering if you would mind helping me with something."
"Oh?"
Mal nodded and cleared her throat, "Do you think you could help me pack up some of my things from my apartment."
Both Emma and Regina had told her that since she had been spending so much time in the mansion with them that she should move more of her belongings over, yet until now Mal had still been hesitant about doing so.
"Sounds good," Emma grinned. "Let's go get dressed."
"Are you sure?" Mal asked as the younger woman stood up. "I can do it by myself if you would rather stay home."
The sheriff walked around the table and kissed the dragon on the cheek. She found herself wanting to nuzzle into her, yet she restrained herself.
Every now and then Emma loved to nuzzle into the cheek or neck of her lovers. Regina had always smiled and accepted it, Maleficent, however, would always stiffen up whenever she did it. The brunette had told her to give Mal more time to loosen up, that it was hard for her to relax with new people. That was something Emma could definitely relate to.
"Yes, I'm sure. Regina and I have already rearranged the closet and emptied a few drawers for you," she giggled when Mal's eyes widened slightly. "We kept hoping that you would take us up on our offer, so we wanted to prepare just in case."
Maleficent smiled shyly before standing to give Emma a gentle kiss before they both headed upstairs to dress.
Once the pair arrived at the apartment that Mal shared with her daughter, they went to the older woman's small bedroom. The dragon used her magic to create a large suitcase before looking around to decide what to pack.
"What does Lily think of you spending most of your nights with us?" Emma asked as she sat on Mal's bed.
"She's happy for me. And although she hasn't said anything, I believe she prefers it. She likes having privacy and time by herself."
Emma easily heard the saddened tone of her lover's voice, "Hey," she said softly, "don't take it personally. Lily's always been a kinda private. When you grow up around the kind of people we did...the only time you find peace is when you're alone. That's a hard habit to break."
"You did," Mal said as she turned her back as she started pulling clothes out of her closet.
"Only because of Henry. He helped me feel comfortable around other people. I can't really explain it, but it was like with him around I knew there was at least one person who, I don't know, looked up to me, cared about me."
She paused and held out her hand to take the clothes from Mal's arms and began to fold them, "Then Regina helped me even more. When we started becoming friends, it was like someone finally understood me. It took me awhile, but now I know that I don't have to protect myself the way that I used to as a kid. Although, I do still enjoy some alone time once in awhile. Not because I don't trust others, but just because I did it for so long that I'm comfortable with it."
Maleficent stayed silent for a few moments, still shuffling through her closet. Then in a very quiet voice, she spoke, "Could you tell me about it?" she turned back around to meet Emma's eyes.
"About what?"
"How you and Lily grew up. She has told me a little bit about her childhood, but not much."
Emma stiffened for a moment. She hated talking about those days.
"Well..." Emma started off a sigh, "we didn't know each other for that long and it wasn't exactly the same since she had a permanent home to go back to and I didn't."
Mal knew what the younger woman was trying to say was that she was uncomfortable talking about her past. She tried and failed, to hide her disappointment as she looked downwards and took a quiet sigh. She did not want to push Emma into doing something she did not want to, however, she was also a mother who wanted answers.
"She doesn't blame you, you know?" Emma spoke softly, hating how the light had faded slightly from Mal's blue eyes.
"Yes, I suppose," Mal mumbled.
For a moment, Emma hesitated, watching as the older woman's shoulders sagged with the defeat. Then finally she sighed and ran her hands through her hair before starting to speak.
"When you're a runaway kid, nothing's ever easy. You worry about where to sleep or if you'll eat. You're cautious of everyone you meet, wondering what they want from you. You're constantly looking over your shoulder, hoping to never see the people who you know are looking for you and thinking about how worse your life will get once they do find you. Like how severe your punishment will be or if anyone will ever trust you after they find out you once lived on the street. You're constantly worried, afraid, anxious, and you have to keep all that emotion bottled up in order to survive, so you won't drive yourself insane. It's...it's just a really sucky life."
Many unpleasant memories flooded through the sheriff's mind as she spoke. When she finished she felt several tears running down her face.
Maleficent had tears in her eyes as well. She finally understood a little bit more about what both her daughter and her new lover had gone through during their childhoods. And it made her feel sick.
The dragon blinked back her tears as she abandoned the clothes in her hand to go over to sit beside Emma. She quickly wrapped her arms around her to rub her back softly.
Emma found herself clinging to Mal as she sniffled back her tears. Once her eyes were dry once again, she nuzzled lovingly into her lover's neck without thinking only for her to stiffen up at the contact yet again.
"Sorry," the younger woman mumbled sadly as she tried to pull away.
"No, I'm sorry Emma," Mal said as she tightened her grip and kissed her hair. "Thank you for telling me all of that. I know it was hard, but I am beyond appreciative."
Emma nodded before leaning back just enough to meet Mal's eyes. "Ummm," she said with her voice still thick, "I don't know if it's any consolation to you, but you should know. I'm pretty sure Lily's dad really did love and care about her."
Maleficent smiled sadly. She was grateful that at least someone watching out for her little girl, but it still hurt that she had not been there for her growing up. That pain, she knew, would never go away.
The dragon allowed her head to fall against the sheriff's before leaning in to kiss her. However, as quick as the kiss began it ended. Emma pulled back abruptly and cleared her throat.
"Um, am I doing this right?" she asked to change the subject.
Mal blinked before realizing that Emma was talking about the way she had folded the clothes into the suitcase.
"Oh, yes, of course," she said with a creased brow.
"Good," with that the younger woman went back to her task.
Slowly, Mal stood up and went back over to her closet. She handed Emma more of her clothes and her concern increased when her lover avoided her gaze.
Several minutes of uncomfortable silence pass until Maleficent had had enough, "Did...did I say something wrong?"
"No."
The lack of a real response only made her all the more worried, "Then what is it?"
Emma sighed, "It's just...," she said quietly as she turned toward her lover again. "Do you...Am I not...Nevermind it's nothing." She silently cursed herself for not finding the right words as she angrily turned back around.
"Emma, please talk to me. I...I know that we are still learning about one another, but I truly want this to work between the three of us. So please tell me what I did wrong so I can fix it."
With a bite to her lip, the younger woman turned around and walked closer to Mal and reached her hand. "You didn't do anything Mal. My mind...my mind just goes to a dark place when I think of those days. I remember people thinking the worst about me and how I could never afford to trust others."
Emma finally met Mal's eyes once again, "Let me ask you something, and be honest?"
"Of course, darling."
"Do you hold any...hostility towards me? For what my parents did to Lily? Is that why you stiffen up when I rub my face against you?"
Blue eyes widened at the question, yet Mal quickly schooled her features and answered with sincerity. "When I first came back to Storybrooke, I wasn't exactly fond of you, Emma. My mind was clouded with thoughts of what your parents had done. That they now had their daughter while they stole mine before I could even hold her. And knowing that you were the reason they took her in the first place..."
Emma looked down, this is what she had been afraid of hearing. She was trying to hold back more of her tears when Mal spoke again.
"But, that was a long time ago Emma. You brought my daughter back to me and for that, I could not be more grateful."
The younger woman hesitantly, almost shyly, glanced up at Mal to see her smiling down at her.
Mal cupped Emma's cheek, "I no longer hold any anger towards you. I should never have in the first place. You had no control over it. And I'm also sorry for bringing up the bad memories, my love," she leaned down to kiss her forehead. "I never meant to hurt you, Emma."
"Then..." Emma tried to keep her voice from cracking, "Then why do you stiffen up like that."
Mal took a deep breath and looked slightly sheepish as she began to explain, "I've never had anyone come into my life as quickly as you did Emma. With Regina, our relationship happened gradually. Ours happened overnight. I'm not used to anyone showing me such affection so easily. I'm trying to get used to it. Admittedly, it is easier when Poppet is with us. I honestly do enjoy it when you show such attention. I...I think it's completely adorable when you nuzzle against me as if you were a kitten."
Mal felt a small tint of pink come to her cheeks but tried not to let her embarrassment show as she smiled, "I honestly, hate it when my body stiffens up when you do, but I am working on it, Emma or I'm trying to anyway."
Emma started to smirk when she saw the blush, yet she was still cautious as she asked, "You promise that's all it is?"
"Emma, I don't hold any anger towards Regina for trapping me in a cave for nearly 30 years. I certainly don't hold any anger towards you for what happened to Lily."
Finally, the sheriff smiled fully and leaned into the dragon hold. "Thank you, Maleficent. You have no idea how scared I was that a part of you hated me," she said softly.
"I don't hate any part of you Emma Swan. And for the record Regina and I will make sure that your life will be nothing like it used to be. You will always be with us," with that, she slipped both her arms around Emma's waist and pulled her in for a loving kiss.
The younger woman teared up yet again as she pulled away to lean her head against her lover's. "We should probably finish up here," she finally said.
Mal nodded in agreement but gave Emma one more quick kiss before turning back to her closet.
Later on that evening, the women were cuddled up on the couch and waiting for Regina to get home.
They had spent the rest of that morning putting most of Mal belongings away, then went on a walk around the park after lunch. Everyone in town was either at work or school so they were able to walk through the park hand in hand and to kiss whenever they felt like it. When they eventually made it back to the mansion they decided to finish up the day with a movie.
Emma leaned against Mal, relaxing into the feel of the dragon's hand running over her arm.
"So," she looked up at the dragon, "do you think you can get used to my kitten nuzzles?" she asked with a playful smirk.
Mal chuckled as she looked down at her lover. "Yes," she kissed Emma's temple, "I believe I can."
Apparently, Emma decided to test Mal's commitment because a second later she was slowly nuzzling her face into the older woman's neck. She grinned when she heard Mal start to laugh at the feeling. Maybe it was because the dragon knew it was coming, or perhaps after their talk that morning she was opening herself up a little more. Emma had a good feeling that it was the latter.
When Emma pulled away and stayed quiet for a moment before meeting Mal's eyes. "You know, you and Regina are the only people I've told about my past. There's not that many that I trust enough to tell."
Mal tightened her hold, "Then I thank you for telling me. I'm honored that you trust me that much."
"It's more than trust," Emma said in a near whisper. "I love you Maleficent."
Mal could feel her heart swell at those words. It was the first time she had heard them from the other blonde's mouth. She rested her head against Emma's and lovingly said, "I love you too Kitten."
"Kitten?" Emma's eyes and smile both widened at the name.
The dragon shrugged, "Regina told me how much you enjoy it when she calls you "Baby." Personally, though, I like the name "Kitten," that is if you..."
She never finished her question since Emma pressed her lips fiercely against hers, giving her a passionate kiss.
"It's perfect," Emma said when she eventually pulled away. It made her feel amazing when Regina had given her a pet name, but now that Mal had given her another one...it felt so good she could not even describe it.
Mal was quick to continue where they left off, however, and they quickly became lost in each other. They were so focused on their kiss that they never heard the door open.
Regina walked into her house in search of her lover's. When she spotted them, she leaned against the doorway of the living room and smiled at them. She felt such relief at seeing Emma and Maleficent cuddled up together, their love for each other obvious with how they kissed.
She had both Emma and Mal in her life and that definitely not going to change anytime soon. Regina grinned widely as she went to join her lovers on the couch.