Thanks to rozenmiko for this idea, hope its to your liking! :) thanks to other reviewers who have given me ideas, keep a look out!
Chapter 19
The first week back to school seemed to fly by and Regina found that it wasn't all bad being the Principal after all, with the majority of the parents backing her up as they knew she was new to the post. As it approached Saturday, Regina knew full well that she would be spending it decorating. Yes last Sunday she promised the children that they could decorate their rooms and that is exactly what they did, but this weekend, she needed to focus on the rest of the house to make it more of her own than her mothers. Luckily for her and despite spending all week with the small blonde, Mary Margaret said she could take the children for the day with a promise of her own in taking them to the park. As soon as they trio had left, the brunette gave a sigh as she placed her hands on her hips and stared at the wall then the paint pot in front of her.
"Staring at it won't get it done dear.."
Glaring playfully across to the older blonde emerging from the kitchen, Regina retaliates. "You better choose yourself a paintbrush then dear"
Chuckling, Maleficent comes to stand beside her before glancing around the empty canvas of the living room, minus all the furniture that had been pushed into the middle. "Start anywhere?"
"What about you take one end, I'll take the other and meet halfway?"
"Are you trying to make this into a competition?" The blonde questions as she reaches for a paintbrush.
Smirking, Regina shrugs before lifting the pot. "Maybe..."
Watching the brunette stroll off to the other side, Maleficent purses her lips together then quickly makes a start on her end.
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"Ha! I won!" The young Principal states as she had reached the middle and was now painting into Maleficent's territory.
Sighing, the blonde lowers her brush and looks towards the woman beside her. "I knew you was going to make this into a game!"
Grinning smugly, Regina then dabs her wet paintbrush on Maleficent's nose, leaving a beige coloured dot. "Yes and I won"
Dropping her mouth open at what the brunette just did, Maleficent glares then dunks her brush into the pot with a darkened gaze. Gulping as she watches, the brunette backs up while holding her hands in surrender. "Or not...it was clearly a tie!"
Beginning to laugh, the blonde steps closer to Regina despite the woman backing away each time. "Oh was it?"
"Of course it was! I just-" letting out a squeal as Maleficent's brush is dabbed onto her cheek and nose, the young Principal tries to bat her away with her hands as the blonde continues with her attack. "Mal stop! I'm sorry!"
Coming to a stop, Maleficent continues laughing at the look on Regina's face while the woman continues to show off her defensive pose in case it was a trick. "You're all blotchy"
Huffing, the brunette pouts then looks wide eyed as the blonde stands before her. Maleficent shakes her head showing an empty hand and raises it to Regina's face. "I haven't got anything but you've just got some paint.." Swiping just below the woman's lip before she ends up tasting paint, the older woman smiles at the look of awe she is receiving. Quickly wrapping her arms around Maleficent's neck, the young Principal kisses her while dropping her paint brush to the floor.
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Once a few more rooms were painted, the two women made their way into the living room for a break, with Regina pulling at the dust sheet and falling back onto the couch with a sigh. Sitting down beside her, Maleficent holds her hand and smiles. "You missed a spot.." Tapping at the brunette's chin, the blonde then leans over to peck her lips at seeing the small grin. Without giving her the option of moving away, the young Principal grabs at her face and deepens the kiss. Releasing Regina's hand, Maleficent takes a hold of her waist as she kisses back before falling forward as the brunette gradually lays back taking the woman with her. Pulling away after a while, the blonde smiles again, kissing the brunette's cheek then neck.
"Wait, wait.." Pressing a hand gently against Maleficent to push her back and off, Regina sits up. "Lets take this upstairs..."
Looking surprised as they have yet to move past the kissing stage, Maleficent watches as the brunette rises from her seat then holds her hand out towards her. Accepting, the blonde also stands then follows up the stairs.
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Having spent the rest of the afternoon getting to know one another in a more physical sense, Regina turns onto her side then leans closer to kiss the woman currently staring at her softly. Running her hand up and down the brunette's bare arm, Maleficent breaks the kiss then pecks the tip of her nose before letting out a relaxed sigh.
"I wish you could stay here permanently..."
Raising an eyebrow, the blonde gives a chuckle at the pleading look she is gaining along with a pout. "Am I not always here anyway?"
"Exactly. To me, this is your home too.." Suddenly feeling consious, the young Principal begins to trace circles on Maleficent's shoulder with her finger. "Why don't you just get all your stuff and move in here?"
Hearing the question in a childlike manner, Maleficent smiles. "Maybe..I will..."
Smiling back, Regina shifts closer and buries into the woman as she stretches her arm across her waist, beneath the sheet. Holding onto her, the blonde strokes along her dark hair then kisses the brunette's head. Enjoying the peace and quiet, both women physically jump as they hear the loud bang of the front door. Eyes widening, Regina moves away in a panick. "What time is it?!"
Frowning, Maleficent looks to the clock while sitting up. "Its just gone 3?"
Looking over the woman's shoulder, the brunette gulps. "The clock's stopped" grabbing her watch to check, she hitches her breath. "Its gone 5!"
Hurrying up off the bed both women share a mini heart attack as they hear Emma's excited voice shout out from the stairs. Managing to dress, Regina heads out her room followed by the blonde. Clearing her throat as she reaches the stairs, the young Principal tries to compose herself then smiles as the small blonde continues up the steps to meet her with a hug. "Hi..did you have a good day?"
Emma nods up at her then waves at Maleficent. "We fed the ducks and I went on the slide and Henry went on the swing!"
"Oh..did you now.."
Moving past the brunette, touching her arm on the way downstairs, the older blonde reaches out for an eager Henry who is being held by Mary Margaret. "Hello little man"
Mary Margaret watches the pair with the children with a small smile. "They have already eaten as they were hungry so you don't need to make them anything"
Taking Emma's hand to go back downstairs, Regina smiles towards her friend then glances over as Maleficent encourages the small blonde to follow her and Henry into the living room. Waiting until they are out of earshot, the short haired woman bites her lip. "So...did you have fun?"
"Yes..We managed to decorate most of the rooms..why..why would you ask that?" Feeling slightly awkward, the brunette takes a deep breath.
Leaning close, Mary Margaret whispers. "Because all of your buttons are done up wrong on your blouse..."
Eyes widening, Regina quickly crosses her arms around her body embarrassed. "Oh..."
Patting her arm reassuringly, the short haired woman walks back to the door. "You look happy...so I'm glad.."
Letting out a small smile, the young Principal holds the door for her. "Thank you and thank you for today..keep this up and you just might have a bonus in your next paycheck"
Giving a small laugh, Mary Margaret nods. "Well in that case my lips are definately sealed!"
Hitting her arm playfully, Regina glares then smiles again as her friend leaves before quickly fixing her blouse.
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Walking into the living room, the brunette looks towards her family then wraps her arms around Henry as he races over and hugs her legs. "Okay its bath time for you two and you can tell me all about the park"
Emma heads over and looks up. "Are you having a bath mommy?"
"Maybe later why?"
Stating the obvious, the small blonde giggles. "You have paint on your chin!"
Pressing her fingers to her chin to feel dried out paint, Regina glances over to Maleficent who is trying her best to not laugh as Henry follows suit and has a giggle fit along with his sister. Rolling her eyes, the brunette lifts Henry up quickly like a baby, gaining a loud squeal then kisses his cheek before blowing on his belly. "Bath time!" Leading the pair upstairs and to the bathroom, the young Principal watches as she begins to run a bath to see the older blonde standing there and taking the children's dirty clothes once they have been stripped. Helping Emma into the tub first, Regina then lifts a wriggling Henry to sit opposite before kneeling on the floor to hold onto his back.
Instantly, the boy splashes his arms up and down while Emma grabs some bubbles in her hand and blows them over at him. "I told you Henry likes baths.."
"Yes you did pumpkin..looks like I won't need one after all"
Giggling, the small blonde reaches out with her wet hand and rubs the woman's chin softly but with concentration until the paint is gone. "There you go.."
Smiling, the brunette kisses her forehead then hands her the soap to wash.
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As soon as the children were bathed, Regina helped them get into their pajamas so they could relax for a little while with a movie on the couch. Seeing Maleficent appear, the brunette looks over with concern at the woman's worried expression while she clutches the phone. "Its Daniel..he needs to speak to you.."
Leaving her spot beside the small boy, the young Principal walks over and takes the phone back into the kitchen. "Daniel?"
"Hey, sorry I know its past working hours but I needed to let you know a date had been set for your mother's trial..its going to be in 3 weeks so I will need to see you at some point to go over your statement again as you will be called to testify.."
Inhaling sharply, Regina nods to herself. "Okay..that..yes we will arrange that.."
"I'm sorry I couldn't bring you better news but its a start..."
Leaning against the counter, the brunette looks down. "No..its..fine. Thank you for letting me know.."
"No problem. Speak soon.."
Biting her lip, the young Principal quickly speaks up before he goes. "Daniel?"
"Yes?"
"How long...how long could she get?"
"Honestly? The maximum term we are looking at here is..5 years..if she serves the full amount. I know that it doesn't sound a lot but to the courts, its a minor case..I know you have been physically hurt but to them, as long as you're still living and there was never an attempt to kill, its usually an in and out job which even I find ridiculous.."
Getting teary, Regina bites down on her lip. "That is.." Taking a shaky breath, the brunette looks down again. "Thanks Daniel" having to quickly hang up, she turns around and holds her head as she lets out a silent sob.
After giving her some time for the call, Maleficent makes her way into the kitchen and immediately rushes over taking Regina by the shoulders and encouraging her to turn around for a hug. Burying her face into the blonde's shoulder, the brunette chokes out. "She's only going to get 5 years..then it will be the same all over again.."
"No it won't. There is no way I am letting her anywhere near you or the children..she is not winning, not now. You have a family that loves you" holding onto her tightly, the blonde looks at the woman as she lifts her head.
"What did you say?"
Realizing what she had just confessed, Maleficent lets out a smile while brushing a tear from Regina's face. "I love you?"
Trying to smile through her tears, the brunette falls back into her arms and clings to her back. "I love you too.."
A/N: wow a lot of big steps in that chapter! Hope you enjoyed! Next up something is wrong with Emma and its Henry's birthday!