Forbidden
A Fine Mess:
"Would you like an actual drink?" Maleficent offers. "To take the edge of things?"
Regina shakes her head. She doesn't need a drink right now. No, what she needs is a clear head. And alcohol is definitely not the answer.
"Do you…" her voice breaks and she clears her throat. "Do you know anything about… her?"
Maleficent shakes her head. "No. Just her name."
"Okay, well, I'm sure Emma can find out more about her."
Maleficent's mouth twists.
"You can't keep her responsible for what her parents did to your daughter, Maleficent."
"Our daughter," Maleficent corrects quietly and resumes her staring into the fireplace.
"Yes, yes, our daughter." Regina says and tries to get familiar with that prospect.
"This was gonna be hers," Maleficent half-whispers and holds the rattle up in the light.
"It's beautiful." Regina says with a small smile as she studies the rattle. She would have liked to hold it. Just once. But she isn't sure how much she can ask of Maleficent right now. This is a delicate situation, to put it lightly.
But Maleficent uses her ability to look right through Regina and places the rattle in her hand.
Regina closes her fingers around it. It truly is a beautiful rattle, so detailed. She shakes it once. The sound reminds her of when Henry was a baby, of his drippily smiles, his pudgy fingers, his chubby arms wrapping around her neck whenever she took him into her arms.
She missed it all. All of it. While she was out causing terror, Maleficent was pregnant with her child. While she was consumed by vengeance and trying to cast an all-devastating curse, Maleficent lost her child- their child. And Regina had no idea. Instead she cast a curse and took away Maleficent's humanity for thirty years.
It would seem that she's guiltier of so much more than she thought.
Suddenly she becomes aware of the gigantic lump forming in her throat and the way her eyes burn and prickles.
"I've upset you," Maleficent says and stretches one hand out, as if she wants to put it on Regina's shoulder.
"It's fine. I'm fine," Regina immediately dismisses.
"That is not true. I've seen that expression on your face a million times."
Regina shakes her head and brings one fist to her mouth in an attempt to compose herself.
"And I've seen you do that a million times too." Maleficent says and hands Regina a new glass of wine. "I think you might need that drink anyway."
Regina accepts the glass but hesitates before she takes a sip.
"It's not poisoned," Maleficent assures, but when Regina doesn't respond to her words right away, she proves her point by taking the glass from Regina, taking a sip of the wine and then hand the glass back to the brunette.
Regina then takes a sip of the wine. "Thank you."
"Anytime."
"Can I trust you not to have a go at Snow White and Prince Charming while I'm in New York?" Regina inquires.
Maleficent's mouth twists again. "I don't suppose anything good would come from trying to get back at them…"
"And you're absolutely right about that." Regina firmly finishes the dragon's sentence.
Maleficent tilts her head curiously. "You really have changed. You are far less angry than I remember you."
Regina shrugs. "I had to let go of my anger. For Henry."
"And perhaps for the man with the lion tattoo, too?"
Regina frowns. "What do you know of Robin Hood?"
"Rumplestiltskin gossips when he's pathetic and miserable and doesn't have his magic."
"Ah." Regina empties her glass of wine. Robin Hood. She had for some inexplainable reason forgotten all about him in the turbulence of Maleficent's arrival and her own infiltration.
"I should go," she continues and hands the glass back to Maleficent. But she teethers a bit on her heels when she takes a step. She quickly turns around and stares at Maleficent.
"Remains of the memory potion," Maleficent quickly explains. "You will probably feel a bit lightheaded for the rest of the night."
"Fantastic."
"I recommend that you get some rest when you get home. The rest of the effect will wear off when you sleep."
"Duly noted." Remains of the memory potion. That's definitely putting it lightly. Damn strong remains that is. Regina's otherwise well-functioning legs shakes uncontrollable under her.
Maleficent suddenly flashes her a smile. "You know what this reminds me of?"
"No," Regina says strained and puts a hand on the wall again.
"Me. When you first met me."
"Is that so?" Regina says sarcastically. "I'm sure you understand why I was unimpressed, then."
Maleficent chuckles quietly. "I wouldn't recommend using magic while you're... under the influence."
"I can walk." Regina grits out. Or, at least she thinks she can.
Maleficent nods a little.
Regina says her "goodbyes" and then she leaves Gold's cabin on shaky legs.
Getting home isn't exactly easy, and Regina is eternally grateful that the yellow bug is nowhere to be seen. She doesn't need to be seen by anyone like this.
Eventually, she reaches the mansion, and she doesn't hesitate. She simply braves the stairs as best as she can, yanks her clothes off and shuffles under her covers. She wants to sleep. More than anything. But there's one last thing she needs to do. Regina quickly fishes her cellphone out of her coat pocket and texts Emma, informing her that she will be "accompanying" her on the trip to New York.
Emma immediately texts back, asking why exactly, Regina is coming along.
Regina comes up with a lie. Tells Emma that she needs a little time away from Storybrooke. That's gotta be enough information for now. Because Regina has no idea how to explain the truth to Emma. Or anyone else for that matter.
A daughter. A daughter. She have a daughter. They have a daughter. She and Maleficent have a daughter. They created a child through magic. Together.
The thoughts are spinning in Regina's mind, and it takes more than a little while before her half-drugged body finally finds the rest it so desperately needs.
She's still feeling more than just a little faint the next morning. And she still can't quite wrap her head around it. She has a daughter. A daughter filled with darkness. An adult daughter.
And she robbed Maleficent of the opportunity of searching her by trapping her in dragon form for thirty years.
Talk about screwing up. And in a very literal manner too.
Regina is quick to shower and getting dressed. The hot water washes the last remains of the memory potion off, and she's grateful for that. She really needs a clear head for this.
After getting dressed, she goes downstairs and packs a few things for the trip. She neglects to eat breakfast. She's not feeling one bit hungry. More like nauseous, actually.
Regina puts her coat on and then checks her phone. Twenty minutes until Emma will make her appearance. She could have some breakfast if she wanted too, but she's a bit afraid that she might just throw the whole thing up again. So she settles for the "safe" choice. A cup of black, strong coffee. Maybe that will make her stay focused for the rest of the day.
Or maybe not.
She's just considering having an apple just to eat something, when there's a swirl of magic and Maleficent rather suddenly appears in front of her.
Regina nods once as to acknowledge the other woman. Her guards are down, but she somehow doubts that Maleficent will try and attack her now. They appear to be beyond all that.
"When will you be leaving?" Maleficent inquires and frowns a bit as she looks around in the mansion.
"In twenty minutes. Come to say goodbye?" Regina asks calmly.
Now it's Maleficent who nods, and her blue eyes widens as she takes in her surroundings. "This is so different from your castle."
"Yes, I suppose it is." Regina acknowledges.
Maleficent only hums in response and looks around. Her brow furrows when she looks at the dishwasher, and Regina can almost hear the wheels in her head turning. And suddenly she feels a bit sorry for Maleficent. She was very literally brought back from the ashes and thrown head first into a strange town. She probably has no idea about anything.
"What if she won't go with you?" Maleficent asks, and her voice drops to a whisper.
Regina doesn't ask what she means. She already knows. And she actually has very few answers to give right now. Because there's a very good chance that Lilith won't come back to Storybrooke with them.
"I will do whatever I can to bring her home." Regina says. It's the best she can do.
Maleficent flashes her a little half-smile. "I'm glad the Savior isn't going to New York alone."
"I'm glad you told me the truth." Regina says dully.
Maleficent shrugs. "I'm trying to turn over a new leaf. And that involves telling the truth."
Regina mock shudders. "Nasty business, isn't it?"
Maleficent laughs quietly. "Dreadful. Absolutely dreadful."
Regina chuckles quietly and for a while they just stand next to each other without saying anything.
Maleficent waves her hand and Lilith's rattle appears in her hand again.
Regina watches as Mal shakes the rattle once. Like she can hear the faint echo of a baby laughing. She looks so lost and vulnerable that Regina is suddenly overwhelmed by a silly but nevertheless powerful need to kiss her.
In her mind, she immediately balks and quells her silly impulses, but in reality, she reaches one hand up and wraps it around the rattle so they're both holding on to it.
Maleficent turns half around so they're face to face, and Regina looks into her blue eyes. She knows she's not forgiven. Not yet. Forgiveness is something that must be earned, and not even the latest development can change that.
What would happen if I kissed her right now? Regina muses to herself.
Maleficent suddenly lowers the rattle and takes one small step forward. She never breaks eye contact with Regina. Instead she looks quizzingly at the brunette. Perhaps even a bit challenging. It wouldn't be the first time Maleficent has challenged her.
Regina drops all defenses and takes Maleficent's hand. Then she straightens her posture, so their heights match a bit better. Maleficent doesn't protest or ask her what the hell she's doing. She just waits and squeezes Regina's fingers slightly.
Regina leans in. Even though their lips haven't even touched yet, she can already feel the dragon's hot breath, she can taste the sweetness of her lips.
Maleficent exhales softly and… Is she? Yes, she's definitely turning her head to give Regina better access.
The hell with it. Regina closes her eyes. Their lips are so close now. The slightest movement, and….
"Hey, Regina! You ready? We better going before… oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean to… I didn't know..."
Regina immediately pulls away from Maleficent, and Maleficent waves her hand and disappears in a cloud of smoke.
Great. Wonderful. Regina whirls around and comes face to face with Emma Swan. "Yes, I'm ready let's get going."
She leaves no room for arguing, and Emma silently follows her out of the mansion. A very wise choice.
They say their goodbyes to Henry, Regina instructs him to "be good" while Emma's says a rather repulsive "goodbye" to Killian. Then Emma says a somewhat reserved goodbye to her parents. It would seem that there's still some "bad blood" between the little family.
Regina offers Snow and Charming a nod and then both her and Emma climbs into the bug and drives toward the town line.
"So… What was that about?" Emma inquires as soon as they've crossed the town line.
"What was what about, miss Swan?"
"You and Maleficent were kissing." Emma says plainly.
Regina rolls her eyes and keeps her eyes fixated on the road in front of them. A pity she's not driving. "No, we weren't."
"Yeah, well, came bloody close." Emma insists. And she's kind of right about that.
Regina shrugs and tries to remain completely unaffected. "I became a little nostalgic for a second. And so what?"
"Nothing," Emma says quickly. "You don't have to get so defensive, Regina."
Regina silently scolds herself. Not as unaffected as one could have hoped for. She's so fucking confused. And she still doesn't completely understand why she suddenly was overwhelmed by "nostalgia".
"Is she backing you into a corner?" Emma asks plainly. "Is that why you've suddenly felt like going on a roadtrip?"
"Do you seriously think I would let anyone back me into a corner? Let alone chase me out of my own town?" Regina retorts.
"Jeez, sorry I asked."
Regina sighs. "I'm sorry. I just have a lot on my plate right now."
"Yeah, I know that feeling," Emma mutters.
"Can I give you a bit of advice?"
"Sure?"
"Drop the silent treatment you're giving your parents," Regina says plainly. "Take it from me, the silent treatment doesn't work."
"Somehow I doubt you ever gave anyone the silent treatment, Regina."
"Oh, believe me, I did." Regina says. "I kept quiet for ten years until I enacted the first part of my revenge against your mother."
Emma doesn't respond to that. Instead she turns the radio on. "Mind if I turn the music on? We have a long drive ahead of us."
Regina nods. But unfortunately, the music isn't quite loud enough to drown the noise in her head.
To Be Continued….