Zelena found herself just staring at her daughters, her tiny little creations. Just a week old and were sound asleep in their little cribs. She just couldn't take her eyes off them. She actually wasn't supposed to since it was her turn on watch. Mal was asleep nearby, only catnapping because one of their little girls would be up soon. They were so different from human children. Zelena often saw mothers tending to crying babies in her home village. Pooping, eating and sleeping were their only capabilities. Dragon babies were much quieter but much hungrier, although they only ate every 6 hours. Mal explained that it was innate behavior because dragon mothers sometimes gave birth in the wild and the children would have to be quiet to avoid drawing predators, and be able to survive while the mother went hunting. After that 6 hour period, both would start sniffling and whimpering softly. Zelena was amazed constantly by how they seemed to instinctively know when she or Mal were near. They'd started making a high pitched call that both mothers had to answer to. If neither did and the babies still knew they were near, they would start screaming and whining.

Zelena chuckled to herself, stroking Cynara's head. Her little girl answered with a soft purr. Another thing that was prominent in their behavior was their connection to each other. If Zelena were to take Adrienne out of the crib to feed her, Cynara would start growling and wouldn't stop until her sister was once again in her vicinity. So the mothers had improvised by holding them close together while they fed.

So far, they hadn't opened their eyes and no one but Mal and Zelena had been around them. Mal wanted them to get used to their scent and sound first. Lily would be allowed to come in tomorrow and afterwards, then Eric and Tink. Zelena couldn't wait to show off her children to the world. Kiki and Oz rubbed against her legs, trying to get her attention. She smiled and picked them up. "See the babies? Aren't they cute?" The little lions purred and she placed them in the crib where both of them cuddled up to the little dearies and fell asleep. "Aw." She quickly got a camera and snapped a few photos.

"What are you doing?" Mal called sleepily.

"Taking pictures. Look." Zelena brought over the camera to show her the picture. "Aren't they just cutest?"

"I go to sleep for 10 minutes and you put the lions in with our newborns?" Mal purred.

"You know they're really good with babies. And they're all asleep." Zelena countered, sitting on the couch. Mal pulled her closer to use her leg as a pillow.

"How much time do I have?"

"As long as you want."

"Zelena-"

"You need to rest. I can take care of things, Mal. Trust me."

The dragon argued no more. She was soon asleep anyway. Zelena kept watch over her young and her beloved for a few more hours until Maleficent woke up again and refused to go back to sleep. She prepared some milk for them just in case they got hungry and made Zelena take a quick nap. Their sleeping had become a bit sporadic since the birth, but neither mother minded. It seemed Zelena had only just gone to sleep when Mal was shaking her awake. "What is it?" The witch quickly sat up, prepared to race to her babies and make sure they were okay.

"Adrienne opened her eyes." Maleficent grinned excitedly, taking her hand and pulling her to the crib. Adrienne was rubbing at her face, making soft whining noises, but her eyes were indeed open and they were bright blue just like her mothers'. Mal picked her up and bounced her a little. "Hi there. We're your moms." Zelena smiled and looked down at Cynara. Her eyes were open as well and she was staring with a perplexed expression at Oz in her crib. Zelena picked her up and she started purring at being near her sister again. Her eyes were a bit darker but they were blue as well. "Aren't they beautiful, Zelena?"

"Of course they are. They're perfect."

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Lily was a bundle of excitement when she came to see her little sisters. She was literally shaking trying to hold Adrienne. "Relax, dear. You won't break her, I assure you." Mal smiled. Lily nodded firmly and her shaking gradually stopped as she relaxed. Adrienne sniffled and whined until Zelena sat next to her with Cynara.

"They really like to be close." Lily commented. She grinned. "Hey, little one. I'm your big sis. I'm Lily." She looked up at Zelena. "She looks just like you."

"That she does. Cynara looks Mal though."

Mal scoffed. "She looks like Mother."

"Very true." Zelena smirked. After Lily's introduction, it would be another week before Eric could come see them. Then another one for Tink. After that, the family could simply relax and enjoy being together for a while, cooing over their newest additions. Life was truly perfect. It was about a month later before Regina decided to swing by for a visit with her new little girl, whom she named Elizabeth. Zelena and Lily were busy with dinner when the queen arrived.

Maleficent got up to answer it. "Evening, Regina." She greeted politely.

Regina smiled brightly. "Hey Mal. We thought we'd stop by and see how you were doing."

"Come in-" Regina suddenly grabbed her arm as she started to turn. "Regina, what-"

"Please listen to me." Regina said softly. "I...I'm sorry...for everything. Everything. I know you hate me, you have every right to, but please, Mal. I just want to be in your life. I miss my friend."

Maleficent touched her hand. "Come in, Regina. Nothing can come between my wife and myself. It's time to bury the hatchet. Come on." She stepped aside, motioning for Robin and Roland to do the same after they parked the car. The Mills family walked in and the dragon had them sit. Roland was quickly enamored with the two lion cubs playing around his feet and got down on the floor to play. Regina presented her with Elizabeth. The little girl seemed to take more after her father than Regina. She already possessed dark brown hair and dark brown eyes, which were looking up at Mal curiously. "She's beautiful." The dragon turned, hearing Cynara start to whine. "Please excuse me for a moment. Someone is fussy." She went to pick up the little blonde haired girl and carried her and her sister back into the living room. Lily took Adrienne so she could sit.

"They look just like you two." Robin commented with a smile.

Maleficent looked down at her daughters with a fond smile. "They do, don't they?" She looked up. "Would you all like to stay for dinner?"

"We really wouldn't want to impose-"

"Nonsense. We have plenty." For once, the two families actually got along. Even Zelena was kind and cordial to her sister. Roland's presence kept the atmosphere light and as soon as the children were introduced into the conversation, all past transgressions were soon forgotten as the mothers readily talked about their little ones, a topic they would never tire of. For the most part the evening was smooth sailing and by the time the Mills and Hoods left, Maleficent felt like some needed ground had been made in getting past rivalries. "So?" She said, watching Zelena put down the girls for the night.

"What?" Zelena asked. Kiki and Oz scrambled to her and yowled repeatedly until she picked them up an laid them in the crib so they could curl up with Adrienne and Cynara.

"You were very pleasant tonight at dinner." The blonde commented with a cheeky smile. Zelena turned around and gave her a suspicious look. "You're growing, Zelena."

"Wrong. I just came to the realization that you are my wife, my mate and the other mother of my children. Nothing, not even death, will take you from me. So...I don't need to worry about Regina anymore." She crossed her arms, as though to affirm her decision. Maleficent smiled and walked forward to pull the redhead into her arms.

"You never cease to amaze me, Mitt Hjarta."

"I aim to amaze...and baffle...and astound and-"

"Okay, enough of that. Time for bed." Zelena snickered as the dragon pushed her onto the bed. The dragon smirked, fully looking at Zelena. She's put on a little weight around her hips and butt since giving birth. She wasn't sure how it was possible, but the witch just seemed to get sexier and sexier. Especially that butt. Mal magically turned her over to give it a smack.

"Damn it, that hurt. What was that for?" Zelena hissed, rubbing her bottom.

Maleficent only grinned. "Go to sleep. I'm going to go clean up the kitchen."

"You can do that with magic." The witch countered.

"I know." Maleficent left the room and went into the messy kitchen, snapping her fingers and cleaning it up. She took a deep breath, smiling to herself. Sometimes she had to take a moment for herself, to remind herself that this wasn't just a wonderful dream and that this was really her happy ending. She'd come so far since Stefan and his foolishness.

"Mom?" Lily said. She walked out the living room, carrying a bunch of toys that she tossed into a nearby bin. "You okay?"

"Yes, dear." she walked her daughter onto the porch. "Sleep well, Lilith."

"You too." Lily kissed her cheek and shifted to take to the skies.

"Tuck your feet!" Mal yelled with a grin. Lily roared back in reply. The blonde laughed to herself and looked out over the yard, feeling the strangest sensation. She scanned the landscape but found nothing, despite the gnawing feeling that she was being watched. After nothing turned up, she shrugged and went back inside to her witch. Perhaps it was just her overprotective dragon. Who would be watching her family anyway?

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