A/N: Hey all, sorry for the delay in posting. Life got a little crazy for a few weeks. I should be able to get back to at least my one chapter a week posting schedule now. Thank you for all your reviews, follows and favorites. I really do appreciate all of the support. I hope you enjoy this chapter.

Chapter 11

Before the smoke had even finished clearing, I called out to the mirror to have him send Granny to meet us in my study. When I turned to Emma, she was studying me with wary curiosity and I sighed and moved to sit on the chaise. She followed and sat near my feet where she would still be able to watch me while I explained.

I glanced down at Gwenyth in my arms as I collected my thoughts. "You are so fond of reminding me that I am no longer the Evil Queen. You're not mistaken in that belief, I've changed. My rage and heartache no longer drive me. But, when I was lost in that darkness, I had no one to turn to who could possibly understand what I was going through, or what I wanted. I had my father, but he never understood and he silently judged everything I did.

"I was entirely alone in my need for revenge until the day I met Maleficent. We bonded over my hatred for Snow White and her hatred for Aurora and often helped each other plan revenge. When I learned that Rumple was trying to manipulate me into casting the dark curse, I traded it to Maleficent for the sleeping curse I used on Snow. I fell even deeper into the darkness when Snow was revived and got married. I stole the curse back from Maleficent, severing our friendship. She tried to stop me from using the curse, but I didn't listen to her.

"I was so lost that I did attempt to cast the curse, not caring that it would have left a void in my soul that couldn't be filled. It didn't work and I learned that I would need to murder my father. I came so close to killing him, but ultimately I couldn't make that sacrifice. I haven't spoken to Maleficent since the day I stole the curse from her. I never thought I would see her again, that's why I haven't told you about her."

Emma searched my eyes for a long time, keeping her emotions carefully hidden from me. After a moment she looked down at Caitlyn and quietly asked, "Do you think she will try to hurt our daughters?"

I reached out to lay a hand on my Consort's shoulder and squeezed gently. She looked up at me and I gave her a half smile and said, "No, my love. Even after all these years, I still know Maleficent well enough to know that she is worried about whatever this coming storm will be. She needs us and our daughters to be safe to save her. She won't hurt any of us. Cause mischief, yes, but I doubt she'll kill anyone and risk us turning on her."

Emma let out a relieved breath. "Thank the gods for that. I'd much rather have her on our side than have to fight against her."

I chuckled, "Me, too."

"I need to start getting back into shape. I love our daughters, but if there is a darkness coming, I would like to be able to fit into my armor before it gets here," Emma said with a groan.

I smirked and ran a hand suggestively down her side as I said, "I could just have knew armor made, my love. I am enjoying the extra curves on your body."

She chuckled softly and replied, "None of that, my Queen. I am still recovering from giving birth to your daughters and we have a guest waiting. However, if you can be patient until after dinner, I would be more than happy to ravish you."

Arousal slid down my spine and my breath caught in my throat. It had been nearly two months since Emma and I had made love, and I deeply missed her touch. I hadn't wanted to say anything and risk upsetting her while she was so worn out by her pregnancy, or while she was recovering from the hard birth. I reached out and cupped Emma's cheek, somewhat hating myself as I adamantly said, "Emma, as much as I love it when you touch me, I don't want to have sex with you until I can touch you in return."

She gave me a long look before she nodded reluctantly. "Alright, shall we go see our guest?"

I nodded and pressed a soft kiss to Emma's lips before I wrapped our magic around us and transported us to my study. Maleficent and Red were in a heated discussion when we arrived, with Granny watching them bemusedly. Maleficent immediately broke off and turned to us, causing a low frustrated growl to rumble from the younger wolf. "Ah, Regina, it's about time. I thought you had forgotten about me," the blonde sorceress said with a mischievous grin.

I raised an eyebrow and handed Gwenyth to Granny as I said, "I apologize for our tardiness. Emma and I had a few things to discuss. Have you been tormenting Red?"

Maleficent chuckled and waved a dismissive hand, "Perhaps…But please, I would like to properly meet the woman who managed to steal your dark heart."

I lifted an eyebrow and smirked, "Of course. Maleficent may I introduce Lady Emma Swan, my Consort and True Love. Emma this is Maleficent."

Emma handed Caitlyn to Granny before she straightened and extended her hand to the other blonde. She carefully eyed the sorceress as she said, "It's a pleasure to meet you." Through our bond, I could feel Emma's nerves, but nothing about her posture or voice betrayed her emotions.

"Likewise," Maleficent said with a devilish glint in her eyes as she took Emma's hand. As soon as they touched, the blonde sorceress attempted to push her magic over Emma, obviously testing the younger woman. I sighed, but didn't interfere, knowing that my lover could handle this without my assistance.

Emma didn't flinch, she merely lifted an eyebrow and let her own magic swirl from their joined hands and completely smother Maleficent's magic, pushing it back down into the other woman. Only then did Emma draw on my magic through the bond, painting a lilac rune into Maleficent's forearm.

The blonde sorceress' eyes went wide and she gasped, "What did you do?"

My Consort smirked, "Don't worry it's just a little insurance that you won't harm our daughters."

I chuckled and Maleficent's eyes darted to me. "How?" she breathed, sounding both awed and terrified.

"Emma and I are soul bound. We can draw on each other's magic to amplify our own," I explained, shifting to lean against Emma's back and prop my chin on her shoulder to look at my old friend over her shoulder.

Maleficent's eyes widened further as she shakily asked, "Why would you do that? You do know what that means, don't you?"

"Hm, yes," I hummed before lightly kissing Emma's neck and stepping away from her. "I did not realize how deep the bond would go when I created it. But, we are now both very aware of the fact that when one of us dies, the other will as well."

Granny gasped in surprise and I glanced over at her, not realizing that she hadn't been aware of the bond. She scowled in an attempt to hide her shock and she grunted, "Why would you do that, girl?"

I smiled fondly at the older wolf and leaned into my consort when I felt her wrap her arms around me. "It was my big plan for revenge against Snow White after I decided against casting the dark curse. I did it to keep Emma from running back to her parents as a child, and to keep myself young enough to seduce her when she was of age. I did not realize how much having my soul bond to such a pure heart would change me, Eugenia. Did you not wonder why I never took the many opportunities the two idiots gave me to destroy them and their kingdom during the wars?"

Red cut off whatever her grandmother was going to say to ask, "What are you talking about? What opportunities?"

I chuckled, "Oh, there were many, Red, and if I hadn't decided to give Emma the opportunity to return to her parents, you all would have died years ago." I looked back to Maleficent and said, "I have no regrets, my friend. Binding myself to Emma let me find my True Love and I know that I could never bear to live a single moment without her. I would never be able to come back from that loss. Losing Daniel was bad enough, but losing Emma would destroy me and I'd likely take as many people with me as possible."

She studied me for a long moment and then she glanced down at the rune on her arm and looked at Emma with wary respect. "You can remove this. I won't hurt your daughters or Regina."

"We'll see. You tried to test me with your magic. Until I'm positive that you mean us no harm, I won't risk my daughters or my Queen," Emma replied flatly.

Maleficent hesitated before she nodded and sighed in defeat. "Very well, may I meet your daughters now?"

"No, first tell us what you know about this coming storm," I stated, leaving no room for argument.

The blonde sorceress sighed again and took a seat in one of the chairs by the fire. She waited until the rest of us settled before she said, "I paid a seer to look into my future. She told me of dark days ahead and that your family would find a way to end the darkness. I don't know anything more than that. But the seer was the one to give me the books. She said that they would bring the hope necessary to face what is coming."

I eyed her warily and asked, "And why did you bring them to us? Why not keep them for yourself?"

She laughed bitterly. "We used to be friends, Regina. Why wouldn't I offer you hope when you've finally found the happiness we both have sought?"

Emma tensed and quietly stated, "You're lying. That's not why you came here."

I could feel Emma's confidence along the bond and lifted an eyebrow at Maleficent. "Yes, dear. Why are you really here?"

She looked down and sighed before she admitted, "The prophet told me that the only way to end my loneliness was to help you."

Understanding swamped me, but I couldn't help feeling slightly hurt that she hadn't come for less selfish reasons. "Are your pets no longer enough comfort, my old friend?" I purred maliciously.

The blonde sorceress clenched her jaw, obviously struggling not to snap back. It was a minute before her shoulders slumped and she shook her head. "No, Regina. I miss human companionship."

I looked away from the defeat I could hear in her voice. I swallowed down my bitterness and changed the subject, "I understand. Do you know when this storm will be coming?"

She shook her head again. "No, I don't. I only know that at least one of the books will reveal its secrets before it comes."

"Very well, then will you be staying with us for long?" I asked, knowing I wouldn't get any more information from her.

Her eyes flew up in surprise. "You'd let me stay?"

I smiled, "Yes, I believe that it's the least I can do under the circumstances."

"Thank you, Regina," she said softly.

"You're welcome, dear," I said before reaching for my daughters. "Now, how would you like to meet Caitlyn and Gwenyth?"

She smiled, "I'd love to."

I returned the smile and handed her Caitlyn. From the corner of my eye I saw Emma clench her fits and I could feel her anxiety surge through our bond. I reached for her, gently squeezing her arm in silent comfort and she relaxed slightly while Maleficent cooed at our eldest daughter. I smiled at the sight, wondering why I'd been so afraid to seek her out all these years. It didn't take long for my eldest daughter to grow fussy in the sorceress' hands.

Emma immediately stepped forward and took her from the other blonde. "She's probably hungry," she explained, moving over to take a seat near the fire to feed our baby.

Maleficent look startled for a moment at having her hands so suddenly empty again. I chuckled and offered her my blonde daughter. "Don't mind her, Caitlyn eats like her mother. Here, this is Gwenyth, by far the more calm of our daughters," I said, smirking at the way the blonde sorceress' eyes followed Emma and watched with fascination as she opened her shirt without shame. When her gaze lingered too long and she didn't immediately take Gwenyth, I cleared my throat to catch her attention.

She jerked and turned to me, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "Sorry, Regina. I wasn't expecting that," she said sheepishly, finally reaching for my younger daughter.

I smirked, "She's mine, dear. Do try to behave, or you will not enjoy the consequences."

She gave me a mischievous smirk and asked, "Oh, really? And what will you do to me?"

I lifted an eyebrow and let a hint of danger fill my voice as I replied, "My old friend, what I would do to you is nothing compared to what my White Knight will do. Lady Swan doesn't need me to defend her honor. Though I will say that the last person who tried to take what's mine was hung by his own intestines."

"I'll keep that in mind," Maleficent chuckled and finally looked down at the tiny blonde in her arms. Gwenyth blinked her eyes open at the sound of the sorceress' laugh and flailed her arms when they made eye contact. A look I had never thought I would see on my friend's face spread over her features, softening them into a look of blatant adoration. Maleficent brought a hand up to stop the flailing limbs and Gwenyth immediately wrapped her hand around one of the sorceress' long fingers and her lips spread into a smile.

"Hello, beautiful," Maleficent said softly. Gwenyth let out a sigh and pulled the finger in her grip into her mouth.

"It seems you've made a new friend, dear," I said, laughing softly.

"I suppose I have," the blonde said, looking up to smile at me.

Later that night, when Emma and I were finally alone, Emma asked, "What do you think this coming storm will be?"

I sighed, pouring a glass of wine before I settled into Emma's arms on the chaise lounge chair in front of the fire. "I don't know, darling. But with what Maleficent said in the courtyard, it sounds a lot like the dark curse. I just hope it's not that," I replied, feeling my own worries begin to resurface.

"Why don't you want it to be the dark curse?" she asked softly.

"Well, for one, it would mean that someone has uncovered its hiding place, which would also give them access to other things better left buried. For another, if someone manages to cast the dark curse, they could tear us apart and we wouldn't remember each other or our daughters. We could lose everything except a vague feeling of missing something we no longer remember."

Emma's arms tightened around me and her voice was filled with the fear I could feel radiating along our bond. "How is that possible? Wouldn't we still feel that pull towards each other from our bond?"

"I don't know. The curse would send us all to a world without magic. I don't know how that would affect our bond," I answered honestly. "When I was trying to cast it, I was going to take away everyone's happy ending, and no one would ever remember what they lost. The curse actually leaves a lot of room for the caster's intent. The only part of the curse that is unchangeable is the world where it would send everyone. But everything else would depend entirely on who the caster was and what they wanted to achieve by casting it."

Emma hesitated for a moment and then quietly asked, "You don't think Snow would do this, do you?"

I laughed bitterly and shook my head. "If it is the dark curse, then it won't be Snow casting it. The curse requires you to sacrifice the heart of the thing you love most. I think if nothing else, the last year proved that Snow would do anything to keep her precious Charming. But if the storm is something else then it could be her doing in an attempt to keep her kingdom."

"Yeah, that's what I was afraid of. We need to figure out what this coming storm will be," Emma said with a heavy sigh.

I turned and kissed her cheek. "I know, my love. But Maleficent said that at least one of the books she gave our daughters would reveal itself before the storm hits, so I think the best we can do until that happens is wait."

"And talk to the Blue Fairy," she teased, obviously trying to lighten the mood.

I groaned, "Yes Emma, wait and talk to the blue gnat."

She chuckled softly and I took a sip of wine before setting the glass aside and curling into her warm arms. Silence settled over us as we both got lost in our own thoughts and worries. Sleep did not come that night for either of us.