Chapter 6. Some drama and lots of sweet mushiness. Hope you like.

- xo, np

"So it really was Daniel," Regina mused when Mal had finished telling her about Mr. Gold's call. "I am so sorry that he dragged you into this."

"It is not your task to apologize. You aren't responsible for his actions, Regina. He is a dickhead… with a great fondness for money and himself it seems."

"Yes. I suppose he is. I can't explain it to myself how I ever fell for him in the first place. He was charming, I have to give him that, and he made many beautiful and, which I found, romantic promises. But in the end... Well, you already know what he turned out to be." Regina sighed and pinched her nose. "I wish I had listened to mother. She'd always warned me about him, told me he was a good-for-nothing. But then, I guess I can't really regret meeting him. It gave us Lilith after all."

"Children never listen to their mothers when it depends. We will both learn that lesson soon enough with the girls. But," and at this Maleficent gave Regina an encouraging smile, "we will always be there, waiting to catch them when they fall."

"I guess. It's just – it's so frustrating, having to deal with him again. And he is dragging the kids into this. And the media for god's sake!"

"I know, Regina. I know." Mal reached out and took the woman's hand into her own. "We will handle this and we will come out of this stronger than before."

"How can you be…"

Elsa and Lily ran into the living room, interjecting whatever Regina had wanted to say.
"Mama!" Lily cried out and threw herself into her mother's arms. The little girl seemed to be troubled, clinging to her mother's shirt.
"Hey sweetling, what's wrong?"
"She is afraid of all the people in front of the house. They wouldn't let us walk through until uncle Rob said a few very mean words to them. Are they from a newspaper, mama?" Elsa butted in, glancing in between her mother and Regina, giving the latter a bright smile in greeting.

"They are." Mal shook her head in contempt for the people that had scared her little baby. Who did they think they were? "Is your uncle coming inside?"

"No, he just picked us up, said he had to get back home to Belle and the kids. He said he would call you later though. And that he would get a restraining order to get rid of the reporters."

Mal nodded in relief. Soon, the spook would be over. Regina however, had gotten up from the couch and was running her hands through her shoulder-length hair. The young woman glanced at the crying Lily in Mal's arms and a switch was turned inside of her.

"I will not tolerate this," she snapped and Mal and Elsa could just helplessly stare after the young woman as she left the house with confidence in her steps.
"Oh no," Mal mumbled to herself. She was pretty sure Regina was spoiling for a fight. The look on the other mother's face had said as much. "Will you look after your sister for a moment, Elsa?"
By the time she had managed to transfer the clingy child from her to her sister's arms, it was already too late to stop Regina.

The young woman had rushed outside with barely contained rage. They hurt her? Fine. They hurt her children, her family? Oh no. Not on her watch.
"Who do you even think you people are? Scaring a 5-year-old?" She charged at the mass, most of them still rather unfazed. There was a hint of panic and fear in some of their eyes though. "My daughter is in there, crying and trembling with fear because you idiots are too dumb and voracious to let her step into her own house!" The black haired woman made a beeline for one of the reporters who was snickering and clearly not getting it at all.
"Oh you think that's funny, do you?" Regina roughly poked her finger into his chest. The man was more than a head taller than she was but this didn't slow her down. "Let me clear things up for you then. This is not funny. It is not just another silly story in your fucking gossip rag. This. Is. My. Family. you are messing with. So either you quickly pack your things and your colleagues and bugger the fuck off, or I will destroy you." She didn't raise her voice but there was no need to. Her tone told the reporter everything he needed to know. The journalists shared worried glances with each other before all of them scrambled off in a hurry.

"Impressive." A voice rang out from behind Regina and seconds later she felt arms circle around her waist. "Your family, huh?"

Regina turned around in Mal's arms, looking into her beautiful clear blue eyes. The young woman's face was flushed with the anger that was still cursing through her veins, her dark brown eyes still held the rage she'd lashed out with. They immediately softened upon looking at the blonde's face. Then she blushed.
"I, uhm, I didn't mean to insinuate…"

"Shhh." Maleficent shut her down with a finger on her lips. "I find I quite like the sound of it." She leaned down and merged their lips in a soft kiss. "You were great. Thank you."

They parted just in time. Elsa came out of the house with a big grin on her face, Lily in tow.
"You totally kicked their butts, Regina!" The blond girl gave her a high five and Lilith was softly giggling at their exchange. "You do have to put two dollars into the swear box though."

Regina's eyes widened comically before she started laughing. "Totally worth it." Mal, Elsa and even Lily soon joined in.

"Well," Regina began when everyone had calmed down. "As much as I hate to leave the party, I gotta go and head home. Ruby will be bringing Emma home in about twenty minutes."

"Do you really need to go?" Elsa asked with big blue eyes.

"I do. But I will be back soon. Promise."

"Pinky promise?"

"Pinky promise." Regina wrapped her little finger around Elsa's and the young girl smiled.

"Regina?" She looked down to see Lily standing right in front of her. She bent down in front of the little brunette and gave her a questioning smile. "What is it honeycakes?"

Lilith giggled at the silly nickname. "Nothing. Just wanted to give you a kiss goodbye is all."

"Aww, really?" Lily nodded at her. "Well, I am honored."

Lilith clutched Regina's face in her small hands and pressed a kiss to her lips with a loud smack.
"See you soon?" the little girl looked at Regina with questioning brown eyes.

"You bet." Then Regina leaned forward and pecked the girl's forehead. "You watch out for your mom and your sister."

"I will." Lily puffed out her chest in pride.

"Good, honeycakes. I'll hold you to it." Regina winked at the small girl before walking down the driveway after giving Mal an apologetic smile. She craved to kiss the woman goodbye but she knew they had to keep it a secret for a while at least. Elsa and Lily were still hurting after their father's move. Not to forget the whole switched-at-birth situation – it had to be confusing and troubling for each of the three girls. The press and Daniel in their backs was another factor she didn't even want to think about. No, she decided, it was far too early to tell anyone about her and Maleficent and whatever it was that was developing between them.

"Do you have to tell me something?" Mal was sitting at the breakfast table when Stefan stormed into the house and started waving a newspaper in front of her face.
She calmly took the paper from his hands and unfolded it. However, her calm was almost completely gone once she saw the headline and especially the photos that were on the title page.

"You made the title page, Maleficent. Congratulations." Stefan snorted contemptuously, starting to pace the kitchen. "Why does the fucking press know about our breakup? Did I not tell you to keep it under covers until the end of the election campaign? This could seriously impair my chances!"
Rage was bubbling up inside of the blond man as he waited for his wife to react.

Mal however was still staring at the photograph. Or rather at one of them. A small one showed a family photo that had been taken just a little more than two months ago as advertising for Stefan's campaign. After all, in the conservative party a traditional family was a very valuable asset. And a business-focused man such as Stefan did not let an opportunity like this go by unused. Mal mused in her head that this family photo would probably be the last of the sort. The last one with Stefan and herself as a couple anyway.
The other photograph though, and this one was the one her eyes were ultimately drawn to, showed herself carrying Regina bridal style into the house. Her heart briefly clenched in fear as the memory of an unconscious Regina flooded her mind; but somehow, it made her smile as well. It was an endearing sight, seeing how Regina perfectly fit into her arms, her head lying on her shoulder.

"Not to mention letting yourself be seen with this scum of a woman!"

"Enough Stefan!" Mal gritted her teeth at Stefan's harsh words. She would not allow him to insult Regina.

He looked surprised at her sudden outburst and started eying her curiously. "Please do not tell me you like that woman. You know we cannot be seen with someone of her standing and with her… background. She is a fucking waitress for god's sake!"

"We?" Mal sarcastically laughed, placing the paper on the table. There obviously wasn't time for her to read the article right now. "We? Now there's an 'we'? You and I have not been a 'we' for a long time. Our marriage only exists on paper anymore! And I can make my own decisions. Regina is a lovely young woman and she did a great job raising Emma."

"Regina? You are on first name basis already? Can't you see she is only after the money? That the woman is playing and exploiting you? Trying to gain your pity for her and that… that child?" He huffed and clasped his hands behind his neck.

"That child? That child is your daughter if you have forgotten. But I guess I am the forgetful one, after all you didn't care about the children you lived with either!" Mal was yelling at him now. How could he say something like this about his own child? She really didn't recognize him anymore. The man she had fallen in love with all these years ago was long gone. Elsa had known him as a caring daddy for only three years of her life – Lily had never met that man. "Out of my house! Now," she practically growled, pointing with her hand to the door.

He shook his head, grabbing the paper from the table and pointing it at her. "You will hear from me, Maleficent. I will find a way to erase this woman out of our life." Then he left, banging the doors behind him as he went. His tires were screeching as he drove off.

Mal sighed and eventually started clearing the breakfast table away. Just as she was putting the last few dishes into the dishwasher, her phone vibrated.
She closed the dishwasher and picked up her cell from the kitchen counter.
Her face immediately lit up when she saw it was a text message from Regina.

R: Good morning gorgeous. Sleep well? Emma painted you a picture at kindergarten yesterday.

Mal grinned. Emma seemed to be finally warming up to her and a young, beautiful woman had written her a sweet good morning text. The bad mood she'd been in after Stefan's visit immediately evaporated. She quickly typed out a reply.

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Regina was just entering Granny's when her phone beeped, signaling a new message. Hurriedly she pulled the phone out of her jean pocket; it almost fell out of her fingers in her hurry but she was eager to see if it was a reply from Mal. It was.

M: Good morning to you as well, my savior. You made me blush. I am looking forward to seeing the drawing. Elsa is talking my ear off about you. Something about nail polish? I have to admit I'm kind of jealous. You are her new cool best friend. I am just the old lame mama.

Regina chuckled at Mal's words. Soon her fingers were flying over the touchscreen.

R: I think Emma would sometimes love to have an 'old lame mama' as you've so flatteringly put it. Two of the kindergarten teachers once asked if I was her babysitter and if I was on the list of people allowed to pick her up. Like seriously?! Do I look this young? I totally adore Elsa as well – we'll be great friends. Gotta work now. Catch you later, gorgeous. I love it when you blush.

Regina put her phone away, grabbed an apron and started taking the orders of the first guests.

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Mal was laughing to herself as she read Regina's next text. It was hilarious and she could totally see Regina raising her eyebrow at the teachers at Emma's kindergarten. She wished she could have been there to watch. Regina's youth wasn't a problem for her; it was probably even the opposite. Whenever she spent time with Regina, she felt refreshed. The beautiful woman made her feel younger, made her want to embrace life and live it at its fullest.
She started to type another reply but stopped when an idea got to her mind. She grabbed her purse and her long grey coat and headed out of the house, once again feeling glad at the peaceful silence due to the absence of journalists. Robert had done a fine job. The restricting order was in place, he had even obtained one for Regina and Emma's apartment building as well.
She got into the driver's seat of her white BMW and punched the address of a certain diner called 'Granny's' into her navigation system. Regina would probably be too busy to sit down with her but she really felt the need to see the young woman. On her way to Granny's, she wondered if the woman had already seen today's newspaper. She would definitely buy an issue on the way to the diner. She hadn't gotten to read the article after all. And, she admitted with a blush to herself, she would clip out that photo and carry it around in her wallet – it was their first photo together and she hoped there would be many more for them in the future.

AN: What do you say? Any wishes?