Shh

A/N: I noticed I got a guest review on chapter seven asking why Maleficent calls Regina 'beastie'. The answer to that is, in the Maleficent movie starring Angelina Jolie, Maleficent nicknames Aurora 'beastie'. I thought that would be a fitting nickname for OUAT's Maleficent to call Regina, along with numerous other nicknames such as 'little one', 'little queen', and 'dear'.

As for all of the other reviews I've gotten on this story, I'd like to thank you all and I'm glad everyone reading this likes it.

Chapter Ten:

The next day, after spending around an hour in Regina's secret room then meeting the others at Granny's, both women went their separate ways with the plan to meet up again tomorrow. Regina knew Henry wouldn't mind if Maleficent stayed the night at theirs, but there would also be some questions and 'knowing glances' every now and then from her son, and she didn't think she could handle that just yet. With that in mind, Regina had gone to the mansion whilst Maleficent 'poofed' to her room at Granny's to meet up with Lily who she hadn't seen in a few days.

The day to meet Maleficent couldn't have come quick enough for Regina. She was grateful when it did because whilst she could have just messaged or called Maleficent, the other woman wasn't really a tech whiz. She barely knew how to unlock her phone, let alone answer it. Regina couldn't be sure the blonde wouldn't scorch her phone at the sound of a notification should she send her a message.

She would have to teach Maleficent how to use her phone, she thinks absently as she slips into her black stilletos. They aren't too high that she'll fall and they aren't too short that she'll look like a high school teacher that had recently divorced her husband. She silently laughs at that, picking up her purse.

When she leaves her bedroom and reaches the bottom of the stairs, she stops at the mirror and gives her appearance a once over. She pulls her liptick out of her purse and applies a quick coat before smiling in satisfaction.

Just as she's about to leave the mansion, Henry calls her name from behind her. She turns around to see her son running down the stairs with a smile on his face and his backpack slung over his shoulder. When he reaches the bottom of the stairs, he walks over to her, "can I come with you to Granny's?" He asks eagerly.

"I'm going to meet Maleficent. I thought you didn't want to come?" She questions back.

"I changed my mind," he decides, still grinning.

She nods, "okay, then, let's go," she agrees, already turning around and leaving their house. Henry follows closely behind, closing and locking the door for her.

oOoOoOo

They arrive at Granny's at nine am exactly and Regina inwardly smiles at their punctuality. There is nothing she hates more than being late. Regina locks the car door and lets Henry lead the way into the diner since he's so eager to get inside and order something. She follows him in and over to a table he seems to be set on. When he moves out of the way, she realises it's because Maleficent is sat at the table he's heading towards. The blonde is sat at the furthest table booth by the window, looking out of said window though Regina knows Mal is aware she and Henry have entered.

Henry quickly sits down at the booth across Maleficent, right in the centre of the seat meaning Regina has to sit across from him next to Maleficent. She was a tad annoyed but doesn't complain, inwardly she's actually grateful to be able to sit next to her new-found, secret girlfriend. Though it seemed Henry knew something was going on between the two. Or maybe he doesn't, but knew how much Regina likes the dragon.

Maleficent is already looking away from the view outside the window and is now looking at both Regina and Henry with a smile. "I see you brought Henry," Maleficent notes, though not unkindly or in a way that suggests she's annoyed. "I hope you don't mind," Henry says, joining the conversation. "No, not at all," Maleficent reassures him with a toothy smile that makes the corners of Regina's lip turn upward slightly.

The three fall into easy conversation and not five minutes later, Ruby walks over to the table with a note pad in hand and her familiar red highlights present in her hair. She grins at the three and asks what she can get them, ready to jot it down. Regina orders a salad and cup of coffee whilst Henry orders a hamburger and chocolate milk. It's much too hot for a hot chocolate right now. Maleficent is visibly confused by Henry's choice of food and decides to order the same, but with a cup of tea instead.

When Ruby walks away, Regina turns to Maleficent with an amused smile on her face. Maleficent notices of course and looks at the brunette, "what?" She questions in confusion as she fiddles with a napkin. "Nothing. It's just, you've been here a while now and you don't know what a hamburger is," she states with a small laugh. Henry laughs, too, and waits for Maleficent's reply. "So?" Maleficent retorts.

"Has Lily not shown you what a hamburger is in the time you've been here?" Regina asks with another laugh.

"No. She never mentioned whatever a hamburger is," Maleficent frowns, obviously trying to figure out why Lily hadn't told her about hamburgers. "You're in for a surprise," Henry pipes up, "they're amazing."

"I'm sure they are, the way you talk about them," Maleficent points out. Both Henry and Regina chuckle at that, and before they know it, Ruby is coming over with their food with the promise to fetch their drinks right away.

oOoOoOo

Half an hour later and the three have finished their food and are chatting away. Talking of this and that, Henry's studies, how things are going being the author, how Lily is coping with her second form. Just little things, and whatever comes to their minds.

Maleficent had enjoyed her hamburger. She had said it was the most enjoyable thing she's ever eaten. 'Why did no one think of this back in the Enchanted Forest?' She had questioned after her second bite. Regina had found her child-like wonder absolutely amusing, and when no one was looking, Henry had snapped a photo of Maleficent eating her first burger. He definitely promised himself he would get more pictures of his mother and Maleficent.

At around eleven am, the Charmings and their daughter and Hook walk into Granny's. Charming is soothing a fussy Neal in his arms whilst Snow keeps glancing over at their son to make sure he's okay.

Maleficent briefly glares at Snow and Charming when Emma spots the three sat at the booth and starts walking over to them, with Hook and the other two following behind. Regina takes hold of her hand under the table to calm her, and luckily it works. Though Snow and Charming were brave enough to own up to their wrongdoing and their daughter brought Lily back to her, she still hasn't quite forgiven the pair.

The four that have just walked in, sit at a table near Regina, Maleficent, and Henry's booth. "Hey, guys. I didn't expect to see you three here," Emma says calmly. She seemed to be a little wary of Regina, unsure whether the other woman had gotten rid of the Night Creature problem or not.

"Hey, ma," Henry greets, drinking some if his chocolate milk. All three still had their drinks, though Maleficent had completely neglected her drink in favour of her hamburger and it had now gone cold. Regina's coffe was also cold, but she hadn't neglected it. "Hey, kid," Emma smiles.

"How you doing, lad?" Hook puts in, resting his hand on the table. "Amazing," Henry tells him honestly, "I've been spending the morning with mom and Maleficent, it's been great so far."

"Oh, yeah?" Huck chuckles at Henry's enthusiasm.

Ruby comes over then and takes the new arrivals' orders. She jots it down and turns her attention to baby Neal. She coos and 'awws' when she sees his chubby cheeks. Snow converses with her best friend for a couple of minutes before Ruby is forced to do her job and take their orders when Granny's calls for her.

When the wolf is gone, Snow turns to her stepmother. "Regina, did anything happen last night?" She asks, referring to the Night Creatures. Concern laces her voice as she searches Regina's face for anything that might give her away, should she lie. "No," she admits, "luckily, no. I haven't seen or felt the Night Creatures since Maleficent purged it from my body," she tells Snow, picking up her cold coffee and taking a sip. She makes a face when she remembers it's cold and slowly puts it down.

"That's a relief. Do you think it's gone?" Emma asks hopefully.

"Of course not. It disappeared before Maleficent could kill it. Just because nothing happened last night, doesn't mean it's gone," she sighs.

"Now that it knows we're after it, it'll be harder to catch it and kill," Maleficent regretfully points out, squeezing Regina's hand under the table. "We need to get rid of it soon. Now that it's got a taste of its host, it's going to try and take you over. That much is obvious from your last 'encounter' with it. It was abke to lure you to the well and go inside of you."

"Yes, I'm not proud of letting it lure me in," Regina admits, rolling her eyes.

"What exactly will it do to Regina if it's able to take over?" Charming cuts in. Maleficent looks over to Charming, and this time it's not with hatred or anger. No, this time it's with sadness and regret. "She will become a shell of her former self. Neither evil nor good. Eventually, she will die when the Night Creatures have used up all of her energy." Emma puts her head in her hands and breathes heavily. Everyone else looks down in resignation.

"We won't let that happen, though. We'll defeat this thing and everything will go back to normal," Snow says determinedly.

"Of course we will," Maleficent agrees, stroking Regina's hand under the table.

Ruby comes over with Snow and Hook's food at that moment and places it on the table in front of them. The two thank Ruby and wait until she's gone until getting back to the conversation. "Until then, we should enjoy the time we have until those things come back for you," Hook says, picking up his grilled cheese and biting into it.

"Yes, we should," Regina states and looks at Maleficent with a smile. Maleficent smiles back and is completely taken by surprise when Regina cups her cheek and kisses her. There are a few gasps, but a second later, the four at the table next to her cheer and congratulate them. "If there's a possibility I'm going to die, I don't want to spend it hiding who I am and who I love," Regina says softly, looking around to see the smiles on her family's face.

"I'm so happy for you two," Snow squeals in delight. Regina chuckles and thanks her while Maleficent only smiles in gratitude.

Henry gets up from his seat accross from the two women and walked around the booth table to wrap his mom in a hug. "You deserve to be happy, mom. And I'm glad you found that happiness in Maleficent," he tells her. Regina feels a lump grow in her throat but swallows it back down.

When everyone has finished telling the two women they're happy for them, Regina checks the time and notices it's was twelve pm. She has a meeting she has to attend in half an hour so she quickly informs the others and stands up. She gives Maleficent a quick peck on the cheek and picks up her purse.

As she's about to leave, Maleficent grabs her wrist and stands up with her. Regina turns around expectantly. "May I accompany you, little one?" She asks. For some reason Maleficent has alway been interested in regina's line of work. Both when she was a Queen and now, as Mayor. "Are you sure? You might get bored," Regina informs seriously.

"I won't, dear. I promise," she smiles. Regina returns it and nods once, "then, by all means. Come with me," she agrees. She then turns to the others, "goodbye," she says. They all say their goodbyes again, but Maleficent says nothing, only follows Regina out of the diner.