Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Another day of boredoms...like really, REALLY boredoms. Storybrooke was officially the black hole for all the excitement, sucking the fun out of you when anything exciting is happening. Lily stared out the window, watching another resident pass in front of the mansion, across the street. Even that, somehow, seemed more thrilling than her current situation.

She sighed yet again, flopping dramatically onto the couch in her room, with a thump. Lily scrolled and scrolled desperately searching for anything - A.NY.THING - to break the monotony of her pathetic life. Maybe a troll convention in a neighbouring realm? A human convention very far away from here for WHATEVER ? A knitting competition featuring a particularly irritating Snow White? Even a lost sock searching for its missing partner seemed exciting. And outside of StoryBrooke ? they should be something!

Suddenly, her eyes found what she was looking for; An ad popped up on her laptop: " Couples Cruise Chaos! A contest where YOU choose your favourite couple to win a luxurious cruise to a PARADISIACAL location!"

Lily's eyes widened. A luxurious cruise? Paradise? Sign. Her. Up. Except... There was one tiny inconvenience. The only problem was, she wasn't exactly coupled-up… nor does she plan on being in the open any time soon. Not that she was against love or anything, just the whole commitment thing seemed so far off right now. And dating in Storybrooke was like trying to find a decent cup of coffee that wasn't reheated three times over. Which is impossible.

"Dang it,"  she muttered, kicking a pile of clothes that had migrated from her chair to the floor. That she should wash up by the way... She flopped dramatically onto the bed, this time, letting out a groan that could be heard miles away, completely defeated.  She lets herself fall down in exhaustion and exasperation. A cruise right now sounds heavenly. Maybe she could fake a marriage with a squirrel? Or train a particularly charming pigeon to be her "cruise companion"? The more she thought about it, the more ridiculous the ideas became, the more she wanted to try it even more. She was desperate! At least it was a source of entertainment. But she needed a plan, and fast, before the boredom officially turned her into a houseplant. She needed that cruise or else, she might die okay ? DIE.

Just then, a hearty laugh erupted from the kitchen, followed by the unmistakable clatter of her mothers, snapping her out of her self-inflicted existential crisis. Lily rolled her eyes so hard they almost did a 360. “Can you quiet your happiness down? There's people trying to cultivate a healthy amount of self pity right now!” She cried in response to her mothers.

"Sorry, sweetheart!" came her mama's voice, punctuated by her steps becoming louder and louder as she came closer towards her "We just baked this...interesting looking cake. Do you want to try some of it ? It might be...edible?" Her voice trailed off, clearly unconvinced.

Lily burst out laughing. "I'm telling her you said that! And Mom —"

"Oh, I heard that," came another voice, cutting whatever she was about to say, a voice laced with mock offence. "My cakes are delightful, thank you very much. You are both jealous of my culinary genius."

"Jealous? Absolutely!" Lily chimed in, her voice dripping with sarcasm. 

"Sorry again sweetheart," her mama said, "We will quiet it down now. But yell for any food poisoning." The last part was whispered and Regina, the Evil Queen herself (well, reformed-ish Evil Queen), left her room.

That– the food poisoning that is, could definitely be happening with her mother's Maleficent lack of luck in the kitchen. Lily cautiously took a bite of the suspiciously purple cake. And it wasn't...awful? Not good, exactly, but not the culinary disaster Regina seemed to be bracing for. In fact, there was a faint hint of blueberry hidden beneath the questionable frosting. Lily couldn't help but suspect Maleficent's mischievous influence. Perhaps Maleficent snuck a peek at the recipe and decided to "improve" it with a touch of her own... unique culinary vision. After all, who needed boring blueberries when you could have a hint of otherworldly new taste brought by a misplaced spell?

Yeah, one of those days, she might actually die from food poisoning. And she damned hope, Regina would be there to avenge her death in those circumstances.

Though despite their promise, her mothers continued their chatting, definitely not quieting down their laughter. Her mothers were disgustingly in love, like it was the first day they met. Did she need to remind you how disgustingly exactly? Because it was all the mushy nicknames, hand-holding that could rival a competitive arm wrestling match, the constant stolen kisses – it was enough to make a cynic like Lily gag. They were like teenagers in rut. Even more disgusting than the charmings with their ‘I will always find you’ bullshit… As if that was even possible. 

And it appears so, that it was in fact possible, even if her mothers were unaware of it like everyone else were when it comes to them.

But amidst the eye-rolling and forced gagging, a mischievous idea sparked in Lily's mind. Maybe this disgusting love could be to her advantage?  What if she entered her mothers in this "Couples Cruise Chaos" thing? It would be the ultimate payback for all those embarrassing moments inflicted upon her. And she might actually win an all-expense-paid cruise for herself. AND it could be actually hilarious to see the votes and comments roll in. This could be glorious. And the most thrilling thing about it is, she wouldn't even have to tell them anything! Wasn’t she a genius ?

A slow, evil grin spread across her face. She even found herself laughing hysterically at how much of an evil genius she could be. And well, the apple doesn't fall too far from the tree after all… 

Though, the sound was so unlike her usual dramatic sighs that it startled even her mothers. Regina poked her head into the room, concern etched on her usually stoic face. "Lilith, are you okay? Has your mother's cake given you hysteria?

— Regina! Such an approach is beneath you," Maleficent said as she joined them. She entered the room with a mischievous glint in her eye. Flour dusted her cheeks and clothes like she had lost a fight against her ingredients. She playfully swiped a handful of flour at Regina, who yelped and tried to brush it off her pristine dress. Then Maleficent winked at Lily, then playfully wrapped a flour-dusted arm around Regina's waist. Regina, with a theatrical gasp, tried to swat Maleficent away, but the dragon only tightened her grip.

“Unhand me you filthy woman! My vengeance will be swift and merciless.” Yet there was a hidden smile upon the corner of her lips as Maleficent placed kisses after kisses on her collarbone as if to tame the beast.

That was the moment she decided to take the winning photo that would secure her cruise. Yet she could not help but roll her eyes. Was that basically what would resemble her impending future ? all love around her while she is completely alone. She definitely needs a break from that…

“Stop doing things like that in my room! You have yours, women.” Lily says with a dismissive gesture of her hand. But they simply came closer to her, arms open wide.

“She just to be crushed down by the weight of our love, darling–” Regina whispered. Yet with her dragon ears, Lily heard every sound that came out of her mouth. 

“NO.” She cries before any of them move for what she knows would be a very suffocating group hug. She does not need this right now. Really not. “I am doing something extremely important for my mental health right now. And I need to be focused, moms. Outta here and Get lost!

— You can be really cruel, young lady.” Maleficent said this time, her signature sad face in place. But she would not budge even if the other mom joined in this culbabilising scene. 

And then they were finally out of her room, not without vocalising how heartbroken they were to not have received their dear daughter's hug…

"Pina coladas under the sun, here I come!"

She was beginning to regret her choice right at this moment. It was too good to be true… Why would they need all this information about her mothers? Information, frankly, she did not have! Like her mothers’ height…how would that help her win her cruise exactly? That online form seemed to be a sadistic game of torture.

Lily bit her lip. And how old were they?! I don’t know!! She cries to herself. How much can she really be honest about this? Like their age ? Easy right ? Except, not really… her mother Regina, ever the picture of youthful vigour, could be anything between 35 and a decrepit old witch. — Oh my god, if she could read into my mind, I am so doomed, she thought to herself — And Maleficent ? Dragons weren’t exactly known for aging commonly, are they? Centuries old? Definitely. But writing "centuries" on the application form felt like a surefire way to get disqualified (and possibly flagged by some government agency, like Area 51 surely).

Where were they born? She couldn't possibly put the enchanted forest could she? 

That was truly too good to be true. She groaned, flopping back in the chair. The promised land — or rather, the promised ferry — was flying away from her reach. Yet with a sigh and her vacation in mind, she decided a desperate situation called for desperate measures.

“Moms!” She cries as she makes her way to their room. Please be presentable, please be presentable, she thought all the time she made her way there. 

A moment that stretched into an eternity later, Maleficent appeared in the doorway, a bewildered frown creasing her brow. Her hair, usually meticulously styled, was in a single braid falling along her back, and a sleep mask clung precariously to one eye.“I am here sweetie.” she says, brushing her hair out of her eyes, "Regina's not here right now. What is it that you want, lovely?"

Taking a deep and shaky breath, Lily blurts out,  “I need your IDs!”

Maleficent blinks, surely taken aback by her request, and the urgency within her voice. The sleep-induced haze started to clear, replaced by a spark of concern.  “Why on Earth for ?” she demanded, her voice low with caution.

Lily avoids any eye contact, knowing full well her mother would see right through her bullshit, “ I need to know what age you both put on that ID.” she mutters, “Unless you put that you are centuries old? 

Maleficent throws her head back and laughs, a rich, genuine sound that fills the room. "Of course not," she says, then adds under her breath, "Regina wouldn't let me." They both share a laugh, the tension momentarily broken. She disappeared into the room for a moment and reappeared with the said card in hand. "Here you go," she said, handing it to Lily. "Why do you want it, my Love?" Maleficent said, using the nickname with a fondness that never failed to make her feel exactly that– love.

Lily squirms. "Uh, well, I'm doing this thing for, uh, mental health thing, you know? Yeah, mental health awareness! And they need some information for it." Lily's voice strains slightly under the weight of the lie, which was, in her opinion, not really a lie, just a half truth. But she hopes it's enough to fool her ever-observant mother.

Maleficent raised an eyebrow, like she had seen Regina done time and time before, clearly not convinced. The gesture Lily recognized all too well from her other mother, Regina. It was the look that said, "I know you're hiding something but spit it out on your own time." Still she did not pry further as she went back to whatever she was doing before, before Lilith came. She mumbled a thank you, practically bolting back to her room before her mother could question further. A determination was there, in her eyes despiste the weight of the half lie pressing heavily on her. They’ll understand, like usual, eventually. Like when she was on her way to the cruise. 

Back in her room, she quickly filled out the rest of the informations. There are so many more fields to fill out than she anticipated – she will invent at this point… the list was endless)  with a newfound sense of purpose. Though it felt more like signing a pact with the devil than a simple form, but she steeled herself for it. At one point, she found herself inventing certain things, because why on earth would they need all of that for? Each fabricated detail was a brick in the wall she was building, a wall to shield her mothers from the prying eyes of the Land without Magic. She was not about to let her mothers be paraded around like zoo exhibits. She needed that cruise but she had her limits for god sake. 

Mother Maleficent Page : age 58 and height 5′ 9″ (1.75 m)

Mother Regina Mills: age 49 and height 5' 4½" (1,64 m)

Yeah… Lily thought, that would not help would it? Like at all… Though, another thought came as she wrote down the information, grinning widely, at least Maleficent was there to save her from an insanely short life, she thought, chuckling to herself. Lily couldn't help but imagine her mother disappearing in a gust of wind – too short to be noticed! But that was a comment she'd never utter out loud in Regina's presence. Recipe for disaster, for sure. She is definitely too young to die.

As she finished filling out the tedious but necessary information, Lily finally reached the part she'd been waiting for – the sneak peek and commentary section. This was where things got interesting.

Photo included

These two lovebirds (much to my eternal chagrin) are my mothers. Regina, (mom in the blue dress) the ever-so-charming (emphasis on charming, she wouldn’t like that) mayor who keeps our little town running like clockwork. And then there's Maleficent, (in the grey attire– and yes like in the fairy-tale… Let’s just say my family is a little bit eccentric). Maleficent is like… really good with numbers? I don't know man… because beyond that, her job description remains a thrilling mystery, which I think is definitely intentional. She doesn't like to be doing the same thing over and over again. So yeah… Maybe she's a secret agent with a penchant for power suits? An accountant with a flair for the dramatic? Who knows!

They're the kind of couple who can turn grocery shopping into an epic adventure (seriously, who knew picking out apples could be so dramatic?). They're disgustingly in love, which is torture, for a single cynic and hating bitch like yours truly. (Okay, fine, they're adorable. But don't tell them I said that! It would literally never die!)

They've been partners in crime (and love) for what feels like forever, and their constant flirting makes me want to hide under the couch sometimes. (Okay, maybe a lot of time.) But hey, it's profound (She scoffs at the notion of true love, a concept she believes has been so widely misused it's lost all genuine meaning. She refuses to use it) love, right? Even if it comes with enough public smooching to make a dragon blush in embarrassment.

Vote for them, and you might just witness a love story that's truly...enchanting. (Plus, a luxurious cruise might keep them away from me for a while. Win-win?)

And this is how it begins…

“Okay, seriously, Lily, that annoying notification sound is driving me bananas! Why is your phone puzzling non-stop? It's getting irritating, really…”

Lily slammed her hand down on the table, nearly sending Suzanne's – her mother secretary, a woman she had become impossibly close to, for the past months despite their rather rough start – cappuccino flying. "I know, right? I'm on the verge of a meltdown! What have I gotten myself into?!" She practically slammed the phone down on the table, completely ignoring the startled stares from nearby customers at Granny's.

Suzanne, munching on a chocolate bar, glanced up with raised eyebrows. Her face was too expressive for her own good, Lily thought. She could say so much without saying anything at all. It was quite infuriating actually. "So, close it?" Suzanne said, leaning forward when she heard no answer. Lily simply looked at her, debating on saying what she had done. 

“Alright, spill it already. What gruesome internet wormhole did you stumble into now?" Suzanne said as she chewed on her treat, clearly sceptical. "Because that's a bit dramatic what you have going on right now. Just close the app or whatever it is and move on. You are ruining my lunch break, girl…

— But what if it's an important message?" Lily whined, her voice bordering on hysterical. "Like, what if it's a notification that I've won? On the other hand, maybe it's just another notification about my mothers causing an internet firestorm with their— I posted one photo, JUST ONE! Like, do people have no shame? Thirst-tweeting, no literally LUSTING over my mothers. This is definitely not something I want to see right now– or ever for that matter!! It's like a digital parade of creepy comments, and frankly, I don't need that kind of mental scarring.

Suzanne choked on her granola bar, a bewildered expression dawning on her face. "Wait, what?"

It is all she needed for everything she had been keeping for herself for the past week– A WEEK OF literal TORTURE — to come stagerringly violantly out of her mouth. 

"Okay," she said, her voice cracking with barely contained hysteria. "Remember that ad on my phone? The one with the sparkling turquoise water and the ridiculously happy couples slow-dancing on the deck of a cruise ship? The one that promised an all-expenses-paid escape from this shithole we call Storybrooke?"

Suzanne's brow furrowed slightly, not for the shit whole comment because she definitely agreed to that. No, she furrowed her eyebrow because she remembered that detail, one Lily had spilled her between two shots of vodka. It hadn’t seemed important at the moment, just another one of Lily’s rambling, like white noise. Not that she minds. Suzanne quite liked it, at least one of them was talking. “Vaguely," she admitted. "The one where the winning couple gets chosen by...strangers on the internet?"

"Bingo!" Lily exclaimed, sarcasm dripping from her voice. "Well, your ever-so-brilliant friend, yours truly, saw that as a golden ticket to paradise. No girlfriend? No problem! Enter the ultimate power couple: The Evil Queen and the Mistress of All Evil!

— No, you didn’t…

— YES, I did!” Lily threw her hands up in the air, with a dramatic flair only her mother was known for. "It was genius, Suz! Fucking brilliant coming from me! Except..." Her voice trailed off, replaced by a grimace. Suzanne raised an eyebrow, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Except?" she prompted with her arms crossed, clearly enjoying Lily's squirming.

"Except the internet, with its twisted sense of humour, has decided to turn this whole thing into a giant, flaming dumpster fire of thirst traps and, and bad puns!" Lily burst out, gesturing wildly at her phone. "They're sending messages to ME, Suzanne! Their literal daughter! About how 'hot' and 'powerful' my MOTHERS are together! And if they didn’t want a…a dog to take care of, or they can be chairs anders their asses. My irises are burning right now, Suz! BURNING. Do they not understand the concept of a couple? Or self respect!! 

Just as Lily reached a crescendo of indignation, Suzanne leaned back in her booth and burst into laughter. Tears welled up in her eyes, threatening to spill over.

"Oh, Lily," she wheezed, wiping a tear away. "That's...that's actually kind of hilarious. What did you think would have happened ? My boss and Maleficent are literally gorgeous. Of course they would react that way..

— Don't join the bandwagon!! Of course I did not think people would say shit like that! Without any shame in the world? Why would that have crossed my mind !?” Lily glared at her friend, still laughing like it was the best joke she had ever heard in her life. "It's not funny, Suzanne fucking Dubois! I'm here, on the verge of a nervous breakdown, and you're laughing?"

"Hey, lighten up," Suzanne chuckled. "All this attention just means your moms are popular, right? Maybe you'll actually win that cruise you've been pining for."

Lily slumped back in her chair. "Maybe," she mumbled, "but at what cost? I might need therapy after dealing with this unholy mess."

"Therapy? Honey, you needed therapy before this whole cruise catastrophe," Suzanne teased.

Lily groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Oh, shut up, Suzanne. And you're not exactly innocent. You might need it more than me!" Lily slumped in her chair, defeated. Maybe Suzanne was right. She needed therapy more than a vacation right now. But then a devious thought crossed her mind. "Actually," she said, a sly grin spreading across her face, "there's another benefit to all this. Think of the blackmail material I'm collecting."

Suzanne's eyes widened in mock horror. "Lily Page, you wouldn't..."

Lily's grin stretched so wide it threatened to split her face. "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," she purred, the sweetness in her voice laced with a dangerous edge. "Unless, of course, they decide to lock me in my room for a century. Maybe two." 

Her friend’s dark eyes widened. "The apple really doesn't fall that far from the tree, does it?" she blurted, 

Lily's eyebrow shot up, sharp as a needle. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing, nothing," Suzy avoids looking at her, suddenly interested in the curls in front of her eyes. Then she waved her hands in a frantic choreography. "Just... forget I said anything." She dipped her head back down to her plate, lost in the intricacies of her mashed potatoes.

Lily narrowed her eyes, studying Suzanne for a long moment. The corner of her mouth twitched, but she let the comment slide. Instead, she leaned forward, a conspiratorial glint in her eyes. "Can you imagine, though, what would happen if they found out ?"

Suzy peeked up, a sliver of unease flickering across her face. "Oh, I can definitely see something bad happening. You'd be in some serious hot water if they ever found out."

Lily's grin returned, full force this time. "Who says they'll ever find out?" she said, her voice a mischievous whisper.

And she came to realise that, yes, they did, in fact, have to know. Here she was, naively believing the entire "couples' cruise" shit, that she signed her mother into, could remain her secret. She needed to do more research…And as she read the messages again and again, she felt like scrolling in a cave and never coming out of it. Why did everything have to be so formal all of a sudden? Just send those goddamn tickets and be done with it?!? NO. They needed a fucking interview, with acceptance speach and all. Are you fucking kidding me ?

“In the spirit of celebrating genuine connections, we would be delighted to arrange a personal introduction with the couple.” What more do they want as an ‘introduction’ ? a fucking make-out session on live television ?!? Be fucking for real right now!!!

The worst is that she knew her mothers wouldn’t be against that… they had no filter.

Here she thought they did not need to know. If only she had read the small print… she has learned her lesson from now on…

Lily walked into the living room, dragging her feet as much as possible, a pit of dread gnawing at her stomach. From afar, she could hear the rhythmic rustling of turning pages, laced with their voices— a music she had learned to enjoy as time went on. They were like real geeks, and she had to accept that.

Taking a deep breath, she approached the sit where Regina and Maleficent sat, nestled together on a plush sofa. Each of them was deeply engrossed in a book, with a system that had the ability to give her a monstruos head-ache.  Every thirty minutes, with clockwork precision, one of them would look up. A brief exchange would follow, a whispered discussion about a plot point or a particularly evocative passage. Then, with a rustle of pages, they would return to their individual reading marathons, glasses perched on one, while the other lay almost unmoving on the sofa. Though it was definitely entertaining, she just does not do it often. Lily had attempted this "bonding time" once. The experience was close to a snail actively trying to keep pace with lionesses in a sprinting competition. Entertaining, yes, but not something she particularly relished repeating.

She cleared her throat as two sets of eyes snapped toward her. “Mothers dearest.” She began, as she sat at one of the corners of the sofa. “You know I much I love you–

Regina, ever the one to cut straight to the chase, narrowed her eyes. "What have you done, Lilith?" she asked, looking up from her glasses. Her voice was laced with a hint of amusement within her suspicion. She closed the book with a sharp snap, the clicking of the latch resonating through the room.  Maleficent, in contrast, simply raised a knowing eyebrow and offered a wry smile. She lifted her head from Regina’s lap, closing her book softly. Yet, it did little to calm her rambling anxiety.

"Don't worry, Regina, darling" she purred, her voice dripping with mock sympathy. "We're sure it's nothing that our dear Lily can't fix."

Lily gulped, her throat suddenly drier than a desert. "Well," she stammered, "I’ll tell you all about it, but only if you promise not to, you know, unleash your fury on me. Or worse, force me to join one of your book clubs."

Maleficent snorted, a sound suspiciously close to a laugh. Regina’s lips twitched, a silent battle raging between amusement and irritation. "We'll see about that," Regina finally declared, a hint of a glint in her eyes. "Now, spill it. What chaotic scheme have you entangled us in this time?

Lily splutters “You tell it like it’s not the first time?” she exclaimed, her voice laced with indignation. The only response she got was a pair of identical eyebrows raised high in question, an image that was frankly quite intimidating coming from both Regina and Maleficent at the same time. Defeated, Lily slumped in her chair. "Alright, alright, fine. But this might be a tad out of ordinary, even by my standards." she muttered. 

Instead of launching into a lengthy and likely futile defence, she trusted her phone into their hands, opting for a totally different approach. She reached for her phone and placed it cautiously in the centre of the coffee table between Regina and Maleficent. She stood there, waiting for them to take it and read what had been written. Time seems to pass slowly as she scraped their expressions, passing every stage possible to arrive at the acceptance of what was written in front of them. She could not read Regina’s face, which was definitely not in her favour. Maleficent’s brow furrowed in confusion, her lips pursed in a thin line. All traces of an amusement long gone, vanished.

“Surprise…” Lily offered, her voice barely a whisper that sounded more pathetic than convincing. Here she was, a grown woman, reacting like a teenager caught sneaking out after curfew, yet she felt like she was on the verge of being grounded for eternity. Shit. and shit again. "I, uh, I thought it would be… fun." Her voice trailed off, the feeble attempt at an explanation collapsing under the weight of their stares.

"I do not understand," Regina finally spoke, her voice laced with icy calm. "When did we sign up for this?

— You didn’t… but it's incredible! You both won a cruise!” I won a cruise, she wanted to say. She was stupid but not that stupid. “And think about it, it is an amazing time for the both of you! But, I know, It’s a big decision to make. The ceremony is in four days after all. So I’ll leave you both to it, then.” She did not give them time to speak as she headed out of the front door, running her way as her name was said again and again. Not before blowing a kiss on Maleficent stomach “Great talk. Love you too moms!!” 

Regina lowered the phone with a sigh, the silence in the room thick, still processing what they had just read. Lily's bombshell announcement hung heavy in the air. What had been going on inside that child's head ?

"People actually took time out of their schedule to vote for us?" Regina finally asked, disbelieving, lacing her voice. The sample idea of their relationship being subjected to public scan was a foreign concept to her.

Maleficent, ever the pragmatist, crossed her legs with a nonchalant shrug. "Quite a lot, actually, if the email is to be believed. Apparently, our kind of love is quite the crowd-pleaser." A sly smile played on her lips, amusement battling with the surprise in her eyes. “Why is it so unbelievable to you? We are fabulous. My love transcends beyond realms of comprehension. I am extremely glad that foreigners can accurately spot it.”

Regina scoffed, a hint of amusement creeping into her tone despite herself.  "As fabulous we may be, but winning a couples' cruise contest? It feels...a bit too much don’t you think? Undignified if I do say so myself. We will not be displaying our love life in public."  Her eyes narrowed playfully.  

Maleficent's lips quirked further. "Darling Regina, it had already been done." she drawled, prolonging every vowel sound out of her mouth. Her voice dripped with mock seriousness, "And there's a difference between public displays and reaping the rewards of public adoration. Think of the photo opportunities! The chance to showcase, for a brief moment, what love looked like."  She leaned back against the plush sofa, a mischievous glint in her blue eyes.  "Besides, wouldn't it be delightful to chat with them a little, that would be fun."

Regina's retort dripped with mock offence. "Oh, I see what it is, you only want a grand occasion to be extravagant and mysterious, don’t you ?" Her voice held a playful edge, a hint of amusement bubbling to the surface despite her initial scepticism.

Maleficent's eyes widened momentarily, a playful challenge igniting within them. "Perhaps," she countered, her voice a silky purr. “And perhaps an opportunity for you to get some vacation away from your duties and we could parade around, with you in my arms.. " A beat of playfulness followed Maleficent's last remark, the air buzzing with a newfound excitement. 

Regina, a smirk now firmly in place, tilted her head, eyes sparkling with amusement. "So, you're admitting to a touch of possessiveness, are we?" she prodded, her voice a teasing lilt.

Maleficent uncrossed her legs, pushing herself up from the sofa with a slow, deliberate grace. Her movements sent a subtle tremor through the room, a silent reminder of the power she wielded. Especially on her other half. "Perhaps," she conceded, her voice dropping to a husky whisper as she approached Regina. Regina found herself mirroring the movement.  "But," she continued, pausing right before the other woman, "is that truly so bad, madam Mayor?"

Her eyes held Regina's captive, a deep intensity replacing the earlier playful glint. The question hung in the air for a while, smiles plastered on their faces.

The initial shock of the contest had faded, replaced by a spark of something unexpected – a thrill. A new adventure away from all of this, within the lands without magic. Only them. The idea held a strange allure to it, an welcome escapade for a while.

"Not at all, my love," she finally replied, her voice a low murmur. "Not at all." They close the distance as their lips brushed swiftly, becoming more and more intense as time goes on. Until Regina broke their contact. Regina pulled away, a knowing glint in her eyes. “But you are aware that,” she said, her voice breaking the spell with a hint of amusement, “Lilith did not sign us up in a burst of generosity– driven by her disinterested desire to make us happy?”

A slow smile spread across her face. "Oh, I am fully aware of that, Dear. That much was clear." Maleficent replied, amused. Regina wrapped her arms around her waist, looking up at her. "Wouldn't it be perfect if we played along, though? Imagine the look on her face if we acted like we truly wanted to go on this cruise?"

Regina's laughter, a low, throaty sound, filled the room. "Oh, that is pure evil, Mal" she said, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Absolutely diabolical." She leaned in, her lips brushing against her ear. "And an absolutely great payback. I am definitely in," She murmured.

Chapter Text

This is how they found themselves on the path for New work. The prospect of their first voyage outside Storybrooke filled Lily with anticipation. Not only because it had been such a long time since she last stepped foot there, but also because it was only the three of them, her mothers and herself. But for Maleficent, venturing beyond Storybrooke's borders was an adventure in itself, a voyage through another type of unknown, as she had never taken a step outside of these borders, the borders between their realms and the Land Without Magic. She was beyond excited, not only for the architecture but also for how her senses would develop there; Lily tried to tell her it wouldn't be that much different from Storybrooke, but it would even worse sometimes, an overload of sensations. She wouldn't budge, though. Until, that is, they encountered the most intimidating foe of all, one they did not see coming : a plane from Boston to New York. Who could have thought that a dragon who soared effortlessly through the sky every other day would harbour such a deep aversion to airplanes? So deep that it took both Regina and Lilith by surprise.

"Flying and being crammed inside this metal contraption are two entirely different things," Maleficent declared, her voice laced with disdain, when the question as to why it was so, was asked out loud. "I refuse to entrust my life to a complete stranger in a – what is it called – in a cockpit!"

Regina, a hint of amusement dancing in her eyes, countered, "You know, Mal, a plane is much faster than a car.  Think of all the extra time we'll have in New York."

Maleficent snorted. "Safety lies in the open sky, Regina. No in metal behemoths."

“That is a bit harsh, don’t you think, mom ?” 

After this failed attempt, they tried everything to try to convince Maleficent as much as they could: rational arguments about efficiency, about the mechanism of the behemoth, as she called it, that make them the safest of all transportations. Gentle teasing about fear, – from Lily – even playful persuasions with kisses and hugs and culinary discoveries. Yet, Maleficent remained immovable and incorruptible. Not budging for one bit. So, with a sigh, they found themselves moving down the highway, facing a four-hour road trip instead. 

For Lily, however, the car ride overflowed with nostalgia. She did not mind it as much as she wanted it to appear. The car ride mirrored her last journey that brought her to Storybrooke, to the family she now found, which explained her lighter mood. 

"Isn't it funny," she muses, "this is our second road trip together, Regina. The first one brought us there, to Storybrooke, and now we're off to New York. All that with mom." She nudged her mother lightly with her shoulder, who smiled and wrapped her arms around her daughter. Lily reluctantly obliged, not without a little reticence from her part. Though her eye roll wasn't far away, replaced swiftly by a soft smile. 

She liked the smell of her mother, despite the subtle difference from her normal one.Yet, the core remained, a warm embrace that soothed every storm, a constant melody of security and belonging that resonated deep within her. One she never knew she needed.

Regina, perched in the driver's seat, couldn't help but grin. Her eyes glistening with amusement, "Indeed it is," Regina replied. "So, are you enjoying it so far?”

"Honestly." Lily admitted, "it hasn't been bad at all. Two hours in, and I haven't strangled anyone yet. It is a record for me. Though,” she continued, frowning a little,  “Ask me when we arrive at the hotel and we lost our reservation because mom, here, is afraid of planes.

— It is not fear, Lily. It is an aversion, thank you very much.” Maleficent responded, her voice sweet as ever, yet containing something that could not be placed. Incertitude perhaps ? Or perhaps irritation. Either way the expression was gone as quickly as it arrived. “As for our reservation, we will not lose it. If we do, we’ll find another place.  It can be that difficult.

— Don't tempt fate, Maleficent," Regina warned with a raised eyebrow. "This is peak season, tourists everywhere. New York will be crawling with people from all over the world, not to mention those who pilot their vehicles like slow, oversized pigeons. We'll never get there on time. Incompetent.” she added, her voice cutting through the din as she blasted the horn at the car preceding them.

"Anyone who doesn't share her way of doing things is an incompetent, apparently," Maleficent muttered under her breath. She earned a giggle from Lily. 

"Oh, believe me," Lily chimed in, "I've figured that out already."

Regina rolled her eyes from the driver's seat as she watched them bicker through the rearview mirror. Maleficent, steadily devouring an alarming quantity of junk food,  – which Regina had to refrained from looking at, for fear of imminent cardiac arrest.– Lily, meanwhile, stole a few snacks as subtle as she could manage. Which was with the finesse of a novice pickpocket.

"Just try not to stain the seats," Regina quipped. "Keeping the seats clean is crucial to getting the full deposit back.

— You are rich, Ma” Lily snickered.

"Financial resources are irrelevant. It's a matter of responsibility."

Their destination loomed ahead – a magnificent hotel that scraped the clouds. Regina sighed heavily as she saw it through the darkness of the night. They finally arrived, two hours later than anticipated, a committee of sharply dressed people was waiting for them in front of the opulent hotel entrance. 

"Shit is getting real now," Lily blurted, fatigue evident in her voice.

"Language, young lady," Regina said as she got out of the car. She took a long look at them, "Are they supposed to be there? Can we not have a moment to cool off before this- whatever it begins. I am not really in the mood after all this driving around."

"l am sorry, Darling.

Regina offered a wan smile. "Just a long day, dear. Fresh air will do us wonders." She gestured to the open car door. "Shall we?"

Lily raised an eyebrow. "What am I to you ? Where is my open door?" Regina offered a stare that could have putrefied her right there.Regina's icy stare could have frozen yoghurt in a Florida heatwave. Definitely not a time to play. “I am kidding, geez. No really,” Lily stammered, running her hands in her hair, I did not know they would be there this quickly? We did not even prepare for what we will say to them.”

Maleficent scoffed. "What is there to prepare for?" she said, her voice soft, dripping with curiosity.

Lily tilted her head, confusion creasing her brow. "Well, are you aware," she began cautiously, "that it might be a tad shocking for them to find out you're both my mothers?" She trailed off, letting the unspoken question hang heavy in the air. "The age thing? We aren’t in Storybrooke anymore. Shi- things like that aren't normal. You both look more like my sisters than anything else." She finished lamely.

"I don't see the problem," Maleficent countered, completely unfazed. "We are your mothers. Yours mothers with extremely good genes. What else needs to be said?" A hint of a smirk played on her lips. "Besides," she continued, her tone laced with sarcasm, "it's your fault we're in this situation in the first place. Something we're eternally grateful for by the way. Such a big heart, gifting us this incredible cruise, my beautiful child."

Lily forced a laugh, the sound strained and unnatural. "Yeah, of course," she mumbled, clearing her throat uncomfortably. She darted a glance at the people waiting behind them. "I, uh, I'll just see what they want," she stammered, gesturing towards the line. "Then I'll get registered in the hotel and come back for the bags."

Before Regina could protest, Lily was already on the move, her retreat a masterpiece of flustered and embarrassed efficiency. She was moving faster than they had ever seen her, her hand in her pockets, storming away through the night. 

"You'll give that girl ulcers with all this cruise cheer," Regina remarked as she gently moved closer to Maleficent "You've laid on the guilt thick enough, wouldn't you say?

— Actually, I find it rather enjoyable," she retorted, a touch too defensively. "Especially after all her teasing about my fear of the behemoth you called plains."

Regina’s lips quivered into a sly smile. "Are you not ? Afraid that is?" she asked, a knowing glint in her eyes.

"Regina, please don't take her side," Maleficent pressed, her voice laced with mock disappointment. “I thought we were in this together…”

Regina let out a chuckle, instantly regretting the action. A throbbing pain began to bloom behind her eye. Yes, the migraines were definitely coming on. She winced, rubbing her temple with a grimace. This whole situation was a recipe for disaster.

“Okay, that is quite enough. Let’s get you inside. I am sure they can wait at least tomorrow.”

Regina forced a smile as the man approached, her knuckles white from gripping the armrests. "Hello, Mrs. Paige and Mrs. Mills," he boomed, his voice radiating cheer. “We are glad to finally meet the both of you.” Unlike Maleficent, who leaned back in her chair with an air of unconcern, Regina perched on the edge, a coiled viper ready to strike. She never envies Maleficent’s calm nature as much as she did right at this moment.

"The pleasure is ours," Regina replied, her voice tight. Her gaze flicked to Maleficent, a silent communication passing between them, united front, even in this golden cage. "Though, this is a rather new acquaintance." She smiled, pouring as much sweetness into it as she could, when all she wanted to do at this moment was take Maleficent’s hands and leave, to never return. Though, the smile did little to mask the simmering annoyance that threatened to boil over. She craves an escape from this charade, to vanish from the scrutiny of the cameras. This felt like a suffocating formality closing in.

And the thought of dissecting their relationship for public consumption, of baring the intimacy they'd so fiercely guarded, made Regina bristle. It felt like a violation, a betrayal of the trust they'd built. For her at least. Because the other half of her seems to be having the time of her life.

She crossed and uncrossed her leg, a nervous tick that showed her growing frustration.

"Congratulations on your win," the man continued, a practised smile plastered on his face. "You've certainly captured the hearts of our viewers. Never seen a couple connect quite like you two."

Regina's lips twitched into a humourless smile. Why were they doing this again? Right. Lilith. And her damned cruise. A mother would do anything for her child, wouldn't she? Though, Lily will have to pull off something spectacular to redeem herself. Something gran. diose. 

A gentle touch on her thigh grounded her, gently bridging her back to the present.

Maleficent. The woman, still grounding her to this world. 

Maleficent smiles, her face lightening as she does so. Regina squeezes the slender fingers in her hands as her anchor to this gathering. Maleficent's hand, warm and reassuring. Regina met her gaze, calming as ever, a blonde hair crowning her face. She rarely wears her hair as such but when she does, it sure is a wonder. There's a silent wave of gratitude washing over Regina as they share the understanding that they would navigate this absurdity together.

"The set-up might seem a little extravagant," The man continued, oblivious to the undercurrent of tension– or anything going on between them, "but it's all part of getting to know you both better. Understanding what makes you tick as a couple." He gestured expansively towards the cameras, dozens of them focusing only on the three of them, "Think of it as appeasing the insatiable curiosity of our viewers. They want to know the couple they voted for."

Regina's smile faltered for a beat before schooling her features back into a mask of polite indifference. "Fair enough," she conceded, her voice clipped.

"Absolutely, it sure is fair." Maleficent murmured, her voice a low contrast to Regina's. But beneath the surface, Regina saw a spark ignite in her wife's eyes. She is taking pleasure in this. Why does this exercise excite her to this point? 

The man clapped his hands, seemingly pleased. "Glad we're on the same page, then! Now, do you mind telling us – how did you two first meet?"

Maleficent chuckled next to her, a sound that sent shivers down Regina's spine – a sound that undoubtedly evoked the memory. "Well, it doesn't exactly paint me in the best light, does it ?" 

Regina found herself mirroring the sound, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of her lips. She raised an eyebrow, a playful challenge in her eyes. "Neither does it for me, darling, need I remind you?"

“Intriguing. There seems to be an interesting story behind this." the man prodded. "Do you mind sharing the tale?"

“Well,” Regina began but stopped herself from going further. How could she share all the far-from-sane events, the magic, within their first encounter without revealing the sheer chaos behind it. Or even the existence of Storybrooke in itself. Lilith had been right, they should have prepped for this.  "It was a...unique time in my life," she finally said, opting for vagueness. “Well, I was around– I was quite young, a period where I lacked control. And in my naiveté, I thought acquiring some…power…would solve everything." She slants a glance at Maleficent. "So, I decided to seek out someone with a certain reputation in her domain."

"A charmer, aren’t you ?" Maleficent's lips curved into a predatory grin, the shade of red on them a stark contrast to Regina's. "But let's just say she was sorely mistaken. I had touched the end of a bottomless pit.” A ripple of laughter passed through the room at Maleficent's dramatic delivery. "Oh, you could say she was devastated to discover I wasn't exactly the magical fairy godmother she'd envisioned."

Regina feigns indignation. "You practically shamed me for interrupting your brooding session." Regina countered,  a playful glint in her eyes.

"Oh, true enough, she disrupted my peace– though in the best way possible, my love." Maleficent conceded, adding with a wink.

Great catch , Regina thought, great catch. There was laughter around them again. This time, Regina couldn't help but shake her head, a genuine smile fighting its way onto her face. 

"So, there I was," Regina continues, "facing her imposing figure on her throne… well, it was a chair, technically, but might as well have been a throne considering how often she occupied it."  She sighed internally, lamenting the slip-up. "Anyway, I was determined, staring daggers at her, trying my best to be as intimidating as possible, desperately trying to convince her to help me. It was then," Regina said, her voice gaining a touch of drama, "that I had a revelation.

— That I was destined to be the love of your life?" Maleficent teased, her eyes sparkling with mischief.

"Not quite," Regina retorted. "My brain wasn't exactly wired for such grand pronouncements at the moment.” Maleficent tilts her head to the side like she does when something escapes her rage of understanding, “It was what our daughter would call a 'major gay panic.' And trust me, it wasn't exactly a walk in the park to realise that one of the only things you thought true about yourself was a complete lie. On top of all this — as if it wasn’t enough — I realised my journey wouldn't be easy. You wouldn't make things easy for either of us."

— Oh, that too.” Maleficent agreed with a sly smile. "You're welcome, darling," Maleficent said with a wink.

"Now, Mrs. Paige," he began, then cleared his throat, "Maleficent, is it?"

Maleficent, a picture of regal composure, met his gaze with a hint of amusement in her dark eyes. 

"Yes," she replied simply.

"Is that your real name? Like the Fairytale character?" The producer pressed, a touch of scepticism lacing his voice.

Maleficent's lips curved into a sly smile. "Yes, Bernard, it is."

Regina snorted, a single, sharp laugh that escaped her lips before she could stifle it as a silence took over. 

He blinked, momentarily thrown off balance. "Uh, right," he stammered, recovering quickly. He cleared his throat, attempting to regain control of the interview.  "Well, that's certainly unique," he said, a forced smile plastered on his face. "Now, let's rewind a bit. Mrs Mills opened up her perspectives of the encounter, was yours different than hers ?

— As for me, I was captivated by her fervour and her determination even if I wrongly thought she could not convince me.” Maleficent tilted her head to the side, with a knowing smile playing on the corner of her lips and she looked at Regina. “I’ll admit the way she flushed when I hover her, trying to make her leave, made me incredibly curious. The scent of her perfume, a delightful mix of apple and bergamot, lingered in the air, the same you still wear now. And those big brown eyes…they held a depth that shook me to the core, like a hint of the end of one chapter and the beginning of something else, something extraordinary.

Regina found herself giggling at the revelation, yes giggling… She does not giggle for God's sake. 

“Frankly, it was love at first sight for me.” She finished, grinning at Regina. She squeezed the hand in hers. 

Regina did not know how to respond to that. She felt like the monet stretched, her eyes wedding as words lacked. And she was extremely grateful for the interviewer’s intervention at this moment

“And you have been together since?

— No. It took years before anything happened between us, years where we learned to know each other never before. Until–

— She kissed me.

— No I did not.” Regina interjected, frowning a little.

“No, she did not. Yet, you would have love to.” Maleficent says, cockyness in her every word. Regina rolled her eyes at the comment, though she did not refute her statements. Because it was true. She would have kissed her first if she knew it was even an option. She would have done more than that even. “We had a complicated relationship at this moment. Not the same goal nor purpose. You can say it was the right person but wrong time. And now you have found each other for the long run.”

A slow smile spread across Bernard's face. "My, that's quite something," he chuckled. "So your daughter, the ever-resourceful Lilith, signed you both up for the competition? Quite the surprise, I imagine."

Maleficent snorted. "Surprise? Try utter bewilderment! We had no idea about this contest until the results came out. Lilith, bless her heart, has a way of... taking liberties. That is quite the qualities of hers, that can be quite overwhelming at times. But I would not change anything because our life would have been boring otherwise. And you are extremely grateful for her gesture. We won after all."

He frowned, moving forward in his chair “So you have not been following the public's first thought about you since the vote first began?”

Regina arched an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in her eyes. "Positive, I trust?"

Bernard cleared his throat, a touch of pink creeping up his neck. "Oh, overwhelmingly so. Perhaps a bit too... enthusiastic, at times."

Maleficent leaned forward, intrigued. "Enthusiastic, you say? How so ?"

Regina's lips curved into a sly smile. "I believe Bernard is referring to the, shall we say, more... colourful messages flooding the voting boards."

Maleficent's eyes narrowed. "Why on earth wouldn't Lilith tell us about that?"

Regina shrugged. "Perhaps she didn't think it was quite the dinner conversation topic with her mothers."

"We've faced far worse, my love." Maleficent scoffed. A glint entered her gaze. "Still, I can't help but be curious. What exactly did these messages say, Bernard?" Before Bernard could answer, Maleficent's hand shot out, silencing him. "Actually, never mind. We'll get the full story from Lilith herself. That girl owes us a rather large explanation, wouldn't you agree, Regina?"

Regina's eyes twinkled with mischief. "Indeed. Now, do you have any further questions, Bernard?"

Bernard stammered, his face flushed as she flicked through his papers. "Y-yes, actually… though after all this talk of surprises, I'm curious.  How many children do you have, exactly?  It sounds like Lilith keeps you both on your toes. How old is she ?

Maleficent's nostrils flared slightly at Bernard's question. "Actually," she began, her voice dropping a touch as if she was processing the question, "Lilith is well into her late thirties. I doubt she'd appreciate the world knowing her exact age."

Bernard choked on his own spit, eyes widening comically. "Wait, wait... pardon my French, but that is a grown ass woman? I thought we were talking about, like, a teenager!" He fumbled with his notes, a look of sheer panic creeping across his face. "So that means... how old are you two to have a child nearly forty?!"

Regina arched an eyebrow, a slow smile playing on her lips. "Well, Bernard," she purred, "did your mother ever teach you it's disrespectful to ask a woman her age?"  

And all of a sudden, she quite liked this interview. This interview had taken a delightful turn. They were no longer under watchful eyes– under scrutiny, but rather, they were holding the reins of that carriage. This, Regina loved, no, relished . They were in control, at last, having full control of the situation. It was the dance of power she thrived in, one she could play all day. This power shift, this dance of dominance, was one she was familiar with. 

He blushed once again in embarrassment, a deeper crimson, his face morphing into a mask of Oh-I-might-have-fucked-up written all over his face. How she loved this. Regina reveled in his discomfort and misery.

A glance beside her revealed Maleficent harbouring a mischievous grin. This was precisely why Maleficent had been so eager for this interview. She had seen the encounter for what it was, a subtle power game, a recreation they both enjoyed. Playing your card in the best way possible. And Maleficent always possessed a coup d'avance, in the chess game, a silent witness to her cunning intelligence. The way she subtly manoeuvred situations, pulling strings without anyone being aware of any of it, was quite impressive and undeniably arousing. 

She is cut short on her train of thought by a chuckle. A deep chuckle from beside her. Maleficent, her posture relaxed, adjusted her tailored suit– a subtle curve of her stomach, the roundness of it, hinting at the life growing within. It was a silent reminder of  a secret shared only between them – the second time they'd created life together. Despite all of that happened.

There’s a playful glint in Maleficent's eyes as she leaned forward. "To answer your very first question, Bernard," she began, a sly grin spreading across her face, "we have three children. Two in their late thirties - Lilith and Henry - and one turning seventeen next month. And" A pregnant pause hung in the air. And one in the way . Regina finished in her mind, But they wouldn’t share that, their secret wouldn't be unveiled just yet. It was theirs to cherish for a while longer. "Perhaps," Maleficent concluded with a wink, "More waited for us in the future."

O. M. G. Lily muttered under her breath. She drummed her fingers impatiently on the hard plastic armrest. That shit would not end well. Like why had she done that? Signing them up wasn't exactly one of her brightest moments. Sometimes she should actually use the combined intellect she inherited from the two geniuses that were her parents. Most intelligent women that ever frail this earth. Inheriting the combined intellect of her two genius mothers, she should've known better. But then again, Lily also inherited their flair for theatrics and drama, plus an instinct for adventure that sometimes bordered on recklessness. Life altering recklessness.

Yeah, that’s her…

Just then, a voice cut through her inner monologue. "You know," it said gently, "Staring at the wall probably won't make the time go any faster." Lily looked up, startled, to see a woman with a warm smile and a kind gaze. "Are you waiting for someone?"

Lily sighed heavily, as she sunk further in the waiting chair. “Yeah, kinda,” She mumbled, “My moms. I went on a food rampage through half New York to kill time, and they still are not done. I might spontaneously combust on the spot if they took one more minute. It seems like interviews can take longer than the actual voyage they're being interviewed for.”

The woman chuckled. "Interviews can be a drag, can't they? Especially when you're stuck waiting." Her eyes widened slightly. "Oh, wait a minute! Are you the daughter of the couple who won the cruise?"

Lily perked up, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "Bingo."

"Wow," the woman breathed, "That is kind of weird. You look a lot like them, even though, you know, they're both women."

Lily rolled her eyes playfully. "Shocking news!" she said with a sarcastic drawl. "I never even noticed that... like at all."

“Yeah, definitely the same family resemblance.”  the woman said, shaking her head as she sat down next to Lily. “The brunette made me go through hell with her sarcasm and witty remarks. She made me feel like an incompetent. But at least, she had fucking great skin. Like Flawless.” The woman must have seen the look of confusion on Lily’s face “Oh, sorry, I did not introduce myself. I am the makeup artist for the show.”

Lily raised an eyebrow. "Oh yes, she can be like that," she admitted. "Very passionate and meticulous. Especially when it comes to things being perfect.

The woman chuckled, bringing her face to her palm. "That must be exhausting, having to live up to their expectations, no?"

Lily hesitated, then let out a long breath. "Not really. You see, Mama, the brunette, she's hard on herself, incredibly driven for success. But with her kids? She's comprehensive and compassionate and protective. Fiercely so. It’s exhausting sometimes. But,” she took a pause, “they both don't expect anything from me. I didn't know how to feel about that at first. No pressure, no grand expectations, just… I just have to be me. It's refreshing. The first time in my life I can be myself without apology."

The woman frowned, " But I don't understand. Didn't they raise you?"

Lily's smile faltered. A dark cloud seemed to gather in her eyes as she clenched her fists. "It's complicated," she said finally, her voice barely a whisper. "When I was a baby, I was kidnapped."

Her eyes widened in surprise. "Oh my god," she breathed, concern etched on her face.

“Shocking, I know.” Lily chakled, this time without any humour within them, her voice raw with emotion. "I didn't meet them until I was seven. You know," she turned towards the unknown woman, her gaze intense, "when you discover what your life could have been? Loving, perfect. Discovering that if they had raised you, you wouldn't be this...fucked up? That hurts, you know. You have no idea.

She choked back a sob, closing her eyes before tears welling up in her eyes. She could feel her chest tightened up, yet her mouth refused to shut up. "And the most pathetic thing? The last seven years have been the best of my life. A life I could have had all along. Mom, she's the sweetest being. Loving, understanding, open-minded...and a bit of a compulsive collector, bordering on hoard..." Lily trailed off, realising she'd just dumped her entire life story on a stranger.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so sorry," she stammered, wiping away a stray tear. "I haven't told anyone any of this before. I'm so sorry if I ruined the mood or dumped all this drama on you. I don't even know you."

The woman, Sarah – why did’t she read the badge earlier, for God’s Sake – reached out and placed a comforting hand on Lily's arm. A beat of surprised silence hung between them. Then, Sarah did something unexpected. She chuckled softly, a warm and surprisingly comforting sound. "Hey, it's okay," she said gently. "People do that all the time. Must be my face. I've heard I have a 'trustworthy' face."

A genuine laugh, shaky but real, escaped Lily's lips. The tension in the air dissipated little by little, replaced by a fragile understanding. A comfortable silence settled around them, punctuated only by the distant murmur of the waiting area.

Lily finally broke the quiet. "They deserved this win," she said softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Great mothers, a great couple. They really deserve that cruise..." She trailed off, a pang of guilt twisting in her gut. Conscience? Since when did she have one?

Lily sighed heavily, a wave of exhaustion washing over her. Bye bye mojito on the ferry. Bye bye vacation, she thought with a bittersweet pang. Bye bye beautiful girls on the shore in swimsuits twenty-four seven… You will be missed. Her parents deserved this so much more than her. Maybe someday, she thought, maybe someday there would be another cruise, another adventure, one she could share with them both. 

Twenty minutes later, her mothers had arrived, disgustingly happy to see her as always. They said that everything went alright, chirping about a ‘very successful meeting’. And she understood exactly the implication; everything went well for them. Minus the fact that they terrorised that poor interviewer. LIly will not say it out loud, but she was impatient to see it on the Television, the image of it unfolding on the news had her fighting a smirk. That will be hilarious. And yet again, they both thanked her for what she had done; sign them up that is. 

Fuck my life she thought…

They spent the rest of the time enjoying the New York City experiences, even more so that it was Maleficent's first time there. As Lily was the one that travelled more often in the group — through the land without magic that is, albeit the mystical lands — she took upon herself the weight of guiding them, to become the impromptu guide. 

There was a childlike wonder in Maleficent’s eyes that she could not help but find endearing and amusing. And as it seemed there's so much you can do in a week, and yet they did more than Lily had hoped for. Museums, their vast halls filled with echoes of history, held her mothers captive for hours. National monuments, testaments of human’s ambition. Shopping, a lot of shopping. That was an endurance test. Too much for Lily’s taste. But hey, who she was to complain where the money didn't come from her pocket. It wasn’t her purse that would take the hit.

And as the last night came around, the weight of her secret pressed down on her.  It was time to come clean, to explain the real reason she'd dragged them here. She was unable to relax as her mind rose too much for her taste. The poolside relaxation she craved was nowhere to be found. She had to open up, or else she wouldn't be able to enjoy what was supposed to be a relaxing day.

Lily practically exploded out of the pool, water cascading around her. "I have something to tell you both," she declared in a rush, her voice uncharacteristically frantic. "And before either of you say a word, please hear me out."

Regina sat up straighter in her lounge chair, disregarding her sunglasses with a frown. Maleficent remained in the pool, one hand gripping the edge, her pale face etched with concern despite the afternoon sun. Like a vampire, Lily thought, Maleficent seemed untouched by the sun's rays. That is impressive really. And a bit contradictory.

"Okay," Regina finally said, her voice laced with caution.

Lily took a deep breath, her bravado faltering slightly under their gaze. "Okay, so, here's the thing. I didn't sign you up for this challenge because I wanted you both to have a vacation – I did it for myself, selfishly, I know. I wanted to go on this cruise, and I figured if both of you won, that would be the only way it would happen." No expression from either of them.  "Look, I know it was selfish. And honestly, when I see how hard you work as mayor, you deserve a vacation more than anyone. Suzanne can easily free up the cruise dates for you, no problem. I already fixed that with her.”

And then she turned to her mom “And you mom, apart from the well needed vacation sun, you deserved to see something more than this shitwhole that is Strorybrooke,” she spat, the word leaving a bitter taste in her mouth, “No offence, Mama, you did a great job with what you had. It’s the people that I just… don’t particularly care for.”

Regina snorted, a rich and amusement filled sund. “None taken darling.” she said, chuckling as she fell back on the lounge chair, her sunglasses back in place. A smile still played on her lips.

Lily blinked, surprised by Regina's casual reaction. Why was she acting so nonchalantly after Lily had just admitted to such a selfish act? "Wait – what? You know already…" she stammered. "How do you know?"

"We know you, darling," Maleficent drawled, placing her chin on both hands as she looked up at Lily with an endearing expression across her face as she looked up at her daughter. "Even if you think we don't."

"Okay..." Lily mumbled, feeling a wave of relief wash over her. Relief, and a flicker of annoyance. "And you're not angry?"

Maleficent and Regina exchanged a pointed glance that made Lily squirm.

“Why would we be?” Maleficent said, a sly smile curling her lips “It was an extremely hilarious experience– when we passed on the shock of the discovery.” 

Lily groaned, burying her face in her hands. This was just great. Not only had her big reveal fallen flat, but they'd been onto her the whole time.

"But you still owe us a grand deal," Regina chimed in, her voice laced with amusement. "After you get back from the cruise, that is."

Lily peeked up at her mother through her fingers. "You want me to go? Really?

— Of course,” Maleficent says as she gets out of the pool, her hair stinking back as she drips with water. She saw Regina's interest picked up. The woman got rid of her glasses instantly as if it was keeping her from admiring more greatly, something otherworldly. 

Gross Lily thought as she shook her head.

"Lily, sweetheart," her mother began, accepting the towel and settling next to her. "I know if you had to do something, it must have been important. We can always schedule a vacation with all of us together. It's not a big deal." Brushing a strand of hair from her daughter's face, her mother continued, "Honestly, darling, we insist you go. We know how much this trip means to you, and we wouldn't dream of keeping you. Besides," her voice softened further, a hand resting on her rounded stomach, "there's another reason. You'll be needed as a big sister soon enough, but for now, go. Relax. Take some time for yourself."

Lily smiled to  herself, placing her hand on her mother’s stomach who accepted it willingly. She can believe there is a little monster in there, her sister, – or her brother, but her mom is convinced it would be a girl – that had made a grand entrance when no one knew she had been there in the first place. Her heart warmed at the thought of the relationship she would have with this child. Another sibling, one she would be there for from the beginning to the end. The thought would have frightened her not so long ago. The fear of sharing her new found parents with another. But now? Now she simply feels joy and excitement at the idea of it. Someone could finally experience the joy that would be to grow up in a loving family with love coming from everywhere; What she did not have growing up– what she did not let herself feel, at least.

“You are such good mothers.” She whispered to herself, loud enough for it to ring back into her ears. She stops as if contemplating what she had just said, “I don’t tell you enough but if I could wish to know what it feels like to grow up with both of you, I would in a heartbeat.” 

She surprised herself when that came out of her mouth. She thought it for so long finally saying it, acknowledgment out loud gave it a depth she wasn’t ready for. She felt herself posing her hand on her mom’s wet legs to hide the tears that were coming out. She does not dare look up at the both of them, in fear of their reactions— even if the fear was truly irrational, she thought. 

Sensing Lily's slumping shoulders, her mom materialises beside her in an instant, like magic still exists where there were. Warm hands, familiar with every curve of her back, settled there in a silent offering of support. A gentle kiss landed on the top of her head, grounding Lily and pulling her back from the edge.

“Hey, it’s okay,.” That was Regina‘s voice coming closer and closer to her. She stroked Lily's head, before closing her arms around her daughter, in this position. She whispered sweet nothing in Lily's ear. Sweet nothing that made her cry even more.

Lily felt a warm hand cup her chin, gently lifting her face. Maleficent’s eyes, usually full of strength, held a depth of understanding that made Lily's tears well up again. "Sweetheart," Maleficent said softly, her voice a soothing balm, "whatever happened, it's okay to feel this way about your experiences. You're strong, but that doesn't mean you can't be sad. Don’t hide your heartache from us."

Fuck my life, she thought again. A life she sure as hell does not deserve. Yet one she would do anything in her power to own every minute of it.