Conjugations.

Revelations

"Maleficent!" "Regina." The Women couldn't detangle themselves fast enough. Mal covering herself with her overalls, and Regina draping a cheesecloth over heels, as they scrambled apart. Both Women frantically checking their surroundings. "Maleficent, where are we?" Regina's heart was pounding. She didn't know where she was, or what was real anymore. "Another curse, I imagine. The purple smoke should have been our first clue. We're in Seattle, it would seem." Regina found the skyline painting on the wall, and nodded.

She found her clothes, and dropped the cheesecloth, beginning to dress. No reason for modesty now, it wasn't as if these two hadn't been down this road a thousand times before. Mal watched her with wonderment. Regina was always enchanting to her. "Still a fan of the view, I see." Regina said sarcastically. "For several decades how, if I recall." Mal dropped her overalls, and prowled toward Regina. Regina stopped, and pursed her lips. "Still ravenous, I see as well." Mal chuckled, as she took Regina's pants from her. "I'm a dragon, and you throw fireballs. What do you expect, really?" Regina chuckled, and shook her head, trying to take her pants back.

"Mal. I've slept with someone else. I'm engaged to him. I have a life here, and so do you. We understand this, but they can't. He thinks I've had a bout with amnesia, but really I just woke up, and remembered that I'm a Storybook character, and so are you. We can't possibly expect them to believe that! No more than anyone will believe my ex wife, that I've never spoken about, has come back to reclaim me! They can't know that, any of this; and we can't just disappear! You can't possibly tell me you're not freaking the fuck out right now."

Regina was trembling. Things with Mal had ended so badly. She had literally vanished without even saying goodbye. The only thing that could do well towards the end of their marriage was fight and fuck. Neither of which did they any good, as they woke the next day hating themselves, and each other a little more.

Maleficent sighed, and stepped toward Regina, a sad smile on her face. Regina allowed her to take her in her arms, and hold her close, as she cried. Maleficent took in every moment. Regina had come to her as an innocent young woman, and saved her when she was at her lowest. The first curse Regina cast, came from her. She taught her the darkness, and she taught her how to be cold. Through it all though, they wound up working together, and things always seemed to sort themselves out, until they didn't any longer. She knew she was hurting Regina more than she was helping her, and for that reason, she left. Though, she regretted at least not saying goodbye everyday. Someone disappearing from Storybrooke, could mean a number of things, and few of them were ever good.

Regina calmed herself enough to pull away. Wiping the tears from her eyes, and pulling herself together. She caught a glimpse of Mal reading her and smiled sadly. Maleficent was the most beautiful creature she had ever seen. Her eyes mainly, captured Regina's attention from their very first meet. So big, and expressive. So beautifully able to convey every emotion swirling inside, no matter how hard she tried to hide. Maleficent felt unguarded, and insecure under her gaze, but allowed Regina to have her moment. She handed Regina her pants, and stepped back to find her own. They dressed in silence, with their backs to one another. Not noticing the minuscule purple sparks screaming between the distance of each of them.

They hopped in Mal's car wordlessly, and headed back to the museum. Regina knew that's the best chance they had of finding her magic book, and any other items this curse allowed them to have. The city was beautiful, and Regina knew she would miss it. When, and if, they made it back to Storybook. She wondered how long they'd be gone, and if her friends there were still looking for her. If maybe they'd lost hope. It would seem that no matter how hard she tried, and how good she become, she would always have to pay for her pay, and that was fair, considering.

Mal was clearly having similar though, as she silently placed her hand on Regina's thigh, and rubbed it in small circles. The only thing that ever really calmed Regina down. As the pulled up to the museum, Regina saw David standing outside of the locked doors. Of course, he would be looking for her. She pulled out her phone and saw several missed calls and messages. Her heart sank. He was such a good man, and she did love him very much. At least cursed Regina did. He didn't deserve the shit storm that was her.

She knew she had to talk to him, and she knew she had to do it alone. She asked Maleficent to stay behind him, and approached him slowly. "David, I'm sorry. I'm sure you're a nervous wreck." David spun and scooped her up immediately. "Regina, my god. I'm so glad you're okay. I've been so worried. I was about to put out an APB. Where have you been?" He sat her down slowly, and noticed Maleficent standing outside of the car, looking at them. His heart sank.

"With her?" His eyes were so full of pain that Regina could have died on the spot. "David, I. I'm sorry. I still don't remember. Mal is helping me, I think. We went to her studio, and I remembered a few things. Traffic was bad, and time got away from us. I should have called, and I'm sorry I didn't." David's jaw clenched, and he shook his head, smiling sadly. "Your shirt isn't buttoned correctly, your hair is a mess, and you have no lipstick on. I think you were lost in something, but it wasn't traffic." His voice broke on the last word, and he looked away, shaking his head, hands on his hips. Regina stepped toward him, and he stepped back, holding up his hands to her. "David, please. I'm sorry." David clasped her hands gently in his, and spoke so softly, Regina wanted to scream. "I know. I can't even be angry. You don't know who I am, or what I was to you. Whatever we had ended the moment you were hurt. I hoped you'd come back to me, but you haven't. It seems that instead, you went to her. You look at her like you used to look at me. Regardless of anything, all I've ever wanted was for you to be happy. I had hoped it would be with me, but maybe it wasn't meant to be that way. I need some time, and I need some space. I'll reach out when I'm ready to get my things. Take care of yourself, Regina."

Regina felt like she was an inch tall as she watched him walk away. He loved her, and she knew that. She could never be what he needed, or love him that way. She was certain she'd never love anyone the way she loved Mal, and that was her curse. To love someone, and it not be enough, there's no greater pain. Until she watched the selfless behavior of yet another beautiful soul she helped destroy. She really was villain.