Diaval's POV

As the night rolled on morning appeared out of the clouds, glistening through the small gaps in the nest both Mistress as I were in.

When I opened my eyes a few times I had noticed she was laying beside me...I got a bit flustered but decided to stay where I was so I wouldn't stir her.

For a moment, even if just for a moment...

I adored her beauty as she breathed softly in my face.

The small honey-colored sunbeams scattered across her face as well as my own.

Birds chirped outside as the rushing water of a nearby stream was heard from my ears.

As much as I wanted to freeze this moment...I knew all moments had to come to an end...eventually.

I knew after she'd wake up I'd have to keep from staring at her too often in which I often did when she was fast asleep.

And having the thought of being able to watch over her (knowing as long as I was by her that she could rest peaceful) as she slept gave me a strength, a type of reassurance that I could protect her in my own way.

Without warning her eyes fluttered open.

Dang it. She caught me off guard.

My hand immediately went to my face to bury away my expression.

But even though I was blushing like a sheep, I couldn't look away from her.

Her golden eyes were practically sparkling.

"Diaval." Her sweet-soft voice called to me.

I honestly didn't know what she was going to say, so I stayed quiet.

Her hand was placed on the side of my face as her face neared me.

This couldn't be real...as much as I've wished for such a thing, I didn't deserve it...it must've been her fever.

Her fever, that was it. I'm sure of it...it had to be.

But I knew better, it wasn't her fever alone but I was too afraid to face her and my hand acted on its own, my fear...acted on its own.

I stopped her even though I didn't wish for this side of her to cease.

"You must rest and lie down, you're still a little warm. And...you wouldn't want to do anything...you'll regret while still being ill."

Maleficent's POV

'Anything I'll regret?'

His words were hardly tolerable.

What jokes was he trying to pull? When I'm being completely sincere about this.

"You're making fun of me."

"It would be too daring to act upon. I do not wish to ever tease you." His face turned from me as he sat up.

I was beginning to feel frustrated and dispirited by him.

"Look at me." He did not turn my way, let alone heed my words.

Was this only what I wanted? Why was he being so troublesome?

Why was he making me feel so bent out of shape right now.

"Diaval." I warned, grabbing the edge of his dark shirt in my hand for him to look at me.

And I didn't let go, wishing he'd turn my way.

To acknowledge me. To see the desperate need of an answer from him. To why he went so far to reach my heart...to why he stopped here, why?

His face turned toward me as I began to sit up. But his eyes stayed clear of mine.

His gaze fixed on the fabric of the sheet on his lap, in which covered us both.

"I'm being honorably sincere about this. I..." I was losing my words from how distraught I was, from his previous 'anything I'll regret' statement.

My heart throbbed within my chest. So frustrated toward both him and myself.

I wanted nothing more than for him to accept such a warmth as to what I wanted to share with him.

A warmth I had nearly forgotten. A warmth my heart ached for.

A warmth only he could give me...but if he was unwilling...what was the point in pursuing the matter any further.

"Diaval..." I will not beg.

A heavy silence washed over me. I did not wish to speak further if he had no intention of taking part in the conversation.

What was the point.

If he thought I was giving up my pride for him any further he was wrong.

I wasn't sacrificing anymore of my pride.

And to add on, I was becoming weak again.

"If you do not care for such a matter...I'll leave you alone." I turned my eyes from him, loosening my hold on his dark shirt.

Unbearable the thought was, for him to agree to such a comment. One that I even regretted saying myself.

"Mistress." He seemed unsettled by my spoken thought.

Why speak now.

"Your silence has already spoken volumes." I stood up, ready to escape his presence.

But...unfortunately, his next words stopped me. I had no reason to run.

"I did not wish for you to mislead my words as denial to your touch. I just-...I'm just unworthy of such a thing. I could never amount to being able to be worthy of such a wonderful-"

I held out my hand to signal for him to stop as I sat back down on the edge of the nest-like bed.

I immediately covered my face with my other hand.

Lowering my held-up hand back to my side...I finally spoke after several seconds of silence.

"You fool." I muttered as my heart skipped a beat.

I was so glad he wasn't denying me.

But still, he was irritating.

Still he annoyed me.

But I loved him.

And if he thought he was either worthy or unworthy didn't matter to me... he was beyond both.

Diaval's POV

I was sure Mistress would have seen such a comment as mine as...well...pointless and would have disregarded my comment.

Most likely she would have went about her business afterward, either in sleeping or getting up from where we both sat.

Instead she had been immensely hurt by my ignorance.

She assumed I had attempted to make joke of her.

She thought I did not wish to have the same affections as she was trying to show me...

I knew it must've been a sacrifice for her to make such a bold step toward me.

She had put her pride on the line, the very thing that kept her from getting hurt all this time...and she was letting it down in front of me.

She was trusting me and I had thrown it away like it was nothing but a worthless coin.

What was I doing....I was a fool just like she said.

I was an idiot to think I didn't deserve her.

In a way, of course I didn't...but in another, I very much was.

After that realization...it was as if something clicked in my heart and my body moved on its own.

"Mistress...forgive me. I wanted to kiss you."

She looked up at me surprised as I embraced her.

"Kiss me?"

"Didn't you?..." What else could it have been that Mistress wanted?

She blushed tremendously and as red as a cherry.

She averted her eyes from me, biting her lip.

I came closer without notice and before I knew it, I had kissed her.

Her lips brushing against mine, delicate and soft.

I was glad...she didn't back away like I had.

I was...

The kiss between us...

Was the warmest I had ever felt in my entire life.

And I knew for sure...I never wanted to let her go.

And I didn't want anymore miscommunications between us.

Maleficent's POV

I was kissed by the one and only Diaval and abruptly no less.

Fortunately for him I didn't mind as much as I thought I would.

His kiss was true...almost as if it were a 'true loves kiss'.

His hands went to either side of my face as our eyes closed simultaneously.

When my eyes fluttered open again we had parted ways.

His hand still lingering on my cheek, I couldn't help but lean into his hand and kiss it.

Tears ran down my face, mirroring my overflowing heart.

"Please, keep your eyes closed for a little while." I requested as he did not refuse.

Instead, his hand soothed my back with gentle rubs.

He closed the space between us to comfort me.

It wasn't like I was sad...just overwhelmingly joyous to have finally met my happiness, besides having Aurora as my daughter.