A/N: Hi! So I love DQ. Their chemistry is *heart eyes*. I usually write mostly SQ stuff or Dragon Swan Queen stuff but I've never written Regina and Maleficent romantically before so... I wanted to give Regina / Maleficent a try as a pairing. I really hope I portrayed their unique relationship well. Also I've changed a few things. Cora isn't cold and manipulative in this story. Regina loves her and she loved Regina. All in all this story is 100% AU. It's slightly a 'beauty and the beast' type story. It's not really a slow burn, maybe it's a... idk... 'slowish' burn lol. so yeah.

I don't own OUAT or Regina and Maleficent. All mistakes are mine. I hope you enjoy. :)

What A Heart Can Endure

Chapter 1

He was supposed to be going to another village to visit a friend of his. He did this at least twice a month. Leaving his only daughter for the day but he was always sure to return before night fall. Him being gone for even a complete day unnerved Regina. At this point he had been gone for three days and three nights and she refused to let there be a fourth. She worried that he was hurt somewhere and couldn't get help. Her heart ached everytime she thought of him out in the frigid air alone. Scared, hungry and injured. She choked back a sob at an image of him… dying alone, buried under a pile of snow. Tired of waiting around she made up her mind to go find him. She couldn't lose him. He was all she had since the passing of her mother a few months ago. If she lost her father she would be alone and that scared her. It wasn't the being alone part that frightened her because she could easily care for herself. No, it was the being without him part. Her father was her everything and if she lost him she would lose part of herself.

She threw her cloak on and ventured out into the fresh snow heading towards the stables. Pushing the door open she walked over to her horse with purpose. Stopping in front of him she stared at him. He stared back. He was the only one she had to talk to now. Even though he couldn't respond verbally she knew he would always listen. They shared a strong bond.

"Daddy hasn't come home yet." She whispered softly as she stroked his snout. He lifted his ears, listening intently. "That's not like Daddy. He always comes home. I'm afraid he's hurt or… or worse." She pushed back a sob. "I need you to help me find him so we can bring him home." The horse whinnied softly. "Good boy."

She walked him out of the stables. She tightened her cloak around herself and pulled her hood up. She mounted him and took a deep breath then released it slowly. "Okay." she said softly. The horse took off into the forest. His hooves hitting the ground heavily as he carried his traveling companion through the cold, snowy forest beginning their quest. They ran in the direction of the other village to check there first.

After what felt like a few hours Regina looked up at the sky and sighed warily. The sun was beginning to set. The sky turning to a burnt orange. She should have started this journey much earlier. It was getting dark and this forest was the last place you wanted to be after nightfall. Dangerous creatures lurking in the shadows and bandits everywhere. She slowed Rocinante to a trot and took in her surroundings. It seemed pretty safe where they were. There wasn't much of any kind of animal. She didn't even hear any birds chirping. It seemed deserted. She wasn't sure whether to find relief in that or to panic. Deciding it best not to linger she hurried her horse along. They rode faster and faster. The sun eventually lowered being replaced by the moon which stood high and proud in the sky. She lit the tiny lantern she brought out with her, using it to illuminate her surroundings and that's when she realized… that huge rock, this heart shaped rock with the reddish moss. She had seen this before. She felt the panic stronger than ever. They've been wandering around in circles all this time. Regina wasn't quite sure how they got so turned around since she's traveled to the neighboring village before so it was nothing new. She chalked it up to being exhausted and lack of sleep worrying about her father for three nights straight.

She wanted to scream when the flurries began to fall.

They were very lost, at night in the middle of the forest and it was snowing. Snowing. As the frigid air whipped around Regina. She pulled her cloak tighter. She looked back and couldn't see anything indicating where they got turned around. She couldn't fight off the panic this time. It was consuming her, holding her down and she felt like she was suffocating.

Her horse could sense this and started pacing, trying to get their bearings. He eventually stopped and tried to take everything in, trying to figure out where they were. He felt his owner shivering on his back as the flurries landed on their heads. He worried for her. He whinned softly trying to comfort her. After a few moments he felt her pat his neck softly.

Regina began looking around for somewhere the two of them could huddle under at least until it stopped. That's when she saw it. A huge, dark castle off in the distance. Standing tall under the glow of the moon. She knew that they wouldn't let her in but maybe the guards could at least point her in the right direction so that she could get home and start over in the morning.

They headed in that direction, trekking over the snow that seemed to start piling up rather quickly. When they made it to the gate she waited impatiently for someone to approach. When no one did she dismounted the horse and walked over to it and called in. No answer. She gently pushed the gate and was pleased when it opened. She grabbed the horse's reins and pulled him in. They walked around for a few minutes, shivering as the cold winds picked up. Eventually they found a stable. There were no other horses in there which was strange. What kind of royalty didn't own horses? Maybe they keep them somewhere else, she thought to herself. She wouldn't be surprised if they kept them somewhere inside the castle itself. She never understood these royals anyway.

Leaving Rocinante with a promise to return she headed back to the castle.

He tried to protest. He neighed, whinnied, huffed and grunted but none of it worked. She was determined to get them to safety and he couldn't stop her. He had no choice but to watch her leave him. He feared for her going off by herself but there was nothing he could do about it but wait patiently and hope she returned soon.

She knocked on the tall doors. No answer. She struggled for a few moments but managed to push them open slightly. She slipped through the tiny crack and shivered when she was suddenly hit with the draft from inside. It wasn't any better than outside. The only difference was that it was dry. "Hello?" she called. Still no answer. She stepped in further, pulled the hood off of her head and took in her surroundings. The castle was dark, decorated in mostly black everything. She noticed this when she drifted though the halls calling out. Looking for a sign of life but so far found nothing, Her heart sank. The castle appeared to be abandoned so that meant there was no one around to help her. At least she could stay here to ride out what appeared to be a blizzard but this made another night that her father was out there alone. In the cold. Probably sick. She fought back more tears thinking of him lying on the ground in this weather. Suffering.

She came to the end of the hall and was met with a dark, stone staircase.

Now, everything in her screamed for her not to go down there but her curiosity got the better of her.

Cautiously coming down the stone steps she noticed that the stairwell was illuminated by rather large lanterns. She felt a chilling draft that sent a shiver down her spine and she immediately regretted even going down there in the first place. Upon reaching the bottom she was presented with another hallway. She walked down it observing the bare stone walls. A little further down the hall she noticed a room behind iron bars and when she continued walking she found more. She gasped when she realized that she was in the dungeons. She started to turn around and run back upstairs but a voice stopped her.

"Excuse me, may I please have some water?" she heard a shaky voice ask.

Her eyes widened and her jaw dropped before running to the cell all the way in the back. She gasped when she saw the fragile looking old man. "Daddy." She whispered.

His eyes shot to hers. A look of relief washed over him. He ran to the bars and stuck a hand out and when she stepped closer, pressing her cheek to his icy palm he started stroking it with his thumb. "My baby." He whispered. Then his eyes widened and his look of love was replaced by one of panic. "No! you have to get out of here, Regina." He said.

She shook her head. "No I'm not leaving you." She looked around. "How the hell did this happen?"

He shook his head and set his jaw, "I came here looking for a place to stay when the snow started a few days ago, I came in hoping to warm up by the fireplace and this… this witch…" he trailed off. "Regina, you have to go. I will not let you suffer the same fate as I."

"But Daddy…" she started. Tears forming,

"Go!" he said firmly.

She nodded, tears flowing at this point. Her fears of being alone coming true. She turned to leave. A dark shadow of a woman on a far off wall stopped her.

"Too late." A female voice said followed by a dark chuckle.

"Who… Who's there?" Regina demanded, she felt the tiny hairs stand on the back of her neck. "Are you the one holding my father captive?"

"Indeed, I am." The voice replied. "That old fool broke into my home and now he is my prisoner."

"Why?" Regina shouted. "What has he done to you? He's just a gentle old man."

"I told you..."

"Yes. He was only looking for a place to stay. He didn't harm you. You have no right!"

There was that sinister cackle again. "Well, my dear, when you have all the power you do not really need to have a reason to do things."

"Regina…" Her father pleaded.

She ignored him. "Release him!" She screamed.

"No." The voice replied.

"Why not?"

"Because I don't want to." The disembodied voice sing-songed.

"That's cruel. He's not well. He cannot be down here in this damp, cold dungeon."

"Aren't you a pretty little thing." The voice purred, completely ignoring Regina's statement about her father's health. "Henry, why didn't you tell me your daughter was so... alluring?"

"Just let her go." The man pleaded.

"How about we make a deal?" The witch suggested.

"No. I'm not trading my precious child for my own freedom."

"Oh shut up, you old fool. I was speaking to the young lady."

"I have no interest in making a deal with a witch!" Regina snapped.

"Fine then he dies." Just like that Henry was being lifted from the ground by an invisible force and he grabbed at his throat as if he was being choked.

Regina gasped as her eyes widened in horror. "No. Stop!"

"So, are you interested now?"

"Yes." Regina said without hesitation. Her father was dropped to the ground.

"No." she heard him cry behind her.

"Silence, old man." The voice snapped before softening as it addressed Regina. "It's been so long since I've had something pretty to look at… stay here with me and I will release him."

Regina hesitated a moment. Fear crept over her when she thought of the torture the witch was going to put her through. She's heard such terrible tales of witches and the things they do to innocent, young women. They like their women pure. No one's actually sure why because they usually torture them and when they're done with them they kill them. Sometimes they even eat them. A chill ran over Regina at that thought. The thought that her young life could be ended in such an horrific way. But her father's fate would have been much worse. She couldn't dare let him die in there like that. She had to do what was Right.

She swallowed the fear when she thought of the mental and emotional torture she would go through if she ran off like a coward and left her father to suffer. She took in a shaky breath. "Okay."

"Oh. Does that mean it's a deal?"

"Yes."

"No!" her father cried reaching for her. She took his hand in hers.

"Daddy, I couldn't... I can't…"

He turned his attention back to the shadow. "Please don't do this, I beg of you." He pleaded.

The voiced cackled again. "Fool! The deal is already done."

And just like that Henry was engulfed in a cloud of black smoke and when it cleared he was gone.

Regina just stood there. Her heart breaking. How could she have been so stupid? Trusting a witch. "What have you done to him?!" She screamed.

"Oh relax child." The voice replied. "He's safe and sound in your home… well, his home. This is your home now."

"How do I know that you aren't lying?"

"Well, then, my raven haired beauty, I guess you would just have to trust me." Was the reply. Regina fell silent. The door creaked opened to the cell. "In you go, beautiful."

"You're making me go in there?" Regina asked eyeing the cell.

"Well, you are a prisoner after all." The voice reasoned. Regina sighed. A tear ran down her cheek as she thought of how her freedom was taken from her in a matter of minutes. She will never see her father again or her apple tree. She'll probably never get to ride Rocinante again. This witch took everything from her. "Girl!" the voice snapped. "Get in there right now, it's not that hard for me to go kill your father and bring his head to you as a gift. Now do as I say." Regina wiped the last few tears that she'll ever shed as a free woman and stepped into the cell. The door slammed behind her. "I'll have some food brought to you but for now just be a good girl and sit quietly."

Regina didn't respond, she didn't sit, she didn't do anything and when she sensed that the witch was gone and no longer sensed her presence the dam finally broke. She fell to her knees, clutching at her stomach. She cried for the spring that she may not live to see. Her father who will live out the rest of his days alone, up at night worrying about her, never finding peace in knowing what ever became of his only daughter. She cried for trips into the forest she will no longer take on the back of her horse. She cried for the rest of her days she may live out in this cell. She cried and cried until she didn't have a single tear left in her body and all she could do was curl up in a ball and whimper as she longed for her mother to come and comfort her. To hold her and pet her hair like she used to when she felt lost. She imagine her mother's voice singing the lullaby she used to always sing to her as she drifted into a hopeless sleep.

Maleficent watched the younger woman through the crystal ball on her staff. Her heart clenched as quiet sobs shook the girl's body. She knew that she shouldn't have been watching but she couldn't help it. She had to see her again. She couldn't stop thinking about her and she knew that she would never be able to. When she first saw the young woman she knew she had to have her. Even if that meant keeping her as a trophy.

The sobs were beginning to calm and the girl's breathing was slowing as she ran out of tears. Even if Maleficent felt guilty about imprisoning her she couldn't do anything about it. What's done is done. She admired the girl's heart though. She was feisty and at least she had the decency to wait until she was alone to cry. She showed bravery to protect her weak father.

Mal growled when she thought of the sniveling coward. Begging for his life then he let his daughter sacrifice herself for him. If anything she was doing the girl a service taking her from him. At least Maleficent could protect her.

She continued to watch the woman sleep. Admiring her dark hair and olive skin. She truly was a work of art especially those dark eyes that turned to flames when she was angry. She was one of the most beautiful creatures the sorceress had ever seen and that's truly saying something given the centuries she's lived and the places she has seen. She found herself entranced by this woman's beauty. That's why she had to have her and she intended to keep her.

The woman may be depressed and feeling nothing but anguish but she'll be okay. If she's not better in a few days then Mal will make her a potion to take away the pain. Then she could begin healing her. She suddenly found herself wondering what the woman's smile looked like and needing to see it. At that she severed the connection. She couldn't form an attachment to this girl. She's a prisoner and a toy. Nothing more. She's here for her enjoyment and that's all. She kept repeating that to herself as she stared at her own reflection in the ball.

Maleficent's icy blue eyes stared back at her. The pain was still there. The pain that she barely survived all of those decades ago. It's truly amazing what a heart can endure. She liked to think the pain and trauma she survived made her stronger but instead it just made her cold. She survived, yes and with minimal scaring on her heart. Just the pain and sorrow in her eyes linger. That's why she's sure the young girl will be okay. She'll never recover but she'll survive it.

Maleficent got up from the throne and started heading across the large room to her library in search of a book with potions. She hoped to find one to cure heartbreak to help the girl get over her pain… so she'd be more fun. Maybe even want to be touched. Well, that's what she kept telling herself. Knowing it was a lie. Knowing deep down that she wanted the girl to be comfortable and that's why she was looking up ways to ease her emotional pain.

Quite frankly that girl is far too beautiful to be crying.

"Well, I decided to bring you your food myself." Maleficent said from within the shadows of the dungeon. "I wanted to make sure you ate. Can't have you starving to death on my watch."

Regina had woken up a few minutes prior so she had already gathered her wits and was as snappy as ever. "How kind of you." She drawled sarcastically.

Maleficent gave a disapproving click of her tongue. "Now, is that any way to treat your hostess?"

"That's how I treat my captor." Regina deadpanned.

Maleficent hummed in agreement. "That's fair." After a long pause she asked, "What's your name?"

"Why? So you'll know what to put on my tomb stone when you viciously murder me?"

That received a cackle that caused the young woman to flinch. "Oh child, if I wanted to kill you I wouldn't even bother putting a name on your grave."

"Then why does it even matter?"

"Because... silly girl, I want to know what to call you. That's all, it's that simple." The witch answered simply. "Now behave and just answer my question."

Regina hesitated. She didn't owe her anything but she relented, tired of fighting and wanting the woman to just leave her alone. "Regina." She said eventually.

"Regina." The woman repeated back. "It means 'Queen'." She added. "It does fit you. It's almost as beautiful as you are."

"Ah, flattery." Regina said bitterly. "That wont get you anywhere with me, witch."

"Are you always so feisty?" the older woman asked, amusement apparent in her voice.

"Nope, only when people kidnap me."

"My, aren't you sharp."

"Did you want something?" Regina asked with an eyeroll to end all eyerolls.

"What's the rush?" Maleficent asked. "We have time… since you're going to be here for… well… forever."

"If you don't kill me and eat me…"

"You are truly adorable." The older woman said, followed by a low chuckle. "I mean, I do want to devour you but not quite in the way you think."

The woman's words sent a chill down Regina's spine. She wasn't quite sure what she meant and that worried her. "I just want to live out my sentence in peace."

"Am I really disturbing you that much?"

"Yes."

"How? You're the one getting all worked up. I'm just trying to have a civil conversation with you and you're acting as though I physically hurt you."

"You imprisoned me and have me sleeping in a dungeon on the cold ground… right, you're a real saint."

"I intend to move you to somewhere more comfortable but I don't trust you. If and when I trust you then and only then will I move you. I can't have you running off, now can I?"

"I always keep my word."

"So you say."

"Fine, I wish to be alone. Can you at least give me that?"

"Yes." Was the response. Regina could've sworn that she heard sadness in the woman's voice. "Turn around. You'll find your food. Please eat. Have a lovely night, Regina." Then just like that the presence was gone.

Regina was beyond tired of the witch. She hadn't even seen her and she was sure she didn't even want to. She was almost sure she had grayish skin and a long pointy nose with a huge bump on the end of it with long straggly, gray hair. She was definitely not much to look at. That's obviously why she kept hiding in the shadows.

She looked over at the tray with the food that she didn't even want to eat. It was quite possibly poisoned. But would that be so bad? The food would kill her and her imprisonment would be over. No more mourning the loss of her freedom or worrying for her father. Death was a peace that she would welcome with open arms at this point.

"Good morning." A voice said startling Regina from her sleep. She sat up with a pained groan. Sleeping on a cold, stone floor causing her muscles and joints to cry.

"Oh joy, you're back." She drawled rubbing her eyes.

"Did you miss me?"

"I can't say that I did."

"But I'm your only company. Surely you aren't rude enough to be impolite to a guest now are you, my pet?"

"Don't call me that!" Regina growled. "I'm not some animal that you can keep locked up in a cage. I want out of this cell, right now!"

"Do you think you deserve that? To be let out?" the voice asked, and Regina could sense the amusement in the tone and it made her anger increase. "Such privileges should be earned."

"So, I'm stuck in here until, what…?" Regina asked with a dismissive shrug. "...I finish my peas?"

"Well… my dear. That's a start. Although I couldn't help but notice that you've barely even touched your food. Don't starve yourself. You're no use to me dead."

"What use am I to you alive?" Regina asked feeling the fear return. What the hell did she want from her?

"I can think of a few things… but don't fret, Dear. They're all very pleasant."

"I'm never going to be nice to you."

The cackle that came from the shadows made Regina's blood run cold. "Oh, my dear, it doesn't matter if you're nice to me or not. You are my prisoner and you do as I say. If I were you I wouldn't upset me too much. Your father is still in danger."

"Is that a threat?"

"Indeed it is. It's also a promise. I may appear to be calm now but when I get upset... I become quite.. let's say scary. Not many people have survived my wrath. I have a bit of a temper."

"As I said before, I'm not afraid of you."

"Oh but you should be." The voice said with a hint of amusement.

"Why's that?"

"Keep being a rude little girl and you'll find out."

"I'm not a child."

"Oh really? Because your behavior says otherwise."

Regina huffed, crossing her arms defiantly. "If you'll just leave me be."

"Why would I do that when you're so lovely to look at?"

Regina growled.

"Indeed." The voice echoed again. "Anyway, I'll be on my way. I have business in which I need to take care of."

"Good riddance." Regina muttered.

A soft laugh sounded through the dungeon. "Oh dear, aren't you a gem. Do try to have a lovely day."

"Yep, locked up... I'll try."

"Well if you would just behave you would already be out." Then just like that the voice and the presence was gone and Regina was left alone again.

Regina hugged herself tighter as she paced the cold, dark cell. Off in the corner there was a chain with cuffs. Obviously used to restrain. She wondered how many people died in here. In this dungeon, in this cell. The thought frightened her. She realized that she might be the next. The sound of the dripping water was driving her nuts and she wanted to scream. She was sick of being confined and treated like an animal. She hated that her captor would come to her and try to engage her in conversation. She was tired of the threats and the patronizing. If she was going to be imprisoned she would prefer to be left alone to carry out her sentence in peace but that evil witch wouldn't allow that. She preferred to antagonize her and make her even more miserable.

She tried to envision what her captor probably looked like. She imagined a short old woman with a hunched over back, stringy hair, beaty eyes and a long crooked nose with a huge wart on it. Something like the witches in the stories her mother used to tell her when she was smaller. The thought of a gray skinned witch watching her made her skin crawl and her stomach churn. She didn't want that thing anywhere near her. It's bad enough she had to speak with her.

She looked up at the stone ceiling and grimaced at the filthy water dripping down. She shivered as a cold draft whipped passed her. She slowly slumped to the ground. Pulling her knees up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them and resting her chin on her knees. She was hungry, tired, cold and wanted to go home. She hated her fate but she would do it again. She would do anything to protect her father. She's always looked out for him and kept him safe. She took comfort in the fact that the last time she saw him she was doing just that. She wondered if he was missing her as much as she was missing him. Her heart clenched at the thought of her father mourning her. She couldn't imagine what he was going through but she hoped he wasn't hurting as much as she was. She hoped he would just get on with his life and not worry himself to death but she knew that was impossible for him. They were close. They were everything to each other. A tear escaped and she quickly wiped it away.

She wasn't going to cry. Not again. She was going to live out the rest of her lonely days with her head held high. She wasn't going to let this monster get the best of her. She rested her forehead against her knees and with a heavy sigh she closed her eyes. She tried to fall asleep but her stomach growling was making it difficult. She refused to eat as long as she was trapped here. She didn't want to prolong her days. She sighed trying to succumb to sleep in hopes she will never awaken.

Hi again. I hope you liked it. I hope to explore Maleficent's backstory a little more in the upcoming chapters. Maleficent is such a wonderful character and I enjoy writing her. I wish they would make her a regular on the show. She's complete perfection.

Also I like the fact that Maleficent hides in the shadows it makes her mysterious to our young Regina. She will reveal herself soon though. I've never written young Regina before so that's a new experience for me. I hate that she's heartbroken like this as well but she's tough.

Oh yeah and I gave Rocinante a personality. I hope that's not too weird.

But yeah as always Reviews are GREATLY appreciated. Since I'm kinda new at writing this pairing it will help a lot. I would like to reiterate that this is a 100% Dragon Queen story. One more heads up... The rating might go up in later chapters. Thanks for Reading! See ya at the next update. :)