"Just one moment!" Maleficent heard her goddaughter shout behind the door and some rustling noise. The dark fey rolled her eyes and entered the bedroom of the young queen. Aurora scurried behind the screen and tried to adjust her ruffled hair.

Maleficent noticed the open door which lead to the balcony and she let out a small huff. "He was here, wasn't he?", she asked and stepped up to Aurora. She gave her a sheepish smile. "I can't sleep without him, you know that", she admitted.

Maleficent raised her eyebrows and shook her head. "You two are impossible. You know that it's human tradition that the bride and the groom aren't allowed to see each other before the wedding? In fact you two aren't even allowed to share one bed before you are officially married", she said slightly repulsed. She surrendered to this odd relationship a long time ago. But there where things she just didn't want to know. Things you don't want to know about your goddaughter and her betrothed. Especially when her betrothed is the foolish bird who was your servant for more than sixteen years.

"I know, I know! The humans have so many silly traditions, but I am no human. At least not really. And Diaval isn't a human either, so why bother?", Aurora said with a bright smile on her face. She took off her night gown and threw it over the screen. "Don't get me wrong. I'm excited for this wedding ceremony! But the only reason why we hold the wedding at Perceforest and not in the Moors is because we want to give a moment of joy to our people after chaotic years full of war, change of leadership, rebuilding of the kingdom, peace negotiations with the Moors and peace negotiations with Ulstead. But I want to have a small wedding in the Moors too", she squealed in delight, "I'm so excited we will get married today!"

But Malefient long lost track of her ongoing babbling. Aurora looked different. It was just a small change, but she noticed it immediately. "Aurora, are you…? Your belly", she muttered and got closer to her.

Aurora looked at her surprised and put on her undergarment. "Yes I gained some weight. A little bit since we arrived in Perceforest. You know, all the pastries and plentiful food. I'm sure Diaval has gained some too", she replied amused but Maleficent didn't laugh.

The dark fey placed her hand on Auroras belly. It was almost not visible to the eye, but it was lightly swollen. "You are pregnant!", she realized.

Aurora's eyes widen in surprise as she looked down to her hand. "I… are you sure?", she asked doubtfully. Hope rose in her heart as she tried to believe the unbelievable.

For a moment Maleficent stood there in silence. Without a word she let her magic flow through Aurora's body. When their eyes met again, she nodded. "I'm certain, you are pregnant. This foolish ignorant bird got you pregnant!" She was clearly upset about it.

But Aurora beamed with joy. She flung her arms around Maleficent's neck and laughed gleefully. "That's wonderful news, godmother! Nothing to be upset about. I can't believe it!", she shouted excitedly. With a beaming smile on her lips she parted from her, but Maleficent seemed not very happy about this situation at all.

Aurora gave her a conciliatory smile. "We wanted a family. I can't believe our wish will come true! We didn't know if we could have children since Diaval isn't really human", she explained and took Maleficent's hands in her own.

Maleficent let out a small huff. "It seems he is human enough to get you pregnant. I shouldn't have allowed him to change his form at free will. I should've prune his wings", she complained and gritted her teeth.

With a small sigh the young queen looked at her protective godmother and squeezed her hands a bit. "Please, don't be angry. Diaval and I are getting married today. It shouldn't be to surprising for you that one day we would have a family", she pled. Her eyes gleaming with innocence. After all these years she knew very well how to take advantage of her innocence to get what she wanted. Not like she would ever do harm with her powers.

Maleficent looked at her silently. Thinking about what she did wrong to deserve this. "Maybe I'm not over the fact, that you chose this vain bird as your mate. And now you two will get married and start a family", she raised one eyebrow in disbelieve.

Amused the young queen looked at her. "Would you rather wanted me to marry Philip?", she asked mockingly while she tamed her hair once again.

"Oh no! Please not this dunderhead! This hopeless little prince would never be good enough for you." Maleficent shook her head judgmentally.

"Don't talk like that! Philip is my friend. But that's what I wanted to say. In your eyes, nobody is good enough for me. Don't be so harsh. You like Diaval, even if you don't want to admit it. We've had this conversation a thousand times since I told you I'm in love with him. You like him and you know he would never hurt me on purpose. He takes care of me", she stopped her brushing and looked at her godmother with a soft smile. "I love him more than anything in this world beside of you. And he loves me with all his heart. He will be a good husband and a good father. And I couldn't be happier about it."

Maleficent's icy aura melted inevitably seeing her goddaughter filled with such love and happiness. Maybe she couldn't understand what she saw in this vain bird. But all that mattered was how happy she was. And she knew how much they loved each other.

"You're right, I'm sorry", she admitted and a consenting smile appeared on her lips. "I'm happy for you. For both of you." She pulled her in her arms and hugged her tightly. "He will be good to you and to your child. He knows, I will plug every single feather on his body if he hurts you" , she muttered jokingly.

Aurora laughed and looked at her playfully indignant. "You're impossible."

Of course she was glad that Maleficent wanted to protect her. She was her fairy godmother after all. She had watched over her since she was a child and she was grateful for everything she had done for her. But she was sure of this and she couldn't wait to tell Diaval this joyful news.

It didn't take Maleficent long to dress Aurora properly for the wedding since she just had to use some magic. In the blink of an eye the queen wore a wonderful flowing wedding dress, decorated with flowers just like the crown on her head. She looked truly like the Queen of the Moors, as if she was a fairy herself.

As she stood there before Maleficent, a sad smile appeared on the face of the dark fey and she laid her hands on the arms of her goddaughter. "I can't believe how fast the years have passed by. It seems like it was yesterday since you were a little girl, wandering off that cliff like the daydreamer you still are", she said with a bemused look.

Aurora chuckled at the thought of this very day. "They were wonderful years, godmother and I have plenty of wonderful years lying before me."

Maleficent gave her a slight nod, her hands still lingering on Aurora's arms. She looked at her like the most precious creature in the world. Her wings embraced them like a protecting wall of feathers.

"We don't want to keep your vain little bird waiting any longer, do we? As I know him, he's a nervous wreck by now. I bet he preened himself till his feathers shone like a mirror and then he started all over", she bantered with a toothy grin.

Aurora shook her head but couldn't hide her smirk. "I'm afraid you're right." She laughed and looked at her thoughtfully. "Are you ready to give me away?" Concern resonated in her voice, but Maleficent gave her a loving smile.

"I'm not sure. I prepared myself for this since he asked you. I'm afraid I don't have any days left", she inhaled deeply and let out an audible puff. "Come on now. I will bring you to your future husband."