Author's note: Hi everybody! Okay, I am a HUGE sucker for 'happy endings' and while we have seen possiblities for Snowing, Swanthief/Swanfire and even Captain Swan, poor Regina has always seemed alone. And then we see 'Quite A common fairy' and we have hope that Regina can finally find her own happy ending!
However, with having a doormat father, a manipulative mother, and a loveless marriage, it's not surprising that young Regina was a little fearful of taking that leap of faith at the tavern where the pixie dust led her and Tinkerbell.
So, me being me, I decided to write my own version of what I think should have happened, if Regina had found the courage to enter the taven that night. I hope you enjoy it!
~..~..~..~..
Regina flung open the door of the small tavern. Gathering her courage, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her, before her fear convinced her to run.
A few of the patrons close by looked at her, curious as to why this noblewoman in her pure white dress would grace a humble place such as this.
Regina's eyes stayed focused on the man with the lion tattoo, as the glow of the pixie dust slowly faded, lost in the glow of the lanterns and firelight that lit the room.
She couldn't just walk over and introduce herself. He had no idea that the pixie dust had led her there. How do you approach a man in a bar, anyway? Besides, she wanted to see his face, first. To at least get the measure of this man who could apparently win her heart.
Thankfully, Regina spotted a table opposite his that would give her a perfect view of him. And perhaps, make it possible for him to see her in return.
Fiddling with her fingers nervously, Regina realised she was still wearing her wedding ring. That wouldn't do, she thought, removing it quickly and placing it in her pocket. She didn't want to be the queen tonight. She was not a married woman. For the first time in a while, she was determined to simply be Regina.
Lifting her head, Regina walked through the crowded bar to the small table opposite the man with the lion tattoo. As she walked, Regina had to admit that she was grateful that she rarely left the palace, for no one in the room appeared to recognise her. Or, if they did, they didn't say.
"Can I get you something to drink, Milady?" One of the serving girls asked.
'Milady?' Regina thought, thinking she may have been caught out, then realised that her dress probably cost more than the girl would earn in a year serving tables, a clear indication that she was of noble birth.
'Well, you didn't know you'd end up in a peasant's tavern,' she told herself, meeting the girl's eyes unashamedly.
"Red wine, please," Regina requested, raising her voice slightly as if she were trying to be heard over the talk of the patrons, when really she was hoping to be heard by the man at the next table.
As the serving girl left, Regina glanced over at the next table. There must have been at least ten men seated together, talking and laughing like lifelong friends. Their clothes were rather humble, and the packs at their feet suggested that they had recently arrived in the realm. Another positive, in Regina's mind, for there was the chance that the man with the lion tattoo had not yet even heard of her yet.
Her eyes fell on the man in question, and she was frustrated to find that his features were difficult to make out in the dim light.
Despite the warmth in the room, he wore a hooded cloak, and there was a bow and a quiver full of arrows at his feet.
His clothes were made of wool and leather, practical, and made for travelling.
A goblet of wine was placed before Regina, and she cautiously took a sip, wincing slightly. It definitely wasn't like the wine she had at the palace.
Looking back to the nearby table, Regina froze as the man with the lion tattoo looked up to see her.
A light beard framed a masculine jaw and strands of dark hair fell into eyes that were as grey as the sky before a storm.
Regina could feel a blush creeping onto her face and looked away, embarrassed that she had been caught staring.
'Wait,' she told herself, 'aren't you supposed to be getting his attention?'
Raising her eyes again, Regina noticed that the man was still gazing at her, even as his comrades continued to laugh and joke around him.
Slowly, the man smiled at her, raising his tankard of ale in greeting.
Smiling slightly, Regina raised her goblet, and together, they each took a sip of their drink. Cringing at the taste, a sip was all Regina took.
Placing the goblet on the table, Regina smiled to herself. She'd gotten his attention. Then fears began to fill her mind. What had he thought of her?
Looking back at the table, however, she found that the man with the lion tattoo had left.
Disappointment filled her heart as she glanced along his table, without seeing him. What had she done wrong?
Taking another sip of the horrendous wine to distract herself, Regina winced again at the taste, before pushing the goblet away.
Moments later, the serving girl placed a tankard in front of her before leaving quickly.
"Excuse me, I did not order this," Regina called after her.
"No, I did," and Regina started slightly as the man with the lion tattoo sat down opposite her, pushing his hood back to reveal his face.
"You should know," he told her with a smile, "that the mead always tastes better than the wine in places like this." He tapped her tankard gently.
"Thank you," Regina felt herself smiling back easily. "I'll be sure to remember that."
"Robin Hood," he introduced himself as he picked up his drink, his grey eyes confident and carefree.
"Regina," taking up her tankard, she clinked it against his. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Robin Hood."
The man smiled.
"The pleasure's all mine, Milady," he told her as he brought his drink to his lips.
~..~..~..~..
Robin certainly proved himself an intriguing man.
A skilled archer, he confessed straightaway his status as an outlaw in Sherwood Forest, which surprised Regina greatly. But Robin simply said that he would rather be free, happy and hunted, than to be chained to a life he didn't agree with.
Something that Regina could relate to all too well, but she wasn't about to let slip about her life just yet. She was still afraid, so she simply told him she was there for a change in atmosphere.
Regina did her best to be on guard, just in case, but still took Robin's hand when he asked her for a dance as the musicians began to play in earnest.
Little John caught his best friend's eye as he led the mysterious raven haired woman onto the floor, raising his glass. The rest of the table copied, cheering tipsily.
Regina felt another blush creeping into her face, but Robin merely winked at his friends before bowing to Regina.
"Milady," he smiled.
"Good Sir," Regina curtsied.
~..~..~..~..
Stumbling slightly as the latest dance came to an end, Regina chanced a look out the tavern window and let out a gasp.
"It's nearly dawn," she whispered in shock.
"Yes," Robin smiled, for they'd been talking, drinking and dancing almost all the night. "Time flies when you're having fun, doesn't it?"
To his surprise, Regina began backing away rapidly.
"I have to get back home before it's too late!"
Without hesitation, Robin followed the raven haired woman out the door and into the street.
"Wait, Regina!" He grasped her arm to slow her down. "Please, let me at least walk you home," he told her, wanting to spend more time with this mysterious woman, clearly of noble blood who decided to turn up at a peasant tavern. "It's not safe for you to walk the streets alone."
Regina laughed silently and was thankful that Robin was a traveller, new to this realm. For he didn't know that no one would dare accost the Queen. Still, she was touched by the concern in his voice.
"No," Regina shook her head desperately, not wanting him to know who she really was and where she lived. "No, they can't see you, no one can see you."
Robin frowned in confusion at the fear he could hear in Regina's voice.
"What do you mean?" He asked her. "Who are you talking about?"
Taking a deep breath, Regina reached into a pocket to claim her wedding ring, slipping it onto her finger.
"You're married?" Robin was shocked, bordering on offended.
"It's not a marriage," Regina spat and Robin could hear the despair in her voice. "It's a farce."
The outlaw could feel his shoulders relax slightly.
"An arranged marriage," he surmised and Regina nodded, avoiding his eyes.
"I never wanted it," Regina said slowly, her voice quiet. "I was in love with someone else. But," Regina raised her face to the sky and Robin could see tears glistening, unshed in her eyes, "my mother always believed that one's trajectory should always go up, and she thought Daniel was down."
Regina slowly raised her hand to finger the necklace she wore, which bore the simple ring that Daniel had given to her.
"Daniel gave me this," she told Robin, though she had no idea why. "We were planning on running away together. It's from the saddle of a horse, worthless to most, yet it's the most precious thing I have." Regina's face darkened. "But my husband's simpering girl-child," she continued her voice changing from wistful to loathing, "she found out about us. I asked her to keep it a secret from my mother, but that selfish little girl..." Regina took a breath, and judging from the grief-stricken look in Regina's eyes, Robin could guess what happened.
"I had to watch the man I loved be killed, right in front of me," Regina sobbed, covering her face to hide her tears.
"And now I'm practically a prisoner in my own home," Regina barely registered the fact that Robin had wrapped his arms around her, trying to comfort her. "Like a bird in a cage. A gilded cage," she admitted, "but a cage, nonetheless."
Regina raised her hand to allow the diamonds on her wedding ring to glimmer in the dim light.
"This ring is pure gold," Regina stated numbly, "and studded with the highest quality diamonds harvested from the dwarf mines. But to me, it may as well be a lead shackle."
Regina finally looked up into Robin's eyes, surprised that he hadn't run yet.
"I'm sorry, Robin," she told him taking a step back. "I shouldn't be burdening you with my life."
"It's not a burden if I choose to accept it," he held her tighter, not letting her escape.
"It's just," Regina stammered slightly. "The only times I can bare my life right now is when my husband and his daughter are gone. And tonight..." she swallowed fearfully. "I just wanted one night, just one night where I could feel free again. Where I could just be me."
She smiled at the man who held her, wanting to savour this feeling, even though she knew it couldn't last. For who was she trying to fool? She was married. And she had nothing left to offer any man. Rumplestiltskin was right: all she had left was her anger, and that wasn't nearly enough to offer any good man.
Especially this man, who pixie dust had found for her. She couldn't ruin his life. That's all she ever did to anyone.
Regina raised a hand to Robin's face hesitantly.
"Thank you for tonight, Robin," she began. "Because of you, I felt free for the first time in a long time. And I can't thank you enough for that."
Slowly, reluctantly, she pulled herself out of his warm embrace.
"But now, it's time for me to return to my cage, like a good little bird."
But Robin wasn't going to let her go so easily, especially not a woman who clearly needed help, and in moments he was before her once more, blocking her path.
Regina started slightly in shock.
"Let me pass," she told him.
"No," Robin answered simply.
Regina tried to move around him, only to be blocked once more.
"I order you to let me go!" Regina was beginning to panic now. Why was he trying to stop her?
"I've never been one for following orders," Robin told her calmly, a smile in his eyes despite the seriousness of his expression. "I am an outlaw, after all."
Regina studied the man before her, confused, and doing her best to ignore the hope building in her chest.
"Why won't you let me go?" Regina asked him slowly. "After everything I told you, most would be running for the hills, afraid that I'd ruin their lives as well."
"Well, I'm not like most," Robin answered her surely. "I'm not about to run away, and you, milady," he stressed, "have only brought me happiness this night."
"Even though I just burdened my life on you?" Regina was still puzzled.
"I told you, it's not a burden if you accept it freely," Robin reminded her as he took up her hands in his own. "Now, I may be an outlaw and a thief, milady," he told Regina, "but anyone who knows me can attest that I will always fight against injustice. And forcing a woman to marry a man she does not love," Robin placed his fingers gently under Regina's chin, meeting her gaze earnestly, "is surely the greatest injustice of them all."
Regina was speechless. Even after she had unburdened herself, this man still wanted to be with her, still wanted to take care of her, even though they had only met a few hours ago.
"Regina," Robin said quietly, "if I can find a way to free you from your marriage, would you come with me?"
A hopeful smile began to spread across Regina's face, and she didn't even register the tears trailing down her cheeks.
"Yes," she whispered.
Smiling gently, Robin carefully brought his lips to hers in a soft, sweet kiss.
~..~..~..~..
Regina closed her bedroom door behind her as quietly as she could. Walking over to her bed, she sat down on the mattress, tracing her lips absently with her fingers.
"So?" A voice called. "How did it go?"
Regina looked up to see Tinkerbell fluttering in through her window, transforming to human size to sit opposite Regina on the bed.
"Oh, Regina," Tinkerbell smiled delightedly when she saw the expression on her new friend's face. "You're positively glowing with new love!" She leaned forward eagerly. "Please, tell me what happened?"
Regina smiled.
"His name's Robin," she told her.
"Robin," the fairy tried the name herself, nodding in approval. "And?" She prompted.
"He was... charming," Regina admitted. "I was too afraid to go talk to him, but I must have been staring, because he came over to talk to me."
"That's good,' Tinkerbell said. "You two are meant to be together, it's no wonder he'd be drawn to you."
"I think it may have been the fact that I was staring, clearly a noble, who for some reason ended up in a common tavern." Regina smiled for a moment, before becoming crestfallen.
"What is it?" Tinkerbell asked, concerned.
"This is the happiest I've been since my wedding day," Regina admitted. "But seriously, how is this going to work, Tink? I'm married. To the King, of all people!"
"But you found your soul mate, Regina," Tinkerbelle reminded her. "You can have your happy ending now."
"How?" Regina asked. "Even when I told Robin about my marriage, he only became determined to free me from it-"
"Which proves that you're meant to be together," The fairy told her quickly.
"But how can he free me from a marriage to the king?" Regina asked. "I could've ruined both our lives tonight, as now, both of us may be separated from the one we love, forever."
"Regina," Tinkerbell began earnestly, "you believed in the pixie dust enough to walk into that tavern tonight. And you were so happy when you walked into this room!" The fairy took her friend's hands in both of her own. "You need to start believing that you can have your happy ending, that you can be free from your loveless marriage. Only then will it start to become a reality. And now that you and Robin have met," she added with a smile, "that reality is going to be all the more possible."
Regina shrugged a shoulder, "possible is more than what I had yesterday," she admitted.
"Exactly," Tinkerbell told her. "You will get your happy ending, Regina," Tink told her, shrinking back to fairy size, "until then, enjoy your happiness, until you see Robin again."
As Regina watched the fairy flutter out the window, Regina suddenly leapt off the bed to rush to her balcony.
"Tink?"
The fairy turned to see Regina staring up at her in the predawn light.
"Thank you," Regina said slowly.
Tinkerbell smiled at the joy that lit up Regina's eyes, making her glow with happiness. This was why she wanted to be a fairy.
"You're welcome," she replied.
~..~..~..~..
Author's note: So, what do you think?
I know Regina has done some truely horrible things in the past- including but not restricted to: casting the Dark Curse, killing her own father, poisoning Snow White because she told a secret as a child and turning poor Graham into her own personal boy-toy slave- but I believe that Regina is truly a product of the manipulation of her mother, not to mention Rumplestiltskin as well as her father, who allowed Regina to become 'The Evil Queen' and only tried to deter her when his own life was in danger.
And if The Dark One himself can have the possiblility of a happy ending with his True Love, Belle, why not Regina too? I think she deserves her happy ending just as much as any of the other characters.
I really hope Regina and Robin will meet, and I'm sure they will. I can just imagine her face when she sees the tattoo on his arm! I think Roland will have a big impact on their relationship, as Regina is at her best when she is in a true, caring, mother role. Not the 'jealous mother' role, that we see when she's trying to keep Emma away from Henry, but the true mother role, such as when she brought Henry his blanket from home when he was going to enter the Netherworld to tell Aurora how to stop Cora in 2x08.
So, to honour the hope of a happy ending for Regina, I wrote this little fic on what could have been.
I hope you liked it, and please review!
Celino.