Chapter 1 – When did you last let your heart decide?
So Tinkerbell let her standing alone before the closed door, what a great friend that fairy was. Regina´s heart jumped and stopped. Was this really what she wanted? Was forgetting Daniel and the idea of avenging him the right thing to do? She decided to turn away, but her heart disagreed, gave a little push and her hand opened the door.
He sat in the nearest table and she could see the tattoo as he moved his hand. And then emotion overcame her, she felt excited and curious, bold and audacious. She approached slowly and watched the empty chair before taking the chance to sit down. The man noticed her immediately. Was that a sign?
"Are you alright, milady? Would you like to sit down and have a drink?"
His voice was soft, rich and full of meaning. His smile captivating. Regina nodded and he took her hand to help her down.
"I´ve never seen you before, I´m sure I would never forget meeting a beauty like yours" he said with a light bow and sat down again. Beside her. Wow.
"My name is Gina" she offered before she could even think she was lying. Well, she certainly couldn´t just walk in and say she was the Queen. She knew that. Changing things a little bit couldn´t do much harm.
"Robin Hood, at your service, milady".
"I know your name" she smirked. "The king is not very fond of you".
"And how would you know that?" he asked, staring intently at her. And she loved having his full attention. His green eyes were a paradise lost and finally found again.
"Well, I´m the Queen" Regina said, mesmerized, and she was frozen by her own words. "The Queen´s lady in waiting, I mean".
"Of course" Robin laughed. "Our Queen wouldn´t be here sitting with me. She is married".
Regina didn´t answer. It was true, she was cheating on a husband she never loved or wished to marry. That… wasn´t such a great sin. But the stars were on her side; before he could notice her cold silence, music started. He stood and pulled her up too for a dance. His arm enclosed her waist and she placed her hand on his shoulder, she would have actually liked to place her head there and fall asleep in his arms. His smell of the forest was intoxicating, the blond of his hair was the purest she had ever seen and the green of his eyes were full of the hope she was so desperately looking for. Tinkerbell was right, her heart had been longing for this very same man. A small sigh of contentment escaped her lips, she was lucky indeed.
"You are a very shy woman, Gina. Tell me, what is troubling you so much?" he questioned, caressing softly her back where his hand was placed and twirling her around.
"I´m not troubled, I´m… enjoying the moment" she managed to say. The music stopped but he didn´t let her go.
"This is such a fine summer night. Would you like a walk?"
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For some reason, Robin was glad to see her nod. He knew she wasn´t going to concede more than a gesture. He guided her through the door, never letting her go. A black haired woman entered when they walked out. A woman called out for her. Marian. For some unknown reason, the made him look back. He didn´t know her, and she surely wasn´t a match for Regina´s beauty. The stranger sat exactly where Gina had been before. She looked back and smiled at him, but he followed his lady and didn´t linger. And he felt much more comfortable when she placed her arm across his back too.
"So, tell me, aren't you scared the Queen might get jealous of your beauty and send you away?" he asked, gently grabbing her chin to make her look his way, so their faces got really close. Was she scared of him? Or was she naturally so reserved? Robin wanted her to let him in, and he had the certainty there was a part of her Gina was shutting. He wanted to sink into her depths.
"Don´t say that" she blushed deeply, but the shadow of a smile crept to her lips. "The Queen is really the fairest of them all".
"I´m sorry, but if she wants me to hold that for the truth, I will need proof. She certainly can´t be a match for you".
He realized he was shamelessly flirting with a woman he had just met, but in no way did he feel he was doing something he shouldn´t. Gina was pulling his strings in a magical way and feeling her doing so was a delight. She was a delight. Robin expected to hear the silk of her voice again, but Gina surprised him. She launched herself into his arms and their lips met. He wrapped her closer to him and kissed her without a shadow of a doubt. In fact, he claimed her. She tasted like strawberries.
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Regina was lost in Robin´s eyes when someone walked through and pushed her forward. She didn´t mean to find his mouth or to kiss him, but he thought her intention was so and surprisingly… held her close. He wanted her. For real. She wasn´t destined to end up rotten and alone. She kissed him back and felt her heart start to beat again. Strong, tenacious. Alive.
"I´m really sorry. I didn´t mean to do that, someone pushed me" she muttered, breathless but joyful when they finally broke apart. She was absolutely flustered. He took the matter in his own hands and their lips met again. Flabbergasted, but pleased, Regina moaned and responded.
"I wish you had" he finally said, pressing his forehead against hers. "I enjoyed it".
"So did I".
"You are hiding something, Gina, but one day you will trust me enough to tell" he declared, leading her away from the tavern again. During the way back to the castle, she was contented with resting her head on his shoulder and holding his hand. He plucked a daisy from the garden and posed it in her hair. She loved the whiff of the flower´s perfume, but she liked the smell of him even more. The couple arrived and sat on a vividly colored window´s ledge. It had painted a raising sun. A new day. A new hope. A path of light and certainty, away from the doubt darkness always enclosed.
"So tell me, what has the king been saying about Robin Hood? Do you see him much?" he asked, stroking her palm with his thumb.
"Well" Regina sighed, glad to be sitting between his legs and resting against his body, so he was holding her hands over her stomach but couldn´t see her face. "He´s obviously not pleased with someone stealing from the merchants on the forest, but since your name is more a legend than anything there´s nothing he can really do. I don´t see him much, and I´m glad of it".
"Why?" he demanded, and there was deep concern in his voice. "Has he ever forced you? Harassed you?"
Technically, the answer was no. Leopold never raped her and respected her wishes to a degree. But none of the few times they had slept together during the years had been her choice or had made her feel any good. She was only glad Snow White was usually away with him too. The brat already had the sixteen years Regina owned when they met four years ago.
"No, he didn´t. I…"
I wish I could tell you more, but my silence is for the best, Regina thought. They both jumped to their feet when they heard movement between the bushes. Robin stepped in front of Regina to shield her with his body.
"I´m sorry, but I think you should go now, thief. No harm will come my way" she smiled to him. He turned and placed his hand on her neck to stroke her cheek.
"Don´t tempt me, milady, or I will steal your heart" he smirked.
"Go away" she giggled and kissed his cheek. "And come back to me soon".
"Your wish is my command".
Regina watched him walk away and his absence already ached. Robin filled something she didn't even know was so void before. He turned back twice to spare a glance at her, but kept walking. She heard the noise on the bushes again and approached.
"Who´s there?" the Queen demanded with a calmness she didn´t feel.
"It´s just me, you old crone. Who are you expecting?" Tinkerbell replied, leaving her hiding place approaching her. "So, what happened? Did you get in?" But she smiled without waiting for the answer. "Of course you did".
"It was amazing!" Regina exclaimed, hugging her tightly. "Thank you, you are the best friend I´ve ever had".
"I´m glad it worked" she hugged Regina back. "I knew it would. I was just afraid you wouldn´t take the chance".
"I´m no coward, Tink. You know me better than that" Regina happily remarked.
"It´s true, but I also knew the blinding hurt you were feeling. This is not betrayal, Regina, this is a second chance for you. One you do deserve. Don´t waste it on doubt or fear. Don't ever pull back".
"But I hate you too, I was with him until you showed up, bitch" Regina grinned, placing her hands on her hips. She didn´t reply to Tink´s words, but she made a vow to herself: she would fight for Robin, always, no matter what. And he would fight for her too, because together, there was nothing that could bring them down.
"You will see him again sooner than you think" the fairy winked and left, leaving the Queen with the stars.
.-.-.-.-.-
In the distance, Rumplestinskin was watching and he didn´t like the Queen´s new acquaintance at all. Still, he had aces under his sleeve. No one played follow the lady like him, and follow the lady he did. The imp would find Baelfire, no matter the cost.
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Thanks for reading! Please let me know what you think and more will be coming soon, I have so much in store for this story and the second chapter is nearly done. But I need to know you want to read! xxx