This is a I finally finished all my essays and that episode killed me fic. Also I should be working on my secret Santa gifts. Sorry my darlings- I will get to them.
Regina seeing Robin again because we all need it
Unbeta'd. Disclaimer: None of the characters belong to me but to A&E and ABC
I know you
The gleam in your eyes
Is so familiar a gleam
- Once Upon a Dream (Lana Del Ray version for full affect)
Enjoy
It wasn't real. The frankly obnoxious statue, the meek naïve cowardly princess, the Dark One a bit too eager to help, the Royals- still sickeningly sweet but aged more than they should have. Her entrance, still as commanding as ever- lacked that something more. It was so obvious to her that it wasn't real, that it was just a figment of imagination. A wish granted by someone who had spent their life alone. She'd been frustrated with Emma- the woman who had fought her whole life, and in this new reality picked flowers and sang. It just seemed wrong. Nothing quite fit.
Now, now though she understood. It didn't matter that it wasn't real or that things didn't quite make sense. It didn't matter that there was something at the back of your mind that told you to fight. To walk away. To return home. It didn't matter that it wasn't real- it mattered that it felt real, in that moment. It felt like something. It mattered that all the pain, all the anger, the disappointment. None of that was real. In this reality it didn't matter that you couldn't fight. It just mattered that you didn't have to.
She understood because here he was. The thief. The thief that had, stolen her heart was standing just meters away. He didn't recognise her. At least not as Regina. There was something there though, there always was. A longing, a desire, in those eyes. Eyes that she was just meant to gaze into. It wasn't real. He was dead. Obliterated in front of her. She knew she should listen to Emma. To return home. She couldn't though. She couldn't just leave him. Not after she'd found him again. She just wanted a chance. A chance to say hello. A chance for their story to play out. If only in her dreams.
/
Robin had come to the lake with the intention of stealing from the White Princess. He didn't hate The Charming's, as royals go they were honourable, kind and righteous- qualities he would admire in anyone. A thief, an outlaw must feed their family somehow- and after all these years this was the only way he knew how.
He wasn't expecting to see The Queen. Although he always knew that was a moniker, a label meant to degrade her, a name to inspire fear, a way in which she could get her way. The name, however much it had been a mask, had served her well
There was something different though, this woman's eyes told a story he doubted many knew. A story of love, loss, pain and desire. There was something else too…hope.
He felt something else too… like he had been the cause of the emotions. "Have we met before?"
/
She wanted to cry. Or scream. Or throw a fireball at whichever almighty God thought this was funny. Fate it seemed was a fickle bastard. It always had been.
"I doubt I would ever forget meeting you" she replied, a ghost of a smile creeping onto her face.
That line. He'd heard that line before. He couldn't remember where though. This woman was an enigma. One which he hoped to uncover.
He didn't remember her. Of course he didn't she already knew that. Why would he know her, this wasn't real. In this world she was nothing more than an evil witch, banished to some dark dreary corner of the kingdom. She'd clung onto hope. Hope never got her anywhere. She'd seen him. Looked into his eyes. She knows now that in some other world he's happy, he's alive. She can go now. Except she can't. The portal, she realises, is closed. She can see if this works, See if dreams really can come true.
/
He was here to rob them yet here he was staring into the Evil Queen's eyes. Falling for her. She was beautiful, that much was undeniable but love, love had cost him too much already. He had a son to care for. He couldn't hurt him.
"I'm here to rob you" Seriously Robin you've been doing this for how long and that's the best you can come up with. "Hand me your jewellery. "
/
"I'm here to rob you" Oh for such a renowned thief he lacked a certain subtlety, and that was saying something coming from a bold and audacious Queen.
She was bought out of her revere by the whoosh of an arrow, skimming past her hair. It was almost too much. Almost.
/
"Give me your jewellery. I don't want to do that again- these arrows never miss their target"
/
Wordlessly Regina and Emma handed over their jewellery- anything of value. Regina looked at Emma, expressing her apologies for letting their ride home disappear and her thanks for giving her time.
She placed the jewel he had given her in Camelot before they'd danced, as Regina and Robin, lovers in his hand with a silent promise. A reminder of something he didn't know he'd lost. She supposed he couldn't lose something he had never found.
/
The necklace was more than just an expensive piece of jewellery, it meant something else- it had sentimental value. He couldn't take this. Not knowing how much it meant.
"Milady, I can't take this. I may be a thief but I have tried to live by a code my entire life: steal from the rich and give to the poor, be truthful, righteous and good."
She closed the distance between them and placed a handprint on his heart.
"Robin of Locksley. You are a man of honour, you will always fight for what is right. Your honesty is endearing. Your love is endless. No matter what way your story ends know this- you have re written my story by being a friend, a lover, a father. This is your life, your story- never apologise for what the fates will bring. One last thing- you can't steal something that has been given to you- I would have thought a thief would know that"
This woman was speaking from the heart. A heart that had been stabbed, crushed, played to the beat, but despite it all gives more love than many could only dream of. Two hands to hold, two legs to walk, two lungs to breathe, two eyes to see, two ears. One heart to share. He had a feeling once upon a time he had the fortune of sharing this woman's heart.
He had to know so without really thinking he leant in, tucking the strand of hair behind her ear. He'd done that before. He kissed her; it was a ghost of a touch, their lips barely grazing. It was a simple gesture that offered more. More than either of them could comprehend
"Regina"
Thank you for reading. Who hates me? Let me know ;)
