A/N: I usually don't write fic. An endless number of memos and reports, yes. But not fic. Then this happened over the weekend. I guess I've soaked my poor brain in too much OutlawQueen ;-)
The idea came from a discussion about Regina and hugging. Or rather, how it's only Henry she ever seems to accept hugs from. Why is that? Too much intimacy? And what would a hug from someone else (in this case Robin) do to her?
This might break your heart..
I've been told to share this first attempt at fic in many years, so I hope you enjoy!
.*.*.*.
"Robin, please, just leave", she was pleading with him now.
She'd been angry.
"What the hell are you doing here? Go back to your wife!" She'd almost spat the last word.
She'd been frustrated.
"Didn't you hear what I just said? Go!"
She'd been belligerent, hiding behind the Evil Queen.
"I see the return of your wife has taken away what little intelligence you had. Now go, before I make sure you regret coming here."
And no matter what he had just said, for some reason she wasn't listening. Not really. She wasn't taking in what he was actually saying.
That he chose her.
That he wants to be with her.
That Marian saw there was no future for them anymore.
Because his heart belongs to her now.
He looked at the woman in front of him. So beautiful. So strong. Yet so broken. So very similar to when he first met her in the Enchanted Forest, well over a year ago now. Back then, having to leave Henry behind forever was the cause. Now, it was him. Or rather, her believing she wasn't good enough for him. Certainly not as good as his wife.
But his wife was his past. He'd grieved her loss and had moved on. With her. She was his future. Even Marian had seen that very quickly, despite having to deal with being in a new world, despite having trouble believing the Evil Queen was now just Regina. She had told him, not 30 minutes ago: "I can't keep you, Robin. Your heart is no longer mine, not the way it used to be. Not the way it should be. I don't understand what's between the two of you, but for you to love her as deeply as you do, there must be some good in her somewhere. So go to her. Be happy. We'll figure out the rest somehow."
And so here he was. Trying to tell her he is hers. But his beautiful Queen was being her stubborn, headstrong self and wasn't listening.
"Please, just leave," she repeated, her voice soft, with the slightest waver to it. The Evil Queen was gone, he was looking at Regina once again. And Regina's mask was slipping too. It was in that slight waver of her voice, in the pleading, sad, sad look in her eyes, her eyes that were starting to brim with tears.
She was broken, on the brink of shattering completely, and he wanted so so badly to keep all her pieces together.
So he did the only thing he could do. He took the two steps that separated them, and wrapped himself around her small frame, hugging her to him with all his might.
"I've got you, my love, I've got you" he whispered in her ear over and over again, while deep, bone-wrenching sobs shook through her.