Robin Hood sat by himself in front of a fire, poking it absently with a stick. He was absolutely miserable. Regina had trusted him to keep her heart safe and out of harm's way, yet Zelena had gotten it all the same. He'd never felt such guilt as this; it was like it was eating him alive! He'd stolen countless bags of gold and treasure from people in the Enchanted Forest, but even including all his years as a thief, this was probably the most despicable he'd ever considered himself. He stabbed the embers again, raising sparks that flew up and disappeared into the night sky. Regina must hate him. She had every right to.
Hearing a rustle of leaves coming down the path towards him, he glanced up, expecting to see one of his Merry Men returning from a trip to town. Instead, it was Regina. He stood and dropped his stick as she stopped on the other side of the fire.
"My lady." He couldn't keep the surprise from his voice as he greeted her. Making an immediate decision, he circled the fire to face her, saying as he went, "I'm sorry. I let you down. Your heart was lost to Zelena on my watch, but I promise you. I will get it back." He infused all the conviction into his tone as he could, trying to convey the full amount of his determination. There was no way that witch would keep her heart for long. Despite what he had just said about how he'd let her down, Regina didn't seem disappointed at all. She looked breathless, slightly vulnerable, and…rather like she had something to say, now that Robin thought about it. Great, just something else to add to the list of reasons for her to hate him; he'd gone on a tangent himself without even letting her speak. Damn it!
Before Robin could apologize and ask her what it was she wanted to tell him, though, Regina's face morphed to a determined mask, and she reached forward to grab his collar and pulled his lips to hers. Shock and pleasure mingled as she kissed him, and Robin wasn't sure which one took precedence. After a few long moments, he pulled back and though she followed him for a second, Regina let him break away, letting go of his coat. His mouth hung slightly open, and so did hers. Robin had no clue what his face looked like, but Regina's was a blend of vulnerability, exhilaration, and fear. He tried to think of something to say, but couldn't, and the next thing he knew, he was stepping forward and kissing her again. Warmth ignited in the pit of his stomach, something he never thought he would feel again, after losing Marian. Yet it was happening right now, the rolling fire spreading all through his body. He tucked her hair over her shoulder with the back of his hand and stretched his arm around her back, pulling her against him as they kissed. Her lips were soft and warm, and she seemed to be enjoying it as much as him.
Nothing had ever felt so right.