A/N: While I am glad that Robin was in the finale, I think they could have somehow brought him back and this is my take on it. Please enjoy!
After her coronation, Regina gets one last surprise and a family once more is complete.
Regina stepped out through the glass doors, a wave of relief washing over her as she left the noise of the celebration behind her and stepped into the peaceful silence of the warm evening air.
Over the years she has felt a large range of emotions - love, grief, rage, hate, joy - but none seemed to measure up to what she felt that day.
To be not only accepted but wanted as a queen, as a ruler, and as the person that she was. That was all she had ever wanted and it may have taken nearly two lifetimes to achieve it but she had finally reached that point.
She had made peace with Snow a long time ago and now could not imagine a life without the princess or her husband by her side and part of her family.
Regina was named The Good Queen of the Realms but shortly after she herself named Snow and Charming rulers of their own corner of the new Storybrooke.
They would work together in peace and harmony. Regina knew there would be disagreements along the way, because as much as they had become friends, their views were not all the same. However, for once she looked forward to sharing the responsibility with Snow and Charming, instead of fighting against them.
Then there were the Henrys. Her heart swelled with love and pride as she thought of her adult son and how happy he was with his wife and daughter. How he had conquered so much and became the hero he was always destined to be.
The wish realm Henry had come along way from his vengeful mindset. Everyone accepted him into their life, even the older Henry, who took his younger counterpart under his wing like a younger brother.
The situation was bizarre but it wasn't the strangest thing she had ever faced.
All of the emotion of the evening, the outpour of love and joy, became overwhelming and she excused herself just to take a few minutes of fresh air.
She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, a serene smile crossing her face. If there ever was true happiness to be felt, she thought right in that moment she was feeling it.
She opened her eyes and looked out across the land. The sun was setting, casting a perfect glow of orange and pink over the castles and palaces and the small town that sat right in the middle of it all.
Storybrooke, she realized, was always where she was meant to be. The Enchanted Forest held nothing for her but memories of the past and hard as she tried, she never could make a home for herself there. Storybrooke was of her own design, a world originally cursed to everyone but herself. It wasn't until much later, after the curse had long been broken, and she had gained family and friends in the people she once considered enemies, that she realized she had also cursed herself.
A world of her own design but could not be satisfying until she accepted people into her heart and into her life and they accepted her in return.
After another few minutes of silence she suddenly felt a presence behind her. She had learned long ago how to sense when someone was near, mostly to protect herself from any threat.
However, there was a certain familiarity of the presence behind her, one that filled her with comfort and peace, which, to her, could only mean one person.
"Have you come to escape too, Henry?"
"I am not Henry but I have come to find you."
All at once her heart leapt into her throat and her breath was stolen as the familiar, warm voice reached her ears.
"It is quite the celebration."
She released a shaky breath, tears stinging her eyes. She thought when Robin had appeared to her in her dream in the wish realm that was her final goodbye but apparently her memory was not ready to release him quite yet.
"Robin." She whispered and a small, sad smile twitched at her lips. She wished more than anything that he could have been beside her on this day.
Perhaps this was how it would be from now on. Robin's memory coming to her in times of conflict, and in times of great joy. Her partner even in the afterlife to help guide her and be with her when she wanted him most.
She heard his footsteps, felt his presence but it was only when he stood beside her, his warm hand grazing her shoulder did she realize that unlike in the wish realm, she was not asleep, she was fully awake and in reality and the person beside her was real.
With wide eyes, she turned quickly to face him and once again her breath was stolen by the familiar face smiling down at her with warm, loving blue eyes.
"Robin." She whispered again, this time in awe. She stared at his face, memorizing all the features she already knew by heart, and glanced away long enough to realize he was not dressed in the outlaw clothes he had in her dream but the modern clothes he had left her in all those years ago.
"Your Majesty." He countered with a delightful smirk, his blue eyes twinkling in mirth.
Her eyes filled with tears as she slowly, hesitantly reached out her hand towards him.
Her hand hovered in mid air, afraid to touch him, afraid he would disappear because she knew this could not be happening to her. No matter how lovely the day had been, no matter how much joy she had felt, there was no way this, he, could be real.
Then his hand rose to meet hers, his fingers gently curling around the back of her hand and tears blurred her vision as he led her hand to his face.
She felt the warmth of his skin, the rough familiarity of his beard, and most importantly of all the black ink of his tattoo in perfect view on his wrist.
"You're real." She whispered past a choked sob, her voice full of her own disbelief.
"I am." He answered, his voice just as thick with emotion.
All she could do was shake her head. "How?" She breathed.
He pressed his lips together and lifted his shoulders. "Rumplestiltskin." He then answered simply.
She blinked, a few tears rolling down her cheeks, and her brow pressed together. "He's dead."
Robin smiled sadly. "So was I."
Her chest tightened momentarily at the painful reminder and then another powerful wave of emotion rolled over her as she realized Robin was real.
"I am not certain how he did it," Robin continued, "I've learned not question the Dark One, but he said, and I quote, "she deserves hers as well." He touched my chest and the next thing I know I am back in Storybrooke. Not the Storybrooke I remembered it to be but after I inquired about you, they pointed me here." He smiled at her as fresh tears pooled her eyes. He released her hand and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I am sorry I missed the ceremony." His eyes travelled to the crown upon her head then back down to her face. "You look beautiful." He uttered in reverence.
For once in her life she found herself well and truly speechless. Rumplestiltskin had given his life to save them all and then even in the after life had given more to her. Their relationship had been one of the most interesting in her life, from mentor to rival to family but the man had always been important to her and she realized now Rumplestiltskin had felt the same odd admiration for her. However he did it, he sent her soulmate back to her. She knew then, wherever he was, he was safe and happy with Belle.
"I can't believe this is real." She said quietly, her thumb caressing his cheek, where she felt his skin crinkle as he smiled further.
"Nor can I but here we are. It's a miracle."
"It's magic." She said with a smile and then without further hesitation, or concern about her dress or crown, threw herself at him. Her arms wound tightly around his neck and the delicate, jeweled crown slipped from her hair and clattered to the ground as she buried her face into his shoulder, her smile so wide it started to hurt.
As his arms tightened around her waist, all she knew was him. The feel of him, the smell of him, all familiar but had been lost in years of memory.
"Regina." He whispered against her ear and the sound his sweet, loving voice was the last of her composure.
She weeped silently in joy onto his shoulder and he tightened his arms around her even more, whispering words of reassurance against her hair.
"I am right here, love. I am right here."
She quickly lifted her head and looked into his eyes, still smiling at him in awe and wonder. "I love you." She said before she lost another chance to tell him.
His smile widened to match hers. "And I love you, my Regina."
With a fierce possessiveness that arose from those words she captured his lips with hers in a passionate and needing kiss.
His fingers traveled to tangle in her hair, undoing what Zelena had spent quite a long time doing that afternoon.
His lips moved hungrily, desperately against hers and they only parted when they needed to breathe.
"My Robin." She said quietly, resting her forehead against his, tears filling her eyes once again as she thought back to the Wish Realm Robin who looked at her as a stranger. Whose kiss felt wrong and cold. A stark contrast to the Robin who held her now with warmth and passion and love. Her Robin, her soulmate.
"Yours now and forever." He vowed and then leaned in to kiss her again, more slowly and tender.
She let out a sigh as they parted a minute later, smiling to herself, her eyes still closed as she leaned against him.
It was still so hard to believe he was truly real but he felt real. He had felt real in her dream as well but it was merely her memory of him that felt real - despite all the years that had passed since his death, she still remembered his touch, what it felt like when he kissed her. Yet no memory could compare to having the real man in front of her, touching her, holding her, kissing her.
"I have to know something." She suddenly lifted her head and slid her hands to his chest, unwilling to let go of him just yet.
His hands settled at her waist and he looked down at her with a small nod his brow pressed together which meant she had his full attention.
"Of course, what is it?"
"A few months ago I was kidnapped by another version of my son."
He frowned. "I'm sorry, what?"
"There is a whole different realm with other versions of ourselves," she shook her head, "it's a long story. The point is, in this other realm, created only by a wish, mind you, the Evil Queen was unsuccessful in her curse and was defeated. The Henry of that realm was raised by Emma and the Charmings and vowed vengeance upon me who he mistook for her after I may or may not have killed that version of the Charmings - but it is important to note that they weren't really real and I had to do it to get Emma back - again long story."
Robin blinked. "What on Earth have I missed?"
"Quite a lot I'm afraid but I will tell you everything later. What I need to know is was that you who came to me in a dream?"
He frowned slightly and then shrugged. "Regina, honestly the last thing I remember is being with you in that room with Hades. Wherever I was, however long I was gone for it's all a bit of a blur. The only thing that is clear is Rumplestiltskin telling me to wake up and find you and then I was here, completely restored."
Regina nodded and let out a breath. "So it was only a dream." She shook her head quickly. "It doesn't matter." She looked back up to him with a smile. "You're here now and you're real."
He answered with his own smile. "And we are together." One of his hands found hers and he laced their fingers together, beaming down at her.
She smiled tearfully. "I have missed you, Robin, so terribly."
He brought her fingers to his lips to brush a kiss over her knuckles. "I am sorry that you have had to live without me but I will not apologize for my actions that day. Trading my life for yours is never a question in my mind."
She swallowed over the sudden thickness in her throat. "Well hopefully it will never come to that again."
"I will certainly try my hardest." He vowed with a small smirk, the smile that had been burned into her memory, and her heart leapt again at having it in front of her once more.
He inched closer to her, intent on kissing her again but the tip of his foot kicked something on the ground.
They briefly parted to look down to find Regina's crown in pieces at your feet.
Robin gasped and released her to pick it up. "Regina...I am so sorry…"
She shushed him with a shake of her head and a smile. "It's not your fault. I'm the one who knocked it off. Besides," she reached out to straighten the pieces in his hands. She then waved her hand, his hands were clouded with purple smoke for a few seconds and then the crown was back in one piece. She raised an eyebrow with a proud smirk. "It's an easy fix."
His smile widened as he lifted his gaze to her. "Then let's put it back in its proper place, shall we?"
Regina smiled and stepped in closer as Robin reached out and placed the crown back on top of her head. "There we are."
She released another slow breath, trying to hold back the emotions flooding her at the simple action.
It had meant so much to her when Snow had done it. A rivalry put to bed at long last and forevermore.
It was an entirely different feeling to have the man she loved, recently, miraculously brought back from the dead, do it with such love in his eyes.
He then combed a strand a loose hair behind her ear and she closed her eyes and sighed, leaning into his touch.
Then his hand cupped her cheek and he brought her back in to him for another tender kiss.
They were soon reluctantly pulled away from each other by the sound of loud laughter pouring out from inside the castle.
Still holding onto each other, they looked towards the glass doors that Robin had kept slightly open when he came out to meet her.
The party was still continuing on, with people talking and laughing and dancing.
"Perhaps we should return you to your party." Robin suggested quietly.
A sudden fear gripped at her heart and she tightened her grip on his arms.
He turned back to her in concern "What is it?"
She looked slowly up at him and swallowed thickly. "I'm afraid…" She started breathlessly.
"I am afraid once I leave here you will disappear."
"Oh my darling," he leaned in and kissed her forehead and then her lips, "I know this must be quite a shock to you, it is for me as well, there are so many questions I have, but I promise you I am real and only Hell could take me from your side again."
A determined frown formed her lips and there was a flash of fire behind her eyes. "And Hell would have to go through me first to even try. I may not be the Evil Queen anymore but I dare anyone to try to take you away from me again and see what happens."
He smiled and took her hands in his and squeezed gently. "Whatever dangers we may face, we face them together."
She nodded, her face softening. She knew as Queen of Storybrooke she now had more responsibility than ever, to protect all the realms and all of their people. Robin was now included once again in the ever present fear of those she loved being placed in danger - Henry, Lucy, Ella, the Charmings, Zelena, Alice and Robin.
She let out a small gasp as she thought of a certain somebody inside the castle who also required a long overdue reunion with Robin Hood.
"What is it?" Robin implored in concern.
"There is someone you need to see." She looked back at him and smiled at the adorable way his brow furrowed inquisitively.
"Come." She held onto his hand, their fingers intertwined, and led him back into the castle.
To be continued...