A/N: First off, I apologize for the delay in update, my life has been crazy busy but I do have a lot of plans for the story, it just might take a little time to get it all down. I hope this longer chapter makes up for it!
Secondly, I realize that Once Upon a Time canon has made Robin Hood's daughter spelled as Robin but to avoid confusion in this story, I will be spelling it as Robyn. I also have taken some small liberties with the timelines because the way the show ended didn't really make sense with how old some people were. So just….go with it.
As Regina and Robin made their way back into the castle, she held onto him tightly, always making sure she felt his hand in hers, felt him moving beside her, because it still felt all too good to be true.
She received various nods and bows as she cut her way through the crowds. No one stopped to talk to her, as they had been doing all evening, which she realized was probably due to the determination on her face. Or perhaps it was the mysterious man at her side.
A relief settled over her as a few shocked faces who had known Robin stared at them as they passed, proving again that Robin was not just in her imagination.
"So what did happen to Storybrooke?" Robin asked as they continued to travel from room to room. "Where did all of these people come from?"
Regina's narrowed eyes first scanned the room and then she turned to address him. "I joined all the realms together so no one would ever have to be separated from the ones they love again."
Robin's face lit up with a smile. "You brought back the happy endings." He said in awe and joy.
Regina paused and turned to him with a small smile. "No, I brought happy beginnings. I hate endings and this most certainly is not an ending."
He closed the distance between them, moving his free hand to her face and looked intently into her eyes. "Did I ever tell you how amazing you are?"
Her smile grew, her heart swelling with warmth and love. She had received praise after praise for bringing the realms together but none felt so good as the one she received from Robin.
"You have but it's been quite a while."
He moved even closer still, his thumb brushing softly across her cheek. "You are amazing."
Her breath caught as she got lost in the intensity of his stare and the rich color of his eyes.
They both smiled at one another and for a long few moments the world was lost around them and it was just them two.
Then a loud laugh from across the room broke Regina out of the trance and she shook her head and cleared her throat, leaning back. "Well, thank you." She squeezed his hand and gave him a meaningful smile before they started walking again. "It just seemed to me that we had all been cursed too many times - separated over and over again, once by me, well twice by me but only one intentionally."
Robin raised an eyebrow. "You unintentionally casted another curse? How would you even manage to do that?"
"It was more so that I was forced to, to save Henry's life. It is a long story but I was given an ultimatum...cast the dark curse again or let my son die. Obviously I could not let that happen. Another curse was not an attractive option either but it had been broken before and I hoped somehow we could break it again. Thankfully this one only lasted a few months and not twenty eight years and as you can see," she waved her hand around to the happy people surrounding them, "We did. So, after that I felt I needed to do something to bring us all together once and for all. All the realms are still open, so anyone can choose to live wherever they want but most people have chosen to stay here."
"That is truly wonderful, Regina." He praised and she turned to him, her face lighting with a smile. For the hundredth time since he returned to her, her breath caught in awe at his very presence.
"I must admit, there is a peace that I haven't felt...well, ever really. I didn't ask to be Queen of the Realms. Truly I was content with my position as mayor of Storybrooke and just to have my family."
"But the people have spoken and they want you, as they should. Despite some rather grievous mistakes in your past you are a wise and wonderful ruler."
Her lips turned up in a small smile. "I think your opinion of me is slightly biased."
He shrugged simply. "Can I help it if my soulmate is a Queen? Besides, I knew you long before I knew of our fated connection and my attraction to you grew out of my respect for you as a queen and the spirited person that you are. By the time you told me about my tattoo and its significance to us, I had already fallen in love with you."
Regina stopped him then, turning to face him, her eyes widening. "You had?"
"Oh yes." He grinned, showing off his dimples. "Of course I did not realize it until the curse was broken and the memories of that missing year returned."
Regina laughed. "The missing year where we were constantly at each other's throats?" Her voice became thick as her memories whisked her back to a time that seemed, and was in fact, so long ago.
"Flirty banter, I'd say." He corrected.
Her face softened in wonder. "You loved me even then?"
"Love is a strong word. No... attracted to you? Most certainly but I did not know I was in love until all the combined memories, of the year we spent in the enchanted forest and the few weeks we spent together as a couple in Storybrooke came together coupled with the knowledge that my strong feelings for you were justified by the universe itself."
She let out a deep breath. "I didn't want to believe, I didn't want to accept that I could be so lucky to have had a second chance with the man I ran away from." She scoffed and shook her head. "Or a third or fourth or...whatever chance this is now."
She closed her eyes as Robin leaned in and rested his forehead tenderly to hers. "I still don't know how I am able to be so fortunate to have you back in my arms again. You were so many things to me Robin, the irritating archer who constantly got under my skin," she paused and laughed as he laughed, "the man who somehow wormed his way into my hardened heart even before I knew you were the same man from the pub. The man who physically and emotionally held and protected my heart. The man whom, even when I was literally heartless, I fell in love with. You always saw the best in me, even when I didn't deserve it."
He pulled his head back to look into her eyes and moved his hand to her cheek. "I always saw the person you were - not the mask you wore after years of torment forced it there."
"You are just lucky you didnt know me as the Evil Queen. She was…" she paused and shook her head. She had separated the "evil queen" from the woman she was now but she knew even with that part of her gone her mistakes were her own. "...I was, not someone worth loving back then. I can admit that now, I couldn't then. I wanted to be loved and accepted and yet tormented everyone in my path. I've seen what darkness does to people and I have seen what light can do." She smiled sadly as her thoughts drifted back to Rumplestiltskin, "The darkness can always find its it's way to the light and anyone who chooses to live in darkness is doomed to fail."
"You have seen the error of your ways, learned from your mistakes and turned your life around and that is what matters. The past does not. After all, my past is not so clean either." Robin said.
She slowly lifted her arms to wrap around his neck, smirking up at him. "Your past as a thief? Stealing from the rich and giving to the poor? How horrible of you."
He raised his brow, his arms moving to her waist. "It is not quite as simple as that. Granted, Prince of Thieves is a better title than Evil Queen, as far as reputation goes but you were the one who had wanted posters out for my head."
"Did I?" She laughed and shook her head. "I don't remember. Though, admittedly, I did issue quite a number of wanted posters. So, I dont suppose that makes you special."
"Oh, I wouldn't dream of daring to think so. However," he tightened his hold around her, drawing her in closer. "I do recall during that missing year, however much you claim I got under your skin, one very memorable night you seemed to... appreciate me."
Her eyes glinted. "As I recall, we had both had a little too much wine and you…"
"And I what?" He grinned, raising an eyebrow.
She narrowed her eyes at him. "You were an insufferable man who argued with me at every turn and... admittedly was very handsome, and that just so happened to push my buttons in the right way."
He laughed low and deep in his throat and her stomach flipped and filled with a warmth she had not known since he died.
Her mind flashed back to that night, where she had let down her inhibitions truly for the first time in very many years. She had had plenty of sexual encounters over the years but that first night with Robin, even if she told herself at the time it was only one night and meant nothing, it had in fact meant a lot because she felt so much more than raw pleasure. She had felt her whole body on fire, the electricity between them was undeniable but she pushed the thought out of her head until they once again came together in Stortbroole and she knew, Robin was indeed special.
"Push your buttons you say?" His thumbs pressed into her hips and she leaned into him.
She let out a small gasp as he leaned in towards her, his beard scratching lightly against her cheek.
"I think…" his voice was warm and low at her ear and he brushed his lips against her skin softly. "I may still be able to do that."
Her eyes closed and her hands trailed into his hair as she closed the remaining distance between their bodies.
She tilted her head back as his lips started trailing down her neck. "Robin…" she whispered.
He hummed and she felt the vibration in his chest. His hands slid further across her back and even through the thick material of her gown she felt the warmth of his hands.
With a sudden passion, she grabbed the back of his head and guided his lips to hers in a crushing kiss.
In that moment she didn't care where they were but was still rather thankful they had stopped in a quieter corridor between rooms. There were only the few passerbys who flitted from room to room but who paid the couple no need.
"Regina." He muttered in between fierce kisses and his hands continued upward.
She once again became lost in the touch, taste and feel of him. Something she had been deprived of for so long.
"M'lady." He said a little more forcefully, gently grabbing her by the shoulders and separating their mouths.
With a fire dancing in her eyes she looked up at him, her chest heaving.
She saw the same desire reflected in his eyes but he only smiled apologetically.
"Why did you stop?" she demanded, trying to sound authoritative but her voice only came out pleading and desperate.
"We should not do this now."
Her brow pressed together. "I am the Queen. This is my coronation day...I can do whatever I like tonight I should think and what I would like to do," she scratched her nails lightly against the back of his head and smirked as he groaned in pleasure, "... is you."
Her eyes shot down to his mouth as he licked his lips and she ached to kiss him again.
"Later," he brought his hand to her face, cupping her cheek, pulling her attention back to his eyes. "I promise. We will continue this later."
Her frown deepened and he sealed the promise with a short but passionate kiss that left her swaying in his arms.
He cleared his throat and released her, taking a step back. "Now, I believe there was someone you needed to show me."
Suddenly reality crashed down around her and she blinked and shook her head. She almost felt guilty for stealing a few private minutes with Robin, whilst elsewhere in the castle his daughter stood unaware that he even existed.
She took a breath to compose herself and then nodded. "Right, yes of course." She reached to secure his hand in hers and smiled down at their entwined hands and then back up to his face. "I will hold you to your word Sir Locksley."
He grinned. "You wouldn't be the Regina I love if you didnt."
He turned his head, squinting curiously. "Sir Locksley? Are you knighting me now?"
"I could. I am Queen, you know. Or perhaps…" for a moment she let her mind wander and a small, serene smile crossed her lips.
"Perhaps…?" He prodded her.
She looked back at him. "Perhaps one day you will become Prince."
He stared at her for a moment and then his eyes widened. "Regina, I…"
"Hush," she momentarily placed her other hand on his chest and smiled, "It's alright. It was only a thought, not a question."
Before he could say anything else, she dropped her hand and led him back towards the congregation.
"Who are we looking for?" Robin asked, sensing Regina's frustration upon her fruitless search in the shores of people.
Finally Regina spotted a more familiar face across the room and made her way towards them. "Henry!"
Robin's eyes widened as the young man turned from his dance partner and at first greeted them with a smile before his eyes fully fell upon Robin.
"Robin Hood?" He pulled out of Ella's arms in shock and Regina felt peace in the confirmation that once and for all the Robin beside her was real.
"Henry? You are…" he paused and scoffed, shaking his head. "My, lad how you've grown."
Henry laughed and glanced between his mother and Robin.. "Well...I, yeah, it's been a while and you…" He shook his head. "You're alive!"
""It would appear so." Robin smiled.
"I don't understand." Henry looked to Regina and Regina shrugged, a smile on her lips.
"Nor do I. All I know is that Rumplestiltskin had something to do with it. Right now that's all I care about."
Henry scoffed gently and shook his head with a smile as he glanced back at Robin. "Unbelievable. But it's so good to see you again."
Henry held out his hand and Robin reached out to shake it and they shared a smile.
"And you as well, Henry."
A curious Ella stepped up beside Henry, eyeing the stranger with her mother-in-law. Henry turned his head to smile at her, sensing her presence and then looked back to Robin.
"Robin, this is my wife, Ella."
Robin's brow shot up. "Your wife? Blimey." He shook his head and then reached out to take and kiss Ella's hand politely. "It's a pleasure, m'lady."
With a smirk, Ella shot a curious look to Henry who laughed joyously.
"Ella, this is Robin, he is..." Henry trailed off and glanced clueseslly to Regina for explanation.
"Robin is," Regina also struggled with a correct word for a moment and turned to Robin who was grinning down at her smugly, also eagerly waiting his label, "Robin is, to put it in the most simplest of terms, my long lost love."
Ella's eyes widened. "Wait, he is not the Robin? The one from your book?" She looked at Henry and Henry nodded with a smile.
"Yes, he is that Robin."
"You wrote a book?" Robin asked him, intrigued. "That I am in?"
Henry nodded. "It has all our stories in it. Well, from our time in Storybrooke and on anyway. Everything from when I first found Emma to the day I married Ella and more."
"Henry is The Author." Regina explained, pride in her voice.
"Ah yes, I remember." Robin nodded once.
"A title I don't take lightly and frankly didn't even want. It was the threat of the last curse that forced me into writing it but only recording events as they are and not to change them. Even now the author's pen is safely locked away. There was a small incident with misuse by another version of me."
"Regina had mentioned that. It must be very strange for you."
Henry laughed. "Yeah well we had a lot of doubles around here. It is strange having him here, knowing he is me but...not. He's going to have a completely different life than I had. As far as I know there's no double of Ella."
Ella smiled and squeezed his arm. "I was not part of your Enchanted Forest Wish Realm. There is only one of me."
"The Enchanted Forest has doubles?" Robin inquired and then turned to Regina. "Does that mean…"
Regina nodded. "Yes, there is another version of you."
Robin frowned and furrowed his brow. "So...you and he...you didn't.."
Regina smiled sadly and rubbed his arm gently. "He wasn't you. I won't lie to you, I did try to connect with him, thinking maybe, but," she sighed and shook her head, "He led a different life than you did and it made him...different. He was not the Robin I knew or fell in love with and we just went our separate ways."
"Different how?" Robin wondered.
"He was...well, he had a bit more of a troubled life and while your thieving days were noble in intentions, his were not. There was a certain darkness in him that you don't have." She placed her hand over his heart and smiled softly. "You always said you lived by a code. I think this Robin abandoned that philosophy after a while. It doesn't matter...I did see him again after I joined the realms but he decided to return to the Wish Realm where I suppose he has built a life for himself. One that doesn't concern you or me. He may have your face and your name but he is not you and never will be."
Robin nodded slowly, trying to absorb all of the information. Then his lips twitched up in a small, half smile and he let out a small laugh. "I must say, things certainly have become more bizarre around and I didn't think that would be possible."
Regina smiled at him. "You have no idea and I will explain everything in due time but for now…" She turned back towards Henry.
"Henry, have you seen Alice?"
Henry nodded. "Yes, she and...oh." His eyes widened in realization, looking at Robin who frowned curiously as Henry slowly grinned. "Yes, they are with Lucy by the food tables."
"Thank you."
Henry nodded knowingly and shared a look with Regina before he wrapped an arm around Ella and returned back to the dance floor.
"Regina…" Robin said quietly, leaning in to speak near her ear, "Henry is an adult and he's married."
Regina laughed quietly and nodded. "And they have an eight year old daughter."
Robin's eyes widened further. "How much time have I missed exactly?"
There was an element of fear and sadness in his voice that stopped her and she turned to him with a sad smile as his eyes implored hers.
"It has been a long time, Robin and so much has happened."
His brow creased as his frown deepened and she lifted her hand to his face caressing her thumb reassuringly against .
"Soon." She promised and he nodded solemnly.
She took his hand again and smiled as she entered the buffet room and spotted them right away.
Alice, Robyn, Lucy, Neal and a few other children of the realms were gathered around Tiana's beignets table, all smiling and laughing as they nibbled on the tasty pastries.
Lucy gasped as she saw her grandmother approach and tried to hide the beignet behind her back. "Regina!"
Regina smiled at the young girl. She had a mischievous, sneaky side that reminded her so much of Henry. "I won't tell your parents as long as you don't make yourself sick."
Lucy grinned and shook her head, removing her hands from behind her back. "I won't."
"Don't worry Aunt Regina, we promised Henry and Ella we would keep an eye on her." Robyn said with a smile but keeping a curious eye on the strange man attached to Regina's side.
"Who's your friend, Your Majesty?" Alice asked, a sparkle in her eyes.
"Alice, I told you its Regina." They both shared smile and then Regina took a breath and turned to Robin. "This is...someone very special to me. He is…"
"Robin?"
Both father and daughter turned at the sound of their name. Robin tensed at Regina's side as Zelena walked over to them, staring at them in shock.
Regina squeezed Robin's hand reassuringly.
"Zelena." Robin greeted courteously.
Zelena scoffed. "Bloody hell it's really you."
"Zelena, please, the children." Regina admonished while the group of children giggled at the use of the language.
Zelena shot a quick look over to the children and gave a half-hearted smile."Sorry…" She then turned back to Robin. "But...what on Earth are you doing here? How are you here?"
"It is all rather a mystery to me of the exact method of my return though it was Rumplestiltskin who did it. The truth of the matter is I do not much care how it happened, only that it did."
He squeezed Regina's hand and she squeezed back and he turned to her to share a smile.
"Oh my God…" A sweet quiet voice pulled their attention to Alice and Robyn who were both staring at Robin in awe and shock. Alice wore a smile as she held onto Robyn's hand while Robyn gaped at the man in front of her, her eyes glistening.
"You're Robin Hood." She uttered in shock.
"I am." Robin nodded and his eyes narrowed curiously at the oddly familiar young woman in front of him. "Do I know you?"
Robyn's lips trembled and Alice squeezed her hand, turning her smile on her partner.
"We've never met. Not really. You…. died before we could." Robyn bit her lip and took a breath. "I am your daughter."
Regina watched Robin as he processed the information and his eyes slowly widened.
"M-my daughter?" He gasped. "But that's not...that's not possible." He glanced toward Zelena who had inched protectively closer to her daughter. "Is it?" Zelena gave a small smile and nodded, looking adoringly at Robyn.
"It's true." She placed her hand on Robyn's arm who turned to her with tearful, hopeful eyes. "This is my…" and sighed and then smiled, first at Robyn and then at her father, "Our - your daughter."
Regina squeezed his arm gently as Robin let out a sharp gasp, and both father and daughter turned to look at one another.
"You've been gone a long time Robin but Zelena has done a wonderful job raising her." Regina said comfortingly and giving a small smile and nod to her sister, who smiled gratefully in return.
For a brief moment, Robin's eyes flickered to Zelena but then his gaze fell right back to his daughter where he remained transfixed on her.
Robyn's eyes glistened with tears, her smile warm but hesitant as she took in the sight of her father for the first time.
"What's…" Robin's voice was hoarse when he finally spoke and he cleared his throat. "What's your name?" He asked quietly.
Robyn gave a watery smile. "It's Robyn."
Robin gasped and shot a look to Zelena. "You named her after me?"
Zelena face softened and she nodded with a half smile. "You gave your life to save her, it was the least I could do."
Robin swallowed thickly and his jaw quivered for a moment. Then he tensed his jaw and with a fierce love and determination in his eyes looked back to his daughter. "And I would do it again in a heartbeat." He vowed to her, his voice thick with emotion and Robyn's eyes sparkled with unshed tears. Robin slowly shook his head, his eyes taking in every detail of her face. "My daughter...you're such a beautiful young lady."
Robyn finally released Alice's hand and stepped forward towards her father. "Mom and Aunt Regina have talked about you so much I feel like I know you but having you here….I never even dreamed this could happen."
Robin's lips trembled, tears pooling his eyes. "Would you mind…" his voice broke and he offered her a gentle, hesitant smile, "would you mind very much if I hugged you?"
Robyn shook her head quickly with a smile. "I wouldn't mind at all." Her voice squeaked and they slowly moved toward each other until Robin opened his arms and Robyn walked into his open arms.
They both let out a breath as they finally connected. Robyn's arms wrapped tightly around her father, as she buried her face into his chest.
One of Robin's arms wrapped around her back, holding her to his chest, the other hand moved to tangle in her brown hair, the same color as his own. He closed his eyes, a few tears finally rolling down his cheeks. "My beautiful girl." He whispered against the top of her head and placed a kiss there.
Robyn let out a small sob against her fathers father's chest.
Regina covered her mouth, her heart soaring at the tender reunion that had always been impossible. She glanced toward Zelena who was also watching them with a small but soft smile on her face. Beside her, Alice was grinning from ear to ear, her own eyes glistening.
"Wh-what can I call you?" Robyn asked with a sniffle as she finally pulled out of his arms, wiping at her eyes.
Robin smiled past his own tears. "You may call me anything you feel comfortable with." He cleared his throat and shrugged lightly. "I realize I've missed...so much of your life and I have no right to enter it as your father now."
Robyn shook her head vehemently. "It's not your fault you weren't here. You gave your life for me and Aunt Regina." She glanced meaningfully at Regina and Regina gave a tearful smile in return. Then she took a breath and looked back to Robin. "I have done nothing but admire you since I knew how. I even became an archer to continue your legacy. I have wanted nothing more in my entire life than to know you and I want nothing more than to have you in my life now. You are my father and you always have been to me, even if it was just in stories and if it's alright, I'd like to call you…" Robyn paused and took a deep breath to steady her voice, "I would like to call you Dad."
Robin's breath hitched in his throat and a few more tears rolled down his cheeks as a bright smile crossed his lips. "I would love nothing more." He answered quietly.
Robyn's smile grew to match his and she cleared her throat, tilting her chin up and held out her hand towards him. "Then hello...Dad. It's so nice to meet you."
Robin took a hold of her hand in both of his and then softly kissed the back of her hand. "Hello Robyn."
They held each other's gaze, smiles wide, eyes shining in love and awe and wonder.
Then Robyn's eyes flickered downward. "Oh wow…" She whispered.
"What?" Robin's brow furrowed in slight concern.
Robyn shook her head to reassure him and turned their hands so his wrist faced up. "Your tattoo. Aunt Regina always spoke about how Tink told her about the man with the lion tattoo and how she ran away from him and how fate brought you two back together all those years later." She smiled and looked over to Regina who was still smiling at them. Robin also turned to her and they met each other's eyes and his smile softened into a loving one.
"I always thought it was so romantic." Robyn continued. "And...heartbreaking how even though you did find each other again you were then separated again but…" She scoffed a small laugh in disbelief, "You were once again brought back to one another. It's amazing and wonderful and I'm so happy you're here."
Robyn once again stepped forward into her father's willing embrace.
"As am I, my darling." Robin whispered to her with a smile, tightening his hold on her.
"And I thought the history with my father was a bit bizarre." Alice broke in with a grin. "This is wild!"
Robyn laughed, pulling out of his arms and wiping her eyes as she turned to to Alice. She held out her arm and Alice shuffled up to her side, and they wrapped an arm around each other. Robyn momentarily rested her head on Alice's shoulder and then lifted it again to address Robin.
"Dad, this is Alice." She paused for a moment to smile lovingly at Alice, who smiled right back. "She's my fiance."
"Fiance?" Robin's eyes widened as he looked between both girls and Robyn nodded with a smile.
Robin was silent for a few moments and swallowed thickly. "You're getting married, too? I…" His voice broke and he closed his eyes and turned away.
Robyn's smile faded and Regina frowned in concern as she squeezed his arm gently. "Robin?"
Robin took a deep breath and blinked away tears. "Forgive me." He turned back to Robyn with a smile. "That is truly wonderful news and I am so very happy to hear you have found someone to spend your life with. It's only...when I last saw you, when I last held you, you were so tiny, my newborn and you didn't even have a name. Now you've had a full life and you have beautiful fiance," He smiled a small meaningful smile at Alice but then shook his head and sighed quietly and looked to Robyn, "and I have missed everything."
Robyn's eyes watered as she stepped back towards her father. "Not everything." She whispered. "You can be there for the wedding and everything after. We still have so many years to look forward to."
Robin once again reached for her hands and squeezed them gently with a genuine smile. "And I so do look forward to them."
"So do I."
"Well," Zelena broke the tender moment with a scoff, "I must say this was the very last thing I expected out of tonight."
"You and me both." Regina said. "But I am very happy you two finally got meet."
"And so am I." Zelena admitted. "I may have been a little...aggressively protective during my pregnancy and her birth…"
Robin held up his hand. "That is a time I prefer not to think of and I think should be best left in the past. Clearly much has changed since I...left and you have changed for the better, which Regina always believed you would. I choose to believe in Regina, and obviously, you have raised our daughter to be a bright young woman. I am here now to be a part of Robyn's life, to share in it with you and I think we should all just look to the future."
Zelena pressed her lips together and nodded. "I could not agree more."
"We're all together now and we're all a family." Regina said, sharing a look with Alice, Robyn, Zelena and Robyn. "Family is all that matters now."
"Regina." Robin suddenly gasped and turned to her quickly and her brow shot up at the look of almost panic on his face. "Where is Roland?" He paused to swallow thickly. "Where is my son?"
Regina's eyes widened for a moment and then her face softened into a small, but sad smile. She reached out, placing her hand on his arm and squeezed gently before turning to Robyn.
"Robyn, have you seen your brother?"
Robin's eyes darted quickly to his daughter, eyes wide and she stared equally as wide-eyed back and smiled hesitantly.
"Oh, um...I think he said he was going to be by the bonfire."
Robin's eyes glistened with fresh tears. "You know Roland?"
Robyn nodded. "Yeah, it wasn't until recently when all the realms were brought together but yeah, I know him."
"I'll take you to him." Regina said softly, leaning in towards Robin as he gaped in silence.
He finally slowly nodded. "Right, yes of course…" He blinked, his brow furrowing and he kept his eyes on Robyn for a moment longer. "Robyn…"
She smiled at him. "I know, it's alright. Go see your son. I know he's missed you. I'll see you later."
He nodded firmly. "Yes, I will see you later." He reached out his hand hesitantly and Robyn's smile softened as she leaned into his open palm and the affectionate gesture.
He briefly looked towards Alice and gave her a small but warm smile and a cordial nod. "Alice, it is a pleasure to meet you and I thank you for loving my daughter and taking care of her when I could not be there."
Alice grinned brightly. "It was my absolute pleasure, Mr. Hood. Robyn is the best thing that's ever happened to me."
Robyn turned a loving gaze to her fiance and pressed a kiss to her cheek.
Robin gave them both another smile and then turned to Regina who offered him a small smile and her arm. He reached out for her, sliding his hand down to her arm to meet her hand and entwined their fingers together.
He pulled her as close as he could and she tilted her head up to him. "Are you alright?"
Robin nodded. "I think so. I am a bit blind-sighted by all of this." He looked over his shoulder towards Robyn, who was already in Alice's arms in a comforting hug, both women wearing tearful smiles.
"But thank you…" He whispered, his voice thick, as he turned to her. "For bringing me to her."
"I would never keep you from your family. Which, speaking of…" she glanced towards the doorway and he followed her gaze with a frown.
"Roland." He muttered and she squeezed his hand and then together they started out towards the bonfire where another reunion would be long overdue.
