Author's Note: I have a feeling, despite any previous misgivings, Regina and Emma become quite close. Maybe it's because of Henry, or because they have similar pasts (to an extent), but I think if anyone was to understand what Emma is going through, it would be Regina.
"How was he when he was with you?"
Regina looked across Henry's bed at Emma as the boy slept between them. The queen finished tucking in the sheets around her son.
"He was good," she replied quietly. "He likes it here. He especially enjoys the horses." Regina smiled at the memory of Henry's first week trying to ride one. He fell off more times than both of them could count.
Emma nodded. She brushed back the boy's hair, staring at his dozing face. "I worried about him when he was with Neal. What do you think he saw?"
The queen shrugged. "A lot of the surrounding forest and mountains, probably. That's all Neal seeks out these days."
"He wouldn't take him to Gold," Emma concluded. "He wouldn't dare."
Regina said nothing. She kept what little knowledge she had of Gold's relations with his son to herself. Instead, she headed for the door. After kissing Henry's forehead, Emma followed.
"How was your time at sea?" Regina asked as the mothers walked the hall together. The queen suspected Emma would head back to her tower, but she had never been good at predicting the younger woman's movements.
Emma, still dressed in her leather and red, smiled at the cobblestone floor. "It was wonderful. I forgot how it felt to be . . ."
"Free?" Regina suggested. Emma nodded.
"Yeah. Free." She smirked. "I didn't think I'd get that coming here."
Regina shrugged. "There are different definitions of freedom, I suppose." This, right now, was freedom to Regina. Henry asleep in her castle, Rolan deep into his slumber, everything was quiet. Safe. Just how everyone, especially Regina, wanted it. She sensed Emma needed it too. Perhaps that was why she came back. Regina didn't ask.
The queen, now dressed in her evening robes of dark silk, cinched the tie in at her waist. Emma smirked. "I thought you would brighten your wardrobe once you got here."
Regina smirked. "I may not be evil, but I'm still the queen. Dark colours favour me." She motioned to Emma. "They do the same for you as well, it seems. Or do I have a certain pirate to thank for that?"
Emma did poorly at hiding her blush. Regina looked forward as they rounded the corner towards Emma's tower, trying not to laugh. She didn't think she would ever see the Saviour blush, especially over a man, no less.
"Killian has nothing to do with my clothes. They just suit the life at sea."
"Is it a life you plan to continue for long? I don't think your parents will be pleased with that."
Emma sighed. "In case you haven't noticed, I don't live to please them. I do what's best for Henry, and me."
"Is the sea best for Henry, though?"
Emma stared at the queen. "What do you want me to say, Regina?"
The older woman folded her arms in front of her, hiding her hands inside the flowing sleeves. "The truth would be nice. It must get tired, denying your affection for him as often as you do."
Emma's bright eyes narrowed. "If we're talked about denial, should I mention a certain thief and his merry men?"
It was Regina's turn to blush. She kept her gaze forward and her walk steady. "I'm not denying anything. Keeping my personal life personal is completely different."
Emma smirked. "That's not what my mother says."
The queen snorted. "I've lived most of my life not caring what the woman says. I think I can live the rest of it just fine doing the same." She clasped her hands together tighter. "Besides, it's about time I had a little happiness in my life, don't you think?"
"Yes," Emma replied. "I do." Regina hadn't expected her to answer so quickly, or so honestly. The two women exchanged a glance then focused back on their walk.
"So tell me," Regina said after a minute went by. "Are you afraid of loving him, or are you afraid of Neal's reaction?"
Emma crossed her arms, her hands rubbing against the fabric, as mulled over her answer. Regina, surprisingly, was in no hurry. With Robin gone, her bed felt emptier than usual. At least Rolan was there now, hopefully still sleeping.
"I think we both know how Neal feels about it already," Emma replied quietly. When Regina looked over at Emma, she saw a kind of pain Regina was very familiar with. She remembered, upon their return to the Enchanted Forest, how excited Neal was. He thought Emma would travel with him and everything would be just as he imagined. He would have a family again. But that was not what Emma wanted. Or at least, not the kind of family she wanted.
Neal could think of himself as replaced, but Regina knew better. Emma's heart had hardened towards her old flame. It still ached for him, for what they once shared, but Emma's heart had shifted its affections. Through time and patience, she started to love again. Just not who Neal wanted her to.
"Then I don't see why you can't admit to him how you feel. Pirates may be stupid, but they can love, or so I'm told." And what I've seen. It wasn't the first time Regina saw the two dance around each other in her presence. She found it entertaining, actually, especially Snow's reaction to it.
Emma ran a hand through her hair, twisting the natural waves between her fingers. "Regina, you don't understand. Everyone I love-"
"Has left." Emma stared at her in surprise. "I do understand. I had to say goodbye to Henry. I lost my mother, my father, my true love . . . and my son. I have lost it all, Emma. I know exactly how you feel." Regina smiled. "And despite all that, I am here now with my son and with someone in the kingdom who I care for a great deal. Hearts heal. People come back. As much as I hate to sound like your mother, there is always hope."
Emma nodded, taking in the woman's words. Regina stopped walking as they came to the door of Emma's tower. She had a long flight of stairs until she got to the top, but the queen doubted Emma minded very much. After all, that view was worth it.
"Have a good rest. Don't worry about getting up early. I'm sure the baby will keep your parents up all night. They'll need some rest," Regina smirked. Before she could go, Emma grabbed the woman's arm, giving it a slight squeeze. Regina looked up and was met by Emma's strong stare.
"Thank you," she whispered. Regina nodded. Emma let her go and the queen left for her own chamber.
Rohan was still sleeping, just as she hoped. By moonlight, Regina unpinned her hair and discarded her black robe on a nearby chair. Rohan liked to fall asleep with the smell of fresh air in the room. It reminded him of the forest, he said. On her way to the bed, Regina shut the window she kept open for him.
The floor was cool against her bare feet. She pulled back the curtain she kept shut around the bed and climbed atop the high mattress. The covers were askew, thanks to Rohan's kicking feet, but she was too tired to care a great deal. She grabbed as many of the blankets as she could and tucked herself in for the night.
A loud thunk jarred her from her dream. The image of Robin's face still lingered in her mind as she pulled back the curtain with a fire ball in hand. Instead, she was greeted with Robin Hood standing beside her bed. She immediately extinguished the flame and stared up at him in the darkness. He still smelt like forest.
He pressed a finger to his lips and pointed to Rohan. He snuck around the bed then pulled back the curtain. Regina watched as the thief leaned down and whispered something in the boy's ear. He awoke with a start then grinned.
"Daddy!"
Robin chuckled. "Surprise," he whispered as he picked up his son. Rohan, who looked so much like his mother, Regina was told, latched onto his father's neck, telling him all he had been up to in a matter of seconds. Regina brought her knees up to her chest and watched the boys interact. She remembered nights in Storybrooke where she wished Henry had a father to do things with.
Eventually, Rohan let his father go long enough so he could take off his boots and climb into bed with them. Rohan settled between his parents and fell back to sleep without much convincing. Apparently, Henry had tired the lad out earlier. When they were sure Rohan was asleep, Regina covered his hand with hers underneath the covers.
"I thought you weren't coming back until tomorrow," she murmured.
Robin shrugged. "Change of plans, I guess," he grinned.
Regina just nodded. She propped her head up with her hand and stared across the large bed at the man she loved. God be good, she never thought she would find herself saying that again about any other man. It was silly, actually, when she thought on it long enough. A stupid lion tattoo on his arm and she just knew he was the one she was supposed to love next, thanks to Tink. Still, it was silly. That was one of the reasons she kept whatever she and Robin had private, or as private as it could be in a castle.
Robin carefully leaned over his son, trying not to accidentally squish him, and rested his forehead against hers. "I missed you," he admitted in the darkness.
Regina smiled and squeezed his hand tight. "I missed you too." Please don't leave again. She couldn't ask that of him, though. Well, she could. She could order him to stay in the palace, with her, forever. Except he would hate her and Regina didn't need anyone else disliking her, especially not the man whose son she had grown to think of as her own, along with Henry of course.
He noticed her mind wandering, for his lips descended on hers, hushing any thoughts she may have about him going off again.
It had been too long since she last had him this close. She wanted more, but with Rohan there, she pushed the thought aside. Instead, she moved as close as she could to her love and rested her head against his arm, just underneath his head. Robin laid his beside her, his breath tickling her forehead.
"I missed the big dinner, didn't I?"
"Yes, but you should feel lucky. I barely made it out alive," she muttered.
Robin's chuckle echoed in her ear. "Snow White is not as bad as you think, darling."
On the contrary, she was. Or she had been, at least. Regina wasn't exactly sure where they were at in their relationship. They ruled together only because if they did not, Regina would be overthrown and killed within seconds. She needed Snow's support. As long as she had that, the people would keep Regina around. She could see them growing to like her slowly, but it would take time for them to embrace her as queen completely. Regina was willing to wait, though. She would not kill Snow White, nor harm any other member of her family. That didn't mean she had to like them, though.
"Next time, you can sit beside her and listen to her stories about every little thing Hope does. I've had enough story telling for one lifetime, thank you."
Robin kissed her cheek. "You're always so pleasant this late at night."
She jabbed his chest with her finger, causing him to wince. "Behave yourself, thief, or I may have to lock you up in the dungeon."
Robin just chuckled. Regina sighed as she shut her eyes. "I don't blame her for being like this. She's never raised a baby before. I get that. I just wish she would stop shoving it in my face." At least, that's what it felt like.
"I thought you said you didn't want any more children," Robin replied, his voice starting to grow heavy with sleep.
"I don't. Two boys is more than enough." And yet . . . a daughter would be nice. Regina shook her head. At her age, trying for a child was unwise. She had spent so much time seeking revenge, it may be too late now to have the daughter she always secretly wanted when she was a young girl herself. Before she came upon Henry.
Robin agreed. "I'll take them hunting tomorrow, give you some time to relax," he suggested.
"I don't need to relax, Robin, I'm fine."
The thief shook his head as his arm came to rest across her waist. "If I know you, you spent the last few weeks working tirelessly, getting little sleep, and worrying about me. I'd say you've earned a day off."
Regina, too tired to carry on, gave a nod and let the potential argument die. Just to be there with him was enough. His scratchy beard tickled her as he fell asleep. She wrapped her arm around Rohan, keeping him close to her, then fell asleep with images of a baby girl who looked exactly like Robin Hood in her mind.