ROBIN

"Do you Robin, take Zelena to be your lawfully wedded wife?" the marriage officiant said. I smiled softly at Zelena, though I didn't reply immediately. I loved my fiance, but that didn't stop me from being unsure about rather I was making the right decision. Something had happened earlier that day. Traveling through the forest, I spotted bandit Regina and rescued her from the Evil Queen. "I had the situation under control!" I could still hear the anger in her voice as she was too prideful to say thank you. Not two seconds earlier, she was about to be the victim of a vicious fireball. She was a piece of work, but I found her to be... endearing.

We stopped at a tavern in town where I was meeting my wife and talked over drinks. The conversation was effortless as if we had known each other for longer than just an hour. Bickering with a flirty undertone. Instant friends, yet I still recognized her beauty. It was as if I had met my match. I could take whatever sassiness she threw at me, plus I genuinely admired her as my competition. Of course, I was the best thief in the Enchanted Forest, but she drew a close second. It's why I offered her the position as leader over my Merry Men. I wish Regina hadn't declined, because I knew my men would be in good hands with her leading them. "This forest isn't the place for me anymore." she had said. A shame really.

"So, what's driving you out of the business?" Regina said.

"Have you ever met someone, that you would change your entire life for? Someone whose eyes you just... knew... you were born to gaze into?"

"Um..." She paused, unsure of what to say. She almost looked shocked.

"Well I have. And it's why I can't be a thief anymore. It wouldn't be fair to my new bride."

It wasn't lost on me that Regina appeared disappointed. It baffled me a little. Could it be that she thought I was speaking of her? No. I pushed the thoughts to the back of my head, but things were quite awkward once Zelena arrived. Then she invited her to our wedding. Fast forward to this evening, here I was standing in the chapel, my fiance in front of me, and doubt in my mind. For some reason I couldn't shake my encounter with Regina out of my head. It had been driving me mad all day. Just as I was about to say "I do", something told me to look to my left. There Regina was standing in the doorway. There was a pause as we stared at each other. I couldn't help but smile at her. I waited. I don't know what I was waiting for, but I waited. I couldn't tear my eyes away from her.

"Robin?" Zelena said.

Regina smiled at me one last time and then she was gone. I redirected my attention back to Zelena and said "I do." It was finished. We kissed and everyone cheered as we made our way out of the chapel. The excitement didn't last long though. "Regina?...Regina!" I yelled, just before running towards her. She was laying with her back to the ground, her left hand touching her stomach where she had been stabbed. Immediately I nealed down beside her. I was devastated. Who would do this!?

"Robin, what's going on!?" Zelena said, as she and the crowd followed. "Oh God, She's got blood on my dress!" Such a severe time as this, and she's thinking about her wedding dress.

"Can't you see she's injured?" I replied.

Zelena babbled on some more like a petulant child before finally storming off. I would have to deal with her later. All I cared about was rather Regina would be alright, but I knew she wouldn't be. Now she had confirmed it when she told me she wasn't going to live. So much was going on around us, but I kept my focus on her, wanting her to remain calm and let go peacefully. She did, and I felt like my heart had shattered into a million pieces. I wanted to save her.

An argument had broken out between a woman I had never seen and a man who seemed to be taking pleasure in Regina's predicament. She kept telling him to change things and bring them back to the way they were. The man said that he couldn't and that he wasn't the author anymore. I didn't understand what was going on, but the woman seemed to accept whatever it is that he was saying. She looked defeated as tears welled in her eyes. Everyone stood around in silence for a while and the woman redirected her attention to Regina.

"Ma, he has to kiss her!" a boy said. Apparently that was her son. He looked equally as devastated as if he had known Regina as well.

"Your right." she replied before looking towards me. "Robin, listen. I know you have no clue what is going on, but you have to trust me. Kiss her."

"What?" I said in bewilderment.

"Kiss her! You want to save her life don't you!?"

"Of course… but"

"Just do it! I will explain everything later."

To say I was confused was an understatement, but I would give anything to see Regina alive again so I kissed her. For a moment nothing happened and I pulled back. Just as I had given up all hope, her eyes fluttered open.