Chapter 2

It's been 3 days now… 3 days and Regina still wasn't any better. She had given Killian strict instructions not to let anyone in her home except Henry and Emma. She didn't want Robin coming to see her while she was sick. Regina hugged her pillow to her chest as she laid in bed, sick with pneumonia. She knew full well the price of her magic. She knew that taking away Roland's sickness, it would transfer to her. But she paid it willingly. She closed her eyes as she remembered Robin's bright eyes and dimples, the way he laughed and smiled at her when she healed his son. She remembered Roland's hugs and kisses when he thanked her. It was worth it, a million times over. She didn't know what it was about the two Locksley boys but they had some sort of hold on her heart. She coughed and hocked up the phlegm in her lungs. Even though she felt miserable, she knew Roland was somewhere in the middle of the forest in that adorable home, maybe playing outside on his bicycle…

It was Henry who found her. He had come by when he didn't see her for their weekly breakfast. Every Sunday morning, Regina would meet Henry and Emma and usually the Un-Charmings for breakfast at Granny's. When Regina didn't show up, Henry had made his way to Milton Street to check on his other mother. When he found her in bed sick, he immediately began the task of taking care of her.

"Henry, I'm fine!" she had insisted but her stubborn son didn't pay much attention to his mother's incessant refusals for help.

"Mom, what happened? You're always reminding me to stay warm outside and then you go and get pneumonia!" Henry scolded his mother like a 5-year-old. Regina knew she shouldn't worry her son like this. Before she could reply, Emma opened the door, carrying some homemade soup.

"Granny sent this." She said as she placed it on the bedside table. "She also said to force you to eat something. Even if it means sitting on you while Henry spoon feeds you." Emma smirked. Regina glared at the blonde, who had taken a seat on the end of her bed.

"Don't you dare."

"What she means to say is, 'thank you' to Granny for the soup. Right, Mom?" Henry rolled his eyes at his mom's antics. Anyone who knew Regina at all knew full well that she did not like to be taken care of or appear weak in front of anyone.

"Regina, we're family. You don't have to worry about us seeing you like this. Family takes care of each other." Emma said as she opened the soup and pulled out a spoon.

Regina huffed but sat up in bed. "Thank you for the soup…" she mumbled under her breath. She had to admit it did smell delicious. "And thank you for being here. But you don't have to feed me. I'm not an imbecile." She took the spoon from Emma and watched as Henry and Emma made themselves comfortable next to her, Emma on one side and Henry on the other. He grabbed the remote control and turned the TV on. If they were going to spend the day taking care of Regina, then they were certainly going to enjoy themselves.

Regina would never admit it to anyone but she loved the company of her two companions. There was a time she wanted nothing more than for Emma Swan to get the hell out of her life and leave her and Henry alone but now she couldn't imagine her life without her best friend. They had a unique bond, a friendship that has been tested over and over again but still the blonde never left them and always had her back. And she was right, they were family.

She sat there, cozied up between the two in her bed and her thoughts drifted back to Robin. She didn't want him to know she was sick but she wished to see him again. 'Friday…' she thought to herself as she smiled into her soup. She hoped she was well by then. She would hate to disappoint Roland if she couldn't make it to their dinner.

A coughing fit brought her back to reality. Emma took the soup from her hands as Henry helped her lay back down.

"Mom." Henry whispered as he stroked her hair, just like she did to him when he was sick. He hated to see her sick and in pain. Emma frowned as she set the soup down. Regina's skin was looking pale. Her eyes were tired and lips chapped. Regina had refused to let Emma heal her with her light magic for fear that she would get the illness too. But she really didn't want her son to see her like this.

"Please, get Henry out of here." She begged Emma. But Henry didn't budge.

"No! I want to stay!" he argued.

"Henry Daniel!" Regina tried to scold him but fell back on the bed in a coughing fit. Henry grabbed another pillow to put under her head.

"Emma!" she begged, using all her strength to make sure her son was safe from seeing her in pain. Emma understood this and nodded. She grabbed Henry and turned him into her arms.

"C'mon Henry. You need to give your mom some time to get better." She whispered to him as she led him out of the room. Regina laid down and took deep breaths. A single tear slipped out. She hated feeling weak and miserable.

"No! I insist on seeing her!"

Her eyes flew open as she heard the voice of the man who had been haunting her dreams for the past couple nights. 'No, no, no…' He can't see me think this, he can't know. She used all her strength to swing her legs over to stand up. But her weakened state failed her. Her vision blurred and she felt herself falling.

But she never hit the ground. Before she knew what was happening, two strong arms caught her small body. The smell of forest and pine filled her nose and she breathed him in. "Robin…" she whispered before going completely unconscious.

When she awoke, she became aware of someone gently wiping her brow with a cold washcloth. She licked her lips and blinked slowly.

"Hey there." She heard Robin's gentle voice, calming her. "You gave us quite a fright." He said as she opened her eyes fully, her heart racing at the closeness of the man next to her. She licked her lips again, her throat was parched.

Robin leaned over and put a glass of water in her hands. She trembled as she reached out for the glass. Robin looked in her eyes and understood. She was too weak to hold the glass herself. He gently held her in his arms as he gave her water. Regina allowed him.

"Why Regina?" he mumbled in her hair. He had to know why she would heal his son, knowing full well the price of her magic. He remembered in Gold's shop, him reminding her that all magic comes with a price. She had said that she was the one doing the magic, she would pay the price. He didn't know what it meant till he overheard Grumpy in Granny's Diner that Regina had fallen ill with pneumonia. He then understood the price of her magic. She had paid for his son. And he had to know why. Why did she care so much about a boy she knew nothing about?

Regina hid her face in the crook of his neck. She knew Robin could read her. They barely knew each other but there was something she couldn't quite explain. It was like a gold thread that tied the two of them together. Their souls.

"I just couldn't let Roland die." She whimpered. The feeling of her lungs collapsing was coming back and she fought it. She didn't want Robin to see her sick. To see her with the illness meant for his son. He didn't need that guilt.

"Regina…"

"I took the price of the magic willingly. I knew what I was doing." She told him. "I didn't want you to know the price."

"You knew. Even before you saw Roland, even before you knew anything about me or him. Why would you risk your life for him?" Robin was even more mystified by this woman lying in his arms. He looked down and saw that Regina had fallen asleep in his arms.

He gently pushed a lock of her dark brunette hair out of her eyes. Robin took the time to look down at her face, relaxed in her tired state. Her expression had softened, her breath was soft against his neck. In her sleep, her fingers subconsciously tightened their grip in his shirt. "Don't worry, Milady. I'll never leave you." He whispered against her temple. A promise he knew he would always keep.

He also knew what he must do. He pulled out his phone and dialed a number.

"I need to make a deal with you. I need your help."

An hour later, Robin looked up as the door to Regina's bedroom opened. Emma entered and moved aside to reveal Robin's visitor. Mr. Gold.

"You're sure about this?" Emma asked hesitantly. She knew more than anyone the price of magic. She should have known Regina's sickness was magic induced. What she didn't know was Robin and his son and how they were tied to Regina. But she was willing to take Robin's lead on this matter.

"Well, looks like the thief needs my help after all." Gold said calmly. He wasn't going to come but when he heard about Regina's illness he knew Henry would never forgive him if he let his mother die. And as much as gold would hate to admit it, he had after the years come to care for Regina in a twisted sort of way.

"She's worse than I thought." He said as he approached her bed. Regina was still sleeping in Robin's arms. Her skin was pale white, her usual red lips were chapped. She had lost weight, the sickness taken its toll on her body.

"You can heal her right?" Robin asked. "I will take the price of this magic." He promised. Gold looked over to Robin and saw the determination in the man's eyes. Robin was in love with Regina. Whether he realized it himself or not, Gold saw it. Gold knew. He knew Regina's happy ending wasn't simple but it had to do with this man and his toddler. The price of the magic to save Regina would have dire consequences for Robin but the price would be minimal against the Dark One… against himself. He would take the price to save the woman he cared for like a daughter.

But maybe he would have some fun first, making Robin believe he owed him a debt.

He held his hands out over Regina's frail body and they all watched as maroon colored light seeped into her skin. Her pale skin slowly turned back to the creamy olive complexion, her plump lips gathered the color they lost in the past 3 days. They watched her take a deep breath and smile in her sleep, her fingers curling into Robin's arm.

"Let her rest. She'll be fine when she wakes." Gold said as he turned to leave.

"Wait! What was the price? I'll pay it." Robin said bravely.

Gold smiled knowingly to himself. "I'll find you later."

Emma watched as Robin pulled Regina closer to him. She didn't know Regina was even seeing Robin, or anyone for that matter. But she followed Gold to see him out, giving Robin and Regina some privacy for the night. She also needed to make sure Henry got to bed.

Regina woke to the smell of freshly fallen snow. Her window was open and she watched her sheer white curtain flow lazily in the winter breeze. She took a deep breath before realizing she wasn't coughing and her lungs didn't burn. She was also very aware that she wasn't alone in her bed; a heavy arm was wrapped around her middle and someone was snoring quietly against her hair. She smell forest and pine and knew exactly who was sharing her bed. She turned slowly to see Robin fast asleep, still in his clothes. She smiled at him. This man who made her feel things she shouldn't be feeling. Things she had long pushed down and told herself she didn't need anymore. The safety, the warmth, the…. Hope.

He felt her breathing change and he slowly opened his eyes. Her eyes searched his sleepy blues. He gave her a crooked half grin, sending heat down her belly.

"Good morning, Milady. How are you feeling?" he croaked, his morning voice coming out. He cleared his throat before sitting up and running a hand through his sandy blonde hair. Regina watched him, curiosity overwhelming her. How exactly did he get Emma to allow him to spend the night? And where was her son? And where was HIS son? How am I feeling better already? I just happened over night…

"How am I healed?" she asked quietly, half of her already knew the answer. There was only one explanation. Robin made a deal with the devil. The devil being Gold.

Robin looked over at her, hesitation in his eyes. She knew.

"I couldn't let you fall sicker. Not when you healed Roland." He told her.

Regina closed her eyes. She needed to talk to Gold and get him to drop whatever deal he made with the thief. Robin had a son he needed to remain alive for. Regina sat up and breathed with relief when she didn't need assistance.

"I hope you don't mind I spent the night here. I needed to make sure you were indeed okay." He confessed as he took her hands in his.

"Why?"

Robin smiled, his eyes twinkling at her. "For the same reason you healed Roland."

"I can't explain it. I know we just barely met but I feel like we know each other. Did we know each other in the Enchanted Forest?" she wondered.

"I doubt I would ever forget meeting you." The truth in Robin's voice made Regina blush. She looked away and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"Where is Roland? And is he feeling better?" she asked, changing the topic. His son seemed like a safe choice.

"He's doing quite well, thanks to you. He's with Little John. He's been very busy telling everyone that the beautiful queen saved him and is coming to dinner on Friday… you are still coming, right?" he asked uncertainly.

Regina smiled. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Robin beamed at her and Regina felt the world around them melt away. Their fingers were lightly touching on the bed and Robin gently linked them. Regina held her breath.

They slowly leaned forward, their lips only inches apart.

Before they could do anything, the door burst open and Henry ran in.

"Mom! You're feeli-" he stopped mid-sentence when he realized his mother wasn't alone.

"Who's this? Why are you in my mom's bed?" Henry's eyes flashed at Robin.

"Shit." Regina mumbled.

"Mom! A dollar in the swear jar!" Henry yelled.

"Henry! I told you to wait for her to come out of her room!" Emma yelled as she finally caught up with their son.

She paused at the scene they interrupted. Robin was still sitting on Regina's bed, their fingers still interlocked. Regina was quick to let go of his hand.

"Making tacos?" she smirked. Regina's face turned bright red. It was an inside joke, starting with the time Henry and Emma walking in on Charming and Snow in bed together in the middle of the day.

"Absolutely not!" Regina stuttered. Robin just looked around confused.

"Tacos?"

"I thought we have tacos on Tuesday?" Henry interrupted, his confusion was also evident. "Today is Wednesday. Taco Tuesday was last night."

Regina groaned.

"Yeah it was." Emma smirked at the couple.

"Out! Both of you!" Regina threw a pillow at Emma's head. Emma laughed and pulled Henry out of his mother's room.

"I'm so confused." Robin said. "Isn't it a little early for tacos?"

Regina giggled. "It's a euphemism for sex." She told him, enjoying the way his ears turned bright red.

"What?!"

"Emma and Henry walked in on Snow and Charming in bed once and Charming, ever so eloquently, said they were 'making tacos' when Henry asked why they were still in bed… and ever since then we've just made it a running joke for sex." Regina smirked.

Robin was at a loss for words. "And Taco Tuesday…?"

"Oh, well. We actually do eat tacos on Tuesdays for dinner. It's a family tradition." She laughed.

"I still have a lot to learn about this world." Robin smiled at her.