Chapter 10

The white and decorated curtains are wide open, allowing the sunlight to shine up through the windows, giving the room an entirely different feel from the night before. The light is bright enough to wake Regina up from of the best sleep she's ever had.

Regina slowly opens her eyes. It takes a long moment for her to realize that her head is still laying on Robin's naked chest. His muscular left arm is wrapped around her neck, keeping her closer. The slow and steady rhythm of his heart beating in his chest is resonating in her ear. It's impossible for Regina to keep her eyes open, so she slightly turns to Robin, breathing in his scent. Intoxicated by the musky and virile smell of his skin, she takes few more breaths, delving deeper into the essence.

The same essence that reminds Regina the Enchanted Forest – her real home. Closing her eyes, she can easily picture herself, ten years younger, riding Rocinante into the woods. That feeling of freedom always filled her heart up, like nothing else. Sometimes she misses her young self, the innocent and naïve girl she used to be, when posture was the only real problem in her life. The same girl who sneaked out of the castle to meet her beloved Daniel in the stables. Until that morning she saved Snow White's life, the day her life changed forever. Since she lost Daniel, her heart has been full of anger, sadness and pain, with no hope for the future.

Regina gently grabs Robin's wrist and lifts up his arm trying not to wake him up. Moving very slowly, she slips away on the bed before to place his arm on his own chest. She takes a long look at Robin – he's still sleeping. Turning on the mattress, she watches the clock on the bedtime time.

8.23am.

It's still early.

Regina turns around, sinking her elbow on the pillow so she can lay her head on her hand. She can't help but thinking of everything she's been through since Daniel died in her arms. How easily it was for her to fall into darkness, to let it control her. Snow had to pay for what she did but, without all that suffering, Regina would've never created Storybrooke and she probably would've never met Robin.

How is that possible that I never met you before?

After she ran away from that tavern, the night Tinker Bell lead her to meet him, Regina didn't meet the man with the lion tattoo ever again. It's like their lives took two complete different paths, never meant to meet each other again. She's waited for so long to feel this happiness, when all she needed to do was to walk in that tavern and meet him.

May I be damned!

And yet, here he is. Robin is peacefully sleeping next to her. Regina stares at him, listening to his slow rhythmic breathing, as the air slips in and out between his barely parted lips. His bare chest slowly rises and falls, moving up and down the blankets. The more she watches him the more her feelings for him become clear. It's weird how she never, in a million years, believed that she'd love someone else as much as she loved Daniel. Robin found a way to tear down all her walls and conquered her heart in a way she never expected. It's like he ripped it out of her chest and now he owns it. Deep down she feels that her heart belongs to him, that it's meant to beat in the palm of his hand. Regina can even picture Robin holding her beating heart, cherish it like a real gentleman, but then she realizes that would probably be the end of everything. He would see how dark it became because of what she did and he'd walk away because nobody could ever love the ruthless and cruel Evil Queen.

The same woman I'm falling in love with.

Robin's words still echo in her head. Regina closes her eyes, trying not to think of it. 'I'm not worth it.'

'Of what?' A voice filled up the room.

She shut her eyes wide open. Looking down, she notices Robin's eyes are still close and so are his lips. What the hell? Regina looks around wondering if someone really spoke or she just imagined it. What's going on? Is she losing her mind? Looking all over the room, she can't see anybody. Of course nobody is in here! She turns to the door, maybe one of the kids walked in without making any sound, but it's closed. 'What…'

Robin's body starts moving, just out of the sudden. Regina lowers her head and looks at him, worried that something is wrong with him. A smile is now appearing on his face. He's more than fine, he's just doing his best not to laugh.

'Robin!' She says, instinctively pushing him by his arm. For a brief moment she really believed that someone was in that room with them. Robin starts laughing very loudly and she can't help but laugh along with him. 'How – how long…' she tries to ask, 'How long have been awake?'

'Long enough to realize you were staring at me.' Robin turns and meets her glance. The weariness in those blue eyes is very clear, and yet, they are still shining at her. Seeing that love in his eyes melts Regina's heart all over again. 'I hope you enjoyed the view.' He says raising his hand and moves her black hair.

Regina feels her cheek burning up. She's embarrassed, it's something she's not used to. She nods her head without saying a word, before to lower herself and kiss him. A fast but soft kiss, as their lips gently touch. None of them close their eyes, they simply look at each other, enjoying each other's taste.

'You still haven't answered my question though.' Robin says after she breaks the kiss.

Regina swallows loudly. She knows exactly what he's talking about but she doesn't want to answer it. 'We should get dressed. The kids could wake up in any minute.' Regina says raising her back to put some distance between them.

'Regina, wait.' Robin moves his hand fast and grabs her arm to stop her. She closes her eyes, hating herself. She has no choice now. 'Please, don't.. don't do this. Talk to me.'

'It's just…' Regina turns around to look at him again. How she can even explain it to him without talking about the Enchanted Forest? How can he fully understand it? She takes a deep breath as Robin holds her hand. 'I never felt worth it of something like this and.. this is more than I've ever expected.'

He raises his back and leans against the headboard. 'Everyone is worth it of being loved, with no exception. How can you even think that?' His thumb is gently rubbing against the back of her hand.

'You don't know that. You don't know my past.'

'I don't need to. We've been given a second chance of love and happiness, that's all I need to know.' Robin says looking right into her eyes. 'I don't want to miss this chance, not with you.'

Regina's brown eyes suddenly fill up with tears. Definitely too many to fight them all back. 'Robin, I..' Her voice is broken and yet, Regina is happy. 'I.. I don't know what to say..'

'Then don't. Just.. kiss me.' Robin smirks, tilting his head. His eyes are wide open, begging her to kiss him.

The puppy face suits him as much as it suits Henry whenever he needs something and doesn't want a no for an answer. Despite how hard Regina fights that temptation, she just can't say no to none of them. She slowly lowers her head and meets his lips halfway in a kiss that makes her forget all her fear for a moment. She focuses on the sweetness and simplicity of that touch, on the way their lips fit perfectly against each other's, without even moving.

'We really should get out of this bed now.' Regina says breaking the kiss.

'Oh, come on.' He stretches his arm, trying in vain to grab her wrist to stop her, but Regina moves faster. 'Why can't we just lay here for a while?'

'Because we would never leave.' She sits on the edge of the bed, turning her back on him. Chills run through her naked skin as she moves the blankets aside. Walking over the wardrobe she knows that Robin is not taking his eyes off of her. Regina takes the first dressing gown she finds in her wardrobe and wears it. Fasting the belt around her waist, she turns to her bed and sees Robin standing on his feet as he pulls up his pants. She bites her lower lip looking at his sculpted body.

'Have I mentioned that you're stunning?' Robin takes few steps closer, distracting Regina from staring at him. He gently grabs her hips and taking a long look at her, from tip to tail.

'Hmm.. probably.' Regina tils her head, smirking. 'But I don't mind if you keep saying it.'

'You're stunning, Madame Mayor.'

Their noses meet halfway, rubbing against each other. Regina moves her cold hands on his chest, caressing his bare skin with her thumbs. She's very tempted to kiss him again, and again. The taste of his lips pressed against hers is so incredibly sweet, but she forces herself not to. Feeling the goosebumps on his body under her touch, Regina steps back. 'Get your shirt. You're freezing.'

'Yes, ma'am. If that's what you really want.' Robin grabs the white tank from the ground and wears it.

Of course not.

Regina swallows loudly, looking at his torso until the very inch of it get covered.

'Regina..' Roland says from the other side of the table, pointing the pie in front of him. 'Can I?' Both Henry and Roland reached them in the kitchen as soon as they woke up.

'Of course.' Regina takes a slice of the apple pie and gives it to Roland, staring at the cuteness of that little boy.

They are all standing around the kitchen table, with sleepiness in their eyes. Regina's heart melts looking at that moment, trying to freeze that picture in her head to cherish it forever. Just like a real and happy family.

'Mum, do you think we can go to the forest later? I would like to try shooting arrows again.' Henry begs her, trying to win her over with his puppy face.

'I don't think that's possible.' She hates breaking his little heart, but she has no choice. 'Yesterday rained all day and the forest is the last place someone would like to go.'

'Please.'

'No, Henry. We can go another day.' Regina says cutting out the conversation. There was no way she would let him convince her, even if seeing Henry's sad face hurts her.

'I have an idea!' Robin speaks up, out of the sudden. 'There's a target on the back of my tavern. Roland and I usually play there because it's easier than to walk in the middle of the forest. What do you think, Regina?'

Regina's look moves from Robin to Henry, noticing her son's eyes glowing with happiness. 'Well..' she starts, turning to Robin. Before she can say anything else, someone knocks at the front door, catching everyone's attention. 'We'll talk about this as soon as I get back, okay?' Walking away, Regina sees Robin winks at Henry knowing she has no choice but to agree.

She tries not to pay much attention, wondering who knocked at her door so early in the morning. Her curiosity turns into shock as soon as she sees the man standing in front of her. 'Graham?' Without saying anything, the sheriff gets closer and presses his lips against hers, kissing Regina. She doesn't hesitate and, with her hands pressed against his chest, she pushes him back. 'What are you doing?'

'I know everything, Regina. You don't have to pretend anymore.' Graham grabs her hands and holds them against his chest. The woman's blood freezes inside her veins, worrying about his words. 'Yesterday, you came to talk to me with that look on your face. The same look you have when you want to say something but you're scared to show your fragile side. I thought of you for the entire day and night, wondering what that could mean, until I figured it out.'

'You figured out what?' Regina asks, trying to understand his point, but nothing makes sense.

'You care for me, Regina, more than you're willing to admit.' Graham raises his hand and cups her cheek. 'That's why I'm here now. I'm in love with you and I know you feel the same.'

'Graham, wait.' She takes a step back, as his hand falls down. 'W-what are you talking about?' Regina is shocked to hear of his feelings, since when he was in love with her? They spent some nights before but they meant nothing to her, at least not as much they meant to Graham. Thinking of his words, Regina puts together all the pieces of the puzzle and realizes why he's acting so weird. The heart. She gave him his heart back and whatever feeling he felt for her, simply amplified.

'There's no point on denying it anymore. You wanted me to get jealous of that.. Robin, so I could understand. And now I do.'

'I never wanted you to get jealous of anybody. What happened between us was good, but it was nothing more than just sex.' Regina says looking straight into his eyes, hoping he would calm down. She can't believe that, for all this time, he's been feeling that way about her. Give him his heart back was a bad decision.

'But we could have a lot more. I love you, Regina.' Graham takes a step closer, forcing Regina to move back until she hits the wall behind her back. 'Don't waste your time with him.. Not when we could be together.'

'I'm not wasting my time.' Regina raises her voice. 'Now, back off!'

'Is everything alright?'

Both Regina and Graham turns in sync, and see Robin standing in front of them. The situation couldn't get more complicated. 'What is he doing here?' Graham speaks up first.

'It's none of your business.' Regina says with a rude tone of voice. 'Now, please, leave.'

'Don't do this, Regina.' The sheriff tries to hold her hand once again but she moves it faster.

'Ehi. You heard the lady, walk away.'

'Stay the hell out of it.'

'That's enough!' Regina walks away and, standing between the two men, she opens the front door of her house. 'Go away, Graham. Don't make me ask you again.' She watches straight into his eyes, without even blinking, until he eventually backs down and walks outside. Regina closes the door, leaning against it as she breathes deeply.

'Come here.' Robin whispers, tilting his head. She walks toward him, over the three little steps and lets herself go into his arms. He holds her tight, kissing her head. 'Are you alright?'

'I will be.' She says breaking the hug to look at him.

'What did the Sheriff want from you?'

'Me.' Regina sees Robin's face turning from curious to worried into a blink of an eye. 'Something happened between Graham and me, before I met you, but now he says he has feelings for me.. that he loves me.' Her voice breaks saying those words, because she deeps down she believes it's wrong.

'And you?'

'What?'

'Do you.. do you have feelings for him?' Robin asks watching straight in her eyes.

'I..' Regina hesitates for a brief moment before to say, 'What happened with him is about the past.. I love you, Robin.' A spontaneous smile appears on her face, shining of happiness. After Daniel, she never thought she would be able to pronounce those words to a man ever again but it felt so right saying it to Robin.

Robin gently cups her cheek and, lowering his face, he presses his lips against her softly. Something gets her attention. A powerful wave of air hits both of them, forcing them to break the kiss. Regina can't explain what happened, apparently nothing changed to her, but when she raises her head to look at Robin, she notices that something was wrong.

'Robin, are -'

'You're the Evil Queen!' He says watching straight in her eyes.

Regina's blood freezes in her veins. 'W-what?'

Is the curse broken? Regina keeps asking it to herself over and over, wondering how it could have happened. The prophecy talked about a Savior – Snow and Charming's daughter. She was the only one who could break the most powerful curse ever.

'You.. you killed Marian. You're the reason why Roland grew up without a mother.'

'Robin, wait. I can explain.'

'Don't come any closer!' He says taking a step back. 'How can you explain all the terrible things you did, the people you killed to get Snow White's heart? You know what, I don't care. I just want to get out of here.'

'Robin, please!'

'Daddy?' Roland says standing behind his father, followed by Henry.

'Roland, get your things. We're leaving, now!' Robin says grabbing their clothes from the chair in the living room. The tone of his voice has never been colder.

'Mom, what's going on?'

'Not now, Henry.' Regina says trying not to sound too harsh on her son. 'Robin, don't go. I'm not that person anymore. Please.. talk to me!'

'You want me to talk to you? Fine.' Robin takes Roland in his arms, before to turn to Regina. 'Stay away from us. I want you as far as possible from my son.'

'I would never hurt you or Roland..'

'You ruined my family once, I will never let you do that again.'

Regina's heart breaks into thousands of pieces listening to those words. The way his look full of love and caring turned into pure anger and disgust hurts her more than a knife stabbed in her chest. 'Robin..' She whispers with a broken voice, looking at him walking fast outside her mansion. Her eyes start filling up with tears that she can barely prevent them from rolling down her cheeks. Robin slams the front door.

'I was right.' Henry says breaking the silence that was filling up the house. 'It's all real. The curse, the Enchanted Forest, the fairytales. You made me think that I was insane, that I was talking nonsenses.'

Regina slowly turns to her son, finding him with such disappointment in his brown eyes. 'Henry..'

'You even took me to Archie, trying to talk me out of this.'

'I'm sorry..' She takes few steps towards him and lowers herself so she can look straight into his eyes. 'I couldn't let anybody know the truth. Not even you.'

'You lied to me!' Henry's eyes start filling up with tears, feeling betrayed by his own mother, the woman who raised him.

'I'm sorry, Henry. I really am, but I had no choice. I never wanted the curse to be broken.'

'But you broke it with Robin, didn't you?' Henry's question leaves her speechless. 'It's written in the storybook, true love is most powerful magic of all.'

Regina stares at her son with her mouth open but nothing comes out. Trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle, she realizes that maybe Henry is right, that she's the one who broke her own curse. True love's kiss can break any curse. She remembers the words she said to Belle, back in the Enchanted Forest, when she wanted Rumpelstiltskin to no longer be the Dark One. But was it real? Did her and Robin's kiss break the curse? Was it a true love's kiss? A countless amount of emotions fill up Regina's heart in a way she can't even explain, from happy to disappointed, from surprised to sad, from loved to alone. But a bad feeling of nausea wells up in the pit of her stomach, forcing Regina to wrap her arms around her belly.

'Mom?' Henry says taking a step closer to her. 'Mom, are you okay?'

'I..' Regina can't say anything else, the nausea hits her harder than ever. Bringing her hand on her mouth, she walks away fast to reach the bathroom as soon as possible. She throws herself down onto the floor in front of the toilet as she tries to open the toilet seat hurriedly. She manages to get the seat up as she violently throws up repeatedly.

'Mom..' Henry followed her, he's now standing at the edge of the door. 'What's wrong?'

Regina takes few deep breaths, trying to suffocate the feeling of nausea as best as she can but, when she turns to Henry, her heart breaks even more. She will never forget the scared look on her son's face. 'I'm.. I'm fine.' Regina barely says, feeling sorry for him. 'Please, I.. I don't want you to see-'

'I'm here, mum.' Henry takes few steps closer and grabs some wads of toilet paper, handing them over.

'I thought you.. you hated me..' She does her best to fight back the tears as she wipes her mouth.

'You did awful things and you lied to me..' Henry gently pulls aside a lock of hair from her face, 'But you're my mum. You took care of me when I was sick, let me be here for you.'

Despite all her efforts a tear drops, tracing down her cheek. 'I'm sorry, Henry. I really am.'

Finally I found some time to continue this FF, I apologize for keeping you wait.

Remember: this is not the end! There are a couple of chapters left.

For now, I really hope you enjoyed this one!

Let me know your thoughts by reviewing it.

Daisy