If there was something to be said about Robin Hood, it was that he was man of honor and principle. True, such adjectives wouldn't normally apply for a man that has spent half his life looting and robbing, but everyone who knew him would agree that those two were the words that would describe the man best.

He believed that everything had to be done the right way; he believed in being fair and because he was such an altruistic by heart, he believed that the best deed to be done was helping others. Now, that he thought and acted by his own code didn't make him a saint because he had his good share of flaws and he knew it, but if anyone would ask him, he would say that yes, that even though he has dealt with a lot of hardships, he has remained in essence a good man.

But… right in that moment he didn't exactly feel as a good man. Quite the contrary, after being able to take a sit and draw a deep breath, he has looked back to what happened with Regina and the memory of it only left a sour taste on his mouth.

He had no justification for the things he said and even as he was saying them he knew it; but the thing was that he has let anger and frustration get the best of him and now he could see that going off on her hadn't been the best action to take.

He has been wrong… he admitted it… but at the same time he couldn't help but to think that there was something about Regina that just made the worse of him come out.

She was… he didn't even know how to explain it; she just had an uncanny ability to unknowingly play with his mind and make him feel all sort of things in a short amount of time.

Take that day example, when Little John has gone to him to inform him that she was in full Evil Queen mode, he has felt the need to go and reason with her. It didn't work, she went ahead and did her thing and that definitely made his mood turn to acrid.

For a moment he forgot that she was a broken woman who just dealt with something that obviously bothered her greatly and instead he just focused on the fact that he couldn't get why she would let darkness take hold of her like that.

It has been his mistake to overlook that, but he has been so sure that she had more in her than that and that she would so easily slip back to what she was simply made him mad.

In his bad temper he couldn't fathom that such a strong woman could be so easily manipulated by her own dark thoughts and he let his own anger make him go to her and say the things he said.

Needless to say, the results had been catastrophic.

Quirking his lips and cradling his head into his hands, Robin closed his eyes for a second and took in a deep breath.

When Regina started to cry he almost freaked out because the truth was that weeping women made him uncomfortable. He just didn't know how to deal with them, and when that woman was the so called Evil Queen, a woman that for all it was said about her had a heart made out of stone and a soul dark as sin, he just couldn't help but to feel even more lost.

But Regina… the thing about her was that even if she could make him mad as hell, he couldn't picture her as everybody else did. Yes, he knew of the things she did and he knew them well; but having her there, in flesh and blood was different that hearing about her and he could no longer dehumanize her and deprive her of her essence.

What he saw in her was a woman that was carrying a lot of pain and knowing that only made him oddly drawn to her. Maybe that was the reason why he reached for her and tried to offer what little comfort he could, maybe that was why he pulled her into his arms and let her cry.

Oh but she fought him, of course she did, but because he could be as stubborn as she was he never let go until she gave in and let it all out.

That's how his anger dwindled down and gave way to a more sympathetic side of him.

For a long time he just held her, his mind swirling about the things she said… trying to imagine the things that happened to her and the ones she implied. It was terrible just to think about it so he didn't even want to imagine what it was like to had lived them…

Now… as for the kiss… he didn't even know that to think about that. She has been upset… that was the only way thing he could think off and as for his reason not to pull away as soon as he felt her lips on him? Well…

"Papa?"

Lifting his head and seeing Roland standing by the door with a huge grin on his face, Robin tried to shake all his Regina thoughts out of his mind and he offered the boy his best smile.

"Hey, there you are. Come here."

Roland went running to him, giggling, and when he sat on his father's lap Robin mussed his hair.

"Why is Mulan floating in the air. Is it magic?"

"You found Mulan?"

"Little John and I did." He said proudly, then he started talking without taking a breath. "But we can't get her down because she's all the way up to the ceiling and Little John said that I had to go come and tell you to ask the Queen to put her down and… and there was something else but I don't remember."

Taking it all in, Robin pursed his lips. "Mulan is floating…" It wasn't a question, he just wanted to let it all sink in. "Is she alright?"

"I think she's mad." He giggled and made a face. "Does the Queen has magic, Papa?"

Cringing at the question and biting hard on his tongue as not to cuss out loud in front of his son, Robin Hood lifted his hands up in the air and then ever so slowly, he placed them on top of his head.

"If she does, can we get rid of the trolls and get a real home?" The boy, who was no longer giggling asked innocently, his eyes full of wonder and even a little excitement.

"No. Magic always comes with a price, so even if the Queen has it, we shouldn't use it to harm… even if it is the trolls."

To that Roland didn't say anything, he just shrugged and casted his head down. "We should still ask her…"

"Damn it, Regina." Robin hissed under his breath because he didn't really want to explain to his boy why using magic was not the answer. He wasn't exactly in the mood and besides, even though Roland has seen quite a lot in his short years, he didn't want him fully knowing about magic.

"Papa! Don't cuss. Friar Tuck says it is bad to cuss."

"I know, I know." Robin said before kissing the boy's head. "I'll tell you what. I'll go with the Queen and you will go and wait with Little John, deal?"

Nodding and jumping to his feet, Roland ran to the door. Robin watched him, wondering if it was such a good idea to go to the Queen so soon after… everything.

Clearing his throat and standing up, he decided that this couldn't wait. He didn't exactly know in what conditions was Mulan 'floating' but he was going to assume that the sooner she would be let down, the better.

With that in mind, he walked back to the Queen's chambers and once he was by the door, he knocked.

Yes, he actually knocked because last time he went in the Queen hadn't been presentable and he didn't want to repeat that. But after knocking three times and getting no answer he decided to open the door a bit and call for her.

"Regina."

Still no answer so he pushed the door wide open to take a look in. The Queen, who was sitting by a table, fully dressed and with her eyes fixed in the crystal ball he has given to her a while ago, didn't even moved when he cleared her throat.

"Didn't you take a hint in the fact that I wasn't answering? I want to be alone." Her voice, cutting and distant made him know that she was back in her haughty mode and trying not to wonder if that was a good thing or a bad one, he took another step in.

"We found Mulan, but it appears to be that we need you to help her down." As he said that, he saw that she was once again checking on her son through the crystal ball and apparently that demanded all her attention. "Regina?"

Rolling her eyes, she touched the magic sphere and the image of the boy was gone. "What?"

"We need you to put Mulan down."

Arching an eyebrow, she looked at him and lifted her face. "Why, hanging there can be quite a humble experience and she needs it."

"Maybe, but I still need you to put her down."

Her eyes found his and she stared deep into them. It was almost as if she was testing him and holding on her gaze, he waited.

But then, she sighed and waving her hand she turned away from him and went back to the crystal ball. "Done, now leave me."

Robin watched her for a while longer and despite himself, he started to study her appearance. Now, as he stood there, had no doubt why people used to comment on her striking beauty when she has been Queen as he has seen her exactly how she looked when she used to rule the Enchanted Forest and beauty fell too short of an adjective.

But as enticing as she has looked earlier on, he would rather see her like she was now, her hair down and softly brushing against her shoulders, her lips faintly colored and her skin glowing with her natural beauty. Even her eyes looked stunning with only her eyelashes to compliment them.

"Close the door when you go out."

Ignoring the dismissal, he blinked a few times and before he could stop himself, he was opening his mouth to talk. "What happened earlier on…"

"I don't want to talk about it." She said before he could even finish and even though she was looking at the crystal ball, Robin noticed that the sphere was not portraying any kind of image.

"Was is it all true?" Now, he knew it was all true as why would anyone lie about it and then react so strongly about it, but he needed to start somewhere.

"What part of I don't want to talk about it didn't you get?" She asked, her voice dripping venom.

That's when he knew that no, the fact that she was turning back to her haughty mode wasn't good like at all. Not when he thought that her opening to him was a good progress.

But he was stubborn… and so he pressed in another direction.

"Alright, how about we talk about you kissing me. What was that all about?"

Turning to him and sending him an icy cold glare, Regina opened her mouth and then clasped it shut. She hadn't been expecting him to ask so boldly and for a moment she just looked at him in bewilderment. Then, she got a grip and straightening her back and arching an eyebrow, she shrugged.

"I didn't kiss you."

"Oh, so you just stumbled and fell on my lips?" He scoffed, his eyes shining in amusement at her obvious discomfort with the subject.

Shaking her head, her lips pursed and her eyes narrowed. "That wasn't even a kiss so get over it; as if I would be kissing you." Now, her tone was in full disdain mode as she went back to giving her back to him and he wondered why she was so in the defensive.

"If that wasn't a kiss then what was it?"

"I don't want to talk about it." She said again and Robin could feel himself getting frustrated again. Not that he was going to let it affect him.

Oh but part of him wanted to push at her buttons, not out of malice but just to see why she was like this now. Less than an hour ago she was opening to him and now she was trying to push him away and he didn't get it.

"Well I've had them better too but I still consider it a kiss. What I don't get is why did you do it."

"Just drop it, thief."

"I'm the thief? Well you were the one stealing kisses out of me."

Regina gasped and with wide eyes she stared at him. "I was upset okay, you made me feel upset and I didn't know what I was doing. Is that what you wanted to hear? So now that you had your answer, leave me alone and go check on your little girlfriend."

Tilting his head to the side but without taking his eyes from her, Robin chewed on the inside of his cheek and tried to figure out why was Regina always calling Mulan his girlfriend and why did she always say it in such a tone.

Snorting and shaking his head at the ridiculous thought he just had, Robin walked closer to Regina and once in front of her, he lowered to her level and smiled.

He knew he shouldn't be doing this but he couldn't help it. Seeing Regina like that made him think on an entire new light and feeling a little playful without the intention of carrying things on, he used a finger to lift her chin to him.

"Well if that's the case, feel free to call me whenever you feel upset."

Regina, parted her lips and in what could be considered as a snarl, she hissed. "You can dream on it, but it's not going to happen."

"Fair enough." He said, getting a bit closer… in fact he got a hell of a lot closer and too late did he realize that moving an inch closer would make his lips touch hers. "But what if I get upset?"

"You can deal with it just fine, I bet." Regina didn't pull away and he got lost in her eyes.

How was this woman making him act so unlike himself? He didn't get it. He hadn't known her for too long and yet she was capable of messing with his mind like no other. And the worse thing was that she wasn't even aware that she was doing it.

Lowering his eyes to her lips, Robin swallowed on dry and then he went back to stare into her brown orbs… and that's when it got into his mind that if he moved that inch closer, he could kiss her and she would probably let him.

At least that was what her eyes were silently telling him.

"Papa?"

His son's voice made him pull back and out of the corner of his eyes he saw the way Regina tensed her jaw and pressed her back against her chair.

"What are you doing?"

Forcing out a smile, he looked at the boy and wrinkled his nose. "Nothing… I was talking with the… with Regina."

"Oh alright. Mulan wants to talk to you."

Running a hand down his face, Robin mumbled something that Regina couldn't quite listen and then he was out the door as if he was being chased by the devil himself.

Regina watched him, her eyes wide in confusion after what just happened. Had Robin wanted to kiss her? Had she wanted him to do it? No… no.

"Can I tell you a secret?" Roland said and it was only then that she realized that the boy stayed behind.

"Yes, of course, dear." Shaking all thoughts away, she smiled to the boy and nodding, she watched as he walked close to her.

Once he was by her side, he motioned her to lean closer and she did.

Once he was able to stand on his tip toes, he grabbed her face and whispered in her ear. "I can do magic too."

Frowning, Regina looked at the boy and after noticing the resemblance to his father, she asked. "Really, and how is that?"

Giggling, Roland let go of her and walking to the wall, he knelt down and took out a chalk. With it, he drew a circle and when it was done, he crawled through it and disappeared into it.

Regina gasped in surprise and getting to her feet in a hurry, she walked to the wall and peered in.

Roland was at the other side, clearly on the corridor outside her bedchambers.

"See, I have magic too."

"I can't believe this," she said, crawling through the circle too and sitting next to Roland. "How didn't I see this one?" She laughed, all of a sudden feeling content.

She just couldn't help it, as she was sure that Roland just put her in the right track so that she could go back to her son… finally.

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Thank you so, so much for the amazing reviews, they really motivated me.