Chapter 10: Bridge Between

It had been months since the citizens of Storybrooke returned to the Enchanted Forest. Regina had spent much of her time researching the Wicked Witch in an attempt to devise a plan to defeat her. It was no use though, because there was little written about her. Regina still didn't even know what her plans were, other than to destroy her. Without knowing what Zelena was up to, Regina had no way to know how to plan her defense. That was until one day the witch came to their castle, threatening to take Snow White's unborn child. Regina was thrilled after that because she finally had a lead. She knew what the witch wanted and she knew that wouldn't make another appearance until the baby was born. It meant she had time. And time was everything.

That same night Robin cornered Regina after their council meeting. All he wanted to do was talk about what had happened that morning and what it meant for the safety of those in the castle. But she was less than willing to give him what he wanted. There was too much to do now that she had her first lead in months, she couldn't afford to be distracted by the man. He took up enough space in her mind, she didn't need him taking up anymore. He had grabbed her arm when she tried to retreat and when she turned around to berate him, she saw it. His sleeve had come up a bit, exposing a tattoo on his lower wrist. It was the same lion tattoo haunted her dreams to this day. She felt her hands fist together and her breathing stop. She panicked, ripping her arm out of Robin's grasp, turning around to rush out of the room. For the second time in her life she ran away from a lion.

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More months went by without any progress. Regina could figure out what Zelena wanted with Snow's child. She spent most of her time in her library away from the others, which didn't make a difference because she couldn't focus most days, her thoughts being occupied by a simple tattoo. A simple tattoo that meant a life thrown away. Just when she thought she was getting her feet back under her, she would think about that night at the tavern. The night that sealed her fate. She had a chance. But she threw it away. And if she wasn't thinking of Robin, she was thinking about her son who she desperately wanted to get back to or her daughter who she wasn't sure she could protect.

The others weren't much help. No one could find any magical items that could defeat the Zelena and time was running out. At one of the many council meetings, the group collectively decided the next logically step would go to Rumplestilskin's castle on the chance that he would know how to defeat Zelena. It was a long shot, but they were quickly running out of options. Robin suggested joining the group to the castle, which Regina highly protested. But of course, Robin won in the end. Lilla smirked a little. Robin and Regina still weren't getting along and their feud was amusing to her because she knew that under all of the avoiding and bickering that they had mutual appreciation for one another. Regina had angrily left the room before the end of the meeting and only came out of her chambers when it was time to leave the palace.

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Once they got to Rumple's castle, Lilla was on edge. She didn't like anything about their plan. Breaking into the Dark One's castle was dangerous and they had no way to know what danger waited for them inside. Lilla's hand, much like Charming's, never left the hilt of her sword.

Robin had warned the queen about a booby-trapped door, but she only turned her nose in response and did whatever she wanted. Lilla was about to argue with Regina when Robin shot an arrow at the door causing it to explode, saving Regina. Lilla remembered when she had done the same thing to Regina years ago. Regina had lashed out back then, just as she lashed out now. Lilla held her tongue while Regina chastised and belittled Robin. Robin looked down at his feet and shook his head a little, trying his best not to take her words too seriously. He saw what Lilla saw all those years, a woman who lashed out in order to protect herself. It was her way of keeping people from getting too close.

As the group got closer to the castle's main hall, Regina paused, grabbing hold of Lilla's wrist. Turning Lilla to face her, Regina spoke quietly, "Stay here." Lilla pulled her arm out of Regina's hold, "For what reason?" Regina stood up a little straighter, narrowing her eyebrows, "Because you can keep watch out here. And because I told you to." Lilla looked at Regina with anger, "Really? Or is it because you don't think I can handle myself around Rumplestilskin? I didn't think that you of all people would have such little faith in me." Regina opened her mouth, ready to disagree, but Robin spoke first, "Listen to her majesty, Lilla. You were given an order, now follow it." Lilla looked to Robin, she felt betrayed. With the two of them teamed together, she wasn't going to win. Lilla gave a small nod of her head and stepped aside to allow the others to walk past.

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Robin and Regina were walking next to each other as they approached the main hallway. Regina almost couldn't believe that Robin had backed her up a minute ago. Both of them thought it better this way. Robin didn't want Lilla any closer to the Dark One than she had to be, he knew what Rumple was capable of, having experienced his wrath first hand. And Regina was concerned that if Rumplestilskin saw Lilla, he would know who she was and they could all be in trouble.

Regina looked at Robin with such admiration, he had the same fierce protectiveness of Lilla that she did. Regina's chest untightened a little by actions. Regina grabbed his wrist just before they got to the entrance before the main hall. She wanted to thank him, but when Robin turned to her, she saw in his eyes that he already knew. So she just gave him a small smile, which he returned.

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Regina was happy to see that her teacher was alive, even if he was mad and trapped in a cage. In between senseless rambling, Rumple told them of a good witch, Glinda, who could be the key to defeating Zelena. With a sense of determination, she turned on her heels, ready to do whatever it took to find this Glinda because all hope that her daughter wouldn't be taken from her again relied on her.

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The group got back to the Dark Palace later that night. The next day they would make the journey to the north part of the forest to find Glinda. Lilla gave the group a collective goodnight to retreat to her room, still angry at Regina and Robin for ganging up on her. Snow gave Regina a slight shrug, she didn't know what to say to her to make her feel any better. She wanted to tell her that she made the right choice, but she still wasn't sure where everyone stood. Regina's gaze lowed to the floor and she walked a little slower to her own chambers. She didn't like disappointing Lilla.

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Robin couldn't sleep that night, so he took to walking around the castle. His mind was too occupied by the day's events to rest. He was worried about finding this Glinda, not even sure that she even existed. He was also bothered how cold the queen could be one minute and so warm the next. Robin had barley spent any time with the woman, but the moments they shared were always on his mind. He hadn't been watching where his feet took him and eventually he made his way through the long hallways to the very woman's sitting room. He looked around to find the queen standing on the balcony. The only light came from the moon and Robin thought that she looked beautiful. Robin took another moment to take her in, her shoulders were uncharacteristically slumped over, clearly deep in thought.

Robin didn't want to disturb her so he turned around to leave, but just as he was turning, Regina spoke up, "Did Lilla ever tell you about how we met?" Slightly embarrassed, Robin turned back towards the queen. Walking up to the queen with his head bowed he replied, "Not exactly, your majesty." Robin had made his way to the balcony by then. They stood parallel to one another looking out over the railing. Regina still hadn't moved, "She broke into my castle by climbing over this very railing. Then she refused to leave until I agreed to give her a chance to be in my guard. She was persistent, even back then." Robin laughed a little, "Sounds like her," he said, making the queen smile a little. Robin peaked over the edge of the railing, following the line of the castle wall he shrugged a bit, "Impressive. Quite the climb."

That's when Regina turned to Robin keeping only one hand on the railing to hold her upright. She had tears in her eyes. The lightheartedness of her story was gone. She was no longer the queen that threw around orders and bitter remarks. The woman that was left standing in front of him was a woman desperate to hold onto her happiness. She looked into Robin's eyes, practically pleading and said, "I can't lose her again."

Robin's heart broke for her. She had to say goodbye to her own son not long ago and now she had to worry about defeating an insane witch who was out to destroy her and her happiness. She had to do this all while making sure that the people she loved, including Lilla, were safe. It was too much for one person to handle. Robin wished he could carry some of that burden from her. He promised himself that he would do whatever it took to keep Lilla outside of harm's way. Whatever he had to give, he would give.

He covered Regina's hand that was gripping the railing with one of his own and with the full sense of his promise in his voice he said, "We won't lose her. Whatever happens, I promise we won't lose her." Robin speech was cut short when Regina gripped the front of his shirt with her free hand and pulled him a little closer to her. Regina's thoughts had faded, the only one left behind was the echo of his voice, he had said we. We won't lose her. He knew how she felt and her heart swelled for him.

She pulled him closer to her, "I don't know what will happen tomorrow," Regina said softly. Regina looked away from Robin, whipping away a tear that had gotten away. Robin gripped Regina's hand with his a little harder, "Neither do I." That was all he needed to say for her to finally give into the feelings that had been burning in her ever since that day in her garden. The feelings who's flame only grew more when he had sided with her at Rumple's castle. Every glance, fight, and every conversation they shared since the day they met lead up to this moment. With every emotion in her body, Regina crashed her lips to Robin's. She kissed away her worries, all of the doubts she had about herself and all of the pain of her past. She kissed that man who had invaded her dreams ever since the night she went to a tavern with a fairy.

When he pulled back a little to look into her eyes, she knew that kiss meant more to them than anything. She need his strength, she needed him. Her tears were gone replaced with passion and need.

One kiss was all it took for him to start falling in love with her. Robin didn't give her a chance to run away from him again, taking her lips with more force and anticipation than she had. Robin removed his hand from Regina's that was still on the railing to grip her face while the other pulled at her waist. Pulling her closer to him. Regina moaned into his mouth which he took as an invitation to kiss her harder. Regina went on her tip-toes, pulling at his shoulders, trying to get closer to him. Robin used his leverage to back her up until her back and his hand met he archway of the balcony. There wasn't a chance she would leave him now.

He thought that this was one of the most beautiful moments of his life, kissing this woman in the moonlight on a balcony overlooking the beautiful land below them. Their kisses slowed, growing more tender and less feverish until his tongue grazed the top her mouth. Then Regina lost all control. She kissed Robin harder and with more urgency. While gripping the front of his shirt, she tried to pull her legs around his waist. She needed to be closer to him. She just needed him. Robin needed her just as much, pulling her dress up between his fingers. The soft velvet met the rough skin of his hands.

When he kissed his way down her neck to the point just above her heart, Regina knew that she had never felt more alive than she did in this moment. Her heartbeat rang in her ears to remind her of that. There was this bridge, connecting their hearts, and that bridge was love. Love for a young woman, love for their own sons, and above all else, a mutual love and respect for each other. Regina didn't need a tattoo to tell her how she was supposed to feel about the man. Their connection was greater than some prophecy written in fairy dust. If she had never met Tinkerbell, she would still, without a doubt, know that this man was made for her. Regina felt unstoppable as his hands pressed into her body, holding her to him. No, she didn't need a fairy to tell her this was the man she was meant to be with.

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Confession time, I wasn't sober when I edited/ wrote most of this chapter. I don't know if it was because I had an exhausting week, but I had the hardest time writing this week. But I wanted to deliver, so I hope you all enjoyed the product of a bottle of wine and hours of writing. I've started on the next five chapters. But there are so many other scenes I want to write so I might not update for a little bit.

Alrighty,

Love you all.

Have a good week.

Goodbye weekend, it was nice knowing you.

Oh and I finished reading the Stranger for like the tenth time this weekend, found a lovely quote:

"I would listen to my heartbeat. I couldn't imagine that this sound which had been with me for so long could ever stop[...] I would try to picture the exact moment when the beating of my heart would no longer be going inside my head."

Well, it's not really lovely, kinda sad actually. But it's a good heart quote, which I'm apparently obsessed with currently.