Chapter 10 - woooop. First of all, thank you so much for the consistent support for this story. And people have been asking how much longer we have to go. Right now, I am anticipating five more chapters! But, we'll see. Enjoy this one and please review if you can. As always, I own nothing but the mistakes, they are mine...all mine.

Have you ever felt like you could fly? When you're standing near the edge of a cliff, or on the rooftop of a skyscraper, have you thought for just a second that you could leap and fly off into the sunset? The knots in your stomach with a pinch of excitement, but plagued with a hint of fear…That's the only way Regina can possibly explain what it feels like to currently be kissing Robin Locksley.

It's not an overly heated kiss; it's tame, soft. Robin's lips are moving rhythmically with her own, his slight stubble scratching softly at her upper lip. Somehow her arms have ended up wound around his neck, drawing him in closer, and his hands have been roaming and caressing her back.

But, it's when his hands move upward to her hair that she can't hold anything in anymore. As one of his hands entwines with her delicate raven hair, she whimpers into his mouth and leans up on her tiptoes to meld even closer with him. You know, when she asked for a reason to stay, she was expecting some long, drawn out speech… not this. Definitely not this. She knows that he probably acted on impulse, but in this beautiful moment, she is so, so glad he did.

He begins to pull away from her, but she can't let this moment go, not yet. She tightens her grip around his neck even more, keeping him in place for a few more seconds. When Robin does end the kiss, he moves his lips only mere millimetres from hers, but doesn't let her go. Regina is still on her tiptoes, her arms around his neck, and when his forehead leans against hers, she sighs contently.

Both have their eyes closed, soaking each other in. When Regina sighs a second time, this one less content and shaky with worry, Robin opens his eyes, "What's are you thinking?" Robin asks in a whisper, Regina opening her eyes to meet his.

"I'm thinking," she starts, bringing a hand to the nape of his neck and stroking the ends of his hair, "That the last time this happened, I didn't see you for ten years."

With guilt riddled on his face, he shakes his head, "Not going to happen. I'm not letting you go a second time," Before she can respond, he kisses her again, as if to prove a point. She wants to chuckle at his insistence, but instead to lets herself feel. It's been years since she's felt like this; wanted, cared for.

"I overreacted," Regina mumbles as his lips continue to caress her own.

He pulls back again, "Pardon?"

She focusses on his eyes, getting lost in them in a way she never had before, "I overreacted today," she repeats, "I'm sorry."

Robin brings his hand to her cheek and she leans into it, "Forget about it," he assures, "Right now, I just want to live in this moment, with you," Regina smiles at him sweetly and initiates their next kiss, his hand still on her cheek. It's short, but not unappreciated.

Regina moves away and reaches for his hands while lowering back to lay her feet flat on the floor, "I would still like to talk, if that's okay with you?"

"Absolutely. Might I borrow you this evening?"

She chuckles and nods, "But not here, I was really mean to Emma earlier and-"

"I know where we can go," he cuts in with a tender squeeze of his hand, "Get your coat, I'm going to go and fetch some things, meet me outside?"

"Okay," she whispers. She releases his hands, giving him the chance to step away, but he doesn't right away. He leans in and pecks a delicate kiss on her lips before leaving.

When the front door clicks closed, Regina runs a hand through her hair and, like she did when she was eighteen, she lifts her fingertips to brush over her lips, remembering the feeling of his kiss. Only this time, she isn't worried about losing him.

They're walking towards the forest, no surprise there. When he emerged from his house, Robin had put on a jacket and was wearing a shoulder bag that looked pretty heavily packed. Regina didn't ask any questions when he clasped his hand into hers, like it was the most natural thing in the world, and began walking.

It doesn't take long for Regina to realise where they are going, and her realisation is confirmed when they reach the treehouse that nurtured them for many years. Robin climbs the ladder first, turning around on his knees to lean down and offer a supportive hand to Regina. She hums in appreciation as she accepts it and climbs to join him.

She was just here a few nights earlier, but she didn't take time to look around. There are so many pictures on the walls - photographs and drawings - and she leans in close to see them. The sun is disappearing for the evening, so she struggles, "It's a little dark," she mumbles, but as if by magic, the sound of a striking match has her grinning and she mutters a thank you when Robin hands her a lit candle before he continues to light the others he has brought, "I wondered what you had stashed in your bag."

"I knew that the sun would have retreated by the time we arrived," he explains with a smirk, pulling out a small blanket from his bag and laying it on the wooden floor. She joins him on the blanket, crossing her legs and placing her candle with the five others on the floor next to them.

"If you brought snacks, I might just kiss you," she jokes after her stomach rumbles quietly, with the events of the day, she didn't have dinner and her body was slowly reminding her. Robin reaches into his bag once more and she laughs out loud when he pulls a bright red apple from it. He offers it in her direction and she eagerly reaches for the fruit, but he moves it before she can grab it. Playfully, he taps his forefinger to his lips that were shaped in a smug grin, "Ah, I see how it is," she humours.

Regina doesn't know what possesses her to, or where she garners the confidence, but she uncrosses her legs and leans up on her knees so that she can shuffle forward towards him. Since he is still sitting cross legged, she has a slight height advantage. Robin strains his neck as he looks up at her as she towers over him, angling her head down. Regina presses her forehead against Robin's and his breath gets caught in his throat, making her smirk. She rubs her nose against his gingerly, her hands sweeping down his arms towards his hands.

Their eyes are hooked together, Robin finally breathing again but in shallow breaths. Regina positions her lips as close to Robin's as she can without actually kissing him. He wants to lean in and take the lead, but before he can, and much to his surprise, Regina starts to giggle and pull away. With a puzzled and disappointed expression, he stares at her as she sits back in her original cross-legged position. It's not until she grins with the raise of an eyebrow that she shows him the apple in her hand.

In disbelief, Robin looks down at his own hand, the one that was holding the fruit. When their eyes meet again, she takes a large, exaggerated bite that can be heard with a crunch. She's proud of herself and he can see it in her face, "That was just cruel," he teases causing her to snort with a mouthful of apple.

"I was hungry," she replies with a shrug, leaning back on one of her arms as she sits. She eats the apple nonchalantly, watching the flicker of the candle's flames, not noticing how Robin's eyes were adhered to her.

"What do we do now?" He asks as she continues to chew. She shrugs her shoulders in defeat after thinking for a second, placing the apple core to the side, "I mean, you asked me to give you a reason to stay… Did it work?"

"Robin," she sighs and he frowns heavily, but she is quick to clarify, "I can't stay. I have a life in New York; a job, friends, Henry has school-"

"All of which you can find here," he counters.

"True," she reluctantly agrees because he isn't wrong, "But, I don't think I'm in any emotional state to tipping my world upside down. I spoke with Archie today and we both agreed that there are things that I need to start dealing with properly… like Daniel."

"Daniel?" He asks concernedly.

"It's been four years… But, I have never really dealt with his death," she explains, her eyes drifting off to look at the candlelight again, "Emma helped me function again, but instead of dealing with everything like she tried to have me do, I just buried things because it was easier."

"I understand that," he offers and she smiles sadly still looking at the candles.

"He also thinks…," her eyes move up to look at his face before taking a deep breath, "He thinks that the reason I exploded today was because I am still clinging to him, that if I want to move forward, I need to let him go."

"Why would clinging to Daniel have made you explode?" Robin asks genuinely, "Not that you have to tell me-"

She laughs at his retort, "I don't mind telling you. Archie thinks that losing Daniel has made me afraid to be in love and that finding out that you were at the funeral was the easy way out for me, a way for me to run because…," she hesitates and shakes her head, "Because, I was beginning to fall for you."

Robin tries to stop the small smile that tugs at his lips, but he just can't. He forces a cough to distract from it, but he can tell by her raised eyebrow and playfully pursed lips that she noticed, "So, what do we do?"

"How was it so easy for you?" She asks quickly without really thinking about how her question sounded.

"How was what so easy?"

"How did you come to terms with Marian's death?"

"Ah," he exhales as he prepares to explain, but she beats him to it.

"I didn't mean for that to sound so horrible, I just… All week, you've been playful, flirty and earlier you kissed me with absolutely no hesitation. How could you do that after losing your wife?" Her eyes widen as soon as the words leave her mouth and she groans loudly, "Oh shit, that sounded even worse."

He's snickering at her, "Regina, I understand what you're asking," she relaxes her body in relief and gazes at him as he continues, "Marian was the type of woman who lived life to the fullest. She never let any opportunity pass her by. As she was dying, she begged me to live truthfully. She told me to chase my dreams, to never let anything go without a fight. She made me promise that I would teach Roland how to be an honourable man, how to enjoy life… But, most importantly she told me to love again," Regina is blinking away tears when his words stop flowing. It's an emotional moment, but Regina's reaction is still worrisome to him, "What is it?"

She shakes her head and inhales heavily, "Daniel said those exact words to me."

"I know," he mutters, clasping his hands together in his lap.

"You know?" She asks him while shaking her head in bewilderment, "How do you-"

She stops talking when Robin reaches back into his bag and rummages around. He pulls out an envelope, one that's been folded numerous times and she can tell, even from the distance she is at, that the letter inside has been read an inconceivable number of times. Robin stares at it for a second, running his thumb over the paper, but with a deep breath in, he hands it over to Regina, "Daniel wrote this to me before he died," Robin explains as she reaches to take the heavy wrinkled envelope from him tentatively, "You don't have to read it, but I want you to have the option."

"Why?" She asks as her eyes squinting to read the address on the envelope in the faint light provided by the candles.

"Because I am done with secrets."

Regina stares at the letter in her hand, trying to memorise the feeling of the rough paper on her fingertips. Daniel was in terrible shape during his final week, so she knows that whatever is contained on this sheet of paper was important to him. She hands the envelope back to Robin, scooting closer so that their knees are touching. She is face to face with him, "Read it to me?"

"Right now?" He asks nervously.

"Please."

With shaking hands, Robin opens the envelope and reaches inside. As he unfolds the piece of paper, Regina notices how much it has been looked at. Robin has gone to these words many times, that much is clear. With the clearing of his throat, he is about to start but wavers and looks at Regina. Supportively, she rubs a hand along his calf while nodding her head. He takes the support willingly and begins to speak.

"Robin, I told you that I would call again and I'm sorry that I never will. My condition has worsened since our phone call and I don't have much time. Regina was with me when the doctors explained everything, and let me tell you, it is much easier to die than to watch the woman you love hear that you only have a week left," Glancing up from the page, he notices the lone tear falling from her eye and her guilt-laced sigh, "Regina, maybe you should finish this-"

"No, keep reading," she begs, sniffling as she brushes away her tear with her knuckle, "I think we both need you to finish."

He huffs out a breath because she's right, she's always right, "I can't handle the heartbreak on her face when she visits me. She looks at me like she is about to lose everything, like she is trying to figure out how she is going to do everything alone. The last time I saw that look was the day you left for California, and now I see it everyday and it's killing me. I need you to help Regina. I need you to care for her in my place. Don't get me wrong, she is strong and, in the end, she will pull through on her own. But, you and I know more than anyone that she will put a show on for other people and destroy herself trying to keep her feelings hidden. We've seen it. We saw her do it after she fought with Cora and I saw her go through it when we lost you. Hell, she's already doing it now. She's trying to hide from me, but I can see right through it…"

Regina can't help but laugh sadly with unshed tears pooled in her eyes and it makes him stop reading, "He always saw right through me, I don't even know why I bothered trying to hide anything from him."

Robin forces a smile in her direction before continuing, "We were once your family and I have to know that you'll be there for her, for Henry. I need you to promise me that you'll help her let me go, the way she could never let you go. Help her stand tall and follow her dreams. Help her realise that she can find love once more. Tell her to love again, please. I've thought of you often during my fight, my friend. I'll miss you."

They both remain silent for a second, allowing the finals words to settle within them. Robin folds up the paper and stuffs it hastily back into the envelope, blinking furiously to keep his tears at bay. He drops the envelope down among their crossed legs and brings one hand up to rub at his eyes. Regina frowns, "Robin…"

"I let him down," Robin strains, "You were right, I was a coward. He asked me to be there for you and I hid behind a god damn tree."

She leans forward to kiss his forehead tenderly, her hand reaching around to hold the nape of his neck, "That wasn't fair of him," Regina whispers as she sits back, "He should have considered your feelings as well as mine. He exploited your honour."

Robin shakes his head furiously, "I don't want to think of it like that."

"Then don't," she brings the hand from his neck around to caress his cheek, "If I have learned anything today, it's that I need to stop dwelling on the past-"

"And I was supposed to be by your side while you did that. I have read that letter so many times and it's just a constant reminder of how I failed you, a second time."

He's hurting, Regina can see it in the way his brow furrows and his lips roll inward. She sighs, reaching down for the envelope between them and studies it, "We have such good memories as children, I hate that this piece of paper with words written in a moment of fear is diminishing them from our minds," she reaches over for a candle and brings it between them. She forces the letter into his hand and signals to the flame with her eyes.

His eyes widen at her silent suggestion, "You're kidding?" he breathes.

"I think it's time for us to focus on our good memories and eliminate anything that is keeping us from moving forward to create more," her voice is shaky and light, like she is unsure of what she is saying, but that's the furthest from the truth. Regina knows that they need to do this, but that doesn't make it any less difficult, "Do it," she encourages with closed eyes and her hands clasped around this white wax of the candle.

Slowly, he brings a corner to the flame, pulling it back slightly at first but then following through with a deep, heavy sigh. It lights quickly, fire engulfing the words that have plagued Robin for many years. They watch together as the paper disappears into nothingness and suddenly a weight has been lifted; a huge first step in their movement forward and they did it together.

Robin is blowing on the fire as it nears his fingertips, putting it out just to leave the tiniest scrap of paper. He glances up to Regina, "Feel better?"

"A little," she mumbles, blowing out the candle in front of them dwindling some of the scarce light they had.

"I'll never forget what he wrote."

"Of course you won't, but now you can't look at it everyday and feel like you failed."

"I plan on going through with it," he tells her sincerely, reaching up to cradle her face.

"With what?"

"I will help you see that you can love again. Even if you don't find love with me… I won't tell your heart where to go or make it feel anything for me that it won't-"

"Robin, stop," she chides, his mouth clamping closed quickly and his eyes shifting to the floor. His words "I have always… I, um, I… God, can you just be kissing me right now?" She pleads with a tearful giggle.

Robin is taken aback by her request and acts considerately and slowly, giving Regina the time to change her mind, but she doesn't. Instead, they both scatter to their knees and lean in close before Robin captures her lips hungrily; their kiss brimming with passion and ardour. Regina propels the kiss into new territory when she glides the tip of her tongue over his bottom lip and with admirable enthusiasm, he responds by opening eagerly, melding them even closer. Hands are moving all over the place, grasping each others hair, skimming over the curves of their bodies.

It's frenzied; caressing tongues, delicate biting of each others lips every so often. Years of emotions that they still can't quite arrange effectively prompting their intimacy. Gradually, their lip lock ceases, leaving them both with butterflies fluttering in their stomachs and deep, heavy breathing. They are gazing into each other's eyes, their faces still agonisingly close, and Regina shudders as she feels something that she hasn't for years; hope.

"What is it?" Robin exhales, noticing her face full of optimism.

She shakes her head, "Nothing," she whispers, placing a soft peck on the tip of his nose. But, she's lying. It's not nothing, it's everything. For years Regina has been searching for a place to call home, and place where she would feel at home in her own skin. But, it's not a place she should have been searching for… it's this feeling coursing through her soul that she should have been trying to find.

"We are nuts, do you know that?" Robin announces, breaking the silence of their walk home.

"Why's that?" Regina asks, leaning into him as they walk.

"We're like a rollercoaster. Up and down. Yelling at each other one minute, making out the next…"

Laughter thunders from her throat, "Well, you're not wrong," he laughs with her, "Arguably, though, we have always been like that. At each other's throats one minute and then helping one another the next."

"Did you just define our entire friendship in one sentence?" He teases.

"We are damaged people, Robin. Or, at least, I am. I just hate that it has taken me so long to truly notice. It's taken years, my mother's death, and coming home to really realise how much work I have to do. But, I'm ready."

He stops them, just as they reach the end of her pathway, "I'm proud of you," he tells her with earnest, "You have had a horrifically difficult week, one in which I did not help in the slightest, but you've still come through with a positive outlook. You really haven't changed as much as I thought."

With blushing cheeks, she bows her head to the ground, "Thank you, and you did help. I'm going back to New York much more content than I was a week ago," Robin frowns heavily at the mention of her leaving, "I have to go, Robin."

"I know," he sighs, stroking her hair tenderly, "I just wish you didn't. When will I see you again?"

"It will depend on my work schedule, maybe Henry and I can come back to Storybrooke for Thanksgiving or Christmas?"

Her suggestions don't alleviate his frown, "Can I call you?"

Regina reaches up and peppers a soft kiss on his lips, "I'd be furious if you didn't."

Robin wraps her up in a tight embrace, inhaling her scent along the way, "What time do you leave tomorrow?"

"Early," she grumbles into his shoulder, listening to his emotional sigh as she does. She unravels from his hold and looks at him sternly, "Robin, I promise," she says, sticking out her pinky out in front of him for the first time in ten years, "I promise that I will come back."

His eyes instantly brim with tears as she looks at the offered finger, "I will never leave you again. I promise," Robin loops his pinky with hers. They lean down together, kiss their thumbs and press them together, both showing each other happy smiles.

"A promise sealed with a kiss," Regina reminds him.

He grins and holds her chin gently with his free hand, their pinkies still linked, "The strongest of promises," he whispers and he drops a final chaste kiss to her lips.

Emma and Henry Sr. are still awake when Regina walks inside. They are in Cora's study and when Regina walks in, they stare at her, neither speaking. Nerves instantly spark throughout her body, causing feelings of pins and needles in strange places around her body.

Emma is looking at her intently, her Father actively looking for a way to escape the room and let these two women battle it out, so Henry Sr. stands and hurries passed Regina, bidding her a goodnight. Regina panics for a moment, but she's no other option that apologising.

So, she does just that, "Emma, I'm sorry," Regina's voice is soft and certain, "I'm an idiot, I know that now and I need your help."

"I know," Emma tells her, leaping up to her feet and walking towards Regina, "You went too far today, but I know you… I know that you acted on impulse-"

"You always say that when I terrify you."

Emma laughs, "Well, you weren't exactly all rainbows and puppies earlier. I honestly thought you were going to decapitate me with your mind."

Regina groans and folds her arms, shamefully, "I'm so sorry."

"Don't be an idiot," Emma tells her, walking back to sit down, Regina following closely behind, "It is my duty as best friend to be the person you can hurl shit at without having to worry about whether or not I still love you," Regina smiles gratefully at her friend, exhaling happily, "However, if you don't tell me where you have been and what you've been doing for the last two million hours, I am renouncing my best friend status."

Regina tells her everything. Well, not quite everything, she may have left out the kissing… but Emma quickly figures it out, "So, what was his reason?"

"Huh?" Regina asks.

"You said you asked him to give you a reason. It clearly worked, what was it?"

"Oh, nothing," she lies, bowing her head towards the floor with an unstoppable beaming smile while tucking her hair behind her ear.

"No. Way." Emma exclaims with a smile as equally bright as Regina's, "I have never seen this face before, which can only mean one thing… Did he finally kiss you?!" Embarrassed, Regina closes her eyes with a huffed laugh out of her nose, "Excuse you, no, you don't get to be embarrassed right now. So, what exactly are you guys?"

"I don't know," Regina tells her honestly, bringing her knees up close to her chest on the chair, "We're leaving tomorrow…"

"So?"

"I have a lot I need to sort out before I can even think about… would we even date? I don't know. I've never done this before."

Emma scrunches her eyebrows in confusion, "What, date?"

Regina shakes her head, leaving her face onto her knees, "Daniel and I just… happened. We were best friends who did everything together and fell in love along the way. I've never… You know what, forget about it. I'm not in any place for a relationship but I'm not ready to let Robin go."

"So, you'll keep in touch?"

"Definitely."

"I'm happy for you, Regina," Emma tells her as she stands, "You're taking initiative and I really hope it works out for you both, but remember you need to take care of yourself first."

Regina takes a hold of the hand Emma has offered her in aid to stand, "I know. Talking with Archie really helped, so I'm going to start seeing someone when we get home."

"Good. But, can we please go to bed, especially if we have a long ass drive tomorrow."

Regina sniggers and nods, walking up the stairs with Emma and retreating to her bedroom for the evening. Emma saunters slowly to her door, but doesn't enter. Instead she sneaks over to Henry Sr's bedroom and knocks quietly before walking in.

He's reading when she walks in, but he quickly drops his book onto the bed, "Emma, is everything okay?" He asks.

"Robin kissed Regina." She tells him excitedly.

"He did?"

"Yes. And we cannot let the distance between here and New York ruin what they are starting to create or salvage or.. whatever," Henry Sr. nods his head animately in agreement, "I have an idea. You in?" She grins.

"Oh, absolutely."

There it is! Please review if you can! Or follow me on Twitter (RegalPixieDust) to be part of the antics on there! We have a fun time. Also, keep your eyes open for a little surprise later... That is if my girl, Celina, can keep it to herself ;) Thanks for reading, guys. MWAH.