A/N: So yay I was able to update on time woot! Lol anyways last chapter had so many amazing reviews and I am over the moon on how well this fanfiction is being received. Only 14 chapters more before it is over. Maybe this time I will actually finish a fanfic. Many people have asked me about Red Ambition and I was considering to post it again but I have to review it first because there were a few discordances that need to be fixed, if I manage to pull it through I'll post it again. Anyway like always thank you for the nice words about Begin Again and I hope you guys enjoy this chapter that is a bit shorter than the others but don't worry I'll make it up on the next one. Any questions you know where to find me.

Xoxo. Janice.

Chapter XI

He felt a raging jealousy coursing through his vein almost like a lethal venom. The mere thought of Regina being with another made him lose all perception of reality and fantasy. After his confession about a week ago, Regina, had been going out with that stupid hat boy named Jefferson and completely ignored Robin for all he is worth. Maybe he should have kept quiet about his feelings for her and perhaps things would be normal between them, well as normal with all their fights. Now? She isn't even speaking to him. Not a word, no a glance his way and it completely broke his heart and soul. Maybe it was for the best, maybe they just aren't meant to be and that attraction that they felt was purely carnal, no it isn't for him and it will never be but he has to face the facts.

Regina Mills doesn't love him.

So to sooth his broken soul, Robin, asked Ruby out. Ruby was the bartender of the Rotten Apple, place he frequent with his friends. They say a nail gets rid of another one, and he was willing to put that to the test. When he did ask the bartender, the brunette accepted but not before questioning him about the timing. She, like everyone else, have thought that Regina and he were a thing. Apparently it was rather obvious except for the pair that have decided to take their separate ways.

It didn't take long for his torment, Regina, to get news of Robin's latest endeavor.

The woman in question came rushing through the door to his apartment like it was hers.

"Seriously?" her voice was filled with anger as her arms came to fold on top of her chest.

"I am going to need my key back." He simply said, remembering she still had the key to his apartment since his birthday a few months back. Robin didn't look at her but he knew so well she was fuming, livid. Locksley kept his eyes on the TV as he eat his favorite cereal, cookie crisp. This caused Regina to get even angrier. She took a few steps until her form was in front of the television, eyes fixed on him with a glare.

"Are you going to keep ignoring me?" She asked, form unmoving. Robin kept eating until there was but only mild left on his bowl which he drank in a swig, placing it down on the table.

"Weren't you ignoring me first?" Blue eyes finally locked with her angrier dark brown ones. Robin leaned back against the couch, mirroring her crossed arms and with a brow arched in her direction. It had been hard for him to maintain this serious demeanor with her, especially when she looks so positively comical with her anger.

"That is entirely different." Regina stated, dropping her arms to the side.

"Why? Because I told you that I love you?" Robin stood up, already feeling something stirring inside of him. "You wanted me to be honest and I was. I don't know why are you so angry… wait…" A beat of silence fell around them before he voiced his question. "Why are you so angry?"

There was a pause between them. A pregnant silence as Robin looked at her with confusion. He hasn't done anything to her, hell they haven't talked in a week and here she was angry, searching for explanations, and he truly doesn't understand why unless…

"You heard that I went out with Ruby." A smirk graced his countenance, as he bounced his head. "You are jealous."

"I am not." She was hasty to reply, teeth gritting, and her heart almost in her throat. She really didn't think this through. But when Mary told her about Robin and the brunette with red streaks had gone out something inside of her broke. Not sure if it was her heart, or her resolve of not talking to him. Whatever it was, it brought her here, in front of this infuriating man that a week ago confessed his love for her.

"Then why are you here?" A sigh fell from his lips, a callous hand rubbing his face. Robin didn't believe for a second that she wasn't jealous but pushing her wasn't the answer, or maybe it was. "Because I haven't done anything, said anything that could bring you back to me. Until Ruby." Robin rounded the coffee table to stand beside her but he didn't reach for her, didn't touch her even though he wanted nothing more. "Tell me, Regina why are you here if you are not jealous."

She swallowed thickly, her heart hammering in her chest. Why was she here? Oh she knows why but she won't admit to it. "You say you love me and go out with the first flimsy woman you find. Real classy, Locksley." That was the first thing that her mouth spurred out and she didn't even have time to stop herself. Words couldn't be taken back.

"You have got to be kidding me." His words came with disbelief. Was she really reproaching him? "I told you that I love you and what was your first reaction? Runaway and accept hat boy invitation to go out." He took a step back before turning around and walking out of the living room.

A bitter laugh came out of Regina as she stalk behind him. "I didn't… I mean." She took a deep breath. "Would you please stop walking away from me?"

"Well you walked away from me so I think we are even, right?"

"You are an idiot." She practically yelled and Robin started laughing.

Not the reaction she was expecting, but then again Robin isn't known for being a normal human being.

"Yeah. I am an idiot for freaking loving you." He pointed out, turning on his heels to look at her. "I wish I could lose these feelings as quickly as I lost you. Wait, you never been mine to begin with." The bitterness in his voice shot Regina like a dagger to her heart. He was tortured thanks to what he felt for her and she truly felt bad about it. No words did come out of her mouth. Usually she is quick to respond, always have a quip ready to throw but she just couldn't disregard his feelings like they were nothing, because they were everything. "I will ask you again, why are you here?"

She scoffed as she rolled her eyes. This was a bad idea. Coming here to get gods knows what out of him. Regina is better off leaving, so she tried just that. "Nothing." Turning on her heels, Regina, walked the exact path she took when he followed behind him. "This was a mistake." She added. For a moment she remembered the key and left it on top of the coffee table. "That is yours. I don't have anything more that belongs to you, right?"

Robin was not that far behind her. "Yes just one thing."

She looked at him over her shoulder with a raised brow and a bored expression. Something told, no, screamed at her to get out of there while the still can't that what is about to happened next, what his mouth was about to uttered is something that would weaken her resolve of having him at arm's length. There is a reason for to push him away, and that reason was simple, she didn't want Robin to get hurt because of her. So much could happened if he kept wanting to pursue those feelings and she can't guarantee his wellbeing by allowing her heart to give into him, if Cora new about him, well things weren't going to end well. The best example of that was Daniel. In the end her pressure got to him and apparently he didn't love her enough to actually fight for what they wanted, she is not risking her heart nor Robin's. But then Robin opened his big mouth.

"My heart." Robin took a deep breath before taking a few steps towards her but respecting her personal space. "You can pretend all you want, heck you can tell me a million times that you don't feel the same way but I will know that isn't true. I can see it in your eyes and even though you won't come to admit it, I don't need you to tell me, because I know." Sucking on his lower lip, the man gave Regina a tight smile with a shrug. "But if I am wrong I still won't regret it. For you I have to risk it all, and I don't mind it either." Half turning her body to him, Regina's eyes flickered down to the ground not being able to look at him.

"You are a fool…"Eyes closing shut, the brunette finally, and fully, turned to Robin. "I am here trying to protect you and just have to dive in head first, questions later."

It was Robin's turned to look at her like she had grown a second head. "What is that supposed to mean?"

"It means that you are an idiot." Filling her lungs with air and her mind with courage, she finally looked at him. "It means that I love you too and that I have been trying so hard to push you away because… I am not meant to have love in my life, not without destroying it first." Pursing her lips and trying very hard to push back the tears trying to fall down she added, "You are a stupid romantic that doesn't know the consequences of this…" motioning between them. "…It is a mistake falling in love and you are way better –"

No he didn't allowed her to continue not when she confessed what he had been dying to hear for the last three years. Robin pulled her close and shut her up with a deep kiss, a kiss where he poured everything, absolutely everything that he felt for her. She was surprised, that much he could tell from the way her body stiffened against his but after a few seconds Regina completely relaxed and returned his kiss with her tender lips. They have shared kisses before, but this time was different. This wasn't like all those time they had been together, when they first decided to have sex 'No Strings Attached' this was so much more, this had his heart thumping hard against his ribcage and his mind fuzzy with only the thought of her. As much as they tried to deny it at the very beginning, as much they went against the world in the end this was them. IN LOVE, completely immersed, heart and soul.

..::..

"Robin I love you."

Had he heard right? Did he just heard those words, Robin, had been longing to heart for almost five years. It felt like an illusion, like someone was trying to play a trick on him but there more he looked into her eyes he knew this was real, she was there soft to his touch and with a shy smile on her face.

"You do?"

What else was he supposed to do or say? He was petrified to where he was sitting, not daring to move and break the moment. It sent his heart soaring. When Regina smiled at him, nodding yes once that spell that had him bound into place broke and he quickly lunge her way, grabbing her delicate face between his hands and tenderly kissed her. Those words had the same effect today like the very first day Regina had said them to him. Robin kissed her long and languidly, an arm going around her lithe frame to pull her closer to him. Her arms went around his neck, simply content to hold him close and kiss him with all her heart. After a few moment and the need for air was inevitable, Regina and Robin's forehead rested one against the other, both smiling like lovesick teenagers. "Not that I am not happy to hear you say that…" He opened his eyes to look at her loving face. "…What made you say it this fast? The first time it took you very long. I have known I how felt for years and when I finally decided to tell you the first thing you did was to go out with Jefferson…" But there was a tiny laugh after saying Jefferson's name and Regina quickly snapped her eyes opened and looked at him with a raise brow.

"Before I answer than, what is so funny?"

After railing back his laughter, Robin cleared his throat, "After you told me how you felt, you confessed to me that Jeff was gay and he was actually in love with me and you were just trying to push him away from me as far as possible."

"Oh God." Regina placed a hand to cover her mouth, trying to contain her laughter but failing to do so. "I really want to know what went through my former self head." She giggled softly, "Every time you tell me something I wonder how different she, I would be five years later. You and Roland have had a quite positive effect on me."

Pushing a strand of hair to the back of her ear, "She, I mean you, would be even more amazing and I would probably would be even more in love with you… Actually that is exactly happened. I realized that I could fall in love with you every day, more than the day before." He kissed her forehead and Regina grinned brightly.

"Are you always a hopeless romantic?" She raised amuse brow.

"Only for you. Regina, you are always inspiring me to be like this. To be a better man because I want to give you everything. I know the first time we went through many struggles, specially when we ran away. Everything was limited for us but now, I can provide for you and Roland." A sigh fell from his lips. Regina saw in his eyes all the weariness in them, the spark of failure that just wouldn't disappear and she can't have that.

"Hey…" Regina framed his face and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. "You tried you very best. For what you told me all I wanted was for Roland's safety. You kept that promise and you also kept the promise of finding me again. Sure, not the way you expected but you never gave up. You made me fall in love with you again, you brought me back to life. For what is worth, I think you are perfect and I very proud of you. I love you, and right now you, I and Roland are all that matters, right?"

With a nod, Robin smiled up at her. "I am so lucky." He breathed out, hiding his face in the crock of her neck. Regina's fingers ran along his dirty blonde hair, hugging him close to her. Robin relaxed in her embrace. "I won't allow anyone to separate us again Regina. I will make sure to protect you and our son better this time. We won't lose you again."

"You won't, I promise."

..::..

New York city.

"I have failed you." He muttered, leaning back into his chair with his arms folded against his chest. Graham looked across the desk, to a brunette with a neutral facial expression. "I didn't think he would find her. If you give the green light I can get rid of Robin. You know well –"

"That won't be necessary." The brunette uttered, standing up from her back leather chair. Turning around and walking to the window, she clicked her tongue, a slim finger tapping against the smooth surface of the glass. "Regina is a delicate figurine but if you break her too soon her sharp edges will cut through your flesh. If we take Robin away from her now the retaliation will be really messy. We need to prevent chaos." She ruined to Graham, with a wicked smirk on her face. "Let her be happy for a while, it won't last long."

"But Cora…" A glare is sent his way.

"Are you really questioning me?" Walking around the desk, she leaned against it to get a better view of him. "You better think well you answer, dear. If you are going against my wishes I will make sure to terminate your contract with me and you know well what happens after that. I'm sure Zelena is looking forward to get new meat in the asylum, specially yours."

A shiver ran down the fake policeman as he weigh in the older woman words. Both her and Zelena weren't to be played with. He knows well what they both did to Regina, their blood, and he is nothing to them it will be worse than death of that he is sure. "No, I'm not against it."

A sicken sweet smile crossed the Mills lips, "Good." She said before taking an upright position, fixing her power suit. "I know you are truly in love with Regina and I don't blame you. But her potential has been wasted with the silly notions of love. She is defective." Cora walked back to her chair, where she leisurely sat down, all regal. "She needs to be fix and to do that she needs to lose everything but for her to do that she needs the attachment. When she finally lose everything, Regina will think twice about falling in love and after that well… she can take over the family business…"

-A penny for your thought?