A/N: Have an early update but it's going to be a while until the next one because I'm super busy! I feel like this chapter and the final couple are going to let people down but I want to re-iterate that this was a struggle to finish. I finished it because it wouldn't be fair to you guys who've supported me the entire way through to not...but I did find my enthusiasm waning towards the end and so rather than doing what I wanted to do...I was struggling so much I just wanted to try and get it resolved. So i'm sorry if these next chapters are disappointing but, I tried.

"That's not good bloody form mate" Killian cried as he swung at Robin, punching the man squarely in the jaw and sending him reeling backwards."Regina had been having a bloody lovely day until you came along and had to ruin it. You don't get to be jealous. Don't get to keep an eye on her as if she's your business, when you're with your wife. If you love her, then do what needs to be done. Otherwise keep your bloody mouth shut you-"

Robins punch cut Killian off as the air whooshed out his lungs when Robin's fist connected with Killians stomach.

"What do you think I'm trying to do? But you are getting in my damn way" Robin said with satisfaction. Killian looked up at him.

"Oh…I was hoping you'd do that" snarled Killian with a smirk.

He tackled Robin to the ground. From that point on things descended in to an all out brawl. The pair threw punch after punch. Pulled on clothes. Threw insults at each other. Tackled each other in to various chairs and tables that went flying in all directions with loud crashes. There was even a little bit of scratching and if the hair had been long enough, no doubt there would have been hair pulling as well. Anything in their path went flying as they grappled with each other with total disregard for their surroundings. They'd reached the point when they where rolling on the floor and snarling at each other when the Charmings came running out of the Diner to see what was going on. Regina was standing, staring detachedly at the proceedings with tears running down her face, Henry hugging her protectively. The Charmings rushed over to her first.

"Regina? Regina what happened?" Snow asked, moving to her other side and rubbing her back comfortingly. She just shook her head. Will answered for her.

"Robin, bloody idiot he is, told her he loves her" Will said with a head shake. Snow looked disgusted, but the ever present hope she felt wouldn't allow her to not look slightly pleased.

"HE DID WHAT?! David bellowed and charged over to the pair.

"Uh oh" Emma said, following after her father.

David grabbed Robin by the scruff of the neck and hauled him off of Killian. Robin gulped. Charming no longer looked quite so….Charming. Emma quickly grabbed Killian around the waist and hauled him away.

"You did good, but Regina kinda needs a friend right now, okay?" Emma murmured to him. Killian glanced at Regina. She may have been wearing her armour but rather than looking her usual fierce self she just looked small and broken. Again. Killian clenched his fist and started to raise it.

"uh-uh"Emma grabbed it and planted her feet to try to stop him advancing on the thief.

"I got this" Charming said to him without even looking. Charming leaned in close to Robin.

"What did I tell you? I told you not to do exactly what you did. But you did it anyway and now I have an angry pirate and a devastated Queen, and a furious grandson. Not to mention my wife who would love to use you for target practice. I told you how much it would hurt Regina to tell her that, how much it would mess with her. What the hell where you thinking?" Robin looked shamefaced and heartbroken. David refused to let himself feel sympathy for the man.

"I...I was coming to find her...I wanted to talk with her about everything I...I wanted to fix things but I was….I was jealous. I wasn't thinking and Regina was going to allow that pirate to live with her….I don't know what came over me I just had to tell her before I lost her and it all came out wrong and that...that bloody pirate interrupted me before I could explain myself"

"You already lost her when you chose your wife. Did you think she'd just hang around pining after you?"

"No…I just….I'm sorry" Robin said, feeling devastated. He should have come to Regina straight away. Not tried to abide by his stupid code. He was a different person now, not the person who followed it to the bloody letter. He'd left it too late. He'd let her down to the extent she had to go out drinking with a beringed prat who..who...dammit I can't blame the bloody pirate for this. I'm the one that's caused her to go out drinking to...to forget about me. To drown out the pain I've caused. What the bloody hell have I done.

"You will be if Killian gets hold of you again" Robin glanced to the side to see the pirate glaring daggers at him while Emma was restraining him around the waist.

"I love her David, I can't…I can't switch it off, I can't stop thinking about her. I-I was coming to tell her that I….that I wanted to be with her, that I'd made a mistake that I was sorry but then everything went wrong and I got angry and I blurted it out without having the proper chance to explain" David didn't look convinced.

"Did you tell your wife that you'd be leaving her?" Robin looked him dead in the eye.

"I stalked another woman to a bar, watched her the entire night, and then followed her home to make sure nothing happened to her, I even went against my better nature and involved the Sheriff. Do you really think I wouldn't have gone straight home and spoken to Marian?" Robin had some time to think on his way back. To come to some decisions. He dropped his gaze from David's continued suspicious gaze and stared at the ground. "Well. I deserve that. I just…I saw Regina walking away with the pirate the other night and…I knew. I knew what I had to do. Eventually." David still didn't look convinced.

"Well, I'm going to have to arrest you and take you down to the station. You'll be spending the night in a cell, seeing as you have a problem with decision making, that should help you out. Give you plenty of time to think. Decide if you really mean it. Because I promise you, if you hurt Regina again, this entire family will come after you" Robin looked to the side to see Emma glaring at him just as much as the pirate, along with Snow and Henry. Henry had clearly learned his glare from his mother. "Oh and the pirate" David added. Robin just nodded. But as David started to take him away, he realised Killian wasn't being taken too.

"Wait, what about him?" Robin gestured to Killian, "He started the fight, he should be arrested too!" Robin said indignantly. David shrugged.

"He was just protecting his girlfriend" David couldn't resist tormenting the Outlaw a little bit more. Emma leaned in to whisper to her father.

"Why are you talking like a girl from the 90's? Or...is there something you want to tell me? Like...when you said Killian wasn't your type did you mean..."

"I'll tell you later" David whispered back, cutting her off.

"Alright, let's go Legolas" David said, starting to drag Robin down to the station.

"Awesome reference gramps!" David waved his hand in acknowledgement.

"Seriously Dad, out of all the references you could have chosen?" Emma sighed and started to follow after him to help with the intake forms.

Regina barely registered Robin being dragged off by David, or his two companions slinking back the way they'd come. She had been focused on those three little words ever since he'd said them. He loved her. But why tell her, why tell her when he won't leave his wife. There was a hopeful answer to that but Regina squashed it before it could fully form. Why did he have to make it harder than it had to be. She began to contemplate if she should use a memory potion on him, make him forget all about her, or just avoid him and never leave the house again. She was oblivious to everything and lost in her swirling thoughts…and pain, until a flask appeared in front of her.

"I've got this" Killian reassured Snow and Henry, wafting the flask under Regina's nose. Regina slowly reached out and took it, then took a rather large gulp. "That's it, down the hatch" Killian said. "Plenty more where that came from"

"I….I can't…"

"I know love. Bloody tosser. He had no business toying with you like that. Not when he's determined to stick to his stupid bloody code. It's not like we're all still in the Enchanted Forest. Things are different here. Too much of a bloody idiot to realise it" Killian descended in to muttering. Henry shared a look with Snow as they both tried not to laugh. Regina roused herself.

"I'll….I'll be going home now" She said, "Henry it might be best if you stayed with Emma tonight" She started to turn away.

"Don't worry, I'll take good care of her, be right as rain in the morning…possibly…depends on her alcohol tolerance actually" Killian mused to himself as he put a hand on Regina's back and started to guide her away.

"Wait! I'm coming too!"

"Henry-"

"NO! I'm not leaving you mom, not when you need me" Henry grasped her hand as Regina smiled tentatively down at him. "Besides. We have to show Killian Lord of The Rings" Snow snorted.

"Good luck with that one"

"Why would you want to be Lord of rings?" Killian asked bemused. Regina felt the corner of her mouth tilt up as she rolled her eyes. After making their goodbyes to Snow, the trio headed for Regina's house at a slow pace, pausing every now and again as Killian pointed out constellations in the night sky above them, attempting to take Regina's mind off of what had just happened. It was quite late when they finally made it back to the mansion. Killian and Henry had spent the last part of the journey acting out Killian's fight with Robin, exaggerated as much as they could to try to make Regina laugh, but she was being quieter than usual. It wasn't long before they where back in their positions from earlier, Lord of The Rings on the screen, and Regina and Killian each supplied with the alcohol of their choice. Killian was rather more subdued this time around, only rousing himself to make comments such as "What the bloody hell is that supposed to be?" and "This is ridiculous, such things don't exist" still completely missing the point of movies and fantasy. Killian was trying to restrain himself from his obvious confusion, so as to give Regina time to think while Henry was occupied with the movie, so that when Henry went to bed, she'd be ready to talk. As the end credits started to roll Henry let out a yawn. Regina stirred.

"Bed, I think" she said to a protesting Henry.

"But mom there's two more movies!"

"Yes and these are the extended editions and we'll be here all night. Go!" she commanded. "We'll watch the rest tomorrow or something, okay?" Henry reluctantly nodded.

"Night mom, I love you"

"I love you too" Regina murmured, hugging Henry fiercely. After saying goodnight to Killian, Henry headed upstairs and Regina and Killian sat in silence while they waited to make sure Henry was in bed and asleep. Finally Regina turned to Killian.

"I thought I was doing okay you know, I had a really good day, I didn't think about Robin much at all but hearing him say he loves me…it just makes everything so much worse. I mean I knew, of course I did but I could fade that out and ignore it but not when he's standing in front of me and saying it. He chose his wife, he's not allowed to love me. To keep telling me he loves me"

"I know love. I think he was jealous, and starting to realise the error of his ways. Bloody idiot's making everything harder for himself than it needs to be" Killian and Regina both swigged in silence. Regina had, to quote Killian, 'stowed the alcohol' while Henry was here, refraining from drinking much of it. Just the odd sip. Henry may have been tucked up in bed but Regina found her enthusiasm for alcohol waning after her run in with Robin. She didn't want to be drinking away her sorrows...if she was going to drink it was going to be because it was fun. Not as a crutch. But because it made her laugh. Maybe she didn't even need the alcohol, maybe she just needed some damn fun.

"You know what. I don't want to talk about this, I don't want to dwell on this so….let's do something fun" Regina turned to the pirate.

"Why are you looking at me?"

"Because you're the pirate who has plenty of experience in fun of the drinking and humorous variety. The only type of fun I know is torture and executions"

"Good point, let's see….." Killian got up and wandered the room until he came to a stop in front of a cabinet. He opened the doors.

"Ah, you've been holding out on my your majesty!" Regina looked from the liquor cabinet to the pirate and back again.

"Screw it" she said and the pair started pulling bottles out. Regina put a spell on Henry's room to keep him from hearing any noise they'd make and the pair soon set about mixing various concoctions to try.

"I shall call this one…..The Rolly Joger!" Killian announced holding up a glass that was an unpleasant yellow colour.

"You mean the Jolly Roger?"

"No…the Rolly Joger!" Regina looked skeptical. She hadn't thought the pirate was that drunk.

"Whatever you say…."

"It's a reference to Emma and I's adventures in the past. I'll present her with this drink, I think she'll be quite impressed"

"Yeah…I'm sure she'll be super eager to taste something that looks like a cat puked it up" Regina mumbled.

"What was that love?"

"Nothing" Regina said sipping from her own glass. The contents of which where either a dark purple or completely black.

"What…is that?" Killian pointed at her glass.

"This? Eternal Misery…..The Darkest Heart…..Black Soul…"

Killian looked at her for a moment.

"How…cheerful, why don't we simply call it The Evil Queen hmm?" Regina just shrugged. The experimentation continued, drinks where produced in a variety of colours, and it wasn't long before the pair had become quite drunk. Again. Although this time, at least on Regina's part, it was just a by product of having fun, sure there was a little bit of needing to forget her pain, but for the most part...fun.

"Why are we always drunk?" Killian asked, managing not to slur.

"Because we're good at it" Regina said decisively. "And life makes it necessary sometimes. Plus...it's the funnest."

"How philosopical….philolppical…phi-lo-soph-ical," Killian had to sound it out, "of you, Regina"

"Not exactly" she muttered.

"You know….you should be a pirate, join me crew!" Regina affected a slight sneer.

"Why would I want to join your crew, you don't even have a ship"

"No….not right now. But we could always land pirate, like that blasted thief! Besides there's drinking to be done and merriment to be had, as well as adventure and…and….and….views…of….the sea" Killian finished lamely. Regina had to laugh. To hell with it. She thought.

"Fine, I'll join your crew!" She laughed.

"Excellent. But not looking like that"

"I beg your pardon?"

"Not very piratey is it? The boots and leather trousers can stay…but the top….." Killian appraised her. Regina raised an eyebrow. "Conjure yourself a shirt, much like mine but in white, then a corset of some kind" He instructed. Regina did as asked and soon had on a white flowing shirt, cinched in with an underbust corset made of black leather.

"Ah, much better. Now you need belts. At leas two" Regina obliged and soon had a large belt with an intricate buckle slung around her hips and a sword belt just above it.

"It's like you read my mind love, I'll have to teach you how to use the sword…..but maybe not right now" he said as he swayed.

"Not necessary pirate. I know my way around a sword"

"You do? What a pleasant surprise, I knew you'd make a good pirate!" he crowed. Regina used her magic to adjust her makeup, adding in plenty of khol. She then magicked herself a coat made of black leather, slightly shorted than Killian's but very similar. Regina donned it and Killian beamed at her.

"Perfect, now your pirate lessons can begin" he smirked at her. Regina began to regret the decision instantly.

Regina would forever blame the alcohol for the reason she found herself swaggering around her house, doing her best to imitate the "Pirate Walk" that Killian insisted was necessary. He taught her all of the slang, but she drew the line at mimicking his way of speech. She would deny all knowledge that he'd gotten her to try and she'd happily swaggered around directing her imaginary crew in a tone of voice quite similar to the Captains.

"You there….let me tell you how it works on my ship!" She said to a potted plant.

"Excellent, just the right level of authority, and menace" Killian clapped. She just about managed to pick up on the basics of sailing and….pirating. Killian told her all of the rules and delighted in using a line from his new favourite film.

"The rules are more what you'd call….guidelines anyway" Regina had rolled her eyes so hard it actually hurt. They practised making traitors walk the plank by using Regina's coffee table. They practised threats. They practised sword fighting by rushing about the mansion engaged in an ongoing duel for the better part of two hours. Regina even consented to drink large quantities of rum while Killian taught her how to play various card and dice games. By the end of their little course they where quite drunk, and fairly exhausted.

Regina woke up lying on the floor spread eagled, to see an amused looking Henry looking down at her.

"Why are you dressed like-"

"This never happened. If anyone asks…it never happened"

"Sure mom" Henry smirked. Regina looked about for her partner in crime, he wasn't too far away. He was lying on his back on the coffee table, sword dangling loosely in his hand, bottle of rum clutched in the other. Regina prodded him and he startled awake.

"STOP BLOWING HOLES IN MY SHIP!" Regina stared at him.

"Seriously? Where you dreaming about the damn movie?" Killian looked shifty and didn't reply. He spotted Henry.

"Ah, see Henry, I told you she'd make a fine pirate!" Killian spotted Henry's phone in his hand and an evil look crossed his face. "Quickly, you must take a portrait of us in our piratical finery" Regina snorted.

"You mean your everyday clothes and my finery" but she used her magic to restore them to their former glory, and then proceeded to pose for a series of photographs with the pirate, doing their best piratey poses and facial expressions.

"Say AAAARRRR" Henry laughed.

"AAAARRRRR" Regina and Killian responded, blades pointed at the camera.

"Say pieces of eight"

"Pieces of eight" they stood, nearly back to back with arms on hips and a wide stance. The photo shoot continued for a good few minutes. Henry taking pictures as Regina made Killian walk the plank, as the two duelled again, and as they shared a laugh at the chaos they'd caused the previous night.

Henry couldn't help but smile at the fun his mother was having. He'd thought things would be pretty bad when he woke up but….Killian had done as he'd promised. He'd taken care of it, he'd once again put that smile on his mom's face.