at shikasgirl10: Thanks. It's the dimples :)

at theEvilPanda: Thanks a lot. I'm trying my best with the updating pace.

at Casy: Thanks. I know it must be quite unsatisfying to leave the truth unrevealed, however I did that on purpose. I wanted to empahises that it isn't necessary to demonise Marian to resolve OQ. Robin would always pick her and they would always find each other.

at beautifuldroplet: Your wish is my command :)

at jcat30: Yes, she knows. Everyone does. I know, but hopefully I could explain her reaction a little with this one, and make it up to you :)

at Thornspike: Thanks, I know Roland is absolutely cute.

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

I don't own anything.

Dark Hearts

"Mum!" Henry slammed the front door open. "We're back!"

"Henry, please!" Emma followed, holding his bag. "It's not even seven a.m. yet. She's still asleep, plus it's the weekend. Go upstairs and unpack. I'll wait in the kitchen."

Emma planned to talk to Regina about their lesson, so she'd decided to wait for her to wake up. She had dropped Kilian off at his place, they'd met up for lunch later. The blonde grinned, who would have thought she'd end up with Captain Hook. A snort escaped her, timed perfectly with a yawn and the sound was a little less than lady-like. Shrugging Emma fired up the coffee machine. Surely Regina could use some as well. Emma doubted she'd get much more sleep with Henry trampling around.

"Good morning!"

Emma twirled around and her jaw dropped. Maybe there was another reason Regina wasn't getting enough sleep or why else was there a half-naked man in her kitchen? Emma was pretty sure he was one of Robin's Merry Men or at least she was sure she had seen him somewhere before, but his naked chest proved to be too much of a distraction for her to think. Her brain was just too tired to process the situation. If Emma had found Robin in only his trousers in the middle of Regina's kitchen she wouldn't have been as surprised but that was not him.

It occurred to her that she had been staring for quite some time. "Mo- Morning," she barely managed to push the words past her lips.

He gave her a cheeky smirk and held a mug out to her. With her jaw still on the floor Emma poured him some coffee. She didn't know where he came from but he left through the kitchen door leading to the garden.

"Ah, good morning, Sheriff!"

Emma twirled again. She didn't even digest the first shock, there was the next half-naked men waiting for her.

She knew this one. Definitely one of Robin's men, definitely only with a towel around his waist. Evidently he just took a shower, his hair was still damp.

"Samuel… G-good Morning," her voice was unusually squeaky.

"Ah, you've made coffee," another mug was dangled in front of her expectantly and she poured him a cup in a trance-like state.

"Miss Swan?"

Thank god, it wasn't another naked man.

"Regina! I'm gone for a week and you go and built yourself a harem!?"

The Queen rolled her eyes. "This just sort of… happened." She couldn't explain how precisely it happened herself. It all started with a few innocent tents in her garden. Roland insisted on finishing the tree house before Henry came back "to surprise him". And who could resists his dimpled smile?

And so the men hammered and serrated every day through. And of course Regina felt obligated to give them food and invite them in to shower. In the end it was simply easier if they didn't have to go back and forth between the camp and her house. And before she knew what was happening the whole camp had billeted on her garden. And somehow they also used her house.

Sometimes Regina missed the time when she was the Evil Queen, no one had ever dared to do something like that. But in reality she had let it happened because her house was filled with laughter and life, because she had been lonely before and afraid. Now she felt safe and secure. Roland spent every night in his newly established room and Robin… Well, Robin had nothing to do with it.

Truthfully spoken Regina's resolve to keep Robin out of her life got weaker every day. She loved him, missed him so bad and according to him he felt the same. Only Regina was afraid, terrified of letting herself be vulnerable again. She was afraid he'd wake up one day realising who she really was, what she had done and leave her. She couldn't let herself fall, not again.

"What are you still doing here?" she asked Emma with a raised brow and Emma held her hands up in defence.

"I was wondering because of the lessons…"

"Tonight at eight in front of my vault. Be punctual."

Emma wanted to finish her coffee, but Regina's look told her that she was unwelcome.

"Mama!" Roland whirled in in his customary good mood. "Henry is already here! We didn't finish the tree house!"

Technically that wasn't true. The originally planned tree house was indeed finished, but by then the Merry Men had discovered the wonders of modern technology and they reached the point of no return when they had been introduced to the chain aw. The tree house kept getting bigger and bigger. Regina wouldn't be surprise if they spread it all over town.

There had been a few scuffles about who got to use the chainsaw next, but after Regina told them that it wouldn't suddenly stop running (they had been convinced it was magic) they found a rhythm. Regina had to supress her grin when she thought back to the time they had first used a vacuum in her presence. Something she never had to do since then. The house was vacuumed more often than ever. Sometimes Regina heard it running twice a day, but she didn't dare comment. Sooner or later they'd stopped being fascinated by how it just sucked dust and dirt in and she'd have to do it herself again.

"It doesn't matter, darling. I'm sure Henry will love to help," she took Roland in her arms. "How about pancakes for breakfast?"

"Yay!"

"Pancakes?" at least four other fellas from Robin's troop stormed through the kitchen door.

"Give me ten minutes, will you?" Regina rolled her eyes. She turned and met Emma's huge hungry eyes. Thinking about pancakes made the blonde's stomach growl.

"Oh, whatever, fine with me, Miss Swan. But I do hope you can behave yourself," Regina hissed and turned back to the men. "You can go set the table… and you'll also clean up!"

"Mum!" Henry whirled in behind the men and hugged his mother. How he got into the garden, Emma didn't know, she had yet to see the wooden slide going from Henry's room directly into one of the tree house rooms, the so called 'cushion room'.

"Mum!" he turned to Emma as well. "Did you see the tree house? It's like a castle, it has slides and bridges and towers and all that stuff."

Regina smiled and ruffled his hair, "I've missed you."

"I've missed you too," he kissed her on her cheek.

"I've missed you too!" Roland chimed in, not one to be forgotten.

"Ah, I've missed you two Roland!" Henry grinned.

"Do I smell pancakes?" five minutes later the leader of the Merry Men entered the kitchen. He looked around and grimaced, "Samuel, please put some clothes on."

Said man gave a sheepish smile and squeezed past Robin. "Every bloody morning!" Robin complained.

A few minutes later they were sitting around the table… well sitting or squashing around the table.

"What is this? Kindergarten?" Emma whined as she tried to shield her pancakes from hungry mouths.

Regina gave her a withering look that clearly said the Queen in no way thought Emma was any different from the 'children'.

Robin grinned as Regina hit Arthur's finger with a spoon and Arthur grimaced in pain. Regina took the last pancake he was about to get and gave it to Henry, the boy stuck out his tongue to Arthur. Robin chuckled and focused on Regina.

She looked better than she had a week ago. She ate regularly again and while her weight was not yet back completely her curves filled in much better. Robin swallowed dryly, it was better not to let his thoughts stray down that road. The last week had been both boon and bane, he wouldn't be able to endure it much longer.

Seeing her every day, spending every minute close to her, having his son call her mama it was slowly killing him. She cooked for them and he taught her how to defend herself. And it killed him because despite being close to her, he wasn't able to reach for her whenever he wanted, wasn't able to draw her into his arms or stroke over her cheek, play with her hair or kiss her. He missed her and yet she was right there, still out of reach. It was getting harder and harder to hold back, especially during their training.

It was torture but he loved every minute of it, because it was the only time during the day in which he got to touch her. Her skin on his fingertips, her body, her smell it made his fingers itch. He loved her so much and he was nearing the end of the line rapidly.

R&R

"Let's try one more time!" Robin held his hand out like always and Regina ignored it like always.

He came at her from behind again, drew her in and… his breath came short when she hit her elbow into his side, her feet hooked around him and Robin found himself staring at the ceiling.

"I did it!" Regina blinked in surprise.

"Indeed you did!" Robin groaned. He was smiling as well. She made him fall and even managed to get him under control, though she shouldn't try that. He had told her to run, but typically Regina she was not listening.

Her face was close to his, she was sitting on his torso, her hands pressing down his own by his head. Robin's heart picked up a pace and he felt her's beating through his chest.

"Regina…" his voice was nothing but a hoarse whisper.

She looked down at him and her grip on him slacked, Robin didn't think. He flipped them over and his lips covered hers hungrily. Her fingers grabbed him by the collar, pulling him even closer, his hands ran up and down her body and she groaned into his mouth. Fire shot through him and he couldn't hold back, the kiss got harder and his fingers left traces on her skin.

Her head was spinning and she couldn't think clearly. For the first time in forever she felt save and warm, comforted and happy, but she needed more. She had missed Robin so bad, sometimes she felt like she couldn't breathe.

His lips left her and trailed hot wet kisses down her throat. Next thing he knew he was being shoved aside. Regina leaped up, her breathing laboured, her body and soul rebelling, but her fear so overwhelming she couldn't fight it. She pressed her lips together hard (tried not to think of how they tasted of him) and kept the tears at bay.

"Regina…" Robin hated the guarded look with which she regarded him.

The basement was cold, silent. Not even the noise of the Merry Men could reach them with the door closed. Heavy cold silence reigned the room.

"Don't you think it's enough?" Robin asked finally.

"What are you talking about?"

"Us."

Regina straightened herself up to her full size, despite it not being very impressive, her eyes hardened. But Robin saw it, saw the pain and the fear before ice covered them.

"There is no us!"

He could make her happy, if only she'd let him. He wanted to make her happy, was willing to do anything for it. And Robin had enough, her denial of them was the last straw.

"Stop this nonsense, I've had enough. There is no reason for us not to be together. I don't know what's wrong with you. I love you!"

"Get it in your head," Regina called at him. "We were nothing but a short affair. I…"

"Don't make me laugh, Regina."

"You want a reason? Fine, I can give you fifty!" she screamed. She was so sick and tired of having to repeat herself over and over again. He finally needed to understand what kind of person she was. "I am a monster. I killed hundreds of people, used and abused them, manipulated them and ripped their hearts out and crushed it before them. I killed my own father and I killed ! The mother of your son! And I can't even remember her face. And you?" she laughed bitterly. "You are a goddamn Hero! Robin Hood, Prince of Thieves, who steals from the rich to give to the poor."

He had been patient for a long time, but now his frustration and anger went off the scale. If she wanted it the hard way then fine he'd force her to be happy. Clearly she thought wailing in misery was her punishment for all the bad things she had done, well he wasn't willing to just allow her that. He loved her and he knew she loved him back, he could make her happy and he'd be damned if he didn't.

"A hero?" he asked her darkly and his blue eyes flashed dangerously. "So you believe all those countless stories about the great Robin Hood they have in this world? You should know best that those stories are rubbish! I am a lot of things, but I wouldn't see myself as a hero. You want to know who I am? Fine! You think I'm all that good and my past is filled with singing white rabbits? Bollocks. I didn't always steal from the rich to give to the poor. At first I was simply a blind soldier following my king's orders. I never questioned them.

You're not the only one here who tortured and killed. Sure I've did it because I had order, but does that make it better? And I didn't leave the army because my consciousness rebelled against all the things I had to do, but because Prince John and I had a rather heated dispute that ended with him lying on the floor nurturing a bloody nose. After that I had to decide, either I accepted my sentence like a good honourable soldier or I left honour, pride and duty behind me and became an outlaw. I didn't become a thief out of nobility or principle, but rather because I wanted to take revenge on Prince John and therefore I raided his villages and carriages. And I didn't care who got hurt. Sure I never forced myself on a woman myself, but some of the men that followed me in those first years did. And I didn't give a fuck.

It took me years to see where my path lead me. I met Little John and Friar Tuck and realised the errors of my way. Only then I started to care what my men did and I started to give to those who needed it more than we did," he was close now, his loud voice echoed through the room.

"What do you want from me, Regina? You want to hear I would have picked you over Marian? Would that make you happy? Then be bloody happy! Those two days I spent next to you in the hospital, were the most horrible in my entire life and I didn't waste a second to think about her. And then Rumpelstiltskin asked me if I'd rather Marian died than you I was about to say yes," he yelled the last words at her.

"I felt terrible, still do. I married her, because I loved her once, she was the mother of my son, but in that very second. I couldn't think of anything but you. I wanted you to live! I choose you. I killed Marian as much as you did. You killed her in another life? Well, I don't bloody care, that's the kind of person that I am. I want you. I'm a selfish bastard."

Hi breathing was heavy, he had grabbed her by the arm and Regina had trouble breathing with the intensity of his gaze on her. She wanted to tell him, that it changed nothing, that she didn't deserve happiness but it kept getting harder to find a reason to refuse. Why did she refuse in the first place?

"Fine!" Robin had tried long enough to play nice. He wanted her, he wanted to make her happy and he knew that he could. He truly was a bastard. "Fine! You want to hear it? Yes, you are right. You killed my wife, you took my son's mother. Now you must take responsibility for that! Become my wife and the mother of my son."

It was wrong – probably, Regina thought somewhere in the haziness of her mind. It was wrong because she shouldn't get turned on by that, shouldn't fall in love with him even more after he basically guilt-trapped, forced her to come back to him. She really shouldn't, she should be disgusted by it, but she wasn't. It was because she finally understood – understood what draw her to him, understood what it meant to have a soulmate. They loved one another – not because of fate, not because of fairy dust or congeniality, not because of tattoos and timing – but because they understood each other. Truly and completely.

She didn't know when she had moved to kiss him, much like their first time in Storybrooke. She had grabbed him by his shirt and kissed him. Because she believed him, believed that he understood. He understood the darkness in her heart. The fear that was always present since the day Marian came back washed away. Robin wouldn't just get up and leave her someday, at least not because he'd be disgusted with her dark and damaged heart.

Maybe it was sick and twisted, because it took him blackmailing her with what she'd once done, for her to allow herself to fall for him one more time. But he understood and maybe he even shared a part of the darkness. He had used her past not against her but for her, it was the first time anyone had ever done that.

He kissed her back with all the pent up desire and hunger he had accumulated. Every sense was overwhelmed with her, every cell in his body focused on her, revelled in the feeling of having her in his arms again. When they broke apart to gasp for air, their breathing was irregular and their eyes locked with intensity. He didn't give her more than a second, his body urged against hers, his hands wandered. It had been so long and they had missed each other so bad. She was up against the wall, her finger nails leaving marks even through his shirt.

"Robin…" Regina fought for air.

His blue eyes flashed and he looked at her.

"What?" he growled. "What the bloody hell is it this time? Because, if you decided again that this won't work I swear…"

She pressed her lips against his to shut him up, "I only wanted to suggest we may lock the door."

R&R

It was late in the evening when Robin and Regina emerged from the basement.

"Robin," Regina swatted his hand away laughing. "Behave yourself. We are not alone in the house."

In a desperate attempt to look less like the mess she currently was, Regina smoothed down her wrinkled clothes, she had given up any and all attempts at her mused up hair. Currently she was wondering how she could reach her room without anyone noticing.

"Regina! There you are," Regina stopped all movements and muttered a curse. Robin chuckled next to her.

"Snow? What do you want?" she asked the young woman.

"Henry was so excited about the tree house. We couldn't pass up the opportunity to see for ourselves. David couldn't keep himself from helping," she rolled her eyes. "The chainsaw, you know."

"Of course… Would you like to stay for dinner?" Regina found herself compelled to ask at Snow's huge hopeful eyes. Damn it, she was getting soft.

Snow beamed at her and Regina was regretting having invited her. She was about to turn when she saw the cheerful expression on the princess' face.

"What?"

A mischievous smile appeared on Snow's face as she let her eyes roam over Regina's appearance, her eyes stayed on Regina's neck for a second, "Nothing, absolutely nothing."

Regina huffed and stalked upstairs to shower and change.

Snow helped with the dinner while all the men, including Robin and the children, waited outside for their turn with the saw.

Regina didn't like to admit, but the light atmosphere between Snow and her was something she was grateful for… it made her feel warm inside. Snow called them in for dinner, and Regina somehow managed to find more chairs, so that everyone had a place to sit.

The table felt silent as Regina sat down and she narrowed her eyes at everyone. It was John who broke the silence.

"Was about damn time!" He clapped Robin on his back and took a bite from his plate.

It took Regina a few moments to put the indications together, most of them men looked at her with a scrutiny similar to Snow just after… Regina's hands wandered to her throat. No way, that was something she should have seen in the mirror.

Regina sucked the air in sharply, "No, you didn't!"

A hickey?! What was he, a bloody teenager?

Robin focused his gaze entirely on the plate before him and avoided Regina's general direction. She could have sworn she saw one of those goddamned sly smirks.

Snow wasn't able to stifle her giggle fast enough, which made Regina's deadly gaze turn do her. Then the Queen had to smirk herself.

"Oh, whatever," she sighed. "Eat!"

R&R

She had known she wouldn't be able to keep the secret of her vanished magic to herself forever, but she had hoped for a little more time. It happened during the tree house warming party, and like always it was Emma's fault. Regina had been teaching her and Emma became more and more sure of how to use her magic. And she was powerful, probably more so than Regina had ever been, but she was also uncontrollable and cocky.

Robin was responsible for the barbeque and Regina had outdone herself at the buffet.

"Regina, you have to share the recipe for this potato salad with me," Snow White groaned in delight. "It's amazing. I could eat only that.

Regina thanked her and joined Robin at the open fire.

"What can I get you, Milady?" Robin asked with a smile and smoothed a strand of black hair behind her ears.

"Nothing, I'm full. I just wanted to see if maybe I relieve you from your duty, so you may eat something as well."

Robin raised an eyebrow, "You don't seriously think, I haven't eaten yet. I've been eating all the time. Besides, the minute I leave my place here, at least five of the Merry Men will fight over the position as barbeque master and then I'll never get it back."

"You're just like a child," Regina rolled her eyes.

With a dramatic gesture Robin held his chest, "You wound me deeply, Your Majesty."

She shook her head in silent laughter and he pulled her closer, "Did I tell you how absolutely stunning you look again today."

Regina's heart fluttered and she smiled in his shoulder – which she could easily reach thanks to her high heels. She was busy flirting with Robin and therefore didn't witness how the next thing that happened started out.

A hard wind seized the fire and the flames surged up. Startled Robin shoved Regina behind him.

"Emma! Stop this wind!" Snow tried to reach her daughter, who had apparently performed a magical experiment.

"I can't! I don't know how I did that! That wasn't supposed to happen!" Emma screamed back over the howling of the wind.

The storm was picking up its pace and Snow looked around in worry. The buffet table and the chairs were fallen over.

"The tree house!" Henry's yell made Snow look up. She gasped, the fire had already taken possession of a part of the tree house and it wouldn't be long and it would spread further.

Snow twirled around, David who held Neal tightly pressed into his chest was making his way over to her.

"Regina…" the Queen didn't react and Snow's voice got louder. "Regina, stop it! Help Emma stop it."

Regina opened her mouth as if to say something. But she didn't move. Snow ran over to her, "Regina, you have to stop the fire and the wind!"

Robin pulled her to his side and put his arm around her waist. "Emma is your daughter. If she can't control her magic, she shouldn't use it," he bit out harshly. Why should Regina get blamed for this?

With one last glance at Regina, he turned to his Merry Men and bellowed out order. They started putting out the fire.

"Done!" Emma breathed a sigh of relief. At least she had stopped the wind.

"Emma, the fire!" David yelled, but the helpless look in her eyes told him all he needed to know.

By now everyone's eyes were on the Queen, who looked around with haunted eyes.

"What is going on here?" the fire disappeared and Gold's annoyed voice resonated in the garden.

"Sorry, that was on me," Emma looked around guiltily.

"Regina? What the hell! Why didn't you stop the fire?" David asked angrily.

Snow could feel the change in atmosphere. Every single one of the Merry Men stepped closer to Regina and every single one of them – including Robin – was ready to draw their weapons at any given moment. Snow had never realised until now, but in retro perspective she should have wondered why they started to carry about their weapons again -even when they were in town. Robin didn't leave the house without his trusted bow and arrows and there was always at least one of the men with Regina. The puzzle pieces fell into place. They were protecting her because…

"You've lost your magic."

Regina took a step back, her eyes darted around the garden. Robin's finger's tingled but he stayed where he was. Regina was a strong women and he knew she wouldn't appreciate him fighting her battles for him. At least not unless he absolutely had do.

"When did this happen?" Snow had a very distinct idea when.

"That's none of your business," Regina recovered her poise. She stalked over to Snow and was once again grateful for her high heels; they enabled her to look down on Snow.

"Oh, Regina," before Regina could even move, Snow had already hugged her close.

Robin choked off his laughter. Regina's glare told him clearly he'd be in trouble later anyway. He hadn't been able to supress his grin.

"I'm so sorry. Are you fine? Does it hurt? Is there something we can do?" Snow shot out question after question, but stepped back from Regina, who could finally breathe again.

Regina was about to retort with a snappish comment, but held herself back. There were children present.

"Thanks Snow, but everything is fine. If maybe you couldn't make a big deal out of it," she said instead and was every bit the regal Queen. "Oh, and please, do not start to cry."

Gold shook his head, "Back to my question. What happened here? I thought you taught her control of her magic?"

Rueful Emma looked to the side, "I just wanted to show Henry how to make a mini-storm in my hand."

Regina rolled her eyes, "I thought we talked about this. This kind of magic is still too difficult for you."

"It worked yesterday."

"Well, next time you better listen," Regina remarked and took a look at the damaged tree house.

"We'll patch that up in now time," Robin comforted the crushed blonde and gestured to his men.

It wasn't long and the men talked shop about how to best repair the tree house. Grumpy especially seemed to have a very distinct idea and his voice boomed over the garden.

Regina's secret had been revealed, Gold thought. He was actually surprise it had lasted as long as it had. His eyes searched for those of the Queen. Now that her secret was no longer a secret , he wondered if she'd still keep his. He couldn't tell Belle, couldn't give her the real dagger, he couldn't risk breaking his curse. He had enemies , lots of them and without his power they'd be powerless, useless to protect Belle. He was nothing without his powers, a weakling. Belle accepted his dark side, (even fell for it, when she lost her memory), but maybe not the weak, scared men. The one he hated more than the Dark One on the worst days.

Regina's brown eyes found his and she gave him a curt nod. She'd keep his secret, but still she was sure, it wouldn't end well. It wasn't her business anyway.

R&R

Tell me what you think!