Chapter Twenty
Charming stares at the group in his living room and stands from his seat, "I think we should all just be glad that our friend was saved from this curse. Welcome back, Robin."
With that, Rumple clapped his hands together. "And now, dearies, perhaps we can get back to the task at hand? Charming, I believe you were in the middle of a plan…"
Charming nods, remembering he had been in the middle of speaking when Robin was woken. He turns to Robin again, "And while we are all overjoyed that you can join us again, Robin – and we shall celebrate it at a later time – we do still have the matter of the Ice Queen to tackle."
Robin nods and smiles at the Prince, "Please, I'd hate to have put everybody into any more delay." Part of him was relieved the discussion had finally moved on from him.
Marian looks at her husband, unable to believe her eyes that he was well again. She had just about given up hope on him – but thank the gods that Roland had prevailed. She wouldn't know how to survive without him, especially in this new world. She knows she and Robin could finally see eye-to-eye; now, with her having experienced what he must have felt at the time he lost her. Her helplessness at not being able to save him must've been the same feeling he carried when he had thought her gone forever.
Marian vows that they will start anew – after this Ice Queen was defeated. And she would begin their turn to a new leaf now; she will honour the request he gives her every time he ventured out to fight – because as she has come to realize, it was not because he no longer trusted her to fight at his side, it was merely because he'd wanted to protect her. And this time, she won't make the same mistake again, she would let him.
And so: "I'll take Roland with me to the baby's room," Marian whispers to Robin – her gaze silently telling him that she finally understands his motives. At Robin's nod, she goes.
Regina, who had been trying to pay attention to Charming's voice, noticed Marian exit the room from her peripheral vision – silently wondering what that was all about. Shaking her head, she tuned back in:
"It's the same plan we'd had from the beginning," Charming was saying, "now that we've seen what's she capable of, I think we can finally bring the fight to her – we still need to get the vessel after all."
"The plan is flawed," Regina says from her spot, her gaze annoyed. "Are we supposed to skate around her ice palace hoping she used it as decoration on her coffee table?"
"Regina is right," Emma says, "We should be more wary now, knowing what she can do. I mean, do we only send people with true loves, in case she curses them? Or just Robin, because he seems to have miraculously beaten her curse?"
Killian speaks then, "Plus, how exactly does the vessel work again?"
"The magic behind the vessel is quite simple," Rumplestilskin replies. "A simple incantation once it is in my hands will activate its magic, and Elsa will be powerless to stop it."
"So you don't even have to be in the same room as her? You just need to have the vessel, say the incantation and poof, she's gone?" Regina clarifies.
"Exactly, dearie."
"Or maybe he should be – be in the same room, that is," Snow says. They all turn to her, as she continues, "She wants Rumple, that much is clear – why not use that to our advantage? We tell her we're turning him in and that we demand the negotiations take place in her palace – she'd be none the wiser and it gives us the advantage of not having to sneak in, which I'm not sure we can do."
"How will we know she won't kill Rumple on sight?" Emma asks then, as Rumple frowns at the exchange, as if he wasn't in the room with them!
"She won't," Regina says confidently, and Emma raises an eyebrow. "No," Regina continues, her gaze seeming far away, as if she's remembering something, "she'd make him suffer. She'd enjoy torturing the man who tricked her, who made her believe what he was doing was for her gain, but in truth, he cared nothing for her at all – no, he wasn't out to save her. She'd want to prolong his agony, for being the cause of why she lost everything she held dear in the first place. And though he'd say he had good reason to – that's never enough; it doesn't justify it. It doesn't erase the terrible feeling of being manipulated for someone's personal gain."
Regina swallows as she finished, her words reverberating through her. She understands Elsa more than anyone else in this room – they are the same. Briefly she wonders why she's even here, why she wasn't actually handing over Rumplestilskin. Then she remembers Henry, and because of him, she will never regret anything she's ever done to get here to this place. Not to mention the Ice Queen has caused her pain now, too – so she just keeps her stance, and gives the group a defiant look, repeating, "She won't kill him on sight!"
Everyone was staring at Regina, understanding the woman a little better – everything she's really gone through to get here; to this very room. Robin stares at her, admiring her strength; whilst wanting to punch the imp in the face – but they had other matters to get through.
"Alright, now that's settled," Hook finally breaks the silence, "Step one is to use Rumple as bait, what's our next move? How does that get us the vessel?"
Rumple interjected, "Try not to sound too eager when calling me bait, pirate!"
"Well," Charming says, "Rumple, using you as bait will all be a ruse – it will get us to her castle, and once there, we turn the tables on her and we go on the offensive. And as the number of us keeps her occupied…"
And Regina suddenly sees Robin nodding his head along – he can't be serious, not so soon after – but he was because Robin finishes the former Prince's sentence, "…I steal the vessel from right under her nose!"
Then Rumple is also joining in, "Yes, that could work. But she must not expect you at all!"
"I'm a thief," Robin counters, "Stealth is a specialty. Trust me; I'm crafted well to my trade."
"But maybe we can help it along," Rumple continues. "Right now, Elsa has been out and about – still attacking people. She is privy to some aspect of life here. What if you weren't saved from her curse at all?"
"We'll pretend we couldn't save you. An elaborate funeral, mate," Hook adds, head nodding eagerly. "I can picture it now."
Charming chimes in, "Yes, we really dig it in that we're in mourning for you. And that is why we decide to finally hand over Rumplestilskin – Robin's 'death' the driving force behind our actions."
Emma sits forward from her spot, "You know that idea might actually work."
"So, I guess we're planning my funeral," Robin says, a smile on his face at their solid plan.
Regina was wide-eyed, she was surrounded by idiots! "Are you all stupid?" she exclaims, standing from her spot, and stalking towards Robin, "You in particular!"
He looks taken aback, "I believe we just came up with a sound plan that will save us all!"
"After what happened to you?" Regina shouts, "You were basically dead, just an hour ago!"
Robin stands now, too – feeling like a small child as she towered over him in his seated position.
"We'll I'm alive now," he counters, voice rising, too. "And I don't plan on being dead again anytime soon."
"Oh," Regina says, her tone mocking. "And here I thought you being good as dead for the last five days was all part of your grand plan!" Then she adds, more seriously, "You can't just plan on not dying, Robin! That's clearly not how it works!" She was furious, she wanted to hit him over and over again, to make him realize – he is vulnerable!
The whole room was stunned, everyone watching the exchange with keen curiosity.
Marian had sensed the change in the tempo of the voices coming from the living room. Curiosity (and worry) getting the better of her, she decided to step out of the bedroom – closing the door quickly behind her as she realized just how the loud the screams were. She was about to burst out when she hears Robin's voice in the shouting match – but she was rooted to the spot, especially as she hears:
"I did what I did to save you, Regina!" Robin exclaims at the woman.
"I didn't need you to save me!" Regina screams right back, and before she knew it: "I didn't even have my heart in my chest then, her curse would've bounced off of me – as if it was nothing!"
Snow gasped (whether from shock or realization, Regina didn't know).
Robin absorbed her words – his mind working on overdrive. The steady rhythm he'd woken to – could it be? Her putting her heart back, was that the act of true love that saved him? Was it really her that confessed her love for him? Then why wasn't she there when he awoke? He wanted to shake her, to demand answers – but instead he balled his fists to his side and looked at her.
"But you've put it back since then?" he says more softly, his eyes full of questions.
Her hand instinctively moved to cover her beating heart – giving him the answer without meaning to; but she was taken aback by his question and the look he was giving her. Does he know? How? She shakes herself; focus, Regina.
Then she hardens her gaze again, her hands at her hips, "Never mind that! I'll not allow you to put yourself in unspeakable danger after what just happened."
Robin immediately grew angry at her methods of evasion. "You'll not allow me?" he said, his voice biting. "Milady, I don't see how you are in any sort of position to be dictating my decisions!" He immediately realizes hid mistake – but it was her, she was frustrating to a fault.
The damage was done, though.
Her eyes widen at his words, her mouth slightly open – as if she was ready for a retort – but had not expected him to respond in that way. She closes it then, her lips pursed. Then she turns and stalks out the door, slamming it shut – so shaken she seemed to forget she could've have just disappeared out of there.
Marian heard the whole thing, then witnessed Robin run out of the door to go after her – the Evil Queen – or as he calls her, Regina. Marian narrows her eyes, she wasn't so stupid; but now wasn't the time for this confrontation.
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Robin catches her halfway down the stairs, bolting right after her as she left the Charmings' apartment with a slam of the door.
"Regina," he says, grasping her arm. "I'm sorry."
She glares at him, yanking her arm from his hold. "Why?" she asks, "You're right. I'm nobody – I'm not anything to you. And to think otherwise is just wrong."
"You know that's not true," Robin replies. "I didn't mean it that way – it was just a retort! It meant nothing. It's just sometimes – sometimes, you can be very frustrating."
"Well, I'm sorry I'm not perfect," she snaps back. "You're not a piece of cake, either!"
"Regina…" his voice pleads. "I'm sorry. Please."
He wanted to say more; wanted to ask her the questions, wanted to tell her everything – wanted to say she is everything.
But he realizes that wouldn't be fair, because all she would have are his words. She deserves better than promises – she's a woman worthy of action, of assured decisions. When this happens, Robin wants it to be right; and that means waiting for the right time – and he just knew it wasn't now.
"We can think of another plan," he suggests then, "Maybe you're right; maybe I shouldn't be over confident about my ability as a thief. I mean, the whole plan falls apart if I don't deliver."
"It's not that I don't believe that you can't do it," she begins, but then stops with a shake of head (it's that I don't want you to put yourself in danger).
She refuses to look up at him, into his eyes – doesn't trust herself not to cave to those blue orbs.
What was she going to do with him? So, she relents; and says: "Tell your gang of idiots in there that we can go ahead with your little plan – the sooner the better," she says.
"So you're on board with the plan now?" he asks of her then.
"I think it might work," Regina replies, her tone still abrupt. "It's worth a shot."
Robin nods his head, "Alright."
She begins to walk away then, adding in snidely, "I wouldn't expect flowers from me at your 'funeral'."
He huffs. Of course.
A/N: I'm really loving everyone's reviews. There's still a ways to go to the story. I do want to apologize for my grammar - it is not my strong suit!