A/N : Finally posting the update that might be the end of some people... XD More seriously, I really hope that you will like what I chose to do. This story could have taken so many directions, with a different path at every corner, and maybe not all of you would have taken the same as I did, but now we're here... And I hope that you stay with me until the end! And now, I let you discover the depth of my cruelty...

6 months earlier

The battle against the black knights

"Robin!"

Regina's scream resonates in the large space of the forest, and she starts running towards her husband. She grabs a dagger at her belt and the trajectory is so perfect it stabs the man who just hit Robin straight through his skull, killing him instantly.

Robin falls to the ground, a hand over his abdomen where the blade sank in him deeply, and even from where she is, Regina can almost see the blood flowing from the wound. She slices the throat of another guard who stands in her way, her eyes finding her husband's form immediately as she closes the distance between them. She's so focused on him that she doesn't pay attention to her surroundings. She doesn't notice a soldier on the ground, not far from her, injured, but not dead. The man hurries to his feet, crashes against Regina while she's running at fast speed, his elbow colliding with her ribs, his shoulder with her collarbone, and she's projected to the ground, losing her sword in the process.

Regina lets a dull cry out when her side meets the hard ground, the air knocked out of her lungs, but it's mostly the sudden pain running through her entire chest that renders her dizzy and unaware of her surroundings. Her ears vibrate with a crack when she hears her own ribcage break under the impact. For a moment, she can't even move, can't even breath or think, the pain too strong, overwhelming. She forces herself to get through it, tries to get back to her spirits, but all she manages to do is fall flat on her back and open her eyes to face her own sword raised above her.

But before she reacts, there is a loud thud and the clattering sound of metal crashing on a rock, and when she blinks and opens her eyes again, Eric is standing in front of her, face serious and sweaty, nodding as she gives him a puzzled look. He quickly kneels next to Regina, his hand reaching for where she's holding her ribs.

"Are you alright?"

She manages a small but painful nod that only increases the beginning of a headache caused by her collision with the floor, and when he helps her sit, she mutters, wincing and attempting to get up, "Robin…"

A strangled cry slips from her lips as another wave of pain takes her when she forces herself to stand despite the dizziness, Eric supporting her all the while.

Looking up, Regina notices the sudden change of atmosphere, the calmness around them, and mostly, the fact that the battle has stopped.

No, not stopped.

It's over.

Paying more attention to the faces of the still standing men, she realizes there are only her friends left alive in the middle of the battlefield. All the guards are dead.

They won.

The Merry Men won, but there is no cheer nor happiness.

Regina and Eric join their friends, and on her way Regina notices Arthur, bent over someone who is not a black knight. She meets the sadness of his eyes when he looks up from Rowan's body, shaking his head to make her understand there is nothing more to do. Regina's breath catches in her throat, reality hitting her again, making her close her eyes for a second, but also reminding her of another casualty.

She fastens her pace to join Robin, notices that Tuck is by his side, already tending to the wound. On her way there, her sight is caught by a shadow lying still only a few inches from her husband. A man whose mask has fallen and is, luckily, irremediably dead, the blade of her dagger buried deep into his skull.

She recognizes his face immediately.

Guy de Gisborne.

The man she threatened, and who swore to get his revenge on her. She turns her gaze away from him, uncaring of his fate. Instead, Regina falls to her knees next to her husband, catching his attention as she takes his hand.

"Hey!" Robin says weakly, attempting an unconvincing smile. "We won." he states, as if it mattered, as if it was important in any way now.

Regina looks up at Tuck with as much hope as she can muster, given the circumstances, but she already knows the answer, so she doesn't wait for him to answer. Before uttering a word, she reaches for Robin, bringing him onto her lap, against her chest, her sore ribs all but forgotten at the moment as she locks her brown eyes with his blue ones. When her fingers brush his cheek shakily, Regina has an uncomfortable sense of deja vu settling inside her.

"We did," she agrees, blinking and letting tears roll freely on her cheeks despite the smile she tries to put on. "And you're going to get better. We are going to take you back to the camp, and-"

"Regina-" he tries to reason, but she cuts him.

"No! You will be fine, Robin!" she insists. "We just-"

A cackle is heard, startling everyone, making Regina's head snap up and look ahead, her friends following her gaze to see a blue smoke appearing in the middle of the battlefield, revealing Cora in an elegant dark dress, a confident smirk on her face.

"I doubt that, my dear."

She waves her hand in front of her, and a body is thrown between her and the Merry Men, gasps of horror escaping everyone.

"No!" Regina screams, attempting to stand. Robin holds her back while the other Merry Men draw their swords, but from one flick of her wrist Cora sends the weapons across the road.

"Did you really think that savage could stand against me?"

"You murdered him!" Regina yells.

"Don't act so surprised! It's not as if he was the first one. I seem to remember one little blonde woman-"

Cora holds up her hand in front of her, stopping the sharp blade of Eric's dagger a few inches from her face, disintegrating it into dust with disgust.

"Men," she rolls her eyes, the man hitting the ground with a loud thud when she sends magic towards him. "Always thinking they're stronger than I am."

Cora looks back at her daughter, grins when her eyes land on Rowan's lifeless body and Robin lying on the floor, Regina clutching to her husband desperately. He's not dead, but sweating heavily, his face twisting in pain, shooting daggers at his mother-in-law when Cora takes a few steps towards them, smiling widely with madness.

"It looks like my men did some effective damage after all. They didn't catch the princess, but this is an acceptable compromise. And Guy succeeded in his mission! I knew I could count on him to get the job done."

"I will make you pay for-" Regina starts, before finding herself unable to move or speak, frozen on spot just as her friends, powerless. They're at her mother's mercy when the woman keeps her slow, lingering, threatening walk in their direction, her hand held up in front of her.

"And how are you going to do that, pray tell?"

The answer is more actions than words.

Cora is suddenly sent flying a few feet away, releasing the magic holding the Merry Men prisoners, everyone staring at each other with incomprehension and astonishment.

Until a horse is stepping between them and the Queen, who is currently trying to get up to her feet, still a little stunned.

"That's enough, mother!" Zelena speaks loudly when she jumps off the horse, letting him walk away and earning a bewildered look from a few Merry Men.

"Oh really, my dear? I think this is just the beginning."

Cora sends a blast of magic towards her older daughter, hitting Zelena in the shoulder. The young woman falls back and lands at the Merry Men's feet, and most of them just stare at her, but Alan and Eric quickly reach for her and help her sit, then move up to her feet, facing her mother again, a determined look on her face as she stalks forward towards her.

"Leave them alone!"

"And what will you do to stop me?"

"What I should have done since the day I learned about your existence." the red-haired woman challenges, chin held high.

Regina finds in her sister's confidence the fierce she herself possesses, the strong temper and bravery that has helped her become who she is. Maybe they're not that different after all.

Zelena pushes forward with both hands, a green blow of magic heading straight for Cora, but the woman takes care of it with a flick of her wrist, though she steps back when the strong gulf of wind it creates as it explodes hits her.

"You don't have the power to defeat me, Zelena," Cora snorts. "You wouldn't be able to kill me, even if you wanted to. You're too soft."

"Perhaps, but I can stop you from going after them."

Saying so, Zelena waves her hands in a circle in front of her, joining them above her head, and locks her fingers together before she opens her palms.

From where she's sitting on the floor behind her sister, Regina watches in awe as Zelena releases her magic and it spreads from her hands to the sides, creating a shield between Cora and everyone else.

Zelena steps back, still placed between her sister and her mother, the determination in her demeanor surprising even herself.

There's a deep silence following, the two women glaring at each other, neither backing down nor giving up. Cora leans back a little, straightens her spine even more, if that's possible, and states flatly, "So you're choosing her side?"

Zelena doesn't even hesitate to reply. "After seeing what she accomplished while all you did was spreading death, yes, I am. She's a much better person than I'll ever be. I understand now that she wasn't blessed from having been chosen by you. I was the lucky one. All those years away from you, I was safe, while you put her through hell over and over again."

"Zelena, Zelena, Zelena..." Cora shakes her head. "You have no idea what you're talking about."

"On the contrary, mother. I understand things more clearly now than ever. Regina was right since the beginning. We were only tools you used to achieve your dreams. You never loved me. You never loved her. You only loved yourself, your magic, and your power. I'm just sorry it took me so long to realize it. I could have stopped you from killing so many innocents."

"It won't change anything, dear. You're still not powerful enough to fight me. You can't stop me from turning that vermin into dust."

"Maybe not," Zelena concedes, her voice perfectly calm. "But I can do this."

A strong wave of dizziness invades Regina when she's all of a sudden surrounded by darkness. She blinks several times, starts to feel panic invade her, tightens her grip on Robin's body instinctively, feels him do the same. But after a couple of seconds, light is entering their vision again, and she has to shake her head to come back to reality.

When Regina opens her eyes, her mother is gone.

Her mother is gone, and so are the dead soldiers.

She looks around her, confused, only to notice that everyone else is still standing where they were, Zelena in front of her, the huntsman's dead body about three feet away, Rowan's corpse not far behind, her friends around her, her husband safely tucked in her arms. But the surroundings are different. A slight nausea takes Regina, and that's when it hits her.

Zelena had transported them.

Knowing she wouldn't be able to beat Cora, she transported them somewhere safe. Or at least, someplace else, away from their mother.

The heavy weight on her lap is moving, and Regina's attention goes back to her husband, reality striking her in the face again when she hears him groan roughly in pain, one of his hands closing over her arm, gripping tightly.

"Robin!" she exclaims, leaning forward, adjusting him in her arms, earning another whimper from him. "Robin, stay with me!"

Tuck moves closer again, the other Merry Men gathering around, powerless.

"Regina," Robin tries, his eyes screwing shut. "I'm sorry."

"Don't speak! You need to save your strength. We are going to bring you back to the camp. You're going to be okay!" She says breathlessly, her voice frantic with agitation and panic as she attempts to hide the trembling of her fingers when she cups his cheek.

A myriad of feelings are washing over her, and she can't put them in order, can't even understand them nor describe them. Regina only knows a tight knot is building in her chest and spreading through her body with every second she lays eyes on her badly injured husband. She can't figure out which feeling it is, the good or the bad one, but she doesn't care, doesn't want to know, just wants to focus on the man she loves lying in her arms, bleeding to death.

"Regina, be realistic," Robin winces, bringing a hand to his abdomen, covering hers over his injury. "I won't-"

"No!" Regina cuts him forcefully, almost angry at him. "We won this fight. So you don't give up! I forbid you to leave me, you understand? You stay here. I need you."

Tears are falling down her face again, quickly followed by others, hot and heavy, blurring her vision. But in her grief, she has enough good sense to remember the latest events, what led them into this part of the forest, and her head snaps up, looking for someone who is quietly standing to the side.

"Can you heal him?" Regina asks briskly, hope piercing through her voice.

Zelena's eyes open wide, her mouth forming an O in surprise. "Me?"

"You have magic! You must know a spell, or something, that will save him!"

"I..." Zelena starts hesitantly. "I don't know. I didn't finish my training, I'm not sure I-"

"Can you try?" The desperation in her tone reflects her heartbreak. She knows at that exact moment, that she would do anything to save his life. "Please!" she begs, desperate, tears falling in torrents down her cheeks.

Zelena hesitates, but she takes a step forward, unsure, yet she kneels in front of the couple when Tuck moves to the side. The redhead takes a deep breath before she opens her trembling hands and places them above Robin's body, paying attention to his wound. A light green glow surrounds her fingers, leaving them to caress the lacerated skin.

Regina watches on, eyes shining with hope and fear, mesmerized, as her sister's magic slowly starts to remodel the tissue.

But even if the bleeding stops and the deepest part of the injury seems closed, there's still a trace left, an open scar from the size of the blade, with dark edges, and when Zelena focuses on making it disappear, she receives a jolt of magic, the woman falling backwards and catching herself at the last second with her hands, shaking her head to recover from the blast as Robin suddenly lets out a piercing scream.

"What was that?" Regina questions frantically, hand covering the not completely healed wound. "What did you do?"

Zelena furrows her brow, staring at her hands. She's glancing at Robin now, at the scar, before she meets her sister's panicked eyes. "I don't know! I- I was healing him and... Suddenly it's like his body rejected my magic. It didn't let me finish."

Regina looks back at her husband to find his face torn with pain, his hand instinctively flicking over the now fast darkening skin starting to spread along his side.

"Robin?" Regina calls, holding his face between her hands. "Robin, look at me! Talk to me! Robin, please!"

"Regina..." he lets out, his breath labored as he attempts to get control over the sudden excruciating pain overwhelming him. "It hurts so much."

"I don't understand," Regina looks up at her sister. "You said it was working. I saw it work. What went wrong?"

"The blade was enchanted to kill him." A voice speaks out loud, startling everyone. "Guy de Gisborne was sent by your mother to kill Robin specifically. They knew he would be there."

Regina's eyes snap up to be met by the green ones of Tinkerbell, who's looking at her with the most sincere regret, but Regina cannot care less about the fairy's feelings right now.

"What are you doing here?" Regina spits, anger and bitterness replacing the plea.

"I came to tell you they're all safe," she says slowly, warily, but Regina just shoots daggers at her.

"And that my husband's death is another worthless loss to help me find my path and get rid of my mother?"

Her tone is full of reproach, strong but at the same time faltering with every sob she swallows down.

"No, Regina. This wasn't supposed to happen."

"Can you do something?"

"I'm sorry, I can't. I don't have the power to break this spell," the fairy shakes her head.

"Then you should leave."

"Regina..." Tinkerbell pleads.

"You leave me alone! Fly away, moth! I don't want to see you anymore. You're the reason why I started to fight back. You led us there! The hope you brought us destroyed so many innocent lives. You're such a terrible fairy-"

"Regina," a weak voice stops her, a hand on her cheek, forcing her to look down, Robin struggling both against the pain and the tiredness threatening to pull him under forever, shakes as he attempts to resist the magic invading him. "It's not her fault."

"Robin-"

"It's not!" he cuts her again more forcefully this time, his thumb finding her lips to shush her. "It's okay." Her eyes open wide in horror, and she shakes her head, breaking contact with his fingers, but he doesn't give her time to speak. "You're alright." And then "Come here."

He presses his fingers slightly to her cheek, urging her to come closer, trying to suppress a cough fit, turning his head slightly when he fails, but still, he meets his wife's eyes a second later.

"I… I love you." he whispers, his voice weaker every second, his face scrunched up in pain, struggling to hide it from Regina.

"I love you too, Robin. I love you so much. I won't be able to keep going without you, I'm not-"

"You will, Regina." A groan escapes him, his jaw clenching as he tries to suppress a scream "You're…" He swallows hard before continuing, "you're the strongest person I know."

Brushing her fingers against his cheek, she leans even closer to him, until their foreheads are touching. "Please, don't leave me alone. I can't do this alone," she whispers in a sob, thinking more of their unborn growing child than the war ragging around them. As she does, a strong wave of love spreads in her, from head to toe, filling her heart, her lungs, her mind, her entire being, and she knows what she has to do.

Robin is beyond hope, beyond saving. This is his end, even if she can't accept it. But when Regina leans forward, she knows all that is left is to say goodbye. She has to give him one last kiss. She closes her eyes, and under the pressure of his hand on her neck, presses her lips to his.

A pulse of pure love shudders out and engulfs the land. A light brighter than the sun surrounds them all, hitting them square in their chest. The shock makes Regina and Robin pull away with puzzled eyes as they stare at each other with incomprehension.

"What was that?" a voice questions, but they're too stunned to react.

"True loves' kiss," Tinkerbell answers in awe. "I've heard legends about it but... I never saw one for myself before."

"Wait! Do you mean it was-"

"Magic, yes." she cuts Arthur. "Light magic. The most powerful magic in all the realms."

Regina barely hears the words, only follows Robin's hands when they wander to his abdomen, looking for evidence of his deadly enchanted injury, but finding none.

"The wound!" he exclaims, his voice raspy but strong. "The spell! They're gone."

"What?"

"How?"

But Robin ignores his friends. He meets Regina's tearful and confused eyes, a hand reaching for her face, smiling when she leans into his palms. "You saved me." Letting out a chuckle, he repeats, this time drawing her out from her dazed state "You saved me, Regina. You saved my life."

Without a warning, he sits fully, his lips crashing onto hers, taking her by surprise. It takes her a second to realize what is happening, but when she does, she wraps an arm around his neck, her free hand circling his wrist and keeping him with her. They forget about the others, about the location, about what just happened, as they kiss until the lack of air becomes unbearable, pulling back but their foreheads resting against each other, needing the contact after coming so close to being separated forever.

"I would hate to break the moment," Eric speaks after clearing his throat. "But the Evil Queen can find us at any moment. We better leave."

Nodding and then helping her husband get up to his feet with a wince -true love kiss doesn't work on broken ribs it seems- Regina can't help but palm his abdomen, making sure there is nothing left of the mortal injury. Robin grabs her fingers gently, and brings them to his lips, drawing her gaze to him.

"I swear, I'm alright, my love. Let's go home."

Present

"I was still too shocked to realize what happened. It took me almost all the walk back to the camp to understand that the kiss between Robin and I was actually made of magic. Light magic. It was beyond understanding, and yet everything suddenly made sense. How every time I opened myself up to him, it felt like I was reuniting with the other half of my heart, my soul. How he had this power over me I couldn't understand. How I missed him every second of every day, only felt safe when tucked in his arms."

Regina smiles absentmindedly, closing her eyes and picturing Robin's face in her mind, her love for him invading her just at the thought.

"Because we only had Zelena's horse left, we had to walk back home, praying all along that we wouldn't face Cora again. Zelena could've transported us, but she was exhausted, a bit shaken too. She also explained that, ignoring where the camp was, there were more chances for her to send us across the forest than in front of it. Anyway, not everyone was comfortable with her yet, or ready to trust her blindly, especially regarding her magic, even though she had just saved us. But looking around, we soon recognized where we were, and it wasn't actually that far from the camp. It took us around two hours maybe, to reach it, but it was fastidious. We were drained, and injured, had to make sure the dead bodies of Rowan and the huntsman weren't falling from the horse's back. Zelena offered to help. She surprised us, because of course she stood up for us and allowed us to survive the encounter with my mother, but she appeared to genuinely want to give a hand. She claimed that she wasn't wounded, she could take it. Of course, she struggled, especially when one of the bodies slipped from the saddle and almost fell to the floor, but she didn't complain.

However, out of safety, we blindfolded her when we neared the camp. We weren't sure if her magic allowed her to see through the scarf, but she didn't argue. I don't need to tell you that before we even were to the camp's door, it opened and our friends came to check on us, and also, relieve us of the dead. I heard Rowan's wife's broken cry when she discovered what had happened to him. I could only understand her too well. My husband almost suffered the same fate that day."

Regina draws a deep, long, shaky breath, and swallows dryly, gazing down.

"We won the battle, but we also lost two souls. My friends didn't really know the huntsman, but they knew he was important to me, and helpful, that he gave his life to protect innocents. His body was treated with as much respect and care as he deserved -which was a lot- and was buried just after Rowan, in a different place though, one wild and soft at the same time, one that reminded me of him. We did it on the same day they died. I remember, when I was watching Robin and a few others put his body underground, feeling like someone was watching me. I turned around, and in the forest, half hidden by a bush, was the huntsman's white wolf. We locked gaze, and maybe it's silly, but I felt like he was saying goodbye. He wasn't tied to anyone now, he was free to go back to his pack.

We didn't let children assist to the funeral, aside from Snow, David, and Rowan's one year old son, although her mother feared he would be more scarred than soothed by it. Matthew and Connor impatiently waited for us to return, you have no idea! But we needed to know what exactly occurred, so as soon as possible, Ruth, Johanna and Zelena explained us everything..."

After the funerals

Regina slowly pulls back from Matthew, looks down at him with a tired smile, her thumbs stroking his cheeks. She doesn't speak, he doesn't have to bear her cranky state of mind, so she just presses her lips to his forehead, hugs him one last time before letting him go to Robin while she heads towards where Little John is holding Connor in his arms, Henry by their side.

She catches her friend's attention with a hand on his shoulder, giving her father a warm look. "Can you two keep an eye on Matthew while Robin and I talk with Ruth? I know he has a tendency to sneak around and eavesdrop, and I don't want him to hear the details of what happened at the farm."

She affectionately weaves her fingers into Connor's blonde curls, glancing at him with an affectionate smile before looking at the adults again, squeezing Henry's fingers when they wrap around her arm.

"Sure. Go ahead!" Little John answers. "I'm sure we can find a common game for him and Connor."

"Don't worry about Matthew, Regina," Henry says. "Take all the time you need."

Thanking them, she walks away, goes to Ruth and Johanna, invites her sister to follow them in the tent the friars just emptied hours ago. Robin meets them at the entrance, and they lock themselves inside, each taking a seat on the beds or benches.

"So," Regina starts "Tell us."

xxx

Eight hours earlier

"Snow, can you go help David with the sheep? Lunch is almost ready and he's not done yet."

The girl nods and walks outside. It's a bright sunny day, and she closes her eyes for a second, enjoying the warmth caressing her skin. She looks around, and finds David hard at work, leading the beasts out of their enclosure.

Ruth watches her through the window, exchanges a knowing smile with Johanna, before focusing on cooking the meal, while the other woman is repairing a rip on her dress.

"Who would've thought she was capable of acting as a shepherd?" Johanna chuckles. "She has a great heart, but she's never been the easiest of children, especially when it came to handiwork."

"She was a real brat when she arrived," Ruth comments. "Her grief was a good excuse for her lack of interest in the beginning but what was underneath quickly came to the surface. But I guess that's how royals are raised. Thinking everything should be given to them."

"Her mother tried to change her vision of things," Johanna explains. "But when she died, the King... Leopold... he just gave up. Gave his daughter everything she wanted, never set any rules. And anyway, living in a palace with every servant bowing to your feet is not helping you feel their equal. I'm glad she has the opportunity to see what real life is made of."

"Yes. I think that's why Regina sent her here. She knew exactly what Snow needed, even if the girl disagreed at first."

"The princess likes her a lot," Johanna says softly. "Years ago, when Regina was supposed to become her stepmother, she was so thrilled. And then devastated when she disappeared."

Ruth looks up from the saucepan, tilts her head to the side. "What is good for a person is not necessarily good for another. Regina lost a lot during that time. She never wanted to become Queen."

"I know. I don't have any details, but I've seen her when she came to the castle last time, I remember the state she was in when she was here a few weeks ago. I heard the King speak about what her mother did to her. A lot of people usually don't come back from that."

"She's very resourceful. Regina is probably the strongest person I've ever met."

Ruth is cut off by sudden screams coming from outside, hurried conversations, and the sound of people running to the door. Before she and Johanna can even walk there, it opens wide, the wooden frame hitting the wall violently. The huntsman is here, a completely panicked Snow White and concerned David behind him, along with a red-haired woman Ruth's never met before.

"She's coming!" The huntsman announces. "Take only the essential, we're leaving."

The soup and dress are long forgotten, the older women opening their eyes wide in confusion, but also fear, because that man has never been something else than calm before, so whatever is happening must be big.

"Who is coming?"

"The Queen and her soldiers," the redheaded woman answers, stepping forward. "She discovered Snow White is hiding here and your connection to Regina. They were already on their way when I managed to leave the castle, so they must not be far."

"And who are you? Why should we believe you?" Ruth asks, defiant.

"She was with Cora the day she took the castle," Johanna remembers suddenly while helping the children gather some of their belongings.

Looking at the huntsman with hesitation, the woman speaks in a breathless voice. "My name is Zelena. I am-"

"Regina's sister," Ruth cuts. "A witch, just like your mother. You probably led them here!" She accuses, her voice hardening, eyes growing dark with anger.

"No, Ruth, wait!" the huntsman cuts her. "She helped us before. She brought Amelia's body back, remember? Amelia died months ago, and yet the Evil Queen only arrives now. It's not because of Zelena, she kept the secret all this time. I think we can trust her."

"You should, and you need to leave immediately!" A high-pitched voice comes.

The adults look around, confused, until a small green light appears in front of them, entering the house.

"What the hell is that?" Zelena exclaims, raising an eyebrow.

"My name is Tinkerbell. I'm a fairy."

"The one Regina told us about," Ruth realizes.

Turning to her, Tinkerbell nods. "Indeed. One of my sisters warned me about what happened at the castle, Zelena. How your mother locked you in the dungeons. I know you mean well," she tells the young woman, and then firmly to Ruth "The soldiers are really close, and the Evil Queen isn't far behind. Hurry!"

"Can you transport us to the camp?" the huntsman suddenly asks Zelena. "Like you did to come here."

"I can try, but I don't know the forest very well. I'm not sure where to send us. But if you're ready to try-"

"The Merry Men are being warned as we speak," Tinkerbell interrupts. "They're coming to help. Meeting them halfway is the wisest choice."

Not needed to be told twice, Ruth rushes to her bedroom, takes the minimal necessary while the huntsman gathers his weapons. He's outside saddling the horses when they join him.

Unfortunately, at the same time, horse neighs are heard, so are heavy hooves, and when they look behind them in direction of the main road they see a few men on horses coming into view, more joining them.

Ruth climbs on a mare behind her son, Snow adjusting herself on hers in front of Johanna, the huntsman and Zelena still next to the third one.

"If they follow us into the forest, we'll never make it to the camp," David warns.

"I'll take care of them," Zelena begins, stepping away from the steed, rubbing her hands together. "I might slow them down just enough to give you time to-"

"No!" the huntsman cuts her. "Go with them! I'll stay."

"You're one man against an army," she reasons.

"And you have magic. You're more useful to your sister than I am."

"But-"

"Go!" he insists, pushing her towards the last horse. She starts climbing the animal's back, but catches herself at the last second, walking towards the huntsman again.

"What the hell are you doing?" He asks.

Her answer is more action than words. Zelena raises her hands in front of her, palms facing the soldiers, who are just getting closer by the minute, and exhales softly, waving her hands in the air. A flow of green magic leaves her palms, heading forward, spreading as a shield just in front of the Black Knights' army, stopping them immediately, some crashing against it and falling from their horses.

"It'll give us some time, until my mother arrives. She's the only one able to break this spell."

"Can an arrow go through it?" Graham asks, holding his bow. "I could get rid of a few while they're stuck there."

As if on cue, a sparkling shining ray of magic comes from behind them and hits the magical shield, making them turn around in surprise to face Tinkerbell.

"It's done. Now go!"

The two other horses are ready to leave, so Zelena hurries, starts to walk to hers, but a hand catches hers.

"Zelena?"

She gives the huntsman a raised eyebrow, ducking her head to the side, wondering why he's making them lose more time.

"Thank you," she opens her mouth to speak but he cuts her. "You're doing the right thing."

"I still think you should come with us," Zelena insists, but he shakes his head.

"I promised your sister I would help. If it means staying behind and allow you all to escape, then that's what I'm going to do. I only have one word."

She stares at him for a second, mesmerized, shaken, confused, but when Ruth's voice calls her name, she nods, turns her back on him, climbs on the horse, then looks down at the man when he says, "Graham."

"What?" she questions, perplexed.

"My name," he explains slowly, "I'm Graham. Can you tell your sister?"

With a wary and compassionate look, Zelena agrees.

It's only when he draws his bow and gets in position, facing the army made of maybe three dozens black Knights trying to pass the magical shield, that she turns away and follows the others into the forest.

xxx

"It was his last request," Zelena says softly. "That I tell you his name. I don't know why, but maybe it makes more sense for you."

"It does," Regina replies with a sigh, finding Robin's hand and clutching to it. "Thank you for telling me."

The small group rises to their feet, Ruth hugging Regina and Robin before following Johanna outside. The brunette looks at her husband with a tilt of her head, glancing at her sister so he understands that she wants some alone time with her. Robin frowns, but Regina silently insists. So he sighs, reluctantly agreeing to his wife's wish, and leaves the tent after dropping a kiss to her brow.

When she notices Zelena is about to exit the tent, Regina stops her with a hand on her forearm, locks their eyes when the redhead looks up to her in question.

"I'd like to thank you. For what you did for them," Regina says, nodding towards the exit, "and for coming back for us. You didn't have to," she tells her honestly.

Zelena's eyes are heavy with an overwhelming mix of emotions, some that Regina can't decipher, but she can hear gratefulness, sadness, and most of all honesty, when her sister answers.

"You trusted me when I was so easy to blame, and you saved my life," she recalls, remembering the arrow flying straight in her direction before her sister pushed her out of the way. "I figured that returning the favor was a good start."

"It is indeed," Regina smiles softly. "Look," she continues, growing serious, but her tone is nothing of aggressive. "It's been a stressful day for everyone. I'm sure you must be tired. Maybe tomorrow, we can find a moment to talk, just the two of us? My father told me a little about you, from the time when you lived together, but he didn't know much. I'd like to hear your story, get to know you. If you don't mind, of course!" She adds quickly, afraid of scaring her sister.

"It'd be nice," Zelena admits sheepishly, smiling.

"Good! Now let's get something to eat!"

Regina invites Zelena to her table, but she can feel the dreading and mistrustful eyes of her friends on the young woman. Mostly those who weren't there to see her stand up to Cora. Regina knows it will take time for them to accept her, because they know who she is, that she was standing next to Cora when the King was murdered, that if she had reacted sooner, Amelia would still be alive.

But her father is here to support her too.

Henry is sitting next to the woman, and he's not much of a talker, but at least he doesn't look at her as if she's a murderer. They exchange a few words, but for most of the camp dinner happens in silence, everyone going back to their tents the minute the place is cleaned.

This is no night for celebration.

Before Regina and Robin lead their new guests to their own tents, the Blue Fairy appears to them, startling everyone.

"Has something else happened?" Robin asks warily, clumsily grasping his wife's hand, tiredness and anxiety piercing in his voice.

"No," she assures. "Cora is back to her castle, and she's furious, as you can imagine. Against you mostly, Zelena," she says, turning to the young woman for a second before addressing the couple again. "But she won't stop her hunt for any of you. We still haven't found what we're looking for, but there are still places to search. I just wanted to let you know."

Before she leaves them, Regina steps forward, breaking contact with Robin by doing so.

"Can I have a word, please?"

Regina feels the questioning looks of her husband and friends upon her, but she ignores them when she walks away with the fairy.

"What is it?" Blue asks.

"I'd like to know... I wanted... If you can..." Shaking her head, she takes a deep breath, speaks the next words in a whisper so that no one else will hear. "Can you tell me if my baby is fine? I took a few blows during the battle, and I feel... well, sore" she admits, bringing a hand to her ribs, letting her fingers slide to where her baby lays, "but overall alright, and I just-"

"I understand. Fear not, your baby is unharmed, Regina. He wasn't injured in any way today."

"Thank you," the woman breathes, before opening her mouth again. "If you don't mind, I have a request."

"Tell me."

"Is there a way to... I don't know, make sure Zelena is watched over tonight?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, she helped us, probably saved us all, and I want to trust her, I do, really but... I don't know. I haven't really had time to speak with her yet, I don't know her very well, and even though she saved my life and my friends', now she's in my home, with magic. She seems honest, but I'll just feel more comfortable if someone can make sure nothing happens while we are asleep."

"I can send Tinkerbell for the night if you'd like."

"Yes, thank you! It'll be a great help."

xxx

The next morning

She breathes slowly, focusing on keeping her ribcage as still as possible. She's barely slept during the night. Her injuries had forbidden her of finding any comfortable position, and the latest events kept playing in repeat in her mind. The almost catastrophic event that could have wiped away all their chances at a victory.

Snow White and the others almost getting caught by her mother. Rowan and Graham's lifeless bodies. The confrontation with Cora. Zelena stepping in. The near death of Robin and the true love's kiss that saved him.

True love's kiss.

Regina has always believed in magic (how couldn't she?) and in true love, but never, even since she's been with Robin, had she ever imagine that what she told Snow White to be the most powerful magic of all would actually reveal to possess magic. Even less that she'd be the one wielding it.

For as long as she remembers, she always stayed away from it as much as she could, her mother having destroyed the image of magic for her. Until the last months, her confrontation with Marian, de Gisborne, Amelia's death, Matthew's distress... It's growing within her, she can feel it, but whether this is good or dark, she doesn't want to find out, refuses to allow it to control her.

But there, in the middle of the forest, when she pressed her lips to her husband's, desperate and refusing the idea of losing him, she felt that sweet and refreshing wave of love invade her again, more powerful than anything she's ever experienced, and she couldn't deny it anymore.

She saved him.

Her kiss saved him.

Her love saved him.

Him.

Robin.

Her wonderful husband lying asleep next to her, unaware of the storm of feelings and thoughts roaming through her mind.

Regina still can't remove the image of his bleeding and weak body in her arms, can't forget the smell of blood, the dying and strained look on his face, the excruciating pain tearing his beautiful features.

Now, he seems so peaceful, yet so alive. His chest is rising slowly but regularly, his breath even. He's sprawled on his back next to her, and Regina raises on her elbow, swallowing down a moan when her broken ribs make themselves announced, but it's not the first time she's injured.

Her hand moves to brush his hairline, her lips curving ever so slightly when he unconsciously leans into it, exhaling softly. She stares at his handsome face with wonder and amazement, with gratefulness for his spared life, and the healthy baby growing inside her. She's dying to tell him. She honestly can't wait for him to know. And if this war keeps going on for months, he will find out on his own, might even feel resentful with her for keeping this pregnancy a secret, but she's only trying to do what she thinks is safest for her child. If no one knows, then her mother won't either.

But right now she doesn't want to think of this. The sun is slowly rising, and as soon as they'll step out of the tent it will be about others. About discussing the last events, trying to figure out a new plan with their new ally. It'll be about children, Connor, but also Matthew, for whom both hers and Robin's affections have grown immensely in a very short amount of time, the acceptance of him in their family having triggered these feelings they had locked inside. It'll be about Zelena, her sister, and trying to know each other a bit more. They decided to have a long talk after breakfast, in private. To begin discovering each other, share their thoughts, their experiences with Cora.

Understand one another too.

That's why Regina wants to enjoy her husband's company for a short time. Why she wants him for herself before focusing on everyone else.

Her fingers brush against his stubble, his forehead, and then lift to rest on his chest. She leans forward, presses a gentle kiss to his cheek, another one to his nose, his forehead. He hums quietly, but it's not until she kisses his lips that he actually moves. One of his hands lifts from the bed to cup the back of her head, weaving in her locks and holding her gently to him as he answers her kiss.

Regina smiles, pulls back with a low chuckle, opening her eyes to find his sleepy ones smirking at her.

"I love this kind of wake-up," Robin teases, rolling on his side to face her, an arm wrapping around her waist.

"I bet you do."

But when he pulls her to him, she winces, jerks back, the sudden movement having her choking on an unexpected wave of pain, gritting her teeth until the feeling passes.

By the time she opens her eyes again, Robin's fully awake blue orbs are staring at her in concern, his hand pushing a strand of hair behind her ear as he's propped on his elbow to be at eye-level.

"I'm okay," she manages to mutter. "It's nothing."

"Your ribs?" he questions, and Regina nods slowly. Her husband carefully lifts her shirt to look at the large circular bruise underneath which are what they know to be a couple of fractured ribs, according to Tuck. He frowns at her in worry, before letting the fabric fall gently on her skin. "Did it hurt all night?"

"Kind of."

"Why didn't you say anything?"

"Because," her hand cups his jaw, rubbing his chin lovingly "You wouldn't have been able to do anything about it, and I wanted you to get some rest. You needed it, after..." she lingers for a second, hesitant, but voicing it nonetheless, because it's in the past now, "what you went through yesterday."

"It was a hard day for you too."

"But I didn't almost die, Robin."

"I'm fine, Regina!" He insists. "You healed all my injuries when you kissed me. I'm physically in perfect shape." Leaning forward, he brushes his lips against hers. "Thanks to you." And then kisses her. It doesn't take long for Regina to willingly part her lips for him. He helps her carefully on her back, avoiding the sore part of her ribcage when he runs his fingers along her chest, settling them on her hip, pulling back just enough to murmur, "I think I have yet to thank you for that, by the way."

Before Regina can answer, he crashes his lips against hers again, his weight resting on his side, because the last thing he wants right now is to hurt her. The intensity of the kiss, the way her fingers flex and relax in his hair, the low moans escaping her throat, are enough of a clue of what she's craving for right now. What they both want, but know they can't have at the moment.

Because between warm and hot kisses, between hands wandering and short breaths, they're both acutely aware of the wailing she's struggling to suppress, the way her brow knits in pain, how she sucks hard on a breath when Robin moves too quickly to be on top of her.

So they just kiss, slow the pace to a lazy one before the desire manages to get the best of them and leaves them unsatisfied.

It's Regina who pulls back first, the hand scraping his scalp guiding his gaze to her.

"Don't leave me, Robin," she murmurs. "I was serious. I won't be able to keep going without you. And I'm not the only one who needs you now."

They don't have to pronounce his name to know that she's not only talking about the Merry Men, even though Robin's death would be devastating on them. Matthew has become so important in their lives, even within a few weeks, and he's already lost so much, that they are hoping he will never have to lose anyone else.

"I have no intention of going anywhere. I'm staying here, Regina. Right where I belong. I'm staying with the most wonderful family I could ever dream of." A flash of sadness passes into his eyes as he adds the next words, probably thinking of their lost child, but it's mixed with so much hope that Regina's heart swells in her chest. "I hope one day we'll have the chance to add a new member to it."

All she can do is smile. She smiles, because she knows that if she speaks, he will hear the strangled sound of her voice and the guilt and shame she carries. So to avoid any risk of him discovering the truth, she winds her arms around his back, pulling him to her, burying her face in his neck, cursing herself for hiding this secret from him, because he has no idea how close to the truth he actually is.

Present

Her palm and fingers are kneading a painful knot in her back, one of those the pregnancy just made her acutely aware of. She exhales softly as the pain slowly fades, although not fully disappearing.

"Thanks to my mother, and despite her deepest wishes, I won a larger family than I expected. I'm not talking about the Merry Men, I had them for a long time. When I married Robin, I knew that eventually, we would have children. Then our baby happened, and we were over the moon, but he was taken from us in the most horrible of ways. I was aware that I could get pregnant again, one day, the healer at Leopold's castle told us so after we had been attacked, but I was so far from being ready, the thought didn't really occur to me. Before I even found out about this child," She caresses the curve of her belly with a smile, "I had already won two sons in my heart. I never wanted to replace Amelia, but after his mother's death, I was the only maternal figure Connor had. And although he never called me mommy and I was careful that it wouldn't happen, I was treating him as my own. As for Matthew…"

She sighs, shrugs a shoulder.

"Matthew found a way into my heart since the moment I saw him in the street. I don't know why or how, it just happened. The events made me push him away at first, but I loved him long before I ever voiced the words. And Robin…" she smiles broadly, chuckling,"he was just amazing with him! The two really bonded, beyond all my hopes. I'm not sure it'd have happened if circumstances had been different, but somehow I'm glad. I may have lost a child, and I will always feel the pain of that loss, I will never forget, and I will always miss him. But in this misery, despite this tragedy, I had succeeded in moving on, and gained two children in the process, even though we weren't blood-related, building myself a complex but incredibly wonderful family that I was ready to fight for with all my heart."

So? Do you still want to kill me?