AN: I'm so glad everyone liked the plot twist and where I took the story, I'm loving it too! Enjoy a chapter on heartache and fluff in one! :) Please please please leave a review, Its hard to write without them!
"Regina? Can I er, talk to you for a minute?" Emma asked. She was stood nervously behind Regina with her hands clasped, who was occupied by trying to convince her former self that following Robin to OZ would be a bad idea.
"Can it wait?" she answered softly, trying to let the blonde down gently.
"Not really no"
"Okay, I'll be back soon" Regina told the Queen, earning a heavily sarcastic glance as she steered Emma by the elbow over to the far wall where they wouldn't be heard. "Are you okay?"
"I'm fine its just, this whole plan...isn't this exactly what we're not supposed to do?!" Emma exclaimed thrusting her hands out in front of her for emphasis.
"What do you mean?"
"You know, changing the past?! I mean its not like getting Robin to meet her over there is the best idea, and take into account your past self now knows about me and your own future surely that's gotta alter something?"
"Emma" Regina chuckled gently, grabbing the blondes hands in her own to steady them and stop her erratic movements. When the other woman finally stilled she gave her clammy palms a quick squeeze before releasing them and dropping her arms to her sides. "I've already got it covered. A memory potion"
"A what now?"
"Do I have to spell it out for you? Emma I thought you were experienced enough for this" she laughed lightly, trying to raise Emma's spirit a little and ease her nerves. All it gained her was an overly dramatic eye roll so she continued to explain herself "If we give myself and Rumple, possibly Robin the potion before we leave then nothing will be altered in the future, and at this point I'm pretty sure my past self is on board considering how well her future turns around. Our main goal right now is to get that curse back and set myself back on track"
"Yeah she wouldn't want that spoiled would she" Emma pondered, scrunching her features a little before asking "But what makes you so sure Rumple will go along with this? You of all people know just how unpredictable he can be"
"We're going to make a deal with him, more of a promise really"
"I thought you weren't into making deals with him any more"
"I'm not. But we're simply going to promise him that should he drink the potion and return us without remembering us, he'll be reunited with Baelfire"
"Okay, that might actually work" Emma smiled, letting out a breath she didn't even realise he'd been holding in.
"Thank you"
They were interrupted when the Queen strolled over to them and informed them her guards had found Robin and his men in the forest. She'd ordered them to bring him and Roland to the palace whilst leaving his men where they were and urge them not to come looking for their leader. Regina agreed that when Robin arrived, Emma would take Roland safely into another room and occupy him whilst Regina hid and observed the meeting.
"Are you sure it wouldn't be easier for you to stay with the boy too? I thought you said you knew him?" The Queen asked her future self, hand on hip.
"Yes I do but he doesn't know me yet, and I need to make sure this meeting goes exactly as planned, that he agrees at least"
"Then its settled" Emma finalised, just in time for a sharp knock to sound at the door.
"I'll go hide" Regina said softly, moving to crouch as best she could on the side of the bed that couldn't be seen from the door, cradling her stomach gently.
"Enter" the Queen responded, painting a broad smile on her face that only widened when the door opened to reveal a startled Robin clutching Roland tightly against him, being urged into the room by 2 of her black knights.
Regina knew that face well, it was expression used for business only, a way of getting exactly what she wanted through her strongest asset-her looks. But Regina noticed how the Queen's mask fell as soon as her eyes fell on Robin and Roland. She'd spun to face their guests and visibly stumbled as she took in the wide eyed boy and equally scared father standing in the doorway.
"Let go of them" She ordered her guards sternly, before giving a genuine smile at little Roland. "Hi"
"Hi" he squeaked back, looking up at his father for approval to speak to this stranger, but Robin neither gave him permission or stopped him, instead just kept his eyes fixed on the Queen with a wary look.
"Do you want to go and get a drink with my friend Emma while me and your daddy talk?" She asked gently, taking a step forward but stopping in her tracks when Robin backed away from her.
"I'd rather he stay with me if you don't mind" he answered for his son, adjusting his grip as his arm grew more tired. Regina gasped lightly from behind the bed when her daughter gave a slight kick after Robin had spoken and a cheesy grin spread across her face when she realised is was due to her recognising his voice.
"If you insist, but don't think I don't notice how tired your arm must be from holding him so close, if you let him down he can go sit with Emma just over their while we discuss why I summoned you here? I promise he'll never leave your sight" She suggested, keeping her tone kind mostly for the sake of the boy. For some reason she was drawn to him and felt the urge to protect him, but she also knew that they were perfect strangers and any attempt at approaching him would only end badly for her.
Emma then paced towards Robin, holding her hand for Roland to take who gripped her fingers eagerly, taken in by the blondes trusting face and carefree smile.
"There you go my boy" Robin told his son, lowering him to the ground and letting him tottle with Emma over to the chaise lounge where she hoisted him up and began talking to him quietly.
Regina breathed a sigh of relief from her hiding spot as letting Roland go was the first sign of trust, that Robin would give her past self a chance to explain.
The Queen received an approving nod from Robin and took it as her queue to take his arm and lead him off the to side. From her spot behind the bed Regina could just about see the pair, with Emma and Roland too far to the right to be in her line of vision. She almost scowled when she saw Robin allow to be touched on the arm until she remembered it was herself holding him, and in the end he fell for her.
"I hear you're the best thief in the land, and I'm going to be blunt. I need something stolen, can you do that for me?" The queen asked, direct but not harshly.
"Former thief actually, nowadays my priority is keeping my son safe" Robin answered, taking a quick glance over at Roland who was now sat of Emma's lap, holding a big chalice of water in his little palms and tugging lightly on her blonde curls.
"I can see that, and if I might add doing a very good job. But, I need this task completing and I need it done soon"
"Surely there are other people willing to do your bidding, don't you have a personal huntsman?"
"Yes but like you said he's a huntsman, I know from experience he's very rash and not the most...tactical when it comes to helping me out. I wouldn't ask you if I thought you weren't the right person"
"And who might I ask recommended me?" Robin asked sceptically, his hands fiddling with the bow strap that lay across his chest.
"A trusted friend, that's all I can say for now" The Queen revealed. When Robin's expression didn't change she smiled again, this time a little more genuine with hope glistening in her eyes.
"Where would I be going?"
At Robin's sudden interest Emma's head perked up to meet the Queen's eye, who focused on keeping her smile firmly where it was and continuing "Another realm,a land called OZ"
"And what would I be stealing exactly?"
"Well if you want to get technical this particular person actually stole the item from me, I simply want it back" The Queen laughed, putting a soft palm on Robin's bicep and taking a tiny step into his personal space. "What I need you to get, is a scroll"
"A scroll containing what?" Robin enquired, now not backing away from the woman's touch, and like most men beginning to fall victim to her alluring presence.
"It's a secret" she whispered into his ear, grinning when she pulled back and saw Robin completely transfixed on her face "Can you do that for me?"
"Only if you tell me what I gain in return"
"Anything you wish"
"Then its a deal" Robin agreed, stretching his arm out so Regina's hand fell from it, holding his palm out for her to shake.
After they'd shook on the deal Regina kept a firm grasp on his hand, using it to pull Robin flush to her and utter close to him "So what is it you desire as a reward?"
"It's a secret" He grinned at his use of her own words, before reluctantly pulling away and turning to call his boy back to his side. "Where will my son stay while I'm gone?"
"Wherever you'd feel him to be safest"
"I'd probably feel better if he was back at my camp with my men"
"Then transport there will be arranged for both of you. You can return with-" The Queen motioned to Roland with her hand
"Roland" Robin interjected, noting how her smile became more sweeter when she looked back at the boy, her features softening.
"-Roland, what a lovely name. You and Roland will return to your camp where you can gather any other supplies you may need before setting off in 2 days time. My guards will escort you there and return to show you to the portal to OZ, the scroll you're looking for will be locked in the wicked witches vault"
"Got it" Robin confirmed, picking Roland back up off the ground and taking the chalice out of his sons tiny grasp, before handing it back to Emma who took it with a grin.
After a small nod from the Queen and a curt farewell Robin and Roland were lead back out of the room by her guards, more gently this time, and when the door finally shut behind them Regina counted to ten before standing from her hiding place.
"Two days?!" She hissed, trying to keep her voice low in case Robin was still near. "And the hell were you playing at with all the touchy feely crap?!"
"Oh come on dear you know that using that method was a fail safe way of making him agree, unless you've changed your ways?" The Queen teased,
"You could say something like that" Emma murmured, gaining her nothing but a slight warning look from Regina.
"-And don't worry, there's a reason for delaying his journey"
"Which would be?" Regina asked, sitting on the edge of the bed and arching her back a little, attempting to ease the muscles there that hadn't rested or been supported in quite some time.
"I want to make sure he's the real deal. You two will go to his camp and blend in, scout the area that sort of thing and if in two days this man's honour proves as high as you say it is, he can complete the job"
"But he just saw me, not to mention Regina's well, you. How do you plan on us blending in?" Emma challenged, folding her arms in front of her and flopping down on the bed next to the brunette.
"This is a terrible idea" Regina muttered, rubbing her belly subconsciously.
"I think you'll find its quite logical, you seem to know this man. I don't"
"Then why don't you go yourself?" Regina bit back, raising her eyebrow questioningly.
"Because this is part of your mess, and I have a kingdom to run"
"We're the same person! My mess is your mess!"
"-You still haven't explained how the hell we're going to get into his camp without being recognised" Emma cut in, looking between the two identical women.
"She's going to use a glamour spell" Regina answered for her under her breath.
"You're right" The Queen confirmed, and before Emma and Regina could protest she waved her wrist above them, clouding them in an all too familiar sight of purple smoke, swirling around them for only a few seconds.
When it cleared Regina leaned back against the bedpost looking unimpressed, now dressed in villager rags. Emma however began looking around in confusion, staring at her own hands, up at Regina and finally at the Queen.
"We don't look any different do we? Apart from our clothes that is" She asked nervously, not wanting to undermine the Queen's magic.
"To each other and yourselves you'll looking exactly the same, but to everyone else you'll appear like this" She answered, waving her hand once again as a small mirror formed in her palm. She held it up to Emma who studied her unfamiliar face with awe. It was still a blonde looking back at her, but the features were entirely different, a change that made her completely unrecognisable.
"Not wanting to take a look dear?" The queen asked her older self, watching how Regina wiggled in an attempt to make herself a little more comfortable against the wooden bed frame, showing no signs of being interested in the mirror.
"I've seen it before. I'm guessing you used the same glamour on me that's been used in the past" Regina responded bluntly.
"Yes I did. Now I'll transport you two to just outside his camp, from there you simply need to approach his people and claim to be weary from travelling. All you need is a couple of days rest before setting off again" The queen explained naturally, as if she'd been thinking the plan over for hours. "considering Robin's nature, what I've seen of it that is, I doubt he'll turn you down"
"Sounds good to me, Regina you okay with that?" Emma smiled, giving Regina a rub on the back in an attempt to ease the ache she had setting in there.
"Yeah, whatever gets us home" She agreed, and no sooner had she nodded along with the pan were the women swept up in yet another swirl of magic, clearing to put them back in the forest.
Storybrooke
"Henry?! You called what's wrong?" Robin called as he entered the loft. Him and David had been back to the barn to search for any other signs of Regina and Emma but after 2 hours of nothing they were more than a little frustrated when David's cell rang.
It had been Henry babbling on about the storybook, but he'd been vague and simply given instructions for them to join him at Mary Margrets.
And so here they were, looking around the empty room until Robin spotted Henry jogging down the metal steps, carrying the book under his arm.
"Something weird happened" He announced, moving over the kitchen counter and placing the book down in front of him. Without waiting for Robin or David to ask what he began flicking through the pages, showing stories of Snow, Regina, Red and many other people, until a certain point. There was a particular page, illustrating Robin pacing through the woods with is men and Roland clutched to his hip, but when Henry turned the page over, there was nothing but a blank space.
"Is it supposed to look like that?" Robin asked nervously.
"No, it's usually filled with your story Grandpa" Henry answered looking across at David. "How you met Snow and came to be with her"
"It must be where Emma and Regina landed" David concluded, shaking his head.
"But what does it turning blank mean?" Robin asked, a little more demanding now.
"Well I called Belle and she looked into it. Its called the ripple effect"
"Which means?"
"They must of changed something, and as a result the future is now unclear, and unwritten" Henry answered, the furrow in his brow matching that of the two men stood beside him.
Enchanted Forest
To Emma all the trees looked the same, and she could barely distinguish how deep into the woods they were let alone if they'd been here before but the way Regina paused and look around told her that the brunette knew exactly where they were. Aside from their clothes looking distinctly more 'enchanted forest style' there was no evidence of the glamour spell on them and it made Emma nervous just thinking how badly this plan could go should Robin recognise her from the palace. But she wasn't given time to ponder as Regina began strutting through the trees, carefully lifting her drab brown dress off the ground to avoid it getting caught on fallen twigs and causing her to her trip over it.
"Regina wait! Where the hell are we going?" She called, holding her own gown up and stumbling to catch up, wincing as the tight bodice pinched at her hips.
"Didn't you hear myself earlier? We're going to Robin's camp" Regina replied instantly, stopping briefly to take Emma's hand and help her over a fallen tree trunk.
"Yeah I got that but how do you know which way to go?" Emma nodded her thanks once she got her balance back and the pair fell into a comfortable walking pace next to one another.
"You forget dear I lived here for most of my life, I know every inch of this place like the back of my hand and I knew exactly where Robin hide for years"
"But if he was wanted and you knew where he was, why didn't your guards arrest him?"
"Because he wasn't a threat. I stumbled upon his camp when I first began searching for Snow and at that point he didn't seem important" Regina revealed."He had a history with Mal, something about stealing from her castle which prompted his poster being put out in the first place but to me he was simply a thief with a son who needed him"
"You took pity on him then?"
"Yes I suppose I did" Regina smiled sadly, before lifting a single finger to her lips to signal Emma to silence herself. "We're close" she whispered.
Sure enough the sounds of Robin's men could be heard near, gathering wood, cooking and laughing and joking around a fire. Emma watched in amazement as the men moved around each other with so much ease, with carefree attitudes. Regina was about to take a step forward into the clearing when a branch crunching behind her made her stop dead in her tracks.
"Turn around slowly" A voice spoke behind them, a very familiar voice. "Who are you? What do you want?"
The pair reluctantly turned away from the camp until they were face to face with someone they knew well. Robin stood still, his bow held high and pointed directly at Regina who placed a hand straight onto her belly out of habit and nervousness and she noted how his eyes glanced down to spot her movement. She attempted to say something, anything to ease his stance and allow him to trust them but she couldn't see past his gaze, his face that she'd come to know so well. Couldn't believe that her Robin, the father of her baby growing inside of her was standing so close to her yet she was powerless to talk to him. Her mouth instead hung open, a helpless expression painted across her glamoured face.
"Wait" Emma jumped in, putting a hand on Regina's arm and coming to stand in front of her, and as a result making Robin's aim land on her instead."We're not a threat"
"How can I be so sure?" He asked, looking at the women intently but not once letting his stance falter.
"My friend and I were travelling and we got lost, we heard your camp nearby and were wondering if we could seek shelter until we find our bearings again. We wouldn't have asked but.." Emma then trailed off and turned to point to Regina's stomach, placing her palm over the brunettes that was still rubbing there and looking back at Robin. "She's really tired and I'd hate to make her walk much further with no sense of direction or food"
From there Robin lowered his bow but showed no sign of letting them walk straight in. "I'm not one to leave people in need stranded but I must ask you this, where is the father? Surely he should be escorting and caring you for at this time"
"He's not dead" Regina answered quietly, her eyes staring downwards and not meeting Robin's. "He's just lost to me at the moment, but I know he wishes with all his heart to be with me right now"
"Well I can see you're tired and distressed, both of which aren't good for a soon to be mother. Come, for now at least you can get something to eat and sit down" Robin smiled, motioning behind them and towards his camp, indicting for them to follow him into the heart of it.
They were led around the edges until they reached a tent with the flaps open and steam coming out. Robin ducked under the material and without much question Regina followed, leaving Emma to trail behind. Inside was a small group of men sat on numerous logs sipping on bowls of soup, poured from the large pot in the centre of the room. Robin nodded at his men before reaching for a spare two bowls and filling them generously, adding a wooden spoon and passing them over to Emma and Regina.
The brunette looked around awkwardly for somewhere to sit and Robin caught her, interrupting her by saying, "If you'll follow me you can eat in my tent, I think we all need to talk anyway"
"Certainly, after you" she agreed, looking at Emma who gave a small smile and continued to follow Robin and Regina back out of the tent and across the camp until they were in front of the largest one.
Robin held the heavy material aside for the pair and Emma couldn't help but look around in awe when she finally got inside. Considering Robin lived in the woods he'd managed to set up two beds on opposite ends of the room with semi-comfortable looking mattresses and many sheets, along with numerous lanterns lighting up the room. On the floor was flattened straw that aided in keeping it warm and soft to walk on and the women couldn't help but notice the various trinkets hung around the edges of the tent, clearly belonging to Robin and Roland.
"Make yourself comfortable, sit on my bed if you wish milady" Robin told Regina, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder that she couldn't help but lean into as he guided her towards her seat. Emma sat next to her and they began to eat, not realising just how hungry they were until the warm soup hit their mouths. Robin slung his bow and arrows from over his chest and placed them carefully next to his bed before rummaging in his bag to produce 2 small rolls of bread and passing it to the women.
"Now that you're more at ease, do you might telling me your names?"
"Wilma, my family works in the mills" Regina replied quietly, recalling the name she'd used the last time this glamour spell covered her.
"And you are?"
"Err" Emma stumbled, chewing the piece of bread in her mouth slowly to buy herself some time, when she swallowed it she came out with the first thing that came to mind, "Leia"
"Well nice to meet you both, I'm Robin"
The pair nodded and continued to eat and Robin moved to sit at the opposite end of bed, with Regina next to him and Emma on the other end next to her.
"May I ask where you were going?"
"We were actually on our way to meet with the Queen, she and I have somewhat of a shared past and she agreed to help get my..."
"Husband?" Robin offered, resting his palms on his thighs and staring at Regina intently.
"Partner actually, back. We aren't married" She finished sadly.
"Surely any friend of the Queen's would have transportation to her castle arranged?" He asked, intrigued by the two mysterious women who had entered his domain.
"I don't think the term 'friend' is appropriate, like I said we share a past not a present, and she doesn't know we're coming" she explained further, eating the last of her bread and leaning forward to put her bowl on Robin's bedside table.
As she let go of the wood she pulled her hands quickly back into her lap in an attempt to hide the fact that they were shaking, but Robin was watching her every move and didn't miss it. Instead he reached forward and placed his warm palm on top of her hand, holding it steady in his grasp. If he felt the same spark Regina felt when there skin touched he didn't react to it, but then there were a million reasons why he wouldn't of reacted. I don't exist in this world to him, I'm under a glamour sell so he isn't really talking to me, I'm just a stranger to him.
"Are you alright?" Robin's question drew her back to the room, where his hand still covered hers, now rubbing small circles on her skin in an attempt to calm her down, and whilst it was working it also made her miss him just that little bit more.
"I er, I'm fine. Just tired I think" she grinned weakly, turning to glance at Emma who was also looking at her with worried eyes.
"Then you get some rest in here where you won't be bothered by my men, whilst me and Leia here gather your bearings" Robin stood and waited for Emma to join him, and it took a few seconds for her to remember the fake name she'd given him and respond by getting up and moving to stand next to him. "Make yourself comfortable, for now my home is your home"
After that he turned and Emma followed after one last look and smile at Regina, leaving the brunette alone for the first time since they arrived back in her land. And although alone, Regina hadn't ever felt this safe in the Enchanted Forest. Here she could smell Robin everywhere, see reminders of his presence scattered in every nook and cranny of the room and although he didn't know her, having him here was a huge comfort. And so she got up off the bed to tug the sheets back and climb in, instantly wishing her magic was working properly so she could make the mattress a little more comfy. But Robin's strong scent surrounding her seemed to be enough, the warmth building up in the small tent pulling Regina into a deep and well needed sleep.
Storybrooke
"Henry!" Robin called from his seat on one of the bar stools in the loft. "Something's happening!"
He'd been sat there all evening, with Snow and Charming delivering dinner from Grannies before heading out themselves to give Robin some space, promising to look after Roland for a few hours. And ever since they left the door 3 hours ago, he'd not once left his perch in front of the book. His yell caused Henry to look up from the couch where he was sat watching a cartoon, something about a man in purple shorts who saved the world that Robin had heard glimpses of throughout the night. Within seconds he was up and next to him, asking what was wrong.
"Look" Robin instructed, pointing at the once blank page that was now showing signs of ink, the beginnings of an image forming on the paper.
They watched as a pool of black began to swirl outwards, twisting and turning until the colours started to separate. Slowly but surely, an image formed in front of them. It showed Robin poised with his bow up high, his camp in front of him in the distance and the sharp tipped arrow pointed directly at two wide eyed women.
"Do you remember any of this?" Henry asked, running a hand across the now complete page.
"No, I don't think so"
"Doesn't it seem a bit odd, that its a blonde and brunette that you're taking aim at?" Henry added, furrowing his brow.
"You think it might be your mothers?" Robin asked, scrunching his features and squinting slightly at the picture but still drawing a blank at the two faces.
"Its the only explanation, this must be what they changed, and now we're seeing the new past appear"
"But why do they look different"
"Belle told me about something like this, its called a glamour spell, my mom-Regina, knows how to do it. I just hope they know what they're doing" Henry murmured, sighing deeply.
"Don't worry lad, at least for now we know they're safe" Robin smiled,running his thumb across the unfamiliar face of the brunette and putting an arm around Henry.
"Coming down yet love?" Robin called softly from the bottom of the stairs. Regina was sure he was probably shouting louder, but from her spot deep under sheets his voice sounded like a million miles away.
She was still stark naked, tangled in a mix of pillows, Egyptian cotton and overall bliss from the night before, her little bump a reminder of the love she shared with the man calling her from her sanctuary. She didn't hear anything else after that, and so the urge to drift back off began lulling her, her eyes drooping slowly, until suddenly a bright light shone straight on her.
"Hey!" she yelped, squinting as she spotted Robin at the end of the bed pulling the curtains back.
"I went to the trouble of figuring out that devise downstairs that makes those sweet things you like for breakfast, you least you could do is get up and eat it while its hot" he teased, tying the last of the materiel back from the window before walking over to the bed and sitting next to her on it.
"You mean a waffle maker?" She laughed, biting her lip as the thought of hot waffles was starting the lure her from her warm cocoon.
"Oh and now you're mocking me, how rude" Robin joked, leaning forward to cup Regina's face and capture her lips between his own, combing his hands through her messed up hair and relishing in the way it made her smile into the kiss. "Good morning" he murmured briefly when their lips parted, only to be silenced by Regina lips touching his again softly.
After a few moments Regina reached forward to fist Robin's t shirt in her palm, pulling and tugging gently under he came closer to her. The hand he had buried deep in her hair left its place and began travelling down past her neck and collarbone, under the sheets. Regina winced a little at the coolness of his touch on her exposed flesh that had been warmed for hours but could only let out a deep groan when rough fingers found her breast and squeezed.
But the contact was gone as soon as it happened and Regina couldn't help but whine when Robin pulled back and stood up from the bed, a smirk spread across his face.
"That was uncalled for" she snarked, raising an eyebrow at him.
"I'd take you more seriously if the sheet was covering you milady, its rather distracting to say the least" he grinned, blatantly looking downwards at Regina's exposed chest and laughing when she rushed to pull the sheet to cover herself "Although nothing I haven't seen before"
"I'll let you see more if you bring me breakfast in bed" she murmured, trying her best to make her voice go husky. But it didn't work, instead Robin moved back towards the foot of the bed and began tugging at the sheets, pulling with strength that Regina couldn't match until all the sheets were gone and Regina was left bare.
"Hmmm, it seems I'm getting a pretty good view as it is" he nodded in satisfaction, dropping the bedding to the floor and putting his hands on his hips.
"You've made your point" Regina grumbled, hopping up off the bed and watching as Robin's gaze didn't once leave her bouncing chest. "Give me 10 minutes" she told him, heading for the en suite and giggling when gave her ass a light snack as she walked past him.
"I'll make some fresh cocoa" he told her, jogging over just as she was about to shut the bathroom door and giving her a quick kiss before passing her the robe she'd left draped over a chair and returning back downstairs.
She didn't know how long she'd slept for, but one thing was for certain. Something was definitely pressing into her side, and she didn't like it. The weight Regina could feel just below her hips wasn't budging and she let out a soft groan, hoping it was part of her blissful dream where only Robin and her existed in her bed on a lazy Sunday morning but instead she heard a quiet gasp from in front of her. The foreign sound enough to pull her from the unconscious and crack open her eyes. There staring back at her were brown eyes similar to hers, but much younger, wider and full of wonder.
"Roland" she breathed, opening her eyes fully to confirm that it was the boy perched on her lap. Although distinctly a little smaller it was clearly him, the mop of brown hair covering the face of the boy she'd grown to call her own.
"Me Roland" he smiled at her, tilting his head to the side as if to question how she knew his name.
"Yes" she murmured, instinctively lifting herself up in bed a little before cupping the little boys cheeks and brushing stray hairs from around his face.
She tried hard to resist, but he was yet another piece of home that wasn't really hers here, not hers to keep or fuss over. But she also figured that influencing a 3 year old might not be as detrimental as his father so in that moment Regina lost all willpower and pulled Roland in for a hug. He accepted it gratefully, wrapping his tiny arms around her neck in a way that brought tears to her eyes. They stayed like that for a few moments, her grasp on him firm but not suffocating, until she felt a sharp kick in her belly and heard Roland giggle. Pulling back she noticed him staring at her stomach where he'd been pressed up against and clearly felt the thud of his sister against him and so she took his little palms in hers and placed them on the curve. When her daughter took the hint and kicked again she smiled as the boys face grew wide, clearly in awe at the new experience.
He looked up at her and tilted his head again before asking "Your name?"
Regina opened her mouth to say Regina, and was even a little tempted to reply with 'mama', but stopped when she realised she couldn't give her real name out here. Not if she wanted to return to the present without altering it, but the thought of lying to him seemed worse than telling the truth, so instead she kept silent. Roland didn't get much time to ask again when the material of the tent parted opposite them and Robin walked in, noting the pair curled up and grinned. The boy still had his hands on Regina's bump and after another small hit against his palm he laughed, looking over his father and beckoning him over.
"I'm sorry, did he wake you?" He apologised softly to Regina, moving to join them on the sheets.
"Yes but its not a problem, really" she reassured, cupping one of Roland's cheeks again and tucking hair behind his ear that was curling in front of his eyes.
"You're sure?"
"Positive" she laughed.
"Roland my boy, can you go and help little John knead some fresh dough by the fire?"
"Yes papa!" the boy replied, shuffling off Regina's lap and dropping to the ground, before wobbling out of the tent on unsteady feet.
"I apologise again, Roland has a tendency to be curious" Robin explained, rubbing a palm along his thigh.
"And like I said before I don't mind, I love children" Regina smiled, now watching Robin with an inquisitive gaze.
"I can't help but notice the way you handled Roland back there, clearly you have the touch of a mother"
Regina sighed loudly, averting her gaze down so Robin couldn't see the way fresh tears threatened to flow from her eyes, the feeling of longing taking over her, "I do"
"And he's not with you on this trek, what happened to him?" Robin asked cautiously, not wanting to overstep the mark with Regina emotionally.
"He's not dead if that's what you mean, like my partner he's lost to me at the moment" she replied quietly.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't imagine being apart from my son for even a few hours" he admitted, reaching out to take Regina's hand and give it a light squeeze.
"Thank you, but he's in safe hands and for that I'm grateful. Have you decided how long you want us here for?" She asked shakily, finding it hard to concentrate with Robin's hand in hers and knowing that she could't take it any further.
"That's what I came to discuss. I have to leave for a job in two days but you're more than welcome to stay until then, if that's okay with you that is" He smiled, letting Regina's palm slip from his to return to his own lap.
"That would be great, thank you" she said sincerely, fiddling with loose strands of cotton on her dress.
"Now that its settled, can I ask you something?"
"Anything" she replied instantly. It was a reaction that to a total stranger would seem weird and almost too trusting, but she'd become so used to Robin it was impossible to act any differently around him.
"Why do I feel like I've met you before?" He asked, and in that moment, Regina felt her mouth go dry and world turn upside down.
