A/n Hide-ho Loves! I hope you enjoy this installment! This weekend is going to be busy so I may not update till Monday. I hope that you all have a great weekend!
No more standing in my own way
Let's get deeper, let's get closer
No more standing in my own way
(I want you to love me)
Love me-Katy Perry
##
The night was just giving away to dawn as Regina stirred in Robin's strong arms. She snuggled closer to him not wanting the light of day to ruin what she was feeling. He tightened his arms in response, turning his head to catch her sleepy gaze. She sent him a shy smile, her teeth biting the corner of her bottom lip. He returned her smile reaching out to stroke her cheek. She closed her eyes, enjoying the feeling of his caress. He pulled her on top of him, drawing her lips down to his. Regina moaned into his mouth, feeling his hardness press against her. She drew up slightly keeping her mouth firmly pressed against his, then slid down upon him taking his length slowly inside her. She sat up upon him throwing her head back in delight as his hands gently stroked and massaged her breasts. His hands slipped down to grip her hips as she rode him.
"Regina." he whispered in the semi darkness of dawn. "I was wrong."
Regina froze, her heart racing. She knew that he would probably realize that this would never work out, but now? Right now? A shudder of fear passed through her body. He reached for her, pulling her to him instead of pushing her away.
"I was so very wrong." he whispered in her ear. "You are my Queen." He drew her back slightly to look into her liquid brown eyes. "My beautiful, beautiful Queen."
With his words Regina sagged against him, the words leaving her weak. Robin rolled them over until he was on top of her, still firmly embedded in her body. His heart swelled when he looked down at her. So beautiful, so prefect. The stories he heard about her must have been grossly exaggerated, he thought. He briefly wondered about the things he felt for her, the deep draw he felt to her. It was more than just sexual, way more. He didn't understand. He had only known her a short time, but the things he felt for her were very strong. Allowing such thoughts to leave his mind, he moved inside her. His hands caressing her face, drawing her lips back to his. His arms wrapped around her, wishing he could just pull her inside him, keep her safe. Regina's nails bit into his back, her throaty moans making his movements frenzied. He felt her whole body tighten in his embrace and knew that she was reaching the peak of her pleasure. He quickly followed her over the edge swearing that he could see stars as the waves of pleasure washed over him. He shifted off her, pulling her to him softly kissing her cheek over and over until she started to giggle. She turned her head towards him with an almost regretful look in her eyes.
"Robin...I.." she began but Robin cut her off with a finger to her lush lips.
"Regina, I don't understand what is going on here. I don't understand how I can feel the way I do for someone I hardly know. And right now I just don't care. Let's just enjoy this. We can worry about things later. Hmm?"
She tried to relax in his arms. "Ok." she said barely above a whisper. She waited a beat then looked up at him again. "I can't. I just can't relax. I feel...I feel like you are going to realize who I am and then run screaming from the cabin."
He let out a sigh. "We can talk if you need to, but Regina I know who you are. You are the fabled Evil Queen and look, I am still here." he said with a smile trying to put her at ease.
"But you don't really know me. You don't really know the things I have done." she said her eyes sad.
"I know what they say you have done."
"What you have heard is true, I can assure you of that and more I am certain." For the first time regret worming it's way into her heart.
He looked deep into her eyes. "You must have been hurt greatly, my Queen." he kissed her hand.
A shiver wrought through her body as his lips brushed her hand. "Let's not talk about me right now. Let's talk about you. I know very little about you besides the stories I have heard. Tell me, who is Robin Hood?"
He smiled and tilted his head in thought. "Well, first and foremost I am a father." She stiffened at his words. "Is something wrong, Regina?"
"I'm...just not very good with children, that's all." she said, her eyes taking a far away look.
Robin chuckled. "You probably believe that you are not very good with men either, yet here we are." He placed a kiss on her nose.
"Go on, Robin." she said laying back in his arms.
"Second I am a man, some call me a hero but I don't see myself that way. I just want to help people who truly need it. I have a group of men that help me called Merry Men. I lost my wife four years ago when she gave birth to our son. It has been me, my son and my Merry men ever since."
"That must have been very difficult and painful for you." Regina said quietly.
"It was the most difficult time of my entire life. Not only was I of course distraught over losing my wife, but then I had a new born babe to take care of. And I knew very little of how to take care of a baby. But we managed, my little man and I."
"You have great love for your son. I can hear it and feel it when you talk about him." Regina said with a small sigh.
"He is the most important thing to me. I tend to be over protective of him. I suppose that is because I couldn't save his mother, although I did try. I never want to be in that situation with him. So now it is your turn. Tell me about you."
"Well, what do you want to know?" she asked, her body tensing.
"Why do you think that you are not good with children?" he asked placing a kiss on her brow.
Regina let out a long sigh, her mind made up to be honest with him no matter what the consequences.
"Some time ago I was betrothed to King Leopold after his wife died. It was not my wish to marry him, it was my mother's wish that I marry him. During my time at the castle I met and fell in love with a stable hand named Daniel. He was my everything, my heart. I made plans to run away with him. Then I made a serious mistake. King Leopold's young daughter Snow White caught us together. I told her that I loved him and told her of my plans. I never should have done that. She told my mother everything, every...little...detail, even though I told her not to. My mother waited for Daniel and I to meet at the stables. Then she ripped his heart out and crushed it in front of me, killing him. My heart is still filled with hate towards Snow White for what she did." Regina abruptly stopped burring her head in the pillow as tears fell from her lashes. Robin gently stroked her back whispering sweet nothing to her. She soon got hold of herself pulling her face from the pillow. "Since then I have made it my mission to wrought any happiness Snow White attempts to find and show the kingdom who she really is. The monster she really is."
"But Regina, she was only a child, correct?" Robin said his eyes wrinkling in a confused frown.
"Yes," she hissed through clenched teeth. "A child who should have heeded my warnings, a child who should have listened to me, a child who destroyed my happiness. And had she told me, just warned me we could have left sooner or Daniel could have gotten away on his own. Maybe he would be happy in his own life now not lying in a grave. I think I could have forgiven her had he had a chance to escape, married King Leopold and been happy just in the knowledge that he was still out there somewhere, hopefully enjoying life. But that didn't happen and it is her fault."
Robin and Regina lay quietly together for a time, tears still falling from Regina's eyes. The tears were not for her past but for what future she may have just lost in telling Robin her tale. No one seemed to understand, she doubted he would. She suddenly jumped up from the bed and gathered her clothes.
"Look, I'm going to make this easy on you." she said donning on her dress. "We can pretend this never happened. We can go back to the way it was and when Tinkerbell comes back find out what the hell she wants, then go our separate ways. This," she said with a flick of her wrist indicating the bed, "Really means nothing. I'm sure you noticed that I am no maiden." She stopped short as Robin arose and came to her side.
His slowly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her to him and kissing her on the top of the head. "Regina, first your past is your past. I will no judge you by it. Second, I can promise you that I am not that good of an actor. Third, I really don't think I can keep my hands off you. Every time I look at you my heart does a little flip flop. I am not going to question right now what it means, but I can truthfully say that no one, including my dearly departed wife has made me feel this way. If you truly wish for me to leave you alone, then I will do my best to do so. But I don't want that and I don't think you want that either."
Regina began to shake in his arms. She tipped her tear stained face up to his, her mouth twisting in a frown. "I don't either." she sobbed truthfully.
He leaned down kissing her tears away.
##
The sun was high above the dark castle when the ladies finally roused from their slumber. Belle looked hopefully at Grumpy.
"Any sign of them?" she asked.
"Not yet." he said quietly.
Belle nodded her face sad.
"Belle, he is an all powerful kind of guy. And the Queen has been drained of her magic. I am sure that he will be just fine." Grumpy said in an awkward attempt to comfort her.
"I know. I just feel like something is off. Like something is wrong. Maybe I am just being paranoid." She sighed. "Ok ladies, let's go have breakfast."
"I think it's lunchtime." Nova said peering out the window after giving Grumpy a kiss.
"Oh well, let's go have lunch then. Maybe after we can go play with the children in the snow."
"Sounds good to me." Red said, stretching. "I need some exercise to wake my muscles up after sleeping on the floor all night."
The three women made their way to the kitchen.
##
The sun was fast approaching the it's descent into night when Charming approach Rumple.
"Look we haven't seen anyone else come or go since this morning. I think we should go in." Charming said casting an irritated glance at Rumple.
"I agree." said Snow standing by her husband's side.
"Of course you do." muttered Rumple in annoyance. "I am not sure why you feel that this is suddenly a democracy but I can promise you it isn't. I know you are worried about you friends and trust me, I would love to get home to my family. But moving too quickly could make it so none of us ever return to our families. We will wait for dark and speak to the wolves to see what they have seen, then go from there." Rumple said his voice allowing no argument.
##
Regina laughed as Robin told her a tale of one of his exploits. They were nestled arm and arm by the fire, a warm blanket wrapping them together.
"Then when the King went to pick up the gold coin, Little John kicked him in the backside hard enough to send him sprawling toes over head across the room. The king jumped to his feet and dashed from the room. You have never seen a King move so fast." Robin said dissolving into a fit of laughter. They relaxed against each other until their laughter abated. Then Regina sat up and turn to Robin.
"Look I don't want to bring up a sad topic but I am curious about something." she said.
"My life is an open book to you, fair lady." Robin said tilting his head in a mock bow.
Regina grinned at him then her face became serious. "How is it that you tried to save you wife?" Regina fretted over asking the question, but if there was a curse attached to Robin she should at least know about it. It wouldn't change her feelings a bit but she still wanted to be aware.
"I stole Rumpelstiltskin's wand. I used it to heal my wife. It was enough to keep her alive until after our son was born, but she passed shortly after that."
Regina's eyes widened at him. "You stole his wand? And you are still alive? How does that work?" she asked.
"Well, make no mistake. The Dark One did come after me. He almost caught me too. Shot an arrow at me. But he missed."
"Wait a minute." Regina said gaping at him. "He never misses. His bow and arrows are enchanted to never miss his target."
Robin shrugged. "There was a young woman with him. Maybe she tripped him or something. I just know that he shot at me and missed."
"I imagine that young woman was Belle. His true love." Regina said, rolling her eyes.
Robin reached out and captured her chin. "Don't you believe in true love, Regina?" he asked his eyes searching hers deeply.
"I...I..." Her mouth snapped shut, not really sure how she felt about it. Before meeting Robin she had thought that it was a load of trash, just something to give people something to believe in, but now she wasn't sure so.
"I do." he whispered crossing the distance to meet her lips.
##
