Author's Notes: Well folks here we are. Writing this fic has been a long journey that has included ups, downs, and heartbreak when it comes to our favorite couple. I'm so glad to have done it though, and am grateful for everyone who has supported me along the way.

Thanks, especially, to Imagine_OQ for the great prompt that inspired this fic, pt159 for helping be organize my plot into something that made sense, and to ale_nena for her constant support and friendship. Finally, to all of my readers for sticking with me through the process.

I understand this ending may be controversial, but I think it feels right for this story which has been unique for an OQ fic from the beginning.

Thanks again, everyone. I love all of you!

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Regina leaped to her feet as she watched the soccer ball hit the back of the net. A smile spread across her lips at the exuberant look on her son's face as his teammates mobbed him with hugs and high-fives. She was so happy to see this.

The craziness of the past year had taken a lot of her energy and attention, but she was finally starting to fully appreciate the change in him.

Henry had been a shy, lonely kid for a long time who spent most of his time with videogames, books, and comics. However, since starting 7th grade, he'd made some close friends and began to expand his interests, although, she knew that, at heart, he was still a dreamer.

Taking her seat, she watched settled down to watch the rest of the game.

In the end, Henry's team lost 2-5. By then the cold metal was chilling her through the material of her slacks. Spring was just beginning to emerge, but this time of year was still biting in Maine.

Rising, she made her way down the metal bleachers to wait for Henry to finish saying goodbye to his teammates.

With that he jogged over to her. She smiled encouragingly, "Good job, Henry. I saw you score a goal."

"Yeah, but we didn't win, though," he answered.

"It doesn't matter," she answered as they started walking away from the pitch, "You did the best you could, and you're improving."

He shrugged in his usual incomprehensible teenager way, but continued walking along beside her.

"So what should we make for dinner tonight?" Regina asked.

Glancing over at her, he answered slowly, "What are the options?"

She laughed at how well her son knew her, "Well I was thinking chicken cacciatore."

"Okay," he shrugged again.

"And maybe we can make some peach crumble for dessert?" she added casually.

He instantly perked up at that and enthusiastically said, "Yeah!"

She laughed, shaking her head fondly at how much he was still her little boy.

As they got further away from the sports fields they drifted onto the walking trail, silently agreeing to walk that way around before heading home.

They hiked silently up the first hill, Henry reaching the top a few moments before her. Other than the sports area the park was mostly empty that afternoon, so the sound of shrieking laughter drew her attention.

Glancing down over the hill, she stopped instantly in her tracks at the sight that greeted her.

The little boy looked bigger than she remembered, and the man holding him was different as well. His hair was shorter, shorn into a more modern looking style and dressed in dark jeans, a grey shirt, and leather jacket...all of which looked like they fit like a glove compared to baggy prison jumpsuits.

"Mom!" Henry's voice cut through her musings, startling her.

Whipping her head around to him, she asked, "Yes?"

Smirking he said, "You were staring."

Feeling herself flush, she shot back, "I most certainly was not!"

Her son looked at her skeptically, so she went on, "I know that man."

Henry looked down at where Robin Locksley was playing with his son, "From where?"

She paused for a good long moment before answering, "My old job."

"Oh," he answered, "Well should we go say 'hi'?"

She knew this was another decisive moment, but, this time, she didn't have the chance to make it because as his son ran around him, Robin turned toward them, doing at obvious double-take before looking right at her.

Glancing over at Henry, Regina stood up straight, leading him down the hill.

Robin's son, who had been running around chasing a soccer ball, stopped at the sight of two new people approaching. He looked up at them warily, eyes wide, and stepped a bit closer to his father.

She couldn't help but frown to herself at his obvious skittishness. The poor kid had been through a lot, and, obviously, still wasn't completely over it.

Stopping, she said, "Hello Robin."

Looking at her through clear blue eyes, he quirked his lips slightly before replying, "Hello to you."

They stood quietly staring at each other, caught in the surrealism of the moment until Henry interrupted by loudly clearing his throat. Rolling her eyes, Regina mused that there were some down-sides to his new found confidence. However, she shifted on her feet, "This is my son, Henry. Henry this is Robin Locksley."

"Hi," Henry answered.

"Hello, Henry. Nice to meet you," Robin said, holding out his hand for Henry to shake, "And this is my son, Roland."

With a coaxing hand on his shoulder, Roland slowly stepped out from behind his father's leg, looking shyly at Henry.

"Hey," Henry said to him, "Nice ball."

Glancing at the soccer ball that he was holding in two small hands, Roland answered, "Thank you."

Jumping in Regina explained, "We just came from Henry's soccer game."

"Oh," Robin smiled, "Roland's just begun to be interested in football...soccer."

Henry laughed, "Yeah, same with me. My friend Zach got me into it recently, so I had to learn a lot quickly. Maybe I could show you a few things, kid?"

Thinking it over, Roland nodded and responded, "Okay."

Glancing up at each other, Robin and Regina shared a smile at their sons' exchange before the irony of the moment set it. The fact that the last time they'd seen each other they'd been prisoner and warden, and now were simply two parents.

Ignoring the awkwardness, though, Henry lead Roland away from the two adults, showing him how to dribble the ball.

Looking back at her, Robin cleared his throat awkwardly, "Looks like our boys have hit it off."

"Looks like it," Regina nodded, watching as they played together.

After a few moments of awkward silence, the former inmate gestured to a nearby bench and asked, "Did you want to sit down?"

"That sounds nice," she agreed, allowing him to lead her over to it and taking a seat next to them.

The two watched their sons playing for a few moments before he finally said, "So are we going to continue to ignore the elephant next to us?"

Regina sighed, but answered firmly, "No, no I'm not trying to do that."

Turning to him, she looked at him expectantly.

"Mulan told me that you helped clear my name," Robin said.

Months ago she would have argued with that characterization, but didn't bother this time, "Yes."

"I don't..." he started, trailing off, "...I don't even know what to say. How to say what it means to me."

She shook her head, "You really don't have to."

"Of course, I do!" he argued, "You're the reason for everything I have. My freedom, my son...my life. I can't ever thank you enough."

"It's really okay."

"You were there the day my conviction was overturned," he went on, drawing her attention, "I saw you. You were at the back but...I saw."

"Oh," she answered simply, "I thought Mulan must have told you."

He waited a moment before answering, "She told me you left."

Regina glanced over at him but didn't comment.

"She said you told her you didn't want to see me."

"I did say that," she admitted.

He nodded, waiting few moments again before asking, "Was it because of what happened? What I did your last day at the prison?"

"No...yes," Regina answered shaking her head, "It wasn't just that. It was...it's a long story."

He looked at her quietly, but didn't push. She knew that she couldn't just let it the subject drop at that. She owed him an explanation.

Taking a deep breath, she turned to face him and began her story, "Do you remember inmate Gold?"

"Gold?" Robin asked, "Yeah, sure."

Nodding, Regina launched into her story, explaining everything from how she accidentally came to work with Mulan on Marian's case and how she found out that Gold set the whole thing in motion.

By the end he was staring at her in disbelief, "You're serious?"

Regina nodded, "Unfortunately, yes."

"So Gold helped get me out of prison...in order to get back at Guy Gisborne over some organized crime thing?"

"That was basically what he said."

Looking forward he sat silently before finally deciding, "Well that puts things in somewhat different light, but, at the end of the day the outcome is still the same. I have my son back and Gisborne got what he deserved for what he did to Marian."

Licking her lips, Regina said, "Robin I'm sorry about what happened to your family. I never told you that."

"Thank you," he answered, "But you already did way more than anyone could expect to help us."

She chuckled mirthlessly, "You mean Gold did."

"No," he said, "I mean you."

Feeling the intensity of his gaze, she glanced away, "Well...you're welcome. And, I'm sorry for running out on you that day at the courthouse. It was just...I needed some time to process everything. The fact that Gold manipulated me like that…"

"Gold manipulated a lot of people," Robin said, "But at least something good came out of it this time."

"Yeah," she nodded, looking back at his son, who was smiling widely as he ran after Henry, "How has your son been since you've been back?"

"It's been an adjustment," Robin told her, "John said he would talk about me sometimes-"

"He did," Regina agreed, "I saw him once with Mulan. He mentioned you then. He said he missed you."

Robin smiled sadly, "The truth was he didn't remember me. I think he only knew me as an idea. Those first few days he was...scared."

She felt her heart ache at the very idea.

"But we've come a long way," he went on, "We just recently moved out of John and Trina's. That's been hard on him too, though. Their farm was all he ever knew, so moving in a small apartment...it's a big change."

"He'll get used to it," Regina told him, "Kids are resilient. And he'll get to know his father. That's important."

Robin looked at her, "Thank you."

The two sat quietly side-by-side for a little while longer until Robin spoke again, "Listen I'm sorry."

She turned to him, "You're sorry?"

"For what I did that last day at the prison. I didn't mean to...it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Oh," she answered, "So you're saying you regret it?"

He looked at her in surprise, answering measuredly, "Well, I didn't want to offend you."

"Robin," she said, catching his gaze firmly, "I wasn't offended. It happened, and...it meant something to both of us, I think."

"Yeah," he said quietly.

She cleared her throat, "I'm not trying to put you on the spot, though. I get that you were in prison and...expected to be there indefinitely. All I'm saying is that I don't expect anything from you-"

"Regina," he breathed, reaching up to brush his hand over her cheek. Her lips fell open, words dying on her lips as his thumb brushed over her ear, and he slowly leaned over to meet her lips. Her eyes slid closed as he kissed her, their lips fitting together in an almost perfect way.

When they finally broke apart for air, they stared at each other for a moment before a yell from Henry drew their attention. He was still playing with Roland, but, to Regina's eye, was a little bit too pointedly not looking at them.

She let out a sigh. Her son really was too smart for his own good.

"I think we've already been discovered," she commented.

Robin followed her gaze, laughing slightly. Looking back at each other they contemplated their situation. Both had gone through a lot of changes in the past year and were, in a way, still reeling from them. Could there really be any hope that whatever this was between them could work?

"What do we do now?" Robin asked, seemingly reading her mind.

Regina stood from the bench and offered him her hand as she answered, "We see what comes next."

With a smile, Robin stood as well, taking her hand in his as they made their way down the hill to join their sons.

They both still had a long way to go, but were content in the knowledge that that they, finally, would be taking the next step together.

THE END