My last entry for IBOQ this year is a Pretending flashback inspired by eqChemistry's BEAUTIFUL fall manip! Enjoy and let me know what you think! I didn't have anyone beta this, so all mistakes are mine.

Regina walked through the little orchard at the castle, Roland lolloping along by her side. She could tell that he was itching to run ahead, but she had warned him not to. Apples littered the ground around them, having fallen from the trees when an apple near them was picked. Although she could just clean them all up with a wave of her hand, she had had servants whose very job was to take care of the orchard before she cast the curse. A part of her had assumed that they would simply resume those roles when they returned to the land they had once called home, but clearly, she was mistaken.

In a way, she couldn't blame them, though. They likely wanted to return to a sense of normalcy after so long away from their home, and given that she had imprisoned them all and frozen time for almost three decades of their lives, she could imagine why they still saw her as the Evil Queen and wanted absolutely nothing to do with her.

Although that meant that she had to watch Roland like a hawk now, and while she was happy to do it, she still worried about him immensely.

The thief walked by her side. She had told him he didn't have to come with them, that she could handle Roland all on her own, and had expected that he would take her up on the offer of a free afternoon. He had insisted though, and if it had been anyone else, she would have thought that he didn't trust her with his son. However, even though they fought constantly, Roland had never been told that he couldn't spend time with her. He was always welcome to play with her in any corner of the castle or read with her in the library, a fact that both pleased and baffled her. Surely there was a part of Robin that still saw her as the Evil Queen?

One look into those blue eyes gave her her answer.

Or maybe not, she thought as Roland, who had run ahead, ran back to them and leapt into Regina's arms. As she held him close, relishing the sweet, fresh smell of his young skin, his father looked at them with such a peculiar expression that she had no idea what he was thinking.

She didn't have much time to wonder, though, as Roland squirmed in her arms, obviously ready to be set down on the ground once more. She obliged, watching as he skipped ahead of them.

He ran to one of the trees, pointing to an apple that was within her reach. "Gina, can you get that for me please?"

She smiled. His father may be nothing but rude and sarcastic, maddening beyond belief, but at least his son had manners that were far beyond what she would expect for a boy his age. "Of course, sweetheart," she answered as she walked closer to the tree he was standing beside. "Which apple do you think we should pick?"

"That one!" Roland declared pointing up into the leaves above them.

She followed the trajectory of his right pointer finger and thought she spotted the apple he wanted. "This one?" she asked, her hand closing around a scarlet apple that was just out of the boy's reach.

"Yeah!" he confirmed, nodding emphatically.

Noticing that the apples around Roland's chosen apple were also good selections, she used both hands to pluck a couple of them from the tree. Handing the one he had originally wanted to him, she inquired, "This is the one you want, right?"

"Uh huh!" he cheered. "Thank you, Gina!"

"Of course," she reassured him, bending to rub her nose against his affectionately. "Why don't you go choose our next one?"

He scampered off, and she and Robin walked side by side. "You're good with him," he admitted, the first words he had spoken to her since they had set out. "I don't like admitting it, but despite the fact that you used to terrorize those around you at every opportunity, you have the touch of a mother."

She had felt his gaze on her as she interacted with his son, and while she had been able to ignore it enough that Roland hadn't noticed anything amiss, it unnerved her. When Roland had come to her begging her to pick apples with him, she hadn't been aware that his father would be tagging along. It seemed that he hadn't been aware of the arrangement either, judging by the surprised look on his face when she had met them in the entrance hall of the castle, but Roland had asked so nicely, then became teary when she had initially turned him down, that neither of them had been able to deny him.

She inclined her head, a nonverbal acknowledgement of his hard-won praise. *Thank you," she said softly.

"I imagine that maternal instinct stems from time spent raising your son?" he asked. Despite her best efforts to keep everything about her past hidden from the Merry Men, newcomers that hadn't been with them in Storybrooke, he had learned about her son the day he had followed her into her castle, a decision she had regretted since that day. He had seen her in such a vulnerable position, one that no one was normally allowed to see, and it unnerved her, knowing that there was a possibility that he could use it against her at any time.

"Of course," she responded incredulously. "You're a father. Surely you know how much being a parent can change you."

"I do," he replied. "But people still call you the Evil Queen, do they not? Maybe if you were more kind, you would have more dedicated subjects."

Dejected and furious in equal measure, she spun around to face him, a fireball in each hand. His words had cut too deeply, reminding her of when she had pretended to be a peasant and discovered just how much Snow had turned her subjects against her. "Say that again- I dare you," she challenged. She wouldn't actually hurt him- he was Roland's father, after all- but years as Rumple's student and the Evil Queen had taught her that fear was an effective tool.

Before either of them could act further, Roland came running up to them. "Papa, Gina, I found another one!" he informed them.

Extinguishing her favorite weapon immediately, Regina held out her hand. "Where is it, Roland? Show us so we can pick it."

"Over here!" Roland told her, taking her by the hand and dragging her to a tree that was as far away from the castle as it was possible to be. "It's so high though," he told her as he pointed upward. "Not even Papa can get it."

"I don't know about that," Robin disagreed as he came up behind them. "What have I always taught you, Roland?"

"There's nothing the Merry Men can't do!" Roland recited enthusiastically.

"That's right!" Robin praised. *So don't worry. No matter what, I'll be able to get this apple for you."

He reached toward the apple, but Regina sniggered when his efforts were to no avail. "Looks like this time, the Merry Men might fail," she taunted.

Robin gazed up at the apple Roland wanted, clearly thinking of a way to get it.

Roland clapped his hands as if he had an idea. Sure enough, he suggested helpfully, "Maybe if you lift Gina, she'll be able to get it!"

Robin looked from his son to her, and if she had to guess from his expression, he was as stunned as she was. The thought had never occurred to her, and even if it had, she would have immediately dismissed it as ridiculous. She could get it all on her own using magic, an option she was surprised Roland hadn't suggested. In the month she had known him, she had discovered that he loved to watch her use magic on everything from a ball to the weather.

"You don't want me to just use my magic?" she confirmed, hoping she would change his mind with the mention of something he loved.

Roland placed the tips of his fingers on his chin, clearly considering the idea. After a minute, he shook his head. "No, have Papa help you!"

The adults exchanged dubious glances. This four-year-old had them wrapped around his little finger, and he knew it. If the thief was anything like her (doubtful, she knew- they were always like night and day), Regina suspected that Robin was also skeptical about this plan his aspiring matchmaker had concocted.

With a wave of her hand, a ladder appeared. As always, Regina was determined to need help from no one, least of all the annoying thief who smelled like forest. She climbed the ladder, cursing herself for wearing a dress when she knew what she would be doing that day.

"Which apple was it again?" she asked, looking down at the curly-haired little hobbit below.

"That one!" he reminded her, pointing to an apple that was just to her left.

She reached for the correct apple and picked it from the tree, then started back down the ladder. When she stepped on the third rung from the top, her foot stepped on her dress and she fell back.

With the shock of the moment and adrenaline rushing through her beyond, she was too busy shouting for help to worry about anything else except not breaking her skull.

A minute later, instead of the hard ground she expected to feel, she found herself cradled against something soft. She looked to the side and found herself face-to face with Robin, their faces mere inches apart.

The world around them seemed to stop for a minute as they gazed into each other's eyes. Regina was oblivious to everything around her: the birds who seemed to be saying goodbye as they flew to a warmer climate for the winter, Roland's eager chatter about what apple he wanted to pick next, the crunch of leaves beneath their feet. She was only aware of the sound of her own heartbeat, how her pulse had skyrocketed the second Robin's eyes met hers.

He seemed to compose himself first, setting her down gently on the emerald grass at his feet. "Are you all right, milady?"

Finally composing herself, she nodded curtly. "Of course." Better to act as if nothing had happened than make him aware of how the experience had rattled her in more ways than one.

"Papa, you caught Gina!" Roland cheered. Under any other circumstances, Regina would begrudge any praise the man received, but in this case, she too was grateful that Robin had saved her from what could have been a terrible fall. She would thank him, but that would only make him even more unbearable than before.

She decided to distract them all from the events that had just occurred by asking Roland, "Which apple should we pick next?"

He had clearly known that he would be asked this question because he ran to another tree close by, pointed upward and proclaimed, "This one, Gina!"

She sighed. The apple he had chosen was far above her head once again- and above Robin's as well.

Robin seemed to have the same thought, suggesting to his son, "Why don't we choose a lower apple, Roland? We don't want the Queen to fall again, do we?"

"That's why I told you to lift her, Papa!" his son informed him matter-of-factly. "That way, she won't fall!"

The two adults looked at each other, neither of them able to resist chuckling softly. Roland had them wrapped around his little finger after what had just transpired, and judging from that comment, the little matchmaker knew it.

"Do you really think that's safest, Roland?" Regina asked, kneeling so she was looking him in the eye.

He nodded fervently. "Yes! Papa always makes sure I don't fall!"

"Often without success," the thief muttered behind her, and Regina couldn't help snickering. She could just picture a younger Roland running around, getting into trouble and thinking he was invincible. She had already discovered in their time at the castle that her favorite Merry Man aspired to be just like his father one day, as he constantly dressed just like him and practiced with a little bow and arrow he had proudly told her his Uncle Will had made for him. Mother that she would always be (although her heart still ached at the thought of her own son), she told him to be careful every time he used it, a sentiment shared by other adults in the castle.

She looked at her favorite thief's father now, her head cocked to the side in question. She wouldn't acquiesce to Roland's plan unless he agreed as well.

With his nod, their plan was settled. Despite herself, her traitorous heart beat faster as Robin approached her, arms outstretched. She had been touched many times before, but never like this, and she didn't know how she felt about it- or the fact that it was the thief doing it, insufferable man that he was.

His hands rested on her hips and he lifted her, his touch gentle but firm. Though she had denied the need for his assistance and wouldn't admit it now, she was glad that they had both fallen victim to a child's request. It really was safer than what she had done before, and while she had tried to tear out her own heart at the loss of Henry, just as her mother had, she knew he would be disappointed in her if she tried to do the same thing a second time because she didn't want to chance feeling anything for this thief and his son.

Refocusing on the task at hand, she grabbed the apple Roland had requested as well as other apples around it that appeared to be delectable. "All right, thief, you can let me down now," she told the man below her, her tone commanding.

As he lowered her to the ground, once again their eyes locked and her mouth went dry. He, too, seemed flustered from the encounter, his gaze steady, never leaving hers.

Roland, oblivious to the atmosphere around him, cheered and ran ahead, leaving the adults to deal with the charged air around them.

She cleared her throat. "Thank you, thief. It turns out you're useful for something after all."

He smirked, stepping closer to her, their proximity making her breath catch once again. The smell of the forest surrounded her, a comforting blanket to sink into after a difficult day when memories of apple picking with Henry had assailed her. His hand dared to reach out and tuck an errant strand of hair behind her ear.

She berated herself for it (she wasn't some hormonal teenager, she was a Queen, for crying out loud!), but nevertheless couldn't help the way her pulse raced.

"You want to know how you can thank me?" he asked, his voice low, rough with emotion but still soft as velvet somehow.

She nodded, not trusting herself to speak.

"Say my name just once, milady. My real name."

She raised one eyebrow at the name. "Only if you do the same," she breathed. "Address me by my title. None of this 'milady' business."

He seemed disappointed for some reason, but he nodded. "Very well."

To her frustration, he fell silent then, a clear challenge for her to say his name first.

She smirked. Maybe she could turn this unexpected situation to her advantage. "You smell like forest, Robin," she informed him. She had never said she'd be kind when she fulfilled his request.

He smirked, his eyes dancing. "And you, Queen Regina, smell like apples and cinnamon. An intoxicating combination, I must admit," he breathed, his eyes dark with desire.

She frowned. Her attempts to dissipate the electricity in the air had apparently been fruitless. In addition, she had meant for him to call her "Your Majesty," but she supposed that he had technically done as she had asked. Could this thief do anything right?

She was spared from chastising him, however, by the appearance of Roland. "Come on, Gina and Papa!" he scolded. "We have to pick the rest of the apples before it gets dark!"

They separated and followed him, each lost in thought. Regina determined that nothing like that afternoon would ever happen again.