Here it is, the last update of this fic for a while…
As the weather got colder over the next few weeks, Robin and Regina spent time over the next days renovating the castle. The first days, of course, they had spent learning how to do the construction. There was a lot more to it than Robin had first anticipated, lots of hammers and nails and technique beyond what he had first imagined. It certainly sparked some debate between them as Robin tried to make Regina's simple ideas match the vision of the restored castle he saw in his mind's eye. He may not have any carpentry skills, but he wanted to do everything he could to restore the castle to its former glory. He also recognized that he could only do so much with his- he may as well face it, nonexistent- skills, so finding a balance between his dreams and reality was interesting to say the least. He had to remind himself, too, that he was helping reconstruct a castle that belonged to Regina, not him, so he ultimately would have to bend to her wishes, which had much less grandeur than he wanted.
There was a part of him that had to admit, though, that he loved arguing with her. He would never have noticed when he was trying to first get to know her because he was so focused on lifting the curse, but now that he knew her better, it was amusing- and, he had to admit, arousing- to watch her eyes light up with fury in the midst of one of their quarrels. She was feisty, his Regina, and he loved every second of it. After all, her spitfire attitude was proof that she was coming back to life, her ability to argue about something other than her own happiness proof that the darkness in her past was starting to have less of a hold on her. It gave him hope that she would eventually be able to turn her life around- with his help, of course. Even if he hadn't fallen in love with her long ago, he was way too invested in her happiness to not see it through at this point. One drawback, though (at least as far as Roland and Regina were concerned) was that their squabbling had driven Mal away. Once she had announced she was leaving at dinner one night, Regina had immediately shot Robin a glare (he knew she blamed him for this sudden announcement, even though she was by far the more argumentative of the two of them) and tried to convince Mal to stay, but her efforts hadn't yielded any results. Mal had left the next morning despite Regina and Roland's protests. His son had taken to Mal very quickly, which came as no surprise. After all, what young boy wouldn't want to spend time with someone who could turn into a dragon? However, even Roland's pleading could erase the distaste Mal harbored for their bickering, and Robin vowed to try to agree with Regina more.
Today's project, though, was a prime example of their inability to agree on anything. They were looking at rebuilding the library, which, despite the fact that half of the roof still remained from before the fire, still needed the remaining half. It was his son's- and his, if he was being honest- favorite spot in the castle, and while Robin loved spending time there, he was ready to not spend at least part of the time he was there cold from the wind that would blow through the gaps in the ceiling and walls.. Regina had cast a spell long ago that would ensure that no rain ruined the books' condition, but Robin had frequently wondered why that same spell didn't protect the room itself and its occupants from the elements. Surely wind was easier to block than rain or snow?
He knew, though, that bringing up his concerns to Regina wouldn't go well at all. Unlike him, she only enjoyed the library for the memories it held with Henry, and now Roland. She didn't want anything fancy, though he suspected they would be spending a lot of time there.
One day, he was in the attic, seeing if there were any materials there that they could use. He wished he had a way of knowing how Regina felt, a way of getting into her mind. He always was afraid that he would overstep, find the one thing that was the worst possible thing to say, and lose her forever. It was an option he didn't want to consider, and he would do whatever he could to avoid it. He had no idea if there was a time limit on this curse, but if there was, surely it was reaching its limit.
"Looking for something?"
Robin spun around, looking everywhere to see who had spoken to him. He would have thought that he would have met everyone in the castle by now. If that was the case, how had he never heard that voice before? "Who's there?"
"Over here, handsome."
Robin followed the voice and saw an angel sitting on top of the tallest pile of boxes. "Who are you?" he asked her. "How have I never seen you before?"
"Someone had to come to this room specifically seeking to know more about Regina's curse for me to be able to reach out," she told him. "It's the enchantment that was placed on me when the curse was cast."
"How long have you been waiting for someone to find you?" he asked, sitting on the dusty attic floor. He had a feeling that this conversation would last a while.
"Since the curse was cast," she answered quietly. "No one has come along who wants to know Regina quite as much as you in all that time."
"Really?" he asked. To an extent, that knowledge made him sad, but it also gave him hope. Surely, if he was the first person in a number of years who was able to see and talk to this angel, he was on the right track- and there was hope that the curse would be lifted soon.
She nodded. "Regina hasn't had anyone here in the castle in all that time- no one who wanted to help her out of her misery, anyway. The only one who came here years ago…" she shuddered, and Robin knew that whoever had come in years past must be evil if this woman was shaking at the very thought of him or her.
"What happened?" he asked quietly, unsure whether or not he would get an answer.
She shook her head. "All I'll say is that he taught her dark magic, magic she had sworn off long ago. Other than that, you'll have to ask her. It's really not my place to say."
Robin cocked his head to the side, realizing he hadn't asked this yet. "Who are you? How do you know all of this if you've been up here all this time?"
She sighed. "I'm Princess Mary Margaret. I'm the stepdaughter Regina always wished she didn't have. Which I guess I can understand- after all, there's not much of an age difference between us."
Robin's eyes grew wide. The king had a daughter? That put an extra twist on Regina's story that he hadn't expected. He couldn't imagine going through what she had, and not only that, but being forced to take care of a child that wasn't her own that she didn't choose to care for as well. Now he marveled even more at the fact that she had cared so much about Henry, and still did. After being forced to do that, he would like to think that he would still care about any child who wasn't his own, but honestly? He wasn't sure. "How… what are you doing here after all this time? I would have thought that she would have scared you off a long time ago."
He became aware in that moment just how long he had been around inanimate objects that had been enchanted and were actually people. Even though he had just met her, he was able to clearly see the emotions she was feeling. There was a sly look on her face that he knew meant that there had been some form of subterfuge in her return to the castle, and he suddenly had the impression that this princess was more than she appeared to be. "I snuck in," she admitted. "I knew she would never let me into the castle if she knew I was trying to help her- actually, she'd probably never let me in at all. So I snuck in a back way that only my mother and I ever knew, one she had hidden from my father so she could have time to herself every now and then. I watched as Regina lost Daniel and Henry and became the worst version of herself, but wasn't sure how to ease her grief. When the fairy enchanted her and everyone else in the castle, she charged me with helping make everything right when the time came due to my lack of action when Regina needed it most." Her eyes were shining as she said, "Judging by the fact that you're here, I'm guessing that time has finally come."
Robin had so many questions, but at this point, only one person could answer them. "Thank you so much, this helps a lot. Would you like to get out of this dusty old attic?"
She nodded eagerly. "It's been so boring up here with no one to talk to. I'd love to finally get out and about, actually see people, especially Emma. She's the sweetest. And Regina, of course."
He couldn't help sucking in a breath. "Under the circumstances, I'm not so sure that Regina seeing you is the best idea… for now," he added hastily, seeing the glare she threw his way. "I just don't want either of you to get hurt."
Her eyes softened and sparkled simultaneously. How was that even possible, Robin didn't know. "You've fallen in love with her, haven't you?"
Robin sighed. Was he really that easy to read, even for someone who had never met him before? He supposed it was a little different for Mary Margaret, considering how long she had known Regina, but still… At the same time though, there was a part of him that wasn't surprised by that, let alone ashamed of it. After all, hadn't he been fascinated by Regina ever since he had first seen her story- no matter how inaccurate it had been- in Belle's shop?
A wave of guilt hit him at the sudden realization that he hadn't spared a single thought for his friend, let alone seen her, since he had first left for the castle all those months ago. What must she think of him? There were only so many intellectually inclined people in their town (namely, the two of them), and he didn't dare to imagine just how much she was suffering because he had abandoned her. He resolved to change that soon, that once the curse was broken, he would return to the village just long enough to see to it that she and his mother were all right (and possibly as them to join him and Roland at the castle if Regina agreed to that plan), but would Belle even want to come with him? She was a down-to-earth person, one who enjoyed the simple pleasures in life. With the possible exception of the tales found within the books contained in her shop, castles were far beyond her realm of experience, and possibly the things she would even want to experience. He could only imagine that shy, timid Belle who spent all day in her bookstore surrounded by the many volumes she loved would not get along well with his bold, audacious Regina.
When had he started thinking of her as his? He resolved to keep that little development to himself, knowing that if she found out, Regina would likely be furious. Not only was she fiercely independent, but for so long, he had not been someone who was in her good graces. If she found out that he was starting to have a bit of a possessive streak, it would alienate her so fast, and not only was he sure that he would get kicked out of the castle once more, but this time around, there would be nothing he could use to worm his way back into her life again. He refused to use his son a second time, especially now that Regina knew and loved him almost as much as Robin himself did.
Mary Margaret chuckled, and it was only then that Robin realized that he had never actually answered her question. His cheeks burned at his rudeness (and just how obvious his affections were), but as he opened his mouth to apologize, she assured him, "It's okay, you don't have to say anything- whether to confirm that you do love her or to apologize for not answering me for so long. I get it. Love is funny like that. In the early stages, everything is so uncertain that you hesitate to voice anything. It's okay, though. I'm so glad she's finally found someone willing to fight for her." She glared at him suddenly. "But I'll warn you now: if you hurt her, you'll have to answer to me."
Robin chuckled, grinning at her fiery spirit. He didn't know for sure of course, but if he had to guess, the feisty attitude of this princess was something she had likely picked up from growing up with Regina. After all, there was no one with more spunk than his favorite queen.
"I'm serious!" she insisted, one of those delicate angel arms jutting forward as she pointed a tiny finger in his face. "If you hurt her… I don't know exactly what I'll do, but it won't be good, that's for sure. She may not have wanted to fill in for my mother, but Regina was still kind to me for so many years, and after everything her mother and my father put her through, she deserves nothing but happiness."
"I know, I know, I'm sorry," he replied, holding his hands up, palms facing out toward her. "I swear to you, I may not be perfect, but I will do everything in my power not to hurt her." Again, he added silently, knowing she didn't need to learn that he had already hurt Regina in the past. The princess was fiercely protective of the woman who had unwillingly acted as her stepmother, and Robin loved it, and would do nothing to get on her bad side. It was clear that while this princess practically came straight from the pages of one of Roland's fairy tale books, she would be a force to be reckoned with when necessary, much like her stepmother. "I certainly have no desire to."
"Good," she sighed in relief. "Now can we get out of here?"
"Of course," Robin said. He sat on the floor beside her, patting his shoulder. "Would you like a lift?"
She nodded, hopping up. Robin stood carefully, well aware of his precious cargo, and walked back down to the kitchens, where he knew Roland was likely waiting for him. As they walked downstairs, he asked, "So how did you end up back in the castle around the time the curse was cast? Or rather, why?"
She sighed. "I had found happiness with David, a prince in a neighboring kingdom, but I knew that my stepmother and I had left things on… let's say not exactly the best terms, and I wanted to fix that. She may have hated my father and her mother for putting herself in the situation she found herself in, acting as my mother when all she really wanted was her freedom, but I still cared about her- and I'm pretty sure she cared about me too, even under the circumstances. She seemed to be so kind that when I got back and witnessed everything that's happened in the last decade…"
He nodded. Yes, there were definitely two very different sides to Regina that were constantly warring for dominance. He didn't want to say anything more, to reveal what Regina had shared with him in their many private moments over the past few months, but then Mary continued softly, "She feels things so deeply that I wonder how she does it sometimes."
Robin nodded. Yes, the Queen's emotions were certainly fickle. One minute, she could rage and scream, while comforting his son the next. It was something that had made him fall even more in love with her, the complexity of her character something he would never tire of.
At last, they rounded the corner into the kitchens, and Emma, clearly knowing who it was, called out, "You may want to get in here to see exactly what your son's doing, Robin."
With trepidation that spanned several different issues, Robin rounded the corner into the kitchen. He found his son standing on a stool, covered in flour. Granted, that wasn't an unusual sight these days by any means, but there was something that told him that there was something different about today. What it could be, he had no idea. "What exactly are you two up to?" he asked his son. "Are you getting Emma's kitchen all messy?"
Roland nodded, but his grin indicated that he wasn't remorseful about the state Emma's kitchen was in at all. "We're baking cookies, Papa!"
"And why, exactly, are you making cookies this time?" Robin asked,
"Christmas is coming!" Roland cheered. "We have to get ready, Papa!"
Robin shook his head, turning his attention to Emma. "I'm confused. Christmas isn't for another month… isn't it?"
She sighed, turning towards him. "Two weeks, actually, but-" Her eyes went wide when she saw the angel sitting on Robin's shoulder. "What- who-?"
Robin could practically feel the happiness radiating from the princess. "Emma, it's me, Mary."
"Your Highness!" Emma exclaimed, hopping over to them as fast as she could. "It's wonderful to see you. How on earth did I have no idea you were here all this time?"
The angel shrugged. "When the enchantress cast the curse, she made it so I couldn't be seen or heard except by someone who loved Regina and wanted to know more about her."
Emma's eyes shone as her gaze turned to Robin, and he saw that the expressions of everyone else matched hers. "This is it. This is the sign that you need to finally confess your feelings for Regina. She loves you, I know she does. She just has to let herself be happy again."
"I don't know…" Robin mused, thinking of the many pieces that still needed to fall into place. After all, Emma still wasn't yet aware that her son did still in fact walk these halls as well, and he knew that that revelation, and Regina seeing the boy again as well, needed to come before anything else. Yes, breaking the curse was one of his top priorities, but reuniting Emma with her son was much more important than that. He and Regina could wait. It was time for something far more important. "There are still some things that need to fall into place. And with the holiday coming up, do we even have time to have the ball we planned?"
"Don't worry," Emma declared, a determined glint in her eye. "We will make time for everything. I'm sure of it."
Later that night, Roland asked his father to tell him a story before he went to bed.
Regina, who usually was Roland's requested storyteller, crossed her arms over her chest. "What about me? Don't I tell good stories, Roland?"
He nodded. "Uh huh! But I want Papa to tell the story of Robin Hood. He tells it best!"
"That wouldn't have anything to do with aspirations to be a thief when you were younger, would it?" she asked, raising her eyebrow as she looked at him. "He does share your name, so I can imagine that you would want to be like him." It was a question she had surprisingly never asked him before, and his heart swelled at how much more familiar she was getting with him, how the walls between them were gradually coming down one by one.
To his disappointment and embarrassment, his cheeks heated. "No, of course not. I simply loved the story, the fact that he was a hero, but one with a bit more of a checkered past. It was nice to know that heroes didn't have to be perfect, that sometimes they're just ordinary people. "
True," she mused. "Well, I'll leave you two to it then." She bent and kissed the top of Roland's head. "Good night, my little knight."
He kissed her cheek. "G'night, Gina!"
Once she was out of the room, Robin gave his son a look that he hoped would let his son know that he didn't believe that he didn't want Regina to read him a story for a second. "Okay Roland, enough with the games. Why did you really not want Regina to join us for storytime tonight?"
Roland didn't answer, and Robin's eyes widened in understanding when Henry popped up on his other side. "Oh, I see. You both wanted a story tonight." It had happened more often than not, but tonight, he had something important to discuss with the two boys before they heard any stories. "Henry, how would you feel about telling Regina you're here?"
"I… I don't know," he said slowly.
"Well, Christmas is coming up," Robin reminded him. "And I think it would be a really nice Christmas present for her, don't you?"
Henry nodded slowly, but Robin could tell he was still unsure. Placing a hand on his shoulder, he said gently, "Christmas isn't for another couple of weeks. That's a very long time, so you have plenty of time. Just think about it, all right?"
Henry nodded, and with that, Robin began reading. No matter what happened, Robin vowed to make this Regina's best Christmas. Hopefully, if the little boy gathered the courage Robin knew he had (more than he thought, anyway). Regina and Henry reuniting would be a part of that.
The next chapters, the Christmas chapters, will be posted on Christmas Eve (and Christmas) in July! So no, I'm not making you wait until December. Until then, hope you all enjoyed this, and let me know what you think!