Right, so yeah, me again, hello. Thought it was about time that I update this, and because I'm moving house and need to clean and tidy and pack all my shit, my brain decided to become extra motivated and I finished this chapter instead. Oops.

A big thanks to everyone who still gets enthusiastic about this (looking at you Nicole :D) and a cheers to my besties who put up with my incessant ramblings on this. You're all my wonders of the universe.

I hope y'all enjoy :*

"Ok, what is this one?" Robin asked, staring down as yet another plate of food that looked completely foreign to him materialised out of purple smoke.

"Lasagne," Regina answered, removing the previous plate of grilled cheese – not a favourite – and placing it alongside the half eaten burger at the end of the table.

They'd come into the smaller kitchen, Regina practically dragging the thief by the sleeve when he doubted the foods of Storybrooke tasted as good as the Queen said they did. She'd shoved him towards the table in front of the work stations, had told him to 'sit down while she proved him wrong'.

Four dishes later, and Robin had to admit; they were mostly delicious. And as he looked down at the layered main in front of him – that smelled absolutely divine – he wondered if he was going to find this even better than the burger he still wanted to finish.

"Just as a little warning," Regina started, "If you don't like this, we're over."

Robin had to do a double take to find the mischief hidden within her serious expression.

He chuckled. "Noted."

Robin cut off a forkful, preparing to put on the best performance of his life if it was not as nice as it smelled. He'd be damned if a mere plate of food ruined his relationship with Regina.

Though the moment his palette tasted this lasagne, his taste buds ignited with flavour, and he couldn't help but let out a moan. "This is…"

"My signature dish," Regina completed for him with a smug smile.

Ah. That explained it. Of course this meal was going to be as exquisite as the woman who made it.

"It's delicious," Robin complimented, putting another forkful in his mouth, then another. He only stopped when-

"If you carry on you won't have room for dessert."

"Dessert?" he inquired around a mouthful of food.

"Yes, dessert." Regina waved her hand over the table, and another dish appeared, his treasured lasagne moving away from him as this pale, triangular slice of something took its place.

"What's this?"

"Cheesecake."

Robin frowned, tilting his head and observing the plate before him with suspicion. "Cheese… in a cake?"

Regina chuckled, handing him a new fork and assuring; "trust me."

Still rather sceptical – but willing to place his faith in his Queen – he placed a small bite in his mouth and chewed. His frown returned when he appeared to be deciding if he liked the taste of this one.

"It doesn't taste like cheese," he ended up declaring, not entirely sure if that was a good or bad thing.

"It's a different type of cheese," Regina responded, taking a look at Robin's face and chuckling. "I'm assuming this one is not a favourite?"

Robin pondered a moment, before scrunching his face and pushing it to the side, "no."

Regina pulled the plate back into the middle, stealing the fork from Robin's hand and putting a scoopful into her mouth, her explanation a mere; "I've missed cheesecake."

Sticking his tongue out in a childish manner, Robin took the fork back, looking at Regina expectantly, awaiting whatever she'd magic up next.

He was answered with four spherical pastries on a plate, and a smug smile.

"And these are…?"

"Profiteroles," Regina answered, before she frowned at the plate and waved her hand, creating a small bowl of melted chocolate at the side.

She missed his slow blink to look up at her, his attention completely distracted from whatever words she was saying as his mind wandered back to when the chocolate was not in a bowl but on her

"Robin, are you even listening?"

He didn't even try to lie; "no."

The Queen frowned, looking to the chocolate then back to the outlaw as she took in the hungry gaze that was focused on her and not food. She rolled her eyes with a smile and a small shake of her head, typical Robin, "just shut up and eat."

He looked mildly affronted; "I didn't say anything!"

"You didn't have to."

With a huff, Robin looked back down to the food, leaving his fork on the table and picking up one of the pastries between his thumb and forefinger, tilting it after he dipped it in the chocolate to ensure he didn't leave a trail over the wooden table.

The moment he bit into it he closed his eyes and let out a satisfied moan; this was better than some damn cheese in a cake.

Regina cleared her throat before prompting; "better?"

He hmm'd before declaring; "much."

The sensation of something stroking over his chin startled him a little, and he opened his eyes to find Regina leaning over the table and swiping her thumb over the skin under his lower lip, taking note of his confused expression and explaining; "You have chocolate around your mouth."

Robin smirked. "And you're cleaning this with your thumb and not your tongue because…?"

Instead of answering, Regina put the chocolate covered digit in her mouth, her gaze turning mischievous as she took note of his intense stare trailing over her. Once she had cleaned all the stickiness away and rubbed her thumb along the side of her pointer finger to remove the moisture there, she raised a brow in a silent challenge for him to say anything.

"You're evil," he mumbled, and she responded by tilting her chin up and giving a bright, cheesy grin, looking rather proud of herself.

Robin chuckled, starting to raise the half eaten profiterole to his mouth, but then changing his mind and holding it out in front of Regina.

"I'm good," she dismissed, though his stubbornness had him leaning slightly towards her in a silent insistence.

With a roll of her eyes she moved forward, and the moment she was within reach Robin lifted the dessert and swiped the edge of her nose with it, leaving a trail of cream behind.

Her jaw dropped in mild shock before she scoffed, her gaze falling to the table for something to throw at him.

She had just started to reach towards the discarded food at end of the table before the door opened and a rather breathless guard walked in.

"Your majesty, there's…" he trailed off when he took note of the usually pristine Queen with her hair completely down and dessert on her nose.

It took a moment for Regina to remember the outlaw's sudden desire to paint her with cream, but when she did, her eyes widened and she turned her face away to try and wipe her skin clean.

She turned back to the guard with a glare, raising a brow and appearing wholly indifferent as she inquired; "yes?"

The guard looked between the couple sat at the table before attempting to resume his professionalism and declaring; "the Prince and Princess want to see you in the general council chamber."

Regina and Robin looked at each other with long suffering glares. Typical.

Turning back to the guard – who, once again, looked one moment away from sniggering – Regina ordered; "Tell them I'll be right there."

With a sigh, she picked up her skirts and stood, stepping over the wooden bench and starting towards the door, looking confused at the guard who hadn't made any inclination to move whatsoever.

"You too…" the man paused as he tried to work out how to address the outlaw that was clearly a little more than that to the Queen, before settling on; "sir."

Robin looked at Regina then stuck out his lower lip in his facial equivalent of a shrug, standing, grabbing the half eaten burger and making his way towards her.

Before the couple left, the Queen sent a glare to the man awaiting them to pass, a silent 'say anything and I'll murder you' to which he responded with a nod in acknowledgement.

By the time Regina had got to the door, Robin was already holding it open for her, letting her pass and letting the guard put his foot out to stop it closing on him.

When they were a few steps ahead, Robin lowered his voice to tease; "see? He calls me 'sir'."

Regina rolled her eyes.

"You're welcome to go and seduce him," she quipped, starting to gather and twist her hair into something a little more suitable for a Queen in a council meeting. Robin opened his mouth to deliver a retort, but before any words could fall from his mouth Regina added; "shut up or I'm going to start calling you 'ogre'."

They missed the guard's quiet snigger from behind them as he started walking away.

Just before they entered the council chamber, Regina had stopped to wipe crumbs off of the front of Robin's cream shirt, and Robin had tilted up Regina's chin so he could wipe away a tiny spot of cream that she had missed on the underside of her nose.

They were still smiling about it when they walked in, though their good moods quickly sobered when they took note of the sombre expressions of Snow, Charming and all the Merry Men who were gathered around the table.

Regina glanced over the new company, he eyes catching George's for a second before he looked away from her.

The Queen was quick to ask; "What's going on?"

Charming was the one who spoke up. "We have a plan."

Regina folded her arms and waited for him to continue.

"We need to know what Zelena is planning; so far we have nothing except that she's coming after our child," he began. "We're sending out a search party, to scour the grounds for Zelena and report back with whatever they find at her hideout."

Regina's incredulous stare switched back and forth between Charming and his wife, before she blinked and delivered a low; "are you serious?"

The couple looked at each other then turned their gaze back to the Queen, perplexed at her reaction.

When it appeared they did not understand why their idea was completely ridiculous Regina stated; "You're going to send an army to try and attack the Wicked Witch of the West when you know damn well that none of them are likely to return?"

"They're not going to fight her," Snow assured; "just to check around her house."

"Oh, and you think she's just going to open the door and let them in?"

"No, that's why the Merry Men are going," Charming explained; "They know how to enter an establishment and look around without being caught."

Regina's jaw tightened, her hands clenching into fists as she turned to look at Robin. "Did you know about this?"

"I did not," Robin answered with a frown, looking to his men before noting Regina still glaring at him and adding; "trust me, milady, I did not know."

She turned back to the Prince and Princess with a short, sharp; "no."

"Regina-" Snow started, though she was soon interrupted.

"Snow, you are worried about your child, I understand that, but that does not excuse sending out a group of men to their deaths in the vague chance of getting a step ahead of Zelena."

The princess looked to her husband, who put a comforting hand over hers. "We'll do anything to protect our child."

"You're not doing anything; you're sending out men with no military training to find a powerful sorceress' lair, scout around and expect them to return unscathed." Regina disdainfully summarised, before calming a little and continuing; "Rumple is the most powerful person in the Enchanted Forest, and she has him under her control with the dagger. Then it's yours truly, and she put me in a coma for six days. These are men with pointy sticks, they don't stand a chance."

Little John stepped forward and spoke up; "I don't think you understand that we are capable of defending ourselves, your majesty."

"And I don't think you understand that I could snap every one of your necks with a mere wave of my hand. As could Zelena. The only difference between her and I? I am trying not to." Regina countered, before snapping; "Don't patronise me… I'm trying to save your lives."

Of course, John decided to ignore the Queen's warning and declared; "We'll gladly aid the Kingdom in any way we can."

"You're not doing this for the Kingdom; you're doing this for Snow and Charming." Regina scoffed, and when the men remained firm, she knowingly asked; "If I was the one suggesting this, would you be so enthusiastic about helping?"

The silence was an answer in itself.

"Regina-"

"No." The Queen interrupted whatever Snow was about to say, turning to face the royals and pointing a finger in their direction, her voice becoming harsher when she declared; "They're trying to help you because they want your respect, because you're heroes and your opinion is valued. People will do anything for their treasured Charmings; you have no idea how dangerous you are to other people."

David scoffed, retorting with a harsh; "Says the woman who slaughtered villages at a time."

"I know exactly what I'm capable of," she growled, a hand hitting the table as she leaned towards him. "You two have such a hero complex you are completely blind to it."

"We don't want anyone to get hurt," Snow insisted, holding her hands out in a useless attempt to placate the Queen's building wrath.

"Then call off all this… nonsense."

There was a pause before Charming attempted to compromise. "What if they just go and find her hideout? We can decide what to do from there."

Regina's gaze rose to the ceiling as she rolled her eyes, feeling as if she was back to where she started. "If anyone enters her territory she will murder them on site."

"You don't know that," Charming dismissed, his irritability getting the better of him.

"Of course I do!" She snapped in frustration. "She's territorial; she'll kill whoever threatens to take away something that belongs to her."

The Prince rolled his eyes, sniping; "And how would you know that?"

"Because she's a Mills!" Regina exclaimed, trying – and failing – to keep her anger under control. "She's a psychotic mass murderer; it runs in the family."

The room fell silent for a few short moments, the Merry Men glancing between each other, Robin watching Regina, and Regina staring down the Charmings.

"Listen to me," the Queen started, her voice somewhat calmer and yet dangerously low. "If you send those men anywhere near Zelena, they will not return."

"We have to do something," Charming declared, before opening old wounds when he stated; "You'd do the same if Henry was in danger."

"Don't-" Regina choked, closing her eyes for a moment before she fixed her gaze on the polished wood of the table in front of her, digging her fingernails into the palm of her hands.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw Snow start to reach out towards her, but then the princess hesitated and lowered her hand to rest on the table.

They were right; if there was a threat against Henry she'd destroy the entire Kingdom – herself included – to keep him safe. But he wasn't here. There was no motherly love to blind her to consequences; there was just her – the Queen – and she had to do right by her people. For once.

She took a few calming breaths, consciously trying to relax some of the tension that had been building since the moment she had stepped into the room. Her mind whirred for something to appease the Charmings and yet did not involve throwing anyone into certain death. And came up with nothing.

Robin – who had apparently been trying to come up with the same solution – stepped forward and placed a subtle hand on Regina's back. "May I suggest merely looking for places the witch could be? And not investigating?"

She turned to look at him, working out a way to keep the thief as far away from her half-sister as possible. To say she was still worried would be an understatement, though a light scouting mission sounded a lot less dangerous than breaking into Zelena's home.

With a sigh, the Queen waved a hand over the table and a map of the Kingdom and its forests materialised through a sheet of purple smoke.

"Just a scouting mission," she firmly declared before laying out the terms. "You are to scour the forests. Any areas that appear changed or different to what's on the map, you mark them and then walk away. You are not to delve further, you are not to engage Zelena in any way. And you're going to need some weapons just in case."

"We'll be fine with bows and arrows," Will Stutely said, speaking up for the first time since he had entered the council chamber.

Regina scoffed, before turning to him. "No."

"We don't use magic, your majesty," he insisted, and Regina fought the urge to bring up that it was magic that was the reason he was still alive and breathing in the first place.

"Fine, I'll go with you," she compromised.

Robin spoke up from her left; "After last time, I'd prefer you didn't."

"Tough; you're not going out unarmed and I can take care of myself."

"I don't doubt that," Robin assured, "but what if something happens at the castle while you're away and no-one is there to defend it?"

Regina glared at him, knowing damn well he was only finding excuses for her to stay in the castle for the same reason she was trying to find ones for him.

Though she loathed admitting it but he did have a point. Regardless, she still wasn't going to allow Robin and his men to go on a mission without anything to defend them.

"I'm sure the Charmings' heroism will save the day," she sniped, her glare flitting to the royal couple before returning to Robin, intending on making plans to go with him.

"You're not going," he declared, his tone only carrying some of the hardness in his eyes.

"Without any protection; neither are you," she countered, just as stern.

Robin sighed, before bargaining; "If we are in danger, you can come and rescue us."

"I have no possible way of knowing when you are in danger, thief," she snapped, and Robin bristled at his old moniker being used without the warmth it had gained over the past month. "I'm not leaving that up to chance."

"Well, then, you'll just have to trust us," the thief retorted, before adding a petty; "your majesty."

"It's not you I don't trust."

The room fell silent once more, the battle of wills still ongoing and no clear indication of who would finish victorious.

Regina spent a moment attempting to find an arrangement that would placate the anti-magic Merry Men and yet still give them somewhat of an extra edge so they weren't easy targets.

"I'll stay here and let you all leave on one condition; that you let me do all I can here to help," she started with a resigned sigh. "I can enchant your bows and arrows, I can strengthen your clothing, I can-"

"Magic always has a price," Snow warned.

"I'm using the spells; I'm paying it," she protested. "Besides, for something like this the price will be practically nothing; I can give up a few acres of my land if it means their safe return."

The Prince and Princess looked a little affronted at the insinuation that they didn't feel the same.

Regina let out a weary huff, before asking; "When were you planning on sending them?"

The royal couple looked between each other before responding in tandem; "tomorrow morning,"

Regina scoffed. Of course they'd organise it so they'd have little time to prepare. Typical.

Not seeing any other important reason for her to stay with the Charmings and feeling herself becoming agitated once more, Regina decided to leave and work out how she could work her magic on saving people instead of hurling things at their monarchs. She could find out the finer details of the mission later.

Before she left though, Regina had to clear up one thing.

She turned back to the Charmings, meeting their gazes head on and declaring; "If there are any casualties… It's your responsibility. You're going to have to deal with that."

A moment later, the doors slammed shut behind her.

It had taken a brisk walk around the castle – about double the distance between the council chamber and her room – before Regina was calm enough to think of the Charmings and not want to repeatedly punch them in the face.

What had possessed them to go ahead with something like this? If it wasn't for Regina, Robin and his men would be marching to their deaths tomorrow. She still wasn't entirely sure they weren't. But at least now there was a considerably smaller chance of everyone being killed.

She may have been a little harsh on the Charmings – which was nothing more than they deserved anyway – but with her nightmare from a couple of nights ago still fresh in her mind, the fear of losing Robin was still there. Perhaps it wasn't her subconscious punishing her as she had originally thought; perhaps it was warning her…

Or perhaps she was far too invested and was letting her emotions get the better of her.

With a frustrated sigh, Regina ran her hands over her hair, pausing her steps to close her eyes and take a deep breath.

Get a grip, Regina.

Squaring her jaw, Regina straightened her spine and started to make her way towards the armoury, pushing everything to the side of her mind as she focused on what the Merry Men could take with them on their journey. Strengthened bows, magical arrows, enchanted maps…

By the time she had reached the armoury's heavy, wooden doors, her mind had travelled back to Zelena again, flashing back to bright lights, searing pain and injuries that had taken a while to heal…

Who was she kidding? The Merry Men had no chance if they were to be caught; they needed a complete barrier against magic, not some slightly enhanced weaponry.

There was nothing that could completely block magic – nothing she could procure in the Enchanted Forest anyway – although… using blood magic she could defend them from her bloodline. Of course that would mean any future threats to turn them into garden furniture would be void if they wore whatever clothing she protected, but they'd be safe from her sister. Win some, lose some… she mused, with a small, wry smile.

Materialising her heavy spellbook into her hands – the one with a little of everything in it – she set it down on the table in the middle of the room, her eyes glancing from the left wall to the right, taking in the armour, swords, axes, shields, canons and everything else the knights would use in a battle for their Kingdom. All of it useless against a witch.

Regina looked down and turned the pages until she reached the blood magic part of her book. Looking over the ingredients needed to form a protection spell, she smiled when she noted she was either in possession of them, or she knew where to get them.

She was about to send for whatever clothing the Merry Men would be wearing on their trip, when the door opened and a man hidden behind said clothing entered. A head poked around the tower of shirts in their grasp.

George.

He sighed in relief when he saw the Queen, walking over as he muttered; "of course you had to be in the furthest bloody room away from mine."

Regina just had time to snatch her book away before it became lost under a sea of garments as they were dumped on the table.

She looked at George with her brows raised, and it only took a second for him to reply; "thought I'd save you the trouble of collecting our clothes, not entirely sure you'd want to be hunting through the Merry Men's wardrobes."

He had a point.

Regina smiled. "Thank you."

"You're welcome."

It was quiet for a moment before Regina asked the question that refused to leave her alone; "How long did you know you were going on this quest for them?"

George looked pensive for a few seconds, as if debating on what to say, but he wound up confessing; "they mentioned it yesterday evening, but they didn't give us details until this morning."

"Yesterday?" Regina asked, her voice rising a little in tone. "But they're Robin's men, don't you think he should have been consulted first?"

"They did send someone to fetch him last night, your majesty," George started. "But he was uh… busy, doing… you."

Regina felt a blush tinge her cheeks as she averted her gaze, "that doesn't give them the right to just go ahead anyway."

"I know," George conceded, before adding a chirpy; "but after the reprimanding you gave them, I don't think they're likely to do something like this again."

She couldn't stop the harsh, biting; "Good."

George opened his mouth as if to say something, but then closed it again, pursing his lips and looking back towards the clothing in front of him.

He was about to speak again when Regina asked; "How long are you going for?"

"Two weeks," he answered. "It should allow for a large area of forest to be covered."

"That's quite a while," Regina mused, her brows drawing together in a frown.

Taking note of the Queen's expression, George quietly stated; "You're scared."

"I'm not scared," she protested. "I just… I have a bad feeling about all of this."

"Things will be alright," he assured as he rested a hand on the Queen's cape covered shoulder. "Us Merry Men have been in quite a few dangerous situations, let me tell you."

Regina chuckled. "I don't doubt that."

"We've managed just fine though. We're survivors." With a small smile he nudged her shoulder and added; "just like yourself."

Turning her face, Regina offered George a grateful smile, feeling – at least a little bit – more at ease.

Of course that was when he joked; "But if I do end up in a coma you have to come and see me, right? You can't let Much draw on my face."

She couldn't help her small, humouring chuckle. "Of course."

"And I'm expecting a gift with each visit," he declared with a serious nod of his head.

"I only got one bouquet from you," Regina pointed out. "Did you only visit me the one time?"

He brushed off her teasing with a heartfelt; "well, you can't blame me for not wanting to see you hurt, Regina."

The Queen lowered her head, a mixture of both affection and guilt creeping up inside her. She hadn't expect anyone to be nearly as affected by her illness as they had been; she'd thought Snow would throw a little worry fit, but then soon get over it. But having both the princess and her husband show concern, in addition to Granny and Robin and his son and George… It had her somewhat baffled.

"This is where you say 'I don't want you to get hurt either, George'," he stated, pulling Regina out of her thoughts as his voice raised to an unnatural pitch in his attempt to impersonate her.

"I don't want you to get hurt either, George," she retorted, imitating his mocking impression of her.

The man chuckled and grinned, before declaring; "I'll be back to crack jokes and innuendos about you and Robin as soon as I come back."

"Can't wait." Regina deadpanned, before smirking and turning back to her work, reading through the spells she was about to cast.

The quiet only lasted a few moments before the Queen huffed. "This isn't enough; I should be going with you."

"This is more than we've ever had, we'll be fine," George started, before adding; "And besides, you only got over Zelena's curse a few days ago."

"Curse?" they heard from the doorway, and when they both turned, it was to see Robin stood there, his expression a mixture of worry and annoyance.

"Robin…" Regina started, but she was cut off by the outlaw.

"What curse, Regina?"

"And that's my cue to leave," George announced, grimacing as he looked between the couple staring at each other.

Regina turned to glare at him – how dare he leave her with an irate Robin Hood? – but he placed his hands on her shoulders, leaned in to whisper a final 'we'll be okay' and then pressed a quick kiss to her cheek. Her anger fading at the comforting squeeze he gave before leaving.

Her gaze met Robin's for a few seconds before she looked back down at the clothing in front of her.

Robin cleared his throat.

"Regina…"

"It's nothing," she dismissed.

Though Robin obviously disagreed, stalking forwards until he was a few steps away from her and declaring; "a curse is not 'nothing', Regina."

"It wasn't an actual curse; it was just the easiest way to explain it."

"That wasn't how you explained it to me."

With a sigh she turned back to face him, "you were already worried. If I had told you that I was feeling the effects of a curse I doubt you would have even let me out of your sight."

"I wanted to make sure you were alright," Robin protested.

"I was fine."

"You went to fight the Wicked Witch without any backup, Regina," he retorted.

"And what are you doing tomorrow?" she countered.

"I have my men."

"My magic is worth all of them put together!" Regina snapped, before looking at Robin and deflating at the forlorn expression on his face.

"I see," he muttered, slowly nodding and looking down at the table.

"No, Robin… I didn't mean it like that," she assured, taking a step towards him. "Magic is so powerful, and Zelena, she's… strong. I know you want to think that you can beat all the odds, but to a sorcerer, those without magic are just… tiny and dispensable."

"That's how you see us?" Robin asked, the unspoken 'that's how you see me?' tagged onto the end.

"No…" Regina swore in a heartbeat, before she averted her gaze and admitted; "I just know how easy it is to end lives."

"And yet you went to Zelena anyway?" Robin prompted, causing Regina's irritation to flare again. "Did you know what she would do to you?"

"I'm no stranger to pain, Robin. I've had much worse," Regina assured, a little harsher than intended.

"Well you should have told me how much you were hurting."

"I didn't tell you because it was nothing to worry about."

"You told George," he pointed out.

"George is a friend."

Robin couldn't stop the slight hurt leaking into his tone as he asked; "And I'm not?"

"We sleep together," Regina explained, taking a step back to put a little more distance between them. The terms of their 'relationship' were already becoming so unclear; it was difficult to know where they stood at the best of times. "If we start talking to each other then we're just going to be blurring even more lines."

"Screw labels, Regina," Robin declared as he took the same step forward, apparently not worried in the slightest about Regina's concerns. "I want to know what troubles you."

Regina scoffed, "no, you really don't…"

"I do," he protested, his tone honest and heartfelt.

Regina's response was a wry; "believe me, you don't have the time."

Taking another step towards her and gently cupping her elbow, Robin softly declared; "I'll make time."

This was a bad idea, a very very bad idea, but Regina couldn't help but feel her defences falter a little.

"Is this some kind of payback?" Regina asked, her voice quiet.

"Payback?" Robin questioned with a frown, "For what?"

"I know you were worried when I fought with Zelena-"

"You were at death's door for a time, Regina," Robin interrupted. "And whilst I would love to do the same thing to her as she did to you, I'm merely trying to make sure the people in this castle are safe; you've given us warmth, food, shelter… it's the least I could do."

Regina shook her head, frowning as she tried to come up with the words to explain what she actually meant; because she did not mean to ask if he was getting revenge on Zelena.

Robin noticed her frown and turned to face her. "What?"

"You were worried about me," she stated, then swallowed. "Is this some kind of plan to make me worry about you?"

Because if it was… it was working. Very well.

"Wait, you think that this is me getting payback on you? No!" Robin protested, "I would never do that to you. I'm not the kind of person to make you upset just because I was."

When Regina didn't look at him, he hooked a finger under her chin and made her.

"I didn't mean to make you worried, Regina," Robin stated, before his eyes lit up slightly; "wait… you're actually admitting – out loud – that you're worried about me, your majesty?"

"I'm not worried," Regina protested, though with hardly any bite the protest was weak and neither of them believed it. She continued, nevertheless; "I'm just… slightly concerned."

"That's the same thing," Robin chuckled, before stepping behind her and placing his hands on her hips, resting his chin on her shoulder. When Regina turned her head into him, he pursed his lips and pressed a lingering kiss to the corner of her jaw, assuring her; "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me."

She hummed, her hands coming to rest over his before she sighed and leaned into him. The realisation that she would be without the thief's embrace for two weeks had her interlocking their fingers and bringing his arms around to her front.

Robin buried his nose in Regina's hair, inhaling and closing his eyes as he held on to her even tighter, enjoying a rare moment's peace before life restarted.

They could allow for just a minute.

Their one minute may have turned into two, but it wasn't as if either of them were keeping track.

Though soon after, Robin had to tear himself away to go and see his son, and Regina had to focus her attention on her magic and not her thief.

So they parted, a goodbye on the tip of Robin's tongue – in case he didn't see her again before he left – that was quickly erased by her mouth on his until she found the strength to usher him out the door so he couldn't say anything else.

His time with Roland hadn't been particularly active; his son had refused to move from his lap until tiredness got the better of him and he was pulled into the world of dreams. And Robin hadn't found the strength to let go of his boy until the sun had started to set.

So it was when Roland went to bed – when he was snuggled with his monkey and tucked under his sheets – that Robin made his way to Regina's chambers.

He got distracted with the sky on the way there, had caught sight of it through one of the large windows on the West side of the castle. With the warm air, the melody of the birds' song and the beautiful reds and oranges of a perfect sunset setting the clouds alight, Robin couldn't help the serene smile from gracing his lips. The sky brought a feeling of contentment, a feeling of comfort, as if it knew…

The admiration of the setting sun incited Robin's appreciation for the other beautiful details of the castle. The artwork sporadically fixed to the walls, the symmetry of the tiled floor design, the chandeliers and torches that cast a warm glow across all the hallways… Of all the places he had seen, Robin had to admit; the castle certainly had the most pleasing aesthetic.

Once he reached Regina's door, he gave into the urge to trace his fingers across the wooden carving, the flowers and lion emblem from the crest, and the leaves and vines that twisted with precious metal that glinted in the light. It suited Regina; delicate and fiery, complicated and beautiful, something he could stare at for hours…

Reminding himself that he had come to see the Queen and not marvel at her door, he slowly pushed it open – keeping quiet in case she did not wish to be disturbed – and once he had stepped into the room, his eyes scanned for his Regina.

She wasn't on her bed, nor was she sat at her mirror, nor in front of her wardrobe…

He noted the chaise that was usually in the far right corner of her room was not there; instead it had been moved in front of the open doors leading to her balcony.

Regina was sat there, a silhouette in front of the bright sky. She was slightly hunched over, intently working on something that he couldn't see. Though his ears picked up a faint thud, and then another, before he saw the Queen sit straight.

He heard her sigh before her head dipped, but before Robin could walk over to her, she had removed her cape and had tossed it over the back of her chaise.

Oh… Right…

When she stood, her hands moving to her lower back to try and unfasten the ties on her corset, Robin was struck with the beauty of the scene in front of him. The dark silhouette of Regina's figure under the wide archway, all of her soft, perfect curves that were surrounded by the light of the setting sun…

It took his breath away.

A fond smile graced his lips when Regina let out a frustrated huff and placed her hands on her hips. Apparently he wasn't the only one who sometimes struggled with her corsets.

Robin softly cleared his throat. "Are you requiring assistance, your majesty?"

She turned her head to face him, returning her gaze to the sky when she realised it was Robin standing at her door and offering to undress her.

"If you don't mind," she conceded with a small smile.

"Not at all, milady," Robin smirked, walking around the chaise to stand beside Regina, placing his hands on her hips to turn her away from him.

He started to untie the tangle that she managed to get her corset fastening into, using one hand to scoop the hair cascading down her back – and blocking his vision – to rest over her shoulder. His fingertips hooked into each criss-cross over her back to loosen the garment, his eyes watching the process before he quietly asked; "Are you ok?"

"I'm just tired," she admitted on a sigh.

Robin smirked, letting the corset fall away from her and unable to resist a joking; "Is removing your clothing proving that much of a challenge, your majesty?"

Regina chuckled, feeling grateful for the outlaw's humour, before she explained; "I laid into the Charmings at a council meeting, used a lot of magic trying to provide everyone with the best edge they can have, and I went through the entire plan multiple times with ten of my most trusted knights… It's been a long day."

Robin frowned. "What plan with your knights?"

"You don't think I'm sending you and your men without any military back-up, do you?"

With a smile, Robin ducked his head to press his lips to her right shoulder, starting to leave a trail of kisses towards the left one.

"Regina, we'll be alright," Robin spoke into her skin once he reached the top of her spine.

"I'll believe that in two weeks when you all return."

Robin couldn't help but shake his head at Regina's tenacity; that woman would argue until her last breath. Though he couldn't help but admit her determination was one of the things that had drawn him to her the first day they met.

As Robin unfastened the three vertical buttons on the back of her skirt, he mused that it was her determination to help him and his men that had her in this tired state in the first place.

"It isn't your responsibility to look out for us, you know?" he reminded her, letting her skirt fall to the floor so she could kick it away.

"There's been far too much death in this Kingdom, by my hand," Regina stated. "The least I can do is try to balance that out a little."

Robin felt a swell of pride. This marvellous woman had the courage to change and do better, had once used all her strength in her quest for revenge and was now using it to protect people… And it was he who she had allowed to be this close to her. He could press kisses to the top of her shoulder, he could trail his thumbs down the sides of her neck and ghost his fingers down the tip of her spine, he could draw out content sighs and quiet moans just by trailing his hands over the right places on the body of the stunning Regina Mills…

To whatever power that had decided to let this woman enter his life, Robin would eternally be in their debt. And to whatever being that ever tried to separate them, Robin would fight them until the end.

He wouldn't lose her. And nor would she lose him.

"We'll be fine," he reassured once more when she started to relax under his touch.

She hummed as he removed one hand from her shoulder-blade to reach for the silk robe he could see laid out on the seat, before he moved his other hand to hold it out so she could slip her arms into the sleeves.

"You have a lot more hope than I do," she mused as she slowly shrugged the garment up over her shoulders.

He turned her around, tying the sash at her front as he declared; "Well, you can use mine for the both of us."

Regina watched him as he pulled on the loops of the bow to secure it, and when he looked up at her she saw the emotion in his gaze; honest, sincere, affectionate… Having had enough of dealing with her own emotions lately, she avoided analysing it by closing her eyes, rising onto her toes and pressing her lips to his.

Their kiss started chaste enough, intending to be just a slight distraction from thinking, but then Regina remembered that the thief would be leaving soon, and her mouth opened under his in an effort to be even closer to him.

The calloused hands that had been used to soothe mere moments ago were now a little more firmer in their travelling, his thumbs tracing under the curve of her breasts before his touch moved and his fingers splayed to rest high on her ass.

Feeling slightly more energised that she had when the outlaw had first walked into the room, Regina grabbed the front of Robin's shirt and turned, pushing him backwards until his knees hit the seat of her chaise. He couldn't balance himself quickly enough to not topple back onto it, putting a pause on their kiss as his mouth tore away from hers.

With a small smile, she shifted onto the chair, her knees resting against the back before she seated herself atop his thighs, her small smile morphing into a seductive grin. Her hands trailed up his shoulders to rest either side of his neck as she leaned forwards and sealed her lips to his again, releasing a small moan when his hands trailed up her thighs.

Robin turned so he was leaning into the corner against the chaise's armrest, pulling Regina with him as he reclined and buried his hand in her hair. His other arm wrapped around her waist, keeping her body close to his as he transformed their heated caresses into something more sweet and sensual, perfectly happy to just exchange languid kisses and caring touches in the time between then and when he had to get some sleep.

Regina had other ideas; taking his lower lip between her teeth as she slid a hand down the front of his chest, her fingertips snagging on the material as she reached the band of his trousers..

"Regina…" Robin started, intending to ask her to go easy or slow down or something to that effect.

But she hummed into his mouth, her touch trailing over where he was hardening against her, her free hand gripping his hair, and his words fell away to the back of his mind. Only brought back a moment later when she shifted her knee to press in between his thighs and her fingers flipped up the bottom of his shirt to tuck into his waistband.

"Wait, I don't-" Robin started before his lips were caught with Regina's again. His hand moved to rest over the one she intended to remove his trousers with, and he tilted his head so his mouth was parted from hers. "I don't want…"

Regina paused, lifting her head so she could meet Robin's eyes as she asked a breathless; "What?"

The hand over hers left to join the other tangled in the raven hair he was so fond of, his forehead resting against Regina's as his eyes closed. The peaceful comfort of just having her with him, of just existing with her in his arms was more soothing than anything else he had known. "I just want this."

Her quiet breath of his name had him adding a quiet; "please."

By giving in, Regina was – again – blurring those lines she was trying to define, but she chose not to dwell on it as she moved one of her legs to join the other precariously resting along the edge of the seat, her backside sliding down to rest between Robin's thighs as his arm snaked around her waist and pulled her to lean against him.

She settled against his chest, one arm wrapping around herself to hold the hand he had on her side, her other hand resting over his heart as she lay her head on his shoulder, letting out a sigh.

"This isn't becoming a habit, you know?" Regina stated, feeling that dangerous urge to throw caution to the wind and destroy their routine of sticking to opposite sides of the bed whenever they spent the night together.

"I know," Robin whispered as he pressed a kiss to her hairline, raising his free hand to cradle Regina's head against his shoulder, his thumb smoothing over the skin of her cheek whilst his fingers tangled in her hair. "I just want to hold you."

The admission had Regina's heart pounding, her head raising to look at Robin and feeling both relieved and disappointed when she noted his eyes were closed. The hand he had on her cheek guided her back down to his shoulder, and the one on her hip gently pushed so she was pressed even more against him.

Regina sighed. It would not do to dwell on whatever was happening here, especially not whilst the unexpected, unwanted and unprepared-for mission to find something regarding her sister had their emotional guards difficult to maintain. Everyone was just a little on edge, a little raw. It wasn't going to mean anything in the next day or two.

And yet, the Queen had to admit that there was something calming about the outlaw's embrace, something reassuring that softened her hard edges and had her melting into him. Her fingers traced patterns over his heart, idle doodles that lulled her as the bright, summer sky gradually darkened.

Feeling content, Regina relaxed into her thief, letting sleep overtake her as her eyes drifted closed…

When she awoke, she was in her bed.

And her thief was gone.