Robin sat in his study, drowning on tons of paper works. Indeed, he was–he is a good leader to the Merry Men, but he never thought himself as a king. Ruling a country was never easy, it was Regina who made it easier. Everything was never easy since the curse fell on them. Deep inside his heart, Robin has never agreed to this separation. He found it hard to constantly worry about the state of his wife even when he knows Regina is able to take care of herself. He always believed things happened because he failed to protect his loved ones. He just wanted to be by her side, to protect her, but this was for the best. If only life was normal.

Knocking on the door disturbed his thoughts. Little John was standing there, his hand held something familiar to Robin.

"Regina already missed you too much it seems."

Robin laughed as he took the letter from him. This was unusual for Regina to send her letter this fast. Maybe Little John is right, maybe Regina only missed him too much. He tore the sealing, pulling the letter out. Taking a glance first, Robin realized this wasn't Regina's handwriting. He took a closer look, reading each word carefully. His heart started beating faster. His eyes tearing up, he couldn't believe his eyes.

Growing concern, Little John tapped him on the shoulder. "Did something bad happen to Regina?"

Robin only shook his head. His words were stolen. He dabbed on his tears, passing the letter to his concerned friend.

It was only a short letter, three sentences; nothing more and nothing less. There were no grandiose words written, but it was the best letter he will ever receive in his life.

My Dearest Daddy,

This is real and you're not dreaming. Mommy was going to send someone to tell you, but why don't I tell you myself?

I'm home. Please be here soon, I can't wait to meet you.

Your dearest,

Evie.

Robin packed everything in speed. Evie's letter was laid in his bed so he could take a look at it as he got ready. He read it over and over, knowing that in the end everything wasn't in vain. There were too many question running in his mind, there were too many 'I love you's he was longing to say.

"Come on. The carriage is waiting outside." Little John's voice once again distracted him.

"She's home, mate."

"Seeing this beam in your face, it reminds me on the day she was born." Little John laughed.

"You sure this is a great idea?" Traveling in carriage was not his thing. Robin prefers riding on Bandit rather than sitting quietly inside a carriage. He rather feels the wind on his face. Old habit, he guessed.

"I know you'd never like this, but you need your rest. Your daughter needs you safe and sound."

The mention of his daughter woke him up. Little John had hit him right in the spot, using Evie as an excuse. Robin agreed, as long as this will be the last time he forced him into this.

"Promise us you'll bring our ladies as soon as you can." Will Scarlet asked as the Merry Men were sending Robin and Little John away.

"Oi! It should be me who missed them most!" Robin shouted and made the entire group laugh. However, Will Scarlet was right. Evie should be introduced to his land. She should know that she belongs to both Locksley and Enchanted Forest; both of these lands are her home.

As soon as the carriage started moving, he took a seat back; trying to get relax. Little John patted on his thigh, signalling him to breath; everything is going to be fine. Their little family will be reunited, at last.

"Evie?" Regina popped her head, looking around her daughter's room.

"Come in, Mommy!"

Evie was standing in her closet, taking in everything before her eyes. Evie's presence still feels like a dream, so surreal. Regina studied her daughter while she was going through her dresses. Even from behind, Evie still looks exactly like her.

"Mommy, are you okay?" Evie squeezed Regina's hand with concern when her mother suddenly hugged her.

Regina nodded. She was more than okay, better than good. To hug Evie every single time she got was truly a blessing for her.

"What's your favorite thing to do?"

Regina's question made her explode in excitement. "Oh I love to draw! Doing design for dresses, gowns are my specialty! I wish I had my sketchbook with me."

"Well I could always give you a new one and maybe, you can make something for us?"

Her eyes sparkled with sudden excitement. It was something she's always long for, bringing her design to life. Her life will never be better than this. She would never regret this; running away from Zelena was the best thing that ever happened. Her imagination running wild, Evie had already known what kind of dress she would make. It's picture perfect.

"What about you, Mommy? What's your favorite thing to do?"

"Me? Well, baking I guess. I love to cook anything that uses apple. Even your daddy and I have our own favorite place, the apple tree." Regina reached into her pocket. "This was supposed to be yours. I even have your rattle shaped as an apple. I used to hold onto it whenever I missed you. But now you're here, I guess you should keep it."

"Can you show me where it is?"

Being in her parents' favorite spot perhaps could make Evie imagine her father better and they were on the same page; Regina believes Evie would fall immediately for their apple tree.

"Do you think Daddy has received my letter?" Evie asked as she leaned into Regina while Regina pulled her closer to her embrace.

"Considering it's been four days, I guess Daddy is on his way."

Evie turned her head upward, staring intensely at the sky. The clear, cloudless sky was a perfect match to this sunny day. The air smells fresh. A cool breeze touched the warm of her cheeks.

"What is Daddy like?"

"He's a literal angel." The thought of him made her muse. "You know I... I had a troubled past. I was once betrayed and I never think I could love again. Darkened by revenge, my heart's full with hatred. I never believe in love again until he came. I never really paid attention to those blue eyes and when I did, there's something inside me changed. I decided to hold his execution just because. His gaze upon me sent something I never had in years, though I wasn't sure what it is about.

"Those blue eyes had me lost my mind for days; I keep seeing them whenever I close my eyes. I held him as my prisoner for months. I did that just because to see him every day, there was that kind of strange feeling; the urge to be by his side. But, I was an Evil Queen. There was no way an Evil Queen could fall in love; so keep it hidden until one day, I just couldn't help myself anymore. I gathered all the courage I had to finally talk to him properly. I invited him to dinner. He has been an actual sweetheart since the very beginning, but I was too cocky to admit." Regina laughed to herself. "Anyway, it's getting out of hand I guess. I didn't answer your question right."

Evie shook her head. She begged, "Keep going, please. I wanted to know more about you and Daddy."

"Well..." Regina took a deep breath. "As I say, he is an angel, a sweetheart. He is a heaven sent. I knew I had something for him but I kept saying no to myself. I lied to myself. There's no such thing called love for me anymore; I just felt like I had no room for it. And your father is a fighter. I treated him badly, yet he still found his way to win my heart–which technically he did since I saw him that night. He showed me how good love feels like, he showed me that everyone deserves a second chance and I just have to believe it. No matter how bad I was in the past, it won't define my future. He mended my broken heart, he was the only person who believed there's still goodness in me. His love changed me. With him, I could finally be the old Regina that I thought I lost. He told me, it was okay to be vulnerable, to express my sadness, to not always being strong. I remembered when we had our first little rendezvous, we went deep into the woods just to lay under the stars. That is when he held me in his arms for the very first time. Right at that moment, I felt like my problems melt away. There were no burdens on my shoulder anymore. I feel safe. I feel loved. I feel accepted.

"I told him I didn't how to love very well but he refused to believe. Eventually, we worked everything out. I slowly turn myself to be better, he believed that I changed into better because of myself, but I never think so. I firmly believed he was the one who guide me out of my darkest days, helping me to find the lights. It took me a long time to convince everyone I have changed and I understand. It wasn't easy to trust a former evil queen. I almost had my hope lost but then again, your Daddy helped me.

"Then on one evening when the sun sets, as the sky turned its color into a fiery orange hue, he proposed. It was nothing grand, yet it's still sweet. It was rather an unconventional proposal." Regina giggled. She could still remember every single detail perfectly; it seems like it just happened yesterday rather than a decade ago.

Evie changed her position. She laid on the grass with her head on Regina's lap. Hearing their story, Evie knew that Daddy must be a real gentleman. Even the thought of him could make Mommy blush like this.

"Unconventional? How so?"

"He shot me an arrow!" Again, Regina giggled. "I was sitting on my vanity, minding my own business then an arrow flew to my side. There was this beautiful diamond ring tied to it as well as a short letter; Ready for a new adventure? It says. I turned around and he was there, smiling like a dork; my favorite dork. I said yes right away and the rest is history."

Evie laughed wholeheartedly. She never felt this free, this loved. She snuggled closer as Regina caressed her hair. "I love you, Mommy." She mumbled.

"I love you most." Regina crouched, kissing her forehead.

"I can't wait to meet Daddy! I've been waiting for this my whole life!" Evie exclaimed. In a split second, her expression changed. She sat right up, looking at her mother with puppy eyes. "I– I didn't mean it that way, Mommy. Of course I'm excited to meet you, but... you know. I had a Zelena as my "mother" and I never had a father figure. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hurt you."

"That's alright, dear. I'm not even mad. Besides, I already missed your father too." Regina winked. "I can't wait to meet him either."

"Do you think Daddy will be happy to see me?"

Regina nodded. Robin would be more than happy to see their daughter, he will be ecstatic. Just like her, he has been waiting for this moment his entire life. Now she believes that good things happen when she least expects it. Sure this wasn't their ending–their story is far from over, but at last, happiness is served on their plate. Kindness never fails and hope doesn't lie.