Robin on painkillers trying to cuddle with Regina. Pre-OQ

Pain Management

Regina made up one of her spare rooms just as David and Emma arrived with him. They supported Robin on either side, though he seemed unable to walk at this point. He seemed incapable of a lot, if Regina was honest. "Is he okay?" she asked, pointing at the outlaw.

Emma grunted under Robin's dead weight. "As okay as someone can be after being shot by his own friend's arrow. Zelena played quite the mind game on the Merry Men."

Robin roused, lifting his head. She saw his blue eyes were unfocused as he looked her. A loopy smile formed on his face. "Milady. A pleasure," he said, words slurred.

"What did the hospital give him?" Regina asked Emma.

"Good old fashion Vicodin." Emma said as she and David shifted him again. "Can we continue the interrogation after we put him in bed?"

"Right. Sorry. Follow me." Regina led them back upstairs, watching as the father-daughter duo laid Robin on the bed.

Emma straightened up. "You didn't have to volunteer to watch him, Regina."

Regina nodded. "I did. This is my fault."

"This is Zelena's fault."

"But I'm the reason Zelena targeted him." Regina sighed. "Thank you, Ms. Swan. I've got it from here. You and your father can go."

Emma hesitated. "Are you sure? I can stay and help."

"I assure you I can take care of him. Thank you anyway."

David pulled his daughter from the room as Regina covered him with the blanket. Robin slept on, his head rolling to the side and his lips slightly parted. Emboldened by the fact he was medicated, Regina lifted his arm and rolled the sleeve up until his lion tattoo was uncovered. Her heart beat faster at the physical proof that she was caring for her soul mate.

Sighing, she put his arm down and decided to do something else while he slept. Regina tried to walk away but found her arm weighed down. When she glanced down, she saw that Robin had latched onto her arm. She tried to tug it away but he only tightened his hold.

Regina leaned down. "Robin," she said softly. "I need you to let go of me."

"No. S'comfortable." He tugged on her arm and she lost her balance, landing on the bed.

Heart racing, Regina held her breath as she looked at Robin's face. His eyes remained closed, though, and his breathing even. She hadn't hurt him or woke him up. It appeared Whale had him on the really, really good stuff.

She prayed it would keep him asleep as she tried to free herself from his grasp. He kept pulling her closer, until he was wrapped around her.

Regina gave up the fight, realizing she was stuck like this for some time. The best thing she could do was wait for him to loosen his hold so she could slip away.

He rested his head against hers, sighing contently. Her ear was pressed against his chest, allowing her to hear his heart beat. The intimacy of their position washed over her.

She closed her eyes and let herself pretend. Pretend that this could be real. That she could spend a lazy afternoon curled up with Robin in bed, just napping. That she could wake up wrapped in Robin's arms. That she could fall asleep the same way. The perfect bookends to her days.

"Regina? I'm sorry but I forgot to…" Emma pushed open the door and stopped. Her lips curled into a smirk. "Comfortable?"

Regina raised her head, glaring at Emma. "What is it, Miss Swan?"

"I forgot to leave the medicine Whale prescribed for Robin." Emma placed the pill bottle on the night stand. "I'll leave you two alone."

As Emma closed the door, Regina could hear her laughter. Groaning, she tried to go after the blonde but the other one in her life tightened his grip on her waist. Robin still wasn't letting her go anywhere.

Giving into the situation, Regina settled back down next to him. She laid her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Perhaps a nap was in order.

Robin felt like his head was filled with mud. He could barely lift it and his thoughts felt trapped. Digging through the mud, he tried to remember what had happened.

He recalled sitting around the fire in his camp, laughing with his men. Then a cold wind had cut through them, a strange wind. Everyone sprang into action, weapons at the ready. Robin grabbed his bow and waited for the Witch to make her presence known.

They didn't have to wait long. She stepped from behind a tree, cackling. None of his men gave her the chance to speak. Arrows flew at her from every direction while a few rushed her with their swords. Yet it seemed she was able to evade their every movement.

Robin recalled a distant memory, of something he long tried to forget. Of a mission for the Dark One to Oz, to steal something from this witch. This witch who could be anywhere and anyone…

"Wait! Hold fire! That's an order–hold fire!" Robin yelled into the chaos.

It was too late. Alan let loose an arrow that flew straight into Robin's gut. He doubled over as the witch's laughter dissipated from their clearing. The men gathered around him, trying to figure out how to help him.

That's when it got blurry for him. He recalled being carried and he recalled running into Emma and her father. They took him to the hospital, he remembered, where the doctor gave him stitches. He also gave him something for the pain which made everything fuzzy. Struggling, Robin recalled people arguing over where he was to recuperate before someone insisted that she was going to take him to her house.

Regina, the Queen. She had been adamant about him staying with her.

He opened his eyes, glad for the dim lighting in the room. The curtains were drawn but judging from the little light they kept out, Robin guessed it was late afternoon or early evening. He frowned, thinking of Roland. No doubt his Merry Men were caring for him, but what would they tell him? He didn't want his son to worry.

A dull pounding in his side reminded him why he couldn't just stroll back into his camp. He was loathe to admit it, but he needed the rest. The bed he was lying on was really comfortable. And warm…

Robin shifted and heard someone sigh next to him. He glanced down, surprised to find he was not alone in bed. His eyes widened as he saw who was in bed with him.

Regina was curled against his side, her head resting against his chest. One hand clutched his shirt. Her dark hair was fanned out over his arms. She seemed younger in sleep, freer.

His heart sped up. There was something about her that fascinated him since their first meeting at the Witch's house. Something, though, told him that they had met before but had forgotten due to the curse. He wished he could recall the missing year. Perhaps they had had something during it?

Or maybe it was just wishful thinking. Just something he wanted to tie himself to her more–more than just protecting her heart. And now sharing a bed with her. How had that happened?

As he thought about it, few hazy memories came back to him. He heard Regina asking him to let her go, heard himself refuse. Biting back a groan, he realized he had pulled her next to him. Robin recalled Marian once telling him that he liked to cuddle when under the influence of painkillers. He must've reached out for Regina.

Yet she hadn't done anything to extract herself. Instead, she was asleep next to him. Smiling, he pried her hand from his shirt and held it. This felt nice, he had to admit, sleeping next to someone again. He raised her hand to his lips, kissing it.

She shifted again her sleep but still didn't wake. Robin grew bolder, now kissing the top of her head. He took a deep breath, smelling apples and vanilla. It suited her. He placed another kiss there.

Regina let out a little hum and her eyelids fluttered a bit. He held his breath, wondering if she waking up. She rubbed her cheek against his shirt but didn't wake. He let out that breath.

The pounding in his side though became sharper. He was going to need another one of those painkillers. But he didn't want to wake Regina. Who knew how good her nights were, knowing the Wicked Witch was after her?

He grimaced as the pain intensified, a groan escaping from his lips. Regina shot up, looking at him with wide eyes. "Did I hurt you?" she asked.

It pained him to think her first thought was that she had done something wrong. "No, milady. I believe whatever the doctor gave me has worn off," he said.

Regina glanced at the clock and her eyes widened. "I didn't realize it had gotten so late."

She hopped off the bed and Robin found he missed her presence immediate. He watched as she picked up two small orange cylinders with white lids, reading the writing on the bottles. "Okay, you have an antibiotic and a painkiller. You're probably going to want to eat before you take either. Is soup okay?"

"Soup is fine." He tried to sit up, ignoring the pain in his side.

Regina was by his side before he could blink, pushing him back down. "You need to rest. Can't chance popping those stitches."

"As milady commands," he said, settling back into the pillows.

"As the doctor commands. Now stay put." She disappeared out of the room and Robin wondered if he had said something wrong.

Regina returned with his soup on a tray. She set him up and headed for the door again.

"Wait!" he called out. When she paused, he continued: "You want to stay? I could use some company."

"I have a few things to do. I'll be back in a little bit." He noticed she never met his eyes. Then she was gone.

Robin settled back against the pillows. She was avoiding him and he knew why.

Later, Regina came back to take away his empty dishes. She then turned back to his medicine. "I'll give you the antibiotic first and then the Vicodin."

"The Vicodin was the one for pain?" She nodded and Robin frowned. "Maybe then I shouldn't take it."

"Are you in pain?"

"No." But he was unable to keep the grimace from his face when pain shot through him as he shifted in bed.

She shook her head. "That settles it. You're taking the Vicodin."

"No, milady. I don't need it."

"Why are you being so stubborn about this? You're in pain, the medication will take it away. What's so bad about that?"

"The cuddling," he muttered, hopefully too low for her to hear.

Regina stopped, frowning. "Pardon?"

"Nothing."

"No, you said something. What was it?"

He sighed, realizing she wasn't going to back down. "The cuddling," he repeated, louder. "I tend to cuddle on such medicine, as you've learned."

"Oh."

"And I know it made things awkward so I won't take the medicine. Then I won't have the urge to cuddle."

Regina stepped closer. "You're taking the Vicodin. I will not have you writhing in pain. And if you're worried, I'll leave before it kicks in. How's that?"

"Fine." Robin leaned back against his pillows, resigned. "As long you're comfortable, milady. I am but a guest in your home. I will not make you uncomfortable."

Something softened in her gaze. "Robin…Don't worry about me. You just rest up and get better. Okay?"

He nodded and took the medicine from her. She watched him take it and then helped him get more comfortable. "Sleep well. We'll get you back on your feet in no time."

Robin woke sometime during the night. The pain had returned, though not as sharp as it had been the day before. Whatever Whale had given him was working, he realized.

He tried to roll over but found one side was weighted down. Was this a new complication? Robin glanced over and his heart sped up.

Once again curled against his side was the queen. Her arm was thrown across his chest and her face buried against his shoulder. Robin searched his mind, trying to recall when he had pulled her into bed again. Nothing came up.

Robin smiled as he got more comfortable next to her. He didn't know what would happen in the morning, but perhaps it wouldn't be as awkward as he feared.