Tumblr prompt by of-arrows-and-apples: 5x05 Robin is there when Regina looks into the dream catcher instead of Emma

"Are you sure you want to do this?"

She takes a deep breath, nodding slowly "I need to, if I want to help Emma free Merlin." Her willingness to do anything to help others was always something Robin admired, but he needs her to be completely sure about this so he tells her "That's not what I asked. Regina you don't have to do this, no one is expecting it from you. So do you want or do you just feel the need to do this?"

The question makes her reconsider her answer a bit longer this time, but it still remains the same. "I want to. I can take it." It seems to please him enough, so he takes the seat in front of her and hands her the dream catcher Emma gave them. A swift move of her hand and it starts to glow, blurry pictures turning into her memories of that fateful day.

He can make out an older woman, very similar to Regina, but still different. Her eyes are cold, lips pressed into a thin line and he just knows this is Cora. He's looking right into the eyes of the woman that caused his soul mate so much hurt. "So this is your decision? This is what will make you happy?", she asks, voice softer than Robin imagined after what Regina told him about her mother. "It already has." This is her voice, Regina's voice and she sounds so young. Robin watches the image of her revealed by the dream catcher with awe. There she is, his Regina with a young boy not older than 18 standing by her side.

"Then who am I to stop you?", again Robin can't believe this is supposed to be Cora Mills. Regina's younger self goes to hug her mother, thanking her before stepping out of the way to let her talk to Daniel. And then it happens, one moment she asks him about family plans and giving the best to Regina and next her hand is buried deep within Daniel's chest and Robin watches in horror when not even Regina's desperate screams can stop her from crushing his heart right in front of her daughter's eyes. The boy falls to the ground, Regina runs towards him and the images in the dream catcher fade.

Tears are running down her cheeks now, brows creased into a pained expression and he's by her side immediately, joining their hands in her lap. "I'm so sorry, Regina", his voice nearly betrays him, still in shock of what he just witnessed. Her eyes meet his, a questioning look on her features. "You saw it to?" Her question is only met with a nod. When he starts drawing circles on her wrist, trying to comfort her as best as he can, she suddenly straightens, telling him "We need to catch a tear!"

He protest tells her she should be caring about herself right now, but looses the fight and helps her collect one of the salty drops staining her cheeks. The glass vial is put aside and he immediately crashes her into a strong hug, fresh tears wetting his shirt.

Nothing is said for a while. One hand is cradling her head, the other is stroking random patterns on her back, while she slings her arms around his waist, asking for support he'll gladly give her. Eventually, he can feel the weight of her head being lifted from his shoulder, her eyes fixed on the ground when she tells him "I'm sorry", but she has nothing to be sorry about, because she loved this man and he won't let her feel bad about that. He tells her so, thumb wiping away yet another tear, when he takes her face in his hands.

He pulls her with him, standing from his position on the floor and leads her to the bed, gesturing her to lie down, before joining her. "Take your time, we don't have to do anything right now until you feel like you're up to it", he whispers in between caresses. Her head moves slowly up and town where it's positioned on his chest, before it stills again and her tired eyes begin to drop. When she's fighting her much needed sleep, he presses a kiss to the hand still held in his grasp and tells her to "sleep my love". And with that she finally slumps into him and let's sleep take her over only to wake in the arms of her soul mate hours later, happier than she's ever been.

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