A/N: A real quick thank you for all the follows/reviews. I love them all!
His voice is but a whisper of awe and surprise. "You still have your magic?"
The light on the tips of her fingers flare out and then they're gone. She sighs, and her gaze flicks to his. "So it seems."
He gives a contemplative nod and takes Wren up, settling her against his chest and holding her close, a hand resting on her small back. "What would you like to do now?"
Her brows rise at his question, and she gives him a half amused smirk. "Now you're asking me what I want to do?"
He glances down at the sleeping baby on his chest and drops a kiss to the top of her head. "As much as I think it would be best for you to return to Storybrooke, I have to admit that the world outside of the town line is far less dangerous place to be, and there is Wren to think about now."
"What about Henry? About Roland and our life together? As a mother, if all of this is true, I can't stay here and leave my family behind."
"That's exactly it though, Regina. You can't do that. Not you as you are now, and not before. The woman I know is stronger than that."
Cautiously she asks the question looming silently between them. "Then why do it? I had a home, and a family. Weren't we happy?"
Robin looks down at the baby and then at her. His voice is soft, and almost sad in his reply, "Yes, we were. At least, I thought we were."
"Then, why?"
"I don't know, Regina. Honestly, that's why it took so long to find you. Because I refused to believe you'd ever leave us."
"And there's nothing that happened before I left? No arguments?"
Robin shakes his head. "None. I'll grant you, we have had our moments, or disagreements, mostly because you are a hot-headed, stubborn woman, but there's never been anything we haven't been able to come back from."
"Hot-headed?" she asks, with a raised eyebrow.
He smirks at her and chuckles a bit. Completely unapologetic he affirms, "Very."
Oh how she wishes their situation was far more realistic because she would like to hear that chuckle more. She wants to see that smile more than the marred frown. She has a feeling until the mystery surrounding her disappearance and lost memories is solved, there won't be too many moments like this. "You mentioned something about how people lose their memories when they cross a town line. Is that what you think happened to me?"
"That's one of the theories, yes." He sighs, and she notices his voice is a bit harder. "It could have been a forgetting potion as well."
"So this memory loss... Can it be reversed?"
"Yes, there are a couple ways it can be done." Robin holds the baby to his chest with one hand, while the other reaches into the pocket of his shirt and produces a vial. He looks down at it in his palm, and then holds it out to her for her to take. "If you drink that your memories should return to you."
"Where did you get this?"
"From Belle. She talked the Imp into making a remembering potion."
She reaches for it, and their fingertips brush together. She feels his eyes meet hers and can see the fearful look lingering there. What might she remember? Regina isn't sure why but she feels she needs to reassure him in some way. Somehow, she knows she didn't leave because of him. Whatever happened, it wasn't because of Robin.
"Robin, whatever happens," she pauses, trying to find the right words, but she doesn't have to. He gives her a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes and tells her they'll get through it together. Whatever happens, just like always. She gives him a smile in return and holds up the vial.
She wants to laugh at the absurdity. Witches and princesses. She resists snorting, and thinks, so I'm the Evil Queen, no scratch that, the reformed Evil Queen. God, maybe she was going crazy. She fell asleep in the rocker upstairs with Wren, she's going to wake up with one hell of a dream to tell Natalie tomorrow, and she thinks what a shame it would be because the man sitting beside her, holding her daughter is perfect.
Oh well.
She uncorks the top, and meets Robin's eyes for a split second before she raises it to her lips. Bottom's up.
She feels the liquid run down her throat, and she expects to feel something, to remember something immediately, but nothing happens. Robin is now looking at her with apprehension and concern. Apparently she's not the only one who expected instant results.
"How long does it take?" she asks, even though she's sure she already knows the answer.
His long sigh gives her her answer, but he gives her that sad smile, and answers, "It should have worked by now."
"So what does this mean?"
"Well, at least it wasn't a forgetting potion and it's not just crossing the town line because you would have had your cursed memories back at the very least."
"What else could it be?"
"Well, you mentioned you were in an accident," he began as he absentmindedly rubbed their daughters back. "It could be just that, or..."
She tilts her head to the side. "Or what?"
He regards her seriously. "I won't pretend to know anything about magic, Regina. I only know what I've discussed with the others, so I wouldn't be able to say for certain but," he takes a deep breath and adds, "it could also be a curse."
"A curse? But..." Regina pinches the bridge of her nose. Her mind has been reeling over the past hour and a half. Over curses, and spells, and God how is this real? She knows it is though. "Someone did this to me?"
"It's beginning to sound more like a possibility." His hold on Wren tightens a bit she notices, and in his eyes she can see the father. The protector of his family.
"How do you break a curse?"
Robin blows out a breath. "Like I said, I don't know anything about magic."
She narrows her eyes at him. "But you know something. How do you break a curse, Robin?"
"There's only one way I know of." His eyes meet her gaze, it's intense, and he adds, "with True Love's Kiss."
She sat up. Okay, that's pretty straight forward. They would just need to kiss? "Why do I have a feeling it's not as simple as that?"
"Do you love me?" He asks her without preamble.
"I..." She pauses. Words are stuck in her throat. She doesn't know him. Just met him, but when he looks at her she feels everything and nothing all at the same time. She can't say she does, but...
"In order for the kiss to work it has to be mutual."
Time it is then.
"Well all I need to do is fall in love with you."
Robin chuckles. "Just like that?"
She feels a blush creeping up her neck, but she ignores it and shrugs. "I fell in love with you once; I don't see why I wouldn't again. Besides, didn't you say we are soul mates?"
"That we are, milady." He gives her a warm smile, and then suggests, "Perhaps we should stay here for a bit? If someone has cursed you I don't know how safe it would be to bring you both back without your memories."
"What are you suggesting?"
"Our sons are safe, and in good hands." He clears his throat. "What I'm suggesting is we give this a bit of time. I can call Emma and tell her what's happened. Perhaps, they can get started trying to figure out who might have done this to you before we go back."
"And in the meantime?" she asks, her shoulders relax a little.
"In the meantime, we can get to know one another again, I'll get to know my daughter and she me, and we'll see what happens."
Regina buries her face in her hands. "Do you know how crazy this all sounds?"
His mouth twists into a grin. "About as crazy as your matchstick fingers, I'd say."
His dimpled smirk peeks at her through her fingers, Regina chuckles darkly, letting her hands fall in to her lap, and she notices the time by the clock on the wall. It's later than she imagined, and she realizes she's starving. "Are you hungry?"
"I'm famished, actually."
"Okay, come on we can lay Wren down over here." She stands and he follows behind her, to a small playpen that doubles as a bassinet, and she takes Wren from his arms and places her in the softness of the baby blankets, smiling down at her before moving into the kitchen.
Regina notices Robin linger back a moment longer. She doesn't mind, she can even understand that this is quite a shock not only for her but for him. A part of her wonders if he had known she was pregnant before. Somehow she doubts it. She doubts she could keep anything from him.
He finally joins her in the kitchen and gives her a tired smile. His eyes look a bit red, and she knows why. So she doesn't mention it, and pulls a loaf of bread from her counter and places onto the kitchen isle. Giving him what she hopes is a rueful smirk she says, "I hope you don't mind peanut butter and jelly. I haven't had much time for a grocery run in the last few days."
"Understandable." He smiles back and nods adding, "It's one of my favorites, anyways."
She makes herself busy grabbing jars and a knife and sets to work. It's not much of a dinner, but then again she wasn't expecting company either. Once finished, she asks him to grab a couple of glasses from the cabinet behind him, and places their sandwiches on two plates, setting them at the small table. She returns to the kitchen for some milk and pours them a couple glasses.
They both take a seat, eating in silence a couple of moments before, she can't stand it any longer and asks, "Where are you staying?"
Robin swallows the bite he'd been chewing, and replies, "I hadn't thought about that yet, honestly. The last thing we were waiting on was the pixie dust, and once Tink and Leroy's men procured enough, well let's just say I jumped in our car, and followed it until I reached the end."
"Did you even pack anything?"
He shakes his head slightly. "No."
Oh. So he just got in the car and left. The thought warms her heart more than she'd like to admit, and also makes her sad, knowing the desperation he must have felt to not take any more time to get to her.
"You can stay here."
The words leave her mouth before she even has time to think about them. They surprise her as much as they do him.
"Are you sure?"
Ridiculously enough, she is sure and she nods, popping the final bite of her sandwich into her mouth. Once she's finished, she narrows her eyes at him playfully and tells him, "I have a spare bedroom and I trust you. I don't know how or why, but I do. This connection I feel hard to explain."
"You don't have to explain it. I feel it too."
She is quiet for a few minutes, her mind ticking over and absorbing their situation. Her extreme exhaustion is making her a little reckless or perhaps it is just her hormones, but all of a sudden she just knew she should be with him. He takes her hand lying on the table and threads his fingers through hers. There is a calmness to him that makes her feel safe. The feel of his thumb caressing her hand sends a shiver down her back, and butterflies fluttering in her stomach when he looks up at her with those blue eyes, and soft dimpled smile.
They stare at one another for several heartbeats, until a wide yawn startles Regina. Flushing, she covers the yawn with the back of her hand. Robin chuckles, and tells her perhaps they should both get some rest for the night.
Making quick work, they clean up their plates, and Regina shuts off the lights behind them. Reaching into the bassinet to pick up the baby who's just beginning to stir, it's been a while since Regina fed her, she knows she must be hungry, and probably needs changing too.
She invites Robin upstairs with her, telling him she'll show him where he'll be sleeping and gives him a tour of the place.
"It's small but it's better than sleeping in a car," she tells him as they walk out of the room and into the hall. She opens a door on their right and flips on the light. "Here's the bathroom. There are plenty of towels if you'd like to take a shower before bed."
"Thank you, Regina."
He gives her a smile that doesn't quite reach his eyes. She wants to tell him not to worry. That the woman he loves will be back soon, but she doesn't know that. She doesn't like to give out false hope, so instead she gives him her own smile and reaches up placing her hand on his cheek that tells him to not give up just yet. They'll get through it together. She clings to this thought with all she has.
Robin takes her hand in his and kisses her palm. His lips are soft and warm, and she's hypnotized by the feel of them. She gives a nod down the hall. "Wren and I will be down there if you need anything."
"Alright, I'm sure I'll be fine. Get some rest."
"You too."
"Regina."
She turns back around, Wren is starting to grow a bit restless and his eyes go from the baby to hers. "If you need any help, I mean," Robin sighs and then says, "I am here if you want any help."
"I know."