Authors note: Thank you all for your kind reviews, and for following, favoriting and reading in general. It was a shame, but not much evil Queen or Robin Hood in the last nights episode. The whole thing with Rapunzel was just - I don't know what it was but it just didn't add anything to the story. Anyways another chapter for you all, hope you enjoy ;)
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~ Storybrooke, Present. ~
Her green eyes followed the brunette's form as Regina walked towards the counter to order a coffee.
As always, her eyes squinted slightly when the young waitress put on a big smile and commented on Regina's pregnant belly.
Even after she had cursed the Queen, her younger sister still got everything. Everything that she herself deserved. After everything she had to do, she was the oldest for gods sake!
Her eyelids narrowed as she tried to catch some of their conversation.
"Yes, I know you're excited Ruby." Regina chuckled softly as she slowly rubbed soothing circles on her stomach. "You're actually one of the few."
"Oh I'm sure that's not true." Ruby objected.
"The Evil Queen and a thief having a child? I thought you had wolf senses." Regina said as she took a sip from her hot coffee.
Zelena smiled slightly as she grabbed the styrofoam cup in front of her and lifted it to her lips. She should really follow up on her plan.
She needed to take eveything away from her little sister.
Wicked always wins.
...
~ Enchanted Forest, Past. ~
Her powerful strides echoed throughout the large hallway as Regina quickly made her way towards her bedchamber. She was so lost in thoughts about despising Snow that she wasn't even looking where she was going.
Well, that was until a familiar fear filled her stomach.
In order to get from the council chamber towards her bedchamber she needed to get passed that room. Or she'd have to take a detour like she normally did. But she was just so damn tired right now. She needed to get to her bed.
Her steps stopped immediately as she took a moment to stop the fear that was clenching her abused heart. She could do this, there was no need to be afraid. She wasn't that terrified eighteen year old girl anymore. Not by a long shot.
So Regina took slow steps, repeating the words 'he is dead, he is dead' over and over in her mind.
"He's dead, your Majesty."
Regina jumped up as her heart stopped for just a beat.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you." Robin said apologetically. He really didn't mean to. His eyes quickly found the sleeping boy in his arms and he was glad Roland was still fast asleep.
It wasn't as if he was following the gorgeous brunette, because he wasn't. Sort off. It was just that Roland had woken up from a nightmare and he had asked if he could sleep in the same wing as Regina, or 'Gina' as the little boy had lovingly called her.
And who was Robin to object to that?
Especially if it was a chance to stay closer to the Queen.
"You didn't." Regina snapped harshly as she turned around with blazing eyes. Though they softened immediately once they found the sleeping boy in his arms. The lie was out before she could think about it, but by the way her hands were shaking, Robin could easily see passed it.
"Alright. So this little man here." Robin smiled as he pointed at Roland. "He had a nightmare and he wanted to ask if he could sleep in the same wing as 'Gina'."
"Gina?" Regina asked and she couldn't hide the small upturn of her lips. The thought of Roland calling her Gina, warmed her heart.
Robin just chuckled. "But my arms are sore from holding that torch up for three hours, so would you mind?" He asked softly as he slowly moved Roland in his arms.
Of course they weren't hurting. And Regina knew that too.
But yet, she still played along.
"Of course." She said softly as she took the small child in her arms. Just the feeling of holding a child again brought back so many memories of Henry and tears started to fill her eyes.
"So." He continued, ignoring the tears in the brunette's eyes, something he knew Regina would appreciate. "Why don't I follow you towards your wing, I'm still getting lost here."
Of course Regina knew what the thief was doing, and she couldn't help but feel immensely grateful for it.
"Follow me." She said as she turned around and started walking.
Her steps only faltered slightly once she passed her former bedchamber. Dread filled her being as she eyed the double doors that were bolted shut.
"So, I couldn't help but notice that you have an impeccable taste." Robin said as he pointed around the hallway and distracted the Queen from the haunting double doors that even Robin wouldn't like to so much as step a foot passed. Imagine Regina.
"Thank you." Regina said softly as she turned her eyes on the sleeping child in her arms. He was absolutely adorable and the way he was grabbing the stuffed monkey Regina had made him earlier in the day, was melting her hurting heart.
"Always."
...
"Thank you for lending us a room." Robin smiled as he closed the door softly behind him so as not to wake his sleeping son.
"I have plenty of free rooms around here now. They used to belong to my servants, but I'm not surprised they didn't return after everything that has happened." Regina smiled slightly.
Robin chuckled. "No I'm not surprised either."
Regina genuinly laughed and then turned around. "I think it's time I got to bed. If you need anything, I'm just two doors down."
Robin nodded. "Regina?" He quickly asked as the brunette started walking.
Regina turned around again. "Yes?" She asked.
"I- I just." To be honest he didn't even know what he wanted to say. He just didn't want to let her leave yet. "Please let me help you clean up a little so you can at least sleep."
At least it was a way to remain close to her for another few minutes.
Regina didn't know what to say as she just stared at the thief. Had he really just offered to help her? It seemed so... foreign to her, he was one of the few who had ever offered her help.
"Thank you." Regina said softly, but it sounded to vulnerable for her liking so she then said, "just don't steal anything, thief." But her smile softened the words and Robin couldn't help but let out a laugh.
He knew it was a defense, just like the mask she always wore.
"I promise."
Regina was still smiling as she turned around and walked away, Robin following her in the foot.
It was a shame the room was almost completely destroyed, because it was quite beautiful. Robin looked around in awe. The most expensive jewels were scattered around the floor, rubies and diamonds lying carelessly on the floor, dresses made of soft velvet and silk were thrown around the room.
He couldn't help but feel a slight pang of anger at that. The people he stole for had nothing, and the person who had destroyed the Queen's room - who's name he still didn't know, by the way - had just carelessly thrown around and destroyed the most expensive things he had ever laid eyes upon.
Robin bend down as he picked up a very revealing blue dress. "Where shall I put this?" He asked with a grin though he was slightly blushing.
Regina chuckled when she saw the redness of his cheeks and she just couldn't help herself but tease him some more. "You can hang it in the closet, and could you please be a dear and pick up that corset too?" She asked sweetly.
Robin visibly swallowed as he turned around and eyes the black and see-through corset. Only the place where her breasts would be was covered with what he guessed was black silk.
But he absolutely did not want to think about Regina's breast.
And shit, now he was thinking about them.
But he would not be defeated that easily. He quickly recovered and bent down to pick the corset up. "Of course, Milady. But you're sure you don't want to wear it later?" He asked with a smug grin on his lips.
Regina couldn't help but feel aroused as the thief picked up the piece of clothing she had worn on one of the most private parts of her body. She blushed and smirked at the handsome man. "I'll let you know when I do, dear."
Robin chuckled as he turned around and walked towards the closet. "I'll hold you to that, Your Majesty."
"I sure hope so, dear."
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~ Storybrooke, Present. ~
Henry was bored and he switched off the old television. Four hours of old cartoons was really all he could take.
Maybe he could take a walk and explore this town a little?
He jumped off the couch and walked over to the large black duffle bag that was still sitting in the corner of the room. He zipped it open and started rummaging through it. He needed to find his jeans, and a t shirt.
After almost five minutes of throwing aside his mom's clothes, he finally found them. When he was done changing he stepped inside the small bathroom and quickly brushed his teeth and did his hair a little- though it never helped because his hair was always sticking out. It was super annoying.
He grabbed his jacket and headed out the door.
The streets of Storybrooke were very quiet. A vast contrast to New York, and before that Boston. He pushed his hands in his pocket and looked at the ground as he kicked against a little stone that was lying on the pavement.
He kept staring at his shoes and didn't notice the woman who was just stepping out off the grocery store he was passing.
"Ow!" Regina huffed as a body slammed into her and she stumbled back against the brick wall of the store. She wanted to snap at the child for not paying attention, but when the surprised boy looked up with a guilty expression plastered on his face, her jaw fell open without any words coming out.
It was Henry.
Her baby boy.
Well not a baby anymore, he was now almost thirteen.
"Oh my god, I'm so sorry ma'am. I wasn't looking where I was going, are you hurt?!" He asked with worry as he eyed her up and down as if he was looking for any sign of injury.
Regina couldn't describe how much it hurt that he said ma'am to her. She couldn't describe how much it hurt that he was almost looking through her, as if she was some stranger and not the woman who had raised him since he was three weeks old.
But then she realised, that to him she was exactly that; just a stranger. A passerby of no importance to him whatsoever.
"Ma'am? Are you okay? Is your baby okay?" He asked again when the woman in front of him didn't answer and just stared at him like she was in shock, or something resembling that. But it was strange because the brunette looked somewhat... familiar to him.
Weird.
Regina finally seemed to snap out of her daze. "W-what? I'm fine." She finally answered, stumbling over her words.
"Good." He said with a small sigh of relief. His brown eyes caught the grocery bag in her hand. "Please let me carry this for you." He asked carefully. "It's the least I can do. Where's your car?"
Regina shook her head as tears started to water her eyes. He was just so kind, so... good. "I walked here." She said softly as she kept her eyes trained on him. "It's just around the corner from here."
"Great, I'll walk you home then." He smiled - the goofy smile Regina had missed so, so much - and reached for the bag, waiting for the woman to hand it over.
Regina let go when Henry's hand softly touched hers. "Thank you." She said softly as she shot the boy a watery smile.
"Again, it's the least I can do, ma'am."
"Please call me Regina." She said quickly, her son calling her ma'am was just too strange and too painful.
"Regina." He nodded with a grin as he repeated her name.
The pair slowly made their way towards the large white mansion.
"Wow, this is where you live, Regina?" He asked in awe as Regina opened the iron gate.
"Yes it is." And you live here too.
He followed her down the pathway and slowly put the bag down on the porch. She knew that this was the time to say goodbye. But Regina just wasn't ready yet. "Would you like to come in and have some cocoa, or something, as a thank you for helping me." She asked and couldn't keep the hope from her voice and eyes.
Henry thought about it for a moment. He remembered Emma telling him not to go home with strangers, but there was just... something about this woman that made him feel safe, like she wasn't a stranger at all. "Yeah, I would like that." He answered politely.
Regina smiled and reached for the doorknob, but then she remembered something. There were pictures, lots of pictures of Henry in her house. And of course the boy would freak out if he saw them.
A little magic wouldn't hurt, right?
"Could you please get the bag, dear? My back has been aching terribly lately." She asked with a smile.
"Of course."
As soon as Henry bent down, Regina flicked her wrist. Purple smoke dissapeared as quick as it appeared. All Henry's pictures were safely transported to his old room.
And then she put the key in the lock and opened the white door.
...
"Are this your husband and son?" Henry asked as he looked at the picture hanging on the kitchen wall.
Regina looked up from the kettle and stared at her son. "Oh, we're not married and that's his son, but I love him as my own." Regina smiled as she poured two cups of cocoa. Just the way Henry liked it. "Do you want cinnamon on it, dear?" She asked without thinking.
"Yeah." Henry smiled. "How did you know?"
"I- eh, you just look like a cinnamon kind off person." Regina knew it was the worst excuse but thankfully Henry didn't think much of it.
"So what do you do?" He asked as he took a sip of the cocoa. He couldn't help but grin when it tasted just the way he liked it. Emma didn't make it like this and he didn't know where he had drunk it before, but this was the way he liked it the most.
"I'm actually the mayor of this town." Regina smiled as she took a sip of her mug.
He chuckled. "No wonder you have a house like this."
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~ The Enchanted Forest, Past. ~
"And when did you wear this dress?" He asked with a grin as he eyes the rich dark fabric. It had a very, very low leckline and he couldn't help but wish to see her wear it. It was his new favorite, his second was the blue dress with the open back. Only the though about Regina wearing it was watering his mouth.
Regina chuckled. "Would you please just stop staring at my dresses and actually help me clean up?"
"But we're already done." He huffed and hung the dress in the closet.
The room was bearable again and Regina had said she would repair all the broken things in the morning.
Regina shook her head and bent down to pick up a cushion from the floor, giving the thief an amazing view of her behind.
And Robin just couldn't stop his eyes from staring. That woman was positively the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
"Now we're done." She smirked and threw the cushion on her bed.
"Almost, Milady." He grinned and took a couple of steps closer to her before picking up the small diamond earring that had been lying in front of her feet. But he hadn't realized how close he actually was until he stood up. Their faces were inches apart and Regina could practically feel his breath on her lips.
His blue eyes locked with her brown ones and he couldn't, and didn't even wanted to stop himself as he leaned in closer and softly placed a hand on her curvy hip.
Regina was so close, she could just give in and she knew it. If she wanted to she could have a whole night with this man, just forgetting all the pain she had gone through this week.
But it would be wrong to forget, because that pain was the only thing that was making her strong at the moment. It reminded her every day that she had done the right thing by letting Henry go, that he had a happy life now.
And so she placed a hand on his chest and pushed him away softly. His lips had been mere millimeters away from her lips.
"No." She whispered softly as she looked at a confused Robin Hood. "I- I can't. This is wrong, you're not thinking clearly." She stumbled over her words as she took a couple of steps back.
"Reg-"
"No." Regina quickly cut him off. "Just go, Robin. Please." She shook her head as her eyes started to wet with tears.
He watched how cracks started to form in her mask and he knew he shouldn't push.
So he turned around and left.
Regretting it immensely.
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~ Storybrooke, Present. ~
"Did you bring the bottle?" Regina asked quickly as she let Emma into her office.
"Yeah." Emma nodded. "Why do you need it? I told you the Blue Fairy didn't know anything about it."
"I don't care about that, but I can try and replicate the potion and make Henry remember." Regina stated hopefully as she grabbed the small bottle from Emma's hand and immediately stalked towards what looked like a science set to Emma.
"How did you get that idea so suddenly?" She asked as she dropped down on a chair at the table.
Regina's hand stopped moving immediately as she slowly met Emma's green eyes. "I saw him today." She said with a watery smile.
"How? He was supposed to stay at Granny's." Emma asked, slightly frustrated Henry didn't listen to her.
"He ran away to Boston to find you, Emma. I think we can agree Henry isn't the best at listening." Regina smiled as she turned to the flask in her hand.
Emma chuckled. "Yeah, we can totally agree on that. So where did you see him?"
"He walked into me when I stepped out off the grocery store and he was all worried." Regina smiled at the memory.
"Yeah, well you gave him his manners so I'm not surprised." Emma joked.
"He offered to walk me home and carry my bag, and after that we had cocoa and talked about some insignificant things." Regina smiled as she put a drop of the potion in the flask.
"He didn't suspect anything?"
She shook her head as her eyes turned sad. "No, he didn't suspect anything."
...
"And?" Emma asked as Regina finished the potion, they had been here for more then two hours already and the blonde was starting to get bored. "Did you do it?"
Regina shrugged. "There's only one way to find out." She raised the flask to her mouth and was about to put it on her lips when Emma's shriek stopped her.
"You're not going to drink that, are you?! You're pregnant, Regina!"
Regina sighed. "And how else am I going to know if it worked?"
"Let someone else try it. You're pregnant."
"Emma, there's nothing in this that could hurt the baby." Regina said softly. "I know what I'm doing." She lifted the flask and drank the dark liquid.
It tasted very bitter and a little like sand.
"Did it wo-" Emma started but was quickly cut off when Regina turned around and threw the flask towards the nearest wall. The glass broke and fell to the ground in a rain of small shards.
"Either that wall did something to you, or it didn't work." Emma said and she guessed the latter. She stood up and put a comforting hand on the brunette's shoulder. "We can try again."
Regina shook her head as tears gathered in her eyes. "No, we can't. That was the last of the potion." She said as she let out a shuddering breath.
Emma didn't know how to react. She had never seen Regina cry before. So she awkwardly rubbed Regina's shoulder as an idea hit her. "Maybe we don't need it, just the person who cursed you all." She said in realization.
"Do you ever listen, Emma? We don't know who that is." Regina snapped as she crossed her arms. "And we can't use the potion to remember."
"But that person doesn't know that." Emma grinned.
"What are you saying?" Regina asked as she furrowed her eyebrows.
"I'm saying that we can spread the word that you've succeeded in making the memory potion. Then the person who cursed you all would surely try to stop you, and when he or she gets here, we'll be here, waiting." Emma smiled proudly. This plan was perfect, it would surely work. "Now we just need a way to let the whole town know."
Regina smiled as she wiped the stray from her cheek. "Leave that to me, I know just who to tell."
...
~ The Enchanted Forest, Past. ~
Regina lay awake in the bed she hadn't been sleeping in since before the first curse. Which had been more then thirty years ago. Everytime she closed her eyes she seemed to think about Henry. And when she had her eyes open everything she could think about were Robin's lips, so close to hers.
And to be honest, right now she didn't want to think about either.
The silence was loud and Regina sighed deeply.
She was feeling some regrets right now, because maybe a night of forgetting would've done her good.
But even the thought made her feel extremely guilty.
Because she wasn't supposed to want the man like that. He was a thief and she was an Evil Queen. And then only place in her heart right now was for Henry. And there surely wouldn't fit more then that, right?
Her hand unconsciously moved towards her bedside table. The pin was still in the drawer, the place she had magicked it to. It would be so easy right now. There was no one to stop her. She could just grab the pin, prick her finger and fall into an oblivious sleep.
But something was stopping her. And it was not the need for vengeance like she had told Robin earlier.
No, it was something completely different. Something she didn't quite know yet.
So instead of opening the drawer, her hand moved away again.
She wondered what Henry was doing right now, but then quickly realized she shouldn't. It would only bring more pain to her already dying heart.
And so Regina stayed awake. Her hand resting on the slightly bruised skin that was covering her heart.
Ready, waiting to rip the beating organ out if it started hurting too much.
...
There was a soft knock on the door of her bedchamber and Regina slowly turned her head towards it.
"Come in!" She yelled, her voice hoarse from her earlier crying.
Snow stepped inside of the room, carrying a bowl and a piece of bread. The princess was wearing a white robe that was floor length. "I brought you some breakfast." She smiled slightly as she tried to ignore her former stepmother's tired and sad eyes. It was obvious Regina hadn't slept at all.
Regina sat up slowly and didn't even bother with a thank you. She didn't care about food, she was not even hungry. But she took a small piece of the bread anyway, hoping it would make Snow go away quicker. But judging by the princess' uncomfortable looks, her nightgown was doing the trick already.
Regina hadn't even looked which nightgown she grabbed last night. Turned out it had been one of her more revealing ones. Not the typical thing for a woman in this land seeing that it was mid-thigh length and had an enormous amount of cleavage, but then again, Regina had been an Evil Queen. Seduction had been one of her greatest weapons, still is to be honest.
So, instead of looking at the older brunette, Snow looked around the room. "I see that you've already cleaned up." She smiled slightly.
"Yes, Robin offered to help me last night." Regina sighed as she put the bowl and bread down on her bedside table.
"Robin?" Snow asked with raised eyebrows and a grin supporting her pink lips. "Really?"
"If you're thinking I slept with him, you're mistaken dear. Nothing happend." Regina snapped as she glared at her former stepdaughter.
"But did you want something to happen?"
"No, I did not." Regina lied, because she may have wanted it a little. "I have no room for love in my life and I don't think he's interested in just a quick fuck. So nothing is going to happen between us."
Snow just grinned as she sat down on the end of the large bed. "If you say so, Regina."
"Why are you here, Snow?" Regina sighed, she was tired of Snow's annoying behavior. Thinking that she had a right to interfere with her life.
Insipid and naive princess.
If Snow was thinking she wouldn't kill her with a mere flick of her wrist, just because they lived together in one castle now, she was thoroughly mistaken.
"I wanted to apologize." Snow said as her smile fell.
"For what, dear?" Regina asked, though she could easily guess where this was heading to. And she was in no way going to talk about that.
"I shouldn't have pushed you to do something you didn't want to. You have your own reasons why you wanted to sleep here, and I have no right to question that."
"That's right dear, you didn't."
Snow sighed, she had already expected Regina wouldn't just say 'I except your apology'. "Well, I just wanted to let you know that."
"Mission accomplished, dear." Regina said sarcastically.
Another sigh left Snow's mouth and she turned around and stalked out of the room. That woman was so damn infuriating!
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~ Storybrooke, Present. ~
"Regina?" Robin asked carefully as he stepped into their bedroom. His brunette lover was lying on the bed, facing away from the door. By the way her body was slightly shaking, Robin could see she was crying.
He wordlessly took off his shoes and pants before scooting under the covers next to her. He had done this a couple of times before. On times when Regina missed Henry really bad, or when her hormones went into overdrive.
He wrapped his arms around her middle and pulled him close to her. "Will you tell me what happened, sweetheart?" He softly asked and placed a kiss on her cheek.
Regina turned in his arms so she could face him. Her lips were shaking and tears were spilling from her eyes. "I saw him." She whimpered softly. "I saw Henry."
Robin nodded sympathetically and kissed a tear from her cheek. "It's going to be okay, darling. We'll find a way to make him remember." He soothed and then softly kissed her lips.
"You think so?" She asked softly and buried her head in his chest.
Robin's hand softly stroked her hair. "I know so. And you know why?" He asked and felt Regina shake her head against his chest. "Because true love can break any curse." He smiled as he kissed her temple.
"Just look at what it did for us."
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