AN: Thanks to those who followed and clicked favorite. Helps to write knowing people are reading. With that said, please review. I love hearing what you guys think, good or bad. Reviews may also help me write faster! A note going forward, the next chapters(8-10?) are about rob and regina building a friendship. After, you will see why it was done. I will tell you it won't turn romantic, hes there as support. Why she opens up to him more and leans on him and not the charmings (I'm kind of annoyed with Emma's character right now and frustrated to hell as why Hook was brought back but it seems, according to adam, robin will not be brought back indefinitely) will be explained. Robert's past and who he is is going to be a sort of enigma. There will be hints to it but you will find out about his past and why he was in the land of untold stories when Regina finds out. Remember from last chapter, his story was in the book but he tore the pages out and took them.

No beta, so mistakes are all mine. I apologize, I am no professional writer.

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain
We all have sorrow
But if we are wise
We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong
And I'll be your friend
I'll help you carry on
For it won't be long
'Til I'm gonna need
Somebody to lean on
Bill Withers-Lean on Me

Chapter six: Week 1-Blackjack

The bright mid morning sun streamed through the crack in the curtain and hit Regina squarely in the eyes, causing her to groan and turn over. Perhaps she shouldn't have had those last two whiskeys, considering her head is pounding like a hammer is rapping down on it and her stomach churning like butter. Stupid Outlaw, she thought.

In order to block out the bright light that is worsening her head, she took one of the extra pillows and covered her head with it, trying to close her eyes to get more sleep.

Just when she was about to fall asleep, her phone buzzed alerting her that she had a text message. With a frustrated huff, she turned, squinted as the sun hit her eyes again, and reached for her phone. Rob must have put it there on the charger as she didn't remember doing so.

Pressing the ok button to illuminate the screen, she had to look at it with only one eye open to not make her headache worse. Rob had texted her. Well, it looked like he had gotten hold of her phone and changed his name.

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: Do you feel like an anvil is repeatedly dropping on your head?

With a roll of her eyes at the name he put in, she replied: Like Wiley Coyote is right above my head.

A minute later she received his reply and they continued to text back forth as she laid against her pillow, trying not to regurgitate the apple pie and fries they shared last night.

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: Who is this Wiley Coyote? Should I be concerned? Do I need to come to your aid?

Regina: No. He's a cartoon.

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: What's a cartoon?

Regina: It's like a fable, never mind. So what terrible thing have you planned for today?

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: It's not terrible. I'm fairly certain it's something you will enjoy.

Regina: Well what is it?

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: it's called a surprise, I can't tell you.

Regina:I don't like surprises. I find them threatening.

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: This is not threatening. This is FUN.

Regina: Well how will I know what to wear?

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: Nice try, your majesty. A relaxed shirt, jeans, and boots should do it.

Regina: and you call me stubborn?

Dashingly Handsome Outlaw: LoL. I'll see you around 2. Hydrate and take two of these magical things this world calls aspirin

Regina: Already on it. See you then.

As she put her phone back on the bed side table, she looked at her clock and saw that it was just after 10, plenty of time to catch a little more shut eye. After she got some water, some dry toast, and that aspirin.

A few hours later…

His boots scuffed on the concrete as he made his way up to the doorway and rang the doorbell. As he waited, he nervously adjusted the cuffs on the long sleeve shirt he decided to wear despite the heat. After a moment, he heard footsteps on the other side and then the door opened. Before him stood Regina dressed in dark washed jeans, a short sleeve purple plaid button up, and brown boots.

"Right on time. Who knew Outlaw's were so punctual." She said as she looked at him and crossed her arms in the process.

"Dashingly Handsome Outlaws." He replied with a wink. To which Regina just rolled her eyes at him. "So can you tell me what we are doing yet?"

"Nope. But we can make our way there now. If you don't mind driving your metal contraption." He questioned.

"Oh you're making me drive huh? Some gentlemen!" She teased him as she put her hands on her hips.

"Well, I have come to like my own means of travel of this world. I doubt you would want to ride my motorcycle."

She retracted her head in surprise. "You? A motorcycle?" she questioned in surprise.

"It's quite freeing." He said nonchalantly with a shrug of his shoulders.

"You're right, I will not be getting on that donor-cycle with you." Stepping down the stairs, she began to make her way around back to her Mercedes. "come on, I'll drive. But since you're being so tight mouthed about what we are doing, you are going to have to tell me where to go."

He chuckled at her as he watched her walk away and said. "Of course." Then he too made his way towards her car.

As Regina drove, Robin directed her through the back streets until they came to an open field that lead to a gated pasture with horses casually grazing about. The blue, immaculate stables that housed the horses stood off to the right.

As she brought the car to a hault, Regina gasped in shock, hands tightening on the car steering wheel as she looked at him. "We're going riding?"

Meeting her eyes, he nodded. "Aye, you're majesty. I was fairly certain this is something you would enjoy. Something that would not be threatening."

"How did you know I love riding?" She asked hesitantly.

"Please, anyone around here knows how fierce of a rider the queen is." He complemented her with a gleam in his eyes.

"It's been so long since I've actually ridden." She whispered in embarrassment as she looked away from him. "I'll probably be rusty."

"Well there's only one way to find out. Time to get back on the proverbial horse?" He asked.

Looking up at the pasture in reverence, Regina nodded once and then met his eyes again. " do it."

With a friendly hand, he lead her to the stables where they met with the kyle, one of the stable hands, who would set them up with their horses. Both we set up with stallions, Regina would ride an all black horse whose muzzle had a large white patch shaped like a diamond in the middle while Rob would ride a chestnut marbled with white patches whose name was Clyde. After they tact up their horses, Rob admired as Regina expertly mounted her horse. With her own smug grin and raise of her brow, she looked at him in challenge. "Well Outlaw, you ready?"

"Hah! Just you wait, you're majesty. You are not the only one who is a decent rider." Rob retorted as he too jumped up on his horse with his own self-satisfied grin.

"How about a little challenge?" She stated as she turned her horse to enter the open field and he lead his horse quickly fall into step next to hers. "And what would that be?" He returned.

"Well since you're so sure of yourself, Robert, how about a little race?" she asked as if to dare him to accept.

Pausing, he contemplated her offer before he countered back. "Well if we race, the winner should get something, should they not?"

Regina too pondered for a moment before she looked over shoulder with an evil grin. "loser buys the winner dinner?"

"That's fair." Robert replied with a nod before he continued to bait her. "Hope you like staring at my horse's haunches."

"Please, Outlaw, I'm gonna leave you in the dust." She sneered back at him in her best queenly voice and snarled before she turned towards the front of her horse again.

"Race to the end of the field of the field, around that willow tree, and back?" Robert questions as he creeps his horse up next to hers.

Regina nods. "Sounds Fair."

"On the count of three?"

"I hope you have the money to buy me dinner, Outlaw." She chided at him as she held on tighter to Blackjack's reigns while she waited for the count to begin.

"Well I'm going to want dessert, your majesty." He jested back before he began the count. "One…Two…" he started but not before he took off before the count of three with an evil smirk on his face.

"Hey! That's cheating!" she yelled at him before she propelled blackjack forward. "Come on boy. Lets show him what we are made of. HE YAW." She yelled at she kicked her horses side to have him launch off in a full gallop

Blackjack was strong and fast. Dirt flew up behind him with his long strides as Regina urged him on to catch up to Rob. Just as she was a few strides behind him, they made it to the willow tree and they both had to slow their horses as they went around. This was Regina's chance to take the lead as she was right on his tail now. Strategically, she lead Blackjack to flank Rob's right in order to pass him. Both horse and rider were in tune with another and Regina could tell Blackjack wanted to sore even higher. So with a click of her tongue and tap his the horses side, she told him to let free and let free he did.

With power, blackjack swooped forward and overtook the lead from Rob, easily passing him. Regina could tell Rob was trying to push his horse forward more but she just wasn't as strong and fast as blackjack. They reached the finish line with Regina winning by a full horse length. With a wide smile, she turned her horse towards Rob to gloat, "Looks like I won Outlaw and you even tried to cheat!" she scolded before she continued as she brought her forefinger to her chin and tapped against as if thinking, "Now what do I want for dinner. Hmmmm…I know. A big juicy steak!" she exulted with a bright smile.

"Yeah…yeah." Rob responded as he slipped off his horse." You are quite the rider your majesty. No one would argue that."

"Don't you forget it." She said with a lift of her chin in victory.

"I wouldn't dream of it." He responded cooly as she looked at her but she froze and her smile dropped as her eyes turned glassy as if tears were about to fall. Of course he noticed. "regina, are you alright?"

Trying to keep her tears at bay, she shook her head and cleared her throat before she responded with hesitation "Yeah…it's just…"

"Just what?" Rob urged her to continue as he walked to her side and patted her horse's mane.

"Just…you thought that was impressive. Wait until you see me jumping with this horse." Her mask went up as she replied; avoiding opening up to Rob that Robin too had said those exact words to her, in this realm and in the enchanted forest.

As she turned, she forced the tears away and then led her horse to the fenced in pasture that housed the jumps. Without hesitation, she spurred blackjack forward and easily glided him over the first jump. Then continued on and easily guided the horse over jump after jump with a practiced hand. A content smile came upon her face as blackjack landed after the last jump and she continued to let him trot around the paddock. As she led him to pick up his speed, she closed her eyes and just enjoyed the feeling of the breeze on her face and her braided hair being whipped around.

Once she opened her eyes, she noticed that rob was standing by the fence intensely watching her. Turning her horse in his direction, she made her way towards him and halted blackjack once she was right in front him with a smug smile on her face.

"Now you're just showing off." He said to her in an annoyed tone.

"You're just mad you lost." She quipped back at him

"Well it seems I lost to the best." He replied as he went and mounted his horse that now had a picnic basket attached to the saddle. "But now I want you to follow me, there's something I want to show you." Hesitant about where he was taking her, she held blackjack back and he turned back towards her. "you'll love this, I promise. Trust me. Haven't you enjoyed this day so far?" he asked her.

Without saying anything, she nodded and followed him as he led them through the field and then they meandered their horses casually as they followed the path through the woods in silence. As they road, Regina kept glancing over at him through her periphery. She couldn't understand as to why she trusted this man so easily. There was something that seemed so oddly familiar about him but she couldn't figure out why.

"We're here." Rob said taking her out of her own thoughts.

As they came through the threshold of the forest, it opened to reveal the most beautiful site she had ever seen. The river had dumped into a ravine with a wading pool. In its center were tall cliffs with a water fall tumbling down. Surrounding it, was the greenest of grasses she had ever seen with every color of wild flower sticking out the top. Willow trees and dog woods accented the background of the landscape. Her mouth hung open as she gaped at what was in front of her. "How did I not know about this?" she asked looking towards him. "I created storybrooke, I know EVERYTHING about it."

He chuckled at how baffled she was over this. "Maybe it just magically appeared." He replied with a shrug of his shoulders as he then dismounted his horse and proceeded to unshackle the basket. :I don't know about you, but I am starving. I thought we would have a snack to hold us over until dinner."

She laughed as she dismounted Blackjack and then turned towards him. "You mean the dinner you are going to pay for?"

"You are never going to let me live this one down are you?" he asked as he shook his head and passed by her.

"Not a chance." She smirked as she followed him and he chose to lay the blanket under the shade of one of the willow trees. After she sat down, so did he and she watched as he emptied out the snacks that consisted of fruits, veggies, cheeses, crackers, and water to drink. He handed her a plate and they proceeded to munch on the snacks in silence before he decided to break the tension. "I'm sorry if what I said earlier upset you."

Regina looked down and picked at the leaves of one of her strawberries nervously. She can hear her mother criticizing her not to fidget. "Nothing upset me."

"That's not the way it looked it to me."

Without saying anything in reply, Regina continued to stare at the strawberry as she shook her head and shrugged her shoulders.

He sighed. "Regina look at me." But she continued to pick at her food avoiding eye contact until she felt his fingers on her chin, raising her eyes to his. "Look I'm not gonna force you to tell me but something obviously upset you." He said letting go of her chin as she kept her eyes on him.

How the hell can he read me so easily, she thought before she responded to him. "What do you want out of all of this?" she said with suspicion in her voice because she also still didn't really get what and why he was doing this. "Are you trying to romance me or something? It's a waste of your time because I just lost—"

"You just lost someone you loved dearly." He finished for her before he continued. "no that's not what I am trying to do. I'm trying to be your friend. Someone you can lean on. Whether that is someone you need to talk to or someone to distract you when things get tough.

"Why even want to be friend my though." She asked, confusion behind her voice.

"Like I said, I feel drawn to you and I think we have a lot in a common. I thought we could be sort of a comfort to each other. It's never easy losing someone you love."

"Don't I know it." She whispered sadly as she adjusted her sitting position to have her legs tucked out to her side and leaned on her hand, looking towards the waterfall for a moment before something seemed to click in her mind. "You lost someone too" she responded, a statement more so than a question. He just nodded in response as her curiosity peaked. "they died?" An empathetic look was across her face as he looked up towards her to answer.

"He took a deep breath and released it in a strong puff of air. "No…She's just lost…to me."

With a tilt of her head, she continued to question as he didn't seem too uncomfortable to continue. "Like stuck in another realm?"

"Something like that." He replied solemnly.

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be. It's not your fault." He quickly cut her off and reached for her hand resting on her leg. "We will be here for each other. That's what friends are for, right?"

Nodding, Regina contemplated as she looked down as their clasped hands. She's not even sure why she said what she was about to say when she looked back up at him, eyes glassy. "He—robin—said that to me."

Rob tilted his head in curiosity and continued to listen intently. "What?"

"Robin said "I wouldn't dream of it", twice actually, once here in storybrooke and another time in the Enchanted Forest." She replied, trying to keep her emotions at bay. Rob nodded and squeezed her hand to urge her on to continue.

"Each of those times, that was his answer to something that I said." She choked as she was losing the battle with her emotions. Her mother would say she was showing too much weakness but she felt like she could with Rob without judgment. Before she continued, she batted away the tear that fell. "I told him not to get in my way and that's…exactly what he did." After that, the tears began to stream down her face and that's when Rob shifted next to her and embraced her by putting an arm around her shoulders and tucking her to him with her head resting against his shoulder."Why didn't he listen to me? He should have listened to me" she mumbled through her tears as she took in his comfort.

"Us men aren't very good at listening I suppose." He joked as he squeezed her shoulders in comfort. "But more importantly, because he loved you. well, loves you. Just because someone dies doesn't mean their love dies."

"It should have been me." She muttered into his shoulder as she cried deeper.

"I highly doubt he would agree with that one. He obviously thought you were someone worthy." He said as he put his other around her, his own tear slid down his cheek at her words. "Your family and friends, especially your son, would disagree with that as well."

Silence took over for a few minutes as he let her cry out her pain. "We are all here for you Regina and that includes me, Henry, Maleficent, Emma, and even her charming parents."

Upon those words, she looked up, gathered herself together, and wiped away the tear tracks with the back of her hands. "I know. They even invited me to dinner tonight but I just couldn't bare to go.

"Why is that?" He inquired with interest.

Looking out at the water, she took a deep breath before she explained. "Whenever I look at them or I am with them, I see everything I have lost and everything I don't have. Emma has Hook back and Snow has charming. It seems things always work out for them, even if they do something wrong. I know they are there for me but how can they truly understand what I am going thru. They have their true loves and mine is gone. I feel like a 3rd or 5th wheel and all I do is ache for him all the more."

"I hear you." He replied softly, without judegment, as they continued to sit there for a few more moments staring out at the waterfall in silence. A little while later, he pulled back a smidge in order to look at her as she raised her eyes to him. "It's getting late, why don't we pack up and make our way back. I believe I owe someone dinner." He commented to lighten the mood.

Chuckling a little with a small smile, she nodded and they proceeded to get up. They packed up their small picnic and went over to load the horses, who were grazing and drinking from the lake lazily. Before she mounted, she looked at the oasis once again and thought that she would definitely be coming back here again.

It didn't take them long to reach the stables once again. After they arrived, her and rob preceded to de saddle the horses and feed them. AS they were doing this, Lucien Lauren notable stable manager and trainer, exited from his office and approached her.

"Madame mayor. It's good to see you. May I have a moment?" he asked as he reached his hand out to shake hers. This got Rob's attention as he listened to them with peaked interest and he continued to groom his horse, not looking towards them.

She took his hand in greeting. "Please Lucien, just Regina."

"Right of course. I am actually glad I ran into you. It's been awhile since I have seen you here. There's something I have to let you know." He responded to her as they ended their hand shake.

"Is everything alright?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"Yes, it's actually about Blackjack here." Lucien replied as he petted the horse muzzle.

"Is everything ok with him. He rode great today. He's a great horse." She replied with concern in her voice as she too pet him on her neck.

" I'm glad you think so. He is a great horse. A little stubborn but once he trusts a person, you won't have a horse more loyal. That's why Robin thought he was the perfect horse for you."

Rob continued to silently listen as he groomed his horse and smiled at Regina's shock and the horse trainer's next words.

"What?" she breathed out in shock as she watched Lucien take papers out from a folder and presented them to her. "Well, Robin thought it was a perfect match, so much so, he bought—well more like bartered and worked at the stables in order to get him for you."

As she reached for the papers, she cursed herself for getting emotional again as she looked at his signature as the person paying for the horse and her name written in his messy script as Blackjack's new owner. Her hand was over her mouth in disbelief as how he could do this for her. "I don't understand…"

"He had some gold and jewels to trade in order to pay for him. What that didn't cover, he worked at the stables to pay for, which was usually when you guys were chasing the Dark Swan around. He wanted to surprise you himself, but…well…with everything that happened, he never got to."

"So he's mine?" she questioned with a shaky voice.

"All yours and I hope you accept because if your performance today is anything to go by, you and Blackjack are indeed the perfect match. He really took to you and he doesn't do that easily." Lucien explained to her.

Regina took a moment to contemplate her decision as she looked down at the paperwork. As she did this, with a gentle hand, she caressed her fingers over her Thief's signature with reverence. For whatever unknown reason, he wanted her to have this horse. Maybe because he knew she just loved to ride and there was a time in her life when it was the only place she felt free or maybe it was because he wanted to make sure she was never truly alone. Even in death, he is maybe always looking out for her. There was clearly only one decision to make. "ok." She responded looking up at Lucien with a wide smile and small laugh. "I guess I am horse owner again."

"Great!" Lucien clapped his hands together. "As you know we will help you to take good care of him here. I'll always willing help to train him too. He's a magnificent horse. And let us know if you ever want to order something special for him."

"Right. Thanks." Regina responded, still shocked, before Lucien turned and went back into his office, nodding at Rob, who was leaning against the wall, in silence understanding as he went by.

After she watched Lucien retreat, she folded up the papers that claimed her as Blackjack's owner, put them in her jeans pocket, and turned to Blackjack, petting and then leaning against his muzzle. "Did you hear that Boy, we are partners." She whispered to him with tears in her eyes and a wide smile her on face. Blackjack nuzzled her and then whipped his head up and down in excited. Regina giggled in excitement and then conjured one her coveted red apples for him as a treat, which he gladly devoured. With one more pet, she then turned and noticed Rob watching her as he casually leaned against the stable walls. With a new light in her eyes, she approached him and put her hands in her back pockets. "It looks like Blackjack is all mine." She said giddy with excitement.

Rod nodded. "A match made in heaven if you ask me and made even more evident by your display today."

She blushed at this comment before she replied, looking up at him. "It's almost like he's watching over me."

Rob ruminated a moment before he responded to her comment. "Indeed he is, Regina. He's with you, always and even if you don't know it, right next to you." She bite her lip before she nodded in response and he continued before she could say anything else. "Now why don't we get him cleaned up and back into his stable for the night. I believe I have a dinner to buy for you."

"That's right loser." She said as she made an L with her fingers and held it up to her forehead at him with a gloating smile.

After he chuckled at her, he took her hand from her forehead and guided her back to her new horse. They finished taking the riding gear off of him, groomed, and fed him. Regina even conjured up one more apple for him as well. Once they made sure he was comfortable, they then left the stables, said goodbye to Lucien, and made their way towards her Mercedes. Before they climbed in, he smiled at her over the roof of the car.

"What?" she asked curiously?

"I met my goal today?" he said back happily.

"And what was that?" she questioned further as she leaned on the car, arms crossed on top of the roof.

"I got you to smile and laugh today." He stated simply and went to get into the car before she could respond. With a roll of her eyes, she too climbed into the driver's seat and said to him as she started the car and then turned towards him, "Time to buy me my steak, loser." Once again, she made an L with her fingers and held it up to forehead, mouthing loser as she did so.

Rob just laughed with her.

Please please please review. They are gold to us writers. I sincerely want to know what you think and if I should continue.

Next chapter: Week 2-Ride Free