AN: well here we go. Thanks to all of those who reviewed, favorite, and followed! As always, mistakes are all mine. Please excuse them. *holds breath*
Who are you,
The one for who I'd really gladly suffer
Who are you,
The one I'd always love above another
You're my world, you're my hope, you're all my dreams and all my heart
Who are you
The one I'd give my life to
Who are you,
that loves as deep as I do
Who are you,
Who takes me through the flood and through the fire
Who are you,
Who leads me through the desert and the dry
You're in my thoughts, you know my mind
You are my fate, you are my light
Who are you
The one I'd give my life to
Who are you,
that loves as deep as I do
You're my savior, you're my center
My beginning and my end
You're the one I live for, you're my angel
Who are you
You're in my thoughts (in my thoughts)
You know my mind (you know my mind)
You are my fate, you are my light
Who are you
The one I'd give my life to
Who are you,
that loves as deep as I do
Who are you
Who fell on me like fire
Who are you,
Who takes me through desire
Carrie Underwood—who are you?
Chapter 15: What Does it Mean to Be Soul Mates?
"In each of us two natures are at war...the good and the evil. All of our lives the fight goes on between them. but one of them must conquer. In our own hands lies the power to choose. What we want most to be, we are."- Dr. Henry jekyll
A week had passed since the ball and all had returned to normal, except one thing. Rob had been avoiding her like the plague and she hadn't the slightest clue why. Sure they had the intense conversation by her apple tree and it was apparent there were things he was hiding, but it seemed things had ended amicably between them. Still, he was avoiding her.
During the day, he came as he was supposed to in order to watch Roland but as soon as she came home from work, he left with barely a goodbye or a wave. Maybe later she would try to call or text him. It was the weekend and Roland was with the Merry Men on this one. Usually they would be doing something together but he hadn't texted nor did he call and he never said anything before he left yesterday.
"Morning Mom." Henry greeted her with a smile as he came into the kitchen to get some breakfast.
"Good morning, sweetheart." Turning, she smiled and then gave him a hug when he was next to her. "Did you sleep well?"
"Not too bad." Looking up, he answered her.
"Good." She nodded, rubbing his bicep up and down with the arm she had wrapped around his shoulder. "What can I get you for breakfast?"
After he paused in thought for a moment, he perked up as he knew the perfect thing. "How about apple pancakes?"
"Those sound perfect." She agreed as she went to the cabinets and started to gather the ingredients.
"So it's Saturday and Roland is with the Merry Men. Do you and Rob have plans today?" Henry questioned as she brought everything to the center island, a grimace crossing her face.
"No." she stated without going further until Henry gave her that look that said she should elaborate a little more. "He never said anything when he was here and I haven't heard from him. I feel like he's avoiding me." It felt nice to admit her concerns to someone.
"He has seen a little off this week. Maybe he's just stressed, trying to acclimate to this world."
Regina had to admit, her boy was smart but it didn't feel like that. "Maybe."
"Are you going to be ok by yourself today if you guys don't do anything?" Henry asked, a little concerned about his mom being alone without Roland or Rob when she hadn't been without someone for awhile now.
"I'll be fine Henry." She reached out and squeezed his hand quickly before pulling back to continue with breakfast.
"You sure? Maybe Grandma can you keep you company?"
"Honestly Henry, I just spent a "girls night" with her and Emma last night, I think I've had enough of Snow's hope speeches for the weekend. I'll open a bottle of wine and read the book I've been meaning to start for weeks now. Don't worry about me. It's my job to worry about you, not the other way around. " Her tone was one that said this conversation was final and seemed to work because Henry just nodded his head. "Now get over here and help me with these. Emma will be waiting for you."
So for the next hour, Regina and Henry enjoyed breakfast together before Henry raced up to get ready to leave to spend the day with Emma and the Pirate. After he had left, she decided to text Rob to make sure everything was ok. Maybe everything she was thinking was all in her mind. A few minutes after she sent the first text, he answered her which was a good sign and continued to do so but in short one or just a few worded answers, which were all kind of evasive.
She asked if he was ok and he said fine. Then she brought up if they would be doing anything today and he said can't, I'm busy. After that she got a little more ballsy and asked if he was avoiding her and he just replied no, other things to do today and he would make it up to her. This helped but she still had this feeling that lingered in the bit of her stomach. Feeling lonely and unable to sit around, she got dressed in black shorts and her more laid back gray shirt to make her way out for the day. When she felt this loneliness and like she needed to talk to someone, she did what she always did and made her way to the grave yard.
Without even thinking about it, she unconsciously made her way to the tombstone that stood adjacent to her vault. For awhile, she didn't say anything and just tried to take the comfort of just being there with him, but it didn't help. As a tear fell, she began with a choked "I miss you…So much."
From there, she did what she always did and told him of what happened this past week, telling him of the ball, dinner with Emma and Snow, how Roland asked to call her Mama, and of the hair cut he got this past week. "It looks just like yours did." She explained to him as she wiped away an errant tear. After she finished, she just sat there and listened to the chirping of the birds, rustle of the wind through the trees, and cawing of the crows over head. Before she left, the words tumbled out as they always did without her control. "I love you, Robin of Locksley, so much. I wish I would have had the chance to tell you wh—when you were al—" Her emotions were starting to take over and she couldn't even finish that last word. "I only hope that you can hear me now." She muttered out, an emotional croakiness to her voice.
"Oh I think he hears you loud and clear Dearie." Rumple taunted as he appeared around from behind the vault causing Regina to jump in surprise, having no idea that he was there. "What are you talking about?" Honestly, she had no idea what he was referring to but instead of answering, he just stared at her with his signature grin before opening his mouth again but not really talking to her at all. "Come on, Show yourself thief!"
Regina had to reiterate once again, having no idea what he was referring to. "What are you talking about?"
Again Rumple was talking to someone but not her. "Come out, Come out wherever you are, thief." It came out in an eerie sing song voice. Rumple waited and still no one appeared; now he was getting agitated. "Come out thief or I will force you and you don't want to force my hand. I know you're lurking around here!"
After this threat, there was a rustle from the tree behind her and then a pair of legs could be seen dangling before a body dropped from the trees into a crouched position before standing up. It was Rob.
Regina's mouth was open in shock before she stood up and a look of anger took over. "What are you doing? Spying on me?"
As she was speaking, Rob's head shot up to look at her. "I prefer to call it protectively looking over you."
"Are you watching me all the time?" she asked now annoyed.
"No." Is all Rob replied.
"Do you watch me through the window in my home too?"
"No." Rob answered quickly, a little astonished she could actually think he would invade her privacy in that way. "I'm not a peeping Tom."
"Enough squabbling like children." Rumple jumped in to cut off their bickering, first looking to Regina. "Now it comes to why I am here, your majesty." Then he looked over to Rob with a knowing malicious smirk on her face. "Your last chance, Thief, Do you want to tell her or should I?"
Even though he wanted to, he just couldn't find the strength to open his mouth and bowed his head down in embarrassment. He didn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes.
"Someone tell me what is going on?" Regina bellowed, getting more agitated. "NOW!"
Before either could open their mouths, chatter could be heard coming towards them and slowly got louder until Emma, Hook, the charmings, and Henry made their way towards them.
"Ah, perfect timing." Rumple said in almost excitement.
"Why did you call us here, Gold" Emma asked as she crossed her arms in front of her, voice drenched with frustration.
"Well…I'm glad you asked, savior. I brought you all here for a little story time." Rumple goaded as he then turned back towards Rob and held up the rolled pages in his hand. "And it's quite the story, wouldn't you agree thief"
"DON'T DO THIS" Rob Howled towards Dark One.
"We HAD a deal." Rumple screamed back as he pointed towards Rob. "And NO ONE breaks a deal with the Dark One. NO ONE. Now…Its time for everyone, including her majesty, to find out—"
"Find out what? Are those pages from the book? Why does he keep calling him Thief?" Regina curtly interrupted Rumple from her spot kneeling on the ground, getting more agitated each second as her patience waned. At some point the others had made their way and stood behind her, also confused yet interested in what was happening.
"Who he really is." Rumple acknowledged her question as he pointed at Rob with each word. "To answer your other question, yes, it's the story of his past that he didn't want anyone, including you your majesty, finding out. Now…If you would stop interrupting me, I'd say it's time to start the story."
Off to the side, Rob leaned against the giant oak tree with his head bowed in defeat and not knowing how Regina was going to react to everything. Would she hate him?
After clearing his throat, Rumple began the tale. "Once upon a time…"
There was a young prince named Robert, oldest of two boys, who was born to the kingdom with the greenest of forests. He was the apple of his mother's eye while his while his brother took more to his father, who was a hard ruler who took to the bottle in times of stress. The Queen, on the other hand, was a kind ruler with a soft touch who was forced into this arranged marriage that was not one of love. Her boy was never far behind, always following her around like a baby bird, which is how he got his nickname.
He had a heart of gold while his brother was a little terror. As they got older, the difference in personalities only showed more. The young heir had a soft hand and golden heart like his mother but so unlike his father who did not. As the kingdom struggled, so did the king who took to the bottle and the more he took to the bottle, the angrier he got.
One night he drank more than he ever had and after the Queen denied him, she ended up with a slap to the face. The more the king continued to drink, the more the abuse happened and the more the Queen hid it from her two boys to keep them safe and out of the line of fire.
The boys grew up to become strong men but they watched as their mother grew more weary from the unknown abuse. On the night of his 18th birthday, the noble prince, went to his mother's chambers to share a sweet cake with her as he always did on his birthday. When he arrived, he heard a ruckus and clambering on the end of the door. He even heard screams but when he reached for the door it was locked.
Ramming against it, he tried to get in as the sounds continued but the strong wooden door wouldn't budge. Then suddenly, the sounds on the other side of the door stopped and he heard the door click open. Immediately, he opened the door, ran in, and what he saw caused his heart to drop. By the fireplace, he saw his mother's body stiff and unmoving. Rushing to her side, he bent down and all he could focus on were the bruises on her neck and the reflection of the fire in the glassiness of her unblinking eyes that would haunt him for the rest of his days. He didn't need to feel for a pulse to know that his mother was dead. Anger started to take over.
"Harlot had it coming to her."Rang his father's slurred voice from the chair he was sitting on in the corner before he stood up and came into the light of the fire. "She was weak. Just like you—Mama's Boy." Anger turned to rath at his father's taunts and the prince then knew his emotions were out of his control. His mother was dead. Murdered by the hands of his own father. With the pace a sloth, he turned to look at his father, pupils dilated in rage, and got to his feet to slowly make his way towards his father who backed away with fear on his face.
"I am NOT weak and neither was she." The prince grunted before he tackled his father to the ground and began throwing punch after punch across his face with blood flying through the air landing on his face and shirt. When his arms tired from the repeated swings, he reached down, wrapped his hands around his father's neck, cutting office his oxygen supply, and watched as his wretched father gurgled and grunted for breath. With in the gurgle, his father spoke and struggled to get out the mocking words "Little Bird", causing the prince to squeeze harder and watch as the life drained from the King's eyes.
He loosened his grip and without a second thought, he turned and went to his mother, crying as he cradled her in his arms. "I'm so sorry mother I didn't protect you better." Then there was foot steps echoing from outside that he knew belonged to his brother, probably looking for their now dead father, and would hang him, thinking he killed both parents. Knowing he had no other choice,he kissed his mother's cold cheek one last time before he fled the kingdom and gave up his birth right, leaving his sinister brother to rule.
His brother put a bounty on his head—dead or alive—for treason against the crown and murder of the King and Queen. It became hard to hide as even the neighboring kingdom knew his face and those that didn't could because of the wanted posters scattered throughout the land. He laid low as darkness, anger, and self loathing took over. One day he heard talks of a witch who lived deep in the forest who may be able to assist him. After collecting further information on this witch's where about, he traveled into the depths of the darkest parts of the woods and found her cabin.
The witch was willing to help him but only if he did something in return. She required ingredients from the Dark One's castle and, even though he heard rumors and knew of the dangers, he quickly agreed. Just getting out by the skin of his teeth, he was able to retrieve what the witch needed. His reward was a glamour potion that would hide him by bringing forth the physical representation of his other half. No one would recognize him.
Now hidden, Robert lived while stealing from others and it didn't matter if they rich or poor, woman or man, adult or child. Nothing got in his way. He would kill to survive. Darkness, anger, and self-loathing ate at his soul that he was losing from the light. His mother would be so disappointed in him.
The darkness encroached on him more every day until he met two men, who would become his friends, provide support, and bring him slowly back into the light, giving him something else to live for. But he couldn't live with his darkness or live with knowing his past mis deeds. While drinking at a local pub one night with his friends, he heard tales of a wizard of sorts working on a serum that could separate your good from your evil side. The only catch was this "doctor" was in another land that needed a key to get thru the door and the only one who had one was the local count. He smiled, knowing this one of castles that was easier to break in.
After easily nicking the key from said count, he easily found the door in his castle and made his way towards this doctor he heard tales of. Dr Jekyll was thrilled to have someone willing to try it but would need one last ingredient to complete his serum that he had ran out of, the golden forsythia. What's one more night of selfish thievery?
Like taking candy from a baby, he returned with more Forsythia than the doctor could ever dream of. With the final ingredient added, the serum was complete and the doctor asked if he was ready. Without blinking an eye, Robert rolled up his sleeve and let the doctor inject him, causing him to scream as his two halves tore apart from one another. Once separated, they quickly cuffed his darker half and locked him down in the dungeons below, never to be heard of again. His dark halve's story stalled there.
The Prince felt free but there was one last thing to do. He had to visit the witch again and use magic once last time in order for his friends to know him as always being this man. From this point on, The prince swore to avoid magic all at costs.
Rumor has it, the prince's band of men grew and he fell in love with a fair maiden. Taking it on themselves to make their own noble cause, they would go on to steal from the rich and give to the poor. The prince of Sherwood Forest would no longer be known as Robert of Locksley, or Robin of Locksley as his dear mother nicknamed him, but henceforth would be known as Robin Hood.
"The End." Rumple said with a salacious grin on his face as he held out the page with Robin's light and dark self depicted on the page out to Regina, who was staring out in front of her in shock at the tale she just heard. How was this possible?
Behind her, the charmings, her son, and hook's jaws were open in shock. Robin hadn't moved and held his head in shame, not wanting to see the look of disappointment on Regina's face. Was he ever an honorable man or was he always a fraud?
Slowly, Regina got to her feet and walked over to rumple. Without a word and with shakey hands, she reached out and took the pages from Rumple. Before her on the page, was the Robin she had always known with bright eyes and dimpled smile but below there was also the depiction of the man she had come to know as Robert with dark hair, pompous smirk, and the blue eyes that had always felt familiar. Now she knew why because Robin and Robert were one in the same with one being his light and the other his darkness. As she was taking this all in, she just stared at the page shaking in her hands—flabbergasted.
"You know." Rumple chimed in as everyone was still silent, not really understanding everything that was going on. "I think there was a lesson on glamouring and that there are some things that you just can't hide that I never taught you. The things that are truly part of you, for instance—scars, birth marks, beauty marks." Rumple's finger glided across the queens cheek down to her birth mark she wore on the side of her chin. Disgusted, she batted his hand away before he sniggered at her in delight. "And even Tattoos." As he finished those words, Regina's head shot up to pay attention to his next question. "Tell me, Your Majesty, did you ever notice his rather warm clothing on hot summer days and did you really believe him when he said he had sensitive skin while swimming together." Regina's eyes widened in shock, not understanding how he knew about that day. He just chuckled darkly. " You forget, Your Majesty, I have eyes everywhere…but just let me say say today is rather hot for long sleeves, isn't it." With a wicked sneer, he looked at Rob who still held his head in shame while Rumple seemed rather proud of his rhetorical question.
Realizing what Rumple was insinuating, Regina slowly turned to finally look at Rob before she dropped the pages, letting them float to the ground, and tromped over to him. Without bothering to look at him, she grabbed his right wrist a bit roughly, undid the sleeve button, and rolled it up, her breath catching as the lion tattoo that haunted her dreams for so long was revealed to her. A whimper escaped and eyes watered as she covered her mouth with a shakey hand. How was this possible?
At the same time, they looked up and their eyes met, an electric current running between them. Blue eyes met brown and Regina could honestly say she knew those eyes because they belonged to her Robin. No wonder she always felt a pull towards him and this version was equally insufferable! Was it possible that he was back within his dark self and he wasn't obliterated? Was their some of magic that kept him tethered to this world?
With the hand that covered her mouth, she brought it to his cheek and rubbed her thumb back and forth along his scruff, eyes flickering back and forth as she thought of all the circumstances that could have made this happen. As she did this, Rob closed his eyes and savored the feeling of her hand against his cheek. Then she brought her other hand and traced his forehead as he opened his eyes and watched her as she traced her thumbs down to his eyebrows, over his eyes causing them to close, then open again as she slid them down to his nose, and then down to his dimples before stopping. "R—Ro—Robin?" she questioned in a broken voice, unsure if this was real.
"Yes, Milady." He answered her with a hopeful, watery smile and waited for a reaction, to which her breath hitched and a whispered gasp escaped. Grasping both of her hands with his, he kissed each palm before continuing. "It's me. I've been with you, always."
"How is this possible?" she whispered, still shocked and confused how any of this could be possible, especially because she was right there as she watched him take the proverbial bullet for her.
Keeping both of her hand clutched in his, he brought them to his chest and over his heart. " it seems you aren't the first to want to get rid of their dark half and It seems our connection and love is stronger than the power of the gods." His smile beamed as he watched her take in the information, clearly thinking there was more to it and not believing this possible for her. "What you saw happened. My soul was separated from my body but couldn't be obliterated because my other half lived on. Before my other half was brought here from the land of untold of stories, my soul was tethered to you. I followed you wherever you went, even to New York. But when we returned to Storybrooke and Hyde brought his people with him, I felt myself being ripped from you and before I knew it, I was rejoined with my former self.
Overwhelmed in different emotions that included shock at how this was possible, joy that he was somehow alive, and anger at him for not telling her, she pulled her hands from his, turned her back, and walked a few steps away from him, trying to process all this information. What kind of magic was at play here? Taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes and turned her head to the summer sun, taking in its warmth and hoping somehow it would give her strength. Tilting her head back down, she opened her eyes and saw Snow staring at her with a knowing smirk. The rest of the charming clan looked gobsmacked and rumple leaned against her vault, looking like he couldn't be less interested.
"I know what you're thinking." Rob started again, trying to explain everything as best as he could. "Why didn't I tell you?"
Her shoulder's tensed for a moment then relaxed. Damn the bastard for knowing what she was thinking even when she wasn't looking at him. No wonder why she always felt a connection and felt drawn to him. "The truth is I didn't know what to do. I didn't know if you would believe me. I didn't want you to be disappointed by my past and the fact I wasn't the man you knew me to be. I didn't know to fix this."
Before Regina turned back to him, an possible idea crossed her mind on how to fix this but she wasn't sure it would work. If their connection and love was powerful enough to survive the Olympian crystal and Hades, could it also fix it and bring back Robin to the man he truly is? Could she have her thief back? Could his children have their father back?
She looked back up to snow, who smirked and nodded her head, knowing what Regina was thinking. Leave it to snow to have hope this would work.
Turning back to Rob (or robin?), she wiped away a rogue tear and marched to stand back in front of him. "Oh stupid thief." She whispered as she cupped his cheek again and he took her other hand in his. "I am disappointed but not in the way you think."
"What?" He had a bemused look on his face, not knowing what she was going to say."
"I'm disappointed because you think I can't handle a little darkness."
"It's not just a little darkness." He pointed out, looking down from her eyes in mortification before she moved her hand from his cheek to his chin and tilted his face back up to meet her gaze.
"Join the club." She teased with a smile as she took both of his hands and gave them a gentle, loving squeez. He chuckled in return.
"I-I may know a way to fix this." She said, still a little unsure, but she knew the only way this would work was if she believed.
"How?" he questioned with a tilt of his head.
"Do you trust me, completely?"
"I do." He reiterated those words he had first said to her in the office when "Marian" had been put under the ice curse.
"Ok." she took a deep breath as she stepped a little closer and cupped his cheek again. "I want you know, I'm with you, always. No matter what." She knew she would love him no matter what, darkness and all. God, please let this work. Then she leaned in gently and he finally realized what she was thinking. He knew she was right and didn't know why he himself didn't think of this sooner. So he glanced down before closing his eyes and meeting halfway, lips lightly brushing before a more hearty and passionate kiss was shared between the two. It took a nerve racking second, but a current of electricity shot up from their toes until it met their lips, creating a pulse of magic radiate from them so strong, it caused Regina to fly back, roll a few times, before she came to a stop, and then leaned back up on her hands to look towards Rob.
With a hand clasped over her mouth in shock, she watched as waves of the whitest magic developed at his feet and began to overtake him in a tornado like fashion. It overtook him completely, up to his head until it started to disappear the way it came, from the ground up. As Regina continued to watch, she held her hand over her mouth, tears formed in her eyes, and she rocked back and forth as her nails dug into the grass below.
The tornado of white magic continued to disappear to reveal brown cargo paints, a cream henly with forest green quilted vest, a quiver belt wrapped around his chest and waist, up to a maroon scarf around his neck, and then finally the tornado disappeared, revealing the man she had come to know as her soulmate.
Robin was back.
Before anyone said anything, Robin examined his hands and then went to touch his face, making sure this was real. A bright smile formed on his face as he looked back up to a still shocked Regina on the ground "Hello, my love." He too was on the verge of tears.
Without hesitation, she jumped up, ran towards him, to give him what everyone thought was going to be a hug. But Regina didn't know if this was real or one of those aching beautiful dreams that haunt her. Robin held his arms open for a hug but that was not what he received. After she reached him, tight fists pounded into his chest over and over as she screamed at him. "I TOLD YOU NOT TO GET IN MY WAY. WHY CAN'T YOU EVER LISTEN YOU STUPID THIEF!" Her fists continued to hit his chest as she cried, not sure if she was relieved or angry at him, until Robin struggled to grab her wrists to get her stop. "Regina! Stop! Regina stop it." He continued to struggle until he finally was able to gently grasp her wrists and pulled her into a hug as she clutched with white knuckles onto his henly and continued to sob into his chest. Still in shock, her shakey legs couldn't hold her anymore and she would have fallen if Robin didn't catch her. They ended up on their knees as Regina continued to weep into neck, arms now wrapped around his lower back in order to hold him close.
Off to the side, the Charmings, Emma, Hook, and Henry watched the scene in astonishment. "And we thought Zelena being Marian was crazy." Emma commented a shes gawked and couldn't look away from the scene in front of her.
"But this is a good crazy thing." Snow said with a choked up voice. "He's back. It wasn't fair she had to lose love again but he's back."
"Did he ever really leave?" Charming stated, pointing out the obvious question.
"I guess he didn't. He's been with her all along." Henry replied with a bright smile on his face as he watched his mom and Robin reuniting yet again.
Robin continued to hold a weeping and shaking Regina as he peppered her hair with gentle kisses. "I'm here Regina. Calm down. I'm here." But she continued to sob with choking breaths. Clearly, she was in such shock and she was having trouble breathing, unable to catch her breath. So he gently pulled away as he kept his hands on her shoulders and caressed her arms up and down to try and sooth her. "Breath, Regina, Breath." He was now trying to get her to look at him but she seemed to be enthralled by one of the buttons on his shirt, her breath still fast and irregular. "Look at me, Regina. I need you to breath."
"I—I C—C—Can't." She choked out the words between sobs as she continued to look at his chest, avoiding his eyes. This can't be real, she thought. His soul was obliterated. If I look up, he will be gone.
Not being forceful, he gently cupped her cheeks and guided her head up and met her glassy eyes as tears continued to fall from them. She still was gulping for air. "Breath with me…Please. I know you're in shock but you're going to pass out. Now In…" He directed her as he took a deep breath in and she followed with a shaky inhale. "Now out." He let a whoosh of air out and she followed. "Good. Now keep doing that with me." He guided her as he leaned his forehead against hers and they continued to breath together in silence. When her breath became more even, he broke the silence, knowing they had so much to talk about. "Hey…are you feeling ok enough to get us out of here. We have a lot to talk about and I'm sure you have a lot of questions. I want to answer all of them but we should talk alone." With a nod, they disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke."
"Wow." hook said with astonishment. "This is crazy, Swan. Don't you agree?"
Emma didn't answer him but she did continue to stare at Gold who was leaning against Regina's vault with a smug grin on his face. "What was it?" she asked Gold
"What was what dearie?" He asked back, not bothering to look her way yet.
"The deal you made with him."
Now Gold turned towards her. "He came to me for help with his little situation and try to get back to his former self."
"But there's always a price with you." Emma pointed out. "What was his?"
" I told him I would help him and in return he would have to do something for me."
"And what was that?" Charming asked.
A sadistic smile came over his face before he answered. "I wanted the Evil Queen back and I asked for the Thief's help."
They all stood in silence for a moment as they took this revelation in before Henry spoke up. "But Rob really was Robin. He would never do that to Mom. She's come too far."
Rumple just stood there with his arms crossed, not acknowledging what Henry said. The rest just stood in silence, shocked by this whole situation and what Rumple just said. Snow, however, had a look of deep thought across her face, thinking about Rumple and Henry had both said. Then it was a light a light bulb went off. "You knew he wouldn't be able to do it." Snow said to rumple, in more of a statement than a question. Not uttering a word back to Snow, he just stood there with that typical rumple grin on his face. "You gave him something you knew he wouldn't be able to do and that he would fail. You basically brought them back together. You helped them. Why?" she asked Rumple as she furrowed her brow in suspicion.
"That, dearie, is none of your business." He retorted back a little gruffly before he disappeared in a bloom of his own signature maroon smoke.
Back at the mansion, Regina transported them into the safety of her living room in front of the fireplace. They arrived in the same position, on their knees with foreheads resting against one another. Regina was still shaking in shock.
"You're still shivering my love." He commented with a concerned voice as he rubbed his palms up and down her arms in order to try to sooth her, which didn't seem to be working. "Take a seat on the couch." Not knowing what else to do or what was going through her brain; she simply listened without a retort, and let him help her to get comfortable. Taking the afghan from the back of the couch, he gently draped it over her shoulders, and tried to rub her shoulders again. It seemed to help but she still seemed in shock, which wasn't all that surprising. "Let me get you some water." He left and quickly made his way into the kitchen.
She didn't bother to reply, still stone cold silent and flabbergasted that he was right in front of her. Her thief was somehow alive? She had so many questions running through her mind and she didn't know where t start. So many emotions as well—pure joy, shock, anger, annoyance, and disbelief were just a few.
"here." She heard robin say as he bent down in front of her and put the glass in her hands. When did he get back? OMG he has been here the entire time. "Drink this." But she didn't move right away and he was concerned at her lack of response or words. "Please." He asserted with concern and he pushed her hands holding the glass closer to her face. As she listened and drank, she took a sip and seemed to awaken a thirst in her she hadn't realized was there. She gulped the whole glass before he took it from her and placed it on the coffee table. "Let me start a fire. It's getting chilly and you're still shivering a little bit."
As he built the fire with practiced hands, she watched silently and just reveled in his presence, unsure how this was possible. After the fire flickered to life, he left again but came back with two high ball glasses with ice in them and a bottle of whiskey. She watched silently as he poured. "I think we are going to need this." He tried to joke a little and she finally adjusted her gaze to look at his face. The face she had missed so much.
As he handed her the glass, his eyes met hers and he gave her a comforting smile before he too sat on the couch. For awhile, they both just sat and sipped their drinks in silence, neither knowing where to start. The silence was deafening. Eventually, Regina let out a breath and found her voice. "So…" she croaked out.
"Yeah…" He replied staring down at the amber liquid in his glass, the familiarity of the conversation rushing back to them both as they recalled that conversation in the bar in NY those months prior. It felt like a lifetime ago.
"It was you the whole time?" It came out more of a statement. At this point, she knew the answer but needed to hear it from him. Needed verification that this all wasn't in her head or that it was.
"Yes." He answered simply, not explaining any further.
"It was all you? The Horse—Blackjack?" she began with, looking over to him now, the glow of the fire highlighting his sandy blonde hair.
He looked over to her before answering and she saw the same blue eyes she had seen all of these weeks. The butterflies and connection felt no different, for either of them. "I paid and worked to get that horse for you between Camelot and going to the Underworld. Right before we left, I had officially worked off the last of the payment. I just never had the chance to give him to you. It was pretty much as the stable manager explained to you.
"Did you always ride a motorcycle?" Out of everything, this is the question you come up with? She thought to herself.
"Not I." he began shifting to angle himself more towards her. "That seemed to be what Rob did in the land of untold stories. I have to say, it is quite freeing and I rather enjoy it."
Their trip to the bar and the beach flashed through her mind. She remembered traveling along the road on the outskirts of Storybrooke to the bar and realizing they passed the diner she had told him about when he left with "Marian." "You didn't know about that bar from Yelp, did you?"
"No." He grimaced, gulping down a good portion of his drink before answering her. "That was something I ran into when we made our to New York. We stopped for food and stayed the night there. After dinner, I needed some space, so I left and somehow made my way to the beach. I was able to see the sunset and there were so many different colors. It was magnificent. It reminded me of you." Her breath hitched as he paused, gulping through the tightness in his throat. "When I was in New Yurok, there were times I missed you so much. I would travel there and somehow it made me feel closer you." He looked towards her then and gave her a sad smile. "There wasn't a day when we were a part I didn't miss you—N w or then."
Looking down at her nails, she nodded, wanting to believe him, before she asked her next question. She looked back up at him. "When you took me to see Sweeney and Johanna?"
"Rob knew Sweeney. I didn't but we shared memories. I wanted to do something special for you and I remembered, while in the underworld, you talked about cutting it again. How you thought you may have liked it shorter. I didn't care." He said lovingly as he reached out and tucked her hair behind her ear, keeping her gaze in the process. "I love your hair whether it's long or short."
She smiled as she took the hand he had left resting on her cheek into hers and left them locked together resting on the couch between them. "When we went swimming in the lagoon?"
"I rather enjoyed that one." He answered her rather cheeky to which she let his hand go and punched him the arm and yelled a "Hey" as if offended.
"What?" he retorted back as he rubbed where she punched him. "I can't help it if you look quite fetching in what does this world call those sorts of bathing clothes again?"
"A swim suit." She rolled her eyes at him. He was such a man. "If you think that's something, you should see a bikini."
"A bikini?" he questioned with a confused look on his face.
"Never mind." She cut him off, they were getting off topic. The other things they did seemed quite obvious why they did them or went along with getting the tattoo. "Roland? You pushed me to take him. Is that what you wanted?"
"He needed you, Regina. He was and is where he was supposed to be. What I wanted, you did. If I wasn't there, he needed the merry men and you. He needed the touch of a mother." Reaching out, he squeezed her hand with a watery smile.
She too had a small smile across her face with the thought of Roland but it quickly dropped knowing the next few questions were going to be loaded ones. "So that's why I always felt this pull towards you. This attraction… even though I shouldn't have. That's why I saw a flash of your face when we were dancing at the ball." She asked as she picked at her nails before looking up at him again. "Because it was really you? I wasn't going crazy?"
"You were never crazy and that's exactly right. It looks like we feel the same pull towards the one we are destined to be with, even if its our dark side."
"Why didn't you come to me? Why didn't you tell me? Of all people, why did you go to Rumpelstiltskin for help?"
"Well, if I had known all I had to do was snog you a little bit..." He joked, trying to lighten the mood. It did get her to chuckle a little bit. He scooted a little closer so they were knee to knee and he took her hand in both of his. "That answer is a bit complicated,"
"Complicated?" she repeats his words back to him, a little annoyed at his answer.
"Just hear me out alright?" Pausing a moment, he waited for her ok and she gave it with a nod of head, giving him the chance to explain. "In the beginning, I didn't get what was going on and I didn't know what to do. I wanted to stay away but just couldn't. I didn't want to cause you more pain than you were already in and I didn't know if you have believed me—so I went to Rumple for help and he made me a deal."
"Of course I would have believed you." She cut him off bluntly, annoyed that he would doubt her in the first place and ignoring what he said about Rumple for now. They would get to that later.
"Really, Regina? You wouldn't have thought that maybe I, or someone else, was playing a cruel joke on you?"
Her silence was an answer because they both knew Regina would have thought exactly that. "Then I also thought that maybe all of this was happening for a reason."
"What do you mean?" Regina asked for clarification. How could she thinking that he was obliterated happen for a reason?
"You once told me that we were soulmates." They both smiled at the memory, back when things were so simple. "I got to thinking about what that means."
"Ok." she said, urging him to continue.
"I think it's obvious it's a type of True love but I think its more and deeper than that. Thinking about everything that happened between us, I couldn't help but to think that maybe a soulmate is someone no matter what time, land, realm, or lifetime is exactly who you need them to be, whether it's a partner, lover, competitor." He laughed as he leaned in and presses his forehead to hers, remembering the alternate universe the former author had created. Even as competitors, they knew there was something thee. "Or maybe it's a best friend."
Regina smiled as she thought about what he said and remembered all the times they had met and that they had been all of things to each other. Each time, they HAD been what the other needed. "That's quite poetic."
"And I'm not done. " He smiled smugly before continuing. "I thought, for whatever reason, maybe Rob was what –or who—you needed."
"I NEEDED YOU." She yelled in exacerbation as she jumped up from the couch and went over to the fire place, leaning against the mantle, and trying to regain her composure. He waited, knowing she was going to say more. "I needed you." She said a little more calmly as she stared into the fire, a night not long after his wake flashing through her mind. "So much I even tried a locator spell. Of course it didn't work—not at that time." Sighing she paused again before continuing, her voice coming out a little gruff. "And who are you to tell me what I need. My whole life people have told me what I need. My mother, Snow, the king, Rumplestiltiskin—"
"No…" he cut her off and got up to stand next to her at the mantle. "This is coming out all wrong." He tried to explain to her as he ran his hands through his hair nervously. Then he leaned a little closer to her. "I thought that Rob could help you or show you things in a way I never could. I thought that maybe…maybe…"
"Maybe what?" she snapped, turning towards him and leaning against the mantle with her arms crossed in front of her.
"Maybe that he could show you that you could be happy with OR WITHOUT me." He put emphasis on "or without." "That's all I ever wanted for you. I wanted you to find your happiness."
"But he was you!" she stomped while throwing her hands down to her sides in frustration while her heart fluttered in her chest. Besides Henry and her father, Robin was one of the first people who genuinely wanted her to find her happiness and even putting it before his own. Then again, she did the same thing for him. She guessed that's what true love was. God her emotions were on a roller coaster. She was annoyed, angry, and relieved that he was here all at the same time.
"But you didn't know that." He stated simply, looking her in the eyes as he placed his palms on her shoulders and gently squeezed.
"I would have if you were honest with me, Robin. We could have figured it out together. What happened to doing things together?" she shot back at him.
Robin just sighed and plopped back onto the couch, covering his face and hanging his head in embarrassment. "I didn't want to see the look on your face."
"What look?" she asked, her face showing confusion.
He looked up at her before answering. "The look of disappointment in you finding out I wasn't the honorable man you thought." He began, holding up his hands to stop her when she tried to interrupt him, knowing what she was going to try and say. "I once told you I was a very different man and now you know that's the truth. I told you that you were a lot like me and that's the truth. I couldn't protect my mother. When I saw that my father had killed her, it changed something in me. I saw red. I killed my father with my own bare hands and I ran, a man wanted for treason. I lived in anger and self loathing. I selfishly stole and killed if someone got in my way. I used magic to deceive others, even little john and tuck."
"That was actually pretty smart. Using the potion to make them always know you as you look now and not as Rob." She complemented him as she walked back over and took her seat next him, taking his hands and making him turn towards her. "If anything disappointments or angers me, it's the fact you think your past changes my feelings for you at all because it doesn't. You know my past robin and it's darkness. It would make me a hypocrite to be disappointed in you. It seems we are two peas in a pod and we are much alike, more so than we thought. Maybe that's a part of being soulmates as well. But what disappoints me is you didn't have faith in me—in us. Nothing you tell me about your past will change the way I look at you or change my feelings. I believe it was YOU who told ME our future isn't written by our past."
"Using my own words against me, Milady." He sassed back at her, trying to lighten the mood a bit.
"Only because you deserve it." They both chuckled before he continued. "And I will never not have faith in you Regina. I have more faith in you than you will ever know. I didn't have faith in myself. I just…" he sighed out a deep breath before continuing. "I didn't want to cause you more pain or disappointment than I already had, especially with…" he couldn't finish the sentence; bile was rising in his throat.
"Especially with what?" she inquired, not understanding what he was trying to say.
"After the ball, you shared a lot of things with Rob, well I guess me. You confessed to him a lot of the things you felt you couldn't share with me because you didn't want to hurt me or cause me further guilt."
It dawned on her that he was talking about everything that happened with Zelena impersonating Marian. She never wanted him to find out some of the things she felt. It wasn't his fault what happened. Straightening in her seat a bit, she nervously ran her hands up and down her thighs, trying to avoid his gaze. She told Rob—or him—a lot that night.
Robin stopped her fidgeting hands with a squeeze of his own, causing her to look back up at him with hesitation. "I want us to be able to talk about anything. I know that sounds weird coming out now but I mean it. I want us to talk about anything with each other, whether it's the good or the BAD. You spent your whole life suppressing your feelings. I don't want that to happen with us. I want you to share whatever you're feeling with me." With a sniff, she nodded in agreement, causing him to continue on. "When you brought us back from New York, you choose to give us another chance and I will forever be grateful for that but we never talked about what happened. We avoided it for whatever reason, whether it be because you didn't want to cause me further pain or maybe we wanted to pretend it never happened." He waited then, throwing the ball in her court.
It took her a moment, not really knowing where to begin, but it just came out. "I've always been the second choice." She whispered, knowing she had said those same words to Rob that night and it caused Robin to squeeze her hands, urging her to continue. He wanted her to be completely open with him and he wanted to be with her. They both have held things back now and there would be no more of that. "Second daughter, it turned out, second wife, second mother. It felt like you only chose to come back and be with me was because Marian wasn't really Marian. Especially when you said you were with her and that was the new reality." Her voice was weary now with tears threatening to fall. She felt guilty even saying this.
"Oh Regina…" he said softly as he reached and locked their hands together again. "That couldn't be the furthest thing from the truth. "First off, looking back, there was no choice because you were the only one. I had already fallen in love with you by the time Emma brought "Her" back. It took me too long to realize I needed to follow my heart but I Meant what I said on the park bench that day. "I chose you and I will always choose you." He smiled brightly at her as he wiped away the lone tear slide down her cheek. He didn't know if it was a happy or sad one but he continued, knowing she was listening, even if she wasn't looking at him. This was painful but he needed to quell her fears. "The moment Zelena had me cross that line, my choice was taken away from me. I am sure if it was actually Marian that had come back that would have never happened. New York was never a reality; it was all manipulation and deception."
Regina slowly raised her gaze from their clenched hands to his face. "I never blamed you for any of it."
"I know Regina but that doesn't mean it didn't hurt you to hear that I had moved on…well…tried to move on." He could tell she was going to try and cut in and say it was what any honorable man would have done but he held his palm up to stop her. "I say tried because that's the truth. I tried to move on but no matter what I did, I could never get you out of my mind. Even my dreams were plagued with you. Even on the days where I would think about 99 times instead of 100, there you were in my dreams."
She smiled at that one and he leaned his forehead against hers then rubbed their noses together. "My feelings for you never stopped."
"Really?" she asked a little hesitantly.
"Really." He reassured her. "But I felt stuck. Zelena and Rumple manipulated me, deceived me, and played on my guilt."
"Rumple?" she questioned with a confused face. "How was he involved. I know he ran into to you but…'
"it was after he was out of the hospital and I brought him some of Neal's things. He said something like not appreciating what was right in front of me and if I knew what my happy ending was I should chase after it and never let it go." He sighed massaging his temples a second before continuing. "Looking back on it now, I realized what a manipulation it was because from what you told me, he had already made an alliance with Zelena. It makes me disappointed in myself."
"Rumple is a right bastard. You shouldn't feel disappointed in yourself because of him."
"But I do. When he said those words to me, I instantly thought of you, not Marian. But I thought you were lost to me for good. But even when I made what I thought was the honorable choice to try and make It work with Marian, something never felt right and now I understand why. It was never her and I hate myself that I couldn't tell but I still decided to follow a code instead of my instincts and I promised never to do that again because in doing that I hurt one of the people I care about most."
Regina smiled softly at his words before she let out a deep, tired sigh. "I don't blame you Robin. I never have."
"I wouldn't blame you if you did." He tried to comfort her.
"But I don't. Your honor was used against you and you were deceived and manipulated. I'm sorry for that. You were hurt because someone wanted to hurt me." She then got up and started to pace back a forth before stopping and fidgeting with her fingers, a little nervous with her next question. "What do your instincts tell you now." Now she looked up and their eyes met as he stood, made his way over to her, and took her hands in his.
"What happened wasn't your fault. It was Zelena's." He explained back to her. "And my instincts tell me to love you in the way you deserve and never let you go again." Regina's heart seemed to stop for a second upon his words and her eyes went wide in surprise as he continued. "I've wanted to tell you this for so long now but never wanted to in all the chaos."
"Robin…" she tried to interrupt him but he cut her off with his forefinger over her lips, causing her to just look up at him. "I love you, Regina Mills, every piece of you and who you are. I love you for your darkness and your light. I love you for the hero and villain inside of you. I love you for your strength and your weakness. I love you for your sass and the gentle heart you pretend you don't have. I love you for your resilience and when you feel like you don't want to go on. I love you because you love not only with your heart but with your whole soul." His hands then cupped her cheeks and he wiped away the tears that had begun to fall. "I love you, Regina Mills, all of you—my soul mate, my true love, my partner, my lover, my competitor, and my best friend."
Her eyes flickered back in forth as they gazed at one another, Robin having the most gently smile on his face. He patiently waited for a response. "I—I—I…" She wanted to respond and say those words back to him but her throat tightened and the words became stuck. God damn it, she thought. When she thought he was gone, all she wanted to do was tell him and now that he was here, the words wouldn't come out. But she did love him—so much but now she was afraid of losing him all over again because her love seemed to be a death sentence.
Robin saw the war going on inside her eyes and decided to quell her fears. "It's ok, Regina." He took her in his arms and they stood for awhile, encased in a tight embrace and reveling in it.
"I'm sorry." She whispered feeling guilty.
"it's ok." He kissed her head in comfort as he rubbed her back. "I know you love me and you'll tell me when you're ready."
They pulled back from their embrace. Not knowing what else to do, she just nodded her head as she wiped away tracks the tears had left.
"It's late." He informed her as he looked at the clock over the mantle. It was bordering on 11 PM. They had been talking all evening. "Why don't we get some sleep and we can start to figure things out tomorrow.
Nodding in agreement, she let go of his hand and made her way to the hallway where the stairs led upstairs. He was right behind her but she turned abruptly before they ascended the staircase. "Would you mind sleeping in the guest room?" She started a little nervously before babbling on. "This is all a lot to take in and I'm still in shock—my emotions are on a roller coaster. I feel like I could use some time alone…to process everything"
He stopped her by putting his hands on her shoulders and catching her gaze. "It's fine. Don't worry about it. I know this is all overwhelming so I'll see you in the morning." He then kissed her on the cheek and watched as she made her way up the stairs, pausing to give him a tight smile before continuing to climb again. He followed her and went to the same room Rob, or him, would stay when he slept here a couple of nights.
After she was in her room, she quickly changed into her favorite silk, blue pajamas and zipped up Robin's hoodie over it before slipping under the covers. She wriggled to get comfortable but for the next half an hour, she tossed and turned unable to fall asleep.
Robin lay in bed, having stripped down to his boxer's and t shirt to try and get some sleep but it evaded him as well. He lay on his back, hands behind his head, and he started up at the ceiling, hoping that everything would work out for this. His thoughts were interrupted when he heard the soft padding of feet in the hallway and then the door squeaked open, revealing a sleepless Regina. "Can't sleep?" he asked.
She sniffed and crossed her arms in front of her giving him a watery, "no."
"Me too." He agreed with her as he sat up."I see you stole my hoodie, thief." He tried to joke. "It looks better on you, anyways."
"Don't tease me, Robin." She shifted a little, wrapping the hoodie more tightly around her.
"I'm sorry Milady." He apologized, not wanting to upset her. "Just trying to lighten the mood. Something's troubling you. What is it?"
Looking up from staring at the carpet, she met his worried gaze with glassy eyes. "I can't sleep because there's something I forgot to say."
"What is it?" His heart stopped, not knowing what she was going to say. Maybe that she hated him?
There was a quiver in her voice as she answered him. "I forgot to say how wonderful it is that you're back and it's all I ever wished for. It's a miracle."
Robin smiled and turned down the comforter as an invite for her to join him if she wished. So she padded over and crawled on the bed but she didn't go to lay next to him, she went over to him, straddled his lap, and clutched him a vice grip hug. She cried into his neck as he rubbed his palm up and down her back in a soothing manner. "it's ok, Regina. I'm here, with you, always. No matter what."
"How is this possible? It shouldn't be possible." she murmured into his neck before he pulled back a little in order to look at her, wiping away her tears in the process. "Well, you already heard the magic involved from earlier but I think it's more than that."
"What?" she asked curiously, urging him to go on as she wrapped her hands around his wrists and rubbed her thumbs against them.
"I don't think it was our fate." He explained to her as she gave him a curious tilt of her head, needing further explanation. "I don't think our story was supposed to end that way."
"What way is it supposed to end then?"
"Growing old together…watching our children grow up…just living a life and building a family together. Having old people sex." He joked causing her to laugh a little. God how he loved that sound. "I also think it could be just plain dumb luck."
"Luck." She rolled her eyes in annoyance. "That's a joke. Luck has never been on my side. It would be a first for me."
"Maybe this time it was." He said with hope and love in his eyes.
"It just doesn't seem possible that you're here." She explained as she looked down and fiddled with his under shirt. "So much so, I wonder if…" she trailed off, afraid to say the words.
"If what?" he questioned as he squeezed her waist.
"That it's all a cruel joke or someone is trying to play a cruel trick."
Taking a moment to think, he didn't respond right away, not understanding what she meant at first. But then it hit him and he gasped a breath. "You're afraid this isn't real. That someone is using a glamour spell and pretending to be me?"
"It wouldn't be the first time someone tried to trick me." She answered him, referring to not only Zelena, but her mother using the sheriff of Nottingham to impersonate her soul mate.
He knew what she meant and understood her fears. With his right hand, he slid her hair behind her ear and then cupped the side of her head, his tattoo coming into his eye line. She began running her hand over it. This gave him an idea. He pulled back and showed her his forearm. "You once told me the story of how your mother used…the sheriff." He spat on the words as he said them. He really hated that guy and would gladly punch him again. "To pretend to be me and it didn't take you long to realize he was a fraud. You revealed him by turning his fake tattoo into a magical lion that chomped at his neck—nice move by the way." She laughed and, yes, she was quite proud of herself on that one. "Well why don't you try the same thing now? If it's a fake, you'll be able to do the same thing, right?"
"Yes." She whispered before taking his forearm and cupping it underneath with her left hand as she traced over his tattoo with her right. She looked up at him and he nodded for her to continue, knowing there would be no little lion threatening to bite his carotid. So she called forth her magic and watched as it traveled to his tattoo. No lion appeared but his tattoo glowed the most beautiful pixie dust green she had ever seen. A bright smile shined from her face as she too was shrouded in the green light before she let go and it receded. "It's really you." She choked out.
"Yes, My love, it's really me." He responded as they embraced again in a crushing hug. "I'm right here."
For awhile, they just held each other wordlessly and basked in the fact that this was all real. The events of the day were real and so was he. They pulled back from their embrace and Robin went in to kiss her but she quickly receded from him. "What's wrong? Why won't you let me kiss you?'
"You know of the dreams and nightmares I had." He wordlessly nodded, wanting her to continue. "When it would storm, I would have nightmares. Mostly, they were me reliving what happened." She licked her dry lips nervously before continuing, taking a moment to center herself. "Or sometimes you dying in a whole new way, but most nights I would have these beautiful heartbreaking dreams of us. Most of the time, we were just reveling in being together or sometimes we would be with our friends and children. Sometimes…" she hesitated, getting a little emotional again in anticipation for what she was going to say.
"Sometimes what? Tell me regina, its ok." he urged her to continue.
"Sometimes it would be Henry, Roland, and little Robyn but other times there would be another little girl there, our little girl, with bright light blue eyes, dark hair, pale skin, and dimples that matched Robyn's and Roland's. In the end, I always knew those weren't real because us having a child together isn't possible."
"You sure about that?" Robin cut her off and she looked at him with a grim expression on her face.
"You know the potion I took years ago and that it's not possible, Robin."
"Really? You sure about that?" he repeated and he could tell she was getting annoyed now. But it was painful for her and she felt guilt over what she did. "I'm not so sure about that?"
"What makes you say that?" Her grim expression turned to an quizzical one, not sure what he was trying to say.
"The dreams I had while in New York. Most of the times, they had our children in them, but there was always two little girls in them. One was little Robyn but the other was exactly who you just described, our daughter.
Her mouth gaped open in shock. They dreamt about the same little girl? They shared dreams? How is that possible?
He spoke, taking her out of her own thoughts. "I'm not an expert in magic but I think you're forgetting the number one rule of magic, my love. One you know all too well."
"Please feel free to remind me." She sassed at him in sarcasm.
"All curses can be broken." He said with hope and light in his eyes.
"But this was a potion, not a curse." She explained the difference to him.
"Really?" he said with a raise of his eyebrows. "Tell me, what was the name of this potion you used?"
"The curse of the barren." She mumbled so that he couldn't understand.
"What?" he said playfully as he held up his hand to his ear as if to hear her better. "Didn't quite make that out."
"The curse of the barren." She spat out, a little annoyed.
"hmmm. I see." he said smugly. "the curse..."
"shut up." She adjusted herself a little bit in his lap
"I'm just saying it may be possible to reverse it, we just have to figure out how because if there's one thing I know, I'd love to have a baby with you."
"You want to have a baby with me?" she asked looking at him in somewhat disbelief.
"Nothing would make me happier." He smiled as he cupped her cheek and rubbed his thumb against it reverently.
"But what if there's no way to reverse it? It's been a long time." She had to state the obvious.
"Then I'm quite content being with you and our other children. My love for you isn't contingent on how many children you can give me. You're enough for me, Regina Mills." That warmed her heart. She never felt like she was enough for anyone. Everyone else's love had been conditional at one point or another. "Or we could adopt too."
"You'd adopt?" she asked, a little shocked by this revelation.
"Giving a child who needs a home and family one together, of course."
She smiled gently, touched by his words and brought him into a tight embrace again. He rested his chin over shoulder as he caressed her clothed covered back. "How did the dreams end? How would you wake up?" he asked, breaking the contented silence. She pulled back then and answered him. "They would always end the same way. We would be happy and together then you would go in to kiss me. Right before our lips met, I would wake up…alone."
That broke his heart and it dawned on him why she pulled back. "You're afraid that this is another dream and if I kiss you, you'll wake up." She nodded, a little ashamed. "This is very real, Regina. My tattoo showed that and maybe this will too. Tell me, does this feel real?" He gently took her hand in his and pecked the back of it then went to kiss the other. "Does this feel real?" he asked right before kissing it.
"Yes." She squeaked out at the contact.
"Does this?" he went and placed an open mouth kiss on her neck. She let out a contented sigh in answer. "How about this one?" He placed a similar kiss on the opposite side of her neck, to which he got a shaky yes to. "This one." He teased as he kissed her chin and then went to her forehead. "Did that feel real?" He then kissed each cheek, asking her if that felt real. She felt everyone of them. "Now tell me if this one feel's real." His hands cupped behind her head and he watched as their lips got closer. Right before they met, he closed his eyes and gently brushed his lips over hers before pulling back, watching as her eyes opened to meet hers. "See…Real and I'm still here." he pointed out with that smug grin of his. "We are still here. No dream. I'm real. THIS is real." He nuzzled his nose against hers.
That was all the confirmation she needed before she dove back in for a more passionate and not so hesitant kiss. They kissed and kissed, trying to make up for lost time. Lips parted, mouths smacked, and tongues caressed until they couldn't breath anymore and their need for oxygen caused them to break apart, smiling like two idiots at each other.
They stayed in contented silence for awhile, reveling in each other and sharing loving kisses. But Regina had one last question and her curiosity got the better of her, breaking the moment. "What was the deal?"
She had to ask, he thought but he said he would answer all of her questions. "Promise me, you won't get mad. I felt stuck and like I had no other choice." He scrunched his eyes shut in anticipation.
"I can't promise that." She answered him. "Just tell me."
"I was desperate to get back to you and the kids." He started, avoiding giving her a complete answer."
"Robin…" she scolded.
"Looking back on it now, I knew from the beginning I couldn't do it."
"Robin!" she said a little more boldly now, getting his attention and causing him to jump and open her eyes. "Just tell me!"
He sighed before he answered, looking up at her. "Rumple said he would help me if I helped you to find your darkness again. He wanted the Evil Queen back. For what purpose, I don't know"
"typical Rumple." She scoffed out, almost amused.
"What?" Robin asked, a little thrown she didn't seem to be more angry.
"He likes to pit people against one another. He wanted me to do the same thing with Emma and if I didn't, he was going to go after you. What was his threat to you?"
"Exactly what he did today. He was going to go after you and reveal everything. I didn't know how you would react." He looked a little nervous as to what she was going to say in return. "I took the deal before I knew what his payment was but I couldn't do it. I couldn't hurt you and you have come too far."
"That's what Rumple does, he manipulates things to go his way." She said as she crossed her arms around his neck.
"You don't seem mad?" Robin had to ask in order to make sure. Honestly, he was surprised.
"Am I mad that you didn't come to me, Yes. But it's not like you actually went through with it and it seemed to work out anyways."
He leaned his forehead against hers. "I'm sorry." He whispered to her. "Like I said, had I known all I had to do was snog you properly to fix this, well that wouldn't have been an issue."
" Not an issue? Well, why don't you make up for it now…" she bumped her nose with his as she teased him in a playful manner. Game on, he thought, before he not so gracefully flipped her onto her back against the pillows, hovered over her, and began to "snog" her properly with wide smiles on their faces. They continued to kiss, losing track of time, until they needed breathe, and Robin pulled back and gave her an Eskimo kiss. Then he leaned back but kept their limbs tangled together, propping himself up on elbow that laid on the pillow.
"Where do we go from here?" Regina asked, looking over to him.
"Well, I think now we will go to sleep and after we wake up together tomorrow, I'll make that breakfast I promised long ago." She smiled at that one as she caressed his arm up and down, continuing to do so as he went on. "Then I'd like to go see little Robyn and then, from there, go see my men and Roland. If that's ok?" he asked as he bent down and pecked her lips.
" I think that can all be arranged." She yawned.
"Good now lets get some sleep." He urged as he pulled the covers over both of them and they snuggled into each other. As they lay clutched to each other, he heard Regina take an inhale of breath and then a moan came out like "mmmmmm." "what?" Robin asked kissing her forehead.
"You smell like you and I missed that. I would wear this sweatshirt or use your cape as blanket and they never lost your smell but…"
"But what?" he asked pulling back a little to look at her properly.
"You smell like you, but different?"
"Different?" he said a little confused. "Different how? Bad different?"
"Not bad different. Now it's forest but with a hint of leather."
He thought a moment and there was only one thing that made sense. "Maybe that's my other half?"
"What do you mean?" she asked, looking up with sleepy eyes.
"When you were separated, the Queen smelled like cinnamon to me and you smelled like apples. Now I smell both."
It seemed to hit her what he meant now. "And now you smell like forest and leather because you're rejoined with your other half." He nodded in response to her answer. "well…I like it." She beamed as she drew him in for a short, no less passionate, kiss and then sunk back into her pillow.
"Sleep, my love. I'm here." He said as he too lay down on his pillow, head close to hers.
"You'll be here when I wake up?" She had to make sure.
"I'll be here when you wake up…Always."
AN: Now I'm holding my proverbial breath, waiting to hear what you guys think. I hope it lived up to expectations. Review and you may just get a sneak peek for the next chapter, which I don't know when will be done as I'll be out of town starting next Saturday for the holiday.
