A huge thank you for all your comments, follows and favorites. Each one means a lot to me. Please keep them coming. Be nice ;)
Favor, I know this is not exactly what you asked, so I will try and do your prompt again in a different chapter. Thank you!
Well, this is a solace for my broken OQ heart and I hope it is for yours too.
This chapter goes for my Twin, the Tinkerbell to my Regina, because she is eagerly awaiting!
Again, thank you all for your kindness!
you are my lady and I am your man.-
Regina wasn´t sure, but maybe Marian calling her monster before running away with Roland, that little boy she loved so much, what was really hit her. What destroyed her. She tossed and turned all night long, crying, restless, and by sunrise she decided she had to go away to keep her sanity. Have some fresh air. With the only person in the world who still loved her. So she dressed up and headed to knock at Snow´s door. Emma answered, lucky her. The blond was about to say something, but the Queen breathed deeply and raised a hand to stop her.
"I´m not here to fight. I need to go away, I can´t stand this. I want to take Henry away with me, only a few weeks. Two or three, maybe" she said it all at once and took a deep breath. Doing this was humiliating, but she wanted it all to be easy. To leave as soon as possible.
"But you will lose your memories" Emma protested, and she looked concerned. "And that will kill Henry. Do you really want to forget him?"
"I won´t lose anything. This is not my curse anymore. I don´t have a second self here. No one does" Regina argued. "Plus, not is now the time to worry about me anymore".
Emma remained silent a few seconds, thinking, until Snow showed up behind her. And it was killing Regina. She felt on the verge of tears again. And that made her feel stupid too.
"Yes, you can take Henry" her former step-daughter said, staring at her own daughter significantly. "As long as you bring him back alive and safe".
"You know I will" Regina replied, raising an eyebrow. She didn't need to ask for him, because right then her son rushed to hug her and Regina smiled again, hugging him too. As simple as that, she felt a little tad better.
"You can say good-bye, my Prince. We´re going away a few days. Just promise me you will not mention you-know-who" Regina smiled to him, placing a kiss on his head. She wouldn´t let her son see how devastated she was. She would be strong for him, as she always did. After all, a mother´s quest was always for her child.
"You-know-who? Voldemort" he teased, walking away with her after a quick farewell. And Regina laughed. It was a miracle, but so she did. "Just promise me there will be not forgetting potion. Okay?"
"Voldemort. Kinda suits him" the Queen snickered. "Okay, I promise. But I will forget. This will be only you and me" she kissed her son´s head again and they walked onto the street.
The potion didn´t sound that bad at all.
.-.-.-.-.-
Three weeks later, Regina cringed when she hit the brakes. The trip with Henry had been lovely, they had visited New York and Disney World and it had been all amazing. But after three weeks their time was up and she was forced to come back to this world where she had to share him. He wanted to be here and she wanted him happy, so she took the steering wheel and back so fast they were. He was all she had.
"Thank you, mom. I love you. Don´t forget it. You are a hero now, and heroes always get tested" he smiled, hugging her, as they headed to Granny´s for a last milkshake before parting ways again.
"What?" Regina asked, confused, but walked in after her son. Teenagers were a strange thing. Regina dreaded the day Henry would show up with some girl who had stolen his heart.
A blond man, handsome and green-eyed, stared at them in surprise and ran to her. He hugged her and gazed into her eyes. She froze in his arms. Why was this stranger so close to her?
"Regina, my God, where have you been?" he asked, staring at her in what seemed a lot like disbelief.
"I´m sorry… do I know you?" she smiled politely, noticing Henry was about to pull them apart and stepping back by herself. This wasn´t a proper way to approach a Queen.
"You don´t remember me?" he whispered, and his voice was full of despair. "How? Why?"
"I´m pretty sure we never met before" she said carefully, walking away backwards. The stranger had just stepped into the scary zone. Regina frowned.
"Why did you do it, mom? Why did you break your promise?" Henry demanded. "I can´t believe it" and then, he ran away. Her motherly heart jumped painfully in her chest. Kicked like a wild horse.
Regina ran as fast as she could, but Henry was slipping away from her. Then her heel broke, there was a screeching sound and she readied herself to crash against the floor. For the pain. But it never came. Two strong arms caught her and held her against the warmness of a body. It was a man, she knew that, and he smelled like the forest. Why was suddenly smelling like the forest… good? She tried to steady herself. He felt so nice against her. How long had it been since she was held like that for the last time? A lifetime. Since Daniel. The man who died in front of her for the second time and asked her to love again.
She couldn´t. She didn´t believe in love anymore.
"Are you alright, milady? My apologies, I´m Robin of Locksley" he introduced himself, one arm still around her waist. She tried to pull away, but lost balance once more and ended against his chest again. More of that sweet forest whiff.
"It´s Your Majesty. I really need to go after my soon" Regina protested, but made no attempt to move. It was useless and she knew it.
He scooped her up in his arms. She squealed. Finally, the man lowered her on a bench and took her hand to kiss it. She was tempted to ask him to carry her to her place, and didn´t like the idea. Not a single bit.
"Let me do it" were his last words before he took running after Henry. He was a strange man indeed.
.-.-.-.-.-
Robin´s heart pounded in his chest as he ran after the boy for his life. He needed answers, and Regina´s son seemed to have them. The maddening beating would have hurt if it wasn´t for the certainty Regina didn´t know who he was. That was an arrow to his soul. A soul that felt like bleeding to death.
"Henry!" he called, just before the boy walked into his grandparent´s apartment. And his cry was the very echo of agony. "Wait! Please, tell me what happened. How can she forget me like this?" Robin asked breathless, bended frontward and hands resting on his knees. He panted and breathed in turns. He felt on the verge of passing out in every way, He needed a way out of the blackest dungeons of them all. Doubt.
"She took a forgetting potion. Because you hurt her" the boy hissed, and Robin had never seen such anger, the wrath of a son for the wrongs done to his mother. "You made her suffer and this is what you deserve. Stay away from her, she doesn´t need you around".
"Because she doesn´t remember me! But she needed me before! And I need her too. I never meant to hurt her! To leave her! I came for her the day after and she was gone! With you!" Robin muttered in a sorrowful voice. "She misunderstood things and I will be forever sorry. I don´t deserve her, but I love her".
"She walked back to her place in tears and you never followed. You broke her heart. Now deal with it. How will she ever believe you love her again?" Henry spat, still irate.
"No, Henry, please. I never meant for this to happen. I was confused. I didn't run after Marian either. I went after Roland. I´m sure you can understand that" Robin was pleading with his eyes, but the boy´s countenance barely softened. Then he noted Snow was standing behind the youngster and turned his pleading eyes towards her. "Help me".
"If Henry is right, and I don´t know if he is, the answer is a true love kiss, the way to break any curse" Snow explained. "If you are, indeed, her true love" and there was resentment in her voice too. This family loved Regina very much. And so did he. They just had to see it. He needed her back, like the air he breathed.
"That´s all? I have to kiss her?" he asked, relieved, standing straight again. Confident again. Robin didn´t hold a doubt he was Regina´s true love.
"No, that´s not all by a long shot" Snow snickered, dragging the word long. "She needs to want to kiss you. You have to win her over again. But if you dare break her heart, I swear…" the woman continued, pointing a finger at him.
"I never meant for this to happen" he said in a broken voice, took another step and hugged them both. "I will never hurt her. I love her. I can´t live without her" Robin pleaded further. Snow sighed then, and he knew he had won her over, even though Henry still held a stern look on his face. He seemed like a knight protecting his lady and it warmed his heart, Regina deserved such a son. No wonder she had missed him so badly back on the Enchanted Forest. "What can we do?"
"Ask her out" Snow ventured, biting her lower lip. "Conquer her again. Romance her. It´s the best I can think of".
"No" Henry finally gave in. "Mom would never agree. She forgot she can love again. We have to set her up. Just don´t you dare hurt her again".
"Set her up? How" Robin sighed, running a hand through his hair. He knew he could do it, he could win his lady over again.
"A double date" Snow´s face lightened up. "You two and us".
.-.-.-.-.-
Regina finally got home after a long walk, barefoot and carrying her broken shoes in her hand. Her heart felt heavy, she wasn´t in a hurry. She rested against the door and slid to the floor. Where was her son? How had she betrayed him? She couldn´t remember anything and it was driving her crazy. She wanted to be good for him so badly. Knowing she failed once more was like walking through raging hell.
"Mom!" Henry called, and the Queen shot up to run and meet him in a hug. Good Lord, he was back. Then, she noticed Snow trailing after him. And so happy was she to see Henry again she hugged Snow too. It even felt good.
"I missed you both" her once step-daughter said. "What about dinner tonight? David and I, we´re going out with a friend of his, the guy is single. So we need another lady. Please?" she asked with a sugar-coated smile. The Queen´s stomach turned and she separated herself from the other woman.
"Take Emma" was Regina´s immediate response.
"Emma will be watching over Neal. We need you".
"I can watch over Neal too" she offered. No way she was going to agree on a blind date with a friend of the Charmings. "I´m not going to hurt him. I raised a baby once and I did it pretty well" she assured, smiling to Henry and running a hand through his hair.
"No one is questioning your mothering skills" Snow started. "But Emma would be hurt if I didn´t trust her with Neal".
"Ruby? Tinkerbell?" Regina tried to convince her, but there wasn´t a way. "Why me?"
"Ruby is working tonight" Henry chimed in. "And Tinkerbell is a fairy. Fairies don't date. Please, mom, say yes and I will forgive you for breaking your promise".
"Henry, do you really want to try and blackmail the Evil Queen?" Regina raised an eyebrow at him. "And we really need to talk about that promise of yours".
"No" he shrugged and bought her with a smile. That did it. "I´m trying to blackmail my mom who I love very much".
"Fine. What time? Granny´s?" Regina sighed in defeat, rolling her eyes.
"No. The place is called Rainforest. It´s fancy. Be there at eight" the Princess explained.
Regina nodded and turned to Henry.
"Now, little man, would you care explaining to me what have I done? Why do I have to make amends to you?"
"I will tell you tomorrow" Henry backed out, kissing her cheek. "And I promise you will be glad I forgave you. Now, go get ready. It´s late".
"And why do you want me to go?" she shouted after Henry, as he hurried away.
"Just wear a nice dress. And promise me you will give him a chance. Please!" her son shouted back, laughing.
"Why you? Because we are family" Snow finished, placing her hands on her hips.
"Fine" Regina mumbled, already wondering who this mysterious man could be. No one she wanted to meet, that was for sure. Anyone she had met before? Anyone who knew who she really was? "I will do it for Henry. Because I love him so very much".
.-.-.-.-.-
And so she did. On was a smile, a black Dior dress and her best pearl necklace. The dress was strapless and hugged her figure like a caress. Her hair, not long enough for any other hairdo, was pulled back in the most elegant bun. She gave a look at her mirror. She wasn´t the narcissistic bitch that the silly Disney movie portrayed, nor had Snow ever been so dull either, but she had to admit she did look like the fairest of them all. And she winked to herself.
Maybe the Evil Queen deserved to have some fun after all.
Unwilling to drive, she took a cab. Using her magic wasn´t very… appropriate, she thought. Snow and David could drop her by her place after dinner. She stared at the bright Rainforest sign and breathed deeply before walking in. A mother´s love really knows no boundaries. Let the show begin. Regina Mills never had jitters. The Queen was led by a stiff waiter to a table set for two. She saw the man and froze, she didn´t know if it was the surprise or her hormones, because he looked breath-taking in his suit. Why was life leading her to Robin again? The waiter bowed and left, leaving her date to pull out the chair for her, which he quickly did.
"Good night, Gina" he smiled to her. And she saw his dimples. And she was speechless. So she just sat down. It was a very bad start. She had to be in control, of everything. And by everything, she meant her heart.
"Where are Snow and David? Why is this table set for two?" she asked abruptly, feeling trapped, when he also sat down.
"I´m afraid they are not coming. It´s just you and me" Robin explained, taking her hand through the table, but the Queen pulled back to clench her fists and her teeth.
"I´m going to kill that bitch" she mumbled, outraged, and stood up. Robin did the same.
"How does she dare?"
"Please, don´t take this on her. I asked for her help. I was taken aback by your beauty when we met earlier" he said with a smile. Despite her efforts, she melted. A little.
"But you knew my name. You seemed to think I should have remembered you. You just called me Gina. I´m the Queen, don't you forget that, thief" she said suspiciously, squinting her eyes, not giving an inch. "I could turn you into a fireball if I wanted to".
"My mistake. Apparently I´m the only one to remember a very brief conversation we once had. Everyone knows your name, it´s not my prerogative. Calling you Gina will be, if you allow me". He asked with a smile. And those damn dimples again. She wanted to cry because she felt warm inside and it was wrong. She had to run away and she was about to. But her stomach betrayed her. It growled like a famishing beast. She went glowing red in an instant. "I see you are hungry. Just dinner, Your Majesty. Please. We can remain silent if you want to".
She had no choice but to sit back down. She was the Queen, she could have done whatever she wished. But the deep and horrifying truth was that… she did exactly what she wanted.
"Fine, dinner and we´re done" she muttered, looking anywhere that wasn´t him.
"Thank you, milady" he said, taking her hand to kiss it. And it sent shivers through her skin. Regina couldn´t look up, because she would get lost in his eyes. So she toyed with her napkin instead. Until her salad was delivered and so was his lasagna.
"So, tell me something about this boy of yours. He loves you, doesn't he?" Robin asked, leaving his fork for a while. Regina sighed, relieved they were on safe ground.
"Yes, he does. And I love him even more" she smiled, whipping her mouth delicately. "Do you have any children?"
"A little boy, Roland. He´s four years old. He would be thrilled to meet you" he explained and took a bite. Roland. The name seemed to ring a bell, just like Robin´s had. But it was a dead end. There was nothing to remember.
"And does this boy of yours… have a mother?" the question popped out of her lips before she could hold it. What reason did she have to ask that? She didn´t care. Did she?
Truth is ugly indeed.
"She hasn´t been around for a long while" he shook his head. Regina saw a feeling cross his features. Regret? Sorrow? Concern? Hurt? She wasn´t sure. Damn it, she wanted to know.
"But you loved her…" Regina whispered. She knew it was hard to recover from a deep first love. Sometimes, she would think about Daniel still. And it hurt like the very first day. Those days, she resented the stubborn heart still beating in her chest.
"Yes, I did. But it doesn´t matter anymore. Tonight I´m here. With you. To get to know you" Robin took her hand again and Regina didn't have the strength to yank it away. She nodded, the woman was obviously dead and Regina didn´t want to push the subject further. Suddenly, a whiff of his lasagna made her feel queasy. She nearly threw up, but held it together.
"And how did you meet Snow?" Regina asked, forcing down the salad she had barely touched. Even though it was her favorite. Time to accept it. She was having jitters.
"The truth?" he grinned, and she made an effort to swallow. "Helping her hide from you".
Regina laughed. She thought she laughed too loud and blushed. How queenly of her.
"So… you helped Snow White and now you´re sitting here wearing Charming´s tuxedo. You´re a brave man. I like it" the Queen took a bite of her salad to hide it, because she blushed again. His. Hand. Was. Still. Over. Hers.
"Then I can trust you won't run away as soon as you have your last bite? Can I tempt you with dessert" he questioned, raising an eyebrow. She giggled. He could tempt her with so much more than chocolate for dessert. The thought made her choke
"You can hope" she managed to reply with a smirk, but she had no intention of going anywhere. Alone.
"Why me? This town is full of women. Why do you want me, the Evil Queen?" Regina posed the question that was bothering her and stared boldly into his eyes. Green. Fresh. Fun. Loving. Sexy. Breath. Taking. That´s it, I´m insane.
"Because you´re not evil. I have heard many stories about you. And I find you bold and audacious perhaps, but not evil. There is more than you show and I picked you because I want to know what´s underneath… the skin you show" the voice didn´t show it, but she saw the daring twinkle in his eyes.
"You want to get to know me?" Regina cocked her head with a lop-sided smile. "Fine. Tell me something you never told anyone before and I will do the same".
Robin laced his fingers with her and stroked the back of her hand with his thumb. And Regina didn't fight it. It felt too natural. Her heart when mad and she dreaded it could be heard. She stared at him, mesmerized, until the spell was broken by his voice.
"You have the sweetest eyes I´ve ever seen" it was a whisper. He leaned towards her and she did the same.
Regina melted. She had been called many things, but never sweet. And coming from him, she liked it. She meant to learn something about him, but still she wasn´t disappointed. She thought she remained an eternity watching the smile in his lips, longing for a kiss, until a woman´s shriek made her cringe. And flushed everything down the toilet.
The man was a fucking liar. Now she would definitely kill Snow White for making a fool of her.
.-.-.-.-.-
"Robin!" Marian´s voice broke the sparkling magic when the man was about to kiss his lady and he jumped back in his chair, releasing Regina´s hand. He immediately regretted it, but the Queen wouldn´t let him hold her again. "What are you doing here? With her of all women?"
"Who is this?" Regina hissed standing up. The question was meant for Robin, but Marian answered.
"I´m his wife! Don´t you dare touch my husband, you evil sorcerer! You are a murderer. He can´t love someone like you. I don't care about what you can do, I will fight for what´s mine because I am his lawfully wedded woman" the voice was loud and stern. Regina hid her well, but her soul crashed to pieces. She took a few seconds to pick it all up.
"Don´t dare cross my sight again, because you will regret it. You will curse the day you crossed my path, even if it is the last thing I do" the Queen mumbled, before she threw her napkin at him and turned to Marian.
"What kind of whore do you think I am, you lame excuse of a woman?" Regina hissed angrily. Her eyes were flaring, and she rushed out with her head held high.
Marian shivered, watching her go. For a brief moment, she thought the Evil Queen was going to burn her to dead with her eyes only. Then she looked at her husband, and the rage boiling in his eyes was hot to the same degree.
"What do you think you are doing, showing here like this, Marian? Wasn´t I clear enough?" he snapped, standing out. And for the first time in her life Marian saw him fighting the urge to hit her.
"I just don´t understand how can you love the woman who killed me, your wife and the mother of your son. A son you won´t bring anywhere near her" Marian said stubbornly, standing her ground.
"I will bring my son wherever I fucking want!" he shouted, losing control. "You died, Marian. I raised him. And you didn´t die by Regina´s hands. I rescued you that night. I brought you back home. You got sick a year later. That´s the reason you died" he finished, hitting the table with his fist. The cutlery rattled. Marian shrank.
"But I love you. I loved you all of my life. What am I going to do without you?" she sobbed, grabbing his arms. Robin immediately shook her away.
"I don´t want to harm you, it´s the way I feel. You still have a place between the Merry Men, just not in my bed. That is Gina´s place. You didn´t need to call the woman I love a monster as soon as you found out I loved her. I thought you better. I´m not the man you left behind anymore. I moved on and you can´t just expect me to walk that path back out of the blue. Maybe if you hadn´t been a bitch that that night you might have stood a chance" Robin finally calmed down. He sighed and shook his head. "No, you never stood a chance. Good bye, Marian".
Everyone was staring, but he didn´t care. Robin left some money for the bill on the table and ran after the woman he knew he was destined to be with.
.-.-.-.-.-
Regina´s mind was a raging storm and her fears were howling. She walked to her mansion instead of using magic because she needed the fresh air and it wasn´t such a long way after all. She would remember that night forever. The night everyone stared at the Queen as if she were some married man´s slut. She hoped no one would cross her way because she didn´t feel very capable of holding herself from murder. She screamed once and again because it made her feel better and finally started to cry as she reached her door. Love was a weakness she was meant to run away from. How did she ever forget that? Who was this Robin who got under her skin so easily? She laughed bitterly. Why had she hoped things would change? Innocence didn´t exist after all.
"Regina!" She heard a few seconds later. And she knew instantly who it was. She turned to him and extended her hand to him. In a moment. Robin was pinned against her house´s wall and started chocking.
"I told you not to cross my path again. Give me a reason, just one good reason to keep me from ripping you heart out and squeezing it right now" she hissed, and there was venom in her voice. There was venom in her soul. Because she had to admit, and that was the hardest part of it all, that what he did to her hurt like hell. And she wiped her tears, because she was afraid of them. Afraid of feeling. And she had good reason to.
"Henry" he whispered, fighting for breath. "He will never forgive you".
She lowered her arm and Robin fell to the floor hardly. He winced in pain. Her pain was so deep she couldn´t wince or shake it away.
"You are lucky you know me enough, filthy rat. Now crawl away before I change my mind" she spat the words at him, turning around.
"I´m not going anywhere until you listen" he said, and there was a moan as he was trying to stand again.
"Do you realize I can really hurt you?" Regina said, approaching her door again. The sooner he left, the better.
"You called me brave. I am brave. I´m willing to fight for you, Regina. For the light I see in you. I know you will never hurt me. I know" the words made her turn to him. There was hope in his eyes. Bitterly, she wanted to laugh.
"You are so very wrong. Get out. Now" she spat, opening her door.
"Regina, wait. Why won´t you even listen to me?" he asked, approaching. The Queen didn´t want to hear his voice anymore.
"Enough. Go away" she commanded. The voice was harsh. She wasn´t going to be questioned by a skunk who thought himself with the right to approach her. And lie to her. Use her.
"No, for once, we are going to play by my rules. Why can´t you give this a chance? What are you so afraid of?" he nearly shouted, grabbing her arm.
"I said enough!" Regina yelled. She raised her arm and Robin started choking again, as she lifted him up in the air. But she broke down crying against her will and released him. "You made me look like a slut. For the first time in a very long while I trusted someone and you lied to me. Like this. You said she was dead! You´re just a swine. You all are."
"I never said she died, woman. I said it was over. And so it is, even if she can´t understand it. In case you didn't notice, I chased after you. I sent her back to her home and she heard what she deserved. We´re done, I don´t love her anymore" by the time he was finished, he had grabbed her shoulders and was shaking her as if he wanted to wake her up.
"Why?" Regina snickered, stepping away from the man. "Because now you love me, a woman you just met?"
"Because I want to give you a chance. But I can´t do it if you keep sucking the air out of my lungs!" he exclaimed, and she remained silent. If it was as he said, she wanted to keep her word to Henry and give him a chance. But she didn´t dare to risk her heart once more. She didn´t notice him approaching again, but suddenly he placed his jacket over her shoulders and took her hands in his to warm them. "It´s freezing out here".
"You´re really not afraid of me, at all. Are you nuts? I´m dangerous" this time her voice was soft, she was flabbergasted. No matter how she threatened to hurt him, the man was still there.
"Sassy and exciting, yes, but not dangerous. Let´s just say… I´m prisoner of a kind of madness you wouldn´t understand just yet" Robin replied. Another smile. More dimples. She nodded.
"You´re annoying, but I wouldn´t want Roland´s father to freeze to death" she sighed and opened the door to lead the way in. She knew she was in for a very long night. Still, bedding him wasn´t what she had in mind anymore. Too much feelings in her chest she needed to sort out.
"An Evil Queen with a soft spot for children. He will be grateful, milady" he smiled following her in. And she hated the note of cheerfulness in his voice.
Regina lighted the fireplace with her magic and handed Robin his jacket back. She caught that smell of the forest briefly, and wanted to keep it, but it was too late.
"Don´t think I forgave you. I´m doing this for that little kid´s sake" she mumbled, signaling for him to sit down. "I´m going to bring some hot beverage. Don´t move. Don´t touch a thing. Don´t be so sure you good luck is going to last, a pretty face can only take you so far".
Regina walked into the kitchen and took her time there. She wasn´t in a hurry to go back to Robin, she knew his charm would make her resolve fade, because the chemistry between them was too strong. Stronger than the coffee she was pouring down in two cups. She could feel it sizzle, it ran through her like electricity. Feeling like that was dangerous. She sighed and made her way back. It shouldn´t be hard to deal with the man a few minutes and then send him back home, if not to a wife, at least to his son. She didn´t think she could trust him again.
Regina didn´t want to, but when she walked back in Robin was calmly sat on the sofa, smiling and humming to himself. She wanted to hit that smile out of his face. He was rolling up his sleeves. And it was then when she saw it. The lion tattoo. Her soul mate's signature. And she panicked. She shivered. The tray slid from her hands. Get out of here, she squealed, get out. There was a loud crash, hot coffee burnt her feet, stained her dress. And it all went black.
.-.-.-.-.-
Robin heard the china breaking and then Regina asking him to leave. He looked at her, confused, only to see her collapse onto the floor. He ran to her and knelt by her side to check if she still had a pulse. She did. He immediately picked her up and ran upstairs to her room. What was wrong with her? Her heels slipped from her feet as he flew upstairs to her room. Robin placed her on the bed and unzipped her dress. She wasn´t wearing a bra, so when he removed it, Regina was left in nothing but her panties. He opened her wardrobe and grabbed the first T-shirt he could find to cover her body. Inside the room it wasn´t that cold at all.
He sat next to her, watching her body, and sighed. He longed to have her in his arms again so badly, to love her, hug her, kiss her, make love to her. But she wouldn´t let him yet. She looked so peaceful with her eyes shut, like some kind of raven haired angel. He soothed the hair out of her face and kissed her lips slowly. He needed to feel her. Creamy, soft, warm, welcoming. Delicious. He caressed her body, all the way down her curves, and also kissed her forehead holding his hunger for more until later.
"I love you, Gina. Can you hear me? Can you remember, at least whilst you dream? I need you".
He covered her body with the shirt and sat next to the window. As much as he wanted to hold her close to him, he didn't want to scare her when she woke.
So he stared into the icy night sky, feeling defeated, and saw a wishing star.
.-.-.-.-.-
Her head hurt, so she had to fight to open her eyes. Where was she? Why was the world spinning? Regina wasn´t feeling alright. Dawn was already breaking and a feeble ray of sun came in through the window to try and tickle her face. The light held a message and it was very clear. There was someone sat in front of the window.
First she was afraid, and then she remembered the night before. The guy Snow and Henry had convinced her to go out with. He was charming, and it was all perfect, until his wife came. That was the most shameful moment she had ever had to live. Why was he there? Then she remembered more, and she was scared again. The lion tattoo. He was the man Tinkerbell led her to. Was she ready to face him? Regina didn´t have a chance to voice her thoughts because her stomach shrank painfully and she had to run to the bathroom. She sank to her knees in from of the toilet to throw up. The first time was very unpleasant. The second one made her feel much better. When she noticed, he was by her side, holding her hair and stroking her back. And after the last three days of this strange morning sickness, having someone to hold her felt good. Instinctively, she breathed and leaned against him. But his presence hurt. She jumped to her feed, washed her face, rinsed her mouth and brushed her teeth. Anything to avoid what she had to face in her room.
Then, Regina took another deep sigh and stared into her reflection. A tired and awful-looking woman returned her gaze. She noticed she wasn´t wearing the dress, but a nightshirt. And it made her feel ashamed again, because she had fainted and this mad had had the chance to undress her, and see her body, invade her privacy and God knows what else. She felt as if she had been raped, and all she wanted was to be away from him. Safe. Keep her heart safe. She noticed she was sobbing and washed her face again. Hold it together, woman. You are a Queen.
"I think the wine didn't suit you, Milady. I´m sorry" the words greeted her as soon as she left the bathroom.
"It wasn´t the wine" Regina shook her head. "I´ve been like this for three days now. I don´t know what´s wrong" she explained, not knowing why. She saw surprise flood his features but shook her head again. "What have you done? Why am I wearing this? Why are you here? I told you to go away. Why did you touch me?" her voice was close to breaking, so she wrapped her arms around herself. It made her feel less lonely.
"I spent the night here to prove you there is no other woman in my life" he shrugged, as if it was completely natural.
"Point taken. Still, I´m not in your life either" Regina argued, sitting down and avoided his eyes. She nervously squeezed the sheets between her fingers, willing him to vanish.
"And because I was worried. How are you feeling now?" he asked softly, and there was such love and concern in his voice it was unsettling. Why did she feel like there was some part of her missing?
"I´m fine, thank you. I will walk you to the door" she stood up again like a bolt.
Regina tied a robe around her body and lead the way to the entrance. An eerie silence settled between them as they walked downstairs. She opened the door and he was ready to leave. But one last time he turned towards her and took her face in his hands. The Queen shuddered. For a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. And she found herself willing him too. Even if it was crazy. Her heart wasn´t walking the same lines than her mind. It was confusing. But he lowered his gaze and sighed, shaking his head and releasing her.
"I love you, Regina. Even if you can´t understand it. For today, knowing you know will be enough. Please, don´t give up. That´s all I ask of you" his voice was a spoonful of heartbreak. It held a tone of sincerity that pulled all her strings. It. Was. Love. Indeed.
With those words, Robin turned around and gave the first step down the front stairs. He looked so defeated her heart ached for him. To hold this mysterious man and be held back. He wasn´t asking her to love him back or to understand, just to bear with him. Just a tiny, single… chance. Wind gusted in when he opened the door, making her shiver, as voices started swirling in her head.
"Pixie dust never lies".
"Was being happy such a terrible fate?"
"Villains don´t get happy endings".
"You´re not a villain, you are my mom".
"Please, promise me you´ll give him a chance".
She decided she wanted to take the risk.
"Mr. Locksley?" the Queen whispered, so softly she dreaded he wouldn´t hear. Neither would she have had the strength to call again. But he turned around, and that was all the sign she needed. She grabbed his shirt firmly and pulled him in for a kiss.
Regina heard him moan, but all her senses were occupied savoring the feel of his lips over hers. Robin pulled her against his body strongly, kissing her fiercely and asking her to allow him to deepen the kiss. She did. And it was wonderful. They walked back in. He pinned her against the wall. And his kiss was desperate. His hands burnt where they touched.
Then, the memories started flooding back in.
The day he saved her. The day she saved Roland. The way she pushed him away harshly. She felt too attracted and it scared her. She felt love, and the revelation freaked her out back then. Then, their first kiss. The brief week they spent together. Marian´s return. Robin following her after all. Her early departure the next moment. And then, the most important one. The one revelation that made the hurt too sharp and pushed her over the edge. The night she found out she was pregnant. She was glad Henry was already asleep after a long day, because she silently cried all night long. When she woke, she couldn´t take it anymore. She broke her promise. She drank the potion. It was better not to know who her child´s father was and raise the baby somewhere else.
"You´re not going anywhere right now, thief" she whispered hoarsely, barely stopping the kiss and closing the door with her foot. Her arms laced around his neck and their bodies molded better to one another.
"No, I´m not. Not until I make love to you once and again and again" he replied. He wouldn´t stop kissing her, but the passion drained bit by bit for a softer feeling to appear. Tenderness. Love. Concern. Happiness. "I´m sorry about all this. I never meant to hurt you. I didn´t abandon you. I had to go after Roland. I was so desperate when I came to find you and you were just gone… and I´m sorry about Marian showing up last night. I never meant for this to happen".
"I understand. You spent the whole night here, I understand her outburst wasn´t your fault. I know how it is to fear losing your child, I know the lengths it can take you through. And the fact you are a wonderful father is one of the things I love most about you" she murmured, trailing kisses along his jaw. She was his lady, he was her man. Nothing else mothered. With time, he could make all her demons be gone. In time.
"You love me" Robin whispered, holding her against his chest to feel her breathing.
"You doubt that?" she asked softly. There was hurt in her eyes and a tear rolled down her cheek To fall on his neck.
"Not for a minute. But even if you didn´t, I would fight for you" he replied, grabbing her chin to make her look into his eyes.
"But what if it´s not just me…?" Regina asked, her voice full of dread. It was a surprise, but it filled her with joy
"You mean, because you are pregnant?" he replied, amusement in his voice, stroking her face gently.
"How did you know?" she gasped, flabbergasted. Hopeful. What she heard was actually joy.
"That morning sickness gave you away. I´ve seen a pregnant woman throw up before" he showed those dimples again, and this time the melting and fluttering around her stomach felt much better. She welcomed it, it was how happiness was supposed to feel.
"So you´re not mad because this happened?" Regina questioned, sliding a hand down his chest to stroke her stomach.
"Are you insane? I have you back, and soon another baby. I couldn´t ask for more" he placed his hand on her belly too, on top of hers. And just like that, the Queen´s daughter gained a father she didn´t have minutes before. A daughter. She liked the sound of that
"Yes, you can. I think you were in a rush to make love to a certain pregnant lady just minutes ago" she giggled, taking his hand in hers. She was felling so light she dreaded she would soon start flying. Tinkerbell would be very amused on hearing that one.
"You know you drive me crazy?"
"Shut up and kiss me".
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Hope you liked it. Please let me know and leave prompts if you want :) Your words make my day better.
xxxx