Chapter 7

He knew this could happen. He knew she would probably run away. He should have told her sooner. Should have made it clear how much he loved her. That she was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. But he thought it was too soon, that she wasn't ready to hear it. That she wasn't ready to believe it.

He shouldn't have waited.

He'd woken up to an empty bed, knowing immediately that something was wrong. He just felt it. Regina wasn't anywhere in the hotel, but he still made sure his staff searched every nook and cranny to be absolutely certain.

But she was gone.

He should have gone with his instinct. He'd seen how his mother had pushed Harry away at first, how long it had taken her until she could trust again, until she believed she was worthy to be loved.

He should have known Regina wouldn't stay.

He needed to find her. He needed to tell her that he loved her. That he needed her to stay by his side.

He needed to find her before it was too late.

-/-

It took his men three days to find her. Three agonizingly long days.

He'd gotten the call and dropped everything, rushing to his car and driving the three miles to the motel they had found her in. It was situated in a pretty shabby neighborhood, and he cursed silently. She should never have felt the need to leave him. She should never have to live here.

The moment he drove into the parking lot he saw Regina emerge from a room, and walk briskly around the corner away from him. His eyes narrowed as he saw a man step out of the shadows and follow her.

He threw the car in park, and jumped out, hurrying towards the corner Regina and the man had disappeared around. He heard a soft cry, and without hesitation he started to run, dashing around the corner, taking in the sight in front of him in seconds, and a moment later his fist connected with a jaw, and the man who'd harassed Regina flew through the air and smacked against the opposite wall.

He didn't spare the heap on the ground another glance, more concerned about Regina's welfare, and he swirled around, letting his eyes fly over Regina to make sure she was okay.

"You alright?" he asked softly, lifting his hand to brush his fingers along her cheek.

"I'm fine," she replied with a shaking voice.

He wanted to draw her into his arms, but then the man behind him let out a scoff, reminding him that he had to deal with the scumbag first.

"She is a whore," the man spat out. "She belongs to me."

Robin realized in that moment that the man standing before him was probably Regina's former pimp. The man who forced her to sell her body. The man who didn't care what his clients were doing to her. Scorching rage burned through his body, making him almost see red.

"Robin?"

Her hand wrapping around his arm was the only thing holding him back from beating the shit out of the man.

"Don't get your hands dirty, man. She isn't worth it. I'll just take her with me, and you'll never have to see her again."

The man stepped forward, his arm lifting as if he wanted to reach for Regina, and Robin stepped in his way, shielding Regina.

"Get away from my wife," Robin hissed, the anger sizzling inside of him making it almost impossible to restrain himself from wrapping his hands around the bastard's neck, and squeeze the life out of him.

"Your wife? Don't tell me she lured you into marrying her," the man scoffed. "But don't worry, you can probably get an annulment."

"I don't want an annulment," Robin said, his voice eerily calm. "My name is Robin of Locksley. I'm sure that rings a bell for you."

"Yeah, I know the name," the man stepped back a step, sudden realization dawning on his face. Robin could squish him like a bug if he chose to, and the man in front of him knew it.

"So you better stay the hell away from my wife. If I ever see you anywhere near her ever again, I'm gonna make sure you'll regret it," Robin told him, his voice turning ice cold as he asked, "Understood?"

"Sure, man. You can have her."

-/-

She was trembling from head to toe, staring after her former pimp as he disappeared around the corner. A moment later Robin's arms were around her, and he pulled her against his chest. Her hands closed around his shirt as she buried her face against his neck.

"Thank you," she whispered. "Thank you for saving me."

"I'm just glad I found you before anything bad could happen to you."

It had been so close. If Robin wouldn't have found her when he did, Carlson would have taken her with him and would have made her pay for running away from him. The tremors subsided slowly, Robin holding her firmly in his arms, making her feel safe. No one could harm her as long as he was with her. As the shock let her out of its grip she suddenly remembered what Robin had told Carlson.

"Why did you tell him I'm your wife?" she asked, leaning back in his arms to look him in the eyes. "That wasn't necessary."

"Because it's the truth."

"I'm not following."

He pushed her away gently, smiling down at her, and her heart leaped into her throat as he lowered himself on one knee in front of her, in the middle of the dark alley, not caring that he would probably ruin his suit. Her vision turned blurry as he reached inside his pocket, and withdrew a blue velvet box.

"This isn't how I wanted it to happen," Robin said softly, flipping the box open and showing her the ring inside. "But I fear if I don't ask you right now, you might run away again."

"Robin, I ..." Her hands were shaking as she stared down at him, unable to move, unable to say anything more.

"Regina Mills, I love you. More than anything in this world. I love you. All of you." She couldn't see him clear anymore, everything swimming in front of her eyes. "I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want to make you feel safe. I want to make you happy. I want to be the one making sure that no one will ever hurt you again." A tear spilled over and rolled down her cheek, her heart galloping in her chest, his next words almost inaudible through the rushing in her ears. "Will you marry me?"

"You are insane. You can't … this is … I can't let you ..." she stuttered, wiping the tears away. She wanted to see him clearly. He was still kneeling in front of her with a soft smile curling up his lips, his eyes shining with love, and she clenched her hands into fists, her throat closing up as she blurted out, "God damn it, Robin. I'm not good enough for you."

"You are," he whispered, standing up and pulling her back into his embrace, his lips brushing over her forehead as he rasped, "God, Regina. You coming into my life was the best thing that ever happened to me. Please don't leave me ever again."

"But ..." she started, getting interrupted by his quiet voice.

"Do you love me?" he asked, his body stiffening against hers as he waited for her answer.

"How can I not love you?" she replied, leaning back to lift her hands and cup his face. "You're the man I hoped for when I was still a teenager, when I still believed in happily ever after. Before the harsh reality taught me that life wasn't a fairytale, and there was no prince who would rescue me."

"Let me be your prince," he said hoarsely, tilting his head to press his lips against her palm. "Give me the chance to show you that life can be a fairytale."

"Yes," she told him, wondering if she'd gone completely mad now. But her heart was telling her it was the right decision. "I will marry you. Because I love you, and I'm not strong enough to push you away any longer."

-/-

They were lying on the hood of his car, staring up into the starlit sky. Her head was resting on his shoulder, her hand splayed out over his chest, and her eyes kept coming back to the ring on her finger.

She still couldn't believe it. It still felt like a dream. Five hours ago she'd walked out of her motel room with no hope left, and now she was back in the arms of the man she loved more deeply than she could have ever imagined, the man she married two hours ago.

A chuckle escaped her as the insanity of the past day sprang back to the forefront of her mind. She was married. Something that could only happen that fast in Las Vegas. He hadn't given her a chance to change her mind, whisking her away and managing everything. They'd been standing in a chapel before she could really take a breath, and now she was Mrs. Robin of Locksley.

"Everything alright, Mrs. Locksley?"

A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth, hearing him calling her Mrs. Locksley was still so foreign that it managed to make her heart jump into her throat every single time. Intertwining her fingers with his, she shifted even closer to him.

"You sure we won't regret getting married so hastily at some point?" she whispered. "This still feels a little unreal."

"I'm sure," he replied, tightening his arm around her. "We will live happily ever after from now on."

"The prince came to my rescue?"

"He did," Robin breathed, his fingers squeezing hers gently. "And he will slay every dragon that threatens to harm you."

Life wasn't a fairytale. She knew that. But lying in his arms she realized that loving him, and being loved by him, was even better.

For once real life turned out to be even more perfect than a fairytale could ever be.

And now there is only the epilogue left. Stay tuned. :-)