Chapter Three (Robin's backstory)

Those that are reading Storm Surge, I am not forsaking that. It's just this idea came to me and I loved it so much I may choose to always believe it's Robin's backstory. You can assume it's his for Storm Surge though it really does more for canon Regina from Storybrooke. I know Regina is hardly in this but I thought it very important to try to understand how Robin is so drawn to Regina. It must be because she is a mother. I wanted to take it an extra step. If you enjoy it, please review!

"What are you doing here?" Regina asked annoyed.

Robin smiled. It had only been a couple of months since their return to the enchanted forest, but usually just the mere sight of him set her teeth on edge. She was in her private library, a sanctuary she used when she got fed up with dealing with everyone else in her castle. Sometimes Robin suspected it might be specifically to get away from him.

He wished he could feel the same. When she first showed up with Snow White, she'd been quite rude even after he saved her from that flying monkey. He tried to approach her later, perhaps they'd just gotten off on the wrong foot, but she'd have none of it. She called him a glorified burglar who smelled like he slept in the trees. This prompted him to reply that at least he wasn't decked out in enough silk to blanket the forest. If the princess hadn't come running to get between them, he was sure he'd be charred to a crisp by now.

Once he had entered the tower with her, things were different. He saw the pain she was in, clearly she missed her son and Robin knew that alone would be enough to devastate the strongest person. What worried Robin was Regina seemed content to wallow in that devastation. She didn't want to move on, she wanted to hold onto it. The Charmings would reach out to her but it seemed to bother her even more when they spoke of Henry and he wasn't sure why.

However, she was so nasty and rude whenever he approached her, he decided to keep his distance if possible. He hated to see another human being in such misery but if she wasn't willing to help herself, what could he do? And as his men kept pointing out, she was the evil queen, it was thought she didn't deserve anyone's help. Robin wasn't entirely sure he believed that, but it was difficult to argue against.

He only sought her out now because of the new astonishing fact he had just learned. "Your Majesty, I'm sorry to disturb you."

"No, you're not, thief." She glared at him, not trying in the slightest to hide the contempt she had for him.

"I just wanted…I found out…" Had he really just ran over her without the slightest idea of what to say?

She breezed past him, "If you're going to just stutter, I'll leave you here in the library to look up new words you can add to your vocabulary."

"Henry is adopted?" he blurted out.

She froze, not turning around. He flinched himself at how the words just tumbled out.

Slowly she turned, he thought he'd seen her angry before, but it was nothing compared to now. "What of it? And be sure to choose your words carefully."

"I just hadn't realized, you raised him since he was a baby, yeah?" He so wanted to tell her. So badly.

Mentioning the word baby seemed to soften her expression but only slightly. She approached him. "I repeat, what of it?"

"Just…" he so badly wanted to tell her.

Age 5

"Daddy!" Robin jumped in his father's arms not waiting for him to finish coming through the doorway of the castle. Putting him down, he schooled his son. "It's father, Robin."

"But you're home!" He was so glad to see him! He'd been gone for weeks. "I want to show you what I made!"

He walked past him and over to his servants where he began discarding his traveling clothes. "Not now. But I did bring you something."

"A present?" That was even better!

The gift wasn't a toy though. It was a book on the area his father had visited. He told Robin it was time he stopped playing and began learning.

After his father walked away, his mother came over and gathered the disappointed boy in his arms. "Do you think he will read it to me?"

She kissed her son's forehead.

Age 11

"Robin!" his father bellowed. Robin headed down the stairs, surprised to hear his father actually call for him. He'd given up on the notion his father would spend extra time with him outside of formal family affairs but maybe this moment would be different.

"Yes, father."

The older man smiled. An honest to goodness smile! "I hear you excelled in all your studies!"

Robin smiled back. He had. It was what was expected of him. "Yes, but science still is a bit hard for me."

"Nonsense!" He patted Robin now on the back. It wasn't like a hug but Robin couldn't remember the last time his father touched him. "You are a Locksley! You'll get better! I'm sure you will!"

He walked away but Robin was so excited he practically had tears in his eyes. Finally he had managed to please him!

Age 15

"You wanted to see me, sir?" Robin had come in from outside. He loved watching the hunters in the castle get ready for the big hunt.

"I think it's time you joined us."

Robin's eyes grew big. "You mean-"

His father smiled. "It's time you joined in on our hunt!"

Robin had the biggest urge to jump up and down with joy, but his elder wouldn't think that was dignified. Still, he allowed his happiness to show through by beaming a giant smile at him.

"Go, put on your riding clothes, we leave in an hour."

Age 17

Robin sat nervous. The last year he'd been on a good number of trips with his father but the last place he thought he would be was with gypsies.

Upon entering the camp, they went straight to the old gypsy's wagon. He emerged with everything he needed, clearly his father had notified him ahead of time of their plans.

As he watched the old man lay out his needles and ink, Robin tried to keep his voice stuttering. "Is it going to hurt?"

The scowl that crossed his father's features told Robin he had asked the wrong thing. "Stop acting like your mother, afraid all the time! You're a Locksley, boy. And now it's time you are a man."

"Hold out your arm," the little old man said.

He did as he was told, but Robin couldn't help but whimper as he felt the hot needle touch his inner arm. His father paced back and forth while the tattoo was being drawn. Robin knew what it was, all Locksley men held the symbol of the lion, but due to wars and disease, it was just down to him and his father now.

When it was over, he stared at it. Robin had to admit he liked the image, the lion looked almost regal. The old man did a good job. He watched as his father handed over some gold. He didn't know how much but it clearly wasn't enough, the old man started to protest. Robin flinched when he saw his father slap him.

"No, father, what are you doing?"

"Gypsies are thieves. You give them an inch, they take a mile. Don't forget your place, peasant." He then turned and grabbed Robin. "Let's go."

Age 18

Robin sat over his mother's body, her coughing had decreased but apparently it meant the disease, as was her life, was at its end. He'd been told by the healers to prepare himself. "Here, mother, you need to drink this."

She attempted to take some of the broth he made, but she coughed it up. "It's no use, Robin, I'm afraid it's time."

Tears were in his eyes. He didn't want to lose her! "No, you can't die. I love you."

"I love you so much too, Robin. But I feel as if I have failed you, in so many ways." She had to pause, it was getting harder to speak.

"Shhhh, mother, just rest." It broke his heart that she thought she failed him at all.

Taking his hand, she kissed it. Her eyes then grew troubled. "Oh, my dear, I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry…"

How could this wonderful woman be sorry? It must be the fever talking. "You have nothing to be sorry about."

"Oh, I do!" She had tears now streaming down her face. "Please forgive me, I need you to forgive me."

"For what?" How could this precious woman think she had anything to ask for forgiveness?

"I…I'm afraid, it's all been a lie!"

What in the world was she talking about? Perhaps she's delirious. "What is?"

"You! I.." she coughed and he wiped away the blood that had come from her mouth. "You aren't a Locksley! I'm so sorry!"

"What? What do you mean?" This had to be the fever!

"For years I didn't get pregnant. Considering none of the women your father slept with were with child, I knew the problem was with him. Because of the earlier arrangement of our marriage, if I didn't produce an heir he could divorce me and I'd end up on the streets!"

"Mother-"

"So I laid with someone. A passing soldier. That's who your father is! Oh, I'm so sorry, please forgive me. I'm so sorry. I love you so much. I'd have laid with 1,000 soldiers if it meant I could give birth to the most precious boy-" she began coughing.

Robin was in such shock, he couldn't believe it. He knew of those other women, his father really didn't make it much of a secret. They'd never gotten pregnant but Robin just assumed they used something or had herbs or-

"Robin!" She began convulsing. Robin grabbed her, trying to hold her, maybe if he just held her she could calm herself. "Robin, please forgive me!"

"I do!, mother, I love you!" With that, she stopped. Everything stopped. She lay motionless in his arms. Robin gasped. Just like that, she was dead. Had she been holding on to hear him say she was forgiven?

He was going to take a few moments before going outside. He needed to compose himself. But a sound behind him startled him. Standing larger than life was his father!

"Father, I…" He walked away before Robin could say anything else.

Age 19

"Please, father, don't-"

"I told you not to call me that!" He pushed Robin then. Shoved him down so hard he fell. On the ground next to him was a bag packed. Some personal items, mainly belonging to his mother and some food. His father said he should be grateful for that.

"How can you throw me out? I'm your son!"

"NO, YOU ARE NOT!" He was screaming. The look of hatred across his face. Robin couldn't understand it. How can things change so easily? How? For a year his father tried to forget the confession of his mother but it ate at him, now that love, if it had ever been that, was open disgust.

Robin stood up quickly. "I still love you! My feelings for you have never changed, please, I'm the man you raised-"

"You are nothing but a bastard. Someone else's bastard, not mine." He turned away. Robin reached for him but he jerked away, practically recoiling at his touch. He didn't even turn around. "If you do not leave, I will have you arrested."

Robin was shocked. Would he really do that? Tears rolling down his face, he watched as his father walked away.

Roland 3 days old

"Shhhh, don't cry, my boy." Robin picked up his newborn. He was clearly hungry but Marian was sleeping. He wanted to give her a bit more time to rest. "It will be alright, Papa's here."

In his arms, his son stopped crying. Looking down at him, the boy seemed to recognize him. His face lit up, grinning. Robin felt tears fall. Kissing his son's forehead, he whispered, "I love you!"

Now more than ever, he realized how wrong the man he thought was his father had been. He loved Roland more than life itself, anything! This precious, innocent who needed him, depended on him. That didn't just go away because of blood. "I love you so much."

"I'm waiting!" Regina looked like she wanted to ground him up for kindling.

"I know, it's just not easy to talk about," he started, "I just think it's amazing that you of all people would-"

"What do you mean, me of all people?" She hissed.

Dammit, that wasn't what he intended at all. He wasn't trying to insult her. "Please, Regina, I'm just trying-"

"It's your Majesty, and will you please leave me alone?" She might be trying to go for detached but he could hear the emotion in her voice. Sighing, he thought it best to maybe talk about this later. As he walked to the door, she added, "And if you think just because you were lucky enough to have your own son, that my love for Henry is any less than the love you have for Roland-"

"No!" he immediately turned. "That's not it at all! I swear, I didn't mean to upset you, I just wanted to come talk to you. I understand what it's like to-" He had to stop when she slammed the door in his face. He stepped back as he almost felt like he'd been slapped.

Images of his father came to him. Even after all this time, not seeing him since he was 19, he still thought of him as his father. But because they weren't actually blood related, his father hated him. He wanted to tell Regina this, that when hearing her speak about Henry before he had no idea the boy had been adopted. The woman known as the evil queen held no distinction between adopted and blood, and to Robin, he felt overcome with awe at the amount of love she had to give.

So...very anxious to see if anyone enjoyed this. What do you think?