AN: Thanks to those sticking with this. Another chapter I wanted to sneak in before the premier. I appreciate all the follows and favs and to gyests who review if you would like a response feel free to PM me.

The final scene in this chapter is one of the first that inspired this fic so a real milestone for me that I hope you'll enjoy.

As always – the usual disclaimers apply.

Robin was overcome with emotion as Regina kissed him back. There was no apprehension in her kiss and he felt her finally allowing him a peek behind her walls, allowing herself the chance to begin to believe in him, in them again, even if just for a moment. The kiss was soft and tender but all too brief and he forced his arms to let her go when he felt her begin to pull away.

Every fiber of his being cried for him to keep her close but he knew any kind of interaction between them had to be on her terms. When he saw her soft smile, her eyes shining, he thanked the gods that she did not seem to want to push him away as she had after he kissed her in the barn on Mac's ranch.

"Thank you," she said softly allowing him to rest his forehead to hers, his arms loose around her waist. At Robin's questioning gaze she continued, "For standing by me in there. It means a lot to me."

"You're welcome, milady. I will always stand by you." He replied. Regina gave a short nod and let out a quiet hum in response, not quite believing but for perhaps willing to let him prove himself to her. At the sound of the Charmings about to exit the loft Regina twisted her left hand, instantly transporting them to the living room of her mansion, her eyes never leaving Robin's.

"Regina?" At the sound of Tink's confused voice Regina's gaze snapped to the fairy who had been conjuring bubbles for Alayna in the living room. Taking in Tinkerbelle's raised eyebrows and open mouth Regina looked back to Robin and suddenly realized she was still in his arms. She quickly put some distance between them.

"Hello my darling," she said, pointedly ignoring Tinkerbelle, whose surprised expression had turned into a smirk. Alayna had already gotten to her feet and ran to her mother with an excited 'Mama!' Regina pressed her little girl tightly to her chest and breathed her in. Relieved to have her in her arms and know she was safe. She felt tears prick her eyes, it had been such an emotional few days and with the lack of sleep during the drive and again last night she was feeling overwhelmed.

"Papa!" Lainey cried – how did she know who he was? Hearing her say that was a knife in Regina's heart we could have had all this! Alayna held her arms out to Robin and Regina passed her across quickly averting her eyes not wanting Robin to see the emotions she knew swam in them.

"So how did it go?" Tinkerbelle asked.

Regina cleared her throat, "It was interesting," Regina said, her tone bordering on sarcastic. "The Apprentice said he has sensed Merlin's magic here in Storybrooke. That Merlin has imparted a message to me that will be 'revealed when the time is right' whatever that's supposed to mean. We're going to check the places I've been since I arrived and see if we can find where we crossed paths. Mary Margaret is hoping it might lead us to him."

"Do you need my help?" Tink asked.

"We have no one else who can watch Alayna – Henry is with his Grandparents. If it's ok I'd appreciate you staying here with her until Henry comes back?"

"Of course," Tink said immediately. "Do you think you will be able to find him?"

"Not until he wants to be found." Regina said. "But there is some merit in giving everyone something to do. You're right about Mary Margaret, David and Hook – the idleness is driving them crazy. Knowing Merlin is here has given them some hope and while it's unlikely it is possible we may be able to pick up a signature of sorts."

"Then what's wrong?" Tinkerbelle asked, knowing Regina well enough to know when she was concealing something.

"The Apprentice, he tried to sense Merlin's message in me. When he pulled away he seemed to know something," Regina furrowed her brow, in obvious concentration.

"Alayna?" Tink asked concerned.

"I don't know – "

"But you suspect?"

"We both suspect." Robin said, joining the conversation. "But he is a good man and he appeared to have no interest in revealing her existence to the others."

"Yet." Regina said curtly, looking at Robin with a touch of annoyance. She didn't know this Apprentice and she certainly didn't trust him. Her gaze fell to Alayna still in Robin's arms and if he wasn't mistaken a look of fear crossed briefly over her face.

"Will you try to speak with him?" Tink asked. She too believed the Apprentice to be a fair man.

"Not yet. I don't want to risk letting on more than he knows. I have a feeling he will come to me though, sooner rather than later." Regina replied, practically falling onto her sofa with a huff of exhaustion.

"You need sleep Regina," Robin admonished gently. Regina rolled her eyes.

"I need to find Merlin and get the hell out of this town." She said, putting her arm across her eyes and thereby missing the pained look that flashed over Robin's face as he glanced from the woman he loved to their daughter in his arms. Tinkerbelle saw it though, confirming what she always knew; the Thief loved her friend and would not allow her to slip through his fingers again.

"Where are you two searching?" Tinkerbelle asked. "Besides here," she continued, the teasing clear in her tone.

"The forest – where Regina and Maleficent met last night," Robin said moving to sit next to Regina on the couch, keeping a respectful distance between them, Alayna's head falling to his shoulder.

"Has she eaten yet?" Regina asked, raising her arm from her eyes long enough to check her watch.

"Yes, she's had her lunch."

"She looks ready for a nap." Regina said running her hand through Alayna's ebony curls.

"Allow me," Tinkerbelle said, plucking her from Robin's arms and moving to take her upstairs. "I might have a snooze too," she called over her shoulder. "You weren't the only one up all night."

"Shall we?" Robin asked, giving a nod to the front door. "We have some distance to cover. I'd offer to go myself and let you sleep but – "

"No it's fine," Regina said with a sigh getting to her feet. "You wouldn't be able to sense his magic." Taking Robin's hand in one of her own she waved her free arm and transported them to the well.

"You met here?" Robin asked. Not letting go of her hand, but tugging it gently to keep her close to him as she moved to walk around the well.

"No, a bit further back." She answered distractedly. "The well was the original source of magic in Storybrooke, it seemed logical to begin our search here and make our way back to town." Regina continued, taking her hand from Robin's and moving around the well clearly concentrating.

Robin was silent for a few minutes as Regina focused only on sensing the magic in the air around her.

"What's it like?" Robin asked when she had completed a full turn about the well and was glancing down into its depths.

"What's what like?" she asked, a little absentmindedly.

"Sensing magic" at that Regina looked up a little surprised. Robin had always shown a degree of trust in her magic, but he had never taken any interest in it.

"It's hard to describe really. It's subtle, more like the sense of smell than sight or hearing or taste. Sometimes it can creep up on you and suddenly you realize you're feeling someone's magic with your entire being. Other times it can be over powering, something you couldn't miss, something that can almost suffocate you in its potency from the moment you enter it's sphere."

Robin nodded at her description though it still seemed strange, wondrous even that there was this whole other sense out there that she had and he was completely oblivious to.

"What is your magic like?" He asked. "Potent and powerful?" He was teasing and Regina gave a small smile.

"I don't know, you can't sense your own magic. Like a person's unique scent, you rarely recognize it in yourself, but readily notice it in others." Robin nodded his agreement. He could recognize Regina's scent anywhere, but was never able to smell the forest on himself that she loved to complain about in the Enchanted Forest. "Gold always said my magic was annoying, like the buzzing of an insect in the middle of the night that you couldn't rid yourself of," she gave a self deprecating chuckle. "But Maleficent always said it was like the earth after its first summer rain. Damp and sad but also heavy with a sense of relief…" Regina's voice trailed off and she suddenly felt a little embarrassed at having revealed something of herself she hadn't quite been ready too – damn Thief.

She went to move away from him and Robin took her hands in his drawing her towards him as he moved to lean against the well. She looked down where he was entwining their hands. Not sure whether to pull away or hear him out. In the end he began to speak before she had made up her mind.

"Don't do that," he softly admonished, bringing two fingers under her chin so that she would look at him. Regina shrugged her shoulders a little, raising her eyebrows in question. "Don't pull away from me."

"I'm not – " Regina began, her voice cracking.

"You are," Robin interrupted and then was quiet for a moment before beginning softly. "What can I do Regina?" He begged, his voice tight with emotion. "Please, tell me."

"Exactly what you're doing Robin." She said softly, the torrent of emotion between them bringing tears to her eyes that she would not allow to fall. Sensing the rawness of her feelings, Robin moved his hands to her waist, gently stroking her through the fabric of her dress. He remained silent, hoping she would continue, watching her eyes intently as they flicked between his own and damn if she didn't draw comfort from his soft caress.

"I need time, I need to know you're not going to doubt me, betray me… Leave me again."

"Regina –" he stopped, taking a breath and tamping down frustration he knew he had no right to feel. He closed his eyes, breathing through his nose and when he opened them again Regina was taken aback by the intensity of the pain that swam in their depths. "It was but a moment," he breathed, at her confused look he clarified, "I doubted you – us – for a moment before I realized the mistake I had made." Regina began to protest but Robin continued hurriedly. "I recognize the enormity of the consequences of that doubt, the consequences for you, Henry, Roland, me – us. But can't you please give me another chance? Put your trust in me again. I will not let you down."

"Robin, you say that now, but you did an I…" Regina broke off looking skyward and closing her eyes to keep the tears at bay, as Robin furrowed his brow.

"What is it? Please, talk to me" he said, never stopping the soothing circles his thumbs were drawing on her side. She looked back to him.

"Tinkerbelle said I have to acknowledge what happened, how I felt when you left with your wife that night, if I'm to be able to really let it go – to take a chance on us – you – again." Regina began and Robin nodded, agreeing. He knew it would likely hurt to hear how much pain he had caused the woman he loved but it could not hurt less than being without her, and a large part of him felt he deserved it. Regina's hands moved to Robin's chest and for a moment he thought it was to push him away, and he would have given her the space she needed, but instead she rested her hands against the fabric of his shirt.

"I know I said I understood – why you were angry, why you left me…" Regina's voice was barely a whisper. "And I do – well," Regina grimaced. "Part of me does…"

"But?" Robin gently prodded.

"You are asking me to trust you, Robin, I did. I put my trust in you when I hadn't trusted anyone in 40 years! Not since Daniel… It may have been but a moment of doubt for you, but for me it was two years of feeling your anger, hatred, disappointment as fresh as I felt it that night in the diner. I swear to God being without you, without Henry, it never got any easier." She shook her head, looking anywhere but him to hide the tears building up in her her eyes. "Two years of tasting your betrayal on my tongue anytime I even looked at Lainey. It was like my own personal torture!" Regina declared finally pulling away from him, turning around and taking a couple of steps before turning back and crossing her arms under her chest as though the physical barrier would help her reconstruct the emotional ones.

Robin ached to touch her, sooth her, he could tell this conversation was reopening wounds, but he also knew he needed to hear what she had to say as much as she needed to say it – Tinkerbelle was right. Regina could never truly forgive him, more on with him, if she didn't have a chance to tell him the hurt he had caused her.

"You know," she began softly, "I never believed you could accept me, that anyone could accept me. I wasn't surprised in the diner that night. I had expected it from the first moment I met you. It was why I pushed you away so hard in the Enchanted Forest…" Robin nodded, remembering all those times she had run away from him back in their land.

"These past two years, I accepted that I lost you because of my own actions – when I was the Evil Queen. Because I was evil, a villain, I could never have a happy ending. I was hurting because I lost your love, because I was so wretched even my soul mate could not accept me, all of me… Now I know that's not what happened. You left because you thought that I had known that I killed your wife and taunted you with it… Because of the person you thought I am now. It's somehow different to think that you believed I could do that to you, that all that anger was for me… not the Evil Queen."

Regina had stopped looking in Robin's eyes – her gaze flitting from the forest behind him to the ground at their feet. Robin slowly stepped forward, preparing himself for her to pull away from him and was so relieved when she didn't. He reached a calloused hand up to cup her cheek and the familiarity of the tender gesture made the first of Regina's tears fall, her head leaning into his touch almost against her will. Gods she missed him.

"You're right," Robin whispered and Regina's eyes locked with his, a sob escaping her throat. Tinkerbelle was right, she needed this conversation to have any hope of moving forward, with Robin or not, and no matter how much it hurt, they needed to say these things to each other. "It is very different to be rejected for who you were rather than who you are. I hurt you in the worst possible way. From the first moment we met in the Enchanted Forest I made sure you knew I saw only you, as you were, not who you had been. I promised you a second chance at happiness and at the first test of loyalty I fled.

"I cannot apologise for how I felt," Robin said bringing his other hand to her face, passing his thumbs over her cheeks in a gentle stroke to both soothe and wipe away her tears, "and I won't make you empty promises that I won't ever feel angry about something you do or something that you have done in the past." At that Regina's gaze instantly became guarded, but she showed no signs of pulling away and Robin slid his hands from her cheeks to her shoulders and down her arms to take her hands in his once more, he pressed a reverent kiss to each palm before bringing his gaze to hers again. "But I will beg your forgiveness for not standing by you, even in anger. For not talking the situation through, no matter how difficult it was. For believing the worst in you, giving you no chance to respond to the charges laid upon you. And I vow to never do that to you again. I will always fight by your side, I will fight to make sure we work through every obstacle together, and that will make us stronger than ever." He took a step back. Giving her space to take in his words, still lightly holding her hands in his.

"If you can't trust in me yet, can you at least trust in that?" Robin asked, releasing one of her hands to tuck an errant lock of hair behind her ear. Regina stared a Robin a long moment, taking in all that he had said, feeling lighter for having shared the burden of her own pain. Could she trust him? Could she trust that he would at least come to her with any accusation and hear her side? She didn't know, but she didn't want to give up on them yet either…

"I can try," Regina said softly, looking deeply into his eye.

"And that is a start," Robin gave her a full, beaming smile at just the hope that she could forgive him and that shifted something in her.

Regina looked at him for a moment, her eyes flicking across his face before falling to his lips and then, for the first time since they were reunited, she moved to kiss him. She was all trepidation as she brought her hands to his face, the kiss merely a soft pressing of her lips against his. She pulled back to look at him, a question in her eyes that Robin answered by taking her mouth again in a kiss with more certainty than hers but still brief. He pulled back to look in her eyes, softly stroking her cheek with his thumb. To hell with it Regina thought as she took his lips in one more kiss that soon turned passionate.

As Regina opened her mouth to his, Robin released her hands, moving to her waist to draw her nearer to him. Regina's hands moved without conscious thought to lightly stroke up and down his back, feeling the taunt muscles beneath his shirt. As Robin gently pulled her closer still, Regina's body responded instinctively as she raised her right leg, her calf wrapping around his so that she was flush against him. After so long without him it was as though her body (her soul?) longed to reconnect with him again on every level, to feel the expression of their love physically. Robin's hand moved up her back, inadvertently stroking the side of her breast, awakening her mind and as it caught up with her body she slowed this kiss. They had to stop this or she would let him take her right here in the woods and as lovely as she knew that would be they were never and could never be just lovers. Their coming together was a connection of body and soul and she was not ready. The kind of intimacy they shared demanded complete trust and faith, and that would take time. She pulled her mouth from his, both breathing rapidly for a moment.

"We can't do this here, not now, it's too soon," she said, breathless.

Robin smiled, biting his lower lip which made her inwardly groan, "I know, it's just –"

"I know," she said with an uncharacteristic giggle, both hands coming up to lightly stroke the skin visible at his throat. Robin's heart soared at the sound, and at her words. It was a relief to know that she wanted this – him – again. That she was considering trying again with him. He leaned in capturing her mouth once more, his actions had her instinctively rocking against him and gods she was right, they couldn't do this here, but he wanted her, wanted to show her his love for her. He knew if they didn't stop now they never would and that Regina would only run if things moved to fast. He needed to know she trusted him again, with no reservations, before he let things go any further.

Taking all his resolve, he put his hands on her waist and stilled the gentle rocking of her hips against his. He chuckled as a petulant whine left Regina's mouth. Taking his lips from hers he pecked at her cheek, her collarbone, before finally kissing her neck, wrapping his arms around her.

"Gods I've missed you," he said, burying his head into the crook of her neck.

Regina wrapped her arms around him, just as tightly, and if they delayed the search for Merlin a few more moments to enjoy the comfort of finally being in each other's arms again, no one would know.

Regina entered her mansion and stretched her neck from side to side easing some of the tension that had built there and in her shoulders. She took off her shoes and hung up her coat with a soft smile, despite her fatigue and the niggling of a tension headache that she could feel coming on she was happy.

Her talk with Robin had gone well – better than well, she thought as she reflected back over their little make-out session. She could feel the first fluttering of trust in him again, in them, in their love. Tinkerbelle was right. She did have to acknowledge how he had hurt her before she could begin to heal. And she wanted to – she wanted this.

As she had anticipated there was no sign of Merlin in the forest and Regina was unable to sense the disturbance in magic the Apprentice spoke of, she would have to speak to Maleficent about that – see if the dragon had had any more luck. Robin had told her to return home and get some sleep, to let him update the Charmings. David had apparently been trying to get hold of Robin during the afternoon – if the six missed calls on Robin's phone had been anything to go by. When Robin finally called him back David asked that Robin join them at the library as soon as possible. Regina had offered to go with him but given David hadn't specifically asked her to and she really did need to sleep she took her 'out' as the gift that it was she left Robin in town to make her way home.

Her favourite sight in the whole world – her son and her daughter – greeted Regina as she walked into the living room. Henry was sat on the floor in the reading Alayna the storybook.

"You ok Mom?" He asked, having stopped reading to watch her approach. She nodded and sat on the lounge nearest to Henry and Alayna who had forgotten the book and was now banging her little body against Regina's legs lifting her arms saying 'up, up" demanding a cuddle.

"Goodness you know what you want don't you Little One," Regina said picking her up and conjuring a bottle of milk she had prepared earlier and left in the fridge. At Henry's raised eyebrow she said "What? I'll have you know I've spent two years without magic – after spending the day running around the forest looking for a powerful sorcerer I'm not ashamed to use a little magic of my own to save my aching legs!"

"I guess I forget how old you are sometimes," Henry teased, rising from the floor to sit next to her and smiling at his sister as Regina playfully punched his arm. Henry gently stroked Alayna's chubby, dimpled cheek. It was hard to believe something so little was going to grow up to be some 'all-powerful force', something to be revered and feared. Henry had to wonder if she would ever be anything to him other than his beautiful baby sister.

"What are you smiling at," Regina asked. Henry didn't want to say. He knew his mother worried that Alayna hadn't shown any signs of magical abilities. What he didn't know was why.

"Just thinking back to the day we came back to town – how much she seemed to love Storybrooke right away. Do you think she felt it? Magic?" Henry asked.

Regina turned her head to the side in thought. "I don't know – perhaps."

"Mom?" Henry asked. And at her murmur of acknowledgement he continued. "Why are you worried that Lainey isn't using magic yet? Isn't it a good thing? Maybe we were wrong? Maybe the prophecy isn't about her?"

"Maybe… but I don't think we were wrong." Regina said. "I worry because if she can't use magic she can't protect herself. Word will get out Henry. I think the Apprentice knows more than he is letting on, Robin will want to tell Roland about her eventually, he can't then keep her existence from Marian and the Merry Men. It would be too much pressure to put on a little boy. They will come for her and when they do I'd rather she be able to at least call to me… I'd hoped to be able to teach her something before the time came. But I have a feeling that is not going to be."

Henry nodded in understanding and sat quietly for a moment before saying something about homework and disappearing upstairs. Regina didn't want him to worry but she had promised herself long ago that she would never lie to him again. He needed to know the truth in a way he could understand.

Regina let her head fall back against the coolness of the sofa. The day had been exhausting. Trying to find a solution to Emma's curse while keeping Alayna's existence a secret was taking its toll not to mention her emotions were raw with Robin's constant presence. Her need to be with him and away from him all at the same time was exhausting. She needed to call Mac, she needed the quiet assurance of his voice – even when all Regina did was listen to him talk about his day she felt revived and right now she was emotionally and physically drained.

So it seemed was Alayna as she began to nod off 30 minutes before her usual sleep time. Regina gently took the bottle from her mouth but didn't move to get up. These quiet moments with her daughter were becoming few and far between and she relished sleepy-time cuddles. Regina let her eyes close for a moment, not realising she had fallen asleep until she heard Henry's footsteps on the stairs. She had been laid out on the sofa with a throw rug placed across her.

"How long have I been out?" She queried.

"Oh only about 16 hours," Henry chortled. "It's morning. Don't worry, I fixed myself and Lainey some dinner – and breakfast." Regina sat up with a start, looking at her watch shocked as Alayna climbed into her lap with a bottle of milk and her favourite board book. Obviously expecting the story she missed out on the night before.

"Damn," Regina murmured. "I was meant to get back to your Grandparents and I'd wanted to speak to Maleficent," she stretched and yawned. Opening the book for Alayna to see the pictures but not quite ready to start reading.

"You needed to sleep Mom. You're no help to anybody exhausted," Henry said, passing a hot mug of coffee to his mother.

"Thank you sweetheart," she murmured taking a sip. "Where is Robin?"

"He called last night but he didn't want to wake you. He said he was going to his camp that he needed to talk to his men. He wanted to know if we planned to go anywhere this morning but I didn't know," Henry said. Regina raised her eyebrows briefly, it seemed a strange question but she wasn't really all that awake yet.

Henry was about to lower himself to the couch on the other side of his mother when there was a knock at the door.

"Want me to get it?" He asked.

"Thanks Henry," Regina smiled. "I don't think she is going to take no for an answer," she said tapping her index finger on the page of a book. "I'll take her upstairs and read it to her before I have a shower." She stood with Alayna in her arms and not knowing who was on her porch Regina waived her free hand to transport them to the landing upstairs before Henry opened the door, listening for a moment to ensure it was friend, not foe, on the other side.

Henry took the steps down to the foyer and up to the door two at a time, expecting to find Robin or Tinkerbelle on the other side. To his surprise it was his Grandparents with Mother Superior and Henry quickly closed the gap in the doorway so that just his body was visible. Trying to sound nonchalant and failing miserably Henry spoke:

"Hey Grandma, Grandpa – what are you doing here?"

It was Mother Superior who replied. "Henry we need to speak to Regina."

"She's just resting. Is it important? With everything going on – trying to find Merlin and researching the dark curse she hasn't had much chance to sleep." Henry tried to quickly glance behind him to the landing to see if his mother had picked up on what was happening and what he saw had him worried. Regina was staring straight ahead, her back rigid, Alayna still in her arms, the children's book forgotten on the floor. The look on his mother's face reminded him of that night in the diner when Robin had left her and called her the Evil Queen. A sense of foreboding washed over him.

"I'll let her know you stopped by," he said, wanting to get them off of the porch and away from the house as quickly as possible.

"Henry…" Mary Margaret began in a caring tone. "We know about the baby – we know Regina brought a child with her. We need to speak with her," she implored.

"She didn't bring 'a child' with her Grandma – " Henry began icily only to be cut off by his Grandfather.

"Gold told us Henry – he awoke yesterday afternoon, he told us all about her and I confirmed his story with Robin yesterday." David said. So that's why he wanted Robin at the library. Regina felt as though she had been dunked in icy water. Robin… stupid, stupid girl… but he was not here with them? Maybe he wouldn't betray her this time? But then where is he?

"You didn't let me finish." Henry said, with barely contained anger. He would not let these people take his sister. He would not let them chase his mother away again. He was not a little kid anymore and he would fight for his family. "She didn't bring a baby. She brought her baby. My sister. And it is none of your business." Henry went to close the door in their faces. Screw these people, they were going to ruin everything because they couldn't believe that his mother had changed, that she could change, because of their ridiculous, juvenile belief that people fell on one side of some imaginary fence: good or evil, hero or villain – well he had had enough of it.

David blocked the door with his foot. "Henry – this child could be dangerous – for all of us."

"So can your bigotry!" Henry screamed. "Look what your fear did to Lily, to Maleficient! To Emma! When are you going to learn, there is no good and evil there are just people!" Henry stopped startled when a soft hand was placed on his arm. Regina had come up behind him, Alayna in her arms.

"Henry – let me speak to them," she said softly. "You don't need to fight my battles little prince." She gave him a watery smile slowly pulling open the door. Addressing Mary Margaret and David, pointedly ignoring Blue, she said "here is your monster dear." Her voice dripped with sarcasm. Hearing Henry defend her she knew she had to fight – even if it was a fight she had no hope to win.

Alayna stared at the strangers, her dark eyes wide with fear at the tension she could not help but feel. Her thumb slid into her mouth as she moved to snuggle further into her mother's embrace. Dressed in ladybug pyjamas with her black ringlets falling over her eyes she looked more like an angle than a dangerous sorceress. "Look closely Mary Margaret – you might be able to make out her horns!"

"Regina – we just…" Mary Margaret sighed. "We just want to speak with you."

"No you don't," Regina said calmly. "You want to take her from me."

"Your Majesty," Began Blue.

"It's Regina, Mother Superior. I haven't been the Queen in a long time and have no interest in a title I never wanted." Regina stated matter of fact, her eyes never leaving Mary Margaret's.

"Regina," Blue said with false sweetness. "We know about the prophecy, what this child is. Do you really think you're the best person to raise her? With everything that will be at stake? Yes she is innocent now but will she always be?"

Regina looked down at her daughter in her arms and thought back over the past two years. The pregnancy that terrified her, the colic that had her walking a screaming infant up and down her hallway for four hours every evening for a full three months, first smile, laugh, words, steps. Her little girl running to her and Mac when they would come in to have lunch all together; her love of butterflies and bubbles, Peter Rabbit stories and reading Goodnight Moon every night before bed. No – her daughter will not always be so innocent, but what child is? Regina thought of Alayna's first tantrum when Regina wouldn't let her feed herself and the resulting bowl of cereal that had been thrown across the kitchen. Alayna would go through the terrible twos, have teenage attitude, just as Henry had, just as Snow had. Was that Regina's fault? And yet Blue was right. When talking about the most powerful sorceress of all time, the consequences of those teen years would be far reaching…

"You know what she is Blue," Regina said, her gaze finally lifting to look the nun in the eyes, before flicking over David and Mary Margaret, noticing with a start that Maleficent and Lily were walking up the path too with a look of determination in their eyes. If only she had spoken with them first!

"But you don't know who she is. Her favourite food is vanilla custard and has always hated my stewed apples," Regina let out a choked laugh. "She never walks if she can run, will stay on her tyre swing for hours if I let her and won't go to sleep without a lullaby… She is who she is, and taking her from me won't ensure she grows up to be 'good' any more than removing Emma's darkness stopped her becoming the darkest practitioner of magic in all the realms. You can't control everything Blue." Regina finished.

"But we can give her her best chance Regina." Snow said, giving Regina her infuriating hopeful smile.

"Snow –" Regina began, and stopped when the hair on the back of her neck stood on end and she felt a presence behind her that she immediately recognised. NO! She internally screamed as she took in the smug smile forming on Mother Superior's face as the smell of forest enveloped her.

"What do you think Robin?" The Blue Fairy asked. "As the child's father surely you have a say in the matter?" The look on Blue's face, her confidence, turned Regina's blood cold. She slowly turned around. Alayna still secure in her arms though starting to stir with the tension and noise. What Regina saw broke her heart. She was right not to have trusted that Robin would stand by her – but she'd never wished more to be wrong.

Robin stood in her living area, surrounded by the Merry Men, his bow drawn – all their bows drawn… and aimed at her.

Regina closed her eyes, feeling her heart shatter in her chest. The taste of betrayal bitter on her tongue as bile rose in her throat. His harsh words in the diner nothing compared to this. He was going to take her baby. She would not cry – not in front of these people – never in front of these people. She slowly turned back to face Mary Margaret, David, Blue and now Maleficent and Lily. Blue looked triumphant, while Mary Margaret and David wore matching sombre faces.

As she looked down at Alayna again she felt her dark magic thrumming in her veins. She would fight for her daughter; she would not just roll over and let these people take Alayna away from her. As she raised her head her expression was all Evil Queen and she saw Blue falter, stepping back as Mary Margaret and David exchanged worried looks. Suddenly Regina felt a warmth spread from her heart and she recalled her final conversation with Mac "When the time comes, you will make the right decision – for your son and daughter. Of that I have no doubt." What is the right decision Mac? Do I fight for her and lose a voice rang in her mind or do I let her go?

Regina's shoulders visibly slumped – if she fought she would be giving Blue exactly what she wanted – proof that she would always be the Evil Queen. Perhaps if she let her go she could prove herself and get her back? She felt as if she were being torn in two and was about to disappear to her fault to hopefully buy some time, to think, when Robin spoke –

"Regina – " his voice cradled her name as it always had and Regina nearly broke. "Regina, step away from the door. Bring Alayna back inside. Now!" His voice was warm, but firm and had Regina turning back to him. As her movement brought her away from the doorway she suddenly realised, the bows were not aimed at her – but at the 'guests' on her doorstep. It was also in that moment that Regina realised at the back of the room, behind the Merry Men stood Henry – when had he left her side? Smiling warmly at her. The image had tears filling her eyes as she took a staggering step towards Robin.

"Robin go – we've got this," Little John called and it was then that Regina realised how much she was shaking. Alayna seemed to suddenly take in her mother's obvious distress and began to cry. Robin threw down his bow, gathered Regina and Alayna to him and brought them back to the safety of the living area. Depositing Regina on the couch and moving to take Alayna from her arms.

"No – " Regina cried.

Hurt flashed through Robin's eyes, thinking Regina believed him to be taking their child from her. What did he have to do to convince her? "Regina, I am just going to hold her until you've calmed down. I'm not going – "

"I know." Regina said looking deeply into his eyes, allowing the love she felt for him to fully shine through for the first time since he had found her in California. "I'm calm – please, after what just happened – what I thought was happening. I can't put her down right now. Go – talk to them. I'm calm. Truly." She wiped at her eyes and took a shuddering breath trying to portray the image of the composed mayor and failing miserably. Her hands were shaking as she hugged her little girl to her – breathing her in. Alayna calmed her crying and placed her head to Regina's chest, allowing no space between her body and her mothers, as though she knew the closeness was needed.

"I'll be right back," Robin said.

"Robin – wait! Maleficent and Lily, they're with Blue – " Regina said, agitated. Trying to get up again.

"No Regina, they're not. They're here with us – for you." He quickly knelt at her feet, rubbing his hands up and down her thighs in comfort. "I'm so sorry Regina, I should have been here sooner. I met with Maleficent and Lily yesterday as soon as I left David at the library. I'd called but you were asleep – I know how important this is, but you were exhausted and you would not have slept a wink if I had told you all this yesterday. David promised to give me time to talk to you – We agreed you and I would go to meet them with Alayna at the loft. I thought we could discuss things honestly, civilly. Obviously I was wrong," he said bitterly. "Blue must have talked him out of waiting. It wasn't until Henry found me at camp that I realised they were here. I'm sorry you had to face that alone," he said rising to sit beside her on the couch and drawing her to him, feeling the trembling in her body calm as he pressed soft kisses to her hair. Regina shook her head, speaking into his chest.

"You were here when I – when we - needed you, I can ask nothing more than that," she raised her head from his chest. "Why did you stay at the camp?"

"I'm not as naïve as you think Regina," he smiled, "we were strategizing all night in case our meeting didn't go as planned. The loft is not an easy place to ambush, even with 20 of my best men. This place however, much easier to defend," he looked suddenly to the front door. "I need to go and ensure this is settled as peacefully as possible," he said. "For all our sakes. But know this my love – no one will be taking our daughter from us." His eyes flashed with anger and determination before turning softer as he lent in to give Regina a tender kiss that she returned eagerly, not wanting him to go just yet. He broke the kiss, resting his forehead against hers for a moment in comfort. Then he stroked his daughter's hair as he rose, picked up his bow, and re-entered the fray.

AN: I was going to cliffhanger this when Robin first came in but there's a lot of animosity towards Robin that I didn't want to enflame! Hopefully his conversation with Regina went a little way to smoothing things over with some of us? Remember my Robin hasn't jerked Regina around as much as canon Robin and he never wet back to Marion (which will be covered in the next couple of chapters). Hope you all liked this one xx Some more Henry Mills moments next chapter!