Author's Note: Hello all, and thank you for all the favorites, follows, and reviews! I do apologize that it took this long to get a chapter out. The holiday rather drained me, and put me behind schedule on a few things. That being said, I feel I need to address just a few things I've seen in the reviews. The first thing that you should all know going into this is that this is absolutely an OutlawQueen fanfiction. I've shipped them from the beginning, and I have no plans to stop. That doesn't mean I condone or agree with the storyline that the writers are currently forcing down our throats- hence this fanfiction. If you are looking for a story where Robin and Regina have this horrible break up and Regina leaves him and never speaks to him again, I'm afraid you're going to be disappointed. If you want to see a more realistic reaction from Regina and Robin to this story arc, content in the knowledge that I will find a way for them to be together in the end, please, continue reading.

TL;DR? This is an OutlawQueen fanfic. They will have a happy ending. I'm sorry if that displeases you.

On another note, I know a few of you have been worried about Robin seeming a little out of character so far. I hear your concerns. I do want to remind you that for this story, Regina is the narrator. That means that anything that's written is colored with her point of view, her fears, her worries... all of that. Robin leaving is obviously a very large fear of hers, and with everything that's happened, why wouldn't she think the worst? As for Robin being out of character, I would ask how you can tell, since the writers of the show have seemed to assassinate his character so thoroughly? That was a joke. Anyway, I hope some of the questions regarding that will be answered with this new chapter. Please read and review if it strikes your fancy. I may not respond, as I usually check my reviews when I'm in the middle of crazy things, but do know that I read each and every one of them. Sorry for the novel-length Author's Note. On to the writing, yeah?

Most likely derived from the old Celtic Rigantona meaning "great queen". A Celtic goddess of fertility and the moon.

It wasn't until later that night that Robin acknowledged my existence.

"Regina!"

I'd just left Granny's after picking up some take-out. Henry was staying tonight, and as I was at a little less than my best, I'd spaced on dinner planning. I knew that Henry would be more than willing to take advantage of my lapse if it meant he got a burger, so I capitulated quickly and was getting ready to settle in for a night of burgers, fries, and Marvel movies. The voice of my -estranged?- soulmate had me stopping and freezing, then swallowing as I slowly turned to face him. The thief appeared to be slightly winded, as if he'd been running to catch up to me. I lifted a dark eyebrow. It wasn't as if I'd been hurrying.

"Sorry," he said, noticing my questioning look. He slicked back the hair that'd fallen into his face, and I had a momentary surge of pain as my mind flashed back to when I'd done that for him, that night in the vault, caressing his forehead and wiping the damp locks out of his eyes as he leaned down towards me for another kiss-

No. No, I wasn't going to allow myself to be drawn into the role of pathetic ex. I had better things to do.

"Can I help you, Robin?" I asked, prompting him into some sort of communication, since he seemed to be content to stare at me as if he hadn't seen me in a year. I didn't like him analyzing, though I was pleased with myself that my voice held no caustic elements to it. I could do this.

My words seemed to shock him, as if he'd forgotten he had been speaking. "O-of course, yeah. Sorry. I just wanted to thank you for the barriers you set up in the room for me. You left so quickly earlier that I didn't get a chance to tell you then." He was referring to the spells and protection barriers I'd put up to help keep Zelena out of his room at night, when he and the children were sleeping. All of us were concerned with what Zelena would do when she got her green mitts on the baby. We didn't want to see that come to fruition.

"Yes, well," I said, unable to quite contain my snark. Some might call it a character flaw. I see it as... spice. I'm definitely not bland on the pallet. "I was only returning the favor. You couldn't have been in too big of a hurry to see me, what with the way you so easily vacated my premisis." Okay, because that didn't sound bitter at all. Good going, idiot. But, whatever. So he knew he'd hurt me. It's not like he didn't know that before. He had to have. Robin might not know all the ways of this land yet, but he's not stupid, and he's always been able to read me, even when -especially when- I don't want to be read.

My soulmate hung his head wearily, and I felt bad for choosing to pick a fight with him in the middle of the sidewalk at six-oh-three in the evening. He had a newborn to get back to. I should have just accepted his thanks, and gone on my way. it would have been the right thing to do.

"And I find myself apologizing for the third time in as many minutes. Regina, I don't want you to think I abandoned you, or that I don't want to live with you anymore. Quite frankly, I feel awful that I'm not at home with you, where Roland has his own room and is safe and happy. He misses you, you know. As does his father."

I looked at him as if he'd grown an extra head. I knew my voice was going to sound young and helpless before the words left my mouth, but I couldn't change them. "Then why did you leave me? Without even saying anything? How was I supposed to interpret that as anything other than a bit 'Keep Out' sign hanging on you and your children?"

Robin looked as if he hadn't contemplated that, and rubbed the back of his neck tiredly. I think I detected a bit of a stain on his green coat. Was that baby throw up? I wanted to laugh suddenly. The mental image of a child throwing up on Robin was hilarious and heartwarming, and then I wanted to cry. Why couldn't that child be mine? The thoughts were gone in an instant, tamped down tightly behind the lid that held all my most problematic of emotions. I was really trying to keep it together here, but things kept sliding through as if there was a crack in the seal, and I was desperately looking around for some super glue, some duct tape... hell. Anything. Anything to keep me from breaking down on the side of the street where people were pretending not to watch us just across the way.

"I didn't mean it like that. Regina, things happened so quickly. It's all just been happening so quickly, and I didn't know how you were going to react. I didn't want to- to shove this baby on you if you weren't ready. Likewise, I didn't want her to be around someone if they weren't ready for her. I was only trying to protect her, and you. Please understand, I meant nothing wrong by it. I waited up to talk to you the night she was born, but you were taking so long with Zelena and Emma, and I didn't know where you were, or what state you'd be in. I didn't want you to come home from a fight, angry, and then forced to see the product of your true love and your sister there, in your bedroom." He was adamant now, and his eyes held true remorse. "Please Regina. Please, say you understand."

And just like that, the fight was taken out of me. This was Robin we were talking about. Of course he hadn't meant to hurt me. Of course he was trying to look out for his children. How could I blame him for that? I probably would have done the same, were our situations reversed. Briefly, I wondered what sort of monster he thought I was that would take out my frustrations on an innocent newborn, but I realized immediately that my thought was wrong. He knew I wouldn't harm the child. But he also knew that, had it been too much for me, I would have simply dealt silently with it. His actions were his own clumsy way of trying to spare me any unnecessary grief, so that I might come around on my own terms.

Only, what did one do when they didn't exactly feel invited?

"I understand, Robin," I said tiredly. I attempted to work a smile into it, but I could tell by the concern that spiked in his lovely blue eyes that I missed the mark by a great deal. Before he could utter his tender questions on behalf of my health, I shook my head and stepped away from the embrace in which he'd just been about to enfold me. I really needed to get back to Henry. He was waiting and hungry. "I'm fine. Just a little tired. I promise, I'm fine." I could tell he didn't believe me.

"If you'd like, you can come up and meet her. I think I've settled on a name, but I'd like your opinion on it."

Suddenly, it seemed too much. I'd been on an emotional roller coaster for what seemed like ages now, and I realized then that, maybe Robin had actually had the right idea. Maybe I just needed... time. Time to adjust. Time to figure out how I actually felt about all this. It wouldn't be fair of me to demand to see his child, and then skip out after the emotions ran too high. I couldn't do that to the littlest Hood... to any of them. I knew that, in order for me to be what that baby needed, I had to be at my best, and have the feelings of betrayal sorted out completely. Robin, Roland, and the little lioness deserved that much.

"Henry is waiting for me." I held up the brown paper bag for him to see, and he looked down as if seeing it for the first time. "Another time, perhaps."

Robin looked aggrieved, and I couldn't resist walking up to him and wrapping him in my arms. He seemed lost and rudderless, like he was being pulled in two different directions. I didn't want to do that to him. Our relationship was supposed to give joy, not despair. It wasn't fair to him that he seemed to be caught between his child and his soulmate. Leaning in, I put the lightest of kisses against his lips. "Your daughter needs you, thief. Our time will come, and we will get it worked out. But it will not be at the expense of a newborn." I could see the gratitude in his eyes, the adoring smile as the battle within him ceased. I'd never win that battle, I knew. And I wouldn't have wanted to. Children always come first, and we both know that.

"I'm here for you, whenever you need me," he promised, and I could see his oath strengthen him, define him as the sort of man he wanted to be for me, for his children. My gloved hand stroked his cheek and I smiled and nodded once.

"I'm only a phone call away."

We didn't say goodbye. It wasn't really a goodbye anyway. Just... a temporary farewell. Like telling a co-worker to have a good night at the end of the day, fully expecting to see them tomorrow. I knew we'd be seeing each other around, and I knew that the tension that had been there would lessen with time. I hoped it wouldn't take too long. There were only so many firsts of that child's that I was willing to miss; none being the most desired answer. But there was work to be done, and that needed to come first. I had time. Feeling lighter than I had in days -weeks?- I made my way back home with a smile on my face that lasted even as Henry informed me that we simply had to re-watch Iron Man 2 for the fourth time. And if the fries were a little colder than they should have been for being made fresh, my little prince never mentioned it.

It was sometime around 2 am that I was roused by a particularly vivid dream; one of the ones that seemed profound and absolutely riveting... and that vanished as soon as you attempted to grasp onto it. My brow furrowed in slight annoyance, the lines only deepening as I realized that I'd fallen asleep on the couch. The television was muted and stuck replaying the Iron Man menu screen- Henry must have done that- muted it for me. He knows how much I hate waking up in complete darkness. I noticed a blanket thrown over me and rubbed my eyes to focus them better. Henry must have done that, too. Sweet boy. I'd reward him for his chivalry tomorrow with cinnamon rolls.

Cleaning up the mess and collecting my things, I made my way upstairs and got ready for bed properly. Ten minutes later, I was sliding in between my sheets and looking to set my alarm for 7. I grabbed my phone to plug it into the charger, and noticed a text message that I'd received at 11:54 pm. It was from Robin. The text held only one word.

Rhiannon.