Disclaimer: not mine! All the characters belong to ABC.
Regina woke up shivering with cold. She felt that Robin wasn't there before she even blinked away the rest of slumber. It was still gloomy, no sunlight could ever pass through those thick branches. It was so cold without his warm and comforting embrace, cold and empty somewhere deep inside. The worst and darkest thoughts started to invade Regina's mind and she couldn't shake them off. He couldn't have left her here alone, could he? Had anything happened to him? Did he decide to go and fight the witch on his own? Or did he regret kissing her last night? Did he not want to be with her? She shouldn't have trusted him to begin with.
"I didn't want you to wake so soon." Came Robin's voice as he himself was making his way through the fir trees. He sounded slightly disappointed. " I wanted to make a surprise for you!" He smiled as he came up to where she still lay.
"A good one, I hope?!" She raised an eyebrow at the Thief. "There's one thing you should know about me. I don't like surprises!"
"Oh, but I bet you would like mine!" Robin gave her a sudductive smile as he got down on his knees beside her, hands behind his back and pressed his lips against hers. He gave out a satisfied moan as their lips parted. Regina fidgeted in her place, but still couldn't make out what he was hiding from her.
"You're making me feel nervous, Robin of Locksley!"
"Do I now? Well, I'm glad you finally admitted that, your Majesty!" He smirked at her putting one of her dark locks behind her ear.
"Are you laughing at me?!" She said with pretense indignation in her voice.
"I wouldn't even dream of it! I wouldn't want to be turned into a crisp, my Queen."
Robin wanted to play along with that tone that Regina set off for them at the beginning of the conversation, but he didn't expect her to stand up sharply and turn away from him. She was definitely offended, but this took him by surprise.
"Don't ever call me that!" She barked back.
"I'm so sorry, Regina. I guess I must have gone a bit too far. I had no intention to offend you!" He put his hand on her shoulder feeling her tense body relax at his touch.
"You didn't. I'm sorry too. I didn't want it to sound so harsh..." She turned towards him now and met his understanding blue eyes so she put hers down. "I just... It's just whenever I feel like I'm the Queen, it's like I become somebody else..." Robin tenderly brushed the back side of his palm against her cheek."Somebody I don't want to become again, not with you." She finished in a small voice.
"I'm sorry. You must have gone through a lot." He brought her closer with his free hand and she felt warm and alive again against his strong body. "I love to see you open up. You can't even imagine how much it means to me... How much you're beginning to mean to me! I will call you whatever you'd want me to call you, my beautiful lady." The man started putting butterfly kisses all over her face, her forehead, her eyes, her nose and finally their lips met in a lingering kiss.
"And I do have something for you." He whispered as they parted. "I hope you like blueberries. They were the only berries I managed to find in this wretched place."
"You did not!"
"Didn't get my lady some breakfast?! I believe I did. I also brought some fresh water and we still have bread that we took along with us!"
Regina loved hearing this 'US' coming from him. It felt like they've been together forever and it didn't all just start yesterday.
"I'm sorry I couldn't make you some fresh roasted meet least we would get caught as soon as we start a fire out here. But, I promise you to do so as soon as we get back!"
"Does that mean I have your word at that?!"
"Absolutely." And he put his hands round her waist to bring her closer to him. He kissed her passionately leaving the woman breathless.
"What was that about?" She asked exhasperatedly.
"Just felt like our little agreement needed sealing." Robin chuckled.
Both of them had a breakfast/picnic that not-so-dark-anymore morning. He fed her juicy berries and she couldn't stop smiling at him. Regina felt so easy, so natural and comfortable with him. It finally felt like home for both of their wounded souls. Snuggling again his chest she forgot about time and even their mission. It was Robin who broke the magic of the moment. He shifted and she murmured something in protest.
"As much as I hate to say that, but we need to get going. We can't afford that time together while everybody else's lives are at stake!" The Outlaw kissed gently the top of the woman's head got up and offered her his hand.
"So, I guess you already have a plan of further actions?" She asked showing genuine interest. The Queen loved being in charge of everything, but it felt nice to have someone who is bold enough to make decisions for both of them. She took his hand and got up.
"I do. And the first thing of my plan is to take you back safely. I can't allow any harm be done to you, Regina." He said bringing her close to him and putting arms around her small frame as she tried to fight him.
"You're not doing that! I won't let you go alone!"
"I'll take my Merry Men along, I can't risk losing you!"
She broke free from his arms. Despair could clearly be read in her beautiful eyes.
"But, Robin, I'm your best chance! I have magic! I hope you're not assuming to bring down the Wicked Witch with sticks?!"
"This morning I went back and tracked down the place where we encountered the Witch's presence..."
"You shouldn't have done that!" She interrupted him, feeling the anger and frustration starting to rise inside. "Do you know how stupid it was of you?! You could have got yourself killed out there!"
The Archer stopped her with a kiss and that prevented her from fighting him any further. He cupped her face and looked straight into her eyes.
"I'm very flattered with the way you care about me,my love,but I can handle myself and I was careful."
"Did you manage to find anything?" She finally gave in to him.
"I found an old underground passage. It's sealed by magic, but I know a way this curse can be undone."
"C'mon, let's go there and get it over with!"
"But, Regina!"
"There's no time for 'but'! We can't waste time going back and setting off again, that'd take too long. We can do it. We must try." There was no anger in her voice now, she was calm and tried to plead with his commonsense.
"Ok, but you have to promise me that you won't put your life in danger, not for anything!"
"I can't promise you that, but I promise to be as careful as possible." He kissed her again. It was a long lingering and hungry kiss. She didn't want to admit it to herself but it still felt like a farewell kiss and it almost broke her heart.
"Just remember I can't lose you! We'll do it together. You must let me lead the way!" He said letting go of her. She knew it was still up to her to make this final decision.
"Fine, if that's what you want." She whispered.
Note: Sorry, guys, it took me so long! This chapter got accidentally delisted on my computer :-( so, I had to rewrite it. Next one will come sooner, I promise.
And I was wrong, now moving along with the story I feel like there was something more then just kissing going on between the two of them during the missing year. So yeah, I think I might have to change the rating of the story pretty soon! As always would love to hear your comments!