Author's note: Thank you for all the follows, faves, and reviews, guys! I love you all. And a quick shout-out to my awesome betas Michelle and Kara. I heart your faces so much! Mwah!
Okay, just a real quick FYI, the next chapter after this, it gets sexy yo. ;)
Through My Soul
The trip downtown was uneventful, though Regina wondered why Emma would want to meet her at her office. When she tried to call her back, she was met with static and an eventual call failed. She even attempted to get a hold of Snow multiple times, but the signal on her phone was gone. Suspicious, she grabbed her keys and left for her office. Perhaps Emma had found something there? An important clue she missed, maybe?
When she pulled up near the building, Regina almost believed it was just another day in Storybrooke. Or at least, it would've been if everyone wasn't walking around with a constant look of trepidation marring their brows.
Upon reaching her office door, something stopped her in her tracks. A basket of green apples sat on the floor. Regina sighed. It wasn't Emma who called her. Opening the door to her office, she looked up at her sister and let out a slight groan. "It was you on the phone."
"Well, I had to find some way to have a chat with my little sis," Zelena replied, gracefully rising out of Regina's desk chair. "Another protection spell? A bit over dramatic, aren't we?"
Regina struggled to lean over and pick up the apples. "What's this?"
"A gift. From sister to sister." Zelena shrugged, walking around the room. "I saw your tree, and I thought you could use something better. Red apples are so sickly sweet, don't you think? People tend to like something a little sharper."
Regina set them on her desk. "And green apples are just bitter." Zelena picked up a vase; annoyed, Regina said, "That's not yours."
Zelena snorted and put it back. "Story of my life."
Oh, this was getting old. As much fun as chatting with her sister was, Regina cut to the point, "Why are you here?"
"Oh, sisterly concern, sisterly advice, you know. Wanted to make sure you and my precious niece were all right after our little showdown."
"We're fine." Regina responded, "Are you?"
"Getting there," Zelena remarked as she walked around Regina's office. "Wow. This is nice. So luxurious. You really don't appreciate what you have, do you?"
Regina shook her head. It was the same sad story every time with this woman. "Right, because I got everything, and you have nothing. If you want your superpower to be envy, go right ahead."
Zelena turned to her. "Envy is just another word for ambition."
Regina almost rolled her eyes. Maybe she should gift her sister with a thesaurus? "Well, that's just not true."
"See, I strive for things. I work. You..." Zelena looked Regina up and down and scoffed. "You cast a curse that was just a fancy form of running away. With every advantage, you still turn your back on every opportunity for happiness. You, Regina...You just…" She gestured her hands out into the room. "You just don't take risks. You don't live your life. It's just such a waste. I can see why our mother was so disappointed in you."
"Disappointed in me?" Her eyes fell upon Zelena, leaning forward she pointed out smugly. "She gave you away."
She stared at her menacingly for a long moment. "You have no idea what really happened. That's exactly what's going to hurt you."
Regina chuckled, darkly. "You didn't come here to give me sisterly advice. Why are you really here?"
Zelena's eyes sparkled in delight. "So perceptive. I'm here, Regina, because I wanted to make sure that you weren't someplace else, so I could take what I need. Or rather, the dark one could."
Realization dawned and Regina's eyes widened.
"Oh yes, I know all about your dear, precious soul mate. Do you feel it, little sis? The Dark One is taking your heart." Zelena laughed.
Regina grabbed the letter opener on her desk, and with no hesitation, threw it through the air at Zelena who narrowly beat it and disappeared in a cloud of green smoke.
"Stop right there. You know this arrow never misses its mark."
"If I could stand down, I would." Rumplestiltskin said, "Heed me. Give me the heart."
"No." Robin stood his ground. He felt droplets of sweat bead at his hairline and drip down the sides of his face. His grip on the mechanical bow tightened as he squared off his shoulders. He didn't know what Zelena wanted with Regina's heart, but he knew enough that he dared not relinquish it.
"And who is this?" Rumple's body fluidly turned toward Roland, his stance like that of a deadly serpent stalking its prey.
"Roland! Go back!" Fear choked Robin.
"Come here, little boy."
"Don't! Please." Robin always had steady hands, but right now, they were shaking.
"I don't want to. I really don't. Come closer, little boy."
"Daddy!" Roland's cries broke his father's heart, and Robin repressed a strangled sob.
Even though he didn't have his memories, even though he didn't have proof but for the tug he felt in his heart, he knew that he and Regina were tethered to one another.
She was stubborn, snarky, powerful, independent, and, at the same time, vulnerable, bold, audacious, and stunning in every way. He never had problems before, charming his way into the hearts of women. He'd also never wanted to know one more than Regina. He was drawn to her like a tide to the shore. Bound by body, by spirit, by soul, and by the life she so preciously carried within her.
"Please. Don't do this," Robin begged, but his plea fell on deaf ears. There was nothing the Dark One could do but obey under the Wicked Witch's control.
Robin swallowed the lump in his throat and tried to rationalize what he should do, thinking of Roland, thinking of Regina and their child.
Regina challenged him, and he found quickly that he enjoyed their back-and-forth, fiery banter. He assumed that she did as well, always so swift to respond, sharp-tongued and witty.
Rumplestiltskin in one hand held Roland's life, and in the other, he held Regina's and the baby. He was forcing Robin to choose between a lesser of two evils.
"And stop," The imp said with a flick of his wrist.
"Daddy, help!" Blood rushed to Robin's head, his knees were shaking, and his mind raged war with himself.
Protect Roland.
"I didn't want to do this either, but…" He let his arrow fly.
Protect his daughter.
The arrow cut through the air, honed in on the Dark One.
Protect Regina.
But to his horror, it stopped inches before it reached its mark. "It never misses its target… And I've just changed the target. If I drop my finger…"
"No!" Robin lowered his bow and put his hands out, begging the Dark One to wait.
Robin's mind raced, trying to think of his options. He'd robbed carriages, snuck into castles, picked the pockets of Queens, and all without being seen. But this, in this, he saw no other way out, no other option, saw no escape route.
Protect Roland. Protect his daughter. Protect Regina.
"I don't want to… But I will."
He had to choose between his son and his daughter. He had to choose between his loves. For if he didn't, all would surely suffer.
Robin shook, consumed by rage and fear.
"Daddy!"
"Wait. Wait." And with that, Robin stumbled over dirt and his own two feet, grappling for the buried heart.
The choice was made for him.
"Thank you. And, I am sorry. Truly." The Dark One's fingers directed, the arrow flew, and centimeters from Roland's petrified face, it dropped to the ground.
Robin ran to him, clinging to his little body and heaving him up into his arms. "Oh, it's okay. It's okay, boy. You're safe. You're safe," He said, trying to convince Roland and himself.
Protect Roland. Protect his daughter. Protect Regina.
He'd failed at two.
When she came through the clearing into his camp and locked eyes with Robin, Regina let out a breath that she didn't realize she was holding. Roland was in Robin's arms, his grip fierce. He assured his boy that he was safe, rubbing a calloused hand over his back soothingly.
With one look and unspoken words, Regina knew what had happened, and she would never fault him for it. Rumpelstiltskin had threatened his child, and she understood.
Robin put Roland down, asking him to go with Tuck, before walking over to Regina.
Despite her understanding, she needed him to tell her. "What happened?"
"I'm sorry." Robin slowly shook his head. "It's gone."
She took a deep breath. "Was anyone hurt?"
"Luckily, no." He turned to look back at Roland, and she followed his gaze. His eyes came back to guiltily meet hers.
She could tell that this decision hurt him in a way she knew all too well.
"Again, I must apologize. You trusted me, and I let you down." His voice was heavy, his gaze shifted to stare at the ground at her feet.
Regina's composure softened. "No, you didn't," She said, stepping forward and lifting up his chin so he'd be forced to look at her. "Nothing is worth the loss of a child."
"But what about…" Robin's voice faltered as his fingers reached out to touch her and then retracted right before fingertips met the round curve of her stomach. His gaze serious and pained at what he perceived to be his failings as a father.
"Robin, hey," Regina shushed and soothed. It amazed her how quickly they'd both fallen, how trusting and open they were with each other. "I'm fine. The baby is fine. We're both fine." Her eyes are soft before she realizes something else entirely. "But now, we have a problem. I'm alive."
He looked at her. "I don't follow."
She explained, "She has my heart. Gold's taken it for her, and since she hasn't crushed it and killed me, that means she needs it for something far worse."
His eyes widened, and he looked at her in surprise. "Worse than murder? What is she planning?" His fingers do reach for her stomach this time, and her hands meet his on the curve of her belly.
Regina raised her eyebrows and shook her head. Determination swelled in her like a grand force of nature. She straightened up. "It doesn't matter. Because I'm going to stop her."
"This is all useless crap," Regina yelled, pulling things from the shelves and angrily tossing random junk aside. She was pissed, and mightily so. She was never going to find anything in this god-forsaken mess Rumple called a shop. Just then, a voice called out above the noise, and a red-head appeared from the back.
"Hey, hey. Hey, stop!" Belle yelled above the noise. "Stop it! What… What are you looking for?"
"I need to destroy my sister," Regina called back distracted as she searched through a nearby desk. "She has my heart."
Belle gasped and took a step back.
"Oh, relax." Regina waved away her concern. "She can't control me with it. I protected it from that. The problem is I don't know what she's planning on using it for, which is why I need to take her out." Regina looked around, rubbing her hands together, and then looked at Belle. "That's why I need your help. What do you have here?"
"What do I have here?" Belle gaped at Regina and with venom in her voice told her, "Self-respect. Why on earth or any realm would I help you? The woman who imprisoned me in a tower in her castle, then put me in an asylum for twenty-eight years. The woman who's done nothing but mentally and physically torture me ever since we've known each other."
"Huh, bookworm's got teeth," Regina said, impressed.
An edge crept into Belle's voice, "Get out."
"Yes." Regina sighed but didn't back down from her intended discussion. "I did all those horrible things… In the past, but right now, I need something to defeat the woman who's puppet-mastering your boyfriend. She has your Rumple, and unless you help me, you may never see him again. I'm sorry, Belle. I really, really am."
Belle relaxed a little, then giving in she said, "So, I've been trying to match the ingredients that Zelena's been collecting to whatever spell she intends to cast. It would really help if I knew what is so special about your heart and the baby. Does she just want it because you're sisters, or..."
"I have no idea." Then remembering something that could help her, Regina snapped her fingers. "The candle. Where's the candle?"
Belle looked around unsure of what she was talking about. Lifting up a candle stick holder beside her, she asked, "Here?"
Regina quickly shook her head. She turned and started going through more cabinets and drawers. "Not
that one. The two-sided candle snow used to kill my mother. Where's that?"
Belle understood now what she meant and opened a drawer next to her. Pulling out the candle, she shook her head. "Its power is gone. Now it's just a relic."
"Yes!" Regina smiled, taking the candle from the young woman. "That's it. This isn't about how my mother died. This is about how she lived."
Despite the late hour, David, Snow, Emma, and Hook gathered around the table in Regina's library. No one was really looking forward to tonight's festivities, but they needed answers and they were willing to try just about anything at this point.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was making this special tea." Regina apologized, pouring the tea into the cups that sat around the table. David reached for one, and Regina yelled out quickly, "No!"
He jumped and looked up at her questionably.
Softening her tone, she said, "Don't drink it. It's a deadly poison for summoning the dark vortex."
"I prefer Earl Grey," David responded, lowering his eyebrows in displeasure.
"The dark what?" Emma asked, her brow furrowed.
"Zelena dropped by my office this morning…" Regina explained.
Snow interjected, "Wait, what were you doing at your office? Aren't you supposed to be staying inside?"
Regina frowned at her and narrowed her eyes. She spoke a little louder when she continued, "She called me pretending to be Emma. I went over there, and while the Dark One was stealing my heart, she was there gloating. She said that my weakness was that I don't know enough about her past, so I've decided to summon someone who does. We have to talk to my mother. It's a fairly simple ritual but not often performed."
"If it's easy to talk to the dead, why not do it more?" David asked.
"Well, because to do it, you need the murder weapon…" Nodding to Snow she finished, "and the murderer."
Snow gasped and, if it were possible, sat up a little straighter.
David sighed. "What do we need to do?"
"Focus on Cora," Regina said plainly.
"Welcoming thoughts?" Hook replied sarcastically.
"Whatever you got." Regina nodded, her eyes temporarily looking down at the table before concentrating on her mother again. She closed her eyes.
"Is it…" Emma started, unsure of what they were doing.
Regina interrupted, "Shh."
After a moment, there was a light breeze which shifted and became a torrent of wind, which swirled all around them and rose up into a vortex above them. There was a deafening crashing sound, and in an instant the portal opened.
Regina looked up in surprise."We did it."
"Cora?" Snow looked up, her hand tightening its grip on Regina's.
"Mother, can you hear us?" Regina called up into the swirling portal above them. "Cora, give us a sign. Do not ignore me now, mother. Please. You owe me this."
They waited, but nothing came from it. Regina held her breath. Where was she? They needed this. They needed answers. Suddenly the table abruptly shifted, and in that moment all concentration was lost, closing the portal.
"Oh!" Hook looked down sheepishly. "Sorry, love. That was me. I crossed my legs and bumped the table."
"Do we try it again?" David asked looking around at them all.
"No. There's no point. It worked. The portal opened, but nothing came from it. She doesn't want to talk to me." Regina sighed and leaned back in her chair. She was just so tired. "Guess whatever secrets lie in her past, she wants to keep buried there."
As they all left the room to go home for the night, a feeling of failure settled over them all. They were no closer to defeating this witch now than before.
David spoke up with his usual optimism, "Maybe Belle will have more luck. There has to be something that can help us."
"Right." Emma nodded with more confidence in her tone. "My magic gets more powerful every day. By the time this all goes down, I'll be ready."
"Make sure you are," Regina told her flatly.
"Come on, let's go." David took Snow's hand.
"You know what?" Snow told David, pulling out of his grasp. "Go ahead. I'm gonna stay and talk to Regina. I'll help clean up."
David nodded and followed Hook and Emma out.
"I'm not in the mood for a heart-to-heart," Regina said shaking her head. She just wanted to be alone.
"I'm not sure that's physically possible right now," She quipped, a smile pulling at her lips.
Regina appreciated the sass and chuckled lightly. Giving in she offered, "You can help with the tea cups."
"I want to apologize, Regina," Snow's voice filled the room a while later, and when Regina didn't reply, she barreled on, "For Cora, for..."
"Murdering her?" Regina stood with her back to Snow drying a dish.
"Right." Snow replied, regret evident in her voice. "Yeah, I don't take it lightly. I think about it every day."
"So do I." Regina turned around to face the girl that caused her so much pain, but with one look at Snow, she realized that they all suffered in their own way. Regina glanced down, before continuing, "And… when I do think about it, I remember that she did kill your mother." Her shoulders dropped with a sigh. "So I'll admit that it's complicated."
Tears in her eyes, Snow sniffed. "Thank you. I'm sure you had some things you wanted to say to her."
Regina scoffed. "Yes, well I'm realizing that my mother walled off a lot of her life from me. She wasn't the warmest mother, but at least I thought I occupied a singular spot in her heart." She sighed, sitting down beside Snow. "A sister. Zelena. Why would she give her up? Why would she make us strangers to one another?"
Suddenly there was a large thumping sound from above them.
"What was that?" Snow looked around the room.
"I have no idea." Regina's gaze drew up to the ceiling, to the room above them. "It's upstairs."
Regina and Snow made their way upstairs. Snow in front, on guard and very protective of Regina. She gave a small tilt of her head indicating the door at the end of the hall, where there came another loud noise, followed by screeching.
Snow whispered, "It's in there."
"There isn't anything in this room," Regina said as she hesitantly opened the door, and then both Snow and Regina took a giant step back. This couldn't be. The portal! Cora's spirit turned to them; a menacing look came over her face. "This can't be. The spell opened a limited portal for talking."
"It's me," Snow gasped, shaking her head. Cora's eyes following her, watching Snow's every move. "I killed Cora. She sensed my presence and found a way to bleed through into our world."
"Watch out!" she called out. Regina summoned her magic, creating a barrier to hold back Cora's spirit. She wasn't going to indulge her mother any further. She put herself between Cora and Snow and blocked her path. She stood her ground and yelled, "Back down, mother. You will answer my questions. Now, tell me… what did you do to Zelena?!"
Cora pushed Regina roughly aside, and she braced herself against the wall. Turning back, she saw Cora was dangerously close to Snow. Throwing up her hands, Regina used her magic, and she and Snow appeared a second later downstairs, back in her library.
There was a brief moment of stillness, and then Cora's spirit appeared out of nowhere. Regina quickly shielded them, but she was already weak.
"You're holding her off! "Snow called from behind her.
"But I don't know how much longer I'll last! I can't hold her off forever!" Regina said, her magic holding but growing weaker.
"Cora, I'm sorry. Please forgive me!" Snow begged.
"Save your breath." Regina scoffed, bitterly. "Your mother was nothing like my mother. She only understands power and weakness."
"But if she wants to kill you, she's gonna have to go through me! This isn't about you. This is about her and me. It's time for answers, Mother," Regina demanded, releasing her magic. "What did you do to Zelena?!"
Cora swung and hit Regina, and she collapsed into the desk before falling to the floor. She winced at the pain in her arm, which she used to break her fall. She was fine. The baby was fine. She got to her feet and her mouth fell open in horror. Cora. Snow.
"Mary Margaret! Hold on. I won't let you go," she said before she looked down, summoning up every ounce of magic she had left. With fierce determination, she forced Cora's soul from Snow, summoning the portal and throwing Cora back to where she belonged. She slumped against the table attempting to catch her breath.
It was then that Emma came running into the room. "What the hell was that?!"
"Cora," Regina ground out. Pushing herself away from the table, she went over to Snow's side. "Is she okay?"
"Mary Margaret, can you hear me?" David said, coming into the room and kneeling beside her.
"Cora… Not what we thought," Snow mumbled, her eyes still closed.
Regina sat down in the chair beside Snow.
Snow whispered, "She was trying to communicate."
"She was?" Trying to understand, Regina asked, "What'd she say?"
Snow shook her head agitated. "Leopold, my mother… My mother..."
"Shh." David said, stroking Snow's hair. "Mary Margaret, relax."
"She's not making sense." Emma said, pulling out her cell phone. "We need to call a doctor."
"If she knows something that could help us," Regina encouraged.
"Regina, it's gonna have to wait," David snapped, impatiently.
"It can't wait!" Regina cried. "If we want to stop Zelena, we have to know what the hell she's doing and why!" The room spun then, she stepped to the right and lost her footing. "Woah."
"Regina?!" Emma quickly steadied her and guided her to a chair. "Maybe you're the one that needs to get to a hospital."
"I'm fine."
"Yeah, but maybe she isn't." Emma gestured to Regina's stomach.
Regina shook her head, which was a mistake because it only made her dizzier. "No, we need to stop Zelena. I need to know what she's doing. Otherwise, neither of us will be fine." Regina's hands moved from her head to her stomach, calming her daughter within.
Belle stepped forward. "I can help with half of that."
"What?" Regina looked up sharply at Belle, who stood beside Hook.
"She's planning on going back. Back in time," Belle told them all.
Looks of shock and confusion clouded their faces.
"Are you certain?" Regina stood up from her chair, gripping the back of it tightly. "No one's ever been able to cast a spell to go back in time."
"Well, clearly she thinks she can succeed," Belle assured her. "I mean, brains, courage, and a resilient heart. Those ingredients are in every time-travel spell I've found."
David rubbed his chin in frustration and sighed."Why go back in time? I mean, we have no idea what she's trying to accomplish."
Snow shook her head. "I do… She …she didn't..."
"Don't push yourself," David said, taking her hand.
Snow continued, despite David's protests. "She didn't want to give up Zelena. She was forced to by mm… By my mother. Princess Eva. She told a secret… Just like I did."
"Wait." Emma blinked slowly. "I thought our family members were the good guys."
Regina looked at Emma absently for a moment before responding, "Life is too messy for it to ever be that simple."
"You're saying if it wasn't for Snow's mother, Cora would have kept Zelena," David clarified.
Belle added, "She would have been tutored by Rumpelstiltskin."
Hook shook his head in puzzlement. "All if it weren't for this Princess Eva?"
Emma began, "So that means…"
Snow finished, "Zelena's going back to kill my mother."
Regina looked at Snow. "You'll have never been born."
"I'm guessing this is where your help ends." Emma glanced back at Regina.
Was she serious? Her voice deep and serious, Regina said, "Now, think it through, Ms. Swan. That means you'll have never been born, and neither will Henry."
"And on this different path, Regina, you may not be either," Snow said, softly.
"It's a good thing no one has ever succeeded with this time-travel nonsense," Hook said, relieved.
"The baby." Emma looked up quickly.
Hook looked down at her. "What?"
"That's what's missing," David said, catching on. "That's why none have succeeded. Somehow, some way, your baby, Regina, is the key. Zelena went to a lot of effort to get close to you, and that's why she didn't kill you in the street. That's why she hasn't crushed your heart. That's what she's after."
Belle thought about the situation before asking, "What is she going to do to with...?"
"It doesn't matter," Emma said, stopping Belle from voicing what they were all thinking but didn't want to know. "She's not gonna get it."
"That's right, we're gonna stop her. Since your baby's not born, she's stuck, and we have what we need."
A long silence stretched between. David took a deep breath and said, "Time."
Regina absentmindedly ran a hand over her stomach. She quickly scanned the room before adding, "Just not very much of it."
"Need a hand?"
Regina looked up from the broken lamp she held in her hand, placing it on the table. She gazed at Snow skeptically. "Shouldn't you be at the hospital?"
"Dr. Whale just left. He cleared me. Apparently, the human body has a surprising tolerance for ghost possession. May I?" Snow asked, taking the broom in the corner of the room.
Regina nodded.
Snow's expression softened. "What about you? How are you holding up?"
"I have a surprising amount of energy right now."
Snow hesitated before asking, "You want to talk about it?"
"What's there to talk about?" Regina chuckled, bitterly. "You officially have a less damaging relationship with my mother than I do, and you killed her."
Snow stopped sweeping. "Well, at least we know you and me, our history, it's more complicated than we thought."
"I know how much you looked up to Eva." Regina took a seat at the table, running a hand over her stomach. She sighed heavily. "I'm sorry you had to learn she had such darkness in her past."
"That wasn't the woman I knew," Snow replied, taking a seat next to Regina. "It makes me wonder what happened that changed her. I suppose I'll never know."
"Well, we can never know our past completely. If we had, I probably wouldn't have spent so much time trying to kill you."
Snow's surprised look at Regina's words morphed into one of morbid amusement. "Well, we would've found something to fight about. I mean, I was such a brat."
Regina smirked. "Your mother's child."
Snow studied Regina for a long moment. "I think we've wasted our last day being haunted by the past."
Tears burned in Regina's eyes. This was all so hopeless. She shook her head. "Now we can focus on being haunted by our impending lack of a future."
Snow sat up, indignantly. "Zelena isn't going to win. Not with all of us united against her."
"Hope isn't easy when I know she holds my heart," Regina said, shaking her head slowly.
"Which you'll get back, stronger than ever. That's what it means to be the most resilient."
"That could be another one of her tricks, too."
"Regina, I've seen what life has thrown at you, and you still fight against the darkness every single day. Sooner or later, your heart will find its way to happiness."
She let the tears fall from her eyes. "That doesn't feel possible."
"But it is." Snow grasped Regina's hand, and she took it in both of hers. Her eyes were filled with hope and confidence for the woman in front of her. "I know you, and you feel things deeply. With or without it, you feel things with your whole soul. Don't let anything hold you back."
Regina stared at Snow, and she gasped breaking the moment. "What did you just say?"
Snow was slightly taken aback. "I said, 'Don't let anything hold you back.'"
"No, before that…" Regina sat up, taking her hand from Snow and placing it on her stomach.
"You feel things with your whole soul. Don't let anything hold you back."
Regina swallowed, tears streaming down her face. As the image of him came to her. Of Robin. Of her soulmate.
Why she'd been so willing to open up to a "stranger," a thief whom she'd just met. Why she felt so deeply connected to him, and why she knew without a single doubt that he was the father. Their connection went beyond more than just true love. A person can have many true loves in their lifetime, but there can only be one soul mate.
That's when Zelena's word's hit her.
In the diner, Zelena had told him, "I'm not here for your baby...not yet anyway."
And in Regina's office, she had said, "Oh yes, I know all about your soul mate."
And that's what Zelena needed.
That's what this was about.
A second chance.
Their daughter would be the final key to her spell.
Getting to her feet, Regina told Snow, "I need to find Robin."
Regina brushed aside a branch that blocked the path, straining to see by the low light of the moon. She knew she could have just used her magic to get to him, but over the past several days, she had memorized this route. She also needed time to think. How would she tell him?
The glow of the fire reached through the darkness, and she spotted Robin's tent tucked against the trees. She then saw him kneeling by the fire.
"My lady," Robin said, rising to his feet, his heart still heavy at failing to protect her and their child.
He was bathed in shadowed firelight as Regina came to a stop directly in front of him.
His gaze locked with hers, and with a hot, fierce determination, he began, "I'm sorry. I let you down. Your heart was lost to Zelena on my watch, but I promise you, I will get it back," Robin vowed.
His dedication surprised her. It had been a long time since someone had put themselves in danger to save her, a long time since someone had risked losing everything in order to keep her happiness, in order to show her love and care. And, she wanted more, needed more.
Grabbing him by his jacket, she pulled him to her, her lips sought his, and he didn't resist. The hunger they both fought so valiantly to contain burst free. Her ability to think with any level of clarity vanished. After a moment, she pulled away, breathless.
Their first kiss was as breathtaking as she'd imagined it would be. Soulful, deeply moving and alive with possibilities.
But she needed to be closer to him.
As though he could read her mind, Robin stared at her for several heartbeats, and then before she knew what was happening, his lips captured hers in another bruising kiss.
He kissed her deeply and a little more roughly than he'd planned. All rational thought fled them both, and they reveled in the taste of each other, a taste so long imagined and so long denied. They cared for nothing outside of this moment.
Wrapped securely in his arms, Regina felt Robin nibble on her lower lip. She moaned at the new sensation. Her mouth opened wider. Their tongues gently grazed, one over the other, and he groaned, pulling her closer still. His tongue glided over the roof of her mouth. His hand splayed across her lower back, and the other tangled in her hair, holding her as tightly to him as he could with their daughter between them.
Long moments went by, and if it hadn't been for the need for oxygen, ending this heated moment wouldn't have been within her heart's desires. Gently, they pulled out of the kiss, panting lightly.
With their foreheads touching, Regina said softly, "Go, get Roland. We have a lot to talk about, and it'll be safer for us all at my home."
He only nodded a reply as he bent his head to her lips and kissed her again before he left to get his son.