Robin looks down at the illustration before him. He can't believe his eyes. He's looking at a picture of himself and Regina kissing in a forest.
"What kind of magic is this?" Robin turns and gives Regina a bewildered and somewhat agitated look, "Why is does this book have a picture of you and me kissing? I've only just met you!"
"Robin, wait!" Regina's voice breaking, a lump quickly forming in her throat. She rushes toward him, but he puts down his unfinished drink and stands up.
"I think I should retire to my own room now." He looks puzzled and somewhat uncomfortable. Regina is becoming visibly upset. "Good night, your Majesty," he says as he quickly leaves the suite.
Regina begins to run after him but Hook blocks the doorway. "Hook don't make me take your other hand!" she's fuming, her eyes filled with rage, fear, and mourning. He just wraps his arms around her and hugs her tightly as Henry apologizes for letting Robin near the book.
"Look, I'm sure he's just overwhelmed. He'll come around." Emma is trying to comfort her. Regina lets out a low sob. Hook just continues to hold her as best he can.
"He has to come around. He just has to," is all Regina can get out.
Robin walks down the many stairs to his third class compartment. His mind is racing. As soon as he'd left the suite he wanted to turn back around and apologize for his reaction and simply ask Regina how that book possibly had an image of the two of them kissing. He'd gotten a bit frightened by the sight of it. It was mostly just a big surprise, something he's wanted to do since the very moment he'd laid eyes on her, but it was still shocking. Robin quietly entered his compartment and climbed into bed. After what felt like hours, he managed to fall asleep, dreaming of the beautiful Queen.
Back in Regina's suite, Emma and Hook comforted Regina as much as they could until she went to her room and curled into her bed, crying herself to sleep.
Regina woke late the next morning, with new confidence. She knows she shouldn't give up hope. She can hear Snow's annoying commentary in her head: "Don't lose hope Regina, he's your true love, he'll understand." As annoying as it is, she knows Snow's echoing voice is right. Regina goes to her wardrobe and picks out her favorite, most regal gown. As much as she loved the 21st century attire she wore in Storybooke, she still has a knack for picking out the gowns that accentuate her best features and are still fit for a queen. She looks at herself in the mirror, evaluating her appearance. Her features are highlighted well, tight in all the right places. She smirks and leaves the room, determined to find Robin.
Emma was sitting on the couch by the door when Regina walked out of her bedroom. "Regina, I have some ideas on how we should talk to Robin…" Emma pauses, watching Regina, who's made her way across the room to the mantle, removing the almost-full bottle of whiskey and concealing it in her gown. "Isn't it a little early for a drink?" She looks at Regina puzzled.
"This isn't for now," Regina gestures to where the whiskey bottle is hidden. "And there is no 'we', I've got it handled," she responds smugly and quickly walks out of the suite before Emma can chase her.
"Uhhhh that woman is infuriating!" Emma says loudly to the empty room. A moment later Hook and Henry enter the suite with bagged lunch.
"Has my mom woken up yet?" Henry asks Emma eagerly.
"Oh yeah, she just went rogue on the whole Robin front," rolling her eyes and pointing to the door, frustration and annoyance evident in her voice.
"What did you expect, love?" Hook says as he hands Emma her lunch, kissing her forehead sweetly. Emma smiles and nods, acknowledging Hook's statement.
When Robin awoke, his mind was already scheming a way to find Regina again and apologize for running away the previous night. But before he could think too far ahead, Roland poked his head out to get his father's attention. "Papa!" he said excitedly, "Can we go get some breakfast, Papa?" Roland's stomach gave a rather loud growl and his father laughed, nodding and putting on his day clothes. The two of them walked out of their room to the third class dining area. They sat down with Jack and Tommy, who were deep in conversation.
"But she's engaged, Jack. She'll never go off with you, be realistic!" Tommy glanced up to see Robin approaching. "Robin ole boy, tell this love-struck fool that he's crazy to pine after that first class lady-friend of his." Robin smiled and shook his head. Jack laughed.
"He sees my side, Tommy, he met up with his girl last night too" giving Robin a wink, Jack leaned back in his seat looking very proud.
"You did?" Tommy seemed bewildered, "oh not you too! I hoped you'd be a source of reason," he paused, looking around, "who is she?" his curiosity getting the best of him. Both he and Jack leaned in to hear Robin's story.
"Her name is Regina," he started. He definitely wasn't going to tell them about the picture he saw in that book, but he had plenty else to say about her. "She's got a son, about ten years older than Roland," he pats Roland's back as he shovels oatmeal into his mouth, not paying any interest into the adult's conversation.
"Oh come on, tell us more, give us the juicy details" Jack is excited to hear about the rest of Robin's night, "did anything exciting happen?" he glanced around, "you know," he says in a hushed voice then imitates a kiss.
"Haha no, I'm a man of honor, Jack," although that's all he could imagine doing at the moment, he couldn't get his mind off of that. "She's far to high class to skip formalities. But she's very down to earth, a very interesting soul, I must see her again."
"You two are crazy," Tommy laughs and shakes his head. "Far beyond any voice of reason I suppose."
"You're just jealous you haven't found yourself a first-class mystery woman," Jack says nudging Tommy playfully.
"The right woman will come along when she comes along," Tommy says as he stands up clearing his plates from the table. "Well I'm off to walk around the boat deck, you fellas wanna come along?"
"I don't see why not," Robin finishes his breakfast and he, Roland, Jack, and Tommy set off for a day on the deck.
The whole day goes by and there's no sign of her. Robin has circled the deck several times and still has yet to see her. He begins to worry that he ruined things by leaving so abruptly last night. After a short and uneventful dinner, he sets off on his own to clear his head. He finds a bench near the rear of the deck facing the ocean and watches the sunset. His mind is swirling, hoping that he hasn't upset the beautiful Queen. It begins to get dark, but Robin doesn't care, he's too caught up in his thoughts, when suddenly he hears that smooth regal voice behind him, "may I join you?" He turns around to face the woman he'd been hoping to find all day. She stood there in all her beauty, wearing a light colored gown that perfectly outlined her curves and showed off her best traits. His eyes meet hers and he feels such a warmth inside, unlike any he's felt before.
"Yes, please milady," he scoots over so she has room to sit with him.
"I brought a spare blanket," Regina unfolds it and lays it across the two of them. "And this" she reaches into her gown and pulls out the bottle of whiskey from the night before.
"Ah, yes, I always appreciate a night cap," he says warmly, trying to think of a way to apologize.
"It's an apology for yesterday, I'm very sorry, I have to explain," she starts.
"No, I must apologize, I shouldn't have run out like that, I'm sorry. I was just confused."
"I know. I'm afraid that when I tell you the truth you won't believe me." Regina opened the bottle and took a big swig, her eyes beginning to glisten with a hint of a tear. Robin seems to notice it.
"Milady, I assure you, I know of your powers, there's nothing that will truly surprise me." He tries to reassure her. He feels a great sense of trust with her.
"Alright, then here goes," she takes another big gulp and visibly winces from the burn, and hands him the bottle, "I came here…from the future." She says almost in a whisper.
Robin takes a considerably large drink of whiskey before replying. "Oh, I see," he pauses for a moment, "and I suppose the book was showing something that happens between us in the future then?"
"Yes" Regina sighs. "I can tell you more about it if you…"
"For now, that's enough." Robin interrupts. "I want to get to know you better. All I've heard is the stories of a great and terrible Evil Queen. But I don't see how you could be that same person," he says with a flirty grin, making her smile as well. He loved the sight. Her face beamed and her eyes glimmered. He was absolutely mesmerized. Her perfect pouty lips looked so luscious, he just wanted to taste them. Her skin so soft, he wanted to touch it. He watched her put the bottle to her lips and swallow the fiery liquid with such elegance. He suddenly realized he was staring, and a familiar tingling was going through his body. Regina looked at him, starting to feel the effects of the whiskey, giving her more confidence.
"You have such an open mind, Robin." She said softly, licking her lips subtly. This did not go unnoticed by Robin. He so desperately wanted to kiss her, but she was the Queen after all, he didn't want to be rude.
"I do hope I'm not speaking too boldly, but your beauty is beyond anything I've ever witnessed. And I don't speak of just your physical beauty, I can see that you have great beauty inside, masked by the criticism of others." He almost couldn't believe what he'd just said. She blushed and looked at him seductively.
"You're too sweet." She placed a hand on his, very gently. Robin looked into her eyes then down to her lips and back up again. He couldn't restrain himself any longer, he had to know how she tasted. 'To hell with manners' he thought to himself as he leaned toward her. His eyes closed as his lips reached hers. He kissed her softly for a moment and then backed away to read her reaction. Regina gave him a sweet and sexy smile then began passionately kissing him. His right hand slid up to her head, cupping her face tenderly. Her skin was softer than he imagined and oh so warm. She tasted sweet, like honey and roses. His left hand reached her hip and roamed her body. He couldn't get enough. A single tear rolled down Regina's cheek. She was overwhelmed with joy. Ever since Robin's death she'd wanted so badly to kiss him and hold him. And now she was.
After several moments, they broke apart for air. Regina leaned into him, resting her head on Robin's broad shoulder, inhaling that familiar pine scent. He held her and placed his chin on top of her head. Regina smiled to herself.