Alas, come to the end of this. Thanks for reading! I hope you all had a great holiday season and happy 2019!

Might keep this verse open for one-shots in the future. Until then, this story is officially wrapped. Hope you like the ending :)

Chapter 7

The night eventually turned into morning, the news of Robin's adoption and about Regina still at the forefront of his mind. He strolled around the palace eventually ending up in his father's old study staring up at a portrait of the late King. He glared at him. He was angry that his father hadn't told him that he was adopted.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he muttered at the painting not knowing his mother had been standing at the door watching him.

"I wish we would have," she replied coming into the room.

Robin shut his eyes taking a deep breath before turning towards her, "At least I know who I am now," he glanced at the painting, "And who I'm not."

"I know you're angry, Robin," the Queen started to say.

Robin shook his head, "I just don't know why you felt the need to keep this a secret from me."

The Queen sighed as she leaned back against the desk, "A few months after I married your father I found out that I couldn't have kids. It wasn't going to happen. I was horribly disappointed, being a mother was something I'd always dreamt of. So when your father found out that there was a way that we could adopt, secretly, we jumped at the chance. You were our dream come true." She smiled at him, "Your father and I had discussed telling you, a lot, I can't lie to you anymore. We didn't keep it a secret for your sake, even if that's what we told ourselves."

"Then why did you do it?" Robin said, the hurt in his voice clearly evident.

She shook her head, "The first time that we saw you, you were our son. Ours. Not anyone else's. It was wrong keeping this from you, it was a mistake. But every time we tried, we couldn't do it. I'm sorry."

Robin looked down at the chair, "And Mary Margaret?"

"She was a miracle." The Queen bit her lip, "I assume, you're going to leave now. Leave us, leave the palace, since you don't have the obligations to be here. I won't stand in your way if that's what you want."

Robin frowned looking up at his, "I could never leave you. You're my mother. The King will always be my father."

A grin of joy spread across the Queen's face as she nearly ran into Robin's arms hugging him tightly, "That's the best Christmas gift I've ever been given." She pulled back to look up at him, "The throne, what do about your cousin?"

"I'm not about to let him win without a fight," Robin replied smiling down at his mother.

.::.

Meanwhile, at the parliament building, Marian and John were rushing a quick marriage ceremony with the justice of peace. They signed the certificate, finalizing their nuptials and as John went to kiss her, she gave him her cheek. It was clear she was only in this for the title, of Queen.

Marian turned to the Prime Minister as he stood to witness the union, "Now that we're married, can you get on with the coronation ceremony?"

The Prime Minister cleared his throat, "We cannot continue the coronation unless a majority of the King's advisory board is present."

John raised an eyebrow, "Shouldn't you hurry? The retainer will expire today."

"The law states the Queen must preside at the ceremony. It's Christmas Day, certainly, this can wait until tomorrow."

Marian scowled, "I don't care if it's Christmas, get her. Even if you have to go fetch her yourself."

The Prime Minister narrowed his eyes, what he wouldn't give to have Robin here taking his place as King. No one in Sherwood wanted John.

.::.

Regina sat at the airport, choking back tears as she waited for her flight back to New York. She let herself believe that maybe just maybe life was giving her a pass this time. Nothing ever came easily to her. Things always fell apart. With Robin, it all felt right but of course, that too fell apart. She twisted one of the charms on the bracelet Mary Margaret gave her and wiped her cheek with the back of her hand.

She dug her phone out of her pocket and called her father. "Merry Christmas, Peanut," she heard his gleeful voice come through the phone.

She smiled as a fresh batch of tears threatened to come out, "Doesn't feel like Christmas," she muttered, "I'm at the airport, waiting for my flight home."

"Did you get everything you need for your story?"

"And then some," she scoffed.

"Oh that's good, right?" Henry asked. Regina sniffled as the tears rolled down her cheeks as she thought about it all again. "Okay, not so good. What happened?"

"Everything went wrong, daddy." she stated, "The person I was worried about hurting with the story, got completely crushed. I failed, daddy. I royally screwed up."

"It's a learning experience, honey. We all fall down sometimes. Failure is just the seed for future successes down the road. You'll get it next time."

"I don't know…" she muttered frowning slightly, "Wait what did you say?"

"It's a learning experience?"

"No, no, the other part," Regina said digging out a notebook from her bag.

"Failure is just the seed for future successes? Too cheesy right?"

"Yes," she admitted, "but it reminded me of something. Daddy, I got to go." She hung up and looked down at a copy of the poem that she had that King Robert had written. Looking down at the line she was thinking of:

Point from a seed, an arrow's gift

She frowned reading it a few times, "Arrow," she said allowed, "The Arrow. Oh my god." She heard her flight being called over the loudspeaker and grabbed her luggage. She stopped though, "I have to fix this," she turned around heading out of the airport and hailing herself a taxi. "The palace and hurry."

The cab pulled up at the palace and she ran inside only to be stopped by the guards, "Please I have to see the Queen. I can fix this."

Miss Eugene had heard the commotion and came over staring at Regina. "Miss Mason, or whatever your name, you are not welcome here."

"I know," Regina nodded, "But please, I just need to see the Queen."

"The Queen isn't here."

Regina sighed, "Please, I can fix this. I think there is a way to prove that Robin is the rightful king. I just..Please let me help."

Miss Eugene glared down at her but signaled for the guards to let her in. "Do not make me regret this."

"Of course," Regina beamed at her, "The arrow, the ornament, that's the key." She said as she quickly walked with Miss Eugene towards the tree.

"What do you mean?" Miss Eugene asked her eyes bulging as Regina ran over to the ornament and pulled it off the tree, "Be careful with that."

Regina wasn't paying her attention and turning it around trying to get it open when suddenly she twisted it at the right angle and got the tip to open up. Inside was a rolled up piece of paper. Regina exchanged a look with Miss Eugene and pulled out the paper handing her the arrow. She read over it quickly, "Oh my god," she exclaimed showing it to Miss Eugene. They both shared a look and quickly ran out towards the cars.

"We have got to get this to the parliament before they crown John as king," Miss Eugene muttered as she ushered Regina into the town car and told the driver to hit it.

.::.

At the parliament, the Queen and Prince Robin had arrived as the King's advisors were starting to fill up the pews. The Prime Minister had been stalling as much as possible, not wanting to go through with this but had to nonetheless.

"Prime Minister, it looks like you have your quorum," Marian said gleefully.

Mary Margaret rolled her eyes, she looked up at her brother, "I don't care what they say, you are my King and my brother."

Robin smiled down at her rubbing her shoulder, "Thank you."

The prime minister sighed, "We must now, bear witness to King Robert's blood heir," he closed his eyes and John beamed and kneeled down next to him for the ceremony. "Count John presents his rightful claim to the crown and thrown." The room of advisors uttered this displeasure at this remark, this wasn't the coronation they had been hoping to see.

"Do you pledge your life and service to Sherwood and all its subjects and residents?" The prime minister asked.

"I do!" John proclaimed eagerly accepting the scepter.

"Do you swear to protect Sherwood and uphold its laws during wealth and poverty, peace and war?"

"I do," John grinned up at the Prime Minister's scowl.

The prime minister turned towards the room, "If anyone would wish to dispute Count John's claim to thrown, may they speak now or forever hold their peace." He looked around hoping that someone would speak up, anything to stop this madness. Nothing. Total silence, the Prime Minister looked around once more before sighing and picking up the crown, "Then I proclaim you…"

"STOP!" Regina yelled as she reached the room, out of breath. She had run in and just in time it seemed. The prime minister stopped what he was doing and everyone looked up at the balcony, Regina quickly made her way down the staircase to the parliament's floor.

John got up from his spot pointing to Regina, "Have her removed immediately!" he yelled.

"You are not King yet." The Queen uttered firmly, giving John a look that could kill. "If you have something to say, Miss Mills, please say it now." She looked over as Regina walked over to her.

"Your Majesty," Regina addressed, "Before the King passed, he amended the law. Passed a decree that would allow Robin to be his lawful successor to the throne."

Marian rolled her eyes, "She's lying. It's not like she hasn't lied before."

Mary Margaret turned to her glaring, "The Queen is speaking, kindly shut the fuck up."

"Here," Regina said giving the Queen the paper she found, "It was in the arrow, the ornament that your husband wanted to give you last year for Christmas."

The Queen read over the decree, joy registering on her face as she turned to her son who had been watching the whole scene but staying quiet. He would be lying if he said seeing Regina again didn't uplift all his spirits, he didn't realize how much he liked having her around and had missed her terribly since their last not so great encounter.

The Queen gave the piece of paper to Robin, "Read the decree," she said as she nodded.

Robin took it from her looking it over, "Let us be bound in future by truth and truth alone. Let us light up the shadows of the past. Though my blood may not run in his veins, Robin, Prince of Sherwood is my son." He smiled at his father's words. "And while this order gives him lawful rights to my throne, it is by his own attributes, spirit, sensitivity, intelligence, and heart that he earns this honor." He gulped as he read the line, his father believed in who he was as a man, he didn't want to change him or wanted Robin to be more like him. He thought Robin's own character would be exactly what Sherwood needed. Robin handed the decree to the Prime Minister as he digested the words he had just read.

John waved the scepter in Regina's direction, "This woman lied to everyone before, what makes you think she's telling the truth now?"

"I believe her," the Queen stated.

"It's signed with the King's official seal," the Prime Minister confirmed as applause broke out in the room. He turned to John, he took the scepter, "You don't need this." He looked over at Robin, "If we may pick up where we left off, Your Royal Highness."

"Please," Robin smiled.

"My wife and I will not allow this," John declared, "We will fight, side by side. We will hire an army of lawyers…"

"Get one to handle our divorce," Marian stated as she stormed off.

"What?" John gaped, "Marian? Marian wait!" He went off after her.

The Prime Minister cleared his throat, "Right, anyway, Your Royal Highness, if you please," he motioned to the cushion. Robin took his place as the Prime Minister gave him the scepter "If anyone would dispute, Prince Robin's claim to the throne may they speak now or forever hold their peace."

Robin gazed over his shoulder at Regina, smiling at her as she watched, when he turned back away from her she quietly slipped out of the room. She smiled, at least she fixed one thing and could head home knowing she hadn't ruined his life. She went over to the town car that was holding her luggage and asked the driver to take her to the airport, hoping to get another flight out to JFK today.

The Prime Minister picked up the crown and held it over Robin's head as he said: "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you, Robin Louis Edward Locksley, King of Sherwood."

"Long may he reign," the Queen stated as cheers filled the room.

Robin stood up, he frowned when he noticed the spot that Regina had occupied was now empty. He looked around as the advisors, his mother, and sister all cheered and smiled at their new king.

.::.

A few days later, Regina sat in front of Fiona's desk as she looked over her piece. "So what do you think?" she asked.

Fiona flipped through it, "It's thoughtful, mature, very well written, but this will never see the light of day, Regina."

Regina frowned, "What? You just said that it was good."

"It's a puff piece, no one wants to read this. And it's not our brand."

"But," Regina picked up her article, "It's honest, it's the truth."

"You had the smoking gun in your hand, Regina. The adoption story. You had it. You could have broken the news on that and made your name in this world. You're not ready for this." She shook her head, "I know you were too green for this story, should have sent Mal."

"But this is what happened," Regina argued.

"I don't care," Fiona exasperated, "I need you back at the copy desk, Killian's article needs a little polish."

Regina looked at her in disbelief, "You know what, find someone else to do your cleanups. I'm done."

"What?" Fiona asked.

"I quit, effective immediately." She stormed out of Fiona's office and back to her desk to pack up.

Mal and August walked over to her, "What happened?"

"She wouldn't publish my piece, said I was too green. I quit." Regina shrugged as she put her laptop into her bag."

"What are you going to do now?" August asked.

Regina turned around leaning against her desk, "I'm going to focus on my own thing."

"That's what I've been telling you to do," Mal smiled at her.

"Yeah, you were right," Regina nodded, "I'm going to start with a blog about King Robin, see what happens from there."

"Good luck, doll," August said as he hugged her.

"Drinks tomorrow?" Mal asked as she waited for her turn.

Regina nodded, "I'll be at the diner if you need me." She turned towards the elevator and headed out.

.::.

New Year's Eve had rolled around and New York City was bustling as always. Regina was waiting tables at the diner. Her dad had given her a job there while she got her footing with her blog. Her first article had picked up some speed.

Mal and August had stopped by for dinner with her at the diner the three of them sitting at a table by the window, eating her father's famous burgers.

"You have over 20,000 likes on this article and it just went up a couple days ago!" Mal exclaimed as she looked at her blog, "I think we need to celebrate."

"Celebrate?" Henry asked as he walked over to the table.

"Regina's article is going viral," August grinned.

Regina rolled her eyes, "It's not going viral, that's next to nothing in the grand scheme."

"For a new blog, this is great," Mal said. Regina was about to refute her statement when a snowball hit the window behind them.

"What the hell," Regina said looking out to see three guys waving at them.

"Oh sorry, Uncle Henry," Mal said looking over at Regina's dad, "Those are our dates."

Henry laughed, "Have fun kids. Happy New Year."

Regina walked Mal and August to the door, "Who's the third guy?"

"Well, we thought maybe you'd like to join," August suggested.

Regina shook her head, "You guys know I'm not ready for that. It's too soon."

Mal looked at her sympathetically, "If you change your mind, we'll be at Tink's party."

"Have fun."

Regina went back to cleaning up the tables as the night went on.

There were 10 minutes left of the year, Regina was wiping down a table thinking of everything that had happened in the last few weeks. Never in a million years would she have thought she would have been through all that. Her father had pulled out the champagne for the rest of the staff as they waited for the new year to roll around. The feeling of new beginnings was in the air.

Regina was lost in thought when a snowball hit the window she was standing in front of, she gasped ready to yell at her friends when she looked up and saw the one person she never thought she'd see again. The one person she had hoped more than anything to see but had told herself she never would. She stared for a moment before grabbing her coat and making her way out to him.

"Robin? What are you doing here?" She asked as she got closer to him.

"I didn't get a chance to say a proper goodbye," he responded. "Or thank you."

Regina shook her head, "You don't have to thank me, I was just fixing what I messed up in the first place."

"No," he said, "You opened the door that needed to be opened. My mother and I were finally able to talk about everything and really put all that behind us. You did what any great reporter would do." He watched her as she ducked her head a smile creeping on her face, "Mary Margaret showed me your blog."

"She did?" Regina looked up at him.

Robin nodded, "Why didn't you publish that in your magazine?"

Regina laughed slightly, "Too fluffy for the magazine, apparently." She rolled her eyes, "But it gave me the push I needed to leave and do my own thing. To write the truth about you, that you're kind, thoughtful, that you stole my cab," Robin laughed at that, "And that you're going to rule from the heart."

Robin smiled listening to her, "Mary Margaret misses you, so do I."

"Robin, I have missed you so much," Regina replied truthfully.

Robin slipped a hand into his pocket, "The palace is very lonely for a king, without a queen," he said as he kneeled down on one knee pulling out the ring box that held the heirloom diamond ring that had been passed down for generations in his family. The same one his mother wore until recently when she gifted it to him to go find his true love.

Regina gasped as she saw him, "What, but... My whole is in New York," she argued.

"We can come back as often as you want," he retorted.

"But my career…"

"I'm not going to make you give up anything, Regina, you can keep your blog or write for whatever magazine, hell I'll even buy you the magazine to run as you wish if that's what you want."

Regina sighed, "Robin, I can't leave my father. He only has me."

"I'll give him his own wing in the palace, or buy him a new diner over in Sherwood, or we can just pick this one up and take it there. We can make this work, Regina. I love you."

"Robin," Regina laughed softly.

"How long are you planning on keeping a king on his knee?" he teased as he started to feel the snow on the ground seeping through his pants.

She reached for his hands pulling him up to a standing position. "Robin, you don't even know me. I don't think you've thought this through."

"I know enough, and I know I've never more certain of any decision than I have this one. You're special, Regina. I've known that since the moment we met. There's something about you that has drawn me in. I want to marry you. If you'll have me."

Follow your heart, she took a deep breath and leaned up on her tiptoes capturing his lips with her own in a deep kiss.

"Is that a yes?" Robin said as they pulled apart.

"Yes," Regina smiled, "Yes, I'll marry you."

Robin beamed at her as he pulled the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her finger. "Perfect fit," he mused.

They stared into each other's eyes and just as the clock struck midnight Robin pulled Regina into another kiss, kicking off the new year together.

Inside the diner, Henry Mills had witnessed the whole scene play out with a smile on his face. He looked over at the family picture he kept up, "you would have been so proud of the woman she is now," he said as he looked upon his late wife's face.