Regina breathed deeply as she walked, trying to formulate a plan. Well she had a plan, sort of. If fighting for Robin was a plan. She had no idea what she would say to him, or what she was really hoping for. All she knew was that she had spent too much time searching for her happy ending to let it slip away when it was so close.

She wasn't sure what to expect from Robin. She had only seen him a handful of times since he drank the potion, and each time was only for a few moments. The first time was in her office when Marian awoke, although Robin didn't know it was her so that didn't really count.

Next she saw him twice at Granny's. First, right after he destroyed the bar, when he wanted nothing to do with her. Second was the next day at lunch, where he thanked her, albeit begrudgingly. Both times he had been so cold, he was unrecognizable as the man she loved.

Then she saw him by the lake, when Henry not-so-subtly arranged their meeting. She didn't know what changed. Perhaps Operation Outlaw Queen had been more effective than she gave Henry credit for. But their brief meeting by the lake marked the beginning of a distinctive shift in Robin's attitude. He spoke with her cordially, appeared comfortable with her relationship with his son, and had even called her by her name before she left. None of those things meant he loved her, but they certainly made it seem like he didn't hate her.

And then finally, at her house earlier that day. He went from avoiding her to seeking her out. From blaming her and accusing her to asking for her help. From trying to keep his son from her to telling the boy to thank her. And then there was the moment. When they were alone in the kitchen. Tinker Bell was right. Maybe romantic wasn't the right word, but there was an undeniable and irresistible pull between them. She had always felt it, but when he moved closer to her, she knew he felt it, too.

Did that mean he was ready to fall back in love with her? Maybe not. But she had to try.

By the time she arrived at the camp, the effects of her night of drinking had nearly worn off. She walked toward the fire in the center of the camp, noticing how quiet it was. Didn't Robin say they had guests? It must be later than she thought it was. She approached the fire, spotting a lone figure sitting in front of it. Robin. She would know him anywhere. She strode purposefully up to him, smiling to herself as she remembered another time she had approached him sitting alone by a campfire. If this night went half as well as that one had…

Robin didn't notice her until she was well within range of the fire's heat. He stood immediately upon spotting her. "Milady," he said, then paused, as if unsure what to say.

Regina was nervous, but refused to let it show. "Good evening, Robin. I thought I would stop by to say hello. You mentioned you were having a get-together."

Robin looked curiously at her. "Of course." He looked around, as though just noticing the absence of his guests. "Unfortunately, it seems the others have headed off to bed or out for further shenanigans." Regina cursed herself as she remembered seeing familiar faces of merry men in The Rabbit Hole before leaving. She should have known it would be a bad time; this was not what she had in mind. She thought there would be other people there to divert and diffuse attention. She had intended to use the cover of the crowd to observe him unnoticed and to approach him less directly. She turned slightly, preparing to make her excuses and leave. Noticing her movements, Robin spoke again. "You can stay, if you'd like. The fire will keep burning for a short while." Robin smiled at her and Regina felt her heart soar. His smile was hesitant, but it was the first one he offered her since drinking the potion. His sincerity made her reconsider. After all, the greatest progress she had made with him since he took the potion came when it was just the two of them. She nodded, and took the seat he offered her beside him.

Okay, Regina. You can do this. He's your soulmate. You just have to get him to see what he saw in you when he fell in love with you. You can do it. Henry believes in you. Tinker Bell, too.

In the end, it was Robin who spoke first. "What brings you into the woods so late?"

Regina was startled. For all her focus on Robin, she had forgotten he was sitting right beside her, continuing on while she contemplated how to talk to him. "I was out with a friend." She smiled at her ability to use the word. Might as well dive right in. "Tinker Bell, she's a fairy. She was giving me some advice about a problem I've been having."

Robin faced her and tilted his head. "What problem might that be?"

Regina took a deep breath and looked straight into his eyes. "Well, I've been pretty miserable recently. I've been separated from someone who means a great deal to me." Robin's eyes grew a little wider, but otherwise he did not react. She took that as a green light to move forward. "She convinced me that if someone is that important to me, I have to make an effort to be in their life." She paused, watching him. And just to make sure it sunk in, she added, "so that's what I'm doing."

Robin stared at her for what felt like several minutes. He was thinking, considering. Finally he looked back at the fire, but not before giving her a slight nod. Regina smiled, feeling nervously triumphant. He wasn't jumping in, she didn't expect that, but he was open. He was accepting of her being there, knowing why. She hadn't confronted him directly (she didn't want to scare him off), but she had stated her intentions. And he hadn't pushed her away. This was a small victory, but an important one, and Regina felt that she could at least relax.

"How was the dinner?" Regina asked. Small talk, that's where normal people started romantic relationships, right?

"It was quite nice," Robin said. "I believe everyone had a good time."

"Henry enjoyed himself?"

"Yes, he's a big fan of the merry men, though perhaps a bit too quick to believe their fanciful tales." He turned to her. "You should warn him about being so gullible."

Regina nodded, returning his smile. "I'll let him know."

Robin's smile faltered and he turned back to the fire again.

Regina frowned briefly, but soldiered on. "Did Roland get his marshmallows?"

Finally, Robin gave a full, genuine smile. "Oh yes, one too many if you ask me. He can con a marshmallow out of any of my men, often more than one, and inevitably ends up with more in his hands than in his mouth." Robin chuckled.

Regina couldn't help but laugh along. Robin turned to look at her, and she thought she saw it again - his eyes drifting toward her mouth. But then he was looking straight at her, with those eyes that could see right into her soul. She kept her breath steady through sheer force of will.

"Regina," he whispered.

"Yes," she answered, just as quietly.

"I'd like to ask you about the potion you gave me." Robin's gaze was steady in the firelight.

The potion? Was he worried about its effects, too? He shouldn't be concerned about that. But if he had questions, she would try to answer them. Regina nodded, not breaking eye contact.

Taking a breath, Robin asked, "Why did you agree to give it to me?"

Regina paused, confused. "What do you mean?"

Robin pressed on gently. "When I asked for the potion, didn't you… how did you react? Did I fight hard to convince you? Did you think it was a good idea right away, or…"

Regina interrupted him. "No, it wasn't like that." Robin looked more confused than ever. Regina wasn't sure what to say. He thought he asked for the potion. He thought he convinced her to make it. Even without wanting to be with her, that thought had to conflict with his code of honor - asking someone who loved him to remove herself from his mind. She couldn't let him blame himself for this. "It was my idea." Confusion faded from his eyes in favor of shock. "I tried to find another way, but there was nothing to be done. You didn't ask me for this. I did it."

Robin was still whispering when he asked, "You wanted this?"

Regina smiled sadly. "No, but it was better than the alternative." Robin's curious gaze was back. "You were miserable, and torn. You wanted to do the right thing, but…" Here, she hesitated. She wasn't going to tell him that he loved her. "I knew you had to forget me in order to save Marian." Regina dropped her eyes down to her lap.

"And did you… did I have to be convinced?"

Regina looked back up at him. She wanted to tell him the truth. She had the most powerful urge to share everything with him, and he was looking at her now like he wanted to know. Like he didn't want to be anywhere but with her. Just like when he told her he would never take the potion. Her mind flashed back to when she told him it was too late. He had looked so hurt, so betrayed. Regina physically felt herself shutting down. Robin was asking her questions to which there were no good answers. She couldn't tell him, not this. She wanted to believe he wasn't ready to handle it, but if she as being honest, it was her who wasn't ready.

Finally, Regina broke the silence. "It's getting late," she said. "I should head home."

As Regina stood, Robin automatically rose with her. Before she could move away, he put a hand on her elbow, and she turned to face him. He said, "may I walk you home?"

Regina felt her heart racing, whether from his offer or from the feel of his hand on her arm, she didn't know. But she nodded silently and began walking, with Robin beside her.

The walked without speaking. Regina found it oddly comforting, having Robin beside her without either of them feeling a need to fill the silence. She took it all in - the sounds of the town at night, their steady pace through the empty streets, and the feel of him only inches from her. She sighed in disappointment when they arrived at her house. She walked up to the door, and turned to face him. He was looking at her again. His blue eyes were curious, searching her face for information he didn't know how to ask for. She let him look, not being in any rush to get away from him. When his eyes settled on hers, she smiled at him. "Thank you for accompanying me."

Robin nodded stiffly, but didn't move. He leaned toward her, slightly, and opened his mouth as though to say something. But then he closed it again and leaned back. "Good night, milady."

She smiled at him and opened the door, slipping inside as he turned and walked away.

…