My sincerest apologies. I never meant to take this long, but with class and work (plus a huge computer problem) I just didn't have the time or means to update. I promise to be better! Thank you for being patient with me. I should have the next chapter up tonight.
It means a lot that you are reading! I would love to read your OUAT works as well, if you would pm me! Have a nice night guys!
Frustrated, Emma walked back into the tavern. She plopped herself on a bar stool, laying her head on the counter.
"You look to be having a rough time ma'am."
Emma pushes her blonde curls out of her face as she sits to face the man beside her. "No really?" She rolls her eyes and turns her head away from him.
A light chuckle behind her arouses her attention. With disgust, she looks at the scruffy-faced man. "I mean no disrespect Miss, I just wonder if I could buy you a drink? It might help you." He smiles and Emma sighs heavily.
"Go ahead." She slowly closes her eyes, and waves the man on.
After a shuffling sound, Emma finds the man has disappeared.
"Typical." She groans and turns to face the bar.
"Over here." The man pops up from behind the counter; grinning at the Princess, he pushes a pint across the counter to her.
"You're the bartender here?" She raises her eyebrow as she takes a sip of the dark liquid.
"I used to be." The man looks around with a small sad smile. "I used to own this place."
"Interesting." While it comes out slightly sarcastic, Emma is intrigued by the handsome stranger. "Why don't you anymore?"
His cheeky grin is back. "I decided my life was meant for more than being a bar keep."
"What do you do now?" She allows a smirk to form on her lips as she studies him.
"Wouldn't you like to know Princess?" He winks at her and drops below the counter again. In a matter of seconds, he is in the seat next to her once more.
"How did you know who I was?"
Laughter escapes his smile as he looks kindly upon her. "I would say I just knew, but it was the ring." He nods at her grandmother's ring. "I know royal jewels when I see them."
"Oh really? How do you do that?" She asks out of curiosity. The man casually pushes up his sleeves, and Emma's mug slams against the counter. On his left arm, there was a tattoo of a lion. With wild eyes meeting the questioning one's of the man, Emma stammers to formulate a sentence. "Wait, what's your name?"
"Are you alright Your Majesty?" He carefully reaches out his arms to grasp her shoulders and look into her eyes.
She lets out a deep breath, and almost smiles. "I think so." She nods. "I just would like to know who I have had the pleasure of meeting."
He smiles and pulls his hands from her shoulders, and holds it out for her to shake. "Robin. Robin of Locksley."
Emma stares at the man in amazement. She'd found Regina's love; not with magic but by mere coincidence. Or was this fate, like her parents always talked about?
"Robin." The Princess smiled back at him. "You are just the man I've been looking for."