Here it is! Sorry for the longer wait with this chapter. I had some difficulty with it, and I was distracted by my AU outlaw queen fic 'Doctor'. I hope this is worth the wait ;) Oh, and one reviewer was confused why they wouldn't just give everyone a potion or curse them to make them forget, but I hope this chapter explains that. Another reviewer wondered why they were worried about the plan because if they go back and prevent Regina from ever meeting them, then everything should go back to how it was so why would there be any doubt. In my mind, that is true, things hypothetically would go back to the way they were, but I think in their positions they would still be anxious especially since this has never been done before. I hope that answers those questions, and if anyone has anymore please don't hesitate to ask, and let me know you want a reply :) Otherwise, enjoy the chapter.
Chapter 17
A blanket of darkness covers the camp. Noises and sound fizzle down to occasional animal call and the whispering of the wind. Regina is laying in Robin's arms, contentment washing over her entire being as sleep pulls her down, pulls her toward a dreamworld. A quiet cry sounds somewhere in the camp, tugging Regina from the fuzziness about to take her, and she startles awake, holding her breath and listening for another sound.
Moments later, her patience is rewarded with a few muffled whimpers, and another voice shushing, a whispered sound. Regina slowly extricates herself from Robin's arms, heavy with sleep, and quickly pulls on her leggings and his tunic. The smell that is uniquely Robin fills her nostrils, calming her, relaxing her instantly as she moves to the tent opening and steps into the brisk air.
The fire at the center of camp burns dimly, only tended to by the men on duty, still checking the perimeter, regardless of the cloak keeping them safe and unseen. She hears the noise again, whimpering and shushing, followed by a muffled scream that sounded a lot like 'no'. The whole thing sounds vaguely familiar to her, reminds her of a time not so long ago when she was the one shushing. Her feet move of their own volition across the ground, heading to a tent a few meters away, the only tent with a light, casting shadows on the inside.
As she arrives, her hands move to the entrance of the tent, gently touching, but she pauses before lifting the flap, clears her throat, and decides it is best to announce her presence before entering.
"Robin?" Regina finds herself suddenly aware of just how cold it is tonight, outside the comfort of her tent, outside the warmth of 'her' Robin's body pressing against her flesh. She shifts from foot to foot trying to move her body, keep blood flowing, brushing her hands along her biceps, rubbing vigorously to produce friction and heat.
He comes to the tent opening an instant later, holding the flap up, surprise pulling his eyebrows upward and widening his eyes.
"Regina, Is everything alright?" He questions, his brow knit with concern, clear to see even through the exhaustion he seems to be fighting.
"Yes. I'm fine," she reassures, "but it doesn't sound like Roland is."
"No," Robin sighs, the hand not holding the tent open rises to brush through his hair, then finding his chin and the back of his neck where he massages the tense muscles. "I'm sorry he woke you."
"No need to apologize." Regina continues shifting from foot to foot, and now, as Robin has not invited her in, she is questioning whether it was a good idea to interrupt this man and his son, "Is he alright?"
"Yes. I'm afraid he seems to have been woken with a nightmare, and he is always difficult to calm afterward." Another tired sigh escapes Robin's lips, his blue eyes look heavy with sleep. "He does not want to go back to sleep because he is afraid the monster in his dream will come again." Robin explains.
"I remember when Henry was that age, he was the same way, but," she pauses, unsure of what boundaries are present, what lines she should not cross, "well, may I come in and try to help?"
"Yes," Robin instantly becomes more alert, almost shocked with himself, "of course, please, come in from the cold, you must be freezing." Now that he is less sleep addled, Robin also seems to notice that she is not wearing her own shirt, but a man's, comprehension dawning on his features. A small smile follows the realization, accompanied by a look of longing, that tugs at Regina's heart.
"Roland, Regina is here to see you." Robin paces a few steps further inside the tent, closer to his son.
The boy looks up at her, his face lifting slightly from his nest of pillows and blankets, tears still lingering at his cheeks. His lower lip quivers slightly, but he has stopped whimpering, his eyes wide, and he seems quite determined not to let them close anytime soon. Regina smiles reassuringly to the boy, taking a few steps further into the tent so she can kneel beside him and speak to him in a whisper.
"Roland, your Daddy told me you had a bad dream?" Her hand wipes away one of the plump teardrops settled on his cheek.
He nods, his curls shifting on his head with the movement, and she is still amazed at how much hair this boy has at only 2 years of age, Henry was bald until he was this age. Her hand brushes back a lock that has fallen over the boy's forehead as she continues speaking reassuringly.
"Can I tell you a secret?" She receives another nod in response. "Sometimes I have bad dreams too, but when I do, I just read a story and it makes me feel better, safer. Would it be ok if I read you a story Roland."
Roland quickly nods again, eager to stay awake and focus on something else, rather than have to try and sleep, and he points toward an aged book at the corner of the tent. Robin retrieves the item, handing it to her, his fingers lightly brushing hers and a familiar spark nips at her skin. Looking up, she meets Robin's eyes, finding that the familiar spark she feels doesn't go unnoticed by him, but she is used to it, has felt it every time she touches her soulmate, but it is new to Robin, and the heated way he looks at her makes her body quiver.
Turning back to Roland, the tension in the tent dissipates, and she smiles at the boy before climbing into his bed of blankets and nestling him to her side. The boy opens the book for her, finding the page he likes, most likely because it is one of the few with a picture, and she reads to him, a tale of a gallant knight and the princess he is destined to rescue.
It only takes a few minutes, just a short distraction from his nightmare, for Roland to be fast asleep, his head resting peacefully at the crook of her neck. She closes the book, handing it to Robin, taking care not to brush his fingers again. She slowly, but expertly extrapolates herself from the warm cocoon of blankets and little boy, turning back to brush hair from his forehead once more and pull one of the blankets up just under his chin. This is so nostalgic for her, she remembers moments that were so similar with Henry, and she can't prevent the watering of her eyes as she gazes at the boy. It does not matter anyway, if there is anyone she is comfortable enough to show her weakness it is Robin, even this Robin, even though he does not know her like he will, she still trusts him, it comes naturally, something that has frightened her in the past, but now gives her solace.
A hand rests on her shoulder, pulling her from her reminiscent daze. Turning around, Robin's eyes meet hers, a powerful gaze, meant to say more than words, and she smiles at the man before her, hoping it soothes his grieving soul a little, hoping he finds it reassuring in some way.
"Thank you, Regina." He says earnestly. "Sometimes I am at a loss of what to do for him. I...I feel like a failure as a father." Now his eyes fall downward, a heavy distraught tension filling his expression, his entire demeanor.
"No Robin," she assures wholeheartedly, "you are a wonderful father. You have both suffered a loss, but you love Roland, and he loves you." Her hand lifts to his chin, brushing against the rough stubble, before guiding him to meet her eyes again. "Toddlers are difficult, especially when you are alone." She remembers how difficult it was raising Henry as a single parent, and she knows Robin has his men, she knows they are helpful and love Roland, but it is not the same.
He offers a small smile in response, and she can see that her words have not convinced him, but have given some comfort, enough hopefully.
"You are a good mother Regina." His smile widens, a little confusion pulling at his face at the same time. "I, it is so strange, but I feel grateful, knowing that you will be in my life." He shakes his head, and she knows the surreal situation they are in is almost laughable, but the two of them just smile at each other, and she revels in his compliment.
They step from the tent quietly, sure not to make a sound that could wake Roland, and he walks her back to her own tent. He did not need to, it is not very far, incredibly close actually, which is why she even heard Roland in the first place while she hung in the space between wakefulness and sleep. As they walk, his arm comes up to rest upon her shoulder, pulling her into his side, removing the chill from the air around them, replacing it with the heat she always feels with Robin. She does not fight the comfort, allows the pleasurable warmth to surround her, both of them, before they have to say goodnight.
A dim light filters into the tent, morning has arrived, and the camp is already alive, filling with the sounds of men and women languidly moving about, sleepy bodies joining the sun in wakefulness.
Regina stretches her arms above her head, arching her back while reveling in the warmth provided not only by the heavy blanket above her, but also the heated flesh of Robin's chest against her shoulders. A grin pulls at her lips as she remembers the night before and she turns in his arms, her gaze lifting to his face.
She wakes him with a kiss, chaste, but lingering and soothing to her soul. His lips respond beneath her own, and when she pulls her head back he is smiling at her, an expression of love on his face, but also a look of nagging concern.
Today is the day, the day they go ahead with Rumplestiltskin's plan. This morning, everyone will meet and discuss strategy, and Regina and Rumple will explain his idea to them, explain why they need to move quickly, explain why it is the only way.
Robin's thoughts must follow her own, that look of concern worsening as her own face surely fills with hesitancy, a longing to remain in this bed with Robin and never leave. Instead, the two of them rise slowly, loathing the loss of contact, and she finds herself dressing in the clothing she conjured only yesterday as quickly as possible, just so she has a little time to stand in the tent, in his embrace for a minute longer, gathering strength before braving the bustling camp.
When the light of the camp greets her eyes, Regina squints them shut briefly. Not only is the sun bright today, but the cloaking spell seems to be shimmering even brighter as well, illuminating the entire camp in bright white light. They find Rumplestiltskin and the others at the center of camp, around the fire, already burning brightly, while they discuss what lay ahead.
"I don't understand. Why is it so important we lose our memories?" Snow's voice resonates between the group, grunts of agreement coming from many of Robin's men. The younger woman sits casually on a log, very similar to the last time Regina saw her, only this time, Emma and Henry are perched beside her with Charming standing just behind.
"Because this is not what was supposed to happen." Regina states, briskly closing the distance between herself and the group, a tone of annoyance bristling her voice. They should have waited for her and Robin before starting this discussion. Joining them at the fire, Robin only a step behind her, his hand warms the small of her back, calming her as she continues, "We still have our memories of the past, and none of this ever happened. You and Robin were not meant to meet yet," she clarifies, speaking directly to Snow, "you were not supposed to meet me." Regina adds, her gaze directed toward Robin's younger version before glancing at each person surrounding the fire.
"I don't understand why you have to go to all this trouble." The younger Robin says, "why not just use a potion on us, or magically make us forget, why prevent everything from happening to begin with, why risk more time travel than necessary." It is clear in his eyes that Robin's younger self shares her concerns, is worried that something could go wrong with this plan.
"Because," her former mentor interjects, irritation coloring his voice, "other things were supposed to happen the last few days, other people were supposed to interact. That has not happened because of our presence here." he explains, his gaze traveling amongst the group like a teacher perturbed with his students. "We have to repair the last couple days and the only way to do that is to go back, and prevent your meeting from ever taking place." The older man finishes, gesturing between Regina and Robin's younger self. "Besides, the amount of necessary ingredients for a potion that could serve this many people, does not even exist."
Regina looks toward Rumple, her face a mask of suspicion, he knows more than he is letting on, knows what should have happened, during this time, but she does not care, does not see how it could affect her any differently. The plan is sound, it is the most likely way to prevent any changes to their past, present, and future. She does not want to risk losing Robin.
"Even going back, sending Regina back to her time immediately, before meeting any of you, still the timeline could be affected." Rumple continues, pacing next to the fire, "The fact is, none of this has ever been done before, hypothetically, everything should be fixed, return to how it was, but there is no guarantee, no way to know for sure that this will work." He finishes dejectedly.
"Well it sounds like we just need a little hope." Snow says looking at all of them, letting her eyes linger on Regina before finding Emma beside her. Snow is aware that Emma is her future daughter, and Regina cannot imagine what it is like for the woman, to look at a grown woman, a woman your own age, and know that she is actually your child. "After what I have witnessed over the last day, I have more hope than I've had in a long time." Snow's hand finds Emma's, the blonde's eyes lifting to her mother, then seeking out Regina, looking determined and set.
"Are you ready?" Emma questions, and Regina responds with a single nod. She does not trust herself with words, not right now. She is confident that she can do this, that they, together, can do this, but doubt still lingers, worry itches at her brain, that somehow something will go wrong.
"You will yield the wand, deary." Rumple states, pulling her from the concerned thoughts drowning her mind. "Whomever yields the wand and performs the spell will be shielded, protected from the change of time. Until, of course, you use it to place yourself back into your own time, when you ask it to send you home."
Regina nods solemnly. She finds some solace in the fact that she will have a semblance of control in this hectic plan.
In the end, she is glad they had not waited for her before discussing Rumple's idea. This way she did not have to endure the endless questions and concerns that must have been voiced while the dark one explained his strategy, step by step. Even still, joining the group after the plan was completely understood, there are pensive glances, concerned faces, furrowed brows, and she is grateful to have avoided the full brunt.
They all linger around the fire a bit longer, munching on some dark hearty breads. Silent goodbyes hang in the air, odd bonds, friendships even, forged regardless of time, relationships never meant to be, that soon, will not be. Roland plays near Henry, 'past' Robin joining them in their youthful chatter, the three of them together make her heart tighten and surge with affection. 'Her' Robin sits beside her, his hand still comforting, resting at the small of her back, rubbing soothing circles. Charming, David, Snow and Emma are all huddled closely on the log, smiles and laughter passing between them, content in sharing this moment while it lasts.
She hadn't noticed Rumplestiltskin slip away, had not felt his absence. She didn't even realize he was gone until he returns, interrupting the Charming clan briefly, before walking toward his tent. The strange family reunion that had been taking place came to an abrupt halt, concern once again adorning each face while Snow slowly stands from the log. Charming quickly halts her, placing his hand on her shoulder, but the brunette turns to him, reassures with a smile, before walking away, heading for Rumple's tent.
Regina stands herself, confusion and worry tense on her face, moving around the fire to question the people standing there, watching Snow White lift the flap to the dark one's tent and enter.
"What was that about?" Regina asks hastily, gesturing toward the tent.
Emma snaps out of her daze and responds, "I don't know. He whispered something to her."
Regina is about to make a sarcastic quip, determined to angrily stomp to the tent and demand answers from her former mentor when the flap lifts again revealing both Snow and Rumple, exiting the tent. Snow has a stoic look on her face, somber even, and how Rumplestiltskin caused this woman to completely flip emotionally, Regina cannot fathom. Minutes ago, Snow was smiling, hope spilling from her mouth, and now she is silent and distressed. Regina cannot help but think how her past self would be envious of the dark one, and his talent for upsetting her arch enemy in a way she always wanted to.
"Rumple, What is going on?" She questions demandingly, as the two return to the fire.
"Nothing of your concern, deary." His only response.
Her mouth opens with a retort just as a shout sounds from one of Robin's men. A young man she does not recognize runs toward them quickly, coming to a stop in front of Robin. The man breathlessly explains that Roger, another of the men, is no where to be found. Apparently the other man, a new recruit to the merry men, and not well trusted, must have packed his bags after breakfast, then slipped through camp until out of sight, and through the cloak, retreating into the woods.
Robin releases an exasperated sigh, reluctantly looks toward his future self, no doubt silently questioning and wondering if this had happened to him, if he had already dealt with this same situation in his time, but 'her' Robin looks confused, worried, stunned even, and she tries not to let the look on his face unnerve her.
"It doesn't matter." She declares to all of them, for the ears of each person surrounding her. "We will leave now." Her gaze flits to the younger Robin, "Soon, none of this will have happened, and it won't matter what this," her hand gestures toward to woods beyond the cloak, "person, has planned. He won't remember any of this." She turns to the others, solemn expressions staring back at her, and each of them nods her way, acknowledging and accepting that now is the time, now they actually say goodbye.
I love your reviews and follows/favorites are appreciated. I hope to finish the story by the premiere (only two weeks - Yay!)