Hey guys! It's my birthday! So as a special treat, I'll give you a longer chapter where you'll get to dive into a bit of where Robin is at having been affected by this curse, plus another flashback ;) Please enjoy and tell me what you think!

Ever since that day, his days living on the island have been nothing but quiet and uneventful. And that was just how he likes it. Isolation gives him the freedom he needs to conduct his business in peace. He neither gives trouble, nor receives any. As Regina had mentioned before, to the outside world, Robin is seen as nothing but a loner, a reclusive introvert whom they simply leave alone. The only minimal contact with people Robin has is with those to whom he sells the fish, and those of the crew of a fishing charter for which he works. Yet even then, conversation is minimal and only done when necessary, which was perfectly fine for him. The fact is, is that Robin rather enjoys being alone, being solitary. He lives out his days solely devoted to fishing and only fishing, and that's just the way he wants it. Never would he even dream of anything but. The thought neither occurred nor appealed to him.

The water, he considers, is his home, as he is happiest when out in the open sea. The ocean is a part of him; saltwater courses through his veins. No matter how much time he spends by the docks, or at the very tip of the jetty, or on his precious Grady-White motorboat, Robin will never tire of the salty smell of the ocean and the way the wind brushes his face. The sea is his escape, his sanctuary, his love. It is all he believes he needs in his life; it's all he desires.

However, everything suddenly changed come one single event. It was an event that made the lone fisherman truly ponder about his previous notions about living alone and isolated, without any friends or family.

It was a simple event, really; just a simple sunset. He was sitting on one of the rocks of the jetty, just at the bend of its "L" shape out on the water. The fishing pole was out, line casted into the water before him. Sunrise and sunset were ideally the best times to fish, as it was when the animals were most alive and active. So, there Robin was, watching the sky turn a bright orange as the sun dipped lower and lower, and hoping that he'd be lucky this evening. And at first, he was. Within minutes, the fisherman felt a pull on his line and he immediately began to fiercely reel in whatever was biting his bait as quickly as he could. Robin was so close to pulling in the line when suddenly he felt the fish give a surge of movement in retaliation and become caught between the rocks that formed the foundation of the jetty in the water. Letting out a string of expletives, Robin gave his fishing pole a good yank in order to try and free the line and the fish. But when he did so, the line broke; what's left of it springing back towards him and hanging limply from the pole. Again, Robin cursed colorfully as he realized that, with his luck, he'd managed to lose his perfectly good hook as well. This was just the cherry on top of another fruitless day of fishing. For some reason, recently, the population of fish has significantly decreased, rendering many fishermen to come up empty. And it's getting worse, not better.

Gritting his teeth, the man closed his box of fishing tackle before snatching it up, stuffing it under his arm, and walking from his spot. He reached the very beginning of the jetty, hopping from the last few rocks and landing a very short ways onto the sand. Up ahead, residents and tourists alike were all congregated together, sitting on either chairs or blankets and enjoying the beautiful view of the sunset whilst simultaneously conversing with one another. It was a happy sight, one that should lift one's spirits immediately, especially as the aroma of burgers and hotdogs from small cookout stands wafted through the air, mixing with the scent of the ocean. However, nothing of the sort did well to improve Robin's frustrated mood as he made his way from the scene.

It was just when he was at the edge of the beach, where sand met the concrete parking lot, when suddenly a sight of something stopped him in his tracks. It was of a soft, white feather floating in the wind just before him. It danced back and forth, the wind carrying it a little further, a little further, each time until it was blowing out towards the parking lot. Robin watched as it blew past a certain car before continuing on. The man would have shrugged and went on his way, but it was a young dark-haired woman, perched cross-legged on the hood of that same car that stopped him again. It was almost as if the feather had lead him to lay eyes upon her, as Robin found himself standing still and watching with a slight fascination. She switched her glances from what appeared to be an artist's sketch pad to the sunset and back again, all the while chewing contemplatively on the end of her pencil; completely oblivious to the attention she was receiving. A box of watercolors sat beside her, allowing Robin to assume that this woman must be some kind of an painter.

She was stunning, in his opinion. Her eyes, especially in this light, looked dark and engaged. Rouge lips were full and inviting. Jet black shoulder length hair, though bordered by an orange-yellow halo by the setting sun, looked so soft and silky that he thought of nothing but the desire to run his fingers through it. The idea surprised Robin to say the very least, as he never had such thoughts about a certain woman before. His memory spurred him on to believe that love was something implausible, unreachable, especially for someone like him. Never before had Robin neither enjoyed the company of another nor had he wanted it.

However, as he continued to stare at this intriguing woman sitting on the hood of her car, deeply concerned with painting a perfect portrait of the sunset, Robin began to feel something stir inside him; an interest that suddenly began to creep up through his muscles and tug at his heart. And suddenly, he had the urge to know this woman, know her and her past and her secrets. Being the fisherman he was, Robin likened the brunette to the ocean. Superficially, the ocean is calm, sparkling, and peaceful. Yet, it holds a depth that is simply unfathomable, and secrets that lay far beyond one's comprehension. The ocean is as mysterious as it is beautiful, and so was this woman. And Robin wanted to explore everything about her.

He must have been staring for so long that finally he saw her head lift, her eyes beginning to gaze about as she felt eyes upon her. And when her gaze met his, Robin's breath left his lips as he found himself staring back into a piercing gaze that seared through his eyes and made its imprint on his mind. He almost could have sworn that he'd seen such a gaze before. Yet, how could he ever forget meeting a woman like her? He just had this feeling.

The image of the brunette burned alive in Robin's mind from that day on. Every day, he'd thought about her, even to the point where he'd fantasized about meeting her. In a way, the man became like a schoolboy, scouring the docks and beach each time he went in hopes of getting a glimpse of her again. And sometimes he would. But even if he did, Robin would never have dared to approach her. Still haunted by faded memories that wreaked havoc on his mind, he believed himself to be a man she wouldn't ever have come close to. The two were worlds apart, that was one fact that was a guarantee.

So that day when Robin opened his door to answer a mysterious knocking in late afternoon, of course he was shocked to see the very woman of his thoughts standing right on his doorstep with a young, bubbly looking brunette by her side. But the man hid his emotions well, turning his full attention to the brunette as she introduced herself and then the woman beside him. Though his heart was pounding as his eyes lit up in recognition as the older brunette was introduced to him. Thrilled to finally put a name to the face, Robin smiled kindly at her, not missing for a moment the perplexed look she received him. He felt almost exposed and naked as her eyes scoured up and down his form appraisingly.

All other emotion aside, this visit terribly confused Robin. Why would this woman, called Regina, come to visit him? More importantly, how did she know where he lived? And finally, who was this girl beside her? It surprised Robin that he found she looked dangerously alike to the older woman standing by her. If he had not been so shocked, he would have laughed aloud and marveled at fate's funny sense of humor. For of course, it would be that woman standing on his doorstep all of a sudden. Nevertheless, he let the two inside with a peculiar look plastered on his features; his heart racing a hundred miles per hour.

Now, Robin considers himself to be a decent man of control. Perhaps this is but another reason he prefers solidarity to being with others. When it is just himself, he is much more able to be in control of all things. A part of being in control, is knowing exactly what, when, and how something works. As an adept, knowledgeable fisherman, the man has grown to learn how to be well-informed of the art of fishing, so as to be able to manipulate each and every situation for his gain. For example, he knows when the right time is and exactly where the best spots are for each and every type of fish. Robin knows just about a plethora of fishing bait, and which is best used to hook which kind of fish. As for the sun and moon and sky, he reads them like a book. Upon using tell-tale signs and weather forecast, his predictions in measuring the success in fishing the next day are practically spot on. Most importantly, as a fisherman, Robin is always prepared for any type of scenario that could befall him on a fishing trip. From a broken motor to a raging storm, the man is ready for and knows how to expertly handle each and every unfortunate situation should it (God forbid) ever arise.

So, as a fisherman constantly in this state of mind knowing exactly what's to come and how to handle it, one can imagine that when the truth spills from the lips of the brunette ten year old, Robin finds himself plunged deeply in uncharted waters.

Suddenly, he feels as if all that control has left him flailing for nothing. Robin finds himself unable to stare wide-eyed at the young girl from across the table, unable to keep his mouth from hanging open like a sea bass.

"Y-you can't be serious…" the man breathes, calling on all his strength to stay in focus, to think clearly, and to be in control. And he does a good job so far. For what appears to be bewilderment and shock on the outside, is actually terror and panic on the inside.

The young brunette nods affirmatively, smiling widely. "Yup!" she replies simply, far too enthusiastic for the dire situation at hand. "I'm your daughter."

Robin shakes his head, bringing a hand up to run nervously through his locks. It's a gesture that he always does when he is anxious or tense. They are two words that are real understatements for what he actually feels. "That can't be possible," he insists, "Surely I'd remember if I've ever…been with anyone…before." He glances nervously towards Regina quickly before back at the young girl—Reya—again.

"But that's just the thing," the girl speaks, "You don't remember. It's not your fault."

Robin's brows pull together in a deep frown as he tries to comprehend her rather vague answers. But then, something occurs to him and his eyes widen, glancing rapidly between both Reya and Regina. "Wait," he says, "If you say that you are my daughter, and that she—" Regina raises her brows. "—is your mother, then that means that we…"

Reya's eyes light up, making the two adults far too uncomfortable for their liking. "Yes," she affirms, "You two are together."

Robin's breath hitches at the mentioning of the last word. Together. In a split second, he thinks back to that moment when he'd first gotten a glimpse of the dark-eyed wonder sitting silhouetted on the hood of her car, surrounded by the sky's watercolors. He thinks back to that first feeling of desire, a need that awakened him from whatever nothingness he'd been trapped in. And to think that it was a feather that started it all. Could it all just be some kind of coincidence? Or is it simply fate?

But dreaming cannot last for long. There's a young girl sitting in front of him, claiming that she is his daughter, thus adding a whole other layer to this already seemingly messy situation.

Shaking his head, Robin glances at Regina in hopes that she'd have some kind of explanation for all of this madness. However, much to his dismay, the older brunette raises both her hands as if in surrender and shakes her head. The look on her face tells him that she is just as clueless as he is.

Robin shakes his head once more before looking back at towards Reya. "And I don't remember this how?"

"It was a curse," Reya explains, just as she had done with Regina, "It was a curse that was casted about two years ago. It made you forget who you really are, and who you are really supposed to be with." The young girl swiftly glances at Regina, eliciting a slight frown from Robin.

"But how is that possible?" Robin says, "There's no such thing as magic."

Reya shakes her head. "But it is possible, and that's not all. You don't belong here, and neither does Regina."

Robin looks to the older brunette with his eyes wide with the look of uncertainty pooling in his blue eyes. Regina looks back at him with a matched expression, and he can tell that she cannot find the words in which to neither support the young girl's notions nor refute them. "If we don't belong here, then where do we belong?" he asks slowly after a moment of tense silence.

"You belong in another realm, together. It's called the Enchanted Forest."

"Sounds like something of a fairytale."

The young brunette simply shrugs. "Well, nothing is impossible," she replies cryptically. At her answer, Regina frowns deeply, turning to gaze at her intently, almost as if to silently question. There is something that she seems to be holding back.

Robin sighs deeply, running his hand through his hair once more. "I'm really finding this hard to believe," he confesses.

"In time, you will," Reya assures, "You just have to have faith, and believe in it."

"Believe in what?" both Robin and Regina inquire at the same exact time.

The young girl smirks slightly. "I think that's for you guys to figure out."

Both adults raise their brows to their hairline.

"Wow," Regina breathes, "That's quite the deep statement to make." She laughs nervously.

"You have no idea," Reya says, crossing her arms and leaning back in her chair.

Robin simply stares at the young girl. "Is she for real?" he mumbles, looking to Regina with a frown.

The brunette shrugs. "Apparently," she mutters, shaking her head before looking to Reya once more. "You realize that you just made this incredibly awkward."

"Yeah," the young brunette replies nonchalantly, "But its the truth. You guys have to find out one way or another."

Robin shakes his head. "You really think we are going to—you know—act on your notions do you?"

"That's my hope," Reya states seriously, "Or else there's no hope in having my family back."

He watches her, standing poised in all her regal glory. The arrow of her bow points straight at the target. A grin is plastered to his face as his eyes travel from the tip of the arrow up to the look of deep concentration in her furrowed brows. With her lips tightly pressed together, Robin watches as Regina looses the arrow, watching with determination as it whizzes through the air and comes to bury itself deep into the target's wood. It's not perfect. The arrow landed just to the right of the center, but with practice, the brunette queen is getting better and better every day. After but three lessons, she is already getting the hang of it.

"You are so close, my love," Robin says encouragingly, stepping closer towards her. He watches fondly as Regina lowers her bow, growling in frustration.

"I don't understand why it's so difficult hitting a simple target," Regina huffs, her eyes flashing.

"Be patient, milady," Robin replies calmly, "It takes lots of practice. Look how far you've come in a such a short amount of time."

Regina shakes her head, turning to gaze at her fiancé. "You make it look so easy," she whines.

Robin smirks slightly. He steps behind his love, resting both his hands on her shoulders. Of course, he doesn't miss the way her breath hitches even at such a simple gesture. "Well, I've been doing this for many years," he says.

"I don't understand why I can't just use magic," Regina says, tilting her head back some. "It would be far easier than mere sticks."

The thief chuckles, shaking his head once more. "Love," he states seriously, "You agreed to become one of us. So, you have to know how to shoot like one of us. It's all part of it."

"Well, I don't fancy it—well—this part of it."

"You only don't fancy it because you can't master it just yet," Robin remarks intuitively, earning a glare from the woman as she turns to meet his gaze. It's a glare that the man has most certainly learned to look past and see the true meaning behind that says he is correct. "But you will," he adds with a firm and reassuring nod, "Just give it time."

Regina shakes her head. "Well, I don't like time," she huffs, "When I want to accomplish something, I do so immediately. I don't have room for failure."

"Regina, this isn't failure," Robin counters gently, "It's learning. Have faith and believe in yourself. You can do it, I promise." His gentle voice of encouragement, the way her name rolls of his tongue sends good shivers up Regina's spine, and warmth flow through her heart. She is completely at his mercy when he speaks like that.

The brunette queen sighs, lowering her gaze towards the bow in her hand. It was custom made by Robin himself, carved from the finest bark in Sherwood. "Let's go again," she announces, bringing her arm up to reach behind her and pull at another arrow from the quiver that rests upon her back.

"You can do this," Robin encourages once more, stepping away to give her room. He watches intently as his fiancé positions the arrow once again and draws it back, just the way he taught her. As she concentrates on her target for the second time, Robin can't help but continue to admire his beautiful soon-to-be wife. His heart simply swells at the thought of finally officially having her to himself.

From the start, the reformed queen has always been a woman of great intrigue to him. Even as he watches her focus in directing this arrow, Robin can't help but deeply admire her tenaciousness, knowing that it stems from a profound place, a place deep inside her that wills her to persevere no matter what the tribulation. He has come to learn that everything that Regina says and does is spurred on by a deeper part of her, a part built upon years and years of experience in dealing with the harsh world around her and the consequences that ensue as a result. Everything she says, does, and feels is profound and with her entire soul, not just her own beating heart.

So many layers that Regina has that even Robin hasn't explored yet. And it only makes the prospect of marriage even more appealing as he will have the chance to explore and delve more deeply into the heart and soul of the woman he loves. Regina may be complex, complicated, and confusing at times, but Robin loves her all the more for it.

"Missed it again!" Regina's exasperated yell penetrates Robin's thoughts.

The thief shakes himself from his reverie and looks towards the target to see the second arrow sticking out from the side just left of the center. He sighs softly, able to tell that his love is becoming more and more irritated. And he knows that she will most likely refuse to leave this forest until she can accomplish this one task of hitting the target's center.

"This is hopeless," Regina groans, dropping the hand holding the bow to her side.

Robin shakes his head, approaching her once more before reaching out and grabbing another arrow from the quiver. In total silence, he comes to position himself behind her, his breath cool on her bare shoulder as he hands her the arrow. Wordlessly, Regina lifts her bow once again and positions the shaft for the third time. She stays still as her lover's hands begin to wander up her body. They slide gently over both her sides, from her waist all the way up and snaking around to where her arms are positioned. The hand on her left side, the side where her left hand draws back the arrow in ready position, comes to rest gently on her shoulder while the hand on the right side gently cups underneath her extended right arm. Robin's breath slides down her neck. His lips brush soft, soft skin; the feeling of them almost hypnotizing Regina into a trance.

"I love you, Regina," he whispers, lips brushing her ear as he speaks low and huskily. He plants a soft kiss to the blushing skin of her cheek before the arrow is being let loose once again. It rips through the air, this time in a perfect straight line, and hits the target right on the center.

Regina's lips part as a small gasp of breath draws past. She stares wide-eyed at the target before her. "I did it," she whispers softly.

The grin on Robin's lips could outshine the sun's as he lowers the bow from his love's hand and turns her to face him. Her eyes sparkle as they meet his, aglow with the sense of accomplishment and pride. "That you did, my love," he replies before leaning forward to press a lingering kiss to his Regina's lips.

"I really should be getting back," Regina says, placing her drink of lemonade down and suddenly making her way to stand.

Robin frowns slightly, looking up at the older brunette who looks as if she would rather be anywhere than here. "What about Reya?" he asks.

"She's your problem now," Regina says, grabbing her purse and slinging it over her shoulder.

"But she's your daughter," the man protests.

Regina shakes her head, leaning towards him to whisper a tense, "No she's not."

"Please let me stay with you," Reya says, looking to Robin with large brown eyes, "I really don't have anywhere to go."

Robin gazes back at her, silently having an internal tug-o-war. His head tells him "no". For how could he look after a child, a child whose delusions are far too beyond to call crazy. But then, as he looks into her eyes, the man can't help but feel that his heart urges him to say "yes". For deep down, he sees a sincerity that moves him in a way he can't quite explain.

"All right," Robin replies with a deep sigh. "But…" He glances towards Regina. "Only if you'll join us for dinner." No matter what Reya may have said about the two of them, Robin still finds he can't quite shake the feeling that the mystery brunette woman is inside his own home. Don't get him wrong, Reya's claims about both of them terrify him to say the least. However, for some reason, deep down, they ignite that spark of excitement and scare him in a way that feels good and right.

Regina's eyes widen at his proposal before she's quickly shaking her head. "I have plans," she says quickly.

Robin sighs softly, almost in disappointment. As reluctant as he may be, the man is about to relent and allow her to go on her way when suddenly Reya steps up before he can say a thing. "No you don't," the girl says boldly, making Robin raise his brows at her audacity.

"Yes, I do," Regina snaps, glaring at the young brunette.

"Don't," Reya argues.

"Do," Regina shoots back.

Robin can't help but let out a soft laugh. "Just dinner," he says gently. As he looks to her, he's unable to resist displaying the hopeful look in his eyes. "Please, Regina."

Regina's lips part immediately at the sound of her name rolling off his tongue. It sends shivers up her spine in a strange way that is good. Something deep inside her stirs, awakening a long lost feeling that prompts her to believe, in some strange way, that she's heard her name called in such a way before. The brunette bites her lip, looking back and forth from Reya to Robin. And with a loud sigh, she acquiesces without further protest.

"Fine," Regina replies, staring pointedly at her supposed soulmate, "Just dinner."

Mmm, this dinner should prove to be interesting!

Thank you so much, guys, for your support and kind comments so far on this fic! They mean so much to me, and I cherish every single one! Thanks a lot for coming by, and I hope you enjoyed it! Keep the reviews coming and stay tuned! More to come very soon!