I got a prompt on tumblr for drunken kiss in the missing year, and KH is the only verse that my brain can work with in the missing year and a continuation of this seemed like the best idea. So yeah, set directly after chapter one (after Robin had been to see the Charmings).

…

Robin was not prepared for the sight the greeted him when he pushed open the doors to the Queen's chambers.

He had been expecting Regina to be tucked under the covers, the copious amount of alcohol he knew she had consumed pulling her into deep sleep or at the very least to the edge of slumber.

But no…

She was sat on her bed in a short, silk nightgown, her knees bent to the side as she rested one hand on the mattress, the other holding the pages of a book lying out in front of her. Her long, dark tresses flowed over her shoulder, and without the harsh colours that painted her face, the so-called 'Evil Queen' almost looked like an entirely different person.

She hadn't noticed him; too busy furrowing her brow in that adorable pout as she concentrated on whatever was written in her book.

Robin softly cleared his throat, preparing to receive a fireball as a greeting - which wouldn't be the first occurrence - but thankfully (and rather unexpectedly) he was treated to the sight of another of Regina's rare, warm smiles - albeit a slightly hazy one.

Deciding to test his fortune, Robin made his way over to Regina's bed, tentatively raising one knee to perch on the edge of the mattress, ready to leave if the Queen so desired.

But she made no move to send him away; her head had dipped back towards her book, strands of hair falling into her face that Robin couldn't help but tuck back behind her ear with a fond smile. One which she returned.

For all of the times Robin had left the Queen in fierce irritation, when one too many of her jibes had hit too close to home and made him unable to endure her company for a second longer, there were such moments as these where when he would gladly spend hours in her presence. He didn't even require conversation; he'd happily just share space and time with the monarch who intrigued him more and more with every passing day.

Though she had other ideas tonight, asking him in a slow - still somewhat slurred - and rather raspy voice; "the Charmings get to bed alright?"

With a wry chuckle, Robin recollected the sight of the Prince and Princess completely passed out on their bed, wrapped around each other without even bothering to climb under the covers or change into sleeping clothes.

"Indeed; they're fast asleep Milady."

"Good," Regina smiled, and Robin regarded her with a tilt of his head.

"Pardon my asking," he started, "but is there a reason you are still awake?"

"I'm reading," she stated matter-of-factly.

"I can see that, your majesty," Robin chuckled. "What is it that your book is about?"

Regina took in a breath as if to reply, though she held it for a second before releasing it with a bemused; "I have no idea."

Robin couldn't contain his laugh. And when Regina looked up at him, she started to chuckle too, her eyes bright and shining even though they were somewhat glossed over.

She'd suffer in the morning, no doubt. Would most likely wake up with a pounding headache and a dry throat, but Robin had to admit that she was a lot more amicable when less than sober - and he'd get her a glass of water before he went to bed anyway.

"You should get some sleep, Milady," Robin suggested with a small smile.

Regina nodded and pushed her book to the edge of the bed, though she misjudged the distance and her hand slipped on the silk sheets, necessitating in Robin suddenly reaching forward to grasp the Queen before she fell face first.

The giggles she released into his shoulder as she grasped his shirt were the definition of adorable, and Robin felt his heart swell.

"Yeah… I need sleep," she agreed as she pushed herself upright again, bringing a hand to her head and carding her fingers through her hair. Robin had to push down the urge to do the same.

"To bed with you, your majesty," he softly ordered, unable to resist tapping the edge of her nose and watching it scrunch before he prepared to stand and leave.

Though his intended journey was halted with a hand over his and Regina's gaze freezing him in place. Her eyes were searching his for some kind of answer, but before Robin could even get to question what was wrong, she had leaned forwards and pressed her lips to his.

Well… that was unexpected.

But any sense Robin once possessed faded, and his hands rose to frame Regina's face, tilting her head and sighing into her kiss. His lips recaptured hers the second there was any space between them, and if there was any doubt that he was becoming tangled up in feelings for Regina, Robin damn well knew for sure now.

For all the harsh retorts, firm actions and hard exterior that belonged to the Queen, she was kissing him with an undeniable softness that he was quickly becoming addicted to. Her fingertips just brushed over his thigh, and her other hand gripped the sleeve of his shirt as she shifted in an effort to get even closer to him.

It was when his tongue sneaked out to brush against hers that sanity returned to Robin. He could taste the alcohol on her.

She was drunk. What the hell was he doing?

"Regina, wait," Robin mumbled against her lips, not getting chance to protest again before his mouth was reclaimed with just a little more determination than before.

Regina was making it very difficult to even think about pulling away, and the more sounds she released against his lips - the little sighs and moans and whimpers that went straight to his groin - the more strength he had to build to put any amount of distance between them.

But in the end, the guilt nudged him back into chivalry, and with a sigh Robin indulged in one more kiss - then another one after that - before his hands held her head in place and he drew back a few inches.

"Regina… we can't."

The Queen slowly opened her eyes, meeting the thief's gaze for a couple of seconds before her expression fell and she looked away.

"Sorry," she started, her voice quiet, "I thought… I-"

Realising that she had completely misread his reasoning to stop, Robin assured her; "it's not that I don't want you, Milady - because believe me; I do."

Regina frowned, and now that they had officially crossed boundaries of personal space, Robin traced a finger over the furrows in her brow.

"Then why…" She started, biting the corner of her lower lip as Robin's fingertip traced the slope of her nose.

"Because, whilst I would love nothing more than to take you right here, I want it to be your own decision," he explained. "Not because you were drunk, not because you felt as if you had to, but because you choose to."

Tears gathered in Regina's eyes, and Robin felt his heart drop. Had he said something to hurt her? He was trying to do the right thing. He was trying to be honourable and let the Queen be fully in control of her actions before he let things between them go further.

He got his answer though; her quiet confession of "you'd be the first" which left many implications hanging in the air.

She wasn't upset; she was touched by his gesture. And Robin hoped that he never got his hands on any of the people who had hurt her in such a way; prison didn't suit him and public execution was not the way he wanted to go.

Twisting a lock of raven hair around his finger before letting it fall back down to her shoulder, Robin managed to lighten the atmosphere by stating; "besides, I'd rather like to have an attempt at seducing you first, Milady."

"You're welcome to try, thief," Regina chuckled, resigning herself to the fact that the only thing accompanying her to bed that night would be her drunken, fuzzy head.

"Another day, perhaps," Robin declared as he stood, pulling Regina to stand with him before he reached past her to turn her bed covers down. "Your royal bed awaits, your majesty."

With a smile, Regina let herself be tucked into bed, pushing down the voice inside her head telling her she was too old for such childish behaviour and enjoying the simple affection that she had learned to live without.

The kiss to her forehead almost resumed the tears, though she held them back by sheer force of will and eyes screwed tightly shut.

"Goodnight, Regina," she heard, before the thief walked away, and she suddenly felt a lot emptier than before she'd had Robin's company.

Sleep pulled her under rather quickly, and when the Queen awoke it was to a pounding headache, a glass of water on her bedside cabinet, and no recollection as to who put it there.