And I won't go, I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me
And I won't leave, and I can't hide
I cannot be until you're resting here with me

(Here With Me, Dido)

Chapter 22: Reassurances

When I woke, Robin was gone again. His side of the bed was still warm so I figured he hadn't been awake long. Glancing at the clock, I frowned as I realized that Roland's bus would be arriving soon. I hoped Robin was helping our son get ready as I slid out of bed, putting on my slippers and grabbing my robe.

As I headed down the stairs, I indeed found Robin helping Roland with his bookbag. He handed the boy his lunchbox and kissed his head. "Have a good day at school, my boy."

"What about Mama? Isn't she going to come down to kiss me goodbye?" Roland asked, almost pouting.

"Of course I am," I said, pressing my hand to Robin's back to let him know I was right behind him. I stepped off the last step and held my arms wide for Roland. "Have a good day, sweetheart. I love you."

Roland hugged me tightly. "Love you too, Mama."

I kissed the top of his head before giving him a gentle push toward the door. "Go on. You don't want to be late."

He hurried out the door and Robin watched him board the bus. I waited until he closed the door and turned to face me, frowning. "You should still be resting," he said.

"I'm fine," I assured him, kissing his forehead. "I got plenty of sleep. Even with the disruption from Zelena."

Though he didn't look convinced, Robin didn't push the subject. Instead, he took my hand and helped me down the last few steps. "Come on. Let me make you breakfast."

"Sounds good to me," I replied, lacing our fingers together as I fell into step next to him. "Can we have bacon?"

He gave me a small grin and I counted that as a victory as he said: "I think we can have some bacon. Do you want some eggs too?"

"No," I replied. "Maybe I'll make some hash browns for us."

"I'm making breakfast, remember?" I could tell he was giving me a look as we entered the kitchen.

I nudged him with my shoulder, grinning at him. "I can help. I'm fine, Robin. There's no need to coddle me."

He sighed, pausing to rest his forehead against mine. "I know. But this feels like the only way I can help you."

"You help me in many ways," I assured him, hugging him. "Just holding me last night helped me."

"It still doesn't feel like enough," he replied.

I nodded. "But not letting me make breakfast isn't going to change that."

"I know, I know." He sighed again. "I just hate that I can't protect you or Emma in your mind. What if she hurts you?"

"I told you. I don't think she…"

"But what if you're wrong?" he asked, interrupting me. "What if she can hurt you?"

I paused, knowing he was voicing one of my own fears. Not ready to deal with it, I just shrugged. "Emma's done a good job of getting her out of our head both times, so…"

My voice trailed off as I felt the temperature around us drop. He pulled away, tension in his jaw as a cold look came to his eyes. "I'm sorry. Did you say both times?"

It was then I realized I never told Robin about the first time Emma had gotten caught up in the mind connection between me and Zelena. Swallowing, I tucked some hair behind my ear. "This has happened before."

"Clearly," he replied angrily. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"It slipped my mind," I replied. "I soothed Emma and we cuddled next to you and all was right again."

He crossed his arms. "And all was right? Really, Regina? Zelena could've hurt Emma!"

"But she didn't!" I protested, trying not to wince when she heard how she sounded.

"And that's really going to be your defense?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

I ran my hand through my hair, not sure what to say. "It's not a defense. I just…I just figured it was my problem to solve."

That was the wrong thing to say. I knew it the moment the words left my mouth. The air around us grew even colder even though anger burned in his eyes. Swallowing, I tried to do some damage control. "Robin, I didn't mean that you…"

"No," he said, cutting me off. "You did mean that."

I shook my head, wanting him to understand. "I feel I sucked Emma into this, that I brought Zelena into our heads, so I needed to figure out how to get her out of them."

"How long ago was this?"

"Robin…"

He stepped closer, staring me down. "Answer the question, Regina."

I pressed my lips together before answering: "A few months ago."

"Months?" he asked, incredulous and sounding even angrier. "And have you found anything that could keep Zelena out of your minds?"

My cheeks felt like they were on fire as I said: "No, not yet…"

"So you two have been at risk for months with no safeguards in sight and you still didn't tell me?" he asked, almost yelling.

"It didn't seem like a pressing need!" I yelled back.

He rubbed his face before shaking his head. "I can't...I can't deal with this today, Regina."

A cold sensation washed over me and I felt sick to my stomach. "What do you mean by that?"

"It means...I need to go," he said, pushing past me.

I turned and followed him, even more confused. "Go? Go where?"

"Just away from here," he replied, starting to climb the stairs. He paused, looking back at me with anguished eyes. "I just need to clear my head, Regina."

Tears pricked my eyes but I nodded, recalling how he had to do that after I defied him in the Enchanted Forest. "Okay. Just...Just don't stay away for too long? Please?"

He pressed his lips together before nodding. "Promise."

I nodded and watched him head back upstairs. Taking a deep breath, I headed back to the kitchen to prepare myself breakfast and get my mind off how angry my husband was with me.

And how it was all my fault.

I didn't see Robin for the rest of the day.

Roland came home from school and I got him off the bus, ushering him inside. He thankfully assumed his father was at work and so I didn't have to answer any awkward questions right away. Emma and Rachel were also content to spend time with me and didn't ask for their father either. The afternoon passed peacefully enough—at least for them.

While I tried to put on a happy face and hoped they didn't realize anything was wrong, I was a mess inside. I felt guilty over how everything had played out that morning. My responses to Robin kept replaying over and over in my mind and I felt like kicking myself each time I heard them. No wonder he needed to get away from me.

I wanted to get away from me.

As it got later, though, I did get more worried. Roland did too, glancing between the clock and the window. "Where's Papa? Shouldn't he be home?" he asked.

"He said he might be late," I lied, hating it. "We'll just have dinner without him."

Roland frowned but nodded. I crouched down and forced another smile. "What do you want for dinner?"

"I don't care," he said sullenly, shrugging.

I sighed, realizing I was in for a long night. "Okay. How about I just order us a pizza?"

"Okay," he replied, not showing his usual excitement whenever I caved and ordered us a pie from the local pizzeria. He definitely was upset.

After ordering the pizza, I found him in the living room. He was staring out the window, petting Bandit. I moved the dog, who curled up by us on the floor, and sat down next to Roland. "What's wrong, sweetheart?" I asked him.

"I thought he stopped doing this," he said, still staring out the window.

"Doing what?" I asked, confused.

"Disappearing," he replied. "You know, when Mama died. He stopped after you became my new mama but I guess it was just for a little while."

I frowned. "Is it that time already?"

He nodded. "A couple months after my birthday."

"Oh," I said, feeling any worse. No wonder Robin had been so angry. I had not only kept a big secret from him, he found out about the dangers Emma and I were in on the anniversary of when he believed he failed to protect Marian. No wonder he was extra sensitive about not being able to protect me.

I sighed, moving closer to Roland and pulling him onto my lap. "Your father is going through a lot with Zelena being so close and he needs to work through some things. He'll be back soon. He wouldn't want to leave us alone."

Roland nodded, leaning against me. "I guess you're right. I just don't like him being away for so long."

"Me too," I said, kissing the top of his head. We sat there a bit longer, just staring out into the darkness surrounding the house.

Two bright lights approached our house and I placed Roland back on the seat. "That's the pizza. I'll go pay."

He slid off the seat as I stood. Looking up at me, he said: "I'll go wash my hands, Mama."

"Thank you, sweetheart," I said, heading to the door as the doorbell echoed around the house. I paid for the pizza and took a deep a breath as I headed back into the kitchen, forcing another smile. We were going to have as pleasant an evening as possible.

I was going to make sure of it.

By the time I tucked Roland into bed, I was exhausted. It had been an emotionally draining day to begin with and then I had put a lot of energy into entertaining the children for the rest of the night. The girls were distracted easily enough, though both kept asking for their father every so often. I just told them Papa would be home soon and then launched into another story, moving their toys around as I told it. That always worked.

Roland, though, was another story. I tried to tell him a few stories but he only gave a half-hearted performance, always glancing toward the window. After I put the girls to bed, I tried to play a few games with him—from knights and monsters to classic board games—but nothing worked. In the end, I just put on a movie and curled up on the couch with him until it was time for him to go to bed.

I kissed his forehead. "Good night, sweetheart. Sleep tight."

"Will Papa be here in the morning?" he asked me.

"I'm here right now," Robin said, startling me. My heart sped up as I looked over to find him standing in the doorway. He strode over to the bed, leaning down to kiss Roland's forehead. "Good night, my boy."

Roland relaxed and he smiled softly. "Good night, Papa. Don't disappear again, okay?"

"I won't," Robin promised, smiling as well. He kissed Roland's forehead again before straightening up, holding out his hand to me.

I took it and we left the room, closing the door behind us. We stood outside in the hallway, a tense silence stretching between us. Swallowing, I decided to break it. "Are you hungry? We have leftover pizza in the freezer I could heat up."

"Thank you," he said. "I am hungry."

We headed down to the kitchen. I went over to the oven and turned it on, preheating it to the right temperature. Glancing over my shoulder, I asked him: "How many slices?"

"Two, please," he replied. "Is there anything I can do?"

I shook my head, pulling out the two slices and unwrapping them. Placing them on a sheet, I said: "I've got everything under control."

"I'll get myself something to drink then. Do you want anything?" he asked, standing from the table.

"No, I'm fine," I told him, keeping an eye on the temperature of the oven. Once it got hot enough, I slid the tray into the oven and made a note of the time so I didn't burn them.

I turned to face Robin, who had returned to the table and sipped his glass of water quietly. We stared at each other, a tense silence stretching between us. I knew there were many things I needed to say but my voice was failing me at that moment.

He set his glass down and motioned to the chair by him. "I think we should talk, Regina."

"Okay," I replied, sitting down in the chair. I folded my hands to keep from reaching out for his, unsure if that would be welcomed or not.

"I'm sorry," we said at the same time.

I paused, frowning. "Why are you sorry? I should've told you the moment Emma started appearing in the dreamscape. I shouldn't have kept that from you."

"You're right," he replied, "but I shouldn't have just walked out on you. Not when you were just as shaken about what had happened as well. We're a team and should face it together."

"I agree," I replied, glancing at the clock. There was still some time before the pizza had to come out, so I pressed on. "But I understand why you needed to be alone. Because of Marian."

He frowned, tilting his head. "What? Why do you think this involves Marian?"

I felt as confused as he looked. But it was time for the pizza to come out, so I had to put my questions on hold to return to the over. I took them out and carefully moved them to a plate. Bringing it over to Robin, I set it down. "Careful, they're hot."

"Thank you," he said. He ignored his plate as he asked: "Regina, why did you mention Marian?"

"Roland did. Well, he talked about how you used to disappear around now and then come back," I replied. "I remember it was always on the anniversary of Marian's death."

He paused as he lifted one of the slices of pizza, ready to take a bite. Frowning, he set it down again. "I didn't even realize it was around that time, honestly."

"Oh," I said, feeling even worse. "So you stayed away entirely because of me."

Robin paused midbite. He took it and chewed before swallowing. Setting down the pizza, he reached out and took my hand. "I stayed away because of me. I needed to clear my head and went into the woods to do so."

I nodded. "Did it work?"

"It did," he replied, taking another bite. After swallowing, he continued: "I was able to clear my head and really think about things."

My stomach twisted up. "And?"

"I may have overreacted," he started.

I shook my head, not wanting him to blame himself for my mistake. "No, you didn't. I was wrong. I should've trusted you."

"And I should've trusted you," he replied. "Trusted that you have our daughters' best interests at heart, that you wouldn't do something to hurt either of them."

"Never," I promised. "All our children mean the world to me and I would do everything in my power to protect them."

He nodded, lacing our fingers together. "I know. And I'm sorry if I ever implied or said otherwise."

I gave him a soft smile. "Thank you. And I promise I'll find a way to keep Emma's and Rachel's minds from Zelena. I'll also include you as well."

"Thank you," he said, releasing my hand to finish eating his pizza. "And thank you for putting up with me."

"Well, you put up with me," I reminded him.

He smiled, making my heart skip a beat. "And I do it gladly. I wouldn't want to be married to anyone else."

"I feel the same way." I leaned over the table and kissed him, tasting some pizza sauce lingering on his lips.

Robin cupped my cheek. "Let's clean up and go to bed."

"That sounds like a great idea," I said, picking up his plate. I carried it over to the sink, cleaning it.

He came up behind me, wrapping his arms around my middle. Robin kissed my head. "I hate it when we fight."

"I do too," I replied, leaning against him. "Especially when it's because I did something stupid, like back in the Enchanted Forest."

Robin's hold tightened on me. "This really wasn't the same…And I wouldn't say you did something stupid. There's a lot that's happening and it slipped your mind."

"It shouldn't have," I argued, turning in his arms to face him. I wrapped my arms around his neck. "They could've been in danger. Emma was in danger."

"They're danger out here too," he reminded me. It wasn't much comfort and he switched tactics. "But let's not focus on any of that tonight. Let's just focus on me and you."

My heart sped up and I smiled at him, hope and lust filling me. "Are you suggesting what I think you're suggesting, Lord Locksley?"

He smirked, gently gripping my hips. "That it's been far too long since we last enjoyed each other carnally? Then, yes, I am, Lady Locksley."

"I think we need to rectify that," I replied, leaning closer to him.

"You read my mind," he said, picking me up. He carried me from our kitchen to our bedroom as I used my magic to turn everything off for the night.

Robin gently laid me on our bed, climbing onto it next to me. I lay there, letting him caress me as he smiled down at me. "I am going to make sure you know how much I love you."

"I do," I assured him, running my hands up and down his arms. "Do you know how much I love you?"

He nodded. "Don't worry, sweetheart, I know."

I grabbed at his shirt and pulled him down, crashing our lips together. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me close as he nibbled on my lower lip. I opened up to him and he deepened the kiss as our legs entangled together.

Robin broke the kiss to trail more along my jaw. He nibbled on my ear before whispering: "I think we're both overdressed for this."

"I agree," I replied, trying not to moan. "Care to do the honors?"

He grinned. "It will be my pleasure."

Robin tugged on my shirt and I raised my arms, letting him pull it off me. He tossed aside before leaning down to kiss my stomach, paying extra attention to the stretch marks that hadn't completely faded after my pregnancy. "Beautiful," he whispered.

"I think you should go a bit lower," I suggested, lacing my fingers in his hair as I tried to urge him further south.

He shook his head, resisting me. "I'm going to take my time. We have all night."

"All night?" I asked. "You think you have the stamina?"

"Is that a challenge?" he countered.

I grinned, enjoying the banter developing between us. "Perhaps. You feel like rising to it?"

"Oh, something will definitely be rising," he shot back, biting his lower lip afterwards as he tried not to laugh.

"That was bad," I told him. "You need to make up for that."

He smirked. "I think I know just how to do that."

My heart skipped a beat and I felt myself grow wetter as I had a good idea what he meant. Still, I asked: "Oh?"

Robin hummed, popping the button on my jeans and unzipping them. He then slowly pulled them down my legs until he could pull them over my feet. After dropping them to the floor, he climbed back onto the bed. "And now the panties."

"Just don't rip them," I said, not wanting to lose the pair.

He shook his head, fingers grazing my skin as they brushed the waistband. "No worries, milady. Your garments are safe with me."

Robin pulled them off me and tossed them aside before spreading open my legs. He bit his lip before saying: "Absolutely gorgeous. And all for me."

"I love you," I told him, unable to help myself. "So much"

"I love you too," he said, leaning down. He covered my body with his as he captured my lips in a sweet kiss. I gently gripped his neck, holding him place. The promise of a night of passion ignited a flame inside me and I looked forward to letting it consume me.

I woke up feeling a little disoriented sometime later. Blinking a few times, I realized it was because Robin wasn't in bed with me. If I wasn't naked, I would've thought I had dreamt our earlier activities. But since I was certain they had happened, I wondered where my husband had gone.

Pushing the blankets back, I was about to climb out of bed when Robin entered the bedroom. He was dressed in his robe and his pajama pants as he closed the door. Glancing over his shoulder, he gave me a soft smile. "Rachel woke up needing a diaper change. I got her into a clean one, sang her a little lullaby and she's out like a light. Emma and Roland are asleep too."

"Good," I said, reaching out to him. "Though I got a little worried when I woke up alone."

"I'm sorry, love," he replied, climbing into bed. He kissed my forehead as he pulled me back into his arms.

I rested my head against his chest. "It's not your fault. I always worry I'm going to lose you."

He paused and I could feel him frowning against my hair. "I'm not going anywhere. I just needed to clear my head."

"I know," I said, gently playing with the edge of his robe. "But I also worry that I'm going to lose you in the fight against Zelena. That you'll be killed to punish me or because I'll ultimately be too weak to stop her."

Robin shifted us until I was lying on my back and he hovered over me. "I have the utmost faith in you, Regina. You will stop Zelena and we will all live happily ever after at last."

I smiled. "I like the sound of that. I just wish I had half your confidence in me."

"Then I shall be confident for you," he told me. "Whatever little I can do to help, I will."

"You do a lot, Robin," I said, reaching up until our foreheads met. "Don't think that you are helpless in this world because you can't go out and shoot flying monkeys with your arrows. You still do a lot. I don't think I could've made it this far without you."

He smiled. "We make a pretty good team, huh?"

"The best," I replied, pulling him down by his robe so I could kiss him. He wrapped his arms around me and held me close as we exchanged several languid kisses.

I slid my hands down and undid the ties of his robe. Pushing it off his arms, I broke our kiss. "I believe the plan was to make love all night long?"

He chuckled. "It still is."

"Good," I replied, tossing the robe to the side. I tugged on his pajama pants. "Then you need to lose these."

"Okay," he said, undoing the tie and pushing them down. He kicked them off as I ran my hand along his chest. "Better?"

I nodded. "Much."

"Good," he replied, capturing my lips with his. He slowly lowered his body closer to mine, heat rolling off him and his hardening cock trapped between our bodies.

We exchanged a few kisses before his hands came to cup my breasts. He massaged them gently as his lips moved to my neck, easily finding the one spot that always turned my limbs to jelly. Robin sucked gently and I moaned, gripping him tightly. "Oh gods, right there," I moaned.

I opened my legs and his body slid between them, settling against me as if we were made for each other. He adjusted, though, and I felt his knee against my sex. I began to rut against it, friction building against my clit and reigniting the fire deep inside me.

Round two was going to be even more fun than round one.

We collapsed together, a sticky mess of limbs. I didn't care about that. All I cared about was the feeling of his arms around me as my body recovered from my latest orgasm that night. I cuddled closer to him. "I love you."

"I love you too," he said, kissing my shoulder before pulling his arm away. "I'll be right back."

I frowned, reaching out for him. "Where are you going?"

"Just to the bathroom," he assured me, pulling on his boxers. He padded into the next room and I heard the water run for a few seconds.

Robin emerged from the bathroom, a facecloth in his hand. He held it out to me. "Here you go. I doubt you want to fall asleep all sticky."

"True," I replied, running the facecloth over my body. I also slid from the bed. "I should probably go to the bathroom too."

I gathered up my pajamas and grabbed some fresh underwear before popping into the bathroom. After going to the bathroom and changing into my pajamas, I brushed my teeth and swished some mouthwash before spitting it out. Flipping off the lights, I headed back out into the bedroom.

Robin waited in bed from me, the covers on my side already turned down. I climbed under them and cuddled against him again as he pulled the blankets over us. We snuggled together and I toyed with the coarse curls on his chest.

"Sing to me," I asked him a whisper. "Please."

"Okay," he replied softly, his fingers gently brushing along my back. He started to sing the lullaby about the knight and his precious jewel and I fell asleep with my favorite song in my ear, safe in his arms.

A/N: Here's a new chapter of Once Upon a Time! Robin and Regina got through their rough spot. If you want to read the Outlaw Queen sexytimes, head over to AO3 or Wattpad.

Zelena will return in the next chapter as Regina works to get Mal and Lily out of Storybrooke and to safety.

Thanks for reading!

-Mac