#goingtomakethishappen

           “Yes,” she called out. “Why?”

           “You’ve been in there a long time and Robin’s going to be here in like fifteen minutes. Do you need any help?”

           Regina sighed. “Actually, yes. Could you come zip me up please?”

           “Sure, Mom.” Henry slipped into her room and smiled at her. “You look beautiful.”

           She smiled back. “Thank you. But wait until the dress is zipped, okay?”

           “It doesn’t matter, Mom. You know that.” Henry zipped her up and nodded. “There you go.”

           “Thank you.” Regina smoothed down the skirt of her sleeveless red dress before adjusting the collar.

           Henry hugged her from behind. “It’s going to be fine. Robin loves you and wants this to work as much as you.”

           “You’re not supposed to be the one reassuring me about my love life. I’m supposed to be reassuring you,” she replied, patting his hand.

           “That’s okay, Mom. You and Robin fix your relationship, get married, be ridiculously happy together and then you both can meddle in my love life.”

           She chuckled, holding her son close. “No matter what, you are the best thing in my life.”

           “Mom,” he whined, “you’re getting mushy again.”

           The doorbell rang and Henry let her go. “That’s Robin. I’m going to go make him sweat a little. Wait about ten minutes before coming down.”

           “Ten minutes?” She frowned, crossing her arms. “Henry Daniel Mills, what are you planning?”

           He gave her a cheeky grin. “Nothing too bad, I promise. Just…ten minutes. Okay?”

           “Okay,” she relented, watching as he left her room.

           She smiled, sitting on her bed and waiting for whatever her little prince was going to do with her thief.

           Ten minutes later, Regina went downstairs and waited outside the living room. She listened in on Henry’s and Robin’s conversation. “So you promise not to hurt my mom?”

           Robin didn’t respond right away and she found herself holding her breath until he spoke. “I don’t know if I can make that promise, Henry. I’ve already hurt her without intending to. It may happen again.”

           “But you don’t intend to hurt her?”

           “Of course not. That’s the last thing I want to do to her…and you.”

           There was a silence before Henry said: “We’re talking about my mom, not me.”

           “I know you’re talking about your mom, but I want to talk about you,” Robin replied. “You’re important to me too.”

           “I am?”

           Robin chuckled. “Of course you are. You’ve been a great help to me the past few weeks and I truly appreciate it, Henry.”

           “Anything for Roland. He’s a great kid.”

           “Thank you.” Another pause on Robin’s behalf. “So…did I pass?”

           “What?”

           “Did I pass your interrogation? May I take your mother out now?”

           “Oh…Yeah, I guess so. Just have her home by eleven,” Henry said.

           Regina entered the living room at that point, arms crossed. “Eleven? I’m the mother. You don’t set a curfew for me.”

           Henry looked sheepish. “You need sleep, Mom.”

           “Don’t worry, Henry.” Robin stood, clapping him on the shoulder. “I’ll have her home in time for her to get plenty of rest. We don’t want a tired mayor on our hands.”

           Regina now gave him a look. “Careful. We haven’t left the house yet.”

           He didn’t blink, instead taking her hand and kissing it. “Milady. You look lovely, as always.”

           “Thank you,” she said before turning to her son. “There’s lasagna in the fridge for you to heat up. Only an hour of TV and then an hour of reading before bed. Got it?”

           Henry groaned but nodded. “Have fun, you two.”

           “Good night, Henry,” Robin said with a smile. He then held out his arm to Regina. “Shall we?”

           She smiled back, taking his arm. “Lead the way, good sir.”

           Robin took her to Granny’s, apologizing before they entered. “I’m afraid this is all I can afford right now.”

           “This is fine,” Regina replied. “You don’t need to impress me, Robin.”

           “I know. It’s just…you’re a queen. I want to treat you like one.”

           Regina cupped his cheek. “When I’m with you, I’m not a queen and you’re not a thief. We’re just Robin and Regina. Got it?”

           “I do,” he said, holding the door open for her. “After you, milady.”

           “Thank you,” she said, stepping into the empty diner. She glanced around with a frown. “Where’s the dinner rush?”

           Granny shrugged. “Everyone has Christmas parties, it seems. So you have the place to yourselves. Well, except for me in the back. But I’ll be sure to keep out of your hair.”

           Robin smiled. “Thank you, Granny.”

           “You’re quite welcome,” the older woman replied. “Now, there’s a table for two with a candle for you.”

           With a hand on her back, Robin guided her toward the table set up in the middle of the diner. Plates and stemware was set up with one single candle in between the settings, its flame flickering in the dim lighting. He pulled out a chair and smiled. “Milady?”

           “Thief,” she deadpanned, sitting down.

He pushed her in and took his seat. “Would you like some wine?”

“I’d love some,” she replied. “But who is going to bring us…”

She trailed off as Granny appeared, pouring them both two glasses. “Dinner should be out shortly,” she said before disappearing into the back again.

Regina leaned back in her chair, arms crossed. “Okay, what’s going on here? I highly doubt everyone in Storybrooke is having a holiday party tonight and that Granny has nothing better to do than serve us.”

“She insisted,” Robin replied. “I told her she didn’t have to do anything special but once that woman has her mind set on something…well, I know how to pick my battles.”

“Granny did all of this for you?”

“For us.” He took her hand.

She raised an eyebrow. “I highly doubt she did any of this for me. No one really does anything for me.”

“That’s a lie,” he replied. “Henry’s done a lot for you, so have the Nolans, and then there’s me. I’d do anything for you.”

“Thank you. But really, how did you get Granny to do all of this for you?”

“I told you. She insisted after I told her I was taking you out on a date. Told me to consider it an employment perk.”

“Right. Henry mentioned you worked here.” She sighed. “What do you do for her?”

He shrugged. “Whatever she needs. I’ve waited tables, I’ve cleaned, I’ve done some repair work. She asks, I do it if I can. And she lets me and Roland stay here.”

“You really don’t feel comfortable going back with the Merry Men?” Regina asked. “They’re your family.”

“I tried,” he admitted, voice gravelly. “After everyone left to go find Emma in Camelot, I went to round them up to help keep order in the town.”

He trailed off. She didn’t press him, sensing he needed to get his emotions in check before he continued. Instead, Regina reached out and took his hand as silent comfort.

Robin swallowed and finally continued. “I stood on the edge of the camp, watching as they laughed and joked with each other, and I felt like an outsider. I realized then and there that I didn’t belong with them. So I turned around and headed back into town.”

“Did they try to talk to you? See you?”

“They did, shortly after you left. Little John and Will came to my room.”

Regina frowned. “What happened?”

“It was pretty awkward for all of us,” Robin said. “Mostly us sitting around, silent as we tried to figure out how to have a conversation again. They ended up just telling me that if Roland and I needed anything to reach out and left. It confirmed I didn’t belong with them anymore.”

“Henry says you go see Zelena with either Belle or Hook. I know you and Belle are friends of sorts since she rescued you, but how did you become friends with Hook?” she asked.

Robin shrugged. “When you lot returned from Camelot, he’d come by and somehow we became drinking buddies. I opened up about everything and he offered to go with me. So I accepted.”

“Dinner is served!” Granny returned, setting down two burgers in front of them. “It’s not fancy…”

“Who needs fancy?” Regina replied, smiling at Robin.

Granny chuckled. “Glad to see the mood’s picked up. It was starting to feel more like a funeral than a date out here.”

“Granny, you promised not to eavesdrop,” Robin replied, giving her a look. “Remember?”

“I wasn’t eavesdropping. It permeated the entire diner.”

Robin grimaced. “Sorry.”

“You don’t have anything to apologize for,” Regina said. “Right, Granny?”

Granny nodded. “You’ve had one hell of a year, Robin. I’d say you need a vacation but I doubt you want to leave Storybrooke again. Now, I’ll leave you two alone. If you need me, give a holler.”

Once she was gone, Robin took Regina’s hand again. “Have you been able to unlock that second memory?”

“Not yet.” She pulled the tree-topper from her clutch. “I’m sure we have to be together but not sure what we have to do to unlock it.”

“Well, we’ll figure it out,” he said, smiling. “Maybe after we’ve gotten some food into ourselves?”

After they had finished their burgers and shared some light conversation, Robin asked about Camelot. Regina shrugged as she took a sip of her wine. “What do you want to know? I’m sure everyone else has told you everything.”

“For the most part. But I want to hear it from you.” He leaned forward. “Did you really tell Arthur you were the Savior?”

Regina nodded, letting out a little laugh. “Ridiculous, right? As if I could ever be a Savior.”

“Don’t sell yourself short,” he replied. “You’re not the Evil Queen anymore. And you’ve saved this town quite a few times. You’re just as much a Savior as Emma.”

She smiled, ducking her head to hide her blush. Robin continued: “I also heard there was a ball held in your honor.”

Regina grimaced. “I don’t want to talk about that.”

“Because of what happened?”

“What do you know about it?” Her eyes narrowed as her stomach turned. Who had told him what?

“No one really says anything about it. Henry once said his mom got hurt and his other mom had to heal her but then wouldn’t clarify which mom he was talking about.” Robin studied her. “Did Emma get hurt and you had to heal her?”

She wasn’t sure she wanted to reopen that wound. Regina pressed her hand to her side, though there was no scar from where Percival’s sword pierced it. The phantom pain returned and she heard Henry’s panicked voice screaming her name and Mary Margaret pleading with her to hold on.

Robin saw her motion, though, and frowned. “It was you. You were injured and Emma had to heal you. What happened?”

“I don’t want to talk about it. It wasn’t anything.”

“Liar.” He stood and crouched down next to her. “Tell me the truth, Regina. Please.”

She sighed. “One of Arthur’s knights came from a village I destroyed. He and I shared a dance where he told me his tale. I was concerned he was going to tell Arthur I really wasn’t the Savior and put Emma at risk but instead he pulled out a sword, piercing me with it before I could react.

“I learned David had started to run across the room the moment he pulled the sword but wasn’t quick enough. He did slay Sir Percival before the knight could truly finish me off. Henry and Mary Margaret flew to my side as I tried to heal myself but nothing was working. I was taken to a spare room where it was determined Percival had managed to bewitch the blade so that I couldn’t heal myself and would surely die.”

Robin pulled her into his arms, rocking her as she continued her tale: “I began to black out from the blood loss. I tried to cling onto the sound of voices, but everything was starting to blur together. Death called to me and, for a moment, I considered answering. That it would just be easier to go into oblivion and be reunited with Daniel and Daddy and even Mother.”

“But you didn’t.”

She shook her head. “Henry pleaded with Emma to save me, even though using her magic meant using dark magic. Despite the risk, she healed me and pulled me back from Death. When I opened my eyes and saw Henry’s relieved face, I remembered that I had so much to live for.”

“I wish I had been there,” Robin whispered. “Maybe I could’ve gotten to him before he was able to hurt you.”

“Or you could’ve gotten hurt instead. Then what would’ve Roland done without you?” Regina shook her head. “No use playing ‘what if’ now. What’s done is done and I’m fine.”

“Are you? Or are you ignoring it?” Robin tilted her chin up, forcing her to meet his eyes. They bore into her until she looked away, staring at the tiled floor.

He kissed the side of her head. “Why don’t you come with me to my next appointment with Archie? You can talk about that and then really move on.”

“Okay,” she whispered. “And I promise not to storm out again.”

“Well, I thought we would take turns…” She glanced up to see his lips twitch and she smiled in return. He kissed her nose. “There’s that smile again.”

He helped her stand before holding up his finger. Walking over to the jukebox, he picked a song—“At Last” by Etta James. Robin turned to her and held out his hand. “May I have this dance?”

“A dance?” She hesitated. “I’m not much of a dancer, Robin.”

“Nonsense. It’s really easy here, I’ve learned. You just hold each other and sway to the music.”

Regina sighed, letting him pull her close. He wrapped her hand in his and held her gently by the waist. She rested her free hand on his shoulder and let him sway them around Granny’s empty floor. “How do you know this song?” she asked.

“I found solace in the radio,” he explained. “I would play it all the time in New York and here when I can’t sleep. Songs that I liked…or reminded me of you…I would do everything I could to find out what they were called. There’s a very helpful app on the phone for that, did you know?”

Laughing, Regina laid her head on his shoulder. She sighed. “This is nice.”

“Almost like when we first danced in the courtyard? Now that we can remember that?”

“Yes,” she agreed. “You made me feel like the best dancer in the world that night. I didn’t feel like the hopeless case my instructor and Mother told me I was.”

“Funny what happens when you support someone rather than tear them down. You realized you could actually dance.”

She curled closer to him. “There’s a lot I’ve realized I could do with someone believing in me. Especially you.”

“I’ll always believe in you, Regina. And I’ll support you always.”

“I know.” She took a deep breath. “And it’s time I did the same for you.”

“What do you mean?”

Regina pulled away to look him in the eyes. “I mean it’s not fair that you have to deal with my sister alone, even if Hook or Belle go with you. I’m sorry I haven’t been very supportive but I will be now. I promise.”

“No, Regina. I won’t ask you to have to face her. Not after everything that she did to you.”

“I know you won’t ask me,” she replied, lacing their fingers together as the song ended. “That’s why I’m insisting. You need my support as much as I need yours. That’s part of being in love, right?”

           Nodding, he leaned down to kiss her. Bright lights exploded behind her eyes as another memory, another stolen Yule, was returned to her.

           Decorating with Snow, running from Leopold, running with Robin, a month of pure happiness, a kiss by the fire, Rumpelstiltskin…

           “I am going to kill Gold,” she muttered once the light died down.

           Robin cupped her cheek. “I’ll help you. Gladly.”

           She smiled before sighing. “Wait, it wouldn’t be fair. I did chose to wipe my memories.”

           “Because he threatened you,” Robin said. “Had you come to me, we would’ve been able to outrun the king’s men. I did it for years. We would’ve been safe and together.”

           “Could you have guaranteed it?”

           He held her closer. “There were no guarantees for anything back then, Regina. But we could’ve worked through it together.”  

“Once again, it would be a game of ‘what if.’ We can’t change anything now. Only learn from the memory,” Regina replied.

“And what did you learn?”

She narrowed her eyes. “You sound like you could’ve been a teacher instead of a thief.”

“I don’t think I would’ve had the patience,” he replied before crossing his arms. “Now answer the question.”

“I don’t know what I learned. I guess maybe that we should’ve faced it together rather than me going it alone?” She shrugged.

He shrugged. “Sounds good to me.”

Regina strolled over to the jukebox, searching for a song. She smiled as she selected Cyndi Lauper’s “Time After Time” and turned back to Robin. “One more dance?”

“Gladly, my lady.” He pulled her close and they held each other throughout the song.

If you’re lost, you can look and you will find me, time after time…

Robin returned Regina to her house at eleven promptly. “Can’t have Henry angry with me,” he said, swinging their arms as they walked up her sidewalk. “He might not let me take you out again.”

“I’m the parent,” she said, indignant. “If I want to go out with you again, I’ll go out with you again. He has no say.”

“You say that, but we both know that if Henry had any objections to me or any man you dated, that relationship would end. He’s the most important person in your life and that’s how it should be. I understand that.”

Regina smiled, taking his other hand as they stood outside her door. “And that’s one of the many things I love about you. Don’t worry. Henry likes you so we’ll be having another date…if you want one.”

“How’s this for an answer?” Robin cupped her face in his hands and kissed her tenderly.

As they broke the kiss, she nodded. “Loud and clear.”

“Why don’t we go for lunch after our next appointment with Archie, day after tomorrow. Sound good?”

“Lunch sounds great.” She kissed him again. “Until then.”

Regina pulled out her keys, opening her door. He stood watching her until she closed the door, sighing as she leaned against it.

“Was that a good sigh?” Henry left the kitchen, crossing his arms. “Or was that a bad one?”

She smiled. “It was a good one. Now, let’s go to bed.”

“I don’t get to hear about your date?”

“In the morning.” She wrapped her arm around his shoulder. “I promise.”

He nodded and she squeezed him. “I love you, Henry.”

           Robin shook his head. “No. That’s what you told yourself to keep yourself from admitting the truth—you needed to run from the pain. And I understand that. I just wish you had been more honest.”

           She glanced down at her hands. “I really didn’t want you to hurt anymore. And I guess…I guess I didn’t want to hurt anymore either.”

           “I am so sorry,” Robin said, reaching out and tentatively placing his hand on hers.

           “Stop apologizing. I’m sick of apologies,” she said, now meeting his tormented blue eyes. “Let’s move on.”

           “From this or from each other?”

           “From this,” she said, taking his hand. “Together.”

           He smiled, moving closer to her. “Do you mean it?”

           “Yes. I’m tired of running from you.” She leaned closer to him, pressing her lips to his.

           A bright light distracted them and Regina saw the first star was engulfed in it. She dropped the topper onto her lap, the memory playing out before her eyes as it returned to its proper place.

           Her parents’ courtyard…a handsome and friendly boy…dancing and laughing…her first kiss…her mother’s interference…

           Robin’s grip tightened on her hand, anchoring her to reality. She was breathing heavy as she turned to him, eyes wide. “You were my first kiss.”

           “You were mine,” he replied, squeezing her hand as his smile fell. “And your mother took that from us. But how?”

           “The tea. She must’ve laced it with a forgetting potion. Sick, my ass.” She crossed her arms.

           Robin leaned back. “What do you mean?”

           “Mother said I was overcome with heat and fell ill. She even got a servant to swear she was tending to me all night.” Regina rested her head against the couch. “How could I have been so stupid?”

           He sighed. “My parents thought I had snuck away and gotten drunk. They said I was really groggy and couldn’t remember much. So they thought I was hungover and wouldn’t do that again.”

           “Which clearly wasn’t the case as I ran from you while you were in a tavern,” she teased him.

           “Yeah,” he replied with a laugh. “But then again, I wasn’t really hungover so I didn’t learn that lesson until years later. But why would your mother want to erase our first meeting? At the time, we were evenly matched. My father had his title and lands and was a favorite of the king’s. A marriage between us would’ve been very beneficial to both families.”

           “Do you know why I’m named Regina?”

           “Not really, no. I know it means queen.”

           Regina nodded. “One of my cousins told me that at my naming ceremony, my mother held me aloft and declared that one day I would be queen. That’s why she named me Regina. She had my life all planned out—she would make it so I was queen. And not just any queen.”

           “Leopold’s queen.”

           “So I guess our little romance was threatening to her plans.”

           Robin ran a hand through his hair. “Probably because it wasn’t going to be a little romance.”

           “We were twelve, Robin.”

           “We were,” he agreed. “But we’re also soulmates. I don’t think that was determined when we were almost twenty. That seems to be something decided at birth.”

           Regina sighed. “You’re right. We probably would’ve fallen in love and ruined Mother’s plans. It might’ve been your heart she crushed rather than Daniel’s.”

           She reached out to place her palm against his chest, feeling his heart beating underneath it. “Maybe Mother did us a favor.”

           “Maybe,” he agreed. “Or maybe she denied us years we could’ve been together. Years you didn’t have to spend with her breaking you down to the point Rumpelstiltskin could manipulate you to serve his own selfish needs.”

           “But then you wouldn’t have Roland and I wouldn’t have Henry. Neither of us would give them up for anything.”

           He nodded before raising her hand to kiss her palm. “This looks like we’ll be torn about it.”

           “Though we can agree it was wrong for Mother to take our memories,” she said.

           “Agreed.” He kissed her palm again. “So how do we unlock the second memory? Another kiss?”

           “I guess?” Regina leaned closer, kissing him.

           Nothing happened.

           They sat back, confused and disappointed. “Maybe we need time before unlocking the memories?” Robin asked.

           Regina turned the tree-topper her hand with a frown. “Maybe?”

           “Well, thanks for the coffee.” Robin motioned to his untouched mug as he stood. “I’ll see you tomorrow?”

           “Don’t go.” She stood. “You can stay for dinner.”

           He smiled. “Thank you, but I do have a son to take care of. Perhaps tomorrow?”

           “Tomorrow,” Regina agreed, butterflies taking flight in her stomach.

           “Then it’s a date.” He kissed her cheek before heading out.

           The next few hours had been a blur as she knew they had to get Marian out of Storybrooke as soon as possible. She focused on making sure she sent Robin and his family out of town with a game plan—money, a place to stay, means to communicate. All were easily obtained and she was packing them up when he arrived at her office. “Regina,” he said, voice full of pain.

           “There is no other option,” Regina replied, cutting off his questions. “I’ve already tried. You know that.”

           He nodded. “But there really is no other way to get back into town?”

           “Not that we’ve seen,” Regina replied. “And this isn’t going to be solved by a quite hop over the line, Robin. If she comes back to Storybrooke, she could die.”

           “So that’s it? What about us?”

           “Don’t you get it? There can’t be an us,” Regina replied, voice cracking. “Marian and Roland need you.”

           He nodded, eyes growing wet with tears. “So this is a final goodbye?”

           “I’m afraid so,” Regina whispered, biting back her own tears. She took a deep shuddering breath. “You should…You should try again. With Marian. Try to fix your marriage, for Roland and for yourself. You two loved each other once and I’m sure you can again. And I want that for you. You deserve love.”

           Robin tucked some of her hair behind her ear. “So do you, Regina. If another chance at love walks into your life, take it. Please.”

           He leaned in to kiss her but she turned her head. “Don’t. We need to get Marian over the town line. Now.”

           And so she watched him walk away, arm around his wife. She returned to town and vowed to find the Author so that if there was next time for love, nothing would be able to tear it from her again.

           She also tried to forget about him. Regina had decided not to take his information for fear that she wouldn’t be able to keep herself from contacting him often. Not when they both needed to move on.

           Until she had that dream, the one warning her that Robin was in danger. She was glad too, for her heart had stopped when she heard Zelena’s voice on the other end of what was supposed to be Robin’s phone. When she realized her sister was alive and masquerading as Marian, putting him and his son in danger. Then she knew she had to get to New York and save them, no matter what.

           Her heart hurt though as she recalled how Robin told her that Zelena was pregnant, was giving him the one thing she couldn’t. He was disgusted by the whole affair, though, as well as hurt and grief-stricken. Robin not only had to lose his wife all over again, but he regretted he hurt her. He had admitted it when they had a quiet moment in the car.

           “I let my honor code get in the way,” he seethed. “If I paid more attention, maybe we could’ve caught her before she parted us. Before she…”

           “Don’t go down that road,” she told him. “I’ve played the ‘What if’ game myself and I win. What if you and I never got involved in the first place? Then you wouldn’t have a giant target painted on your back.”

           “I would gladly paint the target myself if it meant I would have the privilege of loving you,” he replied.

           Regina seethed. “You have a poet’s tongue. Too bad all they are is words.”

           “Regina…” he sighed. Shaking his head, he continued: “No, no. Go ahead. You need to say your piece.”

           “I know…I know I agreed that you needed to move on. That we both needed to move on. But it wasn’t even three months, Robin.”

           “I know.”

           “Do I even want to know how long it was? How long did you wait before you moved on? A day?”

           Robin sighed. “Regina, you have to understand that I thought we were never going to see each other again and I thought I owed it to Marian…”

           “So it was a day.”

           “It was a bit longer than that.”

           “Okay, two days.”

           “She threatened to keep me from Roland!” Robin hissed. He glanced at the boy sleeping in the back of the van, a pained expression. “My choice was to find a way back to you or staying with my boy. I chose Roland.”

           Regina softened. “Of course. I’d chose Henry over you too.”

           “So you understand?”

           “Not completely,” she conceded. “But I’m starting to get some idea.”

           He fell silent, watching the scenery pass by as the more urban areas gave way to endless forests. She wondered if he found more solace in seeing so many trees again.

           “She was my only friend in the city,” he said softly. “I couldn’t really get a job but I was able to pick up a few odd jobs here or there. Nothing to really make friends, though. It was just me, Roland and her.”

           “Oh, Robin.” Zelena had isolated Robin, no doubt playing mind games with him until he didn’t know what was real and what wasn’t. “I’m so sorry again.”

           When he didn’t say anything more, Regina believed he had fallen asleep. But after a half hour of silence, he finally asked: “What happens now?”

           “We go back to Storybrooke and you and Roland try to pick up the pieces of your life.”

           “What about us?” When Regina was silent, he sighed. “That’s what I thought.”

           “And what was that?”

           “That I cocked this up.”

           She sighed. “You didn’t cock anything up. Zelena put you in a difficult position and you had to make the best decisions you could.”

           “And I caused you pain.”

           “You’re in pain too,” Regina replied. “I’m not saying that we can never be together again. It’s just…I think we need time to heal before we even try.”

           Robin was silent for some time before she saw him nod from the corner of her eye. “I will give you your time and space, Regina.”

           He had been good to his word, at least once they took down the Author. She tried not to think about how kind and caring he had been in that alternate reality they had been trapped in. Nor did she want to think of the haunted look in his eyes when they returned and he had rushed her to make sure she was still alive. How much pain he had been when she had rebuffed him, reminding him of his promise before walking off with Henry.

           Emma becoming the Dark One helped keep her mind off Robin for a bit longer. He had stayed behind when the others went to Camelot, promising to keep an eye on the town for them. She believed it would give him time to establish a new normal for himself and Roland. That she would find him happier when they got back.

           But it was clear that wasn’t so. Regina couldn’t ignore his haggard appearance or his red-rimmed eyes. She didn’t feel it was her place to ask him about it, so she sent Mary Margaret instead. Now, the brunette came back and stood in front of Regina’s desk, arms crossed.

           “He’s miserable,” she reported. “And he’s not sleeping.”

           Regina sighed. “Did you recommend Archie?”

           “Maybe you should.”

           “No. It’s best if we stay away from each other.”

           Mary Margaret frowned, taking a seat. “I thought you weren’t going to stand in the way of your own happy ending anymore?”

           “That’s not what I’m doing.”

           “Then what are you doing?”

           Regina sighed, capping her pen. Clearly, Mary Margaret wasn’t going to let her get any work done. She clasped her hands on top of the stack of papers she should be signing and met her stepdaughter’s gaze. “I’m giving Robin his best chance.”

           “What?”

           “Robin’s life was a lot better before he met me,” she explained. “He had his son and his men, living in a world he understood. Then he meets me and his son is nearly taken by a monkey, he has to run from a Wicked Witch, gets thrown into a world he doesn’t know, almost loses his wife a second time, has to leave everyone he knows, really does lose his wife and realizes he’s been deceived by the Wicked Witch all to hurt me.”

           Mary Margaret sighed. “Have you asked him if this is what he needs?”

           “He needs to heal,” Regina said.

           “What if he needs you to heal? What if you need him?”

           “Mary Margaret…”

           “No.” Mary Margaret’s voice was firm and she stood, looking down at Regina. “You two are soulmates. Being apart isn’t going to make you two better. It’s being together. Trust me, I know this.”

           Regina frowned. “So what do you want me to do? March into his camp and tell him that I want to try again?”

           “Do you?”

           “I don’t know,” Regina admitted softly. “So much has happened.”

           Mary Margaret nodded. “It has. So you need to make that decision. When you do, he’s at Granny’s. Been there since you all came back from New York.”

           “He…He didn’t go back to camp with the Merry Men? Why?”

           “Ask him yourself.” Mary Margaret picked up her bag and head toward the door. She paused before leaving. “Just go talk to him, Regina. You’ll both feel better.”

           And then Mary Margaret was gone.

           It was Henry who brought Robin and Regina back together.

           He bounded into her office a couple days after Mary Margaret’s visit, smiling. “It’s time for Operation Holly Jolly,” he announced.

           “Operation Holly Jolly?” She leaned back, smiling. “And what is that?”

           “It’s Robin and Roland’s first Christmas. We need to make it extra special.”

           Regina’s smile faltered and she sighed. “Henry, you know Robin and I aren’t together anymore.”

           “So? That also means you aren’t friends either?”

           “Right now, yes.”

           Henry frowned. “Well, they’re still my friends. I’ve been watching Roland for Robin while he works at Granny’s.”

           “That’s sweet of you.”

           “And I want to help them celebrate Christmas. Will you help me?”

           Regina sighed but smiled. She could never deny her little prince anything. “Of course, Henry. What do you need me to do?”

           The next time Henry watched Roland, he brought the boy to the mansion. Roland nearly tackled Regina when he saw her. “Gina! I’ve missed you,” the little boy said.

           “I’ve missed you too,” she said, crouching down to be eye level with the boy. She smiled at him. “You’ve gotten so big.”

           He smiled before growing sad. “Why don’t you visit us anymore? Did we do something wrong?”

           “Oh, Roland, no. It’s just…complicated between your father and me right now.”

           “Because of the scary lady?” Roland asked.

           Regina frowned. “What scary lady?”

           “Hey, Roland, why don’t you go wait for us in the kitchen?” Henry suggested.

           Nodding, Roland bounded into the next room and Henry turned to his mother. “You do realize Robin still has to deal with Zelena? He’s not abandoning his child.”

           “He’s been seeing her alone?” Regina asked, feeling something that she wasn’t sure was fear or anxiety.

           “Well, not entirely alone. Hook and Belle have been alternating who goes with him to the hospital. But they aren’t you.”

           “I’m the reason Robin has to deal with her in the first place,” Regina said, hissed. “I doubt he wants me there.”

           Henry sighed. “You’re his soulmate.”

           “Regina? Henry? What’s taking so long?” Roland’s impatient voice came from the kitchen.

           Regina put on her smile again. “We’ll talk about this later. Let’s go entertain Roland. What are we going to do with him?”

           “We’re baking Christmas cookies with him. Like you used to do with me when I was little, before…well…you know.”

           Before the curse was broken, before Emma, before the storybook…When it was just Regina and her little prince, celebrating Christmas together. Putting up the tree, watching movies, decorating the house, drinking hot chocolate and, of course, baking cookies. She smiled. “We can certainly make cookies with Roland.”

           “I want him to have Christmas just like I did,” Henry said. “He’s a great kid and he’s been through so much.”

           Regina wanted to point out that he didn’t recall most of that now but she was too choked up by how grown up her son was now. She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him. “I’m so proud of you,” she whispered.

           “Thanks, Mom.” He pulled back. “Now, let’s go get Roland before he gets really impatient.”

           A few hours later, Regina took out the last batch of cookies and set it on the rack to cool. She took off her oven mitts and stood at her island, watching Henry and Roland as they sat at the table, decorating a previous batch.

           Roland had his little tongue sticking out of his mouth, pressed to his lips in concentration as he guided the white icing tube around the edge of a Santa cookie’s hat. Henry helped him keep his hand straight and steady. “You’re doing a great job,” he said.

           “I am?” Roland beamed up at Henry. “Do you think Papa will like them?”

           “I think he’ll love them.”

           Knocking interrupted them and Henry jumped up, heading from the kitchen. “I’ll get it!” he called over his shoulder.

           It was Robin, she knew, come to pick up his son. Henry was intercepting the man for her and she wondered why he didn’t arrange to return Roland to Granny’s. So then she could stay behind and avoid him all together.

           No. She squared her shoulders as she reminded herself she was a queen. And that Regina Mills didn’t hide from anybody. Least of all the soulmate she was forcing herself to stay away from for his own good. They could be civil to each other for a few minutes.

           “Regina?” Roland’s voice broke her thoughts. He looked at her with pleading eyes. “Can you help me with the snowman’s buttons?”

           She smiled, walking toward the table. “Of course, sweetie. What’s troubling you?”

           “Henry held my hands to keep them steady. Can you do that?”

           “Of course. I used to do it for Henry,” she told him. “So I guess you can say I’m something of a master.”

           Roland laughed. “Will I be a master one day? Like you and Henry?”

           “If you get lots of practice. Come on, let’s start.”

           She held his hands steady as he squeezed the black icing into little dots that ran down the cookie, forming the snowman’s buttons. They also gave him two eyes and a smile. Roland looked up a Regina. “How does it look?”

           “It looks like a work of art. Are supposed to eat it or hang it up in a museum to admire? I can’t decide,” Robin’s voice floated over her.

           “Papa!” Roland hopped off the chair, racing toward his father while Regina kept her gaze locked on the cookies. She couldn’t bear to look at him.

           But Roland had other ideas. He pulled his father over to the table. “Look at what Henry, Regina and I made! All these cookies.”

           “I don’t think we’re going to be able to eat all of those,” Robin said with a chuckle. “Maybe we should leave some with Regina and Roland?”

           Roland tugged at her shirt and smiled up at her. “Do you want to keep some of the cookies?”

           “I would love to keep some of the cookies. But maybe you would like to share some with the Merry Men?” she suggested.

           She kept her eyes on Roland as his head swung back to his father. “Can we go see the Merry Men? Please?”

           “Roland, why don’t you go with Henry and get ready to leave? I’m sure Regina wants to get dinner started for her and Henry.”

           Disappointed, Roland nodded. He hugged Regina before leaving. “Thank you for baking cookies with me.”

           “You’re welcome, Roland.” She hugged him back before letting him go, finally alone with Robin in her kitchen.

           Neither said anything, the ticking clock the only sound in the kitchen. Regina began to clean up the table before Robin’s hand stilled her. “Regina, look at me. Please.”

           She took a deep breath before raising her head until her eyes met Robin’s blue ones. They weren’t as bright as she remembered, seemed a bit dull without the light she loved behind them. She was responsible for dimming that light, for his gaunt appearance, pale skin, and the dark circles under his eyes. Robin’s life was shit now thanks to knowing her.

           “Hello,” he said, softly.

           “Robin.” She gave him a little nod.

           “Thank you for baking cookies with Roland. He’s missed you a lot.”

           She heard the unspoken I’ve missed you too in his voice. Keeping her voice even, she replied: “I’ve missed him too.”

           Regina hoped he heard her unspoken I missed you as well in her voice. Because she wasn’t going to say it aloud. She couldn’t say it aloud. Instead, she moved toward her cabinets. “How much cookies do you think the Merry Men will want to eat?”

           “You know I’m not living with them.”

           “Snow mentioned it,” Regina replied. “But surely you still see them.”

           Robin shook his head. “I’m not their leader anymore. I passed that onto Will at the town line and have seen no reason to take it back.”

           “But you don’t even go to see them? They’re your friends.”

           “I’m not the man they remember,” he said, eyes downcast.

           Regina put down the Tupperware and stepped closer to him. “I’m sure they’re not expecting you to be. And I’m sure they want to help you.”

           “It’s not something I want to explain to them.” Robin’s eyes didn’t meet hers and he looked even more tired.

           “Have you talked with anyone?”

           “I’ve been talking with…her.” He spat out the word. “Or rather arguing about everything.”

           Regina frowned. “You mean Zelena?”

           He flinched at the name and his eyes darted about the room as if saying her name would summon her sister. It broke her heart and she finally reached, placing her hand on his arm. “You need to talk to Archie. Please. For Roland’s sake if not your own.”

           “I don’t know, Regina. This seems like something I need to handle on my own.”

           “I’ll go with you,” she offered.

           Her words seemed to surprise him as much as they surprised her. But she was starting to realize that she turned her back on him when he needed help the most. Even if it was better if they weren’t lovers anymore, they had once been friendly. He needed a friend and one who wouldn’t let him shut himself away.

           Robin shook his head. “You don’t have to do that.”

           “I know,” she replied. “But I want to. You can’t keep living like this.”

           “Regina…”

           She was not going to be deterred. “No. I still care for you, Robin. And people who care about each other make sure they get help. So let me help you. Please.”

           “Okay,” he said.

           “Good.” She nodded. “I’ll set up something with you and Archie.”

           Robin thanked her as Roland burst back into the kitchen. He looked at all the cookies still on the table and frowned. “Are we not taking any, Papa?”

           “Yes, you are,” Regina said. “Your papa and I just got distracted. But now you can pick the cookies you want to take. So come and show me.”

           It was late by the time Regina finished cleaning up from both cookies and dinner. She had sent Henry to bed ages ago even though he wanted to stay and help her. “You have school,” she told him.

           “I’ll be fine,” he insisted.

           But Regina held firm. “Go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”

           Henry kissed her cheek and went upstairs to his room. She sponged down every surface in her kitchen before heading into the living room to relax.

           The lights on her Christmas tree twinkled and she stared at them as she laid on the couch, a glass of wine untouched on her coffee table. She stretched out, her eyes falling on an ornament Henry had made her years ago—a Santa made from his little handprint. As her eyelids fluttered shut, she wondered if she would get one made by Roland one day…

           Her eyes popped open again. That was a dangerous thought. One that tried to go down a road that was closed…because of roadblocks she had set up.

           She rolled over and screamed into her pillow so as not to alarm Henry. Her life was a mess again and it was all her fault. Mary Margaret was right—she was standing in the way of her own happy ending again. Perhaps she had even blown up again. Because even if she tried, would Robin take her back?

           Perhaps pixie dust did lie this time.

           Perhaps they were never meant to be together after all.

           With that depressing thought rattling about her head, Regina stood to get ready for bed. Not that she imagined sleep would come but she could try, she thought as she unplugged the tree for the night.

           She looked up into the boughs and past the ornaments. When he was little, she used to find Henry sprawled on his belly doing just this. He said it made the tree more magical. And now, even with the lights off, she could see what he meant. From this angle, their tree looked like an enchanted forest all clothed in baubles. All topped by three stars.

She turned to her right to find a boy about her age standing there. He was also about her height with blond hair and piercing blue eyes. Their color was enhanced by the blue silk shirt he wore under a black leather vest and paired with black breeches. When he smiled, he revealed dimples that sent Regina's stomach tumbling.

He bowed to her. "My name is Robin of Locksley. To whom do I have the pleasure?"

"My name is Regina." She bobbed a little curtsy. "This is my father's house."

"So you know all the secret passages out?" His blue eyes twinkled.

She shrugged. "I know most of them. Why?"

Robin leaned closer. "Want to get away for a bit? Go do something fun?"

"Yes," she sighed before taking his hand. "Come on. Follow me."

She held onto him as she led him down toward the kitchens, watching as servants darted about to carry platter after platter up to the party. Regina pushed Robin against a wall. "Stay in the shadows. When the time is right, we can sneak out unseen."

"How long will that take?"

"Not much longer," she whispered. "Mother always insists on a big third course. All the servants will be needed and the kitchens will be empty. Trust me."

He nodded, pressing close to her as Regina watched the kitchens. She bit back a smile, giddy from the thrill of sneaking away from her parents' ball. And with a boy she barely knew but who was handsome as the knights and princes from the stories she heard the older serving women tell the children. Mother despised them so Regina had to hide when she listened to their stories so her mother never knew she was filling her head with that "nonsense."

Bells began to ring and the servants trooped past them in a single file line. Regina and Robin held their breaths, watching as each person walked by with several different kinds of foods. He squeezed her hand and she felt her stomach jump all around again.

Once the last person walked by, she tugged on his hand. "Come on," she whispered. "It's now or never."

"Lead the way, milady," he whispered back.

They stole into the empty kitchen and Regina navigated them with ease around the tables and pails. As they approached the door, a large brown dog rose on all four and growled at them. She held up her hands. "It's okay, Soldier. It's just me. It's just Regina."

She held out the hand not clasped in Robin's to him and dog sniffed it. Once he was satisfied that she was not a threat, Soldier laid back down. He watched her and Robin leave with wide brown eyes and Regina vowed to give him a treat later.

Once outside, Regina led him to the courtyard. It was lit up by candles, but no one was there despite a relatively balmy December night. She let go of Robin's hand and looked up at the sky. "Do you think it'll get cold enough for snow by Yule?" she asked.

"I doubt it," he replied. "Father says we're in for a mild winter. I don't mind because it means Mother will let me go outside more. I hate being cooped up in our house."

Regina nodded. "I prefer to be outside on my horse. Just running through the fields. I feel so free when I'm on him."

"Riding is okay," Robin said, though he was smiling. "I prefer to go to the woods by our house with my bow, letting arrow after arrow go."

He mimed firing an imaginary bow, legs apart with one arm outstretched and the other bent as he waited to fire. When he let his pretend arrow go, Regina applauded. "Mother won't let me learn how to shoot. She says archery isn't very ladylike," she told him.

"I could teach you," Robin offered.

Regina laughed. "When? Now? You don't have a bow."

"True." He grew thoughtful before smiling. "Then you'll have to visit me. I can teach you there."

"I don't go many places. Mother says it's best if I stay home."

Robin nodded. "The roads can be dangerous. I hear Mother and Father whisper about it when they don't think I'm in the room."

"How do they not notice you?" Regina sat down on the small stone wall that was around one of the trees in the courtyard.

"I'm an expert at sneaking around," he claimed, sitting down next to her. "I can get anywhere in Locksley without anyone being the wiser. Nicked food from the kitchens without cook ever seeing me, stole outside to run around with some of the other children while my tutor searched every room in the house for me and I even once managed to go into town and get back before Mother missed me."

She crossed her arms. "You're making that up."

"On my honor, milady, it is the truth." He pressed his hand to his heart.

Regina chuckled before growing serious. "If the roads are so dangerous, then I guess I can't visit you."

"We weren't traveling long tonight to get here. So it wouldn't be too dangerous. I could come pick you up and keep you safe with my bow if necessary," he said.

"My hero." She batted her eyes before bursting out laughing.

He screwed his mouth up in annoyance. "What's so funny? I was being serious."

"Sorry." She stopped laughing. "It's a sweet offer."

"So will you take it? Will you come to Locksley and let me teach you archery?" Robin looked so hopeful she could only nod in response.

"Archery lessons sound much better than dancing lessons," Regina said. "I scared off my instructor after crushing all his toes."

Robin frowned. "I don't believe you could be that bad."

"Oh, I am. Mother is very disappointed."

He jumped up, holding out his hand to her. "Dance with me."

"What? I just told you I caused my instructor bodily harm. Why would you want to dance with me?" Her brown eyes focused on him, wide with disbelief.

"Because it's fun." He took her hand and pulled her into a standing position. "Let me show you."

Robin placed one of his hands on her hip while he kept the other wrapped around her hand. She placed her free hand on his shoulder. "You realize there is no music, right?" she asked.

"It'll be easier. We won't have to keep time." Robin took a step back and she took one forward to keep up. He picked up the pace and soon they were doing some form of the waltz around the courtyard.

Her laughter echoed around the courtyard as they continued to dance to the music that only they could hear. Regina felt lighter and happier than she had ever felt. She also felt more confident in Robin's arms, her steps sure. After a few turns about the courtyard, he smiled at her. "You haven't hurt me yet, milady."

"You're a miracle worker," she said.

"Or maybe you're more talented than you give yourself credit for."

Regina's reply was cutoff when two people stumbled into the courtyard. He pulled her close, maneuvering them into the shadows and holding her. A man and a woman, both slightly drunk, giggled as they ran past their hiding spot. They paused briefly to share a kiss before going to find some place even more private.

They stepped back out in the light, staring off at where the adults had gone to. "What do you think kissing is like?" Regina asked.

"I don't know," Robin replied. "But adults sure like to do it a lot."

She kicked a rock as she averted her eyes. "Do you...Do you want to try it? Just to see what all the fuss is about?"

Glancing up, she noticed a pink tint come to his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I guess we could."

They leaned closer and pressed their lips together, keeping their eyes open. His lips were soft, warm and moist...and it wasn't too bad. She also enjoyed how blue his eyes were so up close.

"Well, that was nice," Robin commented when they broke the kiss.

She nodded. "I guess I can see what the fuss is about."

"Do you...do you want to try again?" he asked. Then he quickly added: "Just to see if it improves the more you do it."

"Oh." She blushed. "I guess that makes sense."

He kissed her again and this time, she closed her eyes. Their fingers laced together as her stomach did tumbles. Kissing wasn't too bad after all...especially kissing him.

All too soon for her liking, they pulled away. Their hands remained linked and Robin gave hers a tug. "Come on. Let's dance some more."

As the two children danced around the courtyard, they were unaware that they had an audience. Henry smiled and turned to his wife. "Robin of Locksley is a good choice. The Locksleys are a family rising in prominence and are said to be favorites of the king. Marrying the heir will be a good match."

"Good for him," Cora replied. "Not good for Regina. She would be moving down, honestly, Henry, don't you know anything?"

Henry sighed. "I know more than you give me credit for, Cora. Regina won't be queen. There isn't a prince in any neighboring kingdom that would be close enough in age to court her. Robin at least can assure her still a title, property and wealth. And by the looks of it, he may also assure her love."

"Love has nothing to do with marriage. You know that."

"Oh, I know, Cora. And that's why I want Regina to have it. I want my daughter to have all the happiness in the world."

Cora rolled her eyes. "I'm actually doing something to secure it."

"Are you? Or are you doing what would've made you happy?"

Sighing, Cora waved Henry away. "I'll deal with this. And there will be no more talk of Regina marrying this Locksley boy. Got it?"

Henry's shoulders sagged but he nodded. "Just...be gentle. Crushing her first love could be devastating."

"I'll keep that in mind," Cora replied. "Go back up to the party."

With one last glance at his daughter as she danced happily with Robin, Henry sighed and walked away. Cora waited until she was certain her husband was gone and wouldn't do anything stupid, like come back to stop her, before heading out to the courtyard. She put on her biggest, fakest smile as she approached the children. "Here you are!"

They stopped and Regina glanced down, no doubt ready for her punishment. Robin stepped forward, bowing. "Pleased to meet you, Lady Cora. Regina was just showing me around your beautiful home."

Cora tried not to frown. He was polite, charming and already seemed to have desire to protect her daughter. She could sense this was not something that would just flame out like most young love. This was going to call for drastic measures.

"I am glad to hear my daughter has been a perfect hostess," Cora said. Regina's head shot up, eyes wide at such a rare compliment from her mother. Cora chuckled. "Why don't I take over, though? I think you two should have a nice spot of tea and some cake. How does that sound?"

Despite taking their first tentative steps toward adulthood, Robin and Regina were still children. They agreed and followed Cora, hand-in-hand. She set them up at one of the tables in the kitchen as cook cut them both slices of cake. Cora brewed them both tea, adding a touch of her magic to the brew. They would have the rest of the party together but once they went to bed that night, the magic would erase their memories of each other. When they awoke, it would be as if Robin of Locksley had never met Regina. All Cora had to do now was keep him away from her daughter until she could set Regina up as Queen.

It was for the best.

But she did let them go back out the courtyard, with instructions that Robin and Regina were to return to the hall before the party was to end. The two children shared one more dance under the stars, only waltz as Regina began to imagine sharing all her Yules with Robin.

In the morning, though, she recalled nothing of the charming young man with golden hair and bright blue eyes who gave her her first kiss. Her hazy memories were explained away by her mother, who said that the heat in the Great Hall had overwhelmed Regina and she had passed out. A maid supported this story, saying she had sponged the girl throughout the night to cool her down. So Regina believed her mother and believed that nothing else of importance had happened the night of the Yule ball.

However, over the years her dreams would occasionally be haunted by a young man whose face she could barely make out except for kind blue eyes and a welcoming smile. He would take her in his arms and dance with her, making her feel safer than she ever felt in her waking hours.