#outlawqueenluvr

thisisacrazydream

submitted:

The one thing I love about your URL change (other than the name) is that you were upfront about it.  I am following some people right now that I’m not sure who they are anymore, lol.  So thank you for that.

Thanks, lovely! I understand why url changes are so confusing, I’ve been confused by them before, too, which is exactly why I wanted to make sure I let y’all know about it. :D

And just like that, Zelena is gone.

Regina feels an exhilaration she hasn’t felt for a long time.

They were right here, at this exact spot not that long ago, but that time it was her sister who had won. She had left Regina bruised and battered, in agonizing pain from the tiny pieces of glass that were piercing her skin. And now Regina has managed to send her back to her land without even putting up an actual fight with her. She feels quite proud of herself, and content that she managed to find a solution along with Robin. The witch might have been another obstacle for not only them, but the entire town as well, judging from her attempt to occupy the mayor’s office, and right now that’s the last thing they need.

Regina’s smile wavers when she thinks about the problems her family and friends are facing. Henry and the Charmings are together at Granny’s, practically waiting for the world to end. Regina finds it hard to believe that Henry has lost hope. She knows that he hasn’t; he just wants to spend time with his family while he believes that his moms will save everyone. Robin is waiting for her back in her office, so that they can take off to deal with the situation like they’ve been dealing with everything so far: together. And somewhere in the forest, Roland and Robin’s – their – baby girl are soothed and protected by people who would give their life for them, the Merry Men. Regina sighs heavily, thinking that pure people like them, like Henry, little Neal, Roland and the baby girl, don’t deserve that mess of a life. She needs to find a way to save the town, even if it’s only for them.

With a last look at the broken glass of the clock tower – she winces at the thought of having to fix it once again; any damage to the town’s property painful even after weeks of not being there to actually be the mayor – she poofs herself back to her office.

Like she expected, Robin is there, waiting for her. He turns around to face her, any doubt of the unknown disappearing once he realizes that it’s her. His eyes are full of concern, those pools of blue Regina thinks she can drown in, and he doesn’t have to say anything. Regina knows the question before he can even open his mouth to ask and she nods to let him know that it worked. The wrinkles on his forehead loosen a little, his frown not that deep now that they have one less problem to take care of.

Robin takes a step forward and then another and another until Regina realizes that his approach is quicker than it had been registered on her brain at first. Suddenly he’s in front of her, and it dawns on her that he’s there. They’ve overcome separation and deceit and an entirely different world and even death, they came back together stronger than ever and just now she’s realizing that he’s there.

He’s looking at her like he’s seeing her for the first time and yet as if he has always known her, the real her, as if he has always loved her.

Their faces are inches away, their breaths mingling as they’re coming out in short puffs, Robin obviously as affected by her as she is by him.

It’s not the first time in Roland’s short life that memories are pushed into his brain. Or maybe they were already there and now they’re just being uncovered. That would make more sense – although nothing seems to be making sense anymore. Whenever he thinks everything is okay, whenever he dares to believe that he can enjoy playing in the forest, being with his papa and eating his favorite meals in peace again, something happens to change it all. They always tell him it’s something bad, something he shouldn’t worry about because he has a lot of people who love him and are willing protect him.

He doesn’t always believe them.

He is certain that’s what going on is far more serious than he can imagine. Sometimes he wants to know, he wants to be with his papa and Regina and Henry, he wants to protect baby Neal himself, he wants to never stay behind again. Some other times he wants to forget the things he knows and never remember the things he is supposed to have missed after each curse. He only wants some blissful moments with his favorite people, he wants to spent his days as wonderfully as he did when they were still home.

What’s happening to him right now shouldn’t be as unexpected and violent as it feels. His papa prepared him about it happening. He told him that he would remember their trip to Camelot like the other time when he remembered living in Regina’s castle.

Roland wasn’t scared. He wasn’t worried. He had expected memories to come back. What he hadn’t expected was a pain in his chest, a singing feeling that left him panting and sobbing.

Little John is there in seconds, enveloping him in a bear hug. All Roland wants is to be with his papa, but he knows his papa can’t be there right now. He promised he would be back soon after the memories. So Roland takes comfort in his huge friend’s warm embrace and tries to make his heartbeat slow down.

Little John is rubbing soothing circles on his back while telling him something. The words don’t register in Roland’s brain though. His mind is filled with voices and images, things he wants to forget again, because life is too confusing, too complicated, now even more so than before.

After his sobs have subsided, he can feel Little John’s heart against his ear, beating in a crazy rhythm as well. He wonders if it’s because the same set of memories were forced into the man as well.

Little John gently moves Roland away from his body, reaching for a handkerchief in his pocket. He hands it to Roland and the little boy blows his nose noisily. At least now he can breathe properly.

“Roland!”

The little boy’s head turns around so quickly he thinks his neck is going to ache for days. But he doesn’t care, because his papa takes him in his arms and lifts his off the ground, supporting his body up in the air with one arm and using the other to bury his fingers in his loose curls, bringing the boy’s head a little closer to his. Roland brings his arms around his papa’s neck, attempting to pull him closer as well.

It’s familiar and amazing. It should be everything Roland needs.

But he realizes that it’s not.

His papa pulls away slightly to look at him and something in Roland’s appearance brings a worried – almost panicked – expression to his face. Roland knows this expression well. It’s there every time they’re in danger, every time one of those really bad things happens.

“What’s wrong, my boy? Don’t you remember now? Don’t you remember playing swords, eating in the grand dining room, visiting the stables with Henry?”

His papa’s voice is calm and Roland doesn’t want to upset him more. He does remember those things and he tells him that. His papa asks him if something is wrong once again, but this time Roland doesn’t say anything.

“Home for the Holidays” by Perry Como

“Christmas Waltz” by the Carpenters

“Love is Christmas” by Sara Bareilles

“City of Silver Dreams” by Sugarland

Thank you, Jess! ^_^

It was brave indeed, but vulnerable we all are at all times. We just pretend to use some armor for protection and I’m just hoping to see people actually understanding this out of the shipper shell. Especially those who insist with the blood relation stuff.

“You know what I mean?”

“In a minute.”

“My body’s not happy with me.”

“What?”

“I’m sleepy...”