We Can Love Again

Forever and Ever

She was a very hard woman to read. As much as Robin tried, he couldn't seem to understand what went on in her head. Regina was always honest with him though, until she came back from the villages. He couldn't help but think there was something she was keeping from him.

"How are you feeling?" Robin asked lightly, seeing her curled up under the sheets. She looked so small.

Regina stretched for a second and sat up to face him.

"A little bit better, I guess."

That was such a lie. Alongside her emotional turmoil, her head was throbbing.

Robin walked over to the side of the bed and sat down next to her, putting a hand on her forehead. "You don't feel too warm," he told her, "do you want to have some dinner? It's just leftovers, I didn't cook anything."

Regina let out a small smile, but shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"Are you sure? You haven't really eaten anything today."

She knew he was just being concerned for her. "I'm fine, really." She said, too convincingly for Robin to feel alright about it. Begging to rack his brain for ideas, Robin paused for a moment.

"What's getting you down?" He asked softly, hesitant to hear her answer.

Regina held her breath. For a second, the thought came to her- why don't you just tell him? But there was a slim chance it was actually true; she couldn't bear to believe in something that wasn't going to happen. Her mouth couldn't find the words.

"Nothing..."

She knew that answer wasn't near convincing. "I just- I feel like something bad is going to happen to us," Regina admitted. That was true.

"I don't want this to end- you, me, Henry, Roland..."

"Hey, I won't let anything happen." Robin said back, not a hint of fear in his eyes.

"You're my family, Regina. Nothing will ever change that."

He leaned forward and gave her a tender kiss on her temple, causing tears to form in her eyes.

"The boys are probably waiting for their food, I better get back to them."

Nodding, Regina watched him as he neared the door. Robin didn't want to leave her like that, but there was nothing more he could do at the moment.

"I love you," he said with a slight smile.

"I love you too." Regina said back. And she meant every word.

Once he left her, her conscience took over again- she felt lonely; she would have given anything to have Robin back to comfort her. She lay back down and closed her eyes tightly, even though it didn't help at all. The memory began pushing its way through the blackness; soon, she was transported back to the blazing sunlight, laying on the plush grass and gazing up at the clear blue sky, her skin gleaming with water droplets.

"You know your dress is completely see through, don't you?" Robin asked, a hint of something new in his voice.

Regina let out a wry smile. "Really? I didn't notice."

She could feel the water from his face fall down on her skin now as he bent down to capture her lips with his.

"Do your worst."

"Mommy, wake up!" Came Roland's voice, breaking through her sleep. Outside, the sky was still light, but it was obviously much later in the day. She didn't realize she dozed off for so long.

"What's up buddy?" She asked as he climbed up on the bed.

"I miss you," Roland said sadly, in all honesty, "I don't like you being sad."

Regina pulled him in close to her. "Me neither."

"That's why I'm gonna stay here with you all night!"

She laughed as he made his way under the covers.

"Well thank you Roland, you really make me happy."

The boy smiled, feeling happy with himself.

"Oh God, your feet are so cold!" Regina exclaimed, playfully pushing him away from her body. Roland giggled and threw himself onto her, resulting in him being captured by her arms.

"You need to promise me that you'll never grow up," she smiled, warming him up with her hands. "Stay my little baby forever and ever."

Roland smiled. "I promise. As long as you're my mommy forever and ever too."

That was a deal she was happy to make.

--

Fury filled his vision as he stormed across the empty field. Everything had changed so quickly; John never thought he would see the day when good things turned bad. But it did, and they were all going to pay for it greatly.

John was going to tell Robin, he was done with hiding it from him. He did this for one reason- maybe there was a chance things would get better. But things couldn't be that easy.

Just then, he thought he heard a noise behind him, which was odd, considering the fact that he was in the middle of nowhere. Stopping to turn around, John's expression turned to a suspicious one.

"I told you I would see you again," Alan said, his face emotionless as he watched another one of his men came up behind him and sent a blow to his head, sending the large man down to the ground.