Outlaw Queen Shorts

Horse and Carriage

Limbs were tangled under the soft brown blanket, Regina's head pillowed on Robin's shoulder as the fire gently crackled and burned before them. He had one arm wrapped around her, his hand resting at her waist. There was a stillness to the air, like some unknown protection had finally - blessedly - been placed over them. She sighed further into him and he dropped a kiss into her hair, inhaling the scent of coconut and vanilla.

She could stay like this forever, she decided, feeling safe and peaceful, as if the world around them no longer mattered and they were the only people left alive.

"Regina?" His voice was barely above a whisper, but she could still hear the smile in his words. She hummed in answer, inclining her neck to look at him as he ran a hand through her hair and leaned in to press a single kiss to her lips. Pulling the collar of his shirt, she sealed her mouth over his again - not wanting to ever stop kissing him - and for a moment they were infinite. They were two bodies who shared the same soul. And for a moment, Regina was aware of nothing but the soft caress of Robin's fingers over her cheek, the graze of his stubble on her chin and the hand he was brushing over her thigh.

Finally his lips left hers, eyes opening to peruse the planes of her face which had become so familiar to him. Olive skin and chocolate eyes, her lips free of all her paints, quirked up at the corners. Beauty that would outlive the course of time.

"Regina," he said again, and she smiled up at him, blinking slowly as sleep catches up to her. "I wouldn't count us as lucky. If anything, we've been incredibly unlucky for most of our lives." She gave a small, sad, smile, "But both of us have had glimmers of luck - fate - whatever you want to call it. Me with Roland, you with Henry - and finding each other in this...messy and complicated life. No matter what happened in the past, Regina, we found each other. We're together now." Tears were welling in Regina's eyes as she nodded and turned more fully to face him, a hand coming up to lie on his chest.

"So I don't care if I was once an unlucky man," he continued, "because right now, with you, I don't think I've ever felt as lucky. We aren't conventional, Regina, by any means, but I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you."

Regina's breath caught in her throat as Robin reached into his pocket and pulled out a square black box.

"Robin," her voice was horse and she had to blink the tears from her eyes which threatened to roll down her cheeks at any second.

"Regina," he said, eyes meeting hers - hopeful and a little teary themselves - as he opened the box. "Will you marry me?"

"Yes!" Regina launched herself forwards, straddling his legs and linking her arms around his neck, her laugh vibrating through her chest and sinking into his skin. "Yes." Her voice was quieter this time, more reserved, but she was squeezing so tightly Robin thought she'd never let go.

"I love you so much." She said, pulling back from him and looking into his glossy eyes, both of them grinning at each other like idiots.

"I love you too," he took the ring out of the box and slid it onto her finger. A perfect fit. One tear finally found its way down her cheek and Robin lifted his hand, catching it with a swipe of his thumb before sitting forwards and kissing her, his tongue sliding over hers and his fingers lacing through her hair.