Outlaw Queen Shorts

It's A Funny Thing, Love

Authors Note:
I'm guessing most of you will have heard about the leaked spoiler pics? I don't know about you but I thought some fluff was needed to cheer everyone up.
Let's have a discussion in the comments as well because I want to hear your opinions on what's happened.
Enjoy fluffiness with a missing year cameo in the middle Xx

His fingers were grazing across her scalp, weaving with her hair and sending shivers down her spine. As dwindling light poured in through the window, streaks of warm yellow sun coating them like a summer blanket, the world finally seemed to be in order. She almost didn't want to speak, didn't want to disturb the calm serenity they were sat in for fear the bubble would pop and they'd be exposed to fate's claws.

"Regina?" It seemed Robin wasn't as concerned.

She shifted, turning to look up into eyes that shone brighter than sapphires reflecting the mid-day sun. He was smiling down at her and she dipped her head so her hair fell across her face, hiding the huge grin spreading up her cheeks. His hand came across to brush the strands back behind her ear. "Did I ever tell you about the time I fell in love with you?"

Her heart clenched. She blinked at him dumbly - unsure what to say - then shook her head slowly as he continued to look into her eyes. She would never get used to the warmth of his gaze, because no one else had ever looked at her in quite that way before. Like she was the only thing in the world worth having eyes to see.

"Well," he started, "I believe we were in the Enchanted Forest. Your kingdom, to be precise." He moved his hand up and down her leg as he spoke, both of them smiling at each other like love-struck teenagers.

It was a hot day in the enchanted forest considering the leaves still hadn't returned to the trees. Everyone had stripped down to the bare minimum of clothing; cotton shirts were rolled to elbows and beads of sweat littered the foreheads of the patrol. All except Robin seemed to be flustered and snappy because of the oppressive, sticky heat, which years in the forest had taught him to become accustomed to.

Regina had stalked off to walk by herself in front of the rest of them, adorned in her riding clothes rather than an elaborate gown she usually sported in the palace. Her hair was braided and her make-up almost non existent.

David had stumbled over a tree root several hundred yards back which had put him in an even worse mood than the Queen - Robin rolled his eyes as he observed his party now, all of them keeping each other at arms length for fear of causing an argument. Although you wouldn't find him complaining about the view as Regina strode swiftly in front of him, her trousers clinging just enough to accentuate her curves.

The sound of running water suddenly became audible as they crunched over the dry ground, all of them hearing it one by one and snapping their heads round to look at one another, to confirm it wasn't just wishful thinking.

"Stream?" Asked David, breathless, his limp suddenly less prominent.

Regina had already run towards the sound, so the rest of them followed, and Robin sagged from relief - hopefully this would stop everyone's complaining. He, David and the others reached the stream as Regina was already wading in, rushing in themselves behind her and splashing the water up as they dived in.

Robin stood up in the stream at waist height, crossing over away from everyone else to where Regina was floating on her back. "Milady," he said, and she flapped her arms, startled, splashing the water before she righted herself again.

"You scared me!" She shouted, shoving a wave of water at him, but her mood had lightened significantly, a small smile quirking the corners of her mouth. He splashed her back, a momentary flare of regret washing over him like ice at the sight of her scrunched brow, but then she launched herself forwards, knocking him back into the water and landing on top of him, gripping his shoulders as they floated.

He laughed, tipping his head back further into the water and to his surprised, he realised Regina was laughing too, her eyes crinkled at the corners, her hair plastered to her temples. Something in his chest flickered as he looked at her, suddenly not the evil queen, but Regina. Just Regina.

"I just knew. Right then, I knew it was you, Regina." She'd smiled all the way through his story and was still smiling now, laughing at the memory which she'd completely forgotten about from so long ago.

She sat up, reaching her arms forward to circle his neck and leaned into him, her torso flush with his and her hair falling past her shoulders. "I don't know how I got so lucky," she said, before capturing his lips with hers and opening her mouth to his asking tongue. His palms skated up her thighs to rest at her hips, pulling her further onto his lap and then he twined his hands into the soft locks of her hair.

"I love you,"

The huff of a laugh he let fall from his lips made her grin. He dropped his forehead to hers before pressing another kiss to her slightly swollen lips and cupped her cheek, his thumb tracing invisible lines between her ear and jaw.

"I love you too."