He was here.
They had actually been drawn to each other without even knowing about the damn prophecy.
How was this even possible?
This was the last thing Regina needed right now.
Robin looked upon the Queen's face and was lost at her expression. ''Regina, what is it?''
But she couldn't speak; all of her words had left her.
The thief cupped her face and forced her gaze to his. ''Regina, please darling, talk to me ''
Regina pulled away and hastily left his embrace, making her way out of her bathroom without even noting the way her body shivered at the sudden cold.
"Regina, wait!" Robin shouted as he grabbed a towel and ran to her. Once he had reached her he wrapped the towel - and his arms - around her.
An order to 'leave', was the only thing that left Regina's mouth.
''What? Have I done something wrong?" Robin asked, his heart sinking, he never meant to hurt her.
"No, you haven't. But just... leave. Please''
''Not until you tell me what's wrong. Regina you can't shut me out again, talk to me''
Robin put his hands on her shoulders and gently turned her so he could look at her. His brows furrowed as he noted a tear rolling down each cheek..
Unable to see her crying, Robin cupped her face and swiped his thumbs over her skin, wiping away the signs of her sadness.
She pull herself away from his touch and with a wave of her hand she was clothed again in her nightdress.
"Why won't you listen to me?" She asked, needing space and time to clear her head. When the thief didn't move she snapped at him; "Just get the hell out of here, thief. I don't want to see you''
Robin lowered his head and started to collect his clothing. The Queen regretted her outburst but simply could not be in the same room as this man. He needed to leave.
Whilst pulling on his trousers and fastening his shirt, Robin tried to recollect what he could have done wrong. Mere seconds ago the Queen had been melting into his touch, and now, she couldn't even look at him. What had gone so terribly wrong?
Once, fully dressed, Robin approached Regina and kissed her forehead. ''I'm sorry if I hurt you,'' he whispered into her skin.
By the time Regina had opened her eyes, the door had shut behind him.
Regina felt broke... lost.
He had no reason to be sorry; she was the one who had hurt him.
This was why she could not do this.
She had messed up her first chance with him, back when she was still a good person, heart untainted with her evil deeds and dark ways. She never went into the tavern.
Laying down on her bed, Regina wondered... if she had gone into that tavern, if she had taken that risk, what would have happened? Would they have been happy? Would they have had a family? or would it not have worked out? Perhaps the pixie dust was wrong and they were not meant to be together anyway.
Who was she kidding? They were attracted to each other, they were already developing feelings, he cared for her, and despite her outbursts and rejections she cared for him. They had met at the exact time when she needed somebody, regardless of her protests of not wanting anybody.
He could have been one of the best things to ever happen to her, and of course she had pushed him away. She had hurt him. She had lost him.
Turning onto her side, Regina let the tears flow freely. And as she realised there would never be anybody to wipe them away, the tears would not stop until morning.
In his room, Robin was broken and lost too. Regina had shut him out. Again. And he had been wondering what he could have done wrong, then he could make it right.
Robin knew that whilst his thoughts were on Regina, sleep would not come to him. He could still feel her in his arms, he could still feel her skin on his, he could still feel her tears on his thumbs.
Again. He had lost her again. She had shown him something beautiful and then had taken it away as she withdrew from him. It was driving him crazy.
The next morning was unbearable for both of them; Regina didn't leave her bedchambers the whole day and Robin spent the whole day lacking the enthusiasm to do anything with a forlorn expression on his face. He couldn't even find it in him to play with his son, instead asking Little John to spend some time with Roland for a while. It was not fair on his son to watch his father mope around. And whilst the likely solution was to go to Regina and talk, the possibility that he could make it worse kept him firmly in his wing of the castle. He would wait for her to come to him.
But she didn't.
For three days. Three days and three nights she had spent missing him. Replaying the hurt on his face as she had ordered him to leave, whenever she lay in her bed, as she was now.
Regina regretted it. She really did. But what could she do? What was done was done; there was no going back.
Perhaps this was for the best; at least this way she couldn't get hurt again.
But a traitorous voice in her head reminded her that she couldn't be happy either. He was her soulmate, it felt right to be around him, safe.
And as Regina's eyes drifted closed, her mind played images of her soulmate, happy, safe and smiling.
...
Robin couldn't sleep, again. This thing with the Queen having his whole body out of sync. He wandered around the castle corridors and without much conscious thought, and yet his unconscious thoughts decided to lead him right outside the Queen's bedchamber.
Robin didn't know what to do. His rational mind told him to leave. But his heart? His heart was screaming at him to go inside and hold her close. Apparently the feel of Regina was something one could not get out of their system easily.
To hell with it, he thought. Falling back on old instincts, he let his heart lead him.
She was sleeping. Tucked up under her duvet, her hair splayed across her pillow. Her eyes were closed tight, a frown on her face and her body was shivering in her sleep.
Within seconds Robin was sat on the edge of her bed, trailing the backs of his fingers over her cheeks. She was truly beautiful.
Regina whimpered. "I should have done it."
Robin's brows furrowed.
"I should have met... Robin... Robin." Regina's hand clenched her pillow.
Without understanding what the Queen had whispered, Robin was sure he had heard his name.
Laying down so he was next to Regina, Robin wrapped his arms around her and held her to him.
The perfect fit.
"Regina, I'm here." Robin touched his forehead to hers and whispered, "I'm here my love, I'm not going anywhere.''
Opening her eyes, Regina was slightly startled to find the thief comforting her. ''Robin what are-''
She didn't get to finish before he cut her off with a kiss, just a brush of his lips against hers. Sighing, Regina wrapped her arms around him and hugged him tighter, a couple of tears falling from her lashes.
Robin cupped her face and wiped the tears away. ''Regina don't ever do this to me again... Don't shut me out. Please'' he pleaded.
''Shh... I wont.'' she said, leaning to press her lips against his. Robin opened his mouth and his tongue brushed hers. Regina moaned into his kiss and he pulled her close to him.
''Regina, we have to talk about this'' Robin said, breaking the kiss.
''We will Robin." Regina promised. "But not now. Just... hold me.''
Robin didn't speak. He didn't need to. He rolled onto his back and pulled her with him. Her head rested on his chest, her ears listening to his heartbeat, her nose inhaling the scent of him. This was perfect.
Both finally at rest, they closed their eyes.
And after three torturous days, they both fell asleep in each others arms.
