Chapter Text
Chapter 15: Beyond the Curse
Trapped.
It was the only word that came to Regina's mind once it had sunk in that her curse had been broken. Her car was still parked outside the library, meaning escape from the hospital to the safety of either her house or vault was impossible. She couldn't risk walking through town, not when everyone had their memories back. They would likely attack her and she would be dead before she got even a few blocks from the hospital.
Not that the hospital was much safer. The change had been almost instantaneous after the burst of magic had pulsed through the room. Whale and Mother Superior had been dazed at first but their eyes had cleared with a couple blinks of their eyes and in their place stood Frankenstein and the Blue Fairy. Confusion and shock filled Frankenstein's face as he looked around the room while still staying a good distance from Regina.
Blue, though, had no problem approaching Regina. Her eyes were cold as she smirked. "Looks like good once again defeated evil," she said. "You're now the most hated person in Storybrooke. I would suggest you run, Your Majesty."
"Mom?" Henry asked, drawing her attention. She looked down to find him watching her with anticipation in his eyes. He was waiting to see what she did next.
She then looked at Emma, who no longer resembled a deer in headlights and now had the same cold look in her eyes that Blue did. Just as she told Henry, she believed that fairy tales were real and Regina was the villain in this one. Emma was the hero destined to return all the happy endings.
And destroy Regina's.
The ground shifted between her feet as she realized that she was powerless in this world. Her magic was gone and her peaceful home was now filled with people who no longer viewed her as their dedicated mayor but the Evil Queen. Emma now held all the power – no doubt her parents were already reunited and would come for their daughter while the townspeople rallied around them. Regina was without magic or weapons of her own.
But she will not go down without a fight.
Nor would she be a sitting duck.
She swallowed before gently gripping Henry's chin. Looking in his eyes, she said: "I love you. No matter what happens next, I want you to remember that. Nothing will ever change that."
"I love you too, Mom," he told her with warmth in his eyes and a smile on his face.
"Tick tock, Your Majesty," Blue said tauntingly. "Everyone is coming for you."
Regina kissed Henry's forehead again before backing away. Glaring at a smug Blue, she left the room and decided she would figure out some way to get back to her car and then to the safety of her house.
John, though, intercepted her. He took one of her arms while Tuck took the other. They walked with her toward the elevator bank. Robin was waiting there in his wheelchair, a steely look in his eyes. "We need to move fast," he said.
"What do you mean, we?" she asked, confused. "You can't leave the hospital!"
"Neither should you but I think everyone has made it clear that they aren't going to take care of you," he replied, pushing the call button. "So we need to get you to safety."
John frowned. "I have to agree with Regina. You shouldn't put your own health at risk for her."
His words felt like a punch to her stomach. She always knew that breaking the curse would change her relationships with everyone in Storybrooke but it still hurt to experience it. John had been concerned about her mental health only the day before and now he didn't care about her at all.
"I don't like that tone," Robin said, glaring at John.
"I don't care," John replied, tightening his grip on her arm. "I know you have your memories back too. You know who she is."
Robin pressed his lips together, his eyes looking over her with an unreadable expression. "That's not the issue right now."
It wasn't a very comforting statement but at least he wasn't throwing her to the wolves. That had to count for something, she guessed. She had a feeling they needed to have a very long conversation. Regina just wasn't sure she would be able to have all the answers Robin likely wanted or needed.
But that wasn't her immediate concern. His health was more important to her than anything else, except for Henry's safety. "You need to stay here and make sure nothing else happens to you," she insisted.
"John and I will take her to safety," Tuck said, his grip not as tight as John's. "And you can stay here until the doctor clears you."
"Please, Robin," she pleaded, hoping they were starting to get through to him and convincing him to stay. "You're already here because of me. Don't make yourself worse because of me."
His expression softened and he nodded. "Alright," he agreed.
John looked between her and Robin before saying: "I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone here. I'm pretty sure I've seen the Sheriff walking around. Now that he has his memories, if he knows you're in no condition to flee or fight, he might come after you."
"You stay with him, John," Tuck said. "I'll take Regina to safety."
"Agreed," John replied, releasing her arm and stepping back just as the elevator doors opened.
Tuck gently guided Regina onto the elevator. She turned back to Robin, who rolled himself closer to her. He reached out and took her hand, raising it to his lips and pressing a kiss to it. "Milady," he said, his voice warmer than it had been.
He then released her hand and the door closed, leaving Regina to stare at her own pale reflection in the metal doors.
She curled the hand Robin had kissed against her chest, feeling her heart beating beneath it. Regina wondered what he was thinking and how he was feeling at that moment. While he was trying to protect her and still addressed her with a pet name, she still had sensed that something had changed between them. She just wanted to know what it was and if they would be able to overcome it.
The elevator stopped and she blinked, realizing how deep in her thoughts she had been as the doors opened to the lobby. No longer holding her arm, Tuck now placed his hand on her back as he gently pushed her forward. "We need to keep moving," he told her.
"Okay," she said, walking with him through the lobby. It was still quiet and no one seemed to pay them any attention. But Regina kept her head down, hoping to hide herself to prevent someone from realizing she was there.
Pathetic, she heard her mother say in her mind. A real queen would keep her head high and would not hide from her subjects. She would stand and put them in their place. You are no queen.
Regina knew her mother was right and tried to dig in her heels to stop Tuck. He did pause and looked back at her, frowning. "What's wrong?"
"A queen never runs," she said. "She stands and fights. I should stand and fight."
"With what?" he asked her. There was no hint of taunting his voice but rather just curiosity. "We have no weapons. You do not have your magic. And I'm sure you know there is no reasoning with a mob who won't be satisfied until they have your head on a silver platter."
She hesitated as her mother's voice continued to yell at her to not be a coward. Regina glanced toward the front doors of the hospital as Will's voice entered the conversation. "He's right. It's chaos on the streets and the anger is growing. A mob is brewing and they will only be satisfied with your blood," he said.
Regina's gaze shifted to Will, who looked solemn as he studied her. He then turned to Tuck. "I imagine Rob is trying to hide her away for now," he said.
"I am not hiding," she insisted.
"Don't look at it as hiding," Tuck replied, stepping closer to her. He took her hands again. "Think of it as a strategic retreat. Running out there now with no plan is a death wish. You need to think and plan your response."
That quieted Mother's voice in her head and she nodded. Will motioned behind him. "I have an ambulance in the bay. We can get her out that way to avoid tipping people off about her whereabouts."
"Sounds good," Tuck said, now placing his hand on her back again. "Lead the way, Will."
Will nodded and they walked toward the ER. He led them out a door to where the ambulance stood waiting. Tuck kept Regina hidden in the shadows created by the roof of the emergency bay while Will opened the back doors. She then walked quickly and climbed into the back, settling on the gurney before they closed the doors. As they climbed into the front seats, she flashed back to the night of the fire – the night she met Robin.
She closed her eyes as she recalled that night. How he had come to see her in the hospital and had sat with her. Their conversation played again in her mind and she witnessed her walls crumbling in his presence yet again. Maybe if she had really learned her lesson after her revelations that night they wouldn't be in this position. Or maybe they would but perhaps she would know what he was thinking.
Then again, his first instinct was to keep her safe. And he had kissed her hand, calling her milady. Certainly, that had to mean something.
Right?
She had always thought that the breaking of the curse would just be the end. Now that it had happened, she realized it was just the beginning. Regina didn't know what would happen next and that scared her the most.
All she could do was hope that she didn't have to face it alone.
Tuck picked up Roland from school. His little face lit up when he saw Regina, rushing over to her to hug her. She hugged him back, glad that his opinion of her hadn't changed. Regina made them all dinner as Roland talked about what happened in school, including the moment the curse broke.
"It got windy in the classroom even though we were inside and the windows weren't open," Roland said, pushing his curls back to imitate the wind as the curse blew past him. "Then I got all these other memories!"
"What kind of memories?" she asked, sharing a look with Tuck as she placed some grilled chicken down in front of Roland.
He picked up his fork as he said: "I remember living with Papa in a tent in the woods. And I had a green cloak just like his and I was always tripping over it."
Tuck chuckled, nodding. "I remember that. But we needed things that would last and we knew you would grow into that cloak. We just needed to keep an eye on you until you did since you were likely to trip over it."
"I also remember Papa using a bow and arrow," Roland said between bites of his chicken. "He was really good."
"Yes, he is," Tuck said as Regina gently reminded Roland to not talk with his mouth full of food.
Roland swallowed before saying: "I also remember sleeping with Papa on a mat with a lot of fur blankets. My bed here is way more comfortable. And I like living in a house much better than living in a tent."
"I can imagine," she said, knowing that there were many things about this world that were better than the world she had taken them from. Even though she had been a queen and the daughter of a prince, she still couldn't imagine raising a child in the Enchanted Forest now that she lived in a world with car seats, schools, and vaccines.
"I think I like this world better as well," Tuck agreed, smiling at Regina. "We have more stable lives and can still help those who need us."
Roland nodded before looking at Regina. "Do you like it better here too?"
She smiled, taking his hand. "I do. Because if we didn't come here, I wouldn't have Henry or you or your father in my life. And you all have made it much better," she said.
"Even though you were a queen?" Roland asked, making her heart skip a beat. How much did he know about her time as Queen back in the Enchanted Forest? While he didn't seem scared of her now, would that change as more people shared their memories?
Roland started talking since she didn't respond. "I imagine as Queen you had a lot of people around you and a lot of friends," he said. "Like Papa. People called him a prince and he had a lot of friends."
"Oh," she replied, unsure how to explain what her time at court was like while being appropriate for a child. "Sometimes Queens don't have many friends. I didn't and so I was very lonely."
"That sounds sad," Roland said, sliding off his chair. He then climbed onto her lap and hugged her. "I'm glad you're not lonely anymore."
She hugged him back as a lump formed in her throat. "Thank you, sweetheart."
He pulled back, looking curious. "People are saying you sent us here. Did you do that so you wouldn't be so lonely?"
"Yes," she said, unable to look into his earnest brown eyes and lie. "I guess that's one of the reasons why I sent us here."
She heard the doorknob rattle and tensed up, holding Roland closer to her. Tuck stood, motioning for them both to be quiet as he stepped into the living room. Roland clung to her and she rubbed his back, ready to run with him if necessary. She wouldn't let him get hurt because the people of Storybrooke wanted to punish her for her curse.
"Peace." Robin's voice washed over her and she relaxed. "It's just me."
"Papa!" Roland pulled away from Regina as his eyes lit up. He hopped down from her lap and raced toward his father's voice. Taking a deep breath, Regina stood and followed at a slower pace.
Robin hugged Roland with one arm as his left one was still in a cast as well as a sling. He stood on his own two feet and most of the cuts on his face appeared to have healed. She frowned as she looked him over before glancing at John, who stood just behind him with his arms crossed. "Was he discharged?" she asked him.
"He was," John confirmed. "I wouldn't have let him leave the hospital if he wasn't. It seems that he's made a rather miraculous recovery now that the curse has been broken. Like all everything about it was destroyed."
He glared at her as Robin turned to him, frowning. "John!"
"I'm just telling her the truth," John protested, holding up his hands. "It's what happened according to both Whale and Mother Superior…or whoever they really are."
"Whale did say that most of my injuries just cleared up," Robin confirmed, looking awkward and resigned as his eyes glanced at Regina. "My leg is fine and it's like all the internal injuries were never there. Really the only thing that hasn't been immediately healed is my arm, though I do think a few ribs may still be broken."
Roland looked up at him with wide eyes. "But you're home now, right? You don't have to go back to the hospital?"
"I'm home now," Robin replied, his eyes softening. "I will probably have to go back to the hospital for checkups but those will only be quick visits. I'll be able to come back home."
"Good," he said, still clinging to him. "I missed you."
Robin knelt and kissed his son's forehead. "I missed you too, my boy."
Watching father and son brought tears to her eyes. For the most part, the scene melted her heart. But it also reminded her that she was separated from her son still. She wanted nothing more than to be here with Henry, hugging him as well.
"Are you hungry?" Tuck asked. "Regina made a lovely dinner."
"Dinner sounds good," Robin said, urging Roland toward the dining room. "But you all go ahead. I just want to talk to Regina for a few minutes."
John and Tuck escorted Roland into the dining room as Robin motioned for Regina to step closer. She did so as her stomach threatened to expel her dinner. Regina had never been afraid of Robin before but she didn't know how the breaking of the curse affected him. While he had been concerned about her earlier, he had time to let everything sink in and reconsider his feelings toward her.
He reached out and brushed some hair from her forehead. "You should've been resting, not cooking. You're still recovering from a nasty blow to your head."
"I'm fine," she said, even though a dull ache was now forming inside her skull. "I couldn't just sit here and do nothing. Cooking and baking calm me. So it was my way of resting."
"Maybe, but after we're done eating, you're going to just sit or lie still and not do anything else," he told her. "You need to take care of yourself."
She swallowed, not sure if he was speaking from his feelings for her or his instinct as an EMT. "I figured I would just go home. I don't want to be an imposition."
He frowned. "It's not safe for you to return home. Once again, head injury. Also, the people are looking for you. They've been to your office, the hospital and your house. John and I had to wait until they left so we could go inside to pack a bag for you."
"You packed me a bag?" she asked, surprised and then suspicious. "How did you get in?"
"I do have my memories as a skilled thief," he said, smirking. He then held up a key she recognized as her spare. "But this time I used the key. We need to talk about where you hide it. If anyone in that mob had tried, they would've found your key and stormed your house."
She took the key, feeling annoyed. No one had ever managed to find her spare key before and she wanted to blame Robin's past as a thief as the reason he had easily found it now. But then she remembered that no one really had any cause to try to find her spare key during her time in Storybrooke, a thought that depressed her.
"I'll keep that in mind," she said, tucking her spare key into her pocket. "Thank you."
"Let's go eat," he said, motioning to his dining room. "We'll have plenty of time to talk later."
She nodded, her stomach twisting into knots. Regina didn't know what Robin would say later but if her past was indication, it would likely not go well for her. Was their relationship over just as it had really just begun?
They joined the others at the table as Tuck set a plate in front of Robin. Cutting into his chicken, Robin asked Roland about his day. Roland happily relayed everything to his father, including all the memories that had returned when the curse had been broken. Both Robin and John nodded, confirming which memories had come from the Enchanted Forest. Regina kept her head down though she felt someone's eyes on her. She wasn't sure if it was John or Robin but she didn't want to confirm it.
Instead, she just kept eating and waited for whatever would happen before the night was over – for better or for worse.
"Goodnight, my boy," Robin said, tucking Roland into bed with his one good arm. He then leaned forward and kissed his son's forehead. "I'll see you in the morning."
"Goodnight, Papa," Roland replied. He then shifted in bed to look at Regina, who was standing in the doorway. "Goodnight, Regina."
She glanced at Robin, who nodded. Regina then stepped into the room, leaning down to kiss Roland's forehead as she wished him goodnight. He looked up at her with his big brown eyes. "I love you," he said.
Tears pricked her eyes as a lump formed in her throat. She swallowed before saying: "I love you too."
Robin placed his good hand on her back and guided her out of Roland room. She watched as he turned out the light and closed the door behind him. Turning toward her, he motioned to the stairs. "We can talk downstairs," he said, his voice low.
"Okay," she replied, taking a deep breath as she headed for the stairs. The moment of truth had arrived.
They returned to the dining room and Robin pulled out a chair for her. "Do you want something to drink while we talk?" he asked.
"Do you have any wine?" she asked, wondering if alcohol would make this easier. "Or whiskey?"
"I do, but alcohol is the last thing you need with a head injury," he said, tilting his own head. "How are you feeling?"
For a moment, Regina considered lying and telling him she was fine. But she knew that even with the curse broken, Robin would likely still have a way of getting her to tell him the truth anyway. So she took a deep breath and said: "I've had headaches on and off all day."
He frowned, stepping closer to her. "Did you tell Tuck?"
"It wasn't anything I couldn't handle," she told him. "Besides, I know not to expect much kindness now that…well…you know."
Robin pressed his lips together before checking the paperwork he left on the hutch by his table. He disappeared into the kitchen and she heard water running. Not long after it stopped, he returned with two glasses of water. He handed one to her and set the other by the chair across from her before continuing into the living room. Confused, she took a long sip of water as she waited for him to reappear.
When he did, he placed a small cup in front of her. "Take those and then we can talk," he instructed.
She looked inside the cup and saw two round brown pills branded Advil inside. For a moment, she wondered if they were really the common over-the-counter pain reliever or something more sinister. But all of Robin's actions so far hadn't shown any malice toward her so she downed the pills with a good gulp of water. She set the glass down as she said: "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he replied. "If you start to feel worse or lighthearted or nauseous, let me know."
She nodded, folding her hands. "Where do you want to start?"
"I honestly don't know," he replied, running his fingers through his hair. "Everything is a jumble inside my head."
He paused and she waited, sipping her water as he gathered his thoughts. Finally, he asked: "What was true? What you told me about yourself – was any of it true? Or was it all a lie?"
"The story about throwing a party before graduating high school was a lie," she said, her stomach twisting as she wondered if there was hidden meaning to his question. "And of course I lied about the storybook. But everything else was as close to the truth as I could get without confirming that everything in the storybook was true."
"Why not tell the truth? Especially when it nearly destroyed your relationship with your son?" he asked her, his gaze again unreadable and steely in a way that felt foreign to her. She missed the warmth that his eyes used to hold in them when he gazed at her. Would she ever see that again?
Or had her happy ending truly collapsed with the end of the curse? Had she already lost her son and her soulmate?
Robin waited for a response so she took a deep breath and as she always did around him, she told the truth. "I was scared and selfish. The curse was supposed to give me my happy ending while denying Snow White hers. And I knew that if the curse was broken, my happy ending would disappear. I would lose everything and I couldn't go through that again."
"I once heard that if something can be destroyed by the truth, then it deserves to be destroyed," he replied softly. He believed that she didn't deserve a happy ending and maybe he was right. Still, it hurt to hear him say that.
A slap would've been less painful.
"Was that why you were going to eat the poisoned apple?" he asked. "To avoid dealing with the aftermath?"
"No," she replied. "I was going to eat it because everyone would be better off without me."
He frowned. "Do you really believe that?"
She nodded, going over her reasoning for her conclusion with him. As she spoke, her voice cracked a few times and he pushed a tissue box closer to her. Regina pulled out one, dabbing her eyes as she finished her story. "And so I was just going to sleep forever, waiting to see if Henry would come to wake me. I guess you could call it limbo or purgatory. But maybe that's what I deserved, being denied love and happiness again and again for all eternity."
"That's the Dark Place," he said with the same tone he always used when he pointed out that she had gone to the Dark Place. It should've been comforting but instead, she felt as if he was trying to dismiss a large part of her.
"You sound like I'm not filled with darkness," she said, throwing up her hands in frustration. "You have your memories back. You know who I am – the Evil Queen."
He nodded, crossing his arms as he looked her over. "Though I now think evil is something of a misnomer. Bold and audacious, perhaps, but not evil. Not here in Storybrooke."
That answer surprised her. "Really?"
"Really," he replied. "And just so you know, we would not be better off without you. Henry, Roland and I would miss you. The others would miss you too. Maybe not at first but as time went on, they would."
"You're kind to say that, but we both know that's not true," she said sadly. "They would forget me. And over time, you would forget me as well as you and Roland continued to live your life. Henry would leave with Emma and get to live with the mother he wants, forgetting about me too."
He shook his head. "I doubt I will ever forget meeting you."
She swallowed, knowing he was being sincere and wishing she could believe him. "You will. Everyone forgets me in the end. I'm used to being cast aside for someone else, someone better."
"That's not going to happen," Robin promised. "And I will prove it to you."
"How?" she asked, certain that was a promise he couldn't keep. "Aren't you breaking up with me?"
He frowned. "No. Why would you think that?"
"You said that the truth destroyed my happy ending," she replied, feeling tears prick her eyes. She tried to hold them back, refusing to cry in front of Robin and giving him that possible satisfaction. "You were part of my happy ending."
"And I hope I'm part of your new happy ending," he told her.
She felt more confused. "My new happy ending?"
He nodded. "We all get a second chance, Regina. You just need to see it. And I believe this is your chance to build a new happy ending, a stronger one where you don't have to worry about one person destroying it or having to lie to maintain it. You can be yourself here."
"But who am I?" she asked, feeling lost. Was she Regina Mills or was she the Evil Queen? If she was herself, would she get a happy ending or had she lost her only chance to have one?
"Honestly, I'm asking the same thing myself," he said. He waved his hands around his head. "I have all these memories in my head and I need to figure out who I was, who I am now and who I want to be. So let's do that together."
She bit her lip, liking the idea of building a new life with him. "How?"
"I think we need to reset our relationship," he replied. "Essentially start over so we can build a strong foundation, one that wasn't made from half-truths and false memories."
"I guess that makes sense," she said, though she still bristled at the implication that their relationship hadn't been strong. But she recalled their argument in the interrogation room and had to silently concede that he had a point. Maybe their relationship had been just like the curse itself – a house of cards just waiting to collapse.
He nodded, fixing her with a steely gaze. "We also need to promise to be honest with each other. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to but I don't want you to feel like you have to then lie. Because if you do, this will never work."
She sat up straighter, knowing that it would have to go both ways. "I'll promise if you promise."
"Alright," he said, holding out his hand. "Let's shake on it."
"Not yet," she replied, recalling how she had been burned in the past – including the very recent one. "I want to make sure all our terms are clear before we shake on anything. I will not have the terms changed on me again."
He placed his hand down on the table, though he left it outstretched toward her. Robin looked her over before saying: "While I think that's fair, I don't think I can promise that the terms won't change."
That broke her heart again and she wondered if there would ever be anyone she could trust. But before she could say anything, he said: "I think we're both going to be learning a lot about ourselves over the coming days, weeks and maybe even months. Things will likely change constantly and we need to be flexible. Good relationships are built on communication so here's my proposal – we have a conversation every week to see where we are if we need to change anything. Both sides need to agree to a change. How does that sound?"
"That sounds…good," she said, her heart starting to stitch back together. "I'm used to people just making decisions and forcing me to deal with the consequences. I refuse to do that anymore."
"I understand," he replied. "And so I will promise to communicate my needs and when I think I need to change my boundaries. Can you make the same promise?"
She swallowed before nodding. "I can."
Robin held out his hand again. "So, we promise to be honest with each other and to communicate with each other regularly."
"Yes," she replied, shaking his hand.
"Good," he said, looking at his watch. "It's been a long day. I think it's time to turn in."
She nodded, feeling her body and her eyes grow heavy from fatigue. "I think that's a good idea."
He stood before coming around to her side of the table, helping her to her feet. Regina leaned closer to him, licking her lips as she wished she could kiss him. But if they were resetting their relationship, she doubted they would be sharing kisses as easily as they had before. They would likely have to work back up to that again.
But Robin brushed some hair from her face before saying: "I would like to kiss you as myself, if you don't mind."
"Oh," she said, surprised. "I don't mind but what about the reset?"
"I think we can build a new foundation while still kissing," he replied, grinning. "Don't you?"
She nodded, relieved that she could still kiss him. Regina wrapped her arms around him, pulling him closer. "Thank goodness."
He chuckled before kissing her. Regina's eyes fluttered closed as she felt the familiar flutter deep inside her. Stars again appeared behind her eyelids as her head felt as if it was spinning. For a moment, she felt as they were floating off the ground as they held onto each other.
Robin broke the kiss and she slowly opened her eyes, finding his still closed. Her heart skipped a beat as she wondered if maybe he didn't like kissing her now that his memories were back. Maybe they were doomed after all, no matter what pixie dust said.
"Just as I thought," he replied, slowly opening his eyes as he smiled. "Kissing you still feels the same. What about kissing me?"
"The same," she replied, happy to hear him say that. "Butterflies, stars, the whole works."
He chuckled, nodding. "I feel the same. And this world isn't supposed to hold any magic, eh?"
She licked her lips as she said: "I've found it has a magic all its own."
"Indeed," he agreed, taking her hand again. "I'm just glad that kissing you still feels the same. I know our relationship is going to survive and will be even stronger with this new foundation we're building."
"You do?" she asked, hope filling her as they headed up to the second floor. She still worried that this would blow up on her and that she would do something to push Robin away forever. But his optimism was starting to infect her and a small part of her believed that maybe her happy ending hadn't been destroyed completely.
Maybe she also had a chance to build a stronger happy ending, one that no Savior could destroy.
They reached Robin's bedroom and Regina blinked a few times, surprise filling her. "Are we sharing a bed?" she asked.
"For tonight, yes," he said, running his hand over her hair. "I need you close so I can monitor you for concussion. But after tonight, it might take some time before we have another sleepover."
She nodded, understanding his position. "Okay."
He paused before glancing down at his arm, still in its cast. "I may also need your help changing as well."
"Are you sure you want me to help?" she asked, still not sure what exactly was allowed in this reset.
"Yes," he replied. "Because after tonight, John is going to have to help me. So I would like to enjoy one night where you are the one who helps me undress before that happens."
She bit her lip, recalling the last time she saw him naked. "Even with the reset?"
"We can reset in the morning," he said, his nose crinkling as he thought about it. "Make things easier for tonight, yeah?"
"Yes," she agreed, feeling relieved. "That makes sense."
They entered the bedroom and Regina closed the door behind them. Despite their agreement, butterflies still filled her stomach as she approached Robin. "Let's get you ready for bed," she said.
She helped him pull the shirt over his head and his broken arm, tossing it into the hamper. For a moment, Regina let her eyes wander over his bare chest, taking in his toned muscles and wondering if he had had those in the Enchanted Forest or developed them here in Storybrooke working for the fire department. Her eyes then landed on his familiar lion tattoo, branding him her soulmate.
Time would tell how strong that bond truly was.
"You look like you want to eat me," he said, giving her a little half-smile.
"You look good enough to eat," she replied, looking over some white scar lines that dotted his skin. She recalled seeing those the last time she saw him with his shirt off so she knew they were not from his accident.
But she saw some fading bruises that she knew were from the accident. They were around his left shoulder, meaning they came from the seatbelt as it worked to save his life and keep him from suffering worse than he did. So the bruises remained as did his broken arm but his leg and internal injuries were healed once the curse broke.
Regina didn't know what that meant but she was too tired to really think about it.
"Thank you," he replied. "But you know what we agreed."
"I do," she said, even as she went to undo the belt around his jeans. "Besides, I'd likely fall asleep on you anyway."
He nodded, looking concerned. "I think I can handle it from here. You go get ready for bed."
She didn't move, wondering if he was too focused on her and not on himself. Regina doubted his tendency to put others first had disappeared with the curse and he was likely going to strain something, putting his own healing at risk. "Let me help you. I have two good hands. A possible concussion doesn't affect those."
"I know," he replied, doing his best to pull down his pants with one hand. "But I think I got it."
"Nonsense," she said, amused by his antics. She reached out and deftly pulled down his pants. "There you go."
She took a step back, taking in his black boxers. Regina bit her lip, recalling the last time she saw him standing in his room like this. But his cast reminded her that the night was going to end much differently this time.
"Do you have pajamas?" she asked him. "I can help you into them."
Sheepish, Robin rubbed the back of his neck. "I, uh, usually just sleep in my underwear."
"Oh," she said, the awkwardness returning even with their agreement. While he was still treating her with tenderness and affection, the breaking of the curse had shifted their relationship. Reset was a good term for it because it did now feel like they had gone back to the beginning and needed to get to know each other again. Though there was a practical reason for them to share a bed that night, it was still an intimate act. And the fact he only slept in his underwear only heighted the intimacy.
He moved toward a dresser. "I have an older pair of sweatpants I sometimes sleep in when it's too cold. They were the ones I wore when you slept over that time."
She watched as he opened a drawer and quickly pulled out a pair of gray sweatpants, dimly recalling him wearing them when he made her breakfast. He tossed them onto the bed before closing the drawer again. "I can put these on with one hand," he said. "You go get ready."
"Let me help you at least step into them," she said, taking the sweatpants from him. She crouched as she said: "Then I'll go get changed."
Regina looked up and swallowed as she realized how close she was to him. And the view of him made her stomach flip and her heart skip every other beat. She licked her lips before looking down again, trying to control her body's natural response. There is nothing sexy about this, she told herself. Calm down.
He stepped into the pants and reached down to grab the waist, bringing his head close to hers. She raised her eyes, meeting his gaze. Though his eyes were guarded in a way they weren't before the curse broke, she could still see desire and affection in their depths. It took her breath away.
And then he kissed her.
It was a quick kiss but it still sent pleasant tingles through her. When he pulled back, he gave her a smile as he said: "Thank you."
"You're welcome," she said, standing as he pulled up his sweatpants. She slowly backed away, picking up her overnight bag. "I'll be back."
Regina retreated to the bathroom, flipping the switch as she entered the room. She put down the toilet seat and sat down, holding her head in her hands as she took a few deep breaths. Now that she was alone, she started to process what had happened that day.
She almost lost Henry.
Emma had likely killed Maleficent.
Gold had betrayed them both.
And then Regina had saved Henry with True Love's Kiss before Emma shared one of her own to break the curse.
Her happy ending was gone.
But she still had Henry and a chance to have a stronger relationship with him as his mother. She also still had Roland, who didn't recoil from her presence now that he had his memories back but continued to show her affection while seeking it out from her. And she also still had Robin, even if their relationship had bene set back. Yet the reset held a promise that all was not lost and that maybe they did share a stronger type of love than she had realized.
Maybe Robin was right. Maybe she had been given a second chance to build a new happy ending.
She stood again, knowing she would not find any more answers that night. Her mind was clouded from exhaustion and likely the aftermath of Gold's blow to it. Regina needed a good night's rest.
Just as she finished washing her face after changing into her pajamas, someone knocked on the door. Robin's voice then came through it, muffled by the wood between them. "Regina? Are you alright?"
"Yes," she called out, patting her face dry. "I'll be right out."
She packed up her toiletries before opening the door, finding Robin on the other side. He looked her over, concern in his eyes. "You were taking so long, I worried you had passed out," he admitted.
"I'm fine," she assured him, turning off the light. "I just got lost in my thoughts."
He nodded, placing his good hand on her back as he guided her back to his bedroom. "I guess I'll feel better once you're cleared from any lasting effects from that blow to your head. I could still kill Gold for that."
The fire in his eyes and anger in his voice worried her. She stopped, gently placing her hand on his chest. "Promise me you won't go after him," she said.
"What?" he asked, his brow furrowing.
"Gold is still dangerous even without his powers," she said, still not too certain about that. If anyone could find a way to retain magic in a magicless world, she believed it would be him. They had to be careful with him. "I don't want you getting hurt again on my account. So promise me, please."
Robin's expression softened and he nodded. "Alright, I promise."
She felt relieved, certain he would keep his promise. After all, he had proven himself to be a man of honor. Regina kissed his cheek before saying: "Thank you."
"You're welcome," he replied before gently pushing her toward the bed. "Now, let's get some rest. I'm going to have to wake you up during the night so we should take advantage of all the sleep we can get."
They climbed into bed together and settled under the covers. Robin turned off the lights before resting his head on the pillow. "Goodnight, Regina," he said.
"Goodnight, Robin," she replied. "Sweet dreams."
He hummed in response, his eyes already closed. She lay on her side, watching as his breathing evened out and he fell asleep. Regina reached out and gently traced his face with her finger, wanting to memorize every inch of it. It was likely going to be a long time until they were this close again and she wanted to remember every inch of him – how eyelashes rested against his skin, how his lips curled into a soft smile, even how his scruff felt under her fingertips.
But the day caught up with her and her eyes grew heavy. She let them close but didn't move, wanting to keep facing Robin as she drifted off. Regina didn't know what would happen in the morning or what her future would hold but for the first time, she believed she wouldn't have to face the unknown alone. And that gave her something she hadn't had in a long time.
Hope.