#OQPromptParty2018

[oqpromptparty]

Hi everyone! If you’d like to take part in this year’s Prompt Party Week, just select any of the prompts from the list below and write a fic, make a video or create some art based on it. Please note that more than one person may choose the same prompt.

You may submit new stories or include the prompts in any of your existing verses (though all your entries must be posted for the first time during Prompt Party Week). 

Artists & Video makers may use any of the prompts, but there are some Art/Video specific ones at the bottom of the post.

I have condensed some of the prompts that were a little too long… and feel free to take some liberties with some of the more specific prompts!

If you have any questions, please tweet @OQPromptParty

OQ Prompt Party week will run from 19th - 25th March. Please don’t post anything until then.

Prizes:

Everyone who posts a prompt for all seven days of the OQ Prompt Party week will be sent a limited edition, one of a kind Outlaw Queen button/badge. These will never be available again, so don’t miss out!

Each day there will also be the opportunity to win another prize. You will be entered into a prize draw and the more prompts you write, the more times your name will be entered into the draw. I will announce which prizes will be available on each day soon.

There will also be a separate prize for most prompts included in a single one-shot/chapter (crack!fic encouraged).

And now! Without further ado, here are your prompts:

Regina and Robin are friends who accidentally sleep with one another, except not so accidentally

Roland is grown up and thinks he’s finally discovered how to bring back Robin Hood - but he needs Regina’s help

Regina eventually moved on, but then Robin comes back into her life.

Dark!OQ first kiss.

During the French Revolution, Robin is a  prosecutor who acts like a spy at court for Robespierre.

Robin owes the Queen a debt so she has made him her servant til it is repaid.  

Robin makes three wishes.

Co-Stars falling in love.

Robin and Regina used to date/were married. They’re no longer together but still love one another.

First Curse AU: Robin is in Storybrooke during the first curse and dated Mayor Mills while still cursed.  Then the curse breaks.

Robin catches Regina watching "Bridezilla" & "Say Yes to the Dress" and starts planning a secret wedding based on her commentary.

Regina meeting DarkOQ's baby (with them alive)

Robin or Regina get turned into an animal unbekownst to the other who ends up caring for them for a bit before the curse is broken and then it's all like awkward....you liked me as a fox.

OQ/Belle friendship.

Roland and Robyn meet for the first time.

No one dies and everything ends happy

Robin is there when Regina finds out she’s going to be a  grandmother.

Robin or Regina have a bad habit the other tries to help them break.

Regina is pregnant and she and Robin watch a birthing video together.

Learning how to snapchat.

Robin’s soul didn’t get obliterated when Hades stabbed him and his soul got trapped in Regina’s mirror

Page 23 showing up out of nowhere.

Regina feels burdened by the guilt of all the people she has murdered.  Robin supports her with this.

Cora tries to separate Robin and Regina.

Based on this story https://www.thevintagenews.com/2018/02/20/king-pedro/

Regina and Robin meet at a hospital as they both have to sit in a waiting room waiting for hours on news about some members of their family.

Dark OQ meet Maleficent.

Regina self harming and Robin noticing

During the missing year, Regina sees herself in her mirror with Robin's tattoo tattooed on her.

Regina finds out that she’s actually Zeus or Hera’s daughter and demands that Robin be brought back.

Robin's backstory for any story or as a stand alone for the one we were promised.

Underworld. Regina telling Robin about her father’s death? Some of Robin’s demons.

In season 2, Regina went to the EF through Jefferson’s hat, and meets people who escaped the first curse; her mother, and her soulmate.

Bladerunner AU. As a bladerunner, Robin is sent on a mission to retire a rogue replicant, Regina.

Facilier's magic enables Regina to speak to Robin one last time. (Feel free to include him being semi or fully corporeal if you wish.)

Robin or Regina have to pick up a drunk Henry or Roland.

Henry comes out as ace/bi/etc to Regina and Robin.

Robin gets jealous when Regina and Mal work together a lot on something in secret. (DOQ or OQ)

Vampire AU.

Regina and Robin have a big fight. Robin goes to Mal for help in understanding Regina's reactions and ways to make it up to her. (DOQ or OQ)

Regina has mad PMS (just cause I think Robin figuring this out would be hilarious).

Robin and Regina discover their respective significant others are cheating with each other. They support each other through the fallout and their sons decide to make them realize they should be together.

OQ Body switch.

Robin is thrown through the time portal and meets young teenage Regina.

Robin and Regina in an orgy.

They are rival vigilantes both trying to fight the villain of the town.

Magic spell gone wrong, Robin accidentally turns himself into a fox while fiddling around with one of the vials in Regina's vault.

After Regina experiences sexual harassment, Robin reaches out to comfort her.

Robin refuses to go to the doctor.

Screenwriter/Director falling in love.

Person A keeps having strange dreams that turn out to be OQ in a past/alternate lives and they’re determined to find person B again (for extra angst; person B is already dead in this life).

American Horror Story Murder House AU

Season 3 AU where Robin/Roland/Both find themselves in Neverland and join an unlikely group brought together by their need to find a young boy.

Dark!OQ finding & taking in an abandoned baby.

An AU where there is a terror attack.

One is a killer/Criminal the other one is trying to catch him/her.

OQ friendship as one of the original married couples from Grace and Frankie.

Regina has another adoptive child when Henry brings Emma to Storybrooke.

Why did Robins tattoo match the lion emblems in Camelot? Former knight? Rightful king?

Missing Year and it's Roland's birthday.

The Good Place AU

“I went to the museum to get some inspiration for my art and then I saw you staring at one of the paintings in awe but now you just noticed me drawing you and this is awkward AU”

Regina hires Robin as her stylist. Because of a misunderstanding she thinks he’s gay.

Drunk Regina accidentally admits something really embarrassing.

Robin and Regina in a witness protection programme.

Frozen AU

Regina dies and Robin can see her ghost, together and try to find a solution to bring her back.

Prince Robin has to choose a bride via competition for his heart and Regina is one of the girls competing (or vice versa).

Robin finds Regina after searching for her.

Regina being with young Robyn.

Soldier/Nurse AU.

Their first time together after Robin has been brought back to life.

Robin or Regina are royalty and the other one works for them.

Regina goes to visit Robin’s grave for the first time.

Rival detectives trying to solve a case.

"We have to be quick"

“Would you like to share the blanket?”

Strip Poker

Alzheimer’s - one of them gets it and the other takes care of them.

Regina realises that Wish!Robin was her Robin after all and wants him back. The Evil Queen isn’t happy at all with that notion.

Robin comes back without any memories, Regina has to make him fall in love with her again.

Regina doesn’t get to go to heaven so Robin decides to stay wherever she is.

OQ meet over the death of their children.

Robin proposes to Regina on a bridge.

Regina teaching (or attempting to teach) Robin how to bake something.

Robin is secretly shrunk and kept in Roni’s jeans pocket. She doesn’t tell anyone to protect him.

Robin accidentally ingests viagra

They are both criminals trying to escape.

You’re getting chased by the police and you just jumped in my car and yelled drive, wtf man

OQ go on a double date with D!OQ

Robin comes to bring lunch to Regina but he finds her very sexually frustrated having been interrupted by the children the night before.

Regina thinks Robin is cheating on her but he is actually planning to propose.

OQ Doctor Who AU with Regina as the last of the time lords, The Queen, and Robin as the professor/archaeologist/criminal/time-traveling husband she never meets in the right order.

"This can never happen again"

Robin and Regina realise that Robin’s daughter has magic, they try to teach her how to use it.

After last call at a bar, Robin and Regina find they don’t want to say goodbye

I Dream of Jeannie AU.

You’re the bastard who keeps parking in front of my house and you just caught me drawing a dick on your window… ugh, oops.

Rivals doctors trying to win a famous prize

“Your dog likes me a thousand times better than they like your partner and sorry not sorry I love this dog”

OQ at a strip club

Bedsharing

OQ in a Star Trek or Stargate setting

“Maybe we were the mistake"

10th Kingdom AU with Regina as Virginia and Robin as Wolf (but Fox!). Bonus points for bringing Henry and Roland along for the adventure.

Regina covers Robin in tiramisu.

Fantastic 4 AU.

"I'm really angry at you but also really horny so can we press pause on this fight and fuck first?"

Before she leaves for New York, Regina knows that Roland is going to leave so she decides to take him to his father’s grave to say goodbye to both of them.

Robin or Regina almost freeze to death and the other one finds them.

Regina takes Robin Hood on an airplane for the first time.

Regina visits Marian's grave to thank her.

The first time they sleep together after Zelena.

Partners, working on a firm together and lovers/couple off-work.

Robin likes to kiss the exposed parts of skin the EQ reveals (cleavage, back etc)

Robin and Regina's daughter breaking their first curse. Regina doesn't believe her and it tears her down a bit.

“We are trapped in a bank during a robbery, please don’t get yourself killed I’m actually starting to like you” AU.

OQ steal a baby (intentionally, unintentionally, whatever.)

D!OQ/OQ's wedding day.

You’re a sex line operator and I called you because I was curious and wow you have an incredible voice AU.

Regina dealing with menopause (could be brought on early due to magic).

Regina & Robin chaperone Henry's senior prom.

They have the house to themselves but they bet they can keep quiet. They end up losing.

Robin helps Regina see light in the darkness

One of them is caught masturbating.

Regina is overwhelmed and is drowning in her demons. Robin helps her.

OQ at Henry and Cinderella’s wedding.

Canon Robin and Regina talking about Regina and Graham’s past and Robin being jealous.

OQ in Disneyland.

Robin and Henry bond.

I’m a single parent and you’re my son’s coach and holy shit I want to take you out on a date and exercise in an adult way.

Regina planning a full weekend of roughing it in the woods with Robin and the barest of essentials.

Date night.

You seem to have slept with everyone on my block except me, care to explain yourself? (When’s it my turn because I find you very attractive).

Regina gets sun poisoning and Robin has to take care of her.

Barefoot in the rain - all of their “firsts” are in the rain.

Henry worries about his mother and confides in Robin.

Hook thinks something is amiss but accidentally walks in on Regina and Robin having sex he breaks his leg fleeing the scene.

Hades’ dagger splits Robin into 2. His dark and light sides.

Regina and Robin meet speed-dating.

Regina trying to cope with pregnancy hormones.

Regina goes to NYC and sees Robin with Marian(not Zelena) and she's jealous.

Summer camp either as counsellors or as attendees.

Teacher student preferably with Robin as the student

Roland falls ill.

Can't buy me love AU.

Chocolate

“I said i loved you one more time in case it would change your mind"

Two foreign strangers meet under the cherry blossoms in Japan (bonus points if Regina is dressed in a kimono)

Regina finding out she's pregnant and she gets scared of Robin's reaction. But he's very sweet about it and gets super happy.

Jealous Regina and/or Robin.

Roland and/or Henry getting into trouble for fighting and defending Peanut's honor when some kids start badmouthing her.

Regina as a russian spy, Robin the CIA agent who’s trying to capture her.

OQ in a dystopian AU (can be based on Black Mirror episodes).

Regina finds out through her jealousy that she actually likes Robin more than just a friend.

Roland and Regina go shopping.

Regina is a goddess of love. She is responsible to bring people together and help everyone find their true love. However, her fate is to be alone forever. Then she meets Robin and while he’s destined to be with Marian he goes against powers older than life on earth itself in order to be with her.

OQ as IT geeks who work in the same company and they’re so awkward when they flirt with each other.

Peanut's first period & Robin's the only one home.

Bandit!Regina injures Robin, then nurses him back to health

An English man’s heart is stolen by a Flamenco dancer on a visit to Spain.

One of them surprises the other in the shower, it's a really good surprise

Robin finds Regina's sex-toys, and he doesn't know what they are.

Regina attends Dark OQ’s wedding.

Secrets & Lies

Robin tries to put on a sexy costume but Regina laughs at him.

Movie night with the kids.

The queen orders Robin Hood to steal something from Rumple’s castle and gives him a reward.

Regina is the dark one and Robin has the dagger.

Emma ruins everything.

Fireworks

“And for the first time in a long time, I could imagine a future where I was happy"

Regina and Robin see a musical on Broadway together.

Drinking Game with 20 Questions

Robin and Regina have a big fight.

Regina turns home to a very drunk Roland. Turns out Robin thought the ‘Strawberry Woo-Woo’ cans in the refrigerator were a children’s drink. “What kind of alcoholic drink has a picture of _____ on it?!”

Zorro AU

Regina cares for a sick Robin during the missing year.

Regina/Roni has been in a relationship with Facilier when Robin comes back.

Childhood Robin and Regina meeting in the Enchanted Forest.

They almost get caught in any type of sexual situation by any character.

Regina is an artist, Robin is life model who poses nude for each of her life drawing classes.

The Love Punch AU

Season 5 AU: Robin doesn't die and now has two parts of Regina to deal with: Queenie and Regina.

“You can’t just take my child!” “I’m taking what’s rightfully mine.”

Robin gives Regina a ring.

Regina or Robin have physical therapy twice a week but instead of working on the injury they do much more fulfilling exercises.

Regina is an AI Robot owned by a lonely widower Robin.

OQ have sex in a library

Roland climbs up a tree, Regina helps him to get down.

OQ + rimming

Roni and Robin find one another in Hyperion Heights in their cursed identities.  Then one day, the curse is broken and they wake up

Queeny and Locksley bring Robin back for Regina

A visit to the museum.

Roman Holiday AU.

Regina and Robin "just friends" play a drinking game

Robin and Regina skype while he is on an out of town business trip

USA around civil war time. Regina, wife of a confederate slave owner, is on her way further down into the South when the train gets stopped by Yankees (Robin).

Robin tells Regina that she deserves better than her current boyfriend

Robin and Regina get caught getting handsy in public

Regina tells Robin that she saw his girlfriend cheating on him

Regina and Robin attend a ball.

WWI or WWII AU: Regina falls for British solider Robin.

Non-Magical AU - Regina and Robin are on a date when they bump into Regina’s ex: Emma Swan

Regina being selfish in bed.

Roland follows an injured puppy and gets lost, Robin/Regina find them huddled together for warmth.

“You are my future.” “But I’m not sure you’re mine.”

Anastasia AU

“How did my parents meet? Well, my dad was in jail, and called the wrong number accidentally, who happened to be my mom, and he didn’t wanna waste his call so he told her not to hang up. Boom. They’re 24 years married.”

Regina is an assassin hired to kill Robin, but when she realizes he is a good man and has a son, she decides to protect him instead.

A Showmaster falls in love with his new trapeze artist who joined the show with her young son in order to provide a living.

Robin leaves Roland with Regina while out of town and she has to call John when something goes wrong.

Friends with benefits

Regina and Robin get set up on a blind date by their friends but neither of them showed up. Years later they get together and find out about their missed opportunity.

Robin accidentally clones himself whilst playing around with a few things in Regina’s vault. Regina has to try and put things back to normal, though not without having a little fun first.

The Notebook AU

Mulan AU: because her father is too old and weak, she joins the army as her father’s son, trying to save her country from the looming threat of (e.g. ogres)

Castle AU: She’s a detective and he’s a writer.

They meet at a gala, she’s an actress with a wonderful red dress and he’s a musician. They start talking and they fall in love looking at each other’s eyes.

Robin is the royal heir to a fortune but is disillusioned with the customs and pomp of regality so he gets into thievery ... and Cora is out on the look for a new husband for Regina after the first fell through ..... (perhaps bandit Regina and Robin)

Regina makes Robin her famous lasagne.

Roland goes to college.

Roland gets lost in a supermarket and Regina finds him and helps him find his Papa.

Marrying your best-friend eliminates the risk of divorce by 75%

Medical AU.

High School AU - Robin is a new student of one year. Marian schemes to get Robin for herself by dissuading both Regina and Robin who clearly have feelings for each other.

Robin and Regina are not dating. Then Robin accidentally walks in on Regina when she's with a woman.

Regina wearing Robin’s sweater bc she’s cold and that’s all she can find.

Regina being a headmistress and Robin being a billionaire whose son, Roland, goes to the school where Regina is the boss. Usually the nanny drops Roland off at school but one day when Regina is in charge of the arriving children so happens that Robin takes him to school.

Robin and Regina make a pact that if both of them aren’t married by 40 they marry each other. They fall out of contact for a few years but Regina gets a phone call on her 40th birthday from a familiar voice...

A reincarnation AU where one of them is forced to remember the past lives with the other person but the other person doesn’t remember their last life.

Teen OQ's first time in the backseat of a car.

Robin and Regina are both celebrities (doesn't matter in what form)  and they've been secretly dating for a while when they are asked to perform in an episode of Lip Sync Battle and Robin proposes with Bruno Mars' Marry You.

“I only date for the Netflix passwords.”

Robin and Regina bond over their puppies Roland and Henry.

Regina sneaking birth control to her teenage daughter and Robin catching her.

Robin being Regina's personal trainer, because Regina wants to work out before her wedding but we all know that wedding won't happen now that they met.

Upper east side widow: While en route to her husband’s funeral (whom she murdered) Regina gets arrested by Detective Locksley.

In the EF Regina’s hair gets too heavy for liking and she wants to cut it with scissors but Robin has a different idea (cutting it with an axe)

Jealous Regina (when they aren't even together) and she gets all possessive, angry then takes matters into her own hands so they have a get together sex.

Regina takes up archery as a new hobby and Robin is her instructor.

Roland saves a litter of kittens. Regina wants to get rid of them bc she doesn’t want pets. They win her heart over in no time and while outside she acts all indifferent, Robin catches her being all sweet with the kitties when she thinks everyone is sleeping.

Art Prompts

Regina and Robin as Tessa Virtue and Scott Moir. Famous ice dancers in love.

Anything silhouetted

Drawing/painting of all of their kisses

The Vault

Regina & Robin's twentieth wedding anniversary.

Regina's box of mementos from Robin (Can be before or after his death)

Dawn's first light on the sleeping lovers

A midnight swim beneath a waterfall

WW2 manip (Robin using the pics of Sean from Timeless)

Nightswimming

Arguing in public

OQ at the beach

masquerade ball

Royal Wedding

OQ in Game of Thrones

Art a favourite fic

Song Prompts 

(for music videos but can also be used for fic & art)

Faded - Alan Walker

Rewrite the stars - The Greatest Showman

The night we met - Lord Huron

Sorry - Halsey

So cold - Ben Cocks

Every time we touch - Cascada

Sad song - We the Kings

Because of you - Kelly Clarkson

All I ask - Adele

Hello - Adele

Little do you know - Alex & Sierra

In my veins - Andrew Belle

Just a little bit of your heart - Ariana Grande (Alesia Cara cover)

You are the reason - Calum Scott

The scientist - Coldplay

I will survive - Aretha Franklin (Leopold or Daniel as “you”, Regina as “I”, and Robin as “someone who’s lovin’ me”)

Dangerously - Charlie Puth

I need you love - Calvin Harris (Madlyn Bailey cover)

Paradise - George Ezra

Say you won't let go - James Arthur

Naked - James Arthur

The one that got away - Katy Perry

My life would suck without you - Kelly Clarkson

Angel down - Lady Gaga

Secret love song - Little Mix

You always make me smile - Kyle Andrews

Like i'm gonna lose you - Meghan Trainor

Close your eyes - Michael Buble

Dynasty - MIIA

Classic - MKTO

Latch - Sam Smith (Natalie Taylor cover)

Rich love - One Republic

Just give me a reason - P!nk

What about us - P!nk

Better place - Rachel Platten

War of hearts - Ruelle

The heart wants what it wants - Selena Gomez

To be human - Sia

Dusk till dawn - Zayn

Just a dream - Nelly

Don’t Treat Me Bad - Firehouse

Demons - Imagine Dragons

Outlaws - Alessia Cara

Somebody else - The 1975

Hurts like hell - Ruelle

Too good at goodbyes - Sam Smith

Video games by Lana Del Rey

Goodbye kiss - Kasabian

Stay with me - Sam Smith

Tetris - Madlyn Bailey

Tell me you love me - Demi Lovato

Nobody - Selena Gomez

I want crazy - Hunter Hayes

In the name of love - Martin Garriz & Bebe Rexha

Gives you Hell - The All-American Rejects

Hopeless Romantic - Billy Vera & The Beaters

My Valentine - Paul McCartney

Are You Ready - Mike & The Mechanics

Dark Horse - Katy Perry

I Won’t Give Up - Glee version

Perfect - Ed Sheeran

Into You - Ariana Grande

Gorgeous - Taylor Swift

Theme prompts for Videos:

Fanfic Trailers.

Movie trailers.

AU videos.

S7 AU Trailer.

Missing Year

OQ Family

[revolutionsoftheheart]

OQ Prompt Party 2018 -- #16

Sunday’s (and final) contribution for @oqpromptparty.

Prompt 16. No one dies and everything ends happy.

In which I write the fluffiest fic I ever wrote and answer a years-old challenge from @repellomuggletum15 and @starscythe to write something without a smidgen of angst.

“I do.”

The words feel surreal as they leave her throat, as though they don’t belong to her, Regina Mills, former Evil Queen and once, years ago now, a villain.

For the longest time, she believed redemption wasn’t in the cards for her. She thought that was her curse. All magic comes with a price, after all. To find herself here, after everything she’s done, exchanging rings and vows with the soulmate she’d long ago run from, is nothing short of extraordinary.

Standing tall — she can hardly believe how much he’s grown — next to Robin is her son, her (not so) little prince and she can’t help but glance at him, warmth spreading through her chest at the look of pride in his eyes. Their relationship, estranged when his biological mother came back to town, has evolved into a deep understanding of one another and a fervent need to defend each other at every obstacle. She wouldn’t be here today without his help, his belief and his blessing.

She mouths a silent thank you in his direction as Robin slides the ring in place on her left finger, bringing her attention back to him. His gaze is filled with love and adoration for her, the same devotion he’s shown for years, despite the danger, the hurdles and complications, and the occasional bouts of anger she’s thrown at him. He’s still here, standing by her side, the way he promised he would be when he proposed.

Together, he’d said, and here they are, in front of friends and family, making that same promise again.

Laughter bubbles out of Regina as she stares into his eyes, this amount of happiness overwhelming. As someone who’s mostly known pain and suffering all her life, she doesn’t know what to do with the joy that spills out of her every pore.

This room is filled with people who once hated her, citizens who trembled in fear when she walked into a room, now witnessing one of the most important days of her life. Snow White, the child who ruined her life, stands next to her in her maid of honour gown, watching her formal enemy unite her life to a thief who’d renounced every noble title his family owned.

Cora is assuredly rolling in her grave.

For once — finally — Regina doesn’t care.

She’s giddy with anticipation.

Robin’s expression matches her own, his grin as wide as hers as Archie says, “You may seal this union with a kiss.”

Oh, how they do.

[justanoutlawfic]

Robin’s Revenge: Part 6

For Day Six (Saturday) of @oqpromptparty.

#137: Henry worries about his mother and confides in Robin.

Takes place in the future of Confessions.

Also on AO3

From the moment Regina had been placed on bedrest, everything in the house had shifted. Robin was picking up the slack and trying to balance the kids along with his business. Luckily, Mal and Will came over as much as they could to help out. Mary Margaret took the younger ones a lot and even John would try to convince Robin to forget about the bar and just relax.

 But one person was working just as hard as Robin was and that was Henry. He had stopped hanging out with his friends after school and took on a lot of the chores, without even being asked. He helped the younger kids with their homework and tucked them into bed. If Robin had to dash to the bar at night, he’d make sure that everyone was okay. Despite both Robin and Regina telling him it wasn’t necessary, he didn’t seem to want to listen.

 Robin knew that there had to be more going on. Henry seemed so stressed, he was taking on far too much responsibility, more than a child his age should. It wasn’t even necessary, with all the adults pitching in, everything was going to be okay.

 So, when the kids were at yet another playdate at the Nolans, Robin decided to take Henry hiking. It was one of their favorite activities to do together and normally they had to do the easy trails because of everyone else, but that day, they could venture around as much as they wanted.

 “Henry, I know you’ve been doing more than your fair share as of late,” Robin said after a half hour of walking in silence.

Henry shrugged. “It’s not a big deal.”

“It is. Bud, you don’t need to do all of this. You’re still a kid.”

“Yeah, but I’m just getting ready. In case…” He trailed off and shook his head. “Never mind.”

“No, talk to me.” He placed a hand on his arm. “What’s going on in that head of yours?”

Henry sighed, biting his lip. “When Mom was pregnant with Evie…or well, Bryony, I guess…she got sick. She had to go to the hospital and she delivered early. I remember overhearing my mom talking to Aunt Mal about getting her affairs in order…just in case.”

“I’m sure that was very scary for you.”

“It was. Then…she was okay. She was fine. And I thought it’d stay that way…until she got pregnant again. It’s not as bad as before, at least she gets to be on bedrest at home this time but…” He bit his lip. “I’m scared, again. What if something happens to her? The other day I found myself angry at this baby because it’s hurting her and that’s not fair to them, they can’t help it. If something happens to her…what if I can’t love this baby?”

 Robin felt his heart sink his chest. Henry’s fears had been his own, way back when Marian was pregnant. She found out the pregnancy was high risk, that either she or Roland could die during any part of it. Yet, she soldiered on and in the end, it cost her, her life. When Robin got word, he was scared to hold Roland, scared that he would resent the newborn’s existence.

 Yet, when he finally did, he saw nothing but his son. This precious baby boy was all he had left of his beautiful wife and he would protect him with all he had.

 He also knew that Regina wasn’t Marian.

 “Henry, the doctor told your mom this isn’t like last time,” Robin said. “Yes, she’s on bedrest and will need another C-Section, but the whole point is to avoid what did happen last time. She’s going to be okay, the baby is too.”

“How do you know that? Anything can happen.”

“You’re right, it can. It happened to my first wife.”

Henry frowned. “I forgot about that.”

“And it’s okay to be scared, to be afraid. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t sure how I would handle Roland after Marian died. When I held him, though, I knew that he was my son. I knew that it wasn’t his fault and that he just needed me.”

“I’m still scared, Dad,” Henry whispered. “I love Roland, Bryony and Evie so much. I’m scared of not feeling the same with this baby.”

“You will. I know it, because you are a good boy, Henry. You have a huge heart and you’re rational. All these fears and the anxiety will go away once your mother has this baby, I promise.”

 Henry was still skeptical and he would be until the day that Regina gave birth. She was healthy and so was the baby.

 When Henry held his new little sibling, he felt stupid for ever being angry at them. Robin assured him that it was human and that it didn’t matter anymore. This baby would be loved and taken care of, just like the rest of the Locksley-Mills family.

[believingispowerfulmagic]

OQ Prompt Party 2018 Round Up

I want to thank everyone who participated in the @oqpromptparty, no matter what you did. You made it a resounding success and proved that our fandom is still alive and kicking! 

Here is a round up of all my entries for you to have easy access to. Enjoy! 

Monday: Winter in New York City

Prompt sent in specifically for my story Second Chance, Best Chance--Robin takes Regina to Bryant Park during the Christmas season early in their relationship.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Monday: Tender, Loving, Care

Prompt sent in specifically for my story Second Chance, Best Chance--Regina taking care of Robin. A glimpse into the future in Second Chance, Best Chance. Robin gets the flu and Regina and the kids take care of him.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Tuesday: Every Dog Has Its Day

Prompt #100: “Your dog likes me a thousand times better than they like your partner and sorry not sorry I love this dog” 

After getting engaged to Sidney, her boyfriend of two years, Regina moves Henry and their beagle Shiloh to New York City. Things are rocky for the Mills' family while in New York and the only bright spot is their vet and neighbor, Robin Locksley.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Wednesday: The Outlaw and the Queen

Prompt #46: They are rival vigilantes both trying to fight the villain of the town. 

A mysterious organization called the Coven has its hooks in Hyperion Heights and has turned one particular neighborhood, Sherwood, into its personal playground. After losing his wife to the Coven's violence, Robin Locksley gathers his friends and neighbors to start fighting back against the Coven. Meanwhile, across town, a mysterious assassin known as the Queen starts taking down the powerful people who protect Coven. Are these two vigilantes working for the same team? Do they want to be?

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Thursday: Page 23

Prompt #22: Page 23 showing up out of nowhere.

Roni makes a strange discovery in her storage room, one that leads her to a familiar story.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Friday: The Queen’s Thief

Prompt #6: Robin owes the Queen a debt so she has made him her servant til it is repaid.

When Regina rescues a man from an icy river, she tells him he owes her a debt and makes him use his skills as a thief for her own purpose. Robin, though, comes to enjoy working for the queen and one day, asks her for a very special reward.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Saturday: The Vow

Prompt #230. Robin and Regina make a pact that if both of them aren’t married by 40 they marry each other. They fall out of contact for a few years but Regina gets a phone call on her 40th birthday from a familiar voice…

It's Regina's 40th birthday and she has a few surprises waiting for her.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

Sunday: Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining

Based on prompt #42. Robin and Regina discover their respective significant others are cheating with each other. They support each other through the fallout and their sons decide to make them realize they should be together.

Regina's world shatters when she discovers her husband cheating with her best friend. It also shatters the world of her best friend's husband, Robin. Together with their sons, they rebuild their lives and find a second chance in each other.

FFnet/AO3/Wattpad

[ourheroregina]

OQ Prompt Party Week (2018) - Day 2

For the second day (tuesday) of @oqpromptparty I chose prompt No. 169. Regina is the dark one and Robin has the dagger.

(...)

Inhaling sharply, Robin pushes the key into the door, unlocking it slowly and quietly, hoping that quietness will soothe his worry and give him time to collect himself; hoping that at it will soothe a lost soul locked up in there.

He takes another moment to breathe and then pushes the door of Regina’s vault open and steps inside, unsure of what is waiting for him (last time he came here, she met him with a knife in her hands, threatening to end his miserable life if he doesn’t let her go).

Thankfully, he’d had the dagger, the Dark One’s dagger with himself, Regina’s name now imprinted on the gold metal. He would be dead, Robin thinks, if he hadn‘t had that damned dagger.

From the moment Regina was surrounded by darkness, she‘s been gone. One moment she was looking at him with tearful eyes, probably realizing what fate was awaiting for her, and the other the Evil Queen was standing in front of them, darkness radiating off of her soul.

It‘s Robin fault, in a way, that she didn‘t fight, that she gave into the darkness so easily. If he hadn‘t screwed up, if Zelena wasn‘t carrying his child, Regina could have fought back, she would have fought back. He knows.

But she‘s been angry and hurt, her heart broken again, even though she‘d smiled and took his hand, walked in the moonlight, pretending that she was fine. She‘s been so conflicted that there was no fight. She just blinked her eyes and was consumed by darkness.

And then the fun began.

The first person she tried to kill was Zelena, of course. Then it was Snow White and David. Emma and Captain Hook also made it into the list. Then it was Robin’s time. And he knew she would come for him, she had made it clear that she’ll end everyone who has ever hurt her and to be honest, Robin was pretty sure he was on top of that list.

And she came for him. She’s shouted into his face that he’s never ever going to hurt her again, and then her hand was in his chest, and his heart was pulled out. She’s grinned at him wickedly, squeezing the organ as her eyes burned from madness. He was saved by Henry who had accidentally walked in on the scene (he and Roland were the only people Regina hasn’t tried to kill). Whenever she saw her son, she would disappear, vanish in a bubble of purple leaving her victim breathless but still alive.

After this incident, Henry had admitted that he had Regina’s dagger. She’d given it to him and asked him to protect it, not to let anyone know about it (Regina loves her son, she really does, but that one time she manipulated him), but the teenager was so worried about his mother, he couldn’t keep it a secret anymore.

Since then Regina’s been locked in her own vault, her magic bound by a handcuff on her wrist. It pains Robin to see her like this: powerless, angry and vulnerable, but he has to remind himself that it is for her own good, that they’re doing this to protect her from herself.

Once they know how to bring her back, they’ll do. Until then, though she��ll stay where she is.

Swallowing hard, Robin walks down the stairs and opens another door of the cell where they’ve left Regina the last time. Surprisingly, she’s still there, sleeping peacefully on the bed Emma created with her magic.

She’s dressed in black, his Regina, the same black dress he’s seen her in the last time. Her long hair has fallen out of her bun, and now some of them are sprawled over the pillow, her eyes black all around from the heavy make-up she’s put the last time she’s had her magic. She looks regal, scary even in her sleep.

But he knows Regina is in there, somewhere under this mask, he knows that she can fight the darkness and return to herself.

She shifts a bit in her sleep, curling into a ball, and Robin swallows hard, wishes he could just walk up to her and kiss her, hug her and assure her that it will be fine, that they’ll be fine; that they’ll find a way to fix this.

Yet he knows once she’s awake, she’ll threaten to kill him or someone else again, she’ll make a show until he’ll be forced to use her dagger, to control her against her own will.

And he doesn't want to do that. He really doesn't want to.

He will, though. If he has to protect her from herself, he will use it. He'll not let her kill any more people.

He’ll not let her hurt herself even more than she already has.

“Get out,” a sleepy and rather calm voice snaps him out of his mind.

Robin turns his head down to look to bed immediately and finds Regina awake, her dark chocolate eyes opened now, no trace of sleep, as she stares directly at him with so much hatred, it makes his heart clench.

“Regina-“

“I said get out!” she repeats, her voice still calm but she’s getting angry.  “You are the reason why I am here! You’re the reason why I’m powerless now!” She spats out as she sits up, her eyes burning holes in his soul.

Robin is certain if she had her magic, she would be throwing fireballs at him by now.

“You know it’s for the best,” Robin says, stretching his hand out to touch her but she moves back, clenching her fists and gritting her teeth.

“I hate you!” She exclaims, and Robin has to remind himself that it is not Regina, it’s not the Evil Queen but the darkness. But, to be honest, he hates himself too, for hurting her, for breaking her heart the way he did. “I wish I have never met you! I wish Henry had never walked into that room and saved you!” She hisses, narrowing her eyes. “I still dream about your weak heart in my palm, thief. Every time I close my eyes, I think about ending your miserable life. And I will. Trust me. Once I’m free, you’ll be the first,” she states, and Robin should be afraid, he really should, but he’s not. 

Swallowing hard, Robin tells her, “I’ll save you, Regina. We’ll find a way.”

She laughs at him, disbelieving and he doesn’t argue with her. He just looks at her one more time, before he turns around and walks out of the cell before she’s said something more, before she’s hurt him or herself even more.

She’s shouting something after him, something about how much she hates him, but Robin doesn’t listen, instead he keeps repeating to himself that he’ll save her.

He’ll save her and bring her home.

And she’ll be herself again.

He will bring her back even if it will be the last thing he does.

With that thought, Robin walks out of the vault and goes to meet with Emma hoping tat the Savior has figured out how to save his soulmate.

[ariestess]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: Mature Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Robin Hood Characters: Evil Queen | Regina Mills, Robin Hood (Once Upon a Time), Knave of Hearts | Will Scarlet, Little John (Once Upon a Time), Mulan (Once Upon a Time), Friar Tuck (Once Upon a Time), Red Queen | Anastasia Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Non-Magical, Bars and Pubs, Divorce, Post-Divorce, Established Relationship, Falling In Love, Family Drama, Family Feels, Family Dynamics, Swearing, Mild Language Series: Part 8 of OQPromptParty2018 Entries Summary:

Once upon a time, Robin and Regina fell in love and got married and had two sons. Now they're no longer married, but still raising their sons together. Oh, and they still love each other. As Will says, "Hope springs eternal."

[outlawqueenmanips]

Wednesday #OQPromptParty2018 Prompt 68. Prince Robin has to choose a bride via competition for his heart and Regina is one of the girls competing

[queen-of-the-merry-men]

10 Years Later {Chapter 2}

The day they graduated high school Robin Locksely broke Regina's Mills heart. 10 years later and it's still his biggest regret. He's thought of her everyday since but now it's time for their high school reunion. Regina Mills is back in town and Robin has one chance to undo the worst mistake he's ever made.

This chapter was written for #OQPromptParty2018. Prompt #186. Robin gives Regina a ring. 

Read the full story on AO3. 

----------------------------------

10 years before...

Regina always loved the nights in Storybrooke. During the day she would dream about running off to some big city, a place where the people were different and the streets were livelier where she could just be herself but at night she couldn’t imagine anywhere better to be than right where she was.

Laying down in the back of Robin’s pick up at the edge of the lake, hearing the sound of the crickets blend into the music from the radio and cuddling next to him for warmth. He was always so much warmer than her.

She intertwined her fingers with his and sighed as she looked up at the moon, suddenly wistful. “I can’t believe we only have three weeks before graduation.”

Robin’s chest swelled beneath her cheek as he sucked in a deep breath. “I know. Only few more weeks left and we’ll be out of here.”

“Off to start our lives in Cambridge,” she mumbled.

Without even looking up she knew he was grinning. “You can say Harvard Regina. It’s not a jinx.”

“You don’t know that,” she laughed, shaking her head. A soft, excited hiss escaped her. “I still can’t believe I got in.”

“Of course, you got in,” he said. “They would’ve been crazy not to take you.”

It had been three days since she’d gotten her acceptance letter. Seeing that big envelope with the Harvard crest it felt like her heart was gonna explode. She’d worked her whole life for this, busted her ass so she could have a chance to escape this town. Knowing that she’d actually succeeded… well, she couldn’t imagine a better feeling.

“You sure you still want to lug me along with you?” he joked.

Gently slapping his chest, she chuckled. “You say that like you didn’t get into UMass.”

He snickered running his hand along her spine. “I think we both know that was only possible because of you.”

She shrugged her shoulders humbly but they both knew it was true. Ever since they were kids he’d always had her to push him, dragging him to study halls with her, encouraging him to do better even when he didn’t think he could. He doubts he would’ve graduated high school without her, let alone gone to college. But here they are, on the edge of change feeling like they had the whole world at their fingertips. Maybe they did.

He taps her shoulder, suddenly curious. “Hey, did you get your class ring yet?”

Annoyed, she rolls her eyes. “Nope and I never will now.”

“What?” He sits up, his face twisting to show his skepticism. “Why not? What happened?”

Regina scoffed, shaking her head. “My mother never ordered it. She said it was a waste of money and I’d probably end up losing it.”

Robin grits his teeth, silently cursing Cora Mills to hell. He’d never liked Regina’s mother but hardly anyone in town did. She was always belittling her, or saying something condescending. When Regina had told her parents that she wanted to go to Harvard, Cora had been the first to say that it was damn near impossible. He couldn’t imagine that she felt good about being proven wrong.

Sighing he reached for his own hand. “Well that just won’t do.”

A grin appeared on Regina’s face when she saw him twisting off the class he’d only gotten the day before. “What are you doing, Robin?”

“Giving you a class ring,” he said, matter of factly. Taking her hand in his he slipped it onto her finger with ease. “There you go. Storybrooke High Class of ‘08.”

Regina smiled, softly laughing as she looked down at the gaudy golden ring he just placed on her finger, it’s manufactured ruby glistening in the moonlight.

“What about you?” she asked. “Don’t you want a class ring?”

“You’re valedictorian, you deserve one more than me,” he said shrugging his shoulders. “Besides this is just a loan anyway.”

She raised her eyebrows at him. “A loan?”

“Yes,” he hummed. “It’s only until your father can order you your own or…”

He trailed off, leaving her in suspense.

“Or?” she softly asked.

He looked her at her, sincerity sparkling in his blue eyes. “Or until I can replace it with something better.”

Deep inside, Regina felt her heart flutter. Gently, she reached out to rest her hand against his cheek, a breathless smile on her face. “I love you, Robin.”

“I love you Regina.”

---------------------

Making her way through the bar Regina’s heart pounded in her chest. She sucked in a deep breath through her nose, hoping it would help steady her hands as she carried a tray of drinks back to where her friends waited.

She still couldn’t believe that she saw him.

She knew that she would. She’d planned on it, in fact, but she still couldn’t believe she’d seen him. That she’d stood across from him like that and just talked.

Robin Locksely.

The stupid fucking love of her stupid fucking life. She couldn’t believe that she’d just seen him. She couldn’t believe that he’d just stood there and talked to her like it was nothing, like it was easy.

And she definitely didn’t believe that he couldn’t believe that he’d had the audacity to look that goddamn good.

He’d always been attractive, she knew that, but time had been unfairly good to him over the last decade. He’d filled out since the last time she saw him, his biceps looking stronger than she remembered. His chin had lost the tiny bit of baby fat that he had at graduation and replaced it with a healthy layer of scruff that she couldn’t help but imagine running across her skin. The only thing that remained the same were his eyes.

Those deep blue eyes that she thought held her entire world when she was a girl.

Her knees had gone weak at the sight of them, at the sight of him behind that bar smiling at her, just like he used to. Reminding of her what it used to feel like back when she actually thought he loved her.

Finally reaching her friends she set the tray on the table before sinking into her seat.Training her eyes on the glasses of bourbon in front of her she didn’t even need to look up to feel the judgement coming at her from all sides.

Over the music, she heard someone clear their throat. Sucking in a deep breath, she looked up to find her friend, Mallory, with a glass of bourbon in her hand, looking at her with a tight, close-lipped smile on her face.  

Regina sighed. “Yes, Mal?”

Mal took set her hands against table before speaking. “Well, the girls and I were watching your little encounter and we noticed something.”

“What did you notice Mal?” said Regina, reaching for a glass of her own and offering up a wry smile.

“We noticed you weren’t kicking his ass!” barked her friend Ursula. Sitting next to Regina, she shook her head before grabbing a bourbon. “I took time off work to see that throw down”

“You took time off work because you hate your job,” deadpanned Carlotta, already sipping her drink.

“I can be here for two reasons,” argued Ursula.

Regina smirked, listening to them banter. She knew they were disappointed but sitting at the table with them felt just like old times. Mal, Ursula and Carlotta were her oldest friends in the world. She’d met them in high school, they’d kept in touch all through college and by a stroke of luck they’d all ended up in Boston afterwards. These women were her lifeline.

They were also the first ones she called when Robin broke her heart.

“You didn’t confront him?” asked Mal, leaning forward on the table. “After all this time? I thought that’s what you wanted.”

“Well I change my mind,” said Regina, lifting her glass to down all the bourbon in one gulp.

Ursula pursed her lips, unconvinced. “You mean he flashed his baby blues and you went weak.”

Carlotta hummed in agreement, raising her glass. “He smiled and you melted, didn’t you?”

Regina glowered at them, pissed that they could read her so easily. “It’s not like that,” she lied. “I just… it’s been ten years. And what he did was shitty but I am not gonna be the crazy one at this reunion who freaks out on a guy she hasn’t spoken to in a decade. I’m better than that. Plus I’m over it. I’m over him.”

Mal stared at her, the doubt evident in her blue eyes. “Really? You’re over him?”

Setting her glass down harder than she intended, she stares defiantly into Mal’s eyes. “Absolutely. One hundred percent.”

Mal shakes her head with a smirk but remains silent.

Put off Regina sighs before adding, “I have more important things in my life than Robin, you know that.”

It’s enough to get Mal to soften her judgement, tilting her head she concedes, “Fine, but I still think he should burn in a ditch.”

Regina chuckles. “Noted.”

Her phone buzzes in her pocket and she pulls it out to see her father’s ID.

“I gotta take this,” she mumbles before slipping away from the table.

Raising the phone to her ear, she finds a quiet corner near the bathroom to answer her father’s call.

“Hi daddy,” she whispers, a smile creeping onto her face. “Is everything okay?”

“Everything’s fine,” she hears him assure her. “I just wanted to check on you. How’s the reunion going? Catching up with old friends?”

A small huff escapes her. “More like old ghosts,” she mumbles. Changing the subject, she asks. “How’s Henry doing?”

“He’s good as always,” says her father, and she can practically hear his smile through the phone. He was so pleased the day he realized he was getting a namesake.

“He’s grown so much since I saw him last.”

Regina chuckles softly. “Yeah, well he better be. He’s practically eating me out of house and home.”

“He’s nine years old Regina. I wouldn’t expect anything different,” her father replies.

They chat for a minute more, her father double-checking Henry’s bedtime before letting her go. Pulling the phone from her ear she peacefully sighs, reminded that despite how she once felt about him the man standing behind the bar tonight was not the love of her life.

That title went to her son.

Her beautiful, nine-year-old son.

[oqpromptparty]

OQ Prompt Party 2018 Entries - Friday

Please find all of the entries for the fifth day of the Outlaw Queen Prompt Party 2018 below. Please let me know asap if anything is missing!

ankareeda - Link Prompt: #129 Writtenndust - Link Prompt: Author Specific robinlocksleys - Link Prompt: #63 AEBrim - Link Prompt: #6 justanoutlawfic - Link Prompt: #137 grayautumsky - Link Prompt: #70 #77 #186 politeregal - Link Prompt: Song #60 Nona__AM - Link Prompt: #230 simplymaterial - Link Prompt: Vidder Specific sbstevenson2 - Link Prompt: #16 willow1411 - Link Prompt: Art #12 sjcarter23 & Chicka024 - Link Prompt: #193 bethsphotoz - Link Prompt: #15 108MifflinStSB - Link Prompt: #149 #186 #84 #43 #39 Sparkles21_ - Link Prompt: #185 Starscythe - Link Prompt: #133 revsoftheheart - Link Prompt: #201 ourheroregina - Link Prompt: #24 ForeverOQ - Link Prompt: #151 CarolinaMR9 - Link Prompt: #17 greyregal - Link Prompt: #79 #216 stargazingM31 - Link Prompt: #158 persnickets - Link Prompt: #76 #181 dee_tqb - Link Prompt: #125 AngstMGStars - Link Prompt: Author Specific #133  Evilpanda_AvH - Link Prompt: Art #4 widenersa - Link Prompt: #17 SomewhereApart - Link Prompt: Author Specific SweetonDreams - Link Prompt: #76 audreysl0ve - Link Prompt: #102 #124 #77 thisisamadhouse3 - Link Prompt: #57 jojo_2853 - Link Prompt: #241 QueenOfTheMM - Link #31 angry_fish - Link Art #12 outlawqueenbey - Link Prompt: #1 #76 #94 #193 YouAreMyFutur23 - Link Prompt: #141 Lunaandtwilight07 - Link Prompt: Author Specific jenningzzz - Link Prompt: #4 Zoe_Louisey - Link Prompt: Author Specific quiller_queen - Link Prompt: #61 madnephelite - Link Prompt: #34 justwandering__ - Link Prompt: #70 GlindaLoveShoes - Link Prompt: #198 ariestess69 - Link / Link Prompt: #239 #132 orchidfeathers - Link Prompt: #169 OQ23_Seana - Link Prompt: Art #16 OUATBones - Link Prompt: #85 verkaiking - Link Prompt: #151 #181 #189 #200 #202 Song #23 gotatheory - Link Prompt: #165 ThisShallPass21 - Link Prompt: #129 ouaparrillaaa - Link Prompt: #2 lau_p_g - Link Prompt: #85 veronicaaa_xoxo - Link Prompt: #15 rocinantewrites - Link Prompt: #60 evilregalpotterhead - Link Prompt: #207 teresaSortiz - Link Prompt: #159

[revolutionsoftheheart]

OQ Prompt Party 2018 -- #7

Thursday’s contribution to @oqpromptparty.

Prompt 7. Robin makes three wishes.

Set during that episode which shall not be named. This got real angsty. I’m sorry.

One.

Robin is no selfish man. When faced with the end, he could have wished to undo it all, to preserve his life, or at the very least his memory, but instead he wishes for health and happiness for his children. Wishes for a good life for them, even if he won’t be around to witness it.

It’s the saddest part of all of this, isn’t it? He’s leaving behind children who are too young to understand the importance of his sacrifice. They won’t remember how much he loved them, how much he cared for the woman he gave his life for. His voice has been forever silenced, and the best he can hope for is for Regina to tell them when they’re old enough, the tale of his life and how in the end he did not die in vain. He’ll be their guardian angel, keeping an eye on all three of his loves.

He hopes they won’t grow up to resent him, that they’ll come to understand why he had to do it. He hopes his friends will too. His relationship with Regina had always been a contentious subject amongst his men, but this is where they are.

It’s too late to turn back.

Two.

He wishes for the last thing he sees to be her, alive and well, to know his death had purpose.

He turns around and there she is, horror and shock written all over her face, tears welling up in her eyes, and he hates that he’s done this to her, that he’s broken yet another promise. He’s hurt her again, even when he said he wouldn’t. 

She’s lost so many and so much, and now his name, added to the list of those who did not survive their encounter with The Queen. It breaks his heart to see her like this, but he has to believe she’ll be all right; it’s the only way he’ll ever find peace.

There are so many things he wishes he’d said. Time had gotten away from them. Their relationship, more so than any other time in his life, had been spent wishing for things that fate had seemed fit to put out of their reach.

She’s the strongest person he’s ever met. He regrets not telling her more often.

He looks at her now — truly looks at her, and reaches a hand towards her face. He doesn’t touch her — he’s too far gone for that — but he makes one last wish.

Three.

He wishes for this not to be the end.

[justanoutlawfic]

Custody: Outlaw Queen Ficlet

For Day 2 of @oqpromptparty.

 #185: “You can’t just take my child!” “I’m taking what’s rightfully mine.”

Also on AO3

Robin took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, with Regina rubbing his back. She felt guilt deep in her gut for not doing this when Zelena initially took the baby after his death. She hadn’t known what else to do, she hadn’t realized what she could do. Now that Zeus had decided to give Robin a second chance at life, he knew it was time to reunite his family. Roland was already back with them, safely being babysat by Henry.

 Now it was time to get his daughter…who he understood had been named after him.

 That would have to be fixed.

 Zelena opened the door, raising an eyebrow when she found the two on the other side. “So, it’s true,” she said. “You’re back now.”

“I am, for good this time.”

“I never thought that Hades would do such a thing.”

“You knew he was evil and you were working with him. Even if you didn’t want him to try to kill me or Regina, you still weren’t blind to what was going on.”

She sighed, throwing her hands up in the air. “I don’t know what you expect me to say here, Robin.”

“You don’t have to say anything, just give me my daughter.”

“We can work out custody…”

“That’s not necessary. I went to Rumpelstiltskin, he’s still an attorney due to the first curse.” Robin held up a piece of paper. “I’ve filed for full custody of our daughter.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“I am. This town may not be legally recognized by the rest of America, but Regina was smart enough to start up our own legal system. Everyone knows that you’re not fit to be a mother.”

Zelena looked over at her sister. “You can’t seriously be considering this.”

“I gave you a chance, Zelena,” Regina said, shaking her head. How she wanted her sister to be different. “Then when my evil half came back here, you were willing to work with her. You were willing to hurt more innocent people, you allowed her to kidnap Archie and he told me that you basically turned him into your live-in nanny. She’s not your child, she’s your trophy.”

 Zelena’s nose scrunched up and anger filled her face. She looked from her sister, back to Robin.

 “You can’t just take my child!”

“I’m taking what’s rightfully mine,” he replied, calmly. “Now, Emma is in her sheriff car at the end of your driveway. If you don’t give her to us, you’ll be arrested for refusing to follow a court order.”

 She glared at the two, but stormed back into her house. A minute later, she appeared with the 3 month old in her arms. She thrust her into Robin’s, folding her arms over her chest. He stared down at his daughter in awe, she had gotten so big in that time.

 “We don’t want this to be the end,” Regina said. “You can be in her life, supervised visits until we know that you can properly care for her…”

“No. You want her so badly, just take her.”

 The door slammed in their faces and the baby began to cry. Robin cuddled her closer, slowly bouncing her.

 “Shhh, it’s okay, Daddy’s here.” Slowly, the tears stopped and he looked up at Regina, smiling. “Thank you, for helping me.”

“I should’ve done this a long time ago,” she admitted.

“Do you really think she meant what she said? That she doesn’t want anything to do with her?”

Regina shook her head. “I doubt it. In time, she’ll calm down and do what’s best for Ro…the baby. You’ll have to come up with a name for her.”

Robin paused for a moment. “Lux, it means light. She was the one light in all of this.”

“I think that’s perfect.”

[believingispowerfulmagic]

OQ Prompt Party Day 5: The Queen’s Thief

Prompt #6--Robin owes the Queen a debt so she has made him her servant til it is repaid. 

Entry Day: Friday

@oqpromptparty; @oqcelebration

“We’re already two days behind schedule,” Regina huffed, stuffing her hands further into the black fur muff she had resting on her lap. She glanced out the window at the snow-covered trees that stretched on for endless miles, as if imprisoning her.

     Daddy leaned forward from where he sat across from her, patting her arm. “Relax, Regina. If the blizzard delayed you, it also no doubt delayed Snow White as well.”

     “But if we can move at last, so can she. I will not have her slipping out of my grasp yet again,” she declared as the carriage came to a halt. Anger and annoyance flared through her and she clenched her jaw. “What now?”

           “I don’t know but I will find out,” he said, opening the door. A blast of cold air filled the carriage as he stepped out and Regina pulled the blanket covering her legs tighter to ward off the chill.

           She leaned closer to the partially open door, trying to see what was going on. All she could see were snow drifts as high as their horses’ knees and the back of her father as he spoke with two of her guards. Regina stomped her feet to keep them warm and the blood flowing, hoping they would be on their way soon.

           “Well? What’s the hold up?” she yelled, unable to wait anymore as the trio of men whispered without her.

           The guards bowed their heads and stepped back, leaving Daddy to tell her whatever the bad news was. She watched her father approach, looking apprehensive. “The bridge, Regina…it’s out. We can’t continue.”

           She stared at him, dumbstruck, before her anger fueled a fire that threatened to consume her and everyone traveling with her. “What do you mean the bridge is out?”

           “The snows were too heavy for it and it collapsed into the icy river below. We can’t cross that either as it’s not entire frozen over,” Daddy explained.

Regina climbed down from the carriage, her boots sinking into the snow. She stormed past her father and her useless guards, approaching the river they were too afraid to cross. Broken pieces of wood littered the riverbank and she saw some floating in the icy water, which was also fast moving. It truly seemed impassable.

           “If I can put the bridge back together,” she said, turning to the nearest guard, “will you cross over it then?”

           The guard nodded. “Of course, Your Majesty.”

           She smirked, turning back to the river. “Then get some water for the horses and be prepared to move in about ten minutes.”

           Raising her hands, Regina concentrated her power to reconstruct the bridge. Pieces of wood flew from various locations and stitched themselves back together, forming a sturdy structure people could walk on and her carriage could roll over to the other side. Even if Snow managed to leave, she wouldn’t get far and Regina would finally have her.

           However, only half of the bridge rebuilt itself. It left a big gap between where the planks ended and the road on the other side of the river. There was no way her carriage could make such a jump and the water was too fast to chance fording the rest of the way. She scowled, realizing that too many pieces of the bridge had been washed down stream. It was possible for her to try and pull them back, but it would require too much energy and was no guarantee. Yet each passing moment meant that Snow was getting further and further away from her. Regina had no choice but to try it.

           She concentrated, funneling all of her energy to her magic and used the hatred for Snow to fuel the spell. Beads of sweat gathered at her hairline and she felt as if she were on fire. A few additional pieces flew from downstream and joined the rest of the bridge, which she took as a good sign. The bridge would be completed in no time.

           “Regina!” she heard Daddy exclaim. “Regina, stop! You’re draining yourself and could kill yourself! The bridge is not worth it!”

           “I…need…to…get…Snow…White!” she said, grunting even as she felt her knees start to buckle.

           Daddy grabbed her, causing her to break her concentration. They crumpled to the ground as she screamed her frustration. “I can’t let her go!”

           “Well, I can’t lose you,” he said, holding her close. “You’ll get her another day. I promise you that.”

           Realizing how it must look to have her lying in her father’s arms, almost near tears, Regina pushed him away. She stood up, though she wobbled a bit. “Fine. We’ll turn around and head back to the palace. Understood?” she snapped at the nearest guard.

           He nodded and everyone hurried to turn the carriage around before she climbed in. She cast one look again at her partially completed bridge and waved her hand, letting all the pieces fall into the river again. If she couldn’t cross it, then neither could Snow White.

           Before she turned back, she noticed something in the water. It appeared to be a misshapen log or a piece of ice. Still, something drew her attention to it and when she looked closer, she realized it was a man. He was caught in the powerful current and appeared to be clinging to a log to try to keep his head above the water. As he spotted them, he reached his hand to them. “Please…help me,” he said, voice hoarse yet understandable.

           Regina knew she should just leave him to the mercy of the river and return back to her palace. She had used too much power as it was trying to rebuild the bridge. Any more and she could pass out in the snow. It was a sign of weakness she could not let anyone—especially her guards—see.

           Yet she found herself using her magic to pull the man toward the river bank. She approached it as she did it, though she felt herself growing weaker. Regina sank down to her knees, reaching out to pull him onto the shore. He collapsed onto his back, breathing heavily as he stared at the sky.

           “Regina!” Daddy cried, sliding down the embankment toward her. “Regina, are you alright?”

She nodded, though her vision swam and her head was spinning. “I’m fine. That fool over there is not. Apparently tried to go for a swim in the icy river.”

           “What do you want to do with him, Your Majesty?” one of her guards asked, poking at the man with his toes.

           “I want you to carry him to my carriage,” she replied, glaring at him. “I didn’t rescue him just to leave him to freeze to death on the riverbank.”

           The guard nodded. “Yes, Your Majesty.”

           Daddy helped her up, steadying her as he guided her back to the carriage. There was a glint in his eyes and a smile tugged on his lips, which irritated her. “Why are you so happy?” she asked, snapping at him.

           “You saved that man,” he replied. “You didn’t have to but you did. There’s still good in you.”

           She tensed up at those words, hearing Rumple’s voice inside her head. You’re going soft, Regina. You’re showing weakness. And you know what happens when you show weakness…

           “I might have a purpose for him,” she told her father, trying her best to sound indifferent. “It’s always good to have people indebted to you.”

           As she climbed into the carriage, Daddy sighed. “Yes, I suppose so.”

           Her guards laid the man on the seat across from her and she wrapped him in the blanket that had been covering her legs. Daddy also placed the footwarmer by him and the slowly warmed him up as her carriage rolled back toward the palace. Though he never woke up during their trip, his skin began to regain its color and the blue drained from his lips. He no longer shivered and his breathing evened out, meaning he was on the road to recovery.

           Regina leaned back and started to figure out ways he could be very useful to her, smiling at each scenario. She was going to have fun with this one, she just knew it.

Continue reading on FFnet, AO3 or Wattpad

[ourheroregina]

OQ Prompt Party Week 2018 - Day 6

For the sixth day of @oqpromptparty, I chose to write prompt No.44. Robin is thrown through the time portal and meets young teenage Regina.

Nice reading!

From a very young age, Robin’s been told by his mother that his curiosity will get him into a huge trouble. And she was right. He got into trouble on a daily basis, time and time again, suffering punishments and healing wounds after.

It was supposed to teach him a lesson, to make him more careful but it didn’t.

Even now, after decades of life and its lessons, he hasn’t learnt from his past mistakes. When he heard a strange noise in the farmhouse, his curiosity has won over again and he went to see what was happening in there. Before he knew it, he was falling through the portal.

He’s ended up in the Enchanted Forest, he’s sure. He would recognize those trees  and those paths he’s walking down year after year anytime.

Sighing, Robin thanks his lucky star that he’s left Roland with Regina; at least he knows his son will be safe and sound until he figures out his way back to Storybrooke.

He takes a look around, and the green of the forest makes him smile despite this whole situation, makes his inhale deeply the scent of the trees. As he does so, he lets his head fall back, his eyes closing when Sun blinds him, and for a moment he feels so contended.

He’s missed it.

He’s missed it more than he cares to admit. When Robin opens his eyes again, the contentment fades away, his brow furrowing as he starts to wonder just how the hell he’s supposed to go back.

He knows this forest like the back of his hand, he knows he’s not too far away from the Merry Men’s last camp. They’ve left some things hidden in there (they needed a back-up plan in case the Queen changed her mind and thrown them out of her castle) and if he’s lucky, those things will help him to survive until he figures a way back home. With that thought in mind, Robin starts walking further into the woods carefully, scanning the whole territory with his eyes.

Gods, he wishes he’s had his bow and arrows.

All of a sudden he’s startled by a scream in a distance. It makes him turn around quickly towards the source of the sound, his eyes bewildered. He sees a figure running towards him and then he’s hit by something, his vision becoming blurred as he falls to the ground. His head collides with the grass rather hard and he groans, his hand immediately moving to the back of his skull, his eyes squeezing shut in pain. As if it wasn’t enough, something or rather someone falls on top of him, gasping, hitting him right in the ribs with an elbow.

Robin groans again but fights through the ache in his head and ribs and forces himself to open his eyes and see just who he had a pleasure to meet – after all, everybody could be good help right now.

“Regina!” He exclaims, his hands immediately moving from the back of his head to touch her and he touches her arm, narrowing his eyes so his vision becomes less blurred.

It’s really Regina! She doesn’t share Robin’s excitement though, because her whole body tenses at Robin’s touch, and she flinches, struggles to get away from him quickly, accidentally (or maybe not so accidentally) jabbing him in the ribs with her elbow one more time. Robin groans again, his face twisting from the pain.

Her eyes are wide and fearful even as she struggles to get up and away from him, spilling not sincere apologies. But Robin is so confused, he doesn’t plan on letting her go so quickly without figuring out why she doesn’t remember him, so he grabs her wrist to stop her from running away and looks at her.

And then realization hits him.

It is not Regina.

It is her younger version.

He was so surprised to see her, he didn’t even notice that her hair is much longer, falling past her shoulders, he didn’t notice that there’s no scar over her lip, that her face looks so young and pale, and her eyes, those eyes he loves to gaze into so much are just a little bit lighter.

Shit.

He fell through not just some portal. He traveled through the time portal back in time.

Bloody hell!

Robin is brought back to reality when she feels Regina struggling to get away from him and he releases his hold immediately, lets her pull away from him.

“Apologies, milady,” he lets out, still stunned by what he’s figured out.

She doesn’t acknowledge his apology, only lifts her skirts up from under her feet and tries to get up. Once she’s standing, she glances over her shoulder, inhales shakily and then starts running.

Robin reacts quickly, he doesn’t want to let her go yet. So he starts running after her, and she looks over her shoulder at him, her breathing labored as she tries to get away from him. But her skirts are heavy, and she’s tired if the black circles under her eyes are any indication, and Robin catches up with her in no time, blocking her way, stopping her.

“What do you want from me?” she asks, panting, her eyes wide and fearful.

Robin swallows hard as he looks at the girl in front of him. He’s seen Regina being afraid, has seen her shoulders shake from fear as the Wicked Witch played with her mind or when she’s heard the news (fake news, thank Gods), that her son is dead. But he’s never seen her like this, he’s never seen her this young and innocent and afraid, and powerless.

Regina’s voice comes into his mind and he remembers her telling him a story about how she tried to run away this one time and almost succeeded. Her marriage with the King was already arranged and she ran away from his castle after her meeting with her future husband.

And Robin is certain it is this moment.

So he tells her the first thing that comes into his mind, “I’m a thief, milady. And you’re obviously running away. I can help you.”

Regina only narrows her eyes at him, and stares at him doubtfully. He must look like an alien to her, he realizes, dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. He curses mentally at that, it will definitely not make her trust him more. But he wants to help her, he really does, because he knows how this escape is going to end if he lets her go. He knows that her mother will find her and lock her up in her chambers until her wedding day, and Robin will not let that happen.

“I can help you,” he insists again, lifting his hands up in front of himself, letting her know that he means no harm as he takes a step closer to her. “I just want to help you.”

“Why?”

Robin smiles at that, and says the first lie that comes into his mind for explaining that he’s her future lover would be much trickier.

“I’m a noble who ran away, too. I know how to survive in the forest and live without anyone noticing.” "I'm not running away," she states, crossing her arms over her chest defensively.

Robin’s smile only widens a bit as he insists again, “Regina, let me help you.”

For a moment she just looks at him, her face giving away her doubts, her brow furrowed, white teeth biting her lower lip. She's considering his offer, she really is, and Robin feels his heart starting to beat faster.

"Fine," she finally agrees, "But trust me, I know how to fight and if you try to hurt me, I'll kick you," she tells him sternly, defensive as always, and Robin chuckles and promises she'll not have to do that.

(…)

He decides to bring her  the Sherwood forest. He’s always found it the safest place of all. Regina will be save there, and he’ll teach her how to shoot an arrow and how to fight, how to find food and how to live like a bandit. He’ll teach her how to survive. “How did you know my name?” Regina’s voice makes Robin return back to the present and he turns his head to the side so he can look at her. "Would you believe me, if I told you I knew you?" He asks, and she narrows her eyes at him, shakes her head. "You're a Mills, of course I know you," he tells her then and she sighs. "Usually people don't recognize me," she says, and he feels his chest tightening for he’s aware of how it makes her feel, he knows how it will make her feel later in the future when she'll be the Queen and people will not recognize her until the Evil Queen will be born.

But it won’t happen to this Regina. Robin will save her, he’ll help her escape and she’ll not suffer, she’ll not become the Evil Queen. "It's a good thing that people doesn’t recognize you, isn't it?" Robin asks, trying to keep the mood lighter, "it will be easier to escape." "I suppose you're right." She tells him and turns away from him, blinking her eyes repeatedly as a tear falls down her cheek. (...) When they reach the edge of the forest, it is already getting dark outside. The air is chilly and whenever Robin glances over his shoulder to look at Regina, he finds her trembling, her arms crossed over her chest to keep herself warm.

“I think we should settle for the night,” Regina states when Robin turn to look at her again.

He nods his head in agreement; his own skin is covered in goose-bumps and he can barely keep his eyes opened – it seems like traveling through time drains a lot of your energy.

They decide to settle down in the old campsite, and Robin lights up the fire to keep them warm. It’s not the best choice to stay here in the open with wolves and all kinds of creatures roaming around but they have no choice so he sits down on the cold ground in front of the fire and Regina does the same and leans against the tree, her eyes closing almost immediately despite her fighting to keep them open.

Robin smiles at that and tells her that she can rest, he’ll make sure she’s safe.

His words have her eyes opening and she tries to glare at him doubtfully when all of a sudden a smoke of purple surrounds them. Regina lets out a panicked gasp from beside him, probably thinking of her mother, while Robin doesn’t even react for he recognizes this kind of magic with his body and soul.

He’s that accustomed to Regina’s magic now.

When the smoke fades away, his Regina is standing there in front of him, still dressed in the same red dress she was wearing this morning, her expression alarmed. Once she sees him, she lets out a surprised, “Robin!” and throws herself into his arms.

His arms are wrapped around her instantly, holding her close, inhaling her scent. Gods, it’s been only a day and technically she’s been with him all the time (well, not her, but her other version), but he’s missed her terribly.

It’s funny how quickly and hard he fell for her. When Regina pulls away from him, face now relieved, her teenage version clears her throat from behind them, bringing Robin back to reality. He watches as Regina’s eyes widen at the familiar sound and she looks over his shoulder and her mouth opens in shock.

“What-what is she doing here?” she asks, her voice shaking a bit.

Robin takes Regina’s hand in his, looks from his lover to her younger version who now shows no trace of sleepiness and then explains, “She was trying to run away from he- your mother. I know how this story would have ended so I helped her escape.” Regina’s eyes widen even more, “What did you do?!”

Robin just shrugs and quickly tells her how he met her and wanted to help her. He couldn’t let this young and innocent woman repeat the cruel story, he wanted to save her, and the more of this he tells to Regina, the more her brow furrows, her eyes narrowing as she glances at her younger version every few seconds.

“Robin, you cannot do that. You cannot change her – my past,” she settles on saying. Her eyes are bewildered, anxious. “Do you know what it could mean to me, to us? If she doesn’t marry the King, if she doesn’t kill him - (the younger Regina gasps at this revelation but Regina ignores it, continues),-  our future will be destroyed. Our present may be destroyed, damn it, it will be destroyed! Charming and Snow may never meet, Emma may never be born. Henry, Henry... Henry will not be born too. We will never meet.”

Robin inhales deeply. He knew the consequences from the moment he met this Regina, he’s been told about time travels and changing the past before. He was anxious about changing the past, about ruining their present and lives, he was, but how could he let this young woman suffer?

He couldn’t.

“I will not let her repeat the story,” Robin says simply and Regina huffs in frustration, her eyes widening with rage.

“Are you out of your mind?” she asks, shaking her head at him in disbelief, “You do not have a choice. I do not have a choice. She doesn’t, too. She’s destined to suffer, just like I did and if you change that, everything will be destroyed.”

“I’m willing to try,”

“ROBIN!”

“She’ll not marry that man. She’s not going to suffer the way you did.”

She looks at him, breathing hard from anger, her eyes throwing daggers at him but he stands his ground, he’s not going to change his mind. He will save this young woman, he will.

All of a sudden the ground shakes underneath them and a portal opens right in front of them. He turns to look at Regina who’s moving her hands in the air, her palms glowing in purple.

“You go,” She says rather harshly to her younger self, motioning to the portal and Robin sees how confused the younger Regina is for nobody gave a damn about her, nobody was willing to explain anything to her.

“I… I don’t want to-“ the teenager tries to protest but Regina glares at her, lifting an eyebrow in that intimidating way she sometimes does, and the younger version shuts her mouth and walks closer to the portal.

Robin wonders just how scared this young Regina is if she’s agreeing to do something like this without a fight?

“Thank you,” Robin whispers to Regina and takes the teenager’s hand, squeezes it, promises to meet her on the other side.

Swallowing hard, she takes a step closer and disappears in the portal. When Robin turns to Regina to thank her one more time (it’s obviously not something she is willing to do), he’s surprised to find Regina dressed in a blue dress that looks exactly like the dress her younger self was wearing. Her hair are now much longer, she looks almost like her young self, only her face is twisted in a frown as she looks at Robin.

“Regina?” he asks confused.

He takes a step closer to her but she takes one back, shaking her head to stop him. “I have to stay,” she tells him confidently, and he knows that voice, it means no good. “We cannot change the past. So I have to stay here and live the life she’s supposed to. I’m going to relive my own life,” she adds, looking straight into his eyes.

“No!” Robin exclaims, shaking his head repeatedly. He wanted to save her younger version but he had never wanted to hurt her, not like this.

What did he do?

“Regina, please,” he starts, not knowing what to say. All words leave his mind as he stares at her, not being able to believe that she’s actually going to sacrifice her life. “I’m staying,” she repeats, her voice stern. “You go and protect her, make sure she has a good life, make sure my sacrifice is worth it,” she tells him and quickly presses her lips to his.

Robin is too stunned to realize what is happening; one moment her sweet lips are touching his, the other he’s being push back and then he’s falling.

He hits the ground with a loud thud. His eyes open instantly and he’s looking around, cursing himself for everything is turning around him and he cannot see. His vision returns quickly, though, and he realizes that he’s laying back in a farm house, he’s back to the place where all of this started.

The teenage Regina is laying on the ground beside him, but Robin doesn’t feel any relief because of that, he keeps looking around, keeps turning, searching for her other version, searching for the one who did the most stupid thing imaginable.

Robin looks and looks and looks.

And then he screams.

[ariestess]

Chapters: 1/1 Fandom: Once Upon a Time (TV) Rating: General Audiences Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply Relationships: Evil Queen | Regina Mills/Robin Hood Characters: Evil Queen | Regina Mills, Robin Hood (Once Upon a Time) Additional Tags: Alternate Universe - Canon Divergence, Hiking, Rivers, Picnics, Domestic Fluff, Romantic Fluff, OQPromptParty2018 Series: Part 6 of OQPromptParty2018 Entries Summary:

"We have a picnic waiting for us, and we need to get there before the local fauna decide to confiscate it from us."

[outlawqueenmanips]

Monday #OQPromptParty2018 Prompt 54. Dark!OQ finding & taking in an abandoned baby 👶

[queen-of-the-merry-men]

10 Years Later... {Chapter 3}

The day they graduated high school Robin Locksely broke Regina’s Mills heart. 10 years later and it’s still his biggest regret. He’s thought of her everyday since but now it’s time for their high school reunion. Regina Mills is back in town and Robin has one chance to undo the worst mistake he’s ever made.

This chapter was written for #OQPromptParty2018. Prompt #31. Robin’s backstory for any story or as a stand alone for the one we were promised.

Read the full story on AO3.

-------------------------------------

10 years before…

Rushing down the street, Robin kept a tight grip on the garment bag he’d thrown over his shoulder. He’d just picked up his cap and gown for the graduation ceremony and he couldn’t keep the smile off his face. One more week and he’d finally graduate from high school.

Though a part of him was feeling nostalgic about Storybrooke, more of him was excited about all the things to come once he left. He’d be going to college. It was just a state school, barely two hours from the town where he grew up but still he was the first in his family to go. His dad couldn’t be more proud of him, saying so whenever he got the chance.

He just hoped his father was equally excited about the next big step he’d be taking.

Robin knew they were young, he knew it was crazy but he also knew there would be no girl more made for him than Regina Mills. She was smart and funny, sexy as the devil. But most importantly she made him want to be better than he was. Everytime he looked into her brown eyes all he could think about was how much he wanted to give her the world.

That’s why he wanted to marry her.

He was going to ask her after graduation. While everyone else celebrated he’d steal her away, take her to the lake where they spent their nights, get down on one knee and ask her to spend the rest of their lives together.

He knew he should be more nervous, that he should be more worried about what she would say, what their futures would look like but he wasn’t. Everytime he thought about it, he just felt more certain. Regina Mills was his future.

He just hoped his father agreed.

Walking through the door of the family bar, he found the place empty as ever but that was unsurprising for a Thursday afternoon.

“You’re late.”

A voice called out from behind the bar and he saw his father standing there wiping down glasses. Practically a mirror of his son, they both carried the same sandy brown hair and dimpled cheeks, the only difference being the stern look the older man had etched onto his face.

“Pretty sure they won’t teach punctuality at college,” he chided.

“That’s okay,” replied Robin, shrugging his shoulders, a grin still on his face. “I’ve still got plenty of time to learn it from you.”

His father tried to remain stern but his face cracked into a smile at his son’s wit.

Robert Locksely was a hard, sturdy man who could melt at any moment. He’d gone to war, been through hell, could handle himself in a fight and wasn’t afraid of anything or anyone. He was also the first person to laugh at a stupid pun and the last to lift his hand in violence unless necessary. Growing up Robin couldn’t have asked for a better father.

“Sorry I’m late, dad,” he apologized. “I had to pick up my cap and gown.”

“Oh yeah?” Robert smiles. “How’s it look?”

“Exactly the same as everyone else’s,” says Robin, rolling his eyes and taking a seat at the bar. “Just like a blue garbage bag.”

“Well I’ll be taking fifty pictures of you in that garbage bag just so you know,” said Robert.  

Throwing his head back, Robin groaned. “Really dad? C’mon…”

“Hell yeah I’m taking pictures,” he replied, a grin appearing on his face. “It’s your high school graduation. I won’t get another chance to be this proud of you until you graduate college. And on that day I’m taking even more pictures.”

Flashing his dimples, Robin laughed at his father’s pride. He might joke about it but it felt good to see his Dad in such good spirits. He’d been more than a little lethargic lately.

Reaching for another glass, Robert let out a wistful breath. “You know your mother would’ve been so happy to know you were going to school.”

“I know,” Robin softly agreed, turning a little solemn.

His mother had died when he was ten years old. Car accident on a rainy night, there’d been no one to blame but fate. When it happened he’d felt like his whole world shattered. He’d had no idea how they were gonna make it but his father had kept things together. Made sure the house was still running, that the bar was okay and still somehow finding the time to make sure Robin knew that he could always count on him. He’d never understand how he’d been able to do all that.

Clearing his throat, wiped his palms against his jeans. “Speaking of Mom, I kinda wanted to talk to you about something.”

Stifling a cough, Robert raised his eyebrows curiously. “Oh yeah?”

“Yeah,” said Robin. “I’ve been doing some thinking about me and my future and I…”

He trailed off, knitting his eyebrows together curiously as his father launched into a coughing fit. “Dad are you alright?”

Robert waved him off still coughing into the sleeve of his shirt. “I’m fine son. What did you want to… talk about?”

He pressed for his son to continue but Robin just watched wide-eyed as his father’s coughing fit grew worse, shaking his whole body, echoing through the bar.  “Dad?”

Still coughing and gasping for air Robert just shook his head before falling to his knees behind the bar, his mouth still smothered into the crook of his arm. In a flash Robin was out of his seat, running behind the bar to kneel at his father’s side. Concern in his eyes, he rested a hand on his father’s back waiting for his fit to subside.

“Are you okay?” he asked, his voice soft with fear. Kneeling next to him, he took a good look at his father face, taking in details that had previously gone unnoticed. Details like the dark circles under his eyes and the thinness of his cheeks. Rubbing his hand down his father’s back he realized that his shoulders bone felt more prominent than they used to do.

“I’m alright Robin. I’m fine,” his father said in a gravelly voice, as he lowered his arm.

But Robin wasn’t listening to him. He was too busy staring at the crook of his father’s arm. At the patches of blood that had started to sink into the fabric of his shirt. For a moment he thought his father must’ve cut himself on the counter. Then he realized… the blood was there because he coughed it up.

His father looked up at him, his blue eyes screaming with guilt and sadness.

Throat growing tight, Robin spoke, his voice coming out small and scared. “...Dad?”

“Son there is, uh, there’s something I should tell you.”

------------------------------

David Nolan had loved high school.

It wasn’t the best time of his life but he’d be lying if he said it hadn’t ranked pretty high. He’d been captain of the football team, had dozens of friends and even met the love of his life in his freshman math class.

For all these reasons and more, he’d been psyched for the reunion. It was a chance to catch up with all his old friends and relive some of the glory days. Last night’s kick-off event at the bar had been a success and he was looking forward to the women vs. men softball event taking place that day.

Of course, he couldn’t say the same for his cousin Robin.

Even from across the room he’d seen what happened. Regina Mills, ghost of ex-girlfriends past, had materialized right in his cousin’s face.

He had to admit he was surprised. From what he’d heard Regina had a decent life in Boston and he hadn’t expected her to come back to town ever, let alone for their high school reunion. After what happened between her Robin who could blame her.

A part of him still couldn’t believe that Robin had been so stupid as to let her go but it made sense.

The two of them hadn’t exactly been close growing up or in high school but after his Uncle Robert sick things changed. He and his parents had done everything possible to make things easier for Robin and his father. Then when he died, they were all he had left.

It was after Robert’s funeral that Robin revealed what he’d done. He’d been piss drunk that night, crying, mourning his father and wishing for the one person in the world who might’ve actually been able to make him feel better. Shame, he’d already pushed her away by then. When the morning came and his sobriety return David tried to convince him to go after her but Robin stone solid in his resolve. It was too late.

And he could only imagine what seeing her must’ve felt like the night before.

After everyone had left and the bar had closed up he’d tried to talk to him about but Robin refused. He just said things were what they were and that he didn’t want to go to the softball game the next day. He’d said there was no point.

He’d still allowed them to take Roland along though.

As he and his wife, Mary-Margaret, pulled up to the softball field he smiled back at his six-year-old “nephew” in the backseat. “Alright buddy! Are you ready for the game?”

His question yielded immediate cheers from Roland and Mary-Margaret, both of them shaking the poms in their hand colored with Storybrooke team colors.

The three of them exited the car to find the softball field teeming with alumni all dressed in their high school colors. David immediately spotted a few of his old buddies stretching out on the field preparing for the game. Hand over his head, he waved to them not watching where he was going. Out of nowhere another body crashed into his.

Immediately he started to apologize profusely before realizing who he’d run into.

“Regina,” he breathed, staring down at her.

“David,” she mumbled looking back at him, surprised. “Um… good to see you.”

He softly agreed, leaning down to give her an awkward hug hello. Releasing her, he let out a stiff breath as Mary-Margaret greeted her with an enthusiastic hello. While they shared a much more relaxed hug, David looked her over silently noting that age agreed with her. She looked different, older but even more beautiful than before. Happier even.

“So…” she ventured, gesturing toward the two of them. “I heard you guys got married. Congratulations. I’m not surprised at all.”

“Nobody was,” laughed Mary-Margaret, beaming up at her husband. They’d been together since freshman year and had been connected at the hip all through high school. When they’d gotten married two years after graduation all anyone had said was that “it was about damn time.”

“I am surprised to see your son though. Nobody told me about that,” she said smiling down at Roland, who shyly ducked behind his uncle’s leg.

“Oh,” mumbled David, reaching down to lift Roland up and set him on his hip. “He’s not ours. He’s uh…”

“He’s Robin’s son,” Mary-Margaret stated, trying to rip off the band-aid as quickly as possible.

As soon as Robin’s name was mentioned, he saw her go breathless. Her lips parting in awe, as her eyes widened taking another look at the six-year-old in his arms. He knew she was noticing the dimples in his cheeks and the curl of his hair, the only attributes his father could rightly claim.

“Oh, well, that explains why nobody told me.” She tries to laugh it off but it’s clear she’s become uncomfortable. Possibly, even a little hurt.

As if things couldn’t get more awkward, a wave of boldness suddenly strikes his nephew.

“You know my Daddy?” he asks.

Regina forces a smile to her before nodding. “I did… a long, long time ago.”

The group is silent for a beat, all three of them unsure on how to proceed now that Robin’s name has been mentioned. Thankfully, his wife gracefully takes the lead.

“So how have you been?” she asks Regina. “I heard you moved to Boston.”

“I did,” said Regina, nodding enthusiastic. “It just felt like the best place to be after I graduated college. I found a job in the city and things are going pretty well right now.”

“That’s good,” replies David, genuinely pleased to hear that she’s doing well. Knowing that she’s alright helps to assuage some the vicarious guilt swelling up in his chest. “Is there anything else new going on with you?”

A smile spreads across Regina’s face. “Well…”

“Mom!”

As if out of nowhere a boy runs up and joins their group. Immediately Regina wraps her arm around his shoulders. “Hey now what’s the rush?”

A grin appears on Mary-Margaret’s face. “Mom? Oh my god, is this your son?”

“Yes he is,” said Regina, nodding her head proudly. “This is Henry.”

“Oh like after your father,” David says, looking down at him curiously.

Regina’s son waves up at them and says hello, clearly a little bit bored. He’s got the same black hair as her with a pair of round hazel eyes and an angular nose. Already reaching her hip, he’s pretty tall for his age which David assumes is older than Roland.  Taller than any other kid at the field, in fact.

Looking up at his mother, he asks. “Can I have five dollars for the snack bar? I want a hot dog.”

“Sure I’ll go with you,” she says.

Henry looks up at her, an almost preteen look of annoyance on his face. “You don’t have to come with me, you know. I’m nine-years-old, I can make it to the snack bar and back on my own.”

Regina’s jaw drops in feigned shock. “For the record mister, I am coming because I want an ice cream cone. Not everything’s about you,” she quips, sending a wink his way.

“Okay,” laughs Henry, rolling his eyes, clearly not believing her.

Still chuckling, she pats his shoulder before turning back to her old friends. “Well I gotta go. It was good to see you guys.”

“Good to see you too,” David mumbled, the gears in his head slowly turning.

Watching them walk off Mary-Margaret hums thoughtfully. “They look cute together.”

“Yeah they do…” he mumbled. Turning to his wife, he curiously tilts his head. “How old did Henry just say he was?”

“He said he was nine,” she said nonchalantly. Her smile dips as the math suddenly hits. “Oh my god… he said he was nine.”

“Nine,” David repeats, feeling his heart start to race.

Their eyes widen at the same time and he knows that they’ve come to the same conclusion. As calmly as possible he passes Roland off to her and tells her to find a seat in the bleachers while he makes a quick phone call.

He’s certain that he’s never dialed a number as fast he dials Robin. After three long rings his cousin finally picks up.

“Hey Robin, look I know you didn’t want to come to the game but you have to get down here…. I know that you don’t want to see her but you have to…. Because she showed up here with a son and I think he might be yours.”