This arrow never misses its target.

"I OWN MY MISTAKES." Robin Hood RP blog;; part of onceuponat-rp Robin of Locksley spent most of his adult life helping the poor in any way he could, including stealing and taking actions that earned him a bounty on his head. Dubbed Robin Hood and Prince of Thieves amongst the people, he recently found himself fighting alongside the royals of the kingdom when he saved the (not so Evil) Queen and Snow White from a flying monkey. He swore allegiance and offered his services to the throne shortly after and hasn't left their side since. (I won't RP with indie bogs, sorry. But feel free to join us!) OOC tag;; empty quiver Tracking the tag;; arrowandhood gif credit;; (x)

[arrowandhood]

Man-to-man | Rumple & Robin

[nothing-isinnocent-deactivated2]

"Careful, dearie," Rumplestiltskin warned, watching Robin as he took his risky step towards the sorcerer. "You might want to rethink your next few steps."

The way the outlaw spoke to him, it made him angry both inside and outwardly. He was already aware he was a monster, there was no denying that. He has been changing for Belle and for Baelfire, but some days were more difficult than others. He knew the history he had with Robin did not help their current situation, considering he had tortured the younger man many years ago, probably scarring him for life. All he wanted was Robin to realize what a monster his so called “true love” was as well, almost as if he were doing him a favor. So she could not do something similar to Robin as what she did to him years ago, lying to him and making him believe that Belle had thrown herself from the tower she was held prisoner in and… it still made him crazy just thinking about the lie.

"I was a different man then, a man with more cause to keep up appearances. Being The Dark One comes with a reputation that is not exactly a clean one, as you already know." The justification itself was not very convincing, but at this point he had two goals: to make Robin understand that he and Regina are not so different, and that Belle had made the right decision in marrying him.

[arrowandhood]

"That's your reason to make innocents suffer?!" he seethed, "Your reputation?" Robin clenched his fists even tighter, nails digging in his palms. "Because of you, my son almost never knew his father!" He recalled how scared he'd been at the time, not for him, never for him. But for his boy, still unborn, inside Marian's belly. 

Of course, Regina had done the same, back then. Before he knew her, when she was chasing after Snow White (and him, too, sometimes), she would kill to make a statement. But she'd outgrown those tendencies. Had Rumple? Robin didn't think so (but he had no proof).

Robin shook his head, trying to push his anger aside, the reason with himself. "So what now? I just trust you?!" he asked, unconvinced, "After what you've done to me." It'd been easy, talking to Belle during the missing year, believing that Rumplestiltskin was a better man, because he hadn't been there. He'd been dead, and no matter what he'd tell Belle, it wouldn't bring him back (except Neal and Belle did find a way to bring him back, but still then, he hadn't been around, he'd been in a cage at his castle, controlled by the Wicked Witch). Having the Dark One in front of him again, in full control of his abilities, wasn't something Robin had thought possible.

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

Laughing at the outlaw’s comment, which echoed their first meetings, Regina playfully rolled her eyes; her heart fluttering at the fond memories (though she would have never thought of them as ‘fond’ back then, at least not the first one in the Enchanted Forest).

As she kept rocking Neal in her arms, the baby still holding onto her finger, the Queen’s eyes followed the outlaw unzipping the backpack. When he took out three bottles, she finally understood why the bags seemed to be so heavy. Of course, Snow would pack her entire house, just in case. She wouldn’t be surprised if she’d start calling every two minutes, unless her charming husband would restrain her.

When Robin walked out of the living room she followed, assuming he was heading for the kitchen (Regina loved how comfortable he’d already felt at her home; it gave her a sense of familiarity and domesticity she’d never felt before). However, his sudden halt in the middle of the dining hall brought a small smile to her lips as he faced her, after the outlaw took a moment to digest the Queen’s dinner preparations.

Regina closed the distance between the two as she spoke. “No, I shouldn’t have,” she replied honestly because true, they didn’t have to do anything to impress each other. In fact, a simple dinner would have been suffice. Or, hell, even skipping dinner and go right for the dessert. But… “But I wanted to,” she finished her thoughts aloud, before catching his lips in a quick, sweet kiss, wanting to take his guilt away. “Besides,” she smiled at him as they parted, “Nothing is ever ‘troubles’ when it involves you.”

[arrowandhood]

Robin muttered something resembling an okay and a thank you, sighing because that guilt was still tugging at his chest despite Regina's reassuring words. He pushed it aside as best as he could, and headed to the kitchen (where he was going in the first place before being distracting by the full-on romantic dinner he was missing). Would she have let him ravish her before dinner considering how well she'd planned it? Maybe. And if not he probably could have used his charms to get his way.

That thought put a smirk on his face as he opened the fridge to store Snow's milk. He then turned around, gliding to the other side of the kitchen to peek inside the oven. Lasagna. He faced Regina, put a hand to his chest in jest and commented, "You know the way to a man's heart," finished with a throaty chuckled.

He made his way over to her, grasping her arms with his hands. "I'm going to set up his park. You just sit back." He pecked her lips and then did the same to the infant in her arms. "Don't get any ideas Neal, she's mine," he added, scratching his stomach with his forefinger gently, eliciting a little gurgle from the happy prince.

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Hope for a Second Chance || Flashback || Robin & Belle

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

The way his voice shook as he asked, Belle couldn’t help a feeling of guilt about what she was planning. It was selfish and Robin had every reason to think she was trying to bring back a monster. She opened her mouth and then closed it without answering, and looked down at the books that had betrayed her purpose.

"I…I think it’s possible. I know normally it wouldn’t be…but…when he died…" She swallowed, closing her eyes. She could see the whole scene in front of her, the one that she relived in her nightmares every night. "He’s the Dark One…so the only thing that can kill him is the dagger. And when one Dark One dies, the killer becomes the next Dark One. But when he died…when he sacrificed himself to stop Pan and save all of us…he used the dagger on Pan. And they both vanished—with the dagger." She was trembling as she retold it; the pain of that moment was flooding back, even as she tried to push it away.

Her voice dropped to a whisper as she proclaimed the hope that was keeping her going: “The dagger can’t be destroyed; it must be somewhere, and…maybe we can get him back.”

[arrowandhood]

Robin grabbed Belle's hand as she recounted how Rumplestiltskin had died. He could see how the memories hurt the younger woman (he knew exactly how she felt; he was pretty much the same way when he lost Marian), and he wanted her to know she had his full support. 

However, "Belle, magic -- especially magic this powerful -- is very dangerous," the thief warned, unable to help the uneasiness he felt at Belle's plan. "It might be more prudent to stay away." 

He understood her desire to revive the Dark One. If she'd loved him just as much as Robin had loved Marian; he understood. But he couldn't just let her go on that quest alone. Magic always came with a heavy price, and it wasn't one Belle should have to pay (especially to save someone as vile as Rumplestiltskin, but he would keep that part to himself).

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

Regina returned the smile, biting her lip shyly and awkwardly. ”Yes, that’s what happens when I plan us a date,” she replied almost immediately.

She wasn’t completely oblivious to the situation. Regina knew how Robin looked at her with love and awe every time she was around Henry, but even more so around Roland; how she took care of the little boy, tucking him in, reading him bedtime stories or just the way she was embracing him. Robin was right, she did have a soft spot for children. There was something about the motherly touch she always had that made her feel naturally beautiful.

He was not talking about the way she looked that evening, it was more than that. However, Robin’s remark made her feel slightly uncomfortable in this situation. She appreciated these words, more than anything, especially coming from this man she loved, but Regina didn’t want to dwell thinking about it. So she added, in the most casual tone, ”But flattery won’t help you skip straight to dessert,” looking for a way out with her usual snarky remarks.

[arrowandhood]

The blush covering her cheeks let loose a flicker of pride inside Robin's stomach. She dismissed his compliment -- she was unused to such flattery -- but he knew she was pleased, and it made Robin happy to know he elicit such a reaction from her. At her second comment, he smirked, bit his tongue for a second before he said, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it," complimenting his words with a short bow, reminiscent of their first meetings (both of them).

He went back to the couch, unzipping the backpack and reaching inside for three full bottles of milk they'd need to put in the fridge. Snow had given him more than they'd need, but, as with everything she had put in Neal's overnight bags, she had put more of everything just in case, she'd said.

The milk was the only thing Robin was familiar with, the one thing that hadn't changed in this strange realm, for all the rest was baby powder (Snow claimed it smelled amazing, Robin wasn't convinced) and cream (Robin had learn how to make a little herbal concoction from a midwife he'd befriended when Roland was young; he supposed this was similar) and diapers that you didn't need to wash (this befuddled him).

Robin had visited Regina's mansion a few times, enough that he was now at ease in her home. He wouldn't consider it as his yet (they had decided to take things slow, and one day at a time), but the outlaw felt comfortable enough to move around her house without her hovering around. So he gathered the bottles of milk and headed for the kitchen.

He stepped through the dining hall first and, for the first time tonight, noticed the extent of Regina's preparation for the night. The lights were dimmed, candles were lit, the flickering flame bathing the room in a fainted glow. It made Robin halt in his step before he could reach his destination, and he turned around to face her (he'd heard her footsteps following him). "You shouldn't have gone through this much trouble." Guilt gnawed at him at the perfect image of a romantic dinner she'd set up for the two of them. She'd put great care and thought into this, and he'd ruined it.

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Hope for a Second Chance || Flashback || Robin & Belle

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

"A second chance…" Belle echoed aloud, gnawing on her lower lip. She’d been thinking constantly of how Rumple had died since it had happened, and how the dagger had vanished—along with him. It filled her thoughts constantly in the silence. She was convinced that the Dark One would not so easily cease to exist, and if he could be revived—he’d still be Rumplestiltskin. It was just a matter of finding the dagger, or enacting the right ritual—something. There had to be a way to get him back. She’d confessed as much to Neal when they’d first come back to the Enchanted Forest, as crazy as the thought was—and he didn’t think it was so crazy. It was this slim hope that kept her going, instead of dwelling in grief and emptying the wine cellars of the castle.

"Robin…if…if it were possible, if you could somehow bring Marian back…" Her voice trembled, and her gaze was aimed at the books on the table though she wasn’t seeing them. "Would you?" 

[arrowandhood]

The question stunned him, froze him in place and his eyes darted to the table as well, unable to meet Belle's. "I," Robin started, but the words caught in his throat and he was unable to finish his sentence. "I don't know," he answered truthfully. The thought had never crossed his mind. To bring someone back from the dead, one would need magic, very powerful and dangerous magic, the kind you'd better stay away from. The outlaw didn't think such magic even existed in the world. But bringing back Marian, for Roland to know his mother. It troubled him, how hesitant he was over the question. 

Even if bringing back the dead was possible, that kind of magic was probably wielded by the darkest of sorcerers (thought considering Belle had fallen for the Dark One, perhaps she didn't share Robin's aversion to magic). 

The outlaw paused at the thought, his eyes focusing for the first time on the books laid out on the table, all sorts of dark tomes and grimoires. He looked up at Belle, a switch flicked in his mind. "Is that... what you're trying to do?" he asked, unable to stop the slight quaver of his voice. "Revive him?"

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

Her teasing grin only grew wider when she met the the outlaw’s glare, which quickly faded. She knew he wasn’t angry, not really, but knowing the exact influence she had on him satisfied her more than she’d imagined.

She carefully took Neal, settled him comfortably in her arms while Robin turned away from them, couldn’t help but teasingly mumble, “I stopped playing fair the moment my plans for the evening were ruined,” as she looked down at the baby. He was wide awake, taking in his new surroundings with his big eyes now, and Regina’s heart swelled.

Rocking him gently, she brushed her finger up and down across his cheek, smiling down at Neal scrunched face. Regina suddenly forgot all about her plans for that evening, not caring too much they were forced to change, because having a baby in her arms, a baby who just reached up and wrapped his tiny finger around hers- it was all worth it.

All of a sudden, Regina realised Robin hasn’t said anything in reply; she prepared herself, expecting the full-blown teasing, witty bite in return to her own comment, but instead the outlaw was being quiet. She finally tore her eyes away from the baby and looked up at Robin, who was simply standing there, in front of her, doing nothing but looking at her.

"What?" She asked, still smiling, and in that moment, Regina felt more self-conscious than ever, feeling faint blush taking over her cheeks.

[arrowandhood]

Her words hadn't even registered in Robin's brain, too caught up he was in the sight of her, the way a simple child was enough to transform the supposed Evil Queen into the simplest of women. She blushed at his unwavering stare, and he chuckled softly, her sudden shyness an adorable feat. 

If only she would let the world see that side of her more often, the side Robin had just glimpsed, the one she kept well-hidden. She raised her walls high; even now that she was a hero, she couldn't seem to let everyone else see her for who she really was. And who she was was truly remarkable; something Robin could spend his life uncovering, pealing off the layers of her insecurities one by one, as she let him -- he'd never impose himself -- leaving her soul bare for him (and the world, when she was ready) to stare at in amazement. 

Robin smiled. "You're beautiful," he answered, genuinely, as if it was the obvious thing in the world.

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

The wide grin on his face and his chuckle were worth everything. If her own smile hasn’t been as wide before, it surely grew wider at his words now. Yes, she liked the sound of it as well; sharing the rest of her life with her soulmate.

Regina looked down at the baby as Robin did, letting out a soft laugh of her own when he spoke and poked his stomach. Neal’s squeals were like music to her ears, she forgot how much joy a baby’s laugh brought to her. Regina caught the newborn’s hand, caressing his tiny fingers and letting go of it as she stole a glance at Robin.

He was too busy looking at Neal, but Regina’s heart fluttered, suddenly realising the sight her eyes caught. Robin was a great father, that she already knew. But seeing him holding a newborn, making him squeal- it filled her heart with so much love that she never knew before, and it made her stomach flip with excitement.

When he spoke, bringing her out of her thoughts, she looked at him again. “Lasagna,” she replied as she walked toward the living room, with Robin just behind her. The mischief in his voice didn’t go unnoticed. “I’d suggest we skip straight to dessert,” her tone was alluring and suggestive. She put down the handbag she held on the couch and slowly stepped toward him, a teasing grin on her face as she reached for the baby, to allow the outlaw getting rid of the backpack he was carrying. “But I’m afraid we have company,” she whispered as her eyes shifted to the child.

[arrowandhood]

The outlaw removed his shoes and followed Regina into the house, to the living room, his excitement at what the evening had in store for them only increasing with her words. He mentally cursed the baby currently in his arms, not intentionally -- as babies went, this one seemed relatively good -- but Regina was making him pay the price for this unforeseen turn of events, and he couldn't to anything about it because he had Neal nestles comfortably against his chest. 

"You're not playing fair," he mumbled as she turned around and returned a glare to her teasing grin, a glare that didn't last long because there was no way he could stay angry at this woman (not that he was, but he wished he could quip something back at her -- the look in her eyes made it impossible for him to formulate words).

Robin carefully handed her the baby before turning around and dropping the backpack to the floor. His shrugged off his coat and let it join the bag on the couch and turned to face Regina again. The sight that greeted him made his breath catch in his throat. He'd seen the mother in the Queen on the day they met, but looking at her now, up close and unguarded, free like he'd never seen her, made him appreciate it even more. 

She was radiant, a thing of beauty, and the world could end now, he didn't care because this is the last image he would see. 

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Hope for a Second Chance || Flashback || Robin & Belle

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Belle smiled softly. She’d read the boy a few bedtime stories since they’d come to inhabit the castle together, glad to know the child that her adventure all those years ago had so intimately affected. “Roland is wonderful,” she said. “His smile lights up the whole room. I’m glad you have him—and he’s lucky to have such a caring father.”

She had been thinking for some time that she should talk to her own father; enough time had passed since their falling out, and she could see how he might have thought he was helping her. If he was willing to see her side of it, too…maybe they could forgive each other. It would be better than losing him forever, especially now that she didn’t have Rumple.

"I’ve got Neal and Red, and of course the Charmings are lovely…but…it’s hard not to feel alone without him. It’s even hard to talk about it to people because…well…even after he sacrificed his life to save all of them, they…mostly remember the worst things he did instead. So…” she bit her lip. “It’s hard for them to understand what I feel, even if they want to be kind.” 

[arrowandhood]

"I'm lucky to have him," Robin replied with a warm smile, his heart swelling with pride at the thought of his son, his growing, patient, polite boy of whom he couldn't be more proud.

The outlaw nodded at Belle's confession. He could understand how she felt because he'd lost someone too, but the torture he endured at the hands of the Dark One clouded his judgement too. "I'll be honest, my memories of the Dark One," Robin couldn't even call him by his name; a name humanized him, and he couldn't do that, not after how Rumplestiltskin had treated him in his dungeons, "are some I'd rather forget." He trailed off, a shiver running down his spine at the memories, still fresh despite the years.

"But I've always said everyone deserved a second chance," he completed, trying to convince himself of his words. He'd told the Queen the same thing, the night they stormed the castle together, and if he believed it true for the Evil Queen, who'd done countless horrors, he had to find a way to believe it for the Dark One as well, if only for Belle's sake (because the truth was, he didn't know how he would react if he had to confront the mage again). 

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

Robin faced her as she was about to walk past him into the living room but instead, he took a step toward her; his hand was in her hair, his lips fiercely capturing hers before she realised it. Regina couldn’t help but chuckle into his mouth. Her free hand reached up to rest against his biceps as she returned his kiss, deepening it as he angled her head. She wanted to pull herself close, straight into his embrace, but Regina was very much aware of the baby who was getting in their way.

He released her lips too quickly, but it was enough to leave the smile lingering on her face. She shook her head at his apology, knowing his intentions were good and that Robin was genuinely sorry for messing with her plans. Her fingers trailed up and down his arm as she whispered, “It’s alright,” before she pulled away, searching for his eyes. She spoke again when he met her gaze. “We’ll have other opportunities,” Regina paused, swallowing before letting the next words out. “We’ve got the rest of our lives, right?”

The rest of their lives. This was what Robin had promised her when they got back together but she was too scared of this kind of commitment so soon. They haven’t been together for too long since, but the time they spent together left no doubts in her heart that she was ready for it now. And she needed Robin to know that.

[arrowandhood]

Robin caught the forgiveness of her gaze and the way her mouth curved up, but he didn't move his forehead from hers, simply smiled at her reaction. She wasn't angry with him. His shoulders sagged with relief, tension leaving his body as his thumb stroke Regina's temple before she pulled away; not far though, just far enough so their eyes met as she spoke, and his smile widened at her words, a fool in love when she said, "We've got the rest of our lives, right?"

"I like the sound of that," he replied, a lopsided, smug grin accompanying his low chuckle, like a rumble from deep within his throat. (It was what he'd told her the day they decided to give their relationship a second chance -- merely a few days ago, but they'd done so much progress in so little time, and Robin was beyond happy every time Regina believed in trust and hope and everything else she'd had trouble grasping all her life.)

The thief then turned to the wide-eyed baby in his arms, poking Neal's stomach with his fingers. "What do you think, baby?" Robin questioned the little Prince in his arms, as if he had an answer for Regina. Neal squealed in delight at Robin tickles, the sound echoing through the near-empty foyer of Regina's home.

When the baby quieted, the outlaw lifted his head again and inhaled loudly before declaring, "Smells wonderful! What are we having?" and his question was asked with a hint of mischief, eager and hungry he was (and not only for the food).

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Hope for a Second Chance || Flashback || Robin & Belle

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

She smiled softly. “It…it is hard sometimes. Especially when I go on the wrong side of the castle and I see the view I occasionally got to see back then—it all comes rushing back. I never knew when she was planning to kill me, or if…” Closing her eyes, Belle glanced down at her book. She’d been deprived of those, too, while she’d been a captive.

"But I had hope—I had true love to fight for, and that kept me going. It’s…it’s what’s keeping me going now, to tell the truth. But it’s harder now. The hope is so slim." 

For almost anyone else, it would be an absurd, ridiculous hope, the stuff of pure denial. Sometimes Belle doubted herself whether there was any substance to her theory that since the dagger had vanished with him, Rumple could possibly come back. It was possible she was going to have to face a future without him, forever.

"When…when Marian died," she said, raising her eyes to look at Robin. "How…how did you cope?" And then she realized what a direct and horrible question it was, and shook her head. "No…you don’t have to answer that," she added quickly.

[arrowandhood]

Robin nodded. He understood about slim hope. He'd had to fight for his family, when Marian was sick and when he eventually lost her. Hope had been such a feeble thing in his life for a while -- it was something for heroes and epic love stories, and he only had death and a child to take care of -- but he'd found family didn't necessarily mean blood-related, and he owed his survival to the Merry Men, who had supported him through the ordeal. And to his son; whom he only glanced and saw Marian reflected back to him.

"Roland," he answered quickly, shaking his head. He didn't mind talking about it. Not anymore. "I was in a very dark place for so long," he admitted. "Marian's death was my fault." His men kept saying it could have happened to any of them -- a job gone sour wasn't anyone's fault -- but Robin had always carried that weight on his shoulders, because of him, his son would never know his mother. But it was also because of his son that he needed to put that behind him, to be a better man, now more than ever.

"Eventually, I realised I was hurting my son," the outlaw said, still slightly ashamed about it, "and that I had to let go -- for his sake," he paused, then added, "and for mine."

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

Regina’s eyes widened again, with anger this time, and she almost snapped at him again when he mentioned the Charmings wanted an evening alone. Of course, her step-daughter would get what she wanted but her own plans could go to hell. She didn’t get the chance to snap at him, though, because Robin’s next words forced her to snap out of the anger building up inside her.

He didn’t know, she kept telling herself. And the reason he offered to babysit was because he was only having her son’s best interests at heart- how he’d love to spend some time with his uncle. Which was true, Henry was crazy in love with the newborn, and Regina could see why as she looked down at the now-awake baby. This wasn’t Robin’s fault, wasn’t anyone’s fault and she knew it. Surely if Robin knew, he would rather spend the evening alone than offering to babysit.

Neal’s big eyes were fixed on Regina’s, and within seconds, her eyes softened and her heart melted at the sight. He was about the same age as Henry was when she first laid eyes on her baby and he looked so much like him. All of a sudden the anger was gone; not completely, because the missed opportunity for a proper date night still tormented her, not knowing when they would get another chance, but she had to put it away.

"No!" She was quick to respond when he offered to take the boy to his camp. "No, don’t be ridiculous," she closed her eyes and sighed deeply before reaching out to take the overflowing handbag Robin was carrying. Regina stepped aside to let him in before she closed the door behind them. "Just make sure they know they owe us for this," she muttered bitterly.

[arrowandhood]

Robin handed one bag to Regina, securing the other one on his shoulder as he stepped inside the mansion, relief washing over him. He would have gone back to his camp had she asked him to, but even babysitting was better in Regina's company. Anything was better as long as he was with her, he thought. (Plus, she could help him sort of half the baby stuff from this world he knew nothing about.)

Once the door was closed, he turned around, facing her, and the little, adorable frown she still sported, and took a step toward her. "I just need to..." he half-mumbled, barely above a whisper as he closed in on her, his free hand reaching to dig into her dark tresses. He tucked the baby against his chest and captured her lips, her enticing red lips he had wanted to kiss ever since she opened the door, and allowed his mouth to move over hers properly, using his hand in her hair to angle her head to give him better access.

He released her lips with a small pop and pressed his brows to hers, breathing her in. "I'm sorry," he said, genuinely apologetic.

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Hope for a Second Chance || Flashback || Robin & Belle

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Belle was grateful when Robin took her hand. She did need a friend right now, as hard as it was to admit to herself. And then he asked about what had happened after he had been freed. She paused before she could answer; what felt like multiple lifetimes had happened since then, and she knew that he’d lost Marian in that time as well. She didn’t want to cause him to remember the same pain she was in just then.

And yet, of course he wanted to know. He had believed he was leaving her to her death.

"A lot," she admitted. "But…Rumple was angry at first, and wanted to kill you…he actually hunted you down with your bow, but he stopped when he saw that Marian was pregnant with Roland. He let you go, because he wanted Roland to have his father." She smiled at the memory; it had been the first time she’d embraced him, when she realized that she hadn’t been wrong about the goodness in him.

"He started to be kinder to me after that, too, and I was almost happy there, until he cast me out. It…it wasn’t entirely his fault. He was afraid that if he lost his power, he’d never see his son again. We…we fell in love and—he sent me away. I would have gone back, but the Evil Queen stopped me and kept me locked away until the day the curse was broken." She shrugged, and then shuddered at the memory. "I spent almost three years trapped in this castle. There’s a tower…on the east side."

[arrowandhood]

The outlaw wasn't surprised that Rumplestiltskin had hunted him down. He hadn't expected different from the man who didn't let anyone double cross him. Robin had always wondered what had made him stop, why he'd survive his escape. What Belle just told him and what he knew from Neal explained it all. Rumplestiltskin had a weakness, and separating a father from his child was something even the Dark One couldn't do.

"I'm sorry," Robin offered when Belle finished her tale and gave the woman's hand another squeeze. His men had been chased by the Evil Queen's dark knights, but they had been lucky enough to escape them every time. They had never been her prime target though, so intent was she on capturing Snow White. Sometimes, Robin thought he would have been caught if it hadn't been for Snow.

"It must be hard for you," he guessed, "being back here." The first time Robin had set foot in the Dark One's castle, he had been overtaken by a wave of nausea. He'd fought it for his boy. They had needed protection from the ogres, and the castle was a perfect cover, the dark magic practiced for years within its walls seemed to keep the ogres away. But he knew how hard it was to come back to a place where you'd suffered horrors.

Luckily for them, the Queen seemed to be on her best behaviour these days, if a little snippy, but even a change of heart didn't make it easier to face your jailer. Robin would never tell Belle, but a part of him was glad Dark One was dead. He never wanted to face him again.

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

In between the shock of seeing an unexpected bundle in his arms, Regina caught a glimpse of Robin’s reaction; the way his jaw dropped, his adoring, lusty eyes which explored every single inch of her body, knowing that his only thought right now was pushing her against the nearest wall and kiss her senseless until they were both out of air.

This was exactly what she wanted to see in his eyes when she greeted him. That is, if circumstances were different.

"Indeed, I was supposed to,” she started, still trying to process the situation. “Until Henry found out you were supposed to have a kid-free night, and offered to spend it at the station with Emma to let us enjoy an evening for ourselves. Remember the last time we’ve had one of those?” This came out a bit harsher than she intended, but Regina couldn’t quite restrain herself. After putting so much effort to make sure this evening would run smooth and perfect, finally having him all just to herself- this babysitting duty was the last thing they needed this evening.

Regina was confusedly frowning at him, because expecting her to have Henry tonight still did not explain the fact he was holding the newborn prince in his arms while he was coming over to spend an evening with the mother and son. Looking down at the baby again, she continued. “Now what is he doing here?”

[arrowandhood]

This whole situation was like a cold shower for Robin's libido, made entirely worse by the fact that Regina knew exactly the effect that dress had on him (her ire against him only made her all the more enticing — he'd always loved her feisty side), and he was stuck on her stoop, able to look but not touch, because he thought he'd lend Snow and David a hand and babysit Neal for the evening. He hadn't planned for this evening to go sour so early (he hadn't planned for it to turn bad at all actually).

"Charming stopped by the station this afternoon looking for Emma," Robin explained. "He and Snow wanted an evening alone…" he slowed at the end, knowing how that would sound to Regina, considering that is exactly was she had had in mind for the two of them. The thief shook his head and quickly followed with, "Emma wasn't there, so I offered to take him," he paused, "thinking you had Henry and that he would like to see his uncle." He insisted on the last part, hoping to dodge some of her fury. He had only had good intentions, surely she could see that.

"I can take him back to my camp if you'd rather…" he offered, looking rather sheepish, as he looked down as the now-awake almost-month-old baby in his arm. Snow would hate knowing that Neal had spent the night outside, but Roland had been raised in the woods and everything had been fine. He didn't have to tell the Princess what really happened with her baby that evening. She would be none the wiser.

Though, how could a baby stop them from enjoying their evening together? Robin knew babies needed attention, but surely they could manage to take care of Neal and have some grown-up fun.

[arrowandhood]

Man-to-man | Rumple & Robin

[nothing-isinnocent-deactivated2]

He had heard, even briefly seen, that Robin’s wife was alive once again. He had a child with this woman, a life before Regina. It sometimes made him wonder if Regina had a hand in making Robin so conflicted between the his commitment to his wife and his new-found love for the Queen.

"M’yes, I am quite aware of that." Rumplestiltskin was not only all too annoyed with the outlaw for his sudden physical outburst towards himself, The Dark One, but also to the way he didn’t seem to appreciate the fact that his dead wife was now alive. A woman he once loved more than life itself, he was sure. He had tried to kill him once, and Belle had stopped him because of the way he showed the amount of love he had for his family. He merely wished his wife to live. What he wouldn’t give to have the chance for his son to be among the living once more. He would take that chance and run with it, if he could.

It was becoming increasingly obvious that his words had gotten to the thief. His expression turned into one of pure anger, one he’d seen on the man before. “I did know her at that time of her life, I had recently become my mentor when I learned of her wish to resurrect him. If by changed you mean for the worse, then you are doing a great job in convincing me. She showed me exactly what she was capable of that day, by crushing a young girl’s heart with no motive.”

[arrowandhood]

"You're a monster," Robin let out between gritted teeth, fingers flexing and clenching into fists again. The argument had nothing to do with their current conversation and everything to do with the venom circulating in the thief's veins, with his own rage against the Dark One, against the man who had tortured him all those years ago.

He knew of the horrors of the Queen's reign. Crushing the heart of an innocent woman wasn't very different from the villages she had burned down in her search for Snow White. He'd heard the tales, but he still couldn't help how totally enraptured by her he was, how he couldn't get Regina out of his mind despite the return of is wife, the mother of his son.

He took a reckless step forward, advancing on the shopkeeper. "We both know you would have crushed my heart too if Belle hadn't helped me escape." Suddenly, this wasn't about Regina or Belle, it was about them — it had always been about them.

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

Hope for a Second Chance || Flashback || Robin & Belle

[ask-belle-betterthanmagic]

She was startled by his voice, despite his attempt not to, and looked up with a shake of her head. “Hi, Robin,” she said as she realized it was the man whose life she’d once saved from Rumplestiltskin. “I…I was reading about the Dark One. This book recounts how he once ended a war with the ogres and brought thousands of children home who had been forced to fight. I never knew he’d done that.” 

She stretched out her arms over the pages, giving Robin a smile, though it was a weak one. There were tears in her eyes that she hadn’t let fall. “I’m sorry,” she said quickly. “I—It’s just that I miss him so much.” She quickly wiped her eyes so that the tears would stay unfallen.

"Did…did you need me for something?"

[arrowandhood]

It wasn't in Robin's habits to pry on his friends. He considered himself a good listener should they ever want to confide in him, but he respected their privacy above all else. He was, however, quite observant, and from the unshed tears in Belle's eyes, it looked like she could use a friend to talk to.

When she asked if he was in need of her, the thief quickly shook his head. "I didn't," he assured her, "but it looks like you might." His head tipped over to the side, a warm, inviting smile stretching his features. 

He reached over to take Belle's hand, giving it a light squeeze. "What happened, after you freed me from his dungeons?" he risked asking, knowing the memories would no doubt be painful, but needing to ask. He knew from whispers that the Dark One had fallen for his servant, and that they'd all fought together to save Storybrooke - wherever that other land was - but Robin wanted to hear it from Belle. Rumours might be embellished or worsened, and if he was going to judge the man who once tortured him, he was going to trust the judgement of the woman who loved him.

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

[i-prefer-regina]

Trying to push her worries for Henry off her mind, Regina distracted herself with dinner preparations. Her famous lasagna, which was almost always part of the menu, was slowly cooking in the oven and two empty glasses quickly joined the bottle of whiskey on the counter.

Regina found the perfect dress for the evening; an elegant, sleeveless red dress which perfectly fitted her slim figure. She didn’t forget to add an extra touch of makeup on, smirking as the image of Robin seeing her in that dress crossed her mind. This was why Regina didn’t mention Henry’s change of plans- the moment Robin would realise they were finally having a night on their own was certainly something she wouldn’t want to miss.

As the Queen set a touch of a few candles on the dinner table, there was a knock on the door. Her heart started to race and Regina quickly stopped to fix her hair and makeup in front of the mirror (she felt like a stupid smitten teenager; she’d already done that at least three times already).

There was a huge grin on her face as she opened the door, one which quickly faded. Instead, her eyes widened at the sight of the outlaw in front of her, slowly realising he was holding a baby. And no other than Snow and Charming’s newborn Neal. ”What…” she started as her jaw dropped. “Is that?” Regina almost snapped as she eyed the half-asleep baby, before meeting Robin’s gaze.

This was certainly not part of her plans for the evening.

[arrowandhood]

What greeted him when the door finally opened made Robin's jaw drop to the floor.

She was stunning.

A form-fitting, deep red dress hug every tantalizing curve of her body, leaving nothing to the imagination. Her lips were red, her dark eyes highlighted by a hint of eye shadow, and the small twinkle in her gaze made Robin's heart swell and his toes curl, anticipation surging low in his stomach. This beautiful, amazing woman was his, and his only, and he thanked whatever gods had intertwined their faith, for he was the happiest of fools in this very moment, looking an his lady with adoring eyes.

His first thought was to back her against the nearest wall and kiss that grin off her face, roaming his hands over the flat expanse of her stomach, lowering them to the hem of her dress, squeezing her thighs and rear while he pressed his chest into hers. His mouth watered at the image; how hungry was he for the woman in front of him.

But he couldn't do any of that because he had a baby in his arms.

The corner of Robin's mouth turned upside down when what was happening dawned on him. "Regina?" was the only sound to come out of his mouth. "Emma's on duty," he said alarmed. "You were supposed to have Henry," he rambled, somewhat at a lost for words. This was not at all what he expected.

[i-prefer-regina]

A (Babysitting) Date | Robin & Regina

Today was one of the days Regina appreciated the most. Henry spent the previous night with her and they were going to spend the entire day together as well, mother and son bonding time, doing nothing in particular and still cherishing every single moment of it. She missed this, since she had to share him with the Charmings so often now.

With Robin back in her life now, the outlaw was going to join them that evening, something they did every other day. When Regina mentioned to her son it was Robin’s night away from Roland (Robin too had to share his son with his mother now), Henry offered her the evening alone with the man. Robin was off duty; Emma would be left alone in the sheriff station, and Henry, who always found the sheriff position intriguing, wanted to see the station and learn more about the job. He’d figure tonight was a good opportunity- neither one of his mothers would have to spend her evening alone.

Regina wasn’t too keen on the idea. True, she and Robin didn’t have a proper date night alone since they got back together; their time with each other was spent mostly with their kids around but she would never trade her time with her son, not for anything in the world. Not even if it meant she got to spend it with Robin instead. Not to mention the town was far from being safe these days, letting her son spend his time at the sheriff station didn’t sound too appealing.

But Henry was a smart, caring young boy who could be very persuading when he wanted to. He already checked with his other mother, who made sure Regina knew nothing would happen to their son under her charge. And so, though not without a heavy, concerned heart, Regina let Emma pick up their son, before working on setting everything ready for a proper date with the man she loved.

[arrowandhood]

Robin had two types of days: those where he worked during daylight and those where he worked nights. Today was a normal work day, which meant he spent most of his day at the station and headed to Regina's at sundown. They had taken to spending most evenings together, at least every other day, since they had gotten back together. It had been good, getting to know each other again, spending time with the kids, watching Henry and Roland bond. It warmed the adult's hearts.

Charming stopped at the station in the middle of the afternoon, meaning to ask a favour out of Emma: he wanted to take Snow on a date and needed someone to watch over Neal. The blonde however was off to answer a call, so Robin promptly volunteered to do it, stating he was spending the evening at Regina's and that Henry would surely love to spend some time with his uncle. The two men agreed that Robin would pick up the baby after his shift, and David left, not bothering to even call his daughter, Robin and Regina were more than capable of taking care of Neal, having both had children.

This was how Robin found himself knocking on Regina's door, a half-asleep baby in one arm, an almost-overflowing handbag in the other and a backpack over one shoulder, both full of Neal's toys and baby wipes and everything David had explained they'd need to take care of his boy. Raising a child in this land was slightly different to the Enchanted Forest, but both Charmings had assured Robin that Regina would be able to help, since she'd raised Henry here.

Knowing Regina's love for children, Robin knew this arrangement wouldn't be a problem. She was a natural mother, and he always enjoyed watching her with Henry or Roland. This wouldn't be any different.