A/N: This idea was sent to me as a prompt and I fell in love with it! There will be some angst given what it's about, but I plan to make this fluff for the most part. After all, I think every OQ'er deserves it.

The atmosphere was cold and lonely, a physical reflection of what Robin Locksley felt emotionally. The cell he'd been thrown in was small, with stone floors and walls, a bed with a thin mattress and scratchy blankets, a sink and a toilet. This confined space was Robin's new home and the orange jumpsuit was his new wardrobe. Never had Robin thought he would end up in a facility dedicated to holding some of Maine's nastiest people, nor did he ever think he would be considered one of those miscreants. Robin wasn't guilty of the crime he'd been accused of; he was an innocent man.

An innocent man with a four-year-old son to take care of.

Robin gritted his teeth and clenched his fists as that thought entered his mind. His poor Roland was confused and scared and had been dragged off by Robin's best friend, John, to be taken care of. Robin hadn't even gotten to tell his son goodbye or that he loved him before being thrown into the police car and driven off to the prison. He had a trial coming up soon, but the evidence was piled high against Robin, which meant there was only one explanation: he'd been set up.

Robin had been accused of murder. A man by the name of Keith Nottingham had been murdered in a shack in the woods behind Robin's house. Immediately, he had become a suspect and had been taken into custody. Soon, more and more evidence began to pile up: DNA samples, fingerprints. Robin even had a motive for he knew the man who had mysteriously shown up dead in his shack.

Before he had married his late wife, Marian, Robin had been a hoodlum of sorts, always stirring up trouble. Keith Nottingham had been at the center of Robin's crimes as he was always trying to provoke the other man. Hatred for each other had driven them to a dead end until Robin had met Marian and she had turned his life around. But, Keith's hatred had remained and it so happened that the day she had gone into labor with Roland, Keith had purposefully crashed into them on their way to the hospital. Marian had died shortly after giving birth to Roland. She had at least gotten to hold him and tell him goodbye before she had passed away.

And that was the motive that he had. Motive or not, however, Robin had not killed Keith. He believed himself to be set up with the murder. Yet, here he was, nonetheless, innocent or not, set up or not, left to sit and suffer here in his cell while his son was out there, scared and alone.

Robin had just settled on his mattress to get some sleep when he heard the keys jamming into the lock. Robin sat up with curious, wide eyes to see the prison guard unlocking the door to his cell and an older man in a suit standing beside him.

"Out, Locksley," the guard demanded in his gravelly, rough voice.

Robin climbed out of bed and cautiously approached the door of the cell, which had been swung open. As soon as he made his way outside, the prison guard clamped handcuffs around his wrists.

"Are you sure you wish to talk to this one, Governor Blanchard?" the guard asked the old man standing before him.

As Robin's eyes landed on the man in the suit, he realized he really was in the presence of Maine's governor, Leopold Blanchard. What business did the governor have with Robin? The man was was tall and pudgy with eyes as black as coal and balding silver hair and he studied Robin intensely.

"He will do, yes," Governor Blanchard replied without taking his eyes off of Robin, like a predator devouring his prey. "I'd like to speak to him in private."

At those words, Robin was shoved into a private room and the door was shut behind him and the governor. The older man looked around in skepticism before pulling something out of his pocket for a brief moment. In a flash, it was gone.

"Now they truly aren't listening," Leopold said before gesturing at the wooden table that sat in the center of the room. "Please, sit."

Robin pulled out one of the chairs and sat down as Leopold did the same. He was still confused as to why this man of all people wanted to speak to him.

"You know," Leopold began as he leaned back in his chair with a smug look on his face. "The media still hasn't shut up about you."

Those words were a direct stab to Robin's heart and he felt his shoulders sagging, his head hanging. A silence filled the room until Governor Blanchard broke it again.

"I can tell from the look in your eyes that you are an innocent man," Leopold said.

Robin's head snapped up, his eyes widening at the old man's words. Nobody had said that to him. Nobody but his closest friends, John and Will, and of course, his son. "You can?" he asked in awe.

Leopold nodded in confirmation. "Which is why I want to help you get out of this mess, but if I'm going to pull a few strings to get you out of here, I need you to do something important for me," he said.

Robin sighed a little when Blanchard dropped that bomb. Of course it was going to cost him something. What politician ever did anything from the kindness of his heart? But, Robin was desperate to get out and get back to his son. "What is it you want me to do?"

"It is rather ironic given your situation," Leopold began with a sly look on his face. "I need you to get rid of someone for me."

"Get rid of?" Robin asked, suddenly realizing the price of his freedom. He could get freed for doing the very thing that he'd been accused of, that had gotten him here in the first place. "As in, kill?"

"Precisely," Blanchard replied, his intense gaze not wavering. Robin could see the evil in his dark eyes. This was not a nice man. "But not in the messy way that Mr. Nottingham was murdered. I need this done quietly and covertly. Nobody can know and if someone gets on your trail, I will lead them astray."

Robin felt ashamed that he was considering Leopold's offer, but he would do anything to get back to his son, even if that meant actually doing what he had been accused of doing - taking another human life. Freedom had a price and Robin had to pay it. He couldn't let his son live without both of his parents. He'd do whatever it took to get out of here.

"I'll do it," he said hesitantly, hating himself instantly. This is for Roland, he kept repeating to himself.

Leopold nodded, a sparkle in his eye as he wickedly grinned in triumph. "Very well. Your victim is my wife."

Robin's eyes widened in surprise at Leopold's words. The governor's wife? That's who he was supposed to kill? "Sir, if you don't mind my asking, why?"

Governor Blanchard's face hardened into a nasty sneer. "That is none of your business. I just need her dead. You get to ask no questions in this arrangement. Just do your job and I'll get you out of here once and for all." His voice was firm and filled with contempt for his spouse.

"Very well," Robin replied with a small sigh. He supposed it wasn't his business but he was still curious as to why any man would want his wife dead. However, Leopold did not seem like most men. There was something cold and dark growing inside of him.

"Good. Take whatever measures you need to capture and dispose of her. I'll keep authorities off your tail," he said. "But should you fail, I'll come find you and let you rot behind bars. A fate worse than death."

Robin nodded in obedience. He'd do whatever was necessary to get rid of this man's wife. He couldn't fail or he wouldn't be able to see his son ever again. "Yes, sir."

Blanchard nodded and produced a photograph from his pocket. He set it down in front of Robin. The picture was of a beautiful woman with ebony hair, warm eyes, and a melancholy look on her face. She was young, maybe her early thirties, and was sitting with a group of women, friends, most likely. "This is her, my wife. Her name's Regina," Leopold Blanchard said.

Robin's eyes widened in surprise. This woman was his wife? Leopold was easily thirty years older than this woman and Robin automatically guessed her marriage to this man had never been forged out of love. Arranged, perhaps, for money or something else Blanchard had that she needed.

Leopold's chuckle was cool when he noticed Robin's expression. "It's hard for anyone to believe. Not many men my age have a wife like that," he said and Robin cringed at the way his voice sounded at the mention of his wife. "Regina's mother arranged it. I needed a wife and she needed money, so we made a trade."

Robin bit his tongue as he listened to how Leopold had made Regina his wife. Not only an arranged marriage, but one made by this woman's mother for money. It twisted Robin's stomach to think that even now, marriages like this were forged for this purpose.

He suddenly felt a lot worse about murdering this woman.

"Now, I'll have your name cleared by morning and I want you to get straight to work," Leopold went on.

"Do you have children?" Robin blurted suddenly, a thought popping into his mind. There was no way he could take this woman's life if she was a mother. He would never do what Keith Nottingham had done to Roland by taking Marian away.

Leopold shook his head. "I have a daughter who is a few years younger than Regina," he said and Robin visibly cringed. How sick. "But Regina and I do not."

Robin nodded and heaved a sigh. "Alright. I'll get straight to work in the morning once I'm out of here."

Governor Blanchard stood up and extended his hand to a Robin with a smirk. Robin reluctantly shook his hand, sealing the deal. "It was great doing business with you, Mr. Locksley. Remember not to fail me."

The old man turned and opened the door and Robin was ushered out of the room where one of the prison guards escorted him back to his cell. Once locked inside, Robin settled back in for the night and tried to sleep, thinking he would be relieved that he could get back to his son.

Yet his dreams were haunted by the face in the picture he had seen - by the beautiful Regina with her sad smile and warm eyes, the woman he was supposed to kill.

"It's your lucky day," came the rough voice of the prison guard early the next morning, causing Robin to fall out of his restless sleep. "It appears you've gotten the out of jail card. Get your lazy ass outta bed and get out of my sight."

Robin sat up slowly and saw the prison guard sneering at him. Leroy was his name and that man was one of the grumpiest men Robin had ever come across. He supposed working at a prison would make anyone grumpy, however.

Climbing out of bed, Robin made his way over to Leroy, who led him along out of his cell and to the front of the prison. Leopold Blanchard was waiting there for him to escort Robin home. Which he did, and as he did so, he gave Robin the lowdown - his address, Regina's usual schedule, when she was at her most vulnerable for him to take her away.

"Where do you want me to take her?" Robin asked as Leopold dropped him off at his house. Leopold had been going over the plan of action but not what went on after his wife was in custody of Robin.

"I was getting to it. Out of the many things wrong with Regina, she is a smart woman. If she knows she is kidnapped, she will try to escape or alert someone," Leopold said. "Therefore, I need you to trick her. I've a house on the far end of Portland that she doesn't know about. Take her there. Make her think you saved her from someone trying to harm her. Gain her trust and when the time is right, dispose of her."

Robin nodded. "I think I've got this," he said. "I'll get the job done, sir. Thank you for helping me."

"No, thank you for helping me," Blanchard replied.

As soon as his friends had figured out Robin had gotten out of prison, Roland had been returned to him. While Robin was thrilled to see his son again, to pull the young lad into his arms and hug him tightly, he knew he couldn't keep his son while trying to murder someone. What kind of father would he be? But, when he had asked John to take his son again, just for a few days, the man had given him a weird look and Robin decided to let it go. He'd just have to keep Roland with him. Robin supposed the young boy would be a good pawn in the kidnapping game. His presence would make Robin seem more trustworthy when he played the knight in shining armor. The thought guilted him to no end but Robin had to make due with what he had.

A week passed and Robin kept a close eye on Regina. He'd seen brief glimpses of her on her way to work, at lunch with a few friends, her nightly trips to the gym or market or bookstore. He had kept his distance, just wanting to get a feel for his schedule and when he should make his plan of attack. Robin felt like a stalker, maybe he was, but any time he felt that niggle of doubt, that this was wrong, he told himself that this was for Roland.

The night came that Robin would take Regina captive. He'd had to bring Roland along and had parked around the block so his sleeping tot wouldn't see him kidnapping this woman if he were to wake. He still felt bad about dragging his son along for such an awful ride but at least until he could come up with a story to tell his friends, he supposed Roland would be apart of the game.

Regina was to be making her trip to the gym as she did on most nights. Robin quietly climbed out of his car and shut the door behind him. He tucked the rag moist with chloroform in his pocket and silently made his way down the street.

Robin kept his eyes peeled, ducking behind an alleyway as he watched and waited for Regina to show. Sure enough, a shadow was cast against the brick wall of the building he had pressed himself against and he could hear her talking on her cell phone.

"Yes... I know... Mother, please," she said, sounding frustrated.

Robin's eyes glued on his target. Good, she was distracted with a phone call. She wouldn't be watching his surroundings and he could move in quickly. Robin slowly dug the rag from his pocket and held it in position, ready to strike.

She was just passing him when she hung up the phone, going on her way. Robin's heart was pounding anxiously in his chest, so loud and thunderous that he was almost afraid that Regina may be able to hear it. However, she didn't turn around, just released an exasperated sigh and kept on walking.

Robin decided his time was now. There wasn't a single soul around except for him and Regina. Moving quickly, he darted from his hiding spot and with lightning speed, he grabbed Regina by the waist, pulling her close to him as he pressed the rag to her face, covering her mouth and nose and obstructing her breathing. Immediately, she began to fight him. She wiggled in his arms and screamed, but luckily her noises were suppressed by the cloth. Robin was also much stronger than her and Regina could not escape his tight grasp.

After a few moments, Regina went limp in his arms. Her body fell back against him as her legs gave out and Robin scooped her up in his arms. She was out cold and would remain that way until he got her to the safe house on the edge of Portland.

In the silence and dead of night, Robin snuck Regina back to her car and put her unconscious body in the passenger's seat, making sure to buckle her in. He quietly shut the door upon seeing his son still asleep in the back and started up the car again with equal caution. However, Roland didn't make a peep, thank goodness, and Robin was able to maneuver them away from the scene of the crime.

The ride to the safe house in Portland felt like years when in reality, it was a couple hours away. It was the dead of night by the time Robin pulled up the address Leopold Blanchard had given him. It was a ways away from the big city and there weren't many other houses around.

Robin took care of getting Roland inside first. He put his son in the bedroom. The boy woke for a few moments but Robin soothed the toddler back into sleep. His next trip was to retrieve the luggage from the car. He was saving the woman for last, knowing that if she woke, he wouldn't be able to leave her alone without an explanation to gather other belongings. After setting those down in the doorway, Robin went to retrieve his captive.

Regina was still out cold in her seat. Her head was tucked against her shoulder and her mouth was parted slightly. Robin gingerly undid her seatbelt, slowly removing it from beneath her chin since she had laid her head on it. Regina stirred and Robin felt his heart leap into his throat, but she simply shifted her weight and scrunched her brow, obviously dreaming.

Robin was suddenly struck by an invisible force eight in the heart as he watched the woman he had just kidnapped sleep. She looked so tiny in her seat, curled up into a little ball, made of petite structure and slender limbs. She couldn't have weighed much over one hundred and fifteen pounds, Robin thought as he lifted her effortlessly from her seat. Her head felt limply against his shoulder and he couldn't help but gawk at the innocent look on her face.

It was the first, and definitely not the last time, that it came to mind that Robin was going to have to kill this woman, this innocent-looking woman named Regina who was very small and beautiful and looked so precious when she slept, but overall, a human being.

His thoughts became pained as he carried Regina into the house. Perhaps he should wake her and let her go now, but no, he couldn't. Leopold would keep him in jail forever, would let him rot there without ever seeing Roland again. But how... How could he take this woman's life? If he felt this way now, Robin couldn't imagine how he would feel after speaking with her, another sharp reminder that she was a person, too.

Robin heaved a heavy sigh and carried Regina into the living room where he gently laid her on the couch. He took the blanket draped over the arm rest and covered her body with it, making sure she would be warm. Regina immediately snuggled into the warmth of the blanket as Robin's eyes searched her lovely face which was even more beautiful in real life than it was in the picture.

Regina's soft, dark hair tumbled out in soft curls around her head like tendrils of spilled ink, her face was cast in a peaceful expression, a little smile on her plump, kissable lips that was absolutely the loveliest little smile Robin had ever seen.

Careful, he warned himself, tearing his eyes away. Regina was a woman so beautiful that by just looking at her, a man could fall in love, and Robin knew he was going to do just that if he stared at that expression any longer.

Turning quickly, he locked the door and returned to the bedroom he had placed Roland in. Robin left the door cracked so he could hear if the sleeping beauty in the living room woke up during the night and crawled into bed, slowly drifting into an uneasy slumber with a single thought on his mind: How was he going to kill Regina when, just by sleeping, she'd already made an impression on his heart?