Regina tipped the glass with the potion up to her lips. As she was just about to drown herself in misery, she heard footsteps behind her. And Cora gasping.

"Regina, don't!" She slowly turned around and saw somebody standing there, where the fake Robin Hood had been. But she had to do this. She didn't want her mother to get what she wanted. So, she downed the contents of the glass, and started gasping for air.

The voice she heard came closer to her, and put his arm around her shoulders. "Are you alright?"

Cora started to protest, but Regina waved her off. She looked into his eyes and she knew. This was the real Robin Hood. She couldn't help it; she started to cry.

Robin offered his hand to her and led her around to the garden. "What was that?" he asked.

"My revenge," she said. "But now, I can never have what I want...a child of my own." She cried into Robin's chest, and he let her for a beat.

When there were no more tears to come, she pulled away from him. "Anyway, where did you come from, and how did you get here?"

"It doesn't matter. I knew something was in trouble, and it turned out to be someone. I had to come save you."

Tentatively, Robin leaned over to wipe Regina's tears away, which led to the most amazing kiss either of them had experienced. Suddenly, the whole world seemed brighter. And Regina wanted nothing more than to stay in his arms forever. But, yet, she couldn't...She pulled away first.

"Regina, what's wrong now? That...that was amazing. I've never felt like that before."

Regina sighed. "I haven't either. But this...this can never work."

Robin looked at her in surprise. "Why not? We both love each other, don't we? That's all that matters."

"Not everything. Didn't you see what I just drank? If we did get together, I could never give you what I would want to give you...A child." She couldn't help it, she shook her head in shame. She would be worthless to him. And to herself.

He sighed. "We'll just have to cross that bridge when we get to it. And besides, there are other ways to have a child."

"In this world? I don't think so."

Just then, she heard Cora's voice, sounding furious. "Regina, come along. That's enough." And suddenly, Robin's hands were tied behind his back, and he was defenseless.

Regina whirled around. "Mother, please...Must you always do this? You say you want the best for me, but you never prove it. Because of you, I have nothing. I've...I've already lost Daniel. I'm not going to let you win this time."

She put herself between her mother and Robin, acting as a shield. Just saying Daniel's name was hard enough. She still missed him, even with Robin here now.

Then, something happened that surprised even Regina. Her mother let go of the hold she had on Robin, and went over to her daughter and hugged her. Really hugged her. Then, she went over to Robin, and apologized. "I'm sorry I put you through that. If you're the one that makes my daughter happy, then, you're welcome here."

Robin even looked surprised. "Thank you, Your Majesty. I want nothing more than to make your daughter happy." He looked at Regina and smiled.

Cora then walked away, leaving Regina and Robin alone again. "I've never seen my mother do that before." She leaned in for another kiss, this time more passionately than before. Regina didn't know what the future held, but she knew one thing. Someone who was willing to stand up to her mother was somebody she should know better. And she suddenly couldn't wait for it to begin.

The End