A/N: Hello everyone and welcome to my private little world where I try to let my ideas run wild and well why not with another fanfic. I know I have been awfully bad a keeping fanfics running but muse has been running low lately. This fanfic is completely AU. It initially started as a Story Line I have running in one of my Regina's RP accounts. It gotten to the point to have so many twists and turns that It was impossible not to turn it into a FF. I want to warn though I don't know how long it will take me to update because I am without internet and muse has been spotty but I couldn't way to post the first chapter. Also I might resume writing my Prince and Lionheart soon since the way the show has been going, they are going to waste Robin Hood potential. Any ways without further a due. Enjoy. –xoxo Janice.

Chapter I: Never give up on anybody. Miracles happen every day.

"No, Regina I'm not leaving without you." There are tears streaming down his cheeks as he tried to choke out those words. They should have known. They should have seen this coming, but they were too concentrated in living in their little slice of heaven to even consider the real nearness of danger. And now look at them. Regina in a hospital bed, crying her eyes out, trying oh so very hard to be strong and Robin watching her with a broken heart and so much pain coursing through his veins.

"Robin there is no other choice, you knew well loving me was toxic thanks to her. So Please." Regina took his hands and squeezed it tight. "Take Roland and leave." But Regina doesn't want that. All she wants is to be with him, with their son and live that life they have been slowly building but her mother has other plans. In hindsight they should have moved to the other side of the world instead of Vancouver but time was pressing them, drowning them, and when pressure strikes it is when one takes rash decisions.

"Regina –" but brunette isn't taking any of it, no there is no time. Cora and Daniel might arrive at any minute now and if Robin is here, with her, Roland is going to be the one to pay the consequences. So she took his face and pulled him close to her and just kissed him. All messy and salty, tears never ending but she kissed him like it was the last time.

Because it is their last time. This was their last kiss. They both knew it very well.

"Robin… I know this is hard. I really don't want you to leave but it is for the best." A loud sob wrecked through Regina, but she needed to pull through, he needed to know. "I love you with all my heart, and these past few months have been wonderful amidst everything that has happened. But we both knew this…" Dear god why is this so hard? Pull it together Regina. "…was going to happen eventually. As long as we are under this sun, my mother will always find us. So please, I am begging you. Take Roland and disappear. Protect him. She wants me and as long as she has me under surveillance you two are safe. " The pains in those, once, beautiful sparkly blue eyes were killing her. There isn't light there anymore, just hollowness she wished nothing more to erase. He deserved so much more than all this pain she had caused him since the day they met. "You and Roland are everything to me, so please, let me do this. Let me protect you this once… it will be the only thing I am going to be able to do for our son." That does it, if she was crying before, now; well she lost all her calm, which wasn't much, but not only that. She finally feels like she lost her heart.

He is hearing, but he doesn't feel like listening. Her words are breaking him apart limb by limb in a way he never thought possible, stitch by stitch, and cell by cell until he is left as an insignificant thing. And it hurts, oh how much it hurts and he just wants to rip his heart out and crush it into dust.

But no he can't, and she is right. Roland comes first. He is the most important piece of both of them. So he nodded, tearful and heartbroken but he did. "I love you, Regina." And there was a sad smile on her face because she knows. "And I promise you I will find you. We will be a family like we are meant to. I'm not giving up on you…" Locksley cupped her cheeks, "I will forever be your cookie thief, and you will forever be my cherry vanilla queen."

Even in a moment like this he can elicit a laugh from her. Oh how she is going to miss him.

"I know. You will forever be in my heart. I love you. Now…" One really deep breath, "Roland is waiting. Take good care of our newborn. Run and no matter what happens, do not. Look. Back. Never."

Robin picked up Roland from the small crib in the room, and passed him into her arms.

Like it wasn't hard enough for her seeing her little boy, knowing it will be the last time made her heart shrink to an insignificant thing. "Hey there my little angel…" she cooed, her finger running along his chubby cheek. " Now you be a good boy for daddy. I know he can be infuriating and really annoying sometimes but he means well." Another sob and more hot tears. How long is she going to endure this torture? Oh right, her whole natural life, and probably her next life as well. "Be sure to eat well so you can grow big and strong like your daddy. I'm so sorry that I'm not going to be there to see you grow but know that I love you and that will never change." Regina kissed his temple gently, and then did the hardest thing she will ever do, gave him to Robin to take away.

"Now go before Cora arrives." Please don't go. But she can't say that. Regina wants to give her husband and son their best chance.

"I won't give up. We will be together. It will take time but it will happen." Robin kissed her temple and took a step back. She couldn't speak anymore, if she did, it would be to ask him to stay but that is not possible.

And the he was gone.

Leaving the woman that he loves behind and with her a huge part of his heart.

He vowed to return to her and he will not go back on his promise.

-x-

He woke up with a start. Sweaty palms, heart racing so hard it could make a hole in his chest and tears running down his cheeks creating a river full of sorrows. That dream, that memory, always took his heart in a vice like grip and squeezed until it was bleeding out, taking little by little pieces of him that with time he won't be able to recall. Four years, almost five and he still felt that pain like it was yesterday. He hasn't gotten over it and how can he? Robin left behind the one woman in his life that made everything right. With another woman that he is pretty sure is a demon.

Cora Mills the most ruthless person he had the displeasure to have met.

Oh how he regrets leaving Regina there. Regrets it every morning when she doesn't wake up in his arms and every night when his bed is cold as ice. But their hearts didn't have a say in the matter, they had to think about their son, at the end of the day his safety came first. Regina understood that very well and paid the ultimate price for his safety.

Roland Damian Locklsey. His life and only reason to even want to wake up. That amazing little boy that he raised without a mother but had grown up to be a wonderful young lad. They boy that whenever he asked his father another 'mommy' question he see the pain in his eyes, understand the pain that it causes him and just hugged him and uttered an 'I love you daddy.' Just to make him smile.

It isn't like Robin hasn't talked to him about his mother because he gushed about her every time he can but there are times when he can't help the emotions that provoked in him, he still missed her with every fiber of his being. Sometimes it does pain Robin to look at his little boy. The perfect mixture of his parents. His dark eyes and airy laugh that is completely Regina and dimples so deep that are his father. Just by looking and hearing at him it gets too hard to even breathe. But he loves him with every piece of his battered heart.

His rude awakening made him sit up and looked at the clock. It read 4:14 am and by the looks of it he won't be sleeping anytime soon. Not that he needs to sleep more anyway, there is still a bit of packing to do.

Switzerland is fun and all but he is ready to go back. Traveling around the world has been a fulfilling experience but he needs to feel like his life is back on track again and the only way to do that is to resume his search. He hasn't heard about Regina in these past four years. Cora Mills is doing a splendid job in hiding her. His love is almost a ghost, which to him is ironic. Robin knows how much Regina loved a good ghost story and no here she is being the biggest story of all. But pretty soon he will be getting on a plane back, see the veins of the last city she ever stepped into. He wondered, not for the first time, what was Regina Mills doing in Alabama USA? Well he hoped to find out soon.

Locksley got out of bed, shuddering at the cold his almost empty apartment emanated. He made his way to his boy room to check on him before going down to the kitchen and prepared himself his much needed cup coffee so he could continue with the rest of his heavy day. For a moment all that could be heard was his still heavy breathing, in and out, in and out, and repeat a couple millions times over, but the sound of the coffee pot brewing drowned the sound of his misery and god he is thankful for that. It helped him forget that dream that doesn't let him live. But life goes on, and it has been running since that night almost five years ago.

And today wasn't any different.

Standing up from his place on the bar stool, Robin, went to the coffee pot and poured himself a generous portion. Coffee had a calming effect on him, if only temporary but it did ease his mind for a blissful five minutes. Maybe it was the heat that seemed to melt the frost bites in his heart, or the way the scalding beverage ran down his throat dissolving all the lumps still stuck there, taunting him every minute of his dreadful days. It just drove perspective out the window and gave him a temporary memory loss. That certainly will become rather ironic in the future.

But it is time for the present, and the present is currently packed in many, many boxes.

Robin Oliver of Locksley is moving back to the United States and this is probably the last cup of Swiss coffee he will ever drink and he doesn't mind.

That coffee lacked a spice this cold place never could give him.

-x-

As he stands in the middle of the empty living room, Roland's hand in his, Robin realized how big this house really is. It's strange for him. Robin always felt confined, no matter how spacious the place was he always felt like all the walls were on top of him. The loneliness in him had consumed him whole to the point where he can't distinguish the size of spaces any longer.

"Papa?" Came the tiny voice of his adorable four year old, who's looking up at him with those big brown eyes full of questions.

"What is it Rollie?" He asked with a tilt of his head.

Roland shifted where he stood, pursing his lips in deep thought. After a moment or two he nodded and voiced out the one question running in his tiny mind like crazy. "Are we going to look for Mama?" It was the innocence in his voice that twisted Robin's heart and those chocolate eyes full of emotions that provoked him to kneel in front of him and cupped his tiny features.

"Ro' buddy." He began with a deep breath. What the young lad asked is more than affirmative. The reasoning behind going back to the states was just that, to continue with his search but the last thing he wants is to give his son false hopes. "We will try." That seemed to satisfied Roland's mind but for how long? Robin needed to fix things, he needed to find Regina and give Roland the mother he deserved.

-x-

Midday arrived and with a horrible head splitting pain that made her mood sour. She hated days like this, days where the pain is enough to stop her daily life. The light filtering through the windows of her office was only making things worse, to the point she groaned in pain. Her assistant was on the other end of that pain. It would be a miracle if that girl doesn't quite before the month end. "Only a few more hours, you can make it Regina." The brunette told herself, a boost of self motivation always seemed to do the trick.

"I don't think so." A voice came from the door, Regina recognized it immediately. Her dark eyes shoot up and in doing so she winced. This was the worse headache yet. "Dear god, Regina. Go and rest. Work will be here when you come back on Monday." The blonde voice was stern, but it didn't lack concern for the other woman.

"I am fine Mal. I still need to coordinate things for the masquerade ball." Regina announced, squinting her eyes when she lowered her visage to the papers on her desk.

Malia Drake. Owner of the Dragon Scale Gallery and Regina closest friend. They met three and a half years ago when Regina was applying for jobs. Would seem the blonde saw something in Regina that the brunette still doesn't know. The story of how they became friends is a funny one but that is something for another time.

Mal scoffed at Regina's words, sitting down on one of the chairs in front of her wooden desk. All poise and glamour, things that defined the woman known as the fierce Dragon Lady, nickname that she gathered thanks to her extensive collection of Dragon art, painted by her hand of course. But her gallery isn't only about that. There is a large variety of art available to the public eye and ear since she also has a special program that serves a school of music, reason why she is currently visiting Regina.

"I can take care of the last minute details. You need rest, the ball is on Saturday and you look like you haven't slept in months." Mal said, raising a brow at Regina as in daring her to say otherwise. Regina on the other hand took a deep breath.

"What is sleep?" She asked in a rhetorical tone. "I haven't been able to have a restful night in years now. Not without stupid nightmares, that I do not understand, barreling down on me." Regina placed the pen down and added, "This is what I need, distraction."

"I can't have you crashing on Saturday Regina. Take the rest of the day and tomorrow off. You have done enough and I appreciated." Mal expression wasn't precisely soft, but her eyes told another story. She cared for the brunette.

"Haven't you been listening? I can't sleep." Exasperation poured through the cracks of her tone. "Even if I go home and lay down, my head will still hurt, my eyes will close but sleep will never come and if by some miracle I do fall asleep my nightmares will return."

"It has been that way since the accident but you deny looking for help, Regina. You will never get better if you keep being this stubborn." Mal means well, Regina knows it but she is frustrated with this situation.

That accident four years ago took a lot from her.

One being her memories.

Cora, her mother, said it was a blessing she forgot so many things. It isn't like she forgot who she is, where she grew up or even her profession law, although she doesn't practice any longer she left many things behind when she moved from New York to Alabama, but she has key moment missing from her head. A blank space in her life that she doesn't have hope on reuniting with, she learned to live without it even though there is a whole in her heart.

"I made peace with that a long time ago, Mal."

"But aren't you at least a bit curious?" Her boss asked, and indeed there was curiosity but Regina doesn't desire to entertain it. Maybe it was for the best. God knows what those memories really are.

"No." there was no room for anything else, and Mal knew it. She knows how to pick her battle and it was clear to the blonde that Regina is still a bit sore on the topic. So she shook her head, straighten her back and stood up.

"Anyway. You are still going home to rest and I will take over everything you have pending today." The blonde walked to the door not wanting to hear another thing from Regina but it was too late, she was already talking.

"But I have to meet the new music teacher today." Mills said, standing up and wincing thanks to the pain still lodged in her head.

"I will take care of that. I'll go and tell Ashley I am taking over the rest of your appointments. Now go home. That is a direct order from your boss." With that Mal took her leave.

Regina slumped back into her chair, an annoyed huff eliciting from her. This is so typical of Mal but in some way the brunette is grateful to her. As stubborn as Regina is, Mal seemed to always know how to make her see reason, even when she doesn't want to admit it.

"Home it is." She said while picking up her things.

Little did she know that soon her life would be turned upside down, again.

-x-

Robin stood in front of the big crystal clear building.

Dragon Scale Gallery.

It has been a week since he moved. Roland is at school and he is taking his life back little by little. He thought of returning to his old profession, architecture but then decided against it. If he was to get back to who he was when Regina and him were together me must returned to the things he loves, one of them music. While abroad he finally finished his degree in music and now was a good time to put that degree into practice. He searched all over for a good teaching job and Dragon Gallery had the best program yet. Robin could have the opportunity to teach young minds in the wonder of music. He always had a passion for it but things with his father drove him into a more practical line of work, one that he did hate because it didn't provide him the happiness he needed. Not until Regina encourage him to pursue his dreams even when they couldn't afford to live from those dreams. She always said: 'I'm your number one fan, always will be.' And that always stuck with him. Those same words drove him to this point in his life. About to have his first job interview and if he is lucky enough, his only one.

He took one deep breath and passed through the revolving doors. The sun filtered into the building from the crystal walls. The sight made his breath hitch. There were many crystals hanging from the ceiling, all different colors and with the sunlight hit them a million sparkle of colors played all across the room. It was like being inside the head of a painter. Seeing what they see when they begin envisioning a new art work.

His mind and thoughts immediately went to her. How she would love and appreciated the many colors and the artistic vision behind said place. Robin always knew of her affinity to art, and her skills were presented to him when they were in Vancouver. Whenever she was bored, Regina drew, and it was such a sight. She poured her heart and soul in every one of those portraits. He saved them all, keeps her memory even more alive.

Right now wasn't the time for that. So shaking his head, Robin approached the receptionist.

"Good afternoon. I am here for an interview." He smiled at the blonde, who returned his smile with one of her own. The moment is was about to answer the phone rang.

"Excuse me." The blonde, Ashley that it what is said in her name tag, politely excused herself. "Miss Drake… yes I think he is here, give me a sec." the receptionist looked up at him, "Are you Robin?" When he nodded, she returned to her call. "Yes he is here. I'll send him through." With that she hang up, "Take the elevator up to the fifth floor, last door down the hall Miss Drake is waiting."

"Thank you." Robin nodded with a grin and made his way to the elevator, pushing the button and waiting patiently for the elevator to arrive.

-x-

"I'm fine Graham." Regina muttered into the phone as she waited for the elevator. "Just a headache, I'll go and rest for a bit." Graham, police man and concerned boyfriend always checking up on her. It was endearing, most of the time. But there came a moment she couldn't take all of his coddling and clinginess. Yes, she know he means well and he always puts it upon himself to make her feel good but there were times she just wanted to run from his grasp, and this was one of those moments.

"Regina, I can go and keep you company, take care of you." His voice irradiated pity and oh how she hates that.

"I can take care of myself. I have a headache, I'm not crippled." She snapped, already regretting it. Here he is trying to help and her stinginess is making a grand appearance. But Regina is clear; she doesn't need human contact right now. "I'm sorry. I'll just… look I'll go and take a nap and if I am feeling better you can go to the apartment and stay with me tonight. What do you say?" It worked. Graham relaxed and said he will be waiting for her call. With that he hangs up and at that precise moment the two elevator doors opened. Regina got in one, and Robin got out the other.

So close.

-x-

Knock. Knock. Knock.

Robin nervously rubbed his hands together. This was it. The moment of truth has come.

Maybe he is being a tad over dramatic but out of all the options he had listed this gallery is the one place he really want to stay. It was everything. Art and music all wrapped up in one, perfect to bring Regina once he finds her.

"Come in." A female voice drew him out of his reverie. Robin took a deep breath when his hand made contact with the cold knob. 'Here I go.' He turned it and peaked his head in.

"Good afternoon." Robin politely greeted a smile on his face. The blonde that sat behind the desk nodded, motioning the male figure to enter and close the door.

"You are early." Mal stated, finally looking at him fully.

"Yes well, I just moved and I am still getting accustom and I didn't want to get lost and risk arriving late." His hand landed on his lap, fidgeting a little as he looked at the brunette who he guesses is the owner of the gallery. When she gave him an approving hum, Locksley finally relax into the chair and for the first time he notice how comfortable it is. Nerves really can change the perception of things.

"Excellent use of common sense, Mr. Locksley." Miss Drake said, picking up Robin's application. "It says here you finished your Masters degree in a university in Barcelona and then moved to London and after a year to Switzerland." Her eyes moved up to the man in question waiting for his response.

"That is correct."

"You are also a certified architect." Even she had to be impressed with his resume. "I can't say I've met architect turned musician in a blink of an eye." She mused teasingly putting down the file in her hands. "Tell me why the sudden change of career?"

Robin couldn't help the soft chortle that escaped his lips, "Would you believe me if I tell it was because of a woman?" The sound coming from the brunette made his chortle turned into a more audible laugh. "Yes well it was. I always loved music but because of family issues I never pursue my musical part so I opted for architecture." He recalled all the fights he had with his father, all the moments where they spent fighting over it. Now he realized there more moments in a screaming war than being father and son, it made his heartache. "But I met this amazing woman that made me realized my true love for music, and it always help when she self proclaimed my number one fan. From there thing became better in my life." It never failed to bring a smile to his face whenever he is talking about Regina. Yes, it hurts him a lot for the sole reason that she is still lost to him but he is determine to find her.

The blonde listened intently to his story, noticed the devotion and pure adoration in his eyes when he talked about a woman he clearly loves with all his heart, and the passion he talked about music. There wasn't much to think about. "Well I can see this is truly important to you so…" Malia stood up, extended a hand to him with a grin, "You are hired Mr. Locksley." Robin's eyes widen in surprise, a nice one at that, and stood up to shake her hand.

"Wow, that was fast." He chuckled, his free hand rubbing the back of his neck.

"You are passionate and we are trying to teach that to our students and besides you are good looking. I am pretty sure many parents would love to stick around." She stated matter-of-factly, her grin turned smug.

"I suppose that is fair." Robin announced as they part from their handshake.

"I would like for you to meet the rest of the faculty here. There is a masquerade ball this Saturday and I want you to assist. I'll make sure to send you the invite to the address listed here." The blonde clasped her hands together and added, "Ready to party?"

Robin's lips quirked into a smile, "Of course. Saturday it is. Can't say I remember the last time I went to a masquerade ball. This should be interesting."

"I think you'll love it here. You remind me of my best friend. She works here. I can't wait for you to meet." If only Mal knew…

Thoughts or questions? –