A/N: Last time on "Deliver the Message":

Alice face fell from amazement to joking suspicion. "She has a story, too, hasn't she?"

"Apparently everyone has," Robin confirmed in a mocking tone. Though her sense for joking dispensed when she thought about the other girl. Honesty clouded her voice, when she told Alice, "But I think yours is my favorite."

"And you are my favorite version of Robin Hood," Alice responded with the same honesty and sincerity.

Pure adoration sipped through Robin and made her heart ache and tremble. "You truly are something special, aren't you?" She unconsciously lifted a hand and brushed a strand of hair behind Alice's ear. The hair was dry now, for the bigger part, shining again in its golden and awe-inspiring brightness.

Alice smiled slightly. A red hue covered her cheeks, the color had returned to her face, making it glow in its fair complexion instead of the sick paleness from earlier. There was something larger than joy or happiness swimming in her eyes. Something Robin could not name. For a heartbeat she wondered if she was looking into a stormy sky or a calm, deep blue sea, until Alice licked her lips and Robin's thoughts tripped.

"Robin, I want to say thank you. It's been so long since anyone has been there for me or talked to me," Alice uttered enchantingly. Her eyes misted and her smile broke a little, when she added with a voice weighted with tears, "or held me."

Just as Robin wanted to shrug it off with a modest smile, Alice caught her by surprise as she leaned in and placed a quick peck onto her lips.

It was over before Robin could register the kiss fully.

Shocked she gasped. Did this just happen?

Stupefied she blinked at Alice.

When Alice leaned away, insecurity swam in her eyes but braver than Robin had ever been she said, "I've been wanting to do that for a while. Is it all right?"

Alice had been waiting to that for a while?

Was it alright?

"Uh huh," Robin nodded dumbfounded, her eyes trapped on Alice's lip. Unable to think clearly she dove in for a more heated kiss, pulling Alice closer and eliciting a short squeal from the blonde. Yet, it did not take long for Alice to catch herself. Soon she returned Robin's affectionate kiss with vigor.

When Robin finally broke away to catch air she murmured almost as low as a rumble, "More than okay."

They smiled broadly at each other before meeting for another kiss.

Neither one of them could tell how much time passed while they indulged themselves in timid caresses and testing kisses, growing used to the new found intimacy between them. Brushing their lips together over and over again. A playful nibble here and there. The shy first meeting of their tongues, accompanied with low moans and tiny gasps.

Robin's head started to swim as her longing for Alice wasn't satisfied but intensified by each stroke of their tongues. Before taking it too far she broke them apart, leaning her forehead against Alice's to catch her breath and cool down the blood boiling through her veins.

They had all the time in the world. There was no need to rush things. She was fairly sure Alice had almost no experience and her own was reduced to Truth or Dare smooches and Seven Minutes of Heaven make out sessions in the poorly locked Storybrooke library on summer nights in Maine.

Proudly she took notice of the swollen lips and darkened eyes of Alice. She would have loved to deepen the color even more but forbid herself to lean in once again – somewhat successful. She folded her arms around Alice instead and buried her face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her sweet scent. She savored the feeling of Alice hugging her back while they both calmed down.

In the end Robin had not needed to ask Alice out to show her what she felt. Before she had even begun to seriously try to deliver the message, Alice had met her all the way. Amused Robin decided, that Alice would make a better courier than she herself did.

Robin was hyped, giddy on this new development. She couldn't cut down the content smile on her face, even if she would want to.

She was with Alice.

Together.

It seemed almost unreal and yet the feel of the other woman in her arms was valid proof that this was nothing but real. It felt like the first step of adventure. A granted wish and promise of something new.

Alice was the brightness of summer and the magic of fall. She could be the solitude of winter. And Alice was the hope of spring.

She heard Alice sigh happily and the realization of them slammed into Robin anew. Smiling she nuzzled into Alice's shoulder.

She listened to the strong pound of the other girl's heartbeat and the crackling of the fire, noticing how the storm outside had calmed down as well.

"There is something I've been meaning to show you," Alice said after a while. She rose to her feet, dropping the blanket to reveal her usual attire in a dry and red version with her skirt as red as fire and roses. With a cheeky smile she held out her hand to pull Robin up, "Come."

Robin grabbed the hand and both giggled at Alice's first failed attempt when Robin's backside hit the floor.

She then led Robin through her hut to the corner where her bed stood. Robin gulped, nerves immediately flaming up. She was calmed down, when she saw Alice taking position next to the covered canvas and not the bed. She wouldn't have been able to refuse, if Alice had suggested the thing she had been thinking even if she knew it was too soon but being in love made her needy. She desired Alice. Everything about her.

"I've found out what was missing!" Alice cheered while grabbing the cloth draped over it. With a swift motion she pulled the canvas free.

Unlike a few weeks prior the painting was now done. What Robin saw this time filling the upper left corner, took her breath away.

She froze to the spot as she took in of the sight of herself in her hunter's garb leaning against a tree a few feet away from Alice and her father. It almost looked as if she had been in the picture all along. The colors of her garb matching the surrounding forest, the way she looked at the reunited pair of father and daughter with a smile complimented the atmosphere. Robin perfectly matched the rest of the picture, fitting right in. It was so weird seeing herself painted and yet, it formed a bubble of love inside her heart. Being in the same scene when Alice and her father finally were brought together was a promise many words couldn't express.

"I did not want to picture a future without you in it," Alice confessed, knocking the breath out of Robin all over again.

Where did Alice find all this courage to tell Robin this?

She was amazing.

It stroke Robin that confidence wasn't the same as courage and that it had been the thing she had lacked all these weeks regarding the pretty blonde with the infectious smile. But Robin was confident and Alice was courageous and together they would be amazing. Because, if she had a say into it, she would like to be a part of Alice's future, too.

She looked at the painting in awe again, unable to keep down the waves of emotion clashing down on her.

Alice wanted her in her future. She wanted a Candy date and a trip to Oz. She wanted Robin near when she and her father were rejoined.

Breathlessly Robin commented, "This looks... Awesome. I don't know. Maybe as if it is meant to be?"

Alice smiled brightly, "It's like my papa wrote me a while ago. You are the perfect match."

"He did?" Robin blurted out shocked.

"Yes, when I had asked him, if he would mind you spending time with me I might have indicated my interest in you rather bluntly." Alice smiled cheekily.

Robin's eyes widened, "What?" That was weeks ago! How blind could she have been?

And Nook wrote Alice something like this so long ago? It was no wonder why he had grinned at Robin in a suspicious way that had made Robin very uncomfortable whenever he had handed her a new envelope. She had thought he was onto her feelings for his daughter.

She'd been so, so blind.

Robin laughed. Everything that had disturbed her confidence had just been in her head. Maybe in the future she should heed her own advice a little bit more and don't let herself be controlled by imagined expectations.

All this time Alice's father had sent her signals. Who knows what he might have written Ali –

'Ohhh...', Robin thought as her eyes darted to the soaked coat leaking in the doorway. The one where she had put the last letter in. Her stomach dropped. 'Oh oh.'

Apparantly, she was forgetful now, too.

This time Robin would need to step up and show some bravery. It was one tiny step and being with Alice made her not only confident but courageous. Taking a deep breath she turned to face her girl who had smiled at her as bright as the sun until this moment. "Alice, I need to confess something, too. Though you may not like it."

---

Love was like a storm.

It was the rousing of the wind, electrifying and imposing, scary and exciting.

It was the eye of the storm, blindingly real and yet so otherworldly, overwhelming in its unwavering might.

It was the fresh air and smell of rain with the promise of something new, something intriguing - something comforting.

And after a sat out storm, a decoded letter and plans for future adventures Robin and Alice threw themselves into it.

THE END

A/N: Tatatataataaaaaa! It's done. Hope you enjoyed this story. I am hoping you will stick around longer. There are two more One-shots I have finished and one more I am working on at the moment. I write them whenever I have an idea that does not fit into SLS.

Now I'd love to have your opinions on this!^^ 

If you are too shy, you could leave a vote behind, but I also hope for one or two comments. 

Was this enjoyable/satisfying? Too much talking? Not enough kissing? Lol ;)