#hood mills family au

[lilacmoon83]

A Rat in Storybrooke

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Chapter 4: Stakeout

Snow sipped at her cocoa, as she sat in the truck beside her husband and smiled over at him.

"This is the best," she said with a smile.

"What? Sitting in a truck for hours?" he teased and she cocked her head to the side.

"No silly…sitting in a truck with you for hours," she replied. He grinned.

"Yeah…it's fun when I'm with you," he said.

"And as Mayor of this town, I feel that being involved in the case to takedown someone that is using mind control drugs on unsuspecting citizens is essential," she replied.

"Ratigan is a dirtbag for sure…" David said, as he used his binoculars to look at Medusa's eyesore of an establishment.

"What could he be waiting for?" Snow asked.

"I don't know…do we know anything about him?" he asked.

"All I got from the town census was that he was a blacksmith back in the Enchanted Forest, near Longbourne. Somehow, that doesn't really match up with his skills in chemistry," she replied.

"Yeah…definitely seems off. We could assume that the curse gave him his knowledge, but if that were true, there's no way he'd be able to create something like this drug," David said.

"Definitely not. The teaching knowledge the curse gave me was the bare basics. Everything else, I learned by reading it for myself," Snow replied.

"It's funny…the curse is definitely not what we imagined when we feared it back in our land. I mean, being separated was the worst thing we could experience, but there were certainly a lot of creature comforts involved. More than I imagined," he said. She smiled gently.

"People tend to become complacent when they're comfortable. There's no reason to fight and risk losing something when you have all your basic needs met," Snow surmised. He smirked.

"Yeah…I guess when we were living in the woods, we were eager to fight for a better life and our love," David said. She smiled.

"Sometimes it was rough, but never those nights under the stars," she remembered fondly. He smiled at those memories too.

"Do you think he's going to come out anytime soon?" Snow asked.

"I'm not sure…but even if he does, he'll be using the people he's controlling as human shields. We have to figure out a way to free them first, before we can take Ratigan down," David said, as his phone rang.

"Hey Paul…" he answered.

"Frollo is much more coherent now and he knows exactly what's in the drug. He is in no condition to be in the lab, but he gave me the ingredients and instructions on how to create an antidote to the mind drug," Paul replied.

"That's great…we're on our way," David said, as he hung up his flip phone.

"Paul says Frollo's lucid enough to tell him about this drug and Paul thinks he can make an antidote with this information," he said.

"Let's go," Snow replied, as he put the truck in gear and they returned to the hospital.

~*~

Leo's tongue poked out of the corner of his mouth, as they played Mario Kart and once he flew over the finish line in first place, he threw up his arms in victory.

"You win again…you're just too good for me, Mister," Regina said, as Eva huffed.

"I swear if I didn't know better that you're cheating somehow," she complained.

"Nah…I'm just that good," Leo bragged.

"Really? Care to race me?" Emma asked, as she came downstairs.

"I thought you had homework?" Leo asked.

"All done…with time to spare to kick your butt," Emma replied, as she grabbed a controller.

"We'll see," Leo replied, as Regina put her controller down.

"You can take my place for now," she said, as she went and sat on the couch with Robin. When Snow was called away, she had called her husband and Rolland to come spend the evening with her and the kids.

"You're pretty good at Mario Kart," he teased. She smiled.

"What can I say? I have a knack for video games," she replied, as the house phone rang.

"Nolan residence," she answered, as she got up.

"Oh, hi Snow…" she said, as she listened.

"Sure…I'll be right there," she replied, as she hung up the phone.

"They need my help with something. Are you okay here with the kids for a bit?" she asked. He smiled.

"Of course…go. You're part of the heroes now," Robin replied. She smiled shyly.

"I don't know about that," she said, as he kissed her tenderly and she hurried out to meet Snow and David at the hospital.

~*~

Ratigan peered out the blind of Medusa's tacky place and saw that Charming's truck was gone. That puzzled him. They had been staking the place out, but he knew the Sheriff hadn't given up, which meant that something else was at play.

"How long are you going to use my establishment for your little zombie fest?" Medusa questioned.

"A while…the conquest of a town takes time, even with willing soldiers," he said.

"You know, I've been around a long time and as much as I wish you'd win so we really could have some fun in this town, you won't," she warned.

"You just lack imagination, my dear," he said, as the scout he had sent out returned.

"Report," he said to the brainwashed hospital orderly.

"It appears that the Sheriff and the Mayor have returned to the hospital to consult with Dr. Sakura," he reported.

"Blast it…it's Frollo. He's awake and talking. He could ruin everything!" Ratigan said.

"Let me guess…he can provide an antidote to your little drug?" Medusa asked.

"Unfortunately yes…I may hate the man, but he knows what he's doing in the chemistry lab," Ratigan replied.

"Well…it'll be over soon then. Why don't you shove off. I'd rather not be arrested for aiding and abetting. Sheriff Charming would only love any legal reason to shut me down. His precious, pretty little Snow just hates that my place exists in her perfect little town," Medusa said, but Ratigan pulled a gun and pointed it at her.

"No worries there…because I'm not done with this being my base of operations. Now you're off the hook," he said. She glared at him and then put her hands up.

"Whatever you say, Dr. Wacktigan," she retorted, as he moved to look out the window again.

"I need more leverage than just some hospital orderlies and staff," he said and then a devious smirk spread across his face.

"Attention minions…it's time to make our move and I know exactly how to make Snow and Charming bend to our will and forget using any antidote they create," he said, as he marched out of the tavern with his small, but surely to grow army of brainwashed citizens.

~*~

"I came as soon as I could." Regina said, as she arrived.

"Good…to bring you up to speed, Ratigan has drugged about a dozen or so of the hospital staff with his mind control drug and currently, they're using Medusa's as their base of operation," David said.

"He's using them as human shields to keep you from doing a full scale takedown," Regina replied. He nodded.

"Frollo has given me the ingredients to make an antidote, but Ratigan was really thinking. He had his minions trash Frollo's lab and his own, plus mine before they stormed out of here. I need some decent chemistry equipment," Paul explained.

"I have a small set in my vault that you're welcome to, but I think we need a bigger one for this," Regina said.

"Any ideas?" Snow asked.

"None of us like it, but we should go to Gold. He'll have better equipment and getting the brainwashed people to either drink the antidote or drink it won't be easy," Regina replied.

"What do you suggest?" David asked.

"We ask Gold to use his. With Ratigan loose brainwashing people, he likely won't ask for any favors in return since he's a danger to Belle. Paul can use his equipment to create an aerosol based antidote," Regina replied.

"So we just have to spray them with it," Snow said. She nodded.

"That'll be much easier…let's go," David said. Paul nodded.

"Whale should be able to handle things here if he manages to stay sober," the doctor said, as they headed out to their cars when David's phone rang.

"Sheriff," he answered.

"Hello Sheriff…" Ratigan drawled.

"What do you want, scumbag," David said tersely.

"Tsk, tsk on how you speak to me, especially when I'm having a nice, lovely chat with your children and the Queen's husband," he replied, as David frowned.

"You touch any of them and I'll break you in half," the Prince growled.

"Oh I don't think so…I have a wide assortment of human shields and I have armed them all with knives. One slip of a blade and one of your precious babies could get hurt," he warned.

"What. Do. You. Want?" David growled.

"You and your lovely wife are going to come here and surrender to me. Once you're in my custody, you'll announce to all that you've abdicated your power and I will take over as the new Mayor of Storybrooke. Then one of my willing subjects will dump my drug into the water supply, while you and your children are free to go, as long as it's over the town line, never to return," he said.

"Fine…Snow and I are on our way," David replied.

"No tricks or funny stuff or I'll start slitting throats, starting with little Eva," he warned, as David hung up his phone.

"He has Robin and the kids," he said.

"He's a dead man," Regina growled.

"He wants Snow and I to abdicate our power to him and then he's going to force us over the town line with the kids. Meanwhile, he has one of his zombies on the way to the water plant to dump the drug into it," David said, as he dialed a number.

"Thomas…it's David. I need you to head to the water plant. Ratigan sent someone to dump his drug into the water supply. Try to stop them without harming them, but we can't let that happen, no matter what. Try to stop them without harm, but if it comes down to it and you have to use force, then don't hesitate," David said, as he hung up his phone. He hated making a call like that, but it was one of those situations where he had to choose to save the many over the few.

"We'll get to Gold's and get an antidote made," Regina said, as she and Paul hurried to her car.

"David…" Snow said, as she touched his arm.

"We'll stop him, Snow…we just have to stall long enough until they get that antidote," David replied. She nodded, as they headed to the truck.

~*~

Ratigan chuckled, as he hung up the phone.

"Mommy and Daddy are on the way, kids…and this town will soon be mine," he said.

"Yeah right…you're a big stupid head and my Dad is going to pulverize you!" Leo shouted, as he glared up at him.

"Listen here, you little welp," Ratigan growled, as he grabbed him by the shirt, but Leo kicked him in the shin and he let go. Emma pulled him back and shushed him.

"Another stunt like that and you'll be in a world of hurt, brat," he warned.

"Leo…easy does it," Emma whispered.

"Yeah…Mommy and Daddy will save us," Eva said.

"She's right," Emma said.

"I know…but I can't wait until I'm big enough to save us," Leo replied. Robin smiled, as he held Roland.

"You will be soon enough, young one, but we have to make sure we stay safe until they get here," he said, as he glared at the literal mad scientist. He had debated on whether he should attempt to overpower him, but with all the innocent lives in the balance, he chose not to risk it. He knew his wife and he knew Snow and David…they were likely developing a plan right at that moment.

"Hi Paul," Belle greeted, as they rushed into the shop.

"Hey Belle…sorry to be abrupt, but is your husband here?" he asked, as Gold entered from the backroom.

"Let me guess…our fair town has encountered yet another calamity," he said.

"Yes…and we need a good chemistry set. Ratigan has used a mind control drug on some of the hospital staff and is currently holding my husband and the kids hostage. He wants control of the town and has a minion on the way to dose the entire water supply system," Regina explained quickly.

"I was wondering when that rat would try something," Gold said, unsurprised.

"Frollo gave us the information we needed for the antidote, but Ratigan smashed all the decent labs we have. Can we use yours?" Paul asked.

"This way…and yes, this one is on the house. I'd rather not become a puppet for anyone, least of all that crackpot," Rumple replied, as they followed him into the backroom and got to work.

~*~

Snow and David parked the truck at their house and joined hands, as they stormed onto their property, both furious that this man had gone into their home and was holding their children and a good friend hostage.

"That's far enough," he warned, as he came out onto the porch with Eva in his grasp.

"Are you prepared to give me what I ask for?" he asked.

"We are…but it's going to take time. If you want an announcement to the whole town, then we need a camera crew," Snow replied.

"We called the television station and they're on their way," David added.

"Excellent…but I warn you. If you've set up any trick with them, it won't end well for the little ones," he warned.

"Daddy!" Eva whimpered.

"Easy Ratigan…all we told them is that we need to make an emergency announcement to the town," David said.

"And their anchor hates me for some unknown reason, so you don't have to worry about Goldilocks doing me any favors," Snow added. He chuckled.

"Yes…I've noticed her animosity. Seems personal for her. For me, it's not really. I just want whatever great mind wants…power and the respect I deserve," he boasted.

"I have many great plans for this town, while you two will go back to being your feckless cursed selves once I push you over the town line. But don't worry, you'll have each other and your kids. It's a happy ending for everyone, really," he said.

"Yeah…your definition of a happy ending is not the same as ours," Snow retorted, as the television studio van pulled up. Goldie got out and checked herself in her compact, making Snow roll her eyes. She had no idea why the blonde hated her, but the feeling was definitely becoming mutual given all the lies and crap she regularly spewed on her gossipy morning show. Unfortunately, Storybrooke didn't have any other real reporters.

Her co-host, LeFou, stumbled out of the driver's side and the side door slid open, as a cameraman and a crew member started unloading their equipment. Storybrooke 1980's technology was outdated, to say the least, but that would work in their favor, for it would take a bit to set up all the bulky, slow equipment.

"Hurry up!" Ratigan snapped. Goldie smirked.

"Relax, Professor Ratigan. Perfection takes time," she said.

"And pancake makeup," Snow commented, as the blonde glared daggers at her.

"Well…we can't all be the fairest of them all," she snapped back.

"You really need to work on your insults if that was supposed to be one," David said, looking at his wife fondly. She huffed.

"I for one am really looking forward to a change in leadership and as soon as my crew is set up, I'm prepared to give you a glowing interview," she said. He smirked.

"Finally…someone who knows how to worship greatness," he said.

"Barf…" Emma said, as she and the others were led out of the house by the unfortunate pawns under Ratigan's control.

"Mind your tongue, young one," he warned.

"We're almost ready," LeFou said. Ratigan smirked.

"Your time in power is coming to an end and mine is just beginning," he said. They exchanged a slight weary look. They had every confidence that Paul and Regina would come through, but it was cutting it close.

~*~

The beakers boiled and the liquid traveled through the tubes and the three of them wore masks, as they used Gold's equipment to convert the liquid into an aerosol form. Paul turned the lever at the opening of the tube and filled the aerosol cans they were using.

"There…that should do it and the four of us have one," he said.

"Let's go…Snow and David will stall, but we're running out of time," Regina said, as they quickly left the shop. There was no time to lose…

[stayevildarling]

could you do a hurt-comfort fic w either:

lou x tammy x reader

orrrrr

wilhemina x regina mills x reader pleaseee

Wilhemina Venable x Regina Mills x Reader- Burying our memories (AU)

A/N: I think this is absolutely not what you expected with this request dear anon. However the first thing I thought of was an AU with dark Mina x the evil Queen so I hope nevertheless you enjoy this <3 For anyone who has watched ouat please ignore how I altered the curse and changed the story

tw: dark mina, evil queen, cursing, degrading, blood, pain, angst, hurt

word count: 7k

taglist:

@lunaticwhittaker, @billiebeanhoward, @lanawinters-ily, @kenzbro, @minaslittleone, @httpfiftyshadesofgay, @whitelotus00, @ninaahs, @vintagepaulson, @isle-of-earle, @paulsonsratched, @stepintomyworld, @grilledcheeseandguavajelly, @lucyintheskywithxanax, @fanfics4world, @mymiraclewitch, @hazard-to-myself, @awritersometime, @ohrwurm26, @wastdstime

The dense greenery of the enchanted forest sways gentle in the cool breeze, casting shifting patterns of shadow and light upon the forest floor. With swift motions, you run through the tangled undergrowths, your breathing coming in ragged gasps as you glance over your shoulders, trying to see if they had gone, if you were safe.

Moments before, your day looked like it usually did, as you found yourself in the heart of the village, your heart heavy with the weight of injustice. The villagers lacking the most basic things including food, water and supplies to survive, due to the Queen's oppressive rules. And somehow over the years, after slowly losing your family and purpose altogether, you turned out to be an aid for the poor lost souls in the forest and village, their silent pleas echoing in the depths of your soul.

Somehow you had turned into your own version of a Robin Hood, wanting to help out, regularly crossing boundaries and stealing from the Queen's garden and palace grounds in order to provide for them, rid them of the poverty and pain they had endured for years now. And somehow, today you had been careless, not caring about the sound of alarms piercing through the stillness of the night. The queen's guards descended upon the village with ruthless efficiency, riding their horses, their gleaming armour announcing their presences further.

And now as you attempt fleeing through the labyrinth of the forest, trying to reach your sanctuary hidden deeply inside the forest, the branches tear at your clothes, the thorns pricking your skin and causing for blood to run down your arms and legs, leaving a crimson reminder of your foolishness before. Fear and desperation mingles in your veins as you push and push forward, occasionally glancing behind your shoulder to reassure that you would manage to lose them again, just like you had done many times. And if you were in a clear state of mind, you would have noticed that you took a wrong turn, ignoring the wanted poster with both your face on it, among other faces, like Snow White, all enemies to the queen who had been on her wanted list for quite some time now.

With a loud thud, you feel yourself losing your balance as you must have bumped into something, feeling a warm sensation before hitting your head on a nearby branch. It takes a little while for your vision to clear, before you find yourself face-to-face with a woman cloaked in darkness, her sharp features illuminated by a flickering lantern. Through a teary vision, due to the pain piercing through your body, you notice dark red hair styled in a sharp quiff, a shade of very dark purple, almost black coating her body. There's a calculating gleam in her eyes, as she finds you pathetically whimpering on the floor, her lips curled into a smirk.

,,Well well'' she remarks, her voice hushed ,,You seem to have gotten yourself into quite a predicament, running from the queens guards I presume?'' she questions and if it wasn't for the pain, you would have noticed the odd sense of familiarity you seem to feel and how you almost would have recognised her. Your heart pounds in your chest, torn between fleeing, the sound of shouting guards and horses still lingering in the air. But there was something about the woman's demeanour that stops you, a sense of intrigue mixed with caution.

Before you can respond, the older woman bends a little to place the lantern on the floor, the bright sensation causing you to close your eyes only momentarily. As you open them again, you watch as she balances on a cane before extending a gloved hand, offering assistance. ,,Come with me'' she offers, her tone surprisingly gentle. ,,I can offer you refuge, but you must trust me''.

Despite the feeling of doom and danger, you see a glimmer of hope in her offer, and so with a silent nod, you accept her outstretched hand, allowing her to lead you deeper into the shadowy depths of the enchanted forest. And it takes several minutes, for the pain to stop throbbing, the blood from your earlier wounds to stop pouring, until you can collect your thoughts. And as you walk behind her, following the sound of her cane and the light source provided by the small lantern she carries, something about the way she walked alarms you. And then it finally dawns on you, finding the familiar trees with carvings on them, where she was leading you, your secret path to the palace that you would often use in order to sneak to the grounds to steal in order to provide for the poor souls of the village.

And then at last it dawns on you who was walking in front of you, who's assistance you agreed upon. You didn't know her name, you had heard it plenty of times but you couldn't recall it, only remembering how she was the assistant to the wicked queen, the people in the village often mentioning her, how she never spoke much but was always by her side. As the forest echos with whispers of secrets, yet to be revealed, panic shoots through your veins, glancing around you to think of a quick escape and as you stop walking, you are quick to turn around, trying pathetically to begin running, however your legs give in as you feel a sharp pain, before everything goes black, having calculated your steps wrong, having put your trust in the wrong hands as the woman never had the intention of helping you, knowing you had been searched and chased for the longest time.

While you battle through unconsciousness, the woman had already alerted the same guards that had chased you before, who carried you inside the palace, the place that you had feared for years. And as the woman returns to the queens chambers in the middle of the night, not disturbing much sleep as her majesty had been awake, pacing back and forth contemplating her next steps and the secret curse she had been planning on casting for years, almost on the verge of completing it, finally having all the necessary ingredients, her peace is interrupted. ,,Busy'' she snarls as she is lost in her pacing, unaware who is standing in front of her.

,,Something demands your attention in the dungeons, your majesty'' the redhead woman announces, causing for the brunette to turn around, as her eyes sparkle with curiosity. And as her curiosity gets ahold of her, she brushes past her most loyal assistant yet, the sound of the queens heels and the other woman's cane echoing through the castle as they pass countless guards. And at last they make it to the dungeons, watching your almost lifeless frame on the floor, in restraints. ,,Well well'' the queen chuckles lowly, glancing at the other woman with a hint of excitement in her brown eyes. ,,Was she caught stealing my apples again?'' she chuckles as she approaches you a little closer.

,,No your majesty, I found her in the woods'' the other woman announces, causing for the queens head to snap in her direction, as she bites her lip in anticipation, almost a hint of lust in her eyes. As you slowly wake up, despite your body screaming in pain, you open your eyes, catching a glimpse of the woman who you had feared for the longest time, accompanied by the woman you had wrongly put your trust into hours before. ,,You lied to me'' you scream, struggling through the restrains as anger flashes in your eyes. The Queen simply chuckles lowly, seeing your pathetic attempts to regain your freedom. ,,My dear, you have no idea who this is do you?'' the queen remarks, causing you to avert your gaze in frustration. ,,This my dear is Wilhemina Venable, my most loyal companion'' she begins, her hand wandering to the redheads cheek, squeezing it a little, her eyes sparkling with pride for how she had managed to capture you after her countless failed attempts in the past.

And despite the circumstances, your eyes betray you as you watch the scene unfold before you, for the first time really getting a glimpse of both women. And you couldn't deny how utterly beautiful they were, at least from the outside, both their hair styled sharply, exposing their faces plastered in dark makeup, the same brown eyes despite the different shades. The queen was wearing one of her usual dresses, black this time, plastered in diamonds and jewels, Wilhemina dressed entirely in a dark shade of purple. While the queen is busy with admiring the other woman, feeling drawn to her for capturing you, you watch as the redheads brown eyes travel towards you, almost a sign of pity in them before she speaks again.

,,What are you planning on doing with her your majesty?'' causing for the queen to chuckle, and you knew what this meant as you had always been running from death, knowing you had deserved it for stealing and running from her for years. Closing your eyes, you wait for what awaits, waiting for her to open the bars, approach and rip out your heart, as you had watched her do it to innocent people many times. However to your surprise she begins pacing a little, thinking about what to do with you. ,,I think we'll keep her'' she announces with a chuckle, and as you open your eyes you notice the confusion in the redheads features.

,,Where she comes from my dear, people bathe in the river and use pinecones for money'' she exclaims, her eyes piercing right through you. ,,I think she can be of great assistance, considering she knows the village and forest so well'' she carries on, Wilhemina simply nodding, trying to avert your eyes. ,,She would make an excellent pet'' is the last thing her majesty says before leaving, leaving behind a very puzzled and confused Wilhemina. She looks at you one more time before following, leaving behind an ever confused you. ,,Pet?'' you think to yourself, trying to pinch yourself to see if this was all just a dream or if maybe you had already died a while ago.

The remainder of the night is spent in the eery dungeons, the restraints keeping you from moving all that much and so the only thing you can do is try and relax as much as the situation allows you, leaning your head against the cold and damp wall behind you, trying to calm the raging storm of thoughts. Eventually sleep finds you, despite it being broken as the castle was considerably loud, even in the night and sometimes you thought you heard screams from the lost souls that had found their ending in the same dungeons you are sitting in. The next morning, you are awoken by one of the guards, as he undoes your restraints, pulling you up by your arms and forcing your shaky legs to follow him as he takes you towards her majesty.

With heavy eyes from the remaining pain lingering on your body and lack of comfortable sleep, you blink a few times as he lets go of you, dropping to your knees in the process. And as you glance around, you notice an unfamiliar room, filled with fancy mirrors, a balcony overlooking the palace grounds, a large dining table and fireplace to the side. And you also notice the same two familiar faces that you had last seen last night, Wilhemina sitting in one of the armchairs by the lit fireplace, her cane resting beside her, the same shade of dark purple but a different outfit. And in front of you, you find her majesty, wearing a red dress, her hair down and despite it all looking beautiful, yet intimidating.

For some reason, you feel the urge to stand up and so with all the strength left you balance and face her as she takes slow and calculated steps around you, walking in a little circle, occasionally glancing at the other woman in the room before speaking. ,,Now now, what are we going to do with you, pet?'' she questions with a little chuckle and it causes you to gulp, wondering just why she hadn't killed you yet, considering all the wanted posters and the hatred you knew she felt towards you for your actions.

The room fills with silence before a low chuckle ripples through it, this time not from the queen but her loyal companion. ,,We can have her for supper can't we dear?''. And again they have you gulping and you could easily try to make an escape, the guards having disappeared now, despite expecting them outside this room. But your curiosity keeps you on your shaky legs, glancing at the older woman who continues circling you like prey. ,,No, no'' she tuts, shaking her head a little ,,We can't waste such a beautiful little thing, now can we?'' her voice sounds almost mocking and you have no idea whether she was being genuine or not.

Silence stretches on, before an idea pops into your mind, knowing what her majesty desired and considering she hadn't killed you yet, maybe you could truly be of assistance to her and her companion, maybe just maybe you could even continue to do what you had been doing, helping out the villagers if you played your cards right. ,,Your majesty?'' you try and her head snaps towards you, eyebrows raised as she never expected one of her prisoners to speak to her like this, adress her in the correct way, other than if she was about to take their life. ,,Yes?'' she questions curiously, her eyebrow remaining raised. You clear your throat before speaking again ,,You are trying to look for Snow White correct?'' you speak carefully, knowing this subject was more than a little touchy to her.

,,Yes, do continue'' she ushers, as her eyes lock with yours. ,,I am not the biggest fan of her either your majesty, perhaps I could be of assistance to help you find her?'' While Wilhemina chuckles, the brunette walks away sighing before she turns to you again, her eyes overtaken by anger. ,,Did she also get the one you loved most in this world killed?'' her voice is filled with venom, though her eyes filled with pain. Wilhemina averts her gaze, knowing Regina for a very long time now and knowing how much that had changed her. ,,No, of course not, I'm sorry your majesty'' you begin speaking again before adding ,,But we have met briefly and I can help you find her'' you try again.

This time the redhead woman stands up, her cane echoing through the room before she halts right in front of you, her dark brown eyes piercing through you. ,,We have our own spies in the village, what makes you think you can find her?'' she spits, almost feeling pitty at your pathetic attempt. ,,Well Ms Venable, you also have tried to find me for years and I know what it's like... to run, you know?''. Her eyebrows raise in the same way the queens had moments before, admiring how polite you are, admiring your manners despite it all and being able to tell that you didn't do any of this to be spared as she is utterly aware you could have tried to make an escape by now or even simply accept your fate.

,,If you don't like that, perhaps I could be of assistance with your gardens your majesty'' you try next, trying to think of anything to make yourself useful to them, while still seeing some of your own gain and advantage. The queen smiles then before turning serious ,,You mean those same gardens you have stolen from many times?'' she scoffs, glancing at Wilhemina who remains in front of you, her presence intimidating. ,,It's just I couldn't help but notice how some of the fruit didn't exactly look too healthy your majesty and your stunning castle, deserves a worthy garden'' you finish your proposal, assuming that she would kill you next or send you back to the dungeons.

,,Guard'' she shouts and as he enters hastily, you close your eyes, awaiting your fate. ,,Get me the gardener now'' she shouts and as he practically runs away, Wilhemina's eyes widen as she turns her head to face the queen, surprised she would listen to you, especially the possibility of agreeing as she knows exactly what is about to happen. A little while later a middle aged man enters the room, almost tripping over his feet, clearly intimidated by the presence. ,,I hear you haven't been taking care of my gardens the way you are meant to'' she tuts, and with a swift motion, before he even gets the chance to explain himself, she has him on the floor, with a flick of her wrist his neck snapped, moments later the guards carrying his lifeless body from the floor a few steps away from you.

All you can do is freeze, feeling terrible that this was the result of your words, not thinking about the consequences your proposal held for the innocent man. And despite feeling like screaming, you stay still, not daring to look up at either of them right now, the realisation slowly sinking in that this wasn't good, that you are trapped by a deranged witch and her odd companion. ,,Fine'' she finally speaks again ,,You can look after the gardens and you may be free to go to the village whenever you please and provide me with information on Snow White'' the queen speaks, before she approaches you. As you look up, you watch as she brushes past Wilhemina before taking your cheeks into her hand and squeezing them ,,But if you think for one second you can escape and not return, you are mistaken'' she warns and as your eyes lock with hers, you can't help and fight the tears beginning to swell in them. ,,Yes your majesty'' you agree with shaky breaths, before she releases you from her tight grasp.

,,Guard'' she shouts again, the same guard entering hastily yet again. ,,Take Y/N to a room, she will be overlooking the gardens and feed us information on snow white'' she explains, before he nods ,,Yes your majesty'' he speaks before he ushers you to follow him. And you do, not once looking back, your feet still shaky from the interaction that had unfolded. The walk feels like it lasts a lifetime, until he finally leads you to a door, opening it and ushering you to go inside. It wasn't nice in the slightest, a lot of dirt, spider webs, barely even a window but there was a little table and chair, a bed even and it connected to what you assume to be a small bathroom. And despite it giving you dungeon vibes all over again, at least you wouldn't be restrained any longer, regaining a small sense of your freedom. He leaves moments later, and you can't help but collapse onto the bed, it really wasn't much of a bed, more of a mattress but nevertheless, you close your eyes as sleep finally washes over your tired body and aching bones.

The next time your eyes force open, it's a few hours later and as you glance around the small room, you find some things that had been left on the small table. As your curiosity gets ahold of you, you find a few sets of clothes, a washcloth and even some papers and pens and despite unsure who had left it there, you appreciate it. Moments later you finally rid your body from the dirt and blood that the last two days had left on you, putting on some of the clothes and leaving your room. It takes you several minutes to find a guard, asking if he could point you in the direction of the gardens and hesitantly he does, leading you to what you assume to be the old gardeners shed as you find all the necessary tools and so without thinking about it, you get to work, watering the bushes, trimming some of them to get them into perfect shape, nurturing some of the fruits and vegetables and correcting any mistakes that the previous gardener had made, for whatever reason taking this task quite seriously.

It's dark as you eventually return inside, quickly having the hang of it by now and finding your room, finding a meal on your table and despite again unsure who had left it, feeling grateful as you hadn't realised until now how much you had been starving. After finishing your meal, you change your clothes again, washing the now dirty ones from working in the gardens all day, before sitting on your bed crossed leg, trying to figure out what to do as beside the day light, you had lost all sense of time a little bit. And so the only thing you can do is reach for the pen and papers, writing down the events from the past few days, sketching a little as well as it always had been your passion, unsure why but it really being the only thing you could do and several hours later passing out on your bed as sleep washes over you.

The next day, you find yourself doing the same things, her gardens were huge and as her majesty overlooks them, finding you working as you kneel on the floor, planting some flowers, she can't help but watch carefully, something about you utterly intriguing. You lose yourself in your task, unaware of who was watching before a presence startles you, causing you to drop your tools clumsily. You watch as Ms Venable circles around you, carefully observing without speaking a single word and it for sure intimidates you, having her observing and careful eyes on you. ,,You seem good at this'' she states, noticing how all the bushes and hedges had the exact same length and a part of her confused as to how you had managed that. ,,Thank you Ms Venable'' you almost whisper, after the last encounter quite terrified of them both and she can tell. ,,Have you managed to gather any information yet?'' she questions curiously and you gulp then before looking up at her as you still kneel on the floor.

,,Not yet, I was wondering whether I may be allowed to leave this afternoon to try and I was wondering whether I would be allowed to collect some seeds?'' you ask, your voice shaky. ,,Seeds?'' she chuckles then, almost mocking your words. ,,Yes Ms to plant some more vegetables and fruit and flowers you see'' you try your best to convince her. ,,I'm sure her majesty doesn't mind, as long as you return in the evening and report back to us'' she almost scolds, her features turning more serious and stern. ,,Of course Ms Venable, thank you'' is all you reply with a small smile, unsure why you had smiled in the first place but it somehow came natural. And before you know it she leaves, her cane echoing with each step before it stops altogether as she reaches the palace again.

Several hours later, you finally make your way to the village, using your secret path through the forest, stopping briefly by your hide out and gathering some of your things, putting them all in a small bag and changing into one of your usual outfits, feeling much more comfortable that way. You opted for one of your beige ones, leather trousers, boots and a vest, a shoulder bag with your belongings. On the way to the village, you had also collected some seeds, hoping if you worked briefly and hard on the gardens, you could still provide the village with food, hoping that you could somehow stuff it in your bags so no one would notice. And as you finally make it to the village, you are met with the usual families, the children greeting you excitedly as they knew you always brought them things but today you unfortunately come empty handed. ,,We haven't seen you for a couple of days'' one of the villagers exclaims, scanning your features and noticing some cuts and bruises on your face. ,,Brief encounter with some guards'' you chuckle, not wanting to go into too much detail. ,,I don't have anything today unfortunately but I should soon'' you exclaim, however you are met with compassion and understanding.

,,Have either of you heard anything about Snow White lately?'' you ask the group of villagers, before most of them shake their head. ,,I believe she has last been seen up north, by the rivers'' one of them exclaims and you simply nod, appreciating their honesty, despite feeling terrible considering what game you are playing. Noticing the beginning dawn, the sun beginning to set, you opt to return to the palace, knowing you would never be able to make the journey up north within the next few hours. And it doesn't take long until you find yourself in front of the familiar back door, some guards already awaiting you. ,,Your majesty wants to see you'' he explains before you gulp and follow him.

He guides you back into the room you had been in before, the two of them sitting by the fireplace, before you stand awkwardly, feeling as if you are interrupting their peace. ,,Tell me, any information?'' the queen questions before she stands up and walks over to you. ,,Yes your majesty, apparently up north by the river'' you explain before she signals to the guard who remained standing there before he leaves at her instructions. ,,I would have checked the information for myself but I know I needed to return tonight'' you explain yourself and she simply furrows her eyebrows before scanning you, noticing the outfit change and the bag. ,,Well well, did our little pet make a stop somewhere?'' she asks, glancing at Wilhemina who simply watches with a chuckle. The brunette is quick to take the bag from you, her eyes glancing through the contents of it, noticing some seed pouches and chuckling as the redhead had filled her in on your earlier request. ,,What is this?'' she questions, holding up your notebook.

,,My notebook your majesty'' you exclaim, averting her gaze as your cheeks grow red a little. She skips through the pages, impressed with the several sketches, some from the villages, some from the forest and even one of her castle. She slides it back into your bag, before walking back over to her armchair, leaving you confused and stranded, unsure what to do next. ,,I feel like some tea, you dear?'' the queen announces and you aren't sure whether to leave them to it or whether they still needed you. ,,Of course'' the redhead begins, reaching for her cane but the queen stops her by waving her hand. ,,No no'' she tuts ,,We have a pet now remember dear'' she instructs and Wilhemina simply chuckles before they both look at you. You glance around the room, unsure where you are supposed to get tea from, however the redhead glances towards a backdoor behind the dining table and you nod gratefully before quickly walking through the door, finding a small tea kitchen there.

And so it doesn't take long before you enter the room again, carrying a little tray, before approaching them, with shaking hands placing it in front of them. ,,Anything else I can get you?'' you ask almost obediently and if you would have looked, you would have noticed the sparkle in Wilhemina's eyes. ,,No pet, but how about you join us considering you did so well today, I heard they have a trail on Snow White'' the queen chuckles and your eyes widen at her offer, but as Wilhemina pats the space next to her, you simply obey, quickly pouring the tea for them, before glancing at the fire, softly crackling, providing you with some warmth, as you feel a little awkward, under their careful gazes. ,,So tell me Y/N, what led you to steal from me in the first place?'' the queen begins, causing you to gulp as the last thing you expected was to find yourself having small talk over tea with them. ,,Yes Y/N'' Wilhemina mockingly carries on ,,We want to hear all about you'' she exclaims, again having you gulping and squirming in your seat.

The next few weeks, carry on the same way they had previously, most of your days are spent with taking care of the gardens, regularly going back to your village, providing them with some of the food that you had grown and nurtured, in secret of course. Your nights mostly looked the same as well, spending them in your room, doing some writing or sketching in your notebooks. However lately, they had often demanded your presence in the evening as well, as you often provided them with tea, the occasional wine, and any information you had on Snow White. And you couldn't help but notice how they seemed a little less strict, they stopped calling you pet and started with your actual name. You are sure by now they know that you have continued providing for your village and they hadn't killed you yet, not even mentioned it. And so, ever so slowly, your life at the palace felt almost normal as you had quite the freedom now, not having to let the guards know where you are going as they and her majesty knew you would always return in the evenings. And so it almost felt like home, appreciating the fact that you don't have to sleep on the wet and cold forest floor anymore but you knew there was something off, you should be terrified, trying to run from them after seeing all the horrible things they had done in the past but something about being around them so much, you started to understand more about the queens pain and the reason for her actions.

,,Where on earth is she?'' she paces around her large chambers, the anger flaring in her eyes as her magic sparks, her emotions bubbling out of the brunette.

Her loyal companion, sits by the fireplace, trying to keep her composure, before balancing on her cane, the sound echoing through the room. ,,I'm sure she just lost track of time'' the redhead tries calming her down, placing a hand on the queens shoulder but she is having none of that, quickly escaping her grasp. ,,She always returns, we were foolish to believe that she wouldn't betray us'' her raised voice rings through the air again, startling the redhead a little.

And Wilhemina wasn't sure whether the queen was actually concerned for your wellbeing, or simply considering whether to kill you, having noticed how Regina had almost gone soft since bringing you to the castle, still plotting her curse that she had worked on for a while but considerably softer with the people in the villages, especially your village. She knew all about you still providing them with food and yet Regina hadn't kill you and so Wilhemina had began wondering whether the brunette may feel the same way about you that Wilhemina had started, despite never talking about it.

The silence is interrupted when a guard enters ,,Your majesty'' he begins but she was having none of it. ,,Not now'' she shouts, waving her hand, getting ready to send him flying out the door. ,,Your majesty, we have finally found her'' he announces, the sound of more guards filling the air before her head snaps towards him. ,,Snow White?'' she questions, despite your best information and efforts lately, they still hadn't managed to capture her. ,,No your majesty'' he begins, before Wilhemina's heart stops in her chest.

They watch as another guard, drags your body inside, your face filled with blood as it pours from your mouth, your clothes stained and bruises beginning to plaster your face. Your eyes are closed as they throw you on the floor, in front of both women, smiling at themselves thinking they had captured you. ,,Are you both out of your minds?'' she shouts and the smiles quickly vanish from the guards faces. ,,Your majesty, Y/N has been searched for years'' he tries to justify his actions. ,,Didn't you two fools get the memo? she hasn't been searched for months, she belongs to this palace'' Wilhemina shouts, usually keeping her composure but unable to in this moment.

,,Pathetic idiots'' the evil queen shouts, in a swift motion making them turn into dust, wiping them from their existence quicker than either of them can take their next breath or justify their pathetic actions. Wilhemina is quick to rid you from the chains, her hand brushing past your cheek, the blood staining her leather gloves. Almost helplessly, Wilhemina turns to Regina, who simply stands frozen, before turning on her heels, abandoning you both as she leaves towards her balcony, trying hard to keep her emotions and rage at bay.

The battle of unconsciousness wins in the end, barely aware of the encounter that took place and so when you wake next, you find yourself in unfamiliar surroundings, a dark room, the only light sources some candles. As you try and force open your eyes, you notice the interior almost entirely a dark shade of lilac and your eyebrows furrow, trying to recollect the events from before. All you remember is trying to make your way back to the castle, stumbling upon some guards who clearly had no idea who you were and how they didn't listen to your pathetic attempts of explaining. How they beat you, hurt you and dragged you back to what you assume to be the castle. The last thing you see before sleep washes over your tired and beaten body is the lilac large sofa you are laying on before everything goes black and quiet.

Meanwhile Wilhemina had returned to the queens chambers, opting between getting you back to your room or a little closer to them and so she decides for one of her rooms in the end, needing the help of a guard to get you there, yet she trusted that same guard, having helped her with some of her secret missions in the past. She watched over you for a while, gently ridding you from the blood and changing your clothes for you, unsure why she was doing it but ignoring the thought for now, wanting to check on Regina. She finds the other woman still standing on her balcony, overlooking the gardens, despite the darkness of the night surrounding them. The cane echoing announces the redheads presence, as she stands beside her majesty, silence surrounding them.

,,How is she?'' the brunette asks, not averting her gaze from the dark night sky for a moment. ,,Fine'' Wilhemina mutters, still unsure how to read Regina's actions so far regarding you. And as the redhead catches a glimpse of the other woman's brown eyes, she can see something unfamiliar in them, something she couldn't read. ,,She's causing me to go soft'' she suddenly speaks, taking Wilhemina by surprise. ,,Is that such a bad thing?'' she questions in return, the queen averting her eyes again at the redheads statement. ,,Where is she?'' Regina asks after a moment of silence before Wilhemina speaks again. ,,She's safe'' and the statement causes for the queens eyebrows to furrow as her eyes draw towards the redheads again. ,,Where is she?'' she speaks again before Wilhemina swallows hard ,,In my room''.

,,Your room?'' her eyebrows raise now, surprised at the statement. ,,You are going soft too my dear'' she chuckles before giving her companion that nod, that nod that indicated she was tired and would retreat to her own chambers for the night. ,,Good night your majesty'' Wilhemina speaks before giving her the space she had silently asked for and retreating to her own room. In her room, she finds you still asleep and a wave of worry washes over her, having seen some of your wounds when changing and washing you before, concerned at the severity of them. ,,Y/N?'' she speaks almost softly, almost lovingly, so unlike the usual stern and intimidating woman. And her soft voice draws you from sleep instantly, as you open your eyes. And then it kinda dawns on you, who's room you are in and you instantly jolt, thinking you didn't belong there, unaware of who had put you there in the first place.

,,I'm so sorry Ms Venable'' you try, your voice still hoarse from sleep. ,,I don't know how I got here'' you apologise, trying to balance on your feet, however a sudden wave of pain washes over your body, causing you to tumble forward but a steady body forces you to remain still, stopping you from falling over. ,,It's okay dear'' she speaks so softly yet again and as you look up, you catch a glimpse of her brown eyes and how they sparkle, how suddenly she seems so much nicer, so much less intimidating and just a person, not the evil queens loyal companion. ,,Come on, let's sit you down'' she tries and you quickly obey, not wanting to cause any discomfort for her, unsure why she used a cane in the first place, but often sensing how uncomfortable she was whenever you caught a glimpse of her.

,,I put you here'' she confesses, causing your eyebrows to furrow in confusion but when the realisation sets in, your cheeks growing red a little, feeling silly for your earlier panic. ,,Is the pain quite bad?'' she asks, her features filled with concern but you quickly shake your bed. ,,No Ms Venable'' you assure, the pain much better now despite the remaining feeling of unbalance whenever standing up. The room fills with silence as you catch a glimpse of what you assume to be her chambers, the large wooden wardrobe in a corner, a large mirror, a desk with several books on them, two armchairs and a fireplace in the corner. As your eyes meet hers again you can't help but notice how she is staring at you, looking at you up and down as your eyebrows furrow in confusion, mirroring her actions to check if there was something wrong with your appearance.

,,You are quite pretty for a peasant'' she speaks quietly and now you are definitely contemplating whether you are awake, whether this was real. ,,Tha- Thank you Ms Venable'' you stumble over your words, unsure what to reply before she speaks again ,,You may call me Wilhemina'' she offers ,,But only when we are alone'' she instructs and you quickly nod your head, feeling a knot form in your stomach. The room fills with silence again, as you feel yourself relaxing in her presence a little, trying to think how you had gotten here in the first place, how being captured after all these years got you to a first name basis with her majesty's most trusted person. ,,What happened to you tonight?'' Wilhemina asks, drawing your thoughts and eyes back to her.

And then without hesitation and the usual composure you have around them, you fill her in on what had happened with the guards, and she listens intently, her jaw stiffening a couple of times when mentioning some of the more violent details. Before she can reply, the door bursts open, and your eyes widen when seeing the queen enter, in a dark nightgown, her hair down, the makeup gone and for the first time feeling like actually seeing Regina. ,,I can't sleep'' she sighs before noticing your presence and tensing her shoulders, not expecting you to still be there as it had been hours since Wilhemina mentioned having you in her room and assuming by now that you had left to your own room again.

,,And what are you still doing here?'' she questions, more to Wilhemina than yourself really. ,,We were just talking'' Wilhemina informs, her features remaining neutral. ,,I'll leave you to it your majesty'' you speak, quickly on your feet and ignoring the pain and dizziness as you brush past her and return to your own room. That night you have a hard time finding sleep, equally to the queen before, as you toss and turn at first, before eventually giving up on the idea of sleep and retreating to the comfort of your words and sketches as the pen flies over the pages of your notebook.

The next morning you return to your usually tasks, going on about your day, finding an odd sense of peace and quiet in the gardens. Unaware who was again looking over you, observing quietly from her balcony. And the next few weeks continue just like that, you going on about your usual tasks, having your evening encounters with both women who stopped tolerating your presence and started appreciating it, as you bring an odd sense of calm around them, some life into their monotone lives. And within those weeks you feel yourself increasingly drawn to both women, especially after they had taken you to your village a few days ago in the queens carriage, how you assumed Regina was going to bring her usual wrath of violence over people but instead her carriage brought food and supplies for your people and you couldn't believe your eyes, just as stunned as the poor people who feared as soon as they heard the queens guards and carriage arrive.

And you wondered whether maybe, just maybe the queen was going soft, unaware of the events that had taken turn behind closed doors, of how the queen had casted her spell and how it was slowly brewing, unaware of what it would bring, chaos, forgetting and what she had always desired most- her own version of a happy ending. And so tonight, you were unaware that the upcoming day would bring just that, unaware that tonight was your last with them. You had been confused about the queens unusual cheerful mood, how she had invited you to join them for supper, how Wilhemina could barely stand your gaze. How silently Wilhemina had pleaded for the queen to stop her curse but she couldn't stop it as it had been brewing silently for months and how nothing could stop it now, despite her beginning to silently regret it, despite her never admitting that to no one, not even herself really.

You find yourself sitting beside Wilhemina by the fireplace, how her eyes linger on the dancing flames, not having said much all night. ,,Wilhemina, is everything okay?'' you question silently and as her eyes meet yours, you see the pain, the doubts in them and so many unspoken words. However, your peace is interrupted when the queen enters, the door banging shut in the process and your heart stopping in your chest as you notice what she was carrying in her hands. Your notebook slaps against the table as she throws it on it, leaving behind a very confused and startled Wilhemina.

,,What is this?'' the redhead questions, her eyes meeting the angry queens eyes.

,,Ask her'' Regina spits, her angry eyes meeting yours. Wilhemina's eyebrows furrow in confusion as she looks at you. You can't do anything but stand, taking a step towards her majesty, knowing if she had read it, you would be beyond screwed.

,,I can explain your majesty'' you pathetically try but before you get the chance to, she takes a step closer, the echoing of her heels matching her inner turmoil as her eyes shoot daggers towards you, before you gasp as a hand extracts your heart, watching in shock as she holds it in her hands, the sound of it beating steadily filling the room.

,,Regina-'' Wilhemina shouts, quickly on her feet and her eyes travelling from you to the brunette.

,,I have had a feeling this carried your secrets'' she speaks, her eyes wandering towards your notebook. ,,And I wasn't surprised to read all your little confessions, find all your little sketches'' she speak almost mockingly, her eyes filled with both rage and pain.

,,Regina- what is it?'' Wilhemina tries again, her heart beating fast, her hands trembling with fear.

,,She loves us dear, both of us, the pages are filled with it'' she informs her companion, who simply stands there with a shocked expression as the room begins spinning a little.

,,Regina stop'' Wilhemina demands, her eyes pleading with the queen, her cane banging on the floor twice.

Regina's grip on your heart tightens, her gaze cold as she holds it in her hands, causing you to gasp for air. ,,Stop?'' she repeats, her tone dripping with disdain. ,,Why would I stop? when I have finally uncovered the truth about our little pet?''

Fear courses through your veins as you watch the scene unfold before you. Wilhemina's eyes widen in shock, her features mixed with disbelief and anguish. ,,Regina please'' she pleads again, her voice barely above a whisper ,,This isn't necessary''

,,You know that she loves us, you have known for a while now, we both have'' she pleads again as she steps forward, her voice filled with desperation.

Regina's eyes flicker with anger but Wilhemina continues, her words gaining strength. ,,Love should triumph over revenge'' she argues, her gaze never leaving Regina's.

The Queen's expression softens slightly at Wilhemina's words, a flicker of doubt crossing her features. For a moment it seems as though she might relent, before she senses that her curse almost reached you, knowing it was too late, that she couldn't fix this, before her eyes harden once more, her resolve returning.

"Love is a weakness, Wilhemina," she retorts, her voice cold and unforgiving. "It blinds us, makes us vulnerable. We cannot afford such weakness in our world."

Before Wilhemina can respond, having heard those same words fall many times from the queens lips, Regina reaches out and places your heart back in your chest. The pain is intense, causing you to drop to the floor, and as Regina leaves the room, Wilhemina rushes to your side, abandoning her cane, pulling you into her arms as she braces for whatever comes next.

As she glances towards the door where Regina stands, a thick cloud of purple and green already surrounding her, the dark curse finally having reached you, she is quick to press a tender kiss to your lips, causing your eyes to open. ,,I love you Y/N'' she murmurs against your mouth, her voice filled with emotion. ,,No matter what happens, remember that''

Then, as the room fills with smoke and darkness, Wilhemina shields you with her body, trying to protect you from the curse's effects. As the world fades around you, you cling to her, unaware of what is happening, unaware that in a matter of seconds you would forget everything, forget them, forget your life and the woman still trying desperately to hold you close, despite it being useless.

[ouatnextgen]

Character Profile: Alice

(As a brief reminder, I changed who Alice's parents are for this AU...and I changed them again, so now she's Emma and Killian's kid, Hope's twin sister)

Name: Alice Matilda Swan-Jones

Other names: Al (by her friends)

Alli (by her friends)

Love (by Robyn)

Tower Girl (by Robyn)

Lass (by Killian)

Starfish (by Killian)

Baby Girl (by Emma)

Kid (by Emma)

Age: Sixteen

Height: 5’5

Hair: Blonde

Eyes: Blue

Gender: Cis Female (she/her)

Face Claim: Rose Reynolds

Sexual Orientation: Lesbian

Species: Human

Father: Killian Jones

Mother: Emma Swan

Sibling(s): Henry Mills (paternal half-brother)

Hope Swan-Jones (twin sister)

Other Family: Prince David “Charming” Nolan (maternal grandfather)

Queen Snow-White (maternal grandmother)

Prince Leo Nolan (maternal uncle)

Prince Benjamin Nolan (maternal uncle)

Brennan Jones (paternal grandfather)

Alice Jones I (paternal grandmother)

Liam Jones (paternal uncle)

Liam Jones II (paternal uncle)

Occupation: The Savior (all), student at Storybrooke High (Storybrooke)

Home: Storybrooke (born), Misthaven (briefly), Wonderland (briefly)

Favorite Color: Turquoise

Songs: Paradise- Coldplay || Runaway- Aurora || Birds- Imagine Dragons

Powers and abilities: Light Magic 

Weapons: None

Likes: Robyn Hood

Birthday: April 18th, 2015

Zodiac: Aries (Brave, willful, productive, humanitarian, moody, impulsive, impatient, assertive)

Personality Type: INFJ (Introverted, Intuitive, Feeling, and Judging)

Alice tends to approach life with deep thoughtfulness and imagination. Her inner vision, personal values, and a quiet, principled version of humanism guide her in all things.

Description: Alice means “noble” in German. She has blonde hair like her mother, and blue eyes like her father, as well as his facial features.

[miles2g0]

This is coming in late but for the ask game? I'm curious about the "homeless Tim" one 👀

The basic premise of that one is that Tim never became Robin because his dad is abusive and he spends most of his time between 13 - 17 as a runaway. He goes back home intermittently when he's desperate and runs away again whenever his dad gets too bad.

It starts with Tim jumping in to help Jason in an alleyway scuffle during one of his runaway stints. (I haven't decided yet if Jason died in this AU or not, so he's either Red Hood or Red Robin here.) Jason can tell that Tim is in a bad situation and tries to convince him to let him help but Tim gets defensive. Jason asks around the streets later to get more of Tim's story from the locals, and he and Tim "run into" each other here and there (read: Jason being a stalker).

During all this there's a gang war brewing between two of the Rogue's gangs (haven't decided exactly which ones yet), and Tim and Jason end up getting tangled up in things.

It's basically a "Tim enters the Batfamily early late" story.

It's still really rough, but here's a snippet:

There was something off about the kid. His accent, for one. It was Gotham for sure, but it wasn't Crime Alley. It was almost like he was purposefully smudging it to cover up a more posh one. He was certainly skinny enough to be your run-of-the-mill street kid, and his clothes were a little worn, a little dirty, but they were good quality, better than a lot of the families in this part of Gotham could usually afford. He could have stolen them, but Jason's gut said otherwise.

He would bet the pie Alfred promised to make him tonight that the kid was from Bristol. A runaway.

"What's your name, kid?"

"Alvin," he answered smoothly. He was a good liar. If Jason hadn't already expected the kid to bullshit his way through this interrogation-in-disguise he wouldn't have suspected the lie.

"Where you stayin', Alvin?"

He shrugged. "Around."

"You get that cut looked at?"

He reached self-consciously to touch the large gash on his head. "It's fine."

From the looks of it, it should have had stitches. It must have bled like crazy and it was going to take much longer to heal this way.

"How'd you get it?"

The kid hummed. "You're welcome for the save, but I have places to be, if you'll excuse me?" Alvin didn't wait for an answer before he turned curtly on his heel.

"Wait!" Jason darted forward and put a hand on the kid's shoulder. Alvin flinched and whipped back around with a glare and Jason pulled his hand back and held it up. "Sorry, I shouldn't have touched you. Will you just listen to me for a sec'?"

Alvin crossed his arms. "Whatever you're going to say, I've heard it before."

"Look, I get it, okay? I used to be out here, too, y'know? I'm just sayin', if you're trying to get away from someone—"

"You don't know anything," Alvin said with a surprising ferocity that had Jason taking a step back.

"You're right," he conceded. "I don't know anything about you. I'm sorry. But I do know what it's like to be hungry, so at least let me buy you a burger or somethin'? As a thank you for saving my ass?"

Alvin was still glaring, but Jason could see him swallow. He'd never forget how much it had sucked to starve. He would have jumped at the offer.

He had jumped at the offer. And somehow it had ended with him in a goddamn leotard jumping off of roofs.

"Fine. But no more soft interrogations, I'm not an idiot."

Jason grinned. Smart kid. "Bat Burger?"

[justanoutlawfic]

Resurrected: A New Beginning

Summary: Regina and Robin take the final step to become whole again.

I want to start this off with a thank you. Thank you to everyone who read this story and showed it love. Thank you to those that were patient and stuck through with it, even in the hard times. When I started this fic, I figured I'd a couple of follow ups and then it turned into over 40 chapters of these two idiots falling in love with each other again. This is the end of the main story, but I will take follow up one shot requests for the sequel "Ever After".

Regina and Robin's love story was always so beautiful to me because it showed that everyone can get a happy ending, no matter what their past. I love fanfiction with these two because no matter what, I feel that's represented. I hope you all are having a happy holiday and enjoy the final installment. :)

Also on AO3

1 ½ Years Later

 Regina grunted as Mary Margaret pulled up the zipper on her dress, wiggling a bit as she stared at her baby bump.

 “I should’ve just waited until I popped,” she mumbled. “Who thought getting married when you’re 7 months pregnant was a good idea”

“You two didn’t want to do that. You said you wanted to get married on your original anniversary.”

“Yeah, well, I was stupid for wanting that.”

“Relax. You look beautiful.”

 Regina sighed, taking in the dress in the full length mirror. When Robin had proposed again, she hadn’t planned on wearing anything too fancy. They had an agreement that they wanted something small. Their first wedding had been a big affair, mostly for her father’s sake. He paid for most of it and they had a standard Catholic ceremony followed by a reception at a hall just outside of town.

 This time, they were getting married in their backyard, with a simple dinner to follow. The only guests would be the kids, the Nolan family and Will. Robin and the boys weren’t wearing tuxes, just button downs and slacks. Margot was in a purple dress she had picked out for the occasion. Regina originally wanted to try to fit into her old wedding dress, but after getting pregnant and giving it more thought, she wanted something more simple. So, she had settled on a cream colored maternity dress that had a white lace pattern over it with matching sleeves that went down to her elbows. Her tattoo was visible through the sleeves, but it no longer brought her pain anymore. Regina’s hair was shorter now, but curled at her chin.

 The door opened and for a moment, Regina thought it was one of her kids until she heard the voice that followed it. “Well, you certainly look beautiful.”

Regina spun around, finding an old friend standing there. “Ursula,” she breathed.

 She had wanted to invite her one good friend from Hyperion Heights, but when she left and told her the truth, Ursula had been understandably hurt. Regina had lied to her for 3 years. She’d hate her too. Regina had wrote Ursula a little after she moved back to Storybrooke, but never heard back.

 “How did you know I was getting married?”

“I looked through your address book and wrote her,” Mary Margaret explained. “You talk about how she was the one person that got you through that time away. Even if you’re not Roni anymore, she’ll always be apart of you. You should have a part of her at the wedding.”

Regina felt tears well up in her eyes and hugged her, before turning to Ursula. “I cannot apologize enough for lying to you.”

Ursula sighed, shaking her head. “For so long, I didn’t get it…but now I do. You were trying to protect your family and telling me would put them at risk.”

“I wanted to tell you every day.”

“I can’t imagine what a secret like that would do to a person.” She took her hand and smiled. “I met your husband by the way, he’s handsome.”

“Isn’t he though?” Regina laughed through her tears, batting them away.

Ursula’s eyes traveled to her stomach. “Mary Margaret said you were pregnant, but I didn’t know how far along.”

“Yeah, he’s kicking up a storm. Probably glad his mommy and daddy aren’t going to be living in sin anymore.”

“It’s a boy?”

“Yup. Margot is going to be the only girl, I think that’s helping with the jealousy.”

 The door opened again and Henry walked in. Regina worried she would cry all over again, he was so grown up. She had missed so much of his childhood, of all of theirs. No matter how much she was there for them going forward, that would always be on her mind As Archie told her though, she had to focus more on the future, rather than the past.

 “Are you ready, Mom?” He asked.

Regina nodded. “Yes, I am.”

“You’re not going to have my new baby brother today, right?”

She laughed, shaking her head. “We still have two months.”

“We’ll be outside,” Mary Margaret said, taking hold of Ursula’s arm and leading her out.

 Regina fastened the silver feather necklace around her neck, before grabbing hold of the bouquet of feathers that Will had put together for her. She took her son’s arm and together, they headed down the garden path that had been set up.

Robin stared at Regina as she walked down the aisle towards him for the second time. Both of them, she had been escorted by a Henry. In many ways, the wedding was like their first and yet in so many others, it was new and different. He liked that. Their first wedding had been beautiful, but this one was more intimate.

 One thing that hadn’t changed was the fact that she was the most beautiful bride there ever was.

 He didn’t notice Roland and Margot bickering over their seats or Will trying to bribe them both to be quiet with some candy. His eyes didn’t cross to Mary Margaret being a blubbering mess by Regina just walking down the aisle, Emma looking pretty embarrassed and David just laughing, handing her tissues. He couldn’t even give much thought to his wife’s friend from her other life sitting on the other side of Margot. No, his eyes were completely on his wife to be.

 Eventually, Regina and Henry reached them. He kissed her cheek before taking his spot not far from Archie-who outside being a therapist was also a marriage officiant. Robin took hold of Regina’s hands, looking deep into her brown eyes.

 Archie cleared his throat. “We have gathered here today to join Regina Mills and Robin Locksley in holy matrimony…for the second time.”

Robin and Regina laughed alongside everyone else. “The final time,” Robin gently corrected. “I am never letting her go again.”

“Neither am I,” Regina promised, leaning in and kissing him.

“That is very sweet you guys, but I haven’t even gotten to my whole spiel or the vows yet,” Archie cut in. “So, maybe save the kisses for the end.”

Regina pulled away, her cheeks slightly pink. “Yes, Dr. Hopper. Go on.”

 Archie began his speech, talking about love and how long it lasts, even when going up against the challenges. Robin and Regina were only half-listening though. In many respects, all of this was just a formality-fixing what had happened nearly 6 years prior. The pomp and circumstance didn’t matter.

 Regina had been brought to life and now they could resume their love that had never died.

[believingispowerfulmagic]

We All Will Be Together

Summary:  Set in my "The Christmas Wish" verse. Santa has granted Henry and Roland's wish by making them brothers. Robin and Regina have decided to stay married. Follow them as they spend their first year as a family by seeing how they celebrate the special occasions throughout the year.

Chapter 1: FFN | AO3 | Wattpad

Chapter 7: The Wedding

FFN | AO3 | Wattpad

Excerpt: 

"Are you sure about this? I know we said that we wanted the full experience but we're also already married. I don't think we need to worry about this particular superstition," Robin said, standing outside the church with an overnight bag in his hand and looking hesitant to leave her.

She reached out, pressing her hand against his cheek as she smiled. "I know but I don't want to tempt fate. So can we just do this to put my mind at ease?"

Robin, though, didn't look convinced. "I know your morning sickness hasn't been as bad as it once was but what if you do get sick during the night? I don't want you to be sick by yourself."

"I'll be fine," she assured him, knowing he had been waking with her whenever she was sick to rub her back or hold her hair. It had been comforting to have him beside her during those moments. But they had lessened as she approached the end of her first trimester and the start of her second, so she was confident that she would not be sick that night.

"But what if you are?" he pressed, clearly reluctant to leave her side. For a moment, she wondered if maybe it would just be best to just let him stay and spend the night with her. She would love to fall asleep in his arms like she always did.

But she also wanted the full experience and that included the groom and bride spending the night before the wedding apart. So she squeezed his hands. "Tink is staying with me. If I get sick, she'll be there. And if it's really bad, she will call you. Promise."

He pressed his lips together but finally nodded. "Alright. Then I'll see you here tomorrow."

"Yes, you will," she assured him, pulling him closer as she rose up on her toes to give him a kiss.

He leaned into the kiss, deepening it for a few minutes before pulling away. "I can't wait for tomorrow night," he told her.

"I'm sure you can't," she teased him gently. She then gave him a little push. "Go on. Enjoy your night with John and the boys."

"I will," he replied, gently brushing some hair from her face. "And you enjoy some pampering before the wedding."

She smiled, nodding as John stepped out of the church. He clapped Robin on the back. "You ready to go, mate?"

"I am," he said, giving Regina's hand one more squeeze. "See you tomorrow."

John guided Robin down the stairs. They rounded up the boys and Regina watched as they climbed into Robin's truck. He gave her one last smile before getting the driver's seat and pulling away from the church. She followed the truck until it turned the corner and disappeared from her sight.

"Regina? Are you okay?" Archie asked, coming to stand next to her.

She nodded, looking up at him. "It's just…we haven't spent a night apart since we got married and I'm surprised that I'm nervous about sleeping alone."

He chuckled. "It is surprising how easily the right person can integrate into one's life, huh?"

"Yeah," she said, unable to imagine her life without Robin anymore. He now always seemed to be there and she loved it.

"Well, it's only for one night," Archie said. "You're a strong woman, Regina. I know you'll be fine."

Regina felt a bit buoyed by his words. "Thank you. So are you going to stop by tomorrow morning as we get ready for the wedding?"

Archie grinned but shook his head. "I think I would just get in the way so I'll just come a bit later. Tink's already promised to text me for when you're in your dress. I don't want to miss that."

"Good," Regina said, kissing his cheek. "Thank you, Archie. I couldn't ask for a better friend."

"Neither could I," he replied, hugging her. "Have a goodnight, Regina. And then tomorrow, we'll celebrate your much deserved happily ever after."

He headed down the stairs as Mary Margaret came out of the church, followed by Tink. They locked arms with Regina as Mary Margaret asked: "You ready to head home?"

"I am," Regina said. "I'm excited to see what you two have planned for me for the rest of the evening."

Tink grinned, guiding her down the stairs. "Well, we have an early night planned for you. Just a relaxing bath and then bed. Because everything we then start early tomorrow."

"Do I want to hear how packed my morning is going to be tomorrow?" she asked, amused and a little nervous that Tink and Mary Margaret would try to do too much.

"It'll be fine," Tink said. "Just trust me."

Regina sighed, nodding. "Alright. But if I think it's too much, I reserve the right to tell you to skip some things. Deal?"

"Deal," Mary Margaret replied. "Tomorrow is all about you. We're just there to make it perfect."

"Well, let's not worry about perfection. Let's just worry about having a good day," Regina told her.

Tink paused as they reached the car, looking her over with a soft smile. "Listen to that. It sounds more like Regina Locksley than Regina Mills."

"Robin certainly has rubbed off on me," Regina agreed, opening the door to the car. "I wonder how I rubbed off on him."

"He's definitely happier," Tink said, sliding into the car next to her.

Regina paused, frowning. "He always seemed happy to me before."

"And so were you," she countered, giving Regina a look. "Wouldn't you agree you're happier now that you and Henry are a family with Robin and Roland?"

"Of course I am," Regina replied. She then paused before realizing what her friend was getting at. "So naturally Robin is just as happy that Henry and I are now part of his family."

Tink nodded. "Exactly."

Mary Margaret started the car, glancing back at them. "And it's only been six months. I'm sure we'll all start to see more of your influence on Robin soon."

"Agreed," Tink said. She then leaned forward and tapped the driver's seat. "Now, let's go! We all need to get plenty of rest before tomorrow."

Laughing, Mary Margaret put the car in drive and pulled away from the church. Regina leaned back, watching it disappear behind her. The next time she saw it, she would be wearing her wedding gown and walking down the aisle to pledge to spend the rest of her life with Robin in front of their friends and family.

She couldn't wait.

[fakeawake]

[cianmars]

Prodigal Son:

When his mother and brother die in a car crash David discovers that he was in fact adopted, sent to live with his father who had no idea about his existence the two are both in shock and find themselves butting heads, will the two be able to accept the other as family?

[AO3]

[FF.NET]

[mariagvogel]

“I had the situation under control!”

“A simple ‘thank you’ would suffice!”

Regina really wished she could give the stranger who had just saved her life a witty answer, but she had spent the scarce breath she had left on the previous sentence. Her heart was pounding faster than ever, as if it wanted to outrun the stranger and his horse and Regina herself; anything to get away from Snow White��s iron grip.

She could still feel the Evil Queen’s grasp, her hand going through her chest and clutching her heart, ready to rip it out and turn it into dust before Regina’s eyes. She had seen her end in Snow’s icy smile; she had known she was going to die.

But she hadn’t.

Instead, an arrow had hit the door of the Queen’s carriage, causing it to slam into Snow’s face. And before Regina could realise what was going on, she was on horseback with an unknown man, speedily leaving behind the royal carriage. And she was positively alive.

Read What The Ballads Don’t Tell in AO3

[quillerqueen]

Io, Saturnalia!

Summary: The ancient festival of Saturn is here, and Regina and Robin seek a safe haven where noble matron and lowly gladiator can love each other freely and openly - even just for a week.Written for the OQ Advent Calendar 2018, this story works as either a standalone or as (future) part of the Bread and Games verse.

I. Dies Solis It is the best of times; it is the worst of times. It is the time to relax the rule of reason and regulations; it is the time for foolishness and tomfoolery. It is the season of darkness waning, and the rebirth of light as golden Apollo takes the reigns firmly in hand. It is the week for joy and merrymaking; it is an excuse for extravagance and excess, where some would gain a glimpse into Elysium and some descend directly to the depths of Tartarus. In short, the festival of Saturnalia is may be in some ways like all others and yet knows no equal. Rome is decked out in a festive cloak of gold and green. From her most imposing temple towering on Capitoline Hill down to the poorest hovel in the city’s slums, swaths of fragrant evergreen cascade down walls and twirl around columns, and wreaths of holly have been hammered to doorways. Trees and shrubs in gardens and parks are adorned with golden suns, moons, and stars for all the world to admire. And it seems all the world has gathered right here, right now. Regina is standing in the Forum Romanum, one hand clutching Roland’s, the other gripping Henry’s shoulder. The crowd is swelling still, growing by the minute, cresting like a wave and sending them a-sway as it squeezes and compresses around them, then settles briefly before the next surge. Roaring like a stormy sea on which she’s only barely adrift, it sets Regina’s nerves on fire and sends her heart on a wild stampede. Her breaths are shallow—breathe, Regina, breathe. In…and out. The smile she cracks for Roland’s sake only has Henry pressing into her side with a knowing, consoling frown, and it certainly doesn’t fool Robin either. Robin, who’s standing close, closer than either of them would normally dare risk. Robin, solid at her side, braced behind her back, with a hand on the hilt of his gladius, ready to protect his domina as befits a bodyguard, a gladiator, a slave—ready, in reality, to protect them all, to protect his family, though law and custom won’t hear of such. Robin, whispering reassurances as she fights back against the rising tide of anxiety. Not much longer, she knows. Continue on AO3.

[lilacmoon83]

A Rat in Storybrooke: A Finding You Always Story

Also on Fanfiction.net and A03

Premise: In the Finding You Always verse. Takes place in 1999. Emma is fifteen and the twins are five. Everyone’s memories were returned five years earlier, but many of the effects of the curse on the town are still in effect.

During chapter 148, the Final Battle, in Finding You Always, Snow and Charming run into Ratigan. Charming recalls arresting him and Snow tells him that he did when Emma was fifteen, because Ratigan was experimenting with mind control drugs. This is that story. WIP .

Chapter 1: A Devious Plot

Beakers full of colored liquids boiled over their Bunsen burners and a man in a white lab coat that could be described as a greasy character, though it wasn't nice, looked on in wonder. He was sure he had it this time and if he did, it would change everything. He turned the nozzle on the end of the tube and let the liquid fill a vile, before he held it up and looked at it.

"Fidget!" he called, as a twitchy man came into the room.

"I told you my name is Lester…not Fidget," the man said.

"You're an addict, Fidget and if you want paid so you can snort more poppy dust, you'll let me call you whatever I want," the man said.

"Whatever you say, doc," he said.

"I'm a Professor…not a doctor," the man snapped. Fidget smirked. It was a touchy subject with the Professor. He had been kicked out of school before finishing his doctorate for testing his wild concoctions on students.

It's time for testing," he said, as he presented the vial to the squirmy man and then showed him the wad of cash. Fidget sighed and nodded, as he took the vial and swallowed the liquid. The Professor watched, as the man twitched violently, but then his eyes glazed and he went still.

"Fidget?" he questioned.

"Yes Professor Ratigan," the man answered.

"I want you to do something for me, Fidget," he said.

"Anything Sir…I'm at your command," Fidget replied. It worked. After years of failing to recreate his work that he had done with robotics, he gave up on it since the technology here was nothing like he had once worked on with the Collector.

He had decided to venture into chemistry then since he was forced to teach it to a bunch of brats and had started to experiment with mind control substances and it looked as though he had finally done it. He would have to give Fidget a few tests to perform to be sure, but if he followed orders, then he could proceed with his plan. It wasn't as good as a robotic army, but a human army made up of the entire town would be enough to oust Snow White from her power and then he would rule Storybrooke. Without magic, they couldn't stop him.

"Fidget…for now, you'll go acquire this list of substances. Madam Medusa knows how to get her hands on more of what we need to make more potions just like the one you took," Ratigan said.

"Yes Professor Ratigan," he said, as he left to carry out his orders. If Fidget completed this task successfully, then it would be time to move on to the next phase…

~*~

The sun slowly began to peak through the blinds and Snow rolled over to bury her face in the pillow. She felt David stir beside her and knew he would be getting up for early patrol soon. The last five years had gone very fast and had been filled with very happy times. Snow felt that they had finally reached that happy bliss without the danger they had always craved. Rumpelstiltskin still insisted that the Final Battle was ahead once Emma turned twenty-eight, but it was a subject that was far from their minds these days.

Emma was only fifteen and the twins were five. With family life and their jobs and Mayor and Sheriff of Storybrooke, they kept very busy, while still eeking out plenty of time for each other.

She climbed to her knees and wrapped her arms around his neck from behind, while placing sensual kisses along his ear and neck, as he sat on the edge of the bed.

"Come back to bed…" she purred. He smirked.

"You know I'd love nothing more, but if I do, morning patrol will never get done," he said. She sighed.

"You're right…even Storybrooke needs policing I suppose," she said.

"I won't say no to some company in the shower though," he replied, with a wry grin. She smiled and bit her bottom lip.

"Mmm…lead the way, handsome," she hummed, as he took her hand and they hurried into the master bathroom.

~*~

Much later, they exited their bedroom, dressed for the day and were not surprised to see the twins up and playing in the living room, while Graham sat with them.

"Morning babies," Snow called to them, as they got up to greet their parents. David let Graham out into the backyard to do his business, while the twins climbed into their chairs at the table, while Snow and David started making a quick breakfast.

"Mom…can we have pop-tarts for breakfast?" Leo asked. Snow sighed.

"You know the answer to that one, mister," she said, as David put scrambled eggs and toast in front of them both.

"Sorry kid…you know Mom doesn't let us eat those," Emma said in a sleepy voice, as she sat down at the table.

"Then how come you have some in your bedside table?" Leo asked, causing David to swallow a laugh with a suspicious cough.

"You squirts need to stay outta my room," she said in a grumpy tone.

"Relax Emma…I know about your stash of sugary junk in your room," Snow said, as she put breakfast in front of her. David got plates for them and they sat down with their kids.

"Oh…" Emma said sheepishly. She sometimes forgot that having real parents that loved her meant that they also paid attention to everything about her as well.

"So…can I have some?" Leo asked.

"No," Emma, Snow, and David said simultaneously. Leo huffed and pouted, as he ate his breakfast. He had the same sweet tooth and taste for junk food as his big sister, but was regularly denied too much of it, unlike Emma, who had a bit more freedom.

Snow and David shared an amused glance, as they finished up breakfast. David cleared the table and then went to the bedroom. He unlocked the safe they kept in the wall and he took out his holster and firearms, before putting it on.

He came out of the bedroom and grabbed his leather coat, as Snow kissed him at the door.

"Have a good day," she said softly.

"You too," he replied, as they shared another kiss.

"They're they go again," Leo complained.

"Mommies and Daddies kiss, Leo. It's romantic," Eva said.

"It's gross," Leo replied.

"Says the kid that carries frogs around in his pocket and plays in the mud with Graham," Emma teased.

"Boys are what's gross," Eva said. Snow sighed, as the twins bickered. David chuckled.

"I can't tell you how much I love hearing that from her," he mentioned. Snow smirked.

"Enjoy it Charming…it won't last. Someday, she'll like boys, just like her Mommy," she purred.

"Boys, huh?" he asked, as he put his arms around her waist.

"Mmmhmm. Boys become men…handsome, strong men," she replied, as they kissed again, despite their son's gagging noises. She sighed again, as their lips parted.

"He's going to like doing this someday too," he mentioned.

"I know and if they hurt my baby boy, it won't end well for them," she said.

"Okay…say goodbye to Daddy and let's get you dressed and ready for the day," Snow said, as the three of them hugged him and then headed upstairs.

"See you tonight," David called, as he pecked her on the lips again and headed out to the station in the truck. Not long after that, the rest of them piled in Snow's car and she drove them to school, before heading to her office.

~*~

"You can't do this!" Ratigan cried in outrage.

"I'm sorry Professor, but as head of the science department, your experiments are highly questionable and I can no longer ignore your erratic behavior," Professor Frollo said.

"You're one to talk! You hate it here too! You feel as underused as I do!" Ratigan ranted.

"Be that as it may, going against the status quo without an escape plan or ensured success is foolhardy," Frollo said.

"Then join me…I have done it this time. I have a mind altering drug that will turn anyone into our willing soldiers. We can lead the entire town against the Charmings and their allies!" Ratigan said. Frollo was silent for a moment, as if contemplating his plan.

"I'm sorry Professor Ratigan, but it's too risky. We are not aging yet so I will continue to bide my time. I have no quarrel with the Charmings and they have none with me," Frollo reasoned.

"However, I will if the Mayor and Sheriff find out that I have evidence that you are experimenting on people with mind altering drugs and I do not report it. Therefore, I am shutting down your lab and terminating your employment," he added.

"You will regret this!" Ratigan seethed, as he stormed out and immediately went to his office to use the phone.

"Fidget…I have your first mission. Meet me at Medusa's," he ordered, as he slammed the phone down and he began packing up his office. He knew Frollo would call the Sheriff's office for a security escort if he did not.

How he hated Storybrooke. He wasn't even from Storybrooke, but his gift as an engineer had attracted the attention of a wealthy philanthropist that boasted the name the Collector. He had shown Ratigan the wonders of Atlantis and employed him for a time to work on a few projects in the incredible underwater wonder.

On one occasion, Ratigan traveled with him to the Enchanted Forest to continue collecting. There had been a rumor that a clue to the mysterious and possibly fabled Cibola had turned up there, but it ended up being a wild goose chase.

Ratigan was going to return to Atlantis at that point to continue perfecting his work with the Collector's advanced robotics technology, but was informed by the Collector that they would be stopping back in London to recruit another young engineer, one by the name of Flaversham. Ratigan remembered Flaversham from his days at the University and had always been jealous of his skills and flabbergasted when Flaversham chose to use his talents for toy making. Ratigan insisted to the Collector that Flaversham wasn't needed, but the Collector disagreed. He said they needed Flaversham's talents and he would be joining them, willingly or not. Ratigan protested and threatened that he would refuse to return if he had to work with the goodhearted toymaker.

The Collector had then surprised him by saying that his skills were then no longer required and he was left behind in the primitive Enchanted Forest, where the only use for skills like his were as a blacksmith.

The youth potions he had brought with him from Atlantis lasted for many years and while it was almost sixty years later before he ran out and began to age, he had grown bitter and burned with revenge. His labor as a blacksmith was backbreaking work and appreciated very little. He craved power and revenge, but had little remedy against the powerful beings in this land, which either had magic or magical assistance.

Then came the Queen's Dark Curse. He had been transported to the little town of Storybrooke with the rest and was a high school science professor. He remained unaware during the curse, but once memories returned, his bitterness did as well.

Being a high school science teacher, especially to the same kids that didn't age, was humiliating. Memories might have returned, but some effects of the curse were still intact.

No matter how many times he taught the same kids the same lessons over the years, the curse continued to stunt the growth of anyone underage. So each year, it was the same students and same lessons. The only difference this year was the presence of Emma Nolan, one of only four children that aged and developed in Storybrooke, the three Charmings and young Alexandra. It was suspected that true love's magic was the reason for this exception as well. Doctor Sakura's father had seen to it that Snow White and Cinderella had both ingested the potion, after all.

Though Snow White expressed her sympathy to her people about the effects of the curse still being in play, there were a few that were angry and bitter about it as well. Not enough to make much difference though. Most understood that it was beyond her control and that forces beyond her control had seen to it that she was able to have children during this time.

For him, he had pleaded with the Mayor before to allow him to leave Storybrooke for the Land Without Magic, saying his skills were wasted here. But she claimed there was no way for them to leave town without losing their memories. He disagreed and knew that the Dark One had ways. He just needed her to ask him, for Rumpelstilskin would laugh him right out of the pawn shop. She had refused and he had tangled briefly with her husband during the altercation.

~*~

Flashback - a few weeks ago

"Madam Mayor…I appreciate you trying to protect the citizens of Storybrooke from the outside world, but my skills are wasted here. My expertise is in robotics and engineering and thoroughly wasted here teaching High School chemistry," Ratigan pleaded.

"I'm not unsympathetic to your plight, Professor, but we don't have a way to leave town without consequence. We know that at best, if you cross the town line, you lose your memories, but Regina says there is no way to tell if worse could happen. There's a chance you could be hurt doing so and I can't let that happen," Snow replied.

"Your compassion is appreciated, Madam Mayor, but I know the Dark One has ways around the town line. If you could just talk to him…" he suggested.

"Without magic, I don't think even Rumpelstiltskin can get around it and even if he could, you know he would want to make a deal. He's only willing to do that with people that can offer something to him in return," Snow said. He slammed his fist on her desk, startling her.

"You don't understand! I don't even belong in Storybrooke! I'm not from your primitive land! You must let me go home!" he growled.

"You're…you're from the Land Without Magic?" Snow asked.

"From London…about a hundred years ago. It's a complicated story and I retained my youth for many years, but that's neither here nor there. I belong in the academic world out there. Not here in this backwater, stagnant, technologically challenged spot of a town!" he ranted.

"Professor Ratigan…you will lower your voice," Snow warned.

"Or what?" he challenged her.

"Or I'll toss your ass in jail," David said, as he stood in the doorway with arms crossed. Ratigan sobered. He was under no delusion that the Prince could easily handle him and backed away.

"I'm terribly sorry for losing my temper, Your Majesty. I will be going now," he said, as he walked toward the door. David stepped aside and let him pass, but not without a lethal glare and he scurried out of her office like a rat.

~*~

"He will be the first one I sic my army on," Ratigan growled, as he took his stuff to his car and then drove to Medusa's place.

He walked in and found Fidget at the bar, having a drink. He wasn't as twitchy today, which meant he had used the money he was paid for a fix.

"Ah…Professor, what can I get for you?" Madam Medusa questioned, as one of her girls entertained on stage for several patrons.

"Scotch neat," he ordered, as she poured and delivered it to him. He took a small vial of potion and dosed Fidget's drink when he looked away.

"I have a task for you Fidget," he said.

"What are your orders, Professor?" he asked in a monotone voice. Ratigan smirked.

"You're going to deal with a problem for me. Tonight, you're going to go to Professor Frollo's office and you're going to make sure he is not able to talk to the Mayor to tell her what I have done…by any means necessary. You will also smash his computer and set fire to all his files," Ratigan replied.

"Yes Sir…" Fidget answered. Ratigan smirked. Once Frollo was taken care of, he would make sure any termination paperwork was destroyed. One perk of Storybrooke's technology being so behind was that nothing was digital yet and the paperwork process was slow. The Principal wouldn't receive the paperwork until it was processed by her office and her ditzy daughter rarely did her job proficiently. Then once Frollo was dealt with…he would continue with his plan. He would start by giving doses to the students and faculty since he had easy access to the cafeteria. Then he would move onto larger targets, until there was all but chaos in town. Then he would rise to power…

[gray-autumn-sky]

A Light in the Darkness

An OQ AU inspired by Lydia and Berto from One Day at a Time in which Robin’s soul stays with Regina after his death. She can see him and talk to him, and it’s almost like she has him.

The house seems so empty, so still and eerily quiet.

And for the first time since Robin’s funeral, there’s no one else around.

No one to correct her behavior or tell her how she should be feeling. No one to remind her of what happened the last time she let grief consume her--and no one to distract her from the heavy loneliness that filled her heart, the anger she had at a life cut short too soon, and the overpowering ache that overtook her whenever she allowed herself to remember that Robin was gone because of her.

Regina takes a breath as she locks the door, not bothering to turn on the lights as she moves slowly toward the living room feeling tired and restless.

When they’d returned from New York, everyone--even Henry--resumed to walking on eggshells around her. It was entirely possible that they simply didn't know what to say to her, or that they knew that no matter what they said, it couldn’t change anything and it couldn’t make it better. When Hook died, they’d gone to the Underworld--they’d gone to save him. But with Robin, it was different. There wasn’t a place he was, there wasn’t a path they could follow, and she’d spent hours upon hours trying to find a curse that could undo what Hades had done, but she couldn’t. She failed. And Robin was simply gone.

Gone.

Dead.

Obliterated.

They all tried though--tried in vain--with the usual sentiments.

They told her that none of what happened was her fault--even though they all knew that it was. They told her he’d want her to live the rest of her life in a way that’d make him proud--but she knew she’d fail. And they told her she was surrounded by people who loved and supported her--but here she was, alone.

Years before, when she lost Daniel, the grief had eaten away at her. It changed her. The bitterness and loss consumed her entirely, and the person she was before his death had died alongside him. Then, as she stood there, trembling as she stared down at Robin’s lifeless body on the floor of her office, she felt it happening again. The darkness she’d fought so hard to rid herself of was bubbling up within her--the darkness she’d shed with his help--and she found herself wanting whatever revenge she could grasp onto.

She’d stifled it, though, and she’d pushed it down.

It felt different, she realized, different than it’d been after Daniel. She wasn’t quite sure what that meant or what she was supposed to do with it, so she’d buried it beneath her guilt and grief, and pretended it wasn’t there.

She told herself that she was doing a good job of managing it--that no one knew what was in her heart. They didn’t know what she was thinking or feeling, and they didn’t know who she blamed or what she’d trade to undo his sacrifice.

But she wasn’t doing as good of a job as she thought.

They all knew it, and they were all afraid of it.

They were afraid of her.

And no matter what anyone said, she knew that’s why the Merry Men had taken Roland without so much as goodbye. Sure, the Enchanted Forest had long been their home, but it was different for Roland. He wasn’t theirs, he was Robin’s, and Robin hadn’t ever intended to go back. He was building a new life--and that would have gone a lot more smoothly had it not been for her involvement--and he wanted his son to grow up in Storybrooke.

Roland had a bedroom that she’d helped him to decorate. He picked out every detail--from the light green walls to the blue-and-green quilt that laid on the bed and the hammock of stuffed animals that hung in the corner. His clothes still hung in the closet, and there was a shelf of books he and Henry meant to read together. His name was written on the door in blue and green letters that he’d painted himself, and on the frame of the door, on the night he’d officially moved into the bedroom, she and Robin had used a thick black marker to measure his height on the frame of the door.

He was supposed to grow up in that room.

He was supposed to grow up in Storybrooke, with her and Henry and his father.

He wasn’t supposed to go back.

The Merry Men knew none of this, of course--or maybe they did.

They never quite warmed to her. They were still skeptical, and understandably so. For years, she’d been the Evil Queen who’d tormented and cursed them. To them she was selfish and dark--and obviously, they didn’t believe she’d changed.

So, they’d taken Roland away.

Tears fill her eyes as she thinks of him--of the little boy she’d fallen in love with--and the thought of never seeing him again is unbearable. And though she hadn’t had any say in any of it, she can’t help but think this was just yet another way she’d let down Robin.

“Don’t cry, love.”

Her entire body stiffens as she stands rooted in place, her heart clenching as she hears Robin’s soft chuckle.

“Turn around.”

“No,” she murmurs in a voice that was barely audible. “You’re not here.”

“Turn around and have a look.”

“This isn’t fair,” she mumbls as her eyes press closed--he wasn’t here, he couldn’t be. This is a manifestation of her grief, and it’d only hurt her. “He’s not here,” she reminds herself. “He’s dead.”

“Well, you’re half right.”

“Stop.”

“Regina, turn around.”

“No…”

He sighs, “Why must you always be so damn stubborn?”

Her eyes press tighter, but slowly, she feels herself turning toward his voice. “He’s…”

“Right here.”

Swallowing hard, she open her eyes--and immediately, her breath catches in her throat. A gasp escapes her as her hand covers her mouth and her tears spill down her cheeks. She shakes her head, not understanding as she utters his name in a voice that’s barely audible.

“I’m right here.”

“You’re dead.”

“Yes,” he says, chuckling softly. “I am.”

“If you’re dead, you can’t be here.” Taking in a breath, she pushes her fingers against her cheeks and wipes away her tears. “You aren’t real. You’re--”

“Right here,” he tells her as her voice fades. “I told you. I’m with you, always.”

“You died. I watched you.”

“Yes,” he agreed, nodding. “You did.”

“Then--” She shakes her head. “I can see you, though. You’re--”

“Exactly where I’m meant to be.”

“I don’t understand. I--” Her voice halts as her fingers push into her hair. “I’m losing my mind,” she deadpans as she looks to him. “Is this a dream?”

“No,” he tells her, shaking his head as he takes a step toward her. “You’re not losing your mind and you are not dreaming.”

“How are you here?” she asks, her eyes widening. “If you’re dead and this isn’t a dream and--”

“Regina, you are not losing your mind--”

She nods. “I don’t understand how you’re here, looking at me and talking to me and--” Her words get caught in her throat as she remembers the last time she looked at him, laying still in his coffin wearing a soft sewn on smile. “Robin, I was there. I watched you die. I was at your funeral. I buried you.”

“Yes.”

“How is this possible?”

A little grin edges onto his lips as he reaches for her hand, taking it in his and turning over. She sucks in a breath and swallows hard as tears again burn in her eyes, clouding her sight. Hastily, she reaches up and wipes them away, not wanting to even blink in fear that when she opens them again, he’ll be gone.

“Oh, love,” he sighs as his thumb rubs at the center of her palm. “Don’t cry.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We’re soulmates,” he says simply. “We’re connected. Always.”

Her lip catches between her teeth as she looks down at their hands, and she draws in another breath, savoring his touch. “So, because you’re here, you’re just… in some sort of limbo?” Her brow furrows with concern as an ache settles in her chest. “Am I keeping you from the afterlife?”

“No. Not… not exactly.” He laughs softly as his fingers push down around hers. “It’s hard to explain.”

“Try.”

For a moment, he considers and then nods. “I’m in both places. I can be here and there, and… it’s sort of like there are pieces of me scattered about. I don’t know exactly how it works. I didn’t think to question it. I’ve been more concerned about trying to grab onto your attention.”

Her eyes widen. “What?”

“You’ve been a bit difficult to reach.”

At that, her eyes press closed as a pang of regret stabs at her core. She’s heard his voice and she’s felt his presence, but she’d pushed it away and ignored it, convinced that it was just her grief playing a cruel trick and taunting her with everything she’d never have.

“So, tonight, I thought I’d try something a bit stronger.”

“You… you should be with Roland,” she tells him as her eyes open, and a feeling of temporary relief washes over her when she finds him still visibly standing in front of her. “I don’t de--”

“Don’t say that.”

“But it’s true. I don’t deserve you.”

“Regina…”

“Your son deserves his father.”

Robin sighs as his eyes narrow. “It… doesn't quite work that way, love.”

She doesn’t understand. She doesn’t understand any of this. “You should be with him. He didn’t cause--”

“Neither did you.”

“But I did,” she tells him, her eyes falling away from his. “If it weren’t for me, Roland would still have his father.” Swallowing hard, she looks back up and shrugs as tears again fill her eyes as she thinks about all that’s been lost. “Robyn would have her father, too.”

“You’re not responsible for what happened in your office. I knew exactly what I was doing when I stepped in front of you, Regina. I knew exactly what I was giving up.” A little laugh rises into his voice as he squeezes her hand. “I do blame you just a bit for letting Zelena name my daughter after me, though.”

Something flashes in his eyes, making them sparkle as a smile stretches across his lips--and for a moment, she finds a lopsided little grin tugging at the corner of her mouth. “We both know my sister does whatever she wants to do.”

He nods. “I assume it’ll grow on me.”

“I like it,” she admits. “I like that whenever I say her name, I think of you.”

Robin’s eyes roll. “I think it’s stupid.”

“Why? Because she’s a girl?” Regina asks. “Because plenty of boys get their father’s names.”

“That’s stupid, too,” Robin scoffs. “Children aren’t littler versions of their parents. They’re their own person, and they deserve a name that’s theirs and theirs alone.”

Regina frowns, bristling slightly. “Well, I named Henry after--” and then, before she can even finish her sentence, she laughs out. It’s the first time she’s laughed in weeks, and she can’t help but notice the way his smile brightens whens he does. “I missed this.”

“You missed arguing with me about petty things?”

She nods. “I miss everything.”

“Me too,” he tells her. “And for a moment, it felt like it did before.”

“It did,” she agrees as she rubs her fingers over his knuckles, enjoying the feel of him. “So, does this mean that… that I can… keep picking petty fights with you and…”

“Enjoy making up afterwards?” He nods, “Absolutely.”

Her lips part to respond--a part of her is glad for it, and another part of her still feels guilty--but her words never sort themselves out. Instead, he steps in the rest of the way, closing the small gap between them as his arms fold around her and pulls her tight against his chest.

For a moment, all she can do is stand there and enjoy it. She takes in a breath--he still smells like forest--and that makes her smile. His hug is warm and soft, and it makes her feel safe and secure, just as it always has. It isn’t lost on her that she can’t feel his heart beating, but she can feel his breath as he bends his head to press a kiss to her hair--and she decides then, that this can be enough.

“What about Roland?” she hears herself ask. “He’s not here. He’s… home.”

“He isn’t home,” Robin says, shaking his head. “He’s at the camp with the Merry Men. He safe, but he’s not home.”

“Couldn’t you--”

“I can’t cross that barrier.”

“What?” she asks, looking up at him in confusion. “What barrier? If you can stand in front of me and talk to me and touch me, then--” Robin shakes his head as her voice fades. “Why not?”

“As much as it pains me, I can’t reach out to my son as I can to you.”

“But--”

“You’re my soulmate, and we’re connected to each other in a way that’s unique.”

“Oh…”

“I can see him. I can watch over him, but he’ll never know that I’m there.”

“That’s…”

“How it is,” he shrugs, smiling sadly. “And I’ve realized that I need to be grateful for what I can have and make do with the rest.”

“It isn’t fair.”

“No,” he tells her. “But it’s more than most get.” Then, a smile draws onto his lips. “I can’t say when or how, but he’ll come home, eventually.”

“Home,” she repeats. “As in…”

“To you.”

A little smile edges onto her lips, and she feels a soft flutter in her chest. “Really? I’m home to him?”

Robin nods. “And that will be a very happy day.”

She has a thousand questions that she doesn't ask. He’s already told her that he doesn’t know the details, and for now, at least, the thought of Roland coming back to her slightly eases her heartache--and then, when Robin wraps his arms around her, pulling her close once again, she finds herself wanting to enjoy what she can, instead of worrying about the rest.

“I missed you.”

“I know,” he nods, as his hand rubs the space between her shoulders. “And I’ve missed you.”

“How long do I have you?” she hears herself ask as her breath sticks in her lungs, not really sure she wants to know the answer to her own question. “I don’t think I could stand to lose you again.”

“That’s not something you have to worry about.”

“I don’t?”

“No,” he tells her. “I told you that I’m with you, always, and I meant that.”

A smile edges onto her lips as she presses her cheek to his chest and closes her eyes, once more breathing him in, as her shoulders relax. For the first time in weeks, she feels at ease, and for the first time in weeks, she allows herself to feel her exhaustion.

Sensing it, Robin pushes back a little and chuckles softly when she doesn’t move, but instead hugs him tighter. “You’re tired, love. You should sleep.”

“I don’t want to sleep. I want to stay just like this.”

“Then, at least lay down for a little while,” he suggest. “Get a bit of rest.”

“You’ll stay with me?” she asks, lifting her head to look at him. “If I agree to rest, you’ll stay?”

“Always.”

Smiling wearily, she nods and loosens her hold on him, leading him to the couch. She sits down and pulls him with her, grinning as he pulls a knit blanket from the back of the couch. He presses a kiss to her forehead and his nose rubs against hers as he pulls back, letting his hand slip up over her jaw as his lips peck at hers.

Lazily, she throws a fireball into the hearth, letting the room fill with warmth and light as she cuddles into him and closes her eyes…

She jolts up and stiffens when she hears a key in the door, and for a brief moment, she fears that she’s awoken from a dream. But then Robin presses a kiss to her temple and whispers into her ear a reminder that only she can see him. When the front door closes, she hears Henry softly calling out for her.

“Mom?” he asks, coming into the living room. “Are you awake?”

“I am,” she tells him, her eyes shifting to Robin. “I just… needed to lay down for a bit.”

“I just looked up and… you were gone.”

“I wasn’t in the mood for a celebration,” she admits. “I should have told you I was leaving, but I didn’t want to spoil your fun.”

“It wasn't really fun,” he tells her. “But I was really hungry and--”

“Oh,” she frowns, realizing the refrigerator has been empty for weeks. “I should probably--”

“Mom,” Henry cuts in. “I ate. I’m fine.” He chuckles softly as he lifts up a large paper bag. “And Granny sent me home with enough food for us both to eat three meals tomorrow.”

“That was nice.”

He nods. “Do you need anything? I can get you whatever--”

“No,” she cuts in, shaking her head as her eyes slide to Robin and a grin works its way onto her lips as she looks back to Henry. “For now, I have everything I need.”

“Okay, I’m going to go to bed, then,” he says easily as he comes into the room, walking toward her and leaning in to kiss her cheek. “I love you, Mom.”

“I love you, too, Henry.”

“Goodnight.”

“Goodnight,” she repeats as Robin cuddles her a bit closer as Henry starts up the stairs, and when he’s out of sight, she turns back to Robin. She pecks his lips as she turns herself to face him, drawing her legs up over his lap as her head falls to his shoulder. “He didn't see you.”

“He can’t.”

“I know, I just…”

“Feel a little crazy?”

“Maybe,” she says with a groggy sigh. “I just… wish things could be like they were before.”

“They can’t, though,” he tells her as his arms adjust around her and he rests his head atop hers. “But this is close.”

“Yeah,” she murmurs as she finally allows herself to give into her exhaustion. “And it’s good enough.”

“For now,” he tells her, squeezing her shoulders and pressing a kiss to her hair. “For now it has to be enough.”

“You’re really not going anywhere?”

“I promise, you,” he tells her. “I’m not going anywhere.”

Smiling faintly, she nods--and her last thought before sleep overtakes her is that she hopes this hasn’t all been a part of some wonderful dream, and if it was, she hopes she never wakes up.

_____

Regina sits down on the edge of her bed and she feels her lungs deflate and her stomach drop as she looks down at the stack of letters in her hand, opened and bound together by a rubber band.

The schools printed on the corners of the envelope are varied, ranging from ones as close as New York to others clear across the country and a few smattered in between. They’re all good schools, recognizable by name, and judging by the postmark, one school in New York and another in California were of the first Henry applied to.

Applied to, and never told her about.

She sighs as she remove the band. For the last year, Henry has been preparing for college--and she’s been pretending to be okay with that.

Of course, she knew that her feelings couldn’t get in his way, that he was forging his own life and would be setting out on his own journey to start his own life. He’d go to school and study something of his choosing, he’d find a job and officially move out of the bedroom he’d grown up in. He’d meet a girl and fall in love, they’d make a home together and have children, and a life that was all theirs.

And she’d hoped that would all happen in Storybrooke.

She’d surprised him earlier that school year with a tour of the little college in Storybrooke. It’d rained that day and it smelled like fall, and she’d so easily been able to see her son studying on the campus. They had a writing program--journalism, specifically--and she’d teased that she was confident a position would open up for him at the Storybrooke Mirror when he graduated.

He’d laughed and rolled his eyes, reminding her she couldn’t magic him a position and when she’d frowned, he’d also reminded her that, under no means, was she allowed to intimidate some poor journalist into abandoning his post, simply so he could have a job.

At that, Robin had chuckled softly and made his presence known--and as Henry left her at a small table inside of the little campus cafe, Robin held her hand and reminded her that Henry had a good head on his shoulders, that he was smart and capable, and even if he went away for a little while, he’d never stay away. He loved her too much.

She’d smiled and nodded, squeezing his hand for comfort as she watched Henry place his order.

Robin faded as Henry returned--and as much as she hated when he did that, she appreciated him wanting to give her and her son their moment.

Henry handed her her coffee, and as he sat down beside her, she could smell the hot cocoa and cinnamon he was drinking--and so badly, she wished she could hold onto to her little boy forever.

It only occurred to her now, as she looked at the letters, that it’d all been to appease her--and Robin had likely known about it.

“You shouldn’t snoop,” he tells her as he sits down beside her. “I am fairly certain that Henry hasn’t made his choice--”

“I’m not snooping,” she bristles. “I found them in the hall. They must’ve fallen out of his backpack.”

“That’s a likely possibility.”

Sighing, she looks to her lap. “And you knew.”

“I did,” Robin admits. “I overheard--”

“Now who's snooping?” she asks, cocking an eyebrow as she looks pointedly at him.

Robin’s brow furrows. “It’s hard to do much else when you’re a ghost.”

Regina’s eyes roll. “That’s always your excuse.”

“It’s my reality,” he counters, chuckling softly as he reaches her hand, pulling it away from the letters. “I tried to warn you that this was coming, but it wasn’t mine to tell.”

Sighing, she looks to him and a little grin tugs up at the corner of her mouth. “It’s just my luck to have an  omnipotent ghost following me around who also follows an honor code.” She laughs softly and shakes her head as his head dips forward, his forehead resting against hers.

“I thought you liked my honor.”

“I do,” she sighs. “As annoying as it is.”

“He hasn’t made up his mind,” Robin tells her, pulling back. “He’s quite conflicted.”

“Because of me.”

“Because he loves you and loves his home here.”

“He… can come back,” she says, looking down at the letters. “No matter where he goes, he can come back here. It’s… not like he’s… leaving forever.”

“That’s true,” Robin agrees. “You should tell him that.”

Regina blinks up at him. “I don’t want him to feel like he has to take care of me.”

“He doesn’t feel that way, at least he doesn’t feel it out of some sense of obligation.” A warm grin works its way over his lips, and his eyes shine in a way that’s always been so comforting to her. “He loves you.”

She nods, drawing in a breath. “I know it’s selfish, but I was really hoping he’d fall in love with the journalism program here in Storybrooke.” Looking back to her lap she picks up the stack of letters and fans through them, noting each of the schools and how much more impressive they are than a little unknown college in the middle of nowhere that was created from a curse. Of course, it had the credentials it needed to have--the curse had seen to that--and it was filled with professors who were passionate about their subjects. But it wasn’t Columbia and Stanford or even the University of Michigan. “But these schools are--”

“Impressive.”

“Yes.”

“You should be proud.”

“I am,” she breathes out. “I am always proud of him.”

“He’s worked hard and for as long as I can remember, he’s been such a talented writer. This is what he wants to do, and who knows,” Robin says, chuckling softly as he plucks the letter from Columbia from the pile. “After a couple of months on the job market, he might just let you create that job for him at the Mirror.”

A grin forms on her lips as she takes the envelope. “Is this… the one?”

“He got a scholarship.” Her breath catches and warm tears well in her eyes--what she feels is a nearly indescribable mix of excitement and dread. “And it’s close.”

“I should talk to him.”

“You should.”

Swallowing hard, she runs her finger over Columbia’s logo and her eyes press closed, reminding herself to keep a stiff upper lip for Henry’s sake. “Will you come with me?”

“Always.”

Grinning, she looks back at him and squeezes his hand--and then she pulls him up with her. His fingers fold down around hers as she makes her way down the hall to Henry’s room. He gives her hand a little squeeze of encouragement as she knocks on the frame of the door, and he follows her in as Henry turns in his desk chair, his eyes immediately falling to the letter in her free hand.

“I was… thinking we should talk about this.”

“Oh,” Henry murmurs as he looks back to her, watching as she sits down on the edge of his bed. “Where did you find that?”

“In the hallway,” she admits. “With a stack of others, just like it.”

“I… just...applied to--”

“A ton of really good schools.”

He shrugs. “The school counselor said we should apply to at least--” His voice fades when Regina’s brow arches. “They all have really great writing programs.”

“I figured.”

“I still haven’t ruled out staying here, though. Storybrooke is still an option.”

“Is that why you didn’t tell me about the scholarship you got to Columbia? You’re… considering staying here?”

He shrugs. “I mean, the school here isn’t--”

“It isn’t Columbia, Henry,” Regina says as Robin squeezes her hand supportively. “And it can’t offer you what Columbia can.” Looking down at her lap, she grins a little--and as she looks up, she catches his grin. He looks like he’s proud. “This is the school you really want, isn’t it?”

“I… think so,” Henry admits a bit sheepishly. “Maybe.”

“A little something told me.”

He blinks. “Was it Robyn? She was trying to pick the lock on my desk drawer,” he tells her, rolling his eyes. “That’s why I moved them to my backpack.”

“She… told me about that,” Regina says. “She felt bad, but she really likes that book stamp you have.”

“The one with my name on it?”

“She wanted to stamp her books, like you stamp yours.”

Henry grins. “That’s… kind of cute.”

“It is,” Regina agrees, glancing over at Robin, she shakes her head and laughs, then looks back to Henry. “But Robyn didn’t tell me. The date on the postage stamp did,” she says, deciding that’s the more logical explanation. “You applied early.”

“Oh, yeah…”

“I… think you should go.”

He blinks. “To Columbia?”

“Yes,” she nods. “And I think you think you should, too.”

“But it’s in New York.”

She shrugs. “That’s… just a few hours away.” A little laugh escapes her. “And it’s closer than some of the other schools you applied to, which I think can be our compromise.”

Henry’s brow arches. “We’re compromising?”

“Yes,” she tells him, with a decisive nod. “You choose a school that you want to go to that allows you to come home regularly and allows me to visit occasionally, and I won’t do something crazy like, curse the townline to prevent you from leaving or move to… oh, say… California because you decided to go to school there.”

At that, Henry laughs. “Mom…”

“You think I’m joking.”

“Oh, no,” he says, shaking his head, “I know you’re not.” And then, a little smile stretches across his lips. “And I don’t want to be that far away, anyway.” He shrugs. “I’d miss you… and your food.”

Regina’s eyes roll as she pushes herself up and wraps her arms around him, pulling him closer to her. “I love you,” she tells him as she bends to drop a kiss to the top of his head. “And I appreciate you considering my feelings in all of this.” She sighs as she lets him go. “But this is your decision, and no matter what you choose, I’m going to respect it and support it.”

“Thanks, Mom.”

“So… it’s… definitely Columbia?”

Henry nods. “I think so.”

“Good,” she says, behind this time to kiss his forehead. “Dinner should be ready in about a half an hour.”

Henry nods and grins up at her. “I’ll be down in twenty to set the table.”

Nodding she takes a breath and pulls away from him, and Robin follows her into the hallway--and as soon as their out of Henry’s room, Robin’s arms fold around her. She clutches at the back of his shirt and rests her on his shoulder.

“That was really hard,” she admits. “Harder than it should have been.”

“You didn’t make it seem that way.”

“Well, I couldn’t--” She draws in a breath and looks at him. “Thank you.”

“I didn’t do anything, love. There’s no need to thank me.”

“That’s not true,” she says, taking his hand and leading him down the stairs. “Because if it weren’t for you, I’d be a mess.” She grins as she looks back to him, her eyes full of sincerity--and truly, she isn’t sure what she’d do without his presence in her life--even as limited as it is. “You taught me that people who love each other are never far apart, and that’s what’s going to make it okay when he goes off to school.”

“You know he’ll be back.”

“I know,” she nods. “And I know I can visit, but…” She shrugs. “It won’t ever be the same.” Robin nods as they reach the bottom stair and he hooks his arm around her waist. Once more her head falls to his shoulder as they walk slowly together to the kitchen. “And you’ve taught me that… different isn’t so bad. It’s just...”

“Different.”

_____

Regina looks out the window. It was a cold, white, January day and Henry had just left to go back to school, which found her feeling a bit empty, but less so than she was two years before when he’d first gone away to school--and of course, Robin was there with her.

“I was wondering when you’d show up,” she said leaning back into him as he rested his chin on her shoulder. “You’ve been awfully quiet for the last couple of days.”

“I wanted to give you and Henry some time together without me lurking beside you.”

A grin pulls onto her lips. “I like when you lurk beside me. I makes me feel like… you’re…”

“Still here.”

“Yeah…”

“Well, I am here, even if you don’t see me.”

“I know that,” she murmurs. “Most of the time.” Looking back at him, her brow creases. “But it was different this time. I couldn’t feel you. It was like you weren’t here at all.”

“I… might’ve taken advantage of an opportunity that presented itself.”

Turning, she folds her arms around his waist. “So, you did go somewhere else.”

He offers her a sheepish grin. “It seemed like a good time, since Henry was home.”

She nods. “Where though?”

Robin shrugs. “There was just something that needed my attention for a few days.”

“You’re being awfully coy,” she says, pouting a bit as her brow furrows and her hand presses to his chest. “Did something… happen?”

“Not… exactly,” he muses as her eyes widen. “It’s nothing to worry over, I assure you.”

“Is something going to happen?”

Something flashes behind his eyes and a little grin pulls onto his lips. “Something’s always going to happen.”

“Robin!” She sighs and pushes at his chest. “You’re worrying me.”

“Oh,” he breathes out, shaking his head as he presses a kiss to her forehead. “I mean it, there’s nothing to worry about. Truly.”

“So, wherever you went off to, it’s… it’s about something good.”

He nods. “Very good.”

“And you’re not going to tell me.”

“Not even a hint.”

Again, her brow furrows, but this time she grins. “You know I hate it when you do that.”

“That’s awfully strong wording,” he tells her. “Especially considering--” His voice trails off and a little laugh bubbles out of him. “Never mind. I don’t want to ruin the surprise.”

“You’re surprising me with something?” she asks, brightening. “I… didn’t think this… worked like that. I didn’t think you could interfere with things, just… observe them.”

“This is… a slight exception,” he tells her. “Though I didn’t quite interfere, just… guided.”

“Guided,” she repeats, her eyes narrowing. “That sounds pretty similar to interfering.”

Robin shakes his head. “It… skirts the line.”

Regina’s eyes roll, but she grins as his fingers knead her hips.

She knows that what he’s able to do in this world is limited, and outside of her, he doesn’t have any real contact with anyone. He’s simply there, looming in the background, unable to participate. But there’s something about the way he’s acting--with the secret he’s taunting--that makes her remember how things used to be between them, before they’d lost it all.

Now, she’d learned to be content with what she had--and what she had was something of a miracle. For years now, he’s been by her side, fading in and out of her daily life, sharing moments they should’ve had together, counseling her when she needed it, comforting her when she needed that, and sometimes just being there. For years, he’d been with her, telling her stories and sharing jokes, reacting to the things he saw when he was with her. He kept her company throughout her day, and even when he didn’t make his presence known to her, even when she couldn’t see him, she could feel him.

But the last few days had been different--and now, he was alluding to something different, and she couldn’t quite figure it out.

Her eyes narrowed.

He’d always been good at timing things--at choosing the exact moment to act or the exact moment to make his point, but those things were now out of his hands. And no matter what, it was never like him to be distant.

Henry was there though, and she focused her attention on him. He told her about his classes, the ups and downs of living in an apartment with three other young men his age, and a girl called Ella who worked at the library. Regina cooked for him and helped him with his laundry, and they watched movies and baked cookies, just like they’d done when he was little.

And every time she thought Robin was going to appear--typically he liked to see Henry, even if he couldn’t interact with him--but he didn’t, and she worried that something had changed, that something was wrong...

But he was there now. She could see him and feel him, he was talking to her and insisting that everything was alright--even if he was being coy--and she decided to let it go and enjoy having him back again.

They settled together on the couch and she cuddle into his side, breathing him in as she nuzzled closer. He asked about Henry’s visit and that made her smile--and in turn, she made him smile when she shared that Henry had won a story contest for a short story he’d written about the legendary hero, Robin Hood, embracing and adjusting to the modern world.

Robin’s eyes glittered with tears as she read him the passage that Henry had supplied her, and he sighed just as she had when Henry informed her that she’d have to wait to hear the rest when it was published in the school’s literary magazine--and just as she had, she could tell he was bursting with pride.

Though Robin hadn’t been in Henry’s life for very long, they’d been close during that time. Robin was such a father--it was part of who he was--and both cautiously and graciously, he’d stepped into that role with Henry. He was supportive and encouraging, he genuinely cared for him. They’d formed a bond that lasted through death, and she loved the way her son remembered him--a hero through and through.

She leans forward to grab the excerpt of the story that Henry had left for her, and she hands it to Robin before settling back against him and resting her head on his shoulder. She tilts her eyes up and turns a bit, a little grin forms over her lips as she watches the way he reads it--the way his eyes move over the words and the way his smile brightens at certain details.

Her eyes begin to grow heavy, and finally they sink closed as she draws in a breath, slowly releasing it as he hugs her a little closer--and in moments like these, it’s so easy for her to forget that he wasn’t actually there with her...

She flinches as the doorbell rings, and she sighs a bit regretfully as Robin fades--just as he always does when someone unexpected arrives--and Henry’s story floats down to the empty space beside her.

“You don’t have to do that,” she mutters, getting up and crossing the room. “Only I can see you, and--”

She stops and rolls her eyes, suddenly very aware she seems like a crazy woman, talking to herself, which is likely exactly what he wants to avoid. It was bad enough that Robyn had caught her once, declaring Robin to be frustratingly stubborn, and at four-years old and with no reason to think otherwise, she assumed Regina was talking to her. After that, as painful as it was for both of them, he tried to be more careful about who was around when he was near her.

Finally, she reaches the door and pulls it open, and as soon as she does, any annoyance she felt at the disruption vanishes.

Tears fill her eyes and she blinks them away as she looks at the boy standing in front of her. She recognized him instantly despite the years that had passed, and though he was taller and older, he still had the same messy curls and dimpled cheeks she’d fallen in love with in the Enchanted Forest. He was wearing a long green cape and heavy boots, just as he had been then, and when he smiled, his eyes glittered, just like his father’s.

“Regina,” he says in a soft, hopeful voice. “I don’t--”

She doesn’t let him finish.

Instead, she steps forward and wraps her arms around him, hugging him as tightly as she can. He laughs a little as he squirms, but she doesn’t let go and after a few attempts, he stops trying. “Roland,” she breathes out. “I can’t tell you how glad I am to see you.” She presses a kiss to his temple, again, making him squirm. “Or how much I’ve missed you.”

He chuckles softly and finally, he manages to push her back--and when he does, he smiles. “I’m glad to see you, too.”

“How are you here?”

At that, he looks away, his lip catching between his teeth. “I… ran away.”

“You…”

“I missed home.”

Her chest tightens at them mention of home, and when he looks up at her with wide eyes that plead not to be sent back, she can’t find it in herself to care much what the Merry Men are thinking--they certainly hadn’t given her feelings any thought eight years before when they’d decided to take him.

Reaching for him, she pulls him back to her, this time kissing his forehead as she pulls him into the house. She helps him take off his cape and he asks her if the carpets are still white, and when she nods, he takes off his muddy boots and sets them beside a pair of her stilettos.

She takes him by the hand and leads him up the stairs from the foyer, and when they reach the top, Robin is back and leaning against the banister. He’s smiling and his eyes are teary, and its only then that she remembers his coy explanation of his disappearance.

“How did you say you got here?” she asks, looking back to Roland. “Crossing realms is… impossible without magic.”

He nods. “I practiced.”

At that, her eyes widen. “Magic?”

“No,” he admits. “I can’t. I tried, but I can’t.” And then he grins. “But I can grow things and I finally found a way to grow magic beans.” Her eyes narrow a bit as she looks to Robin, who only shrugs as knowing smile crosses his lips. “An old man at a market in a town we were passing through sold me a satchel of seeds to grow magic beans and they worked! They actually worked!”

“Did they?”

He nods, “And once they were strong enough, I opened a portal.” He pauses, his brow furrowing in concern. “I left a note though. They know where I am. I didn’t just want to disappear.”

“That was… thoughtful,” she tells him, trying not to dwell on how she’d returned to Storybrooke to find them gone with not so much as a goodbye.

He shrugs as he looks around the living room. It’s mostly unchanged with the exception of a few new pictures--and she watches as Roland slowly moves to the mantle and picks up a picture of Henry holding Robyn on his lap at his graduation party. He smiles at it, though sadly--and it’s a look she’s given that picture a hundred times. Roland should have been in it. He should have been there for that party, and a thousand other memories Henry and Robyn shared. He should have grown up with them and the fact that he hasn’t makes her heart ache.

Robin comes up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist. “He’s finally where he’s meant to be.”

“Did you give him the bean?” she whispers, looking back at him from over her shoulder. “Did you make this happen?”

Robin shakes his head. “I only made sure he stayed safe on his journey. That was all I could do. If there was a way I could’ve brought him back to you, I’d have done it years ago.”

“Did you get my feather?” She looks back to Roland who is looking at her with wide eyes, and for a moment, she thinks she’s been caught. And then, he bites down on his lip. “I gave it to Zelena before we left. Did she give it to you.”

“She… meant to,” Regina admits. “But it somehow got lost.”

“Oh…”

“That doesn’t matter now, because I have you again.”

“He’s where he always should have been,” Robin says.

Regina pulls him back to her and Robin chuckles softly as she peppers him with kisses until he’s laughing and squirming in her arms. Finally, he lets him go and a smile stretches across her lips. “And you know what else?” She asks, glancing quickly to Robin before looking back at Roland. “I think your dad would be happy that you’re here.”

“Really?” he asks a bit tentatively. “You think so? I know how much he loved the forest.”

Regina nods, one more glance at Robin. “He did, but he loved his family more, and I think he’d want his family to be together.”

This time, it’s Roland who does the hugging. He steps in and wraps his arms around her middle, squeezing tightly as he holds onto her--and when she looks up, she sees Robin watching with a nearly pained look. She’s not sure what he’s thinking, but she can almost feel his need to hug his son and how much it hurts to have him so close and not be able to reach out to him.

“You know,” Regina says, looking down at Roland as she pushes his curls away from his face. “I think we need to celebrate your homecoming.”

“Yeah?” he asks. “It’s… kind of late.”

She nods. “I can make you dinner, and we can have ice cream, and I know you’re practically grown up, but I’d really love to cuddle up with you on the couch and… just catch up.”

He nods a bit sheepishly. “I’d like that.”

“Maybe we could… talk about what happened with your dad, a bit?”

Again Roland nods. “I miss him.”

“I know.”

“And that’s part of why I wanted to come back. I feel closer to him here,” he tells her. “It’s funny because as soon as I made the decision to leave, I felt like he was… there.”

“What do you mean?”

“All of the sudden he was stronger.”

Regina smiles as she looks up at Robin, watching as he draws in a breath--and now, she understands why he disappeared. “So, what do you want to do first?”

“Honestly?” Roland asks, looking up at her. “I want to take a shower.”

“A shower,” she repeats, laughing softly. “That’s the thing you want to do most?”

Roland nods. “A shower with hot water and soap.”

Robin laughs a little and shakes his head, and for a moment, their eyes lock as she remembers the night they returned from Camelot. Everyone was terrified about what the Dark One would do and how that power would change Emma, and they’d all worried themselves to the point of exhaustion. That first night, Robin fell into bed and he’d expected her to follow, but instead she’d gone into the bathroom and taken the longest shower she could allow herself.

“Come on,” she says, stretching her arm around his shoulders and leading him toward the stairs. “You can take a shower, and I’ll get your room ready.”

Roland grins when she kisses his temple, and Robin follows as they make their way up the stairs. She gets him a few towels and hands him a brand new bottle of soap, and he nods when asked if he remembers how to use the shower. She waits until the door closes and when it does, Robin’s hand settles on her hip.

“You didn’t do this?” she asks, looking to him. “You didn’t bring him here?”

“No,” he admits, shaking his head. “Like I said, I could only watch to make sure he traveled safely.”

“And he’s not in trouble? He just left without--”

“He wanted to come home,” Robin says, cutting in as his voice cracked. “I can’t tell you how much he’s missed being here, how much he’s missed you.”

“But--”

Robin chuckles softly and shakes his head. “Don’t try to find a reason for this to be wrong,” he tells her. “He felt at home here, and he lost that connection to the Enchanted Forest. He barely remembers living there with me, and the things he does remember, include you.” He grins a little. “You left quite a mark on him, you know.”

“Me leaving a mark is rarely a good thing.”

“This time, it is,” Robin tells her. “Even if it means my son doesn’t much like camping and would rather take luxurious showers.”

Her eyes roll. “Only you would consider a shower a luxury.”

Robin doesn’t respond to that, instead he takes her hand and leads her toward Roland’s bedroom--a room she hasn’t entered in eight years. Her breath catches in her throat as he opens the door, and she feels a rush of emotion, remembering the little boy they’d left behind when they went to the Underworld. They’d promised him they’d be back before he missed them, and they’d promised him they’d returned, they’d be together again, that they’d be a family again.

It was a promise that she hadn’t been able to keep.

“This room looks like it was meant for a six-year old,” she tells him, pushing back her tears.

“Well, it was,” he reasons. “But something tells me he’ll be happy to see it.”

She nods and draws in a breath as she reaches for the closet door--and when she finds a little boy’s clothes hanging there, forgotten, she presses her eyes closed and waves her hand, changing the clothes to something more suitable for a teenager. She changes his sheets, too, and adds some of the books and movies to his shelf that Henry liked at his age, and for a moment, she lingers on the titles he’d enjoyed as a little boy.

“I feel like everything’s right again in my world,” Robin tells her, almost laughing as he sits down on the edge of Roland’s bed and brings her back into the moment. “This is a good day.”

“It is,” she agrees, nodding as she magics a pair of green flannel pajamas and with a flick of her wrist, she sends them into the bathroom, so Roland will have something warm and clean to change into once his shower is done. Robin reaches for her and tugs her down beside him. Her head falls to his shoulder and she thinks about the pained look in his eyes as Roland first came into the house, and it makes her heart ache. “But things aren't quite right in my world.”

“No?”

“You’re not here, Robin, not really. You can’t enjoy being with your son. You can’t even have a conversation with him.” She reaches out and strokes the back of his fingers over his cheek. “It’s not fair.”

“But I get to see the young man he’s grown into, and hear the conversations you’ll have with him.”

“That’s not enough.”

“For me, it has to be,” Robin sighs as he takes her hand and presses a kiss to her palm. “And you’ll just have to love him enough for the both of us.”

Regina’s throat tightens at his request. Loving Roland has never been an issue, but there’s something about the way he’d looked at her when he said it, something about the uncertainty that rises into his voice and the way his eyes pleaded with her when he asked her to love his son for him that makes it slightly harder to breathe.

She manages a nod and he smiles, again kissing her hand, but before she can make a proper reply, she hears the bathroom door open and the exhaust fans get louder as Roland pads into his room and Robin drops her hand.

She grins as she takes him in as he rubs the towel over his his hair. He’s wearing the pajamas she set out for him--the green flannel bottoms seem to fit and he wears the top open with his white undershirt exposed, just as Henry had done as a teenager--and as she looks at him, it suddenly occurs to her how much she’s missed. He looks more like Robin now than he did when he was little. He still has Marian’s dark eyes and olive-toned skin, his hair is still a messy mop on his head, but his jaw is set like his father’s and he carries himself in a similar way.

Regina grins as he pulls the towel away from his hair, shaking his his head as he pushes his fingers into his hair, separating out the already-forming curls.

“Oh,” he murmurs, his eyes widening slightly, suddenly aware that she’s sitting on his bed.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“You didn’t,” Roland replies easily, his eyes shifting to the hamper he’d never quite understood how to use. “That felt really good,” he tells her as he opens the lid and drops in the towel. “The soap smelled nice, too.”

She nods. “Well, you know I’m quite particular about my showers.”

“I remember,” he says, grinning as he looks to her. “My dad used to tease you about it.”

Her eyes roll as they slide to Robin and he chuckles softly. “He… absolutely did.”

She watches as Roland moves around the room, taking in the details. His fingers glide along the edge of the dresser as he opens a little trinket box, laughing when he finds it full of stickers and lost buttons. He closes it and smiles at his collection of stuffed animals before stooping down at the bookshelf, plucking out his one-favorite copy of Goodnight Moon. “My dad never quite got this book, but I loved when he read it to me.”

“I still don’t,” Robin frowns. “The kid was just trying to stay up an extra ten minutes by saying goodnight to rocks and chairs.”

Regina sighs and rolls her eyes. “He loved reading it to you, though.”

“I did,” Robin agrees as Roland pushes the book back to the shelf. “I loved every minute I spent reading that awful little book.”

“Are these some of Henry’s books?” Roland asks, looking back at her. “Some sound familiar.”

“I set aside the ones I thought you might like, just…” Her voice trails off before she admits that she’s been storing things away for him for years. “I moved them in here tonight.”

Roland smiles and looks back to the shelf. “I remember when he read this,” he tells her, chuckling softly. “Mostly because he wouldn’t play with me.”

“I remember.”

“I remember the endless complaining,” Robin sighs as Regina looks to him, grinning--and then, a little gasp escapes Robin and she follows his gaze back to Roland. “Is that…?”

A little smile tug onto his lips as he looks around, and she watches as his eyes settle on an arrow leaning against the wall. “That was the first one I shot,” Roland tells her as he looks back to her. “My dad was so proud when it actually went somewhere.”

“I was proud. I’m always proud of him.”

Regina laughs softly at the memory,  “I nearly had a heart attack when it stuck into the tree and I realized he gave you a real arrow to shoot.”

Roland laughs. “I remember that, too.” Regina watches as he crosses the room and picks up the arrow. “I’m a pretty good shot, now,” he tells her. “Not as good as my dad, but pretty good.”

“That doesn’t surprise me, and--” A grin pulls onto her lips as she looks to Robin. “Your dad was one of a kind.”

“This… is going to sound insane,” Roland says as he looks down at the arrow as her twirls it between his fingers. “I can feel him sometimes… like he’s… watching or something.”

“That doesn’t sound insane,” she tells him as her eyes slide to Robin. “Not at all.”

“It’s stronger here,” Roland tells her, looking up and unknowingly looking directly at his father. “And I feel like if he could be anywhere in any world, this is where he’d be.” He grins as he looks to Regina. “He was so happy here.”

Regina nods as a lump rises into her throat and she hears Robin release a shaky breath, but when she glances over at him, he’s smiling. “I can feel him, too,” she admits. “And sometimes, I’m convinced he’s here with me.” At that, Robin chuckles softly as he reaches up and rubs his hand over her back. “Your sister feels it, too.”

Roland’s eyes widen. “Robyn’s here?”

“She’s sleeping.”

“Oh…”

“You can see her in the morning,” Regina tells him. “She’s like your dad. She’s an obnoxiously early riser, and the second she finds out that you’re here, you won’t be able to get her away from you.”

Roland grins--and then it fades. “She doesn’t remember me. She can’t.”

“You’re right, she doesn't remember you,” Regina says gently. “But your sister knows you. She talks about you all of the time, you’re like a mythical being to her.”

“I hope I don’t disappoint her.”

“You won’t,” Regina tells him, rising up from the bed. “But until tomorrow, I am going to enjoy having you all to myself.” Reaching out she rubs the back of her fingers over his cheek. “Are you hungry?”

“I’m always hungry.”

“Somethings never change,” she laughs as she stretches her arm around his shoulders and turns him toward the door. “I want to spoil you. I’ll make you anything you want.” Her eyes narrow.  “What do you like to eat these days? I’ll make anything. Pheasant stew or roasted squirrel or--”

“How about lasagna,” Roland cuts in. “And ice cream after?”

Regina laughs and nods as she leans in and presses a kiss to his temple. “Oh, thank god,” she breathes out. “I was afraid my whole house was going to end up smelling like Enchanted Forest delicacies.”

Roland blinks. “If I never eat another fig, it’ll be too soon.”

She laughs again as she presses a kiss to his hair, leading him back down stairs as Robin follows along behind them--and she grins as Roland climbs onto the stool where he’d always sat to have his breakfast, and Robin sits down beside him. Her throat tightens when she sees Robin try to reach for him, but Roland doesn’t flinch and she has to look away, momentarily busying herself with filling a pot of water to boil her noodles--a task that’s pointless, considering that, if she wanted to, she could magic the meal together in minutes--to give herself a second to compose herself.

“Chocolate or vanilla… or mint chip or...cookie dough… or….?” she asks, clearing her throat as her voice trails off and she turns to the refrigerator, gathering together what she needs for the lasagna before pulling open the freezer. “Your choice.”

“No Chunky Monkey?”

Biting down on her lip, she spots are carton in the back and pulls it out. She doesn't remember buying it, but it’s still sealed, and she assumes Robyn tossed it in the cart without her noticing the last time she took her grocery shopping. “It’s your lucky day,” she tells him as she shows him the carton. “Two scoops? Three? Just want to eat from the container?”

Roland blinks. “Is that a real question?”

“Container it is.”

“I can’t believe you actually have it,” Roland says, giggling as she sets everything down on the counter top and hands him a spoon before tugging the seal off of the ice cream carton. “Any flavor would have been fine.”

“Well,” she says, shaking her head. “You can thank your sister for this.”

He grins. “Does she look like him?”

“Robyn?” She asks, considering for a moment. “She does.”

“I thought she would,” he tells her as she pushes the carton towards him and grabs a spoon for herself. “She had his eyes.”

“And coloring and dimples,” Regina tells him, smiling. “And his name.”

“She’s a miniature Robin Hood.”

Regina nods. “So are you,” she tells him sincerely. “You’ve always been a lot like him.”

“He’s the best parts of his mother and I,” Robin adds. “And you, too.” Regina’s eyes shift to Robin and he grins. “Where do you think he got his tenacity? The boy spent eight years trying to grow a bean. I’d have given up long ago… and found one to steal instead.”

She grins and nods, once more swallowing a lump that rises into the back of her throat. “You’re the perfect mix of your parents,” she says, looking back to Roland as she dips her own spoon into the ice cream. “So, tell me what you’ve been up to since leaving Storybrooke. I want to hear everything.”

Roland laughs. “Living in the woods… and… raiding carriages.”

Her brow furrows. “That sounds dangerous.”

Roland shrugs. “It was fun. I was the distraction,” he tells her as he takes a second spoonful of ice cream. “And I told you already, I learned to shoot arrows.”

She nods as she hears the water beginning to boil. “Who taught you?”

“John.”

“I figured,” she muses as she drops the noodles into the water. “So--”

A little gasp interrupts her thoughts and she stops and turns, her breath catching when she spots Robyn standing at the threshold of the kitchen, her eyes focused on her brother.

“I thought you were talking to daddy,” the little girl says, not looking away. “But--”

“Peanut,” Regina murmurs as she crosses the kitchen and takes her hand. “There’s someone I want you to meet.”

“Roland,” she murmurs as a nervously little grin edges onto her lips. “That’s Roland.”

“It is,” Regina confirms as she lifts her up onto the stool beside him. “He’s going to live here now. You’ll get to see him whenever you visit.”

“I visit a lot,” Robyn says, giggling shyly as she looks between them. “Do you know how to shoot arrows?”

Regina laughs and Roland nods. “Yeah. We were just talking about that.”

“Can you teach me?”

“Sure,” Roland nods as he looks to Regina, not seeing that Robin’s slid off of the stool beside him and is now standing next to Regina, holding onto her hand. “That’d be really fun.”

“It looks fun.”

“It’s… a little dangerous.”

“Not if it's done properly,” Robin says. “And I’m sure you’ll be out buying rubber arrows first thing tomorrow.”

Her eyes roll, but she nods as Robin’s arm slides around her waist and he rests his head on her shoulder and they watch as Roland grins awkwardly at Robyn as he reaches across the counter and grabs another spoon, then holds it out to her. “Do you like Chunky Monkey?”

Robyn’s eyes light up and she nods, taking the spoon. “It’s my favorite!”

“Mine, too,” Roland tells her, pushing the carton toward her. “Want some?”

Robyn nods and pushes her spoon in, taking too large of a scoop, just like Roland used to when he was little. Swallowing hard, Regina looks to Robin. His eyes are teary, but he’s smiling. “Like I said,” he whispers as he looks to her. “All is right in my world.”

_____

As limited as Robin’s life was, he was able to enjoy the moments he’d otherwise have missed.

Robin was there the day that Henry moved home from college. He’d directed her as she carried boxes that she could barely see over down to the basement, and then, three months later, he did the same as she carried them up the stairs and to the moving truck the afternoon that Henry and Ella moved into their first apartment. He went with her as she picked out a housewarming gift, and he was there the night that Henry proposed to Ella. He held her hand as she paced around the hospital on the day that Ella went into labor, and he was the first to see Henry’s smile as he announced that Ella had given birth to a baby girl they’d named Lucy. He sat beside her as she held her granddaughter for the first time, and he was at every birthday party that followed.

He was there to see Roland graduate high school, and he’d brimmed with pride when Roland took a job in Storybrooke as a park ranger, a job he’d once eyed for himself as he planned his future with Regina and their kids. He got to see the good-hearted and compassionate man his little boy grew into, and he was able to accompany him on adventures rafting and ziplining and fishing. He laughed along with Lucy when Roland carried her on hikes through the woods and taught her to catch fireflies, and he stood beside his son as he coached Lucy’s first soccer team. And, he was there the night Roland brought a sweet girl named Tiana home to meet Regina. Regina made a big dinner that night and as Roland walked Tiana to her car, he helped her clear the table and told her they’d just met the girl Roland was going to spend the rest of his life with.

And then, there was Robyn.

When he died, he wasn’t entirely sure what would happen to his daughter. He imagined himself raising her with Regina, but it was a sensitive subject, and he knew it was difficult for Regina to discuss, so he’d avoided the topic. Then when it was time to talk, everything happened so quickly and they’d never gotten the chance.

He’d been lingering with her, desperately trying to catch her attention when he found her standing on Zelena’s doorstep. He’d held his breath and listened carefully as Regina told her sister that she meant to be a part of Robyn’s life and she was the closest thing the baby girl would have to her father. Zelena balked at first, but Regina insisted, and to his relief, they’d worked out an arrangement that allowed Regina to be a part of Robyn’s life.

And, in turn, allowed him to be a part of her life.

He was there for everything--from her first steps to the first time she’d skinned her knees, to her first day of school and her first archery lesson with her brother, to the first time magic had tingled at her finger tips. He’d stumbled upon her first kiss and held Regina’s hand as Robyn gushed about her crush on Alice.

And now, he was present for her wedding.

He stood there, watching as Regina adjusted her veil--watching the beautiful woman his little girl had grown into. When he looked at her, he still saw the tiny baby he’d held in his arms, wrapped in her pink blanket as she looked up at him, watching him with wide eyes as she cooed and blew spit bubbles.

“I wish my dad was here,” she says as she smoothes her hands over the lacy bodice of her dress. “I mean, I know that he’s… kind of here… but…”

“I know,” Regina nods, looking at him through the mirror. “It’s not the same. He’s here though, and he’s so proud of you.”

“I am,” Robin confirms with a nod. “I always have been.”

“Are you nervous?” Regina asks, taking a step back and grinning at the way the veil falls down the back of her dress. “It’s quite a step you’re taking.”

Robyn’s eyes narrow. “Is it weird that I’m not? I’m just… excited.”

“No,” Regina says, smiling easily as she thinks of Robin and how she felt when she finally stopped fighting her feelings for him. “And you’ve got a lot to be excited about.”

“I can’t wait to be able to call her my wife. I’ve been thinking about this day for… months.” Regina grins as Robyn looks at her through the mirror, then turns to face her. “Do you… ever think about what it’d have been like to marry my dad?”

“All of the time.”

“You’d have made a beautiful bride.”

“Maybe,” Regina murmurs as her eyes shift to Robin.

They’d never been able to settle down long enough to talk it out, but that was the direction they both knew they’d been going in. They were building a life together with their children. They shared common values and goals, and it was only a matter of time before they made things official.

But time had never been on their side.

“I’m happy with what we did have.”

Robyn nods and smiles a bit sadly. “I, um… I saved him a seat.”

“What?” Regina’s eyes shift to Robin then back. “For who?”

“For my dad,” she explains as her smile brightens. “You and I both know that he’s here with you. And… that should've been his seat anyway.”

She hesitates then nods, this time looking longer in Robin’s direction. “He is here.”

“You know, it’s weird,” Robyn says as she looks to the blank space where Regina stares. “The two of you were… a perfect couple.”

“We… were anything but.”

“You two taught me everything I believe about love--from its strength to its magic, and… I’m just really glad I got to grow up with that.” Taking a breath, she looks back to Regina. “I might not be standing here about to marry the love of my life if it weren’t for that.”

Regina feels a rush of emotion as she steps toward Robyn, pushing her hand gently up over her cheek. “You’d be here,” she tells her in a voice that’s full of confidence. “True love has a way of working itself out and finding you, even when you’re not looking for it.”

Robyn grins. “Are you talking about me and Alice, or you and dad?”

“Both.”

Robyn’s cheeks flush and she looks away shyly, giggling softly as she looks back up. “You know, I hate to turn you away, but my mother has been out there all alone for like… half an hour.”

Regina’s eyes widen as she sighs. “That’s far too long to leave her unattended.”

“Honestly, I’m surprised she’s not serenading the crowd already.”

Robin’s eyes roll. “Something we can all be grateful for.”

At that, Regina chuckles softly. “You want me to go wrangle her, and make sure she’s staying out of trouble?”

“Please.”

“Okay,” Regina murmurs, leaning in a pressing a soft kiss to Robyn’s cheek. “Do you want me to send her in?”

Robyn considers it for a moment, looking around the room until her eyes settle on her own reflection in the mirror. “No, I just… I have to get my something borrowed and something blue together.” Robyn’s brow furrows. “It’s here… under… something… I think.”

Regina laughs. “Sure you don’t need help?”

“Positive.”

“Okay,” Regina murmurs, leaning in and pressing another quick kiss to Robyn’s cheek. “I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

She lingers for a moment, watching her--watching her and thinking of all the moments that should have been a part of this day. Robyn is so much like her father, and she knows they’d have been close--and she knows that so many of the decisions she and Alice made about their wedding took into consideration his absence. He wouldn’t be there to walk her down the aisle or share in a first dance, and though there were substitutes, it wasn’t quite the same--and that wasn’t quite fair.

Her chest begins to tighten as Robin reaches for her hand, lacing his fingers through hers, giving her hand a slight tug as he leads her out into the hall.

“Are you alright? You’re in tears.”

“I’m fine. I just--”

His brow arches. “Regina. Today’s a happy day.”

Sighing, her eyes fall away from his. “I know that. I am happy for her,” she admits. “And I know that I shouldn’t be the one who’s upset.”

“Should I be upset?”

Nodding, she looks back to him. “You should be here.”

“I am here.”

“Not like you should be.”

“I’ve made peace with it.”

She nods. “I know, and so have I. It’s just…”

Her voice trails off and she looks away, and gently, he reaches out and tips her chin up. “It’s harder on some days.”

“Yeah.”

“For me it's birthdays, our anniversary--”

She blinks. “Our anniversary? I didn’t know we had one. We just… sort of happened, and we had so many different firsts.”

“Our timeline’s a bit messy, that’s certainly true,” he says as a chuckle rises into his voice. “But there was one particular moment, one particular first, that made me realize you and I were going to be together forever.”

She offers him a lopsided grin. “Who knew forever meant like this.”

“I’d rather have this than nothing at all.”

“Me too,” she admits. “Even if it’s never been enough.”

Robin draws in a breath as his hand slips into his pocket, and she watches curiously as he fishes something out and holds it, closed in his fist. “The night you walked into my camp and kissed me changed everything.”

His hand coasts over her jaw and she turns her cheek, nuzzling against his hand as her eyes close and she remembers that cool, fall night. Her stomach had been in knots and with every step she took, she told herself that it wasn’t too late to turn back, and then he’d spotted her. He’d risen up from his spot in front of the fire and met her the rest of the way, and when she kissed him, it was like nothing she’d ever felt before.

Kissing him sent a bolt a electricity through her and made every inch of her tingle and he made her feel so alive. Yet as thrilling and exciting as it was to be with him in that way, there was also something comforting about it, something that felt so right and familiar.

She hadn’t known their past then. She didn’t know how they’d fought and bantered in the Enchanted Forest, and the passionate nights they spent together were lost. But somehow, standing there in the woods with him, holding onto each other as they searched the other’s eyes, something clicked. She’d known and he’d known it, and for the first time in longer than she could remember, she let herself be cared for, she let herself be vulnerable, and she let herself be loved.

“I remember…”

He sighs and when she looks up at him, she can see that he, too, is caught up in the nostalgia. “I was going to bring you back to that spot,” he says as their eyes meet again. “I was going to set up a fire and a little table, and a tent. I’d have made you dinner and--”

“Robin--”

“I was going to propose.”

“When?” she breathes out. “We never had time to even discuss it.”

“When things settled,” he murmurs. “After we came back from the Underworld, after we’d had some time to adjust--” His voice halts as she releases a shaky breath, and in spite of how painful it is to be talking about what should have been for them, he smiles. “I had a ring.”

Her brows arch as her as her eyes fall to his closed fist. “That’s not--”

He opens his hand and balanced on the tip of his finger is the ring he’d planned on giving her. “I had it in my pocket the day I died. I always carried it with me, and--”

“Why didn’t you ever mention that? All these years you’ve been with me, you never said anything about it.” She feels tears welling in her eyes as she looks to him. “You’ve had it all this time?”

He shrugs his shoulders as he looks down at the ring. “It seemed unfair.”

Drawing in a breath, she takes the ring from his finger and holds it between hers, looking down at the round diamond surrounded by a halo of smaller ones in a millegrain setting. “It’s…”

“Both simple and complicated, a mix of old world and modern,” he murmurs. “The jeweler said it was Edwardian, but I’m not sure what that means. I just know that I saw it and… it was the only one I could picture you wearing.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“I know that it’s not quite the same and doesn’t have the meaning it should’ve, but… it should have been yours years ago.”

Blinking, she looks to him. “Are you… giving this to me?”

Robin offers her a sheepish grin. “I know it’s late, and I’d never want to steal Robyn’s thunder, but the… twenty-five years does mark the silver anniversary and it is a silver ring.”

“That’s today?”

He nods. “Twenty-five years ago today.”

“I didn’t--”

“You weren’t meant to keep track.”

“But--”

“No,” he cuts in, reaching up to cradle her face. “Today is a happy day, remember? Only happy tears.”

She nods, blinking back her tears as she looks to him. “You realize you don’t get this back.”

“I figured as much,” he tells her, laughing softly. “And it was always meant to be yours.”

Swallowing hard, he steps back, letting his hands fall away from her. “Should we do this properly?”

Grinning, watches as he takes the ring from her, holding it out as he reaches for her left hand--and then, she finds herself suddenly smiling. “Would you… be upset if I weren’t the first to wear it?” He blinks, puzzled as his head tips to the side. “I just… I think it might be nice if… if this could be your daughter's “something borrowed.”” Regina shrugs. “It’d… make her feel like you were a part of her wedding day, and not just as some figment of her crazy aunt’s imagination.”

Letting out a shaky breath, he nods. “I’d like that.”

Taking his head, she leads him back to the door and knocks gently, waiting for Robyn to call for her to come in. She takes the ring as she turns the handle, blinking back her tears and putting on her cheeriest smile as she enters the tiny dressing room.

“You know, I was thinking,” Regina begins as she looks to Robyn. “Did you find what you were looking for?”

Robyn sighs and holds out her palm. “I found one of my mother’s earrings.”

A soft chuckle bubbles up from her. “Well, first of all, those are my earrings, and second, I think maybe you were meant to lose them.”

“Oh, I didn’t lose them. They’re--”

“I have something better for you to borrow.” Robyn’s brow furrows as she looks to her. “But I’d like to emphasize, you’re just borrowing this.”

“Regina, what--”

Robyn’s voice halts as she looks down at thing ring in Regina’s palm. “This would’ve been the ring your dad gave me if he’d had the chance to propose.”

Her eyes widen. “Where did this come from?” A grin edges onto Regina’s lips as she looks to Robin, standing at her side. “D-did… my dad… give this to you?”

Regina nods, as she reaches for Robyn’s right hand and slips the ring onto her finger. “And he’d want you to wear it today. It’d… make him feel like he was a part of this.”

“That’s…” Robyn’s voice hitches in her throat as tears well in her eyes, and when she tries again to speak, her words fail her. So, instead, she pushes herself forward and wraps her arms around Regina. “Thank you,” she breathes out. “And thank him for me, too.”

“I will,” Regina murmurs, hugging her back as she watches Robin step forward, tentatively reaching out to stroke his daughter’s hair, but his hand falls through her. He steps back and his eyes cast down, and Regina feels warm tears burning in her eyes as she gently pushes Robyn back. “Okay,” she says, drawing in a breath in an effort to maintain composure. “I told you I’d go and wrangle your mother, so I will. Are you sure there isn’t something else you need?”

“You’ve… you’ve done more than enough.”

Pressing a quick kiss to Robyn’s cheek, Regina turns out of the room and takes Robin by the hand. She pulls him close as they walk into down the stairs and join the rest of the guests, and to her relief, Zelena is occupied in a conversation with Hook. She grins back at Robin as she leads him to the front of the room, and together they take their seats.

_____

Regina’s eyes flutter open, and she feels… not quite herself.

She’s oddly light, and the room is cooler and darker than she remembered it being. There’s a dim light overhead and the sound of the heart monitor that’s kept her up at night is fainter than it was before. It’s better, she thinks, wondering privately, if her constant complaints to her nurses have finally paid off--and then, as she tries to draw in a breath, she finds it difficult, like her lungs no longer work.

Panic starts to set in as she tries again--and then, trembling her eyes press closed and she reaches up, placing her hand over her chest.

She can’t feel her own heartbeat, she realizes, and that can only mean one thing...

It takes her a moment to compose herself, to stop the warm tears from welling up and burning in her eyes. Slowly, her eyes open and she looks down at her hands as she stretches them out in front of herself--and, in spite of herself, a little grin edges onto her lips. Her skin is tighter, the age spots and blemishes are gone, and she can’t help but notice that the nagging ache at her knuckles that plagued her for the last several years is entirely gone.

Pulling herself up, she finds that she moves easier--the way that she once did--and as she swings her legs over the edge of the bed, she looks back and sees herself still laying there as if enjoying a peaceful night’s sleep. It’s strange, she thinks, to be looking at another, older version of herself, to be separate and about to move independently and--

Her thoughts come to a halt as she looks across the room to where Henry, Roland and Robyn are all lying, asleep on a too-small couch against the window. Her brow furrows as she remembers--remembering how she’d insisted on going grocery shopping alone, and how annoyed Roland had been when he caught her unloading the shopping bags from her trunk. She’d insisted that he was overreacting, quickly changing the subject to some smoked-salmon she’d got at the deli, offering to make him lunch--and when Robin’s brow arched in concern, she’d ignored him and focused on their son’s company.

Roland hovered, and it wasn’t long before Henry was dropping in--likely because his brother called for reinforcements--and she’d rolled her eyes and told them she didn’t need an intervention. Grocery shopping, after all, wasn’t exactly a triathlon.

It’d been somewhere around then that she’d started to feel a bit restless--her chest tight and a dull ache at her neck and jaw--but she’d ignored it, not wanting to give them any more reason to worry. She’d felt a little dizzy and short of breath, so she’d suggested they all go and sit down in the living room--and that’s when it happened.

The rest was foggy and she felt herself fading in and out. She’d put together enough of the puzzle pieces to know that she’d had a heart attack--and she remembered thinking at one point that it’d be rather fitting for her, the once terrible Evil Queen, to die of a bad heart.

Her eyes remain on her children--sleeping soundly and unaware--and then panic begins to set in again.

She wasn’t always good.

Her heart is bruised and battered and black, and there wasn’t much she could do about that.

She thinks about the terror she instilled in innocent people, the lives she gleefully took, the people she lashed out at because she was hurting, the villages she burned and the children she left orphaned. She cursed a population and took pleasure in their ignorance. For years, she’d done horrendous things and for years she tried makeup for them.

She’d reached a point where she didn’t think of those dark years; yet now, it’s all she could think of, and she couldn’t help but wonder if the amends she made were enough.

Tears brim in her eyes and her chest tightens as a shallow breath escapes her at the realization that for the first time in decades, she’s all alone.

Robin isn’t there.

And she can only assume what that means.

Her jaw starts to tremble as she stands, keeping her eyes focused on her children. She has nothing to cry about. She lived a life longer than most were given. Despite the loneliness of her earliest years, her life had been full of love. She’d raised a son, helped to raise Robin’s children, and eventually got to help them raise children of their own. She had friends, a large extended family, and City Hall now bared her name.

And all along, she’d had Robin at her side.

Of course, there had been limitations to his presence in her life, and often it served as a reminder of everything they’d never have. But more times than not, she was just glad to have him in whatever way she could. She was glad to see him when she woke up and share little anecdotes about her day. They laughed together and he calmed her down when she was being irrational or over the top, and every night he held her until she fell asleep. They’d made plans for a future--which always seemed so distant to her--and he’d always had such a  steadfast belief that they’d spend eternity together.

She’d believed him, and he’d convinced her that she should.

But now--

Her eyes pinch closed. The thought of being separated from him now--seperated from all of them--is overwhelming. She swallows hard as she crosses the room. In spite of herself, she smiles at the way Robyn is curled up against Henry and the way his arm falls loosely around her. Roland is at the other end of the couch, sprawled out in a way she can’t imagine is comfortable, and it reminds her of the movie nights they used to have when Henry was home from college.

She’d make a big dinner, and afterward, they’d all change into pajamas and pile onto the couch. Henry and Roland always made the popcorn while Robyn chose a movie, and she always acted a bit surprised when they tugged her down onto the couch with them…

Tentatively, she reaches out to tuck a few strands of hair straying from Robyn’s loose braid behind her ear, but her hands falls through her as if she weren’t really there only inches away.

It shouldn’t be unexpected, but it’s like a punch to the gut--painful and sudden--and she remembers when Robin first came to her, how he’d tried to explain what it was like to visit Roland, to see him but never able to interact with him. She hadn’t quite understood it and as the years passed, she never quite understood the way he’d take a few steps back to loom in the background whenever any of the kids were around. But now, it was painfully obvious-- being near them was just too hard.

“M’lady…”

She spins around to see Robin standing there, at the foot of her bed.

And he’s smiling.

“Why so glum, love?”

“I’m dead,” she blinks, gesturing to herself across the room. “And I don’t know what comes next.”

Robin grins as he takes a step forward and takes her hands in his. “I think you do.”

She tries to smile, but she still feels uneasy, and looking over at herself, she can’t help but wonder…

“Love,” Robin murmurs, in a nearly musical voice, drawing her eyes back to him. “You’ll see them all again.”

Looking back, her her eyes widen. “Will I?”

“Of course.”

“So, I’m going--”

Robin laughs as her voice halts, and he draws her closer and presses a kiss to her forehead. “Yes.”

“You’re sure fire and brimstone aren’t in my immediate future?”

“Have I ever led you astray?”

A little grin tugs up at the corner of her mouth. “No.”

A slight feeling of relief washes over as she looks back at herself, but then, she catches Henry from the corner of her eye and the feeling quickly fades. “I know it sounds selfish, especially saying this to you, but I’m going to miss them. I… I don’t know if I can leave them.”

“And they’ll miss you.”

“Lucy graduates this year. I promised I’d take her shopping for a dress to wear.”

Robin nods. “It’ll always be something, you know.” Her eyes widen as she looks back. “No matter when you decide to leave, there’s going to be something you miss.”

Her eyes narrow. “Decide?”

“You’re… not quite gone yet.” She blinks as she looks to herself in the bed. Her heart rate is low and barely there, but it’s still there and as her eyes shift to the clock at her bedside, she realizes barely a minute has passed. “Time works… differently here,” he explains. “Slower.”

“So, I… I can…”

“Decide.”

“Oh.” Her breath is shallow as she chews at her lip, looking between Robin and their children. “So, I could…”

“Take Lucy dress shopping and see her graduate,” he fills in as her voice fades. “You don’t have to leave them yet. Not if you’re not ready.”

“Were you ready?” she asks, turning back to him. “Did you have a choice?”

“Ready?” he repeats, shaking his head. “No. But I did have a choice.”

She shifts as her arms fold and her brow furrows. “So you… chose to…”

“Save you,” he cuts in. “It was a choice between your life and mine,” he tells her. “And before you ask, if I had it all to do over, I’d make the same choice. I’d give up my life to save yours.” He grins as his hand rubs up her arm as her jaw trembles. “I don’t regret it. I’ve never regretted it.”

“I have,” she admits. “It never seemed like a fair trade.”

“Well, we are going to have to agree to disagree on that,” he says simply. “You deserved more time.”

“And you didn’t?”

“I got more than most in my situation get.” He grins as her lips part, ready to argue, and he laughs softly. “So, what’ll it, m’lady? Are you coming with me or are you staying here for a little while longer?”

She draws in a shallow breath and slowly releases it as she turns back to the couch. Her chest tightens as a soft smile draws onto her lips. It’s not an easy decision. In fact, it’s one of the hardest she’s ever had to make. It’s painful and perhaps even a little selfish--but after years and years of letting him loom in the background, straddling the fine line between two worlds that he could never truly be a part of, after his sacrifices and loyalty, after spending years missing him, the answer was obvious.

Closing her eyes, she her fingers lace through his, and as she turns back to him, she offers a lopsided little grin. “I… I’m scared.”

“You don’t need to be.”

“But I--”

“I’ll be there with you.”

She nods. “And you’re… you’re sure about where I’m…”

“Where we’re going,” he supplies. “And, yes. I am sure.” His smile is wide and bright, and tears glisten in his eyes. “There’s so much I want to show you, Regina.” She nods, biting down on her lip. “That is, if you’re sure.”

“I am,” she tells him, looking back once more at Henry, Roland and Robyn, and as a goodbye, she offers them a soft little smile that they’ll never see and whispers to them that she loves him. Then, slowly releasing her last breath, she looks to Robin. “I… think the timing is finally right for us,” she says, her grip tightening on his hand. “This is our time now.”

Tugging her to him, he nods and sweeps his free hand up over her cheek and pushes his fingers into her hair. He leans in a little, and she finds that for the first time in longer than she can remember, his lips are warm. His tongue parts her lips and his hand slides to the back of her head, pulling her closer as he kisses her. It’s soft and inviting, and as he pulls back, she finds herself smiling at the thought that it isn’t their last.

“Are you ready, M’lady?”

“I am,” she tells him as her stomach flutters with what feels like excitement--and as he tugs her hand and she takes a step toward him, everything brightens.

[ouatnextgen]

Curious Archer/ Mad Archer Ship Headcanons

One of two canon Next Gen ships, Alice Swan-Jones and Robyn Hood/Mills!

These two were one of the only things I liked about S7. Initially, I wasn't going to have Alice here at all, since I took the multiverse out of my re-write, but I love her waaaay too much to cut her out.

Tropes: True Love || Hopeless flirts || Fairytale romance || Love at first sight || The grumpy one falls for the sunshine one || Protective Couple

Songs: Dead Sea- The Lumineers || Mess is Mine- Vance Joy || Yellow- Coldplay || Still Into You- Paramore || Love Me Like You Do- Ellie Goulding || All of Me- John Legend

Headcanons Under the Cut: (Changes from canon) (Also keep in mind I changed Alice's parents to Killian and Emma in this AU)

Since both girls are teenagers in this AU, their relationship is going to have a different dynamic than in canon when they are both adults. I just wanted to make it clear that I’m not trying to infantilize Alice due to her mental illness or time stuck in the tower, but because she and Robyn are still teens, and it’s only been a year since Alice escaped her tower.

They met a year after Alice escaped from her tower. Since they had Snowing’s “I caught you in a net” meeting in canon, I gave them the “smacked you with a rock” meeting for this AU.

Alice ended up in Storybrooke, trying to find her lost family. Robyn saw her and thought she was a spy, chasing her down and tackling her in the woods. Robyn was surprised that she was a (pretty) girl, and Alice wacks her with a tree branch to escape. True love, baby.

After everything settles, they do a formal introduction: “I’m Robyn Hood. The new Robin Hood, anyway. The old one was my dad.” “New Robin…so Nobyn Hood?” “...no.”

Robyn was a goner from minute one. Unfortunately, she can’t flirt for shit. Alice, on the other hand, flirts by just being herself, which makes Robyn incredibly flustered, which makes her flirting worse, and on the cycle goes.

Alice knows that Robyn likes her, but she finds herself being cautious about growing close to anyone, not wanting her “bad days” to ruin any relationships she might have in Storybrooke.

Once Alice gets settled at Storybrooke High, Robyn takes it upon herself to show her the ropes and protect her from any perceived slight. Faces have, and will be, punched.

Everything is slow for them, as Alice has never been in a relationship (of any kind), and Robyn is trying reeeeeally hard not to fuck this up.

Robyn calls Alice “Tower Girl,” “Lovely,” and “Starlight,” because she’s a sap. Alice calls Robyn “Nobin,” “Yobin (Robyn with a ‘Y’),” and “Love,” because she is also a sap.

The first time Alice has a “bad day” in front of Robyn, she freaks out and thinks that Robyn will think she’s a psycho and leave. Instead, Robyn talks with Alice and comes up with plans to help her during her “bad days,” and episodes.

Alice has dragged Robyn out of bed to go stargazing with her more than once. True to form, Robyn complains, but she won’t ever say no to Alice’s smile.

They practice their magic together, though Alice is much more gifted than Robyn. Robyn tries not to let that get to her.

Alice’s favorite activity is to watch Robyn do archery. She loves how focused and passionate she gets.

Robyn’s never been all that touchy-feely, but Alice is touch starved from being alone in a tower since she was twelve. Robyn suddenly becomes VERY touchy-feely. With Alice, at least.

Robyn has previously dated Alex Boyd, before they came out as aroace, but that ended real quick, much to Robyn’s heartbreak. Alice hasn’t dated anyone, but during her time in Wonderland, developed a crush on Will and Anastasia’s daughter, Penny, which never went anywhere.

Both Robyn and Alice knew pretty early on that they were Not Straight. Robyn had a brief stint when she was considering she might be bisexual, but decided that lesbian fit her better. Alice just flat-out knew she liked girls when she accidentally conjured some non-heterosexual romance books while trapped in her tower.

Zelena, Regina, and Emma (and Robin, when he comes back to life) all ship the heck out of them. Killian, old fashioned man that he is, is concerned, but comes around eventually.

[eleveneitherway]

Home

WWII AU where Killian returns home from war alongside Robin, Liam, Will and Dr. Whale.

Rating: General Audience

Word Count: 1292

Author’s Note: This is a lil one shot that was sort of inspired by the starting scene from Love Actually where families were being reunited and I am a sucker for soldiers returning to their family videos because they are so goddamn sweet. Plus this is my first ever fic that I have posted.

A03

“The German War therefore is at an end.” Emma Jones repeated those words to herself, who knew eight words could be so powerful? Who knew eight words had the power to make her seven year old son jump for joy? Most importantly, who knew eight words had the power to let her believe her husband would be back from the war?

Emma was frantic with worry when a letter from her husband had not come in ages, she thought the worst, but her boy, their boy, Henry, gave her hope. If he believed that his Papa would be back soon, then he would. Henry Jones was like any other young chap his age, he would come home with dirt and grime on his clothes and underneath his fingernails from playing and he had a wild imagination. But most importantly, his parents believed he had the heart of the truest believer. So his belief that his Papa would be back home to tuck him in every night with a story and a kiss on the forehead made Emma worry a little lesser.

The Joneses resided in New York before the start of the war, but were eventually evacuated to a quaint seaside town in Maine where they would live with her mother and father David and Mary Margaret on their farm after Killian and her younger brother Leo were shipped off. The name of that town was Storybrooke. Everyday, without fail, Henry Jones would walk down a forest path which led to a well that was tucked away behind some trees and bushes. He would take a nickel out from his pocket, squeeze his eyes shut and wish that his Papa would come back home. He would kiss the nickel before tossing it into the well.

Henry often assured his mother that his father would return soon, especially when they hadn’t heard from him in a while.

Ever since Emma’s eyes captured the eight bold black letters that grazed the front cover of the newspaper, she felt lighter. They had been very lucky as they weren’t the recipients of any letters of condolences, but that didn’t stop Emma from worrying.

Until the day came, the day Emma had been anticipating for what felt like an eternity. News of naval vessels had been reported docking at Storybrooke port. As soon as she caught wind of it, she lifted her boy up onto her hip (despite his groaning from being woken at such an ‘ungodly’ hour) and sprinted out of the house.

---

The pier was crowded with people waiting to see their loved ones again, Emma and Henry spotted Belle and Ruby amongst the crowd of thousands nervously anticipating the arrival of their loved ones.

“Emma, Henry, Waiting for Killian I suppose, you should all come over for lunch tomorrow!”

Emma turned around and was met with kind blue eyes and white blonde hair.

“Elsa! Yes that would be lovely. I think Henry is excited to see his Uncle Liam again” Emma said as she nodded to Henry who was asleep and had his head tucked in the crook of neck.

Elsa chortled and focused her attention back to the ships. Soon, the men started disembarking. Emma heard the delighted squeal of the usually quiet Belle as she caught sight of Will Scarlet walking down the gangplank, Belle sprinted forward and threw herself at Will. He dropped his possessions, caught her in his arms and spun her around.

Emma then caught a flash of red as Ruby rushed towards Victor Whale who had been a medic to the troops and watched as they clung onto each other for dear life, his nose pressed to her brunette hair before he shut his eyes and sighed deeply.

“HENRY!” shouted a young voice

Henry’s woke up with a jolt to be greeted by Roland Hood tugging at his foot.

“Roland, sweetheart, calm down.” chided Regina Mills-Hood softly, before hoisting him up onto her hip as well, to give him a better view.

Emma’s heart was beating out of her chest as she scanned the crowd for Killian, and to her utmost relief, he stood on the deck of one of the many ships, alongside Liam and Robin, their hair billowed in the breeze as they too made their way down the gangplank.

“Henry, Henry, wake up baby. Look who’s home” she whispered into Henry’s ear

Henry stirred and looked out into the crowd, it didn’t take him long to catch sight of the familiar face that tucked him in at night that promised him with a kiss on the forehead and a bone crushing hug that he would come home. He slipped out of his mother’s arms and ran towards his father.

“PAPA!” he shouted, beside himself with excitement.

Killian whipped his head forward, dropped his belongings and crouched down with his arms outstretched.

He gathered his boy into his arms and peppered him with kisses, Henry would normally groan at all the affection that he was receiving but instead, he giggled with pleasure. Happy to be in his father’s arms again.

“I missed you so much mboy! Oh look how much you’ve grown, you’re going to be taller than your old man soon!”Killian exclaimed. Henry beamed with pride at that exaggerated remark and nuzzled his head into his father’s chest

“I protected Mama like you said I had to, I promise you that.” Henry said, his voice slightly muffled, Killian smiled warmly at his son and looked out into the crowd again. He caught sight of the blonde tresses that he was so enamored with, the same blonde tresses that he had brushed his fingers through. That he held when he dipped her for a kiss on their wedding day. He moved forward quickly, so as to taste those lips again. They kissed passionately, eventually pulling apart for air, but that didn’t stop Emma from peppering kisses all over Killian’s face.

“I’ve said this in my letters but, I need to say it to you again, there hasn’t been a day that’s gone by where I didn’t think of you and Henry...Umpf”

Emma cut him off with another kiss.

All around them, loved ones were being reunited, Robin and Regina gazed into each others eyes as they held Roland between them, Liam held Elsa in his arms as she sobbed happily into his uniform, they pulled apart for a split second when young Henry bounded up to them to say hello to his Uncle Liam, to give his parents a moment alone.

---

The crowd on the pier started to disperse as Emma, Killian and Henry made their way back to the farm with David and Mary Margaret after being reunited with Emma’s younger brother Leo.

Henry sat on his father’s shoulders as they entered the property, the family dog Wilby bounded up to Leo and Killian before he barked and wagged his tail at the pair, happy to have their family whole again.

The Joneses settled themselves in their cottage that was situated a short distance away from the main house. Killian tugged Emma towards his chest and held her close before pressing a kiss to her hair

“Emma, love, I’ve missed you, there are no words that can describe my joy to finally be home.”

“But this isn’t really home.”

Killian pulled away from Emma slightly, and frowned, his brow crinkled in the process.

“Love, I’ve told you countless times, I do not care where we are, we could be living in the middle of a junkyard for all I know, but I know for a fact that you and Henry are my home. As long as I have you two, I’m home.” Killian said

“You’re such a sap.”

“But I’m your sap.”

“Welcome home, Killian.”

“I’m glad to be home love.”

[imaginesfordayss]

Social Media AU: Outlaw Queen family as The Addams Family

[justanoutlawfic]

Robin’s Revenge: Part 8

Based on a plot twist that I was sent by @queen-of-the-merry-men, but with a bit of a happier ending (if you could call it that?). For OQ AngstFest...Prompts: 20, 28, 35, 38, 42

Also on AO3

Regina had been nervous when Evie said she wanted to move out to California for college. It was all the way across the country and it wasn’t like she could drive there quickly if anything went wrong. Evie also had a huge heart. A good kid, she cared about others, but she went out of her way to help people and that sometimes could land her in a boatload of trouble.

 Robin had talked her into it. He reminded her that because of her big heart, it meant she was a smart kid, a good kid. She could take care of herself, he trusted her. He trusted that she could handle all of what life threw at her.

 “It’s time we let her spread her wings,” he had told Regina after they had visited San Diego State University.

 So, Regina had relented. On the condition that Evie called at least once a week and e-mailed frequently so they knew she was alive, she could go out west.

 The day they dropped her off at her dorm and headed back to the airport was the hardest of Regina’s life. This was the fourth child she was putting through college (they had already dropped Bryony off in Boston) and this was the furthest any of them had gone. She had been worried when Henry chose New York, but that was nothing compared to what was going on now.

 Overtime, Evie seemed to prove that she was doing just fine. Her first semester she made the Dean’s list and showed off lots of friends on Facebook. She even worked a part time job during all of it. She seemed like superwoman in Regina’s eyes and Robin just reminded her that she took after her mom, so hardworking and sociable.

 Little did they know, despite how great she was doing…Evie was holding back a huge secret.

 Regina would never forget the day she got the call. She had just gotten through putting together a seating chart for a wedding she was planning when an unfamiliar number came through her personal phone. She almost pressed ignore, thinking it might be a sales call, but then she noticed it was a California number. Sliding the green bar over, she held the phone to her ear.

 “Hello?”

“Is this Regina Locksley Mills?”

“Yes, this is she.”

“My name is Detective Weaver, I’m calling you from San Diego.”

Regina’s heart shot to the bottom of her stomach. “Is my daughter okay?”

“I’m sorry to report that she’s just been rushed to the hospital. She suffered a gunshot wound.”

“A gunshot wound?!?” Regina jumped out of her seat. “Wait, wait, I’m confused. Was she mugged?” She began pacing the area around her desk. This was what she was afraid of. San Diego wasn’t like Storybrooke, there was far more crime. “Who did this to her?” The tears burned in her eyes and it was taking all she had not to cry.

“Mrs. Locksley Mills, your daughter wasn’t mugged. She was at a known drug dealer’s house when a rival cased the place?”

“Is she…is she okay?”

“She’s in critical condition. The hospital will have more information for you.”

 Weaver gave her the name and Regina quickly scrawled it down, throwing open her laptop to look up the first flight to California. Henry could look after his younger sibling, she’d go get Robin at work. As she was typing in the travel website, she swallowed a bit.

 “Detective…what was the drug dealer’s name?”

“Zelena Greene.”

Robin had once thought the longest ride of his life was when he got the call that there was a baby for him at the hospital. He hadn’t even known that Zelena was pregnant and suddenly, there was her baby waiting on him. A little girl that was his, that would be his daughter.

 Little did he know at the time that someone had interfered and he wouldn’t end up with the baby Zelena had delivered, but he had still be afraid.

 That was nothing compared to the ride to the airport, followed by the nearly 6 hour flight to California. It was about as silent as the first ride, Regina hadn’t said anything since breaking into Aesop’s, tears streaming down her face. He had shouted some orders at Will, confirmed that their youngest child was being taken care of and off they went.

 He thought of Zelena, the biological mother of his second daughter. He hadn’t heard a word from her since she signed away her rights, as far as he knew she had denied any contact with Evie. How had the two of them been in touch? Since when was Zelena a drug dealer? The last time he had known her, she had been a dancer, she was just trying to find her way in life.

 How had he allowed any of this to happen? Regina had been convinced that California would be a bad idea, but he insisted. Evie was a good kid, she had her head screwed on straight. If it had been Bryony or Roland, he would’ve been worried. They were also good kids, but not the most responsible. Though, he wouldn’t have even expected them to get caught up with a drug dealer of all people.

 He knew he couldn’t have predicted it, but guilt burned his gut. He was supposed to look out for his kids, he was supposed to tell when something bad was about to happen. Robin had known that Bryony wasn’t really meeting up with friends the night she snuck out to a wild party. He had known that Henry was dating someone in secret long before he introduced Jacinda to their family. The kids liked to joke that he not only had eyes in the back of his head, they followed them everywhere.

 How could he have not seen this coming? How could he not have been able to protect his little girl?

 What if he lost her?

 Oh God, he could lose her.

 Because of Cora, he had missed 3 years of her life and he had never been able to shake that. Over the years he had found ways to make up for it. They spent as much time together as they could, they bonded over soccer and cooking. He was the one she went to when her first boyfriend broke up with her. He knew how to make her smile, how to get her to open up. They had come a long way from the little girl that sobbed and claimed she didn’t want a father. They had 16 amazing years as father and daughter.

 And Robin could lose it all due to some drug dealers with guns.

 As soon as they landed, they got in a cab and headed to the hospital. They didn’t have a hotel room, their duffel bags were packed with things that Regina thought they’d need but they still weren’t sure of her condition. They got the run around at first, but when it became clear that they were the parents of the 19 year old that had been gunned down, they were directed to a doctor’s office where he explained it the best he could.

 Evie had been found in Zelena’s apartment, she had been shot twice in the stomach and once in the shoulder. They had done surgery as soon as she arrived, but things were still pretty touch and go. Evie had lost a lot of blood and they had done a transfusion, yet the next few hours were going to be pretty crucial. Already, the bullet was going to hinder the use of her shoulder for the next year.

 Zelena had gotten out of all of it unscathed, which angered both of them. They didn’t want her dead-or maybe Robin did, he wasn’t sure what was the anger in him and what was the rational-but the fact that she hadn’t been hurt and their little girl had was too much. She was arrested given the amount of drugs around, which meant less answers than anything. They were lead to Evie’s room and prepared that she’d be hooked up to some machines but they were all for her own good.

 Seeing her laying there in that hospital bed, she seemed so tiny, so much younger than 19.  True to the doctor’s word, she was hooked up and her left arm was in a sling. Regina inched her way forward, pushing a strand of the young girl’s blonde hair out of her face. She kissed the center of her forehead and let out a deep breath.

 “Oh Evie, what the hell happened?”

 Robin walked to the other side of his daughter, taking his hand into hers. He noticed her self-made manicure, remembering back to the days when she’d paint his own nails. Shutting his eyes, he tried to picture her happy, healthy…only to have his heart break when they opened again.

 “Are we good parents?” He whispered.

Regina looked up at him, surprised to hear his first words in over 6 hours. “Robin…”

“I mean, you’re a good mom,” Robin rambled on. “The best mom in the world. This is my fault, though. I told you we should let her go, I promised you she’d be fine and…”

“Hey.” Regina met his gaze and shook her head. “This isn’t your fault.”

“But…”

“This is the fault of the bastard that shot at her and we will make sure he pays for what he’s done. We didn’t do anything, you didn’t do anything.”

“We could lose her.”

“We’re not going to.”

 He could see the doubt in her eyes, though and it scared him. Reaching over, he grabbed her free hand and they squeezed each other tightly.

 “Just don’t blame yourself,” Regina continued, her voice in a whisper. “You’re going to make yourself sick.”

Evie didn’t wake up that night, but her vitals were good and according to the doctor, that was all they could ask for. While Regina called to Storybrooke to check on their children there, Robin put in a call to Boston. Henry had promised to let his siblings know and Bryony had been blowing up his phone, clearly worried about her sister.

“Daddy,” Bryony whispered as soon as he answered the phone.

“Hey Peanut,” he said, softly. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m scared. How is she?”

“Her vitals are good, that’s what matters.”

“Did they catch the guy who did it?”

“Yes. He and Zelena are both locked up right now.”

He could hear her swallow on the other end of the line. “Daddy, this is all my fault.”

Robin sighed. “Oh Bry…” Sometimes they were too much alike.

“No, just hear me out. I…I knew about Zelena.”

He paused. “What?”

“Evie told me. Zelena came into the café she worked for and she recognized her. She was a regular and they got to talking…soon Evie was hanging out at her place a lot, though she didn’t tell Zelena who she really was.”

Robin shut his eyes. “Did she know about the drugs?”

“…Yes.”

“And you did, too?”

“Yes.”

“Why didn’t you tell your mother and I? Why did you lie to me?”

“Evie made me swear not to. She was afraid you’d make her come home.”

Well, she wasn’t wrong.

This wasn’t the first time that Bryony and Evie had teamed up to hide things from their parents. This was just the first time that they had gotten away with it. Though, Robin was starting to wonder if that was true.

“I am so sorry, Dad,” Bryony continued. “I didn’t think this would happen.”

Robin sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “This isn’t your fault, Peanut. It’s not Evie’s either. You two should’ve told us…but this was bigger than both of you. You couldn’t have stopped it from happening.”

“I’m sorry,” she repeated.

“I know you are. We’re going to talk more about it later, but I just need you to promise me that you’re going to take care of yourself.”

“I will.” A pause. “Dad?”

“Yeah?”

“Please don’t be too hard on Evie when she wakes up. She…she just never wanted to hurt Mom.”

“Well, this isn’t exactly helping your mother either.”

Evie didn’t wake up for two more days. They had gone 36 hours without seeing those beautiful blue eyes and they had feared that they never would again, but she persevered. They didn’t talk about the situation much at first, they let the doctors run their tests and explain the injuries to her. She wouldn’t be able to return to school for a few weeks at least and her best bet would be to withdraw from the semester, retaking it at another point.

 It wasn’t until hours later that they had the chance to sit down and talk about it. Evie looked between her parents and knew what was going to happen.

“I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I never thought this would happen.”

“You knew Zelena was on drugs,” Regina said, not judgmental, just matter of fact. “Why would you go to her apartment?”

“I just…I wanted to know her. Maybe if she saw who I was…”

“Then she’d want you?”

Evie ducked her head. “It was stupid, I know that now.”

“You could’ve died, Evangeline,” Robin bit his lip, shaking his head. “We could’ve lost you.”

“I didn’t think this was going to happen. I…I never thought…”

 Tears built up in her eyes. All she had wanted was to get to know her birth mom and it had gotten her shot. The memories of the men with the guns…

 Robin and Regina saw the look in their daughters’ eyes and they each moved a hand to her arm. The lectures could wait. Their daughter needed time to heal, both emotionally and physically. They weren’t going anywhere, they were going to help her through this.