I got this idea from a short story I once read. "Gentlemen send Phantoms." Outlaw Queen AU, no Evil Queen, no curses, and no wicked witches. Just pure dribble because I am caught in a snag with my other stories. . All rights go to the OUAT writers and ABC. The base for the story goes to the writer of "Gentlemen send Phantoms" Laini Taylor. But I've tweaked it a lot. It has a bit of an OUAT twist but I wanted to stay as close to the original story as possible because I loved it so much. All mistakes are mine.

Gentlemen Send Phantoms Part 1. Please review and tell me what you think.

"Okay you know the rules, once we start their can be no speaking or else you'll break the spell." Ruby says as she brings the last of the ingredients into her grandmother's house. The three of us gathered in the small cottage to begin the ritual. It was October sixth, better known as Saint Faith's day. A story passed down from generations to generations, that on this day, you will see the phantom of the man you will marry come spring. Most everyone else in the village is at a festival in celebration, unless you are a young adult woman.

Ruby's grandmother, Granny used to tell it to us every year. Says she met her late husband on this very night many years ago. She was the only way any of us knew if the story held true. My mother died giving birth to me, and Father never remarried, Ruby's mother ran off when she was just a wee little thing, leaving Granny to raise her. And Tink was an orphan raised by the nuns. All of us being motherless led us to being lifelong friends.

I am the oldest of the group at 19, almost 20, followed by Tink at a few weeks short of 19. We could have do this earlier, but Ruby being the youngest of us at fresh 18 wanted us all to do it together, so Tink and I waited for her to come of age.

"And remember, you don't know who your phantom will be, so don't go turning anyone away, even if it's Killian. You hear me Regina, least you become an old hag who live alone with 30 griffins." She points an accusing finger my way.

I scoff at the thought. "I'd much rather be and old bitty than marry one of the Jones brothers." Killian Jones was one of the most annoying individuals I'd ever had the miss pleasure of meeting. His arrogance made a pikachen look modest. He once threatened to stick me in his pocket like a nymph. So I broke his wrist. Only seemed fair right. "And besides. Everyone knows he fancies the blacksmiths daughter."

"Emma? How do you know? All they do is bicker." Tink asks from her spot at the caldron, mixing the water that the roses have been bathing in for a weeks' time. The small pixie like woman is wearing a green sleep gown that flowing around her, making it look as though she if floating above the ground. She sun colored hair hangs loose around her shoulders.

"You see the way he stares at her like a lost puppy. That man has a huge crush on her. I bet you, come spring they will be the first ones to marry."

"I agree. But if not, and his phantom does come to see you instead, you might change your mind." Ruby stands in a deep red corset that is just a step above indecent, her night dress just as dark cuts off a few inches below her knees. She stands across from me the goose egg sits in front of her, the owl's feather, rowans branch, and a strand of hair from Ella have long since been put aside. Poor Elle, the woman almost went bald with all the girls begging for her hair, but she was the only pregnant woman in 30 miles from either direction. Elle never had to make the Saint Faith's day cake, she and Snow White had found their true loves early in life. Happily married with children before the ages of 19.

"I'll marry Killian as soon as you eat this vial cake." I motion towards concoction brewing before us. She makes a disgusted face and shakes at the mere thought.

"Okay, but don't be crying to us when we are married with our true loves because you ran yours off."

"Any man who I could easily run off my make a terrible husband to begin with." I argue. Truth be told, there is only on phantom I am hoping to see tonight. One that most girls, including the ones in my present company are also hoping to see. Robin of Locksley. He is the only man who has ever caught my eye. I had a schoolyard crush on him since we were children. But that crush turned into something much deeper as we grew. He came to the Enchanted Forest from Sherwood's when he was just a babe. But his accent still shines bright. At the age of 21, he is prime marrying material. Sandy brown hair and eyes so blue they make the sky envious. He is the best hunter in the entire village, having mastered the art of archery long ago. His father has left him a small cottage just outside the woods, not really a cottage, it's more like four walls without a roof. But Robin is fixing it up from the floor down. A lace for him and his future family to live. A place where most women have already decorated in their minds.

"I think I will be getting a visit from Robin's phantom tonight. After all, I am ripe for the picking." Ruby runs her hand down the front of her corset.

"Hey, I'm not much older than you. And besides, if anyone gets a visit from Robin, I think it should be me. With his sandy brown hair and blue eyes, mixed with my blond hair and grey eyes. Just think how gorgeous our kids would be." Tink argues.

Ruby folds her arms over her chest, and turns to face our blond friend. "Oh please, you two don't have anything in common, at least I do. We are both tracker." Ruby grins smugly. She's not lying, Ruby is one of the best trackers in all of the Enchanted Forest. Even better than most of the men. She refused to kill though, she once shot a wolf and it took weeks for her to get over it. Since then she refused to kill anything.

I can see Tink about to argue more, so I intervene. "Okay enough you two. I'd like to get this done before the next Saint Faiths day please." I give them my "mother look", as they have so kindly called it, and it works because they drop it.

Not a single word was uttered at that point. All the ingredients are added to the water, once they are all mixed together, Ruby adds the plain flower that turns the liquid into a nasty brown batter that smells like a dead pig that has been sitting out in the sun for a week, and continues to worsen as it bakes. Once cooked and cooled, we cut it into thirds and care our initials onto the top. If the spell remains intact come morning, the initials of the person we are to marry with be carved next to ours.

With a quick wave goodbye, Ruby runs into her room anticipating her true love visit, you can't see her but we see her red corset being thrown to the other side of the room. I roll my eyes before heading out of the house. Tink lives only a little whiles away so she quickly heads home. I live in the opposite direction, I'm not as eager to get home as Tink, so I take my time. Which leads me to stumble upon two sneaking figures head towards Rudy and Tink's houses. Knowing no good can come out of this I follow to see who they are.

Only a few yards from the entrance to the house. Victor Frankenstein and Will Nottingham stand, rubbing flower onto their faces and hair. "I take Rudy, you can have the pixie down the road." Nottingham says with a perverted laugh.

"Why do you get to see Rudy with her corset undone?" Victor argues. "Because I said so and if you have a problem with that, do something." Victor cowards down, says nothing. "I thought so. Now, let's go be phantoms."

Knowing I can't let them do this, I march my way towards them but stop when I remember the cake in my hand. If I speak the spell will be broken. The hesitation only lasts a moment. I can't let these to idiots take advantage of my friends. Quickly placing the cake on the floor I make my way towards them.

"If you two are phantoms then I must be a hat." I can't help the grin that forms on my face when they get startled and, jumping almost a foot in the air. It's no secret that I am one that people should fear. They all know that I studied dark magic with Rumpelstiltskin, the old imp who used to live deep in the wood just beyond our village. It's not that I wanted to harm anyone, I was just fascinated with what he had to teach me. Every day I would go to him, an everyday he had something new to teach me. But one day, I went at my usual time, and he was gone. No one knows where he went, some say he went mad and hid himself away in a cave, others swear they saw him turn into an owl like all old witches and wizards do when they die, and flew off into the sunset. Not many but a few say he went to find his lost love. A woman he ran off because he refused to quit practicing magic. No one know.

But just because he is gone doesn't mean people have become any less scared of what he had taught me.

"Mills. Out hunting for phantoms are you? Not surprised seeing as the only way you'll see one tonight is to catch a glimpse of someone on their way to see another." Nottingham says sticking his bottom lip out in a fake pout. "It's okay baby, as soon as I finish here with Ruby I'll come back and take care of you." He winks at me and it takes all my strength not to turn him into a cat. (Not that I can do that anyway. I hadn't got that far in my lessons. But they don't know that.)

"I'd rather be clobbered by an ogre than be with you. And you'll go into that house over my dead body." I glare at them, and I know it scares them because they physically step back and Victor shrinks away.

But Nottingham must have grown a spine because he brushes it off real quick. "And just what are you going to do? There's two of us and one of you." He takes a step towards me.

I begin to panic because he's right, I can't over power the both of them, and everyone else is either asleep waiting for their phantoms, or at the Saint Faiths day festival down by the old Mill. I try to recall some of the more showy spells Rumple taught me to scare him.

But before I can cast one our attention is drawn to someone else.

"I suggest you back away now Nottingham." I turn to see none other than Robin.

"Hood, what are you doing here? Shouldn't you be out at some dame's house as a phantom?" Victor asks looking him up and down. "Or did you decide that you didn't want your phantom to have all the fun?" He grins.

The thought of Robin running around peeping on unsuspecting woman makes me sick, but I couldn't stop the doubt creeping in my mind. But I shake it away. There's no way he would do that. He has too much honor to stoop that low.

"If you are you can't go in looking like that. Here have some flour." Nottingham tosses the bag at Robin, but Robin side swipes it, the bag fall to the ground bursting into a cloud of white powder. Not caring Nottingham continues. "Anyway, your too late, we were here first."

"Shouldn't you be up the lane anyway? It's no secret that Maid Marian has the hot's for you." Victor chimes in.

Marian. My heart clenches in my chest. Marian is the daughter of tavern owner, but uncle was a ship captain. Both are sons of a former Nobleman, no longer holding the title but still fairly wealthy He brings her the most beautiful things from many a different lands. Beautiful dresses, fans made of dragon fins, and jewel cased hair combs that accent her long dark brown curls perfectly. She has flawless skin and big bright eyes. She is one of the most beautiful woman I have ever seen in my life. And she's not even a horrible person. She has a nice word to say about everyone, always so kind and caring.

Did she want Robin too? The small hope I had slowly slips away. There's no way I can compete with Maid Marian or even Tink or Ruby. While Ruby and Tink were learning how to be proper lady by Granny or the Nuns, learning to sew, and be homemakers, I was learning how to climb mountains and sword fighting with Robin and all the other boys in our village. I have no idea how to be someone's wife.

Nottingham voice bring me out of my musings. "Well, what are you waiting for? Go get your girl Hood."

"That is not how this works. You can't just sneak into someone's house while they are unsuspecting. If that was my kin, they'd have an arrow through their head." Robin's voice is tense, filled with anger.

"Well Ruby isn't your kin. So you might as well leave. And take Regina with you. No one want's her anyway." He waves his hand in my directing, I can't help the painful squeeze in my chest. I don't let anyone know but it's a fear of mine that no one could ever love me.

Robin turns to me and I can't read his face, but I don't give him a chance to answer. "I am no one's to have." I put as much venom in my voice as can. "And neither are Ruby and Tink."

I do as Rumple had taught me, emotions are magic, and right now I'm pissed. I thrust my hands out not knowing what I am doing, but I can feel the magic flow through my body, heading out of my hands. I feel the ground shake, I don't know if it was just in my mind or if it actually happened. Red sparks lick my fingers, starting small until my hands become engulfed by lighting.

I smirk, I can feel the madness seep into my eyes. Victor and Nottingham look ready to pee their pants. "Now I suggest you leave, all of you." Robin looks at me hurt but I say nothing. "Goodbye boys." I points at the ground near their feet, close enough to scare them but not enough to hurt. They trip over themselves trying to get away. But Robin remains unfazed. Once they are far enough away I lower my hands and let the magic fade. I take deep breaths to calm myself.

"Do I still have to leave Gina?" I roll my eyes. He is the only one who would even attempt to call me that. It's something he's called me since we were children. I used to go over to the Locksley home sever times a week so I could pretend to be in a family. Not that I didn't love my father, I do. But it was lonely being just the two of us. At Robins, there were other children and parents. For a few hours I could pretend to be in a real family.

"That depends on what you are doing here"

"I could ask you the same thing Gina." He smiles, flashing his dimples that could make a trolls knees go weak. He reaches up and twists a strand of hair that has fallen to my face. I tense, thinking that I hadn't had a chance to fix it like I had planned to. Right now it is I a simple braid flowing down the left side of my head. "Shouldn't you be home waiting on your phantom?"

Shouldn't I? Nottingham's words still ring in my head. No man could possibly want a wild child who practices magic and has a sharp tongue. Why should I care? I don't want any man who doesn't want me anyway. I think to myself. I shrug changing the subject. "I saw those two cretins and knew they were up to know good." I look down at the now useless Saint Faiths Day cake. I start to walk away, and Robin follows.

"Idiots. Though I'm sure they aren't the only ones. I'm sure a few lads will be getting visits from more than phantom tonight."

I look over at him, his head is hung low so I can't see his eyes. "Do you not believe?" When he looks at me confused I clarify. "In the tail. About the phantoms."

"Ah." He nods in understanding. "I know it to be true."

I'm surprised. "You do?"

"Sure. If I didn't I wouldn't send my own phantom up to the house I want it to."

My heart rate picks up at the thought. Down, to there is only a few houses down the lane. Zelena Green, who I doubt Robin is talking about. She is a vial woman. Believes herself to be better than anyone else. She's short tempered and crass. But Marian also lives there. "Oh, you have?" I say as calmly as I can.

"Of course. Though I'd much rather see my girl with my own eyes, that's not how it works. Gentlemen send phantoms."

I nod. I feel bile raise in my throat at the thought of Robins phantom floating through Marians window tonight. Tomorrow, Marian will run to Robin and they will embrace. I'll have to stay away from the village for a few days to avoid seeing them be all lovey-dovey. My heart wouldn't be able to handle that.

"Though maybe she won't want to see me. Maybe she will send me away."

I scoff. He has to be joking. Any woman would be thrilled to see his phantom. He's charming, clever, and handsome. No sane woman would send him away. "I'm sure she would be ecstatic to see you." I tell him sincerely.

The shine that has been missing from his eyes returns, but still not as bright. "You think?"

I smile and nod. I have long since mastered the art of a fake smile but it never seems to fool Robin. He looks at me funny, but I continue to walk.

"Shouldn't you be home Gina? I can walk you."

Why would he walk me home? He just came from that direction. I shake my head. "I'm not going home. I have something else I'm going to do." I lie. "Besides, you just came from that way."

"It doesn't matter. I'm just wandering about. I can let a fairy walk home alone now can I? What are you going to do?"

I roll my eyes at the fairy comment, before I register the rest of the sentence. Wandering. That's an interesting name to call waiting for your phantom to visit your true love. I don't answer, I just continue to walk. So he asks again.

I don't know what to say, I don't have plans. I was just going to sulk around trying not to let the thought of eternal loneliness completely wreck me. At this very moment, Robin's phantom is wooing Marian, but the real Robin is with me now. If only for a moment.

I turn to look over my shoulder. "I guess you'd have to come and see."

He shrugs. "Okay." And follows in line behind me. I don't know where I'm heading to. So I just walk.

I eventually make my way to a cliff side. Because it's night we can't see much but I can just make out the waves of the sea. "Do think you'll ever cross the sea?" I ask out of nowhere.

"The sea? I guess I've never thought about it."

"I will." I tell him.

He laughs before asking. "Oh. And how will you cross it?" He pokes fun at me gentle.

"I'll fly."

"Oh, you mean after you turn. Well I suggest you pick a strong bird. That will be an extremely long journey for such a small thing."

"Small?" I scoff. "I won't be a small bird. I'll be a phoenix. With strong wings of fire, and claws as sharp a scythe."

"There hasn't been a phoenix in the Enchanted forest in over 100 years. There are no more."

"Well there will be one. Me." I walk towards the very edge, feeling the wind blow my hair. The howling winds are like a siren calling my name, telling me to fall. To fly, like I'm meant to. I have nothing here for me anymore.

"That sounds like a very lonely life. Being the only one of something." He says inching his way closer to me.

"I'm the only Regina am I not?" I argue.

"Yes but that doesn't mean you have to be alone." He is only a few feet away from me.

"Please like you'd know anything about being lonely."

"As a matter a fact I do Gina." He keeps moving closer to me. And I can't figure out why. Until I shift and his arms jet out as if to grab me. He thinks I'm going to jump. The realization only ticks me off more.

"Please. You know nothing about how I feel." I bite at him.

"What does that mean? Everyone feel lonely Gina. They only was to stave off the loneliness is to find your true love."

Yeah, true love. I close my eyes at the image of Marian falling asleep tonight with a glad smile on her face. "Well, come tomorrow you'll never have to worry."

"I'm starting to wonder." He says. His arm still hanging, ready to reach out.

"Oh hush. Like you'd ever be endanger of being lonely. Everyone love you Robin Hood."

"Do you think no one will love you Gina?" He asks sincerely. He must feel sorry for me. I don't want his pity. I don't want anyone to feel bad for me. "What use does a phoenix have for love?" I walk past him, the wind kicks up and I can't help but unbraiding my hair and let it flow freely. I spin around slowly in place. Unlike the other women, I prefer to wear comfy pants instead of a night dress. But I do enjoy getting dressed up. I have dresses, a few of which were my mothers, and some of her hair combs.

I stop spinning and look at Robin. His eyes are fixated on my face, that strange look on his face again. I tur my head slightly and the movement snaps him out of his stare. "Do you remember when we used to play Fairy Ring?"

I laugh. How could I forget? The children of the village would pretend to be caught in a fairy ring, where the only way to get out was to dance around until you fall down dead. The one who went the longest was the winner.

"Of course I remember. After all, I always won."

"I always let you win." He teases.

"You did not."

"Yes I did. I would lose just to watch you continue to dance."

I can feel a blush creep up on my face, hopefully he can't see it with the low light. I turn away just in case.

"Why don't you want to get married?" He asks out of nowhere. "I mean, you are avoiding going home."

I shrug. "Maybe I'm tired of waiting around." His brows furrow in confusion. "I mean, women sit around waiting around for men to come sweep them off their feet."

"Well I think it's the asking part that is the hardest. Women get to choose to except or not."

"Well maybe women want to ask for once."

"Do you?" The glow from the moon cast a shadow across his face. My eyes have adjusted to the darkness and I can make out the blue of his eyes. But it's different tonight, not as vibrant. But it does nothing to diminish his gorgeous features. I follow the line of his nose down to his lips. I imagine him pulling him to me and smashing his lips against mine that they are be soft, and warm against mine. His arms would wrap around my waist pulling me to him. The image changes to him lifting me off the ground and caring me to meadow right next to his house under the large oak tree we use to climb seeing who could get higher. He lay me down on the soft grass, his lips never leaving mine. I bit my lip at the image my cheeks burn with a blush.

"Do I what?" I clear my throat, and lift my gaze back to his eyes, hoping I sound normal. He steps closer till he is only a breath away.

Here I was talking with someone I could consider my best friend, have such thoughts. I remember last summer when I had come around the corner to his house, he had been chopping wood most of the day. He took a bucket of water sitting at his feet, and poured it over his head. The water dripped down his broad chest. I follow one of the droplets of water that leads down to his Adonis belt. His pant line absorbs the water and I avert my eyes before they can travel lower.

I take a deep breath to calm my haywire nerves. I glance back at his lips, and his tongue peaks out and licks them. Whether it was intentional or not it does nothing to sooth this heat building in my stomach. There is only a few inches of space between us. I lean forward a bit, just wanting to fill his lips against mine, just one kiss. He's a good four inches taller than me so he would have to bend down.

But he doesn't. He pulls away and my heart feels like someone has ripped it out of my chest, and crushed it into dust. Stupid girl. Why would you do that? You know it's not you he wants. A voice that sounds just like Nottingham screams in my head. I fall back on my feet, lowering my head. My hear falls over my face, hiding the mortification on my face. In the distance, an owl howls a sorrowful noise that could be straight from my heart.

"Is there someone you want to ask to marry Gina?"

My heart hardens and grows cold. How can he be so cruel and ask that? I clutch my fist to not punch him. "I told you, I'm going to be a phoenix. Cast a shadow over the land, cross every sea, set fires and scare kings."

"I never knew you wanted to see the world." His says in a hushed voice.

I don't. "Well maybe I should just let you read my Diary so you know every little thing about me."

"Okay fairy." He says lightly with a smile, but it doesn't reach his eyes. If possible they have lost even more light than before. "Say you can turn into a phoenix, and I'm sure you can. Who am I to doubt you powers? But you still have your whole life to live first. What about that?"

What life? Living a lonely existence with no one but myself?

"Who says I want to wait. I could change right now. Have you ever thought that maybe I'm tired of being human?"

"Tired of being..?" He asked confused. "Gina, exactly what are you talking about?"

I didn't mean it. Did I? No of course not. I would never lay down my life and my human body simply because a man didn't love me. I may be a fool, but never one that would throw everything away. I will just have to push through it. It may be a lonely, miserable life watching Robin and Marian every day for the rest of my life. But I will have my day to fly eventually.

But I refuse to have his pity. To have him look down on me while his phantom is out settling his future.

"Why not? It's my life after all. And why should you care. You have a bright future ahead of you. Don't worry about me. Go enjoy your life Robin Hood."

I run off, hot tears well up in my eyes. My heart pounds in my ears as I run. I can hear the owl cry out sounding just a sad as I feel.