Hey all! Wow! Thanks for all the Favourites and Follows. CRAZY! Outlaw Queen is AMAZING!

I (heavily) edited this chapter. As well, I totally forgot to put disclaimers and all that stuff yesterday when I uploaded this. I was just so excited to get something done! Lol

There will be another chapter for this. Hopefully sometime in the next couple of days.

Disclaimer: I don't own the characters or the show OUAT. This is purely for fun and non-profit

Idea for this fic came from a post i-am-captain-magic on Tumblr.

/post/81948796348/outlaw-queen

Chapter 1

Tinker Bell hurried towards Granny's diner, needing to find out more from Regina about her meeting with the man with the lion tattoo, all the while thinking about yesterday's encounter.

'I just know she's keeping something from me. The way those two were looking at each other…I could have grown a third eye and neither of them would have noticed.'

She was in such a rush that she almost ran straight into Robin as he was on his way out.

"Oh! Hello again Robin. Have you seen Regina anywhere?"

Upon hearing her name, Tinker Bell could swear there was a beginning of smile forming on his face.

"No not today I haven't. She's…had a lot to deal with since her altercation with the witch last night."

Robin leans into Tinker Bell and begins to look worried. "Is everything all right? Is there anything I can do?"

'Anything you can do indeed!' thought Tinker Bell.

"No I'll try her house, or maybe the Town Hall," she answered. Of their own accord, her eyes found his tattoo and her expression changed; her face softened and she smiled wistfully to herself. She was thrilled that Regina had finally found him.

Robin followed her gaze which landed on his arms and exclaimed, "What is with women in this town and this tattoo? First Regina can't keep her eyes off of it, and now you." He chuckled at the absurdity of his next question, "Is there something I need to know about it? Is it enchanted or cursed?" He smirked.

Tinker Bell registered the words he said and knows what she should say. Something like 'Of Course not Robin, it's just rare that's all!' or 'Regina has a thing for tattoos' but she couldn't formulate the words. She has always been one to speak the truth and to do what is right, the most direct way possible.

She grabbed him by the arm and led him outside so that they were standing in front of the diner on the patio.

"Robin, I need you to listen to me. Regina…" she paused, she was going to skirt her way around this but now that she was here talking to him, she decided to just get everything out into the open. "Regina has her reasons for being weary in regards to you. You make her uneasy and remind her too much of her past."

Robin was stunned by this revelation. How on earth could he remind her of her past? He only met her a few days ago?

"How is that possible exactly?"

Tinker Bell took in a deep breath, and with all the sincerity she could show, she took Robin by the hand and explained. "I knew Regina long ago, before she cast the curse, before she was the evil queen. I met her when she was a lonely, sad, and isolated young Queen. She confided in me about her fears about her life and her future and I encouraged her to find a new love."

Upon hearing this news Robin interjected with a smirk. "I take it that didn't go over very well with the Queen?"

"Oh no! The complete opposite really. She let me lead her to her soul mate. She wantedto love again, I could see it in her eyes! I stole pixie dust to help with my spell and sure enough it did work, it… led us to her True Love. But…" She paused, unable to meet Robin's ever-intensifying gaze as he was becoming enraptured with the story. "…she left without meeting him. Just left. She could have had happiness. Everything she ever wanted but she was scared. I don't know if she's ever truly gotten over her mistake."

After hearing the story and searching for any other clues or insights into its meaning from Tinker Bell's face, Robin exhaled a deep breath which he hadn't been aware he'd been holding. With a sigh he replied, "Well this explains why she is so reluctant to spend any time with me then. If she couldn't meet her soul mate then why would she even entertain the notion of being with me!"

Tinker Bell's face fell flat at his confession and her heart broke. Robin noticed her reaction; his heart began to speed up, realization beginning to dawn upon him. He began to understand why Tinker Bell felt the need to share this story with him, why she looks like she's doing something wrong but yet is compelled to do so. He cautiously asked his next question even though some part of him already knew the answer. "Tink…who was this man?"

Tinker Bell just stood there and struggled to breathe; the exchange between them had become so tense. She looked up at Robin and his gaze was that of someone who was full of hope and longing, and also as if he was bracing himself for the answer he knew was coming. The intensity of the look on his face became too much that she avoided his stare and she inadvertently let her gaze fall on his arm. She whispered, "The man with the lion tattoo."