Authors note: My plan was to wait until ending On The Face Of It before I posted this, but when I get an idea I just want to post it immediately. Episode 3x12 (which was pretty amazing, by the way) gave me the inspiration for another story. This time an Outlaw Queen! Hope you enjoy it.
...
~ The Enchanted Forest, Past. ~
Regina mentally scoffed at Snow's notion. Cute? Seriously. Sure the thief was... attractive, but Regina guessed it was just a simple urge, she just hadn't in so long. Not since Graham died- or was killed, so to say. "He smells like forest!" It was the quickest excuse to end this conversation. She didn't want to talk boys with Snow for gods sake, and since when did the younger brunette think that she could? They weren't family and certainly not friends.
"Oh come on, Regina. Most people here do. It's not like they have a shower around here or something."
Regina sighed and rolled her eyes. Snow was starting to annoy her and the grin on her face was causing anger to swell in Regina's chest. Which already hurt seeing that she had first ripped out, and then returned her own heart. Yet another thing that was Snow's fault. If the princess would've just stayed with her prince for awhile, Regina wouldn't be walking around with an aching heart. No, that black heart would've been safely buried in the cold dirt, right where it belonged. It angered Regina immensely that Snow had pulled the Henry-card so she could get what she wanted.
Her injured hand- which stung like a bitch by the way, stupid flying things- subconsciously moved to the place her heart was now again beating. It had just felt so... relieving. All that pain that she had felt just... went away. Or at least decreased.
And yet, Snow had convinced her to put it back.
Dammit.
Just like the brunette had convinced Regina to share her castle with all of these peasants. And then that idiot prince also claimed that it always had been Snow's castle anyways! The nerve! They didn't know what she had to do for the title and the castle, both of which she never wanted in the first place.
Speaking about her castle. They were almost there.
There were mixed feelings about going back. Well, for Regina at least. On one side she hated going back, seeing that that place had been her prison for about eight years. But on the other side, it had been the place she had always called home, after she had gotten rid of that bastard Leopold of course.
But right now negative overshadowed the positive. Because Henry wasn't with her. Her son who didn't even remember she was his mother.
Regina had just started to sink back in her depressive thoughts, when a loud yell sounded through the company.
"We're here!"
Of course it had been one of the dwarfs, Regina thought as she rolled her eyes. Probably that Grumpy.
Fools...
Regina stopped walking as she looked out of the clearing. The castle was still proudly standing in the distance. She looked around her and noticed that she remembered this road. It had been the one she had used to try - and failed, thanks to her mother - to escape. Her mother had used a vicious protection spell. One Regina had immediately shut down the moment she had learned enough magic to do so. She didn't like to feel trapped.
Regina narrowed her eyes when she saw a small glimmer appear in the sky, she cautiously took a step towards and slowly reached out her hand. The moment her skin connected with what Regina expected was a protection barrier, the invisible shield turned a smokey green.
"What is that?" Snow asked in confusion from somewhere behind Regina.
"A protection barrier." Regina snapped back, angry that someone had invaded her castle.
"Well you put it up, so take it down."
Regina loudly sighed at Charming's ignorance. "Really dear, if it was mine I would've been halfway home by now." She said sarcastically.
"So it's not yours?" Charming asked.
"That what I just said, dear."
"Regina!" Snow scolded but quickly shrinked back when Regina snapped around with coal black eyes, sizzeling with anger.
"You do not get to scold me like I'm some child, Snow White! Let's get this perfectly clear. If I remember, I'm the forced mother!"
Robin looked at the two women and could practically see the hate between them flowing. He decided to quickly interrupted before this could escalate in an actual physical fight instead of just a fight with words. And to be honest, he also did it to protect the Princess, he had seen the Queen do magic and he had to say, it looked powerful and deadly.
Another thing that was unexplainable sexy about the dark woman whose name felt like velvet when he said it. Regina...
"Can you take it down, Your Majesty?"
Regina's eyes flickered off Snow, instead she looked at him. "No, not without exactly knowing what spell has been used."
"Okay then, well me and the Marry Men have a safe haven a couple of miles ahead. There's enough food and sleeping space for everyone. We can stay there until the Queen has found a solution to this minor problem." He offered.
"No!" Regina demanded. "I need to know who has hijacked my castle. I will not have some lowlife peasant eat my porridge and sit in my goddamn chair!"
"Regina we can't just storm into the castle, you said it yourself."
Snow again. Always the damn voice of reason.
"Let's get a good night's rest first, Milady. I'm sure you'll be able to solve this after you've rested." Robin offered again. "And after I've cleaned your wound." He didn't really know why he offered that, she had been a vixen to him all day. But yet he found her very irresistible.
"It's fine, I can heal it with magic once I'm rested and my powers have rejuvenated." Regina was confused by his gesture. What that - was that dissapointment in his eyes?
"Oh, of course." Robin said, trying to hide the dissapointment. But by the way Regina was watching him with curious eyes, he knew he wasn't doing a really good job. "Follow me then, we have to go up south."
Regina sighed as she figured it would be best to just forget about it. The group started moving again and Regina slowly followed, making sure she wasn't too much between the people. Her feet were already hurting from the long - and apparently useless journey to her castle and Regina mentally groaned in discomfort.
Why the hell did all her outfits come with at least four inch heels?
...
~ Storybrooke, Present. ~
It was so weird for Emma. It was like there were two different identities in her head. At one side she knew that all her memories with Henry were fake, but on the other side they felt so real. Oh god, was it bad that she was now wishing she had never drunk that stupid potion?
Hook was sitting next to her in the beat up yellow bug she still owned and Henry was asleep in the backseat, softly snoring as his head rested against the window. How that could be comfortable, Emma had absolutely no idea.
"So, what do you mean when you say my parents are in danger?" Emma asked softly, trying to kill time. They were almost at Storybrooke. Another ten, fifteen minutes or so. Twenty tops.
"Ai, love. Not only your parents, but all the inhabitants of the Enchanted Forest were cursed again, back to Storybrooke." Hook answered as he grabbed a tissue from the glove compartment and started cleaning his hook.
Emma mentally rolled her eyes. The man was still very fond of the metal thing, replacing his hand. Almost scary so.
"But you're not?"
"Nope." He answered shortly as he brought his hook to his mouth and breathed on it, causing fog to spread over the cold metal. "I was not, as you can see." He said as he used to tissue to wipe it clean again.
"Why?" Emma questioned as she checked her speed.
"Well you see, love. The moment we all got back in the Enchanted Forest, I cut myself off from the group and went in search for my baby."
"Your baby?"
"My Jolly Roger of course." Hook answered as if it was the most obvious thing in the world. "So eventually after a couple of months, I found her in an abondoned harbor, somewhere east from Nothingham. A very strange place, if you ask me." Hook said with a grin, but the unamused look on Emma's face told him that she didn't find it that funny. "Anyway, I went into a small town and bargained my way to a magic bean. My plan was to go back to Neverland, seeing that that is my home. But as you can see, it went a little astray. I suspect that sleezy salesman had something to do with it."
"Alright, so answer me this; why are they all cursed again and by who? Was it Regina again?"
Hook chuckled as he shook his head. "No it was not the Evil Queen this time, I can assure you that. But I can't tell you who cursed them, nor can I tell you why. I only know that I got a potion from the Blue Fairy, who told me to find you so you could free us all."
"What did the curse do exactly, Hook? Did it wipe everyone's memory again, like last time?" Emma asked.
"No, that's the strange thing, everyone remembers everything. No one knows what the curse actually did."
Emma nodded even though she was still looking very confused. Her eyes shifted to the rearview mirror. Henry was still deeply asleep, he had not even woken up slightly by their conversation.
"Well, here we are love." Hook said as he pointed at the 'welcome to Storybrooke' sign. He crumbled the tissue in his left hand and pushed it in the pocket of his infamous black leather coat.
"Ready to meet your family again?"
...
~ The Enchanted Forest, Past. ~
Regina could moan in relief as she dropped down on an abondoned log, somewhere on the outskirts of the small safe haven. The moment her weight was from her feet, she felt the blood starting to flow again. Her brown eyes observantly searched her surroundings. The safe haven was small, but big enough for them, just like Robin had said.
There were several tents made of what Regina guessed was chimera skin.
If Henry could see this he would be so impressed.
Henry...
She had been away from him almost a whole day, the longest ever. Her heart was aching just as much as it did this morning. It was like someone had stabbed a knife in it and was continually twisting it. Over and over again. Her hands brushed against the rough bark of the log she was sitting on. It was very uncomfortable in comparison to the chairs back at her mansion, or even her office chair at Town Hall for that matter. It was sticking through her black leather pants and into her behind.
Regina could only pray the beds were better. But she could already guess there probably weren't even things similar to beds. She sighed aloud as she pulled her hands into her lap and stared out into the dark forest. The sun was beginning to go under.
Regina's peace was interrupted by a sudden trampling sound somewhere from her right. Her head snapped to the direction the sound was coming from. It couldn't be someone from from the group, seeing that they were all still standing there about ten feet away. Maybe a wild animal, or another one of those flying things. And that would be bad seeing that Regina's magic wasn't completely back yet.
"Hello!"
Regina shrieked when she heard a voice suddenly from behind her. Her hand reached for her heart as she almost fell of the log she was sitting on. She jumped up, ready to attack if she deemed necessary.
But it was not some animal, or a flying thing. It was a little boy who seemed to be about four years old.
Regina's heart melted at the sight, he reminded her so much of Henry.
"I'm Roland!" He told her with a big grin as he sat down on the log and tapped the place she just had been sitting. "Who are you?"
Regina shot him a watery smile as she slowly took a seat next to the boy. "Hello, Roland. It's nice to meet you, I'm Regina."
The little boy chuckled as he reached a hand out towards her. Regina's first instinct was to pull back, but something in the boy's big brown eyes made her stay put.
"You're pretty." He said with a toothy grin as he stroked the fabric of her cape with his small hand.
"Thank you." Regina answered with small smile. "You're quite handsome yourself." She said with a wink, which caused the boy to let out a joyful giggle. It was so easy, slipping back in the maternal role. Maybe if she could just pretend for a few minute, it wouldn't hurt anyone, right?
"I like you!" Roland grinned.
That's a first, Regina thought grimly but she put on a smile for the boy. "I like you too, Roland."
"Ah, I see you found our Queen."
Regina's head snapped back when she heard Robin's voice from behind her. Our Queen?
"Daddy!" The boy jumped immediatly as he ran towards his father who swooped him up in one go.
"Hello there my little man." Robin grinned as he placed a sloppy kiss on Roland's cheek. "What are you doing here on the outskirts of our camp? You know you're not supposed to come this close to the forest."
Roland's cheeks turned red. "I'm sorry, daddy. But I saw Regina and I thought she was very pretty and nice!"
"So you get the privilege to call the Queen by her name?" Robin asked in mock jealousy.
"She's a Queen?" Roland asked in shock and turned to Regina. "You're a Queen?"
Regina couldn't help but smile at the pair. "Yes I am."
"And I'm the only one who can call you by your name? Not even daddy?!" He asked in wonder.
Regina chuckled softly. "You're the only one, Roland. "
"Did you hear that daddy!" Roland yelled with joy as he turned to his father. "I'm the only one who can call her Regina!"
"That's quite an honor, little man." Robin said with a grin. Quite an honor indeed.
...
~ Storybrooke, Present. ~
Emma looked in amazement as she parked her car on the side of Main Street. Everything, but really absolutely everything looked the same. Though there was something quiete off in the air.
The streets were abandoned when Emma and Hook both got out off the car. Which was to expect seeing that it was already almost ten PM.
"So Swan, how does it feel to be back?" Hook asked as he leaned his back against her yellow bug.
"Weird, but also slightly...familiar." Emma's eyes immediately recognized the apparment that used to be her home. Mary Margaret's apartment.
"Where are you going, Swan?" Hook asked as he saw Emma starting to walk away.
"I'm going to see my parents, make sure Henry stays safe and preferably asleep." She said over her shoulder as her steps quickened.
The stairs were still creaking, just like they used to do. The fourth step more then the others.
Emma stood still in front of the door for just a second before finally mustering up the courage to knock.
The door was slowly opened as it revealed her father.
"Emma." David whispered in wonder as he looked at the daughter he was sure he would never see again. "Is that- is that really you?"
Emma could only nod as tears started to form in her green eyes. "Yes it's really me, dad."
"Oh my little girl." David said as he pulled Emma into his arms. "It's really you, I thought I would never see you again."
"Well, to be honest." Emma said as she pulled out of the embrace and wiped the tears from her cheeks. "I thought I would never see you again, either."
"Emma?" Another voice sounded from behind her father and Emma registered it immediately as her mother's. David stepped out of way so Emma could walk passed him.
The blonde took the first opportunity she got to wrap her arms around her mother's body. "Mom." She whimpered softly as she felt Snow's arms tightening around her.
"It's alright, baby girl." Snow said softly as she beckoned David to shut the door and joing their hug.
That's how the next five or so minutes were spent. The three Charming's eventually pulled apart, all with tears in their eyes.
"Why? How? Since when are you guys back?"
"We've been back for little over a month, darling." Snow answered. "We don't know why, or how. All I know it that we spent a year in the Enchanted Forest, and then one day, we woke up here again."
"And you can't leave?"
David sadly shook his head."No, we can't."
"Where's Henry?" Snow asked softly as she noticed the absence of her grandson.
Emma shook her head. "He doesn't remember, Hook only had enough potion for one person."
"Hook?" Snow asked in surprise. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Emma? How is it that you remember? Regina put a very powerful spell on you." David asked suspiciously as he furrowed his eyebrows.
"Ehm, you didn't know?" Emma asked. "Hook gave me a potion he got from the Blue Fairy."
Snow looked at her husband with a confuse. look. "Why didn't Blue tell us?"
"I don't know." David said with a sigh as he rubbed his neck with his hand. "Maybe we could ask her tomorrow, after we get a good night's rest."
"Yeah about that." Emma started. "Seeing that Henry doesn't remember and thinks I'm here for a case, we'll go stay at Granny's. At least that is if Granny won't start asking too much questions."
"Granny is very discreet, Emma. I'm sure she won't ask questions." Snow said with a smile. "Will we see you tomorrow again?"
"Yeah." Emma nodded. "After I've gone and see Regina. I need some answers."
"Yes, about that..." Snow started. "You might be surprised."
"What? Why?" Emma asked confused.
"I think you need to see it to believe it." David added.
...
It was nine AM when Emma stepped out off Granny's bed and breakfast, freshly showered. She had tried to wake up Henry, but he had groaned for her to go away and let him sleep. So Emma had left him to do exactly that. It would probably be best to stop by Regina's alone, first.
She stepped inside her bug and drove towards the mansion she had been to more times then she could count. It was still as white and intimidating as it had always been.
Emma's boots crunched as she made her way down the pathway and stopped just in front of the white door. The golden '108' was glistening in the morning sun. Her knuckles knocked on the door exactly three times and Emma was actually a little anxious to come face to face with the former Queen again.
And it surprised her when she didn't.
The door wasn't opened by the dark haired woman. No instead it was opened by a handsome looking man. Surprised was putting it mildly as Emma openly gawked at him.
"Hello?" He slowly asked in an accent that sounded a little bit British.
"Hi- ehm- hi, I'm Emma Swan. I came here to talk to Regina."
The man nodded with a smile as he turned around. "Regina, honey? There's someone at the door for you."
Emma was again surprised when she heard the man call Regina 'honey'. Maybe she was at the wrong address. Why didn't she ask her mother first before she came here?
"What is it Robin?" Came from inside the house and Emma instantly knew she wasn't wrong. She could recognize that sultry voice anywhere.
But what she could not recognize was the woman herself. Emma was sure her jaw was about to hit the ground as she stared at the former Queen in shock. Regina was carrying a little boy who seemed to be four or five years old, on her hip. But that was not the thing that shocked Emma the most.
No, the thing that shocked her most was Regina's round and seemingly four months pregnant stomach.
"Emma?" Regina whispered in shock as she finally caught sight of the blonde.
...
I just had to use the line with the porridge, it was too amazing not to.
Anyway, whole memory wiping thing just didn't fit my story, so I left that out and the Snowing baby, nah an Outlaw Queen baby is way more fun and dramatic! So did you guys like it? Please leave a review! ;)