Free- An OutlawQueen AU set in the real world.

A/N: Mention of domestic abuse. Regina's character will become more like her sassy self as the fanfiction progresses. Hope you like it my new story 'Free.' I am only 14 so any constructive criticism would really help. Thanks!-Amy xoxo

Chapter 1

He stood outside the house, all lights were off. Even the street was dark, only lit by the faint flickering of a streetlamp a few houses down. He took a deep breath and examined the door one last time. With an unfolded paper clip clenched in his palm the man waked up to the wooden handle and pried away at the lock.

It's all about the tumblers, Robin told himself and it didn't take long before the satisfying 'click' indicated he had succeeded. He pushed the door open and stepped inside the empty house, searching for valuables he could steal. He teetered into the front room even though he knew the house was empty. His eyes trailed over to the desk and pulled open the top draw and his eyes widened. Watches. All different designer watches.

Yes, he thought to himself, I can sell these. I won't let Roland go another birthday without a present. The man had told himself he was stealing not for his benefit but for his sons. Stealing from the rich to give to the poor. He knew what he was doing was wrong, but what was worse was the fact that his son could receive a better gift from his next door neighbour this year than his own father. Robin didn't even know whether had fits the criteria of being a father any more. He works all day in some shitty pub trying to scrape tips to provide for his 5 year old son. Roland spends his after schools at the next door neighbors who probably take care of him out of pity, but who wouldn't fall in love with his sons little dimples and brown curls. Robin knows he doesn't spend enough time with Roland- only really seeing him at night to tuck him in and read him a fairy-tale, before he's out the house looking for things to thieve and house to rob. Once before he saw his father sneak out of the house and in the morning told him:

"Daddy, I saw you leave the house last night." Robin nearly spat his coffee out of his mouth, but his son carried on to ease his worries,

"You were saving a princess, I saw you. You had a hood and a sword." Robin smiled at how proud his son looked. The 'hood' he was referring to was a balaclava and the 'sword' was a baseball bat. Robin bent down to his sons height,

"You are such a clever little boy."

"Well, where is she?"

"She was waiting for a different prince, my boy."

"I think you're the best Prince, daddy." And Robin smiled at his son who was filled with so much hope, oblivious to real life, and how his father was nothing like a prince in the story, but the common thief.

Robin had been watching this particular house (or should I say mansion) owners for a few weeks now, knowing they would have the best riches, knowing they wouldn't miss them. It belonged to Leopold Blanchard, mayor of the town, who had a reputation of owning prized possessions: watches, suits and even his new wife was known as the fairest of them all. Robin had never seen Regina before but now, being in her house, he couldn't take his eyes off the family portrait that hung above the fireplace. Leopold with his arms around two woman. If it wasn't for the 'Mayoress' badge Robin wouldn't have been able to tell which was the wife and which was the daughter for they looked only years apart. Both of them were truly beautiful, with fair skin and jet black hair but his eyes stayed glued on Regina, the only one who wasn't smiling. Looking deeper around the room he noticed that Regina wasn't smiling in any of the photos. She doesn't appreciate what she has, Robin thought confirming his thoughts against the wealthy. Shaking away his thoughts he headed back to the door, but the sound of rattling keys made him jump back.

Shit, this can't be happening.

Robin retreated back into the front room and further into the house into a room he figured was the kitchen. The door opened just as Robin's shadow was out of sight.

Regina watched her husband fiddle with his keys, and wrapped her arms around herself to try and keep warm on this cold night. The street lamps were flickering and she had mentioned to Leo about fixing them for safety, but his response was: "You don't know what you're talking about, woman. I know how to run this town, you have nothing to do with it." Apparently being 'nothing' still means you have to be dragged along to business meals, and sit there saying your thoughts on how to improve their town. That's where they had just come from tonight. The business deal hadn't been a success. Leo was hoping to do something with Mayor Minus which Regina didn't bother to remember, so when questions we directed at her she simply said her own ideas. She realized that was the wrong move and instantly regretted it. Now she would rather be standing in the cold dark street than having to spend the evening with a stressed, angry and overly drunk Leo. The door finally opened and Regina hesitated before she stepped inside and instantly embraced the warmth. She turned the lights on,

"Ah you stupid girl, stop blinding me." Slurred out Leo and Regina ignored him and slouched down on the sofa, kicking off her heels. She started to massage her own feet. She was in for another long night of Leo complaining that she was only goes to business meals for Leo to show her off like a piece of jewelry. But Regina doesn't mind the complaining. Words don't hurt her much now, not now she knows there could be much more pain inflicted than a few insults. Leopold joined her on the couch and started to run his hand up her leg to where her dress ended. Regina shivered at his touch and picked his hand off,

"No, Leo, no." She said and stood up, turning her face away from his creepy seductive smile. She watched that smile turn into a frown as he yanked her arm, slapping her ass as she was pulled next to him again and began to rub her thigh and she squirmed in discomfort.

"Yes. You let me loose that business deal tonight, you need to get back in my good books young lady." He said, his voice sounding like a threat. She tried to pull herself away from the couch but her wrist was trapped in his hand.

"It wasn't my fault you shouted at Minus." She said nervously, her voice small but Leo still heard it. He angled his body so he was looking down at Regina and he shadowed over her. Leopold was far larger than his wife's petite figure and when he grabbed her waist with his hand and tightened his grasp there was no hope of Regina being able to escape.

"You shouldn't have been talking to his son. Don't think I dint see you two talking, I see everything; When are you going to get it into your head. You. Are. Mine." He spat, his face getting closer to Regina's. She tried not to breath in his whiskey breath and as he pressed his lips against hers she tried to scream. But there was no use, his tongue was already down her throat and she closed her eyes, her eyelids acting as flood barriers for if they were to open too many tears would escape. Reluctantly she gave up, letting Leo take control. Again.

Robin wasn't paying attention to the couple's conversation. He was searching the room for an escape route, but he was at a dead end. The only way out was the way he came in.

Shit, Robin.

He peered around the door to see if the mayor and his wife were still there. He had to hold a gasp as he saw a half-naked large man thrusting his hips down on his wife. He could hear them moaning together and was about to turn around to give them privacy when he listened closer. Those weren't moans of pleasure, or moans of heat and lust. Those were moans of pain. He peered his head further around the door and then light was reflecting on the face beneath the mayor. He recognised the face from the portrait: Regina. As he examined her face closer the light showed him the tear stains on her face and the discomforting expression. Robin's eyes widened and as Leo started to thrust more vigorously, Regina confirmed his horrible conclusion,

"Leo, pl-please stop." Robin found his fists clenching together and anger rising inside of him. Leo had his back to him and Robin was sure he wasn't going to be paying attention to him any time soon and Regina once again had her eyes closed. Robin let the hatred take control of his body and he stormed in the room and picked up a nearby candle stick that sat on the desk. He smashed it down on the monsters head and saw his body go limp. Robin dropped the candle stick and it hit the wooden floor boards with a thud. He pulled Leo's body off the sofa and carelessly through him down next to the candle stick. Then reality caught up with him when he saw Regina- eyes still closed- shaking. Her purple pencil dress was hiked up high on her thighs and mascara was running, staining her cheeks black so the blue bruises are almost unseen. Robin turned away, not knowing what to do other than grab a blanket and pass it over to the vulnerable, beautiful woman curled up in a ball on the couch. Her eyes opened and the pools of despair just stared at the blanket. Robin teetered towards her and bent down to her height. He didn't look at her body, or her breasts, he didn't want to feel like another man taking advantage of her. Instead her looked into her eyes and just saw darkness. She had no love, no hope, and no happiness. He wrapped the blanket around her, covering the bruises and she didn't react. Robin stood up and had no clue what to do next. He wanted to ask whether she was okay, but that would be a stupid question. He wanted to say everything will be okay- stupid again.

Think, Robin, think. There is a beautiful, young, vulnerable woman who has just be abused for the I don't want to know time what do I do?

He looked back at Regina who had embraced the blanket and buried her head in it. He could her soft whimpers and he looked down at Leopold who was still on the floor. Disgust rose in his throat.

How could this man do such a thing? The answer was clear, He isn't a man. He's a monster. I hope he dies…

Robin's thoughts came to an abrupt stop as his eyes trailed to where he had stricken Leo. Blood. His head was bleeding, painting the floorboards red.

"Oh shit!" said Robin a bit louder than he intended and touched Leopold's neck. No pulse.

"Shit!" Robin said again.

Regina lifted her head out from the blanket, a bit queasy from her own carbon dioxide that she had been breathing in. Reality hit her like a tidal wave.

There is a man in my front room, she thought as she looked at the man standing a few feet away. He was wearing a brown leather jacket with ripped jeans and his broad shoulders stopped her from seeing anything past him. Then he ducked down and Regina saw it: Blood. Pooling out of her husband's neck.

There is a murderer in in front room, she said to herself, heart pounding. She began to feel queasy again and closed her eyes. Images replayed painfully in her brain.

The meal, Minus' son, Leo shouting, the usual. Then Leo stopped. He fell onto the floor. And a man. A man with green eyes and a distinct smell of outside…like the forest. He stared at her with pity and something else in his eyes and wrapped a blanket around her. The vision ended and her eye sight adjusted to the stranger pacing up and down the room, cursing to the floor and sweat running down his forehead. Regina didn't know what to see this man as:

A thief who broke into her house. A murderer who killed her husband. Or a savior who just rescued her from the beast.

Robin turned around and saw that Regina was sitting upright on the couch. Colour had returned to her face and she had wiped the tears off her cheeks and pulled her hiked dress back to her knees. He stared at her-not trying to intimidate her but to really see her-and gave her a weak wave. She replied with a weak smile. Robin cleared his throat.

"Um, how are you?" He asked and Regina felt her stomach jump at his British accent. She weighed up in her mind how to answer the question. She didn't want to act like a victim, she had spent her life knowing how to put on a face and push emotions aside. Yes, she was hurt but she was used to it. 4 years of being married to Leo, Regina could say she was used to being used. She didn't want to cry any more in front of a man who already pities her. Instead she said what her heart wanted her to say, and she hadn't spoken from the heart in a very long time. Regina took a deep breath and looked up at the British thief,

"I'm free."