The sky was grey with smog and the wispy fingers of clouds that muted the sun and washed the streets of New York with an everlasting grunge. Towering skyscrapers loomed overhead and an endless sea of fluorescent lights and neon kept watch over the teeming expanse of humanity. Robin moved with the tide of people, one hand firmly wrapped around Roland's small digits and the other resting obediently in Marian's, keeping them both close to his side as they gawked in awe at the stone and steel structures. He might have been impressed and dazzled as well, were his mind not far away, pining for the familiar forest of home and a painfully beautiful face. He stopped, freed his hand from his wife's, and rubbed at his face. No, none of that. He could not think of her. They had made their choices and wishing for the past would only make him suffer, which he knew she would not want. He had to try to be happy.

His son tugging on his sleeve brought Robin out of his thoughts and he smiled down at the boy. "What is it, Roland?"

"Papa, I'm hungry."

"Well, then, let's get something to eat. How's a hot dog sound?" The boy nodded enthusiastically and Robin led him over to a nearby street vendor, Marian trailing behind. He fished a handful of crumpled bills out of his vest pocket and traded them for three of the mysterious sausages then guided his little family to a bench to enjoy their meal. Father and son dove into the food with gusto, but Marian eyed hers, a grimace on her face. Robin paused in his eating, giving her a quizzical look. "Marian?"

"These aren't made from actual dogs, are they?"

He chuckled before he could stop himself, rubbing her back to cushion the sting of his amusement. "No. No, they're not. It's just what they call them." He gave her hand a squeeze then returned his attention to his food, raising it for another bite. He got it halfway to his mouth when a chill of premonition washed over him and he raised his eyes to sweep the ever-moving crowd, watching for the threat his instincts sensed. At first, nothing caught his attention and he decided to attribute the foreboding to the strangeness of the city, but as his gaze roved back along the shifting faces, his eyes settled on a figure that loomed head and shoulders above the passersby, half hidden in a doorway.

Robin's heart hammered in his chest and his appetite soured as his stomach dropped. He watched for a moment more, confirming his suspicions as another man joined the towering one, then hastily dropped his gaze before his surveillance was noticed. Abandoning his hotdog on the bench, he hefted Roland up and grabbed his wife's hand once more, pulling her to her feet. "Come, Marian. We shouldn't tarry." He tried to keep his voice light, but his eyes kept glancing back to the men, his anxiety lessening only slightly when he saw them move in the opposite direction. Thankfully, his wife still trusted his instincts and followed without fuss, pressing close in response to his urgency.

Brisk strides moved them farther away from the retreating figures, but it was several blocks later before the threat of danger vanished from the air and Robin allowed his family to stop, ushering them into the lobby of one of the city's less luxurious inns. Without a word, he deposited Marian on a couch and handed Roland off to her, moving to peer out the window as he produced the magic talking device she had given him not so long ago. His thumb mashed the button he had pressed so many times before and he raised the phone to his ear, willing the feeling of dread that had taken root in his belly to disappear. "Pick up," he muttered to the air, his bad feeling growing as the line continued to ring. "Pick up." More ringing answered his earnest and he was about to start over when the line clicked and her voice met his ear.

"What seems to be the problem?"

"Regina."

…

"Robin."

-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-:-

Regina sat on the park bench, bouncing Prince Neal on her knee while the royal bundle of joy gurgled happily. Exactly how she had gained possession of the baby was beyond her, but it warmed a part of her blackened heart that the Charmings had reached a point where they trusted her with something so precious to them. True, they were still hovering protectively, but at least they were being halfway discreet about it. She suspected Henry was the cause of their recent goodwill, but whatever the reason, she appreciated the gesture. Not that she would ever admit that, or that holding the sickeningly sweet little prince brought her some comfort that was hard to find now that she had lost Robin.

There was a burning sensation in her eye and she raised a hand to swipe at it idly, refusing to admit it had been caused by a tear. After all, she was an adult and had made an adult choice. The right choice, too, as the Charming brood kept reminding her. Besides which, she was the evil queen; she was used to heartbreak. At least, that's what she told herself to get through each day. Regardless of whatever the truth was, however, pining after Robin Smells-like-forest would help nothing and there were better ways she could waste her time.

Her cell phone ringing startled her and she patted her pockets in exasperation. There was only one person in Storybrooke that would willingly talk with her who wasn't currently in her line of sight. Emma; the one person who, without fail, always found some way to disrupt her contentment. Tucking her step-grandson against her shoulder, she fished the phone out and pressed the accept button automatically, pressing it against her ear. "What seems to be the problem?" she bit out, her tone harsher than it needed to be.

There was a beat of silence, broken swiftly by her name being spoken, and she nearly dropped the phone in shock. For a moment, she mimed a hooked fish, staring blankly and moving her mouth to words that would not come before she found her voice. "Robin." She took a deep breath, handing Neal over to his mother as Mary Margaret swooped in to release her to her privacy, and moved away from the others. What was he doing calling her? Didn't he realize how much it hurt just hearing his voice and knowing he was so far away and forever out of her reach? "You can't do this, Robin. You can't just call me up whenever you feel like it. We're over, remember?" She paused, blinking away another attack of burning eyes and releasing a shaky breath. "I can't keep having my heart broken, Robin."

There was a weighty silence, Regina could almost hear everything Robin wanted to say, and she honestly did not know if she was relieved or disappointed that he did not. "I know, Regina, but…that's not why I've called. I had to warn you."

"Warn me? Warn me of what?" There was disbelief in her tone that made her want to kick herself. Robin was an honest man…for a thief…and she knew in her heart that he spoke truly, but that did not stop her same heart from wanting this to be an elaborate excuse, that he missed her as much as she missed him. "Is it about Rumpelstiltskin, because you don't have to worry? He can't get through that ice princess's barrier, remember?"

"No. This news is not about the Dark One. I'm afraid it's far, far worse."

That got her attention and she hunched away from the Charmings, lowering her voice. "Worse? What could be worse than the Dark One?" Even through the miles and radio waves, Regina could feel Robin's hesitation, could see in her mind's eye the way his shoulders would be tensed up and for the first time, she detected the note of fear in his tone that he had tried to hide. "Robin?"

"Regina…I've seen the Grimms."