AN: This is set in around episode 3x13/14, when everyone is sent back to the enchanted forest as a result of the curse and Regina is strongly grieving for losing Henry and is spending her first night back in her castle in her own bed again.

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters or settings, but I do own this little alternate universe :)

A NOTE TO NEW READERS: This chapter was purely a taster to see if anyone liked the story, and they did! The chapters get progressively longer after this one so don't be put off by the length of this one, each recent one is over 10x this length. Thank and leave a review!

Regina awoke with a start and a strong sense of unease, and sighed as she leaned over to check her phone on her bedside table, before realising where she was,with no phone,son or real home. Not being able to check the time allowed Regina to falsely assure herself that it wasn't late, and the moon still high in the sky told her she still had many hours to lie there,and think. Just before she rolled over to start another weak attempt at sleeping she heard a noise from outside her room. Not loud, but distinctly there,and she held her breath slightly as she noticed a silhouette standing with his back to her in the doorway. "Daniel?" Regina questioned into the dark, before dismissing how ridiculous she was to ever think Daniel would return. However the noise she'd made alerted the shadow,and it stepped into the moonlight to reveal...Robin Hood.

He stood awkwardly,with his bow and arrow occupying his hands as Regina gave him a puzzled look and suddenly felt extremely vulnerable.

"I er, was patrolling and noticed that nobody was guarding your door, I thought that considering you're the Queen you deserved some protection from the Wicked witch" Robin explained.

"And you thought you could defeat her with pointy sticks?"

"Well, I have nothing else.."

"You can go Robin,I don't need protecting"

"Are you sure? I heard you in your sleep, breathing heavily and calling out for a Daniel, who is he may I ask?". Regina ignored Robin's question and decided to ask one of her own,trying to sound confident but her voice instead came out stuttering "You called me the Queen earlier, why not the Evil Queen like everyone else?"

"I believe that you should have the title you deserve, and from my personal experience you don't deserve the title 'evil', maybe just 'misunderstood'" Robin chuckled back. Regina found herself blushing slightly and giggling at this comment and added "We only just met, you must be pretty psychic..."

"So I'm right then?"

"Maybe..."

Here the conversation stopped and after adjusting her pillows Regina slid down and tried to at least look comfortable and relaxed, so that Robin would leave. She felt guilty but truthfully she was concerned for him, he looked tired and had never rested since they met, although she was grieving he had no reason to be sad and didn't want to bring him down with her. Robin however didn't get the hint (and if he did, ignored it) by simply saying "I'll try to not wake you, If you need anything I'm right outside". Regina protested for a few minutes, giving excuses on how he looked tired, that she could use magic to protect herself, but with no luck. Regina finally gave in as a sudden rush of drowsiness hit her mixed with a sense of calm, as she muttered before drifting off "Well good luck fighting flying monkeys...pointy...stick...man". Robin simply smiled at her,glad to she her asleep, and resumed his post.