So this is my first story that's not Charmed related and first published outlaw queen story. Basically it's an AU set during "Witch Hunt" which is where most of the dialogue comes from. I own nothing. If there is a demand then I may turn this into a full story, I do have the idea for it. So tell me what you think and if I should continue this. Set during the Missing Year as you will see.

Regina was making a trip to her castle, the very one that her sister had taken over and wanted to go alone. Snow and Charming protested the trip saying how it was too dangerous but she didn't listen to them. Robin volunteered to go with and surprising she allowed for him to accompany her, but only him no one else and that put the prince and princess at ease. He wondered if she genuinely wanted him there or accepted his offer to shut the Charmings up. Either way it had been settled, they would be leaving in the morning. Regina stood, gave him a snippy comment - the kind that usually started a mini bickering match between the two - but left before Robin could reply. He stood to follow her, not about to allow her to have the last word, but was held back by a gentle tug on his arm from Snow White. There was a look in the princess' eyes that he understood as "Regina needs time" for what he wasn't sure but he simply nodded and headed back to his place in the merry men's camp that had been set not too far from the castle's walls.

In the morning he kissed his son goodbye promising he would be home soon safely and that the boy was to listen to whatever Little John had asked. And his small dimpled smile nodded in understanding. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Snow and Charming saying their goodbyes to Regina. It looked like both woman were holding back tears. Something that shocked the hooded thief having known of the stories of how The Evil Queen wanted Snow's head. Maybe this other land has changed them somehow.

But within a blink of an eye, the poise and composure he associated with the Regal had returned and already she turned sharply towards him.

"What are you starring at thief?" Her voice cut through him. He knew she used that tone to enact fear in her subjects but to him it instead sent shivers down his spine. He was aroused by it for whatever odd reason and decided that she could boss him like that right into bed…

He cleared his thoughts realizing he still had yet to speak and was still gaping at her. Her hand was on her hip, her impatience evident on her face and it took all that he had in him not to kiss it all away.

He was shocked at himself for the thoughts crossing his head. He had no idea where his thoughts of desiring her had come from. Sure she was one of the most stunning women he'd ever encountered but she was the Queen and he was a thief certainly someone who would never have an actual chance with her. But he surmised didn't mean he couldn't dream.

He closed his mouth as he thought about what he was going to say. "I was looking at you to see if you were ready to leave milady." He knew she hated that name, wanting him to call her "her majesty" and even if she was the queen, somehow that just didn't fit for her. She sneered and said nothing as she turned away.

Quickly he followed her. He's seen her walk before but it still always surprised him at how fast she could walk even in the dresses that looked like they weighed 30 pounds, but yet she still walked quickly and with elegance only a queen could possess. Of course he was captivated by her but again he could never be good enough for her.

The walk to the castle would take less than a day but he was grateful that he got to spend time with her. He wondered what was so important that she wanted to risk her own life to retrieve it but he'd still never ask assuming it was something that would get rid of the Wicked Witch. They walked mostly in silence, the need for small talk didn't intrigue either of them. Oddly enough the silence between them was comfortable. Occasionally they talked a little bit to help the time pass by. Stories of their childhoods but nothing too deep before they returned to the silence.

When they arrived at the castle both Robin and Regina were on guard looking out for any more of the Wicked Witch's flying beasts. Luckily the only one encountered was easily killed by her. They then snuck in to the castle.

The castle was gorgeous but he had known that. Not that he'd ever been here but the tales he had heard about the castle illustrated its beauty. Besides it once belonged to Regina. He highly doubted that the queen would have settled for anything but extravagant.

He followed as she made her way through the most secretive of passages even ones that thieves couldn't imagine existed and before long they were in her chambers. Again he was on guard for a certain green witch as per her request. She opened a box on her dressing table.

"What is that?" He asked when he looked back at her.

"Nothing that concerns you." She didn't look at him focusing on the contents of the box.

He walked closer, reaching for an arrow, ready to try and fight her if she attacked him first. He had meant what he had said before walking into the vault that he hadn't wanted Roland to lose his father too and he automatically had to put his guard up against her to protect himself from her just in case. He aimed it at her, not wanting to shoot but needing answers. She hadn't seemed to notice still busy looking for something in the black box.

"I won't ask you again. What is that?" His questions finally forced her to turn and look at him. He was steady not about to give in to her harsh look.

"How dare you threaten me in my own castle!" She rang out, her voice echoing the halls of the large room before she instantly placed him in a magical choke hold causing him to stumble back slightly.

"Even if you choke the life out of me this arrow will still leave my bow and trust me I never miss. Now what manner of dark potion are you making?" He chocked out still trying to keep his arm steady. He hides his fear. He has to be strong for Roland. Luckily she lets him go with a huff before any damage is done. He catches his breath not dropping his bow

"A sleeping curse." Her harsh tone has disappeared as she turns away from him and gets back to her potion.

He finally drops his bow when her back is to him again. "The kind you used on Snow White?"

"That spell came from Maleficent. I finally learned how to make one of my own." She adds more to her potion.

"This spell. This is why you wanted to come to the castle." It's more of a statement than a question. She pays him no attention as she keeps mixing the concoction.

"Ingredients like these are hard to come by. Especially when you have Snow White breathing down your neck every second of the day." He frowns at her, not quite sure what to make of this.

"That was your plan? To use it on the witch?" At least if that was the case he could support her mission to come here in the first place.

"The witch? I don't care about her." His eyes never leave her as her potion seems to be finished and Robin feels betrayed and is angry she made this trek in the first place.

"Then who do you plan to use it on?" A million different people cross his mind as he tries not to think about them. No need to fear or worry just yet.

"Don't worry. No one you'll miss." She turns towards him briefly before she's sitting down, reaching for a pin in her beautiful raven-colored hair. "No one anyone will miss." Her voice is soft and he barely hears it. It's then that it dawns on him who the next victim of this sleeping curse will be. Herself.

"This is about your son isn't it?" He begins to walk towards her. He's trying so desperately to stop her from making this huge mistake. He's well aware of the fact that she has no true love here to break her from this curse, and he knows so is she. Meaning that the Evil Queen will be forced to spend all of eternity asleep and he can't allow that. "I can't let you do this." His blue eyes pleading, hoping he can change her mind.

"It's a good thing you don't have a say in the matter." She replies softy still not looking up from her potion until she senses that he's moved towards her and she freezes his feet. He struggles to break free even though he knows it's frivolous.

"I know how you feel, Regina." He tries once more scared for her wellbeing. This isn't the best way to handle her emotions and he wants her to understand that. She simply twirls the pin in her hand her eyes not leaving it.

"I doubt that." And before he can say anything else she sticks herself with the pin.

He unfreezes the second that her eyes close and he's able to catch her before she falls out of the chair. He shakes her desperately, but it's too late.

Regina Mills, the Evil Queen is lost to the world for forever.