Author's Note: Hello everyone! :)

This is the first Outlaw Queen story we attempt to write. Yes, we are two (Dami aka GoodSpaghetti and Juli aka freedomqueen).

We wanted to give Regina a second chance at True Love, a second chance to mend the issues she has with her son, and, finally, after a long path of suffering and redemption... may find her happy ending? So... we came up with this! This is a Regina/Robin, Regina/Henry centric story.

We hope you like it and let us know what you think of it. We would really appreciate it :)

Without anything more to say here's the story. ENJOY!

Long way to happy

CHAPTER 1

The night was quiet.

Neverland in its wake, the Jolly Roger sailed through the sky, as easily as though it were the sea. All complications that accursed place had meant to the rescue party were left behind as they traversed, the pale white of the moonlight their only guide amidst the darkness. Surrounding them, grey clouds drifted like spectres, eerie and unnerving.

They had left a defeated Peter Pan behind, and with them, taken those of the Lost Boys willing to desert their past life and–most importantly–their leader behind.

Henry was safe; that was the only thing that really mattered. Revenge… revenge could wait. That was something to be thought of it later, once they were all home.

"Feeling satisfied?" Tinkerbell asked as she approached The Dark One, with not the slightest hint of fear nor intimidation.

Rumplestiltskin just looked at her and did not answer. His attention was focused on one particular person standing on the quarterdeck, far as possible from the others and observing the sky above her, deep in thought. She seemed troubled, and–above all–lonely.

"You taught her well, you know. It's a real pity that you chose anger as her method of finding magic. Like you did to find, better, take yours as well." The fairy stopped alongside him, following his gaze to the not-so-distant Regina. The Dark One did not spare her a glance.

"She could have been happy, you know. She knows that." Disappointment and something akin to pain tinged Tink's voice.

Finally Gold deigned to look intriguingly at the blond-haired woman beside him. This was perhaps the first time he had heard someone talk about Regina in a tender, rather than hateful way. The fairy cared for her, he dared to think.

"Would you ever apologize? Or, at least, would you tell her that after all, you did find your happiness–by sacrificing hers. You'll have to work it out with Bae, but he'll come around. He's a good boy. At least you have someone to go back to." Tink's voice was harsh–trying to make him feel guilty–or so she believed. Recognising that Gold was willing to listen to her, Tink kept talking. This was the moment. "Would you do it, any of it? Did you even care for her? Did you… love her?"

"My apologies would not do her any good, not now. The time for apologies has passed. It was lost a long time ago." Still, his gaze did not waver from Regina. "I did care for her, in my own twisted way. Sadly, I admit; she never is going to be happy again, dearie. Now she is just some Evil Queen trying, struggling I would dare to say, to accept that fact. That will be hard enough for her to handle." He paused suddenly, taking a deep breath. "Having her mentor recognizing all the good she could have done, all the good she could have been would not do her any favours. That would only take her deeper."

"You made her the Evil Queen." Tink snapped, prompting Gold to look at her for the second time during their conversation (even though she was the one doing practically all the talking).

"Perhaps… I just gave her options. She was the one who made the decisions."

"I think we both know better than that, dearie." Tink answered scathingly, mocking him. "She deserves better, from you of all people."

"What makes you believe that Regina's life concerns me? How is any of what you have said relevant to me?"

"You don't even feel sorry, do you?" She scoffed. "You have Belle waiting for you back in Storyblug, or whatever." Gold rolled his eyes at her incorrect pronunciation.

"You even have your son, a family. What does she have, Henry? Look at him." She pointed to where he was standing with the Charmings'. "I lost my wings for Regina. She was my only friend." Tears formed in the green eyes of the fairy, remembering how everything had ended for them. "I really did try to help her."

Tink smiled sadly, a pale hand wiping away shamelessly the single tear that had fallen down her fair cheek. "She trusted you... you and your anger-lessons so much. Dreaming about vengeance, talking proudly about her mentor and all the things, dark things, you would teach her…." Gold listened in silence. "She was lost then. You made sure of it."

Both stood awkwardly, watching as the former Evil Queen trembled under the pale light of the moon. She was crying, both could tell.

"You see that?" Tink broke the silence, gesturing once again to where Regina stood. "That, dearie, is a broken woman, your apprentice. Your puppet. That's what you made her. But you could change that. We can give her back her happy ending." Gold's head snapped back to the fairy, eyes fiercely meeting hers, brown to green. Tink's image was a little blurry. Was it tears that he had in his dark brown eyes? Could it be?

"Ho—how?" He hesitated, remorse washing over him. He had thought he would never feel that again and yet the fairy had found the one spot he had tried so hard to repress with all his might. Love.

Love is weakness, he thought. But how wrong could it be to give into weakness just one more time? Just this time. I finally do have everything, after all.

Could he be weak? Could he be selfless just this once? Could he be vulnerable for the sake of that young girl he remembered from now years ago?

That young, broken girl of whom he would stay with at nights until she cried herself out and finally succumbed to sleep. Oh yes, he remembered that suffering. He had thought of putting an end to it, but his ends were greater. He needed his son. He would lead that young lady down the darkest of paths and leave her be, but after one particular night, he could no longer do that. He had witnessed so much suffering that the humane part of him refrained from leaving her behind. Yes, he would lead her down that path but he would take care of her, giving her options. He would make her stronger. He would not allow her to be a coward. He was going to make her the greatest, most powerful sorceress ever– a ruler. All he could not have been, for on the inside, behind the Dark One's magic, he was nothing but a coward. He had been weak for Regina once. Why couldn't he do it again? Only this time, it would really mean something. This time he would do the right thing. Just this time.

Sensing that Gold had lost himself deep in thought, Tink decided it was time to speak up again.

"We need a portal. I'll do the rest," she said, "I'll go talk to her, you create a portal and we will send–or push her, whatever–to find her happiness. I have pixie dust but it has been a long time since I have used magic, so I need you to open a portal." Tink tried to sound as sure as possible. She did not know if this would work, because this Regina was no longer the Regina she had known back in the Enchanted Forest. She had seen her heart and that was proof enough. Sadly, darkness had won her over.

However, during their adventures in Neverland, Tink had caught glimpses of that young Regina. She had seen her when she talked about her son. She is still there, she thought. She must be there.

After all, True Love was eternal, Blue had told her that. But would Regina's darkened heart be an obstacle in her quest to find it? Tink picked hope over fear. True Love would turn that heart bright red. She believed. I believe, she thought.

"You. You are sending Regina to find her happiness, not me. She wouldn't be happy about being separated from Henry." Gold started to walk over to where Regina stood, the Charmings' following suit. Henry was hugging her now.

"Perhaps that is part of the test as well, dearie. Not every day are you lucky enough to have an Evil Queen as your mother who kind of killed Peter Pan and saved your heart. You underestimate love, Rumplestiltskin. Sometimes drastic things have to happen for you to realize that you truly love someone," Tink argued, "Just throw the pixie dust when I'm close enough to her."

They approached the others, who were talking cheerfully amongst themselves. Regina took advantage of Gold's and Tink's arrival to separate herself from the two idiots and their daughter, the Saviour. Henry was now cradled under the protective arm of Emma.

"So, how long before we reach Storybrooke?" Tink asked, moving to stand by Regina's side.

"Not too long," Emma answered. Regina took another step away as if the idea of going home scared her. Tink noticed and took a step closer to her.

"Are you okay, Regina?"

"I'm fine. Tired, that's all," the former Queen said tersely, trying to avoid her gaze once more by turning her eyes to the sky above her.

"What's that?!" Henry shouted, escaping from Emma's grasp to could lean over the Jolly Roger's railings.

Green light parted the sky and the sea below them began to swirl violently.

"I'm sorry," Tink apologised, and grabbed Regina's wrist, a metal bracelet appearing on it instantly.

"Tink, what the h–" Before she could finish, Tink pushed her over the side of the Jolly Roger. Please stay alive, she thought.

The Charmings' yelled her name. She could hear, but she couldn't see. She was falling. Again.

It took only half a second for Henry to realise what was going on. "A portal," he breathed, seeing his mother plummet into it.

"MOM!" Henry shouted, running to where Tink stood despite Emma's desperate attempts to hold him back. He started climbing the rail and jumped.

"Henry, NO!" Emma cried, trying to jump as well, but Tink prevented the Charmings' from doing so. She froze them in their places. "Are you crazy?!" Emma shouted at her, "Let me go!" And then, she could move. The portal was gone, though.

Regina could hear their screams whilst she was falling. Was this all planned? Was this an act? Momentarily, she closed her eyes. The Charmings' had finally done it. They had finally gotten rid of her.

All she could see whilst she was helplessly falling was green light and... Henry. This was no plan. They would never have allowed him to be taken with her.

Unable to use magic, she could not reach out for him. A sad smile crept onto her face. Her little prince had jumped– he had come after her. Her sweet, brave boy.

She didn't feel so alone for the first time in...She could scarcely remember. She did not care. Her little prince would keep her safe wherever they were going, and so would she.

- TO BE CONTINUED -

I really want to say a big 'Thank you' to RichelleBrinkley for beta-ing our chapter; I really appreciate that you also took the time to 'revise' the others as well. I couldn't be more happy with the result :)

So? How bad was it? Please review and let us know what did you think!

XoXo,

Dami and Juli.