Courtsville

One Year Later

The sun is high in the sky over head as an old truck drives down a practically empty road. Fields and forest whip past the windows in a blur and in the distance the tops of mountains peek out from behind the trees.

Inside the truck the driver's brilliant blue eyes wildly glance back and forth from the road ahead of him, to a golden necklace hanging from the neck of his rear-view mirror. The necklace has a bright electric blue glow around it and the tree pendent in the center is pressed against the wind-shield of the car. Robin watches it, his heart racing; he waits for its next move as he drives. For hours now it has been the same thing, driving nonstop, glancing at the necklace, waiting, and aching. He is aching all over. His legs and arms hurt from driving for hours, his back hurts from sitting for so long, and his heart hurt. His heart ached for her. And that is the most prevalent pain, the one he feels now above all the rest. His heart aches; it has been aching for months, it needs to see her again, it needs for him to hold her again, to hear her voice and to see her smile. His heart needs Regina.

Robin frowned; the frown was something he had worn often in the past months. Some would say that it was rarer to see a smile from him now than it was when Marian had died all those years ago. The frown had become permanent, it stuck, as did the anger he had for himself. It had become an almost nightly occurrence that Robin would be being forcefully carried out of the Rabbit Hole by Little John and several other Merry Men. He knew it was wrong, he knew that he should never have turned to drinking as a way to lessen the pain. He knew it set a bad example for Roland, but he also knew that is helped, it dulled the aching inside. But it has to stop! Robin reminded himself firmly. I have to fix this! I have to make things right! He told himself repeatedly. And that is exactly what he was doing, he was on a journey of redemption, he was going to find Regina and he is going to fix everything, for himself, for Roland, and for her.

A movement in the corner of his eye caught Robin's attention and he looked at the necklace. The golden tree pendant was tugging to the right, its blue glow brighter than ever. Robin smiled widely and turned to exit, as he drove down the new road he saw a sign that said, Entering Courtsville.

Robin looked at the sign and smiled; he then glanced at the pendent and knew he was close. He reminded himself yet again that he would have to thank Rumpelstiltskin for the assistance on his quest. Though Robin was not fond of magic he had been required to use quite a bit for this journey, including a globe that required a drop of blood to show him where to go, and the potion he had poured on the pendant to lead him there. It would all be worth it soon, he could feel it inside, in his heart, he knew she was here. The thought filled him with more joy than he has felt in a long time.

He began to drive through the small town looking around as he did. He smiled as he saw some similarities to Storybrooke, except this town was bigger with more people and larger buildings. He continued to follow where the pendant directed him.

Storybrooke – A little under one year ago

Robin shifted uncomfortably on the front step of the large white mansion that belonged to the Mayor. "Regina?" He called and knocked again. "Regina please open up." He said loudly. "We need to talk."

No sound came from inside, it was as if the house was empty of all life. With a sigh Robin turned and walked around the side of the mansion. As he walked by the area where Regina's car was usually parked he realized it wasn't there. He looked back up at the house and then said softly, "She must be with Henry."

And with that, the outlaw jogged back to his truck and hopped in. He pulled away from the mansion and drove into town.

Within a few minutes he stood outside the Charming's apartment and knocked softly. He immediately hoped that the baby prince hadn't just been put down for a nap. He remembered how when Roland was a baby it had been close to impossible to make the child sleep.

The door opened up in front of him and brought his thoughts back to the present. "What do you want!?" Henry growled and glared up at Robin.

Robin was a bit taken aback by the hostility of the boy. He took a breath and looked at Henry with sincere blue eyes. "I would like to talk with your mother. Is she here?" He asked kindly despite the growing anger in Henry's eyes.

"No!" Henry said firmly. "She's gone!" He said and then stepped back to slam the door in Robin's face.

Robin's hand flew up and grabbed the door forcing it to stay open. His brow was furrowed in confusion and his heart raced slightly. "Gone? What do you mean by gone?" He asked Henry who was trying to get the door shut.

The boy looked up at Robin and Robin was shocked to see tears in Henry's eyes along with hate and a look of betrayal. "SHE'S GONE!" He screamed at Robin. "SHE LEFT! SHE LEFT TOWN!" He yelled and tried to put the rest of his weight into closing the door on Robin.

Robin continued to force the door open and asked with even more confusion, "Left town? Henry, what's so bad about that? She will come back, she would never leave you." He said and was partly trying to calm the boy down.

Henry stopped trying to close the door and took a step towards Robin as if he were trying to intimidate the outlaw. "Well she did!" He spat. "And she is never coming back!"

"What do you mean? Why wouldn't she come back?" Robin asked worriedly.

"STOP ACTING LIKE YOU CARE!" Henry yelled. He then got in Robin's face and said in a low voice, "She can't come back because she won't remember! She won't remember any of us or anything true about herself! She won't come back because she won't remember who she is! And it is your fault! You broke her heart! You made her want to forget everything! You made her cross the town line!" He growled and then suddenly he punched Robin in the face, his fist hitting the outlaw right in the nose. "SHE TRUSTED YOU!" He yelled as Robin stumbled backwards and held his nose.

Robin heard the door slam shut and lock. He held his nose, tears coming to his eyes but not from the pain from being punched by Henry, but from the realization of what had happened. He vaguely remembered someone talking about the dangers of crossing the town line. About how those who try lose their memories of who they really are and they become someone else. "I'm sorry Henry!" He said loudly and leaned against the door holding his bleeding nose. "I didn't know!" He said hoping Henry could hear. "I didn't know…" He whispered to himself.

Courtsville- The Year Later

Robin saw the pendant glowing like a star, it was pointing at a building in front of his truck. Parking across from the building Robin put the pendant in the glove compartment and unbuckled himself. He opened the door of his truck and got out stretching his legs with a groan of relief.

After a moment he looked up and looked around at the building the pendent had pointed at. It was a large beautiful brick building with glass doors at the front and a sign that read, Courtsville Elementary.

Right as Robin was about to cross the street to the front of the building he heard a bell go off. Soon after a wave of kids rushed out of the door causing a typhoon of giggling and joy filled screams as the kids raced home or to the buses around the corner. Robin smiled and leaned back against the truck behind him, he watched with his arms crossed over his chest as the children rushed by and couldn't help but think of Roland.

Suddenly his heart did a summersault in his chest as he caught sight of a woman exiting the building behind the wave of kids. The woman had beautiful shoulder length black hair and tan skin, her face was the most stunning thing Robin had seen in a long time. She wore blue jeans and an aqua blue tank top with a white jean jacket over top of it that had the sleeves rolled up above her elbows and silver flats graced her feet. She was smiling and Robin swore it was the most radiant smile he had ever seen, the look of joy on her face made him forget all the pain he had been going through in the past months. He felt more alive inside than ever as he watched her, he had found her, he found his Regina.

He watched her descend the stone steps gracefully but still with a little spring in her step. A little girl raced over to her from a line of cars and Regina crouched down to meet the girl. She smiled and though Robin couldn't hear what they were saying he was delighted to see the little girl hold out a flower she had been hiding behind her back. The little girl presented the flower to Regina with a wide smile and Regina took it and he watched as she put her nose to it. He continued to watch Regina and the little girl and saw them both laughing. After another minute the little girl's mother showed up and Regina rose and shook hands with the woman. Soon after the little girl was walking away while holding her mother's hand and Regina stood by the steps holding the flower and smiling.

Robin waited a moment before he took a breath and worked up the courage to start crossing the street. He looked both ways before beginning to jog across with a smile. His heart felt like nothing could ever hurt it again the closer he got to Regina. He had slowed to a walk and was only a few feet away, opening his mouth and smiling he began to say, "Reg-"

"Diana!" A voice called and Robin watched as Regina turned and looked at a man walking towards her from the other direction. Robin frowned and looked confused, Diana? He thought to himself with a furrowed brow.

He watched as Regina rushed towards the other man excitedly. Robin felt like the world was slowing down and he felt his heart crack and burst into tiny fragments. His eyes followed the woman he loved as she ran to another man, as she let that man wrap his arms around her, pick her up and spin her, and kiss her lovingly and passionately on the lips.

Is it still good? I hope it is still living up to expectations! If not please refrain from rioting or throwing small animals. Please leave me comments and reviews because they are what a live off of. Thank you to all who commented and left reviews for the prologue! You all are the best! I love you!