AN: Thank you so much for the feedback. Well then I'll gladly continue writing this. To be honest I've all planned it out in my mind already just need to get it down on paper... so here we go with the next bit. Hope you guys like it. Let me know please. I know this chapter is rather short but I wanted to have this scene stand on its own. I'll try to make the next chapters longer.
Aside that English is not my first language and I don't have a beta reader so all mistakes are mine.

Enchanted Forest (a few decades prior)

There she was in front of the door of a tavern. Only moments ago Tinkerbell had been here with her. But more quickly than she could react her new fairy friend had left her on her own.
She took a deep breath.
'So this was gonna be it. The man with the lion tattoo,' she thought and then opened the door and walked into the building before she could make up her mind.
Of course she was nervous but ever since she met Tinkerbell earlier she had the feeling that she could trust her and after all she was a fairy, wasn't she?
She never really had a friend. At least not since, since Daniel. But she quickly pushed the thought of him out of her mind. As much as it still hurt her, Daniel was her past. And aside that he wouldn't want her to be miserable. He would want her to be happy again, that much she knew.
So there she was now in that tavern. She was making her way over to the bar. She knew she had to give the man with the lion tattoo a chance but first she needed a drink.
A drink and at least a part of a plan on how to make an entrance in his life.

"John? John, did you hear a word I said?", Robin asked his friend that was sitting in front of him on the other side of the table he shared with a few of his friends.
John didn't say anything but kept staring somewhere behind Robin.
Robin waved his hand in front of John's eyes which eventually got his attention, "pardon, what?"
Robin smiled a little, "what could possibly distract you from talking about our current problems with Nottingham?"
It took a moment until John said something, "she", he said. Almost whispered it.
And that was when curiosity took over and Robin slowly turned his head around. He didn't want to be caught staring but he wanted to know what distracted his dear friend so much.
And there she was walking towards the bar. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She didn't really seem to belong in this tavern. She looked young. She wasn't overdressed but something about her made him doubt she really came from around here.
And then it dawned on him. He took a closer look at her face. He had seen that face before. It was her. Not long ago this very woman got married to King Leopold.
What was the Queen doing in this tavern? It was far away from their castle. Aside that she looked beautiful right now but not even close to being a Queen.
He turned his head back to look at John then he took a sip of his drink.
"John, can you please keep the others company I need to do something", Robin said and waited for John to nod before he excused himself to the rest of his friends and got up from his chair to walk over to the bar.
He doubted anyone had recognised her yet and he wanted to keep it that way. If she came all the way up here for a drink she most probably didn't want to be recognised.
But he was curious to why she was here and couldn't help himself. He had to find out. Aside that ever since he had seen a drawing of her face, a little while ago when she got married to the King, he couldn't help himself but smile.
He had to admit though that image of her face didn't give her justice. She was far prettier in real life.
To him she was the fairest of them all.

She had downed half of her drink when she heard footsteps coming closer and stopping right next to her. Before she could even turn her head around to see who it was, she heard him whisper in her ear, "I'm just curious but what is her Majesty doing all the way down here?"
That voice send shivers down her spine. Also the fact that someone had already recognised her made her panic a little.
She turned around and was immediately being face to face with the man with the lion tattoo.
"Don't panic", he quickly said as he saw that his words must have scared her at least a little bit, "I doubt anyone has noticed that."
Her face softened a little and a small smile formed on her lips.
She couldn't recall to have ever met that man before but maybe she had? Maybe he was somehow a person that had been to her castle? There were so many people around her every day she might have seen him before.
"Have, have we met before?", she asked him therefore.
"I doubt I'd ever forget meeting you", he said smiling and she couldn't help herself but getting lost into the cerulean ocean in his eyes that somehow made her heart jump.
He continued, "I've seen some images of you", he said.
Of course she knew there's been drawings and paintings of her because of recent events.
He kept on talking then, "but to be honest, none of them do you justice."
"Thank you", she said blushing a little bit.
Robin turned to the bartender, "Can we have two of 'what she's having'?", he asked.
"Sure mate, coming right up", the bartender said and in mere seconds their drinks were ready.
Robin paid him before turning back to Regina, "would you mind taking this conversation outside?", he asked her, "I mean it's a beautiful evening and I could use some fresh air."
She nodded, "I'd love to."

They both grapped their drinks, before leaving the tavern together just to sit right outside of it on one of the few benches that where always occupied at day time but usually not at all at that time of night.