Present Day
They sat on either side of Mulan's hospital bed. Neither of them saying anything to one another for hours. Emma and Robin barely looked at one another. They both just sat and stared at the unconscious Mulan. "I've never seen a wound look anything like this." It was Robin who broke the silence first. "What sort of weapon did you use?"
"It's called a gun," Emma shifted in her seat as she pulled the gun out of her pocket. Robin jumped out of her chair at the sight of the weapon.
"Is it magic?" Robin asked.
"Depends on whose holding it." Emma answered automatically. There was a lengthy silence that lingered before Emma found herself laughing aloud.
"I fail to see the humor," Robin sternly said with a scowl.
"It's just Mulan asked the same question when she first saw my pistol," Emma smiled.
"Your mother told me on the ride to the hospital that you and she had the pleasure of meeting Mulan. I believe that was shortly before she and I met. She mentioned something about Regina's mother as well."
"Yeah, long story short, we were lost and Mulan helped us find our way home," Emma rolled her shoulders as she struggled to get comfortable in the hospital chair. "If it weren't for her and Aurora, we probably wouldn't have made it back."
"She told me that tale once," Robin leaned forward to look into Mulan's eyes. "She spoke in detail about the strange land Snow White reported to be from. Never imagined I'd find myself here."
She watched the way Robin's hand rested on Mulan's. It wasn't exactly intimate but it wasn't platonic either. "So how close were you and Mulan, exactly?" Emma asked.
"Very," Robin sighed slightly. "It's hard to know with the missing year but before that we were close friends." Robin smiled at Mulan and gently rubbed her thumb over the top of Mulan's hand. "Nothing brings two people closer together than fighting on the same team."
"I know what you mean," Emma responded with a slight nod.
"How close are you and the Queen?" Robin asked without looking away from Mulan.
"Regina," Emma corrected. "Her name is Regina and she's the mayor here, not your Queen."
"I'll take that under advisement," Robin said as she glanced up at her. "Though I don't think it bothers her that I treat her like royalty." She smirked slightly, leaned back in her chair, and slowly took her hand off of Mulan's. "You didn't answer my question."
"We're…" Emma started to say friends but that wasn't true. At least not most of the time, though they were far from enemies. If she's being honest, she had no idea what they were but she knew they weren't soul mates. "We fight well together. We're allies "
"It's important to have allies you can trust," Robin's eyes darkened with sadness. "I'm sorry for my initial reactions about you questioning Mulan. I do realize the severity of our current situation."
"You don't have to apologize," Emma shrugged. "If the tables were turned and it had been one of my people, I probably would have punched you too."
"No matter, how powerful Zelena is, no matter what happened over the last year," Robin brushed a strand of hair out of Mulan's face. "She wouldn't betray me. I know that to be true. I can feel it."
Enchanted Forest 7 months ago
Robin's heart thumped loudly in her ears as she made her way back to camp as fast as she could. The night sky was pitch black. Her time at Prince Charming's round table had taken longer than expected. A distance child's screams resonated in her ears. She was certain it was Rolland's.
Guilt weighed heavy on on her thoughts. She should never have left her child to go help Regina and the Charmings. But she refused to believe that anything could have happened to Rolland while he was in Mulan's care.
When she narrowed in on the camp she quieted her steps and stealthily drew her bow. She prepared herself for the worst but what she saw was something else entirely. Dropping her bow and stepping into the shadows, she watched the warrior chase her son in the light of the camp fire.
"Can't catch me," Rolland squealed and shrieked as Mulan dashed around the campside fire.
"I beg to differ, little sir," Mulan said swooping the toddler in her arms. "Remember what we discussed earlier?"
"Quiet voices keep the monsters away," Rolland whispered. "I won't scream again, promise." He leaned pulled her face toward his and kissed her on the cheek.
"Thank you," Mulan responded by kissing him on the forehead gently. "It's getting dark. We should head in, ok? I promised your mother I'd stay with you until she returned."
"I tired," the young boy yawned. "But where's mommy."
"Mommy," Mulan huffed as she started to walk toward their tent. "Is busy flirting with the Evil Queen." Robin followed, closely clinging to whatever shadows she could find.
"Booooo," Rolland loudly shouted and then quickly covered his mouth his hand. "Mommy likes you the best. Me, too."
"Your mother likes you best, sillyboy," Mulan protested as she pulled back the entrance to Rolland and Robin's tent. "But the way your mother likes the Queen is a very different sort of like. She very pretty isn't she?" Mulan said as she laid the young boy down. Robin watched their shadows from outside of the tent.
"You're prettier," Rolland stated adamantly. Mulan shot Rolland a look of disbelief and the boy yawned again. She laid down next to him. "But you love the princess."
What Mullan said next was inaudible to Robin she leaned in and spoke something softly into Rolland ears. "Yay," Rolland's shout was quickly covered by the sound of his hand clapping against his mouth. Robin's mind raced with what that 'yay' might have meant and she found herself wishing she'd spent the day with her son and Mulan instead of with Regina.
They were quiet for sometime before Robin started to enter the tent. She waited long enough that Rolland had already begun to snore. He was nestled close to Mulan's chest, his little arms wrapped tightly around her arm that rested on top of his midsection.
The tent was small and they didn't leave much space for her, but Robin didn't mind the tight squeeze. She laid down on the other side of Mulan. Carefully trying not to wake either of them, she put her arm around Mulan's waist. Her hand settled on top of Mulan's hand that was resting on Rolland's stomach.
Mulan's body tightened, "You're back."
"I'm home," she whispered softly into Mulan's ear.
"I should go to my own tent," She kept her voice quiet but didn't move.
"Please, don't," Robin said giving her a tight squeeze. "I mean, I'd like you to stay if you'd like to stay. Would you like to stay?"
"Yes," Mulan answered in a soft whisper. Robin felt Mulan's body relax into her arms. Robin couldn't see the smile form on the young warriors face as she moved in closer.
Present
Regina lifted her hand to knock on Emma's door at the bed and breakfast. Repeating the action several times but not actually knocking. It was late and Regina didn't know what she was doing.
She wasn't being truthful earlier with Emma, Tinkerbell was right in that regard. So she was at Emma's door in the middle of the night planning to ask to give her more magic lessons, hoping that spending more time with Emma would help her figure out her real feelings. Of course all of this made more sense when she was discussing her next move with Tink earlier that evening.
Regina felt ridiculous. Emma wouldn't believe that she just happened to be walking by. A wave of relief washed over her as she realized she could turn to leave and forget any of this ever almost happened. Just as she was about to exit, the door across from Emma's suite opened.
"I thought I smelt Chanel No. 5," Ruby was wearing nothing but a sports bra and very short shorts. Ruby moved in across the hall from Emma and Henry in order to keep a better eye on both of them at Snow's request. "What brings you by at this time of night?"
"Isn't it your time of month right now? Don't you have a moon to howl at or something?" Regina cleverly retorted, hoping Ruby wouldn't bring up the topic again.
"Emma's not back yet." Sweat was dripped down her body. The moonlight energized Ruby and she used that time for late night workouts. "Henry's been asleep for a couple of hours. She asked me to keep an ear on him. Emma said she'd be back later, something about bonding with Robin Hood."
"I'm sorry, what?" Regina asked, certain she had misheard Ruby.
"Snow called me," Ruby added. "Robin is taking this Mulan situation pretty hard. I guess Emma thought she should experience some of the little joys Storybrooke has to offer."
"Do you have any idea where they might have gone?" Regina asked trying not to overthink the ridiculous notion.
"I have no id-" Ruby's answer was cut off by a phone ringing in the distance. Ruby darted to answer it with lightning speed. "Snow?" Ruby answered as she turned her back to the Queen. "No she's not back yet. Of course." Regina couldn't hear what Snow was saying but she had a good idea where this was going.
"No, you guys stay put I'll go find them," Ruby turned to look to Regina then. "Actually, she's right here." Ruby smirked at Regina. "I'm not sure."
She hung up the phone then and passed Regina in the hallway. She opened the door to Henry and Emma's suite casually as if she'd done it a hundred times before. Ruby pulled one of Emma's coats off the rack and took a deep whiff.
"Hey Gran, Regina and I have to go get Emma. Can you listen up for Henry?" Ruby asked in a normal tone and nodded as if someone had responded, but Regina didn't hear anything. Without saying another word, Ruby headed toward the exit and Regina followed close behind.
Emma's scent first led Ruby to the Rabbit Hole, but the Savior and the Archer were long gone. The bartender mentioned seeing them consume several tequila shots, which Emma kept referring to as a 'special kind of magic potion' according to the bartender.
Ruby took another whiff of Emma's coat and they headed back out onto the streets of Storybrooke. They turned the corner to the town hall when they saw Emma standing at the base of Regina's apple tree, looking up into the branches were Robin was seated. There were a least two dozen apples on the ground by Emma's feet.
"What the hell are you two doing?" Regina shouted as she stormed in the direction.
"Get down, bro, get down now," Emma said in a half shout half whisper. "Like right now."
"Robin Hood does not back down from a challenge," Robin let out a hearty laugh. As Regina and Ruby came closer they noticed a blindfold covering Robin's eyes. She attempted to bite at the apple hanging from the tallest branch while struggling to maintain her balance.
"I'll ask again," Regina said as she came with in arms reach of Emma at the base of the trip, "What the hell are you two doing?"
"I just thought Robin needed some cheering up," Emma offered a cautious smile. "She's had a rough day."
"And that involves stealing city property why?" Regina asked in a huff.
"Give me a break, Madam Mayor," Emma scoffed and rolled her eyes. "The apples will grow back. I'm pretty sure you could make that happen magically if you wanted."
Robin flipped down to the ground, landing between Regina and Emma effortlessly. She peeled off the blindfold and crunched down on the red apple. "You're right, Regina's apples are every bit as delicious as I imagined they would be."
Regina arched a curious eyebrow at Emma, who chewed the inside of her lip. With a sly smile to Emma, Regina leaned toward Robin and asked."Are you enjoying my apples in your mouth?" Her fingers trailed up the Robin's arm while her eyes stayed on Emma.
The blatant flirtation made Emma roll her eyes but it wasn't nearly as sickening in her stomach as Robin's response, "I believe I'd enjoy anything of yours in my mouth, m'lady."
Regina's eyes widened. She wasn't sure what she was expecting, but Robin's response caught her off guard. Robin rocked forward on her toes, slightly bending toward Regina. If Robin was expecting a kiss Regina was nowhere ready to give it. She took a step back and looked to the ground.
"I'm sorry," the archer began to apologize. "I'm slightly inebriated. That was out of line, as was climbing the tree without permission."
"It's quite alright, dear," Regina smiled at her. "My tree's been through worse." She shot a look to Emma who responded with another eye roll.
"What brings you two lovely ladies out at this time of night?" Robin asked with a cordial smile to Ruby.
"Mulan is awake," Ruby answered quickly. Instantly, the smile and all of the color faded from Robin's face.
"We must go to her then," Robin stated and she started toward the hospital. Ruby and Emma followed closely behind until Regina's fingers wrapped around Emma's arms.
"Tomorrow's magic lesson will involve the art of apple growing," Regina spoke as a grin curled in the corner of her mouth. "And you will not be partaking in tasting them." Emma half heartedly nodded. "Metaphorically or otherwise." She added in a whisper that sent chills down Emma's spine.
