Here's Chapter 3. Sorry it took so long.
It was getting late. While Marian was putting Roland to bed, Robin was trying to figure out how to tell her about the deal he had made with Mr. Gold at the aquarium. He wasn't sure how she would take it. She seemed different than the Marian he remembered.
"Roland's asleep," Marian said as she entered the living room of the apartment that the Sheriff had let them use. "Now we are going to talk, you cannot avoid it anymore."
"Okay," Robin replied nervously as he sat on the couch. "What do we need to talk about?"
Marian sat next to him. "You've been quiet ever since you talked to Mr. Gold. Why?"
Robin hesitated before answering her. "I made a deal with Gold and I've been trying to figure out how to tell you about it."
"What deal? You know you can tell me anything."
"Okay," Robin started, still a little reluctant to tell her about the deal. "Gold has a way back to Storybrooke."
"Oh," Marian said as she looked down at her hands, "and you want to go with him."
"I'm sorry,"Robin apologized.
"It's okay," Marian assured him, "I understand."
"You do?"
"Yeah. You love Regina, and you're with me out of obligation. I never wanted that. I want you to follow your heart. If it leads you to Regina, which I think it has, I will step out of the way."
"Really?" Robin asked in disbelief.
"Really," Marian confirmed.
It was midafternoon, and Rumpelstiltskin and Ursula were waiting in Central Park by the entrance to the zoo for Robin Hood to arrive.
"Tell me again why we are waiting for one of those heroes to join us," Ursula said for the hundredth time since this morning. She still didn't understand why they were letting a "hero" tag along.
"Because dearie, I made a deal with him." Rumple explained again. "Plus he makes part one of the plan a little easier."
Ursula sighed in annoyance, "If you say so."
"I do say so," Rumple snapped getting quite irritated with her.
"Okay, okay. You win. Here comes your hero now," she said as Robin came down the path.
"You're late," Rumple scolded.
"I know. I apologize. I was saying goodbye to Roland and Marian. I was not sure when I would see them next," Robin apologized with a hint of tears in his eyes. Rumple shifted his weight like something Robin had said made him uneasy. Robin was about to ask him if there was something wrong when someone else started talking.
"Do you really want to go through with this?" Ursula asked hoping the "hero" would choose to stay behind. "You don't have to come."
Robin turned to look at the woman who obviously didn't like that he was there. With her smug expression and purple tinted alligator like patterned jacket, she looked like a "villain" to him. "I'm sorry, I don't believe we've met. Robin of Loxley," he said with a little bow. "And who might you be?"
"Ursula. You may know me as the Sea Witch."
"Now that we're acquainted," Rumple interrupted, "can we get going? We have places to be and things to do."
"Fine, but please tell me we are not picking up another one of them," Ursula responded as she sent a glare in Robin's direction.
"Hey," Robin exclaimed offendedly.
"Actually," Rumple snapped at Ursula while ignoring her quarrel with Robin for the moment. "We are going to see an old friend."
"Who?" Robin asked.
Ursula almost smiled as she realized who Rumpelstiltskin was referring to, "Cruella," she said and Rumple nodded.
"Cruella de Vil?" Robin inquired.
"In this land she goes by Cruella Feinberg," Rumple stated.
"Okay, so why do we need to track her down?" Robin asked.
"That is none of your concern." Rumple responded as a couple walking their dog went by. "Now we should get going before we draw attention to ourselves."
Robin watched as the couple walked by, and he couldn't help thinking about Regina. He couldn't wait to see her again. "Yes we should get moving."
Great Neck, Long Island
Robin was standing by the end of the crowded driveway of a large house with Mr. Gold and Ursula. There were black SUVs with red and blue flashing lights, people wearing dark jackets with FBI in yellow in the driveway. A woman with hair that was white on one side and black on the other, was pulling a fur coat that matched her hair away from an FBI agent. Mr. Gold and Ursula started heading over to her. Robin followed cautiously behind them.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Cruella de Vil," Ursula said as they came up behind Cruella.
"No one calls me that anymore," Cruella snapped as she turned around.
"Sorry dearie, but Cruella Feinberg doesn't suit you," Rumple replied.
Cruella shrugged and noticed Robin standing behind Ursula and Rumpelstiltskin. "Who's he?"
"Robin of Loxley," Ursula answered with a tone laced with disdain.
"Hmmm," Cruella didn't seem to like Robin any more than Ursula did. She turned to look more at Rumple as she said, "What in the hell are you guys doing here?"
"The Dark One here has a plan and he needs our help," Ursula responded.
"And what makes him think I'll help him?" Cruella wondered out loud in an almost sarcastic tone. She really didn't think he could give her a reason to help him that she would except.
"Our interests have been aligned," Rumple started as Cruella walked the few steps to the garage door. As she walked away, Rumple continued talking. "You, like us, have lost everything. I'm here because I know how we can get back what we've lost and what everyone wants most. A happy ending."
At this Cruella turned around and looked at Rumpelstiltskin like he was crazy. "You talk a good game Dark One, but can you do what you say in a land without magic, where that pesky villains don't get happy endings rule, still stands?"
"I know of someone who can change that ," Rumple explained, "and as for there being no magic in this land, you just need to know where to look."
"And I suppose you know where to look," Cruella said as she pushed the button that opened the garage door. As the large door slowly opened, a black and white 1980s Zimmer Golden Spirit. The license plate read DEV IL to match it's owner's last name.
"Of course I do," Rumple assured like he was almost offended that she had to ask.
"Well then," Cruella said as she opened the driver's door of her car, "where are we going?"
"A hidden little town called Storybrooke," Rumple replied and everyone got into Cruella's car.
To Robin Hood the ride to Storybrooke felt like it would never end. He was in Cruella de Vil's car, with Ursula the Sea Witch in the passenger seat, and the Dark One in the backseat with him. And as if being in a car with three villains wasn't bad enough, Cruella's driving was something to be feared.
While on the way Storybrooke Rumpelstiltskin explained to Cruella and Ursula how previous plans to get villains their happy endings had failed because the odds are stacked against them, and that his plan won't fail because by finding the Author, they can change the odds. He also explained that the Author has great power over their stories, and how he has the power to change things.
Rumple was sure the Author was somewhere in Storybrooke, and they had to find him before the heroes if they want his help in getting their happy endings. Robin hoped Regina and whoever was helping her were already well on their way to finding the Author. He was pretty sure that if these villains got to the Author first, Regina would never get her happy ending.
Robin was brought out of his thoughts when Rumple told Cruella to stop the car. The car screeched to a stop and everyone got out. There was a tie attached to a tree branch at the side of the road. Rumple took it off the tree and looked down the road, "Storybrooke is 100 yards down this road, but it's cloaked by a protection spell. The spell makes it impossible to see or enter."
"A town you can't see or enter," Ursula restated with a slight tone of disbelief.
"I swear I'm telling the truth. When I was banished, I attached my tie to that tree so I would be able to find my way back."
"Okay Dark One, how are we supposed to get into Storybrooke if it's protected by a spell that makes it impossible to see or enter," Ursula asked, clearly losing the little trust she had in Rumple.
"Didn't you say you had a way to get back in." Rumple interrupted realizing these two villains were quickly losing whatever little faith they had that Rumple could deliver on what he said he could.
"Is what the hero saying true Rumple," Ursula asked.
"No more of your hazy explanations and instructions." Cruella added pulling out a gun and pointing it at Rumple.
"Put the gun down and I'll explain."
Ursula kicked the cane out from under him and he fell to the ground. "No you'll answer us when we tell you to, because out here, you're nothing but a cowardly criple."
"Okay, okay."
"Who banished you and why?" Cruella asked, gun still pointed at Rumple.
"Does it really matter who banished him and why?" Robin interrupted. "Why don't you let him explain his plan to get into Storybrooke, and I don't think shooting him id the best course of action. He may be a coward, but he is still the only one who knows how to get past the protection spell and into Storybrooke. It will be kind of hard for him to help you if he's dead."
It looks like Robin's words may have gotten through to them while they let Rumpelstiltskin grab his cane and stand up. However, Cruella did not put the gun away while Rumple revealed his plan for getting past the protection spell. "You are going to take my phone and call Regina. Ursula and Cruella, you need to tell her you heard Storybrooke was a place where villains could get a second chance and that you've changed."
"You really think they will let us in with you by our side?" Cruella asked skeptically.
"No, but I won't be at your side," Cruella and Ursula looked intrigued as Rumpelstiltskin explained. "This part of the plan requires me to trust you. You three will be invited into Storybrooke. Tonight, Cruella and Ursula, you will come back for me."
"What about me?" Robin inquired.
"You are here to make sure Regina comes to the town line and lets you three in," Rumple said. "And one more thing. None of you may breathe a word of this, or my presence in Storybrooke, to anyone. Am I clear?" Rumple directed this at Robin Hood because he was sure Regina would ask how he got there, and why he was with two Queens of Darkness.
Robin knew it was directed at him. So he gave his word that he wouldn't tell a single soul, because he knew if he told anyone exactly how he got back, or who else had found his way back, it would be bad.
With that, the four of them climbed back into Cruella's car and drove it to about where the town line should be.
When the four of them were standing by the approximate location of the town line, Rumple dialed Regina's number. He handed the phone to Ursula and she pushed talk. As the phone began to ring, Robin knew it wouldn't be long before he saw Regina again.
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