Hey guys, sorry its been a while. I promise I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. And on a side note, I know he's not a good guy in the story, but, RIP Robin Hood. He deserved better.

Henry walked into the great hall fully dressed in his custom armor, and winter coat. The armor had been a birthday gift form his grandfather a few months back. His moms both had been a bit weary at the present but didn't say anything, at least not in front of him. He even had his own sword which was also strapped at his side. David was heading up Ruby's search party and no one was going to get in his way of accompanying. Henry joined the group of men already assembled and casually acted as if he were a part of them. He didn't see either of his mothers in sight so he was momentarily in the clear. "What are you doing?" Henry spun around and gave David a nervous smile.

"Hey gramps. When are we heading out?"

"We? I don't remember inviting you to come along."

"No, but I want to. I'm not about to walk out onto the battle field, I'll helping you find Ruby. I care about her too, and I want to do everything I can to help her."

David gave him a small smile and rested a hand on his shoulder. "Henry, you know I don't have any objections to you coming along. It's your mother... She's not going to like it."

"I know she's not, but bringing Ruby home to her is worth a scolding." David's smile grew and gave that shoulder a squeeze. "If you can convince her in the next ten minutes I'd be happy to welcome you to the team." Henry nodded trying to contain his excitement. He turned around and left in search of his mother.

Henry found Regina walking down the corridor that connected to the courtyard. "Mom," he greeted with a comforting hug.

"Henry," she signed happily as she sunk into his embrace. When they pulled apart Regina's expression fell into a small frown. "Why are you dressed in all your armor?" she questioned.

Henry took her hand in his own and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles lovingly. "I've decided to go with David and the others." Regina instantly opened her mouth to protest but he interrupted. "And before you say no… I want to go. David didn't ask me, I asked him, so please don't be angry with him. I love Ruby too and I want to bring her home safely… bring her home to you. I want to be a part of that. I'll be safe out there I promise, and I'll have gramps with me, along with nine other soldiers. Please let me do this for you, for her, for me."

Regina stared at her son with mixed emotions. She felt so proud to call him her son, but she also felt sorrow. Was she willing to risk losing both the woman she loved and her son? "I love you," she whispered pressing a kiss to the hand that held hers. "You can go… but, you have to get permission not only from me but your mother as well." Her voice only wavered slightly and she managed to muster a smile. Henry reciprocated an even bigger smile and nodded in agreement. "Bring her back to me," she chocked as the delayed tears began to swell. "You hear me? Bring her home."

Emma too, after a few moments of hesitation, agreed to let Henry leave. He needed experience if he were to one day, god forbid, have to fight. Emma, Regina, Snow, and Granny all watched as the men mounted their horses and took off. Just like when Ruby had left, Regina watched until they could no longer be seen. Now all she could do was wait from them all to return. She did her best to not think about the possibility of them returning without her, but that possibility was constantly overwhelming her thoughts. Emma soon walked away with Snow, leaving Regina and Granny alone. Regina hesitated a moment but eventually looked over at the older woman. Granny met her stare and nodded in approval of her actions. Regina nodded back, and at that, they parted ways.

.x.

When Natalie walked in and saw the queen trying to get out of bed she nearly dropped her bucket of water. "Your Majesty!" she exclaimed. She quickly set the bucket down and hurried to her side.

Regina's head jerked to the side in surprise as the mystery woman rushed towards her. Her grip on the wall loosened, and she felt her fingers slowly slipping. She wasn't sure if she had enough strength to get back down without hurting herself, so she did her best to hold her current position. Natalie reached out to touch her, but Regina flinched and tried to scoot away. "Who are you?" she croaked.

"My name is Natalie," she said as calmly as she could. She still couldn't believe she was speaking directly to the queen. "I'm- I'm the village nurse." She took another cautious step towards her, and slowly reached out. "Please your Majesty, let me help you lie back down. I'll explain everything in a minute, but what you're doing is just going to her hurt you even more." She could see that the queen had an untrusting look in her eye. "I'm not going to hurt you… I promise. I just want to help you."

Regina contemplated for a moment and decided to trust this woman. "I don't think I can hold this much longer," she admitted as her arms began to shake. Natalie nodded and carefully put her knees on the bed not wanting the dip to throw Regina off balance. She placed her hands on the queen's chests and helped lower her back down so she was once again lying on her stomach. Once she was settled again Regina turned her head and looked up at Natalie. She had long brown hair and blue, almost gray eyes. She was very pretty but her face was soft. None of her features were in any way severe. She looked kind, which made Regina feel that she could trust her. "Can I have some water?" she asked in a whisper realizing how dry her mouth was.

Natalie looked down at her with sympathetic eyes. "Of course." She left for only a moment and returned with a small cup of water. She rested a hand under Regina's head and pressed the cup's rim to her lips. "Careful," she said not wanting to spill it. Regina greedily drank the water and closed her eyes with a warm hum. She savored the feeling of the cool liquid sliding down her dry throat. "Thank you."

Natalie nodded and set the cup aside. She cautiously brushed a few stray hairs from the queen's faces, and then pressed her palm to her forehead. "Your fever's gone down, and that's a good sign."

"A good sign to what?"

"That your body is adjusting to the wound and to the pain. And speaking of… how much pain are you in right now? I'm surprised you managed to even sit up as far as you did."

"On a scale?" she asked softly.

"Yes on a scale," she smiled sweetly. "One through ten."

"Eight… nine… I'm not sure."

"I don't have the strong pain medicine the doctor usually does but I promise I'm going to get you some."

Regina nodded hoping her promise would come true. She took in a shaky breath and the tears she was trying so hard to keep at bay began to roll down her cheeks. She didn't mean to start crying, especially not in front of this woman, whom she's known all of about five minutes. "Hey," Natalie cooed. "It's alright. You're safe now, and I've treated your back to the best of my ability."

"How- how did I get here?" she asked almost childlike through the pain and tears. "I can't remember."

Natalie readjusted her position so she was sitting more comfortably. "My husband," she began. "His name is Erik, and he's a member of the royal guard. He found you trying to get help and brought you here, hoping to save your life. He also told me who… who he thinks did this to you." She wasn't sure how to approach this part of the conversation. Was she going to cross a line? They had already smuggled the queen out of the castle and lied about her ware bouts. Natalie doubted she could get into any more trouble by accusing the king of mutilating his wife when it was only the queen herself she was asking.

"I know who did this to me," Regina said before Natalie could get in another word. Her voice went from scared to hollow. "At first I couldn't remember much that happened last night, but it's clear as day now."

"…May I tell you who we assumed?"

"I don't see the harm."

"And we mean no disrespect your Majesty, especially if we are wrong… Erik told me it was your husband, the king." Regina nuzzled her face a little deeper into the bed and avoided eye contact.

"You cannot speak of this to anyone."

"I would never. And nobody even knows that you're here."

.x.

Days Ruby's been gone: 11

The men had been traveling for a day now. They all followed David's lead westward towards Xavier's castle. There hadn't been any signs of Ruby yet, which had been expected so they didn't feel any form of defeat yet. Henry had been able to keep up quite well, and was even enjoying the journey. He and his horse trotted a few feet behind the rest of the group. Technically the safest place was in the middle of the group in case of an ambush, but he didn't mind. Henry chose to be in the back, it allowed him to observe and think clearly. Henry was looking to his left when Robin hung back to his right. "I think it's very noble of you to join to search."

Henry looked over in surprise, but smiled, it was only Robin. "Thank you. Ruby is more than my step mother, she's been a friend for so long that I've always considered her family."

"Good man," Robin praised. "Well I'm almost certain that we'll find her. This situations is most likely nothing more than a misunderstanding."

"I hope you're right."

"Ms. Lucas is quite resilient, she and Regina will be reunited once again very soon." Henry only nodded but a small, toothless smile graced his lips. He appreciated Robin's positive words, and held onto them hoping it would boost his confidence. Robin then smirked to himself. Little John, right before Robin had left, had told him exactly where he could find Ruby's body. Luckily they were headed in the right direction. Eventually he would have to figure a way to take them south. His plans could wait however, they needed to reach the river first. It would most likely take another couple days, but he could wait. He had already won his prize. It was just waiting for the right moment to cash in.

.x.

Regina sat in the Great Hall at the same table where she and Snow had had lunch the other day. She had a small journal in her hand, and was happily concentrated in her writing. It was snowing again, and she could feel the cold air seeping in through the window she sat beside. "Hey," Snow said sliding into the seat opposite of her. "What are you up to?" she asked with a positive attitude. She leaned in on her elbows, and peered over the lip of the journal to see what she was writing.

"Nothing," she lied pulling the journal closer to her.

"Doesn't look like nothing," Snow inquired with the raise of the brow.

"Well it is," Regina said more firmly shutting the book, and tucking it away in her lap. She looked up at Snow with a glare that was supposed to scare her away.

"Oh please Regina," Snow smirked sinking back into her chair. "You can no longer fool me with false glares. I know what the real ones look like."

"As that may be, you seem awfully chipper this morning," she observed with a slight roll of the eyes. Regina and Snow were now very good friends, but the two couldn't live out the rest of their days without the occasional, playful banter.

"Oh nothing in particular really, just woke up feeling quite hopeful.

"Well that makes one of us," she muttered looking out the window.

"I know in the past you've asked me to refrain from any future hope speeches, which I will," she said holing up a hand to keep Regina from reminding her. "But maybe you should try looking on the Brightside. Thinking only of the tragic 'what ifs' isn't healthy Regina."

"Trust me, I've thought about being hopeful, but in doing so I raise my expectations," she said quite morbidly.

"Regina... Do you really think she won't come back?" Snow asked with deep, genuine concern.

"All my life people have come and gone, and the ones I care for most always leave in one form or another. I was foolish in believing Ruby was finally going to be the one to stay. Just as I had feared, she's being taken from me."

"Regina-"

"And here I am," she continued in a pained laugh. "Sitting here, coming up with our wedding plans." She clutched the journal to her chest and looked at Snow with watery doe like eyes. "I said I was going to let her do it but it's the only thing that's keeping my mind off the inevitable." Snow's heart clenched at Regina's words. She had to retrain herself form showering Regina in hopeful words and phrases, assuring her that Ruby going to walk straight through the front gates at any moment. She wanted to so dearly, but she couldn't tell her what didn't want to hear, nor could she say what even she didn't believe to be true. So instead so stood and joined Regina on her side of the table. Scooting up next to her she extended a gentle hand, and offered an understanding smile. "May I see?" She asked. Regina looked at her with caution and a hint of surprise. She tightened her grip on the journal before making up her mind. Loosening her hold she handed it over. Regina settled back into the chair as Snow read over her page of notes.

"Not here in the Great Hall?" Snow asked after a few minutes.

"Been there done that. I know it's going to be a royal wedding, but I don't want it to be in the same room as my first... Especially when it wasn't wanted nor enjoyable... No offense," she added not wanting to hurt her feelings. Her union to Leopold was anything but luxurious, but Snow knew him only as her father. There was no need to exploit the secrets of their marriage to her.

"None taken," she assured. "And I respect your reasons."

"The location is the only thing I wish to have a say in. The rest is up to her."

"Well what you have is lovely, I'm sure she'll agree with most of your ideas."

"Thank you."

Snow closed the book and set it on the table. "While we're on the topic, I call being your maid of honor."

"Do you now?" Regina asked raising a brow. "I thought that was a title I awarded?"

"It is, but I'm the obvious choice," she smiled.

"Well… not going to lie and say I hadn't considered asking you, but you're Ruby's best friend too. I presumed she would ask you, so I didn't want to steal you from her."

"Wait, stop right there. Did I just hear you say I was your best friend?" Snow's face lit up like a kid in the candy shop. She sat up straight and turned to face Regina more fiercely.

"Oh um… no I believe you're mistaken… I-"

"You did!" she squealed. Snow took Regina's hands in her own and squeezed hard. "It's ok you don't have to admit it or say it out loud ever again. Oh gosh, I can't wait to tell David and Ruby. They both bet me that I'd never get you to say it." Regina's jaw dropped slightly hearing that. She was defiantly going to have to have a word with those two when they came back. "But don't worry, Ruby and I have already talked about this."

"You have?"

"Of course! The day after you proposed we sat down and had a full blown wedding discussion."

Regina let out a low chuckle and shook her head. "Why am I not surprised? So tell me, what did you discuss?"

"Ruby wanted you to have the option of asking me, because she knew I was the only person you'd consider. She said Emma or Belle would be just as viable candidates for her." Regina hung her head in admiration of Ruby's sympathy and generosity towards her. Ruby was aware of her lack of friends. Yes she had Snow, Emma and David, and so on and so forth, but Snow was basically the only one she actually spent time with. Told her 'feelings' to. She felt extremely loved knowing that Ruby was willing to give her Snow. They had been best friends since the beginning.

Snow could see that Regina was beginning to sink back into a bit of her sorrow due to Ruby's absence, and immediately jumped back in. "Well since it's been settled, and I am defiantly your maid of honor, let's talk flowers."

Snow managed to keep Regina occupied for the remainder of the day, and in high spirits for that matter. The talk of the wedding kept Regina's mind off of things, and she quickly learned that she did actually enjoy making the plans. This was a wedding that she actually wanted. A wedding that she was going to love and never forget.