A/N: Alright, here it is. The chapter you've all been waiting for. I hope that it's been worth the wait. We're so close to being finished. One more chapter and an epilogue left. I would love to hear your thoughts. Also, Happy Outlaw Queen Day!

The sun creeps through the bay window as Robin studies the papers in front of him. He's been up all night, fueled by long forgotten coffee and his determination to find where Glass has taken Regina. It's not as if he would have been able to get any sleep as it is. Not without Regina there. Not without knowing where she is or if she's alright. There's a sharp pang in his chest, one he's been unable to shake, at the mere thought of what she must be going through right now. It only doubles his determination.

Sidney's financial records are on the table in front of him (quite handily obtained through he and Killian calling in a few favors), one of the sheets clutched in Robin's grasp as he studies it intently. There's gotta be some clue here as to where he would have run, where he would have felt safe enough to keep Regina against her will without anyone noticing. He just has to find it.

Robin scrubs a hand over his face, pinching the bridge of his nose in the process and shutting his eyelids for a moment. Just one minute, he tells himself. His eyes are dry and scratchy, surely red rimmed from the lack of sleep (and the few tears he'd allowed himself to shed not long ago over this gripping fear and heartache). He takes a deep breath in and out. Inhaling and exhaling. Then he opens them to look out onto the backyard, at the sun just beginning to touch the edges of the trees in the distance, reflecting off the calm water in the pool.

Where is she?

Returning his focus to the blur of numbers in front of him, Robin struggles to pick out anything unusual. There are the typical odd amounts for restaurants and the grocery store, the gas station, a couple of shops Robin recognizes, Amazon, his monthly rent for his apartment. There are multiple charges to an art store that must sell photography supplies, he thinks bitterly. Robin's mind wanders to the photograph Sidney had sent to Regina, contemplates how many other photos of her he must have taken while stalking her and his fist clenches automatically. Gently uncrumpling the paper he'd been holding Robin sets it down and picks up the next one. The one from the previous month.

He skims through the list, noting it's much of the same as what he's just looked over, that same art store popping up a few more times. But there are two large withdrawals that catch Robin's eye. The one is his rent, same amount and date as the one he'd just read. But there's another, for a similar amount to a different company and Robin's senses begin to tingle as he snatches up the other months receipts. There it is. The same amount withdrawn on each of them, in addition to his rent, and not dated to withdrawal for another week with a quick glance back to the current month's finances.

He's found it! The missing link he's been looking for. Pulling his laptop across the table Robin hurriedly powers it up to look up what the company is. A quick Google search reveals they rent studio spaces in the area and a list of available properties. This has to be where he's taken her. Where else would he go? Robin's first instinct is to race off to rescue Regina, but lord only knows which one belongs to Glass. He can't break down every door until he finds them. Well he could, but it likely isn't the best course of action to take. He needs to take a moment and think, process this new information rationally.

A glance at the clock on the stove informs him it's barely 7:00 am and the rental companies office is most definitely not open yet to gather the information from them. Robin debates his options, too impatient and worried to wait any longer to put an end to this entire mess. Without any qualms as to the early hour or the knowledge that the colleague and friend he is presently dialing is surely still asleep he waits and presses his cellphone to his ear.

"Sod off." The voice on the other line answers after several rings.

There remains a small part of Robin that has it in him to be amused by the disgruntled greeting. "John, It's Robin."

"The sentiment stands, mate. Have you any idea what bloody time it is?"

Robin grimaces, "I do. And I know it's early for you but this is important. Lives depend on it."

Something in his tone must register because he hears John's deep sigh through the line then a bit of background shuffling and mattress squeaking before his friend asks, "What do you need?"

The relieved breath Robin lets out is automatic, gratitude washing over him. He can always count on John to be there without question. "Thank you," he tells him sincerely. "I need an address. Specifically the address of a studio rented by one Sidney Glass through Storybook Rentals. It's urgent and their offices are closed for another hour."

John grumbles a tad, but no more than a minute later Robin hears the click clack of a keyboard and a long winded sigh from the man on the other end of the phone. "This for one of your clients?" he asks, voice still rough with sleep.

Robin hums in acknowledgement. He trusts John. They've been friends for years, another one of his former Merry Men mates, and a skilled computer tech whom Robin has called for just this type of purpose many times before. There's no better hacker around after all. But he hasn't spoken with him at all since he took this job and doesn't exactly want to get into everything right this minute. Still, he's woken the man up, figures he deserves to at least know the reason for it. "Yes," Robin finally replies, "Regina Mills." Smirking slightly at John's low whistle in response to the name.

"Damn, Rob. That's a high profile client there. What's she need this for?"

His heart clenches at the question, reminding him yet again of his failure to protect her. "She's missing actually," Robin replies, swallowing the lump in his throat the words form. "I'm fairly positive she's been kidnapped by this Glass guy and I think this might be where he's taken her." He pauses, voice laced with the desperation he feels when he says, "I have to find her, John."

There must be something in his tone, a lilt to his voice that clues John into the underlying meaning behind the plea. He knows Robin better than most when it comes right down to it and he's never kept things from him in the past. "You involved with her?"

Silence hangs between them for a few seconds before he admits, "Yes. I'm in love with her."

It feels like ages before John responds. It's not really. Not at all. But he knows Robin's not one to say that lightly and if he has then he means it, one hundred percent. "Well," he starts, hesitating before asking, "when did that happen?"

Robin lets out a laugh, answering with complete honestly, "I think it happened the first time I met her."

"Alright, let's find your lady then." The clicking of the keyboard picks up pace. "Looks like he rents space in a building they own in Glendale." And then John is firing off an address Robin quickly scribbles down on the back of one of the sheets he'd been studying earlier while he thanks him profusely. "Don't worry about it," he dismisses. "Just go find Regina before the bastard has a chance to do something stupid."

After hanging up with John, Robin immediately taps a few buttons on his screen and brings the phone to his ear again. Killian's groggy voice answering after a few rings. "I found her." Is all he says in lieu of a greeting. "Can you get here within fifteen minutes?" His friends grunt of agreement is instantaneous and then Robin's hanging up the phone and heading upstairs.

His blood pumps madly through his veins, anxious energy making him jumpy. Robin wants to take action. Actually, would rather run off and pound Glass into a pulp, but he's not stupid enough to go without backup. So he struggles for patience. Killian will be here soon enough and then they can go. Can be one step closer to Regina.

Robin peeks his head into Henry's room, momentarily forgetting that he's not in there. He'd wanted to sleep in Regina's room and, as it had been the only bit of his mother Robin could to provide, he'd easily agreed. So Henry and Tink had snuggled up in the big bed and she'd helped Robin sooth him to sleep. He closes the door quietly behind him and heads down the hallway. When he gently pushes open the door the pair of them are still asleep. The blonde's arms wrapped around Henry as he snores slightly.

Thank god for Tink. Robin doesn't know what he would have done without her help the last twenty-four hours, her taking care of Henry when he hadn't had the capacity to focus on anything but Regina. He tiptoes into the room, gently rests a hand on her shoulder to nudge her awake, careful not to jostle Henry much. He should sleep awhile longer. There's nothing he can do but worry and hopefully with any ounce of luck his mother will be returned to him soon. To both of them.

She stirs, looks up at Robin in puzzlement before blinking the sleep out of her eyes. "Hey. Morning. Everything okay?"

Robin nods, pauses a moment before whispering, "I think I found where he's taken her. Killian is on his way over. We're going to go check it out."

Tink nods, relief and apprehension crossing her features before glancing down at the boy in her hold and assuring him, "I've got Henry. Go. Bring her home." Robin smiles, lifts a hand to rub over Henry's head gently and smiles down at her. Thanking the blonde he turns to leave, sneaking back out into the hallway but lingers in the doorway when her voice echoes quietly through the room and turns back, "Be careful, Robin." The corners of his mouth tip up slightly and he gives her a nod of acknowledgement before exiting.

It's time he saves the woman he loves.

. . .

She must have fallen asleep at some point, still tired and drowsy from the drugs that he'd given her. But she can hear birds chirping outside, determines it must be morning, and Regina lays there a minute listening to them. Trying to rid herself of the seductive pull of sleep. Sweet oblivion from everything around her.

All she wants is Robin. And Henry. Wants to hold both of them and breath in their scents, warm and spicy and loving. So different from the overwhelming stench of chemicals that permeates in this room. Wants to know that all of this is over and that nothing else can hurt any of them. But she's not there yet. Still trapped in this tiny, dark room with her captor on the other side of that door. Regina tries to focus on the birds and the sing-song melody of their morning chatter. Unfortunately, her solitude doesn't last long.

The creak of the door opening echoes through the room and a beam of light cuts across her closed eyelids. Resigning herself to dealing with him some more, Regina slowly opens her eyes, pushes herself into a sitting position and watches him. He's brought her a tray filled with food. The smell reaching her nostrils tauntingly.

"I've brought you breakfast in bed, My Queen."

Regina's stomach leaps at the thought of food. She's hungry. Hasn't eaten since yesterday, refusing what Sidney had made for her. But she doesn't want anything he's prepared, doesn't trust him not to continue drugging her to keep her here. And everytime he calls her that, My Queen, it makes her nauseous.

But he sets the tray on the table beside her anyway. Eggs and bacon and a small pile of fruit. And Regina attempts a smile, though it comes out as more of an uncomfortable grimace as she struggles not to breath in the scent through her nose.

He's staring at her, eyes flickering rapidly over her face and chest and body with such a look of admiration it makes Regina's skin crawl. Like there are tiny ants scurrying over her skin. She feels dirty with him looking at her like that. Not for the first time, she's overcome with the urge to scrub her skin raw with a desire to purge herself of Sidney's hungry gaze. Wants to cleanse his presence from her life.

"I can't believe you're really here," he confesses, "That we can finally be together. I've waited for this time to come for so long. Years. And now you're here."

She doesn't need another reminder. Doesn't want to think about how long this man has been stalking her. Silently tormenting her life while she'd been unaware. She can't quite quell the urge to vomit when her mind focuses on the thought for too long. And with the breakfast tray looming before her Regina thinks she's already nauseous enough. The greasy smell of the bacon reaches her nostrils and she struggles not to gag. She doesn't think she could stomach eating anything even if she was insane enough to actually consume something he gave her.

Sidney must see the apprehension on her face because his expression shifts into a frown and his hand reaches out to stroke down her arm. "What's wrong, Regina?"

His palm lingers on her skin, caressing up and down her bicep and Regina's already unsettled stomach pitches and rolls. She doesn't want him touching her. Ever. So she shakes her head and shifts backward, away from his touch, leaving Sidney's hand hovering awkwardly in the air between them.

There's a puzzled tilt to his head, contradicting the annoyed glint in his eyes that makes Regina uneasy. It's not smart to anger him, she reminds herself firmly. Focuses on breathing in and out through her mouth and points haphazardly at the tray resting near the edge of the bed. "I'm not feeling all that well. I don't think I can manage eating anything right now."

Concern mars his features, has him frowning and glancing between Regina and the tray. But he relents, "Of course. I'll take it away."

Regina let's out a breath of relief and lets up a silent prayer that Robin finds them soon.

. . .

Adrenaline ebbs and flows through his veins, surging through Robin's body as he flies through traffic, weaving in and out around cars and ignoring the occasional blaring of a horn that follows him. He's so close. Nearly there. Regina is all but within reach and it drives him, has him pressing a tad harder on the gas.

"Slow down, mate. Getting the both of us killed isn't going to help Regina any faster."

Robin spares Killian a brief glance from the corner of his eye, gaze still focused on the roadway in front of him. He's glad he's here. Grateful for the support in all of this but he doesn't understand. Not truly. The woman he loves fate isn't hanging in the balance. Doesn't depend on how quickly Robin can get to her and hold her in his arms. Protect her from the monster that's been tormenting her. He barely even knows Regina. Doesn't understand what she's been through, what an incredible woman she is. Killian doesn't have this burning need to do everything and beyond to ensure her safety.

"Every minute helps." he replies and pushes a hundred on the speedometer.

. . .

"How long are you planning on keeping me here?" Regina questions him when he enters the room again. The few minutes of peace enough to settle her nerves from his earlier touch. However, she's frustrated and tired and sick of dealing with Sidney's bullshit. So her tone ends up sounding rather more accusatory than she had originally intended. But damn it he's keeping her prisoner for Christ sake. "You can't just keep me trapped in this room for eternity. People are going to realize I'm gone, will wonder where I've disappeared to and come looking." Perhaps this isn't the most prudent fact to point out at the moment while he currently has the upper hand, but surely he must realize that this entire situation is ludicrous.

Sidney glares at her, anger and annoyance emulating from him in tangible waves. "You mean your precious, Robin, will be looking for you?" He spats at her. "Well he did a pretty poor job of protecting you from me to begin with." He takes a step closer to her, leaning down to fill her field of vision and Regina counters the movement instinctively, berates herself the moment she does it because she can't afford to show him any sign of weakness right now. Satisfaction flares in the dark depths of his eyes in response. "And let me tell you something, milady," he mocks, snarling at her. "Your egotistical, pathetic bodyguard isn't going to have a clue where we are."

Regina watches as he takes a step back and the smirk that crosses his face can only be described as purely evil, wicked, when he continues and says, "And by some miracle should he in fact prove to have a semblance of a brain in that pretty head of his I have a way to deal with him." He turns then, walks past his work station to a cupboard and opens it, taking out a metal box and placing it on the table. Shooting her a glance, he grins and flicks the lock open, reaching in to grab whatever is within it.

The gasp that erupts from her when he pulls out a handgun echoes through the room and Sidney's grin widens. "Yes. This should do quite nicely should it become necessary." His eyes abandon admiring the weapon in his hand to lock with Regina's. "You'd better hope your English puppy dog doesn't find us or you'll discover yourself watching another lover die."

. . .

"You stay out here," Robin tells Killian, holds up a hand when his friend starts to protest the order. "I don't know what I'm about to find up there and I don't want to spook him two to one. Lord only knows what sort of mental state he's in. Stay here and be my backup, Kil. If I need you, you'll know it.

Killian grumbles, clearly not happy with the plan, but he relents then mutters something about the checking the perimeter.

But Robin's already tuned him out. All of his attention focused on Regina. It's a decent sized building, five stories, distressed brick with open windows. Looks like the typical artist loft space you would imagine. Two fifty-two. He repeats the number, the one John had given him, over and over like a mantra in his head as he slips in the main door of the building. It's quiet inside. Despite the windows, the space is still dark, corridors not very well lit and the dark wooden doors and deep red wall coloring close in the space in a way that makes him feel claustrophobic.

He slinks along the hallway before slipping into the stairwell. Robin's heart pounds in his chest, a quick, thundering rhythm that rings in his ear drums. Thumping harder every step he takes closer and closer to his destination. It's not until he steps through the door to the second floor that he realizes he has nothing to use as a weapon. Prays that he doesn't need one, but he's unprepared beyond using his own fists and wits if a struggle with Sidney arises.

Two fifty-two. He quietly stalks down the hallway, studying the numbers next to each of the door frames. Twenty-six... thirty-four… forty-four… forty-six... forty-eight... fifty… and then he's standing there. Stained wood door looming in front of him and Robin pauses, rage flaming through his entire body. This is it. If he's right in his assumptions, if his gut hasn't steared him wrong, Regina should be on the other side of this door.

Please, God, let her be on the other side of this door.

Robin pulls out a few of his old tools (ones that had come in handy yesterday at Glass' apartment too) and starts to pick the lock as quietly as possible. The element of surprise is his only upper hand at the moment and he doesn't want to botch it up.

The lock clicks quietly and Robin lets out the breath he hadn't even realized he'd been holding on a long whoosh, air whistling through his teeth. He twists the knob carefully, slowly pushing the door open a crack, but hears nothing except complete silence. His heart continues to beat furiously beneath his breastbone as Robin opens the door the rest of the way. It's a tiny space. One open room with a window against the far wall and a small kitchen shoved into the corner. Not what he had been expecting. But there's another door to his left that is closed. And now that he's actually standing in the room he can hear the murmuring of voices behind it, steadily rising. He thinks he can hear Regina, recognizes the lilt of her voice, but can't be certain when it is muffled through the wall. He creeps over to stand in front of the door and takes a deep breath to calm the uneasy nerves skittering through him.

Alright. Here it is. The moment of truth.

. . .

"Are you insane?" Regina exclaims, voice rising in shock that he's actually holding a gun, that he plans to use it on Robin. But of course he's insane. Everything he's ever done has been absolutely mad so it shouldn't shock her nearly as much as it does.

Panic grips her anyway. She as unwavering faith that Robin is on his way. Surely he's found something, some clue, that will lead him exactly here, where Sidney is keeping her and she can not allow him to be hurt. Regina won't survive losing someone else she loves this way. Not after Daniel. It's everything she'd been afraid of from the start. Exactly why she had pushed Robin away for so long. Culminating in this very moment. But she's wiser now. She's not the same naive girl Sidney had manipulated all those years ago. Will not let this turn out like the last time.

Suddenly the door bursts open, cracking back against the wall, and Robin is barreling in.

All three of them freeze, taking in the scene before them, processing this new development. Regina is the first to break the silence, letting out a relieved and anxious, frightened call of his name. His gaze whips to hers and she can see the relief cross his features when his eyes quickly scan over her person, apparently assuring himself that she's unharmed. But then his eyes are back on Sidney, specifically on the gun now pointed in Robin's direction while her captor glares at him.

"Well, well… we were just discussing you. Seems I was wrong. You are smarter than I gave you credit for." His hand tightens around the barrel of the gun. "Not that it's going to do you much good shortly."

Sidney has the gun trained on Robin, index finger resting on the trigger and murder in his eyes, and Regina freezes. Panic engulfs her. Memories assaulting her of the last time someone she loves had a gun aimed at them flashing before her eyes and she won't let history repeat itself. Will not watch the love of her life be killed right in front of her again.

She acts without thinking, lunges at Sidney, her fingers wrapping around his wrist as she pushes his arm down to point the revolver away from Robin. It takes him by surprise, throws him off balance and backward against the cabinet, slamming his head against the wood. But he's still holding the gun. She had failed to knock it out of his hand and he turns it on Regina.

"You, bitch. After everything I've done for you. Given you. This is how you show your appreciation? You still choose him?!" Regina stumbles backward a step, taken aback by the weapon pointed at her, and trips over something, crashing to the floor. Sidney is still advancing on her, pure rage in his gaze now and not an ounce of the affection he'd shown her not even an hour ago. It's like a switch has flipped inside him. There is nothing reining him in any longer. Nothing to keep the crazy from taking over.

Regina is terrified. Can't help it as she scoots herself backward, away from him, until her back hits the side of the bed behind her and she's trapped staring into the barrel of the gun. Then Robin is darting around the work table and coming at Sidney from behind. He wraps his arms around him, grips the hand holding the gun and slams it against the wall until Sidney's fingers go lax and it falls from his fingers, clattering to the ground.

It frees him up to continue his struggle with Robin, Regina momentarily forgotten as the two of them now wrestle each other for the upper hand. They slam into the work table, scattering bins and tools in every direction and tossing blows at each other. Robin clips Sidney's jaw while the other man's fist slams into Robin's abdomen with a grunt from each of them.

She takes the opportunity while they are distracted to crawl over to where the gun has landed along the baseboard. Wraps her hand around the cold metal and cradles it in her palms. It's not as heavy as she would have expected and as Robin and Sidney pound each other she stares at it. This could be it. She could end this horrible nightmare with one pull and it would all be over.

Regina lifts her eyes immediately when she hears Robin let out a pained grunt as he attempts to hold Sidney off. He's got one of her stalker's arms twisted behind his back, keeping him from leveraging all of his strength, but the slime is moving his free limb to reach for a pair of scissors still lying on the table in front of them. She sees him manage to grasp them, follows the motion of his arm as he starts to drive it toward Robin and Regina reacts without conscious thought.

Points and pulls the trigger directly at Sidney's chest.

Silence reigns for a minute.

Then it's chaos. Complete and utter chaos. His body drops, jerks the moment the bullet pierces his chest and then collapses into a heap on the ground, limbs twisted as his eyes glaze over, completely vacant now. And then Robin's arms are wrapped around her, lifting her from the floor, cradling her to his body and she can finally start breathing again.

"Robin…" she cries, buries her face into his shoulder as a few desperate sobs escape. She's in shock. Can feel the numb hysterics taking over her body. Oh god, is all she thinks. Repeating it in her head over and over again.

His hold tightens, pulls her even more firmly against his chest as he kisses her hair, murmurs, "Shhh….baby. It's over now. Everything's going to be ok. You did it. It's over." Stark terror still runs rampant through Robin's body, mixing with the adrenaline circulating through his veins. He's never been so scared in his entire life. The fear of possibly losing her too painful a thought to even bear.

But she's ended it. Had proved just how strong a woman she is and ended this nightmare. And whatever the fallout is, he will be with her. Will never let her out of his sight again if it means keeping her safe and protected.

His eyes land on Sidney's now unmoving body over the top of Regina's head and Robin closes his eyes against the sight. Tamps down whatever satisfaction he feels in knowing the bastard is dead and focuses on the way Regina's body feels against his own. Safe.

Because they are alright. She's alright. And that's all that matters.