Disclaimer: I do not own Once Upon a Time or any of the characters. I'm new to this particular fandom – CuriousArcher, MadArcher, whatever you want to call it. I mean, how hard was it to not love Robin and Alice? They're totally adorable! Thanks, OUaT!

Chapter 14

Getting everyone back together again was much easier than Robin had thought it would be. Magic - especially when her mother or aunt used it - always seemed so effortless. One minute, Hook was defending himself against the remaining black guards, swords clashed and clanged while she took aim, trying to get a clear shot that wouldn't accidently hit Alice's father. The next, both guards disappeared in a puff of familiar purple smoke.

Suddenly bereft of enemies, Hook stumbled and went to one knee. Robin shoved the arrow back in her quiver and bolted from her hiding place. She was at his side in moments, dropping down beside him.

"Are you okay?" She demanded, a little frantic. She hadn't seen anyone land a blow against the former pirate, but that didn't mean it hadn't happened.

He breathing was laboured, but when he looked over at her, a wide grin stretched his mouth and his eyes glittered. "Aye. Haven't done that in a while. Not bad for being so out of shape." He looked around at the rest of the guards littered about the road around them. Most of them had arrows sticking out from various limbs - all non-lethal shots, save one. The guard who had charged Hook on horseback had ended up with an arrow in the neck. However, since he'd probably have killed the pirate without a second thought, Robin hadn't taken much time to mourn. At least the horse had gotten away.

The wounded guards in question also began disappear in puffs of purple smoke and Robin grinned at her future father-in-law. "I think the rescue mission was a success." She told him.

He got to his feet, using his sword for assistance before sheathing it. Then he held his hand out and helped Robin to her feet. A moment later, Regina poofed into being in front of them, a smile on her face, Henry at her side, a sword in his hand.

"Nice distraction," he commented. "You missed a few, though."

Robin's eyes snapped to his. "Alice?" She said the name seconds before Hook.

"Alice is fine," Regina soothed her niece. "She's waiting anxiously for you both. Sorry for the late arrival, but I wanted to make sure everyone was safely out of harm's way. You two seemed to be doing alright, so I left you for last."

Hook grunted at that. He was looking much better since his fight and Robin wondered if it was just adrenaline or if, perhaps, getting his blood pumping was helping his heart. She wished that she knew more about how the poison of the heart worked.

"Well, let's go. We have some unexpected guests who came to help." She looked at Robin and said, "I guess Zelena's message got through."

It took Robin only a second to realise what Regina was talking about. "Really? They're here?"

"They are. They're waiting with everyone else." Regina waved her hand and purple filled Robin's vision. When it cleared, she frowned, looking around her. She had expected to be at the Evil Queen's castle, where they'd sent Ella, Lucy, and her mother. Instead, she recognised the room from an illustration in Henry's book. It was a huge room with vaulted ceilings and an open balcony looking out over the forest far below. This was Snow White and Charming's castle! But that couldn't be right, could it? What clinched it for her was the huge round table at the end of the room, closest to the balcony.

What the hell? If she was right, and she was pretty sure that she was, it seemed awfully dangerous to be meeting in the place that King Henry called home.

Standing at the balcony, hands clenched on the railing, looking out, a familiar blonde-haired figure stood with her back to the new arrivals. She had no idea that they were there. Robin didn't hesitate. She sprinted across the room and wrapped Alice in her arms from behind. Alice squeaked in protest until Robin loosened her arms and she could spin around and wrap her own arms hard around the archer's neck.

It felt just like it had when they'd woken up from the curse in that cave below Hyperion Heights. It felt like coming home. Alice buried her head in Robin's neck, and Robin closed her eyes, resting her cheek against the silky blonde tresses. She wasn't paying all that much attention to what was going on around them, but she did hear Ella cry out Henry's name.

That was good. Everyone was here.

Alice pulled back and raised her head just enough. Robin's lips found hers without hesitation.

They pulled apart when someone cleared their throat loudly, behind the pair. Disappointment was written all over Alice's face as she turned her head to glare at whoever had interrupted them. Then her lips curled into a smile. She relaxed fractionally in Robin's embrace.

"Papa. You're okay."

"Aye, Starfish, I'm alright. Seems a good fight was just what I needed." Hook assured his daughter from across the room.

"I hate to break this up," Snow White's voice was apologetic as she spoke, "but we have a lot to discuss and, I think, very little time to do it."

"If everyone could have a seat," Charming picked up, "we can get started."

Robin and Alice spared each other one more adoring glance before they walked over and took seats at the big table. They were joined in short order by everyone else - except Hook, who preferred to stand. When everyone else was seated, Charming and Snow took their places. Alice couldn't help but to look over at the man next to her - still surprised that a Prince would be wearing a flannel shirt.

"Okay," Snow began, looking at everyone, "before we begin, I'd like to just make sure I understand everything fully." She took a deep breath. "There was another curse, it sent people to Seattle, it was broken, and the Dark One from this realm, which was created by a wish, is trying to end the world using the Author's Pen?"

Everyone exchanged glances. Regina sighed. "That's simplistic, but yes, in a nutshell."

Snow and Charming exchanged frowns. Charming stood up and looked at each of them. "When I look around this table, I see old friends and a lot of concerned faces." He looked down at his wife as though taking his strength from her. Alice found Robin's hand and they twined fingers under the table.

"Worry not - Snow and I led a war room like this once before, and we prevailed." Snow White smiled solemnly at her husband. "Yes, a lot has changed since then. Enemies have become good friends, a new generation has joined the fight," he glanced at Robin and Alice, then at Henry and Ella, "and a new friend, who feels like an old friend, has found his way to us."

"What hasn't changed," Snow took up the speech, "is that we are still on the side of right. We know how dangerous Rumplestiltskin has been in the past, and this version is evil beyond anything we've ever seen." She glanced at everyone at the table again, looking grimmer than before. "Before we went to rescue Regina, we found a room here, full of new story books."

"And let's just say for each and every one of us, he's crafted a terrible fate." David completed the thought. "One that's designed to pierce our hearts and break our spirits." Charming gave a nod and two black knights, who had been standing in the shadows nearest a door came forward, a cart piled with books between them.

To each person at the table a book was given, each with his or her name written on the spine. Ella and Henry took the book for Lucy, but neither parent could bear to open it. Robin opened her book, but she refused to read it. She simply stared at a picture of herself in a very familiar setting. She was alone and looked miserable. When Robin looked over at Alice's open book, she saw the Tower and a young-looking Alice staring out the window, a dreamy, sad expression on her face.

"Well, this is bloody disturbing," Zelena commented. She looked more horrified than Robin had ever seen her before.

"Everyone's alone," Henry said slowly, "separate books, separate realms."

"The stories are complete," Charming said, "but Rumple hasn't been able to make them real, yet. That's what we have to prevent him from doing."

Hook suddenly slammed his book closed and threw it to the table with a loud thump. "There's no time to wait," he said, looking thunderous and determined. It reminded Alice of the time he's gone to find the magic needed to break her free of the Tower. She only hoped that this would have a better outcome than that had done. "I'm going to find Weaver - I mean, our Rumple - see what he's found out."

"Take Robin and Henry with you," Snow ordered. The idea of being parted from Alice again galled the archer, but she didn't argue. She closed the book in front of her, still frowning down at it and stood up.

Alice stood, too. "I'll go with them." She said, her hand tightening on Robin's. There was no way she was going to get her love out of her sight now, not with everything at stake. "I've gotten good at keeping far enough away for safety."

"Okay, then," David said. "The rest of us will scatter throughout the realm as best we can. We'll do our best to warn anyone who will listen. Snow and I will start with the villages here. King Henry told them that we died - seeing us alive and well should help things along."

Snow stood up too and leaned over the table. "The people need to be reminded not to lose hope. If Rumple succeeds, he thinks that everyone will be lost for good, but I don't believe that." She reached over and took her husband's hand. "Charming and I have always been able to find each other, and I refused to believe that we are the only ones. With love in their hearts, with hope, anyone can do it." Alice looked at Robin, that same light shone in her eyes that Robin had seen on the day the curse was enacted, when she'd said they would always know one another. Alice believed. Robin did, too. They would always find each other, no matter what happened. She was so busy getting lost in Alice's blue gaze that she actually missed the last part of what Snow had been saying.

"Now go."

A little startled, people began to do as they were told.

Author's Note: Here we go! Getting closer to the end. It's been fun and I've really loved writing these two great characters – along with the other OUaT characters, of course – so who know, maybe I'll delve into more in the future. Thank you to everyone who followed me and who keeps reading. Cheers!