Hey guys! Hope you had a great start into 2016 ;) So the search for Snow continues and we gonna met a new (old) friend along the way. Enjoy and please review! I love your comments!

A special thanks to Abi for taking a look at my work!

As usual don't own anything and I'm responsible for all mistakes made. If anyone of you wants to chat with me I can be found on Tumblr( onceuponahappytime) or Twitter ( SophiiSunshine)

They didn't know how long they were sitting there in each other's embrace; how long it took for Regina's tears to dry and Robin's beating heart to calm down.

Robin knew that the King had been dead for quite a while by now, but just the thought of this bloody bastard hurting his love made Robin's blood boil.

But since his anger wouldn't help anyone he just sat there and held Regina; petted her hair and told her that she was safe now- that he would never let anyone hurt her again. Which was true- he would never let anyone lay a hand on her again, not as long as he could do something about it.

They only got up when they heard Charming's voice behind them, asking surprisingly softly when they would continue their journey. His demanding tones from yesterday were practically gone- replaced by a kinder, calmer tone.

Had he heard anything this morning? Robin hoped not, since he knew it would make Regina uncomfortable.

"When we are ready Charming. You don't rush into things without having a plan, that's how you get killed. Not that I would mind someone chopping your head off," Regina hissed.

To Robin's surprise David only nodded and said "You are right. We shouldn't rush." Regina only looked at David for a moment before turning around and leaving both men alone.

To make sure he didn't see her red puffy eyes Robin knew. He sighed as he watched her leave, aware that she needed a moment alone to compose herself before they could discuss their further actions.

As Robin's turned to the shepherd he saw the men's thoughtful glance. Robin bit his lip as he watched Charming slowly sitting down to wait for further instructions.

Maybe he was wrong, maybe it was a good thing that David might've heard some of his and Regina's conversation.

Robin remembered David's look at their first encounter, and despite that being not too long ago he could already see how Regina's behavior confused him beyond means.

Well maybe the prince would finally learn that the world isn't all black and white.

"We have to make breakfast. How about you gather wood and I take care of the rest?" Robin asked throwing him a short glance.

"Fine." There was a moment of silence "Is she okay?" David's voice was quiet, like he couldn't decide if he actually was interested in the answer or not.

"Regina is alright," Robin didn't say more, he turned around to make sure breakfast would be ready before Regina came. He never would betray her trust (especially not to Charming) but the concern in the other man's voice seemed genuine, so he remained friendly.

Regina had to take a few deep breaths to fight the stupid tears back. The day had been very emotional- and it was still early. She sighed, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear. She just needed a moment before she was fine again- the Queen again.

Charming's tone had been soft- almost caring- and it made Regina angry. Not too long ago the shepherd was shaking in fear of her- now he had seen her weak more often then she liked. Not that she liked it at all, but she had shown so much vulnerability in the last few hours she had made herself a target.

She could trust Robin with her pain, she knew that, but Charming? The stupid imbecile wasn't just an idiot, he could become dangerous. Maybe his concern had been honest, which made Regina's stomach twist with anxiety; she hated to be weak in front others. Or was he playing her; trying to catch her off guard.

Regina didn't know which scenario scared her more.

As she looked around she knew she couldn't hide behind their tent forever;-they were expecting her. Expecting her to find a way to find Snow, the woman she had spent the last few years hunting.

Regina laughed humourlessly. The situation was crazy! Crazy and painful and so many other things, some of which she couldn't even (or wanted to) name. She sighed as she saw the sun had risen completely by now. It meant she had to go back. Regina rubbed her eyes, took another deep breath and walked back to the two men who were already waiting with breakfast for her.

She sat silently next to Robin, her eyes gazing over the burning fire (they had managed this time without her magic) and took the food with a soft smile. "Hey love, I hope you don't mind. David and I tried our talent as cooks," Robin told her, searching her dark orbs.

Her and Robin's eyes met, unspoken concern for her in his. Regina took Robin's hand and gave it a short squeeze to reassure him that she was fine.

"Are you two sure you know what you're doing?" Regina asked, looking uncertainly at the food in front of her.

"Yes milady we do. I did manage to stay alive - and didn't poison myself along the way," Robin replied with a smirk.

Charming only nodded, seemingly busy eating. When she saw him taking a bite without grimacing she decided she would take the chance and took a bite herself. The breakfast was surprisingly good and all of them ate in silence for a few moments.

As soon as Regina had eaten the last bite she straighten her spine and said "I'm gonna try to use magic again and…" but before she could end her sentence they were interrupted by a loud noise. Regina stood with a frown and approached the source of the noise, Robin close behind her.

Soon they realized what was making the sounds. Right behind the tree were horses- three of them actually. All of them not bothered by their sudden appearance, and one more beautiful than the other.

At least in Regina's mind. She just now realized how much she had missed her horse. Sure neither of them were Rocinante, but she had missed the feeling of touching a horse, of riding on their back. Feeling- at last- something close to freedom.

Regina carefully came closer, whispering softly and she soon reached the first one; a stunning white horse. The animal didn't hesitate and let Regina stroke him gently. Regina couldn't suppress her smile. She loved horses- and they always seemed to be quite taken with her too.

Horses didn't judge. Not like people.

With a wave of her hand an apple appeared, and it didn't take long before the animal had eaten the whole thing. Regina kept stroking the stallion tenderly, not realizing that the two men behind her were watching her intensely.

A certain thief because the picture of Regina softly smiling and petting the horse was a heart-warming sight, and the shepherd… well because who had known Evil Queens could be so good with animals?

Likely since they wanted a piece too the other two horses came closer and soon Regina was surrounded by the three animals, taking turns caressing and feeding them. Suddenly, she spotted the men behind her, but turned back to the horses.

"These horses will let us ride them. We can use them to move further along," Regina explained to them. As she turned around and her eyes locked with Robin's she forgot to breath for a moment.

The intensity of his gaze nearly blew her over. She could see so much love and pride in them.

"That's a fine idea, love. David I'm sure you know how to ride?" Robin asked neutrally but not without winking at Regina. She smirked, happy that her soulmate shared some annoyance with their dear shepherd.

Regina expected David to snap at Robin (and was always ready to scold the idiot for it) but he surprised her again when he only said "Yes, I'm very capable of riding Robin. Despite what Regina might've told you I'm not a complete idiot."

But he didn't sound pissed, his reply was soft despite the sharp words. He seemed to be going easy on her.

Regina bit her lip, her hand finding its way anxiously to her stomach to center herself. The damn shepherd had definitely heard more than he should have. But what was done was done, and worrying about it would only slow her (and therefore their entire rescue team) down.

"Well then, let's not waste time," Regina replied

She waved her hand over Snow's ring again, both Robin and David looking expectantly at her. But like before the ring only glowed for a moment and then went out. Regina sighed as Robin asked her "We're still too far away aren't we?"

"Yes we are," Regina replied, looking angrily at her own hands. Many things had failed her in her life but magic wasn't one of them. She knew that after only a day she shouldn't have gotten her hopes up but this entire situation was painful. Just thinking of her step-daughter led to so many emotions Regina didn't want to feel; moments in her life she didn't want to remember.

Regina wanted it to be over- to go back the life she was building with Robin and Roland. Not out here in the woods arguing with the idiot of shepherd over what might be the best plan to rescue the brat who destroyed her life. It wasn't like she didn't have enough problems before Snow's true love stumbled into their camp.

"So what do we do Regina?" Charming asked, frowning in concern.

"We keep going north till my magic can find Snow. How often do I have to explain that to you till it gets into your blockhead?" Regina hissed, rolling her eyes.

"Only wanted to be sure," David muttered, glaring at her. Regina shrugged, unimpressed, and turned her attention to Robin.

"Robin, which horse do you want?" Regina asked, smiling softly at him.

Said man was too busy chuckling over her and David's banter to answer immediately. "Ladies first. They all seem strong and fit."

"I'll take the bay horse," Charming spoke up before Regina could say anything, earning his second eye roll today.

"No manners Charming, what a shocking surprise," Regina snarled before going over to the white horse. With a wave of her hand all the horses were saddled.

All three weren't too happy with their new accessories, but after a few calming words off Regina they relaxed and let all present people climb on them. Charming clearly nervous, holding the reins tightly.

"You have to relax Charming. The horse can feel your fear," Regina told him keeping her voice low. What prince didn't know how to deal with horses?

But getting annoyed and telling him in explicit words how stupid he was would only cost them time, so Regina instructed him softly, helping him so he didn't make a complete fool of himself on the animal (and trying to avoid losing more time- there was a little boy waiting for her after all)

As Charming was at least somewhat confident on the horse Regina's eyes searched for Robin, who was already sitting on his mare grinning, amused at her. He didn't have any problems with animals. He was as good with them as with people- calm and kind but firm.

As soon her stallion made his first steps Regina breathed in, enjoying the feeling of freedom she always felt on the back of a horse. She and Robin shared another look, and then all of them continued their journey north.

They spent their time riding, mostly in silence; Robin and Regina sometimes exchanging soft smiles and adoring looks (or amused smirks at Charming's still clear troubles with the animal) and speaking about Roland's latest attempt of shooting an arrow, and if weapons were actually appropriate toys for a little boy.

"But Regina he needs to learn at some point, and the earlier the better," Robin explained to her earning a roll of her eyes.

"Robin he is a little boy, and despite that I agree that he should learn at some point to defend himself… Roland running around with pointy sticks doesn't concern you at all?" Regina asked eye brows raised.

"Milady, I won't let him 'run around with pointy sticks' by himself. I'll teach him; teach him how to aim, how to be faster than everybody else," Robin replied.

"Faster then everybody… does that include squirrels?" Regina smirked at Robin's gasp and laughed softly when he looked at her and shouted "Those animals are unbelievably fast I can tell you! No one would've stood a chance and… oh don't look so smug, Your Majesty."

That was it for Regina. She started to laugh with all her heart, completely forgetting Charming and why they were here, forgetting all the pain and questions for a moment. Robin looked at her, offended, before he burst into laughter too.

Their laughs only increased when they looked behind them and saw Charming's confused face. After both of them calmed down they shared another glance, looking straight ahead again- still biting their lips to suppress any more laughter which might have had more to do with David's facial expression than the squirrel story.

Robin thoughtfully watched Regina next to him. They had fallen into silence after their little banter. It wasn't an uncomfortable one, even though with Regina it rarely was.

Robin enjoyed being with her; talking, laughing, making love but sometimes it was just nice being together in silence. Like now (well, if you ignore the prince riding behind them).

Regina's whole body language had changed as soon as she was with the horses. She seemed more relaxed than she had been since they started their little adventure, and from time to time Robin even could catch a little smile on her face. It was soft but honest, and it made her even more beautiful than she already was. The tension on her shoulders was slowly disappearing.

Her dark orbs -which were so troubled before now- had a glint in them. She seemed somewhat at peace, and Robin made a note to himself to take her riding more often when they were back home.

Wherever home meant.

This whole mess was hard on his love, Robin knew that; could see it plainly every time he looked at her; could see the struggle in her chocolate coloured eyes, the struggle to do the right thing to not give into the rage- not letting the pain consume her.

Like it had so many times before. But now she wasn't alone anymore, she wouldn't need to face anything without him at her side.

They were riding most of the day, only stopping for short breaks to eat and make sure the horses were taken care of. Shortly before sundown Robin told them it was time to make camp, he countered Charming's protest they would only waste time with a simple "You have to be alive to save your princess, David. So sit down and rest for a few bloody hours."

Regina made dinner (she was by far the best cook, which wasn't really a surprise) and soon after all of them went to bed. It had been a long day.

"Please don't, please stop" Regina's whimpers pulled Charming out of his slumber. He was disoriented for a moment, trying to figure out what made those noises.

David slowly got up and listened "I'll be a good girl, I promise." The loud "No, please don't" that followed sounded so desperate it was heart wrenching.

David didn't know what to do. Regina was clearly having a rather vicious nightmare, and for some reason that damn thief wasn't around to comfort her. David debated what his next move should be. Robin had disappeared, gone doing whatever thieves do in the middle of the night- and the shepherd didn't know what to do.

He wished Snow was here with him; she would know if going to the Queen and trying to wake her up was a good or a deadly stupid idea. David lay back down, knowing that Regina wouldn't accept comfort from him anyway- and a part of him thought she even deserved whatever dreams were troubling her.

She had hurt so many, it was only fair that she got hurt for once too.

But at the next cry from her David realized that excuse he just used to justify not going to her was crap.

People who were never hurt didn't have nightmares like that. People who were never hurt likely didn't turn into Evil Queen's to begin with, David thought with a sigh.

He slowly got up and left the tent, walking towards Regina's tent and looking again for Robin.

David searched for the other man one last time, before he sighed and carefully crawled into the tent, finding her tossing and turning with tears streaming down her face, but still firmly asleep. He had been wrong; whatever that dream was about it wasn't only troubling her, it was deeply hurting her.

She cried out again, sounding so scared. David tried to think if he had ever had such vivid nightmares, and came to the conclusion that he never seen anybody hurting so much in their sleep.

David gently shook Regina's shoulder and when she didn't react he shook a bit firmer, and then finally her dark eyes popped open. But as they did David's breath caught in this throat as he saw the pain in them. Raw and powerful pain, and it made David question anything he ever heard about the Evil Queen.

A heartless, cruel witch not capable of feeling anything. But seeing her now David knew that that had been nonsense.

David realized the hard way that hovering over a person waking up from a horrible nightmare might not have been the best idea. Before he could do anything Regina had fixed on him, and apparently seen him as a threat because the next thing he knew was that he got punched in the face. Hard.

For a moment David only saw stars (from where did such a tiny woman find so much strength?)

"Regina! Stop it's me David… Charming. I'm not gonna hurt you." He softly held both of her wrists to stop her from hitting him again. Damn it really hurt- she might've broken his nose- but he couldn't be angry at her. Not after seeing that look in her eyes. That fear, the trembling of her lip, her whole body shaking.

"It's alright Regina, it was only a dream. You are safe," he tried to calm her down.

"Charming?" Regina whispered, trying to focus on him. "Yes it's me. You had a bad dream a-and Robin wasn't around so I thought…" Well David didn't know what else to say so he only watched her trying to regain composure- and failing miserably.

As David followed her frightened gaze to her wrists- more specifically to his hold on them- he let go of her as if he was burnt, but she was still not really reacting and that now scared David.

He had only known her as the invincible, scary, powerful Queen, but now she looked so hurt, so vulnerable, so… young.

She still trembled, so David cautiously but gently stroked comforting circles on her arm, surprised that she didn't shake him off. They both then shared a look and David could see Regina centring herself and slowly becoming herself again.

She opened her mouth to say something, but then the tent entrance was ripped open and Robin stood there, looking from Regina's tears stained face to Charming's concerned frown- back and forth.

"What happened?" Robin asked calmly, seeing that Regina was clearly upset and David slightly confused (which seemed to happen to him rather often lately)

"Regina had… no I'd better be going," David mumbled and made his way past Robin and out of the tent.

"Regina, love, you alright?" Robin asked softly, coming slowly closer. Regina still seemed to be as confused as the man who just left their tent.

"Did Charming do something?" Robin questioned even though he was rather sure a nightmare was the reason his love was so upset. It wasn't the first time he danced this dance after all.

"N-no he didn't d-do anything. He j-just…I had a nightmare." Regina whispered tears falling down her cheeks.

"Do you wanna talk about it milady?" Robin muttered, lying next to her and tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

"No. I-I can't Robin. Not n-now I just w-want…" Robin couldn't hear what Regina exactly wanted because she couldn't hold back the tears anymore, so he only gathered her into his arms and held her close. He kissed her hairline softly and stroked up and down her back while she sobbed in his embrace.

They stayed like this till the sun rose, and as Regina slowly exited the tent before Robin she had to swallow hard. She was embarrassed.

She had lost her composure in front of the damn shepherd; had cried practically in his arms about some stupid dream (which still rattled her more than she liked to admit)

And to make it even worse he had been nice- even tried to sooth her and Regina knew what that meant now. He had seen her weak again and it wouldn't take long till he would use it against her… till he-

"Hey Regina," Charming's voice ripped her out of her thoughts, startling her. "Charming, what do you want?" Regina snarled, glaring at him.

"I only wanted to ask how you are?" He questioned almost shyly.

"I'm fine shepherd. Despite your annoying presence and the misfortune of seeing your stupid grin the third morning in a row, I'm fine," Regina replied knowing that her sharp answer wasn't actually sharp, but sounded more like an weak attempt.

"Last night…" David started but Regina cut him off immediately "Is none of your business, Charming."

"Yes right of course," David already turned around to leave but then he had the need to tell her something "I never understood what Snow saw in you. For me you were never more than a heartless selfish witch, hungry for power, but now…"

"Now what Charming? What I am now?" Regina growled ready to cut him into pieces but his answer surprised her.

"The strongest woman I've likely ever met."

Their eyes met and in that moment something developed between them. It wasn't friendship, but it was respect.

David turned on his heel, leaving an utterly surprised Queen behind him.

"Well milady, I can only agree with that," Robin whispered, his arms coming from behind to pull her back to him, his chin on her shoulder, his hands finding hers and squeezing softly.

"He might be less of a bloody idiot then we thought," Robin mumbled into her ear.

"But just a bit less," Regina replied turning around pressing a gentle kiss on his lips.

Regina lost her balance for a second; everything was suddenly spinning and she was only preventing from falling by Robin's quick reflexes.

"Woah! Milady, are you alright?" Robin asked in concern, pulling her close again. Regina took a deep breath, trying to keep the sudden nausea at bay.

"Yes I'm fine, just a bit dizzy. The dream might have shaken me more than I thought," Regina replied softly, leaning into him. Robin pressed a gentle kiss to her temple, relaxing at Regina's reassuring smile.

Soon after that they saddled their horses again and rode north, getting closer and closer to Maleficent's castle. Most of their journey was made in silence, in their own thoughts.

Robin, worrying about Regina and her dreams- even more specifically her rather heavy reaction to it. He wanted to keep all pain away from her, but knew that was an impossible task. He would still try though- he had to.

Regina, about her stomach's sudden revolt. She still felt queasy. She knew the last few weeks had taken their toll on her, but her body was used to taking a blow; used to painful or stressful situations. Maybe trying to rescue a person she wasn't sure whether she hated or loved was more than her damaged heart could take, and her body was simply voicing it.

David, on the other hand, watched Regina as closely as Robin- trying to figure out these new feelings he had for the Queen. Something had changed between them, the hate slowly changing to mutual respect and David wasn't sure if that was a good or bad thing.

But maybe this was something to worry about when they found his Snow. He refused to think that the correct phrasing might've been if they find Snow, not when, but he was a hopeful fool- always had been. And he wouldn't give up on Snow- never! He just never thought that the woman hunting them might become an ally at some point.

That is, if he wasn't reading the whole situation wrong, and with Regina… well that could happen.

And so they continued their journey day after day, night after night, not getting anywhere closer to finding Snow. Regina's magic failing over and over again. But they kept searching, trying to find the princess; driven by Charming's hope, Robin's optimism and Regina's determination they kept going, going north.

Two weeks later

It was close to nightfall when they stopped at a forest glade, tired of another day of riding. The men got the things they needed for their meal and Regina was about to wave her hand to light up the fire, but before she could raise her hand the flames already appeared.

All three stared, confused, at the ground where the fire was burning hot and strong. Knowing how it was supposed to look when Regina used magic to summon fire they all searched for the source of the magic.

"Hello, little one," a soft voice behind them made all three spin around, mouths open at the woman who had appeared in front of them.

Her long blond hair fell down in waves, a kind smile on her face as her amused blue eyes found Regina's confused dark ones, her smile only growing at Regina's surprised gasp "Maleficent?"