PLEASE READ AUTHORS NOTE
Hey guys, I made a mistake. As you may remember I started this story right after the cave scene when Neal told Emma that he would never stop fighting for her. Everything that happened before that in the show would have happened in this story, if that makes sense, which means that Neal would know who Robin Hood was when Robin came into the town. He would have trusted Robin rather than demanding to know who he was. Anyway because of that I went back to that chapter and tweaked it a little, now it plays out as Charming stepping in front of his family protectively and Neal explains who Robin Hood is. Sorry about that, enjoy the chapter!
"What's that?" asked Red, there was some rustling in the trees above them.
"It could be a monkey." Warned Hook as he pulled out his gun, Red stopped him with a hand on his arm.
"No, I don't think so." Said Red. Suddenly a blue jay flew down and landed on Red's shoulder.
"One of Snow's birds, something must have happened." Said Red as she untied the note from the bird's leg.
"What does it say?" asked Hook, Red started to read the letter out loud.
"Hey Red, we just wanted to make sure you were ok. There have been a couple more monkey attacks, but no one is seriously injured. Please send the bird back with a note.
Love, Snow and David.
I just found out that Emma is pregnant! Henry had a little trouble with the news but he came around.
Please be safe!"
"Wow Emma's pregnant" said Red.
"Really? That's great, good for them. Has the Witch done anything?" asked Hook.
"No, she hasn't" said the Witch herself.
Robin Hood and Little John were talking in the forest, Robin had just finished explaining everything that was going on with him and Regina.
"So what's the problem? It sounds like you saved her life." Said Little John.
"But she won't let me help her! I've offered to help her twice but she won't allow it. The Witch is after her for something, but she seems like she is not bothered at all by this. I'm afraid for her." Said Robin.
"Then go find her, help her by being there without her knowing It." said Little John.
"I don't even know where she went. She wouldn't tell me and I couldn't follow her because she disappeared into thin air." Said Robin, he put a hand through his hair, he was obviously frustrated.
"Ok, ok, so let's figure this out . Could she have gone home?" asked Little John.
"No she wasn't headed in that direction and when I offered to escort her home and she said she wasn't going there." Replied Robin.
"Well there were rumors of this vault she had, maybe she brought it with her when she cast the curse." Said Little John.
"That's a good idea but how are we supposed to go about finding it? it's not as if there will be signs posted around here saying 'Evil Queen's Lair, this way'" said Robin, Little John shrugged, out of ideas.
"I know where it is!" said a boy who looked to be about 12 years of age and he had brown hair.
"Why would you know something like that?" inquired Little John.
"I'm her stepson, Henry." Said the boy.
"Henry? Are you Baelfire's son?" I was under the impression that he got married to Snow White's daughter, Emma." Asked Robin.
"Yeah, long story short Emma got pregnant with me when she was eighteen. She gave me up for adoption because my dad let her go so she could break the curse and fulfill her destiny of being the savior. Regina adopted me." Explained Henry.
"And that's just the short version?" asked Little John, Henry nodded.
"Wow" said Little John.
"Alright so how do we find her vault?" asked Robin Hood.
"Follow me!" said Henry before walking deeper into the forest.
"So do your parents know where you are?" asked Robin.
"They went out to take care of the town, my mom's the sheriff. I left a note and I have a cell phone." Said Henry.
"Isn't your mother with child?" asked Robin Hood.
"That's why my dad went with her, to make sure she doesn't strain herself too much." Said Henry
"What's a cell phone?" asked Little John.
"Advanced form of communication. Kind of like a bird carrying a message but much, much faster." Explained Henry.
"Good, lead the way" said Robin Hood.
They got to Regina's vault about an hour later, and immediately noticed all the monkeys that were either perched on top of it or flying around the perimeter.
"Henry stay back." Said Robin, pulling out his bow and stringing an arrow. Little John pulled out a crossbow.
"I...I can help!" said Henry.
"Stay back!" said Little John as Robin Hood let an arrow fly, hitting a monkey in the foot and causing it to crash into the ground. Little John shot another as Robin Hood let more arrows fly. Together the two men took care of all the monkeys, not seriously harming any of them. Robin Hood rushed to the vault and tried to open the doors, when they didn't open he banged on them.
"My Lady it is Robin Hood! There is no longer any danger, are you alright?" asked Robin Hood frantically. Henry joined him.
"Mom? Are you ok? MOM?!" yelled out Henry. Little John was looking over the monkeys.
"These monkeys are disappearing!" shouted out Little John.
Suddenly the door to the vault flew open, the force of the door caused Robin Hood and Henry to stumble backwards as the Evil Queen walked out.
"WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?" asked Regina, looking around and surveying the scene before her.
"I was worried about you M'Lady, Little John suggested that I look for you." Said Robin Hood, Regina looked at him and then over to Little John.
"Little John? How ironic. Might I suggest that you show some restraint at the buffet table next time Little John." Said Regina before finally spotting Henry standing off to the side.
"And why did you drag my son into this?" demanded Regina.
"No one dragged me into anything! I offered to show Robin Hood where your vault was. You deserve a happy ending mom." Regina looked down at Henry.
"How did you know?" asked Regina quietly.
"Tinkerbell, she told me a lot of stories." Said Henry.
"I'm gonna murder that fairy." Grumbled Regina.
"Mom, it's ok to open yourself up to someone." Said Henry.
"Emma is probably worried, you should get home." Said Regina.
"But…" started Henry.
"Now, Henry" said Regina, Henry turned and started walking away, his head down. Robin Hood nodded to Little John who turned and followed Henry back towards town.
"M'Lady please, the Witch is after you for something." Said Robin Hood.
"You think I don't know that?" Regina scoffed.
"Do you know why?" asked Robin Hood.
"Yes, I believe I do." Said Regina before walking back inside her vault, she did not close the doors behind her, Robin took that as an invitation to step inside. he stepped into a tiny room which held a coffin that was off to one side and a staircase that led down. seeing no other option Robin Hood walked down the stairs.
"Care to share why the Wicked Witch wants you dead?" asked Robin Hood.
"She doesn't want me dead, she wants me to suffer." Said Regina, moving over to a work bench and mixing ingredients together.
"Why is that?" asked Robin Hood.
"Jealousy, that's why she's green." Said Regina.
"Forgive me M'Lady but could you be any more cryptic?" asked Robin Hood.
"Well Thief, yes I can. But I promise to stop if you quit addressing me as 'M'Lady'" said Regina.
"Alright Regina, why does the Witch want you to suffer? Why is she so jealous of you?" asked Robin Hood.
"Because Robin, we're sisters and I got everything while she got nothing."
Stay tuned for the next chapter, please leave a review!