Way back in June, I was asked on Curious Cat if my trip to Disney had inspired any Outlaw Queen fics. Well, here it is—a story inspired by the Haunted Mansion that is over a week late, but better late than never, right? Please enjoy!

The Queen in the Attic

Robin awoke in the dusty foyer of a mansion. An unlit fireplace sat in front of him with a portrait hanging about it. It showed a handsome young man with brown hair, dressed in a finely made dress coat and silk cravat. He looked like someone Robin would happily relieve of a bag of coins and a few jewels during one of his many raids. So why was he here?

As he watched the portrait, it began to change. Wrinkles appeared on the mans' face and his hair turned gray then completely white. The skin appeared sallow and then started to fade away, revealing the bone underneath. Soon, it was only a skeleton in fine clothes staring back at Robin.

Where the hell was he?

"Welcome, Robin of Locksley," a deep voice boomed, echoing through the room. "Or do you prefer Robin Hood?"

He looked around, trying to find the source of the voice. But the room appeared to have no doors or windows. Aside from the fireplace, there was no place for someone to hide. Robin frowned as he called out: "Who are you? Where am I? Where are you?"

"You can call me Master Gracey. I own this ghostly retreat. So I guess you could also call me your Ghost Host." He chuckled.

A chill went through Robin. "Ghost?"

"Yes...I didn't realize you were a newcomer to our realm. I would've eased you into this instead," this "Master Gracey" said, sounding contrite.

Robin frowned. "What do you mean by that?"

Master Gracey sighed. "I hate when I have to do this. Robin of Locksley, better known as Robin Hood, you are dead."

"Dead?" Robin couldn't be dead. He could still feel fear and dread. And he swore he just got colder, with color draining from his face. How could he do and feel all that without a body? And wouldn't he remember dying? He wracked his brain, trying to recall what had happened before he woke in this strange house.

He recalled being with his Merry Men, about to pull a big job that promised a great reward that would help feed the villagers through the harsh winter predicted for Sherwood Forest. He remembered dressing up as peasants with offerings to bring to the greedy duke before pulling away from the guards to let his men inside the gates. They spread out, grabbing whatever they could that would help the villagers, while Robin headed toward the Duke's vault. He recalled breaking the code and getting inside, but after that it was a blur.

"Oh, your death must be really recent. You've not yet processed it and have blocked it out of your memory," Master Gracey said. "You were caught by the duke's guards and tried to escape but the Duke took you by surprise, running you through with a sword."

Robin pressed his hand to his stomach, a cold sensation filling him as shock took over. "I can't believe I went down so easily."

"You were caught by surprise," Master Gracey said. "If you could've, I'm certain you would've put up quite the fight."

"I just...I wish I could remember." Robin held his head, a dull ache coming to it as he tried to come up with the memories.

"You will, in time. But for now, let me show you to your new room. Feel free to explore your new residence, get to know your housemates. We're a...lively...bunch." Master Gracey chuckled at his own pun but Robin was in no mood for jokes.

He was dead.

And this strange house was apparently the afterlife.

This was awful.

Everything just kept getting worse for Robin after finding out he was dead. He didn't think anything could top that but then he saw his room and realized he was wrong. He might have lived in a tent in the woods while he was living but that didn't mean he was looking forward to having a coffin in his room. A nice bed and a comfy chair would be nice. Even if he was dead, didn't he deserve some comforts?

There was also no sunlight. Whenever he looked outside, it always appeared to be night. A full moon hung high in the sky, unmoving, as stars twinkled throughout the inky black night. Below his window was a graveyard, tombstones lined up as far as the eye could see. He saw others milling about, a diverse group all dressed in a variety of clothes. They chatted happily together and he heard singing from a far corner but it was nothing he wanted a part of. If he had to haunt a place for eternity, he would rather be in his beloved Sherwood amongst the green trees and bright sunshine. Not this dreary place that just reeked of death.

He needed to break out.

Now.

Robin laid on the floor, staring at the cobwebs on the ceiling. He didn't feel dead and it seemed he was still corporeal. Robin had been able to open the coffin as well as move items around easily. Ghosts couldn't do that.

Of course, he had to go through a wall to get from the foyer to this room, so that proved he wasn't corporeal.

Unless he was dreaming...

Knocking interrupted his musing and he sat up, raising his eyebrow. "Come in. It's not locked."

The door creaked open and an older woman bustled in. She had curly gray hair and half-moon glasses perched on the edge of her nose. Looking over their rims, she studied him. "So, you're the new resident."

"I think there was a mistake," he said. "I don't belong here."

"Because you're not dead?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

He frowned, trying to figure out how best to answer that. "I don't feel dead but I'm coming to accept that. I just don't feel this is where I should spend my entire afterlife. It's just so...so..."

"Morose?" the woman supplied. "Uninhabitable?"

"Both work," he said.

She chuckled. "It can seem that way at first but once you get settled in and start meeting the other residents, you'll find that it's not that bad. You might even come to like it. I'm Granny, by the way."

He raised an eyebrow. "Just Granny? No other name?"

"Everyone calls me Granny," she said with a shrug. "I know I have a real name. It's out there on one of those tombstones, so I can always go look it up whenever I want. But I like Granny."

"Then Granny it is," he said, holding out his hand. "I'm Robin of Locksley. Better known as..."

"Robin Hood. You're something of a legend," she told him. He grinned, feeling proud that he managed to make an impact on the world before his untimely demise.

Granny shook his hand before giving him a little tug. "Come on. Let me give you the grand tour and I'll introduce you to some of the other residents of this place."

"So, how many of us are here?" Robin asked as they wandered the hallways a few floors up. Door after door lined each hallway, all apparently occupied by some other departed soul.

"You are our nine hundred ninety-ninth soul," she told him. "From what I understand, the manor can hold a thousand. So Master Gracey has been getting really picky about who he lets in now that room is scarce. It's not like any of us move out, you know."

He paused, wondering if he would really have to spend the rest of eternity there. Was it a punishment for doing wrong-stealing-for the right reason-to give to those who had not from those who had too much? Could he spend eternity in this place? Or would he go mad first?

Granny stopped, studying him. "Something bothering you?"

"Just...this place. Is this really where I'm to spend the rest of my afterlife?" he asked, grimacing.

She frowned. "Why? Where did you expect to spend it?"

He shrugged. "I guess some place sunny and green. Maybe just roaming my beloved Sherwood Forest for all time."

"That does sound nice," she agreed. "But it doesn't last."

"What do you mean by that?" he asked, frowning. How would Sherwood Forest not always be there?

Granny motioned to a bench and they sat down. "When I first died, I haunted my little cabin in the woods. I kept my eye on my granddaughter and on the locals. But over time, things started to change. Our little village grew and my cabin was torn down after my granddaughter left. Over time, the village grew into a town and then a city, growing more modern and growing bigger. They cut down more and more trees and soon, it wasn't my world anymore. I felt like a stranger. That's when Master Gracey found me and brought me here. My granddaughter's spirit is here too, so we were reunited, and I found a new purpose taking care of the souls in this place."

"I can't believe that would happen to Sherwood," he said, trying to picture houses and shops where once there had been endless trees. It was impossible.

She patted his knee. "I know, but it will happen. Time marches on. You'll come to find this is your real home now, Robin. All you need is to make some friends and maybe find a purpose here. You'll see."

Robin knew that she thought she was being comforting but he felt far from it. He doubted he would ever get used to this place, even once he got to know his new neighbors. Nor did he think he would ever find a purpose here either. His purpose was to help the less fortunate. They were all dead, living in a mansion that appeared to have everything. No one was lacking for anything, except perhaps freedom. Yet he doubted his purpose was to break anyone out. They all seemed quite content with where they were.

He was going to be miserable for all of eternity.

"You don't look convinced," Granny said.

"I'm not," he admitted. "I mean, my idea of home sweet home doesn't involve a coffin for a bed."

She chuckled. "Oh, that. You can change your room to appear however you want. I made mine look like my cabin, actually. A little bit of home away from home."

"That sounds nice," he said, already thinking about how to change everything in his room.

"I'll show you how to do that later." Granny stood. "Come on. There's more to be seen and I'm sure we'll find someone to introduce you to yet."

"Fine," he said, figuring there was nothing else for him to do.

They passed by a door and he paused, thinking he heard something. He frowned, leaning toward it. As he pressed his ear to the cold wood, he heard soft sobs coming from behind it. It seemed someone else was just as miserable as he was.

Granny tugged on his arm, frowning. "I wouldn't go up there."

"Why?" he asked, still staring at the door. "What's up there? Who's up there?"

"That's the attic. And it's her domain," Granny said, eyeing the door with trepidation.

He frowned. "Her? Who's her?"

She took a deep breath. "The Queen. She came here decades ago and locked herself up there. Rumor is that she killed her husband the king and then waged a bloody civil war with his daughter over the throne, killing thousands in her quest for power. The stepdaughter got the best of her, killing her. Why Master Gracey would choose to let her live here, none of us know."

"And she never comes down?" he asked, frowning in confusion.

Granny nodded. "And no one ever goes up. We may be dead but there are things that can hurt us in the afterlife. She no doubt knows them. "

"Because she was some Evil Queen?"

"And because she was witch," she told him, lowering her voice as if the Queen could hear them. She tugged him away from the door. "Forget about the attic and forget about the Queen. You'll be safer that way."

Robin let her pull him down the hall but his mind remained focused on the mysterious Queen, even as Granny introduced him to his new neighbors. They were an eclectic group and even though he was introduced to a woman named "Leota" who was just a head floating in a crystal ball, the Queen remained the oddest thing about the place. Why would a bloodthirsty witch lock herself in an attic and refuse to deal with anyone else?

And why would she weep like she did?

Time passed by and Robin settled into his life in Gracey Manor, the official title of his new home. He still missed fresh air, sunshine and green trees and still tried to figure out a way to leave but the property seemed to extend out for miles. It would take days to finally get away, he figured, but the manor had some pull on him. He had tried to keep walking through a night but found himself back in his room not long after the sun came up.

It seemed he was trapped on the property.

After he accepted that grim fact, Robin decided to see if he knew any of the other spirits from when he was alive. Specifically, one spirit.

"Marian?" Granny asked, leaning back with a thoughtful expression after dinner one night as she knitted a blanket. "No, that name doesn't sound familiar. Who is she?"

"My…wife." He swallowed past a lump in his throat. Even though he was dead, the sorrow and pain from her death still filled him. "She was sick and though I tried everything I could do, she couldn't get better. I was hoping she was here."

Granny nodded before sighing. "Not everyone lingers here in the spirit world, trapped between the world of the living and what we like to call the Better Place. Your Marian may have gone straight to the Better Place. It's also likely Master Gracey didn't invite her to join us."

Robin frowned. "Is there a way to know?"

"You can ask Madam Leota," she replied. "She has a deep connection with the spirit world. If your Marian is out there, she'll be able to find her."

He nodded. "Thank you."

Leaving Granny, Robin wandered through the endless hallways until he found the dark room Leota called hers. Objects floated around the room and Robin had to duck as a trumpet whirled past him, blasting a few notes. He approached the table as Madam Leota floated in her crystal ball. "Robin of Locksley, I've been wondering when you would come to see me," she said, eyes closed.

"You were?" he asked, slightly unnerved. "Do you know why?"

"You seek your wife's spirit."

He stepped closer to the table. "Yes. Do you know where she is?"

Madam Leota opened her eyes, revealing they were pale gray. "I do. She is in the Better Place, Robin, and she's happy."

"She is?" Happiness filled him but it was mixed with sorrow that he wouldn't see her again. When she had died, he had hoped they would be reunited in the afterlife.

"I know you miss her," Leota continued, "but there is a reason you are here at Gracey Manor. Once you find it, you will come to enjoy this place."

Robin doubted that would ever happen but thanked Madam Leota anyway. He left the room, heading back to his own with a heavy heart. As he turned a corner, he found himself by the door to the attic yet again. Soft crying continued to come from behind the door and he sighed, wondering just what the Queen's real story was.

Because he knew there had to be more to it than met the eye.

Once he accepted his fate, Robin started to make more friends in Gracey Manor aside from Granny. He quickly befriended her kind and outgoing granddaughter, known as Red. Red then introduced him to a few other residents, including a rather flirtatious woman named Cruella (who always had a glass of gin in hand) and a brooding pirate who went by Hook, which was what he wore after losing his hand. "It seemed even in death I'm doomed to have this," he said, raising the item in question.

Robin's other new friend was a quiet young boy named Henry who haunted the library. He often found the boy floating at the very top, reading a rather large tome that would've weighed more than him when he was alive. Henry was drawn to fairy tales and legends, even knowing who Robin was.

"So my story outlives me?" Robin asked him, pleased by that.

Henry nodded. "There are lots of books about you. I have one up…well…up in my room."

Robin noticed the hesitation in Henry's voice but decided not to pursue it. "I would love to see it. Maybe you can bring it to me sometime? Or I can go to your room…"

"No!" Henry's eyes widened before he cleared his throat. "No, I can bring it to you. That's fine."

Though he knew it was most likely none of his business, Robin's suspicions were raised. He thanked Henry but that night, he followed the young ghost to find out where his bedroom was. Robin was surprised to see Henry float through the attic door and not come back out, meaning he shared a room with the Queen.

Curiosity got the best of him and Robin slipped through the door, wanting to see why Henry chose to spend his nights here. He floated up the stairs, spotting a pile of junk around the room. Upon closer inspection, though, he spotted his own bow and arrows, meaning these were mementoes of their lives.

He ignored his prized bow for now, hiding behind a mirror as he spotted Henry settling into a child-sized bed. It had a large blanket with the image of a man wearing red, white and blue and carrying a big shield on it. Squinting, Robin was able to make out the words "Captain America" sewn into the blanket.

Once he was settled under the blanket, he looked up at someone with a smile. "Okay, Mom. I'm ready."

Mom? Robin frowned, even more confused. Why did Henry call the Queen "Mom"? Or was there someone else in this attic as well? Did the Queen even exist?

His mind then went blank as "Mom" appeared in his eyeline. She was a beautiful woman with big brown eyes and long dark curls that hung down her back. The woman wore an elaborate purple dress with a black velvet fleur-dis-lis design. Even though she wore no crown, Robin knew she was the Queen. She just carried herself with a regal bearing.

She crouched down and kissed Henry's forehead. "What story do you want tonight, my little prince?"

"Robin Hood, please," Henry said, smiling sweetly.

The Queen shook her head, though she kept smiling. "You've been on a real Robin Hood kick lately."

He nodded, sitting up. "It's because he's here. Master Gracey chose him to live here with us."

"And you've met him?" she asked, sitting down on a chair by the bed with a red book in her hands. Robin could see the title was The Adventures of Robin Hood.

"I have," Henry told her. "I'm going to bring him the book so he can look through it."

She smiled at him, raising an eyebrow. "Do you think you can part with it?"

He paused for a few moments before shrugging. "Well, I guess I could read it with him and then take it back at night so you can continue reading it to me as well."

"I guess you could do that," she told him, running her fingers through his hair before picking up the book. "Okay, where did we leave off?"

"Robin ignored everyone's pleas not to go to the Sheriff's archery contest because they all knew it would be a trap," Henry said.

Robin frowned, wondering what they were talking about. He never willingly walked into one of Nottingham's traps just to prove a point. Yes, he had his pride but he also had self-preservation instincts. He leaned closer, wanting to hear what this book had to say about this.

The Queen flipped a few pages. "Ahh, yes. Here we are. Robin borrowed clothes from Friar Tuck and stuffed them with hay to fill out the extra room as Tuck was a rather rotund man. He found a large brimmed farmer's hat and kept his head down as he entered the competition, trying not to linger too long in a spot where someone might be able to spot him and alert the Sheriff to his presence.

"Despite their disapproval of the plan, his Merry Men were dressed as farmers and other peasants in order to blend in with the people gathered to watch the competition. They would jump in if something went wrong for Robin, always ready to protect their beloved leader," she continued.

He smiled, knowing that was true. It then fell into a frown as he wondered how his men reacted to his death, to being unable to protect him from being pieced by a sword. Were they still together or had they drifted apart without his leadership? Did they still steal from the rich to give to the poor or resort to a less than honorable life?

The Queen read on, talking about how Robin easily destroyed the other competition except for one of the Sheriff's best archers. It resulted in a winner-take-all challenge, where they had to land their arrow on the bullseye. The soldier released his arrow and hit it but then Robin fired his own, slicing the soldier's arrow in two.

Robin certainly liked that.

"The Sheriff stood. 'Well done,' he said. He then smirked as he added, 'Robin of Locksley.' Everyone gasped and, realizing he was found out, Robin ripped off his hat and gave an elaborate bow. 'I'll be taking that reward now, Sheriff,' he said. 'The only thing you'll be getting is a death sentence,' the Sheriff said, motioning for his guards to step forward," the Queen read.

Henry leaned forward, eyes wide. "Did they get him?"

"Robin's Merry Men burst from the crowd and began fighting off the guards but the Sheriff had sent for reinforcements. They prevented Robin from escaping into the woods amidst the chaos and the guard seized him, dragging him before the Sheriff for judgment," she replied, reading from the book.

Indignation filled Robin and he stepped out from behind the mirror. "I beg your pardon," he said, cross. "I was never captured by the Sheriff. What pack of lies is in there?"

The Queen's brown eyes grew wide as she clutched the book to her chest. Henry jumped up out of bed, frowning. "Robin? What are you doing here?"

"I saw you coming in here," he told the boy. "And curiosity got the best of me."

"Come to gawk at the Evil Queen?" the woman asked, almost mockingly. "Come to fight me?"

He frowned, shaking his head. "Of course not. I don't think you're evil at all."

She narrowed her eyes, leaning closer. "Why?"

"Well, for starters, it is clear you love Henry and care for him as a mother cares for her son," he said, glancing over at the boy who was inching closer to the woman. "And he loves you very much."

Henry beamed as he nodded. "I do. She took me in when I first got here and I finally found the mother I had been looking for throughout my short life. Mom's everything to me."

The Queen's lip began to quiver and she lowered the book as she hugged Henry. She then cleared her throat as she studied Robin. "So, you're the real Robin Hood?"

"At your service," he said, giving her a low bow.

Henry glanced over at her, uncertain. "Can Robin stay and hear the rest of the story with us? Please?"

The Queen glanced over at him, her lips starting to twitch upwards. "Well, he's already heard so much, I guess it's only fair to let him hear the rest. If he can contain himself."

"I can't make any promises," he told her as she gave him a pointed glance. He pointed to the book. "That author clearly is trying to slander me."

She laughed, a beautiful sound that would've made his heart stop had he still been alive. He gave her a soft smile and she turned to Henry. "Okay, you, back in bed and then we'll continue reading."

Henry nodded, jumping back into bed. Robin watched as the Queen tucked him in again. She smoothed down his hair before motioning to another chair. "You can sit there," she told Robin.

"Thank you," replied, sitting down. "I can't wait to see what else this book gets wrong about me."

She rolled her eyes but continued to smile as she looked down, resuming the story for them all to enjoy. And he counted himself blessed to be sitting next to her, to listen to her and to share her space for this brief time.

After that, Robin was often a visitor to the attic at Henry's bedtime. He sat next to the Queen, listening to her as she read stories about him (some true, most false) and admiring her beauty. She was happiest when with Henry, that was clear, but Robin glimpsed a sadness in her eyes. Was it guilt for all the people she had killed?

Did she really kill anyone after all? Could she? Because when Robin looked at her, he only saw a lonely young woman with a big heart even though it had long stopped beating—not a murderous evil queen who was also a witch.

Once Henry drifted off to sleep (or pretended to. Some spirits liked to keep up the charade of their old routines, including going to bed), the Queen would then thank Robin for coming and he would be on his way. He never wanted to overstay his welcome for fear he wouldn't be allowed back.

That was his worst nightmare.

As they approached the end of the book, dread settled into Robin's less than corporeal body. He worried that once it was over, he wouldn't be allowed back into the attic and he wouldn't get to spend more time with the Queen.

That was his second worst nightmare.

One night after Henry had drifted off, the Queen motioned for Robin to follow her. He did so, climbing a few steps until they were sitting on a little balcony attached to one of the attic's windows. The graveyard stretched below them for as far as his eye could see and a full moon shone overhead, illuminating the Queen's translucent skin. It only made her look more beautiful in his eyes.

"My name is Regina," she said softly, startling him. She turned her head, her brown eyes locking onto his blue ones. "I thought it was time to tell you that."

He smiled, happy she trusted him with such information. "Regina. It's beautiful. Is that why people call you the Queen? Because of what your name means?"

She shook her head. "I really was a Queen when I was alive. Not that I wanted to be but Mother was determined to see me on the throne. That's why she named me Regina."

"What did you want to be?" he asked, frowning at the pain and bitterness in her voice.

"Free," she whispered. He felt as if his heart was breaking, even though he didn't have one anymore.

He took a deep breath, asking his next question. "Is that why you studied magic?"

She turned to look at him, her eyes wide. "What?"

"Everyone says you were a powerful witch," he told her. He then frowned. "That's not true?"

Regina shook her head. "My mother was a very powerful witch and maybe I would've been but I never studied magic."

"And I take it you never killed the king and then fought a bloody civil war with his daughter?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"I definitely didn't do that last part." She then dropped her gaze to her hands on her lap. "But I did kill the king."

He resisted the urge to take her hand, feeling herself shrink on herself as if to protect herself from something. Or someone. And a cold feeling settled over him as he started to understand why she had killed the king. "You don't have to tell me anymore," he told her. "You don't owe me anything. I owe you."

She looked up, now frowning in confusion. "What could you owe me for?"

"For letting me stay and then to spend time with you and Henry. I appreciated it," he said. "The bedtime story is my favorite part of the day."

"It's mine too," she replied. "And I'm glad we were able to share it with you. I love Henry but sometimes it does get lonely with it being just the two of us."

"Why don't you join the rest of us? Why stay up here in the attic all the time?" he asked her.

She raised her eyebrows. "People think I'm a murderous queen who is also an evil witch."

"Fair point." He bit his lip before asking: "Why don't you go down there and show them you're not?"

"I just didn't want to be around people when I first died. And now…I don't think I can face them," she admitted. "I've gotten used to being alone. Even before I died."

He scooted closer to her, brow furrowing in confusion. "But you were queen. You were surrounded by members of the court, weren't you?"

"I was a replacement queen who was really just a glorified nanny for a bratty young princess," she told him, bitterness creeping back into her voice. "No matter what, it was clear I was never going to be good as Queen Eva in anyone's eyes, especially my husband's.

"Not that that mattered at night, when he came to my bedroom. He was determined to have another heir, preferably a boy, and didn't care what it took to have one." Her voice trailed off and her eyes grew distant. Robin didn't press her for more information, able to fill in the blanks. He knew many men who thought they had a right to their wives' bodies and it had made him sick even in life. It was not an honorable approach to marriage, in his opinion.

Regina took a shuddering breath before continuing: "However, I never conceived. And despite the fact he was much older and it had even taken Queen Eva years before she had Princess Snow, no one dared to suggest the problem lie with the king."

"So they blamed you?" he asked, frowning.

She nodded. "They thought I wasn't able to have children but then there were some at court who knew my mother was witch. So they then began whispering that I was too and that I cursed myself to never have the king's child out of spite. It seemed everyone but the king realized I never had wanted to marry him."

"Did the king believe that?" he asked.

"Yes. Or at least he saw it as a way to get rid of me in order to find another queen who he hoped could give him an heir. So he signed my execution order." Her voice grew more bitter as she spoke. "He told me after forcing me to perform my so-called wifely duties. I was so angry I took the knife I kept under my pillow and finally stabbed him like I wanted to."

Robin wanted to reach out and take her hand for comfort but doubted it was what she wanted. "Then what happened?"

"I killed the king," she replied. "So I was hanged for treason. Then I found myself here."

"You deserved so much better," he told her, meaning every word. She had deserved to live a life of freedom, spent with someone who loved and respected her. Regina had deserved to be a mother.

No wonder she cried when she was alone.

She shrugged. "Maybe. I don't know. All I know is that I can't handle any more stares or whispers. So I stay up here and take care of Henry."

"Thank you for sharing your story with me," he said.

"Thank you for listening." She then turned to him, smirking. "So, how did the legendary Robin Hood finally die?"

He chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck. "Well, it's a bit embarrassing. I died on a job…"

As he told her his death story, Regina reached over and took his hand. She laced their fingers and he felt as if his breath was taken away…until he remembered he didn't breathe. The sensation remained though and he studied Regina in the moonlight, realizing that even though he didn't have a heart, he could still feel love.

For he was falling in love with the beautiful queen.

Even though they finished the book about him, Robin still joined Regina and Henry for bedtime stories. They moved on to Shakespeare and so he was enlisted in reading some of the parts for Henry's amusement. It was his favorite part of the day.

Robin also continued to watch over Henry when he wasn't in the attic and he started to entice the boy to engage with the others in the house. Hook and Red happily took the boy into their social circle, though they kept Cruella at bay. She obliged them as she wasn't fond of children in life or in death.

Then something changed in the house. A strange undercurrent ran through the air and it took Robin a few days to finally put a name to it: excitement and anticipation. Something was coming and everyone was looking forward to it. He just wasn't sure what it was.

"Halloween," Granny told him when he finally asked. "We have a grand soiree to celebrate. Food, dancing, and even fireworks. It's a great night for all of us."

"Sounds like it," he said.

She then grinned at him. "You taking anyone special?"

"Depends." He leaned closer to her, flashing the dimples Marian once called irresistible. "Are you going with someone?"

Granny patted his cheek. "You're sweet. But I go with Gepetto every year. I'll introduce you two at the party."

He laughed and thanked her before heading out of the dining hall. Robin floated about the manor until he arrived at the attic door. An idea came to him and he figured it would just be nice to ask his Queen, the only date he would really consider bringing. Going through the door, he climbed the stairs and looked around for Regina. "Milady?" he called out.

"Robin?" She appeared from behind a mirror, frowning. "Why are you up here so early? Is something wrong?"

He shook his head. "Nothing is wrong. I've just found out about the Halloween ball and was wondering if you would like to come with me."

"You know I don't like to leave my attic," she replied, frowning as she wrung her hands. She looked nervous and he believed she had started to shake. There was a lot about her time at court she still refused to talk about and he wondered if she had had bad experience at balls as well.

"I know. I wasn't expecting you to say yes. I just thought it would be nice to ask you." He smiled at her, hoping to put her at ease and feeling like a heel for just asking to make her feel wanted. Robin never wanted to remind her of something unpleasant from her life.

Her lips parted as her eyes grew big in surprise. "Oh. That's actually…really sweet. Thank you, Robin."

"You're wel…" His response died away as he felt her cold but soft lips against his cheek. It was the closest he had ever gotten to her and an aroma of vanilla wafted around him. It suited her.

And it also soothed his mind. He hadn't traumatized her after all.

She pulled away, her brown eyes almost sparkling with life. "Can you keep an eye on Henry for me? He should go and enjoy the party."

Robin recovered his sense and he nodded. "I will happily take care of him, milady. And should you change your mind, we'll be happy to have you."

"I doubt I'll change my mind," she told him, still hovering close. "But I'll remember that."

He smiled at her. "Though I know you won't come, I will save you a dance. Even if I have to come up here at the end to get it."

She smirked, floating away from him. "Maybe you'll get one. We'll have to see."

"I guess so," he said, heading back to the stairs. He grinned to himself. "I guess so."

Nine hundred and ninety-eight ghosts converged on the ballroom for the Halloween ball, many spilling into the graveyard. Spirits sat on bare tree branches and danced amongst graves, laughing as music blared from every corner of the manor. Jack-o-lanterns illuminated the graveyard while several candelabras and the grand chandelier lit up the ballroom, where spirits ate and drank though they were neither hungry nor thirsty.

Robin himself sipped at ale, relishing the taste although he no longer felt the effects of the alcohol. It was familiar, a reminder of his life, and it seemed appropriate for a party. He watched as Henry tried to bob for an apple, the red fruit floating through his form as he tried to bite into it. It made him laugh, though, and Robin was glad the boy was having fun.

"So, mate, you going to share a dance with one of the many fair lasses who call this place home?" Hook asked, appearing beside him with a flask of run.

"I'm not sure," Robin replied, watching as Red twirled around with another woman in a dress with a blue and white square pattern. "Maybe Red, but just as a friend."

"Good call. Dorothy is quite dangerous, even when you're already dead." Hook took another swig as he chuckled at his joke.

Robin looked at his pirate friend from the corner of his eye. "What about you? You going to dance with anyone?"

Hook's flask disappeared. "I'll have you know I've already danced with a fair share of eligible maidens. But they all want to dance with our resident legend. You're breaking a lot hearts…figuratively speaking."

"There's only one woman I want to dance with," Robin said. "But she's not going to be here."

"Right, Marian. I know it's hard when you're trapped here and the woman you love has moved on, but take it from me, mate. You need to move on. Or your eternity will be miserable." Hook clapped him on the back.

Robin took another sip of his ale, wanting to tell Hook he had moved on from Marian. However, he had promised to keep his relationship with Regina and her true story secret. So he had to pretend that Hook was right.

Henry bounded up to them, an apple in his teeth. Robin raised his eyebrow. "I see you finally got one," he said.

"Yep," Henry replied, taking the apple out of his mouth. He then took a bite, chewing as he asked: "What are we going to do next?"

"Swallow," Robin and Hook said in unison. Robin shook his head. "What would your mother say if she saw you?"

Hook raised an eyebrow, asking in confusion: "Mother?"

"Robin," Henry hissed in warning, frowning. Disappointment, anger and panic filled his eyes and guilt filled Robin.

"What's going on here?" Granny asked, coming over with an older Italian man she had introduced as Gepetto. She frowned as she looked at their faces. "Why aren't you all having fun?"

Before Robin could play his comment off as a careless slip to the tongue and apologize to Henry for forgetting the boy was an orphan, a hush fell over the crowd and the music died away. People turned to the door and Henry gasped, his eyes widening as he exclaimed: "MOM!"

"What?" the three adults said and Robin looked up, surprise and excitement filling him as he saw Regina glide through the parted crowd.

She had changed her purple dress into a light blue off-the-shoulder gown. Tiny crystals reflected the candlelight with her every movement as did the diamond she wore on a chain around her neck. Her dark hair was gathered into a low ponytail on the side of her head, thick curls cascading over one of her bare shoulders.

"Is that…the Queen?" Gepetto asked, Italian accent thick from surprise. "The one who lives in the attic?"

Hook pointed to Henry. "And did you call her 'Mom'?"

"I did. She's now my mom," Henry said before throwing his arms around Regina as she approached their tiny group. "You came!"

She kissed the top of his head but kept her eyes on Robin as she smiled. "I got a bit lonely up in the attic. And I was promised a dance…"

"You were?" Hook asked, surprised. "By who?"

"Me," Robin said as he glided forward, holding out his hand to her. "Milady?"

Henry let go of her and Regina took his hand. They headed to the center of the empty dance floor as everyone watched. Robin nodded to the ghostly musicians gaping in the corner and they quickly started playing a nice waltz for them to dance to.

Robin bowed to her before placing his hand on her waist and taking her hand in his. They moved as one, Regina following his lead as they moved about the room. He twirled her, her skirts flying out around her as she laughed. Robin twirled her back toward him and she grinned at him. "Where did you learn to dance?" she asked.

"I wasn't always a thief who lived in the woods," he replied, holding their arms over his head as she moved around him. He then pulled her close to him again. "I was raised the son of a nobleman."

"What happened?" she asked, leaning closer to hear the part of his story not covered in the book nor shared by him after Henry's bedtime.

He felt the old bitterness and resentment creep up. "My father supported King Richard but when he was captured during the Crusades, his brother Prince John took the throne and seized my father's title and property. I was fighting him as much as I was helping my people."

Admiration shown in Regina's eyes. "You really are a hero. So what do you see in a villain like me?"

Robin frowned. "You aren't a villain. You were trapped in a shitty situation and forced to act. And if you don't believe me, just look at the love in Henry's eyes. You're a hero to him, trust me."

"He's my hero," she said softly, smiling at her son as they passed by him. He gave them a wave and they returned it.

Once again, Robin spun her out and then spun her back to him. Her back was pressed against his chest and he wrapped his arms around her. "I am glad you decided to come down and join us," he told her.

"Me too," she said. "Even if everyone is staring at me as if I had three heads."

"They are amazed by your beauty," he replied, rocking her gently. "Just like I am."

She glanced up, giving him a cheeky smile. "Laying it on a bit thick there, thief."

"I only speak the truth, for I am an honest thief. You are stunning… in every way." He spun her back out as the song ended.

Regina's pale skin seemed to take on a pinkish tint and she avoided his eyes as she walked past him. "I think I need some punch."

"Punch sounds good," he agreed, following behind her. He watched as she ladled some of the red liquid into a glass before doing the same. Robin held out his glass to her. "A toast?"

She raised an eyebrow. "To what?"

"Halloween," he replied. "And to new beginnings. Even when you're dead."

"Cheers." She clinked her glass against his before taking a sip. Regina then reached out and took his hand. "Thank you, Robin."

"For?" he asked, confused.

She looked down, clearly sheepish. "For pulling me out of my self-imposed prison. For listening to me. For seeing the woman behind the rumors."

"Well, I think Henry did that first," Robin said, raising his glass toward the boy spirit who was now dancing with Red.

Regina smiled, nodding. "That's true. But knowing I had your support as well finally got me to leave the attic. I know you've heard me crying. Henry told me. I often sit up there and think about the life I could've had and all the people I was taken from—my father, Daniel, my first love—and I would get so bitter, I would just cry. But you and Henry reminded me that I can't keep mourning the past. I have an entire eternity before me and I need to enjoy it."

He took her hand again. "I'm happy for that. And to be honest, you and Henry taught me the same lesson."

"Mom!" Henry ran up to them after his dance with Red ended. He bowed to Regina, his hair almost brushing the floor from how low he dipped. "May I have this dance?"

She looked impressed and handed Robin her glass before curtsying in response. "Yes, you may."

"Have fun you two," Robin called after them, watching with pride as Henry led his mother onto the dance floor.

Hook slid up to him, eyes wide. "You're romancing the bloody Queen? What the hell?"

"Her name is Regina," Robin replied, keeping his eyes on her and Henry as she taught him the reel everyone was dancing.

"She's a murderer."

Robin gave him a side-eyed glance. "And you're going to tell me you were the one pirate who didn't murder anyone?"

Hook huffed. "Fine. But still…"

"What? I'm dead. She can't kill me." Robin sipped his punch to try not to laugh at Hook's annoyed look.

"There are the rumors that she's a witch. I'm sure she still has her magic in that case and can send your spirit somewhere even Leota can't contact," Hook said.

Robin shrugged. "I guess that's a risk I'll have to take. She hasn't sent me anywhere yet, so I think I'm good."

The dance ended and Regina curtsied to Henry, who hugged her. They stood in the middle of the dance floor, locked in a sweet embrace. It almost made Robin feel alive again and almost feel warmth yet again.

"Oh gods," Hook groaned. "You love her, don't you? I can see it in your eyes."

"Can you feel love if you're dead?" Robin asked him, trying to avoid answering the question even though he knew the answer.

It was a resounding yes.

Henry ran up to him with Regina following at a slower pace. The boy wrapped his arms around Robin, giving him a hug. "I'm really glad you came here," he told Robin.

Robin chuckled, hugging him back. "Well, I didn't really have a say in it, but I'm glad Master Gracey brought me here."

"May I have the next dance?" Regina asked, holding out her hand to him again. Hope filled her eyes as she smiled. "Please?"

He took her hand. "Of course, milady. I would be honored."

They joined the others on the floor but she stopped, tilting her head as she listened to the music. She frowned. "I don't recognize this. I don't think I can dance it."

"Then we'll make our own dance," he said, guiding her to a corner. "The important thing is that we have fun, right?"

She hesitated. "I'm not used to just having fun. Everything had to be perfect, first for my mother and then for the king."

"I don't want perfect." Robin leaned closer, cupping her cheek. "I want you to be happy."

Something softened in her eyes and she leaned closer as well. "I am happy. I have Henry…and now I have you."

"Yes, you do." He took her hand and spun her around, watching as her skirts flared out around her. Robin's spirits soared as she laughed, a sound that was almost as beautiful as the music that was playing.

Regina took his other hand. "Have you ever done a chassis?"

"Those are my specialty." He led her down the floor, following the wall as she laughed again, clearly enjoying herself.

Robin wasn't too sure if ghosts could get drunk but it seemed Regina had relaxed more after a couple more glasses of punch. She smiled easily and even took part in conversations with some of the other ghosts they shared the manor with. He stayed closer to her, just in case something went wrong, but everyone she encountered was pleasant to her. It appeared she was having a good time and he was glad to see it.

He also enjoyed the fact that when they had sat down to rest, she hadn't taken the empty chair next to him but had plopped down on his lap with a giggle. Robin held her close, enjoying the contact for he wasn't sure if she would feel this way in the morning.

Then somewhere deep in the manor, a clock chimed thirteen times. The music died away but the room continued to vibrate with a sense of excitement as people began to spill out into the graveyard.

"What's going on?" he asked Granny.

She smiled. "It's the witching hour, my dear."

"The what?" he asked, confused.

Regina slid off his lap, looking nervous. "Maybe I should go back to the attic. It's late and Henry should really be in bed…"

Granny's eyes widened and she shook her head. "That's not what I meant. At all. It's time for the fireworks."

"Can't I watch the fireworks, Mom?" Henry asked, clasping his hands together as he stared up at her with wide eyes. "Please?"

Robin watched her melt easily and she smiled at Henry, tucking two fingers under his chin. "Of course, my little prince."

"Mo-om!" he whined, ducking away from her.

They all chuckled and Robin took her hand. "Are you coming to watch the fireworks too, milady?"

She laced her fingers with his. "I would love to."

"Yes!" Henry let out a whoop. "Let's go before we miss them."

They laughed, following him outside to the verandah. Henry wormed his way to the railing and they followed, Robin and Regina still standing next to each other. They all looked up to the sky, waiting for the show to begin.

Bursts of red and blue filled the eyes, followed by gold and green ones. Robin pulled Regina and Henry closer to him, realizing that they were starting to become a little family. If he had to spend eternity with anyone, he would definitely pick them.

Judging by the smile Regina was giving him, he believed she would pick him too.

This was definitely a happy beginning.