"We need to figure out what this witch's plan is, and soon."

Regina groaned. They had been at this for hours. Snow and Charming had called the council members (which now included Regina and some of those insufferable idiots who liked to sleep in the woods) to yet another meeting to discuss strategy. The problem was, all they knew about her was that she was supposedly Regina's half-sister with a thirst for vengeance- though what she wanted revenge for, Regina still had no idea. Prior to coming back to the Enchanted Forest, she had never even known she had a sister. Cora had never once spoken of her while she was alive, and Regina knew she had to get to the bottom of that if she ever wanted to know what exactly this witch was after. The best way to do that was to sneak into her castle and do some reconnaissance.

She said as much, and Snow sighed. "You're right. However, we can't just go barging in there. That's a bad plan, Regina, and you know it."

"I don't care!" she thundered. She had had a short fuse ever since she had lost her Henry, hadn't been able to keep her temper in check, and today was no exception. "We need to defeat her before she does something drastic. You care about your subjects, don't you?"

"Of course I do!" Snow snapped, a hurt expression on her face. "But I also care about you, Regina. You can't send yourself off to the witch's lair alone, it's too dangerous. You'll be killed, or worse!"

Her words reminded Regina of what she had tried to do before they had joined forces with the forest dwellers. If only Snow had let her go through with burying her heart, or the thief had let her put herself under a sleeping curse. Then not only would she not have to deal with their insufferable dispositions, but she'd be able to dream of her Henry, or have her love for him and the pain of his absence dulled to a manageable level- meaning she wouldn't feel anything at all. Henry's absence was something she felt in the depths of her soul every minute of every day, and their fight against the witch was the only thing capable of distracting her from her anguish long enough that she could actually get something done. Why couldn't Snow understand that? She had lost her daughter twice, and Henry was her grandson. Why didn't she feel this gaping hole, the chasm that seemed to have no end? She had always been full of hope to an insufferable degree, but how could she still have it now? It was like she didn't care about Henry or the fact that they would never see him or Emma again. Not that she cared about the Savior, not at all. However, the son they shared was a different matter entirely.

She couldn't even attempt to tell Snow that though. She just wouldn't understand. "I'm going to scope things out and try to figure out her plan whether you like it or not," she declared.

Snow opened her mouth to protest, but the thief beat her to it. "And I'm going with you."

Regina laughed. "You're going with me? Really?" How did the thief think he was any match for the witch? Regina was the only one with magic at her disposal, so she would be the only one going. "Think again, thief. You'll only be in my way."

"I wouldn't dare get in your way, and you know it," he fired back.

David banged his fist on the table to get everyone's attention. Roused from the little world their verbal sparring always seemed to send them to, Regina and the outlaw both looked over at him, as did everyone else at the oval table. "Neither of you is going until we have a plan that won't get you both killed. You're both valuable and have abilities we can use to defeat the witch, we can't afford to lose either of you."

Robin shook his head. "With all due respect, Your Highness, I disagree. We need to act quickly and it takes two days to get to the Dark One's castle. We'll have plenty of time to plan how to get in and out as we travel. Besides, he hasn't been there in almost three decades and I've broken in before, so we have that advantage."

She hated to admit it, she really did, but the thief had a point. Yes, she could just transport them there and therefore spend as little time as possible with the thief who annoyed her on a daily basis, but it was wise to conserve her energy for any obstacles they might face at the Dark One's castle.

To her relief, Snow also seemed to grasp the sense in that plan as well. "Fine. You'll leave at dawn. Get a good night's sleep- I have a feeling you'll need it."

The next morning, she dressed in one of her many gowns and packed everything she would need in a small saddlebag. If everything went well, they would only be gone for a few days, so she didn't need much, just some food and a change of clothes. She would create a bed for herself once they were on the road. She refused to sleep on the ground. Not only was it unbelievably uncomfortable, but she was more refined than that.

You were perfectly fine with it when you and Daniel would sleep in the loft on nothing but straw, a small voice whispered in her ear.

She banished the thought and the painful memories it brought to the forefront of her mind. Yes, she had once accidentally fallen asleep in the hay bales- multiple times- but that had happened to a completely different girl, one who was not yet so scarred by everything that had happened to her that she had stopped believing in happy endings. She knew better now, and no part of the woman she had become wanted to sleep on the ground, or anywhere near the thief, for that matter. She would make her own sleeping arrangements, make no mistake about that.

When she got to the castle's entrance, she saw the thief already standing there waiting for her, He was surrounded by some of the other forest-dwellers, including the big one, whom she had told countless times now needed to stay away from excessive amounts of food, and the preacher, or whatever he was. Because of the obnoxious nature of their leader, she had refused to get to know any of the Merry Men. It was far too likely that they were just as annoying as their leader.

The one exception to her distaste for the Merry Men sat cradled in his father's arms. "Why do you have to go, Papa?" he murmured sleepily. Regina felt terrible for him. Yes, little boys liked to wake up early, but dawn was only just starting to break on the horizon. This child should still be in bed.

"I have to protect Regina, yeah?" Robin answered.

Oh no. He did not just do that. The last thing she needed was another person thinking she needed protection. People needed to cower when she was near, not the other way around. But his son was nodding earnestly, and she knew she had to find a way to get this idea out of their heads. Besides, the thief didn't care about her anyway, nor should he. He was only pretending to care for his son's sake.

As Roland nodded, an idea sparked in her mind. She knew exactly what she could use to convince him to let her go on this mission alone. "You should stay with your son," she suggested. "You said it yourself, he's already lost one parent."

One of his eyebrows raised, he asked, "Then who will make sure you're all right?"

She shook her head. "I'll be fine. No one who cares about me will even know if I don't come back," she muttered under her breath. Sure, Snow might say she cared, but she only did because of the woman Regina had been, not who she was now. No one would love the Evil Queen except her father and Henry. Yes, Snow was a hero through and through, but the grace she extended to her certainly wasn't echoed by her husband. Charming trusted her about as far as he could throw her, and she couldn't say she blamed him.

"No," Robin replied. "Not a chance. I'm not letting you go off on your own, that was the whole reason Snow and Charming agreed to this in the first place. I'm coming, milady, whether you like it or not."

She groaned, but Snow piped up, "He's right, Regina. He knows where he's going, you need him. He's going, that's the deal."

Regina sighed, looking over at the insufferable thief. "Fine. But if you hold me up in any way…"

"I'll pay for it," he finished. "Understood." He turned to his son, holding him close. "All right, Roland, Papa needs to go."

"Take care of Gina," Roland whispered as he glanced over at her, making Regina's heart melt. If only adults were as sweet as they were as children. She had no idea what happened between childhood and adulthood to make people so… exhausting, impossible to endure.

"I will," Robin responded. When he set him down and tried to pass his son off to one of the other do-gooders, Roland shook his head fervently and ran toward her, leaping into her arms.

She caught him with the dexterity born from years of practice. Henry had done the exact same thing for years before she finally had to gently explain to him that he was too heavy for her to carry around anymore. That day and the accompanying realization that her little prince wasn't so little anymore had devastated her. She had shed far more tears than she cared to admit that night, wishing that she could just rewind time and go back to the days when he had been a screaming infant that she had had to learn how to soothe. That had been no easy task in itself, but all she wanted was the promise that her little boy would never have to endure the challenges that came with growing up… and that also came with the advantage of more years of Snow and Charming living under her curse.

She held Roland close now, the pine scent that seemed to cling to his father and uncles surprisingly tolerable when mixed with the fresh smell that all children seemed to be born with. "Be careful, Gina," he whispered.

She smiled, her heart bursting with love for the child in her arms. "I will." She bopped him on the nose. "I'm the Queen. Anyone would have to be really silly to mess with me, right?"

He nodded, his curls bouncing with the movement. "Will you make sure Papa stays safe too? Please?"

His plea brought her up short. Normally, she wanted nothing to do with the thief, but for his precious son, her little knight in shining armor… she sighed. She might have to make an exception to her usual rule, one that she would likely regret. "All right, Roland. I promise I'll make sure your papa stays safe." Not that the stubborn idiot would even listen to her if it came down to it, but she would try. For Roland, she would do anything.

It was only then that she caught sight of the older Hood's expression. He looked as conflicted as she felt, a little nervous and… Was that something else in his expression? It was a unique look, an emotion that she didn't dare name, and based on the fact that they couldn't have a conversation for more than a minute without arguing, she doubted that he wanted to give voice to it either. Honestly, he was probably trying to disguise his loathing for her. After all, it was no secret that Robin Hood despised magic in all its forms, especially dark magic. There was no possible chance that he could ever tolerate someone like her, nor did she want him to. With the exception of the little hobbit that she adored, she was perfectly happy to stay as far away from this odorous thief as possible.

"Come on, Roland, Gina and I need to leave," Robin chided softly, reaching for his son once more to guide him away from them.

She glared at him, not daring to conjure a fireball, for fear of scaring Roland. "Never call me that again," she said in a low voice, hoping that her tone conveyed enough of a threat to have its full effect, but not so much that it scared Roland.

He nodded, and she knew that the message had been received. Good.

At last, Roland was safely in the arms of one of the other forest dwellers, and they set off.

After hours of traveling in complete silence, they stopped at a stream to refill their waterskins and eat something, and she immediately took off her shoes to rub the soles of her feet. What had possessed her to wear these shoes? She should've conjured up some tennis shoes from the Land Without Magic. She hated to admit it, even to herself, but they would've been far more comfortable than these little terrors.

Oh, forget it. She was in the woods, for crying out loud, not the red carpet. With a wave of her hand, black tennis shoes appeared on her feet and she stood. "All right, time to go."

"You need to save your magic," the thief chastised, a look of distaste on his face.

That's right, he couldn't stand magic. Well, it was a part of her, whether he liked it or not. If he hadn't wanted to work with a sorceress, he should've stayed back at the castle with his son instead of gallivanting through the woods with her.

"Who asked you?" she demanded, glaring. If she had had her way, flames would've been leaping out of her eyes right at that moment.

He threw his hands in the air. "Far be it from me to show even an ounce of concern. If you use all of your strength now, you won't have any for when we encounter the witch."

Did… Did he actually have a good point? Yes, she needed to conserve her energy, but still, "It doesn't quite work that way, thief." The action had barely affected her, and even if it had, her stamina would recharge overnight, and she'd be good as new in the morning as long as she didn't try to do something too elaborate. As long as she was able to conjure her bed at the end of the night, she'd be fine.

As they continued their journey that afternoon, the wind started to pick up until Regina finally admitted it could be categorized as a gale. The skies gradually darkened, so that by the time the first rays of a glorious sunset should've been in the sky, the clouds that took its place were almost pitch black. A storm was coming.

She fought her way up to Robin, who was walking ahead, and suggested, her voice a shout so she could be heard above the wind, "We need to find shelter, fast."

He nodded, and Regina could tell from his gritted teeth and strained voice that the change in weather wasn't appreciated by him either. "I know. Unlike someone, who only knows how to complain, I've been looking for a suitable shelter for some time now. If memory serves, there's one just ahead where we can sleep soundly tonight."

"Fine, fine, just get us there," she said, waving her hand. She just wanted to rest her feet. Yes, she had changed her shoes, but they had been traipsing through the woods with barely any breaks all day. She wasn't used to this level of exercise. Or any exercise, actually. She had kept her figure in Storybrooke through healthy eating, never needing the potion she knew she could brew to stay slim.

After another twenty minutes, during which rain started to pour down on her, soaking her thoroughly, and Regina's feet protested the strain being put on them, they arrived at a cave.

Robin gestured toward the entrance with a flourish. "Your accommodations, milady."

"It's 'Your Majesty,'" she muttered before pushing her way past him and stepping into their shelter for the night.

What she saw satisfied her. Surprisingly, this would do nicely. The cave- cavern, really- stretched as far as the eye could see, tunnels in the back leading she dared not think where. At least there was plenty of room for what she had in mind.

She raised her hands, ready to bring the bed of her dreams to life, when her unwitting companion asked, "What exactly are you doing?"

Exasperated, she turned to him with a huff. "What does it look like I'm doing? I'm making a suitably comfortable bed."

He shook his head. "What's wrong with the perfectly dry cave floor?"

She couldn't help laughing. "Exactly that: it's a cave floor. Did you forget that I'm a queen?"

"You need to save your energy for the possibility of confronting that witch and any magical obstacles we might face," he pointed out.

She shook her head. It really was cute, how much he didn't understand about magic sometimes. She could tell that he had had very little cause to interact with it, or those who used it. With a wave of her hands, the task was complete, and she sat down on the luxurious four-poster she had created, her arms stretching as wide as they would go to display her handiwork. "See? That didn't affect me at all. Certainly not enough to justify you worrying so much." She was honestly surprised he worried about her at all- unless, of course, it was for Roland's sake. However, his son wasn't here with them, so he didn't have to keep up pretenses.

"Regardless, I gave my son my word that I would look after you, and I always keep my word," the thief explained. "So like it or not, milady, I'm going to do as I said I would."

Regina snorted. "Don't you ever get tired of it, want to just let go?" She would. She enjoyed having control over her own life, the freedom being the Evil Queen had given her.

He hesitated. "At one time, yes. However, for my son, I'll do anything. I'm sure you can understand."

Her heart lurched at the mention of her son. She did… But Henry was the last thing she wanted to talk about. "Fine. But if something happens to you, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Of course not, milady," he said. He paused before continuing, "Should something happen to me, can I make a request?"

She raised her eyebrows. The thief, make a request of the woman who by definition was evil? He did have some nerve, she would give him that. "You can certainly try, although I'll make no promises about whether I'll grant it or not until I know what it is."

"Of course not, Your Majesty."

The use of her title surprised her. He must really be serious if he was doing what she had asked him to do for the entirety of their acquaintance. She crossed her arms. "Go on."

Emboldened, he asked, "Should something happen to me, will you help my men look after my son? They are his family, yes, but my son never knew the touch of a mother before we met you. He needs a maternal presence in his life, and should something happen to me…" He paused, swallowing hard. "I just want to make sure he's looked after, milady."

He… he wanted her to help take care of Roland if anything happened to him? A thousand emotions rose within her, chief among them skepticism, fear, and awe. Surely he didn't really mean for her to help raise his son… did he? She would take care of him, there was no question of that, but she doubted he actually wanted her to do it. "Are you serious?" she sputtered, her voice conveying only a fraction of the awe she felt.

"Deadly," he confirmed with a nod. "I may not understand it, but my son loves you. There are many things about you that are imperfect, but you are a good mother. I've never met Henry, but I know that you raised him well."

"He's perfect," she whispered. Then something occurred to her, a valid argument that would bring him back to his senses. "I would love to look after him, of course I would. But what about your men? What would they say if I started taking care of Roland with them?"

There was a pause before his response as he frowned. Had he really not considered that possibility? It would've been the first thing she'd think of, how Roland's new caregiver would get along with the ones he already knew. "I'll admit that it took some convincing, and not all of my men are thrilled with the arrangement, but they have all agreed, some begrudgingly, out of respect for my wishes. So you would meet no resistance from them, milady."

She crossed her arms. "I'll believe it when I see it." Out of the people who had been in Storybrooke, no one except Snow trusted her. Why would the Merry Men be any different, especially with their fearless leader out of the picture? That great oaf who she had gathered was Robin's second had said it himself: she shouldn't be near any of them. Although she had to admit that if she was ever told that she could never see Roland again, she would be devastated, and perhaps never surface from the depths of her despair. He was the only thing that made life without her little prince even somewhat tolerable, and she knew that if she didn't have him, she'd either rip her own heart out (again) or put herself under a sleeping curse faster than she could say her son's name. Then she could have peaceful oblivion until her son came to wake her, free from a life without him, which was turning out to be the worst thing she could possibly imagine.

"Believe it," he reiterated. "You know I live by a code. Well, all of my men do as well. It may not be as strict as my own, but it exists nonetheless. They will honor my wishes, no matter how much they may disagree with them."

Regina decided to only greet his words with silence. He could believe what he wanted, she was certain she was right no matter what he thought.

They prepared for bed in silence, Robin laying out the blanket and pillow he had brought, while she got under the covers, changing into a lingerie set once she had done so. There was no way she was sleeping in a gown, but she also didn't want the thief to get any ideas either. She had had enough of men casting lascivious glances her way for a lifetime.

She turned on her side, snuggling deeper into the cocoon of warmth surrounding her. "Don't you wish you had asked me to make you a bed too?" she taunted the thief. She knew neither of their sons would approve of the fact that she wasn't exactly being kind to him, but she couldn't help it. The thief brought out the worst in her.

He shook his head. "I am quite comfortable down here, thank you. I should've known that you wouldn't have been satisfied with simple accommodations though. It's not in your nature to appreciate the simple things in life, is it?"

She sighed. "No, No, it's not." She had once craved simplicity above all else, but a child's betrayal and the thirst for revenge had changed all that. She knew she couldn't go back to who she had been, and in this case, she didn't want to. She was perfectly happy right here wrapped in her nice cozy bed.

Silence fell, and Regina started to fall asleep. Suddenly, she heard the pitter patter of something unknown on the floor, then the rustling of- wait. What was that?!

She screamed and leaped out of the bed.

"Did something startle you, milady?" The outlaw asked. She couldn't see well in the cavern, but she could tell he was wearing that smug smirk of his. Did he have to make fun of her every second of every day?

"There was a- a thing," she stammered. "I'm not sleeping in that bed anymore. Move over."

He obliged, opening the blanket in invitation for her to join him.

She darted over to him, pulling the blanket around her. She remembered in that moment what exactly she had changed into, and her cheeks were suddenly, embarrassingly, aflame. Maybe he hadn't noticed, and if he had, hopefully his so-called code would prevent him from saying anything.

"Nice sleepwear," he commented, and she knew instantly that her hopes were dashed. "Do you always wear that while sleeping outdoors?"

"For your information, I've never camped in my life," she refuted. Not strictly true, but she doubted a night spent with Daniel in the loft of the stables would count as roughing it to this outdoorsman.

He chuckled. "Of course you haven't. Well, milady, allow me to inform you that one doesn't wear their best nightclothes whilst sleeping out in the open, particularly when they're with someone they don't know well. Besides, aren't you supposed to be conserving your energy?"

"Well, obviously you weren't supposed to see it," she muttered. "And I've told you before, something like that takes no energy at all, and even if it did, I'll have all of my energy back tomorrow morning." She sighed. "What do you care, anyway?"

"More than you think, believe it or not," he told her. "I may not have quite decided how I feel about you in light of some of your past deeds, but you're good to my son. At the end of the day, that's all I need to know."

Silence fell between them and Regina tried to sleep once more. They wouldn't find any information they needed to defeat her sister, and there might be more steps to victory than anyone had anticipated, but as Robin's arm wrapped around her, his hands on the satin a feeling that was better than she could havve possibly imagined (and better than she was willing to admit), she couldn't help feeling just a little bit of hope.

Prompts in this entry: 3 Missing year. Regina and Robin go searching for something to fight Zelena with and end up having to camp out in the woods together, 8 enemies who have to share a bed, and 18 someone has a scare and doesn't want to sleep alone. Hope you enjoyed this, let me know what you think!