Author's Note: As of November 19, 2017, some of you may need to go back and reread the end of the last chapter. Although I don't normally do this, I did add a few additional paragraphs late last night after I had already posted. Also, if you read, please take the time to send a constructive review. It really does feed the creative process. Thank you.

Robin stands with his back to the bars of his cell and turns his head sideways, peering down at the seemingly arcane locking mechanism on the outside of their shared cell. Shortly after Regina had given her name to the secretary upstairs, their presence alerted a few uniformed wizards who came rustling around the corner to hold Regina at wandpoint. Not wanting to draw any more attention to themselves than absolutely necessary, she had told the wizards that she had no intent to resist. At which time, they were immediately and forcibly escorted through the main lobby to the obscure looking lift that brought them down here to the holding cells, where they now wait for their presence to be acknowledged by someone with more authority than a lowly security guard.

Making good use of his profession, Robin quickly assesses their current holdings, coming to the conclusion that the facility wasn't built with people like him in mind. The austere but unusually clean six-by-eight-foot cell is outfitted with a bench, a bed, and one seemingly simple lock. He thinks about picking it, but before he can do so, he literally feels his wife's presence. She's less than an inch in front of him. He can feel her breath against his neck.

He turns, giving her his full, undivided, attention and offers his wide easy smile when he observes the steep angle of her arched eyebrow and the silent question burning in her eyes.

"Yeah, hi there." She whispers for his ears only. "What are you doing?" She demands as if she doesn't already know what is on his mind.

He shrugs and whispers back, "I'm pretty sure I can get us out of here."

"Robin, if I wanted you to get us out of here, don't you think I would've put up a little more fight going in. Sit down before you get yourself hurt."

"Who's going to hurt me? Even without my bow, surely you don't think that wretched-looking little imp they call a guard is a threat we can't handle."

First, honey…" She hisses pointedly. "He's not an imp. He's an elf, and he possesses more than enough magic to knock you on your supremely well-formed backside. I would strongly suggest that you not give him a reason to do that because if he does, I will have to hurt him. Second…" She holds out her hand as if waiting to receive something. "Give me a penny."

Not at all sure why she should make such a request at this moment, Robin raises an eyebrow, as he reaches into a pocket and hands over the requested coin. "Love, you really should start carrying some loose change in your pockets."

Regina holds her arms out to the side and spins slowly like a fashion model turning on a catwalk. Showing off precision-fitted leather pants and a corset that are the color of bold red wine and accompanied by a matching ankle-length coat with a turned-up collar that is accented with black opal and spun gold filigree thread "Do you see any pockets?"

Robin lets his gaze travel slowly from her head to her toes and back again, lingering over all his favor parts along the way. "Umm, well, I guess carrying change is out of the question."

Before he can say more, she lightly tosses the penny through the old flat iron bars. Less than a ¼ inch from the other side of the bars, the coin encounters an unseen magical barrier and sets off a minor, but cacophonous, display of attention-getting fireworks.

"Even if you get the doors open…" She returns to her seat on the prison bench and crosses her legs provocatively enough to momentarily scramble not only Robin's thought process but also that of the curious guard who hurries in to check on them in response to the commotion. Before continuing with her own thought process, Regina shrugs and waves to the guard playfully. He scowls and returns to his desk as she says, "the containment charm around them will cut you to ribbons. Come over here, sit down beside me, and wait. I'm sure we can think of something to do to occupy your mind until someone shows up."

Before either of them can say anything more, the door to the room opens again and the elf returns in the company of two men. The dark-haired one with glasses gazes at the two of them through the cell bars momentarily before turning his attention to the guard.

"Jax, I was only told about Ms. Mills."

The elf nods. "Sorry about that, sir. The rogue with her never gave his name at reception, but they are together. They sound like married people."

The redheaded man squints curiously as Regina smirks. "What do you mean they sound like married people."

"Weasley, sir, you may never have noticed, but married people have a certain way they talk to each other. It's different from the way unmarried couples converse. I can't truly define it with the words, but I know it when I hear it. I'll stake a gold galleon on it, these two are man and wife."

When both men outside the cell raise curious eyebrows, Regina looks to her cellmate. "Do you want to tell them or should I."

Robin offers his smile and bows congenially. "Robin of Locksley."

The redheaded one called Weasley inadvertently releases a quick snort of laughter before he manages to reign it in. "Are you serious?" He gestures to his companion. "Is he for real? Are you seriously telling me that Robin Hood actually exists?"

Robin grimaces and shakes his head in disappointment. "Alas, Regina, it would seem that apparently, I'm nothing more than a glorified folk hero in this realm as well."

Weasley sniggers again. "Bloody hell! I enjoyed the books as a kid, mate, but I really must say, she's not at all how I pictured the maid, Marian."

Robin glowers, his next words leaving no room for doubt. "My Marian died a number of years ago and I would greatly appreciate it if you would kindly refrain from saying her name in jest."

Realizing, even without the look of warning that his friend shoots him, that he has stepped in it yet again, the jokester ducks his head in embarrassment, but after a long second's hesitation, he looks Robin squarely in the eye and says, "My sincere apologies. I meant no harm. I truly did think you were having us on."

Robin shakes his head in earnest. "I give you my word, Mr. Weasley. I am indeed, Robin Hood. My wife and I have come here, not to cause trouble, but because we need your help. We've come seeking an audience with an auror; Mr. Harry Potter. It is of the utmost urgency that we speak with him."

"I am Harry Potter. And, as an auror, it is typically my job to apprehend dark witches and wizards. Are the two of you aware of that?"

Regina rises calmly to her feet. "Yes, we are. And, we have come anyway."

"Well then, Your Majesty, you've taken quite the risk; haven't you?"

"Perhaps." She shrugs. "When I left The Enchanted Forest a number of years ago, aurors from this realm, by magical decree, did not travel to other realms to apprehend those who are dark unless an invitation was extended requesting assistance."

"That is still true. We do not intercede in the affairs of other civilizations unless expressly invited to do so, but I have traveled nowhere without invitation. You have entered my realm."

"That is also true, but I have committed no crime here, Mr. Potter. I admit, I used a bit of dark magic to get to this realm, but I have not used dark magic since my arrival here. What's more, I have no intention of doing so. Surely, you don't imprison people simply because they are capable of the practice of the dark arts. If you did that, you're Azkaban Prison would not be big enough to hold everyone you would be required to arrest. You'd never have enough dementors to keep all your inmates in line, and I happen to know for a fact that you're missing at least one."

Harry steps closer to the cell and holds up the aged wanted poster in his hand, putting it on display. "It's true no one has asked me to aid in your capture, but I have a responsibility to the people of this realm; one which I take most seriously. It's been my experience that villains will lie. They will say whatever they need say to achieve their own dark goals, and whether you have committed such atrocities here or not, there is no statute of limitations on murder. What would you have me do; ignore this?"

"Certainly not. There should be no statute of limitations on murder. But I have not done those things here, and I'm not that person anymore. You can walk out of here this very minute and send me off to Azkaban. You never have to see me again, but if you do that, Mr. Potter, innocent people in my realm will be murdered; tormented and slaughtered by your rogue dementor. I am the mayor of said realm; a place known as Storybrooke. As a representative and public official for the town of Storybrooke, I'm officially and expressly seeking your help as an auror to apprehend and deal with your wayward prison guard. I am not asking you to trust me. I'm asking you to help me."

Harry stares at the regal posture of the woman standing tall and erect before him. He finds it exceedingly curious that she's made absolutely no attempt to deny even one of the charges laid against her on the wanted poster that bears an unfavorable likeness of her. After studying her, searching her eyes, for several long seconds of silent contemplation he declares."You will harm no one here. No one in this realm will suffer injury or loss of any kind - by either of you." He passes a solemn look between the two of them. "By your word?"

Both Robin and Regina nod in earnest. "By our word."

Harry turns his full attention to Regina again. "Will you abstain from using magic for the remainder of your stay in this realm?"

"I believe that is possible, with the exception of the little bit I will need to get home. If it's an issue, I'm quite certain that you must have devices that prevent the use of magic. I willingly submit to wear such a device if it will give you peace of mind."

At this point, Robin clears his throat and steps back into the conversation. "No."

"No, what?" His wife asks, scowling in obvious confusion.

"I won't agree to that. I won't stand here and agree to let him put you in some sort of magical choke hold. How will you defend yourself if need be?"

"That's what I have you for, Robin, and we've got to get home. If I have to spend a few minutes on a magical leash, I will. Zelena and the rest of the town are counting on it." To Harry, she says, "I trust you will return his confiscated bow and quiver."

Nodding, Harry turns to their guard. "Run and fetch Mr. Locksley's belongings. I'll need a redaction cuff, and the containment charm for this cell will have to be deactivated, Jax."

The elf nods agreeably. "Right away, Mr. Potter, of course, sir."