It's day 10 and Robin has to say goodbye to the merry men.

Day 10

On the day they leave Robin shakes hands with all the Merry Men, every single one. He memorizes each of their faces as he does so. Not a hard task considering he's known them all for years. He'd recruited them all, one by one, remembers the day he did for all of them. For years they'd been his family, his home. His and Roland's. Saying goodbye to them is more difficult than he'd ever imagined.

He'll miss them all but it's only John who walks to the edge of the forest to see them off. He appears to be in a good mood considering the circumstances but Robin suspects that's simply an act for Roland's benefit. The young boy sits on his uncle's shoulders as they walk away from the camp back to the road, chattering away about all he plans to do once they return to Storybrooke.

"I'm gonna go to the park and to Granny's and back to the ice cream shop so Henry can help me taste all the flavors," he lists.

"All the flavors?" Regina lifts an eyebrow in her son's direction. "Hopefully that's not all in one sitting."

"I plan to space it out over a week," Henry promises cheekily.

Roland giggles before patting the top of John's head. "Will you come and visit me Uncle John?"

"Of course," John promises, with a boisterous laugh. "First chance I get."

They reach they edge of the forest and he lifts Roland off of his shoulders and gently puts him on the ground. While Henry and Regina prep the horses, Robin watches as John kneels down next to his son and places his hand on Roland's shoulder.

"You know lad it might be a while before the men and I get a chance to see you again. And if that's true I want you to know that if you so desire it you will always have a home with us."

Roland nods his head. "I know Uncle John." He leans forward to give him hug. "I'll miss you," he says.

John rubs his back, and Robin can tell he's getting choked up when he says, "I'll miss you too Roland."

He gives him a final pat on the head before sending him over to Henry who helps to load him onto a horse.

Robin sighs as he looks up at his old friend. "You know I never did thank you for taking care of things."

John shrugs his shoulders. "I'll always look after Roland you know that."

"I wasn't talking about Roland," said Robin, shaking his head. "I haven't exactly been the best of leaders these past few months."

"Well, you were dead," said John, with the hint of a smirk.

"Maybe," chuckled Robin, "But that doesn't mean I have noticed all the slack you picked up in my absence. And when I was here."

Truth be told, in the last few months before his death he hadn't spared nearly as much thought to the Merry Men as he should've. He couldn't remember the last time he'd given them a single direction or imperative. In the midst of everything that'd happened leadership had been the last thing on his mind.

Honestly, the only reason the group remained together was John. He'd been the one to look after everyone and everything. He'd seen the way the men regarded him in the camp. How they looked up to him now. A part of him twanged with sorrow but the writing on the wall was clear. The merry men when no longer his.

He sighed, looking around at the forest.

"You know this place still needs someone to protect it." He turned to John. "I think that person should be you."

John's eyes widened in surprise but Robin only continued on.

"You can lead the men John, you can protect Sherwood, just as you always have," he insisted.

John looks down at the ground. "That was your job Robin."

"I know but now it's yours."

He holds out his hand. "I wish you the best of luck John."

John hesitates before shaking it. "And I you."

It seems so small a thing, leaving nearly 20 years of friendship to boil down to a handshake. Perhaps that's why John pulls him into a crushing bear hug. And that's why it takes so long for Robin to pull away.

When he finally manages the strength to walk away, every step he takes feels heavy. He will miss Sherwood. He will miss John and the merry men and the forest trees. For so long they'd been his home but deep in his heart he knew it was time for him to say goodbye.

And even deeper in his soul he knew that this goodbye was only the first of many.

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