Day 4: Missing year/EF

Okay this is more so EF in the past not the missing year.. also fits in with the first times them from Day 3.

Tattoos and Taverns

Regina was pacing the floor thinking of what the fairy had said, her chance at a happy ending wasn't over. The only problem was that she knew that, but the person in her mind was far from the person with the lion tattoo. But maybe she was wrong. She quickly got dressed and snuck out of the house and started to head over to her castle. She needed to talk to her.

Maleficent came down when she heard footsteps ready to incinerate whoever was trespassing but mellowing out seeing that it was the young Queen, back yet again. She smiled and made her way over to her. "Regina, sweetie, you weren't due back here for a couple days."

"I need to talk to you." Regina muttered biting her lip, she watched the blonde walk over to her and the thought of being with anyone else was mind boggling.

"What's the matter?" Maleficent asked sitting down in her chair.

"This fairy, Tinkerbell, do you know her?"

"Tinkerbell? No, I don't but I'm not too found of fairies."

"She seems to think my happy ending is with some tatted up person in a tavern, but that can't be right. Right? I mean it's you."

"Tatted up person in a tavern?" Mal asked slightly amused at how riled up Regina was.

"It's preposterous, stupid fairy."

Mal got up and walked over to her, lifting her chin to look into her eyes, "Where's this tavern?"

"What?"

"Let's go meet this tatted up person."

"You're kidding? You want me to.. what?" Regina suddenly felt like her heart was about to break.

"No, no, no, honey come here." Mal pulled her closer wrapping her arms around her, "It might be fun to include him in the fun darling, with three people there's exponentially more ways of getting off," She winked at the queen.

"Seriously?"

Mal nodded, "Just want to see who this is, now think of the tavern and transport us there."

Regina's eyes widened, "What? I don't know how to do that."

"Of course you do, I taught you how last week."

"But I haven't..."

"Regina, try. I'm right here."

Regina took a deep breathe and closed her eyes. She was having a little trouble so Mal had stepped in to offer her a little help with the magic and the next thing they knew they were standing in the alley outside the tavern. Regina looked around before walking over to the door and peeking inside. There he was, the guy with the lion tattoo, still drinking.

"He's right there. The lion tattoo."

Mal peeked in and scrutinized him slightly, "That'll work. Let's go." She opened the door and held it for the Queen who hesitated. "Come on Regina, we're just going to talk. Nothing more, at the very least you'll be able to tell if the fairy actually knew what she was talking about."

Regina bit her lip and nodded stepping inside with the dragon right behind her. Mal placed a hand on the small of her back and walked her over to where he was sitting.

"Evening," Mal said softly, to acknowledge their presence. "Mind if we sit with you?"

He turned around and smiled, Regina instantly getting a feeling of something inside her, something she couldn't explain when their eyes met. He smiled at her briefly before shifting his gaze to Mal and nodding at her request, "Of course, miladies, please have a seat." He gestured to the open seats across from him. The two sorceresses took their seats and exchanged a look. "I don't think I've seen you around Sherwood Forest before," he started as he poured them each a drink.

"We're not from here." Mal responded accepting the ail.

"Where are you from?"

Mal and Regina exchanged a look debating if they should give a truthful answer or not, Regina turned to him sipping her ail, "The Enchanted Forest."

"Fancy. No wonder, you don't look like you rough it out in these neck of the woods."

"Maybe so," Mal started, "Would you mind giving a tour?"

"Not at all," the three of them getting up and leaving the tavern. Robin walked with the two sorceresses around Sherwood Forest showing them all the places he spends his days in, not knowing who he was really with. They came out to a relatively open area, Mal looked around and studied the place for a minute before turning back to Robin.

"Now how about we give you a tour of my castle?" She said suggestively.

Robin's lips turned upward a little, the idea of that was definitely something he wouldn't mind. "Milady, we're pretty far from the Enchanted Forest, why don't we go back to my camp?"

"I don't think the Queen should be sleeping on grass."

"You're a queen?"

"No, not me..." Mal said looking over at Regina whose eyes had suddenly gone wide.

"Queen?" Robin asked looking at Regina, "Your majesty, what are you doing in this part of the woods?"

"Looking for you dear," Mal answered for her, "You see that tattoo says quite a bit about you, for one it says you're her second chance at love. We're just trying to figure out if that's actually true or that bloody fairy was out of her mind."

"I see," Robin said, "We won't ever get back to your castle before nightfall.

"Stand back," Mal said giving Regina a look, she'd been pretty quiet the whole time and for good reason. Mal waited until she had enough room and transformed into her dragon form.

"Did she just?" Robin stared in amazement.

"Yeah, she's a dragon." Regina answered as she walked over to Maleficent petting her lightly before climbing onto her back and looking at Robin, "Coming?"

"I..."

"Don't worry, I've flown on her plenty of times. It's not scary."

"Right.." Robin knew this probably wasn't the smartest idea but he didn't have much to lose. He walked over and climbed on behind Regina.

"Hold on to me." she told him before giving Mal the go to lift off and fly out to the Forbidden Fortress.