Sorry this chapter took me so long, my school schedule had been really busy! I'm already working on Chapter 9 and it should be up in a few days. Plot twist at the end of this chapter! Hope you guys like it leave your reviews!

Robin had been silent since he and John had left Roland and the Queen. John couldn't understand why, but he knew something was up. "Robin…" John broke the silence between them as they road along in the afternoon forest. "Yeah John?" Robin wasn't sure he wanted to talk to John at the moment, he knew his friend would want an explanation for his behavior at the castle. "Are you okay? You seem like something's on your mind." Letting out a deep sigh Robin shook his head, "I'm fine John." Not saying anything else, John didn't know what to say. Staying silent for another few minutes their horses came to a stop in a small clearing, "We can take a break here for a while, Robin." Robin nodded in agreement, jumping off his horse to sit down against a log.

….

Roland smiled at the Queen who carried him back inside, "What's we going to do Miss Regina?" Regina smiled at the adorable young boy, "We can do anything you want sweetheart. We don't have to stay in the castle." Roland's mind instantly imagining the adventures Regina could carry him on smiled even brighter, "We gonna go haves adventures?" Chuckling at the boy's excitement, Regina sat him down in the living room, trying to think of something fun for the two of them to do. "How about I take you out on the horse? We can take a picnic down to the river, and you can play and explore."

Roland's eyes glowed with excitement at the idea. Being with Regina and getting to play sounded amazing to him. "Yes Miss Regina!" Clapping his hands, Regina knew he approved. "Okay we can get ready to leave soon, so you can have all day to play and we will get back later tonight." Roland nodded, carefully listening to every word she said.

Regina remembered her days like this with Henry, the days where he was so young he didn't have a care in the world other than spending time with his mommy. She saw that same glow in Roland's eyes, expressing how truly happy he was no matter what they were doing. Regina had grown attached to the boy, no matter how long they had spent together she wanted to keep him with her forever.

….

Having settled in, Robin and John sat across from each other, an open patch of ground between the two. John wanted to say something, something about what he knew in the back of his mind. "So…, Robin."

"Yes John? Robin sighed out the words, feeling like he knew what was going to come next. "The Queen…," seeing Robin's eyebrows raise slightly, urging him to go on, John looked down. "What have you learned about her so far?" Robin met John's eyes, not knowing exactly what to say. He hadn't learned that much about Regina. She was different, he knew that. She wasn't the horrible person everyone thought of her has, but at the same time he hadn't been told much of her story. But what he did know, he was drawn to her, whatever the reason may be, he was. "She's nice to be around."

Nice to be around?" John couldn't understand. Here sat his dearest friend, a man he looked up to, and he was saying he liked being around a woman that everyone called the Evil Queen? What had happened to make him like this? "She's different John." Robin stated plainly, not wanting to try and explain his feelings he had for the Queen. "Different how? She's the Evil Queen, Robin. She's killed and hurt so many people." Robin still hadn't pushed himself to think of Regina as the Evil Queen yet. He and the Merry Men had spent years running from her black knights, but was that just the knights or had Regina sent them after his men?

Robin had felt this physical attraction toward Regina since the moment he first saw her. She was beautiful, a stunning woman. There was more though, more to her. She wasn't like the other woman Robin had met in his lifetime, Regina was guarded, tough. She didn't want to let him in, which only made him want more. The way she acted around his son, she was caring, he could tell she already loved Roland. Could she possibly feel something for him as well? "She's not like anyone else, John."

"Yeah, you're right. People who killed entire villages to find one girl aren't like anyone else," John shook his head. He saw the perplexed look in Robin's eyes, he knew his friend felt something he couldn't explain. John knew what it was, but he couldn't understand why Robin felt that way. Letting out a long sigh, John spoke the words Robin couldn't get out, "You love her?"

Robin hadn't thought of it like that yet… but now that he heard the words, they fit. "I do. I haven't been with another woman since Marian, John, and now I think I know why. I've never found anyone that I fell for, but Regina…" John looked dazed as he heard the first name of the Queen, "Whoa, first name bases? With that Queen?" Robin chuckled, knowing what he meant, "She is kind of stubborn."

"Let's get going." Robin followed John back to the horses, now anticipating his journey back to the Queen more than before.

….

"Roland!" Regina couldn't help but laugh as she chased after the boy, who was rushing his way to the stables. "Wait up!" Roland giggled as he looked back at her, "Catch me!" Regina in a more comfortable outfit, a dark purple riding outfit and boots, stopped as they reached the stable doors. Opening the doors for the boy who couldn't quite pull them open, they let out one of the horses. Regina lifted Roland up first, having him hold the basket as she mounted the horse behind him. "Hurry! Wet's GO!" Roland was so excited, he bounced on the horse as they started out into the open field.

After a short ride the horse stopped only feet away from a small creek. Regina helped the boy off after getting off herself. "You can go play Roland, be very careful. I'm going to set up the blanket over here, okay?" He nodded ready to go play, "Yes mam', Miss Regina." The little boy ran off, not looking back.

Regina took her time setting up the blanket and laying out the basket of snacks for the boy. She made sure she watched him carefully, worried Roland might easily get himself into trouble. The boy climbed his way onto a large rock next to the edge of the river, lying flat on his stomach as he reached as far as he could toward the water. "Be careful Roland," Regina called out and watched as he scooted himself farther and farther, trying to reach something. "It's a fishy Miss Regina!" Regina couldn't help but chuckle to herself, "That's nice Roland, but the fish needs to stay in the water."

It took Roland a while to get a hungry enough to come back to the blanket, when he did Regina sat out his lunch. She wasn't expecting the boy to say anything as he ate, but he looked up at her, "Miss Regina?"

"Yes, Roland?" she crossed her legs and leaned back against her hands. "Do you like my Daddy Miss Regina?" Regina just smiled and shook her head, "Yes, Roland, he's a very nice man." Roland giggled, "Yous loves him?" Regina started to laugh at the boy's happy giggles, "I never said that…" Roland instantly looked more serious, "You no loves him?" Regina leaned forward, "I never said that either. He's very nice Roland, but your Daddy is a busy man. He has to work and be with the Merry Men. The two of you will be going back to your normal lives soon."

"Yous mean… We gonna leave you Miss Regina?" It was a serious question as Roland started to become a little upset, Regina slowly nodded. "Your Daddy won't want to stay around here, at my castle." Roland patted her hand like he was trying to get her attention, "What if he do want to stay? Can we stay Miss Regina? Please? Please? Please?"

Regina couldn't believe him, "You would want to stay, Roland?" He nodded excitedly as he scooted closer to her, "Of course, Miss Regina. I likes you." Regina smiled, softly tapping his nose causing him to giggle once again, "I like you too Roland," she let out a soft sigh, "Why don't you go play some more? It will be getting time to go soon." He nodded and ran out to the water.

Regina couldn't deny that she wanted him to stay, both of them. As she watched the little boy play she knew that this was something she hadn't felt in so long, love. Henry loved her, her years spent with Henry had been everything to her, but he didn't remember her now. He never would. Could she listen to what Snow had tried to tell her? Find happiness in this land? She shook her head, that's not possible, there is no happiness for me without my son.

"Miss Regina!" She instantly looked up, "Come pway!" Regina smiled, getting up to go meet him.

….

It had taken Robin and John hours to reach Phillip and Aurora's castle, but Robin was glad to get off the horse he had been on nearly all day. "Robin, thank goodness you're here!" Aurora hugged him as they met at the entrance. "What's first to do?" He was ready to do whatever needed to be done, he had to get back to Regina and his son. "We need you and John to go with Snows group of people, all of these people are going to the same village." He nodded to Aurora, "Is everyone ready to go now?"

"Yes, everyone is ready." It wasn't long before Robin had everyone is carriages with their things, going toward the village.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

3 Days Later

Robin had spent three days working with the people to repair houses and other parts of their land. He had enjoyed his time with some of the people he remembered from years before the curse, but there was only one thing on his mind. Regina and Roland. Mounting his horse, he nodded to John a few feet away. "Good luck, Robin, take care," Robin smiled. "Thank you John, I'll see you sometime."

Robin pushed his horse faster and faster, he wanted to get there, and he wanted to see her. What if she had thought more over the past few days? Maybe she would let him in more, maybe he could show her the happiness he wanted.

….

Regina thought more and more about Robins return over her days with Roland. She had so much fun with the little boy, taking him to play, showing him her magic. He was thrilled to do anything with her, and she felt the same with him. Robin was coming back though, someday soon, but she didn't know when. Would he come get Roland and go? She couldn't let herself think about that, not now. She had tried to imagine that he would stay, so they could see where their relationship would go.

Regina wouldn't say she was in love with him, no, but she could tell he was different. She didn't know what it was about the way he wouldn't let her get to him, but she found it attractive. Robin would mess with her, but at the same time she could feel the way he felt when he kissed her. It was gentle, unforced. It seemed natural to have him close to her, and she wanted more.

Roland lying in her lap asleep, Regina gently brushed the hair away from his eyes. After she saw that he was fast asleep she picked him up, carrying him to the bed he had slept in the first night. "Goodnight Roland," she placed a soft kiss on his forehead as she tucked the covers around him.

It wasn't until she had eased Roland's door shut that she heard the noise. What was that, she thought to herself? There's no one else in this castle. She slowly walked her way toward the noise, the heels on her shoes making soft clicks. She turned the corner to the open air area of the castle, the place her apple tree had been moved back to since the curse was reversed. Walking up to the tree slowly she didn't see anything, but she knew whatever the noise she had heard it came from this way. "Who's there? Show yourself."

Hearing nothing, Regina turned her back toward the castle walls, looking around the area. Her hand began to glow red as she heard the puff of smoke, readying herself for attack.

"Hello, dear," a dark voice said from the other end of the room.