A/N: This is Regina's chapter. I thought she deserves a happy ending, too.

Chapter Six

(A few months ago...)

The sounds of footsteps echoed behind the doors to the throne room when the doors opened and Regina walked in the room. For several months she had lived alone in the castle, but now it was time for a change. She had tried being her usual self, but it wasn't the same. Not without Henry. He was her center and, without him, she felt empty. Finally she decided she had enough and had gone into the vault to retrieve something she never thought she needed.

Her guards and servants were surprised when she returned their hearts then told them to leave and she was amazed how fast they ran afterwards.

"What do you expect?" she thought as she sighed and headed for the mirror. She was wearing a cream color tunic, a tan vest, tan trousers and boots and she had a canvas bag hanging over her right shoulder. Her hair was down and floated over her shoulders and she walked to the mirror, waving her hand. The mist swirled behind the glasses when the Genie appeared and he looked at her with a stunned look on his face.

"Um…," he said as she sneered at him and placed her hands on her hips. "Why are you dressed like that?"

"I'm leaving," she said and the Genie frowned.

"You're…leaving? They finally throw you out?"

"This is no time for jokes," she said and he gave her a puzzled look.

"Then mind explaining what's going on?"

"I….," she said then sighed. "I decided that I've had enough."

"So you just decided to quit?"

"Yes," she said. "I gave everyone their hearts back and told them to go."

"Regina, you can't…"

"Yes, I can. Where is it written that the Evil Queen can't change?"

"Well…,"

"This isn't a book, you know. I decide what I do with my life now. If I want to quit then I quit!"

"Alright, calm down," the Genie said and was smiling inside. "So, if you let everyone go, what about me?"

"Can't you wish your way out of there?"

"No, sorry, I'm out of wishes."

"But…I can't leave, knowing you're still…."

"If you saying that I'm still a prisoner…don't worry. I've been one before."

"Sydney," she sighed and the Genie smiled.

"No, really, I'm fine."

"There has to be a way," she said then paced a bit when she reached into the canvas bag, taking out a gold hand mirror. "Can you go from there to here?"

"Easy," he said then frowned. "But why are you doing this?"

"Well, believe it or not, you're the only friend I have," she said then smiled. "Now get in the mirror before I change my mind."

"Whatever you say….Your Highness," he said then vanished only to reappear in the mirror and she smiled at him. "Just don't drop me."

"Funny," she said then placed the mirror back in the canvas bag, turned on her heels and left the room.

(Present day...)

The tavern was noisy and crowded as Robin Hood sat at the table and was sipping some ale from a mug.

He had to get away from camp for a while.

There were times he needed to be alone, but since Marion had died that was all he was, alone.

"You're not really alone, Mate. You have Roland," he thought.

That was true, but seeing how attached Roland was becoming to Rumplestiltskin and Belle, he decided it was best to pick up stakes and move on. What he didn't expect was it would be so hard. Roland had taken the news badly and Robin thought back to what happened when he told Roland that they had to leave.

"But, I don't want to go, Papa," Roland said as he clung to Rumplestiltskin's right leg and looked up at Robin.

"I know," Robin said as he knelt down on his haunches and stroked the top of his son's head. "But it's time to go."

"Are you in trouble, Dearie?" Rumplestiltskin asked.

"Always, but not this time," Robin said with a smile as he stood up. "It's just time for me and my men to move on."

"Well, just so you know, you can come back any time you wish."

"That is nice of you," he said then looked at Roland. "Come on."

"No, I want to stay with Mister Rumple and Lady Belle," Roland said when Rumplestiltskin leaned down and picked him up.

"Now, now, no tears," he said and Roland placed his head on Rumplestiltskin's shoulder.

"But, Mister Rumple…"

"As much as Belle and I would love you to stay, it's time for you and your papa to go."

"Will you miss me?"

"Yes," he said with a nod of his head. "But I know that your Papa would miss you more. Do you remember the story I told you about how I lost Bae?"

"He fell down a big hole."

"Yes, and I missed him every day he was gone. Do you want Papa to miss you every day?"

"No," he said, shaking his head.

"Then you have to go with him," Rumplestiltskin said and hugged him. Roland kissed his cheek then Rumplestiltskin handed him to Robin and they waved goodbye as they left the castle.

Sighing, Robin sipped on the beer when he heard a commotion near the bar and looked to see two, large men standing in front of someone.

"Get out of my way," a female's voice said and one of the men laughed.

"You think you can just stroll in here and tell us what to do, "Your Highness"?" one of the men asked with a low growl to his voice.

"I said get out…" the female said then yelped as one of the men shoved her and Robin slammed the mug down on the table, standing up. He didn't care that the men were taller and stronger than he was. He didn't like bullies who picked on women and he balled his hands into fists.

"Leave her alone," Robin said as the men turned and glared at him.

"Well, it looks like we have a hero," one of the men said and Robin could just see the woman they were harassing.

"You," Robin said as Regina glared at him and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Looks like he knows "Her Highness"," the other man said with a sneer.

"Everyone knows what the Queen looks like," Robin said, standing his full height. "Now leave her alone."

"Makes us," the first man said as he shoved Robin and Robin nearly crashed into a table. Regaining his balance, he growled then charged at the man and slammed him into the bar. Regina tried to get out of the way as Robin fought with the first man, but the second man grabbed her and held her against him.

"Let me go!" she shouted as she kicked back and slammed her heel against his ankle. The second man bellowed as he let go and she picked up a clay pitcher, slamming the clay pitcher over the second man's head. The clay pitcher shattered as the second man shook his head and Regina swallowed hard.

"Uh," she said as the second man roared and charged at her. Robin had knocked the first man out when he turned to watch the second man charge at Regina and Robin sighed, rolling his eyes. Jumping onto the table, he dived into the air then landed on the second man's back and wrapped his arms around the second man's neck. Regina watched as the second man tried to buck Robin off his back as they slammed into the bar then the wall and Robin grunted a few times. He held on as the second man started staggering side to side then fell to the floor and Robin rolled off him, landing in a crouch position.

"That was amazing," she said while walking to him when Robin saw the first man getting up then grabbed her and tossed her over his shoulder. "What are you doing?"

"Getting out of here," Robin said as he looked around then sighed and jumped onto the table. "Close your eyes and hang on."

"Why?" Regina said as Robin started running and she looked down, enjoying the view of his legs running and his bottom. Closing her eyes, she screamed as Robin jumped in the air and crashed through the window. He landed with a low grunt as he ran down the street and Regina was feeling a little ill from being bounced on her shoulder. "You can put me down now."

"Not yet," Robin panted as he ran around the corner then down an alleyway and Regina rolled her eyes. A few second later, he stopped when he lowered her to her feet and she looked at him. She could barely see him in the moonlight as she shyly smiled and he panted, placing his hands on his knees.

"Thank you," she said as he looked at her and held a hand up.

"You're welcome," he panted then looked behind him and sighed. "So, what brings the Queen down here to the slums?"

"That is my business," Regina said and he glared at her.

"Look, I just risked my neck for you."

"And I appreciated that…"

"Let me finish," he said and she glared at him. "I risked my neck for you so I demand answers."

"Oh, you do?" she asked, arching an eyebrow.

"I could just take you back and leave you to those men," he said and her heart sped up in her chest.

"But…," she said then sighed. "Fine, I wanted a drink."

"Then why didn't you just ask your servants for one?"

"Because…," she said then sighed and looked at the sky. "I don't have servants anymore."

"They left?"

"No," Regina said and tried not to cry. "I let them go."

"You left them go?" he asked and moved closer. He could just see her sad eyes in the moonlight as she nodded her head and he felt his heart hurting. He knew the stories about the Evil Queen, but this woman standing before her didn't look so evil. She looked shattered and sad and he removed a clean cloth from the pouch on his belt, handing the cloth to her. She took the cloth when she wiped her eyes and wrapped the cloth around her fingers. "Why?"

"I…I was…," Regina said when they heard shouting and Robin looked at her to the alley then back.

"Not here," he said then picked her up and placed her over his shoulder. He started running as Regina looked at his bottom and smiled.

Robin walked in front of his white horse while Regina sat in the saddle and he led the horse deeper into the woods. He had lost their pursuers and had been able to get back the horse and he decided the best place for Regina was with him. He wondered how his men and Mulan would react to him bringing the Evil Queen to their camp and he sighed, shaking his head.

"Are you alright?" Regina asked as he looked back and she gave him a concerned look.

"Yes," he said when he heard low whistles and gave the correct call sign.

"Why did you do that?"

"So they know it's me. If I hadn't, we would have been attacked," Robin said and Regina shivered, looking around. Everything was darkness and shadows as she wrapped her arms around her and Robin sighed, looking straight ahead. He then saw the dim light of their campfire as he smiled and walked faster. The others looked at them as he led the horse into camp then stopped the horse and walked to Regina, looking at her. He held his arms out as he helped her off the horse and Regina frowned, looking at the others.

"What is she doing here?" Little John asked as the large, muscular man walked closer and held the wooden staff tightly in his hands.

"She's with me," Robin said, looking at the tall man and glared at him.

"No," Mulan said as she stormed toward him and removed the katana from the scabbard on her back.

"Mulan, stand down," Robin said as she growled and placed the katana back in the scabbard.

"Robin," Friar Tuck said, walking closer and gently pulled Robin to one side. "Do you think it's wise to bring her here?"

"Yes," he said as he looked at Regina and she was looking down at her feet. "She's an outcast just like us."

"She's evil," Tuck said, looking at her.

"What about judging people, Friar?" Robin asked. "Some would say the same about Rumple."

"That's different," Tuck said with a hurt look on his face.

"How is it different?"

"Even though he has made some bad choices and done some bad things, his heart is good," he said then looked at Regina. "Hers isn't."

"Are you sure?" Robin asked as Tuck sighed then walked away and Robin walked back to Regina. He held his hand out as he led her to a log near the fire. She sat down when he walked over to the fire circle then scooped some stew into wooden bowls and walked back to her. He had also brought over some spoons when he handed a spoon and bowl to her then sat down.

"Thank you," she said and started eating. She could see him in the firelight as he glanced at her and smiled. She didn't know why, but being close to Robin made her heart speed up and she found herself smiling back. She ate when she noticed the lion tattoo on the back of his hand when she dropped the spoon in the bowl and he gave her a concern look.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Your tattoo," she said as he looked at it then at her and frowned.

"What about it?"

"Uh…," she said then sighed and looked at the sky. "You are not going to believe me."

"Try me," he said as she sighed, turned to look at him better and told him about meeting Tinker Bell, Tinker Bell telling her that she could find her true love, Tinker Bell telling her that her true love would have a lion tattoo on the back of his hand and how she was too afraid to meet him once Tinker Bell had found him. Robin looked down at the tattoo then at her as he thought about her story and pressed his lips together. "And you think it might be me?"

"I don't know," she sighed then stood up and walked to the fire circle, looking at the fire. Robin placed the bowl on the log when he stood up and walked to her. He stood behind her when he turned her to him and they looked deeply into each other eyes. "Forget I said anything."

"You're doing it again," he teased. "You're running away before you know for sure."

"No, I'm…," she said when Roland ran to them and grabbed hold of Robin's hand. "Who's this?"

"This is my son, Roland," he said then knelt down next to Roland. "Roland, this is Regina."

"She's pretty, Papa," Roland said with a smile and Regina smiled back.

"Thank you," she said and Robin stood up, holding his son in his arms.

"So, you want to stay and see if Tinker Bell was right?" Robin asked and Regina smiled, nodding her head.