A/N: I know. I'm awful at updating. In all honesty I did try to get better at that but I'm stuck with this incredible need to read my life away. And new stories keep distracting me. I apologize. Enjoy!

Sophie stared at her sister with different levels of fear floating through her head. Her first instinct was to run but Nate's tight grip stopped that plan in its tracks. Her second idea was to just ignore her sister completely, but again the mastermind seemed to have other plans.

"Sophie," he said, "Who is this?"

The grifter gave him the dirtiest glare she could under such close scrutiny. She was going to kill him when this was all over. First, she had to get them out of the mess then he was going to die, slow and painful. Of course, her sister decided to beat her to the punch.

"I'm Regina," the older woman introduced herself, "I'm Sophie's sister and this is Henry, my son."

"Hi," Henry waved, "remember me?"

"Indeed I do, Henry," Nate winked shaking the tiny boy's hand with a wicked grin, "I'm Nate. I'm a friend of Sophie's."

"Or lover if you prefer," Sophie joked with a nervous smile. She mentally hated herself for being so nervous. She did, however, laugh at the off-guard look she caused to cross the mastermind's face. He was practically planning her death for it too.

"Oops," she muttered softly.

"What brings you into town, Sophie?" Regina demanded harshly. Her tone was accusing, "We agreed that you would leave the businesses alone."

"I'm not here to steal, Regina," Sophie quipped back right on cue, "I help people now."

"Help people," Regina nodded, "like you helped me find the perpetrator who broke into the school and just so happened to stumble onto the missing money while apprehending him."

"It was an honest mistake," Sophie replied.

"It was Sydney," Regina remarked, "He was doing research for his paper and found you with the stolen money. What was I supposed to do?"

"You could have put me in jail like you are supposed to," Sophie growled, "The evidence would have proven I didn't do it."

"I was protecting you," Regina sighed.

"Mom," Henry interrupted, "Can we go now? I think David's going to worry if I'm not at the stables on time."

"Of course," Regina nodded towards her son. Then she sent a death glare to her sister with every note of warning. Sophie kindly offered a glare of her own in reproach.

"It was lovely to have met you, Nate. Sophie, stay away from my son," Regina ordered and then she grabbed Henry's hand and took off in the direction of the stables.

"You stole money from a school?" Nate hissed towards his grifter.

"No, I didn't," Sophie replied, "I was trying to find out who did it because people kept accusing Regina. I got caught with the money and she was forced to act. I still would have preferred jail to banishment."

"You told me it was because you wouldn't stick up for her!" The mastermind growled, staring at her with anger and betrayal.

"Well I didn't," Sophie muttered, "I thought it was Regina too so I went snooping to disprove it. Instead I found the missing money in a janitor's closet and Sydney snapping pictures."

"Unbelievable," Nate huffed.

He threw his arms into the air and began walking away in the exact same direction of Regina. Sophie stared after him in confusion while yet another research fight broke out over the coms.

"Where are you going?" Sophie called.

"To the stables!" Nate screamed, "I need to think and maybe David Nolan will clear up a few things for me!"

"Fine," Sophie shouted back, "I hope he tells you everything you want to hear! That way I don't have to deal with your stubborn arse anymore!"

The grifter turned around with anger and hurt all over her features. She gasped at what she found behind her. A loving father in a nice suit and overcoat was standing there, covering his daughter's ears. He was glaring at the grifter, but a smile soon replaced it. He apparently recognized the woman before him.

"Sorry Jefferson," The grifter replied before hurriedly vacating the premises. She was a menace to the school grounds and there was absolutely nothing she could do about it. Storybrooke was the one dent in her past she never wanted to reopen. Now she was being forced to open it by a persistent mastermind and her own sister's greed.

%

Regina, Snow, Robin and Leopold were all crowded in Marian's bed chamber. It had been exactly one year since the whole ordeal with Prince John. Marian and Robin married a few weeks after the disaster. Now, everybody was excitedly viewing the brand new arrival, a precious baby boy.

"Ooh, he's beautiful, Marian," Snow cooed, "What's his name?"

Marian and Robin shared a meaningful grin. Then Robin scooped up his brand new son and flung him into the air. The baby giggled in excitement while Regina and Marian tried not to have panic attacks.

"Icarus," Robin replied merrily as he cradled the baby to his chest, "My strong, healthy baby boy."

Leopold chuckled at the younger man's reply. He held out his hands questioningly. Marian nodded and Robin reluctantly handed over his son.

"He certainly is a miracle to behold," Leopold agreed, "He's going to have a home in my kingdom whenever he wants it. I may even knight him if you don't beat me to it, Robin."

"Not a chance," Robin laughed at his friend's joke.

"Icarus," Leopold spoke softly to the baby in his arms, "You're going to soar above the clouds."

"And he's going to like cinnamon in his hot cocoa just like the rest of us!" Snow cheered happily.

Ever since the Prince John ordeal, the princess seemed to be the biggest cheerleader for the happy parents. She even volunteered her father's castle for their wedding ceremony. Leopold didn't make any objections and Regina even had a dress in mind. It was no wonder the wedding happened so quickly. Of course, Robin and Marian weren't complaining. They had found each other and that was what was important.

Icarus decided he was bored with all of the fussing. He starting crying and throwing a fit within Leopold's arms. The older man chuckled and returned the boy to his mother. Marian graciously accepted her son and started bouncing him around.

"Looks like somebody is hungry," Marian commented happily.

"And that would be our cue," Robin joked. He kissed his wife on the top of the head and ruffled his son's small patch of hair. He gave a meaningful look to Regina and grabbed the tiny princess' hand.

"Come on, Snow," he said, "It's about time I taught you the wonderful game of chess."

"But I want to stay with Marian and the baby," the girl complained even as she willingly allowed the new father to lead her away.

Regina kindly waved her family away and closed the door. Then she turned to her sister and smiled at how happy she was. It made her heart ache for Daniel, but seeing her sister happy definitely helped to lessen the pain.

"He really is beautiful, Marian," she said.

"He looks like his father," Marian agreed, "Except for his eyes. He's got our father's eyes, don't you think?"

Regina gave the child a critical eye. Sure enough the baby boy was staring up at her with big brown eyes. Yep, he was cursed with their eyes alright.

"As long as he doesn't have mother's little quirks," she joked.

Marian frowned in deep thought as her son fed. Her grip on the child even grew firmer and her posture was rigid.

"What?" Regina demanded.

"What if he is like Mother?" Marian asked softly, "What if he does have the curse like I do?"

"Magic isn't a curse, Marian," Regina laughed, "and so what if he does? He's got you to teach him how to use it wisely. He'll be the greatest, kindest wizard throughout our land."

"Are you still training with Rumpelstilskin?" Marian hissed suddenly turning angry without any prompting.

Regina felt guilty at the way her little sister was staring at her. It was like she was already disappointing her and she hadn't even begun to explain.

"Yes," she said.

"You shouldn't," Marian explained, "There's better magic out there than what he's taught you."

"I know, Marian," Regina nodded.

"You should pay a visit to the Blue Fairy," Marian suggested with a kind smile, "I know life has been difficult for you since Daniel died. What Mother did to you was awful and now that I have Robin and Icarus I understand why you're so torn up and sad all the time. I couldn't stand to lose either one of them. I don't think I'd even be able to survive it like you have."

"If you call practicing magic and pushing our mother into a magic mirror surviving," Regina muttered.

Marian placed her free hand on her sister's shoulder.

"Promise me you'll at least try," she said, "for me?"

Regina looked up at her little sister and smiled.

"For you," she said, "anything."

%

David and Nate were busy working in the stables. Well, David was working in the stables while Nate was trying to interview him. At some point the interview had changed tables and the mastermind was still trying to figure out when that happened. So he decided to bring attention to Henry.

"Your son seems to be enjoying his work," Nate said.

"Oh he's not my son," David immediately stated, "No, he's my grandson."

"You look a little young to be a grandfather," Nate chuckled, "You're barely even old enough to be a dad."

"I'm a lot older than I look," David grinned, "It's just pretty difficult taking care of him while his mom is gone."

"On vacation?" Nate asked.

"Well he just found her so it's a little hard for him to get used to it," David shrugged, "He keeps thinking it's going to be like it was before he went and found her."

"Every kid just wants to be accepted for who they are," Nate acknowledged.

"You sound like an expert," David laughed, "You have any kids?"

"Had," Nate swallowed at the emotion in his throat.

"What happened?" David asked with genuine care and worry in his voice.

"Sam died of cancer," Nate explained softly, "It's been seven years."

There was a moment of silence where Prince Charming absorbed the information. Icarus, the child Snow took great pride in baby sitting and couldn't stop talking about, was dead. It was horrible to hear to say the least. The worst part was the knowledge that the mourning father didn't even know him by his real name.

"I'm sorry for your loss," David grumbled.

"I'm working on it," Nate shrugged.

"You don't get over a loss like that," David replied, "You can't. It's too horrible to even consider."

"There are worse things," Nate replied.

"Not many," David agreed, "Not enough."

"Losing the person who brought you back from the dead," Nate explained softly, "That's what's finally going to finish you off."

"At least you still have your daughter," David smiled at the mastermind's statement.

"Daughter?" Nate asked.

"The blonde who hangs out with-" David began.

"Parker's not my daughter," Nate laughed, "She's a colleague."

"Oh I see," David nodded, "It's just the way you guys act around each other I just assumed-"

"No," Nate nodded, "I'd be proud if she was but no."

The mastermind smiled towards the man with a wicked grin. Then he motioned towards the repair shop next door.

"Anything bad happening over there?" He asked.

David laughed and shook his head.

"No," he said, "Thankfully the bad things seem to finally be over."

"Good," Nate nodded, "Then my team and I no longer have to be here."

"What?" David asked, shocked, "but you guys just got here."

"I don't think Sophie can stand this much emotion," Nate admitted softly, "Seeing her sister again is bringing back painful memories. I have to get her out of here."

"If she needs to talk," David suggested softly, "She could always pay a visit to Archie. He's our local psychiatrist. The first visit is always free."

"Thanks," Nate laughed at the man, "I'll keep that in mind."

The mastermind left with a polite wave towards the boy and a nod towards the prince. Then he was gone before anything else could be said.

"Where did he go?" Henry asked in confusion.

"They're leaving," Charming replied, a crease of concern furrowing his brow.

Henry looked startled by the idea. He shook his head and latched onto his grandfather's lapels.

"But Parker's going to meet us at Emma and Mary-Margaret's to discuss the book," he said.

David looked at the boy with wide eyes. Then a frown appeared on his face and his brow began to crease with worry.

"Parker's what?" He asked.

%

"Okay so Robin knows that Prince John is trying to lure him out of Sherwood to capture him but he's going anyway? He's not a very good thief!" Parker commented simply.

Henry laughed at his new friend. Parker had arrived early with a gentle tap on the window. She invited herself in before David could say anything. Then she had raced towards Henry and stared at the book about the notorious King of Thieves. She asked and the little boy had no choice but to teach her everything she was missing. They had barely even made it past the Maid Marian's introduction before the blonde was already making comments.

"She kinda looks like Sophie," she laughed, "that's funny."

The comments only started to grow as Henry gave her some inside information. Information obtained from his Prince Charming grandfather.

"Don't you think Robin looks like Nate?" Henry had stressed almost too dramatically.

"Nah," she said, shaking her head vigorously, "He looks more like Eliot without hair and less muscles."

David had to give him a warning look when the boy continued to try and convince the blonde woman that the mastermind and grifter looked too much like the iconic characters. Henry sighed at the silent order but graciously did as told. He gave small hints here and there but otherwise was pretty tame in getting the admitted thief to see his way. She didn't despite his best efforts.

"So Maid Marian was a witch," Parker said, trying to understand, "But she was a good witch?"

"Yes exactly," Henry nodded, "and she helped Snow White and Prince Charming protect themselves from the Evil Queen."

"But the Evil Queen was her sister?" Parker said, scrunching up her nose in confusion once again, "Are you sure you're not making any of this up?"

"I'm not I swear," Henry whined, disgruntled once again with theif's train of thought.

"Then where are you getting your information?" The thief demanded right on cue, "I mean none of this seems quite possible."

"It's a story, Parker," the boy groaned, "It doesn't matter if it's plausible. That's not the point."

"But if Maid Marian and the Evil Queen are sister," Parker asked, "than why was Marian helping Charming and Snow? That doesn't make any sense. Why would she go against her own sister? Sophie told me that family members do everything they can to help each other whether or not it's for the right reasons. Why would she choose her sister's enemies instead?"

"Because it was the right thing to do."

Parker and Henry swirled around in their chairs. David was looking at them both with a wide smile on his face. He even seemed to be chuckling a bit at their closeness.

"Marian believed that the Evil Queen's vendetta against them was unjustified," David explained, "Robin was the reason for it. He provided Marian with balance and she gave him a conscious."

"They sound like Nate and Sophie," Parker giggled in response.

Henry and David exchanged an amused look at the thief's statement. Then David decided to press the thief a little harder.

"I told you," Henry replied.

"Henry, why don't you show Parker another picture of Marian and Robin?" he suggested with a wink, "You know, the one where the two officially fall in love."

Henry smiled at his grandfather's hint. He immediately grabbed the story book and flipped through the pages. He landed on the pages without a moment of hesitation. Then he pointed at the wonderful image of Maid Marian wearing a purple dress and riding on a horse that Robin was guiding. He was wearing a hat with a long yellow feather and his typical green tights.

"Okay, in this one they definitely look like Nate and Sophie," Parker grinned, "That's so cool. We should totally show them this! They'd get a kick out of it!"

"No!" David shouted in despair.

Parker frowned. "Why not?"

"Because it's a library book and I don't want to lose it," Henry explained smoothly, "It's my first book from the library. I don't want to gain a reputation."

"I'd give it right back," Parker replied.

"I think Henry is trying to say that he's not quite comfortable loaning out his library books yet," David replied, "Once he gets used to his responsibilities he may consider loaning out his borrowed books. He's just not quite ready yet."

"Oh you meant people actually care about that?" Parker said, scrunching her eyebrows in confusion. "Sophie never told me that. I'm going to go ask her."

Just like that, the thief was gone and the two boys breathed out a sigh of relief.

"That was close," David sighed in relief.

"Yeah," Henry sighed, "How was that close? What's wrong with Marian and Robin remembering who they are?"

"Because we don't know what they'll remember, Henry," Charming explained, "Despite the fact that Regina was wrong in sending them outside of Storybrooke, she had her reasons. Whatever that reason is, I'm pretty certain it was enough to terrify your mother into keeping them out of broken curse reach."

"What did she do that was so bad?" Henry asked.

"I don't know, Henry," Charming admitted softly, "and that scares me."