Here's chapter 5! Enjoy Oncers! And don't forget to review!
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Regina stood nearly breathless as she stared at her old friend, who she could see had aged just as well as she did. Even though both, were actually nearing their mid-sixties…no one In their group would figure that out. But she took another step back as Robin stepped forward. Both hadn't seen one another in years…twenty eight to be exact.
Flashback
Regina practically stormed down her spiral stairway, in a hurry to get to the main entrance. She couldn't believe that the idiot would actually get himself captured in her lands no less, and he knew the penalty that her uncle King John declared should anyone capture him. She waved her arms causing the castle doors to swing open with great force, and was just in time to see one of her guards slap said man across the face.
"Did anyone ever tell you that you hit like a girl?" the man teased the guard with a grin. The guard growled as he swung his hand again to strike him. "Stop!" He turned to see the Queen with her hand raised, and took several strides back as she glared at him.
"Apparently no one has told him that only I give the order to strike," Regina stated resulting in the men to quickly bow practically praying from mercy from the Queen. "Enough…I don't want to hear a word. Go to your post," she ordered with another wave of her hand dismissing the Guards.
"Ah, Regina, darling…I see you haven't lost your spunk," the man said still holding his grin.
"And I see that you have clearly lost your mind. What are you doing here Hood?"
"So we're on a last name basis now, Princess?"
"Don't call me that Robin!" Regina said as she rubbed her head. It had been nearly two years since last they'd seen each other, and still she couldn't fathom the idea of him calling her his Princess when he was clearly pursuing that young woman…Marian…Regina think her name was. "And what are you doing here?"
"An old friend can't stop by for a visit?" Robin asked as he stood, holding up the cuffs on his hand signally for Regina to give him a little hand. Regina rolled her eyes as she flicked her wrist, and the shackles fell off, disappearing in smoke.
"Not when the old friend is an outlaw who's trying to visit the queen. What would my husband say?" Regina said "matter of factly."
"I may be an outlaw, and you may be queen…but we're friends no matter what remember." Robin stated as he stepped forward nearly invading the Queen's personal space, but she stood her ground. "You've become distant…you don't even come out with me and the boys anymore."
"I'm Queen Robin, and my husband won't let me step foot off the grounds unless I was with him or Snow," Regina replied rubbing her head.
"So you sent away mommy dearest only to become a prisoner in your own kingdom?" Robin asked as he felt his temper slowly growing at the fact someone was keeping his friend from him.
"It's not my kingdom…it's "hers." Regina said with a near growl just thinking about Leopold's "beyond adorable and pure" daughter Snow White who was thirteen now, and couldn't possibly get on Regina's nerves more than she is now. All the night time talks, morning breakfasts, evening lunches, dinners, combing hair, playing dress up, and nursing the girl who was the cause of her unhappiness was slowly starting to get to Regina. She tried to shove down the darkness that was growing…but she couldn't.
"I don't understand why you even went through this, Regina. You could have been free," Robin exclaimed.
"I had to…losing Daniel…it did something to me. I don't know what, but I'm lost Robin," Regina explained as she tried to fight down the tears that slowly tried to make itself known. However, the more she fought…the more it started to flow.
Now, Robin has never been comfortable with seeing a lady cry, but he's seen enough of Regina's tears to know what to do when she cries. "Hey, come here," he said as he pulled Regina close to him, and into a hug. Regina hugged him tightly as she cried into his shoulder, he rubbed her back soothing her sobs.
"I lost a friend too, Regina," Robin said soothingly remembering how Regina and Daniel had planned to come run away with him, and just live their lives on the road with Little John. He wished he could have been there that night…he'd had shot an arrow through Cora himself.
"I lost the one man who could love me for me," Regina admitted.
"Well, should I be offended by that?" Robin asked with a laugh which got him a giggle out of Regina who pulled out of the embrace. Her eyes glanced to a tattoo that was on Robin's arm, and she traced her hand over it. "What's this?" she asked.
"It's a rebellion promise I made to myself. I had this tattooed to show my devotion to your uncle King Richard…however I think I pissed off your Uncle John," Robin said as they both shared another laugh.
"You rob the rich to give to the poor…very admirable of you," Regina stated.
"Thank you milady…it's a job I like to do," Robin replied. "So, when can the Merry Men expect their Merry Lady to grace their presence once again?"
"I thought that spot had been replaced with what's her name, Marian?" Regina asked.
"Marian's a bit prissy…she really doesn't even like the Merry Men. But nobody could take your place Regina…you're the first and the last Merry Lady," Robin stated.
"So, tell me…do you love this Marian?" Regina questioned with a teasing grin.
Robin cocked his head to the side, as he searched for the right words to say. "I think I could be somewhat happy with her…I know I can be happy with her. But I won't be completely happy with her," Robin admitted.
"Why?"
"Because I know that my first girl type of friend is being practically held captive in this fortress in a loveless marriage, raising her husband's daughter who is somewhat the cause of our friend's death,"
"Robin, don't worry, about me…I'll be alright," Regina said. "I hope" she thought to herself.
"I need to make sure…so Regina, let's go." Robin declared.
"Where?" Regina asked confused.
"Anywhere but here! Run away with me…let's go pick up Little John, and the other Merry Men and just go! I need to know that you'll be happy,"
"What makes you think I'm not?"
"Regina…I've known you longer than anyone else besides your parents! You have dark circles under your eyes, you told me you're learning magic, I heard you've obtained a small temper, and I think I even see a strand of gray in your hair. What this kingdom, and farce of a marriage is doing to you is unhealthy Regina! Physically and emotionally!" Robin declared.
"Robin, I understand your concern…but I'll be alright. What's the Merry motto?" Regina asked trying her best to convince Robin that she would be alright. She had no idea how much longer Leopold and Snow would be gone, and Leopold would report to King John as soon as he learns that Robin Hood was in the kingdom.
"Hakuna Matata…" Robin Hood said sporting a grin at the phrase he and Regina created when they were kids. It meant "no worries."
"That's right! Now get out of here before my husband gets home, please!" Regina pleaded.
"Alright, alright…I'll leave before his majesty arrives. But I want you to come with me."
"Robin…please go back home. Your life awaits…go enjoy freedom for the both of us."
"I know but-"
"I know. You mean well…but leave me be here. Yes, I'm alone…but I don't want to be the reason you or any of our friends are killed for treason. Just stay away, and you'll be safe from me."
"You know I can't do that Regina. I can promise to keep my distance…but I won't promise to just disappear. I'm not leaving you alone in this," Robin stated grabbing her hands in his, and staring into her eyes. Her dark chocolate eyes had always captivated him in a way no other woman could, and for a second they shared a moment.
"Your majesty!" they heard a voice shout.
"Robin, you need to go now!" Regina said as she pulled away from him. She waved her hand and a horse appeared behind him. Robin nodded as he ascended the horse, and looked back at her seeing her pleading eyes. "I'll write, Regina! And if I don't get a response…I will be back," he stated.
"I promise to respond…just go!" she said.
"As you wish, Princess," Robin said as he whipped the reigns of the horse causing the horse to gallop away. Regina could only watch as her only friend rode away, and could only hope that she wouldn't regret the decision to be on that horse with him riding away from her prison. But she was no fool…if word got out that the Queen was missing, Leopold would hunt her down to bring her back to Snow, and more than likely kill Robin Hood, Little John, and the Merry Men for treason not only against King John's crown, but his also. So she turned to see the guards who ran down the stairway toward her.
"Your majesty…the prisoner," the guard asked.
Regina waved her hand over their bodies, and watched as their memories became completely erased of the events that happened. Afterwards, the two of them blinked and looked at her in confusion. "Don't just stand there…get back to your posts," Regina ordered as she brushed past them and into the castle.
Yes…she couldn't tell Robin what her true intentions were because then he'd never leave. And if she'd go down for what she was seeking Rumpelstilskin's help to accomplish…then she'd be damned before she drag Robin Hood down with her.
Flashback Ends
"Are we missing something here?" Emma asked breaking the silence as she stared at Regina and Robin stare at one another for about two minutes in silence.
"You haven't changed a bit." Robin said with a chuckled as he held Roland on his side whose hands were wrapped tightly around his father's neck.
"Neither have you…it's been so long!" Regina replied.
"Well, don't just stand there, Princess…give me a hug!" Robin excitedly declared before pulling Regina into a tight hug. This caused Emma, Snow, David, Neal, Rumpelstilskin, and Hook to arch their eyebrows, and Tinkerbelle to grin from ear to ear, but everyone's jaws dropped as they watched Regina hug Robin Hood back just as tightly.
"Princess?" David questioned.
"You two know each other?" Snow asked pointing between the two of them as Robin separated to wrap an arm around Regina's shoulder who didn't know whether to be stuck in shock that Robin was back in her life, or be mortified that everyone has seen this side of her.
"Practically our whole lives," Robin Hood stated.
"Daddy…this is the woman who helped me," Roland said with a smile as he pointed at Regina while cradling his neck in the crook of Robin's.
"Did she now?" Robin as he turned back to grin at Regina.
"Actually it was me and my friend Tinkerbelle," Regina admitted gesturing to Tinkerbelle who held her hand out. "Pleased to meet you, Mr-"Tinkerbelle started to say.
"Hood. Robin Hood, and any friend of Regina's is a friend of mine," Robin said shaking her hand.
Emma groaned aloud, as she placed her head in her hands. "Another one…Robin Hood, King of Thieves? Seriously?" Emma asked.
"My reputation perceives me...and you are?" Robin inquired.
"Emma Swan…normal girl. I'm not a fairy tale," she responded.
"Fairy tale?" Robin questioned.
"It's a long story," Regina replied.
"And you two are?" Robin asked looking at Snow and Charming who smiled at him. "I'm Snow White, and this is my husband David," Snow said as she held out her hand, which Robin shook, and then shaking Charming's.
"How's it going?" David asked.
"I'm doing just fine now that my boy's back in my eyesight," Robin replied before turning to Hook who just gave a slight salute. "And I'm Hook...sure you heard of me as I've heard of you Hood," he stated with a grin.
"The infamous pirate Hook…never thought I'd ever meet you," Robin said.
"Neither would I think I'd ever meet the Thieving King himself…you and I could be good friends I suppose," Killian clarified getting a laugh out of Robin who nodded his head.
"Pretty sure we'd share some wild adventures," Robin said before turning to face Rumpelstilskin and Neal. "Ah…the Dark One himself, and his son," Robin stated in a mono tone of voice that sounded dangerously low.
"Hello Hood…long time no see. I see that you had a boy," Mr. Gold said nodding at Roland.
"Yeah…and I nearly lost him thanks to your son!" Robin said glaring at Neal who held his hands up in a means of apologizing.
"I'm sorry Robin…if I'd known that the Shadow would come back for Roland. I would have never insisted on us using him to get me here," Neal stated.
"Well, todays your lucky day. Because if it wasn't for you meddling in my life…I would have never been reunited with my best friend." Robin said nodding his head at Regina who slightly blushed that didn't go unnoticed by Tinkerbelle. He then turned toward Regina walking back toward her. "Speaking of…what would bring you all to such a hellish place as Neverland?"
"My son Henry is here. Peter Pan kidnapped him, and took him here," Regina replied.
"Son? Regina, when did you-" he started to ask before he remembered that Neal also said that had a son named Henry. "Wait a second…are you and Neal together?" he asked as he began to feel panic rise, a reason he had no idea as to why he'd care if they were or not.
"Oh God no! Absolutely not! I adopted Henry when he was a baby, and raised him for ten years till he went and found Ms. Swan there to come back into his life," Regina quickly clarified the situation. "Neal is Ms. Swan's baby daddy."
Robin let out a sigh of near relief before turning to see a blushing Emma and Neal who were looking in the other direction, both clearly embarrassed at the situation. "My apologies Ms. Swan," he said.
Emma waved him off. "Non-taken…I'm more offended that one of my child hood tales is yet again ruined."
"What does she mean, Princess?" Robin asked Regina who waved him off, and patted him on the back knowing that there was a lot that she would have to explain to Robin Hood once they get off this damn island.
"Don't worry about it, Robin. I'll-" she began to say,
"Well, lookey right there!" everyone heard a voice say and turned to look at a large man at least 6'5 feet tall exclaim. A group of men stood behind him, all clearly looking like thieves. The gang had forgotten their presence during the meet and greet, but were relieved to see that they had lowered their weapons. A smile came on Robin's face as Regina groaned knowing that the Charmings would get a hoot out of this.
"Well, well, well, if it isn't the grimmest men of the apocalypse," Regina said placing her hands on her hips.
The large man patted two of his other friends who nodded before they started to walk forward. "Hey, Eldam…are you hungry?" the large man asked.
"Sure am John! Bout you Billy?" Eldam replied.
"You know it!" Billy replied.
Regina's ears perked up at that, as Robin stifled a chuckle. The Charmings, Hook, Tinkerbelle, Rumpelstilskin, and Neal looked confused as Regina looked at the three men in paranoid mode. "No, no, no…don't you dare!" Regina started to say as she tried to back away but bumped into Robin who gave her a gentle shove forward straight toward the men who grabbed her arms and pulled her in between them. The three men hugged each other with a squirming Regina between them who fought the urge to laugh while being practically squished.
"Come on Gina…you know you miss our Knuckles Sandwiches!" Little John exclaimed.
"It just seems like old times huh?" Eldam asked as he and Billy laughed aloud as Regina grew more frustrated.
"Get off me!" Regina yelled not wanting to be mortified further in front of the gang, as she shoved her way out of the hug. "No, not like old times alright! Times have changed!" she added.
"What'cha mean Gina?" Little John asked.
"No more Gina Sandwiches! And Eldam, I can't believe you're still wearing that stupid shirt!" Regina said pointing at the shirt Eldam was wearing that could be told from sight that it was old.
"Well, you did make it when we were kids. He hasn't departed from it since," Little John explained.
"Hold up! What the hell is exactly going on?" Emma asked getting even more frustrated because she has never seen Regina seem so down to Earth, or normal till these Merry Men and Robin Hood came around.
"It appears to me Ms. Swan that our Queen has a history with the Merry Men," Rumpelstilskin stated.
"And a long one," Hook added.
"You may know her as being the Evil Queen? But to us…she's always been our Merry Lady," Robin said as he walked up to stand next to Regina who was looking down at the ground.
"Merry Lady? Seriously?" David asked.
"Regina, is this true?" Snow White asked.
Regina rolled her eyes before looking back at the group, and raised her chin high as she put on a smile preparing for the backlash she knew she would receive once she said this. "The first and the last," she declared.
"Didn't see that coming," Neal said as everyone stared at Regina in shock, not knowing what to do but just look.
"Alright, you can stop gawking. Now that this reunion is over…Robin, I need to ask for your help," she said as she grabbed Robin's free arm, as the other held a now sleeping Roland. She and Robin walked a few feet away from the group, and she turned to Robin who looked at her as she had obtained his complete attention.
"We have history, and you saved my son. I'm willing to do just about anything for you Regina," he said.
"I'm glad you said that, because I'm about to press resume on Operation Save Henry, and I need you and the men's help to save my son," Regina stated with all seriousness in her voice.