Alright Oncers…sorry about the chapter delay! But never fear…I shall always update, but it may be when you least expect me to update! My friends and I have been going crazy over this hiatus, but we've only five weeks left to go! So just hang in there! But here you go!
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"This is unbelievable!" Regina screamed in her head as she kicked a stone into a lake. After waiting so damn long to get into Pan's Base, all they got was a bunch of teenage brats, and some lonely lost girl! She ran her hand through her hair in frustration as she tried to keep herself from burning this hellish land to the ground. To be honest with herself, she knew that losing Henry would probably end up being the death of her, because it would either cause her to die from grief or burning Storybrooke and Neverland down, till there was a force strong enough to destroy her. But she couldn't afford to think like that…she wouldn't think like that. Her son wouldn't want her to be this way, to be this stressed…but what could she do…she was a mother.
"And what seems to have your feathers so ruffled?" she heard a voice say, and turned around to see Robin Hood standing there with a worried look, but playful glint in his eyes.
"I don't know…perhaps it's the fact that I've been stuck on this damn island for weeks, my son is missing, I haven't had a shower in days, I've been on this vacation from hell with the very people that I worked so hard to destroy, and did I forget to mention that my son is missing?" she sarcastically replied as she sat down on a log.
"Whoa, whoa, take it easy there, Princess," Robin said holding his hands up as a grin appeared on his face.
Regina rolled her eyes, and let out a sigh as she shook her hands. "I'm sorry Robin…I didn't mean to fly off the handle there," she apologized.
"No, no…it's alright. I understand. When that Shadow came for Roland, I was just as of a mess as you are," he answered as he sat down next to her. He had missed his best friend terribly, and would help her through this ordeal by whatever means necessary.
"How did you cope with it?"
"I simply had faith that I'd get my son back…but apparently I got something extra special with it."
"What?" Regina asked as she turned to look at her friend, and wasn't oblivious to the proximity of their closeness.
"You," Robin replied honestly.
"Come on, you're just saying that," Regina scoffed.
"What reason would I have to lie?" Robin answered.
"Robin…as long as I've lived…no one has ever missed me. Actually, they're quite thrilled whenever I just disappear."
"That's because no one knows you like I do, and I have every reason to miss you. And I never want you to just disappear out of my life again…I'd hate to have to track you down, and handcuff us together," Robin teased with a mischievous grin on his face.
"Well, good luck with that. Because it's hard to keep a Queen down," Regina teased back wearing her own grin as the two of them shared a laugh together. They continued to talk about various other things such as being a single parent, and their respective kids' funniest moments. However, they failed to notice the laughing Tinkerbelle and Hook who shushed each other, as they watched the exchange between the Queen and the Thieving King. Both could see the glow on their faces as they laughed away at what the other was saying.
"That's quite odd…I've never seen the Queen look so…pure," Hook remarked.
"I take it you mean happy, Hook." Tinkerbelle responded.
"That too, Lady Belle. What do you make of this?" he asked.
"I would say that even villains can have a second chance at happiness again," she answered with a smile.
"You really believe villains can have second chances?" Hook questioned curiously.
"Everyone deserves a second chance," Tinkerbelle assured, but missed the hopeful glint that appeared in Captain Hook's eyes as he stared at Tinkerbelle, who turned around to see him staring at her. "What are you staring at?"
"Oh nothing…nothing…just thinking. When did you get so…wise?" Hook asked with a smile.
"Being stuck on this island…you can do nothing but think about the "what ifs" and "what happened". After a while, it just all started to click with me," she answered.
"Well, let's tell them that we're ready to leave for Skull Rock…time is of the essence for the lad, and we don't have much time," Hook replied as they walked up to Robin and Regina, and cleared their throats to gain their attention.
"Tinkerbelle…Hook…what is it?" Regina asked.
"It's time to leave, well most of you to leave," Tinkerbelle answered.
"What do you mean most of us to leave?" Robin asked.
"There's only a few that can fit on the boat we found…and Emma, Neal, and Rumpelstilskin are dead set on going," Hook replied.
"Oh, okay then. He's my son, so I have just as much of a right to go save him as anyone else," Regina replied.
"And since I swore to help you save him, I'll go along too," Robin stated.
"Robin, I don't think that's such a good idea. I mean you have your own son here that you need to protect," Regina said.
"Roland has Little John and the Merry Men with him…along with your family…he'll be alright. Besides, you know adventure always excites me," Robin answered with a grin as he stood up off the log, and held his hand out to Regina. "So…let's go save your son princess," he said.
Regina smiled as she reached up to take his hand, but had to retract quickly as an electric shock seemed to exchange between them. "What the bloody hell was that?" she heard Robin ask. And her mind instantly went back to that night at the Tavern, where she saw him with the Lion Tattoo… she knew exactly what that was, and by Tinkerbelle's giggle, she knew that she understood too.
"Nothing I can think of…must be the static in Neverland or something," she replied as she stood up, brushing her hands together.
"Are you alright?" Robin asked.
"Yeah, yeah…I'm fine. Let's just go save my son so I can get my baby off this damn island," Regina responded as she walked away in a hurry, brushing past the still giggling Tinkerbelle and confused Hook.
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The boat ride had been mostly quiet….Rumple sat at the very front of the boat, his eyes closed, apparently in deep thought. Neal sat with his back to Rumple, as he rowed the boats…every once in a while his eyes would glance to Emma, who sat in front of him with her hands massaging her temples. And behind Emma, sat Robin and Regina who sat side by side…Robin observed as Regina continuously flexed her finger, apparently in worry for her son's life. \
"Are you absolutely sure you're alright?" Robin whispered.
"I'm sure…I just can't help but imagine all the lies Pan may have filled my son's head with," Regina answered.
"Our son," Emma added without turning around, but could already see the rolling of Regina's eyes, and had to suppress a smirk.
"Yes, our son's head," Regina corrected causing Robin to let out an amused chuckle.
"Hey, what about me?" Neal questioned causing Emma to glance up at him with a thin smile that showed her amusement. "I did say our right? You're included in that fraction, Neal," Emma answered.
"That's better," Neal responded with a smile of his own. "You see how they just forget about me, man?" Neal asked Robin with a chuckle.
"I see," Robin replied.
"We don't forget about you Mr. Cassidy…we're just adjusting to having to share our son," Regina stated.
"Now I see how you felt Regina," Emma added causing the two women to share a laugh, which only grew louder at Neal's now confused face, as he remained oblivious as to how Regina and Emma were once at odds about Henry. "It's a long story Neal…no need in traveling back down that road," Emma said.
"I agree," Regina added.
"I just can't wait till we get back home…so I can practically soak in my next bath with running hot water!" Emma groaned.
"I know that's real…one of the many reasons that I love our world…it's better living for everyone with indoor plumbing, stoves and ovens, electricity, and the internet!" Neal boasted.
"I've got to see this land…if it's as great as you all say it is," Robin said.
"You really wanna come to our land?" Regina curiously.
"Regina…I told you that I wasn't planning on losing one of my best friends again. And I know the Merry Men feel the same way about you…you had a way of lighting up the party whenever you were with us. It just wasn't the same since you became queen. And the Enchanted Forest has changed in a lot of ways since you were last there," Robin noted.
"What do you mean?" Regina asked curiously.
"Somebody has come back…somebody you knew all too well. And when I tell you that she's beyond pissed off at everyone there…it's just not safe anymore," Robin whispered so only she could hear.
"Who is she?" Regina asked as she wondered who could hold such a vendetta against her. She could think of a few names, but it was one she could only hope that it wasn't the case…as things between the two of them hadn't ended so nicely.
"Nobody I think you or your family should have to worry about…long as we don't go back to the Enchanted Forest. Something in the past should be best left buried. That's another reason why I plan on taking my son and our friends back to your realm," Robin answered.
"Well, I'm glad to see that you're wise enough to flee from danger, now. The Robin back then would have faced it head on," Regina said with a smile.
"The Robin back then didn't have a son to protect…and Roland is the most important thing in my life. I don't know what I'd ever do if anything were to happen to him."
"I know that feeling all too well." Regina thought to herself.
"We're here," Rumpelstilskin spoke up causing everyone to look up to see Skull Rock Island approaching. After landing on the Isle, everyone had gotten out of the boat and stretched a little preparing for whatever battle was sure to come.
"Is everyone ready?" Rumple asked turning to look at the four adults behind him. Emma and Neal pulled out there swords, while Robin Hood readied a bow and arrow, and fire sparks appeared at Regina's fingertips. "Good, then in that case…Let's go save Henry," Rumpelstilskin said as he turned around and began walking toward what he knew would be the fight of his life.