Once Upon a Time

MackenzieW

A/N: This is the third part of my "All That Was Me" series, an Outlaw Queen take on "Outlander" by Diana Gabaldon. It is highly advised you read both "All That Was Me" and "The Land Without Magic" before reading this one as some things will not make sense otherwise. Thank you!

Disclaimer: Characters from "Once Upon a Time" belong to the respective creators. I'm just playing with them.

Has anyone ever read you a fairytale?
And taken you to places magical?
Where homes are made of gingerbread and skies are always blue
Where pumpkins turn to coaches and wishes all come true?

("Once Upon a Time," Brooklyn the Musical)

Chapter 1: Old Foes

Someone shook me out of a deep slumber and a little voice whispered: "Mama? Mama, are you awake?"

"I am now." I opened my eyes to find Roland standing next to my bed, clutching his bear in his arms. Frowning, I sat up a bit. "Roland, sweetheart, what's wrong?"

"I don't feel good. My stomach hurts and I feel hot."

I pressed my hand to his forehead, certain he had a fever. Pushing the blankets back, I climbed out of bed and took his hand. "Come on, let's go see if we can do something about that."

Roland followed me into the bathroom and sat on the toilet as I pulled out the thermometer. "Stick this under your tongue and hold it in place, okay?" I instructed.

He did so, sulking. Robin appeared in the doorway, rubbing the back of his head with his eyes barely open. "What's wrong?" he asked as he yawned.

"Roland's sick," I said, checking the thermometer. I frowned when I saw the display read 102. "I think flu season is upon us."

Robin was now wide awake as he placed our son on his lap, holding him close. "What do we do?"

"I'll make a doctor's appointment for this one in the morning and keep him home from school. We'll make you nice and comfortable on the couch, Roland. How does that sound?" I asked, pouring out some medicine for him.

He moaned in response, half-asleep in his father's arms. I knelt down in front of them and ran my hand through his curls. "Roland, sweetheart, I need you to sip this and then you can go back to sleep, okay?"

"Okay," he murmured, leaning forward so I could tip the grape-flavored liquid into his mouth. He swallowed it all down and rested against his father's chest again.

I washed the measuring cup. "We're also going to have to be careful with the babies. The flu can be very dangerous for children that young."

He nodded, standing with Roland in his arms. I saw him wince and he sighed. "He's starting to get too heavy for me. I won't be able to carry him much longer."

Sadness tinged his words, a feeling I understood. I nearly cried when I realized I couldn't carry Roland anymore myself and I couldn't entirely blame my pregnancy hormones. There had been such a bond fostered between the two of us when I had carried him but it was still as strong as ever. I knew Robin was going to miss the connection but he would see that nothing would change between him and Roland.

As Robin tucked our son into bed, I checked on our daughters. Emma lay on her stomach, her pink nightgown hiked up over her diaper. I checked it, relieved to find it still dry. She sucked on her thumb, her fingers curling and uncurling as she dreamed on. Since she was peaceful, I moved onto Rachel's crib where she was on her back. Her pacifier rose and fell with her even breaths.

"How is everyone in here?" Robin asked in a whisper, wrapping his arms around me.

I leaned back against him. "They're fine. How's Roland?"

"In bed with a cool cloth. He's trying to fall asleep but I don't think he'll be able to do so until the medicine kicks in."

"I think I'll go lie in his room until then. You head back to bed." I kissed him and rested my hand against his cheek. "Good night. Again."

He nodded. "I'll see you in the morning."

We parted ways and I grabbed some blankets from our closet before I entered Roland's room. Robin had placed the damp cloth over his forehead and I checked it before arranging the blankets on the floor.

"Mama?" Roland's voice sounded small and hoarse.

I glanced over at him and smiled. "Hey there, my little knight. I'm going to sleep here tonight, okay?"

He nodded before coughing, a troubling new symptom. "I don't want to feel icky anymore."

"I know, sweetheart." I took his hand and squeezed it. "So for now, I need you to close your eyes and try to get some sleep. Your body needs it."

Coughing again, Roland did as I instructed. He held Little John Bear close as he let out little whimpers. I abandoned my blanket bed and laid on his, holding him close. He clung to me and I recalled when he had gotten sick in the Enchanted Forest over a year ago. I had been so worried for him then and it returned now. My only comfort was that Robin was safe down the hall and that there were medicines here to help soothe Roland.

I kissed his heated forehead as I flipped the cloth. Lying down again, my eyes drifted closed and I fell into a light sleep, attuned to every sound coming from Roland for the rest of the night.

Robin helped me set up Roland on the couch the next day, tucking our boy in with Little John Bear. "Do you think you can eat something?" he asked.

"Not hungry," Roland mumbled.

I sighed, kneeling next to him. "Can you try for me? Maybe some toast with a little jelly?"

He shrugged, pouting. Robin glanced up at me. "It couldn't hurt, right? Maybe he'll realize he's hungry after a few bites."

"I'll be right back then," I said, heading into the kitchen.

Emma and Rachel sat in their high chairs, hands connected. I was growing more and more convinced they could use their magic to talk to each other and wondered what they discussed during those moments. They stared at each other as I placed a slice of bread into the toaster.

"Mama!" Emma chirped, finally acknowledging me. She gave me a toothy smile as Rachel reached out a little hand to me.

I took it and kissed her fingers. Roland? Rachel asked me.

"He's sick, so Papa and I are taking care of him," I explained. "I'm going to make him some breakfast and then I'll tend to you two."

The toast popped up and I placed a thin layer of jelly on it. As I placed the plate on a tray, Emma banged her hands on her high chair tray. "Papa!"

"He's taking care of Roland. I will be right back, though."

Emma frowned, shaking her head. "Papa!"

I sighed, heading back into the living room and giving Robin a look. He smiled. "I believe I'm being paged?"

"You are. I'll stay here with Roland," I said, setting the tray down in front of the boy. "Go ahead."

Robin kissed his forehead before tending to our daughters in the kitchen. I sat on the edge of the couch and helped Roland eat his toast. "Feel better?"

"No," he croaked. "My throat hurts, my face is hot and my stomach still feels like it's tumbling around."

"Okay, sweetheart. I'm going to call the doctor and see if he can see you today. Okay?"

Roland nodded before grabbing my hand. "Can you wait? I want you to stay for a bit, Mama."

I squeezed his hand back and cuddled next to him, holding up the remainder of his toast. "Okay. Can you take another bite for me?"

He sighed but took the bite. Once he swallowed, he leaned against me and groaned. "Make it go away."

"I'm going to do my best, okay, sweetheart?"

"Then can you tell me a story?" He gave me big, pleading eyes.

I nodded, pulling him closer. "Which one do you want?"

"The Princess and the Pea. Like the last time I was sick."

Cuddling with him, I uttered the four words that had come to haunt me: "Once upon a time…"

Roland fell asleep during the fairy tale and I eased myself from his grip, carrying the tray back into the kitchen. Emma looked up as Robin cleaned her hands, smiling at me. "Mama! Ro?"

I raised an eyebrow. "Ro?"

"I think it's her attempt at saying Roland," Robin explained. "She's been asking it for a while now."

"Are you concerned for your brother?" I asked her, picking her up as Robin cleaned Rachel.

Roland okay? Where is he?

"I told you. He's sick and sleeping on the couch. So let's call the doctor and make an appointment so he can make your brother feel better," I said, picking up the phone.

It rang twice before the receptionist picked up. "Yes, hi, this is Regina Locksley. I'd like to make an appointment with Dr. Wessex."

"Oh, Dr. Wessex is out the rest of the week. But he does have an associate if you want to see him. You'll just have to go to Storybrooke," the woman said.

My heart sped up. "Did you say Storybrooke?"

"Yeah, Dr. Wessex has been working with a Dr. Whale there. So you can see him."

"That sounds fine. Can you give me the number to call and make an appointment with him?" I repeated the number she gave me so Robin could write it down. When she finished, I smiled. "Thank you so much. Goodbye."

I hung up as Robin frowned. "I'm going to go with you. I don't want you in Storybrooke alone."

"Robin, I'll be fine. It's just a doctor's appointment," I told him.

He took the phone from my hand in order to lace our fingers together. "We don't fully understand what's going on, but I view Storybrooke as an extension of the Enchanted Forest. I was your protector there and I shall be your protector whenever you go to that town."

"You're not going to back down are you?"

"Absolutely not." He handed me the phone. "You make the appointment and then we'll find someone to watch the girls."

Karen agreed to watch Emma and Rachel for us. Robin carried Roland out to the car and I sat in the back with our boy, holding him close as he continued to groan. Concerned and nervous about returning to Storybrooke, Robin was silent the entire ride to the town until we passed the town line.

"Which way to the hospital?" he asked.

I checked the instructions the receptionist had given me. "Keep going to Main Street and then make a left onto Green Street."

Robin made the turn and we saw a diner up ahead marked "Granny's." Outside, Red wiped down some tables in a tank top and short red shorts. Her hair was pulled into pigtails and I could see the goosebumps on her skin. Granny stood in the door of the diner, no doubt yelling at her granddaughter to put on something warmer. "At least they're together," I said.

"But they seem to have a rocky relationship," Robin commented. "Not like they were in the Enchanted Forest."

"True. Do you think Red is still friends with Snow?"

He shrugged, waiting at the light. "But judging from how Red dresses and acts here and how demure and quiet Snow is here, I doubt it."

"You're probably right. Which is a shame," I said with a sigh. "Oh, make a left here on Maple. Hospital should be at the end of the block."

Robin nodded, turning onto the street. "Who do you think this doctor was back home?"

I shrugged. "Probably Doc."

"Good point. Then he should be able to help Roland." Robin parked the car and came around to help me with our boy.

He carried Roland into the hospital as I hurried to the reception area. I didn't recognize the woman behind it, a stern looking nurse who didn't smile. "How can I help you?"

"I have an appointment for Dr. Whale. Can you point me to his office?" I asked.

She nodded, tapping on the clipboard on her desk. "Sign everyone in and then head to the elevator banks. You want to go to the fourth floor."

I thanked her, quickly signing in Robin, Roland and myself. Motioning for Robin to follow me, I led them over to the elevators. As we waited, I heard a familiar voice calling my name.

Snow was hurrying toward us, her pea coat fluttering in the breeze her speed created. As she approached us, she frowned when she saw the sleepy and flushed Roland in Robin's arms. "Oh no, is he sick?" she asked.

"Unfortunately," I replied, rubbing Roland's back. "His usual doctor is out so they sent us here to Dr. Whale. Do you know him?"

"Yes. He's a good doctor…but his bedside manner could use some improvement."

"Blunt? Cold? Holier-than-thou?"

Snow hesitated before answering: "Inappropriate."

Robin raised his eyebrow as we stepped onto the elevator. "Am I going to have to defend my wife's honor?"

"I don't think it'll be anything to warrant a drastic reaction," she replied. "But there will probably be some comments that won't sit well."

The doors opened and we got off while Snow remained behind. She held the door open, smiling at us. "Dr. Whale's office is down the hall and to the right. Feel better, Roland."

"Thank you, Princess," he mumbled against his father's shoulder.

His response gave her pause but Snow shook it off, letting the doors close at last. I sighed and tugged on Robin's sleeve. "Come on. Let's see how inappropriate this Dr. Whale really is."

We didn't recognize Dr. Whale from the Enchanted Forest. I frowned, wondering how extensive the curse had ended up being. For almost two years, I had assumed that the curse would only affect those Zelena wanted it to—namely Snow and her supporters. But had more been pulled into it? Or was Storybrooke also filled with people who had no connections to the Enchanted Forest? After all, I had managed to enter the town despite the Dark One's warnings that I wouldn't be able to.

Dr. Whale ended up being a tall man with short blond hair and a rather smug attitude. He smirked when he saw us. "What I wouldn't give to be your third wheel," he said, holding a clipboard.

I saw what Snow had meant about him being inappropriate. Robin tensed up beside me, glaring daggers at him. "We're here for our son, who is sick. You are a doctor, right?"

"Right. Yes, bring him in here and I'll examine him," Whale said, becoming professional.

Robin and I followed. He leaned down to whisper: "I hope he stays this way because I don't think I can take another comment."

"Just relax. I'm sure he'll behave until he diagnoses Roland. And then we'll make a break for it before he can make any more innuendo."

With a plan in place, we entered the examination room and Robin placed Roland on the table. He coughed a few times before groaning. "Can I sleep?" he asked me, voice raspy.

"Not yet, sweetheart. Dr. Whale needs to examine you. Once he's done, then you can sleep. I promise," I said, running my hand through his curls before pulling his blanket away from him.

Robin helped him sit up so Dr. Whale could look him over. I held his blanket close, worried for him. He had gotten more flushed and his cough sounded worse than when we left home.

Dr. Whale was very professional and caring as he checked Roland's temperature, heart and lungs. He frowned as he removed the stethoscope from our boy's back. "There's fluid on the lungs," he told us.

"Is that bad?" Robin grabbed my hand and gave it a squeeze.

"I'd like to take some X-Rays to get a better look before I make a diagnosis. You can head downstairs to radiology and I'll call down so they're ready for you."

Robin gathered Roland into his arms as I thanked Whale. I wrapped the blanket around Roland again, noticing he was now shivering despite his fever. "Can you give him something for the fever now?" I asked the doctor.

"Yeah, I think I have something in one of these cabinets. We'll give him a dose and then send him down." Whale opened the top cabinet and pulled out a brown bottle as well as a plastic measuring cup. He poured out the proper dosage and gave it to me. "You'll probably have better luck than me."

I nodded, rubbing Roland's back. "Baby, I need you to swallow this. It will help make you feel better, okay?"

"Don't wanna. Wanna sleep," he murmured.

"I know, Roland, but you need to take this. Please?"

He raised his head from his father's shoulder though he kept his eyes closed. I managed to get him to gulp down everything, his lips puckering as he did so. "Yuck, Mama," he told me. "I prefer grape."

I managed a weak smile before we followed Dr. Whale down to the radiology department, hopeful we would get some answers.

It was pneumonia. Dr. Whale diagnosed it as bacterial and gave us antibiotics to combat it. "You can fill it here in Storybrooke or back home," he said, handing me the script. "And I'll let Dr. Wessex know of my diagnosis. You can go to him for a follow up."

"Thank you," I said, meaning it. "You're pretty decent when you're not being inappropriate."

He looked sheepish. "Yeah, I get that a lot. Anyway, just see Nurse Ratchet at the desk to work out payment and I hope the little guy gets better."

I headed back toward Robin and Roland. "Why don't you sit down and I'll settle everything up, okay?"

He sat down, rocking Roland as I hurried over to the desk. The nurse behind it took the information Dr. Whale gave her and we started to work out fees between insurance and myself. "Do you take checks?" I asked.

"We do," a smooth and familiar voice said. Sir Ronald of Huntingdon came around the desk, wearing a black suit with a blue tie. It matched the hue of his eyes, which were as cold as the last time I saw them.

He held out his hand, smiling a smile that did not reach his eyes. "Ron Hunter, hospital administrator."

It seemed appropriate. He probably was an administrator who enjoyed overbilling patients and denying them important procedures. But he didn't know I was his sister-in-law nor that his estranged brother sat feet away. For that, I was grateful. "Regina Locksley," I said. "And thank you."

Something akin to recognition briefly flashed in his eyes but his smile remained. "Well, thank you for choosing Storybrooke General. Have a good day."

He walked away and I finished up with Nurse Ratchet. I hurried over to Robin, who shook his head. "My brother works in a hospital."

"Yeah," I said. "But I'm worried about what that means."

"That my father got caught up in the curse too." Robin's eyes grew cold and hard.

I took his hand. "Let's get home before we can run into him, then. Even if he doesn't have his memories…"

"He probably still is as much of a bastard," Robin agreed, shifting Roland in his arms to get a better grip on the sleeping boy as we headed back to our car.

Two men were hovering by our car, which was concerning as it was parked legally. My heart skipped a beat when one man, dressed in a gray shirt, dark pants and a leather jacket with a patch denoting him as the sheriff looked up. Dark hair, dark eyes, and a smug smirk that still sometimes haunted my nightmares, all which belonged to the Sheriff of Nottingham.

Robin swore, coming to a stop. "The last two people I want to see," he said. "The Sheriff and my father."

"Are you sure that's your father?"

He nodded. "I would recognize him anywhere."

Indeed, when the man turned around, I recognized the features my husband had inherited—angular jaw, blue eyes, and a similar nose. Lord Robert gave us a cold smile as we approached. "Is this your car?" he asked.

"Yes," Robin replied. "Is there a problem?"

The Sheriff nodded, smirking. "You don't have a parking pass here. No one can park in the lot without having first paid for a pass."

"And where is that? I see no meters nor a booth where we would pay. Besides, no one inside mentioned it," I argued.

Robin glanced around at the other cars. "I also don't see passes on other cars."

"They don't belong to out-of-towners," Lord Robert replied.

I frowned. "How did you know that car didn't belong to someone in Storybrooke? We have Maine license plates as well."

"Small town, ma'am. I know every car in Storybrooke," the Sheriff insisted. I believed him too.

"Why are you picking on us?" I asked Lord Robert. Did he still have his memories? Maybe both did and they knew exactly who we were.

Robert smirked. "We don't much like outsiders, ma'am."

"Then let us get in the car and take our sick son home. You won't have to see us again," Robin insisted, rubbing Roland's back.

The Sheriff ripped off a piece of paper, handing it to me. "Unfortunately, we will. That's a summons to appear in two weeks' time. See you then."

He walked off as I placed the summons into my bag, glaring at Lord Robert. "And how are you involved in all of this?" I asked him.

"Robert Hunter. I'm the owner of the hospital," he replied, "and the owner of the parking lot. I have to keep my patients safe."

"We're your patients. We brought our son here to get help for him. And now you're threatening us."

Robert gave me a cold smile. "I'm not threatening. Just leave and we'll all be fine."

"But we're going to be back. Your buddy the sheriff made sure of that," I said, pulling the summons out again.

He frowned before Robin grabbed me. "Come on, love. Roland needs rest, so we should go home."

As he guided me toward the passenger side, I glared at Robert. This wasn't over, I knew, and wondered if he really thought this through. Before climbing in, I said: "Pleasure to meet you, Mr. Hunter."

He frowned as Robin pulled away, heading back to our home. Back to where everything made sense.

Roland spent the rest of the day sleeping on the couch, waking only when it was time either to eat or take his medicine. The girls were confused why their brother was playing with them as well as why we were kept them away from him. At one point, Emma got away from me and toddled over to him. She patted him and kept saying "Ro" over and over until Robin carried her from the room.

Want to play with Roland. Why is he sleeping all the time? Emma pouted as Robin handed her to me.

"He's sick, Emma, and needs his rest. You need to stay away so you don't get sick," I told her.

I want to play with him!

I sighed. "I know, sweetheart. But you'll just have to wait. Why don't you play with Rachel instead?"

Emma sighed, wiggling to be let down. She walked over and sat down next to Rachel, attempting to play with her sister as I sighed in relief. Tantrum averted for now.

We kept the girls entertained the rest of the evening until we finally got them in their cribs. Robin then carried Roland back to bed before we collapsed in our bed for some rest.

He groaned. "My father, my brother and the Sheriff are in this world. I guess being loyal to Zelena didn't pay off for them."

"Of course not," I said, scoffing. "She was proud of being wicked. Double-crosses must be her bread and butter."

Robin nodded, eyes closed and no doubt almost asleep. I closed my eyes as well and sighed, feeling my body relax for the first time that day. Sleep tugged at me immediately.

I was back in the nursery, the green smoke of the curse starting to curl around the room. Charming's body lay on the ground as Snow cradled it, sobbing at the loss of her child and her true love. Zelena stood over her, laughing as she relished in her victory, while I clutched onto Robin and Roland with all my might.

We shouted our goodbyes over the powerful winds, certain it was our last time together. As Robin and I proclaimed our love, the smoke curled around us.

Out of the corner of my eyes, I saw Zelena get engulfed along with us, her yell mixed with the howling winds.

Gasping, I sat up. My heart raced as I clicked on my lamp and picked up my bag. Digging through it, I pulled out the summons and unfolded it. I scanned it, my heart stopping when I got to the bottom.

"Regina? What's wrong?" Robin asked, sitting up behind me.

I held out the summons to him. "Read the name of Storybrooke's mayor."

He scanned the document before his faced blanched. "No, no…"

"Yes," I said, realizing I was trembling. I buried my head against his neck as he held me close. "She's not far away. She's only in the next town over."

Robin rocked me as the awful truth sunk in for us—our nemesis had gotten caught up in her own curse and spirited away to the Land Without Magic.

And she was now known as Zelena West, Mayor of Storybrooke.

A/N: Here we go, the first chapter of "Once Upon a Time." What will happen to our favorite couple? Stay tuned!

I decided to start posting today because June 20th is the anniversary of when Regina first fell into the Enchanted Forest and it's Robin's birthday in this universe. So happy birthday, Robin!

See everyone soon!

-Mac