A/N: This was inspired by OQ Week III over at Tumblr.

Day 1: Outlaw Bandit AU; your take on Bandit!Regina and Outlaw!Robin.

The Bandit and the Outlaw

Regina's eyes grew wide with fear as the Evil Queen held her head between her hands. She shuddered as Snow uttered words that made her blood run cold, "Your head is going to look lovely in my trophy room."

Regina took a shaky breath, "Please, Snow…how many times do I have to say I'm sorry?"

"Once more," the Queen seethed through clenched teeth, "from your grave."

"I didn't know what would happen to James," Regina says, hardly for the first time. "I was a child. I was only trying to help you."

But Snow would have none of it, her eyes murderous as she responded, "You broke a promise; because of your poor poor judgement, my true love is dead."

"Ahhhh," Regina gasped – half in agony and half in surprise, as she felt the Queen's hand grasp the very heart beating inside her chest.

They say your life flashes before your eyes just before the moment of your death, but in that moment, all of Regina's thoughts were focused on one thing. Blue eyes…blue eyes, she thought, her arms wrapping around her middle as she felt Snow's hand squeeze her organ with more vigour.

Another pained cry – and Regina's vision begin to blur, her ears ringing, and she felt her knees weakening – until…

"Your Majesty," the voice of Snow's manservant slash knight in black armour suddenly brought Regina back. "Before you rip her heart out, perhaps you should ask her about her competition."

The Evil Queen smirks, looking at the knight, "So you do have a brain somewhere in that pretty head." And without much ado, she released her hold on Regina's s heart leaving the infamous bandit gasping for air.

Snow rolled her eyes, watching Regina struggle, "Where's Robin Hood?"

Regina gulped, trying the mask the fear inside her by taking a defiant stance – staring at Snow eye-to-eye.

"The attack he and his band of Merry Men partook in last night robbed the Queen her favourite set of jewels," the Black Knight spoke again, his words making Regina's head snap to his direction. "I can only assume you and your kind keep tabs on one another."

"Where…is…he?" Snow repeats, beckoning Regina's attention back to her.

Regina shakes her head, trying now to desperately take control of the situation. "Where does this end, Snow?" she asks, staring at the woman she can hardly recognize – but she refuses to believe that the girl she once knew has completely vanished. "This blood feud. When does it stop?"

"When I've killed you and every one of your followers," Snow easily replies, venom seeping from her voice.

"You lost one happy ending," Regina continues to reason, "And I'm sorry for that…but…all of this killing will only bring more hatred into your life. And all you'll be left with is a hole in your heart…and no hope of ever finding true happiness."

"You…," the Evil Queen says, pointing a gloved finger threateningly at Regina – before conjuring a ball of fire in her palm, causing the bandit to take a step back, "…know nothing of my happiness."

Regina flinches as she watches Snow raise the ball of fire, and she's forced to turn away as the Evil Queen takes aim…

…and then she hears it, the familiar twang of an arrow that hits it mark. Regina sees it strike the door of the carriage – which in turns jostles Snow's hand, muffling the Queen's fireball into smoke and throwing her off her balance.

Regina and the Black Knight both gaze to their left as Regina hears a horse's hooves beating down the forest path, the rider urging his mount faster.

Regina uses this to her advantage; moving quickly, she lunged for the bag of coins inside the carriage. Swinging it wildly towards the unsuspecting Black Knight, she knocks him to the ground – disoriented. She then watches the rider and horse approach closer, and she climbs up the carriage steps, just in time to catch the rider's outstretched arm – which swings her to back of his mount, uttering only: "Milady."

She turns her head back as the horse galloped swiftly away from the scene, only to glimpse that the Black Knight has once again regained his footing – but they were already too far ahead for any attempt of a successful pursuit.

Regina turns back and frowns instinctively, speaking to the rider, her voice laced with obvious annoyance, "I had the situation under control."

He rolls his eyes at her words, one hand holding firmly onto the reins while the other secures her hold around his waist. He turns slightly towards his 'damsel in distress' and replies, cheekily, "A simple thank you would suffice."

Regina swung the tavern door open with familiar ease.

"I told you," she reiterates, "I didn't need rescuing." She steps into the establishment, pulling her gloves off with her teeth, and signalling the barman for two drinks.

"Believe me," he replies, looking at her as they both approached the bar, "I'm already questioning helping the competition."

Regina laughed. "Competition?" she asked incredulously. "Competition would mean…"

But she doesn't get to finish as the big bear of a barman approaches. "A whiskey for Robin…," he says, pouring a cup for Regina's self-proclaimed rescuer before turning to hand Regina her own glass, finishing, "…and water for the lady."

Robin laughs, leaving the glass of whiskey untouched on the bar and opting instead to grab the entire bottle. "Thank you, Little John," he says, giving his old friend a wide smile as Regina stares between the two of them.

Still holding onto her water, she turns to Robin, "You told him?"

Robin gives Little John a reprimanding look, before turning to Regina, "It's not me with a big mouth. You're the one who told Tuck…"

"The Friar?" she practically shouts at him, "You're blaming the Friar?"

"Hey there…Lord and Lady Locksley," Little John cuts in, looking at the two – who frowns at his choice of nicknames, "Take it to the back, will you? This here is where I receive customers."

Regina frowns, but still holding onto her glass of water, makes her way into the darker bowels of the tavern as she hears Little John say, "And fix this, will you, Robin? I'm not be saving a barstool for your sorry arse tonight!"

"Hear hear," Robin replies, promptly following his wife to where she's stopped at one of the back tables. Robin approaches her, her back still turned to him.

Regina takes a deep breath, before turning to look at her husband…words already forming at her lips when he swiftly takes her right hand in his, much to her surprise.

"Now, hold still, please…Milady," Robin simply says.

"What? Why?" Regina asked, annoyed.

"Because this," Robin replied, as he poured whiskey on a wound she hadn't even noticed, "might sting a little."

Regina winced slightly as Robin continued, his head gesturing towards the bench. "Now, sit down before you pass out," he urges.

"Ugh," Regina says, watching as she bandages her hand carefully, "I'm fine…it's just a scratch."

But he is insistent and with a roll of her eyes, Regina finally settles herself down onto the bench – just as Robin does the same; him still holding her hand above the table.

"What were you thinking, Regina?"

She takes her hand immediately out of his hold, "What was I thinking? What were you?"

"Are you still on about me telling John about our baby?" Robin asked, eyes wide with disbelief, "I hardly think that's the issue…seeing as he'd eventually find out anyway!"

At his mention of their child, Regina's hand instinctively went to her middle – just as she'd done when Snow had threatened her earlier. She felt fear then, just as she does now; and she can see that same fear magnified in Robin's eyes.

Regina sighs softly, taking his hand back into hers, "I'm fine. We're fine." Then she smiles, adding, "You saved us."

"This time, Regina," he replies. "What if…what if I hadn't known about that caravan? What if I had not been there – "

" – to steal it yourself?" Regina finishes, as she watches Robin inability to meet her eyes.

"We had an agreement, Regina."

"Which we both clearly broke," Regina replies, eyes determined. "And it would seem breaking that agreement is a habit of yours."

And at Robin's surprised face, she continued, "Oh…do not give me that look." She sighs, "Snow is looking for you! Do you have any idea how it felt when she asked me if I knew where you were?"

"Regina…," Robin begun.

"No!" Regina said. "I guess the only consolation is the fact that, thankfully, she still has no idea about us. But I was scared Robin. I was scared for me. I was scared for you. I was scared for our family!" She shook her head, "You told me you were helping John here last night…but no; you and the Merry Men were out robbing royal caravans! How could you lie to me?"

Robin stared into his wife's eyes, "I did it for us."

Regina scoffed, turning away from him.

"Our need to leave this Forest is even more pressing now, Milady," Robin continued. "Our family is growing and we cannot spend our days in hiding anymore." Robin took her hand again, willing her to look at him, "Lucy, our daughter, she's growing up…I don't want her and her little brother or sister…I don't want our children to live in fear, Regina."

"What if you'd been caught last night?" Regina asked him softly. "What if…?"

"The men…"

"Oh," Regina cuts in, "your men? You have it all planned out?" She shakes her head. "I don't need your men, no matter how merry they are. I need you."

At her words, Robin stands to join Regina on her side of the bench. He takes her into her arms, wrapping her securely in his embrace – and at that, tears finally fell from Regina's eyes. "What would I have told Lucy? And our baby…growing up without its Papa?"

Robin sighs, moving to hold her face in his hands as he looks at her, "I'd hate to be the voice of reason here, but…you do realize that I can ask you all of these questions, too." Regina watches as tears form at his eyes as he continued, "Lucy and I could've lost both of you today…"

Regina swallowed the lump in her throat. Damn him for being right, she thought, as she tries not to relive the moment that Snow had gripped her heart – and all her mind could see was the little blue-eyed girl that she loved with all her might and the man (with the same blue eyes) who made her possible.

"And we'd have lost you both," Robin continued, as she reached behind her to where she'd tucked the bag of coins she'd swiped into her belt, "for some measly coins."

Regina moved out of his embrace at his words, sensing the playfulness in his voice now, "Oh…are we comparing scores?"

"Well, I don't really see a comparison, Milady," Robin replied cheekily, using the distance between them now to rest his hand on her hip, his thumb gently stroking her middle. "Seeing as I made off with jewels, gems, coins…the works, really."

"Are you calling yourself the better thief, Outlaw?"

"Well, if the shoes fit…Bandit," he replies, sneaking a soft kiss on his wife's unsuspecting lips. He sighs, softly saying, "I'm sorry."

Regina strokes the stubble on his jaw, nodding her head, as she replies, "I'm sorry, too."

"Proposal to reinstate our old agreement and just call it even this time?" Robin asks tentatively.

Regina shakes her head, "I don't think it's going to work. It just…it wouldn't be who we are." She smiles at him, "I fell in love with a thieving outlaw…"

"Whose dashing good looks stole your heart?"

"Whose honour, courage, unending patience, and love…made me give my heart to him freely," Regina answers back.

"Well…," Robin says with a sigh, "At least take one of the men with you on your next heist. And nothing pass the fourth month this time, please?"

"Fifth?" Regina bargained.

"How about the second your breeches don't fit anymore?" he counters, earning him a playful smack from his wife. "How about we head home, Milady? I think a certain little Lady has probably missed us."

"When should we tell her?" Regina asked him, an excited smile on her face.

"Her birthday is in a couple of weeks," Robin answers. "I'd say we wait till then."

Regina nods, "That sounds like a good plan. We can tell everyone else then, too…at least, those you haven't told yet!"

"A handful of people know," Robin says. "And it's a very good plan…one that will save us having to acquire a present for the little Lady."

"How do you figure?"

"We're giving her the sibling she'd always wanted," he replies cheekily, "What else could she wish for?"

Regina laughs, "As if…I already saw the bow you carved for her not so hidden under the bed."

"Well, I can't deny our daughter anything," he says with a smile.

The two approach the door of the tavern, both waving a hand of goodbye to John – who looks up for a second from his conversation with a tall red-head – raising a hand of his own. The red-head turns, too, and Robin looks down as Regina's grip tightens on his arm and she practically pushes him out the door.

"What was that?" he asked her, once outside.

"Nothing," Regina shrugged, turning away from Robin's scrutinizing eyes, her feet starting to navigate the busy streets of the small village.

"Are you…" Robin begins, a playful smile on his face as he followed her, "Are you jealous of…of…"

"Zelena," Regina supplies, "Are you honestly telling me you don't know her name?"

"Well, I can't say we've met."

"She comes into the tavern all the time," Regina counters, "She pretends to talk to John. But I see her! All she does is stare at you like you're some walking –"

"Walking what?" Robin asks, smile still playful – dimples flashing.

"Get over yourself."

At that, Robin actually stopped her, gripping both her shoulders gently but firmly, "I'm honest when I say I've not noticed her, Milady." And he smiles, "For how could I? I've already met the one person whose eyes I was born to gaze into. What would I need for more?"

Regina shakes her head, but inside his words stirred something in her, "I've already forgiven you, Robin…no need to butter me up even more."

"I speak only the truth, Milady," Robin replies, as they approach the edge of the forest. "I…"

And Regina reaches up to cup his face in her hands, bringing their foreheads together with a soft thud. "…I know," she finishes, before kissing him deeply.

"Mama! Papa!" Lucy of Locksley ran towards her parents as she saw them approaching their home, hand-in-hand.

Regina tries to keep the surprised look on her face, seeing her daughter out and about – on her own.

"Lucy!" she greets, meeting the young girl's embrace with a big smile. She crouches to meet her daughter's eyes, her hands playfully tugging at the girl's dark braids, "Did you have fun with Grandpa today?"

"Sure did," Lucy replied easily, quickly turning her attention to her father – as Robin looked around the forest, his eyes alert and suspicious. "Papa!" she cried, arms outstretched.

Robin eyes finally settled (not sensing any disturbance in the nearby forest), focusing on his daughter, lifting her up as he cried, "Oh, Lucy Goosy, you're getting to be so big!"

"Big enough to be a big sister?" Lucy asked, looking from one parent to another.

Regina smiles at her daughter, letting out a soft laugh, as she rubbed gentle circles on her little arm, "Where is Grandpa, Lucy? What are you doing outside on your own?"

"Grandpa said for me to stay out here," Lucy said. "He's inside with the peoples we caught!"

"The people you what?" Robin asked his daughter, voice loud – as both parents looked at their child with wide eyes.

"I helped him, Papa," Lucy said proudly, puffing out her little chest.

Regina swallowed the lump in her throat, taking her daughter's hand in hers as the girl continued on, "They weren't caught by pit or the log, but I was watchful like you said I should be – and I knocked the big one out with a pan, like Uncle Will taught me!"

"The big one?" Regina softly whispers to Robin as they both tried not look horrified by their daughter's story.

"Well…aren't you now glad I let her spend a little bit of time with Will?" Robin replies.

"Not the time," Regina retorts back. She eyed her daughter again, asking, "And then you and Grandpa brought them inside?"

The little girl nods.

"Did you tie them up?" Robin asked.

The little girl shakes her head.

Robin fumes, turning to Regina, "How could Henry just…"

"Daddy knows what he's doing," Regina replies. "He would never let any harm come to Lucy."

"He left her outside and let some strangers into our home!"

With that said, Robin hands Lucy to Regina, saying, "You two stay out here, I'll go and see what's happening."

"We're going with you," Regina says quickly, handing Lucy back to Robin. "My dad is in there!"

Robin sighs, but before he could respond, Regina was already walking towards the log which camouflaged their forest home. He sees her draw her bow, as he quickly follows her – arms tight around their daughter.

Regina enters their home with her weapon at the ready, but the sight that meets her was not one that could be described as threatening.

Her father was calmly sitting on a wooden chair, facing him with a table between them, were two boys.

One who seems to be a boy on the cusp of becoming a young man (a crude cloth wrapped around his head, from where Regina is sure her daughter had hit him) and the other, well…he couldn't have been much older than Lucy.

"Daddy?" Regina approached, emerging from the shadows with Robin at her side. She looks to see him, and his reaction mirrored her own – surprised, but not threatened.

"Henry," Robin began, watching his father-in-law stand to meet them but he doesn't miss the way the young man also perk to attention at his call. "What's going on?"

The elder man held his daughter's hand, "I…I cannot." He sighs, "I think it'd help to let them explain."

Regina meets Robin's eyes, and they both turn to look at these two strangers in their home.

The young man stands from his seat, causing Robin to take a step forward, his left arm instinctively holding Regina's middle as his body turns ever so slightly as to shield Lucy, as well.

"Speak carefully and slowly," Regina instructs, her gaze threatening to soften as she watched the younger boy also stand only to cling tightly onto the older one.

The young man nods in agreement, "My…," his voice breaks and he clears his throat. He tries again. "My name is…Henry," he says tentatively, his gaze flicking from Regina's to where the elder Henry stood in the corner of the room.

He then gestures to the young boy whose tiny hands gripped his arm tightly, currently staring at Regina with wide eyes, "And this is Roland."

Robin freezes at the sound of the boy's name; it had been his grandfather's name, after all. Not truly uncommon, but in this situation – it cannot be a coincidence and is almost entirely suspicious.

Regina watches as the little boy nods at the sound of his name, his curly hair bouncing as he does so – while her mind reeled at the revelations. She watches as his young gaze meets that of her husband and he utters, "Papa."

Regina looks at Robin, but her gaze was cut short as the young man's voice broke though once more, repeating – looking straight at her, "My name is Henry…and I'm your son."