Run.

Part 1 Chapter 5

"Regina! Regina, wake up!"

Robin said, shaking me awake. My face was wet with tears.

I continued to cry.

Robin held me in his arms, comforting me.

"You're- you're alive." I whispered.

"What? Of course I am!" He said.

"But I saw her kill you! And others!"

"It was a nightmare, Regina. I'm not dead. No one's dead." He said. I wiped my tears from my face.

"Do you want to talk about it?" he asked.

I shook my head.

"It was just so... real." I whispered.

"The doctor said the medicine might give you vivid nightmares."

"What? Why would he give someone that?" I asked.

"Oh, Regina, you're more scared than I have ever seen anyone in my life."

"Imagine this, you're standing in a room you can't escape. Everyone you have ever known and loved is in there too, when suddenly, a demon appears and kills all of them right in front of you."

"A demon? Who was this demon?" Robin asked.

I turned and looked at him.

"My mother."

"Regina, I know how scared you are but it was just a nightmare. Try to go back to sleep."

"Can you take me home?" I asked.

"What?"

"Home. I don't want anymore of this crazy doctor and his evil medicine."

"If that's what you want, that's what you'll get." He said.

Robin took my hand and lead me down the dark halls and down the creaky steps.

"I never want to see that doctor ever again." I mumbled.

"You're overreacting. You just didn't like his medicine."

"Which is a perfectly good reason to not like someone!" I said.

"Whatever you say... now ssh... we need to get away from here or he'll take you back. I've visited villages where the doctor is required to keep you until you're better."

"By order of the queen, never."

Robin laughed and we quickly ran back towards the palace.

"You stop here." I said, "If the guards see you with me, they might report something and there will be tons of crap I don't want to deal with."

Robin laughed.

"Alright."

I turned to leave, but Robin grabbed my arm to stop me.

"Wait, Regina?"

I turned towards him.

"This- uh... is not the last time I'd like to see you." he finished.

"You want to see me again?" I asked with a big grin.

He sighed.

"Yes."

"Tomorrow night. The pub." I said.

"Got it." He grinned.

I planted a kiss on his cheek.

"Thanks for helping me." I said. He smiled and I ran off.

*****

It took me ten minutes to get back to the palace and into my bedchamber. The king was waiting for me when I got there.

"Oh! Your Highness!" I said curtsying, "I thought you were still away with Snow!"

"I was but we had to end our trip early because she became ill. Where were you?" he asked.

"I was out walking and also became ill, the doctor took me in."

"And let you out in the middle of the night?" he asked.

"Oh- I um... left."

"The doctor is in? I should send for him."

"Oh! Don't! His medicine is awful. I'll tend to her." I say before I realized what I offered to do.

"Wonderful. I trust Snow in your hands." He said and walked out.

I pulled out my nightgown and quickly changed.

I grabbed some clean towels, a pitcher of water and a book and walked over to Snow's room.

It turned out she's a lot more sick than I thought. I'm going to have to stay with her all day tomorrow. I hope I'll be able to meet up with Robin. I handed Snow the book to read and I walked back to my room to get some rest.

When I got there I saw a woman sitting on my bed.

Tinker Bell.

"Regina! I came here earlier but you weren't here I figured you were with... him." she laughed.

"Tink, I don't know how to thank you. He's perfect!"

"You're together already?"

"Well, no, but we made plans to meet again. He's so sweet and nice and-"

"Ssh! The king might hear you!" Tinker Belle teased.

I looked at the clock. 5:00. I went to the pub around 9:00.

That's all it took. Eight hours. Eight hours to fall head over heels for him.

"Well, I just wanted to check up on you! Give me more details in the future!" she said. "I have to get back. If I'm caught sneaking out again, I'll be done for!" She smiled and flew away.

I pillowed my head and fell asleep with Robin on my mind.