The Queen's Thief

Chapter 17: Baby?

*16 years old*
*Enchanted Forest*
~Sam's pov~

Robin hasn't given me any jobs in the past three weeks. He knew I had the egg still and he didn't want me to leave it behind and he also learned about my deal with Regina. He wanted to make sure I follow but through my deal.

Regina is practically a pro at this point. She practiced even when her muscles were sore. Unless I made her take the day off and relax.

Today was one of these days. We were sitting underneath the apple tree and talking about different things. Sometimes she'd ask about my life as a pirate or what I do with the Merry Men.

"Wait you met Peter pan?" She asked during my story. "But he's just a fairy tale."

"Well there's a reason people think that, but if he was truly fake do you think people would still tell his story after all these years?" I asked as I leaned against the tree.

She stopped and thought for a second.

"Honestly the story is a lie. Yeah at first children enjoy the freedom, but then they want to go home. Also he only lets the boys stay not girls. Well not all the time."

She looked a little surprised by that. "Did he let you stay?" She asked as she leaned closer.

"Oh no. He tried hunting me down but I was smarter than him." I smirked.

Something else had her attention and she looked curious about something.

"What?"

"Your egg..."

I looked down into the sack and I saw the egg was shaking and glowing. I grabbed it not realizing that it was extremely hot. I didn't want to drop the egg and hurt the creature inside so I carefully placed it in between us even though it was burning my hands.

"Don't touch it." I said showing her my hands.

We didn't speak while it hatched. It was cool watching it carefully pick away at its egg.

I guess it also peaked her interest because she shifted extremely close to me to watch.

At first the creature seemed to be struggling with breaking from its egg when suddenly the top of the egg flew off.

A tiny little lion cub like head popped out and looked at me. He had glowing orange eyes and a curious expression.

Regina was excited seeing the baby Manticore. I guess it was curious about both of us and it hopped out of the remaining shell where we could get a better look at it.

It had silver colored fur (which is rare), black wings and it's black scorpion tail that changed to a green (like from a vial of poison) at the end.

"It may seem small now but he'll get bigger." I reached my hand out to him and he sniffed it before he started rubbing against my hand. "Make sure he doesn't sting you. He isn't poisonous yet but it will still hurt."

Regina copied my actions and the baby Manticore did the same thing to her as he did me.

"How do you know it's a boy?" She asked looking confused.

"Females don't have dark colored wings. They normally have brightly colored wings." I gently grabbed his wings and showed her.

"So you've seen Manticores before?"

"No. I came across some old ruins and found some ancient scrolls and they happened to be about different creatures. So I read all of it." I said as the baby Manticore began to eat the remaining of its egg shell.

"So you can read?" She seemed surprised by that new information.

"I have had quite a bit of free time so I learned when I was 12 and kept working on it." I looked away from the baby and over to Regina. "I already know you can read pretty well based on the size of the book next to your bed."

"So what are you going to name him?"

"I think he seems like a Patr." As soon as I said his new name he jumped into my lap and curled into a ball.

"A strong name."

"Yea. He's going to be a great guardian one day." I stroked him behind his ear.

"Hey are we friends?" She suddenly asked after Patr started snoring.

"Do you want me as a friend?" I leaned back against the tree again.

"I've never had a friend stay this long. Either my mother scares them away or they get bored."

"Well I've never had a friend before, but from what I've heard friends stick together. I enjoy being around you. It's fun."

"I'm happy you kept your word and came back. I like having you as a friend." She smiled before she gave me a hug.

As her arms were wrapped around me I felt my heart beat rise and I suddenly felt nervous and happy at the same time.

"I probably should head back to camp so I can hunt down a rabbit or something for Patr to eat later." I carefully adjusted so I could stand up and not wake Patr up. "I'll come by tomorrow. But I don't know how well the lessons will go."

"Don't worry about those right now. We can do something else tomorrow like go for a walk or something." She stood up and smiled brightly.

"Yes. We can do that."

I walked her half way home but stopped once we got close to the stable because she insisted I don't go any farther.

Like normal I watched her go into her house before I left.

*26 years old*
*Story Brooke*
~Snow's pov~

"I don't understand how there isn't a single person we know that is Sam's True love." David complained as he threw himself down into our bed.

"I know..."

"Do you know who she loves? Maybe they are her true love and don't think she loves them." He stated as he sat up.

"No. I know here she was in love with Regina, but she would have told me she loved her back then."

"Did she tell you in this..." He rolled over onto his side to look at me better when I cut him off.

"No. I walked into her apartment one day and saw all of the paintings she had done and saw quite a few had Regina."

"Wait. Her paintings. They have to bits of our home in them maybe that's the clue we need." He quickly sat up. "We need to get into her apartment."

"I have a key." I said as I grabbed my slippers and a robe.

"You know as good of an idea that is most of her paintings got stolen from her storage unit. I found the guy that stole them and he said someone took them from him as well." Emma said as came down from her 'room'. "She has some in her room still though."

"Well maybe the ones she has say something." I grabbed the key and we went down to Sam's apartment.