A/N: Some of you have asked what pine cone anecdote I was referring to. (Sorry for being unclear!) This comes from one of my other stories. In case you haven't read it, this is what preceeded Ch. 1, and Regina's comment about bathing in the river and using pine cones for money.

As the tremors in her body subsided, Regina fell to the side, relaxing in the soft grass.

"Well done, your majesty."

"Have I ever let you down before?" she asked, staring up at the white clouds that dotted the blue sky overhead.

"Well, you've never actually waited long enough for me to get my clothing off before…"

She chuckled softly.

"True."

Regina felt so complete, the sunlight washing over her body and the scent of the forest, and earth, and something uniquely him filling her head. She still missed Henry with a fierceness that would never leave her, but somehow it felt farther away when she was close to him.

They just lay there for a moment, the breeze cooling their bodies.

"What was it like? It couldn't have been easy," she inquired, breaking the comfortable silence.

Robin turned his head to look at her.

"Well, it certainly isn't like life in a castle. Or a manor. But I don't regret anything."

Robin lay back, his arms behind his head as he stared into the blue of the heavens.

"In all truth, it was a bit difficult at first. Have you ever had to bathe in a river? Quite cold!" he said with a smile she could hear.

She laughed.

"No, I've never had that… unique pleasure. And I don't intend to."

"It's a whole other world that exists outside of the laws you know. Everything is based on honor, trust. People help one another, and trade or barter what they can. There is so little that money has no place in the system." He paused, debating his next few words.

"Since we have mostly fir and spruce, pine cones are used as markers if there is a debt."

"No!" She scrunched up her nose, laughing. "Well, I suppose you use what you have to. It's rather smart really."

Robin rolled on to his left side, moving his hand to run his hands through her hair.

As she turned in to the touch of his hand, Regina opened her eyes and went cold.

There it was, a hideous blob of black ink mocking her.

"Who said you could touch me, thief?"

"Regina?" he asked, confused.

Fighting to control herself, Regina collected her things.

"You are far too familiar; it's your majesty. I've had my fun, but we are done here."

As she strode away, a cloud covered the sun, casting shadows where there had been none earlier.