Author's Note: This is it everyone. Thank you so much for being a part of this journey of mine. For all the comments, support, and the encouragement, it has meant to world to me.

The bright sunlight beating down on them was the first thing Regina recognized right before Robin's shout of exclamation into the land around them. Before she knew it, she was being picked up and her arms wrapped around the shoulders of her husband as he turned them around and around.

"We are home!" he called out laughing. Regina giggled, happy by his joyous reaction to being back in the forest he loved so much. Coming to a stop, he stood in place and looked up at her. His expression filled with love and relief.

"How can you tell where we are?" she asked, looking around them. While he lived in the forest more years than she, Regina couldn't say she would ever know a forest so well.

He turned his head. "That brook, those cliffs. I know Sherwood like the back of my hand. We are but a half a day's walk from camp."

"Another walk?" Her eyes closed and her brow fell softly against his, making him laugh.

"It won't be long, I assure you. And just think, you can rest with me when we return." His smile was wide and wolfish. His spirit would be up for days, she just knew it.

"I hardly believe that," she replied, adding, "Between Roland and Snow, I doubt we will be getting any rest, sleeping or otherwise for quite some time."

He laughed again. "You may be right."

Setting her on her feet, Regina straightened her cloak and dress. As they walked, she couldn't help but think how she was going to arrive filthy and what she wouldn't give for one last bath in her room at Camelot. Then again, she recalled her last bath, the one shared with her husband and smiled. Yes, they would have to visit Camelot again soon.

He smiled from beside her and taking her hand, asked, "What's that look for?"

"I was thinking how much I am going to miss the bathtub back in Camelot."

"Ah, indeed." Biting his lip, his eyes sparkled with mischief. "We will have to visit, but until then I do know of a hot spring but a day's ride away. Once we get settled, I will take us there."

Her stomach swooped thinking of them being together outside, but not with nervousness but anticipation. "I'd like that."

Their arrival back at the camp came with a mixture of relieved sighs, cries of happiness, and more than a few raised voices. All the camp was gathered around them, but she only wished for two. Only when the cries of delight were followed by the running of little feet did a smile so wide part her lips.

"Mother!"

"Snow!" Regina kneeled, tears filling her eyes as the little girl ran straight to her. Her long, dark hair flowed behind her, and when Snow reached her, Regina scooped her up, lifting her into her arms. Regina inhaled again and again while whispering in the little girl's ear how much she missed her and loved her.

"Papa, Papa, Papa!"

Roland ran to Robin, who lifted then tossed him into the air before hugging the boy to him. "Roland, my boy! My God, I have missed you!"

"Where 'ave you been?" Will asked, coming up beside them.

"It's a long story. How is everyone? How long have we been gone?"

"It's… been a week now," Mary answered, giving Robin and Regina a look as if they had both gone mad.

Regina echoed, "Only a week?"

"Aye, we were beginning to wonder if you were ever comin' back from Grimsby." Will laughed. "Some of us began takin' bets ya ran off and got married."

Robin shared a look with Regina before replying, "We have a lot to discuss. Including why and where we had gone."

Tuck's hand on Robin's shoulder turned the conversation. "The king's men have been out looking for her and the girl near London. They haven't come this way yet, but we heard Prince John will be sending some of his guards out as well."

"All right, Will, Much," Robin called out, gaining their attention. "Gather the men and let's meet in the large oak. I'll join you once I get a few things settled."

There were nods and then the crowd dispersed. With Snow still in her arms, Regina turned to him and asked, "Settled?"

Robin's gaze fell on their children and then on her. "Will you be all right with them?"

Her face fell. "Don't tell me you're going to leave me with the children while you talk? I should be in there, too."

He paused a moment. "And you shall be, next time, Regina."

"No, this time. I'm your wife and the reason for this. I will not sit out here with the women." Her own gaze slid over to the oak where Mary was joining John down its steps. "If Mary is allowed, I should be, too."

Her husband knew he had been defeated and let out a sigh. "All right, but I was only attempting to spare you the hurt should one of my men give criticism to our marriage."

Regina expected not everyone to agree with what they had done. In fact, she was sure Mary would have something to say to her later in the day. Still, she was his wife and a member of this camp. He didn't have to stand up for her, she could do that own her own. "While I appreciate your concern, I am the reason you are having this talk in the first place. I should be there."

Lifting herself on her tiptoes, Regina placed a kiss on his cheek, earning a giggle from the children before walking away and making her way to the large oak, leaving her husband to follow her.

"The Fae what's-it?" Will's voice spoke up over the commotion.

Regina watched as Robin blew out a breath. He just finished telling them about Avalon, their finding safe haven in Camelot, only to defeat the Fae Queen who turned out was the woman who had lived with them all for over almost two years.

"Our Claire?" John scoffed, unbelieving. "In Avalon?"

"I never would have suspected…"

Robin picked up Mary's whispered words said from beside him. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he told her, "None of us would have, Mary."

"So, Camelot is returning?" John looked over at Willim. The two men shared a confused look. "When did it go?"

"I don't 'ave a bloody clue what they're on about in the first place, mate." Shifting his gaze to Robin, Willim said, "So let me get this straight, you and Regina got yourselves in another realm, where ya not only learned ya have magic, but ya also defeated an evil queen, and if that wasn't enough, came home not only with the rest of Richard's ransom but married and knighted?"

Robin saw Regina duck her smile behind his son's head who was sitting on her lap beside Snow.

Robin ignored Will's question and continued. "I think the point I was trying to make of all of this is that Arthur has offered us all a place there in Camelot should we choose to leave."

"While that's all well and dandy, who's gonna look over the people 'ere?" asked John.

"That's why we're having this discussion." Robin gazed around at all the faces in the room. "This is our home, and while Richard is gone, that home is threatened. Regina and I have discussed it, and whatever you all choose, we will accept."

"You'll both stay even with a price on her head?" Bowen asked. His arms were crossed over his chest, looking over at him doubtfully.

"For now, Regina's and all of our whereabouts are safe. Even before she came here, we were all outlaws. We've always known there may come a time when we must leave. Until then, we will stay, if that's what you decide. The choice is yours."

"Do you think they'll stop looking for us?" she whispered to Robin in their darkened tent. The children had been put to bed only an hour ago. They stayed up late; their excitement for their return keeping them up into the early morning until they finally succumbed to their exhaustion. Robin put them both in Regina's old tent, its size perfect for both children until they grew a little older.

His hand was in her hair, running through her long locks slowly, making her eyes close. "No, but eventually I believe their numbers will dwindle. It will become less of a priority. For now, you're safe here."

Turning her head slightly, she placed a kiss on Robin's bare chest. "I'm glad to know they are happy for us."

"The people here all have pasts, Regina," he whispered. His hand left her hair to caress down her back. She'd worn a nightdress, but it was made for someone bigger than her, so his hand slipped in easily from her shoulder. Finding her bare skin, he ran his palm down her side, his fingertips grazing the side of her breast, making her breath catch in her chest.

Lifting her head, she hummed before murmuring, "Will you love me, Robin?"

His voice was heavy and rough with want for her. "You have to ask?"

He swiftly moved to lie over her, and soon she was lost in the sensation of him deep within her as she caressed his face, neck, and shoulders. He moved, slowly at first, gently sliding in and out of her, and she enjoyed the feel of him, knowing they would create a life with this moment.

Her breath hitched when his lips fell on hers. Moving together, belly to belly, she lifted her hips to meet his quickened pace, sighing his name into the still night.

Her mother was still out there, and the king would be looking for her and his daughter. Until the day came when she must face them, however, she would banish them from her mind. With Robin by her side and the knowledge that the Goddess watched over them, she would cease living in fear. Knowing she would give birth to the descendants of Avalon in the spring, she looked forward to the spring and the day of the Isle's return.

On a quiet morning, two months since they left the Isle, Robin woke before the dawn. He reluctantly drew himself away from the warmth of his wife, placing a kiss to her bare shoulder before covering her and dressing quietly.

He stopped outside the tent nearest there's and pulled back the flap, their children lay sleeping as soundly as their mother. Worn from the previous weeks journey into Grimsby, only arriving back to Sherwood the night before. Regina protested taking Snow into the two, but Robin assured her they would be careful and for a few days while he and his men gathered much needed supplies before winter set in, Regina and the children stayed with Lord Byron. His castle provided some of the comforts Regina had been missing of Camelot as of late, and truthfully, so had he.

"Oi, it's about time ya got here," Will called from across the field. "Married life's softened ya. Used ta be the first man here, and now he's the last."

Robin shook his head at the younger man. "It's call old age," he said smiling, knowing himself it was a lie as soon as the excuse left his lips.

"It's called lying with a beautiful woman, but you tell yourself whatever ya want." Willim smirked and then heaved himself up and onto his horse.

Much grinned at him from atop his own steed. "You can't blame the man. If I had a soft lass to lie next to and keep me warm I'd be the first to tell you bastards ta fend for yourselves."

Robin chucked. How he would have loved to have said the same, but he was the leader of these bank of misfits. Something his wife reminded him of often when he did feel like telling them all fend for themselves.

"Enough talk about women," he said, taking the reins of his own horse that had been saddled and ready for him and giving her a good pet before mounting her. "As I'd like to get this hunt over with, so I may return to mine."

He gave Jasmine a gentle nudge and they set off at a light gallop. Much sung quietly until the sun rose a few hours later when they stopped to have a bite to eat. They'd gone to the east, the game more plentiful than in the gorge this time of year. There was more of a risk of running into Nottingham's men but unlikely as the weather had taken on a sudden chill. The search for Regina and Snow had not stilled, the reward for them had gone up, in fact, but with the soon-to-be release of the king, Prince John had more important worries than that of a missing duke's daughter.

Not having heard a word of the state of duchess' health or of her traveling the lands for her missing daughter, they could only assume the magic still kept its hold on her.

"Did ya hear that?" Robin looked over at Will who gave a tilt of his head up ahead, "There?"

A snap of a twig from behind him and Robin met the eyes of his men. Reaching over beside to where his bow rested beside him against the stump, he paused only a moment then was on his feet drawing an arrow and nocking it, facing the hooded figure before they could take another step.

The man held his hands in the air. "I mean no harm, Sir Robin."

Brow furrowing, Robin tilted his head. "How do you know me by such title?"

"I know you by such as I was there when you he dubbed you thee." The humor in the man's voice was not lost on Robin as reached up and removed his hood. Robin's eyes widened as he recognized the man who accompanied him to the Isle of Avalon. Hayden. "I bring word, Lord Robin, from King Arthur."