The Choices We Make

Storybrooke- A Little Over A Week Ago

Emma sighed as she drove slowly down the quiet streets of Storybrooke in one of several sheriffs' station cruiser rather than her favored yellow bug. The blonde tapped the steering wheel in a broken pattern as her eyes scanned over the same plain old nothingness that had consumed the town for months now. She could only assume that this is exactly what life must have been like under the curse, everyone doing the same routine every day without anything new or exciting to add to it; the sheer boredom was killing her. She almost wanted to start running around town causing mayhem just to add a little life back into the mix of things. Turning another corner Emma chewed her lip waiting for something to happen just like she did every day for months now but like every day before nothing was different. God! This town is so dry without Regina! At least when she was here I had someone to talk to who didn't treat me any different from everyone else! The blonde couldn't help but think bitterly as she slouched in the driver's seat and began to feel the regret stirring in her heart again. You just have to screw up every friendship that comes your way don't you Swan? She thought with a scowl.

The blonde was about to continue her mental scolding as she turned another corner but was cut off when she was forced to slam on the breaks. "What the hell!" She gasped as she watched Robin Hood sprint past her waving his arms apologetically but neither stopping nor slowing down. Pulling to the curb in a quick and slopping parking job Emma leapt out of the cruiser and began to race after the archer. "Robin! Robin hold up a second! What's going on!?" She called out after the man as she sprinted to catch up with him.

Robin could hear the blonde savior behind him as he ran down the side walk but he was too excited to even consider slowing down. His jean clad legs felt as if they could carry him to the ends of the earth without feeling weary and for the first time in months his spirit felt renewed. "I don't have time to talk." He called over his shoulder as he made another turn and spotted his destination on the path ahead of him. His sprint continued to pick up speed as he raced towards the large church in the center of the street with its thick wooden doors looming just ahead of him.

"Whoa Robin! Did Friar Tuck get locked inside the church or something?" Emma gasped as she finally reached the archer just outside the doors of the sanctuary. She didn't miss the spark in the man's blue eyes as she spoke, it was something she recognized, hope. "Robin what's up? You haven't looked this excited about anything in months." She pointed out as she held her side and attempted to regain her breath. In the back of her mind she was scolding herself for not bothering to exercise during the past few months and eating one too many grilled cheeses.

Turning to face the blonde Robin gave her a small smile and breathed out, "I'm getting her back." He looked so happy and relieved that Emma feared he might start to cry. "Marian and I talked and…and I'm going to find Regina. I'm going to bring her home." He informed the blonde savior with his voice cracking slightly from pure emotion.

Emma stood rooted to her spot, her mouth hanging open just slightly and her eyes wide. "You…you are?" She asked, her heart not daring to hope his words were true.

"Yes." Robin nodded and looked back at the doors. "But I need help, magical help." He added.

"The fairies." Emma stated as realization dawned on her. "You are going to ask them to help you bring Regina back to Storybrooke." She uttered in understanding.

"Yes." Robin confirmed with a nod. "They have the knowledge and the means to help me find her and return her home. All they ever talk about is happy endings and Regina has more than earned hers so my hope is that they will know how to find her and help me get her to remember who she is so I can bring her back to Storybrooke." He continued and glanced towards Emma. "I know it sounds crazy and-"

"That's not crazy at all Robin." Emma cut him off and gave him a nod of approval. "If there is a chance of getting her back I'm in." The blonde announced and reached for the door to the sanctuary. "This town isn't the same without her and my kid needs his other mom. Besides, I owe her this." With that Emma pushed the large wooden door open and nodded for Robin to enter ahead of her.

As the archer and the savior walked down the aisle between the pews they looked around quietly for any signs of the nuns who inhabited the holy ground. "Hello?" Robin called out after several moments of complete and utter silence with no hint of anyone having heard them enter.

"Hello!" A chirpy cheerful voice greeted from somewhere towards the back of the sanctuary. Only a few heartbeats later a small auburn haired woman came shuffling out with a wide smile on her face. "Oh hello there!" She greeted again. "I don't believe we've met, I'm Sister Leanna but most people call me Willow. Willow was my Enchanted Forest name." She said quickly, her smile never leaving her face. "Oh! And you must be Emma! Queen Snow White and King James's daughter! I am so honored to meet you princess!" The fairy gasped and curtsied towards the blonde.

"Yeah ummm….hi?" Emma said after the awkward curtsy had been preformed. "The curtsy isn't really necessary Willow." She stated before glancing over towards Robin hoping the archer would step in. Even though she was technically royalty, Emma still didn't feel like a princess and hated when people treated her like one. She could tell that Willow was just trying to be polite and welcoming out of genuine care but being bowed down to just rubbed the savior the wrong way no matter what.

Catching Emma's glance Robin nodded and took a step forward. "Hello, I'm Robin of Locksley." He introduced himself and gave the nun a small smile. "I was wondering if the Blue Fairy was here. It is of the upmost importance that I speak with her." The archer informed the fairy as he looked into her eyes hoping to convey how true his words were.

Willow's eyes widened when she heard Robin's request and her smile faltered the slightest bit. "Is everything alright?" She couldn't help but ask, her heart fluttering with concern. "Did something happen? Maybe I could help?" She offered knowing good and well that if there was a chance to help she would take it in a heartbeat.

Robin saw the slight fall of the fairies smile and tilted his head a bit, "I just need to speak with her; it is about giving someone a happy ending." He assured her with a smile.

"Might I ask who?" Willow inquired and felt a seed of hope sprout within her. Storybrooke was a small town after all and news eventually made its way to everyone's ears so of course Willow knew of the love between Regina Mills and Robin Hood and about how it had ended when Marian returned leaving the former queen heartbroken and alone which lead to her crossing the town line.

"Willow you've always been such a curious little fairy haven't you?" A voice cut through the sanctuary before Robin had the chance to respond.

Turning around Willow willed her lips into a bright smile as the head fairy entered the aisle. "Sorry Blue, I just love hearing about love and happy endings." She said with the sweetest voice she could muster.

"Of course you do, as do all fairies." Blue responded with a tight smile. She then turned her attention to Robin and Emma, "I heard you were looking for me. How can I assist you?" She asked in a pleasant tone.

Looking at the blue fairy Robin took a breath, "I have come to ask for your help in bringing Regina back to Storybrooke" He announced.

Blue instantly looked taken aback by the request, her brow furrowing. "Excuse me?" She asked though she knew she heard him correctly.

"Please, I need help finding Regina and bringing her home. Your magic is the only way I know to do this." Robin pleaded hoping that the fairies would find it in their hearts to help him find his soul mate and bring her back to him.

Blue purse her lips together and shook her head, "That is something that cannot be done." She stated firmly.

"What do you mean?" Emma questioned, a blonde brow raised as her inner lie detector started buzzing. "Your fairy dust should be capable of something like this." She reasoned her gaze never leaving the blue fairy's eyes.

"She's right Blue." Willow uttered and lowered her head when she saw Blue's stare snap over towards her.

"It cannot be done." Blue repeated with a firmness that signaled she wanted the subject dropped. "It shall not be done." She emphasized with finality laced into her voice.

Robin looked as if the blue fairy had just kicked his son right in front of him as he stared wide eyes and red faced at the woman, "WHY THE BLOODY HELL NOT?!" He roared not willing to believe what he was hearing from the most benevolent known force in the Enchanted Forest.

Blue's eyes widened at the fierceness in Robin's tone but she didn't take a step away from the man. Instead she quickly recovered and lifted her chin a bit higher into the air. "Fairies only use their magic to help those who are most deserving of happiness." She stated in a haughty tone. "And Evil Queens who murdered and cursed entire realms do not fall into such a category. I don't know if you have bothered to realize, but since the queens banishment this town has known a peace that hasn't existed in a very long time. That witch was a hazard to all those who live in Storybrooke and I have no intention of bringing her back to cause more pain and spread further darkness!"

"Regina wasn't banished!" Emma stated with a blaze of irritation in her emerald green eyes.

"How could you say such a thing!?" Robin demanded his teeth clenched together and his ice blue eyes glaring into the gaze of the fairy. "SHE SAVED THIS TOWN! SHE RISKED HER LIFE FOR THIS TOWN! HOW THE HELL COULD YOU SAY THAT!" He yelled and couldn't fathom how these beings of light and love could be so shallow and cruel.

"Because I have known her far longer than you and I know that she has been and always will be unredeemable." Blue sneered and turned to walk away.

Robin felt his heart stop as he watched the head fairy turn her back on him. "No wait! Please!" He begged and stepped towards her with his hands out to show his desperation. "I'll do anything! Just please help her! Please! She is alone and she could be in danger or who knows what could happen to her! Please help me help her!" He pleaded.

Blue turned to look at both Robin who was practically on his knees and Emma who looked as if she were physically having to hold herself back from lunging into an attack. "This town is better off without her, you are all better off without her. In time you will see this and you will thank me. Have a lovely day." She smiled and it looked twisted on her lips.

"Regina wasn't the darkness in this town you bitch!" Emma snapped and took several steps forward until she was face to face with Blue. "So don't bother even trying to fool yourself or anyone else into thinking so because the only darkness I see is you!" She snarled her desire to defend her friend raging within her. "Regina was a hero as much as anyone else with the title and even more so. Talk about her like that again and I promise you will regret it!" With that the blonde turned and walked over to Robin. Her eyes and voice softened as she looked at the man who wanted nothing more than the woman he loved back. "Come on Robin, we'll find a way to bring her back even without their help." She assured the man and moved to guide him out of the sanctuary.

Robin took a few steps and then pulled away from Emma, he turned to face Blue with hurt and anger burning in his bright blue eyes. "You know nothing about the woman I love because if you did you would know that there is no being in this realm or any other more deserving of happiness than she is because no other can claim to know the pain she has been forced to endure. I always believed fairies helped those most in need, now I realize I was a fool to believe in fairies at all." He growled and an icy chill seemed to fill the air as the archer struck back at the fairies in the only way he knew how, by no longer believing in them.

After that Robin and Emma turned and marched out of the church slamming the door behind them as they went. Blue scowled at the door with a glare that could almost burn a hole in the wood before she turned and stalked away. Willow on the other hand remained standing in the aisle her eyes wide and her heart aching as she looked around herself as if she could no longer understand the world she existed in. In her many years as a fairy Willow had worked so hard to be the best fairy she could possibly be. She brought happiness to so many children with her magic and played her part as Blue had told her to. She worked hard to be good and to bring joy and bliss into the world around her because it was what was expected of her. But most importantly she had preformed her duty to spread the light through the lives of many because it was what one little girl so many years ago had asked for her to do, and it was the only thing she had never been allowed to do for that poor little girl. Now here she was again watching as the hero's she had helped in another realm were preparing to risk the wrath of Blue in order to save the same little girl she had failed to save so many times already. As she stood like a statue in the center of the aisle one question continued to burn in her mind, Am I really a good fairy?

Storybrooke- Present Day

"No! No! No! This can't happen! Not to him!" Regina gasped and shook Dean's broad shoulders with all her might praying to anyone that might be listening that he would wake up. "Wake up! Dammit just wake up!" She commanded her voice thick with panic as the sheriff remained unmoving.

Granny stepped forward and put her hand on the queen's shoulder in a silent attempt to calm her down and stop her from injuring the man in her arms. "That won't help him Regina." She said in a gruff tone that was also soft with understanding.

"Get your flea bitten paw off me wolf before I rip it off!" Regina growled, her defenses flying up causing the wall of hostility to reemerge for a moment before she realized what was happening and what she had just said to the woman who was trying to help her. Granny removed her hand from her shoulder and she immediately turned her head to look up at the woman. "No wait!" She gasped. "I'm sorry! I just…" She looked down at the man in her lap. "I don't know what to do." She admitted. Even though she did not love this man the way she loved Robin she couldn't help but care for him. He had been so good to Diana and deep down she knew that part of her would always love him for that, even if it wasn't true love.

Granny gave her a sympathetic look and stepped forward to rest her hand on Regina's shoulder once more. "I don't expect that you would. But we will find someone who can help him." The old woman vowed and looked down upon the face of the man she had only met that day. He had seemed like such a good young man, not the man for Regina, but a good man.

"This is all my fault." Regina uttered as she looked at Dean her eyes wet with tears. Even though he wasn't her true love she would never want to see him hurt. Now he was trapped because she had been weak to what was left of Diana and let him come to this town with her. Right now it was too hard to channel the strength of the queen she once was, she couldn't force back her tears as she once more held the body of someone she cared for in her arms. Deep inside she could feel what was left of Diana Noble screaming with the need to save Dean from this fate worse than death.

"This is not your fault Regina. You didn't poison him!" Granny stated sternly the tone of her voice forcing the queen to look up at her. "This is a tragedy but you are not to blame." The old woman reassured with deep sympathy and even deeper certainty in her eyes.

"Of course she is." A voice announced from behind the two women. Regina and Granny whipped their heads around and looked in shock as the Blue Fairy stood in the doorway to the back of the diner with a satisfied smirk pulling at her thin lips. "After all, this has been the fate of all who dared to entrust their hearts to the Evil Queen." The head nun seemed to sneer as she looked from Regina to Dean's motionless form.

"What the hell are you doing here gnat?!" Regina snapped, the fairies words hitting a sore spot in her heart like salt in a wound.

Granny narrowed her eyes as she looked at the blue fairy and frowned. "I never saw you come in."

Blue looked at her with a cheeky smile, "I used the back door."

The old woman examined the nun carefully, the hairs on the back of her neck rising as her animal instincts detected some form of danger. Granny had spent a lot of time with the Blue Fairy during her time on Snow White and Prince James's council; she had respected her as an ally but she had never considered the woman a friend. Something about her had always managed to rub the old wolf's fur the wrong way. She had always assumed that it was her old mind being overly paranoid, but now as she looked at the fairy truly examining her she knew that for once she hadn't been paranoid enough. Granny looked into Blue's beady eyes and saw the tiny curl of her lips, everything about the head fairy screamed that she was up to something.

"Why the hell are you just standing there?!" Regina gasped, her voice breaking the silence. "Help him!" She begged and for once she didn't care if she was a queen or not, she would beg anyone if it meant bringing Dean back from the hellish prison he was trapped in.

The Blue Fairy smirked as she heard Regina begging for her help. She liked the sound of the Evil Queen begging for her aid; it had been a long time since she had heard Regina beg for anything. "Help him?" She asked mockingly. "Did you just beg me to help him your majesty?"

Regina looked at her with disbelief but at the same time she wasn't surprised at all. Putting her pride and hatred towards the fairy aside she gripped Dean tighter and pleaded, "Please, help him."

A demonic grin spread across Blue's lips. "Well isn't that just delicious." She exclaimed with delight. "The Evil Queen is begging me to help her!" The cackle in her throat rang through the diner.

Granny's eyes glared at the woman from under her spectacles as she realized what Regina had figured out only heart beats before. "You aren't going to help him." The old woman growled.

"Because you did this to him." Regina finished, her golden eyes burning like a forest fire. If it weren't for Dean's unconscious form laying in her lap she would have leapt at the fairy and burnt her to a crisp in that very moment. The queen's manicured nails gripped Dean's jacket as she resisted the urge to pull the nuns heart from her chest. "He was innocent!" She hissed.

"He was expendable." The Blue Fairy corrected.

"How can you say that?!" Regina demanded and couldn't stop the tears that burned in her eyes. Her heart ached for Robin, she wanted him here beside her telling her everything would be alright and they would figure it out. He was her light and the voice of hope in her heart and right then she needed him with her to give her strength.

The amusement on the fairy's face quickly vanished and her eyes grew hard and full of hatred. "Because your majesty!" She spat as if the title were made of pure poison. "This is war!"

"What the hell are you talking about Blue?" Granny snarled as she took a protective step closer to Regina. "Regina isn't the enemy! There is no war!" The old woman growled, a truly feral sound ringing in her throat.

Blue's eyes snapped up to the old woman and she shook her head. "Have you forgotten all that she did during her reign of terror? Have you forgotten the cries that filled our ears? The blood that spilled at her command? The countless lives lost by her darkness sweeping over the land? Have you forgotten all of that?" The Blue Fairy hissed with venom in her words. "Because I have not!"

"And neither has she!" Granny boomed, her voice sounding similar to a fierce bark. "The poor girl knows what she has done and has worked hard to earn this towns forgiveness. She did not come crawling to our feet and beg for forgiveness. She did not fill our ears with insincere apologies. She did none of that!" Granny pressed and placed her hand on Regina's shoulder. "She showed us how sorry she was by putting herself in the line of fire to keep us safe time and time again." The old woman stated, her hand gently squeezing the queen's shoulder.

"She tried to destroy us!" Blue raged.

"I never said she didn't!" Granny pointed out sternly. "She did and she made up for it. She has been redeemed Blue."

The Blue Fairy swallowed hard, her face turning bright red. "SHE IS IRREDEEMABLE!" She roared and in a flash of movement the fairy drew forth her wand and pointed it at Granny and Regina and the unconscious form of Dean.

Suddenly the doors to the diner burst open. In a rush of movement Robin with his bow drawn entered the restaurant, his footsteps quickly followed by a small auburn haired woman dressed in the nun's attire. "Put the wand down before I put an arrow through your heart." Robin growled, his voice having never sounded as serious and as menacing as it did in that moment.

"Blue! Stop this!" Willow cried as she stood beside Robin, her own wand glittering in her hand.

Regina couldn't stop the smile that reached her lips as she saw Robin standing there ready to protect her. Most of the time she refused to be the damsel in distress, but right now in this moment she needed her soul mate more than ever. "Robin, be careful." She warned knowing how off her rocker the Blue Fairy had become.

"Regina are you harmed?" He asked, ignoring her warning because his only concern was her safety. "Did she hurt you in any way?"

Regina shook her head and looked down at Dean. "No, I'm fine." She replied. "But Dean…" She uttered just loud enough for him to hear.

"We will find a way to save him milady. I swear on my honor we will." Robin stated as his gaze did not dare move from his target to look into the beautiful brown eyes he so desperately wanted to gaze upon. While he might not like Dean for personal reasons, he did not hate the man who had done so well protecting Regina when he could not. Dean had loved her and kept her safe and happy until he was able to find her and bring her back, Robin knew that. Part of him hated the sheriff for it, and he knew that he shouldn't; but part of him felt he owed the man a debt and a thank you. And the fact that it clearly meant so much to Regina made Robin all the more determined to save the man. He knew Regina's heart belonged to him just as his belonged to her, but he also knew that some part of her still cared for Dean and she would never forgive herself if something happened to him.

"Oh I have a way to save him." Blue announced with a twisted smile, clearly unfazed by the arrow and wand pointed directly at her heart.

Willow held up her wand a bit higher and attempted a firm voice, "Blue! Put your wand down and come with me. This doesn't need to happen." The younger fairy tried.

Blue's gaze snapped onto Willow and she scowled deeply. "I have no words for a pathetic fairy like you." She spat. "You were always such a failure at even the simplest tasks, you have no idea how many fairies I had tailing you just to clean up your messes." She sneered and felt satisfied at the look of pure hurt in Willow's eyes. Turning to face Regina again, she tapped her wand to the inside of her hand and a small bottle appeared. Holding it up she gazed at it fondly, the glowing blue liquid inside casting an eerie glow on her face.

"What is that?" Granny growled as Robin positioned his bow a little tighter, ready to fire his arrow.

Looking around at the group gathered in the diner the Blue Fairy smiled and with a sickeningly sweet voice she replied, "This is the Evil Queen's salvation."

"What!" Robin protested and looked between the fairy and the bottle, silently debating which to shoot first. "Regina doesn't need salvation! She has done enough to prove herself to this town and everyone in it! She never should have had to in the first place!" Robin growled.

The Blue Fairy looked past the bottle and into Robin's eyes. Robin's stomach tightened in fear as he saw the sparks of insanity burning freely in the eyes of the woman in front of him. "She has poisoned you mind Robin of Locksley." Blue hissed.

"The only poison here is you." Robin replied and prepared to fire his arrow.

Blue saw the tightened string of the bow and waved her wand in a lightning like movement. Instantly the cord of the bow snapped and twisted around Robin's wrists before looping around his neck like a tightened noose.

"ROBIN!" Regina screamed and attempted to rush to her true loves aid. Before she could move or magic herself to Robin's side however the Blue Fairy tightened the cord around the archer's throat. "Now now your majesty. I'd sit still if I were you." She instructed and looked at Granny who looked ready to snap her in half, and Willow whose wand was shaking but still firmly pointed at her. "In fact I suggest you all stand down." She said with an overly sweet smile.

Regina looked at Robin with her eyes wide with fear. A crystal teardrop ran down her cheek as she saw the cord from the bow cut into his neck drawing a small line of blood that ran over his slightly dirtied skin. He looked into her eyes and she felt his every unsaid word of encouragement and love filling her as he tried to look strong despite the lack of air he was receiving. Regina blinked and another tear escaped her eyes, on her lap she could still feel Dean, but the weight seemed doubled as if Robin now lay upon her too. Without looking away from Robin the queen took a small breath, the air feeling thin and not nearly enough, before she uttered, "What do you want?"

Smiling the Blue Fairy motioned with her hand for Granny to take a step back from Regina. When the old woman didn't budge she tightened the noose around Robin's neck. At Regina's small yelp of alarm Granny growled and took a step back letting Blue through. Blue slid into the booth across from Regina and gave the queen a smile that reminded her of Cora. "I'm glad you're finally willing to listen." Blue sneered. Regina remained quiet knowing that any sharp remark would inflict further wrath upon Robin and that was something she couldn't bear to see. "As I said, I have a way for you to save him." Blue continued. "Well to save them both now." She added with a shrug.

Regina looked at the potion in the Blue Fairy's hand and replied, "The potion."

Blue nodded and held the potion up in admiration again. "Yes, the potion." She confirmed. "You see your majesty. Life is full of choices to be made, and the choices we make shape who we are. You have only ever made choices that hurt others and that is why you are such a dark and hopeless woman now. Today I am giving you a chance to do what you should have done so long ago. I am giving you a chance to rid this realm and all realms of the curse that is you. If you do this it will save that man you brought with you and it will save Robin as well, in fact it could save countless lives from the likes of you." The Blue Fairy informed.

The words hurt but not as much as watching Robin's life hang in the balance so Regina continued to listen. "So it is a poison?" She asked, not truly desiring an answer.

"I'm a fairy your majesty, not a lowly witch such as yourself. I do not dabble in the darkness of poisons, no, this is a potion. This potion will restore you to the person that exists across the town line; it will make her the only version of you that will ever exist. This potion will wipe away all that is Regina Mills and it will leave only the woman you became outside. You will be able to wake your lover boy there and Robin will live on free of your spell you've cast over him. This town will finally be truly free of its terminal illness that is you and so will all worlds. It is a fair trade, your body will live on just without you, I am doing this world a favor." The Blue Fairy replied and placed the bottle on the table.

Each blow hit Regina's heart painfully and she knew that with two lives hanging in the balance she truly had no choice. Looking at Robin she could see him pleading with her not to be so foolish, not to drink the potion in front of her. She knew he couldn't lose her, but she knew that she would never be able to survive if she lost him when she could have prevented it. She could see Granny out of the corner of her eyes shaking her head, clearly praying to anyone that would listen for a way out of this. And behind Robin she could see Willows big green eyes staring at her with such shame and regret, she couldn't help but wonder what the regret was for.

"I'll do it." Regina uttered, her voice cracking with sorrow.

"Of course you will." Blue replied and pushed the bottle closer to Regina.

Regina looked at the bottle and shifted her hand to reach for it. She could hear Robin struggling and gasping for her to stop and it pained her more than anything she had ever endured before. Pausing she looked at Blue, "If I am to die will you answer me one question before I drink this?" She asked.

Blue paused and thought for a moment before coming to a decision and giving the queen a nod of confirmation. "Go ahead." She replied.

Regina looked into her eyes and then into Willows, her gaze shifting between the two fairies. "Did you ever hear me?" She asked her voice suddenly much softer and much more like the sweet and innocent young woman on the night before her marriage to the king.

A/N: Hi! Okay so I know some of you are going to be angry, but I promise this will be OUTLAWQUEEN! Don't lose your faith in me! I just like to keep the story interesting for you! What kind of story doesn't have a few hated chapters? I mean I want to put you on an emotional rollercoaster! Am I doing a good job? I really hope you enjoyed this chapter! Please comment and review! I love reading those juice little blurbs of your thoughts. Love you all!