Authors Note: Okay, this is my first ever Swan Queen fic. I was hoping to write a story that would fit convincingly within the show. It takes place after season 5 (not yet screened at time of publish) with Regina returning to her role as town Mayor and Emma as town Sheriff.

This is a Swan Queen fic all the way, however, there are mentions of Outlaw Queen and Captain Swan again to ground the fic in reality. I have taken artistic license with a few things. I wrote this in about 2 days and like I said, this is my first fic so reviews are appreciated.

Rated M for sexual content in later chapters. Short snappy, easy read chapters completed and uploaded in one big ass dose (because I hate waiting for a story to be updated!) Please review if you enjoyed reading it and there may be a sequel in the works...

BEATING FATE

By

Red Andraste

Chapter 1

It was a blisteringly cold night in the small Maine town of Storybrooke. A lone figure stood at the dockside, plumes of his frozen breath dissipated into the cold night air as he looked out into the distance. The vent of his black leather trench coat billowed haphazardly behind him as the wind picked up a knot. The light from the nearly full moon bounced reflectively off his immaculately polished black leather riding boots. A small brown leather satchel was slung across his shoulder and a large broad sword with a leather bound handle hung at his side.

Footsteps to the side of one of the stacked shipping containers drew his attention to an approaching figure. His raven black hair flicked around his face as the wind changed direction. He narrowed his dark brown eyes, pulling his sword out of its sheath.

"There's really no need for that Sheriff" the figure said as it approached

"Ah, Mr Holmes, punctual as always" The sheriff said, re-sheathing his sword. He regarded the great detective taking in his tweed suit and trademark matching deer stalker hat "You can never be too careful in this town"

"So I've heard" Holmes replied taking his pipe out of his pocket.

"Do you have what I require?" The sheriff said as Holmes stopped in front of him.

Taking a box of matches out of his inner coat pocket, Holmes struck a match to his pipe, puffing smoke into the cold night air. The sheriff watched him noting his hollow cheeks and once intelligent bright blue eyes now dull and sunken into his eye sockets. "As agreed sheriff" Holmes stated motioning with his head to the cannery behind them. "And do you have what I require?"

The sheriff removed the satchel from his shoulder handing it to the detective "Made from Sherwood Forrest's rarest poppies. The best opium in all the realms"

Holmes took the satchel opening the bronze clasp to examine the contents "Indeed. This way please Sheriff"

As the two men approached the cannery, a blood curdling howl pierced the night. The sheriff looked at Holmes, his lips in a tight smile. "You need not fear it Sheriff" Holmes said as he pulled the large doors to the cannery open "It will only do as its master commands"

As they moved inside the cannery, the Sheriff's eyes went wide at the sight in front of them. Within a large steel barred cage, an enormous black beast with glowing red eyes stared back at them. Teeth bared, the beast growled low in its throat, salvia dripping from its razor sharp teeth.

"The hound of the Baskervilles..." the Sheriff muttered

Holmes pulled a necklace from his pocket, a glowing red stone dangling from its silver setting. "Be still beast" Holmes commanded and immediately the hound sat down on the floor of its cage.

"Incredible..." The Sheriff said curiously regarding the beast.

"This beast is said to instil such fear in its victim, the mere sight of him will stop a man's heart dead" Holmes said handing the necklace to the Sheriff "No doubt this will remedy your little Outlaw problem..."

"Robin Hood" The Sheriff said through gritted teeth

"Indeed" Holmes replied "Perhaps now you will have finally have your revenge for what the thief stole from you" The sheriff looked at the detective, smiling slyly.

"My beloved Marion" The sheriff replied looking back to the beast grasping the necklace in his hand.

Across town, Snow White and Prince Charming slept soundly in their shared bed of their quaint little apartment. Suddenly, a loud howl piercing through the night woke Snow from her deep slumber. Bolting upright, she shook her husband beside her.

"David!" she whispered quickly

"What? what's wrong?" he said sleepily

"Did you hear that?"

"What?"

Another loud howl echoed across the town as Snow clumsily got out of their bed. Tripping on the sheets she moved towards the window looking down to the street below.

"That noise!"

"Relax honey, isn't it Ruby's wolf time right about now?" David replied getting up to join her at the window.

"No, it's not and that doesn't sound like any sound I've heard Ruby make"

Baby Neil stirred in his crib and started to cry. David moved to the crib and picked him up holding him close to his chest. Rubbing his back softly, he whispered words of comfort, quelling his crying.

Waiting for another howl in the silence of the night, the sudden ringing of Snow's cell phone made both Charmings jump.

"Hello?"

"Mom it's me" Emma said "Did you hear that?"

"Yes honey, are you ok?"

"Yeah, I'm at home"

"Is Killian with you?"

"No, he's at a lock-in at the Rabbit Hole. He said something about a new shipment of Neverland rum..." Emma trailed off as Snow frowned into the phone mouthing "Hook" to David and rolling her eyes.

"Anyway, I'm going to call Regina. Can you call Gold and we'll meet at your apartment in twenty minutes?"

"Sure, I'll put some coffee on" Snow replied

Around twenty minutes later found Emma, Regina, Robin and Gold in the Charmings apartment sat around the kitchen counter. Regina had poofed Henry, Rowland and baby Hood to Grannies where the wolf hunter stood watch over them at the Diner.

"Do you mind telling me what the hell I'm doing at a Team Charmings sleep over at four AM?" Regina said pacing the small kitchen area, clearly annoyed to be awake at this hour

"We think we have another werewolf on our hands" Emma said

"You think that's a mere Lycanthrope?" Gold said chuckling as another howl pierced the night

"Was else can it be?" Snow asked

"Well dearie, I had an interesting visit from an old friend at my shop earlier this evening"

Walking in a circle around the group, Gold stopped, resting both hands on his cane "I believe you all know the stories of Sherlock Holmes?"

"What has Sherlock Holmes got to with this?" Regina questioned

"Well the great detective you've probably read about has, how do I say this...fallen on hard times, he's been chasing the dragon so to speak"

"You mean shooting up?" Emma asks

"Well he's hardly been running around after Malificent now has he dearie?" Gold said sardonically

"Ok great, Holmes is a drug addict, what's this got to with that thing out there?" David asked

"He came to my shop because he wanted a spell to enhance the effects of a batch of poppy seeds. Poppy seeds so rare, there's only one place he could have acquired them" Gold continued

The group stared at Gold, Regina rolled her eyes "Any time now Gold..." she said moving to look out of the apartment window

"Sherwood Forest'" He said simply looking at Robin Hood

"Nottingham" Robin muttered bunching his hand into a fist

"The Sheriff of Nottingham?" Regina asked

"Correct" Gold said "Now, what do you suppose the chances are of Holmes making a deal with Nottingham in exchange for those very seeds?"

"At a guess I'd say highly likely" Emma said

"You'd be right Miss Swan. Now as everyone knows, I'm the only deal maker in this town and I don't take too kindly to those making deals without my knowledge so I...um, let's say, persuaded Mr Holmes to tell me what the deal entailed"

"And?..." David pressed

"Nottingham acquired the Hound of the Baskervilles from Holmes with the intention of killing Robin Hood"

"We have to stop it!" Regina said walking back to Robin to place a hand of his arm

"Once the beast finds its target...and it will, it will fix him with his eyes and stop Robin's heart. The heart of a mere mortal cannot withstand the gaze of the beast, I'm afraid there's nothing we can do"

"There has to be something we can do?" Regina said frantically, tears threatening at her eyes. Robin put his arm around her, kissing the top of her head with a sad smile

"It's going to be ok" He assured her

The group were silent for a moment. Emma stood hands on hips thinking intently "No mere mortal right?" she said to Gold

"Indeed" Gold replied

"Well, what about a Saviour?"

"Emma you can't..." Snow began

"No hear me out, my heart is protected. Cora couldn't take it; even Regina couldn't take it in the underworld when I asked her to. Plus I have magic, I can protect myself. Robin is completely defenceless"

"Hmm, it could work" Gold said thinking "But that beast's prey is Robin, not you Miss Swan"

Waving her hand over her body, Emma took on Robin's appearance "How about now?" she said triumphantly in Robin's voice

"A glamour spell" Regina noted taking in Emma's new form "It might trick the beast long enough for me to destroy it"

"You?" Emma questioned

"Me and you dear. I'm not letting you face off with this thing alone. You had my back, now I've got yours" Regina said with a soft smile

"Then it's settled" Emma announced "Gold take Robin. You're the most powerful person here and you'll be able to protect him if this thing goes down badly" Gold nodded silently poofing him and Robin back to his shop.

Snow walked to the wooden chest by her apartment door retrieving her bow and arrow and Charming's sword.

"Mom, no" Emma said gently taking the bow from Snow "This thing will kill you. You and dad only have half a heart; you won't last five minutes with it"

"But..." Snow began

"She's right dear" Regina said moving to stand by Emma "I'll put a protection spell on your apartment to keep you safe" turning to face Emma and opening the door "Ready?"

"Let's do this" Emma replied moving through the door.