Thanks to all the reviews I got and the followers and all the favorites I received. It's great to know that there are people out there that seem to be enjoying this. Also, sorry for the late chapter but here it is.

XXX

FairyTale Land

Peyton woke to the taste of fresh dirt, the smell of a wet dog, the sound of barking, the feeling of a slobbery wet tongue running up her face and the sight of a polka dotted dog hovering above her with its worried brown eyes peering down at her as it continued licking and barking like mad.

Peyton scrunched up her face as the dog took another lick to it, its slimy saliva leaving a trail of sticky moisture up her cheek. "Argh god I'm awake." She groused and groaned a few more times as she pushed herself to her feet as the dog sat obediently down next to her and admirably stared up at her as if awaiting a command.

Peyton glanced down at the dog and gave a small smile at the sight of it. Cute she thought. "What's your name, huh boy?" She asked in a whisper as she knelt back down in the dirt and rubbed at the top of the dogs head whilst searching for a name tag of any kind. "Pongo huh?" She answered herself as she read the heavily engraved letters from a piece of wood hanging from the dog's neck as the animal happily yapped back at her as if agreeing with her.

Peyton released the dog's tag and continued ruffling its fur on the top of its head as she took a gander of her surroundings. She appeared to be in the same spot as she had been the moment the arrow tip had pierced her skin through her armor. She reached down with her free hand and filtered through the dirt with her fingers until an arrow tip appeared. Thankfully her armor had served her well as it had prevented the arrow tip from creating a fatal wound. The tip however had gone far enough past her armor to pierce skin and by the looks of the green covered tip, it had been coated in something. Dropping the tip back on the ground she took one more look around, noting that not only was the horses gone but the Queen as well. She had probably been left to die by the White Queen and her Prince Charming.

Peyton jerked and jumped to her feet when the dog's ears cocked slightly to the sound of heavy metal boots pounding against earth. Peyton reached for her sword, pulling it from the sheath all while grateful that Snow and Charming hadn't removed them from her - but that depended on whether or not the green stuff on the tip of the arrow was supposed to have killed her or not.

"Come out where I can see you!" Peyton called.

"Ma'am?" The voice called back and Peyton sighed in relief, lowering the sword to the ground as Beirand stepped out from behind the trees.

She turned her attention back to the dog for a quick pat to calm the growling animal, "I don't suppose you know where the Queen is?"

"Snow White has her." Beirand responded with ease.

"Where?" Peyton questioned the man.

"The White Castle."

Peyton drew her lower lip in between her teeth and nibbled lightly in thought. She knew exactly what would happen to the Queen now that she was in Snow White's territory. The Queen would be set to see execution, something Peyton refused to allow to happen.

Jaw set, Peyton's eyes flashed with determination. "Gather the Praetorian's." She straightened, sheathing her sword. "We're going to retrieve a Queen."

Present

The apartment door swung open as Kyler entered, Peyton following behind shutting the door behind them as they stepped into her apartment.

"Why?"

Peyton dropped her keys onto the small table next to the door rubbing a hand over her face in hopes to erase the tension forming in her body and her still sore ribs from the Sheriff's sudden yet expertly exercised tackle. Looking up Peyton took in Kyler's questioning expression before sighing, "Why what?"

"Why tell her? It's my job to tell her."

"And you looked like you were getting around to it," Peyton mumbled under her breath.

"What?"

Sighing once again Peyton stepped around the blonde and behind the kitchen counter to retrieve a glass from one of the cupboards. "She deserved to know."

"Yes she did but I should've been the one to tell her."

Peyton spun on her heel in a quick pivot to face Kyler. "And when exactly were you going to get around to that? It was nearly five nights ago. What? You think everything would just go back to normal after we fucked? Did you really think you could just go back to your home with Regina and expect me to-" Peyton snapped her mouth shut, squeezed her eyes closed and turned away bracing herself against the kitchen counter. "This is ridiculous." Peyton said with an exasperated sigh.

"You're right," Kyler responded in a hushed whisper looking down at her shuffling feet with embarrassment on her face. "I-I didn't think."

Peyton glanced up at the suddenly unsettled woman. She didn't resemble the usual Kyler Haevan that she had seen in the past few days. She didn't resemble the woman that she had spent the past few days playing family with. It felt nauseating. If felt - wrong.

Two Days Before

Peyton bit the bottom of her lip to keep the sounds of hysterical chuckling at bay while using her hand to cover the little girl on top of her laughter. Ocean felt the hand slip across her mouth and glanced up crookedly to find Peyton with a finger to her trembling lips in the small cramped space looking uncomfortable and squished, it made Ocean chuckle harder.

Peyton could just barely see Kyler from where she was trapped underneath the little girl in the massive puzzle box she kept at the end of her bed where she herself and Ocean were now trapped, squished together in what was coming on to being a forty-five minute game of hide and seek.

Kyler counted to three, yanked open the closet ready to surprise the two girls she was looking for only to find it empty save for clothes and shoes belonging to the woman she was staying with. Her brow crinkled as frown lines formed on her forehead. For a good ten minutes now she had been looking for them - the apartment wasn't that big but it was big enough for a mini game of hide and seek. However after playing for over thirty minutes, Kyler had declared that there where surely no more places left to hide but Ocean had declared differently, telling the two women that she had the ultimate hiding spot and that she would never find her, once that had been said the little girl had taken Peyton's hand and drag her away, Peyton hesitantly following along behind.

Kyler smiled at the flash of panic that had crossed brown haired woman's face as she followed after the little girl that clutched her hand tightly and dragged her away. At first Peyton had been hesitant to go anywhere near the girl or feed the girl anything that was cooked in her kitchen which had led to either Peyton or Kyler making more than a few trips a day to Granny's to purchase food. The woman had looked panicked since Ocean had arrived and appeared afraid to touch the small twelve year old girl in fear she would break. It had taken some reassurance that Ocean wasn't fine china, more valuable - yes, but not as breakable and although Peyton had become comfortable with Ocean it was still plainly obvious that she was scared.

Kyler dropped down to her knees, lifted up the covers that slipped over the side of the bed and hid the underside to the mattress. She scanned the empty dark under the bed that felt so cold and lonely something that she had always seen in Regina's eyes. With a sigh she sat back on her heels. Shaking her head at the thoughts she returned to the game and it really did seem that Ocean had found the ultimate hiding spot after all. As Kyler stood she heard a clatter and bang that emanated from the end of the bed followed by an 'ow' and a small child's chuckle. With a smile plastered on her face Kyler stepped over to the large box at the end of the bed. She peeled the lid away revealing a chuckling blonde haired girl whose hair looked to be getting darker and a mousy brown haired woman whose face was screwed up in pain as she rubbed the back of her head.

"Found you," Kyler told them.

At being found Ocean began laughing even harder. "Pey..Peyt..." she tried to get out between fits of laughter.

Kyler smiled at her daughter who was nearly in tears from laughing. Finding sympathy for the woman underneath her daughter she reached into the box and peeled the small girl away from the pain induced woman. "You okay?" Kyler asked worried.

Peyton nodded with a smile in Ocean's direction. "Yeah, just tried to get comfy and my head ended up paying the price." She answered.

Kyler let out a small chuckle at the thought of Ocean and Peyton squished together as they hid from her. She placed her daughter on the ground and caught sight of the girl smoothing out her clothes much like she knew Regina did. Turning back Kyler offered her hand to Peyton who accepted it and together they managed to pull her out of the box. "What in the world possessed you to get into that box?" Kyler asked incredulously with a lopsided grin.

Peyton shrugged, "A small little girl with the most innocent and childlike puppy dog eyes."

Kyler laughed wholeheartedly at the despondent look on the woman's face. "You mean she manipulated you?"

Peyton pouted but nodded, conceding that yes she had in fact been bested by a twelve year old girl. She had beaten numerous soldiers, garrisons and the best knights around. She had even faced down a Praetorian and yet she was bested by a twelve year old. Her lips upturned into a smile when the hand that Kyler had used to pull her out of the box was still clasped to one another and was given a small squeeze by the blonde as a thumb ran over the back of her hand. Peyton glanced down at the hand between them and as if finally realizing what she was doing the hand that had helped her up was quickly wrenched away and the woman before her offering a small sheepish smile in place of it.

It hit Peyton like a ton of bricks, like a falling building tumbling down around her. She caught Ocean's movements as the girl tried rearranging her outfit. Turning back to Kyler, Peyton offered a small smile and a sad, weak response. "Well, she is after Regina's kid as well."

Present

"Mom!"

Regina pulled to a stop in the diner entryway as she caught sight of the small form of a girl barreling towards her with arms wide open. A smile tugged at the corners of Regina's lips as she caught the girl whose body collided with hers much resembling a football tackle. Regina grunted a little at the sudden impact but quickly recovered and enveloped the girl in her arms with a kiss to the top of her head.

Ocean pulled back but still kept her arms around her mother's waist. She peered up through strands of darkening blonde. "When are me and Mommy coming home?"

Regina's chest squeezed at the innocent question posed by her twelve year old daughter who right in this moment resembled a much younger child. Regina brushed a strand away from Ocean's eyes. "It's complicated right now, sweetheart."

Ocean pulled away and pouted something she never really did often unless it had to do with something that had been rolling around in her head for a while and she still hadn't been able to make heads or tails of it.

Regina pulled Ocean away from the diner doorway before bending down to the little girl's level. "What's up sweetheart?"

Ocean shrugged turning her head away from one of her mothers.

Regina slipped her finger underneath her daughter's chin, turning the girls head back to face her. "You know you can tell me absolutely anything, right?"

Ocean nodded but still refused to speak.

Regina pressed on with a frown on her lips. "So what's wrong sweetie?"

Ocean nibbled on her lip for a few seconds before looking up at her brunette mother. "I made a friend at the park yesterday."

Regina smiled brightly, "Well that's nice. What's his name?"

Ocean's eyes brightened immediately. "Her names Tucker!" Ocean smiled warmly tugging on her mother's arm her previous problem forgotten for now. "I want you to meet her."

Regina followed along with a happy smile as she was dragged to one of the booths that Henry sat in with a little girl across from him.

Henry smiled up at his mother upon recognition. "Hey Mom," Henry said as Ocean released Regina's hand and slid in next to the little girl, leaving the spot next to Henry empty.

Regina held up her hand to Henry and quickly corrected him, "Regina, please." She told him catching the small flash of sadness and pain behind his eyes however he nodded and corrected himself with a small 'Regina' before turning back to the two little girls. Regina had promised Henry that they would try but she couldn't deal with having two kids who called her Mom and neither of them lived with her. She could only deal with one problem at a time and Henry - Henry would take time.

Ocean nudged the little girl beside's her. "This is my other Mom, Regina."

The little girl peered up from underneath her mass of dark brown hair and gave Regina a small smile and nod before glancing back down at her small cheese burger in front of her. A large basket of fries sat in the middle of the table and looked to already be half gone.

"Ocean told me your name is Tucker?"

The small girl nodded and peered once again up through her dark brown locks. "Yes, ma'am," She replied quietly.

Regina shook her head and offered a small chuckle. "Regina is okay Tucker."

Tucker nodded. "Yes, ma'am," She offered quieter then the last time.

Regina looked over to Henry who gave a clueless shrug back to his mother. She filed the little girl's attitude away as shyness.

"You want something to eat, Mom?" Ocean asked.

Regina smiled softly at the girl. "Sure."

For the next twenty minutes they all sat together chatting with one another while Tucker remained silent only speaking when someone asked her a direct question or wanted her opinion which Regina noted she tried to remain neutral on. She found it somewhat strange but didn't question the girl on it and continued enjoying her lunch with them ignoring the numerous messages that she was receiving and had received from Emma, Peyton and even a couple from Kyler. In those few minutes in which she sat with Henry, Ocean and Tucker she could forget the world, fairytales, liars, cheaters and pain. So - so much pain could be forgotten in those few minutes. But one always had to come back down to Earth eventually; one always had to face reality.

Regina reached for her purse only to be stopped by a hand on her arm and a warm smile from the young man beside her.

Henry beamed at her and waved Ruby over for the check. "It's okay Mo-Regina," he quickly corrected his mistake upon the frown on Regina's face. "I offered to pay for the girl's lunch. I got this."

"You offered?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow.

Henry nodded, "Yeah they were in the diner when I came in, so I sat with them. Ruby said that Kyler had dropped Ocean off, I think she was looking for you."

"I think she found me." Regina muttered remembering back to the docks scene only hours' earlier, she shook her head and offered him a small smile. "Thank you for doing that."

"I figured Ocean should keep the money Kyler gave her in case she needed something." Henry offered another shrug as Ruby handed the check over to him and handed the girls a free ice-cream.

Ruby turned her attention to the former Evil Queen slash former Mayor. Accepting the money from Henry she gave the woman a genuine smile, "It's good to see you again Regina." With that said she started back towards the counter and register.

Regina blinked a few times at the retreating woman's back. She had never actually had a conversation with the werewolf but when she did on more than one occasion she had been more then unpleasant to the woman and yet there she had stood telling her it was a pleasure to see her. Regina's lips tipped into the form of a frown - here she was yet again being forced back into the past. It was all coming back to bite her now. Every part of it, all that guilt. She was headed for a massive crash and burn.

FairyTale Land

Peyton glanced at the assortment of Praetorian's gathered around Aslan's Table. There were only few Praetorian's left in existence; once the mightiest of assassin's, thieves' and spies they where diminished to nothing over time. At one point in time they had controlled order, they had made the rules. They where the true rulers of all lands. They had made sure that no one stepped out of line. A King - or in this instance a Queen could not be subjected to execution without a fair trial and without the execution being held on neutral land. This had stopped wars for centuries but over time many King's and Queen's had abandoned many of the old ways to get what they wanted. Eventually the Praetorian's had dwindled down to nothing but a few thousand spread over endless lands from the hundreds of thousand they used to be - they were now next to nothing.

Peyton had heard of them as a young child and had always been fascinated by the stories told of the great powers Praetorian's held to travel lands and to control Dragon's. At one point she had even heard that they had the power to travel realm's with the blink of an eye - but that was one she had never believed. It was impossible to do such a thing. Even the greatest of wizards, witches and warlocks could do no such thing. But now standing here in front of these men and women, she wasn't so sure.

Beirand cleared his throat behind his Captain drawing her attention to the awaiting eight and him. Peyton gave him a curt nod before turning to the three women, five men and away from Beirand. "The Queen has been taken by Snow White." She waited a beat for anything. Silence surrounded her as well as masked expressions that bore into her very soul. "They plan to execute her in the White Land's."

A aging man with a graying beard straightened his back before speaking. "And you called for us, why?"

"It goes against what you stand for." Beirand answered for his Captain.

The man scoffed. "Then you have certainly been given false information."

A woman a few Praetorian's down with sharp black hair, lent heavily against the table and turned to face the man with a cold, hard voice. "Lie to them if you must Erik," she told him with a wave of her hand in the direction of Peyton and Beirand before thrusting a finger at her own chest. "But do not lie to me and expect me to remain to silent."

"This is the Evil Queen we are talking about." Erik responded earning a nod from two of the other Praetorian's.

Peyton snapped her head around to the man she now knew as Erik as she reached across the table and curled her fingers into the man's tight brown shirt that stretched thin over layers of muscles. She pulled him over the table meeting him halfway. With cold eyes she responded to his 'Evil Queen' talk. "You are speaking about my Queen there."

"An Evil Queen," he said calmly and coldly back to her.

Her grip tightened in his clothes. "The rightful Queen to the throne, she was married to the King and after his death she is the one legally allowed to take it. So if you should have a problem with anyone it should be Snow White."

He glared back at her. "From what I hear his death wasn't so much an accident as your Queen would have people believe."

Peyton released her grip on the man with a rather rough shove that sent him stumbling backwards. "You know nothing behind his death. Perhaps you should dig a little deeper before laying the blame." She glared at the man adjusting his clothes across the table, "And next time you feel the need to speak out of line against my Queen it won't matter to me whether you are a mere peasant or a Praetorian, I will kill you."

The woman from before spoke up again. "Brave words, many fear us and would never threaten us."

Peyton turned her attention away from Erik to face the woman, her cold tone still in place. "Many can't seem to separate admiration from fear." Peyton tilted her, "But there is a difference. I admire you," turning back to Erik she leaned heavily against the table keeping her gaze locked with the man's. "But make no mistake. I do not fear you."

Present

Regina pulled the car up against the curb and turned to face the dreary house that looked run down. With a crease in her brow she turned in the driver's seat to face the young girl who was already grabbing her bag, unbuckling her seatbelt and reaching for the handle. "Are you sure this is where you live Tucker?" The little girl nodded, mumbled a 'thank you' and quickly clambered out of the car. Regina turned to face her daughter. "Wait here."

Ocean nodded with a wave to Tucker who smiled lightly before rounding the car to the path. Regina climbed out after Tucker and quickly caught the girl with her hand. "Are you sure?" She asked again. She received another nod before sighing, "Very well. I'll walk you to your door." Regina started up the path only to be brought to a sudden stop when a small hand found its way onto her wrist with a small tug. Regina turned to face the young girl to find a pale face staring up at her in fright.

Tucker shook her head. "I can walk myself. Thank you. I'll be fine." She spoke quickly.

Regina hesitated. "Is everything alright?"

The girl nodded eagerly. "My parent's won't like it if they found out a stranger took me home."

Regina frowned but caught the expression of fear in the girl's eyes and finally conceded. Lie or not the girl seemed fearful enough. Regina made a silent vowel to herself to do some research on Tucker. "Very well," With a glance back at Ocean she sighed before turning back to Tucker reaching into her purse she pulled out a small sticky note pad and a pen. On one of the yellow slips she scribbled down her number, tore it off and handed it over to the small girl. "If you need anything at all, just call okay?"

Tucker nodded taking the yellow slip. "Thank you." She said softly before making her way up the footpath.

Regina waited until the little girl disappeared behind the cracked wooden door. Even then she waited a few more moments before sighing and getting back into her car with a frowning Ocean staring out the window after her friend. The sudden drop in mood was not lost on Regina and for once she knew it had nothing to do with her.

FairyTale Land

"Why should we help you? The Praetorian's haven't stepped into the middle of a war in centuries." A man in his mid forties named Istvan spoke. "They don't follow our laws. Our customs."

"Your rules?" Peyton questioned with disdain. Although the Praetorian's had rules and laws back in the old days that many followed, they were also know for dealing out harsh consequences for those that didn't follow their 'laws'. Death was by far the best consequence one could wish for.

Victoria, the woman from before shook her head sadly. "Call it what you would but Istvan is right." She conceded with a sad tone. "They will not follow us or our laws."

"Then we force them to. You guy's used to stand for something." Beirand spoke behind Peyton.

Sera and Serenity, twin sisters shared a look before turning to face the man and woman in heavy knight uniform's. "You're right."

Victoria frowned as she questioned the sisters. "You agree to this?"

"I vote we rescue the Queen." Sera nodded.

"But she is the Evil Queen." Zabel spoke from his spot beside Istvan.

Serenity raised her hand. "Evil or not we used to stand for something. We used to have laws. Evil or not, one could not be executed without a fair trial."

Erik scoffed not bothering to hide his dislike for the way this conversation was going or for the Queen. "That was years ago."

Victoria sighed loudly before speaking. "Let's hold to a vote." She turned to the sisters, "Sera, Serenity?"

"Rescue the Queen." Sera repeated.

"I concur." Serenity answered.

Victoria nodded turned to face Istvan, Bryant, Zabel and Erik.

Istvan frowned and shook his head. "She brought this on herself."

Zabel and Erik nodded in agreement. "We're with Istvan." Erik answered for himself and the red head Praetorian beside Istvan.

"Bryant?"

Bryant shrugged his shoulders. "I'm not sure. Part of me believes we should save the Queen. It's the right thing to do. But part of me also agrees that yes she brought this on herself-"

"Partly," Peyton interrupted. "You don't know enough about Snow White's and The Queen's past to lay judgment."

Bryant nodded. "She is correct. I remain on neutral ground."

Victoria's lips formed a frown. "I say we rescue her."

"So we're at ends?" Beirand asked, "Three for three."

Victoria shook her head and turned to face the form of one of the Praetorian's that sat up on a few barrels, feet resting in front them and arms folded across their chest. A hood covered their face along with a mask that shielded them from the view of the outside world. "Zeal?"

The Praetorian looked up, tilted their head to the side and took a few moments to answer and even then it was just a nod to show their support to a side.

Victoria drew in a breath and turned back to Peyton. "Prepare yourselves. We leave tonight."

Erik sighed loudly. "We are making a mistake."

"Perhaps." Victoria whispered lightly.

Present

Regina raised her hand and reluctantly tapped on the door. A few moments later and after the sounds of pots and pans clattering to the ground, the door was thrown open to reveal Peyton in a pair of jeans and a red shirt, her hair pulled back into a harried ponytail.

"Hi." Peyton breathed out after her initial surprise, a small smile on her lips.

Regina nodded down to Ocean. "I was just bringing her back. I figured Kyler wouldn't like it if she stayed with me."

Peyton smiled down at the girl, "Hey Ocean."

"Hey Peyton," Ocean gave a small smile to the woman and turned to Regina hugging her mother tightly before retreating inside with a small 'goodbye'.

Peyton followed the girl with her eyes for a few moments with a frown on her face before turning to Regina. "Kyler was actually fine with it. Ruby had called her and told her that she was with you."

Regina's demeanor went cold. Ruby had the gall to call and tell Kyler that she was hanging out with her daughter. Perhaps Ocean may not have been hers biologically but in some way that girl was her daughter. Ruby had no right.

As if knowing what was going through her mind Peyton held up her hands, "Don't worry Ruby said that you guys were having fun and sought of convinced Kyler that she needn't worry." Peyton frowned, "That didn't come out right. She knows you wouldn't hurt her." Peyton sighed at the words coming out of her mouth, "I should just shut up nothing that I mean is coming out the right way."

Regina didn't say anything for a few moments before nodding and turning on her heel.

"Wait, Regina. If you want to speak to Kyler she should be back in a few minutes. She just went out to get some pineapple for the pizza we're making."

Regina pulled to a stop and turned to face Peyton, a hurt expression falling onto her features. "Out of everywhere she could've gone after our argument. Out of every place she could have stayed, she decided to stay with the woman she slept with. She came back to you."

"You went back to Emma," the reply shot out of Peyton's mouth before she could stop it.

Regina froze immediately at the woman's words before hardening her tone. "I didn't sleep with Emma." She spun on her heel and started for the stairs.

"Wait! Regina, I didn't mean it like that." She called after the woman who was already near the base of the stairs. The brunette refused to turn around and face her as she pulled the door open and stepped out of the apartment building.

Regina stepped out into the cool night air taking a lung full of the fresh oxygen. It was both painful and beautiful to be filled with its essence.

"Hey."

Regina jerked slightly before turning to the voice. She pulled back, straightened her back and folded her arms over her chest in a protective manner. She couldn't let anything penetrate her once again, it was too much pain and pain led to hurt and hurt led to her acting out. Something she couldn't - wouldn't do no more.

"You don't need to do that you know?" The woman said with a nod at the brunette's protective stance.

"Do what?" Regina said with a slight hint of vulnerability as she stood there before Kyler.

"Protect yourself." Kyler answered immediately, taking a step forward towards Regina. "You don't have to protect yourself from me."

"Contrary to what you believe, I would say otherwise." Regina told her, "The evidence before me would suggest I do in fact have to protect myself from you."

Kyler sighed and reluctantly took a step back. "Ocean would like to see you."

Regina offered a forced smile. "And you'd allow me to? Even though you know who I am?"

Kyler frowned but understood where Regina's malice was coming from. "I was thinking tomorrow. She could spend the day with you?"

"What?" Regina's eyes flashed, "So you and Peyton could spend the day screwing each other?" Regina caught the wince that flashed across Kyler's face.

"I deserved that."

Regina sighed and shook her head, ducking it she shifted from one foot to the other. "Perhaps," she spoke. "But I deserve more than that."

"Reg-" Kyler started only to be interrupted by the brunette.

"I'll pick her up at nine." Regina uncrossed her arms and retreated to the safety of her car that sat by the curb. She retreated to the solitary silence inside the vehicle something that was both comforting and suffocating. Something she was slowly coming to recognize as her life. Her phone lit up with her and vibrated on the console. A glance at the screen told her who the caller was – Emma Swan. Regina frowned, she wanted nothing more than to answer but the past few days had brought back more pain than anything and right now, she just wanted it to stop. Closing her eyes she hit the decline button and slipped the keys into the ignition revving the car to life. Something she felt very little of nowadays.

I'll tell you now that there are a few chapters left in this story. All will be resolved. Hope you all enjoyed.