[b]Collaboration between Guardian Angel Haruki and Tanderbolt[/b]

Faye and Belle had gone to a clothes shop, and after a couple of hours of Belle's confusion and Faye making fashion suggestions, Belle finally had new clothes, enough to fill an entire closet. They were now headed on their way back to Mr. Gold's house, carrying a full plastic shopping bag in each hand, unaware that they were going to run into a certain sheriff.

Robert enjoyed patrolling, because it meant that he would be harder for Regina to track him down. He intentionally made his route avoid places where she liked to be, like this particular part of town. While walking by he saw Belle and Faye, reminding him of the fact that he still hadn't talked to Belle much since freeing her from the asylum and accidentally shooting her. It was going to be awkward, but he felt the need to warn her about the fact that his curse was back. He walked in front of them and said "Good afternoon, I hope everything is going well today. Belle, I apologize about the incident at the station, and assure that Storybrooke is usually a very safe town."

Belle and Faye stopped when Robert stood in front of them, blocking their path. Belle answered Robert after he finished speaking, knowing that he hadn't intended to harm her during that incident "Oh, it's alright. I never did thank you for getting me out of the...asylum. Thank you,"

Robert thought that she took his appearence surprisingly well. "I've got one more thing I'd like to let you know. My curse has come back, and I am forced to obey Regina's commands. She can't make me do anything against the code of chivalry, but that leaves a lot of gray areas. For your safety, I advise you to stay away from me, I don't know what she will order me to do next. If you need help with something, ask Mr. Gold, ask Charming, even ask Graham, they are more trustworthy than I am."

Belle blinked at Robert's warning. She was speechless and she honestly didn't think that there would be any reason that Robert would actually want to do harm. She didn't want to believe that there was no way that he couldn't disobey Regina.

However, Faye seemed to think otherwise. Listening to Robert served as a wake up call, a reminder of her counterpart, Evelyn Hyde. She couldn't help but feel like her situation was somewhat like Robert's...the main difference being that she puts everyone around her at risk through just her presence alone.

The doctor moved to stand in front of Belle, somewhat protectively, and she asked politely, but wary, "And are you here on Regina's behalf right now?"

Belle looked at Faye and she chastised "Faye! He's just warning us!" Faye told Belle "I realize that, and as much as I appreciate the sentiment, one cannot be too careful," 

Faye could hear Hyde sneer with sinister anticipation and glee in her head "[i]It has been a while since I killed an official of the law![/i]"

Robert thought that both of them were taking this very well. Belle had known him as an enemy for several years now, while Faye barely knew him at all. "I'm not here because Regina sent me, I'm just patrolling. You can trust me, I can't lie because that would violate the code. As far I know, this curse is permanent, and I doubt Rumpelstilskin would let me out of it. I will have to serve Regina as long as she is the legitimate monarch. This curse will stay with me until I die." Robert said, adding a rare bit of emphasis to the end. If things kept going the way they were now, that day would come soon enough.

Faye listened to him carefully, and thanks to Hyde, she could tell that he was telling the truth when he gave his answer and an explanation about his curse. She was not the least bit surprised that Rumpelstiltskin had something to do with the curse, but when he mentioned obeying Regina because of her being a monarch, that caused her to raise an eyebrow. 

She asked him "Even in this world where people don't follow a monarchy? Last I checked, this world follows a democracy," She then pointed out again, "Regina is a mayor. Here, she's technically not a Queen,"

Belle looked between Faye and Robert, wondering if Faye had caught on to a loophole that could help Robert or not. Belle remained silent as they waited for Robert's answer.

"She's still alive and she never abdicated the throne, that means she's still Queen, no one else replaced her. I didn't make the rules, but I still have to obey them." Robert said

Faye scratched her chin and she asked him, thinking out loud, "Ah, but if Regina asked you to do something that goes against the laws and rules, would you still have to obey them?" She figured that the answer would be no, but then, she wasn't an expert in law...or chivalry.

"I would not obey that order, but I would still be her under command. She's gotten pretty good at knowing what she can and can't tell me to do." 

Faye could only answer with an "I see..." in response to his answer. She couldn't think of any other loopholes for Robert, but before she could say anything else, Belle spoke up

"Have you found your true love yet?"

Faye looked at Belle confused as the other woman continued "I'm sure if you found your true love, your curse will be broken! True love's kiss can break any curse!" 

Faye looked ready to protest against such an absurd thought, but then she remembered that that was how Henry freed her from the sleeping curse. 

"I thought I did, a long time ago. The girl I loved ended up running off with someone else, and I never really got over it. Even when the kingdom was under attack, I just couldn't bring myself to do anything other than mourn. Rumpelstiltskin offered me a deal, he'd make it so that I would never let my relationships get in the way of duty ever again. I accepted, and that's how I got my curse. It isn't even the forced loyalty that bothers me the most, I can't even connect with people anymore. Everything in my life is consumed by my code, every attempt at friendship or romance just falls apart thanks to this curse." Robert said, with sadness in his voice. It was rarer that he actually got an opportunity to talk about this.

Belle felt horrible and sad when she heard about Robert's plight. She apologized sincerely "Oh, I'm so sorry..." She then said to him, trying to encourage him, "Just don't give up on love or friendship, ok? I'm sure you'll find a way to break your curse,"

Faye looked at her watch and she said to Belle, "We should be going Belle," She then looked to Robert and she politely excused both Belle and herself, "Thank you for taking the time to warn us Sheriff Leland. We'll see you later," 

Robert nodded without a word, and walked off on his patrol route. Now, at least someone else knew his story. He wished he could back to being Robert Leland, even a shellshocked veteran was better than being a knight cursed to serve an evil queen.