The Sherwood Forest: Before the first curse
"Marian!" Robin Hood called, desperation in his voice. "Marian, no!" But Robin's cries made no difference. Marian was gone, taken from him. He heard the carriage ride off distantly. A wild look in his eyes he sighed, morosely. He registered that Little John had put his hand on his shoulder but he didn't actually feel it. Robin Hood shook his head, wondering how in the world he was going to tell Roland that his mom was taken from them. And worst yet, how he was going to let the boy know that it was all his father's fault.
Storybrooke: Current Time
Regina pushed the door to Granny's open, letting it slam behind her. She willed herself not to cry, willed herself not to run. When Henry was 8 years old, he'd become increasingly worried about gym class. He'd never been good at sports on the playground or at the park and he was worried that he'd be picked last for whatever sport they played. "Anyone who would think to pick you as anything after first is a fool," Regina had told her son the night before the first day of school. She paused for a minute, rubbing little circles on his cheek. "But you listen to me. No matter what happens, you keep your head up, you understand? Always hold your head up high," she'd told him. "And you show them that it's their loss and you're worth so much more than some silly number in a game," she said, looking him in the eye and giving him a loving smile. Right now, Regina was trying her very hardest to follow her own advice but her strides got noticeably quicker and larger as she walked farther. The image of Roland and Robin's faces as they'd run into the arms of his wife was etched into her brain. How could she have been so stupid and naive to believe that being good actually gave you the right to happiness?
At long last, Regina found herself at her house, flinging the door open with magic before shutting it behind her. She leaned her back heavily against the door, wrapping her arms around herself. Only then did she allow herself to cry. She felt like such an idiot. She replayed all the memories of her with Robin with shame. When she'd seen Marian hold Roland and hug Robin, only then did she realize they were not hers. Someone had had them first. They didn't belong to her. She was the cheap stand in, the replacement. She resented herself for once again caring for something that was never hers to have. She was always on the outside, used until they didn't need her anymore. It'd been the same way with Henry last year. She'd help the Charmings and then he'd thank her and go home with them, as if she hadn't raised him since he was a baby. Tears slid down her cheeks now, her face contorted in pain and anguish. She wasn't sure how long she'd been there or when she'd slid herself so she was hugging her legs to her chest and on the ground. But Regina finally did what she'd learned to do over the course of her life: pick herself up, collect herself and keep walking. Her legs moved her upstairs into her room and flat on her bed.
"I don't understand how this is even possible," Robin Hood said, grinning widely. Marian was sitting next to him with Roland on her lap, his eyes glittering. He clutched his arms around his mother's neck as if he couldn't believe she was really there. Robin himself could scarcely believe it either.
"Well the maiden in the blond hair rescued me from the Evil Queen's dungeon. I didn't I'd ever see you again because of that woman. I thought for sure I was as good as dead in that cell but then she escaped and took me with her and she brought me here to you," she said, her eyes joyful, glittering with tears. Robin froze at Marian's words.
"Regina?" he asked, frowning. "Regina was going to kill you?" he said, scanning his memory. It was peculiarly muddled but he did remember Marian being taken from him by some of the royal guards now that she mentioned it. He also noticed that Regina was no longer anywhere to be found.
"You sound surprised. They do call her the Evil Queen for good reason," Marian said pointedly. Roland turned his big, innocent eyes on his mother.
"Regina?" he asked, excitedly. "Regina's so kind, mama. You have to meet her, you'll love her. She got me my stuffed monkey which used to be a real one that flew! You guys can be friends. You already have something in common: you both love papa," he said, smiling brightly. At that remark Marian looked up, alarmed and confused. She turned her gaze to Robin Hood.
"Robin, what is he talking about?" she asked him. During the exchange, Granny was walking by, placing a dessert in front of Roland. Hearing what the young boy had said, she gave an amused snort which didn't go un-noticed by Marian who raised an eyebrow quizzically. "Robin," she repeated, this time her voice a little louder and a little more on edge.
"This might be a conversation to have somewhere not in the middle of my diner," Granny turned and advised Robin Hood, knowingly. He nodded at the advice and stood, holding his hand out for Marian to take. With his other arm, he picked up Roland who whined at being deprived of eating his dessert.
"Let's take a walk," Robin said, leading them out of Granny's.
On the other side of the diner, Emma had sat down next to her parents in a booth once again. The crowd had thinned noticeably as it'd gotten later in the night and people were heading home. She sat thoughtfully for a minute, eyebrows furrowed, looking distraught. "Is something wrong honey?" Mary Margaret asked, noticing her daughter's odd disposition.
"I think," Emma said slowly. "I think I did something wrong," she said, shaking her head. "The woman I brought back I saved from Regina's dungeon. She was going to be executed and I didn't know who she was. But it turns out she's Robin Hood's ex-wife. Or current wife, I guess, since she's not dead. Regina was not happy with me," she said shaking her head. Mary Margaret's eyes grew wide with the realization of what it all meant.
"Oh Emma, you didn't," she said, her voice worried. She shook her head lightly. "Emma you didn't, " she said, the guilt already bubbling in her own chest. Daniel. That's all she could think about in that moment. She closed her eyes, collecting herself and taking a deep breath. "I mean, you did the right thing. Of course you did. You were saving a life and you're the savior, it's what you do," she said, smiling. "And I'm sure that woman in no way deserved to die for whatever it is Regina accused her of," Mary Margaret added, reassuringly. "But…Regina's love life has always been a sore spot between her and our family," she said lightly, not sure how or if to explain the situation. Only then did it dawn on her that Emma probably didn't know about Daniel. She'd never told her daughter the story but she'd never felt the need to.
Emma felt dejected. She'd thought she was helping. Saving someone's life had just made sense to her. She didn't think there'd be any possible negative consequences from bringing her with them so she'd be safe. "What do you mean a sore spot?" she asked. "What's Regina's love life got to do with us?" she questioned. She'd known that Regina had been married to Mary Margaret's father but she hadn't heard anything beyond that about any former flames of Regina's.
Mary Margaret shut her eyes and sighed, realizing she was going to have to tell the whole story. She locked eyes with her daughter. "Years ago, when I was just a girl, Regina was in love with a stableboy named Daniel. She was different back then. It was before she had magic. She was different back then. Lighter. She saved me when my horse was spooked and in return, my father offered her his hand in marriage," she began. "I was delighted that I was going to have a mother again. That night I went to the stables to try riding my horse again and I saw Regina and Daniel planning to elope. Regina asked me to keep it a secret and not tell her mother. Her mother thought Daniel was beneath her," Mary explained. "You've met Cora," she said to Emma. "You know what she can be like. And I was so young," Mary Margaret said with despair in her voice. "She lied to me, tricked me. I broke my promise and told her about Regina and Daniel and she-she killed him," Mary Margaret finished, a small lump in her throat. "I'm the reason that Regina's first love is dead. And that's why Regina wanted to kill me all those years," Mary Margaret finished. Emma, for her part, was stunned. She didn't say anything but her face held a shocked expression as she tried to register what her mother had just told her. She thought back to Regina's remark when they'd realized who Marian was. What was it she'd said? "You're just like your mother, never thinking of the consequences"? It made so much more sense now. "I'm gonna head out for some air," Emma said flatly, feeling sick to her stomach. "You guys can take Henry home since he's still talking to his friends," she said. With that, Emma slid out of the booth, and left Granny's.
The next morning, Robin Hood awoke early, eager to go out hunting with Little John. He needed to be in the forest for a while to think things through. He desperately wished he'd gone after Regina last night but he didn't know that she'd left until it was too late to. His talk with Marian last night hadn't gone well. His wife was furious at him once she found out he was in a relationship with Regina, who Marian insists on still calling the Evil Queen. He can't blame her for that. After all, that's what she knew her as until last night and he understood it was a strange change. But she'd been adamant about Robin's judgement, insisting she must've cursed him or that he'd lost his better judgement. He'd assured her it wasn't anything like that but that he genuinely liked her but of course, that didn't really help his cause. She'd only settled down when Roland had announced he was tired. He took her back to his place to stay and that was the end of that discussion, thank goodness. But he wasn't so dumb as to believe they were anywhere near done with the topic.
Robin saw Little John up ahead and instantly felt better. That was his best friend and if there was anyone who he could just hunt with and make decisions on life with, it was him. "John," he said giving him a small smile and a nod and with that they were off, already walking through the forest. He wasn't sure whether he even actually wanted to catch anything or whether he just wanted an excuse to talk to Little John about what'd been going on. John broached the topic first.
"We all heard the news last night," Little John started. "Maid Marian's back," he said. "It's a bloody miracle,". The amazement was plain on his face. Robin Hood could see the question behind his eyes but he couldn't bring himself to answer it. He felt drained.
"Indeed she is," Robin Hood said simply and he half wanted to kick himself. What was wrong with him? Why couldn't he be wholly happy? It was his wife, after all. And the one who he'd presumed was dead at that. But John seemed to understand.
"What're you going to do about Regina and Marian?" he asked, bringing up the issue that would soon be the talk of town. Everyone knew about Robin and Regina. Robin Hood sighed and shook his head.
"I have no idea," Robin said. "I'm not sure I'm in love Marian anymore. She is my wife and we've been friends so childhood. There will always be a place for her in my heart. But I spent years and years getting over her because I thought she was dead and I finally find I'm able to love someone again.. But that someone is…not Marian," he said thoughtfully. Little John studied his friend for a moment. His eyebrows furrowed which was a confusing gesture for Little John. He rarely seemed to look this tense.
"It probably isn't my place, but surely you're not thinking of leaving Marian for Regina. Marian's your wife and the mother of your child," Little John argued. Robin Hood frowned. He wasn't used to Little John being so firm and decisive.
"I thought you liked Regina, John?" Robin Hood asked, dumbfounded.
"I do like Regina," John said sincerely. "But Marian…" he said, and something behind his eyes changed. Robin noticed it but couldn't place what it meant. "Marian is family. Your wife, the mother of your child," Little John ticked off on his fingers. "She's basically one of the Merry Men. And no matter what, you don't just leave them or abandon them," John told Robin Hood, look him dead in the eye. "Ever,".
A/N: So if there's any interest in this, I'll definitely continue, I have a few other chapters planned! I would love if you'd let me know if you like it or not!