Outlaw Queen. Chapter 1

Everything had happened so fast. One moment they were sitting happily in their booth at granny's, Robin's hand around Regina's shoulders, smiling widely at their son who had his mouth covered in ice cream and the next thing they knew Robins dead wife was alive and standing in front of them.

Regina's heart broke in two. The moment she saw Marian, she knew she had lost the family she'd once had. Scooting out of the booth, she made her way to the exit as quickly as she possible could - so help her god, she was not going to let anyone see how close she was to bursting into tears. Queens didn't cry.

The look of joy and disbelief on Robin's face was enough to make Regina want to rip her heart out. He had lept out right out behind her, scooping up Roland in the process (who was more than mildly unimpressed to be parted from his sunday) and running in Marian's arms. Robing was elated, his face glowing with joy, however the look on Roland's race was quite the opposite. It had gradually gone from confusion to panic and then sheer terror. He had always been shy when it came to meeting new people, this was something that Regina knew well, and she could see the look of panic rising on his little face. She wanted nothing more than to run to him and reassure him, tell him that this new woman was not going to hurt him as long as she was around. But she had no right to, all she could do was stand by the door and watch as her heart slowly cracked into pieces too small to count.

Tears had started to stream down his face as he tried his hardest to squirm away from the woman who was currently trying to whisper soothing things like 'mama's here now' in his ear.

Regina's maternal instinct was tugging away in her gut, urging her towards him. Finally when Roland's searching eyes found her he screamed "mommy!" desperately climbing out of the grasp of his 'mother', with arms stretched out in Regina's direction. Once he was free, he ran towards her, hurtling into her legs. His tiny hands held on so tightly to her, she could feel his nails digging into her skin, his head hiding in the bend at the back of her knee.

At that moment Roland was the only thing Regina could see, the only thing that mattered. All her feelings of what was right and wrong were out the window, all that was left, was to do whatever was possible to make her little boy stop crying. She bent down and let him nuzzle into her arms, squeezing him tightly, and rubbing soothing circles on his back. Slowly she rose up again with him on her hip, his face hiding in the crook of her neck, protected by a shield of silky black hair.

"It's ok baby, mommy's here, you're alright" she whispered, his breath ragged from all the crying and screaming, gradually calming down.

"Mommy i'm scared" he sniveled into her shoulder.

"I know baby, but i'm here now, i've got you. You're safe now" She cooed, turning her head to look into his big chocolate eyes, and make sure he truly was alright. Once she was finally satisfied that he was ok, she finally looked to the room that she had previously been ignoring.

All eyes were on them, including the loving gaze of Robin, and the less pleased glare of Marian.

"Get away from my son you witch" she growled, walking towards them. This was definitely the wrong thing to do, because it sent Roland into fits of panic once more, clinging tightly to Regina's neck, tears rising up in his eyes again. Marian made a move for him, grabbing him by the waist and trying to pull the little boy out of Regina's arms. "NOOO, no mommy, no let me go, help, mommy!" Roland screamed, grasping onto Regina's clothes, hair anything that he can find that would let him stay with her. This must have shocked Marian enough to let go, because the next thing Regina knew, his little body is crashing back into her arms, clinging on tighter than he had before.

Had this been any other woman, Regina would have burnt her to a crisp, no one touches either of her sons without their permission. But this was Robin's previous wife, and Roland's biological mother, so the most she could do was cradle him possessively in her arms, tilting her body so that he was as far away from Marian as possible, and well protected. Henry had come out of his confused daze by then, and stood up, moving next to Regina. He too was fiercely protective of his little brother.

"Don't do that again." Regina warned, looking like a lioness protecting her cubs.

"I wasn't talking to you" Marian growled in response, "Roland honey, it's me, mama, get away from that lady, she's evil" but all he did was shake his head further (if possible) into Regina's shoulder. She looked down at him, as a matter of fact, his entire body is visibly shaking with fear. Looking back up at Robin, who seemed to be just as shocked as Marian was about what had happened. But there was also a look of pain on his face, he was obviously fighting an internal battle than no one else would see, torn between the two woman in front of him. One his soulmate, the other his deceased wife.

"Robin," Regina whispered carefully, her eyes questioning, "i'm going to take Roland home, it's been a long day for him" she said, brushing her hand through his curls soothingly. "Home" Roland mumbled in agreement.

Finally, Robin face hardened, all signs of recent uncertainty gone, he had made a decision. "That sounds like a good idea to me, i'll head back in a bit as well, I just need to sort things out with-" he nodded his head towards Marian, who looked like steam might come shooting out of her ears as she glanced between Robin and Regina.

Without even waiting for another word, Regina made a beeline for the door.

Emma, who had been watching nervously from outside, ran over to make an apology, only to be stopped by Regian's delicate finger, "not now Ms Swan, not now" With Roland in one hand, and Henry tucked under the other she waltzed down the little street, heading towards her manson. Leaving only the little ringing of the Grannys entrance bell behind her.