A/N: Canon has disappointed me so I'll spending some time on these. Just a note, they are anti Robin Hood.

As always, I don't own anything. Please enjoy and review.


They didn't meet in the most conventional of ways. In fact, Emma was sure that 'arresting-their-husband-for-jumping-bail' was probably in the top five of strangest ways to meet people. Their first meeting was less than a week ago, when Emma assigned to her case after Marian's husband never showed up to his court date. The other woman had bags under her eyes and her finger fiddled in her long cardigan sleeves but her back was ramrod straight and her voice was steady as she explained the situation. Emma's nails dug into her palms as she heard that the apparent thief had decided a rendezvous with his girlfriend was more important than his wife and child getting their money back.

Emma wasn't gentle when she took him down.

Marian's glaring as Emma's carts Robin across the precinct, having wanted to be there when Emma brought him in. If Marian had a weapon at this moment, it would probably be making its way to his heart.

Her eyes are ice cold until Robin disappears around a corner and she slumps, her strength leaving in a heavy breath.

"Hey, it's okay," Emma says awkwardly, bringing an arm around the other woman's shoulder and guiding to a bench.

People flit past as Emma rubs circles on Marian's back, much like she used to do for Henry when he got sick. She allows herself to drift, the buzz of movement filling her ears as she allows Marian to recover.

"I'm sorry," Marian eventually says, "I thought it would be satisfying watching him brought in, but it just brings back..."

"Everything you've lost," Emma supplies.

Marian's eyes are glittering as she looks up and the urge to be able to tackle one Robin Locksley again rises in Emma, "I suspected he hadn't loved me in some time, but I thought it was best for Roland. Isn't that stupid? And now look what my son has to go through."

Marian presses her cardigan covered palms into her eyes then lightly slaps her face, "I'm sorry, I shouldn't be burdening you with this."

Emma is about to protest when Marian continues, moving to stand, "I need to go be with my son but if you come by my-", she stumbles over the word, perhaps realising that it is now in fact hers, "-my diner, you can have a drink on the house. More than one, I owe you so much, Emma."

Emma stutters, barely saying, "It's just my job," before Marian is striding away, steps once again steady and unflinching.


Emma doesn't go to the diner that night, or the night after. It is Friday night when she sits in her empty apartment – Henry having gone to spent the night with his uncle, after she extracted David's and Mary Margaret's solemn promise to not show Henry how 'fun' they could be again – that Emma realises she's lonely and really could use a drink.

She doesn't have a valid excuse yet as to why she passes six perfectly good bars to go to a diner that isn't exactly close to where she lives, maybe she'll blame a fit of whimsy (even she should have one of those at least once in her life).

The diner door is heavy as she pushes it open, taking in the homely atmosphere. It is a crowded evening as Emma makes her way to a stool, searching for Marian.

"You came," a voice behind her says as Emma sits.

She swivels to face Marian, tray balanced precariously on her arm and bright expression on her face.

Emma shrugs, "Who turns down a free drink?"

Marian laughs, a carefree sound, and makes her way around the bar, passing the tray to one of her staff, "Now isn't that the truth."

She pours two healthy shots with an ease that speaks of experience as Emma raises an eyebrow, "You keep that stuff in a diner?"

The other woman shrugs, "It only comes out once the dinner crowd has gone, have to do what sells," she raises her glass, her smile fading around the edges, "To those who catch worthless husbands."

Emma smirks, "To getting our money back."

The shot burns as it goes down, a sensation Emma hasn't had in quite some time.

"How's Roland doing?" Emma asks, once her throat seems to have adjusted.

Marian sighs and shakes her head, "He wants to know when daddy's coming home. I left him with some friends of mine tonight, I'm hoping their baby will distract him. He loves playing with Philip and Mulan always does the best mock swordfights."

"That's the tough part," Emma agrees.

"You have a child?" Marian asks.

Emma doesn't have to force her smile, "Henry, he's twelve going on thirty. I just wish I could be sure that his maturity is a part of his nature rather than his mother making him grow up too fast."

Marian seems to understand there's really nothing to say to that as she pours another shot, "To our children."

"To our children," Emma echoes and drinks, finding the second one easier.

Emma's not sure if it's her slight buzz (she really is losing her edge) or the experiences the two of them share, but Emma finds herself saying, "It could be worse, you know."

"I find that hard to believe," Marian replies, voice laced with sarcasm.

Emma finds a bottle behind the bar to study, "He could have set you up for his crime and left you to pay the price."

She hears Marian's intake of breath and prepares herself for the platitudes, the pity and regrets ever opening her mouth. She is quite surprised when a warm hand is placed on top of her own, her eyes shifting to Marian's fiery ones.

"Men are dicks," she says fiercely, and somehow it's the perfect thing to say as they laugh, Emma's mood lifting instantly.

"I'm never dating another man again," Emma declares and Marian nods her head in acknowledgment, pouring another shot.

"I'll drink to that," and somehow, their glasses clinking sounds like hope.


Emma tells herself many excuses as to why she so often winds up ordering at a diner that is out of her way. She likes to ambience, she tells herself, and the smell of pine. She reminds herself how much she likes the onion rings as she rushes to a meeting with a client.

She ignores certain facts, like how she never sticks around long if a certain brunette isn't around or how she always feels the urge to check her hair and makeup before going in.

She most definitely does not admire Marian as she leans over the bar, dark blue jeans hugging her curves. And she certainly doesn't start to memorise her laugh or seek out her earthy scent. And Emma does not take away notice of the electricity that sparks between them whenever their hands brush, not even a little.

There is a young boy seated on a stool one day as she comes in for lunch, hunched over his drawing. He is an adorable child, all dimples and curly hair and she feels a pang for the days when Henry was that small. She loves her son but she also misses the days before hormones.

"What are you drawing there, kid?" She asks as Aurora puts in her order, ignoring the fact that young woman didn't even need to ask.

"My forest family," he replies sweetly, "We all live there in the trees."

"Sounds pretty cool," she says, "Although, I think my kid would miss his Xbox."

Roland looks up at her and nods, "We would have to fix that."

Emma gasps as she recognises that solemn sadness in his eyes, so similar to his mother.

"I hope you're being a wonderful host, Roland," Marian chides as she exits the kitchen and Emma catalogues the similarities between mother and child (she has a momentarily jealously for all the features Roland inherited, wishing Henry took on more of her features before she pushes it aside).

"He's been very good," she assures Marian, "I was just making some suggestions to his drawing."

"This is where Aurora, Mulan and Phil live," he pipes up, pointing to three brown and green squiggles, "And here is our tree. It's a bit smaller because it's just you and me."

Roland continues to draw, innocent of the broken expression on his mother's face as Emma reaches over to grasp the hand resting on the countertop. She pours what strength into the gesture she can and pulls back when Aurora returns with her order.

"Here we go, Emma," Aurora says cheerfully, passing over the container before turning to Roland, "Am I in this picture, munchkin?"

Roland's face scrunches adorably as he protests, "I'm not a munchkin."

"Hm," Aurora muses before smiling brightly, "How about a hobbit?" Roland protests again and she ruffles his hair, the young boy erupting into giggles.

"He'll be alright," Emma whispers.

"So will Henry," Marian replies quietly.


It's after then that Emma decides to bring Henry in. It seems like a big step, only one person she'd dated since Neal had actually met Henry and sure, Marian and Emma aren't actually dating but it feels like a thing and Emma is starting to look forward to what it might become.

And besides, they are, after all, somewhat in the neighbourhood after Henry's football match and he does deserve a good meal after it.

This is what Emma tells herself as she pushes the heavy wooden door open, heart pounding in her chest.

Aurora is working today and waves happily behind the bar, gesturing to an empty booth. She brings over two menus and says brightly, "Good morning, Emma, always lovely to see you and you must be Henry! I'm Aurora, you tell me anything you need and I'll grab it for you."

"Thank you," Henry says, a faint blush to his cheeks. Emma chuckles to herself and buries her face in her menu when Henry glares.

"Do you come here a lot, Mom?" Henry asks, once they've ordered.

"I like it," Emma shrugs.

"I heard we had a special guest today," Marian says, walking out with Roland at her side. Henry is watching her as she admires Marian's jeans and shirt combination and she has to tear her eyes away before he suspects anything, "Marian, I'd like you to meet my son, Henry."

"It's a pleasure to meet you, Henry," Marian says, holding out her hand, "Your mother has told me very good things about you."

"What else is there to say?" He says cheekily, shaking her hand and ignoring Emma's noise of protest.

"I'm Roland," Roland says, dimples on display. He copies his mother's offer of a handshake, glancing back to her to make sure he does it correctly and Henry takes it solemnly.

"Hello Roland," Henry seems to assess Emma for a moment before continuing, "Are you two busy? Mom and I just ordered and I'd love to hear more about the place."

Emma's glare could have killed but Henry looks steadfastly away, gauging Marian's reaction, who, Emma eventually notices, is adorably flustered.

"I wouldn't want to intrude," she starts.

"Only if you're free," Emma stutters.

And somehow just like that, Emma is either on a playdate or an actual date with her son tagging along. Regardless, the food is more than good and Emma laughs more than she can remember but she doesn't thank her son, no matter how much he preens afterwards.


It is sometime after, after multiple trips with Henry and on her own. After she brings in David and Mary Margaret and they gang up with Marian to insist that archery is a much better sport for Henry than football (although David wants to add fencing and horse riding and somehow make her son into a modern knight, which Henry nods along with eagerly).

It is after she meets Aurora's partner, Mulan and their son, Philip. She knows that Mulan is assessing Emma throughout their entire meeting but if she's interpreting the nod she receives at the end of the meal, she passes whatever test the other woman had implemented.

It is on a cold night when they stay late in the diner, children safely under the protection of others, the staff and customers having left some time ago that Marian cracks open a bottle and toasts her divorce, seated on the floor of the staff room.

Their first kiss is sloppy, Emma tasting the champagne and doing her best to kiss Marian despite their idiotic smiles but it's still the best kiss she's had in years.


A/N: Expect more Marian love coming your way!