Marian returns after Robin and Regina are engaged...
Regina and Robin walk into Granny's looking very happy. They'd been together for a year now (two if you counted their bantering in the Enchanted Forest). The couple had recently defeated Zelena, who had tried numerous times to destroy her sister. She'd recently tried to steal the baby of Ariel and Eric, but once again had been stopped. This time she'd really been defeated.
"Papa, Gina, come on!" Roland exclaims to the couple who'd stopped for a brief kiss. Roland was excited because tonight was the night the family was going ro announce their news. "Henry is waiting!"
Regina and Robin follow the curly haired little boy inside the diner. Henry is waiting at a booth for them, but they're intercepted by Emma. The blonde looks frantic.
"Hook and I fell through Zelena's portal." Emma explains. "There was women who...well she's a little afraid of you still. Do you think you could meet her and show her you've changed?"
"Of course." Regina agrees. "But we must be quick. Robin and I want to talk to everyone."
Emma motions over by the bar. The woman, however calls out Robin's name and runs into his arms. Regina had changed, but she's fighting the urge to throw fireballs at this stranger. To her even greater surprise, Robin embraces the woman back. Who the Hell was this?
"Marian!" Robin exclaims.
I would have walked through Hell to see my Marian again.
This was impossible. Dead was dead. Regina had learned that the hard way. So why was Robin's deceased wife standing right before her. Roland grips Regina's legs tightly, clearly not recognizing his biological mother. Regina's motherly instincts kick in and she picks Roland up to comfort him. Marian turns to see her son in the Queen's arms.
"Let him go!" Marian demands. "He's an innocent child."
"Marian." Robin says softly. "This is Regina. She isn't the evil queen anymore. She isn't going to hurt Roland."
"Give me my son!" Marian commands reaching for Roland who cries in terror. He tightens his grip on the only mother figure he remembers.
"No!" He yelps, coiling away from Marian's touch. "Gina! Help!"
"Sh, it's okay baby." Regina soothes, setting her own emotions aside. She rubs the young boy's back. "I've got you. It's alright, she won't hurt you."
Robin watches as his soulmate calms down his son. He could tell Regina was upset, but she was putting Roland's needs first. He loved that about her. He wants to reach out to her. Talk about this crazy, messy situation. But, he's to enthralled with how comfortable his son looks in her arms.
"He's my son!" Marian screams. By now people are watching intensely. "I won't let you around him."
"That's not your choice." Regina's voice is cold but calm. She doesn't want to scare Roland. "It's Robin's."
"Robin, tell her." Marian instructs turning to Robin. Robin shakes his head.
"I told you, she's not the Evil Queen anymore." Robin repeats. "Roland loves her….and so do I."
Regina lets out the breath she didn't know she'd been holding. He loved her. It was a relief. But was that enough? His wife was back. Surely he wouldn't chose his second chance over his first love.
"Wait...are...are you two together?" Marian stutters, shocked.
Regina and Robin finally make eye contact. Robin sees the fear in Regina's eyes and feels guilty. He should have spoken up earlier. He had to hurt one of them tonight and it was going to be hard. But, he had to do what was right.
"We're engaged." The archer smiles stepping forward and wrapping an arm around Regina's waist.
"I was supposed to say it!" Roland exclaims, seeming less afraid now.
Snow squeaks and rushes over. She was so happy that Regina was getting her happy ending. They had all been so worried when they'd realized who Marian was. It seemed they were nervous for nothing. Robin had made his choice.
"Robin…" Regina starts to argue or say something but Robin cuts her off with a gentle kiss.
"I'm glad the secret is out." Henry announces. "It was getting harder and harder not to blab."
Marian is frozen in shock. She hadn't expected Robin to have moved on. To her, it had been days. For him it had been years. She wasn't ready to give up on their relationship. There was only one thing she could think to do.
"I was in her dungeons!" Marian exclaims. "That's where Emma saved me from."
Robin turns to his fiancee. He wanted to give her a chance to explain. There had to be an explanation. Robin still remembered that his wife had died by a deal gone wrong. He had always blamed himself.
"I would remember that." Regina states. "You were probably one of the many I let go. I didn't kill everyone I set my eyes on."
"You killed hundreds of innocent people, you MONSTER!" Marian shouts.
"Stop it!" Snow snaps in Regina's defense. "You don't know her. She has changed. You don't get to come in here and through her past in her face just because you're upset."
"Snow's right." Robin agrees, his arm still securely around Regina's waist. "I know about Regina's history, I know her present and I'll be there for her future. I'm sorry this happened and I know how confused you must be. But, Regina is my fiancee. I am going to marry her, nothing you say can change that."
"What about Roland?" Marian asks tearfully.
"You're his mother." Regina says. "But, so am I."
"We won't keep him from you." Robin adds. "But, you must understand. Roland was a baby when you….died."
"She is not his mother, she's a witch." Marian growls, clearly not budging on the issue.
"That's enough!" Robin shouts. "You will not speak ill of the woman I love. Roland adores Regina and I will not allow you to come between them. If you want to get to know our son you will have to accept that Regina is going to be in his life too. Our marriage is over, Marian, but it doesn't have to be bitter."
"You're leaving me for the evil queen!" Marian cries.
"No." Robin says very calmly. "I'm leaving you for Regina."
That night after they'd left the diner, Robin and Regina tuck their boys in. Henry and Roland had bonded as brothers almost as soon as they met. Robin and his son had moved into the mansion a few months ago, and they couldn't have been happier with the decision. Once their children are asleep Robin leads his fiancee to their room so they can have a talk. He wanted to be sure she was alright after such an eventful evening. They were supposed to celebrate but their engagement, but that clearly didn't happen.
"Love," Robin whispers, sitting beside her on the bed. "It's just us now. Talk to me."
"I….I'm a monster." Regina says tearfully. "She was right."
"No." Robin insists, cupping her face. "She was not right. The Evil Queen will always be part of your past, but that's not who you are anymore. You are a mother, a fighter, my soulmate and most importantly….one Hell of cook." The last part is an attempt to get her to smile, and it works. She giggles a little.
"I was afraid you'd go back to her." Regina admits leaning forward to rest her forehead against his. "You have her back. I'm just your second chance."
"Yes, you are my second chance." Robin agrees. "But you will always be my FIRST choice."
"I love you." Regina whispers. Robin pecks her lips softly.
"I love you too." Robin smiles. "I'm sorry our celebration got postponed. I promise you we will still do it."
"I can think of a better way to celebrate." Regina moves to sit on his lap. "It doesn't really include a room full of our family and friends though. Disappointed?"
"No." Robin chuckles. "In fact, this is perfect."