'Are you sure she's changed?'

The first time she asked that question Robin was understanding, his wife had been pulled (against her will mind you) from a world and time where Regina was evil and they bathed in the lake. Now she was a hero and there was a thing called a "shower" which was able to provide water of any temperature at the turn of a wrist. She had no understanding of what had occurred and was right to feel skeptical when she heard of the drastic change by the Queen.

The second time he felt confused and slightly hurt that his wife wouldn't accept the impassioned plea to trust the former Evil Queen.

Now... now he was starting to feel irritated. And that had nothing to do with the fact that the Queen who may or may not still hold his heart was being insulted, by his wife no less.

'Darling, I can assure you that she changed. She has redeemed herself thricefold, if not more. People just need to believe.' He had recited that line so many times before to her and some of his Merry Men that it had just become second nature to say it whenever Regina was involved in the conversation.

'It's easy to hear it, but accepting that the woman who locked you up to have you executed would save your son and this town is difficult. Especially seeing the cold way she treats him.' She looked at her little boy sorrowfully and Robin couldn't help but do the same.

Roland.

The boy who deserved nothing that was being forced upon him.

Robin was not stupid as to assume Regina could easily cut off contact with his son, but with her knowing that his mother - the wife of her soulmate (and lord, was it wrong that he still got goosebumps when thinking about that?)- came back into existence, he knew that she thought it was best.

She would, however, be in the minority.

She was more of a mother to him during their time in both the Enchanted Forest and here in Storybrooke than any other woman in his life. Including the woman that bore him. And with the tight grip she had on him, Marian knew it too.

Roland however, was clinging to the cloth of his pants with one hand and his stuffed monkey toy in the other. The toy was given to him by 'Gina and so it was the only thing he never let go of. Even when he was cursed with no memory Roland knew that this monkey had significance and refused to part with it for a moment. Regina's magic was somehow able to pull the person trapped in monkey form out of the toy without it being destroyed, although it would have been easier to simply create a new toy for Roland. But his little boy loved that monkey and Robin felt his heart beat that much faster when he saw the strain Regina put herself through for his son - and if he would admit it to himself, that was the moment he fell in love.

But he couldn't.

He shouldn't.

(Even if in his heart of hearts he already did).

But all conversation ended as they stepped up the entrance of 108 Mifflin Street. And his breath caught because there she was. Standing in front of him.

He felt like he had just come home.

'Welcome to my home, where you will be residing until the threat has been dealt with. I hope you understand the gravity of the situation, so please don't do anything that may risk the safety of all in the house. Another family will be staying with you and so I trust that you will treat them civilly and that this will be a merry situation for all...' She had this false smile on her face, a mask if ever he saw one. She kept her eyes firmly on Marian, as if to try and seem welcoming to the new arrival in Storybrooke. But he knew that if she were just to look at him once, he would be able to see what she was trying to so desperately hide.

But while he couldn't do anything except look at her, she did never looked at him once.

And that hurt more than he expected.

It was selfish he knew, but he loved those dark depths and the way that they would look at him, the way they would drink in his entire form lustfully, the way they would bare her soul to him the way no words could, the way they could express every emotion she felt in an instant. And what he loved most about those eyes was that he could read them the way nobody could, their connection making them so in tune with one another that understanding her was almost instinctual. It was the height of her vulnerability, a secret only he understood. The only time he didn't want them focusing entirely on him was when she was so consumed with ecstasy that she didn't have the strength, but even in those moments, if they would flash open and be drawn to his magnetically with a fire burning in them - a fire burning for him- he felt as if he had been transported to the most majestic realm of all. He wasn't as crazy as to believe he could be her whole world, but after the soulmate revelation, he wanted their family - Henry and Roland, him and her - to be with an almost desperate passion.

And that desire never waned, even with the return of his wife.

But he was an honourable man and he couldn't be thinking of such things with his wife back, shouldn't be thinking of such things, knowing how much hurt it brought him when he did.

'... I just ask that you respect the privacy of my bedroom and personal study.' A genuine smile crossed her face when she finished, whether it be from relief or not he couldn't determine (but damn, how he loved that smile of hers too).

'Now, you can go through the house' (that's what she said, Robin heard 'why don't you show your wife around the home you almost called your own') 'and room arrangements can be dealt with when Jefferson and his daughter arrive later today.'

'Thank you m'lady. We greatly appreciate your hospitality.' Her eyes flickered towards him for a moment at the statement, before dropping down to his son by his side.

'Roland' she got more than the young boy's attention when she uttered his name. 'Do you want to eat some cookies while your parents explore the house.' If possible, Roland grabbed onto his father's pants even tighter. He brought his monkey to his mouth, chewing on it's hand nervously. He shook his head slightly, afraid that it would all be an elaborate trick upon him, not seeing the way his rejection hurt Regina. But Robin saw it, and he would be damned if he didn't do anything about it.

'Go on Roland.' He murmured it, not taking his eyes off the Queen, but it seemed his words of encouragement were enough and his son slowly wandered to the Queen, grabbing her hand and following her inside to the kitchen.

The look of mild panic on Marian's face once the Queen was out of sight was a little disconcerting for him. 'Why did you do that? What if she poisons him?' The questions were clearly ridiculous and fed by a paranoia from her time where the Evil Queen reigned supreme.

'I doubt that very much my love. There would be nothing to gain by hurting the boy, especially if we are to live with her until the storm passes. She just wanted us to have some time together' she wanted time away from me.

'I... My son...' Marian stuttered, unable to form a complete sentence.

Then, without another word, she fled inside the household, leaving Robin alone in the cold.

'Hey buddy, you want some choc-chip cookies?' She smiled at him, hoping that it would make him more comfortable around her. Needless to say it didn't. He simply shook his head, watching her warily, as if expecting her to disappear in a plume of smoke. She could see the pain and confusion in his eyes - children not having learnt the art of masking one's emotions.

Alright, she thought, no beating around the bush with this.

She crouched down so she was his level, turning him towards her so she could see his face again, so she could put every detail to memory.

'Roland,' her voice was low and thick with emotion. Goodness, how she hated herself for being responsible for the pain on his face. 'Roland I have to apologise. I stopped talking to you and I hurt you and I'm sorry. I shouldn't have done that.'

'Why?' His voice trembled with the word, hesitantly taking a step closer to her. 'Why you do it?'

'I... I thought that with your mama back you didn't want to spend time with me. I thought you didn't love me anymore, so I ran away.' Because if there was one thing she learnt it was that certain things tended to run down with families, and she did not need both father and son breaking her heart.

'Why you think that?' The surprise was evident in his tone and she couldn't help but think that maybe they would be alright again. 'You 'R'gina. You magical. You save me.' He whispered the last line, earnestly trying to convey his feelings, his small hands holding her face in them. And before she had time to respond, he leaned forward and placed a quick kiss on her lips as he had seen his papa do many times over.

'I love you 'Gina.'

'Oh I love you too, my little man. I love you so, so much.' Her voice hitched during her confession as she dragged him to her, hugging him. Smiling as his small arms attempted to surround her in a cocoon of warmth. She held onto him like a lifeline, eyes clutched shut, a dark twisted part of her whispering that if she were to open her eyes, she would see him laughing at her, mocking her, breaking her heart the only way his father couldn't.

She never realised she starting crying until he pulled back, his small palms furiously attempting to wipe the tears away.

'R'gina! Why you crying? Please don't cry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry...' The tears were welling up in his own eyes now, he didn't know why she was crying and it hurt. 'I go if you want.' He pulled away, motioning to leave - but before he could move an inch she pulled him back to her again.

'No!' She blinked, surprised at the desperation behind her voice. 'No, Roland. They are happy tears. I was just so happy that I cried to show it to everyone. You made me happy.'

'Happy tears?' He seemed confused at the notion, but content with it as an answer.

'Yes, happy tears.' She grinned, tapping his nose with her finger. He squished up his face in response, giggling. 'Well, I still have some cookies and no one to eat them. Whatever will I do?'

'Me 'Gina, me! I eat cookies, love your cookies.' He was bouncing at the thought of cookies now, the memories of her bringing him cookies back at the forest now without any blemishes of pain.

'Okay, but only because there is no one else.' The cheer of joy and the hug that followed warmed her broken heart once more. She got up to bring the cookies down to him, but he held his arms up, looking at her so expectantly that the raw pain from all those months ago hit her again. Because she envisioned this in their future, envisioned him in her future, calling her 'mama,' stating his confession of love for her every night before bed as she tucked him in, reading him the story of how two outlaws were able to find the queen's heart when she thought that she had lost it. And so she gave it to them as a prize, with them treasuring it and becoming all she wanted. A family.

A future that could no longer take place.

However she simply bit her lip and held it all in. Lifting him up in her arms, she maneuvered him onto her hips, feeding him cookies and wiping away the crumbs that remained.

But soon enough, the excitement from the day caught up with him and he snuggled against her, resting his head on the crook between her shoulder and neck, breathing in her calming scent that made his eyes droopy, body relaxed and sent his mind millions of miles away.

'Wuv you R'gna.' It was mumbled into her neck, before he could forget, because the other land was just so tempting... Her breath caught again at the confession, her heart overcome with the emotions that small boy was able to procure in her.

'I love you too Roland. Now let's get you to bed.'

And with her voice lulling him to another realm entirely, he fell asleep.

Robin had to physically drag Marian away from the scene, feeling guilty for watching the entire scene take place without their knowledge. (and jealous of his son. His son. Because he got to hug the Queen, kiss the Queen, love the Queen and not feel at all guilty about it.)

'She... she...' Marian seemed to be in shock, and a small, small, part of Robin was proud of the fact that Regina was able to surprise Marian - Marian -of the love that she was capable of. He relished the fact that he was able to see that when nobody was even willing to look for it, bar the Charming family (but they had a history that no one could even come close to).

'I told you she wasn't evil, love.' (and why that term of endearment, used many times back in the Enchanted Forest, tasted so bitter on his mouth was something he refused to contemplate. He was an honourable man. And a man who loved his wife. That is all he should think about.) 'You can trust her, if with nothing else, then with our son. When she loves...' he drifted off wistfully, 'she is able to transform everything around her. All she needs is a chance to show it to the world.'

'Okay.' A light lit up her eyes, the smile overtaking the frown of concern and the furrowed brows of confusion was radiant.

But it left him concerned.

'What is it?' The innocent curiosity in his voice was a cover. The confusion and suspicion that he hoped didn't come through was not.

'You are right, she can love, and love wholeheartedly. And this chance you refer to... well, she just needs the right man to give her heart to.' The determination, something else he loves (loved) about his Marian was starting to worry him more than he thought possible. 'And I will find him for her.'

And with every step in her walk away from him, Robin felt the crushing grip of heartache on him strengthen.

HOLY mother of pearl I was not expecting that response. At all. My finals start in a week and I am woefully under-prepared for them, but I couldn't leave y'all hanging until they're finished, so I thought I'd update now.

I did plan on introducing Jefferson and Grace, but that would be a whole 'nother story and I needed some Dimples Queen action. Because, no matter what pairing I chose, Dimples Queen will win. Even though I am an awkward person when children are involved. As for whether this is MadQueen or OutlawQueen, I still dunno. I mean, from the chapters I planned out- it leans one way - but there are these two chapters that I can't wait to write, and they go in the complete opposite direction.

But now you know why Marian is gonna captain the ship. And she may or may not have a second-in-command.

And to the guest who asked about whether it would be weird if Henry/Grace and Regina/ Jefferson took place: That's tricky. But seeing that Cora forced Regina into a marriage with her ex-fiance, I don't consider the fact that Regina and her son (which has no blood relations to) date Jefferson and Grace very high on the weird-scale of OUAT. But who knows, that may be a planned chapter ahead ;)

Disclaimer: I own very little and OUAT does not fit into that category of ownership. The spelling mistakes do though (but note, us Aussie's use British English so don't you be dissing the 'u' in 'honour' or the 's' in apologise)