Disclaimer: Don't own Once.

AN: Please read, review, and follow :)

"Hello, Marian," Robin says in as positive a tone as he could. He holds his breath, hating himself more and more each passing second, wanting to be struck down by lightning than standing in the doorway of someone who's going to hate him forever.

"Hey," she replies with a sweet smile, her scent flowing through the air, catching him by surprise, chamomile and roses… Five years.

Memories of them flood through his mind, before they fell in love, and when they did. When they got married, had Roland, fought over who got to hold him first, and living happily ever after…until she was taken from him. He remembers the horrible pain and despair he felt when he heard the news.

But he stops himself from going down memory lane, regaining his resolve. "I need to talk with you, Marian," he says gently, doubly noting how he used the word "with" instead of "to" because this is ultimately between both of them.

Marian looks at him confused, her brown hair sliding over shoulder when she tilts her head. He begins to notice that she's in her nightgown, the kind of gown worn in the Enchanted Forest instead of the 21st century Storybrooke. He finds this refreshing, having worn his usual attire instead of modern clothing.

He gestures to her kitchen table, wanting her to sit down. He remains standing. She watches him thinking, as he paces back and forth. Her heart starts racing in fear because she has no idea what he could be so worked up about.

Oh.

A conversation with Snow White comes back to her from last night…

After embracing Snow White, Marian pulls away and laughs, tears streaming down her face. "I'm so glad you're okay, Snow!"

Snow smiles at her, a sort of sadness keeping her smile barely positive. "Marian… can we talk for a second?"

Marian laughs, uneasy. "Yeah, sure! What is it?"

Snow touches her arms, guiding her away from the group of people surrounding Emma and Hook in Granny's diner. Marian watches Snow with apprehension.

Mary Margaret stares at her. "My name is Mary Margaret here."

Here? Marian asks herself… Then she looks around the room, realizing the clothing everyone is wearing. Then her eyes catch light from the ceiling… what are those? Small orbs holding light confuses her. It must be some kind of magic, she tells herself. And the tables look so odd and alien that she tries not to laugh. The only people that look normal to her is Robin and some of the dwarves. What is this place?

Mary Margaret notices her scanning the room, realization dawning on her face. "Marian," she says louder, bringing her attention back to the conversation. "We aren't in the Enchanted Forest. This is a land without magic that we were all sent to through a curse, but we actually," she laughs in irony, "like it here, now." Marion stares at her with wide eyes.

"What?"

She stares at Robin, "Is this about Storybrooke?"

He stops pacing, pausing for a moment. "Yes…and no." He mentally punches himself. Idiot. They catch each other's eyes, and Marion just looks at him, waiting for him to elaborate. She was never the patient kind. "This is about time."

"Time?" She raises an eyebrow.

He nods. "Yes." His heart is pounding hard against his ribs, sweat trickling down his neck. But he needs to do this, he can't back down. He imagines Regina, probably just now waking up, without him. Wondering where he was. He loves Marian, he does, but he's in love with Regina. "You've been gone for five years, Marian," he finally says, his voice strong and absolute.

Not a moment goes by and Marian is standing, moving towards him, desperation on her face. "What are you talking about? I've been gone for not even five days!"

He doesn't move when she steps closer to him, but he doesn't touch her. It's too haunting to have her so near to him. Last night's embrace was impulsive and he was barely thinking when he saw her in the diner. But now that he's thought about it…shock is the only thing that remains. He's in shock. Her face is but a dream to him, and her voice an echo in the dark. "No… No, you haven't." His eyes stare into hers, and he's lost in them.

Her mind doesn't comprehend this, remembering being in their house with him, in the Enchanted Forest, just a few days ago.

"You died, Marian." Her breath catches in her throat, she becomes rigid.

She shakes her head, "No…" But she remembers being the cell, waiting when the Evil Queen would execute her for not giving information about Snow White. "She…she killed me? What…" She starts pacing, tears springing into her eyes. Images of Roland from last night flow through her mind. He's older. He's grown up. Five years.

Robin stops. He grabs Marian's arm, "Wait, what? Who killed you?" His hand tightens around Marian's arm, anger flowing through his veins. She?

Marian only looks up momentarily, shock still evident on her face, "Yeah, the Evil Queen." She wipes fallen tears from her face, trying not to completely lose it.

His heart stops. Everything stops. "No…" Everything crashes on him like a tidal wave at midnight. Anger sweeps through him. Despair knocks the breath out of him. "No." He starts shaking his head, trying to wrap his mind around this betrayal.

Marian feels his fingers grip her arm tighter and she cries out. "Robin, let go of my arm," she commands. His eyes are distant, and his hand releases her. She watches multiple things cross his face, able to read him like an open book. "Why are you making such a big deal about this? She's evil." Marian doesn't understand why this would be surprising. The Evil Queen has put thousands of people to death, as well as kill just as many from her own hands.

But he doesn't hear her. "Regina…" His voice whispers her name, the taste of her still on his lips.

Marian's eyes widen. Regina? What the hell? "What's going on?"

They can keep me out
'Til I tear the walls
'Til I save your heart
And to take your soul
For what has been done
Cannot be undone
In the evil's heart
In the evil's soul

-Florence + The Machine