AN : How gay was that episode of Once Upon A Time eh?! Anyway, here's an update because I love you.
P.S.- I wrote this while listening to Vampire Smile by Kayla La Grange
DISCLAIMER : see chapter one
Is it very possible to be extremely happy yet sad at the same time? Like you're happy but somewhere in the midst of your mind that sadness creeps and glowers just in the background. That's what Regina thought about while laughing at Henry's milkshake stash as he sat next to her in a booth at Granny's. She thought about it as she smiled shyly at Emma across the table whom seemed to be having a great time since she hasn't lowered her smiles down a notch. She thought about it as Charming told her she was some kind of twisted savior, she rolled her eyes at that. She thought about it as Snow said she was sorry. She especially thought about it as she saw all the way across the room, Robin's arm casually draped over Marian's shoulder as they watched Roland eat.
It felt like a sinking feeling. She laughed and enjoyed herself with her son, whom never seemed to leave her side at this party. But she snuck glances at the Hoods. Each time was met with inner chastising for looking again and a need to continue to look. Marian had a simple dress on. One that went to her knees, showed her shoulders and the expanse of her neck. Her hair hung in ringlets, bouncing each time she walked or looked to the side.
Regina thought, this must be how artists felt. A need to remember this moment, but not too quickly with a camera, but rather...slow. She wanted to capture the way the light drifted in through the windows and kissed her skin and the way her hair roved and swayed. Regina thought she could be an artist. At least until she realized Marian is too good for art, for anything really.
"And then she caught the fireball! She spun it a circle like how they do on Avatar-" Henry was speaking using sound effects and movements.
She leaned on her hand watching him with the faintest of smiles gracing her lips.
When they arrived in Granny's yesterday in smoke and dirt smudges, they were pulled apart and then...Henry had issues leaving Regina's side, he didn't even hug Emma or his grandparents. He simply stuck close to her. When Snow did hug him, he lagged in responses, so Snow held him at arms length asking if he was alright.
For a moment Snow thought it was her, but then Henry slowly entangled himself from her hands gripping his and looked to everyone around him, only to say, "I want to go home."
Emma assumed he'd leave with them as she said, "Okay, well common."
But then he turned towards Regina, grabbed her hand and said, "Let's go home mom."
Everyone froze and in confusion just stared at her. She couldn't care less.
Regina knew if her heart had a moment to explode, it would be this one. Together mother and son left the dinner. They agreed on a celebration the next day. Elsa came with them and Henry asked her questions about her power all the way home. Then all three used three separate bathrooms to shower. Henry seemed bit nervous about that, so Regina sat outside his door just in case.
Henry came into her room that night and asked, "I figured you'd be afraid of the dark tonight."
She realized this event may traumatize him more than Neverland, she wondered why, so she slapped on a smile and said, "I am."
His small form coiled into her. He felt like a heater, warm and he more often than not kicked off the blankets. Regina ran her hands through his short messy hair, then he moved suddenly and kneed her in the thigh. She forgot he was a kicker. Either way she eventually drifted off to sleep.
In the morning she awoke to the fire alarms.
Henry and Elsa tried making pancakes.
With a half sigh morphing into a half laugh, she cleaned up and the three made waffles.
Elsa wore Regina's pajamas, the silk clung to her frame, highlighting every curve and putting a certain new spring to her walk. Regina thought this would be uncomfortable and it was...but...it was nice. Having her around. She made Henry laugh each time she pronounced something wrong or asked what a certain thing is.
When the brunette looked at herself in the mirror she was reminded of time and its cruel joke on humans. At least until Henry appeared and told her Elsa was a great addition to their household. When she asked why.
He replied with, "we need a new toaster."
The three made their way to the celebration. Which is where they are now. Elsa wore Regina's jeans and a white t-shirt and her hair hung like falling snow. She talked to Granny laughing at the jokes she told. Henry now held his…uncle and poked his nose, wondering how he sleeps so much. Regina knew it was a good thing she decided against siblings for Henry. She sat in the corner, thinking how nice this seems, how happy everyone is. She didn't exactly enjoy it. No one talked to her unless Henry was present.
The neat thing about being a former villain is that people don't really care as much. They still see the shadow of your fragmented evil bits. You slowly become apart of the shadows they so willingly ignore. So when Regina had the chance, she slipped out and listened to her heels clickity-clack on wood to the small living room at Granny's. She sat on the sofa, looking around, observing the stupid old fashion design only a grandma from the Enchanted Forest would make. She chuckled to herself then folded her hands onto her lap. She looked down. Her dress was blue, it reminded her of Zelena. It doesn't matter that she was evil or even a psychopathic murderer hellbend on ruining her life, she was her sister. Sometimes, in crude nostalgia, she wore this dress.
And what better than today?
"Penny for your thoughts?" Her voice, as always, was like a beautiful warning laced with a sort of hurt only a lover could provide.
"Marian," Regina tried to be strong, she did not turn around, she did not do anything more to acknowledge her existence.
The floorboards creaked as she walked. Then the couch bent slightly to the right as Marian sat down.
"Hi."
Regina looked to the side. She looked even better in her dress up close.
"Hi."
Marian offered a smile.
What a cruel joke, Regina thought.
"Why are you here? There's a pretty fun party out there." She asked, looking concerned.
Not that it was any of her business, except, it's entirely about her. Regina found it impossible to be in the same room as her and not look in Marian's direction. It was dreadful.
"Only if you're a hero. Not a villain on the road to redemption. Parties aren't for me." She thought about the time she was blatantly ignored after saving Emma and Mary Margaret from the death curse in the well.
"You are a hero. You saved our sons."
Regina hummed slightly, "I had help."
"And you're modest. Only hero's do that," Marian attempted to lay her hand on Regina's.
She pulled away, "It's just common curtsy."
A looked crossed Marian's face. Regina recognized it. She has, after all, created it more times than she'd like to admit in the past few days; hurt.
Marian then seemed to struggle what to do with her lingering hand, she gave a tight smile then placed in on her lap.
"Robin told me what you did over there."
Regina decided it would be best not to look at her face anymore, for it spoke more to her heart than her ears.
She focused on the horrid floral design on the couch opposite them, "did he?"
"Yes. He said it was the bravest thing he's ever seen."
"Hmm..."
"And the scariest."
"Hmm! He better be."
Regina thought the flower sowed between the vines sort of looks like a face.
"He said if it wasn't for you, Roland and Henry wouldn't be here now."
Regina looked down at nothing in particular, thinking perhaps it's not Robin talking now. He would never give her all this credit. She sounded...concerned. Regina grimaced. She was trying to cheer her up.
"Marian?"
"Yes?"
Regina turned to her, fully shifted her body just to face her entirely, "I'm fine. I don't need to be reminded what I did, I was there. And I certainly don't need charity right now. Just...leave me alone. Leave me to think. Leave me to...to...just leave me."
Marian bit her bottom lip, undecided on what to do. Regina couldn't stand it. Not the way the dim lighting not only complimented the shadows gracefully painting her body curves, not the way her teeth snagged onto her chapped lip, and certainly not the way her eyes always spoke of such...caring. She cares. And she couldn't stand that one simple truth.
"Or I can leave. It doesn't matter. There's plenty of space in Storybrooke." Regina quickly jumped to her feet, ready to leave.
But then Marian grabbed her hand, "don't leave."
Regina couldn't hold it in. She sighed and scoffed while throwing one hand in the air.
"Why?"
Marian then reached for her other hand, "just don't leave...not yet. We don't have to say anything. We can just sit here; I'm fine with just sitting here." she sighed looking up at her with pleading eminent in her voice now, "Please...don't leave."
This time she looked on the verge of tears while biting her bottom lip so fiercely Regina knew she would have to comply or her lip would bleed her to death.
With another sigh, she flopped onto the couch. Much closer to Marian than before.
"Okay."
"Thank you," Marian held their conjoined hands to her lips.
Regina felt her bottom lip, chapped and red, and her upper lip, smooth and slightly dry on her fingers.
They sat like that.
Regina wanted to count. She's counted how many steps Henry took to leave her. She's counted how many times he's said he's loved her since he found out he was adopted. She's counted every time Emma Swan won a battle between them. And she's counted every apology she's made and every one she's received.
But this moment, this one moment with this woman in front of her looking slightly scared holding her hands to her lips, was immeasurable. It was beautiful. She was beautiful. It could have been years, hours, or even just seconds. It didn't matter. Time blurred together, all falling into one pool circling into an abyss.
"I was scared you know," Marian's breath smoked over her palms.
She didn't think she had any reason to respond, so she kept quiet.
"I was scared something happened to you and Robin."
Regina wanted to take her hands back but when she did, Marian held tighter.
"I was scared for Roland and Henry. And then...suddenly you're all back... And I was so...blind by happiness I didn't notice it..."
She became quiet. Regina realized it was because she was beginning to shed more tears.
"Regina...you're so...strong. I didn't notice how broken you were until Robin told me. God, isn't that horrible? I didn't know until the person I'm cheating on told me the one I'm cheating with looks a bit frazzled. He's so proud of you and yet...he just hates you."
Regina made a small sound at the bottom of her throat that sounded much like a laugh but just didn't quite make it.
"I'm so scared for you. They're coming back, aren't they?" She started to really cry, she started to sob that it was impossible to be mad now.
Regina slowly slipped her hands out of Marian's then she grabbed the sides of her face, "Marian...listen to me."
She nodded.
Regina moved her lover's hair behind her ears, "I'll be fine."
"But-but you won't. You aren't."
"What does it matter?"
"It always matters."
"You matter." Regina gave her a smile.
Although it was broken, it didn't quite reach her eyes. Either way, Marian still gasped and a sob retched through her chest.
"You matter so very much to me." Regina kissed her forehead, "and it doesn't matter that I'm not fine. It matters that my three favorite people are safe."
Marian leaned into her, placing her forehead onto Regina's, "don't you leave me Regina Mills. Don't you go getting yourself killed for my sake."
Regina closed her eyes, "shh...my maiden, it'll be alright."
She kissed her.
Feeling the familiar odd differences of chapped and smooth lips caused that weird sensation spurring within her chest again, sending swirls and turns. She felt like dancing. Only...this was no time to dance.
So Regina decided to ask once more.
Just once more.
"Choose me."
Marian laughed through her sobs. It sounded painful yet so beautiful. Like a poisoned flower blooming in the moonlight.
"Wrong words my queen."
Regina smiled, despite herself, "what words do I ask?"
"Say something you'll mean. Something different, it isn't always about choosing the future but about what's now, right in front of you. Tell me that."
Regina opened her mouth feeling that perhaps the words will just come. Ready to speak, already forming a sentence within her mind. When-
"Hey mom have you-"
Regina jumped halfway across the couch, "Henry!"
Her son stopped short looking between Marian and her. Marian whipped her tears and looked away.
"Um-"
"What is it sweetie?" She sniffed quickly, grateful she held it in and didn't cry.
"I was wondering if you'd seen Marian and it seems you have. Um-" he pointed behind him towards the dinner down the hall, "Robin's looking for her. He said Roland wants some ice-cream."
"Oh," Marian said, "right, he-he asked about it. I haven't had ice-cream yet and-and I promised I'd try it."
She sat up and held her hands together, tightening up her shoulders looking at Henry, "thank you Henry."
She looked back at Regina, "I'll talk to you later, okay?"
Regina nodded.
Then Marian left.
So Regina turned back around to find the flower face on the couch design again. Her son was smart and she knew by the way he narrowed his eyes slightly in Marian's direction that he knew but there was no harm in pretending otherwise.
"You know, Roland would like to spend some time with his mom too."
Regina closed her eyes, preparing herself as she turned in her seat, "and what's that supposed to mean Henry?"
He shrugged and walked to sit where Marian sat, "I'm just saying. We both missed our moms. It would be great to spend time with them."
Regina smiled at him, "you spent all day with me and the rest of yesterday. I thought you'd like some time with the...Charming's and Emma."
Henry shrugged again, "they're not you."
She chuckled, feeling a renewed happiness in these simple moments, "No, they can't fire bend like me-" she wrapped one arm around her sons shoulders in a half embrace.
He half hugged her back, "nor earth bend."
Regina nodded.
He let go first, as usual but it doesn't hurt as much as before.
They sat there.
"Did you want ice-cream too?"
Henry thought about it for a moment, "maybe later."
She nodded then looked back to the couch, "okay. Did you know there's a man in the couch?"
"What?" He looked alarmed.
"I mean, in the designs. He's a flower."
"Oh," Henry looked to the couch, "I don't see him..."
"Maybe he's hiding." She said.
Henry nodded then grabbed his knees, "are you okay?"
"Of course," she answered to quickly to notice her mistake of doing that.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
"About what?"
Henry shifted, looking a bit uncomfortable, "about Marian?"
She raised her brows and pursed her lips, "Marian? Gods no. We hardly know each other."
He bumped her shoulder, "I'm almost fourteen. I think I can handle my mom's love life."
Regina snorted, "key word; almost. You can almost handle it. Besides, I will not traumatize my child with the likes of my...peculiar love life."
He smiled, "so you do have a love life."
Regina stopped short then sighed at her mistake with a slight laugh, "I'm still not telling you. Traumatic events." She tried reminding him.
"I appreciate your concern but... sometimes I think it helps to talk. And I'm sure you wouldn't talk about this with Emma."
Regina smiled, "no...I suppose not. But Henry...this is...it's... Complicated. It's a big ball of rubber bands complicated."
"So just take one off at a time."
"I mean it's a huge ball of rubber bands."
"I'll help," Henry, as Regina's noticed, is stubborn.
A trait he's learn from both his moms.
So she sighed, thinking how to word this, "alright. If you want to help...Tell me...tell me how can someone love with a broken heart?"
Henry's brows crinkled together, "Well...I wasn't aware that was even possible."
Regina sighed into her hands as she leaned against them, "Me neither."
There was silence once more. She wondered if perhaps it was a mistake to tell Henry this.
"Do you want ice-cream?" He suddenly asked.
She closed her eyes and smiled, "yes."
Or maybe not.
###
Emma spent the entire party smiling her best smile. She smiled at Henry's story telling about Regina. She didn't have to try that hard anyway, Regina always was amazing, it's nice Henry finally notices. She smiled at the idiotic jokes her parents told. She even tried smiling to pull the brunette back. Even if it was met with disappointment each time as Regina looked past her to another woman in a grey dress.
She smiled as she asked Henry where Regina had gone. Her smile faltered slight as Robin asked her if she's seen Marian. Her stomach plummeted realizing they're both gone, but she still smiled.
She smiled slightly as she walked down the hall for time to herself, she didn't allow that small, tiny upturn of her lips go down, at least until...
"Choose me."
Emma stopped recognizing Regina's voice instantly.
She stopped realizing she was passing the living room. Two heads were faced towards each other, Emma hid behind a pillar, enough to be hidden from people coming to the living room, and people exiting the place. Then...she listened.
"Wrong words my queen."It was Marian sounding upset as her voice cracked with each word.
Emma closed her eyes tightly, as if that would stop the sudden burning sensation in her chest.
"What words do I ask?"
Please no, Emma thought.
"Say something you'll mean. Something different, it isn't always about choosing the future but about what's now, right in front of you. Tell me that."
Emma held her breath.
"Hey mom have you-"
She jumped at Henry's voice. Then she flattened herself further into the wall, thinking thoughts of being invisible. As if it would help.
Marian left the room after a little fumbling and Emma heard a slight sniffle as she passed through.
Then she heard Regina sniffle.
She looked down thinking she should definitely leave. She should leave and just...
"You know, Roland would like to spend some time with his mom too."
Emma gasped and then held her hand to her mouth to keep from being any louder.
Yes, she should leave. She has to. This isn't something she should-
"And what's that supposed to mean Henry?"
Or...
She heard his footfalls and a slight creak as he sat down, "I'm just saying. We both missed our moms. It would be great to spend time with them."
"You spent all day with me. I thought you'd like some time with the...Charming's and Emma."
Emma frowned at the way Regina said her name. Like some foreign disease.
"They're not you."
Emma's chest hurt for entirely different reasons now.
Regina laughed and suddenly...it didn't hurt as much, she stopped frowning, "no, they can't fire bend like me-"
Emma frowned again.
Pompous much? She thought.
"Nor earth bend."
Emma thought she could do it with a little more time.
It was silent a bit longer than it needed to be. She wondered if they left. Before she took a step out from her spot behind the pillar Regina spoke.
"Did you want ice-cream too?"
Emma rolled her eyes.
Henry took a while to answer, "maybe later."
"Okay. Did you know there's a man in the couch?"
Emma made a face with one eyebrow lifted while the other spoke concerns for Regina's well-being.
"What?" He sounded alarmed and Emma cracked a smile.
"I mean, in the designs. He's a flower."
"Oh."
Oh is right, Emma thought.
"I don't see him..."
Me neither kid.
"Maybe he's hiding." She said.
Emma thought this didn't sound like Regina.
"Are you okay?"
The blonde wondered the same thing.
"Of course."
The blonde thought there definitely was something wrong. She answered far too quickly, and far too cheerfully.
"Do you want to talk about it?"
Emma wanted her to.
"About what?"
"About Marian?"
Emma decided never mind, she didn't have to talk about it.
"Marian? Gods no. We hardly know each other."
She almost snorted at that.
Yeah, you hardly know each other with all those "coffee meetings" I'm sure she knows your acerbic curves better than those pants suits.
"I'm almost fourteen. I think I can handle my mom's love life."
No you cannot, Emma thought, you never even liked Walsh, or Hook. What makes you think you could handle-
Regina snorted, "key word; almost. You can almost handle it. Besides, I will not traumatize my child with the likes of my...peculiar love life."
That's right.
"So you do have a love life."
Not anymore. I think...
"I'm still not telling you. Traumatic events."
That's right; be strong.
"I appreciate your concern but... sometimes I think it helps to talk. And I'm sure you wouldn't talk about this with Emma."
She so would, yeah it would hurt but she'd definitely tell me, Emma frowned, disappointed in Henry even thinking-
"No...I suppose not."
Emma nearly gasped.
"But Henry...this is...it's... Complicated. It's a big ball of rubber bands complicated."
Nice visual explanation, Emma despondently thought.
"So just take one off at a time."
Sure... Like she'll even tell you.
"I mean it's a huge ball of rubber bands."
That's right, too big for you kid.
"I'll help."
Oh no you won't, Emma thought while digging her hands into her pockets
Regina sighed and Emma was sure it was because she was thinking about a different way to tell Henry no.
"Alright."
She almost jumped out at that moment.
"If you want to help...tell me..."
How dare-
"Tell me how can someone love with a broken heart?"
Oh.
Emma felt a little uneasy.
"Well...I wasn't aware that was even possible."
Of course it is, Emma thought, just look at the way I look at your mother.
"Me neither."
The silent interlocutor smiled sadly to herself.
This time...she didn't mind the silence so much. In fact, she kind of enjoyed it.
"Do you want ice-cream?"
No, Emma thought.
"Yes," Regina said.
###
Marian gave a moment to herself in the bathroom. Thinking about Regina. Thinking of a particular moment, the moment she realized she may have feelings beyond simple pleasure, and the first time Regina trusted her enough to take her to her house.
"You didn't think my bedroom would be this nice?" Regina glared up at her.
Marian shrugged, straddling Regina's pelvis, feeling the purple velvet blankets cling hopelessly to her hips.
"I expected more...evil queen."
Regina raised her brow, "evil queen? Darling I think we came to an agreement you'll never call me that again. Or was that just words to you?"
"They were very important words," Marian smiled.
"Hmmm..." Regina's hands moved up her upper thighs, past her bare stomach to her breasts, squeezing her hard then pulling her down making her grunt.
"Ouch...you pulled my breasts..." It didn't exactly hurt. She just loved the mischievous look that splashes across her lovers face.
"Are you saying this because you want me to be more evil queen in bed?" Her voice was like her blankets, velvet melting upon her skin.
She felt herself blush, "um-"
Regina laughed, "Sometimes you're just too much."
She rolled them and Marian's heart nearly skipped a beat as she found herself beneath Regina. She smiled down at her, a devilish hint of play in her brown eyes.
"I take you home because you've begged me for days, and here you are insulting it because it didn't meet your-"
Marian kisses her muffling her words.
Regina tried talking, "and...mh...how...Mmh.."
Marian giggled and kissed her some more until Regina pulled the blankets over them blocking the sunlight.
"Sometimes I think you're more evil than me," Regina said sitting on Marian this time, lifting her arms to create a purple cocoon with the blanket over them.
She was highlighted by a violet hue, her dark hair falling over her face and in this moment, Marian thought this must be why the sun exists. Merely to show her the beauty of Regina Mills.
"Maybe I am," Marian sat up, so Regina slipped to her lap, she kept the blankets above them, "maybe I want the evil queen to love me so much-" she wrapped her arms around Regina's waists and hugged her closer, "I want her to love with all her heart-" she kissed where she assumed the heart was, "that if it breaks-" she kissed her breasts and Regina moaned low in her throat, "I want it to break wide open and know exactly what it feels like each time I have to leave you."
Perhaps, Marian thought, I am the evil one here.
"Are you alright?"
Marian jumped, sniffing quickly, as if they won't notice. She turned to face Elsa.
"What? Yes, fine, fine. I'm...fine." She offered a smile.
The white haired woman didn't seem convinced, "well...are you sure?"
"Yes," she continued smiling, "excuse me, I have to go meet up with my husband."
Elsa nodded and stepped out of the way.
Before Marian even opened the door Elsa spoke, "do you care at all for Regina?"
Marian frowned, bit her bottom lip, then turned back around, "excuse me?"
"It's just that...Regina's mentioned you...and I assumed that's why you're crying, or not. It...It doesn't make a difference to me. I just wanted to know if you cared for my friend or not."
"Why-" Marian rubbed her head, "why would you care? You've only known her a few days."
Elsa shrugged, "she's the nicest anyone's ever been to me except my sister...she's...my friend. She helped me control my magic better...why wouldn't I care?"
"Oh," Marian furrowed her brows slightly at that.
She had an odd look about her while talking about Regina. Almost... Reverence, almost...oddly familiar. Then she remembered what Emma said the other day.
Love eyes.
Then she noticed her pants she wore. Regina's suppose relaxing clothes. The shirt she wore was once torn off of Regina and thrown across the meadow overlooking Storybrooke.
She wanted to walk out. Instead...
"It's...complicated."
Elsa opened her mouth but Marian left before she could speak. She walked fast. Hoping Elsa, the "love eyes/clothe sharing" person, would not follow. In her hast of looking back, she didn't see him.
"Oh!" She was pushed slightly back as she ran into...
"Robin!"
"Hey," he held her at arm's length.
"Sorry, I didn't see you there."
"Oh no. It's fine, I was actually just looking for you," he smiled at her, softly and warmly as a husband should.
Yet...it felt odd. Like it didn't quite fit her life, like it didn't fit her.
"Ice-cream?" He said, "Roland's excited, we know this little shop at the other side of the town."
They started walking hand in hand. It's routine by now. They walk and he finds her hand and she doesn't protest, merely holding back. She nodded as he talked. Then she smiled as Roland ran into her arms. She shifted him to her hip. Robin complains she holds Roland too much. But she doesn't care. She didn't hold him when he was younger, she may as well hold him now.
"The owner isn't there much, but I've heard that when she is, she's the nicest person you'll ever meet," Robin continued and she nodded, "yeah, the workers there are teenagers so...sometimes they're a bit rude, but it's fine. When Regina was there with us she usually gave them her evil queen stare and this one time-"
Sometimes he does this.
Robin stopped talking, "oh. I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Marian said touching his shoulder, "I understand you thought I was dead and that...you spent a lot of time in her presence. I understand."
He nodded, "I just...I'm sorry."
"It's fine."
It actually wasn't.
"Okay," he said, "anyway, there's different flavors. Like vanilla, chocolate, that's my favorite, and-"
She listened to him. Not quite taking the words into her mind. There were a lot. She often remembered this. That Regina was never hers' at first. She was his. But she contemplates with...she was hers' longer.
It took a while longer to walk across town, but she doesn't mind. There's plenty to see, even if it is small, she rather enjoys this town.
"Oh! I think Little John still has my wallet, I'll be five minutes, okay? He's still in Geppetto's shop to sell some logs. But take Roland in, I'm sure you'll have decided what to try by then," he gave her a small smile.
Then he left.
Usually he kisses her before he leaves. She always sort of dreaded it, like a reaccuring leitmotif that is tolerated simply for the sake of appearances. She felt a small part of her betraying Regina, although now…she hugged Roland closer as she watched her husband jog away. Then she opened the door to the little ice-cream shop.
"Hello," the worker said.
She had he softest voice with bright blonde hair like the sun shining on snow and the fairest blue eyes she's ever seen.
"Hello my names Ingrid. What can I get for you?" she asked.
###
Regina walked next to her son with…unpleasantly Emma Swan on her other side. Henry invited her when they found her. It surprisingly took a while to track her down. Elsa politely decline by saying she's tired of cold things.
"And this morning Elsa and I tried to make pancakes-"Henry talked to Emma about their new housemate, Emma nodded and smiled.
Although there was something off, something odd… Regina's seen Emma's smiles, she knows when they're genuine. She frowned, seeing that Emma's smiles didn't reach her eyes. Her demeanor was a bit sluggish as well.
Maybe it's all this talk about her new friend.
"Henry?" Regina said.
"Yeah?" he stopped his speech about how Elsa tried to stick her fingers in the toaster and how it didn't zap her because she accidentally zapped it first out of terror and now it's frozen.
"We're almost there, did you figure out what you wanted?"
Sure Granny's had ice-cream, but she didn't have-
"I think I'll try her cotton candy one this time," he smiled.
The Ice-Cream Queen, was the shops name. it had a variety of flavors and, for as long as Regina can remember, had one ice-cream special each week. Sometimes she'll revisit just to try her weekly ice-cream specials, wondering how exactly this woman creates new flavors every week, it didn't matter, they were all good.
"What about you?" Henry asked.
Regina was just about to answer when-
"Omph!" a figure ran into her.
She would have fallen if this said figure hadn't wrapped their arms around her waist.
"Pardon my-"
He spoke then stopped as his eyes met with hers.
"Oh, it's just you." Robin let his hold slip and she stumbled back.
"Hey-!"
He grabbed her hand to prevent her from falling then let go, "and what, pray tell, is a moral woman like you doing now?"
Regina glared, "not running into people, that's for sure. You moral bast-"
"Ahem," Emma's voice interrupted her.
Regina looked over and the blondes eyes drifted to Henry then back to her.
Even Robin regained his composure at the subtle warning.
"Not that it's any of your business but I'm taking my son out for ice-cream."
He pulled his head back slightly as if a gush of wind hit him, "Really?"
"Really," she replied back.
"Funny," he tilted his head.
She raised her brow, indicating him to explain.
He merely shrugged then said, "Tell Marian I'll be back shortly."
With that he ran off.
"What?" the brunette frowned then her expression seem to tighten as realization walked into her mind, then she frowned thinking, every single fucking time.
"We don't have to go to The Ice-Cream Queens place mom. I'm sure Granny will be more than happy to get something special." Henry broke her thought.
Emma nodded.
The thing about this wasn't the fact that she kept her head held high and was too stubborn to look for Marian in the dinner when they walked back into the place, and after Henry had asked Emma to join, it was the fact that…she didn't expect them to go anywhere but stay at Granny's. She forgot she took Roland and Robin everywhere. Even the best ice-cream place in town.
She sighed, "I have to get over the fact that she will be around, now don't i?"
Henry nodded then smiled, then looked to Emma for confirmation. She saw the look of uncertainly in those emerald eyes. None-the-less she still smiled that same emotionless smile and nodded.
"Sure. We all have to accept certain truths in our lives anyway." She looked up at Regina and the brunette got the feeling this just wasn't about Marian.
They turned the block, Henry walked slower than usual and walked just a couple more inches closer to his brunette mother. She appreciated that.
"We can still turn back." He said and Regina thought that it doesn't matter if Marian's in there, she has a right to be anyway. She didn't mind that her lover probably will never love her as much as Regina loves every minute spent in her company. She thought that as long as this boy she raised and loved, the only good part of her in this world and any other, stood by her, she'll be fine.
"We can go try her new special, I heard its green tea, my favorite kind of tea." She smiled down at her son whom smiled back then held the door open for her.
The little rung of the bell sent panic throughout her frame, the air was sweet and cold, and as she walked through the threshold her mind went fuzzy. There stood Marian as she received a cone with vanilla slapped onto it from the woman behind the counter. She smiled warmly and her eyes were a bright blue.
"Go on," her voice was soft and…familiar.
Regina didn't spend much time here, she knew who the owner was and every really talked to her once…years ago. Other than that, it was strict business.
"She always kinda freaked me out," Emma whispered.
"Why?" Henry whispered back.
But she wasn't paying attention to them.
"When first trying this delectable sweet, I think it's best to start with one that has stood the sands of time; vanilla." her voice was…smooth and so, so soft.
"Because," Emma whispered, "it seems like she sounds familiar but I don't know why and-"she continued but Regina ignored it, she focused on Ingrid's voice.
It sent a chill down Regina's spine.
Marian observed her ice-cream cone, "Is it…good?"
"Of course it is mom!" Roland was standing just alongside her.
Even with his insistence, Marian still looked up to Ingrid who smiled softly and said, "Can't argue with an audience like that."
Then her eyes caught three other figures, "Hello Madam Mayor, Sheriff, and Henry! Family outing?"
Emma opened her mouth to correct her but that never happened.
Marian stiffened and Roland turned around, "Regina!"
Emma shut her mouth and watched as the little boy ran to hug her and Regina lifted him up, "Hello Roland."
"Hi Roland," Henry held his hand out and Roland slapped it, still not grasping the concept of a handshake.
"Hi Henry," his voice still had its baby tinge.
"Regina…" Marian said with slight breath.
Regina nodded.
"Mom is going to try ice-cream." Roland said.
"It should be interesting," Ingrid said and there it was again, that shiver down her spine.
"Very," Regina replied.
Ingrid leaned on the counter, "Go on Marian, it'll melt before you even take your eyes off our mayor here."
Marian blushed and Regina forgot how Ingrid is notorious for not only flirting with the women of Storybrooke but also finding out things she wasn't supposed to from her customers. She was too nice, too friendly, and everyone trusted her instantly. It's why she has better business than most shops besides Granny's.
"Melt?" Marian said.
"It's a cold desert," Emma said dully.
Henry elbowed her and Emma grunted then added, in much nicer tone, "I mean, it gets really sticky when it melts onto your fingers, may as well eat it now."
She looked to Ingrid whom smiled, "Go ahead darling."
Regina had the sudden urge to rip out her tongue, her voice was scratching the farthest reaches of her brain. Marian lifted her ice-cream and Regina wondered if she's had anything like this. She should ask during their next coffee-
No, Regina reminded herself.
The little bell above the door chimed and, to Regina's dismay, Robin walked in and then the place seemed to lose all its magic.
"Okay did you find out what ice-"He stopped short as he looked at Ingrid then dropped his wallet, "Marian-" he looked at his wife.
Regina frowned at his sudden change in tone.
She looked to Marian as she took a bite of the ice-cream and hummed, "oh! It's cold-"she smirked then it faded.
"No!" Robin ran towards her.
Confusion was an odd thing. It seemed to spark quickly and lag. One moment she was watching Marian's delight then the next she watched as Robin ran to her. Marian dropped her ice-cream and began to tilt to the side. Regina couldn't quite grasp why until-
She hummed.
Ingrid hummed just like the woman back at…
Her eyes widen, "No!"
She practically threw Roland into Henry's arm as Robin then was engulfed by a sudden onslaught of ice underneath him.
Regina teleported, swirling in purple mist onto the side of Marian. She caught her mid-fall, the purple smoke evaporating as she grabbed her. Her weight pulled Regina to her knees. She cradled her shoulders and Marian's held lulled back, Regina lifted it back up carefully.
"Marian?" Her voice sounded quiet and tiny.
"Emma-"Henry looked to his other mom, whom didn't quite assess the situation until she looked to Ingrid.
"Now the fun really begins Emma," she smiled and then disappeared in a small blizzard.
Robin groaned and rolled onto his side to look at Regina and Marian. The brunette didn't glare this time, she didn't scold, nor did she show nay displeasure towards him at all. What she gave in those eyes was a simple plea expressed not only in a look but words as well.
"Help me."