A/N: Thanks for your nice comments and your patience with me as I deviate from canon. :)
Regina sat wrapped in a blanket staring at the fire Will had started in her fireplace. Henry walked into the room with a cup of warm apple cider.
"I brought you some apple cider."
Regina smiled. "Thank you, Henry. That was very thoughtful of you," she took the cup and held it for a few minutes before setting it on the side table untouched. Henry sat on the couch next to her and leaned in to give her a hug.
"You're still really cold, mom"
"I'm sure it will go away. I'm sure my magic will neutralize whatever it is." Regina answered.
"We should ask Elsa. Isn't she coming back?" Henry asked.
"I'm sure she'll be back." Regina said. She was cold. But she didn't really care about that. Marian was back and Robin still wasn't himself. Maybe they just needed a little time together. They hadn't kissed after all. Maybe he needed Marian's kiss to break the spell.
All in all she hadn't totally failed. Emma was out of the hat. The Snow Queen was temporarily contained. Marian was unfrozen. Gold was under control. Hopefully Marian would take care of the Robin problem. She just had to help Elsa find her sister and then she could go back to her peace and quiet.
"That's it. I'm calling her."
Regina jerked around to face Henry. "What? Calling who, dear?
"Emma. Maybe she'll know where Elsa is."
"Henry, I told you, I just want to rest. I'm exhausted and I don't-"
"You're not okay. You're cold, and you're spacing out."
"I just have a lot on my mind. I'm fine. I just need a little sleep."
"Then take a nap."
Regina was surprised by Henry's forceful tone. "Now," he stated firmly. Regina didn't the tone, but she really was kind of sleepy and didn't feel like fighting with the one person who still brought her comfort. Maybe a short nap would be a good idea.
"Alright. I'll take a nap. Will that make you feel better?" Henry nodded. Regina stretched out on the couch resting her head on one of the couch cushions. When she shut her eyes, the result was almost immediate. Satisfied his mother was sleeping, Henry got up and went to the other room to call Emma and bring in the reinforcements.
Henry opened the door before Emma could even ring the bell.
"She's really cold, Emma. I think she's lying to me. I don't think she just needs sleep," he blurted out immediately.
"Of course she doesn't just need sleep. You can't counteract a spell with sleep." Ingrid scoffed.
Henry looked immediately panicked. "Is she going to die?"
"No. No. She'll be fine, Henry. Ingrid didn't hit her heart so the spell can be counteracted," Elsa assured immediately.
Emma wrapped her arm around Henry as she stepped inside. "Where's your mom?"
Regina shivered. She could hear voices. She should wake up. Why was she so cold? The voices were getting louder. She felt a hand on her shoulder.
"Regina. Regina, open your eyes," Emma said.
"Why isn't she waking up?" Henry asked worried.
The panic in Henry's voice broke through the fog that seemed to fill Regina's head. She forced her eyes open and blinked as the bright light hit her eyes.
"Regina, we're going to sit you up now. Henry, do you have another blanket?" Elsa asked.
Henry ran off to get a blanket.
"Sleeping lowers your body temperature. Probably not the best idea when you're freezing, Regina." Emma said.
"No one asked your opinion, Swan."
"Ingrid, could you reverse the spell now, please?" Elsa asked.
"I still don't understand why I should help her. She trapped me in that hat."
"She's also the reason you're out of the hat." Emma said.
"She's also sitting right here." Regina said. "If you weren't trying to curse all of us I wouldn't have needed to contain you."
"I wasn't going to curse everyone."
"Right. You were going to spare your soul sisters, Emma and Elsa." Regina responded.
Ingrid narrowed her eyes. "I don't like her. I think I'll let her freeze."
"Ingrid." Elsa said.
"Regina, play nice." Emma said.
"I don't think I will. I don't trust her to use any magic on me anyway. I can heal myself just fine." Regina snapped.
"That's why you were freezing to death in your sleep." Ingrid answered.
"I'm a little tired from all the magic I used to save you from that stupid hat." Regina answered.
"Enough of this." Ingrid waved her hand and Regina felt a blast of magic hit her. She felt a warmth flow through her.
Henry returned just then. "Mom! You look so much better!" He threw his arms around Regina.
"It's alright. No need to thank me." Ingrid muttered.
Regina looked up from hugging Henry. "Thank you, Ingrid."
Ingrid nodded her head. "You're suffering enough watching your boy toy reunite with his wife. If I let you freeze I wouldn't be able to watch you suffer."
"Ingrid!" Elsa exclaimed.
Regina took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Elsa, you are welcome to stay and I will still do my best to help you find your sister, but your aunt is not welcome, and I won't be held responsible for my actions if she remains here."
"I couldn't be happier to leave." Ingrid said moving toward the door.
"I'm going to stay with Ingrid. We have a lot more to talk about. But I'll come by tomorrow to discuss finding Anna when you're feeling better, Regina."
Regina nodded. Elsa and Ingrid left, but Emma stayed. "Is there something else you needed, Ms. Swan?" Regina asked.
"I don't feel like leaving Henry right now."
Regina sat up straighter. "Well you aren't taking him."
"No, that's not what I meant. I mean, can I stay here with the two of you?"
"I'm perfectly capable of taking care of my son."
"Mom, please. I don't want you to have to worry about me. You need to rest." Henry said. "I'd really like to have both my moms with me after everything that's happened."
Regina sighed. "Fine. Why don't the two of you play video games or whatever it is you do when you're supposed to be helping Henry with his homework. I'm going to make dinner." Regina stood up. She moved just a little too fast and felt the room spin as she stood, but she carefully masked the dizziness and headed to the kitchen.
"Papa, can we take Mama to the park now? And then go get dark milk like we did with Regina?"
"Roland, stop talking about Regina. You have your mother with you."
"Sorry, Mama." Roland said. He turned back to Robin, "but can we go to the park?"
"No. And stop pestering me. Your mother just woke up. We have to make sure she's okay."
"Sorry." Roland said again.
"It's alright, sweetheart." Marian said softly. "Maybe we can go to the park after your father and I talk a little."
"Okay! Do you want to see my monkey? Regina made it for me!"
"I told you I didn't want you playing with that. Who gave it back to you?" Robin asked.
Marian gently touched Robin's shoulder in an attempt to calm him. He whipped around and yanked her hand off his shoulder. Seeing the shock on her face, he calmed down.
"Roland, why don't you go find Little John?" Marian suggested. "Maybe he'll play with you and your monkey for a while so Papa and I can talk."
Roland nodded and left. Marian turned to Robin.
"What has gotten into you? Why are you so angry? I've never heard you talk so harshly to anyone, much less our son." Marian said the second Roland left the tent.
Robin looked at her. Would she understand? "I…I don't know what's going on. I feel like something inside me is missing. I feel empty and angry and I don't understand." He'd thought it was because she was gone, but she was right there. And nothing had changed.
Marian searched his eyes. She wasn't sure what she was looking for. "When did it start? When I was frozen?"
Robin shook his head. "No. Not immediately. I don't think. I…I don't exactly remember."
"Maybe you just need a little family time. I think it would be a nice idea to go to the park like Roland suggested. And then go get this dark milk he's talking about."
"Chocolate milk. He means chocolate milk." Robin explained.
Marian nodded. "Okay." She stood up and embraced Robin. "I'm so glad to be back with you, Robin. I love you." She leaned in and gave him a gentle kiss on the lips and then left the tent to find Roland.
Regina stirred the tomato sauce she was making for the pasta. Flashes of Robin embracing Marian alternated with the looks of hatred he'd been giving her. She couldn't get the images to stop. It was like a slideshow in her mind that was stuck on repeat. She frowned. She needed to focus her mind on something else. She had promised to help find Anna. Maybe she should focus on that. She seemed to recall a book on Arendale in her mother's collection. She shut her eyes and focused on summoning it to her. The book landed roughly on the counter. She turned the heat down on the sauce and sat down at the kitchen table to read. She was lost in the book when a loud screeching followed by Emma and Henry rushing in turned her attention back to the kitchen.
She turned to the stove. The sauce was burning. Smoke was rising from the pot and she could smell the charred burnt smell. She jumped into action, quickly moving the saucepan from the burner and turning off the heat. She grabbed a towel and waved it at the smoke detector and the loud alarm stopped.
"Maybe we should get dinner at Granny's," Emma suggested.
"Mom, what's going on? You never burn anything." Henry said.
"I was just a little distracted," Regina answered. "I'm sorry. I can start a new sauce."
"No offense, Regina, but I'm kinda hungry. It would be a lot faster to just go to Granny's," Emma said.
Regina paused. She didn't want to admit it, but she was exhausted. She didn't feel like starting over. It had been a long day.
"Alright, Ms. Swan. I wouldn't want you to miss your fries and milkshake dinner."
"Hey, I was going to have a hamburger too," Emma said.
Regina smiled lightly. "Let me just get a jacket."
Unfortunately, things didn't get better at the park. Robin got angrier. Roland kept forgetting he wasn't supposed to talk about Regina and every time her name came up Robin got angrier. Marian was a little confused. Before she'd been frozen, Robin had been assuring her that she shouldn't be afraid of the Queen and telling her stories of how she'd changed and how good she'd been to Roland. Something must have happened. Robin was so volatile though, she was afraid to bring up the topic.
"Roland, don't make me tell you again!" Robin shouted.
"Maybe we should go get the chocolate milk. And some dinner. I think Papa is hungry." Marian said sweetly to Roland.
"Okay. Have you had chalk o late milk before, Mama?" He asked.
"No, but I'm quite excited to try it." She took her son's hand and reached for Robin's hand with her other. "Robin?"
He turned, slipping his hand into hers and started walking toward Granny's. Her hand was gripping his. Her skin was soft. He should feel something. She was his wife. He should feel love, or at least attraction. He felt nothing. Nothingness. Why did he still feel empty?
Regina smiled as Henry and Emma argued over who's magic skills were better – Harry Potter or Hermione. Regina had read the Harry Potter books to Henry. She herself was a fan of Hermione, but she was content to let Emma and Henry debate. She took another bite of her salad. The door chimed and she glanced up to see who it was. The color drained from her face as she caught sight of Robin walking in with Roland and Marian. She wanted to disappear, but before she could react at all Roland was racing toward her.
"Mama, can we sit with Henry and Regina? Please?"
Regina immediately noted Robin's face turning red and tried to brace herself for the explosion that was about to come.
"We're not staying," Robin said firmly.
"Robin, we promised him hot chocolate. Let's just-"
"No." Robin grabbed Marian's wrist a pulled her toward the door. She struggled.
"Robin. You're hurting me," she said softly, looking up at him, trying to pull him out of the sudden anger that had taken over.
Robin shook. He was furious. He felt irrationally angry. He couldn't explain it and he didn't like it. His grip tightened. And then Marian's wrist was no longer in his hand. She was still beside him, but had disappeared from his grasp.
Regina was standing and walking purposefully toward Robin. Marian took a step back. The diner had gone silent. Regina walked right into his personal space. In a low, and somewhat threatening voice she began speaking.
"If you ever hurt your wife or Roland again I will make you sorry. Do you understand me?" Regina hissed.
"I don't have to do anything you-" his argument abruptly cut off as his mouth kept moving but no sound came out. He frowned.
"Listen to me thief, I don't care how much you hate me, if you hurt your family, I will make you pay. This anger of yours, it's for me. Don't lash out at them because you hate me."
"Robin, please, let's just take Roland home," Marian said.
Regina turned to see Roland squeezing his monkey and trying to fight back tears.
She knelt down to his level.
"Hey, no more tears. You know monkey doesn't like to get wet." Roland smiled a little and Regina continued. "Be patient with your papa. He loves you. He's just having a hard time right now." She leaned in closer so only Roland could hear. "I need you to try not to think about me or talk about me, okay? Just spend some time with your mama okay? She missed you a lot."
"Okay, Miss 'Gina. I promise. Can I keep monkey?" Roland asked.
Regina grinned. "Of course." She stood up and turned back to Robin and Marian. "You don't need to leave. We'll leave. Enjoy your dinner."
She waved her hand giving Robin his voice back, but he was still silent.
Robin frowned. Regina was gone, but it hadn't improved his mood. Her presence set him on edge and he couldn't explain it. He felt some sort of a pull toward her. She must have put a spell on him.
"Robin?" He turned, suddenly aware Marian was calling his name. "Do you want to just go back to camp?" She asked.
"No. We promised Roland hot chocolate." He turned Granny who was watching from behind the counter. "We'll have three hot chocolates." He paused. "To go."
He didn't want to stay. He could smell her perfume lingering in the air. He put his arm around Marian and pulled her toward him. She leaned into him eagerly. She had missed her husband. He kissed her lightly on the head and then bent down and picked Roland up, setting him on one of the stools.
Marian smiled. Maybe it would all be okay after all. She did have her family back. Granny returned quickly with the hot chocolates.
As Robin handed one to Marian, he warned "Just take a sip. It's quite hot. You'll burn your tongue."
"I'll let it cool a little then," she said smiling. He placed his hand on the small of her back and gently guided her to the door.
He had his wife back. What more could he ask for?
Marian leaned over Roland as she pulled the covers up around him.
"Just one more story, mama? Please?" Roland pleaded.
"You already had three stories, Roland. No more." Robin said firmly. "Kiss your mama goodnight.
Marian kissed Roland and he wrapped his arms around her giving her a tight hug.
Robin led Marian out of Roland's tent and into hers.
"I need to apologize for the way I behaved earlier. I don't know what came over me." Robin said. "I did not mean to hurt you. Or scare you."
Marian reached up and touched his face in a soothing gesture. "It's alright, love. I know you didn't mean to hurt me. I missed you so much." She looked into his eyes. "I'm sorry you had to do so much for Roland without me. You two are my whole world. I love you both so much."
Robin met her eyes. She was looking at him with such love and adoration. She was his wife. His Marian. They'd had such little time together before she was frozen. She was leaning in closer to him and looking at him like – like she wanted him to kiss her he suddenly realized. Why wasn't he kissing her? How long had it been? That should be exactly what he wanted too. He leaned in and kissed her. She returned the kiss immediately kissing him back hungrily.
Something was wrong. Marian felt it immediately. This wasn't the way it felt to be kissed by Robin. There was something missing. She pulled away.
"Is everything alright? Are you still angry with me?" Robin asked.
"No. I'm not angry. I'm just tired. We've all been through so much. I'm just going to go warm up by the fire a little and then turn in if that's alright?" Marian said.
"Yes, yes. Of course. Whatever you'd like." Robin said immediately. He was secretly relieved that she'd let things end with the kiss. Something was not right. He'd felt nothing when kissing her. No spark. No racing heart. No excitement. Nothing.
He watched her leave the tent and sat down lowering his head into his hands in frustration.
Marian was sitting alone staring at the fire when Will and Little John walked by.
"Everything alright, Marian?" John asked.
She looked up, hesitated for a moment and then decided she needed help. She had been sitting here for God knows how long and had no idea what was going on. Maybe the men knew something she didn't.
"Well, since you mentioned it. No. Not really. Could I speak with you for a moment?"
Little John nodded and sat down next to Marian.
"What is it?"
"It's Robin. Something's wrong, but I don't know what it is. He's angry. So angry. I know the Queen nearly killed me, but she's saved me twice since then and yet he's furious. It's not like him. Before I was frozen he was trying to tell me that she'd changed. And from what I've seen she has, but now he's hostile toward her. And not just her. The mention of her sets him off on a rage. Did something happen while I was frozen? Did she hurt him? Or Roland?"
"She would never intentionally hurt them." Will said.
"Intentionally?" Little John asked. "Will, do you know something I don't?"
Will hesitated. He shouldn't be telling the Queen's secrets, but it should be obvious to anyone. But maybe not Marian. And it might hurt her.
"Will." Little John said again.
"Why wouldn't she ever hurt them?" Marian asked.
Will sighed. "Because she loves them."
Marian blinked. The Evil Queen loved her husband. He'd said she changed. Had he changed her? The Evil Queen had fallen in love with Marian's family.
"But you said intentionally. Did she do something that did hurt them? Is that why Robin is angry with her?" Marian asked.
Will sighed. This really wasn't his story to tell. He didn't want to be the one to explain to Marian that Regina had felt the need to give Robin a forgetting potion so he could stop loving her and save his wife.
"Will, just spit it out. I just want to help Robin and I feel like you know something that might help." Marian said.
"Regina gave him a potion so he would forget her so he could save you."
Marian frowned. That didn't make sense. Why would he need to forget the Evil Queen? And clearly he hadn't forgotten her or he wouldn't hate her so much.
"But he didn't forget her."
"He has no memories of Regina," Will said.
"Yes he does. That's why he's so hostile every time we see her," Marian argued.
"No. He has memories of The Evil Queen. He doesn't remember Regina."
Marian paused and let that sink in. That made sense. "But why would he need to forget Regina to save me."
"True love's kiss." John said putting the pieces together. "She thought it didn't work the first time because of her?" he looked at Will who nodded.
"Robin fell in love with the Evil Queen?" Marian said in a monotone voice. Her thoughts were racing a mile a minute. How could he fall in love with her of all people? But even as she thought it, she knew. She could see how he would fall in love with her. Marian had seen the way she'd jumped to Marian's defense and saw how gentle she was with Roland. She'd saved Marian with an act of true love. There was more to the Evil Queen than Marian had seen in the forest. She could see that now.
"Well, clearly the Queen thought he did, but she must have been wrong. Robin tried the kiss again and it still didn't work." Little John said.
Marian had felt no love in the kiss Robin gave her earlier. She frowned.
Will shook his head. "I don't think she was wrong. I think the potion didn't work the way she wanted it to. It also had the unintended side effect of making him angry and well, somewhat mean, though mainly to her."
"Can't she just reverse the potion so he'll be himself again?" Marian asked.
"No. Apparently, she didn't make an antidote for the potion before she used it."
"Then how do we fix him?" Marian asked.
"True love's kiss will break any spell, so it shouldn't be too difficult. Just kiss him and it should break," Little John suggested.
"I already did," Marian said softly.
"And you're sitting out here alone, so clearly it didn't break the spell." Will said.
She shook her head. "There was no feeling in the kiss at all. I don't think it's me he loves anymore."
"Well he hates her. Maybe he just needs some time to fall in love with you again. You have been gone a long time," Little John said.
"Maybe." Marian said dejectedly. "Thank you for the information, I'm going to sit for a while longer, but you don't need to stay up with me."
"Are you sure, m'lady?" John asked. "We can keep you company."
"No, no. Go on to bed. It's been a long day."