Author's Note: TRUST ME! Please... (mostly filler but will move the story along nicely)

Chapter Ten

Bittersweet

Marian stared at the woman in the dull mirror that hung over the sink in the small room Emma had called a bathroom. The woman staring back was a stranger. There were some familiar attributes, like the long dark braid that hung over her shoulder, but everything else was as unknown to her as the new land she found herself in. It wasn't just the flannel shirt, blue jeans, and boots Emma had loaned her that made her confused about who she really was; it was facing the truth about why she was still alive. Bracing her hands on the edge of the sink, she bowed her head and squeezed her eyes shut as a steady stream of scalding tears coursed down her cheeks.. Her breath came in little gasps as she tried to control the panic that was starting to wash over her. She'd known the truth Robin had been so desperate to have would be their undoing. She hadn't been wrong. The look on his face when she told him that she had agreed to lure Snow White to the Evil Queen's castle in exchange for a second chance at her own life had made it perfectly clear that any chance of her marriage surviving was gone. Taking a deep breath, she pushed herself upright and swiped at her cheeks. There was much that needed to be done and standing around crying over something she had brought upon herself wouldn't accomplish any of it.

"You alright?" The genuine concern on Emma's face was almost too much to bear. A deeper form of guilt started to creep through Marian's soul as she stood facing the daughter of the woman she had helped kill. Emma had been nothing but kind to her. Saving her from the Evil Queen's dungeon. Reuniting her with Robin and Roland. Offering her a place to stay, no questions asked. Loaning her clothing to wear so she could be warm and fit in. It was too much. If the Evil Queen would have succeeded in killing Snow White the beautiful, sweet woman standing before her wouldn't exist. "Marian? You okay?"

"I..." How did she answer Emma's question? A stronger person would tell her the truth. Marian didn't think she was that strong. She'd already lost Robin by telling the truth and look where that had gotten her. Her own husband had turned on her. What could be gained from telling Emma about the deal she had made? The weight of it all being lift from your shoulders, she thought. "I'm sorry Emma," she whispered. "I wish I could tell you. Truly I do. I just...I can't."

Emma stared at Marian, her bright blue eyes roaming over Marian's face. "Alright," she said slowly. There was no disguising the disappointment in her eyes. It added to the guilt bearing down on Marian's shoulders. "Did I ever tell you I have this...super power...where I can tell when someone is lying?" Marian shook her head, her eyes widening. She felt her hands start to shake as she twisted her fingers in the hem of the flannel shirt she wore. "Relax, will you? I'm just saying I already know you're keeping something and I also know confession is good for you. So, if you change your mind and you want to talk, I'm here."

Staring at the floor, Marian felt the now familiar internal tug of war. She couldn't help but think that death had to be better than the guilt that constantly plagued her. For a moment she allowed herself to believe that she could tell Emma the truth of why she had been in that cell and that Emma would understand. The moment passed in silence because Marian was no fool and she knew Emma's reaction would be one of disgust. She longed to tell Emma that confession wasn't always good for the person confessing. Sometimes when a person confessed they lost everything they hold dear. "I need to go," she murmured, reaching for the warm jacket Emma had insisted she take almost a week ago. Without waiting to see if Emma had more to say, Marian rushed outside.

Ducking her head down against the wind, Marian hunched her shoulders and shoved her hands deep into the pockets of the jeans she wore. She knew that wandering around town on her own when Fate was lurking about probably wasn't the safest move but at this point she no longer cared if Fate caught up with her. She would love the opportunity for Fate for correct whatever wrongs might have been committed on her behalf. Anything had to be better than living with the guilt and the knowledge that the man she loved no longer loved her. Perhaps that was the hardest part of all this. Time had gone by for Robin. He'd mourned her death. He'd raised their son. He'd met someone else. A lump of emotion formed in Marian's throat as she thought about her husband and the Evil Queen. No. Regina. She needed to start thinking of her as Regina. Emma had sworn the Evil Queen no longer existed, that Regina was as much a hero as Snow White. It was difficult to accept, but Marian knew it must be true because Robin wouldn't have fallen for the woman known as The Evil Queen. He had too much honor to be lured in by a beautiful face and a title. Which meant, difficult as it was to accept, the Queen had changed.

Pausing at the curb of the street, Marian watched as a horseless carriage rushed by. She'd yet to ride in one and didn't think she would ever be brave enough to. Once she was certain she wouldn't be struck down she hurried across the road to Granny's. Going there was probably a mistake, especially since she was looking for the queen. There were things that must be discussed and Marian had decided the conversation should take place while she was still feeling crazy enough to confront the woman who been known as The Evil Queen. Granny's seemed like the best place to start looking for her. She didn't make it to the diner door before she spotted the woman she was looking for standing by a trash can. Marian watched, a slight frown on her face, as Regina coughed, gagged, and threw up. She closed her eyes and muttered a curse under her breath. To the casual observer it probably looked as though the other woman had eaten something that didn't agree with her. Marian wasn't a casual observer. Years as a look out for Robin and his Merry Men had taught her to look for the smallest detail. In this case, it was the way Regina cradled one hand protectively over her lower abdomen. It was a gesture Marian had done numerous times herself...when she was pregnant.

"Apple tea," she said softly, walking over to were Regina stood. She couldn't explain her sudden shift in feelings towards Regina other than she knew the baby Regina carried was Roland's brother or sister. "Apple tea," she said again when Regina shot her a confused look. "When I was pregnant with Roland apple tea helped settle my stomach." Marian shook her head and held up one hand in protest. "Don't deny it. I know a pregnant lady when I see one. How far along are you?"

"Not far," Regina murmured.

"The first twelve weeks are the worse. It gets better after that. Until then, apple tea." Marian's tongue darted out and swiped across her lips. She wanted to ask if Robin knew about the baby but decided she already knew the answer. Robin was clueless. She could understand why Regina hadn't said anything. Which made Emma's assertion that Regina had changed all the more palpable. "I...I would like for us to talk. About Roland, if you please." Regina stared at her for moment before nodding. She took a step towards the diner door, her body swaying slightly. Marian reached out for the other woman's arm, her finger tips barely grazing the soft cashmere of Regina's coat, before Regina crumpled to the ground. Heart pounding, Marian looked around. The street was eerily empty. She caught sight of a familiar pair of broad shoulders and small head covered in dark curls. "Robin," she screamed, crouching down next to Regina. The diner bell jingled and a boy yelled for his mom. Marian ignored both as she brushed a lock of silky dark hair from Regina's forehead. "Please be okay," she whispered. She didn't know if she was praying for the woman lying on the ground or the baby she carried. Both, she thought. She was praying for both.

"What happened?" Robin demanded, dropping down next to her. She heard Roland burst into tears and ask what was wrong with Regina. Marian reached for him, her heart shattering when her son pushed her hand away and reached for the boy who had exited the diner. She recognized him as Henry, the boy Emma and Regina both called son. "Marian, what happened?"

"She...she fainted," she answered. "We were talking...or we were going to talk...and she fainted." Her heart started beating wildly as a crowd started to gather around them. She heard a wailing sound in the distance and fought the urge to clap her hands over her ears. Her own stomach knotted up as people started whispering about magic. Marian's eyes met Robin's. "It's not magic," she whispered.

"You don't know that," Robin whispered back fiercely as he carefully gathered Regina into arms.

Closing her eyes, Marian said a silent prayer that Regina really had changed and wouldn't seek retribution. "It's not magic. She fainted because she's pregnant."

You will find out about Robin's run in with Elsa in the next chapter! I promise!