Chapter Nineteen: Who's Your Daddy?

Marian sipped coffee while inconspicuously watching Prince Charming and Snow out of the corner of her eyes.

He was gazing amorously into her eyes as he held her hand. His palm was facedown, her hand over his, and he clutched it with his thumb as he rested his elbow on the table. She was speaking animatedly. He was obviously listening.

Marian wished she had a man who felt the same way about her that Charming felt for Snow. Robin was her husband, but they weren't even friends now.

And far as her baby's father went…

Her gaze swept Granny's. Will wasn't there, or he'd be fawning over Ruby's legs. But Blue was.

Marian wondered if she wished upon a star for a love like no other, would Blue hear her wish?

She was going to have to tell Robin.

But in a situation like hers, who should she tell first—her husband or the father of her unborn child?

She saw one of the married men on Captain Hook's ship—one who she'd spoken to a handful of times. He was a better pick than on of Robin's Merry Men.

He was sitting alone in a booth. Marian carried her coffee to the booth.

"Larry, may I sit down?" she asked in her sweetest voice.

He gestured. "Sure!"

She sat and beamed timidly at him. Clasping her hands together, she asked, "How are you?"

He shrugged. "Okay."

"I'm terrible." Her heart hammered. She had to tell someone, or she'd go mad. "You know I'm married to Robin?"

"Yes."

"I'm pregnant."

"Cool—I mean, I'm sorry?"

"The baby isn't his."

Larry shrugged. "So talk to him." His eyes were glowing.

"Do you want to know who the biological dad is?"

He nodded slowly. "Doubt I know him." He lifted his cup of iced coffee and started glugging.

"Will Scarlett."

He spat out a lungful of iced coffee, drenching her from the top of her head to her lap in chilly coffee and warm, slimy spit. Her hair dripped. She shivered.

In his shock, he bit his lip so hard it bled. He reached up and covered his mouth while wincing. "You're joking, right?" he sputtered and warbled.

"I kid you not."

Emma was lurching toward her with a towel. Marian waved her off, embarrassed. Things had to be slow in Storybrooke if the biggest saving Emma had to do was Marian from an iced coffee.

She was annoyed that, of all the people with magic, she just had to be one of the people in Storybrooke who lacked it.

Forget the towel, Emma. Magick me dry, ya goof!

He waved at her. "Sorry. I mean, Ruby won't even tap that, and she's a dog. She gets around." He glanced over Marian's shoulder. "Yet, here you are, in this predicament…I even overheard him asking Belle the other day which lady she found hottest. Spoiler Alert: Your name wasn't on the list."

Marian wanted to cry. Then she didn't. And she knew then and there she couldn't talk to Will. He didn't value her at all.

Robin it was.

It was the hardest thing she'd ever done.

She walked slowly up the stairs that led to her upstairs apartment. Both Robin and Roland were home. She had worked at the hospital as late as they let her.

Her ears were buzzing as she unlocked the door and strode inside. Robin was slumped on the couch as Roland massaged his aching neck.

"Roland, I have something serious to talk to your father about."

Roland scampered off.

Marian felt naked as she closed and locked the apartment door. Then she slumped on the couch, tears consuming her as she cuddled against Robin's familiar chest.

She had to just say it. Or she never would.

"What's wrong?"

"I'm pregnant."

He stiffened. From warm and comforting—given the circumstances—to cardboard. "Wow."

Eyes exploding with tears, Marian asked, "Do you want me to leave?"

"No. That's okay. But…do you…know who the father is?"

She pulled her broken ego together long enough to stopper her tears and reply, "Yes," dispassionately. Tonelessly.

"Okay. Well, in that case…do you love him?"

"I thought I did. Only he's not. Not the man I…I daydreamed he was."

Wincing, Robin replied, "That sucks." Tenderly, he murmured, "Is it my fault? Did I push you into it?"

"No, Robin…Roland's all grown up. You've outgrown me too! It's not your fault…I don't feel like I belong. Do you want to split?"

"No. Look…I may as well be honest with you. I'm in love with someone else, but she's not the marrying kind. Why don't we…agree…you and I will no longer have adult relations, but we can still be married. Legally."

Marian perked up. "I like that thought. I mean, you're familiar and comforting, but my romantic feelings for you are gone."

"No jealousy?"

"Nope. Who is she anyway?"

Nervously, Robin replied, "Regina."

"Aw, you guys are so cute together! And at least she didn't come up to me all fake nice, trying to be my best friend like some mistresses do."

"Who is the baby's father?"

Marian clammed up. "You don't want to know."

"Come on, tell me!" His voice had a teasing, curious light. Marian couldn't help flinching anyway, thinking what a betrayal it was. His best friend…though she couldn't comprehend what Robin liked about the man.

"My skin is squeamish," she admitted, feeling the urge to puke knowing she'd let—and encouraged—the Merry Man.

"Who?"

"Will."

"William Smee, I hope?"

"No."

"But Scarlett is a perv."

"I know! I saw something in his eyes. I now realize I imagined it."

"Not your finest, but you've had worse."

She smacked him in response.