Surprise, two chapters in one day! :)
Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon A Time or any of the characters.
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Marian strolled down the quiet cobblestone walkway led to the wooded encampment her dearest husband called home. Lugging along the dead weight of a sleeping child was grinding on her nerves, despite how wonderfully everything had gone today.
"Wake up." She commanded, gently shaking Roland and setting him down. In a daze, he clung to her hand and began walking. They travelled in silence, and Marian did her best to ignore the way he squeezed her hand every couple of minutes as if to convince himself she was still there.
"Robin, dear?" she called out when she reached camp. Various smelly men completed the necessary chores around her. Chopping wood, skinning animals, one was even weaving a basket.
Robin stood from his position in front of the fire, a lively look in his eyes. The men around him held adoration and … daresay worship in their gaze."I was just retelling the story of our wedding day!" He shouted as greeting, holding a hand out to invite her by his side. She grit her teeth and smiled.
"I'm sorry, love, I need to rest right now."
"Of course," He acquiesced immediately. He looked worried all of a sudden, likely remembering his wife's spells of sickness in the Enchanted Forest. She turned to go to her tent, shaking her head when he moved to follow her. She grabbed Roland's shoulders with both her hands and slowly pushed him in the direction of his father. "Go on," she encouraged when he looked back at her. She needed to be alone. His presence was like a hot, stifling coat on a summer day. Still, his reluctance to leave her left her feeling something. She tilted her head as she watched him go. He went to Robin first, who hugged him then handed him off to Little John. The bear of a man swung the tot up in the air, making Roland let out peals of laughter that seemed to inject themselves into the rugged men around him. Loud banjo picking started up, and the men began shouting a silly song.
She turned and left, wanting nothing to do with the festivities. She had better things to celebrate. And despite her wishes, Robin followed her. Poorly. For a woodsman, he was not making any effort at hiding his footfalls. Still, she ignored him until she reached her tent. It was as far from the campsite as any of the men would allow her. They needed to protect her, they said. Robin's was right beside hers, hardly an inch of space between them. Initially, he'd wanted her to stay with him. After all, they were man and wife. She had made up a bullshit excuse about being mad at him for dating the Evil Queen. He agreed to give her time and space, though he was incredibly inept at the task.
"Marian, love, I've missed you," He said, grabbing her shoulder before she could stoop inside her tent. He spun her around, manipulating her body into a hug. She tolerated it.
"Mhmm." She responded, muffling her own mouth into his chest. He held her tighter and she rolled her eyes. Well, there were worse places to be than pinned against a handsome, muscular man. Plus, there was the fact that sleeping with Robin would directly upset Regina.
Pulling away a bit, she looked up at him through her lashes and forced a bashful smile to cross her face. As predicted, his heart rate sped up under her palm and he kissed her. This time, she didn't stop him when he moved her into his tent.
Later, when he was sleeping, she snuck out of his tent and the encampment all together. The rest of the men had reached a hushed state after a hearty dinner. Little John dozed by the fire with Roland spread out on top of him. The lull of peacefulness gave her the perfect opportunity to leave unnoticed. Hood covering her face, she waved her hand over her body with a delicate flourish. Her tan skin and dark hair disappeared in favor of freckles and a red mane. A crooked smile appeared on her true face. She wouldn't have to deal with them any longer.
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"What would you do?"
The tense silence that had dominated the car ride was suddenly broken by Emma's musing. David, cuddling an exhausted Snow in the backseat, sighed and seemed to sag under the weight of the question.
"If you could be a kid again, and had a second chance with your mom?" Emma clarified.
"I know what you meant," David responded tiredly. He rubbed his brow and answered, "I would never willingly leave you again."
"I see," Emma responded lightly, swallowing the lump in her throat.
"You would take the chance, wouldn't you?" David guessed anyway. He smiled at her when she caught his eyes in the rearview.
"I just… wonder what I would be like if I had a parent to raise me. That's all."
"Me too." David agreed. He glanced down at Snow. "We should stop just before the town line and walk over it. We don't know how she'll react to the lack of magic."
"Sounds good," Emma replied, slowing down as the Welcome to Storybrooke sign came into view. David hoisted Snow out of the car once they stopped and began patting her back to wake her. "Snow? Snow, honey, wake up," He whispered.
She woke up slowly, her eyelashes fluttering. "Huh?"
David set her down, but kept firm hold of her hand. "Come this way," He instructed, gesturing over the spray painted orange line marking the edge of town. She listened automatically for a few steps. Her memory seemed to catch up with her all at once just before the last step. "Wait, where's Regina?" She demanded, beginning to pull her hand away.
"We don't have time for this." Emma said suddenly, coming up quickly from behind. The invasion of space was enough to send Snow stumbling to the other side, where a flash of gold light enveloped her.
"Snow!" David called out, sending a glare Emma's way.
"She would've ran away to look for Regina!" Emma defended. "Look, she's fine." She pointed. Just outside of the town line stood the familiar, adult Snow White. She wobbled a bit on her feet, her face just as confused as it had been moments before. "I said, where's Regina?!" Snow repeated, making dazed eye contact with David.
"Snow?' David questioned, tossing a worried look over to Emma. "Snow, do you remember who we are?"
"Yes, of course. You're Charming, my husband." She confirmed, clarity returning to her face. David released a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"Yes!" He cheered, before rushing to hug his wife. "Oh, God, it's good to see you!" He exclaimed, hugging her tightly. She laughed breathlessly.
"I've been here the whole time, silly." She responded lightly.
"It's not the same." David argued, kissing her hungrily. She leaned into him, kissing back just as enthusiastically. The headlights of the car illuminated their joined frames, and the world seemed to disappear except for each other and the distant sound of crickets.
"I've missed you," He whispered when they pulled apart. She only smiled in response, so he continued. "I didn't know when I'd see you again. And little you wanted nothing to do with me."
"That's not true," She argued. "I thought you were handsome. I would've come around, if you were nicer to Regina."
"You remember everything?" Emma butt in. She was by the front door of the car, her eyes slanted away from the couple. Their makeout session would have been awkward to witness even if they weren't her parents. Still glued together, they both turned their gazes towards her.
"Yes." Snow answered. "I remember everything. It's strange though, I feel…" She trailed off, her hand coming to rest on her chest. David covered her hand with his own. "I know," He nodded.
"Uh, I don't." Emma volunteered, a tad uncomfortable with her disconnect. She and Mary Margaret were close, but Snow White was a whole different story.
"I closed my heart to Regina as a mother a long time ago. And somehow this whole situation ripped it back open." Snow continued. "Even now that I'm me again, I want to run to her, like I would as a child." Her voice started to wobble at the end.
David attempted to pull her in for another hug, but she shook her head and continued.
"I want her so badly. I want her to be my mother. But I am so scared that I'm just being stupid again." Tears started to fall, and David nodded in understanding.
"It's not the same." He comforted. "She's different now. As much as I hate to admit it."
Snow let out a slow breath. "So I'm not crazy for loving her again?" She asked.
"No." David agreed, "You're not crazy, and you were never stupid."
"Because the last time I really forgave her, she tried to stab me." Snow rambled, laughing uncomfortably. She could still see the manic glee in Regina's face following the attempted pardon in the Enchanted Forest. Yet, she could also feel Regina's smile on the back of her neck, from when she had held and tickled her earlier that day. She could still hear Regina's giggle.
"I feel stupid." She mumbled, her cheeks tinged with red.
"Don't." Emma advised. "She loves you. Henry taught her how to love, and now she loves you like she should have before."
"She was so young." Snow whispered. "She shouldn't have been my mother at 19."
"Maybe not," Emma agreed, "But she wants to be now."
"Won't it be strange?" Snow asked.
"I don't think so. It's not like that for us." Emma shrugged, smiling gently.
Snow and David laughed. "Now I see what they mean, when they say we look alike." Snow explained, a proud look overcoming her features.
"And you sound like her too," David interjected, reaching a hand out in invitation. Emma moved forward, clasping his hand and allowing herself to be dragged into a group hug. Huddled together, Maine's chilly night air seemed to have lost its sting.
"Does this mean Regina's my grandma?"
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"My, my, my, what do we have here?" were the words accompanied the hollow clicks of heels on marble. The room was deadly silent, except for the sleeping queen's deep, restful breaths.
"I must admit, beating you wasn't as hard as your reputation led me to believe. It's as I say, wicked always wins." Zelena laughed, creeping closer to Regina's prone frame. Beside her, two bottles and a set of instructions lay. Zelena reached down, kicking the empty one aside and pocketing the awakening potion.
"You won't need that, sister."
She shoved Regina's body further onto the stone bench and gently perched herself on the edge. Hovering over her, Zelena tilted her head and watched the woman who had stolen everything from her. The pathetic, weak person before her had lived out the life meant for her. An uncomfortable itch snaked up the witch's neck, making her readjust her collar.
"You wasted everything." She hissed, a familiar pain gripping her heart. "You took what was meant for me, and you absolutely squandered it." The sleeping woman beneath her did not react, her face impassively set. Zelena stared a moment longer, before sucking in a harsh breath and forcing a smile.
"It is no matter. Now I can finally prove that I am better than you, in every way. It's almost a shame you won't be alive to witness it." She finished by pushing her hand deep into Regina's chest. With a swift scooping motion, she pulled out her heart. Glowing brilliantly, the curiously red heart beat strongly against Zelena's fingers. Squeezing lightly, Zelena relished how the muscle seemed to swell and flutter. "Do you feel the fear gathering in your heart, sister?"
She toyed with the organ a bit more, pinching it and then twisting. "I hope it hurts!" She spat out, angry tears rushing to her eyes. "I hope it burns you up inside, how afraid you are."
An angry sob escaped her as she watched the distant, unfeeling face below her. She loosened her grip on the heart to clutch her own heaving chest.
"I hate you!" She screamed.
The hot jealousy that had reigned over her all these years howled victoriously as she forcefully squeezed her fist shut. Dark joy emitted from her tearful face. For a second, she felt light. As if she were floating.
Then confusion swam to her face. She stared at her hand, which was hooked into a claw shape. Her very hand was disobeying her, refusing to crush the heart. Growling, Zelena clapped both hands together, smacking the heart soundly between them. Placing all of her hate into the motion, she began to shove her hands together, intent on destruction. She wouldn't stop till her shoes were covered in the ashy remains of her sister's heart.
"Blood bonds are the most unbreakable kind there is, dearie." Rumplestiltskin taunted from the entrance of the mausoleum. He began to meander down the steps, minding his bum leg.
"I don't care that she is my sister." Zelena argued, darting her eyes to the grinning man. "I want to kill her."
"Oh, I have no doubt. Especially given your history."
"Our history is nonexistent. I hate her on principle." She said unconvincingly.
"Your history, Zelena. Everything you are and ever were is related to that woman there." His eyes dipped down purposefully to the sleeping brunette.
"Because of what she stole from me." Zelena supplied.
"Because of what you were both born into." He corrected.
"If you're here to talk me out of killing your favorite student, you can forget it. This decision was made long ago."
"And yet, your hands hesitate."
Her face twitched irritably, checking once again to see her hands frozen in place. The heart thudded heavily in her palms, struggling but beating.
"I can't explain it." She admitted.
"Nor can I. Might I suggest using the dreamcatcher? It may provide the answers you seek."
"So you can distract me and steal the heart for yourself?" She scoffed incredulously. She gazed around the crypt for some kind of answer. She found none. "What in there-" She pointed obnoxiously at Regina's skull, "could interest me, anyway?"
He smiled knowingly. "I suppose you'll have to see for yourself, won't you?" Her eyes narrowed, her distrust evident. He laughed, "Have it your way! I will not harm you in any way while you view the dreamcatcher." His right hand tenderly covering his heart in a promise.
"Or steal Regina away?" She added forcefully.
"Or steal away the dear queen." He accepted. "And you know I am a man of my word, if nothing else." Holding out his hand, he stepped forward. Against her better judgement, she reciprocated.
"Excellent, now that that's done, best get to it." He instructed. "Quickly now, before her family of misfits arrives." He tossed her the dreamcatcher, laughing cheerfully when it nearly struck her face.
"If this is some kind of trap," she began.
"Ah, ah, ah-" He interrupted. "We've already been through this. Hurry on, now."
She pinched her lips together unhappily but listened. Sighing dramatically, she swung the dreamcatcher over the sleeping woman's head. As the fibers began to glimmer with a vision, she rolled her eyes in impatience.
Muffled voices emerged from the dreamcatcher, two excited young girls tittering away.
"That must mean-"
"We're related!"