The Previous Night….
Robin took the longer route he knew to get to his camp, he needed the time to think, to try and make sense of the situation, to try and think of some sort of answers to the many questions he was sure his newly living wife would have. Said newly living wife was also the other reason why he took the longer road, he was hoping that she would be asleep by the time he gets there, same for Roland.
The loud squeal that greeted him as soon as he stepped close to the camp proved to him that the powers that be were too mad at him to cut him any breaks.
"PAPA!" a frantic Roland yelled, as he ran, tripping over his own little feet, and launched himself at his father, who caught him with ease.
"Hey, why are you still up?" he asked, in an effort to distract his son, and avoid the swarm of questions about Regina that he saw in his son's eyes.
"I was waiting for you," he said, as if it should have been obvious to his father, "where's Gina?" he asked, his bright eyes narrowed as they searched the clearing behind his father for any signs of said brunette.
Robin's eyes found Marian's as soon as the question left his son's mouth, and he knew that it was going to be a hell of a night.
"I tried to get him to sleep, but he wouldn't," Marian bit out in a clipped tone.
Robin furrowed his eyes slightly at the almost imperceptible tremble Roland released at the sound of his mother's voice, and when his eyes found Little John, he looked pleadingly at him.
"I tried as well, but he's his father's son!" the man exclaimed in frustration, knowing the silent request in his friend's eyes.
Robin sighed in defeat, and purposefully avoiding looking at Marian, he looked back at his expectant son, "Roland, you know that it is too late, and well past your bedtime," he chastised softly, ignoring his son's earlier question that was left hanging in the air, even though he saw the impatience in the bright brown orbs that belonged to his son.
"Where is Gina?" Roland asked once more, enunciating every word, and completely ignoring his father's remark, not even bothering to deny knowing that it was indeed far beyond his bedtime.
The sounds of leaves breaking beneath someone's feet, had Robin's eyes flickering briefly from Roland, only for them to quickly look back at Roland, just so they would avoid a now angrily stomping Marian's fiery gaze.
"I told you before, she wasn't feeling well, so she went home," he repeated the lame excuse he gave his son at the diner.
"Then let's go," he stated confidently.
Robin looked at him in confusion, while Marian's eyebrows shot up her forehead in surprise, and Little John just sighed in exacerbation.
"Go?" he repeated, and Roland nodded his head approvingly, and persistently. "Go where?" Robin wondered, and if it wasn't for the gravity of the situation, he probably would've laughed at his son's attempt at glaring.
"To Gina!" he declared, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world, "if she feels bad, then we should be with her, like she did with me," Roland reasoned, and once again Robin cursed the luck that gave his young son his honor. He knew that Roland was referring to a time from the now not so missing year, when he had fallen badly ill, and Robin was at a loss with him. It was ironic that the infamous Evil Queen was the one who doted on him, and was up all night pressing the cold rag to his forehead, endured his whining, and lovingly nursed him back to health.
"That is very sweet of you, but she is not alone. Henry is with her, and since they haven't seen each other for a long time, why don't we let them have some time alone," Robin suggested, silently praying that his son would take the bait, and agree.
"Because Henry didn't remember who she was!" Roland added, remembering his father's words about why Regina got upset every time she saw Henry, and remembering the time he found her crying in her chambers because she missed Henry too much, and Robin nodded, "and Gina missed him!" Roland concluded, and once again Robin nodded.
"Will we go see her tomorrow?" he asked, and Robin fought the urge to roll his eyes, look to the sky and growl.
"We shall see," he opted for the diplomatic answer, and sighed in relief when Roland finally nodded.
"Now, off to bed," Robin instructed, and Roland nodded obediently.
"Good night Papa," he chirped through a yawn, his brain finally catching up with how tired he was.
"Good night, my sweet boy," Robin replied lovingly, pressing a kiss to his cheek, as he placed him back onto his feet.
"Let's go Roland," Little John called, beckoning Roland over.
Robin was surprised when instead of running to his mother, or even asking that she tugs him in, Roland sprinted towards Little John, and threw himself at the much larger man. He saw the surprise in Little John's eyes as well, but shockingly, it was absent from Marian's. All he saw in Marian's eyes were anger, not even hurt that her son just completely ignored her.
Once Roland was secured within Little John's arms, he looked almost warily at his mother, and mumbled a clipped, "Good night, Mamma."
It was only then did Marian's eyes finally locate Roland within Little John's arms, but to the shock of both men, the surprise and hurt at Roland's behavior did not appear. She only smiled sweetly at the boy, and replied softly, turning her head back to glare at Robin, before Little John had even walked away with Roland.
"Why is my son asking for the Evil Queen?" she seethed, and Robin cringed at the storm that he knew was coming.
For right now, he was no longer dreading the wrath of his recently resurrected wife, but rather the unconditional fury of a very overprotective six year old.
"She is not evil!" Roland screamed from his place inside Little John's arms, and both adults looked at him in time to see his face red with anger, and his chest heaving with seething breaths.
"Roland…"Marian started, but her son's angry growl stopped her, "NO!" he yelled, "I know she did some really bad things, but she is not evil!" he stated matter of factly.
Before Marian could get another word out, Robin interfered to defuse the situation before it got out of hand, "you're right, my boy, she is not evil. Your mamma just made a mistake," Robin lied, smiling reassuringly at Roland, and glaring at Marian when he saw her open her mouth to protest.
Thankfully, Marian waited till she saw Little John disappear inside one of the tents with her six year old, before she rounded on Robin.
"Would you like to explain to me why my son has been asking for the wretched hag since we left the diner?" she seethed, and to his surprise, he found that he was strongly fighting the urge to deck Marian for what she called Regina.
"Marian, for the last time, do not call her such things. Yes, she was the Evil Queen back in our land, and yes, she destroyed villages, wreaked havoc, and even took away many souls, but she no longer is that woman," he said slowly through gritted teeth.
"You can't just stop being evil, Robin," she growled, and he fought the urge to yell.
"Yes, you can. And it is quite hypocritical of you to say that, when you are married to me," he pointed out smugly.
"Never in your life did you do such damage as she did," she argued incredulously.
"That's because I was never pushed as far as she has," he retorted, "I understand her motivation to do the things she did, because I nearly took that path myself after I lost you, if it hadn't been for Roland. She didn't have anyone to pull her back, on the contrary, she was surrounded by people who pushed her even further down that road, because one way or another, they benefited from it. So yes, she was the Evil Queen, and yes she terrorized the kingdom for years, but that doesn't now make her the devil incarnation," he concluded angrily.
"She doesn't even regret what she did," Marian screamed in frustration.
"That's right, she doesn't," Robin deadpanned, "and you want to know why? Because if she regretted any of it, it means she regrets getting to her baby boy. She feels sorry for how things went, but you are absolutely right she doesn't regret them, and she can't wish that she can take them back, because that would mean she wishes she could send her son back as well," he explained, his voice softening a bit at the mention of Henry, images of the scene he saw mere mintues ago flashing before his eyes.
"That still does not explain why my son is so attached to her, and is asking to go see her like it is the most natural thing," she reminded him of her original question, and he sighed.
He rubbed his hands over his face a few time in frustration, and with one last deep sigh and a shake of the head, he started his tale. One that was bound to piss off his wife, and leave him with even more unanswered questions.
Where we left off….
Regina stared gob smacked at the person standing on her front porch, one whom she did not wish to see for a very long time, and one who looked as heartbroken as she was.
She did not know what to say, she did not even know what to think, she did not know what to do. Should she yell at him? Close the door in his face? Smoke him back to where he belonged? Smoke away herself?
Thankfully, her son's angry voice pulled her out of her thoughts, and gave her something else to focus on; make sure her hot tempered son –Mommy's boy, she couldn't help but think- won't do her fighting for her.
"You've got some nerve coming here," Henry growled angrily, as he made his way over to the open door.
Robin had no intention of seeing Regina when left his Merry Men that morning, all he knew was that he did not want to be around his seething wife. He had told her yesterday that he was now with Regina, and she had only one question for him, 'what are you going to do now?' and sadly, that was the only question he had no answer to.
And so, after he made sure that his son was happily playing with Friar Tuck, he took off on a walk of his own, to try and put things into perspective. He only realized where his legs had taken him, when he bumped into one of Regina's neighbors.
And that was when he decided to go see her, he still had no idea what to tell her, but all he knew was the he had to talk to her. Maybe she would have a solution to this whole mess. And as cowardly and completely out of character that he dumps it on her, he saw no other choice.
But he was not preparing for the sight that greeted him. For despite her best efforts to hide it with makeup, he saw the dark circles under her eyes, and how puffy they were. He saw the sadness swirling in her beautiful orbs, which increased a tenfold at the sight of him, and it broke his heart. Never in his life did he think she would like this because of his actions, never in his life did he even dream of hurting her this bad.
His trail of thoughts was interrupted by the same angry growl that seemed to snap Regina out of whatever reverie she was lost inside, and his eyes looked behind her, in time to see the angry teenage boy moving towards him.
Henry just walked down the stairs, and stood protectively in front of his mother, "what are you doing here?" he demanded angrily, and Robin sighed. That was another question he had no answer to.
"I…."he stammered, and looked at Regina, his eyes begging her for a chance, but not even daring to ask.
"Please leave," Henry ordered.
"Henry, I would like to talk to your mother," Robin finally found his voice.
Henry opened his mouth to say something, when he felt Regina's hand on his shoulder, "it's alright sweetheart," she soothed, and smiling reassuringly at him when he turned around to look at her, but as both he and Robin noted, her smile did not quite reach his eyes.
"Go wash up for diner," she suggest gently, and he nodded. Though he had no intention of actually doing so.
He gave her hand a comforting squeeze as he passed by her, and headed for the bathroom by the kitchen. Once there, he kept the door ajar, and opened the water, but did not wash up as he was supposed to. Instead-even though he knew it was wrong-he tiptoed to the door, and listened in on the conversation.
Regina waited till she heard the running water, before she finally looked back at Robin, and her haunted gaze met his worried ones.
"Regina…"he started only to be interrupted by her.
"Robin, I think it would be best if I did all the talking, saved us both the trouble," she said, her voice hollow and devoid of any emotions, silencing Robin immediately.
"Whatever we had, whatever it was going to lead to, it is over," she said shakily, her lower lip trembling slightly as she fought hard against the lump in her throat, and the tears that were pricking her eyes, "your wife is back, the woman whom you leave deeply, and most importantly, the mother of your child," she listed, and Robin couldn't find the proper words to argue with her, "she is back, and I cannot be the one who takes her away from Roland, I cannot be a home wrecker. Not again, not now," she whispered tearfully, her tears now cascading down her cheeks.
Robin stared at her, his eyes baring into her own tortured orbs, looking for any signs of the woman whose actions were infamously feared back in their land, the woman who his own wife feared, and one who, if he were to believe what his wife told him, was responsible for the pain he felt the first time around. He listened to her as she pleaded with him not to make her the monster of the situation, as she begged him not to be responsible for Roland losing his mother yet again. And as pained as he was by the whole situation, it angered him that she seemed to not even remember that she was the one who took her away the first time around.
"Did you really kill my wife?" he asked bluntly, and Regina gasped audibly.
She had been expecting many things to come out of his mouth, but this was not one of them.
"I beg your pardon!" she breathed in shock.
"Marian claims that you captured her back in our land, and executed her in cold blood, because you thought that she was helping Snow," he recounted, begging her with his eyes to remember. Praying with every fiber of her being that he would see recognition in her eyes, but his anger flared up when he did not. On the contrary, for it seemed that the vulnerability suddenly left. Her eyes narrowed darkly, and a humorless chuckle left her lips.
"So that is what this is about?" she sneered, baring her teeth in a vicious grin, "you came here to make yourself feel better? You came here in the hopes of finding the once again feared and murderous Evil Queen?" she demanded angrily, not even bothering to wait for a response, "well, my dear, you got your wish. Your dear wife may very well be telling the truth, but I cannot confirm nor deny her words, because frankly, I have taken away so many lives, it became impossible to remember every face!" she said menacingly, snorting devilishly when he gasped in horror and took a surprised step back, "oh don't pretend like you didn't know any of that! You knew who I was, and I never lied about my previous actions, nor did I ever lie about my lack of regret for them. I may feel sorry for them, but if I had one ounce of regret for them, I would have never been able to save Henry, and he is the one person who matters the most to me, and he is the only person whom I would walk through hell for," she echoed his words to her from that morning, earning herself a slight wince from him, "so if you came here for a way to make yourself feel better, then here it is."
The audacity of her words surprised him, the cruelty of them, but then her voice softened at the mention of her son. And despite her best efforts, he saw pain start to creep back into her eyes.
"Why are you still here, thief?" she spat the last word.
Robin stared at her in shock, trying his hardest to find the beautiful and caring woman he was with the night before, and finding none. But instead of finding the vicious Evil Queen, like he was sure she intended, all he saw was a broken woman desperate to shield herself from the pain, and trying to make him hate her, so it would be easier on her when he leaves. After all, that was the only way she knew how to deal with pain.
And because of how much he loved her, he decided to give her the satisfaction of knowing that she hurt him. His eyes flashed with hurt and pain at her last word, and he shook his head in desperation. He suppressed a smile, when he saw the triumphant smirk dancing on her lips. And without another word, he turned around and left. He rushed down the footpath, before he lost control over himself. He cursed his sharp hearing, when before he had even reached the end of the block, a strangled sob reached his ears, and he ducked behind a tree, where he was overcome by sobs as well, his entire body shaking with pain.
Henry's eyes had widened when he heard his mother's cruel words, and he winced at the coldness of her voice. But what shocked him the most was the last sentence, what did she mean that if she had regretted any of her actions she wouldn't have been able to save him?
His shock took a backseat to his pain, when he heard how she talked about him. Even after everything he had done to her, he was still the one person who mattered the most to her, and he knew for a fact that she would fight the devil himself for his sake.
He heard Robin's angry footsteps as he stomped away from the house, and it wasn't long before a pained, strangled sob escaped his mother's lips.
Without hesitation, he raced out of the bathroom, and rushed towards the door. He found her leaning on one of the porch pillars, one hand around her waist, the other muffling her sobs, her shoulders shaking as she cried.
He moved closer to her, and slowly guided her into the house, one hand around her waist, his head tucked in the crook of her arm.
So I know that most of you want to kill me, and frankly, I would like to kill me too. I am terribly sorry for the month long wait, but having two jobs, one of which is new, did not leave me much energy to eat, let alone write. However, now that things have settled down again, I promise that I will do my best to update weekly.
I sort of know what each chapter will be like now, so updates should be more regular. However, that all depends on you my lovely readers, the faster you review, the faster I update.
Let me know what you all think of this.
I will re-read it tomorrow for grammar or spelling errors.