Disclaimer: Don't own Once.
AN: Please read, review, and follow :)
The desperation in her voice takes him out of his momentary lapse. He's so confused. He knows Regina's changed, but how can he look at her the same again? Everything he thought he believed in just broke into little tiny pieces. Every word and kiss between them just became distorted with the image of Marian's face before she was taken, the last moments they shared before everything changed.
All he had heard from the Merry Men was that she was taken by the royal guard. He was out that day, collecting goods for them after Roland was born. He was so happy, so ready for the future, and just like that, everything was taken. By Regina. The Evil Queen.
He looks up at Marian, his face fallen. "I can't… I have to, I have to talk to her," his voice broke. Marian stares at him, flustered with such hate towards the Queen.
"Why on earth do you need to talk to that woman!? She's a monster!" Marian's eyes were pouring with tears, pleading, begging, wanting him to stay and not go to her.
But his mind was already made up. "I'm going, Marian. I have to." Because I love her.
Marian couldn't believe what was happening. This man, who hated the Evil Queen, who couldn't stand royalty, who was ready to tear down the kingdom himself, wanted to reason with the Queen? What? "Robin, you can't. She'll only twist your mind, she's the freakin' Queen, for crying out loud! What are you thinking?"
But Marian doesn't know. Regina's different now. And somewhere in the back of his mind, he knows that Regina deserves a chance to explain. No matter how angry he is, he still remembers last night; how beautiful she was, and the way she let him be in control for a change. An "evil queen" doesn't do that. Because she's changed….she changed…
And Marian decides to do something completely out of character, knowing she can't change his mind once it's made up. "Ugh, fine," she says. "But on one condition."
He looks up, raising an eyebrow, "Yes?"
"I'm going with you."
-OutlawQueen-
Regina wakes up that morning alone. She looks around her room, no trace of him anywhere. She can't help but smile, though. Last night was amazing. Wherever he was, it was probably important. She decides to trust him and not worry, which is very strange for her, but somewhat calming. She yawns, stretching her arms, running her fingers through her messy hair. She climbs out of bed, briefly looking in the mirror and laughing at the image. She's a mess. "Oh well," she says to herself. Quickly grabbing a robe and slipping into her slippers, she heads downstairs. Coffee. Need coffee.
Her head is swimming with thoughts of last night, his kisses still fresh on her skin, the sensation of being with her Soulmate making her sigh. Her mouth quirks up, remembering them stumbling into her bed, and him teasing her for being so careful taking off her favorite pair of shoes. "Even the Queen has her favorites, I see…" She smacked his arm and he responded kindly, with his hands…and his mouth…and his-
Her thoughts cease when she hears a knock on her door. She grunts. This better be good. Her eyes flash to the now finished coffee and she sighs. Guess she'll get it after ordering the unwelcome guests away. Damn.
She strides to the door, her robe flowing open and her bra and underwear showing. She grimaces and ties her robe closed before opening the door.
Her hand grabs the handle, swinging it open. "Yes?" She says a little bit too annoyed to be considered civil.
Robin and Marian stand at her door, quickly erasing her happy mood. Her face becomes completely clear of any emotion, and her demeanor changes. Her shoulders raise and her back straightens. She lifts one eyebrow, staring at the "couple". She barely looks at Marian, instead staring at Robin.
They lock eyes, speaking only a language they could. And still the reflections of each other, they are the mirror of betrayal.
"Regina, we need to talk," he says to her, civil and monotone. Her heart, her own heart, a bright red light when magically taken from the body, seems to dim at these words.
She pauses at the door, but decides that there is nothing else he can take from her. To think that she woke that morning, trusting that he left for a good reason. Marian never even crossed her mind.
"Come in," the Queen says, walking away from the door.
The two walk in after her, Marian apprehensive of walking into the house of her murderer. Robin shuts the door behind him, carefully watching that Marian doesn't do something stupid while Regina's back is turned to them.
Regina gestures to the living room, and sits on one of the chairs, waiting for them to be seated. And in normal business meeting fashion, they sit next to each other. How could things change so quickly? One second Robin is begging her to never let go, and yet here he is, sitting far away from her, looking at her like a stranger.
Marian is the first one to speak up, agitated watching Robin and Regina looking at each other. "Well. Can't say I'm sorry for disturbing your morning, because I'm not." Regina smirks at her, the Evil Queen's look coming slowly back into her face. Marian continues, "So. Did you kill me?" Best not postpone this any longer than necessary.
Regina laughs. "You've really got the nerve, don't you?"
Robin shifts uneasily, noting how she didn't deny it. "Regina," he says, hating the way her name is so familiar on his lips. She looks at him, hating the way it sounds coming from him. And Marian…well, Marian just hates it in general.
"Did you?" He whispers, preparing himself for whatever may come.
Regina looks at him, counting the seconds that pass. "No," she says angry.
Robin exhales the breath he's been holding since Marian told him, waves upon waves of emotion falling from his shoulders. Regina notices this change, and frowns. "Did you think I did?"
Marian laughs. "Well you did kidnap me and hold me captive in your dungeon!"
Regina shakes her head, recalling when she found the cell empty. "No… I mean, yes, I did do all those things. But you were already gone by the time I got down there." She remembers being angry for only a second before moving on and continuing her search for Snow White. One useless woman was the least of her problems back then.
In his state of thought, he looks down, and even though anger boiled in him from hearing that Regina did in fact take her, he still doesn't understand. How could Marian have disappeared... "Wait," he looks up, a thought coming into his mind. "Emma."
That one word sparks flames in Regina. Emma. The one person responsible for all of this nonsense. Her family really has a bad reputation with taking happiness from her. If Robin wasn't in her house right now, she'd probably burn the place down in annoyance. "What about her?" She couldn't bring herself to say her name for it was poison to her lips.
Robin stands up, recent events tying together in his mind. "She changed the past by traveling back through time. So... technically, Marian never died." For a moment he saw hope that he could forgive Regina, but there was still so much that needed to be figured out. But he noticed a small relieved smile come across Regina's face, and he knows that she doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore; and that made him fall in love with her all over again.
Marian watches them, feeling like a third wheel, not understanding what was really going on between the two. He seems so comfortable in this house, calling the Queen by her first name and willing to talk things out with her so easily. For a moment she sees something flash in his eyes as he stares at Regina, and the Queen looking back at him.
No.
He didn't. He couldn't have? No. "No, no, no…" She says out loud, getting the attention of the Queen and Robin. "You two…you didn't. Did you—"
Regina's head turn towards Marian, feeling only a little guilty, but wanting so badly to speak up; yet against her newfound better judgment, doesn't. But Robin does. "Marian," he calmly starts, knowing what she was about to say, trying to keep a hold on the situation. That woman doesn't fail to amaze him, always able to solve the best puzzles, much to his dismay. "Marian," he says again.
Yet that was all he had to say, because his wife had stood up from her seat, and walked out the door. She didn't run. She didn't stomp. She just walked.