I know i know. I should have updated this ages ago. Well... School and life got in the way. Now I'm on holiday I hope to be able to write (and update) more. Thanks to all of you, for your comments, likes and faves. You've been lovely.
This is not betaread. All typos are mine.
Chapter Eight.
Something was completely, definitely off, Regina could sense it. It was a gut feeling that made her heart beat faster, her blood pump in her veins; she had always been one to trust her instincts and this time it wasn't different.
She spun quickly to face her son, her eyes open wide, her ears ringing. "Henry, you need to stay here, alright? I'm going to seal the entrance so that no one can get inside, you will be completely safe," she tried to hold her apprehension in check, but her reddened cheeks and her laboured breathing gave her away.
"But Mom..."
She took hold of him by the shoulders, more forcefully than she had intended, "Listen to me, Henry. I know you're an intelligent and perceptive boy and that in the past you always got your way despite my attempts at preventing you from doing what you wanted but now... now it's fundamental you stay here and don't try to break out, you understand? I know you want to help, but there's some evil psychopath wandering around Storybrooke and I would never forgive myself, nor Emma would, if anything were to happen to you."
Henry didn't nod, just stared at her intently, "I understand. I will stay here, I promise."
She felt a surge of affection towards him, her wonderful, grown-up child. "That's my boy," she leaned in to kiss his messy hair.
...
The next few minutes passed in a flash. While walking hurriedly towards Granny's, Regina was so lost in her thoughts that when she found herself face to face with Elsa in a very chilly diner, she almost gasped.
She quickly tried to mask her surprise. "Oh, here's the human freezer," she commented once she recognized Elsa's pale skin and white blonde hair.
Elsa gave her a steely stare, before assuming an almost sheepish look, "I'm sorry for the trouble I've caused you."
"Let us worry about it later," she dismissed Elsa's words brusquely, "Now, where's Robin Hood?"
"I left him in the forest, confronting Freya," the queen of Arendelle didn't even blink at Regina's briskness.
"You left him to confront an icy psycho all by himself?" Regina spluttered.
"He ordered us to go away," Marian emerged from the back of the diner, Roland at her heels.
Regina blinked in surprise but forced herself not to let any emotion show on her face. "I'm surprised you let him," she pointed out, her voice betraying a bitter tone.
"There was no time to argue," Marian replied coolly.
Roland padded towards Regina, looking up at her with big brown eyes that nobody could resist, "Where's Daddy, Gina? Mama don't tell me."
"Doesn't tell me, Roland" she corrected him with a soft smile, kneeling in front of him and moving a hand to muss his curls before freezing mid-air, looking at Marian hesitantly. He's still her child, not yours.
Marian nodded stiffly after a fraction of a second and Regina caressed Roland's soft cheek. "Your father is a good man, Roland. He's helping a friend to get out of trouble right now." She risked stealing a glance at Marian, who cracked a half-smile at her.
Regina made to speak again but was interrupted by the door bell. Elsa's face lightened up as if a million suns where shining on her visage. "ANNA!" she exclaimed, her voice broken by emotion. She launched herself in her sister's arms, whose expression of joy mirrored hers.
They hugged for a long time in the middle of the room, before Elsa broke their embrace to cradle her sister's face in her hands, "Oh, Anna, I can't believe it's really you!"
"Me neither!" Anna whispered breathlessly, eyes shining with tears, "I missed you so much..."
"But how did you find me?"
Anna started explaining her journey excitedly when Regina interrupted her, "I'm sorry to intrude upon your reunion with your long lost sister but we're having a major problem here," Regina pointed out, annoyed.
"You're right, of course," Anna excused herself. "Kristoff went into the forest to aid Robin. Emma and Hook are already on their way."
"Well then, there's no time to lose," Regina stated matter-of-factly, turning on her heels to exit, before Marian stopped her, placing her hand on Regina's upper arm. "I'm coming with you."
"I'm a working solo type of person, thank you very much," Regina dead-panned.
"I can fight," Marian rebuked, her expression stony and unreadable, her tone determined not to take no for an answer. "Just provide me with a bow," she added, her dark eyes staring, unblinking, into Regina's.
"Very well," Regina gave in. She conjured a lithe, ash wood bow out of nowhere and threw it at her. Marian grabbed it singlehandedly.
The other woman fought an amused smile, admiring her boldness, despite the fact that an irrational part of herself persisted in disliking her. "As long as you don't slow me down," Regina had a dig at her, glancing at Marian from over her shoulder.
"I wouldn't dream of it," Marian replied promptly.
Regina smirked at the irony.
...
Emma proceeded into the forest, gripping her revolver tightly into her hands. Everything seemed to be alright, except for an excessive amount of snow and ice impeding her path. Hook followed closely behind her, struggling to keep his balance on the snow with his heavy leather coat trailing behind him.
"You know, Swan, I never understood why you keep bringing guns to patrols when it's obvious we are not dealing with mere human beings."
"You're right," she huffed. "But it has always kept me safe and I trust it will again."
"How far is your father?"
"He said he would arrive in ten, he should be here by now."
True to his word, Charming appeared out of some bushes. "Whoa, put the gun down, Emma, it's me."
"Sorry, sorry," she was quick to apologize, lowering her weapon. "I thought you might be the Ice Queen."
"So, what's the plan?" asked David, moving to stand beside his daughter. "Follow the ice?"
"Exactly. We think that if Robin was with Elsa, he could still be near the place where she left him, so if we just follow the ice path backwards..."
"We might find Robin," concluded Charming.
"Or the Ice Queen and Hans," Hook chimed in.
"Always the one to underline negatives," lamented Charming.
"I prefer to consider myself as one who looks at silver linings, thank you very much," the captain replied, unperturbed.
"Wait." Emma brusquely interrupted their banter. "There's no more ice around here..." She raised her eyes from the ground only to suffocate a gasp. "Robin! We found him!
...
"You're not bad for a working solo type of person," Marian commented, holding back a smirk that resembled one of her husband.
"I suppose I'm not," Regina shot back, while lowering a branch so that the other woman could make her way into the forest. "I learnt with time, by living with peasants."
"And I guess by peasants you mean my husband too."
Regina froze before regarding Marian with composure. "Yes, he did take a part in the work as team nonsense you folks like to play at."
Marian half smiled. "He has always believed in working together. He said it helps you achieve higher goals."
"Well, who knew even a thief had wisdom?" Regina sassed.
"He took it from his father," Marian surprised her with her confession. "Walter was a nobleman but with a good heart. He was heartbroken when Robin decided to leave home to fight his own battles: he couldn't see how he could do much good by hiding in forests and robbing the rich to give to the poor. He raised Robin well, however he could never see past the faults of the system they both lived in."
"Did you know him well? Walter, I mean."
"I've known him since I was born, our families were good friends. Robin and I used to play together as kids. We ran in the stables to get the horses so we could gallop away from the castle, having the time of our lives... we returned only at sunset, Robin's wet nurse always scolded us but Walter feigned ignorance on the matter and mussed our hair good naturatedly. He always had a kind word for me and treated his servants with respect. Everyone loved him in Locksley."
"He seems like a good man," Regina whispered, silently wishing she had had the chance to meet Robin's father. She remembered her relationship with Maureen, Daniel's mother, the only relative she had the luck to meet when they were together. She was a sweet woman, Maureen. She always had a kind word for her, a warm cup of tea waiting in the kitchen and Regina couldn't be more grateful for that. Maureen made her forget Cora's sharp jabs for a while.
"Can I ask you how long is it that you've known Robin?"
Marian's question took her aback. She turned her head to glance at her, expecting to see resentment and jealousy in her dark eyes and in the arch of her eyebrows. However, upon further inspection, Marian's curiosity seemed genuine.
She sighed in resignation. "We've known each other since Pan's curse brought us back to the Enchanted Forest. Robin and his men helped us fight Zelena's flying monkeys," she told her truthfully. "I trust he told you of all the curses we experienced."
"He tried his best to inform me," the other woman conceded.
"Good. So you'll know who the bad boys are now. Or the bad girls, to be exact."
"The only thing I know is that I don't want that crazy woman and her ruthless henchman anywhere near Roland."
"Well then, let's say you have quite the intuition," Regina muttered darkly.
"So, what's your plan now, Your Majesty?" she asked while better adjusting her new bow on her shoulder.
"Regina, please. You don't need to use that title anymore. Not here of all places."
"Very well, Regina, what is is that you suggest we do?" Marian obliged.
"Reunite with Emma and the others. Then find Robin."
"Wouldn't it be better if we split? We could find him faster."
And leave Marian by herself, with no magical protection? Robin would never forgive her if something were to happen to the mother of his child - or better, Regina would never forgive herself. "We'll talk about it later with the others. First rule of working together, or so they told me," Regina pointed out, with more bite than she had intended.
Her phone rang before Marian could bite back. "Hello? Emma! What? Where are you? We're coming right now." She pocketed her phone quickly and spinned to face her companion. "They found Robin. We need to go now."
...
What Regina found upon her arrival wasn't a pretty sight.
Robin lay motionless on the ground, his face white as a sheet, his skin drenched in cold sweat.
Croacking his name, she fell on her knees next to Emma, who was checking his pulse, soon followed by Marian.
Hook had his ear near the archer's chest, trying to assess whether he was breathing or not.
"How is he?" both women anxiously inquired. Regina bit her lip.
God, this was going to be awkward.
"He is breathing, don't worry. But his pulse is very feeble, we need to get him to the hospital as soon as we can," Emma explained.
"The hospital?" Marian let out weakly, confused.
"He's going to be fine, Marian," the Savior reassured her.
"I'll call an ambulance," Regina announced, feeling the impelling need to distance herself from the scene. He has his wife with him now, there's no need for you to assist him as well.
She started walking to and fro in the snow, anxiously clenching and unclenching her fist. While she struggled with her phone, she could hear Emma's voice in the distance, "He's under shock. David, take off your jacket and put it around him. There. Marian, I need you to keep talking to him to keep him awake."
He was awake? Her heart started plummeting in her chest.
Keep focused, Regina. Call the bloody ambulance, a voice in her mind prompted her. She dialed the number fast, hoping the paramedics would arrive soon.
...
The monitors kept beeping silently, echoing the noise of Regina's heels ticking on the hospital floor.
"Regina, please, will you sit?" Snow pleaded her for the umpteenth time.
"No."
"Regina, try to calm down a bit at least."
"Why are you here?" she shot back. The princess' patronizing tone was starting to get on her nerves.
"I-"
"Oh, that's right. You don't even know why. You just want to get your nose in everyone's business."
Snow's eyes widened in shock. "Regina -", she started, before David placed his hand on her arm, silencing her. "Mary Margaret, leave her be."
"For once your charming husband is right," Regina sassed, annoyed.
Mary Margaret let out a resigned sigh, resting her head on David's shoulder.
Regina resumed her pacing in the hallway, wringing her hands together.
If Mary Margaret had every right to be there if she wanted to, Regina hadn't. She shouldn't be there. She meant nothing to him. She hadn't even found him first.
Her head screamed to go away, to save herself from humilation, from acting like a pining ex-girlfriend... but her heart kept her feet pinned to the ground.
She kept repeating to herself that being there was the right thing to do, even if she had sworn to herself she would never come between Robin and his family anymore.
She had no right to be there.
She wasn't his family anymore.
She never had been.
"I shouldn't have left him alone," Marian was whispering to Emma. "He's my husband and I left him to fend for himself."
"I am the one who is sorry, it's all my fault if he's in this situation right now. My sister shouldn't have asked for your help," Elsa pointed out.
"Look, this self-blaming game is not going to help anyone," Emma blurted out.
"As much as it costs me to say it, Miss Swan is right," Regina intervened. "Blaming ourselves won't help Robin to get better."
"Can't you use your magic on him?" Marian wondered.
"I'm afraid I can't. We need to know for certain what happened to him before I can do anything."
"And what am I supposed to do, wait here?" Marian replied hotly.
"We're going to do just that," Regina said lightly with fake aplomb, as if the situation wasn't affecting her deeply. "I think I will take a coffee."
"Make that two," Emma added tiredly.
Soon almost all of those in the room asked for coffee.
"What am I, a waitress? Ask Ruby," Regina snarled, outraged.
"Come on, I'll help you," Elsa offered with a small smile.
"You sure you're not going to melt while handling hot coffee, Ice Queen?" Regina answered.
"Try me."
...
Their first minutes in front of the coffee machine were awkward. Regina tried to keep herself busy prepairing coffee, while Elsa simply stared outside a window.
"Shit, this thing is not working anymore."
"I didn't know queens swore," Elsa commented, amused.
"Well, in this realm they do," Regina scoffed.
Elsa sighed. "I know you're worried. About him," the young woman started uncertainly.
"You're quite the perceptive sort, aren't you?" Regina couldn't keep the bite off her voice.
Elsa opened her mouth to speak but quickly closed it, at a loss for words. "I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said anything about it," she added sheepishly after a while. "But, if I may say it, it's clear you care about him. And you shouldn't hold yourself back. He's not well and deserves the support of all the people who care for him."
"I..." Regina bit her lip, restraining herself from commenting. Now it wasn't the time, or the place, to open up with another person - and what is more, a stranger.
"Well, thank you for your advice. Even if I didn't ask for it," she managed to say in the end.
"Of course," Elsa replied gently. "Anytime."
"This machine is out for good. Maybe it would be better if we called David... or one of the munchkins."
"Munchkins?"
"Dwarves. Or whatever they call themselves these days."
Elsa smirked good naturatedly, secretly appreciating the humor.
"You know, I wasn't always so comfortable with talking about my feelings. All my life I learnt to dissimulate what I really felt, to the point of appearing cold and heartless even to my own sister. But now I know that what really matters is what you give others selflessly and shamelessly. And that is love."
"You start to sound like Snow. To think that I liked you," Regina sighed.
Elsa however, didn't relent. "He needs you to be here for him. Stop trying to act his situation doesn't hurt you as well."
"Look, I don't know who you think you are but... you know nothing about me or Robin."
"You're right. What I do know about him though, is that he is a good and noble man who helped me, Anna and Kristoff through terrible times and who doesn't deserve what has happened to him. What I do know is that you clearly wish to be near him now but for some kind of reason you aren't."
"Oh, I assure you, there's a perfectly good reason."
"You mean his wife?"
Regina stared at her. "What do you -"
"I heard them talking in the forest before they found me. He... he was talking about you with Marian. He said he cared about you."
"Apparently, he does."
"So why aren't you with him?"
"Marian is more than capable to look after him now."
"Don't hold back because you're afraid of hurting, Regina. He cares about you, you care about him. You will regret now being there for him now."
She bit her lip hard. How could this young woman, who had just met her, know her so well already? Had Mary Margaret started a 'Let's help poor Regina' school?
"Regina! Thank God I found you!" David's breathless voice reached her ears.
"Oh, David, we were looking for you," Regina said lightly, spotting him in the doorway.
"I'm afraid what you need will have to be solved later," he replied, sounding agitated.
"Why? What happened?" Regina asked, her heart suddenly beating madly, her mind fearing the worst.
You will regret now being there for him now.
"Robin is not responding to treatments. We need your magic or he could die."
What do you think? Angry? Sad? Happy? Let me know!