I am a glutton for punishment. I have started a new story. The show left us with quite a mess and this is my attempt to fix it. I know that several others are doing the same thing (and probably better than I) but I wanted to 'throw my hat in the ring' as well. I am going to avoid reading other takes on this for the time being so any similarities are not intended. I know that there will be similarities, our Regina is heart-broken.

If you are looking for a story that villainizes Marian than this is not the one for you. I have an outline done of where I want to go but if this is any thing like 'A Sliver of Hope,' that is bound to change. Updates will not be as quick for this story either, I will try my best. I have written this in both Regina and Robin's POV's

I just want to remind people that I am no professional and I may have very well had "beginner's luck" with ASOH. Haha! I thank all those who wanted to see me write another story and I hope that I do not let you down.

A BIG thank you to Jacky, who graciously offered to beta this for me. She went above and beyond and made this much more 'readable' than it was previously. You are amazing!

Regina felt a familiar fury rise in her as she stared into Emma's apologetic eyes. Every instinct in her body screamed at her to inflict pain. She took a deep breath, her body trembled as she slowly released it, trying to soothe the rage that had built inside of her.

"Regina, I swear I didn't know," the blonde repeated. Emma looked perplexed, her eyes in constant movement. It looked as if she was trying to come up with a quick solution to the problem she had caused. Trying to resolve the situation in a way that no one's heart ended up shattered to pieces.

Regina's gaze tore away from Emma's when she heard a whisper across the room, a voice she had grown accustomed to over the last couple of days. A masculine timbre that had sighed her name in between passion filled kisses. Only the name that escaped past his lips now was not hers. She watched Robin bury his head into another woman's hair. A woman who he thought had been long dead. His wife. The mother of his child. His face was a mixture of disbelief and unbridled joy. Regina's chest tightened and a sudden light-headedness consumed her. She wobbled slightly and grabbed the counter before her legs could give out. She tried to hold off the tears that formed in her eyes, not give into the pain that was wreaking havoc on her heart as the family in front of her reunited. As she watched her second chance end before it had ever really begun. Emma was too late. It was once again her heart that was being torn apart, it was once again she who would not get the happily ever after. Some things never changed.

Regina startled when she heard Robin speak louder, her ears drawn to the sound as a bee to honey. She watched his hand caress Marian's head, his fingers tangling in her long, brown hair. Regina could still recall the feel of his touch when his fingers had brushed through her own hair just earlier that day. Her heart clenched. The lion tattoo etched on his wrist mocked her, she tried to tear her eyes away from the taunting ink but found herself unable. Regina's attention was not the only one captivated, almost all the occupants of Granny's were watching as husband and wife reunited.

"Marian," his voice trembled, "I...I don't understand. How...How is this possible?" Regina could see his bottom lip quiver as he tried to control the emotions plaguing him. "You were dead," a soft sob escaped his lips, he was no longer able to hold it back. Regina could not stop the tear that slipped free while she watched Robin struggle with his confusion.

Marian shook her head slowly back and forth, "No," she said, one hand cupped Robin's cheek as the other held a desperate grip on Roland. "I was saved," she explained. "Before Emma arrived, I was set to be executed in the morning on royal orders given by the Evil Queen." Marian broke Robin's gaze, her head turned to look at Regina, her eyes accusing but still fearful. Regina's stomach lurched at the revelation. All eyes in the diner turned to face her, most eyes wide but unsurprised, many having already experienced a personal loss that was caused from her wrath in the past.

"Regina?" Her gaze ripped from Marian's as she heard him whisper her name. Their eyes locked, his were confused, overwhelmed. Regina knew that his mind must be caught between knowing the woman that he had held in his arms just hours before and finally getting a true glimpse, a personal reality, of the woman she had been back then, the Evil Queen. A woman who had shown mercy to no one especially when it had come to those who had given Snow White an ounce of kindness, assisting her in anyway. It had been she who had taken his Marian away. Regina couldn't even remember the woman but there had been so many men and women that had been sent to her dungeons, that had been sent to their death on her call. She would never be able to remember them all. It made her physically ill to think that Marian, Robin's Marian, had been one of them. He'd hate her. Her world began to spin at that very thought, she knew she would be sick at any moment. She had to get out of there. As she watched Robin take a step towards her, her hands came up and she disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke.

Regina disappeared in a blink of an eye. A purple haze slowly evaporated around him. Robin stood there shell-shocked staring at the empty spot where she had just been standing. His heart hammered in his chest, his mind raced from one thought to another. Marian was here, she was alive. Regina had…. He closed his eyes trying to make sense of all the conflicting emotions in his heart. How did everything get so damn complicated in a matter of minutes?

He felt a hand grip his, "Robin?" Marian questioned, pulling him out of his daze. He turned to look at her, still not quite believing that she was there, that this was not a dream he would awake from at any moment. He had dreamed of her constantly when he had first lost her. The dreams had faded over time though. Lately, particularly this last year, his dreams had been filled with another woman. His eyes lingered where Regina had previously stood before giving his full attention back to Marian….his wife. He swallowed nervously, unsure of what to say, unsure of what to do. He was in complete shock.

"Is she gone?" Marian asked, her voice shook clearly still frightened.

Before Robin had a chance to answer Roland's voice interrupted, "Where'd Regina go Papa?

Robin looked at his innocent son, the boy looked completely bewildered by Regina's disappearance.

"I….I….," Robin stuttered. He was unsure of how to answer Roland. He didn't know where Regina had gone. He didn't know how Marian was here alive. Hell, he didn't know much of anything at that moment.

He caught movement out of the corner of his eye and watched Henry hastily make his way towards the exit. Emma brushed past him and Marian, calling out to him, "Henry, maybe it's best if we give her space," she said. Her voice waivered as if she were unsure if that was the best idea or not.

The boy quickly turned to stare at her. His eyes firm, his mind made up. "I have to make sure she is alright," he argued. His stance clearly told Emma he was ready for a fight, a fight he was hellbent on winning. Robin found himself relieved, happy that Regina's son was willing to fight for his mother, that he was not going to back down in making sure she was well.

Emma didn't argue. "I'll come with you," she told him.

"No." Henry said, defiance in his voice. At Emma's hurt look, Henry's face softened, "I don't think you are someone she would want to see right at this moment."

"I'll go with him," Snow stated from across the room, handing her newly born son to David. Henry nodded his approval as she walked across the diner to join him.

When the two turned to leave, Robin found himself stepping forward, his body seemed to move on its own accord. "Henry," he called out. Henry stopped and turned to look at him. The diner hushed in anticipation of what he would say. Robin froze, suddenly unable to speak. There was so much he wanted to tell the boy but yet the words would not form. A soft touch on his arm reminded him just where he was and who was there. Marian. Henry held his gaze, a knowing look on his face. A look that held a wisdom that most boy's that age could not even fathom. Henry quickly nodded his head, acknowledging Robin, before turning around and leaving the diner with Snow White.

He felt Marian tug on his sleeve with a bit more force. "Robin can we leave this place?" she whispered. Her face was pale, frightened, bewildered. Robin felt guilty for not being able to recognize, before now, how strange this must be for her. A foreign land, he and Roland being here, Regina. His mind whispered her name.

He cleared his throat, "Of course," he said. Marian was his responsibility, his wife. She was scared and she needed to be cared for. Of course he would care for her. He loved her. He grabbed her hand. His eyes scanned the room, looking at the people who he had gotten to know over the last year. People who he had fought along side in the battle against Zelena, the Wicked Witch. Some of them looked happy for him. Others tried to avoid staring to allow them some privacy and the few that he had shared a closer bond with looked at him with sympathy knowing that this situation was not as simple as his wife being given back to him, that the circumstances were more complicated than that. There was one particular pair of eyes that regarded him and Marian intensely, a pair of eyes that shook him to his very core.

"Tinkerbell told me it was possible to love again. She led me to this tavern, to a man who she said I was destined to be with. I never saw his face, but….I did see his tattoo."

"It was me?"

"Yes."

Looking into the fairy's eyes, Robin's heart grew heavy. His stomach rolled and he felt physically ill.

Tinkerbell broke eye contact first. She stood and walked past him, leaving Granny's, with a certain determination in her walk. Robin knew from her look, from her step, that it would be the fairy that would find Regina first. His heart longed to follow but his mind knew he must care for Marian. Give her shelter, provide her safety. It was always difficult to feel at peace when your heart and your mind were at odds with one another.

Regina appeared in the middle of her office. She knew her home would be the first place people would look for her. She had no desire to be found. She stumbled towards the bathroom knowing she would not be able to hold down the contents of her stomach much longer. She made it just in time. She fell to the ground beside the porcelain bowl throwing up until all she could do was produce dry heaves. Once done, she placed her forehead against the cool ceramic. She took some deep breaths in an attempt to calm her racing heart, trying to settle her stomach. Marian was here. Robin's Marian. His wife. The love of his life. The woman he would walk through hell for to get back….was back. To make matters worse it was she who had sentenced Marian to die. Her past as the Evil Queen just would not let her go. Redemption seemed like a thing that she would never be able to achieve nor deserve. Robin had been the one person in her life that had been untouched by her villainous past but that was no longer the case. She always seemed to end up hurting the people she cared about whether it was intentional or not. He would never forgive her. The confused, betrayed look on his face back at Granny's haunted her thoughts. She felt her stomach lurch and she got sick once again.

After there was nothing left in her stomach, Regina slowly made her way out of the bathroom. She was exhausted. She tripped over the rug as she walked almost falling to the ground. If anyone could see her she was sure they would think she was drunk. She caught sight of the sofa. There was nothing more she wanted to do than to lie down, close her eyes and forget….just for a little while.

Her steps halted when her eyes fell on the scattered picnic lunch on the floor. Her memory flashed to the afternoon spent there with Robin. Slow, heated kisses. Sharing her deepest, most intimate thoughts. Experiencing the wonderment of having someone care for her. Finally feeling pure happiness.

Words and empty promises echoed around her. "It is possible to find love again." "Your heart will find it's way to happiness….don't let anything hold you back."

A second chance? What a fool she had been. She had unwisely listened to others when she knew it was only her own heart that had always told her the truth. She was not worthy of a second chance. She was not worthy of love. Suddenly she was angry. Angry with Snow White and angry with Tinkerbell for filling her head with romantic nonsense. Mostly she was angry with herself, furious that she had allowed herself to believe that she could be happy again. That Robin was her second chance.

She stormed towards the picnic remnants. She picked up one of the wine glasses and with a cry of outrage, she hurled it towards the still burning fire. The explosion of glass breaking gave her a small thrill of satisfaction. She picked up the other glass and slammed it down as well. She picked up the half full wine bottle and with all the force she could muster she threw it at the wall. She watched it shatter, the red wine dripping down the wall. It looked like blood, taunting her, reminding her of all the people that had died by her hand. Her breath came out fast and uneven as she surveyed the damage she had caused. While throwing the glassware had momentarily given her joy it quickly vanished as the pain of losing Robin, losing the bliss she had felt, once again overwhelmed her.

There was a soft knock at the door and Regina froze. She did not want to see anyone. If she ignored it long enough they would go away. Another knock echoed throughout the room followed by an insistent voice, "Regina, I know you are in there. I could hear the smashing of glass. Let me in."

Regina growled hearing the fairy's voice. The perky blonde had picked the wrong time to intrude. Regina walked across the room. As she opened the door she met the fairy with a fiery, cold stare. "How dare you show your face here," she sneered.

Tinkerbell stared back at her but she did not speak.

"Did you enjoy yourself?" Regina continued. "Did you enjoy making me feel like a fool? Watching me open myself up to someone, only to have it come crashing down minutes later." She pointed an accusative finger at the fairy, "You said it was possible to find love again, you said pixie dust never failed." She grew louder the more she ranted, "You said I could be happy again. Well guess what Tinkerbell?" she snarled, "I've lost once again."

"Regina," Tink finally spoke, her voice gentle, "Who says the story is over?"

Regina let out a bitter laugh, "Did you not see the happy reunion that took place at Granny's? Robin has his true love back. The choice is very clear, hell there is no choice to be made," she said.

The fight seemed to leave Regina sorrow once again taking over. She walked back towards the sofa muttering, "Damn you Tinkerbell, damn you for showing me that lion tattoo."

Regina let out a soft sob and fell to the ground. Glass pierced her knees and her legs as she finally let the tears escape, finally mourned the man, the second chance that was no longer hers. Tink went to her side. She slid down on the floor beside the queen, one of her hands rubbing up and down her back in an attempt to comfort. The fairy said nothing and just allowed Regina to grieve.

Robin led Marian through the rows of trees, taking her to where he and his men had set up camp in Storybrooke. He could tell she was more relaxed in a setting that was familiar to her. Her arms were around Roland, who had fallen asleep in her embrace. He kept glancing back to make sure she was real, still not quite believing that she was here with them again. She had died and he had mourned her. He could not wrap his mind around how any of this was possible. Having only heard tiny pieces of a much grander tale, he knew they must sit down and talk. For now though it was imperative he provided a safe haven.

When they neared the camp, Robin turned to her. "Perhaps it is best if I go ahead, warn the men. This will come as quite a shock," he told her.

She nodded in agreement and Robin went ahead without her.

John noticed him arrive and stood, a cheeky grin on his face. "I didn't expect you back tonight friend. I thought you were dining with her majesty," he teased.

Little John must have been able to tell by the look on his face that something had happened. "Robin, what is it?" He stepped forward, his eyes panicked. "Has something happened to Roland?"

"No," Robin reassured him, "It's...complicated."

John's eyes widened in complete shock as he looked past Robin, "Marian?" he whispered.

"Little John!" she cried out, relieved to see another familiar face in this strange new world she had entered. Robin watched her stumble forward, still mindful of Roland, towards John. She wrapped her free arm around him, holding on as tight as she could. John stood there dumbfounded, his hands sticking out behind her in shock.

"Why don't we all sit down and inform Little John of everything that has happened these past couple of hours," Robin said, he grasped Marian's arm to lead her to a log that layed around the fire. The night air had brought a chill that was cooler than anything Robin had experienced in this land, yet. The three sat down and Marian went on to explain what had befallen her the last twenty four hours.

When Marian finished, John finally found his voice, "The Queen held you prisoner?" he questioned. Robin's heart sparked at the mention of Regina. He could tell that Little John was confused, he had come to know a brazen, but not evil, queen over the last year.

"Yes. The Evil Queen," she confirmed.

Robin's head snapped up at the evil moniker, "She is not evil," he said, his first instinct to defend Regina. When faced with Marian's bewildered face, his tone softened, "She is no longer the Evil Queen. She has changed," he told her. He swallowed. The feelings that swirled in the pit of his stomach were complicated. Memories of soft touches, of fervent kisses, of breathless whispers with the raven haired queen assaulted him. He needed to change the topic. "It is getting late," he said, "You must be weary Marian. We should rest."

Marian started at him for a few moments, searching him, before she relented. "I am tired," she confessed.

Roland stirred as she went to stand, his small eyes fluttering open to land on Marian's face. She smiled warmly at him. Roland's eyes widened in fear at the unfamiliar woman who held him. He was still disoriented from sleep, not able to remember the previous hours right away. He whimpered, "Papa," and Robin was there in an instant. He took his son from Marian's arms, cradling him to his chest, soothing his soft cries. Marian looked mortified that her son considered her as a stranger.

"It has been over three years for us Marian," he told her, trying to make her understand. He wouldn't include the twenty-eight years that had been frozen during the curse.

"It's only been six months for me," she whispered. "I missed so much of his life," she cried out. Robin reached out a hand to touch her shoulder, trying to give her some comfort.

"Let me put him down, then we can talk," he said. He moved to lie Roland down and his eyes drifted open once more, "Papa?" he questioned.

"Yes Roland," he whispered.

Roland let out a content sigh at hearing his father's voice. He continued, his eyes barely able to stay open, "Will we see Regina tomorrow?" Robin's breath hitched at his question. The young boy was very fond of Regina, he had enjoyed spending time with her ever since she had saved him from that flying monkey in the Enchanted Forest. That seemed so long ago now. Before Robin could answer, Roland was fast asleep. He closed his eyes in relief, thankful that he could avoid the question. He leaned his head against his son's and placed a soft kiss on his temple.

As he made his way back to Marian he couldn't help but feel grateful that she too had fallen asleep in his absence. He had so many questions about where she had been during those missing six months. Things seemed off in her timeline, if she had only just been arrested two days ago by the Black Knights where had she been the remainder of the time? Her slumber would give him time to wrap his head around this entire situation, give him time to adjust to this new reality, to sort out all the questions he needed answered.

Robin sat there looking at his wife that he had thought was gone, he knew that he should be overjoyed by her return. Of course he was elated that she was indeed alive. Roland deserved to know her, what a beautiful woman she was. Yet, deep in his heart he couldn't stop but feel that even though he had found something wonderful he knew that he had also potentially lost something very profound.

As usual, I would love to know what you thought! Are you interested in seeing the story continue?