Actually I'm not all that happy with this. It's Marian centric, so you'll have to decide if you'll like it.

BTW there have been some request to write a sequel to Regina's Secret. You'll find it at the bottom!

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

I don't own OUAT.

Negotiations

The telly is running in the background. Regina's fighting to keep her eyes open but she is losing the battle against sleep rapidly. Her eyes drop and she doesn't manage to lift the lids another time. It's the blare of the doorbell that rouses her from sleep quite harshly.

She staggers to the door – with all the excitement in the past weeks she was barely able to get any sleep. Excitement being the working term, because really between fighting the Snow Queen and finding a cure for Marian's sickness she didn't really have the time to find a better word. So she's sleep deprived and actually she's not even sure if she wants to sleep. Afraid of the nightmares that would undoubtedly plague her. Nightmares of all the bad she's done, of Robin and Marian (freshly unfrozen and beautiful and healthy and oh-so-good-and-pure) or of Emma and Henry (a happy family without her).

Regina is wide awake in seconds however once she recognises the person standing on her front porch. "Marian!"

The woman's eyes dart around nervously not looking directly at her, she shifts from one foot to the other and Regina simply stands in the doorframe grobsmacked.

"Ah, I'm sorry. Please come in, Marian."

She follows Regina to the living room.

"I'd offer you something, but I highly doubt you'd trust me enough to take it. Therefore, how may I help you?"

"I wanted to thank you. You have saved my life and well… thank you."

Regina rolls her eyes, "No reason to thank me, dear. I did kill you the first time around."

"But you did save me. I thank you for that," Marian insists.

Regina gives her an uncomfortable nod and half-shrugs. Gratefulness is not something she's used to and this situation is almost painfully awkward, considering all that happened between her and Robin – Marian's husband Robin. So she is glad when the telephone rings and relieves her of this intolerable silence between her and Marian, only lightened by the noises coming from the television.

"I'll be right back – please feel free to sit down," Regina feels obligated to add the last sentence. She doesn't particularly enjoy Marian's company (it's rude she knows, but she can't look at beautiful, pure Marian that is so much better for Robin than her, without feeling the bitterness creeping into her heart).

Henry's on the other end of the line and Regina finds herself uncaring that she has a guest, because it's Henry and he's her son and she feels like she barely gets to see him. They make plans for the weekend and she is surprised to find Marian still sitting in her living room.

She stares mesmerised at the screen and laughs at something. A look at the telly tells Regina that an episode of FRIENDS is playing. The very first episonde "The Pilot" for probably the millionths re-run. And Marian is choking on air from laughing.

Indecisive Regina stands in the middle of the room. She doesn't really know what to do in a situation like this. It's not every day after all that you have your ex-lover's resurrected wife laughing at a sitcom while sitting on your couch. She misses being the Evil Queen from time to time – but as it is Regina doesn't want to ask Marian to leave (and it's not because of Robin – at least not exclusively). In the end Regina simply settles on the couch and watches with Marian. FRIENS was kind of, sort of a classic anyway.

…R&R…

After the first episode, the second follows and Regina somehow ends up getting the DVD Box down and throws it in so they can watch a few more episodes. It's a surprisingly fun night. She thinks in a way they could have been friends – if it weren't for their less-than-pleasant history together.

"I probably should go," Marian yawns. "Thank you very much, Your Majesty."

"Regina will suffice."

"Thank you – Regina."

On her way home Marian wonders what has gotten over her. She spent half the night with the woman who once killed her – apparently, then again she never had gotten killed because Emma had taken her into the future. And could one really hate somebody because of something they might have done in another timeline but it never really happened for her. This time travel thing is every bit as confusing as this strange new world with the magic box they call TV.

When she arrives at camp she's not surprised to find that Robin did not wait up for her (it hurts still because there was a time he claimed he could not sleep without her). Roland is fast asleep and she kisses his forehead softly and smiles.

Robin is about to doze off and Marian slips under the covers carefully and he starts from the verge of sleep.

"Re…Marian?"

It's like a knife to the heart but Marian pretends not to have heard him (just like she pretends to ignore whatever stands between them now, that she's back). Without a word Marian lays down next to her husband. The air is heavy between them and Robin makes no move to draw her into his arms – like he used to. He tosses around for a bit, before turning away from her to lie on his side – the opposite way she has found him when she came in earlier. But Marian isn't yet ready to give up her husband, so she turns into his direction and wraps an arm around his waist. She tries not to feel how Robin stiffens under her touch.

…R&R…

Two weeks later Regina opens her front door to find Marian waiting on the other side.

"May I come in?"

Regina blinks in surprise and the determined tone and steps aside. She manages to hide her confusion. Once again Regina leads Marian to the spacious living room and asks her to take a seat. Marian declines.

"So – how may I help you?" Regina asks and picks up the empty wine glass. She indulged last night but having the other woman here Regina feels very self-conscious about any untidiness (and her weaknesses – like drinking a glass of wine alone and lonely).

"I heard everything, you know," Marian starts. Regina gives her a blank stare and Marian continues. "Beneath the ice – I heard everything."

For a second Regina wonders what this has to do with her and then she remembers with sudden clarity what Robin confessed to her after true loves kiss didn't work. That he was in love with her.

"I see," Regina answers stiffly.

"Robin will not fall in love with me again. He won't love me - not the way I love him. Not since he met you."

"And what do you expect me to do about it?" it comes out harsher than Regina intended. Fear chokes her throat. Because there is only one option – only one thing Marian could ask of her. A memory potion that will erase every memory of her from Robin's mind. And Regina will give it to her, because she has taken everything from that woman, and that pure, innocent woman is the woman Robin deserves to be with. Not the vile, evil villain that she is. And, Regina thinks, maybe it is for the best – for Robin and maybe even for her. She can move forward, she'll take her happy ending, not take one from Robin. She won't get the one she so desperately wants but maybe there's another.

"I want a divorce," Marian's voice cuts through Regina's thoughts and her head shots up so fast she might have whiplash now.

"Excuse me, what did you say?" Bewilderment doesn't even come close to how Regina feels. Surely she misheard.

"I've been in this land for some time and… Well, things here are very different from the way they are in the Enchanted Forest. There, once a wife is left by her husband she loses everything – including her honour, but here… Things here are different. Women are powerful here, they decide their fates on their own, they ae respected, make their own choices and leave a man, if they are not happy."

"You're not happy?"

Marian simply gives her a sad smile in return. Marian remembers the woman she met a few weeks ago. In a nice café where she was supposed to meet Robin and he arrived almost half an hour too late (Roland had refused to go to pre-school until Snow White had picked him up personally). That woman had told her about her marriage and how she left her husband when she found out about his affair with his secretary. She had seen how miserable Marian was with the way things were, she offered her a job at her clothing store and a perspective for a life without a husband. "I'm happier now. He made me feel not good enough and I hated it. Now I make it on my own and I have something to be proud of" she said and Marian spent a lot of time wondering… She has made her decision.

"Why? I mean Robin and I we're…" Regina tries to understand.

"I doesn't matter," Marian fights tears down. "I love Robin, I do. But he doesn't look at me the way he used to, I can't make him happy, no matter how hard I try. He'll leave me sooner or later, because despite it all, my husband is an honest man, he won't be able to keep running from his feelings. He loves you – as much as it hurts to admit it. And I won't wait for him to leave me, because this will be my choice, on my terms." She smile at Regina. "Please make him happy again."

Regina straightens up. No, she does not deserve Robin. Marian is the better woman, she was willing to let him go. Only… she's also a selfish woman and she can feel that Robin is pained just as much as she is. He tried to talk to her several times but she always avoided him or shut him down immediately. It might be the selfish thing, but if Marian lets him go and Robin wants to be with her (she finds it hard to believe that he does, but… there's just something that makes her reluctantly believe), then she will be with him without a second thought.

"And why exactly are you telling me about your plans?"

"I asked around. You're a divorce lawyer. I want you to be mine."

…R&R…

Robin queues up in the supermarket waiting to pay for his pack of biscuits – the one Roland loves so much. He's deeply in thought, because the longer this situation with Marian goes on, the worse he gets and the worse she gets and he knows he must talk to her soon.

A piercing wail startles him from his mind and he locks eyes with John who's waiting with him. Together they exit the line and look for the source of the disturbance. They find it in the form of a hysteric baby and his stressed out mother.

"Neal, shush. Calm down, my sweet," Snow rocks the baby from one side to the other and offers him his pacifier. They are surrounded by cornflakes, which –most likely used to be in one of the packages once.

Robin and John help clean up around her and Snow sends them a grateful smile. "Thank you so much!" Finally the toddler calms down.

A sharp sounds makes him look up, it reminds him of Regina – the clicking of heels against the tiles. It gets louder and the three turn just in time to see Regina round the corner. Robin's eyes are drawn to her and they soften as they take her in. He opens his mouth but no words come out (it's been to long since he saw her and every time he tries to talk to her she turns and runs the other way – and so he drinks her appearance in).

To his surprise however she doesn't turn upon seeing him instead she approaches him straight on and his heartbeat picks up.

"Ah, Robin!" Her smile is all business, but her eyes are twinkling in a way he's not sure means something good for him (but he likes it still).

John tenses next to him, but Robin can't keep the bright smile from his lips (one that reaches his eyes – the first one in weeks).

She reaches in her purse, pulls out a heavy envelope and offers it to him. He takes it with confusion in his eyes. Regina nods satisfied. "You've just been served."

Then she turns around and he's left to stare at her retreating back.

"Oh no," Snow pulls the air in sharply through her teeth.

Robin blinks rapidly and feels rather baffled. He has no idea what just happened, so he rips the envelope open and his eyes skims over the pages. Robin almost drops the letter once he comprehends its content.

"Marian… she wants a divorce," his voice is tonelessly. The turmoil in his mind is hard to describe and he is ashamed (so very very ashamed) when he finds the strongest of emotions is relief. He cannot be with Marian (has been afraid to admit it), he loves Regina (but his consciousness, his code have kept him from pursuing her). He didn't want to leave Marian alone on her own. Still can't, won't. Whatever is what Marian needed, he'd see to it. She was the mother of his son and despite having no future, they have a past, and they'll be connected through it forever.

"Oh, that's a problem," Snow says, she reads the letter over his shoulders.

"What is?" it's John who asks.

Snow gives Robin a pitiful look, "Regina is Marian's lawyer. You're screwed."

…R&R…

"We should not forget either, that Robin later courted the very same woman who was once most likely responsible for his wife's death," Regina's cold voice cuts through the room.

"That is you!" Robin yells in a mixture of disbelief and indignation.

He understands that the terms of their divorce need to be clear and Robin is willing to give Marian whatever she wants. However now it is about Roland and he shall do whatever it takes to keep his son (of course he has no plan to keep Roland from Marian - the boy needs his mother – but Robin needs his son). And really he cannot believe Regina would go that far… they talked only hours ago. He kept apologising and telling her he loved her (her eyes had softened – he had not imagined it) and she had told him they needed to do this later. And he'd wait – he'd wait forever for her.

"Well, neither should we forget that Mrs. Locksley hired that very same woman as her attorney," Robin's lawyer replies without missing a beat (he's good, Robin is really glad that he is good).

Regina gives the opposing council a deadly glare, "One simply wonders what kind of people Roland meets. Considering she is the Evil Queen."

Robin's mouth falls open; he is too shocked for words. Regina is using herself against him (and for Marian), but never ever should anyone declare her a bad influence on Roland, because she is not (and if it had been anyone else claiming it, Robin would have had their head).

"Roland is five, he spent his entire life with his father. You cannot seriously propose to take him from the person he relates closest to. He barely knows his mother," Robin's lawyer protest.

Robin flinches (as does Regina but she'll never show it).

"Well," Regina says busily. "We agree on that, which is why we'd like to bring forward our proposal. We suggest shared custody. Roland will stay with Mr. Locksley and spent the weekends with my principal. Later, once Roland got used to the new situation and when he had a chance to get to know his mother, we'd like to extend the stays and divide the time between both parents equally."

(Emma and her share a similar agreement and Regina must admit she quite likes how happy it makes Henry and how surprisingly well it works).

"That's…" Robin interrupts whatever it is his attorney wants to say.

"I agree." He only wants what's best for Roland (and Marian) and he's happy they both will know each other and be in the other's life.

"Very well," Regina nods satisfied. It was an easy case really… Marian insisted on being civil (and Robin wanted this as well). At first Marian was determined to get Roland to live with her, but Regina explained to her, that it was going to be hard to find a judge who'd rip Roland from his usual environment and father.

"Given his job as forester and the associated pay, Mr. Locksley is very much able to pay alimony. However since Marian has already found a job and is able to support herself, she'd like to use the money to open up a trust fund for Roland."

…R&R…

"Marian!" Robin hastens after his wife - ex-wife. "I… I don't know what to tell you. I… I am sorry Marian. I'm so very sorry. I – I was a coward and I'm sorry I hurt you. I never meant to do that."

Her eyes drop to the floor. He did hurt her. She thought their love was eternal, that it would last forever, but she was wrong and it hurts. She let him go, because she loves him and she knows, he would have left her for Regina sooner rather than later. She isn't willing to be that woman, to be a victim or to accept a marriage with a man who doesn't love her (not the way he used to), a man who looks at another woman and wishes to be with her. This new world respects woman with or without a husband and she'll always have her son. He is the most important thing in this world to her. She loves Robin still, but she also knows she'll get over it, because she has Roland and she lets Robin go because despite it all, she wants him to be happy (and she is no longer the one to do that for him).

So when Robin looks at her with his pained blue eyes, she manages a sad smile for him, "Robin… I, I do hope we can be friends. I truly do."

"I do as well. If you ever need something, all you have to do is tell me. I will always be there for you." He smiles somewhat lighter than before and his eyes wander to the door behind her.

"Go," Marian demands. "I'm grateful for the time we've had and for Roland, but I don't want to be the thing that makes you unhappy. So go to her."

"Marian…"

There's this part of her that hopes that he'll refuse (the same part of her that hoped he'd come to her to stop the divorce and ask her to give them another chance – he didn't).

"… thank you."

He gives her an honest smile (one of the few truthful ones he gave her since she came to this land – one that reaches his eyes) and then he walks past her. Her heart bleeds a little as she watches him go (to Regina, always to Regina), but from now on she won't look back. She'll move forward and take every chance she'd get.

…End…

Sequel

"Regina's Secret":

"What are you hiding behind your backs?" Robin frowns.

The minute he laid eyes on them, they desperately and highly nervously tried to hide something from him. And Robin does not like that one bit. The look in their eyes speaks of guilt and that is not something he particularly likes.

"Nothing… we… nothing," Tuck laughs anxiously.

"John! Give it to me," Robin sets his eyes on his right hand man, who also seems to be the one holding whatever they were trying to keep from him. Robin extends his hand in demand. The men shift around nervously, Robin swears some of them are looking for the fastest way away from him.

Hesitantly the men give up the catalogue (very much worn out by now).

"Really men," with a shake of his head, Robin browses through the pages. Perfectly understandable that his men would fall for the temptations this world has to offer at some point, but Robin does wonder why they all share this one single magazine. It does seem somewhat odd… and – did they mark the women they especially liked?

His frown deepens, something about that woman seems awfully familiar… and about the other one too, he knows the garments they are wearing… His eyes widen.

"Men?" his voice is dangerously calm and low. "Why are some of these women specifically marked?"

It's time like these that Robin is very grateful most of his men are terrible at lying or making up stories.

"Well, it's…" John gulps and gets hot all over. "We… and the fairy… and the Queen…"

Robin stares at his men in utter disbelief. He's torn between amusement and anger, but anger does seem to be the more prominent feeling.

…R&R…

"Where did you get this from? Who gave it to you?" Regina's voice is deadly and she nails every single Merry Men with her glare.

John gulps, "The fairy… she…"

Regina's eyes narrow, "Tinkerbell!" she hisses. She turns her back to them and leaves them standing in her dust. She didn't even take back the catalogue.

…R&R…

"I can't believe they'd do something like that!" Robin throws his arms up in anger.

"I can't believe Tinkerbell said I should be grateful to her!" Regina agrees huffing.

Robin was beside himself with anger. His men – HIS MEN used this… this magazine to imagine his – HIS love in lacy undergarments. What they did with their mental picture - he'd really rather not go down that road.

He looks up to see Regina shaking next to him. Her shoulder quiver and tremors run through her body. They made her cry… he'll definitely kill them now. The he hears a snort and he grabs her by the elbow to make her face him immediately.

"Are you laughing?" he asks in disbelief.

Her hand presses on her mouth to muffle the laughter, "Well, it is a bit ridiculous. I mean now I finally get why they always were so nervous when I was around…"

Robin bits his lip, he doesn't actually find it funny at all, but her laughter is contagious (and he loves it, hasn't heard it nearly often enough – and it's his damn right to enjoy her happiness).

"Regina, this is not ridiculous. My men – they have… about you…"

"Is that jealousy I'm hearing?" she mocks with amusement lacing her voice.

"Regina…" his tone gets tense, when she makes her way over to him. There's a fire in her eyes and heat floods through his entire being.

"You know – they have the magazine with the models, but I have been wondering if maybe you'd like to see it on the real thing?"

His eyes darken and he growls as he pulls her into a kiss. Let them have the damned magazine, he was the only man actually allowed to see Regina in her underwear – and out of it.

So that was that! Thanks for sticking with me