A/N: Hey everyone! Thanks for all your awesome responses. They really made me smile. And so, without further ado, here is the final chapter for you!

Chapter 4

"How do you see the world? Happy endings come not through events but through a shift in perception."
~Jane Tara, The Happy Endings Book Club

"Roland!"

"Mama!"

She can't help but feel good, watching a mother reunite with her lost son. Regina knows all too well how it feels, to return to a loved one that you've thought to be gone. It's the best feeling in the world, and though she and Marian don't get along, she's happy that the other woman is holding her son tightly. The look Roland gives her makes it all the more better.

"Thank you, Regina," Marian says quietly and Regina nods at her, before turning around to join the Charmings, Hook and her son. She feels Robin's eyes on her, but doesn't turn around. Instead, she wraps an arm around her son, ignoring the pang in her heart as she ignores the man she loves.

"Let's go home," Henry smiles softly at her and she nods.

"Let's."

A week later, she's at Granny's, enjoying her coffee when someone sits herself across from her. Regina raises her eyebrow at her unwanted companion, and rolls her eyes when said companion just ignores her questioning look and sips her own coffee. Peasants.

"Is there anything I can help you with? I prefer having my morning coffee alone," Regina says with just a hint of disdain. From across her table, Marian shrugs and still doesn't say anything, instead just sipping her hot cocoa. Needless to say, Regina is most definitely not comfortable as an awkward silence resonated between them.

"Is everything alright?" Regina tries again, willing herself to be empathetic.

When Marian still says nothing, Regina reminds herself that she has tried communicating with the woman in front of her and makes to excuse herself out of the very awkward situation she has been forced in

"Look, I really don't know what you – "

"Robin and I are separating."

Regina blinks at her as her jaw drops open, caught very much off guard. Well, that is most definitely the last thing she was expecting to hear. She just stares at Marian, however, patiently waiting for Marian to continue. For the first time since she so rudely interrupted Regina's breakfast, Marian fidgets.

"Well? Aren't you going to say something?"

"What do you want me to say, Marian?"

"Well, I most certainly expected a different reaction," Marian admits, crossing her arms across her chest.

"How exactly am I supposed to react to the news that the man I love is losing his own true love? That the little boy I love like a son is going to have to go through the agony of his parents separating?"

Marian says nothing, seemingly shocked at her honesty. Regina sighs again when she notices that more than half the diners' occupants are looking at them, and shakes her head at Snow when her stepdaughter makes to walk towards her. Regina just swings her bag across her shoulder and makes to leave, only stopping when Marian grabs her hand.

"He's not losing his true love," Marian shakes her head, and her eyes are sad as tears cloud them. "He's getting her back."

Regina freezes, waiting for Marian to continue. Instead, Marian just squeezes her hand and pulls it, gesturing for her to sit down. Regina complies, glaring at the other customers' who were blatantly watching them.

"Mind your own businesses before I curse your sorry lives again," she seethes loudly and grins triumphantly when most of the diners hastily avert their eyes and return to their meals. She smirks and shrugs at Snow and Charming's exasperated looks and turns back to Marian, surprised to find her smiling slightly.

"Talk," Regina commanded and narrows her eyes when Marian just rolls hers, not at all intimidated by her. Dammit. What does a former Evil Queen have to do to get a more satisfactory reaction?

"Things haven't been the same since I was taken. I've remained the same but he's changed. He's not the same man I fell in love with," Marian shrugs.

"Why are you telling me this?" Regina asks, trying to hide how fast her heart is racing. This cannot be happening.

"Because you're the reason he isn't the same man I fell in love with. You're the reason he cannot kiss me without feeling guilty. And you're the one he chooses to fight side by side with against every villain in this town."

"He volunteered his assistance to Snow and Char – "

"We both know that it's so that he can keep an eye on you and make sure you're safe," Marian calmly shuts her excuse down and Regina shuts her mouth. "Well?"

"Why are you so calm about this?" the former queen asks suspiciously and Marian just smiles sadly.

"I can't keep pretending, Regina," Marian says. "The man I love is in love with the woman who almost killed me. How screwed up is that?"

She wants to make a wise remark about how they're in Storybrooke, and hence, everything is screwed up. But she can't bring herself to say it when she looks at Marian. The lady in front of her has been through so much because of what she did when she was the Evil Queen, and Regina knows the least she could do is offer her sympathy.

"I'm sorry," she says instead.

Marian nods, and they continue their breakfast in silence, both women deep in thought, one of them reflecting about how much things have changed, and the other wanting to hope, but not bringing herself to, for her happy ending.

She stays in her vault after that for the rest of the day, not at all willing to deal with anything or anyone else. She's on the steps of the entrance, her hands on her lap as she just stares at the potions on the table when she feels his presence beside her.

"And how exactly did you get in here?" she raises her eyes and the boy beside her shrugs, much like his mother did that morning.

"Henry brought me here," Roland grins.

"Yeah? And where is Henry?"

"With Gretel," Roland makes a face as he says the girl's name and Regina laughs. Ever since the boys were rescued, Roland had been glued to Henry's hip, unless Gretel was around. Apparently, the six-year-old has a problem Henry's girlfriend. She doesn't blame him. She's not too fond of the girl either.

"And you're here because?"

"Mama and Papa are not together any more."

Well, straight to the point, then.

"I know," she tells him and when he puts his head on her shoulders, Regina automatically pulls him closer. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not," the boy mutters and she sighs, rubbing circles on his back when he starts to shake. "They were fighting too much. Besides, Papa loves you."

"I'm sorry, Roland," she says again and Roland just keeps silent, staying in her arms as he sobs. And even when he's done crying, they stay that way, only pulling away when she felt the buzz from her phone.

"That's probably Papa," Roland grins and she nods her head when she sees that he's right. She raises her eyes at him, silently asking him if his father knows that he's with her. The boy beside her has disappeared too many times. "He thinks I'm with Henry."

Regina shakes her head at him, grinning when he cutely raises his hands and innocently says, "What? I was!"

She rolls her eyes at him. The Hoods and their charm are going to be the death of her.

"That's still lying by omission," a new voice pipes and she turns around, heart racing as the newcomer settles himself on her other side. Robin smiles at her sadly as he regards his son, "Your mother's outside to take you home while I have a chat with Regina."

"Are you going to tell her you love her now?" Roland grins cheekily and Regina curses herself when she feels her cheeks warm. She must really be losing her Evil Queen status if a six-year-old has the ability to make her blush.

"Upstairs, now," Robin rolls his eyes. Roland kisses Regina on the cheek before he runs up the steps, winking at the Mayor. She gets up, and stands on the other side of the room, creating a space between her and Robin.

When he's sure that Roland's gone, Robin turns to her, his dimpled smile crossing his face even though it doesn't reach her eyes, "Hi."

She resists the urge to walk up to him, to take his face in her hands and kiss his worries away. But it isn't time for that yet. They're still broken, still emotionally drained from everything that's happened for the past two years. There were still things to talk about, questions she needed to ask him and insecurities that had to be addressed.

Instead, she gives him a small smile of her own and says, "We have to stop meeting like this."

A/N: And this is where we end this story. I really hope you guys enjoyed this. I don't think I'll be continuing it anymore as this is a Regina and Roland story. As much as I love Outlaw Queen, I haven't really been able to capture their awesomeness in my writing. Until I think I do, there really won't be much of a continuation. Thanks once again for the follows and the lovely reviews! :)