His Beloved Constant
DISCLAIMER: I don't own the characters in this story and that is my curse.
NOTE: I was inspired by their brief scenes together in "Welcome to Storybrooke". This is told mainly from Archie's point of view but this may be a prequel to another story I'm planning where Regina decides to pay him a visit. I hope you like it and please do leave a review!
For now, here's what I have. Short, and hopefully, sweet.
In a life where everyday was just like the one before, she was his beloved constant.
His favorite part of every day was that brief, wonderful moment when their paths would cross and he would be able to greet her a heartfelt "Good morning."
And she didn't know it but he could only say that it was a beautiful day if he saw her first. It was the sight of her that made it a beautiful day for him.
It was a simple life and he had very little objection to it. It was ordered, regular, and consistent. Nothing much happened but at least, nothing went wrong. And that, in his perspective, was something to be thankful for. For as exciting and interesting as change could be, it also could also be dangerous and painful.
So he went about his daily routine, content with his quiet existence in a peaceful town. Nothing bad seemed to happen and everyone seemed accustomed to such a tranquil, uneventful life. Everyone but her.
He noticed how her mood seemed to change as time passed. While everyone else seemed resigned to his or her simple existence, she was growing more and more unsatisfied. Her smiles became less frequent and some days she didn't seem glad to even be awake. She would walk the same route and follow the same pattern, like everyone else, but she no longer seemed to enjoy it. And it pained him to see her so downcast. He missed her smiles but did not know how to bring them back.
He wondered what was bothering her but never dared approach her. Like everyone else in town, he was a bit in awe of the lovely mayor. She was a very private person and carried herself with such a regal air that she may have well been a queen.
And something in Dr. Hopper said that he would not mind being one of the subjects of such a dignified lady. But beyond his being almost reverential towards her, he felt a genuine concern for her. He wanted to know more about her. She knew everyone in town and everyone knew her but from what he had seen, she did not seem to have any real friends. True, she spent a lot of time with the Sheriff but somehow, there didn't seem to be any warmth in their relationship.
Whenever she was at Granny's, she would sit at the same spot at the counter, eating peacefully, all by herself. No one dare approach her, out of some sense of fear. And she seemed to prefer it that way. And yet, he thought she was a little bit lonely.
But she was a proud woman and would never admit any weakness. He knew that much. Nearly everyone in town had at one point visited him in his office to have a session or even just a short chat. But not her.
And that was disappointing. He would not want to impose himself on her, of course, but he could not help but hope that she would someday knock on his door. He longed to exchange more words than daily pleasantries. He wanted to unlock some of the mysteries behind the person he believed was the most beautiful woman in town.
But she was not someone to be influenced by others. Like a true queen, she did things in her own time. And if someday, she decided to show up at his office for a quick chat, he would be waiting. No matter how long it took, he would wait for her.
Until that time, he would have to be content with seeing her at the same spot every day, greeting her a good morning, and hoping her day would be as beautiful as his always was.