Never Be The Same
Regina knocked on Robin's apartment door with shaky hands. She was nervous and scared. This would be the first time she would be seeing the town line, where he was going to tell her he loves her. But she was scared then too, and said, "I know."
Now, more than ever, she wanted to hear it from her soulmate. Regina knew she would probably be even more heartbroken seeing Robin's happy family together, but she needed to warn him about Marian. Well, Zelena. Damn, this situation couldn't get any more messed up.
"Robin. Robin open up!" Regina begged, her voice wavering. She closed her eyes, knowing there was a chance Robin wouldn't want to answer. He had Roland, the mother of his son, a life without villains ruining the day, why would he ever want to come back to Storybrooke, let alone see her again?
Just as Regina was about to turn away, Regina's soulmate opened his apartment door. Robin froze. Standing in front of him was Regina. Oh. My God. Regina! He thought he'd never see her again!
"Regina?" Robin whispered, already coming towards her, arms outstretched, ready for an embrace. Regina wrapped her arms around Robin, never wanting to let go again. Neither did Robin.
"W-what are you doing here?" Robin asked, still not fully believing that his ex girlfriend was right here with him now in New York City. Regina sighed at the thought that he cared. He wasn't going to push her away.
"I missed you," Regina whispered, not sure her voice could manage anymore volume. Robin was right here. Right in front of her.
"And I you. What's going on? Why are you here?" Robin asked, a million questions swarming through his head. He wanted to make sure Regina wasn't in any trouble. Then, he noticed she wasn't alone. Tagging along was the savior, and a new girl he's never seen in Storybrooke before.
"I can explain everything. But first, where is Marian?" Regina asked in a rushed manor. Regina needed to save Robin from her sister as soon as possible. It was her fault he was in this mess. If he never met her, Robin wouldn't even be dealing with the Wicked Bitch right now.
"She's at the store. Why?" Robin asked, even more fear coating his voice. He looked Regina in the eyes, and also saw fear in them. What was she scared of?
"Good. Then there's still time. But we have to act fast." Regina pushed Robin into his apartment, quickly followed by Emma and Lily. Of course they left the door open.
"What's this about?" Robin asked, getting annoyed that no one would answer his questions. Regina took a deep breath and looked straight into the crystal blue eyes she always loved to get lost in. But no, those were the good days. She was a villain. Villains couldn't have happy days.
"Marian. We have to leave before she gets back. She is not who she says she is." Robin froze. No, please no. Regina didn't come her because she was…..jealous, did she? He looked at Regina and still saw fear. But now, there was also determination floating through. She was going to bring him back home at any cost. But he couldn't leave his wife.
"What?" Was Robin's single words response.
"She's….my sister. Zelena." Regina finshed, and Robin thought his head was going to explode.
"The wicked witch? But she's dead. We all saw that." Robin defended. Regina was slowly losing hope. Why wouldn't Robin believe her? She knew he had probably forgot about her the moment he left, the moment he got his family back, but why couldn't he trust her? Did he even still care for her anymore?
"Somehow she tricked and went back in time… Robin, she went back, and she killed Marian. She took her place to get back at me" Regina explained gently. Robin took a step back. No, no. This was rubbish. Regina was just jealous. She wanted him to go back to her. She wanted him to want her. But his wife! And now that something had happened…
"No. This is madness." He said, now looking at Emma for a spare second.
"Robin what's going on? And what is she doing here?" A voice called from behind the ex lovers, and Regina slowly turned around. Marian. Zelena. It took all the strength in her to not to lunge at her sister's neck and strangle the life out of her.
"It's over Zelena. I told him everything." Regina explained, now her voice threatening and tense. Robin noted that Regina only acted like this when she was trying to be strong.
"What is she talking about? Who's Zelena?" Marian asked, coming over to Robin for protection. Regina stared daggers into her sister.
"Regina. You're scaring Marian." Robin tried, but Regina was not having it.
"Good. Where's the magic? You must have brought something to make this glamour work. Tell me Zelena! Show me, OR I WILL RIP YOU APART UNTIL I FIND IT!" Regina screamed and Robin stepped in, wanting to calm both women.
"Regina, that's enough! Look, I know that this is hard, for all of us! But this is the new reality! I'm with her! I'm with Marian!" Robin screamed. Tears pricked Regina's eyes. Of course. She knew it was a bad idea coming here, but she needed to save Robin. She still loved him, even if he didn't love her anymore. Because Robin loved Marian. He would protect her and go through hell to get back to her. But Regina? He had never loved her. Regina now knew this.
Marian backed away from Robin, a wicked smile growing on her face. "Actually, not exactly." Her coy smile stayed as Marian turned into Zelena, right before their eyes. Robin took a step back, and looked at Regina. Damn it. Regina was right all along. And to make it even better, Robin could see the heartbreak in Regina's body.
"Hello, dear husband." Zelena replied sarcastically. Robin's head was spinning.
"No." Robin muttered. This couldn't be happening.
"What the hell was that?" Lily asked Emma, who looked as though this was the most normal thing in the world.
"That was magic." Emma replied simply, wanting to get back to the whole Zelena problem. She just wanted to go home as soon as possible.
"Come on Robin. We need to get you and Roland out of here." Regina reached for Robin's hand, but he backed away even further. What the hell was he doing?
"Robin, get Roland and lets go." Regina said more forcefully. Robin just stood there, not knowing what to do. How to tell Regina.
"I think he still wants to say." An amused Zelena replied happily. Still no response from Robin.
"Robin, what are you doing? Get your son and let's go!" Regina urged, reaching for his hand again, but Robin fought away.
"No I can't." Robin argued.
"Yes, you can. Just come with me." Regina was now holding Robin's hand, but still no movement from the other end. She was seriously going to cry. He wanted to stay with his sister more than her.
"Come on. Let's go." Regina urged again, but Robin shook his head.
"I'm sorry," Robin apologized, "I can't leave her here."
"What?" Regina asked, wondering if she just hear right. Apparently, yes, she did.
"Do you want to tell her, or shall I?" Zelena asked, now facing her little sister.
"Tell me what?" Regina asked. She looked back and forth between her sister and her ex boyfriend, waiting eagerly for a response.
"Robin?"
"She's pregnant." Those three little words that ruined Regina's life forever. Those three little words she begged not to hear from him. Those three little words she will never get the pleasure of saying.
Regina froze. Zelena stood, a glowing smile illuminating her face. She couldn't be happier. Now, Regina looked at Robin. And she knew. Regina knew that Robin didn't love her. He never did. He just jumped in bed with the next woman when she was out of the picture. She would rather die than feel this kind of pain.
"Regina," Robin tried, but Regina just shook her head. Before Robin could say anything else, Regina ran out of the room, tears streaming down her face. She knew this visit would be full of heartbreak, but never this much.
Regina ran down the hallway, out the door, and stopped outside the apartment building, gasping for air. She put her hands on her abdomen, trying to take deep breaths. Everything she already knew was true. Robin. Didn't. Love. Her. More tears.
"Regina!" Robin exclaimed as he caught her outside of the building. He tried to reach for her arm, but she pulled away, so much force. Robin could see how hurt Regina was. Not good.
"Don't touch me." Regina gritted through her teeth. Robin's heart stopped, because Regina's walls were up. He worked hard in the Enchanted Forest to knock them down, and now, his ex lover had put her walls up again.
"Please, we need to talk." Robin begged, but Regina just laughed darkly. She shook her head, still not looking him in the eyes. It was too hard.
"No, we don't. Trust me, I got the picture." Regina stated, and now she was glaring at him. Robin thought back to when he said he still loved Marian. Ouch. That must have hurt, and he couldn't have felt any worse.
"Regina-"
"It's fine. I get it. Any sensible person would get as far away as the Evil Queen as possible." Regina said, and started walking away back to the apartment. Robin's eyes went wide. Regina still thought she was the Evil Queen.
"Love,"
"Call me that one more time, and you won't be able to mutter another word." Regina snapped. Great, they were back to bickering like they were in the Enchanted Forest.
"Listen Robin, seriously, I get it. You left me and went to bed with Marian when I was out of the picture. Now, you're gonna tell me that you're sorry when you're really not, and I really don't want to hear it right now." Regina tried walking away again, but Robin stopped her again.
"I never forgot about you. I thought about you every single moment you were gone." Regina froze and closed her eyes. She wanted to believe Robin so bad, but did he really think about her when he was in bed with Marian? No.
"You know, I wish I could believe you. But you know what? I don't. Because while you were in bed with my sister, I was back in Storybrooke, working my ass off to find a way to get you back! But it turns out you wouldn't have come home anyways, so I just wasted all my time." Regina took a deep breath before continuing.
"When we were at the town line, I….. I really thought you were going to tell me you loved me. But I was scared, and I replied before you could. So tell me. Tell me right now. Were you going to say you loved me? Did you ever love me?" Regina asked, her voice cracking at the end.
For the first time in a long time, Robin was speechless. Regina really thought he didn't love her. Robin hesitated. What was he supposed to say? Tell her he still loves her after everything, only to have her ignore him for having a baby with her sister? Robin didn't answer.
Regina took Robin's silence as a no, and for the first time since she got here, Regina cried in New York City. The tears fell as the cold, hard truth came to the surface. Robin didn't love her. He never did. She was only a mere distraction. She was never more. But to Regina, Robin was never a distraction. Robin was someone she loved with her whole heart. Someone who didn't love her back.
"I should have known I was just a distraction to you. No real feelings, just a fling. Well let me tell you, I'll stay the hell away from you. I won't disturb your happy family any longer." Regina walked away this time, tears over taking her.
…..
Emma and Lily were watching Robin and Regina outside. They knew they shouldn't be, but it was too good to miss. Everything was going as planned, Regina ignoring everything Robin was saying, until Regina asked that question.
"Did you ever love me?" Emma prayed Robin's answer would be yes. Regina deserved happiness and love and her soulmate. She has fought so hard to get back to him over the last few months, and if he said no, all the hard work wouldn't mean anything again.
When Robin didn't answer, Regina started crying. Emma felt so bad for the ex couple. The silence Robin gave as an answer was even worse than a no. Emma didn't hear the rest, just that Regina walked away, crying the most she's ever seen the mayor cry before…..
...
Robin couldn't believe it. He couldn't believe how stupid he was. He didn't answer Regina. He just stood there, too speechless to answer, and Regina had taken that as a no. God, had he just lost the woman who meant the most to him?
Regina walked back to the apartment, in tears. She was sure the others would understand, given the very screwed situation present. Regina felt her red eyes dropping as more tears fell. She didn't want to be this vulnerable in front of anyone, but this was a first.
"Regina," Emma began, but Regina rolled her eyes.
"Save it, Swan." Regina muttered. She started pacing the room, putting the whole room in silence as she tried to think of the fastest way home in a land without magic.
Emma had enough of this. This was bull shit. Robin couldn't just break Regina like this. Not when she wanted so bad to have him back in Storybrooke. Not when Regin ahad spent three months trying to find a way back to her true love. Nope. Emma walked out of the room and stopped Robin half way in the apartment.
"What the hell did you do?!" Emma whisper shouted. Robin grimaced, knowing that this would piss off the blonde. Emma had fire in her eyes. Not once had she ever seen Regina Mills break down, and now, the one person who Emma thought would never do it, he accomplished it. Regina was inside, silently breaking down, tears escaping willingly.
"Emma-" Robin tried, but Regina walked closer to him. Man, if looks could kill, Robin would be dead right now. Sent to the underworld right that instant.
"You know, I really thought you wouldn't be the one." Emma ignored Robin's call of her name. Robin stood there, very confused. What did that mean? Who was Regina's one?
"Excuse me?" Robin asked. Emma rolled her eyes and glared at the man in front of him.
"For as long as I've known Regina, she has never broken down. She's lost her son multiple times, had her memories taken, lost her mother, her deranged, supposedly dead sister, defeated many villains, let you go for the sake of your happiness, and she handled it all. Not one single tear shed. But now? Learning that you, Robin Locksley, are having a baby with her sister? Well that finally did it." Emma explained, definitely past pissed off.
Robin was frozen. Because everything Emma has said was true. No. No no no no no no no no no. This couldn't be happening! He promised Regina he would always be there for her! She had let him inside, he broke down her walls, and know, because Regina let him in, she was broken. After everything.
"No." Was all that Robin could muster up. Emma laughed darkly and shook her head.
"Yeah. You did it. Robin Hood, man of honor. The man who finally broke down the Evil Queen. Congrats! Do you want a trophy? An award?" Emma asked, crossing her arms now. But all Robin could think about was how he lost her. He lost Regina for good.
"This can't be happening." Robin breathed and Emma used all her might not to punch this guy right in his face.
"Just think how Regina feels. Not to mention you never loved her." Regina scoffed and Robin immediately shot up. Emma Swan was not allowed to say that. He didn't want lies spreading around.
"I always loved Regina." Robin exclaimed, but Emma didn't believe him. Why should she? He broke down Regina. And they were friends.
"Really? Because just a few minutes ago, you clearly stated otherwise." Emma glared at Robin. Great, so Swan had heard their conversation.
"You know, I don't even think knowing that you are having a baby with Zelena was the real push over. No, it was what happened. What you didn't have the courage to say. Regina asked you if you ever loved her. Robin, that's all she's ever wanted. Regina doesn't know this, but I do know that she cried when you were gone. At her office, mostly.
"And you know what? She never lost hope that she could get you back. Never one second. But hearing you never even loved her, that was it. Because Regina loves you more than you could even imagine. More than you ever deserve, Robin. Because Regina deserves to be loved and cared for. She lost the one thing she ever had. She lost your trust and belief she was always good. So you better hope to hell that this doesn't cause Regina to go back to her old ways, or else I swear to god, I will end you." Emma breathed, voice full of anger. She didn't know how she was doing it, but she was still keeping her voice down low. It was loud enough so only Robin and herself could hear her. That was all it was meant for.
Emma stormed away, back to the apartment. She found Regina, sitting on the couch with her head in her hands, taking deep breaths. Emma glared at Zelena and started walking over to her. She wanted to strangle this green witch so bad.
"You wouldn't want to hurt an expectant mother, now, would you?" Zelena remarked, voice full of victory. Emma narrowed her eyes at the witch in front of her.
"You know, little sis, I'd love to see who you are in this little one's family tree. Are you the aunt, or the stepmother?" Zelena cackled. Regina tried to ignore her sister, but she knew it was true. But she also knew that she was only meant to be what was meant to be.
"How are you this evil?" Lily questioned from the back of the room. Zelena smiled even more.
"Not evil, Darling. Wicked." Now, Zelena started making her way over to Regina. She sat down next to Regina on the couch, and started speaking again.
"Want to know what the best part was, Regina? The best parts? Obviously, when Robin deleted you from his phone. Honestly, I couldn't have seen him more relieved! Then again, there was the time he declared he never loved you. Now that, that I would pay a million dollars to see again!" Regina let a single tear escape. Well, apparently Robin had already admitted her never loved her, so it was only a matter of time before she heard it from someone else.
"You don't need to state the obvious, Zelena. I already knew Robin never loved me." Regina replied, her voice completely deflated.
"Then why come all this way? Why travel to New York City, to save him, when he really didn't want to be, when you knew he didn't love you?" Zelena remarked. Regina didn't answer. It hurt too much. Zelena fake gasped, put a hand on her chest, over her heart.
"Oh, don't tell me you're still in love with him. You're in love with a man who never felt the same." Regina stood up, not willing to take any more of this.
"SHUT UP! YOU DON'T NEED TO TELL ME EVERYTHING I ALREADY KNOW!" Regina screamed and walked out of the room again. Her head was pounding, and she was lucky she was even conscious. She couldn't put anything to seems, and she felt like dying wasn't such a bad fate right now. She could take the death, but she could never take the pain.
Then, she saw Robin standing in the middle of the hallway, frozen. He obviously must have heard the conversation. Well, what better time than to announce it to the world than now? She might as well just have sticked a sign to her back that said: ROBIN HOOD NEVER LOVED ME! OUR WHOLE RELATIONSHIP WAS NOTHING TO HIM!
"Regina-"
"Leave me alone Robin." Regina begged. Robin shook his head and came closer to her.
"Never." Robin replied, but Regina smiled sadly.
"Why? It's easy. Just do what you did before. When your wife came back, when you left for New York, it was so easy for you. So why not just do it now? Now that i actually want you to leave." Regina bit sharply. She could see the pain in Robin's eyes, but she wondered why it was even there. He never cared about her.
"Leaving was the hardest thing I've ever had to do in my whole life, Regina. I thought about you every second of every day," Regina didn't believe him. How could she?
"Please, all I beg of is a real talk. Between us." Robin pleaded. Regina held her breath, but released it when she realized she was holding it in.
"Not right now. When we get to Storybrooke, then you can try to explain yourself," Regina called over her shoulder as she left Robin standing there, hoping he hadn't screwed everything.
Regina was his everything. Regina is his everything. And he won't give up on her. Never.
