This story is dedicated to someone I lost long ago. Always in my heart, and always on my mind. I hope you all enjoy the story and hope that maybe some how, some way, you seek comfort in it.
The year was 1984. Regina Mills was only five years old and in grade one. She wasn't the most popular student in school, for reasons that were unknown to her back then, but later would find out that it was because she was 'too nice.' So, when Archer Locksley was handing out invitations to his birthday party, she was surprised to say the least when she had received one of her very own. "You are only getting this, because my mom is making me invite the whole class." Archer had said before he threw the envelope at the brunette.
Regina frowned, understanding now the reason she had gotten it. She ripped open the envelope and looked inside at the invite with a smile, though. Maybe this would be a chance to show how fun she could truly be. She had an imagination that would soar when it came to play time. Although, no one but her and her mother knew that. Regina also had an older sister who was in fourth grade named Zelena. She was popular in school although Regina saw no difference between the two.
Once the school day had finished, Regina walked home with her older sister. A request their mother Cora had put in, letting Zelena know that if Regina went out of her sight for a second, she would be grounded from the phone, TV and everything else Zelena liked. So, whether the red head liked it or not, she had no choice but to walk with her younger sister. "What are you smiling so much about?" Zelena asked her with a roll of her eyes.
Regina didn't waste a single second in holding up the invitation. "I got invited to a birthday party." She said, proudly.
"Good for you." Zelena said as she took the invitation to no doubt see who invited her, wondering if maybe he had a cute older brother. Zelena read over the invite and then laughed before handing it back.
"What's so funny?" Regina asked, as she squinted.
"That invite." Zelena responded, "That Emma and David in your class were talking about Archer's birthday party during lunch. Archer put down next weekend for your invite."
"So?" Regina asked, having a feeling she was about to be disappointed in one way or another but hoping for the best.
"So," Zelena responded, "The party is /this/ weekend."
Zelena continued to laugh, but Regina just stopped walking and looked at the invite. She felt the tears swelling up behind her eyes but then she just took in a deep breath and shook her head, gathering herself. "Well then," Regina said, "Imagine the surprise on his face when I actually show up this weekend."
Regina continued to walk with her older sister all the way home, where she told her mother about the party and then let her know there was a mistake on the invite. Cora had called Archer's mother, just to make sure of the dates and it had seemed that Zelena had given Regina the truth.
That weekend had come quickly, and all week Regina never let on for a second that she knew the real date and only hoped Zelena would not let it slip. Thankfully, she never, so when Regina had rode up with her mother to the party, Archer's face fell. "How...?" He had said as Will gave him a push along.
"Who cares?" Will asked, "She will want to go home soon enough if we ignore her."
Archer smirked, knowing Will was right. All they had to do was leave her out of the games. And that was exactly what they did. Pin the tail on the donkey, they would purposely cut in front of her, in hide and seek, no one would seek her and when they saw her they would pretend like they never saw her at all. Regina was indeed beginning to think that this was a bad idea. Archer's parents had soon went inside to make lunch for all the kids before it was time for cake and ice cream, and left the other kids out to play.
The girls had it in their heads that it was time to chase the birthday boy and give him a birthday kiss but Regina thought otherwise. She instead walked along the long path out back of their big house and kicked a couple stones as she did. Regina stopped walking and looked up at the sky as she put her hands in her pockets. "Why did you send me here?" She seemed to be asking God, "I could have gotten all this at school. What is the reason for this?!"
No sooner were the words out of her mouth, a soccer ball hit her in the head. "Ow!" She exclaimed as she rubbed her head and turned around to see who did it. In her mind, no doubt on purpose.
A young boy with blonde hair and ocean blue eyes ran over with a look of sincerity on his face. "I am so sorry!" He exclaimed as he picked up his ball, "Are you okay?"
Regina nodded her head. "Yeah." She said, "I am fine."
The boy smiled and shifted the ball to his other hand. "Robin." He said as he extended his hand, "Archer's older brother."
Regina extended her hand and took the blondes in her own as she shook. "Regina Mills." She said as they shook.
"No doubt?" Robin asked, "Zelena's little sister?" Regina nodded her head, "I didn't think Zelena had a sibling that was quite this cute." Robin smiled towards Regina as Regina blushed but tried to hide it as he pulled his hand back, "I am in second grade." Robin continued, "So, if you wanna hang out on Monday, meet me at Recess at the slides." Robin looked towards his brother coming back around the corner and then to Regina again, "I will make sure my brother and his friends don't bother you anymore."
"Thanks." Regina said.
"Anything for the cutest Mills." Robin said as he ran back over to his own friends to continue playing soccer.
Regina watched as he played and continued to watch until Archer's mother had called in the kids to have lunch. To her delight, Robin had went in for some lunch as well, and Regina ended up sitting with him. She felt more at ease now, then she ever did before. In fact, none of the other kids even tried to make fun of her now. Robin was truly a life saver. On Monday she was half afraid that he would back out on her but was thankfully wrong. She met him at the slide and was welcomed warmly in to the small play group that he had.
Even when his own brother had come over to no doubt, make fun of her, Robin stood up with her and Archer had backed off quickly. Robin was like her protector from the first grade, all the way up to fourth. Robin was in fifth grade at this point, and Regina's best friend. He made her smile every single day. It was a once in a life time friendship in her eyes. It was early morning, when they were just beginning math when she overheard Archer talking to Will. "So, when is this happening?" Will asked.
"We are packing now." Archer replied, "We move in a week."
Regina's stomach had butterflies deep inside as she gently placed her hand there in hopes that it would calm them. Robin was all that made her happy and now he was leaving? Recess couldn't have come quick enough. Regina had made a bee line straight for the slide and to Robin. "You're moving?!" She demanded of him.
Robin looked at his friends that stood with him. "Give us a minute?" He asked them.
They all nodded and walked away from the two, giving them room to speak. Regina wasted no time in starting this conversation. "Next week?! Why didn't you tell me?!" Regina was nearly in tears now.
Robin sighed and ran a hand through his hair. "We just found out last night." Robin replied, "My dad lost his job and he has to relocate. Trust me, I don't want to leave my friends. Leave you."
Regina wasn't one to let her tears take over with the fear of being made fun of, but right now she didn't care. She let the tears flow down her cheeks. She expected Robin to tease her, tell her to stop but to her surprise, Robin wrapped his arms around her and pulled her in to a close hug. Regina relaxed against him and swallowed hard as she remained in complete silence with the eleven year old blonde. She had finally broken her own silence, her voice hoarse as she spoke. "I am going to miss you." She said, quietly.
It took Robin a moment to reply and before he did he took in a deep breath. "I am going to miss you too." Robin said, "More then anyone or anything here."
They had stood like this for the longest time and when the day had come that Robin had to move, Regina was lost for words and it seemed as though Robin was too. His parents had picked him up from school and before he got in to the car, he took a look back at Regina and waved. Regina waved back and the moment he was inside of the car, she ran home, to her bedroom and leaped on to her bed. She cried for the rest of the day until her tears had put her to sleep. Cora had checked in on her from time to time to make sure she was okay. She had missed dinner and that had worried Cora.
Weeks went by, and it seemed as though Regina just couldn't get better. Her grades had dropped dramatically. On top of losing Robin, now the bullies were back full force and it depressed the brunette to the point where she didn't even communicate with her family. No one understood her pain, no one wanted to listen, to help her. No one, but Robin. During summer vacation, Regina had come around a bit now that she didn't have to deal with bullies, at least. But her heart was broken once again when she had heard the news one early morning in July.
"Thomas Locksley, was found dead in his room this morning." The news man had reported, as Regina looked. Thomas was Robin and Archer's father! "The 37 year old had debts that are unknown at this time. The debt issues date back to earlier this year when he had lost the family home and had continued on, almost losing them a second home."
It was never said, but even Regina knew by the way the news man had spoken that it was suicide. She had wished she could be there for Robin but she didn't know his number or his address and this was 1988. She had no way of finding out, except maybe a phone book. But it was an unlisted number. Which she understood. That much in debt, you wouldn't make yourself noticeable. Then, she checked the paper. Maybe she could go to the wake or funeral and give her condolences. But, there was no funeral, or no wake. It was hopeless for a ten year old to possibly find him. It wasn't like she could drive around and hope to find him.
It was a lost cause so Regina let it go and instead prayed her condolences to her best friend, knowing God would somehow deliver her message. And it had seemed like magic. Because, as Robin laid on his bed crying he could suddenly feel a small calm. Like a voice speaking in his ear. Her voice. Regina's. Telling him it would be okay, and that he was in her thoughts and her prayers. His tears calmed, but didn't stop as he turned and looked out the window, wishing he could actually have her here to hug him.
1990
Today was Regina's first day of Junior High, and although she wished she could be, she wasn't excited. Bigger school meant more kids to pick on her and make her life miserable. When she got off the bus it had seemed like the bell went as soon as her foot hit the ground. She groaned and followed the rest of the grade sevens to the gymnasium. Everything had seemed so much bigger and she would have gotten lost in the halls if it weren't for the fact that she was following everyone else. As soon as she got inside the gym, she sat down on the floor and leaned against the wall, pulling her knee's to her chest as she awaited to hear where her homeroom was.
She looked up to the front of the gym when she saw, who she thought to be the Principle, take the stage. "Welcome to Newport Junior High School, grade sevens!" He exclaimed in to the mic, "My name is Mr Gepetto. And I am here to place you all in to your home rooms. When I call your name, please enter the line up which your other classmates are in and follow your teacher to your homeroom."
Regina went off in to her own world as Mr Gepetto started calling names for 7-1 and 7-2. It was 7-3 that had caught her attention after a bit. "Robin Locksley." He had spoken.
No. It couldn't be! Robin was one grade ahead of her. It had to be another Robin Locksley. Regina quickly averted her eyes to the boy who went in to the line up, laughing as his friends put up two fingers, indicating this was his second time having to go through this. Regina's jaw went agape as she watched the boy with blonde hair and blue eyes stand in line. It had taken her back. Back to the day when they first met and she had hoped her name would be called for this homeroom as well.
It had seemed her hopes had come true. It was like it was fate. "Regina Mills." Mr Gepetto had called out and now Robin had ceased his laughter as he looked towards the brunette.
Regina walked along the line to the back and smiled at him as she went. She knew she had to go to the back but once they were in the classroom she knew she would definitely be sitting near him. Robin looked to the back of the line, and kept his blues connected to her chocolate browns until the very moment the line began to move.