She couldn't believe she was in this place, at this time. No matter what, she always thought that this conversation would never take place and she had resigned herself to the reality of it.

Now, though, she found herself on the precipice of a life changing moment and she was terrified of what it would bring her. She knew she was strong enough for whatever the fallout would be, but she wasn't sure if she'd like who she would become afterwards.

As she saw him walking towards her, she thought to herself, "Anger, regret, or nothing? How should I talk to him?" At least she couldn't put bitterness or resentment on that list. As recently as a month ago, she would have.

The moment stretched on and to Regina it seemed that Robin would never reach the place where she stood. It was both a blessing and a curse. The former because it gave her more time to decide what she would say and how she would say it. The latter because she just wanted that first moment to be done with.

"Hello. We haven't had a chance to talk since..." Robin's voice came to her and Regina realized that the moment had finally arrived. She mentally shook herself and came back to reality. It was in that long moment between Robin's last word and his next that she knew exactly how to respond to him.

"...since Roland & I...since that moment in the diner..." Robin's voice sounded hesitant, as if he knew that what was to come would be awkward and unusual.

"You're right. We haven't." Regina replied with a neutral tone in her voice. She knew that if she allowed any sign of past bitterness to creep in then it would consume her. She didn't want that. She also knew that if she allowed any sign of past loneliness to be heard in her voice that she would give in to the promise of connection that briefly appeared in Robin's eyes.

He was taken aback.

He blinked once, then twice and opened his mouth to speak. Closed it. He looked at her intently and she looked back without fear.

"How are you?"

Like you care, the unbidden thought leapt into her mind. Instead, she replied with, "I'm thinking about us before it all happened," being careful to keep the neutral tone in her voice. "I'm thinking about how I will move forward from what we experienced."

Snow silently retreated to the hall as she heard Regina speak, knowing that Regina would appreciate the privacy. Why did Regina want to meet with Robin anyway? Snow thought. It's only been a day since Neal was named at that lovely-for-us, but earth-changing-for-her party at Granny's.

The murmur of voices from Regina's living room ceased, and Snow glanced in that direction, making sure she was showing Regina the support she promised to give. Regina glanced up and nodded every so slightly, while Robin reluctantly gathered his jacket and gloves.

Snow escorted Robin to the front foyer silently, but before he opened the front door, she looked at him with compassion in her eyes. "Give her time," she whispered, "to process what has happened. She'll come back to you."

Robin looked up, caught the by the note of earnestness in Snow's words. "No, I don't think so. She seems determined to distance herself from me." At these final words, he finished pulling his gloves on and zipped up his jacket, and turned to go out the door into the surprisingly cold evening.

Regina looked out of the window as he walked down to the sidewalk, however before she could turn away Robin looked back and caught her eyes, and she knew that he saw something there. He paused, and with his breath billowing out into a cloud of steam, made a motion to return to the house. He was stopped because he saw her walls snap back into place, and he knew then that it would take some time for Regina to open herself back up to him.