And I'm back with our highly anticipated sequel to En Route! I do hope you enjoy reading as much as I do writing this! It has been such a pleasure reading all of your kind and lovely comments. Thank you all so much for the immense support I've received for En Route! I truly appreciate it, and will cherish every review! So, without further ado, I give you the first chapter of En Route's sequel! Please enjoy, and tell me what you think!


All around her, screams rip through the air, curdling her blood, making her heart pound in her ears. The airplane continues its rapid descent from the sky, shooting down fast like a stone to water having surrendered to the overpowering weight of gravity.

Regina's stomach drops to her feet as she can barely feel the floor. It's like the dive of a roller coaster, but far worse. Outside, the land draws nearer and nearer. Regina's forehead presses harshly against the front of the seat, not so much by choice, but by the steep incline from the airplane's nose tilted downward. She squeezes her eyes shut, hoping, praying, that this will all be over soon.

Land draws close. 700 feet. Regina holds her breath. Her hands that grip the seat in front of her shake uncontrollably.

500 feet and she thinks back to the times in her life worth celebrating. They flash in front of her eyes at a rapid pace, containing only one face she has come to know and love in such a short amount of time.

200 feet and Regina thinks of him, how he'd saved her in every way she possibly could be saved.

50 feet and a tear rolls down her cheek. Never again will she be able to see that beautiful smile, or take comfort in gazing into those captivating blue eyes.

10. And with a scream, she welcomes the darkness.

Regina gasps loudly, eyes roughly shooting wide open. Her heart pounds away against her ribcage, the sound echoing in her ears. Her breathing is ragged yet rapid. Sweat drenches both her and the sheets that seem to do nothing but suffocate her form.

Lifting a shaking hand, Regina runs her fingers through dampened locks and gazes about the room. In vain, she tries to calm her erratic breathing and heartbeat as she slowly reorients herself. She is not in the airplane—not anymore. She is safe in the hospital; but she is alone. The second wave of realization hits the young brunette, prompting her to let out a soft sob in despair as unwelcome memories of the past forty-eight hours flood back and capture her mind. Emma. Regina's heart thumps painfully in her chest at the reminder of her best friend's death. No longer will she ever experience the blonde's words of reassurance and hope in such a down-to-earth, blatant way. Emma always said it like it was, never beating around the bush. Her bluntness was what drove the brunette crazy. Yet, it had saved her at the same time. Regina loved that about Emma. No matter what, the blonde was fearless in speaking her mind, courageous and unapologetic. And that undeniable strength and resilience is exactly what she needs right now.

And then there's Robin. Robin. Regina's heart cracks once again as she's reminded of the man once so full of spirit who now lies cold and lifeless upon the hospital bed. He was her second chance, her savior of sorts. And the fact that Regina was so close to having happiness again, only to let it slip from her fingers before she could even obtain a firm grasp, shatters her to a million pieces. Why does it have to be like this? Is she forever doomed to suffer? And Robin. Why do such terrible things happen to good people? Oh how Regina would give anything to switch places with the man she loves now, how she would do anything to take his pain upon herself and slip into the coma instead of him. But nothing can change what happened, and nothing ever will. It's an experience that will forever leave an imprint, an ugly scar upon her soul just like everyone else's who have been drastically altered from such a horrible experience that no person should ever go through.

Settling back down on her pillow, Regina stares blankly up at the ceiling with a crying heart. Painfully, she thinks back to the events of two days prior…as if what happened was exactly what she needed on top of everything else.

As she closes her eyes, she can just remember the look upon Robin's fiancé's face, the way the woman had appraised her with such cold eyes. The brunette felt as if she were nothing but a piece of meat in that moment as Marian looked her up and down, sizing her up. How dare this woman have such a patronizing look and treat Regina in such a way after the terror and devastation through which the brunette had been?


"Y-you're Robin's fiancé," Regina had stammers, utterly horrified that she is finally face to face with the woman who'd, in theory, ruined Robin's life.

"I am," Marian says, lifting her chin in a manner that screams superiority; the stone cold belief that anything and anyone else is nothing but less. "So what are you doing here?"

"I'm—"

"It was told to me by you, that you are the patient's girlfriend," the stern nurse from behind Marian speaks up, effectively interrupting Regina. Who is that woman to interfere?

Marian's eyes widen drastically. "You are what?" she growls lowly.

Regina keeps her gaze focused, refusing to show any weakness. "I'm his girlfriend," she states boldly.

"What the fuck is going on here," the other brunette spits, shaking her head fervently, "You aren't his girlfriend. What are you talking about? Robin would never leave me."

It takes everything in Regina's power not to lose her composure at the woman's arrogant statement, one that is said especially during a time like this. Regina strides up to her, standing face to face, merely inches away from Marian. "He will never leave anyone if he doesn't wake up," she growls lowly, "How dare you? You come in here shouting at me and you hardly took one look at the man on the bed. Your fiancé." Regina shakes her head, her lip curling in anger, eyes glistening with held in tears. "I can see why Robin was so miserable."

Marian glares daggers at Regina, her own upper lip almost curling in retaliation as the temperature in the cubicle rises several degrees. In silence, the two women stare at one another. It is all a contest, a challenge until finally one speaks again.

"Remove this woman from the premises," Marian commands without breaking eye contact from Regina, "She has absolutely no relation to my Robin." Instantly, the security guard steps forward.

Regina's eyes widen as fear of the idea of leaving Robin lances through her. "You can't do that. What kind of power do you think you have?"

"The kind of power that tells you to get the fuck away from my fiancé," Marian replies simply. "You have no right to be here."

Then the guard steps forward, taking Regina by the elbow. "We aren't done," Regina says lowly, shaking her head.

"Oh indeed," Marian drawls, her lip curling into a smirk of sorts. "It has only begun."

And so Regina is escorted from the hospital. Looking up at the towering building, she notices just how it looms over her like a giant, making her feel small, meek, and helpless. Her heart crumbles and falls into bits, leaving behind a trail of broken pieces with each unsteady step she takes from the building until she can no more. Her body hits the ground, head bouncing off the pavement; another laceration to add to the plethora of wounds that litter her entire body and soul alike. And the last thing she hears is the shouting of the security guard.


The first thing Regina notices when she is pulled from the darkness is the incessant beeping of the monitor beside her. However, the moment she opens her eyes, she panics.

"No, no, no, ma'am," a wide-eyed young blonde says gently, rushing to hold the brunette down as the disoriented woman abruptly tries to sit.

Regina breathes heavily, eyes wide with fear and confusion as she stares up into the calm face of the nurse. "What—what happened to me?" she whispers, shifting once again. "Aaah!" she abruptly cries as a sudden pain pierces her abdomen, prompting her to squeeze her eyes shut and hiss through her teeth. She counts away the agony. "What's going on?" Regina questions again, pressing her head into the pillow as the last of the pain slowly recedes.

"You've fainted Ms. Mills," the blonde nurse replies calmly, "The doctors found that such an episode was caused by some internal bleeding from your intestines. Luckily, we were able to perform the surgery before the bleeding spread anywhere else. It all went well and smooth. It should be a fairly short recovery for you, ma'am."

Regina shakes her head in disbelief. "Why haven't I noticed this before?"

The nurse shrugs. "Your body was probably still in shock and couldn't quite register the trauma that had happened to it."

"Well, I'm not surprised," the brunette sighs, "It seemed almost too good to be true that I walked out of the crash completely unharmed."

"It was an unfortunate event that happened," the nurse says gently, shaking her head, "It was very unfortunate. But at least you are on your way to recovery much quicker than most."

"Quicker than most…" Regina repeats pensively. Suddenly, her eyes widen once again. "Robin," she whispers.

"Pardon?" the nurse asks.

Regina shakes her head. "There's a man here," she begins, "He was on the plane with me. He's here, but in a coma." The brunette swallows. "Is—is he awake?"

The blonde nurse shrugs. "I'm sorry, I don't know, ma'am," she replies, "But I can check on him for you."

Regina's eyes widen. "Please," she whispers with a fervent nod.

The nurse smiles sympathetically. "I'm Lucy," she says softly, "Just press that button if you need anything." She gestures with her head to a button on the monitor beside Regina's bed. And with that, she quietly slips from the cubicle.

Regina groans, laying her head back once more. She closes her eyes, swiping and hand down her face. Her own injuries are the least of her concerns. Oh how she prays that Robin may wake up soon. And as terrible as it may seem, she hopes that not only will he wake and will be all right, but that he wakes and will be able to speak for himself with regards to Marian and tell her the truth of his feelings. That was what was meant to happen in the first place. But now, deep down, Regina silently prays that he still remain with her even when he opens his eyes to see his fiancé by his bedside.

The curtains slide open once more about twenty minutes later, revealing Lucy…accompanied by Marian in tow. Regina frowns, sitting up with effort to greet the unwelcome subject of her previous thoughts. She gazes into the still stone-cold face of Robin's former beloved. She is, however, unfazed by such a demeanor. Having lived with her mother, Regina has grown all too accustomed to faces such as the one Marian now makes.

"Ms. Fitzwalter would like to speak to you," Lucy states meekly. By the sheepish look on her face, Regina can obviously tell that the blonde can sense hostility floating about the air like a bad stench. So that's Marian's full name: Marian Fitzwalter.

"So it looks like you've suffered from some injuries as well," the woman states haughtily, heartlessly. Regina simply glares at her. Marian shakes her head, continuing, "I'm sorry about your injuries. I am, really. It's a shame for anyone to have to go through something as grave as both you and my fiancé."

Regina shakes her head. "Why are you here?" she asks, growing visibly irritated by the woman's vain attempts to patronize.

"I thought you wanted an update on my fiancé, no?" Marian says, tilting her head.

"Yes, of course, but I—"

"Robin is still in a coma. However, his vitals are well. He is stable; peaceful, as far as we know."

Regina narrows her eyes, disliking the way Marian is approaching all of this. Is the woman that heartless? "But…" she prompts.

"But, by his recent scan, his brain waves show no progress towards any kind of level of consciousness."

"So, he's not going to wake any time soon."

Marian nods, a slight glint of concern dashing across her features for one fleeting moment. "The doctors predict about a week." Regina shakes her head, tears beginning to well up and sting her eyes. At this, Marian tilts her head, frowning slightly. "You really do care about him, don't you?" she states, brows knitting together firmly, "What happened on that ride?"

Regina shakes her head fervently. "That's none of your business."

"Oh, well I think it is," Marian retorts, "It is very well my business because this is my fiancé we are speaking of. We're talking about the man I'm to marry in less than a month!"

"I know that," Regina sighs exasperatedly, "But I can't help the fact that I'm now part of his life, for better or for worse."

"But why? Why are you in his life? Why are you in my life?"

"That is something you'll have to ask Robin," Regina replies coldly, "I'm certainly not going to speak for him."

"Or maybe you're just afraid," Marian accuses.

Regina's eyes widen. "And what on earth would I be afraid of?"

"Of me." Marian's nose reaches to the ceiling, and Regina cannot believe this woman's conceitedness.

"You think too highly of yourself, Marian," Regina says in pure disgust, "You obviously see yourself as higher than anyone else in the pecking order here."

"And what are you?" the other woman challenges, glaring daggers.

"I'm just an ordinary woman with a flair for the extraordinary," Regina quips with a cool smirk.

Marian snorts, shaking her head. "You're crazy."

"Am I?"

"You come in here, intent on destroying everything Robin and I have worked so hard on, breaking down everything we have together."

"I haven't even done anything yet. I'm in a hospital bed, for Christ's sake!"

Marian steps closer to the bed, seething in rage. "Don't think that I know what you're after, what you intend to do. You're only worried that Robin won't wake up because that will mean that I will remain the upper hand. He won't be there to defend you."

Regina's brow lifts to the ceiling. "So you do worry that when Robin wakes, he will leave you," she states, reading between the lines.

Marian groans in frustration. "That's not what I said!"

"But that's what you implied."

"No!"

"We are much alike, Marian," Regina says, shaking her head slowly, "A lot more alike than you realize. Like it or not, we are both on the same playing field. You have an outstanding career that gives you money and power, and anything you could possibly desire. So do I. You have a passion that drives you, the need to always get what you want no matter what the consequence. So do I. But none of this matters. None of this is about us. It's about Robin. It's up to Robin. So mock me all you want but I know that you are just as concerned about the outcome as I am when he wakes. All you are right now is frustrated. Right in this moment, as Robin sleeps, you can't do a thing. You're stuck. We both are."

A low growl erupts from Marian's throat as she glares at Regina, a look especially when accompanied by the sound effects, that is truly animalistic. However, Regina knows that she has the upper hand, at least in this particular discussion. Marian can growl all she wants, but it won't change a thing. And it is in her frustration with this exact thought that prompts the woman to spin on her heel in a sudden blur of motion and stalk back through the curtains from which she came.


And commence the war between Regina and Marian! I hope you enjoyed this first part! Thank you for sticking with me; I look forward to your comments! Thanks for coming by, stay tuned! More to come shortly!

P.S-Shoutout to my beta, thequeenregina, back with her incomparable writing skills! AND SPECIAL SHOUTOUT BECAUSE IT'S HER BIRTHDAY TODAY SO YAYYYY! I dedicate this first chapter to you, B ;)