Chapter 1:
Regina looked at Robin. He had a look of pure joy on his face, holding his wife and son in his arms. He seemed truly happy, smiling like she had never see him smile bevore. She tried to suppress a sob but failed. She had to leave, now. She didn't want anybody to see how much she was hurt. But Regina's gaze was captured by what was happening in front of her. She watched as Marian kneeled down in front of Roland and kissed his forehead. Regina's eyes filled with tears. The child giggled happily and hugged his mother. Marian now stood up and looked into Robin's eyes. She leaned forward and kissed him. Regina whimpered quietly, this hurt so much. Robin looked surprised but didn't complain. 'Why would he?' she thinks 'his wife is back'. She couldn't move, Robin seemed to have forgotten the moments he had spent with her. He was acting as if she had never existed. Did he even lover her? She had believed in happiness and now, everything was gone.
Her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar voice.
"Regina? Are you ok?"
Regina turned around and looked into Emma's worried eyes.
"Regina-" she tried but the brunette cut her off.
"You...you did this? You brought her back?" she asked. She could feel a tear rolling down her cheeks.
"Look, Regina, I am really sorry! I didn't knwo who she was!"
"Not now, Swan!" Regina tried to keep her voice strong, but there was a waver in her words that she couldn't quite control. She turned away from the blonde, unable to stand the sight of her any longer.
"Regina! Please, wait!"
But the brunette didn't listen and stormed out of the diner without a glance for her or for the newly reunited family.
Now alone, Regina could finally give in to her pain. Warm tears were rolling down her cheeks and a sob escaped her lips. 'Come on Regina, not now!' , she thought to herself. But she wasn't strong enough to resist to the flow of her emotions. She was now crying softly, a hand on her mouth, trying to muffle the sound of her voice. She didn't turn around when she heard the sound of the door opening behind her. She didn't move when she felt the presence of someone next to her.
"Regina, listen...I didn't mean to hurt you. I didn't mean any of this", Emma said. The blonde reached out for Regina's hand. The older woman tensed and finally looked up to her. And Emma could see the pain and the sorrow in her eyes. 'I just saved a life' she thought 'I did the right thing'. She looked at Regina 'Then why do I feel so guilty?'
"Miss Swan, I am done listening to you. Now, please, go back inside and have fun with your charming parents" Regina hissed before turning away. She didn't care if the Savior was following her. She just walked without knowing where she was going. Why hadn't she listened to her mother? 'Love is weakness, do not forget that Regina'. She stroke her lips with her thumb, remembering the kiss she and Robin had shared just minutes ago. A single tear left her eyes and she wiped it away.
"Love is weakness", she said to herself. "Love is weakness, love is weakness!" She started walking faster, "Love is weakness!" Regina was almost running, repeating the same three words over and over again.
Regina didn't stop until she was standing in front of her house. She took a deep breath, opened her front door and entered.
Robin finally looked up, wondering where Regina was. "What happened?" he asked seeing the worried faces around him. The doorbell rang and Emma came in. She looked desperate.
"Robin?" he heard his wife ask. "Robin, what's wrong?"
He suddenly realized. Regina had seen him with his wife. She had seen everything and he hadn't looked at her for once! She had left, surely thinking that he didn't love her. And now she was somewhere out there, wondering why he hadn't come after her, why he had stayed at the diner. How could he not have seen she was no longer here? He had made a big mistake. He had to make sure she was okay. Robin looked at Marian. But how could he leave her here without telling her what happened between him and Regina? He had loved her once...(and he couldn't help asking himself if it was still the case). But Marian was still his wife and his son's mother, he had made a vow. And this was a chance for Roland to have a family again, to have his mother back.
But there was also Regina, the misterious woman he had met a few days ago. The woman that had made him feel whole again. She had opened herself to him and he had seen how fragile and vulnerable, but also how smart and loving she was. Like him, she'd had a dark past and they were both been given a second chance.
Robin's thoughts were interrupted by Henry's voice.
"Mom?" the boy asked Emma "What did you do?"
The blonde looked down to her son. "I'm so sorry, kid. I didn't know who Marian was. I couldn't know that she was...Robin's wife" she sighed deeply "I guess I messed up pretty bad".
Henry stepped back and looked at his birthmother angrily. "Yes you did! And why aren't you with her right now? She needs someone, she can't be alone!" Emma nervously tucked her hair behind her ear.
"She wanted to be alone, Henry. She has made herself pretty clear about that". The boy looked at the Savior in disbelief. "That is because she doesn't want to see you. She will listen to me, I know it"
"Henry, wait!" Emma said. But it was too late. The boy had already left the diner and started running after Regina.