She responded with anger. It was her factory default, so to speak. When she was hurt, she lashed out. She lashed out at Emma in the diner. She lashed out at Snow when her step daughter showed up on her doorstep with muffins and sympathy the next day. She even lashed out at Henry after he mentioned seeing Roland at school.
But for every harsh word she hurled at them, the Charmings only seemed to become more determined. Every time she refused an invitation to dinner, Henry would bring her home left overs. Every time she sat alone at the diner, (not that it was that often, but hell everyone need a cup of coffee now and then,) Snow would turn up by her side with little Neal and tales of his newest achievements. She couldn't even enjoy a drink at the Rabbit hole without that damn pirate sitting next to her, trying to interest her in a game dice. Emma's guilt over being the cause of Regina's misery, meant that she was more willing to give the mayor ample time with their son. Snow had taken a year off of teaching to take care of Neal, meaning she could pop round City Hall all the time for a quick chat, or to grab lunch, or to distract Regina with retail therapy.
After some time, she started to feel safe to go out again without the fear of breaking down in public. She had even hosted family dinner with the whole crew at her house. Her heart still ached every time she got a whiff of pine, but she was healing. It was hard, but the love that surrounded her, grounded her and reminded her what she was working for.
Then one morning she decided to go for a walk. Snow was falling, and the air was crisp and soon a lovely stroll would be out of the question until spring. So, she put on her thick wool coat and soft leather gloves and headed toward the park.
She had just settled on a bench to watch the clouds, when she was tackled.
"Gina!" Roland whimpered, shivering. Immediately Regina opened her coat and wrapped it around the shaking boy.
"Roland? What are you doing here? Where's your Papa?" she asked as she looked around for the thief, dread pooling in her stomach.
"Papa and Mama brought me to the park to play with my friends. Then Pinocchio saw a squirrel, and he bet me I couldn't catch it. So, I started tracking it like my Papa taught me. The squirrel was fast, but I kept up with him because I am big now. I followed him for a long time, but then he got away, and I couldn't find my way back to the playground. I couldn't find my Papa," the small boy explained.
"Everything is going to be fine, Roland. I know the way back to the playground. I will help you get back. I'll bet your parents are worried sick," she comforted him standing up and shrugging off her jacket so she could drape it around him, before scooping him up onto her hip.
By the time they got to the playground Regina's cheeks were a bright red from a combination of exposure to the cold and exertion. She had forgotten how heavy a five year old could get, especially after he fell asleep half way there.
"I think you are looking for this," she huffed out at the man running around with a wild look in his eye.
Robin looked up, shocked to see Regina after all this time, unsure why she had a black pile of coat in her arms.
"Regina, it is good to see you, but I fear Roland is missing and I don't have time to talk right now," he mumbled, his eyes still scanning the surroundings.
"Hey, little man," Regina shifted her burden revealing a mop of familiar dark hair, "wake up and make your Papa stop worrying."
"Papa?" Roland lifted his head sleepily.
"Roland!" a smile broke across Robin's face that brought that familiar ache back to Regina's chest, a sensation that only grew as she handed the boy to his father. "Don't ever run off like that again. You scared us half to death. Marian, he is over here! He is alright."
While Robin was distracted, Regina walked away quickly, because she was freezing, not because icicle-like tears were welling in her eyes.
A few hours later, after a hot bath and a rather large glass of her special cider, Regina curled up on the couch when her doorbell rang. She debated ignoring whoever it was, but eventually made her way to the foyer. The silhouette was unmistakable. She knew she would need to prepare herself to the confrontation ahead, plastering her trademark smirk on her lips before she opened the door.
"Roland, what brings you to my door?" she asked focusing on the small boy in front of her, and purposefully ignoring his father.
"You forgot your coat, Gina," he answered, motioning to his father who was holding out her coat.
"Silly me, I would lose my head if it wasn't attached," she joked, taking the coat without making eye contact with Robin. "Well, thank you for being such a gentleman, and returning my belongings, but it is getting rather late, and someone has to be a star pupil at school tomorrow."
Roland giggled as she knelt down to tickle his chin.
"I also wanted to express my gratitude, Milady. I am very relieved that Roland stumbled across you on his little ramble. I do not care to think of what may have happened if he had not," Robin offered, his sweet, honest eyes making her treacherous heart skip a beat.
Regina rolled her shoulders and took a step back, gripping the door tightly.
"I was happy to help," she mumbled.
Robin tried to meet her eyes for a moment. He could feel the anxiety rolling off of her. A few weeks ago, he would have taken her in his arms and calmed away all her sadness and self-doubt, but it wasn't his place anymore. She had walked away so that he could have the life he had once dreamed of. The only problem was he wasn't so sure he wanted it anymore.
"Come along, Roland, we have imposed on Ms. Mills long enough," he sighed finally dropping his intense stare.
"Good Night, Gina. Thank you for rescuing me today," the boy launched himself at her, hugging her legs tightly. She ruffled his hair, fought back a wave of emotion and whispered her good night, before gently pushing him away.
As Regina closed the door, Robin felt that same tug in his chest that he had felt time and again over the last few weeks. He didn't know that she slumped down the wall, muffling sobs with her fist. He didn't know that her dreams were haunted by his rich chuckle and smiling face. All he knew was that at some point he had fallen for her, and now the idea of going home to Marian was tainted because all he could think of was the woman on the other side of the door.