Theodora's shop in Storybrooke, Maine was one of alternative therapies and medicines. She offered therapy massages and acupuncture in addition to a wide selection of herbal remedies including supplements, oils, and teas.
Her office was right next to Dr. Hopper's psychology practice. They often shared clients, and given that they both lived in separate apartments above their offices, they saw each other regularly. And though they had never quite managed to strike up a friendship, their relationship was an amenable one.
Theodora kept her shop hours similar to when Dr. Hopper held appointments since many of his patients liked to stop by her store afterwards. That Saturday had been a slow one, however, and she closed shop early. Then, as she always did when she found herself with some extra time on her hands, she drove over to Richard's Outdoor Depo.
It was a silly practice, she had told herself on several occasions, but she had never managed to stop herself from going. The Outdoor Depo carried supplies for several outdoor activities, from fishing and boating to camping and hunting. There was even an area for outdoor games like horse hoes. Richard was the store owner and he often came in to check stock, organize, welcome customers, and run the register.
Theodora thought he was quite good looking. She couldn't put her finger on exactly what it was - the rugged look of his stubble, the tossed nature of his hair, or the softness in his eyes. Whatever it was, she kept coming back, if just to be in the same room as him.
She had never spoken to him; she had never been able to get up the nerve. She scolded herself for such ridiculousness - acting like a shy school girl. But something always seemed to stop her when she tried to get the words out, almost like there was some physical barrier getting in her way.
She always bought something when she visited - small purchases, and ones she tried to make useful. But she wasn't always successful, like the fishing rod sitting in her apartment that she had never used or the book on bird watching. But she did make regular use that pair of gloves when she went out into the woods to gather fresh herbs for her shop. And that field guide had been useful in allowing her to make her own concoctions instead of relying solely on supplies from distributors.
She selected another pair of gloves this time. Her old pair was going worn; one of her fingertips was sure to wear a hole in the tip very soon.
She turned with her intended purchase in her hand to glance at the cash registers. Richard was on one of them, but she wouldn't go down his lane. She knew by now that the nerves would get the best of her, so she skipped the mental battle with herself and headed down the second lane.
It wasn't a total loss, she thought to herself as she headed back to her car with her new gloves in hand. Her purchases always managed to remind her of Richard. She thought of him out in the woods when she was selecting herbs. And she thought of him at home whenever she saw the fishing pole leaning against the wall behind her coat rack - that's why she'd never moved that fishing pole to any other place.
It was silly, these items she bought to remind her of a man she could never bring herself to talk to. Maybe she should make an appointment with Dr. Hopper and discuss the situation. Surely there was some underlying issue that needed to be analyzed.
But then, the thought of sitting in a room with Archie - a man she counted as a very near friend - and discussing such girlish fantasies about a man she'd never even really met ... it seemed ridiculous. She didn't know what Archie would think of her, and she certainly didn't want him to think she was crazy or anything of that sort. No, this was just some silly game she would have to play until she tired of it.
She was just about to back the car out of the parking space when there came a knock at her window, and Theodora turned to find Richard smiling in at her.
She jumped in her seat, and then hurriedly rolled the window down.
"I'm sorry," he said laughing. "I didn't mean to scare you."
His laugh was infectious, and Theodora felt some courage seep into her. "No," she said with a smile. "It's alright. I just didn't see you."
He held out a hand for her to shake. "I'm Richard."
"I-I'm Theo," she said, reaching her hand through the window to clasp his. It was warm to the touch, and she hoped she wasn't blushing.
"I've seen you in the store a number of times," he said. "It's a shame we haven't met till now."
"Yes, it is," she said. Ask him out to coffee, said the little voice in her head. Ask him out to coffee.
"I like to make a point of meeting my regular customers," he continued.
"Good," she smiled. "I'm sure they appreciate it." What? What are you talking about? She realized then that she still had hold of his hand. She laughed nervously and let go. "I'm sorry," she said.
"Nah, it's ... alright," he told her.
But she imagined he was just being polite. Too weird, she had made this conversation too weird.
But he was still smiling at her with that wide grin, and she couldn't help but smile back.
"I-I won't keep you," he said when neither of them spoke. "It was nice meeting you, Theo."
"You, as well," she said. No. No! Call him back. Call him back!
But he had already turned and was heading into the store.
Theodora sighed and laid her head against the steering wheel. Could she be anymore pathetic? How hard was it to ask a simple question?
"Would you like to get coffee?" she asked the wheel, her forehead still pressed to it. "You know, just two normal people getting coffee? Oh, you would?" she said, pulling her head up. She shifted the car into reverse and twisted in her seat to see behind her. "That's great. That's just great. Glad I asked." See, Theo? Not that hard.
She felt the tears start to overwhelm her when she pulled the car into park at her apartment. But, no. No, she was not going to do this. She was not some whiny, helpless, emotional teenager. She was a grown woman, and she would pick herself up and head into her lonely apartment and be content.
But she only made it up the stairs where she collapsed in front of her apartment door, her keys clutched in her hands. What was wrong with her? How hard was it to talk to one guy? And why was he so important anyway? She had her own place. She had a successful business. She didn't need a guy to complete her life. So, she should just stop crying over it.
But she couldn't help feeling that something was missing in her life, something she felt barred from grasping. Maybe it was this town. Maybe it was her solitary lifestyle. She had no idea. But some part of her desperately yearned for a change, and the other part of her seemed unable to make it. Whatever the reasons, she felt trapped with nowhere to go.
"Theo?" she looked up at Archie's voice. "Are you all right?"
How long had she been crying in the hallway? Had he heard her from his apartment or had he just come up the stairs and found her? He was in his full professional attire, but that didn't really indicate anything.
"I sorry," she breathed, pressing her hands to her eyes to stem the flow. "I just-" she took a breath. "It's been a rough day."
She let him help her to her feet. "You're sure you're all right?" he asked.
She rubbed her sleeve along her face to dry it. "Yes," she said. "Yes, I'll be fine. Thank you," she added.
He didn't leave right away. "If you need anything," he said seriously. "You know where to find me."
She managed a small smile at his kindness. "Yes, I do," she said, nodding. "Thank you." She truly did appreciate his concern.
He hesitated, perhaps still not sure she was all right. But then he gave a small uncertain nod and turned toward his apartment.
Theodora wiped the long strands of hair from her face, wet and sticking to her cheeks from her tears, before opening her door. Her grey cat, Regal, jump up on his cat tree to greet her.
"Hey, buddy," she said, reaching out to pet him. She kicked the door closed and threw her coat on the stand, drawing her eyes away before they could glance at the fishing pole leaning against the wall.
That night she watched a movie with Regal. And then she retired to bed, trying to convince herself that she didn't wish she had a certain man to share it with.
That Sunday, she went out into the woods to collect some herbs for her shop. She was nearly out of a few ingredients and early morning was the best time to collect them, just as the herbs were drying from the morning dew.
She liked the focus the task required. Despite the solitude, it usually served in keeping her mind off things. She had to have complete concentration to locate what she was looking for and then to determine if it was ready for use.
At last, she found the perfect specimen of moss at the base of a tree. She bent down to examine it, and then, determining it was right, she pulled out her small sheers to cut it free from the ground. It was then, in that moment, when a memory came to her, something she had forgotten for a very long time.
She gasped, dropping the sheers from her hand. She stood from her crouched position and stared off into the woods in the direction of the town. The whole of the memory was too much for her take in all at once, and for a moment she stood frozen. But then her feet started to move and soon she had broke into a sprint toward town.
Eventually, with a number of pauses on the way and wishes that she had thought to grab her car, she reached Richard's store, but it was closed. She should have thought of that, but she hadn't. She turned around, facing the direction of her apartment and started off in that direction.
Eventually, they found each other on some back street. They both froze in place, taking in each other's faces. And Theodora knew without a doubt that she had spent half a life with this man.
"Regina?" he said.
Her lip trembled, the recognition of her true name washing over her. "Robin?"
They ran toward each other, embracing as they met in the middle. Regina could hardly believe it. The memories were still forming in her head, not yet complete. But she understood that this man whom she'd been seeking for so long was her husband and that he'd been taken from her, that they'd both been cursed into forgetting one another.
They pulled back from each other and their lips met in passionate kisses before breaking apart for another embrace where they both had trouble keeping back the tears.
And then Regina remembered something else, a flash of dark hair like hers on a brilliant, bouncing child. Their child.
"Roland," she said, pulling back from Robin's arms to look up into his face. "Where's Roland?"
This is the final installment of my Outlaw Queen trilogy, which explores an alternate universe where Regina falls in love with Robin and never becomes the Evil Queen. As such, there are some details in here that will not make sense to traditional readers. I highly recommend reading the previous installments before checking out this one. To do so, please see my profile.
