Hallo Everyone! Its Brienne. I do hope you enjoy the first chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it for you. But I must warn you, this is not your typical, mushy, outlaw queen fanfiction. Prepare yourself for some tears in the near chapters and quite a bit of aggravation. But fear not, I assure you, your hours of frustration as you follow in the coming weeks will eventually come to an end…or not. Who knows? Ha-ha. For now, I guess all you can do is read. Good luck and don't hesitate to leave comments, I love criticism, both good and bad.
The Adulterer
Chapter 1
Time: 2:05AM
Place: The Locksley's Kitchen
Destination: Deep beneath the covers
Regina dried her pruning hands with a dish towel after storing away the last of the dishes, but non the less, there was still a counter spread of water that needed drying and of course there was storing them away. Night fall had since come and was easing into the early morning. If exhaustion hadn't hit her from running after her children all day, she was certainly tired now. She looked at the mess before her and gave a soft sigh. The brunette woman closed her eyes as she blinked away their heavy feeling, running her hands through her silk like strands. A yawn followed and then she began to clear the stray droplets of water from the counter tops. The house was nearly silent; the only noise coming from the low volume of the television.
Enough.
One of her favorite films.
It's a shame too, because it's just starting and she's certain she's way past the 'exhausted stage'. She glances anyway though, internally kicking herself for leaving the TV on HBO. Just what is it about JLO on the big screen that makes Regina so intrigued? Maybe it's because she secretly wishes she could see a part of her in herself. Or maybe she just likes her acting skills. She watches for the moment as the movie (with limited commercial, and gosh is this a bad time for her favorite movie to be playing) begins and then she's turning her head toward the clock.
2:18am.
She should be heading to bed. But now it's a matter of getting there. The couch she's sitting on is very comfortable and well, the sixteen steps up to her bedroom is quite the walk. So suddenly she's easing into the crevice of the plush sofa, her eyes weakly locked to the flickering screen. The mood is calm, and the heat of the fireplace warms the air.
She has a lovely home.
Each room was decorated to perfection, lined with inviting tones and beautiful accents that seemed to reflect their taste (well mostly hers, to be fair Robin had been occupied by his cell phone whilst she'd been choosing their home décor). The furnishings were a wonderful mix of modern and traditional, exactly as she'd pictured her home to be. But then again, what really made it a home were the people living in it.
Regina's mind wandered to her children and she couldn't help but smile. Her mind began to wander on the school made crafts they'd bring home, hanging them proudly on the fridge. Everything from the hand turkeys and paper ornaments they'd make around the holiday season, to the countless drawings they'd make for her to take to work were special. Those two never ceased to make her feel like the most amazing mother in the world. And well, she was.
The sounds of the crackling fire seemed to bring her back to reality. She sighed, lifting from the deep cushions to reach for the remote. Perhaps recording it would be best. Regina set the proper recording time for the DVR, turned off the television, and set the remote on her cherry wood end table. As she moved to slide her slippers over her toes, she'd heard something.
Suddenly her cell phone had caught her eye in the distance; the device vibrating without end as its lights began to flash.
Who could possibly be calling at this hour? She asked herself.
Regina walked over to the elaborate glass dining table to where she stood before her phone. Though as she took a closer look, she'd realized the phone wasn't hers, and the call was most definitely not for her. It was her husbands, Robin's to be exact.
Across the Caller ID read: Liza.
Regina braced herself, deciding not to assume the worst. For all she knew this could be a complete misunderstanding. So without further hesitation she picked up the phone and answered, deciding not to speak.
"Hmm…finally. I was starting to think you ditched me. You've been a very bad boy lately." Said the voice on the other line.
"Who are you?" Regina immediately asked.
The voice on the other end immediately went silent.
"It's too late to deny anything now, just tell me who you are and how the hell you know my husband." Said Regina, as she clung tighter to the phone.
She heard the women's breaths on the other end and could tell she was very nervous.
"Come on. Don't be a coward!" She said.
Her voice peeked to a high, ringing though the quiet home. Upon realizing how loud she was, she lowered her tone. Regina bit her lips in utter shock; this was no emergency call. This was a late night booty call from some tramp. A woman who had no business fooling around with a married man.
"Look I'm sorry, I didn't know he was married." She said and immediately disconnected the phone call.
Regina suddenly felt weak, as if her legs could give out any second. The brunette held the phone to her chest, her lips slowly quivering as her eyes filled with fresh tears. After seconds of standing there she hadn't even realized she'd dropped it. How could she when her mind was now filled with fear? And then came a terrible feeling in the pit of her abdomen. Her insides twisting into a knot as a wave of nausea hit her. She ran to the hall bathroom to empty her stomach as she silently sobbed to herself. How could he do this to her? To their children? Were things really this bad? Was she somehow oblivious to his feelings this entire time? Because she thought things were going okay. Great even.
Regina immediately began to ponder on all that she could have done, though she couldn't think of anything that stood out. She was in great shape and had perfect skin, her nails were always well kept. She was a fantastic mother to their children. Dinner was always prepared on time, except for the few nights she'd come home late from work. But he couldn't possibly opt to leave her just because of a few days of take-out could he?
The cool tile floor soothed her achy feeling, but she didn't have the strength to get up. And so she sat there, her night gown barely reaching over her thighs as she sulked. She hadn't even noticed him walk through the bathroom door until she smelled his pungent cologne.
She looked up to face him.
"What's wrong?" Asked Robin as he placed both hands in his pockets.
He wore a white dress shirt and a pair of black lined trousers, his hair freshly combed and his shoes, polished and shined.
"Guess you're all ready to go huh?" She asked.
Robin smirked and licked his lips, avoiding eye contact with her.
"She called you and I answered."
"Who?" Asked Robin as he took a step closer.
"Liza. The little slut you've been fucking." She spat.
"Ouch."
Robin held his heart and tilted his head.
"How long?" She asked.
"Excuse me?"
"How long have you been sleeping with her?"
"Does it really matter?" He asked.
The words cut through her like sharp knives through a piece of fruit. She shook her head and tears began to rush from her eyes. She could no longer hold them in because suddenly all of her emotions rushed to the fore front.
"Why Robin? How could you do this to me? I-I thought we were happy…"
"I am happy." He smirked.
"No you aren't. If you were, you wouldn't feel the need to cheat on me! What is it huh? Is it our sex life? Am I not pretty enough anymore?" She asked.
"No, our sex life is amazing and you look great. But you see Regina, I am a man of many interests and needs. I like to keep things spontaneous if you will." He explained.
The blonde man adjusted the sterling silver cufflinks around his wrists and folded his arms. A smug smile rested on his lips as he leaned against the door wall. Was this honestly a joke to him? Could he not see how much he'd already hurt her? Regina was in complete and utter shock. The man before her now was the furthest thing from the man she married. Had she known that things would result in this she never would have picked him to father her children.
"Just think, now I don't have to sneak around anymore and tell you I'm working late hours or going to the bar. Now I can just say, I'm going to Liza's." He smirked.
"Go to hell." She said, finally receiving the strength she needed to get up.
He gave her a guilty look as she brushed past his shoulder. Robin turned to follow her and grabbed her arm, a possessiveness in his eyes that seemed to spark her anger.
"Don't touch me! Stay the fuck away from me!" She said pushing him away.
Regina heard the baby monitor go off from the downstairs living room. She immediately ran up their grand staircase and up to their daughter's room. And thank God for it, because if she had to look at his face for even a second more, she'd have lost it. Upon entering her daughter's room, she turned on the lights, and quickly moved to her crib.
"Oh…its okay peanut, mommy's here." She said, lifting the two-year-old into her arms. She kissed her daughter's head, bringing it to her chest.
Her room was a beautiful pale gray, with accents of gold and silver. It was designed for an elite princess with beautiful mahogany flooring and bright sky light windows. There was a bookshelf that housed all of her first and second year books. Though toward the middle there were tons of tales in order from Cinderella to Moby Dick. Above her crib hung an elaborate gold crown draping with a silk canopy. It was truly elegant and fit just for her beautiful little girl. Though what she'd loved most of all about that room was the monogramed wall art of her name. Across her crib hung, Vivienne, in large black lettering. Regina had loved her name, it had reminded her of her grandmother.
Regina's grandmother had meant the world to her, though she'd died years earlier. It was very difficult for her to see her pass because they had been very attached to one another. As a child she'd take Regina almost everywhere with her. And lord bless her heart for it because Regina wasn't the easiest child to deal with. She was very inquisitive and quite the little handful when it came to behaving. But despite everything, she had a good heart and a love for reading. Her grandmother discovered her early interest and would take her to their local library on the weekends. She'd collect as many books as she could get her hands on and take them home to read, only to begin the cycle all over again. It was how she eventually developed an appreciation for writing and why she eventually began to write herself.
Her mother Cora had spent long hours as a waitress in the city and often times her daughter became a second priority. But with her books to keep her company, Regina found an outlet, an escape to which she could be anything, and do anything. Her grandmother inspired her to become the success that she now was. Except now she felt like anything but a success. Now she felt like a failure for being oblivious to the mess of her own marriage.
Robin moved for the door, a small overnight bag in hand with an umbrella. It had been pouring outside and the thunder had suddenly come on so strong. I guess it was befitting considering the circumstances.
"I'll be back in the morning. Don't wait up." He said, his words sharp and firm.
Regina clutched tighter to her daughter, shuttering in an intense emotional fit. She could not believe this was happening to her. In her mind this sort of thing only existed in dramatic movies, but certainly not for her. If she wasn't holding her child in her arms, Robin would have heard a few choice words from her. Worse, she would have come back swinging and chasing him around their huge mansion. Regina had never been so angry in her life. This could not have been happening, and especially at a time like this. Not when their lives were about to change again.
Regina watched before the window pane, the bright head lights to his prized BMW flashing against the paneling as he pulled off. Suddenly tears began to flood down her cheeks, uncontrollable heavy salt filled tears. Her body had not fully recovered from her first emotional episode, so seeing him actually go was far worse.
"Dada." Said Vivienne as she pointed toward the window.
"Yah, dada's in a lot of trouble." She said, running her fingers through her daughter's hair.
Vivienne was a beautiful little girl, no doubt just as beautiful as her mother. Unlike her brother she had dark raven hair like Regina; it reached her shoulders, flipping slightly at the ends. And her hazel eyes were a mix of her mother's amber ones and her father's sky blue ones. She also had her father's dimples, with a pair of the most chewable cheeks. Her lips were two little swells of scarlet and her nose, small and button like. Regina rocked her child in her arms as she began to drift back into sleep. And then, the light patter of small feet brushed against the floor, making her turn.
"Mummy why are you crying?" She heard a voice ask.
Regina quickly turned to see her five-year-old walking toward her. He looked concerned, though wore the most innocent expression. Clutching his blanket in his arms, he walked toward her. Her boy was the mirror image of her husband, eyes like the shimmering oceans, streak dirty-blonde locks that came to his shoulders, and a pair of the cutest dimples she'd ever seen. She had to remind herself that the little boy was certainly not her husband and had nothing to do with his failure at fulfilling that duty. The brunette came from her thoughts as she tried to stomach the ill feelings she now had.
"Oh, it's okay Romeo, mommy's fine, she just found out some bad news today that's all." She said, hoping he wouldn't press her for more information.
The brunette wiped at her tears, finding that most of them had dried into her face. She stood to her feet as she balanced her, now sleeping, two-year-old in her arms.
"Come on. We should get you and your sister back to bed." She said.
"Can I have juice first?" He asked.
"Of course you can." She said, as she moved to the fridge, careful as to not wake her daughter.
The brunette removed a jug of Mott's Apple Juice, before pouring some into his juice cup. She tightened the lid in hopes that he wouldn't spill it and they headed upstairs to their rooms to get some much needed rest.
As Regina pulled back the charcoal sheets of her king sized bed she took a deep breath. Then allowed the plush blankets to claim her, the warmth easing the chilling feeling to her body. This was not only effecting her emotions; this was affecting her physically. She closed her eyes and tried to imagine something, anything other than the horror of the reality she now faced. After all, she was a writer; surely there must have been something she could think of to distract her thoughts. Unfortunately, her vivid imagination betrayed her, and all she could do was cry. She remained that way for what seemed like hours, until finally tears did not come.