Coming Back to What?
How long had it been since he had driven on this road? How long had it been since he had seen these buildings and glanced upon these faces? How long had it been since he had glanced upon the face he had desired to see the most? The face that had haunted his dreams and been a phantom in his wake leaving a sweet scent of apples and vanilla at random moments that made his heart ache even more than it already did with each breath he took. How long? Too long. Robin thought as he drove his truck through the town. Ten months too long. The archer told himself as he reminded himself of the tally he kept for every day he had been away from his soul mate.
It had taken ten months for Robin to find the way back to Storybrooke after that heart wrenching day of goodbyes and last kisses. He had tried for a while to make things work; he had tried to remember his love for his wife as they moved on into the new realm before them. For months he had searched his heart for that love that he couldn't find. As he worked construction he would try to remember his moments with Marian. As he took Roland to school he tried to remember that love for the maiden that he had met so many years ago. But as he lay in bed at night by her side he would always come to the same conclusion. He would never be able to find that love again, he had left it behind, he had left his love with his soul mate, the very woman he would never be able find again.
Until now. He reminded himself with a smile as he drove onto Mifflin Street. After ten long months Robin would be able to hold her close and kiss her senseless. After painfully long months away from her Robin would finally be able to see her elusive smile and look into her enchanting eyes. After the hardest ten months of his life he would finally have back his Regina, and he would never let her go again.
Robin pulled up alongside the front of the mayor's mansion, his truck perfectly parked by the curb right in front of the main gate. Looking up at the large white mansion from the window of his truck Robin took a breath and glanced at the windows of the home, half expecting to see Regina staring out of one, her eyes looking at him, and a beautiful smile painted on her breathtaking face. But he knew that his appearance wasn't one to be expected and that was part of the reason he had not contacted anyone else, he wanted to surprise her. He wanted to see the shocked look spear across her face, then watch as it is overtaken by elation and love, he wanted to catch her before her mask could be put on.
Smiling the thief opened the door of his truck and stepped out onto the pavement, his booted feet moving soundlessly up to the front gate of the mansion. Opening the gate as carefully as he could Robin stepped through and closed the gate in a swift silent movement. Being a former thief defiantly gave him the upper hand when it came to sneaking around. Soon he was standing in front of the large white door of the mansion, his eyes skimming over the golden 108 before he reached a slightly shaking hand up to the doorknocker. Taking a deep breath Robin swung the knocker several times before straightening up, his hands behind his back and waiting.
Several seconds passed and nothing happened, he heard no movement inside. With a bit more confidence the archer knocked again, his rapping slightly louder but still after several minutes it went unanswered. Perhaps she isn't home? He wondered and looked over at the drive way and saw the infamous black Lincoln parked in its usual spot. He looked back at the front door of the house and his brow furrowed, Where could she be? He asked himself and shook his head. He knew his best bet would be to find Henry or Emma and ask them, they would know where to find the former queen if she wasn't already with them. "Alright, off to the Charmings apartment." Robin murmured to himself. Turning he jogged back to his truck and hopped into the driver's seat. Once he was driving along the different streets again he let himself imagine what it would be like to see Regina again after so long apart. In the grand scheme of things it might have only been ten months, but to Robin it had felt like ten hundred life times. His hands held onto the steering wheel as he pictured their last moment together all those months ago. He hadn't wanted to go, he never wanted to let go of her hand and cross the town line, he had never wanted to be the reason that she would be alone and heartbroken. It pained the archer to the point that he grimaced when he remembered how strong his true love had tried to be during their moments at the town line together, she was always trying to be the strong one and he loved her for it, but he also loved that he was one of the few people to have ever seen what lay behind those tall walls she had built up around herself. And what lie on the other side was something so beautiful, so rare and so breathtaking that even the thought of it made Robin smile.
In what seemed like mere seconds Robin found himself pulling into the parking lot of the apartment building the Charmings lived in. He knew he was ready to see his queen, he knew he was ready to look at her and say her name over and over again as he kissed her gently in greeting and held her in his arms, he was ready to apologize for leaving, and more than anything Robin was ready to promise to Regina that he would never leave her side again. He felt a slight shiver race down his back as he imagined looking into her beautiful whiskey brown eyes and remembered how he used to be able to just gaze into those golden orbs for what seemed like hours and never get board in the slightest.
With a silent prayer that he would find Regina in the apartment, Robin opened the door to his truck and got out. He walked into the building and up the stair well towards the Charming's apartment, his steps becoming a bit slower as he got closer. Suddenly he was beginning to fear being confronted by the woman he left, he wondered if she would hate him, if he would look into those eyes he loved so much and see nothing but hurt and betrayal. No! Robin told himself firmly. Regina knows that I never would have left her willingly! She knows that I only left because Marian wouldn't have made it on her own! Regina knows that I wanted to stay with her! She is the one who told me that I had to go! She will understand… I hope… He thought and swallowed hard as he felt his heart ache at the thought of what the past months must have been like for her.
Robin knew that no matter what she wouldn't have been alone. He knew that after he left that Henry and Emma and Mary Margret and David would have stepped up and been the family and the loved ones she would have needed. He trusted them that they had been the support system for her that he knew they always were for each other. Above all else Robin knew that Henry would have stood by his mother no matter what, the boy was good, he loved his mother and wanted her to be happy. That thought brought a small smile to Robin's lips and he remembered walking through Storybrooke with Regina and Henry after breaking the Wicked Witches curse at the docks.
That small happy memory was the only boost Robin needed in order to break himself from his frozen state in front of the apartment door and actually knock.
Waiting several seconds Robin looked down at his boots and held his hands behind his back. His head shot up when the door opened and immediately his ice blue eyes made contact with the mint green eyes of Mary Margret. "Robin…" The woman breathed and looked shocked to say the least at the sight of the archer.
Robin gave her a small nod and shifted a bit in front of the door. "Hello Mary Margret, I was wondering if Regina was here." He said and was surprised by the open speechless open mouth that adorned the face of the woman in front of him.
"I… she…" Mary Margret struggled to get her words out as she looked up at the archer that had left Storybrooke ten months prior. "David!" She finally called.
There was a thump and the sound of scraping that came from inside the apartment and suddenly the face of David appeared from behind the door. "What is it? What's wrong?" The prince asked.
"Look." Mary Margret said softly and nodded subtly towards the man in the doorway.
Peering around the door David's eyes widened as he saw Robin standing there patiently. "Robin?" The prince asked.
"Yes David, it is I." Robin said with a polite nod. "I'm sorry to disrupt you, but I'm looking for Regina. Is she here? Or do you know where she is?"
There was a paused and David looked from Mary Margret to Robin. With a sigh he turned to the archer and said, "Robin, can you give us a moment."
"Of course." Robin said though he couldn't help feeling curious as to why the couple was acting so off, and concerned that if Regina were in the apartment that they might not let him see her.
"Thank you; we will just be a moment." David said and closed the apartment door. Robin stood and waited, his curiosity and concern only growing as he heard the muffled sounds of a quiet argument going on right behind the door in front of him. His mind began to race with the worried thoughts that the prince and princess were of the opinion that Robin was no longer worthy of Regina. He feared that Regina herself might have given them direct instructions to keep him away from her if her ever were to return. He dreaded that the woman he loved might now hate him.
Before the dread and fear could grow much further the door swung open and David stood alone in the doorway facing Robin. "Robin, why don't you come inside?" The prince paused. "We need to talk."
.
.
.
Robin sat on the couch in the Charming's apartment, his hands on his knees as he sat facing David. "I take it she doesn't wish to see me?" Robin asked softly and looked at the table in front of him.
There was a pause and Robin heard David let out a shaky breath. "Robin… it's not that she doesn't want to see you." David began to explain.
"Then you do not wish me to see her?" Robin questioned and looked up at David.
David shook his head and ran his hand through his hair. "No, we… we want you to see her Robin… believe me… we do…" David continued and found his voice beginning to abandon him.
Robin looked at the price and wondered what had made the monarch suddenly so devoid of a vocabulary. "Then what is it then? If she wants to see me, if you want her to see me, what is stopping it? Is it Henry? Is he angry at me for leaving her?" Robin countered, his blue eyes analyzing the prince.
As if a great weight had suddenly been placed on David's shoulders the price slouched down and placed his forehead in his hand. "No Robin, it isn't Henry. Robin…" The prince began and paused biting the inside of his lip and taking in a deep breath. "She can't see you. She isn't here…"
"Then where is she?" Robin demanded feeling like the prince was porously trying the waste the time he could be using trying to find Regina.
There was another long paused and Robin looked into David's eyes and saw the wet unshed tears being held within them. No… He thought as his mind began to piece it all together.
"I'm sorry Robin." David said and reached forward to put a comforting hand on the archers shoulder. "Regina… she died." The prince informed and a steady teardrop rolled down his cheek.
No! Robin's brain shouted as the words were spoken aloud. NO! NO! NO! He screamed internally and felt stiff. "No…" He gasped and his teeth clenched together. "NO! NO! SHE CAN'T BE!" He screamed and brought his hands up to the top of his head as he jumped to his feet and began to walk towards the door. "SHE CAN'T BE! SHE CAN'T BE!" He yelled over and over again. "REGINA CAN'T BE DEAD! I'VE COME BACK TO HER! I'VE COME HOME TO HER! SHE CAN'T BE GONE!"
David got to his feet and hurried after Robin. "Robin please, come sit back down. I know, I know it hurts and I know you feel angry but please come sit back down. We need to talk." David insisted and felt horrible trying to calm down a man who just found out his soul mate had died.
Robin turned fast to face David, his face red with anger and wet with tears. "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?! WHY DIDN'T YOU STOP IT?! WHY DIDN'T YOU SAVE HER?!" He hollered at the prince.
"Robin! Please come sit down. Let me explain." David said as more tears dripped down his cheeks. "There is more you need to know." David insisted.
"WHAT THE BLOODY HELL HAPPENED!" Robin roared and it sounded broken with anguish.
"SOMETHING WE COULDN'T HAVE STOPPED NO MATTER HOW MUCH WE WANTED TO!" David finally yelled back.
"WHY THE HELL NOT? YOU ARE ALWAYS SO DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE MAKES IT OUT ALIVE AND HAPPY! SO WHAT THE HELL HAPPENED? WHY DID YOU LET REGINA DIE!" Robin screamed.
"WE DIDN'T LET HER DO ANYTHING!" David said and took a breath trying to cool down, he knew Robin was upset. He knew that he himself and Mary Margret and Emma and Henry and basically everyone was very upset. "You know Regina." He said in an attempt at a calmer tone. "She never let anyone stop her from doing what she wanted!" His voice broke at the last word and he looked down.
Robin took several seconds, his mind racing with everything that had just happened. His brain trying to process the fact that he would never see the fiery and enchanting woman that was Regina Mills ever again, that he would never see his soul mate, his one true love ever again. The thought brought him to his knees; his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to breathe but felt like every breath was smothering him. "And… why… the… hell… would… she… have… wanted… to… die?" he gasped out as he cried on the ground.
There was a silence and Robin saw David kneel next to him as the archer sobbed against the ground. "So…" The prince began but couldn't finish the words.
"So that her daughter could live." A broken voice sounded from the other side of the room and both men looked over to see Mary Margret standing with tear dampened cheeks, in her arms was a small bundle wrapped in a light purple blanket. "Regina died so that her daughter… your daughter could live." She said as she looked right at Robin.
"My… my what?" Robin chocked out and attempted to sit up enough to see inside the small bundle.
"Your daughter." Mary Margret voice quavered as she spoke and held the baby close.
Daughter!? Robin's mind shot the word repeatedly. Daughter! Daughter! Regina's daughter… my daughter… our child… Regina… child… daughter… His brain kept spewing the words at him and he had no clue what to do with them. His mind felt like all order had fled it and left him with nothing but chaos. "Wh-what is her na-ame?" He managed to say after close to ten minutes of saying nothing and staring at the bundle with tears running down his cheeks and heavy breaths.
Mary Margret held the baby close and looked down at the small child in the blankets. "Regina named her Danielle." She said with a watery smile. "Danielle Robin Mills."
Danielle Robin Mills. Robin thought and looked at the small bundle of blankets that held his daughter. Danielle Robin Mills. He thought again.
Danielle Robin Mills.
Hey guys, so I know this is sad but believe me if I do continue there will be happy moments. Robin will love his little girl with all his heart and will try to be the best father he can be for this little girl. But of course he will need some help along the way. If I continue I plan for a Mad Hatter/ Robin Hood/ Prince Charming Brotp. Robin's two new besties will help him through the trials of raising his little princess. Plus if I continue I plan to add in the story of how Regina got through the months without Robin and also have Robin make sure that his little girl will know who her mother really was. So let me know if you think I should continue! Please comment and review! Love you all!