Day 4 (Thursday) of #OQPromptParty2018 Prompt #192 - Roni and Robin find one another in Hyperion Heights in their cursed identities. Then one day, the curse is broken and they wake up. (Part 1)

Author's note: Slight warning of child loss and minor violence (unrelated to each other) - just warning ahead of time.

Paranoid

Roni thought she knew a lot. Hell knows, she's been through enough in her life that she should. She knows that things aren't always what they seem at first. That life can throw a curveball when it's least expected. But this...this was just too much.

She's been at the bar since she closed; studying the adoption papers Detective Weaver brought over as if they were college midterms. She was disappointed that they don't seem to be faked or forged. Neither was the signature written out. It's not normally how Roni signed her own name (or her full name) but when she'd run her pen along the scrap piece of paper, her hands had had a mind of their own. It felt natural, as if second nature, like she'd been doing it every day of her life. It's the exact replica of the signature on the bottom of the document, no doubt about that.

At the same time, nothing was adding up, much like the photo she'd found of herself in far too modest clothing that she despised. Never in her life would she be found dressed in pantsuits or tightly fit pencil skirts. Not that she had anything against them. The woman in the photo Roni could only figure was a freak clone of herself looked rather lovely. Roni just preferred her jeans and overpriced band shirts, a hint of leopard print here and there and her floral patterned leather jacket. But that was the least of her concerns at the moment as she stared down at the young boy she swore she'd never once laid eyes on that stood beside "her." The cherry on top was Henry stating the boy was him as a child, the woman in the photo being his adopted mother, or the mother he'd written for himself in his unfortunate unsuccess of a book. The mother's name being the same one staring back at her in the dark lines of her own penmanship. Regina Mills. The name seemed so foreign and yet so familiar all at the same time.

Nothing made sense and Roni just wanted everything to go back to the way it was. She'd take her boring hell of a life over all of this mystery and confusion in a heartbeat. If she believed Lucy that their lives in Hyperion Heights were a curse (and she definitely didn't) then her whole life as Roni was a lie. Who could hate her - this Regina Mills - this much to curse her to a life as horrible as Roni's? And worse yet - if her tragic life as Roni was a curse then Regina's life would have to be even worse.

Her life hadn't been easy, but it hadn't been all bad either. She wasn't always the day-drinking, beaten down, bar owner that she was now. Then again, her name hadn't always been Roni either. She pushed the adoption papers and the unexplainable photo across the bar, letting her head falling into her hands. There was a copy of her own upstairs, but just of an application. She'd never been handed the fancy official 'this is your kid' version. She'd been just a breath away from that - a child of her own. She got to be happy - twice - and after both times she was damaged beyond repair.

She used to be Veronica Daniels - but everyone called her Nikki. Nikki had her heart set on marrying Ben in college, a fellow student and the son of one of the janitorial staff. She met Ben freshman year and the two hit it off instantly. By the time they were both in their senior year, they were engaged with plans to move far away after graduation. Unfortunately, that plan was derailed one morning she called him from class to pick her up because she'd been feeling unwell. He had a freak heart attack on the drive back to their off-campus house and a semi crashed into them head-on. She was knocked into a coma when her head slammed into the door of the car and she was out for weeks. She should have died, still can't fathom how she didn't, but when she'd woken up, it was to a shattered nightmare. Her fiance was killed instantly and she'd lost not only the daughter she didn't know she was carrying but also the ability to have any more children.

She pushed everyone away, dropped out of college, and fell off the wagon completely. She lost herself in booze and drugs and whatever else she could get her hands on. In a low moment, she met Seth who was a few years older than her. He promised her a good time, let her drink the memories away, and took care of her. She didn't know him well nor did he offer much about himself. They weren't even together long before they got married, eloping at the courthouse. Life with Seth was a constant party - until the party ended. Life was pretty horrible for a while - until she met Robbi. By then she was Roni Hart...but that was another story entirely.

The folded corner of a photo stuck out from behind the register across the bar, taunting her and causing her stomach to twist in knots. She tapped her fingers on the counter, her nerves causing her knee to bounce uncontrollably as she brought her hand up to bite the tip of her nail. Voices echoed in her ears - memories that were very much her own, not anyone else's. Certainly not Regina's. She squeezed her eyes shut, blinking back tears as the images played out in her mind.

"I cannot believe you bought me a bar!" Roni wandered around the empty rooms of the building, her mouth still hung open in shock. His tie was still half-tied around her neck from being over her eyes as he led her inside to her surprise - which was that he'd bought her a bar for her birthday. Or rather, for them as they would open it up together.

"Not much of a surprise, love, when we've already talked about it. Planned it out, in fact. Or do you not remember typing up that business plan together?" Robbi followed after her.

She turned back to face him, raising an eyebrow. "Well yeah...but that was just a plan with a dream and fake numbers. This is a building!" She raised her voice and it echoed in the empty space.

"Yes...and this is a bar." He drummed his hands on the dusty once-black bartop. His lips curled into a smirk, pointing across the room at a heap of wood. "Those are some chairs - though they would appear to be just a little broken. Oh…" He grabbed her arm and pulled her toward him, wrapping his arms around her waist. "I've caught myself a bartender - look at that!" He winked, swaying them gently as her lips pulled up and her eyes shone brightly at him. "Ah. There it is," he spoke gently, tucking a loose curl behind her ear. "There's that elusive but satisfying smile I think about every time I close my eyes"

Roni bit down on her bottom lip, fighting against the butterflies fluttering in her stomach and the unshed tears twinkling in her eyes. He drew his hand up to card through her dark locks and settle on the side of her neck. The longer she stared into that radiant smile of his, the more aware she became of the heat rising in her cheeks. A single tear ran loose and she shuddered as his thumb rose up to swipe it away before it even had a chance to fall. She laughed at that, shaking her head and forcing the rest of the tears to stay at bay. "Very funny, babe. I think you'll be the one tending the bar while I'm in the office doing paperwork." She playfully slapped him on the chest, pushing back and skipping across the floor.

"As you wish." Robbi held his hand over his chest and leaned forward. "You know, I've always found the idea of a woman bossing me around very appealing." She rolled her eyes, wandering around behind the bar. She grazed her fingers over the sink, placing her palms down on the counter and imaged herself in action. She glanced up briefly and caught sight of blue eyes and that damned beautiful smile that made her stomach flip in delight as he watched her curiously from where he leaned against a post. Her eyes fell, aware of how miserably she was failing at hiding her red tinted cheeks.

Her gaze lifted again and roamed around the room. The place was rundown and needed a lot of repairs, but it was spacious (yet somehow very intimate) with tall arched windows and tons of places for seating. High tables and booths, couches and arm charms could be easily scattered about with room to spare. To the left of the bar was a raised platform, a wood fireplace made of an ash grey stone placed upon it, marking a perfect place for a lounge area. Four massive brick pillars ran from floor to ceiling and stood like soldiers in a line across the middle of the room.

She envisioned the place filled with patrons, loud chatter and clinking of glasses, roars of laughter echoing off the walls. Whispered secrets and lovesick couples.

Her eyes caught sight of the dark iron spiral staircase that ran up towards a small landing and she tilted her head to the side.

"And what's up there?" Roni's eyes met blue for a moment before stepping out from behind the bar for a better look. She crossed her arms over her chest, glancing back at Robbi curiously.

"Well…" Robbie stepped away from the pillar and closed the distance between them. He grabbed hold of the railing and smacked his lips together. "We're building a business down here in the bar...what would you say to building our life together up there?" Roni opened her mouth, her brows crinkling as she looked at the upper level. Robbi chuckled. "An apartment, love. Quite spacious. Room to grow if we wish, more walls and such."

"You mean like live together?" Roni's eyes widened as they met with his sparkling blues again.

"Precisely," Robbi confirmed.

"So full of surprises today, babe." Roni ascended a few of the stairs, her head craning to peak up at the apartment.

"Oh, just you wait." His eyes twinkled.

She scanned him up and down, one of her brows arching on her forehead. "I've got my eye on you, Robbi Lockwood. You are…" She paused as he stepped over a few paces to the right, glancing past him. "No, you are definitely up to something."

"What if you'll like what I'm up to, Miss Roni?" He shrugged.

"I'll be the judge of that." She tried to look past him but he moved again. "There's something out there, isn't there?"

He stepped aside, holding his hands out. Her cheeks were tinged red as she hopped off the stairs, strolling past him with an excited grin. She could feel his eyes on her as she slowly moseyed her way across the floor. She took in the sight of a door and a soft gasp escaped her lips, gazing through the glass.

"Ahh...I see you've found the courtyard." She heard Robbi chortle behind her and turned around, delight filling her from head to toe. "Thought you'd enjoy that, milady. We do enjoy our picnics, don't we." She stood frozen staring at him, stunned. "Well go on, have a look around." He scooted her further out onto the patio, following after her.

She twirled around, taking in the sight in front of her. "Robbi, it's beautiful. Can we even afford this? Can we open this bar?" She continued to wander around the small yard, thinking of all of its potentials. People could rent out the space for parties and gatherings, reunions and all sorts of things - or just have lunch out in the sunshine.

"Waking up to that smile every day makes it all worth it," Robbi spoke from behind her. "We can build something here - more than just a bar. People will come from miles just for your food alone! And who knows, if it takes off - maybe we can expand."

Her insides flipped, distant memories plaguing her happiness. "Wait, Robbi there's something we need to talk about--" She froze as she turned around, her mouth hanging open at the sight of the man she loved bent down on one knee staring up at her as he held open a velvet box.

"Roni, I love you with everything I have. Will you marry me?"

Roni's lungs seized as she stared down at the old photo of Robbi, the Boston adoption papers and the strange photo of the boy and the woman that looked like her in her peripheral vision across the bar. She raised her hand to feel through the fabric of her tank top for the chain she always kept hidden under her clothes. She thumbed the hard metal of the ring over under the fabric, closing her eyes as the tears started to run free.

She truly didn't know what think anymore, if Roni or Regina was real. It was that old grass is always greener scenario...Regina's life could be better or worse. But either way, right now Roni was stuck where she was with the mysteries that were plaguing the town and the ghosts that not only haunted her heart but the very bar she was planted on.

Her hand dropped from the ring, picking at the tie she kept around her wrist - Robbi's tie that he used to cover his eyes the day he brought her to this bar. Her phone buzzed where it was on the bar near the papers - a phone call from Henry. She dismissed the call, swallowing the familial pinprick in her chest that kept telling her Henry meant more to her than just a new partner in crime in taking down Victoria Belfrey.

She heard the door open, scrambling to cover up everything she had on the bar. She turned to find Ivy Belfrey walking toward her, mumbling something under her breath. Roni released a tired breath, knowing her night was about to get a lot more stressful than it already was.

To Be Continued...