AN: Hi all! Thank you again for the reviews and interest in this story! Please keep them coming, they really do help! Again, thank you michebellaxo for making sure this wasn't awful! And to foreveroutlawqueen on tumblr for keeping my writer's block anxiety at bay with a plot point! (And to my cat Glenn for refusing to leave my side while typing this all week!)
"…and I expect it to be faxed to my office within the hour…no Ms. Nolan needs it TODAY…yes…yes, everything dating back to 2011…everything. Do I make myself clear?...good." Regina hung up the phone call and dropped her phone back into her purse. "Ugh. Idiot." With both hands back on the steering wheel, she let out a silent groan, quickly glancing over to her son in the passenger seat. He was staring out the window, eyes still droopy. "You excited about your field trip?"
"Yah, I guess." He looked back at Regina and yawned. "I wish I could sleep on the bus though."
"Unfortunately, Storybrooke field trips will differ from Boston ones. Before, you would drive an hour to something exciting. Now, ten minutes? Probably less than that!"
"What's so special about a stupid ballpark anyways?" He questioned, his head now resting against the window.
"There's a lot of history at Fenway Park. I think you'll be surprised at what you learn!" She smiled at him, though he wasn't watching. She knew Henry wasn't an athletic kid. His interest stayed in the realm of fiction and history.
He let out a sigh as they pulled over across the street from the school. The two unbuckled and exited the car, moving to the crosswalk a few feet away. As they crossed, Regina held out her hand instinctually towards Henry, but his hands remained on his backpack straps.
As they approached the school's front doors, Regina reached into her purse and pulled out her wallet. "You have your permission slip, right?"
"Yes."
"And your sun screen?"
"Mmhmm."
"And your-"
"Lunch? Yes. I have everything." He rolled his eyes, but noticed the $10 bill his mother had in her hand now. "What's that?"
"They said you could bring money if you wanted to buy something. So," she handed him the money and smiled, "buy something good!"
Henry smiled back, taking the money and shoving it into his pocket. "Thanks!"
"Have fun today, ok? Try to be optimistic about the trip." She rubbed her hand on his shoulder now. "I love you."
"Hey Henry!" The boy who had befriended Henry was calling from the other side of the school yard.
"Hi Tanner!" He looked at Regina quickly, who gave him a reassuring nod. Henry smiled and ran to his friend, leaving Regina on the walk way, watching her son enter the school.
Her heart ached for a moment, wishing he would have responded back to her with even a goodbye. But hearing him say 'thanks' and smiling with a new friend was enough to shake her back to reality. Baby steps, this will take time. As she turned to head back to her car, her attention quickly landed on the tall man approaching her, his face brighter than a child's on Christmas morning.
"Ah, Ms. Mills, happy Wednesday!"
"Mr. Locksley, good morning!" She greeted as Henry's teacher approached her, his own child still clinging to his hand. "Hello, Roland!"
"Hi!" The young boy smiled at Regina, then turned his gaze to his father's. "Can I go?"
"Yes, remember, walking feet in the halls. Have a good day, my boy!" He bent down and kissed his son's forehead.
"Love you, daddy."
"I Love you, too!" He released his son's hand and watched him run inside the school building, greeting every teacher he passed on his way. "That kid has too much energy in the morning! I thought I was a morning person, but he puts me through the ringer!" He chuckled and looked back at Regina.
"I wish I could handle mornings. It takes me a good hour to even accept the fact that I'm awake! Same with Henry!" She looked Robin up and down, noticing his attire- clad in jeans, sneakers and a leather jacket. "I presume you're going on the field trip as well?"
"Of course I'm going!" He unzipped his jacket, revealing a Red Sox jersey below it.
Regina laughed and rolled her eyes. "I didn't think an actual baseball game was occurring!"
"There isn't! I just love supporting my local teams!" He shifted his messenger bag off his shoulder and into his hand. "But I actually enjoy this field trip. This is my sixth time going. I love proving to the kids that science is everywhere! Do you realize how much physics is involved in baseball?"
She watched his face fill with joy as he discussed his own favorite subject. She nodded her head in agreement, zoning out for a moment, as he threw out terms she hadn't heard since college. Shouldn't he enjoy cricket more? He does have an English accent…and a good fashion sense…those are really nice jeans…he looks good in them…oh my God what am I saying? Finally, the school bell rang, pulling her from her thoughts and Robin from his rant.
"Well I better get to class before they leave without me!"
"Wouldn't want that to happen!" She smiled at him. "Have fun!"
"Oh, I will! Have a great day, Regina!" He waved at her, heading towards the school.
As he walked away, she watched him. He's so passionate about what he does. His students are lucky to have him. Hell, his wife is lucky to have him! She once again realized where her thoughts were going and quickly hurried off to her car.
Regina dropped the manila folder in front of Kathryn then placed her hands on her hips. "Apparently your client has a few skeletons in his closet."
Kathryn looked up at Regina. "Why, what did you find?" She opened the folder and listened to Regina rattle off everything her client had done in the last three years.
"…and not only did he hide the money from his now ex-wife, but he proceeded to take the money from her dying father and hide it in a bank account in New Jersey." Regina took a breath. "You still want to defend his sneaky ass?"
"His sneaky ass is paying me thousands to defend him. I will work with what I got!" Kathryn closed the folder. "Shouldn't you be leaving now?"
"I have a few more minutes. Plus Henry had a field trip today, so I'm sure he's not too anxious to get home." Regina let her arms fall to her side. "I just wanted to show you this before you continued working with this guy."
"And I appreciate it. Truly, you saved me a lot of time, and probably dug deeper than I would have gone. So, thank you!" Kathryn stood up from behind her desk, taking the folder with her, and filing it in the metal cabinet in the corner. "Now go! You'll be here tomorrow morning and can find more shit to dig up. Ok?"
Regina nodded her head and made her way to her small office next to Kathryn's. She packed up her brief case, clearing her desk of the papers that were spread everywhere. As she moved to turn off her computer, she saw she had a new email.
-To: R_H_Mills_
From: RLocksley
Subject: Henry
Good afternoon Regina!
Just wanted to let you know that Henry had a wonderful
time on the field trip. He spent the majority of the trip
with a few classmates, and I heard lots of laughs from
him. I also had to speak with him and his friends on the
bus for being too loud! I hope hearing this puts ease in
your heart. I don't know how things are at home lately,
but I hope him being happy at school has helped with
his relationship with you!
Best,
Robin
Regina smiled. Henry is turning into a trouble maker. Great! She opened up a new message and responded.
-To: RLocksley
From: R_H_Mills
Subject: Re:Henry
Hello Robin,
Thank you for your message. It does make me feel better
knowing he is actually enjoying school now. As for things
at home, they're still the same. We avoid the subject so
there is no arguing. But I can still tell that he believes I
did this to hurt him.
Again, thank you for keeping an eye on him!
-Regina
She clicked send and shut down the computer. Part of her already knew what her conversation would be like with her son when she picked him up. She would ask him how the trip was, and he would respond with a shrug and say 'it was good', and leave it at that. 'Do you have homework?' 'No.' 'Did you learn anything interesting?' 'Yah, I guess.' 'Like what?' 'I don't remember.' It scared her that she was anticipating this conversation already. She wished it would go differently, but she knew deep down he was still upset with her. He still didn't trust her.
The weekend rolled around too quickly. She took one more glance in the mirror, flattening out her blouse and tucking her hair behind her ears. She stood to the side and checked her back, making sure her shirt wasn't bulging above her jeans. Finally, she smiled and switched off the bathroom light and marched downstairs.
As she entered the living room, she could hear Henry laughing from the kitchen with the babysitter Mary Margaret highly suggested. Grabbing her purse from the side table near the door, she moved to the kitchen and let out a small laugh as she watched the babysitter, holding a large book, and acting out the scene as she read, her Australian accent echoing off the walls.
"'Yeah,' said Hagrid in a very muffled voice, 'I'll be takin' Sirius his bike back. G'night, Professor McGonagall - Professor Dumbledore, sir.' Wiping his streaming eyes on his jacket sleeve, Hagrid swung himself onto the motorcycle," she pretended a chair was a motorcycle, "and kicked the engine into life; with a roar it rose into the air and off into the night." She lunged up ran across the kitchen, stopping short when she saw Regina standing at the entrance. "Oh, I'm sorry!"
"No, it's quite alright!" Regina stepped forward. "I didn't want to interrupt the first act!"
"Well, thank you, the director appreciates it!" The young girl curtsied and closed the book.
Regina turned to Henry now, who was comfortably sitting on the counter, a half eaten apple in his hand. "I expect you to be on your best behavior for Belle tonight. Do you understand?"
Henry nodded his head, taking a bite of his apple and chewing while he answered "yup."
"Manners will be on all night, too." She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, watching him roll his eyes once she took a step back. Turning her attention back to the young woman, she smiled. "Thank you again Belle, I truly appreciate it."
"It's not a problem! Henry and I are getting along quite nice, isn't that right mate?" Belle smiled at Henry now, who gave her a thumbs up. "And again, Ms. Mills, anytime you need someone, please let me know! My classes are almost done for the semester so I have plenty of free time before I head back home in July!"
"I will keep that in mind! And please dear, it's Regina." She tucked her purse under her arm and grabbed a piece of paper off the counter. "We will be at the Rabbit Hole? I guess it's down the street. Here's my cell phone number, and you have Mary Margaret's, too." She handed Belle the paper. "I won't be out too late."
"It's no problem! Go, have fun! Meet new people. Bostonians are really fun! I learned that very quickly when I came to the states!" She nudged Regina towards the door. "We'll be ok here, won't we Henry!" She looked at the young boy, already dressed in his pajamas, who nodded again.
"Be good Henry!" Regina called one last time as she walked out the door. Mary Margaret and David were already sitting in their truck across the street, ready to go. She heard David honk the horn as she locked the door behind her and headed over towards them. Honk that horn at me? I saw you. Don't worry.
As she got in, Mary Margaret quickly turned around to smile at Regina. "You ready for some fun?"
"As ready as I'll ever be." Regina snorted as she buckled up.
"It really isn't anything special," David reassured, "just a few officers from my precinct and some teachers from Mary Margaret's school. I promise it's laid back." He looked at his neighbor in the rear view mirror as they pulled out of the driveway.
She was eyeing her house, watching it fall behind them as they drove off down the street. He'll be ok. Belle French passed the background check. He was actually laughing!
The bar wasn't crowded, but it wasn't dead either. Groups of people had claimed their spots at various tables, others lingering around the bar, pool tables or dart board. Rock music played in the background, soft enough for conversations to occur with no shouting. Regina followed Mary Margaret and David to the corner of the pub, where a group of people sat, including Sheriff Swan. Her name's Emma, right? Yes, Emma.
"Geeze, why the hell are you guys so late!" Emma was standing up and moving over a few seats to let the three join the table.
"Oh relax, Swan, we're here!" David took off his jacket and tossed it onto the back of his chair. Regina and Mary Margaret did the same with their stuff and sat at the table. "Ladies, I'm going to grab a drink. First round is on me!"
"I'll have a beer!" Mary Margaret answered.
"Am I included in on this first round?" Emma asked.
"You have a drink!" The man next to her said.
She nudged him in the ribs. "Shut up, Graham."
David rolled his eyes. "Yes. What do you want?"
"A beer please!" Emma grinned.
"Gran?"
"I'm good for now." An older woman at the end of the table answered, holding up her half full mug.
"And Regina?"
"I…ugh…" she knew they probably didn't have the best selection of wine. So she went with her second favorite choice. "A martini? Dry."
"Yes ma'am!" He headed off towards the bar.
"Regina, I would like to introduce you to the crew!" Mary Margaret announced.
Regina watched everyone at the table roll their eyes. "Hello crew!" She said sarcastically.
Mary Margaret glared at everyone and sighed. "Anyways. You know Emma. Next to her is Graham Humbert, Boston PD, and Killian Jones, formally Boston PD, August Booth, a fellow teacher, Archie Hopper, fellow teacher, and Granny Lucas, fellow teacher!"
"Hold on…only insiders call me Granny. Can I trust this one?" The older woman asked quickly, eyeing Regina carefully.
Mary Margaret stared the older woman down. "Would I be introducing you as Granny if I didn't trust her?"
Granny looked Regina up and down, studying her face. "Yah. I guess."
"May I ask why only insiders can call you 'Granny'?" Regina questioned, crossing her arms across her chest as she sat between Emma and Mary Margaret.
"It's a respect thing." She simply answered, taking a swig of her beer.
"The old bag refuses to go by her first name. So it's either Mrs. Lucas or Granny." The man, who Mary Margaret introduced as Killian, stated, just as Granny reached across the table and smacked his left arm. "Ow, watch it!" He rubbed his right hand against his arm, keeping it below the table.
"Anymore 'old bag' jokes, and I'll take the other hand!" She eyes him through her thin-framed glasses, then turned her attention back to Regina. "And you are?"
"Oh, this is Regina Mills!" Mary Margaret answered for her. "Our new neighbor!"
Regina was still watching Killian, curious about his hand now, and why he was a former police officer when she was asked another question.
"Where are you from?" August spoke now, gently spinning his beer bottle in circles on the table.
"Storybrooke, Maine, just north of Portland." She answered.
"What brought you to Boston?" Archie asked, his glass of scotch nearly finished in his hand.
"Work. My friend is an attorney here, so I agreed to come work for her as a paralegal of sorts."
"Is that what you did in Maine? I know a lawyer in Augusta!" Archie added, finishing off his drink.
"Ah, no. I did go to school for law, but ended up in politics instead."
"She was the mayor!" Mary Margaret answered for her again.
Everyone looked at Regina with slight shock. "Yes, it was a small town though. I served three terms." She reassured the crowd. That was the normal reaction she received whenever she mentioned being the mayor.
"A woman with power- I like it." Granny raised her mug to Regina.
"Thank you. It was an interesting twelve years, but I'm happy to be moving on to a new chapter in my life."
David returned with the drinks and set them on the table. "So, Leroy quit!" He stated as he passed out the drinks.
"Yah I guess he was drinking during his shifts. They gave him a choice to quit or be fired before the owner found out." August mentioned. "Poor guy, can't catch a break!
"Who's Leroy?" Regina asked as she sipped on her martini. They didn't have better vodka?
"He is, well, was the bartender here." Archie noted. "Good guy-"
"-crazy guy!" Killian added.
"But he had good intentions!" Archie quickly finished.
"Well, cheers to Leroy…may he find himself a better place to serve drinks at!" Graham held up his drink. "And to you, Ms. Mills, for hopefully surviving a round of drinks with us!"
Everyone held up their glasses, clinking them together. Regina smiled a little. No one in Storybrooke would ever give cheers to me.
An hour had passed, filled with laugher, yelling, and even singing when Journey played in the background. Regina couldn't get over how relaxed she felt with this group of misfits. Leroy had stumbled into the bar a few minutes earlier, joining his favorite drinking crew now that he was "a free man" from the bar. She had also learned a little bit more about the group she was with: Killian had apparently lost his left hand during an armed robbery he was reporting to last year. The robber shot at him, hitting his hand, which couldn't be saved after multiple surgeries, thus causing him to lose his job as a police officer. Of course, it didn't help that Killian was under the influence when reporting to the scene. Graham and Killian had actually grown up together in Ireland, both coming to the states for a semester abroad in college. It eventually led them to falling in love with the city of Boston, becoming US citizens, and then police officers, wanting to protect and serve their new home.
Archie was a school psychologist, working alongside Mary Margaret, Granny and August at a prep school downtown. Granny was the librarian there, and August taught fourth grade literature. Regina already knew that Mary Margaret taught third grade literature, but was shocked to learn that she also coached track at the local Brookline High School, where Granny, too, coached basketball!
Eventually, the alcohol was beginning to hit her head and her bladder. Emma showed her the way to the bathroom, and after a few minutes, she was washing her hands and looking at herself in the mirror, fixing her make-up.
"Oh please, you look fine." Emma told her as she walked out of the stall and washed her hands.
"Just adjusting it." Regina defended, smacking her lips after applying a fresh coat of lipstick, and putting the stick back in her pocket.
"I hope we aren't boring you too much."
"Of course not! I'm…I'm actually having fun!" Regina followed Emma out of the bathroom. "I just normally don't do this. I'm a little out of my element, so I apologize if I look lost, or out of place."
"I'm guessing you didn't go to many bars in Maine?" Emma asked, moving to two open barstools.
Regina sat on one next to Emma and shook her head. "No, when you're the mayor, you have a reputation to uphold. I don't remember the last time I was even in a pub! Or even drunk for that matter."
Emma laughed and smacked the bar. "Two tequila shots please!"
"Woah, I can't." Regina held up her hands, leaning away from the bar.
"Yes you can! Just one. It will make the rest of tonight feel more relaxing." Emma grabbed the salt shaker and placed it between them. "Plus, David is your designated driver tonight. You can get hammered for all he cares!"
"Not that simple when you have a ten year old at home, Miss Swan!" Regina watched the two shot glasses be filled before them and sighed. "I really can't."
Emma stared Regina down and sighed. "Then at least have another drink. Try a beer. You're in Boston for Christ's sake."
Regina bit her lip and looked at the bartender. "I'll have a beer I guess!"
"What kind?" He asked.
Emma laughed as Regina's eyes widened. She wasn't usually a beer drinker. The only time she drank beer was at the local diner in Storybrooke that brewed their own specialty beer. "She'll have a Blue Moon." Regina nodded her head and looked at Emma, who reassured her, "You'll like it, it's fruity."
Regina took the full beer mug from the bartender and watched Emma pick up a shot glass. "To you: being adventurous tonight!" She tapped it against the beer mug, licked the salt off her hand, tossed back the shot, and grabbed a lime, her face squinting the whole time. Regina brought the beer mug to her lips and sipped at the foam. Oh, that's not bad!
"So how is your kid doing?" Emma asked, now ordering a Bud Light.
"He's doing ok. No fighting, if that's what you mean." Regina answered. "We barely talk, but I'll take the silence as a good sign."
"Do you mind if I ask what has him all furious at you?" Emma was looking at Regina sympathetically.
Regina sighed and looked down at her beer. "Just typical pre-teen drama. We moved to a new state in the middle of the school year and-"
"Yes, you said that, but I know it's not true." Emma interrupted. "Regina, I've worked with kids in the past, and when I walked up to your door a few weeks ago, what I heard was anger coming from him, and not anger about a move." She watched Regina continue to stare at her beer, seeing the bubbles fizzle out at the top. "I noticed it's just you two. Are you in the middle of a divorce?"
Regina looked up at Emma now, her face blank from emotion. "His father hasn't been in the picture for years. He barely knew him."
"Is there someone new in the picture then?" Emma was slowly transforming into Officer Swan.
"No." Regina stated simply, turning back to the beer before her, and taking another sip.
"Did something happen to you two before you left Maine?" The brunette's shoulders stiffened. Emma found a sore spot. "Does it have to do with your new job? Twelve years as mayor is a long time to be in charge of a town, and suddenly you move to a new city?"
Regina shot her head back up. "Officer Swan, I really don't want to discuss this right now. My son's anger has nothing to do with my job. If you must know, yes, twelve years was a long run, and when I ran again this year to make it four terms, I lost the election. Did it upset me? Yes. But does that involve my son? No."
Emma looked Regina in the eyes, watching the woman want to shout out the truth, but being too modest to expel her secret. "Then why was your son accusing you of lying?"
"What…how did…did you hear our entire conversation that night?"
"As I approached your door, I heard your son saying you lied and that's when he began screaming at you."
Regina bit her bottom lip and closed her eyes. The last thing she wanted was for everyone in town to know her personal life. She dealt with that once in Storybrooke, and didn't want to repeat it here. But she knew this woman would not drop the subject. "Henry…" she sighed and looked at Emma. "Henry is adopted. I never told him because life was complicated enough when he was old enough to understand. So I just waited for the right moment to tell him. But that moment came out of nowhere, and unfortunately, NOT at the right time." She took another sip of her beer and continued. "He was looking for empty boxes in our basement to pack his bedroom. I told him the week before that we were moving to Boston, which obviously didn't hold over too well with him." She looked at Emma, who was listening carefully. "He saw a box with his name on it, and when he pulled it, the entire box came crashing down. Inside were his adoption files that I forgot I had. I made copies of everything when we got him and put the originals in a safe at the bank. I thought I had the others in my home office, but apparently not."
"So he was accusing you of lying about who he really was." Emma summed up, taking a swig of her own beer.
"Yes. You can imagine how the move here went." Regina watched Emma look down now. "The last couple of weeks have been filled with me trying to reassure him that I love him, or that I'm actually his mother, even though I didn't give birth to him. Nothing has seemed to work, except for distractions from the subject. That's the only way things have been civil recently- distractions."
"Well, Henry needs to realize he is a very lucky kid. Not many children get to have the life he's had." Emma looked up at Regina now, putting on a fake smile. "I'm actually an orphan…lived my entire life in the foster system. I think I stayed in one good home when I was about fifteen, but then had to leave when I was sixteen because there were too many of us there. Being the oldest, I was transitioned out."
Regina didn't know what to say. She watched Emma for a moment, listening to her story and sighed with her as she trailed off. "I'm…I'm so sorry! I didn't know."
Emma shrugged her shoulders and continued to smile. "Only my friends know. Mary Margaret knows everything. We met in college and she's been there for me ever since. I never had a mother, and her mother died when she was ten so we had something in common. Though, sometimes I feel like she's my surrogate mother!" Emma laughed, watching Regina smile too. "But I take it not too many people know about Henry's past either."
"No."
"Well, like I said, I can talk to him. Now that we both know each other better, I think it would benefit him." Emma clinked her glass against Regina's and stood up from the barstool, making her way back to their crew.
Regina watched Emma walk away. Maybe she should let her talk to Henry. Hearing her perspective on growing up without a mother might knock some sense into her son. Standing from the barstool, she started her way back to join the group. Her feet had another plan, however, tripping her on a loose floorboard. She caught herself, but so did another pair of hands. Looking up, she rolled her eyes and smirked. This isn't happening.
"Woah, Ms. Mills, did we have a little too much to drink?"
"I am fine, Mr. Locksley. But if you would move your hand…" Regina looked Henry's teacher in the eye and followed his gaze down to his right hand on her chest.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" He moved his hands quickly and shoved them into his pockets. "I just wanted to help!"
Regina smiled at him. "It's ok!" She looked behind her at the floorboard on the ground. "I just tripped. I am not drunk."
"I know you're not. This floor is known for taking casualties." He bit his bottom lip as he looked her up and down. Does she normally look this good? He heard someone cough, pulling him from his thoughts. "Oh, Regina, this is Will Scarlet, a buddy of mine. Will, Regina Mills."
"Hi." The man said from his seat, his arms slung back behind the chair. "I take it you don't come here often?"
"No, this is my first time. I take it you don't use manners often?" Regina spit back, hearing Robin let out a snort.
Will raised an eyebrow at her. "No! I usually use my sense of humor and good looks."
Regina nodded her head. "And where are those tonight?"
Robin laughed now, standing between Will and Regina. "Please ignore him. I take it you aren't here alone?"
Regina eyed Will one more moment over Robin's shoulder before answering. "I'm here with my neighbors, actually. They come here with a group of people. They're just over there," Regina pointed, seeing that a few of them had moved to the dart board at the other end of the bar. "Apparently I needed a night out."
"Well, that I agree with! Henry has made friends here, so should you!"
Now Regina eyed Robin. "Excuse me, who said I haven't made any friends here?"
"Name three." Robin tested, crossing his arms now. "Besides your neighbors and myself, of course." He watched her go to open her mouth, but he stopped her. "And your boss doesn't count either."
Regina sighed and looked at her beer. "Ok. So I needed to meet people." She looked up and rolled her eyes. "Happy?"
"As long as you are!" He watched her smile. "Would you be interested in a game of pool? I was just about to go claim a table."
"Uh," she wanted to say no, but his smile and dimple were too enticing, "sure. Just let me grab my cell phone." She walked over to the table, Robin joining her a moment later.
"Mary Margaret?" He questioned, seeing the woman with short, dark hair sitting at the table.
"Robin?" Mary Margaret stood up from her seat and hugged the man. "I haven't seen you in ages! How are you?"
"I'm doing great!" He looked over at Regina. "You two know each other?"
"She's our new neighbor! How do you two know each other?" Mary Margaret asked.
"He's Henry's teacher." Regina answered, putting her cell phone in her back pocket.
"Mary Margaret and I did our practicum at the same school when we were going for our masters. Small world!" Robin smiled at Regina and Mary Margaret. "We'll have to catch up! But for now, I have a pool game to attend to." He looked back at Regina and motioned his hand towards the pool tables. "Shall we, mi'lady?"
Regina smiled and followed Robin, quickly looking her shoulder to see Mary Margaret's shocked, but excited face. As they reached the pool table, they both reached into the pockets, rolling the balls onto the green surface. Robin began to set them in the triangle as Regina retrieved a wooden stick for herself, chalking the tip of it. "Just to warn you, I haven't played pool in years."
Robin smirked, rolling the pool balls to the center and back, aligning them perfectly. "Do you need a handicap on this game?"
"No." Regina set the white ball in the middle and bent over the other edge of the pool table, the stick positioned back in her hands. "I think I can manage." With a flick of her right wrist, she shoved the pool stick forward, hitting the white cue ball, which ricocheted against the triangle, breaking the balls into every direction.
Holding onto his own pool stick in shock, Robin stared at Regina. "Are you hustling me, Ms. Mills?"
She shrugged her shoulders. "Never did I say I was bad at pool. I just simply said I hadn't played in years!" She flashed him a grin and looked back at the table. "Your turn!"
Robin shook his head and leaned over the table, aligning his shot, and jabbing the stick forward. The cue ball hit the solid green ball into the corner pocket. "Solids." Robin positioned himself for another shot. "So what is Henry up to tonight?"
"He's at home with a sitter." She watched him miss his shot and moved into her own position over the table. "And Roland?"
"Same." Robin answered, watching Regina set up her shot.
"Oh. And your wife?" She threw the question out, desperately wanting to know the answer, but wishing she could smack herself for physically asking. She drew her stick back.
"Deceased."
The cue ball went flying, missing her target completely. She stood up quickly and looked at Robin, a small smirk dancing on his face. "Oh, Robin, I'm so sorry!"
He waved his hand at her and set up his next shot. "It's been years. I like to believe she's in a better place." He sunk the solid orange ball into the side pocket. Looking up, he could still see Regina's uneasy face. "Seriously, it's quite all right!"
"I know, but I feel like a-"
"Don't. Please." He motioned to the waitress walking by. "Can we have two Blue Moons please?" He smiled at the girl as she rushed off to the bar. His eyes fell back on Regina.
"How'd you know I was drinking that?"
"You spilled some on my shoe when you tripped, and all I can smell is orange now!" He winked at her and bent over the table across from her.
Regina groaned, feeling stupid for everything that was happening tonight. Moments ago, everything was going great, but after her heart to heart with Emma and now her conversation with Robin, she wanted to hide under the pool table. The smack of the pool balls rang in her ears as she turned to focus on the game at hand.
"You can ask me, you know."
"What?"
"How did she die?" He asked for her, leaning against the wall.
"I wasn't going to-"
"But you're curious. I'm a teacher; I can see when the wheels are turning in people's heads!" Robin threw her a reassuring smile. "She died during childbirth. It's scary what happens to the human body during pregnancy."
Regina took her next shot as she listened, sinking the green striped ball into the corner pocket. "I get that" she uttered quietly, but loud enough for Robin to hear.
He didn't respond. He could tell there was more to this woman beneath her sassy attitude, fake smiles and of course, her genuine love for her son. "So how are you liking Boston?" Changing the subject was in order, as things between the two were beginning to fill with awkward silence.
"So far so good." She answered, watching Robin take his turn. "Still trying to adjust to the quick pace of things in the city. Storybrooke was such a small town that I could go from one end to the other in ten minutes if I wanted to!"
"And I'm sure as mayor that was never a problem!" Robin looked up at her. Not a subject she wants to discuss I take it?
Regina rolled her eyes and moved to the other end of the table. "It had its perks. I'm just happy to have that pressure off my shoulders. I loved the power, don't get me wrong," she was right in front of him- he refused to move- as she lined up her next shot, bending over slightly to eye the cue ball, "it felt nice to be-"
"On top?" He asked, watching her flick the stick forward, the cue ball missing the purple stripped ball, and hitting a solid one instead, pushing it into the side pocket. "You sunk my blue ball, Ms. Mills."
She bit her lip as his comment and stood up, handing him the cue ball as she stepped in closer to him. His eyes were on hers. Why is he so good looking? He's Henry's teacher for crying out loud! Stop it. Step back. She dropped the white ball in his hand and stepped back quickly. "All yours."
The waitress had returned with their beers. Regina grabbed hers quickly and took a long sip from it, keeping her eyes away from Robin.
His smirk was not fading as he set up his shot, purposely standing in front of Regina and bending over. Two can play that game Mayor Mills! Once again, he hit his mark. "I think you're letting me win, Regina." He turned around and looked at her as he sat against the edge of the pool table.
No, you're distracting me. "Yes, I didn't want to bring any shame to the man who molds young minds." She couldn't help but look him up and down for a moment. Again, he was in jeans, a white long sleeve shirt with a slight v-neck, and a navy blue jacket vest. His stubble on his chin and cheeks were long enough to be noticed, but were trimmed to look presentable. Lines around his lips and eyes gently stretched when he smiled and laughed. As for his dirty blonde hair, it was messy in all the right places.
Robin held up his beer mug and raised it towards Regina. "To shaping the minds of the future!" He watched her smile and raise her glass to meet his.
"Why is everyone toasting tonight?" She asked, sipping on her cold beer.
"It's just…I don't know quite honestly! Tradition? Boston is the mini Ireland of the United States."
"Says who?"
"Me?" He cocked his head to the side and laughed with Regina. They continued on with their game, slowly eliminating their designated balls, making sarcastic comments to each other, and getting to know one another. As they played, Robin kept glancing at Regina. He only knew so much about this woman. He could tell there was more to her past, but he didn't want to push. Her son had already made a place in his heart and he wanted to help the both of them now. Robin took her in for a moment, guessing she was probably in her mid-thirties. She stood with authority, as if she was still in charge of something, but her face was gentle, reflecting that of a young heart, as her wavy dark brown hair caressed her smooth cheeks. High heel boots and jeans adorned her lower half, while her blouse- a silky gray-blue material- made her look like she was ready for work in an office rather than a night out. But it curved around her torso nicely, making Robin gulp a little thinking about earlier when he accidentally felt more than just curves.
Regina could feel his eyes on her, causing heat to rush to her cheeks. "So," she caught his attention, "what brought you to mini Ireland?"
He smirked again. "My wife, actually." He spoke as she took her turn. "She was visiting a friend of hers at the university I attended in London. We hung out and talked for the two weeks she was here, and then she went back home to North Carolina. We stayed in touch and after I graduated, I decided to fly out here to surprise her." Regina made the shot and lined up her next one. "What was supposed to be a week visit turned into a month, then two, then…." She missed. "Long story short, we fell in love, I decided I wanted to stay and become a teacher, and life took off from there."
Regina applied more chalk to her stick as she watched him. "How did you end up in Boston?"
"Her parents were in the middle of a nasty divorce, so her mother moved up here. Marian wanted to stay near her mother, so she did the same…and I followed." He missed his shot.
Regina walked around the table. "Where are you from originally?" He asked her as she settled at the corner.
"Storybrooke."
"No, I mean where did you grow up?"
She looked up at him and smiled. "Storybrooke!" Her eyes went back to the black eight ball that remained. "I was born and raised there. I loved it and I always wanted to raise my children on the same streets I grew up on." She adjusted her legs to better her shot. "I never wanted to leave."
Robin leaned against his pool stick and looked at her with confusion. "So why did you?"
Regina sighed. "Because," she pulled her arm back and shoved it forward, the stick hitting the cue ball as it flung straight into the black eight ball, sinking it into the corner pocket, "power always comes with a price."