A/N: Thank you all for the lovely reviews from last chapter. Please do keep them coming. I love hearing your thoughts. Enjoy Chapter 7!
Storybrooke - Present Day
Regina sat alone at the counter in Granny's Diner, just stirring her iced tea with a straw while she observed the other people around her. The room was filled with melancholy expressions. Some people were still shedding tears at the loss of a dear friend.
She glanced over at the man sitting at the opposite end of the counter, but tried to remain as subtle as possible so as not to attract his attention. No tears seemed to fall from his eyes; however, it was clear that he was still mournful. She continued to stare at him curiously, wishing to have the courage to talk to him or even look him in the eye after she had left the farmhouse like that. But as he lifted his head and looked over in her direction, she forced herself to avert her eyes, avoiding him yet again.
As soon as she had done that, Mary Margaret, holding her one-year-old son in her arms, approached Regina with a curious look. "Who's that?" she asked, having noticed how Regina had been looking at him.
"What makes you think I know who he is?" Regina replied as she practically buried her nose into her glass.
Mary Margaret lifted her brow at the other brunette. She commented back, "Because for the past five minutes, you haven't stopped staring at him with that look."
"What look?" Regina asked.
"The look you always have when you regret something you did," she replied, bouncing her son in her arms. "So, what did you do to him?"
Regina rolled her eyes and responded, "I didn't do anything to him." She sighed, knowing for certain that Mary Margaret was not the kind of person to let things go. She would keep pestering her until she fessed up; so, she thought, she might as well explain. "I met him a few days ago," she started.
She continued telling Mary Margaret of their meeting, his persistence to pay for her meal and his kindness towards her. Once she began talking about what happened at the farmhouse, she again couldn't help but grow uncomfortable. She didn't understand why it made her feel that way; why he made her feel that way. And as if that hadn't been enough to make her wearisome, soon after she had finished explaining their situation to Mary Margaret, he began to approach the two women. He held two glasses of iced tea in his hands, his face showing that same apologetic expression he had given her a few times the day before.
"Milady," he greeted her with a small grin. "Care for a drink?" he asked, offering Mary Margaret one of the glasses and then offering the second to Regina. He again looked to her apologetically and said, "I... uh... I do hope I didn't upset you yesterday."
Regina stared at him with her mouth agape, not entirely sure how to respond. She stuttered slightly as she looked to Mary Margaret and then back to him. Finally, she forced herself to break the silence by introducing the two. "Robin Hood, Mary Margaret. Mary Margaret, Robin Hood." She watched with some hesitation as they shook hands. As he brought his gaze back to her, still waiting for an answer, she replied, "You didn't upset me. I just... found a clue trail that needed to be followed." She noticed the way he nodded his head, clearly just playing along with her not-so-good excuse. "One that didn't lead anywhere..." Her voice trailed off as she felt the need to stop talking before she made the conversation far more awkward than it already was. She glanced to the glass and then looked to him simply. "I already have one, but thank you."
"Alright," he nodded, taking the glass back. "Perhaps some other time then," he gave her another smile. Even though it was clear she was making an excuse to why she left, he felt that it was only fair that he give her time. He knew that she was not the kind of person to open herself up or give explanations to why she was feeling a certain way. And though he could have been persistent with her as he had been the day before, it was most likely in better interest for both of them that he back off for a short while.
After kindly bidding them goodbye and walking away, Regina suddenly felt a pang of guilt rise up in her body. She stood up as quickly as she could, stepped around Mary Margaret and followed Robin to the other end of the counter.
"Robin," she caught his attention. Their eyes met as he turned around. It seemed like every time she glanced into those blue orbs, she felt nervous. "I..." she hesitated. "Did I upset you yesterday with the way I left?"
"Not at all," he replied, shaking his head. "You only left me feeling concerned, not upset."
A very meek grin stretched upon Regina's lips when hearing his response. But before she could even open her mouth to thank him, the diner door swung open with a loud bang, startling everyone in the restaurant.
In walked Zelena, wearing a very theatrical expression upon her face, as she announced, "My condolences." Rumpelstiltskin's dagger was nestled tightly in her grip as she waltzed around the room, continuing her little act. "So sorry I missed the funeral, but I could never pass up a wake." She looked around, "Oh, did I miss the speeches? Shall I make one? I mean," she grinned, "I am, after all, responsible."
Suddenly, Emma, in all of her rage began to go after the witch. Mary Margaret quickly grabbed her hand. "Emma, no," she begged. "Too many people will get hurt."
"Listen to your mother," she warned. "She's right. Anyone who tries to interfere with my plan is going to have to deal with the Dark One." As she continued to pan the room, her eyes suddenly met with the one particular person she was after.
Instinctively, Robin took a step in front of Regina, bringing his hand to hover over her stomach protectively as he spoke out defensively, "Don't come any closer!"
Zelena's grin grew with more excitement. She replied, "Don't worry," as her gaze met with the pregnant brunette. "I'm not here for your baby." She raised her brow and let out a rather devious chuckle. "Not today anyway." The witch took a few steps closer, provoking Robin to step completely in front of the Regina, disregarding whether or not she wanted him to protect her. Zelena laughed again as she drew closer to the thief. She gave him a warning, "I suggest you step aside, sweetheart, because I really don't wish to harm that pretty little face of yours unless I have to."
"Then have at it. You'll have to go through me before you get anywhere near her or this child," Robin replied sternly.
Zelena raised her brow once again as she replied, "Hmm. Barely know the woman and you're willing to lay your life on the line for her? How foolish," she scoffed. "But if you say so."
Just as the woman lifted her hand so as to magically toss the man aside, Regina quickly placed her hand on his arm and stepped out from behind him. "What do you want?" she asked.
Dropping her hand and giving the brunette a very pleased look, the witch responded, "Now that my cover is blown, I can finally pay a visit to my little sister." Her voice raised dramatically as she accented those last two words.
"Who the hell are you talking about?" Regina asked.
"Why you, of course, Regina." Zelena's voice grew deep as she stepped closer, enjoying the sudden puzzled look upon the brunette's face.
Regina shook her head in disbelief. "I'm an only child."
"Cora lied to you, Regina. I'm your sister... half, if you want to get technical." She shrugged her shoulders. "I know, I know," she shook her head, putting on that same theatrical act as she had before, "it is a lot to swallow and it is clear by your expression that you don't believe me. Hmm," she pouted dramatically. "Luckily, I brought you a gift to help."
Regina laughed, "I don't want a gift from you."
"Oh, but you shall have it." Her smug grin only grew wider. "You see, my gift to you is this sad, sad day. Use it to dig into our past, Regina. You need to know the truth and you must believe it. And then," she laughed, "then I shall take your heart and your precious little baby, and I will destroy you." Leaning in closely, she then whispered, "Watch your back, sis," before turning around and leaving.
The restaurant was left silent, everyone staring in Regina's direction. But the brunette kept her facade on, refusing to show them any hint of fear she might have in that moment. Her expression seemed to be filled with anger and aggravation more than anything.
"Regina, are you alright?" The sound of Robin's voice seemed to echo in her head, while her thoughts remained elsewhere.
"I'm fine," she replied simply.
Mary Margaret was the first to ask the obvious question, "What are we going to do?"
"Well, one thing that is surely clear is that Regina needs protection," Robin answered.
Regina looked to him with wide eyes. "I've told you before that I can take care of myself."
Robin looked to her sternly, refusing to back down after what had just occurred. "You've also admitted that it is good to have a second person to remind you that you are, firstly, not invincible and, secondly, responsible for more than just yourself at the moment. Considering the circumstances, milady, I think it is best that you be put under someone's protection." No one had ever raised their voice to Regina like that and it seemed to come as quite a shock to all of them, including Regina herself.
As she looked toward Mary Margaret, she noticed the young woman nodding her head. "I agree with Robin, Regina. After that, you can't just be left alone."
"So what are you going to do," Regina asked, growing irritated with the fact that everyone else was deciding her fate for her, "lock me away in a tower until you all figure out a way to stop Zelena?" She looked around at all of them as her voice rose, "Why does everyone insist on treating me like some fragile thing that they need to take care of?"
"Because, it's not just about you, Regina," Mary Margaret pointed out. "Okay? We're not trying to insult you and diminish your pride."
"We're just trying to help you realize that we wish to protect you and your baby," Robin chimed in.
Regina looked around at the group surrounding her, all of their faces possessing genuinely concerned looks. "Why, after everything I've done in the past, would you want to help me?"
"Because the past is the past," David replied.
Mary Margaret smiled, "And because you're family." She noticed Regina's expression soften at her words. "You're staying with David and I tonight. We won't take no for an answer."
Regina nodded her head slowly, still a bit speechless at what was happening here. She managed to softly reply, "Alright," before making her way out of the diner. Now, she had to find out if Zelena's claims were true and figure out how she might be able to stop her.
0-0-0
The Enchanted Forest - One Year and Nine Months Earlier
Doors flew open, creating a loud slam, as the Queen stormed out of the castle throne room. There, the kingdom's leaders and their allies discussed ways to stop the Wicked Witch before she could enact her devious plan. However, Regina had certainly had enough of their day's discussion.
Snow was the first to leave the room after her, quickly pacing behind the frustrated brunette as she continued to mumble something quietly under her breath. Once the princess had caught up to her, she spoke out, "Why are you always so vicious to him?"
"Me?" Regina suddenly stopped and turned to the other woman, possessing wide eyes and an expression filled with insult. "Did you not see how that imbecile acted towards me? He was being an ass!"
"Only because you were being a snob, Regina," Snow snapped back.
Rolling her eyes, Regina commented, "Excuse me for not wanting some petty common thief to decide my fate for me."
"Regina," Snow sighed with aggravation, "he only suggested that you be protected by someone regularly. I didn't think it was such a bad idea either, to be honest."
"Are you kidding me?" Regina's eyes opened wider in disbelief. She instantly turned and continued her fast paced walking through the palace halls.
Snow kept up with her as she continued, "Regina, Zelena is after your heart."
"So? She's after your baby. I don't see anyone suggesting you be put under twenty-four hour watch."
"That is because I already have David to protect me," Snow pointed out.
"He is your husband. It's different. That idiot has no place telling me what to do!" Regina's voice cracked as her stress and anger seemed to peak. As she quickly turned the corner, Snow grabbed her arm and pulled her into a nearby room, locking them in so that Regina would stop running away and start talking to her.
Snow stared at the other woman with stern face. "He never told you to do anything, Regina, and you know it. All he did was suggest protection- for your safety, I might add- and you took that as a good chance to start insulting him!" She noticed how Regina's facade had not faulted. Angrily, Snow asked, "What is your problem?"
"I don't have a problem," Regina replied snottily.
"Yes, you do. What on Earth has brought you to such a strong hatred for him?" Snow shook her head, unable to understand it.
"I've always hated him..." Regina raised her brow, remaining stubborn.
"No," Snow refuted, "you haven't. I saw the way both of you looked at one another during Rapunzel's homecoming ball. That was anything far from hatred, Regina. And it seems like none of this started until after that evening. So, what happened between you two?"
"That is none of your business," Regina was quick to refuse her an answer.
Suddenly, Snow took a second to pause when she noticed the change in Regina's expression when she mentioned the ball. Something had definitely hit Regina in that moment. As Snow came to realize what that was, a large smile began to form. "You like him."
"What?" Regina looked to her confused and stunned.
"That's what it is. That's why you keep snapping at him and insulting him like that. You like him!" Snow's grin only grew larger as Regina continued to deny it, only proving that she was right.
"What are you, twelve-years-old? I insult everyone." Regina shook her head.
"Not like that, you don't. Admit it," she pushed, "all of the avoiding him, the insults, the low blows in almost every conversation you've had with him?"
"Will you grow up?" Regina finally burst out at the pregnant young woman before forcing the door to unlock and exiting the room in a hurry, leaving Snow standing there with that wide grin never fading.
0-0-0
Storybrooke -Present Day
Regina watched as David headed up the stairs with his sleeping son nestled comfortably in his arms. Mary Margaret set down two cups of hot tea for the both of them and sat down beside the brunette. Noticing the look Regina possessed as she stared at David and the baby, Mary Margaret could tell something was up. As she looked down, she saw a small crumpled piece of paper in Regina's hands. It looked as if she had read it a million times over.
"Are you alright?" she asked softly. Regina remained quiet for a moment, just shaking her head ever so slightly. "Did you find something?" She looked back at the piece of paper that Regina was still fiddling with.
The pregnant brunette let out a sigh, "She was telling the truth. We're sisters." Regina opened up the letter. There were a few tears in the creases where it had been folded many times, stains, and, it seemed, even the remnants of recent tear drops. She handed it over to the other woman and then began to sip her hot tea.
"Where did you find this?" Mary Margaret asked.
"It was left among my mother's things in our family mausoleum. Zelena had put it there for me to find most likely before her threat. I used to stow it away somewhere else in my office. That's how I knew it was what she wanted me to see," Regina shook her head again, feeling utterly foolish as the words on the page continued to stir through her mind.
Mary Margaret sat there, reading the letter. The words held great compliments from Rumpelstiltskin; something very few people ever received from him. She looked up at Regina with confusion. "I don't understand."
Regina stared down into her cup, trying her hardest not to break down as she explained. "I've seen that letter a hundred times before. In my darkest moments, I'd go to it for... comfort, for solace, for... a boost when I needed it because I-" She shook her head, closing her eyes and letting out a long sigh. "Because I always thought it was about me."
"It's about Zelena," Mary Margaret said as she gazed down at the letter once more.
"I never put the pieces together until now." Regina stared at the dark writing upon the stained page. "I had exiled my mother to another land well before I even started learning magic. That letter couldn't have been about me because... Rumple wasn't even my teacher yet." She shook her head. "How could I have been so stupid all of this time?"
"Regina, you're not stupid," Mary Margaret replied, taking the other woman's hand so as to comfort her.
Raising her brow, she looked directly into the other woman's hazel-green eyes and said, "If Rumpelstiltskin, the man who taught me everything I know about magic, thinks she is stronger than I am, then there is no way I can win against her." She sighed. "She'll take my heart, take my baby, and... she'll win."
"No, Regina," Mary Margaret shook her head confidently. "She won't because she's not only going against you, she's going against us. With all of us united against her, there is no chance for her to succeed."
Regina managed a very small grin, though she still didn't feel much confidence within her. She admired the faith Mary Margaret had, but something within her was preventing her from feeling the same way. She took the letter back and took a moment to read over again. She couldn't seem to stop reading it. Taking another look at it, she finally shook her head, knowing that enough was enough. She stood up, ripping the paper into small pieces, and threw it away.
As she sat back down at the table, the two women noticed David come back down the stairs. He was now dressed in different clothes with his sword strapped to his belt.
"Where are you going?" Regina asked curiously.
"Heading out to patrol the woods with Robin and his men. After Zelena's threat today, we don't want to take any chances," he said, kissing his wife's head before he grabbed his jacket, bid them goodbye and quickly left.
Mary Margaret noticed Regina's expression instantly change just at the mention of Robin's name. She looked to the dazed brunette and said, "Do you mind if I ask you something?"
Regina raised her brow and commented, "I do mind, but I doubt that is going to stop you from asking anyway."
"What is it between you and this man? What's going on?" she asked. "I mean you were pretty keen on avoiding him at the diner, making those excuses and all."
"It's complicated," Regina admitted. Staring down at the table, her thoughts began to wander out loud. "I don't know what it is about him, but he makes me nervous. It's not a fearful nervousness, but he makes feel anxious nevertheless."
"Do you think... you might like him?" Mary Margaret suggested.
Regina laughed, "I barely know him." Letting her eyes pan down to her swelled stomach, she commented, "And even if I did, it wouldn't be fair." She placed a hand on top of it and sighed, "Regardless of the fact that we've forgotten our memories, this baby has a father. I can't make this situation more complicated by bringing another person into it."
"What if, by chance, he is the baby's father?" Mary Margaret asked. "What if there is a part of you that still remembers; a part that is trying to bring you back together and that is why you feel so strange around him?"
"That is an awfully big accusation, Mary Margaret," Regina let out a soft chuckle. "Not to mention, with nothing to back it up."
"It isn't, actually," she admitted. "It's like what happened between David and I during the first curse. Even though we had no memory of one another, something inside of us did and brought us together again. Maybe that is what is happening here too, whether or not you both realize it."
Regina shook her head, still not believing such a broad accusation to be true. "I'm sorry, but not everyone is a special case like you and David. I highly doubt that this baby's father and I have any sort of connection like that," she said as she stood up and placed her empty tea cup into the sink before heading into the spare bedroom for the night.