Again, not impressed but it just didn't wanna get written.

All mistakes are mine... x


The entire week drags until Wednesday comes back around. Tink is back in school, perky as ever with a permanent smile on her face and a cliche love story to tell. Regina lets her chatter away about every single second of camp as they leave their final lesson of the day, trying to come up with an excuse as to why she has to ditch her as soon as they leave school so Emma and herself can shop for the surprise part.

"I think it was his eyes but then it was how kind he was and then when he helped me out of the water after canoeing went wrong I just..." Tink trails off, gazing distantly at the high ceilings of the school as they walk down the corridor. "I just knew I liked him. Do you know what I mean?"

Regina hums in acknowledgment, fiddling with the strap of her purse and chewing on her lip. She can't help but resent the fact that everybody else has the ability to find someone but her.

"I'm just sad because he works at camp full time, and I was only there on work experience so I probably wont see him for a while. I mean I gave him my number and he knows my name so if he wants to find me he will," she rambles, and Regina can hear a smile in her voice as she continues, "and I hope he does."

"Cute," she mutters, rounding the corner of the busy foyer.

"What the hell is up with you?" Tink asks just as they spot Emma leaning against the banister of the main staircase having a (serious looking) conversation with Graham. "Those guys are so frustrating," she says, distracted from their precious conversation (for which Regina is grateful).

"Hmm," Regina muses, folding her arms and stopping their walk when Tink slows down to observe and wait for Emma to finish. "She has a chance with someone who can make her happy and they're just messing around."

Tink chuckles and nudges her moody friend. "If I'm being honest, I don't think they're meant to be."

Regina, now intrigued, turns to look at the petite girl. "How'd you come to that conclusion?"

Tink crinkles her nose and shrugs. "Camp. We did these activities discussing legends and all that. Things about 'true love' and connections. It was all cheesy as hell but I learnt a few things."

"Oh yeah? Now you're some sort of love expert?" Regina scoffs.

"No," Tink rolls her eyes, "I just don't see him being her soulmate."

"So you believe in soulmates now too?" she asks comically.

"You don't?" she shoots back. At Regina's disagreeing head shake, Tink sighs. "Of course you wouldn't. You're literally as pessimistic as they come."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Don't take it the wrong way. I just meant that you had your heart broken by Daniel and you've been living with Cora Mills your whole life. I wouldn't expect you to have much hope in things as silly as soulmates," Tink affirms, reaching to take Regina's hand. "But I believe that there is someone out there for you. I know there is."

"As sweet as you are for thinking so, I don't think that's true." It can't be. She isn't special or particularity nice or the type who anybody wants their 'soul' tied to. Despite being so young and having so much time left to find someone, she doesn't think it will happen. Not with how broken she is now. She can't consider anyone else.

"Everyone does," Tink assures, glancing quickly over to Emma to check if she's finished her conversation. She hasn't.

"Oh yeah? Who? Let me guess... short temper, stubborn as hell, has a knack for making false promises?"

Tink hits her friends arm, "no. He'll be charming and kind and he'll take care of you-"

"And he'll text me sweet things and buy me flowers just because he can, and he'll compliment me," she interrupts sarcastically, shaking her head at the thought.

"Yeah," she agrees looking distantly at the ceiling like she had earlier, clearly missing Regina's sarcasm. "He'll have blue eyes and a lovely smile and," Tink closes her eyes, "gentle hands and a tattoo on his wrist."

Regina laughs loudly making Tink open her eyes. "That's a little specific. A tattoo?"

"Yeah," Tink shrugs. "Of a lion."

Regina's face drops. "A lion?" she frowns. "Why a lion?"

"That's just how I imagine your guy in my head. Blue eyes, lion tattoo, probably has dark hair 'cause that's your type," she explains as Emma begins to approach them. A lion tattoo? Why a lion tattoo?

Regina can understand the blue eyes since both Daniel and Robin have blue eyes, and Daniels hair is quite a dark shade so she knows where Tink got that idea, but a tattoo? Neither guy has a tattoo, and so why Tink would suggest that her apparent soulmate has a lion on his wrist just baffles her.

Her thoughts are interrupted by Emma. "Hey guys," she smiles nervously, adjusting her bag on her shoulder and looking between her two friends.

"What was that about with Graham?" Tink asks.

Emma looks sheepishly to the side and nods her head so they can start walking to the exit. "He uhm..." she bites her lip to prevent the smile Regina can tell she's holding back. "He asked me out."

"He did? Omg what did you say?" Tink cries excitedly.

"I uh... I declined at first but we talked about it and... I said yeah," she replies. "Regina, you okay?" she asks, tilting her head at her silent friend.

"Sorry, I was just thinking," she smiles shortly, "so you and Graham huh?"

"Yeah... it was bound to happen," the blond grins before looking to Tink as they stop by her yellow bug, "I need to go now, though. My mom needs help at home."

"Oh..."

Regina turns to the other girl also and remembers her need for an excuse. "I uh... am still grounded. I told you earlier about skipping school and... my mom is still mad about it."

"Great," Tink sighs, looking so disappointed with the situation, that Regina almost doesn't want to ditch her right now. "I've been gone for a while and have really been looking forward to spending time with my two best friends."

"Well..." Emma looks to Regina for support on what to say.

"Well your birthday is on Sunday. Since you're spending it with your family why don't all go to Grahams on Friday for some quality friend time?" Regina supplies.

"Hmm... I suppose," Tink nods, sighing heavily. "I guess I'll let you guys get off. See you tomorrow."

All three girls hug before going to their separate cars, Regina shooting a quick text to Emma telling her to meet her at the usual store.


"If I'm being honest, I'm glad he asked me out," Emma says to Regina as they walk down the snack aisle, their shopping trolley filled with various alcoholic drinks and also a few items of food.

"Oh yeah?" Regina raises an eyebrow, picking up a packet of Cheetos and turning to Emma to briefly ask if they should get some. She nods.

"It's just that I haven't really liked anyone since Neal. When he graduated I honestly thought we'd stay in contact but he totally bailed... and I'm not really saying I didn't expect that it was a possibility he wouldn't call but..."

"You were still disappointing," Regina finishes, pushing the trolley around the next corner.

"Yeah," Emma replies, pulling her cell out to check the shopping list they'd discussed at lunch the day before. "But Graham and I have liked each other forever, and we've done... things and flirted but he's never had the confidence to take the next- wait, we need to go down here so I can buy a birthday card," she pauses, pointing down the card aisle. "Anyway, we haven't tried to make anything official before so now that he has I guess it means he really does like me. A lot."

Regina turns her head to look at her friend, seeing the soft, innocent smile on her face of pure hope and happiness. It makes her heart burst and break all at the same time. She's so happy that Emma has a chance, and things seem to be going right for her. She's happy for Tink and her cliche camp crush. She even genuinely smiles a little at dinner now when her step sister mentions her charming boyfriend. She just wishes she could be so lucky.

She doesn't know if she's happy for them because it distracts her from her own misery. She doesn't even know if she's coping with her own crap, and if crying into her pillow most nights and sitting way too silently in her literature classes is anything to go by she doesn't think she is coping well.

"I'm glad. I just hope you guys last past high school because if you break up before the end of this year our friendship group is gonna be real strained between all of us," she offers Emma an arm rub and then they get to choosing Tinks birthday card.

Once they're hauling four shopping bags out of the store and heading to Emma's parked car all Regina wants to do is get home.

"Are you sure your mom is gonna be alright with you keeping these at yours until Friday," Regina huffs, shoving the bags into Emma's trunk as soon as it's open.

"Her name isn't Cora Mills so she should be cool," Emma grunts in reply, placing the last two bags in easily and slamming the trunk shut. "You gonna head home?"

"Yeah," Regina nods.

Emma shifts on her feet, the cool breeze blowing her golden locks as she brushes them from her face. "I'm sorry we didn't get to talk about... everything."

They've barely touched on the Robin situation since last week. They haven't had a spare moment alone until now, and clearly Emma chose not to touch on the subject or she would've hounded her with questions the minute they got to the store.

"I thought that, I don't know, you maybe needed time. To talk to me about it when you feel ready," Emma continues, and this is why she's Regina's best friend. She doesn't push, she (usually) knows her boundaries and she is always, always, supportive.

Regina doesn't even say anything. She just gives a half grateful half sad smile to Emma and steps forward to embrace her in a hug that lasts at least a minute.

"I love you Em," Regina says as they pull apart before growing serious. "If you ever tell anyone I'm actually a soppy mess though I swear-"

"Shut up, I love you too," Emma shoves her best friends arm. "I'll see you tomorrow morning."

Regina chuckles and begins walking to her car, "yup. See ya tomorrow."

They wave to each other once last time before Emma is speeding off and Regina is putting her seat belt on feeling like home couldn't come fast enough.


Robin is in his living room, the vibrant glare from the main room light (he usually has lamps on but right now he needs something brighter) highlighting the page he's reading with a deep scowl and serious concentration.

"These are the last few, so once they go through everything should be finalized," the man sitting on the chair by the heater says, picking up the glass of water Robin had gotten for him almost thirty minutes ago.

He's reading some final details on his divorce, his divorce lawyer clarifying any previous issues that have since been resolved and bringing to light any more complications. There are none, luckily.

"And how long will it take for it to become official? The divorce, I mean?" He asks, looking up to meet his divorce lawyers eyes.

"Since it's been through the courts and you and Miss Andrews have settled your disagreements it should be very quick. You'll receive a letter confirming that the divorce has been finalized. Then after the six month waiting period you'll be able to remarry - if you so wish," Sidney smiles, collecting up some of the loose papers he'd gotten out before and putting them into a pile.

Robin finds the idea of remarrying anytime in the next century, let alone after six months, laughable and quite ridiculous. Relationships aren't worth it anymore.

When Sidney stands he realizes that the man probably needs to leave, and one glance at the clock over in the kitchen tells him that it's just after six. "Alright. I'll get to doing these and I'll mail them. Has Marian..?"

"Signed them? Yes. Everything is finishes on her end, she seems quite keen to-"

His divorce lawyer is interrupted by a strong, yet not too loud, knock at the front door. Robin frowns, wondering who could be knocking at this time and for what reason.

Sidney silently asks if he can finish collecting his things, and Robin nods and then walks to the living room door, closing it behind him before walking down the hall to the front door. It knocks once again, and in the dimming sky outside he can just make out the outline of a woman through the window and-

Wait.

It's Regina.

As quickly as he can, and with more panic than he probably should have, he swings open the front door and walks outside, ushering her away from his door and pulling it almost closed. She lets out a little yelp of surprise when he bursts outside like that, but he ignores it and waits until they're to the side of where the front door is.

"Regina what do you think you're doing?" He hisses quietly, shocked and angry and panicked all at the same time. She's still in her uniform, he can tell despite the fact that she's wearing a knee length trench coat to cover the fact (for some reason), because of the black pumps (that make her look a few inches taller) which are on her feet.

She bites her lip and mutters a soft apology, before she's taking a step back and looking at him. "I was driving home and I couldn't stop thinking about everything. Then there was this song on the radio and-"

"Regina now really isn't the best time," he stresses, taking a step closer to her so he can just make out the scent of her perfume. She can't hide the pure disappointment on her face, or the nod she gives that shows that she probably expected as much.

"I know. And I'm sorry Robin but-" she cuts herself off as her expression goes from upset to anger and realization in a split second. "Wait..." she steps back even more, eyes narrowing at him, "is someone in there?"

He's confused for a moment until he looks the way she's pointing, her finger stretching to indicate his front door. Is someone in there?

He knows what she means. He knows why she thinks it, too. He just shoved her out of the view of his front door and is now standing in the biting cold of the evening even though he has a perfectly warm house behind him, and that can only mean he has someone in there. It's just not the someone she's assuming.

"No," he sighs, and that's a blatant lie, and she knows so because she raises an eyebrow. "I mean yes, but it- Regina!" he stops when she barges past him and starts storming to his front door, alarm and fear taking over when he realizes how it will look to Sidney if a young girl in a uniform goes waltzing into his house like a jealous ex. "Regina!"

He rushes after her, catching up to her only after she's managed to burst into his house and be greeted by Sidney standing awkwardly in the hallway. The other man looks confused and out of place, holding his briefcase in his right hand as he looks between the two who've just come in, out of breath and red cheeked.

"I'm sor- I'm uhm... I'm Regina," she holds out a cold hand to Sidney, who sweeps his eyes over her (in a way that has Robin inching a little closer to her) and switches the hand holding his brief so he can shake hers.

"I'm... just leaving," Sidney smiles, giving her hand a firm shake before nodding to both of them. "I'll see you later Mr Locksley. Nice meeting you, miss Regina."

And just like that, he walks around both of the shocked pair and closes the front door behind him. They're both silent for a moment before Regina huffs and puts a hand to her head. "I can't believe I..." she cringes and turns to look at him, swallowing in attempt to calm her panting. "I just thought you had someone - like a woman someone - here and I shouldn't have reacted like that."

He can understand where she's coming from. It's no news to him that she's impulsive and has a short temper, so her reaction isn't a surprise, and to be honest he would've assumed the same if somebody reacted like he did when she turned up.

Probably would've reacted similar, too.

"I know. I'm sorry I burst out like that but I'm failing to understand why you're here. We haven't spoken in over a week and you know where we stand." It's making it harder for him. Seeing her standing here, in his hallway, her raven locks flowing past her shoulders and her ruby lips parted in slight apprehension. He isn't used to her being like this. Vulnerable and unsure.

In the weeks they spent together she was always confident and seductive and occasionally she'd have a blip of insecurity or an emotional outburst about things that were bothering her, but they never involved him or them. She had never been unsure around him before. Not until almost two weeks ago when everything went south.

"I know that you don't want to see me," she breathes in a shaky voice, looking up to meet his eyes, "I know that I'm young and stupid and I thought that this whole thing was a lot more than it must've been but I just can't stop thinking about you." Her voice is so small, now. So small and filled with so many tears she obviously needs to shed and he can't help but close his eyes and inhale because he can't see her like this. "It's selfish... I know it is. It's so selfish and so unfair and it's probably such a bad idea to come here and see you but I had to."

"Regina-"

"Let me finish," she whispers pleadingly, finding his hand and holding it. He finds her eyes and doesn't break the contact. "I've tried to hate you. I've tried to not think about you and everything between us. I've even tried to convince myself that I don't even love you but you can guess where that got me," she snickers, the tears clouding her vision suddenly rolling tenderly down her cheek. "But you know what I realized today? While I was driving my car and Ed Sheeran was playing on the radio and I had a shitload of things in my head about Tink's cliche and Emma's new relationship? Something doesn't quite make sense."

His heart begins thumping fast and he can't look at her any harder than he is. He's looking at her so intensely and concentrated that he can trace the pattern of her beautiful hazel eyes as they begin to take new color if that's possible. Pupils dilated, eyelashes fluttering, soft gaze. It's this moment when he knows that she knows.

"You do love me," she says quietly, so hopeful and yet still apprehensive. He swallows hard, knowing he doesn't need to say anything. There isn't a point in telling her again - he doesn't even think he could handle saying those awful things to her again anyway - and some part of him is relieved that she knows. He hated that she thought he didn't feel the same.

"And when you said those things. When you said that you don't have feelings for me and that all I was was a distraction, you were lying," she says, taking a step closer to him so they're now chest to chest. "How did you do it? How did you watch me fall apart over you when the whole time you-"

"It wasn't like that-"

"Don't," she closes her eyes and grits her teeth, taking a moment to calm down before looking back at him. "I would rather have you say that we couldn't together because it was wrong or because you were scared to get caught - or heck, I'd even rather you dumped me because you didn't think things would work out in the long run - but to flat out break me by making me think that I was stupid for feeling more than you, or overreacting because of how heartbroken I was is just something that I could never do to you."

It isn't fair. Her blaming him like this when he had no choice. Sure, maybe it was a bad decision to lie to her and mess with her feeling like that but what else was he supposed to do?

"It wasn't easy, actually," he snaps, stepping back from her a little and swallowing the lump that forms in his throat when he sees again how upset she is. "I had to do something. I had to say something. And hey, it worked. What I did got you off my back for a while. You were quiet in my lessons, there were no slip ups and longing glances or you coming to my classroom to declare that maybe we can work out. I told you I didn't love you for both of our benefits. I said it so that you would finally, maybe, get over me, and so that I wouldn't lose my job."

She scoffs and folds her arms. "Oh, your little declaration got me off your back did it? Like I was some sort of lost puppy clinging onto you?"

"That isn't what I meant."

"Nothing you say seems to be what it means anymore," she spits, running a hand through her hair.

"So you're angry that I lied about my feelings?"

"Exactly," she replies, "because the whole time I couldn't be angry about it. Because the whole time I was saying 'he can't help his feelings', when really; you loved me. And while loving me you consciously broke my heart."

He doesn't even know what to say. What can he say? He treated this whole thing badly but he panicked and was impulsive and he shouldn't have to explain himself.

"If it was the other way around, and we wanted to be together but you would lose so much if we were, would you not do the same? Something hard yet necessary to make sure I stayed away?"

"You-"

"And before you say it, no, I didn't want you to stay away. I've wanted to see you every day. I have thought about you every day and I have missed you every. single. day. But I couldn't put myself through seeing you when I can't be with you. I didn't want to put you through that either. I would rather you hated me than you still wanting me."

"I could never hate you, Robin. And you not loving me didn't make me want you any less, it just made everything harder," she says shakily, wiping some tears from her eyes. "And after I had Daniel cheat on me, something I could have never thought of doing to him, I realized he must've not cared as much about me. So for my second chance - for you to make me feel just like I had with Daniel - was cruel," she sniffles, and she has to tilt her head to find his eyes since he'd cast his to the floor. "It was cruel, and I know how selfish it is to be mad at you for doing what you thought was necessary, but I can't help it."

"So what have you come here to achieve?" he asks, throwing up his palms and shaking his head. "You know now. You know how I feel. You know that I lied. You're angry about it, we've established that. But what more do you want from me? I can't give you what you want. I'm a teacher and you're a student and it's against every rule and I need to step up and do what's right. End things. Which I did, however I did it. So what do you want now?"

"I want you to say it!" She cries, stepping into his space and giving him a challenging look.

"So I say it, what then?" He breathes, stepping even closer.

"You say it, I walk out of here and never bring it up again," she says in a low voice, swallowing visibly.

He doesn't want that. He needs that, he knows he needs her to never bring it up ever again until hopefully she can forget about him and leave school and then maybe one day he might be able to think about her without feeling like he's been hit by an arrow. But he doesn't want it.

"I..." he begins, instantly noticing the way her breathing hitches and her beautiful brown eyes widen ever so slightly in anticipation. They're so close that he can feel her uneven breath on his chin, can see every single muscle movement on her face. He can even smell her shampoo. "I'm in love. With you."

Her breath seems to be taken from her, a short little gasp parting her soft lips and she just looks at him for a moment with something resembling bittersweet happiness before she's taking a tiny step back, clearly against what she wishes to do. She gives a little decisive nod, furrowing her brows while she concentrates on what to say.

"Thank you," she whispers, not meeting his gaze which is looking right at her, wishing to touch her, wishing to make this stop. This isn't how this should've been. He shouldn't have to stay away from her when every fiber in his body is asking to be closer. He shouldn't have to give her an "I love you" in the silence of his corridor on a Wednesday evening while she's crying and he wants to kiss her until everything else is forgotten. "I should get going."

Right. That. Her promise to leave as soon as he admitted his feelings.

Only she isn't making any move to go, rather she only seems to be getting a little closer before her eyes manage to swivel and meet his, her voice speaking so quietly it's barely above a breath when she requests, "kiss me."

And he does.

He doesn't even hesitate. Just drifts one hand to the nape of her neck, finding the soft warm skin and her smooth, raven hair there as he pulls her face slightly so her lips can meet his. One hand finds subtle, soft purchase on her hip as her succulent lips drift over his, merging them together so sweetly and so, so lovingly. He kisses her lips tenderly, savoring every single second that her nose lets out warm breath on his cheek, that her lips move and press and dance with his. He kisses her longingly, wishing that it never ends but knowing it has to. Soon. He kisses her desperately, knowing that this will be the last time.

And then he breaks the kiss, pulling away from her slowly, ever reluctant to be parted from the comfort that is her lips. She takes a moment to get her bearings, keeping her eyes scrunched shut before they flutter open and look right past him. It's comfortably silent, neither of them know quite what to say until she gives another decisive nod and briefly meets his eyes.

"Goodbye, Robin."

And then she's gone, leaving nothing but the faint trace of her perfume and an empty feeling in his heart.