Heartbreak isn't something one can define. Not with another word, not with a synonym. Not with an adjective, not as an adjective.
Heartbreak isn't something most people can go through life getting over. Most people can't stand the feeling of real heartbreak. Only some can face love again.
It's the gorge of epic cracks in your racing heartbeat. It's the shooting pain you feel in your chest when you think of him. It's the instant gaping loss you feel from them being gone from your life forever.
That's why I don't think Regina will be able to love again. That's why I pushed Tink away from helping the young woman. That's also why I honestly hope that Robin Hood can heal her from all that she's lost, even though I doubt the possibility so much.
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Regina was still scared from Halloween. She didn't want to be scared, she hated being scared. Fear wasn't something that she often had, but when it was there, she wanted to crush it.
Even after almost four weeks, Daniel was still on her mind. He was taking up a very large space in her mind, one that should have been taken up by Thanksgiving plans and spending time with her favorite boys.
But no. Her mind just had to think about all the absolutely wonderful times she had with Daniel and then loop back around to the pain of his death. She couldn't stop thinking about it, but she wanted to get it out of my mind entirely.
Being with Robin made her forget; unfortunately, she was ashamed to be thinking about Daniel when she had him, so she was avoiding the archer as if her life depended on the task which made her feel even more guilty. Regina just couldn't win right now. So, she went to the only person she could think of.
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Robin wasn't afraid from Halloween. He was okay with the fear, he knew how to control it so that the emotion wouldn't take over his mind to make him completely useless and weak.
With almost four weeks passing, Maid Marian was quickly fading from his mind. She was still there, of course. Sometimes she would pop out with a memory. He was mostly thinking of the upcoming holidays, though.
His rising dream of catching a wild turkey—His hands were itching to shoot anything, even a wild bird that could run around with it's head cut off—had faded when Regina explained that there weren't any of the birds around Storybrooke.
He didn't notice that Regina was avoiding him, but that's because he was avoiding her also. He didn't want them, their relationship, to be rushed like no other but he also didn't want them to be like he and Marian where it took years and years to get together. So, he went to Belle again.
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"You have ten words to tell me why you're here and what you want before I slam this door in your face, Regina."
"I'm dating Robin Hood, can't stop thinking about Daniel. Help." Regina replied to her only friend. Even if Maleficent could talk to her, the woman wouldn't help her. Not after Regina killed that pony. Although, thinking about it, she would do it again. That horse was like her pet, her prized possession. She killed him. Why would a petite pony be any different? It had just been a silly pet. Maleficent would get over it sooner or later.
"You can come in," Katheryn nodded slowly as she opened her door wider and stepped aside. She didn't know how else to react. This is major, and she wasn't going to let other people's hate for the woman come between them. She didn't blame Regina, she had asked Snow about it. Snow had seemed hateful for once, but Katheryn knew it was just because the woman lost almost three decades with her daughter. She didn't blame Snow, but she also had mercy for Regina. The woman had to live in a town where almost all of the citizens hate her. Katheryn give her a break. "Tea or coffee?"
"Tea, and thank you, for everything." Regina gave the blonde a small, grateful smile. Regina hadn't thought she would even get through the threshold. This was going much better than expected. So much so, that Regina was actually wondering if she had gotten her friend back. If she had, she was going to do absolutely everything in her power to keep it that way.
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"Robin Hood, for what do I owe the unwanted interruption?" The Dark One asked with a slight snarl in his tone. Robin had gotten used to it, but he was still slightly scared of the man randomly coming at him with his own bow again.
"Rumple!" Belle scolded, "Be nice." She smiled warmly at Robin, "It's good to see you again. It seems like forever since the last time, but I suspect that you've been too busy to drop in to update me." Robin immediately felt better about his decision to come here. Belle would always be a good person and an even better friend.
Glancing at Rumpelstiltskin warily before looking back at Belle, he replied, "Actually, I am here to ask for your help yet again. You seem to be the expert at dealing with..." He trailed off, not really sure how to end the sentence. With dark people? With those who abuse magic? With wrecked, heartbroken adults? He would never call Regina an evil villain again, no matter how much Snow had insisted on it when they had first met.
"It's okay," Interrupting his thoughts with a smile, Belle continued on, "I fully understand." She reached up and kissed him quickly. She loved modern shoes, they actually put her on fair playing ground so she no longer had to wait for Rumple to kiss her. She grabbed Robin's arm and called back at her love, "I'll be back before dinner, I promise!" She didn't pay attention to the call of protest as she shut the shop's door.
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"So the rumors are true for once. I'm very happy for you, Regina." Katheryn admitted with a smile. Finding true love was life changing, and now that Regina had it, the woman would surely become a much better person. One who didn't like mass murder, hopefully.
Regina looked down, embarrassed as if she knew what the blonde was thinking, even if it wasn't that hard to tell. Anyone would be thinking like that in her situation. "Thank you. It was hard at first, but I really do care for him. It was worth it."
"It always is. Love is worth everything. I imagine that it's what you've been really searching for all along." Katheryn commented as she took a sip of her tea. She didn't want to get into the woman's past, but she felt like she had to say something.
Regina thought about her words for a moment, before smiling. "I suppose you might be very right, although Henry brought that love to me as well, just in a different form. One just as powerful." She loved her son more than anything else, some man wouldn't change that. Henry would always come first.
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"How did you do it? He was the darkest creature in all the land and he's like putty in your hands! Plus, I heard that you were engaged before he took you."
"He didn't take me. He needed a maid, and if it meant saving my kingdom, I fully agreed to it. I wanted to show my bravery." Belle corrected with a slight frown, but then left her face quickly. Talking of love was no place for frowns. "He was and will never be putty in my hands. I can ask him to change, I can want him to change, but he will never do so unless he wants to himself. He's doing well, actually. Ever since Neverland, since seeing Neal and swearing upon his own life that he would never harm Henry." Belle's frown returned, "I could never have given my heart to someone as superficial as Gaston." She looked back at the way they came, thinking of Rumple with a smile.
Robin Hood understood where she was coming from, but not liking it. He would do the same if someone said something about Regina. "Belle, you fell in love with The Dar-"
"I fell in love with Rumpelstiltskin. The man, Robin. He's not some beast like everyone refers to him as. Well. He can be, obviously, because of what he did to you but still. We grew to be friends, he was nice to me, we talked of his son and he let me out of the castle. It's strange... The attraction that comes when someone who is capable of doing terrible things for some reason cares only about you... I can't explain it but Rumple and I complete each other." She looked over at Robin with a smile and he suddenly understood.
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"So, if you're so happy, why are you thinking of this Daniel?"
"Daniel was my first love. My mother killed him so that I wouldn't have a reason not to marry the King." Regina explained, "Ever since he died, I've missed him, but I actually let him go a few months ago. I just can't stop thinking about him when I have all these new feelings floating around about Robin."
"I understand. When I remembered, I was conflicted. Yes, I was happy for David, and I understood because he and Snow. Then I found Frederick again." She moved forward and grabbed her friend's hands, "Nothing is better than love. Go for it, Regina. Have no guilt or regret. I'm sure that Daniel would want you to be happy."
Regina smiled softly, "He really would want my happiness. That's all he ever wanted."
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"Regina!" He yelled as he came through the threshold and into the kitchen, grinning like an absolute mad man. He passed the boys on the way in and picked up Roland while Henry trailed behind the father and son with a smile. The eleven-year-old didn't know what was going on, but he was going to find out.
Startled, Regina slightly glared at the man but her expression lightened when her eyes met Roland's. She stated calmly, "I'm just cooking, there is no need to scream."
"Sorry, my Queen, I'm just happy." Robin set Roland down, hoping the boy would go over to Regina with a large smile. He didn't. Roland instead went to Henry's side.
"About what, if I can ask?" She quickly added in, "And what did I say about you calling me Queen in front of the boys?" Henry and Roland shared a look and then ran up stairs to get away from their parents. Henry knew what happened after little bickering like this and he didn't want to be around for the gross romantic relationship stuff to settle in.
With a huge, mischievous grin, he told her with the utmost happiness, "I've decided something." Okay, so it sounded more mysterious than he would've liked, but it got the point across considering that she looked up with her I-need-to-know-this face. Yes, she had different expressions but no, Robin didn't know each and every one of them; most of them, yes but not all.
"Can I ask what?" Regina questioned, trying to be polite. When Robin had a plan, it usually didn't pan out too well and she was worried that this would be exactly like that.
"Nope! You'll have to wait until next year." His half-mischievous, half-mysterious grin hadn't left his expression and neither had his happiness. It was going to be a fun few months.
"What's so good about next year?" The confusion was already building up inside her, and she wanted to make it stop. She hated being confused, it was a horrible emotion.
Robin could only smirk as he cheered, "Fireworks."
Regina set off mini-fireworks with a wave of her hand, seemingly unimpressed by his response. "Now will you tell me?"
The man only glared, his smirk completely disappearing. He forgot about her massive skills in the art of sass. "A, no magic. B, show off. C, nope."
As she watched him quickly regain his happiness, she commented on his excitement. "You are extremely hyper because of this."
"Completely." Robin Hood agreed with a quick nod.
"And you're sure that you can't tell me?" The Queen whined, pouting slightly with puppy dog eyes to try to make him crack. She was going to do everything in her power to find out this information. It was simply not okay with her to have this information held over her head.
"Sorry, my love."
Regina coughed, "What?" He quickly ran upstairs and Regina followed just as fast. "Hey! Hey! Robin! Get back here! What did you just say?!"
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"Blue!" Hook yelled, tugging Tink along with him. He was going to make this woman get over her fear of this fairy, one way or another—even if it involved dragging her.
The Blue Fairy turned around, just about to start in on the pirate for being so rude to her when she saw the woman next to him, "Green?"
"My name is Tinkerbell." Tink automatically corrected—after a few decades of correctly lost boys who were to determined to call her their lost girl, it was just an immediate reaction.
"Yes, I knew that. I'm sorry. I just didn't think I'd ever see you again. Hello, Tinkerbell." Blue smiled warmly, although Hook decided that the smile could actually kill him with it's pure creepiness. While on the other hand, Tink concluded that this woman could not pull off a warm smile, even if she was happy.
"Likewise." Tink remarked, feeling awkward with this meeting. She was going to kill Hook later, this was a completely horrible idea. Blue wouldn't help her.
Blue tilted her head, actually confused by the irritation in Gre-Tink's voice. "What do you-"
"Give Tink her wings back." Hook interrupted, done with the whole You're-Here thing. Woman liked to talk, and he had heard enough of the feelings talk today.
"I don't take orders from pirates." Blue snapped with a sharp glare to the Captain. She was getting really tired of Killian's attitude. Villains, she thought with disdain.
"Why does everyone say it like that?" He grumbled, then hastily told her, "She's earned it. She helped save Henry and, with a little gift from a lost girl, she made pixie dust work again."
"Really?" Tink was amazed by the excitement in Blue's voice voice and suddenly felt very insecure about her own abilities. "Well, let's see!"
"Well, briefly. It's not something I can do at the drop of a hit. It glowed when I found out that Robin Hood is in love with Regina." Tink explained, looking down at the necklace that Wendy gave her. Pixie dust. It was still amazed her that the surprisingly-older young-blonde had some.
Blue's eyes widened in complete and utter shock from this news, "Wait what?" She had been wrong. She had stripped Green of her wings for no good reason.
"Gossip later. Wings, fairy." Killian groaned, not wanting to hear about Regina's love life yet again. It was really getting tiring,as was the conversation.
Blue glared at the pirate, "She has a problem. She doesn't believe in herself. How can I?" there was a good reason, perfect. She didn't feel like a horrible person any longer. With that, the fairy leader turned on her heels and walked away from the pair.
Tink watched Blue leave before turning to her favorite pirate and demanding, "Hook. Rum. Now." She took the flask from him quickly and started chugging.
"I can't believe you didn't slap her, Tink. She deserves to be slapped, multiple times." Hook commented as he took the flask away from her with a slight glare when he realized it was empty. Even so, he smiled at her, loving the way she could take her rum because not even he could have drank this thing without feeling a massive burn running down his throat.
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Robin was carelessly running his fingers up and down her arm when he out-of-the-blue questioned, "Are you mad I won't tell you?"
"No, if this can't make you tell, then I'm sure it's worth the wait." Regina replied, turning just enough that she had the ability to plant a quick kiss on his lips.
Robin cocked an eyebrow at her, a smirk forming quickly, "Are you saying that you only did this to try to get me to tell you my secret plan?"
Regina scoffed at the very idea although her reply was completely sarcastic. If he was going to play games, then so could she. Revenge was always her favorite thing to do. "Of course not, Robin. That's completely preposterous. I would never. Out of the question. That's now how a queen would act."
"Mhm, you would know, my que—Where are you going?" He frowned when she started leaving the bed, trying to pull her back into his chest.
Regina narrowly escaped his grip, "Back down stairs." She explained, "I have a salad to make." Thanksgiving at the Charming's wasn't going to be fun, even if Robin was there.
"You do?" The confusion was evident on his face. Regina smiled and thought, I can read him like an open book. Poor man will never see what's coming.
"It's called Thanksgiving. I've been celebrating it ever since Henry came into my life, and now Emma's mother decided to get in on the fun." Regina replied sarcastically, because she wasn't looking forward to this break in tradition. It was always just her and Henry, but now she had to deal with the Charming's and Gold's family.
Robin stood up in a flash, "Then it must be an amazing celebration!"
Regina looked him up and down with a smirk before telling him, "...It's more stressful than anything, but yes, I suppose you're right." She wasn't going to let Snow ruin the holidays for her. This was her first Thanksgiving with anyone besides Henry, it was going to be perfect.
"Celebrating? Stressful? What is this darkness?!" Robin wailed, throwing the gray, silky sheet over his head. "Okay, so now it's darker. I don't like this."
Regina could only laugh, "It's called the holiday season, m'dear, and once Christmas passes, you the next two holidays are a blast."
"I'm getting the feeling that they will be much fun." Robin grinned, falling back onto the bed and getting comfortable again.
"Oh they will be." Her mischievous grin matched the one Robin had earlier, and that somehow made Robin worry.
"Just one question." She raised an eyebrow at him while he asked, "What's Christmas, Regina?"
Regina fought back laughter as she left the room, saying "Oh you have a lot to learn." on her way out. Maybe she was wrong... Maybe these holidays would be fun.
AN: Long over due chapter. Holidays are intense. It's longer because of the wait.~ Not by a lot, but I'm not trying to write a book here, people. Well, maybe an e-book, except I don't know how long those are.
I'm sure that I'll have the next chapter out fairly soon, but then I'll be going on another break because Christmas.
I know everyone wanted for Blue to be punched in the face, but after what happened... I just couldn't do it. I honestly feel bad.
Oh! Surprise guest next chapter! If someone guesses correctly... I'll do something for them.~
