Chapter Eight

Regina wasn't sure what was wrong with her, after her encounter with Robin the rest of her day went by slowly. It seemed the world had slowed down and she was still falling a beat behind. There was no more news on the Jones case which deeply disappointed Mary Margaret and left Graham in a sort of haze. The sheriff had been close friends with Thomas and he more than anyone, except for Liam, to know the truth about that night.

Killian had been so young at the time, however he understood what murder was. Liam didn't have the heart to tell his little brother their parents were killed and the killer was nowhere to be found. Eventually the truth would come out, but Liam wanted answers first and to have his story straight. Staring at a blank laptop screen, Regina re-evaluated the file she read earlier about the special tire tracks, the wounds given to Thomas and Lila and the separate locations.

There had to be something she and Graham had missed because it just didn't make sense. No one had an issue with the Jones family, they were incredibly likable people and the idea of them being killed was ludicrous.

Regina checked the time, it was nearing 1 in the morning and although she didn't have to go to the office tomorrow, she did have a four year old who liked to get up early. Although Regina loved seeing Roland in the morning, she really hate getting up earlier than she had to. Sleep was probably the only place Regina ever felt alone and free because it was just her and nothing else.

She took her wine glass off the night table and had a sip of wine before shutting off her laptop. Perhaps tomorrow when Roland went down for his nap she could do some more research and maybe make a breakthrough in this years old case. Usually she would leave this up to the police department, but she had a promise to fulfill and she planned to fulfill it.

Regina heard about the missing Jones couple late that morning, the father never showed up for work and the mother was nowhere to be seen. At first no one made a fuss until neither answered their phones when their older son, Liam, had called. He was in high school and well known throughout the small town of Storybrooke. He needed his parents to come down to the school for something and when neither answered his calls he got worried.

It was the rule of the Jones house that the phone always had to be on and they always had to answer no matter what they were doing. Liam had called Graham saying his sprints were answering and to ease the boys worry he called the docs where Thomas worked. No one has seen him. He was supposed to come in at seven and it was ten when Liam had called about his parents. No one had seen Lila either.

Regina walked through the white halls trying to locate the reason she was called down here. Although Regina was not close with the Jones family, she was partially close to a friend of Lila, Mary Margaret. The mayor walked through the halls until she found the school teacher sitting in a blue chair, her face buried in her hands and her shoulders shaking. Panic pierced Regina's heart, she still wasn't to fond of Mary Margaret, but as time passed she was becoming more caring towards the younger woman.

It was mainly because of Daniel.

"Mary Margaret," Regina called with a questioning tone.

The school teacher stopped shaking and lifted her head to see the mayor staring down at her. Mary Margaret had always been afraid of Regina ever since that day at the stables. It had been an accident, but Regina was very angry about it.

Red and puffy green eyes met brown ones as Mary Margaret said, "You came?"

The sight of Mary Margaret in this state had shocked Regina, usually everyone knew Mary Margaret as Ms Blanchard the most optimistic woman in town. Seeing her with puffy eyes, tear stained red cheeks and broken expression had made Regina more sympathetic.

"Daniel couldn't come," Regina replied taking a seat next to Mary Margaret, "I know David is trying to get here, but is also trying to figure out what happened. I knew how close you were to Lila and... you shouldn't have to face this alone."

Mary Margaret smiled gratefully at Regina, tears still swimming in her eyes as she looked away. Regina wasn't the best at comforting other people, her mother had been hard on her and she only got comfort from her father and Daniel because they always knew the right thing to say. She never did. A little unsure, Regina lifted her arm and wrapped it around Mary Margaret's slightly shaking shoulders.

At the touch, Mary Margaret stopped shaking immediately and her entire body went completely still. Mary Margaret looked over at Regina with hopeful yet confused green eyes. Regina could feel Mary Margaret's gaze on her, but she didn't move her arm, instead she gave the school teachers shoulder a light squeeze. The gesture was enough for Mary Margaret and she felt her heart swell.

"Thank you," Mary Margaret said with a watery smile.

Regina looked at Mary Margaret and replied, "I'm not very good at comforting people, I just want you to know, you're not alone."

Still smiling Mary Margaret hugged Regina and although caught off guard, Regina hugged her back. The forest green eyed woman cried into Regina's shoulder seeking comfort that Regina was able to give. Lila was still alive, but the doctors said she may not survive very long, days at least and weeks at most. The idea of losing her closest friend broke Mary Margaret's hearts but there was nothing she could do except be strong.

"I have to find who did this, I have to find them," Mary Margaret mumbled into Regina's shoulder, "I have to."

Regina rubbed Mary Margaret's back knowing exactly what she meant, "Don't worry. I promise I will find out who did this."

Regina woke up to the sound of her phone alarm and immediately regretted letting Roland choose the sound. She had let him by an alarm called 'Ex' and it was probably the loudest alarm Regina had ever hear in her life.

Quickly she reached over and shut the alarm off, once off she laid on her back and stared at the ceiling. There was nothing important she had to do today, looks like she could spend some time with Roland or even see her old Kathryn. They had been close in high school and that friendship followed them through the years. "Momma," Roland shouted louder than he needed to.

Regina sighed, she knew she couldn't keep the little man waiting forever.


Robin was sitting at Granny's Diner, a coffee in one hand and the newspaper in the other. Call him old fashioned, but Robin always preferred newspapers to the media. It wasn't how fast the newspaper came that he liked, because it was incredibly slow, it was the written word. Robin still hasn't been able to find a job in Storybrooke, after all there weren't really any openings however he knew he would find a job soon enough. "So you're the famous stranger," said a man with pale brown hair and olive skin.

He was much older than Robin and leaned against a black cane with a gold handle for support. Robin lifted his head from the newspaper with a bitter smile. Over the past couple of days, Robin had been called out as Storybrooke's newest arrival, as it would seem Storybrooke was a lot smaller than he originally thought.

"So it would seem," Robin replied, he set the newspaper down and offered his hand to the man before him. "Robin Locksley."

The man shook his hand graciously, "Mr Gold. Pleasure to meet Mr Locksley, rarely do we get any visitors in our dear little town."

Robin nodded in agreement, as he had been told many times before, Storybrooke never received any visitors.

"So tell me," Mr Gold said as he observed the man sitting in the booth, "What brings you to our town?"

Robin shrugged, "I'm writer seeking inspiration and I find that Storybrooke might just be the place for me."

It wasn't a total lie, but Mr Gold was smart and could see something else was going on with Robin.

Mr Gold nodded, not buying Robin's half truth he questioned, "Nothing else? Only a writer who lacks inspiration? I find that very difficult to believe."

This took Robin by surprise, his heart began to hammer away in his chest as he searched for a proper response. Of course no proper response or comeback came to him.

"I'm sorry," Robin said confusion coating his words, "I'm afraid I don't understand what you're getting at Mr Gold."

The elder man only grinned, "I've heard of you Mr Locksley, you wrote a book called Outlaws, have spent most of your life in the foster system, your late wife's name was Marian Mason and you have a son whom you gave for a adoption when he was three months old. His name? Roland Mills."

Robin felt his heart sink and drop all the way down into his stomach, he had just been caught by a man he just met. How had this man known so much about him? It terrified Robin to think some stranger would know so much about him, but he was infuriated.

"How do you know all of this," Robin asked, anger in his blue eyes.

Mr Gold chuckled, "I have my ways. We'll be in touch Robin, there is something I'm going to need you to do. Not now of course, but later."

Robin didn't have to ask what would happen if he refused, it was clear his secret would be public knowledge if he didn't agree. Robin couldn't and wouldn't take the chance of Roland or Regina finding out who he was and why he was really in Storybrooke.

"I keep your secret, you do something for me. Do we have a deal," Mr Gold asked smugly confident he has won this little battle.

Robin clenched his jaw, "It would seem I do not have a choice, what is it you want?"

Mr Gold's smug grin changed into a devious one, "You were once a thief, I'm going to need those skills. Have a nice day, Mr Locksley."

Mr Gold walked away from where Robin was seated and disappeared from sight. Robin felt his blood freeze in his veins, his heart stop and the rest of the world crashed around him. There was a man out there who knew why he was here and he knew if he didn't play his cards right, his secret would get out. Robin had thought about going to Regina and telling her the truth and asking only to know Roland, only to have a moment alone with him.

He wanted to be the one to go to Regina and ask to see his son, but now he worried someone else would beat him to it.

Robin took a deep breath as he mumbled, "What am I going to do?"


I know it's short, but I needed to update. I'm sorry it took so long, but I had- have- a huge case of writers block. If you have anything you want to see happen, tell me because I am at a bump in the story. Okay that's all, hope you enjoyed the chapter even with it's shortness.