Hey guys! I have to apologise deeply for the excruciatingly long wait for this very short chapter (the next one will be longer, I promise). In my defense, my life is spinning out of control and I'm suffering from the worst case of writer's block. Nevertheless I am not giving up, so bare with me please. I would like to thank everyone for the reviews that keep pouring in, they are truly the only thing that make me keep writing. So please comment!

WARNING: difficult chapter, people may find some elements disturbing

"When I was eighteen, I married a man who was nearly three times my age. I didn't love him, but my mother…" Regina took a ragged breath, "Let's say she had a way of getting what she wanted, and what she wanted was power. Leopold was a wealthy man with a lot of influence, so he fitted the bill perfectly."

Oh yes, he had been all that Mother had dreamed of and more. She had probably thanked her lucky star that she had a daughter she could pawn off to get unimpeded access to the man who governed the kingdom. Pushing her through that mirror, however painful, had been the best move she could have made at the time. Snapping out of her thoughts, Regina focused on Robin again, who hadn't made a sound or any gesture to indicate his frustration at her zoning off.

"He had just lost his wife, but in his position he needed someone at his arm. The most appropriate term to describe my role would be arm candy, I suppose. He never did love me." The last was said in a whisper as Regina swallowed painfully. No, he had never loved her, he hadn't even spared her one ounce of care in all the years she had had to spend as his wife, only making sure she was correctly attired to impress whomever they were receiving at court.

"What made him choose me was the fact that his twelve year old daughter became infatuated with me. All the love Leopold had felt for his wife he had transferred to his daughter, and her wishes were his command. So, barely an adult myself, I was forced into the role of a stepmother to a girl who… a girl who…" She was unable to contain the rage that laced her voice as she talked about Snow White. She couldn't come up with an alternate way of telling Robin her story without revealing the truth, and she simply couldn't mention Daniel, nor the anguish that had pierced her when holding his lifeless body, all because of a little girl's selfishness. She felt hands gently pry her fists open and she looked down to see fingers tangle with her own, thumbs rubbing soothing circles upon her skin. Lifting her head, she saw blue eyes staring back at her with so much care and understanding it calmed her instantly. Filling her lungs shudderingly, she forced herself to carry on.

"You've already gathered that, although he only saw me as a glorified babysitter who happened to look good by his side, my husband still expected me to fulfil my other wifely…duties." She squeezed her eyes shut, unable to watch Robin's face as she spoke. "He….he...," her voice was barely above a murmur now and she felt her throat close, as if to keep the words from escaping her mouth. But she couldn't stop now, she had come too far to back down. She felt herself start to shake as she fought to form sentences that would express it all. In the end, all she could utter was: "He wasn't gentle."

And maybe it was enough. Maybe it did convey the horror that had been her wedding night when, without consideration for her innocence and ignorance, he had taken her as if she were no more than a piece of meat, whispering his dead wife's name in her ear as he emptied himself in her, paying no mind to her tears. Maybe it did express the distress she had felt each time he had called her to his chambers only to be used like a common whore before being kicked out of his bed, bruised and bleeding. Maybe memories that cut so deep she feared they would never scar over could be shared.

And as Robin crushed her to his chest, she thought that maybe it could be that someone understood.

She sobbed uncontrollably as he held her as fiercely as he could. Robin could feel her hands fist into his shirt and that only made him squeeze her tighter. He had never been as angry in his life as he was now, holding this beaten woman in his arms. He wanted to find her bastard of a husband and crush him to dust, he wanted to make him pay for what he had done to the beautiful broken creature that was currently weeping against his chest. Except she wasn't broken, was she? No, she was the strongest, bravest person he had ever met. He couldn't quite believe she had been able to rise above her past to become the mayor, the mother, hell, the woman that she was. She had stood tall as she told him of her horrific past, never breaking down once –he had been the one to pull her into his arms, unable to not touch her any longer. And to think she had been reliving all of that on her own since being attacked by the sheriff! It only increased the awe he felt regarding her –and, if he were completely honest, the gratitude he felt that the afore mentioned sheriff had been stupid enough to drive himself off the road before he had got his hands on him.

Regina was starting to calm down now, she was no longer sobbing although slight tremors still ran through her body. Pulling back slightly so he could look at her, Robin said:

"Regina, I don't know if I can express how utterly amazing you are." She seemed slightly put aback by his words, so he explained. "You are the single most courageous person I have ever met. Even though I know I can't, I wish I could take away all the pain that you feel. However, I want you to know that I am honoured that you trust me enough to tell me about your past and that I will do anything in my power to lighten your burden. If that's alright with you of course" he quickly hastened to say, not wanting to force her in any way. She alleviated his fears by giving him a small smile coupled with a nod. She lifted a hand to wipe her cheeks but he beat her to it, running a thumb along her still moistened skin, a little thrill coursing through his body when she didn't shy away from his touch or swat his hand away.

"What do you say about getting a bit of sleep? I think you are in dire need of it" he added, his gaze roaming over the black circles that rested under her dark eyes. Regina however shook her head.

"I keep getting nightmares, I would rather not face them right now. Do you… do you mind if we just stayed here for a bit longer?" Her tentative voice made Robin pull her in again, tucking her head under his chin. "We can stay here as long as you want."

She sighed against him, her body relaxing into his as they remained in each other's arms. A question swirled insistently in Robin's mind though, and in the end he couldn't keep it in.

"Regina?" The gentle hum he got was enough of a response to make him voice what was bothering him. "I'm sorry to ask you this but… what happened to your husband?"

Silence etched between them and he started to think he had made a huge mistake when suddenly he felt her arms tighten around him before she whispered. "He died."

Robin practically sagged in relief.

"Thank God."

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