Disclaimer:

Once Upon A Time and Singlebrooke Dating Service are not mine. Maybe someday…

Author's Note:

I am so sorry if this chapter took so long to be posted. Uni has gotten me so busy with projects and then it's my midterms. And also I may have gotten writer's block. I didn't know how to finish this chapter. It was crazy. But anyways, here it is. Enjoy! Trigger Warning: Mentions of abuse.

Chapter 9: Refresh

I don't know why but something inside me told me to check my dating website profile. I took my laptop and opened it to my profile. I changed my status to 'Dating' when Regina and I started going out. I wouldn't want to entertain any more women when I'm currently attached to one.

I saw my message notification has two messages and they're both from the woman who's been making my head spin and my heart race, Regina. I know I'm acting like a total douche but I just want to clear my head first before I talk to her. I don't want to confront her with both our emotions so high. I don't want to say something that I would eventually regret and hurt her. I like her so much that everything just hurts right now. Her lie was just too much at the moment. I needed to breathe. I've been ignoring her texts and phone calls so it's not surprising that she would try to reach me through this website, where we first met.

Clicking the first message, it read:

David,

I am so sorry. Please talk to me.

Regina xx

It was sent yesterday. The second message is longer and it was sent just this morning.

David,

I know you don't want to talk to me but please just let me explain. I'll tell you everything. Just please let me talk to you. I'm really sorry David. I need to talk to you, please. Can I come to your house this afternoon? Just let me explain everything and then I would respect it if you're going to brush me off after. I just want you to know my side. Please, David.

Regina

Now I feel like a total douchebag. I'm only thinking of myself. How can I be so selfish? I know Regina is hurting too because of my dismissal of her.

Fetching my phone, I immediately wrote a text message to Regina saying that it's okay for us to talk. Now I need to be ready to meet Regina in a few hours. I hope this turns out well.

~EC~

After bidding Henry and Mary goodbye, I came back to my room upstairs to find my phone going off. Peaking at it, I found a message from David.

I couldn't stop the smile that formed on my face. He answered finally. I miss him so bad. I just wish he would give me another chance. I don't want to lose him, not like this.

I texted my sister that I would be going to David's house this afternoon and asked if she could watch Henry for me until I get back.

I made myself busy before meeting David. My head is not a very happy place at the moment so I just basically fussed around the house so I wouldn't let my thoughts get the best of me. I need a clear head when I talk to David later. I just wish this would not end up with me sobbing my heart out and drowning in my apple cider.

xxx

"Hello" I greeted him when he opened the door. I held myself back from lunging for him. I wanted to feel his warm embrace on me and his soft lips pressed with mine so bad. I missed him.

"Hello" he greeted back with a reluctant smile.

"Come on in" he opened the door wider to let me in. "I missed you." He whispered when I pass by him. I think my breath just hitched upon hearing that.

"I missed you too." I looked him straight in the eye. It felt awkward. It's like we were both holding back.

"Want anything?" he asked breaking the silence.

"Water is fine. Thank you." I gave him a small smile before he ushered me to the living room. He really has a nice home. For a guy, his house looked really homey.

He made his way to the kitchen after I settled on his couch. When he came back, he was holding a glass of water and a bottle of beer.

"Here" he handed me the water before he went to sit on a chair opposite me so we were facing each other. I wanted him to sit beside me but I also wanted to give him space so I just hid my disappointment.

"David, I'm sorry." I started out after the long awkward silence got into my nerves. The elephant in the room is just hard not to miss.

"I'm sorry too. Why didn't you tell me?" He asked, leaning his elbows to his legs so his face was closer to me.

"I was going to tell you…"

"Why not tell me when we first met? Why drag it up this long? Why, Regina?"

I can feel his frustrations in waves. I am frustrated too. I just want to lay it all out on him but I don't know how he could handle everything. Would he run? Would he stay? Everything is just so frustrating.

"I was afraid…"

"You were afraid… of me?" He straightened his back and he looked at me with his eyes widening with fear.

"Not you. I was afraid of what you would do if I told you." I told him to somehow appease him.

"What do you think I would do? God, Regina! I'm not a home wrecker. I don't go around stealing wives." He exclaimed waving his hand up in defeat.

"What?" I think I heard him wrong. What home-wrecker is he on about?

"Why are you doing this? I thought better of you. I didn't expect you to stoop this low. If you're unhappy with your marriage, think about your son instead. He wouldn't be too happy to know his mother is having a relationship with someone else." He ranted on. He's mad. Really mad.

OH! He thought… "David, I think you had this all wrong." I tried to hold his hand but he just brushed it off and shook his head no. God, this is all crazy. What have I done?

"Stop playing with me, Regina. Just stop. I'm not a home wrecker." He breathed out. He sounded so devastated that I just want to hug him and kiss him to make his worries go away. If only I could do that.

"I have a son…" I started.

"Don't you think I know that? I met him when-" He tried to cut me but I just continued on.

"…but I'm not married." I looked him straight in the eye trying to hold back my tears. I need for him to know that simple fact. I can't let him think that he's ruining other people's lives and that I'm just using him. He's too precious to me. I can't do that to him and to my son.

"What? You're not?" He asked. His face flashed from shock to confusion.

"No." I answered with a shake of my head.

"Then who was that guy in the park?" he asked clearly still hesitant to accept what I just told him.

"What guy? Oh, the guy with Henry. He's my brother Neal." I cleared that out to him. So that's why he thought I was married. He saw Neal and assumed he's Henry's father. I can't blame him though. Out of the blue he met my son who he did not know existed the whole time we were dating. Then seeing Neal with us, well that made sense to him. He thought I have a secret family and that I'm just using him for fun.

"You're not married? But you have a son? Where is Henry's father?"

"Gone…" I breathed out.

"Tell me?" he asked, hopeful.

This is it. I have to tell him. "Where do I start?"

"The beginning would be fine." He gave me a soft smile for encouragement and held my clammy hands. I exhaled a deep breath before starting.

And so I told him. I told him how at sixteen I lost my first love, Daniel, to a car accident. How I met Leo, Henry's father, to one of my parent's parties. How he became my friend, my confidante when I was so depressed with losing Daniel. How he turned my world from sorrow to happiness with his kindness and affection. Soon we ended up as more than friends. Even though he was eight years my senior, my family accepted him because he was a family friend and his father, the mayor then was a good friend to my father. He had his charm on us. He was a young good-looking and smart college professor so I was quite smitten with him. After a year in our relationship, I fell pregnant with Henry. I was so happy then. I have always dreamt of having my own perfect little family as a young girl so I was truly happy when I got pregnant with Henry. I thought life couldn't get any more perfect. What more could I ask for? I had my perfect boyfriend and a baby on the way. But then I learned that life wasn't always perfect. A few months after learning of my pregnancy, Leo became a little possessive of me. He became snappy and was just jealous with anyone who would talk to me longer than a minute. We would often end up fighting but he never laid a hand on me. The first time he did was a few months after I gave birth to Henry. I know Leo was having an affair with one of his students. He would go home really late and he would always keep his phone to his reach. The one time I confirmed his affair was when he went to the bathroom to shower and he left his phone on the bed. The woman left him a flirty text saying that she'll be ready and waiting on him that same night at her house in one of the sexy lingeries he bought for her. I got furious so when he went out of the bath, I confronted him and showed him the text. He went mad and slapped me so hard I hit my head on the nightstand. That same night, I packed my things and Henry's and went home to my parents. They were shocked to see me but I just told them that Leo and I had a fight and I just want to be away from him. I didn't tell them what he did to me because I thought it was my fault too.

I purposely left out major details of my story. I didn't want to tell David yet. I still get chills when I talk all about it. I know Leo isn't going to hurt me now but it still scares me just thinking about him. I'll tell David soon, I don't want to lay everything on him in one go. He needs to breathe all this in first.

At first he didn't talk. He just looked straight at me. We were just staring at each other and it's making me feel sick. Why is he not saying anything?

After blinking a few times, he moved to sit beside me and wrapped me in his embrace. I move to be closer to him so I was half sitting on his lap.

"I'm so sorry to hear that babe. Thank you for telling me. I swear to you with my life that I would never hurt you or Henry." He kissed my head and lifted my chin up so I was looking into his beautiful eyes.

My heart was racing. He was so sincere. God, this man. I couldn't hold back the tears that threatened to fall anymore so I just let them.

"I never told anyone aside from my family, David. I told you because I don't want to lose you." I whispered to him. Telling him my story almost made me feel so tired so I cuddled closer to him.

"Thank you, for telling me. You're not going to lose me, Regina. I'm sorry for how I acted. I was an asshole for assuming things and not talking to you first. I know you're still holding back something from me but I understand. I don't want to force you to tell me everything because I know you will tell me, just not now. I get it babe and I understand. Regina, I think… I think I'm falling for you." He tucked some of my hair behind my ear and wiped the tears that fell on my cheeks.

I was shocked to say the least. The butterflies in my stomach were fluttering like crazy. I think I'm falling for this perfect man too but I lost my voice so I just launched myself on him. Is he for real? How can he be so… God, I am falling for him and fast.

I kissed him hard. I kissed him to show him how I appreciated what he told me. Oh god, I want him so bad.

"Bed. Now." I ordered in between kisses. He lifted me up with a growl and took us to his bedroom.

A/N: Okay so do I continue it with the next chapter? If yes, then I promise I'll make it hot for you. Sorry for the mistakes. Leave me reviews? Thanks my dears! xx