It was usually a time for celebrating, for remembering the past 3 months with nothing but smiles, laughter and a sneaky bottle or two of cheep beer that Neal had managed to smuggle in past the camp councilors. They'd worked hard for those memories and for the chance to spend one last night as a unit until summer rolled around again. The children had long since gone, earlier that morning cars had been loaded and goodbyes had been given so now it was just them, just one final night of fun before school or college or jobs began again and reality came crashing down.
It was a tradition of theirs, those who'd been around regularly, to spend the afternoon by the lake, splashing, playing childish games and just letting go in a way they hadn't been able to with children around. Afterwards they'd trek through the forest, gathering wood by the plentiful and making their way over to the cabin in which they'd be spending the final night. It had been a beautiful day, one of the best she'd had in all her years of volunteering at the camp yet it was tinged with such a sadness.
"He really did like you, you know?"
She jumped a little when her silence, her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of the blonde currently dropping herself down beside her, shoes already discarded and toes dipping into the lake despite the coolness of the air. She had no answer for once, no sassy remark, no witty banter, nothing but images of him sitting in the airport, ready to board a flight back home to fall back into a life in which she had no part. Her throat tightened a little at the thought but she wouldn't allow herself to cry, couldn't even begin to allow herself to regret opening herself up to him because she had known it would come to an end, had known that there was no guarantee that either of them would return the following year…it still stung like an absolute bitch though.
"Anyway," Emma sighed after a moment of allowing the brunette to her thoughts, "enough moping around over dimpled English idiots," and Regina couldn't help but laugh a little at the wording, appreciative of her friend's help, even as she was practically dragged up onto her feet, "it's time to do us some drinking."
And though she was in no real mood for light hearted laughter or happy conversation in that very moment, she couldn't help but believe that a drink would most certainly help.
"Emma?" she questioned, a little wary that the blonde who had been at her side almost a second ago, wittering on about some trip Neal wanted to take her on next time they had a break in school, had completely disappeared into the darkness of the trees through which they walked, trees Regina wasn't quite so confident in navigating. She couldn't even hear the sounds of the others, nothing but complete silence. "I swear to God, if you think this little game is funn-"
But she was cut off when a glow came from ahead, a break in the thick trees giving sight to, what she believed was, the impromptu camp for the night. She sighed heavily as she continued onward, hoping above all hope that they'd at least had the foresight to get the fire lit before drinking, last year had seen David very close to burning his valuables, not something she was sure he wanted to repeat.
If there was anything that was going to cheer her up tonight, to ensure that she was to enjoy her final night until her, cross fingers, return next year were the friends waiting for her on the other side of those trees, her little ragtag bunch of idiots whom she valued with all of her heart.
She'd never known such selfless compassion and care than in Emma, Neal, Mary-Margaret, David and, of course, Robin. People who just genuinely wanted the best for each other even if that just meant offering a helping hand or a few kind words after a hard day, people who truly were as good as they seemed.
She swallowed thickly when the sound of music reached her ears, soft melodies that alluded to romance, to a closeness with someone she never managed to get, not even after that day at the lake, possibly the scariest day of her life. She'd almost cried with relief when he'd coughed, spluttered out mouthfuls of water and inhaling deep, ragged breaths. He was alive, he was breathing, he was going to be okay.
The shock from all that had happened had kept them from talking of it, the boys apologising profusely, the girls fussing before making their way over to her, singing her praises and ensuring that she too was alright. She was, of course she was but seeing him on the ground like that, so still, it had made her realise the feelings she'd been burying deep within her and to be frank, it unnerved her.
Afterwards, she'd done all that was in her power to spend as little time with him as possible, not even allowing him the chance to give her the proper thank you he had wanted, nor the goodbye for she wasn't sure she was strong enough to keep her feelings to herself should she be alone with him. It was for the best though, it wouldn't have worked out, not in the long run.
He had made it hard though, he'd sought her out, worn her down until she'd had to at least tolerate his presence and in all honesty, the times he spent with them all were most definitely her most memorable.
She swallowed thickly as she finally neared the presumed campsite, swallowing down the urge to cry when she caught sight of the fairy lights strung up around the trees marking the edges of the clearing, a warm fire burning thankfully in the middle, two long logs with thick blankets folded over, ready and awaiting cold bodies to fill them. It all seemed so romantic, so intimate that it had her heart thudding within her chest, the need to run hitting her as soon as she stepped into the clearing. Before she could run though, before she could flee back towards the lake or the main sight to the cabins they'd slept in for the duration of the summer, she backed into something completely solid, or someone for that matter.
"Miss me beautiful?"
And in one moment, all breath was completely taken from her as she whispered so hopefully "Robin?"
