Chapter 36

Regina leaned back against the pillow. "You're leaving Storybrooke," she said in disbelief. "Why are you leaving so soon?"

"Well, I'm not leaving tomorrow. However I realized I lost you and there's no reason to stay here. I would feel like an idiot if I stayed. I don't think I could handle seeing you in love walking these streets day after day. Besides, I think I've overstayed my welcome."

"No you haven't." She sighed. "This is my fault. I should have been honest with you the minute I woke up. I got scared and I'm sorry. I made you drag Brittany across the country. You deserve someone who is going to make you happy."

"Maybe," he muttered. "I think I need to step away from this love business. I thought you were pretty perfect. I guess the better man won."

"Derrick, you have to know that I will always care about you and Brittany. If you would allow it, I'd like to still check on the both of you from time to time. I mean you helped me more than you know. You showed me how to love again albeit I was a different person. I don't regret us though. It's just I thought I couldn't continue to be with you and still be me."

He grabbed her hand. "I get it. As much as I wish things were different, you made your decision. I can tell."

"Our previous discussions," she said.

He nodded his head. "Yes but the look in your eyes is different. You don't light up the same way when I walk into a room. There is no romantic indication in them...just friendship," he finished sadly.

"Sorry. I do regret hurting you. In another life, we really could have had something. I'm happy though. I just want the same for you. She's out there."

He snorted. "That's what Ruby said."

She arched an eyebrow. "You're spending more time with the wolf."

He gave her a slight reprimanding look.

"She's nice. We didn't exactly get along back home. Anyway, I figured she has helped you in some regard."

"Just listening to me when I vented about you and my failures about saving you," he said.

"You didn't fail me," Regina argued.

Derrick shook his head in disagreement. "Remember what I told you about Elizabeth?"

"Yes, she died of an aneurism," Regina said. Then she said, "you could not have predicted this. I'm sure you did what you could to keep me alive."

"I am a doctor. I promised myself. I didn't want to experience losing another woman I loved to death. I-I was going out of my mind," he said.

She stayed quiet for a while before speaking. "Things are out of our control. I know that better than anyone. I tried to run away from my problems and look how well that turned out. I'm sure Elizabeth wouldn't want you to burden yourself and neither do I. We can't save everybody but the ones we do save, well, their living is enough of a reward."

"Wise words," he said chuckling. She chuckled along with him. "You are an incredible woman Ms. Mills. David is lucky to have you."

"Thank you Mr. Matthews," she responded.

He got up to kiss her forehead. "I won't leave without saying goodbye."

"Ok. Give Brittany my love," she said. He squeezed her hand before walking out.

Derrick entered Granny's with Brittany and ordered dinner. "Hey Derrick," Ruby said.

"Hey, we're getting the usual," he responded. She came back with their meals about 15 minutes later. They ate and then Brittany went to the back of the kitchen to see Granny.

"I think Brittany is going to replace me as the granddaughter," Ruby joked.

He laughed softly. "I doubt that."

"How's Regina?" she asked.

"Good. She wasn't too pleased to know I'll be leaving Storybrooke soon," he said. "It's time to go."

"You're leaving," she said trying to hide her disappointment. "Can't you stay?"

"I offered to stay. I offered to bring Henry with us to California but she didn't want that. I had to accept it and let her go. It hurts but I've survived worse. I'm glad she's okay. There's nothing here for me."

Ruby looked down pretending to read over something. "What about Brittany?"

"Brittany was mad but I told her we would only go when Regina woke up. Now that she has, I need to go. We'll only be reminders to each other of a life not fulfilled. It's time to make a clean break."

Ruby just nodded her head. "Are you sure you want to leave?"

"It's best that I do. It's going to be just me and Brittany again," he stated. "We need to get back to the hotel. See you around." He yelled for Brittany and she came running out. He picked her up and she said goodbye to Ruby.

"Goodbye Brittany," she said sadly. Ruby was startled by Granny's voice.

"You're falling for him."

"I'm not," she argued.

Granny rolled her eyes. "I know that look. You haven't had it since Peter. If it's meant to be it will happen but give it time."

"Time? He's leaving town," she replied.

"Give it time," Granny said.