A/N: I can't thank you all enough for your amazing support on this story. This chapter was beyond fun to write. As all of them have been. I hope you all keep enjoying and are surprised by a specific scene lol warning: This story is about to get much more interesting. SQ is still and always will be endgame though. No matter what. Remember that. :) Happy reading!

WEEKS LATER…

Regina arrived to what was her home, as was her daily routine now. Her phone chimed alerting her of a new email message. As she placed her purse down, hanging it on the coat rack by the door, she checked her email.

Robin came into the living room area, noticing the small smile on the woman's face.

Regina's eyes looked up at Robin as he stood in question. She rolled her eyes, "It's Whale. He's in Boston and wants us to meet for lunch." She held up her phone, "Do you want some proof?"

Robin walked his way towards the kitchen, quickly changing conversation, "I bought us dinner."

"I'm not really hungry. I haven't been feeling well all day. If I pushed myself to go to work today, it was to simply distract myself." Her tone was cold, as it usually was with Robin now a days.

Robin sighed, staring at her as she moved towards the fridge, helping herself to a bottled water, "Have you thought that maybe you haven't been feeling well because you haven't been eating well lately?"

Regina sighed, annoyed with his presence as he stood beside her now. She turned her back to him as she walked to the other side of the kitchen, "I've been eating fine, Robin."

"I doubt that." Replied Robin, "Every time I bring dinner home or want to take you out to eat, you never are up for it. And when we go, you are as cold as can be. I mean, damn it, Regina. We are together now, when are you going to get used to that?"

Regina turned to face him this time, with a deadly glare that was teary, "We are together because you have someone watching me all the time, not to mention-"

"Don't. Say her name." Robin snarled.

"Or what?" Regina walked up to Robin, closing the distance between them, almost challenging, "You're going to hit me too? Go ahead. That's the last thing you need to do to be a real coward."

Robin looked down at the brunette before him, his jaw tightening, "I have enough with having to hear her name in your damn sleep."

"Well, no one said this was going to be an easy relationship, Robin." She scoffed, "If that's what we can call this, because you are the one who makes all the decisions around here and what goes on in my life now."

"I try with you, to make you see that my feelings for you are just as real. You are the one who makes things difficult, not putting any effort into this situation." Robin spat, "Even when we sleep together, you-"

"No, Robin." Regina interrupted, her stare just as cold, "You and I don't sleep together. We never have. You fuck me against my will every night, so let's call it like it is. I am here sacrificing myself day in and day out, standing to be by your side to save the woman I love. That should be enough effort for you, don't you think?"

Robin followed the brunette's movements as she headed into their bedroom, his hands on his hips, "Regina, get back here." He grew furious as she continued on her way, "Regina!" He moved so quickly towards their bedroom door, wanting to open it, but was surprised to find it locked. "Regina!" He pounded on the door.

Regina rested her body against the door, allowing it to slide down until it reached the floor, tears making their way down her cheeks until she hid her face in her hands to sob. As it also had become her routine every time her and Robin would get into an argument.

Which also had become their daily routine.

Robin could hear the brunette sobbing on the other side of their door. Which made him grow even angrier. He pounded on the door one last time before retrieving his keys from the top of the counter and slamming the front door closed on his way out.

MONTH'S LATER…

Emma looked down at the dent on her beloved car. Remembering that day as if it had happened yesterday. She hopped into her car as she drove out of Storybrooke, making her way into the familiar woods. Her memory replaying the night she brought Regina to this very place. Those damn memories that would never leave her head.

She stood before the worn out cabin, looking straight at it.

"Happy birthday, Regina." She muttered to herself, as today would have been a special day for both of them, had they still been together.

Regina came home as night took over the sky, her brows furrowed at the mere sight of the apartment being filled with roses. "Robin?" She called out as she hung her purse in its usual spot.

Robin came into the living room area with a bouquet of roses in his hand. A pearly white smile on his lips. "Happy birthday, sweetheart."

The brunette was in awe. She really wasn't expecting this, nor did she want it from him if she was being honest with herself. Robin had his moments where he would try to do things like this to make her see that he loved her. And Regina knew that. But the way Robin loved her, wasn't the type of love she wanted.

"Thank you." Regina took the roses from him, just to not be rude. She headed into the kitchen to place the bouquet of roses in a vase after Robin gave her a quick peck on her lips.

Robin followed the brunette nurse into the kitchen, "I hope you won't turn down my invitation to dinner tonight. It's for your birthday after all."

Regina sighed, "Do we have to? I'm exhausted from work. I haven't been-" Her head turned towards the door as there was a knock. "Are you expecting someone?"

Robin smiled, "It's part of my surprise for you. Wait here." He quickly made his way to the front door.

In that moment. Regina couldn't help but to think about Emma. If she could make one wish today, it would be to be back in Germany with her, walking hand in hand along that flowered covered bridge as the full moon shined upon them. Dancing and kissing while they held each other in their loving embraces. Getting lost in each other's adoring gazes.

"Robin, dear! How are you?"

Regina groaned, her eyes closing at the familiar voice that echoed throughout the apartment.

"Oh, leave those, dear. That's what Belle is for."

"Very good, thank you." Robin walked into the house with Cora by his side, as Belle followed them close behind with the woman's suitcases in hand.

A smile spread across Cora's lips as she caught first glance at her daughter who stood inside the kitchen, "Regina, dear! It's always so good to see you."

Regina drew in a breath, releasing it slowly as she put on her best smile while facing her mother, "Hi, mother." She hugged her, "It's good to see you."

"Well, you could always look more surprised. After all, Robin did pay to fly me here to be with you, dear." Said Cora.

Regina smiled once again, her eyes moving towards Robin as he stood near them with a smile of his own.

"Are you surprised?" He asked, "I thought, with me working a lot lately, it would be nice for you to have your mother around. Also, how about dinner? I am starving and I know you must be too, Cora."

"I am absolutely famished! Dinner sounds lovely." The older woman grinned, her eyes looking over to her daughter, "Doesn't it, dear?"

Regina nodded, smiling her best smile, while feeling very much like a robot that was programmed to do and say the things that would make others happy but herself.

"It's settled then! We are going out to dinner." Robin smiled, feeling rather joyful that Regina finally agreed to something. Even if it was because her mother was here.

"Robin, I would like to ask, if Kathryn could also join us." She glared at the man, "I know you don't like her, and believe me, the feeling is mutual, but she is my best friend."

Eventually, Robin agreed to invite Kathryn along as they all went out for a birthday dinner that was supposed to be a happy one. A special one. Maybe to Robin and Cora it was, since they were the only ones smiling. But, to Regina. It was far from a good birthday.

Actually, for almost the entire night, Regina was in a daze. Before her was a couple who danced the entire night. She focused on how happy they looked, how they loved each other.

She couldn't help but think of Emma. Wonder what she was doing. That should be her with Emma, like that happy, loving couple on the dance floor. She missed those dances with her. Her mind working on overdrive as memories of her dances with Emma flashed before her. At least that was something Robin could never take from her. Her memories and love for her soldier.

"Regina, dear." The brunette blinked at the sound of her mother's voice as it called out to her, her hand resting on her arm as she woke her from her thoughts. "Robin is asking you a question."

Regina's eyes looked over to Robin as he chuckled.

"I asked, if you'd like to dance."

Regina blinked, not hesitating her answer, "Dance? No." She cleared her throat, composing herself, until she began to feel a little under the weather, "No, I… I'm sorry. I'm not feeling really well. Please, excuse me."

"Regina?" Kathryn asked as the brunette got up from the table and rushed to the bathroom. She looked at Cora, not even acknowledging Robin, "I'll just… go with her." She stood up as she rushed after her friend. Leaving Robin and Cora all alone.

"Robin, dear." Cora's hand rested on the man's forearm, gathering all his attention, "Now that we're alone, I have to say. I was so happy to hear that you and Regina have finally mended your differences." She continued as Robin smiled, "I told you she would come around. It was simply a matter of time. Tell me, what did you do to convince her?"

Robin chuckled, taking a sip from his champagne, "Oh, a gentleman never reveals his secrets."

Cora chuckled as she remained in the dark of what truly was going on behind closed doors with her daughter and this so called gentleman.

Kathryn rubbed the brunette's back gently, as she was hunched over the toilet, inside the stall. Her throw up seeming endless. "Alright, I think you've maybe had enough to drink for tonight, sweetie."

Regina groaned as she stood up right, leaning against the bathroom, "Ugh, I haven't even drank a single drop of alcohol. Must of been the food." She chuckled, "I'm not exactly in great company."

Kathryn scoffed, "You and I both, honey. God only knows I've been sitting on my hands all night to not punch that asshole in the face." The blonde's jaw clenched with anger, "Every time he smiles, I just want to punch his teeth in!"

At least Kathryn's reaction made the brunette laugh a little as she leaned her head back against the stall. Closing her eyes as she drew in a breath, feeling the sickness come back.

"Maybe you should tell your mother what's been going on with him. I'm sure if she knew, she-"

"No, Kathryn." Regina shook her head, her eyes still closed.

"Well, then what if I go and talk to Emma-"

"Don't you dare!" Regina snapped, "Ever. Robin has been watching her every move, he's shown me pictures. Pictures that I can't even keep." She chuckled, "This is a nightmare. It's worse than living in a nightmare. I'm not supposed to be here with them, I'm supposed to be here with Emma!"

"I know." Kathryn rested her hand on her shoulder, hating that her best friend had to go through this and she couldn't do a single thing to stop it, "I know. But, Regina, I'm sure Robin is all talk-"

"He's not." Regina shook her head, leaning it back on the stall once again. She drew in a breath, letting it go slowly, "Besides, knowing Emma, she probably thinks you were in on all of it too. She wouldn't want to see you. You'd just be wasting your time. It's better this way."

"Better for who?" Asked Kathryn, her hand on her hip, "Because you aren't benefiting anything from this. Except to be miserable."

"If my misery means for Emma to live… even if its not with me, it's worth it." The brunette's tone was filled with sadness, it even made Kathryn's heart ache.

Kathryn shook her head, "Maybe this is just a bump on the road. You know? In all the series I've seen, my favorite ships are always happy, until something separates them. But, eventually, life brings them together again. So there's hope!"

Regina chuckled, her eyes opening as she locked them with her best friend's blue ones, "This isn't one of your series, Kathryn. This is real life." She paused, "There is no coming back from this."

"Yee of little faith." Were Kathryn's only words as Regina bent over the toilet bowl once again to throw up. Her hand brushing back a strand of hair, as Kathryn came to a conclusion. "Regina..?"

"What?" Regina groaned as she stood up again, her eyes closing again.

"When was your last period?"

Regina's eyes remained closed, her brows furrowing as she counted the days in her head, "Mm, I'm not sure. I've been keeping myself so busy at work, I lost track."

Kathryn's eyes remained focused on her best friend, until Regina's eyes slowly opened to meet with hers.

"Oh, don't even, Kathryn." Regina made her way out of the stall, heading towards the sink as she washed her face to gain her composure.

"With Robin raping you all the time-!"

"Shhh!" The brunette's eyes widened at Kathryn's outburst.

"Regina it's a major possibility."

"No!" This time Regina shouted, looking around as her voice echoed in the bathroom, which caused an old lady who was making her way in to get startled. She grabbed a hold of Kathryn's arm as she whispered, "Kathryn, you know I can't get pregnant."

"Says who?" Asked the blonde.

Regina scoffed, "Did you forget that Daniel and I tried during our marriage and never once was I able to conceive?"

This time Kathryn glared at her best friend, "Regina. You are one of the finest nurses I know and have had the pleasure of working with." She paused, "With everything you have come to know about medicine, do you honestly believe that you were the one with the problem?" This time, Kathryn's words clicked as Regina's lips parted open. "Think about it. What if the one with the problem all those years was Daniel and not you? If Robin hasn't been using protection, it's a major possibility that you could be pregnant."

Regina's eyes grew wide. Pregnant? No. She couldn't be. It wasn't possible. Daniel was never the one with the problem, she was. She was sure of it. This situation couldn't possibly get much worse and tie her more to Robin's side.

Emma found herself at Marco's that night. A beer by her side as she worked herself to death on making pieces of furniture for him. Beads of sweat already coating her forehead and temples as she didn't allow herself to catch a single break that night.

She would stop, if only to take a much needed drink from her beer. Which she had had plenty of already.

Marco came out in his bathrobe as he heard the blonde hammering away at a new rocking chair she had made. As he walked up to her, she was already carving away at the wood, in fine detail. "Emma?" He called out to her, which made her stop, "It's late. You should go on home."

Even the blonde's breathing was tiring as she moved back to carving out on the chair, "I'm not done yet. I have to get this done."

As a soldier himself, Marco moved slowly towards the blonde who continued to carve out the details on the chair, observing her with calmness. "Emma." He reached slowly for her shoulder, "I think it's time for you to stop. You're exhausted," his eyes moved towards the empty beer bottle, "And obviously intoxicated. I think you need a break. Call it a night."

"I have to get this done." Emma's balance was no good, just as her speech was beginning to slur a bit.

"Why? What on earth are you doing that's so important?" Asked Marco.

"It's her birthday."

It was then, Marco understood. He nodded, "It's for Regina?"

Emma nodded.

Marco placed his hand on her shoulder again, holding out his hand, "Hand me the knife. Let's call it a night, we will finish this tomorrow."

"No," Emma shook her head, pulling the carving knife away, "I have to finish it tonight. I have to take it to her. She needs to see it."

"She will." He assured her, "She will see it. I will take it to her, alright?"

Emma blinked, "You?"

"Yes." The older man nodded, leaving his hand outstretched in hopes she would give up the knife, "I will make sure she gets it. You know her better than I do, right? I'm sure she won't mind if her gift is given to her a day late. So, come on. Let's get you inside, get some rest."

Emma nodded, handing him the knife as she headed inside the house with him. Marco sighed with relief as he was able to convince her. No way was he allowing her to drive on home like this, even if this was a small town and everything was blocks away.

"Do you think she'll love her gift?" She asked Marco.

To which he nodded, wrapping his arm around her form as he helped her up his steps, playing along, "She will love it. She'd be crazy not to."

Once they entered the house, Marco sat her down on his couch, "Alright, stay here. Don't move." He moved towards his kitchen, looking inside a cabinet for two advil's as he filled up a glass of water. He came back towards the blonde, quickly setting the glass of water down as she was getting up from the couch, "What are you doing? Sit down."

Emma's body plopped on the couch as she only tried standing once again, "I have to get home. Ingrid will be worried if I don't go-"

"I will call her and let her know you are staying the night." He made her remain on the couch, holding her down, "I'll call her." He assured her, handing her the pills and the glass of water, "Here. Take these. Drink it all. Don't move. I'm going to make that call."

Emma did as she was told as she slowly placed the two pills in her mouth, followed by the water, placing the glass to her lips as she drank it. Spilling some, as it ran down the corners of her mouth. Due to her body being highly intoxicated.

"Don't you worry about anything. I will watch her." Marco nodded as he held the phone near his ear, "Good night." As he moved towards the blonde, he was surprised to see her already passed out on the couch. The glass empty as it rested on the center table. He made his way into a closet, reaching for a blanket, placing it over the blonde as his hand caressed her hair before he left for his bedroom.