Hi guys! Wow, the next chapter is already finished! I can't sleep, so I figured why not power through and try to finish this one shot? I am so excited to hear what you think about this one! Warning: you might need to grab some tissues for this one. I hope every is having a good week, and everyone's home safe and healthy! Thank you for all the kind reviews on last chapter, they all made my day! :)
Here is Chapter 11! Enjoy!
Chapter 11
June. The hot sun, the slight breeze, the ready waves crashing on the shore. The disappearance of textbooks and mathematical equations and experiment beakers. More time with her friends, more time with Robin. She should be happy. She should be dancing in the middle of her room, music blasting out of the speakers, screaming at the top of her lungs to her favorite song.
But she wasn't.
Because in two days, Robin would be graduating. In two days, Robin would be two days closer to leaving her and Storybrooke behind. In two days, she would have to come to grips with the fact that Robin would be leaving for college the first week of August.
She should have seen it coming. She knew that, but in her mind, it was perfect. Robin would come home every other weekend, he would spend Saturday with his family, Sunday with her, and they would make it work. They would call every morning and every night, FaceTime when they could, and tell stories so hilarious they wouldn't be able to catch their breaths.
But as the days dawned on Regina like a freight train, the brunette slowly realized that just like everything else in the world, the movies misled her.
Because it wouldn't be that easy. Nothing is. They would both be busy, Regina with her senior year and Robin his freshman of college, and eventually, time to even say a quick hello would be rare. Robin promised he would make time for her, promised to always come back home to her, promised to show her around campus when she visited. But Regina had seen the movies, and she knew that even if two people love each other to death, that's exactly it. Their love is going to die.
Long distance relationships work sometimes, she would admit to that. It took so much hard work, but Regina couldn't help but feel like she couldn't handle it. She would break down without Robin, she would cry and no one would know what to do to comfort her. And nothing would work, because the only person she needs would be over 2,000 miles away.
She should be happy for him. She was happy for him. This was everything he'd ever worked for. A scholarship to Belmont University, a full ride. He was living his dreams, accomplishing great things… and even though she never liked to make things about her, she was just…there.
Regina slid on her black cropped t-shirt and a pair of denim jean shorts, walking out of her room, wondering when the hell the world decided for her to grow up.
…
He wasn't stupid. He saw the way her smile didn't quite reach her eyes, or the way she bit her cheek when she went too deep into thought. He noticed how she became less and less the Regina he knew and loved.
If he were being honest, he never planned on going to college. Sure, next year, after he took a gap year to figure out where his life was heading, he would go to some campus, of course. It was expected of him. It was what was the responsible thing to do.
But Mrs. Potts, the choir teacher, had sent in a video of him singing his solo back during the winter concert, along with clips of other pieces he had been working on (originals, covers, even his studies of different composers), and Belmont ate it up.
He should be happy. This was everything he's ever wanted. This was why he got up in the morning. This was why he did what he did every day. This was how he and Regina connected in the first place. Music.
He had a shot, a real one. Belmont was known for producing some of the world's finest stars, including Trisha Yearwood, Brad Paisley, and Lee Ann Womack. This was where he would become a star.
But did being a star mean anything when the one you love is miles away, not able to share the success or happiness? Robin knew it was only a year difference, Regina would be at Belmont next year, and they would be as strong as ever, but there was this voice in his head that told him, yes, it did change everything.
He wouldn't be in Storybrooke anymore, and he wouldn't get to hop in his truck and drive to Regina whenever he needed to see her beautiful face. And it would be her senior year… what if she didn't want to deal with the chaos of a long distance relationship? What if she found someone else in her own grade who wasn't 2,000 miles away?
He would be graduating in two days. He had a plan. He had his whole life figured out, everything looking up.
But that didn't work for him.
…..
Damn, he did look good in a cap and gown.
Regina leaned against the doorway of their choir room as she smiled, watching as he watched himself in the mirror, trying to readjust the gown so it would look perfect.
"It's all in the wrist," Regina smirked as she walked over to him, and Robin turned around with a smile when he heard her voice.
Regina stood in front of him as she helped him with his gown, and then tipped his hat down to cover his eyes, a giggle escaping her. Robin grinned as he fixed his cap, taking in her beauty.
She wore a white off-the-shoulder dress, a lace chiffon top with the bottom stopping just above her knees. Her hair was clipped back to the side as little ringlets rested gently without chaos.
"You look… stunning," Robin breathed, and Regina smiled as she put a hand on his chest, careful not to mess up the work she just fixed.
"Thank you. And you look very handsome, kind sir," Regina grinned, and Robin chuckled as he shook his head. He let out a nervous breath and looked her in the eyes, biting the inside of his cheek.
"I'm graduating today," Robin let it off his chest, as if he hadn't believed it the first hundred times it was shoved down his throat. Regina gave a small smile as she played with the hair on the nape of his neck, looking at him sympathetically.
"Yeah, you are," Regina nodded her head, and Robin sighed. He wrapped his arms around her tightly, burying his face into her hair, and she cradled the back of his head, careful not to mess up his hair for the ceremony happening later on.
"Hey, it's okay," Regina whispered when he placed a gentle kiss on her neck, his body slightly shaking, "it's okay, Robin… we're going to be okay."
Robin stayed in her proximity for as long as he could before he straightened back up, holding her hands in his.
"Everything is happening so fast… next month is our two years together, Love. It feels like it was only yesterday I finally got you to agree to go out with me, and now we're all grown up," Robin sighed, and it killed Regina to see the pain and anxiousness in his eyes.
"We don't have to grow up unless we want to, Robin. We'll always get older, but we never have to grow up… just think about all the more amazing memories we're going to make over the next few years. Just… here," Regina cupped his face in her hands, rubbing her thumbs across his jaw. Robin took a deep breath when her touch graced him, already feeling better.
"I know it feels like everything is moving a mile a minute, and it's scary because no matter how hard you want to, you can't control it. But what you can control is your hand in mine, or our late night talks, or even just the thought of us… It's you and me, Robin. There's no one else. Everything around us is moving fast, so let it. Because me and you will be here, together, in this room, for as long as we want… don't worry about what you can't control," Regina breathed, letting a short moment pass by before pressing a gentle, loving kiss to his lips.
Regina pulled back and rested her forehead on his, both their eyes closed, wrapped up in the moment of them.
"We're gonna be okay?" Robin's words came out more of a question than a statement, and Regina nodded her head, helping to soothe his worries away.
"We're gonna be okay," Regina repeated softly, confidently, and Robin nodded his head.
"I love you," Robin breathed, and Regina smiled as against him as she bumped their noses together.
"I love you too."
…
"Ladies and gentleman, I am proud to present Storybrooke High's valedictorian, class of 2016, Robin Locksley," Principal Matthew Stuggs announced proudly as the audience of parents, siblings, and loved ones clapped away.
Regina watched as Robin swiftly made his way to the podium, and he looked to her with a nervous glance, hiding his anxious ways well. Regina smiled as she nodded her head, and Robin smiled back.
"Hi. I'm Robin Locksley, as I'm sure you've all figured out," Robin started with a witty smile, and the audience chuckled softly. Robin took a deep breath and looked down at the note cards sitting on top of the podium, looking back up to see the crowd.
He could do this.
"I know what you're all thinking. What the hell is with the accent? Yeah, you're not the first," Robin cracked a smile, and Regina rolled her eyes with a grin.
"I've only been living in the states for two years now, but it's safe to say that they have been the best years of my life. I made great friends, managed to set a new record for our football team, the Huskies, with 1,221 receiving yards in one season, and I even got lucky in the romance department," Regina felt all eyes go to her, and she should've seen that coming, they lived in a small town.
Everyone knew it was him and her.
Regina blushed and Robin winked at her.
"I have learned so much living in Storybrooke. For example, if you want to go to the grocery store, you have to go between seven and nine because there's no one there. Or if you try to keep a secret, no matter how hard you try, it won't last long… Or that sometimes, less really is more."
"I have to thank so many teachers who have helped me adjust and get me on my feet since I arrived, but there's one teacher in particular who taught me the most valuable lesson I'll ever learn… Mrs. Black," Regina furrowed her eyebrows as she looked to the teacher Robin referred to, wondering where her boyfriend was going with this.
Robin hated her, and she hated him. She had a nickname, the Black Fairy, and it did more than bring her justice. She was cruel, rude, judgemental, and if she didn't agree with you, she would make it known to everyone.
"On the first day of junior year, I walked into your classroom, hopeful that this new town, new people, new everything, would be a fresh start. Sure, I was naive and innocent, but you, Mrs. Black, are the person who drove me to be better… You asked the class about their plans for the future, and when I said I was going to be a singer/songwriter, move to Nashville to follow my dreams, you laughed in my face," Regina eyes went wide as she watched Mrs. Black's face went red with embarrassment, and she couldn't hide her smile when she saw Robin's happiness.
"You told me that I needed to grow up and find a job that a nobody like me could actually have a chance at. You tried to crush my dreams, and I won't lie, you almost did. But after meeting the right people, who I will thank for the rest of my life, I realized that I would prove you wrong. And now, two years later, I'm standing up here, proud to announce I will be attending Belmont University in the fall, with one of the best music programs in the country," Robin nodded his head at the infamous teacher, and the audience applauded him.
Regina smiled, knowing all along Robin was capable of anything he put his mind to.
"Mrs. Black, you taught me that the real world isn't this small town. The real world is full of people who will tell you no, tell you you're not good enough, tell you to give up because it's hard. You taught me to stand up for yourself. You probably didn't know you were molding me into the person I am today, and with all due respect, I think you wanted to be right. But you're not, and I hope you tell the next big star they are a nobody, too, because people like me? That's all we need to start the fire."
Regina beamed as Robin looked at her with a satisfactory grin, and she sent him a tiny thumbs up down by her side.
"I have to mention Mrs. Potts, the choir teacher, because without her, I'm not quite sure where I'd be right now. She took me in when no one else would, and she saw hope in me when only a few others did. Because of her, I'm going to my dream school. Because of her, I have a shot at becoming a famous musician. You're like my grandmother here in Storybrooke, and I'm going to miss you," Robin nodded his head at Mrs. Potts, who sat on stage in the back, and she blew him a kiss, smiling away at the boy she watched grow into a young man.
"I won't take up any more precious time up here, but before I bid farewell, I want to talk to the underclassmen. It's scary up here, I know. And a lot of you don't even know what you want to do with your life. But if you have a dream, and if you believe in yourself even the slightest bit, there will be one diamond in the rough. No matter who tells you no, never give up. You only live one life, and if high school has taught me anything, it's better to fail than to not try at all. Thank you."
Robin walked off the stage back to his seat on stage, and the audience full of parents, family members, and friends applauded him. Once Robin was back in his seat, he let himself breathe, and when he looked to the section of his family and friends, he smiled. His mother blew him a kiss, his father nodded his head proudly, and Emma clapped the loudest. Regina smiled with a twinkle in her eyes, and Robin chuckled to himself quietly, not believing he just did that.
…..
Music was blasting from the Locksley's home. Robin and Regina's parents decided to throw Robin a graduation party together, and it was safe to say their house on Main Street was filled. Will saved up enough money to fly back out for the weekend, and Robin's grandparents arrived safely as well.
In his room, Regina sat on Robin's bed in her forest green form-fitting t shirt, her white jean shorts ripped. Robin put gel in his hair in front of his desk mirror as he stood in his cargo shorts and navy blue polo shirt.
"It smells like forest in here," Regina sighed as the scent filled her lungs, and Robin chuckled as he turned to her, looking at her with a smirk.
"You never complain when I push you up against the-"
"Oh, good, you two are in here. Your grandparents are almost here, Robbie," Helen smiled as she walked into the room, and Robin nodded at her as she left just as fast.
Regina's cheeks were red as she avoided any eye contact with his mother, and Robin laughed at her.
"You're too cute," Robin smirked, and Regina threw a pillow at him, biting back a grin.
"Shut up," Regina shook her head and smiled as Robin sat down next to her on the bed.
"Should I not be nervous to meet your grandparents? I mean, I never really had to go through with that with your parents because, well, I knew them before I knew you. But your grandparents aren't your parents, and they might not like me," Regina sighed, and Robin smiled lovingly at her, loving how adorable she looked when she was ancy.
"Take a deep breath, Love. You have nothing to worry about. My grandparents are the sweetest people on Earth, they're going to love you," Robin grabbed her hand on the comforter, and Regina sighed as she nodded her head, knowing he was right.
"Plus, it's my mom's parents. It's not like you're meeting my dad's," Robin teased, and Regina hit his chest. Robin chuckled as he shook his head, giving her a quick kiss on the cheek.
"Come on, the party's about to start," Robin stood from his bed and held out his hands for her, and she took it, the both of them making their way to the living room where everything would start.
…
Robin startled when he felt a hand clap his back shoulder, and with Will's laugh, he rolled his eyes, finishing pouring his lemonade into the red plastic cup.
"Congratulations, Mate. I always knew you could do it," Will congratulated him in the kitchen, where the loud music from the living room was only an underwater noise.
"Thanks, Will. I knew you would survive too," Robin laughed and Will shook his head, going to the fridge for a beer.
"Dude, really?" Robin pointed to the alcoholic beverage with a judgemental look, and Will smirked as he twisted off the cap and took his first swig.
"Drinking age back home is eighteen, Rob. I'm sticking to what I know," Will tapped the bottle of beer on his head, and Robin rolled his eyes with a grin as he took a sip of his lemonade, preferring it.
"I heard you went full savage in your speech. Called out a teacher for doubting you and everything. I give you props, I'm not sure I could ever do that… I bet that bird of yours found it hot," Will smirked, and Robin chuckled as his best friend took a seat next to him at the table.
"You getting lucky tonight?" Will asked almost seriously, and Robin shoved him.
"Get your head out of your arse," Robin stated, threatening to dump his drink all over Will. Will laughed and put his hands up in defense.
"I'm serious, though. I mean, you and Regina have been together for almost two years now. What's the shame in doing it with the person you love?" Will asked seriously, and Robin tilted his head, giving him credit for that one.
"There's no shame, but we're not ready for that yet," Robin shrugged his shoulders, and Will nodded his head, thinking.
"Is she making you wait? Don't you miss it?" Will asked, and Robin smiled as he set his drink down.
"There's nothing to miss," Robin admitted, and Will's eyes went wide.
"You're bloody kidding me. You're still a virgin?" Will asked incredulously, and Robin chuckled as he stood to dump his drink by the sink.
"Yes, and so is Regina. We're going to be each other's firsts… and she has standards, just so you know. She wants to be eighteen, at the youngest, wants to be out of high school, and needs to make sure it's with the right person. She's got the right person part down, but everything else will take some time."
"God damnit, you're such a gentleman. Don't tell my parents about this or else you'll make me look bad," Will laughed, and Robin smirked.
"Trust me, I have no interest in talking to your parents about my sex life. Or anyone's parents, for that matter," Robin came back and sat down next to Will, taking a deep breath. Will smiled.
"You and Regina have that whole soulmate thing going on, and I'm just here, waiting for someone to care about me like she does you. You know how hard it is to find what you and Regina have? It's rare. I'm very jealous," Will smirked, and Robin grinned as he let go a breath he didn't know he was holding.
"You'll find someone, don't worry… and if you don't, you'll always have me."
"I'm gonna need a bed on the tour bus," Will laughed, and Robin shook his head as he patted Will on the back.
…
Meeting the grandparents had gone well, extremely well. Helen's parents loved Regina as much as Helen and Robert did, and they made her feel welcome. Regina sighed as she thought back to that moment, so happy and so care-free.
Regina's birthday had passed, along with the majority of summer, and finally, it was the day she had circled on her calendar for months. August 5th. Friday. The day Robin was leaving.
Surprisingly for a summer day, it was chilly, and a storm was coming. Regina looked outside to the early morning sky and frowned, the scene not helping her mood. Of course it was going to pour. How else should she have expected their goodbye to go?
Regina dragged herself out of bed and threw on a pair of shorts, along with one of Robin's hoodies. Her hair was a mess, so she decided to brush it instead of her normal messy ponytail.
She had to look at least presentable for the day ahead.
Regina slowly inched downstairs to her kitchen where she made a mug of coffee. She didn't drink coffee, and it's bitter taste stung her throat as it made its way to her stomach.
She didn't drink coffee.
She didn't wake up early.
She didn't expect his leaving to hit her that hard.
….
If there was one thing you knew about Robin Locksley, he was a procrastinator. There he was, at seven in the morning, forcing himself to stay awake long enough to fold all his needed clothes into the suitcase by his desk.
He knew he shouldn't have waited until the last minute, but he did best under pressure, and if anything was a challenge, it was packing for college the day you were supposed to leave. Robin groaned as he folded a t-shirt, looking outside, counting on the sun to wake him up. But to his dismay, the sky was dark, cloudy, and depressing.
He just wanted to go back to sleep. Not even the birds were chirping their cheerful song. Robin's focus went back to folding clothes, but it wasn't too long before his mind went to Regina. He always came back to Regina.
He could deal with his parents. He could deal with her parents. Hell, he could even deal with Emma. But he couldn't handle the goodbye he would soon face with Regina.
He shouldn't call it a goodbye. Because it wasn't. It was more of a… dreaded vacation. A delay, so-to-speak. They would still talk. They would call every day, and it would feel as though he were still there next to her, holding her hand and making her laugh. He would still love her. She would still love him. They would be alright.
But why didn't it feel like it?
Robin sat on the edge of his bed, letting his messy hair fall in his face. The truth was, he didn't even want to go. He was thankful for everything Mrs. Potts had done for him, but he wasn't ready to leave yet. He wasn't ready to be on his own.
Before any of the college surprise happened, his parents thought it was a good idea for him to take a gap year, and he agreed. He would get a job, travel a bit, figure out who he really was before settling down and moving on to college. But now, everything was happening so fast. He wasn't ready.
He wasn't ready.
….
Robin walked into Granny's to pick up his breakfast, needing to eat something before he began tearing his room apart again, and Granny smiled as he took a seat at the counter.
"Today's the big day. You go make me proud, Locksley. Make sure to remember all us little people when you reach the top, and for the love of god, make sure you come home every now and then for one of my famous cheeseburgers. I'd much rather hear about your life coming from you than some stupid news station who doesn't know two cents," Granny smiled as she placed his to-go-bag in front of him, and Robin showed half a grin.
He was supposed to be up and gone already, he only came in for his breakfast, but for some reason, he couldn't bring himself to leave his stool. Granny tilted her head worriedly at Robin, leaning against the counter.
"Are you okay, Dear?" Granny asked, and she was alarmed when she saw tears forming in Robin's crystal blue eyes.
"Hey, it's okay, Robin, it's okay," Granny rushed to say as she made her way around the counter, taking a seat next to him. The elder woman handed him a few napkins, and he nodded his head in thanks.
"What's going on, Sweetheart?" Granny asked softly, running a hand up and down his back. Robin looked straight ahead of him, trying not to have a nervous breakdown.
"I'm leaving for college today, and I don't even want to go," Robin whispered, blowing his nose into one of the dollar-store napkins. Granny frowned as she watched the young man in front of her slowly crumble.
"Then why are you going?" Granny asked wisely, and Robin stopped. Why was he going?
"I have a scholarship, Granny… this isn't just any college, it's one of the best music programs in the country, and they want me… it doesn't matter if I want to go or not, it's happening. It's all just happening so damn fast. I feel like yesterday I just made my speech in front of the whole town," Robin explained, resting his head against the palm of his hand. Granny sighed and let her hand fall back to her side.
"You're just nervous, Robin, it happens to the best of us. You're about to go off to some new state you've never been before, and you're expected to figure out your life in five minutes… you're nervous, and you should be. If you weren't nervous, that would mean you wouldn't care. And if you didn't care, why would you be doing any of this?" Granny spoke quietly and slowly, watching as her words made no effect on Robin's saddened demeanor.
"Regina's still going to be here, Robin. It's not like she's going anywhere. And so are your parents, and Emma, and me. You can come back anytime you like. Hell, if you get in around one in the morning and you need a place to crash, feel free to break in… everyone goes through this point in their life, and for you, it's just hitting particularly harder… you don't have to go if it's making you this upset," Granny stated, and Robin looked up at her like she was crazy.
"I can't just let all my hard work go to waste, or Mrs. Potts'. It's expected of me. If I don't go, I'd be a disappointment."
"To who?" Granny questioned, and Robin furrowed his eyebrows.
"What?"
"To who?" Granny repeated, and it didn't make any more sense to Robin.
"To your parents, who already told you they want you to take a gap year to figure everything out? To Regina, who only wants what makes you happy? To that choir teacher of yours, who helped make your dreams come true? Everyone knows your worth, son. You were chosen by that school for a reason. If you take a year for yourself, your voice is still going to be the same. Those guitar string scars on your battered fingers are still going to stay the same. And the drive you have for music is going to stay the same, and even grow," Granny explained intelligently, but Robin's worries clouded his judgement.
"It's just that, my whole life is planned out now. I go to college, and then embark on my journey of becoming a singer/songwriter. I get noticed, I write a few hits, I get big, and then my name is in lights… everything is planned out. Shouldn't that make me feel better, not worse?" Robin asked, and Granny let out a low breath.
"You want to be a musician, Robin. There are no guarantees, and you take risks the second you make any decision. For now, everything is planned out… and it makes you feel worse because you're the type of person who goes with the flow. You don't like plans, because you and I both know they never go accordingly. The world will catch on fire, or there will be a zombie apocalypse, something will happen. And you do what you need to as everything unfolds, not based on a schedule."
"Belmont is my dream school, Granny," Robin sighed, a determined light beginning to shine in his eyes again. Granny smiled as she patted him on the shoulder.
"Belmont will always be there. But some things won't," and with that, Granny gave Robin a hug and a reassuring smile.
"I'll see you in a few weeks," Granny nodded her head as she went to serve a table, and Robin sighed as he grabbed his bag and left, the bell ringing away above his head.
….
Robin sat in his loaded truck, parked outside of Regina's house. It was a little after six, and he had a plane to catch in an hour. But he didn't want to get out of his seat.
For a moment, a quick, brief moment, the gloomy summer sky turned into a bright blue, sunlight streaming in through the windows. There wasn't a cloud in sight, and the feeling of the sun's beams on Robin's skin made him feel better instantly.
Robin looked beside him and saw Regina sitting in his passenger seat, cheap dollar-store sunglasses resting in her hair, a wide smile on her face. She was jamming out to some song on the radio, and he couldn't help but sing along with her, the truck shaking from them bouncing around.
Robin laughed as he ran a hand through her hair, pulling her in close for a kiss. She smiled into him as she cupped his cheeks, bringing him in for another.
Robin startled when he heard a knock on his window, and as soon as it had happened, the memory was gone. The sky returned to its ominous gray, the air was sticky and tense, and water droplets started dropping one by one. Robin saw Regina standing by his car, waiting for him to come out, and he knew it was finally time.
Robin had said his goodbyes to everyone but her. He gave his parents crushing hugs and promised to be back mid September. He watched Emma shed a tear as she wrapped her arms around him, burying her face into his chest. He gave Killian a handshake, and he even gave Zelena a squeeze. He had seen Regina's parents earlier on in the day, and each set him off with a sad embrace.
Robin opened the door and slammed it shut once he was out of the vehicle, and his eyes stared into Regina's. He could tell she was trying not to cry, he was too, and it made him so much harder to leave her when she was dressed in one of his sweatshirts.
It smelled like forest. And now, she would never complain again.
"I'm not good at this," Regina whispered, keeping her head down, and Robin brought his fingers to her chin, making her look at him again.
"At what?"
"Goodbyes," Regina breathed almost inaudibly, but Robin heard it, and his heart dropped to his stomach. Robin brought Regina to him, and their arms wrapped around each other instinctively, Regina tucking her head into the crook of his neck.
"This isn't goodbye," Robin stated confidently into her hair, and Regina's fingernails gripped his shirt, the first tear already falling, "it's see you later…"
Robin and Regina held onto each other as long as they could, and Regina pulled away reluctantly, her hand finding his shoulder and chest.
"I'm going to miss you so much," Regina sighed, and Robin wiped away her tears, grinning away his own.
"And I you… I'll call every morning and every night. And I want to hear about everything, even how they messed up your order at the diner, or how you lost your shoe at the beach and went back with Emma to find it," Robin smiled, and Regina laughed tearily as she nodded her head.
"Okay," Regina smiled, trying not to get too emotional, "Robin?"
He looked at her with so much adoration, it killed her that she was being so selfish in all of it.
"I don't want to be like the couples in the movies," Regina admitted quietly, and Robin cupped her cheeks, smiling into her.
"Then we won't be."
Regina bit her lip as she nodded her head, bringing Robin in for one last hug. Robin pecked Regina's lips as he brought her face close to him, and she held his face, kissing him deeper and more passionately than before. Regina kissed his lips one last time before they separated, and Regina rested her forehead on his.
"You're going to miss your plane," Regina whispered, and Robin leaned into her, knowing he had to leave. Regina took a deep breath and wiped away her own tears, taking a step out of his arms. She looked him up and down and nodded her head, trying on a small smile.
"I would really appreciate it if you didn't die in a plane crash, Robin. That wouldn't be very conventional," Regina teased half-heartedly, but he knew she was being serious. Robin pressed a gentle, loving kiss to her lips and nodded his head.
Before he could get lost in her any more, Robin hopped into his truck and started the engine. Regina made her way to the sidewalk, and Robin rolled down his window.
"I love you," Robin blew her a kiss, and Regina smiled.
"I love you too."
Regina and Robin stared at each other for another long moment before Robin finally put the car in drive, crawling down the street as Regina followed him. Little by little, Robin grew faster with each second, and by the time they reached the big oak in her front yard, he was already ahead, going, going, gone.
Regina watched as Robin's truck disappeared in the distance, and she let herself cry as the rain started mixing with her tears.
…..
Regina layed on the couch, unmoving, breathing. She stared up at the ceiling with a blanket draped across her body, shivering. But it wasn't from the cold.
Henry and Regina watched their little girl from the staircase, never really thinking Robin's absence would hit her this hard.
"Is she okay?" Henry asked quietly, tilting his head to the side to see his daughter better, and Cora frowned.
"She just watched Robin drive out of town an hour ago, she's not going to be okay for a few days," Cora whispered, making sure they were out of earshot. Henry stared at Regina, and it looked like she was lifeless. All the light had been drained from her usual bouncy personality.
"I wish there was something we could do," Henry sighed, and Cora nodded her head in agreement. They had offered to play any of her music, any movie she wanted to watch, to get any food that would comfort her, but she just shook her head, wordless, mute.
"I think this is worse than a breakup," Cora breathed out, and Henry rubbed her arms, pointing his head up the stairs.
"Come on, she just needs some time to be alone," Henry answered, and Cora agreed, following her husband up the stairs.
In the living room, nothing had changed. Regina hadn't moved. She wanted to. She wanted to go to Emma and cry over Robin together, but she couldn't get her body to leave the couch.
When she came in from bidding farewell to Robin in the street, she was thankful Cora had been there, for she would've just collapsed onto the floor instead of her mother's strong arms. She knew she was being dramatic, but for tonight, she needed to be. This was the only night she would let herself feel sad for Robin's leaving, and if she was going to pity herself, she was going to do it right.
Tomorrow she would go to Emma and cheer her up, put on her fake smile and power through all the hurt. Tomorrow she would laugh and joke around and continue being a kid, only for a little while. Tomorrow, the sun will come out again and she will try to feel better. But tonight, she wasn't trying.
Regina wondered where Robin was right then. He was probably somewhere over the Delaware River by now, soaring high in the sky with a single plane ticket, luggage, and his earbuds. He was probably listening to Lifehouse or 3 Doors Down, trying to stop his leg from fidgeting. He was hopefully sitting on the inside of the seats so he wouldn't have to look out the window with his fear of heights.
He was probably missing her as much as she missed him.
Regina closed her eyes as what felt like an hour passed by , but when she opened them, she realized it couldn't have been more than fifteen minutes. Regina groaned and turned on the couch, taking her blanket with her.
Not even five seconds later, the doorbell rang, and Regina buried herself deeper into her blanket. She remembered hearing her parents say something about getting Granny's chicken noodle soup delivered, how it always helped them when they needed a pick-me-up, and let out a frustrated breath.
Why wasn't anyone getting the door?
A minute passed by, and Regina thought that whoever was there had thankfully gone away, but the doorbell rang again, and Regina sprang off the couch. She was exhausted, mentally and physically drained after the day she had, and she dragged herself to the door slowly, shivering in Robin's hoodie.
Regina's fingers landed on the door knob and turned, opening the door, revealing not a delivery man from Storybrooke's famous diner, but Robin, standing in the pouring rain.
His hair was drenched, so were his clothes, and water stained his skin from head to toe. Regina's mouth opened out of shock, squinting her eyes to make sure it was really him.
"Belmont is my dream school," Robin spoke over the loud thump thump thump of the rain, and Regina's heart melted as he bared his heart and soul in front of her.
"Being a musician was my dream… it was everything I ever wanted, until I met you," Robin breathed heavily, and Regina watched as he took a step forward, the rain still pouring onto him, the water droplets falling off his leather jacket.
"Belmont will always be there, and so will my chances of becoming someone… but my time with you won't always be something I can hold onto. I thought my dream was to become a big star with the electric guitar and crowds of fans screaming my name, but it's not. It's not, Regina. My dream is being with you."
Regina stood by her doorway in awe, the look in Robin's eyes taking her places she'd never been before. Regina broke out into a loving smile as she and Robin met halfway, his lips claiming hers in a passionate race. Regina wrapped her arms around Robin's neck and brought him in closer as he so happily obliged. Robin kissed her lips as many times as he could before she pulled away, gasping for air, clutching the lapels of his jacket.
"You gave up your scholarship to be with me?" Regina asked, and Robin smiled as he cupped her cheeks, brushing away raindrops that were now drenching her as well.
"Of course I did… I didn't even make it on the plane, Regina. I couldn't leave. My heart was telling me to stay here with you, take the gap year I wanted in the first place, and just let myself be happy… it would've been a mistake, going to Belmont, so I gave up my spot for someone who truly wants and deserves it," Robin explained briefly, and Regina beamed as she pressed a kiss to his lips.
She then hit his shoulder, hard, and he furrowed his eyebrows as he looked back at her.
"Do you know what you just did? This could be your whole career! What if you never get that second chance?!" Regina freaked out in his arms, and Robin chuckled as he ran his fingers through her hair, not having a care in the world.
"I'll still be with you, so what does it matter?!" Robin exclaimed just as intensely as Regina had her prior statement, and they both broke out in a fit of laughter, Regina clinging to him as she brought him closer.
"You stupid thief," she muttered, and was just about to kiss him when a boom of thunder practically shook the ground after a bright flash of lightening, and Robin caught Regina as the impact made her slip on the wet stone of her porch.
Regina brought her forehead to his for a loving moment before she pulled his lapels to her, backing them into the house.
"Come on, we have to get you dry," Regina glowed as she kissed Robin again, closing the front door as she wrapped herself as deep as she could get into Robin. Robin ran his fingers through her hair and smiled into every kiss.
And they would be okay for quite a while.
Because they were Robin and Regina.
And he always came back to her.
