Miracles Can Happen
MackenzieW
A/N: Here's my first entry for OQ Prompt Party, based on Prompt #4 – Manifest AU. And honestly, I've been working on this for quite some time. I've just never posted it so this seemed to be a good reason to do so. I hope to make this a multi-chaptered story but I hope you enjoy this first chapter for now!
-Mac
Chapter 1: Flight 815
"So, you've had enough of your mother?"
Regina Mills sighed as she leaned back against the cushioned yet still uncomfortable chair, one of many that lined the area next to their gate. She leaned her laptop screen back so she could see her fiancé better, his blue eyes sparkling even as he tried not to smile. He had bet her that she would get frustrated and come home before the two weeks were up and she almost made it just to avoid seeing his smug smile.
"I tried, David," she told him and she had. She had tried to block out all her mother's micro-aggressions and biting comments, all her "helpful" suggestions about how Regina could be doing everything so much better. Regina had even tolerated it when her mother pulled out a book and tried to change everything about the wedding Regina and David were planning. She feared she was going to grind her teeth to dust from how tight her jaw was clenched but she almost made it the two weeks.
Until Mother started in on Henry, making him feel bad for his math scores and his love of comic books. Regina drew the line when it came to her son, which her parents knew. Her father had tried to reel her mother in but she would not be stopped. So Regina packed her and Henry up and was able to exchange their tickets for an earlier flight.
David nodded. "I know. But you did the right thing getting Henry out of there. How is he?"
She glanced over at her ten-years-old son, who was absorbed in his latest X-Men comic, before focusing back on David. "He's fine. He's a bit sad to be leaving his grandfather, so am I, but he's also happy to be heading home to his friends and you."
"Is that David?" Henry asked, looking up from his comic at last. His hazel eyes lit up and he smiled widely. "Can I talk to him?"
"Of course," she said, handing him her tablet.
He waved. "Hi, David! We're on our way home."
"I know," David replied cheerily. "I can't wait to see you two. And now you can come to that Yankees game with me."
Gasping, Henry looked up at her with wide eyes. "Can I, Mom?"
She chuckled. "Of course, you can. I love when you and David have these bonding days."
"Do you think I can get Jeter's autograph?" Henry asked David, turning his attention back to the screen.
"I don't know but we'll try," David told him.
They continued to chat about their trip to Yankee Stadium before David asked Henry to hand the tablet back over to her. He grinned as she took the device and she couldn't help but smile as well. "Sounds like you two are going to have a lot of fun."
"Do you want to come with us?" he asked. "Then all three of us can have a lot of fun together."
She scrunched up her nose. "A baseball game is not exactly my idea of fun. Maybe we can do something else all three of us will enjoy?"
David chuckled, nodding. "That sounds reasonable. I think there are some free concerts in the park coming up. I'll see if anyone good is performing."
"That sounds great," she said. "It'll be nice to have a relaxing night out before Henry has to go back to school."
He nodded before checking his watch, frowning. "Sorry, sweetheart, but I have to go. I need to get back out on patrol but I will be able to pick you two up from the airport with bells on."
"Please tell me you don't mean that literally," she said, wincing. It was something he would do because he was corny like that.
David grinned. "Maybe. You'll just have to find out."
She rolled her eyes. "You're lucky I love you, you know that, right?"
"I do," he assured her. "I love you too and I'll see you and Henry when you get home."
They ended the call and she powered down her laptop, knowing she was lucky to have David Nolan in her life. She also knew it was a bit cliche-he was a cop and she was a lawyer. Yet they didn't meet in the courtroom or because of some case. They met because of her son and David's selflessness.
She had signed up Henry up for a PAL basketball camp and David had been one of the officers volunteering to work with the children. He and Henry had developed a bond and she just had to meet the man who her son raved about each time he came home. She left work early one day and went to watch Henry's intramural game, cheering him on the entire time. When he scored the winning shot, she jumped up and yelled the loudest. It drew the attention of his coach, who looked right at her and smiled-making her stomach do flips like a teenage girl with a crush. It was at that moment she knew he was the David her son adored.
David was the living personification of the All-American boy. He was clean cut with neatly styled blond hair and bright blue eyes, not overly muscled but certainly in good shape from his job as a cop. There was something reassuring about the way he smiled and she felt safer knowing someone like him was patrolling the streets of New York. Henry happily made the introductions after the game and when David shook her hand, Regina felt an unmistakable pull toward him.
He was also a genuine good guy who had a sincere interest in her son. Regina had always worried about the lack of male role models in Henry's life, especially once her parents had moved to Florida, and was grateful he found someone he could look up to. She was even more grateful that David exemplified the very values she wanted Henry to emulate-kindness, selflessness, compassion, intelligence, hard-working, and humility. When the basketball season ended, she asked him to continue to serve as Henry's mentor and he happily agreed, much to Henry's joy as well.
As he continued to mentor her son, something wonderful happened. She and David fell in love. It started with them meeting every week to discuss how Henry was doing over coffee and evolved to dinners where they discussed everything but her son. He then started to invite her to events he thought she would enjoy and they planned outings for the three of them. After weeks of that, they shared a kiss at the Fourth of July with fireworks exploding around them-both literally and figuratively. With Henry's blessing, they became quite serious.
They dated for two years before he proposed to her, taking her and Henry on a picnic. As white clouds floated overhead and a beautiful spring breeze blew through the trees, he got down on one knee and asked her to marry him.
She said yes as she felt her face was going to crack from how hard she was smiling. Henry let out a whoop as she kissed David, sealing the engagement and cementing their new family.
Regina had long given up the hope that she would ever find someone other than her son that she wanted to spend her life with and finding David had almost been a miracle, not that she believed in those things. Still, she was grateful that he had entered her life. He had made hers and Henry's lives so much better.
Her heart full of love and her mood improved, she patted Henry's knee. "We have some time. Do you want to get something to eat?"
"Yeah!" he exclaimed, brightening up. "I'm starving."
She chuckled, knowing as a growing boy he was always hungry. Regina stood, pulling him up with her. "Grab the bags and let's go see what the food court has to offer."
"Yes, I'm all checked in and through security. I have a couple more hours before we board but then I'll be home to you and Roland," Robin Locksley said, browsing one of the airport's gift shops as he held his phone to his ear. "How is he?"
"He's sleeping right now, thank goodness," Marian said. His wife let out a weary sigh that spoke of many late nights. "I can't wait for the colic to pass."
Guilt filled him as he imagined his wife walking around their apartment as she rocked their crying son, trying to get him to sleep and feeling helpless about the pain that kept him awake. "Once I get home, I'll take every night with him. I promise. You can get your sleep now."
"You don't have to do that," she protested, fondness in her voice. "You deserve to sleep as well."
"I've gotten plenty of sleep while down here in Florida. It's your turn," he assured her.
She paused and he knew she was almost swayed. However, he wasn't too surprised when she asked: "What about your book?"
He shrugged even though he knew she couldn't see him. "I'm not going to work on it at night, Marian. Spending some time with Roland at night isn't going to set me back any, trust me."
"Sleep sounds wonderful," she sighed. "Thank you so much, Robin."
"We're in this together, Marian. You are not Roland's sole caretaker and I'm not some babysitter. We're his parents and we're going to take care of him together," he assured her.
She chuckled. "I'm really lucky to be married to you."
"I feel the same being married to you," he replied. "You should go get some sleep while Roland's napping. I'll talk to you when I get home, okay?"
"I can't wait. I love you, Robin," she said.
He smiled, pausing. "I love you too, Marian."
Robin hung up the phone and placed it in his bag. He then picked up the Mickey Mouse he had been eyeing throughout the call. Roland was still too small to sleep with anything but he couldn't resist buying it for his son. One day he would be able to play with it and maybe even carry it when he got to meet Mickey for real.
It had been hard to be separated from his son for a month, knowing how many milestones there were for a baby within the first year. Marian had done her best to keep him involved, sending pictures and videos of Roland almost hourly. They had had plenty of Skype calls where she had held up his son but it wasn't the same as holding Roland himself. Yet this had been an opportunity he couldn't turn down-a month as a guest lecturer and doing research for his book about legends regarding bodies of water said to restore youth and health to people from around the world. Of course he needed to see where Ponce de Leon thought he had found the so-called Fountain of Youth. It was absolutely necessary for such a book, one he hoped opened up even more opportunities for him and his family.
Once he was published, he could apply to more prestigious positions and perhaps get tenure. Guest lecture offers like the one that brought him to Florida would pour in, bringing in extra money and chances to travel to new places. There would be other books, he knew, and maybe invitations to appear in documentaries. He could become somewhat famous.
Robin Locksley, eternal dreamer, he heard his wife's voice say in her amused but fond tone. Marian would then remind him that he didn't need fame and he would agree. All he needed was her and Roland.
Holding the Mickey Mouse close, Robin set about finding a souvenir for his wife. As he turned away from the Disney rack, he nearly collided with a warm body that was smaller and faster than him. Robin's reflexes kicked in, though, and he was able to hold out his hand to keep the young boy from running into him. "Whoa, slow down there. The gift store isn't going anywhere," he joked.
"Sorry," the boy said, sounding contrite as he stepped back. He barely came up to Robin's chest and had brown hair with hazel eyes. The boy wore a blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, looking more like he had just come from a country club rather than vacation. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I got a little excited when I saw the Harry Potter display."
Robin glanced over to the display with the famous wizard's image blown up to be almost life-sized. Wands, robes and other knick-knacks inspired by the book series lined the shelves, no doubt enticing to the lad. He chuckled as he looked back over at the boy. "While I don't blame you, it's not going to disappear. Walking will get you there."
The boy nodded. "Yeah, walking's probably safer."
"Henry? Henry, where did you go?" a woman's panicked voice filled the store. Judging by the way the lad grimaced, Robin figured he was the Henry in question.
Henry grew sheepish. "I'd probably make my mom worry less too."
"Probably," Robin agreed as a frantic woman turned the corner and stopped short, breathless as she stared at Henry.
Robin, though, stared at her. Though he was a happily married man, he was more than willing to admit that she was a beautiful woman. She had dark hair that fell in soft waves around her face, a nice tan to her skin suggesting plenty of time in the Florida sun. Her brown eyes were wide and panicked but he could imagine them sparkling with joy. She wore an expensive looking pale blue sleeveless shirt paired with a pair of white capris, once again giving him the impression of the country club set than tourists. He knew she was Henry's worried mother.
Henry hung his head. "Sorry, Mom. I shouldn't have run off."
"No, you shouldn't have," she said, pulling him into a hug. "I know you're not a little kid anymore but it's still dangerous."
"I got excited when I saw Harry Potter." He pointed to the same display he had shown Robin.
She looked at it and rolled her eyes. "Of course you did."
"Can I look at it? Please?" he asked, looking up at her with pleading eyes.
"You may," she said, her shoulders relaxing as she let him go. "But you need to stay where I can see you. Understand?"
He nodded, turning to Robin. Rubbing his neck, he said: "Sorry I ran into you, sir."
"That's okay," Robin told him with a smile. "Just be more careful and don't frighten your mother."
Once Henry walked away, his mother sighed. She turned to Robin. "I'm sorry if he bothered you or hurt you. He just loves Harry Potter."
"Who doesn't?" Robin asked. "And it's okay. No harm, no foul. I told him to slow down and to be more careful."
"Thank you," she said, motioning to his Mickey Mouse. "Have a kid of your own?"
He nodded, smiling. "He's still a baby, so I don't have to worry about him running off on me just yet."
"Yeah, they can't go very far at that age, can they?" she asked, chuckling.
"Nope," he replied. "But he'll probably be walking before I know it, right?"
She nodded, looking wistfully at her own son as he looked through all the Harry Potter merchandise, before turning back to Robin. "Cherish these moments and don't hope for them to be over. You'll never get them back."
"I understand," he said softly, once again feeling guilty about all he missed while down there in Florida. "And I won't take them for granted. Ever."
"Good." She motioned to his Mickey Mouse. "I'll let you pay for that and won't take any more of your time. Have a safe flight."
He smiled. "You too. Nice meeting you."
She walked off toward the Harry Potter display and he headed off to find a gift for Marian, even more eager to be reunited with his family. He didn't want to miss another minute of Roland's life.
After an argument about Henry buying a wand, he finally agreed on a Gryffindor scarf and she got a matching Ravenclaw one. He clutched the bag with them as they returned to their gate, finding seats not far from the ones they originally had. Regina glanced up at the screen, happy that the flight was still on time and they would start boarding soon. They were almost home.
"Mom, can we come back and go to Harry Potter World when it opens?" Henry asked her. He clasped his hands together and gave her his best doe eyes. "Please?"
She chuckled as she wrapped her arm around him. "We'll see, okay? David and I are planning a wedding after all."
"Okay," he replied with a sigh.
Henry leaned against her and she bit back her smile. She and David were planning to take him to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter...but as a surprise. The plan was already for her parents to take Henry back with them after the wedding while she and David went on their honeymoon. When they flew back to Florida, they were going to pick him up and surprise him with the trip-their first vacation as an official family.
She couldn't wait.
"Attention, passengers, we will begin boarding Flight 815 with nonstop service to New York," the gate agent said. "At this time, we are going to welcome our diamond club members, veterans, families traveling with children under the age of two and anyone who requires additional time to board."
Regina removed her arm from around her son and patted his knee. "We'll be on the plane soon. You should probably run to the bathroom. I'm going to do the same."
Henry nodded, grabbing his backpack as they stood. "Meet you right outside?"
"Yes," she told him as they approached the bathrooms. "I'll try to be as quick as possible."
"Okay," he replied, disappearing around the corner and into the men's room. She headed into the ladies' room and tried not to groan when she came to a line that was five people deep. Regina hoped Henry didn't have to wait too long for her, not caring that he was ten almost eleven. He was still her baby boy and she worried about something happening to him all the time.
Though she was certain only five minutes had passed, it felt like an eternity before she got into a stall and was able to do her business. She quickly washed her hands before almost running out of the bathroom, eager to be reunited with her son so she could stop worrying about him.
She found him standing right where she told him to-outside the bathroom-but he wasn't alone. The man from the gift shop stood next to him, the two talking about Harry Potter and England. Henry always had a lot of questions and she hoped he wasn't bothering the man, who seemed nice but no doubt did not want to be pestered by her son.
"Well, it looks like we keep running into each other," she said, trying to keep her voice light as she wrapped her arm around Henry's shoulders.
The man smiled, his body language relaxed and welcoming. "Yes, it does. And since you're here and Henry is in excellent hands again, I'm going to pop into the men's room."
"Thanks for answering my questions," Henry said, leaning into her. "I hope I didn't annoy you."
"Not at all. As much as I love living in the States, I do also still like talking about home," the man assured him. "I hope one day you and your mum can go visit England for yourselves."
"That would be cool. You think David would like to go?" Henry asked, looking up at her with wide eyes.
She smiled, giving him a squeeze. "I think he would love to go. But we need to wait until after the wedding, okay?"
"Okay," Henry said with a sigh. He then perked up. "It'll be a lot better to go as a family anyway."
"Well, congratulations," the man said, slowly backing into the bathroom. "I hope you have a marriage as happy as mine."
From other people, that probably would've sounded self-centered. Yet he sounded so genuine and she had seen how much he loved his family, so she knew he meant it with kindness she wouldn't expect someone to have for the woman whose son nearly ran him over in the gift shop. "Thank you," she said.
She then turned Henry back to the gate. "Come on. We don't want to miss our flight."
They walked back to the gate as the flight started to board, leaving the man behind so he could catch his own flight. Yet something told her that it wasn't the last she had seen of him and she wasn't sure why.
"Now boarding group C," the gate agent said. "We are boarding passengers in groups A, B and now C. Everyone else please keep the aisle clear so passengers in those groups can be checked in and boarded onto the plane."
Robin double-checked his boarding pass even though he knew it said he was part of Group C. Standing, he shouldered his messenger bag and headed to board the plane. He joined the line of people handing their passes to the gate agent, slowly advancing toward the door that would lead to the plane which would take him home.
He couldn't wait to see Marian and Roland again.
The gate agent scanned his boarding pass and let him enter the hallway that led to the plane. He stepped aboard, holding his messenger bag close as he navigated the narrow aisle. Robin kept his eye on the row numbers until he got to his-Row 23.
He had the aisle seat, which was the only free seat. When he saw who else occupied his row, he had bite back a laugh. Henry sat at the window with his mother next to them, both buckled in and ready for takeoff. At this point, he didn't believe this was a coincidence.
"I think the universe might be trying to tell us something," he said, taking off his messenger bag as he slid into the only empty seat.
She looked up, her brown eyes widening in surprise. "I don't believe this…"
Henry leaned forward, grinning when he saw Robin. "You're sitting with us? This is so cool!"
"I have to agree," he said, storing his bag under the seat in front of him. When he straightened up, he held out his hand to her. "I guess I should properly introduce myself now. Robin Locksley at your service."
She raised her eyebrow but shook his hand. "Regina Mills. And this is my son, Henry."
"Nice to meet you, Mr. Locksley," Henry said, waving at him.
Robin smiled as he waved back. "You can call me Robin."
Henry glanced up at Regina, who nodded. It made his smile widen as he said: "Thanks, Robin."
"Well, you shouldn't bother Robin throughout the entire flight," she told him. "He probably wants to rest or get some work done."
"It's okay. I've really enjoyed talking with both of you," Robin assured her, grinning. "Talking with you will probably make this fly by."
She raised her eyebrow as she fought a smile. "Did you just?"
"Yep," he replied, grinning. "And there are plenty more where that came from."
"Wonderful," she groaned as he laughed, making sure he was buckled up. She glanced over at him and her tone softened as she asked: "So what were you doing so far from your family?"
He sighed. "Work. I'm a professor specializing in myths and legends and was invited to teach a short-term course here in Florida. It also allowed me a chance to do some research for my book."
"Book?" Henry perked up, his eyes widening. "You're an author?"
"Not yet. I still have to write it. Right now, I have a lot of research I need to slog through to form a cohesive and intelligent narrative," he replied, thinking of all his notes. The hard work was still waiting for him but at least he would be home with Marian and Roland while doing it.
Henry was intrigued still. "What's it about?"
"The Fountain of Youth," Robin replied.
Regina raised her eyebrow. "You think it's real?"
He laughed, shaking his head. "No, I don't. However, several cultures have legends surrounding something that people can enter to achieve eternal youth. Most seem to be rooted in things like natural mineral baths or hot springs. But it is fascinating that throughout time, we have all sought a way to stay young and to avoid getting old."
"Oh," she said, blinking a couple times. "That's...that's actually interesting."
"I know," he replied. "If it does well, I hope it will give me a chance to write about my true passion."
She leaned closer, smirking. "And what would that be?"
"Lamps," he said, doing his best to keep a straight face. At her confused look, though, he lost the battle and laughed. "Just kidding. It's Robin Hood."
Henry gasped, his eyes wide. "Robin Hood is so cool! He's like the first superhero!"
Robin chuckled, coming to really like the boy. "That's a good way to think about him."
"Henry loves superheroes," Regina added, smiling fondly at her son. "I can barely keep up with getting him new comics."
"I love comics too," Robin told him.
Regina rolled her eyes, pointing between the two of them. "Do you want me to move so you two can talk?"
He laughed as Henry shook his head. "You know I need to sit next to the window, Mom."
"And I wouldn't want to come between a mother and her son," Robin joked, winking at her. "We promise not to talk over you too much. Right, Henry?"
"Right," Henry agreed as the flight attendants took their places in the aisle for the safety demonstration.
Robin settled into his seat, watching the demonstration he can give from memory. His mind, then, wanders. While he knew Regina was kidding, he was going to make sure she didn't feel like she was in the way. In fact, he wanted to get to know her a bit better. What did she do for a living? And what about this 'David' person Henry had mentioned? Robin felt there was a reason they had kept running into each other and he felt there was some reason the universe wanted them to know each other.
He just needed to figure it out.
The flight so far had been smooth. Regina relaxed in her seat as the flight attendant approached their row to offer drinks, deciding if she wanted something other than water. Airline coffee usually wasn't the greatest but she could smell it already and it was making her mouth water.
"Hope that coffee tastes as good as it smells," Robin said as if reading her mind.
She smiled. "You're going to chance it?"
"I think so," he replied. "It just smells too tempting."
"Well, how about this? You try the coffee and if it's bad, I'll let you drink some of my water?" she offered.
He grinned at her. "Sounds like you have a deal."
They shook on it before settling back in their seats. Regina had been surprised to find their seatmate was the same man Henry had kept running into and she had been suspicious at first. Yet after an hour with Robin, it was clear he had no nefarious intentions. He was just a man trying to get back to his family and who just the universe seemed to keep throwing into her path for some reason.
Not that she believed in such nonsense. There were no such things as coincidences or fates.
Besides, this wasn't some romance movie. Robin was happily married with a son he clearly adored. She loved David and couldn't wait to marry him, even talking about the wedding with Robin. He had shared some war stories from his own wedding and she talked to him about some of her struggles when Henry had decided to play some games. It was nice to know she wasn't alone in her experiences and it reassured her to know that Robin and Marian had been able to survive everything. She and David would as well.
The plane shook a bit and she grabbed the armrest tighter. Henry took out his headphones, looking at her with wide eyes. "You okay?"
"It's just turbulence," she said through clenched teeth. "I'm fine."
Robin noticed her discomfort and frowned. "Regina? What's wrong?"
"Mom doesn't like turbulence. It makes her nervous," Henry explained as she tried to calm herself down.
"I know it's common and it's nothing to really worry about," she said, pausing as the plane shook again. She gritted her teeth. "But I really hate it."
Robin opened his mouth but whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the pilot. "Flight attendants, please be seated," he said. "We are experiencing bad turbulence."
The flight attendants shared a look before rolling the service cart back down the aisle. Regina felt her breathes coming in short, shallow gasps at the thought that the turbulence was bad enough for the pilot to insist the flight attendants sit down. How was she going to get through it then?
"Here," Robin said softly, holding out his hand to her as the plane continued to shake. "Hold my hand."
"You can hold mine too," Henry offered, holding out his hand as well.
She took both of their hands, giving them a smile as shaky as the plane. "Thank you."
They squeezed her hands as the plane rocked back and forth, shaking everyone in their seats. Regina's stomach rolled around and she tried not to imagine all the ways they could die in the plane. She focused on the fact that most flights made it through turbulence and they would be fine.
"Just breathe, Regina," Robin told her. "Everything will be fine."
She almost believed him.
Until the blinding white light filled the plane.
Regina closed her eyes to block it out. She felt Henry bury his head against her arm and she leaned her cheek against his head. "I love you," she told him, dropping a kiss into his hair.
Her stomach then dropped as if she were on a roller coaster that had just gone downhill at top speed. She rose up from her seat, her seatbelt straining to keep her in place as she clutched Robin's and Henry's hands tighter. In her mind, she imagined the plane plummeting to the ground and breaking into a million pieces. She wished she had just stayed with her parents and put up with her mother's snide comments. They didn't seem so bad now that she was facing her imminent death.
As she was mentally saying goodbye to David, her ass hit the seat hard and her stomach returned to its normal location. It remained twisted up in knots though she realized the plane no longer shook. It seemed to stabilize and she chanced opening her eyes, finding a darkened but intact cabin.
"Did we fall out of the sky?" she asked, breathless.
"No," Robin assured her as Henry clung to her. "We're still flying."
A ding echoed around the cabin and soon the pilot's voice came over the speakers. "I apologize for the sudden drop, folks. We hit a particularly rough patch of turbulence and the best course was to go to a lower altitude. We had to do it very quickly, so we did a vertical drop rather than a steady decline. I apologize for not giving you enough notice. The good news is that it's over and we should have clear skies all the way to New York. Once again, our apologies for the rough ride. Flight attendants, please resume beverage service."
Regina leaned back, her heart still beating rapidly. Henry lifted his head from her shoulder, frowning. "That was awful. I get why you don't like turbulence, Mom."
She kissed his head. "I'm sorry you had to experience that. Hopefully, it'll never happen again."
"Well, I don't know about you two, but I think I'm going to need something stronger than coffee after that," Robin said, eyeing the beverage cart as the flight attendant rolled it back to where she had left off.
Regina laughed before she realized she was still holding his hand. She figured it was just because she had been so overwhelmed and was grateful for his comfort. Giving his hand a squeeze, she smiled at him. "Thank you, again. I'm sure you didn't bargain on sitting next to a basket case."
"You are not a basket case," he assured her, smiling. "Besides, that was genuinely terrifying. I'm sure I'm not the only one who had their lives flash before their eyes."
She felt better knowing he had been just as scared as her. Thanking him again, she let go of her hand and leaned back in her seat. Hopefully, the pilot's prediction of clear skies to New York would hold true and there would be no more surprises for the rest of the flight.
Robin read over some research he had collected, jotting down notes in pencil. He tried not to jostle Regina, who had fallen asleep on his shoulder. Their near-death experience had taken a lot out of her. He'd probably would have fallen asleep as well but was too jittery after what they experienced. It wasn't something he had ever gone through before and he had flown enough to experience some serious bouts of turbulence. The bright light that had filled the cabin had rattled him and he understood why Regina had thought they had fallen from the sky. When the vertical drop happened, he thought they had been hit by something and were crashing as well. The only things that kept him from panicking were Regina and Henry, who needed someone to stay calm while they fell apart. He was more than happy to play that role for mother and son.
He glanced down at Regina, smiling at the sight she presented. Robin could tell that her cheek was already turning red from being pressed against his shoulder. Her eyelashes fluttered as her eyes moved under their lids and she let out a soft sigh. She was clearly dreaming and he hoped it was a pleasant one, maybe about her son and her fiancé. David sounded like a great guy and Robin hoped he knew how lucky he was.
Next to her, Henry had gone back to playing his game. He still anxiously glanced out the window every so often, no doubt worried that something else was going to happen before they landed. Robin figured he probably also wanted to get on the ground sooner rather than later. It was a sentiment shared by Robin and probably by nearly everyone on the plane. There was still a buzz in the plane from nervous passengers, some no doubt already scripting their complaints to the airline once they got to New York.
Robin's gaze returned to Regina once more. He wondered if once they got off the plane, that would be it. They would never see each other again and just be players in a story about their crazy flight. Maybe they would think about each other from time to time and he would probably see her wedding announcement in the papers-from what he could tell, her family was prominent enough that her marriage would make the society page. He believed, though, that this was the beginning of a great friendship. And not just because of the experience they shared-there had to be a reason they kept running into each other at the airport and were assigned the same row. The universe wanted them to know each other.
He looked up as the intercom dinged again, praying it was the pilot about to tell them they were starting to their final descent into New York. It was time for this flight to be over and for him to see his family.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I'm afraid we're being diverted to Stewart Airport in Newburgh, New York," the pilot announced, drawing boos and shouts from the passengers. Henry frowned, pulling off his headphones as the pilot continued: "I'm afraid this adds about a half hour to forty-five minutes to our flight time. My apologies but we have to go where the tower tells us."
"Oh come on," one passenger two rows behind them said. "First that bad turbulence and now this? This has been the flight from hell!"
"I am never flying this airline again," another woman grumbled.
Henry looked at Robin with wide eyes. "The flight is going to be even longer?"
"Looks that way," Robin replied. He looked down at Regina. "I guess we should tell your mother."
"She's not going to be happy about it," Henry said with a sigh. He reached out, shaking her. "Mom?"
Regina lifted her head, blinking her eyes open. She frowned. "What? Are we getting ready to land?"
"Not yet," Robin said, grimacing as he prepared to give her the bad news. "We're being diverted to Stewart."
She sat up straighter, fire burning in her eyes. "What? Why?"
He shrugged. "They didn't say. Just that we have to go where air traffic tells us to go. And apparently, they are telling us to go to Stewart."
"I don't like it," she said, crossing her arms as she glared at the overhead console as if it were the pilot.
"No one does. People are threatening to sue. Maybe you can represent everyone?" he teased her.
It got a smile out of her as she shook her head. "I do criminal law. While I may think this is criminal, sadly, it's not against the law."
"Too bad," he said, leaning back in his chair. He kept watching her and saw as her smile once again turned into a frown, which made him frown. "What's wrong?"
"You said we're being diverted to Stewart?" she asked.
"Yes. Why?"
Regina glanced at Henry, who had put his headphones back in as he returned to his game. Still, she lowered her voice as said: "You know that in addition to being an airport, Stewart is also an active air force base, right?"
He hadn't known that. It made him grow suspicious and he leaned closer to her as he lowered his own voice. "Do you think something happened to us? With that bright flash?"
"I don't know," she replied. "But something is definitely going on."
"Agreed," Robin said. He leaned back in his seat, sighing. Hopefully they would get some answers when they landed.
In the meantime, he kept himself from worrying and overthinking about it by making sure Regina didn't do that same. They talked about books they had read-his had mostly been for his research while she said she had been rereading Outlander since it was getting turned into a TV show. She leaned closer to him. "Are there many legends about people falling through time like Claire does?"
"There are some," he said, rubbing his chin. "Maybe I should write my next book on them. Especially if this TV show becomes really popular."
She laughed. "Well, if it does become popular, it won't be for the fantastical elements. Claire falls into Eighteenth Century Scotland. Men in kilts with accents everywhere."
He chuckled. "There is something sexy about a man in a kilt. And apparently, women love a man with an accent."
"Apparently? Oh, you can't tell me you don't have firsthand knowledge of that, Mr. Harry Potter," she said, trying to mimic his accent and failing. It was entertaining and adorable.
Robin's sarcastic response was cut off by the flight attendant making an announcement. "Ladies and gentlemen, we have begun our final descent into the Orange County area. Please discontinue use of larger electronics at this time. Please also return your seatback and tray to their full upright position. We will be coming through one final time with bags for anything you wish to discard."
"We're almost home," he said with a relieved sigh. He put up his tray as he prepared to finally get off the plane. Robin couldn't wait to hold Marian and Roland in his arms again. It had been too long.
Beside him, Regina tapped Henry's shoulder. He pulled off his headphones. "We're getting ready to land. You have to put that away," she told him.
"Okay, Mom," he replied, putting his game in his bag. He sat back up and looked at her. "Do you think they told David we were being diverted?"
"I'm sure they did and I'm sure he's waiting at Stewart for us." She smiled but Robin noticed it was a tense smile, unable to erase her concerns about why they were being sent to Stewart rather than JFK.
Robin had to admit he was also concerned that more than some relieved family members would be waiting for them once they landed.
He felt the wheels lower and his stomach tightened, knowing they were almost on the ground. Turning his head, he saw that Henry was watching the ground grow closer through the window while Regina kept her head focused straight ahead. He wasn't sure if she didn't like landings as well or if she wanted to stay in denial about what was happening a bit longer.
The plane bounced and everyone on board let out a sigh of relief. After what seemed like forever, they were on the ground again. Soon they would be off the plane and this would all be just a distant memory.
"Mom, there are a lot of flashing lights waiting for us," Henry said, sounding concerned and scared.
Robin's stomach clenched as he shared a panicked look with Regina. She appeared to stay calm as she took her son's hand. "There's nothing to worry about, sweetheart...but maybe don't look out the window."
The plane came to a stop but the seatbelt light never turned off. Robin frowned as people started to unbuckle themselves and stand up, ready to get off. Something didn't feel right so he didn't move. Regina and Henry did the same, the three of them waiting for further directions before moving.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are not ready for you to deplane. Please return to your seat and wait for our instructions," the flight attendant said over the PA system.
Around them, people started yelling. One man charged up the aisle to confront the flight attendant. "You can't keep us here!" he yelled.
"I can," a male Scottish-accented voice said. "Sit down or I will make you."
Everyone watched as the man stared down the owner of the voice. "And who the hell are you?"
"Agent Gold, National Security Agency...NSA. Now, sit down or I will use this," the other man said. Robin couldn't really see past the angry passenger but he imagined the agent had motioned to his gun.
Silence descended on the plane as the man returned to his seat. Had he been a dog, his tail would've been between his legs. Everyone watched him with solemn eyes, now too scared to do anything else. Robin turned to Regina, who looked like she was trying not to panic as Henry moved the armrest so he could press against his mother's side for protection and comfort. "I'm scared, Mom," he whispered.
"I know," she whispered back. "Me too. But we need to be brave, okay?"
He nodded and Robin took a deep breath, knowing he needed to be brave too. Though they only just me, he knew he had to be strong for Regina and Henry.
The NSA agent stepped further into the aisle, giving everyone a good look at him. He was on the smaller side-Robin believed he was taller than him-and had gray hair cut close to his head. Dark eyes scanned the cabin, looking over each passenger before he spoke again. "Ladies and gentlemen, I know you all must be confused and scared but if you cooperate with my fellow agents and me, I promise this will all go smoothly and we will reunite you with your loved ones as soon as possible.
"We are going to ask you to deplane by row. Once down on the tarmac, agents will direct you to your next destination. If you have medication or a diaper bag, you may bring that. Otherwise, you are to only bring your identification and your boarding pass." Agent Gold nodded at the first row. "Row one, follow me. Row two, you can follow once they are done and so on. Thank you."
Robin was a bit hesitant to leave his messenger bag behind but he didn't want to mess with Agent Gold. He pulled out his boarding pass and held onto it, his identification in his wallet in his pocket. Beside him, Regina retrieved her driver's license and Henry's passport as well as their boarding passes before placing her bag under the seat in front of her.
"Will we get our bags back?" Henry asked, no doubt thinking about his game and other belongings.
"I'm sure we will," Regina told him. Robin wasn't as sure but he didn't say anything. It was better to let the boy have some hope.
After a few minutes, it was their turn to get off the plane. He stood, moving out into the aisle before motioning for Regina and Henry to go ahead of him. "I'll be right behind you," he assured them.
Henry went first with his mother close behind. Robin stayed as close as he could to them, not wanting to let them out of his sight. He wasn't sure what was going on and didn't trust that something bad wasn't going to happen as they passed by nervous flight attendants and white-faced pilots.
They had to go down stairs to walk directly onto the tarmac. Several people in windbreakers with NSA and FBI written on them directed them to keep walking in a single-file line until they reached a nearby hangar. One agent checked everyone in, collecting their boarding passes after verifying their identity and marking them off on a copy of the flight manifest. "Please, sit in the chair that corresponds to your seat on the plane," he then told them.
Folding chairs were set up to recreate the rows on the plane, each labeled with a letter and a number. Henry walked down until he reached Seat 23A, taking it as Regina and Robin settled into their respective seats. Silence filled the hangar as they all feared what the agents would do if they did talk.
Once the last person took their seat, Agent Gold stood in front of them again. "Thank you for your cooperation. Now that we've confirmed everyone is who they say they are and that you are all present and accounted for, we'll explain what's going on.
"On July 16, 2013, Storybrooke Airlines Flight 815 left Orlando International Airport at six o'clock in the evening. An hour and fifteen minutes into the flight, the pilot reported bad turbulence and requested permission to drop to a lower altitude. It was granted and then the flight disappeared from the radar. All attempts to hail it were unsuccessful," Gold continued.
Robin looked over at Regina, who was frowning. He didn't understand. They were surrounded by federal agents because their plane disappeared off the radar and lost contact for a few minutes? It was re-established quickly-the pilot had said he was talking with the towers while onboard. Something else had to be going on.
Gold then dropped a bombshell on them: "The flight then reappeared at 7:15 PM today, July 16, 2018...exactly five years after it disappeared."