Chapter 2: Strange New World

Three days.

They had been cooped up in Stewart Air Force base for three days. No one lived on base so there were no barracks or housing for them to stay in during that time. Instead, cots had been brought in as well as blankets and pillows while curtains were hung so families could enjoy something that resembled privacy. Regina and Henry had set up their little area, pushing their cots together so they could sleep side by side. While she didn't think the government was going to do something nefarious to them, she still felt better having her little boy by her side at night. Robin had set up his cot next to theirs and they checked in with each other every morning and every night.

For the first day, they had to continue wearing the clothes they wore on the plane. On the second day, they were able to reclaim their luggage and carry-ons. Agents also brought them to an area where they could shower, which was a relief. They also provided some items people have needed-toiletries or clean underwear. Food was also provided in the mess hall, where they ate under the watchful eyes of federal agents. It felt odd-almost as if they were guests on the air force base.

Except they weren't allowed to leave.

And they were subjected to things guests would never have to go through.

Doctors had come the first day to examine them thoroughly. Regina, Henry and Robin had all gone to the same one-a rather smarmy man with bleached blond hair named Victor Whale. He, though, had assured them that they were all healthy and he could see nothing out of the ordinary other than the fact they hadn't aged at all. It was especially noticeable in Henry, who should've been a teenager but was still teetering on the edge of puberty.

Once all the medical exams were completed, the interrogations began. One by one, they were interviewed by different agents. Regina had insisted on being present for Henry's, which they allowed. She had also tried to argue her way into Robin's but they refused to let her. In the hangar, she wasn't an attorney allowed to practice in the state of New York. She was a passenger on a plane that had disappeared and reappeared five years later, both suspect and victim just like everyone else.

Agent Gold and the other agents who interviewed them didn't reveal much and had wonderful poker faces but Regina and Robin were able to glean information from the agents who were assigned to watch the passengers. They swapped information after Henry went to bed, figuring out that every passenger had the same story. The plane experienced turbulence bad enough that the pilot had to order the flight attendants to sit down. A bright light filled the cabin right before they dropped vertically. Once that happened, the plane steadied itself and the flight was perfectly smooth. Though many felt as if it took forever, everyone swore it really was only a few minutes.

When they weren't being examined or interviewed, they did their best to stay entertained in the hangar. For the most part, they wondered about their loved ones and longed to be reunited with them. Regina wondered if David was trying to mount a rescue operation or if he was following the rules, understanding the necessity of an investigation as a police officer. Had her parents come up from Florida? Or was it just Daddy? She could imagine her mother being more upset that she had returned more than she had disappeared-Cora Mills couldn't play victim anymore.

She knew she wasn't the only one who missed their family. Robin stared at a picture of his wife and son every day, rubbing his thumb over their images. They never talked about the five years that had supposedly passed, not wanting to acknowledge the time that had passed. He especially needed to believe that he was going to walk out and find his son was still an infant, not a kindergartner.

They all needed to believe.

"You think they'll let us out soon?" Robin asked as they prepared for bed at the end of the third day.

She sighed, sitting on her cot. "I don't know. Part of me believes they can't keep us here forever and the other part thinks they can."

"Can't you do some lawyering to get us out of here?"

"Have you forgotten how my last attempt at lawyering went?" she asked, annoyed at the situation and that they wouldn't let her help Robin.

He nodded, sighing. "Right. We're pretty much stuck here."

"Unfortunately," she replied, resisting the urge to groan as Agent Gold walked into the room.

He stopped in the middle, making sure they could all see them. "Ladies and gentlemen, the United States government thanks you for your cooperation."

"Not that we had much of choice," Robin muttered as Regina nodded in agreement.

"Tomorrow, we will be releasing you," Gold continued. That made everyone sit up straighter, including Robin and Regina. "Your loved ones have been contacted and will be waiting for you in the next hangar over. We will give further instructions in the morning. Sleep well, this is your last night here."

He left and everyone began whispering amongst themselves. Regina felt like she was going to burst from happiness-they were finally going to get out of there and she could see David at last. It would be wonderful to be in his arms once again and to go back to their house, to sleep in their bed.

"Is it true, Mom?" Henry asked, bounding up to her with wide eyes and a smile on his face. "Are we really going home tomorrow?"

She smiled, pulling him in for a hug. "Yes, we are."

"I can't wait to see David again," he said, hugging her tightly.

"Me too," she told him, rubbing his back. "And your grandparents. Well, your grandfather."

Henry chuckled. "I can't wait to see Grandpa too."

She pulled away, turning to Robin with a smile. "You must be excited to see Marian and Roland."

"I am," he said, smiling. "I am going to hold them close and never let go of them again."

Regina chuckled until she noticed Henry growing upset. She frowned, wrapping her arm around him. "Henry? What's wrong?"

"We're not going to see you after tomorrow," he said to Robin, sounding close to tears. "I'm going to miss you."

"Hey, hey, don't cry." Robin moved over to their cot, sitting next to Henry. He wiped the boy's tears, smiling softly at him. "This isn't goodbye."

Henry sniffed, looking up at him with hopeful eyes. "It's not?"

Robin shook his head. "You don't go through what we've been through and just walk away from each other. You and your mum are now my friends. And friends visit each other, right?"

"You'll visit us?" Henry asked, eyes widening as he started to smile.

"Yes," Robin replied. "And you can visit me. Your mum and I can exchange information so we can make the arrangements."

Henry looked up at Regina. "Really?"

"Really," she said, smiling at him. She hugged Henry and mouthed thank you to Robin as he watched them with a grin.

She hadn't even thought about the fact that leaving would mean saying goodbye to Robin. Even though they had only known each other for a few days, he had embedded himself into their lives. It was going to be weird not having him around and she was glad he wanted to keep up their friendship. She did too and she wanted to get to know his beloved family. From what she knew, she believed they all could be friends-her, David, Robin and Marian.

Letting go of Henry, she kissed his forehead. "Now, you should get ready for bed. Tomorrow is a big day."

"Okay, Mom. I love you." He kissed her cheek and laid down.

Regina tucked him in before turning to Robin She took his hand. "I know those weren't just words to make my son feel better. I know you really do want to stay in touch."

He nodded. "I do. Do you?"

"Yes," she replied. "This has definitely been a bonding experience. Only those of us on this flight are going to understand this."

"Agreed." He gave her hand a squeeze. "Good night, Regina. Pleasant dreams."

"You too, Robin." She rose up on her tiptoes and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek. His scruff tickled her lips and she pulled back, turning to her cot.

They settled into their beds and soon she could tell both Robin and Henry were out. Sleep eluded her, though, as her mind span out of control. Regina imagined her reunion with David and talking with Daddy again before thinking of Robin. She truly believed he was a man of his word and would arrange for them to meet up every so often so they could continue to be friends. Though they only spent a few days together, he had become so ingrained in her life, she couldn't imagine it without him. Maybe that was why they kept running into each other and ended up seated next to each other. The universe knew about their upcoming troubles and sent them to each other so they had support through it.

Regina gently snorted. Only three days and she was starting to believe in something like fate. David would be surprised and indignant that he didn't get her to do that. But he would also be glad she was open to it now.

With a soft smile on her face, Regina closed her eyes and drifted off to sleep.

The hangar buzzed with excitement and nervousness. Cots were packed away and the chairs were no longer set up to mimic the seating on the plane. Everyone had their bags with them, eager to get out of the hangar and back to their regular lives.

Gold walked out, standing before them. "Just a few more things and then we'll release you to your families."

Many people groaned, including Robin. "Please, just let us go. We've waited long enough."

"Here, here," Regina muttered next to him, crossing her arms as she glared at Gold.

Gold took a deep breath. "First, we're going to ask that you not discuss your experiences with the news media just yet. We will let you know when it's okay to give interviews."

Robin frowned as he heard some people start to grumble. It seemed some people hoped to cash in on whatever fame they had from this. He just wanted to put it all behind him and move on with his family. Judging by the dark look Regina was sending the grumblers, she felt the same way.

"Second, we may come back to ask you follow up questions as more information becomes available," Gold continued, "we ask for your continued cooperation."

"Why do I feel like that is more 'we demand' rather than 'we ask'?" Regina muttered.

Robin tried not to laugh as he replied: "Because of what we've experienced the past three days?"

"Ahh," she said, glancing at him with a smile on her face.

"Finally, because of how many of you there are, we're going to do the reunions in two groups. Everyone whose last name starts with letters A to L will go into one hangar and those of you with last names that start with letters M to Z will go to another. Agents in those hangars will control how many people leave to make sure traffic isn't too bad," he explained. "Thank you."

Disappointment flooded Robin as Gold walked off. He turned to Regina. "I guess this is where we part."

"Yeah," she said, taking his hand. "You have my number, address and email address?"

He nodded. "And you have mine?"

"I do." She kissed his cheek, her lips soft against it. "Thank you for all your help through this."

"Thank you as well." He kissed her cheek before holding out his hand to Henry. "And thank you."

Henry hugged him, his face buried in Robin's chest. "Promise we'll see you soon."

"You will," he vowed. "I promise."

Another agent spoke through a bullhorn: "Passengers whose names begin with any letter between A and L, please follow me to your hangar."

Robin let go of Henry, smiling at the boy and his mother. "That's me. I hope David gives you both a big hug when he sees you."

Wrapping her arm around Henry, Regina smiled as well even though she felt like crying. "I hope Marian does the same for you."

He picked up his bags and headed toward the agent with the other passengers who fell into his group. It took all his self-control not to look back at the two as he left the hangar they had called home for the past three days. Robin held his head high as he reminded himself that he would see them again. They weren't going to disappear from each other's lives. Not without a fight, at least on his end.

Robin came to a stop as a line formed outside the hangar. He figured they were trying to keep things orderly and prevent a stampede of loved ones rushing to greet the passengers. His stomach twisted up in knots as he inched his way to the door. Marian was on the other side and he couldn't wait to see her again.

After what seemed like an eternity, he finally reached the door. The agent nodded and let him step inside. He glanced around the room, seeing passengers hugging family and crying. Someone shook their head and others looked upset or shocked. It made his stomach turn. What was going on?

"Robin!"

His heart soared at the sound of her voice. Scanning the crowd, he tried to spot his beloved wife. "Marian?"

She emerged from the group, tears streaming down her face but a smile on her face. Her hair was shorter than when he had spoken to her before leaving Florida and she wasn't wearing a nursing top. Once again his stomach turned but he pushed down the unsettled feeling he had. He was back with Marian and had never been happier.

"Oh my God!" She sobbed as she threw her arms around him. "I can't believe it! It's really you!"

"Yes," he said, holding her close as he fought back his lingering sick feeling. "It's really me."

The agent at the door instructed them to move over so the next passenger could be reunited with their loved ones. Holding onto his wife and his bags, Robin found an unoccupied corner. Marian stepped back, placing her hands on her cheeks as she frowned. "You look just like you did when I last saw you," she said.

"Of course I do," he replied. "It's only been a few days."

She pulled her hands away, shaking her head. "Didn't they tell you?"

"About the five years thing? That can't be true," Robin said. "The turbulence only lasted a few minutes. We couldn't have been gone for that long."

"You have been, Robin. It's been five years. We thought you were all dead. And now...now you're alive. It's a miracle!" She started to cry again, hugging him. He hugged her back but his joy had dimmed. There was no way his wife would lie to him, even if the government tried to force her to do it. Perhaps five years had really passed after all.

"It can't have been five years though," he said, a lump forming in his throat. "Roland...he still has to be a baby. I couldn't have missed so much."

He started to cry as well, the two of them rocking each other. While Robin was glad to be reunited with Marian, part of him wished he was still in the hangar with Regina and Henry. Only a few days had passed for everyone in that room. They hadn't missed much while they were still in there, while they didn't have to face the truth.

They had somehow landed five years into the future. Everything-their families, their friends, their world-was different. They had thought their trials were done but it seemed they were wrong.

They were just beginning.

"Passengers whose last names begin with letters between M and Z, please follow me," another agent announced, waving his hand.

Regina took a deep breath and picked up her bag. She turned to Henry, taking his hand. Keeping her voice light, she asked: "You ready?"

Henry nodded but frowned. "Do you think David is really waiting out there for us?"

"Of course," she replied, surprised by his question. "Why wouldn't he be?"

"What about what Agent Gold said? That we landed five years after we took off? What if David has forgotten about us?" Henry's voice cracked as tears filled his eyes.

She leaned down, tucking her fingers under his chin to make sure his eyes met hers. "I don't know if what Agent Gold said is true. It's hard to believe we somehow were up there for five years or time traveled or whatever. And even if we did, I know in my heart David would never forget us. Okay?"

Henry nodded. "Okay."

"Good." She took his hand. "Come on. We don't want to be the last ones out."

They joined the others leaving the hangar and stepped out into the warm sunshine. She glanced around, hoping to glimpse Robin but he must've already been in his assigned building. Regina hoped his reunion with Marian had been joyous and that they were on their way home so he could hold his son.

Regina focused on her own group and the building they were led to. The agent stopped and addressed them: "We're going to let you all in. Your loved ones have been advised not to rush you and we ask you to do the same. When you're ready to leave, come see me and I'll give you further instructions."

"Here we go," Regina said, mostly to herself as she watched the agent open the door. They all moved forward into the building, eager to see their loved ones again.

It was loud inside. She winced as people started to shout, no doubt calling to their loved ones. None of it made sense to her and she held Henry closer as she tried to spot David's familiar form in the crowd. There were times she thought she saw him but it soon proved not to be the case-the hair was too dark, eyes weren't right, too short, and so on. Her heart hammered in her chest as she tried not worry that no one had come for them.

"Regina!" she finally heard. "Henry!"

Daddy emerged from the crowd, tears running down his cheeks as he smiled at them. He looked older than the last time she saw him-his gray hair was now almost entirely white and there were more lines on his face. Though he smiled brightly and his eyes were lit up, she could see dark shadows underneath them. Her gut told her that such a drastic change could not have occurred over three days' time and it made her stomach twist up.

"Grandpa!" Henry threw his arms around the older man, hugging him tightly. "I'm so happy to see you."

"Not as happy as I am to see you and your mother," her father replied. He pulled Regina into the hug. "I am so glad you are alive."

She clung to him, tears now running down her face. "You thought we were dead?"

"It's been five years, Regina," Daddy told her. "No one knew where the plane went and we couldn't find you. It was the only conclusion."

"But it was only a few days," she replied, feeling dazed.

Daddy pulled away from her, patting her hands. "We've been told but I would love to hear your story. Both your stories."

He turned to Henry, cupping the back of his head as he said in amazement: "You haven't aged since I last saw you."

"Because it's only been a few days." Regina clung to that, not willing to admit the truth. Nor could she ask the other question that was rattling around her mind.

"Grandpa, where's David?" Henry asked, looking around with a frown. "Isn't he here too?"

Daddy grew quiet as Regina's heart pounded in her chest. Something in her gut told her the answer before her father said softly: "He couldn't come today, Henry, but I've spoken to him and he will see you and your mom soon."

She swallowed, her face growing warm as she tried not to think the worst. David loved her and Henry. He wouldn't just forget them or push them aside. There had to be a reason he couldn't be there to greet them.

"Is he working?" Henry asked. "He couldn't get off?"

"Yes. He couldn't get off and had to work," Daddy replied, wrapping his arms around them. "But I'm here. And I'm so happy to see you too. I've missed you so much."

She hugged her father. "I'm glad you're here."

"Come on, let me take you home. I'm sure you're sick of this place." He reached for her bag.

Regina took a deep breath, looking around the building. She had longed to get off the base and go back to her life. However, it was dawning on her that she had really missed five years. What kind of life was she going back to? If she didn't leave the base, could she still pretend all was well?

"Mom?" Henry asked her, looking apprehensive. "Are we leaving?"

The world outside the base was an uncertain one and she would no doubt struggle to find her place in it again. But she also had to worry about her son, who would face a similar struggle. She had to be strong for him, to set a good example for him. Which meant she couldn't hide away and pretend the problem didn't exist. They needed to face it head on.

She took his hand, giving it a squeeze as she did her best to smile. "Yes, we are. Let's go home."

Everything was wrong.

Marian no longer drove her minivan with a car seat in the middle but now drove an SUV with a booster seat in it. She didn't have a diaper bag or bottles but juice boxes and healthy snacks stored in the car. An action figure had lay next to the booster and he could see a soccer ball before Marian had tossed it into the back, apologizing for the mess.

Still, it didn't sink in that he no longer had an infant son as they drove home. Music he had never heard before played on the radio and Marian told him about each one as they avoided the elephant in the car-the time he had missed.

"Where are we going?" Robin asked, frowning when Marian continued onto the New Jersey turnpike rather than take the George Washington Bridge.

"Brooklyn," she replied. "I moved there after you disappeared. It was cheaper and closer to work for me. And it'll be easier to cut through Staten Island than try to fight Manhattan traffic…"

He frowned, panicking slightly. "So I'm heading to a strange house?"

"Robin," she sighed. She paused before continuing: "I know this is strange for you. That for whatever reason, time has been different for you. A lot of things are going to be different. But I will help you adjust."

Robin sighed, looking out the window at the city skyline he would now view from across the East River. He guessed it wouldn't be too bad. "Brooklyn is nice."

She nodded. "You'll love it. Roland and I do."

"Does...Does he know about me?" Robin asked, his stomach clenching again. He still couldn't imagine his son growing up without him.

"He does," Marian replied. "I showed him pictures of you and videos and told him all the stories."

Robin nodded. "Does he know I'm coming back?"

"Yes. Though it was hard to explain how Daddy wasn't an angel after all and was coming home," she told him.

"I can't imagine," he replied honestly.

She nodded. "I know. You're going to have hard questions of your own to answer too."

"Probably some of the same ones," he replied.

"Yeah," she echoed before falling silent again.

Robin turned back to the window, pressing his forehead to the glass. The world continued to pass him by as music he didn't know played. One question rattled around his head:

What was his place in this world now?

It was dark by the time they arrived back in Brooklyn and Robin both worried and hoped Roland was asleep. He wanted to see his boy again but didn't want the confirmation that he had missed years of son's life. Both sides warred inside him as he retrieved his luggage and followed Marian into the house.

All the lights were on inside and he could smell dinner from the front door. He smiled. "That smells like shepherd's pie."

"It is," she replied, closing the door. "I know it's your favorite and I thought you would want it for your homecoming dinner."

"Thank you," he said, kissing her cheek.

Someone cleared their throat and he pulled away, spotting a beautiful Chinese woman standing in the doorway to the kitchen. Her dark hair was pulled up into a bun and she wore a tank top paired with jean capris, her hands on the shoulders of a young boy with dark curls who wore a Spiderman t-shirt and red shorts. He stared at Robin with wide eyes as he leaned against the woman.

"Robin, this is Mulan," Marian said, coming around him to approach the two. "She's my...friend."

Mulan shot Marian a look her couldn't read before holding out her hand. "Nice to meet you."

"You too," he said, shaking her hand. He then crouched down to look the boy in the eyes, smiling. "And who is this handsome young man?"

The boy hid his face in Mulan's legs as Marian knelt next to him. She said softly: "This is Roland. Roland, can you say hi to your father?"

"No," he replied, voice muffled. "Don't wanna."

She sighed as Robin's heart broke. His own son wanted nothing to do with him. It was his nightmare come true – he had missed too much and would likely never be able to share a strong bond with his son.

Marian moved closer to the boy. "Come on, Roland. Your father really wants to say hi to you."

Roland, though, continued to shake his head as he clung onto Mulan tighter. Mulan gave Marian a look. "Maybe back off? Ease him into it?"

"But Robin…" Marian started to protest, making Robin feel uncomfortable. He didn't want his first meeting with Roland to have so much pressure on a boy who was only just starting school.

"Marian," he said, interrupting as he stood. "It's fine. I don't want Roland to do anything he's not ready for. He can say hello when he's ready."

She frowned, standing as well. They moved away as she lowered her voice. "I don't know what's going on. You're all he's ever been able to talk about and he seemed so excited when I left this morning."

"It's one thing to imagine the father you can't remember," he replied, voice just as low as he tried to ignore the pain filling him. "It's another thing for him to be here in the flesh. I'm essentially a stranger."

That statement saddened him. He was a stranger to his son because of some phenomenon no one could explain. All they knew was that somehow they ended up landing five years after they took off. While no time had passed for him, his son had to grow up without him. It wasn't fair to either of them but it was what they were given. So they would need to slowly build their relationship, which he explained to Marian.

She was sad as well but she nodded. "You're right. I'm sure he'll come around in no time. Now, how about we get you some of that shepherd's pie?"

"Sounds good," he said, following her into the kitchen.

Mulan motioned to the living room. "I'll take Roland in there, maybe watch a movie."

"Thank you," Marian said wearily. "I appreciate it."

Robin watched as Mulan brought his son into the next room, hoping to get some glimpse of him again. It was not to be and he had to give up, heading into the kitchen for his welcome home dinner in order to make the most of his homecoming.

Daddy took them out to eat and Regina was glad to see her favorite restaurant was still around. Most of the wait staff had changed but the owner, a sassy older woman everyone called Granny, still worked there as well. She greeted Regina and Henry warmly, hugging them tightly. "We've missed you so much. Everyone cheered when we heard the plane had returned with all of you onboard-alive!" she said.

"Thank you," Regina replied, unsure how to answer. It wasn't as if she had been gone for five years and was grateful to be back so none of the expected platitudes would work for her.

Granny released her and motioned to her usual table. "There you go! Your favorite spot. And I'll go get your favorite dishes."

Regina thanked her again and took her seat with her father and son. Henry looked around, relieved. "I'm glad this is still the same. Everything else seems so strange."

"I know," Daddy replied, patting his back. "But you and your mother are strong. You'll adapt in no time. You'll see."

"I hope so," Henry said. He sighed. "I wish Robin was here."

Daddy frowned, looking at Regina. "Who is Robin?"

"Oh," Regina said, smiling fondly. "He was a fellow passenger on the flight with us. We all sat in the same row and got close the past few days in the hangar."

"And we kept running into him at the Orlando airport. He studies myths and legends and writes books," Henry continued. "And he's British, though he lives here in New York."

Daddy nodded, looking thoughtful. "And will I get to meet this Robin fellow?"

"Yes!" Henry exclaimed. "He and Mom promised to arrange a get-together once everything calmed down."

"I see," her father replied, a knowing twinkle in his eye.

She frowned, not sure why her father was going in that route. "We faced extraordinary circumstances together. That creates a bond, one we want to keep. So we're going to meet up-us, his wife and son and David."

Daddy's face fell and he shifted in his seat. "I see. Well, I wouldn't mind meeting this Robin, if possible."

"Trying to avoid Mother?" she asked, grinning as she sipped her water.

There was a long stretch of silence and when she looked up, she noticed a sadness in her father's eyes. Concerned, she frowned and set her glass down again. "Daddy, what's going on?"

"Nothing," he said, far too quickly for her liking. When she gave him a pointed look, he sighed. "I'll tell you later. For now, let's just enjoy each other."

She frowned, hating how little she knew and how confused she felt. As Granny arrived with their favorite foods, she pushed it aside so that they could enjoy dinner. Especially as Regina felt her world was about to shift yet again.

Henry drove the rest of the conversation, wanting to know everything about the past five years. While his grandfather hadn't stayed up to date with many things in entertainment like TV shows, movies or music, he was able to answer all the boy's questions about sports. Though he did have to break some upsetting news to Henry.

"Jeter retired?" Henry repeated, crestfallen.

Daddy nodded. "A couple years ago."

"I missed his last game?" Henry scowled, crossing arms. "Nuts."

"Don't worry. There's a whole new roster for you to admire now," Daddy assured him.

Henry sighed, playing with the straw in his soda. "It still won't be the same."

"I know," her father said, rubbing his back, "but that doesn't mean it's going to be bad."

Those were wise words, ones Regina knew she was going to have to take to heart. She had been gone for five years and things had changed. It didn't mean they were bad changes. Some probably were but most no doubt weren't. They were just going to have to give them a chance, she figured as they finished their meal.

Daddy paid for their food and they said their goodbyes to Granny before heading home. Night had fallen and the streetlamps had come on, the warm air creating the perfect summer night. Regina wrapped her arm around Henry's shoulders and took a deep breath. "This reminds me of all those evenings we would take a stroll through the park with David," she said, thinking of how she would hold his hand while Henry skipped ahead.

Henry nodded, looking up at his grandfather. "Will he be waiting at the house for us?"

"Uh," Daddy said, looking nervous, "probably not."

"He has a really long shift I guess," Henry replied, looking even more disappointed than when he learned Jeter had retired.

Regina, though, was starting to get suspicious. While David often worked long shifts, it still didn't make any sense that he wouldn't try to get out early or even take off to be with them on the day they returned. The David she knew would want to be the first one they saw, the one to hug them and kiss them as he told them how much he missed them. He would've wanted to break the news about Jeter to Henry and would probably put together some lame PowerPoint presentation to help them catch up on everything they missed in the past five years. The fact he wasn't doing any of that spoke volumes to her and she didn't like the message she was getting.

They arrived at her brownstone and Daddy let them in. Everything still looked like it did when she had left for Florida-there was not hint of dust anywhere. Someone had cleaned-or paid for someone to clean for them. The furniture was still in the same place and all her pictures were intact. It was comforting to be in a familiar place.

"Why don't you go put your suitcase in your room?" she told Henry, gently pushing him toward the staircase. He rolled his eyes but did as she said.

Once he was gone, she whirled on her father and crossed her arms. Keeping her voice down, she said: "Okay, what aren't you telling me? I know something is wrong so just tell me."

He sighed, motioning the kitchen. She followed him into the room and he leaned against the counter as if he needed the support. Daddy looked at her with sad eyes. "I want you to remember that it's been five years for us and that we believed you, Henry and everyone on that plane was dead."

"Okay," she said, the knots in her stomach twisting into knots themselves.

"David...he moved on, Regina," Daddy told her. He took a deep breath before saying: "He's married."

Even though she had started to suspect that, her heart still shattered. David loved someone else and was now spending the rest of his life with her instead of Regina. Tears filled her eyes and she looked away, trying to find a tissue to wipe them away as she processed the fact she no longer had a fiancé, the one person she had wanted to see the most while in that hangar.

"Here," Daddy said softly, holding out a pack of tissues.

She took them, gasping out: "Thank you."

He moved closer to her as she blew her nose. "David was shattered after your plane disappeared. He refused to give up, driving the investigators crazy. It consumed him for months. When he wasn't working, he was trying to find you."

"And then what? He found someone better and just forgot us?" she asked, knowing how bitter she sounded and not caring. She had a right to be bitter when to her, she was engaged three days ago and now she wasn't.

"It wasn't like that," Daddy told her, guiding her to one of her chairs. "And David never forgot you. Neither did Mary Margaret."

She frowned, not sure what her best friend had to do with the conversation. Regina was about to ask him when it clicked into place in her mind. She opened and closed her mouth a few times before asking: "He married Mary Margaret?"

"Yes," Daddy confirmed.

Indignation and anger filled her. Knowing David had married someone who wasn't her was bad enough. The fact it was Mary Margaret made it worse. He married her best friend and it made Regina question everything. Mary Margaret always had talked about what a great man David was and how she hoped to find someone just like him. Had she really wanted him for herself? Did she see Regina's mysterious disappearance as her chance to get him? How long had she waited before she made her move on him?

"Regina, you look like you're going to set the table on fire," her father said, trying to lighten the mood.

She, though, was too worked up. "I would rather set fire to Mary Margaret!"

He sighed, sitting down as well. "I know it's hard to hear and to understand, but it's not like they ran out and got married the day after you disappeared. They've only been married a little over a year now."

"Oh. That's not too long," she replied, her mind spinning. Perhaps now that she was back, David would leave Mary Margaret and come back to her. They would have to wait for the divorce to go through before they married, but she didn't think it would be to difficult to do.

"And Mary Margaret is due in a few months," Daddy continued, shattering her fantasy as it just got started.

Her heart broke at that. Mary Margaret was able to give David the one thing she never could-a biological child. While he had always insisted that he didn't care about her infertility, that Henry was enough though they could always adopt again, she always worried that he was disappointed not to be able to have a child of his own. Now he could.

"They're going to have a baby," she said, hating how hollow her voice sounded. "How nice."

Daddy sighed, looking contrite. "Sorry. You probably weren't ready to hear that."

"It's okay," she lied. "What else should I know?"

Sadness came to his eyes and his voice sounded strangled as he said: "There's something you should know about your mother and why she's not here."

Regina bristled, scowling as she thought of all the reasons why her mother wouldn't be there to welcome her and Henry home. "She had a date at the club and couldn't break it, no matter what? Not even for the daughter and grandson who had been missing for years?"

"She died, Regina. A few months ago," he replied, his voice breaking up as he said the words.

It felt as if someone had punched her and she struggled to catch her breath. Cora Mills had always seemed such a force of nature, Regina believed she would even beat death and live forever. To think she was gone...she couldn't.

"What happened?" she asked, still struggling to breathe.

He sighed, taking her hand. "It was a heart attack. They tried to resuscitate her but she kept going into cardiac arrest. I had to tell them to stop. I didn't want her to be in such pain and it was clear it was her time. So I held her hand and she slipped away."

Tears rolled down his cheeks and Regina's throat felt as if it were closing up. She leaned closer to him as a deep pain filled her body. "I'm sorry you had to go through that alone."

"It was painful but I took solace in the fact...well…" He trailed off, looking away as more tears rolled down his cheeks.

Her heart hurt as she realized what he was going to say. "That she was with me and Henry."

Daddy nodded, looking back at her. She wondered how it felt now to know they weren't dead, what he used to comfort himself. Hopefully her presence as well as Henry's could comfort him. She promised she would help him as best as she could.

"What's wrong?" Henry asked, walking into the kitchen. He frowned. "Why is Grandpa crying?"

Regina felt sick, knowing everything she would have to tell her son. It also seemed sad that she deemed the news about David to be worse than the news about his grandmother as she motioned for him to sit down. But she knew he would be devastated to learn David had moved on, so she knew she had to start with Cora.

"Grandpa is crying because he told me that Grandmother passed away a few months ago," she said softly, holding his hand.

Henry blinked a few times before looking at his grandfather, who nodded sadly. She watched tears well up in his hazel eyes as Henry looked back at her again. "Grandmother died?"

"Yes," she whispered, catching him as he threw himself into her arms. He sobbed against her shoulder, his tears wetting her shirt. She didn't care, focusing on comforting her son. Their relationship with Cora had been complicated but both had loved her.

She just wished she knew if her mother loved them back.

Regina rubbed Henry's back as his sobs subsided. When he was just sniffling and hiccupping, she pulled away and handed him some tissues. She ran her hand through his hair. "You okay, sweetheart?"

He shook his head, blowing his nose. Looking up at her, he said: "I'm tired, Mom. Can I just go to bed?"

"Of course," she said, running her fingers through his hair. "Do you want me to tuck you in?"

"Please?" he asked, sounding like a little boy again. She nodded, wrapping her arm around his shoulders as she led him upstairs to get ready.

Once he had changed and was tucked into bed, Regina returned to the kitchen. A glass of whiskey sat in front of her chair, which she sank into as she picked up the glass. She looked at her father, who shrugged. "I figured you would need it after the day you've had."

"Days," she replied. She paused before saying: "Years, apparently."

He nodded. "I know this all must so hard to process."

"It's just so confusing. I really can't believe it hasn't only been a few days, so my mind can't understand how David could've gotten married and Mother died so quickly." She took a sip of the whiskey, the feel of it burning as it slid down her throat a reminder it was not a dream.

Daddy took his hand. "Okay, maybe I don't know what you're going through."

"Probably not," she agreed, "but you're going through so much as well that I don't know. You lost me and Henry, lost Mother and then gained me and Henry back."

He smiled, chuckling. "Your mother probably is crowing about that wherever she is. She never believed you were dead and made it her mission to find you and Henry."

That surprised Regina, who couldn't imagine Cora doing anything that didn't involve spending time with the other rich wives at the country club. Or a swarm of cameras surrounding her. Regina narrowed her eyes as she asked: "For publicity sake?"

"No," he said. "She actually shied away from the cameras and let others take the spotlight. Instead, she went out and bothered everyone she could in order to get answers. She would not accept the fact that the plane just disappeared and believed you were still alive until there were bodies for us to bury."

Regina's heart hurt hearing confirmation of the one thing she wanted the most. In the end, Cora had loved her. She had seen her mother angry and determined before, so she felt bad for everyone who had to deal with Cora but she was also happy that her mother had done that for her and Henry.

And now she would never get to thank her.

She broke down crying again, her father scooping her up in his arms like she was a child again. He held her close, rocking her. "I know you two didn't have the best relationship-you were too similar-but she loved you."

"I loved her too," she gasped out, sobbing. "Even when she made me so mad...I still loved her. And I never got to tell her that."

"She knew," he assured her. "She knew how much you loved her."

Regina continued to sob in his arms, though she wasn't sure what she was mourning-the five years she missed? The marriage she should've had? Her mother and the relationship they could've had? Perhaps it was all of them.

Daddy rubbed her back as her sobs slowly stopped and she started to hiccup. He then stood and got her some water, handing the glass to her as he sat down again. "Maybe you should go get some sleep too."

"Yeah," she agreed, feeling fatigued. Her limbs felt like concrete and she was fighting to keep her eyes open. "Sleep sounds good."

"I've placed new sheets on your bed and got you a whole bunch of new toiletries. So everything is ready," he assured her.

"Thank you," she replied. "What about your room?"

He smiled, patting her hand. "It's all made up. Your mother and I moved here after the plane went missing. We did not want anyone to sell your home and we believed we could do our work better here in New York than Florida."

"Oh," Regina said, feeling even worse. Her mother had given up her life in Florida to come back to New York to find Regina and Henry. And she had just kept assuming the worst about her the entire time.

She felt like a shitty daughter.

Daddy squeezed her hand. "I can always find my place. I'm sure you don't want your father cramping your style."

"No, no," she insisted, desperately wanting to keep her father close. He was all she had left of her family now along with her son. "You can stay forever as far as I'm concerned. And I'm sure Henry will love having you around."

"Good," he replied, sounding relieved. "Because I don't want to miss another moment with you two ever again."

He stood, picking up her empty glass and kissing the top of her head. "Why don't you go to bed? You look exhausted."

"I am exhausted," she said, feeling her body grow as heavy as her heart. "Sleep sounds good."

Daddy helped her up and pulled her into a hug. "I can't begin to imagine what you're going through, Regina, but just remember that you're not alone. I'll be here to help you and Henry as you adjust to your new life."

"Thank you," she whispered. "I don't know what I would do without you."

They held each other tightly for some more time before Daddy pulled away. He kissed her forehead again and urged her to go to bed. "I'll clean up down here. Don't worry," he assured her.

She thanked him and wished him a goodnight before heading up to her bedroom. Regina flipped on the light and closed the door behind her, standing in the middle of the room she had shared with David only a week prior.

Well, at least to her.

Regina pulled out a clean pair of pajamas and changed into them, deciding she could shower in the morning when she had more energy. For now, she just washed her face and brushed her teeth while ignoring that all of David's toiletries were gone from the bathroom. It was just too painful to acknowledge for now.

But it got even more painful as she climbed into bed. Daddy had put fresh sheets on her bed and when she picked up the pillow that had once been David's, his scent was gone. All traces of him were gone from her room and the loneliness crashed down upon her. She curled onto her side, clutching the pillow and letting the tears flow. Regina lay under the blankets and sobbed for everything she had lost.

David.

Mother.

The life she had.

The life she should've had.

She cried until sleep took her, carrying off to a land without dreams or memories. For a few hours, she could just float and not have to deal with anything until the morning.

And then the pain would start all over again.

A/N: Here's chapter 2! There are some answers here – what happened to David at least in the five years. There are more revelations to come as Robin, Regina and Henry get used to their new lives and the fact it's been five years for everyone else.

I hope you all have a great weekend!

-Mac