The day had started out well enough. They'd gotten news from the doctors that her papa would be discharged from the hospital, his heart stable enough to beat on its own without oxygen loss or chest pain. "Low blood pressure," the paramedics had said when they wheeled him away into the ambulance, but she knew the truth was far more a medical anomaly as it wasn't from this realm.
"Tils, you still up here?" Robin asked after knocking, the door creaking open.
Alice sniffled, the minute sound reverberating in the small room, not having the energy to respond. She'd told Robin earlier that she would take a nap so that she could see her papa sooner, but the harsh reality had set in when she had sprawled out on the bed. The festivities in the pub below them had fooled her into thinking that since the curse was over and there was no more danger, they could be together again, father and daughter as they were meant to be.
Robin's footsteps thumped across the hardwood floor, slipping past the empty stripped bare bed where Alice was supposed to be asleep, and toward a cardboard house in the corner which hadn't been there an hour prior. The assortment of clothes, toys, and trinkets, owned mainly by the adventurer and realm traveler, had been moved in from the apartment a cursed detective and informant briefly shared.
The archer knocked lightly on an open box, peering over the short ledge and lifting the bed sheet roof. "Can I come in? Get some light in here?"
She nodded, cocooned from view in the cotton blanket as Robin tossed the white sheets away and stepped over the miscellaneous boundary. Robin sat in front of her, parting the blanket, letting her see the other better in the sunlight streaming through the window.
Alice had done a poor job of hiding the damage; puffy eyes, bitten nails, and sniffling gave her away. Sure, it wasn't like there was a magic spell that would make the pain go away but she had tried it anyway. Alice had her knees up to her chest, hiding her face behind her hands. It was like she was a child again, small and alone, playing around with the notion of being unseen if she couldn't see them. It was easier this way, so her love couldn't see the mess she was in.
Robin rubbed her shoulder, comforting her like she always would. "Take your time. I'm here."
"It's all my fault that he's in hospital in the first place! If I had just kept away, I wouldn't have hurt him and we wouldn't have gotten so close," she said sobbing, her body trembling.
"No, no it's not. You two had a connection from the start. Gothel may have poisoned him but can you imagine anything trying to stop him from being by your side?" That got a small laugh out of her partner. "See, you know I'm right."
Alice shook her head, still firmly plastered to her hands. "UGH, I'd give anything to go back and spend time with him. We may have been cursed but it was nice. Everyone gets to be with their loved ones now but where am I? I don't belong there," she said bitterly.
"Hey, hey, you don't mean that. We've just found each other again. I'm sure my mom and Aunt Regina will have some ideas on how to fix things up."
Alice moved her hands to the top of her hand, feeling as if she might explode, breathing heavily. "But they didn't before so why would they now?! What if Papa and I are stuck like this forever? It's not like magic exists here."
"Well, then we'll figure it out together. Take it one step at a time," Robin reassured her, rubbing one of her hands with her thumb gently as Alice let her take it.
With a deep breath, Alice let her arms fall to her sides. "I hope so, Targot." Alice's blue eyes glistened as she looked up at Robin's green eyes that held a sweet and steady disposition. "I'm glad to have you."
Robin moved random blonde tresses of hair out of the way and kissed her tear streaked cheek. Alice smiled. "How about we get out of this fort and get some air?" The archer stood up and offered her hand out for the adventurer to grab.
The blanket slipped off as Alice took her hand in reply and they stepped over the cardboard boxes. She raised an eyebrow. "What do you have in mind?" Robin had that excited look the gal could only take to mean mischievous fun. "You sure the party won't miss you?"
"Nah, I doubt anyone will notice." Robin grabbed a towel and her partner's backpack from the items nearby. They headed towards the window. "Come on." She hopped out first onto the fire escape; Alice followed suit. When they got to the bottom, the taller blonde grabbed a water bottle from the backpack and poured some water onto the towel. Carefully, she wiped Alice's face until the other looked freshened up. "There!"
Alice pouted, feeling like she was being left in the dark, standing outside the circle. "Robin! You still haven't told me where we're going."
"How do you feel like seeing your dad?"
"Papa?" She looked hopeful until her face quickly dropped into a scowl. "Were you not listening a moment ago?! I think you're forgetting something crucial in this plan. Best not to." Alice turned away, ready to head back to Robin's temporary room at Roni's.
Robin grabbed her arm. "Wait!" She dug through the backpack as Alice waited, arms crossed. "You can with this."
Alice put on her olive green backpack as Robin zipped it up and passed her the small device. "With my phone? It's worth a shot but we don't have to be out here to do that."
"I know, I know, but hear me out. How about you stand across the street and talk to him with that when he arrives back home? He should be there within the hour, right? By the time we walk there, we'll make it."
"Will it be safe?" Alice pleaded, her eyes begging Robin not to let her down.
Robin reassured, "Al, I'm sure it will be. The distance across is not ideal but that works out in your favor. It's better than being stuck here in your sorrow and worries." She nudged Alice's shoulder with her elbow.
"Mmm, let's go surprise him then!" They linked arms, walking as Alice rambled in a worried panic on what to say and Robin reassuring her they'd be fine, until they arrived at the street intersection.
"Alice, breathe. You can do this. You'll know the right thing to say. I'll go down half the block and wait by the water fountain to give you two space, okay?"
"Yeah. I'll see you then." Alice kissed Robin's hand as they parted and a taxi with her papa inside turned the corner down the street, heading toward the apartment complex.