It's not how she wants to spend her weekend but her mother surely does have a thing with timing.

When she called, she knew then that it's going to screw up her time with Robin but another habit of hers that she could not break and that is to refuse her mother.

She was so preoccupied about going back that she had not realized that Robin would find out what day it is. When her father greeted her, she could feel Robin's eyes on her, the question on his face for her to see.

Her birthday is not something she likes to celebrate. To her, it's like any other day, not worth mentioning. That's why she never bothered telling him about it. Honestly, she had forgotten about it up until her mother called to tell her that she had thrown a party in her honor.

It was a lie, of course.

The party was for her mother. Cora likes the spotlight and she's just using her birthday as a reason to have one.

Coming back to their house did something to her. It always does each time. It made her resort to her old self, tensed, guarded, and prone to snap. She hates being like that and yet she could not help it.

She knows that Robin is observing her but she could not bring herself to explain to him what's going on. When he met her mother, she almost held her breath because god knows what's going on with her mother's wicked brain.

Robin did not back down, however. She always admires that about him. He stood his ground and matched her mother's comments with his own. She can see that it is throwing her mother off a bit while it impresses her father.

Everyone seems to be intimidated with Cora Mills but Robin seems unaffected.

Cora is hell-bent in belittling him from making side comments about his upbringing up to his small beginnings. She can't, however, do the same with his company because Robin really did a great job at it. He made a name for himself and he did it honorably without throwing someone under the bus.

"My daughter has peculiar taste in everything, I must say. Sometimes, despite that brilliant head of hers, she can still be blind",

"She is right here, Mother", but her mother just ignored her like she always does.

Robin feigned an intrigued expression. "How so?"

"For example, the marriage she threw into the trash", that made her tense even more. "How on earth did she let that man go is beyond me. It was a shame really. Graham was a noble man, smart, handsome, and successful. He had given everything for her and she tossed him aside and divorced him. Not her finest moment, I admit",

She saw the way Robin clenched his jaw. Her parents had been oblivious about what happened with her marriage and despite the records that they surely had seen because of their influence, they never believed it. They just thought she made it all up so she could get out of her marriage and be free of Graham.

"I say she did the smart thing", Robin said.

"Of course, you would say that because look at you now. You're here leeching off my daughter! Don't get me wrong. I see that you've done well with that company of yours but my daughter is an heir to a multi-million dollar empire. I guess, it's part of her appeal, no?"

"Mother, that's enough", she barked.

How dare she assume that Robin is only with her for the money? He's not that kind of man and yet, she is quick to judge him.

"It's not why I fell in love with your daughter", Robin said.

Cora laughed at that while waving her hand.

"Yes, it's the right thing to say but I know people, Mr. Locksley. You did well wooing her and all that but you're not going to fool me",

"I said that's enough, Mother. Is that why you asked me to come here? You could have saved the effort of doing all this and just told me on the phone", she snapped.

Her father just remained mute as usual. He's not one to join in the arguments between her and her mother even back then.

"I've asked you to come here to knock some sense in that stubborn head of yours, foolish girl. When you left, I let you find your footing and when you married Graham, I thought that you understood all the lessons I imparted on you but I was wrong. You made a mistake and I am here to fix it",

She started sweating because she does not like where this is going. Her mother is a manipulator by nature. She's not going to insist on her coming back if she does not have something up her sleeves.

"Mother…what did you do?"

At this point, Robin is standing beside her, holding her shaking hand.

"It was a long conversation as you see, he's bereft for what you did but I managed to convince him to give you another chance. You're lucky he is a forgiving man",

Just like he came into her line of sight and whatever resolve she has vanished. She is just plain trembling before their eyes.

Graham walked towards them with that smug smile on his as her mother greeted him like they're old friends. Her father politely greeted him but not as warm as her mother. He knew he's there too and he did not bother telling her.

"Hello, Regina", Graham said.

She froze upon hearing his voice. It was enough to send her back to the place she fought so hard to get out of. She thought she's strong enough to fight, to face him when the time comes but she was wrong.

"Regina, dear…where are your manners?" Cora chided.

"Robin…"

"We're leaving", he growled but before she can follow him, a strong hand gripped her arm that she jerked back roughly.

That's when Robin saw red.

"Don't touch her, you monster!"

Everything happened so fast. One moment she was standing there seeing Graham for the first time in years and the next, Robin and Graham are brawling against each other on the ground.

Her mother had yelled for security to break up the fight and that's when she snapped out of her trance.

"Stop! Robin!" Her voice broke through to him and Robin let go of Graham.

She has never seen this side of him before and she should be scared but she knows that he is only trying to protect her.

He joined her side while Graham glared at the two of them. His nose is clearly broken just like Robin's lip is cut.

"This is unacceptable! After welcoming you to our house, you have the nerve to cause such scene. We're pressing charges!" Her mother exclaimed.

Regina has had enough. She stood in front of Robin and glared at her own mother.

"No, you won't…because when the cops get here, it won't be Robin they'll be arresting", she then turned to Graham next to her mother. "I believe the warrant for your arrest is still standing. Your violated the restraining order when you came to Storybrooke and now you're here in our house despite knowing I will be here. Unless you want to find yourself in prison, I suggest you leave now", she hissed.

Cora blinked in confusion so does her father. None of them knew that there is a warrant of arrest out for Graham and they invited a fugitive in their home.

Graham sent her one last glare before walking away. She then checked on Robin and saw the bruise forming on his face. He is still seething and if she had not stopped him, he could have killed Graham right then and there and he would have gotten himself in trouble.

"Let's go", she whispered to him.

"Regina!" Her mother called.

"We're leaving, Mother",

"What have you done this time? What warrant?" She asked.

They still think it's all her doing, that she set up Graham out of nothing. She shook her head in disbelief because they should be the first ones to believe her, to take her side.

"You mean aside from the fact that I protected myself from the man who beat me up for years? You never believed it, none of you did. I should not care but you were the ones who supposed to protect me first but you chose to be blind to save face. I was suffering and you had seen it but you did nothing. I got out and you blamed me for throwing a life that you thought to be a dream. Well, it wasn't!" She lost the care if there are other people watching them. "I'll die first before I go back to that hell of a marriage. So, you can hate my choices. You can disown me if you like. Take me off the inheritance. I don't give a damn. You're not going to sentence me to another life of getting beat up by a man you deemed to be worthy of your only daughter!"

It was Robin who dragged her out of there this time, leading her to his car.


She is still shaking. Making a scene is not her forte but her mother just had that effect on her. She should not have come. She should have just ignored her call that morning. What was she thinking?

She even brought Robin and all it did was show him how crazy her family is.

Graham's face is still burned in her brain, the way he was glaring at her. She could not shake it off her system. He had hurt Robin too and that is unforgivable.

"Breathe, Regina", Robin finally said.

He is still focused on driving but she knows he is as angry as she is.

"I'm so sorry I dragged you into this",

He should not have witnessed that. He should be at home, relaxing, taking a break from work, and she brought him into the circus.

"I'm glad you did. There is no way I am letting you face all of that on your own", he said.

She knows he is not just talking about her parents. He is talking about Graham. It's the first time he'd seen him since it all started.

"What you did…I am grateful. I truly am, but you can't do that again", he frowned at her. "You could have killed him back there",

"…and what? You're suddenly concerned of his well-being? You want to protect him now?" He spat.

His ire is now directed towards her.

"What? No. That's now what I was—"

"One second is all it takes, is that it? Your mother's words and you saw him and that's it? You don't want him to get hurt. Well…I did not see that one coming", he cut her off.

She could not believe it. Does he really think that after everything that man did to her, she wants to protect him?

"I was actually thinking that I don't want you to land in jail for beating a man to death but I guess, we're not thinking the same thing",

It softened his expression, finally understanding what she meant but as he reached for her hand, she pulled away.

"Regina, I'm sorry for snapping at you. It's just…seeing him there, and he had the audacity to touch you. I just…I lost control. I couldn't…I'm sorry",

"I was there. I saw it. I know why you did it but you can't throw away your life for me. I won't let you. This cannot happen again, Robin. Promise me",

She can see that he's debating it in his head. If given the chance, she is certain that he wants nothing more than to hurt Graham real bad but it will only cost him and she cannot let him do that.

"I can't promise that I will just standby and let him hurt you",

"I know…but you can promise me that you will not seek him out and avenge me. Can you at least do that?" She asked.

He turned to her briefly and smiled.

"Yes, I can promise you that",

"Good…now, let's go home and put this day behind us", she responded.