"Hey."

He can see how she startles at his greeting, looking up at him with her eyes clouded and her brow furrowed. His hand lands on her shoulder, his lips finding hers for a soft kiss. Robin melts in the kiss, no matter how short, feeling the tension in Regina's shoulders slightly relaxing as she seems to let go a bit of whatever is bothering her. He never forgot how it felt, to kiss her, to feel her presence, the softness of her skin beneath his palm, her scent that was a mix of fruits with a hint of pepper.

It's been two years for her, but for him, no matter how much he missed her during the almost two months he spent with his children, it feels as if it was yesterday the last time they were together.

Well, somehow it is. It's yesterday the day he last saw her and somehow it still feels surreal. To think that he was brought back from the dead, that he got another chance at life, to see his children again – damn, Roland got so tall, and Robyn is such a joyous little girl now when she was only a newborn last time he held her – and get the opportunity to find his love back.

So much has changed in the matter of two years. Discovering that all of the ones he thought were enemies worked together under Henry's guidance to bring him, a nobody to most, back to life, stunned him. He found out that Regina's son had used all of his willpower, all of the guilt he could draw out of them, all of the unfairness of the situation so they would cave in and give a happy ending to the two people who did nothing but try to help everyone the best they could over the last years and paid the ultimate price for it.

Zelena, as... settled as she seems to be now, admitted in the strangest but awkwardly calmest talk they ever had, that Henry reminded them all that the heroes always win, and that it made no sense that Robin Hood had died when everyone else was alive. That his mother, the former Evil Queen who had gone all of her ways to reach redemption, was the only villain in town to be deprived of her happiness. That he, the truest believer, born from the purest magic of all, was separated from his mother. She told him that Henry warned them he wouldn't give up until they all agreed to follow his plan, but that actually, without even resorting to that, he had simply managed to convince them all after a simple talk.

It brought some hope into Robin's heart, to see the change in this wicked woman who once deceived him and Regina in the vilest ways. It made him realize the power Henry could have over people, and allowed him to leave his daughter to her mother's care with serenity, knowing that Robyn would be here for him to see when he would come back.

However, he barely slept last night. Because if people changed in Storybrooke, Regina also changed, he could tell... His mind was both full of the excitement of having seen her again, but also torn by the guilt as she now has to abandon this new life she made for herself so suddenly because of him. Although her relief to discover that he was alive warmed his heart and reassured him about her feelings for him, he also understands that things aren't so easy for her. That's why he wasn't surprised when she asked for this moment alone with him. He must admit that he as well needs some private time with her.

Despite the happiness filling him to the brim when he thinks of Regina, he also feels completely lost, because somehow, he needs to catch up on what he missed to find out more about this new woman that she's become after - because of - his death. She surely has changed, he sensed that during the short time they had yesterday before she had to go back to her house.

"Hey," she answers, a hand finding his immediately.

His eyes land there, on their joined hands, shuddering at the so much needed physical contact, this reminder of what they had, their relationship that might not have been the most expressive one, but that was made of regular and gentle touches, hands, kisses, looks, words of support that meant more than they could express. He barely realizes that his thumb began absentmindedly rubbing the back of her hand as he sits on a stool next to her, noticing her turmoil immediately.

There's something wrong, so much is clear, and it scares him. For a second, he fears that she changed her mind, that she's decided to stay with that man, and his gut twists in anxiety, uncertain all of a sudden, despite all the signs that show how much she needs him right now.

"What's wrong, Regina?" he asks, not really wanting to beat around the bush for too long. Better rip the bandage now rather than later.

Her gaze is fixed upon the counter, and Robin recognizes that look. It's guilt. It's shame. It's her hating herself for doing something, and at this moment he's not sure at all that he will be her choice. Maybe she changed her mind over the course of the night. Maybe, when she found herself in that man's arms, she forgot all about him. She probably fell in love with him during those two years and moved on, even if she still has feelings left for him.

"I haven't been able to tell Andrew the truth," she whispers.

His fear becomes real in this instant, his heart hammering fast in his chest and making breathing more difficult, but he can't let it show. He can't impose his sadness on her when Regina already went through so many painful ordeals because of him, when she's suffered so much, she had to tear herself from her son.

However, he can sense her pain, her struggle to admit out loud the decision that will break him, so he does what he always did. He scoots his stool closer, his hand sliding from her shoulder to her back soothingly. He closes his eyes the space of a few seconds, enjoying this, the way he can simply be here for her, before everything will end.

"About you," she finishes, daring to look up.

They are brimming with unshed tears, her eyes, and it strikes him with how much she is suffering right now. This is as heartbreaking for her as it is for him, so he needs to be strong, he can't give her another reason to feel bad.

"You love him?"

There's no resentment in his question, even though he's holding his breath. He's afraid of her answer, but he will accept it, whatever it is.

"No."

The relief that washes over Robin, he could almost pass out from it. But he stands still, because this might not mean she chose him.

"I mean... I have feelings for him, yes. I care about him a lot. But I can't say that I love him, not the way I... It's not the same as what you and I had," she stutters, frowning and swallowing with difficulty, inhaling sharply before exhaling slowly, her body shuddering in his hold.

Keeping his face neutral, he doesn't stop rubbing his thumb over the back of her hand, his palm against her back. If this doesn't soothe her, at least it helps him center himself, anchor himself to her, and also, take as much from her as he can, especially if it's the last time.

"How long have you two been together?"

"Barely two months." She shrugs, focusing her gaze on their joined hands, and Robin listens, lets her reveal that life she lived without him. "It was still new, that's why I didn't tell Henry, I didn't want him to expect something out of this. You see, Andrew, he is a bit like me." She looks up, scrunches her nose in that way he likes. "He's a bit wild, and mostly, he went through a tragedy as well. He lost his wife in a car accident when their youngest daughter was barely two months old. Actually, she died a bit around the same time you did."

Robin glances down at this, frowning before he meets her eyes again. He understands better why she seems to feel so attached to that man. "You were connected through your own griefs."

"Yes," she says with a small smile that seems grateful. "When I took the job, he was a ghost to his children, barely there, hiding in his job, and with time, I helped him stop running away from his family and his home. Just like he helped me, well... living again. Laughing."

"Be happy," Robin finishes for her, mentioning the one thing that jumped to his eyes yesterday, in that park. Because she was happy, even a blind man could see it, so him, her soulmate... He felt it in his core.

She ducks her head in a silent agreement, clutches his fingers a little bit anxiously, which only increases his own turmoil. "I'm not stupid enough to say that he's in love with me, but I know he cares about me a lot as well. But I... I was gifted with what he will never have, I got you back when his wife will stay dead and... I don't want to hurt him. And I don't want to hurt you either, or Henry. You have no idea how hard it was to leave my son behind, Robin, how it tore me apart. Your death, it broke me, I was getting crazy, I was even seeing you and talking to you, that's how insane I became. Now I'm alright, and you are here, so I don't understand why I'm unable to simply throw everything away and leave with you like I should instead of hurting everyone. I seem to have fallen back into my old ways, I don't know what's wrong with me," she sighs with annoyance, looking at the ceiling before inhaling sharply.

Robin moves closer, unable to listen to this, to her hurting herself again. She is facing a unique situation, a difficult choice, and she can't blame herself for struggling through this. She can't be back to hating herself for simply trying to deal with such an unlikely situation. However, the bribes of information she gave him just confused him even more, and he needs answers as well. Not knowing what she went through isn't helping him one bit either.

"Regina, look at me." When she does, he's looking at her with love in his eyes, the way he knows she likes and that has always reassured her, one of his hands lifting to cup her cheek gently. Truly, despite his confusion and the angst of the moment, he could stay like this forever and just never look away from her, ever again. "I don't know what happened to you during those two years, but for you to have let your son behind, I can imagine that you weren't in the best state of mind."

"That's an understatement," she whispers.

"Regina, may I ask..." He frowns, ducking his head. "What do you mean when you say that you were seeing me?"

She chuckles, and that's a reaction he didn't expect. Pulling back slightly, he observes the way she sheepishly glances at him.

"I... I don't even know why I'm laughing, it's quite pathetic when you think about it." She takes a deep breath. "When... when you died, I felt, well... alone, to say the least. Emotionally devastated. I don't know if that's the reason why I started seeing you right after your funeral. Wherever I'd go, you were with me, you'd talk to me sometimes, try to force me to survive, to fight, to get better. You were giving me advice when I was lost, keeping me company when I was alone."

She turns his hand between hers, traces the lines of his palm with her index finger, and Robin lets her, shuddering at the touch. She seems to need a moment because she stays silent for a few seconds, but then she resumes.

"It was both a blessing and a curse, because as soothing as it was, I also knew it wasn't real. I couldn't…" Her hands are toying with his own, her brow furrowing as she places his palm against her chest, keeping him there while she closes her eyes, and he willingly lets her, enjoys the feeling of her heart beating in the crook of his hand. "I couldn't touch you. It was a torture."

Robin brings his free hand to her face, brushing the side of her jaw gently. The gesture has the effect he wanted, as she looks up at him.

"I'm here now," he assures, leaning forward to kiss her forehead. "But there's something I need to understand: Henry told me that you were always supposed to go back to Storybrooke, even if I had stayed dead."

"Yes," she confirms. "That's a promise I made to him when I told him I was going to leave. He doesn't know, but I actually was planning on going back for his graduation at the latest, whether or not I was feeling better."

"Does Andrew know about that?"

She tilts her head, nodding. "He does. Me leaving was always a part of my contract."

"And once you got together?"

He knows when she looks down that she followed his train of thoughts, that she feels stuck, and Robin lets the surge of guilt at the knowledge that he just made her uncomfortable wash over him, but he doesn't take his question back. After listening to such a speech about how much she suffered without him, but also after she admitted how she couldn't break the heart of the man who was there for her when he couldn't, he needs to know. He needs to know if his heart will be broken for the second time in the matter of two days, if he will have to let her go, because if that's her choice, he will.

"We didn't discuss it again. It was too soon to make decisions, and none of us knew where we were going," she admits, frowning.

Robin cups her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze that she stubbornly avoids. She came to him for support and advice, and as much as it costs him that's what he's going to do.

"But now it's time, Regina. Henry expects you to go back with him. And I… I will respect your decision," he says shakily. "This man, Andrew, he seems to be a kind person, and if you want to stay with him then fine, but—"

"Robin, wait—"

"No, let me finish," he cuts her off, shaking his head because this is killing him. In this moment, he knows how badly she suffered, because letting her go to someone else and telling her so face to face is making it hard to breathe. It's making his entire world crumble, his chest squeezing so hard words barely make it past his lips, but he can't stop now, or he'll forever regret it. "You found a man who could be here when I wasn't, and I… Regina, I only want you to be happy. And you must be happy with him, otherwise you wouldn't have taken your engagement ring off," he points out, rubbing the empty space on her finger and drawing her lost gaze there. "It must mean that you moved on," he says before she can answer, because if she interrupts him he'll never find the strength to finish this. And he needs her to know what's on his mind. "And as much as I want you to choose me, after all of what you've been through because of me, I am in no position to ask you to come back to me if that's not what you want. You are…" His brimming eyes meet her wet ones. "You are my everything, Regina. My forever. But there's no way I'll force you away from this happiness that you found without me, unless you ask me to."

He finishes, breathless, anxious, feeling as if he had just run a marathon, so he doesn't expect her to press her lips against his, wrapping her arms around his neck to pull him closer. He melts in her embrace, in her kiss, surrendering to this bond that will never break between them, that is still there even after two years of absence. When she pulls back, she sticks her forehead to his and sighs, grinning.

"Robin… My happiness is you. Of course I am coming back to Storybrooke with you."

The relief that invades him in this moment overcomes everything, and he kisses her again like his life depends on it, only receding once he is sure that she will not slip away from him this time.