Hello my dear friends !
I am sorry I can't be here as much as I can, this year at Uni is one of my last and this is really complicated for me... But I am still writing and I hope you'll be there !
I love you all 3
The reunion is almost there ... ;)
Chapter 11:
2005
Regina was sat on the cab, sobbing.
But she was making the right choice.
For Robin.
He couldn't be without his family and she wouldn't ask that of him, no matter how heartbroken that would leave her.
She sobbed again.
"Are you alright, love?" asked the driver and she sniffled, wiped her eyes.
"No."
"Do you want to talk about it, then?"
She closed her eyes tight and took a deep breath.
"No..."
Robin had not moved.
His eyes were lost and he was still glaring at the door where Regina had disapeared a couple of minutes ago.
"Oh Robin..." breathed Ana and he jumped, his blue eyes falling on her and there was a storm brewing there, she knew it couldn't be good. "I am so sorry."
He didn't answer.
Instead he turned around and looked at his family.
Then he opened the mouth,
"I'm going after her."
And he left without a word more.
2015
Regina was making herself breakfast when her phone rang, she took it thinking it to be Robin ( they had spent an awful time talking, lately and she didn't know how to feel about that) but couldn't help the small disapointment when she saw it wasn't him.
She unlocked her phone and frowned slightly, before a small smile appeared on her face.
Daniel Colter : Hi Regina! I don't know if you remember me but I was with you in highschool, we even dated for a bit. ;) Just wondering how you were after all these years.. Are you coming in the reunion in two weeks?
Regina froze.
Two weeks.
Oh God, it couldn't be...
Could it be two weeeks already?
Before answering Daniel, she left Facebook and hurried to dial a number she hated to admit she still knew by heart.
"Hello, Regina." came his voice and she closed her eyes, trying to pretend she wasn't affected.
Because she wasn't.
(Liar.)
"I just realized the reunion is in two weeks."
A moment of silence.
"I know."
"Two fucking weeks, Robin!"
He chuckled slightly and she could almost picture him running a hand through his hair.
"Calm down, Regina. We're ready."
And when she felt relief washed through her, Regina realized ( with horror) that this was exactly what she had needed, exactly why she had called him right away.
Because she needed someone to comfort her.
And he had always be that someone...
"Do you really think so?" and she hated that her voice was so small, but she was genuinely scared of what might happen.
And what if someone saw through their charade?
And what if Zelena understood how pathetic and desperate she really was, to ask someone to be her fake date...
Oh God.
What had she got herself into?
"I do." and his voice made her leave her thoughts. "Don't worry, everything will be fine. I promise."
She swallowed.
"I'm sorry I bothered you."
"You never bother me, Regina. I am glad that you called me."
And the softness and warmth in his voice...
She couldn't do that.
Her heart didn't agree with her mind.
And the latter still won.
"I have to go." she cleared her throat.
"Regina-"
"Have a good day, Robin."
And then she closed the call.
She buried her face in her hands, and then her phone rang again.
Please let it not be Robin.
(Let it be Robin)
But when she looked at it,
Daniel Colter : I do hope that you're coming.
She took a deep breath and ran a hand through her hair before taking her phone,
Regina Mills is writting...
Regina Mills: Hi Daniel, of course I remember you! I am actually fine, lawyer in New York just like I dreamt to be. How are you? I hope you became the veterinary you dreamt of being. And yes, I am coming to the reunion in two weeks... Glad to know you will be there !
And she waited.
Daniel Colter is writting...
Daniel Colter : Congratulations on you being a lawyer! I always knew you could do it. As for me, yes I became a veterinary but in Los Angeles ( a lot more sunny there, haha).
Daniel Colter : Aren't you a bit stressed about the reunion? Because I know that I am, this is all I can think about lately...
She chuckled.
Regina Mills is writting...
Regina Mills : Oh thank God, I thought I was the only one! I am so anxious at the thought of being there again, and meet all of this people I haven't seen in ages. Talk about pressure. haha
And congrats to you, too. You were always brilliant, Daniel. I knew you could do it.
She waited a few more minutes but he must have been disconnected.
Regina threw her phone on the couch and laid down, stretching.
Two weeks...
Two weeks and after that, she'll have to say goodbye to Robin again.
Her heart squeezed at the thought.
Two weeks.
"Daddy, are you ok?" asked Roland, frowning slightly and Robin jumped, before smiling at his son.
"Everything is fine, my boy."
"Is Regina coming to play with me, today?"
Robin smiled, his son had instantly taken a liking into Regina, not that it had surprised him. Like father, like son...
He forced himself to push this thought out of his mind.
"Not today, Roland."
The child nodded and then gave his father a quick hug.
"I love you, daddy."
Robin hugged him back,
"I love you too."
And then his son ran out of the living room to play spies in the rest of the flat and Robin chuckled to himself, before sittig on his couch and taking a deep breath, the conversation with Regina still fresh in his mind.
Two weeks.
Two weeks and then he would have to let her go...
"Bloody hell." he whispered to no one but himself.
How would he be able to do that?
A few days later, Regina found herself daydreaming at work, and she didn't even notice someone had knocked, until a voice asked
"What are you thinking about?"
She jumped.
"No one."
Mal smirked and walked to her, until she was sat on the chair in front of her.
"No one, huh?"
"Oh shut up, Mal."
"Are you thinking about this man you're always talking to?"
Regina froze.
Daniel.
They had spent the last days talking on Facebook, then by text when she gave him her number because it was way easier this way.
But how could she tell the truth to Madelyn?
How could she admit that yes, she was spending her time talking to Daniel.
But she was spending her time thinking about someone else...
"Robin." said gently Madelyn and Regina froze, could feel the colour leave her face as she looked up, and her bestfriend was looking at her like she knew something Regina was still unaware of.
(She hated that look)
"Don't look at me like that."
"Sorry."
A silence.
"You're not going to say something?"
Mal shrugged.
"Do you want me to?"
"No."
"Then no, I'm not."
Regina's eyes widened.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that."
Now, that was weird because Madelyn wasn't the last to tell what was on her mind.
"Why?" she couldn't help but ask and the blond woman sighed loudly before blue eyes met brown.
"Because you already know what I think of all of this, Regina."
Another silence.
She did.
She knew that her bestfriend actually thought...
She actually remembered their argument quite well.
Two days ago.
Regina and Madelyn were having a girls' night, drinking hot chocolate in front of a movie starring Chris Evans, when suddenly Madelyn realized her friend wasn't answering her anymore.
"Regina... Are you here with me?"
The brunette jumped and looked quite ashamed, before laying her phone on the table, blushing.
And that caught Madelyn's attention.
"Who were you talking to?"
"No one."
"Regina Mills."
A silence.
"Daniel."
Mal narrowed her eyes, but her bestfriend was avoiding her eyes.
"Liar!" she exclaimed and Regina closed her eyes for a few seconds.
"That's not of your business."
"Oh my God..."
"Mal..." warned Regina.
"I know that look-"
"No."
"I've seen it before..."
"Stop."
"You were talking to Robin."
And a silence settled on the room, only interrupting by the sound of the movie. Regina didn't look at her for a few seconds, before she caved in and took her phone back, fingers tapping it nervously.
"And so what? We're trying to be friends. Friends talk."
"Regina..."
"You and I talk all the time."
"That's absolutely not the same."
"Robin and I are friends. Nothing more."
Mal shook her head.
"That's rubbish and you know it."
Regina froze and then looked down,
"I can't. You know why I can't , Madelyn."
The blond woman sighed.
"Regina, I think that perhaps at one time in a close past, you couldn't... But I also think that since he told you why he did what he did, you found a way to move past that."
Regina's eyes opened wide and Mal could see the panic inside.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I think you forgave him." A silence. "Even if you didn't mean to..."
Regina froze.
No.
She had not.
She could not forgive him.
He had broken her heart.
He had...
And she...
There was no way...
No...
But when she searched for the anger she used to feel whenever thinking about it.
Regina's heart stopped.
She found no trace of it.
It had been replaced with conflicted feelings...
Feelings she didn't want to analyze.
And then she let out a shuddering breath.
"Maybe you're right..." she admitted in a small voice. "Maybe I did forgive him. "Madelyn opened the mouth but her friend cut her. "But we're friends. And that's all there is to it."
The blond woman frowned.
"Ok... So there is nothing wrong if I look at those texts you were sharing?"
Regina blushed slightly.
"That's private."
"Why?" asked Mal innocently. "If you're friends, I fail to see where the problem is. You're my friend, he's your friend, we're all friends in here !"
Regina glared at her.
"I hate you."
Madelyn chuckled and held her her hand, she saw Regina hesitated but then she straightened proudly and let the phone fall on her hand.
"You'll see. Nothing's wrong..." her voice broke but she cleared her throat and Madelyn opened the texts.
And then had trouble holding her smile back.
RM: I was thinking about you, today.
RL: I've got some trouble thinking about anything else but you, too.
RM: That's not quite what I said...
RL: Quite. ;)
RM: Haha. ;) Is Roland still with you?
RL: Yes, I have taken him to the cinema, and we're just coming back from the restaurant. I think he enjoyed his time here with me.
RM: I am sure of it, Robin. You're a great father, I hope you know that.
RL: Thanks. But he did ask for you, you know?
RM: Really? But he only saw me once...
RL : What can I say m'lady? You make quite an impression on us, Locksleys' men...
RM: Haha, stop it you damn charmer. ;)
RL: So I can no longer speak the truth?
RM: Oh you can, stop hiding behind your son, though... ;)
RL: Maybe I'm just undercover, you know...
RM: What for?
RL: Perhaps you'll see soon enough... ;) What are you doing tonight, lovely?
RM: I am spending the night with Madelyn.
RL: No bar, I hope?
RM: Don't worry. No need of my knight in shinning armour tonight... ;)
RL: Well, you know I wouldn't mind. ;)
RM: Haha. Nope, we're just gonna drink a lot of hot chocolate, beneath a plush cover and probably watch a movie either with Chris Evans or Ryan Gosling, drool for a bit...
RL: Hm. Sounds like fun.
RM : ?
RL: You really like those guys?
RM: Haha! Who doesn't?
RL: Well... me.
RM: My mistake... Who are the women who don't?
RL: Haha. You got me there... Enjoy your night, then. ;)
RM: I'll talk to you later?
RL: Of course. Goodnight, Regina. xx
RM: Goodnight, Robin. Sweet dreams. xx
RL : You too. xx
Madelyn looked up and Regina was fidgeting.
"See? Friends." she said, but even her voice was wavering.
"Oh Regina..."
"We're friends."
Madelyn sighed and handed her the phone.
"This is flirting. Plain and simple." Regina paled suddenly. "How long has it been going on?"
The brunette looked down at her phone, then up at her bestfriend.
"Since I met his son, I think. We've been talking non-stop." she took a deep breath. "But I know what I'm doing, Mal. I-"
"Regina." she cut her suddenly. "May I speak the truth for a second?"
"Always."
"You're not gonna like what I've got to say."
Regina froze.
"You think I should stop this, don't you?"
The blond woman took a deep breath and shook her head.
"I think... I think that if you feel in your heart that Robin is still the one that you want." She saw her bestfriend paled, "If you feel the way you did so many years ago..."
"Mal-"
"Then you should give it another try."
"I can't!"
"Give him another chance now that you know the truth about Marian."
"How can you say that?!"
"I told you you wouldn't like it."
"How can you side with him?!" shouted Regina, tears shining in her eyes.
"I'm not!" shouted Mal and God, she wished she would just understand. "I'm not, Regina." she said again, softly. "I am on your side, always. But... Oh God! Regina can't you see how happy he makes you?" Regina froze and her heart stopped. "And at first it made me so mad that he does, but for the love of God, he does make you happy! That's so obvious! You even are fucking glowing when you talk about him, or talk to him ... And don't you think I was mad when I discovered that? Because you know how much I hated him-how much I hate him for what he did to you, breaking your heart and shattering your hope for a brighter future but... But I want you as happy as humanly possible, and I do think the closest of that is when you're with Robin. Can't you see? You're becoming that young woman in love, happy and hopeful that you were so many years ago!"
A silence.
"Can't you see how dangerous that is..." breathed Regina in return. "Don't you remember what happened to that foolish hopeful girl? She got burned in the worst way. She got her heart broken, her hopes shattered. She got all of her dreams taken from her so abruptly, she got back her bruised heart, battered. She got nothing left."
"Yes, that's true. Except that now, that woman is not a girl anymore. She's grown up, he's grown up and I know, somehow I just know, that he won't mess it up another time. This woman has finally got another chance at love with the man she had always been in love with... I know she has been waiting for that these last ten years. And I think she shouldn't lose that chance or she would regret it for the rest of her life. "A tear rolled down Regina's cheek. "I know you will. I am sure of it and I don't want you to make a mistake. " she breathed then, and Regina looked so lost for a few seconds before taking the remote and making the sound louder.
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Regina..."
"End of the discussion."
Madelyn sighed.
Back to present.
"So you're really aren't gonna say anything?" Madelyn shook her head. "At all?"
"At all, Regina."
"That's... weird."
Madelyn chuckled.
This was her new strategy. She had said everything she needed to say to Regina, now the decision was in her own hands and there was nothing more Madelyn could do.
Except perhaps one thing...
And if she did this, she would do it for Regina.
Because she was sure of it, now.
She was making the right choice.
So...
She would talk to Robin.
-2005-
Robin left the house, taking the keys of the car and he didn't care if the care wasn't his.
He needed to stop Regina.
God, he had been so stupid, to let her go...
But he wouldn't make that mistake twice.
"Robin!" screamed a voice but he didn't stop until an arm caught his arm and he was about to receded when his eyes met the blue ones of his sister.
"We're coming with you." His eyes widened and then he saw all his family ( Paul and his mother included) walking to the car. He was about to add something, he was about to argue that he didn't want to be in the same place as his mother, but Ana cut him. "We've got no time to lose."
And she was right on that.
"Fine." he breathed, through gritted teeth. "But I refuse to talk to her."
"Deal." only answered his sister and then they all jumped in the car.
Regina was in the airport, but there was a problem.
"But please, can't you look again?"
"I am sorry, miss. All of our planes are full, we are on Christmas time."
"There is not a single seat in a flight for New York?"
"I'm afraid not."
Regina let out a loud groan of frustration and then tried again.
"Please..."
"I am sorry, madam."
Tears pricked at the back of her eyes.
"You don't understand. I've got to leave, my boyfriend..." her voice broke and her heart broke in her chest. "I... and ... I have to leave." she sobbed and then saw the woman studying her, looking genuinely sorry.
"I am sorry, miss."
Regina wiped her eyes and tried a smile.
"I understand. But can I stay here and ask you to get me if someone cancel its trip?"
"Of course."
"Thank you."
And then she took her suitcase and sat on a seat on the waiting room. She took her phone and looked at the locked picture.
Robin and she.
Robin was laughing, his arms around her as she was trying to take a selfie.
She remembered that day...
Regina' s heart broke in her chest as she finally realized ...
What if she had made a mistake?
What if she had been so quick to give up on him when he would have deserved a bit of a fighting?
She took a deep breath.
She was so lost.
Robin was driving and his knuckles were holding on the steering wheek so tight that they were white.
"Robin..."
"Do not talk to me." he hissed and he mother gasped.
"I think that mum is sorry, Robin."
"I don't bloody care." he said coldly.
"Robin..."
"No."
"Son." said his father and Robin was about to add something, but he cut her. "We're there."
And Robin froze when he realized that this was it.
He would only have one shot.
"Go..." breathed his sister. "I'll park the car."
He squeezed her hand affectionately and then ran out of the car.
To Regina.
Always to her.
Regina was looking at the picture on her phone, all the while trying to remind herself of why this was supposed to be a good idea.
She loved Robin.
He loved her.
What the hell was she still doing here?
She had to go back to him.
And pray that he would take her back.
Regina was about to get up and take a cab when-
"My love..." breathed a voice and she froze, heart beating so fast in her chest that she felt dizzy.
And then she looked up.
So ? ;)