Thank you for everything. Your support means the world to me and I love you all.

Chapter 22:

2008-

"Do you want something to drink?" Marian asked after what appeared to be an eternity of awkward silence.

Regina had been studying her.

She was gorgeous, no wonder why Robin would fall for her.

She was everything she hoped she could be.

Everything Robin deserved.

But then again, thinking about Robin...

She remembered why she came for.

"I want you to leave Robin and I alone." She said and Marian's eyes widened.

"Listen-"

" No, you listen." And Regina was glad her voice sounded so cold when she was feeling so scared. "You've had your chance with Robin. You've had your chance and you blew it! Now this is my chance and I don't want to blow it. I love him. So much. We're happy together."

Marian seemed to study her, then.

"I am sorry, but I can't do that."

Regina's heart stopped.

"You would destroy our happiness? We live together. We are happy. We have a future together already planned."

"I know that."

Regina glared at the woman, head tilting.

"What kind of a woman are you?"

Marian swallowed and then took a deep breath.

"A desperate one. And I want what's mine."

And then Regina lost it...

She was exhausted.

She was terrified.

There was so much one person could take without exploding.

"ROBIN ISN'T AN OBJECT, YOU PSYCHO!"

Marian's eyes widened, her jaw clenched.

"I know you're angry-"

"Damn right I am!" And now she couldn't stop. "You come here and start acting like a BITCH and trying to get my man !"

"You can't talk to me like that."

"Are you fucking kidding me right now?!"

"I deserve some respect."

"You deserve nothing of the sort! Have you seen the way you're acting! I'm not going to respect you, you bitch!"

"YOU CAN'T TALK TO ME LIKE THAT!"

"AND YOU CAN'T JUST COME AND BREAK MY RELATIONSHIP BECAUSE YOU'RE A SPOILED LITTLE BRAT!"

A silence settled during which they just looked at each other, fuming.

But then Marian took a deep breath and said, trying to stay calm.

"I think you should leave."

"No. Not until you promise you're not gonna go after Robin."

"I can't do that."

"Then I can't leave."

Another silence.

"You're telling me he isn't an object and yet you can't let him make his own choices?"

Regina's eyes widened,

"How dare you turn this around on me?"

"Well-"

"I am not the bad guy here." she said, shaking her head. "You are. I would never have come between the two of you if he had still been in love with you, but he loves me and you're refusing to accept that." And now that she had started she couldn't stop. "You're acting like we're in highschool with all your childish dram but we're not anymore. And Robin and I are in an adult relationship so back the fuck off."

Marian blushed furiously and for one second Regina thought she had wo this argument.

But then she said the words that absolutely broke her heart.

"What are you so afraid of, then? That he won't hesitate in choosing me instead of you? That you read too much into that "adult" relationship you have" she quoted with her hands and that hurt more than words could say, "And that despite of everything, at the end of the day I am the love of his life and he will always choose me?"

Regina's heart stopped.

And then she felt tears pricked at the back of her eyes.

"Leave him alone."

Marian smiled sadly.

"I am sorry, Regina. But Robin is my soulmate and I won't let him go this time."

Regina was losing it and she had to leave.

"Do you even hear yourself?" she spatted and Marian paled.

"I know you don't understand-"

"Oh, I understand perfectly." she chuckled darkly and Marian's eyes widened. "You got bored in your stupid lame life and decided to come back to ruin ours."

Another silence.

"I won't give up."

"Good." said Regina, straightening up. "Because me neither."

And then she stormed off.

And only once in the safety of her car did she allow the sobs to come out.

2015-

Regina couldn't sleep.

She couldn't.

All she could do was thinking about Robin.

And their kiss.

(kisses)

And their second chance.

It wasn't going to be easy, but she really wanted to have faith.

For once in her life.

For real.

Then her phone buzzed and she smiled when she saw who was texting her.

RL: Can't stop thinking about you.

She blushed and bit her bottom lip.

RM: Me too.

RL: Oh, is that so, m'lady

She smiled.

RM: Keep thinking about our kiss. Kind of want more of them.

He was silent for a while and she smirked, realizing she had made him speechless and that was not often.

RL: Do you want to kill me?

RM: That's not quite my plan.

RL: God, whatever your plans with me woman, count me in.

She laughed at that.

RM: Try to get some sleep, Roland will be up early in the morning.

RL: That he will.

Then…

RL: I'll be dreaming of you.

RM: You better.

RL: Goodnight, Regina. Xx

RM: Sweet dreams. xx

And she went to bed, the biggest of smiles on her face.

The next day, Robin felt like he was walking on air.

Actually walking on air.

And yes, he was trying not to get too excited too soon, but it was hard.

So hard.

He loved Regina with all of his beating heart and he was sure of it this time,

This would work out.

It couldn't not work out.

But before anything real, he had one last thing to do…

So Robin took a deep breath and walked to his son, playing video games on the living room.

"Son?"

"Yep, daddy."

"Can you pause your game?"

The boy nodded and stopped his Cars video games, looking expectantly towards his father, who sat by his side on the couch.

"I'll only play an hour, I swear."

Robin chuckled.

"I know. I trust you." And then, "I have to tell you something."

Roland frowned slighlty.

"What is it?"

Robin too another deep breath.

Here went nothing.

"You know mummy has another husband, right?"

Roland frowned.

"Yep."

"And that doesn't mean she loves you any less."

"I know that, daddy."

"Well..." he took a deep breath. "Daddy is in love with another woman, too."

Roland seemed to think about it, studying his father with his head slightly tilted and God did he look like Marian when he was doing that. Robin chuckled at the thought.

"Regina?" asked the boy and that brought the man back to Earth.

"What?"

"You mean that you love Regina?"

"How do you know?"

Roland laughed.

"I am five, daddy. I am not stupid!" he chuckled again and Robin's heart was warming with love.

"Is it okay with you?"

Roland beamed.

"Yep! I like Regina, she is pretty and fun!"

Robin laughed.

"Well said." then, "Thank you, Roland."

He kissed his son's curls and then let him resume his games, taking his phone again.

He couldn't resist it.

RL: According to my son, you are and I quote: "Pretty and fun."

He didn't have to wait for long.

RM: Haha! Such a smooth talker. Wonder whom he takes that from…;)

He smiled.

RL: No idea.

RM: Me neither. Must be Marian.

Marian was still a tense subject and he would rather she didn't dwell on it too much, in fear she would change her mind.

(And it would kill him if she did.)

RL: Don't you recognize the Locksley charm when you see it?

RM: Haha. You're so full of yourself.

RL: And you love it.

RM: You'll never know because I'll never tell.

Robin laughed.

A few days later, Regina was working on a file when Mal knocked at her door, smiling brightly.

"What is it?"

"I just saw someone coming in for you."

Regina frowned slightly.

"Should I be worried?"

Mal chuckled and then winked before leaving,

"Oh, I don't think worried is what you'll be..."

Okay, that was weird.

She got up, ready to try and see who was there when the door opened again and she froze, before a shy smile lit up her face.

"Robin." she smiled and he smiled back, a soft smile she liked so much on him.

"Hey." he breathed and they were so awkward suddenly, neither really knowing how to behave in this new area so unfamiliar.

He finally gave her some flowers and she smiled, took them and shivered when their hands touch. He blushed slightly and God, they looked like teenagers with their first crush.

"They are beautiful." she whispered, humming them and then their eyes locked again, and his were so blue she could easily drown in them.

"I hope I don't bother you." he finally said and she shook her head,

"Not at all. What can I do for you?"

And then he looked shy again, and just cute enough she could jump on him.

"Are you still on for our drink?" he asked and she smiled, couldn't help herself.

"Of course. When?"

"Tomorrow night?"

"Sounds perfect."

He smiled back, all dimples in display.

And then they lost themselves in each other.

It wasn't awkward anymore…

More like intense.

"I'll see you then, m'lady." he breathed and she shivered.

"I guess you will. 7 p.m. My place."

"That's a date."

And then he was about to leave when he changed his mind and walked to her. Her eyes widened, her heart beat faster as he cupped her cheek and stole a tender kiss from her.

In one last smile he was gone.

And she was left stroking her kiss, with a smile of her own.

2008-

Regina couldn't take it anymore.

Her talk with Marian had shaken her more than she could express.

So when she came home, tears rolling down her cheeks, she knew she had no other choice.

She took a deep breath and came in.

She walked to the living room, all the while feeling like each steps broke her heart a little more.

Robin was there and she saw his eyes widened when he saw the tears on her face, he got up and for a second she glimpsed the man she was in love with, the man who was in love with her.

"Regina! What happened?"

She took a deep breath and then...

"We need to talk."

And if her voice broke at the way he paled?

Well who could blame her.