Chapter 23:
2008-
"Regina..." he tried weakly but she was having none of it.
Not tonight.
This had lasted long enough.
"If you want to break up with me, at least have the balls to say it to my face."
He froze.
He could'nt do this.
No.
He was not ready.
He couldn't say goodbye.
He wasn't even sure he could.
Had told Marian so when she had called earlier to ask when they could be together.
He was in love with Regina.
Desperately so.
And he just wasn't sure he could let her go.
God, he was so lost.
But then...
Then he remembered his talk with Marian.
And thinking about Marian led him to think about his daughter.
And his heart broke all over again.
His daughter.
So Robin stopped, and turned around.
He owed it to his daughter.
"Regina, I don't want to do that."
Tears were rolling down her cheeks.
And God,
All he wanted to do was running to her and wiping her tears, holding her so close to him while swearing nothing could ever happen to her as long as she was his.
He loved her so much.
God, what was he doing?
"I want answers. Now." She said again. "We can't keep on living like this, Robin. Even you should realize that."
He swallowed.
She was so strong, his Regina.
So very strong.
He couldn't do that.
Couldn't do that.
Couldn't do that.
He could hear Regina was talking in the background but it didn't really register in his brain.
He couldn't do that.
Couldn't. Do. That.
"ROBIN!" she cut his thoughts and he jumped. Their eyes locked. "Please, talk to me."
And then he realized...
There was only one way to do this.
The coward way.
"I am sorry, Regina."
"About what?"
For what he was about to do.
"I am sorry but we are over."
Her eyes widened in pain and he saw the way her breath stopped, air stuck.
"What?" her voice broke. "No."
"It is." he forced himself to sound strong even if he was breaking entirely inside. "I am sorry."
She ran a hand through her hair, desperate.
"No. We need to talk about it."
"We did."
Her eyes widened, tears rolling down her cheeks.
And then she took a few steps to him, but he took the same amount back.
If he was to do that, he couldn't bear her proximity.
Not when all he wanted was to be with her and he wasn't so sure anymore why he was leaving her instead of confiding in her about his daughter.
But it was too late.
In front of him, Regina was trying to hold back sobs and he felt his heart constrict in his chest so much it was suddenly hard to breath.
"Robin, please stop." she begged.
But he couldn't.
He couldn't.
"This is my final decision."
"What? But why? I need to know."
"Regina-"
"You can't end three years without giving me an explanation!" she tried again.
She was right.
Of course she was.
But he couldn't give what she wanted.
"I am so, sorry." Robin breathed before leaving to their room.
He took a bag and was putting his things inside when he heard her, crying in his back.
"Robin, please talk to me."
"I did."
"Don't leave like that."
He closed his bag and turned around, not ready for the sight in front of him.
Regina was bracing herself tightly, eyes wide and red from crying, all of her was screaming how desperated she was and it was killing him.
"Please." she said again. "Just tell me why." her voice broke.
He cleared his throat, opened the mouth and then closed it.
"I am sorry." he said again.
"Is it Marian?" she asked, following him to the living room and he closed his eyes tightly but kept on walking. "Is it something that I have done? Something I said? ROBIN!" He stopped but didn't turn around, his heart beating in his head. "Please." she said softly, "I love you." his heart dropped several stages on his chest at the whispered admission. At that he turned around and their eyes locked.
How could he do that to her?
"I am so sorry." he said again, "Goodbye, Regina."
And then under her horrified stare he left, tears rolling down his cheeks and leaving his heart back, with her.
2015-
Her date with Robin had finally arrived and Regina felt like a young adult again.
Felt like a future was still possible,
A happy future, that is.
Her bell rang and she walked to the door, finding a very puzzled Madelyn;
"You called me? Please don't tell me you're freaking out again."
Regina laughed and then took her hand, bringing her inside.
And Mal thought about the fact that it had been decades since she had seen Regina so happy.
"I need your thoughts on my dress."
Madelyn laughed.
"That I can do."
Robin was anxious.
This evening would be a turning point.
Either things with Regina went well
Or...
No.
He couldn't picture an "or".
He couldn't lose her again.
Not this time.
But God was he nervous!
He felt like he was 20 again.
Robin took a deep breath and for the thousand time checked his hair when suddenly his phone biped.
A text message.
Oh please, let it not be Regina cancelling on him.
MD - Regina is delighted by your date tonight. She is under your charm again Locksley, you better not screw this up another time. She's enchanted.
His heart was hammering in his chest when she added.
MD - I'll deny having said that under torture, if need be.
He laughed.
And then his heart warmed.
Because just like that...
Robin knew everything would be alright.
RL - Don't worry, Mal. I'm just under her charm as she is and I can't wait for tonight. Actually, I can't wait for the future suddenly, and this is all because I know she'll be the main part of it.
Nothing for a few minutes.
And then.
MD - Good answer, Locksley.
He smiled.
Finally, it was time.
Robin stopped the car in front of her place and took a deep breath.
It was now or never.
He walked to her door and rang the bell.
And then the door opened...
And he lost his breath.
Robin's eyes widened and Regina smiled shyly.
"Hi." she breathed and he shook his head, trying to gather some senses.
He was not a teenager anymore for God's Sake.
So how was it she still had that damn effect on him?
"Hi." and then he couldn't stop himself from checkin her out. "You look absolutely beautiful."
She blushed.
His voice was so deep, his eyes so sincere...
She melted.
"Thanks." Her eyes got lost on him, too. "You did clean up well yourself."
Robin laughed.
And then she walked to the car but he grabbed her hand tenderly and she stopped, eyes meeting.
"Not so fast, there." he murmured and her heart was hammering in her chest as he brought her to him for a kiss that was so tender her heart missed another beat.
"Hi." she whispered again, still dazed by this kiss.
Robin put back a strand of hair behind her ear and smiled, kissing her again.
"Hi." he answered, voice so low she almost didn't got it.
They were sat on stools at the bar, so close to each other.
Robin's left arm was around her waist and she was leaning into him, both so lost in each other.
"This is quite nice." she breathed and he agreed, bringing his drink to his lips and she couldn't help her eyes to fall there.
God, she wanted to kiss him.
Had not been able to think about anything else since they arrived.
Was still thinking about it right now.
"Regina?" he made her jump and she blushed while Robin grinned, fully aware of her thoughts.
"You were talking to me?"
"And you weren't listening." he answered, waggling his eyebrow and she rolled her eyes.
"What were you saying?"
He took a deep breath and leant in a bit, enough for her to be dizzy with his proximity.
"That I quite like being with you like this." and then a bit closer, "And that you look so beautiful tonight, all I have been able to think about for the last hour was kissing you."
She blushed.
"I wonder what that feels like." she whispered and he chuckled.
They got lost on each other and shivers ran all the way through her body from where his hand was on her skin.
"I think I'm gonna kiss you." he murmured and her heart started beating faster.
"And I think I'll let you." she murmured back before he leant in, stealing a deep kiss.
"God, the effect you have on me." he breathed against her lips and she laughed, cupped his cheek tenderly.
"Same."
Robin smiled.
And then his phone rang.
He sighed and then frowned,
"Sorry but I have to take this, it's Roland."
"Not a problem, I'll be right there."
"You better." he flirted back before kissing her hair and walking a few steps away.
Regina's eyes got lost on him dreamily and she was still day dreaming when someone cleared its throat by her side.
She turned around and was faced with a stranger, blue eyes and brown hair.
Handsome but she couldn't be less interested right now.
She already had her own handsome blue-eyed man.
She smiled at the thought.
Hers.
Her eyes found Robin again and her heart sped up thinking that he was indeed.
"What are you drinking?" he asked with a smile.
"Nothing, I'm afraid." she said back. "I am here on a date."
The man frowned.
"Where is he?"
"On the phone."
The man's eyes found Robin, who was now frowning in their direction.
"Well, he isn't here now, is he?"
She froze.
And then felt annoyed.
So charming.
"I'm not that kind of woman."
His eyes widened and she was about to add something else when she felt a warm hand on the small of her back and she smiled.
"Is there a problem, my love?"
( And if her heart missed a beat at the endearment? She could always pretend it didn't happen.)
"None. This man was leaving."
"Yes, I was." He took his drink and left alone and rejected to another booth, looking for a new prey.
Regina laughed and turned on her stool to face Robin.
And then she lost her smile.
Because Robin wasn't smiling at all.
His eyes were cold and set on the man, jaw tensed and ...
He was jealous.
He was so jealous.
And it was such a turn on to her.
He had no idea.
She shook her head and tried to keep a clear mind.
"Robin?"
His eyes found hers again.
"Bastard." he breathed, eyes fleeting to the man again.
She chuckled.
"You know there is nothing t-"
But she couldn't finish her words.
Robin had cupped her cheeks and was kissing her rather passionately in front of everyone.
A few people even whistled.
She couldn't care.
She kissed him back.
It was now close to midnight and almost the end of one of the best dates he ever had.
But he felt like he had to do something, still...
"I am sorry about my display of jealousy, earlier." Robin said and Regina's eyes widened. "It was uncalled for and childish."
And he was so afraid this kind of behaviour would led her to think he had not changed and so change her mind about them.
He wanted so badly to make her see he was not the boy he had been, he was not the boy who had broken her heart carelessly in the most coward of ways.
He had changed.
He was a man, now.
A man able to take care of her and her heart.
He wanted nothing more.
"Robin." she cut his thoughts. "I've always loved you jealous and this hasn't changed with time." she teased.
He blushed.
And then his heart started beating so fast.
God he couldn't believe she was there with him.
Couldn't believe he got a second chance with his one true love.
And then...
Then he felt awful.
And had to say something else.
"I am so sorry for what I put you through in the past." he said then.
Because he couldn't stop thinking about it.
About the way he had handled things.
He wasn't sure he deserved this second chance...
But yet here she was, giving it to him.
"Stop thinking so much." she breathed and then Regina cupped his cheeks, brown eyes so sincere and so hopeful. "It was all in the past. This is real and this is true. Nothing else matters. Not anymore. Not to me."
She stroked his cheek and Robin smiled, bringing her to him to kiss her senseless.
That was the only thing preventing him from confessing his undying love to her.
It was too soon.
He had promised to take things slow.
So for now, he'll kiss away the want to tell her that he loved her more than anything in this life.
Robin stopped the car in front of her place, and their eyes locked again.
"Thank you, Robin." she said and he smiled. "This has been a wonderful date."
He smiled again, all dimples in display.
"Enough for you to want to go on another one with me?"
And then she decided to mess with him a little.
That was how comfortable she was with the idea of them being together.
All her fears were gone.
So she pretended to frown and saw how Robin's eyes widened.
"Robin, I need to think about it. I don't know if I can."
He paled.
"What?" he blinked mutliple times. "Regina, I-"
But then she realized she couldn't take it anymore.
Enough pain.
Even false one.
"I'm kidding." she said softly and he let out a deep breath, cheeks red suddenly.
Regina chuckled and he did too but brought her to him in a tight embrace.
"You're so not funny" he whispered nuzzling her nose and she laughed.
"I'm super funny."
"No you're not." Robin whispered before she cut him and closed the gap between them, kissing him a bit deeper. And then it left his lips before he could even think about it... "You wanna be my real date at John's party on Sunday?"
She receded a bit and stroked his stubble cheek, smiled when he kissed her palm.
"Real date?" she raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. This time I want it to be you and me for real. Of course if you think this is going too fast-"
Her heart was beating so fast in her chest, she felt dizzy.
"No, it's perfect." Regina answered and he smiled so bright it blinded her a little. "I want that, too."
"Really?"
"Really."
They got lost in each other for a long time, before he leant in stealing a kiss from her all over again.
"Thief." she whispered and he laughed, pecked her lips again.
"Only for you, my love."
He nuzzled her nose with his and she took a deep breath,
"I should go."
"Hm." he nodded but didn't let go of her.
"I'll see you soon, then?"
He nodded again.
"Can I walk you to your door?"
This time, she laughed and receded a bit.
"For real?"
"For real." he chuckled, too. "I know it is silly but I am not ready to let this night end just yet."
She leant in,
"Me neither."
And they left the car, but he grabbed her hand and brought her to him again.
God, she was so so so happy.
From afar, Zelena was watching them.
She had seen them in the bar, and pushed by her jealousy had listened to them, had also followed them.
And as Robin and Regina parted ways from her front door (but not without him kissing her hand tenderly first), she frowned.
Something was up with the both of them and she would discover what.
Nobody could be that in love.
Something was up.
She scratched at her arm nervously and realized with horror she was red with itching again.
It was happening again.
Same as in high school and still because of Regina.
2008-
Robin couldn't breath.
He didn't even know how he got in front of the door he was now, but he knocked nonetheless.
The door opened.
"Robin?"
"Can I stay with you for a bit?"
John's eyes widened and he frowned, seeing Robin's state and the bag he was holding.
"What happened?"
"Regina and I are over."
"What?!"
And the genuine surprise on his friend's face broke his heart further.
Regina.
His Regina.
It all seemed so unreal.
"I broke up with her."
"WHAT?!"
"I..." his voice broke. "I-"
"But you wanted to marry her, I don't understand."
And then it was too much.
He thought about the ring he still had in his bag.
He would never see Regina again.
Would never hear her voice again.
Or her laugh.
Or feel her kisses.
Or hold her against him.
It was over.
It was all over.
Robin's legs gave up on him.
Regina was crying and sobbing and couldn't even breath properly.
Robin was gone.
He was gone.
He was gone and she didn't know why.
Her Robin.
Her soulmate.
The love of her life.
Gone.
He was gone.
She was alone.
All alone.
"Oh God." she whimpered and then grabbed her phone and dialed the only number she could think of.
"Yep?"
Regina couldn't talk, could only sob and try to breath.
"Regina?" said Madelyn, now worried. "What is going on? Are you crying?"
"I... I..." her hands were trembling.
"Please, tell me. Deep breath, sweetheart. Talk to me, I am there."
And the calm voice of her best friend managed to calm her the few seconds she needed to breath the harsh truth.
"Robin broke up with me."
"WHAT?!"
"He's gone, Madelyn."
And then she burst out crying again.