For part 2 of Day 1 of OQ prompt party. This was a personal prompt submitted to me: Resurrected - The first anniversary of Regina's "death" after she's returned.
In Hyperion Heights, Regina took the day off from work and buried herself in her apartment. She looked at pictures of her kids. They varied between the ones she managed to steal before she left and those Jefferson sent every month. She allowed the pain to wash over her, torturing herself with the memory of her happy family. Wondering what they were doing that day.
Nearly a year after she returns, she gets a look at it.
She and Robin have been back together for 2 months now. They share a bed, make love and go to therapy. Together, they work on rebuilding their relationship.
Today is different and she knows it.
He sits on the edge of the bed, wringing his wrists. Still in his gray pajama pants and a white t-shirt, a haunted look is written on his face.
"They called me at work," he whispers.
Regina is still from her spot in the closet doorway. "Robin…"
"One minute I'm giving a presentation and the next, I'm on the floor." He gnaws on his lip. "They're telling me that the love of my life, the woman I've spent ten years with…is just gone."
Guilt swarms her stomach. During that time, she had been on a plane, her cheeks sticky with tears. Her head already itched from her wig and too big glasses framed her face.
But Robin had it worse. Way worse.
Regina walks over and kneels before him on the plush carpet. She runs her fingers over his chin, his stubble tickling them.
"Then I had to tell the kids." Regina shuts her eyes. "I can still hear their cries."
A sob escapes Regina's lips. This is what Archie told them to do, talk it out. Tell each other how they're feeling, even the hard stuff.
"I'm sorry, Robin," she breaks out. "I'm so sorry."
He doesn't say anything. Regina lays her head on his lap and his fingers massage her scalp. When she left, it had been for everyone's safety and not just her own. Even so, it had hurt all of them and today was going to bring all of that up again.
"What can I do to make today easier for you?" she whispers.
"Just…be here." The response surprises her. She thought for sure he'd want her to go, push her away. Instead, he lifts her chin up. Tears pool his big blue eyes. "I can't lose you again."
Regina nods, her cheeks still in his grasp. "I won't go anywhere."
Roland can't be near her and she doesn't blame him. On a normal day, they're fine. They've developed a new relationship, it'll never be like their old one and that's okay. He's growing up, their bond is bound to change. Today, however, is different. He won't look her in the eye as she places eggs on the table and he's silent through breakfast.
Henry stays by her side. He sits on the left of her at the meal (Robin is on the right). His hug is a little too tight when he greets her. His eyes are glossed over and they dart back and forth. She's reminded of how fast he had to grow up when she was gone.
Margot doesn't understand. She asks for extra berries on her pancakes and if she can have chocolate milk instead of juice. Regina obliges with both out of guilt.
Roland leaves after breakfast, saying he's going to a neighbor's. Margot heads to the playroom to do some drawing. Regina is left with Henry and Robin, who are staring holes into her.
"How about a movie?" she suggests. "Henry can pick."
They end up watching Star Wars, but Regina pulls out her laptop. She has something in mind for tonight.
Roland comes back in time for dinner, which is another quiet affair. Afterwards, she calls them all into the den.
"I know today is hard on us," she says.
"Because everyone's been quiet?" Margot asks.
"Well, sweetie, everyone's been quiet because today's the anniversary of when I went away." The boys visibly flinch. "And I know I can't make up for that day or what happened…but I thought maybe we could start a new tradition for the day. Try to show each other what both of us went through."
Regina presses play on her laptop which is synced to the TV. She settles in between Robin and Henry, Margot scrambling onto her lap.
Pictures of Roland's first soccer game roll across the screen. Henry grins and comments about how bad his brother was. Roland throws a pillow. After, a picture of Regina dressed as Roni in front of the bar is shown. The kids stare at it in awe. Robin's hand slip through hers.
"You sure you want to do this?" he whispers.
Regina nods. "Yeah."
So, he lets it continue. Henry winning the Science fair. Margot's ballet debut. Roni serving drinks and pictures of her apartment. There were even some of Robin at work.
The pictures weren't everything, there was an air of creepiness given that they were taken from afar. But they show the love in the family, while missing their matriarch.
Roland eventually moves from next to Robin and slowly slides down to sit between Regina's legs. She softly smiles, running her fingers through his thick curls.
Later that night, after the rest of her family has gone to bed, Regina stands on the deep south side of their yard . Shovel in one hand, box in another. The graveyard no longer contains her gravestone, Regina Mills lives.
But Veronica Ramirez doesn't, not anymore.
She digs a small hole, just deep enough. Once she's done, she slowly lifts the lid on the box. Her auburn wig shone in the moonlight, alongside the coke bottle glasses. There were some pieces of jewelry like her crow ring and a moon necklace that she often wore. She has held onto these parts of Roni, to remind her of who she was for those 3 years but she knows she doesn't need it. She has those memories locked in her head. A box of stuff only makes things more complicated.
She doesn't have to be Roni anymore. She can say goodbye to her and just be Regina. A wife and mother trying to make up for lost time.
Her hand goes to her arm where her thorn tattoo is inked deep inside. She'll always have a piece of Roni in her, no matter what.
Dropping the lid back on, she places the box into the ground and shovels the dirt on top of it. She reaches over and plucks a white chrysanthemum, letting it flutter on top of the fresh soil.
"Goodnight, Roni," she whispers.
