For Day 7 of OQ Prompt Party
#268: Faking death + Personal prompt: Regina introduces Robin to Ursula
A continuation of the last chapter of the original fic.
This wedding is by far more Robin's speed. Rather a whole group of people he barely knows, it's those that mean the most to him and Regina. Mary Margaret and David are dancing on one part of the yard, their kids hanging out with Margot, Henry and Roland. Will is having his second beer of the evening as he plays DJ with a smart phone and Bluetooth speaker. Everyone who matters to Robin is here and he wouldn't change it for anything.
He still can't believe that they're here. It's been two and a half years since Regina returned to his life. When she first returned, he wasn't sure if he could ever forgive her. Maybe some would think he'd be relieved and a big part of him was. The other felt betrayed and hurt beyond measure. It took him that year to remind him of why he loved her in the first place. Regina was a flawed but beautiful woman that fought for what she believed in. She'd make the deepest sacrifice to save the ones she loved. Ultimately that lead to sometimes hurting them, but she never intended to do so.
Robin loves Regina. He nearly lost her after she returned. It haunts him of what could've happened if he irrevocably destroyed any chance they had of getting back together. Watching her rub her baby bump as she speaks to a mystery woman that Robin's only seen in pictures, a smile is brought to his face. They're together now, for good this time, and are finally adding the fourth (and final) child they had always discussed.
He's kept his distance from Ursula ever since David told him she was coming. Robin knows this is the one good thing from Regina's time away. The friend that she could turn to and talk about things, even if it wasn't the full truth. It may be selfish but a part of Robin was always a little relieved that Ursula wanted nothing to do with Regina anymore. He doesn't want to think of the time that they were separated. Regina mentioned bringing him to Hyperion Heights but her heart hadn't been in it. If it was something she truly wanted, Robin would swallow his pride and go. But Washington brings Regina a lot of pain and trauma, memories of the worst time in her life. Robin knows she kept every part of Roni outside her tattoo locked away in a box. He's only seen it once and has no interest in going back.
Several conversations with Archie reminded him that it's not healthy to completely shut that time from their lives. It existed. For three years, Robin was a single father who thought his wife was dead. Regina lived alone, scared for her family's family. The only way they can heal is to accept it. That includes talking about it and meeting people that she spent her time with. It's time to suck up his own feelings. Regina's spent enough walking on eggshells and pretending that all of that time was horrible. He can allow himself a little pain to make her happy.
Robin strides across the yard to where they stand. Regina grabs his hand, a huge smile on her face that instantly eases the knots within his stomach. Ursula matches her beam.
"Ursula, this is Robin."
To his surprise, it doesn't take much for Robin to get a smile of his own. He works his hand from his wife's grip and sakes Ursula's. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
"Back at you." Ursula looks between the two of them, shaking her head. "It's weird to see Roni…Regina, Regina…" She lets out a deep breath. "It's weird to see Regina with a husband much less children. She never seemed like the marrying type."
Robin nods. He knows of Regina's one date in the Heights, but the fact that she never seriously considered moving on is a bit of relief. "I imagine all of this is a little hard."
Ursula shakes her head. "I thought it might be. It's partially why I put off acknowledging any of this for a while. But standing here…well, Regina isn't much different from Roni. She's happier and has a family but she's still the same sarcastic woman that truly cared about everyone. Well…and she's not a red head."
Robin laughs alongside his wife at that. "I hated that fucking wig," Regina says. "And those glasses were the worst. Though there are times I miss the rock tees."
"You could also make a margarita better than anyone I ever met. Speaking of which…"
Regina grins. "I had Will pick up the ingredients. I can't have any because of…" She gestures to the bump. "But I'll be right back." She looks up at Robin. "You gonna be okay?"
He nods and kisses her cheek. "I'll take one too, please."
Regina walks over to the adult drink table where Will has the blender set up. Robin watches in awe as his wife expertly combines the alcohol with the mix, even doing a trick with the bottles in the process. Ursula bumps elbows with him.
"She was good at what she did. Probably everyone's favorite bartender. Learned quickly how to mix the drinks, memorized everyone's favorites. Everyone loved Roni."
Robin nods, watching as she mixes the margarita in the blender. "Do you think…do you think she ever misses it?"
"This is the first time I've seen her in a couple of years." She sighs, rubbing her hands over her forearms. "She seemed happy when she lived in Hyperion…but it was also clearly an act. I could never tell exactly what was going on, but it was all a mask. She'd smile for the customers or the people we worked with but there were times I caught her looking off some place. If we went somewhere and there were kids, we had to leave. At first I thought she just didn't like them but in time it was clear there was more."
Pain fills Robin's heart at the thought of his wife so unhappy, unable to move on with her life. It'd be selfish of him to want her to be so miserable. He loves her too much for that. "Did you ask her about it?"
"Once, but she told me her family was a complicated story." Ursula gnaws on her lip. "A part of me wonders why I didn't see it sooner."
"I don't think many people's minds go to witness relocation."
"True but as close as we got, there was always a wall between us. A part of her life she never spoke of. I used to think maybe she had lost a child and, in a way, she did." She looks up at him, tilting her head. "No, Robin. I don't think she misses being Roni."
"I just…I know it was hard but I think of the escape it had to be in some ways. No parental responsibilities, single, she had a whole life."
"And it came at a price. She wrote me awhile back, apologizing for lying and she told me she was struggling. As mad as I was, my heart hurt from her. There is nothing she wanted more than her family back."
Margot races over to Regina, two cupcakes in hand. She hands one to her mom and Regina immediately accepts it, giving her daughter a hug as thank you. His wife's eyes are lit up with joy as she listens to Margot talk. He hadn't realized how much he needed their family back, how much he had missed things like this.
"Thank you," Robin says, his eyes still on Margot and Regina. "For being there for her."
"I'd do it all over again."
He finally breaks his gaze away. "I know it's a trek but I do hope you visit more. I know Regina would love it."
"Oh, this won't be my last time out east. I promise you that."
Regina returns a few moments later, two margaritas in hand. She distributes them before leaning into Robin, her eyes heavy with sleep. He knows they'll have to wrap up the party soon. She's in her seventh month of pregnancy, she'd spend most of her day sleeping if she could. Robin takes a long sip of his drink, savoring his wife's hard work.
"What were you two talking about?" Regina asks.
Ursula grins, looking from Robin back to her "Well…you."
"Hope it was nothing bad," Regina mumbles.
"No, love." Robin presses a kiss to her temple. "Never."
