hi! i doubt you all even remember where this one left off its been so long :( i have an idea of how i want this to wrap up and it will probably be about a 15 chapter story as the main part will be played out. Long story short I DO plan to finish this along with all of my ongoing stories. Time is just hard to find these days. I hope you like how this one plays out and let me know what you think! Xoxo
David noticed Regina had been a little quieter than usual on their way to the zoo but thankfully their son had acted as a buffer between them. Henry's excitement over their outing had left minimal silence between the three of them in the car ride there, effectively easing David and Regina into being around one another after the intimacy of the night before. The boy had chattered to them from the back seat, not stopping until they had purchased tickets and made their way in. Once inside he became enthralled with everything but speaking to them, leaving them to follow behind his sporadic trail.
"Not much has changed since the last time we brought him here," David glanced over at his ex-wife with a smile and nodded towards the boy bouncing a few yards ahead of them. "Remember that?"
"His obsession with the tigers. How could I forget?" Regina let out a slight laugh, "At least this time he won't be rolling around in the floor of the gift shop when we won't buy him all of the stuffed animals."
"I don't know, he seems about as excited as he was when he was a toddler," David remarked with his own chuckle before looking ahead to take in his son's sunny disposition. Henry was happy, largely because his parents were together under one roof again, and the thought made his chest ache.
"Probably because your mother overloaded him on sweets for breakfast." Regina replied in good humor. She would've been aggravated by how much Ruth spoiled Henry if it weren't for the fact she was the only proper grandmother the boy had. Cora tried but was ultimately too selfish to see him consistently or really get to know him.
"You can't tell her anything when it comes to Henry. She knows Jamie will never settle down enough to give her grand-kids and Henry is the only one she'll get."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Regina rolled her eyes and stifled down the jealousy. "I'm sure Mary Margaret will get a child out of you sooner or later."
"I doubt that," David frowned to himself and glanced at her briefly. He wanted to tell her his plan and reassure her but it was not the right time. Regina would never believe that he planned to break up with his wife for her and he didn't have privacy necessary to convince her with their son running circles around them. Besides, Robert had made a good point that he needed to speak to Mary Margaret first before his ex-wife would even give the idea the time of day. Regina couldn't tell him not to end his marriage if it was already done. Then what argument would she have?
"I know her type, David. Women like Mary Margaret typically get whatever they want," Regina sighed and looked ahead, keeping a protective eye on their son as he darted between animal exhibits.
"Can we not talk about her right now? I'm not exactly happy with her about everything with Henry's birthday..."
"Why, because you had to spend the weekend with me?" Regina raised an eyebrow and looked at him challengingly.
David couldn't tell if she was joking or picking a fight or testing him, "You can't be serious..."
Regina wasn't sure if she was or not. Her sadness and anxiety and insecurities over their situation swirled inside of her, making her feel even weaker than her hangover did already. She missed him and wanted him but he was still married to someone else and the pain of him moving on did not sting any less today than it had initially.
"It was just a joke," Regina shook her head and forced a smile. Now was not the time to try to feel him out after what happened between them night before. She stifled her emotions, blaming the hangover for making them so heightened and regained her self control.
"Mom! Dad! Look it's the tigers!" Henry stopped and yelled back to them, making Regina grateful for the interruption.
She was relieved Henry was acting more normal towards her lately and she smiled in response, coming up beside of him, "Do you remember them from last time?"
"Kind of," He nodded with a boyish shrug and didn't pull away when she ran a hand over his hair. She had missed being able to mother him.
"Don't you still have the stuffed tiger on your shelf at home?" David asked and smiled at his son's excitement, stepping up on the other side of him.
"Yeah right beside the ship Grandpa and I built last Christmas!" Henry craned his neck to look up at him with a smile before glancing back to Regina, "Are you going to come to grandma and grandpa's for Christmas this year, mom?"
Regina felt her stomach sink at the memories of the years before flooding her. Spending the holidays with David's family had been completely foreign to her at first. Cora never cared much for quality time or tradition but the Nolan's were the complete opposite. Being with David's family had taught her what holidays and family was supposed to be all along.
"No honey, you'll go with your dad and Mary Margaret like last year," She nodded once and forced a smile, seeing David's eyes on her. It hurt to be reminded that it wasn't just the three of them anymore, but they had to get used to that.
"There you are," Ruth smiled warmly, appearing on the back porch where Regina sat wrapped in a blanket. The older woman held two mugs of tea, bringing one down in offering that Regina nodded thanks for and took into her hands. "Are you still feeling under the weather, sweetheart?"
Regina took a breath and leaned back a little in the chair, giving the woman room to get past and take a seat next to her. "A bit. I think my stomach is still just a little upset from the drinks last night."
"I could tell by the way you went pale at the sight of dinner," Ruth chuckled, recalling the look on Regina's face when she'd walked into the kitchen earlier after they'd gotten home from their outing. "You still look a little peaked. Try the tea, it will help."
"Thank you," Regina nodded and took a shaky sip, making a mental note never to drink that much in one night again.
"It was good to have you here for a weekend, sweetie. Usually it's just me and all of those boys," She chuckled and shook her head. "I love them, but I miss having a daughter around."
"Mary Margaret doesn't come when they visit?" Regina glanced at her curiously.
"Only sometimes," Ruth nodded, "But I think she finds it hard."
"Why would she?"
"Well...David told me once she feels like she's living in your shadow when she comes here. I guess Robert and Jamie and I all bring you up in conversation and it bothers her," Ruth raised a brow and Regina bit back a smile at the hint of sass in the usually nothing-but-kind woman's expression. "-But we cant help it. You've been a part of this family for years now and most of our memories involve you. She had to know going into this that you'd still be in the picture. Especially with Henry."
Regina felt a little guilty, knowing that David's new wife's insecurities weren't unfounded. She wouldn't have been able to step into a new relationship and family that another woman was still so much a part of. Not to mention the messy, drawn out issues between she and David. And the sex behind her back.
"It couldn't be easy for her. She does at least make an effort with Henry and I guess that's all I should care about. He's the one whose been affected by our divorce the most and I want whoever David is with to treat him well."
"Of course," Ruth nodded with a weak smile. "How are you and David getting along? Is it still as rocky?"
Regina laughed under her breath and looked at the woman with a watery expression. "It's...it's not like it was. Things have been so messed up since the divorce. We've had our highs and lows. Right now I think we've finally accepted that it's not about us and we have to focus on co-parenting."
The afternoon had gone well, both of them seeming to want to keep the peace. They hadn't discussed the night before and she was relieved they didn't get into it. Her heart was too fragile and she felt too poorly to deal with emotions on top of it. For the first time in a while they seemed to reach a silent truce and had managed to be friendly and respectful instead of constantly pushing each other's buttons. The day was about Henry after all and the importance of that was something they could always agree on.
"I hope you're able to make peace with it," Ruth reached out and covered Regina's hand with her own. "I never would've thought you and David would end up apart. And if it's this hard for me to accept, I can't imagine how it feels for you."
Between Ruth's soft touch and her motherly words, Regina had to swallow thickly at the lump of emotion rising in her throat. "I don't even know how it happened. So many things seemed to build up and suddenly we were two people we didn't recognize."
"It's hard being with someone from the time you're so young. There's been a few times Robert and I have had to get to know one another again. You change and grow and you're not the same person you were when you met them. It can make things confusing."
Regina took a shaky breath and glanced at the woman with familiar blue eyes, "I think a lot of it was my fault, Ruth."
"What makes you say that?"
"I think it started around the time my mother came back into my life. She wanted to know Henry and David and I argued a lot about it. He was dead set against it because he knew of my past with Cora, but I was conflicted. I think a part of me still wanted my mother's love and approval...for her to accept me and to...I don't know, maybe I even hoped that she would tell me she finally believed me when it came to Leopold," Her voice cracked and tears blurred her vision, pausing to regain her control. "David didn't understand because he knew how she'd been before. He didn't know why'd I'd still want anything to do with her. And I think I resented him because I knew he was right but I still wanted her to be different."
"It's only natural to want your parents love, sweetheart," Ruth reassured, squeezing her hand, "But I take it things didn't really change all that much?"
"She might've been impressed by Henry but she was still the same with me," Regina sighed and swiped at tears with the back of her hand quickly. "I think her being back in my life just brought up a lot of memories and issues I had been able to compartmentalize before. I didn't know how to handle it besides burying myself in work...David noticed and we fought because I stopped talking to him about things. He said I shut him out and I blamed him for not giving me space. Neither one of us knew how to deal with my depression and we just threw ourselves into work..."
"It's understandable, Regina," Ruth's brows furrowed with a sad expression, "David's soft-hearted and I'm sure he took it as rejection when you didn't share what you were going through, but honey, you can't guilt yourself for his feelings. You were trying to deal with past trauma on top of being a wife and a mother and a mayor."
"I know but if I hadn't shut him out-" Regina bit her lip.
"Regina. I know my son. He is not the most patient man. Especially when it comes to relationships. I'm sure he could've been a little more patient, and not internalized what you had to do to work through your own struggles," Ruth shook her head. "We both know he comes from a good place. But pushing you and getting angry with you back then for not letting him help wasn't the answer. You needed time to come to him."
Regina let out a pent up half breath, half cry at the woman's words, "No one teaches you how to handle things like this within a marriage. It wasn't really an issue with us but an issue between us...my issues. He wanted to help and he didn't know how and we just..." She shook her head as a fresh tear ran down her face, "Things snowballed so quickly after that. Work consumed our time and because we weren't communicating, we fought instead and then we-"
She stopped and glanced at Ruth who raised a brow. "You stopped having sex? You can say it," The older woman smiled with a hint of playfulness, lightening the mood for a moment.
"Yes..." Regina smiled sheepishly, "Our fighting just got worse and we said things I never thought we would. Terrible things that were just meant to hurt one another."
"I know everyone was shocked when you announced your split but I knew it had to be bad for you two to ever give up on each other," Ruth squeezed Regina's hand gently, "How are you doing? Have you talked to anyone about these issues?"
"Yes, after the divorce I went back to therapy. Things were so bad I was afraid I was going to break down so I sought help..." Regina nodded slowly. "I think I've dealt with my past, at least in a way that it won't fester in my present again. But I can't change what it did to my marriage and my family..."
"You don't know that, sweetheart. Regardless of what happens, I'm proud of you," Ruth said seriously and Regina's eyes welled with tears again. She could vividly remember the night years ago when she'd told Ruth about what had happened with Cora and Leopold. It was the first time she had ever truly opened up to a maternal figure and experienced the comfort a mother could give.
David had found her bruises and she had confessed everything about Leopold and what he had done to her again during her visit home from college. David became enraged before she calmed him and then he convinced her that they had to do something about it. Knowing they were too young to have the means to handle it alone, he'd woken his parents and asked for their help. Regina couldn't bring herself to face his parents when David talked to them and was still distraught over the resurfacing of Leopold's abuse. Ruth had come to find her in David's room and Regina had ended up crying in a mother's arms for the first time in her life.
"Thank you, Ruth..." Regina smiled weakly, wiping her tears from her face again. "You and David are the only ones who know everything about back then and it's been hard not being able to talk to someone that does..."
"You can talk to me whenever you need to, Regina Nolan," Ruth used her married name firmly, always saying she had been adopted by them way before she had married David. "I want you to call me whenever you want or need to talk. Do you understand?"
"Yes," She forced a smile, her chin quivering at the woman's care.
"Come here, sweetheart," Ruth looked at her knowingly, wrapping an arm around Regina's shoulders and pulling her into her embrace.
"You do know Mom is never going to love Maggie the way she does Regina-" James came up beside of David where he stood in the kitchen window, noticing the women who talked endlessly by the soft light of the porch.
David raised an eyebrow at his idiot brother and didn't know whether to hit him or laugh. "Her name is Mary Margaret," He hit his arm and shook his head, turning to finish pouring the drink he came for before he was distracted by Ruth and Regina in their own little world.
"Oh right, right," James smirked and opened one of the multiple cookie tins Ruth had our for her grandson, "So what are you gonna do about Regina?"
"What do you mean?" David sighed and sat down at the counter with his glass and watched his brother.
"Is it cool if I give it a shot, then?" James smirked and took a bite of the cookie he held, goading David as he chewed smugly.
"Regina wouldn't give you the time of day like that. She's too good for you," He laughed and rolled his eyes at his twin.
"But you don't care if I give it a try? I mean, you're married to Maggie and Regina and I always did have a good time together-"
"Oh come on," David rolled his eyes, knowing his brother was only trying to get him to admit he wasn't over her. However, his brother was a loud mouth and the last person he wanted to discuss his current situation with.
"As long as I have your blessing," James said teasingly with a shrug. "You two definitely seem to be over each other, so I didn't think it would be a problem. Besides she'll always be family and who better to take care of your ex than your twin?"
"Come on Jamie now you're just being a douche," David said, hating the aggravation that bubbled in him. Jamie was simply needling him and there was no legitimacy to it but it still got under his skin.
"She wouldn't have to change her last name," Jamie raised an eyebrow before holding his hands up when David tensed in telltale irritation, "I'm just fucking with you. Calm down. But seriously are you gonna get her back? Because if you're never planning to leave Mary Margaret, it isn't fair to not let Regina move on."
"I'm working it out. I got a lecture from Dad I don't need one from you, too," David let out a breath and leaned against the back of his chair. "Anyways. What's new with you? You headed back overseas anytime soon?"
"Probably," He gave a wag of his brows at the thought, "I gotta go where the work is, but it's been a nice break to be here with mom and dad and catch up with everyone."
"Well if you ever get sick of the gypsy life you know there's always Storybrooke," David raised an eyebrow and laughed at the instant drop of Jamie's expression, "I know you think the suburbs are boring, but it's really not that bad. Henry would love to have you around."
"Think Regina would?" James perked up, displaying his inability to be serious for more than five seconds at a time.
"Oh god, forget it."
"Hey Madam Mayor, long time no see," Emma smirked as she waltzed into Regina's office, not bothering to knock first as her arms were full of Granny's takeout.
"You text me the entire time I was gone," Regina raised an eyebrow with a slight smile, looking up from her paperwork and shutting her laptop. The blonde wouldn't quit annoying her until she had her full attention and she'd learned long ago not to try to multitask around her best friend.
"I know but I haven't seen you in like almost a week," The sheriff shrugged with a smirk and plopped down in the seat opposite Regina's desk, "What? Don't make me out to be clingy. I just want to know how it went..."
"How what went?" Regina braced herself for the upcoming conversation, forcing a shrug as she watched her unpack the takeout.
"A whole ass weekend with your ex-husband and his family," The blonde rolled her eyes at Regina's reluctance, "Come on you know we need to talk about this. There's no point in stalling."
"I don't know what you're expecting to hear-" She pursed her lips and frowned, busying herself with opening up her salad container, "We went for our son's birthday, that was it."
"So absolutely nothing happened between the two of you? You're over it and none of it affected you?"
Regina took a deep breath, biting back the urge to snap at Emma for trying to force her into sharing. She guessed it would be healthy to talk about how she was feeling with someone, but she wasn't sure she could unpack it without breaking down fully. Coming back to reality after a weekend of being with her family again was like a punch to the gut that she hadn't been prepared for.
"We...we went out and saw some old friends from college, and David's brother was there so it just...felt like old times," Regina muttered, avoiding eye contact as she pushed her fork around, "We had too much to drink and...we slept together-"
Emma's brow raised as if she already knew, "Is that it-"
"He told me he loved me after-" She frowned and glanced up at her then for her reaction. "But he was drunk and it was right after so it clearly didn't mean anything, I just-"
"That bastard," The blonde let out a breath and leaned back in her chair, "Did you all talk about it when you sobered up?"
"God no. We just focused on Henry for the rest of the weekend. I think we scared ourselves a little...before when we would have sex it was typically because we had argued or were upset with each other but this time it was...it was because we'd been getting along and we were happy. And I think we both realized that being intimate again in that way is something we can't do. It's dangerous territory..."
"You think it's actually over now?" Emma's brows furrowed and she looked at her more seriously. She didn't seem to be judging her, but the concern was evident in her expression.
"Obviously it is...I haven't heard from him this week," She let out a breath, "When we got back he and Henry went back to David's and things are just like they were before...He clearly didn't mean what he said, it was just a slip of the tongue. It's best for both of us if we just try to move on."
"I'm sorry," Emma let out a breath and shook her head, "Are you okay?"
"What? Of course," Regina shook her head quickly, "We've been divorced for two years now. I've worked through it all before. We're just like a bad habit with each other," She let out a breath, trying to seem as convincing as possible. "Sometimes you relapse but you know you'll have to stop doing it again."
"Yeah comparing your relationship with him to an addiction is probably a sign it's on the toxic side," Emma snorted.
"It wasn't always like that," Regina frowned somewhat defensively, "We really loved each other, deep down. We had a good relationship for years."
"I know," Emma dropped her playful expression, "I just mean now. You know I'm here to support you and help you through this. You want to go out this weekend?"
"I can't, I have Henry on the weekends now for the summer-" Regina smiled weakly, "He's spending the weeks at his Dad's."
"Ugh he's still on that kick? Don't worry I'm sure he'll be home soon. I don't even know how they have room for him in that apartment," Emma rolled her eyes, "I'm sure it's just a phase."
"We'll see I guess," Regina forced a smile, "Now can you please use a napkin? You're getting sauce on my paperwork, Miss Swan."
David sat at the kitchen island counter, glancing at the clock on the wall anxiously. Mary Margaret would be home soon and he had been waiting for almost two weeks to have the conversation with her. Finding the right time to tell her that their marriage was over had proved difficult since he'd returned home from his weekend with Henry and Regina.
He didn't want to have it out with Henry in the apartment, which made it difficult considering he was now staying with them during the week. Then the weekend following, Mary Margaret's parents had visited and David definitely couldn't get into it then. Two weeks later, he finally had Henry dropped off at Regina's and an empty apartment. Now he waited with a beer in hand, rehearsing ways in his head to tell his wife that it was over.
During the two weeks he hadn't seen much of Regina, just brief moments when dropping or picking up Henry. She had acted distant when they got back from his parent's house and he sensed that she needed space to sort through what had happened between them. He wanted desperately to go to her and tell her that he wanted to be with her but he knew she would never take him seriously until he had the conversation he needed to with his current wife.
"Hey, sorry I'm late," Mary Margaret's voice interrupted his thoughts and he looked up to see her coming through the door with her bag, "Should we just order pizza tonight? I don't really feel like cooking-" She laughed and set her purse down on the counter, turning to the fridge to get out her bottle of wine.
"I was actually wondering if we could talk-" David took a deep breath, watching her turn around and look at him curiously, "I mean, we need to talk."
"About what? Are you and Regina arguing about custody again?" She frowned deeper.
"No," He glanced down at his beer and let out a sigh before looking back up at her, "I want a divorce, Mary Margaret."
"You...what-" She stood and stared at him for a few moments as she processed what he said, acting like she didn't hear him correctly, "Are you serious?"
"I really did try to make this work, but I haven't been fair to you," David admitted with a frown, "I'm still in love with Regina and I always have been."
Mary Margaret's face turned pale and then flushed red, a telltale sign of her anger brewing, "I knew it. You always denied it but I could tell by the way you looked at her," She gave a bitter laugh, "No, you don't get to do this. You don't get to lie to me for a year and then end it. You made a VOW to me!"
"I know I've messed things up, but you have to believe me that I did want to move on with you," He frowned seriously, "When we first met I knew you would be good for me and I really tried to feel about you the way that you deserve. I tried so hard-"
"Bullshit!" She snapped and set her wine glass down on the counter with a thud, snapping the stem, "I know that you love me deep down and if she would just get out of our lives long enough you would see that!"
"Mary Margaret I can assure you that that's not going to happen-" David bit down on his lip, seeing that she wasn't accepting it. She was sure he hadn't thought this all of the way through and that it was something that they could sweep under the rug.
"No, when you're not around her you're happy! You actually pay attention to me and act like a husband but as soon as Regina worms her way back in it's like you're a different person!" She rounded the counter with determination, "You're going to let go of her and we're going to go to counseling. We can make this work-"
"We've been sleeping together!" He blurt out frustratedly before he thought it through, "Regina and I have never really stopped."
His wife's eyes widened as she looked up at him before her small hand came up, meeting the side of his face with considerable force for someone so petite, "You bastard! How long, how often?!"
"You don't really want the details-"
"I want the fucking details and I deserve the details!" She screamed now, "Did it just start again recently or have you been doing this behind my back since you married me?!"
"I..we cut things off for a long time after the divorce, almost a year... that's when I met you and tried to move on," David brought his hand up to run over his stinging jaw, "Then after you and I eloped, you remember Regina and I did Christmas together for Henry and-"
"That was barely two months after we got married!" She screamed, tears welling in her eyes as she shoved him when he stood from the stool, "How often?!"
"I don't know the exact number of times," David swallowed hard, seeing the hurt and betrayal in her expression. He hated that he had brought someone else into his drama. Someone who didn't deserve to be hurt, yet he had hurt her in the worst way. "I am sorry, Mary Margaret...I know it doesn't mean anything, but I never intended to hurt you."
"Is she waiting for you now? Did the two of you cook this plan up together during your little family weekend?" She laughed bitterly, tears falling down her face, "God I knew it! I knew it all along and you made me think I was crazy for ever suspecting! You wouldn't even entertain the thought of us having a baby because you always planned to go back to her! Didn't you?! Just admit it, you fucking coward!" She screamed, clearing the wine glass and beer bottle off of the counter with a swipe of her arm.
"Mary Margaret-" He began, holding up his hands away from her when she started shoving his chest. She was spinning out of control quickly, anger and upset taking over and he didn't know how to react. Comforting her over pain he had caused wasn't appropriate and she was too enraged for it to do any good.
"What's the matter? You can't deal with the consequences of what you've done?!" She said angrily through tears, hitting in hard in the chest repeatedly before he grabbed her wrists to stop her, "Let go of me you bastard!"
"I'm going to go, I think we need some space-" David frowned and let go of her wrists, side stepping her quickly as he headed for the door.
"That's it! Go run to your ex-wife and tell her your plan worked!" She yelled bitterly from behind him before he stepped out and shut the front door.
Regina swirled the bourbon in her glass a she sat on her sofa, unable to find anything of interest on the television. She turned it off in irritation and leaned back in the cushions, head tilted towards the ceiling. Henry was tucked away in his bed sleeping and she had been too wired to go herself, so she'd opted for a drink downstairs. It hadn't helped though and she was just as emotional and wired as she had been before.
Her heart ached to feel the way she had just two weekends ago, surrounded by her family at Robert and Ruth's. It was almost more devastating to have gotten another taste of the life she once knew only to come back to this than it had been leaving it the first time. Henry barely tolerated being here and spent most of his time playing video games. David came home and went straight back to his wife. And she ended up alone once more.
She had been foolish to think that anything had changed during their weekend together. Being around his family and seeing friends from their past had allowed her to think about what it would be like if they had a second chance. Henry had been happier than she had seen him in months and she and David had made it for two whole days without any bickering or fights. Still, it had been unrealistic to think that it would change their reality once they were home. They had made their separate beds and it was time to lie in them.
A knock on her front door snapped her from her self pity and she frowned, sitting her glass on the coffee table as she stood. Her heart pounded a little harder at the thought that it may be David and she immediately ran a hand through her hair on the way to the door. Was he finally coming to put an end to their streak of not speaking?
"Regina," Robin smiled warmly when she answered the front door and she stared at him for a moment, trying to process the fact that it was not who she expected.
"Robin..." Her brows furrowed slightly, "Wh...what are you doing here?"
"I'm sorry it's late-" Robin ran a hand over the back of his hair and gave her a sheepish smile, "I was just walking home from the pub and I thought...well, there's some things I need to say to you. Can we talk?"
Regina took a deep breath, "Whatever it is, it's fine Robin-" She started, not sure if she could handle an emotional conversation without breaking down, "We don't need to get into it. I know why you had to leave."
"But still, can we talk?" Robin persisted, "Things have just been weighing heavy on me with how we left it-"
"Fine," She let out a breath, trying not to be too hateful towards him. He had hurt her in the end but she had also cheated on him behind his back. She had no moral high ground to stand on when it came to their failed relationship. "You want a drink?"
He nodded thanks and stepped in when she moved to the side and shut the front door behind him, "I'll have whatever you're having." He smiled and she knew instantly what he meant. He always teased her about how whiskey made her cheeks flush and she realized now her complexion must be a little pink.
"Right," Regina led him into the kitchen, getting another glass to pour some bourbon into. "So how have you been?"
"I've been okay, thanks," He lifted the glass slightly when she handed it to him, "But I have missed you. I wanted to apologize for how everything happened."
"I understand. I should've told you from the beginning when things started getting serious between us that I couldn't have children-" Regina shook her head, avoiding his gaze as she took another sip of her whiskey.
"I think I was just disappointed. I had been fantasizing about us getting married and having this big family-" Robin smiled weakly, "And when I found out that wasn't an option I just..I don't know. It had been a long time since I was as happy as I was with you, and I didn't want to accept that everything may not be like I pictured it, you know? It was selfish of me and it wasn't fair to you."
"Thank you for saying it," Regina nodded once and swallowed at the lump in her throat, the alcohol she'd had and the conversation quickly making her feel vulnerable and tired.
"But God I've missed you," Robin laughed with an unsure smile, watching her, "You were my best mate, Regina. You really were...but I felt like there was a part of you that you always held back from me..."
"What are you talking about?" She let out a breath and looked up at him with glossy eyes and a frown.
"I just want you to know that the baby thing, it wasn't the only reason I was unsure about us. Even though I was with you I never felt like I had you, not all of you, at least...Did things between you and David...did they ever really end?"
There it was. Regina's stomach sank at the fact that even the man she'd been the closest to loving after David could tell she wasn't over her ex-husband. She had sabotaged things with Robin by still being involved emotionally with David. No matter how she had tried to move on and convince herself and others that she had, there was no hiding the truth. All she could do was look back at Robin and try to regain her composure before she spoke so that her voice didn't break.
"N..not really," Her voice trembled, "I'm sorry, Robin."
"I kind of always knew...just the way you talked about him and...the way you held back with me," He nodded quietly, "Why don't the two of you give it another go? Does he not feel the same?"
"Uh..no. I don't believe he does," Regina admitted and felt like her throat was closing up at the fact she was acknowledging it out loud. She and David would never be she and David again. He was married to someone else and they had already made too much of a mess of things.
"You would've thought differently if you'd seen the way he came after me and Will in the diner," Robin raised an eyebrow, shame coloring his expression, "I was blackout drunk and upset over us, I didn't even remember what I was saying until Will told me the next day...But David heard me being disrespectful to you, and that's when I got the shiner. A well deserved one, at that."
"We share a child, that's probably the only reason he'd get involved," Regina's voice trembled and she fidgeted with the whiskey tumbler in her hand. "Mary Margaret is safe and easy and I think he just wants something simple like that. Not the mess we've become. That I've become..."
"But you're still in love with him?" Robin asked and she saw the empathy in his eyes. He wasn't angry or bitter or jealous about it, simply understanding. The kindness in his eyes reminded her of how supportive and good he was. Yet, just like every other healthy relationship in her life, it had ended.
She didn't answer his question directly but took a deep breath and tried to speak as her voice wobbled, "I guess that's kind of my thing. Ruining relationships with the people I care most about," She pressed her lips together but her chin trembled, "I don't know how to love very well."
"Come here," Robin frowned deeply, seeing her grasping at straws to try to keep from breaking down. He reached out for her and pulled her into his embrace, hugging her tightly as she buried her face into his neck. "I'm here for you Regina, you haven't ruined it with me."
David's face still stung from slap and half punches Mary Margaret had thrown earlier but he didn't care. Despite the physical pain, he felt an incredible emotional weight had been lifted from his shoulders. He had finally ended things with her and he was on the right path to making things work with Regina again.
It had all seemed impossible for so long but now he could see a light at the end of the tunnel. There was no one in between he and Regina now. They could finally focus on each other and working things out. The love was obviously still there between them or they would've left each other alone when their marriage had ended.
He knew it would take some time to convince Regina that it could work again. She was always more realistic and cautious when it came to matters of the heart, where he tended to jump right in. They were opposites in most ways but that's what made it work when things were good. Their different personalities complemented and aggravated one another, but never let things get dull. It had been a healthy give and take, push and pull between them.
They had grown up together and changed, dealing with things in their own ways that only caused problems between them. During the unraveling of their marriage they seemed like strangers to one another, but now they knew better. The weekend at his parents proved to him that they could get back to that place, or maybe a better one. He felt they had both matured and evolved with the different paths they took, but the one constant was that they loved one another.
David's heart was thumping wildly when he pulled his truck up against the curb, pushing down the brake and shutting off the engine. He saw Henry's bedroom looked dark and the kitchen light still on, giving him hope that their son was asleep and he could speak to her privately. He knew he shouldn't be this relieved and excited after just ending things with Mary Margaret, but he was.
He shook his head at the thought of how much time they had wasted being idiots and trying to convince one another that they didn't care. Splitting up their family and bringing other people into their mess had been a mistake and now they could finally right it. He shoved his keys in his pocket as he started up the walk, taking a deep breath as he told himself to remain calm.
It was when he took the first step that movement through the window caught his eye and he stopped. His brain raced to catch up with his vision as he saw Regina and Robin hugging. His arms were around her tightly and her face was pressed into his neck intimately as she held onto him. Robin's back was more towards him so he couldn't see Regina's face, but his stomach rolled when he realized she tilted her head up and Robin was leaning down to kiss her.
David felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs, his stomach churning and dread filling him. He turned quickly and made his way back down the walk before he was noticed, his mind numb and his heartbeat pounding in his ears. His hands shook as he tried to get the key back into the ignition and the shock worked it's way through him. He had just ended his marriage to Mary Margaret to be with her, but Regina was back with Robin.
"I thought you said you could be quiet," David smirked into her neck when Regina cried out and dug her nails into his shoulder-blades, "Henry's napping remember."
"Shut up," She replied breathlessly, letting her head fall back against the wall he had her pinned against in the upstairs hall, "If you stop right now I swear to god, David-"
He smirked before pulling his cock almost entirely out of her and thrusting deeply again, making her choke on a moan, "I've missed you this week. Henry really has to start sleeping in his crib full time," He groaned, gripping the underneath of her thighs as he continued to thrust himself.
Regina whimpered, running a hand up into the back of David's hair and spread her legs wider for him, "I know, fuck, harder-" She felt her muscles tightening as he gripped her ass and started to move harder and deeper, each thrust pushing her body up the wall before gravity brought her back down.
Her dress was around her waist and her panties torn, laying discarded in the floor next to the jeans around David's ankles. He pumped into her, feeling her sex begin to tense around him. He smirked a little when her head fell back and her eyebrows furrowed, letting him know she was close.
"I'm-I'm going to-" She looked up at him with wide eyes and he knew instantly she was about to erupt, and loudly. He gripped her thigh with one hand as he pounded into her, feeling her wet heat clench around him violently. Her back arched from the wall and her eyes squeezed shut, mouth coming open in a scream as David quickly put his hand over it to muffle her.
"Fucking hell, Regina," He groaned under his breath as her body rolled and clenched him, nails clawing his back when her orgasm flooded her. She screamed and cried out into his palm as her head fell back and he felt her hot cum soaking him, nearly slipping out of her with how wet she had become.
"God," She breathed heavily looking up at him with heavy lidded eyes and he felt her thighs trembling against him, "Fuck, you're still hard," She half moaned as she felt him still inside of her. Her skin was tingling and her limbs felt numb, her body hypersensitive and floating.
"Are you okay?" He groaned as he slipped out, picking her up from the wall and carrying her to their bedroom, laying her down on their bed as he stood at the edge.
"Mhm," Regina smirked up at the look on his face. No traces of her sweet David to be found but instead he looked at her like an animal eyeing up its prey. Her legs still shook from her prior orgasm but she spread her legs for him, watching his expression as she reached down to stroke herself. She loved to watch him watch her when he was like this so she put on a show despite the fact she probably still couldn't stand.
"Fuck, you are so sexy-" David groaned under his breath, running his hands over her thighs as he stepped up to her, cock brushing against her slit in preparation to re-enter her while he watched her play with her clit.
Regina's eyes popped open and she panted, seeing the ceiling of her bedroom come into view. She groaned under her breath, letting her eyes close again at the realization her own hand was already in her pajama bottoms. Her stomach was already tight with arousal so she continued to stroke herself at the pace she was in the dream, quickly make her hips tense and body roll with a mediocre orgasm.
She huffed and turned to look at the time as she removed her hand, seeing she'd woken before her alarm again. Sleeping alone was something she still hadn't gotten used to and it manifested in poor nights sleep. David had slept beside of her every night since they'd gotten together in college and it felt unnatural not to have him there. Robin had been a substitute for her husband, but he was better than the empty space beside of her.
Not to mention it had been weeks since she and David slept together at his parents and the lack of intimacy in her life was clearly taking its toll on her. The only action she'd had since then was Robins hug-turned-kiss that she had to pull away from and he'd immediately apologized for. They'd written it off as both of them being emotional and half drunk and they had agreed to be friends.
She forced herself out of her bed and towards her bathroom to get out of her sweat dampened pajamas. Her schedule was full of meetings today and then Granny's Diners 30th anniversary celebration. Henry was dying to go since his friends would be there and Regina needed to make an appearance as the mayor. It would be her first time seeing David in over a week since he had stopped coming to the door to pick up or drop Henry.
Dread filled her at the idea of walking into Granny's alone and seeing David with Mary Margaret, most likely playing happy family with their son. She thought about texting Robin to see if he wanted to be her date, but decided against it in case it would blur the lines of their friendship. A sigh escaped her as she turned on the water and finished undressing, stepping under the shower head. Whatever the evening brought, she would handle it on her own.