Chapter 24

"Regina, how are you?" Robin's voice says happily from the other end of the line.

"A-Alright," she says.

"You don't sound like it."

"I…I have a lot on my mind right now. I was wondering if you wanted to get some coffee later today?"

"Uh… I guess so, I do have Roland today though."

"Is that Gina, Daddy?" a small voice says in the background. Regina feels a few tears enter her eyes.

"Yes, it is would you like to say hi?"

Noises are heard and then a very happy voice enters her ear.

"Hi, Gina,"

"Hello Roland, how are you doing?"

"Good, Daddy's showing me how to make paper airplanes today."

"That sounds like a lot of fun," she says, forcing herself to smile. "I'm sure you'll make the best one."

"I call it the Dragon Flier. It's the fastest."

"Sounds like a cool name," she swallows a heavy lump in her throat, knowing she's going to miss this little boy's voice.

"Can I show it to you next time you visit?"

"S-Sure sweetie, next time."

"I gotta go now, bye Gina."

"Bye honey,"

Then his father is back on the line. "He likes spending time with you."

"I like spending time with him."

"So where do you want to meet for coffee and what time?"

"Uh, how about that little place on Stanley Boulevard?"

"The one with the small cream pastries you like?"

"Yeah, today's my cheat day for my diet."

"Regina, you're beautiful the way you are, don't let anyone tell you differently."

She nearly bursts out sobbing at his comment. He was so perfect, he was the best man she'd ever met and now her sister was basically forcing her to break up with him.

"What time?"

"I'll give you an hour to spend with him and get a sitter."

"Actually, Marian's coming to pick him up today."

"Oh."

"But I look forward to spending some time with you."

"Me too."

"Just order me my usual,"

"O-Okay, I got to go, I'll see you in an hour."

"Bye."

Once she hangs up Regina races into an alleyway and breaks down in tears. Her body shakes from the cold and the despair she felt inside of her heart. It feels like every time she actually meets someone she likes, something happens to ruin it. The only reason she can think of that would chase them away would be her inability to conceive and her sometimes prickly attitude. Everything else just felt like the world hated her and wanted her to suffer. It felt like their whole family was suffering. Despite how ruthless Zelena could be, she obviously suffered too, but she'd carried it way too far this time.

The brunette wants to call the police, but it's not a crime to bid on a house. She thinks about calling Emma to explain everything and maybe they could figure a way around the problem.

Just as she's about to call a text message comes through.

Better hurry, it says. The owner is eager to seal the deal. Don't even think about telling him what I did because then I will call child services on him for domestic and child abuse, if that doesn't keep him away from you I don't know what will. Tell the blonde slut and I'll speed up the deal. I also have connections in high places so they could get the poor excuse for a family evicted. Tell anyone else, and I'll make sure you get blamed for everything, after all, you're the one who showed her the house and got her hopes up.

If only murder wasn't illegal, Regina thought. We could rid the world of so many scumbags and wicked people who deserve it.

The real-estate agent felt so trapped, it felt as if Zelena had planned the thing from the beginning with Emma wanting to move. She knew this wasn't true, but somehow her half-sister managed to crawl her way into the middle to entrap her in her thick web of anger and deceit.

"Why can't I just be happy?" she wept quietly, leaning against the brick wall of the alleyway. She was never sure if there was God up there, but it felt like he wasn't helping her and letting the world victimize her.

She wipes away her tears and cleans her face up through the reflection of the nearest shop window. Her heart beat in her chest. She could just not listen to her sister, keep Robin, and convince Emma to buy another house. Of course, if that happened, Zelena may make up a huge lie saying that her sister forced her to the buy the house… why? She'd make up some stupid reason. Then Regina would be the bad guy and Emma would likely shut her out of her and Henry's life. She didn't want that. She didn't want to lose her friendship with Emma or her loving relationship with Henry. He was the son she could never have and she loved him dearly. They had been through too much to be ruined by this. She could... live without Robin. After all, she'd lived 32 years without him to this point, but she couldn't live without the people who were her family. She sighs deeply and then walks the few blocks to the coffee shop. She sits down in a booth and waits for him, inside her heart was slowly being crushed.

…

His handsome face appears from behind the glass door of the shop no less than an hour later. Regina nearly bursts into tears right then and there. It takes all the strength within herself to force a smile onto her face and stand up to greet him. His beautiful blue eyes light up when he sees her, his rugged face pulls up into the happiest look every seen. Her heart shatters inside her chest. He kisses her cheek gently before sitting down. She'd just ordered the coffees, but no pastries, she didn't feel hungry anymore as it was filled with guilt, sadness, and anger.

"No pastry?" Robin asks curiously as they sit down in the booth.

"Not hungry," she says.

"Your eyes are really red, are you okay?"

"I'm fine."

"Did someone upset you? Did you get enough sleep?"

"I'm fine," she insists harshly. That shuts him up and he takes a sip of his coffee.

They sit in silence for a few moments.

"How's Roland?"

"He's fine, he's bringing lots of artwork home from school. He also made a Valentine for you but seeing that we… you know… had other plans that weekend, I didn't give it to you."

"He's a little prince with such a giving heart." She pauses and swallows. "He's just like his father."

"He does have a way with women, doesn't he?"

Just like his father, she thinks.

Her hand begins to shake. She hides it under the table so he won't see.

"Are you sure you're okay darling?" he asks, noticing the distress in her face. He had grown to start calling her that, it made her feel special as he always called Marian Honey, but never Darling, it made her feel special.

She opens her mouth to say something when her phone buzzes in her pocket.

Tick-tock, tick-tock is all it says.

"Hmmm?" she asks, looking up.

"I asked if you need some water or something…"

I'm so sorry Robin, she thinks to herself.

"I'm okay, I need to talk to you about something."

"What is it?"

She swallows the biggest lump she's ever had in her throat and she bites her lip to the point that it might start bleeding.

"I…don't think we should see each other and more…"

The happiness in Robin's face goes to absolute shock and confusion. Regina can't hold the tears any longer.

"Wha…Why? Why Regina? What happened?"

"It's just that… well, you're going through so much right now and you already have a son… I don't want him to…"

"Forget about Roland for now, I'll help him through it. We will. I want to be with your Regina."

"But you're going through so much…" she squeaks.

"And you make it all better," he says, reaching across the table to grab her hand. "You give me hope, you make me smile every morning. You make me see that I don't have to be lonely after my divorce."

Tears are falling down her face like a waterfall, Regina looks away from his despairing eyes and removes her hand from his, gripping both of them into fists under the table.

"There's something else going on, what is it?" he says, suspecting something.

"No, there's nothing, it's just not going to work out."

"Bullshit Regina, tell me the truth, what's wrong? Whatever it is I'll forgive you…"

"It's nothing to forgive…" she whispers. She leaves money on the table and stands up to leave, but Robin grabs her arm tightly. Now, he too has tears in his eyes.

"Regina please…" he begs. "I want you… I need you…"

"I'm sorry Robin…" she says in a whisper. She knows he won't let go unless she really hurts him. "I can't see a future together that's all. I thought I had feelings for you, but they're not there. I want to end it before we both get hurt…"

"It's a little late for that," he says angrily. He lets go, allowing her to turn for the door. Everyone else in the café is looking at them, one can only assume what they were thinking.

"Goodbye Robin," she says in a hoarse whisper.

She then leaves the café in despair, finally able to break down completely from her sorrow. She catches a cab home and then flops onto her bed. She clings to the sheets, hoping there is still a bit of Robin's scent left. She inhales and continues to cry. Her heart really was truly broken this time. Her sobs echoed through her empty apartment, which is how she felt on the inside now.

Eventually, she gets up and texts her half-sister that it's been done.

The house is theirs it simply says.

The sacrifice she gave to keep those she considered family. She weeps even harder.

…

Meanwhile, across town, Robin sits in a local bar, drinking as much beer as he can, to numb the pain he was in. His mind kept replaying the break up over and over, he tried to find any indication that she was lying to him and that she truly did have feelings for him. She had suddenly stonewalled him and it was not two weeks ago that they'd finally been intimate. Had she played him for a fool? Was it all in his head that he liked her? How could he lose her like that? Was it something he'd done? Was it just too complicated now?

The door of the bar opens and sharp heels hit the dirty tiled floor. A woman in a tight green dress and lethal black heels approaches the man who was drinking his sorrows away. Her red hair pulled up out of her face.

"Drinking alone, are you?" she asks in the smoothest voice she can. She comes up on the stool to sit next to him.

Robin doesn't even look at her, his sadness changing to hatred very quickly.

"What do you want?"

"Can't a woman come for a drink in a bar?"

"I thought you'd be above that?" he mutters, still avoiding her blue eyes.

"Has something happened?" she asks curiously.

"It's none of your business thank you. Now please find yourself another seat."

"You sound very down. How about I buy you one drink as a peace offering? Then I'll leave. Okay?"

Robin rubs his fingers over his eyes, the alcohol in his system clouding his judgment a little bit. He just wants to be alone right now, but obviously, she wouldn't leave him until she bought him that drink.

"Fine, one drink."

Thank you for all the reviews. Glad some people share my dislike for Zelena in this story and in the show.