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He looked at her incredulously, "What?"
"I can't take him, Simon is outside. It's too risky. Once I'm gone, I'll alert the authorities. You have to keep him safe, please." She stepped to him and took his hands in her grip. "Robin, I'm trusting you with the most important thing in my life."
Her voice broke, she had wide eyes. "You're telling the truth, aren't you?" He could see it clear as day in her eyes. She wasn't a monster, but she'd married one. She'd been running so long she believed it too.
"Will you take care of my son?" Tears streamed down her face, "I'll come back when I know it's safe, but you won't hear from me. You won't be able to contact me."
"Regina don't go. We'll call the police, they'll handle it."
"That's not my name, I told you. And they'll never believe me. It's too much for anyone to." She released his hands.
He took her face in his hands, "You'll always be Regina to me. Let me help." He wiped her tears feeling the panic welling in his chest.
"You can't," she whispered.
"So, you'll leave, and what? I raise your son? Regina, that's madness. What will he do without you? He needs his mother."
"I know, but I can't stay here. It's more dangerous for me. Promise me something," she said.
"Anything," he said.
"Don't let anyone find out who Sammy is. As far as anyone is concerned, He's Henry Mills. In the safe upstairs, his documents are there. Take them with you when you leave. The code is my name, Sabrina. Okay?" He stood unsure of what to say. "Robin."
"I heard you, but I can't…This is just…" It was all too much. "Stay, please. I won't let anything happen to you." It felt like he was losing her. "I promise." He kissed her softly.
"You can only do so much, this is out of your control. There's nothing you can do to change what Simon did. I can't erase it. I have to go." A tear slipped out. She leaned in and kissed him deeply.
"But, I…" He leaned his forehead against hers. His heart was breaking.
"I know," she said. He wrapped his arms around her. A tear slipped down his cheek.
"Mom?" He felt her tremble when she heard him speak.
Regina pulled away and turned to her son, "I need to talk to you."
Robin glanced at Henry with sympathy, "I'll go check on Roland." He walked around the corner and down the hall.
"Sammy, I need you to listen to me," she began.
"You never call me that, what's going on?" He watched her wipe her tears.
"We need a new plan. A new mission, okay?" Sitting down, she took him with her to sit in her lap.
"Where this time?" His tone of voice made her stop and take a minute.
"In this life, we are constantly looking over our shoulder. Always running and you deserve better than that." Regina took his face and kissed his forehead, "I love you, but I need to make a really hard decision."
"Tell me," he said. He knew his mother more than anyone.
"You're staying with Robin. He'll take care of you while I'm gone."
"But…"
"No. You need to listen to me," she said. "You are gonna stay here. Henry Mills is your name, do you understand me?"
"Yes."
"The story Robin will tell people is that I had to take care of my sick mother. I had to go suddenly. No one will know where I am. I won't be able to contact you."
"You said we'd always be together," he cried.
"I know baby, but your dad found us. I can't risk you getting hurt. I go alone until I can come back. Promise me you'll stay safe."
"Mom, no. I want you to stay. Please."
"I can't. He won't stop, and he knows where we are. I'll go and make him follow me away from here. He'll have no reason to stay. I won't be gone long."
"You promise?" There was a change in the air.
"No, I can't promise that, but I'll work hard to come back. I swear it."
"When?"
"Now. I have to go as soon as possible. I packed a bag and Robin knows where to get your documents in the house."
"Now? No, you can't. Stay the night at least. Just one night," he begged.
"Sammy, please. It's dangerous, he might be upstairs right now."
"But, he can't get down here no matter how hard he tries. Please," he begged.
Regina sighed, "One night, but in the morning, I'll be gone before the sun rises. I love you, Sammy."
"I love you, too." They embraced for a long time in a tearful goodbye.
After Robin and Regina gave the boys a semi-resemblance of a meal, they scurried away to the room. Robin sat with Roland and Henry watching TV until they fell asleep. He needed time to process everything he'd learned.
Regina had asked for time alone to pack and prepare to leave. He'd tried to help but eventually had to respect her privacy. It was late when he stood and went to find her. He closed the door with one last look at the sleeping boys.
When he turned the corner, he stopped. She was wearing a white nightgown and she was sitting on the edge of the bed with a phone in her hand. "Are they asleep?"
He put his hands in his pockets nervously taking steps, "Yea, they've been out for a bit. I didn't want to bother you." He moved closer as he saw her typing.
"Thank you for giving me some space. I'll leave first thing in the morning. I have a car arriving at 4:30," she said as if it was normal.
"How did you arrange that?" He moved to sit in the empty chair near the bed.
She put her phone down, "Before I left Simon, I had a friend. Someone who I trust more than anyone. He's helped me get identities and every time I had to pick up and go, he's been able to get me a new place to live in less than an hour."
"How many times have you had to move?"
She put her hands together and placed them to her lips. "This is the ninth move. It gets harder and harder on him. I've never seen him take to a town like this before. I was so stupid to think we could be happy here."
"Hey," he said moving to sit next to her. He took her hand, "You're not stupid for having hope." He tucked her hair behind her ear, "You're strong and you've done what you can to protect your son."
"It isn't fair to him, he deserves better."
"You both deserve better than this. I've seen you put him first. You'd sacrifice anything for him."
"Yes, and I will. Always. He comes before anything. I've never let myself make friends and it was a mistake. Look what happened. Simon still found me and this time, I'm leaving people behind who care for us."
"I think he's really going to miss you," he said. Knowing he meant that he'd miss her too. She looked at him and knew there was hidden meaning in that statement. "I don't know how I'll be able to care for him when he doesn't like me," he commented.
"He does, he told me. It's not you, he doesn't like that another man is getting close. I haven't allowed myself to get involved and he sees…"
"I think the entire town sees it. I feel it every time I'm with you, but all this…" He picked up his hand and gestured to the room, "It's complicated," he said.
They sat in silence next to one another unmoving. Robin spoke after several minutes, "What will I tell people?" He turned toward her and saw tears in her eyes.
"I told Henry to tell people that my mother is sick, and I had to leave to care for her. I'll arrange for letters to be sent to your house and I'll contact the school and explain. I'll make sure the story is solid. I promise," she said.
He kicked his shoes off, "Come here," he said. He moved to lean against the headboard and tucked her into his side. "I wish I could fix this for you, but I'll admit I don't fully understand it. You're in this mess and I don't even know where to begin to help you."
She rested her head on his shoulder and her arm around his waist. It felt good to have her like this, but it all seemed sordid. Too much emotion and anxiety surrounded them. "It's why I keep running. If anyone finds me, it'll be all over the news. I can't do that to Sammy."
"I can't imagine you being held accountable and the things he did to you…" He softly used his fingers to caress up and down her back. The thought of her being whipped was enough to anger him. "How did you put up with it?"
"I had no choice," she said. "Sammy was four and Simon said he'd take him away. He was all I had, and I couldn't lose him. So, I tried to follow his rules and I never complained when I had to endure another consequence."
"What did you mean when you said he used his teeth?" It had been playing in his mind all evening. Wondering how it played in. Her silence was deafening. It made him wonder if she was so scared, she couldn't speak of it.
When she finally spoke, her throat was tight, and she struggled to get the words out. "It happened four times," she said. "Simon was a scout and helped find lost hikers in the mountains. One of his buddies, Patrick, often came by for dinner."
Robin kept caressing her back in a comforting gesture and waited patiently for her to tell her story. His head rested on the pillow and he closed his eyes.
"The first time we had him over, he complimented my outfit. Then, he'd say things that made Simon angry. He'd say I was a good wife or that my cooking was desired by all men. Compliments that I never took offense to. But, Simon hated it and he punished me each time."
"How?"
She sat up and withdrew from him, she slid to the bottom of the bed and dangled her legs over the side. "It doesn't matter," she said.
"It was bad enough that you can't tell me. That says a lot, but I won't push you," he said. "Tell me what happened when you left," he encouraged. He hoped the change in the subject would calm her.
"The last night, I was in the kitchen with Sammy. We were eating chips and having fun. Simon had come home from a scouting call. They'd had some climbers go off the trail. He had to go out and find them.
"When he came home, he sent Sammy upstairs to take a bath. Then, he got upset that I'd missed washing the dishes and I'd made a mess of the chips. It was his rule," she said with anger in her tone.
"I knew I was in trouble. It was six times that night, more than he'd hit me before. I was used to it and I never cried. But that night, I'd had enough money set aside and I packed our bags. After he fell asleep, I got Sammy and we got into a car. I never saw him again."
"Until today," Robin said.
"I didn't see his face, but I'm sure it was him. He's got impeccable aim. If he'd meant to hurt you, you'd be dead," she said. "He was taunting me, and he used you to do it. I was able to keep tabs on him, but something must've happened."
"What does that mean?" He asked.
"Sydney must've been found out or he missed something. Simon hasn't ever been able to get this close. I can't believe he found us." She put her head in her hands and sniffled.
Robin scooted down to the edge of the bed and wrapped around her from behind. In her ear, he whispered, "I'm with you." He linked his fingers with hers and wrapped them around her. "We're here now and this is true," he said.
He leaned down and kissed her neck with soft delicate lips. He trailed his lips until she turned her head and he took her mouth in a slow soft kiss. They were consumed by emotion and embraced the connection. He turned her body until she was held in his lap.
With her legs wrapped around his waist, he simply pulled her in until he could hug her tightly. He inhaled her scent and closed his eyes, "I'm gonna miss you," he said. He buried his face into her hair.
She pulled back to look at him, her head resting on his. Their eyes were locked, "What is it?" He asked.
"I'm just trying to memorize you like this," she said.
"What nervous and alarmed?" He leaned back a bit to loosen his hold.
"No, with love in your eyes," she said. "To think of you looking at me like everyone will if I'm found out," she sighed, "It just might kill me."
"I'd never look at you like that. Not after what you told me, I know the truth. I know you, Sabrina."
She shook her head, "Regina. Remember me as Regina," she said.
"You make it sound like I'll never see you again."
"It feels like it, I've never gone back to a place I've left. I don't know when I'll get to come back and see Henry."
"The invitation is open. If you find a way to sneak in and out, I'll keep it a secret. Just promise me you'll come back," he begged. "You've taken my heart," he confessed.
"Robin…" She kissed him. He linked his fingers into her hair and deepened the kiss. He wanted her even for one night. When she yielded to him, he raked his nails up her thighs taking her gown with them. "We can't…" she sighed.
His mouth secured to her neck, he lifted her to bunch her gown up against her hips. He nibbled up until he could sink into her lips. When he pulled back, he said, "I can't let you go without one night. Give me one night," he said.
Their eyes were locked, she looked apprehensive and scared. "I…the boys," she said at a last-ditch effort.
His hands secured on her hips and pulled her down as he rubbed up into her. She was aroused too, and he couldn't let her go, not yet. "They're asleep. Regina, I need you."
As her fingers tangled in his hair, he captured her mouth and their fate was sealed. He touched her softly, moving her gown up and over her head. His fingers softly traced down her back. He removed his shirt and laid back taking her with him.
Rolling her under him, he kissed her everywhere with delicate lips. He showed her tenderness and in return, she welcomed him. When his pants were off, he closed his mouth over her breast. The jerk of her body surged him on.
It was the most romantic and gentle loving he'd ever experienced, but it was also the most erotic. He'd never felt this connected or entranced. When his lips moved down past her navel, she caught his face in her hands and pulled him up. "No," she said.
"You don't like it," he asked through heavy breathing. She linked her hands around his neck and brought him to her lips. She wrapped her legs around his waist and lifted her hips for him to slip between her thighs.
Her nails cascaded up his back causing his belly to ache. In a swift movement, he reached down and tugged her panties down her legs. When he glanced down, he stopped. His mouth gaped open as he gazed upon her. "Regina…"
She grabbed the covers and covered herself, "Stop." He moved up the bed and took her hands and covers that covered her face.
"Don't hide from me. Did he…" Tears welled up in her eyes and she bit her lip. All she did was nod her head and he enveloped her in a hug. This was more intimacy than he'd bargained for. There were tiny scars indicating where his teeth sunk into her on her pelvis and leading down. He could only guess what he'd done.
"Don't stop," she said and brought him back to her waiting lips. She pushed him to the edge when he wanted to slow down and despite the revelation, he couldn't shatter the moment. Her hands dispelled his underwear and reached down to wrap around him.
He groaned, "Wait." But Regina's hands were warm and stroking him to arousal. She rolled them over and took him into her warm and wet with a deep breath. He gripped her hips and held her there, they shuddered.
A few more seconds and her hips rocked forward and back in one slow wave. Another wave and another and he took her waist and brought her down to his chest to sink his lips with hers.
"Love me," she said. He rolled them over and showed her exactly how he felt. They made love in the soft glow of the lamps. They knew it would be the first and only time. In the morning, she'd be gone.
The buzzing on the side table woke Robin. Regina was still wrapped in his arms, "It's time."
They dressed, and she took her bag from the floor. "The car will only wait for so long. I have to go."
"Come back when you can. I'll take care of what I can," he said.
"Henry will help you. He's smart and he knows how to survive."
"Regina," he took her into his arms. "I wish you didn't have to go."
"I know, but I have to." They shared one last kiss before she put her hand on the scanner and the metal door opened.
"Be safe," he said. He kissed her hand.
"Thank you," she said. "I owe you everything," and she was gone. The metal door slid closed and he was locked down in the basement.
He felt so alone. Turning to the bed, he climbed under the covers buried his face in a pillow that smelled of her and shattered.