Hi everyone! I just wanted to thank all of you for your amazing support throughout this story! If it weren't for you guys, I wouldn't be writing my stories! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while, but recently I've had some problems with my health, so I had to step back a bit for a little while. No worries, everything is okay now, and updates should be more frequent.

Thank you so much for all of the kind and sweet reviews! They really make my day! (Reviews are always welcome!)

I love you all! I hope you like the next chapter! :)

Chapter 7

Robin disappeared into the kitchen, trying to wrap his head around things. Regina had a boyfriend? Are you kidding? What happened to change her feelings over time? Regina was so happy when Robin asked her to the dance, and now that he realized he wanted to be with Regina, it was too late. But seriously? It had to be this guy?

Graham Humbert. Ugh. Robin didn't want him to be in the picture any longer than he had to. So he knew what he had to do. He had to get rid of him. Get him out of Regina's head, and win her back. But would she ever forgive him for what happened years prior?

Helen came into the kitchen, following her son. She knew she should have told him about Regina's boyfriend, but she couldn't hurt her son like that. But he was hurting anyways. Talk about complicated.

"Thanks for telling me, Mum," Robin didn't look at his mother. She should have told him. He would have been prepared.

Robin couldn't wait for Regina to come home so they could spend time together, but those plans were blown when the boyfriend came into the picture. Regina would send all of her time with him, kicking Robin to the curb.

"Robin-"

"I could've handled it, you know," Robin sighed, running his fingers through his dirty blonde hair. Helen frowned and sat across from her son on the island.

"I just didn't want to see you get hurt…."

"Hurt? I'm not hurt. Surprised? Maybe, but definitely not hurt. Why would I be?" Robin lied. He knew it was clear to everyone that he loved Regina, but he would never admit it aloud. It was not happening.

"I know you care about her, Robin,"

"Yeah, she's my friend. But that's all we will ever be," Robin lied again. Helen was about to say something to her son, but Regina walked in, her eyes falling to Robin and his mother.

"You okay, Robin?" Regina asked, walking over to Robin. Robin smiled his best convincing grin he could, but Regina could see right through it. Did Robin really think she wouldn't notice after all the years they've spent together?

"Yeah, I'm good," Regina looked up at Robin's mother with pleading eyes, and she got the hint. Helen got up from the island and made her way out of the kitchen.

"I'll let you two talk," Helen walked out of the kitchen, and as soon as she did, Regina sat down next to Robin.

"What's wrong?" Regina hoped it wasn't what she thought it was. Could Robin still have feelings for her? After everything? But why?

Finally, Regina was happy in a relationship. A relationship where she knew that the other person felt the same about her. He would kiss her every night, tell her he loves her, never let her go.

Graham was perfect.

Or maybe Regina just wanted it to be perfect…..

"Why does something have to be wrong?" Robin asked, with a stupid smirk. Regina shrugged.

"You're not acting like yourself," Regina answered. Robin rolled his eyes. Let's see, why wouldn't he be acting himself? Oh yeah, the guy who was currently sitting on the living room couch.

"I'll agree to disagree," Robin smirked again, and this time Regina rolled his eyes. He could be so annoying at times.

"Whatever. Just, don't forget that you're my friend and I like to talk to you sometimes, too," Regina smirked as she walked out of the kitchen. Robin took a deep breath. Lying to everyone was really hard. Especially to Regina.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Robin sighed under his breath.

….

Henry and Graham were in the den, talking about sports, Helen, Robert, and Robin were in the living room, and Regina and her mother were in the dining room, setting the table.

Cora was meaning to talk to her daughter about her new boyfriend, and now seemed like the perfect time. They were alone. For now.

"Graham seems like a nice man," Cora complimented, and Regina smiled with a faint blush as she laid silverware on the table.

"He is," Regina nodded. She looked at her mother and knew she wanted to say something else.

"What?" Regina asked curiously.

"It's just, oh, never mind," Cora mumbled, putting glasses in front of spots.

"Mother," Regina complained. Cora took a deep breath. Her daughter was going to hate her for saying was she was about to say.

"Well, Graham seems nice and everything, Honey, but, I just don't think he's the right one for you,"

"Of course you don't," Regina grumbled. Cora looked at her daughter like she had three heads.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing," Regina lied. She knew her mother wouldn't like Graham. Her mother didn't like anyone who was close to her. You know, besides Robin.

"Don't you think it's all a little too….familiar?" Cora asked, and Regian furrowed her eyebrows in confusion.

"What do you mean?" They were done setting the table for now, and Cora and Regina were just talking now.

"Well, the blue eyes, the dirty blonde hair, and don't forget the accent," Cora commented, and Regina froze.

Regina hadn't even realized it. She hadn't even realized Cora was right. It was familiar. Graham was just like Robin. Oh god. She was so stupid to not have realized it.

"You think this is about Robin?" Regina asked, almost breathless. Cora looked at her daughter in pity, knowing that was exactly what was happening.

"You are crazy if you think that! Graham is an amazing guy, and I really like him," Regina exclaimed. But Cora didn't let go of her theory. Everything about Graham was a replica of Robin. Her daughter still loved Robin.

"But do you love him?" Cora asked. Regina stopped, and really thought about it. Did she love Graham? Well, he was a part of her life, and he was kind and caring, but was it really love?

Regina thought about the first time she told her mother she loved Robin, up in her bedroom, all those years ago. She was positive she loved Robin, didn't even have to ask twice. But with Graham, she didn't even know. Was it possible that Regina didn't love Graham, but the English man sitting in her living room at the moment?

"Regina, I want you to listen to me, and listen carefully. I'm going to tell you the same thing my mother did many years ago," Regina nodded her head, ready for whatever her mother was going to say.

"When you find the person you love, it will feel like magic. No matter how many times you tell yourself you are over that person, you will always compare others to them. Your heart will race when you're next to them, you will get butterflies in your stomach, and you will want time to stop forever….. You will listen to each other, get through the rough times, but most of all, everything will always come back to them…"

"If you find your soulmate, Regina, don't let them go. Fight for them, because true love is the best gift anyone could receive," Regina couldn't believe it. All of her mother's words, and none of that represented what her relationship with Graham held. But, everything said was true to one other person. The one she truly never got over. Cora was right.

As if on a cue, Robin walked through the door. Both Cora and Regina looked up. Cora smirked, and Regina blushed. Robin had no idea what he just walked into, but he could tell they were most likely talking about him.

"Would you ladies like any help out here?" Robin asked, but his eyes never left Regina's. Her eyes never left his. It was like Cora wasn't even in the room.

Regina was still speechless, realizing she still loved her childhood best friend. But nothing could ever happen between them. Robin didn't like her that way, that much was obvious.

Regina had to remind herself that Robin didn't love her back, and even if Robin was her soulmate, she should stay with the person who actually did care about her. Graham. Even if it breaks her heart.

"Thank you, Robin, but we actually just got done. I'm sure Regina would love to talk to you though, right Dear?" Cora asked, the remnants of a smirk still lighting her face.

Regina snapped back to reality hard. She shook her head lightly, and looked at her mother, grinning like tweedle dee and tweedle dum.

"What?" Regina croaked, her voice hoarse all of a sudden.

"Are you alright, Love?" Robin asked her. Regina almost cringed when he called her that, and she could feel her mother's smile from the other side of the room. The irony.

"Uh, yeah. I'm just gonna go in the living room for a little bit," Regina announced as she walked away, leaving Robin and Cora in the dining room. Robin looked over to Regina's mother with a questioning glance.

"Is Regina feeling okay?" No, she's in love with you! She's having a panic attack inside and you need to calm her down, Cora thought.

"She's just a little…..overwhelmed right now. Maybe you should try to talk to her?" Cora suggested, and Robin nodded with a bright smile of his own.

Robin walked out to the living room to find Regina sitting on the couch, talking to his parents. He could just make out their conversation as he leaned against the doorframe.

"Why didn't you tell Robin about Graham?" Regina asked, crossing her arms in front of her, pretty pissed at his parents. They should have told him. She shouldn't have to feel guilty on Thanksgiving for bringing someone home….. That wasn't Robin.

"I guess it just slipped our minds," Robert shrugged, but Regina gave them that kind of look. She was totally not buying that. Helen sighed, wondering how they would explain this to Regina.

"Sure. So everyone knew that I had a boyfriend besides Robin?" Regina asked, looking at Helen this time. Robin was enjoying this. Finally, his parents were stuck. If he tried to talk to them the way Regina was now, he would be dead. But this was Regina. They thought of her as their daughter.

"Since you both are buddy buddy and all, I thought you would have told him," Robert pointed out, and Regina just stared out in front of her. Damn it, Robert was totally right.

Why hadn't she told Robin herself? Why did she ask her parents to tell him? Regina and Robin still kept in touch frequently, so why, when it came to this subject, didn't she tell him? Regina didn't know how to answer that.

"Does Graham make you happy, Regina?" Helen asked, and Regina felt like the room just got very hot very quickly. Both pairs of eyes were on her, plus an extra she didn't know was behind them. What was she supposed to say?

She and Graham had been together for a few months, too early to know if it was love, which she already knew it wasn't, but did he make her happy? Sure, he took her out every now and then and treated her with respect, but did he ever make her laugh? Smile? Did he make her eyes shine when he walked in the room? No.

"Yes, he does," Regina lied with a smile, but Helen noticed something off. The smile didn't quite reach her eyes. It wasn't convincing. Not like the ones she shared with Robin. Regina bit her lip, hoping no one would notice.

Everyone could sense a bit of Regina's uncomfortableness when Graham was too close to her, but she never minded with Robin. Hell, she gave him a huge hug every so often, but she wouldn't let Graham touch her. Was Regina the only blind one?

"You know what's funny, Dear? Whenever you lie, you bite your lip afterwards….." Robert smirked, and Regina cursed herself on the inside. Damn her for making that stupid habit a bad one. And Robin's dad just called her out on one of the biggest lies in the world…..

Robin decided to cut in after that, too afraid of what Regina would say in response.

As soon as Regina saw Robin enter the room, her cheeks gained color and she looked down, placing a strand of hair back behind her ear.

"Thought I would find you here," Robin exclaimed as he sat down next to Regina. She smiled, a true one, and Robin's parents noticed the difference immediately. Robin sat farther away from Regina than he had earlier, knowing she wanted her space.

She had a boyfriend.

He wasn't him.

Regina noticed that Robin had distanced himself from her, and she couldn't help but feel disappointed. That was horrible. How could she want to be closer to her friend than her boyfriend? Why was her life so complicated?

"Good guess," She replied, leaning over more towards him, and Robin got the hint. It was okay to be close to her.

"I know you guys are probably too old for this now, but if you do remember, we do have a tradition," Helen explained as she went into her purse to grab her camera. Regina started laughing as Robin sighed. He thought his mother had forgotten about that.

"Damn it, I thought you had forgotten about that," Robin ran a hand through his hair, knowing he and Regina had to do it now. Their annual Thanksgiving picture. Helen and Robert had pictures of Regina and Robin everywhere, but this was one was important. They spent every Thanksgiving together. Well, they had for a long time, before, well, they were better now.

"Well, I didn't. You two know the drill," Robin and Regina stood from the couch, walking to the front of the fireplace.

Helen and Robert stood in front of them, holding the camera to their faces.

Regina put one arm around Robin, bringing him closer to her. Robin's arms found its way to her waist, and he held her tightly. Neither of them were complaining. They put their heads together and smiled for the camera, and once the picture was taken, Robin let go of Regina, but didn't let her walk away.

"One more?" Robin asked, and Regina nodded her head.

"Remake of 2009?" Regina laughed, actually laughed when Robin said this, but she thought this would be fun.

Regina got on Robin's back, him spinning her around a few times, both of them smiling and laughing along the way. Helen and Robert seriously wondered how they both weren't a couple yet.

Helen took another picture, and Regina expected Robin to put her down, but he didn't. She saw the playful glint in his eyes, and she narrowed her eyes at her English best friend.

"Locksley, don't you dare-" But Robin already took off, running out of the room, Regina riding on his back. She giggled during the whole ride, wondering how Robin could be such an idiot yet amazing at the same time.

He was perfect for her, and that still scared her, years after their big fight. She knew she still loved Robin, and she also knew she would have to keep her feelings in secret. If they got out, another fight would be in place, and she was pretty sure nobody wanted that.

Robin finally stopped at the den, both falling to the floor, a laughing mess.

"You asshole. You haven't changed a bit," Regina laughed as she and Robin laid on the floor of her father's den.

"That's good to know. I would never want to be like you," Robin teased, and she punched him in the arm. Just before Regina had the chance to speak, her father and Graham showed up in the front of the room, looking at those two like they were crazy.

"What happened to you two?" Henry asked, fighting off a laugh and a smile when he saw his daughter and her best friend sprawled all over the floor.

"She did it," Robin laughed, and Regina swatted his chest before they both got up. God, when she was with Robin, she felt like a kid again. She loved being a kid. She spent every second by Robin's side then. Still did, in some ways.

"Just Robin being… Robin," Regina shrugged with a silly smile.

"I was just telling Graham about our little football game," Henry smirked, and that was the first moment Regina even acknowledged him, but Graham didn't seem to notice. Or care.

"You're going to play football?" Regina asked, judgingly, and Graham laughed, rakin ghi shand through his dirty blonde locks.

"I never said I'm good at it, but I will try," Graham said, and his girlfriend chuckled silently. One thing was for sure, Graham Humbert was not a sports person. Like, at all. He couldn't even catch a football, and he hated sports.

"Good thing he's on your team, Love," Robin whispered in Regina's ear, and she laughed, causing both her father and boyfriend to look at her strangely.

"Oh, shut up," Regina whispered back, going over to her boyfriend. Graham put an arm around Regina, and she tried to shake the feeling, but she knew that the arm that held her waist a few moments ago felt so much better than this.

Robin excused himself, just trying to get away from the happy couple. He would be sick if he saw him touching her anymore. Hadn't he just been the one to hold her? Did she feel nothing?

Robin bumped into Cora along the way out.

"Oh, sorry, Cora," Robin apologized, but Cora waved it off. Just like Robin's parents, Regina's felt like Robin was also their second child. Their son. No need to hide it, no need to share it, either.

"No worries, Robin. Would you mind helping me get everything ready for dinner?" Cora asked. She didn't really need help, she could do it herself, but she wanted to talk to Robin. The man Regina loved, which Cora already knew, but it was better Robin than that excuse of a man out with Henry in the den.

"Sure," Cora and Robin walked into the kitchen and started bringing everything out. Cora eyed Robin suspiciously. Something was off about him. He seemed perfectly fine when him and Regina came running through the dining room…

"So…..what do you think of Graham?" Cora asked, and Robin stopped. Now he knew why Cora had really wanted him to join her. This was an interrogation. About her daughter and Regina's boyfriend. His best friend. Ugh.

"Uh, he's, um, pretty cool," Robin forced out. That was a total lie. He hated Graham. Wished he would go to hell. Why did he have to steal his best friend from him? It was obvious that Regina did not enjoy his presence, so why were they even together?

"Damn, that's a shame. I cannot stand him," Cora smirked, and Robin's face turned into a smile. Of course Cora wouldn't like him. She was basically the Queen of Hearts.

"Care to explain why?" Robin asked with a smirk, and Cora laughed. I can see what Regina sees in Robin. He's a great guy, Cora thought.

"Well, I just don't think he's the one for Regina. They don't seem close," Cora shrugged, and Robin agreed. They didn't look like they were close at all.

"Yeah, I noticed that two," Robin agreed, and Cora could see something in Robin's eyes. They were….shining. Because he was thinking of Regina. But what about everything Regina had told her?

Robin didn't feel that way about Regina, that's what they had fought over a few years ago. But now, Robin looked like he was in love. Cora could only pray that he fell for Regina over time.

"Robin, do you care about my daughter?" Cora asked, and Robin smiled. Regina was his whole world. Being apart from her killed him, but it was only for a few more years. She would be out of school, he would be out of school, but where would they stand?

"Of course," Cora smiled and nodded her head.

"Good, because you need to break them up,"