One week after Emma broke her heart, the week her girlfriend was supposed to be home and she was supposed to be in Boston with her. They should have been lost in the throes of their wild passion, confessing their love and making more plans for their future, but instead Regina spent that weekend drinking herself stupid.

One week after that, a week she had originally imagined Emma would come to visit her and they would realize being apart was harder than they had anticipated and would plan for a better future for them. That week, she spent calling the blonde and begging her to just tell her what had changed. The first two days, Emma ignored her. Day three, her ex finally answered her phone calls, but told her now was just not the time for them to be together. Day four, Emma ignored her again. Day five, she answered only through texts and by days six and seven, Emma was back to ignoring her once again. Regina knew she was acting crazy and on a downward spiral, but none of the recent events made any sense to her. Her and Emma were beautiful.

They were magical.

They were meant for destruction.

Regina finally stopped calling after day seven, in week two. She picked herself up and focused on her career just like her mother instructed her to. Her mother, she groans just thinking about her, her mother called every day to check in on her, but she could only handle one call a week, because she knew in her gut, Cora was spending every day with Emma.

With the love of her life.

When September rolled around, she was completely focused on following Doctor Belfrey around. She spent as much time as she could shadowing the woman and learning as much as humanly possible. Of course, she knew she had thrown herself into her work to neglect her feelings, but she was proud of herself for not drowning in a bottle to ease her sorrows.

October rolled around far too quickly. By then, she tried not to think about the girl who stole her heart in Sicily anymore. Every time the gorgeous blonde popped in her mind, she would recite the hardest medical term she knew, or she would bury her nose in another medical book.

Things weren't perfect, but her life was starting to become easier with her busy routine. She actually started to feel somewhat normal again. Even though, her heart wasn't completely healed and every day she still felt the cold sting from the gaping hole of a love lost, but hey, at least she was back on track.

That was until Halloween night...

The rapid knock echoes through her little New York apartment and she can picture the excited children all hyped up on candy as they beat their fists against her door, begging for more. And truthfully, she's just as excited and cannot wait for the day where she can take her own children trick-or-treating.

"I'm coming," she calls out as she snatches the bowl of candy off her kitchen counter and rushes toward the obsessive knocking. She swings open her door expecting the cheerful trick-or-treat, but instead she is greeted with one little boy and his father. "Uh..."

"Trick-or-treat, Regina," he smiles brightly, lightly tapping his son's shoulders.

"Robin," she breathes in pure shock as she gapes in utter shock at the two standing on her doorstep.

"Trick-or-treat, Regina," Roland softly greets her beneath his red and blue Spider-Man costume.

She swallows the uncomfortable lump forming in the back of her throat and fakes her best smile toward the little boy who stole her heart years ago.

"Happy Halloween, Roland," she cheerful replies and slowly lifts the mask, so she can see his little dimples that she has missed so much.

"You're back from vacation?" He innocently questions, forcing her eyes to dart to his father for an explanation.

Her heart takes off racing, while her mind spins in wonderment. What type of lies did he feed this little boy? She understands that Robin wants to protect the little boy, but false hope is never good for a child.

"I told Roland how you went to visit your parents, in Sicily," Robin offers, flashing those adorable puppy eyes and sweet endearing smile that always makes her cave.

She fakes a smile and steps aside, allowing the boys back into her home. She gently closes the door behind them and smiles down upon her favorite little man, who has grown since the last time she saw him.

"Reese's peanut butter cups and Snickers, just for you," she sweetly acknowledges, rummaging her bowl and pulling out Roland's favorites. Roland opens his bag wide and smiles with his entire face, producing those adorable, deep dimples. She fills his bag until her bowl is clear from his favorites. "How is kindergarten, my sweet boy?" She softly questions, placing the candy bowl back on her kitchen counter.

"I really like it, Regina! I get to have lunch there!"

"That sounds like fun," she chuckles softly. "Do you bring a lunch too, sometimes?" She investigates, wondering if his whore of a mother has time to ever pack him a healthy lunch.

"Sometimes," he shrugs as he peers deeply into her eyes, like he can sense her concern.

She gently cups his chin and gazes down into those big brown eyes. "That's good, sweetie. Are you making friends?"

"Uh-huh! Blake, Colton and Aidan are my best friends. We are in a club!"

She softly chuckles again, her fingers moving to sweep his dark curls away from his forehead. "I'm so glad to hear that."

"Can I look at my candy now?" He inquires with his big eyes full of excitement, twinkling up at her and not his father.

"Don't you want to wait until you're home-"

"Sure, bud," Robin interrupts her. "Go empty the bag in the living room while Regina and I catch up," he proceeds, quickly rejecting her suggestion at their own home.

"Okay!" Roland takes off running toward her living room, like he hasn't spent any time away from her home, leaving the adults to stand awkwardly by the front door.

"How about we talk in the kitchen?" Robin recommends, but his feet are already on the move without her approval.

She quickly follows his lead and waits until they are in the privacy of her kitchen before she speaks. She leans against the counter and crosses her arms over her chest as her own protective barrier.

"What are you doing here?" She bitterly interrogates because she knows he has an ulterior motive. His presence has nothing to do with taking Roland trick-or-treating.

"I know. I know. You got me," he says, holding up his hands in surrender while pouting that adorable frown that matches his son's. "I just really miss you and so does Roland. You've taken care of him since he was one. You're all he knows."

"I know that, Robin, but if his father can't keep it in his pants, then there's no point for me to stick around," she retorts dryly, clenching her biceps to keep from completely lashing out and losing control.

"I know, his father was such a dick," he agrees, his face morphing into a sour scowl.

She purses her lips and keeps her eyes locked onto his every move. "He is," she coldly demands.

"He was," her ex softly replies, taking a cautious step closer and causing her heart to pound aggressively. "When you were gone, Regina, that was the longest we have ever been apart. You said you were going to be gone one week, but you were gone eight. I panicked." He takes another step closer, prompting her nails to dig into her flesh from the unexpected. "I thought I would never see you ever again and I hated myself. I beat myself up every night for ever letting you go. I was such a fool, Regina. I love you so much and I took advantage."

He takes another step forward, enclosing the gap between them and since her back is already against the counter, she quickly holds up her hands between them to stop him from coming any closer.

"Robin-"

"I know. I don't deserve another chance. I don't deserve you, but I'm willing to prove to you every day how sorry I am and how much I love you. I'll never hurt you again, I promise. Please just let me make it up to you," he pleads with those doe eyes and that stupid, charming smile, that is coercing her mind to give up the fight and listen to his words.

"Robin, nothing can make up for the past."

"Then let me prove to you that I'm a changed man," he offers, sneakily taking her hands into his. His thumbs caress the back of her hands while he smiles at her like she's his whole world and she's torn, because she hasn't seen that look in a very long time.

"Robin, I-"

"Look, you don't have to agree to anything. You just keep living your life and I promise I will prove how much you mean to me, alright?"

"I'm not agreeing to anything," she firmly demands.

"That's alright. You, allowing me to apologize was more than enough and a step in the right direction." He leans forward and her entire body immediately runs ice-cold, paralyzing her limbs, so she can't jerk away. He places a delicate kiss to her cheek and pulls away instantly. "Have a nice night, Regina," he slyly adds before he calls out to his son and they disappear into the night, leaving behind his scent of cologne and a whole world of mess for her.

"Fuck."

XXXXX

The warm evening air engulfs her body in a velvety touch as she kisses her deeply. She aches to be closer, her skin tingling for those delicate touches that make her body quiver deliciously. She lays on top of her, covering her entire body with her goddess frame. Her mind doesn't truly acknowledge that, when she slips her fingers into her greedy core, she's taking her on a public beach. She's too far gone in everything that is Emma to possibly care about their public displays of affection. Those long, talented fingers are pushing deeper and deeper, skillfully bringing her to the highest climax. Her body stiffens and she's right there, but there's no release. She's trapped, dancing on the edge of bliss and gasping for air.

Her body flings forward in bed as she inhales as much oxygen as her lungs will allow. She pants heavily and falls back into the damp sheets. Her skin is sticky, overheated and slick from sweat, but none of that registers. Her hand automatically reaches out for the other side of the bed and then her mind is slapped wide awake.

She's gone.

She's not here.

She left her.

Hot tears burn her eyes and cloud her vision as she turns onto her side and pulls an extra pillow into her arms. She weeps for the blonde while her heart pounds furiously in her chest and shatters all over again. She misses her too much and she knows something isn't right. It's the end of November and she shouldn't still be this sick to her stomach from missing Emma.

Her alarm buzzes, terminating her self-wallowing and demanding that she stops with the tears and starts her day. She reaches for her phone on the nightstand and ends the obnoxious buzzing, but her eyes catch another message waiting for her, like every morning for the past month.

Good morning, Regina. I hope you have a great day and try not to take too much from Belfrey!

Robin. The man has insisted on texting her every morning to start her day, every day during lunch as a midday check in to assure that she is still on his mind, and one at night, to end the day. Her ex has sent flowers, chocolates, little love notes, pictures of him and Roland, and things that remind him of her.

To say he is attempting to be a better man is an understatement. When they first started dating, he was attentive, constantly expressing his love and affection in every way possible. After a year, that began to dwindle away and never returned. She was so in love with the attention Robin showed within the first year, it was nearly impossible for her to face reality and accept that part of their relationship had died. She waited, and waited, for him to return and now he has and she's so tired of being miserable over Emma.

Red, hot, anger sparks just beneath the surface from her own constant whining and before she comprehends what she is doing, her fingers are furiously tapping against her screen.

Dinner tonight at my place?

Sounds great! Roland will be at his mother's. What can I bring?

Just yourself.

I can't wait, thanks for the opportunity! This means everything to me.

She sighs heavily and tosses her arm over her eyes to stop the tears from ever falling.

XXXXXX

"So, you're back with Robin?" Ivy questions with that bored, dumb expression plastered across her face.

Regina's nose wrinkles in distaste, but somehow she manages to bite back any snarky comments. "No, we are taking things slow."

"Fucking him on the first dinner date, iis not taking things slow," her friend deadpans, narrowing her eyes in a way that reminds Regina so much of her mother and somehow, she's back to a scolded little girl.

"Think of it this way, I finally used him for once."

"And tell me, Regina," Ivy sarcastically drawls, leaning over the table to rest her chin in the palm of her hand. Those big brown eyes are batting her long lashes innocently and Regina knows whatever is about to spew from that mouth, she's going to hate. "Do you feel better? Did you enjoy fucking your problems away?"

"I did, thank you very much," she happily cheers, swiveling around in her stool and quickly standing before her friend interrogates her any further.

"Liar," Ivy coldly calls after her, prompting Regina's body to spin on her heels and face her.

"Listen, Emma is staying in Sicily and I am staying right here to finish what I started. I have come to terms with the fact that we were never meant to be. We were meant for a wild, passionate, intense summer romance. Nothing more. Nothing less. It's over now and it's time I move on," she strictly explains.

"You're not moving on, you're moving backwards."

"Robin has changed. We have changed, things are different now," she defends just as there's a knock at her front door. "Even still, we are keeping our distance. We aren't diving right back into a toxic relationship and we are keeping Roland away until we figure out what we both want," she casually explains the new rules to her dating life and exits the kitchen to open the door for Robin.

"Hey baby," he sweetly says before pressing a delicate kiss to her cheek.

"Hello Robin," she replies and steps aside for him to enter.

It's only been two weeks since her and Robin slept together, but they have made it a point to take things slowly. Ivy is completely right for calling her out and stating that she wanted to fuck her problems away, because that's exactly what she did. She wanted sex to distract her mind and so she used him and truthfully she doesn't even feel bad about it.

It has been four months since her body was touched back in Sicily by a certain blonde and that's long enough. She is a woman with needs and so she took what she wanted. It was spontaneous, fun, and just what the doctor ordered.

"Ivy, nice to see you," her ex cheerfully greets her friend, but all he receives is a death glare that means Ivy is not ready to forgive so easily.

Brown, disapproving eyes are locked onto bashful baby blues, in a challenge. Robin awkwardly shifts from one foot to the next, clearly uncomfortable with the judging stare down, while Ivy is stern and holds her ground. Regina's phone suddenly ringing is what tears the battle apart.

Thank god.

Regina quickly scrambles for her phone across the counter and answers before checking the screen.

"Hello?"

"Regina, darling, how are you?"

She winces when she hears her mother's enthusiastic disposition because the thought of Cora finding out about Robin's presence, makes her physically ill. She knows the reprimanding she will receive from both parents if they knew how stupid she was acting right now.

"Mother," she breathes when her mind finally stops reeling with countless horrific possibilities.

"Have I caught you at a bad time?"

"No, no," she fumbles as she peeks over her shoulder at her friend and ex who are both staring at her full of curiosity. "What's up?"

"I was wondering if you would be joining us next week for Christmas? I know we discussed it over the summer, but I wanted to confirm."

"Uh...I...uh...is that really wise?" She shamefully stutters as her mind flashes with too many unsolicited images of a certain blonde smiling, laughing, orgasming...

"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't it be?"

"Mother, don't play a fool, you know exactly why," she scolds, but the other end of the line falls dead silent, waiting for further information. "Emma."

"Who's Emma?" Robin whispers over her shoulder, provoking her nose to crinkle from her slip up.

She may have forgotten to mention her brief romance on her vacation. So, she ignores him.

"Did I not mention?" Her mother innocently questions, which instantly rises Regina's suspicions. "I thought I had, but maybe it slipped my mind. She moved out and found another job."

Regina's heart plummets to the pit of her stomach. As silly as it may sound, as long as Emma lived with her parents, she still felt somewhat connected to her and like the fool she is for her, that little thought sparked hope for a future together. Now that she knows Emma has left the comfort and security of her parent's home, the flame of hope has flickered out and has left her alone in the dark and utterly cold.

"Oh," she hardly replies because her speech was just sucked from her brain like an evil black hole.

"I don't believe she would come around if you are here."

"Gee, thanks mother," she dryly retorts as Robin sneaks up behind her.

"Who's Emma?" He inquires once more as she spins around on her tiptoes to face him.

"Uh..."

"Is that Robin?"

"Uh..."

"Well, it seems you found yourself in a little pickle," her friend taunts in the most obnoxious, sticky-sweet tone, causing her stomach to turn from the bitterness.

"Mother, I have to go. I will call you later," she assertively announces before ending the call immediately. She closes her eyes for just a brief moment to regain some of her control and takes a deep breath before she turns around to face her intrusive ex-fiancé. "Robin, we need to talk."

"This is my cue to leave. Normally I would thoroughly enjoy watching Robin get his balls handed to him while I sit by and eat popcorn, but is too much, even for me," her friend sarcastically rambles as she slides from her stool and exits Regina's home without another word spoken.

"Let's sit," Regina recommends and motions for her ex to take a seat at the kitchen table. He smiles and nods, completely ignorant to the tension slowly building between them. He sits down next to her and offers his full attention with a smile from ear to ear. "So, Emma..."

"Yes, who is Emma?"