14th February 2012

A lot of things can happen in a year. 365 days and your life could turn upside down in the blink of an eye. Of all things to happen in the past year, Regina had not expected to fall head over heels in love with her old high school sweetheart Daniel Colter. He'd swept her off her feet the moment he reentered her life, at a charity gala held by her mother and stepfather, the current mayor of New York City, Rainier Gold. The newly promoted Lt. Colonel was stationed at the Maguire Air Force Base in New Jersey but his heart belonged to Manhattan and a certain gorgeous brunette who'd agreed to become his wife on her birthday two weeks ago.

Things were amazing. Regina felt incredible, powerful, ready to take on the world in the whirlwind of emotions and the by the book romance of the past nine months. She was in love with Daniel, was excited and for once in her life, truly happy with how things had turned out. To be fair, she hadn't even thought about Robin that much during the past year, especially once she realized that except for two chance meetings and two conversations, they'd never really had anything. Was she sad things with him hadn't turned into anything? Perhaps. If he'd given her an explanation last year, if he'd let her in and told her what was wrong, maybe she would have understood, would have waited. But she wouldn't be where she was now, wouldn't be with Daniel and wouldn't be getting married this summer. Her and Daniel had known each other for years, had some common ground to build things up from. Things were perfect. Which was why she had to close the chapter called Robin once and for all.

This is how she found herself at the bench in Battery Park where it had all begun on Valentine's Day three years ago. She didn't dread the conversation she was going to have, after all, she had not promised him anything. Sometimes life went the other way, the one you don't expect it to go. Robin was a man of his word, she'd figured that much. This is why she knew he was going to show up. So Regina sat down on the bench, took out her phone and smiled at the new message from Daniel.

I'm on my way to you now. Can't wait to kiss and hold you. Love you! xx

She texted back: Excited for tonight. Love you, too! X

Excitement bubbled in her chest as she locked her phone and slipped it back into her coat pocket. She hadn't seen Daniel since he'd proposed and she missed him. Life with a soldier was something she'd never considered before she met him again. Yes, there was some uncertainty involved sometimes but Daniel always tried to make time for her and she did the same. She was confident they could work it out once they were married. He'd requested reassignment but it may be another few years until then. The most important thing was, they gave each other space… and they loved each other.

Regina heard the steps of someone approaching. Her head shot up and she looked right into blue eyes and a dimpled smile. Taking a deep breath, she got up and didn't have time to protest when Robin wrapped her up into a tight hug. She gave in, wrapping her arms around his perfect frame, surprised at how well she fit into his arms. One time. She'd allow herself to hug him one last time. He grinned at her and stepped back, grasping her hands in his.

"I'm so glad you came. I'm so sorry for what happened last year. There's so much I have to explain…" Robin grew quiet as his thumb brushed over her engagement ring. Carefully, he withdrew his hands and tugged them into his jeans pockets, his face a little pale all of a sudden.

"I'm getting married, Robin," Regina said quietly before she took a deep breath and looked directly at him. "I'm sorry."

She'd not expected to see his heart break at her words. His excitement was gone, exchanged by a most painful expression of regret.

"Oh." Was all he managed to say.

"I met someone. His name is Daniel and we… Robin, you asked me to wait for a year. I…"

"No, no, it's…" Robin whispered before clearing his throat. "You said you couldn't promise me anything and I… I'm happy for you, Regina. I truly am."

Despite everything, he sounded sincere in his words as if it was something he might have expected to happen. Nevertheless, she felt a little part inside her heart which after all this time still carried the label "Robin" shatter. He'd waited for her, for over a year but she'd moved on. The lump in her throat tightened.

"So this is goodbye?" He asked, not looking at her.

Regina closed her eyes before she grabbed a bag from the bench which held the jacket he'd given her on the day two years ago.

"I'm really sorry, Robin. Maybe things only work out when they're supposed to. Maybe it's all about timing, but in our case the timing was just…"

"Wrong," he finished and took the bag from her, his thumb caressing the back of her hand.

"Goodbye, Regina. I… I really just want you to be happy."

"Goodbye, Robin."

14th February 2013

He doesn't know why he came here, to this spot, today of all days. It's Valentine's Day and the air is thick with the smell of roses and love notes. Everywhere he goes he sees couples in love, guys who pick up flowers to bring home to their significant other and stupid grins plastered on various faces. Killian had invited him for a single-guys night out a few weeks ago, but he'd had to cancel earlier this morning as he'd landed himself a date with a hot blonde. A cop, in fact. Good for him, but Robin had really been looking forward to getting drunk tonight and drowning every memory tonight would bring to the surface.

Memories of a gorgeous brunette with whiskey-brown eyes, a beautiful smile and a laugh that still made his heart skip a beat. Over the past year, he'd tried to get over her, tried to forget her, but she'd burned herself into his memory and heart like no one else had before. He could have had her but he'd screwed up. It wasn't her fault that she'd fallen in love with someone else, not after he'd asked her to wait a freaking year for him without so much as an explanation.

Sighing, Robin leaned back against the bench and closed his eyes, thinking of the fateful night two years ago, when his world had turned upside down with one simple phone-call. He'd been confused at the Australian phone number on his display, especially at that time of day. There was only one person in Australia who had his number - at least that he knew of - and he really, really hadn't wanted to pick up. Still, he had.

"Hello?" Robin made his way over to the bar, gesturing toward John whether he could use the back office.

"Hello, this is Royal Perth Hospital, Nurse Giulia speaking. I am looking for Robin Locksley?"

"That's me…" He closed the door behind him and leaned against it, his hand scratching through his hair. A hospital. Worse, a hospital in Perth. This couldn't be good news.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Locksley. I apologize to be calling in so late, but you're listed as the next of kin on Ms. Maiden's emergency contact."

What? Was he really?

"Mr. Locksley, I'd like you to sit down, if you are able to."

Robin's stomach dropped as his eyes wandered over to the desk and chair. He quickly made his way over and sat down; bracing himself for the news he was going to receive. He'd watched enough TV shows to know whatever it was the nurse had to tell him; it was going to be bad.

"Mr. Locksley, I am very sorry to tell you that Ms. Marian Maiden has died following the injuries of a car accident earlier today."

Fuck. Fuck! Marian was… gone. Holy shit.

"She was delivered to our hospital with severe head and internal injuries. Our staff tried their best, but her injuries were too severe. We were able to stabilize your son, however. He has a CCI and several broken bones. We had to remove his spleen as it was ruptured by a broken rib, but…"

"Excuse me, what?!"

"Your son is…"

"I don't have a son!" There was a rustling on the other end of the line as if the nurse was checking out some papers. Robin's heart hammered against his chest. She'd talked about a child, a son for Christ's sake. He didn't even know Marian had a child, much less…

"Mr. Locksley, you're listed on the birth certificate as the father of Roland Locksley, born on June 16th 2008."

Robin dropped the phone. Shit. Shit, shit, shit! What the hell?! He scrambled it off the floor and pressed it against his ear, his heart racing. A son? He had a fucking son? Born in summer 2008… that was… shit. Shit. He tried to do the math, but his head was failing him.

"I see this comes as a surprise to you, Mr. Locksley…"

"A little," he answered breathlessly.

The nurse on the other end of the line cleared her throat. "I'm very sorry Mr. Locksley. This must be very hard for you. We can contact CPFS, the Western Australian Child Protective Services, if you don't want to…"

"No… No! I… Roland, you said is his name? Is he okay?"

The nurse took a deep breath. "The doctors are positive he will make a full recovery. They have put him in a coma for now but… Mr. Locksley, it would be best for you to come here and see him for yourself. He's lost his mother and the trauma of the car crash is going to be a lot for him to take in. As I said, I can try to contact CPFS until you arrive here, but we'd hate for him to…"

"No. I'm on my way. I… I'll take the next flight down under, but I need to arrange some things first. Can you… Can you give me a number I can call and an address?"

Robin noted down the information on a notepad that was lying on John's desk. He thanked the nurse and hung up. Fuck. Of all things he'd expected to happen tonight, this was none of them. It was only when his phone dropped on the floor once again that he realized he was shaking. Marian was dead. He had a son. He needed to get down to Perth and… Regina. Shit, Regina. His eyes darted over to the door that would lead back to the pub. They couldn't start anything, not now. Not when his life had turned upside down. Fuck, he needed time. Time to come to terms with this, with… What the hell was he supposed to do?

In the end, Robin wondered if he should have just dropped the bomb on her that night; see how she would react to his news instead of leaving her hanging. But it was too late now. Things had not worked out. Quietly, he stared at the sunset behind the New Jersey coastline on the other side of the Hudson River.

"Are you waiting for someone, Papa?" Roland piped up next to him, his Thor action figure waving in front of Robin's face.

"Why would you think that, buddy?" Robin asked smiling, his heart aching for the woman he'd lost but at the same time swelling for the miracle he'd gained. He ruffled Roland's dark locks - so very much his mother's, but the smile and eyes and dimples were purely his.

"Because you keep looking as if you're waiting for someone." Busted.

"You know, Roland… I was waiting for someone. But I don't think she is going to show up."

"Why not? Does she not like us?" Roland asked sincerely, his voice laced with a little confusion and worry.

Robin sighed and got up, swinging Roland up in one swift move so his boy was sitting on his shoulders. "I don't think she knows we are here."

"But where is she?"

"I don't know, buddy. Wherever she is, I hope she's happy though." As he walked up the pathway along through the park to Bowling Green, he realized he really meant it.

Robin didn't know that a few miles north, Regina was in the hospital, panting, desperately clutching the hand of her friend Mal as she gave birth to her son Henry Daniel Mills, who'd never get the chance to meet his father as Daniel had died in the line of duty three months ago.