Chapter 3:
Regina sits in her room trying to avoid Daniel at all cost. She loves Daniel, she knows she does but was he the one for her? He is the perfect man and any woman that would have him would be lucky. So what in the world was wrong with her?
A knock draws Regina out of her thoughts. "Regina?" she hears.
Regina straightens up in her seat shrugging off her worries, "what's up sis?"
Regina and Zelena had never been close. Zelena had always felt like that Regina was the favorite of everyone— their parents, friends, and family in general. She also thought that she was naive and impulsive. Regina, on the other hand, had always wished to have Zelena's freedom. Freedom to choose who she wants to be, to be able to do what she wants, and who she wants. Even though they weren't as close they had always tried to support each other in every way. And even if they never say it, they know that they love each other.
"What's up with me. What's up with you? You look like hell." Zelena returns sitting on the bed.
Regina opens her mouth to make a sarcastic remark but her phone has impeccable timing.
"Hello?" She picks up.
"Babe! How are you doing? Emma told me that you aren't feeling well."
"I'm doing better now. You don't have to worry," she answers short because she really really doesn't want to deal with him.
Daniel smiles on the other end of the line. "Great! Can you stop by my office? I was looking at some things for us and I wanted your opinion on it."
Regina swallows thickly. "Actually, you know I'm not feeling better yet. I've been needing to go to the bathroom constantly and I don't want you to catch it."
Zelena raises her eyebrows obviously eavesdropping on the conversation. If her sister was going to lie, she could at least be good at it.
He chuckles at her, "Babe, diarrhea isn't infectious."
"Uhhhh but it's not only diarrhea. I have the flu too." Regina lets out a set of fake coughs. "See, I really think we-" she stops to release another fake cough, "-shouldn't see each other for a while. Byeeeee," she ends the call before he could say anything more.
Zelena rolls her eyes. "Since when did you become a liar?" She asks throwing a pillow at her sister. "Your man is out there worried about your FAKE sick ass."
My man. She chuckles to herself.
Regina throws the pillow back at her face. "It's not that okay," she tries explaining. "I just don't want to see him right now."
"What?"
"You won't understand okay." Regina huffs sinking onto her vanity.
"I really won't, if you don't explain it to me!"
Regina stands up from her seat realizing that that is exactly what she needs, an explanation.
Robin thanked his uber driver and left him a generous tip. He looks back watching the cars trying to pass through to reach their designated terminals. Taking a deep breath he readies himself for the trip back to California. He looks back for one last time before grabbing his luggage to make his way inside the airport.
"Robin!" he hears from outside. "ROBIN!"
"Marian?" He turns around finding his girlfriend running towards him.
"I love you," she confesses when she reaches him.
This was the first time he's heard her say that in a while and it made his insides flutter. His heart feels like it was ready to jump out of his chest because that's all he really needed. All he needed was her.
"I know that we haven't been on the same page, but I love you and nothing will change that. I can't imagine my life without you and I don't ever want to lose you"
He reaches for her face and rubs his thumbs on her cheeks warmly. "I love you too, Marian. And I swear nothing will change that, but I have to go."
"Why?" She protests.
"Because you have a dream to follow and I'll only limit you."
"Robin you know that's not what I-"
"I know, I know." Robin cuts her off. He leans forward till their faces are only centimeters apart. Their foreheads touching and his eyes looking directly at hers.
He understands that she wants him here but him staying here will only restrict her and he'll end up hurting and eventually to both of them hurting. It's better this way. She can thrive here while he goes back to California
"But Robin, I need you."
"Oh Marian," Robin whispers before laying his lips on hers. "I won't disappear and even if I'm not with you, I'll always be in here." He says pointing to her heart. "And you will always be in mine."
"You won't forget me? Promise that you won't ever replace me." Marian cries with a slight whimper.
"I promise. You're the only woman for me. I love you." He lays his soft lips on hers slowly relishing at the moment.
"I love you so much," she replies
Robin picks up his luggage again and walks inside the airport taking one last glance at Marian before he checks in with the TSAs.
Regina and Zelena enter a small rustic looking home.
Zelena pushes Regina forward to go first inside.
"Would you two just please come in already. You aren't going to die and I'm not a serial killer," the owner of the home yells from the inside.
"Regina, do you even know that woman?" Zelena whispers behind her trying to convince her sister to turn around and leave
Regine turns to look back at Zelena holding her waist practically fisting her shirt trying to make her turn around. After her long talk with Zelena, she finally decided that it was time to pay Tink a visit to get answers about her soulmate but now that she's here she would be lying if she said that she wasn't scared to find out what she might discover.
"Yes, I know her. Now get up and stop being such a baby!" Regina pulls Zelena up and pushes her forward inside the door. Before following inside, she takes a huge breath preparing herself for what's to come. "Well here goes nothing," she whispers.
Inside Regina finds Zelena already sitting on the round dining table chatting Tink up.
"Well looks who's finally decided to join us," the small pixie greets. "So would you like to join us?" she offers pointing to the seat across from her and next to Zelena.
The table was covered in soft white linen decorated with three lit candles that gave hints of a forest scent and bark scent, and a crystal ball.
"So Regina, let's get started," she declares excitedly.
Tink moves over to her kitchen counter grabbing a small bowl with a lit sage and other ingredients. She begins to cleanse the area and the two woman to remove any negative energy that may be surrounding them. She walks around slowly around the room letting the smoke of the burning elements roam around the room.
Once she felt that all negative energy was released she sits back down to her seat and asks Regina to give her hand. Out of nowhere she quickly flashes back, then forward, with her eyes somewhat rolling up. She tugs Regina forward with her and then back again.
Regina quietly squirms in pain while Zelena asks if she's sure about this woman.
"You-you're a lost soul." Tink begins to say still holding Regina's hand tightly. "You've been here back and forth. Different stories, different realms, all ending the same way." She leans back one more time finally releasing Regina's hand. She opens her eyes and stares deeply at Regina. "It has to end. It has to end with you two."
"Regina, I think this woman might actually be a looney," Zelena whispers but now quiet enough so the other woman doesn't hear.
"What did you say?" she asks straightening herself and deeply stares at Zelena.
"Nothing," Regina answers. "She said nothing," she repeats giving Zelena a death glare.
Tink stands up getting closer to Regina, "The first time I bumped into you, I felt something." Tink pauses trying to find an accurate word to describe it. "Trouble? Fear? Desperation, maybe? But what I felt that day wasn't just you. It was deeper. Deep within your soul." She affirms accidentally pointing at Zelena.
Zelena stands up from her chair asking, "Me?"
Tink waves her hand, "No, sorry. I meant her." She points at Regina.
"Me?" Regina asks standing up pushing Zelena back into her seat. "Me. Yes, me."
"Your soul has been through so much," Tink begins to sob. "It's practically in agony."
Tink continues to sob in her seat while Zelena leans over to Regina, "Ok I think she might actually be crazy."
"What?" Tink's head perks up.
"Nothing," the two sisters respond in unison.
"Can you keep your mouth shut?" Regina scolds her sister.
Tink continues to sob in her chair.
"Are you sure she didn't take any drugs and isn't just high right now?" Zelena asks one more time.
"Huh, are you saying something?" Tink asks.
"Nothing," Zelena responds.
Regina releases a set of fake laughs before pushing Zelena back into her seat.
"But!" Tink stands up from her chair, "you're going to make a huge mistake by marrying your fiance."
"How did you know that I was getting married?" A spark of hope that she might not be going crazy lights within Regina.
"Oh, I saw it on the news. Congratulations by the way!"
Regina lets out a huff. Shit, this entire thing might be actually crazy and maybe she is going crazy.
"But!" Tink continues. "The man you're marrying isn't your soulmate trust me on this Regina. You're rare."
"Rare?" The two sisters ask in unison.
"Any couple can be true loves, ones that share a heart. But those who share one heart and one soul. They're different. And that's what you have Regina."
"Is there any way I can figure out who he might be?" Regina asks.
Tink pulls a pen and a paper out of a drawer in her kitchen and grabs onto Regina's hand. "Close your eyes and feel him," she says.
TInk quickly begins drawing.
"Is he handsome? Does he dress well? Does he have a nice body?" Regina continues to ask.
Tink suddenly can't breathe and begins to drop on the floor.
"Regina!" Zelena yells trying to get her sister to open her eyes and help the poor woman with her.
But Regina only continues to ask questions about her man.
"Regina if you don't fucking open your eyes, your pixie will die!" She yells out.
Regina opens her eyes in a flash and sheer panic begins to take over her.
"Regina call 911" Zelena yells.
"My drawing!" Regina utters trying to grab it from her sister's hand which she was using to fan the poor woman with.
"Regina! 911!"
"The drawing!"
"You're still going on with the drawing? Call a fucking ambulance or else we might be charged with murder!"
Regina quickly fishes her phone out of her purse and starts to call the operator.
With the chaos of the paramedics, the drawing was quickly forgotten.
Daniel paces back and forth in his office upset. He didn't know what was going on with Regina anymore. He loves Regina so much and he doesn't understand what's going on. His entire life all he's heard was that he and Regina were meant to be. Not once has he ever doubted himself nor his feelings for her. He loves her.
Ariel, his assistant walks in his office to find him in a hard scowl. "Mr. Colter, your meeting is in an hour."
She turns around and begins to leave before Daniel calls out her name making her stop in her tracks. "I have a question for you."
Ariel looks at Daniel allowing him to go on.
"You're a woman right?"
Ariel mouth forms into a smile. "Yes, I'm a woman," she answers getting closer to him. "Do you want me to prove it?" she offers seductively.
"Oh no. No need," Daniel says shaking his head and pulling away.
He clears his throat before starting again. "That's not what I meant. I just want to ask you a question."
She cocks her head to the side.
"In women, when her wedding is nearing, is it normal for her to have some apprehensiveness?"
"Wedding jitters? Cold feet?" She questions. "I think it's normal."
Daniel lets out a huff of relief. "Oh goodness thank you. Thank you."
"But…" Ariel begins.
"But?" Daniel asks with another set of fear in his eyes.
"If you really love the man you're marrying and if you're really sure about him, then why are you getting cold feet? Shouldn't you be excited instead of avoiding him?"
And that ended Daniel. His face turns into a scowl.
"I mean, what if she loves you but isn't IN love with you? Or what if she has another man?"
"Hey!" Daniel yells. "Regina does not have another man."
"Do you really want to find out?" Ariel asks him.
He nods towards her. It's not that he doubts Regina. Her entire life she's been the only man for her. They've been together for six years but technically ten. He was her first boyfriend for goodness sake.
"Do you know where she is right now?"
"She's at home. Sick!" He answers confidently.
"Well, let's see about that." She pulls out her phone and dials up their home phone knowing one of the workers there will pick up. "This is Ariel from Colter Banking. Yes, I'm calling for Daniel Colter, is Miss Regina there? No?" She emphasizes for Daniel,
His face turns white in shock. He was literally just on a call with her earlier.
"Since this morning, you say? Yes, thank you." She hangs up the phone and looks back at Daniel. "She's lying to you. Now that could only mean one thing."
His hands go up to the back of his head in disbelief and realization. Holy shit! She has another man!" He yells plopping into his office couch.
In a few hours, his mother comes in walking the room. "What's going on with you? Graham called me and said that you've locked yourself in here for almost the entire day."
"Mom!" He tries to say in between his heavy breathing. "Regina has another man!"
"What?! Did she tell you that?" His mom asks sitting on a free chair across from him.
Daniel shakes his head, still laying on the couch.
"Someone told you?" Graham, his cousin buts in.
"No," he shakes his head again.
"Did you have her investigated? Did you catch her?" His mom asks again trying to make sense of the situation.
"No. No. No."
"Then what?" She demanded.
"I just- I just feel it, mom."
His mother rolls his eyes. "My god Daniel! Your intuition is baseless. Look." she says making him sit up and face her. "Regina loves you. You're the only one for her and has been for her."
"Then why do I feel like she's gotten cold towards me. She doesn't even want to meet up anymore."
Her mother gets up from her seat to sit next to him, "let me tell you something about women. Sometimes they can give their significant other the cold shoulder just so they can put a little more effort in."
"Really, mom?"
"Or maybe she's just tired of you and doesn't want to get married anymore." Graham his cousin butts in from the corner he's standing in.
Daniel's face falls again. "Mom!"
His mother's face whips to Graham and yells a hard "no" and a "that is not true" before comforting her son again. "Look Regina loves you. If she didn't you guys wouldn't last this long right? And all this time she has been nothing but faithful to you."
"Yeah, you're right. I mean she was never one to make me jealous with other men. She's not one to cheat."
"Well, what if she's just been hiding it from you. Maybe she does have a man and she loves that man more than- oomph," Graham groans in pain after being hit with a pillow from his aunt.
Laying inside his dark bedroom Robin's thoughts are disrupted by a knock,
"Robin, may I come in?" He hears from the other side. Without a response, his mother enters anyways.
"Robin, are you still upset?" She asks him sitting on the foot of his bed. "It's not that we don't what you home here or that we don't trust Marian alone in New York, all we're saying is that it's okay if for once in your life we aren't your priority and you put yourself first."
Robin finally sits up and faces his mother. "But you are my priority. You, Dad, Belle, and Grandma. And it makes me happy to just be with you guys. So the looks on your faces when I got home earlier made me feel like- like you wanted me to stay in New York forever."
Eleanor moves closer to her son and begins to hug him tightly, "Of course not. It's just that for us, we don't want you to sacrifice your happiness for us. That's it."
Robin leans into his mom and hugs her back. "You guys are my happiness. Don't ever think otherwise and don't think too much about my relationship with Marian. Before I left we agreed that even though we're far apart, we'll work it out."
"Mhmm, DID YOU HEAR THAT?" she yelled out towards the ajar door.
"Yes!" his sister yells back before entering followed by his dad and grandmother to join in on the hug.
"You are terribly dramatic," his grandmother comments. "I say we stop this and let's all go downstairs for drinks."
A few days pass and Regina and Daniel's wedding day arrives and everyone is frantic.
"Where is she?" An agitated Cora asks. "I shouldn't have left the hotel before making sure she was ready. This is embarrassing."
Zelena runs to the altar apologizing to her parents, Daniel, and his parents. "I'm sorry," she begins with a devastating tone.
Everyone's hearts begin to drop and Daniel's stomach begins to tight tighten. This cannot be hap- his thought is cut off rather suddenly.
"There was traffic but everyone is ready."
Walking down the aisle alongside her parents Regina's mind begins to cloud. Why was she doing this? Why is she getting married to a man she isn't sure. She shouldn't have let this get this far and should have canceled the wedding from the beginning. Hell, she shouldn't have even accepted his proposal based on a fucking flower.
She loves someone else and even if she doesn't truly know if he exists or not she damn well knows that it isn't Daniel. Daniel is not her soulmate and she might love him but not enough and he doesn't deserve that. She owes it to him and herself.
As she continues to walk her mind flashes back to the time she caught Daniel looking over houses for them in his office.
"I just want you to know, I just want to show you, rather, that every vow I say on our wedding day I will hold on to. I will cherish and take care of you. To have and to hold. I love you so much and only God knows how much I want you to be my wife. But if you're having second thoughts. Even if it will hurt, even if my heart breaks, and I fall apart. I will completely understand and accept your decision. Because that's how much I love you."
Then Inside the bridal car, Regina sits inside with Zelena in the car while stuck in traffic.
"Are you ready?" Her sister asks.
Regina takes a deep long breath. "Ready as I'll ever be," she states trying to smile.
"Look, Regina," Zelena expresses with a tone of seriousness. "I know that we don't always see each other eye to eye and that we always fight."
"You're the one that always fights with me," Regina snares.
"Because you're so damn hard headed, you're always-" Zelena responds quickly but shakes her head. This was not the point of her speech and she is not trying to get into this right now. "My point is even if we don't always get along, we're sisters. You're my little sister and I love you." She reaches for Regina's hand holding it tightly. "I don't wish anything else for you but happiness and for you to always follow your heart because no matter how dumb and selfish some of your decisions are, your reasoning is always in the right place and I've got your back."
Before Regina could make a decision she's already hand in hand with Daniel.
"Today, we will witness the unity of Daniel Colter and Regina Mills."
Dumb and selfish but right reasoning. Dumb and selfish but right reasoning. Dumb and selfish but right reasoning. He'll understand. This is a mistake. He'll understand. Dumb and selfish but right reasoning.
The same phrases keep running in her mind as if it were a broken record.
"Wait!" Regina yells, finally finding her voice.
All the people sitting down at the venue all stand up in shock.
With tears threatening to fall she looks at Daniel in the eye trying to force the words to release itself. "I'm so sorry Daniel, but I can't. I can't marry you." She says it so quietly that only he could hear.
Daniel's shoulders deflate as his heart begins to break slowly.
Regina turns around yelling, "Emma!" while trying to get her heels off and trying to gather her ball gown dress. "Emma! Emma!" She yells again.
Emma quickly swoops in from the pew, gathering the tail of her dress and they both run the aisle she was just walking in and out towards the exist.
"What's going on?" Cora asks. "Henry, what the hell is going on?" She asks again turning to her husband but Henry only looks as shocked as she is. She turns towards the aisle and yells at her daughter trying to get her to stop running, "Regina! Regina Andrea Mills!"