A/N: Thank you all so much for your kind reviews on the last chapter. They all mean so much to me! I just wanted to give you a heads up that this is the first of TWO chapters that I will be posting today. Just to warn you the second one has a major cliffhanger that I hope you'll enjoy. Anyway here's this chapter.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER

Robin still couldn't believe that his son was actually a year old. Where did the time go?

Their celebration wasn't a large affair. Just a small party with the people who meant the most. Regina, Henry, Killian, Mulan and Tink. All in their swimsuits they'd huddled at a table under a large yellow beach umbrella near a splash pad that Robin and Regina frequented with their boys. It wasn't fancy but at least his son seemed to be enjoying himself. The one year-old baby boy bounced happily in his father's lap as everyone around him sang. He clapped his hands in excitement as his godmother set a small cupcake and lit candle in front of him. Presents were stuffed under the table as everyone gathered around to watch Roland blow out his candle.

"Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday dear Roland! Happy Birthday to you!"

"Come on sweetie, make a wish," urged Regina with a grin.

Robin chuckled at his son's indifference to the candle atop his birthday cupcake. "It doesn't look like this is a year for wishes," he said snuffing out the candle.

"I'll blow out the candle!" cried Henry eagerly.

"No," giggled Regina. "You blew out the candle at your birthday and you made a wonderful wish then."

Henry crossed his arms and pouted in response. All the adults laughed at his reaction. He'd grown a lot in the past few months and Regina swore he looked more like Daniel every day. She could see it in the slant of his nose and the shape of his ears. Even in the way he pouted. At a little over three feet he was one of the tallest kids in his daycare class and definitely the most imaginative. The only time he wasn't lost in his own world was when he was with their friends from the bar.

"I wanna play on the pad with Roland," he said.

"Alright," said Robin with a smile, as he lifted his son from his lap. "Hold hands and make sure he doesn't fall."

"Okay," drawled Henry. Robin watched them carefully as the four-year-old, in his tropical swim tee and matching shorts, guided his waddling son over to the splash pad. The fact that Roland was walking was still incomprehensible to him.

"Tink would you mind watching the boys on the splash pad and making sure they don't drink the water?" asked Regina.

Tink looked up from her Coke with wide eyes. "But I was gonna make a sand castle on the beach!"

Mulan rolled her eyes at her. "Go and play with your sand Tink. I will watch the boys on the pad."

"Thank you," said Regina gratefully taking a seat next to Robin at the table. She softly hissed as she lowered herself into a sun-heated chair. For at least the second time that day she regretted not bringing an extra beach towel for her seat. Her halter bikini top did very little to protect her bare skin from the burning plastic.

"I'm actually more concerned with grabbing another a cupcake," said Killian, rising from his seat at the table. "Are there more in the car?"

Robin raised an eyebrow at him as he leaned back in his chair. "Wouldn't that be your third one? Might want to slow down, mate, before you gain a gut."

Regina let out a deep throated chuckle at Robin's quip while Killian just glared at him. "Well unlike you, Mr-gets-up-at-six-to-run, I'm not in the business of denying myself small pleasures."

Regina rolled her eyes at him. "There are more in the cooler Killian. Just check the trunk."

"Thank you," he said pointedly nodding his head at her before taking off in the direction of the car.

Once Killian was gone, Robin sighed as he directed his attention back to the boys. He watched as Mulan and Henry guided a happily squealing Roland through the splash pad. The dimples in his cheeks flashed as he ran his hands through the spouts of rushing water. His son appeared to be having the time of his life.

"Goes by quick doesn't it?"

He turned his head back to Regina who gave him a sympathetic look.

"The first year," she clarified. "I swear Henry's happened in the blink of an eye."

"Yes, it's been one hell of a ride," agreed Robin. "There wasn't a single moment that wasn't unforgettable." He sighed to himself as he thought over the past year. It'd been quite a rollercoaster. Gaining a son, losing a wife, trying to find his footing again. Learning to live without Marian was quite possibly one of the hardest things he'd ever done but somehow he'd made it work. He hadn't touched a drop of liquor in months and caring for Roland had gotten slightly easier now that he had begun sleeping through the night. The bar had become a bit of an escape for him. Working on keeping things together there gave his mind something to focus on. Though sometimes he focused a little too hard. He'd nearly forgotten to set up something for Roland's birthday. The splash pad had really been Regina's doing.

"Hey thanks again for the birthday party," he said gratefully.

She waved him off with a scoff. "Robin, please. All I did was bring cupcakes and find an empty table. It was the least I could do. Remember when you surprised me with Henry's first birthday party?"

"Oh yes," said Robin, grinning at the memory. "I remember Marian sending me back to the store twice because I kept picking up the wrong ice cream cake."

"You have no one to blame but yourself for that," laughed Regina. "Who doesn't check the written icing before leaving the store? Twice?"

"I'm so sorry that I decided to have faith in the store owner's record keeping," he said shrugging his shoulders. "He seemed like he knew what he was doing."

Regina rested her head on the back of her chair. "I don't think I'd ever seen Marian so frustrated with you before."

"Trust me I didn't hear the end of that for weeks," said Robin in a nostalgic tone. He wistfully ran his thumb over the wedding band that still graced his right ring finger. "I only wish she was here to see this."

Regina gave him a sympathetic look. "She sees it."

He raised an eyebrow at her. "Do you really believe that?"

"Yes," she said nodding her head without hesitation. "I have to. Believing in the alternative isn't that appealing."

He nodded his head in agreement. "Well you're right about that."

Some days it still haunted Robin how much of Roland's life Marian had lost the chance to be a part of. Birthdays, graduations and school days she'd never get to experience. He supposed believing that she was watching over them from a distance was better than believing she wasn't watching at all.

"I know she's proud of you for how you've stepped up to take care of Roland," Regina said softly.

"Yes well I had help," he said sending her a small smile. "You know I don't know how I would've gotten through these past few months without you."

"You would've found a way," she insisted. "Good parents always do."

"Well thankfully I learned from the best," he said gratefully.

Regina had been a godsend for Robin in the last few months. She'd helped him learn to care for Roland by himself while more often than not lending a hand. His son spent nearly as much time with her as he did with him and he doubted that he would've been able to adjust as well without her to guide him.

"I've actually been meaning to talk to you about something," she said nervously swiping her palms on her thighs.

He observed her with a tilted head. "Is this as my friend or my employee?"

"Employee," she answered with an anxious smile. "I'm gonna need some more time off."

Robin groaned at her request. "Again?"

"It's prom season," she explained shrugging her shoulders. "I'm already backed up and I just had three more adjustment orders come in."

Robin shook his head at her in confusion. Her side business sewing and designing dresses had grown larger than she'd expected. Sometimes working at the bar and taking care of Henry made it hard for her to keep up. This was the third time she'd asked for time off in four months.

"I know you could support yourself just fine from the dresses," Robin pointed out. "Why do you even still work at the bar?"

"I enjoy the company," she said in a strong voice. "You know you guys are like family to me. I'd miss you if I left."

"It's not like you'd lose us," he insisted. "You come to work dead tired anyway. Why do you think I keep you up in the office with me and Roland for the first hour?"

She smirked at him. "And to think I thought you were just terrible at numbers."

Robin narrowed his eyes at her. Math wasn't exactly his strong suit. Ever since he'd returned to be the bar manager Regina had been helping out with the budgeting side of the business. It was also nice to have a second pair of hands around to help with Roland, seeing as how he spent every day in the office with his father.

"You've been an incredible help Regina but whenever you come in I can already tell you need a break."

She gave him a long serious look. "I'm not quitting Robin."

"I'm not saying you have to quit but cutting back might not be such a bad idea."

She threw her head back and let out a groan. "Fine. I'll only work three days a week."

"Two."

"Two?" she said raising her eyebrows at him in shock.

"Two," he insisted. "Tuesdays and Wednesdays. You can come in for the night shift. I'll take care of Henry while you work."

"I'll give you two days a week but they'll be Friday and Saturday. Not weekdays," she bartered, leaning forward in her seat.

"Fine but you're working the lunch shift, not the night shift. Final offer," he said offering her his hand.

After a moment's hesitation she shook it firmly. "Deal but only until prom season is over."

"We'll see," said Robin with a smirk.

Their conversation was cut off by the return of their sons. Henry, demanding more excitement, pulled them both toward the beach to search for sea shells and starfish. As Robin dug through the sand with his son, his friend and her son he couldn't help but think this wasn't how he thought he'd be spending Roland's first birthday. He'd always thought that Marian would be with him. But as Henry proudly held up a conch shell to his mother and she marveled at it appropriately, he thought that if she couldn't be here he was glad that they were.

What else does it need?

Regina let out a deep breath as she eyed the dressed up mannequin in the middle of her living room. Hands on her hips and hair tucked behind her ears she circled it critically. She always felt nervous when she was finishing up one of her designs. Constantly wondering if she had overlooked or left out something that could make it better. The dress she was currently working on was a night sky blue, formal length number. Strapless with a sweetheart neckline, the bodice was overlaid with a thin gossamer fabric while the skirt was made of more than three layers of dark organza. It was beautiful but she still thought it needed a little something extra to take it over the top. Her train of thought was broken when Henry ran up to her side.

"Is Uncle Robin here yet?" he asked for the fourth time that hour.

Regina kneeled down to his eye level with a chuckle. "I told you Henry. Uncle Robin will be here when you hear him knock on the door. Now did you get all your books together for our library visit tomorrow?"

He looked away and lied softly, "Yes."

Regina narrowed her eyes at him. "Henry…"

"I don't know where the elephant book is," he admitted with a shrug of his shoulders.

"Well go look through your shelves. I'm sure it's there," she said giving him a guiding pat between his shoulders. "Go on."

She let out a contented sigh as she watched him shuffle off to his room. Regina hated to admit it but cutting back at work had done her a world good. Trying to keep up with Henry and the bar and her dresses had been wearing her thinner than she realized. Now that she was only working two days a week at the Drunken Monk she felt more refreshed than she had in months. Waking up was no longer painful and Henry was certainly happy to be spending more time with her now that she worked from home. Tonight, however, he would be spending time with his favorite uncle. Robin had agreed to take Henry out to see the new Avengers film while she finished hemming some of her dress orders. The two of them had really bonded over their mutual love of superheroes and Robin had read him more comic books than she could keep up with.

She looked over at the door when she heard a knock. Robin stood on the other side with his hands in the pockets of his hoodie. "Is my sidekick ready to go?"

"He should be out momentarily," she answered, letting him in the apartment.

Like a flash Henry ran out of his room and jumped into Robin's arms. "Uncle Robin's here!"

Robin laughed and thanked his good reflexes as he lifted Henry into his arms. "Yes I am and I promise we are going to have an explosive time watching this movie!"

"And will we get pizza after?"

"It wouldn't be a movie night if we didn't," said Robin with a grin.

Regina laughed as she watched them plan out their evening. "Where's Roland?"

"I left him with for the night," answered Robin. "She was more than eager to take him off my hands."

Regina hummed in understanding before narrowing her eyes at her son. "Honey, where's your Hulk shirt? I thought you wanted to wear it."

"I couldn't find it," mumbled Henry, shrugging his shoulders.

"I laid it out on your bed for you."

"I didn't see it," he insisted.

Regina chuckled at him. She swore her son could forget his own hands if they weren't attached to his wrists. "Come on. I'll help you look."

She turned back at Robin as she guided her son back to his room. "Water's in the fridge if you're thirsty."

Robin gave her a nod of acknowledgement before heading over to the kitchen. As he sipped on his water he took a moment to look over the dress she was currently working on. It wasn't as if Robin knew a lot about women's fashion but he knew enough to know that Regina was certainly talented. She'd even made a few dresses for the girls at the bar and they'd always been pleased. Why she didn't pursue it full time he'd never know.

His musings on Regina's career path were cut short when his water bottle slipped out of his hand and spilled all over the counter. He cursed under his breath and grabbed a towel from the drawer next to the sink. Just before he shut it a letter with a bright logo caught his eye. Volante Designs.

Miss Gardiner, we are pleased to offer you…

His eyes widened as he realized that it was a job offer… from New York.

"Are you going through my drawers?"

He looked up to see Regina staring at him with crossed arms and an accusing look.

"I was just looking for a towel," he said nonchalantly. "Why? Something you don't want me to see?"

She sighed as she took a seat at the kitchen table. "You saw my offer letter?"

"Just the first few lines," he replied shrugging his shoulders.

"Might as well read it all then," she said. "I know you're curious."

He smirked at her as he took a seat at the table and went over the offer letter in my hands. He hated how tight his throat felt as he read all that they were offering her. "When did you apply?"

"Oh I didn't," Regina responded quickly. "Your wife did."

"Marian did?"

"Always looking out for me," she replied softly. "Even from beyond the grave."

Before she'd died Regina had mentioned to Marian that sometimes she felt like Santa Barbara was a little too close to her old home. Every once and while she would think that it might be safer for her and Henry if they could cross state lines, put a little distance between them and her mother. She never expected Marian to start looking up ways to make it happen.

"She must've sent out dozens of applications before she died," continued Regina. "I've gotten responses from design firms in New York, Boston, even one or two from overseas."

Robin felt a chuckle fly from his throat. "She once did the same thing for me and colleges. The responses were never this good though."

Just skimming his eyes over this offer letter told him this job was an incredible opportunity. A salary close to six figures, health insurance, retirement plan. They'd even offered to put her up in a hotel for a week while she found a place to live. Not to mention it was in New York, fashion capital of the world… all the way across the country.

Regina wrung her hands nervously. "I've been throwing them out as soon as I get them."

He tilted his head at her in confusion. "You mean you're not going to take it?"

She shook her head at him apprehensively. "No."

Robin cleared his throat trying to stop the rush of relief that shamefully flowed through him. "Why not?"

"Well… it's a great opportunity but it's in New York," she rationalized. "And I already have roots here. I have you guys and I have my business, which is decent enough. I'm comfortable. There's no reason for me to rock the boat. Right?"

"Well I suppose that's true," he said shrugging his shoulders. "I mean… I'd hate to lose you."

She forced a smile to her lips. "Then it's lucky for you I'm not going anywhere."

A few seconds later Henry rushed back into the living room finally wearing his favorite Hulk shirt. Regina was quite grateful for the distraction. The air had been getting a little thick when she and Robin were discussing her job offer. There was no way she was taking it but she couldn't help but feel that he had been a little hurt that she hadn't brought it up sooner. As he and Henry left for the movies she could only hope that he'd forget the whole thing by the time she showed up for work on Friday. Her hopes would go unfulfilled.

After sitting through two hours explosive heroics and villainous comebacks Robin could honestly say that he remembered not one minute of the movie he'd just seen. The news of Regina's job offer had taken up nearly all his attention. He couldn't understand why he couldn't get it out of his head. She'd told him that she had no intention of replying and that she'd rather stay here but for some reason he couldn't stop dwelling on the look on her face. At least his absentmindedness hadn't affected Henry's mood. The young boy had been bouncing with excitement all throughout the movie and the dinner after. It was no surprise that he passed out on the car ride home.

As he carried him back up to Regina's apartment Robin thought over how much he'd grown to love the little boy in his arms. He'd known him ever since he was a baby and they'd been spending a lot more time together since Marian's death. He always thought of their time together as training for when Roland got older. The thought of him and his mother moving so far away wasn't a pleasant one. He'd miss them both terribly.

After passing Henry off to his mother Robin made his way home to pick up his own son. To his pleasant surprise he was already sound asleep by the time he made it to Mrs. Connelly's apartment. Somehow he managed to make it back across the hall with minimum conversation from the tiny old woman. He'd really grown to care for his strange old neighbor but she was still a bit of a chatter box. After laying Roland in his crib for the night he did a quick check to make sure he had everything ready for tomorrow. Regina had taught him that it was better for him pack up Roland's diaper bag the night before instead of rushing through it in the morning. And that hadn't been all that she'd taught him. Robin had no doubt in his mind that he would be struggling twice as much if it hadn't been for her help. It was probably why he was so relieved that she wouldn't be taking that job in New York.

He let out a soft groan as he realized that the diaper bag was running low on baby wipes. The carpet scratched against his knees as he kneeled on the floor and reached for the unopened box of wipes under his bed. As soon as his hands landed against something firm he began to pull his arm back with a grunt. His breath caught in his throat when he realized that the object he pulled out wasn't the baby wipes but instead it was an old blue leather suitcase.

Robin shut his eyes as he leaned back in the driver's seat of his old mustang. It was almost 7:30 and the glare from the sunset began to shine through his windshield. He felt like this day would never end but he supposed that's what happened when you drop out of high school. The excitement over freedom soon turned to boredom when you realized that there was nothing for you to do. It's not like he could get a day job. It might interfere with his night activities and that was the closest thing he had to a purpose. Will hadn't contacted him about a job in days though. It was beginning to make him a little anxious but he supposed it was for the best. Thieving wasn't exactly the safest of jobs so it couldn't hurt to lay low for a little while. Still it would be nice to have something to do. Something that could get his mind off… her.

Marian, he thought wistfully. Probably the last person who'd ever chosen to believe he was worth something. Her interest in him had always been a bit of a shock considering that the only reason they met was because he'd stolen from her. He'd always remember the day she walked up, eyes blazing, and bitched him out for stealing a garnet pendant from her gym locker. In his defense it wasn't like he was stealing from her specifically. He'd gone through all the lockers in the girls' locker room. They always had more expensive jewelry than the boys and quite frankly they were always more willing to believe that they'd lost it rather than say it was stolen. Not Marian though. She'd instantly called him out on his thievery, not that he'd admitted it. Still her hot-blooded demands were enough for him to slip the pendant in her family's mailbox later that night. He'd left an anonymous note saying that he'd found it and thought it belonged to her. She'd seen right through it and thanked him the next day. He'd pretended not to know what she was talking about.

She never left him alone after that. And he'd never wanted her to.

He guessed that he shouldn't be surprised that what they had didn't last. He and Marian were always on the opposite ends of the spectrum. She was a well-off daughter of a doctor and a lawyer and he was just an emancipated orphan. She was class valedictorian while he had always planned to drop out. When she'd told him that her parents threatened to cut her off for seeing him he hadn't judged her for ending their relationship. Marian had a future. A bright one, in fact, and he wouldn't blame her for wanting it more than him. He just wished things had ended differently.

His eyes popped open as he heard three rapid knocks against his windshield. As if he'd summoned her, there was Marian staring at him nervously from outside his car. "Hi Robin."

His mouth dropped open in shock as he opened his door and he tried to regain as much composure as possible as he stepped out of his car.

"Marian," he breathed.

She looked as beautiful as ever with her curly dark hair pulled into a loose ponytail. She was out of her school uniform, for good this time seeing as how she'd graduated a week ago. It was replaced by a pair of light wash capris and a lavender halter top. He'd nearly forgotten how much he loved her in street clothes. His eyes dropped down to her side where she was carrying an old blue leather suitcase.

"What's with the luggage?" he asked softly. "Are you going on vacation?"

"No," she answered, giving her head a little shake. "This was all I was able to bring from my house."

His eyes widened at her as she continued.

"It's mostly summer stuff but the maid's going to let me back in tomorrow so I can pick up some of my winter clothes," she babbled, her voice only slightly above a whisper. "I brought some of my books too. I just didn't want to leave without them."

"Wait," he said raising a hand at her. "What are you saying?"

She pressed her lips together nervously. "I'm saying that I told my parents that I'm not living under their rules anymore. I choose you Robin."

He sucked in a disbelieving breath at her confession and shook his head in shock. "No… Marian you can't do that."

"Yes I can," she said, calming setting down her suitcase. "And I already have. I want to be with you Robin, no one else."

He licked his lips nervously. "Marian think about your future."

"I did think about my future. Every day since they gave me that ultimatum," she said tearfully. "And if I gave you up I know exactly what would happen. I'd end up at some fancy college, with some fancy job, living some ordinary life. And that's not what I want. I don't know what's going to happen but I do know that I don't want to end up filled with regret because I did what felt safe instead of what felt right."

She took a step closer to him and grabbed his hands. "You feel right to me Robin. You always have."

Robin stared into her brown eyes searching for any sign of hesitation. He found none and it was baffling. It was baffling how the smartest girl he knew could somehow think that he was worth more than her future. He looked down at his feet. "I can't promise you anything."

"I don't need promises," insisted Marian. "I just need you. Now are you going to turn me away?"

"Never," he said, before pulling her into kiss.

He ran his hands over the blue leather as the memory flashed through his mind. He'd driven to highest parking lot he knew that night, determined to give her the best view for her first night in the car. She'd stayed with him, even when he had nowhere to sleep but that forest green '77 mustang. They'd only had 700 bucks between them, mostly hers. He still had no idea what could possess her to make such a choice.

Doing what feels right instead of what feels safe, he thought to himself.

"Oh Marian," he breathed softly. "I hear you loud and clear."

Regina sat at the bar counter thankful for the chance to rest her feet. It was near the end of her shift and the bar was close to empty now that the lunch crowd was officially gone. The perfect time to refill the napkin holders before the dinner rush arrived to see the weekly band. It was a repetitive menial task but she'd always loved doing it. It didn't require much of her attention so she could just let her mind wander as she stuffed the napkins into place. Somedays she would think back to her old life, or her mother. She'd worry about her father or how Henry was doing. Somedays she would think about her dress business and what she would design next. Today, however, she thought of none of the above. Not even ten minutes in she looked over to see Robin settling into the bar stool next to hers.

"What are you doing down from the office?" she asked suspiciously.

"Roland's taking a nap," he said leaning his elbows against the counter. "It's the perfect time to see how everyone's doing downstairs. Also, I have a gift for you."

She raised an eyebrow at him. "Okay now you've got me frightened."

He snorted at her skepticism as he dug into his left jean pocket. He set a small snow globe on the counter and she eyed it curiously. When she picked it up for a closer look she discovered that inside was a tiny replica of the marina just outside the bar. She looked over at Robin confusedly. "What is this for?"

"This is for those nights in New York when you catch yourself missing home," he answered softly. He hesitated before looking into her eyes. "Regina you have to take that job."

She scoffed at him and set down the snow globe. "I already told you I'm not. It's not for me."

He took a deep breath and nodded his head. She was not going to make this easy on him.

"Do you know what's bothered me ever since I've seen that letter?" he asked, clearly not looking for an answer. "The date at the top was from a week ago. First class letter like that was probably mailed overnight meaning you've had it sitting in your drawer for at least a few days before I found it. Which is funny considering you told me that you'd been throwing them out as soon as you got them."

Regina clenched her jaw and pursed her lips as her gaze dropped down to her hands.

"Now I believe you threw away the other letters," Robin continued, seriously. "But I also believe you kept this one because the idea of throwing away an opportunity like that didn't sit right with you. Regina, you want this job."

She folded her hands tightly on the counter before turning to him with a forced smile. "Okay maybe I want the job a little, Robin, but that doesn't mean I should take it."

"Why not?" he asked seriously. "What's keeping you from calling up and saying yes?"

"It's… just… they are so much more professional than I am," she said shaking her head. "They make dresses for senators' wives and small time movie stars. The most exposure one of my dresses has gotten was when I made the ball gown for the Cinderella musical at the local theatre. I'm probably not even half as good as the people they already have there. What if when I show up they decide… they don't want me anymore? What am I supposed to do then?"

Robin listened intently as she expressed her fears to him. It'd been years since he'd seen that look in her eyes. The one that signaled she was afraid to hope for anything better. The last time was just before her first shift at the bar.

He let out a sigh before reaching for her hand comfortingly. "I haven't forgotten Regina. I still remember how you and Henry were living when we first met. I still remember how it felt to live like that myself."

Regina blinked back tears as she thought back to the playground that Marian had found them on.

"You know one of the biggest problems with struggling like we did is that you become so afraid of going back to it," said Robin. "And when you finally reach a place where you know you can keep a roof over your head, where you always know where your next meal is going to come from… it can be very hard to leave. Even if you know you can leave for something better."

He sighed before continuing. "You've been using this bar as your safety net and now I think you might be afraid to leave it."

She sniffled before answering him. "The day Marian brought me here was the luckiest day of my life. Before that I had nowhere to go, no one to call my friend and no way to even feed my son. I don't want to risk going back to that."

"You won't," insisted Robin. "Look how far you've come from it already."

"That's different," argued Regina. "I had help. I had…her."

"You still do," said Robin softly. "Marian wouldn't have sent out those applications if she thought you wouldn't succeed. And my wife was never wrong about people. She had faith that you could make it out there. And so do I."

He looked at their hands guiltily before continuing. "If I'm being perfectly honest I was almost going to let you pass up on this offer because… I was a little afraid of losing your support."

Regina raised her eyebrows at him in shock. "Really?"

"Yes," he said nodding his head shamefully. "If this bar is your safety net Regina, then you are most definitely mine. You've done so much to help me and Roland that sometimes I feel like I don't have to be afraid of screwing up as long as you're here to help me fix things."

She scoffed at him. "You know in a strange way I feel complimented but Robin you're not going to screw up. Not with bar and not with Roland. You'll do fine whether or not I'm here."

"And you'll do fine whether or not you have this bar to fall back on," he retorted. "Regina this is a great opportunity, not just for you but for Henry as well. I know you don't want him to see you struggle forever. Why not show him that hard work pays off?"

She cautiously smiled at him. "Do you really think that New York is what's best for us?"

Robin sighed before answering her. "I think one day you'll be filled with regret if you look back and realize you did what felt safe instead of what felt right."

He slid the snow globe back over to her. "I think it's time for both of us to let go of our safety nets."

She reluctantly picked it up as he gave her shoulder a squeeze before heading back up to the office. A smile tugged on her lips as she watched the tiny glitter flakes settle over the tiny marina. Perhaps she'd put it on her desk at her new job.

A/N: The next chapter should be up in a few hours :) Please Read and Review!