A/N: Two chapter in one week? Guess I must be inspired :D I hope you enjoy!

The dry wood of the picnic table scraped against her thighs as Regina sat across from Archie at the park. Even as no less than three separate splinters dug their way into her skin she still would count the awkward silence as the most uncomfortable element of their meeting. Just as she remembered Archie was flustered from the minute she sat down, completely unsure of what to say. She supposed he'd aged well in the years she'd been away, the only evidence being the growing bald spot at the top of his head. For the most part he hadn't changed though. He still wore the same red-rimmed glasses and brown tweed jacket and apparently he still held the same need to go through formal pleasantries. In an effort to override his mandatory politeness she bluntly stated, "You said my father left something behind for me."

"Oh yes!" said Archie, as if suddenly remembering the reason he'd met up with her. "I suppose we should get started with that."

He reached to his side and set a medium-sized box on the table. "Why don't we start with your physical inheritance to keep things simple."

"What's this?" she asked, cautiously sliding the box closer to her.

Archie adjusted his glasses as he stuttered, "Well, your father didn't have much in the way valuable possessions as you know. He wasn't particularly fond of jewelry or finery… like your mother."

Yet another reason their marriage was doomed from the start, Regina thought sullenly. While her mother had always cared very much about appearances, making sure her wealth was subtly showing from head to toe, her father had been the opposite. He didn't go out very often so he rarely indulged himself with expensive clothes or watches. Not that Regina cared. She didn't exactly come here hoping for jewelry.

"However," continued Archie, gesturing at the box, "there were a few mementos that he wanted me to make sure you received."

Peering into the box Regina felt her throat grow tight at the things her father had left behind for her. The photo albums were what she noticed first. There were at least three in the box. One she recognized as the binder chronicling her childhood, filled with photos of her and her father at birthday parties and Christmases. The one that choked her up though was Henry's baby book. When she'd escaped she'd left behind all his newborn pictures and the ones of him and her father together. She truly thought she'd never see them again and her heart swelled at the thought of her father saving them for her. There was more in the box too. Henry's original baby blanket, old knick-knacks from her room at the mansion, even an old book of fairytales her father had once read to both her and Henry. Things that mattered.

She nodded her head at Archie gratefully. "Thank you."

"Of course," he said softly. "But there is more."

He set his briefcase on the table, opened it up and pulled out a set of files. "First there is the matter of your son's inheritance."

He slid a file over to her. "In there is an account number for a trust fund in his name. It can be accessed with a seven-digit PIN Number included in the file. I haven't looked at it," he promised. "But I would still advise you to change it as soon as possible."

She nodded her head as she opened up the file. The account was based in the Cayman Islands, had existed since a few weeks after Henry's birth. She had to admit that she was a little shocked that her father had set up such a thing for her son but warmth filled her heart at the thought of it. When her eyes reached the account balance she felt her jaw drop against her will.

"2.5 million dollars?!" she whispered, her eyes wide with shock. In the back of her head she knew the amount probably wouldn't even put a dent in her family's fortune but she hadn't lived that life for a very long time. The idea of her son having that much money to his name practically knocked her off her seat.

"Your father wanted to leave him more but feared that you wouldn't approve," explained Archie, shifting in his seat uncomfortably. "But if you're displeased – "

"I'm not!" she said, quickly shaking her head at him. "I'm not. I just… wasn't expecting such a large number."

Archie nodded his head understandingly. "Your son's future meant quite a lot to your father, Regina. He wanted to make sure that finances wouldn't impede it any way."

"And my mother doesn't know about any of this?" asked Regina curiously. Her mother usually kept an iron grip on their finances. Watching over them like a hawk to make sure their fortune wasn't depleted by reckless spending or investments.

"It took some maneuvering… not all of it necessarily legal," he mumbled, "but I can promise you your mother knows nothing about the money he set aside for you and your son."

"He set aside money for me?" said Regina tilting her head at him.

Archie nervously adjusted his glasses. "Yes… but that's a bit more complicated."

"How so?"

Archie slid another file over to her. "The set-up is basically the same as your son's inheritance, larger but with one difference. Three people have access to the account. You, obviously, Regina Gardiner and a third party named Gina Colter."

Regina's eyebrows scrunched together at that last name. "Who is Gina Colter?"

"Well… at this point Gina doesn't entirely exist yet," he answered. He handed her a thick envelope. "Everything she is is in this envelope."

Opening it up she found an ID with Gina's name and her face, a passport, social security card and birth certificate. Her father had left her everything she'd need to disappear… again. Just like he had all those years ago.

"Where did you get this?" she asked softly.

She saw Archie swallow thickly. "I can't answer that but I can tell you there is another envelope just like it for your son."

"Right," she mumbled, nodding her head.

"All three of these aliases have access to the account," he explained, "but once one of them claims it the other two will be blocked out. Permanently. All it takes is one signature."

Regina nodded her head solemnly. It appeared her father was giving her options. Reclaim her old identity, fight for the one she has or run off to be somebody else. Already, she found herself split between two of them.

"Where do I sign?" she asked in a grave tone.

"On the last page of your inheritance contract," answered Archie. "But there is one final thing that comes along with it."

Oh what now, she thought tiredly.

Archie reached into his pocket and pulled out a small flash drive. "Your father's one request with all of this is that you watch what's on this drive before you sign the papers."

With trembling hands, she took it from him and twirled it between her fingers curiously. "What's on it?"

"Oh I have no idea," said Archie shrugging his shoulders and shaking his head. "Henry was very clear that only you were to view it."

Regina didn't respond. She just silently dropped her eyes back down to the flash drive in her hand. Whatever was on it would probably be the last thing her father ever gave her. What was it? A message? Instructions? Just goodbye? Hundreds of possibilities filled her mind, each just as likely as the last and it made her heart grow heavy.

She was brought out of her haze by the sound of Archie briefcase clicking shut. Clearing his throat once more he nodded at her, "That's all there is for now. You can contact me through Miss Blanchard once you've signed the papers."

She nodded her head at him, still silently contemplating the trio of options he'd just laid out for her. Archie awkwardly stood from the table and his collected his things. He moved to walk away from her but suddenly turned back on his heel and looked her straight in the eye.

"Your father was a good man, Regina and I will always be grateful to say that I knew him," he said sincerely. "I am truly sorry for your loss."

A lump formed in her throat as she nodded her head at him gratefully. "Thank you," she said. "And thank you for this." She gestured toward the files and box he'd given her. "I know it didn't come without risks for you."

Archie pressed his lips together and nodded his head. "Well, it's always worth the risk if you can help a true friend. And your father was one of the truest I ever had."

He gave her one last look before walking away and leaving her alone. Even with the decision that now lay in front of her she was glad that she'd come to see Archie. Not because he'd provided her with options in the form of her inheritance but because of the final words he'd spoken to her. The ones that let her know that despite what her mother had said at the funeral there was someone who missed her father just as much as she had.

XXXXX

After taking a moment to collect herself Regina returned to the bench where Robin and Snow eagerly awaited her return. Snow curiously eyed the box in her hands while Robin just looked relieved that she'd returned at all.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

She stiffly nodded her head as she continued to blink back tears. "Yeah I'm just… a little overwhelmed."

Robin wanted to reach out to comfort her then but something held him back. Perhaps it was the echo of Snow's warning in his head or her very presence that kept him from wrapping his arms around Regina but in any case he just nodded his head understandingly and offered her a seat on the bench.

"What did your father leave you?" asked Snow curiously.

Regina settled down on the bench, box in her lap and sighed, "Options."

With her two friends by her side she relayed to them all that Archie had told her with one exception. While she told them about the photo albums, accounts and fake ids she left out the flash drive her father had given her. She knew they'd want to know what was on it and despite having no idea herself she still found herself feeling reluctant to share it with them. Perhaps she just wanted the last piece of her father to herself.

Once she was done recounting her meeting they both stared at her with wide eyes.

"Wow," breathed Snow. "I can't believe your dad set all that up for you."

"Neither can I," whispered Regina, shaking her head to herself. "I mean… I knew he was always prepared to go but I never thought he looked this far ahead."

"Well if he didn't for himself then he certainly did for you," commented Robin. He hesitated before adding on, "Even if you weren't there in the end he was still your father. And I doubt he'd want to leave this earth without making sure you would be taken care of."

Hearing one of Roland's squeals, he turned his eyes back to the swings where he could see his son rocking back and forth in delight. "I know I wouldn't."

Regina nodded her head solemnly. She knew Robin was right. If she had the luxury of knowing when the end was coming she knew she'd do everything in her power to make sure Henry had what he needed before she died. It shouldn't have surprised her that her father had been willing to do the same for her.

"However…" Snow drawled softly, "he did leave you with a big decision to make."

"I know," mumbled Regina, running her fingers through her hair. "Trust me I know."

How could she forget? Three different lives and she could only pick one. Once her decision was made there was no going back. She could return to a life she hated, fight for the one she loved or create a new one altogether. With the threat of her mother looming over her she knew she didn't have long to make a decision but it seemed nearly impossible. In her heart she knew it would be the biggest decision she ever made, and all she wanted to do was make a choice she wouldn't regret later.

"What do you want to do?" asked Robin. His heart had leaped into his throat when he'd discovered there was a chance that she could stay in his life. And it had dropped to his knees when she'd said there was also chance she could leave it. Anxiety filled him from head to toe as he waited for her answer.

Regina just slowly shook her head. "I want… time to think about it. Everything is happening so fast I just want a minute to a catch up."

Her words carried the nothing but weariness in them.

Snow nodded her head understandingly. "Okay…take a day then. You still have some time left in California, right?"

Regina nodded her head. "We leave tomorrow."

"Good," said Snow. "It'll give you time to think. Just know that whatever you decide we support you unconditionally. Right, Robin?"

The younger girl turned to him expectantly, her eyes daring him to disagree while her voice carried a hint of I-told-you-so in its tone. He wanted to tell Regina how he really felt but he knew that wasn't what she needed to hear right now. Snow was right she needed to hear that she was supported in whatever he chose. What else could he do but nod his head and reply, "Of course."

XXXXX

Time to think was what Regina had asked for. Time to stop, consider and really think through her options. Robin and Snow had advised her to take the day, and she would, but it still didn't seem like enough time. Hell she could have a month to figure things out she doubted she'd get much further than where she is now. She's not stupid enough to think she has that sort of time though. It'd been only 24 hours since she'd last seen her mother but she knew there was little chance that Cora wasn't already scheming and plotting to get her back under thumb. With that threat looming over her head she had to make a decision and make it now.

That's how she'd ended up here, in the guest bedroom, files spilled open around her while Robin cared for the boys downstairs. She'd heard him tell Henry that she was just working as an explanation for why she'd locked herself away upstairs. It wasn't exactly a lie – she was working to ensure his safety – but it still made her feel guilty. Everything she did, she did for Henry but she knew her behavior over these last few days had confused him. She tried to remind herself that once she settled on a decision and had a plan for their future she'd finally be able to sit him down and assure him that everything would be alright. She just had to make sure she wouldn't be lying first.

She'd been staring at these files for hours now. Reading them over and over but the words stayed the same. Her father had left behind $10 million for her, 2.5 for Henry. To get it she needed to sign those papers but whatever name she chose to sign with would be the life she'd be forced to stay in. She'd been weighing the pros and cons from the minute they'd left the park. She knew she couldn't go back to being Regina Mills. If she started using her old name again her mother would find her in a hot second. In truth she was torn between the lives of Regina Gardiner and Gina Colter. Her time as Regina Gardiner had been the greatest years of her life. She'd done so much, made so many friends and memories, become the person she'd always wanted to be but… she didn't know if this life was safe for her anymore. Her mother had caught wind of her at the funeral. How long did she have until she was caught by her? She might be able to ward off her mother's attacks with the money her father left her but did she really want to take that chance? What if she failed? She could lose everything. Running away to be Gina Colter seemed like the safest option. A whole new identity, she could go anywhere in the world and build a new life, one far away from her mother and the threats she carried. But leaving behind her mother also meant leaving behind everyone else. Her friends, her job, her life. Robin and Roland. She'd never be able to see any of them again. How could she do that to them? How could she do that to Henry? Taking him away, changing his name, his whole life? Her son wasn't a baby anymore. He's old enough to know when something isn't right and leaving behind everything he knew, Emma, Snow and Robin, the people he considered family would leave him heartbroken. Heartbroken but safe, she silently argued.

Of course, there was one thing that might make all of this simpler. The flash drive her father had left her was still burning a hole in her purse. She hadn't watched it yet. She couldn't bring herself to because she knew once she played it then the last piece of her father would be gone. A piece of her past, not her future. And she just wasn't ready for that. Not yet.

She rubbed her hands against her eyes, trying to wipe away the exhaustion they held. Hours of running them over line after line had left them strained. Letting her gaze wander over to the window she saw it was already night. The sun must've set while she'd been drowning herself in her lack of decisiveness. She stretched out her neck with a groan as she walked over to the door. Reading these files was getting her nowhere. It was time for a break.

Her stomach growled as she walked downstairs and the smell of garlic and tomato sauce hit her nose. She hadn't eaten since the bar and she was starving. She found Robin standing by the kitchen sink, his sleeves pushed up to his elbows as he rinsed leftover dishes and loaded them into the dishwasher. So apparently lost in his task that he didn't even notice her until she was already next to him at the kitchen counter.

His eyes widened when he realized she was downstairs. "Hey."

"Hey," she repeated, leaning against the counter. She frowned at the dishes in the sink. "I missed dinner?"

"You did," he replied with a shrug of his shoulders. "It was spaghetti. The best I've ever made actually. It ended wars and changed lives. Such a shame you weren't there for it."

A smirk grew on her face at his light teasing. "I suppose it's too much to hope that you've saved me a plate."

He cocked his head to the left. "It's in the microwave."

"Thank you," she said gratefully. She found her dinner right where he said she would, a small bowl of spaghetti with a small piece of garlic bread on the side. Snatching up a fork from the cutlery drawer she sat down at the table to eat. Bringing a heap of spaghetti up to her mouth she softly moaned in surprise as the sweet taste of the sauce hit her tongue. Maybe not war-ending but it certainly was delicious. She turned to him.

"When did you learn how to cook so well?" she questioned, shock evident in her tone.

He chuckled to himself as he wiped his hands off with a kitchen towel. "Somewhere around the time when Roland grew teeth and I realized serving him takeout every night probably wasn't in his best interest."

Regina nodded her head with a soft laugh. She still remembered when Henry had started wanting solid foods and she realized she couldn't feed him the leftover wings from the bar that she'd been subsisting off of.

"How long did it take you to figure out the basics?"

"A year at least," he sighed, taking the seat next to her. "I swear I'd never been more dependent on anything like I was on Kraft mac and cheese."

Regina laughed at that. "It is certainly a lifesaver, I agree." She sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair. "Honestly I haven't cooked – I mean, really cooked – in ages. I've been so busy with work I just end up ordering takeout or popping a frozen lasagna in the oven."

She thoughtfully twirled her fork into her spaghetti. "Maybe I'll get back in the habit once… things calm down."

Once I make a decision. That was what she really meant and they both knew it. Robin had been puttering around the house since they'd gotten back, trying desperately not to focus on the fact that she was upstairs trying to decide whether to stay or disappear. His eyes dropped to the table, unable to look her at her anymore as his fear that she wouldn't stay began to press down on his chest.

"Don't go."

He said the words so softly he wasn't sure she'd even hear them. Part of them hoped she wouldn't but he heard her fork clatter against the side of her bowl as her hands went still in shock. He brought his eyes back up to her face to see her staring back at him, lips parted with wide eyes. "What?" she breathed.

He licked his lips before repeating, this time stronger and louder, "Don't go. Please."

Her eyes stayed on his face, her lips remained parted and her breath caught in her throat as she sat there utterly shell-shocked by the three words he'd just said to her. Seconds passed – or hours, she couldn't tell – before she was even able to make a sound. A soft squeak was the best she could manage before she finally swallowed her surprise and whispered, "Robin… I…"

"I know," he said, cutting her off, his voice wavering as he forced himself against his better judgement to continue speaking. "I know that you haven't made a decision yet and it's unfair of me to ask it of you but I have things to say and I just cannot leave this table without knowing I've said them. So could you please… just let me finish?"

Her mouth closed then as she swallowed nervously, her heart beating out of her chest and her eyes unable to look away from him. Still unable to speak, she just silently nodded her head at him, allowing him to continue.

"Regina you've been a part of my life for more than seven years now," he said. "And in that time there isn't one memory, not one important moment that hasn't been made better because you were there. You've gotten me through bad times, helped me celebrate the good and somehow helped me see that the monotonous moments in between are still a gift."

His eyes dropped down to his hands as they began to clench into fists against his will. "I know that I haven't shown it very well these past 24 hours but having you in my life, well I've always counted that as a blessing. For a long time, I just thought of you as my wife's best friend but the truth is you're not just her best friend. You're mine. You're my best friend and I don't want to lose you."

Tears had welled up in Regina's eyes at this point. Her bottom lip started to tremble at the sincerity in his words.

"And I know that it's selfish of me to tell you all of this," continued Robin. "I've seen your mother. I've seen how afraid of her you are. I know that you think you'd be safer if you just disappeared so she couldn't find you. And if I weren't so selfish, if I were a better friend, I'd be able to just let that happen but I can't because every time I think of you and Henry leaving my heart breaks. Every time I think of never seeing the two of you again I feel like I've been hit for a bus. So this is me, being selfish, asking you to stay and promising that if you do I will be there for every battle, every setback and every victory. If you stay and fight, I promise you won't be alone. So please… just stay."

His voice broke on the last two words. He hadn't planned on this, on begging her to stay by his side and promising to fight by hers. He'd just wanted to sit by her as she ate, to give her what she wanted: time alone to think things through. Just a few minutes to pretend like her entire life wasn't under fire but once she brought up, even marginally, the choice she'd been forced to make he couldn't hold it in anymore. All he could hear was Snow's warning in his head, reminding him that he was running out of time. That if there was anything he could say to keep her here he damn well better say it before she decided to leave. And he had but now there was nothing but silence. He didn't speak. She didn't speak. They just sat there locked in place by the weight of everything he'd just said to her.

She stared at him, tears still threatening to spill from her eyes and her chest growing heavy as his confession tore her heart to bits. Each word he'd said acted like a knife stabbing at her heart because she knew not one of them had made a difference. She was just as uncertain at the table as she had been upstairs. Perhaps even more so. He'd promised her his loyalty and she couldn't even offer him a decision.

Instead she just silently stood from her chair and stepped away from the table. Giving him one last painful look, she turned away from him so he couldn't see her tears as she walked towards the stairs. Her appetite long forgotten she locked herself away in the guest room once more. And he let her.

He didn't follow her up the stairs or say a word to bring her back to him. He'd said all he'd needed to say when she sat across from him. Now all he could do was let her think it through.

XXXXX

She'd been in the room for hours. No longer reading. No longer sorting through files. Just laying on top of the bed, staring up at the ceiling and hearing Robin's voice in her head like a track on a loop. She couldn't even blink her eyes without seeing his face.

It was long past midnight and Robin had gone to sleep. Long ago she'd heard the sound of his footsteps as he made his way down the hall to his bedroom. He'd paused in front of her door and for a moment she'd thought he'd might come in to speak with her. She hated herself for the relief she'd felt when he didn't. She couldn't see him right now. There was still too much she didn't have figured out and now she had him to consider as well. Not that she wasn't already doing that. It was just more weighted now that he'd officially asked her to stay.

She stood from the bed and started to pace the length of the room. She wanted to stay. She really did but what if it wasn't in everyone's best interest? If Robin stood by her side like he'd promised he'd be putting himself in her mother's crosshairs. She could come after his business and his life. Regina didn't want that for him or Roland. But she also didn't want to hurt them by disappearing from their lives. Robin had told her that he'd be heartbroken if she left and he'd meant it. She knew he did. And if she was honest, the idea of leaving them behind, never speaking to Robin or seeing Roland grow up, broke her heart too. But is avoiding heartbreak, or at the very least delaying it, worth giving up certain safety?

Round and round her thoughts spun in her head. Dragging her through a loop, always bringing her back to the same questions, the same answers but no solution. It was maddening. She desperately ran her fingers through her hair as she practiced rhythmic breathing trying to calm herself down. She searched her heart for the answer but it was just as muddled as her brain. Stopping in the middle of the room Regina realized that she didn't trust herself to make the decision on her own. She needed help. An opinion or guidance from someone she trusted to tip the balance. She needed…

She needed her father.

Digging through her purse she found the flash drive and ran her thumb over it twice. She snatched up her iPad and settled back against the bed's headboard, her heart beating out of her chest. The last piece of her father she would ever have. She hoped with all her heart it would be what she needed.

She shut her eyes for moment, trying to prepare herself for whatever she would see. Softly under her breath she prayed, "Please daddy… tell me what to do."

She let out a deep breath and plugged the drive into the tablet's USB port. Immediately a small video box appeared on screen. Pressing her lips together nervously she tapped it to initiate playback. As soon as the video started a small gasp flew from her throat and she covered her mouth in shock.

Her father was onscreen. It was the first time she'd seen him in years… and it wasn't a pretty sight. He stared at her through the screen, sitting on a wheelchair in what she could only assume was a hospital room. He looked gaunt. Almost hauntingly thin, she could see his hospital gown practically hung off his body even if he tried to hide it with a thick red robe. His cheeks appeared sunken in and dark circles were prominent under his eyes. An IV was hooked up to his left arm and the tubes from his oxygen tank ran to his nose.

Still a smile grew on his face as he stared into the camera and despite his obvious exhaustion, kindness shined in his brown eyes.

"Hello Princess," he said, bringing a tear to her eye. His voice was soft and grave, not like she remembered but god it felt good to hear.

"Daddy," she whispered.

He let out a small cough before shaking his head at the camera. "As you can probably tell I'm not in the best of shape, sweetheart.

His breathing was labored as he spoke to the camera. "I told you a long time ago that this day would come sooner than we'd like and now it's here. I'm dying Regina. I don't have very long left. I've been sick for a while now and that's why I've made this video. To let you know that everything will be alright.""

A lump formed in her throat as she listened to him speak.

"You don't know any of this yet," he continued. "Because you're in New York with Henry."

Her eyes widened at that. Her father had known where she was? This whole time?

"That's right I kept tabs on you," said Henry, Sr. with a small smile. "You're my daughter. I needed to know that you were okay.

He paused, his chest heaving as he took in a deep breath. "I know that you'll feel guilty once you learn I'm gone. That you'll wish you had found a way to be by my side but Regina, I don't want you to worry about that. If being alone now is the only way to keep you and Henry safe, then I will pay that price a million times over."

He took a moment to catch his breath before speaking again. "Just know sweetheart that I am so proud of you. I am proud that you've kept yourself safe for so long. That you have a career. And that you've taken care of your son so much better than I took care of you."

She found herself nodding at her tablet screen, wanting him to know that she'd heard him.

Her father had a small coughing fit before suddenly growing serious. "Now it's time for business. If you're watching this Regina that means that I am gone and you've resurfaced. I always knew this was a possibility and that's why I wanted to leave you prepared. Archie will have told you about your inheritance by now. I promise Regina that you can trust him. He's a good man and he's there to help you."

A small smile grew on his face. "You're probably wondering why I chose to leave you your inheritance under three separate identities."

He sighed before continuing. "I did that because I wanted you to have a choice… for once in your life. For so long I've allowed your mother to push you into corners and twist your arm in order to force you into situations you wouldn't have chosen for yourself. Even when I helped you escaped it was because she'd taken away any other option for you to feel safe. So my final gift to you is this choice. No one can make it but you. If you want to run, you can… but if you feel the need to stay I hope you do."

Regina's breath caught in her throat.

"I know that the thought of your mother still scares you and I know that the idea of standing up to her seems impossible at times but you are so much stronger than you know," he said, his voice growing firm and earnest as he implored her to find her strength. "Regina don't let your mother scare you into giving up what matters most. If you have something you cherish, keep it. If you have people worth loving, stay with them. I sent you away because there was nothing left here for you. Nothing worth fighting for and that included me. But I didn't just want you to be safe. I wanted you to find a life worth living, one with happiness and love. If you have that now, please don't give it up. Don't let her take that away from you. Not again."

Tears were streaming down her cheeks now as she listened to him urge her to fight.

He chuckled then. "I know. Fierce words from a dead man, right? Still I mean them with every piece of my soul." He coughed once more before smiling at her through the camera. "I love you Regina, so please be happy for me. And remember no matter what you choose I will always be so proud to call you my daughter."

She was openly sobbing now, her heart overwhelmed with emotions. The video ended with him smiling at her his eyes still kind and hopeful, just as she remembered. He wanted her to fight. He wanted her to stand up to her mother. He'd believed in her. Her daddy… in his final moments he'd given her just what she needed.

With the decision made in her heart she swallowed her sobs and nodded her head with determination. She would do this for her father. She would find a way to be just as strong as he believed her to be.

She stared at the image of his face, still frozen on the screen of her tablet. Blinking away tears she tapped the replay button and heard her father's voice reach her ears once more. "Hello Princess…"

XXXXX

The night passed quicker than Robin wanted it to. The moon set and the sun rose, shining light into his room and waking him up long before his alarm went off. He groaned as he forced his eyes to open and face the morning light. He painfully shut them again as the memories of the night before came rushing back. Memories of Regina tearful eyes as he'd begged her to stay, taking away the peace he'd so desperately wanted to give her. He ran his hands over his face in shame. He'd had no right to do that to her. To make her feel so conflicted. She hadn't even responded to him. She'd just walked away with tears in her eyes.

Forcing himself out of bed he headed downstairs for coffee. Hopefully he could clear his head before the boys woke up. He didn't want them to pick up on any tension between him and Regina.

To his surprise the scent of coffee hit his nose before he even made it to the last step of the stairs. Following it into the kitchen he found Regina, sitting in the same spot she'd been in the night before, sipping on a cup of coffee as she looked through a scrapbook. His heart clenched when he saw her. Her hair was in disarray and her eyes were puffy and red as if she'd spent the whole night crying. But even with all of this he could see that the storm that had been lying beneath the surface was gone. She seemed calm, finally at peace. In an instant he knew that she had made her decision.

She looked up when she heard his footsteps against the stairs. Forced a smile to her lips as she locked eyes with him. "Morning," she mumbled.

"Morning," he softly replied. He hesitantly approached her at the table. "You're up early."

She sighed, shaking her head at him. "Technically I'm up late. Couldn't sleep. There was too much to think about."

You gave me too much to think about. At least that's what he heard.

He guiltily looked away from her. "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." She softly cut him off. "It wasn't just you I had to think about."

It was true she'd been up all night. Watching her father's final message over and over until it was burned into her memory forever. Only when she knew the words by heart did she finally shut down her iPad and wipe away her tears. The sun had barely been rising.

Her eyes dropped back down to the scrapbook on the table. "Somewhere around 5 I came downstairs and started looking through the box Archie gave me. Figured I'd take some time look through everything else my father left me."

Sitting down at the table, Robin reached for the scrapbook while raising his eyebrows at her uncertainly. "May I?"

She smiled at him and pushed it over. "Sure."

He took the book in his hands and smiled to himself as he saw the pictures of baby Henry glued to the pages. Henry was already six months old by the time they'd met so he'd never seen him so little. Looking at these pictures reminded him his days with newborn Roland. How tiny and fragile his son had been. For the first few weeks he'd been terrified of hurting him. In the photographs he could see Regina glowing as she held her new child. So happy to finally know him.

"God he was so little," he whispered.

Regina chuckled, resting her hand in her chin. "I know. It's hard to believe I used to be able to carry him around like that."

She smiled to herself as she remembered her the weeks after Henry's birth. All the time she spent caring for him, getting to know him and letting him know her. She owed him so much. In her heart she knew if it hadn't been for Henry, she'd still be trapped under her mother's thumb. She'd never have found the strength to leave if she hadn't had him to fight for.

She sighed as Robin flipped further through the book. "Robin I've made my decision."

His hands stilled as his eyes shot up to her face. He felt his chest grow tight with tension at her words. Would this be the moment that she told him she was leaving forever?

Lacing her fingers together on top of the table she licked her lips nervously and said, "I'm staying."

Relief flooded through his chest and his heart swelled with hoped. "You are?"

"I am," she said, nodding her head. "And while the things you said last night were… overwhelming they did open my eyes to just how much I would lose by running away. I have a life here. Henry has a life here with people that we love and don't want to be apart from. And if I ran away from my mother I'd still be losing everything that matters to me. The only difference would be that I took it away from myself instead of her stealing it from me. And I can't do that to myself or to my son. So… I'm heading back to New York today to talk to Mal about my job and once everything is settled I'm moving back here."

"To California?" he asked, tilting his head curiously. "You would do that?"

"I have to," she said confidently. "I love New York but California is my home. And as awful as this visit has been, this is where I belong. Here with you and my family. Now that I have my inheritance I can afford to live anywhere but this is the only place I want to be. So… if you wouldn't mind could Henry and I stay here for a little while until we find a place of our own?"

"Of course!" He answered a little too quickly, bringing a smile to her face with his immediate compliance. "You can stay here for as long as you need. I'd love to have you both."

Yes, he would. As far as Robin was concerned they could stay with him until Henry was in his thirties, it would be worth it keep them in his life. He was just glad that she was staying.

"So how long until you sign the papers and become Regina Gardiner permanently?" he asked.

"Well it's a bit more complicated than that," she mumbled, slowing shaking her head. "I love being Regina Gardiner. It was the greatest time in my life but if I'm going to stay here I need to start building a life that my mother can't take away from me. One that has roots that she can't possibly tear up… and I can't do that under false identity."

He leaned forward in his seat. "What are you saying?"

She blew out a reluctant breath. "I'm saying that if I'm going to stay here and fight for my life. I can't do it as Regina Gardiner. I have to do it as Regina Mills."

His eyes grew wide at that. "Are you sure?" he asked. "Regina that is… a dangerous move to make. Your mother would know exactly where to find you."

"I know," she said nodding her head. "But it's only a matter of time until she does anyway. This way I won't be hiding from her. I'll be able to build up my defenses and start living the life that I really want. One where I'm not looking over my shoulder constantly. Or lying to the people I love. I don't want to live like that anymore. I want our friends to know who I really am. I want my son to carry my father's name again. I want to live my truth."

Robin pressed his lips together nervously. Her decision might be a risky one but at least this time he understood why she had to make it. He supportively laid his hand on top of hers. "Then I promise that I will be there with you every step of the way."

She squeezed his hand gratefully. "Thank you."

XXXXX

The Smoking Wizard was one of the most exclusive cigar clubs on the west coast. Converted from an old speakeasy it sat in the back of an old steakhouse, the only entrance hidden with the help of a turning display case. With only one room the place could barely hold more than twenty people at a time. That's probably the reason for its "invitation-only" admittance policy. Though more likely it was because the Wizard's main clientele was high-class criminals.

Archie practically had to hold his breath as he stepped inside, the smoke was so thick. Men were lighting up cigars in every corner of the room and the only escape for the smoke were two small windows on the east wall. Walking inside he felt like he could have an asthma attack.

Places like this weren't made for men like Archie, men with a conscience. He was visibly uncomfortable in the club, unwilling to look anyone in the eye, barely concealing the shiver that went up his spine with every step he took. It wasn't just his tweed jacket and round glasses that made him stand out in the sea of dark suits and expensive watches. It was his very aura. The aura of a good man.

He felt as though he couldn't stand to be in the place one minute longer until he heard his name.

"Archibald Hopper!"

He turned to the furthest corner of the room and saw the very reason he'd shown up there in the first place.

"Eli Gold."

He sat in an armchair with his back to wall, one hand atop his cane, like always, and a cigar in his other. He stood as Archie walked over and greeted him with a firm handshake and a sly smile. In turn Archie greeted him with the unique mix of apprehension and curiosity one reserved for old friends. He shook his hand and offered him a cautious smile. "It's been a long time."

"Yes it has," Gold agreed. He gestured to the armchair across from him. "Have a seat."

Archie cleared his throat as he settled into the armchair's leather cushion. He looked on disapprovingly as Gold took another puff of his cigar and exhaled into the air. "You know those things can kill you, right?"

Gold chuckled darkly as he snuffed out the cigar in an ash tray. "Many things can kill me Archie. If these cigars end up with the honor, I'll consider myself lucky."

Archie felt his blood run cold at Gold's acceptance of his mortality. Given the life that his old friend he supposed smoking wasn't the most dangerous thing in the world.

Pushing away the ash tray Gold leaned forward in his seat and rested both hands on top of his cane. "But we've got more important things to talk about than my health. Did she receive her inheritance?"

Archie nodded his head. "Yes. I just got the call from her this morning. She'll be signing them this afternoon. Then the money is hers."

Gold drummed his fingers against his cane with a sigh. "And the alias she chose?"

"Regina Mills," he answered firmly.

Gold's fingers went still and his eyes grew serious. "You're sure?"

"I asked her twice to be certain," Archie stressed. "She's taking back her real name."

Gold leaned back in his seat an impressed smirk growing on his face. "Well she's certainly inherited her mother's brass, now hasn't she?"

"Perhaps she's just tired of running," suggested Archie. "It's been eight years. She's been through a lot."

"Well what she's been through is not my concern," Gold coldly pointed out. "It's what she will go through once this decision is final that matters to me." He exhaled in annoyance. "This makes things much more complicated."

Archie wiped his palms against his thighs nervously. "Henry asked us to protect her."

"He asked me to protect her," Gold corrected. "You brought her the inheritance and that's all Henry asked of you. For now, your work is done. Leave the rest to me. I'll figure out a way to keep Cora off her back."

Archie eyed him nervously. "What do you plan on doing?"

Gold turned his gaze onto him as his grip on his cane tightened. "Archibald, I know that the three of us – you, Henry and I – used to be quite close… but the truth is the two of you have never had the stomach for my methods. Don't pretend like you do now."

Archie swallowed harshly as his gaze dropped down to his feet. "You know even after everything that happened, I still consider you two the best friends I've ever had."

Gold nodded his head solemnly. "I know… so do I. Certainly better than the ones I have now."

He snapped his fingers and a well-dressed waiter rushed over with two glasses of scotch on the rocks. Gold took one for himself and handed the other to Archie. "I know you don't favor cigars but I figured one last toast before you go might be nice. To Henry?"

"To Henry," said Archie raising his glass. "May we protect the thing he loved the most."

Gold nodded his head solemnly. "We shall do our best."

With that they clinked glasses and took sips in honor of their lost friend. Archie left as soon as his glass was empty but Gold stayed behind. He'd promised his Henry that he would protect his daughter but her choosing to stay behind made his job that much more difficult. He'd keep his promise to Henry that was for sure. It would just require more from him now. A lot more effort and a lot more patience. He knew that Cora was smart. She wouldn't attack Regina outright, she would wait for the perfect moment to strike and leave her broken. He just had to figure out a way to be there when it happened.

He ordered another glass of scotch and a cigar. Today he wouldn't act. Instead he would mourn his friend like he hadn't been able to since he died. But tomorrow? Well that was when the real work would begin.

Next Chapter: Regina moves back to California permanently; Regina and Robin, with the help of their friends start to realize that there's something more than friendship between them.

Please read and review! It's food for my heart :)