A/N: Hey guys! Welcome back! Life has gotten a bit hectic so forgive me but this is going to be a short chapter. Still I hope you enjoy it! Read on!
It was a cloudless, sunny day as Sydney Glass walked down the block in downtown San Francisco. Even with the passing shade of the towering buildings, he counted himself lucky to have remembered his sunglasses on the way out from his office. Shoving the manila file in his hand under his armpit, he reached up to adjust the frames trying to relieve the pressure he felt on the bridge of his nose. Lifting up his wrist he checked the time on his old watch. 12:20. He picked up his pace. He didn't dare to keep her waiting.
Increasing his speed, he made it up to the hotel in five minutes. As always his eyes drifted up to the roof of the Molinari before he headed inside. At the very top of the hotel, sitting in the penthouse, she was waiting for him. Probably already pursing her lips with impatience despite the fact that he was five minutes early.
Crossing the marble floors, not even stopping to greet the hotel staff, Sydney hopped into the center elevator and punched in the code for the penthouse floor. It was long ride up to the top floor and like always Sydney found himself wondering just how he got into this line of work. All his life he'd wanted to do was win a Pulitzer. With his inquisitive mind and unquestionable work ethic all his college professors had told him he was destined for a bright future. But fifteen years after journalism school and one poorly timed layoff later he now spent his days snapping photos of unfaithful husbands and staking out seedy motels. Working as a self-employed PI had never been what he wanted to do with his life, but he was good at it. It kept tailored suits in his closet and imported wine in his fridge.
Finally, the elevator completed its ascension and opened its doors. He took off his sunglasses and removed his old grey trilby hat before stepping onto the penthouse floors. Within seconds a maid appeared and offered to store them in the closet. Sydney enjoyed the finer things in life, relished his good clothes and expensive wines, but every time he came to her he was always reminded that he was further from true wealth than he'd like to admit. Normally his clients would come to him to discover his findings… but she was hardly normal client.
He was directed down the hall to her office. He found her, poised as a queen, waiting for him behind her grand, mahogany desk. He pursed lips pulled back into a smile when she finally caught sight of him.
"Sydney! So glad to see you made it on time." Her greeting was like black coffee, warm but distinctly bitter.
He replied, "I've always strived to make punctuality a priority, Ms. Mills."
She continued to bare her teeth at him, disguising it as a smile. "Have a seat." She gestured toward the leather bound chair in front of her desk. Sinking into it, Sydney kept his eyes locked on her face. There was something about Cora Mills that made him unable to look away from her. Whenever he was in the same room as her, he felt as though he was in a locked cage with a hungry tiger. Too look away was to provide her with an opportunity to pounce.
She wasted no time with pleasantries. "What do you have for me today?"
He passed over the manila folder in his hand. "All that I could find on the bartender."
Cora hummed with interest as she perused the file pages. Her eyes lingered on the photo of the raven-haired, ocean-eyed man her daughter called friend. She flipped through the pages, her attention caught by phrases. Dead brother. Married lover. Orphan. She shook her head with a tsk of her tongue. "Quite a sordid past for such a pretty face."
"He's not the lynchpin you're searching for," said Sydney. "He's got pressure points, might be useful enough to manipulate but none so big as to sway him in your favor."
Cora rose from her seat with a sigh. "Of course."
Heading around the desk, she walked over to an old oil painting of a young girl playing a piano. Delicately placing her fingers behind the frame she pulled it from the wall, revealing the door of a hidden safe. Typing in a quick code she inserted the file, laying it atop four identical manila folders. Closing the safe and returning the painting to its original position, she turned back to Sydney, a malicious glint in her eye as she pulled her lips down into a frown.
"I must admit Sydney… I've never been quite so disappointed with you." She ran her fingers across the back of his shoulders, the sound of her nails lightly running across the fabric of his suit sent a shiver down his spine. He clenched his jaw and resisted the urge to recoil from her touch. "I asked you to find my daughter's weak spots. And with three months of work you've yet to bring me anything of value." She settled back behind her desk, arms haughtily folded across her chest. "I'm starting to think you're beginning to lose your touch."
Her tone was sharp as she stared him down and her message was clear. I am unhappy. Do something to fix that. Now.
Sydney swallowed hard and tried his best not to fidget under the weight of her gaze. He nervously wet his lips before responding, "I can assure you that's not true. It's just you've given me quite a bit of work with this investigation. I've had to dig into the cop, the bartender, the model –"
"Is there a point to all these excuses or are you just wasting more of my time?" she sharply interjected.
He felt his cheeks grow hot at her interruption. "Of course not," he replied. "I'm just saying a case like this requires thoroughness. I assumed you would prefer it that I left no stone unturned."
Cora pursed her lips as if musing over his words. "Normally you would be correct but I find myself growing impatient. Stop wasting your time on the guppies and bring me the big fish," she ordered.
He nodded her head, knowing exactly who she was referring to. "Robin Locksely."
Cora nodded her head as she began to pace behind her desk. She'd seen quite a bit of this Robin Locksely. Her daughter's "white knight." In all the photos of Regina that she'd seen he'd been in nearly every one. Always right by her side, just like at the funeral. It made her sick.
"Regina's grown far too dependent on him," she muttered in disgust. "Living in his home like some common leech, playing house. If there's a lynchpin in this mess it's him. All I need is one tiny weakness that can help me pull him apart and I'll have her back." She turned back to Sydney her eyes sharp with disappointment. "Now is that too much to ask?"
"Of course not," he softly answered. "It might take a little work but no one is ever clean as they seem. I'll find his pressure point."
Cora silently turned from him, her back rigid with slowly boiling anger. In a moment of unprecedented boldness Sydney cautiously commented, "There are more direct ways of getting your daughter back, Ms. Mills. Why not just approach her?"
Cora scoffed before shaking her head and turning back to face him. "Because she's too comfortable to see reason. She thinks that she's finally carved out a place for herself in this world, with these people." Her words dripped with disdain as she alluded to the motley crew her daughter surrounded herself with. "I don't just want her back Sydney. I want her behaved. And that won't happen until she realizes that I know best and always will."
The way she spoke of her daughter always seemed curious to Sydney. If he didn't know better he might believe that Cora was speaking of a rebellious teenager, not the 30-year-old mother he knew Regina to be.
"And just how do you plan on bringing her to this revelation?" he asked, curiously.
Cora smirked at him, before sternly shaking her head. "So many questions Sydney. One might think it was your job to ask them."
Sydney's gaze dropped down to the desk as he clenched his jaw. He didn't know why Cora hired him to look into her daughter's life. She seemed to have no trouble identifying weaknesses on her own.
Cora smugly settled back into her desk and pointed toward the door. "You can go now. Return only when you have something useful to me."
Sydney robotically rose from his chair and headed for the door. She watched him go, only relaxing into her seat when she saw his back disappear into the hall. When she heard his footsteps fade away she let out a slow, silent breath to calm herself. Sydney was competent, thorough and more than a little afraid of her. It was why she hired him. It made him easy to control. But he'd been more than disappointing lately. If she ever wanted to get her daughter back she could no longer rely strictly on him. She'd have to start outsourcing some of his work.
Her eyes drifted over to the framed photo on the edge of her desk. Regina, no older than fourteen years old, in an elegant baby blue ball gown, posing against the stair case in the country home. She'd been so perfect back then. So easy. Always willing to see reason. Cora ran her fingers along the edge of the frame longing.
I'll bring you home Regina, she thought longingly. I'll make you see reason if it is the last thing I do.
XXXXXX
Miles away, sitting in an old diner, oblivious to her mother's machinations, Regina sipped on an ice tea as she swiped through yet another photo gallery on her tablet's real estate app.
"What about this one? It's got two bedrooms and a nice backyard." She smiled widely at Henry, trying to seem enthusiastic as she turned the tablet in his direction.
Henry apathetically glanced at the screen. "It's okay," he mumbled with a shrug of his shoulders, before turning his attention back to his milkshake. The same reaction he'd had to the last two houses she'd shown him.
Roland peered over his shoulder and scowled at the images on screen. "My house is better!" he sourly declared. Pouting, he leaned back in his seat and defiantly crossed his arms.
Regina let out a disappointed sigh before running her fingers through his curls. "I know, baby."
Their lack of enthusiasm dampened her spirits.
"Let me see!" Snow snatched the tablet from her hands and brought it over to her side of the table where Emma sat next to her. Their heads leaned closer together as they looked down at the tablet screen, Emma's long blonde hair contrasting with Snow's black pixie cut. As they swiped through the photos their faces simultaneously twisted in displeasure.
Snow looked over at her with and arched one perfectly-shaped eyebrow. "You can do better," she stated flatly. "The carpet is dingy, the layout is weird and the bathroom is just pitiful."
Regina rolled her eyes. It had been like this for the last week. Searching through the internet listings, thinking she found a decent property, sending it to her friends only to have them ruthlessly list out its flaws.
She swiped the tablet back from Snow's hands. "Thanks for your input," she grumbled.
Snow just smirked at her from across the table. "If you wanted a sugar coated opinion you should've asked lover boy, not me."
Regina's eyes nervously flickered toward the boys, who were thankfully oblivious to the adult conversation at the table as they colored on their children's mats. "Robin is not my…lover!" she harshly whispered, stumbling over Snow's word choice. "Stop calling him that!"
Any other day she would've responded to Snow's quips with a roll of her eyes of a stern look, but ever since her date with Jefferson – and the realization that came afterwards – she found herself particularly sensitive when it came to her relationship with her handsome, blue-eyed roommate. She could already feel her cheeks burning red at Snow's comments.
"Why are you in such a rush to get moved out anyway?" questioned Emma. "Dimples is right. Robin's house is gorgeous. Why would you ever want to leave?"
Out of the corner of her eye, Regina saw Roland grin at the use of the new nickname Emma had bestowed on him. Perhaps he was paying attention.
"It's been three months," she answered pragmatically. "It's time I found my own place."
Not to mention the more time she spent around Robin the deeper she fell in love with him. And that was something she could not allow to happen.
She sighed as she scrolled through the listings for the third time. Staying with Robin was no longer an option for her. Things had changed since she'd discovered her feelings for him. They're not better or worse. They're just different. In the past few weeks she'd felt a shift in their relationship. An increase in awkward pauses and stilted conversation. Talking to Robin used to be easy as walking along the beach, but now she felt like she was maneuvering her way through a minefield with every ever conversation they had. Second guessing everything she said, trying to make sure not a hint of her true feelings shined through. It kept her on edge every time he so much as entered the same room as her.
She couldn't stay with him anymore. Trying not to get swept up in his sky blue eyes and flashing dimples was far too difficult living in such close quarters. Every time he so much as looked at her a flurry of butterflies would immediately fill her stomach. No, it was better for everyone that she finds her own place as soon possible. Once she moved out, spent a little time away from him her feelings would fade away and things would go back to normal… she hoped.
Snow eyed her curiously as she sipped her hot green tea. "Hmm… are you sure there's no other reason you're rushing to get out from under him?"
Regina glowered at her from across the table. "Snow…"
"No heart thumping, pulse raising reason?" she continued, a lecherous look in her eyes.
By this time Regina was sure her face had turned beet red. She nervously wet her lips before turning to Henry and clearing her throat. "Sweetie, the food should be here any minute. Why don't you take Roland into the bathroom and wash your hands before it gets here, 'kay?"
Henry nodded his head, grabbed Roland's hand and led him toward the back of the diner. As soon as the two boys were out of sight, Regina sternly glared in Snow's direction. "You know I'd appreciate if you reeled it in around my eight-year-old son and five-year-old godson."
"I was being discreet," Snow argued playfully. "Besides it's nothing to be ashamed of. Sex is one of the four basic human needs."
Emma snorted in her direction. "You say that like you've had any," she chuckled.
It was Snow's turn to blush then as she fell silent at Emma's comment. Though she will admit she felt a modicum of pleasure at seeing Snow being put in her place, an uncomfortable shiver still ran down her spine at the mention of her almost-stepdaughter's sexual activity, or lack thereof.
She groaned and shook her head. "Could we please tone it down with the bedroom talk? Seriously, we're about to eat."
Snow rolled her eyes, quickly recovering from her flash of embarrassment. "We just find it curious that you went on one date with Jefferson, and then immediately started house hunting like you were going to be put out on the street."
"Oh really?" She arched an eyebrow in Emma's direction. "Is that what we think?"
Emma shrugged her shoulders apologetically. She knew how much Regina hated it when they talked about her outside of her presence. "Well… it is suspicious timing," she drawled. "You were barely looking before."
"Then one night on the town and it's like you can't get out of there fast enough," added Snow.
Regina sighed in annoyance. "I don't get it. The two of you are beautiful young girls living in one of the most vibrant cities in the country. Do you seriously have nothing better to do than gossip about my life?"
"Only when there's nothing on Netflix," Emma playfully replied.
"Very funny," deadpanned Regina.
Snow sent her a sympathetic look. "There's no need to be so defensive Regina. We totally get it if you think it's a little weird to be dating and living with Robin at the same time."
An offended squeak rose from the back of Regina's throat. "That's not why I'm moving out!" she protested.
"But we would understand if it was," Emma said gently. "I mean it can't be easy to say 'Sure I'd love to go out on a date. Just pick me up at the house I share with my sexy best friend and the two sons we co-parent together.'"
"We do not co-parent out sons," argued Regina. As soon as the words were out of her life she realized they weren't exactly true. The boys had hardly been separated since she'd moved back to town.
"The point is it can't be easy to bring home a guy when there's already one there. Especially one as cute as Robin," said Snow. She took another sip of her drink. "I can't imagine Jefferson took it well."
Regina bit her lip before responding. She still remembered the tense feeling in the room when she'd come down to the kitchen to greet Jefferson before their date. The way Robin's overprotectiveness had flared up. "Jefferson was… intimidated. I won't lie about that."
"Well he had a right to be," replied Emma. "Your relationship with Robin is very… intimate. Most guys won't know how to compete with that."
"Who says they have to compete?" said Regina. She pursed her lips. "I'm not so sure I want to date a man who sees all my male friends as competition."
Snow smirked into her mug of tea. "Well it won't be all your male friends. Just the one you're in love with."
Regina's heart skipped a beat. "I'm not in love with Robin!" Her voice was rough with indignation, as she shot daggers across the table at Snow.
Emma hand with still as she knitted her eyebrows together and studied Regina's face. Her bull detector was suddenly on high alert. "You sure about that?" she said softly.
Regina's gaze slid over to her. "Excuse me?"
Emma shrugged her shoulders. "Like I said, your relationship with him is very intimate. I don't think it would surprise anyone if you started having feelings for him."
Regina felt her jaw clench against her will as Emma shined her interrogative gaze on her face. The table went silent as Snow began to watch both of them intently, the mischief in her eyes replaced with deep seated intrigue.
"Regina…" she slowly drawled, "Are you starting to have feelings for Robin?"
She hesitated before firmly answering, "No I am not."
She locked eyes with Emma from across the table and saw a slight tug pull on the blonde's lips as a spark of recognition passed behind her green eyes. She didn't say a word but the message was clear.
I know you're lying.
Regina's eyes fell back to the tablet in her hands as she tried to avoid the intrusive gazes of the two girls sitting across from her. She roughly swiped at the screen.
As firmly as she could she declared, "Robin and I are just friends. We've never been anything more than that."
"We know that," said Snow. The heavy solemnity in her voice was a stark contrast to her earlier playful tone. "But I'm less interested in what you and Robin have been and more curious about what you could be."
When she lifted her gaze up from the tablet, Regina saw Emma and Snow were both looking at her with a mixture of concern and curiosity. She'd never felt more transparent. Her mouth went dry as she struggled to find the right words to say. Nothing came to mind.
Swallowing hard she stood from her seat. "I think I need some air."
She headed for the door, her movements stiff as she tried to bury the panic and embarrassment rising from her gut. The bell of the door jingled as she left the diner and stepped out onto the sidewalk. She shut her eyes against the blinding light of the sun and let out a deep breath. Taking a seat on the bench in front of the diner windows she tried to take long deep breaths to calm herself.
The bell above the door rang again and she's no longer alone.
"Not now Emma," she says shaking her head.
Emma sighs as she settles down onto the bench next to her. "I'm sorry Regina," she said apologetically. "We were just teasing… at first."
"I know," she mumbled, keeping her eyes locked on the hands in her lap.
They were both silent for a moment and Emma studied the face of the brunette woman next to her. "Regina… just be honest with yourself for once. Can you honestly say that you don't feel anything for him at all?"
Regina's chin wavered as she opened her mouth to speak. "I… can't."
"Can't be honest or can't have feelings for him?"
Regina hesitated before answering her. "Both." She sucked her teeth and shook her head. "No, I was right before. There's no need for romance or dating in my life right now. It's just not worth it. I've gone without it for years. I can continue for a few more."
Emma narrowed her eyes at her. "Really? You were fine without it?"
Regina brought her eyes up to Emma's face then. "Yes," she firmly asserted.
Emma shook her head before turning her eyes down to her feet. "Regina… do you remember what we talked about before your date. When we talked about Daniel and how he used to make you feel – "
"Yes Emma I remember." Regina sharply cut her off, the voice had grown thick with pent up emotion.
Emma continued on. "You talked about how he used to make you feel safe and fearless at the same time. And how important that was to you."
"I know," said Regina. "But I've lived without that for a long time. And I've survived."
Emma kept her eyes on Regina's face. "Regina did you ever stop to think the only reason you survived without those things was because, even if you didn't know it, you still had them… with Robin."
Regina felt her throat close up as she remembered all the phone calls, all the late night conversations, all the hugs, and touches, and memories, and comfort she'd experienced at Robin's hand. Emma's prodding forced her to remember every moment and just how she'd felt in each one. As each memory swept over her she realized that in all the years since she'd known him she'd never felt safer than when Robin was by her side. Even before she realized her feelings, even before they'd started growing, he'd become her safe place.
And she couldn't lose that.
Swallowing hard, she shook her head and repeated, "I can't."
"Why not?" questioned Emma, the frustration rising in her voice. "Give me one good reason why you can't."
"I can give you fifty good reasons why I can't," she shot back. "Not the least of which includes the fact that his deceased wife was the best friend I had. What type of person would I be if I dragged her husband, the only man she ever loved, into a relationship with me knowing full well I'd be putting him danger?"
Emma solemnly replied, "You'd be the person who loves him."
Regina rolled her eyes and let out defeated sigh. "Emma… I can't tell him. It would ruin everything." Her eyes dropped back down to her hands. "Besides it's not like there's even a chance that he feels the same way about me. Marian was the only woman he ever loved."
"Regina it's been years since Marian… passed away." She hesitated before the speaking the final words. "You really don't think there's a chance that he's ready to move on?"
Regina pressed her lips together and shook her head. "I know to you it might seem crazy but… you didn't see the way he used to look at her. It was like nothing and no one else could compare. So why should I even try?"
"Because you've never seen the way he looks at you," Emma softly replied. When Regina remained silent she sighed before shifting her body on the bench so she was facing her. "Look… no one is going to force you to do anything you're not ready for. But there are a lot of people in this world who want to see you happy. And I just hope that for once you'll start acting like you're one of them."
Her head eyes whipped back up to Emma's face. Staring into her green eyes she wished that she could find something, anything to say in her own defense. But nothing came to mind.
Emma glanced back in the diner's window and sighed. "It looks like our food is ready." She stood to her feet. "I'm gonna head back inside. You coming?"
Regina shook her head. "No. I'm gonna take another minute. I'll be in soon."
She heard the bell above the door jingle as Emma made her way inside. Once she was out of sight Regina let out another deep breath. As she sat on the bench letting the sun warm her skin, Emma's words replayed in her head. She wanted to be happy. And despite what Emma thought she was taking steps to make that happen. They just didn't include revealing her feelings to Robin. No, he'd already had more than enough surprises from her. Whatever feelings she had it was best for her to keep them to herself.
XXXXXXXXXXX
The Drunken Monk was busy. It was lunchtime and Robin could hear the rumble of the bar beneath his feet. The sound of Bon Jovi's voice rose up through the floor boards, floating up to his ears but failing to enter his mind. The lyrics barely seeped into his skull as his eyes remained transfixed on his computer screen. A photo of a small white bungalow stared back at him. Another listing Regina had sent him. His eyes dropped down to the three sentences she'd sent along with her link.
Going to an open house to check this one out. I think it might be the one. Take a look for me?
It was a lovely little house. Two bedrooms, nice backyard. Even a master bathroom most people would kill for. It looked like she finally found a winner.
And somehow he couldn't write a two-sentence email to send her encouragement.
He groaned as he leaned back in his seat and ran his fingers through his hair.
It shouldn't be this hard, he thought to himself. She was a friend. She'd found a good place to live. He should be happy for her.
He was happy for her… but he couldn't ignore the aching feeling in his chest. The irrational, steadily growing need to keep her close. It shook him to his bones and he hated himself for it.
He was happy she found a place to live but he still didn't want her to leave. Even if that was the best thing that could happen for both of them.
He was still brooding over his lack of response when Hook traipsed into his office a pleased grin on his face. In triumph he held a small slip of paper over his head and pointed his finger at Robin accusingly. "You remember the brunette with brown eyes who likes to come in here for lunch? The one who you said wouldn't go out with me in a million years?"
Robin released a short groan while he rolled his eyes. "Yes, I remember."
"Well, guess who got her phone number and a date for Friday night," Hook boasted, waving the slip in the air with a triumphant cackle.
Robin just narrowed his eyes at him. "Hook how many times do I have to tell you not to pick up dates while you're working? You realize every girl you disappoint is a customer I lose?"
"Please," scoffed Hook as he fell into the seat across from his desk. "My charm is this bar's greatest asset and you know it."
Robin just shook his head and returned his attention to the computer screen. He still grimaced at the sight of the house.
Hook narrowed his eyes at Robin's face. "What are you looking at?"
"Regina sent me a new listing for a house," sighed Robin. "She thinks she might want to buy it."
Hooked walked over to Robin's side of the desk. He ran his eyes over the computer screen and nodded as he examined the photos and listing. "It looks good to me," he proclaimed, shrugging his shoulders. "Hell of a lot better than your house when we first saw it."
Robin chuckled at that. "True."
"So why do you look like you just sucked on a lemon?" asked Hook, as he made his way back around the desk.
Robin felt a spark of annoyance at Hook's bluntness but he knew he'd only brought it on himself by being so transparent.
"I guess I'm just a little sad to see her go," he softly admitted.
Hook sat back down in his seat and continued to study Robin's face. "Are you sure it's nothing it's else?"
Any other day Robin would've brushed off Hook's question with an annoyed roll of his eyes. He would've sworn up and down that there was nothing going on between him and Regina and that's how he wanted it to stay. But today he just couldn't find the energy to fight his accusations.
He sighed before looking his friend in the eye. "Alright, Hook I am going to admit something and I'd like you not to be smug about it."
Hook struggled to keep his face impassive but he couldn't hide the light behind his eyes at Robin's admission. "Yeah?"
Robin let out a reluctant breath before admitting, "There is a chance that I… might… have feelings for Regina."
Hook pressed his lips together as he nodded his head. "Wow… how hard was it to admit that aloud to me?"
"A sledgehammer to the face would've been less painful," Robin flatly replied.
Unable to hold it in any longer a grin split across Hook's face as he banged the palm of his hand against the desk. "I knew it!" Boisterously laughing, he ran his hands over his face. "I never knew being right could feel this good."
Robin glowered at him from across the desk. "Really wishing I would've gone with that sledgehammer right about now."
"Okay, alright." Hook took a moment to calm himself before slapping on a serious expression. "So when did you first start realizing it?"
Robin sighed as he thought back over it in his mind. The question was harder to answer than he'd previously thought. He could say he knew it when she'd had her date with Jefferson. Watching her go out with another man hard sparked something in him that he hadn't felt in years. But if he really dug deep he could say he knew it when she started living with him. When seeing her every morning and coming home to her at night became the highlight of his day. Or maybe it was even further back. When she first stepped off that plane and he'd put his arms around her for the first time in years.
In any case he never got the chance to answer.
Rap-Rap-Rap
Robin swiveled his chair toward the window behind his desk and saw Tink rapping her knuckles against the glass. Once she caught his attention she held up her toolbox with a bright smile and Robin internally groaned. He'd forgotten he'd asked her to check on the water heater today. Standing to his feet he opened the window and held out his hand to help her inside.
"Tink we've talked about this. You have to start using the main entrance to get in the bar," he said sternly.
"But I like using your window," she said, sending him puppy dog eyes. "It makes me feel special."
Robin just sent her a disapproving look as she climbed into his office and set her toolbox on the ground. She wiped the dirt from the fire escape off her hands before shrugging her shoulders at him. "Besides nothing important happens in your office anyway."
Robin and Hook shared a loaded glance and Tink narrowed her eyes at them. "What's going on?" she drawled suspiciously.
Hook just shrugged his shoulders nonchalantly. "Nothing. Robin's just having an epiphany."
"Oh!" whispered Tink, nodding her head. "Has he finally realized that he's in love with Regina?"
Robin just stared at her open mouthed while Hook burst into laughter from his seat. Robin finally shut his mouth and glared at him. "Hook!"
He raised his hands submissively, laughter settling in his throat. "Don't look at me. I didn't say a word."
"He didn't have to," said Tink, shaking her head. "Robin, your feelings aren't exactly subtle."
She leaned against the back of Hook's chair and tilted her head at him. "Honestly it's the little things that give you away. Like the way you can't take your eyes off her when she walks into a room. When she's gone you're always looking to see where she went. And the way you talk to her… it's different then the way you talk to the rest of us. There's just more warmth to your voice. It's fairly obvious once you start paying attention."
Robin just stared as her as she listed off the tiny habits he'd formed in Regina's presence. Tink had always been quirky, a bit less serious than everyone else in the group but every once in a while, she'd stump them with her keen observation skills. Personally, Robin thought she saw more than anyone else realized. He just didn't know whether she chose to keep to herself due to respect or disinterest.
"Well it's nice to know my feelings are glaring obvious," he sourly mumbled.
"Maybe to us. But not to her," Tink replied, shaking her head.
Hook leaned forward in his seat. "Do you think you're going to tell her?"
A tense moment of silence passed before Robin clenched his jaw and stiffly shook his head. "No," he firmly declared.
Hook and Tink both widened their eyes at him in shock.
"You can't be serious," said Hook, shaking his head.
"Don't you want to be with her?" asked Tink, confusion clear in her green eyes.
"I don't know," said Robin shrugging his shoulders. His eyes dropped down to this desk. "I mean I've thought about it but…"
"But what?" questioned Hook.
Robin drummed his fingers against the desk. "But I just don't know if it's worth the risk right now. Between her mother, the fact that she's living with me, our history together and her friendship with my wife all I'm seeing is a mountain of reasons to keep this to myself." He paused before adding, "She's been through so much these past few months I don't want to add my feelings on top of that. What she needs right now is a friend, not a lover."
"You can be both," Tink stated optimistically.
"You have to admit she has a point there," said Hook, gesturing toward her in agreement. "We've all seen how much you've supported her these past few months. I doubt that would change if things became romantic between you."
"But that's only if things get romantic," Robin pointed out. "There's always a chance that I'll tell her how I feel and she won't reciprocate. And if that happens she'll start to pull away from me. I know she will."
The conviction in his tone left no room for argument. As sure as the sky was blue Robin knew that as soon as he revealed his feelings to Regina nothing would ever be the same between the two of them.
"She's finally got some peace in her life," he said softly. "I don't want to take that away from her."
"But what if she does feel the same?" asked Hook, hope lighting up his blue eyes. "If that's true don't you think you owe it to yourself to find out?"
"Maybe," mumbled Robin. "Maybe not…"
"Is this about Marian?" Tink asked, eyeing him curiously.
Her bluntness through him off. "Well… I'd be lying if I said she hasn't crossed my mind whenever I think about the whole situation."
His thumb ran over the underside of his ring finger, just like it always did whenever Marian's name came up, searching for the ring he'd removed so long ago. It was true. Whenever he thought of Regina and the possibility of moving forward with her, his mind would always wander back to Marian. He couldn't help but wonder just how she'd feel about the idea of him and Regina together. Hurt? Glad? He could still remember the feeling of her hand in his and the way the sunlight reflected off her chocolate colored hair but it'd been so long since he'd talked with her, he was ashamed to say that he couldn't hear her voice in his head as clearly as he once could.
Hook stared at him with understanding in his eyes and pressed his hands together in a pleading gesture. "Robin… I get that the idea of it might seem… unsavory to you but it's been more than four years. No one's going to think less of you if you're finally ready to move on."
"I know that," said Robin, nodding, trying to make his voice sound as firm as possible. "But to move on with Regina? You guys remember how close they used to be. They were practically sisters. And thinking of them and how they used to be… I can't help but feel like I'm betraying her if I tell Regina how I feel."
Tink raised her eyebrows in contemplation. "Yeah, I'm starting to see that mountain you were talking about," she mumbled.
Hook leaned back in his seat and ran his thumb over his jaw. "Look mate, I understand that this is a messy situation filled with complicated emotions but speaking as a concerned third party I still think you need to tell her."
Robin shook his head. "Hook…"
He raised his finger silencing Robin from across the desk. "And before you start citing all the reasons it couldn't work I'd like to remind you of a couple things."
He ticked the items off his fingers as he went. "One, we've all known Regina just as long as you but while she was in New York she managed to talk with you every week while the rest of us were only lucky enough to get an email once every three months. So when you start thinking about how easy it'll be for her to pull away from you, just remember that for more than two years there were nearly 3,000 miles between you and she still didn't let you go."
Robin rolled his eyes and opened his mouth to offer up a rebuttal but Hook held up a finger to silence him.
"Don't speak. I'm not finished," he ordered, cutting Robin off before he spoke. "Secondly, I'd like to remind you of the fact that less than three months ago I practically had to drag you out on a date and you bitched and moaned from start to finish. But when she sent you a three sentence text to let you know she'd be coming down for a visit you couldn't stop smiling for days. And I say this as your friend, someone who's known you for nearly a decade now, you hadn't been that happy or excited in years.
He hesitated before continuing. "But also… I knew Marian too. Not as well as you did but I knew her and loved her just like everybody else here. And if you don't think that she wasn't kind or loving enough to hope for your happiness then you've forgotten more of her than I thought possible."
Tink's eyes widened at Hook's words. The air in the room suddenly went very thick.
Anger flared up inside Robin at Hook's accusation. Narrowing his eyes, he pointed a stern finger in his direction. "You might want to watch yourself Hook," he advised in a dangerously low voice.
Hook raised his hands submissively but kept his tone steady. "Not trying to overstep my bounds Robin. Just trying to remind you of who you married. Marian was a woman who wanted the best for everyone she met and that included you. If you think you're betraying her by moving on… then you're wrong."
The two men continued to stare each other down and things in the room had grew very tense. All that could be heard was the muffled thumping of the bar music rising from the floor boards. After a moment Robin turned his attention back to the computer screen.
"Things are getting busy downstairs. You should probably head back."
Hook scoffed at him as he rose from his seat. "Okay."
Without another word he left leaving Tink behind. She let out an awkward, nervous breath before sinking down into the seat he just vacated.
"Wow… lot of testosterone in the air right now." Robin ignored her comment and she tilted her head at him sympathetically. "You know he didn't really mean what he said. He's just concerned."
Her eyes dropped down to her hands and back up to his face. "Robin do you really think Marian would feel betrayed if you got together with Regina?"
Robin nervously pressed his lips together before facing her. "Honestly? I'm not sure." He shrugged his shoulders. "I want to believe that she wouldn't but it's not as if I can get her blessing."
Tink nodded her head understandingly. "I get it. But for the record, I think she'd just want you and Roland to be happy. I don't think she'd care who brought you that happiness."
A small smile graced Robin's lips. "Thanks Tink."
She smiled back at him as she stood to her feet. "If you don't want to tell Regina how you feel that's fine. But the longer you wait the more time you're going to spend wondering what you could've had if you'd just spoken up. And at some point you're going to have to ask yourself if you want to keep wondering… or if you just want to know?"
She shrugged her shoulders at him as if to say "that's it" before gathering up her toolbox and heading out of the office to find the water heater.
Robin watched her go, listened to the door close behind her before releasing a frustrated breath and roughly running his hand over his face. His eyes drifted to the two photos that sat on top of his desk. One of him and Marian, smiling brightly at each other as they stood on the steps of the courthouse, practically glowing in their newlywed bliss. It was an old photo and it filled him with warmth and nostalgia every time he looked at it. Right by its side sat another photo. A candid picture of Regina and the boys. He'd taken it himself the month before, wanting to preserve the moment when he'd caught them running around the backyard together, smiles on all their faces, not a care in the world. He hadn't even thought about what it meant when he framed it and set it on his desk without hesitation. All he knew was that it made him happy to see it every day. Looking at them both now he felt his heart being pulled in two different directions. A tug from the past on the left, and a pull from the possible future on the right.
It wasn't as if he hadn't imagined what a future with Regina would look like that. He had, many time over. He just didn't know if that future was even a possibility. And he didn't think he was ready to discover if it wasn't yet.
Regina's email was still displayed across his computer screen. He sucked in a determined breath before placing his fingers on the keyboard.
THE HOUSE LOOKS GREAT, REGINA. LET ME KNOW HOW IT GOES.
A moment of hesitation before he clicked the send button.
For now, he would just have to wonder.
NEXT CHAPTER: A storm traps Robin, Regina and the boys inside the house for the night.
Please read and review! It warms my soul!
Also if you've missed Marian check out the new oneshot on my author's page, A Merry Woman's Origin. It features Marian and Maiden Queen feels.
And if you're in the mood for a fic that's not an epic slowburn (I understand if you are) then check out my new multi-chap fic, Sunny Side Up, where Robin and Regina plan to have a baby together.