"You all right, my love?"
Regina jumped and turned around so quickly she walked straight into Captain Hook, whom instinctively put his hand and hook on her arms to steady her.
"You scared me," she said breathlessly.
"Apologies. Sneaking up on a man with a sword could have ended things much worse than just fright, though."
"I wasn't sneaking up on you! Well, I didn't mean to, at least. I was just being quiet. I heard a lot of noises in the house last night and I wasn't sure-"
His right hand, which was still on her arm, tightened. "What kind of noises?"
Regina was surprised at how serious Hook became. A part of her had expected that he would laugh at her silly fears. She didn't know much about pirates, but she was sure they were rarely seen worrying. Taken aback, she hesitated a little to explain herself. "Um… oh yes, the noises. I heard beeping. And a few times there seemed to be cold wind blowing through the house. I think it was coming from the holes in the wall."
Something in Hook's face changed. It seemed like he knew what the noises were. He didn't look smug or superior or anything, but there was something.
"How about you sit right here, and I'll take a look through the house?"
She nodded and he was gone in an instant, leaving her alone once more, which was a feeling she was beginning to hate. When there weren't people around her, it was easy to remember that she was lost, lost in an unfamiliar world where she knew no one.
Regina rubbed her eyes and stood up tall, deciding not to allow herself to think much about it. She looked around in the area she now found herself in, hoping to see something that might spark a memory. She saw the front door and shuttered, remembering the events that took place there that morning. She turned around and her breath got caught in her chest as she took a step backwards.
There was a mirror hanging on the wall. Regina was looking at herself. Except, it wasn't really her; not the her that she knew, anyway. This Regina had shorter hair. Her face seemed to naturally fall into a frown. She looked older than the teenage Regina she had been just a few hours ago, or so it seemed. There were bags under her eyes, which were still puffy due to all the crying she had been doing as of late.
Regina heard Hook coming but she couldn't look away.
"Beautiful view, aye?" he asked, coming up behind her.
"I don't even know this woman," she said quietly, more to herself than to him.
"You'll learn to love her. It's hard not to."
Regina had a million thoughts and questions run through her mind but instead of speaking she simply shook her head. She continued staring at her reflection and noticed there were, once again, tears in her eyes.
"Ah, I thought to expect more of those once you awoke, so I was prepared. There is someone here whom you've always been able to talk to. He's an old friend."
She rolled her eyes as if by instinct. "An old friend I have no memory of." Regina was about to apologize for her attitude but stopped when Hook grinned, to her surprise. "Do I have to meet someone new again?" she asked with defeat.
He smiled softly. "You don't have to do anything, darling. But this old friend is a doctor of sorts, I'm told. I think he could help. You trust him. Well, you did yesterday. I already warned him that I would be waiting just outside and should he upset you, I will use him as bait aboard my ship."
Regina wasn't even sure she could trust Hook, let alone a new person he was introducing her to. She didn't have much of a choice in either of the matters though so she just turned around slowly and nodded. It wasn't as if she had any other plans for the night.
"Before we begin, let me explain to you what this meeting is. We are friends, Regina, but in this room, during this time, I am your doctor. Anything you say to me, I can't say to anyone else. You can share whatever I might tell you, but I am bound to secrecy. And once we talk this evening, if you find it helpful, we can have more sessions weekly."
"Are we actually going to talk, or is this a Hook-type of conversation? Where I ask questions and get no answers."
She was surprised that he laughed. "Are you sure you don't have any of your memories? Because that sounded an awful lot like the Regina I know." Regina felt strangely happy at that. Archie continued. "Hook did tell me that he is being… picky about what information he gives you. Whether that is a good method or not…" Archie put his hands up. "Hook is calling the shots. You would want it that way. I know that may seem weird, but if I had asked you yesterday if you trusted Hook to handle your recovery, you would have said yes. I'm sure of it."
Regina believed him. She had believed Hook and Ruby and the other doctor and the nun also, she just didn't want to admit it. If she hadn't believed them, she wouldn't have been able to sleep in the same house as the man today.
"Can you tell me about him?"
Archie took a deep breath. "Hook is… a complex fellow. We haven't always been on good terms, but neither have you and I, nor you and him. He is a strong man. He's been through a lot. I'm sure you know more about his pain than I do; well, you would if you had your memories, but I know there has been great sadness in his life. But, like you, he overcame it. He captains a ship, which tells me he has honor and respect. He can be a bit stubborn. He enjoys his rum and doesn't always have the best manners. But, I have seen you two together, Regina. He's very interesting with you, I've noticed. The two of you butt heads all the time, don't get me wrong, but he is careful with you; very protective, caring, happier."
Regina had been listening to intently she had subconsciously leaned in closer to Archie as he spoke. When he finished, she didn't move. "And… how am I with him?"
"Very similar. You're protective of him as well. If anyone speaks ill of him in front of you it does not end well for the m," he laughed. "But you're happier with him too. He makes you laugh. You support him and help him. I don't know if it is my place to say this but you do seem to fit very well together."
"You wouldn't lie to me, would you?"
"Never, Regina. I had to work for a long time to gain your trust. I would never risk losing it."
Regina sat back on the couch and repeated his words to her in her head. She had so many questions to ask, so many thoughts. She decided she should probably ask the man himself though instead of their apparent mutual friend.
"Can I ask you something about myself?"
Archie hesitated.
"It's nothing big. I just… I need something. Anything. One thing to know about this new person I am to start to begin to feel like I really am Regina Mills and not just her ghost."
He considered it for a while before deciding it was safe to answer. "You have a very important job here in Storybrooke. You're the mayor."
Sitting in kitchen
"How was your meeting? He didn't upset you, I trust? If he did, I'll bring him back right now and-"
"Dr. Hopper was very helpful. I'm glad you thought to have him come here."
"Tis going to take some getting used to this new way you speak," he said with a chuckle.
"He said we fight a lot."
"Now wait just a tick, dear. That man may be some doctor of sorts but he knows nothing about the relationship between you and I. We-"
"He also said we make each other happy," she said matter-of-factly.
"But the man is undoubtedly the smartest person in town and you should listen to him."
Regina felt herself laugh.
She wasn't sure what to do next. She wanted to sit at the counter, but she didn't want to sit next to Hook. She felt like that might be too much. So instead, Regina stood awkwardly in the middle of the kitchen, debating whether or not she should just go sit in another room.
As if on cue, Hook jumped up out of his seat. "You should drink more. Not rum this time, unfortunately, but everyone I come into contact with rants about keeping you hydrated." He started to get her a cup of water while she sat down at the counter.
"You seem fatigued," he said as he placed the cup in front of her. "As much as you despise me telling you what to do, I reckon you should get more sleep. I can head back to the Charming's apartment."
Regina felt her stomach drop. The thought of spending another night here alone was almost unbearable. She would be willing to have anyone be her company. "No, you should… You should stay." She expected the pirate to grin or make a comment about her desperate invitation, but instead he simply looked at her. "Oh, I'm sorry. That was terribly inappropriate, wasn't it? We hardly know each other. Well, we do… But we don't. I'm sorry. Of course you can't stay. Well, you can, but you shouldn't. Right? That was an absurd…" she let her voice trail off when she noticed the expression on his face.
"I knew if I sat here long enough you'd eventually run out of words. Now, let's discuss this, shall we? First of all, we do not hardly know each other. I thought you said the doctor told you about us."
"He did. It just still feels very new for me. I'm sorry."
He waved his hand at her apology. "But you want me to stay?"
"I just… I don't think I can sleep without you here."
This time, the devilish grin was apparent on his face, though he tried his best to conceal it. She saw it, though. And she felt happy. Not for herself, but for him.
"I'll be down here should you need anything."
A/N: Are there even enough words in the English language for me to express how sorry I am for how long it took me to update this? I'm not going to bore you with my excuses (school, mostly) because there really is not a good enough reason. I am so sorry. Thank you to anyone who stuck through me during that hiatus! And thank you for the reviews on the last chapter and your patience. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and I hope to have the next chapter up much quicker. You guys are the best! I hope you have beautiful Hooked Queen dreams!