TW: established character death, mentions of blood and violence
Her morning had consisted of answering email after tedious email. She'd emailed Graham, a little frazzled and tackling another headache, asking that he speak with David sooner rather than later and, predictably he'd called only a few moments after asking if everything was okay. In all honesty, it wasn't.
The last few weeks of non-stop work had been at the forefront of her mind – that and her guilt over not seeing Henry as much as she'd have liked to – meaning she'd almost forgotten that it was soon to be the anniversary. She'd noticed it on her work calendar this morning when she'd been checking that she'd taken off work for his first day back at school – it had always been something of a tradition, her walking him to school on the first day – and her heart had stuttered painfully in her chest. How could she forget something like that?
They chose to celebrate the day rather than mourn it, her and Henry. Would spend the morning having a few extra hours in bed, cuddling and watching a movie of Henry's choice before they'd make their way down to the kitchen and make pancakes of every assortment. In the afternoon, they'd go for ice cream sundaes and would take a sky lantern down to the beach in the evening to set off in honour of his birth mother.
It was always a sad day, that would never change but they'd make the most of it together.
Her voice had been thick when she'd answered the call and Graham had heard it instantly. She'd told him not to rush over though, as nice as it would have been to have a little comfort. They needed to organise a meeting together with David to talk with him about the deputy role first and foremost. He'd reluctantly agreed to leave her be but a request had popped up around an hour later for a meeting between the three of them just before lunch.
So here they were.
Her ire still burned stronger than it should've whenever she had the misfortune of running into David, more so than it did with Mary Margaret. He'd tried to play the victim with Kathryn, had accused her of being distant and well, how was a man supposed to stay faithful to his wife when things were getting a little tough? His excuses had never washed with Regina but, she reminded herself, that was a personal opinion and an attitude not meant for the Mayor of a town. She had to be objective, remain professional.
"It doesn't have to last much longer than the summer if you don't wish it to and you would be given intensive training before we throw you out to the dogs but," she sighed tiredly, rubbing her temple and sitting back into her chair, "we're rather desperate, David. Ruby can't manage the diner and being a deputy and with the town so busy at the moment, Graham can't handle it alone so, in all honesty, I would owe you hugely."
He nodded, exhaling heavily before looking between her and Graham and asking, "But I'd still have the time to cover my hours at the shelter?"
"We could survive until you found a temporary replacement, yes," Graham nodded, throwing a sympathetic but subtle smile at Regina – she needed someone practically instantly if she were honest but if he was to be their best option then yes, they would just about survive – "but the sooner the better, if possible."
"I already have someone in mind," David replied, taking note of the vein practically pulsing in Regina's forehead, "let me speak with them this afternoon and I'll have my answer for you by morning if that's acceptable?"
"It is," Regina nodded, "and thank you for considering this. I know how much you enjoy your time at the shelter but I can promise that I too will keep an eye on the place and ensure everything is running smoothly whilst you're away."
"Thank you, Regina."
"So, we'll speak with you tomorrow?"
"You will," David nodded, rising from his seat and moving forward to shake Regina's hand. He was polite and well-mannered, she couldn't fault him for that. Still, her smile was hard to come by as she accepted his hand and watched as he turned to do the same with Graham before saying his goodbyes and taking his leave from her office.
The moment he was gone, she let out an audible sigh that had Graham chuckling softly as he rounded the desk and moved to stand behind her chair, thumbs searching out the knots in her upper back. "We're on the road to sorting this, Regina," he reminded her, "he seems interested enough in the position."
"Well, let's hope he finds himself a replacement."
He gave her a moment, a moment to enjoy his ministrations, his kneading fingers and thumbs before he asked the inevitable. "You want to talk about earlier?"
"I don't know wha-"
"You were practically in tears, Regina," he cut her off before she was able to deny the truth, his tone kind but as firm as his still working fingers. "I hate seeing you like this, all tense and stressed."
"I'm not stressed," and that sounded like a bad lie even to her own ears so she amended, "well, I am," pulling a soft chuckle from behind her that she rolled her eyes at and slumped forward to rest her head in her hands with her elbows on her desk as she confided, "but it's not that. I almost forgot Emma's anniversary today."
Graham breathed out a soft sigh as he moved from behind her, trailing his palm over her shoulder until he was able to grasp the other in his hand and turn her chair enough so that he was kneeling before her. "Emma's anniversary may be one for remembrance," and it was, always, "but you and I both know that not one single day goes by that you don't think of her. Her spirit lives on in your heart and in Henry's and sometimes you will forget the specific day on which you celebrate her life but, my point is," he trailed his hands down to take her own, "you will never forget her, Regina."
There was a moment, a moment of complete silence that followed before she was shifting up and out of her chair – allowing Graham to get to his feet – and wrapping her arms around his neck, closing her eyes and nuzzling into him as she whispered, "How is it you always know exactly what to say to me?"
He wound his arms tighter around her waist, pulling her closer and pressing a kiss to her hair before replying, "It's what I'm here for."
The hug lingered, Regina taking strength from it, until they were interrupted by the clearing of a throat, both shifting apart to find Robin standing in the doorway looking particularly awkward.
"I hope this isn't a bad time," he held up a brown paper bag for her to see as he looked down to the hand Graham still had on her waist and back up again as inconspicuously as he was able – she still caught it.
"Not at all," it was Graham that answered before she was able, "I need to be getting back to the station anyway, I'll call you tomorrow?" and she knew as well as he that he was referencing David's answer but found herself floundering to ensure Robin too knew that there was no subtext beneath the question.
"Yes, let me know if he wants the job."
Graham's smirk was stopped from fully forming only by the glare she sent his way and the subsequent rolling of his lips into his mouth as he shook his head gently and took his leave with a polite goodbye to Robin and a wink over his shoulder for only Regina to see.
She rolled her eyes once more at him before turning her focus back to Robin and offering him a bright smile. "To what do I owe the pleasure?" she brandished a hand before her, a silent invitation for him to come in as she silently berated herself for such an idiotic greeting. She also ignored the fluttering in her stomach at the sight of him all flecked with paint and sheened with a little bit of sweat with the heat of the day.
"Henry mentioned that you sometimes forget to eat on your busy days," he explained, a little awkward as he grew closer to her, the brown paper bag held between both of his hands before he offered it up to her, "so I thought I'd pop by with something, give the boy peace of mind."
"He's a worrier," she chuckled softly as she accepted the bag, flushing with adoration at her son's thoughtfulness.
Robin's eyebrow lifted as he watched her rounding her desk to drop the bag atop it, smirking as she looked up at him questioningly. "I don't see any other food in here, Madam Mayor."
Regina flushed hot at the title, an echo of arousal pulsing in areas long since untouched by any but herself as she took a moment to tamp down her damn hormones and floundered for an answer. "Well, I…uh," because, in truth, she had forgotten about lunch altogether with everything going on and, now that she was actively thinking of it, she found herself quite hungry. Her eyes rolled as she pursed her lips to keep her smile from growing and replied, "He wasn't wrong."
Robin's chuckle was warm and lacked any sort of mocking in it as he nodded, "Well, then I'm glad I stopped by." And then, because they weren't friends, not yet at least, he bounced lightly on his heels and asked, "I'll see you later?"
Regina nodded, somewhat disappointed that he was leaving so quickly – though, she did still have a lot of work to do – before replying with a nod. "I should be done by five, five-thirty at the latest."
"See you in a bit then, Madam Mayor."
She swallowed thickly – Christ, was that what he was going to be calling her from now on – as she nodded and smiled as best she could as he took his leave, something vaguely knowing in his eyes as he left.
She looked fantastic today. All sun kissed skin off-set beautifully by the bright red of her sleeveless dress. Her dark hair was coiffed to perfection and those lips painted an almost teasingly sinful shade of red. There was no doubt about it, Robin was ridiculously attracted to her. Seeing Graham with his arms around her though, that hadn't set well with him.
He was being foolish, he knew it in his right mind. Graham seemed an alright guy, polite enough. But the thought of him with his hands on Regina, on any other part of Regina turned Robin's stomach. It wasn't until he'd returned to the restaurant and they'd all finished eating that he asked John for a little inside information.
"They had a little thing a couple of years ago," John answered as Robin's stomach sank, his paintbrush faltering a little in its strokes, "but I think it kind of just…fizzled out. They've been friends since she arrived here, it was probably too weird." And then, inevitably, he frowned, "Why do you ask? Did you walk in on something?"
Robin rolled his eyes at John's feigned melodrama, "No," and then, "not exactly. They were just hugging but it, uh…it looked a little cosy."
John shrugged, "Don't take my word for it but as far as I know, they're close friends and nothing else."
Robin nodded, hoping his friend was right.
Henry hadn't realised just how tiring something as simple as painting could be, not until he was climbing into his Mom's car and felt the relief of relaxing back into his seat. His arms were aching from his continuous strokes – he and Robin had been in something of a silent competition to see who could finish their half of the wall first. Henry had won but he was quite sure that the other man had let him – his back a little sore from standing for so much of the day. Still, he'd had a lot of fun.
He told his mother as much when she asked, both of them laughing softly when they found Robin standing in one of the floor-length window panes with an excitable Roland in his arms, waving them off.
"They're really nice," Henry told her as they pulled away, the restaurant falling out of sight, replaced by the many shops lining Main Street. "I can't wait to see what it looks like when it's finished!"
"Well, John's already sent out an invite for us and with how hard he said you've been working today, I'm sure you won't have to wait all that long."
His eyebrows lifted as he caught her eyes in the mirror – crinkled with one of those smiles she saved just for him – "He said that?"
She hummed in the affirmative, nodding as she looked back to the road and added, "Robin too, they're both mighty impressed with you, Henry Mills, said you are an absolute credit to me but, I knew that anyway." Her eyes softened as they found his in the mirror and she told him, "You make me very proud to be your mother, my little prince."
His eyes rolled even as his cheeks flushed pink – he'd never been short of compliments what with a mother like his but to hear it from John and from Robin affected him a little more than he'd like to admit – and he settled a little deeper into his seat, ignoring her soft chuckle at his reaction. They sat in silence for a little while, Henry staring out of the window at the passing buildings as Regina concentrated on the road before she mentioned something that had his interest peaking and the niggling thought that he'd forgotten something settling in his mind.
"Thank you for sending Robin by with some lunch this afternoon, sweetheart. I very much appreciated the gesture."
"I don't like thinking that you're not taking care of yourself. You always take care of me," he shrugged nonchalantly despite the swirling of emotion in his gut, "I like to be able to take care of you too, Mom."
Her eyes were sheening, as he knew they would be, as she looked back to the road and blinked to force back her tears. Things like this were always a little sensitive for the both of them. His mom had confessed, a little over a year ago when he'd been old enough to understand a little more about his birth mother, that all she wanted to do was to make Emma proud. Since then, he'd felt quite the same. There were days, when anger was running a little high, when she was snappy and he was surly, that he'd have to take a moment to remind himself of all that she'd done for him and of the woman who never got to do those things for him. He wanted to make both of them proud.
"It was Robin's idea to stop by with some food after I'd mentioned it," he added after a long moment – when the lump had gone from his throat.
"Yes, well," she coughed lightly to clear her throat, "he's a nice man."
"I'll say," Henry chuckled, glancing to the window once more before a thought struck him and he looked back to his mother's eyes in the rear-view mirror. She was looking at the road but he could tell that she'd fallen into her thoughts, thoughts of Robin no doubt. "It'd be okay, you know," he interrupted loud enough for her to hear but not enough to startle.
"What would, honey?"
"If you wanted to date Robin," he shrugged, "he's really funny and I know he'd be nice to you because he's really nice to me even when you're not around and I know that he likes you so-"
"-What makes you think he likes me, Henry?"
It amused him more than it probably should that that was what she'd heard above all else as he found her eyes flicking between the mirror and the road, a slight frown creasing her forehead. "I don't know," he shrugged, aiming for nonchalance as he kept his eyes on the road and not on her, "he just goes all weird whenever you're around, like he doesn't know what to do with himself. Plus, he was asking John about Graham and you earlier, asking if there was anything going on between the two of you."
He'd known Graham since before he could remember but even Henry knew the difference between a boy that was a friend and a boyfriend. Graham was his mom's boy-friend and nothing more even if they did hug and stuff. He'd been glad when John had confirmed that to Robin without Henry having to step in, and Robin's reaction, well…
"Robin looked a little happier when John said that there wasn't."
He chanced a look in the mirror then to find her eyes on the road but her mind definitely not. It was a long moment before she replied with a quiet, "That doesn't mean anything, Henry. Robin doesn't like me like that, he barely knows me."
And, he supposed, that was true. "Well, maybe you should spend a little more time together because, Mom?" he waited for her eyes to meet his before he raised his eyebrows in a show of amused knowing and finished, "He definitely does like you like that, I even heard John teasing him about it."
"Promise me you'll take care of him, Regina."
Her fingers curled into the silk of Emma's blouse – her blouse technically, she'd teased the woman about borrowing and never returning it only that morning – as she fought for breath. Emma was fading in her arms quickly, eyelids flickering as she fought to hold on.
"I need to know he's going to be okay, please…" she coughed weakly, a splutter of blood staining her lips and teeth. "Regina…"
"I promise," she dropped her forehead to Emma's, choking on a sob and repeating, "I promise," over and over and over. The police would come to her soon, make her let go of the woman in her arms and ask her question after question after question about the man they had face down on the gravel.
It was surreal. Ten minutes ago, they'd been planning a girls' night together, groaning about making it to their cars in the onslaught of the rain and now, now here they were. It didn't make sense.
"I'm so sorry, Emma," she sobbed, "this is all my fault!"
"Don't you dare s-say that," the blonde managed but just barely, her voice above a whisper, "this isn't your fault. But you'll be s-safe no-now. He w-won't be able to h-hurt you anymore."
She pulled back enough to catch Emma's weak smile.
"Tell H-Henry," her forehead creased with pain before she managed, "I love him…" before she took one last weak breath and became limp and motionless in Regina's arms.
She woke with a jerk, heart thumping a strong rhythm in her chest and fingers aching where they'd been gripping at the sheet covering her body. She was hot, too hot. Sweaty and sticky and unable to catch her breath.
It wasn't uncommon for her to have that dream, for her mind to recall that awful night in almost perfect detail. Especially when she was a little stressed and guilt-ridden about the time she managed to spend with Henry. Still, it always managed to throw her completely off-kilter.
There were tears on her cheeks and a thick lump in her throat as she reached blindly towards the nightstand and pulled open the drawer with a pounding head. She tipped two pills into her hand and had to stop herself from slapping her palm to her mouth in her haste to rid herself of this headache – her fingers were trembling as she let them rest over her lips. The glassful of water she'd placed on the nightstand was lukewarm, pulling a grimace from her as she took a mouthful and tipped her head back to let the pills slide down her throat.
A shower, maybe that would help.
She reached for her phone, pulling the charging cable from the bottom and tapping the home button to pull up the time. It was only 2AM, far too early to be getting up and ready for the day. Sleep wouldn't come easy now though, it never did after a dream like that. She needed to try, for Henry's sake. It was her first full day off in two weeks – Graham had offered to cover the weekend for her, to keep an eye on her emails with the stations phone re-directed to his cell and she'd accepted without complaint – she was going to make the most of it with her boy.
Still, she did need a shower.
It had helped, somewhat. Standing beneath the lukewarm spray, imagining her worries and her fears sliding from her skin and swirling down the drain with the water. She still felt a little jelly-legged and anxious when she'd slipped into a new pair of pyjamas – just some silken sleep shorts and a vest to keep her cool over the next few hours – and had folded the sheet over and left it at the foot of the bed. Her eyes had grown heavy quicker than she'd imagined, however, once she'd finally lay herself back down.
When she wakes again, it's because she was hot. Too hot for one who'd fallen asleep with nothing covering her, she thought sleepily. But then, as consciousness slowly crept back upon her, she realised that she was no longer uncovered.
Blinking open her eyes, she peered about in the early morning light – she'd managed to get a good few more hours sleep then, it seems – before feeling a tickle beneath her chin and two bony knees pressed against her stomach. Henry.
Laughter left her in a sleepy hum as she tightened arms already around him and pulled him impossibly closer. There weren't many mornings he did this now, not with him growing so quickly, so the occasions on which it did happen, filled her heart to bursting. He'd have woken her if it were a nightmare, he always did, so she quelled the concern that flickered in her stomach and simply basked in the moment.
She didn't know what time it was, she didn't care.
It was only as she closed her eyes and contented herself to remaining this way – even though she could feel the dampness of sweat on her pyjamas and the mattress beneath them – that a drowsy little voice asked, "Can we go to Granny's for breakfast?"
Regina's eyes opened once more as she blinked and lifted her chin from Henry's head, shifting back enough so that she could tilt her head down and look at his scrunched little face. "Well, good morning to you too, sweetheart."
He blinked – he wasn't much of a morning person, her boy – replying with a tired, "Good morning, Mom," and then, repeating, "Can we go to Granny's for breakfast?"
She lifted a hand from his waist to brush back sleep-mussed hair from his forehead before she dropped a kiss there. "I don't mind cooking, my darling."
"I know," he nuzzled back in against her, eyes closing once more though he continued, "but then you don't have to and there's no cleaning up after. We can just sit and let someone else do it all for us."
Her heart swelled with affection for him even as she breathed a laugh and teased, "You're just trying to get out of doing the dishes, aren't you?"
He surprised her though, responding with his own sleepy laugh before he replied, "You deserve a break, Mom. A proper one."
And well, she thought, perhaps he had a point.
They'd remained in bed for a good half hour more before Henry's stomach had declared it was time to get up. A half hour after that they were walking out of the door and making their way in the early morning warmth to Granny's.
It wasn't as busy in the morning as it was at any other time of day with the tourist trade in. There were a few eager families fuelling up for their day of exploring but a number of tables were still free. Henry chose 'their' booth, unsurprisingly, and beamed when Ruby made an appearance only a few minutes later.
"Long time no see, my little wolf cub," she greeted with a ruffle of his hair, chuckling with Regina when he ducked away from her hand and straightened out his hair to little avail. He needed a haircut soon. "What can I get my favourite pair?"
"Red velvet pancakes?" Henry asked, shooting a nervous glance at Regina who narrowed her eyes teasingly before she offered a small nod, "and orange juice please."
"Good boy," she commended – usually he'd try for a milkshake on top of his plate of luxury but it seemed this morning he wasn't going to push his luck – before ordering apple pancakes – hold the cream – and a cup of coffee with a jug of water for the table.
"Coming right up," Ruby grinned, scribbling their orders onto her pad before taking the menus from them and making her way back to the kitchen, weaving through the tables and chairs with a practiced ease.
The bell above the door rang out not five minutes later and pulled Regina's gaze from her son, her stomach flipping when she found Robin making his way over to the counter with a sleepy looking Roland on his hip. Both of which were sporting rather adorable bedheads and slightly sleep-puffed eyes. He still looked good though in his white tee and dark grey sweats, biceps flexed and dimples denting his cheeks as he smiled at Ruby when she reappeared from the kitchen. The picture of casual that still had her biting subtly at her lip.
She blinked, forcing herself to look away when he moved to turn and search for a table, catching Henry's smirk – much to her utter mortification – before he was turning and shouting Robin's name – again, much to her utter mortification. She had been about to scold Henry for yelling across the diner when she heard Robin's responding Hello and turned her head to find him heading over with a much perkier Roland in his arms.
"Henry!" the little one exclaimed – earning a gentle shushing from Robin – before he asked, "Can we sit here, Papa? Please!"
Robin's eyes instantly find hers, a silent question that she answers with a smile and an "Of course you can, Roland."
He squirms in his father's grasp with a dimpled grin much like Robin's until he is set down and can crawl into the booth next to Henry leaving Robin to take the empty space beside Regina. His woodsy scent washed over her as he sat down – smiling a little awkwardly at their closeness – and she fought hard to keep her eyes from flickering shut. He smelt incredible.
"I need to tell Ruby where we're sitting," Robin sighed, moving to do just that before Henry stopped him.
"She'll probably already know, she's the best waitress in here."
"It's true," Regina smiled and nodded, "doesn't miss a trick, that one."
And sure enough, when their drinks are delivered – four now instead of just two – Ruby doesn't falter in finding them but does offer Regina an extremely unsubtle raise of her brows, looking at the scant space between her and Robin. "Any food for our newest customers?" she asked, ignoring Regina's pointed glare with a grin.
"Blueberry waffles for me, please," Robin replied, raising his eyebrows at Roland, "and for you, young sir?"
Regina chuckled at the term before turning to look at said child to find him frowning at the menu – she was quite sure there was a lot he couldn't understand – but before she or Robin were able to say anything more, Henry asked, "You wanna share my pancakes with me? They're really yummy, we can split them."
"Really?" Roland asked with eyes wide as he turned his head to look at Henry with absolute awe. Henry nodded gamely, smiling when Roland thanked him and gently taking the menu to pass over to Ruby once the decision had been made and confirmed.
Regina's heart grew three sizes in her chest.
They've eaten and had their plates cleared by the time Regina's cell phone rang. She rolled her eyes and made to decline the call before she'd read the name and announced that it was a call she'd had to take. Robin had slipped out from beside her, relishing in the light brush of their bodies as she'd rushed to make her way outside to answer – trying and failing to keep from watching her as she'd left, especially with the soft and subtle scent of her perfume lingering behind – and kept an eye on her through the window to make sure it wasn't anything urgent or, God forbid, tragic.
A few moments later, however, she'd returned practically beaming.
She'd waited until Henry had suggested showing Roland the jukebox until she'd turned to him and explained the reason for her smile.
"Before you came to my office yesterday, Graham and I were asking someone to take over as Deputy Sheriff for the summer, to help take a lot of the strain off of Graham and to keep the overspill from reaching me." Robin nodded, the pieces fitting together in his mind as to the reason for the Sheriff's presence yesterday – and the hug – as she continued, "Well, that was Graham calling to confirm that David is going to take the job."
"Meaning you'll have a lot less to worry about," he finished for her with his own smile, "that's fantastic."
She nodded, laughing softly as she shook her head, "I'm going to keep an eye on things until he's settled in properly but…" her eyes were sheened suddenly with the glossiness of tears as she turned to glance at their boys.
"You'll have more time off to spend with Henry."
"Exactly."
His breath caught in his chest when she turned back to face him with a look of pure elation, a tear slipping from her eye and trailing down her cheek. She looked absolutely stunning.
"I'm sorry," she laughed wetly, lifting a hand to wipe away the tear he'd been itching to catch for her, shaking her head once more, "I don't know why I'm crying."
"You're happy," he shrugged, still trying to regulate his breathing as he shifted in his seat, "it's completely understandable."
"Still, we're in the middle of the diner. I don't think it'd do for the town to see their Mayor having some sort of mental break so early in the day."
Laughter bubbled out of him as he watched her trying to wipe subtly at her face and tamp down her emotions. Her smile though, that remained much to his delight. "You have a beautiful smile."
The words were out of his mouth before he'd even had chance to process them properly, they were supposed to have been more of a silent musing rather than a schoolboy confession.
He watched with wide eyes as her cheeks flushed pink and she ducked her face from his. "I'm sorry," he floundered, feeling like a complete fool for ruining their easy conversation, "I shouldn't have-"
"It's okay," she assured him as she tucked her hair behind her ear and looked at him once more, something he couldn't quite decipher in those dark eyes, "and…thank you."
They were interrupted by the approach of their children, Henry rather excited as he stepped up to Regina's side and laid his palms over the hand she had resting on the table. Robin watched as her eyes dropped to the table, her smile curling a little higher before she was looking back up at her son. It had his own lips lifting in a smile to see the affection the two held for one another.
"Roland said that they're painting at the restaurant again today," Henry informed her, bouncing on his heels slightly. Roland nodded as he clambered back onto the bench and slid to face Robin with a happy little smile that his father mirrored. "Could we stop by and help for a little while?"
His heart knocked twice in his chest at that request as his eyes moved from his son to the woman beside him. He couldn't quite make out the expression on her face but he could see the way her shoulders bounced lightly with a laugh as she took in Henry's pleading expression. He had the puppy dog eyes down to a fine art, it seemed, for she was soon replying, "If it's okay with Robin and with John and they'll allow us a half hour to run home and change then yes," she nodded, "I think that'd be quite a nice way to spend our afternoon."
"I can call him if you'd like but I'm pretty sure John would appreciate all the help he can get at the minute."
Her eyes were dark but beautifully bright when she turned her head to look at him, white teeth peeking out from behind her lips as she smiled at him. "No need, I'll send a quick text through when we get home and we'll be by as quick as we can." And then, as she began shuffling out from the booth, dropping a few bills onto the table for Ruby, she asked, "Do you need us to bring anything?"
He shook his head – John had plenty of paintbrushes to go around – and replied, "Just your smile," much to his utter mortification and Henry's absolute amusement if his poorly hidden snort was anything to go by.
"Henry!" Regina scolded as she apologised needlessly to Robin before saying their goodbyes for now and making their way out of the diner.
He'd kick himself completely for ruining a rather nice morning if it weren't for the pink that had dusted Regina's cheeks.
