"I'm sorry, Regina, but can we just take a second to think about what we're doing here," Robin said with sadness in his eyes.
"What do you mean?"
"I mean that this is all going so fast and we don't even know what we're really getting into."
"Speak for yourself because I know exactly what I'm getting into," she replied, crossing her arms over her chest.
"I think we need to try and think about what's best for this baby."
"You don't think being together is good for this baby?" her voice started to break.
Robin put his head down and looked at the tile floor.
"Robin, look at me," she yelled as tears started streaming down her face.
"I'm sorry Regina."
"That's not an answer!"
He walked closer to her bed to where they were almost touching.
"I think it is."
Her eyes grew wide with shock at what he had just said.
"Regina, it's okay," he said caressing her cheek.
"This can all be over,"he got impossibly closer to whisper in her ear," just wake up."
"What?"
"Regina, wake up, wake up."
He was shaking her. Then it was clear what he was trying to say. She just needed to wake up.
She opened her eyes and he was there. In that moment, she felt like he would always be.
"Hey, what's wrong? You were crying in your sleep," Robin said, still slightly shaking her.
"Nothing just a bad dream," she said trying to blow it off," I'm glad you're here though."
"Well I'd hope so," Robin said teasingly.
Then she smiled at him. A smile of unbridled joy that he was there. There with her, being there for her.
"What?" Robin said laughing, as he stuffed the rest of what looked like a strawberry danish into his mouth.
"I'm just really really happy you're here," she replied as her eyes began to water.
Robin was at her side in an instant, ready to wipe away the tears she hadn't even shed yet.
"Are you sure you're okay?"
"Yeah I'm fine. Hey how did it go with Marian."
"She took it very well actually. We both agreed that it wasn't working between us.
"Are you okay?"
"Yes, I am. I feel better than I have in months. As if a weight has been taken off my shoulders. I'm not trying to say I didn't love Marian because I did, but I'm in love with you."
He put his palms on her cheeks and whispered,"You are my soulmate."
Her tear finally shed, and he swiped his finger across her cheek to catch it then his lips were on hers, in a soft kiss.
It lasted mere seconds, but it had so much love behind it.
"I want you to get in this bed with me."
He smiled,"Well I can never say you're one for subtlety," and was pulling down her railing when they heard a knock at the door, but the person at the door wasn't waiting for permission and walked in swiftly after the knock.
Shit.
Of course it was Graham. He was looking at his phone as he came in and didn't notice her company. Regina quickly wiped away her tears and Robin backed up a respective distance from Regina. Graham was still unaware until Robin made his presence known by clearing his throat.
Graham looked up, almost doing a double-take. "Robin?"
"Hey Graham," Robin said trying to be cordial.
"What are you doing here?"
"I was visiting Regina, but I can give you guys some alone time if you'd like."
"Really? I mean, uhh, yeah thanks."
Robin turned around to see Regina's confused expression and he just smiled at her. He knew that Graham was temporary so why get all worked up when Robin knew that he was permanent? He lead himself out of the room with this in mind and a good attitude.
"What was he doing here?" Graham asked after he put away his phone and started folding some of her clothes in a bag. She had been at the hospital for a few weeks now so Dr. Whale allowed her to bring some of her own pajamas since she wasn't bed-ridden anymore and didn't need to wear that hideous hospital gown.
"He visits me... sometimes ," Regina said trying to down play as much as possible.
She should really break things off with him. After all, Robin had done so with his wife. What was holding her back?
The baby of course. There was a 50% chance this baby could be Graham's. But even if it was, would she stay with him? Graham is a good guy, but Robin is her soulmate.
"Graham, I need to talk to you about something."
"Okay," Graham said, continuing to fold.
"Can you put the clothes down for a second!"
Graham turned around to look at her in shock.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to yell. This is just... very important."
"Okay. What is it?"
"I ordered a paternity test," she said, biting her bottom and resting her thumb on her chin.
"What? Why would you do that?"
Could he really be this dim-witted? Was she going to have to spell it out for him?
She looked up at him with slight irritation at his stupidity. That look was all he needed to understand.
"Oh... you got a paternity test."
"I got a paternity test."
"So you and..."
"Not in a while."
"But a short enough time ago that this could be his baby? So you did this while we were together?!"
"We weren't exclusive."
"But still Regina! He's married."
"No he's not. Not anymore," she said tilting her head up in defiance.
"So you feel accomplished with yourself? Because you got him to leave his wife? Proud, because now you got him?"
He was getting closer to her as he continued his rant.
"That's not something you should be proud of because at the end of the day, you're just a home wrecker."
"Are you finished?"
"I am."
"Get out."
He stood there looking at her with determination.
"You think I'm kidding? Get out of my damn room or I will call security and have them throw your ass out!"
Graham scoffed at her and walked out of the room, making sure to slam the door.
Regina sunk back into her bed and pulled out her phone.
Can you come back, please? she sent to Robin.
On my way. He sent back.
• • •
Not short after her text Robin came walking into the room.
"I brought you some Jello , the red one, because I know how much you hate th- Regina? What's wrong, what happened?"
Robin walked in seeing Regina sitting on the bed with her knees pulled up to her chest and her arms wrapped around them. She wasn't crying, but he could tell she was really upset about something.
"What did he do Regina?" Robin asked, getting slightly mad at himself for leaving her alone with him. He sat down on the bed, as close to her as possible.
"Do you want me to go kick his ass?" Robin asked hoping to make her smile. And she did, she looked up and smiled at him.
"What is it baby?" Robin asked again, his hand going up to caress her cheek.
"Do you blame me?" She asked.
"Blame you? For what?"
"For ruining your marriage.." Regina asked, her voice was low and brittle at the end.
"What? Regina, you didn't ruin my marriage! Why would you say that?"
"I just-"
"What did he say?" Robin asked, his blood starting to boil.
"Nothing... He just," Regina let out a deep sigh, "he told me I was a home wrecker and that I shouldn't be proud of myself for ruining your marriage." She said feeling tears prickle behind her eyelids. She bit her lip and turned her face away, not wanting Robin to see her getting this upset about it.
"Regina..."
Robin hated seeing her this way, he wanted her to be smiling and happy. After everything they've been through, everything he had put her through he promised himself to make her smile, every day. He wanted her to be happy. But she was the furthest thing from happy right now.
"Regina listen to me," he started as he cupped her cheeks in his warm palms and made her turn to face him, "you did not ruin my marriage, you didn't do anything. My marriage was over when Marian died, I moved on, I met you. We fell in love." Robin said, smiling at her.
"Marian coming back didn't change any of that, I never stopped loving you Regina. Leaving Marian was the right thing to do, for both her and me. You didn't ruin my marriage." Robin repeated, reassuring her.
The tear she was fighting to hold back rolled down her cheek.
"Come here." Robin said softly and opened his arms to her.
She wiped away her tear and moved closer to Robin until she was pressed against his chest. Her ear right above his heart, she could hear it beating, calming her down. He wrapped his arms around her, holding her tightly.
After a while she looked up at him, planting a kiss on his jawline.
"I really love you Robin."
He looked down and smiled at her.
"I really love you too Regina. Both of you." He said, resting his hand on her stomach.
Just as he was leaning down to kiss her there was a knock on the door.
"Good afternoon Regina, oh and Robin." Doctor Whale said and entered the room.
"Am I interrupting something?"
"Yes." Regina barked at him.
"Well, I think it's worth it. I have the test results." Doctor Whale said, waiving a piece of paper in his hand.