Regina enjoys the summer time, mostly because she doesn't have to work and she can finally catch up on the long reading list she develops over the school year (occasionally that list also extends to a few trashy television shows), but late July can be a bitch as far as the weather goes. And today is one of those days. It's sweltering, with a high of 97 that feels more like 107. Even with her swamp cooler on full blast, she still feels like she's going to melt into a puddle.

But that's not the worst part of today. Graham is leaving for his two week camping trip, in Colorado, with some of his buddies from the sheriff's station. She shouldn't be this upset, she knows that, but she can't fight off the feeling that she might miss him. She'd made sure, for so long, that she'd kept her distance, that when she is finally, actually getting some, she realizes that maybe she doesn't want it after all. She's got to put on a good face though, pretend like she's more than fine with him being gone for two weeks. And she will be because she isn't attached to Graham. He's free to do whatever he wants, whenever he wants.

That's the rules and she can abide by those.

It's still nagging at her, though, when she wakes up at his place the next morning. She thinks to maybe ask him to stay, knowing he won't, but just to get reassurance that he's not going anywhere. Although, she doesn't need it because she will be fine on her own; she's always been on her own, nearly her entire life, so she'll manage. She doesn't need Graham around to be happy or anything, she tells herself.

She and Graham aren't even a thing, not officially anyway.

She had started staying with him more, and later as well. They finally have moved to a 'stay for breakfast' situation but they hadn't outright said that they were officially a couple.

Not that she needs to be defined as a couple with Graham but, still, it'd be nice.

She's being foolish, and she keeps reminding herself of this, but her track record with men isn't in pristine condition and, well, she hopes time away with his buddies won't convince him that maybe being with Regina isn't such a great idea.

God, she's being neurotic.

It's two weeks.

She can handle two weeks.

But the nagging is still there, ever-present and overbearing. She doesn't climb out of bed quite yet, but, instead, shifts to look at him. He'd be nice to look at if his snoring wasn't like a foghorn; she can't help but to smile in spite of it though.

Yes, she is going to miss him.

Regina frowns to herself. She can already hear her mother's voice in her head, telling her that she's a foolish girl and that falling for this boy would be a fatal mistake.

Love is weakness, Regina.

That was the popular mantra in her household, growing up. Funny thing was that her mother was married to her father. Although, Regina wasn't, and still isn't, naïve. Cora never loved Daddy. Cora never loved anyone, not even Regina.

Tinka, one of Regina's friends and the guidance counselor at Blanchard Orchard Elementary school, where they work, tells her often that Regina's commitment issues stem from her lack of one with Cora.

It pisses Regina off, of course, and she has to remind Tinka that she doesn't need to be psychoanalyzed. And, not to mention, there's nothing wrong with not wanting to settle down right away. What's the issue with having a long term partner before, irrationally, jumping into a possibly damaging relationship?

Regina sees it far too often. It's the same old story. Girl meets boy, they hang out, guy wants sex, girls want the next step and that's how they wind up married and hating each other.

And then there's also the children factor that gets added in.

She'd be a nightmare as a mother. Yes, she's a teacher but that's substantially different. She doesn't have to be there 24/7 for all the little things. As a teacher, all she has to do is make sure the kids are cared for between the hours of 8:30 in the morning and 2 in the afternoon. But she doesn't need maternal instinct for that, not really.

But, either way, Regina Mills is just not ready for a family—hell, she doesn't even know if she'll ever be ready. For now, though, it's a definite no. She does not want to be some dolled up housewife and she certainly doesn't want to spend her entire day caring for children-the public's, then her own.

That's not to say she doesn't love her job, because she does, but she likes having her evenings to herself. And maybe that's selfish and wholly characteristic of her mother, but that's just how she likes it and that's how it's going to be for now.

So distracted over Cora, Regina nearly doesn't notice that Graham has stopped snoring.

"You ok?" he's frowning when she puts him back into focus.

"What?"

"You look upset. You alright?" He's genuinely concerned and Regina feels her heart float up a bit, only to curse herself for it.

She shifts her eyes downward, "Yeah, of course I'm fine."

"If you're upset about me going on this trip you can just say so." He moves closer to her now, so that she can feel his breath skim her forehead as he breathes out of his nose.

"No, if you want to go, go."

"But do you want me to go?"

No.

But she doesn't say that. Instead she sighs ambivalently. "I'm not going to tell you that you can't go. Besides I'm not in that type of position to tell you such a thing."

"What do you mean?"

Great. This is not a conversation she wants to have now. If only she'd kept her big mouth shut, but she just had to make matters worse. She can never leave well enough alone. That's exactly something else Cora used to tell her, especially right before she left for Phoenix for good.

Of course everything leads her back to Phoenix.

She just wants to forget about the whole thing so she murmurs a nothing, pecks Graham on the lips and then, slides out of bed. He follows quickly behind her though, walking swiftly with her to the bathroom, eventually catching up enough to snake his arms around her waist and place his chin into the crook of her neck. She doesn't turn into him but instead looks straight into the mirror, admiring their reflection.

It's so couple-y.

She's moved to ask again, to see if he ever thinks of them of having the potential of something else. It's childish, though, very 'middle school' so she says nothing and instead let's her eyes flutter shut and relish in it, for just a moment; to just be a foolish girl for a second.

"What're you thinking about?" He kisses the crook where his chin had been, then moves to her shoulder, alternating between pecking and nipping.

She says nothing but merely hums, leaving her eyes closed.

"Want to give me a proper goodbye?"

Her eyes pop open to see a devilish grin on his face. When they make eye contact, he jerks his head in the direction of the shower and she nods mischievously in response.

Graham's a good lover, she'll give him that.

He's enticing in the way that he's slamming her into the wall, groping at her ass while she hikes her leg up his thigh, and he's kissing her greedily all over.

And he's always quick to have her going, especially now, as he's thrusting inside of her. She ponders if they should slow down and savor it, since it will be the last time they sleep together for two whole weeks. But it seems that Graham has other ideas because it's not long before he's grunting in her ear and she's coming hard. Graham follows quickly after and then it's done and they just stand there breathing heavily.

That is the last time they'll have sex.

Well, she could go again.

No, they need to pack for him. His friends will be there in a few hours.

So she settles down and gives Graham one long final, heartfelt kiss before reaching for her shampoo bottle.

"I love you, you know that?" He says as she's lathering, and Regina nearly falls over.

Did he just say?

She panics immediately. Graham loves her?

He loves her.

Does this mean he does consider them a couple? And that she can handle. She can be Graham's girlfriend but love?

Wait, is she supposed to say it back? Does she even love him back?

They've only been together for a couple of months. An I love you is just too soon. To be fair, there isn't ever an exact right time to say those words but she and Graham barely know each other.

She thinks maybe he's just as insecure over the whole thing as she is.

She turns to face him, then, to see a hopeful gleam in his eye. That's when she knows she can't say it back. She doesn't love him. She cares for him, more than she thought she would when they first started this, but not enough to call it love, not enough to jump in front of a speeding car or to take a bullet for him- that's what love feels like, right?

Perhaps, she should say it back though because, maybe, it's not about her meaning it, but instead about him hearing it. Or worse, maybe she should say it because, god forbid, something happens to him on his trip and he wouldn't know that she, at least, cares for him. But that's all silly. She cannot lead him on, that would be too cruel.

So she says nothing, merely looks at him, blinking steadily.

Then he removes his touch, backing away slowly. "Okay, not the right time to say that, got it."

"It's not that," she says quickly, throwing her hands in her face.

"What then?"

"It's nothing," she dismisses. "I don't want to fight about it before you leave."

"Oh."

She nods, certain that he's understood.

He doesn't say anything after that but just gets out of the shower solemnly while she curses herself behind the curtain. He slips a towel to her and then she can hear him padding out of the room.

She couldn't have just said it back.

She dries off and wraps the towel around her while she steps out of the shower. Looking for Graham isn't hard, he had went straight to the bedroom to make up his bed. He's paying far too much attention to how much of the blanket is on each side. He paces back and forth, pulling down one side, only to go over to the other side and do the same thing. And then he repeats.

Regina has done it now. Wonderful.

"Are you mad?" she asks meekly.

"No," he answers shortly.

"Graham, I'm sorry, it's just that I'm not ready, okay?"

"Regina, it's fine."

It's not fine, she knows. She can tell by his whole demeanor and, frankly, it makes her want to hit him. He's being very childish and it's grating her last nerve. She thinks to just grab her things and walk out but she's an adult and can handle this.

She huffs out angrily. "Don't be like that."

"Like what?" he's getting defensive.

"Like you're some wounded puppy dog."

"I am not."

"Oh please."

"Maybe stop being a bitch."

That does it. Oh, if she could produce fire, she would in that instance. How is she some cold hearted bitch because she doesn't want to lead her lover on?

She says nothing and saunters over to his closet, snatching out several shirts that she knows he'll want to take with him. After she's tossed them on the bed, she begins to fold them meticulously. She doesn't look up to snap at him next. "Go get the rest of your things. I have this. Your friends will be here soon."

She realizes she may not miss him that much, after all.

[:]

An hour and some minutes have passed and Graham is finally all packed up. They still haven't spoken and made sure to barely cross paths as they packed things away. But now they're alone with nothing to keep them busy, other than watch the clock tick on.

They're sitting in the kitchen. Graham is darting his eyes back and forth around the room, looking at anything but Regina while she's staring (harder than she should be) at his luggage, going through her mental checklist and ticking off everything that should be listed.

It's a solid five or so minutes before Graham asks if she's sure she doesn't want breakfast, to which she formally declines, knowing that his offer of breakfast consists of either Pop Tarts or a quick run to the McDonald's down the street, neither of which she's terribly keen about. So they fall back into their perpetual silence, with Regina going over that damn list again for the umpteenth time.

She considers just leaving, pecking him on the cheek and seeing herself out, rather than staying to see him off with his friends. But she does want to watch him go, so she stays glued to her seat despite the uncomfortable tension restricting the air in the room now.

Oh.

Speaking of food, she remembers that they should dump out anything that'll go bad within the next two weeks. She hops down from her seat at the bar and rushes over to the refrigerator, thankful to do anything to pass the time. She skims over the contents and chooses the milk first. It actually went out of date the day before. Men. She pulls it out and goes to dump what's left in the jug, into the sink.

"What are you doing?" he inquires.

"Throwing out what won't be good when you get back," she answers back icily.

"Oh."

And then he says nothing else so she proceeds to file out the rest of the stuff.

As aggravating as some of his friends are, she'd give just about anything for them to finally show up.

The universe must have heard because seconds later, his phone is ringing. He answers and she can hear a little bit of bitterness in his voice but he nods nevertheless and delves out a few 'okays' and then hangs up.

"They'll be here in five minutes."

[:]

It's actually fifteen minutes before they show up and Regina is fully agitated. They all have no concept of time, Graham included. Honestly, she can't really stand any of them because they're loud and obnoxious and incredibly thick brained.

She can hear them as they come barreling up the stairs, one of them cheering—Leroy, most likely. Why did she choose to sleep with a guy who feels the need to have the most boneheaded friends in the entire world? Seriously, they are like actual children and she can't bear the thought of babysitting children, let alone, grown people, 24/7.

But perhaps Graham is one of those childish types that need to be babysat and she'd overlooked it.

And there's Cora's voice again, mocking her and telling her how foolish she is.

You could do so much better for yourself Regina. You're a beautiful girl and it is beyond me why you would stoop so low, dear. You have the potential to do greatness and instead you go gallivanting off with some boy because you're suddenly so love struck that you're blinded from your potential. Really, dear, get a grip.

Regina feels her physical grip tighten on the counter. Now is not the time to be thinking of mother, and yet, here she is unable to shake her.

But maybe she's right. Maybe this whole tryst with Graham is entirely foolish. And perhaps she has dipped out of her league.

He was charming, though, when they first met. It was at a housewarming party for the new Nolans. They'd just moved in and they invited all their friends over to celebrate.

Graham was an old college buddy of David's and, so naturally, he was there.

Regina wasn't exactly sure why she'd been invited, though. It's not that she dislikes the Nolans; it's just that they aren't precisely her type. Yes, she's courteous to them but she wouldn't call it overt friendliness, or anything. She, most certainly, isn't close to either of them, but she supposed they felt the need to invite her anyway.

It could have been a pity thing. Maybe they thought she was really lonely and needed to get out. Although, Regina does have a group of friends at the school so it's not like she's vastly anti-social. It also could've been a courtesy thing, where they invited her but assumed that she wouldn't show up, which is fair, given that Kathryn is one of her best friends and Regina almost didn't go.

But she'd let Tinka talk her into it.

And it turned out not to be so bad. People were chatting all throughout the house. There were several familiar faces (all, of which, she politely greeted) and a few unfamiliar ones.

Regina had clung to Tinka most of the night, however, because she didn't exactly want to make conversation if she didn't have to. But Regina knew as soon as Tinka got the look in her eyes after she spotted Graham looking at them, that she was doomed.

Suddenly, Tinka had to pee and Regina was left alone to her own devices.

It didn't take Graham long before he approached her, sauntering up to her in a rather cute way. He'd tripped on his way, gracelessly stumbling the rest of the way to her and Regina was fairly certain that's what drew her to him first. He was goofy and endearing, just what she needed in her boring old life.

He'd greeted her shyly and she knew she was sold and then they hit it off. They talked about all sorts of things. Their jobs first, of course—she teaches second grade, he is a police detective. They commended each other on their professions. Then the conversation slipped onto how he knew David, and onto hobbies and other typical beginning conversation.

They'd talked the entire rest of the evening and Regina coincidentally never saw Tinka again that night. But she liked Graham. He could hold a conversation, he was entertaining and he made her laugh a lot.

But as she's looking at him now, greeting his friends, she wonders how it all went so downhill.

She knows the answer, of course; it's always the same thing. She's so good at destroying her own relationships. If she wasn't so decidedly distant, maybe she and Graham could be something more. But she has to keep him as far away as possible.

Maybe they just don't work though.

Maybe she's far too distant and grown up that she just can't keep up with the childish, clingy type. Not that she doesn't like adventure, but she just needs someone like that who's on the same level as her. She needs, or wants rather, someone who is fun and exhilarating like Graham but doesn't need her, someone who can make her laugh but who isn't around enough to make her cry.

She needs distance.

And it's like a light bulb goes off. Perhaps, she shouldn't be with Graham anymore. They're too different now. They've changed in the few months that they've been together and now they just don't work. It was fun and lovely but now it's done.

But should she end it?

They did have a good thing going and maybe they just need to work through it. And if she is going to end it, should she wait so she doesn't spoil his trip? Or should she proceed so that he can go freely and not worry about her back home?

Regina weighs heavily on the latter.

There's no need to extend something that's over, though.

Then again, maybe this two week break is exactly what she needs for a kind of cleanse, and then Graham will come back and things will be good again.

That's terribly naïve, though.

If it doesn't work, it doesn't work. She watched her parents stay together in their disaster of a marriage for her whole life and she just can't imagine doing the same thing to Graham that Cora did to Henry.

So that's it then. She's going to end things with Graham.

How had this morning gotten so turned around?

She was just supposed to stay with him, help him pack, and see him off.

But now it's all a mess.

She thinks to pull him aside and just do it right before he leaves but her morning balance shifts again with the latest arrival of his friends.

Emma Swan.

Regina isn't the jealous type. But if there is any girl that she wouldn't want Graham around, it's Emma Swan because she isn't the typical girl that hits on Graham. She doesn't flirt brainlessly, with the batting the eyelashes and twirling a piece of hair around her finger. Instead, she is friendly in a way that she tries to be like him, carefree and 'one of the guys.' Graham seems to like it, albeit, perhaps only in a platonic way but nevertheless he does give her a lot of attention.

And Emma is just obnoxious. She's really entitled and thinks that she is just the greatest gift to this earth. But she plays so innocent, like she is the most chill and most down to earth person ever. It pisses Regina off to no end. To make matters worse, people support it, Graham included, making her think that she is just wonderful. And out of the few times that Regina has crossed paths with Emma, it's annoyed her every single time.

So she reconsiders her plan. All she needs to do is push him right into the arms of Emma Swan.

She'll wait until he comes back and if she is still feeling the same way, then they can sit down like two adults and discuss it.

So she says nothing at all and waits to do anything until his friend August speaks, "You all ready to go, man?"

Graham goes to pick up his things, nodding at August for his help. They get the majority on their arms and they begin to lug them out the door.

"Hey, Regina can you grab that cooler?" Graham asks and for a second it's normal, until she looks into his face. His fatigue is apparent but so is his enmity toward her. She nods and walks over to collect the cooler without a word.

It's not long before Leroy's truck is all packed up. Graham is over talking to Emma and she starts to laugh at something he says. But it's okay because Regina isn't jealous, not over some girl flirting with Graham, and certainly not, least of all, Emma Swan.

This is all a mess and Regina has no idea what to do with her feelings. Had Graham not said anything, they wouldn't be in this position. She wouldn't be all mixed up about whether or not she wants to stay with Graham or if she's just desperate for company but doesn't really need Graham per se.

"All right let's hit the road you jag offs," Emma calls out.

That's when Graham finally comes over to Regina. "Well I guess I'll see you in two weeks."

"Yeah," she replies quietly.

"I'll try and call if I have time, okay?"

"Okay."

He gives a long kiss to her cheek and then steps away, holding her gaze momentarily before going over to the truck.

She waves to them all and then watches as the truck drives out of sight.

[:]

Regina is not a day time drinker. Although, it's getting closer to the evening. She'd gone home for a little while and tried to read Drums of Autumn, because she'd like to finish the Outlander series before school starts again. But she found herself unable to focus on Jamie and Claire's newfound adventures in the Americas.

So she decides she needs a drink and that's how she winds up at the Rabbit Hole, a bar not too far from where she lives.

She's not much of a bar-goer either, but she needs this. She needs anything to escape her disaster of a morning. She thought to ask Kathryn or Tinka to tag along, and maybe she'll call them in a little while, but, for now, she wants to be alone and drink.

And that's why she's now at the bar top, swirling the toothpick of olives in her martini glass. Gin doesn't normally do it for her, but she uses it to decide on whether or not she just wants to have this martini and then call the girls for a night out or if she wants to get sloppy drunk and have some stranger take her home.

But instead of deciding on either, she just mopes.

"You look like you could use something more than just that," she hears behind her.

She turns around to see the guy from the hallway. He's looking as smug as ever and she doesn't know whether she's relieved or annoyed to see him.

What was his name again?

Robin.

"You just don't know how to go away, do you?" She bites.

He chuckles, "Well if you'd stop stalking me, I might disappear."

"If anyone is doing the stalking here it's you."

"No way, princess."

She hates that nickname and she rolls her eyes to make it clear.

"You're the one who came out in the hallway when I was already there and now you've come to the bar that I was already at. I might have to ask someone to get you to leave." He's smirking and she wants to slap it right off him.

"I was not!" she answers indignantly.

He raises an eyebrow.

"I was in that hallway first," she finishes her defense.

"You keeping score?"

"Are you?" she retorts.

"Clearly not correctly," he's still smirking and she's so annoyed that she wants to walk away, go home and watch Legally Blonde eighteen times but she doesn't and just stares him down instead.

She thinks he can tell she's upset because he's furrowing his brow and reading her intensely. He keeps doing that and it's getting very irritating.

"What's bothering you?" he asks concernedly and, for a second, she feels all her blood drain down to her toes.

She thinks to just tell him, pour her heart out. But that's ridiculous, he's a stranger and she doesn't like him. "I thought we were going to drink?"

She can tell he's momentarily thrown off by her dismissal of his question. But he purses his lips and smirks once more. "That we can m'lady."

"Are you going to steal these too?" she teases.

"No, I think these I'll buy," he says with a smirk and then he turns to the barman. "Two tequila shots please and keep them coming."

That's not why this is M rated. (;