A/N: Dear OutlawQueen Shippers, our ship has officially sunk. Leave a review if you want to tell me how you feel about Robin's death. I can't be the only one that's upset about this. Anyways, I know it's been a while but I hope you enjoy the chapter. Please leave a review for that as well!
Robin overlooked the peer as he sat on the old wooden bench. He used to come to this spot all the time when he was upset. Maybe coming back to Storybrooke after all these years was a mistake. He watched the small fishing boats tied to the dock as they waded in the water. Maybe he should just go back to Boston.
"Robin?" He sighed as he heard his name being called. It seemed as though Storybrooke just wasn't the place to get some peace. He thought coming to the peer might ease his mind and help him sort things out but nothing seemed to be working. "Mate, it is you!" Robin turned to the familiar voice and smiled for the first time since he'd been here.
"Killian." Robin stood up and hugged his old friend from high school. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask the same for you mate." Killian said with a chuckle. "I'm picking up my son from the park over there." Robin followed Killian's gaze and only now did he remember the nearby park just a few yards away. Robin was drawn back to reality as soon as he processed Killian's words.
"Your son?" Robin asked in surprise. "You have a son?"
"Aye." Killian said. "You remember Emma, I'm sure."
"Wow." Robin said in disbelief. So Killian had a son too, and at such a young age.
"Happened right after you left." Killian explained.
"I... dont know what to say." He didn't know whether to feel happy for his old friend or to pity him. Having to be responsible for a child surly couldn't be a walk in the park.
"Well, we all can't be as fortunate as you and run off to the city." Killian said lightheartedly.
"And you don't regret it? Having a kid I mean?" Robin asked seriously. Killian was a bit taken aback by his question but assumed Robin meant to harm by it. He was probably just curious, he thought.
"Not at all. Sure, I wish it could have happened a few years later but Emma is the love of my life and there's no one else I'd rather have a child with. And plus, the little lad is like my own mini me. Henry is his name."
"Sounds like you've turned out to be quite the family man." Robin said, remembering old friends womanizing days.
"You could say that. Every Saturday, Emma brings Henry and his best friend Roland to the park and I take them home so Emma can head off to work."
"Emma works on Saturdays?" Robin asked.
"Well, the Sheriff's station never sleeps. Does it?"
"Well, it seems the two of you have been doing well for yourselves. Don't let me hold you up."
"Well, I guess I should better be going. If I'm late with Roland again Regina will be sure to have my head." Robin's heart twitched at this. So his son's name was Roland and he just so happened to be friends with Killian's son. Storybrooke was a small town indeed.
"You know I think it would be a shame if I didn't meet m... your son and his friend while I was in town. Seems like the perfect opportunity to meet the little lad that turned you into a housewife." Robin teased.
"Well, come on then." Killian rolled his eyes with a smile. "I'd love it if you met them. Henry is a year younger but the two are thick as thieves." Less than a minute and the two were approaching the park in no time.
"Daddy!" Henry exclaimed as he ran to his father. Killian scooped up the little ball of energy in his arms and kissed his head.
"Hey buddy." He greeted his son and Henry squirmed to get down. After setting him on the ground Emma approached her boyfriend and gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"Hey love." Killian smiled.
"Hey." Emma smiled back.
"Look who I ran into." Killian said as he stepped aside and motioned towards Robin. As Emma identified who her boyfriend was referring to, her smile faded and her guard immediately went up.
"Robin." She muttered.
"Yeah isn't it great? He's back in town for a while." Killian smiled. Emma only cringed inside.
"And what's he doing here?" She wasn't in the mood to play nice with the guy who broke her best friend's heart.
"Well he wanted to meet the boys."
"With all due respect, I don't think Regina would want a stranger around her son." Emma spat with venom in her voice.
"Emma love, what's gotten into you?" Killian asked, responding to the obvious the tension radiating off of his blonde beauty.
"Nothing." She snapped. "I think it's better if I drop the boys off today." Emma said but it clearly wasn't a suggestion.
"Are you sure? You don't want to be late for work." Killian said, confused by this sudden change in her mood. Had he done something wrong?
"I'll manage." Emma said, cutting her eyes at Robin. "Come on boys." She said and the two toddlers followed Emma to her yellow bug.
"My apologies mate. She's not usually like that. Must be the stress from work." Robin only nodded, feeling like he'd just been punched in the gut by Emma's words. Emma knew something but he didn't know what. All he knew was that Emma Swan hated his guts. That much was obvious.
"It's all right. I really should be going anyways." Robin said turning to leave.
"Well, maybe we can catch up with a drink another time then?" Killian asked, hopeful that he could catch up with his old friend.
"Sure." Robin gave him a weak smile before heading back to his car.
"Regina?" Emma called as she let herself into the mansion. Normally, she wouldn't just walk in but she knew Mayor Mills would be at work as she always was at this time. You'd think the woman practically lived at her office on the weekends.
"Coming." Regina said as she descended the stairs. She was dressed to the T as always in her crisp navy blue jeans and silk blouse.
"Mommy!" Roland exclaimed as he ran to his mother. Regina loved how her baby was always so exited to see her even though he had only beed gone for an hour.
"Hey pumpkin. Did you have a good time with Emma and Henry?" Regina asked as she bent down to his level to give him a hug.
"Yes! We played at the park and I went on the swing all by myself."
"Wow! I'm so impressed." Regina exaggerated as she smoothed over his damp sweaty curls. She couldn't wait to give him a bath.
"Regina, I need to talk to you." Emma said, not wanting to ruin the moment, but this was urgent.
"Okay." Regina complied, her brows furrowing at Emma's tone of voice.
"Umm… in private." Emma said, referring to the boys. She'd rather not drop the daddy bomb in front of Roland.
"Boys, why don't you go up to Roland's room and play for a bit? We won't be long." Regina said and the boys scampered upstairs, happy that their playdate wasn't over yet.
"What is it Emma?" Regina asked. By the look on Emma's face, she clearly didn't have good news to share.
"Listen, I don't know how to say this… so I'm just going to come out and say it." Emma stammered, trying to figure out how to tell her best friend that her ex was back in town.
"Well, spit it out Emma." Regina said, becoming uneasy.
"Robin's back." Emma blurted out, not being able to hold it in anymore.
"I know." Regina said as she led her to the living room.
"Wait, you knew?" Emma asked surprised as she followed Regina and sat on the couch next to her.
"Yeah, I knew." Regina said, her head spinning.
"And you didn't tell me?" She and Regina always told each other everything. How could she not tell her something like this.
"I didn't tell anyone Emma… except my mother." Regina mumbled the last part.
"Well, are you okay? How are you going to handle... the situation?" Regina sighed and swiped her hand over her face.
"Mother's taking care of it."
"That can't be good." Emma knew Cora Mills well enough to know that when she "took care" of something, someone always ended up getting hurt.
"I know, but she's going to do what she wants regardless of what I say." Regina said, defeated "Is this why you dropped Roland off today?"
"Well, after seeing Robin at the park I –"
"Wait. He was at the park?" Regina interrupted, her voice quickly rising.
"Yeah, he showed up out of nowhere. Killian ran into him and thought he'd introduce him to the boys." Emma explained.
"No offense Emma, but your boyfriend is a moron." Regina snapped. Venom was practically dripping from her voice.
"Well what do you expect? Killian doesn't know Regina. No one knows except for me, you and your mother. Remember?" Emma knew Regina would act like this. All anyone had to do to get Regina's dark side to come out was mention Robin.
"Did he say anything to Roland?" Regina asked, trying to control her breathing.
"No, I stopped it before I could get that far. It's not like Robin knows anyway. He has been gone all this time." Emma pointed out, trying to lighten the mood.
"He does know, Emma." Regina sighed.
"What? How the hell could he possibly find that out."
"I bumped into him at the grocery store a few nights ago. Roland was with me and he put two and two together."
"What are you going to do?" Emma asked concerned.
"I don't know! This whole thing is exhausting." Regina got up and started pacing the floor.
"Well, you could start by telling the truth and let Robin see him." Emma suggested.
"Are you out of your mind?" Regina asked, turning to Emma.
"Look, I hate him for what he did to you as much as the next person but don't you think you at least owe it to Roland to let him meet his father."
"Roland and I are fine just the way things are." Regina said through clenched teeth.
"Well, it's clearly bothering you so maybe you should consider it."
"My mother would never allow it." Regina interjected quickly.
"Your mother can't make this decision for you Regina." Emma said, grabbing Regina's wrist and pulling her to sit back down. "You have to make it for yourself... and Roland."
"It's a lot to think about." Regina said as she put her face in her hands.
Later that night, Regina sat on the side of her son's bed as she always did when she put him to bed. She had just finished reading him his bedtime story and Roland was finally drifting off to sleep.
"Mommy?" Roland asked tiredly as she stroked his little head.
"Yes, Ro." Regina smiled softly.
"How come Henry has a mommy and a daddy and I don't?" Regina sighed as his little brown eyes looked up at her.
"Sweetheart, we've talked about this." Regina said and hoped he would drop the subject. "It's complicated alright?"
"But why?" Roland asked, still waiting for his answer.
"Your daddy isn't here because he wanted to do different things with his life. Things that didn't include you and me." She tried to explain.
"Do you think he'll ever come back?" Regina's heart dropped at his question.
"Maybe." Regina lied.
"Well, maybe if I be a really good boy we would." Roland said yawning.
"Oh honey, you are the best little boy a parent could ask for. None of this has anything to do with you. Understand?" Roland only nodded and Regina kissed his forehead as his eyes closed for the last time before he finally fell asleep. Regina stared at him for what felt like hours. Was she doing the wrong thing by keeping Roland from his father? Maybe Robin had changed and all all he needed was a chance. She was at a loss for what to do so she decided to head to Granny's for a cup of hot chocolate. She turned off Roland's bedside lamp and turned on his night light. She left his door cracked open and headed down the hall to her mother's study.
"Mom, I'm going out for a little bit. Roland's already asleep." She said and only received a nod in response. As she drove her Mercedes to Granny's, she was happy to get the fresh air. A couple years ago, Emma had introduced her to the hot chocolate at Granny's and this was just what she needed to think things over.
"I'm so hungry, I could eat a horse." Marian said, smiling as she looked over the menu. She was happy that she finally had Robin all to herself, even if it was just for dinner dinner at this shabby old place. Seriously! Didn't Storybrooke have anything better than this?
"Get whatever you want." Robin forced himself to smile even though he was screaming on the inside. He wasn't mad at Marian of course but with everything going on he couldn't enjoy himself with her.
"What's wrong with you?" Marian snapped. "You know I'm really getting sick of you this stupid attitude of yours! Ever since we got here you been nothing but an ass." Robin had to pinch his nose to keep himself calm.
"Marian, Im really trying here but if you don't stop talking to me that way we'll leave right now. So be quiet, order your food, and be happy about it." Marian scowled at him but didn't say another word. Robin silently thanked the heavens that he'd finally gotten her to shut up. The bell rang as Regina entered Granny's and headed over to the counter to order her drink to go. Robin stared in disbelief that Regina had walked into the diner. He had been holding his feelings in for the past few days but now that he saw her he couldn't contain himself. He got up and barged over to her across the nearly empty diner.
"I need to talk to you." Regina was shocked as she felt a strong hand grab her arm and lead her outside of the diner as fast as she had come in.
"What the hell is wring with you?!" Regina said, snatching her her arm out of Robin's grasp after they stood outside Granny's. The air was cool and they were alone.
"How dare you!" Robin spat.
"Excuse me?" Regina asked in disbelief.
"How dear you keep my son from me!" Oh, so he wanted to play that game?
"Your son?" Regina retorted. "I'd hardly say that."
"Yes Regina, my son who we conceived. How could you do this to me? Four years I've had a son and you decided to keep that from me. You are so selfish! Just like I remember." Regina was taken aback by that comment and tears began to swell in her eyes. No, she refused to let him see her cry.
"You are way out of line." She growled
"No, Regina you–" He didn't get to finish his sentence before he was cut off by a very angry Regina.
"No Robin! You don't get to insult me after you told me to get an abortion! If I had listened to you my son wouldn't even be here!" She shouted, her face flushing red from anger. "You didn't even want him so you have no right to be angry. You wanted me to get an abortion so that you could go on living your life without "a burden" so don't you dare call me selfish! And to think I was considering letting you into our lives. You're still the same asshole you were in high school!"
"Robin!" The two turned to see Marian coming down the stairs.
"Marian, not now!" Robin told her.
"Yes Robin, now. Who the hell is this?" Marian asked, eying Regina up and down.
"Who the hell are you?" Regina spat. Not in the mood to be arguing with this girl too.
"I'm his wife." Marian said smuggly.
"Well congratulations." Regina said with a sarcastic smile. "You two deserve each other." She said before she turned to leave as the tears finally pooled over.
