Echo -

They're arguing when Regina says it - that she only wants what's best, that he makes her weak.

It blows over, buried by bedtimes and homework and two plus two that become, inexplicably, four, but as Robin's own anger dims he finds himself bothered by the pattern in hers.

He asks, "Why do you worry so for weakness?"

And Regina startles, wary. "I -"

It takes nearly a month to complete the sentence.

And Robin thinks - learning Cora Mill's teaching in vague, hesitating summaries - of guilt, and of a scared confession by a fire, and of a lesson that sank too deep.