Okay first off, I want to apologize for the sloppy writing in the last chapter. I reread today and cringed at all of the mistakes – that's what late night writing gets you. (: Secondly, thank you so much for the super kind reviews. It's kind of amazing, I didn't think this fic would get so much interest. Last but not least, I'm fully aware of how cheesy it is that I keep making Granny the Buddha of Storybrooke but damn, she's the perfect character to deliver sass and wisdom when these idiots need it most. Disclaimer: It is not all fixed in this chapter, don't hate me… I'm an angst whore. Just remember, the bad times make the good times better (;

David found his thumb looming over Regina's contact in his phone, hesitating on whether or not to call her…or text her, he didn't know which would be better. He just wanted to hear from her. It had been over two weeks and with each passing day he got more anxious. He'd missed hearing from her, missed holding her and he couldn't help but wonder if he'd destroyed their relationship beyond repair.

He hadn't intended to hurt her with the things he'd said that day…at least not with the mention of Robin. The accusation Regina hurled that he had thought the same as Emma had seemed so ridiculous to him that he was only trying to turn it around and make a point. A point that he could make ridiculous claims too, just like Regina had. He knew she had loved Robin and was genuinely heartbroken when it ended, and he knew that Regina's interest in him had nothing to do with revenge on Snow. He'd wiped away too many of Regina's tears about her regret and guilt over Mary Margaret to not know how she felt about his late wife.

He'd been so taken aback that Regina would come at him with statements like that, especially after all he'd tried to do to reassure her. David had been so careful and patient to get to know that side of Regina, he'd listened to her fears and comforted her in ways he sensed she'd needed. For her to throw Emma's claims at him like he thought they had merit had felt like a slap in the face. Had she already forgotten about all of those special moments they'd had?

Then when she suggested they end things it angered him even more, and hurt, if he was being honest. It angered him because she had taken her anger out on him; that she had made these claims and then couldn't handle it when he did the same with her. Especially when he was only trying to prove a point to how ridiculous she was being. Instead of fighting back she just suggested they ended it like it meant nothing. That was the part that hurt the most; For her to be so willing to let it go had felt like a stab in the chest.

He leaned back in his desk chair, running a tired hand through his hair as he contemplated the mess. The annoying thoughts of doubt kept creeping into his mind. Maybe Regina hadn't really wanted to end it? Maybe she was simply testing him to see what he would say? He shook his head, reminding himself that Regina was the type that would always say what she thought. It was just wishful thinking on his part.

"Hungry?" Emma asked as she came into the office, dropping a paper bag from Granny's on the desk on her way past to her own.

David raised an eyebrow, "Thanks," He muttered, leaving the bag alone as he took one last glance at Regina's contact picture before putting his phone to sleep and setting it on the desk. "So does this mean you're done being mad at me?"

"I'm not mad at you," Emma mumbled, sitting down at her own desk before glancing at him reluctantly. She had the same bullheaded expression on her face that Snow used to have when she knew she was in the wrong.

"You're not?" He raised an eyebrow, "Could've fooled me." David shrugged, reaching for his paperwork to thumb through.

"I'm not…I'm not mad," Emma muttered, trying to work up the nerve to get out what she needed to. She hated apologizing or admitting when she'd been stupid, but she couldn't get Granny's words out of her head. "I just wish you'd told me, alright? You lied and I took it personally, like you didn't trust me enough to tell me the truth."

David rolled his eyes once, "Emma it had nothing to do with that-"

"I know," She cut him off, a frown drawing down her features as she leaned her elbows on the desk, "Look, I just…I guess I haven't given much thought to you being with someone other than mom. I don't know it's…I know it's childish.." She fumbled over her words, trying to make sense of what she meant, "It hurt… even though I know that's not fair. And then Regina…"

"Regina is your friend, you know," David cut in then, "And I should've stopped you when you were saying those things about her. She didn't pursue me, Emma. I made the first move on her in Oz. She showed me a different side to her. We talked about a lot, including what happened to your mom and she…well, let's just say you couldn't be more far off when you accused her of doing this because she wanted revenge on your mother."

"I know, that was low," Emma swallowed the lump in her throat, looking away from him, "I've just never had a friend like Regina...You know how hard it is to get close to her or to gain her respect… I finally felt like I had it, like we were truly friends and she wouldn't keep anything from me," She huffed, "But I get why she wouldn't tell me, it's complicated seeing as you're my Dad and all. I just…God, I don't know, I spouted off before I thought about it. I wanted to make the both of you feel the hurt I did."

"I get that," David admitted, nodding once, "It is sooner than I ever thought I'd be moving on from your mother and it doesn't mean I loved her any less. To be honest I never thought I would move on and then…I don't know, I got to know Regina and we'd been through the same things. She understood and I guess I could really see her for the first time." He sat up, finding some inner strength as his feelings came to the surface, "I don't regret it with her, Emma. I've worked hard to have a relationship with you and that's why I hesitated to correct you but…you were wrong, and I should've stuck up for Regina. Because you of all people know what kind of person she is and how far she's come, she didn't deserve it. I won't let you tear her down like that again."

Emma felt like a scolded child, knowing she deserved every bit of the lecture as she bit her lip and avoided his gaze before finally looking at him. She gave him a small nod, "I'm sorry, Dad." She hadn't missed the protective tone to his voice or the way he talked about Regina.

He nodded in response, "I'm sorry you had to find out the way you did."

"Do you think you two can fix it?" She asked. It was obvious the brunette was important to him after what he'd just said. The least Emma could do was be an adult and find a way to accept it if it meant her father would be happy.

"I don't know…I said some things," David frowned, gazing off at the thought of it, "I don't know if she'll ever forgive me for. When she suggested we break it off I agreed because I was angry. It was a mistake."

Emma stared at the way her father's expression changed when he talked about the Mayor. He looked tortured and forlorn, utterly regretful for what he'd done. It was a stark contrast to how happy he'd been just a couple weeks ago when he'd been seeing Regina without Emma's knowledge. He'd been more cheerful and vibrant than she'd seen him since Neal was first born. The realization hit Emma like a ton of bricks, "You love her, don't you?"

David's blue eyes shifted to where his daughter sat, seeing her looking at him with a knowing expression like she already was aware of the answer. He gave her a weak smile to which she nodded once and returned, both of them staying silent in mutual understanding.

Regina wrapped her coat tighter around her as she walked down the sidewalk towards Granny's diner. She'd been cooped up in her office and home for two weeks and she was going stir crazy. Not that she especially wanted to see anyone, but at this point going out was better than being trapped at home with her own thoughts. Besides, she needed to show her face in town before people started asking questions.

The bell above Granny's door rang as she pushed her way in, seeing it being rather busy much to her relief. Laughter and talking drown out the sound of the doorbell, allowing her to go in rather unnoticed as she made her way towards the back corner, taking a seat at the bar. She shrugged her coat off, laying it on the seat beside her before resting her elbows on the counter, waiting to be served by the older lady sauntering her way.

"You look pale girl, you feeling alright?" Granny asked in her usual crass manner when she made it towards the end.

"Thanks Granny, I'm fine," She replied with a sarcastic bite to her words at the woman's rudeness. She just wanted a drink. "I'll have a honey bourbon," She sighed.

"Sure you don't want something to eat instead? You look like a ghost and you're thin as a rail," Granny fussed, shaking her head in disapproval as she gave her an appraising glance, "I'll get you a Reuben, you need fattened up a little."

"I'm not hungry granny, I just want a drink," She half groaned through her teeth at the wolf, rolling her eyes.

"After you have a bite to eat," Granny repeated, looking at her appearance for a moment in a way Regina couldn't quite comprehend. What the hell was the old wolf thinking? "So I heard you and David are through," She added after a moment.

"That was nothing," Regina waved a hand as she frowned. She shifted on her seat, glancing around the diner uncomfortably at the lady's stare.

"Really? Because I've only seen someone look this way from one of two reasons, and neither are nothing," Granny perked an eyebrow, "David looks just as unhappy, you know."

"He does?" She asked as she gazed up at the wolf, asking before she realized what was coming out of her mouth. She meant to tell her she didn't care and wasn't interested in hearing about him, but that wasn't true and they both knew it.

"This seat taken?" Regina heard a familiar accent behind her paired with an equally familiar scent. Forest.

Robin sat his drink down at the bar beside Regina after spotting her from his seat with the Merry Men, getting up to come talk to her. He had had a few drinks, feeling the liquid courage as he took a seat before she'd responded. "Can I buy you a drink?"

"She's eating," Granny piped in, setting the plate down in front of Regina at the bar before disappearing again after giving Robin a warning glance.

"She's a scary old wolf isn't she?" Robin remarked, resting his forearms against the edge of the bar, satisfied in the faint smile that turned Regina's lips at his statement.

"She's not all bad," Regina gave a shrug, poking at the giant sandwich the old wolf had brought her, wondering why she'd been so insistent that she eat instead of drink.

"Suppose not," He shrugged with a slight chuckle, "You been alright Regina? I haven't seen much of you lately."

"Fine, just busy with work. How's Roland and Madeline?" She forced a smile, giving him a glance.

"Great," He couldn't help the warm smile that crept up on his face at the mention of them, "Roland still asks about you, he misses you."

"Robin," Regina bit her lip in realization, looking away from him, "Don't do this, please." She saw through his small talk instantly; it had only been a ploy to make a play for her, to bait her with the mention of his son and make her miss them. A reason for them to get caught up in the moment and make another bad decision tonight.

"Regina," He said, his voice more pleading, "I just want you to talk to me. You at least owe me a conversation."

"Owe you?" Regina looked at him in shock, "What could honestly make you believe that I'm the one who owes you anything?"

"I didn't mean it like that Regina, I'm just saying you broke it off for good without so much as giving me an explanation," He reached for her hand, "You know as well as I do we both thought we were meant to get back together."

"That's where you're wrong, Robin," She frowned, shaking her head, "I don't owe you an explanation, you know what you did. It's over for a reason and I've moved on."

"Well that didn't take long," He frowned, holding her hand tighter when she tried to retract it, "Regina don't do this," His voice became more desperate, the drinks in him clouding his better judgement as he tried pulling her to him in attempt to get her to let her guard down and listen, "Just give me another chance, love."

"Robin, you're drunk," She avoided his gaze, putting her hands on his chest in an attempt to put space between them after he'd pulled her halfway off of her stool towards him. "Go back to your men. Let's not do this now."

"If not now then when, Regina? You won't give me the time of fuckin' day, you won't even text me back," He pleaded in a frustrated tone, pulling her closer despite her best efforts to push herself back. It wasn't violent of nature, but he was still ignoring her need for personal space and not taking no for an answer.

"Let her go, Robin," David's hand came to rest firmly on the shorter man's shoulder with the command. He'd come in shortly after Regina had from the looks of it, witnessing Robin making his play for her from his booth on the opposite side of the room, the Merry Men all too drunk and loud to notice David's observation.

Robin glanced up at him before letting out a bitter laugh, "Ah, it's makin' sense now isn't it? Prince Charming to the rescue. He the reason you got over me so quick Regina?" His jaw clenched, letting her go but looking at her firmly.

"You need to go home," David pulled on Robin's arm for him to stand, seeing Regina's emotions brimming behind her hard stare at the both of them.

"Easy mate," Robin threw him a glare, shrugging his arm out of David's hold, "This is between me and Regina…or is it?" He frowned, turning more towards David as his wheels turned, "Cause I seem to remember you two leaving together from here a while back? Rather cozy lookin', I must say."

"I'm telling you one last time to leave her alone and go home," David growled at Robin, starting to lose his temper. The man's possessiveness over her was quickly getting under his skin. The bastard didn't even deserve to talk to her, let alone touch her.

"Bet you'd like that if I left her be, wouldn't ya?" Robin looked at him smugly now before shrugging, "I can't blame you, she is good isn't she?"

Regina watched David's expression turn to fury as he drew his fist back, all of it happening too fast for her to do anything but watch as it made contact with Robin's jaw, knocking him backwards into the bar before slumping down to the floor. The diner became chaos, the Merry Men jumping up and grabbing David's arms to pull him away while the other half of them picked up a woozy Robin.

"That's it, all of you out!" Granny came out to the bar, "We're closin', I won't have this here!" Regina heard the old lady scolding them. She swallowed the embarrassment and anger down, slipping some money across the bar for her bill, "I'm sorry, Granny," She mumbled to the wolf as she picked up her coat. The grandmother gave her a sympathetic glance that deemed her apology unnecessary before turning back to the Merry Men, shooing them out.

Luckily Little John wasn't as drunk as the rest of them, working as a mediator between the ones wanting to fight David for Robin. He diffused the situation rather quickly, recruiting a couple of them to put Robin's arms over their shoulders and help him out of the diner.

Once most of them had made their way out, Regina walked towards the exit, wanting to get out of there and back home as fast as she could. This had been a mistake. She felt David's hand grab her arm after he'd waited back for her near the door, turning to quickly jerk it from his, "You had no right!" She snapped, frowning deeply up at him.

His eyes widened, "I was defending you, Regina," He offered quietly, looking down at her. He obviously hadn't expected that reaction from her.

"Were you? Or were you just trying to make sure Robin and I didn't talk?" She glared up at him, her emotions churning in her stomach, "I'm not yours David. You made it clear that you don't care, so you have no say who I talk to!" She snarled at him stubbornly, the hurt fueling her anger more than anything. He'd let her break it off with him and walk out without so much as an argument, so she'd be damned if he was going to act like he had any more of a say over her than Robin did.

"I wasn't trying to tell you who you could or couldn't talk to Regina, but him?! I saw where that was headed and I wanted to make sure you were okay," He looked down at her with honest blue eyes that threatened her composure, "Then when he said that about you I just…" He glanced down like a little boy in trouble, shoving his hands in his pockets.

"It's not your place to look after me anymore," Regina forced the words out, swallowing hard before she turned to push the diner door open and go out to her car. She saw him standing at the entrance of Granny's as she opened her door and got in, watching her go with a pained expression. She knew he had had good intentions when he cut in between she and Robin, but her pride wasn't about to let her appreciate it. He'd lost the right to be jealous or defend her honor when he said them breaking it off was 'for the best'. Regina could take care of herself and always had, she didn't need a Prince Charming coming to her rescue now.

"Mom?" Regina heard her son's voice from her bedroom door the next morning, causing her to roll over in bed sleepily in hopes it wasn't just a dream. Her eyes opened to see his lanky frame standing before her with a worried look on his face.

"Mom, you okay?" He asked when she only smiled up at him. She knew she probably looked a mess, and Henry wasn't used to seeing her like that. She'd neglected to take her makeup off, had circles under her eyes and was no doubt pale from throwing up last night from the anxiety after the bar.

"I'm fine honey, just tired," She sat up, scooting over in the bed to pat the space she'd been laying on for him to sit down, "I wasn't expecting you."

"I can tell," He gave her a sheepish smile when he sat and looked at her, "You never sleep this late. Only when you're upset," He added, no doubt referencing when she broke up with Robin.

"I'm happy to see you," She smiled weakly, lifting an arm up hopefully, sighing in relief when he leaned against her side at the opening. "What made you decide to come?"

"I missed you too," Henry admitted, resting his head on her shoulder, "I was worried about you, but mom was upset with you and I didn't know what to say to either of you so I just stayed to myself."

"I'm sorry Henry," Regina kissed his hair, tightening her arm around him, "I know how confused you must be about it all…I never intended to keep anything from you, at least not permanently…"

He nodded gently against her shoulder, "So you and Grandpa actually like each other?"

"We did, yes," She nodded, biting her lip at how to approach it, "But I think our past is too heavy. It would always get in the way."

"Do you love him?" Henry looked up at her then, making her stomach do a flip at the question.

"I…" Did she? Her mind raced at the answer her heart wanted to give, trying to make sense of it with her logic. She hadn't spent enough time with the man to love him. Had she? For two weeks now she'd been telling herself that it was a fling, just lust that they'd both got caught up in. She'd been able to lie to herself, but lying to Henry wasn't as easy, "It's over Henry…it doesn't matter."

"Of course it matters," He replied incredulously, "If you love each other, then nothing should keep you apart."

"I wish it were that simple," She gave him a weak smile, her emotions eating at her empty stomach and giving her a new wave of nausea. Bless Henry and his youthful optimism. She hoped his logic would always stay so untainted by life.

Henry summoned a half smile before speaking again, "How about we go make pancakes?" He offered, making her smile warmly at the sentiment. It'd always been what the two of them did whenever one was feeling blue for one reason or another. The tradition began when he came home from the first grade upset over one of his friends that had been mean on the playground. Regina had calmed him and suggested they make pancakes since they were his favorite, and they spent the evening decorating them. Since then one of them would always come to suggest it whenever the other was in a sad mood.

"That sounds great sweetheart," She nodded, running a hand over his hair before he scooted to get up from the bed. She followed, her head throbbing as she pushed past the ill feeling and got up herself. Her son was finally home and she wasn't about to let how bad she felt physically from her depression keep her from enjoying the day with him.

"I think I want blueberry pancakes, do we have blueberries?" Henry chattered, making her smile as they made their way down the steps. She felt lightheaded and weak, both she could chalk up to her lack of eating lately.

"I think so," She managed, forcing herself to continue down the steps as Henry neared the bottom, despite the shaky feeling in her legs. Once she had some coffee and toast she'd be fine and she didn't want to frighten Henry for no reason by telling him how poorly she felt.

"Or maybe strawberry. Or chocolate, yeah, I think chocolate," Her son rambled as he made his way across the foyer towards the kitchen. Regina made it to the last step and onto the foyer floor as the dizziness started to take her. At least she'd made it to the bottom, she thought before losing control of her muscle movement.

"Mom?" Henry turned when she didn't respond, seeing her sway as she started to collapse, "Mom!"