Chapter 8

Roland was as happy as a camper, his Gina was going to walk him to school. He quickly ate his breakfast, scrubbed himself clean, brushed his teeth, combed his hair and well before it was time to go he was done.

Robin, Roland and Regina slowly started walking towards town. Roland was running back and forth, giving Regina all kinds of treats that he found during the walk to school. Regina was more than happy to hold on to some of his most prized possessions. A rock, sticks, leaf's anything that was deemed beautiful in Roland's eyes.

They said goodbye to Roland when they dropped him off at school and then all of a sudden there was no one to hide behind anymore. They were on their own.

'Can I walk you back home'

'Alright'

'I'll see if I can arrange an appointment with Archie as soon as possible'

'good'

'Do you think we could go for cup of coffee tomorrow'

'No'

Robin was dumbfounded.

'First you see Archie a couple of times then maybe, just maybe we go out for a cup of coffee. Like I said Robin, my trust in you is completely shattered and it won't come back so easily'

Robin sat in Archie's office and was waiting for Archie to start speaking to him. Robin felt an uncomfortable silence between them.

'So what made you decide to come and see me, Robin'

'It was one of the requirements that Regina set in order for me to be with her again'

'Aha, I see. So you didn't come here voluntarily'

'No, I didn't but I am glad to be here'

'You are'

'Archie, let's stop this, you know what happened. I hurt Regina in a way that I am ashamed off and me being here was just a matter of time. Regina may have suggested it but I would have come to you anyway.'

'Good, can you talk me through the events that lead to you….' Archie paused for a little while. 'hurting her'

Robin nodded and stayed silent before he took a deep breath and started to recall that awful night.

'Marian died 2 days before, I didn't think I would ever feel that way ever again but losing her all over again was just as devastating as the first time. I started drinking right after she died. I wanted to numb my feelings'

'Did that work'

'Not really, after I consumed just about every bottle from every bar in town I went to the forest. I somehow ended up at the place Regina and I first kissed and that is where she found me. I don't think I even knew she was the one in front of me and I lashed out'

Robin couldn't speak anymore, he was to emotional, to ashamed.

'Has anyone told you what exactly you caused'

'What do you mean'

'Did you know what her injuries where'

Robin shook his head.

'Do you want to know?'

Robin hesitantly nodded, he did want to know and some part of him didn't.

'You broke her eye socket, several ribs and your sword went all the way through her shoulder. She actually pulled it out herself because she didn't want Henry to see it'

'I didn't know that' Robin whispered. 'what have I done'

'You molested her but the one question that keeps popping up in my mind, why did she let you. She possess very powerful magic and still she stood by and let you do all those things to her'

Archie and Robin both remained silent. Archie had asked a question and neither men knew the answer. Why hadn't Regina defended herself.

Robin stayed for a good hour, he and Archie talked about a lot of things and after that hour Robin agreed to come back the following week. He felt good after the talk but still that question lingered in the back of his mind, why didn't she defend herself.

He decided to ask her straight away. He knocked on her door and when she opened he blurted it out.

'Why didn't you defend yourself'

Regina was taken aback.

'I was afraid to hurt you'

'I caused you pain, you had every right to defend yourself'

'I didn't want to cause you more pain'

Robin sighed. He sat down on her front porch. Regina remained standing.

'Archie told me that I put my sword right through you'

'You went to see Archie'

'Yeah, strangely enough it felt good to talk to him. Archie is a very easy person to talk to. Regina, you haven't answered my question. I want to know exactly what I did to you'

'Yes, you did put your sword through me. I was already down from the beating when you decided that even that wasn't enough, it went in and came out just below my shoulder blade'

Robin held his head in his hands in shame. 'God…I need to see it'

'What'

'I want to see it'

Regina remained silent. She hadn't sat down next to Robin so she walked inside indicating she wasn't about to take her shirt of on her front porch. Robin followed suit.

He patiently waited for her to remove her shirt. She was standing in front of him with only a singlet and bra remaining. Robin could see the big red scar just below her collarbone. He indicated that she could turn around so he could see her back.

Regina held her breath when she did turn her back to him, nothing was said for quite some time. She was starting to get antsy when all of a sudden she heard a strange noise. She turned around while she was putting her shirt back on and was met with a sight that she had never witnessed before.

Robin was silently crying.

TBC…