CHAPTER 16

WARNING: There's a fire in this chapter and if that's something that might bother you skip this. You never know what people may get upset over . . . P.S My dad was a volunteer fireman for about 25 years or so. It's one of the things I love most about him. I always saw him as this brave hero every time he left the house. Anyway, I hope you all enjoy this chapter. XOXO

When she woke the first thing she noticed was that she was alone. She sat up and glanced at the clock and it said 10:30. She smelled bacon and smiled. Robin was cooking. Regina quickly changed into shorts and a tank top and after going to the bathroom and washing her face she went down to the kitchen.

She heard him on his phone and lingered in the doorway "So, I'm just a little confused. What exactly is the reason I can't have him? No, because it sounds as if you're not giving me one Marian. Is there something else you aren't being honest about?" He put down the spatula and said "You're jealous. Yes, yes you are. Don't give me that. We've been fine this whole time with our arrangement. I bust my ass to give you child support and you make more money than me! I work three jobs! I'm sorry that our child is happy and that he comes home talking about daddy's awesome girlfriend but what do you want me to do? I love her Marian. Yes, I love her so you need to figure this out because I'll let this slide this ONE time. But, if it happens again then we'll need to go through the courts. What! Please tell me you're joking? We've been OVER for a long time. You always do this though. You've done this before. You're lonely and I get that but we are done. Don't cry. C'mon I'm sorry that it sounded so harsh but this is coming out of nowhere. Listen I need to go. I'm about to burn breakfast." Robin practically slammed the phone down on the counter. Regina watched as he flipped the pancakes and turned off the heat under the bacon. "What the fuck," he yelled as he grabbed one of the stools and tossed it across the kitchen. It broke into a couple of pieces. Regina jumped and that's when he looked over and saw her in the doorway "Shit, babe I'm so sorry. I didn't mean . . . I'll buy you a new one."

"I heard the whole thing," she admitted.

"She's not bringing Roland this weekend. She claimed he was getting a cold or something but I could tell she was lying. I'm sorry . . . my temper. I lost my temper," he said. Regina walked slowly toward him and he reached for her. She wrapped her arms around him "I hardly get to see him," he whispered.

"I know. Robin, I'm sorry. I don't know what to say." She pulled away and tears were running down his face. She wiped them away and kissed his face.

He turned the burner off under the pancakes and started plating their food "She technically has sole custody. We made this arrangement when I got my act together but we never did anything through the courts."

They took their plates to the dining room and sat "Maybe, you should," Regina said.

"I can't afford a lawyer," he replied.

"No, but I can," she said.

"No, absolutely not," he said.

"But Robin . . ."

"NO!" That was the second time in a matter of minutes that he'd lost his temper and Regina was concerned. She'd never seen him like this. They ate in silence and then he stood up and went back to the kitchen. She heard him washing the dishes and she finished her breakfast. She wasn't hungry anymore but she didn't want to waste the food he'd made. When she was done she walked back into the kitchen. He was leaning against the counter. He'd cleaned up the stool and gathered the broken pieces. She put her plate in the sink and walked over to him. He wrapped his arms around her and whispered in her ear "I should go."

"No, it's our only day off together."

"I know and I'm sorry but as you can see I'm in a foul mood and the last person I want to take it out on is the woman I love."

"Let me help and support you Robin. I want to," she said.

"I'm going to take that mess out to the trash and then I'm going to go home for a little while. I'll come back later. I'll cook dinner and maybe we can watch a movie. But, I need to go for now," he said.

"Alright if that's what you want to do then I understand. I have chores around here and I could stop at the store," she said. He kissed her and then went upstairs to change. Regina washed her plate and a few of the other dishes that were still in the sink and then wiped the counter down. She felt bad. Between, the nonsense with Graham and then Keith showing up at the bar, and then the phone call with Marian this morning – Robin was definitely battling with emotions. She felt partly responsible.

She didn't know he was lingering in the door and then when she finally looked up at him – he was staring at her "Baby, what's wrong?"

"It's just . . . I feel partly responsible for this sour mood that you're in," she said.

He walked toward her and smiled "No, in fact you are the reason I've been able to keep my temper in check for so long. It's just the phone call with Marian really set me off. She thinks she can keep Roland from me but I need to talk to her. We'll talk it out and hopefully she will come to her senses."

"Does she want you back," Regina asked carefully.

Robin shook his head "I don't know and I don't care. Marian and I have been over for a long time. You heard what I said to her."

"Yes, I did."

"I'm sorry I broke your stool," he said as he placed his forehead against hers.

"That's okay. Text me later when you're ready to come back over?"

"Yes, I will. I'll see you later," he kissed her slowly and then she pulled him in for a hug. He headed out and then turned around again "Regina, I love you."

She smiled and bit her lip "I love you Robin." He walked out and she set the alarm behind him. She hoped he'd be alright. She was worried about him.

After breakfast Regina went over to the store and did some paperwork in the back for a few hours and told Tink she could close early since business wasn't as busy as it usually was. After arguing for about thirty minutes about being alone Tink assured her she was fine by herself and so Regina decided to meet Emma for a late lunch at the diner. She ordered a salad with chicken since she'd had pancakes for breakfast and her friend of course ordered a grilled cheese "You're a child. I don't know how you eat that and don't gain weight," Regina said.

I'll work it off when I'm with Killian later," Emma replied as she winked and took a sip of her water.

"Good grief. So, any advice on how to deal with my grumpy boyfriend," Regina asked.

"Well, you could butter him up a little. Make him dinner tonight and maybe a special desert of some kind? Surprise him with something? I don't know. You should make apple turnovers. God, those are so good. You haven't made those in forever. If you make those – save me one," Emma said.

Regina laughed "You have a point. Okay, so I could do that but I'm not sure about dinner. Robin is such a good cook."

"Yeah and no offense but you're just okay," Emma teased.

"Swan shut up . . . I'm a better cook than you."

"You're right about that." Their lunch was served and after debating on what she should do for Robin. She decided she was going to make the turnovers and go to the grocery store. Ruby came and collected their plates and just when they were about to get money out to pay the bill Emma's cell rang "Swan here," she said. "What! We'll be right there! Granny we have an emergency! I'll come back later and pay."

She grabbed Regina's hand and they high-tailed it out of the diner "Emma what the hell is going on?"

"There's a fire – at Robin's building. We have to go," she screamed as they both headed over to Emma's cruiser and got in.

"What did they say? Who called," Regina asked as they got in the car.

"It was David. He says the little old lady in the apartment below Robin's fell asleep with the stove on. She admitted to it. Robin ran back in to save her. He got her out but he went back in again because the people across the hall from him said their daughter was still upstairs. The building is . . . Oh' my God." They pulled up and the fire trucks were there and the whole building was in flames.

Regina got out and panicked "Where's Robin? Where the hell is he," she yelled as she grabbed Emma's hand. They both stared in horror as the building started to come down. Everyone was running and Regina could feel tears running down her face "No, he has to be out already. Emma, he has to be out right?"

"I don't know," she whispered as she put her arm around Regina. David was now standing next to them and so was Graham. The whole police and fire departments were there "Jesus, this is awful." Just then she heard a fireman yell and several people were running away from the rubble. Robin was carrying a little girl in his arms and the fireman was holding them both up. The girl's parents ran up and grabbed their child and Robin collapsed on the ground. Regina ran to him but David pushed her aside ordering for an oxygen mask and a gurney. The firemen were still dousing the fire but it appeared to be too late – the building was lost. There were already several ambulances there and they were strapping Robin onto a gurney and giving him oxygen "Go with him," Emma said as they loaded him into the vehicle. Regina jumped up and sat next to him while the paramedics tended to him. Robin was awake and reached for her hand. She couldn't help it. She started to cry and he shook his head at her. He was crying too and she placed her hand on his face. He'd just lost everything but she knew it wouldn't matter to him because he saved a little girl's life. They got to the hospital quickly and once inside the emergency room they took him away. Regina collapsed into a chair and let the tears fall – she'd almost lost him.

Regina composed herself and drank a cup of shitty hospital coffee and then finally after about an hour Victor came to get her. He'd heard about the fire and wanted to tend to Robin personally "Is he alright," she asked as they walked down the hall.

He wrapped his arm around her "Yes, I'm going to keep him for a few more hours but I think he can go home . . . well he can leave tonight. I'm sorry. I'm just as shocked as you are."

"Yes, it's terrible. Thank you," she said.

"He's resting but you can go in," he said. Regina walked inside and Robin had his eyes closed. She sat down and he cleared his throat.

He opened his eyes and looked at her and smiled "Hello, my beautiful girlfriend," he whispered.

"Hi," she said softly.

"They say I can go home tonight. Well, I guess I'm going home with you . . ."

His eyes welled with tears and she held his hand "Robin . . ."

"It's okay. I saved her life. They say she's fine. The little girl that lived across the hall from me – I didn't even really know them. They just moved in a few months ago. I hardly ever saw them. Her name was Sarah."

"You're a hero. You shouldn't have gone back inside you could have been killed but you saved her."

"I lost everything. The building . . ."

"I know. I'm so sorry," she said.

He scooted over "I need you. Regina; will you lay with me," he asked. She crawled into bed with him and she wrapped her arms around his body. She placed her head on his chest.

She couldn't help the tears falling down her cheeks "I almost lost you," she said.

"I'm sorry. I know. I'm here and I love you," he whispered as he ran his fingers through her hair. "Well, this goes down in history as the worst weekend ever," he said. She wiped her face and held onto him. At least he was alive. At least he was alive and he was coming home with her and that was the most important thing.

She looked up into his face and smiled "At least we have each other," she said.

He kissed her and then she laid her head back on his chest "Yes my love. You are right. Thank God for that," he said.

That was rough – sorry guys!