CHAPTER 24

Three days. Regina had been with Graham for three days and she was on the verge of losing her mind. They'd taken walks outside, spotted a few deer and heard a bear at night outside in the woods. She'd cooked and cleaned with him; only to keep busy but the fact of the matter was – she was slowly going crazy. She had a plan and she hated it but it was time she put it in motion. She needed to gain his trust and she had an idea of how she could do that but it would be tricky. If it didn't work; Graham would probably be very angry with her and she'd have to face the consequences. After dinner she sat on the sofa with a cup of tea. Graham was cleaning up and when he finished he asked if she wanted to go outside "Will you come sit next to me. I'm not feeling well," she said as she patted the cushion next to her.

He sat next to her and carefully placed his arm around her shoulders "What hurts," he asked.

"My back and my stomach," she explained.

"We can stay in," he said as he slowly pulled her against him. She leaned her head on his shoulder "Are you comfortable?"

"Yes," she said softly.

"Do you like it here? Are you getting used to it," he asked.

"Yes, I'm feeling better every day," she said. She hoped he wouldn't realize she was lying.

"I knew you would Regina. We really are good together," he said. "I noticed last night you snuggled against me in bed. It made me very happy."

"Yes, it felt natural. The way we used to be," she admitted.

"We can have that again. You'll see. You can stay here forever with me."

Her stomach felt sick. He was a lunatic if he thought she was going to stay here with him. She knew what she was about to do would change everything. She thought of Robin. She missed him so much. She wondered if he was okay and if he was going nuts not knowing where she was. She hated what she was about to do but it was the only way. Regina had been thinking about this for days and now was the time. She turned toward Graham and glanced up into his face "Don't look at me like that Regina. It does something to me," he whispered. She climbed into his lap and straddled him quickly "What are you doing," he asked somewhat shocked.

"Don't you want this," she asked.

"Yes, of course I do," he said. "But are you ready?"

"Does it matter?" She shifted slightly and a groan emitted from his lips. Regina leaned down and kissed him. She thought only of Robin and getting home to him as she swept her tongue inside Graham's mouth. He took the bait and grabbed the side of her head and they began kissing.

She moaned to get him going a little bit more and she could feel him getting hard. She removed his shirt and tossed it to the floor and then ran her fingers over his chest "I think I'm starting to remember how good we are together," she said.

He slammed his mouth on hers and he carefully moved her so that they were now lying on the couch. His fingers gripped her shirt and he pulled it over her head and threw it to the floor. His mouth moved over her neck and his fingers played with the button on her jeans. She moaned and then pulled his mouth back over to hers. He reached around and unsnapped her bra and tossed it to the ground. She let him and decided she had to keep the charade going for what was about to happen next seem believable. She gripped his hair as his lips moved over each nipple and he began to grind his hips against her "Oh God, I missed you so much," he said against her neck. She closed her eyes as he devoured her and let out a breath and finally she decided this was when she was going to attempt to change things up a bit; she cried out and grabbed her side and Graham quickly moved off her "What is it sweetheart," he asked.

She bit her lip and began to breathe heavily "My side. Something is wrong," she said as she sat up and wrapped her arms around her body.

He immediately wrapped his arms around her "It's alright. What kind of pain is it?"

She laid it on thick and cried out "Graham. Oh' my God. It hurts," she said. Tears started rolling down her cheeks and she could tell he was getting concerned.

He put his shirt on and stood up "We should get you to the hospital," he said.

She stood up and continued to hold her side "I don't know. I far is it," she asked.

He sat on the sofa and began putting on his shoes "It's about thirty minutes away. Do you think you can make it," he asked.

"Yes, I think so," she said. It was then that Regina had made a mistake. She inadvertently grabbed the opposite side of her body. Graham looked up into her eyes and she knew she had done something wrong. She was trying. She really was. But something changed in the air. He wasn't buying it.

He was staring into her eyes and she didn't know how he knew but he stood and walked right in front of her "Oh' Regina . . . you're faking. Aren't you," he whispered.

"No! Graham please we should go what if my appendix bursts or something!"

He smiled "Don't try this stunt again."

"Graham, what do you mean?"

"Cut the act," he yelled as he poked her side. She glared at him angrily and he smiled at her. "You are very smart. You almost had me," he admitted. "The kissing and the . . . you seemed to really enjoy it," he said. Her shoulders shrunk and he took her hand and kissed the top of her fingers "I will gladly make love to you but I get the feeling that was all an act too? Don't do this again or you'll make me angry." He took his shoes off and sat back on the sofa.

She dropped her hands to her side and screamed "You can't keep me here. It's been three days and I want to go home!"

"I don't think you get it Regina – you are home! I'm your family now. There is no more Robin. So, get used to it. Now shut up before you make me mad!"

"Or you'll what . . . what are you going to do Graham?"

"Stop it Regina. So help me – I don't want to hurt you." She went to the bedroom and changed clothes and when he tried to join her she told him to get out and go sleep in the loft. She cried herself to sleep because her plan had failed. Now, what was she going to do?

Alice White had changed her name three times. She was good at moving around but was surprised when two police officers from Storybrooke, Maine showed up on her doorstep. They knew the name she was using now and they knew the name she was born with – Anastasia. She'd let them in and they stayed for two hours. She fed them a sandwich and brewed them coffee and answered their questions as best she could. They looked exhausted. The lady cop said her best friend was missing and they needed her help. She told them about the cabin in the woods that Graham had taken her to and that she'd been able to get away. Once she had – she never looked back. Once they were finished asking questions; she gave them each a coffee to go. They assured her that when they captured Graham he would never hurt anyone else ever again. Alice picked up her cat Dinah and stroked her ears. She watched the officers pull away and prayed for whomever Graham was currently holding hostage. She hoped the woman would be saved because if not who knew if the poor soul he held prisoner would live to tell the tale . . .