Hello everyone! So sorry about such a long wait! But here's the next update, I hope you all enjoy and tell me what you think! The response to this sequel has been amazing so far, and I thank you all so much for your support!

She watches the needle make its way around the clock for about the umpteenth time. It has been two days and her condition, as well as Robin's, has been stagnant. Robin is still stuck in a coma. Regina is still stuck on a catheter.

After having become increasingly bored just merely after a day of being in the same hospital room, the brunette had succumbed to her thoughts, darkened and troubled by events of the not-so-distant past. At least Robin has someone to visit him. Though she may not be the most desirable person in his life, she is still someone to keep company. Regina? Well, she has no one. Alone and stranded in a foreign country, with her loved ones cruelly ripped from her, the brunette succumbs to her quiet, sorrowful lamentations about those she had loved, and about the bleak and distant future. And she asks herself the same question over and over again; is she doomed to a life of suffering? What could Regina have possibly done to deserve the events she has had to go through during her rather short life?

In her mind she knows what Emma would say. Oh, how her heart aches for her best friend to be by her side more than ever now! Oh, how Regina yearns to hear the comforting words of her best friend who's so fearless and brave throughout any trial in life. Emma was always one to surge forth, barging through the barriers that kept her hindered from life's difficult path. No obstacle was too large. Regina knows what Emma would say concerning an obstacle such as this. Crying and feeling sorry for herself will get her nowhere. She must fight back. She must not give up hope.

Hope. Regina ponders its meaning. So many disasters have caused the brunette to believe that the virtue was nothing but a farce; a facade imprinted on one's mind only to mislead and blind that person to the real truth of harsh reality. The plane crash was just another proof of that. Yet, Emma and Robin have both always spoken of hope no matter what the struggles and strife they've been through. Would they have still said the same as they did now? How many disasters will it take for one so hopeful to finally lose that hope that so adamantly burns within the soul? How many times will one have to suffer before that flame burns out? But for Regina, it only takes one event too many. And she has had at least three: her father's death, Daniel's betrayal, and this crash.

However, she has sworn that the latter is the worst all. For it has left Regina with her loved one, her Robin, so close to her yet so far. He is here, yet he isn't. Just how close to life, or to death is he? At which end of the spectrum does he stand closest? Oh, how her heart aches for him to be with her, to be by her side. Oh, how she misses his arms wrapped around her, loving her and protecting her from the evils of this world. Regina closes her eyes, thinking back to the very first time Robin had laid with her, simply holding her in his arms, both squeezed tightly into that small space in her suite. How he'd barely known her then, but was so willing and eager to hold her as she cried; her heart still broken and bleeding from Daniel's betrayal that haunted still so clear and vivid in her mind.

She wants to see him. Oh, how Regina wishes that she could get up this instant and walk to his cubicle, sit by his side, and read him a poem. How she wishes that she could be with him, and he with her, the two simply basking in the solace of each other's presence.

"How is he doing today?" Regina asks Lucy as the she walks into the room.

Lucy shakes her head sympathetically, knowing all too well of what Regina may be experiencing. "Still the same, ma'am," she replies gently, "I'll continue to keep an eye on him for you."

Regina nods, forcing a smile. "Thank you," she whispers softly, "And what about me?"

"You should be off the catheter in another two days," the nurse reports, "IVs will be taken out as well. And then after, you will be in good shape for discharge." The brunette nods numbly. Lucy sighs softly, taking a seat in the chair next to the bed. "I know that means nothing when your loved one is still here," she says gently.

"Yes," Regina whispers, shaking her head. She closes her eyes and takes a shuddering breath. "I can't bear the thought of walking from this building with the knowledge that Robin is still trapped in here, powerless, and without company."

"Ms. Fitzwalter has been present with him—"

"Ms. Fitzwalter is no company," Regina interrupts bitterly.

"I understand," Lucy murmurs, bowing her head respectfully.

Regina looks at her incredulously, wide brown eyes glistening in pain, a pain so clearly written upon her features. "No, you don't," she whispers, "You will never understand."

"Permit me to try, ma'am," the nurse replies genuinely.

Regina shakes her head. "You don't know what it's like to have someone whom you love slip so quickly, so suddenly from your grasp. You don't know what it's like to have another, whom you love even more profoundly than the last, be so cruelly taken from you, again. However this time, it's even worse, because you know that he is trapped in a darkness from which he may never escape. And it's not fair that you are here in the light, alive and breathing. Not only that, but you have absolutely no power to help the one you love who's so deeply immersed into a nothingness; a lifelessness that has flooded his once vibrant face." Her bitter lament rambles on, a few tears escaping down her cheeks as her body shudders with a breath.

Lucy smiles gently, shaking her head, heart filled with compassion for her patient. She reaches out, taking hold of Regina's hand, squeezing tightly. "Remember what I told you," the blonde whispers softly, "Have hope. This is not just for you, but for Robin as well. He needs you to remain strong; for you and for him.

"But how can I possibly hold onto hope if all it gets me is more tragedy, more loss? Don't you understand that?"

"I do, but that's no excuse to lose hope, because in the end, it will be that exact virtue that will see you through this dark time. Isn't that what Robin would want for you? Wouldn't he want you to look past the darkness into a brighter future?" Regina shrugs helplessly. "Of course he would," the nurse continues, "After all, not all is completely lost. As you know, Robin is well, stable and strong. He is merely in a coma, which is simply a way of his brain to take control of the damage, to reprogram itself, and get ready to face the world again."

Regina's eyes widen slightly at the woman's last statement, her head lifting to gaze into the woman's blue eyes. "Wait, are you saying that…by reprogramming…will he—will he have his memories?" she whispers in horror.

Lucy swallows hard upon realization of her mistake. She shakes her head quickly. "No, ma'am," she replies intently, "That is not always the case when a patient wakes from a coma. There is no need to be worried about what has not and may not even come yet. Memory loss can be a very fleeting thing when it comes to comas. Therefore, let's not put the cart before the horse."

Regina watches as the nurse stands, making her way out of the room once more. She sighs deeply, resting her head back on the pillow with a groan. Her body aches to get up and stretch, yet her abdomen still screams in protest every time she even does so much as shift upon the mattress. A strangled groan escapes her lips as she covers her face in her hand, completely overwhelmed. In her mind and heart, above all, she prays that this ordeal be over soon.

Two days later and Regina is prepped for her discharge. Walking had proved to be a bit of a challenge at first, but with the assistance of the nurses, she soon recovers the necessary motor skills. It is just ignoring the antagonizing painful pull of the stitches in her stomach each time she tries to move. Nonetheless, it's progress.

The police have arrived, interrogating those who are able and in recovery from this devastating crash. They come to Regina last just as she finishes dressing in her clothes; clothes that were kindly donated to the survivors of the hospital.

She lies on top of her hospital bed, struggling to endure the pain that comes with recounting all of the information, as much as she can remember, in fine detail. At one point, Regina finds herself breaking down in tears, needing a moment or two from the man who gently coerces her into answering his upsetting questions.

They offer Regina compensation for the travel, the hospital fee, as well as her lost belongings, as it should be. Yet, nothing seemed to be able to console the brunette. What is the meaning of something so material in comparison to something far more profound such as love? Nothing.

Yet, there is one thing that makes Regina's eyes widen and her heart leap to her mouth as one of the officers approaches her bed with a black case in hand. And from the case, he pulls out a battered, silver laptop.

"It may seem dilapidated on the outside, yet this laptop somehow had survived the brunt of the crash. It was found under a pile of rubble, cushioned mostly by a blanket in the bag it came from, along with some other odds and ends," the officer tells her.

With widened eyes, Regina takes the laptop into her shaking hands and presses the power. The cracked screen flashes to life, its light faded. No password was needed as immediately, the brunette is taken to the home screen where a bunch of files are shown scattered around the desktop.

"Your name is on one of the files," the officer says, pointing to a particular one that remains at the center of the screen, "We figured that this was enough evidence to prove that it's yours."

Regina frowns slightly. She clicks on the file and immediately is brought to an open document that displays nothing but the poem that Robin had written to her just days ago. Immediately, her eyes begin to water as they scour over the words that now run vivid through her mind like the recovery of a lost memory.

Leaves crushed beneath my feet

As I trudged along the path

Wind blew through the trees

Moon rays upon my back

—

With crickets my feet kept time

As I trudged through the forest

Inside my soul, no rhythm, no rhyme

As I marched trapped in loneliness

—

But then she came to me

Like an angel in the night

Weary eyes opened to see

Beauty bathed in silvery white

—

Her eyes held the stars

Her skin held the moon

And from all my searching near and far

I still had yet to know her soon

—

Who was this woman, this rare exotic gem?

To her enigma, I was drawn; the allure

I was intrigued to uncover then

The treasured mystery about her

—

Her eyes held a darkness, a pain, of which was familiar

And when I looked closely, I had not known, that I was much like her

—

The pain of the past held us deeply within its grasp

A pain so vindictive, so poisonous, neither to be spoken of nor asked

—

But I saw within those deep dark eyes, a spirit unlike any other

It burst forth from amongst the shadows, and with its glow, had surrounded her

—

I fell instantly for that passion, that drive, that eloquent heartfelt fire

And for that gentle smile, yet so brief, so fleeting, of which I will never tire

—

Oh my dear sweet one, they say pain is but an illusion

But I know better, the past is brutal, cruel, and unforgiving

—

So let me hold you close, your fear shall be done

Slip safely into my open arms. To you, I kindly beckon

—

Let me kiss away the darkness

And carry you into the light

All we can do is try our best

And, for our future, fight

—

You are not alone, and neither am I

Seek comfort in that, dear

I love you. No more shall you cry

For I will be right here

—

Stay with me, my love, my angel

My passion for you runs deep

You have me captive within your spell

And my heart, my soul, yours to keep

—

Alas that fateful night

I sing praises to the stars

Fate had revealed its plan to light

Destiny isn't far

—

Let me take control, mend, and heal

So that nothing may deter

Our luck be sealed

Past, present, and future

—

So take this ride with me

Will you take my hand?

Together, we will run free

The world at our command

—

Let's start a new journey

One where the past doesn't affect

Because as long as you're with me

My life will forever be perfect

Tears continue to flow down her cheeks for what feels like the hundredth time this week. The officer nods respectfully before filing out with the others, leaving Regina to stare agape at the words.

"I can tell that this file must have been of deep importance to you," Lucy speaks up, watching from afar.

Regina nods wordlessly, swallowing down the lump in her throat. "It was a poem," she whispers softly, "He wrote it to me on the plane."

"I see…" the nurse replies softly, "And it appears to have survived…"

The brunette gazes up at the nurse in wonder upon the realization of the truth in the woman's words. The poem, the only proof of their love after what little time they've had together, had survived the crash.

"Perhaps that, in itself, is a sign of hope," the woman states softly with a nod. A small smile tugs at Regina's lips as her heart begins to warm again at the thought. Maybe there is no harm in trying hope again. Maybe this is a sign.

Suddenly, Lucy's pager begins to beep, startling both women from the moment. The blonde gazes down at her beeper, her eyes widening as she glances at Regina. "Excuse me for a moment," she says to Regina before quickly heading from the room.

She leaves the brunette with a knot in her stomach. She knows it's Robin, lest the nurse wouldn't have walked out so quickly. She could just tell by the look on her face. And immediately, Regina fears the worst. Her heart pounds away in her chest, the clock ticking on the wall making the minutes pass excruciatingly painful. The brunette is about to go crazy until Lucy finally steps into the room again, eyes wide, and features bright.

Regina sits up quickly, ignoring the dull ache in her abdomen. "What is it? It's Robin, isn't it? Is he all right? Is something wrong? She bombards the woman with questions.

But the nurse simply shakes her head, beaming at the brunette. "He's awake," she whispers.

Decided to include the poem I've used for En Route, as it becomes a major symbol of Regina and Robin's relationship ;) Thanks to all for coming by! Stay tuned for more coming soon, and don't forget to review!