Chapter 15

As I stir awake I can't help the smile that comes across my lips as images of last night come back to me. I can still hear Emma's laugh, and the way her eyes danced with a mixture of lust and happiness and another look I hadn't seen before.

I know it was a bad idea, and I could definitely blame it on the alcohol coursing through our bodies, but I just do not want to diminish what it was. Especially since the Savior ended up being as noble as ever, and in the end it wasn't more than just a lot of kissing and touching.

But there was definitely promise there, promise of what could come in the future, promise of what lie ahead if we were to let ourselves just be together.

And I have to say that I haven't felt this way since Daniel; that young and carefree feeling of liking someone and knowing they like you just the same, maybe even more.

Yes I still had so much to do, I had to figure out so much but the way I felt last night, I just don't want to think of anything else right now.

I wonder how Henry would feel about this.

I don't even know how I really feel, I needed to talk to Ruby, but maybe I could call her later.

Maybe I could still pretend that it is not yet morning, like Romeo and Juliet.

Oh no when did I become such a sap? I blame Henry for taking such a liking to Shakespeare in school last semester. As we went though many of his greatest plays.

I slowly stretch out my arm looking for Emma, but I am only met with the softness of blankets, which is strange since I distinctly remember falling asleep in front of the fire last night in someone's arms.

As I slowly open my eyes, I see that I'm back in my bedroom which is strange enough, but as I smell the coffee downstairs I cannot help but smile to myself.

She must have carried me up the stairs, and then decided to make us some. She is so thoughtful like that, and now that I think back to all the times she had been there for me I'm surprised I didn't notice it sooner. Even when she joined Henry and me for Operation Mongoose she was all in, so invested in giving me my happy ending, even if it didn't involve her.

She checked up on me when no one else did, and even believed me when that other curse was set, when everyone in that meeting had turned on me I knew I could count on her.

How could I have been so blind all this time?

I couldn't wait to see her, so I slowly made my way out of bed, my body feeling a little weak and drained; must have been all of that cider last night.

I don't bother going in the restroom to clean up as she had already seen me like this from living here, and made my way quietly down the stairs.

As I rounded the corner to the kitchen I couldn't help the butterflies building in my stomach, and I couldn't help the smile appearing.

"Well aren't you charming, putting me to bed like that. How did you manage to carry me up thos….Robin!" I say and clutch onto the island in the middle of the kitchen.

"I'm sorry love, what were you saying? It's so good to see those beautiful eyes again." He says as he approaches me and I cannot believe it.

I quickly try to straighten my back, put a smile on my face and fix my hair a bit.

He's looking at me curiously.

"I… I'm sorry I don't know what happened, I think I'm a bit confused." I tell him as he comes to stand in front of me.

He puts his hand on my waist and pulls me into a hug, and although it feels nice to see him again, to feel him again I cannot ignore the loss I feel at knowing she's not here.

"Come, we have much to discuss. I have made you some food; I'll bring it out to the table, why don't you go have a seat." He says, looking at me lovingly and running his hand across my cheek before he leans down and presses a kiss to my forehead.

I just nod yes and make my way to the table and have a seat.

As I take a seat I cannot get Emma out of my mind. The way she had been with me, she was so playful once we started to just… let loose finally.

I knew when she had said that she was leaving that I couldn't let her go, not at that moment.

Oh who was I kidding? I couldn't let her go, period.

And why did we have to wait so long to finally give in? Why did I wait so long, and now I was here and I don't know when I will see her again.

"Regina, dear, are you alright?" he says gently, and I see that he had taken a seat next to me, and has placed food in front of me.

I look down. And cat help but smile as I see that he is still not used to using modern things such as a toaster, as he has burnt most of the bread, but atleast the eggs do look good.

I take a sip of the tea that he has made, and try not to make a face. I have never enjoyed tea, and since I came here it is coffee that I love, and after all that has happened I would have hoped he would have atleast known that.

I take another sip and grimace slightly. Ofcourse he see's it.

"Sorry love, Marian always had tea with her breakfast, do you need more honey? I wasn't sure…" He says looking a little lost.

That's when I realize that he doesn't know these things about me because we were never given the chance.

Emma knows exactly how I like my coffee, and also learned the hard way not to speak to me until I had my first cup.

I smile as I think of her, her hair a mess, and those damn short shorts, in the kitchen in the morning trying to make me coffee, since she had already obviously ruined breakfast. So coffee became her constant contribution every morning, and I started to depend on it.

I realize I haven't said anything for a few moments, and look up to see Robin smiling at me.

"Um… No it is fine, dear, although I do prefer coffee over tea." I tell him.

He nods, as if he is storing that information for later. And I cannot help but smile at his efforts, always trying to do what is right.

"Where is Henry? How long have I been out? What is happening with Emma…" I ask all of these questions at once as I cannot wait to find out.

"Well Henry is at school, he hadn't left your side for the first few days but the Charming's were able to convince him that you would be taken care of." He says, and I finally pick up a piece of burnt toast and try to get it down.

"You have been in a comatose state for about a month, and in that time we were able to find Emma, and we were… well we were waiting for you to wake up so that we could decide what to do." He says looking down.

"Me, why? What has happened to her?" I ask, my heart quickening at the chance to see her again, as I reach out and grab his hand.

"She is refusing to speak to anyone else. And well, we have her locked in an enchanted cell underground for safekeeping. She is not well, it has been hard to get her to eat or drink anything." He says, and I try to hide the horror that I feel when I find out that they have her in a cell.

I don't want to imagine her there, cold and alone and probably so scared. I needed to see her right away. I had to find a way to fix this.

I stand and immediately head towards the stairs.

"Regina, dear, where are you going? You haven't finished your meal. Please come sit, we have other things to discuss." He says and he catches up to me and leads me back to the dining table.

I don't want to deal with anything else right now, but I see him searching my eyes and I cannot tell him no. He has been here for me, waiting for me and well I just cannot push him away.

As I sit again, I hear the doorbell ring and hear him speaking to someone else.

Its then that I see Snow walking in with Charming following and they just look terrible.

They look as bad as I feel at the moment, and I cant help but reach out to Snow as she approaches me.

She immediately falls into me and starts to sob, her body shaking against mine, and at this moment she feels like the little girl I raised, but this time I don't resent her, this time I know that I loved her instead, and I felt as much anguish as she did.

We sit like that for several minutes until I see her look up to me and I can't help but flinch when she brings her hand to my cheek. I guess I had been crying right along with her.

I look to the side and see Charming and Robin sitting across from us, and that's when I slowly pull my body away from Snow as she also takes a seat.

"I guess that Robin told you that I had awakened, and that is why you are here? And who is with Emma, has there been any change?" I ask anxiously.

"Actually Robin didn't inform us. We were just coming to stay with you while he visits…." She just stops talking then, and looks to Robin questioningly.

I look between the two, and ofcourse David is the one who speaks up, "He's going to see Zelena like he does everyday, and we come to sit with you while he does." He says, and all of a sudden I hear static noise.

I look between the three of them, first Snow looking to David like he is in trouble as he looks back at her completely clueless. Then I look to Robin and his gaze is anywhere but mine.

He is visiting her every day? Even with me in a coma, even with everything happening with Emma he is still making time for that monster. There must be some explanation for this.

"I… see… and is there something wrong with her? The baby?" I ask as calmly as I can.

"No she's fine, actually she's no longer locked up either, and she is staying in a small house down the roa…." Snow actually covers his mouth with her hands at this point, and I understand why she does it but it only angers me to hear what he's already said.

I look to Robin this time and stand instantly.

"You let her out? What is the matter with you? After all that she has done!" I shout at him, the anger in me taking over for a moment and rattling some photos on the walls.

He approaches me immediately reaching out for my hand and I yank it away and he blasts backwards; my magic lashing out at him as I try my best to control it.

"No, you don't try to even say a word to me." I say turning away from him and looking to Snow, "Why is she out, what has happened that he hasn't bothered to tell me?" I ask, my voice coming out strained as I try to regulate the magic coursing through me.

"He spoke to the blue fairy without speaking to us about it and had her locked up in the house instead of the cell that we put her in." she says, then looking towards him disgustingly, "He didn't want her in the cell because he was concerned for her wellbeing as well as the baby." She spits out the last part, and that's when I realize that she does not like him at all.

How did I not see it before? I guess I was too absorbed in my own world at the time but now that I think back, Snow has never once gone out of her way to be nice to Robin, or even give a friendly hello which is not like her.

"And why did Blue even agree to such a thing?" I ask incredulously.

"He made a deal with her, swore that she was not a danger, especially since she wouldn't be able to leave the house. He said that if she could help you, then she should be able to help Zelena as well." Snow finishes looking directly into my eyes, and I know that she is telling the truth.

And the hurt I feel inside is completely clouded by anger. I cannot believe he would ever compare me to her. I do not deny myself being a monster, but for him to see me just the same as her, well that just was too much to handle, and I feel my whole body vibrating as I start to take deep breaths.

"My love please, let me." Robin is walking towards me.

"No! You don't get to speak to me, I don't care what you have to say. Get out of my house." I snarl at him.

Yet for some reason he doesn't listen, he doesn't understand just how dangerous I am right now.

"Please, she wasn't well, she nee.." He says as David steps between us.

"You need to leave now, for your own good. Leave now and do not return until she calls on you." He says putting a hand up against his chest.

I am still trying to control myself, as I look up and see him nod in my direction. His eyes are pleading with me but I do not want to see that face. He has betrayed me just like everyone else. If I never see him again it will be too soon.

"I am truly sorry my love, please find it in your heart to forgive me." he whispers, and then he turns and walks right out the door.

...

Goodbye Robin :)

Please Review, as it is my motivation to keep posting. Thanks.