Hello guys! Little bit longer of a wait than normal as this week has been absolutely crazy busy, I hope you don't mind! So without further ado, here's Chapter Eight! 'Tis another long one for y'all! Enjoy and let me know what you think!
The early morning haze covers Martha's Vineyard like a blanket, dispersing the sun's already gentle rays over the island's inhabitants who go about the start of their day. It's quiet, peaceful. Not many are out at this time. Those who are simply keep to themselves, reveling in the few hours of tranquility before the rest of the island awakens.
As for Menemsha, the current calm atmosphere will soon be disturbed by cars lining up for a parking spot at town's small beach and the excited cries of children who splash in the Vineyard's cool waters. But for now, the sound of the bell at the edge of the jetty takes precedence, only to be joined by a few cries of seagulls every so often.
It is about eight o'clock when Reya and Robin make their way from Robin's humble cabin to the main street. Past a few boutiques and a small clam shack, the two head towards the docks that run parallel the main street just before it finishes with the parking lot at the beach's edge. Reya skips beside her father, dutifully holding a large bucket as she somewhat struggles to keep up with his stride. She looks up at him and gives him an excited grin, to which the man simply nods, offering a half-smile in return.
To say the least, Robin wasn't so keen on taking his so-called daughter on a fishing trip so soon. However, the young girl was begging. And in her defense, the man did promise. Plus, since he is taking some time off, the fisherman didn't really have an adequate excuse to say no.
"Whoa, this is your boat?" Reya breathes, her eyes wide as they settle on the sparkling Grady-White motorboat, floating majestically bathed in the sun's warm glow.
Robin nods, gesturing towards his prized possession. "She's just a little over twenty feet long. Center consul, a crawl-in space beneath just big enough for you to lie down in, she's quite comfortable I have to say."
"She's beautiful," Reya compliments, walking towards the boat, "Did you name her?"
"The Lioness," Robin answers, pointing to the name imprinted on the boat's hull.
Reya's eyes widen slightly as she turns to look towards her cursed father. "Really?"
Robin nods. "Really," he repeats with a small chuckle. He gives the young girl a curious look.
"Why'd you pick that name?" Reya continues to ask, titling her head.
"To be honest," Robin sighs, raising his shoulders in a shrug, "I don't quite remember."
"Is it because of that lion tattoo on your wrist?" Reya probes, pointing blatantly to the dark crest on the inside of the man's right wrist.
Robin shrugs. "Maybe." To be completely honest, the man hasn't quite given it a thought. Now that he thinks about it, the idea puzzles him. And it bewilders him even further that he can't seem to remember a simple detail about himself such as that.
Silently, Reya nods, rereading the word again as Robin moves past her to place his fishing pole and tackle on the boat. She watches quietly as the man maneuvers himself around his boat. Clearly, he looks comfortable, completely in his element. It almost makes the young girl feel bad for revealing that who he is, this persona, is nothing but a farce put on by the curse. She can only hope that this outing will open Robin up more and allow him to trust her. It's the name of the motorboat that keeps Reya hopeful, as it is yet another sign that puts the strength of the curse into question.
"Aren't you coming?" Robin's voice startles Reya from her thoughts. The young brunette nods before swiftly stepping towards the edge of the dock and swinging her leg over the side of the boat. She jumps in, setting her bucket down before moving to hop onto the passenger seat to watch Robin as he maneuvers himself around the boat. After untying them from the dock, the man is quickly jumping in to take his position at the wheel and steer them clear of the dock, towards the middle of the harbor.
"We're not going to go out far, but just a ways past the jetty," Robin informs as he drives the boat towards the channel. Bordered by Menemsha's jetty on the right and a strip of land opposite on the left, this passageway serves as the sole means of travel from the harbor to the open ocean.
Wind whips through their hair as they travel further away from the sheltered harbor. The outline of Cuttyhunk, a neighboring island, looms in the distance. It's slightly choppy; whitecaps sloshing up against the boat's bow as it skims through the water with ease. Reya looks to Robin as he skillfully steers his Lioness. Once through the channel, the boat accelerates, ripping through the water and racing against the wind. Reya grins, the feeling of elatedness simply unavoidable at such a speed.
Upon deciding that they are far enough from the Vineyard's coast, the man shuts the engine off and drops the anchor. As he fetches his fishing tackle and prepares the bait, Reya looks back towards the direction from which they came; the bell tower at the very tip of the jetty now considerably smaller and those on the beach comparable to the size of ants trailing along the large white sand dune that is Menemsha beach.
"So what are we gonna catch today?" Reya asks, moving towards her father who currently is cutting up the bait.
"Sea bass," Robin answers promptly, "We're going to use squid to attract them."
"Hey! It looks like calamari," Reya observes, pointing out the rings of squid laid out on the boat's ledge.
"That's exactly what it is," Robin replies with a slight chuckle, "Except of course you cover it in flour, egg, and breadcrumbs and deep fry it."
"Do you think we'll catch anything?" Reya asks, picking up a piece of squid.
"Hopefully. Then we wouldn't have to worry about what to have for dinner."
"It's kinda cool, you know—actually catching what you eat. It's like living off the land."
Robin simply nods, keeping his eyes trained on the bait.
"Kinda reminds me of before the curse happened. You used to do that too." Reya continues to muse.
Robin raises his brows, turning his head to look at the young girl. "Really?"
"Really. Except, well, you hunted—deer and stuff."
"I hardly picture myself as a huntsman of sorts."
"Well, I wouldn't call you that. But you were very good with a bow and arrow."
"Bow and arrow?" Robin echoes, his brows still lingering up in his hairline. Out of consideration, the man suppresses the urge to laugh out loud. Yet, the sincerity in which the young girl delivers is scarcely a laughing matter. It makes Robin worried that perhaps the brunette may be on to something. But for now, his better judgement urges him to simply play along. "Isn't a bow and arrow rather dated—more than dated—ancient?"
Reya laughs. "Yeah, but not in the Enchanted Forest."
"You really do believe that's a place that actually exists?" Robin shakes his head, taking his fishing pole and letting loose the line. He grabs a piece of squid and curls it around the hook securely.
"I don't believe," Reya says, watching her fathers movements, "I know."
Robin sighs deeply, casting the line out into the waves. It's silent for a few moments as the man idly ponders over the idea of an alternate universe.
"So how long until you catch one?" Reya questions, breaking the quietness by shamelessly changing the subject.
The fisherman shakes his head, smirking slightly. "Perhaps a few minutes give or take," Robin answers as he jiggles the pole in hand. "You just have to be patient."
Reya nods, eyes trained on the blue horizon. She supposes that this particular situation concerning her parents is similar to that of fishing. The young brunette has thrown the bait. She has gotten her cursed parents introduced. And she has told them a small portion of their history together. All that is left is to chance. Now Reya has to wait, hoping and praying that her parents take the bait: that they believe not only in her, but in each other. Only time and fate will tell whether or not her parents are capable, are strong enough to look past the superficiality of their current lives, take what Reya has presented to them, and use it to challenge the authenticity of what they have now. Right in this moment, the young brunette can only hope that her parents will come to the realization that there is something far more profound within each other than their cursed lives (and those a part of them). But it all starts with taking the bait and letting it real oneself into the true reality that lies beyond the blindness that the curse has inflicted.
"What do you think goes on in the fish's mind when it sees the bait," Reya asks, curious of Robin's answer.
"Well, I don't know. I've never thought about it," Robin replies honestly. "I'm sure the fish recognizes it immediately as food, and then moves to latch on and swallow it. Fish are animals. They're always hungry, you know that."
"Yeah, but what if the fish aren't so sure about it at first? Like they know that it could be risky to take it?"
Robin frowns slightly, turning his head to gaze down at the young girl standing beside him, looking up at him with her large brown eyes. "For some reason, I get the feeling that we're not talking about fishing anymore," he suspects.
Reya simply shrugs, offering him a cheeky half-smile. "Maybe," she states.
"How old are you again?"
"Ten."
Robin shakes his head. "Are you sure you're not older."
"Really sure," Reya replies with a firm nod.
"You seem like you know a lot more than what meets the eye. You certainly act it."
Reya shrugs a shoulder. "A lot's happened, I can tell you that."
"If this is more about your stories…"
"It's okay," Reya sighs softly, "I know you're not going to believe me right away. That's how it's supposed to be."
"What do you mean?"
"That's how the curse works? It makes you so comfortable in your own little bubble that you don't even see what's outside. You know, the truth."
"And the truth is that we are actually different people living under a curse that took us far away from a place called the Enchanted Forest," Robin states unconvincingly.
"Yes, but there's more to that. You know it."
Robin closes his eyes, sighing deeply from his nose. "That Regina and I are together."
Reya shakes her head softly. "You guys aren't just together," she says, "You're soulmates."
At this statement, Robin's eyes widen, his heart beating slightly faster than before. He's not quite sure as to whether that's in terror or excitement. "Soulmates?" he repeats, only to receive an affirmative nod by the young girl. "But we are so different. We're nothing alike. You must know that."
"I do," Reya says with a smile, "But isn't there a saying like 'opposites attract' or something?" She flashes him her best smirk. "Plus, how would you know? When this curse is broken, you'll find and remember that you and my mom have a lot more in common than you think."
Robin shrugs, sighing deeply. "I don't know," he sighs.
"Come on," Reya insists, "Tell me that when you met my mom, when you met Regina, that you didn't feel anything, that you didn't feel any connection between the two of you."
Robin frowns, thinking back to that long conversation he'd had with Regina over a glass of red wine. It was surprising to him, no doubt that they got along quite well once they were able to move past the awkwardness of the situation. He remembers discussing the similarities between their two professions, the degree in which both their work are humble in their own ways. He remembers, then, saying goodbye to her: the way she stood on his front porch, looking into his eyes with her dark, piercing gaze. He remembers the way they sent shivers down his spine. He's fascinated by her.
But such a captivating woman like that is most certainly far too much out of his league. He's not surprised that the woman would want nothing to do with him. And why should she? He's a poor fisherman and she's an artist. With a seemingly ambitious personality like Regina's, it's only a matter of time until she moves up the chain; her artwork being recognized and appreciated by an even larger audience. There's nothing glamorous about Robin's work. His days are spent covered in filth and smell of fish. His palms are calloused from pulling up nets and reeling in large thirty pound fish. Perhaps both their work is not the same; only made similar by his own wishful thinking.
"It's not going to work," Robin says with a shake of his head. "Regina would never want a man like me. Not to mention, judging by that phone call that interrupted us, she seems to already have someone."
Reya lifts a brow. "It doesn't matter though, 'cause it's not real," she asserts boldly.
"And how do you know it's not real?" he challenges.
"Because it isn't," Reya states, "I can just tell. But you didn't answer my question about you not feeling any connection with my mom."
The corner of Robin's lips tilt upward slightly. "That wasn't a question," he retorts.
"Fine then, but I know there was something. And deep down, you know too. Don't hide it. You need to tell my mom how you feel."
Robin shakes his head fervently. "Reya, that's not how it works," he says, "I can't just do that, not when she's in the middle of another relationship. I can't just go ahead and break whatever they have together. It wouldn't be right." He closes his eyes, breathing in deeply though his nose. "Even if Regina were single. It's not so easy…"
Reya sighs, shaking her head. She decides not to reply, figuring that perhaps the subject should drop. The problem is that she knows she's pushing her parents, perhaps far too hard than intended. She knows that this will take time. But she's far too eager to break the curse and get her family back. It's all with good reason, of course, but it still doesn't mean that she should rush anything. It could all backfire and she'd end up with an even bigger mess than when she started.
She watches as Robin gazes back out towards the horizon, his right hand still planted on the reel, ready for action. It's then that suddenly the very tip of the fishing pole begins to bob, almost as if in a rhythm. And all attention now swiftly shifts to the task at hand.
"I think we have one," Robin whispers as his eyes widen slightly. He stills, waiting like a statue in hopes that the nibbling fish will take a bite. And in a matter of seconds, it does, the tip of the rod suddenly pulling downward and bending the entire top half of the fishing pole. The minute this happens, Robin is yanking the pole upright, right hand moving fast as he works to reel in the prize.
"I see it!" Reya exclaims as she looks over the boat and notices the splashing of a tail in the water as the animal is inevitably brought closer and closer.
"Here, do you want to try?" Robin asks breathily, looking over at the young brunette; his sapphire eyes sparkling. Lord knows why he offered all of a sudden. It's a gesture that surprises the fisherman himself, further sparking warmth that flows through his chest as he watches Reya eagerly take the fishing pole. Robin is unable to not smile brightly at her as she pulls the wiggling fish all the way up to the boat. From there, he helps her haul the prize up. Together, they deposit a beautiful five pound sea bass onto the floor of the boat. With a proud chuckle, Robin bends down and takes the flapping animal, stilling it with a firm hand as he removes the hook from its lip, picks it up, and tosses it into a white bucket full of water.
Reya looks on with fascination. "Aren't you going to kill it?" she inquires.
"No, we'll let it live a little longer," Robin says, glancing down as the fish swims in confused circles inside the bucket. "And don't worry. Its death will be swift when we filet it."
Reya smiles softly. "Yeah, I understand. I'm sure he will be tasty."
Robin chuckles softly, patting the young girl on the back. "I'm sure he will." He then smirks slightly. "You can help me prepare him if you want."
"Ooh, that'd be awesome!" Reya exclaims excitedly, "Please."
Robin laughs, shaking his head. "Well, it's settled then. We have dinner. Shall we head back to the harbor?"
Reya nods enthusiastically and Robin heads to pull up the anchor. The young brunette takes up her seat on the passenger side in front of the consul, just as it was when they arrived.
"Right, off we go," Robin announces, turning on the engine and pushing forward the throttle, sending the boat forward against the swells of the ocean.
"Can we go fast again like we did before?" Reya requests eagerly.
With another smirk, Robin nods, pushing the throttle even more. Instantly, the boat increases speed, the bow tipping upward, the engine's propellers slicing through the waters at the stern. Wind whips through hair and slaps at cheeks. The smell of the ocean becomes more potent as salt sprays onto skin with each swell over which the boat bounces.
They circle around, heading back towards the island. The harbor grows closer and closer until Robin is slowing the boat immediately at the "No Wake" sign displayed at the very opening of the channel. From there, the two are cruising along at five miles per hour into the harbor.
"Do you want to pull us up to the dock?" Robin asks as they approach his designated spot. Reya looks to him, nodding firmly. "All right. Go to the port side, the left side of the boat, and grab the line there. Make sure its running underneath the rail not on top. Don't step off until I tell you to. Then you're going to pull hard, keeping us as close to the dock as possible until I get to where you are. Got that?"
"Yup!" Reya chirps, sliding off her seat and moving to do exactly as her father says. Once the boat pulls up alongside the dock and he gives the command, the brunette is stepping off, pulling as hard as she can to keep the boat in its position against the landing. It is then that Robin is killing the engine, moving quickly to hop overboard onto the dock and take the line from Reya, looping it tightly around the cleat and securing it with a simple, yet sturdy knot. Again, the young brunette marvels at his quick and efficient skill.
After further securing the boat in with line at the bow and at the stern, the two are making their way from the docks with their precious haul. It's not until they are on the main road and suddenly hear the sound of a loud engine tear through the calm tranquility of late morning that the two are halting in their tracks. Simultaneously, they look to the road to see an approaching motorcycle. Reya recognizes it as a Harley immediately, and her suspicions are only confirmed when she sees a wave of dark hair and a form clad in torn shorts and leather jacket.
Robin gazes wide-eyed at the spectacle before him as Regina approaches oncoming, but swivels around in the middle of the road to meet up alongside he and Reya on their side. His gaping expression matches almost that of the sea bass floating in the bucket he's currently gripping. As for Reya's appearance, her priceless expression almost matching perfectly with those of Robin and the sea bass, as she witnesses her mother for the first time riding a motorcycle.
As for Regina, well, she simply pulls up in front of her audience, kills the engine, and sits perched on her bike; dark eyes immediately judging the two as they stare as if she's a rare beast on display at the zoo. Her lips soon pull upward in a smirk of amusement as she crosses her arms, leaning slightly back.
"What?" she challenges in a drawl, lifting a dark eyebrow, "Never seen a real woman on a motorcycle before?" She lifts her helmet from her head, shaking out her short brunette locks.
Robin is the first to snap his mouth closed. "Uh, no—I mean, um," he stutters, "It's an interesting look."
Regina huffs, rolling her eyes before turning then to the still gaping younger brunette. Reya blinks, shaking her head. "No, it's just, I've never seen you do that before," she replies innocently, "It's…different."
"Different?" Regina repeats, both brows raising. "It's what I drive everyday, as often as I can."
Robin shakes his head, surprised to say the least that he'd be seeing the brunette wonder so soon. And the motorcycle is quite the detail to add to his mental record about the woman whom is his so-called soulmate. He's not quite sure what to make of it—the whole motorcycle thing. Certainly, this method of transportation has proved to not be the safest. However, for some reason, the man can't deny the fact that she does look good.
Robin snorts at the thought, shaking away his fantasy.
"Why are you here?" he asks.
Regina smirks. "I was headed down to the beach to sketch out another landscape," she answers smoothly. She glances swiftly at Reya. But in truth, the older brunette was simply taking a drive—well—at least she convinced herself she was. However, deep down, Regina couldn't help but think about the young girl; her thoughts then having led her to Menemsha's center in hopes of seeing her once more.
Her thoughts were intrusive, bugging her the moment she woke in the very early morning. No amount of painting and listening to MVY radio (with the volume cranked as high as possible) could help. Fearfully unnamed emotions tugged at her deepest heartstrings. They confused her, worried her, made her antsy. Reya is just a girl, a confused girl who obviously needs help beyond Regina's own capabilities. Yet, why has she made so much of an impression upon the older brunette's mind? And likewise for Robin, ever since she bid him goodbye out on his front porch, the brunette hadn't been able to, at all, clear her mind of thoughts of him. It truly frustrated her. Yet, as much as she would refuse to admit, Regina felt a pull, almost as if it was a strange magnetic attraction. It bothers her that she has absolutely no idea as to where it comes from or why.
Reya lifts a brow, mirroring her cursed mother's look almost perfectly. "Are you?" she challenges, smirking widely.
"Yes, I was," Regina says, refusing to give anything away. She plays her charade off quite impressively. However, the young brunette is smart enough to look past the older woman's forcefully nonchalant attitude. "But I guess now that I'm here, I can see how you two are getting along." She glances towards Robin, her lips turning upward. "I'm sure taking care of a child is quite the task."
"Hey! I'm right here!" Reya declares.
Regina flashes Robin a simper.
Robin raises his brows. "That's why you handed her off to me," he teases.
"You seem to be doing quite well handling it, considering you're a hermit."
"I am not."
"You are to." Regina chuckles lowly. "Don't look at me like that," she says, "I'm complimenting you."
"Doesn't feel like it," Robin sulks.
"Then, what does it feel like, hmm?"
Robin groans. "You're so patronizing!"
"Am I?"
"Yes, you are. It's infuriating. You gave me the girl in the first place, why? To make fun of me?" Robin feels his face begin to heat.
Regina laughs, rolling her eyes. "I'm not making fun of you. But it is funny seeing you all worked up." She shrugs. "Anyway, you two seem to be have had some fun, right? Is that a fish I see in that bucket of yours?" She leans slightly over in her seat to look at the sea bass. "Quite the catch of the day, huh? You should give it a name."
Robin scowls. "You are a piece of work, you know that?" he grumbles.
Regina simply flashes him a white-toothed smile as Reya silently watches this back and forth. The only reason why she can tolerate this is because on Robin's features, she can swear she sees the amusement, his enjoyment, behind his presumably irritated expression, no matter how hard he may try to hide it.
"Robin took me out on his boat today," Reya pipes up with a smirk, "It's really beautiful."
"Mmm," Regina hums in response, "I'm sure it is."
Robin's scowl slowly turns upward once more as he quickly finds he cannot stay annoyed with the older brunette for long. "Perhaps when you stop being an ass, you can have the pleasure of accompanying Reya and I next time." At this, Reya's eyes light up with excitement, to which Robin shoots her a small side smile.
"I'm not an ass!" Regina protests, her demeanor almost pouting.
Robin's smile widens. "Yes you are. A big pain in the ass."
"Well you're no Prince Charming either," Regina retorts.
Reya grins. "Yup!" she chirps, "He's Robin Hood!"
Robin chokes, coughing loudly. "I'm what?" he breathes, eyes widening.
"You're Robin Hood. You know, the thief who 'steals from the rich and gives to the poor'?"
Regina laughs out loud. "Well, that explains a lot."
"That explains what?" Robin demands, again growing slightly irritated as this conversation has again suddenly turned into ridiculousness. The man doesn't even have time to marvel at this roller coaster of emotions.
"You live secluded on your own. You're dirty all the time. You smell like fish. It's only fitting that your true identity be a thief."
"Now that's just hurtful," Robin says, narrowing his eyes at the brunette who seems to be having the time of her life right just now.
"You're the one to talk," Reya comments, looking towards her cursed mother. "You're the Evil Queen."
Now, it's Robin's turn to laugh out loud. This is just too good. The irony is too good.
Regina smirks slightly, lifting her chin. "That's right," she states sarcastically at the bellowing man, "I'm a queen."
"You're missing the part where you are supposedly evil," Robin breathes breathlessly. His eyes sparkle as he wiggles his brows up and down teasingly. "Rightfully named, I must say."
"I'm not evil," Regina counters.
"Pretty much every single conversation—if you can even call them conversations—would beg to differ," Robin retorts. "Only you are capable of making them terribly unpleasant."
"Oh, sure, blame me," Regina says, "But I know that deep down, you're enjoying every second of it." Her eyes sparkle as she gazes into his.
"The same could be said for you," Robin states boldly.
"Ah, but you don't know me well enough, thief." Regina wiggles her brows.
"That's right," Robin admits with a smirk, "You're a mystery beyond compare."
"You guys are too funny," Reya states, breaking her silence from watching the pair go at it back and forth and back and forth. "You argue just how you used to back at home in the Enchanted Forest."
Regina rolls her eyes. "Ugh, yeah, right," she groans before starting up the engine once again. Did the little girl really think she'd fall for something as ridiculous as her being a fairytale character? Suddenly, Regina feels she has to get out before any more nonsense is thrown her way. "I'm outta here."
"Oh wait! Don't go yet!" Reya pleads.
"I gotta go," Regina excuses, "I'm meeting Steve in a half hour up at his tattoo shop in the Bluffs."
Reya groans. "You seriously need to dump that guy. He's awful," she states bluntly. Robin shifts, suddenly uncomfortable.
Regina laughs. "That's because you don't know him, baby," she drawls, placing her helmet back on. And with that, she's off in a cloud of dust, leaving the Robin and Reya in silence as they stare down the direction in which she goes.
"I really hate him," Reya grumbles, shaking her head in dismay.
Robin chuckles softly. "Such a strong opinion," he replies, slightly amused. "How come?"
"Because, he's like so fake. Him with Regina reminds me of a stupid high school couple that you see in the movies. They can't keep their hands off each other. They're so…gross." Reya wrinkles her nose.
The man sighs. "You really do think Regina and I are soulmates," he muses.
Reya nods fervently. "Nothing can tear you apart," she asserts, "Nothing, not even the strength of the curse. You two are meant to be together."
"And these—other—identities. That's all real too?" Robin clarifies cautiously.
"Yes, they are."
"That seems so far fetched," Robin replies, "I mean, I know you told me that I apparently don't remember who I am. But the fact that I'm this…character. It's unreal."
"I thought you'd expect it, since I told you that you come from the Enchanted Forest. You said it yourself. It's something out of a fairytale. Well, it is. And it's real."
Robin shakes his head, still skeptical. It's all so much to take in at a time. Each time they discuss this ridiculous subject, each detail added on to the story makes it become more and more absurd.
"What do I have to do to make you believe, to make both of you believe?" Reya pleads exasperatedly.
Robin's brows furrow. He shakes his head once more. "Proof, Reya," he answers, "We need proof that all of this, everything you say, is true."
"But I don't have proof!" Reya exclaims, "It takes faith, belief, to break this curse. You have to believe me. You have to find Regina, find my mom, and tell her how you really feel. You have to kiss her. True love's kiss, it's the only way to break the curse."
Robin closes his eyes, shaking his head. He bends down, looking the young, distressed girl in the eye. Among all other troubled emotions he may be feeling, his features bear most of sympathy. "Reya," he says gently, placing down the bucket and reaching out with both hands to hold firmly onto the young girl's shoulders. "We've been through this before." He takes a deep breath, letting it out audibly through his mouth.
"Despite everything that is different about us both, there is one common thing that both your mother and I have. As much as I'd hate to admit it, we are both stubborn. But also, you have to understand it from our point of view. Regina and I have both been living our separate lives peacefully on this island. Everything was perfect for me, as I'm sure it was for her as well. But suddenly, you turn up and no offense, but you turn our worlds upside down." He shakes his head again. "Your saying that the life we've been living isn't real, that we aren't who we really are. That's not something we're so ready to accept, believe that our perfect lives on this island have been nothing but a fake." Robin closes his eyes. "I don't want to believe that," he confesses, "My life was fine just the way it was."
Reya's eyes shine softly with held tears. "I thought you would be different from my mom, from Regina," she says brokenheartedly, "I thought you believed me even if it was a little bit. But you're just like her."
Robin sighs, his head shaking slowly. "I'm sorry…" he murmurs.
"But what about her, though?" Reya pleas, "I see the way you look at my mom. I know you guys playfully argue a lot, but you like her. Why are you fighting it?"
"Because it's never going to happen," Robin states exasperatedly, "I've told you that over and over again."
"So, what? You're just going to give up?"
"It's not about giving up. It's about letting Regina live her life. She neither needs nor wants me intruding in it." Robin sighs. "Look, I want to believe everything you said is real. I want to believe that Regina and I belong together. But I can't. That's just not the reality."
Tricky stuff!
Just want to say thank you again for your enormous support in this fic! All of your kind comments are fully appreciated and cherished. Lots of love to you all!
Stay tuned, more to come very soon, and don't forget to keep those comments coming!