Hey everyone! Finally another update, I'm so sorry for the super-duper long wait! Please blame college for putting three midterms in a week, and for Creation Entertainment OUAT Con in Whippany, NJ ;) Yep, I finally met Lana Parrilla and it was an experience unlike any other! Anyway, without further ado, I give you an extra long chapter to make up for lost time! Thank you for your patience, please enjoy and thanks for sticking with!
Had the current situation not be as dire as it is, Robin would easily be able to say that he rather enjoys riding behind Regina on her motorcycle. What started off to be an awkward affair, especially when security came into concern, that is grabbing onto Regina's waist for support, soon became more relaxed as Robin hugged her close. The wind whipped through their hair, the smell of fresh air filled their nostrils. Robin would almost equate the experience to that of being on his boat. And he can't help the small smile that spreads over his lips.
As for Regina, well, she simply forces herself to keep her eyes on both the road and the pendant whose chain is clutched tightly between one hand and the bike's handlebar. Ignoring the undoubtedly comforting feeling of Robin's arms around her, the brunette channels any possible emotion into their mission. The further she rides, the more the pendant glows. That's how she knows she's going in the right direction.
It isn't long before the pair find themselves back in the heart of Menemsha, amongst the swarming beach-goers and fishermen. Regina slowly navigates her motorbike through the crowd. Thankfully managing to find a small spot near the public bathrooms, she squeezes her bike in and parks it; praying to God that she doesn't receive a ticket of any kind. Robin is the first to jump off, automatically offering Regina his hand in assistance. The brunette takes one glance down at his proffered hand and snorts. Nevertheless, she places her hand in his and scrambles off as well.
"Come on," Regina says to Robin, holding the now brightly glowing pendant tightly in her hand. "Let's go. She has to be here somewhere."
Robin nods, his expression turning serious. "Let's split up," he suggests, "I'll take the docks. You take the beach." With a sigh, Regina nods in agreement, to which Robin finds quite surprising given her past history.
So the two split up, Regina walking towards the direction of the beach, and Robin towards the docks that run perpendicularly. Regina rushed towards the sandy beach. Kicking off her sandals at the edge, she proceeds to run barefoot across the soft sand that presses hot and burning against the soles of her feet. Regina squints against the sun as she repeatedly looks up and down the beach, scanning for a small form with dark hair such as herself. It's like picking a needle from a haystack. Children of her age run everywhere along with toddlers and their parents whose eyes quickly grow tired of constantly keeping track of their whereabouts. Reya is nowhere to be seen.
"This is not working," Regina groans under her breath in exhaust. Gazing down at Reya's feather pendant, she shakes her head as she finds it still glowing as brightly as ever. With a huff, she shoves it in her back pocket and continues her search; walking up and down the small, concentrated area of the water's edge. After a few minutes of doing so, and with no luck, Regina heads back towards the parking lot to go in search of Robin in hopes that he has better luck with finding the missing brunette.
However, it's just as she reaches where the sand meets the pavement that Regina suddenly gets the idea that there could only be one more place where Reya may be hiding. Swiveling on her heels, she abruptly changes course and begins walking swiftly towards the start of the jetty. Taking one rock at a time, Regina navigates her way over the jetty's unstable surface until she is approaching the very end; where up ahead, much to her relief, she finds the missing brunette.
There Reya sits on one of the rocks at the very tip of the jetty; her knees pressed up against her chest, arms hugging tightly around them. She's still, calmly looking out towards the open ocean where she and her cursed father had been on The Lioness just a few days ago.
"Reya," Regina calls gently, slowly making her way towards the young girl. She comes beside, taking her time to bend down and place herself at Reya's side, down on the level boulder on which the young brunette sits. "We've been looking for you." Regina leans forward in attempts to glimpse at the expressionless features of her supposed daughter. As Reya slowly turns her head to meet her cursed mother's concerned gaze, Regina searches her eyes.
"I know," Reya says simply before turning back towards the sea.
Regina sighs softly. It seems like now, more than ever, the older brunette finds herself at a loss for words and for actions. This is just yet another prime example of such. She shifts uncomfortably as only the soft lapping of the waves against the rocks of the jetty sounds between the two.
"I have your necklace," Regina speaks again, the first to break the quiet. With a half-smile, she reaches into her pocket and pulls out Reya's feather pendant. Its glow has finally ceased, leaving its smooth metal to simply shine brightly in the sun's rays.
But Reya makes no move to take the necklace back; she keeps her arms wrapped tightly around her legs, keeping them to her chest as if to protect herself from something. It's a stance that draws out an overwhelming feeling of remorse from Regina.
"Reya," Regina tries again, almost pleads. She shakes her head, swallowing thickly. "I'm sorry." But again, the young girl makes no move to respond. This time, Regina holds nothing back. "Please say something," she begs.
"It hurts," Reya murmurs under her breath, her words incoherent.
Regina frowns. "What?" she asks gently.
"It hurts," Reya repeats, louder this time. "I know I showed up in your life and suddenly started saying these things to you. And I know how hard it is for you to believe me. And I know that deep down, you think I'm crazy." She closes her eyes. "But you don't realize that it hurts me too. Seeing you like this…seeing Robin like this. I just want you back."
Regina swallows hard. It is her turn now to feel the pain that lances through her heart like an arrow at every beat. When the young girl opens her eyes and gazes into hers, chocolate on chocolate, it is almost enough to reduce Regina to tears. For what she sees, for the very first time, is a broken young girl. And immediately, the older brunette detests her own self for allowing her fear and insecurity blind her from seeing the truth. Stories or not, this young girl is broken. Robin is right. She needs her help…even if it means trying to believe in Reya is saying.
"I…" Regina lets out a gentle, yet choked up sigh, "I don't know what to do."
"Neither did Robin…" comes the melancholic answer. "But he found a way…why is that so hard for you to do the same?"
"It's complicated." Regina shakes her head. "Reya," she sighs, "Why did you run?"
Reya tears her eyes from Regina's, this time glancing downward. "Because I realized that no matter what I do to try and make you understand, make you believe, you're incapable of change…not unless something happens."
"And what is that something?"
"You and dad—you and Robin—I needed a way for you two to come together."
Regina's brows pull together as suddenly everything clicks into place. "Wait. So you're saying that this whole thing with running off was a setup?"
For the first time in this conversation, she witnesses a small smirk on the young brunette's lips. And she can't help but let out a short, indignant laugh. "You little stinker."
Reya rolls her eyes. "I just needed you two to work together…for something."
"Which was finding you," Regina figures. "So none of this is for real. It was just a ruse."
Reya shakes her head firmly. "No, everything I just said is very real. And you need to try to believe me."
"Well, it's kind of hard to if you're pulling stunts like this."
Reya lifts her eyes to gaze back into Regina's. And what used to be a look of melancholy now has returned to that look of challenge and determination that Regina has gotten to know so well.
"If it was just a stunt, then tell me that nothing different happened between you and Robin this time when you went to look for me."
Regina sucks in her breath, letting it out slowly bit by bit. Her heart thumps a little harder in her chest. She closes her eyes and opens them once more to meet Reya's with an almost rueful look.
"We kissed," Regina confesses quietly before lowering her gaze to her hands that lie limply in her lap. "Nothing happened."
Reya sighs. But she does nothing but simply shake her head. No outburst of frustration or despair that the one thing needed to break the curse didn't work. No anger or resentment at neither Regina nor Robin. Just a simple sigh and shake of her head.
"Of course nothing happened," Reya mutters.
Regina raises her brow, slightly perplexed at this odd reaction that's quite uncharacteristic of the young girl who sits next to her. "What do you mean?"
"I mean, I'm not surprised."
"But a kiss…isn't that supposed to be what breaks this curse? That's what you told me the very first day we met: that I needed to find Robin, my soulmate, and kiss him."
"Yeah, but not just any kiss—a kiss of true love. You need true love's kiss to break the curse," Reya explains.
Regina shakes her head. "But I don't understand. If what you say is true, Robin and I had true love before this mess happened. We were soulmates. So technically shouldn't we still be? Isn't that what you've been saying all this time and getting us to believe?"
"Yes, but just because you loved each other beforehand doesn't mean that it would affect the kiss now. Your true love for each other is still inside you—both of you. No curse can ever erase that. But if you don't truly believe in that love, the kiss isn't anything special."
"But how do I believe? How can I believe in something that isn't there, something that I don't even feel?"
"But you do feel it. Deep down you do," Reya insists, "If you haven't felt anything, the kiss wouldn't have even happened in the first place. It may not have broken the curse, but it has to have stirred something inside of you. But it's up to you not to push it down."
"But I'm not—"
"Yes, you are. You know you are. Regina—Mom—you have to accept it, this feeling that you have. You have to accept the true love deep inside of you. Then, the kiss will work."
Regina closes her eyes, head shaking slowly in defeat as she lets out a long breath. No matter how hard she tries, she can't help but see an element of truth in Reya's words. It's undeniable. She can't help but feel some pull towards him. "Even if there is, I don't know how…"
Reya sighs. "You don't know how because there's something…or someone...blocking you from seeing the truth."
Regina frowns. "Who?"
"Steve," Reya replies quietly, "What you have with him is not real. It's just the curse making you think it's real."
"But I love him."
"But deep down, you love Robin."
Regina shakes her head. "Reya, if you're saying that I should leave Steve for Robin—"
"That's exactly what I'm saying!"
"Reya, I can't! I'm in a relationship. I'm invested in him. Don't you know what that means?"
"I do, but it's the only way you can realize your true love for Robin."
"Reya," Regina pleads, turning fully towards the young girl and grasping her hands tightly, "I really want to help you. I really want to believe. But I can't. I'm sorry. I can't leave Steve for a future that I don't even know is certain."
"But isn't that what taking a risk, a leap of faith is about? Isn't that what belief is about?"
"Yes, but that's something I can't do. I love Steve—with all my heart. I need him and he needs me."
"But you need Robin and Robin needs you also," Reya retorts gently, "He's willing to fight for you."
Regina frowns. "Fight for me?"
Reya nods. "Help you realize that there's so much more—so much more to feel beyond what you feel for Steve."
Regina swallows hard, not particularly liking the idea of both Reya and Robin conspiring against her to part her from Steve. She realizes that Robin likes her. What's to say that what he's doing with Reya isn't out of honor, but out of jealousy or lust? Must she think like this? Her mind asserts her and says that yes, she must. But her heart...she saw the way he has looked at her time and time again. It cannot all be a farce.
"Robin, this is not just bluff. He means it. I know he does. I know him. He means to tear us apart."
Robin looks on with wide eyes as his new bride paces back and forth on the balcony of their bedchamber. If what she says is true, for he has no memory of that encounter during the wedding, his stomach twists in pain; anger building within him. How dare that little imp once again seek out revenge—revenge against someone who did no such crime, no less. Deep in his bones, he feels his newfound magic stir. But Robin won't act impulsively, at least not yet. Right now, right in this moment, his soulmate needs him: his support, his comfort, his courage.
"But I don't understand, why would Rumplestiltskin wish for revenge on you for something you didn't commit? It makes no sense. You'd think the man's more honorable than that."
"It's the Dark One, we're talking about," Regina growls, "Whatever version he may be, trust me, there is no honor involved."
Robin sighs. Shaking his head, he steps into the path of his wife, stopping her pacing as he draws her into a firm embrace. He closes his eyes as he feels her immediately relax into his arms.
"Why would he do this?" he repeats with a sigh, "It just doesn't make any sense to me."
Regina shakes her head, pulling gently away from her husband's arms. Looking up into his eyes, she reads the frustration, the anger, the pain in the look that mirrors her own. She thinks for a moment.
"Because he's making the same mistake I did a long time ago," she answers quietly. "His heart is full of pain and suffering, much like mine was. And how did I channel it? I used a scapegoat on which I could direct all of my anger and frustration. Snow White. And yes, she may have had a significant part in—in taking away my happiness—but I admit now that she didn't deserve my wrath. My mother was as much a part of this as she was. But I chose her for my revenge…because she was easiest to blame." Regina shakes her head. "I didn't commit this crime. I didn't kill Belle, but since the Evil Queen from the Wish Realm is no more and Regina my other half escaped, I'm the only one left. And no matter what version of myself I may come across in whatever realm, I still share the same thing in common with each one…just as you do with the Robin who died."
Robin swallows thickly. As he listens, he can't help that burning anger that grows ever steadily within him. He tries to remind himself that like Regina, he's redeemed. He steals from the rich to now give to the poor. He thinks before he acts. He's not impulsive. But Robin can't stand the fact that he stands here now listening to the distraught love of his life, in fear that once again everything she's ever worked for will be taken. How many times must she pay that price? How many times must her heart be in pain?
"Robin…" Regina's voice pulls him back to the here and now. Robin blinks at his concerned wife, shaking his head quickly.
"Are you all right?" Regina asks slowly, her brows pulling together tightly.
Again, Robin shakes his head, now confused at the worrisome look his brunette queen continues to give him. It's only when he follows her gaze down to where he finds his hands clenched in tight fists that he realizes the reason for her apprehensiveness. Small sparks shoot from his fists, dissipating just before they reach the cold tiled floor. With a gulp, the thief loosens his fists, shaking both his hands as if to rid them of the sparks of magic that come from within. He presses his palms together. "I'm fine," he answers curtly.
Regina frowns, stepping towards him once more. "Are you sure?" she asks. She doesn't hesitate at all to reach down and take one of her lover's hands into both of her own, despite the potential danger. Brows still tightly knitted together, she gives his hand a firm squeeze. "You're certain you can control it?" she asks.
Robin swallows. "I'm certain," he breathes, "It's just—I just…" He trails off.
"Just breathe, Robin," Regina says gently, watching as the man's attention, for the first time, turns to his rapidly heaving chest.
He takes a deep breath.
"Are you sure you can handle this magic?" the brunette queen questions again.
"You said I could," Robin states.
"Because I'm certain you can. That's why I asked to teach you in the first place," Regina says, "But if it's getting too much…"
"No." Robin shakes his head adamantly. "No. I can do this. I want this. You wanted to teach me magic because you believed that together with our combined skills, we can help the greater good. So I want to continue with that. And, I want to be able to protect you if need be."
"Robin, I don't need protection."
"He made a threat, Regina. He's the most powerful man alive, you know that."
"Of course I know that!" Regina exclaims, "Which is why I can't have you taking it upon yourself to try and defend me!"
"Why?!"
"Because I can't lose you again!" Regina closes her eyes, turning herself away from Robin. Tightly, her arms are crossed over her chest almost as if to protect herself. "Because I won't lose you again…" she whispers. "This is why I was afraid to marry you. This is exactly why I ran away. I can't go through this pain again." Regina shakes her head. "But that doesn't matter so much anymore because Rumple isn't here for an attack."
Robin frowns. "Then what is he here for?" he questions, "What exactly is he planning?"
"I don't know," Regina sighs exasperatedly, still keeping her eyes cast downward; body turned away. "But he said that the curse that's coming won't be so much of his doing."
"Then who's doing will it be?"
"Ours…"
The word echoes inside Robin's mind. It resonates through his bones, chilling them to the core.
"He said we're going to rip each other apart," Regina confesses.
At this, Robin is lurching towards her. He takes her face in both his hands and forces her to look into his eyes; gripping firmly, but reassuringly. "Regina…" he searches her dark chocolate orbs, "I will never, ever hurt you."
"I know, Robin," Regina whispers, "I know you won't."
"So why worry?"
"Because Rumple always finds a way. One way or another, he will find a way to have what he wants especially when he knows the outcome will be disastrous. He thrives on that. Just like I used to, he exploits pain."
"Then the answer is simple," Robin says with a shake of his head, sapphire eyes never leaving hers. "If it's pain he's looking for to exploit, we give him nothing to find. We show him that despite what he says, we will live on in happiness: in the happiness our marriage has created. We finally have the life we want, a life that no one can take away from us no matter how powerful we are so long as we believe in it. So we show him. We show him that we're not afraid by his false predictions of flaws in our relationship and live our life together happily ever after. Our love and happiness will conquer all."
"So what do you suggest?" Regina asks, "We keep going on our jolly way stealing from the rich and giving to the poor, keeping smiles on our faces just so that we don't appear to be unhappy. That hardly seems genuine."
Robin shrugs. "It can be genuine when we put that fear out of our minds, focusing on our life moving forward." Robin smiles softly before reaching down with one hand to press his palm gently to his wife's lower stomach. "And I can think of no better way than to—"
"Robin," Regina interrupts with a breath. She shakes her head. "You really don't mean…" She looks up at him with wide eyes.
"But wouldn't that be a perfect way to show him that we are happy, that we can move forward towards a brighter future. What better way to do that than to have this perfect manifestation of our love?"
Regina lets out a short incredulous laugh. "Robin, you can't be serious," she breathes.
"Why not? Don't you want a child of your own? Our child?"
"Of course," Regina says, "Of course I do…more than anything. It's just that, we've just gotten married, yesterday. It's so soon. Plus, I'm barren, remember?"
Robin smiles softly, raising his hand from her stomach back to caress at his beloved wife's soft cheek. "I really do feel like we are ready and that we can do this so long as you believe so as well. I want nothing more than to grow a family with you, a family neither of us have ever had. We don't have to rush this if you don't want to. But it's just something to think about." Robin stares into her eyes, his own bursting with raw passion. "And there has to be a way to break the spell," he adds, a look of determination in his eyes, "There must be, especially now that we are back here in a land full of magic." He reaches down and takes both of Regina's hands into his, squeezing firmly. "If you really want this, Regina, if you really believe we can make this happen, nothing is impossible. We'll find a way."
Regina looks at her husband, her soulmate, the love of her life, in awe. She shakes her head, astounded by the amount of hope that he holds within. And it is just that which reassures her, which makes her believe in their future and in taking that next step...that leap of faith.
"I want to have a child with you, Robin," she whispers, a smile slowly but surely spreading her lips, "I want to have your child."
"It's a beautiful pendant," Regina remarks, gazing down at the feather that still rests in her palm.
Reya smirks slightly. "I knew it would work to find me just as it found you," she says.
Regina shakes her head. "But I didn't do anything," she replies confusedly.
"You didn't have to," Reya states, her smirk widening, "If you will it hard enough, it will respond."
At her answer, Regina lifts a brow. "I know what you're thinking," she drawls with a chuckle, "Of course I wanted to find you, Reya." She shakes her head again.
"I know you care about me." Reya looks up into her cursed mother's eyes. "No matter how much you try to push me away."
Regina's chest constricts, a dull ache settling in. "I never meant to hurt you," she confesses. "I'm really, really sorry."
"I know, Mom," Reya says with a smile. "I forgive you." It's then that she leans over and wraps her arms around the older brunette in a tight hug. It takes Regina aback, having her hesitate for but a moment before she is reciprocating; enveloping the young girl tightly in her arms. Her eyes close, her cheek resting against the top of Reya's head. There's a warmth that begins to heat deep down within the depths of her soul. It's something she can't quite place. However, something that is very real. And slowly, it's almost as if a void deep inside her—a void she never quite knew she had in this moment—is just beginning to fill.
Reya is the first to gently pull away, looking her mother in her eyes identical to her own. "I'll have my necklace back now, please," she requests.
Regina lets out a short laugh before helping secure the pendant's chain around the young brunette's neck. "I never did ask you who gave it to you," she muses, "Whomever did must have been quite powerful to enchant it like that."
"I know," Reya says, her smirk returning to her lips as she looks at the older brunette with a sparkle in her eye, "If you really want to know, you did."
Regina's brows raise. "Me?" she breathes, "But…"
"Remember what I said? You were the Evil Queen. I mean you're not evil anymore, you're redeemed, but you're still one of the most powerful sorcerers in the land. You had magic, strong magic."
"I really thought you were joking that time you told me that I'm the Evil Queen and Robin is Robin Hood…" Regina scratches the back of her neck uncomfortably.
"Nope!" Reya grins.
"So…do I still have magic now?"
Reya shakes her head. "We're in the Land Without Magic," she says, "There's no magic here. Or well…the only things magical are items that were Enchanted in the first place, brought over by the curse like my pendant."
Regina nods. "So…did Robin have magic too?"
"He did," Reya replies before her face falls, her eyes suddenly turning distant almost as if she's reliving a certain memory…a painful memory.
"What's wrong?" Regina asks, tilting her head to gaze into the young brunette's face.
"Nothing," Reya sighs, shaking her head, "It's nothing."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah," Reya answers quickly, "We should head back. I'm sure he's waiting."
Regina smiles slightly, rubbing the girl's back reassuringly. "Yes, let's."
It doesn't take long for him to figure out that Reya is not anywhere near the docks. Robin can only hope and pray that Regina has more luck in this miniature endeavor. As he makes his way back towards the way he came, the fisherman can't help but reflect on the events of this past week. It chills him to think that in such a short amount of time, his world has turned completely upside down. Robin thinks about where he started, withdrawn and inhibited, to where he is now. It was Reya who pulled him from his shell and who made him more open to the idea that there's so much more to life than what he simply saw in front of him. Despite the seeming ridiculousness of her stories, they showed him in a way that life can be, in a way, exciting and enchanting…and complicated. Far more complicated than Robin's mere simple fisherman's life. It's a downside to this whole matter, but a positive as well. And if Reya can have hope, so can he.
As he reflects more and more on what the young girl said along with what he's read in the storybook, Robin can't help but have his intrigue sparked even further. He can feel himself growing more curious than what he felt being afraid previously. He's wanting to know more. He's captivated by the characters in the book, especially the so-called, notorious Evil Queen. And yes, Robin can see many parallels between her written character and that of a certain Regina he knows. The man smirks at the thought as he can most certainly picture, in his mind, Regina as she throws balls of fire towards those who dare to do her wrong. He sees the brokenness portrayed so well on the pages of the book. He can see the emptiness inside. The Evil Queen wasn't simply evil, she was misunderstood, as cliche as this statement may be. Robin wonders if the same applies to Regina. Of course, the woman isn't evil, but is she misunderstood? Is there something deeper occurring under her hard exterior of dark makeup, leather jackets, and motorcycles…and the love she claims to have? Truly, this is none of Robin's business but Reya has clearly made it seem otherwise. And try as he may, he can't escape from the fact that he is involved now…especially now that he and Regina have kissed.
The memory now darkens his mood further as he recalls the feeling of her soft lips pressed against his…all the while nothing happened. So what is Robin supposed to do now? Is he to readily accept that everything Reya has been saying is fake? Absentmindedly, the man shakes his head. No. He can't do that. He can't just readily admit to himself that both he and Regina mutually have felt nothing for one another, then part and go on their merry way. If that's true, the kiss never would have happened in the first place. So why didn't it work?
It's the loud gunning of a motorcycle that brings Robin back from the depths of his thoughts. The man looks up, finding himself to be off the docks and back in the beach's parking lot. Glancing towards the sound of the engine, Robin expects to find Regina and possibly Reya riding up towards him. But instead, he finds a dark haired man racing through the lot on a Harley similar to the one Regina rides, but much larger. With wide eyes, Robin swallows thickly as he takes in the man's appearance: ripped jeans vest, ripped jeans, chain hanging around his neck, slight beard, and piercing dark eyes. Dread settles in Robin's stomach as realization hits, especially when the burly man steers his bike right towards him, all the while scattering beach-goers as he does. He watches as the biker pulls his vehicle into an illegal spot, shuts off the engine, and saunters over towards him.
"So, you're that fisherman Regina's been talking about," Steve states as he approaches, his dark eyes looking the man up and down.
Robin shuffles uncomfortably. "Robin," he answers, clearing his throat. He gathers himself, lifting his chin. "I've heard a lot about you, Steve."
"Really?" Steve says, raising a dark brow, "Well, I wish I could say the same about you. But I'm afraid that Regina hasn't been so open with sharing about new—friends—lately." He narrows his eyes, giving Robin an accusing look.
"There's been a lot going on," Robin replies curtly, his own blue eyes boring into the other man's.
"Apparently." Steve tilts his head. "I wonder why that is all of a sudden."
Robin sighs. "Look, I'm not here to—"
"Cause trouble? Barge into our lives?"
Robin shakes his head. "You put that rather bluntly."
"Well, it's true," Steve says, "Regina won't tell me anything anymore. She's growing more distant. I suppose you got an explanation?"
"I don't know about that."
"Yes, you do."
"No, I don't—"
"You're here with her, aren't you, Robin?"
Robin shakes his head again. "We're only looking for Reya."
"The girl, right?"
"Yes. She ran off."
"She's nothing but trouble."
"Why do you say that?"
Steve rolls his eyes. "Because of her, I can't have a moment alone in peace with Regina since the night she arrived. She's always worried about something concerning her. I'm sure you feel the same don't you? Can't get her off your back?"
"Well, I—"
"Of course you do. All of a sudden, Regina's life is revolved around her…and possibly even you." He stares daggers at the fisherman.
"Well, I apologize," Robin says, shrugging nonchalantly, "I don't have any power over the matter. I'm afraid none of that was any of my intention."
"I'm afraid that you're hiding something from me," Steve shoots back, "You both are."
"Doesn't sound like you have very much trust in your girlfriend," Robin remarks boldly.
Steve chuckles, shaking his head before growing serious once again. Leveling his gaze, he takes a step closer to Robin, taking up his personal space. "You know nothing about me or Regina. You know nothing about us. And neither does the girl," he states lowly, "Just do us all a favor, do Regina a favor. Stay away from her." Then, he steps back.
Robin remains scowling at the man opposite him, really not liking the way Steve thinks he can command him. But before he can retort, he hears footsteps approaching and turns to find a bewildered Regina walking hand in hand with the missing Reya.
"Steve," Regina says. She shakes her head. "What are you doing here? I thought you were at the shop."
Steve frowns. "I got out early, babe," he says, "I wanted to surprise you back at the house, but you weren't there. Drove around to find you."
Regina sighs, glancing downward before looking back up at him. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize. We were just out looking for Reya."
"I know, I was told." Steve shakes his head before approaching her. He wraps his arm around her shoulders and pulls her to him as if to stake a claim. And for the first time, Regina doesn't seem to reciprocate. Her eyes remain trained on Robin, clearly uncomfortable with this whole encounter. This doesn't go unnoticed by her dark-eyed boyfriend. As for Reya, well she simply glares blatantly at the two of them together.
"Well I'm glad your—crisis—is over," Steve says, glancing at the young, sour brunette. Then, upon turning back to Regina, he presses a kiss to the side of Regina's head. "Baby, why don't we head off? I've got Chinese takeout at your place that's growing cold."
Regina looks up at her boyfriend, smiling a smile that doesn't quite touch her eyes. "Okay," she replies, quickly looking to Robin and back up at Steve. "Let's go."
It surprises the brunette how heavy her heart feels as she turns to follow Steve towards their parked motorcycles. She can't help but glance behind at both Reya and Robin, flashing them an apologetic smile before continuing towards her bike. She gets on and revs the engine as usual. Throwing one last look towards the pair who appear desolate in the swarming parking lot, Regina then maneuvers her motorcycle back through the throng of people and cars. She heads off in pursuit of her so-called lover who checks over his shoulder, making certain that she is following.
Thoughts?
Thanks for coming by, and for all of your reviews! You people are really a lovely, kind, considerate, generous bunch and I'm not just saying that! Stay tuned for more coming soon! Bye for now!