Sorry for the wait you guys! This Robin and Regina thing has got me SUPER excited and therefore INCREDIBLY distracted! as for this chapter it ended up heading in a very different direction than I had sort of planned but that is perfectly alright :) Happy Sunday! Enjoy! And please let me know what you think!

"What are you doing?" He smiled in amusement as she stood in front of him and bent at the waist, bracing her weight on one hand on one of his thighs while her other lightly drew patterns on his other thigh.

"I'm giving you one. Last. Chance," she purred as she walked her fingers up his thigh, one tap for every word.

"To what?"

"To surrender this game of yours before I turn it against you," she whispered and leaned in a little closer as her fingers climbed higher.

"Oh? And how exactly do you plan on doing that?"

"No sex for me means no sex for you," she breathed out her whisper softly.

"Sacrifice for the greater good," he smiled and she let out a single quiet laugh in amusement and he swallowed as her fingers made it to the waist of his dark jeans and her weight bearing hand lifted from his thigh to aid her other in slowly pulling the charcoal grey button up shirt from his jeans.

"I am going to make you regret it," she whispered through a toothy grin as she leaned in closer so her nose brushed his cheek and his did the same to hers. "Last chance," she breathed against his lips, revelling in the strained breath coming from his nose as she began unbuttoning his shirt from the bottom and pushing her hands over the warm skin of his muscled stomach.

David let out another long breath from his nose and resisted the strong urge to pull her in to his lap. There was no winning this battle. He was merely picking which loss. Fuck her and have his word mean nothing. Or refuse her and let her make him suffer with incessant teasing until he broke. How she managed to come out on top of everything she had ever gotten thrown at her, he didn't know. It could be irritating most times.

"I stand by what I said," he whispered surely and she hummed as her nails slowly scratched down his front causing shivers to shoot up and down his spine and under his skin, "no sex for a week."

"Pity," she smiled and let him linger and suffer for a little while as she softly dragged her lips across his but did not kiss him when he parted his lips to catch her with one. She brushed them against his jaw and let herself moan softly against his neck at the feel of his stubble scratching her flawless skin. Another long exhale left his nose at the moan while she nudged her nose against his neck and kissed him softly between sharp nips.

And then she stood up tall and left the room as though nothing at all had happened, her black heels clicking through the home with her even stride. David held his breath as she left but once she was gone he took a deep breath and rubbed his hands over his face as he leaned forward in his seat so he could brace his elbows on his thighs. What had he gotten himself in to.

...

She smiled and nodded to yet another stranger bidding her a good afternoon as they crossed paths. It was rather refreshing to have no one know who she was. It allowed her a break from Regina seeming to know her inside out and using that information to get her riled up. She walked with slow but purposeful steps as she looked around at her surroundings, her hands clasped gently behind her back.

It was quite a strange world. She had many questions but she had kept her mouth shut for she had no one to ask without causing herself more chaos. Regina would simply snap at her, Henry would happily explain but if Regina found out then she would be throttled for talking to the boy, and much the same would happen if she were to ask David. So she chose to study her new surroundings and try to figure them out for herself.

What she had gathered was that there was an invisible force used quite frequently. It turned things on, brought light, brought heat, brought sound even. It was quite a versatile force but she did not know what it was. It wasn't magic though.

The clothes, she had to admit, were quite comfortable. Especially when compared to those of the Enchanted Forest or Wonderland. And the food was to die for as well.

"She hasn't killed you yet?" Rumple chuckled as he fell in step beside Cora and the woman looked over to him, "impressive restraint."

"She finds more pleasure in trying to break me."

"Ah yes, she is fun in that respect. Not often quick to personally kill. No matter how much she wants them dead and out of her life forever. Like a cat she much prefers to play with her meal before killing it. Getting the most out of it as she can," he smiled with a quirk of his head as he kept his gaze in front of him. "I am surprised she let you out of the house."

"She didn't."

"Well then I wish you luck upon your return. She will be none too impressed with your unscheduled absence."

"I needed to get away before I lost my mind. She can be quite overbearing."

"A woman running away to temporarily escape the overbearing and powerful woman putting a roof over your head, feeding you, clothing you? Try to please her but all you get in return are harsh words and maybe even punishment with a little magic? Now where...have I seen this predicament before...hmm?"

Cora glared at him and he stared back at her with a seemingly innocent smile as they continued down the sidewalk.

"Seems the queen is giving you a taste of your own medicine. Whether she is fully aware of it or not. How are things managing between the two of you anyway?"

"Are you going to help me or hinder me?"

Smiling at her desire to change the subject, Rumple shrugged, "neither, dearie. I have yet to make up my mind about you regarding Regina's wellbeing."

"Why do you suddenly care so much for her now?"

"Oh simply returning a rather large favour. Nothing more nothing less," he stated and Cora laughed.

"And what favour is that?"

"She didn't," he paused to make sure he was looking Cora in the eye before he finished, "kill herself," immediately Cora's smile disappeared and her steps halted at his serious and oddly honest and direct voice. No long way around, no tricks or riddles, but simply matter-of-fact. After watching the shock play in her reaction, Rumple nodded politely, "good day, Cora," and then he turned and walked toward his shop.

Cora watched him leave through eyes wide with shock. Yes Regina had briefly mentioned that he had kept her from jumping off a turret but Cora had thought it to be a figure of speech, muses at the very most. She never once actually physically placed her daughter standing on the edge of a turret daring gravity to take her.

Troubled, she began walking again and began wishing she could turn her brain off and walk mindlessly. No such luck.

However the topic of thought was quickly changed when she saw Snow walking quickly down the sidewalk toward her with her head down looking at her phone. Cora cocked her head a little and slowed her steps a little and then down to a halt but didn't move out of the way for purposes of entertainment. She couldn't help but smile in twisted delight when Snow didn't see her and walked right in to her.

Her reaction at first was to be startled but when she realized who exactly it was she had walked in to, her hands lost all motor control and she yelped and panicked as she tried to decide between catching her thrown phone and running away. Cora caught the phone easily for her and gave it a quick study before she offered it to Snow, the girl's eyes wide with fear as she tried to catch her breath and calm her racing heart, "you dropped this."

"Uh...y-yes," she stumbled over her words and swallowed as she hesitated to lift her hand to take her phone. Cora waited patiently and still with a pleasant and amused smile on her mouth while Snow pulled herself together enough to reach forward and take her phone, "thank you."

"You're welcome," Cora nodded and Snow smiled a little as she placed her phone in her pocket for the time being. Then just for the hell of it, Cora lunged forward half a step and shot her hand up as though she was going to rip her heart from her chest. She didn't of course, she merely laughed as Snow leapt backward with a panicked shout and placed her hand over her racing heart. Cora laughed happily through her teeth as she straightened her posture and walked past her, "have a nice day, Snow."

...

"Hey, mum," Henry spoke as he spun his pasta on to his fork.

"Yes, dear?"

"Are you gonna ever give Cora another chance?"

"I don't know. I doubt it."

"Why not?" He asked before he put a bite in his mouth.

"I have my reasons," she spoke under her breath and kept her back to him as she served herself a plateful of pasta, "what does it matter?"

Chewing and then swallowing he shrugged his shoulders and began spinning another bite on to his fork, "I dunno. Seems like she's trying. Just like you were trying for me but I kept pushing you away," she didn't acknowledge him and continued pulling her pasta from the pot and on to her plate, "I think you should give her a chance...just in case...plus she is a fun grandma when she's not cranky or closed in her room," he added as his mother turned around and placed her plate on the island across from him.

"It's not that simple, Henry," she shook her head and her tone was carefully emotionless and disinterested while her heart yearned for her to just let it be that simple.

"Could be though," he shrugged again as he opened his mouth for his forkful of pasta. He turned his head a little when David walked in to the kitchen and smiled at him on his way to Regina.

"Smells delicious," he complimented as he stepped up behind her and slid his arms around her waist as she spun her pasta on to her fork. He exhaled slowly as he nuzzled the side of his face in to her hair on the top of the side of her head and she hummed a little in reply.

"You guys stop fighting already?"

"It wasn't fighting, it was bickering," David corrected playfully and smiled because he knew Regina was smiling even though he couldn't see it, "and yes we have come to an understanding."

"Good."

Both David and Regina took a pause over his rather happy reply for they were surprised to hear it at all let alone hear the easy approval in his tone. He hadn't truly accepted them as a couple until just then. It had Regina smiling like a damned fool as she started chewing again and leaned her head against David's as she felt his face move against the side of her head to form a smile as well.

Henry hadn't noticed he had said anything meaningful until he lifted his eyes up from his food and found his mother smiling happily at her lunch as she twirled her fork in it. A quick review of his reply had him smiling at her response and he watched David as he lowered his head and nuzzled his face happily in to her neck. He whispered something to her and he couldn't make it out but it had his mother smiling even wider and tilting her head so it rested against David's.

Henry had found that he found great joy in watching his mother be happy and if David made her happy...well he could accept that now.

"I am going to go fetch my mother for lunch," Regina told them softly but David didn't let go of her until she started walking away after gently pulling his arms from around her waist. "You can eat that if you like and I will make myself another plate," she smiled at him and nodded to her pasta as she slipped away from him.

She walked out of the kitchen listening to the soft whispers and laughter between David and Henry and it brought a smile to her face. It felt like a great weight had lifted off her shoulders now that Henry was home and was happy again and even a little content with herself and David. It was calming and had her mood improving significantly.

After climbing the stairs she stood outside Cora's door wringing her hands nervously as she stared at the white wood. Should she try? It was such a bloody fight she fought within herself. Should she or shouldn't she. She wanted to...but she also knew better...or was she simply fooling herself to believe she did...

Hesitantly she brought her hand up and lightly knocked two times on the door, "mother?"

Cora smiled just a little at the soft and unsure voice of her daughter and cocked her head ever so slightly. But then she took a silent regretful breath but tried to keep her smile in place. If she had known that Regina would be so close to accepting her, then she wouldn't have dared left the house. Had it been anyone else Cora would have magicked herself back behind the door but Regina would instantly feel her magic and would lose her mind more than she would at her simply coming clean.

"Yes, darling?" She replied gently from behind her and Regina jumped and spun around to look at her with wide confused eyes and her lips parted in confusion with the startle.

"How did you-?" She glanced back at the closed door and the gears in her head started turning and by the time she looked back to Cora whose eyes had dropped to the floor, Regina figured it out. "I see," she stated with a disappointed and frustrated expression, her top lip curled back just a little in displeasure as she walked past her promptly and down the stairs.

"Regina," she called as she turned around but was easily ignored so followed her back down the stairs, "Regina, darling, I am sorry," she apologized but Regina continued on unhindered. "Regina," she called in a more exhausted and frustrated voice when she reached the bottom of the stairs and she closed her eyes, "why must you be so incredibly stubborn?!"

David dropped his fork on to his plate with a clatter and dropped his head in to his hands with a long frustrated sigh when he heard Cora's question from around the corner. Only he could call Regina stubborn and live to tell the tale.

"We should probably go huh?" Henry asked as he spun his last bite on his fork.

"Excuse me?!"

David let out another sigh at Regina's voice and nodded, "come on, kid. Let's let them get it all out this time," he stood up tall and waited as Henry shoved the last bite in his mouth, "clearly keeping them civil hasn't done much improvement."

"You are fighting me at every turn! No matter what I do!"

"Then perhaps you should take a hint! I don't want you here!"

"Alright, Henry and I are going to go to the library. He needs to look at some books for his homework," David informed them as though they were not about to tear one another's heads off, "we'll be back later," he smiled and tried to kiss Regina's temple as he passed her but she swatted him away irritably and he let her be without taking offense and continued across the foyer and down to the door with Henry on his heels, "see you in a bit!"

"Bye mum! Bye Cora!" Henry waved as he stepped out the door with David. His mother was furious. He had never seen her so angry. It only took a matter of seconds after the door closed for the screaming to resume, "do you think they will ever get along?"

"Once your mother decides to stop looking for excuses to hate Cora, yes I do believe they will get along just fine," David sighed as he walked in step with Henry toward his truck, "your darling mother is a very complicated woman," he shook his head with a small laugh under his breath.

...

"If you don't want me here then why are you so upset about me leaving!"

"I am not upset about you leaving! I am furious that you are sneaking around behind my back! I am not you! I am not going to hold you hostage under this roof! This is not your god damn prison, Cora! If you wanted to get out for a little while all you had to do was tell me! As long as I know where you are and that you are not going to cause anyone harm then I don't care what you do with your time!"

"I'm sorry, I just assumed-"

"Stop assuming! You don't know who I am, you don't know how I work and that is your fault! I am not ignorant, I know what it is like to be locked away! If you can recall I spent most of my time running away from you!"

"Yes I can recall. I am sorry."

"No you're not! You got exactly what you wanted because of it! I became queen! And not only that! I became arguably the most powerful of queens!"

"But I did not wish for such consequences on your behalf!" Cora shouted back and Regina scoffed.

"You did not care what happened to me!"

"No I did not! I do not recall once caring about you!" Cora screamed and watched as Regina visibly flinched and recoiled as though she had stabbed her. Perhaps such a wound would have been kinder. "I cared about what you became, I cared about power and status! I did not care about you! My own daughter! I did not love you! I did not care! You were a beautiful, naive, kind young woman and I couldn't have asked for a better girl to manipulate! You wanted my love and I used that to my advantage! I exploited it for my own personal gain because I did not love you!"

"What in the hell kind of an argument is that?!" Regina cried out with no control over the steadiness or sound of her voice as tears began rolling down her cheeks. It hurt. No daughter wants to hear such words come from her mother's mouth.

"It is not an argument, Regina!" Cora yelled and took a step forward, "it is a confession!" She stated just as loud and watched Regina shrink down a little in pain and swallow a sharp cry. Cora softened her voice then to the tone that a mother should use toward her child and took another step toward Regina who kept her tear filled and hurt eyes focused on her.

"I did not care about you. I used you. I broke something that I did not consider precious until now; now that it is already broken. I manipulated you, I trapped you, I forced you, and I hurt you. I do not deserve a second chance. I do not deserve to be in the company of a woman who is strong enough to survive me, let alone deserve her love. But I am pleading for it anyway. We have too much history to simply start over," she shook her head and another tear rolled down Regina's face as she held her breath to keep herself from crying, "but there is still time left for us."

Cora took half a step closer and Regina's teary eyes moved back and forth between her own, "you are my biggest regret," she shook her head and Regina dropped her weight on to one foot and lines of pain creased her forehead and tightened her mouth. "I wish I had taken the time to groom your wings rather than cut them off," she whispered and Regina started to quiver with the force it took to keep silent. "How could you ever forgive me for such cruelty?" She shook her head and reached forward to wipe away the tear tracks from Regina's cheek.

Them moment Cora touched her, Regina broke in to helpless cries. Cora stepped forward to compensate for Regina's step backward and lifted her other hand to hold Regina's head as well. Regina lifted her hands and pushed against Cora's chest but Cora ignored the refusal and brought her wounded daughter in anyway. Regina continued to fight her as Cora held her head still and rested her own forehead against Regina's only to have Regina push back and cry through gritted teeth.

And then she was gone.

Cora was left standing in the foyer alone and in silence, her eyes closed so she didn't have to see the purple smoke marking her daughter's leave.

...

Regina walked a few steps closer before she turned around and leaned her back against the glass casket and sunk down to the cold stone floor in her vault. She didn't bring her knees up, she kept her legs out straight and kept her eyes closed as she dropped her head back against the cold marble keeping the class resting place up off the ground and cried through her teeth. Everything hurt. She had always known Cora didn't love her, didn't care for her, manipulated her, held her captive...but it was one thing to know such things and another to hear them said with such truth from her. There had ways been a sliver of hope that perhaps her mother had in fact loved her...it was no longer there.

And that hurt.

"I miss you," Regina whimpered through a shaky cry and pushed her head back against Daniel's place.