I hope you enjoy this next chapter!
"Hello Regina." Cora says smoothly with a smirk on her face.
Regina just stares up at Cora for a moment not sure what to do or say. All she knew really was that she wanted to get away from her mother quick. "Well…it's erm…nice to see you mother…but I have to go…" Regina stuttered out and went to move around Cora but Cora stepped in front of Regina and placed her hand on Regina's arm.
"What have I told you about lying Regina? It really is not a good thing to do. See two minutes out in this world on your own and look what has happened to you." Cora said.
"I-I-I'm not lying mother. It…It is nice to see you…I just have to go. It is late and I would like to get home and rest." Regina said trying to keep her voice and posture strong. "I am handling things out here fine just like I told you I would."
"So I can see…a waitress at Grannies…" Cora said raising an eyebrow at Regina and looking at her uniform with disgust. "Really Regina, you couldn't do better than that?"
"There is nothing wrong with being a waitress mother. It is a good enough job." Regina sighed. "Now if you will excuse me mother I really wish to get home."
"Home…well that would be a wonderful idea Regina…" Cora said with a smile that Regina didn't like.
"Not home with you." Regina said as firmly as she could. "I am going back to Zelena's."
"Regina I really do think you need to come home with me. Look at you…dressed as a waitress, you are not doing well out here on your own." Cora spoke in a soft convincing voice but Regina tried her hardest to not listen to what her mother was saying.
"I am doing just fine mother and I am not on my own. I have plenty of people around me in this town to help." Regina replied.
"What like that peasant of a man you were out with the other night?" Cora asked raising an eyebrow at Regina.
Regina rolled her eyes slightly. "He is not a peasant mother. Robin is a kind man who took me out and I had a fantastic night with him. A night I would not have been able to have if I was still living with you at the mansion. I refuse to go back to that life mother. I do not want to be trapped anymore."
"Oh Regina stop being so dramatic about everything. I can tell you have been living with your sister." Cora replied with a sigh.
"I am not being dramatic. You trapped me mother. I wasn't allowed to go anywhere unless your gave your permission. I do not want to live like that anymore. I want to be free to make my own choices, to live my life and I cannot do that if I am with you." Regina snapped, surprising not only herself but Cora as well.
"Well I don't care what you want Regina. You will come home with me tonight and that is that!" Cora hissed. She tightened her grip on Regina's arm and turned slightly trying to pull Regina towards her car but Regina stayed still on the pavement determined not to move or go anywhere with her mother.
"NO! I won't let you take me back there." Regina shouted, trying as hard as she could to pull her arm away from her mother's grip but she was just not strong enough physically to do so.
"Regina stop your protesting and just get in the damn car!" Cora snapped back at her, pulling harder on Regina's arm and successfully moving her a little bit closer to the car.
"No mother please! Leave me alone!" Regina cried, her composure slipping. She was going back to the terrified girl she was before she left the grip of her mother. This is what her mother turned her into. This scared, useless, nervous person that she hated and never wanted to be again.
"Get in the car Regina!" Cora said firmly pulling at her again. She was getting closer and closer towards the car.
"Please mother. Let me go! I don't want to go back with you. I won't go back with you." Regina said trying what she could to stop her mother from dragging her any closer to the car.
"Regina!" Cora shouted and was about to say more before she was interrupted.
"Hey! Leave her alone!" Robin shouted as he ran over to Regina pulling her out of Cora's grip. Regina immediately went behind Robin, a hand on his shoulder peering over at her mother.
"Leave before you get hurt." Cora said with a look of disgust on her face as she looked at Robin. She looked at him as if he was a bit of dirt on her shoe and Regina hated it.
"No I think you should leave before you get hurt." Robin said firmly. "Regina has said she does not want to go with you and you have to leave her alone so I suggest you do so before I call the Sheriff. Imagine being arrested by your own daughter…I'm sure that won't do good for your image." Robin said.
Regina could see in her mother's face that Robin's words were hitting her and making her step back. "Fine. This isn't over Regina." Cora said glaring at Regina before turning on her heel and heading towards her car. Robin and Regina watched Cora climb into her car and drive off before Regina let out a sigh of relief and moved out from behind Robin and moving around to face him.
"Are you okay?" Robin asked placing his hand on her cheek and rubbing his thumb in soothing circles.
Regina leaned into his touch. She nodded her head and gave him a small smile. "Thank you…for helping me. I think I would be in her car right now if you hadn't have come along."
"I think you are much stronger than you give yourself credit for. You just need to start believing in yourself Regina." Robin said softly.
"I wish I could." Regina sighed looking down at the ground.
"You will one day." Robin said tilting her chin up so that she was looking into his eyes. "I'll make sure you do." Regina gave him a smile before he leaned over and brushed his lips against hers making her gasp. "Was that okay?" He asked pulling back from the kiss.
Regina nodded her head. "Yes, I was just surprised that's all." Regina replied.
Robin smiled at her and moved his hand down her arm and took her hand in his, linking their fingers together. "Can I walk you home? I will sleep much better tonight knowing you got home safely. Especially after what has just happened."
"I would like that." Regina replied with a smile and they walked down the road hand in hand and talking to one another.