The marriage breaks
Disclaimer: All characters are original to the Once Upon a Time Series. The physical characteristics of the characters in the story are the same as those in the series, but the stories and development of the characters are my own.
This is the edited re-release of this story. Hope you like.
Part five: The Pause
Regina did not know what time she fell asleep. She woke up scared, maybe because of some nightmare. It took her a few seconds to recognize where she was and so many others to remember what had happened that early morning.
When she turned to see how Roland was, the boy was no longer in bed. She started looking in all possible directions, but there were no traces of the child.
"Roland? Where are you?" She called the kid, while she went to the bathroom to confirm that he was not there.
The brunette was covered with a bathrobe, and she left the room ready to find her son. While walking down the corridor, she called her son with a warning not to wake everyone.
"Mrs. Regina!" One of the service women approached her to tell her about Roland whereabouts. "Your son got up at seven o'clock with a lot of hunger, so I prepared him some hot cakes and then his father took him away.
"Was Mr. Robin here? Where did he take him?" She asked, imagining the worst.
"Of course. He went down with the child. Mr. Robin didn't say where they were going, but I heard something about fishing". The woman waved goodbye. "Do you want me to prepare something to eat?"
"Don't!" She answered a little bit scared. "Tell the driver to prepare my dad's truck, that I need him to take me home as soon as possible". Without waiting for an answer, Regina ran upstairs to get dressed quickly.
It was not the first time Robin had punished Regina by taking away the child, as a promise that if she did not do things as he wanted, she would lose the right to see Roland, taking him to his maternal grandmother's house indefinitely.
The mere fact that this could happen chilled her blood. It could not be happening to her. She should not have fallen asleep. That was tormenting her. While she was dressing in the first clothes that she still had in her parents' house, Regina could not stop to think the worst and start crying.
She ran down the stairs and she went through the luxurious mansion on the way to the front door. There, the driver was waiting for her to take her home, just as she had asked the service lady. The moment she was going to get into the truck, her sister and her mother came out to meet her.
"Regina! Are you going to leave without saying goodbye?" The mother was somewhat bewildered, but she seemed in a good mood.
"Sorry mother, I have to leave immediately. Robin and Roland went ahead, so I urgently need to reach their meeting". The brunette tried to hide before her mother. She hugged her while explaining.
"I'm glad to see you so united. I was thinking the worst about your marriage and expecting the same". The woman had to say what she thought. If things were not as Clarise said, there were problems.
"Yes mother, that's right". She looked intensely at her sister, so that she did not think to deny it. "Now I have to go!"
"Regina!" The redhead stopped her before she got into the car. "If you need help with something, just let me know". She said it honestly. She felt that she had screwed up.
"You already helped me a lot yesterday Zelena". She smiled convincingly, as if she was grateful. "I hope you rest. Then I'll come get my things". The brunette got into the truck and left.
On the way to her penthouse, she prayed that Robin had not left. While doing this, she remembered David and her heart skipped a beat. Quickly, she took her cell phone and dialed her neighbor's number to ask him about a crazy idea she had.
"Hello David!" Regina was desperate. She spoke in a special tone, so that the driver would not listen.
"Hi Regina. I thought you would be in the gym. I am here waiting for you". The blonde was surprised at the absence of the brunette.
"I'm so sorry, I know I'm not in the gym like I'm supposed to be, but something happened, and I need you to help me" She sounded desperate.
"What happened Regina?" The way the woman spoke, denoted that something was troubling her. "Are you okay?"
"Yes and no... I'm physically fine, but Robin took Roland, and I don't know if they're still in the apartment or if they're not there". Her voice broke; she was almost ready to cry.
"Okay Regina! Calm down! What do you need from me?" The man got up from the gym bench and took his belongings.
"I know I have no right to ask you this, but could you go to my apartment and check that they are there? Please!" She was desperate and I also heard that she was afraid. "If so, talk to Roland, please use some excuse, but please stop him from taking my son. I'm begging you! Just make them slow down, David, while I get there!"
"Of course, Regina! I will do it". David entered the elevator and selected the floor of his apartment, to find what Emma had left as a gift to Roland. What better excuse than that?
Regina did not know how to thank him for meeting David in that personal way. In truth, he was a man of gold, just like the charming prince. The minutes passed and she felt like she was running away. She did not know what was happening. She wrote to David, but he did not respond. If, with only one wish she could have wings to be able to fly, Regina would have broken the sound barrier by flying away.
As soon as they reached the entrance to the building, although the truck had not stopped completely, Regina streaked out to the elevator without saying goodbye to the driver.
"Don't wait for me!" She screamed as she ran to the possible encounter.
Every floor the elevator went up, Regina's heart began to beat as if it were going to come out of her chest. Once she arrived the top floor, her hands trembled as she placed the key in the lock. She finally opened it and the first thing she saw was David, sitting with Roland putting together a puzzle.
"What the he…?" Regina closed the door automatically, watching David and her son.
"Mom, mom!" The little boy ran out into his mother's arms. "Look what Emma gave me!"
She sighed and she could barely react to his son's words. She hugged him tightly, while tears escaped from her eyes. She kissed her son in the face, and she looked at David thanking him with her eyes.
"Mom, what's wrong with you?" Her son looked at her somewhat disconcertedly. "Don't you like the puzzle that Emma gave me?"
"Yes, I like it, my baby, I love it!" She looked at the child with a big smile on her lips. She dried her tears, and she approached her neighbor, with her son accompanying her. "Thank you!"
"It's nothing Regina, Emma was very excited when we bought it". He knew what she was really thanking him for.
Regina's gaze expressed all the love she could feel for David. If the circumstances had been different, she would have jumped into the arms of that charming gentleman, to kiss him with the intensity of her emotions.
The brunette realized that the blond had a whiskey in his hand, so she remembered that her husband was in that place. At that precise moment, a chill ran through her body, and it became more acute when she heard her husband's voice, calling her by her name.
"Regina! My love!" He walked down the stairs and as if nothing had happened, he hugged the woman in the back and kissed her soberly on her cheek. He remained hugging his wife. Robin started talking to his neighbor over his wife's shoulder.
"At last, I was able to meet David formally!" He cleared his throat, and he became serious. "I was thanking him for being so kind to my son and you, and for helping me that night that I was sick. I really thank you for supporting Regina that day".
He looked at his son from time to time so that the child did not ask about his father's illness. Obviously, he was referring to the day that he arrived unconscious of the drunkenness. "Roland always talks about you, but especially about Emma". He gave a wink to the other man, still hugging the woman.
Regina looked at David paralyzed. At that time, she did not know what to do. If she had been alone with Robin, she would not let him hug her like that. But the presence of her husband and that wonderful man was a lethal combination to her senses. A few seconds passed, until David decided to react for both.
"Excuse me… it's just that I entertained myself watching Roland put the puzzle together. You do not have to thank me. I did what every neighbor and friend must do in similar circumstances. And yes, Emma and Roland are very close to school" he smiled politely, and he drank the whiskey drink completely.
"I didn't know that you and David were friends, Regina?" The man released her gently and he sat in front of both to look at them.
"Yes, we are good friends". She smiled strangely at this statement. "All parent meetings were spent together. Well, David goes with his ex-wife, Emma's mother; but I always go alone". After saying this, seeing her husband, she took David's glass and she went to the kitchen, asking him. "David, do you want another glass of Whiskey?" She was serving one for herself.
"Don't!" He got up from the chair, trying not to look obviously awkward. "I shouldn't be drinking so early". He was now looking at his neighbor in the distance. She was looking at him in a disguised way. "But I wanted to bring the gift to Roland, because otherwise Emma wouldn't leave me alone". He also smiled in a disguised way.
"Are you leaving now? Can´t you come with us?" Robin got up to accompany David to the apartment door.
"No, I can't... I just have a presentation of some pictures this week and I can't cancel". He could notice Regina Mills's confused look.
"What are you talking about?" She came a little closer and she took a sip of her drink.
"I was inviting David to a fishing trip with us". He spoke as if it were about anything, as if he were also David's friend automatically.
"What fishing trip, Robin?" She looked somewhat exasperated.
"My dad, you and I are going on a fishing trip, mama!" Repeated the excited child from his position at the coffee table.
Regina could not believe Robin's cynicism. What the hell was happening? Now she knew that David was confused for a good reason. She looked at him with the greatest of embarrassments, but she could not allow her neighbor to leave without knowing her truth.
"Sorry David. My husband and I must talk about this trip. Thanks for the puzzle. Thanks for everything, actually". Without the slightest restraint, Regina hugged David and then kissed him on the cheek. She stared at him. "Thank you!"
"You are welcome!" He responded by trying to hide. "See you later Roland, Robin!" He waved to the man in the distance and left.
"Goodbye!" The two men in the house answered in chorus.
When the door closed, Regina turned slowly to look at Robin with that feeling of annoyance, very difficult to hide in her. She was not going to allow Robin to take her son away, or for him to manipulate her. She was ready for everything at that moment, for some reason she felt that she had nothing left to lose.
"Can I talk to you for a second upstairs?" She spoke directly and seriously. Her son was very entertained by the puzzle.
"Of course!" Robin looked down and he followed her to the second floor of the penthouse.
When he entered the main room, Regina was sitting on the bed, looking at her glass of Whiskey. She was serious and she was disappointed. She had been so naive the night before, which her husband's behavior only made her more upset.
"Take a sit!" She spoke calmly, while she pointed to him the chair in front of the bed.
Regina saw Robin sit without saying a word. That surprised her. That meant he knew he had screwed up colossally. Somehow, the fact that Robin was in that position made her calm down.
"What the hell is going on with you, Robin? My patience is running out and my dignity cannot stand more teasing and cheating of you. Why did you take my son this morning? What do you want?" She was hurt. It showed in her look and her way of speaking.
"I'm sorry Regina; I didn't want you to worry about Roland". He was trying to explain to her that he had not had a bad intention about this, but she interrupted him.
"Please Robin! Do you think I'm stupid?" She pointed to herself with the hand in which she had the glass of Whiskey, while she leaned on the bed with the other hand. "Listen well Robin Loxley, listen carefully. If you think that you will be able to get me away from Roland as you used to do in the past, you are very wrong. For my son, I can fight tooth and nail, to fight hard, but you will not take my son away!" Tears of helplessness escaped from her eyes.
"No Regina, No! I swear that isn't my intention". He got up and he knelt in front of her. "Regina, I have made many serious mistakes in this marriage. With you, with my son, I have been very cruel. You don't deserve that; you've never deserved it. You have been the best mother Roland could find, the best woman I could love". He started to cry, tried to take the brunette's hand, but she released him. "Please Regina, give me the last chance to show you that I can change, and I can be a good husband and a good father".
He rested his head on the woman's legs. Regina opened her hands and let him lean on her legs and cry. She had a long time that she did not see Robin cry like that, not even when his father died two years ago. Robin was being totally honest with her, and she knew it, but she had been waiting for him to reconsider everything a long time ago. Regina was tired, tired of fearing that he would take away her son, she was tired of enduring abuse and deceit.
She closed her eyes and she sighed. She put the glass aside and still with her hands up, then she stroked Robin's head. He was still crying inconsolably. He was not crying knowing that she will forgive him, he was crying because he felt that he had lost everything. Still drowned in tears, Robin raised his face to look at Regina.
"I know I ask you for too much. I know I have no right to ask you for anything. But I want you to know, Regina Mills, that I'm never going to separate you from Roland. Never more!" He looked at her pleadingly for forgiveness. "I want to do something that, for the wrong reasons, I didn't do at the beginning of our marriage and that I didn't do later because I was stupid ... I want you to be legally Roland's mother. I want you to formally adopt Roland".
Regina was in shock. Many times, in the past, they had fought for that reason. Whenever she wanted to bring up the issue of adoption, he would be furious, indicating that Roland did have a mother, even if she was dead.
"Robin, don't play with me!" She could not believe what he was doing. She had the feeling that it was true, but she could not stop thinking that this was a trick to manipulate her.
"No Regina... this is totally true. I want you to adopt Roland as soon as possible. Even if we are not together". He got up trying to calm down and face reality, a reality that he had created with his bad behavior. "I don't want to lose my son and almost this happens. I don't want to lose you, but I must assume my responsibility with you for my disgusting behavior. Still, you are, and you have always been Roland's mother and a very good one". He turned around, standing in front of her, to look at her pleadingly. "That's why I wanted us to go on a trip this week, all three of us. I told your friend David in a desperate attempt that you agreed to give me the opportunity, and for Roland to go with his friend Emma, maybe".
"Robin I ..." She saw him get closer to her. He was already standing in front of her. She was sitting in bed, in shock. "Of course I want to adopt Roland. If you are willing to, I will be happy to be his mother legally, as this is the only thing missing. But I'm not ready for the issue of our marriage". She signaled the air that separated them. "I need time Robin, time to think". She had suffered a lot.
"I know". He lowered his head in shame of himself. "I know". The sigh. "Do you think I can go with Roland to fish? I'm asking you since you are his mother, and you must agree". He smiled at her, wiping away the last tears. "So, you will have time to think, and I will be able to get closer to Roland since I have neglected him for a long time". He looked at her pleadingly.
Regina was more confident than ever that he was honest. It was already clear that Robin wanted to rejoin her, not only because he wanted her to forgive him, but because he wanted to do things right again. She knew that he was willing for his son Robin to be happy.
"He is very excited. Think about it! If not, I invent something for him to feel good, if you don't want me to take him for safety, at least until you sign the adoption papers. Also, you can call Marco and ask him. He is already in charge of the process and the paperwork". He picked up his cell phone and he made a gesture of lending it to her to call her friend and lawyer.
"Robin!" She got up, took the cell phone and walked towards him. "It is not necessary. I want to trust you. This will be my last gesture to you. I only must tell you that if you cheat me, I'll look for you under the stones to make you pay for taking away my son". She spoke threateningly and then she smiled warmly at him. She knew that he was honest.
"Believe me, I don't want to make you angry". He felt peace for the moment. He also smiled at her in an accomplice way. She was giving him a small space to fix the damage he had caused. He moved closer to her and took her by the arms. "Take these days and think about it. Think if you can forgive me. If you forgive me, I swear to you with my life that you will not regret it!" He gave her a chaste kiss on the lips, and he left her alone in the room.
Regina remained paralyzed by what had just happened. Of course, the brunette was happy with the fact that she could adopt her son, but she also had mixed feelings about her life with Robin. She had already suffered enough from that situation, so she also had to think about her feelings, especially thinking about David. She was in real trouble.
"Mom, mom. Dad told me you're not going to go fishing; it will be a man's trip". The boy came running to the arms of his mother.
"Yes, of course, my love. I want you to have many adventures and you know that girls don't necessarily like all the boy's adventures". She hugged him, kissed him on the forehead, and she caressed his hair.
"Emma would like it!" Roland assured, trying to convince his mother.
"But she is a special girl". She gave him a wink and she took him by the shoulders. "Let's go! I'll help you prepare everything. Also, it's two weeks of spring break, and you'll spend one with me". She kissed him on the forehead.
She helped both to pack. All the things Roland and Robin might need. She prepared snacks for the way and some sandwiches, while they dressed to go out. Regina said goodbye to his son hugging him tightly.
"Mom! You are squeezing me!" The kid went to the elevator carrying his small mechanical boat.
"Everything will be fine my queen!" Robin stood in front of her and looked at her intensely. "If you get bored you know where we will be. I love you, Regina Mills!" He kissed her intensely to say goodbye.
Regina responded to the kiss with nostalgia. The nostalgia to see her family united and happy as she always wanted it. He did not stop looking at her with love until the elevator closed. Robin had received a strong call from the universe, and he had really changed. The brunette could not deny it, he was her Robin. An improved Robin whom she met, since he was willing to give everything to her, including the legality of Roland would be her son. She would finally have shared custody of the child.
Out of inertia, Regina sat on the couch in front of the unlit television. She was alone and tired. She had lived a rollercoaster of emotions in the last few days and that had exhausted her physically and mentally. What was she going to do? She had not the faintest idea. But if something was clear to Regina Mills, it was that she wanted to be happy.
Then, like a call from nature, she remembered the taste and sensation of David's lips, his hands caressing her, him making love to her. That crazy morning. She remembered feeling an infinite peace when she saw him with Roland when she arrived at the penthouse, when she feared the worst. David had given her more peace and happiness on a weekend than Robin had in the last three years. She could not ignore that.
She took her keys, and she immediately went to the elevator. Regina did not think twice and pressed the button with her neighbor's apartment number. When she reached the door, she was breathing fast. Regina's heart was beating a thousand a minute. That had to mean something, or at least she thought that. She rang the bell, determined and when she saw him, her doubts dissipated.
"Regina! What are you doing here?" The brunette always managed to surprise him.
"I'm sorry to bother you again David, but I wanted to thank you for what you did for me today". She did not know how to get into the conversation she wanted to have with him.
"Is nothing! Besides, you already thanked me and your husband". He seemed somewhat annoyed.
"Can I go in?" She looked inside the apartment. What she wanted to say and do with him could not come to public light.
"Of course!" He moved away from the door, and he gave her a welcoming gesture. Then he closed the door and followed her into the living room. "Aren't you going to travel?"
"David! Robin is going to allow me to adopt Roland!" She confessed to him excitedly.
"Wow! Regina, I'm happy for you". He could not resist the urge to hug her. Then he reconsidered and he thought that she might be willing to recover his marriage.
"Thank you! I know!" She did not want to stop hugging him. "We had a serious conversation, and the procedures are already being advanced so, I can have Roland even though Robin and I will be separated".
"Wait! Does that mean you're not going to be with your husband?" He had to ask. She had made him understand that.
Regina looked intently at David. She did not know how to tell him what she felt, since she was not sure of anything. She only knew that she was happy to have her son and that, for the moment, she did not want to be with Robin. She also knew that she wanted to share that happiness with David.
"Roland went with Robin on a fishing trip. He asked me for that time to be with his son, he told me that he wanted me to be Roland's mother legally". She lowered her head; she was somewhat embarrassed. "He wants to give me time to think, to pause and reflect on whether I want to continue or not with our marriage". Then, Regina looked at him again, waiting for a signal from David.
"And are you going to think about it?" He had to take risks. If she was there, it was for two possible reasons: staying with him or breaking up with him.
"David..." Regina paused in her speech. She approached the man and looked at him closely, looking in his blue eyes for the courage she needed. "I was thinking of this time alone as a vacation in my marriage. That simple fact makes me not want to be with Robin. But do you know what is worse?"
"I don't know!" It was difficult for him to speak due to the closeness of the brunette.
"I just want to spend this time with you, not alone. I don't want to think, just be yours". Then Regina rushed to kiss him intensely.
David received her in his arms more than happy. The intensity of the passion and love that grew between them was amazing. Regina did not know more about her. She let herself be carried away by that feeling of love, desire, but above all peace, that David unleashed in her. That was the plan for Regina's vacation. She was going to pause, and she was going to let David love her and make her of his.