#second of three

“Still, it’s good to have you here,” Hahli replied pleasantly. “I really think that you’ll-”

HHHSSSSSSSS

A sharp hiss abruptly interrupted the Toa. The young Boggarak growled from the water user’s shoulder at the Av-Matoran. With another vocal hiss, the spider then turned away and crawled behind the Toa’s back, retreating to the welcoming shade between her wing-fins.

“Um, that was just Iara, you don’t have to mind her.” Hahli tried to pick herself back up as Gavla just continued to stare with little impression. To her own chagrin, she had forgotten that the Visorak had practically glued onto her for the day. “She really won’t bother you at all. It’s nothing against you, little one is just sensitive and just isn’t fond of feeling light elements…”

“Yeah, well I don’t like them either.” Gavla somewhat muttered under her breath, Hahli had to keep herself from frowning.

The Toa decided to return to the original subject. “I know you just got here, but what do you think so far?”

Gavla kicked a tuft of sand. “It’s sandy.”

“Well, we are on a beach.”

The Matoran squinted as she turned her head to look around. “It’s bright.”

“Like I said, we’re on a beach.”

Without missing a beat Gavla added. “It’s loud.”

“That’s just the sound of the waves, many find it rather calming.” Hahli said, keeping her composure.

“Well I don’t,” Gavla said as she crossed her arms.

Hahli took a deep breath. “How about… we go in and I show you around.”

~~~~~~~~~

She took the Av-Matoran up and down the floating walkways, pointing out different huts, explaining things that were going on and introducing her to several residents. So far despite the efforts, Gavla was still showing little interest in everything there. It was certainly getting frustrating, but Hahli wanted to maintain her optimism. Besides… It’s not like I have any other better ideas...

When they were by the boats, Gavla wasn’t even paying attention as Kotu was explaining needing different fishing techniques for different types of fish. It seemed like nothing would fascinate the girl. Running out of ideas off the top of her head, Hahli worriedly looked around  trying to swiftly find something else that could be engaging. Maybe if she introduced someone else?

Quickly, she chose the next Matoran that she could easily spot. “Gavla, have I introduced you yet to- to um…. Vhisola!?”

The Toa dragged her guest up to the Ga-Matoran, who just so happened to be standing by the side of a hut sharpening a hatchet blade.

“Vhisola, this here is Gavla-”

“Uh huh, you already told us about her last night, so I already assumed that’s who she was.” Vhisola rebuffed, she gazed up from her work and casually scanned over the Matoran presented before her. “So, wings, huh?”

Gavla’s bat-wings twitched before folding back. “Yeah, so what?” The Av-Matoran briskly responded in a defensive manner.

“Well, why the wings?” Vhisola put bluntly.

“Vhisola,” Hahli intercepted. “You know very well how they got like that.”

“Yeah Hahli, I know ‘how’ like everyone does, but that’s not what I was asking.” Vhisola rolled her eyes. “I’m asking what’s the point of them.”

“What do you mean, what’s the point?” Gavla asked suspiciously.

“I mean, what does it have to do with having minor shadow energy?” She went on explaining. “All Matoran abilities are related to their element type, Ga-Matoran can hold their breath longer underwater and excel at swimming and such. So what exactly does having vulnerable wings to fly have to do with relation to the shadow element?”

“Vhisola!” Hahli snapped. “This is not appropriate right now!”

“It’s a legitimate question, Hahli,” Vhisola said as she continued sharpening her blade. “Some of us like being curious and knowledgeable.”

Gavla appeared to struggle with the question Vhisola had thrown out, her bat wings gave an aggressive flap. “I- I don’t know why… But what’s so special about being able to sit in water and swim a little better anyways?” The Av-Matoran threw back.

“Excuse me, the Ga-Matoran abilities are very important. It helps us connect and interact with our element, and you don’t even seem to know how your form functions with your past element.” Vhisola ended her chided lecture on a self satisfied note.

“Vhisola!” Hahli interjected through nearly gritted teeth.

Vhisola stopped sharpening her tool’s blade and glared back at Hahli. “Oh come on Hahli. It’s not everyday that a physically unique Matoran comes in, of course I want to know how it works.”

The winged Matoran just stared at Vhisola taken aback, a surprised expression behind her mask. “Unique…” she breathed out quietly.

Hahli was entirely regretting bringing these two into close proximity. She physically put herself between them, attempting to keep things from escalating further. “Vhisola… don’t you have something better you could be doing right now with your… Mata Nui, why do you even have that right now?” She added in response to the hatchet the Matoran was still holding

“Because Hahli,” Vhisola replied. “If you bothered to notice, we have an excess of bamboo and it needs to get chopped down.”

“Wait, you guys still get to chop things up here?” Gavla piped in.

The water Toa was surprised when the other Matoran spoke up, and was even more surprised to hear a pique of interest in her voice for the first time.

“Well yeah, of course we do,” Vhisola said. “What can you not or something?”

“No, not since we started living in New Atero.” Gavla stated. “At least not publicly.”

“Now that’s just restrictive,” the Ga-Matoran put plainly.

As unorthodox as this was starting to become, Hahli decided to at least try and go with it.

“Gavla, would you be interested in helping Vhisola with her chore?” She asked Gavla gently, though she gave a stern look at the water Matoran in turn.

Vhisola shrugged. “I guess I could show her how it’s properly done, but she needs her own hatchet.”

The former shadow Matoran raised her claws. “I think I’m good there.”

“Hmph, well, we’ll see how they hold up,” Vhisola lightly scoffed, though it really didn’t sound antagonistic.

“I guess we will,” Gavla replied mildly as she began to follow the other blue being who was now leading to a bamboo grove that had not been managed for a while.

Hahli watched the two closely as they walked away, her wing-fins began to tense. “If you have any trouble or you need something feel free to come get me,” she called out quickly, but the Matoran kept their pace, appearing to chat with one another and not once looking back at the Toa.

Slowly, Hahli’s wing-fins started to relax and after a little longer she began to feel comfortable enough to get to move on to attending to other things.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Near the end of the day, Hahli gave her goodbyes to Gavla and told her that she hoped to see her again tomorrow. The response she got back was an uninterested “We’ll see,” but she remained rather hopeful as the Matoran left for home that they would be returning the next day.

Later as the night was drawing in and the Ga-Matoran were busy cleaning up, finishing their tasks in the dwindling light and beginning to light lanterns. Hahli was caught up in the middle of assisting Pelagia and Kai, lifting and holding up the side of a boat on the dock so the two could make repairs where they normally couldn’t reach. She wanted them to be wrapping their job up soon. Already she could feel Iara crawling all over her armor, getting antsy and hungry.

“Hey Hahli!”

The Toa looked over to see which Matoran was addressing her. “What is it, Vhisola?”

Vhisola walked up to her, not seeming to care that the Toa was already in the middle of something. “So, about Gavla…”

“What about her?” There was a slight inflection of warning in her question. After the earlier near confrontation from today, Hahli was not in the mood for any of Vhisola’s complaints.

The Matoran was not concerned at all with the Toa’s tone. “Look I know you said she has a lot of problems-”

“I never said that-”

“Either way, she kinda said some things while she was here,” Vhisola went on.

Hahli let out a deep sigh, nearly resting her head against the boat side she was still holding.The Toa was already regretting introducing those two. “Can this wait? We can take this to my hut and- ”

“This is important.” Vhisola retorted with a correctional attitude, she continued before Hahli could protest again.

“We were talking about our old villages initially at first, talked about other stuff, eventually we got to the subject of who we admired.” The Ga-Matoran explained, she beamed a little with what she said next. “Naturally, I mentioned Nokama.”

It took some self control from Hahli to not groan, already she was making guesses at what sort of remark Vhisola would construed as disparaging or insulting over this. She wasn’t sure how much more patience she’d have left here. “So what did she say then?”

“That’s the thing, after I told mine, Gavla said who she admired…” Vhisola paused briefly. “...Which just so happened to be a Makuta…”

The water Toa nearly dropped the boat. “What?”

“And yes before you ask, that is exactly what she said.” Vhisola stated clearly enough.

Both Pelagia and Kai halted their work, a few other Ga-Matoran who had been walking by had stopped and looked over, some having overheard and others having sensed that something was disrupted.

The attention made Hahli feel more unnerved by the reveal. She recalled what Kirop told her about Gavla making disturbing remarks… but she had never guessed that involved actually idolizing… Images of that handmade monstrous figure that sat on Gavla’s nightstand right next to the bed crept into her head, making her suddenly feel cold and gross...

Hahli tried to say something at the moment. “That’s- That’s…”

“Yeah, it’s kinda messed up.” Vhisola willingly filled in.

“Mata Nui, please tell me that you didn’t say that to Gavla’s face?” The Toa hoped things weren’t made any worse.

“Of course I didn’t,” Vhisola said.“I just told her it was weird.”

“For Mata Nui’s sake, Vhisola.” Hahli flared.

“What? It was the mildest way to put it, she even mentioned that was the best thing anybody has said about it so far.” Vhisola defended.

A loose crowd was beginning to form around the area, murmurs and whispers were being spread through everyone, and Hahli didn’t need to hear them to know exactly who they were about. Her entire plan to help was now on the brink of backfiring completely on the first day  

“Look,” Hahli said aloud, making sure everyone could hear her. “I know how… unsettling this all sounds and it’s definitely something to be uncomfortable about. But Gavla has also been through some terrible things and has had a rough time getting through them, she’s definitely hurting and really needs some sort of help. So if we could just give a chance that she desperately needs…”

The Ga-Matoran were silent

“Hahli’s completely right.” Kai moved over from her position where she had been working on the boat and stood up. “We need to at least give her a chance and try to help. I don’t think any of us can continue to say we’re upholding the virtues, especially the virtue of unity,  if we decide that we should give up on a Matoran so easily.”

Several of the Ga-Matoran nodded in agreement, others talked with each other among themselves but seemed to come to the same agreement. A few left remained wary, but were willing enough to see how things went with the Av-Matoran first. The gathered Matoran then began to slowly disperse, returning to their normal tasks at hand.

“Thank you so much, Kai,” Hahli said gratefully. Relief washing over the Toa. “I really wasn’t sure how that was going to go.”

“Not a problem, Hahli.” Kai replied casually, “I just didn’t think it would be really fair to Gavla if we threw her away so easily.”

“No, it absolutely wouldn’t,” the Toa said as she shot a look at Vhisola.

The Komau wearer just shrugged. “I figured you’d be more upset if I didn’t mention it.”

Hahli was about to say something to reprimand Vhisola, when Kai spoke up again.

“Hey, if you want you can send Gavla my way anytime, I won’t mind if she hangs around while I work. I can take her boating as well if she’d like.”

“-Oh that would be great,” Hahli exclaimed, delighted by this sudden development. “That would be very helpful, if we could just get her to feel safe and comfortable here I think she’ll start to relax and be well… less abrasive and maybe open herself up to people.”

Pelagia had finished the last repair and got up, finally allowing Hahli to gently place the boat back down, while Vhisola rolled her eyes and walked off, but the Toa didn’t care as much about the Matoran’s behavior anymore.

“I mean it, I can’t thank you enough,” Hahli told Kai.

Kai smiled. “Like I told you Hahli, not a problem.”

He runs. He runs as fast as he’s able to push his body. You can hear the gravel crunch under his boots, his breath coming out in ragged huffs. His legs and back ach from the sudden movement but he does not stop. He knows that he will regret it later, he is not the young man who used to run for his life from the Evil Queen.

But right now he’s not running from her. He’s running to her. The curse that has kept him from her for eight excruciating weeks has finally broke. And he doesn’t waste a moment to find her. He runs till he reaches Granny’s Diner, thinking she might be there he makes it his first stop.

 He quickly pulls the door open, almost taking it clear off the hinges. He enters looking for the one face he wants to see most.

 But she’s not here.

 “Robin?” Snow can’t believe her eyes. Her voice grabs his attention.

“Snow. Where is Regina?” He makes his way to where she sits with David and the now much bigger Neal.

“Robin how are you here? When did you get her? How did you get back? Is the curse down?” She keep asking question after question, but had yet to answer his. He interrupts her not wanting to waste any more time.

“None of that matter right now Snow. Please I need to see Regina please tell me you know where she is.”

 The half heart Snow has in her chest breaks at the look of sheer desperation on the man’s face.

 “She’s with Emma and Henry, at the authors house.” David says looking just as shocked to see him as everyone else in the diner.

“The author? Has she found him? Never mind I’ll ask her but where is the house at?” He asks hurriedly

“It’s that big house in the forest. It’s not too far from your old camp” Snow explains.

 Knowing which house they are referring to he said a quick thank you before he’s running again.

 And he didn’t stop before he makes it to the house. Deciding against knocking and walks right in.  

Searching around, he sees no one, but he can hear people.

 “You can’t give up mom. We’ll find something.”

“He’s right Regina. You can’t give up ho,.”

“If you say hope I swear to god I will remove your tongue.”

 Robins, heart skips when he hears her voice. He stands outside the room where the three are sitting. He can’t see her, she has her back to him. But her shoulders are sunk, and her head is down.

 “It’s no use. We’ve been looking for weeks and we are n closer to finding the author than we were when we began.” Her voice is strained. She sounds exhausted. He wants nothing more than to take her into his arms and never let her go.

 “We will find him Regina. I told you already. I won’t stop looking until you get your happy ending.”

“What’s the point?” Regina raises her voice. “My soulmate is gone and can never come back. It doesn’t matter if we are able to change how the book views me. That fact will never change.”

 Unable to see her in pain, Robin makes his presence known.

 “Now who are you, and what have you done with Regina?” His draws Emma and Henry’s eyes towards him. Regina’s shoulders square, but she doesn’t turn around. “Because the Regina I know and love with all my heart, would never give up on something she wants.”

 Regina slowly rises, but still does not turn around.

 “How, how are you here?” Emma asks with the same shocked expression her mother wore mere minutes ago.

“I don’t know how. All I know is that I’ve been coming back to the town line every day. And every day I would pray that I would see the Welcome to Storybrooke sign. But I never did. That is not until today. And as soon as I saw it I came running.”

 Robin makes his way over to Regina, who still had not turned to him.

 “Hey kid, let’s give them a minute kay.” Henry reluctantly agrees and follows her out.

“Regina.” He gets no response so he rounds the chair to face her. She has her eyes closed.

“Milady, please. Open your eyes.”

She shacks her head. “No.” Her voice cracks with emotion.

“Why not?” He asks confused.

“You’re not really here. You can’t be here. Once I open my eyes I’ll wake up. And I’ll be alone again.”

 The tears he has tried to keep in fall down his face. He brings his hand up to her face, whipping her tears away from her eyes.

 “It’s me. I really am here. And I promise I will never, ever leave your side again.” He rubs his thumb back and forth on her cheek. “Please love. Open your eyes.”

 Her eyes flutter open but her gaze stayed fixated on the floor. She takes a few shaky breaths before she looks up.

Brown eyes meet blue, both sets crying freely now.

“Robin, you’re really here?”

“Yes I am.” He pulls her to him. After week of separation, he can’t seem to get close enough to her. “I am here, and I am not going anywhere. As long as you will have me I will remain by your side.”

Regina releases a watery laugh. “Is forever okay?”

He can’t help but chuckle. “That sound perfect.”

 No able to wait any longer, Robin pulls her in to a kiss. One that Regina responds to in kind.

 Having her lips on his was like coming home. He made himself a vow. To never go a day without kissing her. Without telling her how much he loves her.

 Regina moans into the kiss. She raises her hands to tangle themselves into his hair. As does one of Robins. The other rests on her waist, squeezing it every so often.

 Seeing that things could very likely get out of hand, Regina reluctantly pulls her mouth away from his. Both are breathing heavy, stupid happy grins on their faces.

 “I have missed you so much. Every day away from you felt like a lifetime.” He rests his forehead against hers. Unwilling to allow any space between them. “I love you. I love you so much and I swear to you now, I will never go a single day and not tell you.” He stares directly into her eyes.

 A sob escapes Regina’s lips. Tears fall from her eyes, but the wide grin on her face lets him know that they are tears of joy.

 “I never thought I’d hear those words from you. I thought for sure when you left I’d never see you again.” She pulls him it a tight embrace. Her head rests on his chest, her hands cling to his back afraid to let him slip away.

 His arms wrap around her frame puling her tightly to him. “As did I. But I am here. And I’m not going anywhere.”

 They stand there for a while, simply enjoying being in each other’s arms. It’s Regina who pulls away first.

 “You have no Idea how happy I am that you are here.” He gives her a bright smile, one that she returns. “But Robin. I have to tell you something.” Her face grows serious, causing his smile to fall.

“What is it my love? Are you ill? I just saw Henry but only for a moment. Is he okay?”

“No, he’s fine. And no I’m not ill. But a lot of things have changed since you’ve been gone.”

 She adverts her gaze, not looking into his eyes.

 “Regina, you’re scaring me, what’s wrong?” His pleases with her, lifting her chin to look into her eyes. “Whatever it is, we will handle it together.” He says assumingly.

 “You might want to wait to hear what it is before you say that.” Fear, and doubt swim in her eyes.

He shacks his head before he answers. “It doesn’t matter what it is. I told you before, partners remember. Nothing you could tell me would make me leave you.”

 Regina releases another sob.

“It’s okay Regina. Just tell me.” He runs a soothing hand up and down her back. Giving her the time she needs.

 But she doesn’t say anything. Instead she pulls away from his grasp. She turns around to look through her purse that sat by an arm chair. She pulls something out before she turns back to the silent thief.

 “I found out a week ago.” She hands him the paper, but says nothing else.

 “Found what out?” He asks looking at the picture. It’s small, black and white and he can’t figure out what it’s supposed to be.

 “Regina, I don’t understand. What is this supposed to be?”

 She takes a deep breath before she answers him.

 “In this world, there is a machine called an ultra sound. Doctors use it to look inside someone body without actually having to cut them open and look inside them.” She clears her throat and continues. “You can take a picture of what you see, that’s what this is.”

 Still confused he nods his head and asks. “And what is this a picture of?”

 She steps next to him, pointing to the photo.

 “See this little dot right here.” Drawing his attention back to the photo. “This tiny little dot.”

 “Yes.”

 Taking one last shaky breath she waits for his eye’s to meet hers before she says.

 “It’s a baby.” Her right hand drift to cover her stomach. “It our baby.”

 It takes a moment for Robin to register what she has just said. Just stares at her hand.

 Regina draws her bottom lip between her teeth, chewing on it nervously. “Robin.” She gets no reply. Seeing his silence as rejection she backs away from him.

 Seeing her retreating form, he quickly grabs her by the waist bring her back to him. Tears have pooled around his eyes. He smiles at Regina, one of his hands cover hers.

 “You’re pregnant? We are having a baby?” His voice is thick with emotion.

“Yes I am. We’re having a baby.”

 Robin drops to his knees. He places both his hands where their child rests safely in its mother’s womb. Regina tangles her hand into his hair.

 Robin firmly kisses her flat stomach. Caressing her sides he keeps his face pressed against her.

He doesn’t say anything, just stands there, holding onto her like his life depends on it.

Regina runs her fingers through his hair, but become alarmed when she sees his shoulders shake from silent sobs.

“Robin, Robin what’s wrong?” She asks carefully.

 He shakes his head back and forth. Unable to speak, he just holds onto her. She gives him a moment, calmly rubbing his head, speaking soothing words.

 When he is able to speak again, it comes out strained and cracking from his sobs.

 “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”

 Confused Regina sinks down to his level. Taking he’s face into her hands, she wipes his tears away.

 “Why are you apologizing? You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“I left you. I left with the thought that I could never return. I left you both. Had the curse not broken I would have never known about the baby. You would have had to raise our child alone. Because I left. I left you, and I am so sorry.” More tears fall from his eyes.

 Regina rests her forehead against his. Making sure he is looking into her eyes.

 “Robin, you left to save Marian. You had no other choice. You did what was right. And had the curse never broken, our child would have known that their father was an amazing man who would have loved them so much. And that he had to leave to save someone’s life. You never have to apologize for that. The baby would have known you love them.”

 He can see she is sincere by the love and understanding shining in her eyes.

 “Well, that doesn’t matter now. Now I am here, and I will tell our baby how much I love them and how much I love their mother. I love you. I love you so much.”

 Giving a small laugh with tear falling from her eyes, Regina replies.

 “I love you too.”

 Robin kisses her putting every ounce of love for her, and their child into it. Regina wraps her arms around his body, wanting no space between them.

 “We’re having a baby.” Still in aww.

“We’re having a baby.” Regina rests her forehead against his. Eyes shining with tears of joy for the first time in weeks.