@shippinguntilinfinity requested a continuation of âFate,â so here you go, dear! I hope itâs okay!
She doesnât want to be here.
She doesnât want to be at Grannyâs, where every look cast her way is equal parts pity and fear. She doesnât want to be here, among these people who are convinced sheâs just about one bereavement card away from snapping and murdering them all where they stand. She can see it in their eyes, the way their conversations hush when she walks by, the way the majority of them take care not to get too close or, God forbid, find themselves alone with her. Only Henry and the Charmings stay close (Regina is pretty sure she saw Snow silence some murmurs with a single, well-practiced teacher glare), and Emma is nowhere to be found. She is in a room full of people, some of them even her family, and yet Regina Mills has never felt more alone.
âRegina?â Snowâs voice startles her, and she wonders how long sheâs been trying to get her attention. âDo you need anything? Can I get you something to eat?â
She shakes her head wordlessly.
âYou should eat something.â
âIâm fine.â She doesnât raise her voice, doesnât even look at her, but something in her voice seems to stop Snow, because she doesnât bring it up again.
The world seems dull without Robin, sounds muted, colors lifeless, and she knows that any food she touches would probably taste like ash in her mouth. This is a different pain from losing Daniel, because Regina is no longer the 18-year-old girl she used to be. She has grown up. She has both witnessed and performed unspeakable acts of evil, and come out the other side trying to be a better person. She has become a mother, and a hero, and a leader. She has a family. Maybe part of her was naive enough to think that all these things would make this loss easier, but the reality of it is that Regina just feels tired. Her very soul aches for him, the soulmate that she lost, and she just wants to go home, only she knows it wonât feel like home without him...
Sheâs wondering exactly how long she has to stay when she hears the door of the diner open.
Regina thinks nothing of it at first--people are probably starting to trickle out now, those who didnât really know Robin and are only here out of obligation. She doesnât turn around, not even when a hush falls over the crowd, not even when the cup of coffee Snow is holding falls to the ground and shatters into pieces. Her brow furrows, not sure what all the fuss is about--has another villain come to town, possessing some kind of sixth sense as to when to kick the Evil Queen when sheâs down? She almost wishes they have. She could use someone to destroy right about now, even though she knows itâs useless, that it wonât bring him back, that even if she saved them all it would probably just confirm everyoneâs worst fears.
âRegina,â Snow whispers urgently.
âMom,â Henry urges on her right.
They donât say a word, and she turns and follows their gazes to the door.
She blinks, not believing the sight before her, but the vision does not go away. Slowly, as if some other force is guiding her, she begins to walk towards him, her footsteps dull thuds in her ears. He mirrors her movements, approaching her slowly, as if he too is afraid that this is a trick of some kind and she will disappear before his eyes. He does not smile, not yet, but as she comes closer the look of love in his eyes almost makes her burst into tears right there.
No one says a word as they cross to meet each other, although she can see from the corner of her eye that Roland is now standing in front of Snow, her hands on his little shoulders to keep him  in place. No one says a word as they lock eyes, and Regina lets out the tiniest little breath, like a gasp.
She reaches out a shaky hand to touch his cheek. Slowly, her hand grazes the stubble on his face before cupping his cheek gently, every motion tentative, half of her fearing that he will vanish into nothing under her touch. His cheek is warm beneath her palm, and he leans into his touch, his gaze drinking her in, a tear glistening in the corner of his eye. Her thumb gently grazes his lips, her eyes never leaving his, searching intently for any sign of trickery, waiting for the illusion to break.
He smiles then, a slow smile that lights up his entire face. âI missed you,â he whispers.
And then sheâs in his arms.