I apologize for the long wait for this chapter (writer's block and life happen to everyone after all). The reviews I had for this verse are blowing my mind and I want to thank you so much for them. Please continue to share your thoughts and theories with me, I love reading them so much.

Hope you enjoy!

Storybrooke, Maine
April 1901

The stables and the forest were her two favourite piece of heaven. Being a rather lonely girl, she loved to get away from the prison that was her house and the claws of her mother by taking a simple stroll in the green trails behind her backyard, and when she needed company, horses proved to be her best confidents.

On a cold Wednesday evening, Regina Mills escaped in the labyrinth of trees. Her long coat slightly brushed the ground and puffs of smoke escaped from her lips as the cold air made it's way to her lungs. After her mother's last speech about being a true lady ended, she felt the need to cool down and deal with her emotions by herself and freely. Regina, you can't say that kind of thing. Voicing your disagreement in such a way is rude to our guests and you lose all the respect you managed to earn with so much difficulty. Cora's voice still echoed inside her head. It was horrible and her most intense desire at the moment was to make it stop.

Unfortunately, all her thoughts were directed at how her mother wanted her to sit with her mouth shut, be pretty and let her do all the manipulations behind her back. Appearances gave you credibility, credibility gave you recognition, and recognition gave you power. It was a simple equation in her mother's mind, one Cora had tried to get in her daughter's head since she was born.

Fortunately, Regina thought, the apple fell far from the tree. She was nothing like her mother, or at least she hoped so. The young woman with long raven hair couldn't care less about power and dreamed about freedom, although according to Cora, power was freedom, and that was where there was a clash between the two women. Regina didn't need all her mother constantly harassed her for, and most importantly, she didn't want any of it. Dreams about riding off on her favorite horse, far from all the responsibilities her mother piled on her shoulders while reminding her to keep her back straight and smile were common in the young woman's mind.

Dreams of hope, dreams of happiness.

And it's as she was once again losing herself in these dreams that her life almost ended -or started, if you will.

An arrow slit the air in two, making her suddenly stop in her tracks, and the weapon struck the tree to her left. A dramatic gasp left her mouth as she took in the wooden stick inches from her eyes, inches from her brain. As loudly as her heart was beating in her chest, she could have sworn it had stopped for a few seconds beforehand.

Movements were heard on her right and she quickly turned her head to take conscience of the origin of the threat to her life. Her breath caught in her throat once more as she discovered her assailant.

Blue seas submerged her with a piercing, apologetic glare and the sound of two words replaced the echoes of her mother's lessons.

"Apologies milady."

###

The drive back to Robin's house was a quiet one since the two passengers were deep in their thoughts. They arrived at their destination rather quickly and once Regina parked her car in the driveway, Robin looked at her. His blue eyes were always so impressive, like they could somehow see through her façade.

"Would you like to stay for dinner?" He asked gently. Regina wasn't expecting such an offer.

"Oh, hum, thank you for your invitation but I think I'll go back in town and get a room before I eat anything," she declined politely with a slight tilt of her head.

"Well it's up to you, but I think two heads are better than one to resolve this strange situation. And besides, I rarely have the opportunity to share a bottle of wine with someone," the man replied, a charming smirk forming dimples on his cheeks.

Regina smiled back and stared at him, considering his offer again more seriously. Pushing a strand of hair away from her face, she took a deep breath before she answered: "Only if it's red wine, and no Cabernet-Sauvignon."

Robin's smirk widened and he bit his lip at his guest's response. "Pinot noir or Syrah it is then, the choice is yours," He said before opening the door to get out.

Regina stopped the car and followed his lead. Sure she was confused and intrigued by this whole mess, so it would be a great opportunity to discover everything as soon as possible, but she'd be lying if she told herself she didn't think the man was rather handsome. The idea that something might have happened between them in the past troubled her however. How could none of them remember anything? How could she even have been here before?

Pushing her questions aside, she walked in the house behind him and closed the door. "So, what do you think of Storybrooke so far?" He asked from the kitchen as he got two glasses of wine out.

Regina took a deep breath and put her hands on the back of the dinner table's chair in front of her. "I think it's... familiarly strange," she said, taking a few seconds to think about her answer before speaking. "Didn't expect that from a small town in Maine," she confessed with raised eyebrows, now realizing how tired she was.

"What did you expect then?" He asked. He got out the bottles he previously talked about and let Regina point the one she wanted. She went

"I don't know, not my face in a gallery that is making me say and think stuff completely lacking of sense," she answered spontaneously, making him chuckle.

"Never expected that to happen either," he admitted and finally opened the bottle. He poured two glasses and handed one to his guest. "To the truth," he said and lifted his glass.

"To the truth," Regina repeated as she clinked her glass with his.

###

Regina stared in complete shock at the man in front of her. "What the hell! You could have killed me!" She exclaimed as she pulled on the arrow in the trunk to get it out of her face.

"I'm sorry, I thought you were a deer. Are you okay?" the man replied quickly and walked closer.

"Yes, but you certainly should have your eyesight checked," Regina snapped. "And you definitely shouldn't be allowed to play with pointy sticks."

The man smirked slightly at that and took a deep breath. "I truly am sorry, milady," he muttered sincerely in an accent that was definitely not from here. "Now, may I have my arrow back please?" He asked gently, not wanting to overstep his boundaries.

Regina stared at him, pursing her lips at his request. After a few seconds of hesitation, she finally let the arrow fall in his palm. "Careful with that next time," she muttered to him, about to turn around and walk away. Her heart wouldn't calm down and she tried to blame it on the fright he just gave her.

"What does a stunning lady like you do wandering around the forest just before dawn?" His voice stopped her from leaving his sight. Regina raised her eyebrows at him, taken aback by his blunt and yet caring question.

"That's... none of your business," The woman replied and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear before crossing her arms.

"Fair enough," he replied, not wanting to push her away. "Enchanted to meet you, mysterious forest lady." He put his arrow in his stealth and extended his hand for her to shake. "I'm Robin. Robin of Locksley."

Regina observed his hand for a second, trying to decide whether she should shake it or not. This Robin had almost ended her life after all. But there was something else, another feeling tying her gut together, a glimmer in his eyes she could have gazed into for longer than what was considered appropriate. There was something new sinking in her, and she couldn't help but let the roots sink in her heart. And besides, she could use the distraction he offered.

"I'm Regina."

###

Once dinner was ready, they both sat face to face at the wooden table. Although the conversation flowed easily between them previously, a silence fell in the room once they started to eat.

"So… Memory loss and time travel are our best bets so far?" Regina broke the ice with raised eyebrows, getting a nod from the man across the table. "This is complete non-sense," the woman grumbled. She had a hard time accepting this crazy theory might be reality.

"Trust me, I know. You kind of accept it after a while, because honestly, I don't know what's the explanation to all of this," He paused, staring in her chocolate eyes before making a confession. "I have to admit seeing you as a real person is rather... overwhelming."

Regina frowned at his words and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "What do you mean?"

"I spent many years alone and wondering about weird theories about time travels and amnesia and I kept everything to myself so everyone else wouldn't think I was going mad, although even I doubted it sometimes. Seeing you makes it all real and worth it, although it brings a thousand more questions and worries," He answered sincerely.

She listened intently, trying to figure out what he must have felt during all this time. She concluded it must have been quite a burden. "How have you come to terms with it?"

"Honestly, I haven't," he started. "You just kind of have to go with it and stop trying to see what does or doesn't makes sense. That's often when I found important puzzle pieces."

Regina nodded at his answer and took a sip of wine, thinking she should probably listen to his advice. "Other than theorizing about what on Earth happened here, what do you do with your time?" To hell with strange circumstances. They might as well try to get to know each other like normal people would, and letting what brought them together come first wasn't a good way to discover who he was.

"Well obviously I paint, but apart from that, I work as a handyman, I take care of the town's library from time to time and I give classes of archery to adults and kids."

She didn't know what she expected, but she was slightly surprised, and maybe even impressed by his answer. "I hope your aim is good then if you teach kids how to use a bow."

"Oh, I never miss, milady," He replied with a smirk and a glimmer in his eyes.

Regina raised her eyebrows at this, amused and rather doubtful this was close to the truth. "Never?"

"Never. Unless I want to," he answered playfully with an innocent shrug.

"Well someone's confident," Regina smirked before taking a sip of wine.

"Just honest. I could show you sometime, perhaps even teach you a trick or two."

"I don't plan on staying here for long. I have a final project to work on and I don't want this weird... thing, whatever it is, to get in the way of my diploma."

Taking the opportunity, the man decided to turn the tables and now be the one who asked questions about her life. "So you're an art major, right? What made you to choose that course?"

Regina smiled slightly at this question. She's been asked that at least a million times before. "Passion, of course, and I've always wanted to do something where I could express myself without any justification," She first said. "It was either that or law studies, which would have been the complete opposite, but I followed my heart instead of my head. And now here I am, with no precise plan of what comes next, but I find it doesn't really matter. I know I'll manage, I'm good at what I do. The industry might be tough, but I'm tougher."

Listening intently and keeping an intense gaze at the artist speaking in front of him, Robin couldn't help but flash his dimples with a slight smirk at the last words he heard. "And you claimed I was too confident?"

"Who said confidence was a bad thing?" She tactfully retorted.

"Good point." He admitted before taking a sip of wine. "I would like to see some of your creations. It would only be fair considering you could appreciate a couple of mine."

Regina took a deep breath, contemplating her options for a few seconds. She had nothing to be ashamed or shy of, but she knew showing him her paintings would bring a part of her walls down, letting him get to a certain part of her. "I guess I could show you a thing or two," She finally muttered before also lifting her glass to her lips.

"You guess? Oh come on, Regina, you have to play fair."

For some reason, she noted how her name sounded when it escaped from his mouth. She liked the soft, natural sound of it.

"Do I?" She replied with an eyebrow raised, trying not to get distracted by how handsome and charming he was.

"Oh come on, do I have to beg?" He asked with raised eyebrows.

"Could be a good idea, indeed."

With a sigh, Robin stared at her for a few seconds, letting silence fill the room to increase the impact of his words. "Regina Mills, would you please care to show me some of your work? I am intrigued to see your style and talent, which I am sure you do not lack, and I would like to see if you're better than me."

"You bet I am, archer," Regina said quickly, grinning confidently. She loved this little competition growing between them. She was always one to play this kind of game.

"I have to admit I'm also quite tired of seeing the same paintings over and over again." He added with a nod.

"Of course you are, especially since you fill up about a third of that gallery." She mumbled with a roll of her eyes.

"Well it's not like if you didn't appreciate it." He answered, never losing a beat, and he filled the two glasses of wine.

Smirking, Regina stared at him and crossed her legs under the table. He was quite the player too apparently, and she loved it. "Good point." She gave in after a few seconds. "Alright, I'll show you some of my stuff, but simply because you made me a pretty good dinner."

Robin leaned back in his chair with a triumphant smile. He never expected today, but how good it was to have something finally happening in his long, boring life. He appreciated the woman's company, enjoyed to see her smile, liked to discover the person she was. How strange it was to see his painting come to life. "Deal," He muttered.

They thought less and less about the forgotten past that united them and got carried away in normal conversations and occasional flirting. There was something subtle growing between them, intensifying their natural bond, perhaps only noticeable by the secret flutters of their hearts and the heat rising up to their cheeks from one compliment to the other joke.

###

Conversation continued to flow seamlessly and charming smiles were exchanged until there were only empty plates left on the table. Getting up from their seats, they walked to the living room and Regina narrowed her eyes when she saw the tall bookshelf on the right wall. "Are these the same notebooks as the one you showed me earlier? Do they all count the days that passed that you were aware of?" She crossed her arms and observed dozens of identical leather bindings on the shelves, amongst a few literary classics. Of course, he was a Shakespeare fan.

Robin took a deep breath at her question and stood a little behind her, also looking at the rows of brown notebooks. "They do," He sighed, sounding completely desperate, almost hopeless, but definitely tired.

Regina turned to look at him with wide eyes, sporting a frown and a slightly opened mouth. "But... you should be dead by now," She mumbled, to which Robin simply nodded and said he already knew that. Letting out a huff of air, she looked at the small books again. "How many days do they represent exactly?"

Putting his hands in his pockets, Robin muttered a small "Above a hundred years, to put it simply." He took a moment to think about each of these repetitive days, where he was stuck with mild knowledge of a paranormal situation while everyone else around him was completely oblivious of anything strange going on. A hundred years of loneliness, a hundred years of thinking he might have lost his head, a hundred years of waiting, but waiting for what exactly? That he didn't know, had not a single clue, until today. "Trust me, keeping those up to date is rather depressing," He added before walking towards his window and looking at the lake in his backyard.

Regina turned slightly to look at him, sensing how he had just fallen a little deeper in his thoughts. She didn't know why, but she felt slightly hurt for him. Unbeknownst to her, empathy was dangerously flirting with sympathy, and how hazardous was that considering sympathy leads to care? "I can only imagine," She mumbled gently.

Turning his head to look at her, they locked eyes for a few seconds, sharing confusion and understanding. There was something there, something strange lingering in the depth of their eyes, tying them together with an unusual strength. They both felt it, and they both tried to brush it off.

"Robin," Regina started and walked closer to him. "I know this must have been hard for you during all this time, but I really, really need you to tell me everything you know, everything you discovered and everything you thought could explain this."

"That would take a very, very long time," He replied before she could finish.

Regina sighed at his words and stared in his blue seas. "You still have to show me everything. I deserve it, and so do you," She tried to convince him. "Besides, you said it yourself: we have much better chances to find out the truth if we work together

"Regina, I know this must seem completely crazy and that you're suspicious, I get it, I've been there. But please, you've got to help me on this. I've looked for answers all these years, and I still feel like I have close to nothing. Your arrival is the biggest progress I recorded in at least the last ten years. If we work together, I'm sure we can make it," He said desperately.

Regina opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She could feel how deep these words came from, how he meant everything, how important it was to him, like he was lost and begged for a lighthouse to find his way back home. "Robin, I…" She started.

"Please, Regina," He insisted when he heard the reluctance in her voice.

She was the last hope he had left.

Staring at him silently, she pondered her options, how messy and complicated this all was. "I can't promise you anything, Robin," She finally told him. "But, I'll go get a room for the night at the bed and breakfast in town, and we'll continue our… investigation tomorrow, and then we'll see."

A sigh escaped him and a relieved smile made his dimples appear once more. "Thank you," He muttered. "You won't regret it."

"Can't say my little trip wasn't worth it so far," She replied with a slightly mischievous smile, earning a smirk from him.

"I tend to have that effect on women," He joked, trying to lighten the mood.

"I was talking about the paintings," She replied with a light chuckle.

"Of course you were," He said, putting his hands in his pockets and raising his eyebrows at her with a smug grin.

She kept her eyes on him, a calculated silence filled the room with unspoken desire. She let the feeling take place, one very similar to the sensation that invaded her once their eyes locked for the first time. It was strange, mysterious and appealing, but there was something more than simple attraction, something special tingling in the air, pulling them closer somehow.

With a blink of her eyes, she got out of her haze and his blue gaze, she realized how the distance between them had lessened considerably. Taking a deep breath, she broke their eye contact but didn't step back. "I should go before it's too late. I don't want to sleep in my car after all," She muttered.

Robin nodded and cleared his throat at Regina's words, also slightly unsettled. "You're right, you should go before Granny gets in bed." Both agreed, and yet, both refused to make a move. The situation brought smirks on their faces, Robin rubbing the back of his neck and Regina biting her lips with the hope that her cheeks weren't too red.

"Before you go, you need to keep that promise though," Robin intervened, making Regina look at him again with a questioning expression and raised eyebrows. "Show me something you created," He clarified. His interest in her work was rather flattering, and although he probably knew that, his smile was so genuine, so honest, she knew he wasn't just playing around. He sincerely wanted to discover the artist in her, and that made her appreciate him even more.

"I never promised I'd do it," She replied, not letting any of her thoughts crack her expression and she turned to walk towards the door, knowing he'd follow.

"Fair enough, but I believe you're a woman of honour and you'll do as you said, promises or not," Robin said as they walked outside.

Damn, he was good.

"Careful with your assumptions. You have no idea who you're dealing with." She fished her keys out of her pocket and walked to her car with determination and a hint of anticipation.

"Well I do hope to have enough time to discover the many faces of the mysteriously complex Regina Mills." His words caught her attention and she slowed down her pace. Yes, this was very charming from him, but something else pulled at her gut. As the words left his mouth, it sounded so… familiar, like she had already heard it before, perhaps in a dream. Oh, but who was she to say what belonged to reality or the kingdom of slumber now, after all these messed up, complicated and utterly crazy hints of a scavenger hunt she discovered today, one that seemed bigger than life itself?

"Is everything alright?" His voice pulled her out of her thoughts once more, grounding her back to the here and now. She cleared her throat and decided to act as if nothing happened. Mumbling a small "I'm fine", she opened the trunk of her car and revealed a few canvases she had planned on bringing to school but had decided to leave there for her own improvised field trip beforehand. The first one she revealed pictured a brown horse with a white spot on its muzzle, its face being the main focus of the piece although only about the quarter of it was missing due to the way she framed it.

Raised eyebrows and pursed lips appeared on Robin's face. "Well I was confident you were talented, but I did not expect a technique similar to Degas', although the composition is very modern and the contrast increased," He commented. "I like it."

Regina found herself completely pleased with the comment he offered to her. Compose yourself, Mills.

She got the second canvas out and realized this one made her a little more nervous since it wasn't her best work, but it still held a special place in her heart. She turned it to properly show it to him, but his reaction was nothing like she expected.

His face fell. His jaw slacked. His eyes widened.

"That's the clock tower over the library," He breathed.

"What?" Regina exclaimed with a frown, looking back at her creation in complete confusion.

"There's no doubt, it really is the clock in the middle of the town. You even painted the exact time it's always been stuck at." He rushed and she was left to stare at a canvas she made weeks ago, with no reference, completely oblivious of the unconscious meaning it held. She was speechless, and really, was there a reason not to believe him anymore?

"So you produced pieces you don't remember creating, and I painted something I don't remember seeing," She mumbled. "Great."

Robin looked at her, animated by a new energy. "But this is good news Regina. It confirms that you've been here before and that there is a way to put all the pieces together," He told her, putting a hand on her shoulder. "It's a sign of hope, a sign we can do this together."

Regina gulped and stared in his eyes once more, pondering all the motivation and faith he was bearing. That's when she noticed, not only did he have faith in his theories and the resources they both brought, but he had faith in her too. How scary, intimidating, but incredibly touching was that?

"I…" She started, but couldn't find what to say, what to tell him, what to answer. She was clueless. What was she supposed to do? It all was so frightening. But as frightening as it seemed to be, the desire to discover the truth was stronger, and besides, Regina wasn't one to let fear overcome her. "Let's make it our first lead tomorrow morning then," She finally managed, seeming determined, but the weight of the day heavy on her shoulders. "I really should get some sleep. I can't think straight anymore."

At her words, Robin seemed to remember to breathe and he gave her a slight smile, flashing his dimples at her. "Alright," He agreed. "Are you sure you're okay to go back by yourself?" He asked and Regina nodded.

"Yes. The wine's long gone and I remember where the bed and breakfast is."

"Alright, well, call me if you need anything," He said to her with a slight tilt of his head.

Regina smirked at this, placing the canvases back correctly in her trunk. "I doubt I'll need it, but for that to work, I'd need to actually have your number in the first place."

"Oh, right," Robin muttered, now realizing he hadn't gave it to her. He scoffed and got his leather notepad out of his pocket along with a pen. He scribbled his phone number, ripped the small page and handed it to her. "There you go, milady."

"Thank you, sir," She said playfully, unable to stop the smile growing on her face.

They stood there, sharing one last silent look that said so much. Although a massive phenomenon brought them together, the subtleties constantly flowing between them was what felt just right.. It was what made her comfortable and kept her from freaking out and losing her mind. "Alright, goodnight, Robin," She finally muttered with a sweeter voice than she expected and she moved towards the driver's door. He was faster than her and he opened it for her. Regina was thankful it was getting dark, otherwise he would have probably noticed the slight flush of her cheeks.

"Goodnight, Regina," He mumbled, holding the door open for her as she got in her car. "See you tomorrow."

"Eight in front of the gallery?" She suggested, getting a nod from him before he repeated her words in agreement with her.

With one last goodbye, he closed her door and she started her car, slowly pulling out of the driveway, and he watched her leave.

###

What started as a desperate run to escape the claws of her obligations ended up in a slow stroll in the woods, smiles becoming easier as footsteps were taken and personalities were showing their first few sparks. As time flew by, she discovered he was a free spirited man, something she envied with all her heart. Nothing seemed to hold him back. She had never seen him around before since he had just arrived from Europe, the oh so refined continent her mother kept on daydreaming about. That would be the only thing she appreciated about her new friend, a man who couldn't care less about social status, but about social inequalities, a man who followed his heart instead of the obligations put upon him.

His decision to jump on a the ship to come to the other side of the sea had been a rebellious, improvised act, but one he did not regret in the slightest, he told her. "My parents wanted me to become a lawyer, and I almost did since I thought I could help those who really needed it, change the social hierarchy one case at a time, but it wasn't me. Too bureaucratic," He had told her. "Although I considered the option, I quickly rejected it, decided to follow my first plan and take my chances as an artist."

"An artist?" She repeated, sounding a little surprised.

"An artist, indeed," He confirmed. "Doesn't get you much gold, especially since my parents completely disowned me and made sure they weren't associated with me in way, so I decided to make it easier for them and move here," He explained casually.

"But wasn't it difficult?"

"Didn't say it wasn't, but it was for the best," He answered with a shrug. "I have come to believe that if those who claim to love you can't accept who you are, then they don't really, truly love you." He reflected wisely, the words echoing in her head and twisting her guts. As quickly as she tried to swallow her feelings, he hadn't failed to notice her uneasiness.

"Is everything alright?" He asked with concern and she nodded quickly.

"Yes, I was just thinking about how we were this strange sort of similar opposites, that's all," She muttered with a slight shrug, letting her paradoxical words sink in his soul to let his imagination wander to all the meaning possible behind the hint of a confession she just gave him. In the last hour, they had barely talked about her, or at least she always found a way to avoid talking about her.

"You know, I used to paint a lot when I was young," She finally shared something from her life, although he figured it was probably to avoid addressing something she didn't want to reveal. "Mother kept on saying a proper lady's place wasn't behind a canvas, but much rather in front of one," She added quietly.

"So you stopped?" He asked, curious and slightly baffled.

"She thinks I did, but I have some hidden material in my room and in the stables," She confessed with a smirk and pulled a strand of hair behind her ear before crossing her arms over her chest.

Smirking, Robin nodded slightly and observed her. "I'm glad to hear that," He mumbled, making her look at him and offer him a such a gentle, innocent smile.

"Speaking of, I need to go before she finds out I'm not home," She told the archer who gave an understanding nod in return. "It was nice to talk with you," She muttered, forbidding herself to add something about the relief she felt to finally talk to someone who didn't expect her to look pretty and keep her mouth shut.

"Likewise," He replied and bowed slightly. "I can't wait until our paths cross again."

Regina raised her eyebrows and took a deep breath. "I don't think it will be happening again," She replied, trying to suppress the twinge of disappointment in her stomach. She wanted to see him again, badly, even just to get away from the repressing hell she was enduring every day, but she knew it would be playing with fire. Robin Locksley was, as far as she could tell from the short amount of time they had spent together, a good man, and he did not deserve to have his life ruined by the Mills family.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that, milady," He added, looking confident, but without a glimpse of malice and smugness showing his eyes.

"And may I know why you think so, Mr. Locksley?" She retorted with raised eyebrows, using a firm tone, trying to convince herself this was for the best.

"Well I do hope to have enough time to discover the many faces of the mysteriously complex Regina Mills."

Not once had he pushed her to talk about subjects she did not wish to address, always respecting the walls she had built, as if he understood there was a reason they were there in the first place, something most people failed to observe and respect. For that, she was infinitely grateful. The fact that she hadn't pushed him away amazed her even more, and she couldn't hide the red shade that started to tint her cheeks.

"Goodnight, Robin," She muttered, unable to say a proper goodbye. Her hopes were too high, although her reason screamed at her not to feed them, but what could she do when it was too late?

"Goodnight, Regina," He mumbled before she turned and quickly made her way in the trails. And although she didn't noticed, he watched her leave hurriedly with the certitude that their story wasn't over.

###

The ride back in town was one where Regina tried to clear her head by focusing on nothing but the road. It didn't work as much as she wished it would have, and all the work she had done to try to get in that state of mind disappeared when she noticed the clock over the library. How could she have missed it the first time she passed here?

Robin was right, it was the exact same as her painting.

Despair hit her and she parked on the side of the street, gripping the steering wheel tightly and laying her forehead against it. "This is madness," She whispered tiredly. She was exhausted, completely worn out, and she needed a moment to let the world stop spinning around her, to let herself find North again. A feeling of emptiness and powerlessness seized her, and no, focus on your breathing, you'll get through this, see the end of it, and everything's overwhelming right now because you desperately need sleep. Get a hold of yourself, Mills.

A few more seconds passed before she finally got out of her car, grabbing her bag with extra clothes she always left in her backseat "just in case" and her sketchpad before heading to the Bed and Breakfast. She entered, a bell ringing as soon as she opened the door. On cue, the same lady from this morning walked behind the desk a few seconds later and looked at her with raised eyebrows. "Well, well, you're still in town?"

"Apparently," Regina replied and put her hands in her pockets. "I'd like a room for the night."

Granny seemed surprised, but quickly started to go through her papers while going off about something Regina couldn't find in herself to listen to. She nodded a few times and looked at the old lady preparing everything. "Now, what's the name again?"

"Mills, Regina Mills."

"Regina," She heard from behind, making her turn to see who had joined them. A slender man, dressed in a suit was standing behind her, wearing an all too knowing smirk, and how weird was it that she didn't hear the bell ring when he came in. She shook the thought away by blaming her inattention on exhaustion. "What a lovely name," He added.

"Thanks," She replied simply. Without really knowing what else to say, she turned back to Granny to finish the payment while the man apparently kept a grin plastered on his face. To her surprise, the other woman was holding a roll of bills right under her nose.

"It's all here," She said as boney fingers reached for the money.

"Yes, of course it is, dear. Thank you," The man mumbled and looked at Regina again. "You enjoy your stay, Regina," He told her, taking a few seconds before saying her name in a low voice. He left and Regina thought there was something about this man she didn't particularly like. He seemed to know far too much, but maybe that was what she needed right now: someone who knew.

"Who's that?" She asked the innkeeper curiously.

"Mr. Gold," The lady behind the desk answered. "He owns this place."

"The inn?"

"No, the town." The tone used by Granny showed clear dislike and annoyance, and Regina noted that she probably should be careful around this Mr. Gold. Taking a deep breath, the innkeeper changed the subject and asked: "So, how long will you be with us?"

"A night. Just a night." Regina confirmed, but also tried to convince herself apparently.

"Great." The woman said, suddenly looking much more welcoming and friendly than before. Offering a warm smile, she gave the key to Regina.

"Welcome to Storybrooke."