This chapter was supposed to be longer but I fell ill today and was unable to complete the second part on time and since I promised an update this weekend and I loathe breaking promises, I figured I would give you guys this. It's more of a filler chapter but one I spent quite a lot of time on writing and editing. Thoughts are appreciated! Also, I'm struggling a little with my re-write for chapter 8, it will hopefully happen soon. I'm just having a hard time finding a way to not turn that chapter into a tacky mess.

Enjoy this and once again thank you so much for your support, follows and reviews!

Chapter 11: Doubts

Her thoughts were clearer than they had been in a long time and a calmness had settled inside of her, had closed itself around that heavy brick-like feeling in the pit of her stomach, had encased her troubled thoughts along with it. It had been a week since any of them had heard from her sister, a week since she'd consistently started training Emma, a week since she'd taken an arrow and had been slapped across the face by Snow. A week since she'd last seen him. Robin. It was better this way. Once she had rid herself from the outlaw slivers of the control she believed she had lost forever had returned to her. The distance had enabled her to think more clearly and she had come to the conclusion that she wasn't even sure if what she felt for him was real. She'd given him, - or more accurately - his lion tattoo a considerable amount of thought and in the end she had been forced to admit that if she hadn't known he was the man she had run from all those years ago, she probably never would have pursued him in the first place. Yes, she decided, the draw had been the tattoo. Her feelings were tainted. Her choices not hers. How could she be certain her feelings were hers? She hadn't pondered the question for long, had ended up banning his existence from her mind altogether. A burden had lifted off of her then and she had been able to breathe again.

On top of that the time she'd spent with the Charmings had enabled her to see more of Henry and though it hurt he still regarded her with an expression that left her feeling bereft of all of the moment's they'd shared in the past it was still good to have him close. To be able to see and touch her son was something she never could have dreamed of after she had watched him cross the town-line with Emma all those months ago. He was here, and she was here and Emma was finally making some progress.

'Will you be back for dinner?' Snow's cry pulled her back to the present and she fleetingly felt Emma brush past her.

'Yeah, yeah.' The blonde replied, waving a hand behind her as she opened the front door.

'Are you coming?'

Regina nodded.

It had taken a while for her to get used to the constant presence of the Charmings and their ways, even now, after a week of their playful bickering she still felt ill at ease around them. Snow had apologized, just like Robin had predicted. Regina remembered the guilt-ridden expression on her step-daughter's face as she'd almost begged her for forgiveness. She hadn't meant it, she'd said. But Regina wasn't easily fooled and on top of that Snow was a terrible liar. Nonetheless she'd accepted the apology. She'd accepted because she understood. A type of understanding she never would have capable of feeling a year ago, but that had been before she'd lost Henry.

As the days wore on and she had gotten used to the unfamiliar atmosphere in the Charming's apartment, they'd found themselves searching for more answers. Could they break the curse?; was one question that continuously plagued them. Emma had tried true love's kiss on Henry more times than she cared to remember, but since the boy wasn't in immediate danger – and all of them had immediately rejected the idea of risking his life - love filled kisses had little affect on him. It tore at her heart. There was also the obstacle of him not understanding, nor believing in what they really were. Fairy-tale characters. She would have given anything to have Henry remember, but there were no potions she could brew, nor spells she could cast that were strong enough to bring him back to her.

'What about Hook?'

She'd asked, after a particularly grueling training session with Emma. She'd been so tired of beating around the bush that day and she knew; had become aware of what Hook meant to the savior.

'What of him?' Emma had asked.

'We curse him and you perform true love's kiss on him.'

She'd received a loud snort and an incredulous look in response. Granted it was a risk, but one she'd be more than willing to take.

'He's not my true love. I don't love him.'

'Right.'

'I don't.'

Emma's denial had become one of the biggest thorns in her side. It was obvious. She'd watched them, had seen the lingering looks, the deep seethed longing in their eyes when they didn't think the other one was looking. Magic floated around them, like bees attracted to honey. It made her sick to her stomach, but it also filled her with anger. If Emma could break the curse, had the ability and strength to do so, then why couldn't she just get over her own pig-headedness and get it on with the damn pirate?

'Wait.' David's voice stopped her. The hesitance in his tone peeked her interest and she turned back to face him.

'I – uh.' Charming at a loss for words? There was a first time for everything after all.

'I'm not sure if I should mention this,' he continued. 'I'd rather not get involved.' She narrowed her eyes. 'But the archer,' he paused again. 'Robin Hood, approached me the other day,' He scratched his neck. 'he – uh, he wants to talk you.'

Her fists clenched together, her jaw set tighter and she was sure her heart beat a little faster. She should have expected this. Like her he was too stubborn to let go once he'd made his mind up about something, even after she'd made it clear that she didn't want to see him anymore.

'Look, it probably isn't any of my business, but -'

'No, it's not. It's none of your business.' She cut him off. She had no desire to discuss Robin with David, nor with anyone else. Not when she had just managed to cast the outlaw from her mind. Doubts would not creep back into her heart now. She turned around, her eyes determinedly set on the door. Emma was still there, her expression one of disapproval, but she remained quiet.

'He cares for you.' Snow called from her place in the kitchen, having overheard the exchange between her and David. Regina whirled back. The pregnant woman waddled across the room toward her husband. 'You should have seen the look on his face. He may not know it, but he feels you're his soul mate, Regina.'

She curtly shook her head, she resented that word; Soul mate. Tinker Bell should have kept quiet and when had they ventured across that invisible line? When had hatred blossomed into a type of familial comradery that had given the Charmings the false impression that they could address her this way? She looked from Snow to David. Not long ago she wouldn't have hesitated killing them all and if it hadn't been for Henry, she surely would have done so. But then Neverland had happened, and after that her sister and now her training with Emma left her working so closely with the Charmings that she'd ended up sharing conversations over dinner with them almost every evening that past week alone. How had that happened? Her attention shifted back to her step-daughter.

'I had a soul mate,' her eyes burned into Snow's. 'He died a long time ago.'

She turned back to Emma.

They were done here.

'Let's go.'

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