She looked good.

Better than he remembered, she took his breath away at first glance, nostalgia and regret sweeping over him the second he caught sight of her.

When David suggested that they host the first night of the high school reunion Robin's first instinct was to roll his eyes. He knew it was coming up - the ten year anniversary of their graduation - but he hadn't planned on celebrating or even attending the reunion everyone seemed so intent on shoving down his throat. It just seemed like a waste of time or money to commemorate something so arbitrary. Despite the fact that events would be taking place all over town for the weekend, he hadn't even planned on going.

That was until he realized that it might be his only chance to see her again.

So he caved and let David and his wife take over the Golden Arrow for the night. It wasn't as if the old bar couldn't use a boost. A night of drunk high school alumni could be just what he needed, financially speaking.

The reunion kick-off had started at seven. By 7:30 the place was filled wall to wall with former Storybrooke High grads. Honestly, he was a little surprised by the turn out. He'd expected for most of his old classmates to blow this off but even from behind the bar he could see face after face, all familiar, trailing into his family's bar, most of them joking about how they could actually use their real ID's this time.

The atmosphere was joyful, all around people were reminiscing about the past, marveling at the changes they'd made since then. He saw people he hadn't seen in years, looking thinner or fatter, in love, with children or well-traveled. Some of them looked lonely or disappointed but those were ones filling up at the bar so he wouldn't begrudge them their regrets. It's not like he didn't have a few of his own.

He hadn't expected her to show. He'd wanted her to, hoped she would but he didn't expect it.

Then her heard that laugh.

That deep, fluttering giggle he'd recognize anywhere.

The sound of it hits his ears and like magic he was back in the bed of his pick up with her, fantasizing about their future, all the adventures they'd have. They were gonna see the world together, go to college, have babies… get married. They'd planned their whole lives on nights like those, nights where it was just him and her, and the moon and the fireflies dancing in sync to the staticy music playing out of his old radio.

He almost didn't turn to look at her, didn't know if he could handle it to be honest. But he forced himself to, not wanting to be a coward.

Her hair is the first thing he sees. It's shorter, straighter, more grown up, different from what he remembers but still familiar. He'd run his fingers through that hair so many times, he'd never be able to forget it. She's not facing him but he knows that it's her. He'll always know her. He'll always see her… even when she's not there.

Ten years without her has proved that.

He can only see the back of her head, but it's enough to make his heart clench with anticipation. Will she look different? Will she be different? What will she do when she sees him? Probably give him the slap he deserves. He'd earned that and so much more for what he'd done to her. For what he said. For God's sake why won't she turn around?

As if on cue, she turns on the heel of his last thought, spinning around to greet someone who's walked up, revealing her beautiful face and unwittingly answering his first question.

Nothing's changed about her.

She looks older. Her jawline is sharper, her smile lines are more defined as she grins and her lips bear a shade of lipstick she wouldn't have dared to touch when they were together.

But even with all those things she's still her .

He still wants to drown in her chocolate colored eyes. He'd still make a fool of himself to bring out that bright, wide grin that resides on her face.

After all these years she's still her, the same girl that he fell in love with.

Nothing has changed.

She spots him and he suddenly realizes that he's staring at her. He wants to look away but he can't. Instead he just offers her a weak, apathetic wave; too cowardly to do anything more, like walk over and hug her like he so desperately wants to.

Her smile dips a bit when she sees him, and he knows she's remembering what he did, what he'd said to her. How hurtful he'd been. She masks it well, pulling her grin tighter, waving at him a little shyly but still enthusiastic, as if she's happy to see him. She must've known that she would. She was in his bar after all.

An old member of the chess club suddenly appeared at the counter asking for a round of tequila shots, forcing him to tear his eyes away from her.

He spins around reaching for the cheap tequila from the bottom shelf, feeling every internal alarm he has go off inside him. His heart pounds as he pours the liquor into eight shot glasses, silently trying to calm himself down. He never drinks on the job, it pulls focus but fuck it, he needs something to settle his nerves.

Reaching under the counter he pulls out a ninth glass and pours a quick shot for himself. He downs it before turning around handing the tray to an old classmate who instantly disappears into the crowd. Once he's walked off, Robin takes a deep breath and sneaks a glance to where saw her standing but she's long gone.

His heart sinks at the thought of that being it. Ten years of regret and it passes by with a small wave, nothing more. Hardly a fitting ending to the story he's built up in his head.

"You always did look good behind the counter."

A voice like whiskey reaches him and he knows that it's her , turns to see her sitting at the bar, hands folded expectantly against the counter, smiling at him like the minx he knows she is.

A grin sneaks its way onto his face when he sees her up close. Still beautiful, still holding his heart.

"Hello, Regina."

"Hi, Robin."

Her greeting comes out softer than the line before it, and somehow he can tell it's the first time she's spoken his name in years. She looks him up and down as he walks over to her side of the bar, her gaze growing softer the closer he gets.

"What can I get you?" he says, leaning against the counter.

Her lips part, hesitating before she speaks. She lets out a nervous huff before bowing her head, looking back up and shrugging. "Bourbon, four glasses for the old gang."

She tilts her head back toward the table and he sees her old friends staring at him, intently. He can't help the small chuckle that comes out when he sees the three of them glaring at him. "So the Queens of Darkness all back in town? Never thought I'd see the day."

Regina rolls her eyes but smiles. "We pull the coven together for special occasions," she quips.

Robin knocks on the counter, turning away from her to pull his best bourbon off the top shelf. "So… heard you became a big shot lawyer?"

She nods, a bit of pride peeking through on her face. "Wouldn't call myself a big shot but I got the degree, yes."

"Good. I'm happy for you," he says, offering her a genuine smile.

It wasn't a lie. He was glad that she'd left this town behind. She'd always been meant for more, even when she couldn't see it herself.

Tilting her head at him, she smiled. "You took over the Golden Arrow."

Robin sighed, sheepishly nodding his head. "Yeah… fate caught up with me, I guess."

"Your father would've been proud."

He presses his lips together, stung by her comment. He'd heard it so many times in the last few years; it was never meant to be hurtful but it always left an ache.

She notices the pain that goes across his face and turns somber. "I heard about him. I'm sorry."

"It was a long time ago and we all saw it coming," he mumbled.

His father had died barely a year after she'd left. Standing at that grave watching the only family he had left sink into the ground, he'd prayed that she'd show up… but she didn't.

Regina stares at him, searchingly. "I heard you were married, too," she said, softly.

He sees her eye the wedding band on his right hand. Still shiny as the day he'd first got it.

She pulls together a sad smile, dropping her eyes to the counter. "Looks like the rumours on that are true."

"They were," he swiftly corrects, regaining her attention. "I was married. Not anymore."

"Oh."

Something passes across her brown eyes at his words. Something that looks like hope, relief or a number of other emotions he dares not to wish for.

Staring into her brown eyes, it feels like something opens back up between them. A possibility arises.

He sets her glasses of bourbon on a tray and passes it over to her. "It's good to see you, Regina."

She smiles at him tentatively. "Good to see you too Robin."

Just like that she's walking away from him, disappearing into the crowd… taking her heart with him, just like before.

I hope you enjoy this new verse! Please leave a review if you can!