Hi guys i'm back again with a new chapter. Thanks for all your reviews and kind words i love them and they encourage me to write quicker.

Today's prompt comes from my good friend on twitter Esther who wanted a better convo between Robin and Regina in that New York bar. I did it and this is my head canon, as far as i'm concerned in my mind this is what the writers were trying to get at but didn't give the time, explanation or screen time to. Hope you enjoy.

Not mine.

Love and thanks to my beta Ivy.

The silence between them was deafening and even though she had no idea how to even start, Regina decided to break it.

``So...'' She started, shocked that she had been able to make her voice sound so natural when her insides were pulling themselves into uncomfortable knots.

``Yeah.'' He answered simply in a distant voice as he gripped tightly to the glass in front of him.

She was worried about him, since he had uttered the words `She's pregnant' to her, he had seemed to shut down, she had barely got a response from him as she watched him shoot heartbroken glances between her and Zelena. She watched as he appeared to wind himself tighter and tighter until she sensed that he was about to snap. At that point she put her own shock and hurt aside for the moment and took him by the hand, he had jumped at her touch before setting frantic eyes on hers. He squeezed her hand back like it was a lifeline and she felt a small amount of the tension leave him before she led him out of the too cramped apartment telling him they were going downstairs for a drink.

``So you moved on, with her?'' She asked, no matter how hard she tried she couldn't seem to keep the bitterness out of her voice.

Robin turned hurt eyes onto her as he took in her words.

``That's not fair.'' He told her almost pleadingly while shaking his head. ``You understood, you agreed.''

She sighed deeply as she thought back to the conversation they had had, alone before they had left for the town line. She had more than agreed. It had been her idea, something she had all but made him promise, at the time they both believed him leaving town was it for them, no way back to each other so what was the point in hanging on? He had to move on, they both had to.

That knowledge didn't make it hurt any less though.

``Agreeing and seeing it are two very different things.'' She told him bitterly, not looking at him.

She heard him sigh deeply.

``I know.'' He whispered sadly.

Silence lingered between them once more, thick and tense putting Regina's nerves on edge, god she didn't know how they would ever get out of this messy situation. She was startled out of her thoughts by Robin's sudden frantic voice.

``Oh god Roland, how will I ever explain this to him? Zelena won't keep wearing that necklace and he's not going to understand where his mother has gone... for a second time.''

As hurt as she was by him right now she instinctively reached for his hand, linking their fingers together to provide him comfort. Her soul appeared to answer its mate's cry of distress, demanding of her that she make it better. He gripped her hand back like a lifeline, his eyes were frantic as he took in the full gravity of the situation they were in right now.

Her heart squeezed when she thought of little Roland, to lose a parent anytime, at any age was hard but to lose a parent twice, when he was so young, the thought made a new wave of anger towards Zelena shoot through her. It was one thing for Zelana to mess with her, even mess with Robin. Robin may have been an innocent party in her sister's games but he was an adult and though it would be hard, he was more equipped to deal with this, to understand. But Roland, he was just a child, a sweet innocent child caught up in a sick game of revenge and envy.

Just like the innocent life growing inside of Zelena.

She sighed deeply, she had no idea how to even begin to imagine the life the poor little thing would have, born purely as a tool for his or her mother's gain.

That was something she could relate to.

At least when it came to Roland she could ease his pain and confusion slightly.

``A forgetting potion.'' She told him soothingly. ``Take him back to a time before the fake Marian turned up, he will loose time but it's better right?''

She looked to Robin and saw the relief fill his eyes, gratitude filled his voice as he spoke.

``Yes. Thank you.''

She nodded in acceptance of his thanks and once again silence filled the bar. She watched him carefully as he shook his head and grimaced as if he was in pain. His brain trying desperately to process the events of the last hour or so. Confusion and disbelief filled his voice as he spoke.

``I just don't understand, I knew things didn't seem right but I never thought for a moment... Poor Marian, she just killed her like she was nothing, all to mess with us.''

Regina gave his hand another comforting squeeze.

``I'm sorry.'' She whispered.

He looked to her, his forehead creased in confusion.

``Why on earth are you sorry?'' He asked her in disbelief.

``Isn't it obvious?'' She told him in a bitter voice. ``She did all this to get back at me, to make sure I never got my happy ending.''

Guilt mixed with her hurt, guilt of what Zelena had put both him and his son through because of her and the lingering hurt at the knowledge that he had moved on from her so quickly. She was brought out of her thoughts as she felt him cup her cheek gently and lift her head towards him.

``Hey, look at me.'' He demanded her softly. ``This is not your fault, do you hear me? This is all on Zelena and her crazy vendetta against you, you are in no way to blame for this.''

Her eyes burned at the effort to keep back her tears as she took in his words of comfort, she felt a small amount of relief that he didn't blame her but it was a tiny spark in a vast wasteland of mess right now.

``If anyone apart from Zelena is to blame in this it's me.'' He continued in a voice full of regret. ``I should have known something was wrong. God, Marian was my wife how could I have not noticed that it wasn't really her?''

Regina scooted closer to him, he had given her comfort in that moment when she needed it and she ached with the need to give him the same, ease his pain in any way she could no matter how small. She lifted her hand and ran her fingers over his stubbled cheek, coaxing him to turn his sad eyes on her.

``It's not your fault either.'' She told him softly. ``She used magic, I've studied magic for years and I had not the slightest clue that a spell was in motion, how on earth did you expect to know?''

``I should have.'' He answered her bitterly. ``I knew something was different but I brushed it off as just her adjusting and years of being apart. I should have trusted my judgment and because I didn't I ended up hurting the three people in my life I love the most. I allowed a monster to toy with my son's emotions and put him in danger every second he was in her presence. I insulted Marian's memory by allowing Zelena to carry on this farce for months, wearing her face and not even noticing. And I hurt you.''

His last words were chocked out and Regina felt a lone tear hit her fingers that still framed his face. He turned glassy eyes to her.

``I hate myself for hurting you.'' He whispered in a broken voice.

Regina knew the feeling, she hated that he was hurting too, she wanted to deny his words, tell him it was fine, that she understood it all but she couldn't, it would have been a lie. Because she was hurt, more hurt than she even wanted to admit to herself.

So she remained silent.

The silence once again stretched between them before his cautious voice broke it.

``I know you think I moved on from you Regina, but it wasn't like that, I swear to you it wasn't.''

She let out a short bitter laugh at his words, her voice was equally as bitter as she answered him.

``Really? Because it sure as hell looks that way.'' Her words came out far more harsh than she intended but she couldn't find the strength to regret them, she couldn't even regret the flash of hurt that crossed his face.

``I know I told you to move on Robin, but I didn't think it would be so easy for you, it certainly wasn't for me.'' She dropped her hand from his face and scooted her chair away from him, needing some distance from him in that moment, away from the bitter sting of betrayal she felt.

``You think it was easy?'' He asked her in shock. ``God Regina you made it clear to me that once I crossed that town line that was it for us, that I would never see you again and that killed me. A part of me died when I crossed that town line, I was like a ghost, going through the motions, trying to pick up the shattered pieces of my life. I chose you, you were always my first choice but that choice was taken away from me, you made it clear that day that us wasn't a choice any more.''

She felt a tear slide down her cheek and she angrily brushed it away as she waited for him to continue.

``You were all I could think about, you never left my mind for a second, I wanted to call you so many times, just to hear your voice, just to know that you were still out there somewhere.''

``Why didn't you then?'' She cried angrily. The last few weeks had been hell without him and to hear his voice would have eased that pain considerably.

``BECAUSE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TOO HARD.'' He cried. They got some curious looks from some nearby drinkers but they both ignored it as he continued.

``I already ached for you with every fibre of my being, so to hear your voice, utter your name knowing that I could never see you, never touch you again, I couldn't bear it. What would that have done other than hurt the both of us more?''

She closed her eyes as the truth of his words hit her. He was right, she knew he was, having him over a phone as wonderful as it would have been in the moment would have done nothing but cause them more pain in the long run.

``So I chose to let you go, believing I had no other choice.'' He told her sadly. But it was never what I wanted and it was never for my benefit.''

She looked at him curiously, confused by his words as she waited for him to continue.

``I had not just lost you that day. I had lost friends too, my men, Belle, god even David and Hook I had begun to see as friends. The only people left in my life were Marian and Roland and I owed it to them to give them a good life, but try as I might you consumed my every thought and I could see that it was making Marian unhappy, though we all know now that was just a sick game of hers, acting hurt to pull at my emotions.''

She saw his hands clench hard around his glass, hard until his knuckles turned white, consumed by anger again. She reached out and gently prised his hands from around the glass before it cracked under the pressure of his grip. Her touch seemed to bring him out of his dark thoughts and with a deep sigh he continued as she linked their hands together once more.

``When Marian first came back I was so consumed with my feelings for you. I never really gave much thought of our past relationship, she had been gone so long and my feelings for you were so strong that I had forgotten that we used to be happy. Once we had left town I began to think back of our past life together, I remembered her loyalty to me when I chose a life as a outlaw, the sacrifices she'd made and I remembered I'd once loved her dearly. I missed you so much and it was obvious, I was miserable, Marian was miserable and it wouldn't have been long before having two unhappy parents would have made Roland unhappy too. So I decided to try, try and regain what we once had, for their sakes.''

He took a deep breath and looked to her, his eyes searched hers, pleading with her to understand but she remained quiet, giving nothing away.

``But it was still a lie.'' He told her in a whisper. ``I went though the motions, played the doting husband as every part of me ached for you, it was nothing but an act. And I have no idea if it would have been easier if it had been the real Marian and I guess I never will know but I have no doubt in my mind that even if the real one had been here, my soul would still have cried out for you.''

More tears slipped past her eyes, streaking her face and her throat burned with the effort of trying to keep her sobs in. She listened to his explanation and the anger melted away. She was still hurt but it wasn't by him anymore, it was by the unfairness of the whole situation.

``I tried to do the right thing.'' He chocked out sadly.

``I know you did.'' She whispered back.

Silence settled between them again but this time it was less uncomfortable, just reflective.

``I'm sorry I didn't believe you and I'm sorry I shouted.'' He told with regret. ``I once told you I trusted you completely, that I had faith in you and though it may not have seemed so in that moment Regina, that hasn't changed. I just couldn't wrap my head round what you were trying to tell me.''

She shrugged slightly, of all the things to speak of now it seemed unimportant, though his words did warm her.

``No matter how much you trust me it was quite a lot to take in, anyone would have had a hard time believing it and after all i was threatening to rip the woman carrying your child's head off.''

Her words hung thickly in the air between them as they were both reminded of the elephant in the room.

A child, her soulmate was having a child with her sister, god it sounded so sordid when it was said that simply, but it wasn't simple. The events leading up to this child's creation were full of spite and deceit. Robin wasn't some playboy, he was a victim in this, his loyalty and honour used against him for a mad witch's gain.

``So what do we do now?'' He asked her carefully. His eyes were pleading with her to find a solution but she was clueless, there was no easy fix for this situation.

``I don't know.'' She whispered back.

He took a deep breath before he spoke again, he sounded nervous and she looked to him curiously.

``I know I have no right to ask this of you Regina but I want to be with you and now I know there's no physical barrier keeping us apart, I confess it's all I can hope for right now.''

She looked to him in shock, a frown marring her features as he rushed on to continue.

``I know it's complicated-'' He started.

``It's more than complicated.'' She cut him off. ``It's your child Robin, it's more than nine months, it's a lifetime she's cooking up in there. You are linked to her now by another human being, you share a connection with her now that you and I can never have.''

She looked down as she said the last words, feeling tears burn behind her eyes again as she thought of Zelena sharing with Robin something she so badly wanted with him herself but could never have, thanks to her own spite and stupidity. She felt his eyes on her but she refused to look at him, this was a talk she could not bear to have with him right now.

``I share a connection with my child Regina, I share nothing with her.'' He spat his words bitterly and she looked up to see the fierce look in his eyes.

``Do you honestly believe that?'' She asked him skeptically.

``I know that.'' He told her firmly. ``You are connected to others by feelings not by other people and the only feelings I have for her are ones of anger and disgust.''

She looked to his eyes as she saw the belief he had in what he was saying, she knew his words held a great deal of meaning but right now every time she tried to look to their future together she just saw Zelena's smug, gloating face. She screwed her eyes shut to attempt to get rid of the image. Robin squeezing her hand gently brought her out of her thoughts, his voice was soft as he spoke.

``Like I said I know it's beyond complicated and you have every reason to have your doubts but I believe we are strong enough and i'm willing to fight to get past this together. Only question that remains is, are you?''

He sounded so sure and Regina wanted so badly to feel that faith too but as she tried to picture their future together again in that moment the image faded as quickly as it appeared, giving way to a tiny child with Robin's eyes and flaming red hair. The image almost made her let out a sob and she bit her lip hard to keep it in. She looked to his nervous but hopeful eyes as he waited for her answer. She whispered the only one she had right now.

``I don't know.''