Happy new year everyone! I'm ending the decade with the end of this ficlet. Enjoy, and let me know what you think!

It'd been six months since Regina visited her sister. Which meant that it'd also been six months since she met Robin. But despite the time that passed, she still remembered every detail of their night exploring New York City- far too many of them for someone who's getting married at the end of the year she chastised herself as she straightened cushions and pillows, waiting for her mother and sister to arrive. They were meeting her for her fitting, to both help her and to look at her wedding dress. Zelena had helped her pick it out, but her mother, who hadn't been able to make it when they were initially shopping, wanted to be there for each fitting.

Regina nervously bit her lip. While she didn't care what her mother thought of the dress, she was anxious to see how Cora would make her feel about the dress that in every way was her dream dress. Cora was notorious for diminishing Regina's opinion of herself, and she had a feeling that today would be no exception, which was a shame because she felt that each bride should feel beautiful on her wedding day.

"Regina, is that really what you're wearing for your fitting for your wedding dress?" Cora gasped, appalled at the sight before her.

Regina glanced down. She had put on shorts and a casual tank top to wear to the fitting, knowing that she would just be taking them off anyway to put on her wedding dress. She explained as much to her mother, but Cora wouldn't hear it. "I don't care, Regina. You are a Mills, a Mills about to marry Leo Blanchard, and are making a purchase. We have standards, Regina, and status. That status will go right out of people's brains the moment they see you in that outfit. Go change immediately."

"I'm not seven, Mother, you can't tell me what to wear," Regina protested, praying that she didn't sound like a petulant child with those words.

"You may not be, but you also aren't the only one paying for this wedding. I am contributing, which means that I have a say in every aspect of the wedding, including what you wear to the fitting. Go change. Now."

"Mother, really, don't you think-" Zelena began, but she was interrupted by an irate Cora.

"Clearly, you are the one not thinking, Zelena. Really, you take your sister's side in everything, how can you think that her attire is suitable for going to a shop that sells wedding dresses, of all things?"

Zelena mournfully turned her gaze to Regina and shrugged. I tried she mouthed, and Regina indicated with a slight tilt of her head that she understood.

Five minutes later, they were on their way, Regina feeling like she was heading to a fancy dinner rather than a fitting for her wedding dress. When they got to the store, that sensation lingered as her mother took charge, going up to the receptionist and informing her of their arrival.

Her nerves calmed, however, as Zelena helped her into her dress. It fit just as she remembered, hugging her curves before falling to the floor in a ballgown skirt. Just the right amount of sparkle covered the dress, enough to make her feel like she was in a fairy tale, but not enough to make her feel like it was overwhelming.

You're not in a fairy tale, a nagging voice in the back of her mind that sounded suspiciously like her mother reminded her. You're not marrying Prince Charming, and you'll never find the guy that might be your Prince Charming unless you find that menu. Which is likely in New York, completely out of your reach. And even if you did, how would you get out of this marriage? You know Mother will never let you live it down if you just decide to walk away from her plan for you.

Regina groaned. Although she knew that it would be terrible in reality, she almost wished that this was an arranged marriage, and given that she felt that she had no say in the matter, it practically was. However, she thought that in arranged marriages, the parents of both parties were supposed to get something, and other than elevated status and the satisfaction of having her way in every aspect of her daughters' lives, particularly Regina's, she didn't see what Cora got out of her marriage. She resolved to have the strength to ask her at some point before the wedding. As much as she hated disappointing her mother, she knew that she would be miserable for the rest of her life if she married Leo. Truthfully, she didn't know if she would be happy if she ever found Robin again, either, but at least she would be making her own choices for a change, instead of letting Cora decide everything.

Has Robin thought of me as much as I've thought of him? she wondered. It was unlikely that he had. Although it seemed like he felt that something was missing in his relationship with his fiance, he seemed content enough with his life that she was sure that he had a lot of friends, whereas she only had one, not including her sister.

For the thousandth time since she agreed to finding their numbers to see if they were meant to be in each other's lives, Regina regretted that decision. How was she supposed to find the menu that had his number if she lived on the opposite end of the East Coast? Sure, Zelena had looked everywhere she could think of, but to no avail. It seemed that the second Robin put his menu on a college campus (if he even followed through with their arrangement at all, a dark inner voice taunted her), it had immediately been snatched up or trampled underfoot. And if it had, at this point, surely she would never find it again.

"You seem to be thinking awfully hard," Zelena observed. "Are you thinking about Robin?"

"Of course I am," Regina snapped. "But I don't know why, considering it's pointless. I'm sure the menu is long gone by now, and with it, my chance of finding him. And even if I did, we knew each other for so short a time that is it really justifiable to call off the wedding based on one night's worth of spending time with another man?"

"Yes," Zelena answered instantaneously, turning her and seizing both of her shoulders. "It definitely is. Cancel a wedding to a man you don't love so you can see if you can experience something better with a man who made you happy, even if it was only for a night? That's always worth it, Regina. Even if you did have to leave your number for him to find."

Regina stared her sister down, a glimmer of anger surfacing. "And that's another thing. How did I ever let you convince me that it was okay to do that? That was the last present I ever got from our father, and now I don't have it, and for what? He hasn't found it yet, and at this point, probably never will. And I haven't found the menu, and haven't visited you since Christmas, so the chances of me finding it…"

"Are exactly the same as they always were," Zelena told her. "I've been looking every chance I get, but I'll look harder, I promise. That menu has to be out there somewhere, just waiting for you. And when you find it, you'll find a way to free yourself from Leo, you'll see."

Regina remains silent, knowing that denying her sister's claims would only encourage her efforts to change Regina's mind.

"Girls, what are you doing in there? Come out, let me see," Cora's voice interrupted before Regina could decide if she was going to argue with her sister further or not.

Regina groaned and met the redhead's eyes in the mirror. "Time to face the music."

"Listen to me," Zelena replied with a ferocity that surprised her. "You look absolutely breathtaking in this dress, no matter what she says. Don't let anything she says get to you."

"Easier said than done," she grumbled as they left the dressing room and stood before her mother.

Cora slowly circled Regina, her gaze appraising. It was a look Regina was used to, for Cora was unceasingly preoccupied with her image, and by extension, her daughters'. For some reason, this need to uphold the image of a perfect family fell hardest on Regina instead of her elder daughter. Then again, despite her kindhearted nature, Zelena was the rebel of the family, so it was likely that Cora had given up on her and redoubled her efforts to mold Regina into the ideal daughter.

"Too simple," Cora declared, and with those two words, Regina desperately thought of her sister's plea that she not let her mother get to her. "And it doesn't fit well, which must mean that you're gaining weight. What have you been eating, Regina? Not every dessert you lay your eyes on, I hope? You have a figure to maintain, particularly now. You don't want this dress to not fit in six months, do you?"

"No, Mother," Regina sighed, hanging her head in shame. How did Cora always manage to make her feel this way? It was a talent that had clearly been cultivated over the course of a lifetime, and Regina hadn't yet figured out what had sparked it, but she wished on a regular basis that her mother would just leave her alone.

"Oh really? It doesn't seem like it to me. Because at the rate you're going, it won't."

The words accomplished what they intended. They cut through Regina's heart like knives, shredding any moment of beauty she had found when trying on the dress for the first time.

But then suddenly, a whisper from the past- stunning, in every way- floated into her memory, and she latched onto Robin's words of months before like a lifeline, as if they were the only thing that mattered in that moment. And remembering other things he had said and Zelena's comments, maybe they were exactly what she needed to get through the day.

"It'll cost too much to let it out, and you can't do that sort of thing last-minute, not with this type of dress, so you really need to watch your figure, Regina," Cora told her.

"Actually," the assistant, a girl named Ella, interjected, but Cora spoke over her.

"I don't want to hear about any after-dinner desserts, or, heaven forbid, any bread passing through your lips. You need to look like the queen of society you'll be when you marry Leo Blanchard, and while you'll pass in this dress if you lose some weight, you won't if you don't keep an eye on it, do you understand?"

"Yes, Mother," Regina answered, still desperately trying to cling to Robin's words from the night they met. While Zelena tried her best, her encouragement was often drowned out by the words of their controlling mother. Robin's sentiment was untarnished by any degrading comments, and as such was almost sacred, a pinpoint of light that she needed in dark moments such as this one.

The appointment ended with Cora parading out of the shop, her daughters in her wake. Zelena glanced over at Regina. "Are you okay?"

Slowly, Regina nodded. Thanks to the words of a stranger months before, she could truthfully say that she was.

"Good," Zelena responded, smiling as their mother called for them to hurry up. As she thought of the dress, Regina wondered: what would Robin think if he saw her in it?

Her heart broke- the closer they got to her wedding day, the more likely it was that she would never find him.

Robin sat with Marian at their favorite secluded restaurant, Bella Notte. While he loved Granny's, and his favorite diner felt more like home than any other restaurant he frequented, he knew that Marian viewed the diner as the ideal location for a casual meeting of friends, not a date night. To that end, he had suggested Bella Notte, and she readily agreed.

Now they were sitting across from each other in the middle of the dining area, which Robin could only describe as quaint. Candles were lit on every table, and pictures, likely of the proprietors and their family over the years, hung on the burgundy walls. There was even an area for viewing an old black and white movie in an adjoining room, which Robin suspected that Marian may want to take advantage of before they left.

The conversation shifted to their cake tasting the following day, and Marian laughed as she commented that they shouldn't eat anything else that day, but that that resolution probably still wouldn't balance out the calories they ate. Robin couldn't help noticing that while her head fell back in such a way that he couldn't help but think of what it was like to kiss that very spot (which he would do if they weren't in public), he couldn't help comparing her laugh to Regina's. Marian's was light, almost artificial and scarcely more than a breath, while Regina's, when he was fortunate enough to draw it out of her, had been a throaty laugh that seemed to come from the depths of her soul.

"Earth to Robin," Marian said slowly, waving a hand in front of his face.

"I'm sorry, what?" he replied, trying to refocus.

"I said that we'll have to make sure the cake is perfect. With other details I don't mind settling for less, but the food at our wedding is something that guests will remember and talk about afterwards, so we have to make sure the cake- and everything about the wedding food- is the best there is."

"Within the budget we set, I absolutely agree," Robin nodded. He saw Marian's crestfallen features and wondered just how extravagant she wanted the food at their wedding to be. His friend Belle would, of course, be bringing her son Gideon, and he wanted to ensure that all of their guests, no matter how old they were, enjoyed the cuisine. He supposed he would find out the next day.

The following night, Robin set down his tankard. "Men, what was I thinking?"

Six pairs of eyes turned toward him, each with an eyebrow raised in confusion. "What do you mean, mate?" Killian asked.

"I went to taste wedding cakes with Marian, and, well… I can't really say that it went well."

"What do you mean?" John asked, cocking his head to the side.

"She just…" Robin searched for the right words, words that would make his friends understand, but at the same time wouldn't diminish their opinion of Marian. Because regardless of what happened when he found the right copy of The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (a title he had repeated in his mind so often that he felt it was carved there, never to be erased), he didn't want them to think badly of her. There were just moments like the cake tasting today and dinner the night before that he questioned if she was the right woman for him, despite the length of time they had been together. "We were talking about different cake flavors, icing flavors, whether we wanted a filling, that sort of thing, and she was unwilling to compromise. The Marian I know would never be so rigid."

A collective groan made its way around his group of friends. "I feel for you," Will told him, placing his hand on his shoulder. "When she sets her mind to something, there's no telling Ana that her way isn't necessarily the best way."

"Emma's the same way," August mused, not without a dark glare from Killian, who had dated her years before. For the most part, the two were friends, but Emma could still be a sore subject among them, and apparently, that was especially true around the holidays. "While she does have moments of acknowledging that I can be right, the majority of the time, she thinks she knows everything, especially when it comes to her 'superpower,' knowing when someone's lying. We just found strong women to fall in love with, there's nothing wrong with that. In fact, that's good, because it'll make life more interesting."

"True," Robin mused, deep in thought over their years of friendship in addition to their relationship. "But still…" he trailed off, not wanting to speak ill of her, but wanting to speak his mind as well. He could recall other instances when she had insisted on getting her way, with no regard to how he felt. Would that be what their marriage was like? Him bending to her will without a thought for what he wanted? He wasn't sure he wanted that experience for the rest of his life.

"Mate, it's her wedding day," Killian reminded him. "Isn't it said that the bride should have what she wants on her wedding day? Besides, at her core, Marian is the sweetest girl you could ever find. What more could you ask for?"

Unbidden, a different pair of dark eyes and a face framed by shorter curls came to his mind's eye. Although he had never stopped, he had searched for Regina's book less frequently in recent weeks. Despite this, he never gave up hope that he would one day find it, and get to call her.

When the rest of their friends had left, John turned to Robin. "Let me guess, you've been thinking about a certain mysterious woman who left her number for you ever since that conversation about Marian. Am I right?"

"You are," Robin confirmed sheepishly. "I just… I believe I'm going to find it, otherwise fate wouldn't've brought us together for such an unforgettable night. It's the logistics of finding it that are proving to be the problem."

"Give it time," his best friend advised. "You know how books like that are. Chances are, if someone took it, they might donate it back to the store where she left it, or somewhere else where you can easily find it. Personally, I don't know why you're still searching for it and think you should move on. So do the rest of our friends. But it's your life, so I'll support you, no matter what you ultimately decide."

Robin gave his friend a skeptical look. "I thought you wanted me to be with Marian? You certainly can never stop singing her praises whenever she comes up in conversation."

"While I do like Marian, I just want you to be happy. We all do. Whether that's with Marian, or- what's her name again?"

"Regina," Robin answered automatically, the name falling from his lips like a prayer, wistful and so soft that he was surprised that John could hear him.

"Right. I want you to be happy, whether you choose Marian or Regina in the end."

"Thanks, John," Robin said, standing to follow his friend outside. He only had a few months left before his wedding, but he had faith that if he was meant to find Regina and explore what was between them instead of marrying Marian, he would.

Regina and her friend Mal were sitting at a table at an outdoor cafe, drinking margaritas and soaking up the sun as they caught up on each other's lives. "So Mal, what did you need to ask me?" Regina asked.

"I have a favor to ask," Mal began.

Regina held up her hands defensively. "Oh no you don't. Not another animal I need to look after. I have enough to deal with without banana peels everywhere and something literally climbing the furniture." Mal had been known as an activist for years, and was always coming up with some way or other for Regina to get involved- not all of which were ideal in Regina's eyes.

"It's nothing like that!" Mal exclaimed. "It's just that I was just sent the save the date for my friend's wedding in December, just before yours, and I was wondering if you would come with me. She and I were friends in college, we had a lot of classes together, and with our common heritage- she's Hispanic as well- we bonded. It's in New York, so I thought we could visit Lily while we're there. And you know Lily would love to see you."

Regina hesitated. Did she really want to celebrate someone else's happy marriage when her own would be anything but? "I'll think about it."

"So that's a yes, I'll convince you before then, you know I will," Mal promised, a malicious gleam in her eye.

"We'll see," Regina cautioned as they got up to throw their trash away. Could she watch someone else's happy ending? Knowing Mal's powers of persuasion, she knew she was about to find out.

Robin stood in the reception hall that would house the celebration of his nuptials in two days' time, remembering the petty way Marian had handled the selection of their wedding cake months before and other decisions since and pondering another woman that he could never forget, no matter how hard he tried. He felt honor-bound to marry Marian- after all, he had given her his word a year before that he would marry her. But at the same time, he was doing her a disservice by not telling her that there was another woman who captivated his thoughts. Regardless of the fact that he hadn't seen Regina for almost a year, she had never been far from his thoughts, especially when a random happenstance would bring her to mind. Add that to the fact that with each passing day, Marian seemed more controlling and less the sweet woman he had fallen in love with long ago, and Robin suspected that he was in for a future that would be interesting at best. Especially when he knew that her behavior wasn't due to wedding stress- Marian never got stressed.

He was currently with his bride-to-be at the hotel where they were going to get married in two days' time. He had wanted a wedding out of town, somewhere with a beautiful view of a forest, perhaps. But Marian had reasoned that a wedding in New York City would be better for all involved, since most of their guests lived in the area, and while he didn't love the idea, he had to admit that she had a point. And he had always thought that destination weddings were more of a hassle than they were worth, despite the fact that they would encourage the smaller wedding he wanted (another point he and Marian disagreed on), rather than a wedding that could be seen as a huge spectacle.

They followed the concierge to the ballroom where their nuptials were going to be held, arms laden with decorations for the impending event. "The room's yours to decorate as you wish," she reminded them. "Just remember the rules: no candles under any circumstances, and no fixtures to the walls. Other than that, you're all set! Just let me know if you need anything."

"We will," Robin and Marian chimed in unison as she left the room.

After they had decorated the aisle that Marian would be walking down later that week, she turned to him. "I'm going to get us both some water. In the meantime, you can start setting up the arch."

Robin rolled his eyes as he looked heavenward. Marian had insisted on the opulent detail: one that was much too large for the venue and would be a nuisance to set up. "All right."

With that, he watched her walk out of the room, wondering again what exactly he was getting himself into when he married her.

Regina followed Mal into the hotel where her friend was going to get married in two days. They had decided to make a mini vacation out of it, so they had decided to arrive two days before the wedding, which would give them plenty of time to sightsee before they were busy with the event that they had travelled for.

Just then, her phone rang, "Over the Rainbow" signalling that Zelena was calling her. "We're at the hotel," she used as a greeting to her sister.

"Oh good, because I'm starving!" Zelena exclaimed. "I still don't know why you didn't agree to stay with me, or-"

"You know why, Z. It'll be easier since the wedding's at the hotel, plus do you really have room at your apartment for both Mal and me?"

"Of course I do!" Zelena scoffed, likely offended that Regina doubted her. "And even if I didn't, Mal could've stayed with Lily."

"I've told you before, as cool as she thinks her mother and I are, I'm sure Lily wouldn't want her mom and godmother to stay with her in her college apartment, Zelena," an exasperated Regina explained for what felt like the millionth time. "Especially not with the end of her semester, she has parties I'm sure she wants to go to, I'm sure we would only be an unwelcome distraction."

"No, you wouldn't," Lily's voice interrupted her conversation.

Regina said a hasty goodbye to Zelena before putting her phone back in her purse and hugging her favorite (admittedly, only) goddaughter. "How are you?"

"Glad school's over," Lily groaned. "I had the chemistry final from hell as my last final, but now it's over and I can set things on fire for fun instead of because I have to."

"Which you won't do because you love your mother, right?" Mal said, a hint of nerves in her voice. "I loved setting things on fire too when I was your age, but you at least have to do it safely. Light a candle or something."

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll be fine," Lily shrugged.

"All right you two. Come on, Zelena's waiting for us." Regina said as she gently pushed mother and daughter toward the door.

"Mal!" an alto voice exclaimed as they turned to leave.

Regina watched her friend's face light up as their little group of three turned. "Marian!"

"I can't believe you're here!" the brunette exclaimed. Regina noticed that her hair was long and covered in curls, much like her own. She was carrying two cups of water, likely procured from the hotel's staff. "It's been so long! Who's this?"

Mal stepped back and gestured to them each in turn. "This is my daughter Lily and my friend Regina. Regina's my plus one for the wedding, she's my best friend. Lily, Regina, this is my friend Marian. She's the reason we're here this weekend."

"It's so nice to meet you both," Marian said warmly. "I should go, though, I'm sure Robin can't wait for me to bring him this water."

Regina's breath caught in her throat. Had Marian just said Robin? What were the chances… No, there were seven billion people in the world, the chances of someone else in New York having the same name as the man whose number she had wanted to find for almost a year were high, especially given the size of the city… Right?

"Regina, are you okay?" Mal asked as the bride-to-be who had just given Regina the first spark of hope she had had in months walked away.

Regina nodded. "Fine. Now let's go meet Zelena before she wonders what happened to us."

They met Zelena at Granny's diner. Regina had told her sister about the establishment, and after trying it, Zelena had declared that it was the best diner in New York, which was impressive given the city's size and the number of eateries it contained.

"I'm so glad you told me about this place, Regina," Zelena gushed as they sat down. "Remind me, how did you hear about it?"

Regina hoped that the look she shot her sister conveyed all the hurt she felt. For Zelena of all people, the person who had encouraged her to search for Robin's number the most, to ask that sent a pang of longing through her. "This guy I met the last time I was here- remember?"

"Oh, of course!" Zelena exclaimed. "I still haven't found his number, but I've been looking all year- what was his name again?"

"It doesn't matter," Regina muttered dismissively. "It would've never worked out."

"What's going on?" Lily interjected. "Aunt Regina, did you meet someone?" Lily was aware of Regina's reluctance regarding her impending marriage, and like Zelena, just wanted her to find happiness.

"It doesn't matter," Regina repeated. Quickly changing the subject, she turned to Mal. "It was nice to meet the bride before the wedding. At what point in college did you meet Marian?"

"Freshman year," Mal chuckled. "Oddly enough though, I never met her fiance. Between one thing and another, it never worked out, even though she and Robin are high school sweethearts, so they were dating the entire time I saw her regularly."

Zelena's head whipped toward her so fast it looked like she could've almost snapped it off, recognition dawning in her eyes at the sound of Robin's name.

"That's strange," Regina mused.

"It was. She said he was always busy. I guess I would be too if I was an elementary school teacher, but regardless, it was a shame I never met him then. From what Marian's always said, he has a heart of gold."

The conversation flowed as they ordered their food, the subject quickly moving away from the wedding.

Granny herself came up to the table as they were waiting. "I remember you, girl. I didn't think I'd ever see you again."

Surprised that the older woman remembered her, Regina smiled. "It's nice to see you, Granny."

"You too, girl," the older woman said, smiling fondly. "I didn't think I'd see you again when you never came back with Robin."

"Oh, you know, it's not often that I get to come up and visit my sister," Regina told her, gesturing toward Zelena. She had felt everyone's eyes on her and her cheeks warm, so she quickly attempted to redirect attention to her sister.

"Regardless, it's good to see you," Granny said, smiling as she walked away. A few minutes later, lasagna and apple pie were delivered to their table with a note that read No charge- no arguments. Anyone who's a friend of Robin's is a friend of mine.

Regina smiled. It really was like coming home, dining here. Maybe she should consider convincing her fiance to move. If she was going to be miserable in her marriage, she needed a home away from home that was hers alone.

When they stood to leave, Zelena tapped her sister's shoulder. "Regina, could I talk to you for a moment?"

She followed her sister's fiery red curls to the bathroom. Once they were inside, Zelena turned to her. "Regina-"

"Don't," she interrupted sharply.

"But Regina, what if it's your Robin whose wedding you're about to witness? Don't you want to meet him before the wedding, before it's too late?"

"Even if it is him, it already is too late," Regina snapped. "He's getting married in two days, Zelena. I'm sure if it is the Robin I met last year, he's forgotten all about me by now."

"But you don't know for sure, so what's the harm in trying?"

"No," Regina said firmly. "I mean it, Zelena Esmeralda Mills, don't you dare orchestrate that. If it happens, it does, but it's not worth the effort."

Zelena's eyebrow reached her hairline, but she nodded. "Fine."

Relieved, Regina followed her out of the bathroom as they rejoined Mal and Lily.

The next afternoon, they were helping Lily pack her belongings to move home for winter break.

Later, when night had fallen and they were almost done, something in Regina told her to look up when Lily suddenly said, "Huh. I forgot about this."

"What?" Mal and Regina inquired in unison.

"This menu," Lily answered, waving the menu . "Some guy wrote his number on a takeout menu for Granny's, then it somehow got stuck in the display of them at school. I took it because I didn't want some psycho stalker girl- or guy- to take it and call him. Granted, I don't know him, but no one deserves that."

Her heart pounding in her chest, Regina held out her hand. "Can- can I see that, Lily?"

"Why?" Lily pondered. "Wait, you're not going to call him, are you? I love you, Aunt Gina, and you need a guy other than Leo, but not that desperately."

Regina didn't answer as she took the menu from Lily's hand and held her breath as she stared down at it. Sure enough, there were the words Robin, 718-723-2259.

"I- I'm going to use the bathroom," she said, clutching the paper as she turned and walked in that direction.

"What? Wait! What's going on?" Mal asked, likely concerned for her best friend.

But Regina ignored her as she walked into the bathroom. She shut the door, then leaned against the sink, holding the menu for Granny's in her trembling hand. She remembered her father's words that he had inscribed in the book that she had left for Robin, words telling her to never give up hope. With that reminder fresh in her mind, she took a deep, calming breath, and began to dial.

Robin was sitting at home when he heard a knock on the door.

He opened it to find John on the other side. "John? Not that I'm not glad to see you, but what are you doing here?"

"I've come to read you my best man speech," John announced, brandishing a piece of paper that likely contained the words he wanted to say the next day.

"What? Why?" Robin sputtered. "That's supposed to be for the reception tomorrow. Don't read it to me now!"

"No, you need to hear it now," his best friend insisted. "Actually, maybe it's best if you just read it yourself."

Robin hastily snatched the paper that was thrust at him and began to read:

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. My name is John, and I've been Robin's best friend since we were kids. Tonight we are celebrating the marriage of two people that seem to be perfect for each other... on paper, at least. After all, who doesn't love a story of high school sweethearts?

But like everyone, Robin and Marian aren't perfect. And sometimes, things change and people grow apart. Almost a year ago, Robin met a woman who rocked his world, and he hasn't been the same since. He believes in fate, and while I don't, I do know that he has constantly been searching for this mystery woman, specifically her number, which she left for him in a book, for the better part of a year, a true act of dedication to this woman that he only knew for one night. What he'll ultimately decide to do, I don't know, but whatever his final choice is, I hope that he follows his heart, because only that path will lead him to happiness. So here's to him- I hope he finds the happy ending he's searching for."

Once he finished reading, Robin looked up, staring at John intently. "You think I shouldn't marry Marian?"

John slowly shook his head. "I don't. You clearly don't feel the same way about her, so I think you should both put yourselves out of your misery before you make a mistake that wouldn't be easy to fix."

Robin sighed. "Then I guess I have a few phone calls to make."

John nodded. "Do that. Then, once you're ready, we'll go search for your mystery woman together."

Robin took a few calming breaths as he waited for Marian outside of her home. He didn't know how he was going to break it to her that he was leaving her, and he knew that regardless of how he did it, she would be devastated. It was, after all, the eve of their wedding, and he thought that he had done a decent enough job hiding his growing reluctance to marry her and preoccupation with finding Regina that she would be completely blindsided by what he was about to tell her.

At last, she opened the door. "Robin? What's wrong? Did the DJ cancel? Did the caterer get the wrong entrees? Did the florist not give us enough bouquets?"

"None of the above," he assured her, smiling gently. "Can I come in?"

"Of course," she answered immediately, ushering him inside.

Once she had seated herself on her couch, Robin came to stand in front of her. "Robin? What are you doing? Sit, you're making me nervous," she fretted, adjusting a few pillows, then patting the space next to her on the couch.

"I think I would prefer to stand," Robin said slowly. "Marian, I… I'm not sure how to say this."

"You could never say something wrong, just say it," she told him, clearly with no inclination of where this was going.

Robin finally decided that he needed to just say it. "I think we shouldn't get married tomorrow. I think that while we were great for awhile, we grew apart, and we should see if someone else is better for us. I'll always be your friend, Marian, but we should see what else is out there for us."

Tears filled her eyes. "What?" Then, the shock and disbelief turned to rage. "How dare you do this to me, Robin Verdell Locksley! Is it another woman? What am I supposed to tell everyone?"

His face said it all, he was sure. Her face grew red with anger as he told her, "I don't know, but I will help you-" before she cut him off.

"No, Robin. You don't want to marry me- for what reason, I still don't really understand- so I don't need your help dismantling the wedding, the life, that we built together. Just leave, please. Now."

Despite the fact that he wanted to help her, he respected her wishes, turning on his heel and closing the door on her devastated face and the life he had once had with her.

Now all he needed to do was find Regina.

Robin was in a library- he didn't know which, they were all starting to blur in his mind. He was holding at least the tenth copy of the conclusion of the Lord of the Rings trilogy that he had held that day, about to check if Regina's number was held within its pages.

He held his breath as he opened to the title page and looked below the title.

There it was. The author's signature embellished the page, followed by Regina's father's words to her. Robin couldn't believe that this book was finally right in front of him. He quickly got out his phone and unlocked it, but before he could dial, his phone rang, an unfamiliar number on the screen.

Normally, Robin didn't answer numbers he didn't know, but something in him told him to answer it. "Hello?"

"Robin," a beautiful voice that he would never forget breathed in his ear. "It's Regina. I-I never thought I'd hear your voice again."

"Actually, I was just about to call you," he chuckled. "Guess what I'm holding in my hand?"

"You found it?" she gasped incredulously. "I can't believe- but I can't believe that I found your number either, but then Lily showed me the menu as we were packing her up, and-"

"Slow down, we have all the time in the world now," he laughed, his heart giddy and light. "Do you remember where Granny's is? Do you want to meet me there in about a half hour?"

"Okay," she agreed.

"I'll see you soon then," he answered, grinning from ear to ear as he hung up the phone and set off to meet the woman who had left her mark on him long ago.

Regina opened the bathroom door to find Mal and Lily on the other side.

"What's going on?" Mal asked bluntly.

Regina laughed. Her friend had never been one to beat around the bush. She turned to Lily. "You know how you said you didn't want any stalkers to have this number?"

"Yeah…" Lily said slowly.

She couldn't keep the radiant smile off her face any longer. "What if you ended up delivering it to the person it was meant for in the first place?"

Soon, Lily's smile matched her own. "Really?"

She nodded, her smile still bright. "Really."

"I'm so happy for you," Mal said. "I have some news too. While you were on the phone, Marian called me to tell me that her wedding was called off, that Robin broke their engagement a few hours ago. So it looks like we won't be going to a wedding, after all. Regina, I would apologize for dragging you all the way out here… but I suspect that I don't need to."

A burst of clarity shot through her as the dots connected to create a beautiful pattern. "It really was him then. The Robin that Marian was supposed to marry was the Robin I met a year ago."

"So what are you going to do now?" Mal asked, her hand behind her back, fingers likely crossed.

"I need to meet him at Granny's in a half hour- less now," Regina told them.

"What are you still doing here?!" mother and daughter exclaimed in unison. "GO!"

Regina nodded, then rushed out the door, scarcely believing that she may be on her way to her happy ending.

When Robin got to Granny's, she greeted him with a brisk, "I saw that girl you were here with last year yesterday."

"I know, she's meeting me here…" Robin's voice trailed off as he spotted her. Her dark hair that he had longed to sift his fingers through was slightly longer than it had been the year before, and the smile she gave him when their eyes met was far more breathtaking than he remembered.

As he walked toward her, she stood. She stepped into his open arms, returning his hug warmly. "You broke up with Marian?" she asked.

He nodded. "How did you know? What of your engagement?"

She shook her head. "I was supposed to attend the wedding- my best friend is a friend of hers from college. And now that I have the possibility of something more, I'm not going to let my mother get away with trying to make me marry Leo, even if the wedding is supposed to happen in two weeks. That conversation is going to be hard, though… Be with me when I call her?"

He pulled her closer. "Always."

The kiss that followed his words was as electrifying as he remembered. But it was also slow, deep, a wordless promise that they would always be there for each other. And somehow he knew that from then on, as long as they were together, everything would work out the way it was meant to.