Work Text:
Chapter One: You Booked the Night Train for a Reason
Regina sighed heavily as she sat down on the stiff, washed out blue seat on the train.
She dusted off the rain from her beige trench coat and patted down her wet hair, half-heartedly trying to make it look tidy. The carriage was quiet, a novelty of the 2am train. The doors squeaked closed behind her as she settled in for the long journey back to StoryBrooke, Maine.
She winced at the high pitched ringing from the speaker above the door as it announced the next stop. "This is Penn Station. Next stop New Rochelle Station." The robotic voice announced. The train was plunged into silence one it stopped except for the pitter patter of the rain and the low hum as the carriage rode along the tracks. It was occasionally interrupted by soft snores from dozing passengers in the few occupied seats. She wonder if this was really better than the bustling crowd the train was during the day that she had purposely avoided because now she was alone with her thoughts.
She couldn't stop the night before running through her head again and again like a broken record player. She laid her head against the window squeezing her eyes shut willing it to stop but to no avail. She was right back at the party dancing with Daniel.
***
Her heels clack against the wooden floor accompanied by the soft classical notes playing from the speaker. Muffled shouting seeped in from apartment above them but they were used to it by now. Regina's light blue dress shimmered and sparkled at is it caught the glow of the street lights streaming in through the window as robin spun her around.
She giggled when she lost her footing and fell into her fiancé's chest. The scratchy polyester of his blazer matched his rough, calloused hands. Her adoring brown eyes gazed up into his blue, not noticing how they had dulled over the last few months. She reached up to kiss him but he pulled away, letting go over her hand.
He took a step back as she frowned softly in confusion. "Is something wrong, Robin?" She asked concern lacing her sweet voice.
He sighed heavily. "Yes. It's my wife, Marian. She's pregnant and she wants us to try again."
Regina's heart sank. "But you said you two were over. We're getting married!" She threw her left hand up showing off the simple diamond to emphasis her point.
"Not anymore. I'm sorry, Regina. I did- do love you but Marian is my wife and i made a vow 'till death do us part'" The words rang through her head in a cacophony of voices from her worst nightmare making her feel sick. She felt like she might break. She longed to be back in his arms just to stop her crashing to the ground as her legs trembled in her heels.
"You didn't give a damn about your vow when you were sleeping with me." She spat back as anger sparked in the pit of her stomach.
"I know" he said softly, suddenly finding the floor more interesting than her. "And it is my deepest regret." Regina wanted to scream. His biggest regret? That's all she was to him?
She couldn't think. Couldn't speak. Her lungs felt empty. Like he had taken all the air with him when he stepped away from her. The engagement ring on her finger was suddenly too heavy. The metal banned cut into her finger, throbbing with every painful, rapid beat of her heart
"I- I left Storybrooke for you! I gave up my position as mayor, my house, my friends, my father! I gave up everything for you! To be with you! Because I love you!"
"I'm sorry." He apologised, sheepishly.
"Stop! Stop it! Stop saying your sorry because you don't mean it or you wouldn't be breaking up with me!"
"I should go." He turned for the for the door.
"Robin! ROBIN! WAIT!" She called after him but he'd already shut the door.
She grabbed her glass of champagne from the table and threw it against the door he had just left through. The glass shattered into hundreds of pieces, scattering all over the floor just like he had done to her heart. She moved to the window and peered through the curtains. She tearfully watched him speed down the road in his, probably stolen, Chevy as love slipped beyond her reaches for the second time.
***
"Ticket, please." The train conductor asked startling Regina from her thoughts. He was short and wrinkled with thinning hair hid under his dark green hat. His long curly brown moustache framed his impatient frown. His fingers drummed on the green satchel that was hung across his body in time with his tapping foot.
Regina reached for her designer handbag sitting next to her on the spare seat and pulled out her wallet. The apple red matched her nails as she zipped it open. She searched for the little paper card, eyes drifting over each slot. She could hear the conductor sighing next to her as he waited. She quickly handed over her ticket, more so she didn't snap at his impertinence than to quell his impatience.
He scanned it and handed it back without further comment from either of them and then moved on to the next passenger. She slipped it back into her wallet and went to zip it up again but was startled by the tiny picture of her and Robin displayed in the clear sleeve. She'd forgotten she had put it their and it caught her off guard. She took a deep, shuddering breath, closing her eyes at the onslaught of pain and sorrow deep in her chest.
She imagined it growing arms and legs and spreading throughout her body. Dampening all her senses, all her memories, every emotion till all she could feel was a constant ache. It threatened to cut of her airways, to consume her, to turn her back to her old, wild, partying, lawbreaking days before law school. But then she though of what her friend Mary Margret back in her hometown had once said to her after her fight with her sister, Zelena.
They were sat at the round wooden table surrounded by black and white walls in Regina's mansion. Mary Margret spoke with her usually soft but determined voice full of hope. "I've seen what life has thrown at you, Regina. Sooner or later your heart will find it's way to happiness."
"That doesn't feel possible." She admitted to the younger woman. Her voice was missing it's usual fierceness as she struggled to talk around the knot in her throat, fighting to keep any emotion from her voice. Her eyes burned with unshed tears that she refused to let fall. She spent so long pushing down her sadness and replacing it with anger that it was hard for her to remember she didn't have to be strong all the time. Especially not in front of Mary Margaret.
"But it is!" The younger woman quickly reminded her. Regina scoffed fondly. The Blanchard's were always so damn full of hope and just could stop spreading it to everyone else all over town.
Regina thought fondly of the memory and it helped push down her grief enough for her to breathe smoothly again. She rested her head on the window watching the rain fall on the glass as trees and buildings passed in a blur. Soon the relaxing motions of the train made her drift off to sleep.
***
Every muscle in Regina's body tensed at a bitingly cold gust of wind. Her burning red hands pulled her coat tighter around her. The frost bitten dirt path crunched under her heeled boots as she trudged along the woods. She had thought an after dinner stroll sounded romantic back in the restaurant but she had forgotten how cold New York was at this time of year.
"Maybe we should go back." Her breath turned into white puffs of hot air as she spoke. She tried not too show how cold she felt as Robin looked over at her but she shivered as another gust of wind hit her.
"Of course, milady." She rolled her eyes at the pet name she always hated. "Here." Robin slipped off his coat and wrapped it around her shoulder. "That should help."
"Won't you be cold?" She asked concerned. If she needed two jackets how would he cope with none.
"I'm British, darling. This is like our summer." She giggled and he wrapped his arm around her as they walked back to the car.
***
Regina sighed as the slowing train woke her. How she wished she could be back in the forest with her fiancé - ex-fiancé she reminded herself, instead of alone on this train.
The speaker crackled to life overhead. "The next stop is Back Bay Station. This is the last stop for this train. Have a good day." The robotic voice said.
Right on time She thought as she checked her watch. Hands pointing at 7 and 12. She gathered her things feeling grateful for the chance to stretch her legs.
The train came to a stop and the doors screeched open. She stepped out onto the train platform, pulling her coat tighter to herself as the cool air settled on her skin. The platform was much busier now, crowed by the morning rush.
Her heels clicked on the stone steps as she climbed them. I should of worn flats. She thought, probably for the first time in her life. "Dress like the queen you want to become, Regina" her mother's voice echoed in her head. She rolled her eyes. She never wanted that life.
She quickly found the nearest coffee shop. She pushed open the glass swinging door, the strong smell of coffee beans hitting her instantly. She took a deep breath, inhaling the wonderful sent. Comforting Vanilla and spice mixed in too. "Iced, chi tea latte for Lizzie" the barista's voice broke through the roaring chatter and the soft acoustic song playing through the speakers.
She joined the queue behind a tall man in a blue suit typing away on his phone. When it was her turn to order she asked for a her usual dark roast but upsized it to a venti knowing she would need the extra caffeine later and grabbed an apple.
"That will be $4.60, please" Regina reached into her pocket to get her money. Her hand brushed something odd. She pulled it out along with a five dollar bill, her heart sinking horribly when she saw what it was.
She quickly handed over the money before staring back down at it. Her engagement ring sparkled back at her. A gold, twisted band with a small, simple diamond in the middle.
***
A thick layer of powdery snow blanketed New York. For once the busy city felt peaceful, a blank canvas ready to be art for its painter.
Inside the fire crackled casting a warm golden glow on the sitting room. The two love birds, Robin and Regina, were snuggled up in soft blankets. They sipped on warm apple cider as they reminisced about the past year.
"Your mother's face when you stepped out wearing that dress!" Robin laughed, heartily.
"I thought she was about to start shooting fireballs!" Regina laughed along.
"You should wear it again" He rasped as his eyes darkened.
"You liked it?" She smirked.
"Very much so." Robin's hands tugged on Regina's waist pulling her close.
"How about your works Christmas party this weekend?" His beard scratched her delicate hands as she brought them to his face.
"Perfect." He almost growled, barely getting the word out before her plush, velvety lips met his.
Her arms wrapped around him, her tongue slipping into his mouth as she deepened the kiss. He groaned in response, soaking up her warmth.
It ended too soon as Robin suddenly pulled away. Regina tilted her head at him.
"Is something wrong?" She stroked his arm comfortingly.
"No I just... there's something else I want you to wear next weekend." He said vaguely. Regina was a little confused but waited patiently for him to continue. Robin shakily took something out of his pocket but she couldn't see what.
He cleared his throat and started again, emboldened. "Regina, have you ever met someone that you would change your entire world for? Someone whose eyes you just knew you were born to gaze into? Well that's you and I can't imagine spending my life with anyone else." He opened a black, velvety box. A simple diamond sparkled in the middle. Regina gasped at the sight.
"Regina, will you marry me?"
"Yes, yes! Of course I will!" Her eyes sparkled with tears as she kissed him.
***
Regina weaves her way through crowds of people. She just checked the board for her connecting train and now strained to see the platform signs over so many people. Loud chatter, screeching trains and the heavy thud of rain on the roof made it impossible to hear the loud speaker over head.
She sighed in relief when she finally saw platform 22. She hoped this train journey would go quicker than the last.
She made her way on to the train and found an empty seat. She settled in and grabbed her book.
A shiver ran down her spine as the doors squeaked closed. Too quiet steps padded along the grey, patterned carpet. "Gina?" She looked up at the fond nickname seeing familiar blonde curls.
The woman stood in a pink, ribbed, bodycon dress, carrying her heels in her hand. A silver, circle necklace dangled around her neck. As always, Regina thought. Though noticed her signature swan necklace was missing. Her makeup was wearing off and her eyes were red like she'd been crying.
"Em!"