without you

pilot

As Regina stands over the empty grave waiting for the coffin to lower, she can feel all eyes on her.

She can feel the towns eyes stabbing into her back. Her eyes are blurry, filled with hot tears, but she doesn't let them fall. Still trying to present strong in the public eye.  "You don't have to be here mom" Henry sighs as he looks up at his broken mother.
He holdes her tight and leads her back to her car.

"You can't stay out there, it's not good for you." Henry says as he opens the Driver door for his mother.

"Thank you, Henry. " She tries to push out but it falls as a whisper. "Of course mom." Henry sympathetically smiles and shuts the door.

Back at the funeral, Emma stands alone in the background. Her eyes slowly starting to build with thick tears. "Not you too ma." Henry sighs as he walks to Emma's side.

"Stop crying."
"It's a funeral Hen, and it's not like the man just died...he was erased"
"Yes but he's at peace now. This is just how his story was supposed to go."
"He's not at peace, he was erased. How could you be so emotion-less? your mother is somewhere balling her eyes out."

Henry paused
"Cause I know she's going to be ok, just like you ma."

Unlike Regina, Emma has been trying to hide her pain. Henry see's the pain in his mother's eyes but she refuses to talk about it. Time and Time again he tries to get her to open up but his tries are useless.

Emma wants to grief but her pride wont let her. Shes upset but
(deep down she knows its her fault he's dead, its her fault Robins dead, its her fault Gold never made it back, everything is her fault. If she never made Everyone go, Robin would be alive, Bell would still be Married. If she had more time, maybe there was another way, maybe if she tried harder..... Cillian would be here.)

"I know you're not crying over Robin. You didn't even like him.....Hook is ok." Henry says laying his hand gently onto his mother's shoulder.

Emma looked up in shock. That being the first time she's heard his name since.

(Everyone was hurt over Robin. He was a good guy...a good helper... worker.... friend... Father. But hook was a bad guy, he lived his life as a Villain. The only soul that missed him was Emma.)
Emma kept telling herself

"It wasn't a great death but it had meaning! He didn't die in vein."

"Listen kid. I get what you're trying to do, honestly i do but , it's useless." Emma says starting to yell. She notices the eyes forming around her and grows in embarrassment.

"Im sorry for yelling at you. Go find your mom, I'm sure she needs you."Emma sighs. Emma starts to walk off but Henry grabs her arm.
"You're going to be ok, you're strong." Henry sympathetically smiles.

~~

Regina's head shoots up as she hears the car door open. "You doin ok mom?" Henry asks as he slides into the passenger side.

"Im ok" she lies. Praying he didn't notice her red eyes and tears. Still trying to show her strength. "come on, let's go home" Regina forces a smile and starts the car.

Henry noticed the fake smile but chose not to speak of it. He knew, like his other mother, Regina didn't want to talk about what she was truly feeling.

~~

When they arrive at home, it's quite. No words are spoken...the silence is almost deafaning

"I'm gonna go upstairs. I'll be down to make diner within the hour." Regina forces another smile at her son while she takes off her coat and walks up the stairs. "Ok mom" Henry mumbles as he too, takes off his coat.

When Regina gets to her room she shuts the door and rushes to her bathroom. She turns on the shower and sits on the floor by the tub, pulling herself into a tight ball. Tears start to instantly fall and she covers her mouth to muffle the sounds of her sobbing. "Why" she cries out.

"Why didn't you just let him take me?" She continues
Regina lays on the floor while she continues to cry, finally being able to let it all out.

After a few moments of her trying to hold back her tears she closes her eyes.

"Regina?" A man questions
"Robin? Robin!" Regina runs to his arms. "Where have you been, I've been waiting for hours?" Robin laughs. "I-i- was-" she stutters

" It doesn't matter, you're here now. I missed you, my love"

"I missed you"
She pulls robin into a passionate kiss and he pulls her closer.

"Mom?" Henry yells.

Then robin is sucked away and Regina shoots up from the floor.  "Mom are you ok?" Henry asks as he helps her up. "yes dear, I must have fallen asleep" she forces out a laugh.

"On your bathroom floor?"
"I'm fine. Let's go down stairs so I can make your dinner."

"It's ok mom, I'll make dinner." Henry forces a smile. Leading his mother to her bed.

"Don't be silly Henry, I'm fully capable of making dinner."

"It's ok mom, I'll handle it." He gives her a sympathetic smile and Regina nods.

Regina sits on the edge of her bed as Henry walks off to the kitchen.

(Regina starts to stare off Imagining robin sitting beside her. holding her in his arms. The corners of her lips rise as she imagines robin worm smile. All of her thoughts are quickly erased once she remembers her cold reality.)

She stands and walks back into her bathroom. Regina strips from her funeral attire and prepares for a shower.

~~~~

Henry walks back to his mother's room with a tray holding her dinner. Once he enters the room he finds Regina curled over lying in her bed. He once again sees a broken woman.

"Ok, here ya go." Henry excitingly says while presenting his mother with the meal. Regina shoots up from her bed startled by the sudden burst of sound.

"Henry? You scared the life out of me." She tries to smile, playing off her fear.

"My apologies." Henry smiles back

"Grilled cheese?" Regina questions. "Mmmhm" Henry smiles. "I think you've confused me for Emma." Regina looks in disgust. "Nope. Grilled cheese always makes me happy, you should give it a try."

"If only it were that easy, my love."

"I'm only going to eat this because you made it for me, but never do this again." She laughs.

"Thank you Henry."