Run Down

The Drink

When Robin approached Regina again, drink in hand, Regina had regained her senses enough. Emma was still glancing over at her and Robin every other second, but Regina knew she'd end up finding Killian or Mary Margaret or Lily eventually.

"Your drink, Milady." Robin held out the glass, and Regina took it. Robin's sleeve was pushed up enough to reveal a lion tattoo on his inner forearm.

"Thank you," Regina replied. Robin sat down next to her as she brought the glass to her lips and took a sip. "So where's Roland at?" Regina asked, trying to think of something - anything - to talk about that wouldn't lead to another awkward moment.

"My friend is watching him," Robin answered simply. He realized he hadn't left much room for a conversation after he spoke.

"Ah." Regina nodded. What to say, what to say...? She glanced over at Emma who was having half of a conversation with August and Lily. Her eyes kept flicking over towards Regina and Robin, though.

"So how long have you and Emma been friends?" Robin asked, tearing Regina's attention away from Emma.

How long had it been since Emma had moved next door? How long had it taken for Regina to not hate her? Why couldn't she think of answers to easy questions while around Robin?

"Uh...it's been about a year and a half." It took Regina too long to think of the answer, but hopefully Robin wouldn't know that. "And how about your friend whose babysitting Roland?" Regina was hoping she got the name of Robin's son right. "How long have you two been friends?"

Robin frowned, and Regina could tell he was deep in thought. "Hmm...Will and I have been friends since...ever since I can remember, actually."

Regina half-wondered what it would be like to have a friend that long. The only childhood friend Regina ever had was a boy named Daniel whom she may or may not have had a crush on. But Cora never approved of him, and refused to let them stay in touch when Daniel's family moved away.

"Must be nice to have had a friend for so long," Regina mused.

"Surely you have long-term friends?"

Regina thought through her list of people who could be considered friends. Emma had been her friend for a year and a half, Mary Margaret for just under a year, and Mal for three years. She could remember meeting all of them, though, and could easily remember a time when they weren't in her life. She shook her head, "I'm afraid not."

"But you've got great friends now," Robin pointed out.

Though they annoyed her to death sometimes, Regina couldn't argue that Emma and Mary Margaret were great friends. Mal may not have fit the definition of "good friend" given her record of getting drunk at any party she went to, but she had been there for Regina when she needed to rant about how irritating Emma was the first few months they had been neighbors.

"Yeah, I suppose so."