The Road to Forever ~ The Sequel to Modern Fairytale

Autumn Bliss

A week after the shooting, Columbia reopened and Robin returned to work. He was resilient and bounced back a lot faster than Regina expected him to. She let him go without arguing that he should rest because she knew how it felt to want to be in the office. Only a few more weeks and she'd be doing half days at the firm; she couldn't wait.

They'd contacted Leopold about putting together their wills and starting the process of adopting each other's sons. She knew it would take time, but with her being a "special client," she assumed he'd pull some strings to speed up the process. When the end of September neared, they were called into Blanchard and Mills to discuss the final steps.

Regina was nervous; her family had been through quite in ordeal in the last few months and she wasn't sure she was ready for her colleagues to see her. Her hair was returning, finally growing evenly rather than in patches like it was before, but she knew it would be a shock to them. They were used to the frightening powerhouse "Evil Queen," not the bald, vulnerable human being that Regina Mills really was.

"Perhaps they'll stop calling you that now. You've always despised the nickname anyway," Robin offered.

But the truth was: that was Regina's identity in the office. She liked being feared because she knew no one would dare to take advantage of her. If they saw her in her current state, she'd be pitied and that was the last thing she ever wanted.

"I'm not sure I want them to," she admitted to him as they rode the elevator in the large glass building where she worked.

He chuckled and used his uninjured arm to pull her closer to him, "Then don't let them."

He was right. She had to walk into that office with her head held high and narrowed gaze like she would any other day. She was still Regina Mills and she could destroy anyone with her intelligence and cleverness; the woman she was remained and nothing, not even cancer, could take that away from her.

She kissed his lips with more passion than she'd been able to muster in the last few months, taking Robin by surprise. When they parted she smiled at him and said, "Once the doctor clears me, I'm going to fuck you every chance I get."

This was a new side of Regina; at least one Robin never had the pleasure of meeting until that moment. He would have taken her right there if he was able to. The elevator signaled their arrival and he readjusted his pants before following her into the main lobby of Blanchard and Mills.

The couple entered the double doors and Regina levitated into the firm with the poise and composure of a queen. Robin admired her attitude, excited to see the love of his life finding her confidence again. The woman at the front desk stood and made an unsuccessful attempt at a human conversation with the fierce attorney, "Regina, it's so good to see you're doing well."

"Save it," she barked. Deep down, she felt guilty for being so rude to the poor girl, but people were watching and she needed to show them that she wasn't some wounded puppy to be kicked while she was down. She peered at the girl as if she were standing above her.

She was about to speak again when the sound of a familiar female voice grabbed her attention, "Regina Mills."

She turned on her heels, which she found much easier to do when she wore stilettos and had to remember to ditch the flats next time she came to see Leopold. She smirked and some of the light returned to her eyes when she replied, "Mallory Bolla. How have you survived without me?"