The Road to Forever ~ The Sequel to Modern Fairytale

A Second Chance

"Have you talked about it since what happened on Christmas?" Mallory asked Regina over lunch the following week.

The brunette shook her head as she chewed through a bite of her salad, "Not really. Every time I try to bring it up, he gets frustrated."

"What's his problem?" Her friend asked with a chuckle.

Regina shrugged, "I think he feels really pressured about it. He's been distant since Emma brought it up on Thanksgiving."

"Have you told him what you want?"

"Of course," she nodded, taking a sip of her water before adding, "I'm not in any rush. I mean, I don't expect him to propose any time soon, but I'd like for it to be an option. Right now he just seems so stressed and I don't blame him, but it's starting to put a strain in our relationship."

"It's the elephant in the room: you both know it's there, but how do you just bring it up?" Mal stated, understanding completely.

"Exactly. I don't know what else I can do. If he says marriage isn't something he wants, at least I can respect that and move forward, but right now I feel like I'm in limbo. I can't tell what he wants and I don't think he knows either."

Silence filled the room as the women ate their lunch and the blonde considered her friend's statement for a moment. She seemed focused and intent on providing an insightful thought to the conversation. When she swallowed a bite of her own salad she said, "Have you thought about it from his perspective? I mean, he did just lose Marian."

Regina sighed, "To be fair, they were divorced for eight years before she died. But yes, I have considered his feelings. Married life with Marian seemed to be a terrible time for him and I think he associates having a wife with the way she treated him during their time together. I just wish he'd see that I'm nothing like her."

"But think of it this way, Regina: what will change in your relationship if you do get married?" She asked, making her best attempt at playing the devil's advocate.

"My last name. And our finances, unless we do a prenup, but I don't see him being too keen on that. He's old fashioned."

"Aside from being divorced and having children with a woman he's not married to," Mal provided with a hint of irony in her tone.

The brunette laughed and nodded, "Yes, aside from those minor details, he's very traditional."

"Listen, I say you just walk into the apartment tonight and make him talk to you. It may lead to a fight if he feels like he's being backed into a corner, but stand your ground. Is this something you really want?"

She gave a slight nod in response to the question and spoke softly when she replied, "More than anything."

Mallory smiled, enjoying seeing the innocent, vulnerable side of her friend, "Then take charge. You're Regina Mills. You always get what you want so make it happen."

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"Look what the cat dragged in," Will Scarlet said from the foot of the stage where he was seated at the Luck O' The Irish Pub, "Haven't seen you around here since your hundredth birthday."

"Oi mate," Killian Jones said with a chuckle, "Can't you see the lad is upset?"

Robin plopped into the seat of the chair in front of his friends as his brother brought him a beer from behind the bar. He sipped it with a sigh and said, "I dunno what to do, mates."