Comfort Food

Ghosts of the Past

Ghosts of the Past

Robin pushed aside the wrapper from his sandwich as he brushed away the crumbs. Looking up, he smiled at his coworkers. "Okay, so what's next on the agenda?"

"We've received some offers based on the bids we put in before the holidays," Tuck said, pulling out a folder. "Judging by our current staffing, we can only take on one more right now. So we need to pick which one."

"I say we take the one that will allow us to support more staff so we can start taking on more projects," Mulan advised.

Robin nodded. "Sounds good. So, Tuck, which one do you think would allow us to do that?"

"Avalon Mercy Hospital," Tuck replied, plopping down one folder. "It's almost as good as the Norris project."

Everyone grew silent at the mention of the Norris project. It would've covered a large campus in Mist Haven and brought in a lot of money. But Robin had blown the dinner with Mr. Norris. Worse, he had almost destroyed his relationship with Regina in the process. In the end, he was glad to still be with her than working on Norris' property.

Robin cleared his throat. "Well, then, we should take it. The hospital has a large campus and a lot of open spaces to maintain. We might have to move a few people from some other projects but we'll be able to manage it I think."

"Doesn't Marian work at Avalon Mercy?" Tuck asked. "You okay working for her hospital?"

"She's a respected neurosurgeon. I doubt she spends a lot time outside. And even then, we're adults. We can be civil to each other." When Tuck still didn't look convinced, Robin sighed. "Besides, I wasn't going to take the lead on this anyway. I like the Storybrooke park project a bit too much. I was going to give this to either Will or Merida."

Tuck nodded. "Then are we decided? Mulan?"

"I think Avalon Mercy is the best choice as well," she agreed. "It'll help us expand payroll and afford to take on another project or two later this year."

"Then we're agreed. I think this has been a very productive meeting." Robin smiled at his employees. "Now, I love you all...but get out."

Tuck and Mulan laughed, gathering the remnants of their meals and wandered out of his office. Robin closed the door behind them, hoping to get some more work done while everything was still quiet. He sat at his desk and stared at the pictures lining it.

First was a picture of him and Will taken when they were still in secondary school, probably no older than thirteen. They were posing in their local park, convinced they could become models. Next to it was a picture of him and Will now, taken only months ago at Marian's wedding. Right in the middle was a picture of him with his grandparents, taken at his grandfather's last birthday. And at the very end, where he could always see them, were the pictures of Regina.

He had several, all grouped together: Regina making a silly face as they sat on her parent's deck, the two of them sleeping on her parents' couch over the Thanksgiving weekend (taken by her cousin Ruby, who had also covered them in tinsel), her sitting on Mary Margaret's roof in her cowgirl costume, him and her facing each other as they sang at his company's Christmas party, and the couple posing with Mary Margaret and David at Regina's office party.

Robin smiled at her image, warmth spreading throughout him. He was a lucky, lucky man who had been in the right grocery store, in the right aisle at the right time seven months ago. It had allowed him to meet a spitfire named Regina Mills who shared his penchant for eating mac and cheese after bad days. She had captured his heart and made his life richer the past seven months.