Comfort Food

Anniversary

Most people went away for Memorial Day weekend. Robin had mentioned a few possibilities for them to escape to for the long weekend. There was a trip to Cape Cod, a getaway to New York City and a retreat to Myrtle Beach. All sounded wonderful. There was just one problem.

Regina Mills wasn't most people.

No, she was a successful executive at a top-rated advertising company. An executive with a major client whose compound was due to open after Memorial Day, in time for summer.

Her part had technically started a few months earlier. She was in charge of the campaign for the Humbert Wildlife Educational Center and had promoted their summer camps as soon as she could to compete with the other camps. Jane raved about their campaign, which featured children dressed up as animals with the slogan "Let your inner animal free," and said enrollment far exceeded their expectations for their first year.

Yet she and her team couldn't relax. They were needed to help with the Humbert Wildlife Preserve's grand opening. Zelena led the campaign for that but Gold wanted them to put on a unified front. So her getaway with Robin had to wait.

"We'll go after the grand opening," she promised. "Wherever you want. Maybe for our anniversary?"

"I just want to be with you," he told her, pulling her into his arms. "Wherever, whenever."

She wanted nothing more than to lay somewhere with Robin, letting him kiss her stress away. Especially after having to work so closely with Zelena. They were two headstrong and ambitious women so they had clashed from day one. Working this close was draining her.

Regina stormed into her office, making Mary Margaret jump. Her assistant frowned. "Another fight with Zelena?"

"The campaign her team put together is fine. There's no need to overhaul it nor the time." Regina blew out in exasperation.

"And she won't listen to reason?"

"It's Zelena," Regina stressed before sighing. "She's going to complain to Gold. Hopefully he can get through to her."

Mary Margaret nodded. "Do you need me to do anything?"

"Just...hold my calls for a half hour. I'm just going to take a breather at my desk," she replied, entering her office.

Regina sagged in her chair, looking at her computer. She had a realtor's website up, still looking for a place she and Robin could move into together. They were leaning toward staying in Avalon for now and just getting a bigger apartment for the two of them. But every so often, she liked to check any listings for houses.

Her widened and she sat up as a familiar house appeared on her screen: a half Cape Cod painted blue with white shutters. She had admired it from afar for years, wishing it would be hers. And now it was for sale.

It had to be a sign.

She picked up her phone, waiting for her love's voice to come over the other end. "What did Zelena do now?" he asked.

"A lot," she replied, "but it's not why I'm calling. My dream house is for sale."

"Really?"

"Yes. I know we've agreed on an apartment here in Avalon and it is out of our agreed budget range..."

"Regina, breathe," he instructed. "It's your dream house. We can at least look at it."