The Nanny

Hurting

 "Regina? Honey, you need to eat something." She heard Emma walk into her darkened room and place a tray down on her nightstand.

Pulling down the blankets a bit, Regina shook her head. "I'm not hungry."

"We're not doing this again," Emma insisted. "You are going to eat, you are going to shower and then you are going to talk to me. Got it?"

"And why would I do that?"

"Because if you don't, I will handcuff you tomorrow and drag you down to the hospital to talk with Dr. Espenson again. Your choice."

For a moment, Dr. Espenson seemed the better option. Her former therapist had been helpful in the past and her specialty was sex and relationships. Certainly Regina needed that now. But she knew if she didn't talk to Emma, then her father would worry as well and he didn't need that now.

Sighing, she sat up and pushed her hair back. "What do you want to know?"

"What the hell happened? You came back here two days ago near tears and locked yourself in your room. Robin's been blowing up your phone but no, I haven't read any of his messages. I want you to tell me what's going on."

"Okay," Regina said, voice soft. "I found out that Robin had someone investigate me shortly after we started dating."

Emma practically fell onto the bed. She stared at Regina, her mouth open and eyes wide. "He what?"

Regina nodded, explaining everything to her friend as she picked at the dinner Emma had brought her. "And now Gold is back in the country. He and my mother met with me the other day and told me about Robin's investigation."

"I hope you didn't take Gold's word for it. Robin confirmed it?"

"Yes."

Emma sighed. "What did he say about it?"

"He said he was doing it to help me," she replied, letting out a dry laugh.

"You're kidding."

She shook her head. "He said he wanted to be able to counteract all the gossip with facts, so he sent someone to get the truth."

Emma held up her hands. "You're shitting me."

"Hand to God." Regina raised her right hand. "I wanted to strangle him."

"I can imagine. So what are you going to do now?"

Regina shrugged. "I can't really think past the heartache. I trusted Robin. I thought he was different."

Emma lied down next to her, wrapping her arms around Regina. "I know, I know. We all did."

"I still love him," Regina admitted, tears welling in her eyes. "I hate him right now but deep down, I love him. What am I to do?"

"I don't know. But we'll figure it out." Emma brushed away some of her hair.

Regina rolled closer to her friend and sobbed into her shoulder. All Emma could do was rub her back and wait for the sobs to end.

*****

She finally got out of bed and took a shower the following morning. Regina let the hot water cascade down on her as she sat against the wall, hugging her knees to her chest. Nightmares had plagued her during the night and she had reached out for Robin, wanting his superpower to chase them away. Then she remembered she was back home and his betrayal stung her all over again.

Part of her wanted to return to the mansion and let him wrap her up in his arms. She had felt safe there, felt like he would protect her and she could be vulnerable with him. But would she ever feel safe there again? Or was she a fool to think she could ever be happy?