Run Down

Time Doesn't Heal All

Today is the day, Robin thought to himself as he looked across the bed, finding himself tangled in sheets and entwined with Regina's limbs.

Today, Roland was going to see his mother again. The woman who thought her artistic career was more important than her husband and barely-two-year-old when she left. Robin couldn't help but roll his eyes at the mere thought of her. But underlying that, was the sadness of remembering the woman he used to love so much - a part of him probably would always love a part of her. But it was more than distance that split them up for good. They weren't right for each other anymore and they both knew that. Robin just wondered how Marian was able to stay away from their sweet son for almost two years with only a birthday present and Christmas card sent here and there.

On the fateful day of abandonment, as Robin had looked at it, Marian had moved to Paris, where she no doubt found plenty of people to help her with her artistic talents, and other things to say the least.

He glanced again at Regina. God, she looked so beautiful. He knew their small fight would be forgotten in the looming shadow of the day, but his guilt still nibbled at him from the inside out. He really, really didn't want this - whatever it was between them - to come under stress because of his ex-wife.

After whispering her name failed to rouse her from sleep, he leant forwards and kissed the tip of Regina's nose, peppering the surrounding skin with tiny kisses and snuggling into her neck until her eyes fluttered open and she smiled into his hair. She muttered a low "m'rning," as she ran her hands up and down his back once.

He pulled away from her and lay propped up with his elbow. For a moment, he just soaked in the sight of her, and by the looks of it, she was doing the same.

"You ready?" Regina asked after a while, pulling his gaze back to her eyes, and he let out a sigh. His lips pulled into a line as he ran a hand through his hair.

"For Roland's sake, I'll have to be."

---

It was almost impossible to get Roland in his car seat that morning. "Come on, m'boy, don't you want to see mummy?" Robin asked as he fought against his sons flailing body to clip in the seat belt. Despite the incident making them late, Robin understood his sons tantrum - if he wasn't a fully grown adult he might have thrown a similar one himself at having to unwrap himself from Regina and her blankets.

Finally though, they were on their way to meet Marian, having left a waving Regina on her doorstep. And she had waved, until Robin's car had driven around the corner out of sight.

"I don't wanna leave R'gina's, daddy!" Roland wailed from the back seat and as Robin flicked his eyes to his sons in the rear view mirror, telling him he should be excited to see his mum after so long, he felt a twinge of regret that even if Marian hadn't bothered, maybe he should have made an effort to keep their relationship somewhat afloat. With so much technology, it wouldn't have been hard to let his son speak with Marian over video call... No. He couldn't think like that. For all he knew, she might never have come back.

"I know, Roland," Robin reached back with a hand and gave his tiny knee a squeeze. "But mummy's really looking forward to seeing you. And I think deep down, you're looking forward to seeing her. Yeah?" He saw Roland sniffle but nod in the mirror. "So are we going to be a big boy and smile when we get there? And give your mum a big hug?" Even though she doesn't deserve it, he added in his head.

"Yeah." Roland nodded again, more enthusiastically this time.

"Okay, now wipe your tears m'boy." He did, swiping the sleeve of his jacket across his cheeks and under his nose. Robin was too distracted to tell him to use a tissue instead.