Can't Afford To Love You

Chapter 2

Author's note: because there actually needs to be some Evil Charming captainswann__ ;)

"I thought I'd find you here."

An unwanted voice rang through her ears. She'd forgotten about the time she told Charming about Robin's thinking spot.

David sighed, narrowing his eyebrows as he tried to figure out what the woman in front of him was thinking.

"I'm pregnant."

She said bluntly.

"Oh. Is it Robin's?"

"Who else's would it be?"

"Never mind... well, how are you holding up?"

Regina turned around to stare at him, and smiled.

"I'm just fine, I'm great actually, you know."

She laughed bitterly.

Charming said nothing as he watched her pull a small bag of white powder from her pocket.

"I got this bag of oxy from some black market junkie Archie knows. Archie didn't know what I needed the guy for when he told me where I could find him."

"Regina-"

He started, but she broke in.

"I wasn't even going to take it. I was putting on a brave face. You see everyone in town is just standing around, waiting for me to crumble and I have to walk around and pretend like I'm dealing fine. It's sick. And now the fact that I'm knocked up is like icing on the cake. Showing me how screwed up my life really is. So now I'm thinking about taking it. And I really actually might."

She stared at him blankly, a tear sliding down her cheek.

"You're grieving Regina. I get that. But please don't take the drugs. They won't be your last and you'll lose everything you still care about. It's ok for you to be feeling things, and the pain will go away eventually I promise. It's ok."

He held out his hand to her as she placed the drugs in his. Their fingers brushed against each other delicately and for one short moment she felt a slight rush of peace. When she let go of his hand she fell apart.

"I don't want to feel it, I just want it to stop."

She said, choking on sobs and crashing to the ground. David knelt in front of her and wrapped his arms tightly around the broken woman.

"It's ok,"

he whispered,

"it's ok. You're ok."

Regina inhaled deeply, her face buried into his shoulder. His scent was calming, and although very unlike the scent that yesterday she had been yearning for, it was subtle and relaxing, so for one minute she felt an overwhelming sense of peace.

"Thank you. Just, erm, don't tell anyone about this. As far as they know I'm fine."

She said, pulling away.