It hurt you to see Regina this way. To watch her dedicate her every waking moment to trying to save the woman that her lover was married to, promised to. Working to preserve her heart while her own broke in her chest. She knew what she was doing was the right thing. Because she felt miserable again.

She was trying her best to keep Robin satisfied. To keep everyone satisfied. Alongside wrestling with the issue of the Snow Queen, and Operation: Mongoose's goal of finding the Author, Regina was spending hours cooped up in her vault, flipping through spell books to find some way to reverse the spell on Marian. Sleep had become more of a luxury than a necessity for the Mayor as she spent countless sleepless nights searching for an answer she already knew. An answer that meant she and Robin couldn't be.

She hated it. She had waited so long. Tried to be patient. She'd loved and admired Robin as her own, allowed herself to get a glimpse of happiness again. And then it was ripped away from her. It always was. Part of Regina was already losing hope that she'd ever get a happy ending; the only person that kindled the dim spark that remained was Henry. Well. And you. And now here she was, pouring everything out, leaning against the shoulder she could trust to support her, no matter what.

"It isn't fair,"

Regina murmured, her voice slightly hoarse after crying to you. You knew it wasn't fair; the story of the 'Evil Queen' may just be the greatest tragedy you'd known.