Regina Mills can't believe this day has finally come, she survived her first set of law school exams. She is finally free of schoolwork, at least until they return from Christmas break, though she should probably use her break to get ahead on work. Tonight, though, is not a time to think about work, it is a night of celebrating. And because the threat of readings to do and papers to write isn't looming over her, Regina has had a bit more to drink than usual (a lot more, there was so much wine at her place and then a couple of vodka sodas here). She hasn't had too much, though she's approaching it, but more than enough to loosen her up so that when her classmate Robin Locksley motions for her to join him at the bar, she actually does.
She's been avoiding him, because she was pretty sure he's been flirting with her for the past month. Something she would have been fine with, more than because well, he's gorgeous, but he has a girlfriend. She isn't confident enough in her self control to be around him and not engage with it. It's easy to fall into what is surely just harmless flirting to him. Lately, she's been aloof and cagey because, though she knows it can't be more than that, she keeps reading too much into words and looks because she's so damn attracted to him. Her attraction to him is a fact that's become harder to deny the more time she spends around him. What makes it even worse is that he has an accent, which she finds almost unbearably sexy. She constantly has to remind herself that he's taken and she should push those thoughts aside. That's why it's been easier to just avoid him. However, tonight they are celebrating, she's a bit drunk, and there really would be no harm in just talking to him, right? She can control herself, at least she thinks she can, and if not she can blame it on the alcohol.
When she reaches the bar there's a round of whiskey shots lined up which she learns are for "surviving their first semester of 1L." It burns as it goes down and she almost gags, can't help but shudder, coughing lightly after causing Robin to chuckle beside her. She shoots him a glare, it's bad form to mock someone like that, but it doesn't stop the snickering beside her.
They had written five exams in ten days, the only section with that many (she's never hated having an H-N last name quite so much before), and so almost all of their section was out celebrating, the bar crawling with law students because the undergrad exam period was already over. Exams were exhausting and she has not yet recovered. She knows some people who started drinking right at noon, as soon as they were done, but she would be in bed already if she had done that. Instead, she went for lunch after the exam with some friends, including Robin, which had become a sort of tradition over the past week and half.
It started after their third exam. It was on a Friday and while they were exiting the exam John Little, Robin's roommate, had asked if anyone wanted to grab lunch. Regina had gone, as had her friends Katherine Midas and Mal Lindwurm, and a couple of the guys, John and Robin then some others from their section she didn't know all that well, Ruby Lucas, Mulan Liu, Arthur King and Killian Jones. They had a drink with lunch then went their separate ways. After Monday's exam, John proposed the same thing and they gained a few others. And today's lunch had even more people, some of whom got rowdier than others.
After lunch, Regina went home and took a long nap, which is the only reason she is still up and still drinking.
"How did you end up all alone?" asks Robin.
Regina's just about to answer him when Katherine, who she came with, joins them and immediately begins unloading. "Ugh did you see David and Mary Margaret sneak off toward the bathroom? It's bad enough I have to see them all the time but I really didn't appreciate seeing them making out on my way there. You'd think they would have the decency not to throw it in my face."
Regina lets out a sound of sympathy, but doesn't really know what to say. Katherine and David came to law school as a couple. They had met in undergrad and dated all four years, and everyone had thought it was just a matter of time before they got married. Lucky for Katherine, her father had insisted she get her own place, as their four year relationship ended soon after David met Mary Margaret Blanchard at law school orientation in August.
"They are quite nauseating aren't they?" remarks Robin before asking, "Anyone in for another shot?"
"Oh my god yes! You are the best Robin," squeals Katherine and oh, Katherine is more drunk than Regina realized.
Regina knows she probably shouldn't do another shot, neither should Katherine, but Regina's not her babysitter and the last thing she wants is a drunken lecture about being a killjoy. Regina's not normally the shots type, doesn't like to drink too much, just to a good buzz, nothing that will give her a hangover. Of course, that went out the window several rouns ago.
Katherine shoots her a look before exclaiming, "Regina come on, we're done, celebrate!" When Regina doesn't protest Katherine announces, "It's decided, she's having one too."
Robin gives her a 'you sure?' look before flagging the bartender. He gets something different, a Washington Apple, something she suspects is probably easier than straight whiskey after her little mishap.
After the shots—which Regina handles like a pro—Katherine decides it's time to hit the dancefloor, no doubt in search of a new guy that she will hear all about over brunch the next morning.
"You know I wouldn't mind a dance with the prettiest girl here," says Robin with a wink and a smirk.
Okay, that was definitely flirting and she decides it's time to call him out on it (probably also time to stop drinking). "Wouldn't your girlfriend have an opinion on that?" she asks sassily.
"I don't know what you're talking about, I don't have a girlfriend." He smirks, "I mean unless you're offering…"
Oh no, he's not getting off the hook that easy. "But what about Marian? I met her at your party."
His brows narrow, "Marian and I broke up that same night, we talked about it and realized we hadn't been working for a long time. We were just hanging on because we had been together so long, but the distance really made clear all the things that weren't working."
And now Regina feels stupid and also a little bad, she hasn't been the nicest to him because she thought he was being skeezy when it turns out he was actually harmlessly flirting with her. "Well, uh, that's good to know."
"So this whole time you thought I was with someone." He sounds far too cocky about it.
"Yeah, so, what difference does that make?" she sasses back.
He leans in, "Well, you see, I was beginning to get worried you weren't interested."
Regina can't resist a biting, "What makes you think I am now?"
"Well for starters we are having this conversation, and you never told me off, despite thinking I had a girlfriend."
"Mm, I guess that's true."
"You guess?" he asks with arched brows.
She pushes his arm playfully, "Maybe I just didn't want to be rude."
"Well until you tell me not to, I'm going to keep flirting with you, if that's alright with you."
She tamps down a smile as she tells him, "Fine by me."
They continue chatting while standing at the bar for a while, until Robin suggests they go some place quieter so they can talk more. Regina agrees, knowing full well they might not get to talking if they are alone. She has goodbyes to say first though, so she makes the rounds while he settles his tab.
She makes her way back to the bar thinking he will still be there but he's not. She looks around and spies him right by the door, at coat check. She's glad she saw him first because it gives her the chance to pull her coat check tag out of her bra before she walks over.
There is a group of very drunk girls in front of her in line and of course, one of them can't find their tag. She rolls her eyes and then catches Robin's eye. There isn't much room where he is, and he's in the way of the door. As the girls push more forward Robin gestures at the door and she nods. She'll meet him outside, that is, if she ever makes it past this gaggle of idiots.
When she finally gets her coat and purse, she puts her coat on and makes her way outside. She feels the temperature drop as she steps outside, it's chilly, but she's surprisingly warm.
"God, you are stunning," Robin says from his spot leaning against the window to her left.
"You're not so bad yourself," she teases as she tucks in beside him so she too is out of the way.
"Just not so bad, how do I make a better impression on you milady?"
"Well you could start by addressing me properly, it's Your Majesty."
He laughs, "Oh I'm sorry I should have known you were a queen, Your Majesty."
"Yes, and you should be mindful of my title, since you are, after all, a thief." At that Robin gives her a quizzical look and she clarifies, "Aren't you also known as Robin Hood?"
He groans at that, "Oh so now you're using that too. Ugh, I shall forever curse myself for doing that debate and getting that ridiculous moniker."
"I like it and I think it suits you. Besides, there are worse things to be known for than wanting to steal from the rich and give to the poor."
"I would like to point out that's not what my party stands for, though I do believe we need to tax the rich more in order to provide more services and a more even playing field."
She's starting to get cold now, the chilly winter night air finally penetrating the warmth of her alcohol and flirtation fueled buzz. She shuffles slightly, trying to warm up because she doesn't want to stop talking with him and can't seem to stop sassing him. "Well, some would argue taxes are stealing and hence, you're Robin Hood."
He shakes his head good-naturedly. "I'm not going to win this, am I? Very well, so tell me where to now? Perhaps some coffee?"
Regina looks down at her watch before answering, "Well, considering it's 1:30 am, I don't think anything good will be open." Robin looks very disappointed and Regina doesn't want the night to end either so she finds herself offering, "I do have a very good espresso machine at home, just a couple blocks from here."
She's only a five-minute walk away, which is good because the cold is really starting to set in. God, she hates winter, but at least it's not that bad tonight, it was -6C earlier, not the -25C it was the other day (which thankfully wasn't an exam day so she never left her house).
"Well, that sounds rather perfect, doesn't it." He says, and then grabbing her hand he adds, "Lead the way."
When he touches her hand all she can think about is how good those hands would feel on other parts of her. She imagines him running his hands down her back, lower and lower and oh, it would be good. As they walk he tells her about his work the previous summer as an archery instructor and all she can think about was how that means he must be good with his hands. She definitely drank too much tonight, oops, she had six drinks before those shots, or was it seven, good thing they are done with school. What was she thinking? Right, his hands, those firm hands running up and down her spine, his fingers slipping into her—God, she really needs to get her hormones in check because as much as Robin has been flirting, Regina is not the one-night stand type.
They get to her house and she fiddles with the key. He followed her up the stairs to the little entry, which doesn't leave much space between them, and she can feel his breath on the back of her neck, and man does it ever feel nice.
He has to step down so she can open the door and they filter in. She hangs her coat and he hangs his, and he follows her lead when she takes off her boots, which she appreciates. She's had a few people over who have not taken off their shoes in her home which irritates her to no end because she keeps a clean floor and she then has to mop when they leave, completely unnecessarily.
They pass the stairs as they enter the living area. Her place isn't huge, considering it's a house, but it's just her, so it's plenty. She nods when Robin asks if it's just her as she turns on her Breville and grabs two mugs from the cabinets. She asks what he wants, makes a Latte for him and an Americano for herself, trying to subtly make it clear this is a coffee date and her invitation back to her place was not code for sex.
She leads him to her table and they sit, making small talk while they stare at each other over their coffees.
He has gorgeous eyes, eyes that are currently fixated on her lips. She's pretty sure he's thinking about kissing her, and they will definitely be doing that before he leaves, but that will be it. They will make out a little and then she'll send him home, and if he wants to see her again he can call her.
That plan goes out the window once he actually kisses her, though. She finished her coffee and stood up, putting her mug in the dishwasher, and when she turned after closing it he was right behind her. He set his mug down on the counter behind her, getting closer so he could reach it and then crashed his lips against hers. It's hot and passionate and she lets out a little moan when he deepens the kiss, grabbing the back of her head and pulling her in closer. She's never been so turned on by a simple kiss before. It has been a while, a long while, but that's no excuse for her to be feeling this riled up, this soon. She's wet already, and all they've done is kiss, it's insane. His lips part from hers to trail along her jawline and she can't help the little sound of approval she makes.
He moves back up to her lips for another hungry kiss. She shifts closer to him so their bodies are pressed against each other and oh, that was a bad idea, because now she can feel him half-hard against her and she wants him, badly. Fuck, she is not going to be able to sleep without getting off tonight.
He moves his hands down her back and gently squeezes her ass, and she smirks for a second, which is cut off by a loud moan when he runs his mouth down her neck, kissing and sucking with just enough pressure to make her ache.
"Oh fuck that's good," she breathes out as he flicks his tongue out over the side of her neck right where he just sucked. He moves his mouth up right beside her ear and asks, "Did you like that?" in a breathy tone that makes her clench.
"What do you think?" she asks in a voice far too breathless for her liking, but it's the best she can do under the circumstances.
"I think so and do tell, what else do you like, milady?" he asks, still breathing right into her ear.
Fuck, her self control is waning, because what he is doing right now is the answer to his question. Hot breaths and whispered promises in her ear never fail to light her up. She shudders as he takes her ear lobe gently between his teeth and she cries out when he licks the sensitive patch of skin right behind it. Her legs are shaking, and she pushes him toward the living room and then down onto the couch. She climbs on top of him, kissing him greedily and grinding against his erection to get some attention where she is currently aching for him.
"You feel so good," he whispers, staring up at her with sultry eyes before pulling her back down for another heady kiss.
They kiss and kiss, her rocking against him, growing wetter and wetter, her breath shaky, chest heaving, thighs clenching.
She moans when he nips her earlobe again, she draws him in for another kiss. He's such a good kisser, so good with his mouth.
She's surprised when he pulls away after that, both of them breathing heavily. He leaves one hand on her face stroking her cheek as he tells her, "I should go milady, as much as I am enjoying this, and believe me I am, we've been drinking and I wouldn't want to take advantage."
It really is the perfect opportunity for her to say goodnight—because she wasn't going to have sex with him—but his sweet speech pushes her to say, "You wouldn't be taking advantage. I want you to stay."
Fuck it, she's going to sleep with him, she's 23 and they both want it, so what's the problem? A voice that sounds suspiciously like her mother's tells her this is improper but she pushes those thoughts away in favour of kissing him again.
Now that she's decided that they are doing this, she needs them to pick up the pace. She's already so wet and is dying for more stimulation, for him to really touch her. She could get off like this, but that's not what she really wants. So when he trails his lips down her neck again she makes quick work of removing his shirt and then starts on his belt. Thankfully, Robin gets the message and starts taking off her dress.
She sends up a silent thank you to her past self for wearing a nice bra and panties, matching scraps of silk, not her usual unsexy nude bra and random underwear. She stands up so her dress can fall away and Robin groans out a 'Fuck you're gorgeous'.
They take a minute to look at each other, both drinking in all the newly exposed skin. God, she could look at Robin's bare chest for hours, he has strong arms and she can see the outline of his abs. She's longing to run her finger over them, feel his muscles jump under her touch. She starts to move back to where she was, so she can straddle him, but he stops her.
"Perhaps we should take this to your bedroom, love." God his voice is sexy and yes, yes they should.
She leads him up the stairs to her room, taking them at a brisk pace that's probably not smart with the amount of alcohol in her system but they both make it up unscathed. As soon as they are in the door he surprises her by picking her up and carrying her toward the bed. She puts her arms around his neck and pulls him down for another searing kiss as he places her the wrong way across her bed. She's laying down, her knees bent and hanging off the edge as his one hand trails down her leg, causing her to let out a satisfied sigh, while his other moves under her back to unclasp her bra. She arches her back to accommodate him, and once her bra is off he grabs her, rolling her nipple in his fingers as she inhales sharply. She's not normally this sensitive there but he seems to instinctively know the right way to touch her, which only makes her anticipation grow.
When he takes her nipple in his mouth and bites gently she cries out wantonly and warmth spreads down her body. Fuck, this is so hot but she needs more, and soon. She feels like she's going to implode if he doesn't touch her clit, she is throbbing with anticipation. She needs more friction and squeezing her legs together isn't cutting it.
Thankfully, Robin's moving his head lower and lower, kissing a trail down her stomach. Regina watches his descent, anxious for him to get where she really needs. He ghosts his fingers over her swollen clit ever so gently and Regina whines, aching for more acute stimulation.
"Patience, love," he says dipping one finger into her and then moaning when he realizes just how wet she is "You're soaked."
"Yeah," is all she can manage to breathe out because he hooks another finger in her and starts thrusting them. It isn't exactly what she really needs but it's good. It's made even better when he crooks them upwards toward her front wall and finds her g-spot.
"Oh god, yeah, there," she pants out as he continues to push up against that spot.
"Yeah, you like that Regina, like my fingers hitting you just there?"
She nods, and oh god she's becoming more and more turned on by the second, her clit is throbbing and aching for him to touch it.
What he does is much better though. He kneels, placing kisses along her inner thighs as her breath hitches with the realization of where he's headed. "Do you want my mouth?"
"Yes, oh god, please."
He smirks then keeps kissing her inner thighs, making her clench around his fingers.
He tells her "Just be patient," and she groans in lieu of a real response.
She jerks involuntarily when he finally puts his mouth on her clit, using his free hand to hold her down as he licks her. He starts out gently but acquiesces to her embarrassing begging and thrusts his fingers harder while swirling his tongue around her, licking and sucking. And oh god, someone going down on her has never been this hot. She can feel herself growing closer and closer, her whole body a livewire, and then she loses the ability to speak as he takes her over the edge. She jerks and spasms and cries out wordlessly as release and sweet relief floods her. He keeps it up through her orgasm, until it becomes too much and she pushes at his head, trying desperately to catch her breath.
"Watching you, hearing you was incredible," he tells her as she takes purposeful, deep breaths, trying to calm her racing heart.
"No," she says still fairly breathless, "that was incredible. And now I want to show you what I can do."
She grabs for him, pulling him up so he's standing, intent on returning the favour and he stops her. "Are you sure? This can just be for you."
And god damn, if him being a perfect gentleman doesn't make her hot for him again.
"Take those off," she commands, gesturing to his boxers. He slips them off and she pushes him onto the bed beside her, so he's laying down. They shift, so they are the right way on the bed, and then she begins her own downward descent, delighting in every moan and groan he lets out. She grabs the base of him gently before swirling her tongue down and around him.
"Oh god so good" he breathes out and then she takes him her mouth, slowly inching down and testing her reach. "Oh god, you feel so good."
"Just you wait," she tells him, then settles in. She finds her rhythm soon enough, despite being out of practice, and is bobbing up and down with enthusiasm, using her hand to compensate for what she can't take in her mouth. His hips jerk on one of her downward passes and she gags, her eyes watering and her nose beginning to run. He's instantly apologetic but she waves it off and continues.
Even though it's not sexy she can't bring herself to care because the sounds he's letting out are to die for. And soon he's begging her, "Oh f-fuck, stop Regina, I- fuck, too close, please."
She stops just for a second to give him an option, "I can keep going and finish you, or you could finish inside me, your call."
Regina's hoping he'll pick the latter, because hearing him light up for her has stoked her arousal and she's getting desperate for attention again.
"Oh fuck love, yes want to be inside you, so bad."
Thank god. She reaches over toward her nightstand, opening the drawer and fishing out a condom. She goes to put it on him but he stops her.
"I just need a minute to cool down," he says, voice still shaky as his hands move down her back, one coming along the front to stroke her clit in quick circles that have her crying out. His other hand comes around and dips inside her and he smirks proclaiming, "God you are insatiable," as he takes in just how wet she is again, or still.
She moans in agreement as he picks up the pace with his hands and damn he is good with his hands. She could easily come from this, but that isn't what she wants, she wants to feel him, wants to know what he feels like inside her. He's not huge, but he's thick, will give her that good stretch and full feeling. She lets herself bask in the pleasure of his fingers for a few moments before reaching down for the condom she apparently dropped at some point in her distraction. When she grabs it she holds it up, giving him a pointed look.
This time he lets her put it on and she gives him a few quick strokes before climbing on top of him, lining him up with her entrance and sinking down on him. She gives herself a minute to stretch out to accommodate him, and fuck it's good, before she starts gently thrusting on top of him. She fiddles around with the angle, shifting forward and back before letting out a throaty moan when he lines up just right and the pleasure surges.
"That it babe?" Robin asks her.
She just nods, then cries out when Robin thrusts up into her and moves his hand to her clit, stroking it ever so lightly, the other groping her ass. She loves it, loves being grabbed, it's hot. This is so fucking good and she needs more. She picks up the pace which has them both moaning, then kissing sloppily and desperately.
Robins hand on her clit starts circling faster and harder, setting her on fire and making it hard for her to keep up her rhythm. Robin thrusts up into her and she let out a loud cry of Yes, letting him do the work for a second.
"Fuck babe, I c-can't, I'm so close," Robin warns as she resumes thrusting on him.
"Me too," she breathes as she focuses on the feeling of him inside of her and touching her. He feels amazing in her and god it's fantastic, just what she needs.
She feels herself approaching the edge as Robin tells her, "God babe let go for me, please love, want to feel you come on my cock, you feel so incredible, please come for me. Show me how I make you feel."
And oh fuck there it is, she's coming with a loud shout, everything releasing and leaving her breathless and feeling like jelly. She wants nothing more than to lie back and enjoy the afterglow, but Robin hasn't come yet and she can see him fighting not to thrust into her, trying to give her the moment she needs.
She flips them and tells him to go for it. And that he does, going hard and fast. It's not long before he's spilling into the condom, crying out.
They sit in silence on her bed for a moment, her cuddled up in his chest and all of a sudden it's much too intimate for her. She pushes him away and excuses herself to the bathroom, and panics a little. She's never done anything quite like this, and she isn't sure what happens next. Her mind's running wild, what does this mean, will they do it again (God she hopes so), is he going to stay, what does he want from her? She wills herself to calm down, but comes back to her room a bit anxiously.
Robin's sitting up on her bed having discarded the condom in her trash, and he must sense her hesitation because he offers, "I can go if you want, or I can stay, it's up to you."
Which really doesn't help Regina because she doesn't know what she wants. She knows she won't regret this, having slept with him, in the morning because the sex was too good for regrets. But she isn't sure how she'll feel in the morning waking up next to him, and she doesn't sleep well with others anyway. So yeah, him leaving is probably best, after all, it's not like she will regret not letting him stay over, right?
"Um, yeah, uh you should probably go, I have brunch with Katherine, Mal and Zelena in the morning anyway so uh thanks," she stammers out rather awkwardly, cursing herself for how shaky her voice is.
"Okay," he says smiling, "Walk me out?"
On the way out of her room he notices the second bedroom, her office and guest room and makes another comment how much space she has, which just makes her wonder how small his place must be. She knows she has it good where she lives, a small old but fully renovated house all to herself in an actual residential area, not chock full of undergrads and loud parties. Her parents pay for this place, it's why she can afford it and why she doesn't have a roommate, but she knows a lot of people aren't that lucky. As much as her mother is a huge bitch, she tries to be grateful for the good things she does have.
She opens the door for him awkwardly and he gives her a quick kiss on his way out. She tries to push down the thoughts of 'what does this mean' in favour of bidding him goodnight.
When she returns to her room she groans as she looks at the time, 3:50 am. Thank god they always go for actual brunch and not breakfast. As she lays down to sleep she realizes that this time she's going to be the one with a brunch story.
Regina's hungover, quite hungover. She almost skips it, but girls brunch after a night of drinking is a sort of tradition for Mal, Regina, Zelena and Katherine. They bitch about their hangovers and tell stories of their night over bottomless coffee and breakfast at Granny's Diner.
Their waitress comes over immediately, thank god because Regina needs coffee. She feels dead on her feet and the ibuprofen she took hasn't kicked in to kill the tightness in her head.
She orders coffee, as do Katherine and Zelena, but not Mal. Regina always knows how Mal's night went based on her drink order, if it was good she has coffee, if it was bad a Mimosa, and if it was really bad a Caesar. So when Mal orders a Caesar Regina gives her sympathetic look and asks, "That bad huh?"
"I'm dying," says Mal, and she looks a little queasy, "Hopefully a little hair of the dog helps me out, I went way too hard on the tequila shots last night."
That makes Regina wince, tequila is not her friend, she avoids it like the plague.
"Ugh I feel ya," says Katherine empathetically. "I tried to drown out the image of Mary Margaret and David making out with shots of who knows what, and sadly that's one of the only parts of last night I remember."
"Well I had a wicked time last night," says Zelena. "Though I probably didn't have quite as much fun as my sister, who I saw leaving with a boy."
"Ooh, Regina spill!" urges Katherine too loudly. Mal winces and shushes her, which Katherine ignores as she tries and fails to hide her excitement.
"Oh please," says Mal pausing to thank their waitress for her drink, and taking a sip while Regina downs a quarter of her coffee. "They probably just split a cab or something. Regina never has good stories."
Regina wants to be offended by that statement but she knows it's true. Her main priority is school and she doesn't let anything pull her focus away from doing well. She goes out to most of the events, because she knows the value of taking a break, but she stays relatively sober and always makes it home at a decent hour. She can't afford to spend her days in bed hungover. There are readings and assignments to do, outlines to make and notes to review. Regina is by far the most studious of their group, a trait they admire and also make fun of her for.
"Was it Robin?" asks Katherine, and Regina nearly chokes on her mouthfull of coffee, "I saw you two flirting last night."
"Who's Robin?" asks Zelena, and then her face lights up with recognition. "Wait… Robin Hood, steal from the rich give to the poor guy?"
She rolls her eyes, "Yes that Robin, though he hates that nickname, and we uh, hung out for a bit after leaving the bar." She blushes a little thinking back on their night together.
"Well, I'll be damned! Little one finally went and got some, good for you, it has been way too long and you definitely needed it," remarks Mal.
"Wait, you had sex with him?" squeals Katherine far too loud once again, and god, what is with her today? Her loud tone causes other tables to look over at them and makes Regina blush even harder. "That's so not like you," Katherine adds, this time speaking at an appropriate volume.
"Perhaps we should let my little sister actually tell the story and not just speculate."
It's times like these Regina hates Zelena because she had been content to let them speculate and then change the subject, so she tries a different tactic.
"You said you had a wicked night, but mine was better - how would we know that if we don't hear about your night first?" Regina states in a last ditch attempt to pull focus from herself. She saw Zelena with Hades Underwood the night before and so knows this story could go on for a while. Zelena tends to go on and on when she has a story, and with her and Hades, there's always a story.
"Oh, mine was the usual, had some drinks courtesy of Hades, and then danced for hours before going home. Your turn sis."
That is the quickest Zelena has discussed anything, ever. Regina is really not one to kiss and tell, it's normally Katherine or Mal with these kinds of stories and she listens eagerly. But now they are all looking at her curiously and so she sighs, "Um well we went back to my place and we, uh, well… you know."
"No we don't 'know'. You what? Jesus Regina, you aren't a nun, spill it," comes from Mal, urging her to get on with it.
She knows Mal will pry and pry and until she gets all the information so she bites the bullet. "We had sex, okay? Now can we leave it alone?"
Katherine and Zelena both look shocked and Mal looks almost bored.
"Was it good?" asks Katherine. "Oh, and are you going to see him again, do you like him?"
Brunch is starting to feel a bit like an inquisition, and leave it to Katherine to ask the hard questions. At least she knows the answer to one of them and so she starts with that. "It was very very good, I don't know if I'll see him again, I don't have time for a boyfriend, school is my main priority. Plus he's going back to England for the Christmas break so I won't see him for a couple of weeks anyway."
Zelena pipes up then, "I didn't see him when I picked you up this morning and I was early. How early did you make this guy get up to avoid this conversation?"
And she would think that. "He left last night actually."
"Wow didn't even want to stay the night? That's rough," remarks Mal and she downs the rest of her Caesar. A full drink before their food arrives - it must have been a really rough night. Her mind goes places it shouldn't for a minute but she focuses back in on the conversation.
Regina glares at her, "It wasn't like that, he asked me if I wanted him to stay or go and I told him to go."
Just as she expects, a follow up comes from Mal. "And why didn't you ask him to stay if it was so good."
"Can we please just drop this?"
All three shake their heads emphatically. She gets a slight break when their waitress brings their food. A western omelette for Zelena, eggs royale for her, steak and eggs for Mal and french toast for Katherine. Mal orders another Caesar and when she catches Regina's eye, Mal gives her a look, daring her to comment. She keeps it to herself and hopes everyone will dig in and forget about her, but they look at her expectantly.
"Fine," growls Regina, and they all start eating, "I just got a little freaked out. I didn't know what to expect, I've never taken someone home like that before so I figured it was best if he left."
She cuts into her eggs as Mal remarks, far too casually, "Ah there it is, the good old Mills fear of commitment rearing its head,"
She finishes cutting, spearing a bite as she tells her, "I'm not afraid of commitment. I'm just too busy with school right now."
Her first bite is amazing, just what she needs, she loves the hollandaise here. And now that she's eaten something, her stomach seems to suddenly realize it's starving. She takes another bite that's ruined by Mal's, "Oh please Regina, you haven't dated anyone seriously since Daniel and that was five years ago. And don't say Graham because even though you went out for a long time it was always casual."
"Maybe she's just waiting for the right person," says Zelena and Regina's grateful for her sister's support. It's kind of an odd feeling, given how long Zelena spent trying to ruin Regina's life, but that's over and they are past it, mostly.
Mal turns her attention to Zelena as Regina devours her brunch. "You're one to talk, you have it too. I called it the Mills fear of commitment for a reason. Zelena you need to get over yourself, stop pining over Hades and just go out with him already, he only stopped asking you because you rejected him so many times."
"Maybe keeping it casual is better," says Katherine bitterly, "then at least they won't break your heart when they find someone else and flaunt it in your face all the time."
"Oh my god, Katherine not everything is about you! It's been three months. David and Mary Margaret are together, you are going to see them, get over it. You don't have to like it but I for one am sick of hearing you bitch about them daily," hisses Mal before grabbing her new drink and taking a big gulp.
Katherine's clearly offended and Regina thinks about saying something in her defence but she can see Mal's point, all Katherine ever talks about is David and Mary Margaret. Their waitress comes and tops off everyone's coffees before Regina can decide whether to say anything. They eat in relative silence until Zelena breaks the ice with a funny story about watching Killian Jones slip and completely faceplant the night before.
When they leave the diner they agree to try and stay in touch over the break and set a brunch date for their first weekend back. When Regina checks her phone she has a text from Robin. I hope you are feeling okay this morning :). I'm getting on the plane now so have a wonderful break and I'll see you when we get back.
She smiles at first, excited to see him again and then tells herself to reign it in. After all, he probably just wants to have sex again. Having sex again is fine by her because it's all she has time for anyway. She isn't going to text him back because he is away, she'll wait to see him. She's not going to be that girl who obsesses over his text. She's not going to spend her break worrying about a boy, so she vows to put him out of her mind until she sees him again.
Instead, she spends her break worrying about what it all means and cursing herself for becoming so stupid over a boy. She convinces herself it's just because the sex was so good. Her brain had released oxytocin and she's having a natural reaction to it, but she doesn't like him, not like that. He's just an attractive guy who's very good in bed, one that she wants to sleep with again, but that's it. And if it doesn't happen again, oh well, she'll be fine, because it was just sex. The more she thinks about it, the more she convinces herself she doesn't have feelings for him.