Waiting

Regina couldn't be happier. She had the love of Henry, Roland, and her thief. She had a family that she would do anything for, and that was all she could ever ask for. But Regina Mills was confused. Her and Robin had been together for five years now, and Robin was still not showing any signs of marriage. Maybe he didn't want to go through that again after Marian. Maybe he thought that Regina didn't want another marriage because of Leopold. But one thing was for sure, Regina was dying to see a ring on her left hand.

Regina, Mary Margaret, and Emma were sitting in the Charmings' new house. Snow had invited them both over for a girls night, while their husbands (and Robin) were out on Hook's ship, relaxing for the first time in forever. Henry was on a date with Violet, so they didn't need to worry about him. Roland was at Tinkerbelle's, and the green fairy was more than happy to babysit.

Emma and Mary Margaret could tell something was bothering Regina, but they wouldn't force it out of her. Not yet anyways.

"Regina? Hello? Anyone home?" Emma asked, waving a hand over the former queen's face. Regina snapped out of her thoughts and blinked a few times. Then she remembered she was sitting in Snow's living room. Great.

"What? Sorry." Regina mumbled. Snow and Emma smiled knowingly. They were pretty sure Regina was thinking of her loving boyfriend. But that was the problem! Robin was only her boyfriend. Not her husband, or fiance.

"What's got you so up tight?" Snow asked and Regina sighed, swirling around the ice in her drink. She was not going to tell Snow White and her daughter about her boy problems.

"I bet it's that forest smelling boyfriend of hers." Emma smirked and Regina rolled her eyes. That stupid blonde couldn't be any more blunt, could she? Regina looked down and shook her head.

"Very funny, Miss Swan." Regina grumbled, taking a slow sip of her drink. Emma smiled, knowing she got to Regina.

"So, do I hear wedding bells in the future?" Snow asked optimistically, her smile growing as Regina's frown did too.

"I doubt it," Regina put her glass down on a coaster as mother and daughter looked very confused. Why wouldn't Robin and Regina be getting married soon? Wasn't Robin working all those extra hours at the station to pay for an engagement ring? Or…..

"Trouble in paradise?" Emma asked, not being sarcastic at all. This was serious and concerning. For once, Regina appreciated that.

"Since when has my life been paradise?" Regina asked, and Emma rolled her eyes. Regina smirked, knowing that Emma was about to lecture her. But luckily, Snow stepped in after that.

"Why don't you think Robin will propose?" Snow asked, her eyebrows furrowing in confusion. Regina shrugged and layed back in the chair she was sitting in.

"Robin and I are great the way we are. I don't need some big celebration to make that clear." Snow frowned, knowing Regina was lying. Both Emma and Snow knew Regina wanted this wedding.

"You want him to propose, don't you?" Snow asked, and Regina sighed. It was complicated, but of course she wanted the love of her life to give her the ring. It would mean everything to her. But what was stopping Robin?

"Why are we even talking about this?" Regina asked, trying not to answer a question that Robin should be asking her. Now Snow White.

"So you do." Emma pointed out and Regina smiled very smally.

"Guys, I appreciate…..whatever this is. But me and Robin have been together for five years now. Don't you think if he was going to propose he would have done it already?" Regina asked, and both women frowned. Regina wasn't wrong. She and Robin have been together for five years, their anniversary was just a couple of weeks ago, but Robin still showed no sign of marriage. And Regina was growing impatient.

"Robin loves you. I'm sure you'll be wearing a white dress in no time." Emma sighed hopefully, but Regina just shrugged her shoulders.

"It's not that simple, Emma. I'm not sure that Robin even wants to get married," Emma and Snow gasped, Snow immediately trying to think of a reason why Robin would not want to marry his girlfriend who he was absolutely smitten with.

"What do you mean?" Snow asked. Regina was now playing with the fringe of her shirt, and she looked down nervously.

"It's just, you know, because of Marian. Robin had to lose her twice. And then with Zelena….. He might not want to make a big commitment." Regina finished. For the first time, Regina finally admitted her fear. She thought that Robin didn't want to get married because of his experience with Marian.

"Regina, Robin loves you so much! How could you even think that?" Snow asked, and Regina looked back up. That was the problem though. Robin never told her he loves her. Not even once.

"Just a thought, Snow. Don't go giving me a huge hope speech." Regina rolled her eyes, but Snow and Emma wanted to know why Regina would even have doubts about Robin wanting to marry her.

"So you don't think wedding bells are in the future?" Emma asked reluctantly. Regina shook her head sadly.

"Nope." Regina took another sip of her drink. She knew she was being harsh, but she was being realistic too. Would Robin want to marry her after his past with marriage?

"I have to disagree with you, Regina. I believe Robin will propose, sooner than later," Snow, always the optimist. Regina wanted to roll her eyes, but she really did hope her step daughter was right.

"Thank you Snow, but I don't think that will happen," Regina sighed.

"What won't happen, Lovely?" Robin asked as he, Killian, and David walked through the door of the Charmings house. Regina looked up, hearing her boyfriend ask her a question. Well, no chance in hell she would answer him.

"Nothing. How was your night?" Regina asked as Robin came and stood next to her, leaning down to kiss her cheek. Regina saw out of the corner of her eye Emma and Snow smirking. Ugh.

"Good. Oh, Tink called. Apparently Roland is having a major sugar rush," Robin laughed and Regina rolled her eyes with a smile. It was just like Tink.

"Stupid fairy. I told her before I left not to feed him any sugar," Regina chuckled, imagining how Roland would be when she and Robin pick him up.

"So, how was your night, Ladies?" Robin asked Regina, Snow, and Emma.

All three shared looks on their faces, Regina glaring at them, daring them to even speak one word of their previous conversation. Emma and Snow were on the spot.

"You know, just the usual," Emma lied. Robin proposing to the former Evil Queen was not usual. But Regina appreciated it. Awkward conversation avoided.

"Is there even a 'usual' in Storybrooke?" Robin laughed along with the guys. Regina smiled.

For once, everything felt right. Robin was by her side, she had a wonderful, healthy family, no villains parading around town, for once, everything was normal. But once again, what was their normal? Another curse? Losing memories? Giong through time portals?

"Probably not," Snow commented. She studied Regina and Robin from where she was sitting. They seemed like the perfect couple. They were holding hands, even though Robin was still standing up, and Regina was leaning towards him. They both had the lovesick look on their faces, and she hoped Regina would hope for marriage. She needed hope, because she knew Robin loved her.

"What are you looking at?" Regina asked after Snow looked in their direction for a little too long. Snow shook her head, got out of her mind.

"Nothing," Snow lied quietly.

"Well, we should get going. Thank you for inviting us over," Regina stated as she got up from the couch, standing next to her loving boyfriend. Regina grabbed her coat as Robin helped her with it. Could they seriously be any cuter?

"No problem, Regina. We'll see you guys later," Robin nodded as he held open the door for his girlfriend.

"Milady?" Regina laughed and shook her head as she and Robin walked out of Snow and Charming's house.

As soon as the couple left, Snow sighed. David looked at her strangely, and so did Killian. But they didn't get it. They didn't have the same talk they had with Regina.

"We have a problem," Snow explained. David sat down next to his wife, Killian doing the same thing.

"What's wrong?" Killian asked, curious as to why Snow White would be worried over their new lives. Snow fidgeted with her shirt just before announcing the problem.

"Regina, she doesn't think Robin wants to marry her," Emma explained. David and Killain's eyebrows rose at the same exact time, wondering what the hell was going through the Queen's mind. Anywhere they were, Robin was always with Regina, caring for her and protecting her. Regina was the only thing Robin ever talked about to the guys, so why wouldn't he want to marry her?

"What?" Killian asked, dumbfounded. How was that even possible? Did he not just see the way those two were with each other? And after everything they have been through together? He was surprised that they didn't get married before he and Emma did.

"Exactly! Regina doesn't think Robin is going to propose because of Marian," Snow explained.

"What the hell does Marian have to do with any of this?" Charming asked. Why was something always in the way for those two? It was obvious Robin and Regina cared for each other, so why did something always come up?

"Regina thinks because Robin had to lose Marian multiple times, he doesn't want to try marriage again…." Emma explained softly. Killian nodded his head, understanding.

"Well, is Robin planning to pop the question anytime soon?" David asked. Everyone just looked around, no answer. If Robin was planning on it, he hadn't told anyone yet. But he was working extra hours at the station, so maybe?

"All I know is that Regina is hopeless, and Robin is working extra hours at the station. Regina said earlier that Robin hasn't been home a lot," Snow said.

Emma, Snow, David, and Killian could only hope for the best. They hoped Robin knew what he was doing.

…..

"You're awfully quiet this evening," Robin commented as Regina was curled up on Robin's side, laying on the couch, watching tv. Regina sighed. She should have known Robin would sense something was up.

Ever since her conversation with Snow and Emma earlier, she was in her head. Regina couldn't get the thought that Robin didn't want to marry her out of her head. I mean, were they just going to be like this forever?

Being together, a couple, until something else tears them apart? What happens if they break up? What happens if he does want to get married? Why was he working so much? Why hadn't they really talked in weeks? Why, when they were out in public, they were always putting on a show?

"What's wrong, Regina?" Robin asked, turning off the tv, all of his attention on his girlfriend who he was madly in love with. Regina sighed, buried her face deeper into Robin's shoulder, and hoped she would able to lie to her soulmate.

"Nothing,"

"I know you better than that, Love…. What's really bothering you?" Robin asked again. Regina moved away from Robin, giving both of them some space. Robin didn't understand. Is that what she wanted? Space?

"Really, Robin, I'm fine," Regina was getting annoyed. There was no way Regina was going to tell her boyfriend what was really going on. Everything would be even more complicated, and she didn't want that. At all.

"You're lying to me," Robin said, and Regina could hear the hurt in his voice. Regina looked down. She didn't want to hurt Robin, but she couldn't tell him the truth either. That was a conversation for another time.

"Can we just talk about it later?" Regina asked. Robin sighed. What was she hiding? What was Regina hiding that she couldn't possibly tell him….. Oh god. Oh my god. Was Regina…. Was Regina pregnant?!

"Regina, are you-"

"I'm home!" Henry called as he walked through the door. Immediately, he could tell they were talking about something important. Regina got up from the couch and walked over to hug her son.

"How was it?" Regina asked. Henry blushed, looked down, and smiled.

"Good. How was your night?"

"Good. Why don't you head upstairs? It's getting pretty late," Henry knew this was his mother telling him to go upstairs, so he nodded his head, kissed her on the cheek, and went up to his room.

Regina returned to Robin in the living room, but she didn't sit back down. She looked at Robin, and she knew he wanted to know what was on her mind. But it wasn't happening.

"Why don't you tell me the truth?" Robin asked, and Regina glared at Robin.

"Why don't you leave me alone!" Regina burst, walked up the stairs to her room, and slammed the door. What the hell? What did Robin do? All he wanted was to make her feel better, and then she bit his head off.

Robin followed his girlfriend up the stairs, and knocked silently on the door.

"Regina? Lovely, can you please open the door?" Robin asked. On the other side of the door, Regina sighed. Robin was an amazing guy, but what was the use of staying together if he wasn't planning a real future for them?

Regina knew for a fact that she wanted to marry Robin. He was her rock, her best friend, her lover, her soulmate. What if Robin didn't want to marry her? What would happen then?

Reluctantly, Regina opened the door slowly, but she didn't look at Robin. As soon as she turned the knob to let him in, she walked to their bed, getting ready for sleep.

She was taking off her jewelry, avoiding Robin, when she felt strong muscular arms surround her. Robin hugged her from behind, Regina's back pressed against his chest. Regina sighed and leaned into his touch. That had to mean something, right?

"Are you okay?" Robin asked. Regina took a deep breath. Was she?

"I don't know," Regina quietly whispered. Robin was still confused about everything that was going on, but he would always be there for Regina. Always.

"Would you like to tell me what's wrong?" Robin asked. Regina closed her eyes. If they were going to have this talk, it would be a long one. If they were going to dance around it like usual, they could just sleep on it. She didn't know what to do. For once.

"Can we talk about this in the morning?" Regina asked, hoping Robin would understand. If they were finally going to have that talk, it would be important. Something that would make up their future together. She didn't want it to be usual.

"Of course….. But Regina, you know you can tell me anything, Love," Robin kissed the top of Regina's head and moved away from his girlfriend.

Once their nightly routine was finished, the couple laid down in bed. Regina fell asleep immediately, but Robin stayed awake.

What was Regina hiding from him? What was so important that she couldn't talk to him about it? Why couldn't she trust him? If they really wanted to spend the rest of their lives together, wouldn't they need to tell each other everything?

Robin finally fell asleep after an hour of tossing and turning. What was he going to do? He knew he had to talk to his girlfriend, but were they ready for it? The conversation that would change both of their loves? Honestly, Robin didn't know.