Secret Admirer

Rated K

A contribution for OQ week. Sorry it's late. I was out of town.

Valentines Day. Was it truly necessary to hold on to this stupid tradition now that they were back in the Enchanted Forest?

Snow, being who she was thought the tradition of Valentines Day was a wonderful idea and thought it should be a holiday they kept with them. After all what better holiday is there then the one that celebrates true love?

Regina scowled as she made her way through the hallway. They were having a ball tonight to celebrate and she would honestly rather be anywhere else. But she was expected…they were showing a united front now and she was doing her best.

She missed Henry so much and times like this made it so much more difficult. She'd never had a Valentine in her world but once she'd gotten Henry she hadn't needed one. Every year the two of them would plan their date. They would go to the playground and then out for pizza. He would always give her a homemade valentine that she treasured far more then anything that could have been purchased. She hadn't needed flowers or sweet words because she'd had her little boy and no one in the world could compare to the amount of joy he brought her.

She really didn't need this reminder that she no longer had the person who she loved more then anything in this world.

She pushed open the door to her room and stopped in her tracks when she saw the flower on her table. It was the third one left this week. She walked to her dressing table and picked it up. There was a note laying underneath it. That was a first. Up until now it had only been a flower. She opened the note and shook her head.

Milady,

I look forward to seeing you this evening, there is no doubt you will be the most beautiful woman at the ball. I do hope you will save a dance for me. I will be awaiting your arrival.

Regina rolled her eyes even as her heart fluttered a bit.

The thief. So he was the one behind all of this.

There was no doubt she found him intriguing and yes, also wildly attractive, though she would never admit that to anyone but herself. He'd been the one leaving her these little flowers.

Regina looked down at the pretty flower between her fingers. There was nothing special about it really. Just a little wild flower, that he'd likely picked from the garden. It was certainly nothing that a queen would typically expect, but then again that actually made it seem a bit more special. He'd picked a flower for her.

Regina shook herself. She was being ridiculous. She certainly wasn't one to gush about her feelings or to even get mushy about these types of things, but she couldn't lie and say she wasn't at least the slightest bit touched by the gesture.

She smiled a little as she laid the flower back on the table. Perhaps she would save him a dance after all.

XXXXXXXX

She walked into the ballroom and glanced around. She'd worn one of her favorite gowns. Red and black with the jeweled bodice. It also gave a nice view of her cleavage which she thought may be pleasantly distracting for the thief. She often found herself wearing some of her more revealing dresses for him. It never failed to amuse her the way his brain would seem to short circuit and he would stand speechless for several moments before regaining his composure. She wore her hair down this evening and it fell in soft curls down her back.

She caught his eye when she walked into the room. He was on the other side talking with one of his men and she smirked inwardly when he looked her up and down before once again meeting her eyes. He looked handsome…devilishly so and she was beginning to think this night wouldn't be such a waste after all. He smiled at her, a friendly smile then turned back to Little John to continue his conversation.

Regina let out a small huff of irritability. So much for him awaiting her arrival. She scowled a bit. She certainly wouldn't be saving a dance for him now.

"Milady." She heard a small voice come from beside her and glanced down to find little Roland all dressed up.

She smiled down at him and crouched down. "Well hello Sir Roland. You are looking quite dashing this evening."

He giggled and his dimples flashed. "You look pretty." He told her.

"Thank you." She grinned at him. "Is this your first ball?"

Roland nodded his head. "I'm happy you came." The boy smiled at her shyly then pulled a wildflower from behind his back and held it up to her.

Regina blinked at the flower. Did Robin put him up to this? "I hoped you liked the flowers I gave you." The little boy told her.

"That was you?" She asked a little surprised.

Roland nodded. "Snow said you are supposed to give flowers for Valentines Day" Regina took the flower he held out to her and smiled at him. "I hoped you would come and be my date, Gina."

Regina couldn't help the smile that took over her face. "The flowers were beautiful Roland, and it appears I am one lucky woman as my date is the most handsome in the room."

Roland smiled and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. "My date is the prettiest." He whispered in her ear and Regina laughed. He pulled back and looked at her. "Will you dance with me too?"

"I will absolutely dance with you." She told him.

He smiled at her and Regina couldn't help but place a kiss to his cheek when those irresistible dimples flashed at her again. She pulled back to look at him. "But how did you write the note you left me today?"

Roland grinned. "Papa helped me." He told her. "I told him to put Milady will be the prettiest here and I wanted to dance with you and I would wait for you."

Regina laughed. Apparently Robin had fancied up the wording a bit. "Did he know it was for me?"

Roland shook his head. "No I told him it was for my date."

"There you are my boy!" She heard Robin's voice come from behind her. Regina stood and took Roland's hand into her own. "Milady, you are looking quite stunning this evening." He smiled at her.

Despite herself Regina could feel herself blush at his intense gaze. She cleared her throat. "Thank you."

"Roland," Robin started. "You should probably allow The Queen to mingle a bit. It wouldn't really be fair to monopolize all her time."

"But Papa, Gina's my date." The boy told him

Robin's eyes widened a bit. "Regina is your date?"

Roland nodded and Regina grinned. "He's been sending me flowers all week, my own little secret admirer." Regina smiled back down at him.

Robin shook his head and laughed. "All this time my son was planning a date with The Queen."

Regina grinned and looked him up and down again. He really was the most handsome man at the ball…other then her own date of course. She gave him a teasing smile. "It would seem you missed your chance thief."

Robin's eyes went wide at the implication that she would have come with him had he asked but Regina was already turning back to Roland. "Sir Roland, I think it's time we find our seats, dinner will be starting soon." She smiled down at the little boy who grinned up at her. "How would you like to sit at the royal table tonight?"