One day closer to Christmas! Yay!
She can't sleep.
She tries, she really does, but for some reason the entire ordeal she's been through tonight doesn't wipe her out like she thought it would, rather has her tossing and turning, tangling and untangling the covers around her legs, her hair sprawled inelegantly on the pillow as she tries -and fails- to find the rest she knows she needs. And it's all because of him.
She's intrigued by Robin Locksley, surprised by how wrong she seems to have been about him. True, he's most likely still a brat, but she never would've expected someone like him to be as kind as he is, to offer safe haven to a complete stranger simply because he'd found her lost out in the cold. Yet here she is, enjoying the comforts of his home, warm and cozy in the guest room he's given her for the night, and Regina finds herself oddly drawn to him despite her own judgment.
That intrigue is what's keeping her from getting any proper sleep tonight, it seems, so she leaves her comfy bed and exits the room, thinking she might just explore the house, pour herself a glass of water and watch the fireplace for a while.
To her surprise, the very man she's trying to stop thinking about is sitting on the couch when she reaches the living room, scribbling furiously on a notebook he has propped up on the leg he's crossed over his knee. He doesn't notice her, too engrossed in his writing, and Regina instantly tries to back away and leave before she can embarrass herself any further, but it's like the cosmos has it out for her tonight, and the moment she steps back, the floor creaks under the wooly socks he let her borrow, and Robin's head snaps up, smiling when he catches sight of her.
"Having trouble sleeping?" he asks matter-of-factly.
"You could say that," she answers, adding a timid, "I'm sorry, if I'd known you'd be out here I wouldn't have left the room, didn't mean to interrupt."
"That's quite alright," he says, ever courteous, and Regina can only nod, rubbing at her arms to warm up as she looks around the cabin.
"This is a really nice place," she starts, trying to make conversation.
"I'll make sure to pass on the compliment to Marco," he replies, putting his writing materials away.
"Marco?"
"Our groundskeeper," he explains. "We own a few acres in the area, and we have a house just a couple miles east, Marco helps us take care of everything. He's actually the one who lives in this cabin. In fact, had you gotten lost on the road three days ago, he would've been the one to rescue you, but he lets me have this place when I need some time to myself, so it was I who found you."
Oh.
Well, that makes sense, she supposes. And she should've realized this all before, of course, because there's no way a member of the Locksley family would live in a little cabin in the woods.
"And instead of the solitude you were seeking, you had to deal with me," she deduces, feeling guilty, "I'm sorry for intruding on your alone time," she tries to add, but she's not even mid sentence before Robin is shaking his head at her, waving off her apology.
"Don't be, you've actually been quite an interesting addition," he chuckles, "but you really should try and get some sleep. Can't imagine it's been an easy day for you."
"You're right about that," she says coyly, still standing in the middle of the room.
"How about some tea?" he offers, and she nods, tells him thanks, and then watches him get up and make his way to the small kitchen, putting a kettle on and rummaging the cupboard for the bags.
Regina takes this time to properly look around, now that she's sure he doesn't mind. There are pictures on the mantle, one of Shirley Lucas and her late sister at some function or other, one of an elderly man Regina assumes is Marco with Senator Locksley and his wife at their wedding, and the rest is all pictures of Robin and his brother from childhood to adulthood, seemingly organized in chronological order from youngest to oldest, their features changing before her very eyes as she shifts her gaze from one to the other, grabbing one or two to bring forward for a closer look.
"Marco's been with us since grandpa Locksley purchased this estate," she hears Robin's voice say from behind her, and she turns to find him standing there with two cups of tea in his hands. She ventures closer, taking her cup from his hand and sipping the hot liquid while he continues to explain. "He watched my parents fall in love, was the best man at their wedding, watched us grow up... He's practically family."
"Sounds nice," she tells him with a genuine smile, and then frowns when she catches the way he's looking at her.
"What is it?" she asks.
"Nothing, it's just... you really do look beautiful in flannel," he answers, and she can tell the compliment is real, not a rehearsed thing or a way to be polite, he really does mean it. Regina feels herself blush at the realization, but laughs off his comment and sips more tea, remaining quiet for a bit. They're sitting sideways on either end of the couch now, facing each other and resting one arm over the back of it, legs warm under the fluffy throws strewn over the plaid upholstery.
"What do you do here in your precious alone time?" she prods, tucking her knees more tightly under her.
"Just... relax," he responds, chancing a look at the notebook and pen he's left by the coffee table. He doesn't seem to want to elaborate, and Regina doesn't push, she knows better than anyone how upsetting that is, having lived through her mother's many inquisitions about how she spent her day when she wasn't around to spy on her every move.
He interrupts the horrible memories flashing by with a question that has her almost hyperventilating.
"So, are you going to tell me what brought you here?"
She can't tell him the truth, she knows that, but she has to tell him something, especially after he's been so open and caring, he deserves an explanation, however unreal it might be.
"I just... realized I couldn't marry him, so I ran," she lies, keeping her story as vague as possible, and to her surprise, Robin looks concerned, like he actually cares for her well-being.
"I'm sorry things between you and..." he stops, looks at her expectantly.
"Graham," she supplies the name of her most recent ex boyfriend (if you can call breaking up over a year ago 'recent'), and Robin repeats the name, finishing his sentiment.
"...Graham, I hope you'll find better happiness someday."
She would laugh at that if it didn't sound so sincere, and there's a twinge of guilt that stirs inside her at the fact that he's being unbelievably nice and understanding, trying to make her feel better about something that is nothing more than a bold-faced lie.
"I highly doubt that," she says with a humorless chuckle, and that at least, is not a lie. She's had relationships, obviously, and quite a few of them at that, but she's never been in love, and considering the amount of filth she sees going back and forth between couples every day when she researches her stories, it's unlikely she'll ever allow herself to fall for anyone. "I don't think I'll ever find someone who is right for me."
"And what would the right person be for you?" he seems interested in hearing her take on it, and she doesn't see why she should lie about such a trivial thing, so she tells him the truth on that as well.
"Someone smart, someone who believes in the importance of equal partnership in a relationship, who accepts my flaws, who balances me, who is patient with me... but also someone fun, someone I can laugh with, you know? Watch movies, eat cookie dough just because we feel like it, someone who's not afraid to talk to me about their lives and what they feel."
He nods, smiles and sips his tea as he looks and looks at her. Regina feels a bit scrutinized by the intensity of his gaze, decides to throw the same question back at him to distract him.
"What about you, what do you think the perfect woman should be like?"
"Well, all those things you described make a good list. But I'd also want someone who likes romance, someone who wants to enjoy life as much as I do, who won't be bashful when I kiss her under the mistletoe at Christmas, someone who can teach me how to cook or bake things, who doesn't care where I come from or who my family is, but wants me for me. I actually thought I'd found all that with the last woman I dated... Zelena... but as it turns out she was more interested in the perks of being a Locksley than in me."
That's... not what her sources had told her. She needs to know more about this if she wants her story to have that extra kick.
"That can't have been pleasant," she offers, and Robin shrugs.
"Over time I started noticing how it was only when I was with her that the paparazzi even bothered to accost me, and my picture wasn't splattered on every tabloid unless Zelena was in it as well. The more public our relationship got, the more scandalous my reputation became..."
It's true, she realizes, the more his relationship with Zelena Greene evolved in the public eye, the more cheating accusations and marriage rumors seemed to flare.
"One day I realized it was Zelena who was tipping off the media, just so she could cultivate some sort of fame. I broke it off after that. It stung, but I didn't love her, and I think deep down that's why I didn't, because somehow I knew she wasn't who she appeared to be."
"I'm sorry," she says, and she means it, too, but the sentiment has her hand darting out to rest on his forearm and squeeze lightly, showing him her support and understanding, which would be all well and good, except she did not make the decision to touch him. It seems her body is acting of its own accord, and as much as she doesn't want to enjoy it, she can't help but admit that she really does like this comfort they've found in each other after mere hours of meeting for the first time.
They stay silent for a while, and drowsiness hits, thanks to the cozy fire and fluffy blankets covering their legs, making them yawn and groan tiredly, and then they grin when they realize they've done it at the same time.
"Time for bed, I think, your majesty," Robin tells her as he tries to stifle another yawn, and Regina nods her agreement, wishing him a good night once more and heading back to the guest room with a small smile on her face. Sleep comes easily after that.
It's late when she gets up Thursday morning. She'd forgotten to set her alarm, but when she hurriedly makes her way out of the room, she finds Robin in the kitchen, overcooking bacon and cursing it when he burns his hand in an effort to remove the charred strips from the pan.
"Everything alright, thief?" she asks from behind him, and he turns to her, embarrassed that he's been caught, smiles sheepishly in her direction.
"I called in the best auto repair shop in the area, but they had a lot of stranded cars from the storm to pick up so it took them a while to get here. They've only just left with your car, so I wanted to make us breakfast, since it seems you're stuck with me for the rest of the day," he confesses, "but I'm afraid my cooking skills aren't the best."
"Thank you for helping with the car," she says, "as for breakfast, It's because you're setting the flame too high. Here," she extends her hand to take the apron from him as he removes it, "I'll teach you."
But they don't get the chance to extend their cooking adventures any further, because no sooner has she wrapped the apron around her waist when the doorbell rings and Robin tenses up, walks slowly to the door and opens it in a way that has her thinking he might be dreading disrupting this little bubble of domestic fun they've created. She trails behind him, peering curiously over his shoulder to see who is on the other side.
"Marco," Robin greets cheerfully, if a little forced, and the older man Regina had seen in one of the pictures on the mantle walks inside to find her there, wearing Robin's pajama pants and flannel shirt, her hair tied in a messy bun and burnt bacon still in the pan she's holding.
"Oh! I didn't know you had company over, my boy... Good morning," he says in a faint Italian accent, turning to her to add, "you must forgive him, his manners have always been terrible."
He offers a hand to her, and she shakes it with a nervous smile, giving her name and fake last name to the man and then watching him as he frowns when his eyes land on their ruined breakfast.
"Robin, if you want to impress a woman, you might want to try showing her something you're actually good at," he chastises, much to the other man's annoyance, and Regina can only chuckle.
"Very funny," Robin replies.
"Who said I was joking?" Marco replies, throwing a wink in Regina's direction. "In any case, you'll be glad to hear brunch is being served at the main house in anticipation of your brother's arrival, Shirley is expecting you there, and if you don't mind, I'd like to have my house back, please?"
"Why is she expecting me? I told her I was taking a few days off."
"Yes, well, Walsh said on the phone he has a surprise for us all. Considering the last time he said such a thing, he was eleven and bringing home a rat he'd found in his friend's attic, I doubt your aunt is handling the possibility of news from him all that well. She wants you there for support… or as muscle in case some sort of intervention is needed and you have to wrestle him to the ground," Marco adds as an afterthought.
Robin sighs, turns to her with an apologetic smile and asks if she'd be alright with having breakfast at the house instead. Regina is nervous, feels like she's intruding, but she's sure this is it, certain that what Walsh Locksley is going to announce today is the engagement story she was sent to find.
"It beats charcoal bacon," Marco adds with a wink, and Regina grins pleasantly, nods her head, and then asks if she may take a couple of minutes to make a call.
Robin leads her to the living room where the landline is, and then both men leave her to it, waiting outside for her to be ready. Regina dials the number quickly, only has to wait for one ring before her assistant picks up.
"You've reached the office of Regina Mills, this is Ruby speaking. How may I help you?"
"It's me," she says in a low voice, and the younger woman breathes a sigh of relief and then instantly starts snapping at her for leaving without warning.
"Look I just had to get here a little early, okay? Sidney was already on his way and I can't let him win this."
"Doesn't mean you had to hijack the boss's car to go upstate a day early without telling me!"
"Ruby, you do know there's a big pay raise for you if I get that promotion, right?"
"Yes, I know, and I'm counting on that for extra Christmas shopping."
"Okay, then stop complaining and listen!" Regina whisper-shouts back. She then proceeds to tell her the whole story of her snowy escapade, the car trouble, the blizzard, the handsome stranger rescuing her... She leaves out the part where she's starting to feel ridiculously attracted to the man, though, it won't do well to confess something like that, she has a job to do.
Ruby seems to think otherwise.
"So what's he like?!" she asks excitedly.
"He's... not what I expected, actually," Regina admits, "he's not like the people we usually write about, y'know? He's... sweet. Kind. Way more handsome in real life than in pictures."
"Ugh this is so romantic!" Ruby responds, elongating the pronunciation of the word, and Regina rolls her eyes.
"This is not about romance, Ms. Redhood, this is work. He trusts me, he's invited me for brunch with his family. Apparently his brother has some news for them. Pretty sure that's our article."
"Should I let the boss know?"
"Not yet, I have to make sure I have everything, can't blab to Mal and then not have the story."
"You're right. So what do you need from me?"
"Cover for me? Tell Mary Margaret I had to leave early but that everything's fine, I have her dress and will hand deliver it to her door when I get back two days before the wedding, she has nothing to worry about."
"Alright, and what about Mal?"
"Tell her I'm on an undercover mission and will get back to her when I have something to dish."
"You got it, boss."
"Thanks. I'll keep you updated and let you know if I need anything else."
"No problem. Oh, and Regina?"
"Yes?"
"Just because it's work doesn't mean you can't have fun."
"Are you implying I should sleep with Robin Locksley?"
"I meant more along the lines of 'enjoy the season in one of the most beautiful places in the state of New York and bring me back a souvenir,' but I like your idea better," Ruby says with a laugh before hanging up.
Regina shakes her head with a smirk, and then Robin comes back inside.
"Everything alright?" he asks with interest.
"Yeah, just letting my friend know I'm okay and will be back as soon as the car's fixed."
"Ah, then I guess I'll have to bribe the men in the auto shop to take a few extra days. I'm not ready to let you go just yet."
The casual way he says it, with that genuine smile that crinkles the corners of his eyes and shows the dimples in his cheeks, makes a liquid heat travel through her, warming her and flushing her cheeks with color as she looks down coyly, tucks a strand of hair that's fallen off her ponytail behind her ear.
"I should get dressed," she says in an attempt to change the subject, and Robin gives her an amused look. "What?"
"It seems you've forgotten what you were wearing when I saved you, your majesty."
Oh. Right. Mary Margaret's dress. The dress that is torn to shreds thanks to Regina's little trek in the snowy woods. She stares at it now, hanging near the coat closet, the fabric ripped and muddy all over. She is so dead.
"You can go into town with my aunt later today and get some new things to wear," Robin's voice says, interrupting her near panic attack. "Unless you'd rather stay in my clothes all day. Can't say I'd object."
He winks at her then, and that's the second time he's flirted with her, those little butterflies stirring in her stomach before she can stop them.
He opens the door for her and they leave the cabin together, Marco having already departed, and they both begin walking towards the gigantic house not two miles up the road. She hadn't noticed it the night before, blocked from view as it was by the massive snowfall, but now that she sees it, Regina is mesmerized by it.
The outer edges of the structure are made of large, flat stones, with high and low peak ceilings that rise two, maybe three stories high, the slate tile roof is covered in snow quite heavily on the ends of its diagonal slopes, making it look like the perfect winter home. A wrought iron fence frames the yard and driveway, lined every few feet with stone pillars topped with lantern lamps that compliment the classic style of the residence, and Regina can easily imagine a much younger Robin running around it and having snowball fights with his brother. There are large windows to let in the natural light, and more lantern lamps on the walls, three wooden garage doors under the grand white fence balcony that is decorated in a beautiful Christmas garland with red bows. The front has wooden double doors set with frosted, leaded patterned glass, demure but elegant, just like the rest of the mansion.
She means to say something, to remark on the beauty of the place to her host, but he's walked ahead while she was staring, so she hurries to keep up instead, reaching him just as he's opening the door.
"Aunt Shirley?" he calls, "Marco?"
Nothing.
It's like the house has been abandoned, not a single noise alerting them to anyone else's presence but their own, which makes no sense considering they just saw Marco coming in not five minutes ago.
"Wait here," Robin tells her kindly, "I'll be right back."
Regina nods, watches him disappear down the hall and then walks slowly around the foyer while she waits, staring at the portraits and family photos lining the small tables, ghosting fingers over the few knick-knacks that rest next to the ornate picture frames.
"Who are you and what do you want?" a voice says from behind her, and Regina turns with a hand clutched to her chest in fright, gasping when she finds none other than Shirley Lucas staring right at her.
"This isn't what it looks like," she starts, nervously running a hand through her hair and stumbling over her words, trying to explain who she is before she's kicked out of the house.
"There you are!" Robin suddenly exclaims, walking hurriedly to them and giving his aunt a quick kiss on the cheek as he wishes her good morning, Marco trailing right behind him and all three momentarily forgetting that she's there, until Robin catches sight of her standing hesitantly to the side and moves toward her, turning to introduce her to the matriarch of the Locksley family, but then a car horn is heard from outside, and Marco cheerily announces that must be Walsh. He leaves them there to attend to the new arrivals, and Mrs. Lucas is too busy bouncing and excitedly awaiting her other nephew to care about Regina right now.
When Marco comes back in, however, his face looks a tad somber.
"Walsh is here," he confirms, looking to Robin as he adds, "and he's brought a guest... a female guest."
Robin and his aunt stare at each other, dumbfounded, it seems, by the fact that the youngest Locksley has brought a girl home. Regina, on the other hand, is trying very hard not to squeal, because this is it, she's got the story, she has front row seats to watch the engagement announcement and Sidney can't do anything about it. She's got this in the bag.
Or so she thought.
When Walsh Locksley comes in, there's a collective gasp from everyone in the room except for Marco, though his dejected attitude from just seconds ago makes complete sense now.
Walsh is indeed accompanied by a woman, but that's not what shocks them. No, what punches the breath right out of them is the fact that the woman he's brought along is none other than Zelena Greene.
Regina's eyes almost bug out of her face when she recognizes the young British socialite, she cannot believe this. Not only is Walsh Locksley planning to propose this weekend, he's proposing to his brother's ex!
"Hello, Robin," the woman greets, and it startles Regina how that British accent can sound so charming on him, yet so annoying on her, "it's been a while."
"I know it's a little awkward," Walsh states, speaking up for the first time, "but I love her, and you're my big brother, so I'm hoping you can find it in you to be okay with this?"
Robin doesn't speak.
Tension fills the room, Walsh and his brother exchanging hard stares while Mrs. Lucas simply looks around the foyer, avoiding her nephews, at a loss as to how to react to the situation at hand.
That's when she seems to remember Regina's existence.
"Again, who are you and what are you still doing here?"
Robin sobers up at that, moves to Regina's side to acquaint them and explain.
"This is Regina, aunt Shirley, she's... well, she's... " he hesitates, not sure what to say (he doesn't really know her, after all), and Regina can see that he's trying to find a way to introduce her other than This is Regina, I found her out in the snow wearing a wedding dress and she crashed at the cabin with me last night, and he's still so thrown by Walsh being there with his ex that he can't seem to settle for a good lie, so Regina finds herself taking over the introductions, reacting before she even thinks of the implications of what she's doing.
"I'm Robin's date for the weekend," she says with a pleasant smile, offering a hand to Mrs. Lucas, and where the hell did that come from? That need to save him from this very uncomfortable moment? But then, what's done is done, and when she thinks about it, this could work in her favor. Yes, this is good, she'll convince him to keep up the ruse, that way she gets to help him ride off what has turned into an incredibly awkward weekend and get her story, because being his date surely means unlimited access to all the Locksley events, right? She'll be able to experience everything first-hand and write a more detailed account to send back to Mal.
"Oh! You should've said that before! I'm sorry I was rude, dear, we've had a few media lunatics show up from time to time, one can never be too careful," Mrs. Lucas says, beaming at her and Robin, who is still too shocked by Regina's words to chime in.
"It's fine, really," she insists, still shaking the older woman's hand and smiling.
The awkwardness of the moment is broken somewhat, and Walsh and Zelena exchange formal greetings with Mrs. Lucas before they all head on to the dining room, leaving Regina and Robin behind, after his aunt insists that he take a couple minutes before they join them.
"So I take it from the shady looks and awkward silences that little miss English sunshine over there is the ex you were telling me about?" she tries to break the ice, and only then does Robin acknowledge her.
"What were you thinking?!" he whisper-shouts at her when they're alone.
"You were floundering, I just wanted to help," Regina whispers back.
"By telling my family that you're my girlfriend when we barely know each other?!"
"Okay, so there's a minor setback, but that's okay! We can figure it out."
"Wait, what? Tell me you're not actually considering this?!" his eyes are wide, blue and shocked as they stare at hers, and Regina smiles reassuringly. He's cute when he's agitated.
"Look, your brother just brought your ex into your home for the weekend without telling you first, this is bound to be horrible for you. I can help you, we'll pretend we're totally in love and that everything is perfect and that you're completely and totally over her-"
"I am," he says, cutting her off.
"I know that, but this is still going to be extremely uncomfortable. This way, at least you can show her that she can't affect you, that you're happy without her, and it'll make everything less awkward with your brother if he thinks you have someone."
Robin sighs then, and Regina takes the lack of protest as a good sign, lays it on thick to seal the deal.
"Robin," she says, moving closer to him, not daring to admit to herself how affected she is by his proximity. God, he really is attractive. "You're a good person," she continues, "you deserve better than to spend a weekend watching your brother play house with the woman who made you miserable. Let me do this for you."
It's as she says that, that Regina realizes how much she means it, how much she really does want to do this, for him more than for the story. He smiles tenderly at her, breathes an affirmative, and then a heartfelt Thank you that makes her heart stir.
They have a bit of fun coming up with their story. They agree to tell everyone they met in the city, got into an argument because he took her parking spot, and his way of apologizing was to ask her out to dinner. They start ticking off the basics, exchange names of their schools (Regina already knows his, but she rolls her eyes nonetheless, adding a smile and an off-handed "of course" when he mentions Yale), tell each other about their best friends, favorite movies and television shows, music that they love and hate (he tells her he adores The Beatles, which makes Regina roll her eyes again, and then when she confesses to being a huge Adele fan, it's Robin who scowls at her musical taste).
When they reach the topic of favorite sports and teams, they discover that they both like baseball, so they agree to tell the family that they've been to a few Yankees games together, and Robin then suggests they pick a restaurant they've "been to on a date or two," in case they're asked. Regina mentions the name of a Mexican place in Midtown that she really likes, and Robin instantly compliments her choice, admits he's been there a few times himself, and they rave about the food and margaritas for a few seconds before they laugh and decide they have enough to fool the others for now, but there's one more thing they have to do, and she knows it, though it seems Robin is completely oblivious to it. Before he starts walking to the dining room, Regina grabs his arm and yanks him closer, planting her lips on his firmly.
It shocks her, the fire that lights up inside her at the gesture, and she can feel a blush rise to her cheeks as she keeps the contact going. He's too shocked to react at first, but responds after a few seconds, kisses her back gently, slowly, his lips so soft and hesitant she can't help the tiny smile that spreads on hers before she deepens the exchange, closing her mouth around his bottom lip and sucking lightly, loving the feel of his body as it presses against hers, and then he hovers when they part, breathes heavily in the space between them, brushes the tip of his nose against hers before they fully let go of each other.
"What was that for?" he asks stupidly, and Regina grins smugly, teeth sinking into her bottom lip as she looks up at him from under her eyelashes.
"Building familiarity," she tells him. "Fake dating at Christmas means we'll find ourselves under a mistletoe at some point, and if that were our first kiss, people would know," she tells him nonchalantly, shrugging and patting him on the back before she sashays past him and walks to the dining room, loving the dazed look he gives her before he joins her.
This is going to be a piece of cake.
Hello, promotion.
