Zelena was quite worried by now. It had been days since her "encounter" with Hook and still, the bloody pirate hadn't kissed Emma. She let out an angry shout and pushed anything that got in her way. When she heard a hovering, she turned around to see a flying monkey appear in the edge of the open window.
"Where are they?" she asked the beast angrily.
The monkey's yells told her they had been at the diner all day.
"And are you sure the brat and Regina are there too?" she asked again this time a wicked smile upon her face.
When the monkey nodded, her smile grew even wider. "Well, then I will have to pay a visit to them… tonight!" she said as she caressed the animal's jaw with the horrible smile still on her face.
.
.
.
.
Robin had finished his briefing with Snow, Charming and Hook by lunch time.
Regina and Roland had gone for a walk and returned to eat by then. He stood up from the table wanting nothing more but to go to them. The sight of his son so happy made his heart flatter from happiness. He had never seen him like this with a woman, so close, like a mother.
A mother, he thought. That was what Regina could present to him one day. He knew right from the beginning she wasn't just a woman to catch his attention. He felt this… connection. Like he knew her, even though he'd never met her before. But it was like he had recognized her soul. Like he knew her in another life and didn't need to know her face to understand who she was.
He liked the thought of that.
"Thank you, mate" he heard Charming say and a light hit in the back took him back to reality.
"Happy to help" he quickly responded with a smile. "I will be over there with my son" he added, pointing at Roland who was sitting in the corner table with Regina, playing some sort of game.
"We will be over there" Snow said, pointing at the table Emma and Henry were still sitting.
"Okay" Robin said and walked away from them.
Regina and Roland saw him approach after a few moments and stopped play the weird game.
"Papa! " Roland shouted joyfully.
"Hey. What are you two doing here?" he asked glancing at Regina.
"We were playing Monopoly!" Roland answered before Regina could. "Look, papa I'm winning!" he added showing him the paper dollars in his hands.
"Well, I'm not very good at this game…" Regina said although the smile in her face couldn't wear off from the great time she was having with the young child.
"Thank you, Regina, for taking care of him…" Robin started after he took a sit next to Roland.
"No, it was my pleasure" she quickly said, sending him a reassuring smile.
"So, would you stay for lunch as a thank you then?" he asked a cocky smile in his face.
"Yeah, Gina, stay for lunch!" Roland added with the cutest look anyone could ever make in his eyes.
"Gina?" Robin asked surprise in this features.
"He can't pronounce my whole name so he went for a nickname…" Regina explained awkwardly.
"I like it" he said and they both smiled at each other.
"So, what shall we have?" Regina said to break the silence that had formed for a few seconds.
.
.
.
.
After their lunch, Robin and Regina took a now sleepy Roland back to the camp and let him sleep. For the first time ever since the second curse was casted, Regina felt happy.
Normal.
She had the most wonderful morning in a long time and spending time with Robin was also a great pleasure. And although they had talked about a lot of things during lunch, there was one thing they hadn't mentioned. And with Roland asleep, she knew the moment had arrived. But then Robin suggested they took a stroll in the beach.
She rather liked that idea.
They had walked through the woods until the dirt of the ground was replaced by thin sand. They sat at a small bench and stood silent for a few moments, enjoying the view of the sea. The sound of the waves hitting the shore was almost melodic. Regina felt so peaceful here, next to Robin. It was that strange feeling of safety every time he was around her.
A feeling she didn't remember ever feeling.
"I think now" Robin said, turning to face her "is the moment we could talk about what that kiss was".
Regina didn't exactly know what to say to that because she really didn't know. She sure knew how she felt about him and she wanted this to be a second chance for her. But then, doubt would overwhelm her. All the pain she could feel again if anything happened to him or Roland. Because even after one day with the little boy, she had grew to care about him dearly. She felt so confused about it. There was a voice in her head that told her "It's your chance. You know how you feel. Go to him already" and then there was another voice that shouted "What are you doing? Haven't you learned your lesson yet? Villains don't get a happy ending. You will lose him, like you lost everyone else you've ever cared about".
"It's complicated, huh?" Robin said and interrupted her thoughts. His voice was low but calm, understanding.
All she could do was nod. She didn't know what else to say.
"I feel the same as you" he said. "But that doesn't mean we should give up right away" he continued with a small smile.
"I agree" she said returning him the smile.
"And I want to give it a shot, don't you?" he asked "and we'll figure it out in the process" he added.
"Yeah, I would like that" she replied with a bright smile.
"In that case" he started "I would like to do it properly" he said standing up. "How about diner? It could be a nice start" he continued, flirtation in his voice.
A date?
Dinner?
None of those things had ever even crossed Regina's mind before.
She never had the time, when she was in Storybrooke. And with Graham it just wasn't a real relationship.
And how the hell was she supposed to go to dinner when evil flying monkeys were loose around the town and a wicked half-sister was after her blood. Or her heart anyway.
It was just ridiculous. And pointless.
"That would be great" Regina replied, ignoring any negative thought.
She wanted this.
Why couldn't she just have something for herself for a few hours?
"But that means you're paying" she added a sly smile breaking through her almost serious face.
"Of course, Milady" he replied laughing, glad that she agreed to his proposition. "Well then, I shall see you tonight, let's say around eight at Granny's" he said.
"I'll see you then" she said, standing up and started walking away when she heard Robin say "Oh and I also wanted to thank you" he said a little hesitantly "for taking care of Roland even though you still feel the pain of loss of your son" he continued.
"So, you know about that…" she trailed off.
"You're really strong" he said.
Regina gave him a painful smile and walked in the direction of the town.
Still stunning, Robin though before he walked towards the forest.
.
.
.
.
Regina was nervous. How on earth did that happen?
It's just a date, she kept reminding herself. But then again, she had never gone on a date before. She was never in a proper relationship, to be honest. With Daniel, it was always in secret. In her time as Queen, she was so consumed by her vengeance; she was never interested in dating. And even here, in Storybrooke what she had with Graham was nowhere near that.
And before she could think anything else, there he was.
She looked down at the red elegant but simple dress she'd chosen to wear, checking if it looked nice on her.
She saw Robin stand by the door, waiting for her. And all the previous thoughts vanished. There was a man over there, waiting for her, wanting to have dinner with her. She couldn't run away now. It wasn't everyday something like that happened.
But she felt something twist and turn in her stomach. She felt like something wasn't right. Like, any minute now, something would happen. But she ignored the thought as she walked across the street and approached Robin. When he saw her, a smile formed in his features.
"Good evening" he said charmingly.
"Hello" she said, still a bit nervous.
"Come, let's go inside" he said taking her by her back and guiding her inside.
When they walked in, everyone turned to look at them surprised. Robin ignored them and took her to a table and pulled out the chair for her to sit and then took a sit across her. Regina couldn't help but notice the Charmings' shocked expression. She too chose to ignore them and opened the menu.
"You look lovely, Regina" Robin complimented her and before she could reply the door shut open and she realized the weird feeling in her stomach should not have been ignored.
"Good evening everyone" a woman's voice said loudly enough for everyone in the diner to hear and at the sight of the Wicked Witch, many started screaming at horror but couldn't run away as all the doors shut closed at her wave.
But that only brought more chaos in the eyes of the people inside.
"Mom, who is she?" Regina heard Henry's worried voice and stood up to protect him.
"Zelena, what are you doing here?" Regina asked angrily standing a few feet away from her green skinned sister with the ginger hair and a black long dress, matching her long pointy (bad taste) hat.
"Didn't anyone tell you I was coming?" Zelena said before sending her flying to a wall of the diner.