Thank you to willow1411 for the prompt: hello ok so about some Hotel verse let's try with this one : the first time robin come to dinner to regina's mansion (your choice if the boys are here or not). Don't want a smutty one but lot of fluff please thank you
Regina parked her car in the Storybrooke Academy parking lot and joined the parents streaming inside for the annual recital. Each class would perform something together and Henry had locked himself in his room every night for several weeks, practicing by himself so she would be surprised when the time came.
She had found it absolutely adorable.
School staff directed the parents into the auditorium, reminding them to not save too many seats if possible. There were parents craning necks to spot other relatives and Regina felt a pang that it was just her there for Henry. He deserved to have a whole crowd cheering for him, she thought as she tried to find a seat.
"Regina! Regina, over here!" a familiar accented voice called out. She followed the sound toward the front where Bobby stood, waving his arm at her. He wasn't in his usual flannel shirt and jeans, this time in a nice white button down shirt and gray slacks. Regina took a moment to admire how nicely he cleaned up.
After waving back, she weaved through the crowd until she was standing next to him. Bobby smiled at her. "I asked if you had a reserved seat and when I found out they didn't bother to save a seat for the mayor, I took it upon myself to do so."
"Thank you," she said, a warm tingle low in her core.
They took their seats and he leaned closer, sending butterflies soaring through her stomach. "Have you heard the song they're singing? Roland has been practicing nonstop. I'm almost sick of it."
"Henry's refused to let me hear it," she told him.
"Lucky you," he huffed.
She chuckled before eyeing him. "Is it really that bad?"
"I think the teacher wrote it. You would think a kindergarten teacher would be better at rhyming," he said.
"Oh no." She shuddered. "Hopefully it's quick."
Bobby nodded before lowering his voice. "I've missed you at the hotel. It's lonely."
Regina's cheeks heated up but she ignored it, hoping he didn't notice. "Of course you do. Henry and I were your only guests."
"You know it's more than that, Regina." He leaned closer, letting his oaky scent wash over her. "I've really missed spending time with you."
"I've missed spending time with you too." She glanced up into his eyes, not caring how intimate they looked while surrounded by the parents of Storybrooke. Her heart skipped a beat.
He smiled. "Then why don't we do something after this? You, me, Roland and Henry. A nice group outing?"
"That sounds wonderful, but I have plans with Henry after this. I'm sorry." And she found she really was. But she had promised Henry that she would take the rest of the day off to spend with just him.
As disappointment filled Bobby's eyes, an idea struck her. "But why don't you and Roland come over this Saturday? We can spend the day together and I'll finally get to cook you dinner at my house."
Bobby's eyes lit up as he smiled. "That sounds wonderful. We'll see you Saturday then."
She nodded, turning her attention to the stage as the principal stepped up to the microphone to begin the recital. The older woman greeted the parents and praised the students for an amazing school year. She then introduced the kindergarten class and Regina craned her neck, searching for Henry.
He traipsed in after Roland, both dressed in white button down shirts and black pants like the teacher had instructed. Regina had put a red tie on Henry while Roland was sporting a green one. Together, they looked more ready for a Christmas pageant rather than the end of the year recital. Both caught sight of their parents and waved, just as their classmates were waving at their moms and dads. Regina and Bobby were able to wave back before the teacher ushered them into their spots and told them to stop waving in a loud whisper.
Once everyone was in their place and as still as kindergarteners could be, the young woman nodded at the principal, who now sat at the piano. Music started as the children sang a song that didn't have much of a rhyme scheme and did hand motions along with the words.
Regina tried her best not to grimace at it and kept a smile plastered to her face. She was suddenly very glad that Henry hadn't wanted her to hear or see anything before this day. Beside her, Bobby leaned closer. "Don't worry. It's almost over."
"Good."
"At least the kindergarten part," he clarified. "Then we have to sit through the other classes' performances."
The song ended and everyone applauded as the class tried to bow at the same time. They proceeded to leave the stage as the first grade class took their places. As the recital continued, her mind was already wandering to Saturday, to the day she would spend with Bobby and Roland and to the meal she would make for them. The giddiness she felt over it was something she hadn't experienced in years and she loved it.
The week seemed to go very slowly after that but it soon was Saturday. Henry was bouncing off the walls, waiting for Roland and Bobby to come over. "Why's the clock going so slow?" he asked in a whine.
Regina wondered the same thing.
At long last, they heard the sound of a truck pulling up their driveway. Henry beamed, jumping up from the couch. "They're here! Can I answer the door?"
"You can answer the door with me," Regina said, taking his hand. They approached the front door just as the doorbell chimed. She took a deep breath before opening it.
A small blur sped past her, glomping onto Henry. Bobby stepped in, frowning. "Roland, first you say hi to Ms. Regina."
"Oh, sorry." Roland released Henry before standing in front of Regina, smiling up at her. "Hello, Ms. Regina. Thank you for inviting me to play."
"You're very welcome," she said, kneeling down to bop his nose gently with her finger. He was dressed in a green t-shirt and brown shorts.
Henry then took his hand. "Come on, Roland. I'll show you my room."
"Cool!" Roland exclaimed, running up the stairs with him. She then heard a faint: "Your house is SO big!"
As she chuckled, Bobby helped her up before pulling her into a hug. "I've missed you," he whispered.
"I've missed you too," she whispered back, taking in his now familiar woodsy scent. It was strange yet fitting how fast he had entrenched himself in her life in only a few short weeks.
They broke apart, grinning at each other. Regina studied him, taking in the blue polo that brought out his eyes more and his khakis. He looked good.
She motioned to her house. "Would you like a tour?"
He glanced up at her place and shrugged. "If you want."
"Come on," she said, taking his hand. He laced their fingers together and she enjoyed his warmth as she led him upstairs.
They peeked in on the boys in Henry's room, watching as they played with his action figures. Some of his comic books littered the floor and Regina raised an eyebrow. "Everything better be put away later," she warned her son.
"We will, Ms. Regina," Roland assured her, smiling at her. It warmed her heart in a way only Henry had previously.
She nodded, leading Bobby down the hall. "I have way too many rooms for just me and Henry," she admitted.
"If I could afford a house like this, I think I'd sleep in a different room each night of the week," he said, chuckling.
Guilt filled her as she realized it appeared she was showing off her wealth to man who lived in a hotel and barely scraped enough together for himself and his son. She stopped outside her bedroom door. "I'm sorry. We don't have to keep doing this. I was just being polite but…"
He raised an eyebrow. "You think I'm feeling bad or jealous because I don't have this? I'm not, Regina. You have a lovely home that matches you—regal and beautiful."
"Oh," she replied, cheeks heating up. "Well, there really isn't much else to show you except the kitchen and living room. But I'm sure you'll see a lot of them later."
"So what are we doing today, Madam Mayor?" he asked her as they headed back downstairs.
She shrugged. " I have a pretty big backyard. I thought we could let the boys run around back there."
He grinned as they reached the landing. "Sounds perfect. Actually, I have some Nerf bows and arrows in my truck. I could start teaching the boys how to shoot."
"Archery? Really?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Why not? I promise you they'll be safe," he said, holding up his right index and middle fingers in the scout salute.
"No pointy ends?"
He shook his head. "Just foam that sticks to the small target I also have."
"Alright," she relented. "I'm sure they'll love it."
Bobby grinned. "Great. I'll go out to my trunk now. Do you have a way straight to your backyard?"
Regina nodded. "It's right by the driveway. I'll open the gate for you."
As he left, she headed back up to her son's room. Henry was showing Roland his newest handheld game and Roland's eyes were wide as he took it in. She felt a pang, knowing Bobby wouldn't be able to afford something like that for his son and wondered what they must feel being in her mansion.
She pushed it aside, though, and clapped her hands with a smile. "It's such a lovely day so we're going to spend it outside. Come on."
They cheered, taking each of her hands and letting her lead them to the backyard. She sat them in the chairs she had out there. "You two wait right here while I open the gate for your father, Roland."
"Why?" he asked, curious.
"He's bringing in a surprise for you and Henry," she replied, winking at the boys.
Their cheering followed her as she went to open the gate for Bobby. He was still grinning, though now his arms were full of archery equipment. "Did you tell the boys?" he asked.
"Only that you have a surprise." She glanced at everything in his arms. "Do you need any help?"
He shook his head. "It's pretty light. Can you try to distract them while I set up?"
"I'll try," she replied, "but it's a Herculean task."
"I believe in you." He winked at her before heading toward a section of her yard a good distance from her house.
Warmth spread through her and she knew she had a silly grin on her face as she returned to their boys. It distracted them enough from Bobby and Henry tilted his head. "Why are you smiling like that Mom?"
"I'm just really happy," she replied.
Roland tilted his head now. "You smile like my Papa does when he talks about you."
That surprised yet thrilled her. "He does?"
As Roland nodded, Henry bounced in his seat. "Are you smiling like that because of Mr. Bobby?"
"I am," she replied before kneeling in front of the two boys. "And because we're all together for an amazing afternoon."
They leaned forward, each throwing their arms around her neck and holding on tight. She squeezed them, rubbing their backs as she relished the feeling of the two boys in her arms.
"I can I get in on this hug too?" Bobby asked, coming up behind her.
The boys pulled back, laughing, and nodded. Regina watched as he knelt next to her and wrapped on arm around her and another around his son. She kept a good hold on Henry and slid her free arm behind Bobby. They shared a group hug and she closed her eyes, imagining this as her daily reality.
After a few moments, though, Bobby released them and grinned at the boys. "So, how would you two like to learn how to shoot a bow and arrow?"
Henry and Roland looked at each other, mouths falling open and eyes widening before they cheered. They followed Bobby to where he had set up some small targets as Regina watched with a smile on her face. She decided to go inside to get some lemonade for them all, knowing she could trust Bobby with Henry. Especially as he was right-there were no pointy ends involved. It looked like the arrows stuck to the target, probably with Velcro.
Even if something were to happen, she knew Bobby was more than capable of tending to either boy. So secure with that information, she stepped into her kitchen and started to prepare their snacks.
Regina set the tray of cookies and lemonade down on her patio table. She watched as Bobby knelt down next to Henry, adjusting his stance with the bow. He whispered something to the boy, who nodded before releasing his arrow. It flew through the air and hit the bullseye of the target. Excitement and pride coursed through her and Regina applauded for her little prince. "Way to go, Henry!"
"You saw that, Mom?" he asked, hopping from foot to foot.
She smiled. "I did. You're on your way to being a regular Robin Hood."
"Mr. Bobby is a great teacher." Henry looked up at the man with such admiration, it made Regina's heart hurt. Maybe he needed a male role model, a father figure, more than she had thought. "He's almost like the real Robin Hood."
Roland raced up to her and tugged on her hand. "Will you watch me? Please?"
"Of course," she told him. He led her over to the target he was using before picking up his bow.
Bobby moved over to his son, whispering a few reminders to him. Roland nodded, steadying his bow and aiming at the target. With a deep breath, he released the arrow on the exhale. Like Henry's, it flew through the air and landed in the bullseye. Once again, Regina clapped. "Amazing, Roland!"
He beamed up at her, smiling so bright it almost burned her to look at it. She wondered if he lacked for a mother's touch as much as she was realizing Henry lacked a father's.
"I think you'll need to watch out, Madam Mayor. We may have a little band of Merry Men stealing from the rich and giving to the poor on our hands soon enough," Bobby teased, messing up Henry's hair.
As Henry fixed his hair, Regina shook her head. "I think they would know that stealing is wrong and that there are other ways to help those in need. Right, boys?"
They nodded and she gave them a hug. Bobby chuckled before glancing over at the table. "Are those snacks I see?"
"They are," she said before looking down at the boys. "And once you wash your hands, we'll all eat them. How's that?"
Both boys cheered and Henry took Roland's hand to show him where the bathroom was. She turned to Bobby and raised her eyebrow. "You too, Robin Hood."
He paused and looked a bit confused, his blue eyes growing cloudy. It only lasted a few moments before he blinked a few times and smiled with clear eyes. "I'll be right back, milady."
Regina wondered about that moment. It was like he was trying to remember something or had gotten lost in a memory, though she couldn't figure out why. Maybe the curse was trying to fill in a gap or something for him in his new memories.
She brushed it off and pulled out the chairs as she heard the others approach. Regina glanced up to see Bobby carrying Roland and holding Henry's hand. He nodded at something the boys were saying, smiling the entire time.
Henry held up his hands for his mother to inspect. "All clean."
"Good." She turned to the Locke men. "Let me see your hands."
Bobby put down Roland and the two held up her hands for her. She nodded and motioned to the chairs. "You can sit down then."
They took their seats and she served them before sitting down herself. As she sipped her lemonade, the boys chattered about things at school and plans for the summer. "I'm going to camp!" Roland announced.
"Really? Cool!" Henry looked at her with pleading eyes. "Can I go to camp too?"
Regina hesitated. She had been anticipating spending a lot of time with Henry that summer as she missed it during the school year. It had been difficult not being around him all the time anymore. So she had planned trips to the park, to the local museum and to other places for the summer.
"It's only a half day for their age group," Bobby whispered. "They go in the morning and then have the afternoon free."
"That sounds nice," she whispered back, realizing she could then work and still spend time with Henry. Louder she asked: "Where is it?"
"The archery range. They do a nice summer camp. I volunteer down there, teaching archery," he said.
Henry clasped his hands together and gave her his best puppy eyes. "Can I go with Roland, Mom? Please?"
She still hesitated. If she were honest, she tried to limit Henry's time around the other children so he didn't notice that they didn't age like he did. As it was, she wasn't sure how she was going to handle it when it became clear Roland wasn't aging like him.
"Regina?" Bobby prompted softly, shaking her from her thoughts.
"Yes," she said, smiling at her son. She wanted him to have as normal a childhood as possible. "You can go to camp with Roland. I'll sign you up in the morning."
The boys cheered and Bobby grinned. "Great! I'll help you get him enrolled tomorrow. Henry, you're going to have a lot of fun."
"Thank you, Mr. Bobby." Henry turned back to his cookie as he and Roland chattered about what they would do at camp.
Bobby reached out and took her hand. "He'll have a great time. And I'll be there to keep an eye on him. Promise."
She nodded and picked up her cookie, taking a bite of it. Part of her was surprised at how quickly she had come to trust Bobby but the other reminded her that he was her soulmate. Of course she would trust him.
And for the first time in a long time, she didn't think it would blow up in her face.
After a rousing game of catch in the yard, Regina ushered everyone into the house to get ready for dinner. Bobby oversaw the boys as they washed their hands while Regina pulled out the ingredients for dinner. "Who wants to help me make meatballs?" she asked.
Three hands shot up, but Roland's was the most eager. He waved it around as he bounced on his feet, making Regina smile brighter. "Okay, Roland. Let me go get a couple stools so you and Henry can reach the counter."
She situated the boys and laid out the ingredients. Henry was an old hand at making meatballs, so Regina stayed by Roland to show him how to first mix the ingredients by hand and then how to roll them into perfect meatballs. Roland leaned into her touch and she wondered again how much he missed having a mother in his life.
Bobby took over preparing whatever she needed for her sauce, dicing several ingredients next to her and the boys. Regina found herself glancing at his tattoo every now and then, watching the lion that had haunted her dreams dance with every movement in his muscles. She also found herself staring at his fingers, wondering just what they could do to her body if they were alone in her room right now.
"Ms. Regina, are you okay? You just got really red," Roland said, looking up at her.
"I'm just getting a bit hot," she said. "I'll step out and cool down for a few moments. Be right back."
Regina left the kitchen and leaned against the hallway wall. Soulmate or not, she knew she should not be having those thoughts about Bobby—especially with their sons around. Taking a deep breath, she pushed aside her attraction to the man and refocused her attention on the meal instead.
Smiling, she stepped back into the kitchen to find Bobby waiting for her with a glass of water. He held it out to her. "Best to keep hydrated."
"Of course," she replied, taking the glass from him. "Thank you."
He smiled, squeezing her elbow before returning to the stove to start the pasta. Regina took a long sip before moving on to her sauce. Once again, Roland was pressed to her side and as eager to help as Henry.
And so, for a few hours, Regina felt like they were a family of four rather than two families of two sharing dinner together.
"So, is there any way I can entice you to give me that sauce recipe?" Bobby asked later as he stood at her sink, washing the pots.
She grinned as she wiped down the table. "I don't know. It is a family secret."
"I see. So you're saying I need to become part of the family to get it?"
Bobby was joking, she knew that. But it still made her heart race and sent her mind spinning. She swallowed, trying to sound calm. "Well, I would hope you would marry me for more than just a recipe."
"If I were to marry you, trust me, it would be for a lot more than a sauce recipe." He leaned against the chair next to her now, smiling at her though his eyes burned with something she wasn't ready yet to identify.
"Good," she whispered back.
Regina walked away, pressing her hand to her stomach as she peered across the hall into the living room. Henry and Roland laid on a blanket, little legs swinging in the air as they watched Disney's Robin Hood together. They looked so adorable and she wished she had her camera close by so she could take a picture.
"I don't know if I've told you, but I'm really happy Roland found Henry to be his friend," Bobby said, coming to stand next to her. "He always seemed so lonely to me and it pained me."
She nodded. "I felt the same about Henry. Roland has been a godsend as well."
"And they finally gave me an excuse to talk to you," he replied. She turned to stare at him, surprised. He seemed to realize what he had said and retreated into the kitchen, trying to pretend it didn't happen.
Regina wasn't ready to forget it, not when her curiosity was piqued. "Bobby? What did you mean by that?"
He sighed, shoulders slumping. "I've admired you from afar for a long time, Regina. Ever since you became mayor. You are so beautiful, so intelligent and so confident. I couldn't look away. But I knew that someone like you wouldn't look twice at someone like me."
She wanted to argue but knew she couldn't. There was truth in his statement. After all, Storybrooke was a small town and by his own words, he had gone to several events where she had been as mayor. She would've had to have seen Bobby before and dismissed him. It really was only because Henry had hugged his son that she truly paid attention to him.
"I'm looking at you now," she said, voice low. "And I'm so glad I am."
"Me too," he replied, his voice a whisper.
The air around them was charged with tension as the two stood close to each other in the dimly lit kitchen. Everything seemed so intimate and cozy, seemed like something she could have always. All she had to do was crane her neck a little, meeting his lips with hers.
Yet she knew she couldn't really have this. Snow and Charming's daughter was still out there, destined to break her curse in five years' time. When Bobby had his memories back, would he still want to be with the Evil Queen? Or would he be disgusted by her? And was his wife still alive? Would she come looking for him and their son?
So as much as she wanted to kiss him senseless, Regina swallowed it down and turned away from him. "We should probably have dessert now. I don't know about Roland, but if Henry has sugar any later, I'll never get him to bed."
"Roland's the same," Bobby said. Regina wondered if she imagined the disappointment in his voice.
When he next spoke, though, it was in his usual, bright tone. "So what divine dish have you prepared for dessert?"
"Chocolate chocolate cake," she replied, getting excited over the amount of chocolate she was about to consume.
He moaned, patting his stomach. "I am going to have to run everywhere tomorrow to work tonight off."
"I think you can afford one night," Regina replied, trying hard to not imagine what exactly laid under his blue t-shirt. She couldn't let herself pine for him. It would only end in heartbreak.
Bobby flexed. "Why, Madam Mayor, I didn't think you had noticed my physique."
"I think you need to worry about the size of your head rather than your stomach," she shot back. Regina then motioned toward the living room. "Why don't you go pause your movie, Robin Hood, and bring the boys in here for cake?"
He paused again, his eyes growing distant before he nodded. "You get that cake ready and I'll get the boys."
Bobby left the kitchen and Regina breathed out in relief. She felt so lost, unsure what do with him and what laid between them. So she distracted herself, pulling out the cake and slicing it up as she heard the boys' laughter in the living room.
Their laughter grew louder and Bobby carried them into the kitchen, one boy under each arm. "Where shall I put them?" he asked her.
She rolled her eyes and motioned to the table. He set the boys in their own chairs as Regina placed slices of the cake on plates. As she placed plates in front of them, Roland and Henry thanked her before diving into the cake.
Regina handed Bobby his slice and he took her hand, squeezing it. "Thank you, Regina. Today has been a really great day. We should do it again soon."
"Yes," she said, sitting down with her own slice. "We should."
He grinned at her as they turned to their cake. Regina knew spending more time with him and Roland was going to be her downfall, for their dimples and warm smiles and open personalities were wearing down her walls. Yet one question still remained:
Could she risk her heart?
A/N: Here's the next part! I know there hasn't been much skipping around. I decided to post this rather than the one I posted for OQ Smut Week 2016, which was the third Hotel Verse piece to go up on my tumblr. You'll get the smut soon enough, I promise you.
There is something I wish to address here. Some reviewers have leveled rather serious accusations at me—that I've copied this story from "Room Service" by Mademoiselle Arel.
I have never read "Room Service." But just glancing over her summary shows that there are a lot of differences between her story and mine, which has been confirmed by many other readers who have read both stories. Just because I have a hotel and I gave Regina's house a termite infestation, it doesn't mean I copied the story. I am angry that I have been accused of it and that the accusers say I have stolen someone else's story and changed little.
I have stolen nothing.
Every word of this story is mine.
To those who have been supporting me, thank you so much. You all mean the world to me.
Hugs to you all.
-Mac
