Chief Regina Mills sat at her desk, reading through the paperwork on the Gold case that David had dropped by her office earlier in the morning. She wanted no mistakes, no little slip ups, nothing that would jeopardize the case, she told him in no uncertain words. Although David looked like he hadn't gotten enough sleep the previous night, he listened and agreed with her. She wanted Gold bagged and incarcerated as soon as possible—yesterday wouldn't have been soon enough to suit her. She had worked long and hard during her career to become chief of this station, and she had accomplished it by making sure every loose end was tied up, every loophole closed, and every arrest ironclad. Every officer in the building would choose to face certain death rather than her wrath if she caught them messing up one of her cases.
She noted with satisfaction that Robin Locksley and his partner were the front men for the operation, Will Scarlet deep undercover and Robin his lifeline. She appreciated Robin's cool, calm head in these matters, and knew that he was the best person on the force for exactly this type of investigation. He was strong, intelligent, had a sixth sense about things, and was in short the perfect counterpoint to the younger Scarlet, who at times tended to act like a cowboy at a showdown when a case exploded. And this case had the earmarks of a potential explosion that could shake the whole city. But Robin Locksley wasn't just an excellent officer, she thought to herself, a slow smile spreading across her face as she thought of him. Oh no, he was much more than that to her. He was excellent, period.
Over a year ago, Regina had been alone so long, felt like it was ordained she should be alone, and if she didn't like those feelings, well, she'd learned to live with them. David Nolan and Mary Margaret Blanchard might have found eternal bliss with each other but Regina just couldn't believe it would ever happen to her. She was respected as one of the best precinct leaders in the city, her advice and counsel was sought after, and her station was the best there was. But even surrounded by her fellow officers, she was alone. That was, until the new guy had transferred to her precinct. When she first saw him stroll into the main office, in the perfectly tailored suit that rippled over his massive shoulders as he walked, and seemed to promise a strength underneath that made her stare, she was caught off guard with a heat that seemed to rumble up from her core like a volcano. Then he smiled, and she couldn't look away. He stopped right in front of her, and she couldn't believe how incredibly brilliant his eyes were. "Robin Locksley, reporting for duty, ma'am," his voice was velvet gravel, and she suddenly wanted to do nothing more than listen to his voice, stare into his eyes, and be sheltered in his arms.
Her reverie had been broken by Ruby Lucas, the Captain's secretary, who always moved like a cat stalking through the precinct. Ruby had appeared at her side, holding out a file of paperwork to Regina, and pointedly ignoring the new guy.
Regina accepted the papers and Ruby turned on her very high heels and walked away, her cascade of hair shimmering from side to side. Regina was disappointed to see Robin's cool blue eyes watching as Ruby's ass bounced in her skin tight skirt as she disappeared. 'Good luck with that,' Regina thought as she waited for him to return to earth, 'many have tried, most notably poor Jefferson, but nobody in this place has ever gotten the unattainable Ruby to go out with them.' His attention returned to her, but her moment of lust was over. If Ruby was his type, he was welcome to waste his time pursuing her. Regina was resigned to being alone.
But as the weeks fell away, Robin seemed to find more and more excuses to come to Regina's office, and she seemed to run into him every time she walked through the hallways of the building. He smiled, she was polite, he chatted, she nodded—but if he had struck out with Ruby, she certainly wasn't going to be his second choice.
She was at her desk signing off on reports one day when he knocked and entered. He had left his suit jacket at his desk, and the tailored shirt he wore was a soft green, 'like a sunlit forest glade,' she thought abstractly. "Chief," he approached her desk and held out a manila folder, "the report on the Clark Pharmacy robbery. Scarlet and I finished the paperwork, so I thought I'd bring everything to you personally."
As she reached for the folder, she looked up and felt herself fall deeply into those blue eyes. 'Dammit!' she thought as she took hold of the folder. But he didn't release his grip, and instead used the file to pull her closer to him over her desk. "Tell me," he asked, "are you ever not 'the Chief?' Are you ever Regina?"
"What?" she realized she was breathing deeply, trying to fight the heat that had flared up in her the minute he'd walked in.
"When you get off duty? Are you Regina then?" He had leaned forward, and she could feel his breath on her cheek. "Wh-why?" she faltered, inwardly cursing herself for sounding like a teenager.
"I just wondered," he intoned, so close his eyes glowed, "if Regina might like to get something to eat with me tonight."
'Never!' she thought, 'the nerve of him.'
"That might be nice," she heard her voice coming from God knew where. His hand reached out and gently touched her cheek. "Great!" he smiled, and she wondered how anyone could have such a dazzling smile like that—it was downright criminal. "I'll meet you after work!" And he was gone. She stood there, staring at the door, holding the papers in one hand, her other hand touching her cheek where his fingers had rested.
She didn't remember what she had to eat that night. Robin was charming, flirtatious while remaining a gentleman, displayed unfailing good manners, and held her hand everywhere they went. In short, Regina decided, he was everything she'd ever heard that a man should be, and not like any man she had ever met. They were strolling past the park near her apartment, and this time he had her hand in the crook of his arm, with his other hand resting over it. Neither had spoken during the last 10 minutes, and Regina felt so peaceful, so relaxed, so….happy. She couldn't remember the last time she'd felt this incredibly happy. She leaned into his shoulder.
Robin slowed, and stopped when they came to a pool of light from the streetlamp. "You know," he said as he turned to face her, "this can't go on." Regina's eyes opened wide, but before she could respond, he continued, "I want more, and I need to know if you do too." Regina smiled. "God," he murmured, "you're exquisite." He tilted her chin up, and bent down to caress her lips with his. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he swept her off her feet, their kiss likening to molten lava.
Much later that evening, she lay in his strong arms on her sofa, both of them watching the fire that crackled in her fireplace. "Do you know," he murmured in her ear, "you are the most beautiful woman I've ever laid eyes on? From the first moment I ever saw you, I wanted to take you in my arms, and hold you just like this." Something clicked in Regina. "Really?" she asked, "the first time?" "Most definitely," his breath tickled her neck. "That's funny," she continued, "because the first time you saw me, I got the definite impression you were more interested in watching Ruby Lucas sashay away from us back to the Captain's office." Robin jerked his head around to face her. "What?" he asked, confusion in his voice.
Regina smiled. "It's all right, but I distinctly remember how you couldn't keep your eyes off her that first day when you introduced yourself to me."
Robin's face grew serious, and he took her by the shoulders so he was staring directly into her eyes. "That was not the first time I ever laid eyes on you, my love." Regina was baffled, and could not think of a thing to say. "The first time I ever saw you," Robin continued, "was at a law enforcement symposium, two years ago." His eyes shone as he remembered, "I saw you walking through the hall, and decided to follow you. I ended up in the main lecture room listening to your presentation on 'The Importance of Society in the Reformation of First Time Juvenile Offenders'." Regina's hands rested on his bare chest, "You were there?" she whispered.
Robin smiled. "I followed you because you were the most wondrous vision I'd ever seen. After I heard your speech, I knew you were that all-too-rare combination of exceeding beauty and abundant intelligence. You were concise, logical, confident, well-versed, and your ideas were backed up by irrefutable evidence. By the time you ended your presentation, you had everyone in the room ready to follow you to the ends of the earth to help kids with problems—I just wanted to follow you to the ends of the earth." He sighed. "It took me a few seconds to learn your name, and almost two years to get a transfer into your station. It's always been you, Regina."
His arms went around her again, and his lips sought her face, caressing her with soft kisses across her cheeks and down her neck. She leaned back on the sofa and pulled him down over her, never breaking their embrace.
Within three months, everyone at work knew it. They could see it in Regina's face, her step, her every word. They could see it in Robin's smile whenever she was near him, the sweet, sensuous look he got whenever she entered the room. There could have been 100 other souls surrounding them—a thousand, even—but those two only saw, heard, felt each other. It was like watching electricity spark and arc through the air, like the biggest Fourth of July fireworks display ever, like moonlight and music and magic swirling all around them at the same time. Regina may have wanted to keep it a secret, Robin may have desired some privacy, but the love that had grown between them was a fireball of force that everyone could sense. And no one at the station doubted for a second that it was anything other than absolute true love.
Regina regarded herself in the mirror. It had been almost a half a year since their first dinner. Her reflection showed her long black sheath dress with spaghetti straps, clinging to her lithe form. Her hair cascaded over her shoulders; she always wore it pinned up at work, but Robin loved it down, he loved to let it flow through his fingers. The doorbell rang and she smiled. He was always on time.
She caught her breath when she saw him standing there, one hand in his pocket, his dark suit immaculate, set off by his deep emerald tie. "Milady," he kissed her hand then spun her slowly around. "Are you ready for a night of adventure?" he asked.
As they left the building, the doorman greeted her, "Ms. Mills, this is for you." He handed her a single long stemmed red rose. She looked at Robin, who smiled inscrutably, and accepted the rose. They walked towards the corner where Robin's car was parked, and a teenaged boy, whom she recognized as the son of a neighbor in her building, walked towards them. "Ma'am," he grinned, a little bashful, and held out another rose. She looked at Robin again, but, eyes wide, he feigned ignorance. At the corner, she spotted Mr. Sands, who owned the little grocery there. He was smiling and holding a red rose too, and obviously waiting for her.
Robin opened the car door for her, then moved around to the driver's side, slid behind the wheel, and started the engine. There was a sharp rap at her window and she turned to see two more red roses floating at face level. She hit the button to lower the glass and heard a coarse voice. "Got any spare change, lady?" as the two roses dropped into her lap. A face popped down into view, and under the grime, stubble, and raggedy clothes, she recognized Will Scarlet, Robin's undercover partner, leering like an idiot at her. "Take a shower," her voice was sweet but threatening, and he jumped back as she closed the window.
Robin navigated the car through the evening traffic, and Regina sat in comfortable silence, admiring her roses and him. She glanced over at him a time or two, always amazed at how strong his jaw was, yet how warm his smile looked and how soft his lips were. They pulled into the restaurant parking lot, and he hurried to open the door for her again. He slipped his arm around her waist as they walked in the front doors, and she was not surprised to see the maitre'd holding yet another rose, and beaming at her. They were quickly shown to their table, tucked in a corner with a view of the harbor stretching out from the bay window, the full moon reflecting on the water. A magnum of champagne was chilling in an ice bucket, and six more roses awaited her, making a perfect even dozen. "They're beautiful," she murmured, as she gathered them all in her arms to take in the fragrance. A waiter appeared out of nowhere with a vase for the flowers. Robin smiled, "They're American Beauties, just like you."
Robin had ordered their meals before he arrived at her place; he'd chosen all her favorites, and they dined in an atmosphere of succulent dishes and the magical aroma of the roses. Their conversation came easy to them, they were like souls who had been born knowing each other. Finally, dessert was brought out and set before them. Her plate contained a small square box made of dark chocolate, with a strawberry topped with whipped cream decorating the lid on the top. "Be careful when you open it," Robin advised, watching her closely. She slowly lifted the chocolate lid, and the overhead chandelier caught the brilliance of a sparkle inside it. Suddenly Regina caught her breath as Robin reached into the box and brought out a diamond, then slid out of his chair and down on one knee at her side.
"Regina," he began, holding the ring up to her, "I told you once that you are a rare combination of exceeding beauty and abundant intelligence. That is a modest description of you. I knew from that very first time I saw you I could not live without you. You took such total and complete possession of my heart and soul that I can only surrender them both to you forever, and ask you to be with me til the end of time. Will you, my dear, will you marry me?"
Regina dashed away the tears that were forming in her eyes. "Yes, Robin, yes," she murmured as she held her hand out. He slipped the diamond onto her finger, then kissed it. It was a perfect fit.