A/N: Thank you to everyone that read, reviewed, favorited and/or followed! I know this chapter isn't the longest, but I'm planning on making the next one smutty! Now I just gotta figure out how to make it not cringy... Also, to the Guest that reviewed about something being a French thing, what is? And thank you for reading, too!

Disclaimer: I still don't own anything but my mistakes (please point them out if you come across them!)

Trigger Warning(s): None.

They've been in New York for a week now and snow still hasn't fallen. Maybe she was impatient, or maybe she was just cursed with bad luck and it won't fall this year because she was there. It could be either, but with how her life had been since birth, she settled on the latter. She was definitely, most certainly, without a doubt cursed with a horrendous luck.

Snow was the reason they chose New York as their holiday destination. It'd been one of Regina's many dreams to witness the first snowfall and have a white Christmas, sip hot cocoa by the fireplace under a pile of blankets with the carols crooning dimly in the background. But, given by the lack of clouds in the sky and the weather forecast app on her phone, it'll mostly be cold and windy with no chance of snow.

At least she had the perfect company, she won't have a reason to complain about this year's Christmas possibly being as awful as the previous ones. Granted, it won't be as she planned without the snow, but she had Emma by her side, and Robin and Killian have been spending more and more time at the apartment with them. They'd show up first thing in the morning and leave by midnight. And while that was great, it had a slight downside to it, it left her feeling conflicted.

Robin confused her.

One moment he's embracing her and flirting with her, and then the next he's keeping his distance. It messed with her mind and screwed with her feelings — did he like her as a friend or more? She didn't know, she wasn't sure she'd know.

Regina pushed those thoughts away with a sigh and admired the massive tree in front of her, twinkling with hundreds and hundreds of lights in every color of the rainbow. They decided to do something more than shopping and mindlessly walking around the city for a change, and headed down to Rockefeller Center.

It was beautiful but crowded, and she never did well in large crowds, but as if Robin could sense her discomfort, he stepped to her side and slipped his hand in hers, lacing their fingers together and keeping her close by him. Friends did that, friends held hands, it was a kind, innocent gesture, but what friends didn't do was stroke her knuckles with the pad of their thumb as Robin continually did. It gave her false hope, but it was too comforting to let go. It did help soothe her anxiety.

"Oh, Regina!" Emma cried out in excitement, pointing in the direction of the ice rink. Her beam was as wide as a child's on Christmas morning, Regina, however, wasn't in the least bit excited.

"You go head, I'll just…watch by the railing," she waved off. Ice skating, as beautiful as it was, it wasn't something she knew how to do. She never stepped a foot on ice, the last thing she wanted was to slip on her butt and make a fool out of herself in front of all these people, and Robin, too. Especially Robin.

"Come on," Emma whined. "I don't wanna go alone."

"I volunteer," Killian chimed in with a grin on his face, and her best friend just about managed to contain her delight as she bobbed her head in acceptance, and just like that, the pair was gone, disappearing into the mob.

Regina was left alone with Robin, their fingers still entwined and she almost forgot about that, until she felt him squeeze her hand. She looked up at him and was met with a frown.

"Why don't you wanna go?" he asked and she simply shrugged. "It'll be fun. We did say we'll make the best out of this vacation, didn't we?"

"We did, it's just…ice skating isn't really my thing," she admitted in a quiet murmur, barely audible, but she didn't have to repeat what she said as his creased brows was replaced with a soft expression and a smile. "Although I'm sure everyone around will be entertained by me falling over and over again."

"Is that why you didn't want to go? You're scared of falling?"

"I'm not scared of falling," she defended with a scowl.

"Then what is it?"

She pulled her lip between her teeth, then huffed, "I—I'm embarrassed by the idea of falling in front of all these people."

"Everyone falls, Cherry. I hardly think their eyes will be on you, for all you know, they could be trying not to fall themselves," he assured. Somehow, there was something about his words, the way he delivered his point through, that reassured her and put her mind to rest. She nodded, and before she knew it, he was pulling her to chase after their friends and rent their skates.

The first step was awful, the second wasn't any better. Regina clutched tightly onto the railings, her eyes wide and wild as she dragged herself forward. The others didn't face the same troubles as her, they flew across one side of the rink to the other, skating smoothly over the slippery ice, while she couldn't even keep her balance. It was embarrassing, children as young as five were doing a better job at it than her. Luckily, Robin didn't leave her side, always one step ahead of her, his arms held out to catch her incase she falls, making her feel like an infant taking her first steps. She blamed her blush at the cold weather when she knew perfectly well that wasn't it. It was this, the entire situation she was in.

"See, you're doing…good," Robin encouraged hesitantly, and she stopped and stared at him with a straight-face.

"Are you for real? I barely took five steps, and I haven't even let go of the railings yet." And she wasn't planning on doing that, not as long she was still on ice.

"But at least you're trying, that's something," he motivated. 'Now, come on, keep sliding my way."

Regina huffed but did as she was told. Doing it often certainly didn't make it any easier, every step she took still felt like the first; nerve-racking. Robin was patient, though, instead of standing in front of her, he moved beside her and looped their arms together, and despite her wrangling he pried her away from the edge.

She was scared, there was no denying it, she held onto him with both hands, but he didn't laugh. Never once did he belittle her over her lack of experience, and opposite to what she believed, he was right, no one was staring at her, even when she slipped and he caught her. Everybody was absorbed in their own little world, just like Emma and Killian, chasing after each other and laughing.

"All good?" Robin asked, pulling her out of her trance and she nodded. "Have a little faith in yourself, Cherry. You're doing great for a first-timer." He seemed genuine this time, unlike the first time he tried reassuring her that she wasn't so terrible.

"Doing great is skating like them," she nodded her chin toward the children that moved across them. "I'm holding onto you for dear life, I don't think that's doing great."

"It's great," he insisted. "You let go of the railings, that's a big step."

"I suppose."

"Baby steps," he whispered and gave her hand a squeeze. "And then you'll outrun me before you even know it."

She chuckled. "You're very hopeful. I don't think that'll ever happen."

"Maybe, maybe not."

They continued skating, going around the rink in a full circle, still wrapped up in each other's arms. He never let go but she loosened her grip on him a little, feeling a bit more confident after seeing Emma and Killian run into one another in full speed and tumble down on the ice. They laughed it off, and she and Robin laughed at them, too.

It was great, she was having the most fun she'd had in ages, and she owed it all to Robin. She would've missed out on so much if he hadn't convinced her. But all that bliss only worsened her confusion. She still had her wonders, thoughts on whether he thought of her as a friend or more. To her it was more. She liked him…a lot. She liked him too much that it scared her. She was scared of being disappointed, scared of having her heart broken by his rejection. But everything he said, everything thing he did, it all pointed to the possibility of the feeling being mutual.

He would hold her hand, lace their fingers together, stroke her knuckles, and he would wrap his arms around her, kiss her cheek, let it linger. He would spend his days and nights talking to her. And he would stare at her as if she was a summer sunset and tuck her hair behind her ear, subtly brushing his hand over her cheek. He did all the things that made her heart skip a beat, all things just friends wouldn't do.

Maybe he was nervous, that was one possibility. Maybe he didn't know how to take the first step or when to, or maybe he was waiting for her to take the plunge.

"Hey, guys."

Regina turned at Emma's voice only to find her and Killian standing beside her and Robin, a cheeky grin plastered over both their faces, and Emma's outstretched arm between them…holding a mistletoe. Never mind when they approached them, it was when and how they got the plant. They were never out of their sight, just in front of them.

But this was it. This could be the sign they were both awaiting, the moment that could change everything. She looked up at Robin, searching his eyes for his intentions before hers fell to his lips, then fluttered shut in preparation for what was to come. Her heart was pounding beneath her ribcage, thumping away in her ears.

And his kiss came, just not how she expected it.

Instead of a traditional kiss on the lips under the mistletoe, Robin pecked her cheek. Friendship, a kiss on the cheek signified a friendship — that was all to it.

It wasn't about being nervous, it wasn't about finding the perfect moment because that was it, that was the perfect moment, and it slipped away. She simply wasn't more.

Regina pressed her hands to Robin's chest and pushed away from him, her eyes burning with tears of humiliation. She was mortified. Like an idiot, she was standing there, holding her breath, her eyes closed as she waited for him to kiss her. She had to get away, but the goddamn ice was too slippery, one swift turn and she fell. Robin came rushing to help her up but she shoved his hand away. The fall wasn't what embarrassed her anymore, but her thoughts. Fortunately, they were right by the exit when it happened. At least something happened to her liking.

Everything happened too quickly, one moment they were laughing at their friends and the next, she was pushing him away and scrambling out of the ice rink. It left Robin bewildered. Has he done anything to offend her? That was something he hoped he'd never do, hence opting for her cheek rather than her lips. As enticing as it was, he didn't want to cause her discomfort, he wasn't sure if she felt the same as way.

He liked her. He liked her quite a bit that he decided to take a break from his family's holiday traditions to spend Christmas with her — who does that? Who would travel across the country to surprise a girl he'd only met once and spoken to over the phone for eight months? It was crazy, this entire thing was and he knew it, but there was something about her that drew him to her. She was a kind soul, and genuine. She enjoyed talking to him for the sole purpose of befriending him, and she didn't pretend to like his music as others did, but she still listened to every new verse and chorus he played to her and gave her opinion. She didn't hum and nod and go on with her day whenever he complained, she heard him out, and when he had doubts, she expressed her thoughts and guided him. She was different, she was special. And she was gone.

By the time they were out of the ice rink and returned their skates, Regina was nowhere to be found. She ignored the first three calls they made and then by their fourth attempt, she turned her phone off. Emma took Killian and headed back to check the apartment incase she went there, and Robin's heart took him to Central Park.

He might've only known her for less than a year, nothing compared to Emma, but that was enough for him to know how she thought and the decisions she'd make, and lo and behold, she was right where he expected her to be, sitting by Bethesda Fountain, staring into the water. He didn't have to look for long, he merely followed his gut feeling and it led him straight to her.

She looked tranquil, he almost didn't want to disturb her, but he moved ahead and walked over to her.

His presence wasn't welcomed. She glanced at him then huffed irritatedly when he sat down beside her, but her attitude alone won't push him away. It wasn't anything he couldn't handle.

"What's wrong?" he asked. "Why did you run off like that?"

"Nothing."

He suppressed a sigh at her short answer and attempted again, "You tried getting away from me like I was some sort of a disease, Cherry. I don't think that's nothing."

"Well it is nothing," she affirmed. "Just…just leave me alone."

He didn't, though. He didn't move a muscle, staying in his place and remaining quiet. She'd speak whenever she felt like it, he won't press further.

Sure enough, less than ten minutes of silence, she sighed, "Why are you even here, Robin?"

"Because you ran off and I'm trying to understand why—"

"No, not that," she cut him off, finally turning to face him. "Why are you here in New York?"

"Why wouldn't I be?"

She scoffed. "You think this is funny? That this is some kind of a joke to you to mess with my mind and keep sending mixed signals?" She got up on her feet and folded her arms, brows creased in anger, but her eyes reflected pain. She didn't give him a chance to ask for an explanation when she continued, "You message me first thing in the morning and talk to me all through the day till we both fall asleep at night, and you send me these sickly sweet texts. You flirt with me, you wrap your arms around me, you hold my hand. You fucking flew all the way from Los Angeles to spend Christmas with me and that's not something regular friends do, Robin." She closed her eyes momentarily and sucked in a shudder breath, then sniffled and looked at him, her eyes welling up with tears. "Friends don't do what you do, but then you…you say or do something and it makes me realize that I…I'm hoping for something that'll never happen because it's just a friendship to you. It's not more. So please, I'm begging, I've got a lot on my plate as it is. If that's all you want, then keep it friendly. Don't kiss my cheek, don't hold my hand like you do, better yet, don't hold my hand at all. Don't pull me on your lap when we're watching a movie and wrap your arms around me. Don't tell me to look out at the moon because you're staring at it, too. Don't—"

She didn't continue, Robin didn't let her carry on listing all the things he wanted to do but wouldn't be able to because of a simple misunderstanding. He cupped her face and silenced her with a firm kiss to her lips, and it softened as soon as she reacted to it, returning it with a muffled sob and a sniffle. He brought her closer and felt her arms slip around his neck, her body melting into his.

It never crossed his mind that she might've felt the same way. She wasn't cold toward him, but she didn't show any interest, or perhaps she did and like a fool he never noticed. Either way, he wanted her, she wanted him, and in that moment, he was the happiest fool.

It was her that broke the kiss, instead of a scowl, she was beaming at him. Not the same admirable smile he saw on her face back when he first laid eyes on her, but it was equally as wide, equally as dazzling and equally as breathtaking.

"Feeling better?" he asked with a hint of playfulness lacing his tone and she responded with a chuckle, pressing her head to his chest. He laughed and brought a hand to the back of her head, massaging her scalp affectionately with the pad of his fingers while the other slid up between them to wipe any traces of tears left on her cheeks.

"I shouldn't have ran like that, it was childish of me. I'm sorry—"

"Don't apologize," he interrupted, moving the hand on her head to cradle the side of her face, and the corners of his lips tipped up into a smile when she leaned into it. "Let's not talk about what happened then, instead, let's talk about," he paused, using his thumb and forefinger to tilt her chin up just in time for a snowflake to fall on the tip of her nose, making her scrunch it up and laugh, "this."

"It's snowing!" she guffawed. "It's actually snowing."

It certainly was. The first snowfall of the season right after their first kiss. He didn't believe in signs, but this, for sure, was the universe's way of showing him that they were meant to be.

Their Christmas Eve wasn't a traditional one. They had a makeshift tree assembled with washi tapes on the wall and a few boxes of awfully wrapped gifts beside it, and their dinner wasn't a feast with an enormous turkey or glazed ham, stuffings, mashed potatoes, roasted vegetables, gravy and more. It was a variety of takeout. There was Chinese, a mix of everything that was on the menu, a large pizza for them to share and grocery-store sushi. Nothing fancy, nothing that required work from them, but by far, this was the best Christmas Eve Regina ever had.

The snow was falling outside, coating everything in white, and they huddled up under thick blankets after dinner, Emma and Killian on one side, her and Robin on the other, sipping hot cocoa and nibbling on the cookies she and Robin spent the afternoon making.

It was a lot of fun. They laughed more than they slogged, and they ended up burning a batch, only slightly, because of it. And when it came to decorating them, they used store-bought icing and sprinkles and Robin created a replica of her. It was dreadful, it looked hideous, but she praised him anyways and rewarded him with a kiss.

His effort was what mattered.

Emma retired for the night not long after Killian left, but Robin stayed behind, claiming he was too comfortable and not quite ready to go just yet, and who was she to argue with that? She enjoyed being in his arms more than she thought was possible, she loved the way he played with her hair and caught her off guard with sweet kisses every now and then as Elf played on the television.

She loved this. Even though she'd been against being in a relationship for the longest time and called her friends stupid for wasting their time stressing over boys, she loved that Robin consumed all her thoughts, she loved being wrapped up in his arms and she loved when he stole kisses from her when she least expected it. She loved it whenever he'd hold her hand and bury his face in the crook of her neck in an exuberant demeanor. She loved that he made her forget all the bad things in life and filled her heart with the joy she never thought she could have. And against her better judgment and knowledge that wonderful things don't last forever, she might even love him.

She knew she loved him. So she was going to make the best out of the last two days she had with him before they part ways again, make it unforgettable.

"Hey, Cherry?"

"Yeah?"

"Merry Christmas."

It was twelve on the dot, he didn't even miss a single second. She looked up at him and grinned. "Merry Christmas, Robin."

A/N: Thank you for reading it, let me know what you think!