Chapter Seven: The Iguana Lounge

Roland's cupcakes were a huge success for the end of the year party and he was proud that he'd taken part in making them. Henry was busy cramming for his regents exams, which were a big deal in the state of New York and he took them very seriously. To his relief, he passed with high honors, not to anyone's surprise since he was such a diligent student.

School came to a close and the children spent their first days of summer relaxing and winding down from the busy last week of classes. On their first weekend off, Robin and Regina took the boys to Central Park to enjoy the beautiful weather and to finally teach the little boy how to ride his bike.

"Don't look at the camera, Roland. Focus on what Daddy is telling you to do," Regina said to the boy as she taped his first attempt on his bicycle.

"Okay, son. I'll be right behind you. Once you find your balance, just start pedaling," Robin said and his son nodded.

He started pedaling and was off to a great start so Robin tried letting go. Of course, he lost his balance and toppled right over into the grass. His eyes filled with tears, more out of fear than anything else, and his parents knelt down before him.

"I don't want to do it again. I'm gonna get hurt," he pouted and crossed his arms.

Henry sat beside him and pulled the grass from where it was lodged inside his helmet, "The only way to conquer your fear is to face it. I broke my arm pretty badly when I was your age, but I ride my bike like a champ now. It takes practice, but I guarantee you'll be riding circles around me in no time."

The child wiped his tears and nodded, taking Henry's hands and standing back up. He brushed himself off some more and picked up his bike to try again. After a few falls and some minor scrapes and bruises, he was riding like a pro beside his big brother.

The couple sat on a blanket in the grass as they watched them pedaling along the path, careful not to hit the joggers passing by. Regina was seated between Robin's legs leaning her back into his chest, both of them reading their own books as the wind blew against their cheeks. He put his book beside him and decided to speak, "Our anniversary is coming up."

"I can't believe it's been a year already," she replied, closing her book with the bookmark wedged inside to keep her place.

"Roland will be away at camp so we'll be free to do anything you'd like," he stated.

Regina thought about it for a moment. She enjoyed dinners with Robin, but was growing tired of Bella Notte. If they had the evening to themselves, she wanted to go on an adventure. She'd heard fabulous things about the TriBeCa Grille, one of the most upscale places in the city owned by actor Robert DiNiro. She also always wanted to go to the Rainbow Room or even Sardis in Times Square. It finally hit her. She knew exactly what she wanted to do with him to celebrate.

"How about the Iguana Lounge?" She suggested.

"What's that?" He asked, recognizing the name, but unsure where he'd heard it before.

She turned to face him with a smile, "It's an authentic Mexican restaurant with a Latin dance lounge above it. It's in the Theatre District. I've always wanted to go."

"The Iguana Lounge it is," he replied, excited to do something different and new with his lover.

She kissed his lips softly and returned to leaning into him when she said, "Roland's birthday is right after that. Has he told you what he wants to do?"

Robin sighed and said, "He really wants to take you and Henry to visit my parents in Essex."

"Then that is exactly what we should do," she stated, picking up her book to find her place.

"Regina, we can't just drop everything and travel to Europe."

"Why not?" She asked. There was silence for a moment and she laughed, "Exactly. As long as your parents have Internet connection, I can work while we're away and I won't lose any vacation time for our trip to the Poconos in November."

"The Poconoas as well?" He asked, surprised that she had all these plans for them.

"Of course. It's our annual family vacation. I decided it last year," she smirked and began reading again.

"Whatever you say, my love," Robin laughed and leaned forward to kiss her cheek before returning to his own book.


Just like the year before, Regina had to be at work the morning Roland left for camp. She awoke early and cooked him chocolate chip pancakes, checking and rechecking his bags to ensure he had everything he needed for his week away from home. When she was certain his bags were in order, she leaned down and wrapped her arms around him, "Have fun with all your friends and be a good boy. Stay close to your counselor and please don't run off."

"I know, mom. I've been there before. I know the rules," he sighed, much like Henry did when she was nagging him, and took a bite of his pancakes.

She chuckled and smothered him in hugs and kisses as she said, "I'm going to miss you, my Little Thief."

"I'll steal something from the campground just for you," he joked.

"Stealing is wrong," Regina stood up straight and looked sternly at him before her lips turned upward in a devilish grin, "But I'd never turn down an art project made entirely of pine cones."

"Deal," Roland said with a bright smile as she gave him one last kiss and gathered her purse and keys.

Robin met her at the door to steal a kiss of his own and said, "Have a good day. I'll swing by with lunch this afternoon."

"You're wonderful. Thank you," she leaned up and kissed him once more before saying to both men, "I love you."

"Love you too, Regina," Roland yawned from the counter.

Robin chuckled and waved to her as she dashed down the hall, "And I you, my sweet."


Robin arrived at her office with homemade salad he put together for the two of them as he greeted the front desk clerk with a smile. He was known by nearly all her coworkers by that point and was rarely stopped anymore. He saw Tamara seated at her desk and stopped briefly to catch up. He was surprised she was still employed at the firm and hadn't quit after the numerous times Regina yelled at her.

"Robin Locksley, you dare come to this office and not say hello to me," Mallory Bolla said as she turned the corner, her hands on her hips as she stopped dead in her tracks.

He excused himself from his conversation with Regina's assistant and smiled as he approached her best friend, "Mallory, a pleasure to see you, as always."

They hugged one another, Robin placing a polite kiss on her cheek before they separated. She crossed her arms and peered into the bag in his hand, "Anything in there for me?"

"Not today, I'm afraid. Perhaps another day when I'm not rushed to see Roland to the bus," he offered and she nodded, taking his answer as an apology for skipping donuts that morning.

"Oh, I spoke with the prosecutor's office this morning about Marian. I was going to call you later, but I'm glad I saw you instead," she began and pulled him to the side so they weren't blocking the walkway. She leaned her hip into the wall and continued, "They moved her hearing to sometime in November. They haven't disclosed what the delay is, but it seems she's getting into some trouble at Litchfield and is being transported to maximum security."

Robin was pained by her words, knowing he wanted this to be over with, but still worried that she was in maximum holding. Marian wasn't a murderer or even a violent person. He shook the thought from his head, forcing himself to remember that she's not the same person he knew before Roland was born. She was a criminal, plain and simple; she tried to kidnap Roland and she deserved everything that was coming to her.

"Thank you, Mal. So we won't have to prep Roland until October then?"

"Maybe September, but we'll see how he reacts to retelling the story to me to decide how much prep time he will need. But we don't have to worry about that until the end of the summer," she placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled, "Now go have lunch with that beautiful brunette of yours."

He nodded as she walked back toward her office and he turned to enter the room he knew Regina would be in. He stopped in the doorway as she finished what appeared to be an important conversation, "Yes, Friday is perfect. I can be there during my lunch hour."

She looked up and saw him watching her with an adoring smile on his face. She lifted her finger to let him know she'd be off the phone in a minute and then waved for him to enter and take a seat. He did as he was told and tried not to listen to her response to the call, but couldn't help his curious ears as she continued, "I appreciate you fitting me in. Thank you."

Regina hung up the phone and leaned across her desk, puckering her lips for him to meet her with his own. He chuckled and pressed his to hers in a gentle peck before they returned to their seats and unpacked their salads.

"Important lunch meeting on Friday, huh? So I shouldn't surprise the office with donuts that day?" He teased, but she didn't seem to find humor in his statement. Her mind was clearly elsewhere and he wasn't even certain she'd heard his joke, "Regina?"

"Hmm?" She looked at him finally, unaware that he'd been speaking to her.

He gazed into her chocolate brown eyes and asked, "Where'd you go?"

"Nowhere. I'm right here," she stated.

Robin shook his head and let the incident go without further questioning. They discussed the news Mallory told him moments ago in the hall and other important things as well as unimportant small talk. But as they spent that moment eating lunch together, Robin couldn't help the feeling that she was keeping something from him.


Thursday evening after Regina returned home from work, she immediately freshened up for her anniversary dinner with Robin. He was busy doing laundry and some of the housework he'd been unable to complete that day while she took her time in the bathroom. She sat at her vanity reapplying her makeup, keeping it simple with the exception of her favorite matte red lipstick. She flipped her hair over after a quick comb out and sprayed anti-humidity spray into it to keep the summer heat from ruining its perfect shape.

She stood and admired her figure in the tight red cocktail dress she'd chosen to wear for the occasion. She smiled and turned to the side, stopping when she noticed how bloated her lower abdomen looked. Regina never bloated a day in her life. She steered clear of carbs as often as she could and aside from a cup of coffee and a glass of red wine each day, she only drank water. She rubbed her hand over it and tilted her head as she thought about what it could possibly mean. Perhaps she was getting older and her body was changing. It couldn't be menopause. Oh God how she wished it wasn't early onset menopause. She was only 38 years old and couldn't handle the idea of hot flashes and night sweats while raising two children. Maybe it was related to that pelvic pain that only seemed to be getting worse. That was the more logical reasoning behind the unexpected change.

Robin knocked as he entered the bathroom and said, "Almost ready, my sweet?"

She immediately dropped her hand to the side and turned to face him. She blushed slightly when she saw the look on his face upon his first glimpse of her in the red dress and black pumps. He took her by the hand and spun her around slowly, wanting to see every inch of her before they ventured to the restaurant.

"Regina, I don't know what to say. You are..." He trailed off.

She lifted her brow and smirked as she wrapped her arms around his neck, "Breathtaking?"

He smiled and kissed her lips gently, "That doesn't even begin to describe how captivating you are, my love."

She admired Robin's choice of outfit once again, daring to seem mysterious to her in all black from a fitted pair of slacks to his button down and vest. He wore a white skinny tie as his only splash of light upon the dark. She wiped the smudge of lipstick from his lips with a smile, "You're very handsome, Doctor Locksley."

They smiled and enjoyed the moment before it was time for them to leave. It was an important night for the couple so Robin hired a limo service to escort them to the restaurant. It was waiting outside the building when they walked through the revolving doors and Regina stopped dead in her tracks, "Is this for us?"

"Your chariot awaits, my Queen," he opened the door for her with a smug grin.

She shook her head, but was very pleased with the effort he put in to making this an extraordinary evening. It had just begun and she was already blown away. He slipped in beside her and thanked the driver for closing the door for them. It was a pleasant ride in peaceful, comfortable silence as they held hands in the backseat. The driver left them alone, understanding that this was their time together and not wanting to burden them with uncomfortable small talk.

They arrived and the driver pulled up in front of the restaurant, getting out to open the door for the couple. Robin held his hand out to assist Regina from the car and told the man he would phone him when they were ready to be picked up. The Theatre District was busy that early summer evening as tourists passed with cameras, watching as the couple entered the restaurant. They felt important, famous even, by the way people stared at the mysterious pair walking into the elegant, upscale Iguana Lounge.

The hostess directed them to their table and, as always, Robin politely pulled out Regina's chair for her before taking his own seat. They looked over the menu, discussing their options with one another before deciding on each getting a different dish so they could share their meals with one another. Their server approached their table and Regina immediately recognized that he spoke with an accent. She wondered if he spoke Spanish and thought it might be nice to speak to someone in her second language.

"¿Hablas español?" She asked him.

The young man looked at her, surprised that she would rather order in Spanish, "Sí, Señora. ¿Y usted?"

Regina nodded with a smile and the man returned the gesture before asking, "¿Que quieren beber?"

She looked at Robin as she responded, "Quiere una cerveza."

"¿Y para usted, Señora?"

"Para beber, quiero una margarita de fresa, por favor," she smiled and the man nodded, leaving them alone to fill their drink orders.

"I ordered you a beer," she told Robin with a smile and noticed him staring at her. She tilted her head, "What?"

"You should speak Spanish at home," he suggested, biting down on his lower lip as he imagined her talking dirty to him.

"No one would understand me," she chuckled, peering down at the menu although they already decided on their meals.

"I'm sure Henry knows the language. Roland and I could pick it up listening to the two of you and before you know it, we'll forget English altogether," he teased.

"What kind of English Professor would you be if you only spoke Spanish?" She responded playfully, earning her a laugh from the handsome man seated across from her.

Their server returned with a Mexican beer for Robin and a strawberry margarita for Regina. She looked up at him with a gracious smile, "Muchas gracias."

"¿Quieren primero con un antojito?" The man asked if they'd like to start with an appetizer as he pulled out his pad and pen to take note of their orders.

"Sí, guacamole, por favor."

"¿Y que quieren para los platos principales?"

The man looked over her shoulder as she pointed to the list of main courses and replied, "Fajita Vegetariana para mi y él quiere la Fiesta Vegetal, por favor."

The server nodded and took their menus before exiting to the kitchen while Regina leaned over the table and took Robin's hands in her own. She smiled sweetly at him and said, "Te amo."

"And I you," he replied, leaning down to kiss her knuckles. He smoothed his thumbs over her joints while he continued, "May I make a request, my love?"

"You may," she tilted her head, curious as to what he may ask of her.

He stared deeply into her eyes and said, "I'd rather fancy you speaking Spanish to me while we're alone tonight. Is this something you might be willing to do?"

She leaned across the table and pressed her lips softly against his before replying, "Es posible."


The meal was exquisite and Iguana instantly became one of their new favorite destinations for an authentic Mexican meal. They went upstairs to the dance lounge and were blown away by the amount of people dancing the salsa as the live band played their hearts out.

Regina took Robin by the hand and led him to the dance floor as she asked, "Do you know how to salsa?"

"I know you haven't had the pleasure of dancing with me in public before," he dramatically grabbed her by the waist and pulled her into him as he continued, "But do try to keep up."

She laughed and allowed him to lead her to the rhythm of the music. They moved swiftly and passionately around the dance floor, weaving their way through the other couples with ease. He spun and lifted her, making her feel like they were the only ones in the room. When the song ended, he dipped her and placed a delicate kiss to the center of her chest before pulling her up so they were face to face once again.

"Thank you for taking me here," she smiled and leaned her forehead against his when the band started to play a slow song.

"Anything for you, my sweet," he reached down to unbutton his vest, his body growing hotter by the second as he was surrounded by other people and faced with the sensual woman he was so lucky to call his lover.

Their bodies swayed to the music as she peered down at the end of his tie and noticed a red apple design stitched into it among the plain white she'd assumed it was before. She recognized the pattern instantly as something made by her favorite designer, EvilRegal. She looked into his dashing blue eyes and smiled brightly, not having to say a word as he leaned down and took her lips in a tender embrace.


They returned to their apartment just after ten and were exhausted from the long hours they spent dancing at the restaurant. Regina sat on the couch and put her bare feet on the coffee table while Robin stripped down to his undershirt to cool off. He went into the bedroom to hang his sweaty clothes on a hanger to be taken to the dry cleaner the following week.

She relaxed her head back into the cool leather of the sofa as her hands massaged over her pelvis, exhaling through the pain coursing through her center and down into her legs. She closed her eyes and focused on breathing, unaware of the moment Robin reentered the living room.

"Are you alright?" He asked, standing firmly beside the arm of the couch closest to the kitchen.

She jumped, startled by the sudden sound of his voice. She looked in his direction and dropped her feet back to the floor, "Oh I'm fine. My body can only take so much of the merengue, it seems."

"I believe a massage before bed is in order then," he quipped and was pleased to hear her hum in agreement. He sat down beside her and revealed a small box from behind his back. He held it out for her as he said, "Happy Anniversary, my love."

"Dinner and dancing would have been enough for me," she smirked as she took the box from his hands and began gently removing the ribbon.

"Not today, darling. Not when we have so much to celebrate," he replied, putting his arm around her and resting it on the back of the sofa.

She untied the ribbon and placed it on the coffee table before opening the lid. Inside were a set of diamond earrings in the shape of feathers. Written directly on the inside of the box was a saying she'd read many times in her life whenever she purchased something made by EvilRegal: You are right where you need to be; just take a deep breath.

Her chocolate brown eyes shimmered with fresh tears as she covered her mouth, as if that simple action would give her the strength to hold them back. They were beautiful and she couldn't wait for an occasion for her to wear them, but what blew her away the most was how much more significant that quote became in her life since meeting Robin. He was everything to her and she was content in their lives together; she truly felt this was exactly where she needed to be.

But her tears turned to sadness as they ran down her cheeks. Her mind wandered to the thought that this could be their only anniversary spent together; that this was where she needed to be right now because it would never happen again. Regina took a deep breath, taking the advice of the saying, and shook the negative thoughts from her mind.

She finally looked up at him and placed her hand gently on his cheek, "They're beautiful, Robin."

"Not as beautiful as you are, milady," he replied in a whisper as he leaned forward and kissed her. It began as a simple, tender peck, but something inside Regina yearned for it to be more. She wrapped her arms around his neck and deepened the gesture, wanting him to understand just how important he really was to her. Robin sensed that this was more than passion; that she was telling him something without the use of her words. He leaned back and peered into her eyes, "What's wrong, Regina?"

"Nothing, I just-" she paused for a moment, wanting to decide exactly what to say to the man she simply couldn't live without, "I love you. And I don't think I'd ever be able to live without you."

"Well, you'll never have to. I'm right where I need to be," he smiled and pushed a strand of hair away from her face, "Now how about that massage?"

"Wait, I have your present," she stood up slowly, careful not to show him she was in pain, and walked toward the guest room. Inside the closet she kept his rather large gift hidden from him for an entire week. She bent down to her knees to take it out and when she went to stand, a sharp pain jolted through her core.

She cried out, instinctively moving her hands to her midsection without a second thought. Before she could realize what was happening, the gift fell to the ground and she could hear it shatter from inside the box. She groaned in frustration, but was still unable to move. Robin came running in when he heard the commotion, falling to his knees before her in a panic, "Regina, what is it? Are you alright?"

"I'm-" she gritted her teeth through another sharp pain, like a knife twisting inside her.

He shook his head, "Don't you dare tell me you're fine. What's going on?"

"Just give me a second," she told him through a deep exhale. He placed his hand on her back and rubbed gently as she remained curled into a ball on the floor. She was hunched over, her face falling between her knees as she took deep breaths in and out. She sighed with relief when the worst of it passed and lifted her head back up to look at him, "I'm sorry about your gift. I'll get it fixed and you can open it next week."

"I don't care about some bloody present, Regina. I care about you and whatever the hell just happened," he kept his body near hers, his instincts kicking in and informing him that he needed to be as close to her as possible, "Should I call for an ambulance?"

"No, don't be silly," she waved his offer aside, "Just help me up and we can talk about it in bed."

Robin took her words quite literally and without hesitation, lifted her into his arms and carried her to their bedroom. She sighed and leaned her head on his shoulder; she hated being vulnerable, but there was no use keeping it from him any longer. He placed her down on the bed and knelt before her, taking her hands and kissing them. He was worried about her, as he should have been, and Regina instantly felt guilty for allowing him to see her like that.

"Regina, what was that?"

"I'm not one hundred percent sure," she admitted and she was telling the truth, "It hasn't felt like that before."

"Before? How long have you been in pain?" He questioned, obviously growing upset with himself for not noticing sooner.

"A few months. Just after Henry's birthday, I think," she tried to remember, realizing she hadn't taken notice to how long she'd been allowing herself to live in pain.

"Christ, Regina. How did it start?" He rubbed his palm over his beard, a habit he had developed when placed in stressful circumstances.

"I noticed it the night we argued; you know, when you got home late from the university. It hurts the most when we make love, but it's become more constant," she explained.

"What exactly is hurting you, my love? Was it me? I couldn't bare the thought that I've harmed you aga-"

"Robin, please," she put her hands on either side of his face, "It wasn't you. I promise. It's something that's wrong with me. I've been doing some research and I think there's an issue with my uterus."

"Your uterus? I thought you had a hysterectomy after Henry was born?" He was very confused as he stood up and began pacing the room.

"I did, but it was only partial," she explained, but was distracted by his nervous movements. She sighed, "Can you please sit down? You're making me anxious."

He stopped and looked at her, her hands fidgeting in her lap as she stared up at him. He sat beside her and placed his hand over hers reassuringly. The room was quiet except for the sound of the busy Manhattan streets behind them and their uneven breathing as they sat still in their lover's arms.

"The complications with Henry," Regina began, "Weren't complications. I knew what was happening. I'd been told months before his birth that-"

She looked in her lap as if that's where she would find the words she knew she needed, "That I had ovarian cancer."

Robin put his arm around her instantly, holding her tight and closing his eyes as he took in the scent of her shampoo. She continued, "They told me I had two options: abort him and have the surgery or take a chance on having him and deal with the consequences later. I chose the latter, obviously, but I never told Daniel."

"Why not?" He asked her, hoping her reasoning would provide insight into why she kept this from him for so long as well.

She shrugged, "We were having a baby. We were happy. I didn't want to ruin that."

He nodded and she continued to tell him her story, "So the day Henry was born, I was rushed for the emergency hysterectomy. They'd hoped he would pull the tumor out with him, but it ended up becoming lodged in the opening of my ovaries; if they didn't remove them, the cancer would have spread."

"But it's been 15 years. Surely you don't think," he trailed off, not wanting to imagine seeing her sick or broken in that way.

"I don't know, Robin. People go into remission and get sick again after 30 years. It's a possibility. Endometriosis is another thought I've had or even menopause," she stated. She sat up, turning her body so she could finally look in his eyes, "I have an appointment with my gynecologist tomorrow so hopefully I'll have more information."

Robin closed his eyes briefly, realizing he was right about her keeping something from him, but knowing she had her reasons. He opened them and pressed his forehead against hers, "I'll go with you. And don't protest. I'll meet you at your office tomorrow before your lunch hour and we'll go together."

"Okay," she whispered with a nod and finally let her tears fall, "I'm scared, Robin."

He hugged her close, her head turning so her cheek was pressed into his chest. Their arms were wrapped around one another and he allowed only one tear to escape him as he whispered, "Whatever this is, you don't have to go through it alone. We'll deal with it; together."