Happy Date chapter! x
Robin spent his evening googling flowers and their meanings. He scrolls and scrolls, trying to find the perfect match of flowers. Then he needed to get them in the perfect colour. Everything needed to be perfect. He was taking Regina to Mozzafiato, the best Italian restaurant in town that was infamous for being impossible to get into. Robin had only had 6 days to try and get them a reservation and for all 6 of those days he thanked his lucky stars that he had been the photographer for their menus, and leaflets and newspaper articles ever since the restaurant had opened. The manager, Antonio, had taken a shine to Robin from day one and had maintained a relationship with him ever since. Robin didn't like to take advantage of his friendship with Antonio but for Regina he wanted to pull out all the stops. He'd gotten them what Robin argued was the best table in the restaurant. Mozzafiato was accessible only after a climb of 100 stairs or a ride in the lift. The lift being no cop out however, it was a glass lift that climbed up the building alongside windows to the outside. It allowed the riders to see across the square in the centre of the city where the restaurant was situated. The windows were lined with fairy lights all the way up and at night time, it was truly magical. Once guests arrived in the restaurant, they were greeted with a large room. In the centre of the room, is a bar on top of which stands a large, fake, Cypress tree. The tree is lined with dozens of glass lanterns that hold glowing lights which give the whole object a magical feel, towering over the diners in the restaurant. The tree leads into the roof of the restaurant of which is an enormous glass dome, lined with thousands of fairy lights. The restaurant is truly breathtaking, and in Robin's eyes, perfectly fitting for Regina.
He'd managed to score a table on the so called 'balcony' of the restaurant. It was one of a few tables that were situated up another set of stairs, in an intimate room that was located above the bar, at the same height as the tops of the tree branches in a mezzanine setting that looked over the bar and the rest of the restaurant. The room was lit by the perfect rosy glow of the abundance of fairy lights that lead up the walls of the glass dome in the ceiling. On the side of the room opposite to the mezzanine balcony is a wall of windows, looking out onto the square and he had gotten the table that was right in the window.
Once Regina had waved off Henry with George and his mom, she began getting ready for her evening with Robin. She had picked out a royal blue cocktail dress that had three quarter sleeves and went down to her knees. The back of the dress featured a black ribbon that tied at the nape of her neck and revealed a small expanse of skin down to her mid-back. The dress then had a gold zip running from her back to the bottom of the dress where it parted a few inches from the hem. She was pairing it with black stockings and black patent stiletto pumps. She knew the dress, and the colour, looked good on her despite Robin's gratification of her in the red dress. She wore a lot of red at school, reds and blacks, and she felt like bringing a change to her usual colour palette and that tonight would be just the right moment to do so. It made her night feel all the more special.
After she had showered and dressed in a matching set of totally impractical black lace underwear, she had no intention of letting Robin see, she wrapped her robe around her and began her hair and makeup. With the help of a dollop of mousse she had expertly blow dried her hair so that it sat perfectly on her shoulders, her natural waves accentuated. She kept her eye makeup light, her naturally dark eyelashes not needing too much addition. Then, once she had donned her outfit and was fully dressed, she sat back at her vanity and painted her lips a deep red, highlighting their full shape, their colour cutting through the middle of the scar Robin had noticed the first time they met. With a nod of her head in the mirror, she was ready. She spritzed on perfume and grabbed her clutch, packing it with her phone and lipstick as she walked down the stairs.
She wasn't downstairs for long before Robin was knocking on the door, punctual, which Regina liked. As she opened the front door to greet him she was taken aback by how handsome he was. It was dark outside and his feautures were perfectly lit by the glow of the light coming from inside her house. He was wearing a grey suit jacket and matching slacks, and a crisp white shirt underneath. The suit was well tailored and extremely flattering. His stubble was trimmed and tidy, his hair parted and framing his face. He was smiling at her, she realised, drinking in her appearance as much as she was his. He was grinning, his teeth sinking into his bottom lip which attracted Regina's gaze. She felt like stepping closer to him to take in his wonderful outdoorsy scent mixed with fresh cologne.
She was only brought out of her reverie by his "Wow. You look Wonderful."
"You brush up quite nicely too, Robin." She flirted, her gaze lowering so that she could look up at him through her lashes. Then she noticed, his hand was behind his back. As if he had sensed that she had noticed, he brought his hand out from behind his back and presented her with a bouquet featuring purple Ranunculus flowers and purple Tulips. He had settled on those choices because the Ranunculus represented radiance and purple Tulips represented royalty. And he thought that was perfectly fitting, his radiant queen.
"They're beautiful, Robin, thank you!" She gasped as he presented her with the flowers. She realised Robin had the taxi waiting for them outside, so she offered; "Go back to the taxi, I'll just put these in some water and be right out."
"Okay sweet." He said grasping her free hand and pressing it to his lips. Regina felt a flutter in her belly at the gesture, God, she would really have to simmer down if she was going to enjoy her night, she silently thought to herself with a smile. Once she had dropped off the flowers, she made her way out of the front door and turned to lock it, silently hoping this would give Robin chance to see the zip feature at the back of her dress from the car. Once she was at the car, Robin was ready with the door open for her, allowing her to climb in before scooting around the rear of the car and climbing in himself.
The driver throughout the journey didn't attempt to make small talk with them, as if he sensed this evening was about them and didn't want to interrupt. Once the driver had pulled away from Regina's neighbourhood, Regina, without taking her gaze away from the window, asked;
"So, where are we going?"
"You will have to wait and find out my sweet." He countered, grinning at her impatience.
"I'm not that fond of surprises." She replied, turning to look at him, and finding he was watching her intently, the same grin he had on her porch set across his face. Once again she found her gaze not so subtlety wandering to his lips and the way his teeth were sinking into his bottom one. Yep, she should definitely be biting that lip for him.
He took the opportunity to place his hand in the middle seat that separated them and lean into it, coming much closer to her, and causing her gaze to flit back up to his eyes in surprise. But he didn't kiss her like she was so desperate for him to, instead, he spoke;
"Why ever not?" His question came out in a breathy whisper, his face so close to her she could feel his breath on her face. But she didn't back down, instead, she leaned in closer, past his face, her lips almost pressed to his earlobe.
Her reply made him visibly shiver, her lips brushing against his ear, "because usually, I'm the one who's in charge". Then she leaned away and chuckled at him, revelling in her ability to cause the goosebumps that had risen on his neck when she'd said it. Her words were simple, and in anyone else's ear they could be alluding to her position at work or being the sole parent to her son. But in Robin Locksley's ear the intent was quite clear.
When their taxi pulled up outside the restaurant Regina gasped, her eyes shooting a questioning glance at Robin across the backseat of the car. He just grinned at her and climbed out of the car, thanking their driver. He walked around the car and opened Regina's door for her, taking advantage of her shock to have another chance to be utterly charming in getting her door and taking her hand as she climbed out.
"You didn't?" She said as they approached the restaurant door.
"I did." He replied, embracing his wide grin, unashamedly pleased with himself after earning this reaction from her.
"I can't believe you got a table here? Who did you bribe?" She asked, shaking her head slightly in disbelief.
"Only the best would do for you." He replied, allowing her to enter the lift before he followed.
All Regina could do was grin. He was making every effort with her and she felt like a queen. Robin was flirting completely audaciously and somehow it made her belly flutter and her heart pound. She really, really liked Robin Locksley.
Then, as the lift began to climb, she was hit with the wonderful view the lift gave, lined with its fairy lights. She gasped in wonder, eyes transfixed on the glass wall.
Robin too fixed his eyes on the most wonderful view. Robin had done this climb before, more than once. When he was working he would mostly take the stairs, but he knew this place inside out. He had photographed the lift and its views more times than he could count. So, his view wasn't the lift, the square below them, or the thousands of fairy lights. It was Regina. He admired her face, an expression of wonder etched onto it. The fairy lights lit her face in a warm glow and she was positively radiant. She looked like a child who had seen the castle in DisneyLand for the first time, her expression melting away the stone walls she presented to everyone else. In this moment it was impossible to understand that this same woman was the one they called 'the Evil Queen' at Roland's school. Just like they had when she had been angry at him, her eyes poured with emotion, the colour looking positively caramel and losing any worry or darkness that had been held in them before. He really, really liked Regina Mills.
Once the pair were seated at their table and Regina had finally gotten over her wonder at the place Robin had picked for their first date, (Robin of course, would never get over her heart warming reaction) they opened their menus and began to choose. Regina was browsing the pasta and risotto choices, knowing how good their pasta was rumoured to be. She eventually settled on the 'Cappellacci con Zucca e Amaretto di Saronno', a dish of pasta parcels with pumpkin and amaretto liquor, knowing her fondness for the sweet taste of the almondy liquid. Robin, having been around for the conception of most the dishes chose the 'Filetto di Maiale con Mele e Castagne', a pork dish with apple and chestnut. After checking with Regina, he ordered red wine for them both and she smiled when she allowed the smooth liquid to go down her throat, he had picked well.
"Robin, I feel like a child meeting Santa, this place is truly magical, thank you." She told him, smiling at him and meaning every word.
"You're most welcome. And what was Regina Mills as a child like?" He asked, watching her closely.
"Well, my father was Puerto Rican, but without any of the stereotypes. The kindest, most gentle man I have ever met." She began. Robin raised his eyebrows in surprise. "What?" She asked.
"Mills though?"
"On his mother's side. He was my hero. My mother worked a lot and he was a stay at home Dad, I guess. My childhood is filled with memories of days spent cooking good food and reading books and riding horses. I make a mean Carne Guisada Puertorriqueña even now." She explained, wiggling her eyebrows comically as she boasted about her cooking. He laughed in response at her, willing her to continue.
"He passed 7 years ago, cancer, and it broke my heart. I treasure each moment I had with him, and every moment Henry had with him." Robin reached across their table and covered her hand with his in comfort, his thumb stroking across her skin.
He gave her a moment and then asked; "and your mother?"
"Cora owns masses of property and rents it out. She started here and more recently has gone abroad to continue. Now she sells holiday houses in Spain, and she basically is the property market there from what I can gather. She met my Dad and they both wanted to travel and they ended up following his wishes and returning to Puerto Rico for quite some time, and they both learnt Spanish so she's pretty comfortable working in Spain now. She's the one who dipped my toes into the property market here, so I guess you can thank her for your apartment." She explained to him, her thoughts wandering to Cora and then to Henry Snr, and what he would think of Robin.
"So I can thank her for meeting you then?" He pondered, bringing her out of her thoughts.
"Yes, I suppose you can." She answered, smiling fully at him and taking a sip of wine. "What about your family?"
"English, both sides, Nottinghamshire to be exact. They come over every Christmas and Roland and I go over in the summer. They're both amazing, the most wonderful Grandparents to Roland, spoil him rotten and smother him in kisses every time they see him."
Regina chuckled, imagining Roland squirming under a kiss attack the way Henry did when he was his age. "And what brings the English photographer to the states then?" She asks, regretting it slightly when he grimaces a touch before answering.
"Roland's mother, Marian." He replied, "you want to talk exes?" He asks, generally seeking her answer.
She thought for a moment, she did want to know about Marian. Curiosity nearly got the better of her until she thought about where this conversation would lead. Daniel. She would have to tell Robin about Daniel and although it had been 11 years and she had mostly healed, it was still painful, a dull pain that sits constantly on her chest. A pain that has been gotten used to and learnt to live with. She wasn't however, ready to reveal the scars to Robin just yet.
"No, let's not. We'll save that one for another day." She replied, and he smiled to himself in response, she was considering future conversations, he took her answer as hint that she would absolutely say yes to a second date.
The rest of the evening was spent taking turns in recounting tales of their sons, flirting, eating wonderful food, flirting, drinking good wine, flirting and revelling in each other's company. When they had finished their meals, and after Regina had tried a bite of Robin's and concluded that it could be her death-row meal, the apple complimenting the dish perfectly, Antonio came out to speak to the pair. He greeted Robin in kind and they were given the chance to express how much they had enjoyed their evening. Once Robin had paid the bill they began their way out of the restaurant Regina excusing herself to the toilet as he gathered their jackets. Antonio reappeared once more to see Robin.
"So? How's it going with the beautiful girl?" Antonio asked.
"So good Tony, she's perfect." Robin replied, recognising, if he hadn't already, that he was absolutely smitten with Regina Mills.
"I'm so happy for you Robin, I can honestly say I have not seen you this happy for a very long time, my boy." Antonio admitted, holding Robin's shoulder as he spoke.
Robin gave a single nod of his head in answer and shook Antonio's hand, Regina returning as he left.
"Good to go?" Robin inquired.
"Absolutely." Regina answered. They rode the lift back down the building, both looking out at the view. They nudged into each other as they stood, giggling between them. They were both pleasantly tipsy from the wine and each other's company.
Once they reached Regina's home Robin walked her to her door, his hand pressed against her lower back, causing her to lean into the touch and delight in the short walk up to her porch. When she reached her door she turned to him and smiled.
"Thank you for a lovely evening." Regina purred, taking a step towards him.
Robin cupped her jaw in his palm and stroked his thumb across her cheek. Her tongue reaching out and wetting her lips, her gaze not missing the way his eyes flick down to watch.
"Can I see you again?" He asked, his eyes never leaving her lips.
With his question, she closed the space between them and pressed their lips together. It is chaste, just a taste of each other. Robin's eyes roam across her face in hunger for more, and they kiss again. This time it is filled with more passion, Robin's tongue seeking out for hers until she let him in. His hands wound around her hips and join together at the top of her rear, bringing her closer. She wraps her arms around his neck, her fingertips scratching the hair at the nape of his neck. They continue like this, tongues dancing around each other, hands wandering. It is only when Regina is pressed against her front door, her calf wrapped around his ankle that they pull apart, both breathing heavily.
"I'll take that as a yes then" Robin snickers, grinning at Regina.
"Good" Regina sighed, fiddling with the lapel of his jacket.
"You know, I've wanted to kiss you like that since you told me off at Prize Giving." He reveals, their foreheads pressed together, still close enough to feel one another's breath. Regina chuckled, pressing her forehead into his shoulder as her shoulders shake with laughter. Robin places his hand underneath her jaw and lifts her face from where she had hidden it. He traces her bottom lip with the pad of his thumb. "These lips are just too inviting."
She presses her lips to his thumb and then, knowingly, parts them slightly, allowing the very tip of her tongue to sneak out and wet his thumb where it rests on her lip. It drives Robin crazy, and before Regina knows it, his mouth had crashed against hers once more. She breaks the kiss this time though, her palms flat against his chest.
"Okay, you need to stop before I can't." She warned, and Robin pulls away from her as he chuckles. "Oh my god, the taxi is still waiting for you Robin! Go!" She exclaims suddenly, her face turning a deep shade of pink.
"Clearly I got distracted." Robin answers with a grin, he steps forward again, and before Regina can protest, he presses his lips against hers once more. More final this time, a goodbye. He backs away without releasing her hand from his and when her arm is at its reach he kisses her knuckles and tells her he will text her tomorrow.
"Sweet dreams, beautiful." He murmurs against her hand. Then, he was gone, probably using his charm to win round the taxi driver.
Regina let out a deep sigh, her senses still filled with the wonderful scent of Robin Locksley. She enters her home and leant back against her front door once it is closed. She let out a deep breath, a huge grin spreading across her face. For the first night in 11 years, she went to sleep with hope that perhaps, the void in her heart that had been left when she had heard Daniel's flatline, might just have the right contender to fill it. The thought knocked her sideways a little, but she basked in the feeling. Her heart knocking hard against her chest and growing with each beat.
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