*Trigger warning for abortion* So sorry if it offends any of you xxx I hope you still read this chapter.

OQOQOQ

Regina went to bed that night with a huge smile on her face that she couldn't shake even if she had wanted too. And well... why would she? She was happy and falling for a wonderful man.

Sunday morning, she woke up smiling again after having a beautiful dream of 'the blue eyed hot guy', it was nothing sexy, she was just replaying her date over as she hadn't wanted it to end. It was so perfect, he was such a perfect gentleman, she had never had that before.

And secretly she has craved for years to feel the way that she is feeling right now. Something that she has never ever voiced out loud, not even to her best friend Tink.

The smile that she wore going to bed the night before, was back again the next morning when her phone binged, letting her know that she just received a text.

'Good morning beautiful x,' it read.

'Good morning Robin,' that smile would just not leave her face as she typed her reply.

'So, how'd you sleep last night?'

'Pretty good.' She answered as she remembered her sweet dream. 'You?'

'Same.' He did, as he also dreamt about her. He had dreamt about her beautiful smile and her dark whiskey eyes that let him see into her very soul. 'What time are you meeting Tink at?' He then texted.

'Twelve.' She simply replied.

'I really want to see you today.'

'You are, or have you forgotten that you're picking me up for dinner tonight?' She so hoped that he hadn't forgotten their date.

'No of course not, I just mean that I'd like to see you now.' There was no way in hell he would forget their date.

'I'm afraid that can't happen right now.' She wrote.

'Why not?' If only she could see his frown, it was so comical.

'Well... for one I'm still in bed and have terrible bed hair.' She flirted as she wrote back.

'You'd still be beautiful.' Was his reply.

Regina practically held her phone to her chest as she giggled like a school girl. God the things that she was feeling for this guy in such a short amount of time.

'Well I'm sure you can wait a couple hours!' She then wrote back as she giggled to herself. When did she start to giggle?! She'd never giggled like this before.

'Well I suppose I'm gonna have too because you don't want me to see you with bed hair' He replied.

'I also have to clean my apartment before I meet up with Tink.' She was telling the truth as she had said that the day before.

Her bedroom was like a tornado had hit it over trying to figure out what she was going to wear the day before.

'Okay.' He didn't want to seem too pushy, 'I really had a great time yesterday.' He meant it.

'Me too.' God, she was really happy.

'Well I guess I'll see you later.' He then wrote.

'You will goodbye Robin.' She wrote back.

'Goodbye milady xxx'.

Regina then dragged herself out of bed, she went into her bathroom to have a quick shower. After her shower, she dressed herself in a pair of blue skinny jeans with a white blouse and a small touch of makeup. She let her hair dry naturally, letting her natural curls settle gently around her perfectly round face.

OQOQOQ

"So, how'd your date go yesterday?" Tinkerbelle asked with excitement as they both sat in the diner having lunch.

"I think we organized this lunch so we could talk about you and not me."

As much as Regina wanted to just talk about Robin she really did want to know about her best friend falling in love.

"We can talk about me after you tell me how your date went," Tink insisted.

"Ok fine," Regina was happy to talk about her 'blue eyed hot guy.' "It was really good, we went riding, had a picnic, we danced-"

"You danced?" Tink sighed wistfully.

"Yes." Regina rolled her eyes at her friend. "We kissed-"

"You kissed!" Tink said in the same tone as before.

"Yes." Again with a roll of her eyes. "Then he brought me bowling-"

"You went bowling." Again with that tone.

"Are you going to just keep repeating everything I say?" Regina wondered.

"I'm sorry." Her blonde friend apologized, "I'm just really happy for you."

"Thank you Tink." Regina said as she reached a hand across the table between them and took her friend's hand giving it a gentle squeeze, "I really mean that".

If it wasn't for Tinkerbelle Regina would never have been feeling like this, so she owed her little blonde friend more than she knew.

"So did you tell him?" Her pixie friend then asked as she really needed to know what Robin thought of her dark haired friend been a virgin.

"I did." Regina couldn't help but continue her smile as she remembered telling Robin that she has never been with anyone before, and he was surprisingly okay with it.

"And well... how did he take it?" Her friend really wanted to know.

"He was okay about it." She paused for a moment then continued, "he said that he didn't care."

"Well that's good right?" Tink then asked as she took a bite from her ham and cheese toasty.

"Yeah it is... but-"

"But what?" Her blonde friend cut her off.

"Maybe he was just telling me what I just wanted to hear." The brunette was worried.

"Regina, I don't think so. I mean like from what you've been telling me it seems that he really likes you too." Tink was certain.

"I hope so. But I guess I'll find out tonight-"

"Tonight?" Tink questioned in confusion.

"Yeah he's taking me to Tiana's for dinner."

"If it goes well are you gonna... well-"

"I don't know... i'm not going to plan anything, i'm just going to wait to see how things go first, and well if it goes well, probably." She was telling the truth.

Yes, she has only been out with him twice so far, but she was feeling a strong connection with him. And for some reason deep down inside of her she knew that he didn't just want to bed her.

"How was the kiss?" Tink then asked.

"Really good Tink... I mean it was like fireworks went off." Regina blushed at her words.

"Yeah, I felt like that the first time I met Jefferson." Her blonde friend replied encouragingly.

"Speaking off, how are thing's going with you two?" Regina asked. "We talked about Robin, so now let's talk about you." She really wanted to know more about the man that was going out with her best friend.

"Ok well..."

OQOQOQ

Regina finished up with Tink just after 2 o'clock then headed to the grocery store to do her weekly shopping.

She did usually do it on the Saturday, but she had spent the whole day with 'the blue eyed hot guy' so she had to do it today. She'd be working all week, and when she finishes her day at the diner she just likes to chill out and relax and not go grocery shopping.

She was heading down the fresh fruit section when she saw him. He was standing in front of baskets of apples. He had a bag of apples in each hand, in one hand he had a bag of green ones and in the other he had a bag of red ones.

'God he was so adorable,' she was thinking. She walked up behind him and whispered into his ear, "Are you stalking me?" she raised a brow in teasing gesture.

"Regina!" He replied, truly surprised to see her.

"Well?" She folded her arms over her chest with a touch of a smirk.

"Actually no, I had a few things to get and well... I had nothing else to do so thought I'd get what I needed now."

"Really?"

"You look beautiful." He replied smiling.

"I barley have any makeup on and my hair is a mess!" She didn't believe him.

"You don't need makeup, you're beautiful without it and I think your hair is lovely like that." He replied honestly, "is that your natural look?" he asked about her curly hair.

"It is, when I let my hair dry naturally it goes curly."

"I like it," he just said as he placed a hand on her waist while still holding the bag of apples, he pulled her a little closer so he could kiss her on the lips.

She melted into that kiss, her hands came up to his stubbled jaw and pulled him closer to her deepening the kiss.

"Hi," she whispered as they broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other.

'God this felt so good, been with him. How has she never felt like this before?' She asked herself, 'how could it have taken her so long to meet him?'

"Hi," he whispered back kissing her again. This time it was not deep just a quick peck to her lips.

"I'd go for the red ones." She then said, gesturing to his full hands and changing the topic before things could get too heated in the produce aisle of her local supermarket.

"Then the red ones it is." He said as he placed them gently in his basket.

"So, do you want company?" He then asked, "or is this something that you like to do on your own, if that's the case I understand " He rambled.

"Robin," she said placing her hands on his chest to calm him down, "I'd love some company." She did mean it.

She just wanted to spend every waking hour with him.

Why was she feeling so strongly for him already? it was like he used a love potion on her. 'Love... No!' She mentality scolded herself. How could she love him after only two dates and a few conversations over the phone? 'There was no way she could be in love with him already, it was way too soon.' She told herself firmly. So why didn't she believe it?

After they both got everything that they needed they paid for their shopping then headed out together.

"How are you getting home?" He asked as he looked at the three bags of groceries she was holding. She had five in total as he was holding two of hers with his own.

"Walking." She answered simply as she reached a hand out to take her two bags back.

He pulled his hand away from hers, lifting her bags out of her reach, "I'll give you a lift." He said firmly.

"You don't have too, I don't mind walking." And it wasn't a lie, she loved to walk.

She had a car, when her mother had died her car went to Regina but she never used it because she really did love to walk. It just stayed parked outside her apartment gathering dust.

"I insist." Was all he said as he started to walk towards his car prompting her to follow.

"Thank you." She then said with a wide smile gracing her face. 'God what are these feelings? It can't be love, it's too soon' It was way too much too soon to be feeling like this.

OQOQOQ

They arrived at Regina's a short time later, he took her bags of shopping from the boot of his car and carried them in for her.

She had told him that it was ok and that she could manage, but he was insistent.

"Would you like something to drink?" She asked him while switching the kettle on as he placed her bags on the counter-top.

"I couldn't help but notice that you had teabags in your basket?"

"Does that surprise you?" She questioned with a hint of a smile, trying hard not to let it be too obvious that she had bought them just for him.

"Americans aren't really known for drinking tea " He gave a small laugh as he noticed the smile she was trying so hard to hide from him.

"How would you feel if I told you that I only got them because you're from England?" She whispered into the quiet of the room.

"You bought teabags just for me?" He said as he walked over to the brunette and placed both hands on her hips pulling her in closer to his body.

"Maybe." She replied softly, slightly distracted by just how close his lips were to hers and his eyes.

"God, you're so beautiful," he whispered as he leaned in and closed the last of the distance between them, his lips pressing against hers gently.

But this tender moment wasn't enough and Regina tugged at his hoodie and pulled him in closer, seeking entrance to his mouth with her tongue, a request he was only too happy to oblige.

God, they fit each other so perfectly, it was like they were made for each other.

"Am I under a spell?" He whispered as they broke apart, noses brushing gently against each other. How the hell could he feel like this after only two dates?! This didn't happen in real life, this only happened in stories.

Regina's only answer was another kiss to his lips. God she was feeling the same, did HE put a spell on her ?

OQOQOQ

Robin helped Regina put her shopping away, then Regina made the tea and coffee and they both brought them into her living room.

They sat on the sofa in comfortable silence.

After a couple of minutes, Robin was the first to speak.

"Regina you told me something very personal yesterday."

Her heart started to race. 'This is it.' She thought,' He's going to break it off. Why would he want me when he could have any woman he wanted? 'An experienced woman'

And as if he could read her mind he took her hand in his and said, "yesterday you asked me about my first love, well if you still want to know, I have a bit of time before I have to pick my hot date up." He gave a nervous chuckle.

"You don't have to " She replied honestly chuckling at the mention of his 'hot date.'

She had a feeling that it hadn't ended well between him and his first love because he had refused to talk about it the day before so she really didn't want to push him if he wasn't ready to talk about it yet.

"I want to tell you." He insisted as if he had read her mind again.

"Okay." Was all she could utter.

"Okay well " He began as he started to tell his new love about his old love. "I was with Marian for three year's-" He paused to clear his throat before he continued, "two and a half year's into our relationship Marian became pregnant-"

"You have a child?" She asked surprised. It wouldn't matter, of course, if he had because she loved children and she was really feeling a strong connection with him.

"No..." A few tears fell from his eyelashes.

"Robin..." Tears also fell from hers as she watched the man that she was fast falling for cry in front of her.

The men that she knew didn't cry in front of anyone. Why? she had no clue. But a man that is not afraid to show his feelings is a man that she wants in her life.

'Seriously, can he be any more perfect?' She thought to herself.

"I didn't know that she was pregnant." He continued, "her phone rang one day, she was in the shower so I answered it... I.. It was her doctor's secretary." His voice broke.

"What was wrong?" She asked as she held his hands in hers trying to comfort him.

"She was ringing to remind Marian about her follow-up check-up after she had her termination." More tears fell.

"What?" She was shocked. That was the last thing that she was expecting to come from his mouth. She just thought that he was going to tell her that he had a child and that if things work out between them he would like to introduce her to his child.

But his confession was not what she thought he would say.

"That's what I said."

"And what did Marian say about it?" She asked curiously.

"When I asked Marian about it," Robin paused for a minute collecting himself, "She said that she wasn't ready for kids and that she had wanted a career first, and she didn't tell me because she knew I would have talked her out of it."

"I'm sorry." She truly was, she couldn't believe anyone ever doing that to someone that they loved, let alone to the wonderful man sitting next to her on the sofa.

How could someone do something like that without talking to their partner first? It wasn't right.

"But you said you were with her for three years?" Regina had to ask. After what Marian had done she thought it would have ended straight away.

"I loved her and she loved me... So, we tried to make it work, but I couldn't after what she had done so I broke up with her."

Regina opened her mouth to reply but found that no words would come, so she closed it again prompting him to continue.

"Every time I looked at her, I couldn't help but wonder what we would have had, would we have had a boy or a girl? Who he or she would have looked like? Would they have had dark skin like Marian's or would they have had my blonde hair, my dimples, my eyes or Marian's eyes? I just " He cleared his voice then continued again, "I just... could not not think about that, so I knew that we just didn't work anymore." More tears poured down his cheeks.

"I'm so sorry Robin." She said again as her own tears began to fall.

"Thank you." He replied softly pressing their lips together once more.

It was a deep desperate kiss, longing and loss penetrating every single desperate moment of it.

He placed a hand on each one of her cheeks and pulled her in closer as their tongues both battled it out. Regina's hands slid up his chest and around his neck as she kissed him back, loving the feeling of him against her. With his weight almost on her, she lay back on the sofa bringing him with her.

Robin was now half on top of her, he moved one hand from her face down to her breast and felt it over her top, giving it a gentle squeeze causing Regina to let out a moan.

But she had to put a stop to this. Yes, she was falling in love with him already and she really wanted to give herself to him. But with everything that he had just told her, she knew that now (as much as she wanted to bring him into her bedroom and just let him take her virginity) was not the time.

"Robin... Stop!" She moaned out as he gave her boob another squeeze while his mouth was now attached to the pulse on her neck.

His hand immediately froze and he stopped kissing her neck, "are you ok? Did I hurt you?" He asked worried.

"I'm fine." She assured him, placing her hand on his jaw and planting a softer kiss to his lips. "I want to continue this... God you have no idea how much I want to continue this." She confessed truthfully "But you're not in the right head space right now." God right this minute she was just wishing that she was a selfish bitch. That way she could take him to bed and not worry where his mind was at.

"I'm sorry." He was quick to say as he moved his hand from her breast to her hip. Lifting himself of her, he spoke again, "I think I should be going."

"Are we still going out tonight?" She asked as she followed him to her front door. She wasn't really up to date on this dating thing, she hasn't had a boyfriend in a very long time. Had she done something wrong?

"Regina-" He swung around to face her placing a hand to her cheek, "wild horses couldn't stop me from picking you up tonight"

Regina had to laugh at that, 'God he really was adorable.'

OQOQOQ

Later that day Regina had her shower and got dressed for her date. She wore a sleeveless black cocktail dress with a light cardigan over it. She left her hair down and curly because he had said that he liked it like that. She also didn't put much make-up on because he had also said that she didn't need it.

She had just exited her bedroom when a knock came on her front door. She waltzed over knowing who it was, when she opened the door she was greeted with a dimpled smile and a dozen lilies.

'Oh my god, they are my favorite flowers!' She was totally in awe with this wonderful, beautiful man standing before her.

"You look stunning." He said as he gave her a soft kiss on the lips.

"Thank you." She replied, blushing and taking the flowers from him and placing them gently in a vase on her mantelpiece.

"Regina I'm sorry about today." He said as they walked down to his car.

"Robin it's ok." She was telling him the truth, 'was he on about what he told her or when he got a bit handsy with her?' She had no reason to complain about either. The truth was she had liked when he touched her the way that he had. But with everything that happened that day she was not going to go there, she wanted it to be special with him and to not have some dark cloud hanging over them. She knew that Robin was not in the right frame of mind after what he had told her about the child that he could have had.

When they arrived at Tiana's, the valet took Robin's car keys as a waiter led Robin and Regina to their pre-booked table.

"Robin what you told me today " She started.

"I freaked you out, didn't I?" He interrupted, "And that's why I didn't want to tell you yesterday"

"No you didn't." She placed a hand on his reassuringly. "I just didn't get to talk to you about it properly. " She needed to know a bit more, they were kissing straight after that before she had a chance to react to the news.

"What do you want to know?" He asked.

"Do you still love her?"

"No." He answered without hesitation.

"So I don't have to worry about a jealous ex coming after me?" She hoped that the answer would be a no too.

Robin was about to answer when the waiter came back with the drinks they had ordered earlier. They ordered their food and the waiter then left again.

"So?" She questioned as she took a sip of her Merlot.

"Marian's living over in England."

"If she was living here, would it be different?" She asked confused.

"Well... I had a blind date a couple months ago. My mate Will's wife Ana set me up, it seemed to be going well until I realized that Marian just happened to be at the same restaurant." He paused to clear his throat then continued again. "I excused myself to use the bathroom and when I came back my date was gone."

"Did you ever find out why she just left?"

"I begged Ana to find out what happened, and when she talked to her friend she told Ana that Marian had approached her and told her that she was just a rebound and that she was standing in the way of us getting back together."

"So, she does still love you then?"

"I don't think so, Marian is the type of person that wants what she can't have. And when she does finally get it, she gets bored very easily." He was telling the truth. "We broke up like four years ago, I have seen her a fair few times since the breakup and she never once interfered with my life until she saw me with a date."

The waiter then came back with their food. Regina had ordered a chicken Thai Curry and Robin went with a Chilli dish.

"So what about Daniel?" He had to know

"What do you mean?" She was confused with the change of questioning.

"You wouldn't come to the stables with me yesterday because you knew he was working, and I'm guessing you try and avoid him at any cost?" Robin asked.

"I told you what happened with that." She said confused.

"Yes I know bu-but something tells me... that you still have feelings for him?" Gods, he hoped he was wrong but he had to know.

"I don't love him anymore." She stated matter-of-factly, "And something's now telling me that what I felt for him was not love." She then blurted out.

'Shit did I just say that... fuck, no, no!' She was kicking herself.

What she was feeling for Robin right now was nothing compared to what she had ever felt with Daniel. 'Is this really what love feels like?' She asked herself, and that is just about what she told him. Not in so many words but Robin was clearly smart enough to read between the lines

Robin blushed at her response, 'Did she just tell me that she loved me?' He silently cursed himself for hoping that, 'No you fucking plonker, she can't love me yet. There's no way she loves me'

They talked a bit more as they ate their food, getting to know one another more.

They ordered another drink, Robin just went with a club soda as he was driving while Regina had another glass of wine. Regina stood up to take off her cardigan as it was a bit warm in the restaurant, Robin also stood and moved behind her to help her shed that piece of clothing.

"Thank you." She said as she took it from him and hung it on the back of her chair.

When they sat back down a bit of dark ink caught Robin's eye.

'It's her' He said to himself as he stared at the feather tattoo that was on her right wrist. Just like the one that Mystic Mal had told him about all those years ago.

But truthfully he didn't need to see the tattoo to know that he was meant to meet her. To be with her. The connection alone was enough for him to know that they were meant to be.

"Robin?" She called as his eyes hadn't left her arm.

"Sorry." He said shaking himself slightly to bring himself back to his sense's.

"Are you okay?" She asked.

"Nice tattoo." Was all he said.

"Oh this." She ran her fingers over the dry ink, "thank you." She smiled slightly as she gazed down at her tattoo.

"Is there a story behind it? Like what made you choose a feather?" He asked curiously.

"You'll only think it's silly if I tell you."

"I highly doubt that." He responded. Nothing she could say or do would make her look silly in front of him.

"Ok I'll tell you, but you have to promise to not think it's stupid or laugh at me." She said seriously.

"I promise."

"Ok... My mother and father had no siblings and I was an only child. When my mother died, I felt all alone because I had no family left. Sure, I had my friends and still do and I love them with all my heart, and I do consider them family... but they're not blood." She wiped at a tear that was threatening to fall down her cheek.

Robin reached out a hand and took hers, the one that had the tattoo and laced his fingers with hers. He gave her hand a gentle squeeze prompting for her to continue, which she did.

"At the funeral, I stayed behind after everyone left and begged my parents for a sign that everything was going to be alright. After a couple minutes, I was about to leave when a feather floated through the air and landed on my lap." She wiped at another tear. "So, while everyone was at Granny's waiting for me, I went to get my tattoo." She finished her story and looked up hesitantly from her arm, she waited expectantly for the smart comment, the snide remark she was sure was coming, but instead;

"It's a symbol of hope." Was his reply as he traced his fingers over the feather.

"That's what I think it means." She said with a wide smile gracing her face. He thought the same as she did.

"So what did you do with the actual feather?"

"Well I couldn't bring myself to throw it away, so I bought a glass picture frame for it, and it's resting on my nightstand by my bed."

"Yeah I wouldn't have thrown it away either." He said as he lifted her arm and placed a soft kiss to her feather tattoo causing her to blush.

"So they're holding a Horror marathon movie night tomorrow in the park." She changed the subject "It's this stupid thing they do. Last week it was Rom-Coms and this week it's horror. Would you like to go with me?" She was asking him out, and she doesn't even like horror movies. But after their talk the day before about horror films, she really did want to see one with him.

"I would love to go with you." He gave her a big dimpled smile.

It was like he knew what that smile did to her cause he was showing it a lot.

A short time later when they were ready to go, Robin paid the bill and they both left. When they exited the restaurant Robin's car was already waiting outside for him.

He made a mental note to go onto the web later and leave a 5 star review. Not only was the food to die for, the service was great and you also wouldn't have to wait for the valet. He guessed that as soon as you asked for the bill, the valet would go and get your car so that you wouldn't have to wait around.

A short time later they arrived at her apartment. Like the gentleman he is, he walked her to her door.

"I had a really good time." She said as she opened her front door.

"So did I." He replied.

"Would you like to come in?" She asked him nervously.

"I'd love to, but we are both up very early tomorrow and it's quite late now." He really wanted to say yes, but when he was going to make love to her he wanted to cherish her for the whole night.

"Okay." She said a little disappointed.

"Will you have lunch with me tomorrow?" He then said desperately trying to make it up to her.

"Yes, that would be great " She replied. 'Why didn't he want to stay?' She thought to herself.

"I'll come by Granny's at lunch tomorrow?" He asked.

"No, let me bring lunch to you." She replied.

"Ok I'll see you then." He said as he gave her a kiss, "Bye beautiful."

"Bye." She couldn't help but smile as he quickly kissed her again before leaving.

OQOQOQ

Again, thank you to my amazing beta Mint18 who is such a busy bee but yet she finds the time to help me out.

Also thank you for Reviewing. And to those who Follow and Favorite.

Love you all xxx