Home

by audreyslove

After a whirlwind engagement to Daniel, Regina struggles to follow him and leave the people, job, and places that she has come to call home for the last few years. Written for the OQ Advent Calendar, based on an absolutely gorgeous manip by @starscythe.

10. Chapter 10

A/N: Just a little epilogue. Merry Christmas! I knew this story wasn't for everyone, but for those who enjoyed, thanks for reading!

---

"Those don't look like snow boots," Robin notes as they park in his car.

"They aren't," she says, staring down at her heels. "My feet are soaked. Though I can't say I mind at all right now."

"Well, I mind," Robin says, as they walk into his building. "You look cold. But I'm going to get you nice and warm "

"Good," Regina smiles.

She feels a bit awkward around Robin. She's hurt him terribly and she has no idea if he's ready to start a relationship. If that is what he wants right now.

She's definitely ready for everything with him, and would gladly talk it through, give him all the assurances he needs (or everything physical to renew their connection — she wants that too). But she's just been traveling and she's so emotionally exhausted she might most like to have a nap with him and cling to him tightly for hours on end. But his feelings are important. She is going to let him lead.

And they need to talk more.

This is going to work, she's ever more confident about that, but she doesn't want to screw anything up.

"My apartment is a mess," he sighs as they walk into the elevator. "And unlike other times I've said this, it really is a mess."

"I don't mind," she assures.

When they get to his apartment, he really wasn't lying.

Dirty dishes are in and near the sink. There's half empty takeout containers on the coffee table, several glasses sitting with various liquids in them, a bottle of beer on the side table, a messy pile of clothes he runs to throw in a hamper when he gets in. A blanket that's always neatly folded is laying across the couch, and it seems he's been using a throw pillow to rest on.

"I kind of fell apart when you said you never wanted to see me again," he says softly. "It's pathetic, I know."

"It's not pathetic," Regina insists. "I was a mess too."

"I…" he sighs and takes off his boots and jacket, helping her with her own. "I know we weren't ever together, but I lost my best friend. I thought I lost you forever. And I felt so guilty that I begged you to sleep with me."

"You didn't beg; you asked." Regina smiles. "I wanted you more than I could say out loud. You didn't have to try so hard. I was already going to come up with you."

He nods, and she sees it then, the guilt in his eyes, his slouched posture.

She hugs him.

"The only one who needs to apologize is me. We had that amazing night and then I let my guilt talk me into running when I knew how I felt."

He shakes his head. "I never wanted to push you, and I pushed you that night. And let's face it, you weren't cheating on Daniel our first time together. But that second time, I talked you into it."

She presses a kiss to his lips and says, "No, you didn't. And we were having at least an emotional affair long before I realized it — at least, I had been having one. The physical part was just confirmation." She walks toward the cluttered coffee table and begins picking up plates and glasses off of them.

"You don't have to do that," he mutters.

"Let me just do this, please," she asks. She needs to fix this, needs to clean up a bit, because this is part of the mess she created.

He nods and helps her, gathering dishes and emptying bottles of soda and beer down the drain, before running off to the bedroom to, no doubt, clean up in there.

She clears her throat when he returns, clarifying, "Nothing that happened was your fault, you know. I knew I had to stop seeing you if I wanted to get married. I probably would have made that decision if we hadn't slept together. I wanted you too badly, and I loved you too much. I think that much is obvious. But… chances of us not sleeping together before I left were low. I love you, I love being with you, and apparently, I also have poor impulse control."

Robin chuckles. "You said that the guilt of everything would ruin your chance to be happy—"

"I lied," she admits with a sad smile. "I do feel guilty, but I also love you more than I care to punish myself over this. And I truly know this was the best decision." She swallows hard, voicing what has been in the back of her mind for months. "Even if you and I had never gotten together, Daniel and I would not have lasted. We are different people. It worked when I was here with all of you, but even then, not fully. He made me feel… inadequate. Unintentionally of course. He just made clear what he wanted and I knew I wasn't quite that. I just wanted to measure up to expectations that he had. And really I was trying to fit myself into a spot marked 'Daniel's perfect partner', but it wasn't me. And I never really belonged there. I clung to the fact he'd get me all these thoughtful presents so he must know me deep down inside and be perfect for me. I felt so foolish when I realized that those gifts were a huge reason why I thought we worked. I didn't want to admit how stupid I had been, because yes, putting that much stake in them was absurd."

"Fuck," Robin groans. He's wiping off the crumbs that are on the coffee table now as she scrubs a pot that it seems mac and cheese was made in. "I'm so sorry I didn't tell you about this years ago."

"Things happen for a reason," she waves off. "I don't want to think about what if. I just want to make sure that we are good now."

"We are," he says. "Now come here, let me hold you for a bit, you starved me of yourself for weeks."

She smiles and lets him lead her to the couch.

He smells like snow and pine and just a hint of something deep and earthy that she wants to wrap herself into.

"I missed you," he whispers again.

"I missed you too. I love you."

"I won't soon tire of hearing that," he whispers back.

He tugs at her arm, urging her to straddle his lap.

"You are so beautiful," he says, his hand stroking her cheek softly.

"So are you," she smiles, dipping down to kiss him.

"In a manly way, right?" he asks, a twinkle in his eye.

"Very manly." She strokes his scruff and presses a kiss to his lips.

They trade kisses like that, soft and slow, for awhile.

"Did you eat yet, love?"

"No," she smiles. "I rushed right over to you the second I arrived."

"Right," he smirks. "Because you love me."

"I do, very much."

He still reacts like it's the first time he's heard those words, still smiles in this shocked, happy sort of way that makes her heart turn to warm honey.

He strokes her leg, bringing his own flush with her, and then frowns.

"Why don't you get into a pair of my pajamas? Those jeans are wet from the snow. That can't be comfortable."

Her feet are cold, socks wet, but she doesn't feel anything short of amazing.

"I brought my carry on bag and it has some of my clothes in there, I don't want to put you out, I could find something else—"

"But I like the way you look in my clothes," Robin admits shyly.

"Good, those flannel pants were so soft and comfortable, I almost stole them after our first night together." She giggles, as does he.

He gives her that and an old charity tee shirt that says "5K Fun Run 2008" on it.

So at some point when Robin was in college he rabs... or at least participated in races. She wants to know the story of why he kept the tee shirt, of the run itself, if he used to do lots of these, and why he doesn't do them anymore.

As well as she knows him there's still so much to uncover. And she can't wait.

She looks down at the comfortable pants and glances up at him. She could run off to the bathroom to change, but Robin has seen everything, and it seems unnecessary.

So she strips off her jeans and then her sweater and the shirt underneath it, leaving her in a black bra and panties.

She looks up and finds Robin staring at her as if he wanted to devour her.

Good.

Before she can put on the pajamas she throws her arms around him and gives him a kiss.

"I don't want you to think this is all about looks," he murmurs. "It's not. I love you for so many other reasons than what you are currently doing to my libido. But you are. Doing those things to my libido. Even though that isn't all this is."

She laughs.

"We were friends for years before everything else. I know that."

"While we were friends I still was lusting after you after you quite a bit," he reminds.

She lips curve up. "Really?"

He laughs. "I don't think you want to know details. You'll think I'm a pervert."

"Maybe I'll be flattered by your perversion."

"I'm going to my grave with some of the things I've imagined," Robin warns.

She raises a brow and flashes him a skeptical smile.

"I think you might think I'm more of a prude than I actually am. You'll tell me all your fantasies in time."

Robin seems to rise to the challenge, cupping her ass and squeezing it while he pulls her in close. "The first time I jerked off thinking about you was the night after we first met. That's a lot of fantasies to catch you up on."

She laughs and crinkles her nose. "What did I do that was so sexy that first day?"

"Existed," he shrugs, giving her a quick peck. "Go on, put some clothes on before I have another fantasy."

"We could…" she finishes her sentence with a kiss, one that heats and suggests what she doesn't want to put into words.

"We could, and I want to, badly," he says, jutting his hips into her as proof. "But you just broke up with him, you just had a long flight and train ride, and you're tired and hungry right now. Plus, I'd never regret what we had, or our nights together but I think I should woo you this time."

"I don't need to be wooed," Regina objects.

"Maybe not. But you need a good meal and good sleep more than you need a good lay." He gives her a peck and watches as she puts on his pajamas.

Well, he is right on that.

And he wants her and loves her so she doesn't have to worry about what waiting will mean.

He orders her soup and a fajita wrap from Granny's, he gets himself a Monte Cristo sandwich with plenty of fries.

And when they have finished eating, he brings her in close, rubbing her back as he asks, "So, when are you going to call Gold and get your job back?"

Regina laughs. "I can't do that," she sighs. "God, what a disaster. I have no job. Soon to be no apartment. And almost no furniture. I have a boxspring and mattress, a coffee table and end tables, and one chest of drawers. Thank god I couldn't sell my car before I left."

"Gold said you could come home whenever you wanted, didn't he?" Robin asks.

He did say that. But…. well, Regina is embarrassed. Her last day was just a few days ago.

"I don't think he meant it," she says simply. "I was thinking I'd look to see about getting a job at Tremaine-Heart."

"It's worth a shot, though," Robin urges. "What about sending just one email?"

She does, holding her breath, then sighs and leans back into him after hitting send.

"I really made a mess of things."

He chuckles but disagrees, "You didn't. Life happened. Things got confusing. But I think you're on the right path now."

This proves to be the case when her phone pings minutes later. She gets a return email from Gold telling her that he never filled her position, never so much as posted it, and she's welcome to have it back. That in itself is strange. It's certainly against company policy. She wonders why he did it, if he truly was risking so much on the chance she'd change her mind. It seems almost incomprehensible, he's never been an emotional man, and yet…

She can only hand Robin her phone silently, the shock too much for her.

"See? I told you!" Robin says triumphantly, hugging her. "I get to work with you again."

"I guess you do," Regina says, still processing how easy that was. How is this happening? "Now if only my landlord accidentally neglected to sign a new tenant, my life would almost not be a mess."

"Oh, hush. Your life is fine. You're doing worlds better than others. And as for an apartment and furniture, I wouldn't worry about that. Mary Margaret will be welcoming you in her guest room indefinitely. You know that."

"Probably," Regina nods. "But I'm not so sure I want to rely on anyone. I've not been on my own for three years. I should do this on my own."

"You know I'd love to have you here, too."

She thinks he probably says it just to be polite, and it's sweet, but… not exactly a good idea.

"I'd love to be here. But it seems a little fast," she teases him, reaching behind her to steal a kiss.

Robin hums. "It is. But the idea of waking up with you every day seems rather hard to resist."

His words make her feel all warm and gooey. A sense of calm spreads over her because this is right. Robin is worth whatever mess and complications arise. She chose the more difficult path in this last minute decision, but she is sure she won't come to regret it.

It's always been Robin.

"And speaking of waking up with you, why don't we have a little kip? You look exhausted."

She wants to tease him about insulting her looks but, well, she really is exhausted.

"I haven't had a good night's sleep in weeks," she admits.

"Me either," Robin sighs. "You are a very difficult person to stop thinking about, trust me I have tried a lot over the past few weeks." Her face falls, she touches her cheek, some sentimental apology stuck in her throat, but before she can say anything he presses a kiss to her lips. "It's alright, love. Let's rest."

It's not how she expected her first time back in bed with him to be, but it feels right. Their relationship is just beginning, and what they missed about each other is the emotional side of intimacy. Reclaiming that takes priority.

She falls asleep nearly the second he wraps his arms around her, making her feel safe, warm, and loved.

.::.

It's night when she wakes, still drowsy and sleep drunk from too long of a midday nap. She moves to rub the blurriness out of her eyes and it jostles Robin the tiniest bit.

Hard not to, when his arm is wrapped so tightly against her.

"Oof," Robin groans, "Not sure how long we slept, but it seems like forever."

Regina reaches for her phone and checks it. 6 PM. "We slept for three and a half hours," she laughs. "I have about six missed calls from Mary Margaret. You know what, I don't regret it. It felt so good."

"Mm," Robin says spinning her towards him. "You," he kisses her neck, "feel," another kiss to her jaw, "very good," he meets her lips.

She kisses him back, wrapping her arms and leg around him as she does.

It's not long until hands are wandering, until she feels him hard against her hip until she starts imagining doing wildly delicious things to him.

"Are you sure you want this?" Robin rasps, diving back down to kiss her, to grind into her, his hand cupping firmly at her ass, urging her to ruck against him. "Instead of having a few dinner dates and bouquets of flowers first?"

"I want this now," she says, still breathless from kissing, "Can't you tell?"

"Need to be sure. It's been an emotional few days for you," he says, tearing himself from her.

"For you too," she reminds.

"Mm, true, it has been," he agrees, "things are looking up though."

He kisses her breathless, his hand finding its way underneath her shirt (his shirt, actually), and he's just reached up to fondle her breasts when her phone buzzes loudly against the wood of his nightstand.

"Ignore it," Regina instructs. He does, lifts up that shirt she's wearing and kisses and sucks all over the sensitive flesh of her breasts.

"You know I love you, right?" he asks as if they weren't saying the words on repeat for hours

"I love you more," she grins, placing both hands on the back of his head, just encouraging him, making it clear she really really want this.

"Fuck, that is so, so good," she moans. "Love this, I—"

Her phone buzzes again, somehow louder this time. Robin stops, pulling away from her

"Answer it," he pleads, sounding like pure sex. "I don't want our minds to be on anything else but each other."

She looks down and grimaces. Mary Margaret.

"Mary, hi," she says, trying not to sound like a panting mess.

"Hey I didn't mean to interrupt…" she can hear Mary Margaret's shit-eating grin from here, "but I was wondering if um, you are telling people you are back? John can't get a flight home at all, the snow in Montana is insane. He was feeling a bit down and it's supposed to storm later tonight, so I thought we could take him to Wolfe's right now before the snow comes. You know how he likes barbecue."

"I…" She really wants to fuck Robin right into the ground right now, but John is a friend and she can't imagine how bummed he's feeling.

"Ruby and Peter are coming, and Will is actually still in town, he is taking the train up on Christmas Eve for some reason. And you know as luck would have it Merida hasn't been able to get a flight yet."

Regina smiles. Her friend is playing matchmaker again.

"Are you trying to hook them up and using us to help you?"

"Why ever would I try to help our friend be happy and how dare I think you'd want to help him find that happiness!" Mary scoffs sarcastically. "I'd understand if you were too busy but I know Robin loves John, so… do you think you can come? I mean assuming you can still walk."

"Mary Margaret!" Regina warns, her cheeks heating at the implication.

Robin's shoulders are shaking, covering his mouth in a silent laugh. Well, looks like he heard her. She slaps his back and shoots him a warning glare.

"Oh, come on, Regina, we saw you two together for years, you could cut the sexual tension with a knife! You guys must have gone crazy on each other!" Mary Margaret exclaims, and Regina's embarrassment nearly ramps to unprecedented levels while Robin chuckles next to her.

She frowns at him and vows to get him back.

"Mary just hold on a second."

Regina looks up at Robin and tells him the details, leaving the decision up to him.

"I really want to go," he whispers, and good, so does she.

"We will be there," she promises. Then she remembers she doesn't have much in Robin's apartment, just a few comfortable clothes she stuck in her carry-on that are mostly summery (in case her luggage was lost when she was in California). "Do you mind if I drop by your place to pick up something… festive for tonight?" she asks, shooting Robin a glare.

"Of course, but get over here now because David and I are leaving in forty-five minutes."

She hangs up the phone and leans in to kiss Robin.

"I'll see you at the party," she says, shedding herself of his pajamas and heading into the living room in nothing but her underwear.

She knows Robin is watching her as she goes. She doesn't have to turn around to see it.

She looks back at him anyway.

.::.

When she reaches Mary Margaret's house she finds her car underneath even more snow. Well, it seems she won't be driving herself anywhere anytime soon. She grabs her suitcases out of the car and drags them to the porch.

"How was it?" Mary Margaret asks as soon as she opens the door, looking wide-eyed and interested.

And Regina has no idea how to answer that except with a half-truth.

"We didn't, um, we didn't do anything today," she says, walking by as nonchalantly as she can.

"What… what happened?" Mary Margaret's face turns worried, her voice low as she asks, "did he have trouble getting it up?"

"What? No!" Regina says, shocked. Mary Margaret looks the very picture of concern and is waiting for an explanation. But she isn't sure should give it yet. Not where David could overhear, any way.

"Um, where can I get changed?" Regina asks, and Mary Margaret leads her to the spare room, following her.

"I want to hear everything. I deserve to hear everything."

"You are going to think some really horrible things about me, Mary Margaret." She grimaces as she opens her suitcase and finds the outfit she's picked out.

"Oh no, Regina, don't tell me you are going back to Daniel."

"What? No! Not that. Okay, this is going to be hard to hear. What I mean is, with Robin? Today all we did was kiss. Today." Regina focuses on removing her shoes a bit before bracing herself and finding the courage to look apologetically at Mary Margaret.

Mary Margaret understands almost immediately, sitting on the edge of the bed looking a bit dazed.

"Oh. So there were other days...?"

Regina huffs as she begins to undress, something to put her focus on something else, so she doesn't have to look Mary Margaret in the face. After she has stripped off her jeans and top she confesses, "David's birthday this year was the first time. Daniel and I had had a fight— you know what? No. It wasn't a fight, it was a breakup, and when he wanted to get back together called it a fight but it sure as shit sounded like a break up to me. And I was so upset, and then I got drunk, and you and the rest of the gang left us to go to that bar I hate—"

"I suggested we go to the Drunken Ship. I left you two alone on purpose," Mary Margaret admits with a shy smile. "I did it! I'm your fairy godmother! I set you up!"

"No, you didn't!" Regina protests, even though it is really sounding that way. She struggles to put on her stockings thinking about Mary Margaret's elaborate planning. "And you thought I was with Daniel, anyway, how could you—?"

Mary Margaret shrugs. "I just wanted to see you truly happy. Him too. And okay, I didn't want you to move."

Regina's mouth falls open, holding her skirt and blouse in hand.

"So," Mary Margaret says, elbowing her, "how was it?"

"Mary Margaret," Regina whines, looking down.

"Come on, tell me, I'll tell you what David's like if you tell me—"

"God no!" Regina says, her cheeks hot, turning around and stepping into her skirt so she can hide her fierce blush. It is not that David is disgusting to her — he's very attractive, actually, but with Mary Margaret increasingly becoming like a sister to her, David is very off limits. She doesn't think of him that way anymore, only sees him as the kind man who has made her friend so happy, not the smart, sexy analyst she had admittedly liked to look at when she wanted a view of something pretty.

That was then, now he's just… almost like a brother. The thought of hearing about his antics in the sheets seems awful.

"Okay, but answer me this. Your first time with Robin, was it good?" Mary Margaret asks, unphased.

The question is general enough to where details aren't necessary, and she's been bottling this up for months now, so…

She slides up the zipper of her skirt and then lets herself lean against the wall and sink down to the floor, "So good, so, so good."

"Really?"

"Mary Margaret, we have to go," David calls, peeking through the slit in the door.

"Shh, David!" Mary Margaret waves him off. She turns to Regina in a hushed voice. "What was the best part? He has a nice body… his hands, he seems like he'd be good with them, is he a good kisser? Is he good at…?"

She's going to give her this one. Mostly, okay, because she actually wants to brag about it. Regina bites back a smile and looks at her friend, whispering softly, "He's very very good with his mouth. Everything that um, involves his mouth." She's blushing and smiling like a teenager and doesn't even mind.

"Really?" Mary Margaret slides down to sit next to her on the floor. "Does he do anything special? Is he like one of those hungry types or is like one of those guys whose very precise and calculated, like—"

"Everyone is already there," David huffs from behind the door. "We have to go."

Regina cringes. "I still have to put in makeup." She smiles, whispering quickly, "But he is a hungry type, and oddly… throws some kind of precise moves in there."

Mary Margaret hums approval then smiles deviously. "David's used to waiting, don't worry. We're going to talk more while I do your makeup."

Mary Margaret does her hair as Regina works on her makeup (it's ridiculous, but the woman is good with Regina's hair, she has to give her that. She probably has had lots of practice with hair, she seems the type to have massive slumber parties with hair braiding and styling before bracelet making and pillow fights). Mary asks plenty of follow-up questions that make Regina blush through her foundation. They've never really discussed sex in this context before, not about specifics with partners and gritty details of sex. Regina shoes away from answering many questions, opting to make snarky comments instead that have Mary Margaret rolling her eyes but doesn't seem to deter her in any way.

"So are you going to tease him all night?" Mary Margaret asks, "Make him want it badly? I mean that skirt is… wow."

That has been the plan, but now, the idea of teasing him in front of their friend's sounds… risky.

"I don't know if we are ready to go public with this yet." She admits. "But he said he liked this skirt before. I guess I wanted to…"

"Flirt?" Mary Margaret asks. "You look smoking hot. You should flirt."

"I really can't believe you're still even talking to me. I cheated on my fiancé. I am the villain in every romantic comedy movie that exists."

"I hated the way my father treated my mother, it's true," Mary Margaret says with conviction. "He had a family and a woman who loved him, and I think in his own way he loved her. More than he ever loved any woman I knew, at least. But he never loved enough. Not enough to avoid sleeping with any random willing woman. He liked his meaningless flings despite the fact he hurt my mother doing it. Too selfish to give it up."

Mary Margaret smiles at her. "That's not you, Regina. You fell in love with someone and acted imperfectly. Besides, the first time I was with David he hadn't yet broken up with Kathryn."

Regina's jaw nearly hits the floor. "What?"

"You aren't the only one with secrets and you aren't the only one who makes moral mistakes," Mary Margaret sighs. "People are going to judge, but they will get over it fast. Because everyone has something they've hidden from the world. Something they are ashamed of. Some just hide it better than others. You never struck me as one to hide, though."

She has a point.

.::.

"I'm sorry as fuck about your flight, man," Robin says, patting his friend on the back. They are at the bar, waiting on a table and the rest of their friends to arrive. It's obvious John needs cheering up. His birthday is around the holidays, and Robin spent last Christmas with his family. He knows how they go all out for him. John's always been a family man. Sometimes being so far from the rest of his brothers and his parents can hit him hard.

"I should have taken an earlier one," John grimaces, taking a deep swig of his beer. "Had some extra work, wanted to see that Nets game…"

"At least there's plenty of us here," Robin points out. "You won't have to spend Christmas alone. You'll have me, David, Mary, Regina—"

"And Daniel?" John asks, raising his eyebrows.

Robin coughs. "No Daniel, actually. Just Regina."

He looks up at him unsure, almost judgmental. And Robin waits for it.

"They break up then?" John asks.

Robin sighs. "Yeah. And, um, you know how I feel about her. That hasn't gone away." John is only one person he had ever unburdened himself to when it came to Regina. It was about two years ago, and Robin was piss ass drunk. John has listened and told him to move on, to stop doing Daniels bidding, to let him try to care for his own girl for awhile.

Robin should have listened but he couldn't resist making her happy. So every time Daniel has asked for suggestions in gifts, restaurants, or trips, Robin spoke up.

"Figured," John says simply. "I mean, I never liked Daniel."

"I know," Robin sighs.

"But she was his girl until when, a few hours ago, maybe?"

Robin sighs. "She isn't the type of woman who belongs to anyone."

"Still," John, "despite Daniel being a shit for brains, there's a code about this between friends. And you've never broken it in all the years I've known you. You've always been careful about following it."

"And I'm not talking about breaking it. Because I already broke it, in this case." John doesn't look too terribly surprised at the revelation, still, he lifts his eyebrows up more as a courtesy. "I don't feel bad about it, either. I love her."

John looks conflicted. "Your friendship with Daniel—"

"Is over. I tried to keep it up more for her than out of any fondness for Daniel. But yes, it's over."

John seems to be thinking for a moment. "I never thought it was going to work out between them. She was way too into you and Daniel was way too into himself."

Robin smiles a bit. "She wasn't all that into me, actually. Not at first."

"Yeah," John says, downing the last of his beer, "she was."

Robin looks at him, confused, for a second, and John sighs.

"It wasn't anything much. I doubt you could even call it a crush. Nothing like what you felt for her. I just kind of… well, Regina is pretty hot. Not my type personality wise, not like we were a match or I wanted to date her. But you know, she'd be out with us, and…. I liked to look at her, you know, when I first met her. Just harmlessly check her out. And whenever I caught a glance, she was looking at you."

Robin's stomach flips, the mood going tense and twisted.

John's ears are a bright red, ordering another beer as he says casually, "It really wasn't a big deal. And as you know, I'm not into her or anything. I didn't tell you that she liked you because the night you drunkenly confessed your undying love for her, you also vowed to never do anything about it."

"Yeah, and then I realized, what is the point of everyone being miserable all so we can keep some damn code unbroken?" Robin asks. "Daniel wouldn't be happy with her, either. He never quite was. She wasn't what he wants."

John nods. "He wants an Ivy League educated Stepford Wife," John says simply. "Regina tried to be that around him, which was a bit sickening to watch. In a few years I bet we see him with a brilliant blonde on his arm supporting him as he runs for Congress. He's a politician. All about appearances. All about the show. Between that, the obvious narcissism, and how at ease he is with taking credit for others ideas and hard work and I'm surprised that he hasn't already run for some sort of office."

"If you hate him so much, why are you giving me a hard time about Regina?" Robin frowns.

"I'm just making sure that you know what you're doing," John shrugs. "It's your choice. I'll support it. But for years Regina has been Daniel's girlfriend. We all knew her as that. Some of the guys might think less of you for stealing such a close friend's woman."

"You can't steal what never belonged to anyone," Robin says through clenched teeth.

"And I suppose you can't steal what's been given to you?" John asks.

Yes, she did come to him willingly, he really never pushed, not even that night. It was always her choice.

Robin nods.

The bartender stops by with their new drinks, and John lifts his beer.

"Cheers, man. Good luck with everything."

"What are we toasting?" Merida asks, wrapping an arm around John. "To flights being cancelled?"

"Fuck, it happened to you too?" John asks, trying to put on a frown that doesn't quite conceal the surprised smile on his face.

"Yeah," she groans, giving him a hug and then giving a quicker, less comfortable hug to Robin. There are empty stools on either side of them, but she grabs to the one next to John.

Robin smiles.

"My brothers are sending me live updates of Christmas without me, and it's making me sick. My mom made her tablet and cranachan last night and they ate their share as well as mine. And mom bought me a big bag of soor plooms they devoured that as well, then rubbed it on my face."

John chuckles. "I did not understand a word of what you just said there."

"You need to go to Scotland," Merida responds, "I'll show you what a real Christmas is."

"You need to go Montana," John flirts back. "Our Christmas meal would blow yours away."

"Is that so?" Merida asks, "I fucking doubt it. Let me tell you about what we do on Christmas."

Robin very much feels like the third wheel, except a third wheel is usually visible and it seems he's all but disappeared as far as John and Merida are concerned. So he texts David to ask them to hurry the girls up already.

After a few minutes of the two of them "arguing" (but quite obviously flirting), Ruby shows.

"Peter's on his way," She says, kissing Robin's cheek and shooting a sly look over and John and Merida. They haven't even noticed she entered and it's unlikely they will.

They exchange knowing grins. "Mary Margaret and David are due soon. And, uh, Regina."

"What?" Ruby asks, "Oh my god did she and Daniel decide to spend Christmas with us?"

"No Daniel," Robin says as nonchalantly as he can muster.

Ruby's jaw hangs open for just a moment.

"Shit, I hope she's ok."

Robin changes the subject quickly into something less… turbulent. He likes Ruby, she makes easy, comfortable conversation.

But when Regina shows, he cannot think of a damn thing to say.

She's wearing the leather skirt of his wet dreams, leather boots, and a bright red sleeveless top. Her hair isn't exactly straight but isn't her natural curls, either. It's… wavy, he supposes, in a way that looks effortless but probably took some work.

He had worried about her feeling uncomfortable in telling her friends what is going on, but she's walking in deliberate strides towards them and Robin has never seen her more confident in a social setting.

"Well, fuck," Ruby murmurs to Robin. "She looks... happy."

Robin doesn't even know what he would say if he could speak.

"Hey, Rubes," Regina says, leaning in to give her a hug.

"Hey…" Ruby clears her throat. "So you decided to come home for the holidays?"

Regina exchanges a quick glance with Robin and he shakes his head, knowing she's silently asking if he had filled Ruby in on any details.

"Daniel and I broke up. I moved back."

"Shit!" Ruby gasps, holding her hand over her mouth, "Sorry, I just didn't expect that to happen so soon."

"It probably took longer to happen then it should have," Regina admits. Then she winks at Robin. "Hello again." She wraps her arms around him in a hug, kissing his cheek.

They haven't discussed whether they are put in the open yet and he's going to let her take the lead on that.

"Our table's ready, guys!" Mary Margaret calls. "The storm is supposed to hit around eleven, we all need to be home before then."

.::.

Dinner has been going quite nicely, good food, good conversation, and John's decidedly morose mood has quickly brightened, and Robin is sure it has nothing to do with the object of his affection sharing a meal — and lots of laughs — with him.

Speaking of that, Regina has been seated next to Robin, and it's become extremely frustrating.

They are acting as friends, as they always had, but now… she keeps rubbing up his leg under the table. And she's pretty hard to resist touching her himself, his hand repeatedly finding its way to stroke her leather-clad thigh, fingers dancing quickly over the small of her back when he can manage to sneak them there.

But she's doing much of the teasing, rubbing so far up his leg he keeps thinking she's going to touch him, stroke over him until he's hard and aching for her right here at dinner. It's been a day of teasing and tempting himself with her, already. He's not sure how much he can take.

"If you'll excuse me," Regina says, abruptly getting up, "I'll be right back."

After a few moments, he thinks he should use the facilities himself before she makes it impossible for him to stand up again. So he excuses himself as well, walking back towards the restrooms.

She's just stepping out as he enters the hallway where the restrooms are.

He had hoped for this coincidence.

She grabs him by the collar and kisses him hard, fisting at his shirt as she walks herself back against the wall.

Kissing her is pure bliss, or would be, if it wasn't running the risk of exciting him too much, the way she's rubbing up against him and — woah, slipping a hand in the pocket of his jeans to take a squeeze — is really letting his mind wander on what's to come.

He gives her a good groping of his own, finally getting his hands on the tight, tempting leather the way he's wanted to since he first saw her in this skirt.

"Did you wear this for me?" he asks, grabbing at her again.

"Mmmm, maybe." She is kissing him back before he can think of something snarky to say back, and then he loses himself in her for awhile, trading kisses until he thinks he might be delirious from lust.

"Are you coming back with me for the night?" he asks.

"Am I invited?" She asks coyly.

"Mhm, you will be the guest of honor."

"How do you treat your guests of honor?" she asks, jutting her hips against his and pulling him in closer.

"Fuck, Regina," he curses at the feel of her, because she's rocking against where he is already half hard. "I am going to—"

But her expression shifts to one of fear, just then, her eyes focused on something behind and to the left of him. Before he can ask, she's moving away from him, out of his arms, so it almost looks like they are having a casual conversation.

Almost, if her lipstick wasn't smudged, if his face weren't red and flushed, his hair just a bit messy from her hands combing through it.

"Yes, thank you, that's true," she says, her voice hitching. "I suppose you can't go wrong with a scarf and gloves for a gift."

Robin plays along, smiling, "Red or green says Christmas." He turns and looks in a way he hopes is subtle, just in time to see Ruby.

"Hey guys," she says, her smile just a bit too cheery for Robin's liking.

Regina blows out a breath the second Ruby enters the ladies room.

"Oops," Robin says half-heartedly. Regina just shrugs and laughs.

"I'll see you out there."

.::.

Regina had forgotten how nice it is just to be out with Robin, letting herself indulge in him without that guilt, that voice inside telling her she wasn't allowed to feel the way she so obviously felt.

They are flirting and teasing one another, letting themselves brush against one another, letting hands touch and hold each other.

They were already very touchy-feely as friends, so she's sure the actions alone do not merit a second glance. But she still feels that it's quite obvious what is going on, especially now that she's not trying so hard to deny it and let herself soak in the feeling of being with him.

"Robin, I have a girl for you," Merida drawls. She's a bit drunk now, slurring words and looking at Robin with a bit of wild eyes excitement.

John, for his part, looks mortified, "No I don't think he—"

"Oh, no, she's great, and she's British too. Robin, do you know Jasmine?"

Regina's heart pounds a little. It's really silly, truly, it's just…

Well, she knows Jasmine. And she's gorgeous, and sweet, and the woman is confident, elegant… and almost cookie cutter perfect.

She's having a terrible thought right now of wondering what she and Merida could possibly have in common before she realizes she's letting herself get jealous and threatened over nothing.

"I'm not really dating right now," Robin says nervously.

"I know, that is why you should date her. She's this cute little pharmacist who works with us, she's gorgeous, I'm sure you've seen her, hold on let me pull up her facebook…"

"No, Merida, I don't need—"

"Hush. I already talked you up actually, last week. She seemed interested, and when I showed her your picture she raised her eyebrows and said 'nice'."

What a slut, Regina thinks, then instantly chastises herself.

"I'm not interested," Robin huffs, thanks but—"

"But why are you always saying that?" Merida asks, "god knows you like women, she's probably even be interested in something casual."

"Sometimes men aren't interested in a relationship," John supplies, looking far too nervous to not know what's going on.

"What relationship? I'm talking about a date." Merida argues, "She'd probably be cool with a fling, Jasmine looks like a right proper girl, but believe me, she's told me stories—"

"I'm not available!" Robin says, flustered, "I'm, I'm with someone."

"Well, fuck, congrats, man! Who is she? Why didn't you tell me earlier?" Merida asks.

Regina glances at Ruby who stares back at her with some skepticism.

"I… ok, I don't know if we are exactly together…" Robin stammers. "I don't want to jinx it, is what I'm saying."

"Who is she?" Ruby asks, "Someone you obviously really like, or you would not be so nervous right now."

"Yeah, you never seem to care about bringing your girls around," Peter notes. "This must be different."

"Does anyone want another round? On me!" David says nervously. "Another pitcher of beer to go maybe?"

"A pitcher of beer to go?" John asks, incredibly amused with David's attempts.

"Shh, guys. So Robin, do we know her?" Merida asks.

Robin's entire face is beet red, but his ears are especially bright and siren-esque.

"Let's not jinx it," Mary Margaret decides, "come on, let Robin have a bit of a secret."

"Okay that is weird," Ruby says, pointing to Mary Margaret. "You can't stand when we keep things to ourselves, you're always saying we should share everything, that friends have no secrets."

"I…" Mary Margaret stammers off, panicking.

"Hey," Robin says loud enough to silence the side conversations that have aroused. "Listen, I'm with someone I care a lot about, have for awhile. And it's not like other times, I haven't felt this way about anyone before. But it's new, and I don't think she's ready to come out as a couple yet. So can I just have some time, can we both just have some time? Please."

His words touch her, and she can't quite school her smitten reaction.

Ruby stares at Regina as if she has three heads.

"Oh— Ohh!" Ruby says as if his speech gave away the key to some elusive riddle.

And then all eyes are on her. On them.

Robin looks offers an apologetic cringe, but he needn't.

He had been wrong. She is ready.

"I just meant…" he starts, trying to talk his way out of this but clearly having no idea what to say.

Regina takes a deep breath and shakes her head.

"Fuck it," she sighs.

She fists his shirt and pulls himself towards her, kissing him soundly.

He's more than pleased with the turn of events, his hand is lost in her hair again, the other on the small of her back, anchoring, but letting her lead, as he always does.

She hears the murmurs as she kisses him but she doesn't mind. She will gladly wear her holiday-themed scarlet letter for the holidays. Much better than trying to act like she's not ridiculously in love with him.

She pulls away from him, exchanging smiles as she reaches in for one last smooch.

"Well, holy shit balls," Merida exclaims. "Did not see that coming."

"Well then you're the only one," Ruby snorts.

Regina looks at Robin and shrugs.

"Under the circumstances, I'd appreciate if you didn't set Robin up with Jasmine."

It breaks some of the tension and confusion, and people laugh — perhaps a bit too hard.

"I think I'm confused," Peter murmurs. He should be, the last time he saw Regina he was at her engagement party.

"I know what many of you may be thinking," Regina sighs. "In fact, I spent a lot of time denying myself this because of what I know you might think of me or Robin. But nothing felt right without him, and life is so short. I did not want to waste any more time trying to talk myself out of my feelings."

"Well, I'm going to say congratulations to you both," Ruby says. Peter shoots her a confused glare, and she adds, "What? I'm not close friends with Daniel. I don't owe him any loyalty."

"I really love you guys," Merida smiles, "Just when I was thinking about how much I missed the family Christmas drama, you bring in a good old fashioned love triangle. I've never felt closer to home!"

"Oh god, don't get me started on family drama," Mary Margaret groans, "my family Christmas party this year is going to be awful..."

And just like that, the conversation shifts, and Robin and Regina's relationship is no longer the focus.

Robin squeezes her thigh in comfort, and Regina smiles at him.

Everything is out in the open, now.

.::.

It's Mary Margaret who first notices the snow falling.

"We have to leave now. We're supposed to get 8-12 inches tonight!"

Robin had walked over, and Regina is definitely invited but in those heels and that outfit, she will not make the 12 block walk back.

Luckily, David offers to drive them.

"You know you're welcome at our house," Mary Margaret offers needlessly. "Our guest room is all set up for you. And I know your place doesn't have cable or internet or…"

"Furniture?" Regina finishes for her. "Yeah. I'll get it sorted later. But thank you, I may have to take you up on that. Later." She looks at Robin, unable to stop smiling.

"We'll see you both for Christmas dinner?" Mary Margaret asks, "Assuming we aren't still snowed in?"

"We wouldn't miss it," Regina assures, hugging her from the back seat. "I love you, thanks for everything."

"Have fun," Mary Margaret says pointedly. "See you soon."

"Come on," Robin says, pulling her towards the elevator as soon as David drives off. "I've been waiting to get you alone all night."

"Have you?" She asks in mock innocence.

He doesn't answer in words, only with a very obvious, very indulgent ass grab.

When they get in the elevator he goes in first, directing her in front of him. One hand firmly on her ass, the other wrapped around her shoulder as he dots kisses down her neck.

Regina tilts her head back to kiss him, and he nearly growls.

They make it to his apartment much like that, Regina walking ahead of Robin, who has his hands on her hips as she walks.

When they are both safely in the apartment, he takes her.

Pushes her against the door, unzips her coat, and nearly rips it off her, kissing her hard and passionate, cupping at her breasts, grabbing at her ass.

She manages to get his coat off and popped open a few buttons herself.

"You drove me crazy tonight," Robin rasps into her neck. "So hard to not touch you like I wanted to."

"I know the feeling," she whispers back.

"It was always a struggle but knowing you feel the same way, and you wanted me, and you wore that for me..."

He has a hand on the bottom of her red top and tugs it lightly.

She nods and lifts her arms, helping him take it off her.

"God," he groans, his eyes taking over her body in appreciation.

She's wearing the same black, sheer bra from their first time together.

"Wore that for you too," she whispers.

"Fuck," Robin says tracing the edges of her bra. "Thought about this so many times…"

"Me too," she admits, cupping the back of his head and directing him towards her chest. "Could you, like the first time…?"

He gets the message, sucking through the thin fabric the way he did that first night. It felt so good that night, and this time is even better, now, being entirely sober and getting to revel in the sensation.

She tosses her head back and lets it hit the door behind her, her hands combing through his hair, a pleasant sigh escaping her as he sucks and kisses his way across her chest. She missed this, needed this, wanted this, is so damn lucky she gets to feel this again.

"Thought about having you in this skirt more than I care to admit." His hand is on the zipper, hovering over. "Now I can't wait to get you out of it," he groans, unzipping it.

It's skin-tight, and she's wearing boots, so she breaks the moment enough to bend down and unzip those first, wiggling out of it until she's just in tights and lingerie.

"You are so gorgeous," Robin moans, his hand sliding delicately over her curves, as if he's reacquainting himself with her.

She can't think of a single reason for her to not return the sentiment. She reaches for the buttons of his shirt and undoes them, then helps him out of his undershirt.

If he can ogle her she can sure as hell ogle him. She lets herself indulge in the feeling of the muscles of his torso, up to his chest, then scratches lightly down his body until her hands meet the button of his slacks.

He shivers, and it does things to her.

"You have such a nice body," she says with a coy smile before pressing a wet kiss to his pectoral muscle. She licks and sucks, as he had done to her, her tongue sliding over his chest, then nipple, then down to his stomach as Robin groans and curses softly.

She gives him that attention, bending down until she is on her knees in front of him, smiling up as she meets his eyes and unbuttons his fly.

Robin has such an expressive face. And now he looks like he's trying very hard not to take her right now, the way he's drawing loud, shallow breaths, that dark, lustful stare of his, the way he moans at every touch.

Regina quite likes the way he's reacting to him, and it makes her hungry for more.

"Missed this," Regina says, unzipping his jeans cradling his erection with her hand. "Missed being with you like this, even though it hasn't been that long."

"Fuck, it's been ages," Robin grunts. "especially with how much I had wanted and waited for you and thought about you..."

"I thought about you, too," she whispers. "Thought about this with you, so many times. Even before our first time."

That catches his attention, she can hear the way he blows out a breath.

"Really?"

"Yes," she says, slowly pushing his jeans down. "Sometimes it was just curiosity, wondering how you would be, how you'd kiss, how you'd move… sometimes it was more than curiosity."

She shoves down his boxers so she can give him a firm stroke.

"You look gorgeous," he rasps, weaving his hand through her hair. How does he do that? Pay those innocent compliments to her when she's on her knees for him?

"You must say that to all the girls while they are holding your cock," she teases, earning a throaty indignant laughfrom the man she loves.

"I can't say I've ever said it in, um, this position before," he rasps, his hand still tangled in her locks (she thinks he approves of her decision to grow her hair long, the way he keeps touching and stroking her hair.). "Did you… did you really think about me before we ever…?"

"Yes," she admits, stroking him lazily. "Back when you were just my best friend," she puts her mouth on him, takes his cock down her throat, sucking softly as she swirls her tongue around the shaft. His moan is pure sex, the very sound of desire and desperation, so she feels devilish when she playfully releases him, looking up in feigned naivety to finish her thought. "You would always touch me in this way I thought was innocent." She raises her brow, giving him another stroke. This time he's wet from her mouth and a bit more eager, thrusting into her palm as she does. "Those little back rubs, how you'd hold my hand just to lead me somewhere, or help me up stairs when I'd wear these heels you didn't trust…"

"I remember," he says with a dry laugh.

"I liked your hands," she admitted, dropping her voice low. "You had this firm grip when you held mine, the way you moved when rubbing my back, very confident, but gentle," she puts him in her mouth again, bobbing twice before releasing him, her tongue licking firmly around the tip of him, her skin going warm when she hears his labored Christ. She lets him go again, smiling up at him. He cups her cheek softly, smiling at her. "Used to imagine how it would feel to be touched by you everywhere."

"Was it as good as you imagined?" he asks, his voice tight, his breath a bit labored. Good, she wants him nice and worked up.

"Better," she admits, and then she sucks at him in earnest, her hand jerking him in tandem with her mouth, the other reaching down to give his balls a squeeze. "Though my thoughts led to some pretty amazing orgasms."

"Fuck, you're so, so much better at everything than I'd imagine," he huffs, his hand in her hair now, and that's good, that makes this even more enjoyable as she takes him down her throat, not only feeling him but hearing him give her those compliments in labored breaths.

"God, Regina, I used to think of what it could be like with you, I didn't know, mm! Didn't know it could ever happen. I wanted you to want me so badly — god that feels good!"

He has a gift, saying touching things that warm her heart even in the most compromising of situations.

But he should know, she can't just not say anything, so she slides him out of her mouth again, reminding him, "I do want you. And did, even back then, even when I shouldn't have. Even when I tried to deny it to everyone, including myself."

She focuses on his pleasure completely now, sucking and swirling her tongue as she takes him in and out of her mouth.

She loves the sounds he makes, the murmured compliments stifled by groans of pleasure, she loves the way he grips at her hair, not pulling, just grasping, tightly when she her tongue molds against that vein in his cock, even tighter when she swirls her tongue around the tip, flicking the area underneath in a way that has him making this throaty gasp she doesn't think she will ever tire of hearing.

She looks up to meet his eyes, and he's breathing heavy, brows furrowed, eyes focused on her, a slight curve to his lips when her eyes meet hers.

"Gorgeous... fuck, god, you've no idea how good you look sucking my cock, mm!"

He says it in a throaty chuckle, and she responds with a hum of approval that must do something wonderful to him, because his hips are bucking, thrusting into her deeper, groaning "Fucking Christ love, my god, I'm..."

She knows he's close now so she gives his balls a little squeeze as she bobs a bit faster on him, and his moans get a bit more desperate, movements a bit quicker.

She's surprised when he pulls back from her, looks up with him in confusion.

"I want you," he grunts.

He has her, and she's about to say that, but he's pulling her up, kissing her fiercely, and then taking off the remainder of what he's wearing in a confident way that makes her lose all thought of protest.

"Bedroom," he says softly, kissing her as he leads her backward into his room.

The back of her knees hit the bed and she sits down on with a smile. Robin rids her of her tights and underwear, then removes her bra.

"Well, Merry Christmas to me," he groans, looking at her body as if it were something magical.

She rolls her eyes playfully, but it is rather cute of him, especially since it sounds so authentic

"Come here. I want you," she beckons reveling in how his eyes widen at her words.

Instead of following her request he stays standing at the edge of the bed, stroking her sex softly.

"It's a crime I haven't been here yet. It's been so long."

And yes, yes it is, so he better get to fucking.

But he kneels down on the edge of the bed instead, grabbing her legs and pulling her to the edge until his mouth is inches away from where he obviously wants to be.

Oh, that.

"Too long since you've gone down on me?" she chuckles.

"Mhm, it's been weeks, Regina."

She snorts and thinks about Daniel's thoughts and reservations of going down on her. She was too bossy, she was not vocal enough in her pleasure, he found it… unsatisfying. She won't bring up Daniel now, but fuck, it is nice to have a man who wouldn't let months go by without using his tongue.

"Tell me what you need," he asks, and then he's on her.

She sighs, moaning softly as he works her up, his tongue tracing around her lips before darting inside her. God she loves this.

"That's good," she assures, rocking into him. He does it more while his thumb starts to rub her clit from over the hood, the stimulation teasing but not quite, just enough to make her orgasm build but know she won't spill over, not like this.

She hears him moan into her, and that riles her even further, the idea of him enjoying this, not just for her reaction or his ego, but because it's something that he really likes in its own right.

They settle into an easy rhythm, her hands stroking his hair while his fingers stroke far more sensitive places, his tongue everywhere but where she likes it.

She gives the occasional direction, a soft harder or more of that — don't stop!, even places her own hand where she wants him to show him how she touches herself, and he's not annoyed. He's happy it seems, with her directions, tells her so, muttering how hot she is, how he loves how well she knows her body, asking her to tell him more.

"You keep getting wetter," he moans, drawing his tongue wide as he gives her another strong lick before adding, "More turned on, it's so hot."

Regina can't think of anything to say except hissing a yesss in response.

At a particularly tantalizing pass of his thumb, she moans out "Please — your tongue — on my clit, please!"

He draws back enough to look her in the eyes. "No need to be so polite, darling," he snickers. "I like being bossed around."

For a second she gets that low queasy feeling in her belly, left over insecurities from long ago.

But Robin loves her, he isn't insulting her, he doesn't see it as negative, using the language is just lighthearted fun, so she smiles and palms the back of his head, directing him back towards her.

She lets her mind go blank and just enjoy the feeling of his tongue, of his fingers hovering over the top of her clit, holding her in place,

His other hand shifts, fingers slip inside her and thump lazily against her g spot. She sighs pleasantly, rocks into him encouragingly and focuses on the feeling.

She's so close she's almost holding her breath, whimpering slightly as she pulls at his hair and manages a just like that and a keep going.

He's too slow with his fingers to get her off in that way, but it feels so satisfying as she clenches around them, those little fluttering spasms coming from the more than adequate attention he's paying her clit.

She has done this before, rubbed her clit as she used a wand, even used two toys once, to get the dual stimulation. She's never managed to get off both ways at once, but there's really nothing like a clitoral orgasm when there's something inside you, she's missed that feeling more than she knew…

Robin looks up at her, his eyes locking with hers, and she can see how hard he's working, the movements of his lips and tongue as they press and slide against her.

"Close," she breathes, because god she doesn't want him to change even one thing, she can get off like this it'll build to something with a bit of patience…

Or rather, she thought she didn't want him to change a thing because then he moves to suck on her clit hard and her arousal spikes, the feeling intensifying and sky rocketing her right to the edge.

"God, Robin, mm!"

His tongue flicks against the most sensitive part of her, and then she's soaring over, contracting around his fingers while he licks and sucks at her, huffing a relieved "Ohhhh" as she lets go. She loses her breath, pants and can't fully regain it, can't come down from this high quite yet and doesn't want to either, not while the tingling, soothing waves of pleasure are strumming through her. She can be breathless, it's worth it.

She focuses on the feeling until it dulls, then becomes sharp and less pleasurable, until she has to tap Robin's shoulder and squirm.

He smiles at her a bit sheepishly. His face is red, his cheeks and his scruff wet from her, and if there's any question whether he's had enough, he licks his lips, shutting his eyes as if he's entranced by her taste.

"You said you want to be inside me," she rasps, beckoning him to come join her on the bed. "come prove it."

He laughs, then lies next to her on his side, pressing a kiss into her brow.

.::.

He's painfully hard now, but he will wait for her (as he always has, at one point he had doubted this strategy, but he wouldn't change a single thing now that she is with him, warm and willing and in love with him, having given everything up to be with him).

It would have been ideal had they not had to wait and suffer through years apart, but if it all led to this, he can't really regret it.

He already knows her so well despite only two nights with her before this - but he's a fast learner and paid attention.

She could easily fuck his brains out right now, but if he waits a bit until she's ready, if he works her up a bit first, the sex is more explosive for both of him and that's what he wants.

It's not their first time, but it feels like it is, in some ways, perhaps because it's the start of something, a new beginning for them both. This isn't just for tonight, this isn't goodbye, this is two people in love, hopefully in a long, lasting relationship.

And he wants it to be special, so he's going to have to exercise some patience yet again.

He runs his fingers up and down her side, reveling in her soft sighs, the way her lips purse and part as her eyes shut tight.

"That was amazing," she rasps. Then she turns to her side to face him, so they are so close he'd only have to tilt his head slightly to kiss her. Regina's hand reaches between them to touch him, stroking him.

He's unable to resist her touch, try as he might, groaning and thrusting into her palm.

But she's not ready yet, so he moves her hand away and shakes his head, "give yourself a second, darling. I can hold a bit."

"You almost popped off in my mouth," she reminds him, creating an infectious chuckle between them.

"I like waiting," he assures, "feels better in the end."

She raises her eyebrows and smirks at him, obviously getting the dual meaning, and he can only shrug.

"I'm never making you wait again." she says sincerely. He didn't want to break the mood, to make her feel at all guilty. He's fine, really. The last few weeks have been miserable for him, but he suspects she felt a lot of that too. And the back-and-forth was maybe unfair of her, but he knew what he was getting into, he can't let her blame herself for that.

So he ignores all of that type of waiting and keeps the convo light and sexy

"But it feels good though, doesn't it?" he asks, stroking her side again, giving her hip a right squeeze. "I wanted you all night, which wasn't new, but knowing I would get to have this later was very…" he interrupts himself when he sees her biting that perfect bottom lip of hers, unable to resist kissing her, "very satisfying. And also made it harder to be patient."

"I wanted you too," she confirms. "All night. And teasing you in the skirt was fun."

"Mmm, you are so sexy. Effortlessly so. I cannot tell you how many times just a simple thing you did drove me to distraction and I couldn't stop thinking about you all day. You would just walk by and then my mind was goo for the rest of the day."

She looks touched, so he continues.

"Sometimes I would watch you eat something, or the way you'd delicately sip from your coffee cup, or a little innocent sigh you'd make and it was… cute or sexy, or both. And then I'd think about what it would be like to kiss you, or touch you, make you make sounds like that, and take matters into my own hands once I got home."

She smirks, she's blushing, and he knows she's affected by his words, so he doesn't get too offended when she asks, "over a coffee cup?"

"You drinking from a coffee cup, with your lips all pursed, your eyebrows all intense and furrowed then relaxed as you'd enjoy it, licking your lips and making this little hum that sounded like pure heaven. And then I would think about pleasing you, fucking you, eating you, different ways I could make you make those sounds, watch your face tense in anticipation, then relax in pleasure."

"Those are very selfless thoughts to have while jerking off," she teases, And well, that's true, he knows not many people would jerk off to the thought of eating her out. He wonders if she doesn't believe him, or finds him perverse in some way — but only for a moment, because she draws a blended knee up over his hip, and he thinks she must be into it.

"I think that's how I knew I loved you," he says, a joke laced with a bit too much sincerity to be taken as such. "Getting to see you, watching the way you respond when you're so turned on and I touch you…" they are rocking against one another now, her wet core against where he is still stone hard and it feels so damn good, "god, you've no idea how much I enjoy it."

"I think I have an idea," she smirks, giving him a short tongue filled kiss. "You aren't the only one who's fantasized about this."

"Tell me," he groans, he's so turned on now, his heart racing, blood pulsing. He won't last long if she starts telling him how much she wanted him, but he can't really resist asking.

"I always felt guilty," she laughs, but he doesn't even like a mention of the guilt, it has to leave them both. "That one day when Killian and John ditched us at the movies and we ended up with a whole row to ourselves, it kept crossing my mind…just i had been on a bit of a dry spell, and—-"

"Dry spell?"

"Sometimes that happens in relationships, doesn't it? And—"

"I can't fathom you ever going through a dry spell as long as we're together," he says honestly. Frankly he's never had a woman undergo a dry spell with him, though there have been periods, of course, with Marian, where they went without. Though that wasn't his doing.

"Regardless, it had been awhile, and I wanted it,badly. Not just a release, I wanted to be with someone. And you were there, and we were alone, and you kept leaning in to whisper jokes to me about the movie, and it was cold, and, um, you elbow brushed against my breast, and it was dark, you didn't know… but then I was so turned on and fighting it for the rest of the movie."

He vaguely remembers being at the movies alone with her, that it was awkward in a mostly empty theatre in the dark with the woman he loves. But he never dreamed she wanted him back then, so he always pushed those thoughts out of his mine.

He can only gulp and listen to her continue, his hand anchored at her hip, urging her to bring herself against him while she talks.

"Later, — mm! I kept imagining you, you doing more, me telling you I needed it — god, Robin! that I was on edge and and aching and needed you to make me feel good. And it was… just helping me, as a friend, sort of." She's flushed, cheeks red and hot, not blushing, too far gone for that, too obviously into the fantasy. "You'd put your hand down my pants, down my shirt, give me what i needed right there, while i struggled to be quiet. And you really enjoyed it, fuck you liked it so much, told me you'd take care of me whenever I wanted, that you were at my disposal." She's dragging herself up and down him more deliberately, getting herself worked up, fuck she's ready for him now. "See in my fantasies I am selfish. I usually wanted to fuck after you got me off, so we'd sneak off somewhere, and you'd just let me get on top, straddle your lap and just get off on you… but, you'd— oh!— really like it."

He kisses her deeply, unable to get her fantasy out of his head.

"Please promise me," he pants, pulling out of the kiss, his mind going blank as she presses into his erection, so wet,dragging herself, base to tip. "Fuck, Christ, you feel so good, mm!". Where was he again? Oh. "if you're ever wanting it you come to me. Immediately. No matter what is going on."

Regina lets out a little half laugh, but doesn't stop rubbing against him. "I have a high sex drive, Robin. I don't, mm! think you know what you're asking."

"Oh, I know." He knows partially through the bragging of his former friend, of course, but he won't speak of that. "We've spent a couple of nights together, if you don't remember."

"Mmm, I could never forget. Each time I had been waiting for awhile, and that made it feel even better."

Hi bites his lip hard, just at the memory of how she felt, trying not to get ahead of himself.

"I think," she pants, "I've waited long enough. I want you."

He bites his lip, wondering how he's going to hold off long enough to make a good showing of this, she's been bringing into him, he already feels release churning inside him, it's much too soon for that.

"How do you want it?" she asks, so sweetly, as if she can tell how desperate he is for release.

"I want to see your face," he says softly, stroking a finger along the side of her face, from eyebrow down to the curve of her mouth. "And after what you just told me, I think I might like…"

He moves so he is sitting on the bed, legs slightly parted, his hands bracing himself on the bed behind him.

"You really know what you're doing," he rasps, urging her onto his lap. "I think I want to watch you."

She smiles and straddles him, hooked each ankle underneath his thighs so he's fully in her control, and then she's rocking against his cock before taking him in her hand and rubbing herself against the tip.

His hands are behind him, bracing himself as he sits, so he can't really touch her, can't direct or encourage. She has all the power, and it's a bit freeing, actually, letting her take charge, set the pace and rhythm she likes.

She takes him inside her slowly, though she's so damn wet, so soft, he could slide in without must resistance at all. But she does it slow, her arms around his neck, looking him in the eye as she lowers herself down.

They both groan, both let out breathless gasps at the feel of it, for him it's just so damn warm, so wet, so soft and snug around him.

He wants to wrap his arms around her and hold her, move with her, but this is better, keeping his hands to himself is a challenge, it also makes it a bit easier to hold out for her, god knows he's close, and grabbing at her might be too much, might have him reaching near the edge entirely too soon.

So he doesn't cup the back of her head or wrap a hand tightly around her hip. He does dip his head down to press an open, sucking kiss into her breast, drawing up with a slight bit of teeth at the end, because he knows she likes the bit of roughness. Sure enough, he hears her little Ahhh! as his mouth leaves her and is unable to keep the smirk from his face.

She cups his chin and urges him to kiss her. He does, kissing her languidly as she fucks him at the same pace.

She releases his lips with a wet pop, leans backwards to admire him, running a hand through his hair.

He can't stop staring at her, his brow is furrowed and he swears to god he has to keep from drooling at how beautiful she is right now.

The pace picks up, she's going faster, making these maddening moans of pleasure, her hands still wrapped around his neck, bracing herself, smiling one moment, her jaw-dropping the next, and he desperately wants to touch her and kiss her and watch her all at once.

Instead he just enjoys the feeling of her warm soaked heat enveloping him, taking him in deep then letting him go, god, he wants to see how they look, if he can, if there's enough space between their bodies to look at her riding him, taking him in and out, but he can't stop looking at her beautiful face, watching as pleasure takes her but by bit.

And he's already so hard, and so close those tantalizing tendrils of pleasure prickling from low in his belly, everything buzzing and churning, becoming more sensitive with each pass, every time he hears those unbelievably sexy moans of hers, god he's teetering on edge and just might die from this.

She moves one hand from his neck and wedges it between them, and oh god. He knows what she's doing, and he wants to let her, wants to watch her touch herself, but also watch the effect it has on her, watch her expression as she writhes.

His eyes are focused on her beautiful face, watching her bounce and bite her lip as she works herself up on him, using his body to get to her release and fuck how he loves every moment of it.

"God— mm— you feel so good."

"You too," he whispers back, "and look amazing, you've no idea how…" he can feel the movements of her wrist against his torso, those twisting movements reminding her what she's doing, and he can't help but tilt

down and groan, opening his eyes to watch her, murmuring. "God, yes, touch yourself, love when you do that, could look at you like this all day, mm, Regina…"

His fingers itch to touch her, but he doesn't, instead, he kisses down her neck, tilting his head far down to catch a nipple in his mouth, the sound she makes is heavenly — too heavenly— oh god, oh fucking god, slow down, slow down.

"Regina!" His voice is so breathy, so desperate, it almost sounds like he's in pain, but he's not, not at all, the opposite of that. "I'm too… please, god please, slower, I'm, I'm sorry."

She does slow down, a coy smile spreading over that beautiful face, but she doesn't pause her ministrations, her hand still moving fast against his stomach. He draws his chin down to look at her touching herself, her fingers rubbing her clit, god she's a vision.

She keeps working herself up, it's a slow pace to fuck but she's touching herself faster and harder, until her grip on his neck grows tight and her head tilts down, resting on his shoulder with an Oh goddd!

She's close, almost there, so he shifts his weight so he can wrap one arm around her, palming and grabbing her ass tightly. She responds with a little sigh, her head leaving his shoulder to look at him, hissing out a little breathless yessss when he grabs her ass a bit tougher, a bit harder.

He uses that hand to push her close, so he can kiss her tits again, so he can hold her steady against him.

"Robin, oh! Keep, keep doing that, I'm, ahh! Just there..."

He's thrusting into her as hard as the position will allow, as hard as he can manage without toppling over the edge himself.

"Won't stop, I'll keep fucking you— mm!— , just like this, til you come, til you come on my cock, god love, you feel so, so, good…"

He can feel her contracting around him, more than those little flutters. She's so tight, so wet, so perfect, too perfect, oh god, please come soon, please…

"Robin," she gasps, and god she's a sight, hair tousled, skin flushed and slick with sweat, bouncing on top of him a bit faster now, taking him in so deep, fuck…

"You are… so good at this," is all he can manage to moan, it's the understatement of the fucking century but it will have to do, "you're so good, love when you are in control, want you to do this always, take what you need when you need it, love, ohfuckingchrist!"

He has to bite the inside of his mouth because she picks up the pace hard then and he thinks he might explode, but she lets out this breathy little whine in that way he already knows means she's close.

He fights it out, holds it in, holding his breath as her body goes stiff, as she wraps her free arm around him tighter.

"I'm going to—!"

"God yes, let go, please!" he pants in labored breath

Her body dips toward, a relieved groan falls on her lips as she presses her forehead against his, eyes shut tight as she finally — dear god, finally — comes.

She loses her rhythm a bit, so he shifts, wraps his other hand around her, presses his body close to her as she rocks into him, her hand leaves her clit and wraps around his back, and they are hugging one another tightly as she comes off her high, that satisfied smile falling over her face as she breaths sighs of relief.

"Good?" he asks needlessly, his pride seeping out of the question he already knows the answer to.

She laughs, shoes her head and rolls her eyes.

"You damn well know how good it was," she says, still a bit breathless. And then she places her hands on his chest and pushes him back. "I'm not done though. I think I can… Lie down. I want to fuck you hard."

"Please," Robin breaths.

He doesn't fight, just lets his back fall down to the mattress, watching as she readjusts herself—sitting upright. He had wondered if she needed another moment but this position seems to work for her, nothing's on her clit, and she still looks a bit blissed out as she moves on him.

"You feel so good," she murmurs, her hips swivel as she finds a position that works, and he watches as she breathes, slow and steady at first, then hitched, a little smile as she must get the angle right.

"God I love your cock," she moans, and the sheer sound of Regina saying that is almost enough to have him coming before she even starts.

He grabs two palms full of her ass, squeezing tight as she moves, faster and faster, bouncing on top of him shamelessly, his Regina, his woman, moaning for him, because of him, fuck, he's close, he needs to, needs it...

"Fuck you're so wet," Robin praises, "tight, god I can feel you, you feel…"

"Don't stop!" she orders, as if reading his mind. "Going to come again."

He moves to touch her, to touch her clit and help her get there, but she swats him away, moving his hand to her nipples instead.

"Not that way," she says breathlessly, and he gets it, he understands, and fuck, that's so fucking hot, it's—

"Mm, just from my cock?" he asks, his hands teasing her breasts the way she likes.

"So good, don't stop, mm, harder!" her hand covers one of Robins, urging him to be firmer with his attention to her nipples, and he does it, plucks and twists the sensitive peaks as she cries out in relief, bouncing on him harder, god, he can't help but look at where they are joined, where her slippery wetness is taking him in and out, they look so good together, so perfect.

"Ahh!" Her voice sounds like ecstasy, like sin and heaven, all things of pure pleasure.

"Oh god, you sound amazing, please get yourself off on me, I feel it, you need to… I'm trying, love, mm! I'm so close…"

He is painfully hard now, so sensitive, every thrust of her hips sending a shockwave of pleasure through him, that tingling, acute feeling surrounding him, that weightless feeling hitting his head, as if there were nothing on earth but her and him and the feeling of this, and he's quickly reaching the point of no return, fuck.

"Mm, Robin!" He feels her push hard on his chest as her walls clench around him — thank god, just in time, he lets himself breathe, let's the feeling surround him as he follows her, coming mere seconds later.

Holding it in was so… much, took so much control, so much pain, but it's worth it. The relief he feels is almost an out of body experience, and he gets wrapped up in it, murmuring thank fuck and oh my god and probably several other embarrassing things as he spills into her in several jolting spurts.

She collapses on top of him, still keeping him inside her, riding it their orgasms a bit. He starts to feel that over sensitive tingle and is about to slow her when she does so herself, sighing and going slack against his neck.

"I love you," he pants. "so, so much."

"Love you too," she sighs. "And not just because you just give me the best orgasms."

He laughs, still breathless from his own release. He opts for squeezing her tight in response of any words, and she kisses his neck. A few moments later she finally shifts off him and he slides out of her, missing her warmth nearly the second it happens.

"I'm so happy," she murmurs. "Happier than I've ever been." It makes his heart soar, fulfills him in ways he can't explain. Her happiness has always been of the utmost importance to him.

"I'm happy too," he responds. "Infinitely more so since you said that, and I didn't think I could feel any better."

She snuggles into him, kissing his cheek, neck, and lips. He kisses back, as they settle into a comfortable, easy position and enjoy the afterglow.

They fall asleep, naked and flush against one another, when he wakes up in the middle of the night, hours later, he has a blanket over him and Regina in his arms. He's not sure what could he more perfect.

He knows she has a lot of stuff to sort out, she has to find a place to live (he wants her to live here, now, but she's right, it's too soon), she needs furniture and to talk to family, they need to talk to Daniel or figure out what to do with that…. but right now, for the holidays, he hopes she won't think of anything but enjoying the moment.

God knows they deserve that.

.::.

When morning comes Regina feels nothing but elation. No guilt surrounding their nightly activities, no fear of her feelings, nothing but pride in reliving every sordid thing they did last night. It goes to her head, the feeling of finally being free, of letting herself be exactly where she so desperately wanted.

"Good morning," she sighs, kissing him, morning breath and all, as she snuggles closer.

"A very good morning," he responds, voice gravelly with sleep. "How're you feeling?"

"Pretty wonderful."

"Me too," he sighs. "Everything's okay? Really? No regrets, no—"

"No, not this morning," she smiles lightly. "This morning I just want more of you, and more time in bed."

"That," he says, a devilish smile spreading over his face, "can be arranged."

They spend much of that last day before Christmas Eve in bed, wandering out to grab a late breakfast at a diner, then coming back to Robin's apartment for more of one another, more sharing memories and healing from the pain of almost losing one another, more love, more passion, clinging to one another whatever way just to prove that they can.

Regina makes them decorate last minute for Christmas with decorations they can find at the nearby drugstore. It's cheesy and a bit hokey looking, but it's fun and festive, feels so ridiculously domestic and sweet already.

It's not all pure bliss, after all, she's created a bit of a mess for herself, after all, and she can't avoid calling her parents and telling them the news that their daughter will not be living in Los Angeles and in fact is currently nowhere near the west coast at all.

It's terrifying, but Robin has the fabulous suggestion she talks to her dad and places him in charge of breaking the news to her mother, asking him to protect her, because she needs protecting right now. It works, and Robin is there for her through the whole phone call, which is oddly calming and grounding. She feels safe with him, she's not embarrassed of her relationship with her parents.

She manages to make the request of her dad, fearful as she is.

"I need you to talk sense into her. I need you to protect me from what we both know she will say. I know I screwed up. I just want to be happy and I can't have her make me feel guilty for this. She's a big reason I almost went through with this and wound up in a loveless marriage. Please, Dad."

Her dad is so apologetic, telling her he will handle everything, that she shouldn't talk to her mother until he calls first and tells her she's properly calmed down. He promises to protect her.

She should have asked him more directly years ago, should have made clear the pain Cora had caused her.

But that's the past. In so many different ways, this Christmas has signified a fresh start, a second chance at relationships she thought were doomed to be one way forever.

So she's willing to hope things can be fixed, that she can have a better relationship with both her father and her mother in the future.

It wouldn't be the only Christmas miracle that's happened this year, would it?

She lets herself completely indulge in Robin and this fresh start as snow falls outside, blanketing everything in a sea of white.

.::.

The last few Christmases Regina has spent in Maine, but she never really felt at home.

This Christmas, Mary and David decide to ditch the party at Mary's mother's house to celebrate with those who got snowed in. It's just Robin, Regina, Killian, three of Mary Margaret's childhood friends who are actually quite sweet, John and… Merida, as luck would have it.

Now Regina can see how Mary Margaret plays matchmaker and it's actually quite cute. Perhaps there will be another new couple for Christmas.

Truth be told, they live in a transplant town. Most of their young coworkers are not from the area, they've moved here for a chance to work at one of the best pharmaceutical companies in the world. The area has collected medical technology firms around it along with a major insurance company and another pharmaceutical plant stuck in the area. They tend to do an excellent job of poaching and losing employees to one another, but it's all the same group of people who move here and stay. So around Christmas time, there's always a mass exodus of those going home to family.

As a result, the city is half empty but no less cheery, full of families who have settled here instead of the young singles they usually find littering the streets.

Maybe one day, Regina will start a family here, too.

It's too soon to think of that but really, she can't think of any place she'd rather be.

Her phone buzzes, and she checks the call. Her mother is calling again.

She ignores it and doesn't feel an ounce of guilt. Her father told her to wait until he determined it was safe to talk to her, and she's trusting his judgment.

Though not even Cora's harsh words could bring her down right now.

It's a beautiful Christmas as she is at home with her makeshift family that means more to her than she could ever put into words.

Robin keeps slipping peppermint schnapps into her hot chocolate, stirring his own with a candy cane. A Christmas Story is on on the background, but you can barely hear it over the conversation. She likes this. There is none of the usual holiday tension or serious conversation. It's just friends trading stories of their favorite Christmas presents and favorite Christmas stories, and laughing about antics of one another while she cuddles up next to the person she loves most in the world.

She reaches over to pull Robin into a quick kiss, but he deepens it, makes it more. They are on display and she doesn't care much at all who bears witness to their affections, not right now.

"I don't think I'm ever going to get enough of you," he whispers. "Still keep forgetting I can kiss you whenever I want, now."

"Within reason," Regina adds, trying hard to be unaffected here, but he knows her far too well.

"Mmm, when I take you home tonight I think I may go a bit outside of what is reasonable." He nips at her earlobe, and she catches Mary Margaret giving her a knowing smirk.

"That sounds perfect," she agrees, already craving more alone time with him, despite having an abundance of it since she got back.

"So, best Christmas you ever had— that you can remember anyway— what was it?" Mary Margaret asks the group, already a little tipsy from brandy and wine.

"This one," Regina says easily, cuddling into Robin.

She's gotten everything she ever wanted and has a family that truly loves her for who she is.

She loves Christmas, always has, but this is the only year she can truly say she enjoyed every moment of the holiday.

And there are only sweeter Christmases to come.