Hi! So I finally finished this chapter, it took me a while because I found out this week that I had a great opportunity to make some artwork for my local hospital so I have been rushed off my feet this week! I hope you enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it!
Drinks were a big, big mistake. Robin couldn't believe that he ever thought it would be a good idea, it hadn't taken much for Regina to get tipsy, he was surprised by how quickly it had happened. One minute she had been absolutely fine, quietly sipping on a cocktail, and the next she had been more hyper than he had ever seen her before.
"I think you should slow down," Robin murmured as Regina reached for the pitcher in the centre of the table and poured herself another drink, he hadn't really been counting how many she'd had, but considering how quickly the shared pitcher had gone down, it was quite a few.
"Why? I've only had a couple," she argued bringing the glass to her lips, "this one is really good."
"Its not soda, Regina," her mother huffed, she was still on her first glass and Robin could tell just by looking at her that she didn't want to be there, she would probably much prefer to be at home in bed with a good book, Regina was usually the same, but apparently tonight she was going for it with the alcoholic beverages.
"I know that," Regina scoffed as she looked across the table at the older woman, "why are you with my mom Jerry?" she asked, "you just seem nice and I don't get it."
Robin cringed as he rubbed a hand over his face, he probably shouldn't have let her get in such a state so quickly, he knew that the cocktails weren't the only alcohol she'd had since they left the activities centre, she'd disappeared to the bar a couple of times in the restaurant. It didn't make much sense to him because she didn't usually drink that much and he had never seen her drunk, he didn't know what made today so different. It couldn't even be her mother to blame because they were getting on rather well. He wondered if something had happened during the day, something she wasn't telling him about.
Jerry glanced at Cora, "I love your mother."
"Yeah, but why?"
"Regina," Robin warned, he could tell that if he let her carry on with what she was saying her mother was going to get hurt and she would wake up full of regret from saying such hurtful things. "Stop it."
"I'm not doing anything," she sighed as she picked up her drink again, "I was just saying that sometimes she can be mean and it isn't nice. Maybe she's just mean to me. Is that true, are you just mean to me, mommy?" Regina asked.
The look on her face changed and Robin had to admit that she looked a little bit like a sad little girl who felt neglected by her parents. He watched her, trying to guess what was going to come out of her mouth next, what else her alcohol-addled brain might come up with.
"Sometimes I just want lasagna, but you won't let me."
"I'm not talking to you when you're in this state," Cora scoffed, standing from her seat, "do you have a key to the house, we'll head back now if its all the same to you."
"Yeah sure, I should probably get Regina back anyway," Robin groaned, what had started out as a good night had all of a sudden gone downhill.
"I want to stay here, I don't want to go back there, Robin, don't make me go back, I don't like it there."
"Regina, you're a mess," her mother huffed, "we'll see you back at the house Robin," she sighed as she took the key from his hand and left the bar with Jerry quick on her heel.
Regina leaned back in her chair and stared at Robin with her eyes wide like saucers, "see, she always leaves. I don't want to go back there."
"What are you talking about?" Robin chuckled, pushing a strand of her dark hair behind her ear, she was usually so composed that it was strange seeing her inhibited. She was always in control, but right now there wasn't a shred of that in sight.
"Leopold."
Robin furrowed his eyebrows, he wasn't sure if he followed her drift, "Gina, Leopold isn't going to be there."
"He broke in though," she huffed out, staring into the deep red cocktail in her hand. "Where are Daniel and Marian?"
"Probably at my place. What do you mean he broke in?" She'd clearly tried to change the subject but he was more interested in hearing what she had been saying beforehand.
"He did, he took my slip, dirty old pervert."
This was the first Robin was hearing about this, he thought she hadn't known who had broken in, she hadn't told him that she knew, it was serious, Leopold had committed a crime and should be punished for it, not to forget that it sounded as though he was basically stalking her. "Well, don't worry, he won't be coming near you again, I'll make sure of that."
"I know you will, you always protect me don't you Robin," she smiled, humming as she laid her head against his shoulder, "I know that you'll keep me safe, that you won't let anyone hurt me."
"Okay then, I think we should get you home now."
"One more drink, what harm is one more drink going to cause."
"I'm not sure, I think you've probably had more than enough."
"But I didn't get to try the Red-headed Slut."
"What?"
"The Red-headed Slut!" she shouted a bit louder, earning a couple of sideways glances from other tables, "look there," she pointed at the cocktail menu and Robin realised that she was talking about a drink.
"Maybe we can save the red-headed slut until next time," Robin chuckled but Regina just rolled her eyes and stood from her seat before walking over to the bar in a surprisingly straight line, he had at least been expecting her to wobble but she hadn't so he was pretty impressed. He should stop her from ordering another drink if he wanted to save her from the world's worst hangover in the morning, but seemingly she was dead set on what she wanted and what she wanted at that moment was a red-headed slut.
She reappeared with a drink in both hands and passed one to Robin, before she could drink it, something piqued her interest from outside and she cocked her head, "have you seen that?"
"Seen what?"
"The karaoke bar, I didn't even know that was there."
"Oh god, no."
"Come on Robin! It'll be fun, I wouldn't dare do it when sober."
"You were absolutely trashed a moment ago."
"Was I? Or was I just wishing to get my mother to leave so we could have some fun alone?" Regina asked, trying to wink at him as she gathered her things.
He had no clue what to think at the moment, he was certain, absolutely positive that she was drunk, maybe somewhere in her drunk brain, she had worked out how to act as though she was sober so he would do whatever she asked of him. "Still pretty sure that you're drunk."
"And I'm still pretty sure that I want to go and do karaoke right now, please Robin, just one song, that's all I want and then we can go home. Pinkie promise."
What harm would it do, so yeah, maybe she would make a fool of herself in front of a bunch of strangers, at least there was a good chance of her forgetting what happened come morning. "Do you even know what song you want to sing? How are you going to remember the words when you can hardly talk without your voice being slurred?"
"Let's go." She finished her Red-headed slut before turning to the door and leaving him behind.
With a roll of his eyes he downed the rest of his own drink before following after her, the last thing he wanted was for her to get lost in the crowd. Once he caught up with her, he placed his hand on her lower back and escorted her out of the bar, he could hear singing coming from the karaoke bar and immediately knew this was a bad idea, he hadn't sung in a long time and there was no way that Regina would be getting him to join in, he would sling her over his shoulder and carry her home before that happened.
"I know which song I want to sing already," she grinned as she pushed the door open and headed inside. The first thing that struck Robin was the bright neon lights which were placed in each corner of the building, drenching the place in iridescent colour. There were booths and tables scattered around, whilst an older slightly balding man stood on the stage doing some weird rendition of Bohemian Rhapsody.
"Can I have, I'm Outta Love, by Anastasia please," Regina requested as she walked up to a guy who was standing by the songbook, clearly taking people's requests.
"There's a waiting list lady, you're gonna have to wait your turn."
Regina groaned and turned to Robin, "pay the man Robin."
"What are you talking about?"
"Pay the man, you know," she half winked, doing some strange thing with her hand which he could only assume was some kind of lawyer gesture.
Robin narrowed his eyes at her and the man holding the songbook was watching her with a strange expression on his face, "she'll go on the waiting list, maybe then I stand the chance of sobering her up a little."
"I'm not even drunk, I'm barely tipsy," Regina scoffed, nearly falling over even though she was standing still, "also, you can't have watched many movies if you didn't understand what I meant when I said pay the man."
"I think I did understand, but there is no way I'm bribing the guy to let you go next."
"Urgh, you're no fun, Daniel would have done it."
"Regina…"
"Daniel would have…"
"Probably taken you somewhere far less savoury than a karaoke bar," Robin scoffed, he felt that he would be okay to let his opinion of the man spill out a little whilst she was drunk.
"Like?"
"I dunno, a strip club or something."
"Swingers club actually, but close," she shrugged, shrivelling her nose up at the thought, "you would be surprised at the number of old men I had to endure seeing naked," Regina gagged, "with their shrivelled-up dicks and beer bellies."
"Nice."
"No, not nice, vomit inducing actually, once I nearly did throw up on someone."
"Why the hell did you go along with it?" Robin asked as he watched Regina talk about it, the sheer disgust in her voice made her thoughts on the matter clear.
"Because I'm a complete gullible idiot."
"Did Daniel ever force you."
"Not as such, I tried to make sure that I was on the sidelines whenever possible," she whispered, looking down at her hands, "anyway, I don't want to think about that now, I want to do this, I want to sing. Pay the man Robin!"
"I'm not paying the man, come on, we'll go find a booth and wait."
"More drinks!"
"Definitely not, unless it's water or something that might sober you up a little."
"Oh, you're no fun."
"I need to go to the bathroom, go find a table," she ordered, pushing him softly as she headed in the direction of the ladies' room.
Robin grabbed some soda's and found a table, he felt so bad for her having to live that life with Daniel, it wasn't what she deserved, he knew that she was too worried to leave him, scared that no one else would want her, that she wasn't good enough, but it wasn't true. Sure, she had finally started to stand up for herself, but seemingly it was too little too late, the damage had already been done and she had lost all concept of self-worth because of that man. For the first time since he met him, Robin truly hated Daniel.
When Regina re-emerged, she was holding a tray with six shots on it, "need a little liquid courage," she chuckled.
"You were meant to be going to the bathroom."
"I did go, but I came back via the bar," she grinned, turning to look at the stage and watch as a woman tackled Belinda Carlyle's, Heaven is a Place on Earth. "I like this one," she hummed, her head bopping to the music as she sang along quietly.
Robin watched her and couldn't stop the smile from forming on his face, she looked like she was having fun, she was letting loose and not worrying about the people around her.
"Baby I was afraid before, but I'm not afraid anymore," she sang, turning to look at him, her eyes sparkling playfully as the woman finished the song. Regina slid around the booth a little so she was actually sat beside him, her body pressed into his side. "I don't know why I've never been here before," she sighed, tucking a strand of her hair behind her ear.
"All of the song choices are so cheesy," Robin chuckled, his arm wrapping around her shoulder as placed one of the sodas in front of her.
"That's the point of karaoke though," she pointed out, "that's what makes it fun. Daniel wouldn't be seen dead in here."
"Why not?"
"Oh, he thinks its stupid."
"It is a little."
"Oh yeah, but its fun as well," Regina grinned, raising her eyebrows at him, "but look how happy people are when they are murdering a good song."
"You have a point there."
After a few more people sang, all choosing tunes from the 80s and 90s or a song by Ed Sheeran, the song bookman approached them, "Hey lady, your turns coming up."
"0oh yay!"
"Are you sure you want to do this?" Robin asked, looking at her sceptically as she stood from the booth, removing the heeled boots that had been on her feet and shaking her hair out.
"Of course," she nodded, looking at the man who was still holding onto his songbook like it was his prized possession, "lead the way songmeister." The man simply sighed a led her through the crowd, she turned to grin at Robin before concentrating on where she was going. Robin could just about see as the man prepped her to go on stage, he couldn't remember what song it was that she said she was going to be singing.
The person on the stage finished their song and Regina was helped up, she made her way over to the microphone and did an awkward little wave, "hi folks, this song is dedicated to all the asshole boyfriends out there," she grinned as the backing track started up.
"Now baby come on, don't claim that love you never let me feel. I shoulda known, 'cause you brought nothin' real. C'mon be a man about it you won't die, I ain't got no more tears to cry and I can't take this no more, you know I gotta let you go and you knowwww! I'm outta love, set me free and let me out this misery. Just show me the way to get my life again, 'cause you can't handle me. Said I'm outta love, can't you see, baby that you gotta set me free, I'm outta love, yeah."
"Said how many times have I tried to turn this love around? But every time you just let me down. C'mon be a man about it you'll survive. I'm sure that you can work this out all right. Tell me yesterday did you know? I'd be the one to let you go and you know…"
Robin watched her in shock, he had been expecting yet another cheesy ballad not what was going on in front of him right now. She was actually a good singer, despite the slight tuning issues which occurred at certain parts of the song. She was rocking out and clearly enjoying the experience. He couldn't help but wonder why she'd picked the song and if she was using it in reference to Daniel.
"Baby that you gotta set me free, I'm outta… let me get over you, the way you gotten over me too, yeah. Seems like my time has come and now I'm movin' on. I'll be stronger! I'm outta love, set me free and let me out this misery, show me the way to get my life again, 'cause you can't handle me. Said I'm outta love can't you see baby that you gotta set me free, I'm outta love!"
The song came to an end and the people in the bar cheered for Regina as she did a little curtsy and slipped off the stage in a less than elegant manner before hopping over to him, he was concerned about her bare feet but clearly, she didn't have a care in the world. "Robin! Did you see me? Did you see?" she asked, falling into the booth and moving that she was closer than he had expected.
"Yep I saw you," he grinned, she was pretty much on top of him, but her happiness was contagious.
"That was so much fun, god," she breathed, sitting back in her chair and staring at him, "you look so good right now."
"And that is our cue to head home."
"I'm being serious."
"You're still drunk and I'm not going to be irresponsible and let you drink anything else." She'd already made her way through four of the six shots she'd purchased and he was cutting her off, cleaning up vomit definitely wasn't on his to-do list. "Come on shall we head back home now?"
"I suppose so, I did pinkie promise," she rolled her eyes as she found her shoes and tried to pull them on the wrong feet. Robin shook his head and stood up, moving around to her side, he grasped her ankles and pulled her towards him earning something akin to a giggle from Regina as she leant back at watched him.
"When you can't even put your shoes on the right feet you know you're drunk."
"So maybe I might be a tiny weeny bit drunk, but I'll be fine Robin, you don't have to worry about me, I'm a tough cookie," she reassured as he helped her stand up so they could make their way out of the bar. "That saying is silly really, because who wants their cookies to be tough? Cookies should be gooey and soft in the middle, maybe a little crispy on the outside," Regina hummed, "I could eat a cookie right now. Is the store still open?"
Robin glanced at his watch it was 11.30 so he doubted that many places would still be open, "I think target might be open but it closes in half an hour and…"
"Come on then! We have to get there quickly and buy cookies," she grabbed his hand and began pulling him along the sidewalk.
Robin groaned but went along with her anyway, she was going surprisingly quickly considering the amount of alcohol in her system. He knew that the nearest target was just around the corner so she would probably have time to pop in and grab her cookies. They rounded the corner and the store came into view, she dashed inside, ignoring the man stood at the door telling them that the shop was closing soon, Robin apologised to him and told him that she was literally just grabbing some cookies, before following her inside.
She darted around the aisles as he tried to keep up, somehow, she immediately found the cookies, it was almost as though she had sniffed them out. She grinned at him before grabbing more packets of cookies than she would ever need and plonking them in his arms, "do you think that will be enough?"
"Probably yeah, I think this will last you a good few months."
"Do you know what else I really want right now?" she asked, her eyes lighting up as she stared at the packet of Smores Chips Ahoy cookies that were on the top of the pile. "Marshmallows!"
"Oh god no," Robin shook his head, he felt like a parent having to stop his child from going on a sugar rush. Apparently, drunk Regina liked candy and dessert, anything sweet and she was there for it. Before he could even think to stop her, she was off again, running to another aisle. He was tempted to just leave her to it and head to the checkout but god knows what kind of trouble she could get herself into. He was pretty sure that the store was closed now as well.
With a sigh he made his way to the candy aisle, putting down a few packets of cookies on his way because he knew that there was no chance sober Regina would be eating all of them. When he reached the candy isle though Regina was nowhere to be seen which immediately alarmed him, where the hell could she have gone?
He groaned and opted to walk down the middle aisle so that he could look down each individual one and hopefully find her down one of them. He was nearly at the opposite end of the store when he stopped walking and someone knocked straight into the back of him.
"Why did you stop?" Regina's voice met his ears and he swung around to see her standing there with two boxes of lucky charms and some marshmallows.
"Seriously? How long have you been just walking behind me?"
"A while, I assumed you were looking for something, but I didn't know what, because we already have the cookies and the marshmallows. I also got these! Daniel doesn't allow them in the house because he says they are too sugary, but since he isn't living there at the moment I thought I'd get two boxes!" she gushed, looking extremely pleased with herself, "can you believe that they have marshmallows in them, Robin? I never knew that, I don't think I've ever tried them before."
"What, never?"
"Nope never, I haven't. Oh. My. God!"
Something had clearly caught her eye over his shoulder as she was staring at something behind him, he turned to try and see what it was but before he could she was speeding off again. This time he wasn't going to lose track of her, they needed to get out of the store before the security man actually came to find them.
Regina stopped abruptly, nearly making him drop everything he was carrying, she looked at a pair of pyjamas before reaching out to touch them. They weren't like anything he had ever seen her in, he was used to seeing her wear silky nighties or satin pyjamas, not casual flannel pyjamas with giraffes on them. The top had the giraffe's face on and the bottoms were animal print but printed in a pale purple colour, matching with the face.
"I need them," she breathed.
"Okay. Regina, if I get you the pyjamas can we please leave the store?" At this point, he was willing to say just about anything if it meant that he was able to get her home.
"Yes, are you really going to get them for me Robin?" she asked, looking at him with a huge smile etched on her face.
"If you want them, I'll get them."
"Thank you, I love them so much!"
Robin shook his head as he grabbed what he assumed was her size and added them to the pile of stuff in his arms. "Right, let's go then," he chuckled, turning and expecting to see Regina still stood there, only she wasn't. Instead, she was further down the aisle staring at something else. "Regina?" His eyes were drawn to the adorable baby onesie that matched the pyjamas she had chosen. "That's cute."
"I really want a baby," she whispered sadly, he glanced at her face and realised that she was crying, tears were rolling down her cheeks as she reached out and touched the soft material.
"Well, I'm sure you'll have one at some point."
"But I want one now and I just know that Daniel isn't ready for that so what am I supposed to do?"
"I..."
"Wait for my body to shrivel up and die when I could be getting pregnant whilst I'm still young enough?" Regina huffed, "I'm already starting to get old, look at the little crinkles."
"What crinkles?" Robin laughed, still looking at the little outfit on the hanger. It was a nice idea, he'd always wanted children but he was beginning to think that maybe Marian didn't. Looking at Regina though, even in her drunken broody state, he could tell that it hurt her so much to think that she would never have a child.
"I have them," she murmured, still stroking the little outfit. "How cute would this look on a tiny baby?"
"Extremely cute."
"Maybe we should just have a baby together."
Robin rose an eyebrow at her, he couldn't tell if she was being serious or not, but just the thought of having a child with her somehow brought warmth to his heart. He knew it shouldn't, he shouldn't be thinking about having kids with a woman who wasn't his girlfriend but he couldn't help it. Regina was pulling on his heartstrings and making him want to promise her the world even when it wasn't his to promise. She wasn't his. "Come on, we better go pay before they kick us out."
"I'm being serious Robin! Just imagine how cute she would look in this outfit, her spiky dark hair sticking up and her blue eyes sparkling as she stared back at us," Regina cooed. "We would have adorable children."
He was imagining it and it was a bloody cute image, they would be perfect. He really needed to get the thought out of his head and move her away from the baby section before she found anymore cute little outfits. "I'm sure we would, but right now we need to go."
She nodded and went along with him solemnly, he missed the happy and sill drunk Regina. Sighing he placed all the items he had in his arms on the self-scanner and turned to look at her again, however, not for the first time that night, she seemed to have disappeared. He didn't even know how she was managing it, it was like one second she was there, and the next she just vanished like Houdini.
Rolling his eyes, he began scanning the items through and just hoped that she would find her way back to him soon, with much luck she wouldn't get lost in the store, or locked in for that matter. He was pretty sure it was past closing time, to be honest, he was surprised there wasn't a store assistant trying to hurry them up.
Just as he put the final item through, she came barrelling into him with something in her hands, "are you serious?"
"I've never tried this and the ice cream is just because," she shrugged, scanning her final two items through and placing them in the bag, looking pleased as punch with herself.
"How did I not know before tonight that you are obsessed with marshmallows?" Robin asked as he glanced at the marshmallow fluff and phish food Ben & Jerry's she had just added to their shopping before paying.
"Because I don't usually indulge so pigishly," she giggled, "but you know what? Fuck it! Fuck everything!"
"Regina," he groaned as he put his card back in his wallet and grabbed the carrier bag that was full of sweet treats and Regina's pyjamas. "Come on, before they lock the doors."
"Would they? Could you imagine being locked in the store at night?" Regina grinned, walking backwards, "would you have to pay for the stuff you ate or would it be like those apocalypse films where people take whatever the hell they want?"
"Pretty sure that's stealing, the cops won't have turned to zombies and you would probably be arrested when they found you in the morning."
"Spoilsport," she tutted, trying to route in the bag for something and weighing his arm down as they made their way down the street in the direction of Regina's house. It was too far to walk all the way but he felt that a little night air would do her some good.
"What are you trying to find?"
"My cookies."
"Well we bought plenty of them," Robin grinned, "come on, you can't tell me that you didn't find one packet of cookies whilst you were rooting around in that bag."
"I can't find my favourites, did you put some back?"
"Maybe a couple of packets, but there was no way you were eating all of them."
"Robinnnnn!" she groaned, settling on the Smores Chip Ahoy, "these will have to do then won't they."
"You are impossible. Who even are you tonight?" he asked, chuckling as he watched her bite into one of the cookies.
"I'm still me," she murmured, "this is what happens when you let me drink though."
"Pretty sure I tried to stop you from drinking."
"Whatever," she waved him off, shoving a cookie in his mouth before bursting out into a fit of giggles.
Half an hour and two packets of cookies later, they were still walking along the sidewalk, at least they were walking off the cookies and hopefully the alcohol. Out of nowhere, Regina broke the silence, "Robin, I think you actually might be a Greek god reincarnated! You should be put on some pedestal or something and there would be thousands of people kneeling before your biceps," she hiccupped.
Robin had no idea where any of this was coming from, other than the fact, they had passed some kind of stone sculpture a few blocks back and ever since she'd been quiet in thought, maybe that was what prompted her thoughts about Greek gods and what not. "Okay then, you are definitely drunk," he chuckled as her step wavered, he really needed to call them a cab soon, he just wanted to try and get her to walk it off a little first.
"That day, the day of the pool party, I wanted to scream that I was sleeping with a goddamned Greek god and that Marian was just so fucking lucky to have you. God, I wanted you that day, I want you right now."
"What you need is to get home and go to bed."
"Hmm, sounds like a plan."
"To sleep, you need to sleep it off," he rolled his eyes, apparently the alcohol had banished her filter and she was literally just saying whatever she thought of without worrying about the consequences of her words. She really was on a roll tonight.
"Can you carry me," she pouted, "my feet hurt and you are really strong, like those biceps are soooo massive, do you work out? I mean you could probably pick up two of me, could you? I bet you could," she slurred, "please pick me up Robbie, please."
With a sigh, he leant down so that she could climb onto his back, it had been a long time since he had given anyone a piggyback ride so he really hoped that he'd be able to manage it, not to mention he had to juggle her and the bags he was holding. "Regina, if you throw up on me, I don't think we'll be able to be friends anymore."
"I won't throw up," she argued, hopping up onto his back. He was just glad that she was small and light, her legs wrapped around his waist whilst her arms were around his shoulders, her cheek pressed against his upper back. He was surprised that she'd managed to get on the first try, he'd half been expecting to have to pick her up off the floor. "Why are we walking?"
"I have no idea, I was trying to get you to sober up a little, but I don't think that is even possible. Can you grab my phone and call a cab?" he asked, he was trusting her to do that without messing it up and he hoped that she didn't say something embarrassing in her drunken state.
"Of course," she nodded against him, her fingers slithering into the back pocket of his jeans, cupping his ass as she grabbed his phone.
She went quiet for a moment before he heard the dial tone begin to ring, she had clearly put the phone on speaker. "Hello?"
"Daniel!"
"Regina?"
"Hi, guess what?!"
"What?"
"I'm riding Robin!" she laughed. Robin's eyes widened as he stopped walking and deposited her back onto the ground, turning to stare at her, what the actual hell was she doing. "Aww, Robin! No fair!"
"Regina," Robin groaned, trying to snatch the phone back from her, but somehow, she was too quick.
"He put me down," Regina huffed into the phone, "hi."
"Hi, Regina what's going on?"
"I sang karaoke and Robin bought me cookies," she grinned.
"Give me the phone," Robin sighed, taking it from her before turning it off speaker phone and putting it to his ear, "hey Daniel, sorry about that."
"Hey mate, what the hell is up with my girlfriend?"
"She might have had slightly too much to drink."
"Slightly?"
"Okay, way too much, but don't' worry, I'm taking care of her. She'll be fine."
"Shit man, what the hell?"
"Daniel, I…"
"Hey, bitch!" Regina hissed as she snatched the phone from his hand putting it back on speaker phone, "I'm a grown ass woman and I'll drink however the fucking much I want. Is that okay with you?"
"Did you just call me a bitch?"
"Yep," she nodded, her nose wrinkling up as she looked to Robin and back at the phone, "C'mon be a man about it you won't die," she tutted, quoting her karaoke song, before cutting him off and hanging the phone back to Robin. "Wait, was I supposed to call a cab?"
"Yeah."
"Sorry."
"God I really need to get you home and then probably ring your boyfriend."
"Screw him."
"Regina."
"I'm serious! He's a dickhead most of the time, maybe its time that I show him that I don't actually give a shit about what he thinks."
"I'm pretty sure this is just your drunk mind talking so I'm calling the cab."
They stumbled through the front door into her house, she was giggling about something they'd been talking about and e couldn't help but chuckle along with her, seemingly drunk Regina had a funny sense of humour, even if she was a pain in the ass to deal with. As soon as the door was closed though she jumped and moved back towards it, putting on the deadlock before turning the key. "We need to make sure that no one can get in," she murmured, her voice and expression fully serious as she stared at him, "and the security code on the alarm, we have to make sure it is turned on Robin."
He could see the fear in her eyes and it was strange because he hadn't seen it the night before, it was almost as though she had been able to hide it better when she had all of her senses and wasn't drunk. For all he knew, she had been hiding it the entire time, but right now she wasn't and she looked genuinely terrified to be in her own home. "Don't worry Gina, I'll make sure its properly secured."
"You need to check the windows."
"What?"
"Check them, Robin, make sure they are locked properly, please. The patio doors as well, we need to make sure that they are properly shut and take the key with us."
"Okay, we'll do that," he nodded, this wasn't just drunk rambling. What was happening now was 100% real. She was scared, worried that someone was going to break in after what happened and finding out about Leopold, he wasn't surprised she was acting the way she was, but he couldn't help think king that normally she suffered alone when it came to these types of things. She wasn't usually a very open person and he knew that she'd probably been having these worries ever since the break-in.
Her hand was tightly clasped in his as they went around every single window on the ground floor, finishing with the patio doors in the kitchen. Once they had finished, she let out a breath and leant against the counter, "I bet all that Ice cream has melted," she sighed, gesturing to the shopping bag that was in his hands.
He grabbed the tub and put it in the freezer, leaving the cookies in the bag before pouring a glass of water and reaching for her hand, "come on, let's get you to bed shall we."
Regina nodded, following him dutifully, stopping when he did at the bottom of the stairs as he turned on the burglar alarm before heading up to the bedroom. "Is it just my imagination or was I awful to my mother tonight?" she sighed sitting down on the bed and glancing up at him. He couldn't quite tell if she had sobered up a bit or if it was just one of her mood swings, she seemed to have them quite a lot when drinking alcohol, he couldn't count the number of times she had gone from sombre to playful and happy that night.
"You were a little mean yeah."
"Great," Regina groaned, lying back on the bed and staring up at the ceiling, "I'm going to have a headache tomorrow aren't I."
"Most likely," he agreed, heading off into the ensuite to grab some things so he could help her get ready for bed, before he could even apply some of the makeup remover to the flannel, her arms wrapped around his waist as Regina hugged him from behind and rested her head on his shoulder. "Hey."
"Hi," she mumbled, her fingers playing with the hem of his shirt, working their way across his abs, "what are you doing in here, I was lonely out there all on my own."
"Wandering hands missus," Robin chuckled, finding her fingers and moving them from inside his shirt, he turned around and she pressed him against the sink. God, he had been hoping that she would go to sleep as soon as her head hit the pillow, but apparently, luck wasn't on his side and her frisky side was making a comeback.
"I just wanted to feel your muscles," she sulked, her hands finding his chest once again, whilst she was pre-occupied he took the opportunity to help her remove her makeup, carefully washing her face and making sure not to get it in her eyes. She was thoroughly distracted by his chest and if he were honest her touch was distracting him from what he was supposed to be doing.
Once the makeup was fully off his shirt nearly was also, she had it way up his body and her hands were just caressing his abs. "Having fun?"
"Hmm, I am actually," she nodded, her eyes were closed as she just allowed her fingers to move across his skin. She shuffled closer, to the point where she was literally pinning him against the sink before moving her lips to his neck.
"Okay Gina, you're drunk and this is not happening," he shook his head, moving out of her reach and handing her toothbrush to her, "do you think that you can manage to brush your teeth and do everything."
"Aww Robin, you're no fun," she groaned as she put her toothbrush in her mouth and got on with it. He grabbed his own before heading to the other bathroom to get ready for bed. He couldn't believe that she had gotten so drunk, the night had been conflicting in many ways, he still didn't know what to make of half the things she said to him.
Once he'd done everything he needed to do, he headed back to the bedroom to find Regina lying face down on the bed, half dressed and trying to kick off her jeans.
"Come here you," he groaned, grabbing her legs and trying to pull off the jeans which might as well have been painted onto her body they were that tight.
"Why Robin, what do you think you're doing?" She chuckled.
"Trying to get you ready for bed."
"Oh, boring."
"Regina seriously, just help me, you need to sleep it off."
"I am helping you, I've been trying to get them off forever and they just won't," she huffed, rolling over so that she was on her back. That was when he realised the reason her pants weren't budging.
"Seriously? You didn't undo them, Gina."
"Oh, oops."
After her pants were off and she was changed into her new pyjamas, something that had taken much longer than it ever should have, she drank the glass of water he grabbed for her before snuggling into the bed and staring up at him. "Robin, will you hold me while I go to sleep?"
"Sure," he chuckled, happy to finally be getting into bed, he slipped under the covers and allowed her to scoot into his arms, she snuggled into his embrace, her hair tickling his nose as her face pressed against his chest.
"I think I love you," she slurred, "I really do, you're so nice and thoughtful. You take care of me, Daniel doesn't do that."
"Well, someone has to take care of you, even if you think you can take care of yourself most of the time."
"I can, most of the time, but I just don't want it to be all of the time and with Daniel, that's how it is. You're not like that though Robin, you're different. You're a beautiful human being, did you know that?"
"Why thank you, you're not so bad yourself, although I think I prefer the sober version of Regina to this one, even if you are a cuddly drunk."
"I just wanted to let loose, I never do this," she whispered, "but I really do think I love you, I really, really do. I don't love Daniel."
Robin stared at her, he didn't really know what to think, she was drunk and she probably didn't even know what she was saying, he knew that he was better of taking her words with a pinch of salt. For all he knew she could be using love in a completely different sense of the world, you could still have a love for your friends, that's probably what she was referring to. "I think we can have this conversation tomorrow if you still feel the same way in the morning, which I very much doubt."
"Your dick is better too," she mumbled sleepily, her eyes falling closed, "Marian is a fool for sharing you. Her loss is my gain I suppose," Regina yawned, he could tell that she was just on the cusp of sleep and shook his head as he tightened his hold on her.
"Good night Regina."
"I think you're a beautiful, beautiful man and I…"
She didn't even finish her sentence before she fell asleep cuddled up against his side. Robin chuckled to himself and allowed his fingers to softly brush through her hair. He had a lot of things to think about, and the only thing that he knew for certain was that Regina was going to have one hell of a hangover in the morning.