The response to the last chapter made my heart swell. Thank you to everyone who is reading. You're the best. Enjoy Chapter 14! I own nothing but the mistakes! Also, I'm changing the rating to M - nothing overly graphic, but changing to be safe!

"Only You?" Regina asks Robin, biting her lip.

"It was one of your favourite songs, no?" Robin raises an eyebrow, knowing how much she adored the song.

"It will always will be."

"Well, then…May I have this dance, love?"

Eyes are fixed on them as Robin's hand remains outstretched towards her. Being the centre of attention is not her favourite thing, but as he's gazing at her with that look in his eyes… a look of love mixing within a sea of bright blue, she takes his hand.

He pulls her close to his body, a gleaming smile shining down at her, the lyrics of the song sinking deep into her soul as they look into each other's eyes. He's confident in his movement, wrapping an arm tightly around her waist as she instinctively places a hand of her own onto his shoulder. Holding her other hand tightly in his, they begin to move.

Many are watching, Mary Margaret and David included, but they might as well have been alone. All that is registering in Regina's mind was the feeling of his arm around her, the beat of the song, and the lyrics that, she is only just beginning to realise, define them perfectly.

All I needed was the love you gave.

Robin begins to sway their bodies with more fervency, Regina moving easily with him, both of their faces glowing with smiles.

All I needed for another day.

Regina laughs beautifully when Robin dips her backwards, it's amateur to say the least, but she goes with it. Her eyes close on the descent and open up wide again when she is back upright and face to face with him.

And all I ever knew.

Regina recognises the look on his face, she's seen it before. A long time ago, but before she can pinpoint where, Robins lips latch onto hers, timidly but with purpose. She smiles into the kiss, exhaling through her nose as her eyelids flutter closed. The hunger she feels for him is heightened in ways she has never experienced, the romance of the moment wondrously filling their immediate space and radiating outward.

Only you.

Their faces drift apart, her brown eyes bonding with his blue.

"About time, Locksley!" David yells among the crowd, resulting in a wave of laughter and agreement within the groups of people.

Regina's nose scrunches up as she laughs shyly and Robin groans, still smiling, and drops his forehead onto Regina's shoulder sheepishly, but he doesn't stay that way for long. He is upright only mere seconds later to and begins to move with Regina again.

He lifts his arm, still clutching her hand, and initiates a turn. Regina spins on the ball of her foot cheerfully, tucking under his lifted arm. She's face to face with him again, his arm circling her back, and she notices that familiar look on his face again.

"Are you having fun?" He whispers, leaning in close to her face, their noses bumping.

"Yes," the word comes out as a light breath, "But, I think Mary Margaret may be enjoying this more."

Robin cranes his head around to look at the pixie haired brunette. Her hands are clasped together as she stares at Robin and Regina in awe.

"I think you're right," Robin stifles a laugh, "We can't have that now, can we?"

Surprising Regina, Robin lowers the arm around her waist to her upper thighs and lifts her off the ground, spinning around slowly on his own feet. She squeals happily at her elevated position, bracing herself with two hands moved firmly to his shoulders.

David and Mary Margaret are watching them both happily, "They both look so…" David whispers, leaning close to Mary Margaret's ear.

"Happy?" she finishes, "They deserve it," her eyes still fixed on her friends, "Do you know what this reminds me of? This song, them dancing?"

"What?"

"Prom," she grins and David pieces everything together, thinking of the evening, and his unknowing face develops an understanding smile.

"Why don't you ask her to dance?" Mary Margaret suggested to Robin, who had been staring at Regina dance with several boys in their grade.

"She isn't lacking for dance partners," Robin dismissed, his eyes dropping to look inside his drink.

"True… But, I highly doubt she'll deny you," Mary Margaret smiled supportively, "I'm sure she wants to dance with you as much as you do her." Robin didn't respond, but looked at her with sad, disbelieving eyes, "If you don't go over there, I'm going to go and tell her you're too scared to ask."

Robin was about to call her bluff when she started walking towards Regina, "Okay!" Robin yelled, desperate to spare himself from that embarrassment, "Okay, but-"

Mary Margaret snatched the drink from his hand, "Go."

Nerves were coursing through his veins as he approached her. His feet shuffling across the floor, hands shoved into his pockets. Luckily for him, Regina noticed him first.

"Care to dance, sir?" She teased with a giddiness in her voice that made his heart flutter.

"Please," he breathed with a smile, taken aback slightly when she wrapped her arms so nonchalantly around his neck. They swayed for a while, his hands lightly brushing her hips, fighting the urge to pull her in full contact with his front.

The playing song ended and a new one faded in and Regina threw her head back with an exaggerated, pleased moan, "I love this song."

He recognised it instantly. She had played it for him a couple of weeks back and has heard it sounding from her bedroom window almost every night since. He smiled in awe as she started mouthing the lyrics to the song.

When the chorus hit, she looked deep into his eyes, noticing a look on his face that she hadn't seen before. Her singing of the words had ceased and her brow furrowed in concern, "What's wrong?"

Shaking his head, he reached up and brushed all the hair that was curled on her shoulder to fall down her back, "Nothing."

He convinced her and she smiled with a nod, wordlessly leaning her face into his chest as they finished their dance, Robin internally cursing himself for not following his gut in the moment.

When her feet plant safely on the ground, she moves the hands that were on his shoulders to loop around his neck. He is looking at her with that look again, but unlike the first time, she recognises it almost instantly and chuckles.

"What?" He asks, amusement in his voice as his hands caress her waist.

"Your face," she laughs heartily, Robin's eyes narrow, confused, "That came out wrong."

"It certainly did," Robin's hands encircle her back, clasping together at the base of her spine, "Care to elaborate?"

"You have this look on your face, you had the same one at Prom," she explains, but he's still not sure what her point is, "You wanted to kiss me at Prom, didn't you?"

"Ah," he understands now, and smirks like he had just been caught doing something he shouldn't but he doesn't reply.

"You're not denying it," she grins and he drops a quick, warm kiss to her mouth.

"I thought we were going for honesty?"

Her heart stops for a beat or two, "Why didn't you?" She looks down to his chest, convincing herself that it would make it easier for him to answer without looking directly in her eyes, but in reality… it was for her own benefit.

"Nerves?" She feels his shoulders shrug, "Being an idiot in general?" Regina looks up to his face, "But, I'm not making the same mistake twice."

Robin envelopes her in another heated lip lock, kissing her the way he had wanted to at their Prom, and everyday after that. Contently, they move apart, sighing happily as their foreheads press together as the song ends. Their song.

Passed his head, Regina can see Mary Margaret and David approaching. She groans and whispers, "Incoming."

He knows what she is talking about before turning his head with a small grin that only Regina catches.

"We're sorry to interrupt, but I wouldn't mind dancing with this lovely woman," David cuts in, offering his hand to Regina who is more than happy to oblige, looking back, winking to Robin as David leads her into a different spot. Robin is left standing with Mary Margaret, who looks down at her shuffling feet and back up at him.

"Shall we?" Robin suggests and Mary Margaret nods with excitement, slipping her hand into his and adopting a perfect stance. They move melodically, more space between them than between Robin and Regina.

"You should tell her," Mary Margaret says softly, nodding in Regina's direction.

"Tell her what?"

Mary Margaret bites her lip, hoping that she's not wrong, "That you love her."

He sighs sadly, knowing that she is right, "I don't think that's the best idea, not right now."

"But, why?" She almost whines.

Spinning Mary Margaret under his arm, he laughs, "I don't want to scare her off."

Considering his worry, she nods in agreement, "That's fair… But, you do?"

"Love her?" Mary Margaret nods her head, encouraging him to answer. He huffs a breath, "I've loved her for so long. I honestly don't think I ever stopped." He's looking over at Regina now, barely able to keep his eyes off of her, a slight rise of jealousy rippling under his skin as David dances with her, "Is it obvious?"

"Oh, yeah," she affirms.

Sighing and facing Mary Margaret again, "Saying goodbye to her is one of the hardest things I ever did. I just wish I knew…"

"Knew what?"

Their dancing stops and they stand still, face to face, Robin feeling a sense of relief to be able to get this off of his chest, "I wish I knew that the day I left her was the day I was saying goodbye to the girl who changes the way my heart beats."

An admired gasp leaving her lips, Mary Margaret clutches her chest, approving tears brimming her eyelids, "Tell her that," she breathes, "Those exact words.

Robin feels light-headed after exposing his heart so vividly to his friend, his own words taking their toll. But, he's brought down by the heavenly sound of Regina's laughter as David dramatically waltzes her around.

"I just want her to be happy, even if she thinks it's impossible."

Smiling again, Mary Margaret hangs her arm over Robin's shoulder and guides him to the sitting area, "She is."

David and Regina continue dancing the night away, laughing and nudging each other while Mary Margaret and Robin sit with the children and their grandparents.

Roland has yawned almost ten times in the last few minutes and Helena notices, "I think we should get these young men to bed, what do you say?"

Roland nods, Henry mimicking tiredly, "Can Roland stay with us, Grandpa?"

Henry Sr. looks to Helena for an answer and she nods her permission, "Of course, my boy. Let's head home shall we?"

They collect themselves and prepare to make the walk home, Helena and Henry Sr. bidding goodbyes to their friends.

"I'll stay at the Mills' until midnight. You stay and have a good time with Regina… but please keep in mind when I will return to the house. I don't want to walk in on anything… you know?"

Henry Sr. scowls in Robin's direction, it wasn't deliberate, just the expected fatherly reaction. Robin whines at his mother, "Really?" He's embarrassed, that much was clear to see.

Stifling her laughter, she hurries the boys along, "Have fun!"

An hour or so later, everyone is sitting around a table pushed up in the corner of a tent. Killian and Emma have finally decided to join them, keeping very hushed about where they were, but Emma is all smiles and giggling, so Regina isn't concerned at all. They're nursing their hot drinks; Robin offered hot chocolate, but Regina opted for coffee while making some teasingly snarky remark about how childish it would be to drink hot chocolate.

That just makes him grin even more every time she reaches for his cup for the odd sip every here and there, and Regina notices, giving him warning eyes to keep his comments at bay. Robin brings out the childish side of her. The side she thought was long gone and ceased to exist.

She's cold, freezing actually. She has been trying very hard to keep everyone else from noticing, but when she reaches her limit, her teeth start chattering.

"You're cold," Robin notices, pouting because she didn't say anything.

"Yeah, but it's fine," she tries to push the issue aside, but he's having none of it.

"No, let's get you home. I think everyone would be happy to get out of the cold."

Regina and Robin enter his home, switching on the lights, shedding their coats, scarves and shoes, slumping them next to the front door. Emma and Killian went off on their own again, but Emma promised Regina she'd be home at a reasonable hour.

There's a stinging feeling in her hands as they begin to warm slowly. She was colder than she thought. She begins rubbing her hands furiously together, hoping to speed up the process. Robin notices and takes her hands in his own, commenting on how icy her fingertips felt.

With a mischievous grin, Regina extracts her hands from his and quickly slides them up the front of his shirt, her cold hands pressing against his abdomen. He yells and jolts, trying to move backwards out of her reach.

Reaching for her wrists, he removes Regina's hands, "That was just plain evil, love," she purses her lips and shrugs her shoulders, nonchalantly, "Are you warmer, at least?"

"Mhmm," she replies, moving easily as he pulls her towards the kitchen gently, his hands still around her wrists.

"I don't know about you…" He opens the fridge, "But, my favourite thing about Thanksgiving is the leftovers."

She's not hungry. Not even a little bit. But, watching him bring out all the dishes, she agrees anyway. They make plates of candied sweet potato and turkey, Robin splurging on some cranberry sauce. They heat their plates in the microwave. She is about to wander into the dining room, but stops when Robin calls her name, sitting down on the kitchen floor with his back resting against the cupboard under the sink.

Amused, she sits down across from him, her back leaning against the a cupboard on the parallel counter. Their legs are outstretched next to each other, Regina's socked feet reaching his mid thigh. Robin reaches down and hold onto her calf as he uses his other hand to shovel his face full of the turkey goodness.

They eat in silence, and Regina basks in it. Their moments of comfortable silence have always been calming, almost therapeutic. When they finish, plates are disposed of on the counter above Robin, his attention moving solely to rubbing up and down her calf.

"Are you warmer?" Robin asks quietly, almost a whisper.

"Yes," she smiles, "You?"

"Yeah. I had a great time today."

"Me too," she inhales freely, "Watching our boys together makes my heart swell. It's like seeing you and Daniel together. It's adorable."

He ponders what she says and it sparks a joyous spreading of warmth inside his chest. She's right. He can only hope that they have the opportunity to become as good of friends as he and Daniel were.

"You've done a fine job raising him, Regina. He's lucky to have a mother like you."

His words cut right to her soul. She's constantly worried about whether or not she was doing a good job, and not that she needs any ensuring, it feels wonderful nonetheless.

"I miss them," she mumbles, pulling all of her hair to one side.

"I'm sure they're fast asleep as this point…" He chuckles loudly, remembering what his Mother had said earlier that night.

"What?" She asks, interested in what led to his sudden outburst.

He considers changing the subject, but doesn't, "Mum was quick to encourage me to spend some quality time with you, but reminded me that she would be home eventually and that we should be… decent."

She snorts with wide eyes, "Please tell me she didn't say that in front of my Father."

"Of course she did," he grumbles, breathing a soft laugh through his nose.

What possesses her to rise to her knees and shuffle over the floor to him is unknown, it's as if someone much more confidence is controlling her. His head is tilted upward as she towers over him. With an alluring glint in her eye, she lifts one thigh gracefully over his lap and straddles him, sitting lower, putting some of her weight onto his legs. His eyes are wide, looking up at her stunned.

"And, just how much time do we have until Helena comes home?" Her voice is dripping with lust, her breathing becoming more and more shallow with every second that passes.

"Um…" He can't form a sentence, he's too wrapped up in that fact that she is on him. Straddling him like it is the most natural thing in the world. He can't take his eyes off of her.

She grins down at him, using her hands to steady herself, placing them on his shoulders. His back is still flat against the cupboard he has been leaning on. She realises that he isn't going to answer her question, so she makes the first move, peppering soft kisses along his cheek, down and along his jawline, kissing anywhere she can that isn't his lips.

As much as he is enjoying the lips of such a beautiful creature, he murmurs, "I do believe my Mother implied that she didn't want to happen…" His voice comes out shaky, breathy. She chuckles into his skin, lips descending to the column of his throat, "Regina…"

She lifts her head, thinking that she's crossed a line, and breathes a nervous laugh, "Sorry," she tries to climb off of him, but he clamps his hands onto her hips, keeping her still and making her smirk, "You're giving me mixed signals."

"I apologise. Let me be perfectly clear, I am very much alright with what is happening right now. But I want to make sure that you are comfortable."

Regina moves to tower over him again, "I do believe I initiated, didn't I?"

His witty response is destroyed when Regina's lips combine with his own, sparking a sudden moment of accumulated passion. Robin's hands latch into her soft, black locks, holding her face in place as they devour each other. She prods her way further into his mouth, tongues battling for dominance, and she smiles into the kiss when the moan he's been trying to suppress becomes apparent.

Robin's response ignites a fire deep in the pit of her stomach. Without warning, she feels the need to be as close to him as possible, to be touching him. His bare skin. Hands leave his shoulders and travel downward to the bottom of his shirt and slide up inside, only this time her hands are warm. Unintentionally, his shirt becomes bunched up around his chest, her hands roaming up, down, and around his torso.

Following her actions, Robin's fingers release the hold they have on her hair and cascade down her back, over the sweater she is wearing. Regardless of the unbridled craving to rip the shirt from her body, he restrains himself and gives Regina the freedom to call the shots.

Regina becomes painfully aware of how long it has been since she's been in this kind of situation when a heat that she hasn't felt in a long, long time starts to spread from her core to the rest of her body. As if he can tell, his lips travel downward leaving hot, open mouthed kisses on her jaw, her throat, right down to the collar of her sweater that he doesn't dare pass. She can't help it, she tilts her head back, a wanton and breathy cry releasing from her mouth when he nips at her skin gently with his teeth.

Robin groans when she pushes her lower body into his, brushing agonisingly over his now hardened length, trapped within the confines of jeans that he now hates.

He doesn't see Regina's blush when she feels him hard against her. This is new. This feeling with him. After everything they've been through, very little is considered uncharted territory, but this? This is territory most uncharted.

She's grinding down on him slowly, but consistently, his lips still memorising every nook of her neck, up to a spot behind her ear, "Robin…" her voice raspy. She is so distracted, so when he pulls away and looks at her, she is puzzled, "What's wrong?"

"Is that your phone?" He's out of breath, hands kneading gently at either side of her waist. It's a distant ringing, Lord knows how he even heard it, but she nods, recognising the ringtone, "Ignore it," he demands, taking a risk and slipping his hands up the front of her sweater, claiming her lips in another bruising kiss.

Every millimetre of his movement feels like a jolt of electricity and then his thumbs are caressing she skin just below the underwire of her bra. She needs more, there needs to be more. Wetting her lips, she reaches down the the bottom of her sweater, starting to pull it up her body slowly, watching every way his face reacts, every way he-

Her phone's ringing again. Nobody would call twice if it wasn't important. She drop her hands and sighs roughly, "Sorry. I should probably get that…"

She climbs off him awkwardly, using the countertop to keep her balance as she stands, being harshly reminded that her body is not as durable as it used to be. Leaving him on the floor, she scurries to her coat that was abandoned on the floor, fumbling in the pockets for the device that was keeping her from what was about to become incredibly enjoyable.

Zelena Green.

"You have got to be kidding me," she growls before answering the phone angrily, "What?"

"My, my, Regina. No need to bite my head off… At least not yet," there's a smirk on her face, Regina can practically hear it over the phone.

"What do you want, Zelena?"

"Happy Thanksgiving?"

"Zelena." the name comes out as a bark, and Regina feels Robin wander up to stand behind her.

"The file you prepared, if you even did, where is it?"

"On my desk, where I told Mallory I left it."

"It seems to have been misplaced," Regina knows what's coming before it even happens, "Oops… Mal needs to you come back and put another one together."

"You can't be serious?"

"Afraid so. Shall I expect you tomorrow? Not that you have much of a choice."

"What is wrong with you?" Regina bites down the phone, "You watched me run around the office putting it together. And are you so incompetent that you can't do it yourself?"

"Mallory has asked for you directly, darling. Such a shame it went missing. Anyway, I need to run. Bye!" Zelena hangs up the phone, but not until after Regina can hear that witch's wicked cackle."

Exhaling a shuddered, angered breath, Regina tosses her phone onto the floor, landing on her crumpled coat. "That… That parasite."

"What's going on?" Robin asks, moving away to give Regina her space as she paces heavily around the floor.

"I have to go back to work. Tomorrow." She latches her hands onto his hips, still pacing, "I swear that woman is trying to ruin my life."

"Love," he stands in front of her, "Is there no way you can do it remotely?"

Thinking for a second, she whispers with a frown, "No… Everything I need is at the office. I stayed late yesterday to ensure this didn't happen."

"Alright. Well, if you need to leave in the morning, you need to leave. If this woman is truly out to get you, don't let her win. You were having such a good day."

He's right and she exhales a deep breath, "As always, you're right," she steps into his arms, giggling nervously, "Sorry for abandoning you in there…"

"That's quite alright, it was probably for the best anyway."

Not sure whether or not to be offended, she leans away from his chest and raises and eyebrow with a gleeful scoff, "Is that a complaint, Locksley?"

"Absolutely not, I was certainly happy with all that just transpired, milady. But, if we had continued I'm afraid that I wouldn't have been able to stop myself, and I much prefer imagining anything like that occurring somewhere that isn't my Mother's tiled kitchen floor."

They aren't very close to each other, but they still spring apart when the front door swings open, Helena shivering her way inside, "How long have you both been home?" Her eyes dart to the display of jackets, shoes and scarves scattered haphazardly on the floor, "Was I interrupting something?"

"No," Robin mumbles, embarrassed. His Mother is enjoying it too much as she watches him gather Regina's items, "Regina was just about to head home, she has some things to sort out."

Regina is putting on her shoes, looking at Helena, "Yeah, just some silly work trouble. Hopefully I get it all sorted. I'll see you tomorrow?" Regina asks Robin, "Even if I have to leave early?"

"Leave?" Helena frowns.

"I'll explain in a minute," Robin opens the front door for Regina, dropping a peck to her lips, "I'd be quite disappointed if I don't see you. I'll be up early."

Emma's still not home, but that doesn't bother her. At least someone is having a good night. Regina's blood is still boiling over Zelena. She labelled that file as obviously as she could, she put it in the centre of her desk. Ugh, she hates her job. She loathes that woman.

Her Mom would know what to do.

She's been achingly reminded of the letter and debit card that has taken residence in her bedside table. Chewing the inside of her cheek, she leans over and opens the drawer, dipping her hand inside slowly.

The envelope is pristine, Regina written across it in Cora's exquisite cursive. Reading this could either guide her or ruin her… The unknown slapping her in the face.

Screw it.

Regina rips the envelope open and slides the written pages out. Puffing a breath threw pursed lips, Regina begins to read the words that Cora wanted to be her legacy in Regina's heart.

My dear Regina,

If you are reading this, my illness has claimed my life and I have died a coward. There is plenty that I wanted to do before this moment arrived, but if I could have had the courage to do anything, it would have been to apologise to you.

You were right to stand your ground with me, to make your own decisions, even when I stood in the way.

I am so proud of you.

I wish I could say that I would go back and change everything, but I wouldn't. What happened between us made you who you are and I love who you have become. You're a splendid Mother, you have a heart of gold, and you are gloriously independent. Who doesn't want that for their child?

You are my greatest treasure, sweetheart, even though the way I treated you is my deepest regret. I was responsible for tarnishing our relationship, despite how much you feel it was your fault.

Don't make the same mistakes I did. Don't let anyone make decisions for you that aren't your own. Don't be scared to take a leap of faith, even if those around you won't understand. I have been a coward for so long and I missed so many opportunities to be happy.

Take risks, follow your heart, be spontaneous. Just promise me that you won't become the person standing in the way of your own happiness. Your happiness is all I have ever wanted.

Think of me often. I love you, my darling.

Regina reads the words over and over, struggling to imagine any of these coming from Cora's hand, at least not recently. But, it certainly is her handwriting.

She sniffles, her body being released of the tingling pit in her stomach prior to reading. She's content with Cora's words, but also feels a sense of resentment. If she had opened up to Regina before she had passed, they could have had more time together. However, Regina is also aiming plenty of the resentment at herself; she could have forgiven Cora and been a bigger part of her life.

None of it matters, anyway. Cora's gone. But Regina is here… and she needs to take the reins.

Take risks, follow your heart, be spontaneous.

Feeling inspired, Regina scrolls through her contacts list to Mallory Horn and hits the call button before she can change her mind. She's jittery as the phone rings in her ear, and she's nervously biting her thumb, much like she did when she was a child.

After several rings, Mallory answers, "I hope you have a good reason to be calling be this late."

Regina looks at the clock next to her lamp. It's well after midnight, "Sorry, Mal. I just… I, uh…"

"Well, spit it out."

"Uh…" Regina takes a moment to collect herself, "I quit?"

Mallory scoffs, "You quit?"

"I think so."

"You're quitting or you think you are?" Mallory sighs down the phone.

Follow your heart.

"I'm quitting." Regina's voice is sincere and confident.

Mallory doesn't answer right away, and Regina prepares herself for a series of cursing and anger, but it doesn't come, "It's about time, Regina."

Confused, Regina's eyes widen, "I'm sorry?"

"You outgrew my firm years ago. I've been expecting this day for a very long time."

"Why didn't you say anything?" Regina asks, expecting to wake up from whatever twisted dream she thinks she is having.

"You had to figure it out yourself. Don't worry about us. I will have Zelena pick up all of your work, and when you need a reference letter, you know where I am."

"Thank you," Regina professes, "I… This was not how I was expecting this conversation to go."

Mallory laughs deeply, "Enjoy your life, Regina. Whatever you choose to do with it. Was that all?"

"Yes," Regina staggers, "Goodnight, Mal."

Mal doesn't return the goodbye, she hangs up leaving Regina to think within the silence of her bedroom.

What the hell just happened?

There it is! Thanks for reading. Please review, and if you're on twitter (RegalPixieDust) hit me up!

There are officially TWO chapters left of this story and one more time jump. Thank you for being on this ride with me 3 Mwah!