A/N: At long last... here we are.
"Yes."
The word slipped from her mouth and her heart pounded in her chest. His blue eyes remained locked on hers, lips parted in barely concealed shock and relief at her admission. It was almost as if he didn't believe it.
Her voice barely reached above a whisper as she nodded her head and repeated, "Yes, I have feelings for you, Robin."
Her breath was shaky as she admitted it once more. Her hands trembled as she stared into his eyes, caught in his gaze.
She'd said it.
She'd admitted her feelings for Robin.
And now… the whole world went still.
Everything around her went hazy. The rest of the room faded and all that was left was her and Robin trapped in the bubble of their confessions. Nothing extended beyond them. Nothing else mattered. Only their feelings and the fact that they'd finally said them aloud.
The silence was heavy and deafening. Neither of them knew what to say. It was like they were both afraid that what little stride they'd just made could be shattered by a single sound. So instead they just sat there. Waiting, staring, hoping. Both of them praying at the other would make the first move.
Regina's heart leapt into her throat when she saw Robin open his mouth and…
Bzzzzz! Bzzzzz!
They both startled at the sound. The world suddenly came crashing back and they were reminded that they were not, in fact, the only two people in the world. Robin's hand frantically reached toward his pockets for the source of the offending sound: his phone. His eyes flickered to Regina's face, helpless and apologetic as he wrangled it from his pants fully intending to mute it and continue their conversation. She watched him, pulse still rising, as he finally pulled it out from his pockets and glanced at the screen. His face scrunched up, conflicted.
His distressed eyes darted between the phone and her face. "It's Tink," he said weakly. "She's watching Roland…"
Regina's eyes went round. "Oh…"
"But I could – "
"No no!" she stammered, immediately shaking her head. "You should answer it, obviously."
He wanted to disagree, she could tell, but the phone buzzed against his palm once again and in the end his parental instincts won out over his need to see their talk through.
"I'm sorry," he mumbled.
She just silently nodded her head and waved him off as he lifted the phone to his ear. Their children had to come first. She understood that… even if the timing could not have been worse. As Robin wandered over to the side of the room whispering into his phone, she uncomfortably shifted in her seat, taking a deep breath and trying to process what'd just happened.
Robin had feelings for her.
Just thinking it sounded strange in the best way. Like waking up on Christmas and finding the one gift you thought you'd never get waiting for you under the tree. Sure you'd hoped but you never actually expected you'd get it. And when you do… it's just a little too hard to believe.
"Mom?"
She nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of Henry's voice. She turned to see him standing right next to her, eyes staring at her quizzically as she sat on the couch so lost in thought that she didn't even hear him come up to her.
She tried to compose herself as she stared at him with wide eyes, still not fully over the shock of Robin's confession. "Sweetie, what are you doing up? Why are you out of bed?"
"I'm thirsty," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "Can I have some water?"
"S-sure," she stuttered, nodding her head as she stood up. "Just go back to bed. I'll bring it to you."
"You said I'm not allowed to have drinks in my room," said Henry, dubiously.
"Well tonight you are," she said, a little too quickly. "Just go back to bed please."
"Okay," Henry quietly drawled in a suspicious tone. He gave her one last quizzical look before heading back toward his room. As soon as he was out of sight she let out a deep breath. It was bad enough Robin had to take a phone call, she couldn't have Henry hanging around too. Not for this moment.
Her eyes flickered to the corner where Robin was still speaking on the phone, back turned to her. She swallowed hard before tearing her gaze from him and heading for the kitchen.
Her hands felt unsteady as she poured Henry his glass of water.
Robin had feelings for her. Real actual feelings. Feelings that mirrored her own. Though it only happened a minute ago she's already replayed the moment a thousand times in her head, gone over each and every word and she still can't believe it. A kaleidoscope of butterflies was fluttering in her stomach. Her skin felt like it was vibrating. She'd heard the words she'd always longed to hear and they'd made her more nervous than she'd felt in her entire life.
"Regina?"
She nearly dropped the glass in her hand when she heard Robin's voice come from behind her. He was standing behind her a cautious look on his face when he noticed her reaction.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you," he apologizes.
"No!" she said, immediately shaking her head. "I'm fine. You just caught me off guard." She lets out a soft, breathless chuckle hoping that it reassures him. "Is Roland alright?"
"He's fine," Robin assured her. "He just had a bit of a meltdown when he couldn't find his monkey for bed. Had to help him remember where he left it last."
"Oh… good," she replied, nodding her head.
The silence returns then. Robin stares at her as she stares back, neither of them speaking a word. It's like they're back on the couch again. Still staring into each other's eyes, feelings finally spoken aloud, a mixture of relief and shock clear on both their faces. Again it's as if the whole world has stopped spinning and neither of them know how to make it move again. Or if they want it to.
So many words are caught in her throat and she has no idea which ones to let out first. Luckily for her, the words weren't that elusive for Robin.
"Regina… I didn't mean to catch you off guard," he says quietly, taking a step toward her. He's not talking about when he snuck up on her in the kitchen and they both know it.
"I know it's already been an emotional day for you," he continues. "But I just…"
"You had to say it," she softly finishes for him. "I know. And I'm glad that you did."
Another hint of relief twinkles in his blue eyes at her understanding. It makes her happy to see it and even more so when he joins her by the counter. Her heart pounds again when he stops only a few inches away from her, close enough that she can smell that woodsy cologne that he (and she) seems to love so much.
"Regina… I don't really know what comes next here but I would like the chance to see where this could lead… if you're interested?"
There are moments in life where you know there is a chance that nothing could ever be the same again. Standing in that kitchen with Robin Regina knew that she was standing right in the middle of one of those moments. She also knew that left her with one of two choices. Barrel forward and take her chances with something new or turn back and embrace her comfort zone. And after all it'd taken for her to get to this moment she knew there was only one real option.
A small smile pulls on her lips. She takes a deep breath before speaking.
"Robin… would you like to have dinner with me Saturday night?"
A happy grin appears on his face as he nods at her. "I would love that."
XXXXXXXX
Forwards it is.
The next morning Regina woke up with a smile on her face. One that she couldn't wipe off no matter how hard she tried. Well if she tried. Her stomach hadn't stopped fluttering since the night before and every part of her was tingling with a giddy excitement she hadn't felt in years.
She and Robin were going on a date.
And she was happy. So happy it felt like her heart could burst at any minute. She couldn't keep it in if she tried. It'd been so long since she'd looked forward to something this much. It was all she could think about. So much so that she almost forgot that she was supposed to meet up with her friends for brunch that day. They'd made her promise to show up and let them know about how things went with Daniel's family.
Luckily, she'd remembered in time not to be late. It was close to noon when she pulled up to a popular breakfast spot not far from her house where they'd arranged to meet. Unclicking her seat belt a dangerous question popped into her head.
Will she tell her friends about the night before?
She knew that they'd want to know but she wasn't sure if she really wanted to tell them. On one hand she was practically bursting from keeping it to herself. A part of her couldn't want to share her joy with everyone, let them know how happy she was. However, she and Robin hadn't exactly talked about letting their friends know about the date. They hadn't really talked about much anything yet, as a matter of fact. If the girls knew what happened the night before they would certainly bombard her with questions. Questions she might not have the answers for.
Thinking it over she quickly decided to keep things to herself. This was between her and Robin, there was no need for anyone else's opinion yet. It was probably better to just go on the date, see how things felt and then maybe tell a few friends.
She took a moment to relax her demeanor before heading in to the restaurant. When she got inside she found Emma, Snow and Mulan all waiting for her at a corner table with one seat next to the window still free for her. They all looked up at her anxiously as she approached, small amounts of relief playing out on their faces when they saw that she didn't seem to be in any state of apparent distress. She casually greeted them all before taking her seat next to the window.
Before the menus even came Snow had already leaned forward and asked, "So how did it go?"
Regina instantly knew she meant meeting the Colters. She took a breath before nodding her head and answering, "It was good. Incredible actually."
Seeing Daniel's pictures, being stunned by William's face, her talk with Evelyn – well, most of her talk with Evelyn – and Henry's new curiosity with his father. She laid out every detail, including her relief that everything had gone well. By the time they'd gotten their meals she'd told them nearly everything.
"So… how do you feel?" asked Emma, cautiously. "I mean now that you've met them."
"Good," breathed Regina, nodding her head. "I feel… better, I suppose. I've always felt really alone when it came to my feelings about Daniel but I don't feel that way anymore. I feel better knowing that he's missed by more than just me. Keeps him alive a little more. "
"That's good," said Mulan, understandingly. "But it had to be nerve-wrecking, right? Meeting your fiancé's family after his death. Especially since it was just you and Henry. It must've felt like a mine field."
Regina hesitated before speaking again. She hadn't exactly let them in on the fact that Robin had gone with them. "Well it wasn't without it's awkwardness," she admitted. "But I guess… having Robin there helped."
All three pairs of their eyes widened simultaneously at her words. Regina subtly gulped and steeled herself for the onslaught of questions that would be coming her way.
Of course, Snow was first. "Wait… Robin went with you?"
Regina primly hummed in the affirmative as she nodded her head. "Henry was feeling a bit nervous about the whole thing and he asked for Robin to come. Neither of us could turn him down."
The table went silent and Regina could see the wheels turning in all three of their heads, the assumptions forming, the accusations loading. She saw the curiosity rising in their eyes and knew that her admission had just transformed this brunch into an interrogation.
"How'd the family feel about you bringing him?" Mulan asked bluntly, like the steamroller she was. "It must've been hard for them." Regina narrowed her eyes at her and Mulan quickly added, "You know, because of how close he and Henry are?"
"Right," Regina mumbled under her breath. She quickly recovered. "I'm sure it was hard for them knowing that Robin got to see moments that Daniel never could but they were still welcoming. I explained that he was Henry's godfather and they understood why he was there with us."
"I forgot you'd ask him about that," Snow drawled, as if she'd just remembered. "How's that going by the way?"
"Good," answered Regina. "Now that he's agreed Archie should have the paperwork drawn up any day now."
Emma rolled her eyes. "I swear the two of you get closer to married every single day."
"Emma," Snow gritted out warningly. She leaned closer so she could stage whisper, "We said we weren't going to bring that up today."
Regina rolled her eyes at their allusion to her and Robin's relationship.
"I didn't bring it up," argued Emma. "She did when she mentioned that he came along for the ride yesterday."
Mulan shook her head in their direction before turning her attention back to Regina. "Anyway, back to meeting Daniel's family. What did Robin think of them?"
A small smile appeared on Regina's face. "He liked them. Said that he was glad that they were nice to me."
"Did he pull his guard dog act?" Mulan asked.
Regina scrunched her eyebrows together. "Guard dog act?"
"You know that thing he does where he follows you around and sort of stares down anyone that comes near?" explained Mulan. "He does it all the time when you're in situations like this."
"Like at your father's funeral," Snow chimed in.
"Or that day when you were telling all of us who you really were," added Mulan. She smirked before taking another sip of orange juice from her glass. "You gotta admit Robin has quite the protective streak when it comes to you… and Henry."
"I know," said Regina, a blush rising in her cheeks. "But it wasn't like that this time. This time he was… calm. I mean I could tell that he was worried, but he didn't let it show. He kept his cool and helped me find mine. Having him there… it meant everything."
Her voice went soft and another smile returned to her face as she described the effect Robin's presence had on her the day before. As she spoke she felt that warm feeling spread through her chest and the giddiness return to her blood.
"You're glowing."
Torn from her reverie, her eyes snapped toward Emma, who was studying her with a suspicious look on her face.
"Hmmm?"
"I said you're glowing," Emma slowly repeated, still studying her face with a tilted head. "Why are you glowing?"
Tension rose up around the table as Regina hesitated to answer. "I'm just glad everything went well," she lied.
Emma immediately narrowed her eyes and smirked. "You're lying," she boldly claimed.
Regina gaped at her as Snow turned to Emma with wide eyes. "Emma what is the matter with you?" she hissed.
"Snow, look at her!" she said gesturing to Regina's face.
Regina felt her face go red as all eyes turned to her.
"She's all smiley and relaxed. She practically skipped in here she's so happy," Emma pointed out, a grin growing on her face.
Mulan tilted her head as she looked over Regina's face. "Huh," she thoughtfully drawled.
"Oh my god," Snow said softly. "You're right!" A bright smile burst out on her face as she looked Regina over for a second time. "You're happy!"
Regina scoffed and rolled her eyes as she tried to downplay their accusations. "You say that like you've never seen me happy before."
"Not like this," said Mulan, shaking her head. "Normally you have a sort of… muted version of content that you live in but this" – she gestured toward her face again – "this is radiant joy you're displaying and that's new."
"What happened?" asked Emma, happily interrogating her.
Regina helplessly shrugged, while she failed to wipe the smile off her face.
"Was it something with Robin?" interrogated Snow, leaning forward in her seat. She gasped at Regina's continued silence. "Oh my god! It was! What happened? Tell us!"
"I…" Regina groaned, stalling, trying to think up some way to change the subject but looking into their inquiring eyes she felt her resolve crumble. Closing her eyes she let out a soft sigh. "Last night… Robin told me he had feelings for me."
A trio of gasps came from around the table. They all spoke at once.
"Oh my god," Snow whispered excitedly, her giddiness bubbling to the surface.
"Took him long enough," mumbled Emma.
"Damn it," cursed Mulan. When all eyes turned to her she waved them off. "It's nothing. I owe Hook twenty bucks now."
"Lovely," grumbled Regina, glaring at her.
"Ignore that," ordered Snow. "Just tell us what happened. Or how it happened. Anything! Tells us anything."
"Okay," Regina nervously chuckled. "Well I think it actually started when we were still with the Colters…"
She told them about her real conversation with Evelyn, their talk about her future happiness. Then about her moment with Robin on the couch, everything that they'd said, how he'd revealed his feelings to her. She walked them step by step through every moment and they listened with their full attention. Even when it came to the awkward parts.
"So the whole romantic confession got hijacked by your kids? That sucks!" complained Snow.
"No I'm kinda glad it happened," Regina thoughtfully replied. "It gave me a moment to catch my breath, let it sink in. I don't think either of us really knew what to say yet."
"Well what happened after that?" questioned Emma, clearly on the edge of her seat. "Did you talk?"
"Did you kiss?" interrogated Snow, curiosity still blazing in her green eyes.
Regina shook her head. "We didn't kiss."
Snow groaned and slumped back into her chair, clearly disappointed.
"But…" drawled Regina, regaining Snow's interest. "Tomorrow night we are going on a date."
"A date?" said Snow sitting up in her seat once again. "So does this mean that you're together? Like officially?"
Regina paused before answering her. Ever since that fateful moment on the couch she'd been pondering that same question herself. They'd said what they felt but now what? Admitting their feelings didn't mean they were automatically in a relationship. Or did it? She was unsure how they would make the jump from words into actions and cross the line they'd both been so careful not to touch.
She didn't know the answer, so instead she just shook her head. "No," she said, uncertainly. "We're not exactly together yet. I think everything's still a little too new for things to be that certain."
"New?" scoffed Emma, with a smirk. "Haven't you been pining over each other for like a year?"
"No!" replied Regina, offended by her comment. It was a lie and she knew it but that didn't stop her from digging her heels in. "It hasn't been that long."
"I'm sorry, I just don't get it," said Snow, shaking her head. "You guys both know how you feel about each other. Why can't you just commit already, and be done with it?"
"Because it's not that simple," argued Regina. "This is a really big deal for us. We've been friends for so long and these feelings that we have, well, they could complicate everything." She sighed. "I don't know, I guess I just want us to have a little more time to explore how we feel. You know, test the waters a little."
"Which is why you agreed to the date," realized Mulan, nodding her head understandingly. "I get that."
Emma shrugged her shoulders with a frown. "Seems to me like you're just adding another obstacle where there isn't one."
"Hey back off," said Mulan. "It's their lives. They can take it as slowly as they like."
"Thank you Mulan," said Regina, smugly smiling in Emma's direction.
"Even if this will-they-won't-they crap does seem to be dragging," Mulan hastily added under her breath with a grin.
Regina turned to glare at her when Snow grabbed her hand, excitedly.
"Alright, that's enough of if's and maybe's," she said. "Tell us how he asked you on the date!"
The smile returned to Regina's face in full force as she tilted her head, a blush rising in her cheeks. "Well actually…"
XXXXXXXXXXX
"You let her ask you out?!"
Robin rolled his eyes at Hook's dramatic exclamation as he pulled another chair down from atop its table. They were getting the Drunken Monk ready to open and unlike Regina he'd held no qualms about letting Hook know what had happened the night before. At first Hook had been ecstatic – he'd mumbled something about Mulan owing him 20 bucks – but he'd been grilling Robin about the moment ever since. Which is why Robin was currently the only one prepping the dining area while Hook was content to lean against the counter and fire off questions.
"It's not that big of a deal," said Robin. "Besides, I kind of like that she asked me. At least this way I know I'm not forcing her hand."
Hook thoughtfully tilted his head. "That's a good point," he conceded. "Might not be traditional but it's probably for the best."
Robin nodded his head in agreement. He was keeping a calm exterior but on the inside he was jumping for joy. In the back of his mind all he could see was the look in her eyes when she'd asked him on that date. The hopeful light behind them when she spoke, timidly asking him if he'd come out with her. Of course he'd said yes. There was nothing he'd wanted more than the chance to take her out. And now he finally had it.
And he didn't want to mess it up.
"Are at you least still planning the date?" asked Hook.
"Of course I am," said Robin, with a twinge of uncertainty in his chest.
Honestly, he and Regina hadn't spoken much about the actual date itself. The moment had been so fragile he hadn't wanted to ruin it by getting into logistics. He assumed he'd be picking her up but that's about as far as he'd gotten.
"So where are you planning on taking her?"
Robin shrugged his shoulders. "I think I want to keep it simple. Maybe take her down to Rosa's?"
Hook scrunched up his face in distaste. "That little hole in the wall on 16th street?"
Robin shrugged his shoulders. He'd been to Rosa's Tavern a few times over the years. Sure it was small, aging and usually understaffed but the food was always good and so was the atmosphere.
"You can't take her there," said Hook. "It's not good enough." He stepped away from the counter and pressed his palms together in a serious gesture. "Robin, this is Regina Mills we're talking about here."
"I know that," said Robin but Hook just shook his head.
"No I mean Regina Mills, not Regina Gardiner." He emphasized her last name.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?"
"It means that she's the daughter of a millionaire," Hook urgently stressed. "She's flown in private jets for God's sake! You can't take her to a restaurant with three tables and wobbly chairs. You need to take her somewhere classy and unforgettable."
Despite the doubt seeping into his head, Robin scoffed at him. "That's ridiculous. You know she's never cared about that those things."
"Maybe not," conceded Hook, "but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be trying to impress her. Hell, even that Jeff guy took her to Poseidon's Cliff."
"A date which ended in disappointment might I remind you," Robin immediately shot back. He still didn't like the fact that she'd gone out with him.
"All the more reason to out-do him," pointed out Hook. He grabbed a napkin and pen from the counter and started to write something down. "Take her here."
He handed Robin the name of one of the fanciest French restaurants in town, along with a number Robin didn't recognize.
"Call this number, mention my name to the hostess and she'll be sure to find you a table," he instructed. "It's a nice place. Fancy menu, curt waiters. It's sure to make an impression."
Robin frowned thoughtfully. "We've been friends for nearly a decade now. I think we're long past the point of first impressions."
"Which is why you need to make a good one with this date," urged Hook. "You've been her friend for a long time and if this date is about anything, it's about proving that you can be more than that. You need to show her what you can offer in terms of romance and intimacy. A side of you that's she's never seen before."
Robin always loathed listening to Hook's advice. It hardly ever led to anything good but he had to admit that what he was saying made a lot of since. If this date went badly he could lose any chance of a future with Regina. He slipped the number in his back pocket, promising Hook that he'd call later. Perhaps he could stand to impress her a little more.
He certainly couldn't afford for things to go wrong.
XXXXXXXXXX
Thanks to her friends' curiosity lunch dragged on longer than Regina had expected. It was nearly two-thirty by the time they finally abandoned their table and headed for their cars. Both Emma and Mulan wished her luck before leaving but Snow remained. She'd tossed her car keys to Emma and said that she'd be home a little later. Once it was just the two of them she'd turned to Regina with a determined look in her eye.
"We're going shopping," she declared.
After an adamant refusal from Regina and relentless insistence from Snow they'd ended up hopping in her car and heading toward the nearest shopping mall. As soon as they'd arrived Snow had started pulling her into shop after shop looking at dress after dress, trying to find one that lived up to her ridiculous standards.
Regina shook her head as she watched Snow viciously swipe through another rack of dresses. It was their fifth store of the hour and Snow still hadn't found anything that she deemed good enough.
"Snow this is ridiculous. I don't need a new dress for my date with Robin," she insisted.
"Yes, you do!" Snow shot back, still not taking her eyes off the dress rack. "And I know how much your inheritance was so don't even pretend like you can't afford it."
Regina rolled her eyes. "I have plenty of dresses at home."
"Yes but none of them are special!" Snow stressed, finally turning to look at her. "You need something special for your date. Something that'll help capture the memory. So one day when you're going through your closet you can see the dress and remember 'that's the dress I wore on my first date with Robin.' And you'll look at it and you'll feel all warm and gooey inside because you remember what a good time you had."
Her green eyes went dreamy as she described the feelings Regina would associate with her new dress. It brought a smirk to Regina's face but also a spark of nostalgia. Not for the feelings that Snow was describing but for the look on her face when she spoke. There was a sparkle in her eyes and a hopefulness to her tone that Regina hadn't heard since they first met. Listening to her speak she recognized a hint of that young girl who used to spend nights in her penthouse. The one who truly believed in love and happy endings.
"Snow…" she drawled. "You seem awfully invested in this date, given that you're not actually going on it."
Snow sheepishly pressed her lips together, embarrassed. "I know," Snow mumbled, shrugging her shoulders. "But I sort of feel like I should be. Regina, I've seen what life's thrown at you. Hiding from your mother, Daniel and your father dying, having to raise Henry all by yourself." Her gaze dropped to the floor. "Not to mention everything that happened with… my father."
A little tension seeped into the air between them and Regina gritted her teeth. She could see Snow do the same. They never talked about Leopold. It wasn't worth the heartache.
Snow sucked in a deep breath before continuing. "I don't know, I guess I'm just kind of realizing that I've never really gotten to see you happy. Not like this anyway. I mean, look at you." She gestured toward her face, causing another blush to rise to Regina's cheeks. "You look so smitten and radiant. I like it and I want to help you stay that way. I can't think of anyone who deserves it more."
Regina could almost feel herself getting choked up at Snow's words. Her tone was so soft and sincere. It touched Regina's heart. For a moment she could see her, that young girl with the torn dress and the hopeful green eyes. It took everything in her not to breakdown in relief. She used to think that she'd never see her again.
"Thanks Snow," she softly replied. Sighing, she turned her gaze to the clothing rack and shrugged her shoulders. "And I suppose, since I'm already here, it couldn't hurt to get something new."
"Exactly," said Snow with a smile. "Now let's see what they've got."
Together they looked through the racks, swiping and judging whatever came along. Finally Regina lifted out a black structured pencil dress with quarter-length sleeves and slightly capped shoulders. It was classy and understated. The type of dress she could see herself in.
"How about this?" she said holding it up. "It's kind of alluring, right?"
And it was but Snow still twisted her lips in distaste. "I guess it's nice," she mumbled. "If Robin's taking you to dinner and a funeral."
"Hey!" said Regina, offended. "I like it!"
"Of course you like it," sassed Snow. "You have three versions of it in your closet at home."
She turned her attention back to the dresses on the rack. "We're looking for something special, remember? Something unforgettable."
She swiped past a few more dresses before letting out a soft gasp. "Something like this!"
She pulled out a fitted navy blue tank dress with a dangerous slit going up the thigh emphasized with a silver zipper running up the side to around the waist. Grinning as she held it up to Regina she fervently declared, "Now this is a dress for a night to remember!"
Regina's eyes widened when she saw it and she couldn't help but let out a disbelieving scoff. There was not one occasion under which she could see herself wearing that dress. "You can't be serious!"
"Dead serious," replied Snow. "C'mon just imagine Robin seeing you in this."
Regina chuckled and shook her head. "I don't think he's ready for that much skin."
"Oh I think he's been ready," Snow shot back with a devious smirk.
Regina rolled her eyes. "I'm going to try this on," she said, gesturing toward the dress she picked. She turned to leave but felt Snow pull on her shoulder.
"Take this one too," she ordered, handing her the blue dress.
"Snow…"
"You don't even have to show me," she promised. "Just try it on and see how you feel."
Regina groaned under her breath but reluctantly took the dress from her. "Fine."
With both dresses in hand she headed toward the fitting room where a saleswoman led her to a small stall closed off with a thick red curtain. Once inside she closed her eyes and let out a deep sigh. It was the first chance she'd had to catch her breath since brunch.
Hanging the dresses on the fitting room bar she stared at them both, weighing her options. While she did love the black dress Snow had been right. It was rather plain and similar to a lot of other things that she owned. Still she found it to be an attractive option. It had a teasingly low neckline and was made of clingy fabric that was sure to show off her form. Plus, she'd always been told that black was her color.
Her eyes flickered over to the blue dress. It was… enticing. Memorable in ways that the black dress couldn't dream of, it was sure to make an impression. She just wasn't sure it was the right one. The blue dress didn't hold anything back and while in any other case that would be helpful she and Robin had known each other for years and she'd never worn anything close to it around him. They'd just admitted their feelings for each other and she didn't want to risk rocking the boat.
The more she thought about it the more certain she felt that a reserved look was the better choice.
As she lifted her hand to reach for the black dress she felt her phone buzz in her pocket. Taking it out she felt her heart speed up when she saw it was Robin calling. Immediately she went breathless and butterflies filled her stomach. She and Robin hadn't spoken since the night before. With all that happened since then she hadn't given much thought to who would call who first but she was glad that he'd been first. Lately, it'd been difficult for her to form sentences around him.
The phone buzzed against her palm once more. She licked her lips and cleared her throat a little before swiping the answer button, bringing the phone up to her ear and letting out a soft, "Hi."
"Hi."
His voice flowed the phone soft as her own. Even with the hint of nervousness coloring his husky drawl she could still hear the smile on his face. She felt one of her own growing at the sound of his voice.
After a short pause he asked, "How are you doing?"
She hesitated to answer him. It was a simple question but she felt like there was so much to say. She was still floating on air after the night before. Perhaps a little more apprehensive after the reality of everything had set it but still optimistic about what was to come. In truth she was feeling a whirlwind of emotions, all of them good which was unprecedented for her. As much as she'd wanted to say all those things she figured a simple answer was more fitting.
"I'm good," she answered, still grinning to herself. "I'm just out with Snow."
"Oh… should I call back later?"
"No, it's fine," she immediately assured him. She paused before softly adding, "I'm glad you called. I like hearing from you."
A rush of heat flowed through her cheeks at her unprompted honesty. For a moment she feared that it'd been too much until she heard him reciprocate with a happy "likewise."
She heard him blow out a soft breath before speaking again. "I was actually calling to talk about our date a little more."
"Oh really?" she replied, a playful lilt flowing into her tone.
"Yes," said Robin in a cheerful drawl. "I just wanted to let you know that I've made reservations for us at seven tomorrow. Does that work for you?"
"Perfectly," she said without hesitation. Her stomach fluttered at the thought Robin planning a date for the two of them. "Where are we going?"
For a moment, he went silent again before playfully replying, "That is for me to know and you to find out."
Regina raised her eyebrows in surprise. "Are you trying to catch me off guard?" she chuckled.
"More like maintain an air of mystery," he responded. "Thought it might help add a little magic."
Regina nodded her head appreciatively. "I can get behind that."
"Good," he said with tiny laugh. She heard him sigh before sincerely adding, "I'm glad we're doing this Regina. I've wanted to for a long time."
The flutter in her stomach leapt into her heart at his words. "I know," she said softly. "I have too."
He promises to pick her up around six thirty before saying goodbye. Once they hang up she slips the phone from her face and returns to staring at the two dresses in front of her. Her talk with Robin had given her a brief moment of clarity. The black dress was beautiful but it was ordinary, at least for her. And after waiting for this chance for so long she didn't want to be her ordinary self. She wanted to be extraordinary.
She lifted up the blue and pressed it toward her body, studying herself in the mirror. It did look good.
Perhaps Robin shouldn't be the only one adding a little magic to their date.
I hope you enjoyed this but it's just the teaser. The rest of the chapter will be up in a few hours.
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