Hi guys! I hope everyone is home and safe with the events going on around the world. You guys mean so much to me, and I hope this outbreak doesn't cause any harm to you or your loved ones. In honor of us being trapped in our homes, here is Chapter 7, which I finally got the time to write! I hope you have a great day!
Chapter 7
Robert stood on the Locksleys' front porch as he sighed, crossing his arms as he leaned on the porch pillar. It was snowing, one of the things he used to love, now all faded away to childish memories.
The elder man watched as his youngest son spun his girlfriend around as snowflakes fell upon their heads, and he could hear the brunette's laughter from where he stood. Helen had told him Robin plans on marrying that girl, and he didn't know if that was a good idea or not, but as he watched his son mess around with Regina in their front yard, snow in their hair, smiles on both faces, he realized that maybe, maybe he needed to give Regina a chance.
Even if it went against everything he stood for.
On the other side of the yard, Regina laughed as Robin spun her around in the snow, it sloshing around at their feet. She wrapped her arms around him, and Robin smiled as he put her back on her feet, wiping the snowflakes from her eyelashes.
"You look stunning in the snow, Love. It compliments your eyes quite nicely," Robin smiled, and Regina blushed as she ruffled her fingers through his hair, messing it up with a tiny giggle.
"Thank you, kind sir. You just always look handsome," Regina smirked, and Robin chuckled as he kissed her forehead.
"Happy Thanksgiving, Regina," Robin breathed, and Regina played with the hair at the nape of his neck as the light in her eyes sparkled twice as large.
"Happy Thanksgiving," Regina pecked his lips and sighed into him, happy that she came along for the ride.
Helen walked out onto the porch and found her husband watching the pair, and she let out a shallow breath.
"You are to leave them alone, Robert, especially today of all days. If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say it at all," Helen scolded her husband, and Robert rolled his eyes at the strawberry blonde.
"I don't like her, Helen. Something just doesn't sit right with me about all of this. I just know she's going to break his heart," Robert argued, but Helen ignored his comments, turning to watch Regina and Robin continue to play in the snow.
"Now, you shush. Do you see how happy they are together? This is what I've always wanted for my children, and after everything they've been through, I'm glad Robin has finally found someone he wants to spend the rest of his life with," Helen's eyes told Robert to shut his mouth, and he didn't fight her back.
Helen and Robert looked on to see Regina and Robin throwing snowballs at each other, and Helen smiled.
"I know this is hard for you… but just try to remember how we were at their age. Your parents aren't exactly fond of me, and that only made you want me even more… This isn't going away, Robert. Just try to accept it," Helen sighed as she made her way back inside, the door closing softly behind her.
….
Regina, Paige, Savannah, and Helen stood in the kitchen, Helen insisting on spending the day with all her girls. Regina was nervous, she couldn't lie, but it wasn't as if she were spending the whole day with Robert, so she could breathe a little.
Regina and Paige were cutting up vegetables for the stuffing while Helen and Savannah worked on the turkey, and the brunette laughed when her boyfriend's little sister asked to know every single detail about their relationship.
"Please tell me you're planning on having kids, Regina. Robin showed me pictures of you two with your nieces, and it's literally the most adorable thing in the world. I need nieces and nephews," Paige smiled, and Regina chuckled as she nodded her head.
"We both want kids," Regina nodded her head, and Helen looked over to see a smitten brunette totally in thought of that future she had to look forward to.
"Are you guys planning on staying in New York?" Helen asked, and Regina grinned as she chopped up the celery.
"Actually, we're trying to find a house in my hometown right now. Robin wants to be close to Olivia and Sophia, and I've always wanted to move back home, but we're keeping it a surprise for my family," Regina explained, and Paige awwed as she cut her half of the celery.
"I guess your family must really love Robin if you two are moving back there for them," Savannah piped up, and Regina chuckled as she bit her lip.
"Some days I think they love him more than me," Regina joked, and the women laughed along with her, "I'm pretty sure my mom is already looking for wedding dresses."
"I bet you were nervous when you came here then, knowing how much your family loves Robin and all. Probably felt pressure," Paige shrugged her shoulders, and before Helen could scold her daughter, Regina laughed.
"Considering parents don't usually like me, yeah, that's an understatement," Regina teased, but Helen frowned when she heard the brunette say that.
"I don't know why you would say that, Dear. You're a very sweet girl," Helen complimented, and Regina thanked her.
"So, am I the sister you never had?" Paige asked, and Regina smiled as she sighed, putting her knife down on the table.
"Of course you are," Regina nodded her head, and Paige's eyes glowed with excitement. Regina chuckled, remembering that she was three years younger than Robin, but she still acted like a teenager running high on adrenaline.
"Not tossing away Zelena already, are we?" Robin smirked as he walked into the kitchen, and Regina rolled her eyes with a smile as Robin grabbed a bottle of water from the fridge.
"Don't worry, your precious nieces are still in tack," Regina teased, and Robin walked over to peck her lips before exiting the room again.
"Wow," Paige exclaimed once her older brother left the room, and Regina furrowed her eyebrows.
"What?"
"You two are just so perfect together," Paige sighed, and Regina bit the inside of her cheek to keep her from smiling too much.
They were perfect, weren't they?
…..
Robert sat in his arm chair, sipping his beer, as Ryan and Robin sat on the couch, the three of them watching football as Helen kicked them out of the kitchen.
"This game blows," Ryan sighed as he caught the bottle of water Robin tossed to him, and Robin nodded his head in agreement.
"Oh, Robin, guess who I saw while out this morning?" Robert asked, and Robin stared at the man carefully. He knew this wouldn't be good, his father wasn't one for small talk, but he raised his eyebrows nonetheless.
"Marian Maids," Robert nodded his head, and Robin rolled his eyes.
"You know, she just got divorced. Very pretty girl, it's quite sad you two never worked out, don't you think?" Robert asked, and Ryan sat uncomfortably in between the two, wishing someone would come out from the kitchen and save him from this mess.
"I hope she is doing well," was all Robin said, putting his attention back to the game, but Robert had other plans.
"If things don't work out with Regina, I always thought you two kids were good together, just bad timing," Robert explained, and Robin laughed as he shook his head.
"I plan on marrying Regina, Dad, but thanks for the offer," Robin shook his head with a chuckle, ignoring every word his father said. Ryan sat awkwardly in the middle of everything, rising from the couch once pretending Savannah called out for him.
Once he left the room, Robin turned to his father with a serious look.
"If you undermine my relationship with Regina one more time, I'm leaving. I swear to god, we will be out of here before you can even say hello. And I don't care if you don't like her, because I do, and I am tired of you continuously hurting her. You know, all she wants is for you to approve. She was worried sick you would do exactly what you are doing, and yesterday, she convinced herself she doesn't deserve any of this, all because you are too much of a coward to do what's right and shut the hell up. I love Regina, I'm in love with her, and I will always stick up for her. So I suggest you keep whatever nasty comments you have to yourself before Mom kicks your sorry ass," Robin got up and left the living room cooly, not showing any anger or frustration.
He said his peace, and if his father couldn't respect him and his wishes, he wouldn't deal with it any longer.
Robin walked into the kitchen with a smile on his face and bumped next to Regina, who smirked next to him.
"So I was thinking," Robin started, but Regina laughed and interrupted him.
"That's never good," Robin rolled his eyes as put his elbows on the counter next to the table, leaning next to Regina.
"We should call Olivia and Soph today. I'm sure they would like to see the snow, and we can wish them a happy Thanksgiving," Robin made his case, and Regina stopped to look at him with as much adoration she could bare.
"You're really going through Mills withdrawal symptoms, aren't you?" Regina laughed, and Robin chuckled.
"Oh, shut up. You were going to say the same thing later… So, what can I help out with?" Robin got back up from the counter and looked to his mom, who only scoffed.
"You are going back out to the living room. This is my only girls day, Robin, I'm sure you can survive without Regina for a couple of hours," Robin crossed his arms and glared at his mom playfully, nodding his head towards Ryan, who was standing next to his wife.
"Ryan is in here," Robin argued, and Helen rolled her eyes, pointing the wooden spoon in her hand in Ryan's direction.
"And I was just about to tell him to get out of my kitchen… go spend some time with your father, both of you. I don't care how boring that game is," Helen instructed, and Robin groaned like a little kid. Ryan did too, and both men walked out bitching and moaning.
"Some things never change," Helen smiled as she watched her boys leave the room, and Regina smiled, too.
…
Thanksgiving dinner was amazing, even though nothing was better than her mother's holiday dinners, Regina decided. After listening to stories about Robin as a kid and all the hell he raised, they had dessert, which was equally good as dinner, and here they both were, Robin and Regina, in the small room out by the front door, setting up the camera for Olivia and Sophia.
"Alright, let's do this," Robin clapped his hands together and pressed the call button on his phone, both taking their seats on the couch. The phone was answered in less than three seconds, and the couple faced a clearly very excited five-year-old.
"Aunt Regina! Wobin!" Olivia exclaimed, her french braids bobbing on each side of her head, her Christmas princess pajamas already glued to her body. Regina and Robin smiled as she waved to them, and they waved back.
"Hey, Kiddo! Happy Thanksgiving!" Robin smiled, and Olivia giggled as she set the camera down on what looked like the island in the Mills kitchen.
"Happy Thanksgiving! I really really really miss you guys," Olivia said, climbing onto a stool with all her might to see her two favorite people in the world. Regina and Robin chuckled when she finally got up there, her eyes glowing.
"We miss you too," Regina smiled, and Olivia grinned brightly as she put her face in her hands, leaning into the screen.
"I heard you're meeting Wobin's mommy and daddy," Olivia giggled, and Regina sighed with an overdramatic pose, looking at her niece was crazy.
"Well, why else would I miss out on spending time with my favorite nieces?" Regina smiled, and Olivia laughed as she nodded her head. Olivia turned when someone walked in the room, and she clapped her hands giggling as Henry walked over.
"Grandpa, look! It's Aunt Regina and Wobin!" Olivia exclaimed, and Henry smiled.
"How's my daughter, Locksley? Still running around like a chicken with its head cut off?" Henry smirked, and Regina rolled her eyes when Robin laughed.
"She's calmed down a little," Robin laughed, and Regina hit him on the arm with a grin.
"I'm fine," Regina smiled, and Henry nodded his head, not believing her.
After talking to Olivia for a little over half an hour, it was time for her to go to bed, and Cora replaced her. Regina's parents sat in front of the couple on the screen, and Regina felt better seeing her family.
"Well, how is England? Are the Locksleys as scary as you thought?" Cora asked with a smirk, and Regina rolled her eyes as Robin smiled, rubbing her arm.
"One out of two isn't bad, right?" Regina asked seriously, and Cora stopped teasing.
"Seriously? God, I knew you were scared of how Helen would react, but for her to act this way-"
"No it's not her, Cora. It's my father… just, don't take it personally. He doesn't like anyone," Robin shrugged his shoulders, and Cora and Henry frowned.
"It's okay, Dear. You can't win them all…" Cora smiled, and Regina nodded her head.
She and Robin talked to Cora and Henry for about ten minutes until they decided it was best to go to sleep, and when Regina hung up the phone, she was glad Robin thought of calling her family. They always knew how to make her feel better.
"You want to watch a movie until we fall asleep? That way, we can just say we fell asleep on the couch and won't hear anything from my mother," Robin smirked, and Regina laughed as she nodded her head.
"Okay," Regina smiled, and she cozied up next to Robin, resting her head against his shoulder as he spread a blanket across the both of them, their feet tangling together by the end of the couch. Regina closed her eyes when Robin started running his fingers through her hair, and his movements lulled her sleep to moments later, Robin falling asleep beside her in the same fashion.
Robert sighed when he looked into the room to find his son and Regina tangled on the couch around midnight. The blanket had been kicked off to the floor by then and the tv light was bouncing off the walls. Robert turned off the tv as he tiptoed to the couch, picking up the blanket from the floor, laying it on the both of them, all snuggled into each other.
Robert froze when he saw his wife staring at him in awe by the living room entrance, and he grumbled silently, rolling his eyes.
"It looks like someone's grown on the company," Helen smiled, but Robert only kept his eyes on the tv when he made his way to her.
"Our electric bill would've shot up and I didn't want our nice, clean blanket to go to waste on the cold, dirty floor," Robert argued, but Helen shook her head with a grin, knowing her husband was too much of a teddy bear inside for any of that be true.
"You actually care," Helen gasped jokingly, and Robert sighed as he walked away, calling over his shoulder quietly.
"I do not," Robert grumbled, heading up the stairs to their bedroom. Helen smiled as she shook her head, leaning on the doorway. She knew her husband would come around.
"Well, I do," Helen whispered to herself before stealing one last glance at her son and daughter, smiling as she headed up the stairs, ready to crash after a long, tiring day.
…..
Regina groaned into Robin's shoulder as the sunlight streamed through the windows of the Locksley home, and Robin chuckled, rubbing her arm.
"Five more minutes," Regina mumbled, and Robin smiled as he sat up, taking her with him. She glared at him sleepily, and he brushed the hair out of her, making her eyes visible to the world.
"There you are. I thought some monster had taken my love away from me," Robin smirked, and Regina rolled her eyes, a sleepy smile accommodating her face.
"If the monster lets me go back to sleep, I'd rather go back to being his prey," Regina said as she fell back onto the couch dramatically. Robin grinned and shook his head, standing up in front of her.
"Don't make me do it, Love," Robin warned, but Regina only smothered a pillow over her face, ignoring his comment. Robin rolled his eyes as his nimble fingers attacked her sides, her ticklish side coming out to play.
Laughter instantly filled the room as Regina tried to fight him off, hitting him with the pillow and sitting up, but Robin only pinned her hands back to the couch and his hands went to her stomach.
Regina laughed out loud when Robin picked her up, and she held onto him, her hair all messed up once again, out of breath from the laughter she was experiencing.
"Okay! Okay! I'm up!" Regina laughed, and Robin finally set her back down on her feet at the rug in front of the couch. Regina grabbed her ribs with a smile as she bent forward, trying to catch her breath.
"You're mean," Regina breathed, and Robin chuckled as he brought her back up, putting his hands on her shoulders.
"If you would've cooperated with me from the beginning, there wouldn't have been a problem, Love," Robin grinned, and Regina sighed as she ran her fingers through his hair, making the mess on top of his head even worse.
"You can sleep on the plane, I promise," Robin smiled, pecking her lips. Regina grinned as she nodded her head, knowing Robin would be the perfect headrest.
"I'm starving," Regina sighed, and Robin raised his eyebrows suggestively.
"Not like that," Regina slapped his chest, and Robin chuckled as he wrapped his arms around her.
"Good morning, Love."
"Good morning."
…..
Regina threw on her black sweater after she fit into her comfy skinny jeans, and she smiled when Robin wrapped his arms around her from the back. Robin began peppering kisses along her shoulder and the column of her neck, and Regina craned her neck to give him better access, her head hitting his shoulder with a silent moan.
"Don't start something you can't finish," Regina warned, but Robin didn't stop. She tried so hard to fight off what she really wanted him to do, push her up against the wall and ravage her senseless, but what he was doing to her was her biggest weakness.
"Robin," Regina sighed, and Robin hummed against her skin, "we can't, your parents are right downstairs."
"It's been so long," Robin complained, dramatically banging his head on her shoulder, and she laughed as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"It's only been three days," Regina answered, and Robin dug into the crook of her neck.
"I know," Robin looked up with a hint of a smirk, and Regina rolled her eyes with a smile as she turned in his arms, wrapping her arms around his neck. Robin had failed to put on a shirt, and Regina's eyes went down to his abs above his jeans before searching for his eyes again, a blush coating her cheeks.
"As soon as we get home, you can have your way with me," Regina smirked, and Robin smiled as he leaned in to kiss her, his hands tangling in her hair to deepen the kiss. Regina smiled at the feeling of Robin's lips of hers.
"Robbie, Mark and Amber are, oh god!" Helen exclaimed when she opened her son's door, and Regina backed away from Robin as fast as she ever had, keeping her eyes on the floor, her head down, eyes wide with her mind running a mile a minute. Robin looked to the ceiling and groaned, rubbing his stubble.
"I, just, I'll-" Helen muttered as she shut the door quickly, exiting the room as quickly as she left. Regina's hand went to her forehead as the other went to her lips, groaning.
Robin broke out laughing, and Regina stared daggers into his soul.
"Why are you laughing?! Your mom probably thinks I'm some whore now," Regina whisper-shouted, which only caused Robin to laugh even harder. Regina glared at him with a small smile, pushing him to the door.
"Go talk to her before she assumes we're starting something," Regina opened the door, and Robin stepped outside. She caught him off guard when she threw a shirt at him and slammed the door, Robin chuckling with the shake of his head.
He saw his mother at the end of the hallway, about to step into her own bedroom, when he called to her.
"Mom," Robin sighed, jogging to her, throwing his shirt over his head before, "we weren't doing anything. And now Regina thinks you hate her and think poorly of her, but nothing was going to happen. It was an innocent kiss."
"It's none of my business what you two do in the bedroom," Helen muttered, and Robin rolled his eyes.
"Nothing happened! And nothing would have! Regina has more deciency than that, and we both know that… look, I don't care how you look at me today, but save all your sly remarks and stares for me, not her, okay?" Robin sighed, running his hand through his hair, and Helen rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms across her chest.
"I'm not going to say anything, Robin. We're adults, I'm surprised it didn't happen sooner… and please, tell Regina I don't think she's a whore," Helen smiled slightly before closing the door of her bedroom, and Robin stood at the end of the hall, quiet for a moment before chuckling, shaking his head as he made his way back to his room.
…..
What Helen was trying to tell Robin was that Mark and Amber Locksley would be visiting for the day, Robin's cousin and his wife, along with their children, Caleb and Hadley. As the Locksleys prepared for the company, Regina and Robin were in the dining room, spreading the tablecloth across the large oak.
"I want to ask you if you think they'll like me, but your my boyfriend, so you're just going to tell me they'll love me anyways," Regina joked, and Robin rolled his eyes with a grin as they raised their arms, setting the tablecloth down on the table.
"Just think of it this way, Love. Caleb is the same age as Olivia, and Haldey is only a year younger. Just act like it's Olivia and Sophia. You are very much mother material, I think you can handle two little ones," Robin smirked, and Regina sighed with a smile.
"Olivia has known me since she was born, that's different," Regina argued, but Robin only grinned as he shook his head, staring at his girlfriend with disbelief.
"You're overthinking this, Regina. They are five-year-olds, and all we have to do is play with them. They're not only going to like you, they'll love you," Robin gushed, and Regina blushed as she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"It's just… you didn't even have to try. My family loved you before you even walked into the house, and now we're moving back to Storybrooke because you love them so much. I just… I want to have that relationship you have with my family. I want your family to love me, too," Regina sighed, and Robin's eyes softened as he walked around the table to her, brushing the hair out of her face.
"I love your family because it's easy. Your family is accepting, and kind, and wonderful, and they treat me like their own. My family is screwed up, and judgemental, and there are some days where I don't even consider them my family. I have the relationship I have with your family because they are the family I've never had… you already have them, you don't need this mess of a blood line, Love, I promise," Robin whispered, pressing a gentle kiss to her forehead.
Regina smiled as she wrapped her arms around him, the comforting circles he was rubbing over her back making her feel better already.
"Only one more day, and then we can go home," Robin reminded her, and Regina smiled as she nodded her head, pecking his lips.
"Hope is going to want to come here to see my mother, though. One Locksley grandparent out of two isn't bad, right?" Robin chuckled, but Regina paused as her mouth parted slightly, her eyes going softer than before.
"Hope?" Regina asked quietly, so much adoration in her voice, and Robin looked shy as he smiled to himself, shrugging his shoulders.
"You've had that name picked out since you were a teenager, and I've always been in love with it, so I just assumed-" Robin's response was cut off when Regina's lips went to his, and he smiled into the kiss.
"Hope Locksley," Regina smiled with tears in her eyes, her hand cupping Robin's cheek. Robin smiled as his hands went to the brunette's hips, swaying closer to her with a glowing light in his crystal blue eyes.
"It does have a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Regina smiled as she wrapped her arms around him, melting into his embrace.
….
Regina chuckled to herself as she shook her head, holding her phone to her ear as she started down the steps, heading for the living room.
"Here you are picking out baby names while I'm stuck in this stupid city with Gold breathing down my back. I thought I told you not to have too much fun," Mal smirked through the phone, and Regina smiled with a roll of her eyes.
"At least you're not meeting the love of your life's parents and everything is at stake. I kinda miss the loud city noise," Regina shrugged her shoulders, and Mal sighed.
"Trust me, once you get back, you'll want to go back to the peace and quiet," Regina made her way around the corner of the railing and to the bottom step as Mal continued to speak.
"Hey, um, have you and Robin… you know… ever, like, got into a fight before?" Mal asked shyly, and Regina frowned as she tugged her sweater closer to her.
"I mean, I get pissed at him when he leaves his shoes in the hallway, and he somehow can never manage to get his clothes in the hamper, but we've never really had a fight… is everything okay with Will?" Regina asked, and she heard Mal's strangled exhale through the line.
"Look, I don't want to ruin your vacation with Robin, but you're my best friend, and I really need to talk right now," Mal whispered pathetically, and Regina smiled sadly as she took a seat at the bottom of the stairs.
"You're not ruining anything, Mal. This is what I'm here for. What's going on?" Regina asked again, and Mal rubbed the back of her neck nervously before deciding to talk.
"Will didn't come home last night… it was going so well, we were having Thanksgiving together, just the two of us, and then all hell broke loose. By the end of the night, we were screaming at each other and then he just… he just left. And he hasn't come home yet," Mal fidgeted anxiously, and Regina's heart broke for her best friend.
They were supposed to be together for the holiday. Not spend their nights apart. It wasn't right.
"It's okay, take a deep breath. Breathe with me," Regina answered, and she continued after she heard Mal let out her breath, "we should've seen this coming, really. I mean, you and Will always take a step ahead before me and Robin, so why would this be any different?"
Regina could see Mal's sarcastic smile in her head, and Regina grinned, wishing she could give her best friend a hug she definitely needed.
"Will's in love with you, Mal. He's going to be back in a few hours tops. He just needed some time to breathe, and you did too. Guys don't really handle feelings very well… And they call women unstable," Regina muttered under her breath, and she felt better when she heard Mal's half-hearted chuckle.
"I know he loves me, Regina, but what if this changes everything? We've never been away from each other for so long, and I'm pretty sure he shook the apartment when he slammed the door," Mal expressed her worries, and Regina frowned, brushing hair out of her face that had fallen so perfectly.
"Do you remember when I told Robin I didn't love him and let him go back to the city thinking we would never have a chance?" Regina asked, and Mal furrowed her eyebrows, the most confused she'd ever been.
"Is that a serious question?" Mal laughed, and Regina smiled a small grin as she looked back at her younger self, cursing her oblivious stupidness.
"When I went back home without Robin, I talked to my mom that night, and everything she said was everything I didn't want to hear. Until I went to my dad, and he told me one of the best pieces of advice I'll live by for the rest of my life," Regina explained carefully, and Mal nodded her head, waiting for the answer to her problems.
"The time to be scared isn't when you're fighting, it's when you're not fighting. If there isn't anything to fight for, then why risk it all? Why even come home at the end of the day when you know you're not willing to scream at each other until everything's okay? Mal, you two are so in love. He's going to come home, and you are going to be relieved, and then you two will make up. Because there will be many more fights after this, and next time, you'll know what to expect."
Regina listened for Mal, and when the blonde said nothing, Regina sighed and put a hand on her forehead.
"He'll walk through the door, and he'll pull you in, and he'll kiss you until you're breathless. And then he'll tell you he lost his mind, that he doesn't know what he would do without you, and he'll beg you not to leave. And you won't leave," Regina said quietly, and Mal smiled.
"Sounds like you know from experience," Mal smirked, and Regina felt a weight lift from her shoulders when Mal's usual snarkiness started finding its way back into the blonde's demeanor.
"Let's just say it's a miracle I made it to London," Regina laughed, and Mal chuckled as she took a deep breath.
"You okay?" Regina asked again, and Mal nodded her head, clearing her throat as she wiped at her crusty eyes, tired from a night of no sleep.
"I will be… now you go spend some time with Robin Hottie and his charming family. I'll be fine," Mal reassured the brunette, and Regina rolled her eyes with a smile.
"Love you," Regina smiled, and Mal rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. Tell Robin I said hi," Mal said, and just before she was about to hang up, "I love you too."
Regina shook her head with a knowing smile, hanging up the phone and putting it in her back pocket before heading towards the family room, finally carrying on with her journey towards Robin.
She was a fool to think she would walk in any other direction.
….
"I always go with pink. You should see my bedroom, it's like disneyland in there," Hadley explained with an excited glance in her eyes, Regina and the little girl sitting on the living room floor with bottles of nail polish lined up in a row, every color imaginable up for choice.
Regina smiled as she watched the six-year-old reach for the hot pink, and it reminded her of how Olivia was on that kick for well over six months.
"I'm more of a red girl," Regina smiled as she reached for the red, and Hadley oohed as if she had never thought of the idea. Regina chuckled at the little girl's enthusiasm.
Robin's cousins had arrived a little before noon, and immediately, she had fallen in love with Hadley and Caleb. She wasn't sure if Caleb was as taken with her as she was him, he never left his father's side and didn't make an effort to talk to her, but Hadley was too happy to have another female presence that she didn't care who it was.
Regina learned that Hadley wasn't only adorable with dirty blonde hair and her holiday dress, but she was animated to the max. She was hyper, but Regina loved her even more for it.
Robin and Caleb were out front throwing around a baseball, and when Hadley heard that, she knew it was her opportunity to snatch up Regina. She had come prepared with nail polish, board games, her Descendants themed music, and bubbly personality, ready to learn all about her uncle's girlfriend.
Hadley handed Regina the hot pink polish, and she smiled as the brunette started applying the first layer.
"So, how did you and Uncle Robin meet?" Hadley asked as she sat criss cross applesauce on the carpet, and Regina smiled immediately as the memories of the very beginning came flooding in.
"I was running late to work one day, and as soon as I walked in the door, somebody spilled coffee all over my brand new dress. Can you guess who it was?" Regina asked lively, and Hadley gasped as she nodded her head with a large grin.
"Uncle Robin!" Hadley exclaimed, and Regina chuckled as she nodded her head, adding the first layer of hot pink to the girl's other hand.
"Yep. We were friends for a long time before, though," Regina added, and Hadley smiled as she seemed to think it through.
"Uncles Robin looooooves you," Hadley giggled, and Regina chuckled quietly as she nodded her head, not disagreeing with Robin's niece.
"Are you my aunt now?" Hadley asked hurriedly after, and Regina pondered on what she should say.
Was she Hadley and Caleb's aunt? Technically she was, but she and Robin weren't married yet. Did they have to wait for marriage? Thankfully, Hadley's curious mind ran one hundred miles an hour and a new question popped up just as fast.
"What's your favorite animal?"
Regina smiled as she let out a slow breath, never really putting much thought into that question. She's not sure anyone besides Robin had ever asked her that.
"I'd have to say a horse. What's yours?" Hadley bit the inside of her cheek as she shrugged her shoulders, watching as Regina finished painting her nails.
"Well, I love snuffles, so probably doggies. Do you have a doggie?" Hadley questioned as she sat still patiently, making sure not to mess up any of Regina's hard work.
"No, but I think they're really cute," Regina grinned, and Hadley's face lit up with excitement.
"Me too!"
Regina laughed as she shook her head, Robin's niece just too cute. Of course, not as cute as Olivia or Sophia, but a very close second.
"Guess what I did last week in school?" Hadley announced proudly, puffing out her chest the slightest, and Regina beamed as she handed Hadley the red nail polish, ready for the masterpiece the child would leave her.
"What?" Regina answered back as Hadley motioned for Regina's hand, and the little girl smoothed out her fingers before opening the bottle of red paint. Regina chuckled and kept her hand still, watching as the towel they sat on started its first drop of art.
"I wrote Mommy and Daddy a Thanksgiving card! With my own hands!" Hadley wiggled her fingers in front of her as to prove a point, and Regina opened her mouth with a gasp.
"You did that all by yourself?" Regina asked, astounded, and Hadley giggled as she nodded her head, continuing to paint Regina's nails.
"Yeah!"
"Wow, you're a big girl," Regina explained, and Hadley grinned proudly.
"Aaaaand, we made hand turkeys! I love school," Hadley glowed, and Regina sighed, remembering to remind her of this conversation when she was stuck in her teenage years doing algebra and geometry.
"Do you go to grown up school?" Hadley asked, reaching for Regina's other hand, and Regina laughed.
"I used to. I'm on the computer all day, now, doing math," Regina chuckled when Hadley's face screwed up into that of disgust. She shook her little head and groaned.
"I hate math. That's the one thing I don't like in school."
"Yeah, nap time is the way to go," Regina joked, and Hadley laughed as she stood up, clapping her hands together happily. She screwed the top of the nail polish back on, letting it fall back in line on the carpet, and she looked happy with her work as she examined Regina's nails.
Regina couldn't stop smiling. Her nails were a mess. There was paint all over her fingers, some nails not even making the cut, some too much, but somehow, it was the best manicure she had ever received.
"I love them," Regina breathed, and Hadley jumped up and down.
"Really?!"
"Really!"
Regina didn't know what she expected Hadley to do, but running to her for a hug was not one of them. Regina was shocked when the little girl wrapped her arms around her middle, pushing her head to her chest. Regina's heart melted as her mind finally told her to hug her back, and after the surprise subsided, Regina wrapped her arms around the little girl warmly.
…
"Wow… were you drunk? I didn't think my mom let alcohol inside the house," Robin smirked with his eyebrows raised when he saw Regina's fingertips. Regina rolled her eyes as she handed him a glass of water, showing off her shiny nails.
"Hadley did them. I think they are beautiful," Regina smiled, Robin nodded his head as the realization dawned on him.
"Ah, that explains the red thumb," Robin teased, and Regina glared at him with her playful chocolate brown eyes.
"Hadley and Caleb just went to sleep, and Hadley wouldn't shut up about you, so thank you. Now, we're going to have to come back here more than once every three years," Robin smirked, and Regina hit his chest as she shook her head.
"All I did was paint her nails and sing the songs she wanted to listen to," Regina shrugged her shoulders, but furrowed her eyebrows when Robin continued laughing.
"You, Regina Mills, are going to be a great mother," Robin sighed, and Regina kissed his cheek as he took her hand.
"And you, Robin Locksley, will be a great father… just not a better parent than me," Regina teased, and Robin chuckled as he planted a kiss on her hair.
Regina and Robin made their way into the family room where the rest of the Locksleys rested. The couple took their seats on the couch where Paige sat on the other cushion, and Regina smiled when she felt his hand on the small of her back.
"Thank you, for all you did today. Hadley was exhausted, and she couldn't stop going on about all the fun you two had," Amber, Haldey and Caleb's mother, thanked Regina, and the brunette grinned as she shrank back into Robin, shrugging her shoulders.
"It's no problem. I don't think I've run around and done that much since I was her age," Regina laughed, and the room chuckled, even Robert.
"Well, I'm just glad we finally get to meet you," Mark smiled, and Regina felt Robin rub her back soothingly. She could feel him telling her I told you so.
"She really is something," Robin nodded his head, and Regina smiled at him in a loving way. Helen watched the way they looked at each other, and she wished their love would last longer than hers did.
"I have to give you credit, Robin. I never thought you would get over that bitch who dragged you all the way to her hometown, but I'm so glad you did," Amber laughed, thinking she was defending her cousin-in-law, but the whole room went silent, and she found it weird when she saw Regina squirm the tiniest bit.
Amber looked around with a quizzical stare, trying to get answers from anyone, but when she looked at her husband, she realized her mistake.
"Yeah," Regina laughed humorlessly with a nod of her head, and it pained her when Robin squeezed her hand, "I am that bitch."
Amber went pale with embarrassment as her mouth parted slightly, disgraced at herself for even bringing it up.
"I'm so sorry," Amber hurried to apologize, and Regina smiled as the bullet pierced her skin, tearing at already-open wounds.
"It's fine," Regina shook her head, thinking she should have at least expected something like that to be said.
"Is it?" Robert asked from the opposite side of the room, and Helen changed the subject before Regina could feel any more crushed.
….
"They act like they've never done anything wrong before," Robin fumed as he paced their room, his feet burning holes into the carpet. Regina sighed as she watched her boyfriend from her side of the bed, frowning.
"Come on, let's go to bed. I'm tired," Regina tried, but Robin unbuttoned his shirt as he laughed darkly, throwing the article of clothing into a ball on the floor.
"Yeah, and I'm tired of everyone judging you before they've even met you. It's complete bullshit," Robin shook his head as he found his way into bed next to Regina, his head hitting the headboard.
"To be fair, everything they've said is true," Regina winced when she saw Robin glare at her, and she prayed this wouldn't be their first fight. She had never seen him so upset in such a long time.
"You broke my heart a year ago, big deal. People do that all the time, every single day, twenty-four seven. We're here, together now. We've moved on, and it's in the past. I just don't understand why everyone and their freaking mother can't let it go," Robin grumped, and Regina smiled sweetly as she ran her fingers through his hair.
"They are your family, Robin. They're not going to forgive and forget so easily… they're just trying to protect you, that's all, and I get that. They don't want you to get hurt again," Regina sighed, and Robin's jaw clenched, but he didn't say a word.
"It also doesn't help that-"
"Please don't leave me," Robin interrupted her, and Regina froze as her eyes went soft, her hand going to Robin's tangling their fingers together.
"What?"
"My family has driven out every girl I've ever brought home, and now it's happening all over again. You want to know why I never come back here? It's because I don't want to deal with them and their crazy, narcissistic ways. And now they've started with you, and I swear to god, if I lose you because of them-"
"Robin," Regina put her other hand on Robin's face, cupping his cheek to stop him from rambling. She laid down next to him as she rested her head against his chest, and she felt his arms circle around her.
"I'm not going to leave you. Not now, and not ever. I love you, and if that means dealing with your crazy, overbearing, passionate family, then that's what I'm going to do… Honestly, this is opening my eyes," Regina whispered, and Robin hummed against her in question.
"I already know how much I would have lost if you never came back to Storybrooke, but I never really thought about how it would affect me… These past couple of days, I learned that if you gave up on us like you should have, I would have nothing. I would be nothing. Olivia would never forgive me, I wouldn't be able to even look my parents in the eye, and I would've wound up back in the city without anyone… I can't lose you, Robin. I can't live without you… so if you are worried I'm going to pack my bags and leave, stop. I'm here."
Robin smiled as he held Regina tightly, and she let him rock her, his fingers gliding through her hair.
"Robin," Regina whispered moments later, afraid he had drifted off to sleep, but he hummed in question against her hair.
"Why did you come back?" Regina asked, and she felt Robin freeze.
"I thought we decided not to talk about what happened," Robin sighed, and Regina bit her lip, knowing they did the very first night they were together again.
"I know, but it's been almost a year… maybe it's time we do talk about it," Regina explained, and Robin knew she was right. Regina turned in his arms to face him, and he sighed, running his fingers through her hair.
"You're going to cry, Love, I know you. I don't want to see you upset," Robin smiled sweetly, and Regina rolled her eyes as she pecked his lips.
"Well, you'll be there to hold me when I need it," Robin pecked her lips again, and his eyes asked her if she was sure she wanted to do this. Regina nodded her head, and Robin took a deep breath.
"I don't quite know how to explain it, but somehow, I wasn't living. I was walking, breathing, talking, but I wasn't living. I kept telling myself that it was over, that I should have never gotten my hopes up in the first place, but my heart kept telling me that there was still the tiniest piece of hope. That somewhere, under all your pride, and fear, and lies, you actually did love me."
"But you had just told me you were going back to Daniel, and I figured that even if it wasn't real, it happened, we happened, and I should've been thankful for small amount of time we had. But being able to hold you, and kiss you, and wake up next to you? Regina, no matter how many times I replayed it all in my head, I missed it. I got the tiniest taste of what it would be like to spend my life with you, and I wasn't ready to give it up."
"I tried to forget about you. I avoided you at work, or anywhere, for that matter, and I told myself that eventually, it would get better. I would meet someone else, and when I'd look into her eyes, I wouldn't see you. And maybe she would take me home to her parents, and maybe I would love them as much as I do Henry and Cora… but two months passed, Regina, and I was still thinking about you. And I blamed myself for not being good enough for you."
"The night before the ball, Olivia called and begged me to come home. She said that you had just arrived, but she could tell you weren't happy, and she even told me you missed me. I didn't let myself believe it because, well, you weren't supposed to fall in love with someone like me. You're a queen, and I'm just… some peasant."
"Robin," Regina breathed, tears in her eyes, and Robin smiled as he cupped her cheek, rubbing his thumb along her jawline.
"Funny thing is, I wasn't planning on coming. But I got into my car, and I just started driving, letting my mind take me wherever it wanted. Seven hours later, I found myself standing at the top of some grand staircase in a suit and tie, dying for the chance to dance with the prettiest girl at the party."
"I was prepared to hear all about your new life, about how you and Daniel had finally got it right, and how he put a diamond on your finger, and you were searching for a home. When you told me that you weren't in love with Daniel, but me, I didn't believe it. Because I'm just me. And you are everything… I don't even know what I did to deserve you, really."
"You're beautiful, stunning, and your laugh makes the whole room glow… I never thought I had a chance, and I won't lie. For the first couple of months we were together, I was prepared for you to walk out," Robin whispered, and Regina frowned as she held onto Robin tightly, expressing how she would never leave.
"So when I see you talking to my mom, or when you're playing with Hadley, or hell, even when you're arguing with my dad, it reminds me that all you did was a mistake. Because you love me so much that you're dealing with my crazy family," Robin smiled, and Regina put her forehead to his, both closing their eyes.
"I missed you every single day. I cried myself to sleep because I thought you would never want to see me again, when all I wanted to do was run to you and tell you I love you. And… and then there was this thing with Evelyn. For a while I thought you were starting to catch feelings for her, and I just wallowed in my self-pity because I knew you could never forgive me… that's actually why I went back to Storybrooke. So I wouldn't have to see you move on," Regina breathed, and Robin rubbed his strong hands across her back, comforting her.
"I couldn't tell anyone how I really felt, because no one knew what really happened. My mom was suspicious, and later on at the ball I found out my dad knew from the beginning we weren't really together, but I didn't know yet, and all I could think about is the disappointment that was in their eyes, constantly reminding me I just lost the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Then, you showed up, and we danced, and you looked so heartbroken. I knew the only way to get you to stop thinking was to tell you I love you, so I did. I was so scared, Robin. I thought you would tell me you already moved on and you could never forgive me… I wouldn't have blamed you, you know. I haven't even forgiven myself yet," Regina whispered nervously, and Robin brought her head to his chest, listening to her steady breaths.
"You need to, Regina. This won't work if you're still living in the past. You have to stop blaming yourself for what happened. I could have done that same exact thing, anyone could have. You're not the first person in the world who didn't know what they wanted until it was gone," Robin smiled lovingly, and Regina squeezed him.
"I almost lost you," Regina sighed.
"But you didn't. And you won't. Ever."
Regina held onto Robin as she buried her head into his chest, listening to his heartbeat. Robin wrapped his arms around her and relaxed when he felt her muscles loosen, her breaths turning even, sleep welcoming her.
"I love you," Regina whispered quietly before she dozed off in Robin's arms, and Robin pressed a kiss to her hairline, leaning them both back into the pillows.
"I love you too."
