A/N: The story's really coming to an end. One more chapter and an epilogue, and it will be over. I hope you enjoy the somewhat festive atmosphere of this chapter. Not being an American, I've never been to a prom. My apologies if I have strayed from reality.
Many thanks to Nani for the brainstorming and the precious help on this subject! To Audrey for turning the outfits I chose for this chapter into an actual manip! And to Jess and AJ for beta-reading!
Next update in a month!
Robin adjusts his bow tie, then his vest, shaking out his trembling hands to try to stop the tremble.
"Don't stress out," His father reassures him, clasping his shoulder. "You're the most elegant I've ever seen you. She definitely won't be disappointed."
"Hope so, Dad."
Robin can't help but feeling nervous as he checks himself out in the mirror, all dressed up. He chose a navy-blue tuxedo he will probably never wear ever again, but well, it's prom night, he already knows that Regina is going to be the fairest of them all. He should try to match that the best he can.
"Do you need more help?"
Robin lets out a long anxious sigh, still staring at himself in the mirror. "No, Dad. Thanks."
"Alright. I'll wait for you downstairs."
Robin barely hears his father leaving the room, deep in thoughts as he remembers everything he's been through to get to this moment. High school will be over in a few weeks, and they'll both leave for Pennsylvania during summer. It will be the end of their high school years, the beginning of something new, something just the two of them as his parents and Daniel will stay in Storybrooke, and Zelena and Alan will go to California. It freaks him out, but he can't wait to be there. He has faith in his relationship with Regina, they're going to have a blast.
He walks to his closet, retrieves a small square box, and opens it, smiling at the flowers. His thoughts are interrupted by a knock on his door, his mother's voice informing him that Regina is ready, and Robin's smile brightens.
It's time.
He opens the door, and waits for Regina to exit Daniel's bedroom where she prepared herself. He stares at the door until it opens, and his heart misses a beat when he lays eyes on her.
He was expecting the most beautiful girl to get out of this room, but she's completely exceeded all his expectations. His eyes can't look away, mesmerized by her, the redness of her dress that matches her lips, the darkness of her wavy hair slightly pulled up and cascading over her right shoulder. He stares, in awe, at the off-the-shoulder long burgundy dress with embroideries and rhinestones over her front, the train that covers her legs. He's seen her dressed up before, but never before did he see her like... this. His gaze works its way up her face, to her wonderful and bright grin, the eye shadow that magnifies and widens her eyes, the necklace that adorns her cleavage, the earrings that shine on her ears. She's the most beautiful creature that's ever walked this Earth, and it requires all his self-control to be able to move again.
Whether Regina realized his state of mind or not, she walks to him, thumb and forefinger sliding over the black satin lapel of his coat, humming in satisfaction.
"You're particularly handsome tonight, Mr. Locksley. Even more than usual."
Robin chuckles at her words, shakes his head. Handsome? How should he describe her then?
"I would gladly return the compliment, but I'm afraid words left me the moment I laid eyes on you."
Regina laughs softly, face falling in his neck, then pulling back and not waiting for an invitation before kissing him, rendering him breathless as he locks an arm around her waist to keep her close. There's no doubt about what they're both craving right now, what they need as Robin presses her against the wall and they kiss each other senseless, but there's an entire party waiting for them. Today, the ghosts of Regina's past won't ruin the evening.
"The fairest of them all," Robin breathes when they break apart, still catching their breath. "But!" he adds, pulling away and presenting the box to her, opening it to reveal a corsage made of red roses and baby's breath, a perfect match to her dress and lipstick. "You needed this to be absolutely perfect."
Regina beams, extends her arm and lets him fasten the corsage around her wrist. She flexes her fingers, turning her wrist in front of her to admire the corsage, stars-filled eyes landing on Robin. "It's absolutely beautiful. Thank you, Robin."
He offers his arms, and she laughs as she takes it, starts to walk with him towards the stairs, chuckling as they reach the bottom of the stairs and face his parents and Daniel, all three staring at them, mouths agape. His mother is crying, which has Robin chewing his bottom lip, blushing. His mother rarely cries. But today, she's ecstatic, he can read it on her face. She's happy for him, for Regina, for them. He begins to walk away from Regina, heads for his mother with the firm intention to take her in his arms, but she stops him with a hand and a "No! Don't move!" that has him freezing on the spot.
She grabs the camera that's resting on the table, and waves towards him, motioning for him to go back to Regina.
"Let me take a picture! You two are so beautiful tonight!"
"Does that mean we're ugly the rest of the time?" Robin smirks at his mother, his playful tone making his mother tsk and shake her head as she blinks her tears back.
"Don't make me say what I didn't say! Come on, hush! Go back to how you were placed, it was perfect," she insists, looking inside her camera and making some adjustments.
"Don't make them be late, Edith!" Tom teases, exchanging a wink with Daniel and Robin.
Edith's brow shoots up as she glares at her husband. "They're thirty minutes ahead of schedule, and it's Regina's and my son's prom. There won't be a second one. The least I deserve is to take a picture," she chides, focusing on her camera again. She takes several pictures, moves a little around Regina and Robin to change the angle, before checking her pictures on the camera's screen, satisfied. "One of these is definitely going to end up on the wall!"
Robin can finally hug his mother then, holding her close, kissing his cheek and murmuring in her ear, "Thank you, Mom. I love you."
He means it, truly. Teenagers often complain about their parents, but in the middle of the mess he's lived with Regina, she and his father have been his rocks, his constancy, protecting him, accepting an unknown young girl in their home regardless of the risks, treating her as their own. He grew up faster than most boys his age, and he's well aware that they played a huge part in making sure he overcame it without much damage.
His mother pulls back, cups his cheeks and smiles at him. "I love you too, sweetheart."
He spots Regina pulling back from Daniel's arms, lets her go to his mother while he turns towards his father, who's handing him a set of keys. Robin proudly takes them, although anxiety fills him at the same time. He and Regina may have their driver's licenses now, but it's the first time that they will be alone in the car, no one else but them in charge, and well, it's his father's car, he knows how proud of it he is.
"I trust you with it. No messing around, alright?"
"I promise, Dad. I'll be careful."
His father smiles at him, his large hand clasping his back. "Damn, my son is going to prom. I'm gonna need a moment to cope with that."
The moment lingers a little more, time for all the adults to wish them a good evening, Edith reminding them that curfew is at 3 am, before urging them to go and have fun.
The car is parked outside the house, all cleaned, and Robin can't believe that it's only the two of them tonight. That he'll get to drive his father's car without him seated on the passenger seat and spying and commenting on his every movement. That he'll be honored with driving Regina to prom.
"Milady!" he offers as he holds the passenger's door open. She laughs at his chivalrous behavior, pecks his cheek before sitting in the car, and Robin quickly hurries and takes place on the driver seat. "Are you ready?"
"Ready when you are!"
The drive is animated, they're both excited about tonight and chat happily all the way, although Robin's eyes never leave the road. Once parked in front of the school, he helps Regina out of the car, offers his arm again as she puts her phone back into her small purse, informing him that Alan and Zelena are already inside, waiting for them.
As they walk to the gymnasium, and they meet with different students, Robin can't help but notice the glances they receive. Last year, it'd have bothered him, there'd have been stares and whispered criticism. Tonight though, the looks aren't at all what they were granted with at first. People are peering at Regina with wide, impressed eyes. She is the most beautiful girl at school. And that's not at all because he is madly in love with her and only has eyes for her. No. Tonight, as they enter the gymnasium and he quickly studies the several girls in front of him, there's no comparison possible. Regina takes the breath away from anyone who lays eyes on her.
Mary-Margaret, in her long satin dress of a blush color, pales in comparison. Even she can't help looking their way, and Robin inwardly smirks proudly at the look of awe and admiration on the girl's face.
"There you are!"
Zelena's excited voice interrupts Robin's line of thoughts, draws his attention to her and Alan, standing in front of them.
The redhead is wearing a long satin sleeveless V-neck emerald dress split to mid-thigh. Sexy, almost provocative, eccentric. Typical Zelena, Robin isn't at all surprised by her choice. Alan is wearing a blue tuxedo, more casual than his, but considering Alan's usual clothing style that consists of nothing else but oversized shirts and pants, this is really a huge step for him.
"Hey!" Regina greets them, taking Zelena in her arms. "I love your dress, it suits you!"
Zelena giggles, her long and wavy red hair flying around her face. "Thank you! You're absolutely stunning in yours! Where did you find it?"
"Daniel and Edith took me to different stores. It was in a small shop in the center, behind the mall. We all fell in love with it."
"Excellent choice!" Alan confirms. "Wanna grab something to drink?"
Regina and Robin follow them to the stand where they all order sodas, and then move to a more quiet and secluded area, where footstools and small sofas have been set up around small coffee tables.
"When will you go see John?" Robin questions, leaning into the couch, letting Regina settle against him, her head finding his shoulder.
"Right after high school ends," Zelena answers, sipping her drink. "Our parents have planned a week there. He'll still have classes, but we'll visit around during the day, and will spend the evening with him."
"He told me that he's looking forward to it. And to come back, too," Robin says, smirking. "Apparently, things are going well with Amelia, they're talking every day, and their dates went well. He's very impatient to see her this summer."
"He still hasn't told our parents," Zelena sighs, rolls her eyes dramatically. "He wants to make sure that she's the one first." She finishes her drink dead-dry. "He's nineteen! Who cares if she's the one or not?"
Alan chokes on his drink, frowns at her. "How am I supposed to take this?"
She leans forward, pecks his stunned lips. "I'm not my brother, and we've been together for far longer." She cups his chin between her thumb and forefinger, grins at him. "I don't have any doubt about the fact that you're my one."
Robin laughs at Zelena's explanations, using the moment she and Alan are kissing to murmur into Regina's ear, "Are you hungry?"
"You?"
He shrugs. "A little."
"Okay. Let's see what they have."
She gets up before he has time to tell her to stay sat, and she grabs his hand, drags him towards the buffet, excited. They go for trying a bit of everything, gather four plates and fill them, figuring that Zelena and Alan would want to eat, too. Given the liquid that they see Zelena pour in her new drink when they come back, filling her stomach with something other than alcohol isn't a bad idea.
"No, thanks!" Robin shakes his head when Zelena offers to fill his drink with some of the vodka she's brought in a small flask. "I'm driving."
"Come on, have fun!"
"I can have fun without getting drunk," Robin counters. He's surprised to see Regina accept some, nodding at him, encouraging, and Robin rolls his eyes. "I am driving, remember? I don't want anything to happen to us, or to my dad's car. He would kill me!"
"Just a taste won't hurt," Regina replies with a nonchalance that surprises him. "It's still early, we won't leave right away. I swear, I won't let you drive if I have the smallest doubt about your sobriety. Give it a try, just this once."
"What if a teacher sees us? Alcohol is forbidden, remember?"
Zelena sighs sharply, falsely annoyed. "Since when are you being so cautious? I only brought this flask. The sooner we finish it, the fewer the chances for anyone to see us with it."
Robin glances between Regina, who takes a sip of her glass, wincing at the taste and shuddering while Alan and Zelena laugh at her reaction. He's never tasted vodka before, isn't even sure he'll like it, but tonight is supposed to be fun, and it's barely nine, he still has plenty of time to sober up in case this doesn't go well. "Ok, only a little bit then! I don't want to get in trouble."
He and Regina stick to only their one glass, and Alan and Zelena finish the rest of the flask between the two of them within the next hour. Bless the food that allows them to compensate, but when they decide to go dancing, Zelena is completely overexcited, jumping up and down on the dancefloor, half screaming, drawing the attention of several people around, including Mrs. Dragondale, who eyes the redhead suspiciously.
"Easy there!" Alan tries to contain her the best he can despite his own tipsy state.
"Woooo hooooo!" Zelena keeps yelling, her voice thankfully partly covered with the music. "Tonight is so fun!"
Robin and Regina let Alan handle her while they dance together to the fast rhythm of the music. It's something they like to listen to, but that they've never danced to, and Robin notices that Regina isn't the most comfortable. She's not certain how to move, shyly balances from one foot to the other. He takes her hands, and guides her, speeds up the movement little by little, helping her to move in rhythm, to gently undo the lessons given by his mother who taught her to stay straight and rigid. It's not perfect, she's not completely at ease, but after a few songs, she seems more relaxed, her awkward smile shifting into an amused one at least. She doesn't complain when the music changes though, turning into a slow song that creates couples on the dance floor. She embraces him without asking permission, giving him a little wry smile, Robin welcoming her with a kiss to her temple.
Alan has taken Zelena back to the sofas with a large glass of water, so Robin and Regina can focus on themselves only. She buries her face in his neck, holds him tight, her body pressed against him. Robin secures her with an arm around her waist, can't help planting one more kiss to her temple, another one to her cheek, and relaxes, all his attention on her, on leading her on the dance floor. Whether they're alone or not, he doesn't care, doesn't really notice, as for as long as the music is on, it's nothing but the two of them. His eyes are closed, his nose in her hair, breathing her in as they turn, and turn again. Regina slightly pulls back, and he opens his eyes to face her, doesn't resist the need to kiss her, their lips locking tenderly, the kiss soft and intimate. They don't deepen it, but they make it last, until they both lack air, their mouths parting but their foreheads stuck against each other, eyes staring into each other as, for a moment in time, nothing, and no one else, exists.
"I love you."
It was but a whisper covered by the music, but he reads it on Regina's lips, grins in answer, one that matches hers as he answers her with the exact same words. This is perfect, they are perfect, the two of them. She's warm against him, abandoned to his care, and until the song ends, Robin forgets that the world even exists.
They reluctantly pull back then, grinning like idiots, hands locked as they slowly walk back to their space with Zelena and Alan, still in their bubble of love, high in the sky.
"Good thing you're back." Alan looks up at them. "Regina, would you mind accompany Zelena to the bathroom? She claims that she's fine but-"
"I can pee by myself!" Zelena whines, slightly swaying on her seat. "I don't need a babysitter!"
Regina and Robin laugh at her answer, Regina accepting immediately, tugging on Zelena's arm. "Come on! I need to use the bathroom, too! You can keep me company," she argues, exchanging a wink with Alan, who mouths a grateful Thank you as the girls walk away.
Robin leans back on the sofa, hands behind his head.
"Did Tuck give you any news? He was deployed last month, right?"
Alan sighs, sprawling out on his sofa. "Yeah… we received a letter this weekend. He said it's difficult, but that he feels like he's doing something big, something important. Whatever…" He shakes his head, grabs his soda, eyes rolling as he resumes. "He chose this life. Our parents are super proud. I still don't agree with it though."
"I know, I know," Robin concedes. "But he's your brother."
"He is. Doesn't mean I have to support him in everything he does. Like he's not overly thrilled about me entering a music school in California."
Robin stares at Alan, frowns, reading in his friend's behavior his struggle, his love for his brother, but his total misunderstanding of his motivations in life. He chooses to switch the subject for something else, something lighter that will bring Alan's smile back.
"The band plays good music," he comments, tilting his chin towards the band on stage. It's a rather rock style, with some very expressive songs and some rather soft ones, but on the whole, he likes it. He knows that most of the band members are high school students, but he didn't get to know them very well. To be honest, he didn't try. After the way Regina and him were treated last year, even when things improved, he was cordial, but didn't really make any effort and his coldness towards them was enough to keep people away.
"They do!" Alan agrees. "Killian is an excellent singer and leader. Since he joined the band, their songs have taken a different direction and have become really interesting."
"Didn't you try to join them?"
Alan shakes his head. "Nah! They're good, but I prefer being on my own. I love to jam every now and then, but I'm not made for a group."
"I hope you'll get to write and record a few things once you're at your school! I'd love to hear them!"
"Yes, man! I'm so waiting for this! High school is nice and all, but I really don't give a damn about 90% of what they're teaching us." Robin bursts out laughing at Alan's words. He so used to feel the same last year. "I can't believe that you've joined Zelena and Regina among the best students of the class. I'm the lamest of the group now."
"I thought you didn't care about high school," Robin reminds, teasing and winking at Alan.
"Touché! By the way, is everything ready for your trip to New York next month?"
"It is. I'm so impatient to be there! It's gonna be so cool to finally be only the two of us, without my parents and Daniel."
"I bet! Your parents are cool, but you'll have more intimacy without them. Might even help Regina with…"
Robin sighs heavily. "They're not the reason why she can't get there."
"I know. I know what you've told me. What I meant is that the change of environment might help her forget about… well, you know."
"Maybe… She's made a lot of progress though, we were almost there the other day."
"It will come, Robin. It's been more than a year since her stepfather was imprisoned, and she's never been happier. This trip will do you both a lot of good."
"It will be her first time outside of Storybrooke. She's really excited about discovering the world outside this town. There are so many things that I want to show her."
"I wanna dance!"
The boys startle, Alan jumping on his seat when Zelena shows up out of nowhere, grabbing his hand and pulling him up, dragging him unceremoniously towards the dance floor without asking his opinion.
Robin laughs heartily at Alan's hopeless face, but his gaze is caught by Regina sliding onto the sofa next to him.
"What did you do to Zelena? I thought she'd have sobered up a little."
"I don't know." Regina shrugs as she watches her friends head for the dance floor, Alan clearly complaining but Zelena having none of it. "She felt better all of a sudden after we got out of the bathroom. She's inexhaustible. But I'm tired," she says, snuggling against his side and failing to suppress a yawn.
Robin welcomes her in his arms, kissing her head. They quietly chat about the evening, about the music, the food, about their friends, their trip to New York that is exciting them beyond anything.
They share intimacy in the middle of a crowded and noisy gymnasium, feel more connected than ever, and Robin revels in this moment, in them acting nothing else but perfectly normal, two teenagers living their love freely, out in the open.
Alan and Zelena come back at some point, pulling them out of their bubble and almost dozing off state when the redhead animatedly engages the conversation. They talk with their friends again, enjoying the last moments they have before Zelena and Alan fly across the country to California, and they will both head for Pennsylvania. They promise themselves to stay in touch, to try to see each other as soon as possible, to organize maybe a week of holidays together with John and if possible, Tuck, somewhere during the year to come.
Until the music changes again, turning back into a slow, so Regina smiles at Robin in a way that makes him melt and immediately follow her on the dance floor.
She tucks her face in his neck, one hand in his, the other around his shoulders, keeping him close. He fastens his own arm around her waist, guiding her slowly. He wouldn't trade this moment for anything in the world, wouldn't want to be anywhere else but here, in her arms, enjoying their prom like any regular eighteen-year-old teenagers. His hands weave into her thick hair, finding a path to rest against her bare back, fingers brushing her skin tenderly, feeling her shiver and chuckle, kiss the crook of his neck in answer. She's the best thing that ever could have happened to him, his first love, the person he'd do anything for. Holding her like this in his arms, feeling her body pressed against him, is the best sensation he's ever known.
The evening ends shortly after that, so they start to leave, despite Zelena's renewed energy and excitement when she initially refuses to leave the dancefloor. Robin offers his friends a ride, and Alan gratefully accepts, unsure if he's in any state to drive and contain his overexcited and chatty girlfriend at the same time without creating an accident.
The drive from Zelena's home to theirs is quiet, Regina staring at the road, her hand covering his on the gearshift, a small smile tugging at her lips, mirroring his.
The house is silent when they arrive, but a few ruffles make them understand that his parents and Daniel were spying their arrival. The way to their bedroom is made hand in hand, smile to smile, only breaking physical contact in the bathroom.
"It was one of the best evenings of my life."
Robin looks up from his bedside table, grins at her, lets Regina straddle his lap on the bed.
He plays with the small piece of fabric falling over her shoulder, tugging it down a little, smirking, but his mind isn't at all where most people would think it'd be.
No.
He knows how he wants to spend the last few minutes they have before falling asleep, and given Regina's blush, she does, too.
"Me too. You truly were the fairest tonight."
"It was all for you," she whispers, leaning forward to capture his lips in a short, but soft kiss. "Robin." She looks down sheepishly, shrugging as she dares look up at him. "I know what people usually do on prom night, but do you mind-"
Robin shushes her with a kiss to her nose, widely smiles at her as he covers her fidgeting hands with his own. "Holding you in my arms is the only thing that I need." He nuzzles her cheek, which has her chuckling, eyes grateful as they plunge into his. "Come on!" he encourages, scooting back on the bed once she gets up, watches her rid herself of her dress, put on a large shirt in place of her usual pajamas and crawl into bed with him.
She presses herself flush against him, their bare legs tangled, breathing each other's air, staring into each other's eyes with nothing but love and tenderness.
Robin fights the pull of exhaustion for a few more minutes, traces the outline of her jaw, her hairline, her lips with his fingers, smiling when she kisses the top of his fingers. It's incredible, this love, this adventure, that made him grow up three times faster than he should have. But he doesn't regret one single second. Robin turns off the light before he kisses Regina's lips one last time, falling asleep to the memory of his wonderful girlfriend's beautiful face, head full of the incredible evening they've spent together.
Title of the next chapter: The trip
Review anyone?