A/N: My first entry for OQ Bedsharing Week featuring the following prompts: 10. I've been crushing on you forever but you're entirely oblivious and now we have to share a bed and i have to act like it's no big deal and 11. Mutually unrequited love.
Enjoy!
-Mac
Chapter 3: Heat Wave
Summer started with a bang when the air conditioning unit in the Mills-Locksley household blew out.
In the middle of a heatwave.
Unfortunately, the unexpected temperatures had fried several other AC units as well and so they were looking at almost a week until someone could come to fix it. They took note that there was a small child in the house and promised to try to come sooner if possible but they couldn't guarantee it.
"I was thinking. You should take Margot and go stay with Mary Margaret and David," Robin said, not long after the conversation with the repair service. "Or at least go to a hotel."
Regina had been standing by the freezer, letting the cold air wash over her. She closed the door and looked at Robin, swallowing as she took him in. He had taken off his shirt and was only walking around in his shorts, giving her a very good view of his chest and arms.
Damn.
Thoughts Regina was certain she shouldn't be having about her roommate and best friend had haunted her since the day after Margot's birthday. She had woken up in the living room, curled up against Robin and using his chest as a pillow as they lay on the couch together. He had an arm wrapped around her, holding her close, and their legs were entwined under the blankets. After checking the baby monitor to confirm that Margot was still asleep, Regina just lay there and watched Robin sleep. She wondered what it would be like to fall asleep and wake up with him every day. And as her fingers brushed against a strip of skin not covered by his t-shirt, she also fantasized about having morning sex with him before they went to tend to their daughter.
It felt naughty but also very domestic.
But now was not the time to ogle him. They needed to figure out what to do until their AC unit was fixed. She had stripped Margot to her diaper and laid her in her crib with every fan in the house going in her room but it would not do much against the heat. Robin was right – they were going to have to go someplace else for Margot's sake.
She did have one concern. "Why are you only talking about me and Margot? What are you going to do?"
"I'm going to stay here," Robin said. "We didn't have AC back in England so I'm used to going without it."
"But did you have such high temperatures in England?" she asked, concerned he was underestimating the heat he would have to endure.
He nodded. "Sometimes. I'll be fine. And I'll watch the house."
"That's why we pay for a security system," she reminded him. "I think the house will be fine if we all go to a hotel."
"Someone needs to wait for the repairman," he argued.
She nodded. "I figured I could do it and work from home. It'll be easier for me than you. I'm sure Mary Margaret wouldn't mind watching Margot or we can put her in daycare."
"We can call Ashley, make sure she has air conditioning," Robin agreed. "But I still feel better if you went to work and I stayed here and sweated it out – both literally and figuratively."
Before she could argue, crying interrupted them. They looked up and Regina sighed, heading toward the door. "I'll go get her."
"I'll come with you," he said. "I imagine she's going to be extra fussy because of the heat."
They headed upstairs and found Margot crying as she stood in her crib, holding onto the side. Her blond curls stood on end and she held out her arms to Regina, who picked her up. She held Margot close, frowning when she felt how hot the baby girl was. "You're right," she said. "She's hot."
"We should cool her down," Robin replied, pulling out a new diaper.
Regina took it as an idea came into her mind. "Didn't we just get an inflatable pool for her?"
His eyes lit up. "Yes, we did. I'll go set it up and fill it with some water. That should cool all of us down."
"We'll change and meet you in the yard," she said, laying Margot down on the changing table. Robin agreed before leaving the room to get everything ready for a fun afternoon in the pool.
After changing Margot's diaper, she then put on the protective covering before finding a cute blue bathing suit covered in rubber duckies to put Margot in. Regina brushed her daughter's curls into a small ponytail before lathering her in sunscreen. She put a white hat on Margot as well as some blue sunglasses before picking the little girl up to head to her room. "Okay, sweetheart. Mommy needs to put on her swimsuit and then we can go join Daddy," she said.
Margot laughed and clapped, clearly already having fun. Regina sat her on the bed and kept an eye on her as she changed into a red bikini. She grabbed her own sunglasses before picking Margot up again. "Here we go," she said, tickling Margot's stomach.
She carried Margot down to the first floor and out the backdoor. Robin stood in the middle of the yard, dressed in his favorite green swim trunks and filling the bright yellow pool with the hose. He glanced up and smiled, his eyes covered with sunglasses. "Everyone ready for some pool fun?"
"Yes, we are!" Regina declared happily. She then glanced at Margot's arms. "Should we put her in floaties?"
Robin studied her and then the pool before nodding. "Probably, just to be safe."
They blew up Margot's swim floaties and placed them on her little arms. She recognized them and already kicked her legs, eager to get into the water. Regina slowly lowered her and Margot began to splash around with a happy shout. Letting Margot go, Regina pulled back, watching her daughter play in the water.
"Well, at least she's nice and cool," Robin said, standing next to Regina.
"Yeah," Regina replied. "Though I guess if we stand close enough, we can get splashed. That'll probably help with cooling us down."
He nodded before grinning wickedly and holding up the hose. "Or we could use this."
She glanced at the hose as her stomach did a flip and she looked up at him, annoyed. "Don't you dare."
"Now that just sounds like a dare," he replied, his smile widening. He held up the hose. "I think I need to answer it."
"Robin, no!" she exclaimed, trying to turn away from him. But it was too late and the cold spray of water hit her body, dampening her bathing suit.
She slowly looked back at him, deciding she was going to wipe that annoying grin from his face. Trying to summon up all the steel and seriousness she used in the boardroom, she said: "You're going to regret that."
"Maybe," he agreed. "But I still have the hose."
He hit her again, this time giving her a good soaking. Goosebumps covered her arms as the cold water hit her skin but they did not last long in the early summer heat. Regina's hair started to stick to her neck and some strands fell into her eyes. She pushed them back, glaring at him. "Oh, now it's really on."
She lunged for him, grabbing the hose. Regina tried to pull it from him but he had a good hold on it. He squeezed it once, dousing her with more cold water. But she refused to let go and managed to turn it back on him at one point, giving him a good soaking. His blond hair turned dark as water dripped down his cheeks but his blue eyes shone brighter. "So it's a good old-fashioned water fight you want, huh?"
"You're the one who started it, Locksley," she reminded him. "I'm just going to be the one to finish it."
He hummed, looking amused. "We'll see."
"MAMA!"
They both paused before turning to look at the pool. Margot stood in the water, pointing to one of her toys. The purple octopus lay in the dirt outside and she was growing upset that she couldn't reach the toy. She looked up at Regina and said again: "Mama!"
"I got it, sweetheart," Regina said, grabbing the octopus. Robin hit it with the hose to wash it off before she handed it to Margot. "There you go."
Margot took it from her, babbling happily as she sat back down in the water to play. Regina straightened up, sighing as she looked at Robin. "We need to focus more on her than our own silly competition."
"Right," he agreed, setting down the hose. "Water safety first."
They looked down at their daughter, who laughed as she splashed around in the water. She tilted her head up, giving them a toothy grin. "Mama! Dada!"
"I think she's inviting us to join her," Robin said, motioning to the pool. "Mommies first."
"I don't know if Mommy and Daddy can fit in the pool," Regina said, eyeing the size of the kiddie pool. "We might have to stay outside to play with her."
He nodded. "Yeah, you're right."
"Well, we're going to need a shower anyway, right?" Regina asked, eyeing the muddy area by the pool and wincing. But she would do anything for Margot and getting a little dirty seemed to be a small price to pay for her little girl.
"After how hot it's been? Yes," he agreed. "I might just live in the shower for the rest of the night."
She rolled her eyes as she knelt down next to the pool. "Thank goodness we have our own showers."
"Only reason why I might move into mine for the night," he replied, kneeling as well.
"Or you could just come with us to the hotel tonight," she told him. "It would be even cooler and far more comfortable."
He sighed, gently splashing Margot as she laughed. "Maybe you're right."
"Maybe?" she replied, raising her eyebrow at how stubborn he was being. Of course she was right – there was no point for him to sweat through the night in an overheated house while she and Margot slept peacefully in a cool hotel room.
She leaned down, talking to Margot. "We want Daddy to come stay in the hotel room with us, right, Margot?"
Margot looked up at Robin and grinned. "Dada!"
"I believe that was a yes," Regina said, watching as Margot stood and patted her father's cheeks with her hands. Water then dripped down his scruff as he met Regina's eyes, his blue ones sparkling.
He then chuckled. "I guess I can't refuse such a cute request."
"No, you can't," she agreed. "We can book a room once we're done playing in the pool."
"Sounds like a plan," he said. A mischievous look came to his eye as he reached for the pink bucket floating next to Margot in the pool.
A feeling of dread washed over her and her heart skipped a beat. Regina slowly backed away. "Don't you dare, Robin Locksley."
"Haven't you learned?" he asked, scooping up some water with the bucket. "That's just a challenge. And I don't back down from challenges."
He tossed the bucket of water at her. She twisted her body so it hit her back rather than her face, but it was still a shock against her hot skin. Gasping, she turned to him and glared. "So our détente is over, I see," she said.
"Depends," he replied. "Do you yield?"
"Never!" she declared, eyeing the discarded hose. She could absolutely reach it and get some sweet vengeance on him.
He hummed, leaning down to talk to Margot. "Looks like Mommy has challenged Daddy. Who do you think will win?"
While he was distracted, Regina pulled the hose toward her. She kept a hand near the nozzle as she watched Margot look over at her. The little girl moved toward her and she chuckled. "Looks like she's rooting for me," she said.
"It seems so," Robin replied, sighing. "Oh, well. I guess I should get used to this."
"Losing?" she teased him, wrapping her arm around Margot's little body while she picked up the hose. "Yes, you should."
She raised the hose and squeezed the nozzle, completely drenching Robin with water. Margot laughed as Regina held her closer, clapping her hands as he tried to push the spray away from his face. After a few more seconds, Regina released the nozzle and let the hose fall back to the ground. "Yield?" she asked.
He sighed, nodding. "I yield."
"Ahh," Regina said, giving Margot a squeeze. "Daddy's pretty smart, Margot. Why don't you go give him a kiss to make him feel better?"
Margot toddled over to him and Robin scooped her up, kissing her cheek. "I feel better now."
He then held out his hand. "Can I shake the winner's hand?"
"You may," she said, taking his hand. As his fingers closed around her hand, she realized her mistake a moment too late. He gave her a good tug, pulling her into the pool. She landed in the cool water on her stomach, turning her head at the last minute to avoid getting a mouth full of water. Her hair flopped forward and she pushed it back, watching water run off the dark strands as she glared at Robin. "Cheater!"
"All's fair in love and war," he replied, smirking as Margot laughed at the scene unfolding before her.
Robin then stepped into the pool and sat down next to her. He set Margot down and she plopped down, grabbing her octopus again as Robin smiled at Regina. "There. Now we're all in the pool."
"It's a bit of tight fit, though," she said, feeling his leg against her own. She swallowed down the heat pooling deep inside her as she tried to move away from him. "This is not meant for two adults."
"True," he agreed. "Let me just figure this out."
Robin unfolded his legs as he laid back, placing his feet on the ground. He urged Regina to do the same and soon both were lounging side by side in the pool, their middles covered by water. There was a little gap between them and Margot happily sat there, content to be surrounded by her parents.
"There," Robin said, wrapping his arm around Regina. "Much better."
She leaned against him, feeling the warmth radiating off his skin. It felt good next to hers and she let out a soft hum. "I suppose."
Margot climbed onto Robin's chest and curled there, closing her eyes. He chuckled, rubbing her back. "I think someone's worn themselves out from all this fun," he said.
"Looks like it," Regina agreed. "She's going to sleep very well tonight."
He hummed. "Why don't we just lie here a bit longer and then we can get book a hotel for the night?"
She nodded. "Sounds like a plan."
"Good," he said, holding her a bit closer. Regina rested her head on his shoulder and let out a soft sigh. For now, she could pretend they were a real couple and not just two friends raising a child together.
After all, she was allowed to dream.
"Here we are," Regina said, opening the door to their hotel room. She flipped on the lights as she held a tired Margot in her other arm. Robin followed them with their bags and travel crib, regretting his decision to carry everything at once rather than make another trip back to the car.
He entered the room and saw one large queen bed sitting in it. It seemed most of the town had sought refuge in the hotel during the heat wave and so there were no more rooms with double beds. Regina insisted it would be fine for them to share a bed and he had agreed, though he was a bit nervous. She had never mentioned anything about them sleeping on the couch together after Margot's birthday, so he figured it hadn't bothered her. But he wasn't sure what he would subconsciously do while they shared a bed and wanted to avoid an awkward morning.
"You can set up the crib here," Regina said, motioning to a large space between the bed and the window. She looked up, frowning. "Robin, are you okay?"
"Yes," he insisted, setting the bags down. "I think that would be a good spot for the crib."
He carried the crib over to where she stood and started to set it up. Robin felt Regina's eyes on him as he unfolded the crib and started to lock the pieces into place. About halfway through, she asked: "Are you uncomfortable about the one bed?"
"No," he replied. He looked up at her as she continued to rock Margot. "I just don't want you to be uncomfortable."
"Sharing a bed with you?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. "I think I can manage. I mean, what do you think might happen?"
He shrugged, focusing on the crib again as he said: "What if I end up spooning you in my sleep?"
"That's the worst you think will happen?" she asked, shaking her head. "That seems to be the best-case scenario, honestly."
That surprised him and he looked up at her, his heart pounding in his chest. "It is?"
She nodded. "I'm worried I'm going to kick you out of bed or hurt you. Cuddling is pretty much the opposite of that, right?"
"True," he agreed.
"So as long as you don't end up on the floor or all black and blue, I'm going to consider it a success," she told him.
He chuckled, finishing with the crib. "Good to know. Though I apologize in advance if I do try to cuddle you."
"Nothing to apologize for," she told him, making his heart skip a beat. He took a calming breath as she kissed Margot goodnight and then handed her to him.
Robin kissed his daughter's head before laying her into the crib. He covered her with a blanket and tucked her favorite Teddy next to her. "Goodnight, sweetheart. Pleasant dreams," he said.
"I'm going to take a shower," Regina said. "Unless you want to jump in before me?"
He shook his head, deciding he could take his shower after her. Robin motioned to the bathroom. "It's all yours, milady."
She rolled her eyes before thanking him, heading into the shower. Robin laid down on the bed with a sigh and picked up the remote. He turned on the TV and kept the volume low as he watched some repeat, hoping to keep his mind off the fact that Regina was naked on the other side of the wall.
Don't even go there, he told himself. You don't want to have an obvious erection any time around her. Don't make this uncomfortable.
He closed his eyes and thought of the least sexy things possible. As thoughts of tax documents and government reports filled his mind, he felt his body start to calm down. With a relieved sigh, he opened his eyes again and focused on the show as he waited for Regina to finish her shower.
The episode ended and another one started as he heard the water turn off. He glanced toward the wall as if he could see her before focusing back on the TV episode. Think of this, not about her, he reminded himself as some poor soul was killed on the streets of Manhattan. It certainly helped.
As the show went to its first commercial break, the bathroom door opened and Regina stepped out. She towel-dried her hair as she stepped closer to the bed, dressed in her pajamas. The thin black shirt clung to her still damp skin and Robin looked away, fearing all his hard work was about to be undone.
"Shower's free," she said. "I tried my best to save some hot water for you."
He stood, trying to look anywhere but directly at her. "That's okay. It might be best that I take a cold shower."
She nodded, no doubt thinking of the heat rather than another reason to want a cold shower. He was grateful for the excuse and he gathered his things, slipping into the bathroom. Robin closed the door behind him as he let out a sigh of relief, glad he had escaped one possibly awkward situation.
Of course, there was still sharing a bed and possibly waking up aroused while next to her.
Robin let the cool water wash over him as he braced himself against the shower wall. All the ways he could mess up his relationship with Regina while they were in this hotel room ran through his mind. The last thing he wanted to do was lose her in both his life and Margot's. Maybe he should make an excuse to go stay somewhere else, even in their hot house – as unappealing as it was, it still seemed a far safer choice than sharing a bed with the woman he was trying to conceal his true feelings from.
Stop, he told himself. You're overthinking. Nothing is going to happen. Just relax.
He took a deep breath and then let it out slowly, feeling the tension release from his body. Robin's heart rate slowed and he felt his mind clear. If he continued to concentrate only on the worst that could happen, it would become a self-fulfilling prophecy. All he needed to do was relax and just be normal. It was just Regina – he could handle being in a hotel room with her for a few days, even if they were sharing a bed.
And he was totally in love with her.
"I can do this," he whispered as he washed up. "I can do this."
He rinsed himself off before turning off the water. Robin stepped out of the shower and dried himself off before pulling on a white tank and some plaid pajama pants. After checking his scruff and deciding he could shave another night, he brushed his teeth and then headed back into the main part of the room.
Regina was already in bed, lying under the covers. She had chosen the side closest to Margot so he climbed into the side closest to the bathroom. He settled down next to her, finding enough space between them so they didn't touch but still close enough that he could feel the heat from her body. Robin could also smell the lingering scent of her favorite vanilla shampoo and he breathed it in before saying: "Good night, Regina."
"Night, Robin," she replied, turning off the lamp on her side of the bed. He did the same and darkness filled the room. Robin closed his eyes and waited for sleep to come.
But as he laid there, he was acutely aware of Regina beside him. He listened to her breathing evening out and knew she was asleep. And despite her concerns of being a violent sleeper, she seemed to be staying in one place for now. If he continued to stay where he was as well, they would likely never touch throughout the night and would just have a peaceful rest that ended in a decidedly not awkward morning.
Good.
He closed his eyes and relaxed his body, letting sleep start to carry him away. As he drifted off, he took another inhale of Regina's intoxicating scent and let it take him to the land of dreams.
Consciousness tugged at Regina, pulling her away from sleep. She tried to fight it, not wanting to wake up just yet. Not when she was so comfortable, curled up against something warm and solid. A familiar pine scent enveloped her as a steady rhythm lulled her with its hypnotic beat. It kept enticing her back to sleep and she let out a soft sigh as she snuggled closer to her bedmate.
Bedmate…
Robin.
Shit.
Opening her eyes, she found she was cuddled against his side as he laid on his back. His face was turned toward her and he had an arm loosely draped over her shoulders. One of her hands rested on his chest, almost right over his heart. It was very similar to how she had been positioned when she had woken up the morning after Margot's birthday party, finding she and Robin had spent the night on the couch. At least that time she had an excuse given how narrow their couch was. This time she had a queen-sized bed and it was clear that she had curled into this position – he did not pull her into it. Regina had drifted over to him in her sleep, as if she were a magnet drawn to him.
Maybe she was.
Part of her knew she needed to pull away before Robin woke. He had been so nervous about possibly spooning her that she knew he would feel bad about waking up to find them in such a position. She didn't know why he was so worried – did he not want to send the wrong signal and make her believe he had deeper feelings for her than he really did? Or was he scared that she would discover he had deeper feelings for her and scare her off? Was he pining for her as much as she was for him?
Robin wears his heart on his sleeve, she told herself. If he had feelings for you other than friendship, you would know.
It seemed her feelings then were unrequited.
So the other part of her wanted to be selfish and stay curled against him as long as possible. Wanted to pretend, even if for a few seconds, that her feelings were returned and they were a couple cuddling in bed. That this was a daily occurrence, that this was how she always woke up – happy and content in his arms.
If only…
"Mama? Mama!"
She rolled away from Robin and toward the crib. Margot stood inside it, her little hands clutching the crib as she bounced on the mattress. When she saw Regina, she smiled and let go of the railing to reach out to her. "Mama! Up!"
Chuckling, Regina climbed out of bed and picked up her daughter. She kissed Margot on the cheek. "Good morning, sweetheart. Did you have good dreams?"
"Yes!" Margot said, clapping her hands.
Her vocabulary was growing and she was starting to engage in some conversations with them, which excited Regina. She couldn't wait to find out what was on her daughter's mind throughout the day and see the world through her eyes even more.
"Good," Regina said, laying Margot down on the travel changing pad. "Now, let's check your diaper and then get you a bottle."
She changed Margot's dirty diaper and put on a clean one. After throwing everything out and using a wipe to clean her hands, she picked Margot up and took out a bottle from the fridge. Margot took it happily, drinking the milk as Regina sat back down on the bed. Robin slept on, a peaceful look on his face.
He looked so handsome.
Margot climbed onto the bed, leaving her half-drunk bottle on Regina's lap, and laid down next to her father. She watched him sleep with the blue eyes she inherited from him. Their foreheads were practically touching and it warmed Regina's heart to see how much Margot loved her father.
She reached out her hand and patted Robin's cheek. "Dada."
Robin's nose scrunched up and he rolled a bit away from Margot. She followed him and patted his cheek again. "Dada. Up."
He blinked his eyes open and smiled when he saw Margot. Propping himself up, he said: "Good morning, Princess."
"Dada!" Margot exclaimed happily. She giggled as he leaned forward and kissed her nose before she crawled back over to Regina. Picking up her bottle again, she continued to drink her milk as she rested between her parents.
Robin looked up at Regina. "Good morning. Did you sleep well?"
"I did," she replied. "You?"
He nodded before hesitating. "No…awkward moments?"
"No," she said, deciding that he didn't need to know that she woke up cuddled against him. He was more concerned about himself than her. "Everything was fine."
"Good," he said, sounding relieved. He then gently shook Margot's stomach. "How about you, my girl? Did you have a good night?"
Margot removed the bottle from her mouth before saying: "Yes!"
He chuckled, kissing her forehead. "Good. At least we were all cool and not sweating back at home, right?"
"Right," Regina replied, climbing out of bed again. "I'm going to get dressed. Do you want to have breakfast here or go to Granny's?"
"Who is ever going to turn down breakfast at Granny's?" he responded.
She laughed, nodding. "Fair point. Anyway, I'll be right out."
"Take your time," he told her, pulling Margot closer to him. "We're not going anywhere without you. Promise."
"Good," she replied, slipping into the bathroom and closing the door behind her. She then leaned against it and took a deep breath.
One night down. A few more to go.
She could do this – as long as she always woke up before Robin to make sure she wasn't cuddling him again.
Regina changed into a light sundress and brushed her hair, pulling it into a high ponytail. After putting on some makeup she hoped she would not sweat off, she stepped out of the bathroom and found Robin standing with Margot in his arms. Margot was already wearing a cute pink sundress as well and Regina smiled. "You changed her?"
"Yes," he said, stepping closer to her. "I was just about to do her hair but I'll let you handle that."
She took Margot as she chuckled. "Daddy doesn't want to deal with your curls," she told the little girl.
"Mommy is so much better with them," he replied, slipping into the bathroom to change. She rolled her eyes before picking up Margot's brush and sitting on the bed so she could do her daughter's hair.
Margot wiggled as she tried to run the brush through her curls and Regina sighed. "You need to stay still, sweetheart. I promise I'll make this as quick as possible."
"Ouch," Margot said. "Ouch, Mama."
"Sorry, sweetheart," Regina replied, knowing it had to hurt. It seemed if she looked at Margot's hair wrong, it tangled. "I'm trying to be as gentle as possible."
She finished brushing the tangles from Margot's curls and put her daughter's hair into cute pigtails. The hair ties she used had cute bows attached and Regina thought Margot was the most adorable toddler ever.
Of course, she was very biased.
"There," Regina said, turning Margot around and kissing her nose. "All done."
She giggled as the door opened and Robin stepped out of the bathroom, dressed in a pale blue polo shirt and khaki shorts. He pulled on his shoes before looking up at them with a smile. "We ready for breakfast?" he asked.
"Yes, we are," Regina replied, standing up and placing Margot on her hip. Margot gripped onto her dress as Regina walked forward. "Let's go."
He picked up their diaper bag and handed her purse to her. Robin then placed his hand on her back as they left the hotel room. They walked to their car and left the hotel, hitting a wall of heat. It felt as if someone had sucked all the air from Storybrooke and Regina let out a soft groan. "Too hot," she said.
"Agreed," he replied, guiding her toward his car. "We'll have to drive the short distance. There's no way we can walk in this heat."
"Sounds good to me," she said, placing Margot into her car seat as Robin climbed into the front seat to start the AC. Once Margot was buckled in, Regina got in as well as the first burst of cold air filled the car. It felt refreshing after only a couple minutes out in the heat and she leaned back as Robin drove toward Granny's.
It was going to be a long, hot summer.
"Good news," Regina said as Robin entered their hotel room. "The AC repairman said that he can come tomorrow."
He paused as he took off shoes, relieved that they could return home soon. "That sounds great. Do you want me to meet him?"
"Do you mind?" she asked, looking relieved. "I have a meeting I can't reschedule. I've already arranged for Margot to spend the day with Mary Margaret."
"Okay," he replied. "Then I'll let John know. He can cover the office for me while I work from home."
She nodded. "Sounds good. I'll be happy to be back in our house again. This hotel room is lovely but it's a bit cramped in here."
"Agreed," he said, handing her the food he had picked up on his way home. "And it'll be nice to have a homecooked meal again."
He then pulled out some clothes from his luggage and motioned to the bathroom. "I'll be right out."
Robin slipped into the bathroom and closed the door behind him. While he was glad that they could return home soon, he was also sad. He was enjoying spending so much time with Regina and sharing a bed with her. For a few moments at night and in the morning, he could pretend they were a couple. But now that was coming to an end and by tomorrow night, they would be back in their own beds. He was going to have to enjoy one last night sleeping by Regina's side and make it last.
Dressed in more comfortable clothes, Robin took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. He grinned as he placed his work clothes in the luggage. "Alright, where's my food?" he asked.
"Right here," Regina said, motioning to the empty chair by the window. She turned back to her own meal while Margot fed herself one of the toddler meals they always kept in stock for her. Robin kissed the top of her head as he passed her highchair before plopping down in his chair.
"So, did you have a good day?" Regina asked him, sipping her seltzer.
He nodded, chewing his first bite and swallowing. "I did. It was pretty quiet so I was able to get a lot done. You?"
"Same," she replied. "It seems the heat makes people not want to do things."
"I know," he said, sipping his seltzer. "There have been times I haven't wanted to move because it was just too hot, even thought I was sitting in my cool office."
Regina chuckled. "Shows the power of the mind, huh?"
"Yeah," he agreed.
Margot held out a piece of her food to him. "Papa, eat!"
"Aww, thank you sweetheart," he said, gently guiding her hand back to her mouth. "But Papa has his food. You eat yours."
She grinned before placing the chicken into her mouth and chewing. He leaned forward and kissed her forehead before turning back to his dinner. Clearly, Margot thought he wasn't eating enough and he didn't want his baby girl to worry.
"I'm sure Margot is going to be happy to be home," Regina said, leaning back in her chair. "She'll have more room to run around."
He nodded though a pang of sadness hit his heart, thinking of the time they spent in bed with Margot both in the evening and when they woke up. "But no more nighttime and morning cuddles."
"We can still have those," Regina said, placing her hand over his. "Maybe just on the couch rather than in bed."
"Yeah," he replied, knowing that he couldn't confess that he also missed cuddling with her during those times as well. "Our couch is pretty comfortable and good for cuddles with Margot."
He thought he saw hurt flash though Regina's eyes and he was surprised. Robin's stomach twisted up and he was prepared to ask her if she was alright when she smiled. "Yes, it is."
Deciding it was just a trick of his mind, Robin pushed away what he thought he saw. Instead, he smiled. "But I think we should get in one last good cuddle on the hotel bed. Are you in?"
"Absolutely," she replied, leaning forward to take Margot's hand. "I love cuddling with this little princess."
Margot shook Regina's finger as she let out a little laugh. "Mama!"
"I think she agrees," Robin said, finishing up his meal. "So why don't we clean up and then we can cuddle while watching some TV?"
Regina nodded, standing. "Sounds like a good plan."
They cleared off the table before climbing into bed. Robin surfed through the channels as Margot sat between him and Regina, playing with her Teddy bear. It was the perfect end to their day.
"Here," he said, settling on some Disney movie. "We can watch this for now."
"Good choice," Regina said, tickling Margot. "We like this one, don't we Margot?"
Margot laughed before moving away from Regina. She cuddled against Robin and he wrapped his arm around her. "Don't worry, sweetheart. I'll protect you from the tickle monster." "Drats," Regina said, pretending to pout. "Defeated again."
Though she remained cuddled against Robin, Margot reached out a hand to Regina. When Regina took it, Margot curled her little fingers around her mother's and seemed content to just sit there with her parents both touching her. Robin smiled, his heart swelling at how much their little girl loved them.
Regina moved closer to them and rested her head on Robin's shoulder. "You're right. I am going to miss this," she said.
"We should have more cuddling time," he said. "Especially while she's this little."
"Yeah. Soon she'll want to hang out with her friends rather than Mom and Dad," she agreed, sounding sad.
He rested his cheek against her hair. "She's only one years old, Regina. We've got at least some time before she's a teenager."
"I know," she said. "But you know me. I tend to be pessimistic."
"Well, let's get out of that mindset," he replied, not wanting her to be sad. "We have our baby girl with us now and we are cuddling her. Let's just focus on that."
She pulled back and tilted her head up, giving him a soft smile. "You always know what to say."
"It's a gift," he replied, winking at her. He loved making her feel better and hoped he was always able to do that for her.
Margot yawned before leaning away from Robin and toward Regina. She curled up against her mother, sticking her thumb in her mouth and sucking it. Robin chuckled as he watched her. "I think someone's almost ready for bed," he said.
"I think you're right," Regina replied, rubbing Margot's back. "Can you get her pacifier? I would rather she suck on that rather than her thumb."
Robin nodded, sliding from the bed. He crossed to the diaper bag and pulled out Margot's favorite apple pacifier, bringing it back to Regina. She took it and gently eased Margot's thumb from her mouth before popping the pacifier in. "There. Much better," she said.
"Do you want me to get her pajamas out too?" he asked, watching as Margot's eyes started to close.
"Yeah," Regina agreed, scooping Margot into her arms. "I think it's bedtime."
Together, they got Margot into a fresh diaper and her pajamas. Robin rubbed her back as he rocked her, humming softly until he could tell she was asleep. He laid her down in the crib and Regina covered her. "Good night, princess," she whispered.
"Sweet dreams," Robin whispered as well, pressing a kiss to two of his fingers and then gently placing them against Margot's cheek.
He and Regina stepped away from the crib. She looked up at him. "I'm going to change and get ready to turn in."
"Alright," he said, swallowing down the disappointment filling him. He had hoped they would have a little more time of watching TV before going to bed but he also knew they would have to be up early in the morning. It seemed wise to turn in now.
She slipped into the bathroom and he gathered his own things. He decided to take a shower now so he would have more time in the morning. Robin sat on the bed, watching TV as he waited for Regina to finish.
By the next commercial break, she emerged in her pajamas. She folded up her clothes as she said: "All yours."
"Thanks," he said, standing. "I'm going to take a shower so…"
She waved her hand as she said: "Take as much time as you need."
He walked into the bathroom and locked the door behind him. After shedding his clothes, he hopped into the shower and quickly washed up. But he didn't get out right away. Instead, he stood in the stall as the water cascaded over him and let his mind wander for a bit. For a moment, he allowed himself to imagine going out into the bedroom and climbing into bed with Regina, taking her into his arms. They would then snuggle together until they fell asleep, wrapped up in each other.
God, how he wished he could do that.
But he couldn't. Instead, all he could do was dream. No one could take those away from him and they would have to sustain him when they got home.
Robin turned off the water and stepped out of the shower. He dried himself off and changed, eager to spend as much time as possible sleeping besides Regina. Especially since they would have to be up early in order to check out.
All things come to an end after all.
He left the bathroom and found the lights off in the room except for the lamp by his side of the bed. Robin placed his clothes in his suitcase before checking on Margot. She slept on and so he finally climbed into bed as well, pulling blankets over him. He turned off the lamp and slid down, letting his body relax so he could slip off to sleep.
Regina shifted beside him and she rolled onto her side, closing the gap between them. She curled her body against his and wrapped her arm around his chest, letting out a content sigh as her body relaxed again. Glancing down, Robin's heart skipped a beat when he saw the sweet smile on her face.
God, she was so beautiful.
Part of him knew he should wake her so she could roll back to her side, no doubt feeling embarrassed that she had ended up cuddling with him. But the other part didn't want her to feel that way or have her sleep ruined. She deserved a good night's sleep. And she would likely roll away before the morning, so she would never know.
Just like she would never know about the kiss he was pressing to the top of her head. "Sweet dreams, sweetheart," he whispered.
She let out another content sigh and he closed his eyes, enjoying these waning moments with her. Tomorrow they would be back in their house and in their own beds. And he would then be back to dreaming about this moment rather than getting to experience it.
For now, he drifted off to sleep once pretending he and Regina were a couple who fell asleep like that all the time.
It was a lovely dream.