This was based on a prompt I got from my 500th follower on tumblr:

Regina asking everyone out and everybody turning her down because they're throwing her a surprise birthday party c:

And if you want to, you know, write the birthday gift from Robin ?

(Also, this chapter is Rated M)

Everyone in Storybrooke was suddenly very, very busy.

It had started that morning when Regina had woken up to find Robin's side of the bed empty. She padded down to the kitchen, finding a coffee cup in her Keurig and her mug out, meaning Robin had been there. A note stuck to the fridge with a magnet said he had things to do with the Merry Men and he was taking Roland with him while dropping Nellie off at Ashley's day care. She would see them later for dinner, according to his note.

She let out a little groan, having hoped to have a nice quiet lunch with him that afternoon. Biting her lip, she picked up her phone and called Emma. It went to voicemail and Regina rolled her eyes. "Hey, Emma, it's me...Regina. I was just wondering if you wanted to maybe have some lunch today? Just...you know...to catch up or talk about Henry or town…stuff. Let me know. Bye."

Emma got back to her a few hours later, though by text. Sorry. Busy with a case. Maybe another day?

What case could Emma possibly be working on in Storybrooke that she didn't know about? Regina sighed though and typed back that that would be okay. Next she dialed Mary Margaret's number. It rang a few times before the brunette answered with a breathless "Hello?"

"Is everything okay?" Regina asked, concerned.

"Yes, yes," Mary Margaret assured her. "I decided today was the day I finally moved my dresser and forgot how heavy it was. That's all."

"Okay...Anyway, can you take a break from moving furniture? I thought we could grab some lunch or do some shopping?"

"Oh, Regina, I would love to but I'm in the middle of spring cleaning."

Regina raised an eyebrow. "It's February, Mary Margaret. That's still winter last I checked."

"I know. But given this is Storybrooke, I've learned spring cleaning is whenever I get the chance."

"Good point." Regina sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose. "So, a raincheck, then?"

"I'm afraid so." Mary Margaret sounded contrite.

Regina thanked her before hanging up again. The one day she didn't want to be left alone, her family was off being busy. Maybe she could swing by and sign Henry out of school for a mother-son lunch and some ice cream. But that thought was quickly struck down-Henry had been worrying about a big math test all week and she was pretty sure it was today.

Picking up her office phone, Regina dialed the library number and waited for Belle's familiar accent to come over the speaker. "Belle, I was wondering if you had time to finally go over the budget?" she asked.

"Oh, Regina, I can't. I'm not feeling well and I'm just about to leave for the doctor's. Maybe tomorrow?" Belle asked.

"Sure. I'll have my assistant set something with you. Give her a call when you're done with the doctor's. Though if you need to rest, rest. Feel better."

She disconnected the call with Belle and slumped over in her chair. Who else was there for her to call that she would tolerate? Maleficent was off teaching Lily how to be a scary dragon bitch and she certainly wasn't going to tolerate any of the dwarfs. That did leave Dr. Hopper, but he would easily slip into therapist mode and she wasn't sure she could handle that.

Regina stood, grabbing her coat and purse. She stormed past her assistant, barking: "I'm going out for lunch."

Granny's was closed.

Granny's was never closed.

Regina stood outside the darkened diner, staring at the red and white "We're closed" sign with an incredulous look. In fact, she was pretty sure her mouth was hanging open in a way Mother would've scolded her for. But Storybrooke had been around for thirty years and except for their little trip to Camelot, Granny's had always open. She used to drive around with Henry when he was teething, ending up here for a cup of coffee to get her through the long and sleepless nights.

Closing her mouth, her eyes narrowed. Something was wrong. And she was going to get to the bottom of it.

Even if it took her all day.

At least she would have something to do.

She went around to the bed and breakfast check in, surprised to see Aurora working there. The princess looked up and shrank back a bit. "Is something wrong?"

"Is Granny in?" Regina asked.

Aurora shook her head. "Is there anything I can help you with?"

"Do you know why the diner is closed?"

"Granny mentioned something about fum...fumi..." Aurora frowned, struggling with the word.

Regina took pity on her. "Fumigation?"

"Yes! What is that?" Aurora asked, confused.

"It's just to make sure bugs don't infest the place. It has to be done every so often." Regina sighed, the mystery solved quickly and rather disappointingly. "So Granny is out?"

Aurora nodded, pulling out a pad and pencil. "Do you want to leave her a message?"

"No, thank you anyway," Regina said, stepping toward the door. "Have a good day."

Her head was spinning.

Regina sat down on the bench by the lake in the park, which was iced over. She knew it wasn't thick enough to support a skater and wondered if she could use her magic to make it so. Skating would at least give her something to do, something to keep her mind off one important fact:

No one had any time to spend with her on her birthday.

In some ways, it was her own fault. She never really marked the day in any special way. The first time she had celebrated since childhood was when Henry was five and it dawned on him that while he had a birthday, his mother didn't. So he asked her and asked her and asked her until she broke down and told him it was February 1st. He then made her burnt toast, soggy cereal and orange juice and gave her breakfast in bed for her birthday. Regina hugged him and shared it with him. That night they made a cake together and Henry sang her happy birthday.

After that, she and Henry celebrated her birthday low-key until he was ten and the whole storybook mess came along. Since then, there had been no time to celebrate. In fact, it now seemed a bit selfish to expect them to want to celebrate her birthday. So she would go home, make dinner, spend time with her family and then go to bed with Robin like it was another ordinary day.

She was used to ignoring the pain.

Regina spent the rest of the afternoon working and trying to numb the pain with endless paperwork. She ignored the passing hours or how dark it got outside her window, waiting for the day to be over.

Her assistant knocked and when she looked up, Regina found the woman standing there with a red dress and heels in hand. Susan looked sheepish. "I'm sorry to disturb you, but you have the fundraiser for the hospital tonight."

"The what?" She frowned. Would she really agree to attend a fundraiser on her birthday? "I don't recall it."

"I know. You've been really busy. But I got your dress and your shoes. You can change in here," Susan said, handing her the items. "The fundraiser is at Town Hall."

Regina sighed. "Is it too late to beg off it?"

"I'm afraid so." She did look apologetic.

"Thought so." Regina took the dress from her. "Thank you. You can go home, I can lock up when I leave."

Susan nodded. "Thank you, Madame Mayor. Enjoy the fundraiser."

"I doubt it," Regina muttered, unzipping her dress.

"Oh, and Madame Mayor?" When Regina looked up, Susan smiled. "Happy birthday."

Regina gave her a soft smile. "Thank you. I'll see you tomorrow."

Regina parked her car and hurried into town hall. The night had turned colder and she believed there was a chance for snow hanging in the air. So she was going to pop in, stay long enough to make an impression and then hurry home.

Her heels echoed against the tile floor and she frowned. According to Susan, the fundraiser should've already started. So why didn't she hear music or the sound of other people?

She opened the doors to a darkened room. Before she could question it further, the lights turned on and several voices shouted: "Surprise!"

Regina blinked her eyes to both adjust to the change in lighting and to make sure she wasn't seeing things. Most of Storybrooke filled the room, which was set up for a party. A buffet dinner sat over sternos against one wall and drinks were lined up on one against the other. Streamers hung from the ceiling, surrounding one large banner: Happy Birthday!

"What...What's going on?" she asked.

"A party," Robin said, approaching her. He was dressed in gray slacks and a dark green sweater, a white buttoned-down shirt peeking out over the sweater's collar. A red rose was between his fingers and he held it out to her. "To celebrate your birthday."

Henry popped up behind him, smiling. "I know we usually do something small but when we started talking about your birthday, more and more people wanted to help celebrate it. So we needed a big place to hold everybody."

"REGINA!" Roland crashed into her, arms wrapped around her middle.

She cupped the back of his head and gazed around, amazed. "You...You all did this for me?"

"Of course, Mom," Henry replied. "We love you."

"Come on. You hafta see your cake," Roland told her, tugging her toward a table near the food.

She laughed, following him to where a long sheet cake sat. It was covered in a white frosting and the words "Happy Birthday, Regina!" were written in red icing. There was also an apple and a crown decorated on it.

"It's red velvet," Henry told her. "Your favorite."

Tears pricked Regina's eyes as Robin rested a hand against her back. She looked up to meet his blue eyes. "You've all been doing this all day?"

"Yeah, it was difficult for all of us to try and avoid you," Emma replied, stepping from the crowd. "I thought my mother was going to cry when she hung up with you."

Mary Margaret emerged from the crowd. "I was not! I mean, I felt bad for lying to Regina and blowing her off on her birthday but I wasn't going to cry."

"It's okay," Regina replied, hugging her. "I forgive all of you for lying to me and ignoring me on my birthday."

"She's going to kill us all in our sleep," David deadpanned, coming to stand next to his daughter. He held a cup of punch in each hand.

Regina glared at him. "Of course I am. Starting with you."

The other party guests held their breath until the small group of heroes started to laugh. Robin turned to everyone with a big smile. "Well, the birthday girl is here. Let the party begin!"

Regina and Robin returned to their house, leaning against the door. She turned to him. "Are you okay with Nellie staying with the Charmings?"

"Yes," he replied. "I know she'll be safe and well cared for with them."

"I know that too. But this is our first night apart from her since returning from the Underworld."

He nodded. "I know. Are you okay with it?"

"I miss her," Regina admitted. "I know I'm not her mother..."

Robin pressed his finger to her lips. "Hush. You are her mother. Everyone knows that. Except you, it seems."

Her shoulders sagged. "It's just all so..."

"Unconventional?" Robin supplied.

"That's one word for it," she sighed. "I just worry about everything. That Nellie will never see me as her mother, that I'll screw up because of who her mother really is or because of how my mother was."

Robin took her face in his hands, making sure she made eye contact with him and kept it. "You are not your mother. You are capable of more love than she could ever dream to possess. And you love Nellie, no matter what. I can see it in the way you hold her, the way you talk to her, and just the way you look at her. I know your fears have a valid basis and whenever you feel them creeping up on you, come to me. I'll kiss them away."

"You are too good to me." She leaned in, kissing him.

He deepened the kiss, nibbling at her lower lip until she gave him entrance. She moaned as his tongue swept her mouth, her own meeting it. One of his hands tangled in her dark locks while the other toyed with the zipper on her dress.

Breaking the kiss, he nipped at her ear. "Are you ready for your birthday present?"

"If it's what I think it is, then yes." She kissed his neck, biting and sucking to mark him.

Robin scooped her into his arms, holding her close. He nuzzled her hair as he climbed the stairs. "Ever been carried to bed before, milady?"

"Conscious? Not really," she replied.

He stopped briefly. "How many injuries have you gotten over the years?"

"More than I want to go into now." She nipped his ear. "Don't ruin the mood."

"Sorry, love. I just worry about you."

Robin entered their bedroom and laid her down on the bed. He kissed her before straightening up. "Wait, there's just a few more things I want to get."

"What?" Regina sat up, confused. "What else could you need?"

He disappeared into the bathroom, confusing her even more. "Robin?" she called out.

"One moment, love." He emerged wearing only a pair of red satin boxers, carrying a bottle of champagne and two flutes in his hands. "I had this chilling in ice in the sink."

"You are going all out."

"You're worth it." He knelt on the bed and handed her one of the flutes. Robin poured them both some champagne and placed the bottle on their nightstand. "To another glorious year with you."

Regina smiled, clinking her glass with his. After taking a few sips, she said: "While I love all this, you were about to ravage me. Let's go back to that."

"You're the birthday girl," he replied with a chuckle. He took her flute and set the glasses down next to the bottle.

His fingers found her zipper again, pulling it down slowly before sliding the red dress off her. Robin trailed kisses over every inch of exposed skin, his fingers caressing her curves. Coming to her bra, he undid the clasps and flung the lacy garment aside as his hot mouth closed on one of her nipples.

She moaned as he sucked, her fingers burying in his golden strands. Her eyes fluttered closed and she enjoyed the jolts running down her body to her core, her panties growing wetter with each one. "More," she breathed.

Robin released that nipple, kissing the valley between her breasts before taking the other nipple in his mouth. He repeated his ministrations and she began to writhe against his body, building friction between her legs as the soaked material of her panties rubbed against her clit.

His fingers ghosted down her stomach, toying with the band of her panties before slipping inside. Her hips bucked as they found her clit, rubbing her already sensitive nub in circles. As he released her nipple, he whispered: "So wet...Gods, Regina."

"You do that to me," she panted.

Robin kissed his way down her body, pulling off her panties. His warm and calloused hands gripped her hips as he began to lap at her, his tongue against her clit.

Her toes curled as every fiber of her body tingled. She loved this part of their lovemaking, though it did sound a bit selfish to her (no matter how often Robin insisted it wasn't). None of her other lovers ever focused on her pleasure like this, worshipped her like Robin did. It heightened the feelings he sent coursing through her.

Breaths coming in pants, lights began to pulse behind her closed eyes. As Robin entered her with one of his fingers, she knew she was close. "Another," she instructed.

When he complied, brushing the right spot inside her, the lights overtook her. She took in a sharp intake of air as her orgasm crashed on her.

Robin pulled her into his arms as she came down from that high. He pressed kisses against her neck and shoulders, murmuring about how beautiful she was and how much he loved her. When she regained her voice, she replied: "I love you so much."

She slid her hand between their bodies until she found his cock, already hard. Yet she still gave it a few lazy pulls, her thumb brushing over his tip. He groaned, burying his face in her hair. "You torture me, milady."

"You can end it," she purred. "You know how."

He chuckled, pushing her down as he nipped at her neck now. Robin rubbed her clit again, inciting the pleasure once more before sliding his cock into her. She gasped as he filled her, her head lolling back against the pillows. Robin thrusted into her, finding a good rhythm.

Regina ran her fingers through his slick hair as she wrapped her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper inside. The only thing she heard was a buzzing noise and her own breathing. It came in faster and out with sounds close to moans. "Robin, so close," she gasped out.

"I know," he replied. Changing his angle slightly, it took only a few more thrusts before she was shouting his name as fireworks exploded around her mind. He followed a few seconds later, spilling into her with a groan of her name.

They laid together, bodies entwined and cooling, as they waited for their hearts and breathing to slow back to normal. Robin peppered her body with kisses and she dropped her own kisses into his hair. "Best birthday ever," she told him. "How are you going to top yourself next year?"

"I think I have an idea." He sat up, reaching into his nightstand for something. When he withdrew his hand, he held a small black velvet box.

Regina sat up, her heart speeding up again as her eyes widened. "Robin...?"

"Regina," he teased before turning serious. "I love you. Our love hasn't had the smoothest course, but no matter what's happened, we've found our way back to each other. We've stood side by side through many difficult situations and I want to support you for the rest of our lives. Will you marry me?"

She smiled, tears streaming down her face. "Yes, of course I will."

He slid the platinum band holding one diamond onto her left ring finger, kissing the back of her hand. "I will do everything in my power to make you happy for the rest of my life."

"And I will do the same," she promised him. "How about we toast our impending nuptials?"

"As my fiancée wishes." Robin slid from bed, pouring them two more glasses of champagne. He held out one out for her and she took it with a smile.

Once he was back in bed, she clinked her glass against his. "To us."

"To us," he agreed, kissing her.

As they sipped their champagne, she curled against him as she found she was looking forward to her next birthday and every one after that.

But first, she had to figure out how to top this in time for Robin's birthday.