Chapter 2: Drinks
Regina was triumphant. For the first time in weeks, she managed to get the upper hand against Emma Swan. She stood there, trying not to smirk as Emma floundered after accusing her of embezzling money to build a second home in the middle of the woods when really she was making plans to build a new playground for Henry and the other children of Storybrooke. Emma had fallen for her trap, hook, line and sinker. Though Regina was not keen to be working with Sidney, keeping his hopes for a relationship alive, she was pleased with the results.
Namely that Emma looked like a fool and that the people of Storybrooke would put less stock in what she said going forward, especially where Regina was concerned. So if she got any ideas about trying to convince people that they were cursed by Regina, who was the Evil Queen, no one would be swayed.
That bought her some time to figure out how to get rid of Emma for good and go back to living her happy ending with Henry in their perfect little town.
Pleased with herself after threatening Emma with a restraining order and ensuring that the woman stayed away from Henry, Regina packed up her documents to head home to her son. She was trying to control him less after her realization that she was acting like her mother but she could still control Emma's involvement in his life. And if it seemed like Emma was pulling away from him, maybe Henry would stop idolizing her and remember that Regina was his mother in every way that mattered.
"Thank you, Madam Mayor. Roland was heartbroken when the playground had to be torn down. He's going to be so happy to know he's getting a new one," said the voice that had been haunting her since the fire.
Robin Locksley.
She slowly turned around to face him. He wore a blue Henley with two of the buttons undone paired with black jeans and brown boots. It was a look that suited him and she had to keep from biting her lip as she drank him in. She should make it illegal for someone to look so good in casualwear.
"I'm glad to hear that," she said in her mayoral tone. "I know the old playground was very beloved but the storm damaged it beyond repair. Hopefully this knew one will be able to withstand the test of time and provide joy and happiness to the children of Storybrooke for years to come."
He had grown more and more amused as she had spoken. When she finished, he let out a soft chuckle. "You can save the stump speech, Madam Mayor. I'm already a fan."
She blinked a few times, caught off-guard. Ducking her head, she nodded. "Right. I guess it's hard to turn it off."
"I understand," he told her. "I sometimes find myself giving unsolicited medical advice to people absentmindedly. I guess that just means we love our jobs."
"Yes," she replied with a smile. "I guess it does."
He nodded, stepping closer to her and lowering his voice. "So, about that drink?"
Regina swallowed as her heart sped up and her stomach knotted. She had been debating his offer since he left her at the hospital. One minute, she was certain it would be fine and the next, she had herself convinced it would be the end of everything she worked so hard to achieve. It was a continuation of the argument she had had back when Tinkerbell first took her to the tavern and pointed out the man with the lion tattoo to her and she still didn't have an answer.
Until now. Looking in his eyes, she felt her resistance to the idea crumble. There was just something about him that drew her in and made her feel safe. So instead of giving him one of the excuses she had been considering, she asked: "When do you want to get it?"
His blue eyes lit up and his smile grew just as bright. "Well, I know Valentine's Day is close so we probably want to avoid then. Everyone will be at the bars."
"Yes, we definitely don't want to go out then," she said, ignoring how her heart rate had spiked when he mentioned the upcoming romantic holiday.
She was ready for drinks but not for that.
"Do you want to go before or after the holiday?" she asked, her schedule filling her head as she figured out what she could move in order to make drinks happen rather than using it as an excuse.
"I was hoping before," he said. "Are you free Friday night? It's my next night off and I can get a babysitter for Roland."
She nodded. "I can arrange for a babysitter for Henry. So Friday night. Any particular place?"
"I can imagine you're not the kind to go to the Rabbit Hole," he said with a grin.
Regina scoffed that the idea of her going into that dive bar. "I'm a bit more refined," she told him.
"Yes, you are," he agreed. "And I imagine drinks at Granny's would make the front page of the newspaper, especially now that I heard Sidney Glass is out as editor-in-chief."
She glanced at her partner-in-crime as he shuffled out of the room, playing the part of disgraced citizen. While part of her knew he would've kept any story about her being out for drinks with a man out of the paper, he probably would've run some other story meant to give her a headache out of spite. Like when he learned she had been sleeping with Graham and ran a story that she was going to close the rec center. Her phone kept ringing, people stormed Town Hall and she had to have an emergency session to assure everyone that she was not doing that. Sidney printed a half-hearted apology, saying that he should've doublechecked the information from this "source."
It didn't matter – the damage had been done and Sidney had proven himself to be vindictive.
Maybe it was a good thing she had decided to remove him from his position and not just so he could gain Emma's trust to help sabotage her.
"Regina?" Robin prompted, using her name in a soft tone. She wasn't sure if it was just so he didn't startle her or if he knew she wouldn't want others to think they could be so informal with her.
Either way, she was grateful for how softly he said it as she gave him a reassuring smile. "Sorry, got lost in my thoughts. But I agree that Granny's is too public. And despite being mayor, I'm not very familiar with the town's bar scene."
"Well, as a widowed father, I am not familiar with it either," he told her, "but thankfully I have friends who are."
"So you're going to ask them for recommendations?" she asked, sensing that was where he was going with his conversation.
He bit his lip before saying: "I already did."
She had to admit she was impressed he already did his homework and she smiled. "So, where do they suggest?"
"The Fox's Den," he replied. "It's apparently off the beaten path and so offers privacy Granny's doesn't but, according to them, has a more respectable clientele than the Rabbit Hole. They also say the bartenders there make some interesting but good cocktails and they even brew their own artisanal beer."
"Intriguing," she said, genuinely feeling that way toward The Fox's Den. "So Friday, at The Fox's Den, what time?"
He shrugged. "My babysitter lives with me. What works for yours?"
"I have to find one first," she admitted. "Can I get back to you on that?"
"Of course. Just give me a call once that's all sorted and I'll see you on Friday," he said.
She nodded, tucking some hair behind her ear. "I'll see you then."
He gave her one more cheeky grin, biting his lip, before leaving her. Butterflies flew around her stomach as she finally packed her bag and left the meeting hall to head home to Henry.
As she opened her car, a truck drove past her. It slowed down and she saw Robin driving it. He waved at her and she returned it before he drove off, leaving the parking lot. She climbed into her car, smiling like a fool. Regina started the car and paused, the hairs on the back of her neck rising. Her smile fell as she looked around, trying to find what danger her body was detecting. The distinct feeling of being watched washed over her but she was unable to find anyone else. It appeared she was alone in the parking lot. Unnerved, she put her car into reverse and backed out of her parking spot. She drove off, the feeling wearing off once she turned out of the parking lot.
Though she was still unnerved, she tried to put it behind her. But maybe she'd find a way to keep a better eye on that stranger who managed to ride into town despite the curse. If anyone was watching her, she'd put money on him. She didn't care who he was or what he was planning. He would never succeed – she would make sure of that.
Her happy ending would not be destroyed.
"So are you going on a date?" Henry asked, watching her from her bedroom door and crinkling his nose.
Regina paused, not sure how she wanted to answer. She didn't really know if this was a date. Yes, Robin had asked her out for drinks and had said he wanted to get to know her better, which was the very definition of a date. But it could just be the start of a friendship. She wasn't too keen to ascribe romantic motives to either of them just yet. And until she knew what exactly lay between her and Robin and where it would go, she didn't want to drag Henry into it.
"I'm going out with a friend," she replied after she finished applying her lipstick.
"You have no friends," Henry said bluntly.
She tried not to wince as his words pierced her heart. Was he so convinced she was unworthy of love and companionship? Bitterness crept into her voice as she asked: "Because I'm the Evil Queen according to your book?"
"No," he replied. "My whole life, you've never gone out with friends or invited anyone over. You just had me and work. That's it."
"You're all I need," she told him, trying to pull him in for a hug, while pretending his words didn't land like a punch to her gut.
He pulled away from her, looking up at her with sad eyes. "Everyone needs friends, Mom."
She didn't know if he was talking about her or him. A lump formed in her throat as she thought about how difficult it was for him to make friends – he aged while everyone else stayed the same, so he always got new classmates and had to start all over again. Growing up, Regina's only friend had been her doll Isabella and all she had ever wanted was for someone her own age to be her friend, to take away her loneliness. And now, it appeared she had consigned her son to a similar lonely childhood.
Things would get better for Henry, she believed, even under the curse. After all, things were getting better for her. "I have Kathryn now. And you're right that I haven't been the best example in the friendship department but I'm making changes. Hopefully you'll see that and we can make new friends together."
"Whatever," he said, rolling his eyes before leaving her room. She let out a weary sigh before grabbing her bag and heading out of the room herself.
Kathryn met her at the bottom of the stairs, looking her over. "And you're sure this isn't a date?"
Looking around to see if Henry was around and not finding him, she still lowered her voice as she admitted: "Honestly? I'm not. So until I know what exactly is going on, I'd rather Henry believe this is just two friends enjoying a night out together."
"That makes sense," Kathryn agreed. "Well, I hope this works out for you either way and that you have some fun. You deserve it."
"Thank you," Regina replied, surprised and giddy at the fact she had a friend at last. She then reached out and took Kathryn's hand. "And thank you for watching Henry for me."
Kathryn grinned. "You're welcome. I figure it'll be good experience for me and David for when we can finally have a kid of our own, you know?"
Guilt hit Regina at that moment, having seen David kissing Mary Margaret a few days earlier. She had been keeping that to herself for now in hopes of unleashing it when it could harm her rival the most. But now as she looked into Kathryn's hope-filled eyes and bright smile, she realized that Mary Margaret wouldn't be the only one hurt by it. She also knew that Kathryn deserved to know the truth about how her husband loved another woman and was cheating on her. A good friend would tell her that. First, she would have drinks with Robin and then Regina would figure out a way to tell Kathryn about David and Mary Margaret.
"I know," Regina replied, forcing herself to stay cheerful. "If you have any problems, don't hesitate to call but I think you should be fine."
"Henry's a good kid," Kathryn agreed before hurrying Regina to the door so she wasn't late.
Regina shrugged on her coat and buttoned it up as she called out for her son, letting him know she was leaving. He reluctantly came out to give her a hug and she told him to have a good night. After mumbling a response, he then shuffled back into the living room as an apologetic David looked on. She sighed, saying goodbye to him and Kathryn before leaving the house.
As she drove to the Fox's Den, she tried to put Henry's words aside. He was still lashing out about being orphaned and the beliefs he had formed because of one book about fairy tales – even if it was all true. But she couldn't shake them and knew that he had struck a chord deep inside her, bringing back something she had thought long buried.
How much she just wanted to be loved.
Love is weakness, her mother's voice echoed around her. Regina kept that in mind as she parked by the address Robin had given her, determined already that if anything came out of drinks tonight, she would just have someone to replace Graham to have sex with on Saturdays.
Nothing more.
Robin greeted her outside of the Fox's Den, wearing a dark blue coat and black pants. He gave her a hug when she got close enough and she sank into his embrace, taking in his woodsy scent before her mother's voice yelled in her mind to not be so weak. She pulled back and motioned to the door, suggesting they head inside.
He opened the door and motioned for her to enter. "After you, milady."
"Thank you," she said, unnerved. No one really used 'milady' in this realm but it was common in the Enchanted Realm, especially in Sherwood Forest. Did he remember more than he should? Or was it just a coincidence?
She watched him as he closed the door behind him. He then motioned to the coat room right next to the door. "Do you want to check your coat or keep it?"
Impressed that the place had a coat check, she began to unbutton her coat. "I'll check it. Are you?"
"Yes," he said, reaching for her coat first. He took it and laid it down on the counter before shrugging off his coat and adding it. She eyed him as the clerk took the coats and handed him two claim tickets. Robin wore a nice light blue button-down shirt and she had to admit the color looked excellent on him.
It should also be illegal for anyone to look that good in both dressy clothes and casual clothes.
Once he had tucked their claim tickets into his pants' pockets, he turned and gave her a brilliant smile. "Shall we go find a table?"
"Let's," she said, giving him a small smile. As they moved forward, she glanced around, impressed. "This is a nice place."
"It is," he agreed. "Everyone at the station said it was a great place to go but this seems several more steps above the Rabbit Hole than I was thinking."
Regina looked around the establishment, taking it all in as Robin escorted her to one of the couches placed around the room, giving the place more of a lounge feel than a bar. The walls were painted mahogany with darker brown accents and the floorboards were more pinkish-brown in color. Everything reminded her of foxes and she imagined that was the idea as Robin motioned to an empty dark gray couch, which matched the long table placed next to it. Soft jazz music played the room but it didn't overpower the conversations going on. Though it wasn't crowded, there was still several couches occupied by other people, so it appeared the Fox's Den did a good business.
"The couches are pretty comfortable," Robin remarked.
She turned her attention back to him, nodding. "They are. And it's all very…cozy in here. It's almost like you're not in a bar at all."
Loud cheers erupted from a corner and they turned to find a group of people sitting around the bar watching a game on one of the large monitors over the bar. Robin looked back at her with an amused grin. "Well, you did say almost."
"I did," she agreed with a laugh. She then picked up a nearby menu. "Let's see what drinks this place has to offer."
Robin moved closer to her and she found she didn't mind him reading over her shoulder as they looked through the menu. Many of the drinks and food had fox-related names, which she had admit amused her. After some back and forth, they both decided just to have some whiskey to start with and then maybe they would try a cocktail later. Robin motioned for a server and one took their orders, including an order for some warm pretzels and cheese sauce.
Once their order was in, Robin stretched his arm out along the back of the couch. It was close enough that she could feel it but didn't feel restricted by it. And it felt…nice. She didn't realize how much she craved human touch until Kathryn's hug and now Robin's arm.
Weak, her mother's voice hissed at her. She swatted it away as he leaned closer and started to talk again.
"So, how are the plans for the playground coming? My son is very excited for it," he said.
She smiled, pleased to hear that. "It's coming very well. I think we're going to be able to have the grand opening very soon," she told him.
"Good," he replied as the server returned with their order. Once he left again, Robin picked up his glass. "A toast?"
"To what?" she asked, picking up her own glass.
He paused for a moment before saying: "To new adventures."
"To new adventures," she said, clinking her glass against his as she wondered what he meant by that. They both took sips and the whiskey warmed her as it slid down her throat to her stomach.
He set his glass aside and picked up a piece of pretzel, dipping it into the cheese. "So is the sheriff still spreading conspiracy theories about you?"
"I think she's learned her lesson," Regina said, trying one of the pretzels and finding she enjoyed it. She swallowed before continuing: "But I can see why she made that assumption."
"You can?" he asked, surprised.
She nodded, though she knew she couldn't tell him that she had arranged everything so that Emma would make that assumption and look like a fool. But not everything had been an act, so she wouldn't be lying.
Well, not completely.
"I didn't exactly follow the procedures laid out in the town charter to make this deal," Regina admitted. "However, Gold acts by his own rules and honestly holds way too much power in this town for someone who holds no elected position."
"He does, doesn't he? How did he manage to own almost the entire town? Especially when it doesn't seem like his pawn shop does much business? Like, has anyone ever purchased something from him? Isn't he always buying things from people?" Robin asked, rubbing his chin.
She frowned, realizing he had a point. Regina wasn't too sure how Rumple had managed to set himself up to be so powerful in Storybrooke but since she had confirmed he was just as cursed as anyone else, she hadn't minded it. Now, though, he seemed more his old self than he had been in the past and she worried again that he was awake. And if he was awake, he was actively working against her if the fire in Town Hall was any indication.
But that was something worry about another time.
For now, she wanted to focus on Robin.
"Gold is an enigma who always manages to stay just above suspicion," she told him. "So there's no legal way to take him down."
"That's unsurprising. Men like him always know how to stay one step above the law. And I'm glad you're principled enough not to stoop to his level," he replied, taking another pretzel.
She felt her smile falter, knowing that she was just as underhanded as Gold and just as good at hiding. Grabbing another pretzel, she tried to change the subject. "So, tell me more about yourself."
"What do you want to know?" he asked, resting his hand against his head as he kept his eyes fixed on her.
"Let's start with that accent and how you came to be in Storybrooke," she said, interested in hearing what kind of backstory the curse gave him.
He chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, I guess it's a dead giveaway that I'm not from around here originally. I'm from a tiny village in Nottinghamshire in England, right on the edge of Sherwood Forest."
Well, that made sense as she could tell he was from Sherwood Forest based on his accent. She also knew that there was a Sherwood Forest here in England, especially as Henry was a big fan of its most famous denizen. "Isn't that where Robin Hood is from?" she asked.
"It is," he said, nodding. "So you can imagine how much teasing I got given my name is Robin Locksley and I lived in Sherwood Forest."
That jolted her and things started to connect her mind. She had received reports that a thief known as Robin of Locksley but who called himself Robin Hood was leading a band of thieves in Sherwood Forest. They stole from the rich and gave to the poor, it was said, and always stayed one step of the Sheriff of Nottingham and her own men. His face often graced the same wanted posters as Snow White's but Regina had never really paid attention to them.
Now, though, she did recognize him as the face next to Snow White. Which meant that her soulmate was a notorious thief with a heart of gold.
Fate certainly had a sense of humor.
"I'm sure," she finally said. "Though I guess that does beg one question. How are you with a bow and arrow?"
He let out a belly laugh before nodding. "I am very good with them."
"Good to know," she replied, sipping her whiskey.
"What about you?" he asked, picking up his own glass again. He kept his eyes trained on her as he took a sip of his own.
She raised her eyebrows. "I certainly can't fire an arrow."
"I meant what hobbies or special skills do you have?" he asked, laughter dancing in his eyes.
"Oh," she replied, feeling a bit foolish. She then shrugged. "I guess being mayor and being Henry's mother."
His smile dimmed. "Certainly there's more to you than that. Who is Regina Mills?"
She faltered. That was a question she had never actually asked herself since casting the curse. All she had ever wanted was to shed the titles she had been saddled with – wife, stepmother, queen, evil – and just be Regina. Yet even in Storybrooke, she hadn't really taken steps to define who she truly was. She just took on another title and then poured her all into being Henry's mother.
Was that another reason why she took him pulling away so hard? That if she was no longer Henry's mother, then she had no identity?
"Regina? Regina, what's wrong?" Robin asked, setting his glass down and moving closer to her.
She shrugged, unable to voice that he had once again managed to make her question everything and really delve into her soul. Was that because he was her soulmate? Or was there some other reason for it?
He wrapped his arm around her and gave her a reassuring squeeze. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to cause an existential crisis or make you feel like being mayor or being a mother aren't enough. If it's enough for you and you're happy, then nothing else matters."
But she wasn't happy. At least not now that Emma Swan had arrived and tried to destroy it. She was fighting to save it and taking steps to make it better, starting with Henry's important observation.
"Henry said something earlier that's been sticking with me," she said softly. "When I told him I was going out with a friend, he told me I don't have any friends."
She felt Robin wince. "I take it things still haven't improved?"
"No, but that doesn't really apply here," she said, sitting up. "He's right. I really don't have friends."
He frowned. "Everyone has friends."
"My childhood was a lonely and isolated one," she told him. "My mother convinced me you made alliances, not friendships. If you let people get too close, then you become weak."
"The more you mention your mother, the less I like her," he replied.
She let out a humorless chuckle. "Yeah, she didn't have any friends either and tended to alienate everyone, including my father and me. And now I'm doing the same and I'm just…so lonely."
"Well, you have me," Robin assured her. "I will be your friend, Regina."
His words made her heart skip a beat and she leaned closer to him. "You mean it?"
Robin nodded. "I do. You're a fascinating woman, Regina, and I've enjoyed our talks. I want to get to know you better."
"Most of our talks end up with me admitting to being a failure," she replied, slightly annoyed by that fact. The last thing she wanted to show anyone was vulnerability but especially someone she was hoping to at least bed. Yet, Robin kept bringing it out in her and seemed to like her despite of it.
Or maybe because of it.
He shook his head. "Not failures. And not weaknesses. You're admitting to struggles, Regina. We all have them. And I can tell you're a fighter, so I know that while you may feel down, you're not going to stay there."
"You should've been a motivational speaker," she teased him, trying to ignore the lump in her throat from his kind words. "I almost believe you."
"I'm pretty sure the goal of motivational speakers is to make people believe in themselves, so I think I'm better off as an EMT," he replied.
She tilted her head. "You enjoy being an EMT, don't you?"
He nodded. "I like helping people and being an EMT allows me to do that. And it's a bit safer than just being a firefighter. My son already lost his mother. I'd hate for him to lose his father too."
"Of course," she replied softly, wondering what happened to Roland's mother – both in reality and in the curse. "Do you mind me asking how you lost her?"
Robin paused, looking down for a few moments. He then looked back up, his smile doing little to hide the pain in his eyes. "I think we should keep tonight on the lighter side."
"I think I already ruined that," she pointed out.
"Okay, I think we should keep it lighter from now on," he amended, still smiling though it still didn't reach his eyes.
She got the message and nodded. Even though she found it very easy to open up to him, he didn't feel the same about her. "Okay," she said softly, hoping she didn't sound as hurt as she felt.
He paused before saying softly: "It's not that I don't want to tell you about her or aren't comfortable doing so. I'm not comfortable doing it here."
"Oh," she said, just as softly. With the couch and soft music, she had almost forgotten they were in a bar. She doubted she would want to tell him about Daniel in such a setting and so she nodded. "Okay."
Robin cleared his throat before his mood shifted. "Now, you know why I like being an EMS. Why do you like being mayor?"
Her mind thought that she enjoyed being in charge but her mouth said: "Same as you. I like helping people."
"Well, you do a wonderful job as mayor," he replied. "So thank you."
She felt herself blush, feeling like a besotted teenager who just received a compliment from the boy she liked. Which in some ways was true – she just wasn't a teenager anymore. Regina tried to deflect, shaking her head. "I just do what needs to be done."
"And you keep everything running," he told her.
"Storybrooke would run fine on its own without me," she said, realizing with a pang that it was true. Thanks to the curse, most of the hard work was done. She just signed off on the same paperwork every year and posed at the same events. In many ways, she was just another doll to be propped up rather than the leader she wanted to be.
Wonderful. She wasn't even mayor and she was failing as Henry's mother. Was the curse ultimately a failure?
Was she?
"Regina?" he asked, bringing her back to the present and to Robin sitting next to her. "Did I lose you to that bad place?"
"The bad place?" she asked, confused.
He nodded. "That's what I've decided to dub where you go whenever you're hard on yourself and doubting yourself."
"I guess that's a fitting name," she replied. "And I guess I did go there for a few moments."
"I would suggest trying to avoid that place but I don't think that's possible," he said, some sadness in his voice. At first she grew defensive, thinking it was pity – something she did not need or want. But then she realized it was something deeper.
And she didn't know how to respond to that.
She tucked some hair behind her ear, giving him a small smile. "No, I don't think so. My mind is a very dangerous place," she said.
"Well, I tend to run toward danger," he replied. "So I don't mind it at all."
"Smooth," she told him, letting out a little laugh as she picked up her glass again. "You, sir, were certainly gifted with a golden tongue."
He laughed before biting his lip. "Most of my friends would disagree. I usually tend to trip over my words."
"I find that hard to believe," she replied, sipping her whiskey.
"It's true," he said. "I'm usually the guy who comes up with the snappy comeback two days later."
She laughed. "No way. You're just being modest now."
He shook his head. "I promise you I'm being truthful. You can ask Will if you want. He'll happily tell you how bad I am at that."
"I think I might," she replied, thinking of the other EMT who had helped her and Emma the night of the fire. "How is Will doing?"
"Will is Will," Robin said. "He just goes with the flow. That's why I like working with him. He adapts very quickly."
She grew thoughtful. "I don't know if I would be able to work with a partner like that. Another reason I like being mayor is that I can be in charge. I guess you could call me bossy."
He shook his head. "I call you a leader."
"Thanks," she said, appreciating his comment. "I wish you could talk to the town council and tell them that."
She laughed but he frowned. "If you want me to, I would be happy to. I'll tell them you're the best mayor this town has ever had and that they should respect you, not put you down."
Regina stopped laughing and blinked a few times, surprised by the passion in his voice as he defended her. Her heart stopped for a moment. She never had someone defend her like that and it felt…nice.
"I don't think you need to do that but I'll keep it in mind," she told him, patting his knee as she smiled at him.
He didn't look convinced but nodded. "Alright. I'm always a phone call away if you need me, though."
She leaned closer. "My hero."
"Your cheerleader," he replied. "I don't think you're a woman who wants a hero."
Once again, he seemed to be able to read her very well and she felt like she was still trying to decipher his table of contents. But there was some small thought in her heart that made its way past her lips. "Maybe I need hero."
He raised an eyebrow, leaning closer. "Is that so?"
She nodded, closing the gap between them and pressing her lips to his. He didn't respond and she froze, wondering if she had misread all the signals between them. She pulled back, ready to make her excuses as she stared at him with wide eyes.
Robin then kissed her and she responded, fisting his shirt as he wrapped his arms around her. Her head spun as they continued to kiss, only parting for a few seconds of air. She felt as if she had been walking in the desert and he was the first source of water she had found, drinking him in as she tried to get even closer to him.
He pulled her onto his lap and she let out a little yelp of surprise. Robin took advantage of that to deepen the kiss, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She welcomed it as she adjusted her hold on him, toying with some of the hair at the nape of his neck. It had been a long time since she had had a good kiss and this was a good kiss.
It was a great kiss.
Someone cleared their throat and they broke the kiss, slamming them back into reality. They were making out on a couch in a pub, not in one of their homes. And they had been reminded of that by their bemused server, who was trying hard not to smirk as she asked if they needed any refills. They ordered another round of drinks and Regina slid off Robin's lap, praying Sidney didn't learn about this.
Robin cleared his throat as he smoothed down his shirt. "You are quite the good kisser, Madam Mayor," he told her.
"You're not so bad yourself," she said, running her fingers through her hair. She then glanced at Robin, realizing his lips were definitely redder than before and letting out a laugh.
He frowned. "What?"
"I don't think my shade of lipstick flatters you very much," she teased him. He raised his fingers to his lips before smiling, letting out a little laugh as well. She smiled as she said: "Let me get that for you."
She reached up and tried to rub it off his lips. They were still warm and moist, reminding her of how they had felt against hers. Her heart skipped a beat and she hoped they could share another good kiss like that before the night was over.
"There," she said, reluctantly lowering her hand. "I think I got it all."
"Thank you," he replied, smiling. "I would hate to be seen out in public in the wrong shade."
She laughed again, wondering when the last time she had laughed so much had been. And then she tried to remember if she had ever laughed so much before. Regina quickly tamped down on that, though, as she didn't want to go back to what Robin called "the bad place."
Tucking some hair behind her ear, she said: "Happy to help."
"Okay," he sighed happily. "I am so glad we did this. I can't remember the last time I had such an enjoyable night out."
"Well, you're welcome," she replied. "It's been a long time since I've had fun like this too."
He bit his lip before asking: "Does that mean we can do it again?"
"Yes," she said. For a moment, she recalled her plan to propose that their relationship just be a physical one and pushed it aside. She'd rather spend time with him like this rather than just having sex with him.
Though if that was how he kissed, she was eager to get him into her bed sooner rather than later.
Robin kissed her cheek. "I look forward to it."
"Me too," she said as the server returned with their whiskeys. "But tonight is not over yet."
"True," he replied, picking up his full glass. "Then to the rest of this night."
"I'll drink to that." She picked up her own glass and smiled as she clinked her glass against his. They both took sips before setting their glasses down again.
Robin moved closer to her as he got comfortable. "So, what else do we want to talk about?"
She did the same, shrugging. "Why don't you pick?"
"Alright," he said. "So – Beatles or Rolling Stones?"
"Ooh, tough question. Both are very good in their own unique ways. But I'm gonna have to say…Stones," she replied.
He clasped his heart. "Oh no. You're a Stones girl."
She tried not to laugh at his antics as she said: "Let me guess. You're a Beatles fanboy. Paul or John?"
"George," he replied.
"That's one you don't hear very often," she said, surprised.
He shrugged. "I play the guitar and like to listen to his solo songs."
"You play the guitar?" she asked, impressed. He was certainly very accomplished and she wondered how much of it was the curse.
"Well, I haven't played much of it since Roland stopped napping. I used to be able to play while he slept," he admitted.
She nodded. "I used to get a lot of cleaning and reading done when Henry napped. I missed those days when he stopped napping."
"Reading? What did you like to read?" he asked her. "Or do. I assume you're still reading."
"Not as much as I used to. But I really love mysteries," she replied. "I love trying to figure them out as I read along."
He chuckled. "I can see that. How do you usually do?"
She grimaced as she confessed: "I'm usually wrong more than I'm right. But when I'm right, I feel really, really great about it."
"Sounds like you really enjoy them," he said. "You should try to read more. I know that's hard being a single mother and the mayor but you deserve to have some me time."
"It feels selfish to do that," she replied, finding it was the truth. It struck her as ironic – as the Evil Queen, she had only ever been selfish and never cared what people thought about her as long as she got what she wanted.
(No, that wasn't entirely true. Even if she denied it back then, she did care about what other people thought about her. She wanted the people to love her rather than Snow White).
He nodded. "I know it does but it's not. After all, how can you take care of Henry and everyone in Storybrooke if you run yourself ragged? You need to stop and take care of yourself every now and then."
"I never thought about it that way," she admitted softly. But he did have a point. No one else would take care of her except her.
Once again her plan to just make their relationship a physical one floated through her mind and she realized that was the perfect opening to propose it. She dismissed it again, still enjoying spending time getting to know him and not wanting to limit what their relationship could be – even as her mother's voice berated her in her mind for being weak yet again.
This time, though, she silenced her mother's voice and allowed herself to want a relationship with Robin.
He cupped her cheek. "Well, I hope you do. You deserve some pampering, Regina. Let yourself have it."
"I think I will," she replied. "Thank you."
"Good," he said before checking his watch. His face fell. "Shit, I didn't realize how late it had gotten. Do you need to relieve your babysitter?"
She glanced at her own watch, amazed to find it was after ten already and then disappointed that she did have to end this night. "Unfortunately, I do," she said.
"Well, then, I shall settle the tab and then we can go," he told her, kissing her cheek. "Be right back."
"I'm just going to hit the ladies' room," she said, standing as well. He nodded and they went in different directions as she located the restrooms.
Regina emerged from one of the stalls and washed her hands. She then checked her reflection and barely recognized the woman staring back at her. Her brown eyes shone in the dim lighting, her hair was slightly mussed and her cheeks tinted pink while her lipstick was smudged. Robin brought out something in her that she found she wore very well.
Happiness.
And she found she wanted more of it.
Fixing her lipstick, she left the restroom with a bounce in her step. Even if she had to say goodnight to Robin now, she looked forward to seeing him again.
Maybe her happy ending wasn't at risk after all – even with Emma Swan in town.
A/N: Here's Chapter Two! Robin continues to unknowingly tear down Regina's walls and she's putty in his hands. Where will it go from here? Keep reading to find out!
Will Henry come around about his mother? Or will it take some time? Find out!
I have a lot of this written already so I hope to publish a new chapter weekly. Come back next Monday for Chapter 3!
Have a good week!
-Mac
