Sorry for the long wait! I've been left to finish writing this fic on my own and needed to work out where I wanted to take it. I hope you like the chapter and please don't forget to let me know what you think of it, I need your support now more than ever!
Less than a month later, Regina was in the passenger seat of Robin's car with Robin driving and Will bundled up in the back, all the while complaining that he should be in the front seat and Regina was much shorter than he was. She would just roll her eyes and tell him to deal with it, winding him up that Robin now liked her more than he liked him and that was why she was sat in the front.
They were heading up to Robin's childhood home for Christmas and her stomach bubbled with nerves, she didn't really know what that meant, she would be meeting his family, but she didn't even know what they were to one another. Where exactly was it that they stood? She had warmed up to him and in the month since Thanksgiving, she and Robin had been hanging out almost every day, teasing each other at every opportunity.
"How much further?" Regina asked after around three hours of driving. The conversation had tapered down and they were just listening to the music that played from Robin's CD player, they were almost on the third time of fully listening to the same CD and Regina was getting so close to just turning it off.
"Probably around half an hour, not too long now, I promise."
"You live so far away from University, why did you choose Oxford and not one closer to home?"
"Why did you choose to fly halfway around the world?" he countered, flashing a smirk at her.
"Touché," she snickered, reaching out and turning the CD off, "is that really the only CD you have in this car?"
"Yeah, I took them all out when we reached our accommodation and forgot to grab them for the journey home," he shrugged.
"So we either sit here in silence or we're stuck listening to One Direction the entire way back to your house?"
"Seems that way, the radio is bust, thanks to the clumsy oaf in the back seat," Robin quipped, keeping his eyes on the road as he moved them off the motorway.
"Why is that the CD you have in your car anyway?"
"It's Will's."
"I don't think so mate, not mine," Will shook his head.
"Actually, I know it's yours and you even bought it at the petrol station on the way to Uni because you'd forgotten to bring your own," Robin grinned, "if you think I'm lying Regina, look in the glove box, the receipt is probably still in there knowing Will and his inability to put anything in the bin."
She rose a single eyebrow and opened the compartment, spotting the CD case with the receipt tucked into it, "seems like Robin was telling the truth."
"Yeah, whatever, who cares if I like One Direction anyway, they are a good band."
"You mean they were a good band before they broke up?"
"Oh don't mention that to him, he's only just started to get over that, his heart was crushed," Robin grinned.
"It was a sad day okay! Now can we shut up about it?"
"Fine."
After a moment of quiet Will broke the silence once again, "how about twenty questions?" he asked, sticking his head through the gap between them, "that should pass the time."
"I'm not sure about that one," Regina shook her head. She didn't think she wanted to play that game with them, although she was getting more comfortable hanging around with them, she didn't like the possibilities that arose with that game, they could literally ask her anything they pleased.
"Come on Regina, are you chicken?"
"No way, I just don't feel in the mood to play this game."
"We promise not to ask you anything intrusive don't we Robin," Will offered.
"Well, I suppose it is something that will pass the time," she relented, the regret at her answer already beginning to emerge.
"Robin, since you're the driver why don't you start? Who do you want to ask a question?"
"I think I'll ask you a question actually Will. Did it ever occur to you that you were really annoying?"
"Oh that's very nice, thank you very much, Robin. Did it ever occur to you that you're shit at driving?"
"Actually, I think Robin is quite a good driver, otherwise I would never have come on this trip and been in the car with him behind the wheel," Regina argued, they had been in the car for three hours and there hadn't been a moment where she'd felt unsafe, she was a worried passenger as well, so he really mustn't have been that bad.
"Nah, I meant that he goes so slow, I would have got us home by now had I been driving."
"Gotten us killed more like," Robin scoffed with a roll of his eyes, "you drive like a lunatic."
"I can imagine he does."
"Okay, now this isn't fair, the two of you can't be ganging up on me! That's just cheating! Plus Robin, you're really not going to be impressing chicks by driving like their grandad."
Regina giggled and shoved him playfully back into his seat, she did have fun winding Will up, nearly as much fun as Robin did, when they wound him up together it was even better. "Sorry Will, but I was brought up not to lie and the way I see it, Robin is just stating facts. Also, I am impressed by Robin's driving, I like it when people are sensible and don't drive like complete fools," she smiled at Robin and he glanced at her for only a moment before looking back to the road.
"Ew. Can you keep your flirting private please, I really don't want to see it."
"We're not flirting," Regina rejected, straightening up in her chair. She was sure that she hadn't been flirting with him, has she?
"Okay then, just like the Pope doesn't live in Spain."
"No, he doesn't actually, he lives in Italy."
"Oh, whatever!"
Regina laughed at him as she looked out of the window and watched the view change, all the way up from Oxford the landscape had been changing, what once had been urban and built up was slowly becoming more agricultural and greener. She knew that Robin lived in a rural place, but she didn't quite realise how rural. It would be a nice change from the hustle and bustle of Uni life.
"Okay, Regina, I think it's your turn to answer a question. Do you think Robin is hot?"
"I'm not answering that."
"You have to!" Will argued, "you can't just pass a question like that."
"You didn't properly answer your question."
"Yeah well, that was a dumb one, this is a proper one. Do you find Robin attractive?"
"I suppose some people might find him good looking yes," she shrugged shyly.
"That wasn't the question I asked, I asked if you found him hot? Do you personally find Robin attractive?"
"Well, yes, I find him attractive but…"
"No further questions your honour." Will grinned from ear to ear as he met Robin's gaze in the rear-view mirror. "Next question is for me, Regina, would you like to ask it?"
"I suppose so," she sighed, she hated that he'd not given her chance to work her way out of her answer, sure she found Robin hot, but she hadn't wanted him to know that she did, she didn't want to ruin the good friendship they had built. "What is going on between you and Kathryn?"
"I don't think I'm at liberty to answer that one thank you very much."
"Pretty sure you said just a moment ago that you couldn't get out of answering a question. So, I'll ask you again William Scarlet, what's going on between you and my best friend?" She was pretty sure they were seeing each other but she couldn't be certain about it, Kathryn hadn't told her anything really, she'd just noticed them behaving oddly around one another.
"Nothing much."
"Liar," Robin scoffed and Regina turned to him narrowing her eyes.
"What do you know Locksley? Spill."
"I caught her coming out of his room at three in the morning the other week."
"Oh my god!" Regina gasped, turning around to stare at Will who had the decency to look somewhat sheepish. "You and Kathryn slept together?!"
"There wasn't much sleeping going on, but we had sex, yeah."
"Fuck me, how many times?"
"A couple, it's no big deal."
"Wait, is she your booty call?" Regina asked in shock, why the hell hadn't her friend told her about this?
"No! It just happened a few times, now stop it, you got your answer."
"Yes, I really did." She sat back in her seat and thought about what she'd just learnt, she didn't know what she had been expecting, but it hadn't been that. She grabbed her bottle from the cup holder and took a sip of her juice.
"Okay, Robin. Do you think Regina is fit?"
She nearly choked as she stared at Robin, waiting for his response to the question.
"Yeah, of course, I mean she works out pretty much every day, so she's really fit and healthy."
"Robin, that's not…"
"You asked me if I thought she was fit and I answered your question, it's not my fault you worded it wrong," Robin snickered as he turned up the heating in the car.
"Fine. Okay, Regina, you again…"
"My turn to ask," Robin insisted, "Regina, what is your dream holiday destination?"
"Really Robin, that is a shitty question."
Regina ignored Will's words and answered truthfully, "I would really like to go to Barcelona and see all the architecture there, there's also a beach too which would be fun, though I suppose back home I literally have a beach as my front garden. Maybe Rome or Athens, there's so much history and I think it's fascinating."
"Boring! Ibiza all the way baby! Hot chicks and parties galore with the sun and beach and alcohol! Paradise," Will sighed wistfully.
"My worst nightmare," Regina rolled her eyes. She truly couldn't think of anything worse than a group of people getting fried out of their brains and fucking anything that moved. It didn't appeal to her in the slightest.
"Mine too," Robin agreed.
"No mate! Come on, you came on the lads holiday last year."
"Yeah and I hated it, you were probably a bit too sloshed to remember, but most nights I stayed at the hotel whilst you guys all went out and got hammered."
"Boring, both of you are so boring."
"Think what you will, I don't really care and I don't think Regina does either, am I right?"
"Totally," she nodded in agreement.
"I think your holiday idea sounds really nice; I would love to go to all of those places."
Regina tucked her hair behind her ear and tried to stop the blush from forming on her cheeks, why the hell was a part of her brain imagining her going to those places with Robin by her side?
Robin broke the quiet with another question. "Okay, so it's my turn to ask Will again. How many times have you had a drink thrown in your face by a girl?"
"That's at least one because I'm pretty sure I threw one at you a couple of weeks back when you were drunk and being stupid," Regina quipped with a grin on her face.
"Oh haha, you're so funny. I'd say four or five times."
"I was expecting more, but okay, lie all you want, we both know the truth."
"Yeah, whatever. Regina, do you have a question for Robin?"
"Hmm," she thought about it for a moment before nodding her head, "do you think that your family will like me?" she asked nervously, she had been wondering about that since he first asked her to spend Christmas with them. She'd worried that they wouldn't like her and that she would feel awkward staying with them.
"Of course! Regina, don't tell me you've been worrying about that."
"I suppose I have a little. I know I'm not the most likeable person when you first meet me. It takes me a while to open up and feel comfortable around people."
"Trust me, Gina, you have nothing to be concerned about, my family are so down to earth and I just know that they are going to love you as much as everyone else does."
"Right, my turn to ask Regina a question," Will smirked, rubbing his hands together as though he were plotting something mischievous. "Where is the weirdest place you've had sex?"
"I can't answer that one I'm afraid."
"Urm, pretty sure you made the rule that you have to answer every question."
"What I meant is..."
"Leave her alone Will, she doesn't have to answer the bloody question," Robin snapped cutting her off.
She glanced at him briefly, he knew why she couldn't answer the question and she appreciated him standing up for her but it was okay. "It's okay Robin," she smiled, resting her hand on his for a moment before looking over shoulder at the guy in the back seat. "The reason I can't answer the question is because I've never had sex."
"Shit! You're a virgin?"
"Yes."
"Oh my god! I wasn't expecting that."
"Will," Robin warned.
"I'm not doing anything, I'm just a little shocked that's all."
"Will just shut up, would you?"
"Wait, did you already know?"
"I told Robin a few months ago actually," she murmured.
"Well shit, I was sure the two of you were secretly doing it."
"No, we're definitely not," Regina shook her head, feeling awkward once again. Why was it that everyone thought she and Robin were having sex? "Who's turn is it?" she asked, hoping that they reached their destination soon before any more embarrassing questions arose.
It wasn't much longer until they were pulling up outside a quaint country house. Regina smiled as she looked at it, it was pretty much what she had been expecting. The walls were cladded with white, whilst the window frames contrasted against it, painted in a teal colour. The roof was made up of slate slabs and the whole house just looked homely and warm. "Okay, so this is it," Robin quipped. They'd already dropped Will off at his own house so now it was just the two of them. "Ready to meet the family?"
"I think so," she nodded nervously.
"Stop worrying, I told you, they're going to love you," he reassured, cutting off the engine and climbing out. She followed suit and moved around the car to stand by his side, he grabbed her hand and gave it a little squeeze before letting go and leading her up the driveway. Before they even got to the door it swung open and a tall blonde woman came hurrying out, wrapping her arms around Robin in an instant.
"Oh my goodness, my baby boy! You're home!"
"Hi mum," he laughed, hugging her back as Regina watched them embrace. The hug lasted for a few moments before they pulled back and the woman turned to Regina.
"Hello dear, I'm Caroline, Robin's mother. You must be Regina, its so nice to finally meet you, we've heard so much about you."
"Really?" she glanced at Robin; she was surprised he had talked about her to his family. Then again, they must have known that she was coming home to spend Christmas with them.
"Of course," she nodded, taking Regina's hands gently, "we were over the moon when Robin said he was bringing someone home for Christmas."
"I was happy for the invite, thank you so much for having me."
"I wasn't going to leave you alone in Halls over Christmas," Robin shook his head, clearly deciding that he might as well grab their bags as he turned back to the car.
Whilst he did that, his mother led Regina inside the house which had surprisingly modern furniture. She could feel her heart beating fast inside her chest as she glanced behind her waiting for Robin to hurry up and come inside so she could stop freaking out so much.
"So, Robin tells us that you live in the apartment across the hall from him."
"Yes that's right," she nodded.
"Do you have a roommate?"
"No, actually I'm alone, Robin has been looking out for me which is very much appreciated. Your son is wonderful, but just don't tell him that I told you that."
"Told her what?" he asked as he came through the door carrying both of their bags, looking from his mother to Regina.
"Oh you, eavesdropping into people's conversations," Caroline scoffed, swatting his arm playfully, making Regina chuckle. "Our conversation isn't any of your business, young man, I don't know what has happened to your manners whilst you've been away but you know better."
"Very funny mum," he grinned, glancing at Regina to make sure she was okay. "What room is Gina staying in? I'll take her bags up."
"You are hilarious Robin. You know I have no issues with you and Regina sharing a room."
Both Robin and Regina froze and stared at his mother, "um, ma, why would we want to share a room?" Robin asked nervously, running his fingers through his hair.
"Oh, come on, you might not have told us directly, but it's obvious that Regina is your girlfriend."
"No, I'm not."
"No, she's not."
"She's not?" Caroline asked, her eyes widened as she glanced from one to the other, "are you both trying to pull my leg or…"
"No, mum, we're friends, we're not together," Robin groaned. He didn't know why his mother had even come to the conclusion that Regina was his girlfriend. Sure he might have mentioned her more than a few times and she had come to spend Christmas with them, but at no point had he said she was his girlfriend. Sure, he might have liked her to be, she was witty, kind and beautiful. She was so smart and classy and literally perfect, but that was beside the point. She wasn't his girlfriend. He wasn't her boyfriend. End of story.
"Oh. Oops."
"Well, never mind, it was just a simple understanding," Regina smiled at her reassuringly.
"Yes, it would be, but the thing is, there isn't really anywhere else for you to stay," the older woman stated, her cheeks beginning to turn a bright red colour as she started to panic.
"What do you mean? There are a couple of spare rooms," Robin quipped, furrowing his eyebrows as he looked at his mother and tried to avoid looking at Regina at all costs, he didn't know if he could deal with what she was thinking. "Why can't Regina just stay in one of the guest rooms?"
"Well, the thing is Robin, they are… we…"
"Hi Mrs L, I was just… oh…" a guy stopped in the doorway and the three of them turned to look at him.
"Mum, who is this random guy who just walked into the house?"
"Well, that was what I was trying to tell you, Robin. We have a lodger now you see and the spare room is being rented out."
"What the actual fuck."
"Robin! Language!"
"I'm sorry, but when were you going to tell me that you had invited a stranger to live here?"
"Well, it was quiet with you gone and you just…"
"Millie still lives here, doesn't she?"
"Robin, your sister will be leaving for University next year just like you have. She's never even here, she's always staying over at her friend's house. Anyway, you don't live here anymore, so what's the big issue?"
"Oh, you really couldn't deal with not having anyone to take care of could you? How long has he been staying here?"
"Robin," Regina whispered, coming closer after having watched the whole altercation, she felt quite uncomfortable and was pretty much ready to just walk out of the door and head back down to Oxford. The lodger who was yet to be introduced was just standing awkwardly in the doorway.
"Robin, calm down, please. This is not a big deal. Anyway, this is Killian, he's been staying with us for a couple of months now," she smiled at the man kindly and he nodded back at her. "Killian, this is my awfully rude boy, Robin and his friend Regina."
"Nice to meet you mate. Regina. Anyway, Mrs L, I was just coming home to fetch something before heading back so, I'll be out of your hair," he quipped in an Irish accent, glancing at Regina for a moment before moving upstairs.
"He seems nice," she whispered.
"He is a good boy."
Robin couldn't stand him. He'd met him for only a moment and already knew that he didn't like him. He didn't like the way he'd looked at Regina, the gaze had lasted too long for his liking. It made Robin feel possessive, even if she wasn't his girlfriend, he still felt as though he should be looking out for her. Though who was he really kidding? He was jealous, plain and simple. The jealousy surged through his veins and he knew it was irrational, it was one look and Regina hadn't even returned it. He had no right to be jealous, but that didn't change the way he felt.
"Well then, if he's staying in one of the guest rooms, what about the other?"
"Your grandmother and grandfather are going to be staying in there, they're coming up today."
"Right, so, where can Regina stay?"
"Maybe I should just go back to Oxford, I can catch a train or something, I…"
"Not a chance, you're not leaving okay, we'll sort this out," Robin reassured. "Mum?"
"Well, you can stay in Millie's room with her, she has bunk beds in there because she insisted on them when she was nine. Let me tell you she has been complaining about getting rid of them since she was ten," Caroline chuckled, "we warned her that she would get bored of them, but did she listen? No, she did not, so now she has to deal with them."
Regina rose a single eyebrow; she didn't know how she felt about that. To be honest she would probably rather share Robin's bed with him than sleep in a room with someone she'd never met before. Regina hadn't even known that Robin had a sister, he'd never mentioned her before.
"I don't know about that, you know what Millie is like," Robin sighed, glancing at Regina.
"Robin, she probably isn't going to be here most of the time anyway. I'm sure it will all be fine."
"Okay," Robin picked up the bags again, "will you be okay with this Gina?"
"Yes, I suppose so."
"If you don't want to stay in there, you can just let me know and we'll figure something else out."
"I'm sorry about all this Robin," she whispered awkwardly. She felt stupid like she was inconveniencing them by being there.
"This isn't your fault dear, don't worry," Caroline quipped. "We're happy to have you here."
"Come on, we'll take your stuff upstairs," Robin stated, gesturing for her to follow him upstairs. "Are you sure you're alright with this?"
"It's fine."
Robin pushed the door opened to his sister's room and Regina peeked inside, the walls were painted in a dark purple colour and there were posters of female characters from television and films all over them. "Yeah, well, this is Millie's room."
"Oh, it's…"
"I know," he chuckled with a shake of the head, "if you want to leave your stuff in here, we can go and find something else to do."
"Right, yes," she nodded, placing her things down in the corner before following Robin back down the corridor into what was clearly his own room. "So no Indiana Jones posters in here then?"
"Well no, I brought them to Uni with me didn't I."
"Hmm," she nodded, dropping to perch on the edge of his double bed, crossing one leg over the other as she looked around the room. The walls were painted blue and one wall had geometric wallpaper covering it, she tilted her head back to look behind her, catching the view out of the window, trees and fields as far as the eye could see. "It's very quiet around here, peaceful."
"Yeah, definitely. Sometimes it's nice to just chill out and…"
"Robin! Dinner is ready, are you and Regina coming downstairs?"
"We'll be right down," he called back, glancing at Regina as he stood up. A smile found its way onto his face as she tilted her head at him trying to work out what it was that he was thinking. He was cute when he smiled, she knew that much, she couldn't help herself from smiling back at him. Shaking her head, she stood up and headed for the door.
"Well, as nice as it has been to see your comfortable bedroom, I think we're required downstairs, don't you?" She asked, casting him a loaded look before leaving him standing alone in his room and descending to the ground floor.
After dinner, Regina and Robin sat in his room watching Orange Is the New Black. Regina was curled up on one side of the bed whilst Robin lounged on the other. They often watched the program together, but it had never been like this, they'd simply sat on the couch in Regina's apartment, they'd never been on a bed whilst doing it. Regina felt both awkward and comfortable at the same time, Robin looked a lot more chilled out than she was.
It was safe to say that she was finding it hard to concentrate on the television and found that her eyes kept wandering back to him. She had been looking at him for a couple of moments when he broke her out of her daydream. "Okay, why are you looking at me like that?" He asked, turning his head to meet her gaze. She had no idea how he knew she had been looking at him, as far as she knew he hadn't taken his eyes off the TV.
"I don't know what you're talking about."
"You've been staring at me. Why?"
"Well, I… I don't actually know why."
"Seriously buttercup. Is something wrong?"
"Not really. I was just thinking about how grateful I am that you wanted me to come and spend Christmas with you. Just thinking about spending it alone back in Oxford makes me sad."
"I wanted you here Regina. You're one of my best friends now and you're going to have to deal with that."
"Oh I think I'm alright with that," she chuckled, looking up at him with a grin.
He took a deep breath before skirting closer to her and pulling her into his arms, hugging her close for a minute, "you're really important to me. I know that sometimes I don't show it or I can be a bit of a dick but…"
"Not lately, you've been less of a dick for the past month or so," she smiled, her breath catching slightly as she was almost consumed by the familiar scent of his forest aftershave.
"Yeah, well, I think your tolerance of me might have increased," he smirked, looking down at her, his breath catching in his throat. She had no makeup on and was in her pyjamas, but to him, she had never looked more beautiful. Her natural beauty was something that always astounded him. His hand moved to her hair, pushing it behind her ear gently before lowering his head closer to her and pressing his lips to her forehead.
"What are you doing you weirdo?" she giggled, pushing him playfully before moving even closer to him, maybe a little closer than would have been considered only a friendly embrace. She rested her head on his chest for a moment, not really thinking about what it was she was doing. They went quiet before she cleared her throat and sat up, straightening her pyjama top. "I'm feeling a bit tired now actually. I think the drive up here is catching up with me."
"Oh, right, sure. I'll see you to Millie's room. I doubt she's coming home tonight, mum said that she's staying with a friend so you'll probably have the room to yourself."
"Alright," she nodded, she needed a little space to think about what had just happened between them. It was strange. A weird moment that had never occurred between them before. She didn't know what to think of it, at the moment. If felt nice, but she hadn't really thought about anything like that happening, about having that type of closeness with Robin.
They walked quietly out of Robin's room, it was late now and everyone else in the house was already asleep. Once they were at his sister's room they stopped and looked at one another, "well, I suppose I'll see you in the morning. If you need me you know where I am."
"Indeed," she smiled, pushing the door open, "goodnight Robin."
"Night Gina."
With that she disappeared inside, closing the door behind her and taking a deep breath, everything was going to be fine, she was going to make it through and it would all…
"Okay, who the heck are you and what are you doing in my room?"
Regina's eyes widened as they dropped to the blonde girl looking up at her from the bottom bunk, though the word girl wasn't really an accurate description because she was clearly a woman, not a girl. "Hi, um, sorry. Robin thought you were at a friend's house and we… I'm Robin's friend. You must be Millie."
"Oh god, not that stupid nickname, that isn't my name."
"Really? Sorry, I just assumed, Robin said…"
"My brother is an idiot. My name is Mal, not Millie, my brother likes to tease the shit out of me with that stupid nickname, but I'm not a baby anymore and it's annoying." The girl sat up in bed, the sleeve of her band t slipping down her arm exposing the black lace bra she wore underneath. "So, why are you in my room? Did you get bored of my brother and come looking for something better?" she asked with a raise of her perfectly groomed eyebrows and a seductive smirk.
"I… um… no," she wasn't usually one for being nervous, but there was something about this girl that had her on edge immediately.
"Relax, I'm not going to jump you in your sleep."
"I wasn't thinking that you would, but now you've said it I am."
The blonde laughed and shook her head, "you didn't even tell me your name."
"Regina."
"Shit! You're Regina?"
"Yes," she nodded, somewhat confused by her reaction.
"Wow! I don't know if you knew this already but my brother is kind of obsessed with you," she quipped, climbing out of bed to move closer. Regina stared at her, noticing that she had the same piercing blue eyes as Robin. "I mean literally the only thing he ever talks about is you. When Mum gets off the phone with him she's always saying that he's been flooding her with stories about what the two of you have been up to."
"Oh."
"Hmm, yep, he is crushing on you big time. Though it seems you haven't even noticed. Maybe he's not your type, let me guess. You prefer women?"
"No! I mean, no. Look, I don't know what Robin might have told you, but that was one kiss, it was months ago and it didn't even mean anything! I was drunk and I didn't know the girl, I'd literally just met Marian and I was trying to make Robin jealous and it all got totally out of control."
The blonde's eyes widened as she stared at Regina in shock, Regina felt a feeling somewhat akin to dread flood through her. Seemingly Mal hadn't even known about the whole kissing Marian situation and Regina felt her cheeks heat up as her whole body flushed with embarrassment.
"You kissed Marian?! Fuck me."
Regina sighed and shook her head, "listen to me right now, you cannot repeat that to anyone, I don't want people knowing. As I said, I was trying to make Robin jealous, there wasn't any other reason behind it other than that."
"I never said there was, but that must have killed Robin."
"Why's that?"
"Because he's into you, surely you must know that. Not to mention that you probably couldn't have picked a worse person to make out with. I mean Marian hurt him so badly, so for him to see the two of you lip locked must have torn him to shreds."
"What was it that Marian did?"
"Come sit and we can talk," the blonde smiled, grabbing her hand and leading her towards the small sofa at the other side of the room. "Okay. So Robin and Marian were childhood sweethearts, they dated through High School and college, Robin loved her. It was their four-year anniversary and when Robin arrived at her house to pick her up for a date, he found her making out with someone else on the front porch and discovered she had been sleeping around."
"Really?" Regina gasped, her eyes widening at the information, she hadn't really even known that Robin had been with Marian. They hadn't talked about things like that, he hadn't mentioned his ex-girlfriends and Regina hadn't asked him about them, for some reason it just hadn't come up in conversation. She assumed that he wasn't a virgin like she was but she hadn't had the courage to question him on it. "That's awful."
"I know, I'd told him that she was a bitch and that I'd seen her flirting with other guys, but he just didn't want to believe it," she sighed.
"He didn't tell me any of that," Regina whispered, looking down at her fingers as they played with the tassel on her pyjama bottoms. "I can't believe someone could do that to the person they had been with for so long."
"Tell me about it," Mal nodded, "so, it is my job as Robin's not so little sister, to warn you. I will have your head if you hurt him. If he gets hurt because of you, you get hurt because of me. Got it?"
"Yes, but I would never hurt Robin, that is the last thing I would want."
"You're saying that now, but my brother can be a pain in the ass."
"Oh, I know, but I don't mind so much," Regina shrugged with a small smile.
"Looks like he isn't the only one who has it bad," the blonde chuckled. "What I want to know is why you are staying in my room with me when you could be using this as an excuse to bunk with him?" She cast her a poignant look and shrugged her shoulders, "just saying, isn't it the perfect time?"
"I don't know, I just don't want it to be awkward between the two of us."
"And it isn't awkward sleeping on top of a girl you just met?" Mal smirked, gesturing to the bunk beds.
Regina sighed and looked at her, she liked Mal, she clearly didn't take any prisoners when it came to telling her exactly what she thought. She had a point about the whole Robin thing but Regina was still conflicted about her feelings, she needed time to think about it first. Yes, there was a part of her that wanted to go to him, climb in his bed and cuddle up to his side. She already knew that she slept well beside him, it wasn't as though they hadn't shared a bed before, they had, a couple of time in fact.
"Look, I don't have a problem with you staying in here, you seem alright and you're hot so that's another plus. Just don't murder me in my sleep and we'll be cool," she winked before climbing back into her bed.
Regina looked at her from her place sat on the couch, she didn't know what to do and now, after her talk with Robin's sister, her brain was even more scrambled than it had been before. "Why did Robin seem to think that you were at your friend's house tonight?"
"I had been at her place, but I decided to come home," she quipped, resting back against her headboard. "So what are you going to do princess?"
"I really don't know."
"Sleep on it."
"Yes, I suppose so," she nodded, climbing up the ladder to the top bunk and laying back, looking at the small glow in the dark stars that had been glued to the ceiling all around the room. She could hear Mal moving around underneath her and nestled further into the pillow, closing her eyes. There was way too much on her mind for her to fall asleep and she knew it was going to be a long night.