New chapter! Yay! Life is crazy and I hope everyone is doing well. If not, I hope this chapter can cheer you up!

Enjoy!

Chapter 13

Zelena would love to wake up one day on the vacation and not wake up in the bloody twilight zone. What the actual hell was going on? Granny and her sister came back home on Friday evening crying because her sister had an emergency after being on the street for day. Naturally. Zelena was of course relieved her sister was safe. She expected her to be a bit shaken. What she didn't expect was this weird ass vibe between her and her grandmother. What the hell happened out there? It's Monday and it's still going on. She couldn't even complain to Ruby because she's spending the weekend with Anita and wouldn't be back until tonight. Breakfast with Regina and Granny is like watching a poorly written film by of those theater kids at her high school.

"Sleep well?" Granny asks her sister.

"Yup." Is the reply. It's followed by an awkward silence. "The weather looks promising." Regina states.

"Yup."

More silence.

This was killing her! She had to get out of here. This awkward back and forth has been going on all damn weekend. Enough was enough.

"Regina why don't you grab your swimsuit. Today is the perfect day to go to the beach!" Zelena decided to save her sister from any more of this misery. Honestly, she was saving herself. She needed to get out of the house and Regina is her golden ticket. Besides it is about time for some quality sisterly bonding. Maybe she could even figure what on earth was going on in her sister's life. She needs some kind of story or gossip. Robin seemed to have resolved his big blowout with Keith and Verónica. And a mended fight is wholly uninteresting. "Granny can I have the keys to the car?"

"They're in the basket by the garage. But Zelena dear, do you really think it's a good idea to take your sister to the beach?" Granny said in that tone that let everyone know she disagreed with the idea.

Zelena was unswayed. "Yes."

"The doctor said take it easy."

"He was a paramedic and what isn't easy about the beach?" Regina corrects. She collects everyone's plates and sets them in the sink.

"Regina." Granny swiftly hops up from where she was seated. She maneuvers her sister away from the sink and takes over washing the dishes.

Zelena and Regina share a look. "Granny it's the beach. I can't stay inside forever."

Granny let's out a sigh of defeat. Finally! "So it's settled then?" Zelena claps. "Perfecto! Do try to hurry little sister. I'd like to get a good spot before the crowd gets there."

.

The ride with her sister is enjoyable enough. Regina is grateful Zelena insisted she come along. The past few days had been agonizing. Granny was trying so hard to be normal around her and give her space, yet simultaneously worried that if she allowed Regina to do absolutely anything she would combust. Regina didn't know how to be around her grandmother anymore. She knows she's trying, but they just don't relate anymore. At least their parents would be back soon to ease some of the tension.

"Hey," Regina briefly looks up from her game. "I don't want to be out too late. Daddy and mother are supposed come back tonight. I wanna be there when they get here."

"Yeah. Yeah. We'll be back in plenty of time for them to tuck you in." Zelena mocks. There's a smile on her face.

"Ha ha." Regina smiles too.

They arrive at the beach shortly after. There aren't too many people out which is promising. Wait. This is not their usual, go-to beach. What? She turns to ask her sister, but she's already out of the car.

Regina grabs her bag and follows her sister to the back of the car. "I thought we were going to Venice. Why are we in Malibu?"

Zelena sighs. "Because Robin Locksley surfs at Malibu." She says as if that is common knowledge. Her sister continues to pull their stuff from the trunk.

Regina has spent an entire week with Robin and since has grown to like him. Yet hearing her sister talk about him makes her want to scream. Robin is so much more than what the media depicts of him. He wants to be more. Why can't people see that? Zelena is obsessed with an image not the person.

"Today's the day! I can feel it. He's here some where." Her sister is beaming as they find a spot to set up their stuff.

"I doubt that." Why would today of all days, of all the places he could possibly be, would he be here? They were together mostly all week and not once did he come to the beach. Today won't be any different. Regina is tempted to text him and ask him to come just to shut her sister up. Somehow she doesn't think it would work.

"I hope he doesn't come with Marion Taylor. She is not cute enough for him." Zelena stops walking. "I would know. I've seen her in person."

"Aren't you two like best friends or something?" She questions her sister. Regina's seen her recent post. She knows Zelena's been making a name for herself. She wasn't the only one hanging out with celebrities.

"Ughk. Don't get me started. Marion more fake than the store bought plastic flowers our neighbors try to pass off as a garden. I'll kill you if you repeat this to anyone, but if I can't have Robin, I'd rather see him with that Verónica girl than Marion. To bad neither of them will have a chance." Zelena dramatically swipes her hair from her shoulder and they continue their search for the perfect spot.

Regina chuckles. She chooses to ignore the fact that her sister agreed not to talk about Robin for the rest of the trip. It was kind of fun hearing her sister talk about her and not even know it.

"I wonder what his eyes look like? You know, up close."

"Blue. Really blue." Regina answers before she can stop herself. Luckily her sister manages to fine the perfect beach spot and pays her no mind. She truly did admire her sister's buoyancy when it comes to Robin or looking esthetically pleasing. She watches her run off and set up near a random palm tree in the middle of the beach. What luck considering neither of them brought an umbrella.

Regina stands to herself and takes a moment to survey to area. She smiles when she spots a familiar hat. There aren't many like it in the world. Damn it. Her sister really does have a sixth sense. Regina walks toward the gentleman in the hat, sitting in a beach chair. He really did have this part of the beach all to himself.

"Excuse me? Is this seat taken?" Regina points to the chair next to him. She says in her best impersonation of her mother. The gentleman nods at the seat, but doesn't say anything. She takes to offered chair. "What a beautiful day. Isn't it a beautiful day?" She asks him.

He curls more into himself. Robin, who Regina recognized long before sitting down, is trying really hard not to recognized. It was hilarious. She couldn't help playing with him a bit.

"Oh no. You were sleeping. Did I wake you?"

He shakes his head.

"No? Then you're awake. Good." He likely thought if he revealed himself, she would scream and he would be mobbed by adoring fans. Luckily for him, Regina is no adoring fan. She pulls a bottle from her bag. "Would you put some sunscreen on my back?"

Finally he looks at her. She loves watching his face change from a polite decline, to surprise, to pure joy.

"How did you know it was me?" Robin gasps unable to hold beck a laugh. His entire body is relaxed now.

"The hat." Regina points to her grandfather's hat. She meant it when she said it looked good on him. Though she's a little surprised he actually kept it. It isn't exactly fit for a celebrity. Though that's likely the reason why he chose to keep it.

He nods. "It does kind of smell like fish."

"No, I'm pretty sure that's you." Regina smirks.

She likes that they're in a good place again. She's texting regularly with Robin, his band, and Keith. She has long since made a post about how they've worked things out and everything is cool. Regina had not realized she nearly started a war throughout their fandoms when she posted on her story that night. It left Keith and Robin to clean up a lot of collateral damage. In all honesty that was their fault to begin. They shouldn't have made it public, but it's behind them now.

Not that she cares, but over the weekend she gained over 200 thousands more followers. Like, what? Apparently a good internet fight is great publicity. Keith says it's because the love her and the photos. Regina knows it's only because they wanted gossip and they thought they could get it from her. It isn't going to stop her from posting her photographs. Though she had to post some pictures she already had on her phone because Granny's overbearing house arrest kept her from doing anything fun. Regina was planning a photo dump today in celebration of her freedom.

They sit in a comfortable silence only for a second. Robin speaks up. "What are you doing here?"

"What are you doing here? Go home." She tells him. He obviously didn't want to be seen. Why stay in a public place where that could easily happen? The glasses and hat did very little to mask his identity.

"I tried."

"And?" Regina encourages him to finish.

"You wouldn't understand." He settles on.

"Oh." She gasps dramatically, doing very little to keep the offense her voice. "So you think your so special that a nobody like me couldn't possibly understand what its like to be you?" Her tone changes to a softer one. "Robin give me the chance to at least try to understand."

He lets out a tired sigh. "OK." Robin straightens her posture and turns to her. "There are about ten paparazzi outside my house with their cameras."

Regina's initial thought is 'so what, but then thinks back to what John told her about certain paparazzi ruining people's lives. She wonders why they want a story of Robin so bad? What could possibly be the reasoning behind it all?

"John told me about how paparazzi make celebrities lives a living pain. So I get it, I guess." Regina pauses in her speaking to properly think through her next sentence. "But it's not as if you are doing anything scandalous. You're going home. And it's only just ten o'clock. What were you doing away from home this early anyway?"

"I got called in to the studio to fix some vocals. Our producer had a wedding he needed to be at and 7 in the morning was the only time he could do it."

Regina hums. There's nothing much she can do for him now. Maybe a distraction was needed? "Did you at least get in the water?"

"What?"

"If you're stuck outside your home, you might as well enjoy it." Regina pulls him into a standing position. She slides her sandals off and motioned for him to do the same with his shoes. He doesn't comply. "Come on. Take off your shoes. And roll up your pants while you're at it. Who wears sweats to the beach?" She herself smartly chose to wear shorts. It was far too hot for anything else.

Robin bends to do as he's told. "They're not sweats. They are cotton. There's nothing wrong with cotton." He saltily mumbles to himself. Regina chuckles at him. She doesn't give him time to finish rolling up his last pant leg completely. It's hot and she's in a hurry to get into the ocean. Regina drags him to the water. They must be a sight to anyone who bothers to look in their direction.

The water is perfect.

She was worried it would bee too cold to enjoy, but it had just the right amount of chill that it was refreshing and not a shock to her system. Robin hesitates by the shore, while Regina is already knee deep. "Come on! Don't tell me you're afraid of a little water. I'm not asking you to swim."

He slowly makes his way toward her. He's still wearing shades and hat. "I feel ridiculous." Robin complained when he's close enough.

"You should with all that on. Who do you think you are you fooling?"

"There are people around."

"Yes, and?" Regina asks as she buries her feet further into the sand until it reaches her ankles. She watches as Robin seems stretch taller. He however was too distracted to notice. He too occupied surviving the people around them. He wore a hoodie, sunglasses, and a fishing hat to the beach. In Regina's opinion, hiding draws more attention than not. This really was no way to live. Could he not let down his guard even for a moment to enjoy the beauty of the beach?

Regina gets paparazzi are bad, but isn't giving up the simple joys of to hide from them just as bad as hiding because of a bad reputation? Would it not be beneficial to just live your life no matter what others think? At least that way you can at the very least have fun.

Regina pulls her phone from her pocket and snaps a picture of him. He looks very charming from this angle. The light halos around head and shoulders. A solar flare appears across the lower corner of the picture. He resembles a Renaissance sculpture. He looks like a masterpiece. Or he would if he didn't look so distressed. Maybe that's what makes him a masterpiece. You can see the thoughts swarming his head. What could he possibly be thinking? She realizes that there is so much she doesn't know about him. They're practically strangers, yet she feels like they've known each other for years.

@My.regal.majesty

CAPTION: Inner workings of a beautiful mind. @Robin.of.locksley

Regina is sure to keep her locations off on her post. She doesn't want Robin to be bombarded with screaming fans and paparazzi. She'd respect his wishes to be hidden.

Regina shrieks when a long price of seaweed is thrown her way. She sends and mock glare are her attacker. Only the guilty laugh and Robin seemed to turn red in the face from how hard he was laughing. Regina takes off his hat, drapes the offending plant across his head, and places the hat on top so it will stay.

"Beautiful."

Robin in turn gathers her hair and pulls it over her head so that the only thing that is peaking out is the tip of her nose. She feels like Cousin Itt from Addams family. They both laugh. They take a selfie of their new styles. The both of them look absolutely ridiculous, but that's what made them fabulous.

@My.regal.majesty

CAPTION: The outer working of two fools! @Robin.of.locksley

Robin's laugher does not last long. He's quickly back to looking over his shoulder checking if anyone saw them. It breaks her heart. Could he not enjoy a moment without fearing the worst?

"If only I could get home in a car the razzi wouldn't recognize." He thinks out loud. A light bulb goes off in his head. "Hey! What car did you drive?"

Regina sighs, knowing she will cave to his whims. She doesn't mind. Helping him was the right after all. "Oh you'd love it. It's a real classic. Vintage." She tells him as they make their way out of the water and back to the chairs. Regina can't keep the smile off her face. She knows Robin won't like her Abuelo's car. It's nothing like the fancy cars he is used to seeing or driving. The car has seen better days, but the memories are what keep it thriving.

"Perfect!" Robin stands a little straighter. "I could pay you. I know that's kind of-"

"Stop that." Regina snaps.

"Stop what?"

"Stop throwing your money around. I mean, you still owe me 5 grand for staying at Garaje de la Abuela."

Why does he do these things? Regina doesn't think she will ever understand how he can throw his money away so easily. In all honesty she's offended. She thought they were friends. Friends don't pay their friends to do things for them. That just isn't right. Friends do things for you because they care for you. Most friends anyway… Unless he doesn't see them as friends. Or did Robin think she only hung out with him and his friends was because he was rich and famous? Did he think she doesn't care about him? Because she does. She thought she made that clear. They weren't friends the first night they met, but they've been through a lot since then.

"We're friends, right?" Regina echoes John's words from only days prior. Why did they feel the need to verify their status? Why couldn't they simply know?

"Of course! Absolutely!" Robin responds without hesitation. Hearing him say it warms her heart and releases all the pint up doubt she had hidden.

"Give me your keys." Regina holds her hand out to him.

"Why?"

"Well, if you're taking our car you can't leave us here without one." It was only fair.

Robin hesitates.

"Keys. Come on."

He pulls his keys from his back pocket. He holds them tightly in his hand before sighing. Robin faces her head on. He maintains eye contact and makes her he has her undivided attention. Regina smirks. This was going to be good. "Okay look, she's a 300 and.." He pulls his hand back when Regina reaches for the keys. "300 hundred and 36 horsepower, first generation '69 Tudor with original paint."

She really didn't care. The car is expensive. Got it. Robin pulls the keys from her reach once again.

"Look I love Cher, okay?" Robin says in a completely serious tone.

Regina pauses. "Cher? You name your cars?" Before he can verbally respond she grabs the keys from him. He looks so unsure. He didn't have much of a choice. There was no way he was going to ask a random stranger. Regina wasn't going wreck his car. He could trust her.

Regina made her way over to where her sister set up. Zelena really did pick a great spot. She even set out an extra towel for her. Regina had towels in her bag. She gave one to Robin. Yet, here Zelena was thinking about her. Despite all of their differences, Regina really was excited to spend some quality time with her sister. It's been a while since they've hung out on their own free will. She simply needed to get the keys to the car.

Regina debates walking up to her sister and ask for them, but it would be counter active knowing her sister's obsession with Robin. Well. There's no reason to waste any more time.

Zelena barely offers her a glance when she is close enough. "I set a towel for you." Is all she says.

"I see that. Thanks." Regina offers her sister a smile as she sits on the towel. Zelena nods and returns to her music. Regina uses that moment to switch out their keys with Robin's. This feels wrong. She doesn't like being sneaky. It's something she would have never even thought of doing before meeting Robin. Not that she thinks Robin is a bad influence. This was her choice. In actuality they'd likely be at the beach for awhile. Zelena wouldn't even noticed she lent their car out. Still it doesn't make her feel any better.

Oh well.

Regina tosses an "I'll be right back" to her sister before returning to Robin. He was already waiting near the parking lot when she found him again. He pointed at cars in multiple directions, silently asking 'which one?' She guides him to the brightly colored car with a smirk on his face.

"Robin meet Daisy." She dramatically presents the yellow car. When she was younger her Abuelo would refer to the car a Daisy from time to time. It's only right to keep the name alive.

"You've got to be kidding."

"She runs like a top. Have her back in an hour." Regina figured that would be plenty of time sneak home and do whatever it was he needed to do.

He paled. She wanted him surprised, not at the doors of death. Regina realized it wasn't Daisy that had him stunned. She followed to line of sight. Two larger, dark vans swiftly rolled into the parking lot with a swarm of paparazzi spilling from them. "Down. Get down!" Robin says when finds his voice. "I can't believe it. How did they find me?"

Regina rolls her eyes at that. "My sister knows where you find you and she's from Storybrooke, Maine."

The paparazzi move closer toward the beach. Some of them already taking pictures. Robin snatches off his sunglasses and hands them to her. "Here. Put these on."

Regina stares blankly at the pair of shades in her hand. Wait. Why was she hiding? Nobody knows her. He gives them so much power by hiding. However, Regina does as she's told. She may not agree with Robin's constant hiding, but she'd respect his wishes.

"He's probably under an umbrella. Check under the umbrellas." One of the photographers say.

"Alright. Get in the car." Robin pushes her away, toward the passenger side of the car. Still in a crouch, Regina makes it her side. Bam! She had not planned for him to swing open her side's door. Damn. This was really getting old. She just got the knot on her head to go away from the first time he hit her. And she told Granny she didn't have to worry about Robin. She really hopes he doesn't make a habit of this. Her body couldn't handle the trauma.

"OK. You really need to stop hitting me." Regina scolded him from the window of the car. At least he had decency to look remorseful. It wasn't as bad as the last time. Maybe it wouldn't bruise.

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Just get in." He briefly looks over his shoulder. "Get in. Get in. Hurry."

Regina slid into the passenger seat.

"Quick, put you seatbelt on. Put you head down." Robin lowers her head for her.

"It's down." She snaps. This reminded her too much of her first night in California. Reminds he of the Robin she meet that night. Robin Hood the celebrity. The paparazzi seem to bring out that side of him.

He than pops open the glove compartment and begins frantically searching through it. "What are you doing?"

"I'm looking for something." Robin pulls out one of her Granny's scarfs and tosses it to her. "Here put this on."

"What?... Why?"

"Just do it."

"OK. Ok." She conceded. Regina wrapped the scarf over her head, similar to how Granny would on beach days to hide her face from the sun. It baffled her why Robin was doing so much to hide her, when he was the one that didn't want to be recognized. Regina likes that he's thinking about her but it doesn't make her feel any better about the situation. She doesn't like being hidden from people. Her family spent the last couple of years hiding her from the world because of her sickness. Robin should not have to live like this. What Regina really wants to do is tell those paparazzi off and to leave Robin alone. Instead she mimics Robin when he ducks his head as they pull off. It leaves a bad taste in her mouth.

It isn't until they are a block away before they relax in the car. Robin takes off the hood of his jacket. It really was too hot for one. Though he wouldn't have need needed one at all if the razzi weren't all over him. He knows he doesn't have to hide from them, but he just can't afford a bad story right now. Hell. He can't afford one of his usual stories. They would only spread more of his bad boy teen popstar persona. Robin really wanted to be seen as more than that.

Regina chuckles to herself. "You drive like my grandpa."

"And you look like my grandma." Robin tosses back. They really do look like an elderly couple. She takes scarf off and teasingly chucks it at him. Without the scarf, he could see her in all her glory. His glasses on her didn't help at all. The sun's rays filtered through the car and surrounded Regina like a blanket. She didn't need the sunglasses for the sun. No. Regina was the one radiate light. He swore he could see her halo. Now he finally understands what Beyoncé was singing about all this time. Because the young woman sitting next to him is hands down the most beautiful person he has ever had the pleasure of being in the presence of. What would their life be had he not been dating Marion? Would they? Would she? Could they? This was dangerous territory. He needs to put an end to it now. "Oh. I need my sunglasses back."

"I don't know. I kind of like them." She muses.

"I'll give them to you later." When he doesn't have to be around to see her in them. Goodness what is wrong with him?

She gasps dramatically. "Seriously? My friends back home won't believe that I, Regina Mills has an actual pair of Robin Hood's sunglasses. Worn by Robin Hood himself. Excuse me, Robin Locksley." She takes the glasses off to wink at him. But instead of a wink Regina ends up awkwardly blinking both eyes. It's the cutest thing he's seen ever. "Will you autograph them for me?"

"Ha. Ha. Very funny." He knows Regina is just messing with him. This was the type of fan he mistook her for when they first met. She very quickly proved him wrong. Robin never thought he'd feel this way, but he was kind of glad Regina wasn't a fan. She treated him like a normal person and constantly calls him on his bullshit. She doesn't sugarcoat anything. She's honest and real. She's so human. It's been a while since Robin has recognized someone as a living, breathing thing. Not some super celebrity focused on fame, how many fans they have, or making the next hit album. And it was beautiful. She was beautiful.

Dangerous territory.

"But seriously, I need them."

"Hand them over." He says with a laugh. Trust him. He needs them more.

"So, how long do I have to ride around with you this time?"

"Only until the snappers leave the beach." The two of them sat in comfortable silence. Almost silence. One of the songs from his new album was playing very low on the stereo. Regina cranked to knob to low when they first entered the car.

Robin knew the paparazzi wouldn't hang out at a public space for too long without a sighting of him. It was a waste of time for them and it often made people uncomfortable. But he didn't want his time with Regina to end too soon. He missed hanging out with her. "Why don't we go do something?"

"Like what?" Regina looks to him with a curious gaze.

"Anything." And he meant anything. There was so much you could do in L.A. "What have you seen since you've been here?"

"Nothing. I've been too busy following you around. Even when I'm not with you."

Robin suppresses a smile. He really does try not to feel giddy at the thought that he won her over. Perhaps it's selfish of him to be happy that she followed him around. "Really?" Robin asks cautiously. He didn't want to come off like a jerk. Regina did seem frustrated at the thought that she couldn't help herself but to be captivated by him. He had that affect on people. He has a winning personality. Teen Vogue Weekly said so themselves in their last three articles about him.

"Yes! If it weren't for you finding ways to kidnapped and keep me hostage, it was my sister dragging me to any spot that you might appear." Regina yanks him from his wholly misguided thoughts. Get your head out of your arse Robin. She doesn't pine after you like her sister apparently does. She isn't a fan and that's ok. Right? Yes of course. What was she saying? Robin was listening to bits and pieces of Regina's rant/ roast. He could handle it. It's why he liked her, for her untamed honesty. Could he actually handle the truth? Of course he could. That's what embracing Robin Locksley is all about. "She idolizes you. I mean, on the other hand I couldn't care about it all. You're cool Robin, but like this city, your music is overrated." Regina shrugs.

Robin nearly stops the car right there. He can't believe she just said that. "I know you don't like my music, but you cannot dump on the greatest city to ever exist. Don't take it out on Los Angeles."

She rolls her eyes at that. "Oh really?"

"In fact. I'll be your guide."

"I thought you needed to get home." She points out.

That doesn't seem as important now. He'd much rather spend the morning with her. She's more important. "I'll take the long way."

.

The first place Robin takes her is the Santa Monica pier. It's much more spectacular at night. The lights were beautiful. But it's also a lot more crowded by then too. Somehow this was better. He didn't need people recognizing him and taking pictures of the two of them. Though he knows pictures of them would soon be all over the internet, Regina had her phone at the ready for everything. He didn't mind it though. She couldn't be seen perfectly most of them. But a nagging in the depth of his gut appeared every time he watched her hide her face for a photo. On one had Robin was glad that the true identity Regina was all his. Yet, on the other hand he hated that this beautiful angel holding on to his arm would never be able spread her wings to their greatest potential. Regina should be allowed to safely take actual photos of herself without running the risk of accidentally exposing too much of her true identity.

He pulled her over to a vender. He was selling an assortment of goods. The one thing that caught his eye was a disposable camera. It's a tad old school, but I was perfect for what he was planning.

"Cash only." The vender says when he tries to pay with his credit card.

Robin sighs, but it isn't a big deal. He pulls out his wallet and hands the man a wad of cash without paying much attention to which bills he handed him. Regina and the vender share the same unreadable expression. He's about ask why when Regina begins grabbing random items and puts them in her sack purse. Robin makes a move to pay for the items but Regina sticks a hand over his to stops him.

"No. No. We're good. Let's go." She shakes her head and pulls him away from the booth.

"Thank you! Come back soon!" The vender calls after them.

"You're ridiculous. You know that?" She says to him as she rips off the tag of the new pair of shades she dragged from the vender. Robin wasn't quite sure how to respond to that. He was still trying to process what happened at the booth. He doesn't get the opportunity to finish. Regina was back to capturing the world around them, hiding herself in the process. This would not do.

"Regina wait. Let me take your picture." Robin holds up the disposal camera. She makes a move to hide her face, but he stops her. "No. Don't hide your face." Robin pushes a lock behind her ear. They share a smile. It was moments like this when Robin knows for sure he was in trouble.

He was smitten.

There's no denying it. He was falling hard for Regina Mills.

The two of them spent the rest of the morning sightseeing. He took her to see the Hollywood walk of fame and the Hollywood sign. And at some point they had a spur of the moment, dance break with some guy playing a guitar on rollerblades. They took pictures of it all. Regina of course waited to post the photos until after they already left that spot, so if anyone came looking for them, they would already be gone.

They really were having a great time. But Robin knew it had been long enough for the paparazzi to leave the beach. Regina said her sister would be looking for her. And he couldn't monopolies her time. If you love something set it free.

Whoa! Love?

He didn't love her, did he?

No. No. He couldn't. He was with Marion. And they only just met like a week ago. There's no way… Robin looks at Regina sitting across from him in the car, singing along softly to one of his songs. He's in the presence of an angel. That he knows. He also knows that she's off limits. So whatever it is he's feeling for her needs to stop.

"What a great day." Regina smiles at him.

"Not anymore." He scowls. The paparazzi from the beach had been trailing them for the past few minutes. He thought it was just a coincidence, but they didn't seem to be letting up. How did they know it was him? "I need to lose these vans."

There wasn't really great spot to loose them. They were a the long winding road with no noticeable turns is sight.

"Take the next left." Regina rushes to say. She points at an old map she got from a vender.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes."

Robin quickly takes the next left. It's a dirt road and doesn't look like it's been used in decades. He would never drive one his cars on a road like this. But he holds his complaints. It got them away from the paparazzi.

"OK. If to take the next left the road loops back to the highway." She looks at the map sideways and squints. "or.. maybe not."

"This isn't even a road anymore. It's a firebreak. It has to be."

"Just keep driving." She sashes him.

They were definitely in the middle nowhere. There was no sign of people. No houses or farms. No fences or lampposts. There was only this dirt road, tall grass spotted with trees. "That sign said deer crossing. There are no deer in California." He's surprised they have a sign at all.

"California has deer Robin."

"Not in any civilized part of it." He tried his best not to jerk the car, but the road was uneven and the car was probably older than he was. Regina would definitely kill him if he caused her to bump her head again.

"You complain more than my sister. And she complains a lot. If anyone should be complaining, it me. You are a terrible driver."

He rolls his eyes at that. This road is terrible. It has nothing to do with his driving. "Are we on the right road or not?" He really didn't want to be out here longer than necessary.

Regina squints at the map. "Not?"

That didn't give him the boost in confidence he needed. They were totally going to get lost. "Show it to me."

He reaches for the map, but Regina pulls it away from him before he can grab it. "No! You keep your eyes on the road. I'm the navigator. Maybe find a spot to turn around up ahead."

He scoffs. "Is that what you call it?" Robin mumbles under his breath.

"And what's that supposed to mean?" She snaps.

"It means you're a know-it-all."

"A what?!"

"A know-it-all!" They were both screaming now. You know what? Since they were letting it all out in the open, Robin might as well say what's been on his mind for the past few minutes. "You are the queen of snap judgments. 'Turn here. This is the right road. I'm sure of it!' " He mocks.

"I was sure of it!" Snaps back in a voice not dissimilar to the one Robin used to mock her. She discards the map to put her hair in a ponytail.

"You're so sure of things you couldn't possibly be sure of!"

"I am not."

"And you're defensive."

Regina growls then gives him a shove. "Move the car! We are not moving!"

Robin frowns. He never stopped driving. He presses harder on the gas. The car doesn't move and he can definitely hear it now, that they were stuck in something. He looks out the window to see that he'd driven the strait in to the middle of a large mud patch. Just great. He'd never hear the end of this."

"Great." She glares at him.

The back of the car suddenly drops further into the watery mud, causing Regina to let out a scream. In the amount of time Robin know her, he has heard scream more times than he'd like. And these were not because she was excited to see him. He follows her lead when she climbs out of the window.

"Yes. Let's get out and push." Robin reaches for her, cross the top of the car. "Wait. Wait. I'll help you."

"Don't touch me."

"Why are you so mad?"

"Oh, I don't know. This!" She quickly gestures to the car. Robin makes it to the roof before she does and only watches as she struggles to pull herself up.

"Coming on to this road was not my idea."

"You're blaming me?" She finally manages to stand up and face him.

"YEAH! You're a terrible navigator."

"You're a terrible driver."

"I'm a great driver."

"Right. Tell that to my Abuelo's car!"

Robin sighs and takes a look at their surroundings. There was no way in hell they were going to be able to push the car out of here. One, it was already tire deep. And two, it was the strangest looking mud he'd ever seen. Oh God. Oh God no. He was mistaken. This was not mud. It was quicksand.

They were going to bloody die.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Rob and Gina sure find their way into some crazy situations. Lol. I wrote this chapter instead of doing my schoolwork. Shh. Don't tell anybody. But ya'll can tell me what you thought of the chapter!

Until next time!

SD