Sorry for the long wait, I hope that this chapter makes up for it! Stay safe everyone!
"The search continues for missing girl, Kathryn Midas, who vanished last week after attending a house party. Her friends reported seeing no sign of the seventeen-year-old, the girl has been missing for seven days with no evidence as to her whereabouts."
Regina turned the news off and sighed to herself, rain was bouncing off her bedroom window, tapping against it and not showing any signs of letting up. It had been raining all day and it was making her positively miserable, she had tried to study but couldn't bring herself to do it, she wasn't in the mood to do anything but sit there and stare at the wall.
It had been a week since the scary incident at school, but there had been no sign of the hooded figure. She was starting to think that her mind had been playing tricks on her, that she had been so exhausted from worrying about Kathryn that she'd summoned the entity from her own imagination. She knew that Robin did too, he probably thought she was going crazy, he'd told her that it was most likely that she was sleep-deprived and a large part of her hoped that was true. She wanted that to be the case, she'd rather that than the alternative.
The atmosphere at school had been a sombre one the past week, even her popular friends had been subdued, the usually boisterous football players had been quiet, the cheerleaders worried, everyone was concerned about the missing girl. She and Robin hadn't heard a peep from Nottingham either, not since her strongly-worded threat, he'd made sure to stay away from them and she was grateful for it.
Just to add another something else to the list of things that were bothering her, she still hadn't managed to have a conversation with Robin about their relationship. Every time she tried to bring it up, he'd shut the conversation down or changed the subject, she was beginning to think that maybe he didn't actually want her after all. Sure, he would give her the odd chaste kiss and hug, but nothing more, they'd never really had a proper make-out session. Maybe he just didn't want to be her boyfriend, she wondered if that was a possibility.
With a groan she turned onto her side, her eyes landing on the glass doors that led out onto her balcony, giving her a view of the dark clouds and the storm going on outside. It had been a while since they'd been hit with a storm so powerful, she was surprised that the power was still on, but grateful none the less.
"Regina, are you coming downstairs?"
She sighed, curling further around her blankets, she didn't feel like it at that moment.
"Sweetie, are you going to come out of your room at all?"
"No," she murmured, looking up at her mother who was stood in the doorway.
"You can't mope in here all night."
"Why?"
"Come on, we can watch a movie and order some Chinese food."
"From Lucky Dragon?"
"Where else?" Cora chuckled, moving further into the room and taking hold of Regina's blanket from the bottom.
"No, don't do it," she grumbled, tugging it back, only for her mother to pull it in one sweep, straight off Regina, leaving her without her cuddly blanket. "Hey! Mom!"
"You have to come down if you want the blanket," she grinned smugly before turning on her heel and leaving the room, "come on! I'll get the menu out and you can decide what you want."
Regina stared at the ceiling for a moment longer before shuddering at the cold and reaching out for her dressing gown. She plodded down the stairs before dropping herself down onto the couch, where her mother had left the blanket she had stolen from her. She immediately cocooned herself within it, it was cosy and she was feeling really comfortable, but it still didn't pull her out of her slump.
"Right you, food and a movie."
It had helped her escape her thoughts for a couple of hours, but once the movie had finished, she had retreated back to her bedroom. The lights were off in her room, but the TV was playing re-runs of Friends, the storm was still going on outside and she just wanted something comforting. She could always rely on Friends to cheer her up. Robin had been messaging her on and off, checking up to see if she was okay, she'd told him she was fine, but she wasn't really.
There was a sudden tap at the door to her balcony and she felt her heart race a little, she knew that it was probably just the tree outside in the garden blowing against the glass. Ignoring it she focused on the television, trying to block it out as it carried ongoing. That was until she heard the handle rattle, her eyes widened as she tucked her knees against her chest, she muted the TV and stared at the doors in the dark, seeing a shadowed figure outside.
"Fuck," she breathed, too scared to even move, she could feel herself shaking. Was this the same person who had taken Kathryn? Were they coming after her too? Was it the person who had chased her through the school corridor? She couldn't remember if that door was locked, she was sure it was, but whoever was outside was fiddling with the handle. In that same moment, the power flicked off, plunging the room into darkness and Regina cowered further into her covers.
As the door creaked open, she reached out for whatever she could get her hands on, landing on the snow globe sat on her dressing table she launched it towards the intruder, hearing a sharp hiss and a familiar voice calling out to her, "shit! Regina, it's me!"
"Kathryn?!"
"Yeah."
Regina grabbed her phone, turned on the torch so that it lit up the room and hurriedly slid off the bed, moving towards her and staring at her in shock. She was soaking wet from the storm outside and Regina had no idea how she managed to climb up onto her balcony, but she'd managed it somehow. Regina didn't know what to say, she was left stunned as she felt her bottom lip wobble, "what's going on?"
"What's going on is that you just threw a fucking snow globe at me, Jesus," the blonde groaned, lifting her hand to the fresh cut on her cheek, caused by the ornament hitting her. "What the hell is your problem?!"
"My problem?" Regina gasped, not being able to take her eyes off her friend, "my problem?! You just broke into my room in the middle of a storm and scared the shit out of me?! You've been missing a week, with no explanation and you just come to me like this and ask me what my problem is?! Where have you been?!"
"Missing? I left a note for my parents telling them where I was."
"No, Kat, you didn't."
"Yes! I did!"
Regina shook her head, "so all this time you've been fine?! This whole week you've been completely fine?!"
"I went off with Jay for a while," the blonde shrugged, moving to perch on Regina's bed, looking at her as though she was insane.
"Who the hell is Jay? Haven't you seen the news? Fuck Kat, we thought you were dead! We had no idea what happened to you," Regina sighed. She didn't know whether to feel angry or relieved that her friend was back unscathed, it was a mixture of both. "What happened to your phone? Didn't think to respond to any of our messages?"
"Battery died."
"Do your parents know you're back?"
"No, I came here first."
"Why?"
"Because I knew they'd be pissed at me and I figured we needed to come up with some sort of cover story."
"Cover story?"
"Yeah, like… I dunno, I was kidnapped but managed to escape."
"No, we are not doing that, you're going to have to face the consequences of this Kat," she hissed, anger winning out. How dare she? How dare she put them through the literal hell they had been experiencing and just show up so casually like it was nothing. It was so selfish, she knew her friend could only think about herself sometimes but this was way over the line. "Do you not care?! Don't you care about how scared people have been?"
"I came straight back, as soon as I saw the news. Shit, I didn't realise they'd care enough to go to the police."
"Do you know what, fuck off. Kathryn, you are so selfish, your parents and your friends have all being going through hell and you literally couldn't give a shit."
"Why, who do you think had taken me? The boogie man?" she teased, reclining back on the bed, looking up at the ceiling.
Regina didn't even know what to do, how could she get through to her? Make her see just how panicked people had been about her. It made her blood boil to know that her friend was capable of allowing them all to worry so much without a care in the world. There was a soft knock at the door and her mother peeked her head around, the smile that had been on her face disappearing as she caught sight of Kathryn.
"Oh my goodness gracious girl, you've had everyone in a tizzy," Cora quipped, raking her eyes over the blonde before furrowing them a little, "what's going on?"
"She was enjoying her time away with a guy apparently, didn't think to let anyone know," Regina scoffed, her eyes catching sight of a figure lingering behind her mother in her doorway with a box in hand. "Robin?"
"Hi," he hesitated for a minute before running a hand through his hair, "I should go."
"No!" she shouted, clearing her throat after the little outburst, "no, sorry, could you give us a minute though?" she asked, offering him a little smile.
"I'll wait in the sitting room," he nodded, glancing at Kathryn once more before heading down the stairs.
Regina sighed, trying to think over what she was going to do about this situation, it wasn't fair. It wasn't fair that Kathryn was putting this on her, she wasn't even really her closest friend any more, Kathryn had been hanging around with Emma more lately and Regina had been a little bit hung up on Robin, maybe that was the problem. She wasn't getting the same amount of attention as she used to and had to find a way to get that back.
The power flashed back on but she turned the television off in favour of turning her lamp on, allowing more light to flood into the room.
She moved over to the closet to grab the blonde a change of clothes so that she wouldn't be sitting there soaked. "Kat talk to me please," Regina instructed, grabbing a couple of tissues and dabbing at the cut on her friend's face, wiping the blood away. "This wasn't an accident?"
The blonde shrugged and looked down at her hands, "I just wanted to see if anyone gave a shit if I wasn't around."
"Of course we do!"
"I'll go call your parents," Cora murmured before leaving the girls to talk alone.
"Sometimes I think people wouldn't even notice if I just disappeared."
"Well, they noticed," the brunette breathed, reaching for her hands and taking them gently, "we all noticed Kat. You fucking scared us all to death. I have hardly slept all week from worrying about you."
"So that's why you look like shit," Kathryn chuckled wetly as a tear rolled down her cheek.
"Don't make me regret my worry," Regina giggled, wrapping her arms around her friend, feeling the need to just hug her for a minute. "I still don't get it. Why didn't you just talk to us? Tell us how you were feeling?"
"Because I knew exactly how you'd respond."
"Try me?"
"You'd tell me to stop being stupid, that of course you still cared. Then you'd bugger off with your boyfriend."
"He's not my boyfriend," Regina defended, noticing Kat's raised eyebrow at that statement. "He isn't we… we haven't put a label on anything yet, sometimes I think that he doesn't want to. This isn't about me though, it's about you, about the way you're feeling right now."
"I just… I hate my life," she breathed, "I hate being this person. I tried to hide how I felt about everything, so much happened whilst you weren't around, so much you don't know about, that no one really knows about. Jay isn't even a real person, I literally just got in a taxi and… it was ridiculous. That last party was the final straw for me I guess, I was sick of guys trying to hook up with me and not really wanting to get to know me, I know they just wanted sex, that's all they ever want from me and I give it to them."
Regina nodded, pulling back to wipe the tears from her friend's face as she looked at her, there was something she wasn't telling her, but she didn't exactly know what it was. She wasn't going to push her, it seemed the way she had been acting when she first arrived had been a front, a mask to hide her true emotions. "Well, we'll just have to change that then won't we. Next time someone tries something, tell them to go use their hand," she grinned, "I mean, I managed to get by pretty well telling people to do that since our first party."
"I always wished I could do that."
"You can," Regina nodded, "I promise, we'll be able to sort this out. Though I doubt you'll be allowed out of the house for a few months after this."
"I know, my parents are going to be pissed."
"And relieved. Trust me, they might be angry, but they'll be more relieved than anything, happy that you're safe."
"Hmm and I'll be facing therapy sessions galore."
"Maybe that's a good thing."
"I suppose," she sighed.
The conversation lulled as they sat there in silence, both of them deep in thought, there was something Regina needed to know, something she couldn't stop herself from asking, "I need to know something."
"What is it?"
"Were you sending threatening messages to Robin?"
The blonde's eyebrows furrowed and the look on her face gave her the answer she sought without even needing to hear it out loud. "He's been getting threatening messages?"
"Hmm, we don't know who's sending them."
"You thought it was me?"
"Well your track record isn't exactly squeaky clean, but we're just trying to rule people out," Regina sighed. She was relieved that it wasn't Kathryn, but at the same time part of her wished that it had been, at least then they would have known who was tormenting them, now they were back to being none the wiser. "I also think someone might have been following me, at school."
"Following you? You have fans?" the blonde chuckled.
"Kat, I'm serious. It really freaked me out. You might think I'm crazy, but I was walking home the other week and someone followed me then too," she whispered, "so when you went missing…"
"Shit."
"Yeah. You can see why I was so panicked, I thought maybe whoever this was had taken you and I was next."
"God, Regina, I'm sorry I put you through that, I really am," she sighed, reaching out and taking Regina's hand, "you should have told me about it."
"I didn't tell anyone really, not even my mom, but I think maybe I should." She had been considering it for a while, she knew that it was the sensible thing to do, her mother would know how to deal with it, but she didn't want to make something of it if it was just some idiot from school playing tricks on her.
"Sounds like a good idea," Kathryn murmured, her head turning towards the hallway as they heard the doorbell ring through the house, "better go face the music."
"Yeah, you should."
Kathryn's parents had taken her to the sheriff's station when the left the Mill's house, it has been after a tearful reunion. They were angry of course, but mostly worried about their daughter and what had caused her to disappear like that in the first place. Regina was completely drained; she'd been tired enough before Kathryn showed up in her room and the emotional rollercoaster she had been on had taken it out of her. The moment the Midas' had gone, Regina moved into the sitting room and dropped down onto the couch beside Robin who had been on his phone.
She looked up at him for a moment before shuffling to wrap her arms around him and closing her eyes, "I actually can't believe that."
"Me either," he agreed, his hands moving to her back as he cuddled her back. "So, she'd just gone off for a little while?"
"Hmm. I think she might have had a little mental breakdown, to be honest," Regina sighed, pulling back to look at him. "What did you come by for? Though I'm entirely grateful that you're here," she hummed, smiling up at him.
"Well, actually, I thought cookies might cheer you up," he sighed, patting the box of freshly baked cookies beside him. "You seemed a little down earlier."
Her heart almost melted in her chest at the look on his face and she couldn't help but lean in and press a soft kiss to his lips, "thank you so much. Cookies will always cheer me up, but seeing you is worth a hundred cookies."
Robin's fingers cupped her jaw tenderly, stroking over her soft skin, "yeah, well the cookies were just an excuse for me to come and see you."
"You don't need an excuse for that." Regina looked at him for a moment longer, her mother had already gone to bed as it was almost midnight, "are you staying over?" she whispered.
"I could, if you want. I told my mum I might be staying in your spare room so that we could study in the morning. Which sounds like a complete lie to be honest, I don't know how she fell for that one."
She chuckled and tucked her hair behind her ear, "trust me, you won't be staying in the spare room, unless I'm staying in there with you." Regina slipped off the sofa and took his hand, tugging him up with her before leading him towards the stairs.
One minute they had been talking quietly in bed and the next she found herself straddling Robin's lap with her face inches away from his. "There's something I've been wanting to tell you for a while actually, I just… I was a little scared to do it and with this whole Kathryn situation, it just never felt like the right time," she whispered.
"You can tell me, whatever it is," he nodded, his hands running over her waist before moving lower to the tops of her thighs, her bare skin on show from underneath her short nightgown, making her breath hitch as she moved her hips against his.
"I think I might be falling in… oh god," she gasped as his fingers trailed up her legs, one brushing over the hem of her underwear and taking her breath away. "Robin."
"Me too, I think I've already fallen," Robin nodded, closing the gap and stealing her lips, his hand slipping inside her panties, brushing over her bare centre making her shudder against his touch.
"Fuck," she couldn't believe how bold he was being touching her like that, his finger rubbing against her clit and making her moan against his mouth, pushing further into his hand, encouraging him to continue with his ministrations. When they broke apart, he looked down and realised what he had done, he went to pull his hand away only for her to grab his wrist and hold him in place, "please, don't stop. I want you to carry on, I want this."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes, please," she moaned, kissing him again, her hands falling to his chest, pressing against him as he carried on stroking her, his fingers slipping through her folds before he experimentally allowed one to dip inside. She was so turned on and so unbelievably wet, she gasped and writhed against his fingers, pushing herself closer, a low groan slipping from her lips, her hips move, pushing, pulling him in, pulsing and…
She gasped as her eyes flew open, darkness filling her vision as Robin's face slipped out of focus and she was left with dull tingling and slick between her legs. Robin was still asleep beside her and she found herself blushing in mortification at what she had just done. She'd just had a sex dream about Robin whilst in bed with him, clearing her throat she pulled herself away from his side and wandered into the bathroom. Regina glanced at her reflection in the mirror.
She knew that she wanted Robin, but she was just too scared to take the leap.
With a sigh she cleaned herself up before walking out of the bathroom and back towards the bed where Robin was sleeping. She slipped under the sheets, her eyes falling to the guy beside her, watching as his chest rose softly. Biting her bottom lip she shook his shoulder gently, knowing she shouldn't really be waking him in the middle of the night, but she couldn't help it. He opened his eyes slowly, reaching a hand out to touch her, "hey, Regina, are you okay?"
"Hmm, I just wanted to talk to you that's all," she whispered, lying back down beside him as they laid facing each other in the dark, with only the light of the moon peeking through the gaps either side of her blind.
"In the middle of the night?"
"Yes," she moved a little closer, her hand finding his and threading their fingers together, "I just… well I wanted to ask you something really."
"Okay," he nodded, trying to make himself more awake, his thumb stroking over her knuckles.
"What are we?"
"What do you mean?"
"To each other, what are we?"
"I'm not sure."
"Me neither, because we haven't talked about it. Do you not want to be more than friends?" she asked, feeling fear bubble up inside her at the prospect of him only wanting to be friends, she found herself falling for him more and more each day, so for him to say they were only friends would crush her hopes that they could have something. "Sometimes I think that maybe you don't want us to be more."
"I do! I mean, I do want us to be more than friends. I was just… I didn't really know how to ask you. I was nervous that you'd say no, that I wouldn't be good enough for you."
"Are you joking?! It should be me who is worried about not being good enough, not you."
"Seriously? Regina you are the most perfect woman I have ever met, I'm just a nerd with bad fashion sense."
"No, you're not," she shook her head, moving closer and allowing her leg to slide over his hips as she pressed herself against him, "you're so amazing and I'm sad that I couldn't have met you sooner than I did. That we wasted so much time not knowing each other." Her fingers brushed over the stubble on his jaw as she stared into his eyes, his face was gently lit by the moonlight and she didn't think she'd seen him look more handsome than he did in that minute, with messy hair and sleepy blue eyes. He looked gorgeous.
"I never thought you'd notice me to be honest, never mind actually like me."
"I more than like you Robin," Regina whispered. It was probably the most intimate moment of her entire life and she felt as though her heart was about to beat right out of her chest. "And I want to me be more than friends, if that's what you want."
"That's definitely what I want. I would be honoured to call you my girlfriend."
"So?"
"So, Regina Mills, would you like to be my girlfriend?"
A smile formed on her lips as she bit down on her bottom one, finally! Finally, he asked her out! It had taken enough pushing for him to do it, but eventually, he'd got there. "I think I'd like that," she hummed, moving in closer to kiss him gently, "boyfriend. Do you know how happy I am right now?"
"Maybe as happy and relieved as I am?" Robin chuckled, his arms wrapping around her.
"I can't wait to let the whole school know we're together," she giggled, thinking about how people might find out about them made her happy, she was proud to be his girlfriend. Proud that he was her boyfriend and she wanted to show him off, though she knew he wasn't as social as she was, so maybe she couldn't shout it from the rooftops like she wanted to. "But don't worry, we'll let people find out on their own. All that matters is that we know we're together," she grinned, pressing her forehead to his.
"Hmm, you're my girlfriend," he grinned, kissing her gently, his tongue flicking out to tease her bottom lip making her gasp and pull back to look at him again. She wondered what was going through his head in that moment, whether he was feeling the same emotions she was, she didn't know if she was ready to go further exactly, but she knew that at some point she would be, her dream had told her that much. "Sorry."
"Don't apologise, it was nice," she smiled softly, "I liked it."
"I don't really know what came over me, I just…"
"Robin, stop apologising," she chuckled, kissing him once more before breaking away a little, "but I think the two of us really need to catch up on some sleep if we stand any chance of getting studying done tomorrow." She was reluctant to end things, it had been the closest to a make-out session they had ever been, but after her earlier dream, she was worried that if they carried on she would allow it to go further than she might be ready for.
"That's true because trust me I have so much studying planned for tomorrow that you're not going to know what hit you," he smirked, pecking her lips once more. She brushed her hand over his face before finding his fingers and turning so that her back was to him but his arm was tightly pulled around her. Regina closed her eyes and snuggled against him, finally for the first time in a week falling sound asleep, happily cuddled up in her boyfriend's arms.