The last thing Regina expected to see are the neighbors who dislike her to appear on her doorsteps. Most of all, she didn't expect to see Killian Jones to be there.
"I don't remember sending an invite", she muttered while controlling her temper because if they came to have a repeat of the night Emma dragged her friends out of her house, she's going to explode.
"We did not come here to interrupt anything. I didn't come here as a Sheriff. I promise", Emma replied.
Regina glanced at Robin who looks very worried and slightly pissed. It was not him who invited them to her house. She thought about just letting them stand there and say whatever they want to say but that would have been harsh on her part.
"Regina, dear, what's going on?"
Cruella and Mal approached her and Robin at the door. Her friends' eyes widened when they saw the people outside before they turned angry.
"Well…I don't think these people are here to greet me happy birthday. Regina, why don't you go by the pool? Mal and I would gladly have a word with these people", Cru said.
"More than a word, to be honest", Mal added.
Sensing another scandal, Regina turned to her friends and gave them a look they both know very well.
"Are you sure, honey? You don't need to put up with these people", Mal asked in concern.
Yes, they think she's some sort of martyr for being a pacifist but if she will gives in to her dark impulses and launch war with her neighbors, nothing will ever change.
"I'm sure. Keep the guests entertain, will you?"
Cruella and Mal left but not without one last glare towards her neighbors.
"Well, come on in", Regina then said.
They all settled in the living room while her friends kept the party by the pool to give them some sort of privacy. Robin did not leave her side as he carefully observed his friends.
"So…what brings you all here?"
Unlike Robin's housewarming party, Mary Margaret does not look like she's going to bite her head off just for existing in Storybrooke. Instead, she looks ashamed for some reason.
"We came to apologize", Emma said.
"What?" Regina must have heard her wrong.
"Killian told us what happened…about the pool. David also came clean to Mary Margaret. I also took Robin's advice and decided to do some Sheriff work and asked around. Few people confirmed to me about it", the blonde explained.
Robin's advice?
"Regina…I have no words about how my husband behaved and his lack of judgment in that matter. No one deserved that and I am so sorry for how it has affected you", Mary Margaret said before elbowing her husband.
"We thought it was something cool to do but we were wrong. I'm very sorry for participating", David said.
Then, they all turned to Killian who is keeping it quiet the entire time. Among all of them, she's most disappointed in him because she thought he's actually a nice person. He has a good sense of humor, pleasing to the eyes, and they shared a difficult background which made her at ease with talking with him. She really thought they could be friends.
"Regina, I've been meaning to talk to you…to apologize but I thought that it would be better if you would not hear anything from me. I thought I was doing you a favor but apparently, I was not. I crossed a line and it's a big one. You're a good person and I wasted the opportunity of having you as a friend by being stupid. For that, I am truly sorry", Killian apologized.
Regina took a moment to process what's happening. She's gotten so used to hearing snide remarks from them, receiving their judgmental gazes, that hearing them apologize to her is somewhat feels like a dream. It does not feel real to her like she would wake up at any moment and realized, it never happened.
Are they playing her? That thought crossed her mind. If they are, they're playing an elaborate game by coming all this way just to fool her. She's having a hard time believing that they actually mean the things they're saying.
"Well…this is a surprise. This is the last thing I expected to hear from any of you",
When she glanced beside her, her eyes met Robin's giving her an encouraging smile.
"You talked to them?" she asked.
"…not everyone", he answered.
She has no idea what he said to them but it must be something for these people to see reason.
"We have lots of food and drinks. If you haven't had dinner yet, you're welcome to join us", she then said.
The others did a doubletake.
"Hold on. That's it? You're not going to yell at us or say hurtful things or maybe, I told you so?" Mary Margaret asked in disbelief.
"I could have because you all did hurt me without even getting to know me but doing that, it's not going to help nor solve anything. I acknowledge that it's not easy to go here and say you're sorry though. So, I am choosing to believe your words no matter how hard it is for me to do so. Now, who's hungry?" Regina responded.
Her friends could not believe it when she brought her neighbors by the pool. Of course, they all remembered the night they were kicked out by the sheriff but she reassured them that it's not going to happen again.
She's taking a big risk but they took a chance in swallowing their prides by taking the first step. It's her turn to take the next. Maybe if they actually get to know her, they will see that she's not who they thought she is.
"Did you ask them to apologize to me?" she asked Robin as they stood by the kitchen door.
"Me? No. Actually, I told them to leave you alone",
She chuckled.
"Well, they don't know how to listen",
"I think you're right", they both watched the new arrivals as they browsed for something to eat. "That's a brave thing to do…what you just did. I don't think I have that in me personally. After everything you went through, to be the bigger person. You're really something, Regina Mills", he said.
They locked eyes for a moment and she realized that he is quite something too to go out of his way to defend her from his friends. It's not something one does for someone they just met. She is touched by it.
"Thank you, Robin. You're a good man", she replied.
Regina woke up with a smile on her face. Last night's party turned out to be more than just a success. Firstly, no one was kicked out of her house. Secondly, she seemed to have made progress with her neighbors thanks to Robin.
The last bit was unexpected but not entirely unwelcomed. She's not one to seek approval of others but it's nice to know that there will be less people to judge her whenever she goes out of her house.
Cruella and Mal won't stop talking about Robin all night and how he's a miracle worker and though she admits that he is different from the men she knew, she is still apprehensive. How many times did she fall for men's ability to appear as something else only to reveal themselves as someone totally different? She learned a long time ago that she needs to protect herself because no one else will do that for her.
Still, Robin is the first thing she thought about when she opened her eyes. She couldn't get his blue eyes out of her head. It was fun to spend time with him. He's funny and they almost have similar tastes in everything. The conversation is easy too. She didn't have a dull moment with him.
Shaking Robin off her system, she got out of bed and decided to go for a swim. It always worked in clearing her head and she needs to clear her head of Robin Locksley.
She must have been in the water for long because when she resurfaced, the doorbell is ringing.
"Oh, hi", Robin's jaw slackened as he stared at her.
At first, she was confused as to why he's looking at her like that but then she realized, in her haste, she had forgone grabbing a towel to cover herself and she answered the door in her swimsuit.
"Sorry, I was at the pool. Do you need something?" she asked.
She's never been conscious when it comes to her body and since it is her house, there is no reason for her to be ashamed by her state clothing.
"Uh…I was…well…I just want…would you…",
The way he stuttered is actually adorable. "Robin…just spill it", she chuckled.
"Sorry…I was wondering if you would like to grab breakfast with me. You must be tired from last night and cooking will take time and effort. We can go to Granny's maybe? I heard the food there is great",
He is inviting her for breakfast. Her first instinct is to say no. Going out with someone is not something she does but then again, it's not like it's a date. It's just breakfast. She's heading to Granny's anyway after her swim for her coffee. There's no harm in joining Robin for breakfast…right?
"Sure. Let me just put on a dress. Would you like to come in?"
Robin only nodded and walked inside her house.
She showered quickly before putting on something comfortable before going downstairs. She found Robin standing in front of the painting above the fireplace.
"Found something interesting?" she asked.
He smiled at her before glancing back towards the painting. "I think so. This painting, it's so breathtaking. I can't explain it, but for some reason, it makes me sad",
It's an image of a woman covering her face with her hands. Her face was mostly hidden by her long hair and the background was almost a blur.
"Yes, it has that effect on people",
"Who painted it?" he asked curiously.
"I did",
She can feel his eyes on her as soon as she said it.
"You paint?"
"Sometimes…not as much as I used to. I painted this five years ago as a reminder to myself and I put this here so I will always see it", she answered.
Her friends always commented on how depressing it is to have the painting in her living room but she likes it there. It reminds her to never go back to that place in her life again.
"What is it that you need reminding of, Regina?",
"…to never be that woman again and to never let anyone make me feel that way ever again", she responded.
She has no idea why she's telling him that. They've known each other for few days and she has told him things she never said to people close to her.
When his hand found hers and held it, she found herself holding her breath too. It's just a simple gesture and she's not one to read much into things but that gesture alone was enough to make her feel things she shouldn't be feeling.
That part of her died a long time ago. She decided that it isn't best to revive it because it only leads to heartache but Robin is slowly waking up the beast and it's making her uneasy.
"We should head out now", she muttered as she pulled her hand away from his.
"Yes, of course", Robin replied with that warm smile of his.
Damn, that smile, because Regina would be lying if she said she does not like seeing that smile because she does.
"Let's go", and then she walked out the door with Robin in tow.