After meeting Cora, he does not really expect the woman to like him as it was obvious that she won't. The woman belittled him in every possible way but he grinned and bore it because Regina is worth it. He can take whatever insults Cora threw his way but what was unacceptable was when the woman just casually blamed her daughter for divorcing that monster who used to hurt her.
How fucked up was that?
To top of it all, her father did nothing to stop his wife from hurting his daughter like that. He saw the way she glanced over her father like she wished he would say something but he just remained quiet the whole time.
He didn't understand it because yes, they may have been different from the concept of family he grew up in but are they totally heartless to just let their daughter drown like that?
As if that was not enough, Cora had the audacity to invite Graham into the party that she was babbling about that was for Regina.
Now, he had seen the man's picture before but seeing him in person just made him snap. He was barely holding himself together but he was thinking of Regina so instead of lashing out like what he wanted to do, he told Regina that they're leaving.
Graham's mistake was the grab her arm to stop her. That's when he lost it. He just remembered the things she told him, about the things she had to endure under his roof. He remembered how scared she is at the memories of him. How just knowing that he was in the same town as her sent her into a panic attack. He could not take it any longer. He needed that man to pay for everything he did to her.
The only reason he stopped was because of Regina. He could not wait to get her out of there and that's what he did.
He did not mean to snap at her whilst driving. He's not good at dealing with anger but he realized why she had stopped him and why she made him promise to not do that again. She was worried for him which is a marvel considering she was the one who was hurt by that monster. That's how big her heart is and how selfless she can be.
When they got home, he can tell she's exhausted, not physically, but mentally and emotionally.
"Do you want me to draw you a bath? It'll help you relax",
She sent him a smile before shaking her head no.
"I just want to get out of this dress and sleep. You can go ahead and take one if you like",
"No. I'll join you to bed instead",
That's what they did. They lay comfortably on the bed as he safeguard her with his arms. He truly wished that he can protect her from the world but no matter how much he tries, he's not that powerful.
"You know when I divorced Graham I came back home first to my parents before I went to Granny. I told them what happened but they did not believe me or rather my mother did not", she's tracing invisible patterns on his arm and he let her. It's her way of grounding herself, he learned. "I knew they would not so I brought evidence with me to support my claim. Medical reports, some photos, but even with all of that, they just thought I was setting him up so I can get out of the marriage",
"Are you serious?" He could not help it.
"Oh yeah…because I'm a lawyer, they think I falsified those to trick them. You see, they adored Graham. He fits the man they want for me so it was difficult for them to accept what I was telling them. I just knew then that they're not going to protect me from him. I could not take shelter in our own house so I went to Granny instead",
If his view on his parents are low, it just sunk deeper. What was more important than appearances? That was their daughter literally asking them for their help and they accused her of being a liar.
"Now, I am telling you this so you would understand why I don't like talking about my parents or where I came from. You let me into your world before you even got to know everything about me. It's only fair that you get the same courtesy",
"Regina, if you did not want to go back there, why did you say yes?"
It was obvious that morning that she did not want to go. She was basically forcing herself and still, she did it.
"Hope, I guess. I was hoping that perhaps, they changed. I was hoping that after all these years, they've finally accepted the truth and that they can make peace with how I live my life now but I guess I was wrong to hope", she answered.
He holds her closer because the woman has not known love in her life and the first persons who were supposed to give her that failed completely.
"I don't know what else to say to make you feel better but I am here, alright? I am not sure whether I will be enough to feel the void in your heart but I am certainly going to try",
She chuckled. "Robin…you are more than enough. You were the reason why I was able to go through with it. I don't think I would lasted an hour in that place if you're not there",
"Do you still want to go to the cabin tomorrow?"
He thought that it might do her some good to forget about what happened today.
"I would love that very much",
The effect was instantaneous. Regina felt more relax once they reached the cabin. It's like the weight of the world has been lifted from her shoulders and he's glad that he's able to do that for her.
"You know, if you're up to it, there's a lake nearby. We can check it out and have a little picnic", he suggested.
She arched a brow at him while strutting her way towards him.
"A little picnic? Last time we were in a lake, we did not get to do much picnicking",
Oh, yes…he remembers that. It was supposed to be a simple picnic which ended up with the two of them having sex in the lake.
"Well…we can also do that again but a picnic sounds nice, right?"
"Yes, it does. Just give me time to get ready?"
"Take all the time you need",
He packed up everything before changing his clothes to a comfortable one. When Regina emerged from the room, she's already geared up too.
The lake is not far from the cabin and it did not take long to get there. He set up the picnic while Regina picked the music to play on his phone.
It's like he's having some deja vu because the last time they did this, it was the beginning of their story for them. He felt like they're coming full circle somehow.
"Wow…you brought the fancy bottle", she commented when he took it out the bag.
"Only the best for the love of my life",
She rolled her eyes at that but allowed him to pour her a glass.
"This looks better than the lake at Storybrooke",
"Yes, it is",
They admired the scenery some more before starting the picnic. They talked about work, their friends, anything under the sun.
He missed having this conversation with her. There are no worries, no threats, no family drama…just the two of them having a good time.
"You know, I was thinking of something and I need your opinion", she turned to him, waiting for whatever it is he's about to say. "I want to sell my house",
"Sorry, what?"
"Yes…listen. It does not make sense to keep it when I'm living with you anyway. I rarely go back there, only to check if it's still in one piece and to clean it. Other than that, it's not my home anymore. My home is with you", he explained.
He's been thinking quite a lot about that actually. He knows how much she loves her house so he will not ask her to move out of it to be with him so it has to be him to sell his place so he can be with her.
"Robin, are you sure? That's your house…I mean, we're not talking about cars here. Once you sell it, there's no going back", she asked.
"I know that and yes, I am sure. I've always been sure when it comes to you, Regina",
Hell, he even built a cabin just for her. He's all in. He wants a life with her. He wants a future with her.
"You don't need my opinion nor my permission to do anything, Robin. If that's what you want, I will support you. I just don't want you to regret it",
"I won't. It's settled then. I'll work on it tomorrow and then, I'll have my things moved to your house",
She smiled at him before cupping his face. "Our house",
He likes the sound of that. He closed the distance between them and kissed her just because he wants to. He can feel her smiling onto their kiss and he feels giddy like a teenager.
When she stopped and pulled away, he frowned because the kiss is going very well.
"You want to check if the water's good?"
Oh…now, he likes where her mind is going.
He followed her as she got rid of her clothes and jumped into the lake. Sure, the water is cold but she's there to keep him warm and he did the same to her.
They resumed making out while in the water, feeling so consumed by one another. Yes, he is going to give up everything for this woman, not just his house.
"I love you, Regina",
"I love you too, Robin",
When she wrapped her legs around his waist, a groan escaped his lips. "Shit, Regina…you're going to be the end of me",
"Don't be so dramatic. I want to feel you",
He did not need to be told twice. He freed himself before finding her entrance under the water and entered her swiftly.
Her mouth hanged open and he took that chance to slip his tongue into her mouth. She feels too damn good that he started moving into her in such pace.
"Oh…that feels good. Keep doing that", she moaned.
Yes, he is so in love with her. He held her close, not wanting to lose her for a second as he thrusted back and forth into her heat.
He can feel himself already getting closer and he wants her to reach her climax before him.
"Are you close?"
"Oh, yes…"
He held back, waiting for her release and when he felt her walls contracting around her, he let go. They cried each other's names as they got rocked by their orgasms.
Having sex in the lake is probably their thing now so it seems.
"That was amazing", he breathed out as he catches his breath.
"Amazing would be an understatement", she said.
She is glowing. He loves seeing her afterglow each time he can satisfy her.
"I think we should keep having picnic by the lake",
She laughed at that. "Is that so?"
"Yes. Thank heavens, we have a lake near our house. It's definitely very handy",
She kissed him again while laughing. "We can do whatever we want, Robin Locksley. You won't hear me complaining",
"Whatever?" He raised a brow at her.
"Yes, whatever",
"Marry me",
It just came out of nowhere. Well, not really because he has been thinking about it too. In the background of all the things that are happening, it's been in his mind. He's not kidding when he said he wants to have a future with her and one of those is being married to her.
Regina, on the other hand, froze in his arms. It's not how he envisioned to propose to her but he got caught up in the moment and he just asked her point blank. He put her on the spot right in a place where she can't just easily escape. Hell, he is still buried deep inside her! She must think that he did it on purpose to trap her.
"Regina…I'm sorry. I did not mean to put you on the spot like that. I shouldn't have said it like that…in here. It's not—"
She stopped his rambling by pressing her lips on his.
"Okay",
He did a double take at that.
"Okay?"
"Okay…I will marry you, Robin Locksley", she responded.
He could not believe it. "Really? I mean…are you sure?"
"Jesus, Robin!" She started laughing. "Can't you believe a woman when she said yes? Yes! I will marry you…but you have to get me a ring first because I am not going to until you put a ring on my finger",
He kissed her again and again and again because he could not believe that she said yes to his half-baked proposal.
"I'll get you your ring. Hell, I will get you the most beautiful ring you'll ever see in your life", he vowed.
"Just shut up and kiss me, Robin", she said and that's what he did.
