Day 7 (Sunday) of #OQOnHolidaysWeek

39. "What are you doing in my hotel room?"

Part 2 of prompt #52 (previous chapter)


Holy shit.

He truly is in love with her, but instead of excitement, instead of wanting to rush to her to tell her, Robin feels the utter sense of dread, because he knows people like Daniel. Knows they'll won't stop until they get their pray again once they know they might actually have a chance. And besides, it wouldn't be good to tell her.

Right?

Yes.

That's what he tells himself as he walks on slightly trembling legs across the hall, walking towards his room. And for a moment he stops in front of her door, staring at the number 523 and swallows hard before continuing walking to the other door. He slips on his keycard, unlocking the door, and walks inside, only to groan at Will's snores across the room.

He gets ready for bed, ready to just let himself be taken away by blissful sleep. But sleep doesn't come, it evades him like he's the plague, and that, along with Will's snores, have him sitting up in bed and needing to get away.

The beach.

The beach sounds like a wonderful idea at this time.

A place to breathe and relax and gather his thoughts amidst the slight presence of alcohol in his veins.

So, slipping into his flip flops, Robin walks out of the room, leaving behind a snoring Will and the idea of getting some actual sleep.

The lobby is empty, for the exception of a way too friendly clerk, and immediately he walks towards the far end of the room, into a hall, until he can hear the waves crashing with more clarity, passes the pool area, a few couples in it, until finally he feels the soft sand under him. He walks, and walks down the right, then walks across a narrow path between some bushes until finally he sees the expanse sea, moon reflecting on it.

For a moment he just stays there, staring at it, considering getting inside in the dark of the night but thinks better about it, instead he walks twenty steps forward and plops himself on the sand, one leg stretched and the other bent in a way that the knees serve as a place to rest one arm, he stays there, just wondering as he breathes in the salty air.

Stressing over the next step.

Stressing over her.

How could he not realize it before? How could he not see the warning signs? Because if he'd seen them before, if he'd noticed, he would've taken a step back, preventing his feelings from getting stronger. Protecting himself. But they did, and now, now he's in Hawaii with her, an ex wanting to talk to her, perhaps convince her into giving him a second chance.

But there's no way in hell he's going to let that happen.

And he has to start by apologizing to her. She is still, after all, his friend.

.::.

It's not a big deal, Regina tells herself. It's not a big deal the way he reacted, the way she reacted.

So why does she feel like this? Why can't she sleep peacefully knowing that she wasn't at fault for him behaving that way with her? Why has she been turning over and over in bed for the past few hours, huffing in the end because she's exhausted, really wants to sleep but her brain won't shut up. Is she being paranoid over him? Overthinking what could simply be a friend looking out for another friend?

Sighing, Regina looks at the clock on the bedside table, only to groan internally at the hour, at the not yet dawn, and gives up on sleep altogether. Instead she sits up straight, back resting against the back of the bed and picks up her phone from the table.

She scrolls away, liking a few pictures she'd been tagged in, and just when she's about to comment on one picture, a knock sounds around the room.

Regina instantly rolls her eyes because there's only one person who'd dare knock on her room at four am in the morning, and she's not sure she wants to see him right now.

"Jesus Christ," Emma groans a couple of feet away from her on her bed. "Can't he just stop for one day?"

Well, it seems she's not the only one who knows who's at the door, and it seems the fate of Emma's restful hours rest on her.

"I'm sorry. Go back to sleep," Regina whispers, shooting daggers at the door when he knocks again. Rushing to answer the door, to prevent him from knocking again, Regina opens it, and instantly walks out, back pressed against the closed door as she just gives him a murderous look.

"What do you want?" She asks, lips tightly set on a line when she finishes.

"I want to apologize," Robin whispers after a moment, swallowing hard before giving her a small smile.

"Fine. That's it?" She asks, crossing her arms in front of her chest.

"No. I'm well aware that I hurt you yesterday."

"Robin," she begins with a roll of her eyes. "It's 4am, can't we talk about this later?"

"Do you want to talk about it later?" He asks, because he genuinely doesn't believe that to be the case for he's arching an eyebrow at her.

With a sigh, Regina rolls her eyes. "Fine."

"Okay, good. Follow me, I found a nice spot by the beach."

"Are you kidding me? It's 4am!"

"It has a wonderful view, and I'm sure the sunrise will be splendid. Stop being such a drama queen and just trust me."

"Why should I?"

"Because," he shrugs before shaking his head. "You're my closest friend."

That wins her over, because Regina is rolling her eyes again, claiming she'll just put on her shoes and will meet him in the lobby.

When she arrives, a couple of minutes later than him, she follows him as he leads them across the lobby, the pool area, through a narrow path and then finally she sees the beach. He walks closer to the water, and then sits down, legs crossed, and beckons her to do the same.

"I'm gonna get sand all over my pjs, Robin," Regina says with a frown, looking down at the sand.

"Jesus, Regina," he says with a shake of his head before he's reaching for the hem of his shirt and pulling it over the top of his head. Carefully, he places it on the sand next to him and then looks at her again. "Now, take a seat, your majesty."

"Very funny," Regina says after a moment, rolling her eyes as she sits on his spread shirt, though really her stomach flutters at the action. Luckily it isn't windy during this time, so the sand doesn't actually get everywhere, but Regina is careful, only her toes touching the sand, the rest of her protected by his shirt. "So," she begins after a second, "you wanted to talk," shrugs and finishes with, "talk."

"On a scale of 1 to yesterday night, how mad are you at me right now?" Is what he asks after a moment of just thinking.

"A little bit," she says with a roll of her eyes.

He doesn't reply, instead waits for her to speak.

"Okay. A lot. I felt like you wanted to control me. To control my actions. I'm a grown ass woman, Robin, I don't need you to act like you're my father all the time. I mean, I know, deep down, that you mean well. That you just don't want me to hurt again. I understand that. But Robin, when I'm telling you that I'm sure where I stand with Daniel, I mean it. Those are not just meaningless words. No. I don't want to give him a second chance. I don't want to—"

"But Regina," he interrupts her. "You told me yesterday that you didn't know how you felt around him. He can easily take advantage of that, of you. He already knows he had your heart once, he thinks he can have it again," he finishes with a shrug, head turning to look at her fully.

"I'm not going to let it happen, Robin," she says with a shake of her head. "I confided in you how I felt because you're my friend. But he doesn't know it."

At his silence, Regina just crosses her legs under her, and places one hand on his forearm, grabbing his attention again.

"He doesn't know that I... we did archery lessons thinking he was the target. Or that I pictured him as the boxing bag. Or that the hate I felt for him fueled my morning runs. He doesn't know any of that. And that, Robin, is what puts me on advantage."

Robin nods at her and just stares ahead, unsure still about everything.

"I'll tell you what," she begins, a small smile on her face. "I haven't actually agreed to meet him yet, so, how about we forget about him for today. Forget that he's in the same hotel as us."

"Well I would love nothing more," he says almost immediately and Regina laughs at that, at him.

"I really do need to surround myself with more people like you, intensity and all."

"I already make up for ten of them at least," Robin says on a laugh to which she chuckles and nods in agreement.

For a few moments Robin and Regina just stay like that, staring at the sea in front of them, the waves crashing, ripples on the far end reflecting the moon, just content to be in each other's company.

"So does this mean you forgive me?"

Regina thinks about if for a moment, before she's chuckling. "Almost. You promised me excellent seafood and that has yet to be kept. So," she finishes on a shrug, giving him a side look.

"That's can be easily fixed. Tonight. Will you allow me to take you out of the hotel grounds for some delicious seafood, information that I will find out from one of the front desk clerks? What do you think, does that fulfill all steps into forgiving me?" Robin asks with a smile, eyebrow arched.

She hesitates for a moment, because it almost feels like a… date. But it's stupid, it's stupid, friends can go out on non-romantic dates, it most definitely is a thing. She has gone with him plenty of times, but why does it feel different this time? Is it because they're on holidays? Is it because Daniel had asked to see her that night? Either way, Regina finds herself smiling as she tells him yes, her stomach fluttering in excitement.

.::.

That night, Regina has more fun than she's ever had in her entire lifetime. What with Robin being pulled up front to learn the hula dance (he absolutely sucks at it), and actually having great seafood, she truly feels giddy and lightheaded and just happy, the stress of the past two days disappearing in its entirety as Robin once again starts moving his hips, side to side, looking like a robot in comparison to the people next to him, but he's still laughing along with the crowd, turning around and showing them his assets as he moves, this time more slowly, older women catcalling him from the crowd and she joins in, slips two fingers into her mouth and whistles at him.

When he returns a couple of moments later, a Lei around his neck and an overly large shirt with the name of the restaurant printed on the front, Regina just feels like her cheeks hurt from smiling too much, ignoring the sudden need she feels to... kiss him.

Shaking her head at her thoughts, Regina smiles at him from her seat and clears her throat. "I never thought I'd see the day where Robin Locksley would take the stage to some hip grinding."

"Not hip grinding, hula dancing," he says matter-of-factly as he takes his seat again.

Regina scoffs at him, amused at his reply. "No, honey, that was many things except hula dancing."

"Well I'm glad you enjoyed my… assets."

"Tell that to the sixty year old ladies around here," she says amused, signaling all around the large restaurant. "You almost gave one a heart attack."

Robin guffaws at that, shakes his head before leaning closer on the table.

"I think we should head off now. It's ten already and I couldn't sleep a wink last night."

"Oh yes that's a good idea. Maybe tonight we can finally catch some sleep. Please don't come knocking on my door at 4am again," she says on a sigh, joints aching in the utter need to sleep.

"That depends, have I been forgiven?"

"With that hula dance? I'm sure you can get away with plenty of things now," Regina finishes on a chuckle, shaking her head as images of his dancing invade her thoughts.

"Good," is what he says, before smiling softly at her, standing up and asking for her hand, not before dropping a couple of twenties on the table, and walking her over to his rental.

Yet for the many things they spoke at the restaurant, the many laughs, the sly grins, the never ending conversation, now it seems they have spent all of their energy, because they're quiet as Robin drives away from the restaurant and on the path to the hotel. The only thing that can be heard in the car is the low music in the background and their deep breathing.

For some reason, he's tensed on the driver's seat, both hands tight on the steering wheel and Regina swallows hard and crosses her legs, only to frown and swallow hard again at the slight slide of her underwear, at the slight pressure low in her belly. God, what the hell is wrong with her? Robin had done something nice, only that, so why the hell does she feel like she wants to jump on him and take him against the hood of the car?

But thankfully, her phone goes off at that moment, pulling her away from those thoughts, and Regina sighs in relief when she sees that it's Emma. Only to groan inwardly when she mentions she won't return tonight, to not wait on her. Because with Emma gone, with Emma gone Regina feels she might give into her de—

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah," she says only to clear her throat. "It's just, Emma's out for the night."

"Oh."

"Yeah. Now I can sleep without hearing her snores," she mutters, trying to change the topic, succeeding when Robin chuckles and replies saying he wishes he'd get that lucky with Will.

The tension disappears for the rest of the drive, only to return again when they slip into the empty elevator at the hotel, because now she can feel his body close to hers, can feel the heat radiating off of him, can slightly feel his gaze on her and she frowns slightly, bites her lower lip when she finds out it doesn't bother her and just takes a deep breath. Except at that moment, the elevator pings as they've reached their floor, doors opening and then they're walking, almost in a rush, as if trying to run away from the tension, from their over alert senses, until they're each at their doors, waving a hand goodbye as they both slip into their hotel room at the same time.

Regina just stays stills for a moment, breathing in, trying to compose herself over whatever the fuck just happened in the past thirty minutes that left her feeling like this, tightly coiled and just needing one simple touch, his.

But she refuses to give into that, whatever that is. So instead, and nodding her head at herself, Regina walks to sit on the edge of the bed, picks up the phone and calls room number 305.

.::.

There are only three days left of this trip, so today he spends it with the boys. They go snorkeling as the girls stay back lounging by the pool, an afternoon by the spa awaiting them. And by the time they return to the hotel, the sun is already setting.

Needing to take a shower and wash away the salt from his skin, Robin walks down the hall towards his hotel room. Will babbles on and on from his right, about the sea turtles, the love he has for the ladies in the island, as he slides the keycard, unlocking the door, and he's just about to walk in but he stops when he hears Emma's voice calling him. Turning to his right, he sees her head peaking from inside her room, and nodding towards something inside. Robin walks towards her, frowning in confusion as he walks into the room.

"What happened?" Robin asks, not understanding the anger he sees in Emma's eyes.

"This," Emma begins as she points to a small bouquet of flowers, "happened."

"What? Who are these from?"

"Why don't you check it out?" Emma says, absolutely livid.

Frowning, Robin walks towards where the bouquet is on Regina's bedside table, only to stop dead in his tracks when he sees the name 'Daniel' neatly written on the card.

"Where is she?" Robin asks, not taking his gaze away from the yellow flowers (ugh, horrible taste does Daniel have in flowers).

"Regina? Oh I don't know, she left quickly after her massage ended. Jesus, care to explain what the fuck is going on?"

"I intend to find out," is all Robin says.

.::.

Regina walks slowly across the hall, even though she knows Emma isn't in her room, but still, quietly, she slides the card key, unlocks the door and instantly gets in, closing it behind her.

"Care to explain?" A voice calls from behind her and Regina jumps, hand on her chest, eyes wide.

"Jesus! What the hell are you doing in my hotel room?!"

"Emma let me stay. Of course, I had to find out from her that now Mr. Colter is sending you flowers?" He asks in confusion, in frustration.

It takes her a long minute to answer, knowing he'd be bothered by it either way. "I agreed to see him today and he just, had those sent here, I had no idea he would do that."

"It seems you have no idea what to expect from him."

"I don't need this again," Regina says on a sigh, suddenly wanting to get away from him, from his knowing look, from his... intensity.

"Fine. How did the talk go? How many times did he ask for a second chance? How many times did he say he was sorry but that it was your fault? Huh?"

"We didn't talk!" She yells, his questioning driving her crazy. "We're only meeting each other for dinner in a few minutes."

"Flowers? Dinner? It seems to me like it's more than a talk."

"It's not—"

"Jesus!" Robin yells, suddenly losing control of the situation, livid at her, at her actions at how she refuses to see this for what it actually is. "Do you want him back?"

"I don't… I'm not."

"Regina," he whispers, moving closer to her, sliding his hands to rest them on her cheeks, softly, wiping a tear away. "You deserve something better than this," is what he says, softly, slowly, biting back words that are aching to escape him, that are begging to be blurted out. But how can he blurt out something that he has yet fully understood? How cane he tell her something he just recently found out?

"I don't know what to do," she says after a moment, just meeting his gaze. And that is the truth, because she doesn't know what to do about this, about Daniel.

Robin nods at her, breathing deeply and swallowing hard before telling her. "Don't go."

"I—"

But he doesn't give her time to reply, doesn't want to hear her answer for he's quickly pressing his lips against hers, kissing her slowly, and at first she stays there, lips unmoving, but once the shock passes, she responds to the kiss, melting into him as he kisses him back slowly, only to move her head just so and deepening the kiss.

They pull away, both at the same time, both gasping and staring at each other's lips and just when she's about to lean in again, to finally truly give in, a knock reverberates around the room, and Robin instantly sighs, pulling away from her, never meeting her gaze as he says, "You should get that."

Regina doesn't react at first, instead stays frowning, lips tingling, as she tries to make sense of what just happened. They kissed. He kissed her and she kissed him back. But it's not that fact what makes her feel uncomfortable, it's the fact that she'd wanted more, wanted to feel more than lips against hers, wanted to nibble and taste everything he has to offer, and that thought alone makes her move away from him, arms wrapped around her middle as she swallows hard.

"You should go," she says softly, and Robin scoffs but nods quietly and opens the door.

"Daniel," Robin says with an acknowledging nod, before walking to the next door, slipping inside.

Letting out a deep breath, Daniel offers her a relieved smile. "Well that was—"

"Let's go," Regina says, interrupting Daniel.

And the two of them walk down the hall, Regina crossing her arms in front of her chest to prevent him from touching her fingers.

.::.

You were working so much.

I felt so lonely.

You were never in the mood.

Running into you here was like fate, Regina. I want another chance.

Gods

Robin had been right, and the worst thing of all of it is… she wasn't even surprised when those pathetic sentences came out of his mouth, because she was already expecting it. Had always known it'd go this way. Because she was always around. She was always striving to be the perfect detailed girlfriend. It was Daniel the one that always had to stay working until late. Or the one that couldn't make it to their anniversary dinner. The one who cheated. This pathological liar that's now trying to get another chance, trying to get her to have a change of heart.

Scoffing, Regina lets out a dry chuckle, picks up the wine glass and quickly takes a sip.

And then Daniel is talking about seeing counselors, particularly for her.

She's had enough. Enough of his antics, enough of his lies, just enough.

So when he asks about her opinion on the matter, Regina simply chuckles, stands up from her seat and throws the rest of her wine at him.

Behavior issues, she has them, Robin has them, and for a moment she wonders what will it be like right now if she'd left Robin beat his ass, if she'd listened to him, to that voice deep inside of her hidden behind faux needs of closure.

"You crazy bitch," Daniel says softly, grabbing a small cloth to wipe at his face while giving her a murderous look.

And she thinks back on archery practices, boxing classes, early morning runs and gives him a small smile, his comment not eliciting the response he'd expected, before she's turning around, walking out of the dining hall and hurriedly walking to the elevators.

Because for the first time in months, Regina is more than sure about something. About him.

.::.

It seems fitting that their first kiss is as fucked up as they are.

And though Robin can't bring himself to regret the kiss, he does regret the circumstances under which it happened. Because now, even though his lips are still tingling, it's been almost an hour since she left, and she's with that man, if he could be called that, probably not realizing the intention behind his words, behind his touch.

Letting out a frustrated grunt, Robin plops onto his bed, Will spraying some cologne over his buttoned up shirt.

"You're not coming with us?"

"I don't know. I'm feeling pretty tired at the moment," Robin replies with a sigh.

"Mate, are you okay?" Will asks, a concerned look on his face but Robin just nods, gives him a flimsy excuse of I didn't sleep well last night that he buys instantly.

And then there's a loud knock against her door.

"Coming!" Will calls out. "That's probably Mary, grilling me for being late," he says amused as he walks to the door and opens it.

"Can you give me a few moments with Robin?"

Robin swallows hard at that voice, sits up on the bottom of the bed, feet touching the floor as Will says an 'It better be quick' and then he's closing the door, giving them some privacy.

"You were right," she whispers after a moment, walking closer to him.

Robin nods in understanding, even though it kills him that she had to go through that herself.

But Regina's standing in front of him now, shaking her head as she says, "I had to get away from him. I just. I have better things to do than dwell on my past."

"What's that?" He asks after a moment, genuinely curious at her answer.

She laughs softly at her absurdity, at her cliché, shakes her head before she's meeting his gaze again. "Working on my future," is the last thing she says because she's kissing him, deeply, and he kisses her back almost instantly, her hands on each of his cheeks, holding him as she deepens the kiss. Robin groans into her mouth, feels his arms wrapping around her middle by their own accord and pulling her closer to him, only to sigh when she breaks the kiss for a second, as she sits on his lap, a leg on each side, and then she's kissing him again, mouth fully closed over his lower lip.

"You guys done yet?!" Will asks from the other side of the door, and Regina chuckles against his mouth, breaks the kiss amidst his noise of protest and just stares at him, hand caressing his cheek, his right hand tracing circles on her lower back.

"Give us 5!" Is what Robin yells back at Will, and the man groans, but doesn't knock again.

"So," Robin begins, one hand on her lower back, the other pushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "Now what?"

"I want this," Regina whispers, her hands moving down his stubble until she reaches his neck and pushes them back, her finger meeting on the back of his neck before she's leaning down and kissing him.

But he's breaking the kiss quickly, swallowing hard as he tries to gain some semblance of control. "Are your sure?" He asks, wanting to make sure because he's quickly losing control, quickly giving in to the heat low in his belly, to the soft skin of her beneath his fingertips.

"Robin," she whispers, gazing intently at him with a small smile. "I think I've deep down been sure ever since I agreed to this trip."

Grinning, Robin kisses her this time, pressing quick pecks against her mouth before she's groaning in frustration and deepening the kiss, softly pressing her tongue against his lower lip, asking for entrance and Robin moans as he gives in, gives in to her taste, to her lips, to her tongue against his. Gods, she's exquisite, truly exquisite as she slowly begins grinding against him, jeans straining. And then he's breaking the kiss. "Wait," he whispers, and Regina's leaning back, meeting his gaze with her own lust filled eyes, panting.

"What's wrong?" She asks, searching his face for something, anything that could give her a clue that he doesn't really want this. But he does, every nerve on his body screaming for her, and he tightens his hold on her hips, pulling her even closer to him until her eyes darken at the unmistakable feeling of his rapidly hardening member.

"I want this too," he says for good measure, "more than anything," he says while his hands travel to her thighs, moving up and all the way down to her knees on his sides before he's pushing them up again, Regina trembling slightly on top of him, panting, and he thinks she's never looked more beautiful. "But there's something I want to take care of first."

Frowning, Regina nods and with a soft peck to his lips, slides off of him until she's standing in front of him again and he's standing in front of her, jeans straining, hands around her middle. He cannot help himself but kiss her again, leaning down to meet her lips sensually, before he's breaking the kiss.

"Follow me," he says, wrapping his hand around hers and pulling her along with him to the door, opening it instantly.

"Jesus, thank God for a moment I thought I'd had to climb up— Oh. Oh. Guys, if you wanted an evening shag all you had to do was mention it."

But both Robin and Regina ignore him as they stop by the next room. The hear the faint sound of Will closing the door, and Robin slips his hand into her back pocket, smirking as she bites her lower lip and gives him a knowing look. He slips the keycard slowly from her jeans, unlocks the door and quickly pulls her in. Emma is gone for the evening, is probably already down at the dining hall waiting on the rest of the group, so Robin quickly shuts the door, locks the door chain and walks towards her bed.

"Want me to do the honors?" He asks, but Regina snorts at him and shakes her head. She leans closer to the bed to pick up the bouquet of flowers, turns to wink at him before walking towards the trash can and dropping it there, not breaking his gaze.

"Now, may I?" She asks, slightly amused.

And this time, Robin walks towards her, a sly grin on his face, until he's standing in front of her. "You may proceed," he whispers, grinning when Regina instantly wraps her arms around his shoulders, and pulls him down for a kiss.

.::.

It's their last hike of their vacation, and Robin and Regina sigh as they stare down at the beautiful waterfall, the same waterfall they saw during their first actual day here. It seems like it happened a long time ago, months ago, when in reality it has only been a few days. And for a moment Regina thinks back on this week, on him, standing next to her and how it'll be starting tomorrow when they awake in their normal routine.

"What happens tomorrow?" She finds herself asking, hating how it makes her sound but needing to know the answer.

And Robin has the perfect answer, because he shrugs, pecks her lips and smiles at her.

"Tomorrow we have boxing practice, and since we both have the day off, I'm thinking some lunch by my place or yours, dinner out in the town and maybe, if I play my cards right, we'll do a sleepover at my place," he says with an innocent grin.

Regina shakes her head in amusement and just stares at the water fall.

"And the day after tomorrow?"

"I'll find another excuse to see you. Another trail to hike. Another movie to watch. Just another reason to spend more time with you," he whispers sincerely, eyes just looking at her eyes, trying to convey what he's feeling (still so very new) through his gaze.

And Regina sees it there, feels it too in her heart but it's still so soon, it's still so very new, so she nods at him, whispers an Okay and seals their unspoken promise with a kiss.