A/N: I'm incredibly sorry for the lack of updates in the last few weeks (oh who am I kidding, months!) To everyone that has either followed, favorited &/or reviewed this story, a big thank you! Also, thanks to those of you who took the liberty of messaging me almost daily (Hi Tiffany! Hi Melis!) asking for an update, if it weren't for you guys I'm sure I would've never finished this chapter! But specially a HUMUNGOUS thank you to Dany (Iam-reginamills1) for beta-ing this chapter! Trust me, it would've been a train-wreck without her! (Damn you, tenses!) Dany, you're incredible!
Enjoy!
|Chapter 5: Of Wedding Gowns and Proposals|
It takes her by surprise the rekindled flame that starts deep in her belly, growing ferociously after being put down for so long. It's amazing, really, how one look at him sets her spirit aflame, igniting a fire with his name written all over it. It grows and warms her entire being, a sense of completeness washing over her the moment they finally hug. It's his scent and those hard biceps pressing around her that has her sighing into his neck and pulling him incredibly closer.
But not even then, not even when she almost fell asleep in his arms that night nor when she caught a glimpse of his naked torso did she look at him the way she's looking at him now. Because now, after convincing herself that this is true, that he is really here, she's finally taking him her best friend in and damn… He's quite handsome. Slightly older features that come with being a thirty two year old; sandy blonde hair, blue tired eyes indicating his lack of restful nights and an overly stressed life, and that lopsided grin, which years ago and under different circumstances would've had her down on her knees begging for him to take her, knees wobbly and thighs trembling with the anticipation of the pleasure she knew he could give her.
But not today, today she's fucking grateful that her friend traveled all the way from London to attend her wedding. Robin, who had managed to help her -amidst busy hours, to get her wedding plans in motion over countless of FaceTime calls. Her friend who's currently ignoring the fact that her mother is eyeing him up and down, occasionally letting out a noise of disgust whenever he suggests something different than her. She is beyond grateful that Robin has yet to say a word to her mother out of spite of her judging eyes and her unapologetic tongue.
But still, the topic at hand is that she's staring at her best friend, eyeing him up and down mouth agape and with a new feeling in her belly that she can't describe quite yet. But he is here, wearing his black tuxedo so fucking well, black vest, burgundy tie and he is utter perfection. The most perfect maid of honor a woman could ask for and for a moment Regina wishes that they'd had more time to plan this, that her mother hadn't contacted those three unnecessary wedding planers because whilst it might be more convenient and less stressful for the bride, Regina couldn't help but feel like she's missing out things.
She wanted to be able to pick their wedding chapel, the wedding venue, wanted to argue with Robin over which flower bouquet represented her the most only to agree with his choice because he knows her better than she knows herself. Good lord, she wanted to go cake testing just for the heck of it, wanted to celebrate her bachelorette party in Vegas and get shit drunk with her best friend just like they did back in Germany.
But none of it was possible.
Out with a bang or nothing at all had consequences and requirements as stupid as it sounds.
A perfectionist fiancé and a mother who likes to pretend she is royalty isn't a walk on the park, it comes with a contract and with thousands of fine print.
They wanted a perfect wedding, 'the wedding of the century', her mother had called it and that could only be achieved with the help of Reinaldo, Gwen and the ever giddy Elaine, three magical wedding planers that made the bride feel as if planning a wedding was equally relaxing as planning a vacation.
It was killing her, slowly but surely, because she couldn't do anything. She just had to sit down and observe as her bouquets were shown in front of her, three designs of the wedding cake were spread out in front of her, a design of her wedding dress shown in pictures and drawings. This. That. So yes, she wanted to scream. Can you really blame her though? Her mother, who had unquestionably frowned upon her decision of making Robin her maid of honor, had taken upon herself the responsibility of her wedding. The combination of the reception, the cake, the decor, Robin's tuxedo, her wedding dress-
Which brings her to the topic at hand… again, why is her mother bothering her so much about this?
It's a dress for God's sakes! A strapless white gown with gold baroque details embodied across the top. The unique design screaming "custom made" but Regina really didn't care, especially when her mother was making such a fuss about it. The dress was beyond gorgeous but it didn't feel like her style, it was too heavy, too tight around her hips and that combined with her mother's Regina you should lose some weight before the wedding, Regina stand up straighter , Regina are you even listening to me? Was enough to make her want to run the farthest away from the city and return on her wedding day, with a simple white dress or naked and hair in natural curls. Why is the wedding gown so important though? It's just something you use for a day! So why all the stress?!
Of course it was just a matter of time for her to explode! For her to growl at everyone around her begging at them to shut up! And when her mother talked on about how Robin's tuxedo didn't work with the bridesmaids' dresses, how he should've just stayed in London she-
"Stop!" The scream rings throughout the room causing her mother to shut up, a surprised look upon her face. Mary-Margaret, the ever hopeful receptionist at her father's small company and strangely enough Emma's oldest best friend (and now hers), gasps across the room, her hand coming up shortly to stop herself from uttering another word and Emma's eyes as big as saucers. Even Daniel's sister manages to gaze up curiously from her phone.
But the cherry on top is Robin's reaction, the small coy smile playing upon his lips almost making her burst into a fit of laughter in front of her fuming mother. Almost.
God, she loves her best friend. Loves that even in the most dire of circumstances he could pull off a smile off her face. Loves that even with her mother talking shit about him in front of him, he's managed to stare directly at Regina, giving her a few winks here and there to make her feel better, to remind her that he's used to it and unbothered by it.
"Excuse me?" the older woman expresses after getting over her shock state.
Regina bites the inside of her cheek and stares down at the white carpet before closing her eyes and massaging her temples to alleviate the tension that is starting to build in there.
"Could I have a moment alone?" She says, her eyes holding back a frustration she is still afraid to let out and God, Robin wants badly to know what it is. Wants to kick everyone out of this room and just hold her close, rub her back as she talks
"I'm not sure it's a good-"
"Please?" She begs, hopeful eyes staring directly into her mother's cold ones.
Cora grows quiet and stares at her fingers before nodding and walking off along with her designer and bridesmaids. Robin is the only one in the room now, his lips forming a thin line as he stares at her. He doesn't know whether to leave or hug her, his heart begging for the latter.
And surprisingly enough -yet at the same time expected- Regina wants the same thing.
"Do you want me to," he signals towards the door and Regina shakes her head, a small tear falling down her face.
"Please don't," Regina begs, and just opens her arms, begging for him to hug her, a small part of her happy for allowing herself this vulnerability with him. It had been too long.
"Sweetheart," he lets out before walking closer to her and hugging her.
That's a thing you don't usually see. A bride-to-be wearing a gorgeous one of a kind dress, but still dissolving into small sobs against her male maid of honor's chest. And God, his scent works as a tranquilizer because as soon as she caught a whiff of it, a sense of calmness washes over her and she sighs against his chest.
"What's wrong?" Robin asks slowly, backing away from her and just pushes back a short strand of hair before caressing her soft cheek. For a second there Regina misses her long hair, misses the way he would tickle her cheek with it in order to pull a small smile, the length now making it impossible for him to do so and it makes her melancholic.
"It's stupid," she murmurs after a moment of consideration.
The thing is that there are so many things going through her head at the same time. Her mother is pestering her, she sees Daniel for a short period of time everyday, the wedding is getting out of her control and God, if there's something Regina needs is to have some sense of control over her life. So yes, Regina is feeling-
"Overwhelmed?" Robin asks interrupting her thoughts.
Of course he'd known, of course he'd seen the anxiousness growing in her eyes. Of course he'd seen the tremble of her lip, the twiddling of her thumbs and the small barely noticeable wobble of her legs. He is her best friend after all, so she nods at him and he pulls her into another hug.
"It's okay, Regina. We can get these things off and just relax for the rest of the day," Robin offers, trying his best to calm her down.
"No it's not that," she considers after a moment, biting her lower lip before meeting his gaze. "I've spent all these weeks doing nothing! I want to be stressed about it Robin," she stands back and offers him a smile before continuing. "I want to go cake testing and dress shopping with my best friend. I want to pick my own wedding venue and have fights with you over which bouquet fits my personality the most! I want to feel exactly what planning a wedding is like! With the three stooges, my perfectionist fiancé and my meddling mother I'm not able to!" She shakes her head, clearly frustrated with the situation. She had mentioned something to him about it over a few calls but nothing like this. She feels stupid, like a spoiled girl who didn't get her Mercedes in baby blue on her sixteenth birthday.
But Robin was an extremely understanding guy and he knew her better than she knew herself, so when she met his gaze for the umpteenth time that day he merely nodded and offered her a smile.
"We can still do all of it Regina," he takes hold of both her hands and drops a small kiss on each.
"How?" she asks after a second, her eyes showing the excitement that was bubbling inside, the prospect enough to make her forget for a second about her wedding fiasco.
"By pretending we're the ones getting married."
"What!?" Honestly Regina was expecting something else, so this offer takes her by surprise, her eyes as expressive as always telling him he was crazy. What's the need for them to act as if they're the one's getting hitched? Wouldn't it be the same thing to just go in as bride to be and maid of honor?
"They act much more nicer when it's the bride and groom. Witnessed that with my father's weddings," he winks at her before continuing. "Think about it! We go to every little chapel in the city, every bakery, florist, venues you name it! We pretend we're the ones getting married and it'll work! You'll get a small taste of what planning a wedding actually feels like and I get to sample different types of cakes. It's a win-win situation, in fact I'm calling right now to that bakery we saw on our way here and scheduling an appointment!" he offers her a small smile and Regina just shakes her head, backs away from her best friend and turns around.
She is facing the mirrors now, taking herself in. Regina can't deny it, the dress is beautiful, perfect even. The gold patterns of the dress contrasting elegantly against the white, giving it a classy fairytale wedding style.
But it felt like too much, it felt heavy, uncomfortable and just wrong.
"Hey," Robin whispered from behind her, their gazes meeting in the mirror. "You look gorgeous," He offers her a small smile at the blush that creeps into her cheeks.
And damn him for still having the power of making her blush like a school girl with just the use of a word!
She's facing him now, her hands going directly to his tie to straighten it, a habit she'd acquired years ago, before meeting his gaze once again.
God, they are so close, breathing the same air, feeling each other's warm breath and she could kiss him right now, out of gratitude. But she couldn't, well she shouldn't, the ring on her finger reminded her so. Yet at the same time she couldn't help but wonder just how different it would've been if it had been their wedding instead. Would they be doing all the planning together? Unlike Daniel, Robin was in fact a very go-with-the-flow kind of man, not searching for perfection but searching for something good enough to put a smile on his face.
Would they fight over whether they should get an ice statue or a chocolate fountain? Unlike Daniel, Robin would just probably convince her that they didn't need to worry about non-essential things, that they should just worry about writing the perfect vows for each-
Oh.
Oh.
Shit.
Where the hell did that came from? Was she overthinking this whole situation? Was she actually comparing Daniel with Robin? No, no! Robin was her best friend with whom she'd go to third base (and home-run) on occasions. She couldn't possibly be thinking about him like that when there's only two weeks left to her wedding.
Right?
I mean it was crazy, absolutely crazy and stupid, childish…
Yet there was a fluttering in her stomach when he offered her a grin, an involuntary shudder (conveyed inside) when he placed his hands on her hips and for a moment Regina wondered if it was her body's way of expressing what she had locked deep inside her since years ago. But crap, he's looking at her now, expecting to hear an approval to his suggestion and God, she is tempted. Is tempted to pretend that everything was okay, is tempted to go running with him across every store in New York City and pretend they're getting married.
"So, what do you say?" he continues after a second, his British accent doing certain things to her. "Do you accept being my pretend bride-to-be for one day?"
Jesus Christ, the bastard actually kneeled down in front of her and if it had been under different circumstances she might've laughed a freeing laugh.
But instead she laughed because of the absurdity of it all.
Laughed at this sudden mess she found herself in.
Just laughed in order not to break down.
So she takes a deep breath, shuts down those deep inner thoughts and for once gives in to what she wants, gives in to his smile.
"I do."
And hey, isn't it ironic?
It's amazing how calm he'd managed to stay throughout the whole day. When Regina had woken him up that morning telling him their dress fitting was today he was freaking out. Truth it he wasn't sure he could handle seeing her on her wedding dress with the turmoil going inside his head.
But he had managed to.
Beyond Cora's sharp tongue and otherwise sarcastic comments, he had gazed at her from his place and she looked absolutely gorgeous. That wedding gown fitting perfectly against her skin, her hair pulled up in a messy bun to admire the necklace and earrings her mother had picked up for her. Truth was she looked like royalty, like Kate Middleton looked on her wedding dress. Yet there was something unsettling about it all, her eyes held joy the moment she emerged from the changing room but all of a sudden turned into a more distant look, more sadder. A look that made him want to run to her side and coarse the truth out of her, but he couldn't. Then her mother had spoken, went on and on about the dress, about dieting and she just lost it, kicked everyone out of the room and God, Robin couldn't be more prouder of her in that moment.
But it was her vulnerability, the want for her to be the Regina she used to be that caused him to ask said proposal. Truth was that he also wanted to plan with her the wedding, so for her happiness and for his own selfish reasons he asked.
And she agreed.
And now he was excited, hours after the event, with her fiancé seating a few seats away from Robin.
He'd tried to forget about what happened a few hours earlier for respect of the man, but he couldn't. They stood way too close to one another, her scent intoxicating him in the most subtle of ways. Even now he could sense her presence. Could still feel her so close yet so far away, her warm breath washing against him as she muttered "I do." An I do that years ago he planned to hear under different circumstances, not as a ploy for her necessities and his own selfish reasons (who could blame the man, he preferred one day of make belief rather than wondering just how cool it would've been).
So yes, he's extremely happy, thrilled that tomorrow he gets to spend the whole day with Regina.
"Penny for your thoughts Robin?" the Ken look-alike Daniel asked from across the table.
They were on Daniel's penthouse engaging in one of the man's favorite games, poker. A game that he definitely didn't understand but he was intent on beating the man in front of him. He was surrounded by a few of Daniel's friends, people that had merely nodded at him and continued to stare at their cards, shooting down glasses of whiskey and raising the bid with each card. He'd joined the game soon after, and several minutes in Robin was already comfortable with the people around him. Arthur, who was sitting to his right, went on and on talking about the crazy night he had last night. Robin, being the overly studying type of people, already classifying him as a player. The man he was before he met Regina almost a decade ago. Erwin was sitting to his left, that man Robin wanted to kill. He went on and on talking about Regina, how gorgeous she was, how lucky Daniel was to make her his, but it was when he started talking about her body that Robin almost lost it. Almost grabbed the man by the collar and pushed him out the window behind him.
But he couldn't do it, instead he was waiting for Daniel to do something, to kick him out of his apartment because shit, to Robin if he ever found a friend of his talking that way about his fiancé Robin was sure he'd murder the man.
But Daniel did nothing, instead he offered Erwin a laugh and a wiggle of his eyebrows and the men around the table laughed. That dirty, thirsty laugh and those lustful eyes.
Robin wanted to kill him.
"But sorry men, in two weeks she's going to be my wife so," the man shrugged before continuing, his concentration once again on the game. "Hand them in boys," he says after a minute. "A straight flush."
Okay, this was it. This was his moment to shine and to lay the foot down around this group of filthy men with greasy hair and pretending smiles.
"Not so fast," Robin whispered, his deep British voice ever present as he laid his cards down and said "A royal flush for the boys." He pulls the bids towards him before stopping midway. "Oh and another thing," he raises his index finger in order to quiet down whoever was willing to comment before biting the inside of his cheek, the metallic taste of blood reaching his taste buds. "If I ever hear someone talking about Regina in that way again," he sits straight now and clicks his tongue "God help me I might just have to kill each and one of you."
Maybe it was the sly smile Robin offered afterwards, or maybe the way he leaned back and chugged the rest of his scotch down after threatening them that caused them all to nod their heads and cringe when he stood up to get some fresh air, which just satisfied Robin in the most wonderful of ways.
He's in the balcony now, flexing his fingers in order to calm the rage that was simmering inside. He wanted to punch all these bastards for throwing out there their inner thought, for seeing her as an object instead of as a wonderful woman. He saw himself in them, the Robin that Regina met all those years ago and maybe that's why he was so pissed, maybe it was all because of the guilt he felt inside for agreeing with her to be friends with benefits when instead he should've fought for perhaps a date or two because that way maybe, just maybe, it would be him the one receiving her at the end of the aisle. But instead he gets to see her walk down the aisle to another man. A man that he's now sure is not worth of her.
But he can't tell her that, not when in three years they've lost their touch, a bit of their trust, a bit of the ease they used to have. She would definitely see it as a selfish act of self preservation on Robin's part. He couldn't risk that, couldn't risk their friendship, what they have left for a man with convincing smiles.
Said man now walks closer to him, and rested his hands against the modern railing.
"Go ahead," Daniel says, like a man waiting to be punished with his gaze lowered down.
"She's not an object you know?" Robin starts after a second and stops, offers a small sigh before continuing. "She's not some prized possession that you get to flaunt at every chance you get. Regina, she's a wonderful woman who deserves to be loved and treated in the most amazing of ways. What you and your friends did back there, Daniel, that was a pretty dick move."
"I know, I know and I'm sorry, extremely so." Daniel seemed desperate, swallowing more times than necessary, his hands in his front pockets and his gaze looking everywhere but Robin's face.
This man had something to share, something that was bothering him and it went beyond their conversation, beyond thirsty comments and thirsty friends.
"What's going on?" Robin asks with a roll of his eyes.
"I know this may seem completely hypocrite and stupid to ask, but I need your help with something."
The man was actually embarrassed to ask him, the slight tremble on his lower lip indicating it and Robin was getting restless, just wanted to go down to Regina's apartment and just sleep this off.
"Just spill it out Daniel," Robin mutters, his patience clearly wearing thin and still clearly pissed off about what happened a few minutes ago.
"I need you to help me write my wedding vows?" Daniel finally says and Robin just chuckled, a dry chuckle that made Daniel swallow hard.
"What?" Robin asked, amazed that this man is also incapable of writing his own wedding vows. "What do you mean you can't write your own vows?" he says, proud that he'd managed to reign in his sarcastic laugh.
"I've tried, but nothing came out."
Wrong thing to say because Robin couldn't help but wonder just how many wonderful things Regina has that he would write into his wedding vows. And now this man, this fiancé of hers is incapable of saying what he loves the most about Regina, what makes him want to marry her and now Robin is just plainly back to being pissed.
"What do you mean you can't think of nothing, Daniel? Regina is counting on you, I'm counting on you to make her feel happy for the rest of her life and now you can't even write your own vows?"
"God, I'm an ass" Daniel says after a second before sitting down on his lounge chair and just covering his face with his hands.
Robin is calmer now that he has made the man feel bad.
"I think in your case it's better not to do them," Robin bites the inside of his cheek to prevent him from making this ass feel like an ass.
"Regina wanted to, she says it'll enhance our romance and deepen our connection with each other."
Well shit. Robin wanted to walk away that moment, wanted to just curl in bed and sleep this awful night. But he couldn't. The perpetuating voice in his head kept telling him to do this last thing for her, only for her because that's what he's done since the beginning. Travel to NYC, ignore his inner desires, participate at her wedding, suggest a fun day for tomorrow, all because of her. Has suffered enough heartache because of her. But frankly he's gotten so far, what's a little more pain? Damn it. Damn his British and Irish blood, damn those genes given to him by his father that just forced him to do the right thing. And the right thing right now was to-
"I'll do it" he suggests after a second and it's as if he fell into Daniel's trap, it's as if he knew that Robin wouldn't say no because Daniel nodded and shakes his hand, just as if they did some kind of huge investment together.
"You know, I was expecting to be intimidated by you. But I'm glad I can trust you," Daniel says with his charming smile and God, if Robin doesn't leave that place right now he might end up punching this Ken look-alike in the face.
But he couldn't leave without hurting the man a bit more and what better way than with words?
"You know, I was expecting Regina's fiancé to be completely worthy of her. Guess we were both wrong eh?" The shock on Daniel's face is priceless, but the satisfaction coursing through Robin's veins prevents him from feeling empathy with the man.
And when Robin leaves the apartment a few minutes later with no idea where he is headed (talk about when you're caught between the moon and New York City) he had a big satisfied smirk on his face.
When he finally arrives at Regina's place (thanks to Emma's help) and catches her curled up on the couch offering him an excited smile, he smiles back because whilst being a part of this whole thing hurt, this, their friendship, being a part of her life is simply more than enough for him.
Thoughts?
