Thank you to all of you who have read, reviewed, favorited and followed. So this is chapter three and I am super excited about it, because I had so much fun writing it. Arghhh, okay, you probably wanna go read it now right, so I hope you enjoy it and please, please let me know what you thought. Love to all. xxx


Regina stood in her kitchen, what a day she'd had; with the way it had started out, she'd had it in her mind that it was going to be terrible, that the meeting would be a flop and she would lose her investor. Not only had she made a deal which was bound to make her company millions of dollars, but she had met the most brilliant man in the process. She flicked the switch on her coffee machine and waited for it to start up. Looking around she shook her head; how was it that right now her house seemed so empty, lonely and cold? She had fallen in love with it the moment she had laid eyes on it and just had to buy it, but now it seemed huge.

Robin was amazing, he was so funny and as much as she wanted to hate him, she didn't, no quite the opposite in fact, but she had made up her mind that she was going to play hard to get and she wasn't going to drop that plan now. The moment in the lift when she had allowed him to kiss her wrist had been a momentary lapse in judgement. But when his lips had accidently grazed over hers, her heart nearly stopped beating, the feeling that surged through her veins was soul consuming. The spark that brief contact had caused was unexplainable.

Even so she couldn't risk her heart, not again, it had been broken into pieces before and that was not going to happen, she was going to be sure before she took any steps with Robin. She was going to make sure that her feelings for him were true and more importantly that his feelings for her were. Infatuation and lust alone weren't enough, she needed the real thing, she needed love, maybe he was going to be the person who would love her, no matter what skeletons were in her closet.

Maybe that was why she was thinking of Robin now, thinking of how she would love to have someone she could share her home with, someone to come home to. After all, what was it that made a house into a home? At the moment she mused that her home wasn't actually a home at all, but just a house, where she would live out the rest of her lonely days with a herd of cats for company, she would be the mad cat lady of Mifflin Street, every street had to have one right? She really, really didn't want that, she was depressed just thinking about it. At some point she wanted children, she wanted a husband, preferably a husband first children second, that way they would be assured stability. But marriage didn't always result in stability, it went wrong; she thought of her parents and their horror that had been a marriage, she didn't want that sort of family, one where the parents argued non-stop. She wanted the sort of family where the children admired how much their parents loved each other, where the children could get embarrassed and grossed out whenever they saw their parents kissing, that was what she wanted.

She was getting ahead of herself here, how had Robin sparked all those thoughts and feelings? She had thought that she had given up on the idea of ever becoming a wife or a mother, but meeting Robin had somehow made it resurface. It was a ridiculous fantasy and she knew that she would have to get back to the real world, the real world where she had responsibilities and couldn't be distracted by a man, even if he had the most beautiful blue eyes she had ever seen, she had to be strong. Then a picture flashed in her mind of two children running around the house, one a boy with Robin's deep blue eyes and her dark hair, the other a little girl with her brown eyes and Robin's blonde locks. She shook her head and took a deep breath, what was she doing allowing herself to get carried away? They had literally just met that day and she was already imagining having his babies, did that make her into a crazy person? She thought so.

She pressed the button that poured the coffee, she had been so preoccupied with Robin and the business meeting that she had forgotten that she needed to go over the new issue in time for it to go to the printers, which meant that she was going to be pulling an all-nighter. She was thankful that she had gone over the sections that had been completed and sent into her earlier. She still had Mal's fashion article to read over, Mal was always last to hand her anything, but like Regina, Mal was a perfectionist, so Regina knew that there probably would be little if any alterations she would have to make. Being a fan of fashion helped, she could get a sneak peek at the collections before her magazine published them and the designers in sync released their collections.

Also still to read over was the love and sex section, that was always interesting. She wasn't very well versed in sex, what she knew was the basics, it seemed any time she would have sex, she would simply lay there, not really doing all that much; but these articles talked of different positions and she was always shocked as to how people could even get into those positions, how were they flexible enough? She did yoga regularly, yet she was pretty sure that she wouldn't be able to master some of them. Anyway, each to their own, maybe if she had someone to try the positions with she would be able to, who knows. Maybe Robin would be willing to assist, no! There she went again, was nothing free from reminders of the man who had literally fallen into her life and sent it tumbling into disarray, messing with her head and her common sense?

The final section in need of finalising for the magazine was the financial section, tips on saving and money, it was in her eyes boring, Regina knew if she didn't do that first then she would probably fall asleep. True it was helpful if you needed assistance with money, but she didn't, so for her it was well and truly mind numbing, luckily her editor for that sector Jefferson Hatter managed to slip in a few comedic lines here and there, to make it less, well, to put it bluntly, less dull.

When the coffee had finished, she picked up her mug and took a sip, the froth reminded her of Robin on their date earlier and she laughed to herself, touching her top lip and wiping away the foam.

It had been a brilliant lunch and she had really enjoyed spending time with him, he was lovely. As much as she might have complained to him about opening a door for her, she had been rather flattered at the gesture, she would tell him so if they had any sort of relationship in the future. She was really now hoping that maybe there was something between them, not just so she could have his beautiful kids who looked just like him; she seriously needed to get babies off the brain, it was not a good idea and he would probably run a mile if he knew what she was thinking about. She really liked him, she hoped she was going about it the right way, maybe she should have just given him her number, instead of being awkward and having him contact her through Tink

She was roused from her thoughts by a loud meow behind her "hey baby." She placed her cup down and scooped up her tabby cat, Lenny "did you have a fun day?" She asked kissing his head as she ran her fingers through his fur, causing him to purr as he rubbed his head against her. She knew she was probably a weirdo for talking to her cat, but so what, he was her family, to be honest he was the only family of hers worth having in her life at the minute; he didn't complain and was happy for her company, so all in all he was ideal. Regina had found out in the past two years that cats were brilliant listeners, they didn't judge you, they just sat there, rather like a sound board. She'd had a dog when she was younger, but dogs, well her dog, soon got bored of conversation and wanted to play. Her dog hadn't been able to sit still for two second and when he did, she felt his eyes had been too judgemental, now she was definitely going crazy.

"Mommy had a great day, yes she did." She placed him back on the floor and put his food bowl down, before grabbing her coffee and making her way up the wooden stairs to her bedroom. She was at the top of the stairs when she heard a knock on the door. "Coming, one second." She placed her coffee down on the console table that stood at the top of the stairs and rushed back down to open the door.

She peered through the peephole, her mother had been extremely concerned when she had told her that she was moving into an isolated neighbourhood without someone to live with her. In fact, she had warned her about axe murderers and kidnappers, Regina had burst out laughing stating that she had never heard anything as ridiculous in her whole life.

It wasn't anyone she recognised, it was a man holding the biggest bunch of flowers she had ever seen in her life! She opened the door and tucked her hair behind her ear, "Hi, um, I think that maybe you got the wrong house." She stated and was about to close the door again when he spoke up.

"Miss Mills?"

"Um, yeah."

"Well these are for a Miss Regina Mills."

"Oh, well alright then." Flowers? Who had bought her flowers? Was it her birthday? Had she forgotten her own birthday? No, no she hadn't, it was a couple of months ago. Tink had forced her out and the end result was, as usual, Regina carrying Tink home and having her collapse on top of her when she tried to put her to bed. "Do you know who they're from?" She asked, tilting her head as she looked at them, they really were outstanding.

"There's a card." He chuckled handing her the flowers.

"Oh, thank you." She took them from him and nearly couldn't see him over the top of them.

"Someone must really love you. Either that or they have done something really bad and are grovelling."

"I have no idea what these are about." She shrugged.

"Well, enjoy them miss."

"I will, thank you." He helped her to close the door and she carried them into the kitchen placing them on the island that was located in the centre. "Lenny, look, someone has brought us some flowers, shall we see who they are from?" She asked as the cat hopped up onto one of the stools and began sniffing around at the flowers. "Who do you think they're from, hmm?"

She really hoped that they were from Robin, but how could they be, he didn't know where she lived, she hadn't told him, unless, Tink. She took the card and opened it, scanning her eyes over the words a smile formed on her lips….

Your majesty,

I got your address from Tink, just in case you were thinking that I'm some sort of creepy stalker, I'm not! I am writing really small, because I have so much to say to you and well this card is only so big. I literally just realised that I have taken half of it up by telling you why I am writing really small, should probably stop that now and get to the point. I had a great day today and not just because we sealed our contract, although that's an amazing opportunity, I hope that there is an even more amazing one that has come about because of it. Shit, I am really, really bad at this, okay I guess what I'm trying to say is…

What? How was that the end of the message, what was he trying to say? She stared at the card and then looked back at the flowers, she was really annoyed that she hadn't just given him her number, if she had she wouldn't be stood here, in her kitchen, staring at a bunch of flowers trying to work out what he wanted. Then out of the corner of her eyes, she spotted another card. Snatching it, she ripped it open…

Used up a whole card, okay, what I am trying to say, is that I really like you, and I sound like a fourth grader with a crush right now, geez. Start again, Regina Mills, I would like to take you out to dinner sometime, a proper dinner, one where you can order lasagne without having to worry about spilling on your white pant suit. Not that I don't like your white pant suit, I do, I really do, you looked super sexy in it, I mean like, wow. Right, point being, Regina Mills, will you go on a date with me? Please say yes because…

Regina laughed shaking her head, trust Robin to have to use not one, not two but three cards! It was totally adorable, she moved some of the flowers aside and caught sight or a third card. Chuckling she opened it…

Wow, seriously what is wrong with me? The florist is giving me a very strange look right now, probably because she thinks I am stealing all her little cards. Anyway, please say yes because being with you today was everything. I haven't laughed like that in a long time, a very long time and now I can't stop thinking about you, you are amazing Miss Mills, like really amazing. So I guess that's the end of this stupidly long winded message, I swear this is the longest message anyone has ever written on a flower card and I literally could have just written 'Regina Mills will you go on a date with me?' But where's the fun in that? Okay so before I run out of space again, oh shit…

Seriously, he didn't half babble on, but it was hilarious, she wasn't surprised that the florist was looking at him strangely, who had to use four cards to get to the simple point that he had already come to on the previous card? Looking deeper into the flowers, she shook her head, this was actually really fun, kinda like a treasure hunt where the reward was more of his words and silly sense of humour, a great prize if she did say so herself. "Gotcha." She picked up the next card and opened it…

Regina Mills, will you go on a date with me?

"Yes." She chuckled as she looked at the little cards that she had dropped onto the counter, she would treasure them. Then she looked back to the flowers themselves, they were extremely beautiful; the bouquet was made up of deep pink and white lilies, light pink peonies, tulips, a couple of roses and she could swear that she saw another card. Shaking her head, she reached in and it was a fifth card!...

Shit, I tried to be clever with that last one and realised that I could be any one of your suitors, I mean I'm guessing you probably have a lot of men wanting to go out on a date with you, you know with you being so beautiful. Being beautiful is great and all, but your personality, that's what won me over and you have won me over as I hope to win you over. Okay, I am having to pay for these little cards, but it's nothing if you agree to go on this date. It's Robin, just in case you didn't know, but you probably did know that considering how I babbled on about our lunch earlier. Anyway, it's Robin, please consider. Oh and I hope you like the flowers.

She inhaled the wonderful scent emitting from the floral arrangement "They are beautiful aren't they Lenny." She smiled as her cat simply meowed in response. She couldn't believe Robin had done this, gone to all this effort, it made her heart soar, it was such a romantic gesture and the cards just made it even better. Shaking her head, she made sure that the flower had enough water before carrying them into her hall and placing them on the circle table that stood in the middle. She stood back to admire them and sighed contentedly, her cat had followed her and was now rubbing against her leg. She bent down and picked him up "Right I think I need to get something to eat, how about Chinese food?" she asked, when he nuzzled into her she chuckled. "I'll take that as a yes."

Wandering over to the cupboard in the office, she pulled out the menu to her Chinese place and dialled the number, a number that she pretty much knew off by heart. "Hi."

"Regina."

"Hey." Was it bad to be on a first name basis with the guy who owned the Chinese restaurant and for him to recognise your voice after having only said one simple word. It definitely was.

"Do you want your usual?"

"Hmm I suppose, can I add spring rolls and a sweet and sour chicken?"

"Of course."

"Oh and some noodles, that would be great." She chuckled, knowing that by adding this on top of her usual, shredded beef, lemon chicken, fried rice and prawn crackers, that she would never be able to eat it all. She hated to admit it and people would be astounded to know this about her, but she loved being able to warm up leftovers, it was the best thing in the world, well maybe not, but she did love it.

"Mmm Regina, the delivery guy isn't working tonight, he fell of his bike."

"Oh my god! Is he alright?" She was on first name terms with the delivery guy also.

"Broken leg, but apart from that he's fine."

"Okay, well, I can come and get it, it's no trouble."

"You sure?"

"Yes, it's fine." She chuckled "How long?"

"About thirty minutes."

"Thanks Chen, see you soon."

"Bye Regina."

She smiled, as she walked out of her office and saw the flowers again, she was in an extremely good mood, usually she would hate having to leave the comfort of her house, even if it was to go and get food from a restaurant that was literally only one block away. If that made her lazy, then so be it. She pulled on her ugg boots, she didn't look the most attractive at that moment; she was dressed in black slacks and a shirt that was way too big for her, but it was comfy. Her hair was tied loosely into a ponytail, she had taken her makeup off and her large black framed glasses sat on her nose. She didn't care, she was literally going to pick up food, she wasn't going to run into anyone she knew.

She grabbed her car keys out of the bowl, opened the door and went to her car, she was about to get in when she stared at it wide eyed, "Shit!" It was broken and she had forgotten, it hadn't started that morning. She shrugged and decided that a light walk might do her some good anyway and a bit of fresh air might help her take her mind off Robin, help her to cool down a little from some of the fantasies she had been having. She rushed back into the house and grabbed her coat and her cell, just in case, you couldn't be too careful. Then she remembered the abandoned coffee on the console table and ran upstairs, downed the coffee and went straight back out the door. To waste good, expensive coffee was a travesty.

It was dark out and the street lamps were the only source of light, she tightened her coat around her and picked up the pace, why did her car have to die on her? She loved her car, in fact, she really needed to call someone to fix it as soon as possible, she hated taking public transport. One minute, she had her own limo and driver, she scoffed and shook her head, why the hell hadn't she thought about that sooner? She could have saved so much time earlier, if she'd have just thought. She liked to be independent and that was her reason behind driving herself to work, however she still had a limo and driver whom she could call to pick her up, for the time being she was allowing Tink to use it. Well Tink would just have to find her own transportation, wouldn't she?

Then she heard a creaking noise and turned around "Hello?" Shuddering she furrowed her eyebrows "Is someone there?" It was pitch black and there were no houses in this particular area, the street lamps had also ended, so it was safe to say she was creeped out. She hated the dark, absolutely hated it, in fact Robin had cottoned on to that earlier, he had somehow worked it out. She didn't exactly know why she was scared of it, but she always had been, it was okay if she was in her own home, in her own bed. But being in the dark anywhere else gave her the chills. It was even worse when one minute it was light and then the next she was plummeted into darkness. Maybe it was one too many horror films, which was strange, because she liked horror films, she liked the suspense, but she liked it when she was all tucked up in bed or on the couch with the duvet, not in the middle of nowhere.

She took her phone from her pocket and flicked on the torch, why did the Chinese place have to be so far away? The she heard a twig snap and jumped out of her skin, dropping her phone and hearing a shattering sound. "Shit!" She scrambled for it in the dark, this really wasn't funny now, the impact of the sidewalk must have broken her torch. When she located the phone she picked it up and pressed the home button. The shattered screen lit up with a picture of her wearing her black frames and Lenny snuggled up to her. What if she was killed, what if she never saw her poor baby again? She tried to use the light from the screen to see, but it was no use, it wasn't bright enough. Then she remembered she had to walk back this way! Maybe her mother was right, maybe she would be killed by some sort of axe murderer or kidnapped, or held for ransom, did people actually do that? Would someone pay to rescue her? Wow she was letting her mind run wild, scaring herself.

Unlocking her phone, she clicked into contacts and dialled the first contact saved into her phone.

"Regina?"

"Mom, um can you just talk to me please."

"What?"

"Say anything, just anything."

"Regina dear what on earth are you doing?"

"Nothing, how has your day been?" She really just needed to keep on walking, even though she couldn't see where she was going.

"Fine, Regina are you alright, you always ring me on the house phone. Sweetie are you in trouble, I can come and get you."

"Mom, I am thirty-six years old and I am perfectly capable…" Something jumped out of a bush and she screamed, beginning to run down the road. "Crap."

"Regina!"

"Holy shit!"

"Regina, what is going on? Regina!"

She stopped running and looked behind her, letting out a low sigh she shook her head. "Racoon, it was a racoon, or a cat, or something."

"Where are you? What the hell are you doing near racoons, they contract rabies, get away from it now!"

Why the hell had she told her mother that there was a racoon, now she would probably think that her daughter had contracted some life threatening disease. Her mother was too protective, never wanting her to do anything in case she got hurt, she was also extremely melodramatic about every single tiny thing. "It was a cat mom, a cat, it's fine, I'm pretty sure we don't even have racoons here." She was lying, she knew that there were, because she had seen one, last time she had visited Brooklyn, she had seen one in a trashcan.

"Why are you out at night? What are you doing, Regina?"

She was really, really regretting calling her mother now, she should have known that she would react like this. "I am not a child mother; I am perfectly alright to go out at seven o'clock at night."

"But it's dark out Regina, are you alone? I don't like it; I don't like it one bit you being alone out in the middle of nowhere. I mean what if something were to happen to you, hmm? I'd lose my little girl and I would never forgive myself."

Wow, okay, that escalated quickly, her mother was killing her off in her mind, Regina knew she would have to do something to bring it back down to a normal level, one that collated to a sane person, one which didn't really apply to her mother because she was in fact, insane. "Mom, I am fine, calm down." Regina contemplated not telling her mother where she was going, because even though she was an adult herself, her mother, as much as she loved her, still like to judge her on what she put into her body. "I am walking to the Chinese place, I ran out of rice and hadn't realised. I need some to go with my vegetable stir fry." What a load of bullshit, her order was the opposite of vegetables and boiled rice. Seriously though, who chose boiled rice when they could have fried rice? Not that she cared if people did prefer boiled, but fried was so much better.

"Walking to the Chinese place? Regina why are you walking there?"

"Because my car broke and so did the delivery man."

"What?"

"No, the delivery man broke his leg and the battery died on my car." Why were things always so difficult to explain to her mother? Did she speak a different language or was her mother going deaf? Maybe she should take her for a hearing test, she would talk to her audiologist about making her an appointment.

"Regina, you should not be out walking alone at this time, it is dark, what about the…"

"Axe murderers and kidnappers?" Regina laughed. Her mother was always one to over react, maybe that was who she got it from. "Mom, I am completely fine." She stated as the streetlights began again. "I think we need to install more street lamps on this road though."

"What? There aren't any street lamps? Regina, I am coming to pick you up."

"No you are not, you stay at home, Jesus Christ." She was really considering cutting her mother off, but if she did that, she knew that a search party would probably be sent out. If that happened, she knew that her mother would find out that she had lied about the Chinese food. Oh my god, this was an actual conversation, anyone would think that she was a troubled teenager, she was a grown woman and if she wanted to eat Chinese food, she would darn well eat it.

"Ring me when you get home."

"Fine." She rolled her eyes. "Bye."

"Bye." Her mother replied "Oh and Regina remember…"

"Look out for the axe murders and kidnappers."

"No, that was very sarcastic. I was going to say remember that I love you."

Regina chuckled and shook her head "I love you too, I'll speak to you later." Regina cut her phone off and slipped it back into her pocket. She loved both her parents dearly, well when they weren't together that was, when together it was as if all hell froze over, it was hard to believe that they had been married for over twenty-five years. What a twenty first birthday Regina had, her parents had announced literally the day after that they were getting a divorce and they had been divorced ever since. Neither really had any relationships with other people, both still sulked.

Regina wondered if they were still in love with each other and that was the reason that they couldn't seem to find anyone else. They had been in love for most of her childhood, she had perceived their marriage as a happy one, but things seemed to run off course and she still didn't really know why. Daddy refused to talk about it and mother, well she would get angry at first and then she would cry, they had been divorced for fifteen years, you would have thought that they would have made some leeway into getting over it, but seemingly not.

She knew that they both tried, tried for her sake, when she had special event for her company, they would both show their faces and avoid one another. It was just the norm now, but she had thought for a long time that maybe there was still something left, something that they could salvage.

Then when she walked around the corner, the restaurant came into view and she heaved a sigh of relief. Pushing the door open she chuckled and leant on the counter. "I walked here." She laughed as Chen shook his head at her. "I walked, I never walk."

"Hi Regina." He chuckled. "Want a free fortune cookie?"

"Why not." She smiled as she took it from him, before walking over to sit on a bench in the waiting area. She opened the packet and snapped the cookie in two, taking the piece of paper in her hand, she read the little message…

A handsome stranger will sweep you off your feet and take you on a journey you never thought possible.

Whoa, so when were these things ever even remotely accurate? Never, but today it seemed to be bang on, that handsome stranger was Robin, she knew it was.

"Good fortune?" Chen asked as he noticed her smiling down at the note.

"Yes, I suppose it is."

"You look very happy for a woman who has had to walk for her dinner."

"Mmm, well, I have had quite the day." She adjusted her glasses and smiling she briefly closed her eyes, leaning back against the wall.

"Regina?"

Her eyes flew open, she looked up and nearly forgot how to breath. "I, um, no." She screwed up her eyes, why did he have to be here when she looked like this, she was literally wearing her cosies and no makeup.

"Very funny."

"Robin? What are you doing here?"

"Um, buying Chinese food."

What a dumb question, what else did you do in a bloody Chinese restaurant? Congratulations Regina, you are a great big failure when it comes to men and having crushes. "Oh." She nodded, looking down.

"What are you doing here?"

"Buying Chinese food." She stated and then shook her head "not cool." He was teasing her and she knew it.

"I like the glasses."

"Oh don't" She quickly took them off "I wasn't expecting to run into anyone."

"Don't sweat it, neither was I." He laughed.

She looked up at him, taking in his attire, he too was wearing slacks and a baggy jumper, that she would just love to put on and lounge around the house in after they had mind-blowing sex. There her mind went again, why did it always do that? "Then I guess we both look as ridiculous as one another."

"I have to say, I didn't think you would even own a pair of those." He gestured to her sweat pants.

"Well, what can I say, they're comfy." She smirked as he sat down next to her. She was so tempted to just lean her head on his shoulder and relax in his embrace, whilst inhaling that wonderful pine scent that was so individually him.

"I was serious though, I do like the glasses." He picked them up from where she had abandoned them on the bench, then carefully he slid them back on her face. "Yes, you look great in them."

"Thanks." She laughed, shaking her head, he was just being nice, she knew that she looked dumb. She probably looked like a ghost from the lack of makeup on her face, so right now she was embarrassed to be in his presence. Then she remembered the present she had received earlier "Thank you for the flowers by the way, they are truly beautiful."

"You liked them?"

"Loved them, but you didn't half babble on in those messages." She taunted, rolling her eyes.

"I think I may have told you several times how dire I was at writing messages on cards."

"Once or twice." She smirked, nudging him playfully.

"So, what's your answer?"

"Answer?" She knew exactly what he was referring to, he wanted to know whether she would go out with him or not, she had made her mind up that she would, but was that breaking the rules she had set out for herself? No, she wanted him, she could still go on a date and play hard to get, just because she was agreeing to go on a date with him, didn't meant that she was obligated to jump into bed with him. As much as she might want that, she couldn't, she wasn't that sort of woman and she hoped that he wasn't the sort of man who would take advantage, from what she had seen from him throughout the day, she had nothing to worry about.

"Will you go on a date with me?" He asked, casting her puppy dog eyes, his eyes seemed to be literally begging her to say yes, how could she say no to that look? How could anyone say no to that look?

"I suppose I could do that." She nodded "even if it did take you five little message cards to get your point across."

"I am a man of many words."

She shook her head and laughed "Can't disagree with that."

"My mother always said, Robin Locksley if you carry on talking you'll turn me and your father deaf."

Regina found herself simply smiling at him, she couldn't help it, his voice had gone up in pitch as he had done an impression of his mother.

"She once told me that you only had so many words a day before your voice box shuts down."

"Wow." She sniggered "That's a cruel way to get your son to shut his big mouth." Her hand absently drifted to his knee.

"It worked." He grinned, looking down at where her hand was making contact with his leg.

She followed his gaze to her hand and discreetly moved it away, what was she thinking? She was meant to be making him work for it, not handing him herself on a plate, but somehow it seemed so natural to touch him, to be so friendly with one another and she found herself forgetting that they hadn't known each other for years, only one day. She looked back up and met his eyes, they seemed to be staring into her very soul, it was as if he could see her thoughts; his beautiful blue eyes sparkled in the dim lights cast by the Chinese lanterns, her breath caught as his hand moved up to run across her cheek. The gesture was so gentle, so loving that she couldn't help but close her eyes and lean into the touch. She knew it was wrong and that it was going against all her rules, but she couldn't stop herself; it was like they had some sort of magnetic pull, a force that was bigger than the both of them, pulling them together.

His thumb was gently caressing the area of skin below her eye and she felt like she was floating on air, as if she would take off any minute due to the intensity of emotions such little contact arose within her. She reached out and laid her own hand over his, opening her eyes to look at him again, seeing the look of pure adoration shining in his eyes.

Then suddenly, their beautiful moment was interrupted by Chen calling out a name to signify their order was ready "Locksley."

"That's me." He shrugged, reluctantly pulling his hand away from her cheek and standing up. He walked to the counter and paid for his food before turning back to her "I'll get in touch with you about our date."

"I'll hold you to that." She smirked, biting her bottom lip as she watched him walk out of the door.

Wow, he really was amazing, his touch set her on fire, absorbed her very being, made her nerve ends tingle, he sent her crazy and if she hadn't been stuck with thoughts of him before she certainly was now. Plus, he liked Chinese food, so he was a winner all round. She brought her hand up to her face, tracing where his hand had touched her, it was still tingling. She leaned back and smiled, closing her eyes. Then she heard the bell on the door sound again. "Regina, what are you doing right now?"

She looked up to see Robin gazing at her. "Buying Chinese food, I thought we'd established that already."

"No, what I mean is, are you eating alone?"

"Yes."

"Wanna eat together?" He asked "I mean, you don't have to, but I would prefer to have company than to sit in my house alone."

Yes, she really did want to eat with him and if it meant that she didn't have to walk back alone in the dark, that was just an added bonus. She was really contemplating it just for that reason alone. But she had to read over her magazine before tomorrow and agreeing to spend the evening with him, wouldn't help with that in the slightest. "I, I have to read over the sections for the magazine."

"Oh, never mind then."

She saw the disappointment flash across his face and immediately changed her mind "No, all I am saying is that I might not make very good company, but I would love to eat with you. As long as we go back to my place, because all my files are on my laptop."

The look of disappointment immediately disappeared and he grinned at her "That's fine, I have my car out front."

"Good." Yes, no walking down dark back roads and great company to eat dinner with, what could be better? He sat back down next to her and was staring at her. "What?" She asked, turning to look at him. She felt slightly self-conscious with what she was wearing and adjusted the belt on her jacket.

"You look beautiful."

She scoffed and shook her head "I don't think so." she threaded her hair behind her ear and met his eyes.

"You really are. Have you ever met someone, whose eyes you just knew you were born to gaze into?"

She stared at him wide eyed, her mouth had dropped open in shock, was he saying that he was born to gaze into her eyes? She had said the same thing to herself earlier, but to hear him say it shocked her to her core. "I, um, I." She was speechless, for once she couldn't think of anything to reply with.

"Sorry, did I just completely freak you out? I was rather caught up in the moment."

Regaining her composure, she remembered that blinking was a necessity as was breathing. "No, it's fine." She nodded, moving that same strand of hair back behind her ear. "I was just caught off guard a little that's all."

Wow, okay, she had never fallen this hard for anyone, he made her crazy and seemingly it was mutual. If it hadn't had been, she knew she would have been in big trouble, unrequited love was the most painful thing in the world. To love someone so much and for them to use you and not love you back. She wouldn't go through that again; she swore to herself that she wouldn't. Not that she was in love with Robin, but maybe, just maybe, she was falling in love with him. All she knew for sure was that she would enjoy finding out.


Please leave me with your thoughts. :) xxx