Ok, so, I sincerely apologise for the huuuuge delay in this but I've had two pieces of coursework to do, some close friends' fics to help out with, busy weekends at home, lots of sleep… life has been very busy recently.
So I was determined to finish this and get it updated today before a month passes by since my last update (because a freaking month is a long time) so it's here. Now, in my haste to update this for you lovely people I've not sent this to my dear Sammy, I've had Bela – author of 'Red' which you should totally check out if you're not already: Isah Underhill is her penname – check it over to just make sure it's not dull or tedious or too 'talky' in places, so forgive any stupid mistakes and just pretend you didn't see them :)
As always, please review :) because honestly, it makes me smile so much to have people tell me what they think of my stuff.
So thank you for putting up with my appalling updating, and hope this kinda makes up for it somewhat
xXx
Having spent the majority of last night and most of her morning thinking about what was going on between her and Robin Hood, Regina was walking to the dining hall still wrapped up in her thoughts of just where she and the outlaw stood. They could no longer classify themselves as 'enemies with benefits' or 'fuck buddies' or whatever modern-world label would be placed on them. But to say that they were 'friends' just seemed a little too strange for Regina. Because that was not what they were. Not really.
It was something different. They were no longer anywhere near the 'enemies' they had been towards the start, they had gone straight past 'allies' into the 'partners' zone when he had started helping out with the whole there's-a-green-witch-trying-to-destroy-me issue. Then they had become 'partners who flirt' when they actually realised that they were attracted to each other but refused to make a move, and settled for just throwing insults and innuendos at each other instead. Then Robin had made a move and they had become 'partners who had sex' – or at least tried to before the pretentious little princess managed to interrupt them at every single moment they had together. And then somehow they had progressed from biting retorts and witty banter to actually being nice to each other from time to time. And more than that; actually caring, until they had become somewhat closer to the 'friendly' area than Regina had felt in such a long time. And, if Regina admitted it to herself – which she had, albeit incredibly reluctantly – they were probably edging towards the 'lovers' category lately, what with the verbal declarations of sentiment, soft touches and gentle caresses.
But – with a firm nod – Regina decreed that they would firmly stay at whatever they were now, nothing else; the sex was good and it was actually nice to occasionally feel cared about for a short while. But anything further than this would make them more 'lovers' than anything else and that was not going to happen. At all.
A noise that wasn't the clicking of her heels or the swish of her full skirts drew Regina's attention out of her internal ponderings.
She knew it was Roland before she saw him; his incessant chatting to whoever he had dragged with him from breakfast was animated enough to carry around the corner and drift to Regina's ears, bringing a small smile to her face.
Her smile widened when the little boy came into view; one hand was waving in the air as he imitated some kind of 'huge beast with teeth and claws that goes rawwr', and another was clinging onto one of George's, who was staring at his friend's son with a look of pure adoration.
At this point, Regina was pretty sure she had the same look etched into her features too.
The Queen cleared her throat, loud enough to draw George's gaze up to hers, but apparently not loud enough to interrupt Roland's interesting ramblings. The man gave her a smile, and Regina gave him one in return, before her gaze flitted back down to the young boy still chatting away without a care in the world.
George squeezed Roland's hand, softly saying his name in order to drag him from his wonderful imagination, and then, once the little boy had looked up at him in curiosity, he nodded down the corridor and whispered; "look who it is."
He let go of Roland's hand, knowing that the little boy had a certain fondness for the Queen and would most likely drag him across the floor in his hurry to get to her if they were still attached.
Sure enough, when Roland looked down the hallway and saw Regina, he let out an excited gasp and ran straight to her. Regina bent down slightly when he got closer, holding her arms out to the side somewhat with a small smile, and Roland just jumped and wrapped his arms around her neck. With a laugh, Regina stood and folded her arms underneath him, hoisting him higher up her torso and lightly swinging him from side to side when his legs had wrapped around her too.
"Hello Roland," she said, voice light, laughing softly at the unexpectedly pleasant greeting.
George smiled at the two as he walked over, before inclining his head and addressing Regina with; "good morning, your majesty."
"Morning," she replied, with a wide smile of her own, feeling decidedly lighter than she had done in a long while. Something about this young boy brought more heartfelt smiles from her than the false ones she had mastered a long time ago.
It must run in the family.
When Regina tried to lean back to see Roland's face – which had resolutely stayed in the junction between her neck and shoulder – the little boy just clung tighter. Regina frowned.
"Roland? What's the matter?"
"I think he's just glad you're alive and well." George offered. "It was a bit of a shock for him to find you like he did. I think he's just making sure you're ok."
Regina's eyes snapped to George's.
'Find her'? As in; he was the one to find her after her battle with Zelena? Regina knew Robin had been the one to bring her into the castle; the Merry Men had joked about it when they had come to visit her. Alan-a-Dale had forgotten himself and commented how could Robin have possibly carried such a heavy load? and then had looked to Regina with panicked eyes as if to say 'please don't hurt me'. The sheer relief in his eyes when she quipped "at least he wasn't carrying you" was enough to make her laugh alongside the others; it appeared she hadn't lost her intimidating touch just yet.
So yes, Regina knew Robin had been the one to carry her inside. But she had no idea that sweet, innocent, little Roland had been the one to actually find her.
Her arms tightened around the boy still holding onto her, not wishing to think about where his thoughts must have taken him that night in her gardens.
George's small smile faded at the guilt that washed over the Queen's features, before she turned her head to mutter 'I'm sorry' into Roland's ear.
Stepping forward, George placed his hand on Roland's back, looking to Regina. "But her Majesty is fine now, right?" he asked encouragingly, gaze locked on the Queen's.
Regina's voice lacked its usual bite when she said; "yes, I'm fine."
"See?" Roland's head turned to look up at his father's good friend from its spot on the Queen's shoulder. "Her Majesty is perfectly ok."
Finally leaning back, Roland looked at Regina's face, putting his hands on both her cheeks and asking; "you're really ok?"
Regina smiled before confirming; "I'm really ok."
Roland beamed before leaning forwards and pressing the tip of his nose to Regina's. After scrunching up her own nose, then letting out a little huff of air and grinning, Regina sobered, bending to put Roland on the floor and kneeling in front of him. "Now then, we need to talk."
"We do?" Roland asked with a frown. Regina nodded. "What about?"
"You saved me." Regina declared.
Roland shook his head, protesting; "Papa saved you. Mr. Healer man saved you."
"They would not have been able to do anything if you hadn't been there to find me." Regina pointed out with a smile. "So thank you Roland. You were my little knight in shining armour."
The little boy beamed. "Really?"
"Really. And do you know what happens when knights do something very brave?" Roland shook his head, listening intently. "They get a reward."
Regina's smile widened as Roland's face lit up, his bottom lip between his teeth as he started bouncing on the balls of his feet.
Regina had barely finished asking him "What would you like?" when Roland enthusiastically shouted; "A pet dragon!"
"Roland, mate, you can't have a pet dragon." George said in a long-suffering tone which clearly meant this was not the first time the boy had asked for this particular gift.
Regina frowned when Roland's beaming smile faded, before he asked very quietly; "why not?"
George went to speak, but Regina cut him off before he could manage one word. "I don't think a dragon would have enough space here. And there are lots of people in this castle, some can be very noisy; it might get a bit scared. And, we don't want it setting fire to our home with its firey-breath now, do we?"
With a resigned smile, Roland shook his head with a small "no". Then his face lit up with excitement again, "Akupara!"
Regina couldn't help but smile; yet again with the mythical beings, if it wasn't a dragon it was a giant tortoise. "How about we stay away from pets that would take up half the castle, hmm?"
"Ok." Roland said, looking down at the floor, pressing his lips together in a firm line.
Regina hooked a finger under Roland's chin and lifted his face to hers, gently asking; "Is there anything else that you'd like?"
The young boy's face screwed up in concentration, before his eyes lit up again as another idea came to him. "Cake!"
Regina couldn't help but laugh at the boy's shout. "Cake?"
Cake was better; Regina could work with cake.
"What flavour?" She asked.
"I dunno." Roland shrugged. "What do you like, Majesty?"
Regina hummed in thought for a moment. "Well, I like vanilla, with jam and cream in the middle." She answered before she leaned forward and – as if it was a huge secret – quietly confessed; "but my absolute favourite is chocolate cake."
"I want chocolate cake." Roland declared.
"Chocolate cake it is."
"Will you use your good magic to make it me, majesty?" Roland asked.
"Magic? My dear, I bake the best chocolate cake ever, all by myself." Regina boasted, placing her hands on her hips. "Although it's probably best if you don't tell Widow Lucas that. She wouldn't be best pleased."
"Ok. Can I help?" Roland asked, clasping his hands in front of him as he added a heartfelt "please".
"Of course you can." Regina smiled, before quipping; "I doubt you're going to learn cooking skills from your father."
An indignant "I heard that" from behind her made the Queen turn to see the Outlaw striding up to her with an eyebrow raised and an amused smirk.
"Are you denying it?" Regina asked from her position on the floor, bent before his son.
Robin didn't get to answer before Roland barrelled past Regina and ran up to his father, jabbering away about how Regina was going make him a cake and he was going to help and he was her knight in shining armour and she said he was brave. Robin couldn't help but smile as he was prevented from getting a single word in.
Regina watched with a sad smile at the young boy's excitement.
George stepped up beside her and offered her his right hand, she looked up at him before taking it, standing and brushing creases out of her skirts.
"You're great with him," George said softly.
Regina's gaze fell to the floor with a slight smile, "thank you."
"I don't mean to pry," George started, "but your son; you raised him on your own?"
Regina's expression fell, memories flashing before her eyes; lifting Henry out his crib and holding him to her when he was crying at night; watching with a beaming smile and tears in her eyes as he took his first steps; kissing scraped knees; opening messily wrapped presents; smiling as she enjoyed burnt toast and weak coffee in bed; camping in a pillow fort with a movie and popcorn in the front room when it rained too much to play outside…
Lifting her gaze to the ceiling and blinking away the tears that had gathered in her eyes, Regina's voice was shaky when she confirmed; "I did."
"That's very admirable." George softly stated, turning to her just in time to see her watery smile before she ducked her head. "I bet you're a great mother."
"I try my best to be." Regina stated, resisting the urge to let tears fall, before quietly murmuring; "For a while I wasn't…"
"How so?" George asked.
Regina blinked and turned to him. She had never really spoken about this – had only admitted it to herself on lonely nights when her thoughts turned to self-loathing and her tendency to hurt everyone she held most dear – and yet here she was, debating just how much she wanted to admit to.
It wasn't that she didn't trust George, because she did; he was one of the very few people to openly ask her for her friendship, despite being hunted by her and her men for a time during her reign as Queen. But admitting weaknesses? Admitting faults and regrets? It went against everything Regina had been instilled with all her life.
But she had made a vow to Henry, to be a better person, to change into someone worthy of being loved and cared for. And if she was ever going to start actually talking then she was going to do so around people she trusted.
That may as well start now, Regina thought with a sigh.
"I was more like my own mother than the one I wanted to be," Regina tensely admitted, "the one Henry deserved."
She held her breath, her gaze firmly fixed on little Roland as she awaited George's response, preparing herself for whatever judgement she'd hear in his voice.
"So," George started, "you decided to go against everything you used to be, because you felt someone you loved deserved more from you?"
"Yeah," Regina responded.
George shook his head and looked down the floor. "I can't imagine how difficult that must be."
"Henry made it worth it." Regina said with a small smile and a faraway look in her eyes, "Whenever I'd reach that point where I'd be tempted to fall back a step or two, or whenever I thought I wasn't strong enough, he'd be there, in the back of my mind telling me I was." George looked over to her, cataloguing the shining eyes and the hint of a smile tugging at the corner of her lips before it faded when she quietly added; "he still is."
George reached out to his side and wrapped his fingers around Regina's petite hand, squeezing slightly as he said; "I'm sorry."
"It's fine." Regina dismissed, clearing her throat and then, having felt like that was enough sharing for the week – or entire month, thought of something less likely to open any more emotional floodgates to change the conversation to.
"Just to let you know," George started, "if you ever feel the need to talk, or even get away from royalty or that idiot over there," his other hand came up to point at Robin – who was still trying to have a two-sided conversation with his son – and they both chuckled, "I'm not adverse to you coming to see me."
Regina turned to face him. "Thank you, George."
"You're welcome, Regina."
The two shared a smile before Roland came rushing over, grabbing the hand George had placed around Regina's and trying to tug him down the hallway. "George, come on. Papa says you have to hold my hand and come play with me."
George chuckled, leaning down to whisper in Regina's ear; "something tells me Robin can't help but feel a little jealous."
Regina looked towards Robin, who was walking over with a scowl on his face, and laughed.
"I'm gonna milk it." George said into her ear.
He stepped back, extracting his hand from Roland before taking Regina's again and dropping into an elaborate bow, saying "good day, milady" before pressing a kiss to her knuckles.
Robin rolled his eyes and folded his arms.
"It was a pleasure to see you again, Regina" George's eyes were firmly fixed on the Queen's as they heard Robin huff.
Inwardly smirking, Regina decided to play along, just this once, "the pleasure was all mine, George."
They both managed to keep a straight face as George straightened, and then they turned as one to see Robin glaring at them, and they couldn't help but let the laughter bubble out of them.
"We're just jesting you, my friend." George said as he clapped a hand on Robin's shoulder. Regina laughed a little louder.
Robin couldn't decide who to focus his glare on, and so he switched between the two. With the look in his eyes and a scowl on his face, Regina thought he was one step away from petulantly stomping his feet in a display of immaturity his son already seemed to be above.
"This isn't going to be a common occurrence, is it?" Robin asked, gesturing between the two of them before clarifying; "joining forces to annoy me."
"Oh, for as long as I live, my friend." George assured, giving Regina a cheeky wink and a mischievous grin. Regina ducked her head to hide her chuckle at Robin's sigh and the very slight blush dusting her cheeks.
"George!" Roland whined, grabbing his hand between both of his and leaning backwards trying to lead him down the corridor. He had grown tired of the grown-ups talking between them after he had been promised George would help him make a pet dragon of his own out of things he could find in the castle gardens.
Robin watched as his friend let himself be led by his son, before turning back with a loud "I'll see you later" when they both turned the corner.
"Yeah," the thief grumbled, scratching the back of his head.
"I should really get going too." Regina started, a hand to her stomach as her hunger reappeared with a quiet growl.
"Not yet you don't." Robin declared, turning to face her, grabbing her wrist and pulling her to him, crashing his lips down on hers.
His hands came up to tangle in her hair and pull strands from the chignon-like hairstyle she had spent half an hour on before she had left her room. Though Regina couldn't really find it in herself to care as her hands grasped the collar of his shirt and he backed her into the wall.
Regina was unable to supress her moan as she tried to shake off her mild shock at the thief's sudden – but welcome – actions.
His tongue licked at the seam of her lips before his teeth dragged over her bottom lip, creating a gap that he exploited and used as entrance to explore every contour of her mouth.
Their tongues met in a fierce battle of will, his hands grasping her upper arms as hers came to rest in the crook of his elbows. Regina hooked a foot behind his ankle, making him step closer, one leg shifting between her thighs as he moved his right hand to rest on the wall above her shoulder, his other trailing past the half-corset encasing her velvet top.
Regina reached around his waist and grabbed at his shirt, the material bunching in her fists as his torso fit against hers with not an inch of space between them.
His head tilted, the hand on her hip sliding up to palm a breast through velvet as his hips rucked into hers, his thigh pressing more insistently against her when Regina's hips rolled forward to meet him.
"You're coming back to my room." Robin declared once he had torn his mouth from Regina's with a groan, his lips moving to her neck and sucking at the spot just under her jawline.
"I don't know," Regina responded. Her mind whirled through the list of things she had set out to do this morning, the list of things that she knew she wouldn't get done if she gave in to the thief, but then Robin raised his hand to grasp her chin and direct her gaze to lock onto his. The list faded away.
"It wasn't a question, milady."
"Yes, sir." Regina teased in a sultry tone, having Robin's eyes widening, pulse quickening and pupils dilating.
"Are you going to call me that more often?" He asked, the hand grasping her chin sliding down past her neck, lingering over her breasts again before coming to rest on her hip. His gaze followed.
"Do you want me to?" Regina retorted, voice low and seductive as she hooked her fingers into the waistband of his trousers and pulled his hips to knock into hers.
Robin practically growled; "Yes."
Trailing a hand up the front of his t-shirt, she hooked a finger into the green, v-neck and brought him close enough so she could whisper in his ear; "Tough luck."
She pulled back to see him scowl. "You're such a tease."
"Don't pretend you don't love it." Regina immediately retorted, before going back over her words and mentally cringing.
Not the best thing you could have said, Regina.
She was saved from quickly thinking up something to say to cover herself by her stomach rumbling again, and was thankful.
"But for now, I am hungry, so you're going to have to exercise your patience, and wait for me."
She turned and started to walk away, both hands coming up to fix her hair – or at least attempt to, before he could say anything.
Robin's head tilted slightly, his lower lip caught between his teeth as he appreciated the sway of her hips. Whilst he hated to see go, Robin just couldn't help but love to watch her leave.
…
A couple of hours later, Regina collapsed beside Robin, running a hand through her loose, messy hair as she tried to regulate her breathing.
"That was…" Regina sighed, unable to think a word to adequately describe the high she was still coming down from.
"Yeah." Robin replied, not faring any better.
Regina let out a breathy chuckle, before sighing again.
"And you call me an archer with such disdain." Robin mocked.
Regina turned her head to look at the thief next to her. "What?" She couldn't think of what the thief was referring to, but then he raised his first two fingers and moved them in a very suggestive manner - not unlike what he had been doing inside her not too long ago - and it all came flooding back.
Regina threw her head back onto the pillow and laughed, blush tinging her cheeks. "Indeed."
There was another lull in conversation before Robin turned his head to look at Regina, eyes tracing over her small, satisfied smile and marvelling at how calm and peaceful she looked.
"I really like you." Robin suddenly stated, voice quiet and yet steady. Regina was taken aback, her eyes widening somewhat as her heart rate and breathing increased in a way that had little to do with their previous activities.
He 'liked'her? Not just 'liked' her but 'really liked' her?
Had Robin said this as they were walking down a corridor, or making their way to a meeting, or any place and time other than when she had just come so hard she had screamed as stars swirled in her vision, she would have taken a literal and emotional step back. But as it was, Regina had just come undone, at the thief's hands – and the rest of him – and it always took her a while to put all her guards back up.
And so she found herself begrudgingly admitting; "I suppose… I may like you too."
"Really like me?" Robin prompted with a mischievous grin.
"Don't push it." Regina quipped. "I've admitted I like you, that's enough, don't you think?"
He rolled them over, pushing her into the mattress and then pressing a kiss to her nose, then her lips, teasing; "well I wouldn't mind a little complement here and there…"
"Don't let it go to your head, thief." Regina said.
"The Evil Queen likes me." Robin boasted with a smug grin, "there's no higher compliment."
"I'd like you a lot more if you were less frustrating." She retorted.
"Ah, but that's half the fun, your majesty. And besides," he pulled back and rested above her on his forearms, "I like frustrating you."
"I can tell." Regina deadpanned.
Robin chuckled and leaned to kiss her again, combing a hand through her hair as she brought her hands up his back to grip his shoulders, tugging at this stupid green fabric which had resolutely refused to do anything they wanted, apparently working in tandem with the stretched velvet hanging off one of her shoulders that the thief had not quite had the patience to remove. Moaning against his lips, Regina wrapped a leg around him and flipped them to their former position.
"But I like frustrating you," Regina stated with a smirk after they parted, "so we can call it even."
They exchanged several more kisses, the heat they were pouring into their explorations more than enough to keep that desire simmering but not quite enough to ignite it again.
Then Robin titled his head forwards so their lips broke apart, their foreheads resting against each other's as they both tried to slow their breathing.
"Why me?" Robin asked, then, upon Regina's confused frown, elaborated; "there are numerous men who would gladly distract you, your majesty…"
"Is this about George again?" Regina irritably sighed, "because I told you, he's a friend, and we were just pulling your leg earlier, we weren't actually-"
"No, I know. It's not about George." Robin assured, "I trust you."
Regina's glare softened, as did the tone of her voice. "Then what are you talking about?"
"There are men higher up in the royal hierarchy who are interested in you, milady, men who are much more than common thieves like myself. And they do not have to organise someone to care for their son before they come and 'distract' you. So... Why would you choose the more difficult option?" He traced a hand up her spine and brought her closer to him, before hastily adding; "not that I'm complaining of course."
"I rarely make my life easy." She joked before becoming serious and actually mulling his question over. "Those other men want to fuck me for no other reason than to brag that they've had a Queen. It would be purely about status to them, not anything to do with me as myself."
Regina was prepared to leave it there, but Robin hummed and said nothing else, encouraging her to continue.
"You're not here because I'm the Queen; I've made it perfectly clear others are not to know about us under any circumstances, and yet you still seek me out. You're here because of attraction, not to gain social status." Regina placed a gentle kiss to his lips, "that's why I chose you."
Feeling the conversation heading a little bit towards the 'emotional' side of the spectrum, and watching his blue eyes light up with a soft smile and feeling one of her own tug at her lips, Regina decided to draw the topic onto something a little safer. "Besides, you're probably better in bed than they'd ever be anyway."
"Oh really?" Robin asked, enjoying the mischievous smile that spread across Regina's lips.
"You're pushing your luck again." She warned.
"Well I can't help it if I'm the best you ever had."
"Ah, now I never said that." Regina protested, holding up a finger in front of him as a caution. "You're putting words in my mouth."
"That's not the only thing I've put in your mouth," Robin retorted with a sly grin as his hand trailed down her thigh and he bit his lower lip.
Regina's jaw dropped at his brazen comment for a second, before she let out a small laugh and thumped him on the shoulder.
"Are you disagreeing?" Robin asked as his hands trailed down her back to grab two handfuls of her backside.
"Well there's not really much denying it, is there?" Regina retorted, "I mean we were both-"
"No, I mean the whole 'being the best you've ever had'." Robin interrupted, "you still haven't confirmed that's what you meant."
"Does it really matter?" Regina asked with a sigh and the roll of her eyes.
Robin's immediate response of "yes," made the Queen chuckle.
"Oh, the male ego." Regina mocked. "Can I think about it?" She asked, her nose scrunching up.
Robin sounded affronted when he retorted; "Do you need to?"
"Well…" Regina started, moving to lie on her side next to Robin as he dipped his head to mouth at her neck, presumably to try and sway her opinion. "I suppose… I mean, Jefferson was really good, Graham was quite good, the knights were tolerable, Leopold was a pig…" Robin snorted into Regina's shoulder to hear the King spoken of in that matter. "Yeah… he sounded just like that." Regina mocked.
"So… I'm the best?" Robin smirked.
Regina tilted her head away from him and lifted her chin. "I'm not saying it."
"Go on." He prompted, starting to trail soft kisses from her shoulder to behind her ear.
"No."
"Regina…"
"Not saying it." She insisted.
Robin's voice was suggestive when he urged; "Come on, you know it's true."
"Well, you're certainly the most well-endowed." Regina teased with a bite to her bottom lip and a quick eyebrow raise, before she scraped her nails down his torso and wrapped her hand around his length.
Robin took her hand and laced his fingers with hers, pressing their joined hands back into the pillow at the side of her head as he leaned over her. "As much of a stroke to the ego that was…"
"A pretty big ego you've got there." Regina teased, the double entendre making Robin roll his eyes with a chuckle.
"…that's not what I wanted to hear." He continued.
Regina rolled her eyes again, "well then, you're not going to hear what you want."
"Regina," Robin warned, "if I can make you say 'please', I think I can get you to say this."
He traced his hand over her skin, and as he passed a spot on her ribs just under her arm Regina squirmed and let out a quiet giggle. Robin stopped, looking at her as if he had just had an epiphany which answered all of life's questions.
"Robin. No." The glare Regina levelled at Robin would have an ordinary man scarpering while he had the chance. But Robin was no ordinary man, and apparently had no fear of dying at the Queen's hands. He lightly traced his fingers back over the sensitive spot he had found and laughed at Regina as she scrabbled for his hand. "Robin. Stop."
But he didn't. His hand continued to move over her side. And when she had that hand grasped between her own, he shifted and brought his other hand to tickle the exact same spot.
"Fine," Regina shouted breathlessly as she squirmed away from him, gasping, "fine ok. You win."
"I win what?" Robin prompted.
"You're…" Regina paused, rolling her eyes before hurrying through; "thebestI'veeverhad."
Robin beamed and puffed out his chest.
"Happy now?" She asked, with a sigh.
"Immensely," the outlaw replied before leaning forwards and taking her lower lip between his, a sweet and gentle kiss that belied the firm grip he held on her waist as he rolled to lie on top of her.
"If you do that to me again, I will kill you." Regina quipped, only half joking, when he pulled back.
"You'll have to find a way to get back at me, your majesty,"
"Oh, I will Outlaw." Regina promised, before tilting her head up so her lips just brushed against his and she breathed into his mouth. "Believe me I will."
"I look forward to it." He growled before he crashed his mouth down on hers, lowering his weight onto one forearm so he could use his other hand to grope her breast and then move down to squeeze her arse.
Regina's hands came up to his shoulders and pushed him back so he was lying at her side again, their legs entangled as she leaned over him to kiss him again.
"Do you miss Storybrooke?" Robin suddenly asked - just before her lips could touch his - before clarifying; "I mean the new world, the way in which you lived and how everything was different there."
"I guess." Regina said, looking down at her hand as it trailed patterns along his shoulder. Robin trailed the back of his fingers from her waist to her hip, humming and raising his eyebrows as if to say 'carry on, I'm listening'.
"Storybrooke is – was – very modern. People were a lot more equal there; less of a class difference between the leaders and the workers, and women weren't just property passed from one person to the next."
The stiffness in Regina's tone and the way her gaze hardened had Robin picking up the hand resting on his shoulder and pressing a kiss to it, watching as she came back to him with a slow blink before continuing.
"Life was a lot easier there. I mean we had cars and telephones and indoor plumbing…"
"Um, I don't know what they are," Robin said, his brow furrowing in the same adorable way his son's did, and Regina couldn't help but laugh.
"Well, cars are like carriages, but they don't have horses; they work by themselves, and can travel a lot faster. Indoor Plumbing is the world's greatest invention ever that you don't realise how beautiful it is until you're back to Enchanted Forest standards. And telephones are devices that let you talk to people regardless of how far away they are."
"They sound useful." Robin stated, before asking; "Could you not create them here?"
Regina thought about it for a moment, the idea becoming worse with every second passed. "The roads aren't really suitable for cars here, and the indoor plumbing would create more trouble than it's worth."
"Oh,"
"But the telephones? There are enchanted objects which work in the same manner." Regina brought her hand palm-up, and with a puff of purple smoke, she had a black, rectangular gemstone hung on plaited leather dangling from her fingers.
The hand Robin had been steadily trailing up and down her side moved to loosely wrap around her wrist, his fingers over her pulse point and his thumb rubbing patterns on the heel of her hand. "What's that?"
"It's… an enchanted forest telephone." Regina explained, "You hold this, and then whoever holds the other part can hear you and speak to you."
"Well why can't you just make lots of these?"
"You don't make the stones; you find them." Regina explained. "Besides, I'm loathe to create anything that will give Snow yet another opportunity to call me when I'd rather she didn't."
"I agree with you on that one." Robin stated with a slight pout before he watched Regina flick her wrist and the 'enchanted forest telephone' disappeared. "So where do you keep that?"
"My chambers. In a box on my dresser that houses little trinkets I may need within arm's reach."
Before Robin could ask anything else they heard Friar Tuck's booming laugh as if he was right outside Robin's door, they both froze and turned to look in the direction the laugh seemed to come from, Robin anticipating a knock and Regina preparing her magic to transport herself to her room should the door move even an inch.
But his laughter faded away, as did the faint voice – of apparently the funniest person in the castle – accompanying it.
Robin turned to look back at Regina, and for a second neither of them moved, just letting their eyes roam over the other. When Robin tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, gently pressing his lips to hers before pulling back and smiling, Regina suddenly realised that they were just lying in bed, exchanging kisses, talking about nothing, and it all just suddenly felt slightly too domestic.
So Regina extracted herself from his strong arms, stood, redressed herself.
Robin propped himself up on his elbow and watched as she secured her skirts and tied the corset around the middle enhancing her figure. Feeling the distance between them growing a little more than the few feet they were apart, Robin swung his legs over the side of the bed and grabbed his trousers, pulling them on and righting his shirt before walking over to stand between Regina and the door.
"I'll see you later?" he asked, smoothing a crease in the fabric on her shoulder.
Regina nodded with an affirmative hum, still fastening her necklace. Robin mutters 'good' before cupping her cheek and kissing her again, letting his mouth languidly move over hers. He went to take a step back, intending to pull Regina with him so he could rest against the door and keep her to himself for a little while longer, but she read his intentions and backed up a few steps in the other direction, pulling him with her.
When Regina gently pushed him away from her, he opened his eyes to see a lazy smile on her lips and a content light in her eyes. That's better.
The moment was broken before Robin could lean back down when Regina pulled away and took a step to the side, trailing a hand down his torso with a chuckle. As she brushed past him, Robin not-so-gently swatted her backside in jest, but at the Queen's quiet gasp and the flush on her cheeks, he looked at her with a thoroughly amused smile. "Your majesty?"
Regina ducked her head and muttered "I'm leaving" as she walked away from him.
But Robin pulled her back against him before she could get far, wrapping his arms around her torso and bringing his mouth to her ear to growl suggestively; "I might do that next time."
Regina rested her hands on his arms, turning her head to look at his lips, up to his eyes, then back down again, before she responded; "I might let you."
Then she pushed his arms away, walking to the door before turning back to him and adding a teasing; "or I might not."
Robin smirked and folded his arms. "Something tells me you will."
Regina ducked her head again, grabbing the handle of the door, reiterating; "I'm going."
She turned back to look at him and smiled, before leaving and making her way back to her room. The subconscious, slight grin tugging at her lips took a long while to fade away.
