Chapter Four
Monday came with clouds and thunderstorms, keeping her indoors and putting off a shoot for the magazine until the following day. Robin messaged her throughout the morning and afternoon. He must have been bored because he asked her all kinds of little things...things like, What's your favorite color?, favorite band?, favorite movie?, Where would you live if you could live anywhere?, and her favorite, When can I kiss you again?
Regina stood and smiled at that last one for an obscene amount of time before she finally replied, Stop by tonight after work and maybe you'll get lucky.
She looked out the window across from her desk as she thought him and how quickly he was becoming a part of her life. The more she tried to fight her pull to him, tried to tell herself to go slow, the more she wanted him near.
Leaning back, she rested a hand against her belly.
The thing about Robin wasn't just that he was attractive, incredibly handsome, and frankly, irresistible, but he was also kind and intelligent and responsible. Somehow, she managed to find a man not much older than her who had a plan for his life, and it was sexy, damn sexy.
Before she met him, Regina thought she would be single for a long time to come. It was apart of her choice, and she was okay with that. She was going to be a mom first. It would be her and her little girl.
Emma had scoffed and asked her if she was planning to live like a nun all that time too. The blonde raised a good point, but while sex was great, Regina wasn't the casual sex type. If she was going to have sex, she was going to be in a relationship. Regina remembered thinking if she were to get involved with someone, he would have to be one hell of a guy for her to even consider it.
As the tiny feet of her daughter pressed against the palm of her hand, she wondered about a different future, one not just with her and the baby but with Robin too. She imagined birthdays for her daughter with a mom and a dad singing to her, Christmases with three of them, and weekends where they would hold her hands and walk her to the park, watching her play and grow.
It wasn't a bad future, it was one hell of one.
Her phone let out a soft ding, and she pulled up the message.
Already consider myself lucky, but I'd never pass up the opportunity. See you tonight.
She wouldn't pass it up either.
Smiling, Regina focused for the rest of the afternoon on headshots and graduation pictures until four when she put it all away and went to change before he got there.
#
He came over for a kiss
She hadn't meant to end up in his lap, it just happened. One minute he was standing in her living room kissing her, and the next she was giving him a gentle push down to the couch and then well…
Her belly between them provided some distance but not much, not enough to keep her from feeling him beneath her. She hummed, but it turned into something more like a groan as she shifted her hips down on him. She meant it to be light, just to ease the ache between her legs, but then he made this sound, and she wanted to hear it again and again… and God help her, she wanted to feel him. She wanted that friction she was feeling to never stop.
His hands ran up her back slowly, sending delicious tingles up her spine as they went, making her wish there weren't layers of clothes separating them.
The kiss was a really good idea.
"Regina… Christ…"
Her lips pulled up at the sound of need in his voice. She didn't know where all her confidence came from. She'd been with Daniel many times, but they were each other's first loves. They stumbled through the awkwardness of virginity in their first year of college, and even when they developed into their own rhythm, she never felt like she was really good at it. She worried all the time if she was doing it right because he was always so quiet.
With Robin though, she didn't have to worry about pleasing him because she knew just from making out with him, he would be much more vocal than Daniel.
His moans and whispered words of encouragement took the pressure off of her so she could focus on feeling, feeling his hands against her skin, his tongue that stole the breath from her, and him, hot and hard beneath her.
Somehow, she knew when they did have sex it would be just the same. Moans and words and him whispering how sexy she was in her ear...
A thought struck her in that moment, and she pulled her lips away from his. "How many women have you been with?"
#
He looked up at her with startled surprise as she ripped her lips away to ask such a question in the middle of one hell of a kiss.
A laugh spilled from him that couldn't be helped. "I suppose this question was coming, wasn't it?" He brushed a strand of her hair away from her face, which was in a wonderful disarray from his hands being in it, and took a quick moment to look at her. Those dark, serious eyes and her lips, red and pouty from his kisses were captivating. She was gorgeous and sexy as hell but waiting for an answer. Robin cleared his throat. "Ah, two."
"Oh," she replied in a soft, yet surprised, tone.
His thumb brushed across her soft cheek. "Did you expect more?"
A smile pulled her lips up, and her hand came up, taking hold of his wrist before caressing up and down his forearm. "I just figured there might be since you seem... good at this."
Her eyes darted away shyly. He couldn't fathom how she got that impression. He felt like a nervous, bumbling idiot and was half terrified he was going to scare her off… For as enthusiastic as she had been about them, it was moments like this that he knew from his little experience, hers was less so. She may have been pregnant, and she may not speak about the father, but besides her fiancé, he assumed there weren't many others. In fact, he would bet it was only one other, and it was during a time when she was trying to chase away her heartache.
"I think it's just us," he said simply. It was the only way he could explain it. Her eyes found his again at his words. His hands ran up her thighs, stopping at the edge of her shorts and then made their way back down. "I think we're good at this."
Her teeth sunk into her bottom lip right before she replied with a soft, "Me too."
Picking up where they left off, they indulged for a little while longer, pulling back before it could get too heated, just before he heard her stomach growl, and they broke apart laughing.
"Pizza?" he asked.
#
Wednesday, Robin went into work and breathed a sigh of relief. His mentor had been out sick for the day. Finally, he was able to have some time to himself. He worked on the project he'd been assigned to without his coworker breathing over his shoulder, questioning his every draft and making amendments to every... single… idea he had.
Robin understood he was the new guy fresh out of an internship, but Christ Almighty, how he was ever supposed to get anywhere if he wasn't allowed to make some sort of contribution he'd never know.
Being alone for the day had its other perks as well. He was able to check his messages as often as he liked… that is, he would have, if he had any.
Picking up his phone from his desk, Robin frowned at the screen. There were no new messages, no missed calls. Nothing. Regina hadn't responded to his messages since early last night. Throughout the morning he sent a few more, mostly about how quiet it was at work and how he hoped she was having a good morning. When she didn't respond to those, he tried to call her just to make sure everything was alright, but it went straight to her voicemail.
His gut twisted unpleasantly thinking that something could be wrong. She could have had those pains again, or perhaps something happened to the baby… or maybe it was him she was avoiding. He made sure to follow her lead in regards to the intimacy they shared and let her set the pace. He even went as far as to hold them back, knowing her body was more ready than she. She wanted to take this thing between them slowly, and he respected that.
He thought he had anyway.
No, he thought and shook his head. She had been fine yesterday. More than fine, he told himself. They talked before she went to bed, even flirted shamelessly for quite a long while before she admitted to him she was getting a headache and should probably go to bed.
It had to be something else.
When five o'clock came, and he still hadn't heard from her, instead of taking the train to Brooklyn, he caught the first taxi and headed to SoHo.
He stood outside the building and waited a lot longer than usual, but he let out a relieved breath when her soft voice filled the speaker.
"Yes?"
"Hey, it's me," he began.
There was a pause and then her voice said, "Come up, I'll unlock the door."
Her voice worried him. It was softer than normal, and he had to really strain to hear her words. He tried not to think about what could be wrong as he took the stairs two at a time, patience to wait for the elevator wasn't in him at that moment. When he approached her door, he didn't hesitate to open it.
The place was dark, pitch dark, and took him by surprise. The only light in the room shone from the slits in the curtains. "Regina?"
"I'm in here," her voice called back, just as soft as it had been when she spoke through the speaker.
He made his way through the apartment easily enough and found her lying on the couch. Thankfully, the window nearest cast a small sliver of light on the floor next to her so he could see. Kneeling down, he placed a hand on her hip. She looked so small lying there in the darkness. Her shoulders were shaking softly, and when he realized it was because she was crying, his heart twisted in his chest.
Don't let it be the baby, he thought.
"Hey, beautiful," he whispered and raised his hand to brush the hair away from her face. "Tell me what's wrong."
When she opened her eyes to look at him, they were filled with pain. The concern he felt doubled in intensity, and he moved as close as he could.
She blinked up at the ceiling and wiped away the wetness from her cheeks. "I'm just not feeling well."
That had to be some kind of understatement. While some of the tension his chest faded in relief, his concern for her was still there, not being able to imagine what could make her feel so horrible.
"You weren't answering your phone, I was getting worried." His hand slipped up her hip to move over her stomach. He caressed his hand against the soft cotton of her tee shirt. "Is it the baby?"
"No, it's not her," she said as her hand dropped and fell over his, but he never stopped his caress even as he felt the little kicks against his palm that made his heart fill with a warmth he couldn't quite comprehend. "It's a migraine. I get them sometimes, but this is the first one since I got pregnant, and it feels so much worse."
His brow furrowed. Surely there had to be something that could give her some relief. "Have you taken anything?"
"I can't… at least, I'm not supposed to because it can possibly have side effects on the baby, but…" she trailed off as fresh tears filled her eyes. "I don't know how much longer I can take this. I couldn't sleep last night. I'm so tired, but the pain won't stop."
He didn't think about her not being able to take anything for it because of the pregnancy. It left him feeling torn, wanting her to have relief but also feeling a need to protect the child from what could come from it. He felt utterly helpless. "What does your doctor say?"
She let out a bitter half laugh mixed with a sob. "Drink fluids and try to rest." With what light that spilled into the room, he frowned seeing the anguish in her eyes. "I'm sorry I didn't answer... I meant to call you…"
Robin shook his head. "Don't apologize, love. I'm sorry I didn't check on you sooner." He let out a sigh and let his eyes fall to her belly for a long moment before he asked, "What can I do?"
She sniffed. "Nothing. There's nothing anyone can do. I just have to suffer through it."
As unacceptable as that was to him, he knew she was right. Still, he would do what he could, and if that meant being here and doing something as simple as holding her in his arms, that's what he would do. "That may be, but I won't let you suffer alone."
#
It took her a few moments to blink through the fog and pain in her head and process what he had said. When she finally did, her eyes filled with tears again. "You'll stay with me?"
The look in his eyes that held so much worry for her gentled into a look that would have sent her heart skidding to a halt had she not felt so terrible. "Of course I will." His fingers threaded through hers as he asked, "Have you eaten anything?"
She closed her eyes. The pain she'd been in made her nauseous all night, and it had lingered with her this morning even though she knew she should probably eat something. "No, I didn't think I could keep anything down."
"Do you want to try?" he asked her. "I could make you some toast?"
Her fingers tightened around his. She should at least try for the baby's sake. The main reason she hadn't eaten was because she would have had to get up from bed, and the thought of having to stand and make something herself made her head spin. Literally. Trips to the bathroom took enough out of her with her head pounding and the sensation of the world moving beneath her. The last thing she needed to do was get so dizzy that she would fall without anyone there to help her. But if he was willing to make her something, she was willing to try. "Toast would be fine."
"I'll be back." He leaned forward and placed a kiss to her brow that was so gentle her eyes closed as they once again burned with more tears. He was too good to her. She didn't know how or why he came into her life, she only knew she was so glad he was there.
Keeping her eyes closed, she attempted not to listen to the noise coming from the kitchen. As quiet as he was trying to be, the clank of the plate, even the sound of him shutting the fridge, had her pursing her lips and creasing her brow in discomfort.
After a few minutes, it was quiet and his whispered voice was back beside her.
"Here, love."
She didn't get up. She didn't want to move if she didn't have to. Thankfully, he seemed to get that impression, and she took a piece of the sliced toast from the plate he held out for her. "Thank you."
Chewing slowly, Regina waited for her stomach to rebel but it never did. She managed to get down three slices and a few sips of water he brought for her all while lying there thinking, not about the pain anymore, but how good his hand felt against her back.
"Would anything else help? Maybe a shower or a bath might help relax these muscles of yours?"
She'd taken baths before when she felt miserable, and to an extent, they would help her, but that was before she was pregnant, back when she could pop a couple Imitrex and sleep through it. Now she was so dizzy she didn't know if she could manage it on her own, but with Robin there… "I suppose it couldn't hurt."
"Alright. Which would you like, and I'll start it for you."
"I think I'll get too dizzy in the shower, a bath would work."
The couch dipped as he got to his feet, and ten minutes later, he was back and helping her to her feet. "Easy does it, lovely."
His arm was wrapped around her middle, and she wrapped hers around his as they made their way back to the bathroom.
"Here you are," he said, stopping when they reached the door. "If you need anything, I'll be right out here."
She nodded, and her hand rose, pulling him down to her. The kiss was light, her form of thank you without words, because every time she spoke it was like a knife in her skull. She knew he understood as his hand fell over hers and pulsed once before he gave her a soft, knowing smile.
The water wasn't an instant relief, but it helped. The moment she sank down into it, her tense muscles finally began to give in somewhat. The pain was still there even once she was relaxed, but it was no longer a tight vice gripping her head for dear life.
Her thoughts drifted out into the hall, to Robin, and she couldn't help but think how grateful she was he decided to come by. She'd probably otherwise still be in her bed suffering through it alone because as Emma would say, she was too damn stubborn to ask for someone to comfort her.
Her hands slipped down under the water to caress her stomach. Every so often she felt her daughter as she flinched under her hands. Regina smiled in spite of the pain. The baby had the hiccups.
She lay in the bath for long moments until the baby settled, and she felt less tense. She didn't want to leave Robin in the hall for too long. Grasping the edges of the tub, she sat forward and instantly regretted it. Her world spun sickeningly around her. She swallowed, fighting the nausea at the loss of her equilibrium.
"Robin," she called out as loud as she could without her head splitting in two.
She heard the door open and then his voice, filled with concern. "Regina?"
She took shallow breaths and anchored her hands to the sides of the tub. "Dizzy."
Feeling his hand on her bare back he soothed, "It'll pass. Are you going to be sick?"
She shook her head. "I don't think so."
Eventually, it did pass, and she opened her eyes to look into a pair of worried blue. "Can you get me a towel?"
He nodded and got to his feet. When he stepped back, his eyes, she noticed, were looking down at the floor. "Do you think you can stand?"
She let out a breath. "I think so, just give me another minute."
After a moment passed with no end, she let out a half sob and closed her eyes against the pain. She just wanted it all to stop.
"Love, I hate seeing you like this…" his words trailed off, and she looked up to see him removing his button up shirt, then tossing it to the counter, before adding, "and quite truthfully, I'd rather not risk you falling in that slippery tub."
She didn't think to ask what he had meant because before she knew it, he had bent his arm around her back and the other under her knees, scooping her from the bath as though she were as light as a feather. Her arms came up and wrapped around his shoulders. Even that slight movement caught her off guard, making her dizzy again. Closing her eyes, she let her brow fall against his.
If she could stay in a moment, she would have chosen this one because though the pain before it and after never dulled, for a flicker of an instant, it was simply her and him. He was holding her naked and dripping wet, soaking him probably, but none of that mattered. In that instant, she knew that he was the only one she wanted to care for her.
That he was it for her.
"Alright?" he asked so quietly she thought she'd imagined it.
Opening her eyes, she nodded. His eyes never left hers as he gently righted her to the floor. When her feet touched the cold tiles, he took the towel from his shoulder, and when she was steady, he wrapped the towel around her.
"Let's get you some clothes and get you in bed."
"Okay," she whispered and let him tuck her in close to his side.
She was tired. So tired, she thought. Robin led her to the bed and she sat down while he walked over to her dresser.
"Here?"
She nodded. "Just some underwear and a shirt."
"Definitely not the way I thought I'd get my hands on your knickers…" he told her while handing her a pair made of black cotton.
She stood with his help and managed a small smile while she slipped them on under the towel.
He pressed a kiss to her brow once she was done. "That was a bad joke. I'm sorry."
"No, it was funny," she told him, pausing to take her Columbia University tee from him. Pulling it on over her head, she finished, "I'm just tired."
"Good, let's see if you can get some sleep now."
She let the towel fall to the floor once she pulled her shirt down not caring if it stayed there for the night. She'd pick it up tomorrow.
Turning, Regina let out a soft sigh as he straightened the blankets on her bed. "You don't have to stay if you'd rather do something else."
He gave her a look, one she took to interpret as he wasn't about to leave her, before he told her, "There's nothing I'd rather do."
Good, she thought because, selfishly, she wanted him there. She wanted his comfort, and for the first time in a long time, she wanted to fall asleep with someone besides Daniel next to her.
Crawling up into bed, and once she got in a comfortable position, she let her head fall to her pillow and closed her eyes. Feeling the bed dip behind her, she let out a sigh when she felt Robin's lips against her shoulder and then his hand as it caressed over her back.
"Don't stop doing that," she breathed.
"I won't," he assured her.
With the feel of him behind her, his hand on her back soothing her muscles, and the movement of her baby inside her, Regina was finally able to sleep.
#
When he woke, it took him a little while to remember where he was. Unlike in his own bed, he wasn't able to flip on his stomach, stretch out, and bury his head under his pillow trying to cling to the last remnants of sleep as he normally would have. Not when there was someone curled up against his back with her own head pillowed under his arm. The feeling of her, of her warmth, brought with them a sense he was unfamiliar with but no stranger to.
Home.
The feeling was different than what he felt in Brooklyn. Sure it was his home, but it wasn't where he saw himself forever. Waking up with Regina in his arms, on the other hand, that he could.
He didn't know she was awake until she tipped her head up. She blinked up at him with those dark eyes that made his chest burn with warmth and love for her.
Her voice was light and sleep filled. "I'm sorry I fell asleep."
Relieved to hear her voice free from the pain she had been in, he leaned down and placed a closed mouthed kiss to her lips. "No, don't be silly, you needed it. How's the head?"
She hummed and placed a hand against his chest. Her fingertips traced circles, making him want to close his eyes and just enjoy being there with her.
"It's still there," she said, "but it's nothing like what it was before. Thank you."
Blinking at her, he considered her words. "For what?"
She smiled softly. "Staying... and for taking care of me… of us."
"I gotta admit, I rather enjoyed the taking care of you both part." He took her hand in his and brought it up to his lips, placing a kiss to her palm before adding, "And while I'm being honest, holding you and falling asleep with you in my arms isn't exactly a hardship."
"You'll have to do it more often then."
Would he ever.
He leaned toward her, and his eyes closed. He was expecting to feel her mouth against his, but smiled as her nose brushed along his before she closed the distance between them.
#
Between sweet kisses and feeling his hands caress over her arms and her back, she noticed light beginning to filter in from the edges of her closed curtains.
"Don't you have to go to work?" she mumbled against his lips.
"I do, but I have a while yet." Leaning back, he asked, "Do you want breakfast? I noticed a coffee shop down the way. I could run and get us something and maybe a decaf beverage for you?"
Her eyes widened. He was talking about her favorite coffee shop down the street, and at the mention of food, her mouth watered. "I'd love breakfast."
He laughed at what she could only presume was her enthusiastic response. His hand braced against her back and pulled her more fully against him. If he minded her belly pressing into his, he didn't say anything. "What would you like?"
Her eyes narrowed in thought. There were many good things there, but only one thing she was really craving. "A parmesan bagel with strawberry cream cheese and a caramel latte, half decaf, a little caffeine might help get rid of the rest of this headache. Oh, and tell them caramel sauce and not the syrup. It's not the same otherwise."
He chuckled again. "Alright."
"My keys are in the bowl by the door." Her eyes widened thinking about how she had unlocked it for him the night before. "Is the door even locked?"
"Don't worry, darling, I flipped the lock last night when I came in." Another kiss and he was moving away from her. "Have a lie in and rest until I get back."
She sighed, missing his warmth but appreciating the reason he was leaving. "You're going to spoil us you know."
He winked. "That's the idea."
When he left the room, she listened for the door to shut and when it did, she turned onto her back. Staring up at the ceiling she closed her eyes and smiled. Aside from the slight headache, she felt better. So much better. And she had no problem admitting it was because of Robin. The man she was falling a little bit more in love with every day.
#
He walked back into the apartment filled with music, not loud, but the unmistakable lyrics of Stevie Nicks was playing softly throughout. Tossing the keys back into the bowl, he walked further into the apartment to find Regina standing by the table. She was dressed in a pair of shorts and the same simple tee she had slept in.
She turned to face him and smiling said, "I need your pants."
His brows rose and he grinned. "Oh, really?"
Her eyes rolled up to the ceiling before she pointed to the ironing board and iron set up beside the dining room table. "I'm going to iron them. And you might as well give me your shirt, too."
He walked over to her and handed her her beverage and sack containing her bagel. "You don't need to…"
She shook her head and, rising up on her tiptoes, kissed him. "It's the least I can do."
Giving in, only because he didn't really think his boss would fancy him going into work looking like he really did, he began to undress.
When he handed her his shirt, she scrunched her nose, looking down at his trousers in the adorable way that she did when she found something distasteful, and asked, "Why didn't you take them off last night?"
He could feel the heat rise up his neck. "I didn't want to presume you'd be comfortable with that..." The smirk that pulled up her lips had him trailing off.
She closed the distance between them, and he swallowed, feeling her hands as they began to undo his belt. "Presume away."
He had to bite back a moan and think about anything and everything besides her hands that were now unbuttoning his trousers. Closing his eyes, he pursed his lips together. Mum and Aunt Gemma in bathing suits… Ann Coulter… John Boehner in a dress…
She was laughing a dark little amused chuckle, and he opened his eyes to see how very much she was enjoying herself.
"You're evil," he told her, fighting his own smirk.
"You have no idea." Her smile widened as she stepped back. "Now give me your pants."
#
He kicked the door closed behind him, not having much choice in the matter as he carried a pizza and a twelve pack of ale. Why the bloody hell his roommate felt he needed that much ale at home when he worked and played every night at a pub, he'd never know. Still, it didn't stop Killian from texting him and begging him to pick some up on the way home. Oh, and if Robin could grab them some dinner that would be even better.
The bastard.
If Robin wasn't starving and Killian hadn't told him he'd repay him when he got there, Robin would have told him to go to hell, and on his way, grab the pizza himself.
His roommate popped up from where he'd been lying on the couch into a sitting position. "Oi, where the bloody hell have you been?"
Robin blinked at him. "I was at work."
Killian's eyes rolled up to the ceiling before he got to his feet. "No, not today, last night. You never came home."
Robin met him in their small kitchen and sighed in relief when his friend took the heavy pack of beer from him. "I stayed in the city last night with Regina."
"Oh yeah, how's that going?" Killian asked.
Placing the pizza on the countertop, Robin reached for a couple of plates. "Really good."
Cracking open the cardboard case, his roommate took out two beers. Handing Robin one, he asked, "You've been seeing her for, what has it been?"
Robin took the beverage. "Three weeks."
"Nice," Killian said, lifting the beer to his lips. "When ya gonna bring her into the pub?"
"Later maybe…" Robin shrugged, hoping his friend would leave his noncommittal answer and move on to something else.
"What, maybe? She too good for it?"
Or not.
Robin shook his head. "It's not that, mate, she's just…" he trailed off. How did one tell his friend he wouldn't be bringing in his girl because she was pregnant and avoid the string of questions that would come from it? He didn't think there was such a response. Not with Killian, anyway. "She's not a big drinker."
"She don't gotta drink. Unless it's nothing to do with that. Are you ashamed of us?"
"That's not it." He groaned, knowing if he didn't give his friend some sort of answer that would appease him, Robin would never hear the end of it. "I'll bring her in… but not this weekend. She just got over a migraine, so I'm not dragging her into a pub full of loud, drunken idiots."
Killian looked insulted. "Not all of us are idiots, mate."
Robin sighed. "That may be, but I'm not bringing her in, not just yet. You'll have to be satisfied meeting her when she comes here."
"Alright, you don't gotta get all testy." Killian took another sip of beer then waggled his eyebrows at him. "Seems like there's only one of us here who needs to be satisfied, mate."
Taking a couple slices of pizza and his beer, Robin walked out of the room.
#
The moment she walked into the lobby of New York Style magazine, her editor, Mal, was waiting for her. She walked over to her from the reception desk, took her by the arm, and brought her straight into her office.
As a junior photographer, Regina was just starting to work her way up in the ranks, she never expected to be pulled into her editor's office for any other reason than to get called out for something. Mal, only a few years older than she, had climbed up the ranks fast, inheriting her job from her mother, who retired two years ago. She was known for her sharp eye and edge but not for warmth or charm.
When they arrived, Regina took in her surroundings. She'd been in her office before, but it was only fleetingly. She never had enough time to fully appreciate Mal's taste for white walls and classic lines.
Mal motioned for her to take a seat and close the door. "Regina, do you know why I hired you?"
Straight to the point, Regina thought with a bit of unease. Her editor's reputation for cutting to the chase and leaving no room for pleasantries preceded her. "Because you liked my work?"
Mal stared at her from the other side of her desk. Her hair was long and blonde, and it fell over her shoulders, which were covered by a black, long sleeved dress. Her piercing blue eyes held Regina's with an almost disappointed look, before saying, "Don't say it like it's a question. You're good, Regina. Damn good... but I also hired you because you're a lot like me."
Regina raised a brow. "How so?"
"We're both young, and still, we know what we want and where we're going. Your work is flawless. Rarely do I ever have your work touched up. I wish I could say the same for your colleagues." Mal's eyes flicked to the door as if the others were standing outside seeing her withering glare. "That's why I want to promote you. I want you on our editing team, Regina. I want your thoughts, your ideas, and your pictures. You're wasting all of your potential as a part-time photographer, and I'm wasting time and money allowing it to happen."
Stunned didn't quite cover how she was feeling. She came into work this morning thinking she would take some pictures of the upcoming end of summer issue... She never expected a promotion. "I don't know what to say…"
Mal gave a sideways smirk as if she was pleased she had surprised her and leaned back in her chair. "Say you'll be here five days a week."
There were so many thoughts running through her head. Five days a week meant time away from her own business, but it also meant a stable paycheck. With her freelance business, she never really knew when she would get hired, or paid for that matter, even though the jobs and the money always seemed to come.
There were so many things she needed to consider. It wasn't as simple as just saying yes. But before she would consider the offer fully, there was still one thing she needed to make clear. "I'll still want time off when the baby comes..."
"Yes, the little one." Mal's eyes dropped to where Regina had her hand placed over her bump. Her smile was tight when she added, "Of course."
"Can I have some time to think about it?"
Mal didn't answer right away. Instead her eyes held Regina's for long moments, making Regina feel like she was considering if she was worth the trouble. "Yes, but don't make me wait too long. If I don't get some talent in here soon, I'm bound to go looking for it elsewhere."
"Thank you, Mal."
Leaving the room, Regina blew out a breath. Thankfully it was Friday which gave her a little extra time over the weekend to think. Knowing her editor the way that she did, Regina fully expected for Mal to either be on the phone or waiting for her the next time she walked into the building, which was a shame because she had other plans for this weekend that didn't involve stressing over a career change.
#
Friday went by quickly for Robin, and though he had just seen Regina on Wednesday, there was nothing more that he would rather do than spend his weekend, all weekend as far as he was concerned, with her.
And if the smile in her voice when she answered her phone was any indication of her desire of the same, it was going to be a good weekend, indeed.
"Do you have plans tonight?" he asked, hoping against all hope that she didn't.
A light laugh filled the line, making him smile. He really did love listening to her laugh.
"I don't, but I'm up for suggestions," she replied.
"If you're feeling better, I can make you dinner? Are you up to coming to Brooklyn for a bit?"
"I'm always up for anything that involves your cooking."
He bit his lip. "Are you busy now? Do you want me to drop by and we can go together?"
"Yes," she answered. "Wait, how close are you?"
Walking out into the lobby of the building, he waved to the security as he made his way out the door. "I'm just leaving now."
"Okay, that's fine. That gives me enough time to get ready."
He shook his head, certain that whatever she felt she had to get ready for was unnecessary. She could be dressed in sweatpants and a tee shirt, and he would still think she was the most beautiful woman in the city. "Whatever you need to do, darling. I'll see you soon."
They said their goodbyes and stuffing his phone in his pocket, he made his way to her.
#
He didn't feel one bit guilty from stealing her from the city.
They didn't go straight to his apartment when they left hers. Rather, they stopped in the coffee shop on the way to the train, where they got themselves iced teas for the journey back, and held hands while they walked to the station, chatting about their days.
When they got to Brooklyn, they headed to the market and lingered in the aisles while they decided what they wanted for dinner, or rather, what she wanted for dinner. He told her he was up for a challenge, to pick whatever she was in the mood for. He had said it just as they walked into the baking section, and her eyes lit up right then. Walking around him, she grabbed a bag of Nestle's chocolate chips and handed it to him. "Breakfast," she said, smiling from ear to ear. "I would like breakfast for dinner."
That was exactly what she got.
Pancakes, eggs, and bacon… bless her, she was a bacon over sausage person. He bought her orange juice, the one with pulp, otherwise it wasn't orange juice, and chocolate milk for him. By the time they finished, they were both stuffed but happily so.
She picked out a movie, Avatar, and they watched it with him sitting and her lying on the couch with her legs across his thighs. Sometime during the movie, he took one of her feet, intent on tickling her. Once he'd gotten a few giggles out of her, though, it turned into a foot massage that she was currently thoroughly enjoying.
As wonderful of a time they were having, he noticed when they got back to the apartment that she'd been a bit quieter than she normally was. She was still all smiles and eager for every kiss he placed on her lips, and she even initiated quite a few of her own. However, her attention, for the most part, seemed to be on something else.
He wrestled with whether he should ask her what was wrong. His mind told him she would probably tell him if it was something she wanted to share, but then his mind argued that they were together, weren't they? It wasn't official or anything, but if you asked him, she was his girl, and if something was wrong, he wanted to help.
Releasing one of her feet, he reached for the other. He started with her toes and slowly worked his way up. "You've been quiet tonight. Is something bothering you?"
She pulled her attention away from the movie, giving him a thoughtful look before answering. "No, not bothering me exactly," she began while shifting to lie on her back. "My editor pulled me into her office today. She thinks I have a lot of potential and offered me a position as an editor."
Her reluctance and lack of enthusiasm for this opportunity explained her contemplative mood. He didn't stop his massage, but he twisted on his spot, making it easier to look into her eyes. "I get the feeling you're unsure of it."
"It's a great offer," she said, resting her hand against her stomach. "Especially with the baby coming... the extra money would be great…"
"But," he supplied.
"But it would take away my time from all my freelance jobs."
He pressed his lips together, thinking for a moment before asking, "Let me ask you this, financially, would it be that much of an increase?"
"Yes and no. It's more of a sure thing. My freelance work makes me just as much, but it's not always steady."
He could understand wanting to be more financially secure, especially now, but if he was interpreting her right, it would involve giving up something she loved, making it more of a hobby. "What would you rather do?"
He watched her blow out a breath and then her eyes dragged away from his to fall on her belly. "I love having my own projects, and I like making my own schedule and being able to have the baby with me."
He knew it would be hard to give up the freedom of her own schedule and projects, and when she mentioned being able to have the baby with her, his mind solely focused on that. "Then turn it down."
"But it's such a good opportunity, and I hate disappointing her."
"It may be, but…" No, he needed to stop. They weren't together, technically, and she wasn't carrying his child. He had his opinions and his thoughts, but he wouldn't press them upon her. Even if he wanted to tell her to do whatever it was that kept her daughter close and made her happy. Shaking his head, he put on a smile he wasn't feeling. "You should do what you think is best."
Her brow furrowed. "That's just it, I don't know what's best."
Christ, don't be an idiot and help her, he told himself. "Will you be able to bring the baby with you to work with you?"
"Probably not, no."
He wanted to help her, but he couldn't find the right words to tell her that he would be there for her and help in any way he could without confessing something he didn't know she was ready to hear.
Giving her foot a squeeze, he said, "I'm sure there are wonderful childcare places out there… I dunno, I say do whatever will make you happy."
She pulled her foot away and sat up. Looking him in the eyes, she tilted her head and asked, "Why do I think you're holding back something?"
He really did love her, and not just because she was sweet, beautiful, and insanely sexy, but also because she saw right through him and into his heart. "Because it's not my place to suggest…"
She stopped him with a hand on his chest. "Robin, why don't you let me decide what is and isn't your place? You're important to me, and you'll be important to my baby. I want to know what you think. What you really think."
He took a deep breath. Her words hit him hard in the chest, making him take a moment before answering her. "I think you should do what makes you happy, but also, whatever is best for her." As he said the words, he rested his hand on her belly. "If it's having her beside you as much as possible, then I'd say turn it down, at least until she's older. However, if you want this promotion and you want to see where it can go, if it will be good for you both in the long run, then do that. I'll support you in whatever you choose. I'll even be there to help as much as possible."
Her eyes softened, and her words melted his heart. "I'd hope that you would, but I didn't want to presume..."
"Presume away."
She didn't answer him in words, instead, he felt them on his lips.
#
His lips were soft and warm, making a trail down the column of her neck while his hands grew more and more bold, running up and down along her sides and just brushing against the sides of her breasts. She wasn't sure if he was teasing her or waiting for permission, but God, if he didn't do something soon, she was going to grab his hands and…
The door to the apartment opened with a bang, and Robin pulled away from her. His jaw clenched and his eyes narrowed as he focused on the pair standing in the doorway.
"Uh, sorry about that," a man with dark, unkempt hair said as he grinned at them from across the room.
Robin let out a sigh and gave her an apologetic look before gesturing to the man. "Regina, this is my terribly inconvenient roommate, Killian and…." Robin trailed off,apparently not knowing the girl he brought along with him.
"This is Elise. Hey, lass, I'll meet ya in the room over there." Killian pointed down the hall, and she smiled around at them all before sashaying her way down the hall.
His roommate watched her go with a lecherous grin, and Regina resisted the urge to roll her eyes at him. Robin got to his feet, then held out a hand for her.
Killian walked over to them and extended his hand to her. "Pleasure to meet you, lass. I've heard a lot about you."
"You as well." She tilted her head. Was he wearing eyeliner?
"Well," Killian began, looking at them a moment before his eyes fell to her belly. When his eyes returned to hers, she didn't miss his judgement, as well-veiled as it was. "Enjoy your night."
She felt Robin's hand on her lower back as his roommate left the room. "I apologize, he's a bit of a cad."
She clicked her tongue, momentarily irritated, but decided she didn't care. The only person whose opinion she cared for was standing beside her. Smiling, she looked up at him.
"It's fine. I was just starting to get into the movie..."
He chuckled and sat back down, patting the spot next to him. Just as she got settled, there was another bang and then the sound of laughter.
Robin sighed and grabbed the remote from beside him. "We might want to turn this up."
She giggled and laid her head on his chest. His arm wrapped around her shoulders, and she closed her eyes against the feeling of being completely overcome with the man beside her.
Sometime later, she didn't know how long, but she woke up to Robin's voice in her ear and his hands caressing over her back and arm. "Regina, love?"
She hummed, then opening her eyes, she noticed the credits scrolling up the screen. "I'm sorry, I fell asleep."
"That's alright." He sat up, taking her with him. "Why don't you stay here with me? I promise to behave and even make you breakfast in the morning before I take you home."
"You really think we can control ourselves?" she asked playfully, but it was followed by a wide yawn.
Robin chuckled and gave her a look of disbelief. "I could… you on the other hand," he smirked adding, "but I don't think you'd be able to stay awake for it, darling, even with all those raging hormones of yours..."
She laughed. Staying the night with him did have its appeal. She'd be able to enjoy sleeping next to him and having his arms around her without a headache distracting her, but then she thought about all the things she didn't have with her and frowned. "I don't have anything to sleep in or a toothbrush."
Robin shrugged. "I have plenty of shirts, and I can run down to the store and grab you a toothbrush."
Her lips pulled up. "You don't mind?"
"Not at all." His lips pursed in thought. "In fact, I think I might have one. A new one I got at the dentist not long ago…" He stood and walked around the couch.
Regina dropped a hand down her belly where her daughter tumbled in protest against her new position.
After a few moments, Robin was back holding a brand-new toothbrush still in the box. "It's even purple."
Regina let out a small chuckle and got to her feet. Making her way over to him, she took the brush from him. "I guess I'm staying over."
#
He gave her one of his Star Wars tee shirts, one of his favorite grey ones that wasn't the real thick material but rather the old tee shirt material that was softer and lighter. It had a storm trooper helmet and writing underneath that said Support the Troops.
He loved that shirt, but not as much as he loved her in it.
The door to his room closed, and he turned to see her standing there all legs and a tee shirt.
Robin swallowed. Bloody hell.
"It fits," she said while holding out her arms triumphantly. She told him when he gave it to her it was going to be too small because of her belly, but he'd argued against it. He told her her little bump would fit just fine in it and it had.
"Good," he said, his voice rough, and he coughed to clear it. "Do you need anything else?"
She pushed herself away from the door and took a step toward him. "No."
He nodded. His eyes followed her every move over to him. "Are you tired?"
"I was…" Regina began, "now I'm feeling a bit more awake."
"Oh." He was going to kiss her. He was bloody well going to kiss her, and then they were going to end up on the bed, and things were going to happen if he didn't do something. Taking his eyes from hers, he cleared his throat again, and gesturing to the bed, he asked, "Which side of the bed do you want?"
She bit her bottom lip and poked him in the stomach as she passed by him, crossing the room. "I'll take the side by the wall. Just don't steal all the covers."
He laughed. "I wouldn't dream of it."
When she was settled in bed, he flipped off the light. He smiled, the light from the window giving him enough light to see her facing him, wide awake, and waiting for him.
Crossing the room, he got into bed beside her. "Hey, beautiful," he murmured, scooting closer until he had her against him.
"Hi, handsome." Her hand rose, and he breathed in at the feel of it on his neck then sighed as it threaded into his hair.
Their faces drifted toward one another. His nose bumped lightly against hers, and he watched as her eyes closed. "Do you want to talk?"
"Not at the moment," she whispered before placing her lips over his.
The only sounds in the room were of their breathing and hands over skin and fabric. He took his time mapping out the places he could touch that would make her breath hitch and draw the delighted gasps from her.
His hand fell down and snuck under her shirt. He intended to run his hand along her side and then cup those wonderful full breasts of hers, but as he grazed over her belly, his hand came to a halt when he felt a small nudge against his palm.
They both paused mid-kiss, the awe he felt in that instant drew his attention away from the moment. He'd felt the baby tumble beneath his hand before but nothing quite like this. "That's her?"
"That's her," Regina echoed. She took his hand and pressed it more firmly against her belly. Her skin was warm and soft, and he only had to wait another moment before it happened again, this time stronger. He could almost feel the shape of her small foot against his palm.
Robin's brow creased. How she wasn't in pain from such a thing he'd never know. "That doesn't hurt?"
Regina giggled and shook her head. "No."
"That's so incredible." Leaving his hand where it was, he looked up at her. "Still no names for her then?"
Her eyes softened. "Not yet."
He gave her his most reassuring smile and then looked down between them. "It's alright little darling, your mum will think of something soon."
Regina giggled, just as he hoped she would. When he looked up again, she was shaking her head at him. "You know, in nine more weeks she's going to be here, and nights like this will be filled with diapers and crying and feedings... It won't be so easy for us to be like this."
He knew that. He had a lot of time to think about it at work and when he was home without her, wishing he was with her. Like he told her before, all she needed to do was say the word and he would be there, ready to help out and be a part of their lives as much as he could.
"We'll figure it out. I don't claim to be an expert with babies, but I can always sing to her when you need some rest, and nappy's don't intimidate me too much…" Giving her a smirk, he teased, "Feedings might be all up to you if you plan to…"
He trailed off, intending for his words to have been smart, but the moment they entered his mind, all he could do was picture it and he just felt his face grow hot.
It was her turn for her voice to fill with a teasing tone as she finished for him, "Breastfeed?"
Chuckling, he tried to regain a bit of his composure and replied, "That, yeah."
Her hand left his and trailed up over his arm. "I find it incredibly adorable that a man who has had his hands on them once sure is having a hard time saying the word."
Moving his hand up and up, stopping just against her ribcage, he brushed his thumb along the underside of one of her breasts and said in a murmur, "Oh make no mistake, my love. I think about having your breasts in my hands on an hourly basis."
Her eyes never left his. Her tone low, full of want and barely a whisper. "Hourly?"
Again, they began to drift together. "At least."
Mouths opening, they picked up where they left off. His tongue danced with hers, and his hand, which hadn't moved, began to work its way slowly where he knew she wanted it.
Only, he felt another kick. This time it was against his own stomach… and then another. He tried to ignore it, he did, but then it happened again and he began to laugh.
Regina groaned.
Robin moved his hand back down to sooth over the spot. "She sure wants to make her presence known, doesn't she?'
A sigh left her lips. "She does this before bed."
He smiled thinking of the little one making herself comfortable inside her mother, and then another thought struck him and he grinned. "She could want the strange man to keep his hands off her mother."
"Yeah, well her mother wants his hands on her." Regina huffed.
Robin laughed and shifting, he tucked his arm under her head so she could lie against him. "Let's just wait a bit and see if she calms down some?"
He placed a kiss against her brow. Regina made a noise, a grunt of annoyance, that made him chuckle even more. With his hand on her belly, he rubbed soothing circles where he felt the movement, and after a while, the baby girl settled. He opened his mouth to ask Regina if she felt anymore, but she was sound asleep.
Closing his eyes, he pressed another kiss to her forehead knowing there would be another night for more kisses and other things.
#
Blinking against the light, Robin cursed silently as light flooded in from his window. He should have remembered to close the curtains, but he had been distracted, and well, he never got to it. Speaking of distractions, his was still fast asleep, curled against him as he spooned her from behind. Turning his head away from the window, he pressed his nose into her hair and inhaled.
As much as he wished he could lie with her all morning, his full bladder pulled him from her warmth. Padding into the hall, he was stopped short by his roommate in the door of the bathroom.
Toothbrush in his mouth, Killian looked at him a moment before he disappeared. Robin heard the sound of running water and Killian spit into the sink before he reappeared again.
"All yours."
"Thanks," Robin said, making his way past.
"Er, mate…" his friend began.
Robin turned. "Yeah?"
"Your girl..."
Robin raised a brow. "What about her?"
Killian stepped toward him and looked down the hall in the direction of Robin's room then turned back to him. Lowering his voice, he said, "I don't know if ya didn't happen to notice... she's pregnant."
Robin fought back a smile. Killian looked at him like he might possibly not have a clue. "No, shit. Is that what that is…"
"Is it yours?"
Robin's eyes narrowed in frustration. Robin didn't question the array of females Killian brought home, he didn't see the reason for this. Alright, perhaps he could, out of concern maybe, but not while standing in the middle of the hall with Robin's door half shut where she could hear them. "What? Does it matter?"
"Yeah, it does actually. Robin, ya can't be serious?"
Robin looked over his shoulder. He couldn't see her, but he hoped with everything he had she was still sound asleep. Lowering his voice, he told him, "I am. In fact, I'm mad about her, and I'll thank you to keep your opinions of her to yourself."
Killian shook his head and thankfully lowered his own voice. "Whatever ya want, mate... just tryin' ta help."
"I know you are, but it's unnecessary." Robin tightened his jaw and gave him a look he hoped would bring an end to the discussion.
Killian started down the hall but then turned. "She's worth it then?"
"More than you know," Robin told him before stepping into the bathroom and closing the door.