Hi guys! Long time no see, I know, but omggggg! This chapter! It's absolutely my favorite ever from this story! So much happens and Regina and Robin finally have an honest talk about the things they've been to scared to bring up.
Thank you guys so much for always sticking with me and all of my stories! Love you all!
Here is: Chapter 9 :)
Chapter 9
News travels fast in a small town. Everyone knew that. And now, everyone also knew Regina had broken up with Graham. First, it had been Emma she told, then Mary Margarette, but then all hell broke loose, and it was called a day. Everyone knew Regina had dumped that poor excuse of a boyfriend.
Which only made it harder for Regina to return home for the holidays. It had been three weeks since Thanksgiving, and everything that had happened between Regina and Robin had went unspoken. They haven't talked since that day, and Regina didn't plan to in the future. She was done with being hurt by Robin Locksley. She had Christmas break, and she would be coming home for the holidays for a little over a week. And she would not give into him.
Regina had just arrived to Storybrooke, to her childhood home, straight from work, and she couldn't wait to strip herself from the uncomfortable pantsuit she was in now.
Regina looked herself over in the mirror as she let out a breath, pulling over a maroon sweater than clung to her body perfectly, showing off all her curves. She slipped on a pair of skinny jeans and brown ankle boots as she grabbed her purse from her bed and went down to the kitchen, where her parents were.
"Hey guys. I'm gonna run over to Granny's real quick. I figured I'd get dinner for us and we can just stay in tonight," Regina sighed as she ransacked the closet for her coat, only to find she had left it in her car. She rolled her eyes and closed the closet before hearing her father's voice.
"That sounds perfect, Dear. We'll see you later." Regina smiled over her shoulder before she closed the front door, running to her car, just wanting to get in and out before the next snowfall.
….
"Come on Mate. You need to get out there again. You haven't been with anyone in….a while." Will, Robin's roommate and best friend, sighed as Robin rolled his eyes, not very keen on having this conversation in front of his parents. They sat in a booth at Granny's, Robin and Will both coming home for college as well, and managed to meet Robin's parents here. Helen and Robert looked up at Robin as he glared at Will.
"That's not true."
"Robin, you dated Marian for like, a week, years ago, and went out with a redhead that didn't even last a month. Killian's been with more people than that, and he's still head over heels for Emma. You just don't want to date anyone because you're in love with Mills." Will stated bluntly, and Robin froze.
Could that be why? Could that be why he's never truly invested himself in a real relationship? Because he was too caught up with Regina? Because he was in love with her, and never really stopped?
"That's not true…. You know what? You're right." Will raised his eyebrows before Robin continued, "I'll go up and ask out the next girl that walks in here." Will laughed out loud, clapping Robin's shoulder, which drawed many eyes to them. They all went back to their business as Will shook his head with a goofy smile.
"Robin, I love ya… But I don't think you have the balls to do it," Robert chuckled as Robin looked over to his father, who just shrugged his shoulders with the same stupid smile Will had.
"I have to agree with Will, son." Robin smiled with a shake of his hands, folding his hands together, shaking his head as he thought how wrong Will and his father were.
"You guys are wrong. I am going to go up and talk to the next girl who walks in here. And if everything goes well, I will have a date," Robin smiled successfully, as if he had done anything already. Robert rolled his eyes with a smile.
Ten minutes later, the bell rang above the diner door, and all heads from the Locksley's table turned. Robin froze when he saw who walked in, and Will laughed his ass off quietly as he smiled. This day couldn't get any better.
"Holy shit," Robin whispered.
"Robin, I think it's time," Will laughed, and Robin just sat there, too in shock to do anything. The brunette who had just walked in looked back at Robin, but she looked back just as fast, walking up to the counter, talking to Granny.
Robert shook his head with a quiet, "why am I surprised?" and stifled a laugh.
Robin couldn't believe it.
"Go get her, Tiger," Robin rolled his eyes at Will before he stood from the booth, taking a deep breath before walking over to the woman of his dreams…
….
Regina cursed everything around her as she parked in Granny's parking lot. She hadn't made it in and out before the snow. Of course she hadn't. Regina slammed the door of her car shut as she walked up the stairs to Granny's.
She knew she looked like a mess. Snowflakes melting in her hair, her coat left behind in the car, her body so freezing cold, but she didn't care. Just get the damn food, and get out of here, Regina thought as she opened the diner's front door, sighing when she felt the heat of the building replace the chills of the nipping wind outside. Regina ran her fingers through her hair as she heard the bell ring above her head.
Regina sighed as she walked over to the counter, ready to go to Granny and get her order so she could leave. But she stopped half way, feeling the intensity of eyes on her. Regina turned her head and found Robin staring at her in awe. She turned her head back immediately, trying not to let the most handsome, beautiful pair of blue eyes fool her once again.
Regina shook her head slightly as she made her way to the counter, leaning on her elbow by the edge. Granny came over and chuckled, noticing the look in the young brunette's eyes.
"Why, hello Dear. Your order will be right up." Regina smiled gratefully as Granny went to the back to get the food Regina's been waiting for. Regina let her head hang as she played with her nails, watching the light glisten upon them. Regina looked up as she heard someone stand in front of her, and frowned immediately.
"Hello, Beautiful," Robin smiled warmly, as if nothing had happened. As if the past meant nothing to him. Hearing his voice again, seeing him look so handsome (how was it possible for someone to look that good?), it made Regina want to smile back and say hi. But, no. He had hurt her. Just like he had before. She was done with Robin Locksley. Or at least, that's what she's been telling herself the past three weeks.
"What the hell do you want?" Regina whispered sharply, making sure no one around them could hear their conversation. Robin's face fell instantly, remembering how he had acted the last time he saw her.
He was sure she hated him. She probably never wanted to see him again. But he's never been able to live without her, so how would that be any different now? Why couldn't he express his feelings and help her see that he was only trying to protect her?
"I know you hate me," Robin sighed quietly. Regina chuckled darkly as she shook her head, dark strands of hair falling in her face. Robin was so tempted to brush them out of her face, but knew better than that.
"Understatement of the year," Regina breathed, rolling her eyes as she avoided Robin's eyes. She couldn't look at them. Because she knew if she did, she would fall into the same old trap. The one where she falls for him constantly.
"Regina, I can explain the reasoning behind my actions," Robin sighed hopefully, praying to God that she would listen.
Honestly, in this moment, he knew Will had been right. He's never invested himself in a sturdy, loving relationship because he's always been waiting for the right time with Regina. And Robin didn't even care about the bet he made with Will. He just wanted to shut him up.
But he knew if he asked Regina out, it wouldn't be because of what Robin had promised Will. It would be because he's madly in love with her. And the love only grew for her each and every day. But would she ever believe him?
"I don't want to hear your excuses, Robin. I've fallen for them too many times." Regina looked behind Robin to see if her order was there yet, but, of course, it wasn't. The universe always had to screw her, didn't it?
"There not excuses…. Regina, I wanted to kiss you. I wanted to finally take that chance with you," Robin sighed, and Regina's head snapped up, her eyes wide, finally meeting his. She was breathless. What did he just say?
"What?" Regina asked, her voice so light and airy, so breathless. Robin chuckled with a warm smile as he grabbed her hand. Regina froze slightly, the breath in her throat catching, but Robin's thumb rubbing circles across the back of her hand soothed her.
"Did you really think that I'm not madly in love with you? That it didn't kill me when I learned that you had a boyfriend, or that I lost my chance? Regina, I wanted to kiss you….and I want to be with you….but I wasn't going to let you ruin your reputation. Not because of me." Regina's mouth was open slightly, her eyes moving frantically across his, trying to find lies in his eyes, but there were none.
Regina couldn't believe it. How could someone as amazing and caring as Robin ever love her? She was plain, ordinary, and he was…. Robin was everything.
"My reputation? What are you talking about?" Regina asked, shaking her head, closing her eyes, bewildered. Ever since she could remember she had always felt something for Robin. How could he just feel something for her now? Out of guilt? Out of pity?
"I couldn't let you be seen with me, kissing me, while your boyfriend was upstairs in your room…. I couldn't let anyone see you the exact opposite of who you are." Regina sighed, too overwhelmed to say anything. But how did Robin see her?
"And who am I?" Regina asked, looking deep into his eyes. Robin smiled as he let her hand fall back to her side.
"Regina Mills, you are the most beautiful woman I've ever met, and will ever meet. You have the biggest heart anyone could have, and you care about you family and friends more than words can describe. When your passionate about something, you don't let anything stop you, and you let nothing bring you down. You are the kind of person who would put everybody's needs before yours, and you are the person I've fallen in love with."
Regina stood there, her heart beating a thousand times a second (or so it felt like). This isn't happening, Regina told herself, This is Robin. Your childhood best friend. The most handsome, kind man in the world. He is not interested in you. He is doing this out of pity.
"You know, we used to spend every second of every day with each other when we were younger. And from the tone of your text message, I would know what mood you were in, if something was wrong, or if you needed help with something...but now, I can't read you, Robin…" Regina breathed, crossing her arms against her chest, putting her weight on her hip, looking away from him.
"I have no idea what goes through that pretty mind of yours anymore," Regina sighed, and Robin smiled.
"My pretty mind?" Robin asked with a small smirk, and Regina rolled her eyes as the world's smallest smile escaped her. She shook her head, reminding herself that, no, she should not be smiling.
The man who stood in front of her had broken her heart so many times. Now he wanted to crawl back? And what for? Was this just another game he was trying to play?
"Robin, we both know we can't go back to the way it was before everything...happened…" Regina explained with a frown, and to her surprise, Robin smiled a vibrant smile.
"Exactly. And I believe that one hundred percent. We can't go back to being just friends, not when we both have feelings for each other," Regin rolled her eyes and stared at Robin with a look of disbelief.
"You know that's not what I meant… And I had feelings for you back in high school. I've moved on, Robin. How can you possibly know that I feel the same way? Maybe I'm interested in someone else back at Harvard," Regina bit back at him, and Robin only smirked.
"That may be, but no one else will ever have what we have...history," Regina glared at him, his annoying, stupid smirk, with a sigh that left her lips.
"If I recall most of the so called history you brought up isn't all that," Regina responded, and before either could continue to conversation, Granny came back from the kitchen with Regina's order.
The elder woman set the bag on the counter by Robin and Regina, and gave Regina a look as to say be careful, it's never been easy with you two.
"There you go, Dear. Welcome back to Storybrooke," Granny smiled sweetly, then went back on her way to help serve the next wanting customer. Regina looked back at Robin, grabbing her bag.
"I gotta go," Regina said, but Robin stopped her by holding her wrist, halting all of her movements as their eyes locked on each other.
"I never meant to hurt you, Regina. And I still haven't forgiven myself for that awful day… But if we had a shot, if you gave us a real chance, I swear I wouldn't do anything to mess it up," Robin whispered to her, his eyes so serious that Regina knew he wasn't going to his smirk and jokes anymore.
He really did want to make this work.
"Why should I give you a chance?" Regina asked, setting the bag back down on the counter, knowing she would be here longer than she wanted to be, "Why should I even listen to a single word you say? You've broken my heart time and time and time again, without us even being anything real. So what makes you think I should give this, us, a chance when I swore to never fall for you again?"
Her harsh, quiet words smacked Robin in the face, hurting him more than any punch anyone would ever throw at him. Her words were hushed yet so fierce that he truly believed he had lost his chance.
Regina closed her eyes and looked down, silence welcoming the both of them. What are you doing? You've wanted this since you were fifteen. Don't let him go, the tiny voice in her head whispered to her, betraying all of her previous words and actions.
Regina looked back up at Robin and saw that silence wasn't treating him very well, his eyes sad, and, well, would you look at that. She could read him at this moment.
Maybe he has changed, and for the better…
Regina reached for her bag on the counter as she got ready to leave, but before she left Robin's company, she spoke words that both of them would never be more thankful for.
"Pick me up tomorrow. Seven o'clock. Don't be late," Regina stated as she turned away and walked out of the diner, the bell ringing above her head as her high heel boots clicked against the diner floor, her short sentences leaving Robin stunned.
Bloody hell...that just happened, Robin thought as the world's biggest smile broke across his face, and everyone from the Locksley table let out relieved breaths.
…
"Oh, bloody hell. She's tearing him to shreds," Will groaned, watching as Regina practically bit off his best friend's head. Robert's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he looked to his wife, looking for an explanation.
"I thought Regina broke up with her boyfriend? Why would Regina be mad at Robin?" Helen kept her eyes on her son and Regina as she listened to her husband's question, and she answered him as if it were the most obvious thing.
"They almost kissed the morning after Thanksgiving," Helen answered Robert, and Robert coughed on his burger. He looked at his wife, who still seemed unphased by the news, her eyes never leaving the pair.
"And when were you going to tell me this?" Robert asked, but Helen patted his arm and shushed him.
"That doesn't matter right now. What does, though, is that this talk ends well between them," Helen spoke wisely, and Robert sighed.
Robin Locksley and Regina Mills. Their son, and their best friends' daughter. They were meant to be. Of course they were. But they never seemed to have the timing right…
"Honey, you shouldn't be staring at them," Robert reasoned, but Helen rolled her eyes and didn't listen to him. She and Will were enjoying the spectacle happening steps away, and she needed her husband to be quiet for the time.
"Please, they are so wrapped in each other, they don't even notice there are people around them," Helen retorted, and Robert only chuckled at his wife. She sure was stubborn, a trait he and Robin seemed to pick up on…
It must run in the family.
Giving into curiosity, Robert turned his head and watched as Robin and Regina walked. The table couldn't make out what they were saying, but Regina had just rolled her eyes and Robin was giving her a smirk.
Oh god.
"This could very well be the last time they speak to one another if this doesn't end well, so we better pray, because I don't want to lose Regina any time soon," Helen declared, and Robert nodded his head.
That was something they could agree on.
The trio watched from their table in the diner, and when they saw Regina say her last words before walking out with her bag in her hands, they looked to Robin, and it seemed that everyone in the diner let out relieved sighs.
Robin wandered back to the table with a stupid, lovesick grin on his face, and Will smirked.
"I've got a date with her," Robin laughed in shock, still not believing it, his eyes wide, a huge smile decorating his face. The words sounded incredible coming from his lips, he decided, and he knew from that moment on that he would never screw this up.
He needed Regina in his life.
"I have a date with Regina," Robin laughed again, more to himself than anything. Helen and Robert shared a knowing look with a smile, and Will clapped Robin on the shoulder.
"If all it took was a bet, I would have challenged you a long time ago, Mate," Will smirked, and Robin rolled his eyes.
…..
Regina took a deep breath as she closed the driver's side door, running her hands along the exterior of her steering wheel. She closed her eyes as she let her head fall against the headrest, not believing what just happened.
"I'm going on a date tomorrow," Regina whispered to herself, and a smile appeared on her face, a low blush accompanying it. She tried to contain the giddiness running through her veins, but the laugh that escaped her lips could not be held inside.
"I'm going on a date with Robin," Regina sighed, shaking her head with a light, airy smile.
The whole drive home, Regina practiced hiding her smile, but it was clear. She couldn't get it to go away. It was permanent. It was glued to her body. Damn Robin for doing this to her (but, oh god, if this was how she reacted to a date, what she would give to react to a kiss).
Regina made it home in the five minutes it took her to drive back from Granny's. She hopped out of the car and grabbed the bag of food from the diner as she made the walk up to her front door, walking in, thanking god that the warmth of her household was finally surrounding her.
"Alright, I'm eternally grateful for the heater," Regina joked as she closed the door with her foot, her father chuckling as he met her by the door, grabbing the bag for her. Henry looked at his daughter carefully as she brushed the snow out of her hair, putting her coat back in the closet.
Something was different about her.
"Come on, your mother is starving. And we both know how she gets when she's hungry," Henry joked, he and his daughter walking to the kitchen. Henry watched as Regina went to the fridge to get a bottle of water, and he knew something had to have happened.
The color in her cheeks wasn't from the cold anymore, and no matter how hard she tried to wipe that smile off her face, it just wasn't working.
Henry looked to Cora with a smirk, and no doubt, Cora had already noticed their daughter's rosy complexion, bubbly walk, and silly smile.
Regina walked back to the table and bit her lip, being pretty sure that she tasted blood. She knew how stupid she must look right now. Especially if they knew just why she was smiling, and who made it happen.
It wasn't necessarily a fact that her parents hated Robin. Cora always held a grudge over someone's head for the longest time, but over the years, she had forgiven Robin for hurting her daughter. Henry had as well, but a small part of him still didn't like him very much.
And, god, if she told her parents? Her mother would tell her that it was ridiculous, still chasing the same man after four years, and her father would tell her that it wasn't a good idea. Her father would tell her that history would repeat itself.
And for once, Regina had hope for her and Robin. She knew she shouldn't, she knew that most likely this wouldn't end well. She's been in love with Robin since she was fifteen. And she's been rejected by him before, which led to her first and only painful heartbreak.
She's loved him since she saw him, if she was really honest. And her four years to his whole month? It seemed impossible to her. How could someone like Robin possibly love her?
She had boring brown hair and muddy brown eyes. She sure couldn't be a model on a cover of some magazine, and she had no idea how Robin found her beautiful. She was sassy and sarcastic and witty and competitive. And the last time she checked, that's not what guys like.
Guys like blue-eyed blonde girls, who woke up in the morning with perfect hair. Who laughed at every bad joke. Who wore dresses and skirts and push-up bras. Who had sun-kissed skin with bright eyes.
And Robin...god, he could do so much better than her. But he told her he's in love with her. And god, if she said that didn't do something to her… Maybe it was a bad idea, agreeing to go on a date with Robin.
He was just, he was just perfect. Dirty blonde hair she would love to run her fingers through, crystal blue eyes she'd get lost in, muscles that she didn't even know he had, a smile that made her knees go weak, and the kindest, sweetest words that she was sure would break her heart in time.
But all the pain she would go through would be worth it. Just to be with Robin, to be his girlfriend, just for one single day, for twenty-four hours, she would do anything.
And Robin had asked her out. So who was she to decline when it's what she's dreamed about since she was a kid?
"Alright, I wasn't going to say anything, but I haven't seen you with this kind of smile on your face since you and Robin had your day's fun back in high school," Cora explained, and Regina immediately rolled her eyes, picking up a spoon as she took a bite of her chili from the diner.
"Let's go back to the time when you weren't going to say anything," Regina retorted with a smirk, and it was Cora's turn to roll her eyes. Henry only chuckled, pouring water into everyone's cups.
"I'm serious, Dear. Something must have happened at the diner. When you left, you were all stressed out and grumpy about those finals you just took, and now, you are a goofy, smiling mess," Regina sighed as she listened to her mother. Well, I can agree that I'm a mess right now. Damn you, Locksley.
"Regina, I suggest you just tell us what happened at Granny's before your mother reaches across the table and makes you," Henry laughed as Cora hit his arm, and Regina smiled, shaking her head, letting out a breath she didn't know she was holding.
"Okay, something did happen at Granny's," Regina admitted with a sly grin, but didn't say anything more. Cora scoffed as she swallowed a bite of her burger, washing it down with a gulp of water.
"I think we've already established that, smart ass," Cora said with a smirk, and Regina only smirked back at her mother.
"Fine. If you must know, I have a date tomorrow night," Regina smiled, and looked between her parents, watching their reactions.
Cora looked disappointed, as to say here we go again, and Henry nodded his head, his lips together, deciding that he would definitely need to meet this guy as soon as possible.
"Regina, Dear, I hate to break it to you, but I don't think your taste in men is any good. And that Graham fellow, that just proved a point right there," Cora sighed, and Regina rolled her eyes at her mother's brutally honest words.
"Haha, very funny...but this one is different. And I have absolutely no idea where it will end up, but for once in my life, I'm willing to try," Regina stated as she stood from her chair, walking to the island to grab a few napkins.
"Regina, haven't you learned anything from Thanksgiving? You are not over Robin. You're still in love with him. It isn't healthy to keep going out with these guys to bury your feelings and forget about him. No matter how hard you try, they won't live up to the feelings you have for Robin."
"Mother, that is not what I'm doing, and honestly, I'll admit it. I have done that in the past. But this guy is different. I feel like this won't just be a two-month fling," Regina said as she sat back down. Henry piped in before his wife could say anything in response.
"Well, do we get to know the name of this mystery man you are so smitten over?" Henry asked, looking to his daughter.
Regina sighed, and looked down. A name? Why was that important? After all, her mother did think this was just another careless fling, and her father probably thought the same.
If she said Robin's name, would it just be more judgmental comments on how it would never work, and Robin doesn't deserve a chance?
"Hmm, I don't think so," Regina smiled mischievously, and Cora groaned as Henry's eyebrows furrowed. Regina wanted to laugh at their priceless faces.
"Well, it has to be someone from town. We know that much," Cora shrugged her shoulders but Regina shrugged her shoulders as well, looking back at the brunette she called her mother.
"How do you know? He could be visiting for the holidays," Regina's eyebrows lifted, and Cora huffed out an annoyed breath. Henry smirked at his daughter, quite proud that his stubbornness and wittiness rubbed off on her.
"You said the date is tomorrow night, right?" Regina nodded her head in response, and Cora smiled successfully, as if she had figured out the world's biggest puzzle.
"Perfect. We will get to meet this mystery man then," Cora nodded her head, and Regina sighed, leaning back on her hardwood chair.
"Fine. But you guys can't scare him away. I really want this to work out," Regina explained seriously, and Cora and Henry both nodded their heads. But a thought was still circling Cora's head…
"Does Robin know?" Cora asked, and for a split second, she thought she saw something in her daughter's eyes, but Regina nodded her head as she replied.
"He thinks that I've finally got it right this time… He said he wouldn't want me to be with any other guy," Regina smiled to herself, hoping that was true. Robin did say that he's in love with her. He said it killed him when he learned about Graham.
Did that mean he didn't want her to be with anyone else? Did he want them to be exclusive?
Cora frowned as she folded her hands across the table.
"You know, I really thought that you and Robin would have made it in the end, Regina. I thought that after Thanksgiving, you two would both get over your stubbornness and admit the feelings you have for each other...you can't possibly tell me that you don't want to be with Robin," Cora sighed, and Regina smiled brightly.
"All I know is that I've been waiting for a night like tomorrow night for years now… Just, it's all about timing, Mom. I promise you'll love him," Regina smiled as she stood from the table and walked out of the kitchen, her heeled boots clicking against the floor.
As soon as their daughter left the room, Cora turned to her husband with a confused, painful look, and Henry frowned.
"This is not good, Henry. Our daughter is swept off her feet by this mystery man, and it's ruining everything I've set up for her and Robin," Cora groaned, and she used her hand to support her head on the table.
"I was so happy when I heard that Regina had dumped that hunting-lover boyfriend of hers. Because it meant that it worked. That she finally realized I was right about her feelings for Robin. But now, she goes running to the next man she sees with his arms wide open, and better yet, Robin pushes her towards him!" Cora exclaimed.
Henry only gave his wife a hug, rubbing soothing circles up and down her back. Cora sighed and leaned into his touch.
All her hard work was gone. Down the drain. Wasted. What the hell was wrong with Robin? Why could he never tell Regina about his real feelings?
"It's okay, Cora… And even if it's not because of Robin, did you see the smile on her face? She looks like she's a kid again, and maybe this new guy really is the one for her… I know, Dear, we both wanted Regina and Robin to end up together, but if Regina is just this happy talking about a date with this new man? Well, then, I'd say he can't be too bad."
Cora smiled at Henry and nodded her head, pulling back with a reluctant attitude.
"Do you think Robin really meant what he said?" Cora asked, and Henry sighed.
"I think Robin won't know what he has until it's gone...and maybe this is the perfect time for him to realize that," Henry spoke wisely, and Cora nodded her head. She leaned her head against Henry's shoulder, and he let her lean on him, knowing she needed it.
…
Regina snuggled into the warmth of her sweatshirt as she got ready for bed in her childhood room. It was clear to say that she was already in love, and she hated it. She didn't want her heart to be broken again by Robin, but she couldn't help but picture how her life would turn out if they really were in it together for the long run.
She knew it wasn't realistic. Someone like Robin loving her, especially for a long amount of time. But she has loved him forever now… Maybe she could change his mind.
Regina stood in front of the mirror hanging on her door, brushing her hair, when she heard a quiet, muffled ping from her window.
She decided to just ignore it, thinking a bug or something just bumped into her window, but when two more pings reached her window again, she became suspicious. She rubbed her hands on her sweatpants and walked to her window, looking down to her yard, and what she saw amazed her.
Regina opened the window and leaned outside, her hands gripping the white ledge. She shook her head with a smile, her eyes glowing in the dark (or so it felt like it).
"Are you crazy?" Regina whisper-shouted with a smile painted on her face, and Robin stood there with his arms wide open, shrugging his shoulders with the same silly smile. The porch lights shined out front, and Regina could see his figure, along with his silhouette in the back.
"Only for you," Robin whispered back, and a blush crept across Regina's cheeks. Robin smiled up at her before walking to the apple tree right by her window, climbing the large oak, meeting her at her window.
Regina rolled her eyes with a smile as Robin made himself comfortable on a sturdy tree branch, his legs dangling in the air. He looked as casual as ever, his hands in his lap, sitting there before her.
"Throwing rocks at my window? How cliche," Regina smirked at him, and Robin chuckled under his breath with a hearty smile.
"If I remember correctly, you have no problem with cliche, Love," Robin smirked back, and Regina glared at him playfully with a smile. Their hushed voices made Regina feel like she was a teenager again, when he used to climb the tree and talk to her outside her window, just like he was now.
"Do you want to come in? I'm sure that can't be pleasurable," Regina commented with a grin, and Robin laughed as he shook his head.
"I do, and I would, but I'm pretty sure your parents are still in the next room, and if your father walks in and sees me in your room, I may not make it out alive," Regina rolled her eyes as she laughed quietly, crossing her arms across her chest.
"We're not sixteen anymore, Robin. I don't think my dad would kill you," Regina breathed, but Robin only took one of her hands in his, rubbing soothing circles on the back of her hand.
"Well, I am not willing to risk it. You know, I have this date tomorrow night, and I'd like to be able to hold her hand without worrying about a thing," Regina blushed, and Robin grinned, loving how she reacted to his words.
"Oh yeah? Who's the lucky girl?" Regina asked with a smirk laced upon her lips. Robin sighed with a goofy smile and leaned back, the trunk of the apple tree greeting Robin's back.
"Ah, she is absolutely beautiful. But, no matter how many times I tell her, she doesn't believe me...it's a shame because she can put any girl in the world to shame with her beautiful brown eyes," Regina looked down as the color in her face grew, unable to keep her smile off her face.
God, she felt like a kid again.
"And she is very witty, very quick with her responses. Keeps me on my toes, and it's nice. For once, someone gets my sense of humor and doesn't back down from my sarcastic phrases… She has the best smile, and if I'm the one who puts it there, well, then, that just makes my day."
"She sounds like a keeper," Regina breathed, and Robin brought her hand to his lips, kissing the back of her hand. Butterflies swarmed her insides, her heart beating out of her chest.
"She is," Robin and Regina stared at each other with such intensity, and Regina couldn't believe what she just heard. Robin just told her she was a keeper. He wanted her, for real.
Robin set her hand back down, their fingers still intertwined. Regina but her lip as she watched Robin's eyes fall down to her lips, and before she knew what was happening, Robin was leaning in slowly, giving her time to push him away.
As if she would ever do that.
Robin and Regina's foreheads touched, and Robin's hand rose to cup her cheek, rubbing his thumb along her jawline. Regina let out a shaky breath as Robin came closer, their lips just about to touch. If she just tilted her head the slightest.
"You can back away," Robin whispered to her, the breath of his words hitting her lips, and she shuddered for a moment before she inched her arm around Robin's neck slowly, her fingers playing with the hair on the back of his head.
Robin took this as a sign, and after what felt like a lifetime of waiting, Robin's lips finally touched Regina's.
The kiss was long and slow and romantic, anything but rushed, or rough, or fierce. Regina held Robin tighter as Robin kissed her again, his taste overwhelming her senses.
She breathed in the smell of him as the scent of forest surrounded her, and it felt like she was finally coming home. It felt incredible to be with Robin this way, and it was safe to say this was the best kiss of her life.
It had never felt...right...with anyone else. Sure, some were good, some passed, but this? Robin's kiss? She was in heaven, and she wasn't sure she would ever come back down to Earth.
Robin pulled away and leaned his forehead against hers, both their breaths shallow from the air loss. Regina kept her eyes closed, half of her not believing that actually happened, half of her amazed at how good of a kisser Robin was.
"I could get used to that," Regina breathed, and Robin smiled at her, pecking her lips one last time before he pulled away, leaning back on the big oak behind him.
"You are an amazing kisser, Love," Robin said, and Regina shrugged her shoulders, smirking up at him from her window.
"I could say the same about you," Regina grinned, brushing wayward strands of hair out of her face. A thought crossed her mind, and she had a flashback to Thanksgiving. Of their talk in the living room during their last night home…
"The girl you told me about, on Thanksgiving night in the living room… It was me, wasn't it?" Regina dared to ask, and she became nervous at the thought that it wasn't.
After all, she wasn't the only brunette in Storybrooke, or hell, in Maine, and anyone's smile could look beautiful to Robin.
But when Robin smiled his famous (to her) smile and squeezed her hand on his lap, comfort coursed through her body, the solace of him making the light in her eyes brighter.
"Of course it was. Who else would drive me absolutely mad with affection?" Robin asked, a puzzled yet cute look on his face.
"I just, I can't believe this is actually happening," Regina explained, becoming shy as she let her hair fall in front of her face. Robin brushed the wayward strands out of her face, wanting to see her stunning eyes.
"Me either, Regina...but I wouldn't want to be with anyone else," Regina rolled her eyes with a smile as she looked up into his crystal blue eyes, sighing with a shake of her head.
"You know, you were always the guy all of the girls fell in love with...you were popular, and I don't think you even knew it," Regina laughed to herself, and Robin took her hand in his again, looking at her like she was the only one in the world.
"That may be, but the only girl that I've ever fallen in love with is you," color made its way to Robin's cheeks, and Regina felt relief rush through her veins, feeling better knowing that the redness of her rosy cheeks was accompanied by his.
"Oh, shut up," Regina chuckled, but Robin stared at her seriously, frowning when she thought it was humorous.
"It's true, Regina. No other girl has made my heartbeat race, or my knees buckle, or my hands shake… I'm in love with you, Regina," Regina held her breath at his last words, her eyes fluttering between his, unsteady.
I'm in love with you, Regina.
Was she dreaming?
"You have no idea how long I've waited for you to say those things to me...you have no idea how long I've dreamed you'd be here with me… but it's just so hard, Robin," Regina sighed, letting her worries lose. Robin frowned as he thought back to the time he broke her heart, the first time he ever made her cry, and his heart hurt.
"I know, Love," Robin nodded his head, keeping his eyes on her, but when he saw Regina take a deep breath, preparing herself for whatever she was about to say, he knew he needed to just listen to her.
"I don't think you do, though," Regina let out a breath, and she knew it was time to face the music.
"It's always been you. Even when I went out with other guys and tried to drown out my feelings for you, even when we're not even in the same town, even when I tell myself it's not you, it is. It's you. I've loved you since I was fifteen, Robin. And after what happened between us sophomore year…" Regina paused, not knowing how to explain what she was feeling.
"It's okay, Regina. You can tell me," Robin comforted her, and Regina let out a nervous breath, nodding her head as she tried to find the words to say.
After a moment of silence, Regina looked up to Robin with a far away pain in her eyes.
"This is all so new and crazy to me, and I guess I'm having a hard time believing you… I'm having a hard time believing that what you feel for me is as strong as what I feel for you. And I try so damn hard, but I just don't know how someone like you could ever love someone like me. Not after everything that's happened between us," Regina whispered, keeping her eyes away from Robin.
"Regina, I was sixteen. I was scared, and I didn't really know how I felt. I knew you meant more to me than anyone else, but I didn't know why. And it drove me mad thinking that if we did try a relationship and it didn't end well, that it wasn't what I wanted, it would ruin our friendship and every bond we ever had," Robin whispered to Regina in the dim light coming from Regina's lamp on her nightstand.
"But that's the thing. You didn't know what you wanted. I did. I knew I wanted you since we were kids... and it broke my heart when you told David and Killian that we'd never be more than friends…" Regina admitted, and slowly, the heartbreak seeped back into her precious eyes, and Robin knew he needed to take it away.
He needed to heal her.
He needed to love her.
"It was a lie, Regina. To get them off my back, to get everyone off my back. And it may have taken me longer to realize, but I knew I wanted to be more to you than a friend when you drove off to college. Everything I said back in high school, about us just being friends, it wasn't true. Not a single word. Love, you have to believe me," Robin squeezed her hand again, and Regina felt tears start to make their way to her eyes.
Do not cry. He hasn't said anything that would make anyone else cry. Don't cry. It's been an emotional day, but there's no need for tears.
"I spent so many days and nights telling myself that everything we've ever been, I just made it up all in my head. And I spent so many hours trying to convince myself that I didn't need you. That if you didn't feel the way I do, then it wasn't worth it. And I-"
"I love you, Regina. I. Love. You. I will do anything I can to convince you. I'm not the boy I used to be, and I grew up. At least, I think I did. Because now I know that I can't live this life without you. And I will go down to Town Hall and announce in front of the whole town that I am in love with you," Robin interrupted Regina, and she was left breathless at his words.
"I will get up on stage, I will face my biggest fear, and I would sing a song in front of everyone we know, everyone in this world, telling them how much I love you. And I will not stop fighting for us until my very last breath… Regina, I am so in love with you, and I hate myself for every giving you any reason for you to believe otherwise."
A single teardrop fell down Regina's cheek, and Robin used his thumb to wipe it away, kissing her cheek. Regina leaned into his touch, and she could only describe it as right.
It felt right.
"You would sing in front of everyone? For me? What about your stage fright?" Robin smiled lovingly as he shook his head.
"I would get over it. Because somethings are just worth fighting for," Robin whispered, and Regina smiled as she wrapped her arms around his neck, feeling his arms embrace her, and she realized his touch is everything she's ever needed.
"It's going to take a little time," Regina sighed into his shoulder, but Robin only smiled and brought a hand to her hair, lacing his fingers through her brunette locks.
"Take as long as you need. I'll wait forever," Regina smiled sweetly as she pulled away brushing her fingers through Robin's hair, when a knock came from her bedroom door.
She looked panicked at Robin, and he only kissed her cheek, chuckling under his breath as he began to shift, preparing to climb down the tree, when Regina grabbed his arm.
"Wait. I don't want you to leave," Regina told him, and Robin nodded his head.
"Close the window, put down the blinds, and close the curtains. I'll hide away from the window, and no one will notice," Regina nodded her head as she did what Robin told her, walking to her door to answer whoever was knocking.
She looked over her shoulder at the window one last time with a sigh as she opened the door, finding her father standing in front of her, a kind smile gracing his lips. Regina smiled back, looking at his gray t-shirt and flannel pajama pants.
"Hell, Dear… Do you mind if we have a chat real quick?" Henry asked, and Regina could see the hesitation in his eyes. She nodded her head with a smile, and father and daughter walked to her bed, sitting on the edge, and Regina couldn't help but wonder if something was wrong.
"Is everything okay, Daddy?" Regina asked with concern lacing her eyes, but Henry smiled and waved that thought away with his hand.
"Of course. Nothing's wrong… I just wanted to talk to you about tomorrow night," Henry sighed, and Regina looked down with a small smile. God, I love him so much. But he better not scare Robin away with his protective speech.
"Daddy, I really like this guy and I want us to work out. Please don't scare him away with your protective father speech or whatever you plan on doing," Regina begged, and Henry smiled warmly.
"Well, you and I both know there is absolutely no way I am not doing the protective father speech, so if he really is the right guy for you, he won't run away," Henry told her with a smirk, and Regina smiled back, guessing that that was true.
"But, I didn't come in here to talk about that," Henry sighed, and Regina furrowed her eyebrows, shifting in bed, sitting criss-cross-applesauce on her comforter. She let her hands fall to her lap as her eyes never left her father.
"What is it?" Regina asked, and Henry let out a breath.
"When you walked in the kitchen tonight with that bright smile of yours, I knew that whoever made my little girl that happy definitely deserves a chance. And I really hope he is the right guy for you, Regina, because there is only one other person who has made you smile like that before…" Regina blushed as she thought about Robin… God, her father didn't know.
Robin was the only guy that made her smile the way she did.
"And I will give this guy a chance… but, Sweetheart, I can't help but feel like you're making a mistake," Henry breathed, and Regina bit her lip as she tucked strands of hair back behind her ear, out of her face.
"I know you can't forgive him, and I know you two have a very complicated history, but you are still in love with Robin… And I think he's in love with you, too… it wouldn't be fair to this new guy to use him to bury your feelings, and it especially wouldn't be fair to Robin," Henry explained, but Regina's eyebrows furrowed even more.
"It wouldn't be fair to Robin? What the hell does that mean?" Regina asked, and she prayed to God Robin couldn't hear her from the window. But her words came out only to hide the truth from her father.
Robin had to know that.
"Boys are stupid, Regina. So very, very stupid. And you might have fallen for him first, but Robin fell for you a long time ago, too, and the way you two acted on Thanksgiving only proved that."
"I know you think that I'm giving up on Robin, but I swear I'm not. He'll always be my best friend, and he'll always be the person I can turn to… But I am in love with the man who will pick me up tomorrow at seven o'clock sharp, with a rose in his hand. And I don't think anything will change that," Regina hated lying to her father, but she wasn't ready for his reaction yet.
"Did Robin really say all those things to you? That he thought that this guy you say you've fallen in love with, he's the one?" Henry questioned his daughter, and the brunette nodded her head with a smile.
"You'll see tomorrow, Daddy… I've waited all my life to be with someone who loves me as much as I love them, and who knows? Maybe you'll be surprised, maybe you won't," Regina shrugged her shoulders.
"Alright… Well, I'm going to let you get to bed, Dear. I love you, sweet dreams," Henry whispered as he kissed his daughter's forehead, giving her one last tired smile before he stood from the bed, and closed her door softly.
When Regina heard footsteps down the hall and then the quiet shut of her parents door, she let out a breath and walked to the window.
When she opened everything once again, she found Robin with his back against the large oak, a frown on his face.
"You didn't tell them about us?" Robin asked, and Regina could hear the hurt in his voice. She cringed and let out a breath that could only be described as a mumbled I'm sorry.
"Robin, I love you, and I have dreamed about this moment forever. But with all the history between us… I don't know how my parents will react. I don't even know if they have forgiven you for what happened those years ago… But I have, and that's the only thing that matters," Regina grabbed his hand, but the sadness still claimed Robin's face.
"Regina, I don't want to be your secret. I don't want to be someone you have to hide from your parents. I want to be able to hold your hand in public and not have to worry about your parents-"
"And you can. I promise. They just, all they know is that I'm in love with the man who is picking me up tomorrow. They don't know that it's you, of course, but they will… I just, I want you to be there with me when they find out it's you… I think my mom's been waiting for this moment as long as I have," Regina laughed, and Robin smiled.
"Alright… but I don't want your dad to kill me when I knock on the door," Robin smirked, and Regina chuckled under her breath.
"Deal," Regina breathed. She shivered when a certain gust of wind hit them both, and Robin frowned, noticing that she was leaning out in the cold with nothing but a flimsy jacket on.
Robin pulled his sweatshirt over his head, his shirt lifting up the tiniest bit, and Regina's eyes went to his abs. Once his sweatshirt was over his head, Robin smirked at her, realizing where her eyesight was, and Regina blushed as she looked down with a shy smile.
Robin handed it to Regina, and she crinkled her nose in confusion.
"I have a jacket, Robin," Regina sighed sarcastically, giving him a small smile, and Robin rolled his eyes, running his hand up and down the arm of Regina's light jacket, which sent goosebumps through her soul.
"This article of clothing? You think this will do? You will freeze your ass off… really, you should be thanking me," Robin smirked, and Regina rolled her eyes, the stupid smile never leaving her face.
"Thank you," Regina teased back as she slipped the sweatshirt over her head, and she hugged it to her cold body, getting high off of Robin's smell, which now surrounded her.
"Of course, Milady… I should get going. It's already past midnight," Robin whispered, and Regina frowned in disappointment.
"I wish you didn't have to go," Regina sighed, and Robin's hand came to her cheek, his thumb starting to rub her jawline.
"I know… but I'll see you tomorrow night," Regina smiled as she nodded her head. She gave Robin a shy look before she pulled him to her, kissing him again. Both smiled into the kiss, and they knew this was different from their first kiss.
Their first kiss was slow and romantic. But now, this kiss, it was hard and deep. Not necessarily rushed, but not slowed, either.
Regina pulled away and let her head fall to Robin's shoulder, her mind cloudy with every thought of Robin that ever existed.
She heard stories of how people she knew, people she went to school with, how they grew up and went down the worst paths, with alcohol and drugs and smoking. How their lives were in danger, and one of them even died the past year.
But now, she kind of understood it. Because Robin was her drug. She was addicted to him, and she had absolutely no idea she was supposed to go the whole night without being in his arms.
Is that how people felt about their addictions?
"You are making it so damn hard to leave, Love… so damn hard," Robin whispered, and Regina wrapped her arms around Robin, hugging him to her chest.
"Just five more minutes," Regina sighed, and Robin whispered a quiet okay. Moments later, Robin looked down when he heard soft snores coming from Regina, and he smiled, wondering how she was so adorable.
Robin pondered on what he would do before he realized that he was a gentleman, and a gentleman wouldn't just leave her there.
So Robin picked her up in his arms, carefully made his way through her window, and laid her down on her bed. He frowned when he noticed that she was wearing two sweatshirts along with a shirt underneath, worried she would become overheated quickly.
Robin lifted both sweatshirt and jacket over her head as she mumbled something incoherently in her sleep. Robin smiled as he placed both pieces of clothing on the back of her chair by her vanity, seeing as she had already curled the blanket to her body, her blanket reaching just under her chin.
Robin chuckled silently as he made his way to her, kissing her forehead before he stood straight again.
"Good night, Love," Robin whispered into the air in front of him.
Before he left, he wrote a note for Regina and left it on her vanity, and then exited the house the way he had entered, crawling out the window, climbing down the tree, careful not to make any noise as he walked across her yard to his, walking down her driveway.
Robin shook his head and laughed to himself, shivering in the cold, loving the bitterness that bit at him.
"I am going out with Regina… and she has my sweatshirt… Oh god, I'm so screwed," Robin chuckled to himself as he walked across the street to his own childhood home, knowing that he was already completely in love with Regina.
"You better not mess this up. Regina is the best thing that's ever happened to you, and if you let her go, it's all your bloody fault. Don't give her a reason to leave," Robin told himself, and he vowed that he would never do anything to hurt the love of his life.
But, if only he could see the future.
If only he could see that in two weeks time, their history would be as complicated as ever…
And maybe if he wasn't so scared of his own feelings in the first place, he wouldn't have lost Regina for the last time.