Setting/Disclaimer: Misthaven non-magical modern AU. The society and political system will be based on a combination of modern countries, with a probable bias toward the American system as I am an American. However, all characters are fictional and resemblance to real people or events is purely coincidence.

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Regina absently stirred the honey and walnuts she'd added to her yogurt, taking bites as she stared at her computer screen.

She chewed one of the sweet, meaty nuts as she read, again, through the page of the country club newsletter. The words on the screen, however, confirmed that it was indeed true.

Scrolling up to the top of the page, she stopped on the photo beneath the headline. Her stomach flipped at the sight, as it had every time she'd seen it. The President of the Equestrian Club shaking hands with a familiar person...one she hadn't seen in several years.

Swallowing another bite of yogurt she studied the contours of his face, noting the ways in which it had changed and ways he looked exactly the same as the last time she'd seen him.

Suddenly, she was jolted out of her musings by a knock on the door. Quickly minimizing the page, she looked up to see Lily standing in the doorway.

"Hey," her assistant said, "What are you doing?"

"Nothing," she responded, "Just looking over some stuff. What's up?"

"Your mom sent over some changes she wants you to make to her schedule," Lilly responded, handing her a printed page.

Regina groaned, setting the paper on the edge of her desk, "I'll be very glad when she finally hires a new assistant!"

"How's that going?"

"You know Mother. She has very high standards," Regina sighed, admitting, "I think she thinks if she holds on out long enough I'll agree to take over."

"Oh, girl!" Lily wrinkled her nose, shaking her head 'no.'

"Of course I'm not going to do it!" she agreed, "I'm happy here. If I had my way I'd only be on the Foundation side of things! Being involved in running the political office is a constant headache!"

Lily quirked her lip sympathetically, "Yeah, well...good luck to you."

"Thanks," she answered ruefully.

With that Lily turned out the door, heading back to her own desk. She pulled back up the window on her computer and looked at the photo for a few more moments. Finally, finishing the last bite of her yogurt, she closed down the window and resigned herself to getting back to work.

Turning away from her computer and began looking over the changes her mother requested.

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Meanwhile, across town at Cora's political headquarters, Robin stood outside the door to her office trying not to eavesdrop, if only for his own sanity.

He'd spent all day listening to her interview potential assistants, and then promptly turned around and trash them behind their backs to her son-in-law, DisPater.

"Is this really the best you can do, Blake?" her voice echoed down the hall, "There hasn't been a single applicant worth my time!"

"We're trying," he answered, "We've had several interviews today-"

"And none of them were adequate!" she interrupted harshly.

"Don't worry," he reassured her simperingly, "We'll find someone."

"You'd better!" she snapped.

DisPater didn't seem phased by her attitude, however, simply nodding.

"Alright," Cora said tiredly, "Who's next?"

DisPater handed her a folder containing the next applicant's information. She opened it disinterestedly, and took a look, "Belle? Her name is Belle?"

"Yes," DisPater responded.

She sighed, "Well let's get this over with."

With a nod, DisPater walked down the hall and returned accompanied by a short, curly haired woman. She looked no older than 25 and very wide-eyed. Robin couldn't help but feel bad for her, already knowing she was about to walk into a dragon's den.

Glancing nervously at him, the young woman stepped into the office.

From beyond the door he heard the conversation that transpired.

"Hello," she introduced herself, "Belle French."

"Cora Mills," the older woman responded "Please have a seat."

"Thank you."

"Your accent," Cora remarked, "Are you from the southern provinces?"

"Yes," the younger woman responded, "the Marchlands."

"Hmm," Cora hummed in disapproval, "Although...I see you went to university here in the city?

"Yes, that's right."

"Is this your first job then?"

"No, actually, I've been working abroad for the past two years in Arendelle."

"Really?" Cora questioned suddenly sounding interested for the first time since starting the interview. Shuffling some papers, she continued, "For the princess's office?"

"Yes, Princess Anna," Belle answered, "I organized her schedule, helped with paperwork, sometimes sent out public statements if needed...that sort of thing."

Robin huffed silently in his chest at the hilarity of Mills suddenly perking up when royalty was mentioned...and she was supposed to be a liberal, power to the people politician!

"And she is willing to give you a reference?" Cora asked.

"Yes, I believe so."

"Are you familiar with the normal computer applications?"

"Of course," Belle responded.

"And do you understand that in a political office sometimes there are things that need to be kept confidential?"

"Yes, of course, Ms Mills. I understand the difference between official and unofficial policy," the younger woman assured her.

"Alright," Cora finally said, "My office will want to check your references, but I believe we may be in touch."

"Really?" the younger woman exclaimed excitedly, "Thank you so much!"

"I'm not making any promises!" she cut off her outburst, "All I said was we'd be in touch!"

"Yes," Belle answered, sounding sufficiently chastised, "Thank you, Ms Mills."

After some muffled steps, the younger woman emerged from the office where DisPater immediately swooped in to escort her to the exit.

When he returned, he met Cora by the door to her office, commenting, "Well that was unexpected."

"Yes indeed," she agreed.

"She's awful young for this kind of position, though," DisPater said.

She nodded, "True, although that doesn't bother me quite as much as that Marchlands accent or the insufferable cheerfulness!"

Robin clenched his fists by his side, biting the inside of his cheek to keep from saying something he shouldn't.

Blake, however, simply laughed in agreement, "We can keep looking if you'd like?"

Thinking it over, Cora shook her head, "I guess we might as well check out her references."

"Will do," DisPater nodded.

With a sigh Cora said, "Honestly, I wouldn't have to go through this hassle if Regina would stop being so selfish and come work for me full time!"

DisPater looked uncomfortable at the suggestion, "Maybe she's worried the position is too much for her?"

"No, she's just being stubborn," Cora grumbled, "She does this all the time, refuses to go along with an idea because I'm the one who suggested it! Honestly, I don't know why she enjoys vexing me so much!"

"Sounds rather juvenile," her son-in-law observed.

"Yes," she murmured absently.

"If she's really that immature maybe appointing Regina to this sort of position isn't a good idea?" he hinted, "Who knows what she might do?"

"Regina just refuses to accept that her potential is wasted in philanthropy!" the elder Mills ranted.

"Well," DisPater frowned, "There is this Belle French. She's willing to fill the position now, and she does have relevant experience."

"She also seems naive and relentlessly bubbly. I need a political assistant, not a cheerleader," Cora answered.

DisPater continued to push, "If she really has connections to Arendelle, it might we worth the annoyance though."

"Well," she considered, "As I said, save her resume if her references check out and I'll think about it. In the meantime I'll see if I can persuade Regina around."

"Alright," he said doubtfully, "But you did say you needed a new assistant as soon as possible, and it'll only be a few weeks before Zelena and I leave for the Federal District-"

"I said I'd think about it, thank you Blake," she cut him off, signaling that the conversation was over.

He seemed to take the hint, nodding deferentially and walking across the hall to his office. Inside hers, Cora shut the door firmly.

Glancing toward DisPater's cracked door, the member of the security team assigned to him that day leaned over to Robin and said, "Locksley, was it?"

He looked at him, "Yeah."

"Word of advice. Work on your poker face. If Drake or Mrs. Mills notice you giving away as much reaction as you were, you're toast!"

With that he went back to reading the novel he'd brought along that day.

Robin sat quietly. He knew the other man was right, but he couldn't help it. The disgust at hearing Cora Mills and her sycophant son-in-law willing to bad mouth everyone from highly qualified applicants, to their own family members, was pretty shocking. Not to mention the grotesque hilarity of the obvious drama brewing between Mills, her daughter, and DisPater. Plus, the fact that the younger daughter, in spite of not having fallen far from her mother's tree, was at least smart enough to pass on working for her. If only he could have said the same of himself!

Taking a deep breath, he attempted to calm himself down. He knew what he'd signed on for when he took this job, or at least he should have! Cora Mills was both a politician and insanely rich, he should have guessed what sort of person she'd be. The problem was just that he wanted to believe the best of people. That most wouldn't live up to the worst stereotypes about them. His experience in Unity City so far, though, had done little to justify that instinct.

The door to Cora Mills office swung open interrupting his musings, she was staring straight at him as she stepped out, briefcase in hand, so he stood.

"What was your name again?" she asked unceremoniously.

"Robin Locksley," he answered.

"Locksley, right," she nodded, "I'm ready to return home."

"Yes, Ma'am," he motioned for her to go ahead of him to the elevator.

She was mostly silent, scrolling through emails on her phone as he drove her through rush hour traffic until they reached the affluent outskirts of Unity City.

At the gate to the Mills estate he keyed the entry code and drove the car up the private drive to the front of the house.

Cora Mills got up and walked up the steps, her attention on her phone the entire way there. Letting out a sigh, Robin started up the car to return it to the garage.

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As she rode the elevator down to the first floor, Regina glanced down at her phone, trying to resist the urge to open her web browser and pull up the newsletter again.

With an annoyed huff as the elevator arrived, she shook her head at herself. For the sake of all the Gods, she wasn't a teenager anymore! She needed to stop obsessing!

Stepping out of the elevator, she made her way around to the dining room. Inside, her mother and father, and Blake and Zelena, were already seated around the table.

"Regina, you're here," Cora remarked.

"Finally," Zelena added.

"Sorry I'm late, Mother," she said as she took her seat.

"Well now that everyone is here, let's just have a nice dinner," her father jumped in.

"Yes, let's," Cora agreed.

Regina picked up her fork and began cutting into the chicken breast on her plate.

"So," Henry asked, "How was everyone's day?"

"Fine," she said absently.

"Did you get a chance to see the schedule changes I sent over to your office?" Cora asked, pinning her with a sharp look.

"Yes, Mother," Regina answered, "How's the search for a new assistant going?"

"Oh, we've gotten a lot of highly qualified applicants," Blake answered before Cora had the chance to get a word out, "I think we're probably pretty close to hiring someone."

"I'm considering a few applicants," Cora corrected, giving Blake a hard look and pointedly not using the word 'we', "However, they all leave a lot to be desired."

Shifting uncomfortably, Regina said, "I'm sure you'll find someone satisfactory soon, Mother."

She sighed, "I suppose. If satisfactory is the best one can expect."

Regina frowned, "I meant I'm sure you'll find someone who will do a very good job. Someone you'll be happy with."

"We'll see," her mother answered.

"Let me know if there's anyway I can help," she said, wincing even as the words left her tongue.

She was not surprised to see her mother perk up at the words, "In fact, Regina I would appreciate the help."

Clearing her throat, she responded cautiously, "I certainly don't mind helping you find a new assistant, Mother."

Cora frowned, narrowing her eyes at Regina. She'd been a bit too direct in turning around what her mother had been trying to suggest, but she knew she had to shoot it down before she got roped into taking over the handling of even more of her mother's schedule...or an even bigger commitment.

"Well," Zelena jumped in, changing the subject, "Blake and I have an announcement to make."

Regina looked up at the tone in her voice. Zelena had a very satisfied expression on her face. That made her slightly nervous, because she didn't know what she was referring. If it was something that made her sister look so smug it could be a lot of things, good or bad.

She smiled widely, glancing over at her husband, who also looked very pleased with himself.

"Zelena was offered a consulting job in the Federal District, so Cora and I have decided that, in a few weeks, we'll be moving to there so that I can take over running the political office," Blake announced.

Her silverware still in her hands, Regina stared at them open-mouthed. The table was quiet for a moment before Henry broke the silence, "Well, that's...wonderful."

Slowly, Regina set her silverware down on her plate.

"Congratulations to you both," her father went on.

Zelena grinned widely, "Thank you, Daddy."

Meeting her eyes from across the table Blake asked, "Something wrong, Regina?"

"Ah, no, not at all," she answered, finding her voice, "I'm just...surprised. When did this happen?"

"Well, running the political office remotely has been getting pretty inefficient," he said, the self-satisfaction practically dripping in his voice as he glanced over at Cora, "So we agreed that we need someone on the ground full-time. Someone who can really organize our personnel and develop action plans for any future efforts of ours."

Regina wasn't sure what she wanted to laugh at more, Blake's obvious gloating, or the fact was still trying to be coy about what 'future efforts' meant. As if the entire family didn't know about her mother's aspirations to the Presidency.

And now Blake was going to be taking over running the political office full-time, moving to the capital to do so. That was...fantastic news!

She flexed her toes inside her shoes, having to make serious effort not to squirm in her seat and give away the excitement she was feeling.

"I see..." she answered carefully, "...well congratulations, Blake, Zelena."

"Well thank you, Regina," he answered, somehow managing to look even more smug, "That's very big of you to understand."

She had to bite her lip at that one.

"Well then," Cora clapped her hands together, "Should we have a toast?"

Blake and Zelena eagerly agreed. As Cora called for a bottle of wine to be brought, Regina met her father's eyes. He raised his eyebrows at her, a questioning look on his face.

She could tell by his expression that he was asking if she was okay. She nodded affirmatively, hiding a smile behind her napkin. If only he knew just how okay with this she was!

As champagne was brought in and glasses poured, she relaxed into her chair. Her sister and brother-in-law were basking in the attention, and she was perfectly happen to let them. She didn't even mind letting Blake get in all his subtle jabs, and let him think she was jealous at him being chosen to run her mother's political office.

When her glass of champagne was handed to her, she saluted Blake and Zelena's new jobs with unadulterated enthusiasm, both out of happiness for her sister and relief that this now meant she could, hopefully, move away from being involved in the political side of things.

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Later that night, after enjoying a long, luxurious shower, Regina put on a pajama top and flopped down on her bed with a contented sigh.

Staring up at the ceiling she laughed to herself. It almost seemed too perfect how everything was falling into place: Blake leaving to run the political office so that she can join the foundation full time, and other things that were happening...

She glanced toward her phone, staring at it for a moment before forcing her attention away. No! She wasn't going to look at the country club newsletter again!

Rocking her hips side to side, she couldn't help but smile. She wasn't going to look at the country club newsletter again, but it did raise intriguing possibilities.

Resting her hands behind her head, Regina flexed her toes. It was late and she should be getting to sleep, but she was feeling better than she had in a while and full of keyed up energy.

Pushing herself up from her bed, she made her way through her sitting room out into the hall.

The tiles were a bit cold under her feet as she rode the elevator down to the first floor, but it was after midnight so she wasn't worried about running into anyone. Padding lightly across the floor, she entered the kitchen, went over to the fridge, and rummaged round in the freezer until her hand closed around the carton of double chocolate chip ice cream. Tossing the lid onto the counter, she opened a drawer to dig out a spoon.

She sighed in pleasure with the first bite as the dark chocolate danced across her tongue. Regina rarely ate sweets, but tonight she was in the mood to celebrate a little.

With that she eagerly dug back in for a second spoonful. Before she could put it in her mouth, though, she heard footsteps out just outside the kitchen. Jumping in shock, her fingers slipped off the spoon, sending it falling down the collar of her pajama top.

Gasping at the ice cold sensation, she set the ice cream down on the counter to grab the spoon and attempt to clean up sticky liquid smeared all down her front. Exasperated, she noted that had soaked through the silky material of her top. Scrubbing with her nails, she attempted to wipe it up.

She'd just managed to clean off the majority of it when the footsteps entered the room. Lifting her head, she noticed that the person entering the kitchen was the new security guard, and that he was dressed only in a pair of sweatpants.

Struck dumb for a moment, she stared at him, noting that he was also staring at her. As she glanced down she realized that her hand fingers were still pressed against her breast where she had been attempting to clean off the ice cream mess.

Quickly dropping her hand to her side, she demanded, "What are you doing in here?!"

He looked at her answering slowly, "Um, I was just getting a glass of water. I was told it was alright for staff to be in here?"

"Oh," she answered. That made sense. Looking back at him, she found herself staring at his bare chest, "That doesn't explain, though, why you're half dressed! You're not the only one that lives here, you know? Put on a shirt next time!"

He stood silently, glancing down at her bare legs. The implication of the look, ie: the hypocrisy of her statement, was unmistakable. Subtly, she attempted to tug her pajama top a little further down.

Finally, he answered, "Yes, Ma'am. It won't happen again."

"Well...see that it doesn't!" she ordered.

He simply nodded.

Glancing around the room, she noticed that the open container of ice cream was still sitting on the counter. Feeling self conscious at having been caught making a pig of herself, she grabbed the container, shoved the lid back on, and put it back in the freezer.

A shiver went through her as the chilled air hit her, and she could feel the hem of her pajama top riding up the back of her thighs as she stood on her tip-toes.

Quickly shoving the freezer closed, she whirled around.

As she did so, the new guard, Locksley, turned his head away. Redirecting his attention, he opened a cabinet and got out a glass. As he filled the glass at the fridge water dispenser, he kept his gaze firmly way from her.

Warily, she noted that at least he was attempting to be discrete.

"Well," Regina said, "Goodnight."

As she moved to slide past him, he moved in the same direction forcing her to stop suddenly to avoid crashing into him.

An annoyed noise escaped her throat as he simultaneously murmured through a mouthful of water, "Oh, sorry."

The two both stepped in the same direction again as they attempted to dodge each other.

Looking up she briefly met his eyes, quickly looking away as she slid past him and hurried out of the kitchen.

Staring after the younger Mills as she practically ran from the room, Robin muttered, "Goodnight to you too."