Author's Notes:
Special Thanks to my co-author ale_nena for her art to go with this chapter.
Setting: 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.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
The sound of skin hitting skin echoed off the walls.
"Stay away from me, thief!" Cora hissed angrily, before turning on her heel and storming from the dining room, leaving Robin and Regina in open-mouthed silence.
Robin recovered first, "Well I guess your mother isn't a morning person."
From the table, Regina drew deep ragged breaths.
"She...I can't believe…" standing shakily, she stepped over to him, "Are you alright?"
He turned to her, "Yes, I suppose."
Letting out a miserable breath, she sunk into a chair.
"Are you okay?" he asked, sitting down next to her.
She shook her head, looking up at him, "I can't ask you to do this."
"What?" he asked,
"I can't ask you to stay in this situation!" she clarified.
"What are you talking about?"
"My mother just assaulted you, Robin!" she said, "And that's not even the start of it, you've taken so much abuse ever since we got married and you've been so patient but I can't ask you to do this any longer! It's not fair to you!"
"Okay, well first off, I'm not going anywhere!" he told her, "I knew what I was getting into-"
"But-"
"Second, I'm fine. No offense to your Mother, but if she wants to get physical, she might need to hit the gym a bit!"
"That's not funny!"
"The point is I'm fine. Not hurt at all, honest," he told her.
"But it isn't right!"
"Well, I'm not going to argue about that!" he answered, letting the irritation creep into his voice for the first time.
She sighed, leaning into him and resting her hand on his knee, "Maybe we should have just run off to Sherwood."
He picked up her hands between his and squeezed them, "It's not too late."
She laughed, "I'm afraid it is. I have to be at work in an hour!"
He let out a breath, trying not to let the disappointment show. He knew that her family was very important to her, even with all their flaws. She wouldn't leave them easily and he wouldn't ask her to unless it was what she really wanted. He knew what it was like to lose your whole family, and he wouldn't ever put her through that lightly.
"What was she so worked up about?" he asked.
She glanced at the shreds of paper on the table, and said, "I'll tell you later. I'm sorry to rush off but-"
"No, it's okay. I need to grab something and run to morning briefing anyway," he agreed.
"Okay," she rose from her chair, gathering up the pieces of paper into the envelope. Leaning over she gave him a long kiss goodbye.
When they finally had to break apart, he watched after her as he left...the feel of her still lingering on his lips. Once he was finally forced to snap out of the lustful haze Regina had put him in, he dug his phone out of his pocket and swore under his breath at the time.
He had just enough time to grab a slice of toast and eat it in the elevator on the way down to the staff quarters.
He was in such a hurry as he rushed into the room that he took the nearest seat without realizing, until he looked up, that all eyes in the room had gone to him the moment he entered.
Staring back at them, he answered awkwardly, "Morning."
No one answered at first, and was saved from having to by Drake's entrance. The older man also paused at the sight of him, stared for a moment before, taking a heavy breath and beginning, "Alright everyone, let's get started. As we all know there's been some...changes to the house recently...however, they aren't going to affect the way we do things. All security procedures will remain in place a usual?"
"Do we have to guard Locksley now?" Miguel called out, prompting snickers and sour looks around the table.
Drake's expression darkened even further, and he answered, "Care to take that one?"
Robin suppressed the urge to sigh and answered, "I'm still a member of the security team, same as before."
"Except next Saturday, right?" Drake answered.
"Sir?" he asked.
"Apparently there will be a wedding reception that day for Ms. Mills and...our crossover member," Drake explained, "We'll have a briefing on special measures that will be taken that event this Friday, but, for now, business as usual. Assignments are on the board. That'll be all."
Checking the board, Robin found that he was on camera duty. Generally that assignment was given to newbies or people who were being punished in some way. The conversation that normally occurred between team members was also totally silent, and everyone shuffled out, pointedly avoiding eye-contact with him.
He sighed, but shrugged it off as he made is way to the monitoring room, reminding himself that an awkward period was inevitable.
Shutting the door behind himself, he sat down at the screens and settled in for a long, tedious day.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
After storming out of the dining room Cora, rode the elevator upstairs to her office and slammed the door behind her.
She paced back and forth until her heart rate slowed to normal and she felt like she could think somewhat clearly.
That thief Locksley made her so damn angry, though!
How had she missed what he was doing? How had he managed to charm her daughter into thinking he was some kind of knight in shining armor right under her nose, and she hadn't seen it?!
She didn't believe his sweet, 'I'm so in love with your daughter' routine for a moment. She'd been surprised when he didn't take the money they offered to end things, but apparently he was smart enough to play the long game.
As much as she'd threatened, it she wasn't certain she'd be able to entirely disinherit Regina. Not unless she outlived Henry and...well, she assured herself that wasn't the sort of thing they'd have to think about for a long time yet!
Letting out a tired breath, she sat down in her chair, staring out the window. Her solitude was interrupted, however, by her phone ringing.
Lifting it, she found Drake's name flashing across the screen.
"Yes?" she answered.
"Mrs. Mills," the security head greeted, "I was told you'd need pick up at 8:30?"
Looking at her watch, she found that she was 15 minutes late. Swearing to herself, she answered, "Yes, thank you, I'll be down in just a minute!"
Ending the call, she grabbed her briefcase and hurried to the elevator and out through the foyer. Angry at herself for how distracted this was making her.
She arrived at her car somewhat frazzled, but managed to collect herself as Drake opened the back door for her.
He was professional as he shut the door behind her and walked around to the driver's side. She saw him glance back at her before starting up the car, though.
"Something on your mind, Drake?" she asked irritably.
"No, Ma'am," he answered, "Just wondering if everything was alright."
A bitter laugh fell from her lips before she could stop it and she answered, "Oh, just lovely!"
He drove quietly to the end of the drive, opened the gate and turned out onto the road. As he merged onto the highway, he cleared his throat, "Ma'am, this may be out of line but…"
"Yes?" she prompted, voice hard but also genuinely curious about what he'd say.
"You seem rather stressed and I think the reason why is pretty obvious," he said before asking, "Is there anything I can do to help?"
Staring at the back of his balding head, she thought for a moment.
"Perhaps…" she finally answered, "...you vetted Locksley for hiring, right?"
"Yes, Ma'am."
"Hm," she hummed, "Well now he's not just security!"
"Yes, Ma'am, that's true," Drake agreed, "Perhaps an added degree of scrutiny is in order?"
She smiled widely, feeling like some weight was lifted from her for the first time in days, "You read my mind, Drake. If you could find any information that might be...useful...about Locksley's past or what he's been up to since he's worked for us, that would be most helpful!"
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
Robin looked up from the screens as the door next to him swung open. As he glanced up, young Ali blinked at him before looking away and shifting uncomfortably.
He lifted his phone to pause the podcast he'd been distracting himself with and took the earbuds out of his ear.
Ali cleared his throat, "I'm here to relieve you for lunch."
Checking the time, he found that it was around 12:30.
"Okay," he put away his phone, stretching as he stood from the chair, "Thanks, Ali."
The younger man nodded, but didn't really answer as he left the control room. As always after being there for a long time, the hall seemed unnaturally bright. Blinking, he waited for his eyes to adjust before walking to the staff dining room.
As he walked in, all normal conversation seemed to stop as everyone looked at him. With a sigh, he picked up a plate.
Picking up the spoon, he served himself a helping of Mrs. Fa's mac&cheese and then moved on to the green beans.
As he poured himself a glass of water, Ruby walked in, stopping abruptly at the sight of him.
Looking straight at her, he smiled, "Hello."
She hesitated for only a moment, but then seem to change her mind and answered, "Hey. How are you?"
"I'm well," he answered, "How about you?"
She shrugged, "I guess I can't really complain."
Taking a breath she picked up a plate and served herself lunch. Everyone watched closely as he motioned her ahead of him, but she didn't falter for a moment as she sat down across from him at an empty table.
"So how are you really?" she asked.
"Well," he thought it over, "most of my coworkers aren't speaking to me, the entire tabloid media is combing through my life, my in-laws hate me, and I'm married to a woman I love more than life itself...I'm wonderful."
She looked at him with raised eyebrows, "That was sickenly sweet."
He shrugged, "Sorry, I can't help it."
"So she's the one, huh?" Ruby asked quietly, "That one you were so broken up over last spring?"
"Afraid so," he admitted.
She chuckled, "You've got balls, I have to admit that! I never suspected a thing and I'm pretty good at keeping secrets!"
She realized what she'd said as soon as it left her mouth, but Robin let it sit as if he hadn't heard it. Ruby had made it more than obvious she didn't want to talk about what he'd hinted at back then, so, until she explicitly said that she'd changed her mind, he wasn't going to push.
"So do you mind if I ask how this is going to work?" she asked, "I mean, you're still here with us but you're married to Regina?"
"Honestly, I don't know yet," he admitted, "We're going to work it out as we go. I'm still on the security team, though."
At that a loud snicker came from the next table over.
He sighed, deciding it was better to just confront this headon, "Something you want to say?"
Razoul's chair creaked as he leaned back, "Oh no, Locksley, nothing...wouldn't want you to have to tattle to the Mrs."
"If you want to say something just say it to me!" he shot back.
"Razoul, enough," Ruby interjected.
"He asked for it!" the angry man argued, "'you want to say something just say it' that's what you said, right Locksley?"
"Yes, that's what I said!" Robin challenged, "If you have a problem with my marriage-"
"Oh no! I don't have a problem. Hell, we should probably all be congratulating you on the scheme!"
"Scheme?"
"Yeah, you're all set! You can pretend you're still 'working' with us if you want, but we both know the reality! You're a kept man now!"
"Excuse me?" Robin asked.
"No judgement here! Regina's even hot. Most would dream of pulling off what you did! I just wonder how you did it? I know she doesn't date much but I didn't think she was desperate-"
"Razoul, you need to shut up!" Ruby warned.
"Yes," Robin said dangerously, "You do."
"Oh, begging your pardon," he put his hands up, gathering his tray and leaving with a muttered, "...Mr. Locksley, Sir."
As he left the room was silent, though everyone seemed conveniently engrossed on the food on their plates.
"Robin…" Ruby reached across the table to rest her hands over his but seemed at a loss for what to say.
Clearing his throat, he rose from the table, "It's fine, Ruby. I need to be getting back anyway."
She swallowed hard but simply nodded as he picked up his tray and set it in the discard bin.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
Regina sighed as accepted her coat check ticket and slipped it into her handbag. It had been a long week that was a blur of wedding planning and getting situated at the political office, and, before, she knew it the weekend came and she was scheduled to have lunch with Ursula and Cruella.
Straightening her hair, she walked into the dining room and looked around until she spotted her friends. They were seated at a table by the window and had a third with them.
She could only see the man from behind, but she'd recognize that perfectly quaffed hair and bright jewel toned suit anywhere.
With a sigh, she walked over to join her friends.
Without even waiting for him to turn around and notice her, she brushed her hand across his shoulders and said, "Hi, Jefferson."
"Regina," he smiled standing to kiss her cheek.
"Good to see you."
"You too, Love," he grinned sitting back down.
"How's Grace?"
"She's wonderful, thank you," Jefferson smiled, eyes lighting up at mention of his daughter. He and his ex had planned to start a family a few years back, only to have the jerk bail a month before their surrogate was due to give birth. Ever since then Jefferson had been a single father to the girl. His parenting was the only thing serious about the normally campy designer.
She smiled, hugging Ursula and Cruella as well before taking her seat. The waiter appeared almost immediately to ask if she wanted a drink.
She ordered a mimosa with a polite smile, using the moment of distraction to take a breath.
"Alright, Darling, you've got some explaining to do!" Cruella immediately yanked her back to reality.
"What do you want to know?"
Her three friends looked at her incredulously. This time Ursula was the one to break the silence, "Are you serious, Regina?"
"What do you mean, am I serious?" she asked, "What does that even mean?"
"You can't expect us to just not have an opinion about you running away with your bodyguard?" Jefferson answered.
"Running away? That's a little dramatic, don't you think?" she answered, leaving out that they had literally run away to get married.
"Barely!" Ursula backed him up, "I mean come on! We've never heard anything about this guy!"
"Yeah, well, that's not only my fault is it?" she answered
Cruella narrowed her eyes at Regina, "Passive-aggressive much, Darling?"
"I'm just saying, we don't see each other all that often any more," she answered, trying to sound less hostile, "I don't know everything that's going on in your lives either."
"Honey," Jefferson answered, tenting his figures, "If I planned to get married again, you'd hear about it!"
"Exactly!" Ursula agreed, "Not to mention...an ex-con, Regina? Really?"
Taken aback, Regina was saved from having to immediately answer as the waiter arrived with her drink.
"What are you getting at?" she asked.
"Darling none of are judging you for having a fling with your bodyguard," Cruella said, "Hell, I respect you for it!"
"Me too...he's hot," Jefferson joked.
"But you don't marry your fling!" Ursula completed the thought.
"What makes you think this was just a fling?" Regina asked.
The three looked at each other skeptically before Cruella finally answered, "Come on, Darling."
"Come on, what?" she demanded, voice rising slightly.
"Regina," Ursula said cautiously, "Don't you think that he might be using you?"
"Using me?"
"He's a gold digger!" Cruella interrupted.
"And she'd know!" Jefferson said cattily. Cruella, however, simply shrugged, sipping her mimosa.
"Right," Regina sighed, "And how, exactly, would any of you know that? You don't even know Robin! You don't know what kind of person he is!"
"Do you?" Ursula asked skeptically.
"Yes, I do! He's one of the most decent people I've ever met," Regina answered, "What's more I love him and he loves me and we want to spend our lives together."
Her friends, again, exchanged skeptical looks.
"And what kind of future would that be?" Ursual went on, "What kind of prospects does he have other than leeching off your family money?"
"Alright!" Regina picking up her napkin and tossing it on the table, "I've had enough of this!"
"Honey, we're only saying this because we care about you-" Jefferson started.
"If you cared about me, you'd respect my ability to make my own decisions including about whom I marry!"
Ursula sighed, "I'm sorry, Regina, but we're just being honest. It's what real friends do."
Biting the inside of her cheek, Regina picked up her handbag and stood from the table, "Well, I'm sorry you feel that way."
"Darling, don't run off!"
"I have a lot of things to do that I'm not really in the mood for lunch any more," she answered, "I'll talk to you guys later."
With that she turned away from her three oldest friends and made her way through the bright dining room out of the restaurant.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
By the time she got home that night it was already after 10 PM. After her ill-fated dinner with Cruella, Jefferson, and Usula she went back to the office, but quickly received a text from her mother telling her to call her wedding planner.
How Cora found a wedding planner so quickly, Regina didn't know. She tried telling her mother that she was needed at work, but was given firm instructions to be at the meeting by 5:30 PM.
She arrived 5 minutes late and, after being given a death glare from the wedding planner, was set to work choosing floral arrangements, napkins, and place settings. After three hours of that, she was ushered on to a special appointment at Andalasia to be fitted for a new dress.
She was hoping to go directly home from The Galleria, but, instead, Lot turned back downtown. When questioned, he explained that her mother had told him she had an appointment downtown.
The appointment turned out to be at a bakery where she was given an assortment of cake samples to taste. At each appointment she'd, perfunctorily, mentioned that Robin should probably be involved too, and was laughed off each time.
In the end, the cake tasting proved pointless anyway. After choosing a chocolate mocha, Regina was informed that Cora had already expressed a "strong preference" for the vanilla bean cake.
When Lot finally dropped her at the front steps she was exhausted, frustrated, and nauseous from having eaten nothing but cake for dinner.
Letting the door close behind her, her heels clicked across the foyer as she waited for the elevator and rode it up to her suite.
Inside, she pushed the door closed behind her and let out a relieved sigh as she dropped her purse on the couch and kicked off her shoes. She was unbuttoning her blazer as she walked into the bedroom. The bed-side lamp was on but Robin was already asleep on his side of the bed.
She smiled at the thought that they now had sides of the bed.
Making her way to the bathroom, she shed the rest of her clothes and brushed her teeth, glad to get the sickly sweet taste out of her mouth.
After that she took a quick shower and blow dried her hair...a much quicker task now, with her short hair.
Changing into a clean pair of panties and a tank top, she flipped off the bathroom light and padded out into the bedroom.
Robin stirred and she slipped under the covers next to him.
"Hey," she said, as he blinked up at her.
"Hey," he said tiredly, shifting closer to her, "How was your day?"
"Long," she sighed, "How about you?"
He shrugged, sliding his arm under her thigh and pulling her closer to him to lay his head on her leg, "Anything I can help with?"
She laughed, "Where were you the last 5 hours?"
"What do you mean? What happened?"
Before she could answer, though, her phone buzzed on the nightstand.
With a sigh, she leaned over to pick it up, "Hello?"
"Regina," Cora said on the other end, "I just emailed you a guest list to review."
"Okay, I'll take a look at it in the morning-"
"No!" Cora cut her off before she even finished the sentence, "The invitations have to be sent out first thing tomorrow if they're going to make it in time! We don't have time to spend hours delaying!"
"Okay, okay!" she said, trying to cut off her mother's gradually rising voice. Looking at Robin apologetically, she slid out of his grip and off the bed.
"Yes! I'm opening my laptop right now!" Regina insisted as she walked into the living room and over to her desk.
Pulling up her web browser, she opened the email, "Okay...well at first glance, I don't know half these people-"
"I assure you they're important! They're either important party members or colleagues of mine! They are coming to his reception!" Cora cut her off.
"Why even bother asking me then if you have the whole guest list figured out?"
"Don't get smart with me, Regina!" her mother said, "This was part of our deal!"
"Yes, Mother," Regina answered, "Understood."
"Good. Well I'm not asking you to subtract from the guest list, I really just need you to add anyone else you feel should be there...maybe your friends from college?"
"Sure," Regina rubbed her brow, "We should add Robin's friends too."
Silence followed on the other end.
"Mother?"
"I thought he didn't have any family left?"
"He has friends, though," Regina answered.
Another long silence followed.
Gritting her teeth, Regina said pointedly, "Mother!"
"Yes...of course, add them."
She sighed, "Alright, anything else you need me to do?"
"Not once you're sure the list is finished."
"Okay," she answered, "I'll add everyone I need and send it back to you ASAP."
"ASAP?" Cora asked.
"It means as soon as possible, Mother."
"I know what it means," Cora responded, "Just finish the list tonight."
"Yes, Mother-" Regina answered, but Cora hung up before she even got the sentence out.
Shaking her head, Regina set the phone down and got to work. After hitting 'SEND' she yawned, stretching her back as she stood up and walked back into the bedroom.
The light was still on inside, but Robin was fast asleep and snoring softly.
She chuckled as she climbed under the covers and leaned over him to turn out the light. Apparently they really were married.
* 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 * 0 *
"Alright, here you go Miss Mills...sorry, Mrs. Locksley," her stylist said, putting the last pins into her hair and leaning over to hold up a mirror, "What do you think?"
It was a simple style, her short hair curled into soft waves and held with white and black beaded pins.
"It's lovely, thank you," Regina answered.
The stylist smiled, taking the mirror from her and stepping back. As she packed up her things, Regina stood from the chair. She picked up her drape that went with the short white dress that had been chosen for the reception. She carried it with her down to the foyer, wrapping it around her shoulders as she made her way through the outer kitchen to the garden door.
It was windy and overcast outside, but the large white tents had been staked down sturdily, ready for guests to be shown in.
Her mother really had pulled this off quickly.
Wrapping her drape over her shoulders, she made her way over to the main tent where Cora was giving last minute instructions.
"Mother,"
Cora turned, "Regina, good you're ready. Guests should be arriving soon."
"Yeah, when are Robin's friends getting here? Are they coming in by train or Flyt?"
"I'm sorry?" Cora asked.
"Robin's friends…" she repeated, "...Killian, John, Trina...they're coming in from Sherwood."
"We don't have any RSVPs from Sherwood, Dear," Cora answered as she turned, "Oh, Marco! Are the caterers' set up?"
"What are you talking about?" Regina asked, hurrying after her, "Mother!"
"Regina," Cora turned, "Don't raise your voice."
"What do you mean there were no RSVPs from Sherwood?"
"I mean exactly what I said," she shrugged, "We didn't have anyone on the guest list who was coming in from Sherwood."
"Well they would have told us if they weren't coming!"
"I don't know what to tell you, Regina," her mother answered.
Regina stopped in her tracks, staring at her mother in disbelief, "Really? So if I were to call them they wouldn't say they were never invited?"
"What are you talking about?" Cora sighed.
"You didn't invite them because you don't think they're a good enough calibre of people!"
Cora sighed, "Everything is a conspiracy when it comes to me, isn't it? You know, Regina, sometimes I wish I were as much of an evil genius as you seem to think. It'd be a lot easier to get things done!"
"So you're just going to deny it?" Regina said, disappointment thick in her voice.
"Were they on the guest list?"
"Yes, Mother! I added them to the list!"
"Well if they were on the list they should have gotten invitations," Cora answered absently, "Maybe you didn't save the changes?"
"'Maybe I didn't save the changes?'" Regina repeated, "That's what you're going with?"
"Believe whatever you want, Regina, but I don't have time to argue about this. Our guests will be arriving soon."
"Yeah...our guests," Regina scoffed, turning and storming away.
Her stiletto heels wobbled on the grass as she stormed to the far end of the garden, struggling to keep her breathing in check. Was there no limit to how low her mother would go?
Shaking her head, she stared into the trees despondently. Even with their plans coming together she was finding ways to come between them.
By the Gods! How was she going to tell Robin this?
"Wow," his voice came from behind her.
She froze as she turned. He was dressed in a superbly tailored black suit that looked so good it took her breath away.
He walked toward her, "You look amazing."
"So do you," she answered.
He smiled, stepping over and cupping her face in his hands. As he looked into her eyes, his brow furrowed, "What's wrong?"
She opened her mouth, trying to find the words but not finding any. Swallowing hard, she shook her head, "Nothing."
He glanced over toward the tent where people were starting to be shown inside. Regina sighed as she followed his eyes, "I'm sorry we have to do this."
"It's okay," he shrugged, "It's only a few hours."
She attempted to smile weakly, "Yeah."
"Besides, it'll be nice to be able to finally have a first dance."
Looking back at him, she wrapped her hand around the back of his head, "I love you."
"I love you too," he said leaning over to meet her lips in a deep kiss.
Unbeknownst to them, that kiss would end up splashed across the front pages of the entertainment magazines. However, this time her mother wasn't mad about it.