14th February 2015

It'd been a stupid idea to come here, Regina scolded herself as she got out of the cab. It's a blind date, they'd said. It's gonna be fun, they'd said. But she truly wondered what she was doing here when all she wanted to do was curl up on the couch with her baby boy and tell him how much she loved him. Instead, David and Mary had convinced her they'd babysit him tonight, so she could have a fun night out.

"You deserve to be happy, Regina. And he's a really fun guy. You're going to like him, I promise." Mary Margaret had said. Sure. The last time Mary had tried to set her up on a date with someone was in college and things had gotten very creepy when Sidney had followed her everywhere after for two months straight. So excuse her for not being very trusting in Mary Margaret's matchmaking abilities.

What was even worse was the fact that she'd hoped Robin would ask her out. They'd gotten closer over the past year - now that the air had been cleared between them and all misunderstandings of the past were out of the way. They'd met up about two weeks after their chance meeting at the café close to his and David's work. Finding time in their schedules between work and parenting had proven to be more difficult than either of them had thought at first.

That was until they'd just decided to bring their children along on their meetings - because Regina refused to call it dates. They weren't dating, were they? They were two friendly people meeting up for coffee with their children and enjoying the occasional movie-night and pub visit together. It wasn't like she had feelings for him, at least none she was ready to admit. So why had she been so disappointed when she'd asked him about Valentine's Day and he'd told her he had plans already?

Get it together, Regina! He's a friend. Yeah, right. Who was she kidding? SO much could change in a year and so much had changed for her. She'd met Roland for the first time last summer at one of his soccer games and the little seven-year-old had taken her heart by storm. His honesty and sweetness was refreshing and the way he played with Henry melted her heart every time.

It was even worse with Robin, who was just so good with Henry. The way he cradled him, the way he treated him… She'd fallen for Robin Locksley again and there was nothing she could do to stop it. While it'd been hard to accept where they had ended the first time around, during the past few months, Regina had realized they'd both needed their time. Robin with after everything that had happened with Roland and she herself after what happened with Daniel.

There was no dwelling in the past, no wishing things had gone differently for her, because if things had gone differently, she wouldn't have Henry now and she wouldn't have had the chance to love Daniel - as short and intensely as it might have been.

Regina's eyes dropped to the watch on her wrist. She was supposed to be at the Battery Gardens Restaurant in five minutes, yet for some reason her feet had carried her to the riverside and the bench where it had all started five years ago. Sighing, she closed her eyes and leaned against the backrest, snuggled in her warm red coat, her umbrella resting at her side. She'd learned from her past mistakes, especially on Valentine's Day.

7 o'clock. Her date was probably waiting at the restaurant, wondering where she was. She had no clue as to who it could be. All Mary Margaret had told her was that he'd be wearing a green jacket, but she really couldn't get herself to care. If it wasn't Robin - and Robin was busy tonight after all - she wanted to enjoy the last moments of the sunset in peace.

"I thought I might find you here," a familiar voice suddenly said.

A grin spread over her features right before she opened her eyes. "Robin."

"You see," he grinned before sitting down next to her with a single red rose in his hands, "I was set up for a blind date at Battery Gardens at 7 o'clock by my friends but my date didn't show."

Regina's heart beat right up her throat as she took him in. He looked good, dressed way too casual for a date night out at Battery Gardens with jeans, a scarf and a green jacket. Green jacket, flowers… Could it be…? She bit her lower lip.

"Maybe your date wasn't sure who she'd find waiting for her. Maybe she decided to go to the one spot only the right guy would find her."

"And did he?" Robin asked quietly.

"What?"

"Find her."

"Yes," Regina breathed and couldn't help but grin.

In the blink of a moment their lips locked and their fingers entwined. He was here. He was kissing her. They were going to be okay. She tilted her head for better access and opened up to him, ready to taste him, to feel him. Regina slid her hand up his neck and into his light hair to pull him closer, his thin lips nearly fusing to her mouth while his own hands roamed her back. Her body was on fire and she yearned to feel more of him, to feel the touch of his hands on her skin. Breaking their kiss, she took a moment to catch her breath and grinned at his protesting sound. Instead of kissing her once again, he grasped her hands which had been holding his head close to hers and Regina flushed deeper when he brushed his thumb over the inside of her wrist before pressing a kiss to her skin.

"I'm so glad it's you," she whispered, eyes filled with emotion.

"Me, too. All those years have shown me there's only one person I want to be with. It's always been you, Regina." Robin kissed her once again. Sweet. Slow.

"I think I'm falling in love with you, Robin," she confessed, her heart squeezing at its own honesty.

"Then I'm lucky, because I already am."

They kissed some more, neither of them ready to let go of the other one just yet. It'd taken them some time to get where they were now. There had been pain and loss on both sides, but also new challenges and the love that came with parenthood.

Smiling, Robin got up and pulled her with him.

"Ready for a new adventure?"

"Does it involve John's burgers and whiskey?" She asked grinning.

"Anything you want, Regina. Anything you want."