A/N: I wanted to give a shout out to my friend Hollie, aka outlawqueenbey44 the author of Tethered to You, who practically held my hand through every part of this chapter. Thanks Hollie! And check out Tethered to You if you haven't already.
Regina always found silence to be a dangerous thing.
When she was a child she associated silence with her mother. Cora had always told her that her job a child was to be seen and not heard, even within their home. It was only when her mother left for work that she was allowed to sing and dance and yell like a child should. The rest of the time she was silent as a mouse.
When she became a parent herself silence became even more suspicious. As long as he wasn't disruptive to others she'd always allowed Henry to express himself with as much noise as he pleased. Banging on pots and pans, singing to himself, whatever he liked. It was the moments when he was quiet that she grew nervous. If Henry was quiet that meant he was up to something he shouldn't be. Something that might get him hurt.
But the thing she feared the most about silence was how vulnerable it left her to thoughts inside her own head. Without noise there was nothing to block them out.
It was the night of her date with Robin and things were too silent in Regina's house.
It'd been nearly 48 hours since she and Robin had first revealed their feelings to each other and she'd long since come down from her revelation high. No longer was she glowing and walking on air. Instead she had moved on to fretting and overthinking. The current subject of her of her well-founded and not at all ridiculous worries: her attire for the evening.
Standing in front of the mirror, staring at her reflection Regina nervously bit her lip. She had on her new dress, the one Snow had chosen for her, the one she'd been so sure about the day before… and she was frowning. Running her fingers over the fabric she couldn't help but feel… exposed.
The dress was gorgeous, there was no denying that. It hugged all the right curves. Its color went well with her skin. The slit going up her thigh was just the right amount of enticing. It was perfect, but standing in the mirror, looking at herself in it she didn't feel attractive or sexy or comfortable. She felt… vulnerable.
As if she were standing on a glass bridge over a deep canyon.
And in her heart she knew, the dress wasn't the cause of that.
She moved to sit down on her bed and take a deep breath. Shutting her eyes she tries to quell her anxiety.
You will not have a panic attack before this date, she mentally commands herself.
The order works… a little. She can still feel pressure in her chest and she tries to think her way through it. There's no need for her to feel this way. She's going out with Robin, the same man who has seen every deep, dark part of her and still chosen not to walk away. The one with charming smile and distracting dimples. The man she loved.
There was no reason for her to be this nervous.
Except that she was.
She was so incredibly nervous. More than anything she wanted this date to go well. She wants it to lead to more for them. But she's not exactly sure what "more" means. More romance? More intimacy? A relationship? It's hard to put a definition onto what she wants but she knows that she wants it with him.
So stop being a scaredy cat and embrace your opportunity.
She opens her eyes and lets out a slow breath.
Everything she wants could start this very night.
All she has to do is not mess it up.
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It's around six thirty when Robin finally pulls his Jeep into her driveway.
And it was six thirty-five when he finally opened the door and got out.
All day he'd been thinking about their date. Now the moment was finally here and he was so paralyzed that he felt like he couldn't even get out of his car. For three straight minutes he just sat there, hands glued to the steering wheel, letting himself drown in the pressure.
He locks eyes with himself in the rearview mirror and silently gulps. Finally removing his hand from the steering wheel he reaches up to tug on the knot of his tie. From the moment he'd put it on he'd felt as if the damn thing was too tight. He'd adjusted it three times and he still couldn't get comfortable. Silently he cursed Hook for recommending a restaurant with such a strict dress code. He'd always hated dressing up and the whole tie debacle was just another sign that he was already making the wrong choices for the evening. The restaurant, his tie… even that stupid flower.
His eyes dropped to the long-stemmed pink tulip that he'd gotten for her at the last minute. He'd already been on his way over when he'd spotted the flower shop and realized that he shouldn't show up empty handed. Of course, he'd immediately gone straight for the roses before remembering that particular flower was Daniel's calling card and it wouldn't bode well for him to try and emulate that. He'd asked for the shopgirl's recommendation and she'd directed him toward the tulips instead. It'd seemed like a good enough choice. Pretty and original. A far cry from roses. He'd considered buying a bouquet of them but thought it might be too much, instead walking out with a single flower in hand.
But staring at it now, lying by its lonesome on the passenger seat beside him, he regretted even bringing it at all. What if flowers were too much? What if it made things weird?
This whole night is going to be weird, he silently admits. He was taking his best friend out on a date for God's sake!
Best friend who you're in love with, he reminds himself.
"Right," he sighs. Sensing himself begin to spiral he takes a deep breath.
Yes, his tie might be uncomfortable. And yes, the tulip might be a bit much but it was all for a good reason.
It was for Regina.
He loved her so much and this night was his first opportunity to really show her that. It's why he's in this uncomfortable suit and bringing her a pretty flower. It's because he – or rather, they – have built up this night so much in their heads and he can't afford for it to go badly.
He doesn't know how deep Regina's feelings are but his are clear. He wants more with her. He wants to hold her hand in public and kiss her where everyone can see. No more keeping all these feelings inside. But most importantly he doesn't want for this to be the end of them. He wants more than just this date, just this night. He wants a future, one with the two of them together.
And he could have it, starting with this date.
All he has to do is not mess it up.
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She thought she'd calmed herself down but her nerves start to fire when the doorbell rings. The sound echoes through the house and she feels her palms go sweaty and her heart begins to pound.
He was here.
She blows out a sharp deliberate breath, shakes her hands a bit to get rid of the nerves.
Here we go.
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Of all the mysteries in his life how he kept his jaw off the ground when he saw her would probably be the biggest. The second she opened the door she took his breath away.
She'd always looked gorgeous to him but tonight… there was just something extra about her. Her silky dark hair fell freely to her shoulders with just the slightest flips near the ends. Her lips were painted with the barest shade of pink making them seem just a bit poutier than usual. Her face looked like a work of art but he barely had the time to take it in before his eyes landed on that dress.
Dear god, that dress.
He'd forget his own name before he forgot how she looked in this dress. It was dark navy blue, nearly the same color of his suit, almost making him glad that he'd chosen to wear it. She wore it perfectly. It hugged every curve, showed just enough skin and within seconds that tantalizing zipper had rendered him mute.
She looked… amazing.
And more importantly she looked happy to see him.
A wide, nervous smile appeared on her face as she greeted him. "Hi."
"Hi," he repeated breathlessly.
Her eyes looked over him and he was suddenly grateful for the suit he was wearing, however uncomfortable it might be. God forbid, he allowed her to be the only one who putting in effort for the night.
Her gaze landed on his hands and he suddenly remembered the flower.
"Oh, I brought this for you," he mumbled, nervously handing it over to her. "It's a – "
"Tulip, I know," she said, smile still in place. "I love these."
He let out a subtle sigh of relief at her admiration for the flower. He might be a grown man but it was only ten seconds in and he already felt like a fourteen-year-old boy taking his first girlfriend out to a dance. His throat felt thick and he could feel his palms getting sweaty. He was so anxious and the evening had barely even started.
He reached up to tug on his tie and cleared his throat. "So are you ready?"
"Yes." She nodded before gesturing over her shoulder. "Just let me grab my jacket and shoes before we go."
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She invites him into the living room to wait while she heads to her room, tulip still in hand, to get what she needs.
Once out of sight she lets out a deep-seated breath.
Damn, he looks good.
Well, Robin always look good to her but tonight he'd reached a whole new level of sexy and it was shaking her to her core. She'd only seen him in a suit on two other occasions – neither were happy memories – but she'd never really taken him in given their context but now….
She didn't think she'd ever seen him look so handsome. The blue shade of his suit made the color of his eyes stand out that much more. He hadn't shaved and for that she was grateful. She loved his scruff, had fantasized about the feel of it more times than she was willing to admit. Even with it he just looked so… put together.
It was… heart-stopping.
She looked down at the tulip in her hand, twirling it a bit between her fingers. A small smile crept onto her face.
She'd always loved tulips, ever since she was a little girl and learned the reason they were named in such a way. The fact that he'd brought her one, well, it seemed like a sign. And a good one at that. She grabbed a misplaced cup from her nightstand, filled it with water and placed the flower inside before heading over to her closet.
Standing in front of her shoes she bit her lip. She'd originally planned to go with something simple, a pair of flats maybe, but after seeing how he was dressed she was more than certain that heels would be more fitting for the site of their date.
Her eyes fell to a pair of strappy, nearly three-inch-high heels. They were beautiful but treacherous. She'd only worn them once before. It was on a Tuesday when she'd worked at Volante. She distinctly remembered having blisters until Sunday.
She sighed. They were beautiful though and they did match her outfit.
She heard Snow's voice in the back of her head. A night to remember.
"What the hell," she muttered, snatching them from their place. God forbid Robin be the only one putting in effort.
She returned to the living room three inches taller and with a stylish black leather jacket around her shoulders.
Robin nodded at her. "Ready?"
"Ready."
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Her stomach was in knots the entire car ride. Robin had put on some soft background music to help fill the silence but besides some early on chit chat, the lack of conversation was palpable. They'd exchanged a few words about their sons (Henry was spending the night with Emma and Snow; Roland was having an uncle's night with Hook) and work (the studio was nearly ready to open; the drunken monk was the same as always) but none of their conversation starters really stuck. It led to some very awkward pauses, in which she spent most of her time pondering where they would be spending the evening. She'd asked Robin of course but he said he'd prefer for her to be surprised, which left her feeling more unsettled than intrigued for some reason.
After a short car ride they arrived a small restaurant in a familiar part of town a little ways away from the beach. Her eyebrows lifted in surprise as she read the name of the place on its well-lit moniker.
"Lumiere's?" she said thoughtfully, turning to Robin.
She knew about this place. It'd opened a year or two ago and quickly become one of the more exclusive, and expensive, restaurants around for French cuisine.
"Surprised?" asked Robin.
"A little," she admitted, with a soft chuckle. "I mean, I've heard about it and I didn't really think it would be your top choice."
"Well… it isn't," he said, shrugging his shoulders. "But a friend recommended it and, well, tonight's supposed to be special, right?"
She nodded her head and forced a smile to her lips. "Right."
Honestly, she wasn't looking forward to going inside. French cuisine was not her favorite and restaurants like Lumiere's always had a way of making her feel… exposed. But she could see in his eyes how much he wanted her to like it. And she wanted to try for him. So she kept a smile on her face.
"Can't wait to see what they have," she lied.
The inside of Lumiere's was just as she expected. Bright with vanilla colored walls. A decadent chandelier shined down from the center of the room and piano music flowed from a corner of the restaurant over to the dining area where patrons were seated at small square tables covered with white linen table cloths. Frigid air fell from the ceiling making her grateful for the jacket around her shoulders. At least she was dressed appropriately. Everyone in the restaurant appeared to be dressed to the nines, even the waiters. They all wore the familiar uniform of black slacks, white button down shirts and black bow ties.
The minute she stepped foot inside she felt an uncomfortable tingle go up her spine. She sucked in a subtle depth trying to push it away. She reminded herself of the reason she was here.
Robin.
Who was currently giving their names to the hostess, a green-eyed young woman with dark skin and a mass of dark curls for hair. She quickly found their reservation and led them back to a table near the center of the room, with a prime view of the chandelier. The light coming down from it felt like a spotlight on Regina as she sat down.
"Your waiter will be with you in just a moment," promised the hostess. "Feel free to look over our wine selection as you wait. We've acquired some excellent additions recently."
She gave them one more bright smile before returning to her podium, leaving them alone. They eyes shyly drifted toward one another.
"So…" drawled Regina.
"So…" Robin repeated nervously.
And yet another awkward pause.
God, she'd spent hours talking to Robin about the hardest things but for some reason she was struggling to put together even the simplest of sentences tonight. It was frustrating. And not just for her. She could tell that Robin was getting uncomfortable as well. He'd tugged on his tie twice since they'd walked inside.
His eyes drifted up to the ceiling. "Wow. That chandelier must've cost a fortune, huh."
"Yeah," said Regina, nodding her head. Her gaze drifted up to the fixture along with his. "They're usually ridiculously expensive. Not to mention they're always a bitch to clean."
Robin tilted his head at her. "Sounds like you're speaking from experience there."
A blush rose in her cheeks as her eyes dropped back down to his face. "Yeah… well I remember from growing up."
"Oh so you had a chandelier in your home?"
"Several actually," she awkwardly admitted.
"Oh."
She could feel the heat start to travel from her cheeks down to her neck as her embarrassment grew. Though she'd finally come clean to Robin about her past life her subsequent wealth and privilege was a topic they rarely touched. Talking about money always made her feel uncomfortable and even more like a fraud than usual.
She cleared her throat before reaching for the drink menu in the center of the table. "Let's take a look at that wine menu," she said with forced enthusiasm.
Her eyes scrolled their wine selection. The hostess hadn't been lying about its merits. Even with just a cursory glance she found it quite impressive. Perhaps even twice as much given how much she could actually use a drink at the moment.
She looked it over, hoping to ask Robin for his opinion before realizing that drinking was no longer something he engaged in.
"Oh I'm sorry," she babbled. "I forgot…"
He immediately waved her off. "No don't worry about it. It's not like you haven't had a drink in front of me before."
"I know but it's a… date." She stumbled over the word a bit. "I wouldn't want it to be awkward for you…"
"It wouldn't be," he firmly declared. "You can order whatever you want. I'm fine."
"Okay," she sighed, with a forced smile. Her eyes dropped down to the wine list again but nothing appealed to her anymore. Having a drink suddenly felt like she was making a statement of some kind.
"Good evening."
A waiter suddenly appeared at their table.
"My name is Jean-Claude and I'll be your server for the evening."
Jean-Claude was a tall man, a little older than the rest of the wait staff as evidenced by his grey hair and awful haircut. He was a wiry man, with a crooked nose and thin lips. He spoke with a noticeable French accent and Regina couldn't help but notice that his grim appearance seemed better suited to a funeral director than a waiter.
"Perhaps you'd like to start the night off with some drinks," he suggested, staring at them expectantly.
"I'll be sticking with water for the evening," answered Robin, before looking over at Regina.
Both of their eyes were on hers and she suddenly felt very put on the spot. "Um… I think I am also going to stick with water for now."
Immediately after saying it she felt a flash of regret. As if she'd disappointed Robin in some way.
The waiter pursed his lips as if he disagreed with their decision but refused to voice his opinions. "And would you be interested in hearing our specials for the evening?"
Regina nodded her head. "Of course."
He immediately perked up. "Well then, I have the absolute pleasure of recommending two very special dishes the chef is offering for the evening. The first is an excellent Coq au Riesling, a traditional dish from his hometown which I can assure you will be braised to absolute perfection and served with the utmost care. The second is our wonderful Moules à la crème Normande, served with mussels you could assume we got them directly from the ocean right outside. Ordering either will be sure to leave you with no regrets."
Honestly, neither of the dishes sounded truly appealing to Regina. French food had never been her favorite and both of the selections he'd described sounded entirely too heavy for her unsettled stomach at the moment. She looked over at Robin to try and gauge which direction he was leaning toward but found only a confused look on his face.
"Um… excuse me for asking but what exactly is in Coq au Riesling?"
He was so embarrassed to ask she could tell, especially when the waiter all but sneered down at him before deadpanning, "Chicken, sir."
"Oh," said Robin, his cheeks turning a light shade of red. "Well that sounds… good, I suppose."
Yet again his hand reached up to tug on his tie.
Once Regina saw this she raised a finger in the waiter's direction. "I'm sorry, I'm having a bit of trouble deciding. Would you mind starting us off with a small basket of bread while I make up my mind."
He forced a smile to his lips before nodding at her. "Of course, madame."
He drifted away then. As he walked past Regina could hear him bitterly muttering to himself in French. Clearly he wasn't thrilled with his customers for the evening.
As soon as he was gone Robin grimaced at her. "I'm sorry."
"No don't worry about it," she immediately assured him, shaking her head. "Not everyone knows about French cuisine. It's fine."
Robin let out a frustrated sigh. "I just really want tonight to go well," she heard him mumble.
"Me too," she whispered wistfully.
His dejectedness clawed at her heart. Not just because he seemed disappointed but because the evening was going decidedly unwell. Things between them had been awkward from the moment they'd laid eyes on each other. Their conversation had been forced, the air had been tense and from the depths of her soul she truly despised this restaurant. She'd dreamed about this night for so long but if it had been anyone besides Robin sitting across from her she knew all she'd be able to think about was how much she wanted to be anywhere else.
God. During all the weeks that she'd struggled over her feelings for Robin the one thing she did the most was try to narrow down the reason how she could've fallen so deeply in love with him and not even realized it. It'd been hard to pinpoint just one simple reason but something that stood out was how comfortable she was with him. How honest and safe he was able to make her feel. And sitting in this frigid restaurant over analyzing every little thing in her head it suddenly hit her that she felt like anything but safe and honest. Robin was her best friend but with the way she was acting she might as well have been sitting across from a total stranger. And that's not who she wanted to be on a date with.
She wanted to be on a date with Robin and maybe the best way to do that was with a small dash of the honesty she'd always been able to share with him before.
Reaching across the table she laid her hand on top of his. Looking up into her brown eyes he seemed startled at her sudden touch but didn't say so.
She swallowed hard before speaking. "Robin… can I say something?"
He nervously stared into her eyes. "Sure."
She shook her head at him. "This isn't going well."
He continued to stare at her, shell-shocked. "What?"
"This date, it's not going well," she firmly declared. She pressed her lips together before continuing. "I don't like this. I don't like that I am wearing heels that are so sharp I could use them as an ice picks. I don't like that you're wearing that suit. I mean you look good but you've tugged at your tie three times. It's clearly bothering you. And I especially do not like this restaurant. It's pretentious, frigid and the waiter just called you an uncultured swine in French."
Robin knitted his eyebrows together as he eyes darted across the room, searching for the man in question. "Did he really?"
"Yeah," said Regina nodding her head, the small wisps of a smile on her lips. "That along with some other stuff I'd rather not translate."
Robin scoffed as he leaned back in his seat. "How mature of him." He paused for a moment before leaning forward and staring back into her eyes. "Regina… can I be blunt?"
She smirked at him gamely. "Sure."
"I kind of hate this place," he admitted, with a smile. "I have thought about what it would be like to take you out many times. Not once did I imagine wearing a noose around my neck or having the crypt keeper as our waiter."
She couldn't help it. A loud snort escapes from her nose and she's pressing a hand to her lips to help hold back her giggles. Robin joins in with a couple of chuckles of his own. It's the first moment of the evening that the two of them actually feel like themselves.
"What are we doing here?" he affectionately asks her as his laughter subsides.
Regina shrugs her shoulders. "I don't know," she says. "But I do know that right now I feel like I'm on a date with a stranger. And I'd much rather be on a date with you."
Robin nods his head appreciatively, thinking to himself before tilting it toward the door. "Wanna get out of here?"
Regina nods her head with a grin. "Thought you'd never ask."
They were out of their seats and headed to the door in seconds. When their waiter returned to the table, bread in hand, all he found were two empty seats and lone twenty-dollar bill resting on top of the deserted menus.
It was his best tip of the night.
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The night air was warm as they stepped out onto the sidewalk, and Regina was grateful for the change from the frigid air inside the restaurant. It hadn't even been a minute since she left and she could already feel the tension start to leave her body.
Robin stood next to her, hands in pockets, just as happy as she was to escape their intended destination for the evening.
"So…" he drawled optimistically. "Not even fifteen minutes into our date and we've already abandoned our plans for the night. Hardly seems like a good sign."
Regina shrugged her shoulders nonchalantly. "I wouldn't say we've abandoned our plans." She tilted her head from side to side contemplatively. "More like adjusted them to our preference."
"Okay," said Robin, gamely stepping toward her. "So instead of a pretentious French restaurant as our main setting how would you like a moonlit walk instead?"
His flirtatious tone brought a wide grin to her face and goosebumps on her arms. She nodded her head. "I would love a moonlit walk."
With smiles on their faces they started down the sidewalk together, eager to see where the evening would take them. It wasn't till the end of the block did Regina remember she'd chosen to wear three-inch heels.
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They ambled down the street in silence for a while, their stride in sync as they admired the night air, the silence surrounding them not as heavy as it had been in the car. Probably because this time it wasn't filled with the apprehension both of them had been radiating earlier. If anything the silence between them only carried the weight of the relief they shared. Relief that they hadn't forced each other to spend another moment in that awful restaurant. Relief that the ice had finally been broken and they could finally talk to each other like people again. Not that they were speaking right now, sometimes it was just nice to bask in the moment.
They walked for a few blocks before Robin dared to puncture their silence.
"Regina, can I ask you something?" he timidly ventured.
She nodded her head at him. "Of course."
"When we were back at the restaurant I noticed that you seemed uncomfortable there," he said. "And not just first date uncomfortable, but trying-not-to-grit-your-teeth uncomfortable."
Regina pressed her lips together as she averted her gaze from his. She'd hoped he hadn't noticed that.
"Why was that?" questioned Robin.
Regina sighed before answering him. "Well… for one, I'm not the biggest fan of French food. Personally, I find it a little too decadent for my tastes." She paused before continuing. "And two… well, I don't like restaurants like Lumiere's because they remind me of my old life. More specifically… they remind me of Leopold."
She said his name softly, as if speaking it aloud ran the chance of summoning him. After nearly a decade out of his grasp she was happy to say that she rarely thought of her old "fiancé" anymore but restaurants like the one she'd just been in never failed to bring him to mind.
"Three nights a week he used to take me out to places like that, showing me off to all his friends like he won me at a fair," she grimly explained. "After a while all the places started to look the same and I couldn't stand to be in any of them."
Their pace slowed as she revealed the source of her discomfort. Listening to her explanation Robin felt his gut start to twist. He hadn't meant to awaken any of her old demons.
"I'm sorry I ever brought you there," he apologized.
She scrunched her eyebrows at him, suddenly curious. "Why did you? Bring me there, I mean."
A quizzical look appeared on his face. "To Lumiere's?"
"Yes," she questioned, a small chuckle rising out of her. "Robin I've known you for years now. You've never once walked into a place like that on your own. And clearly you weren't there for the food as our waiter so quickly learned. I know it's not your type of place, so why'd you bring me there?"
Robin sighed, embarrassed, as he shrugged his shoulders. "Honestly? I wanted to impress you."
She arched an eyebrow at him. "Impress me?"
"Well… yes," he softly admitted. He could feel his cheeks growing as he tried to think of a way to explain himself to her. "I mean, I know that we're years away from first impressions with each other but I think for tonight I wanted to show you that maybe I could be… a little more than what I usually am."
A smile tugged on Regina's lips. She knew the night wasn't going as he'd planned but she still couldn't help feeling flattered by his efforts.
"So that's why you chose the fancy restaurant and the nice suit? Trying to go all out for me?"
Robin nodded. "Yeah. Didn't exactly work out for me though."
I don't know if I'd agree with that, thought Regina. The restaurant had been an awful choice but at least abandoning it had helped alleviate some of the pressure from the evening. Plus, the night was still young and though they hadn't done much of anything yet Regina could say that she was enjoying herself a little. Certainly, enough to be glad she came out.
"Well," she sighed, "Like I said before, I've been in a thousand restaurants like Lumiere's and I'll have you know that tonight was probably the best time I've ever had in one."
She looked over at him. "And for the record… I like what you usually are. I'd take you in jeans and a hoodie over a suit any day."
A pleased smile appeared on Robin's face as he let out a soft chuckle. "Now I really regret putting on this tie."
The beginnings of a laugh came from her throat but they turned into a sharp hiss when she stumbled over a small rock in the middle of the sidewalk. She nearly fell forward when Robin steadied her with a hand to her waist.
"Are you alright in those shoes?" he joked.
She grimaced, reaching down for her ankle. "Would you believe me if I said yes?"
Robin smirked before guiding her over to a nearby bench. "Perhaps a short break is in order."
Thank god, thought Regina. She softly groaned as she plopped onto the cement beach. Immediately her hand went to the back of her foot, massaging what little skin she could reach through the straps. Truth be told, her feet had been killing her since they left the restaurant. Not that she'd planned to let him know that.
A humorous glint shined in Robin's eyes as he watched her tend to her sore heels.
"I take it those are sitting heels. Not walking ones, right?" he remarked.
Regina rolled her eyes. "Well I wasn't exactly expecting a moonlit stroll now was I?" She removed her hands from her feet. "I'll be fine. I just need a minute."
Robin affectionately shook his head at her. She'd always been a terrible liar.
Looking around them he spied a corner store at the end of the sidewalk. He held up a hand to her. "Hang on one second. I'll be right back."
Before she could argue he'd already headed down the street and disappeared into the store. Within two minutes he reappeared, heading toward her with a mischievous grin on his face and something hidden behind his back.
"Best part of living so close to the beach?" he said walking up to her. "All the stores sell flip flops."
He held up a pair of cheap blue flip flops he'd gotten from the store. Regina scoffed at the sight of them. They were a bright shade of electric blue with orange straps meant to mimic the shape of starfish and matching green parrots painted on the souls. They were, in a word, ridiculous.
"You've got to be kidding me," she laughed.
"Hey, the only other choice they had was my little pony themed and I doubt they'd go with your outfit," replied Robin.
"And you think those do?" Regina playfully shot back. "There's no way I'm wearing those."
"It's either these or blisters," Robin reminded her.
Regina groaned as she eyed the ridiculous shoes in his hand. They might be hideous but she had to admit that she'd last a lot longer in them than she would in her heels.
She jutted her chin out in Robin's direction. "Fine I'll put on those shoes… but only if you take off that tie."
Robin's grinned widened. Her proposal was the definition of a win-win for him. "Deal."
She held out her hands for the flip flops and he over-graciously handed them to her. "Milady."
The rolled her eyes at his dramatics but kept a smile planted on her face. "Thank you, kind sir."
She undid the straps of her heels, sighing in relief as she finally slid them off her feet. As she stepped into the flip-flops she saw Robin undoing his tie and slipping it from around his neck.
She raised her eyebrows at him. "Better?"
"Indescribably so," he replied playfully. He nodded toward her feet. "How are the starfish treating you?"
"Like a queen," she quipped, standing from the bench. She was only half-joking. In terms of comfort the flip-flops were leagues of ahead of her heels. Against her feet their foam material practically felt like heaven. She turned to Robin and sassily put her hands on her hips.
"How do I look?"
He ran her eyes over her. "Short," immediately answered.
She scoffed at him.
"But still stunning," he sincerely added.
For perhaps the millionth time that night she felt a blush rise in her cheeks at his comments. Tucking her hair behind her ear, she smiled up at him, shyly. "Thank you."
Robin smiled back at her before his eyes dropped down to the heels she'd left next to the bench. "So… what are we supposed to do with these?"
He gestured toward her shoes and held up his tie. Regina pursed her lips trying to think up a solution. In the end she shrugged her shoulders and let out a defeated sigh before leaning over to pick up her shoes and place them on the cement bench as if they were being displayed in shop.
"I've worn 'em twice and they hurt me both times," she said. "I guess I'll let them find someone else to torture."
Robin nodded his head in agreement. "I've always thought two ties was more than I needed anyway."
Regina grinned as she watched him lean down to place his tie next to her shoes on the bench. The sight of them, displayed yet abandoned, was sure to raise some questions for whoever saw it next but to her eyes it almost looked like the two accessories fit together. Perhaps they'd be taken by owners who saw them as more than elegant torture devices.
Robin smiled at her and gestured down the sidewalk. "Shall we?"
She nodded at him. "We shall."
Together they continued on their stroll, not even looking back at the shoes and tie they'd left sitting on the cement bench.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
They continued their walk down toward the beach, changing their direction so they walked parallel to the shore. The sound of the waves and the warmth of the breeze provided the perfect ambience. By now they were full on wandering. No direction, no destination, just…enjoying of the journey.
Side by side they continued down the shore, talking about whatever came to mind. The night sky, their boys, their day jobs. Easy topics. Nothing heavy enough to sink their moods.
They walked close together, practically shoulder to shoulder, but still noticeably, almost purposefully, not touching. Regina's hands remained by her side while Robin's remained shoved in his pockets. Not that he couldn't think of a better place for them.
He was working up the nerve to reach for her hand when she pointed down the road. "What's happening over there?"
Off in the distance Robin could see a row of trucks and hear the faint sound of music beginning to mix in with the crashing of the waves against the shore. One of the trucks, which stood out due to its bright yellow color, there appeared to be a logo made to look like a pair of hamburgers. "Looks like a couple of food trucks," he guessed.
No sooner had the words left his lips did a pang of hunger go through his middle. It was sharper than he'd expected and he was reminded that they'd began their date by passing on dinner. It'd been close to eight o'clock the last time he checked his watch, so he doubted that he was the only one starving.
He cocked his head in the direction of the trucks. "Wanna head that way?"
The inaudible grumble in her stomach urged her into nodding her head. "Sure."
They headed toward the trucks following the sound of the music and the growing scent of spices. The more her nose picked up the more Regina could feel her stomach growling. She hadn't eaten much all day and was growing hungrier by the minute. Spotting those food trucks had been like spotting an oasis in a desert.
Despite appearances when they reached the cul-de-sac where the trucks were lined up they didn't find much of a crowd, though clearly one had come through. There were more than a few chairs and fold out tables in various states of disarray placed in the center the circle but only a couple were still occupied. Though only a few people were left a band still played on the stage across the street. Lively music flowed from two large speakers out onto a crudely marked dance floor placed between the stage and the dining area. Confetti covered the street, along with a few walked-over pink fliers, one of which Robin picked up from the street.
"8th Annual Food Truck Festival…" he read. "From 4 p.m. to 8: 30."
He immediately looked at his watch, letting out a relieved breath when he saw that it was only 7:45. Luckily there was still time to eat, and there were plenty of options to choose from. The trucks on the street offering everything homemade pie to Korean barbecue. One of them even specialized in grilled cheese. He asked Regina if she saw anything she liked. Taking a moment to scan the street her eyes lit up when she saw Mexican food truck close by. There wasn't even that long of a line.
After taking a look at their menu they approached an old man standing by a fold out table placed in front of the truck.
"Hello," greeted Robin. "Do you take our order here or…?"
The man only narrowed his eyes at them in confusion and shook his head. "Lo siento," he softly drawled. "No hablo inglés."
"Oh," said Robin, disappointed. Robin himself didn't know much Spanish. Only small bits that he learned in high school and a few curse words. The man continued to speak in Spanish gesturing down the road, the look on his face getting more nervous with the second. It seemed like he was telling them to leave. Robin was about to suggest they do just that when he heard…
"Podemos pagar por la comida?"
The words fell from Regina's with practiced, almost native, ease. Robin couldn't tell who was more surprised. Him or the old man?
The latter's face fell with relief when he heard her speak. A smile grew on his face as he said something Robin didn't understand a word of but assumed was good, seeing as how a similar smile appeared on Regina's face. He watched the two of them chat for a minute or two, stunned at how easily Regina had slipped into this other language. The whole conversation it didn't seem as if she struggled once. The more they spoke, the more relaxed the old man got and somewhere in all their conversation Robin heard her rattle off their orders.
They pay for their food and it comes within minutes, a steak quesadilla for Robin and a bowl of chicken, beans and rice for Regina. The old man hands it to them, a smile still plastered on his face.
"Gracias!" he says, with a nod. After a short moment he adds, "Ustedes dos son una hermosa pareja."
There's a knowing look on his face when he says this and Robin sees a blush rise in Regina's cheeks as she graciously nods her head and thanks him again as they walk away. Once they're far enough way Robin leans toward her. "What did he say?"
A shy smile tugs on her lips as she answers, "He said that we make a beautiful couple."
They head back towards the center of the cul-de-sac to find a place to eat. The sitting area is a hodgepodge of mismatched patio dining sets, probably loaned out by volunteers for the evening. They take a seat at a rickety faux-iron table with two matching chairs, close to the dance floor where they can hear the music. The band onstage plays a lively salsa song and a few couples are out dancing to the music. Regina watched them as she ate, subconsciously judging their skills as she did. Some were good, others were struggling but talent didn't seem to be the objective for anyone that night. Having a good time was.
She felt herself drift away a bit as she watched, swept away by a small wave of nostalgia. She got so distracted reminiscing that she almost missed the fact that Robin was staring at her. From across the table he was watching her with a thoughtful glint in his eye. Upon noticing this she cautiously raised a hand to her cheek, worried that a stray piece of rice had snuck its way onto her face. "What?"
Robin shook his head and bashfully averted his gaze. "Nothing," he replied with a shrug.
Regina chuckled at his response. "Not nothing. What?"
Again, he shook his head. "It's gonna sound strange."
"What?" she repeated, now brimming with curiosity.
"Well…," drawled Robin. "You just spoke Spanish back there at the food truck?"
"Yes," she agreed, suspiciously narrowing her eyes at him.
"And back at the restaurant when the waiter was saying all those rude things in French you understood him, right?"
She nods her head. "Right."
Robin pauses before shrugging his shoulders. "Well it kind of has me wondering… exactly how many languages do you know?"
She can't help it. A snort of laughter escapes her because she's so surprised by his question.
He glares at her, playfully offended by her reaction. "Hey, don't laugh," he orders, despite the grin on his face. "This is serious. I woke up this morning thinking you only spoke English and now you're apparently trilingual."
She let out another but nods her head in agreement. "You're right," she concedes. "I can see how that would throw you." Softly she groans before speaking again.
"And, for the record, I actually speak five languages," she reluctantly admits.
Robin's eyes widen. "Are you serious?"
She starts to tick them off on her fingers. "Spanish, French, Italian, Chinese and English." She pauses for a moment before adding, "But to be fair I really only know polite phrases in Chinese and my Italian pronunciation has always been awful."
Robin, however, is still in awe of her. "Fluent in almost five languages?" he breathes. "How did that happen."
Regina shrugs her shoulders. "Let's just say that private school is not a joke."
She silently thinks back to the ivory halls she used to roam in her plaid, pleated skirt and maroon blazer, arms full of books and her back watched by ever vigilant teachers and staff members. Her time in private school had not been easy by any standards but she couldn't argue with the results of their methods. She left school a highly intelligent, highly productive young woman prepared to take on any challenge with opportunities to study at four high-ranking, well respected universities. And if she was honest, her school had always provided her a safe refuge from home.
Robin tilted his head at her, deep in thought. "You know I still find it a little hard to believe."
She smirks. "That I'm a polyglot?"
"That there are still things about you I don't know."
Thinking that he's alluding to hiding her past she feels her heart drop. "Oh."
"I didn't mean it in a bad way," says Robin, immediately backtracking. "I just mean that after knowing you for so long and finding out about all the big things, the little things I don't know still come as a surprise to me."
"Little things like how many languages I speak?" she quipped, with an arched eyebrow.
"Yes," chuckled Robin. "It just reminds me that even with all the history between us, there's still a little mystery left. It's kind of nice to know."
Regina softly hums in agreement. Suddenly feeling playful she says to him, "Well I'm not the only one with untold stories. What about you?"
"What about me?"
"You've learned something new about me tonight," she points out. "Tell me something about you, something I don't know and wouldn't have guessed."
Robin leans back into chair, a playful grin on his face as he thinks over her challenge. Something about him that Regina didn't know. It was a tall order to fill.
After a moment, he leans forward in his seat, a triumphant look in his eyes. "I'm allergic to raspberries."
She immediately scoffs at him. "No, you're not."
"Yes, I am," he asserts, with a firm nod of his head. "Deathly so in fact."
Her face turns incredulous then. "Since when?"
"Since birth," he laughs. "When I was three years old I had raspberry jam on toast for the first time. Barely even made it to the hospital, according to my dad."
"Oh my god," she breathes. How could she not know this. In seconds she's scanning through their entire friendship and realizing that she'd never actually seen him eat a raspberry before. He was right. It's strange knowing there are still little things that she doesn't know about him.
"Guess I won't be taking you to the farmer's market anytime soon," she jokes.
"Probably not," he agrees. "Your turn."
She raises her eyebrows at him. "My turn?"
"Yes," he insists. "If you ever want to murder me I just gave you a hand grenade of information. I expect something just as juicy in return."
"Ok," she says, straightening her shoulders gamely. "What do you want to know?"
Robin hums in thought. "How about something I don't know… and would also find hard to believe?"
"Something you would find hard to believe?" She took a moment to think over his request, racking her brain for something that would stump him. Finally, she turned to him with a smug look on her face. "Would you believe it if I told you I used to be athletic?"
He narrowed his eyes at her and shook his head. "No because that's impossible."
She leaned forward in her seat. "Impossible but true." She held up her hand and listed off her stats.
"Three years of track, two years of tennis and four years of swimming. Made it to state in all three and had the medals to prove it," she bragged. "I promise you, I used to be quite the athlete."
"Are you serious?" said Robin, the disbelief still clear in his eyes. "I once asked if you wanted to go jogging with me and you laughed for a full minute."
"Well it's been a while," she argued, with a chuckle. "I haven't done any of that stuff since high school, maybe a year or two later." She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm out of shape."
"Don't know if I'd say that," replied Robin, perhaps more flirtatiously than intended. Truth be told, he'd taken notice of Regina's body more than once over the past few years. Even a blind man could tell she was easy on the eyes. If this was her out of shape, he could only imagine what she'd looked like before.
"So why'd you stop? With the athletics, I mean," he asks.
"Well, I got pregnant with Henry," she reluctantly admitted. "And it was after losing Daniel, so between the weight gain and the grief I wasn't really in the mood to exercise."
She feels a spark of sadness in her gut and immediately shakes it off. "Besides even though I liked sports, I only really played them to make Daddy happy."
"He was the one who encouraged you?"
"Yes, very much so," she said, nodding her head. Her eyes started to soften as she thought back to her father and how much he'd loved to see her play. "When he was born, he was born very sick. He grew up very frail and because of that he wasn't allowed to do a lot of physical things. And when my mother was pregnant he was worried that I'd be born like him. I don't think he was more grateful for anything than he was for my health. So he pushed me to do all the things he couldn't. Swimming, running, horseback riding even." She chuckled to herself before turning to Robin. "You wouldn't believe the case of equestrian ribbons I earned. He used to put all my medals and ribbons on display near the front door where everyone could see. Mother used to hate it."
Robin narrowed his eyes in confusion. "Why would she?"
Regina rolled her eyes. "Well Cora never really liked that I played sports. She used to say that athletics were a waste of time and I should be doing something more productive, like learning Latin or business strategies."
She got that far off look in her eyes then. The same one she always did when she was forced to think about Cora. Her eyes darken for a moment before she banishes her mother from her thoughts.
"But he never yielded to her on it," she said, a smile returning to her face. "It was too important to him that I got to experience the things that he couldn't. I think it's the only time he ever really stood up to her. Well besides the last time, anyway."
It was always a little jarring to hear Regina talk about her old life. Mostly because he couldn't imagine the woman in front of him going through something to horrible. Talking about it had a certain way of stealing the light from her eyes, so Robin generally refrained from asking. But somehow when she spoke about her father the light remained, grew brighter even. She'd loved him, that much was clear.
"Sounds like he was an interesting man," said Robin. "I wish I'd had the chance to meet him."
Regina nodded her head. "Me too. I think he would have liked you."
Her comment results in a snort from Robin as he immediately shakes his head. "I guarantee you he would not have." He sighs. "I've never had much luck in the parent's department. Older people tended to see me as a bad influence."
Growing up Robin was always aware that none of his friend's parents seemed to like him. He always garnered plenty of looks whenever he was brought to anyone's house. Some adults would look at him with pity, others with suspicion but never with genuine affection. He'd been called a bad influence more times than he could remember. Looking back, he couldn't even say they'd been wrong.
"I'm sure not everyone saw you that way," said Regina. "Tuck didn't, right?"
The mention of the old man brings an immediate smile to his face. "Tuck Johnson was a special case," argued Robin. "I still haven't met a person who can live up to his example."
"Really?" drawled Regina. "You know, for all your affection you've never actually told me anything about the original drunken monk. I'm a little curious. What was he like?"
Robin sighed wistfully at the thought of him. "He was… a wise old man who always knew better than everyone else. And that's not me being bitter. He always knew what was best no matter what the situation. His advice was always sound and perfectly tailored. He used to be a priest, you know?"
Surprise ran across Regina's face. "Really?"
"Yeah, for a decade until he quit."
"Why'd he quit?" she asked.
A knowing smile appearing on Robin's face. "He said that he found the one thing more important to him than god." He paused as Regina stared at him expectantly. "His wife."
Regina's lips parted stunned. "He left the church for a woman?"
"Not a woman," said Robin shaking his head. "The woman. Her name was Helen and according to him she had a smile that could outshine the sun and a heart more valuable than gold."
"That's so romantic," whispered Regina. "It must've been hard for him though, leaving the church."
"Absolutely," agreed Robin, nodding his head. "It tore him up inside, knowing that he was breaking his vows, but in the end, he said he was willing to spend eternity in God's hell if it meant he got to spend a lifetime in her heaven."
"Sounds like he was very poetic," Regina commented, a grin on her face.
"Love can do that to a man," he smoothly replied. "He once told me that love was the most transforming power on this Earth. That it could change a sinner into a saint or a cynic into an optimist. It could take your life from a tragedy to a victory. It was truly the only thing that mattered." He smirked to himself. "I used to think he was such a bleeding heart."
Robin thought back to those nights, the ones few and far between, where he'd end up at the bar after a disagreement with Marian, full of self-loathing and pity, wondering whether he'd held her back and if he should just let her go. Tuck had never failed to make him see the light, to help him remember that his love did count for something and Marian wasn't wrong to think that. God, he missed that man.
"So how did you meet him?" asked Regina. "Don't know why but for some reason I'm picturing something more dramatic than a job interview."
Robin averted his gaze as shame started to color his face. "We actually met… when I robbed him."
Regina's eyes widened. She fumbled for something to say but could only manage a disbelieving, "Really?"
"Yes," Robin reluctantly admitted. He sighed before continuing. "It was after Marian had left her parents and we were still living in my car. She was working very few hours at a grocery mart and I was not working at all. She made me promise not to stop stealing and I wanted to honor that but…"
"You needed the money," Regina finished, her tone as sympathetic as her eyes.
"I couldn't find work," Robin said dejectedly. "No one wanted to hire me, we were practically starving and I just grew very tired of seeing her go without because of me. I started thinking to myself…what's one more job to get us by. Just until I could find something legit."
Regina nodded her head silently. She could hear the desperation in his voice as he talked and she understood. When you're in a situation and you feel like there's no way out every bad choice starts to seem like a reasonable one.
"Anyway, I found the bar," continued Robin. "I cased it for a few days, waited for a slow night when I knew Marian would be working and made my way in through the bathroom window. Found the safe behind the bar, cracked it easily, stood up with the cash in my hands, heard a click behind my head, turned around and realized I was staring down the wrong end of a shotgun."
He paused, reliving every detail of that moment he knew he'd never forget. He could still remember the way his heart pounded and his hands trembled, the sound of the shotgun clicking in his ear and the sight of Tuck's angry face behind the barrel.
"I saw my entire life flash behind my eyes," said Robin. "Not just where I'd been but where I was headed and it was not good. I thought I was about to lose everything that night."
"What happened?" Regina softly asked, getting swept away with his story.
"Well he took the money back obviously. Called me an idiot which was well deserved. And then he told me to have a seat at the bar and asked me why I was there."
"And you told the truth?"
"Of course I did," he said, earnestly. "It's very hard to lie with a shotgun pointed at your face."
Regina smirked a little.
"So I told him everything," continued Robin. "About me, about Marian, the whole situation. When I finished, he sat next to me at the bar. He gave me 100 dollars and said I had two choices. I could take the money disappear out the back door and no one would come looking for me. Or I could bring the money back tomorrow and he'd give me a job and a chance to actually make something of myself. Offer expired at noon the next day."
A smile appeared on Regina's face. "And you chose the latter?"
Robin nodded. "Walked in at 10:30 the next day and handed him 85 bucks."
Regina knitted her eyebrows in confusion. "85?"
Robin shrugged his shoulders with a smirk. "I got hungry on the way back."
Laughing, she rolled her eyes at him. "Wow, so that's how you ended up at the Drunken Monk? It was quite a tale."
"Well Tuck was quite the man," said Robin, fondly. "Probably the best one I ever knew. When he was around it kind of reminded me of what it was like to have a father. I miss him… still.
Regina reached over to grab his hand and a spark of electricity ran through him.
"For what it's worth," she said, "I think he would've been very proud of her how you turned out."
A bashful smile tugged on his lips as he replied, "Thanks. That means a lot."
He ran his thumb over the back of her hand, enjoying the feeling of her hand in his, thankful that finally he didn't have to let go until he was ready.
They continued to hold hands as they talked, revealing small, previously unknown details about their pasts. The band continued to play as they spoke but neither of them noticed. Too caught up in each other all the songs seemed to blend together until the band finally left the stage with a bow. A young woman with a guitar showed up on stage after them, the last performer of the night. Only when she started to strum and sing did Robin finally notice the band's absence. Her song – soft, slow, romantic – was a stark contrast from the music before. Couples came onto the dance floor then, old and young they started swaying to the music, holding each other close.
For a moment Robin just watched them, then he turned to Regina. "How about a dance?"
"I'm not so sure about that," said that Regina, shaking her head. "Dancing isn't something I'm particularly good at."
"Don't worry," said Robin, standing from his seat. "I'm willing to teach you."
She hesitated for a moment, nervously biting her lip as he looked down at her expectantly. Then she nodded her head and with her hand still in his they made their way onto the dance floor. Robin placed his left arm around her waist gently pulling her closer while letting his right hand hold hers up. She softly brought her hand up to rest on his shoulder. Without her heels the top of her head ended up just below Robin's nose. A light breeze passed and he could smell the remnants of strawberry-scented shampoo in her hair. Together they started to sway, catching onto the rhythm of the music, relaxing into each other as they moved in sync. She let her grip on his shoulder tighten, wanting to hold him closer. Robin let his forehead fall against hers, moving in so they were dancing chest to chest.
Before either of them realized it his lips were pressed against hers.
In all her life Regina had never experienced a moment so perfect. She never wanted it to end.
XXXXXXX
The moment ended, as they all have to. Once the singer finished her song they reluctantly pulled apart. The festival was over and the crowd started to disperse, Robin and Regina among them. They started the long walk back to the car, this time arm in arm rather than side by side. They shared a short laugh upon passing the cement bench and finding that the shoes and tie had long since disappeared. The ride back to Regina's house was shorter than either of them wanted it to be. The night had been so wonderful letting it end felt like a sin.
But eventually they ended up on the curb in front of her house. Robin offered to walk her to the door and she happily accepted. She'd take any excuse to drag this night out any further.
Robin sighed happily once they'd reached the door. Turning to her he said, "Well this has been…"
He trailed off unable to find words to express how amazing the night had been. Luckily the words weren't needed. He could see that in the bright smile Regina had on her face.
"I know," she agreed, nodding her head. Still holding his hand, she ran her thumb over his, leaning closer to him. "I wouldn't mind doing this again sometime."
"Neither would I," said Robin, stepping closer.
They kissed for the second time on her doorstep and Regina enjoyed it just as much as the first time. She enjoyed the feel on his scruff against her chin and the weight of his hand resting on her hip. She loved the smell of his aftershave and the taste of his mouth against hers. The only thing she didn't enjoy was when he stopped.
Pulling apart he let his forehead rest against hers. He should leave. He knew he should. It was the end of the date, he should leave but for some reason…
Regina licked her lips. "It's late," she said, looking up at him. "Maybe you should come in for some coffee. To help keep you awake on the drive home."
The suggestion came out of nowhere. She knew it was the end of the date and that he should probably head home but at that moment it felt like she'd say almost anything to keep him from going.
And apparently, he'd do anything to stay. "Coffee sounds good."
They went inside closing the door behind them. Regina kicked off her sandals, chuckling as she looked down at them. They were so silly but she knew they'd be forever etched into her memory now. She would always fondly remember them as the shoes she wore on her first date with Robin.
They head for the kitchen and she opens the pantry to get the coffee. Robin reaches out to stop her, shaking his head.
"I can fix it," he says. "Why don't you have a seat? I'm sure your feet could use the break."
She rolls her eyes but lets him take coffee grounds for himself. Instead of sitting at the table she opts to lean against the counter, not yet wanting to be that far away from him. He starts on the coffee and she watches him from where she stands. He'd taken off his jacket when they'd came in revealing the button-down shirt underneath. Even with the long sleeves she could still make out the arm muscles that she'd always found so very distracting.
She thought about the night they'd just shared together. Their walk, their dance… their kiss. Looking back on it she suddenly felt the need to kick herself. Hard. She'd denied herself this night for so long. And because of what? Her fears? Her insecurities? God she'd wasted so much time. But then again, she hadn't wasted it by herself.
"Robin, can I ask you a question?"
He looked over at her. "Yes?"
She nervously licked her lips before speaking. "When did you know that you felt something for me?"
Her tone was hesitant, almost as if she was afraid to know the answer. Crossing his arms and letting out a sharp exhale, Robin leaned against his side of the counter in front of the coffee machine. "You really want to know?"
She silently nodded.
"Honestly… when you left for New York," he softly admits.
Regina's eyes widen and her lips part in surprise. "That far back?"
Robin shakes his head a little as if he's not even sure of the answer he's just given her. "When you left, I thought I just missed you as a friend but deep down I knew it was more than that. It was like a part of me was gone. I just wasn't ready to see it yet."
It was hard to admit but looking back Robin knew his feelings for Regina had started long before either of them were willing or ready to see it. Without even trying she'd found a space in his heart and made it her own. He was just glad that he'd finally taken the time to realize it.
He looked at her with curiosity in his eyes. "When did you know?"
She doesn't even have to think about it.
"The minute I got off the plane and saw you again," she answered. "I was sad about my father, and so lost and worried. I was starting to think that I'd made a mistake but then I saw you and something just clicked. You put your arms around me and I knew I was exactly where I was supposed to be."
The memory is crystal clear in her mind. The swirling in her gut and the fear in her veins. And how quickly it disappeared when she saw him. The peace that this man brings to her… well, she'd never felt anything like it with someone who was just a friend.
Robin steps away from the counter and walks over to her. Her breath catches in her throat as he reaches out to brush a strand of hair away from her face, his blue eyes still staring down into her brown eyes.
"My god," he whispers, "how did it take us so long to get here?"
She shakes her head, eyes still locked on his. "I don't know." She brings her hands up to his shoulders. "But now that we're here I don't think I want to leave just yet."
His nose is starting to brush against her. "Me neither," he softly replies, before kissing her.
Sparks run through her entire body as she melts into his embrace. His hands start to grip her hips and her heart starts pounding. Things quickly grow heated. Her arms wrap around his neck pulling him deeper into their kiss. The counter starts the to dig into the small of her back as he presses himself closer to her, pushing her backwards. Heat starts to pool between her thighs.
She needs him like she's never needed anything before.
The feeling is clearly mutual. Robin's hands start to wander away from her hips, towards her back then down to cup that glorious ass of hers. It's a move that has her moaning into his mouth, allowing him the opportunity to slip his tongue into hers. Somehow the taste of her mouth is both more than he can bear and still not enough. He wants more of her.
Without her heels she's considerably shorter than him and it throws off the angle of their kiss. But that is easily remedied. His hands move away from her ass, down to the back of her thighs and before she knows it her feet are off the ground. For a split second their kiss is broken as he lifts her onto the counter. Her arms immediately wrap around his neck to pull him back into the kiss and his hands return to her sides. Like muscle memory her legs open so he can step between them. Once he does she presses her thighs into the sides of his hips, the zipper along her thigh slowly unzipping as she does. Another moan falls from her lips, when she feels his hand running up the bare skin of her right thigh.
His kisses start to trail down toward her neck and her head falls back so he has more to work with. Near the crook of her neck, he takes a moment to run his tongue over her rapidly beating pulse point. Her breathing quickens at the feel of his tongue against her skin. It has her hands running down to his chest, fumbling for the buttons of his shirt. Spurred on by her increasingly desperate desire she undoes them in record time. In an instant Robin's shirt is on the ground and her hands are running over his bare chest. He's more muscle than she expected and she's can't wait to find out what other surprises he has in store for her. But she is not going discover them on her kitchen counter.
"We should go to the bedroom," she says breathlessly.
His lips move back to her mouth and she moans into the kiss before he pulls away. "Are you sure?" he asks, his voice husky.
She desperately nods her head. "Yes." She brings her hands up to his face. "Oh god yes."
She's never been more sure of anything in her entire life. It was only their first date and this certainly hadn't been planned but doesn't change the fact that if they don't finish what they've started she might actually explode.
She pulls him in for another kiss, one they don't break even as his hands slip under her thighs and he lifts her from the counter. Her legs wrap tight around his waist as he carries her down the hall toward her bedroom. They cross the threshold and she mumbles against his lips, "Dress."
She removes her legs from around his waist as he sets her down, so she can take off her dress. Robin's hands are immediately reaching for her back zipper. This dress has teased him all night, he's grateful for the chance to finally put it where it belongs. On the floor.
The zipper's undone and Regina slides the straps from her shoulders, letting the dress fall to the floor, leaving her in nothing but her black bra and underwear. Once it's gone she finds herself feeling a little self-conscious. Robin is the first man to see her naked in nearly decade. But before she can even start to spiral with doubt his hands are back on her hips, he's pulling her close, pressing his lips just beneath her ear and whispering, "God, you're gorgeous."
Her anxiety vanishes. She kisses him hard, slipping her tongue into his mouth, letting her bra-clad chest press up against his bare one. His hands run up her back and hers drop to his belt as they stumble their way toward the bed. By the time he's laid her against the mattress his pants are gone and she can feel him hard against her thigh, only two thin layers of clothing keeping her from what she needs most. The thought of it reminds her of something very important and she doesn't want to ruin the moment but…
"Robin?" She lets out another desperate moan as he takes her earlobe between his teeth. "Robin, do you have anything?"
He brings his lips up to her again, barely able to concentrate on anything but the feeling of her skin against his. "Have any what?" he asks mumbles against her lips.
"Any protection?"
The question causes him to pause. Goddamn it.
Still panting he presses his forehead to hers and says the absolute last word she wants to her. "No."
Her eyes widen as she looks up at him, chest still heaving, silently praying that he's joking but knowing that he's not. "No?"
"I'm sorry," he says, apologetically. "It was the first date. I didn't want to be…"
"No, I get it," she sighs, her breathing still heavy as her head drops back into her pillow. Damn it.
"Are you on anything?" he whispers hopefully. But she shakes her head.
"No. I haven't really had a reason to be."
Until now, she sourly thinks.
They both let out disappointed breaths. Robin drops his head to her shoulder, giving her a small kiss on her collar bone. "We should stop, right?"
His hands are still on her and God, she wants to say no. She wants to be reckless, to throw caution in to the wind and let him explore every inch of her body until she can see stars. Oh how she wishes she could be that irresponsible.
But she can't.
Reluctantly she nods her head, licking her lips before agreeing. "Yeah, we should stop."
Pressing one final kiss to her lips, Robin rolls off her and lets out a deep sigh, trying to ease some of the tension that'd been steadily building inside him for the past ten minutes. "I'm sorry," he apologizes again. "I really didn't think I'd need it."
"I know," she says, running her fingers through her hair. "Neither did I." She takes a deep breath. "Things moved… a little faster than anticipated."
It was a bit of an understatement considering ten minutes ago she'd been sitting in the car fully clothed. As her heart rate starts to even out and head grows ever clearer she starts to reason that maybe what happened is for the best. As frustrated as she is – and she is really frustrated – things had been moving a little quickly. Hitting the brakes was probably better in the long run.
Robin looked over at her nervously. "I know you said it was getting late. Did you want me to – "
"Stay." She turns on her side to face him. "Please."
"Really?" said Robin, pleasantly surprised. "Even if we can't… continue?"
"I'm not gonna lie that's… very disappointing," she admits, with a small chuckle. "But this night's been so amazing and… I don't think I'm ready to end it just yet."
"Me neither," says Robin, turning onto his side to face her. "I'll stay as long as you let me."
Her lips pull into a satisfied smile. "Good."
As he pulls the sheets over their still undressed bodies, Regina scoots closer into Robin's body, letting her head fall against his chest and her arm across his stomach. Robin wraps his arm around her shoulders, pulling her closer to him. He presses a lingering kiss to her forehead before resting his chin against the top of her head. Sinking into the warmth of the blankets, slowly letting their breathing fall into sync they hold each other. Right beneath her ear, she can hear the sound of Robin's heart steadily beating in time with hers.
She ends the night warm and safe in his arms, with his heartbeat lulling her to sleep.
Not suspecting, even for one minute, that her happiness was only days away from being shattered.
I hope you enjoyed Robin and Regina's first date! Please read and review! Thank you!