Regina's apartment was the first gift Leopold gave her not so long after she agreed to marry him. It happened one afternoon as they were reunited discussing some of the logistics for their wedding, and going through the details of their agreement one more time when, suddenly, Leopold handed her a little gift box. An engagement gift, he said, and she hoped that inside the beautifully wrapped box wouldn't be any engagement ring. She still felt the sensation of emptiness from the lack of another ring in one of her fingers, reminding her she had been engaged not so long ago. She wasn't ready to wear any sign of her commitment to another man, even though she was going to marry someone else in less than three weeks.
To her surprise inside the box was a set of keys in a beautiful key chain. Leopold explained he wanted her to have that gift before their wedding as a sign of goodwill from him; he wanted her to be sure he would be sticking to their agreement on all the issues they'd discussed. At Regina's refusal, he said he needed to be certain she never felt trapped and having lost her freedom because of their marriage, and he needed to gift her with a place where she could find whatever made her feel free, if it happened she couldn't be able to feel that way in Storybrooke. He promised he wouldn't be sticking his noses anywhere near her apartment, that she could do whatever she wanted, and that he will continue paying for every bill as long as it belonged to her. He had insisted that the apartment was for her exclusive use with whomever she wanted and to do whatever she decided.
Leopold had been right, and the apartment he gave Regina became her safe space.
Apartment N° 23, a penthouse located in the most exclusive area of Boston, is the place where she lives her real life. Not the one as the fake wife of Leopold Blanchard, but the one as Regina Mills, the woman, the competent professional, the woman in love with a man that didn't give any signs of life for four years, the daughter betrayed by her own mother, and the citizen judged by a whole town. There, she used to spend time with Graham and Jeff, the two men she had known in Boston well enough to share part of her life with; or, even, with someone that just happened to be, as she, in need of some company.
Regina's personal touch and classy style are everywhere in her apartment: the curtains that cover the huge windows, the stylish furniture she chose for every room, the colors on the carpets matching perfectly those on the couches and cushions, the fancy items that decorate each corner of her place. The pictures of better times spent with friends and other special people, which are placed conveniently all over the place, give the apartment a sense of warmth and show a glimpse of who Regina Mills really is to any guest that happens to be there.
Pictures of her with her father, with Emma, with high school and college friends, and ...yes with Robin (why not? this is her safe space, isn't it?) decorate the fridge, the living room, the hallway, and her bedroom where she has placed her favorite picture on her nightstand. This picture is one in which she and Robin are smiling tenderly and looking at each other somewhere at Granny's, and it was (well, still is) her favorite picture because Emma took it just the day after they'd opened up about their feelings towards the other one. This picture is almost a close-up, however, it shows Regina wearing a red dress; and Robin, his classic jacket. They are smiling, and so absorbed in the other one that anyone watching the picture can feel how in love they were. The hidden story behind the picture is they never realized Emma had captured the moment until she gave each of them a copy of the framed picture as a gift, some years before everything went down the hill for them.
Regina never found enough courage to get rid of this picture after her breakup with Robin, until one day tired of her inner struggle, she decided that rather trying to find the strength to throw it away, it'd be wiser to find a place for it. She chose to put it on her nightstand, in the privacy of her bedroom, where she looked at it every day she went to bed in Boston but still was easy to hide on the days (or more accurately, the nights) where she had company in her bed.
...
Regina enters the apartment, and, as each time she comes there, she feels home. She takes off her shoes, places her purse and other stuff on the bench by the entrance, hangs her coat and goes directly to the kitchen, where she decides to open a bottle of champagne to make her company during the long and relaxing bath in the huge bathtub of her bathroom, she is planning to take.
She smiles when she spots a tray with a selection of nuts and dried fruits placed in the center of the kitchen table and takes a handful. Mrs. Chang never ceases to surprise her.
She heads to the fridge, takes a bottle of champagne, and thanks again Mrs. Chang for her good work because her favorite brand at the right temperature is waiting for her. After struggling for some seconds to open the bottle, she pours the liquid in a glass, places the bottle inside a champagne bucket she previously filled with ice from the freezer and begins walking barefoot towards her bedroom with both items in each hand.
As soon as Regina gets to her bedroom, she begins undressing, alternating one sip of champagne with each article of clothing she takes off, and, when she's only wearing her underwear, she notices a white envelope on her nightstand. She opens it and after reading what's inside, she thanks for the dress she packed.
What she doesn't know is that some blocks away, in a hotel room, Robin is opening a similar envelope.
He doesn't believe how he ended up in a hotel like this one. It's exactly the opposite choice of accommodation he would have picked if it would have been his doing. But what he can't believe or understand even less, is how he thought this would be a good idea after Killian's advice and his own instinct.
However, after finishing reading what was inside that envelope, he hasn't stopped walking in circles in that hotel room, dying of anticipation. It doesn't matter how huge that suite is; it seems there's not enough space for him.
The fucking note says so little: an address, a date and time, and a dress code. Nothing else, and he can't help but feel nervous and anxious. Is this an invitation of some kind? Where is he going and with whom? What kind of evening is ahead? A dinner? A ball? A gathering with more people? Will she be there alone or with other people? Is this a sort of date planned by the husband of the woman he's in love with? Will Leopold be there? Can he trust Leopold?
With those questions remaining unanswered, it isn't odd that sleep doesn't come easily. And not even looking at the picture on the nightstand soothes his anxiety. Yes, the one he still has with him (and that doesn't fail to bring with him everywhere he goes) as a reminder of the one time in his life he was really happy when it was just him and the woman he loved ...well, still loves. He remembers clearly the day that picture was taken, even though he never realized Emma captured their special moment until the day she gave him a beautiful wooden frame with his and Regina's picture in it; and, for Regina, a more sophisticated one, with the same photo in it.
Staring at the picture only raises more questions in him, and he wonders if he could be that happy again with Regina and if he would be able to make up to her for being such a coward years ago. He doesn't know the answer yet, but what he does know is that he would do whatever it takes to win her back. And, if he is willing to go to Hell and back for her, he certainly can attend an event in the dark, without knowing in advance each detail about it.
He smiles, remembering he did exactly that in one or two occasions, when John and Will, set him up for a blind date back then in London in their attempts to bring to life a man they knew by chance, and that before they realized became a good pal and an important part of the Merry Men. In fact, Robin's addition to the Merry Men, a little rock band John and Will founded, was just what Robin had needed at that time. Robin's experience singing and playing the guitar, assured him an important place in the band; they performed in little bars and pubs once a week, and that, along with his job as an architect and his friendship to Marian, were mostly responsible for his recovery.
...
The next morning arrives after a night of disrupted sleep. Robin wakes up early, insanely early, indeed, and he curses himself for not being able to take advantage of the one chance he has to have a proper sleep, now that Roland is staying with Evelyn.
It's before 6 am, and he looks through the huge windows of his hotel room, enjoying the view from a 16th floor. He witnesses the city beginning to wake up, with some of the houses still with its Christmas lights decorations lighted, and wonders what is Regina doing at that moment.
He would never have guessed, though, she's doing exactly the same just some blocks away, as she stares through her window, thinking of him.
...
He's glad he brought the dark suit, a shirt, a nice tie, and proper shoes, and is relieved he didn't miss the handwritten note in the back side of the note.
Everything is taken care of, Locksley. Just be at the lobby in time ...and be your usual fucking self. LB
Robin sighs looking at his reflection in the mirror, continues buttoning his shirt with particular care to hide inside a silver chain necklace with another item that reminds him of her, and that he was never able to get rid of: the engagement ring she gave back to him. He looks at it asking himself if he'll get the chance to make up to his promise and give it back to her.
He adjusts his tie and finishes getting dressed putting on the jacket and an elegant black coat with an approving smile in his face.
He's ready for a new adventure and crosses his fingers that she's too.
Regina arrives in time at the address indicated in the note, dressed in the black dress Leopold insisted she should bring with her.
The destination is no other than this year's Magic Gala an event organized by charity organizations, with the purpose to gather funds for activities with children at risk all over the country. She has never attended this event before, least of all in Leopold's company. They're never together when they are in Boston, and, besides, she's not up for any Christmas celebrations. However, she has heard this event is well known for its different format and for choosing, each year, a different theme related to the world of magic and fantasy.
Regina enters the place walking confidently and smiles realizing she catches the attention of the men and women nearby. She knows how she looks in that dress ...after all, black is her color, isn't it?
But, it isn't only the choice of color what makes her look gorgeous that night. It's the choice of dress, her makeup, her hair, the jewelry she wears, that are the perfect combination of elegance and sensuality. The dress is strapless and leaves exposed her perfect shoulders, toned arms and exquisite cleavage that shows the roundness of her breasts in an insinuation of what lies inside; the dress hugs her curves perfectly and unveils every detail of her body. It's the perfect balance between elegance and provocation, making people perceive the form of her body, yet leaving most of it to the imagination. The dress is backless, and it exposes the upper part of her back.
Her makeup is nicely done; the tone of her lips, a burgundy red; her hair, nicely arranged in an elegant bun making possible a complete view of her neck, which makes her look even more distinguished.
As soon as she steps in, she is stunned by the magnificent decoration and the original concept that combines a freestyle in the arrangement of the place, a fancy decoration according to each year's theme (this year The Enchanted Forest is brought to life) and the finest food and drinks, which assures every guest a magical experience. Not in vain the insane amount of money people pay to be on the guest list.
The first thing that catches Regina's attention is that rather than the traditional concept of tables with guest's names on it, a more dynamic style is used. One, in which classy lounges are distributed all over the place that goes from huge ones in which ten people could easily fit, to more cozy and private spaces suited only for one couple.
The decoration gives the guests the idea of being in a magical forest, and at the same time has the perfect Christmas touch, because different types of trees are distributed evenly all over the place in big pots with their branches covered with white lights delineating their different shapes.
Regina looks to the people gathered there, trying to find out if Leopold is among them and figure out his plans for the night. She believes in Leopold, but the fact that he hasn't revealed anything about his plans is stressing her out, and although she knows he won't make her go through a bad time, she's not quite convinced she'll be having a good one, either.
Her tribulations are interrupted by someone calling her name. It's a waiter that at her nod tells her to follow him to the place reserved for her. He escorts her to a nice area in one of the sides of the hall, where a lounge awaits for her. It has a pair of individual couches and in between them, a little table decorated with candles. She takes a seat, observing her surroundings and hoping that another waiter offers her a drink.
She looks to one side of the hall, then to the other, trying to decipher if, among the guests, she catches a glimpse of someone she knows. However, deep inside her she isn't looking for someone, but for a particular man. It seems he's not there, so she decides to mingle with the guests, but before she stands up, she hears someone saying "Milady looks thirsty" and sees a glass of champagne on the table and a hand she'd recognize anywhere.
She doesn't know if upon hearing his voice, her heart stopped for a second, skipped a beat or sped up because the mix of emotions she feels in that moment is overwhelming.
"R-Robin? What are you doing here?" she asks trying to buy some time to recompose herself because she already knows it's him and what he's doing there. She's not surprised to find him here. She knew Leopold was up to something, and her instinct told her it had to do with Robin, but seeing him (and, in that suit and tie that make his eyes look bluer!) is a completely different thing.
He doesn't answer her, and instead asks politely, "May I take a seat?"
"I'm not stopping you," is her only answer.
Robin sits on the couch across of her, but they have so little room that their knees are almost touching, and the slight touch they accidentally have is enough to make her want to feel him closer. She has missed his caresses, his embrace, his kisses. She had other men doing that to her, but it was never the same.
She takes off those inconvenient thoughts from her head, aware that this is not the best timing to allow such mundane ideas tamper with her judgment and begin clouding her mind. She needs to have her head clear for whatever is about to come.
She looks at him, drinks from her glass, and, at her silence, he's the one who talks first. "Regina, why?"
What kind of question is that? She has every right to treat him like shit after the way he disappeared from her life, and, besides, she doesn't know how much Robin has figured out about her marriage to Leopold, and she is not the one to disclose anything in that regard. Hence, she merely comes up with another question that rather than serious and tough, sounds hilarious and provoking.
"Why, what?"
Robin smiles at her, biting his lower lip and shaking his head, drinks from his glass and just continues with another question for her "Why you keep fighting this …" he pauses, sighs and adds as he stares deeply into her eyes taking down the mask of indifference she has been wearing all this time "...us?"
Regina's face of surprise, makes Robin continue, "Stop pretending you're happily married to your husband ...I talked to Leopold some days ago. He said enough to make me understand what your marriage is ...well, what it isn't about. I'm here because of him, and it seems you're here for the same reason, Regina."
If her face seconds ago showed surprise, the expression she displays after Robin's words is of complete shock. But not because she just learned that a meeting between her ex-fiancé (and man she still loves) and her actual husband took place some days ago, and she must have been the topic of their conversation, but because her husband seems to have spoken too much and revealed their arrangement, which, in fact, is something she didn't expect.
Leopold has always been very careful about keeping appearances, and she is sure in Storybrooke, aside from Emma, no one was aware of the details of their marriage. Not even Sidney Glass, the town perv and reporter of the only tabloid in Storybrooke, who had obsessively stalked Regina after her mother's scandalous runaway, and both, Leopold and Regina, after their marriage, trying to find some dirty story behind their quick romance and wedding, had been able to uncover their fake marriage. Still shocked, an almost imperceptible smile forms in her lips, as she remembers how Leopold always doubted the reason Sidney became such a pain in the ass and was breathing down on their necks most of the time was barely about doing his job as a gossip reporter, and more about stalking the woman he had (Leopold thinks, he still has) a crush on without drawing any attention.
"You ...you and Leo met? When? What did he tell you?" asks Regina trying to gather information about the meeting between the two men.
"It doesn't matter, Regina. The important thing is he said he wanted to help you retrieve someone you lost, and the truth is that person is dying for another chance with you. Why can't we have a fresh start?"
"Because there aren't fresh starts between two people that went through what we went through, Robin. Besides, we are no longer the same people we were."
Robin insists. It seems he won't give up easily. "Regina, our breakup was not because we didn't love each other, but because of the extraordinary circumstances that were happening in our lives at that time. We both needed to cope with the shit those bastards left behind, and we did it in our own way. Maybe, not in the best way, but it allowed us to heal ...and you're right, you know, we're not the same people we were four years ago, we are better people now. And, listening to Leopold talk about your marriage to him and about you, made me realize I don't want to make the same mistake twice. I'm willing to go as far as is takes to have another chance with you."
Her heart races at his words. Another chance, Would it still be possible? Can they just continue with their relationship from where they left it? How will they endure people's disapproving gazes and smirks? Until when should she be bothered by appearances?
"I'm going to be honest with you, Robin. You need to know I won't disclose nor discuss any details about my marriage to Leopold, but after your talk with him and agreeing to come here, I guess you understood we have something unconventional between us."
Robin nods.
"I do, and I don't need further details. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for him. You, most of all people, know I'd never disrespect your marriage."
Of course, she is aware of that. Due to Cora and Robert's misconduct, all her life has been plagued by thoughts of how would it look like? and what would people think? even when, eventually, she always did what she thought was best for her, and disregarded those thoughts, like when she married Leopold. She analyzed the implications of that choice, how it would look like after her recent breakup with Robin and her mother's actions, she assessed her father's financial situation, her career, and she thought screw those fuckers, I don't owe them anything ...least of all an explanation and just continued with her plans.
So, she is very much aware of how it must have been for Robin, as well.
"I know. And I appreciate your thoughtfulness over that. But, …let's take this one step at a time, please."
Robin grins at her words, and asks "Is that a yes?"
Regina just smiles, wets her lips and answers with a playful, flirty and mischievous "Perhaps."
...
He'd never have thought a simple perhaps could sound so sexy. Even less, that it could have other meanings, besides the ones he already knows. For him, this perhaps means, as well, hope, happiness, desire, excitement and a don't screw it this time! And, in fact, that only word marked the difference between the before and after of their reunion after all those years. During their brief encounter outside Granny's, their meeting at the cabin and this night's interaction, Robin noticed Regina was mostly harsh towards him, but after her flirtatious perhaps things changed and, somehow, the ice broke allowing the conversation to flow easily and naturally between them.
He's so glad (and relieved) that things between them improved because since he spotted her, seated on that couch by herself, he couldn't help but think how could he let her go all those years ago.
That decision is his biggest regret and, certainly, will haunt his mind until his last day. Four years of his life without her when he could have enjoyed their time together as a married couple all that time. At least, he doesn't think of those years as a waste. He still has a few things he treasures from his time in London: Will, John, Tuck, and Alan, for sure; his incorporation to The Merry Men, his experience as an architect in an important firm; his therapy sessions, that helped him rebuild himself, have a functional life, and, even if he hasn't forgiven his father yet, acknowledge he's not responsible for his father's choices and he's not doomed to be like him. And there are two things he wouldn't change for anything: his son (on top of the list), and his friendship with Marian.
So, after hearing Regina's perhaps, he sighs in relief, and, at the thought of Marian, he thanks her in silence, hoping she'll be proud of him, wherever she is, because it happens his return and insistence to talk to Regina had been mostly Marian's doing, even though she is no longer in this world.
It's funny, he thinks, ironic almost, that two strangers, Leopold and Marian, would be those who have worked their magic to make sure their encounter happened.
He looks at her, finds her so beautiful, tantalizingly stunning that he can't help but stare at her lips as she drinks from her glass the last sip of champagne, envying for some seconds the cold glass that has the fortune to have her lips over it.
"Let me find another glass of champagne for you. I need one more drink, and I guess you too," he says, standing up and walking towards a waiter that has a tray of champagne glasses, and happens to be nearby.
He hands her the glass, lifts his to make a toast, he notices she does the same. "To Marian and Leopold. I guess we need to thank them both for this night."
She nods, smiles and before drinking from her glass, asks "Does your son resemble his mother? I see he got your dimples, but his hair and eyes aren't yours."
He's surprised at the question. It's the first time she addresses something personal about him and gladly answers, "In fact, Roland looks like his mother. Marian was a brunette, so his hair, eyes and the shade of his skin are hers."
Robin takes out his phone and shows Regina a picture of a smiling Marian. A picture taken one happy summer afternoon before Roland, and her sickness happened.
She looks at the picture and answers. "I see."
And, he's not sure if Regina sees the resemblance between Marian and Roland, or she sees the resemblance between Marian's phenotype and hers, and that she knows the meaning of that: A Freudian slip. His unconscious mind still hooked to Regina and choosing a friend, a lifesaver, someone important in his life, with a general appearance like hers. He knows this because it's been a topic discussed over and over during his therapy sessions, and he doesn't want to go there. So, he decides to switch the topic to something different, something that can even make them laugh.
"Um ...tell me, Regina, how did you endure all these years having to see Mary Margaret Blanchard on a regular basis?"
Regina rolls her eyes and bursts into laughter, "Ha, ha, ha! Well, that was the price I had to pay when I agree to marry Leopold."
They both smile remembering how infuriating that woman was. It wasn't that they were good friends with Mary Margaret, but in a town like Storybrooke one doesn't need to be best friend with someone to know them. Her chaste, immaculate and innocent image made people in town see her as the town princess, no doubt why she was the Snow White in every play at the Community Theater or Virgin Mary, each year in the Live Nativity Scene recreated in the Town Hall every Christmas Eve, even though Leopold Blanchard and his daughter aren't religious people. Mary Margaret has always been a fucking Disney fairytale princess living in a bubble of romanticism, true love ...and, shit, hope …yes, that was ...is her favorite word, and it annoyed them both because it happened that Robin and Regina were the two people for whom those premises hadn't worked out.
"And now that she married David Nolan, people in town see them as moderns Snow White and Prince Charming, their ridiculousness has made people name them 'the Charmings.' Can you believe that? In those moments I can't help but think what wouldn't I give for a sleeping curse, so that I can put both of them and their stupidity to sleep," adds Regina as she rolls her eyes for a second time that night, and nods her head as if trying to take away the thought of the perfect couple and her idea to deal with them.
Robin laughs at Regina's remarks, and immediately images of her as the Evil Queen, a woman respected, admired and feared by many, and with a tantalizing beauty begin invading his head.
"I bet you do, your Majesty," answers Robin playing along with her and smirking, but quickly getting serious realizing how hard should've been for Regina those first months after the scandal of his father and Regina's mother was the one thing everyone talked in town. "I see people in town haven't changed at all."
"Not a bit. It's a town stuck in time. I sometimes wonder if time moves the same way in Storybrooke as in any other place. And the hypocrisy, it's the same as always ...nothing is as it appears to be …most people have one hidden side that might surprise and scare you," explains Regina as she tucks one strand of hair behind her ear.
This slight action makes Robin realize this habit hasn't changed. She used to do this all the time, and he wonders what other things about her remain the same.
"I certainly can image. And, now that you bring this up, Regina. I want to congratulate you, still having to deal with those fuckers, you help them, you try to make better people out of them in therapy, and you've built such a solid reputation as a psychologist, and it has crossed borders to other cities, even to other continents."
And, yes, he knows very well Regina's career path because he had been checking her out in cyberspace from time to time, and knows she's a regular attendee to important scientific fora where she gives lectures about her research in clinical psychology. Robin learned a while ago that Regina succeeded in balancing a private practice providing therapy sessions while she kept her research activities in the psychological field. The new approaches she developed for the treatment of mental diseases which she shares with the scientific community through her lectures and in scientific papers she writes, has earned her quite the reputation.
"Thanks, I guess I achieved that. It was good for me to partner with Archie. He was one of the first people that came to me back then, offered this partnership, he said he needed someone with my professional background that could complement his so that having both approaches would help offer better chances to our patients. That made me think he wasn't offering a partnership because of pity, and I accepted it even before agreeing to marry Leopold. You know, there were some people that supported me. Archie was one of them, never talked behind my back during those years. Granny was another one, and, as odd as it may appear to you, your brother in law also had my back."
Robin looks at her in surprise, he would never have thought that Ethan Gold, just Mr. Gold to most people, would have been on her side after the scandal involving her mother, but this man has proved to be better than what he thought. His marriage to his sister was a surprise to him; he didn't see it coming; it seems they got close after the events involving his father during the time Belle worked in Mr. Gold's shop, an eccentric shop of antiques and fine art that, gossip says, is just a facade for illegal activities. However, rumors don't reach an agreement in what those activities are. He's heard his brother in law's shop laundries money earned from drug dealing and smuggling; others say it's the place where he seals the deals with whoever needs a favor from him for which he charges a lot of money depending if it's a money loan, a forged document, beating the shit out of someone, or disappearing someone from the face of the earth. The truth is he knows Mr. Gold is a mysterious man with a dark side that happens to make his sister very happy, and it seems he has not been that bad with his ex-fiancée, either. So, he doesn't care about what happens in the backroom of Gold's shop, as long as his sister remains the happy woman she is.
"I am glad Regina that not all people were shits to you, and I'd have never thought I'd say what I'm about to tell you. I already told the same thing to your husband. I'm grateful you had Leopold in your life. I guess things began to improve for you after marrying him."
"I'd have never thought he'd have such important role in my life, either. He has been a good friend, my confidant, my advisor …he's a great man, and has endured a lot of shit too in that town. He wants me to be happy and has always tried to make sure I felt comfortable in our marriage. As unconventional as things are between us, I have always been myself with him. And not having to pretend with him gave me a break of being the woman people in town expect me to be ...always in control of everything. With him I was able to cry, I could feel sad or anxious, and never felt 's the best gift he gave me."
They've almost talked about everything. Almost. Because there are still two topics he needs to address at some point and isn't sure when will the best timing be. He decides to ask one of those questions, and leave the other one for later.
"Um, Regina ... and during the last years, were there other men in your life?"
"Yes, there were."
"Should I need to worry?"
"Nope. You don't have to worry, at all."
Her answer leaves in him a feeling he doesn't like, but he chooses to worry about it later and just enjoy the rest of the night with her.
"What would you say if we go for a walk in this magical Enchanted Forest this night offers us, and from now on we focus on the present and on the future, instead than on the past?"
He takes her by the hand, and both begin walking to the other side of the hall, grinning at each other, completely unaware of the two men that stare at them from afar.
The venue. The music. The lights. The drinks. Their conversation. Him. Her. The night is perfect. However, they're yet to experience the most emotional test of the night.
Neither of them would have guessed this night would develop this way when they headed to an unknown address Leopold had written in a note for both of them.
It's past midnight already, and they have been talking about serious and not so serious topics, yet the physical contact they have had, has been mostly by accident, and both of them can't stop thinking about it.
Since he arrived, Robin has been behaving with extreme care, as if walking on eggshells not wanting to risk whatever improvement he has made with her. But, truth be told, he has had one only thing in his mind since he first saw her: kissing her. However, he is aware that a kiss would have been a wrong and improper move that would make him earn a slap on the face and an anticipated end of the night. So, he has tried, unsuccessfully, by the way, to take away that thought from his head. The fact she's more responsive and less harsh towards him doesn't mean she might answer a kiss, and she just requested him to take this step by step, so he'll have to put all his restraint at work and wait for any sign from her that she might be ready to take things further.
Regina is aware the night is getting to an end, and she doesn't want to. She is having the time of her life. She can't even recall the last time she felt this happy with someone, and if she remembers well it won't surprise her to find out it was years ago with the same man she's with this night. She wants to kiss him. No. She wants him to kiss her. Yes, that's what she wants, and has been craving for it for some hours now. She wants him to be the one who takes the lead, but she knows he won't do it, unless she gives him a sign, one that he can read undoubtedly, and she has no idea of what could that be. And, it's ironic in fact, that it's her the one thinking in kissing him (or in him kissing her) when she has asked him to take things slowly. Shit, she's screwed!
Nonetheless, despite their own desires, thoughts, and doubts, fate (or maybe it won't be fate) will give them the sign they both are waiting for.
They have returned to the lounge they were seated at the beginning of the night after their little tour, have gotten something to eat and grabbed another glass of champagne. They both think it's a pity the couches they're seated on are for one person, so they're not sitting next to each other, and, on the contrary, they are across each other, and this makes more difficult to seek any physical contact. Shit, whoever reserved these seats for them never thought that by this time they'd both gladly end in the arms of the other one.
Music begins to play, actually it has been playing since they arrived, but it seemed they have been unaware of that fact and more focused on sorting out the issues between them. But now, they hear the music, and they don't know if it's because they've talked almost about everything and there's little undiscussed; or if it's because the particular tune the orchestra is beginning to play.
They'd recognize it everywhere, and they stare at each other surprised, visibly touched and emotional after hearing the first chords of that particular tune: Dmitri Shostakovich's Waltz N° 2.
Regina takes her gaze away from him trying to hide the fact that her eyes are clouded with tears. Robin pulls himself together and gathers the courage both of them need. "Regina, please, look at me. This is a sign. Let's give us a chance."
Regina doesn't answer, doesn't move. She continues looking at one side, and Robin takes one of her hands in his and insists, "Dance with me, Regina, please. We were supposed to dance that song ...and we never got the chance to do it. Let's do this now."
"I ...I …" Regina stutters, but before she can finish the sentence, Robin stands up, extends his hand in an unmistakable invitation and adds, "Let's show these people how we dance this."
"I ...I might be a little rusty," answers Regina smiling softly.
"I don't think so, you had a natural talent and I bet you still do."
She stands up, and, as he leads her to the dance floor, he doesn't miss the chance to touch her bare back slightly, a touch she doesn't reject and, instead, enjoys as they walk.
They stand one in front of the other one, looking into their eyes with emotion, and won't dare to takes their gazes away for the next minutes.
He places one hand on her waist, and, with the other one, holds one of her hands; she puts her free hand on one of his shoulders, and they begin dancing. They know this waltz too well, in fact, had rehearsed every dance step for months with a dance instructor. They chose it after Regina told Robin no song from any pop singer would make it to her wedding reception for their first dance. She wanted something that would remain for posterity and not something that would feel out of fashion or wouldn't be remembered in a couple of years, so they both had chosen Shostakovich's Waltz N° 2 for their wedding, that has proven to comply Regina's condition.
And, even though the music selection during the night has been all classics and instrumental music played live by the orchestra, and people had been dancing the smooth tunes, no other couple has dared to join them on the dance floor for this one. Maybe, because despite it's a waltz and the classic 1-2-3 dance steps should do the work, it's not as easy as it seems, with several changes in its pace that need at least someone familiar with it in advance to know when to switch to a more quick movement. Or, perhaps, it is because of the way in which Robin and Regina seem to know the music and each step they take, that make the other people doubt their dancing skills and decide to watch a more experienced dancing couple.
Robin and Regina had rehearsed it over and over, and not only in the traditional way but in a more sensual one. It was supposed to be the first dance for newlyweds and Eric, their dance instructor, had taken advantage of Regina and Robin's notorious physical attraction towards each other, that had made possible to achieve some bold dance movements.
They begin moving slowly at the smooth rhythm of the music, first with the delicate 1-2-3 ...1-2-3 classic little movements; then, with the same 1-2-3 …1-2-3 steps but longer ones that make them move with ease and elegance from one side of the dancing floor to the opposite side in just three long steps.
Robin takes advantage of what he remembers from his lessons and holds Regina firmly towards her, his hand placed in her back touching directly the skin there, as her dress leaves exposed most part of her back. He can hear her breathing and perceives her scent with every step they take.
They dance in coordination, swinging backward and forward, and swaying to one side and to the other, with such practice and not one movement out of synch that it seems they have just danced the day before. Robin and Regina glide around the floor with grace and elegance through the long, flowing movements, the turns and the classic rise and fall of this dance.
They don't even miss the parts where they spin and change direction; nor that difficult one in which Robin holds Regina by the waist and lifts her as she supports her weight with her hands on his shoulders; or those where they separate, holding hands with their arms extended and Robin makes Regina spin, and for some seconds she has her back towards him, holding her by the waist, just to turn her around quickly and return her to the original position. In that particular movement, Regina feels Robin's breath on her neck. It's so sensual that she's sure if someone looks closer would notice she has goosebumps all over her neck. She's so turned on by this dance and his closeness, that she fears everyone would notice.
People at the sides watch amazed the display of perfection of the couple on the dancing floor. The dance is smooth, as a waltz should be, elegant, but Robin and Regina add to it sensuality and people perceive this connection and intensity. So much so, that when the music ends no one doubts they're a couple in love, and begin clapping, until someone says "Guys, you're under the mistletoe!", and soon others are joining and saying the same.
Robin and Regina look up, and they realize they're under the mistletoe, indeed, but it's not the little traditional sprint with which usually people decorate their houses. It's a huge foliage decoration that hangs from the ceiling in the middle of the dancing floor. There are pine branches, holly, ivy, pine cones, red ribbons, and mistletoe. They burst in laughter thinking about how they missed this huge decoration so that maybe they could have avoided the mortification of this moment. They stare at each other, their gazes showing what they can't word: desire, lust, nervousness, doubtfulness …and it's Regina the one who takes the lead with two words, "Do it."
Robin hears clearly those two words, despite the clapping of the people. He doesn't ask for a confirmation, nor waits for a second request, and just claims her lips in his.
Their lips touch for the first times in years. It begins as a soft kiss, and, maybe, that's their sole intention. After all, they're in the middle of a dancing floor, surrounded by strangers clapping at them and encouraging them to kiss.
Robin half opens his mouth and nibbles Regina's lower lip in his with determination, she responds, and moans. That sound makes him lose the little control he still had, and with his tongue takes the kiss to another level. Regina instinctively opens her mouth and when their tongues touch it's like an explosion of many sensations at once.
They continue kissing, without caring for their audience. Robin takes his hand to Regina's cheek and caresses it with his thumb as he places his other fingers on her neck. They shift the pace from the open mouth kisses, full of desire, to tender little pecks, just to switch again to the more daring ones. They do that several times, and it gives the impression they don't want to put an end to the kiss.
However, at some point, they need to stop, and both know it, even though that thought has been buried deep inside them and have been disregarded. It seems the part of their brains which controls the emotions has long won the battle over the one in charge of rational thinking.
Some seconds later they break the kiss, and as they walk to the hall hundreds of questions begin to fill their minds. The first one has to do with that kiss, and what would come out from it.
...
"She's beautiful, isn't she?"
"Gorgeous. The most fascinating woman I've met."
"How did you know the music would do the trick?"
"Eric and Ariel, the dance instructors in Storybrooke, rent me their dance studio, and, well, I asked them a favor. They told me that was the song Regina and Locksley should have danced in their wedding. I knew Locksley wouldn't waste that chance, but I didn't expect they'd dance so ...um ...fuck, Phil, they were on fire!"
"They are on fire, Leo. I hope that dance and that hell of a kiss ignite the flame once and for all."
To be continued ...