Whiskey and Mistletoe - Part 2
December 4th
The rest of the week past without much excitement. There's the regular customers that come in and out, Henry is there most days pining over Jacinda, his partner in defeated longing crime Rogers has faithfully come in every single day, staring at the same folder about that missing girl, and it would be depressing if Roni didn't have her favorite Christmas Carol playlist going at all hours. It keeps her happy. And it is the most wonderful time of the year, so there isn't much that can shake her festive spirits right now.
Well at least not until the door chimes and in walks the blue eyed, scruffy bearded british guy from two days ago that has left Roni's heart whimpering when he shrugs his coat off and gives her a smile as he saddles up onto a vacant barstool with a rather large bag in tow. She's thought about him, a little bit...okay more than a little bit. The kiss he left on her hand she could swear is still tingling. But she isn't someone who pines for another. Not really anyway. She doesn't need someone, she's been alone for a while now, but the thought of maybe having that...someone to share the holidays with, well perhaps it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world.
"Well look who stumbled back in here." She bites back her own grin, feeling rather giddy that he is back here.
"No stumbling this time." He chuckles, "I have something for you."
Her brow raises as she slides him a whiskey he hasn't asked for but accepts all the same with a nod. She can see the blush rising into his cheeks, and damn if that isn't adorable. He hauls the bag up onto the bar top, pushing it towards her, "It's for the one I wrecked a few days ago."
Curiously, she pulls the red and green tissue paper out, internally melting that he actually took the time to wrap a gift for her. Which is ridiculous in itself that he is buying her something. They just met. "Oh!" She tugs a beautiful thick green wreath out from the bag, in awe of the touches of red and gold throughout it, a glittering crimson ribbon at the bottom, the entire thing framed with snow dipped pine cones and twinkling lights. "Rowan, it's beautiful." Her hand reaches out to grasp his in thanks, he squeezes back, and then doesn't exactly let go, though neither does she for that matter.
"You really didn't have to do this." She blushes, runs her free hand along the green pine circle.
"I wanted too." Rowan smiles, "It's not Christmas without a wreath."
"Thank you."
"You're quite welcome M'lady."
There it is again. That word. Soft and soothing and framed by a crinkled smile of bright blue eyes that hold her to the ground lest she float away in this moment. There is something about this man. A feeling when he is around, though it's really only been for a few hours they've known each other, it just, it's different. And it passes through her mind again, that wandering thought as to whether they have met before. He doesn't seem to think so, but her heart thumps far too heavily at his presence for it to simply be puppy lust.
"You didn't really wreck the other one alone you know." She stands back up, their fingers slowly parting. "I basically ran into you."
He shrugs, sips back his whiskey and eyes up the place. She added a few extra touches, some hanging snowflakes on the roof, a few glittering snowmen dancing animatedly on the piano, and if his eyes don't deceive him, a single sprig of mistletoe hangs under an archway beside the front door. He wonders what it would be like to be standing underneath it right now, perhaps with a rather stunning curly haired brunette beside him.
Why he hasn't come into this bar before he honestly doesn't know. Can't come up with a proper answer for it either. He's passed this place on more than one occasion, and every time his eyes creep up to look at the red and green sign with arrows and her name glowing in the night sky something inside him stutters and rolls. It's almost like he was nervous to come inside. Why? He doesn't know. And more than once he's stood in front of the closed door, hand on the handle, unable to actually turn the knob and walk inside. He's even spotted her once or twice behind the beveled glass. Couldn't really see much of her face, but even still, just the waved glassed vision of her body, of the bouncing brown curls about her shoulders, a hint of bare arms and tight fitted jeans, it had him completely enamoured. And still he never went inside. Out of fear? Perhaps. But fear of what he isn't sure. More than anything, he was afraid that she'd be simply uninterested in him. That he'd walk in and make a complete fool of himself going inside just to see the woman behind the bar.
He's been alone for quite sometime. His ex wife moved to the east coast a few years back, a breakup over the fact that they ended up wanting different things in life. He wanted children, Margo wasn't sure she did. And they tried for a long time to make it work, he gave up on the idea of a having a big family, though she could still see it in his eyes, the longing when a father and son played baseball in the park together. She told him that they couldn't live a life together wanting the opposite goals. They talk infrequently now, mostly on birthdays and Christmas, a simple wish of good health. He hasn't been with another woman since then. Not for a lack of trying but something in his heart just wouldn't settle. Not until he finally made the move to Hyperion Heights, mainly for the customer base he knew was flourishing thanks to the forest surroundings. His carpentry skills could be put to good use here. And he is happy. In a lonely kind of way. Life is good. He has a great apartment with a view of the ocean, a great paying job he loves, a solid surrounding of friends, there really isn't much he doesn't want for. Except someone to share it all with.
Maybe that's why he was nervous coming into Roni's Bar in the first place. It was this overwhelming feeling that crept into his heart every time he passed by. It was like it was searching for someone inside. As though it knew that beyond the oak door and neon sign was a chance at something.
His shy fear all seems rather silly now that he is sitting inside the bar with her. She is incredible. Smart, sassy, stunning… there is this strength about her. He felt it the moment they locked eyes. There is this bold audaciousness in the way she carries herself. How she interacts with everyone around her. It's like she is their protector. The place they come too when the weight of the world seems too heavy to take another step. Roni's is there. A solace of comfort with a rather gorgeous bar owner.
He watches the way she smiles at every customer, hands them a much needed drink and leans in to give them an ear for a few moments before she slides back over to him. "Can I get you another?"
"Will you have one aswell?"
"I try not to daytime drink." She admits with a sly grin, knowing damn well between them and well basically everyone else in the bar that Roni is no stranger to a midday shot here and there.
"Perhaps another night then."
"I'm here all the time."
"Do you ever have a night off?"
Her brow cocks curiously, "I'm the owner, I can take a night to myself whenever I need too, perks of being the boss."
His heart takes a leap of faith as his second whiskey is slid towards him, the words tumbling out before he can really stop them, "Would you like some company one of those nights?" He knows he's blushing. The heat that creeps into his cheeks, it's obvious, and not just to him. Her eyes dance, and the smile she gives him has his heart stumbling over itself. She has the most amazing smile and he'd give anything to be allowed to see it everyday.
"Perhaps."
He'll take it. It's as good as a yes as he is going to get. And it has a flurry of butterflies erupting about his stomach at her light chuckle and pink tinted cheeks as she licks her lips and leans back over the bar, thumbing the wreath he gave her.
He wants to say something else. To keep her here and talking to him, but the door swings open the moment his mouth opens and a happy squeal of "Roni!" echoes through the bar. A young girl with raven hair comes thundering in and straight into the arms of Roni who's moved around the bar to catch her.
"Lucy!" Henry comes running to the bar, "Jeez girl, you gotta slow down, Roni's not going anywhere." He looks flushed, a touch sweaty and breathing rather heavily as he slumps down into the seat beside Rowan.
"What's all the hurry about?" Roni questions the girl, smoothing back her hair behind her ears.
Lucy spins, climbs up beside Henry as Roni moves to stand beside her, a hand running soothingly up and down her pink shirt as she hauls a white book onto the bar top with a thud. "I figured something out."
Rowan's eyebrow arches in question as he eyes up the book. Once Upon A Time. He's never heard of it. It's a children's book clearly. But the way both Henry and Roni sigh and give each other a look of exasperation, it has Rowan scowling down at the book causing Roni apparent distress.
"Look! This is the part where Regina meets Emma for the first time."
It's a watercolor picture of a brunette in a tight grey dress, standing rather defensively in front of a long haired terrified looking blonde. He reads the page quietly over Henry's shoulder, getting an inkling that this particular chapter is about an adoptive mother meeting the birth mother for the first time. He shakes his head, pretty heavy for a child's novel.
Roni frowns down at the page herself. It hasn't skipped her mind that the brunette in the painting does somewhat resemble her. Though she wouldn't be caught dead in a dress like that. It doesn't have a strip of leather, or wild print to it. Not her style at all. "I'm not sure I follow."
Lucy exhales hard, rolling her eyes as she sits back and sits the book up, "Emma is Henry's birth mother and you are his adopted mom. He ran away to Boston to look for her and bring her back to break the curse."
"Lucy…"
"Please Henry, just listen. It's real."
"It's a story Lucy. I wrote it." Henry folds the book down, a half exhausted smile on his face as he turns fully to square his shoulders to the younger defeated looking girl. "I know things are hard right now with your mom, but this book - " He thumbs over the white spine, "It's just a fairytale I made up."
"But it's real. You just have to believe."
Over the side of Henry's shoulders, Rowan see's Roni's eyes glassing over at the photo of her and a young boy hugging tightly. The relief and pain etched onto the woman's face is palpable. She sighs, runs a hand over her face and their eyes meet with a small smile shared between them. It's not his place to ask. But he wants her to know that if she needs someone to talk to, he is more than happy to be that person. He mouths silently to her, asking if she is alright, and she nods, but he can see it's not the entire truth. Perhaps later.
"Who are you?" Lucy peers around Henry's shoulders, eyeing Rowan up with a sparkle. He happily extends a hand, hoping that they can possibly steer the conversation of fairytales away from Roni's heartache.
"Rowan Lock at your service."
"Lucy Mills." The girl beams, even if Henry sinks in his seat a touch at the use of his last name instead of her own. She is determined, that much is clear. Gets her stubborn nature from somewhere.
"It's very nice to meet you Lucy."
"What do you do?"
"I'm a wood architect."
"Cool." She nods, and Rowan beams at the smile Roni gives him in thanks over her shoulder. If talking to a little girl is going to make her happy, well he is all for it. He likes kids anyway. "I've never seen you in here before."
"I'm afraid I've not been in this lovely establishment until Monday."
HIs eyes flick up, finding Roni hiding her smile behind her curls as she pretends to clear the bar top, wiping glasses and restocking the already full liquor shelf. She's rather cute when she is shy. Not a look he would have thought would cross the face of a woman most people know to be strong and set in her ways. But it's there all the same, and he hopes to the high heavens he is the one responsible for making her blush like this.
Completely unnoticed to the pair of locked eyes over the bar, Lucy's curious stare suddenly turns into a bright magical beaming smile. "Wait. You're Robin Hood."
"I'm sorry?"
"That's who you are. I knew you looked familiar."
"Lucy, kid give it a rest." Henry sighs and throws his head up into the air. "Does the guy look like a fox or man in tights to you?"
"No, no, no. He's Robin of Locksley from the book! I can't believe you're here!" Her eyes glaze over with tears, and before he knows what's happening, her arms are thrown around his middle, hugging him tight in a fierce hug. "I can't believe it's really you." She sniffles against his coat.
For his part Rowan is completely baffled, but raises a soft hand to stop both Roni and Henry from pulling Lucy off of him. There is something going on with her clearly. And he'd be lying to say he didn't have a slight bit in intrigue into her imagination, and he's already made it quite clear, at least to himself that kids are his soft spot. If Lucy needs a hug, well he is more than happy to provide her some security.
Roni is staring at them, swallowing heavy at the lump in her throat to how open and easy Rowan let Lucy basically climb into his lap without a second thought. It's endearing and has her heart pumping furiously. He's a soft soul. She knows it. Felt it the second she met him.
He sits Lucy up on the counter, wipes away the few straggling tears that tip into her smile, "What makes you think I am this Robin Hood?"
Lucy bites her lip in a concentrated frown, tapping her lip with her thumb as she scans his face in search of an answer. "Well, your initials are the same. R.L."
She's got him there but it's not much evidence to go off of, especially if he is going to play along to being a fictional fairytale character.
"And, you work with wood which means you have to like the forest."
He chuckles.
"He smells like a forest too." Roni mumbles out, not expecting the raised flirtatious eyebrow Rowan sends her way.
"That's it!" Lucy squeals and flings her body around to Roni. "He's here because of you!"
Heat floods Roni at the statement, and she can see Rowan's bright blue eyes glue to her in anticipating curiosity.
"Me? And why would Robin Hood be with the Evil Queen?"
Lucy laughs, a real and true giggle that has both Roni and Rowan smiling at her odd joy over the ridiculousness of the topic they are discussing.
"You're soulmates!"
"The Evil Queen and Robin Hood?"
Henry groans, his head hanging in his head. He know his own novel by heart. He knows how the Evil Queen was struck down by an arrow in the middle of the Enchanted Forest. He wrote it. Every single interaction they had, the sharp barbs they threw at each other, the soft eyes shared in quieter moments. Their first kiss in Storybrooke. He knows everything about it. But Robin died in the end of the book. And he hasn't had a chance to start writing the sequel yet. He's coming back in part two. Henry couldn't be that cruel to let Regina lose love again. It was a cliffhanger he needed in order to have people by into the second installment. But it's not real. It's a story. That's it.
Roni cocks a brow at Rowan over Lucy's head. "Hear that, looks like fate brought you inside and not poor direction sense." She chuckles and shakes her head. But Rowan has this strange look in his eyes. And it stills Roni's heart for a moment. He's looking at her like he is searching for something. It's just a silly story Lucy is fixated on. That's it. He can't possibly believe it. Can he?
"This is how the curse is broken!"
"Does I steal from the Evil Queen or something?" Rowan grins and levels himself down to Lucy's level, though his eyes never leave Roni's.
You can't steal something that's been given to you.
It's a whisper that passes through her mind, and for a half terrified second she wonders if she said it outloud. It was her voice. But like a memory or something. The steady pumping of what she thinks is a heartbeat echoing in her ears.
"Nope." Lucy smiles, oblivious to Roni's confused scowl. "It's True Loves Kiss."
"I see." Rowan nods, chews his lip thoughtfully at the prospect of kissing Roni, fairytale's aside. "I do have one more question."
"Shoot." Lucy wiggles about, grateful that at least someone is taking her seriously.
"How did the Queen and Robin Hood meet."
"He shot her with an arrow." Henry sighs.
"Technically yes." Lucy nods, but spins back to Rowan, "But she actually saw him first, when she was a lonely Queen in her Castle. Tinkerbell brought her to a tavern, and she was supposed to go inside but she was scared and ran away."
"Then how could she possibly know who he was?"
"She saw his tattoo. It's how she knew it was him later."
"What's the tattoo of? A bow and arrow?" He teases back.
"No it's a lion in a black crest, he's the guy with the lion tattoo."
Rowan freezes. There is no way she would know about the jet black ink on his forearm, etching out a roaring skin tone lion.
It has to be a coincidence.
TBC.