A/N: Happy OutlawQueen day, y'all! I typed the rest of this chapter as fast as I could just so I can update today. So forgive me for the bad ending, I promise I'll make it up the next chapter. With that being said, I'm putting all of my stories on Hiatus only because I'm dealing with a few things in real life. But I will try to update The Lady of the Night and The House by the Oak Tree soon since I have most of them all written.

Disclaimer: I don't own Once Upon a Time nor its character. However, I do own the ideas behind this story and the characters that are unknown to the Once fandom, my mistakes too.

Chapter Four

Now, she wasn't always like this. A menace. But as if something clicked or a switch went off inside her, Regina found herself increasing the oven's heat as the apple turnovers baked, measured up an extra tablespoon of pepper flakes for the lasagna and stirred in a generous pinch of salt into Robin's icy cold, cup of water.

Truthfully, she didn't even know why she was doing all of this. Just a few moments ago she went out to apologize, now she's doing stuff only satan would praise her over. She wanted him gone, out of her life for once and for all. Did she have a solid reason for all this? No, definitely not, but she wanted it.

"Table three," Regina said, ignoring the funny look of confusion Aurora gave her as she gleefully took the extra step to wipe around the dish and popping a single leaf of basil at the top of the lasagna.

"Isn't…isn't table three the same guy from yesterday?" Aurora asked, arching a brow as her boss hummed in confirmation, taking her completely by surprise. She was acting as if the last evening never happened. This wasn't the Regina she knew, the Regina she knew had been bitter over two men she'd never met before in her life for killing her fictional boyfriend. She would at least make her annoyance toward a certain someone clear after something like that, but this wasn't the case today.

Deciding against torturing her brain trying to understand what's going on inside of Regina's, Aurora simply picked up the tray and walked out, completely missing the wicked grin the older brunette had plastered across her face.

One would think she was impatiently waiting for her customer to leave or quite eager to see his reaction to the first bite of her famous lasagna as she continued to neglect the orders she had piling up to have a peek through the window at him every couple of minutes. Well, it was a little bit of both actually. She wanted to see his face flush as he chomps on the extra spicy lasagna she made especially for him, stick his tongue out and pant like a dog before reaching for the salt water. Oh, but it won't end there, oh no. She knew how much he loved his food well-done and well, she hoped he would like the taste of charcoal with his apple turnovers.

But all her excitement died and disappointment took over when he ate his food without pausing to reach for the water. He took one bite into his mouth after another, and for a split second, she wondered if she'd given Aurora the wrong lasagna to deliver out. But it was the one, she was one hundred and one percent sure of it. Yet, she didn't get the reaction she very much wanted to see from him.

Regina scowled and stomped her foot in anger, a woman in her late 20s acting in a way even her nine year old daughter wouldn't.

"Is she okay?" Ruby asked, her voice barely audible and all Aurora could do was shrug.

"You're her cousin, you should know." Ashley chimed in, in a whisper.

"I don't think even her own parents know…" Ruby mumbled, pulling a face as Regina marched past them, her footsteps heavy against the floor and face screwed, muttering gibberish under her breath.

The plan was to over bake the turnovers a little, give them that slightly toasted taste to go with the vanilla ice cream, but when the lasagna dish returned completely devoured and the salt water drained to the bottom, she burned them. Instead of that flakey texture and perfect golden brown color her turnovers were known for, they were parched and black.

Normally, the waitress would bring out the food to the customers but this was no ordinary customer, he was a special one. And so Regina plated the charcoaled turnovers nicely on a platter, scooped out a perfect ball of ice cream to top it with before personally bringing out his dessert. She fought the urge to slam it down infront of him with force and instead, she laid it down with grace and the most fake smile curving over her rosy lips.

"How did you find the lasagna?" she asked, oh so innocently.

"Exquisite," he replied, flashing her a dazzling smile that made her scowl, but only for a split second before she remembered to keep her cool; around him at least.

"Wonderful," she drawled sarcastically.

Robin hummed, using the sharp ends of his fork to scrap along the burnt pastry, "It's quite…over-baked, wouldn't you say?"

"I thought you liked your food well-done—" she recalled with a charming smile of her own, pointing her finger over at the turnover, "so I baked it a little more just for you."

That drew a wholeheartedly laugh out of Robin and made it hard for her to suppress her growing smile. Darn it. He shook his head lightly and took her by surprise when he cut up a piece and shoved it into his mouth with a small scoop of ice cream. The hardened, bitter dough crunched everytime he chewed, she expected him to spit it out and rebuke her over it but he swallowed and took another bite, practically purring as he praised her over it.

She was shocked, to say the least.

Why on earth was he doing this? Enduring this torture she was purposely putting him through. Jesus.

"Okay…okay stop," she urged, snatching the plate out from infront of him.

"Hey!" Robin exclaimed, "I was eating that," he whined.

'Why? Because it's tasty?" she scoffed, "Just cut the crap, Robin, why are you doing this?"

"Doing what?" he asked, obviously only pretending to be clueless, she could tell by his failed attempt to force back a smile. His dimples were showing despite his efforts.

"Eating all that," she explained with a sigh, "the spicy lasagna, the salt water and now this!"

"Because I wanna go out on a date with you," he blurted out.

"I already forgave you— wait, what?" Regina paused, her brows furrowed in confusion. She couldn't possibly have heard him right.

"I wanna go out on a date with you." He repeated.

Nope, she definitely heard him right the first time.

...

Okaaay…

So, that happened. I bet none of you expected it, huh? Neither did I.

I did everything I could to make that man run to the hills and get out of my life, everything I had up my sleeves, I even jeopardized my business by messing around with his food for the sake of it, but nothing worked. Dammit.

I tried the nice way to turn him down, went around the subject and over it, made excuses to why I can't go on that date with him. From being extremely busy (which wasn't entirely a lie, I am busy, but I could've easily slipped the date into my schedule) to using my daughter as my excuse, again. Making up plans even Juliette didn't know about.

It's terrible, I know, but it's not like he took 'No' for an answer, even when I straight up told him that I didn't like him enough to go out with him, he insisted, saying he will find a way to make me like him. Ha! I doubt that.

I ignored him, or at least tried. Believe me, but for how long could you ignore a person that keeps showing up at your workplace? Every. Single. Day.

Long story short.

I'm going on a date with Robin Locksley.

...

"Regina Mills," Malinda drawled teasingly, "are you nervous about your date tonight?" she asked with a hint of mockery in her tone, unable to stop the cheshire-cat smile from curving across her face. Oh, she was! She could easily tell by the blush rising on both her cheeks.

"I'm not," Regina barked defensively, "why would I?"

"Because you'd rarely been on any dates before and now you're going out with your kindergarten crush whom you suddenly decided to hate in high school over a speech and—"

"Okay, okay…you've made your point," Regina interrupted with an eye roll, she puckered her lips a little and smeared her lipstick across, painting them in currant-red. She didn't overdress for the occasion (she hoped not), she wasn't trying to impress Robin, after all, but that didn't mean she doesn't get to look good for herself at least.

She looked good in the white, floral print cocktail dress, definitely, even though it wasn't something she'd usually wear. It wasn't often that she bared her entire arms and shoulders, nor did she show much cleavage on daily basis as much as she did in this dress tonight.

Oh screw it. It was Malinda's dress.

Regina owned nothing of that sort, everything in her closet was too formal and too casual, nothing good enough for a night out at the bar.

Yep, their first (and only) date, is in a bar.

"Regina?"

"What?" she grumbled.

"You look really great," Mal complimented, resting both her hands on either of Regina's shoulders as she smiled at her through the reflection of the vanity mirror. "But you gotta promise not to scowl throughout the whole date, loosen up a little, have fun, chug down a few drinks."

Regina rolled her eyes and glowered, "Fine."

"And don't fuck him…yet."

"Malinda!" Regina shrieked, drawing a laugh out of her friend. She looked up at her with brown eyes wide and smacked her arm, "This isn't funny," she grouched, but it was to the blonde, she could tell by how hard she was fighting to keep a straight face and failing.

"I'm just saying — when you haven't had sex in a while, you could easily get laid after a few shots." Mal shrugged.

"Well unlike you—"

"Ouch," Mal interrupted with a light chuckle.

"I'm a responsible adult," Regina continued, "I won't just sleep around with anyone handsome that offers to buy me a drink."

"But you won't be sleeping with anyone, Gina, just Robin." Mal added proudly, grinning at her so-called-joke.

Regina rolled her eyes. God. He better hurries and pick her up before she goes nuts, she wanted this night be over with already and it was yet to begin.

Men often complain about women being late, taking their time to pick the perfect outfit only to decide on something else halfway through getting dressed, and their makeup was a whole different story. Just another extra hour of waiting.

But this wasn't how it was with Regina, she'd been expecting Robin's arrival for the past half an hour and he was yet to show up. Of course, what else would come out of the same man that stole her spot as the valedictorian over ten years ago. He was an asshole then and he still is an assho—

"Mom! Robin's here!"

Well…that doesn't change her thoughts about him, he was still late. He is still an asshole.

"Oh wow," Robin breathed out, his ocean blue eyes grew a little wide as he saw her. If it wasn't for the words that came before, Regina would've assumed she looked bad, because at the back of her mind, that's what she believed. That's what she always believed ever since, well, a very long time.

"I know right?" Juliette cooed quietly, she too was stunned by her mother's appearance. It wasn't very often that she saw her with full (yet natural looking) makeup, dressed like this. If she was still three years old, she would've beamed and told her that she looked like a princess, but she was old enough to realize that her mother looked prettier than any princess.

Regina kissed her daughter goodnight and repeated the rules to Malinda. No sweets after 8 o'clock and no staying up past her bedtime, but she knew the blonde all too well to know exactly how they planned to spend this night.

They will party like there's no tomorrow, PG style.

The Rabbit Hole. She'd seen this bar many times, walked past it countless times and yet, she never really bothered stepping in. Never had the reason to. In fact, Regina had never stepped a foot inside of a bar before, up until tonight.

Being a single mother at a young age, she focused more on her daughter and building up her career rather than partying at nightclubs. Besides, why head somewhere that was loud, stank of alcohol and sweat and was crowded with intoxicated people, when she could relax at home with a glass of wine, or two? That sounded much better, if only it wasn't too late to change her mind and do that instead.

But surprisingly, the night didn't turn out to be as bad as she thought it would. Quite frankly, she expected it to be awkward with neither of them being sure of what to say. However, a few shots in and the conversations flowed. They spoke about many things, and she learned quite a bit about him.

For example, his favorite animal is the nonexistent, mythical creature. The unicorn. Who would've thought? And the fact that he can't handle even a little bit of spice, which filled Regina with guilt over what she'd done earlier, but he brushed it off and insisted that it was alright, not that it helped at all but she appreciated it.

Robin also brought up their graduation night, explaining how it truly wasn't his fault how things ended up the way they did. True, he did step up when they've asked who would like to deliver the speech but he was oblivious to the fact that it was the girls' turn that year. He apologized, again and she was too drunk not to accept it. And perhaps, maybe she would've accepted it even if she was sober.

It was four in the morning and they had just been kicked out of the bar, if it was up to them (in this condition) they would've stayed a little longer, drank a few more shots and danced to a couple more songs, but they could barely even stand on their feet without swaying and bumping into someone, or something. Luckily for them, Robin's apartment building wasn't far, in fact, it was just across the street from the Rabbit Hole, and in her drunken state, Regina didn't even argue when he suggested staying at his place for the night. But once she's clearheaded, she wouldn't be so happy about it.

"Are you okay?" Robin asked, slurring his words as they stepped into the elevator. Regina had been awfully quiet for the past five minutes or so, barely speaking a single word, which was odd for a woman who wouldn't shut up after her second shot of tequila.

"I'm fine," she grumbled, earning an eye roll from him. Even drunk, she had an attitude. Women.

"Fine," he murmured under his breath and sighed, rubbing his hands over his face as they waited to arrive to his floor. Maybe drinking this much wasn't the greatest idea and he surely will regret it in the morning but well, what's done is done now.

By the time the elevator arrived and dinged — which didn't take more than two minutes tops — Regina somehow managed to fall asleep while standing upright. If he wasn't so wasted himself, he would've laughed and definitely snapped a picture, just to annoy her a little more. But he scooped her up bridal style and carried her out.

Boy, did he struggle though. Now she wasn't heavy, not at all but he wasn't sober either, it was a miracle that he managed to carry himself up, let alone carry another person. He fell, a couple of times and she stirred, groaned and elbowed his face out of annoyance and God, it was too tempting to drop her down onto the floor but he was a gentleman, his mother taught him better than to do that.

He did, however, toss her onto the bed which caused her to bounce right off of it. He shouldn't have, but he couldn't stifle the laugh that erupted out of him at her yelp, "Sorry."

He wasn't though, not even the slightest. She had it coming for elbowing his face and almost breaking his nose.

A/N: Again, I apologize for the bad ending. I have so little muse but I really wanted to update to day! Also, forgive my mistakes (I will fix them when I see them!) and please don't forget to review. I live for them! Lots of love, N.R