A/N-Dedicated to a pair of chairs this night!
The next morning, Regina had just gotten home from her work at Transplant Foundation. She loved being able to help register people so that if something should happen to them, others would have a chance to live on. Regina absolutely loved her job, she loved going to work and feeling like she was making a difference in other's lives.
As she entered her room, she put her purse down and looked down at the bracelet on her wrist. It reminded her of Daniel, as well as Robin now. He had been on her mind almost all day today, there was something between them. And not just on a physical level now, she had felt an emotional connection talking to him about Daniel, something she didn't talk to anyone with. For her to talk to him about Daniel, was her letting her guard down. He had asked her to trust him, but trusting someone was not anything she did just easily anymore. The last time she had put her trust in anyone had cost her Daniel. Now he wanted her to trust him, when she really didn't know him well. But if she knew anything about Robin Locksley it was that when he saw something he wanted he didn't give up.
She felt a physical attraction to him from the first time she had met him, now the emotional side was there as well. Was she ready to start to open up to someone? By trusting someone she gave that person the ability to destroy her. But a part of her was screaming at herself to give him a chance, that being said she was also hesitant to trust him. Her decision made, she took out her phone, blocking her number just to be on the safe side. After one ring, she heard him pick up the phone.
"Robin Locksley," Robin said upon answering the phone.
"I told you I would call," Regina said.
"Regina, this is a very pleasant surprise." Robin said. Regina could hear the delight in his tone of voice.
"Am I catching you at a bad time?" Regina asked.
"Not at all. I was just about to go out for some dinner, any chance I can interest you in joining me?" Robin asked, he was trying his best not to put any pressure on her. But he just wanted to get to know her more, every thing about her that he could.
"Where are you having dinner at?" Regina asked.
"At Marco's, but if you prefer we can dine elsewhere." Robin said.
"I haven't said yes yet," Regina said.
"So will you have dinner with me?" Robin asked and after a few seconds went by tried another direction. "You're not going to make me dine alone now are you?"
"I guess I'll have to take one for the team," Regina said.
"So I take it that's a yes?" Robin asked.
"Yes. What time do I need to be there?" Regina asked as she started looking in her closet for something to wear tonight.
"I can pick you up," Robin offered.
"I'll meet you there," Regina countered. She knew he was trying to find out where she lived to find more out about her.
"Can't blame a guy for trying," Robin said.
"No, I'll hand it to you, you're persistent." Regina said.
"When it's something that I really want, always." Robin promised. "And you can meet me there say in about an hour?"
"I'll be there," Regina promised as they ended the phone conversation. Regina started going through her closet trying to find something to wear. She decided on a one shoulder black knee length dress, matching it with a pair of black pumps. She quickly changed and after checking herself in the mirror she made a mad dash for her car. She was just opening her door when she heard a voice.
"Regina? Now where are you off to in such a hurry? And dressed like that?" Zelena asked as she walked up to her.
"I'm meeting a friend for dinner," Regina answered.
"Oh? And is this a male friend?" Zelena asked.
"Why do you even care?" Regina asked sounding harsh even to herself.
"You're my sister, of course I care." Zelena said.
"Right, well if you'll excuse me I have to go." Regina said as she quickly got into the car without waiting for Zelena to respond. She drove off to the restaurant, this time not feeling nervous, matter of fact she was feeling anxious. She was looking forward to seeing Robin again. She smiled as she drove up into the parking lot, stepping out of the car she locked it as she headed into the restaurant. She asked the maitre d if there was a table in the name of Locksley.
"Yes ma'am, just this way." the man said as he showed her where Robin was waiting for her. He stood up as she approached the table, she saw his eyes rake over her form, she could not help the small that appeared on her face as she was finally at the table.
"Regina, you look stunning," Robin said as he moved to pull out her chair for her to sit.
"Thank you, you look very nice yourself." Regina said as she took her seat. Robin walked back to his seat and sat down as well.
"Compliments from a beautiful lady, I'll take that every day." Robin said.
"Something tells me you're used to such compliments," Regina said.
"True, but not from the right one." Robin said as he winked at her.
"So what will you be having?" Regina asked.
"I'm thinking the prime rib with a side of the stir fry vegetables. And yourself?" Robin asked.
"Sounds good, I think I'll have the same." Regina said as a minute later the waiter took their orders.
"So will I be pushing it too much to ask you to tell me things about yourself?" Robin tried.
"I'll try to answer as much as I can," Regina gave a little as she knew she couldn't keep everything from him. "But I get to ask you some as well?"
"Fair enough. So are you an only child?" Robin asked. Excited that she was going to answer as well was interested enough in him.
"No, I have a sister, half if you want to be technical." Regina said. "What about you?"
"I'm an only child. Parents?" Robin asked.
"Yes, I have some." Regina said causing Robin to laugh at her spunk.
"I figured that, so are they still with you?" Robin asked.
"My mother is, my father passed away a long time ago." Regina said. "And yourself?"
"They were in a car accident when I was younger, I lost them both." Robin said.
"I'm so sorry, how old were you?" Regina asked.
"I was seventeen, my Grandmother took me in and finished raising me." Robin said. "Can you tell me what you do for a living?"
"I'll say this I help people who can help people. Now I know that didn't make sense but don't ask anymore about that." Regina said coyly as their food arrived then.
"Fair enough. You obviously already know what I do, so my turn again." Robin said. "But first, may I propose...a toast?" Regina smiled and nodded, noting his slight pause in doing so.
"Here's to possibilities," Robin said as he lifted his wine glass, Regina agreed and clinked her glass with his. They started to eat their meal, but not forgetting their questions.
"What's your favorite place in the entire world?" Robin asked.
"I have a few, but I love Italy. My father took me there once," Regina answered. "What about yours?"
"Well until recently I loved England, but lately it's been in the presence of a beautiful young lady." Robin said as he looked into her eyes, causing a slight blush to appear on her face. "What's your favorite way to spend on a Saturday?"
"I am one who likes to spend the day in new lounge clothes watching old movies," Regina answered and raised her eyebrow to indicate he should answer.
"I like the occasional movie, along with catching a game here and there." Robin said. Dinner lasted far longer than she'd expected. They talked for several hours and it was growing late.
"I need to get home and to bed," Regina said slowly hating to end the evening, but it was already close to eleven.
"Can I ask you on another date?" Robin asked as he gave the waiter his credit card.
"I don't know, can you?" Regina asked, Robin was entranced by her so much.
"Let me try this then, how about a balloon ride tomorrow? If the weather is good?" Robin asked.
"I've never done that," Regina said, knowing her smile held delight. "I would love to." Especially with you, she thought to herself.
"I will make the arrangements. Shall I pick you up at six?" Robin asked.
"In the morning?" Regina asked, she had hoped to sleep in in the morning, but she admitted to herself that she'd stay up all night and the next day too, to spend a day with Robin.
"The balloons take off shortly after dawn. Before the day gets too hot. Bring a light jacket, according to the brochure, it can be cool at the upper heights." Robin said.
"I'll meet you at the park then," Regina said, once the waiter returned his credit card, Robin escorted Regina to her car.
"Thank you for a lovely evening, I really enjoyed myself." Regina said.
"The pleasure was mine," Robin said, taking her hand and brushing his lips across the back. He then turned it over and kissed her wrist. Regina felt her heart skip a beat. His head was so close it was all she could do to refrain from reaching out to run her fingers through his hair. Her heart pounded in her chest.
"I do have one last question, and I really hope you answer this one." Robin said as Regina looked at him.
"Your last name, I promise I won't look you up on the internet. Please Regina," Robin said. Regina took a deep breath, she knew she had to tell him who she was.
"Mills, my last name is Mills." Regina said as she watched the look of recognition cross over his face.
"Henry's daughter? We have seen one another before, haven't we?" Robin asked knowing they had for some reason.
"Yes, we met earlier this year." Regina said.
"Did we speak then?" Robin asked.
"No, you sorta looked right through me." Regina said.
"I must have been blind then," Robin said, thankful he knew who she was now.
"I wasn't exactly decked out like the night we met," Regina said.
"Wait a minute Zelena is your sister? Half?" Robin asked.
"Yes," Regina said as she knew where Robin was going now.
"So you made sure that your sister, half, didn't get to spend time with me at the ball?" Robin asked with a smile starting to form on his face.
"Yesssss," Regina let out slowly.
"So you must have wanted to spend time with me then," Robin said.
"Well I overheard her saying how she was going to make sure her rocket matched yours. She has always gotten everything she wanted and it just was time she was denied something." Regina said.
"Me," Robin said confidently.
"It wasn't just you, but you definitely had something to do with it," Regina said.
"I'm very flattered," Robin said. "You saw something you wanted and you wanted to mark your territory." Robin said as he went to stand right in front of her, putting his hands on her hips as he pulled her closer to him. He brought his hand to the side of her face as he lowered his lips to hers, this time he kept the kiss gentle, letting his mouth knead against her own. Regina let out a soft moan in the back of her throat, letting him know how much she was enjoying his kiss. Robin felt her hands move to the back of his neck to pull him closer to her, he then moved his hands to her hips to lift her lightly as he continued to kiss her. Regina felt him move back from her slowly, kissing her mouth several times before completely moving from her.
"Regina Mills, you have my entranced." Robin said.
"Are you complaining Robin Locksley?" Regina asked.
"Not in the slightest," Robin said. He dropped his lips once more to hers, before just looking down into her eyes. "I have to let you go don't I?"
"The quicker you let me go, the quicker you'll have me back tomorrow morning for our balloon ride." Regina said.
"Alright, I hope you have sweet dreams. And I will see you in the morning," Robin said as he kissed her once more before letting her go so she could get in her car. Once she was in she looked at him and smiled before pulling away from the restaurant.
She was looking forward to the day she was about to spend with Robin tomorrow. She felt greatly relieved that this secret she had been keeping from him was off her shoulders and now nothing was going to hold them back now from seeing what this was exactly between them. Regina felt as if the weight of the world had finally slipped off her shoulders.
Robin stood in the parking lot as she left with a smile of his own on his face. He finally was making head waves with her, he knew her name. She was beginning to trust him. He knew on a huge level that this was big for her. He was determined to keep earning her trust, and learn more things about her. He wanted to know everything about her, he had learned a lot this night. He couldn't wait for their date tomorrow.
As he walked to his car, he got in and started to drive off. While he was driving he kept thinking how much guts it had taken for her to show up and meet him that night at the ball. She easily could have not shown up or for that fact, given his half of the rocket to another woman. He felt slightly cocky for thinking she had wanted to meet him that night, yes he understood the sticking it to her sister but from the moment they had met he had known this woman was going to be in his life. After spending more time with her, slowing getting her to let her guard down around him, he felt more sure about how their paths were destined to cross.
Later that night he was in his bed, letting his thoughts go back to how she had felt in his arms. How her lips had felt under his, plump and extremely soft. He knew he had to stop his thoughts or he was not going to be able to control himself. He smiled as he turned off the television, when his phone dinged, signaling to him that he had received a text. He grabbed his phone and saw the new message.
Good night, Robin
Robin smiled as he knew who had sent it, and why. Regina felt comfortable enough to send him a text, but also her number in the process. He quickly sent her one back.
Good night, Regina. And thank you!
Robin smiled as he turned off the lights and went to bed for the evening. His dreams were filled with thoughts of Regina. He looked forward to the next morning, to when he could hold her in his arms, to when he could kiss her again.