Chapter Two
There are sounds in his apartment. Sounds of A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving playing in the living room and the sounds of little feet running on the carpet and of giggling. He's listening to all of it very intently as he makes dinner for them all. He checks the turkey again and thinks another hour should do it. That's plenty of time to finish the vegetables and the cranberries and even a small break with the boys to see how they're faring.
Regina should be back soon. She'd been annoyed when Mallory called her. He could tell by the set of her jaw and the way she looked reluctantly at Henry and Roland and him. There was nothing that could be done for it though, so he made sure she was as bundled up as she could be and walked her out into the hall where he closed the door behind him and pulled her into a light kiss.
It was supposed to be just a quick brush of lips, but she'd have nothing of it. Her hands took fist fulls of his sweater and she pulled him against her. He very nearly moaned aloud when he felt the brush of her tongue across the seam of his lips. Never one to deny her, his mouth softened, and before he knew it they were making out like teenagers outside their home.
He could still picture her, the way she looked when she pulled away from him - her red-stained lips, slightly swollen from being kissed, all that lovely dark hair that fell around her shoulders, and those warm brown eyes. Those eyes that seemed to search his as though she were looking for something…
Robin knows very well what that something is. Fear. Hesitance. Any sort of sign from his that's going to tell her he's about to turn tail and run, but she won't find it. Not in his eyes. Not ever.
So it's not until he leans in again and places a kiss on her lips, one full of promise, that she turns to leave. She's not smiling though, and he can't have that, so he reaches for her elbow, and her brow creases but it's only for a moment. His hands find their way into her hair and cup her face between his palms and he's kissing her again and again. Foreheads meet. Her eyes close and he can't look away from her.
God, he loves her, he thinks. Desperately.
"We'll see you in a bit," he tells her, and there it is. She smiles and it's all he can do to kiss her only once more before she's gone.
The boys, their boys, are settled up along the window watching as the parade begins to pass by. His son is just nearing two, his attention span not nearly as great as Henry's so he's running back and forth between Charlie Brown and the scene below.
"Do you know how much it costs to make this parade?" Henry asks when Robin takes a seat beside him.
Robin blinks. He's sure it's quite a bit but honestly has no idea. "A million dollars."
"Three million," Henry tells him gravely and Robin just smirks. "It's a bad move though. Word is if they don't turn the store around it's going to be toast around this time next year."
Robin shakes his head, very aware of the bad investments as of late, but knows enough about corporate law and the dealings made within that gives him a bit of knowledge the boy is without. "That's not going to happen, not on your mother's watch. Besides, they've been bailed out of their, eh, financial difficulties. You better check your sources better."
Henry gives him a look. It's a look of deep patience, and he can't help but think how much the young boy looks so much like his mother. Robin has to bite his cheek to keep from smiling because this is a very serious conversation.
"Still, they have to make up for the money they lost and pay back their loans." Henry sighs heavily and turns his attention back to the parade. "If they don't make up for it we'll be calling it the Nordstrom's Day Parade."
Robin raises a brow. Okay, Henry has him there. But Macy's financial situation, or more accurately, his mother's job, isn't something Robin thinks a young boy of his age should be worrying about. "Perhaps we should ask Santa to give Macy's an interest-free loan for Christmas? What do you think about that?"
His idea has the boy's lips curving up but only just. "Highly unlikely."
Robin shrugs and tells Roland, "Here comes the balloons," before he says to Henry, "I dunno, Santa Claus is a clever one. You never know what he could do with all that magic of his."
His assurances don't work. In fact, they only cause Henry's smile to disappear altogether before he's leaning in to whisper, "Robin, it's okay. You don't have to pretend in front of me. I know."
"You know what?"
His voice lowers, even more, his eyes glancing to his other side where Roland has his hands pressed against the window. "That Santa Claus isn't real. I've known for a long time."
Robin's heart drops at how incredibly sad Henry sounds. It makes him wonder who told him such a thing. He reckons it was probably some older kid at school. Some children are right little bastards when they want to be and it irks him that one of them tore his little beliefs to shreds. He's sure there's still time to fix it though. Henry's only six, after all, there's got to be a bit of him that still wants to believe in magic.
So instead of acknowledging the truth, he feigns shock and asks, "Says who?"
"My mom."
Oh, well, shit. That he wasn't expecting.
Thankfully, Roland chose the next moment to squeal delightfully, before crying out, "Daddy, Panda! Panda!"
Robin shifts to face Roland. His eyes widened seeing the panda from the kung-fu movie he has had to watch a million times now, and says, "I see, my boy," before placing a kiss to his mop of curls.
There's a soft knock on the door, and he knows it's her. He doesn't know why she just doesn't come in. She has her own set of keys, he pressed them into her hand before she left on their last night together, but still, she knocks.
When he opens the door, he sees that she's stopped at home before coming over because she clad in only that lovely red dress and black heels, no purse or jacket to be seen. Though he's already seen her in them, he still has to swallow and pick his jaw up from somewhere near the floor. Christ, she's stunning, he thinks not for the first time today, and probably won't be the last.
She's smiling under his open admiration, and he thinks her cheeks are just a bit pinker than they normally are, and he's glad for it. "Hey, beautiful."
"Hi," she says stepping inside.
"How was work?"
Her eyes roll up to the heavens before she blows out a breath. "Frustrating," she mumbles, then, "I'll tell you about it later."
She heads inside and he closes the door behind her before, following her back out into the living room.
#
She makes her way over to the boys. Henry is beside Roland pointing at something she can't see but when Roland does, his little face lights up. Her chest fills with affection seeing how wonderful Henry is with Roland. He's such a little thing still, a toddler that is so easily distracted and has so much energy Henry takes in stride.
"Hey," she tells them, taking their attention from the window.
Henry looks up first and jumps to his feet. He meets her just before she makes it over to them and wraps his arms around her middle. "Hey, Mom."
"Hi, sweetheart." Her hand brushes through his hair, and then he's moving away, back over to the window in time to see Spider-Man.
Just as soon as Henry steps away, Roland is there coming toward her.
"Hello, Roland." He reaches his hands out to her, taking him eagerly into her arms, and her heart tugs. She misses Henry being this little. Misses his chubby cheeks, the way he would call her Momma, and how easily she could pick him up and cradle him to her side. "What do you boys think?"
"Look, Gina, Olaf!"
His voice is soft and sweet and it makes her smile widen. Pulling him close, she kisses his cheek one last time before she lets him get down to run back over to the window. "I see, sweetheart."
"It's a good one this year," Henry says.
"Can you see Santa Claus yet?" she asks, wondering how close to the end it is.
Henry cranes his neck and presses his face as close to the glass as he can to look down the street. "Nope, not yet." When he's sure Roland's not paying attention, in a stage whisper, he asks, "Is it that Leroy guy again?"
Regina gives her son a look. "No, he had other things to do, but I found this new one, and he really looks like the real thing."
"Maybe he is?" Robin says earning himself a narrow-eyed glare from her.
Henry looks up at him with a smile then shakes his head, focuses his attention back out the window, and, to Regina's relief, away from the subject.
Regina rises to her feet. "How's dinner?"
"Almost done." His smile comes easy, always does when it comes to her and their boys, and it sends her belly fluttering with butterflies even after knowing him these last nine months, and sleeping with him for almost half that. "Would Mom like to come and share a glass of wine before it's done?"
"I think I would."
When they get in the kitchen, he asks again about how it all went, so it's with a deep breath she spills it. All of it. From hiring Leroy last year right up until today with his pants down around his ankles. Robin grimaces. He knows of Leroy, has seen him a couple of times that he's gone to pick Regina up from work, so it's no surprise to him to see him go.
"I gave Leroy another chance after what he did last year, but he ruined it with this."
Robin sits his glass on the counter. "Well, thankfully, you seem to have found a better replacement."
She takes a long drink before she nods. She thinks so anyway. "I have."
"Sounds like you've had an interesting day," he tells her, coming over, closing the distance between them and resting a hip against the counter beside her. His voice is low, and his warm breath hits her cheek, sending a shiver down her spine when he asks, "Are we still on for a movie tonight after bedtime?"
Heat pools in her belly imagining them alone on his couch with the boys tucked in bed and the lights turned down low. Her eyes raise and find his on her. Those top teeth of his are sunk into his bottom lip and she has to look away to keep herself from rising up on her toes and kissing him. "Yes," she says setting her wine on the forest green marble countertop.
She feels his lips on her cheek brushing a quick kiss there and a softly replied, Can't wait, before he moves back over to the stove. She feels her cheeks heat, but can't bring herself to feel the least bit bad about it.
#
"Here we go," Robin says, setting the turkey on the table between him and Regina. Henry "Oooo's" and Roland echos his excitement with a little "Ooo" of his own. Robin smiles at that, at how much his son has taken to Henry. The little boy would follow him around the apartment all night if Robin let him. The bond between them growing stronger these last few months with all the time they've been spending together.
His thoughts are pulled away from his musings when Henry observes, "It's almost like we're a family, except we should have a dog and live in a big house. Like the one Mom wants…"
He's trying very hard to keep himself from laughing at the look Regina is sending her son. Certain he's never seen her turn such a lovely shade of crimson. "You want a house?"
Regina turns her look on him. It's not a glare but it's not a happy look either. "It's not for sale…"
"It's the catalog house," Henry cuts in. "The one they use for Macy's and Mom loves it."
She's too busy scooping Roland some mashed potatoes and pouring just a bit of gravy over them for Robin to really see her reaction, but he doesn't need to see it because he hears it in her tone when she says with as much minimal exasperation as possible, "Henry, I don't think Robin finds this very interesting. Let's talk about something else, please."
But he's not letting her off that easily, and as he passes Henry a plate with two slices of turkey, he tilts his head and tells her, "On the contrary, I'm finding the idea of country living, Regina, quite intriguing."
Her eyes roll to the ceiling, but she can't hide the way her lips curl up. "I bet you do." They all tuck in and his ears perk up once again at her appreciative moan. "This turkey is really good."
"We're lucky Robin knows how to cook." Henry smiles. "Who knew Thanksgiving dinner could taste so good homemade?"
"Thank you, Henry."
Taking his glass of water from the table, Robin hides his smile through a drink. She just can't seem to catch a break today, and he makes a mental note to try his best tonight to make up for it. His curiosity gets the better of him, wondering what she's been doing all these years, so he asks, "You don't normally cook?"
Her shoulder lift and fall. "We usually go to my parents."
"They don't cook either," Henry tells him, his fork pausing halfway to his mouth, and then, "They have a chef."
Robin hums and once he's swallowed replies, "Sounds very posh, indeed."
"Alright, enough with the talking for a bit," Regina chimes with look at her son. "Let's eat."
"Yes, lets," he agree if for nothing else than to give her a bit of silence. "After all, I did slave away all day in the kitchen."
"Which I thank you for, you outdid yourself." She smiles and so does he through a bite of cranberries. They manage to make it through dinner with a minimal amount of talking, at least, none that makes Regina blush profusely.
#
A little while later that night, they're in her apartment this time. Henry and Roland are tucked in and asleep in Henry's room. By the end of the night, they wanted a sleep-over after all and who was he to deny such a request when there were movies to be watched and his girl to be kissed. It Happened One Night is playing in the background, but they're a little too distracted to notice it. Well, he was trying his best at least, but the moment her thigh draped over his, he began to care less about the movie and more about the way her warm skin felt under his fingertips.
She cuddled closer after that, and he turned his head, intent on burying his nose in her hair, but Regina had other plans. Her head lifted and those dark eyes looked up at him, and he was lost. He isn't quite sure who kissed who first, only that that's how they ended up like they are now, with her on his lap, kissing her breathless.
"I thought we were watching a movie," he mumbles against her lips.
She pulls away only enough for him to see the curve of her lips tilt up before she says, "You and I both know we're never just watching a movie."
Her lips are back on his, and God, he loves her like this. Loves the feel of silk over warm skin, loves the way she gasps when his hands find their way under her top and palms her breasts, and her soft little whine when he pinches her pebbled nipples between his fingers. "Christ, babe, you're so sexy."
She lets out a hum and her back arches under his touch. God, he could watch her forever like this. Her hips grind down where he's hard for her and he has to bite his lip to keep his own moan in check. Their children may both sleep like little rocks, but this isn't a position he wants Henry or Roland to find them in.
"Bedroom?" he asks between kisses because he knows where this is going. Where it always does.
"We probably should," she replies then goes right back to kissing him.
A chuckle rises up, one he can't fight. He takes his hands from her breasts a bit reluctantly (he'll give them their due attention shortly), and grips her arse in both hands, holding her close as he pitches forward to the edge of the couch. Blindly, he reaches for the remote, remembering he left it on the coffee table in front of him and switches off the TV.
Her lips have left him, a soft pout makes him chuckle some more. She starts to move, but he shakes his head and whispers, "Allow me, milady."
A quiet gasp escapes her as he stands, but she's quick to catch on and now she's the one giggling into his neck as she wraps her legs around his waist. He walks with her in his arms and tries not to groan as her lips seek out sensitive places on his neck.
He manages to step into her room and close the door with a smirk and his foot, before going over and letting them fall very smoothly onto her bed. For the next little while, he makes up for her bad day with soft kisses and light caresses until he's deep inside her and she comes with his name on her lips.
#
The next morning, Regina doesn't rush her normal routine. Normally she gets up at five and spends some time running on her treadmill in the corner of her room. How long depends on the day. How tired she is or how horribly guilty she feels about what she ate the previous day.
Then a long hot shower. She washes and while she lets the conditioner set in her hair, she exfoliates then washes and rinses. She doesn't shave, not anymore. Not since Mal gave her her esthetician's card who she now sees every few weeks or so. She's a wonder. Uses the hard wax on her sensitive areas and gets her done from head to toe in thirty minutes.
She dries and slathers on shea butter, then puts on her robe and pads out into the kitchen for coffee. She usually has about fifteen minutes until she needs to get Henry up for school, so she'll enjoy the quiet for a few or as of lately, trade texts with the man next door going through a bit of the same routine as she.
But this morning, she skips the treadmill for a different workout entirely and instead of texting the man next door, she's fucking him. And God is it good.
She's not too ashamed to admit it's been awhile since she's had sex with a man. Just over five years to be exact. Sure, there was Graham in high school and some of college, but then they broke up, and she met Daniel. They were together just over a year before she got pregnant with Henry, and then Daniel signed up for the military and disappeared, or so he said. She hasn't heard from him since, and quite frankly, she doesn't care.
What she does care about is how close she is to coming. She's on top, riding him, while he thrusts up inside her. She at that angle where he's hitting that spot, and her legs are burning but she's so so close. She just needs something… a little more… "Robin, I need…"
His eyes open, his hands still on her breasts, but that's not what she wants. "What do you need, love?"
Her tongue brushes along her lower lip and a gasp leaves her as he trusts up inside her. "No, don't stop…" He gets her meaning, thankfully, and he's back to pinching and teasing her nipples. She hums it's good and it should make her come just like this, but she needs something on her clit.
"Touch yourself, babe," he tells her.
Her eyes flutter open, and with burning cheeks she does and oh, oh God, that's more like it. Her head falls back, as fingers circle, and she can hear Robin whispering encouragements. "That's it, Regina" and "Are you going to come for me, baby?"
"Uh huh," and "Robin," is all she can manage in reply as their thrusts are meeting and she has just enough time to purse her lips together to keep from crying out as her orgasm slams into her. Lights explode behind her eyes and she's vaguely aware of Robin's hands grasping her hips as he follows after her.
She falls down on top of him absolutely boneless. That sleepover was a good idea, she thinks before she's chasing it with thoughts of how bad it could be if Henry were to wake while he's there in her room and how ridiculous she is to think this is something she can have because it won't last. It never does. Not for her.
Still, he's there with her now and she's going to enjoy these last few minutes, this wonderful afterglow and then soon they'll have the tough conversation.
His chest rises and falls with his deep breaths, and she feels his lips on her forehead before his, "I should get up real quick and chuck this thing…"
She tips her head up and meets his eyes with a sheepish smile. Oh right, the condom. A kiss to her lips and he rolls them to their sides. She stretches out and tries hard not to enjoy the view of his ass as he slips into the bathroom, but it's no use. It's a great ass, one that has her attention too long because when he turns he notices her admiration and the grin he gets is positively criminal with those dimples.
He slips back into bed, and her heart knocks hard the way he folds her back into his arms. Regina lets her eyes close for a minute, enjoys the feel of his warmth and the press of his lips on her's before she lets out a soft sigh. "We should get up before the boys do. I need a shower…" His eyebrows raise and she clarifies, "Alone. If you join me we're likely to get caught."
He's kissing his way down her neck now, and her traitorous chin lifts to give him better access. "Would that be such a bad thing if our boys knew I fancied you?"
"Yes," she replies automatically. "Henry would be thrilled, you know he would. I can't get his hopes up like that."
His lips pull down into a frown. "Is there something you're afraid of? Something you're not telling me?"
She wants to sigh. Wants to rewind this whole conversation and just not say anything but it's out there now, and she doesn't think she can get around it but she's sure going to try. "What do you mean?"
He rolls them until she's on her back so he can look down at her, and she has to swallow hard to keep her eyes from filling at the way he's looking at her. "I'm talking about us, love. Since we became something more it seems like it's always one step forward, two steps back." His hand settles in between her breasts, as he continues, "Just when I think I found my way into your heart, you retreat a little further away from me. Have I done somethin-"
She shakes her head and lifts her hand to his cheek. "No, it's not you."
His lips pull down again. She knows that he wants her. Wants to be the balm that heals her broken heart, but she's not brave enough to let him in that far. "Then what? What can I do?" he asks.
She wants to tell him nothing, because she's a mess and she knows herself. Knows as soon as he sees how broken she is, he's going to turn tail and run from her just like Daniel had.
"Just…" she trails off and swallows. Tears fill her eyes anyway, no matter how much she pushes them back. She doesn't want to lose him. "Just be here. I want this. I want us but…."
"Regina, I'm not leaving you," he tells her with so much conviction she almost believes him.
She blinks and she feels the tears escape from the corners of her eyes. "That's not the first time I've heard that."
His thumb swipes away the wetness. His voice is soft and warm when he says, "I know, love. Tell me how can I assure you?"
She doesn't think that's possible, but she doesn't have time to think about it. They need to get up, and she needs to get ready for work, so she gives the best shrug that she can on her back and tells him, "by being here. By not giving up."
He leans forward, his nose brushes against hers so light and soft that it makes her eyes flutter closed. She hears the words, "I won't," right before he kisses her one last time before they get ready for the day ahead.