Chapter 11: Next Steps

Robin was glad President's Day was after Valentine's Day. He slept in and meandered down to the kitchen sometime around eleven. Will sat at the table, a half-eaten piece of toast and glass of orange juice. He held his head in his hand and groaned every so often.

"Had a good Valentine's?" Robin asked, voice soft for Will's sake.

His friend nodded. "I might've enjoyed a little too much champagne though. You?"

"I had a great Valentine's." Robin sighed, wondering if now was the right time to have this conversation. "I have a favor to ask, though."

Will groaned. "I love you and I love Roland, but I am not cleaning up any mess either of you managed to make last night."

"There's no mess. Everything is nice and clean, don't worry about that."

"Then what is it?" Will leaned back, raising his eyebrow.

Robin carried his bowl to the table and sat down next to him. "I want to take Regina out on a date. We kissed on her birthday and have kinda been sneaking around since then. But I don't want that for us."

"Wait." Will rubbed his face and blinked a few times. "You and Regina have been together for two weeks and you're only telling me now? Why?"

"It was all too new and I don't know, I guess I liked have a secret for a little bit," Robin replied, placing a spoonful of cereal in his mouth.

Will continued to stare at his friend. "But you tell me everything. I'm a bit hurt you didn't tell me you finally pulled your head out of your arse and acted on your feelings for Regina."

"I'm telling you now," Robin said. "Can you watch Roland for me on Wednesdays? I figure since Regina's already off, it'll be the best day for us to date."

"And what am I supposed to tell the lad? Does he know about you and Regina?"

Robin grew quiet. He had been debating about when to tell Roland since the moment he left Regina's room on her birthday. At first, he thought they could tell him right away. Roland adored Regina. But then Robin thought about it more. Just because Roland adored Regina as his nanny didn't necessarily mean he would like his father to start dating her. Or he might resent Robin for taking "his" Regina away from him.

"Why is he making that face?" he heard Regina ask.

"Because he is overthinking something," Will replied.

Robin focused again, seeing Regina standing over him with a concerned look on her face. He smiled as he took her hand. "Sorry, love. Lost in my own thoughts."

"About?" she asked, sitting down.

Will leaned back, crossing his arms. "Roland and your new relationship with Robin, I suspect."

"You know?" Regina asked, tilting her head.

Robin squeezed her hand. "I told him because I need him to watch Roland while we're on our dates."

"Right," she replied before shaking her head. "I don't know why I was surprised. I just told Emma myself."

"What was her reaction?" He smiled, curious.

Regina held up her phone and the "Hallelujah" chorus played over her speakers. "She sent me that."

The men laughed as Roland came downstairs, rubbing his eyes. "What's so funny?"

"Nothing," Robin replied, patting his lap. Roland climbed up, settling against him and Robin smiled. "Did you have a good Valentine's Day?"

He nodded before turning to Regina. "Did you have fun?"

"I did," she replied, kissing his forehead. "You were a great date."

Will stood, stretching. "If you don't mind, I'm going to go to bed. And Robin? That thing you asked? It's okay."

"Thank you, Will," Robin said, softly. He smiled at Regina, winking at her.

She smiled back before standing. "Well, since Will needs his beauty sleep, I guess I'm making breakfast. What do you want?"

"Pancakes!" Roland chirped, bouncing on his lap.

Robin pulled him closer, hugging him as Regina started to gather the ingredients. This could be their future, he realized, and it warmed him inside.

That night, Robin sat at his desk as he went over some of the reports he would need for his meeting the next day. As the numbers began to run together, he was relieved when he heard a knock at the door. He brightened to see Regina there. "Well, hello there."

"You weren't in the den," she replied, handing him his nightly glass of whiskey. "I missed you."

He smiled and stood, guiding her to his couch. They curled up together as she sighed. "So, have you decided how you want to proceed with Roland?"

"Not really," he replied. "Any ideas?"

"Well, imagine I wasn't your nanny. That you just met me and decided to ask me out. What would you do?"

It seemed simple when he considered that. "I would tell Roland I was dating someone but I wouldn't introduce them until I was certain we were serious about each other."

"There's your answer," she replied.

He nuzzled her. "I'd say I'm quite serious about you, Regina."

"I'm serious about you, but still…"

"No, no. What you said is a good idea." He kissed the side of her head. "I knew you were the brains of this relationship."

She sipped her whiskey as she curled against him. He ran his fingers up and down her back, enjoying the feel of her pressed against him. They fit so well, it was as if they were made for each other.

"So, Mr. Locksley, where are you taking me for our first official date?" she asked, eyes sparkling.

"That, milady, is a surprise," he replied. He was still finalizing a few details so he didn't want to reveal too much too soon. "Just dress fancy and you'll be fine."

Regina hummed. "I can't wait."

"Neither can I," he whispered. He tilted her head up and kissed her.

Regina turned on her blow drier as she brushed out her hair. She had about a half hour before Robin came to pick her up and she wanted to look her best. Once she was done with her hair, she would then put on the dress and do her makeup. Hopefully she'd be done in time as she didn't want to keep him waiting.

The door opened and she saw Emma slip in. "Do you need any help?" the blonde yelled over the hair dryer.

She turned it off, shaking her head. "I think I've got anything under control. I've picked out the dress and I'm almost done."

"Which dress are you going with?" Emma sat down on Regina's bed, hugging one of the pillows closer.

Regina sighed, going into her closet to pull her selected garment out. "I figured I couldn't go wrong with the little black dress."

"Always a classic," Emma agreed. "And that's going to knock Robin's socks off. Though when it comes to Robin, I think you would knock his socks off in your pajamas."

"Thanks, Em." She threw the dress down next to her friend. "Can you go and keep watch for him?"

Emma hesitated. "Your dad's out there. He can let him in."

"Daddy needs to rest," Regina reminded her. "And I don't think I want to leave him and Robin out there alone."

"Come on. Henry likes Robin."

"As my employer. Now Robin's my boyfriend."

Emma nodded. "True. But Henry knows Robin. It's not going to be like when Killian came to pick me up for our first date."

"Wait, did Daddy interrogate him?" Regina began to brush out her hair as she sat at her vanity.

"Pretty much," Emma replied. "Killian sat on the couch squirming as your father asked him his intentions toward me. I felt bad for him but it felt nice to know Henry was looking out for me, you know?"

Regina nodded. Emma had been orphaned at a young age, the lone survivor of a horrific car accident. She had been taken in for the first few years by her grandmother, her father's mother, but the woman had been sickly even then. When she passed, there had been no one else to care for the girl and she had to go into the system. She had gone through many foster families before she aged out and was accepted into Storybrooke University, tuition paid for by the settlement she had received in a civil suit against the car company after the accident. After she and Regina had set aside their differences and started to become good friends, Henry had adopted Emma as a second daughter.

She sighed, setting down her brush. "Do you think I should straighten my hair?"

"Nah," Emma replied. "I'd kill for your curls. Show those beauties off."

"Okay. Can you help me pin them back at least?"

Hopping off the bed, Emma helped Regina style her hair and then zipped her up once she put on her dress. It was a simple cocktail dress that clung to her curves with long lacy sleeves. The dress also showed off a decent amount of cleavage. Grabbing a shawl and slipping into her pumps, she finished with her makeup and jewelry—especially her diamond earrings. She turned to Emma. "What do you think?"

"I think you could model if you wanted to," Emma replied. "And I think Robin will be very impressed."

Regina nodded, checking her phone for the time. "He should be here any minute now. I should go out and wait for him."

Emma stood in front of the door, hands up. "Don't get mad."

"Mad?" Regina was confused. "About what?"

"Robin's already here. He's been here for a while."

"What? Why didn't you tell me?" The reason dawned on her and she pushed Emma out of the way to hurry to the living room.

Robin sat on the couch, dressed in a blue suit with a matching tie. He was once again wearing his glasses, making her heart skip a beat, and was deep in conversation with Henry, who sat in his armchair.

The two men looked up as she entered, both smiling at her. "There she is," Henry said.

"You look beautiful," Robin said, jumping up from the couch. He held out a single rose. "For you, milady."

"Thank you," she said, pulling him in for a kiss. She whispered: "Are you okay?"

He nodded. "I was just having a lovely chat with your father.

"Let me get your coat," he said, heading toward the closet. "The long black one?"

"Yes, please," she replied, crouching down next to her father. She leaned closer. "What did you say to him?"

Henry chuckled. "We just had a little chat—father to boyfriend. Don't worry, I clearly didn't scare him off."

She nodded, standing as Robin approached with her coat. He helped her into it and as she buttoned up, Henry watched her. "You two have fun. I love you, Regina."

"I love you, too, Daddy." She kissed his cheek before Robin shook her father's hand. He then placed it on her back, guiding her out of the apartment.

They walked hand-in-hand down to a green Camaro. Robin unlocked it and opened the passenger side door. "Milady?"

Regina climbed in and watched as Robin hurried to the driver's seat. She placed her rose down and smiled at him. "You're driving? What's the occasion?"

"Our date," he replied, smiling at her. "It's a momentous one."

"Is that why you wore your glasses as well?"

He grew sheepish, touching his frames. "I lost one of my contacts and I need more. So it's the glasses for the next few days."

"I think they're sexy," she admitted, her face starting to hurt from how much she was smiling.

Robin cleared his throat. "Well, that's good to know. Maybe one night, you could wear your glasses and we can be sexy nerds together."

"That sounds like fun," she replied, feeling her cheeks heat up a bit as the car came to a stop. "Are we here?"

He nodded. "It's a new restaurant but I've heard glowing reviews so far. Hopefully, it lives up to them."

Regina undid her buckle just as Robin as Robin hopped out of the car. He came around and opened the door, holding out his hand to her. "Allow me."

She took his hand, letting him help her out of his car. He kept a hold on her hand as he closed the door and locked the car. They walked hand-in-hand into Tiana's Palace, ready to see what awaited them.

The maître d' led them to a private booth in the back. "I'll be back with our wine selections," he said, walking away.

Regina took in the dim lighting, done to make the candles on the tables seem to flicker brighter. It added a more romantic feeling to the place and she took Robin's hand again. "This is amazing."

"I only wanted the best for you," he replied, rubbing his thumb over her hand.

She grew quiet. "You know I'm not with you because of your money. You don't have to take me to fancy places to impress me."

"I know." He gave her a small smile. "And we probably won't always go to fancy places. But ever since I became a millionaire, I knew that I wanted to treat those I love the way I feel they deserve. And that includes you."

The maître d' returned, allowing Regina to look away and compose herself as he showed Robin the wine list. He chose a Cabernet Sauvignon for them and soon their waiter was there to hand them the menus. "Do you recommend anything?" Robin asked him.

"The tilapia is very good tonight," the waiter said.

Regina smiled and handed over her menu. "I'll take that then, please."

"Make that two," Robin added, handing over his menu as well. "Thank you."

Once they had their wine, Robin raised his glass to her. "To a wonderful evening."

She clinked her glass against his before taking a sip. Putting it down, she leaned closer. "So, what did Daddy say to you?"

"What you would expect from a father to the man taking his daughter out on a date," Robin replied. "That I should treat you right, I'm a lucky man to have your affections and if I hurt you, he's going to get Emma to beat me up."

"Sounds about right." Regina sighed. "And that's it? He didn't say anything else?"

Robin shook his head before frowning. "Why? Are you scared he told me something else?"

She looked down, debating whether their second official date was the right time to bring up this particular wound. He reached out and took her hand. "Regina, you can tell me anything."

"I was engaged once," she admitted softly. "His name was Daniel and I thought he was the love of my life. But I hit a rough patch and, well, it turns out he couldn't stick it out. Broke up with me and moved out of town. I haven't heard from him since."

Robin slid over to wrap his arm around her as he guided her head to his shoulder. "I'm sorry."

"You're not the one who left me months before our wedding."

"I know," he replied. "But I'm still sorry you had to deal with that pain. No wonder your father and Emma are so protective of you."

"Emma?" Regina frowned, lifting her head. "When did she talk to you?"

He sighed. "She gave me a call the other day and told me to be good to you, that you had had enough pain in your life."

"She would."

"You have a lot of people who care about you, Regina. You're lucky."

She nodded. "I know. So are you."

"Oh, I definitely know that," he replied, kissing her forehead.

The waiter returned with their food, placing their plates down in front of them. Robin slid back across from her and smiled. "Shall we turn to more pleasant subjects?"

Regina nodded. "That sounds great. What did you have in mind?"

"Tell me about your dream vacation," he suggested.

"Paris," she replied without hesitation. "I know it might be cliché but I've always wanted to go the City of Love."

He smiled, leaning forward. "Tell me more."

"That place definitely earned the raves it is getting," Regina said, holding onto Robin's arm as they left Tiana's Palace.

He chuckled. "I'm glad you enjoyed it. Are you ready for the next part of our date?"

"There's more?"

"Of course." He kissed her forehead.

"You mean that carriage ride in the park?"

Robin shook his head. "It's a bit too cold for that. So our ride is going to have to wait until spring."

"Then where are we headed?"

His response was cut off by his phone ringing and he pulled it from his inner jacket pocket. Checking the screen, he frowned. "It's Roland."

"Answer it," she said. "He's probably worried."

Robin nodded, putting the phone to his ear. "Hey, little guy, how are you? Yes, I'm still on my date. Yes, I'm having fun. I can tell her for you.

"Roland says hi," Robin whispered, covering the receiver.

She smiled. "Tell him I say hi back."

"She says hi," Robin told his son. He paused. "I'll be home soon. Regina will be home in the morning, you know that. I love you too, Roland. Be good for Will."

He ended the call and she frowned. "Do you think he suspects? I mean that you're out with me?"

"No," he replied. "He always asks when you're coming home when you're out. Ahh, here we are."

Regina looked up to find them standing in front of the Storybrooke Observatory, it's telescope pointed at the night sky. She turned to him. "What's going on?"

"There's a meteor shower tonight and the observatory is letting people into its observation deck to view it. I thought it would be a perfect ending to our night." Robin opened the door for her. "Milady?"

"Why do you keep calling me that?" she asked, walking past him.

He closed the door behind them. "Because you're like some princess willing to show affection to a commoner."

"I think you have that reversed. You're Prince Charming and I'm the commoner."

"You're hardly common." He held the elevator door as they boarded to head up to the observation deck.

People milled about the deck, all of varying ages. Regina noticed they weren't the only couple there as she spotted two cuddled in a dark corner, waiting for the show to begin. She smiled, leaning closer to Robin as he wove their way to a spot they could claim as their own. He wrapped her in his arms as she rested against his chest.

The sky overhead lit up as the meteors burned up in the earth's atmosphere. Bluish-white streams streaked past them and Regina found herself holding her breath. "Absolutely awe-inspiring," she said, breathless.

"I know. And this didn't cost us anything. Just nature being beautiful and a generous observation deck."

She hummed, craning her neck to kiss his cheek. "Thank you. Tonight has been one of the best I've had in a long time."

"Well, I plan on making sure you only have good nights from here on out." He turned her in his arms and kissed her.

Regina leaned in closer, her hands grasping his coat. Her head was spinning again and she knew she wanted to feel like this for the rest of her life.

Robin and his COO, Mulan Fa, sat across from Mal and her associates, Cru DeVil and Ursula LaMer. All three were grim-faced. "I'm afraid our audit hasn't been able to pinpoint where the missing money is," Mal began.

Mulan frowned. "What does that mean?"

"It's our professional opinion that you most likely have an embezzler in the company," Ursula explained with a sigh. "We advise you to contact authorities and have them begin an investigation."

Robin nodded. "Thank you so much for your help. We'll take it from here."

"Good luck," Mal said, standing with her associates. They shook Robin's and Mulan's hands before leaving.

He sat down, rubbing his face. Mulan took her seat again and sighed. "Do you want me to call the authorities?"

"Could you?" he asked, sighing. "I hate that I have to investigate my employees. I consider everyone here to be like family."

"I know. But someone is stealing from us. We can't let that continue."

Robin nodded. "Then we'll do what needs to be done. Thanks, Mulan."

They left the conference room and Robin headed back up to his office. He stepped off the elevator as Johanna looked up. "Robin, Chryseos Midas is here to see you."

Midas was one of the titans of the Storybrooke business world and one of its biggest gossips. But he had really helped Sherwood when Robin had first started it, so if the man stopped by for the occasional discussion, Robin felt he could suck it up for an hour or so.

"Is he already inside?" Robin asked.

She nodded and he sighed, opening the door to his office.

"Robin!" Midas greeted as Robin entered, arms outstretched. His dark hair was now gray and he smiled widely as he embraced Robin.

The two took seats around Robin's table as he handed Midas a Perrier. "This is a surprise, Chrys. What brings you here?"

"Well, I thought I saw you the other night at Tiana's Palace and realized it had been some time since we had caught up," Midas said, leaning back. "Was that you?"

"I was there the other day. I've…I've started dating again. It felt right."

Midas nodded. "I'm glad you're venturing out again, Robin. I know Marian's loss was a painful one. She is greatly missed."

Robin looked away, controlling his emotions, as Midas clapped him on his back. The older businessman settled back in his seat. "My only concern is that it appeared your date was Regina Mills."

"It was," Robin confirmed, frowning. "How do you know her?"

"I met her a few times when she went to functions along with Leopold Blanchard, back when she worked for Blanchard Financials. You knew that right?"

Robin nodded. "Everyone spoke highly of her but were very vague about why she left."

"I'm not surprised," Midas replied. "We all think very highly of Leo, so we're going to spare him the embarrassment."

"Embarrassment?" Robin felt his eyebrows go up. "What are you talking about?"

Midas sighed. "I don't feel comfortable saying much more, except to warn you that Regina Mills is a gold digger. I'm surprised she even came back to Storybrooke."

"I don't think she ever left," Robin said, voice a bit harder.

Nodding, Midas stood. "Just…be careful. Make sure you know what you're getting into, Robin."

"Thank you." Robin stood as well, shaking the man's hand. "I hope to see you soon."

"Me too," Midas said, before leaving.

Robin returned to his desk and picked up the phone. "Johanna, can you send up August? I have a job for him."

August Booth was his best investigator, the man he sent out to get more information on companies and organizations he was going to business with. He also vetted the people Robin chose to be his officers, just to be on the safe. If anyone would be able to get past the wall silence regarding Regina's departure from Blanchard Financials, he knew it would be August.

He didn't put much stock in Midas' words. Cora Mills Ozgreene was a gold digger. Regina Mills was not. Not when he had to fight her to accept any form of help, monetary or otherwise. She hadn't come into his house and started to flirt with him. Looking back, he realized that she was probably fighting her feelings as much as he had been. So no, Regina Mills was no gold digger.

But if he was dragging Regina back out into the public eye, he felt he needed to try to understand the past everyone was going to whisper about. Midas wouldn't be the first one to try and warn him out of a misguided need to protect him. With no one really talking about Blanchard Financials—Regina chief among them as she hadn't even been able to mutter the company's name—he had to resort to desperate measures.

August entered the office, smiling as he took a seat in front of Robin's desk. "I hear you have a job for me."

"I do," Robin replied, scribbling his notes down. "I'm sure I don't need to tell you that discretion is needed."

"Of course." August took the note. "You can count on me."

He left the office and Robin leaned back in his chair, hoping all would turn out well and Regina would forgive him the intrusion.

A/N: So another clue about what happened at Blanchard Financials. Or is it? Somethings may not be what they appear, especially to outsiders.

Next chapter, Roland will find out who his father is dating. So stay tuned for that!

I hope everyone enjoyed Sunday's episode. I know I did.

-Mac