So here we have the beginnings of the family meal and everyone meeting Robin. I hope you enjoy it!
A week later and Cora had badgered Regina enough for her to finally ask Robin to come to a dinner at her mansion to meet her family. She had tried to convince her mother to wait a little longer but apparently that wasn't a good idea. So here she was in the diner sat opposite Robin, a cup of coffee being nursed in her hands.
"I know it probably seems too soon but my mother won't give up until I introduce you to everyone. I have tried telling her to wait a little while longer but I'm not so sure I can put her off any longer." Regina said with a sigh.
Robin chuckled a little and reached his hand over to take one of Regina's. "Regina I'm happy to meet your family. I don't think it's too soon. I really like you Regina…I…" Robin said but trailed off.
"You what?" Regina asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I don't want to scare you off by saying it." Robin replied.
"You're not going to scare me off Robin. I was afraid of scaring you off. I'm still afraid about it. I mean my family isn't exactly normal. The Queen of Hearts and The Dark One are my parents." Regina said.
Robin laughed a little. "Your definitely not scaring me off. I will win the Queen of Hearts and The Dark One over with my charm."
Regina laughed. "Of course you will." Regina said giving his hand a light squeeze. "Now what were you going to say?"
Robin sighed a little. "I was going to say that…Well that I love you."
Regina smiled and she leaned over the table a little and brushed her lips against Robin's. "That's good because I love you too."
After inviting her father and Belle, Neal and Emma, Mary-Margaret and David and of course making sure Henry didn't arrange anything with his friends she tried to get her mother to tell her what she was going to prepare for dinner. Cora however wanted to keep that information to herself and told Regina to get out of the kitchen.
Cora had spent the next two days trying to prepare everything while Regina spent them hoping the dinner would go well. The night had finally arrived and Regina had spent around two hours getting herself ready. She decided on a royal blue coloured dress that clung to her body in all the right places. It was sophisticated enough for family but also she knew it would grab Robin's attention. She slipped on her black patent high heels and looked in the mirror to make sure her hair and makeup was okay.
"Mom!" Henry called as he walked down the hall and into Regina's bedroom. "Mom Grandma says I need to wear a shirt!. Do I really have to? We are eating in the house."
Regina looked round to see Henry dressed in his smartest pair of jeans and wearing a light blue shirt that was tucked into his jeans. She thought he looked very handsome but she really wasn't sure if it was necessary for him to be dressed so smart. She gave him a smile and turned round to walk over to him. "You look very handsome Henry." She said as she fixed his collar.
"Thanks mom but do I really have to wear it?" Henry said in a whine.
"You didn't have to no but since you are already wearing it you may as well keep it on. But you can untuck it if it would make wearing it any better." Regina said.
"And unbutton it a little more?" Henry asked with hopeful eyes.
Regina laughed a little. "Yes you can unbutton the top buttons."
"Yes!" Henry said punching the air a little as he turned on his heel and walked out the room, untucking his shirt as he left.
Regina shook her head a little and laughed at her son as she watched him leave her room. She then turned back round, taking one last glance in the mirror to make sure she looked okay. She smiled at her appearance before turning back round on her heel and heading out of her bedroom. She headed downstairs and into the living room where Cora, Rumple and Belle were sat. "Hi Dad, Belle. I didn't realise you were both here already." Regina said as she walked over to Rumple and place a kiss on his cheek.
"Rumple was itching to get here. Couldn't relax." Belle replied rolling her eyes and making Regina smirk a little.
"Well Robin won't be here for at least another half an hour, as well everyone else." Regina replied. She gave her mother a smile as she passed her a glass of wine. "I do hope you won't embarrass me tonight dad." Regina said before taking a sip of her wine.
"I'm not going to embarrass you Regina." Rumple said.
"And don't scare Robin. He will be nervous enough without you scaring him with your dark one routine. That goes for you too mother." Regina said turning to point at her mother. "None of your Queen of Hearts routine."
Cora held her hands up in mock surrender. "I have my heart back now Regina, I'm not sure I could pull that off."
"Having your heart back is what makes you dangerous." Rumple said. "More protective I would imagine."
"Exactly. Just please don't scare him off." Regina said.
"I won't." Both Cora and Rumple said at the same time.
The doorbell rang and Regina was quick to place her wine glass on the table and hurry towards the door. She opened it to see the Charmings, Emma and Neal and she greeted them all with a smile and a hello. She huffed at Neal as he walked past her and ruffled her hair, messing it up in the process. "Neal did you really have to do that?" Regina whined a little.
"Sure did squirt." Neal smirked and winked at Regina. "Older brothers are meant to annoy their little sisters. Get used to it sis."
Regina rolled her eyes and was about to close the door when she saw Robin walking up the path. She stepped outside and closed the door behind her a little. "Hi." She said happily as he stepped up the steps and stood close to her.
"Hi." He replied with a big smile on his face. "I brought you these." Robin said holding up one hand that had a big bouquet of flowers in them.
"Thank you." Regina blushed a little as she took them.
"And I brought wine." Robin said bringing up his other hand.
"Oh you didn't have to. I think my mother bought enough wine to serve the street." Regina said with a laugh.
"You can never show up to a place empty handed." Robin said.
Regina smiled at him and she stepped a little closer. "Are you ready for this?" Regina asked.
"As ready as I will ever be…I think." Robin said with a chuckle.
Regina giggled a little and then leaned up and brushed her lips against Robins. "Come on let's get this started." Regina said softly as she reached down and took Robin's hand in hers. She lead him into the house and closed the door behind them. She took him into the kitchen and quickly placed her flowers into a vase of water before taking the wine from him and putting it on the side. She then took his head again and lead him out of the kitchen and through to the living room where everyone was waiting. She gave his hand a comforting squeeze before she cleared her throat a little attracting everyone's attention. "Everyone…this is Robin. Robin this is…everyone." Regina said with a little laugh. "Over here we have David and Mary-Margaret, Emma and my big brother Neal." Regina said pointing to the sofa. Robin gave a half wave and watched as Regina moved a little. "And here we have my dad Rumple and his wife Belle." Regina said pointing to the chair where Belle was sat and Rumple on the arm of the chair. "And then over here we have my son Henry and my mom Cora." Regina finished.
"It's nice to meet everyone." Robin said giving everyone a smile. He then stepped forward and held his hand out to Rumple who looked slightly surprised. "Especially you sir…" He shook hands with Rumple and then turned to Cora "And you Miss Mills." He said holding out his hand. Cora shook it and he gently leaned over and placed a kiss on her cheek. Pulling away he looked towards everyone. "Regina had told me a lot about you all."
"All nice things I hope." Emma said making everyone laugh a little.
"Of course." Robin replied.
"Would you like a drink Robin? We have plenty of wine." Cora said standing up from her chair.
"Wine would be lovely Miss Mills." He replied.
"Oh please. Call me Cora." She said with a smile before leaving the living room. Regina moved over to the empty seat, gently pulling Robin over. She sat down and motioned for him to sit on the arm of the chair beside her. He did so and held onto Regina's hand moving his thumb over it softly.
"So…you're a gardener right?" Neal asked.
"Yes. I am. I also work in the forests, tidying everything up." Robin answered.
"Do you help mom look after her apple tree?" Henry asked jumping round from the side and making Robin jump a little.
"I have given her some tips yes." Robin said with a slight chuckle.
"Good. Mom always goes on about how it's never been the same since Ma took a chainsaw to it." Henry said rolling his eyes a little.
"Well it hasn't." Regina muttered.
"I apologised for that." Emma added in.
"Do your merry men help you? Are they gardeners too?" Henry asked excitedly.
"They are indeed yes." Robin said.
"Cool. So you are the actual Robin Hood. Steal from the rich and give to the poor." Henry said amazed. Robin nodded his head and Regina chuckled a little. After all the fairytale characters her son had met he always seemed so excited to meet more and more. "So cool." Henry breathed out.
"So what are your intentions with my sister then?" Neal asked, asking the question Rumple really wanted to ask but he was playing the brooding father role at the minute.
"Neal." Regina hissed.
"No no it's okay. I can answer whatever questions you wish to ask." Robin replied. "I love your sister and my hope is that we continue on with our relationship and see how things go. I don't wish to harm Regina in any way if you are worried about that. I wouldn't dream of hurting her."
"But you could do so unintentionally?" Neal said and Regina glared at her brother.
"You are right but I hope I will never do such a thing. Like I said I love Regina and I would do anything to make sure she is safe and unharmed." Robin replied.
Neal nodded, happy to accept Robin's answer. Regina let out a small sigh. She could tell this was going to be a long night. She only hoped her family would go easy on Robin.