Chapter 2

Few days later.

Regina is in her office working on some nonsense stuff. When she casted the curse in the Enchanted Forest, she didn't know what sort of role she would've played in a world without magic. She surely didn't expect a job like that. Papers, over and over. But it's a price she is willing to pay to get her happy ending. Snow White, or Mary Margaret in Storybrooke, has no idea that her beloved soulmate is in coma, in a hospital room. There's no way she's going to fall in love with a stranger, especially in a situation like that. Tue love's kiss won't prevail this time, and after spending many years trying to split them apart, Regina finally won. She still remembers her words to Snow, few moments before the curse, when her step-daughter asked why she was doing it. 'Because this is my happy ending!'

Can Regina still relate to her own words now? Does this new life can be considered a happy ending? Her happy ending? She grew up with the idea that happiness and love were one thing, like one was the consequence of the other. With Daniel, Regina had both happiness and love. And now? She loves Henry with all her heart and she's happy to have her own family but she can't compare this feeling with Daniel. Despite the fact that she's grateful to have Henry in her life, deep down, she knows that her life isn't completely full. Like something inside her is missing.

'Excuse me?'

Regina raises her head fast. 'What?' The word comes out of her mouth but the sound of her voice is so low. She looks right in front of her and meets the glance of the last person she ever imagined to see in her office. 'Robin?' Regina gasps.

'Apologies, Milady. I knocked but I didn't get any answer.' He says behind the door.

'Oh.. I..' Regina doesn't know what to say. Her thoughts distracted her enough not hear him knocking at her door. 'Please, come in.' She says standing up behind her desk. Robin does as she says. Closing the door behind him, he walks toward her. 'What brings you here?'

Robin stops right in front of Regina. 'This!' He says raising his right hand.

Regina doesn't need much time to realize what he's holding. 'My scarf!'

'I would like to think that you left it on purpose at my tavern as an excuse to see me again, but..' He says placing the blue scarf on the desk between them.

'But what?'

'You'd never admit it.'

'I.. I didn't leave it on purpose..' She says trying to masquerade her surprise. 'I forgot it.'

Does he really think that I'd act like a teenager just to see him again? No! But I have to admit that I'm glad he personally steps by.

'See? I knew it.' Robin smiles proudly.

'Thank you, by the way.' She gets around her desk. 'How would you like a glass of the best scotch in town?'

'Is the Mayor allowed to drink at work?'

'Being the Mayor has its advantages.'

'How can I refuse it then?'

'Please, have a sit.' Regina says pointing at the guest chair at her desk before to walk toward the entrance of her office. She grabs the bottle of scotch and pours it out. 'So..' Regina turns to her desk and finds Robin looking at her. The way he stares makes her blush. 'I thought you hated coming to town.' She hands the glass over Robin and, for a very brief moment, their hands touch. She gasps.

'Well, I don't hate it. I don't like the chaos.' Robin says as Regina leans against the edge of her desk right in front of him. 'I'm more like a lone wolf, in the forest, like..'

'A bandit.' She finishes his sentence without thinking twice. Did she really just call him Bandit? She can't believe her own words. 'I mean, like your tavern.'

Robin smiles, before drinking from his glass. 'Despite what you think, I'm a good bandit though.'

'I never thought otherwise.'

'Really? Not even for a moment?' He's looking straight in her eyes.

Damn, those blue eyes!

'Well..' Regina needs to compose herself, it's so easy for him to tease her. 'Maybe once, but.. it didn't last long.' She takes a long, very long, sip of scotch, trying to look away.

'What changed your mind?'

Come on. Seriously?

'Your son. The way you are with him.' Regina admits, remembering how adorable Robin was with that little boy the other night. The kind of love that only a father can give to their children, and Regina can't help but think of her beloved father, Henry. She misses him very much. There's not a day that goes by that Regina doesn't wonder if she did the right thing sacrificing him, the thing she loved the most, to curse the entire Enchanted Forest. Her father always believed in her and she loved him with all her heart, but she was too blind by her revenge.

'I hope I didn't upset you.' Robin says interrupting her thoughts.

'Oh, no.' Regina turns to him, 'No, you didn't. I – I was just thinking of something.'

'I wish you met him. I'm sure he would like you.'

'Maybe the next time.' She says smiling.

If that little boy is just half-charming than his father, I'm sure I'm gonna like him too. Wait, what? Like him too? Robin is handsome, I admit it, but where do these thoughts come from? I barely know him, and yet..

Robin takes a long sip, finishing all the scotch he has left. 'I should go now. I promised a little boy I'd spend the rest of the day with him.' He says standing up, trying not to step on her feet.

A bitter smile appears on her face. Since Henry started to believe she's the Evil Queen they don't spend much time together. He'd rather spend more time in his room than with her. 'You better hurry up then.' Regina says.

Robin is standing so close to her that she can easily feel the warm of his breath against her skin. He eventually raises his head and she can see every single shade of blue in his eyes. Despite all her efforts to step back, she can't. The desk is preventing her from making any move, except toward him. Robin's glance moves from her eyes to her lips, instinctively getting closer. Apparently he doesn't notice it, but she does.

'Are.. are you going to steal a kiss from me, bandit?' She murmurs trying to capture his attention from her lips.

'Maybe..' Robin moves his look back on her eyes. 'Would you mind if I dare?' He whispers, seductively.

Is he really asking the permission to kiss me? Is he really bold enough to dare?

'I..' She finds it hard to breathe. Her eyes move up and down, from his eyes to his lips. Regina bites her lower lip hard, forcing herself to control her impulses. 'Robin..'

'It's your turn, Madame Mayor.'

Knock. Knock.

Robin takes a step back as she sadly slips on her desk, trying to put some distance between them. 'Come in.'

'Regina..' Graham says walking fast in her office, but stops as soon as he notices she's not alone. 'I.. Madame Mayor.. I'm sorry. I didn't know you..'

'That's fine, Sheriff.' She says trying to reassuring him, even if she'd have rather not be disturbed. Especially in that moment. 'Graham, this is Robin. Robin, this is Sheriff Graham.' She doesn't know why she thought she had to introduce them.

Robin stretches his arm. 'Nice to meet you.'

'D– Do we know each other?' Graham says, shaking his hand.

'I doubt.'

'Maybe you know him because he owns The Bandit tavern.' Regina crushes in.

'The tavern?' Graham wonders out loud. 'No, it's not that. It's more like a feeling. I don't know how to explain it.'

What is going on? Does Graham remember something from the Enchanted Forest? Do Robin and Graham have a past that I am not aware of?

'Well, it was a pleasure meeting you, Sheriff.' Robin says breaking the awkward silence that was slowly taking control of the situation. He turns to her and smiles. 'Regina. Thanks for the drink.'

She smiles at him without saying anything. The situations is already enough awkward. Graham and Robin in the same room. The man she mostly use for her personal attentions and the man she is slowly falling for.

Robin walks out of her office and she can't help but staring at him, till the very last inch of him disappears behind the door.

I would like to thank everybody for all your support on this new story. It means a lot.

I'm glad you liked the first chapter and I truly hope you liked this one too.