A/N: Hi everyone, sorry for the delay in updating, it's been one of those weeks! I hope you enjoy this chapter and, as always, if you have any questions/comments/requests, please do let me know J
kneelbeforethequeen: Thank you for your comment. I completely agree, she should have gone to hospital. I was thinking about the nature of her injury when writing the chapter, and I kept writing that she was temporarily regaining consciousness in an attempt to alleviate some of the concerns regarding her health, but you're completely right, she should have gone to hospital. I'll try and keep things more accurate from a medical perspective from now on. Thank you for taking the time to comment, and I hope you enjoy future chapters J
mina: Hi Mina, thank you for your kind words J I'm afraid I don't watch that show, but if you have any requests for this story or for another you'd like me to write please let me know, and I'll see what I can do.
Thanks,
HQ21
The rest of the week passed quite quickly for both Robin and Regina, neither of whom had mentioned their kiss to anyone else, and had certainly not discussed it with each other. Regina avoided the humanities department for the majority of the week, and she and Robin only saw each other very briefly and on a handful of occasions. If they passed each other in the corridor or during dinner they would greet each other politely, exchange a few words and then be on their way. Robin wanted to engage Regina in conversation, even if it wasn't directly linked to the subject which lingered between them, which he felt needed to be addressed; but the painful formality in which she would address him forbade such a discussion. After each encounter with the principal Robin would reply kindly to her words before moving on, the questions and concerns growing in his mind, but the only thing that worried him more than the implications of their actions was the possibility of upsetting her. She clearly wasn't ready to discuss the matter, and he absolutely would not force her; he understood she needed some time to process what had happened, both personally and professionally, and he respected that. Regina could sense the disappointment in his eyes, which he tried so desperately to conceal, and her guilt began to consume her.
The more Regina found herself thinking about the kiss they shared the less she was able to understand it. She didn't know how it happened or who initiated it, or what it meant. All she knew was that the feeling of her body pressed against his, his hands upon her waist, his lips on hers, made her heart race and a combination of excitement and exhilaration flow through her veins. She thought about him a lot that week, and the moment they shared in his classroom, and how it made her feel transcendent, adored and completely at peace. Since the event, and due to her skilful avoidance of him and his department, she found herself missing him. And this, combined with how she felt during their illicit encounter, terrified her. And so, in an attempt to distract herself, Regina threw herself into her work that week, more so than usual. After having overseen the renovations being made to the drama department and sports facilities on Tuesday, Regina's grooms came to her office and informed her that they had found nightshade in the stables, which Rocinante must have found whilst being exercised, and consumed a toxic amount. She immediately ordered that the school grounds were searched and all of this plants, as well as other ones toxic to horses, were destroyed. She spent much of Wednesday overseeing that particular issue which (thankfully) meant that she spent the majority of the day away from the school, and away from a particular teacher. She spent the rest of Wednesday shut away in her office where she was not disturbed. She had almost found herself feeling slightly calmer about the whole situation, and she finally felt as though she could breathe. But this was only temporary, and was set to change dramatically on the following day.
As was their custom, Tink went to Regina's for breakfast on Thursday morning, where they shared coffee and croissants and caught up with each other properly. Regina did not dare mention the subject of the kiss she shared with Robin, and replied in a subtle and non-committal manner whenever Tink or Henry casually mentioned his name; the principal's son appeared to think very highly of Mr Locksley, and spoke of him in an animated and admiring manner, completely oblivious to how uneasy it made his mother feel. But the principal's eyes glistened and her body tensed, and she could never quite meet the gaze of her friend. Tink became suspicious almost immediately, but with Henry present at the table, she could hardly broach the subject. At first she thought that it was linked to the conversation she and Regina had on Sunday about her confliction over her feelings for Robin Locksley, but the more she considered the past conversation and the principal's current demeanour, the more she began to realise that it was something more. Whatever was concerning her was something that she would talk to Regina about, and she resolved that she would go to her office during the morning break. Something was bothering her, she could tell. And it was very clear that it had something to do with a certain history teacher. Perhaps she took my advice, perhaps they did talk Tink thought, as Regina changed the subject yet again and began asking Henry about his French homework. I wonder what could have happened…
The morning passed agonisingly slowly for Regina, who was once more overwhelmed with paperwork. There were further issues with some books she had ordered, various correspondence from anxious parents, and a ridiculous amount of paperwork to deal with regarding Miss Gardner's upcoming school trip. She vowed to get all of the work done by the end of the day to free up Friday for the school's sports day, which was a Mills' Academy Tradition. The students loved it as the teachers also took part, much to the dismay of the faculty, but to the great amusement to Regina who, as principal, could quite easily excuse herself from the day's activities. She smiled slightly to herself at the thought, before picking up the next stack of paperwork and reading through it with a sigh. She was almost grateful for the distraction when her door opened without a knock, which was an announcement of the entrant in itself.
"Good morning Tink" Regina stated, not lifting her eyes from her paperwork, as she scanned the third excruciatingly dull paragraph. "What can I do for you?" she asked, wondering why her friend would be visiting her now when they spoke just a couple hours earlier.
"That's pretty much what I was going to ask you" Tink stated in a calm and casual manner, turning her back to Regina as she poured herself and her friend a cup of coffee.
Regina looked up from her paperwork with a frown of confusion.
"I'm sorry?" she asked, perplexed.
"Something's bothering you" Tink stated simply, turning on the spot and carrying two steaming cups towards Regina. She placed a cup before Regina and held her own in her hands as she pulled up a chair on the other side of the principal's desk, sitting herself down and blowing on her coffee.
"I don't know what you're talking about" Regina returned in a low, calm manner, drawing the cup close to her and drawing it to her lips. "I'm fine."
"No, you're not" Tink stated, staring at Regina as she took a tentative sip of her coffee, before placing it gently down on the desk before her. "You're distracted and clearly upset, something's bothering you" she stated, watching as Regina continued to work, seemingly annoying her words. She inhaled deeply. "Henry tells me you've been swimming every night."
Regina rose her eyebrows and scoffed lightly.
"So you've been talking to Henry" she replied dryly.
"He's the son of my closest friend and a student in my class" Tink replied simply. "So he's kinda difficult to avoid." Regina ignored her. "You swim when you're stressed or upset" she added. Regina sighed.
"I have some bruising from the accident, swimming helps" she replied dismissively, her eyes not leaving her work. Tink tilted her head to the side slightly to consider her words. She suspected it was not a complete lie, but she knew that it wasn't the truth.
"That's not the only reason though, is it?" she asked, her eyes surveying her friend curiously and with concern. "Regina, what is it? What's wrong?" she asked tentatively.
A flash of emotion passed over Regina's eyes, and her composure was fractured for just a fracture of a moment. She quickly composed herself and shook her head dismissively.
"Besides your frequent interrogations?" she asked sarcastically, before taking another sip.
"I'd hardly call it an interrogation" Tink returned, thinking back to the conversation she and Regina had on Sunday night. "And for the record, I was right on that occasion" she stated, as Regina stared up at her with an annoyed expression. "If you recall" she added.
"There's a first time for everything" she replied in a low voice, before placing the coffee down and picking up her pen, flicking through the papers before her but not actually being able to pay any attention to them. She had to reread the first two lines of paragraph three times and they still made no sense to her. Tink rolled her eyes and let out a small sigh.
"Regina, please" she stated calmly, as the principal turned her pen over in her hand. "Talk to me."
"I am talking to you" Regina replied distractedly.
"You know what I mean" Tink continued.
"Actually, no, Tink, I don't" Regina replied, annoyance entering her tone as she lifted her head and faced her friend with a defiant expression. "I don't know what you mean and I don't know what you're trying to do." The situation was difficult enough for Regina to understand, and she felt embarrassed and ashamed of her conduct; her guilt hardly needed an audience.
"I am trying to help you" Tink replied gently. "But I can't do that if you don't tell me what the problem is."
"Don't patronise me" Regina replied in a low tone, casting her eyes back to her paperwork and trying desperately to take some of the information in, anything to distract herself.
"I would never patronise you, Regina. I love you too much" she replied gently, causing her friend to relax slightly, a guilty expression washing over her features as she looked up at her with a confused stare. "But I do know when something is wrong, and I want to help you" she explained, watching as her friend stared deep into her eyes, her composure fracturing, her resolve almost breaking. "It's Robin, isn't it?" she asked gently, watching as Regina inhaled sharply and pressed her lips together, before averting her eyes for a moment. "Did you talk to him?" she asked gently.
There was brief silence before Regina nodded almost imperceptibly.
"Yes" she stated in a low voice, twirling her pen around her fingers as she stared at the table, before looking up to face Tink directly.
"What happened?" Tink asked, concern in her voice. "Did you tell him how you felt?"
"No, I… we…" Regina stammered, before closing her eyes and inhaling in frustration. Tink's expression softened.
"Regina, it's okay" she stated softly.
"No, it's not okay" Regina responded in a low, quiet voice. "It's very far from okay" she stated distractedly. Tink frowned in confusion.
"I don't understand" Tink stated, tilting her head to the side slightly as she spoke. "Regina-"
Tink's question was cut off by the shrill ringing of the bell, announcing the end of the morning break. As soon as the bell sounded Regina found herself recalling the same sound on Monday morning, before she opened her eyes and drew herself away from Robin Locksley, the memory causing panic and fear to almost completely overwhelm her. She inhaled shakily, tensed, and returned her attention to her paperwork.
"Regina" Tink repeated.
"Morning break's over, Tink" Regina replied coolly. "You should get to class" she added, before writing some comments in the border of the document before her.
Tink had the second graders now, and couldn't risk leaving them unattended for any period of time. And yet leaving the principal's office felt wrong, and incredibly difficult. She sighed and rose from her seat, her eyes remaining on her silent friend as she did so. She said goodbye and moved wordlessly towards the door, realising quickly that Regina would not (or could not) confide in her what happened between her and Robin. By the time she entered her classroom she knew precisely what she would have to do to help her friend.
As the door closed behind Tink Regina's hand stilled, and she dropped the fountain pen onto the table with a sigh, before closing her eyes and placing her head in her hand. She found herself considering, not for the first time since Monday, what she should do about the whole situation. It would be so simple to approach Mr Locksley and tell him the kiss was wrong and that it must be forgotten, but her mind could not justify either of those statements, nor could her heart. She groaned in annoyance as she rubbed her aching head, before sighing deeply and picking up her pen. She had work to do.
The next time the shrill bell sounded was to announce the end to the morning lessons and the beginning of lunch. As the bell sounded out Robin dismissed his class and began to tidy the books from their desks, carrying them to the nearby shelves. By the time he turned around and headed to the second row of desks he was slightly surprised to find a familiar face standing in the doorway.
"Tink" Robin stated, his surprise clear in his tone. "How can I help you?" he asked, the teacher's words echoing Regina's.
"Mr Locksley" Tink smiled politely, as she took a few steps into his room. "I hope I'm not interrupting, I'm sure you're probably keen to get to lunch…"
"You aren't interrupting" he replied pleasantly, as he continued to gather the books.
"Let me help you" she stated, making her way to the nearest row and collecting the books. Robin looked up at her with a look of interest.
"Thank you".
They gathered the books quickly and Tink followed him to the shelves, placing the books where he indicated as he looked down at her with interest. He remained silent throughout this time, keen to provide her with the opportunity to announce the reason for her call independently. He was not surprised when she did not provide such information immediately.
"So, what brings you to the humanities department?" he asked kindly, despite having a fairly good idea of the reason. "I take it you aren't here to discuss the Civil War" he stated knowingly, holding up one of the books and placing it on the shelf.
"Not exactly, no" she replied, before standing up tall besides him. "I'm here to talk about Regina" she admitted.
Robin nodded in understanding, his eyes scanning her face for signs of disapproval or annoyance, and he found none.
"She told you, I take it" he stated quietly, his tone tinged with guilt.
"On the contrary, she hasn't told me anything" Tink admitted, causing Robin to turn towards her with a confused expression. "I'm sorry for just coming by like this, and feel free to tell me that it's none of my business and to stay out of it" she continued, watching as Robin offered her a reassuring expression. "But I know something's bothering her, and she won't talk to me about it" she continued. "Not completely, at least." Robin sighed softly and nodded in understanding.
"She finds it difficult to open up, does she not?" he asked gently.
"That's an understatement" Tink stated with a raise of her eyebrows. Robin smiled. "She can try and conceal the cause, but not the affect" she continued, watching as Robin watched her attentively. "Look, I… I'm sorry for being so blunt, but… she likes you" Tink stated simply, watching as Robin stared at her with a doubtful expression. "She does, she really does, and that's why she's so afraid" she continued, speaking so quickly that Robin was unable to interrupt. "The last man she loved died in a tragic accident. He died in her arms" she added, watching as Robin's expression grew solemn, his eyes drifting to the side. "And ever since then she has shut herself away from the possibility of love. She didn't allow herself to experience it for so long, not until she adopted Henry, who she absolutely adores, and never since" she added, watching as Robin looked at her with an unreadable expression. "She is terrified of allowing herself to even entertain the idea that she could like someone, and that that person could like her in return" she continued. "And you do, don't you?" she asked, as Robin turned towards her with honest eyes. "Like her?" Robin nodded immediately in response.
"Greatly" he admitted, his tone low and sincere. "But I fear I may have made that too clear, and my forwardness has upset or offended her."
"What do you mean?" Tink asked, frowning in confusion as she spoke.
Robin looked into Tink's eyes and inhaled deeply, as he considered telling her what Regina had clearly neglected to. Tink clearly cared about Regina, and he knew they were close; if Regina was indeed as distressed as Tink made out, she needed support. And the only way she would be able to receive that would be if Robin revealed what happened between them, an event which made him feel guilty and deeply concerned for the woman he cared about. But regardless of how recounting the incident may make him feel, it was the best way he could assist Regina. He inhaled deeply and averted Tink's gaze.
"Regina came into my classroom shortly after the staff meeting on Monday" he began, lifting his eyes to find Tink looking at him kindly, her eyes encouraging him to continue. "We spoke for a short while and then, suddenly and quite unexpectedly, we kissed" he stated, raising his eyes to meet Tink's', whose eyes widened slightly in surprise. "I don't know how it happened, who initiated it, or…" he continued, trailing off as he thought of the kiss and the events leading up to it for the umpteenth time. "But the bell rang and Regina broke the kiss, and her eyes…" he stated absently, remembering the lost and frightened look their bore. "She looked terrified, upset" he stated, watching as Tink nodded in understanding. "She left before I had a chance to talk to her, and we have not discussed the matter since" he continued. "On the occasions we have seen each other, she seems nervous and upset. I fear that I have hurt her" he admitted solemnly, finding himself racked with guilt once more. "I honestly don't quite know how it happened, but I did not mean to pressurise or coerce her in any way, and I certainly did not intend to hurt her as I appear to have done."
"You haven't hurt her" Tink stated with conviction. "Robin, you have done absolutely nothing wrong" she continued, staring deep into his eyes as she spoke. "And from what Regina has told me, I really don't believe that the kiss was unreciprocated" she stated gently, causing Robin's eyes to widen and his lips to slightly part. "And that's why she's afraid" she continued. "Not because she doesn't want anything to happen, but because she does."
Robin stared at her blankly for a moment, and a silence fell between them.
"Are you quite certain?" Robin asked doubtfully, his eyes narrowed in confusion. "The last thing I want to do is cause her any pain or sadness."
"You haven't" Tink assured him, taking a step closer to him as she spoke. "Regina is not hurt she is afraid. Afraid of opening herself up to someone, of accepting that someone could possibly feel something for her" she continued. "When Henry was about eighteen months old he told Regina he loved her for the first time, and she couldn't make sense of it, she didn't understand" she explained. "That was the first time I saw her cry since Daniel died" she added. "She is not as strong and as confident as she appears, Robin. And the idea of being loved makes her feel vulnerable and afraid" she continued. "She didn't walk away from you because she felt angry by what happened or because she regretted it" she stated confidently. "She walked away because it was exactly what she wanted, and that terrifies her."
"I see" Robin stated in a low and gentle voice, before raising his head and meeting Tink's gaze. "So how do we help her?" Tink smiled.
"By talking to her" Tink stated, causing Robin to nod slowly in agreement.
"I do not wish to upset her, you understand" Robin stated. "And if what you say is the case, but she does not want to act upon it, I will absolutely respect that" he continued, and Tink believed him. "If she is too afraid or if she is not ready, then I will not try to convince her otherwise."
"I know" she responded, considering how similar Robin and Regina were in their logic and their rationalising. "Which is precisely why I am helping you." Robin relaxed visibly and offered her a small smile.
"Thank you" he stated sincerely.
"Believe me, you are very welcome" Tink smiled. "I haven't met someone with such a capacity to make Regina happy" she continued. "Beside Henry, of course."
"Of course" Robin agreed, before inhaling deeply. "So what do you suggest?"
"The pool" Tink responded simply. Robin stared at her with a questioning look.
"I'm sorry?"
"It's where Regina goes when she's worried or stressed, and she's been going there every night this week" she stated. "She'll be there this evening and she'll be there alone. There will be no people, no distractions, and she'll feel calm. It's perfect."
"Are you quite certain?" Robin asked doubtfully. "If the place truly is her sanctuary I would not wish to intrude, and I certainly don't want her to feel trapped."
"She feels trapped now" Tink replied simply. "She's trapped between her own self-doubt and self-condemnation" she continued. "She'll feel calm and relaxed at the pool, which will help her to open up to you" Tink explained. "Trust me."
"I do" Robin returned. "It's myself that I am doubtful of" he added candidly.
"It's your very self that she likes so much" Tink stated. "Just be that person, be honest, and talk to her" she continued. "She'll be at the pool from around six, go to her" she urged.
Robin watched her for a moment, her words and her confidence slowly breaking down his doubt and his questioning. The idea sounded so strange and so unusual, and yet, so very, very plausible.
"You are quite certain?" he asked gently.
"Yes" she replied with a reassuring smile. "Just be patient, and encourage her to open up to you, because she will" Tink continued. "From my conversations with her it's clear she wants to talk, she's just struggling with it at the moment" she explained. "But you can help her."
Robin watched Tink for a moment before nodding in agreement.
"I will" he stated with conviction.
The day passed quickly after that moment, and before he knew it Robin found himself taking Roland to his club after dinner, and then heading back to their rooms. He quickly changed and looked at himself in the mirror, wondering whether he was making the right decision. Each time he felt doubtful he remembered Tink's words and her confidence; she knows Regina better than anyone, and she would not suggest something that she felt would upset or distress her. He exhaled slowly and turned away from the mirror, heading out of his rooms and down the stairs. The corridors were dimly lit and virtually empty, save for a few students and the occasional staff member, who greeted Robin pleasantly as they met. He was dressed in sports attire and heading in the direction of the pool, so his intentions for the evening would hardly be questioned or commented upon in any great detail; not by anyone other than himself, at least.
As Robin walked across the grounds and towards the building beside the gym where the pool was, he found himself feeling waves of doubt and uncertainty once more, stronger than before, as he questioned whether he was making the right decision. Regina was clearly feeling conflicted over their encounter, and perhaps approaching her in such a manner would only cause her confusion to increase, or even cause her to become annoyed or angry. Robin dispelled this thought quickly, remembering Tink's words as he walked into the humid building, the scent of chlorine heavy in the air. He had resolved earlier that day to make it quite clear to Regina that whatever her decision was he would respect it, and he would not try to influence it in any way. He wasn't approaching her and raising the subject as an attempt to 'win her over', he simply wanted her to feel comfortable and unafraid. The thought of her shutting herself away in her office or distancing herself from those who cared about her pained him, and he was willing to do whatever it took to assist her. After all, her current predicament was entirely his fault.
Robin walked into the male changing rooms and shut his bag and shoes in a locker, shedding his gym pants to reveal his dark blue swimming shorts. He kept his shirt on and ran his hand across his forehead due to the humidity of the room, before closing the locker door firmly and taking a calming breath. He placed his hand upon the cool blue metal of the locker, his fingers drifting down it as he took a step back, before turning and heading in the direction of the main pool.
Robin walked through the changing room and stepped onto the cool tiles of the ground beside the large room containing the pool. He lingered by the entrance to the changing rooms for a moment as he considered the space before him, which he was yet to enter. The room was very large, which was understandable as the pool was Olympic sized. There was a main pool and two smaller pools to the immediate left, with a hot tub at the back and chairs around the room. The walls and ceiling were very high, and the wall to the far right was lined with tall glass windows overlooking the fields and woods. The sun was just setting, causing a deep orange glow to shine throughout the otherwise dim room, as the light danced upon the rippling water.
Before Robin stepped fully into the room he could see Regina in the pool. As Tink had stated, she was alone and she seemed perfectly calm. She was swimming lengths of the pool, her body turning beneath the water as her pale arms rose above it, the sound of the water moving against her body echoing in the silence. Robin stepped forward instinctively, his eyes upon the swimming figure, whose dark hair bobbed above the water as she reached the back of the pool, turned, and then began to swim back. She swam at a consistent yet leisurely speed, which he correctly suspected was due to her injury. Not wishing to startle her, he walked calmly into the room and headed directly forward, standing at the edge of the pool as Regina approached. She continued to swim forwards, her arms emerging from the water as she swam. Robin watched as, suddenly, Regina stopped. He frowned in confusion as she swam lower in the pool, before raising her arms and swimming up to the surface, facing him directly with wide, inquisitive eyes as water dripped down her face.
Regina inhaled deeply, recovering her breathing as she considered the sight of Robin Locksley standing before her. She frowned in confusion, wiping the water from her face and running her hand over her soaked hair. Robin remained silent for several moments, watching as Regina placed her feet on the bottom of the pool and stood up, her shoulders emerging from the water as she continued to stare at him. The light from the setting sun danced upon her body, bathing her in a pure and radiant light, making her appear almost ethereal. Her eyes were dark and defined by black (clearly waterproof) make up, and her lips were a deep shade of red. She was wearing a black bikini which complemented her figure perfectly, but Robin paid attention to it for only a moment, his eyes becoming fixed on hers.
"Robin?" she stated slightly breathlessly, use of his first name causing him to relax considerably; it was the first time she had referred to him as anything other than 'Mr Locksley' since Monday. "What are you doing here?" she asked.
"Good evening" he began pleasantly, his tone not betraying the nervousness or apprehension which he was experiencing in waves. "I hope you'll forgive the intrusion, I certainly didn't mean to alarm you" he continued.
Regina was silent for a moment, and considered him with a calm and inquisitive expression, as she stared up at him from the water.
"You didn't alarm me" she stated tentatively, lowering her gaze slightly. "Is something wrong?" she asked.
"No" he replied instinctively. "No, not at all" he continued, his gentle tone reassuring her. "I was just hoping that it would be possible for us to talk" he stated gently, watching as Regina inhaled deeply, a look of apprehension drifting across her eyes.
"Talk?" she repeated, looking up at him with a faux-calm expression. "About what?" she asked, her tone dropping slightly.
"About a subject which both of us have been shying away from for the past three days" Robin stated gently. Regina inhaled once more and lowered her eyes to the water. "But also, I came here to apologise" he stated, causing Regina to look up at him with a frown of confusion.
"Apologise?" she asked, her eyes narrowed in confusion. "What are you apologising for?" she asked, her heart sinking at the possibility that he regretted what had happened between them.
"For anything I may have done that has upset you or make you feel uncomfortable" he continued, watching as Regina tensed slightly as she watched him with a curious expression. "I hope you realise that doing so was certainly not my intention, far from it" he continued, watching as Regina looked up at him with emotive eyes. "What happened between us on Monday, I… I was not expecting and I did not plan it, and I certainly would not dream of attempting to coerce or-"
"Robin, stop" Regina stated, her voice kind yet authoritative, as he looked towards her expectantly. "You didn't coerce me into anything" she admitted. "What happened, I… I didn't plan either" she added. "But you have nothing to apologise for, you didn't do anything wrong" she stated with conviction. "And if anyone is going to apologise it should be me" she added guiltily, staring at the water before looking up into his eyes. "I shouldn't have just left like that, and I certainly shouldn't have avoided you as I have done" she continued. "But most importantly, I shouldn't have done anything which would make you feel that you did something wrong" she stated, her body relaxing as she spoke. "Robin, I'm sorry."
"Don't be" Robin explained. "I know this must be difficult for you" he added, watching as Regina looked at him with a questioning expression. "Tink and I…"
"Tink" Regina sighed. "Of course" she added, as everything fell into place in her mind, and his presence and knowledge of her itinerary made perfect sense. "Remind me to fire her" she joked, and Robin chuckled in response.
"She cares a great deal about you" Robin returned gently. "And so do I" he added, causing Regina to turn towards him with wide eyes. Robin inhaled sharply.
"You do?" she asked in surprise, incredulity present in her tone. Robin smiled at her reassuringly in response.
"Yes" he replied sincerely. "Very much" he added, watching as Regina stared up at him with a look of surprise mingled with amazement. "If you don't want to talk about what happened that is fine. And if you want to pretend it never happened, then that is fine too" he added gently, watching as Regina watched him with a solemn expression. "As I said, the last thing I would want to do is hurt you, or cause you any pain" he continued. "I did not come here to influence you regarding… us" he stated, the words sounding unusual when spoken out loud. "I came here to reassure you that whatever you want to happen, is fine" he stated kindly, punctuating his words with a small smile. "And if you don't know what you want to happen, that is also fine" he continued. "Whatever happens next, Regina, is your decision" he added calmly. "And I certainly wouldn't dream of making it for you."
Regina watched him silently for a moment, considering his words as the cool water soothed her aching body. She inhaled deeply and stared up at him. She stared deep into his eyes and felt herself relax beneath his gaze. He meant it. Every single word. She felt all the tenseness from her body melt away as she stood beneath him, their eyes upon each other, separated only by a few tiles and three feet of water.
"Would you like to come in?" Regina asked, her voice sounding more confident than she felt.
Robin stared at her for a moment, his eyes gazing into hers, as if he were considering if he had heard her correctly.
"Are you sure?" Robin asked. Regina's eyes drifted across his body and she nodded.
"You appear to be dressed for it" she commented dryly. "Just stick to your own lane."
"Of course" Robin stated gently, smiling slightly as he felt himself relax. Regina smiled too.
Robin placed his hands at the bottom of his white shirt and rose it over his body, tugging it over his head and casting it aside. He took a few steps forward into the light, which shone across his torso, highlighting the taut muscles which Regina's fingers had explored during the kiss. She lowered her eyes and felt her breath hitch in her throat as Robin eased himself into the pool, the sound of disturbed water echoing as he got into the lane beside her and waded so that they were standing beside each other in their respective lanes.
"Do you swim?" she asked casually.
"Not in years, I'm afraid" he admitted, his voice trembling slightly. "And now I remember why" he stated as he ran his hands across his muscular arms. "It's bloody cold" he stated as he turned towards her.
Regina laughed in response, her whole body relaxing and her face lighting up.
"You'll get used to it" she returned, turning towards him and taking a step closer. "The trick is to immerse yourself fully beneath the water. It helps your body adjust to the temperature."
"Fully?" he questioned, aghast.
"Fully" she stated simply. Robin stared at her for a moment before nodding, and then letting out a small sigh.
"Alright" he stated. "I trust you." Regina smiled wryly
"Wise choice" she stated, watching as Robin closed his eyes and pinched his nose, before bending his knees and immersing himself completely beneath the water.
After a couple of seconds Robin's head and torso emerged from the water, his hands rising to his face, wiping the water from his eyes and pressing his hair down. Regina suppressed a small laugh as she watched him adjust to the temperature and rub his eyes. She considered how calm she felt in his presence, how easy it was to be around him, and how comfortable she felt. She smiled.
"Better?" she asked, watching him with an impish grin.
"Wonderful" Robin responded, turning towards her with a smile.
Robin and Regina's eyes met for a few moments, the gaze as strong and as powerful as it had been before, and equally as difficult to break. In those moments they both felt a strong, indescribable and almost magnetic pull which existing between them, and was seemingly intent on drawing them close. Regina exhaled sharply.
"Have you ever swam lengths before?" she asked gently.
"Not since sixth grade" he confessed.
"What happened in sixth grade?" she asked curiously. Robin chuckled lightly at the memory.
"Little John and Will Scarlett thought it would be a laugh to throw me into a lake in the middle of winter" he stated, as Regina listened with interest. "I developed the flu and spent my Christmas beneath a blanket with several hot water bottles" he stated reflectively. "It's a miracle I didn't develop pneumonia."
"And yet you brought swimming trunks" she commented.
"Roland loves to swim" Robin explained. "And the little tyke is not quite big enough to throw me in."
"Well, I promise I won't throw you in" Regina stated reassuringly, earning a small smile from Robin.
"That's very kind, m'lady" he replied kindly, and she nodded.
"Seeing as we're on the subject of overcoming fears, how about we swim a few laps?" she asked. Robin turned towards her, wondering if this was also an invitation to continue their conversation. He was uncertain, and so decided to simply follow Regina's lead.
"Of course" he returned, watching as she got into position and began to swim.
Robin copied her actions, catching up with her quickly, and swimming beside her. They swam for a short while in relative silence, the sound of their breathing and the moving water penetrating the silence, until they reached the far end of the pool on the final lap, and Robin stopped for breath.
"Do you wanna take a break?" Regina asked breathlessly, as Robin ran his hand across his head and inhaled deeply.
"I'm quite alright" he breathed, before swimming back towards the front of the pool. After a few meters he paused, returning to an upright position and floating. He could hear the movement of water in the lane beside him, indicating that Regina was approaching.
"You need to rest" she stated gently, turning to face him directly. "Are you okay?" she asked.
"Absolutely" he breathed. "I'm just not used to this" he explained.
"No" she stated, looking into his eyes as she spoke. "Me either" she added gently, her eyes slowly lowering from his. A comfortable silence fell between them for a few moments, until Regina turned back towards Robin with a slightly nervous expression. "You meant what you said before, didn't you?" she asked, watching as Robin looked at her expectantly. "About… about caring about me" she stated hesitantly, pressing her lips together and inhaling sharply as she spoke. "You meant it, you… you really did come here to make sure that I was okay."
"Of course" Robin stated, turning towards her and edging slightly closer to her. "Regina, the only reason I came here tonight was to ensure that you are alright, and to make sure that you know that you have a choice" he stated reassuringly. "And whichever decision you make I will support and respect, regardless of the consequences" he stated sincerely.
Regina watched him for a while, considering his words and expression, and knowing that he meant every word. She felt herself relax slightly beneath his gaze.
"And what about you?" she asked kindly, as Robin stared at her with a confused expression. "What is it that you want?"
Robin exhaled gently and swam across his lane towards her, stopping as he reached the edge of his lane, staring at her with a kind and sincere expression, as less than eight inches of water separated them.
"I want you to make a decision that you are comfortable with, and that will make you happy" he replied sincerely. "I want you to make the decision for you, not for anyone else."
"Not even for you?" she asked gently, staring at him with confusion, in awe at his selflessness. Perhaps he really did care for her. Her words were met with a reassuring smile from Robin, who shook his head gently.
"Especially not for me" Robin returned.
Regina stared at Robin for what felt like an eternity, her entire body feeling relaxed, her mind experiencing a moment of complete calmness and peace. The longer she stared at him the more she realised that he meant every single of word of what he said, and despite how hard she tried to, she couldn't understand why. Why he would feel this way, why he would be so selfless in his actions, and what she had done to deserve someone who cared about her so deeply and with such devotion. The only thing she did understand was that she was once more feeling that indescribable pull towards him, the almost gravitational or magnetic drawing of her body to his, and despite all the times she had fought it and won, this was not one of those occasions.
Regina moved her arms through the water and swam towards him, their bodies less than an inch apart as she reached him, their eyes remaining upon each other. Robin's eyes followed her movements curiously, and she watched as his chest rose and fell, his breathing audible, his pupils dilating, as she edged closer to him. Robin remained still and silent she approached him, placing her hand upon his cheek and caressing it with her warm fingers. She smiled up at him beneath the fading light, her eyes wide and shining and her features calm and serene, as she pushed herself against his chest, tilted her face up towards his, and their lips met.
The kiss was tentative at first, as gentle and as soft as the first one they shared. Her fingers drifted across his cheek and towards the back of his head, his soft wet hair between her fingers as she encouraged him towards her, deepening the sensual kiss. Robin had reacted tentatively to the kiss, but as soon as Regina drew him deeper into it he responded accordingly, and she felt his hands upon her waist in a familiar position, drawing her closer to him. She hummed in response, tilting her head to the side as the kiss continued, becoming more heated and almost desperate, as one of his hands ran up her side and reached her neck, cupping the back of her head as the kiss continued. His hand drifted across her waist and towards her lower back, gently encouraging her towards him, which she complied with. Regina pressed herself against him, causing him to moan lightly into her mouth, breathing against her raggedly as ran her hand up his back and stroked his soft skin, pushing herself against him. Due to their relative weightlessness beneath the water, such movements were easy and seemingly effortless, but as the kiss became passionate, exploring each other's mouths and bodies completely, the instability of their current position became apparent to them both. Regina and Robin broke the kiss breathlessly for a moment, as she ran her fingertips across his cheek, their foreheads pressed together, their deep and desperate breath hot upon each other's skin. They needed to be closer to each other, much closer. Regina looked up at Robin and their desires were conveyed within a glance.
Regina felt Robin lower his hands to her waist, pulling her against him and wrapping her legs across his hips, their bodies pressed tightly together, as he carried her towards the edge of the pool, pressing her gently against it. Regina felt the cold, smooth tiles upon her back, as she ran her hands up Robin's torso, stroking his skin and exploring his neck a face, before pulling him towards her for another kiss. The kiss continued as before, with such passion and intensity that their breathing rates increased and their hearts raced in their chests, the sensual nature of the kiss causing their bodies to tingle with anticipation and their limbs to physically weaken. Despite their proximity Regina yearned to be closer to him still, and she wrapped her legs tighter around him, crossing them around his waist and pulling him towards her, causing his groin to slam into hers. She moaned as she drew him closer to her, encouraging the motion, as her hips ground into his. Robin moaned in response, pressing his body against hers and moving against her, as he planted one hand on the cold tiles on the edge of the pool and the other upon her cheek. He stroked her hair and deepened the kiss as their bodies moved against each other, as Regina felt herself become very hot, trembling against him in anticipation as he pressed her harder against the edge of the pool, causing her to pull him forcefully towards her, his hips slamming into hers once more. He moaned against her mouth and broke the kiss breathlessly, trailing kisses across her cheek and towards the cut by her ear, which he kissed with sweet tenderness. Regina moaned at the gesture, pulling his head against her and exploring his hair with her fingers, as he continued to grind his hips against hers. Regina tilted her head back and closed her eyes, her whole body trembling as she moaned in response, pulling him closer to her.
From the viewing gallery twenty feet above the pool stood the figure of Zelena, who stared down at Robin and Regina, a cruel smile widening across her face.