I DON'T OWN ANYTHING. I am, however, very sorry that the update has taken this long. I had finals, and final projects, and a vacation, and a breakup, work, and it all kinda spiraled out of control for a minute there. Outlaw Queen was requested, plus I figured we could all use some Robin/Regina love. As always, let me know what you think, and feel free to throw pairings at me and I'll see what I can do. Next update time shouldn't be nearly as long :)

Regina bit her lip as she looked around the café. The furniture gleamed, all the day's offerings were laid out neatly behind the counter, she had triple checked that the register was set up properly…what was she forgetting? This was the Apple Tree's opening day and everything had to be perfect. She took a deep breath, and jumped as the phone in the back started ringing.

"Hey sweetie," said the voice on the other side.

"Hey Daddy" Regina answered.

"Just wanted to let you know how proud I am of you, and that I know the shop is going to do well. How could it not when you've been cooking since you could see over the stove?"

"I think you mean how could it not after I spent all that time and money on business school" Regina half laughed half grumbled.

"That too." He answered. "I am so sorry I couldn't be there, this business trip came up so last minute."

"Its ok Daddy, have a good trip."

"Love you Apple Face"

"Love you too."

As she hung up the phone, Regina heard the jingling of the bells on the door. She was sure she hadn't unlocked yet, rushing out in a panic to see a man looking over the Alice's art, for sale on the walls.

"Are you trying to steal from me?" she blurted out.

"I'm not, but I'd very much like to steal your heart." He answered.

Regina groaned a little. She had just insinuated her soulmate was a criminal, and he must have known it was coming! He, however, seemed fully unbothered.

"I can understand the confusion," he continued, "The door says you open at 7:30, and it's only 7:15. I was a bit perplexed to find the door unlocked myself."

"Oh!" Regina exclaimed. "I must have forgotten to relock it after picking up the paper this morning."

"Ah, I see." The man replied.

Suddenly, Regina realized something.

"I'm Regina," she said, not knowing the appropriate motion. A handshake seemed too formal, a hug too intimate.

"I know," he replied somewhat awkwardly. "I'm Robin. Mary Margaret told everyone we had to be at the opening of her cousin's divine new bake shop."

"Wait a minute," Regina said, eyes narrowing, "Mary Margaret?"

"Yes, we used to shoot together in school."

"So she's seen your words?"

"Yes, we talked about them before she met David…oh."

Ever since being reunited with her own soulmate at the end of their junior year, Mary Margaret had developed a habit of trying to put other pairs together. Frankly, she was a little surprised this hadn't happened sooner, though she supposed her cousin wanted to give her some space as she set up the bakery.

"I suppose she told you 7:15?" Regina asked, brows raised.

"She did. Which was why I tried the door before looking at the sign."

Regina rolled her eyes, but smiled.

"Well Robin, I can't make a habit of it, but I suppose my first order will be on the house."

"Au contrair m'lady, I would be honored to be your first sale."

"The step into my office" Regina laughed.

She scooted behind the register, ringing up the apple Danish and black coffee he ordered for breakfast. Most of the money he paid with went into the register, but on the last dollar bill, she thought a little and closed the drawer without it.

"To new beginnings" she wrote in sharpie, signing her name with a flourish and passing both bill and marker to Robin. He signed it as well, and they hung it up behind the counter.

When Mary Margaret came in later with Merida, it was to see Robin eating at the counter and chatting with Regina between customers.

"You owe me five bucks" Mary Margaret murmured to the redhead.

"I heard that!" Regina called.