Interlude IV
This one is just something crazy that popped into my head. Not sure if it's fluff, ridiculous, or a little of both.
It was late afternoon when Regina came across Robin at the kitchen table poring over the Storybrooke Charter. He had been approached by Charming to serve on the council. No doubt Robin was ready to draw up his own version of the Magna Friggin' Carta.
But when he looked up and Regina saw the expression on his face, she was frightened.
"What is it?" she asked in alarm. "Is it Roland?"
Robin stood up, staring at her. "What happened?"
"What do you mean 'what happened?'"
"What happened to your hair?"
Regina put a hand to it, "Oh, I got a trim. The dead ends were driving me crazy."
"It's gone." He just stared.
"Only an inch," Regina shrugged. "Uh, Robin, are you alright?"
"No, I don't think I am." He took a step forward. "Your hair. Is. Gone."
"No," she said slowly, "an inch of my hair is gone."
He shook his head, "You didn't tell me."
"Are you wanting to become my hairdresser?" she laughed.
"That's not funny."
"No, it isn't. What you are doing is!" She smiled seductively, "So you have a thing for hair?"
"I wouldn't say…. it's really….. but…. Why?"
Yes, he had a thing for hair.
"Because it's convenient to keep it short. For crying out loud, my hair was so long in the Enchanted Forest, I could sit on it, and it was so damn thick I could barely run my hands through it!"
His jaw dropped, "Your hair was so long and thick that you could barely run your hands through it?"
"Yes," Regina nodded. "It took forever to brush at night!"
"Forever to brush," Robin's hand went to his chin and he looked horrified. "And you cut it?"
"Yes!"
He still just exuded incredulity.
"Oh my gods Robin, How the hell was I supposed to know?"
"There's nothing to 'know.'"
"Oh really?" Regina asked. "C'mon! Just admit it. You're 'into' hair. There's nothing wrong with that."
"It's not …." Robin began.
"It is. And maybe you could have told me so that you wouldn't be acting like I just kicked a puppy!"
"I am not…"
"Yes, you are!" Regina's arms spread out. "Most men get it by their woman walking around wearing black lace, with red ribbons, and trust me I have drawers full of things like that!"
"Oh my God, Regina!" And he turned away, his lips pressed together. She opened her mouth, "No," he waved his hand as though pushing her away, "I cannot continue this conversation."
And he left.
She heard the shower running in a bit. Cold shower, probably. Well, dammit, he started it by being so indignant about a hair-cut. What the hell! What was she supposed to…?
The Next Morning
"So," Archie said to the couple sitting opposite him, "I guess there are some things that you need to talk about?"
"No. Something he," Regina pointed, "needs to talk about and he damn well refuses to open his mouth!"
That got him. Robin turned to her aghast. "I need to talk about it?"
"Yes. I guess you think I'm psychic and should have known that my getting a trim was going to drive you bat-sh&% crazy! Maybe you could have just mentioned it!"
Archie broke in gently, "Maybe, Regina, what we're seeing is a bit of a cultural difference, something neither of you had considered before. He is still used to the Enchanted Forest."
"I think he has a point," Robin muttered.
"Oh please! It's not an 'Enchanted Forest' thing. I had plenty of lovers there and none ever praised me for my hair, I can assure you of that!"
Archie made a silent "ooooo" with his mouth.
Uh oh.
Robin opened his mouth. Shut it, and silently stalked from the room.
"Wrong thing to say?" Regina asked wincing.
"I would say," Archie said carefully. "It is usually not good to bring up past lovers."
"I didn't plan on it! It just came out."
Damn.
"Regina, since Robin isn't here, maybe we can look at the 'question behind the question.'"
A few hours later Regina looked out the kitchen window.
Robin was target practicing like he was preparing to storm a castle.
She walked over to him.
Arrows whizzed.
"Robin?"
Another sped straight to the bull's-eye.
"Will you stop for a second?"
"Why?" Whiz.
"Because I'm coming in and I don't want an arrow sticking out of my chest!"
He stopped.
And she walked in and put her arms around him.
Robin let her.
"Why the hell did you say that?" he mumbled against her shoulder.
"Because I was pissed!" She hugged him tighter. "I'm sorry. You know that I was, and quite frequently still am, horrible. I was off guard."
He exhaled.
"Are you going to forgive me?"
"Of course."
Yes, he would.
"Now," Regina said. "Let's get to the point. "
Oh my gods! She was actually initiating a "talk."
Regina looked him straight in the eye, "Robin, why didn't you ask for what you want?"
He shrugged, "I'd already pushed the marriage."
Was he really comparing asking her for long hair to her consenting to their wedding?
"You can ask for more than one thing in your life," Regina told him. "The world will not be thrown of its axis."
"Perhaps."
Regina leaned in and whispered, "I think it won't. I think you are so busy thinking of others, that you don't ever ask for what you want enough, that's what I think."
A long pause.
"Maybe you need to be a little more selfish now and then." She pulled back, "What do you say a compromise?"
"What kind?" Robin narrowed his eyes.
"I will grow it longer, but no way will it be as long as it was." Regina turned her back and put a finger to a point on her shoulder blade. "Here?"
She felt him put out his finger... "Here," an inch lower.
"Or …." She put her finger a half-inch higher.
Robin laughed.
She turned back around putting her arms around his neck. "A deal?"
He nodded and kissed her. "Maybe, curl it now and then."
And Regina smiled against his lips. Geez, if this was all it took to keep him happy!
"Deal."