Thanks for the reviews, retweets and likes you guys have given me. The last chapter, I really was tempted to stop writing because I just didn't like it lol but y'all encouraged me to keep it up… plus I'm stubborn and want y'all to see how this ends haha
ONE MORE CHAPTER TO GO! I can't believe it lol… Enjoy this super domestic/fluffy one, and the last chapter will (hopefully) be posted before I leave the country in June! :)
As always, leave a review and let me know what you think. Thanks!
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Chapter Eleven
It's been two weeks since Regina had revealed his redesigned offices to him, and Robin couldn't love them more. The new look has made his employees more motivated to work, and he feels more comfortable bringing clients into the space for meetings.
Things are going well. Robin's Sleep Tight campaign is finally finished and was a huge success. The print ad is scheduled to start running within the next few weeks, while the commercial is slated to hit the tv circuit starting in September.
The past two weeks have consisted of good news on the work front; Regina's work going just as well (save for the annoying Mr. and Mrs. King, who have made their mansion the most insufferable project she's ever had to work on, as she's told him several times). Along with that, he and Roland have spent almost every night with Regina while Henry has been away at camp. They've been switching off apartments – spending a few nights at his, then loading up and spending a few nights at hers. There'd only been a handful of nights they'd spent apart due to work or her going out with Emma for dinner and drinks to catch up while she was kid free. Those nights, however, they still made it a point to talk on the phone before going to bed, which often led to more… adult conversations.
"How's Emma?" he asked, settling down onto his bed. Regina had gone out to dinner with Emma tonight and has an early work day in the morning for the Kings, so they'd agreed earlier they'd sleep in their own apartments for the night. Looking at her on FaceTime now, though, he can't recall why he'd thought that was a good decision.
"She's good. She says hello and that she's excited for the Fourth of July at Neal's."
"Ah, yeah," he says, watching her get ready for bed, "that'll be fun."
"I'm glad those two hit it off so well," she says, walking over to her dresser and taking her hair down. She'd worn it half up, half down tonight, but she breathed a sigh of relief, telling him it felt nice to finally let it all down and run her fingers through it.
"Mmm," Robin hums, "good thing you have such a smart boyfriend who suggested we set them up."
Laughing, Regina tells him she thinks it was her pros and cons list she made before telling Emma about Neal that did it. "You can never go wrong with a pros and cons list!"
Regina is nothing if not a planner. Before making any big decision (or sometimes even small ones), she makes a list of pros and cons for the situation. The first time Robin saw her do it, when deciding if taking the boys to the aquarium on a school night was a good idea, he couldn't help but laugh at her, telling her she was adorably neurotic, which made her giggle and roll her eyes. That was one way to describe her all right.
Robin lets out a hearty laugh before saying, "Ah, yes, of course. What exactly was on this list, anyway? I don't think you ever showed me, just Emma."
She has her phone propped up on her dresser so she can still see him but is slipping out of her little black dress to put on pajamas, revealing her black, lace bra and thong as she aswers him. "Hmm, well if I remember correctly, a pro was definitely that Neal is a nice, sweet and caring guy. Something Emma usually doesn't go for."
"Hm, he's funny, too," Robin adds distractedly, tilting his head to the side, clearly appreciating the view of her changing clothes. The sight of her in just her underwear is enough to have him moan.
Giggling, she says, "See something you like?" and shimmies her bra covered breast toward the phone's camera.
"God, woman," he groans, resituating himself in the bed, "don't toy with me when I can't drive over there and have my way with you."
She changes into a fresh pair of lace panties and leggings before removing her bra, giving him a close up view of her breasts, her nipples nice and hard thanks to the cool air conditioning no doubt blowing through her room, laughing at him again and slipping on a red sports bra and thin, black tank top.
Taking the phone and walking over to her bed, she slips under her covers. "I want you, too, Robin. So much."
Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he breathes out a, "Do you now?"
She hums, telling him she's been wanting him all night. Says that talking to Emma about how wonderful he is did nothing but turn her on.
"I'm wonderful, eh?"
Smiling into the camera and twitching her eyebrows up seductively, she says, "You know you are," before grinning that little minx of a grin and sliding her hand down toward her hips. She's pushed the covers down now so he has a good view of her body.
"I know what I'd want you to do if you were here tonight," she whispers, moving the phone so he can see her hand dip into her leggings.
Moaning, he reaches inside his boxers and takes his cock into his own hands, pumping a few times. He moves the phone back so she can see it, telling her if he were there, he'd be in between her legs, sucking on her clit and making her scream.
"Mmm," she moans as she bites down on her bottom lip, rubbing circles against her own clit, "that would feel so good. Would you touch me like this?"
Shit.
"Yeah, baby. God, you're so sexy. Does that feel good? Touching yourself?"
She moans again, saying it does, but his fingers are better. "Maybe tomorrow I'll touch myself while you're inside me."
"Sounds like a bloody good plan to me," he pants, cock throbbing. "Are you going to come?"
"A - almost," she stutters, checking that he can see exactly what she's doing through the phone's screen. "What else are you going to do to me?"
Letting out another groan, he goes on to tell her he's going to make her come on his tongue and then take her from behind while she touches herself - one of their favorite positions, they've discovered. They go on, telling each other what they want to do as soon as they're together the next day, panting and moaning while pleasuring themselves. Within minutes, they're both coming, panting each other's names into the stillness of their bedrooms.
Life is good. But today, his apartment is abuzz with excitement between his girlfriend and his son.
Henry finally comes home today.
He's been gone at his Young Authors camp for three weeks and has been missed terribly by his mother… and Robin and Roland. Henry called every night while away to talk to Regina and would also end up chatting with himself or Roland for a while, too. Robin has grown quite fond of the boy over the past five months that he's known him, and he can't wait to get him home so the four of them can spend more time together before school starts back up.
Regina had admitted the other night that the past three weeks, while being wonderfully enjoyable with him and Roland, have felt very empty without her little prince around. Robin can't help but sympathize with her; he can't imagine having Roland away for three whole weeks.
"Papa! Wake up!"
Robin's eyes pop open with a humph! spilling from his mouth as Roland jumps onto the bed, landing his elbow right into Robin's stomach.
Looking up at his father sheepishly, the messy mop of brown curls apologizes, then turns to face Regina.
"Mornin', Gina!" Roland exclaims, snuggling into her warm embrace.
Smiling that sleepy smile down at his son, Regina greets him with a good morning, sweetheart and a kiss to his head before smiling over at Robin.
They've been dating for almost four months and have been spending most nights together for at least the last month, so Roland is now used to seeing Regina in his father's bed.
With a sleepy gurgle in his voice, Robin looks over at his son and asks, "What's got you so excited this morning?"
"Henry is coming home today!" Roland squeals with excitement, bouncing up excitedly onto the haunches of his legs, "Now, get up so we can go get him!" Looking over disapprovingly at his son for using such a demanding tone, his son adds an innocent please, Papa? before grinning at him and going to lay his head on his father's stomach.
"You're right, my boy." Robin matches Roland's grin, and he climbs out of bed, scooping his son up in the process. "What do you say we all get ready and grab some breakfast on the way out of town to pick up Henry?"
With Roland's excited Yeah! as he runs from the room, Regina finally sits up, smirking over at Robin.
"He's just as excited as I am, I think." She walks over and pecks Robin's lips before heading into the bathroom to brush her teeth.
"That he is, love."
After another two hours, everyone is showered, dressed and happily munching away on their biscuits as Robin drives toward Henry's camp.
Regina has been oddly quiet this morning so with a furrowed brow, he asks with concern, "Everything alright, darling? You seem a bit quiet this morning."
"Yeah," she sighs, leaning her head back onto the headrest, "I'm just excited to see Henry. I've never been away from him for this long."
Taking her hand and kissing the back of her knuckles, Robin tells her, "I know. And I'm sure he's just as excited to see you."
Smiling over lovingly at each other, they ride the rest of the way to camp in companionable silence, breaking the reprieve every now and then to chat softly as Roland sings along to the Trolls singing in his headphones. Having a DVD player installed in the backseat was a great idea – it's kept Roland happily entertained on many a road trip over the last few years. The camp is only an hour drive, but the movie kept him occupied so Robin and Regina could talk without having to speak over the singing toys.
{*********************}
Elation is the only word Regina can use to describe how she is feeling today.
Three weeks away from her baby boy with only one phone call per night has been torture. Granted, she's had Robin and Roland to keep her company, and it's been lovely, but nothing quite seems right without her son around.
Stepping out of Robin's 4-Runner, she is instantly accosted by two arms wrapping themselves around her middle and a breathy Hey, Mom!
Tears instantly springing to her eyes, Regina cradles Henry's head with her hand and lays her cheek to the top of his head, embracing her son after so many days apart.
At his I missed you, she breathes out a shaky, "I missed you, too, baby."
Pulling themselves from their private moment, Henry looks past Regina's shoulder to greet the boys.
"Hey, Robin! Roland!"
Roland clearly cannot contain his excitement anymore (Robin had warned him to let Regina greet Henry first by herself as they made their way to the pick up station), as he skips toward Henry, throwing his arms out to hug him.
After exchanging I missed you's with Robin and Roland, which made Regina's heart melt just a little bit more, the four of them make their way back to Robin's SUV.
"How was camp, Henry?" Robin asks, pulling out of the long pick up line and heading toward the interstate.
Henry tells them it was awesome, and he wants to go again next year. "I really hope I win the competition for sixth graders, too!"
"I'm sure you will, honey," Regina reassures, turning slightly to look at him in the back seat. "What was your peach and your pit of the whole trip?"
At Robin's questioning gaze, Regina explains that they've always done a peach, something you liked, and a pit, something you disliked, about all their trips they've gone on.
At his ahh, Henry says, "My peach was horseback riding!"
"Not the writing class?" Regina laughs, surprised that he would like anything more than writing about heroes and villains.
Henry laughs as he says he really liked the classes, and if he could have two peaches, that would be his second. "But I got to ride every day! It was so much fun. I rode this black horse, named Frank, I don't know why that's his name, but he's old and calm and he was like my horse after a few days."
Regina smiles warmly back at her son as he rattles on about Frank the horse, saying, "Well, you'll have to call your grandpa and tell him all about Frank. I'm sure he would love it."
"What about the pit?" Robin asks, turning onto the interstate.
Regina always gets a little car sick on the interstate so she turns back to face the front instead of Henry and looks out of the front windshield.
Henry tells them that the pit was the food at lunch because they didn't even serve dessert! causing both Regina and Robin to laugh.
"But they had dessert at dinner, so," he shrugs, pursing his lips in contemplation, "I guess it was okay."
Regina asks about his writing class and he excitedly tells them about how he got to invent his very own hero - a teenage boy who was trying to find his lost sibling - and a villain. His villain, he said, was an evil sorceress who could conjure up fire in the palm of her hand. She was jealous of the hero and his sister because she had always been an only child, with mean parents, so she wanted to keep the hero and his sibling separated.
Henry tells them that in the end, the hero and his sister were reunited and ended up taking the villain in as an adopted sister.
"Wow," Robin exclaims, eyebrows lifting as he glances over at Regina quickly before focusing back on the road, "that sounds really interesting!"
Regina smiles warmly and agrees, saying, "Do you have it with you for us to read?"
Henry tells them that the camp owners are binding all of their writings and will send them to their homes within the next few weeks.
"Well, I can't wait to read it," Robin says with a smile on his face, "It sounds really, really cool. I like that the hero and villain become friends at the end."
"Thanks!" Henry says, bouncing in his seat, "I wanted to show that even people who seem evil still deserve happiness. Cause she wasn't really evil, just misunderstood. You know?"
Glancing at Robin, Regina can tell he is thoroughly impressed by her son's insight. She's always loved the way Henry saw the world, believing that there was good in everyone, so she's not surprised that he gave his villain a happy ending.
"It sounds wonderful, sweetheart." She smiles, turning to look at him again, "I can't wait to get it back from the camp."
After stopping by Robin's to pack a bag for him and Roland, they head over the Regina's. They decided on their drive to camp earlier to let Henry sleep in his own bed tonight since he's been gone for so long. It's always nice to sleep in the comfort of your own bed after being away.
On the drive back to her apartment, Trolls was no longer paying and Roland could not stop talking. He informed Henry of all the things he, his papa, and Gina did while he was away, even though he claims nothing was as fun without you there, which makes Regina and Robin share a loving smile.
Listening to the boys ramble on in the backseat about what the other did over the last three weeks, Regina closes her eyes and leans her head back, enjoying the way Robin's thumbs caresses the back of her knuckles.
{**************************}
That night, after a quick dinner of pizza and breadsticks, and baths for everyone, the boys huddle on the floor, planning out the perfect fort to watch a movie from.
Seeing as his lovely girlfriend is getting some work done on her laptop while the movie plays, Robin figures he might as well use this time to be a kid again and help the boys build the fortress of blankets.
Looking over to Regina every now and then, and catching her amused eye roll in their direction, Robin continues to pile up pillow upon pillow, while Roland and Henry drape all the blankets in the apartment over the chairs they'd dragged in from the dining room. Regina had made the comment that it was more of a hassle to pull everything out, which he was now starting to understand, but Henry was home and a proper movie night they shall have.
"Robin, let's put this blanket on top of those two chairs," Henry says, pointing to the chairs closest to the couch.
"Excellent idea!" Robin exclaims, grabbing one end of the blanket and draping it over the chairs with Henry, having far too much fun with this.
Once everyone (all the boys, at least) are settled into their blanket tent, Robin walks over to where Regina sits criss-cross on the couch, laptop perched in her lap. She's clad in her gray, calf length yoga pants and an oversized t-shirt. Her hair is wet and pulled into a bun, and she's wearing those black rimmed glasses that stir him just a little bit crazy. She looks so cute. Comfortable. At home. And he loves it. He's so glad she's able to let her natural self show in moments like this. He loves her, all of her, and he's overjoyed at the thought that she's just as content to let him see all sides of her, even her "grungy" side, as he is with her seeing his. Sure, he's seen her in her pajamas plenty of times, but something about tonight strikes him. She's perfectly content to work on her computer while he and the boys build forts and watch movies. He feels… at home… in her home, and it hits him (for the millionth time) how perfect she is for him. This whole life they've started building together makes him blissful.
It's with that thought that he meanders over to sit next to her on the couch, giving her thigh a light squeeze. Leaning into her neck, while her eyes are still, somewhat, fixated on her computer screen, he gives her skin a light peck before whispering, "Are you sure you don't want to come into the fort with us?"
Grinning, she tips her glasses down the bridge of her nose before exhaling and looking over at him. "I can't. I have to put these last finishing touches on the King's farmhouse. I'm meeting with them on Monday and want it to be perfect."
As she squeezes his hand that's resting on her leg, he says, "I understand, love. You work. The boys and I will finish this movie." Kissing her cheek, he stands, saying, "Then we'll tuck these rascals in and crawl into bed together."
Smiling up at him, she sighs a content sigh, "That sounds amazing. Can't wait. I'm exhausted."
It's about halfway through the movie when her phone rings.
Looking down at her phone, her brow furrows. Mother is what the caller i.d. is displaying. What is her mother doing calling her so late?
Cora usually calls during the day on a Saturday that she's not at the horse races or early in the evenings when she knows Regina and Henry will just be finishing dinner. Glancing up at the television, she sees the clock on the power box reads 9:45. It's much later than either boy ever gets to stay up, but it's summer and Henry is back, so she's not going to make too big of a deal out of it. They're watching something with a sea turtle going on an adventure. She isn't quite sure, fairly certain Roland picked it from the Netflix screen simply because of the ocean animal depicted on the picture. He's been enthralled with aquatic creatures ever since their visit to the aquarium so many months ago.
It's the second movie of the night, and she's not quite certain the two youngest boys are even still awake in there. Luckily, Robin has provided enough distraction for their sons that she was able to finish her project so she could spend the rest of the weekend with them and not have to think about this farmhouse anymore.
Closing her laptop, she stands and walks into the kitchen. Regina swipes her phone to answer the call. "Mother?"
"Regina, dear," Cora croons into the receiver, "How are you?"
"I'm fine…" She's apprehensive to talk right now. She hasn't spoken to her mother since their dinner from hell a few weeks ago, right after Daniel attacked her. She hasn't told her mother about the incident and didn't know how to bring it up, or even if she should. She had chosen not to tell Cora when it first happened because, well, Cora loves Daniel, and she honestly didn't think she'd believe her. Daniel had never acted like that in the past, and if Regina hadn't experienced it first hand, she probably wouldn't have believed it either.
There's something in the way her mother asks about her well being though that gives her pause.
"Why are you calling so late, Mother?"
Huffing out a breath, Cora replies, "Isn't a mother allowed to call her daughter?"
"Well, yes, but," is all she gets out before Cora interrupts her.
"Besides, Henry came home from camp today, did he not? And I wanted to speak with him."
Sighing, Regina explains that Henry is already asleep (she's not one hundred percent sure he is, but he will be soon, and talking to his grandparents about his exciting three week trip will send a jolt of adrenaline through him that she's doesn't need right now).
After telling Cora she'll have to call her tomorrow and let her and Henry Sr. speak with him, there's an awkward pause.
"Was there something else?" Regina nervously asks, tucking a curl that has fallen into her face behind her ear.
"Regina, I know what happened with Daniel," Cora finally says, her voice barely above a whisper.
Oh. So, she does know.
"How did you…"
"I ran into Daniel's mother at the race last weekend," Cora states, voice dripping with the snootiness it gets when she speaks of being at the races. "When she pulled me off to the side to apologize for her son's behavior, you can only imagine the confusion I felt when I didn't know to what she was referring. She told me everything, dear."
"Oh. Well…" still not quite knowing what to say. By this point, Robin has clearly noticed her absence from the couch, because he's walking toward her with a questioning gaze.
Mouthing my mother in her direction, he ohs and comes to stand behind her, rubbing circles on her lower back. It's comforting. Nice. She needed his contact while having this conversation.
"I didn't want to tell you because I know how much you like Daniel." It's with the mention of his name that Robin's hand falters a tad on her back before continuing his ministrations to her suddenly strained muscles.
Cora tells her she needn't have worried, voice softening as she says, "You're my daughter, Regina. I will always be on your side."
Her mother's admission isn't totally unwarranted or surprising. She doesn't have the best relationship with her, but it's also not the worst. She should have known her mother would believe and support her.
She tells Cora that Daniel has gone to Maine for a few months to seek help, to which she tells her that Daniel's mother told her all about it already.
"Have you told Henry?"
Regina pauses her slow rocking back and forth to the rhythm of Robin's miniature massage to glance over at the fort. The boys are in there somewhere, she just can't see them, only the glow of the TV casting shadows across the dark room. "Not yet, Mother," she sighs tiredly, rubbing a hand over her face, "He just got home today."
"I understand. What are you going to tell him?" Cora inquires, "Surely you're not going to tell him the truth."
Irritation flashes across Regina's eyes. Sure, she might not tell him the whole truth, but Henry saw what his father did to her. He saw her hands pinned to the kitchen cabinet. They'd talked about it briefly when she dropped him off at camp and Henry asked if she was okay, which broke Regina's heart. She never wanted Henry to see that. She wants to snap at her mother and tell her that Henry knows anyway, but she knows she'll never hear the end of it if Cora privy to the fact that her grandchild saw his father attack his mother.
So, Regina sighs defeatedly and says, "I'm not going to tell him everything, Mother, but I am going to be as honest as I can." She presses her back further into Robin's hand, hoping he gets the hint that his hands can knead deeper on her low back. Blissfully, his hands press a little firmer into her aching back. "Therapy is nothing to be ashamed of, so I want Henry to know that his dad is doing all he can to be the best for himself and for Henry."
Cora hums, tsks her teeth a bit before agreeing, saying Henry should know that, and she trusts Regina to talk with him openly about the situation as much as possible.
"I'm just glad he's going to get help," Cora resigns, sighing a little bit into the phone.
"Me, too," Regina tells her, glancing over her shoulder to give Robin a small smile. "It'll make me feel better to have him around Henry once he's worked through some of his issues."
"Yes, well," Cora tuts, "He's going to be missing from the country club this year for the Fourth of July. I would love it if you, Henry, Robin and… Roland, was it? Could come."
Turning in Robin's arms so they're chest to chest, she begins rubbing circles above his heart.
"Thank you for the offer, Mother," she says, leaning up to press a quick peck to Robin's cheek as he smiles down at her, "but we already have plans. We're going to his friend, Neal's, lake house with Emma."
Emma and Neal had, unsurprisingly, based on her pros and cons list, hit it off from the moment Robin and Regina set them up the other week. Their first date had been the night Emma was supposed to babysit Henry but cancelled, and they've been together ever since. They've gone on coffee dates during their lunch breaks from work and everything. It's cute, and Regina is happy that she'll be able to spend the holiday with her her boyfriend and her best friend.
"Oh, that's alright, dear." Her mother says, sounding a bit disappointed. Robin grins at her, eyeing the phone. The apartment is completely silent save for the whirl of the ceiling fan in the other room and the low hum of the refrigerator. The movie has apparently gone off since she walked into the kitchen, the movie's screen projecting a blue hue over the living room, and the boys are most certainly passed out in their pillow fort for the night if they've yet to emerge and start playing. In the silence of the kitchen, Regina realizes that the only thing to be heard in the small space between her and Robin is her mother's voice. Silently sighing and matching his grin, she apologizes to her mother again.
After Cora assures her that it's fine and she should enjoy the holiday with your friends, they say their goodbyes and hang up.
Placing her phone onto the counter behind Robin's back, she wraps her arms up and around his shoulders, leaning her head again his chest. He's slightly swaying them now, and she thinks she might fall asleep right here and now.
"Well, she just sounds lovely," Robin sniggers, burying his nose into her damp hair. "I can't wait to finally meet her one of these days."
Chuckling, Regina leans back to swat his chest before laying her head back down, enjoying the hushed silence of the apartment.
After a few moments, Regina breaks the bubble. "Are the boys asleep?"
Sighing contentedly into her hair, he answers her in the affirmative and places a kiss to the top of her head.
Untangling herself from his grasp, Regina turns to face the sink, saying she wants to get these last few plates clean before they head to bed.
"You wash, I dry?" she questions, turning her gaze onto Robin.
He agrees, with an overly dramatic sigh and roll of his eyes, causing Regina to chuckle under her breath.
After a few moments of well behaved dish washing, Regina jumps back from the sink when a light splash of water hits her in the face. Looking down at her shirt and wiping her face off, she quietly exclaims, "Robin!"
Chuckling, Robin flicks his wet hand in her direction again.
"Oh, you've asked for it, mister!" she laughs, running her hand under the water's faucet and flicking it in his direction. Robin jumps back just in time though, barely getting any water on himself.
He runs to the other side of the kitchen, while Regina follows him with her wet hand, trying to splash him in payback. He's too quick though, and she misses again.
Giggling, she runs back to the sink to wet her hand again, just as Robin does the same.
"I dare you!" she heatedly whispers, laughing and running away from him. The floor is getting more water on it than planned, but she'll wipe it up before they leave the kitchen.
Robin flicks his hand in her direction while she's distracted by the wet kitchen floor, causing her eyes to widen as she flings her hand in his direction, her water droplets landing on his shirt.
Robin calls a truce, grabbing a dish towel off of the oven's door handle and begins cleaning up the water that has landed on the floor during their water war.
Regina turns toward the sink, pretending as if she's going to continue washing the dishes, muttering a playful Yeah, truce. We need to get this done under her breath. While Robin makes his way back to the sink, she wets her hands again.
Robin wraps his arms around her waist, apologizing, "You're right, darling. Let's get these dishes finished so we can go to bed."
Turning in his arms, she flings her wet hand in his direction, water landing right in his face. "Ha!" she exclaims, laughing but trying to keep her voice down so the sleeping boys in the next room don't wake up.
Throwing his head back in shushed laughter, Robin holds up his hands in surrender. "You got me!" he proclaims, wiping the water off of his face. "We're even now."
"Not even close," she smirks in mock-evilness, "that was only twice I got your face. You got mine at least four times." She giggles, turning to face the sink again and picks up the last plate waiting to be rinsed off and placed in the dishwasher. "But you're right. These dishes need to get done."
Agreeing, Robin comes to stand next to her, saying he'll finish up. "Oh, no," she says, "I don't trust you with this water anymore," causing Robin to chuckle.
"Alright, alright," he says, rubbing her lower back, "I'll stand here like a perfect gentleman while you finish."
Looking over to him, she grins and says, "Just don't get in my way."
Holding up two hands to show her he's not crossing his fingers, something that is so very reminiscent of Roland when he's been caught in a lie, he brings one hand to cover his heart and looks down at her saying, "Oh, I wouldn't dream of it."
After setting the last of the dishes into the dishwasher, Regina stretches onto her tip toes and kisses his lips. It's nothing too heated, the boys are just in the other room after all, asleep or not, but it lingers and it causes a moan to escape both of their lips. Their day has been filled to the brim with car rides, movies and unending chattering from both boys. They haven't really had a moment alone since this morning before Roland jumped into bed with them, but she doesn't mind. This peaceful feeling that has surrounded her all day could never go away and she'd be just fine with it. She loves this feeling – feeling like this is how life is supposed to be. With Robin. And two sleeping boys inside a living room fort. She's content, happy.
She loves this feeling – loves how Robin makes her feel so at home, even though they are technically in her home. She's not sure if it's the calm that's been surrounding her today (the past four months, really, she since she started dating Robin) or the peaceful late night silence of her apartment as Robin sways them back and forth while running his hand up and down her back, but she finally feels at peace in the world.
Leaning in to give him one more, a tad bit more forceful, kiss, she looks into his eyes and says "Ready for bed?"
Grinning that wicked grin, he takes her hand and leads her to the bedroom.
{*******************}
After brushing and flossing his teeth inside her en suite bathroom, Robin cuts the lights off in the loo and walks toward the bed.
Roland had woken up moments after them walking into her bedroom, so Regina had gone to put him in "his" bed - really just an extra cushioned pallet on Henry's floor tonight. He usually sleeps on the couch, but sleepily claimed he wanted to be next to Henry who had already climbed into his own bed moments ago.
Settling into bed and opening his book, he begins reading. He's been, unashamedly, reading the Sister Grimm's series now that he has Henry in his life. They're a favorite of the boy's and Henry had admitted to wanting to be able to talk with Robin about the books. And who was he to refuse such an innocent offer? So, he had begun reading them while Henry was at camp. It had given them something to talk about over the phone while he was away.
Regina walks into the bedroom and shuts off the overhead light, casting the room in a warm glow from Robin's bedside lamp as she curls into his side.
Looking down at her, he kisses the top of her head. They discuss the part of the story he's on now for a few minutes before she goes quiet.
"You alright?" he questions, slipping his bookmark inside his current page, laying it on the bedside table and sliding deeper into the covers to envelope Regina in his arms.
At her muffled mmhmm, he pulls away slightly to get a better look at her face. She hadn't seemed upset after her phone call with her mother, so he thinks she might just be tired.
"I'm just stressed about the King's project… and I'm tired." She grins through a perfectly timed yawn, looking up at him.
He assures her that she's done an amazing job on the King's mansion-turned-farmhouse, and she has nothing to worry about.
Sitting up, he pulls her up with him as he leans in to kiss her lips one more time.
"I know," she sighs, pulling out of their kiss. "They're just so overbearing and keep changing aspects of my design, even though I told them they couldn't keep doing that." She takes her hair out of it's bun and runs her fingers through it. "If they keep changing things, this project will never end!"
"Yeah," he breathes, completely understanding how frustrating this couple is being. She's complained to him many times about Mr. and Mrs. King, and he can't wait for her to be done with this project so she can destress a little bit. "It will all be over soon, though. Just a few more weeks, yeah?"
"Yeah," she says, sitting up and slinging a leg over his lap, straddling him.
He looks up at her naughty little face and suddenly realizes she's not quite as tired as she let on.
He grins, running his hand up her torso and up her breast. At her escaped groan of satisfaction, she leans down, hands on either side of his head and kisses him deeply. His tongue instantly seeks entrance to her mouth which she happily obliges.
Their tongues are fighting for dominance when he brings his other hand up to cup her rear. God, he loves her ass. Moaning into the kiss, he lets her take control.
Sitting up from their heated snog session, her eyes shine down on him with that naughty little look she gets right before she does something unexpected. Her playful, mysterious side that he loves so much.
Grabbing the ends of her shirt, she lifts the t-shirt up and off, flinging it onto the bed next to them. She's in a blue sports bra, which he quickly divests her of and rubs his thumb across her pert nipple.
Once his shirt is off too, she leans to the side and turns the table lamp off, shadowing the room in darkness except for the moonlight streaming in from the window before capturing his lips in a hungry kiss.
After several minutes of allowing her mouth to explore his, while his hands roam every inch of her exposed skin, he breaks the kiss.
Smirking at her exasperated sigh, he tells her, "Seems someone's not as tired as they thought."
"Guess not," she giggles, leaning down to kiss him once more before whispering into his ear, "Whatcha gonna do about it?"
A lot of things. He's going to do a lot of things to her tonight. He can't wait.
{***********************}
A week and a half after picking up Henry from camp, he's already gone again. Camping this time… but with Robin and Roland. The three of them had decided one night while on the phone during his stay at camp that they just had to get a camping trip in this summer before going back to school.
Robin promised Regina late one night, while laying together in bed discussing plans for the rest of their boys' summer vacation, that Henry would get his camping trip in one way or another. Henry has gone every single summer since he was five with Daniel on a camping trip. Seeing as Daniel is away, seeking the help he needs, Regina was upset that her son wouldn't get his beloved trip. Robin, reassuring as always, had run his hand through her hair, kissed the top of her head and vowed to take both boys of a spectacular camping trip before the summer was out.
They've been gone all weekend, three blessed days she's had alone in her apartment. It's been nice, the quiet. Not that she doesn't love the hustle and bustle of two boys and a grown man running around her living space. Their summer has been relaxing, a little hectic at times, but fun. All things considered, she's been able to enjoy her time with them while still maintaining her projects at work, but having time, with no children around, to clean and tidy up the house has been a godsend.
She's just put away the last bit of Henry's laundry and is making her way down the hallway into the living room when she hears the key in the lock.
Tiny feet come bounding into the house with a, "Gina! We're back!" resounding through the quietness of her home.
Chuckling, she tosses Roland's stuffed monkey, which he'd left here on accident and they had to spend an hour calming him down about once they made it to the woods, on the couch and catches the small boy as he flings himself into her arms.
"I'm so happy you're back!" she exclaims, pressing tiny little kisses to his cheek gingerly before pulling back to look at the other two boys. "Happy all of you are back!"
Regina wraps her arms around Henry's shoulders as he comes over, and Roland nestles into the crook of her neck.
Setting Roland down, she kisses Henry on the forehead, asking how his weekend was. He tells her is was beyond awesome. Tells her they went fishing and he caught the biggest fish out of everyone. He laughs, recounting how Robin almost fell in the water, which causes Roland to giggle and pipe up, adding that he didn't catch a fish but it was okay because Papa and Henry caught enough for all of us!
They tell her how, along with their new fish dinners each night, Roland also requested they make s'mores, which of course Robin obliged. Roland babbles on giddily, telling her how he liked his marshmallows to get really brown before smushing them between the graham crackers and melted chocolate square.
She ushers the bouncing boys into the living room as Roland continues describing their adventures while Henry listens, adding a few details of his own along the way.
Regina tells them it sounds like they had a great time, and Roland adds an all too sweet, "You'll have to go next time, Gina!"
Robin snorts from where he stands behind the kitchen counter while Regina deadpans a look at the young, hopeful eyes of both of their sons that resolutely says no. That one camping trip as a child, in a tent all too small for her, was enough to know she is not the camping type.
She's glad Henry got this weekend away, though. It may not have been with his father, but from the way he and Roland can't stop talking, it would seem he had an amazing time. He loves the woods, so thank goodness he has another man in his life now that enjoys it just as much.
Looking over to Robin, smirk firmly in place as he listens to the boys chatter on and on about their weekend, she taps Henry on the nose and makes her way over to him in the kitchen.
He's grabbing himself a beer and asks if she wants one as well, leaning down to place a kiss to her lips. God, she's missed those lips the last three days. Would kiss him harder, more deeply, if their children weren't in the living room right in front of them.
"No, thanks," she answers, wrapping her arms around his middle.
He peeks over her shoulder in the direction of the boys. They must be distracted for the time being because he slides his eyes back over to her and ducks his head down to be level with hers. She smiles and tips her face up to meet his more fully as he presses his lips to her firmly. It's quick, but far from chaste, his tongue peeking out to trace the seam of her lips briefly before she opens her mouth, returning the favor. She moans a quietly before pulling back and looking into his blue eyes.
"I missed you," she whispers into his ear, running a hand through his hair and letting it rest at the base of his skull while her other loops a thumb into his belt loop.
"And I, you," he answers back, nuzzling his nose into her neck, causing goosebumps to rise on her skin.
He lowers his voice even more, mumbling how he can't wait to get her alone tonight.
Good. She can't either.
"Why don't you go sit and I'll start Roland's bath?" she asks as he rubs his hands along her biceps. She knows camping in a tent, especially with two young boys, couldn't have been that restful, so she knows he's going to sleep like a baby tonight - is bound to be like death walking right now as it is.
"I didn't want to sit and stink up the couch," he says, grinning ear to ear. She likes to keep a clean house and has just spent the last three days deep cleaning it, so she appreciates the thought.
She laughs at that, wrapping her arms around his waist and placing another quick kiss to his lips. She lays her head on his chest, breathing him in. "Mmm, well, you do smell like forest."
His head goes back in a laugh at that, pulling his head forward again to look into her eyes. "Admit it, you like it. Makes me smell more manly."
With a scrunch of her nose, she purses her lips, saying, "Maybe a little," and steps away, walking toward the living room.
{***********************}
Regina tells the boys that they both need baths before they can even think about eating dinner. And, well, she's right. If the sweaty body smell coming from himself is any indication, he knows the boys are in just as desperate need to be clean as he is.
She sends Henry off to the hall bathroom to shower, while she takes Roland's hand in hers, saying he gets to bathe in the big bathroom (as his son so affectionately calls her en suite bathroom). This news causes Roland to let out a, "whoop!" and a, "Come on, Papa!"
They make their way into the bathroom, chatting about what all they need to do in order to prepare for Fourth of July at Neal's house by the lake.
"He said he'd have all the main dishes ready - hamburgers and hotdogs, but we could bring some sides," he tells her as he sits down on the lid of the toilet.
Regina is helping Roland strip out of his forest scented clothing, tossing them into Robin's lap with a grin as she says, "That sounds good. We can make a pasta salad and maybe take a fruit tray."
She tells him they'll need to take food for the other nights they are there, as well.
"Let's take stuff to make s'mores!" Roland adds, plopping down into the now warmly filled tub.
Regina giggles, rinsing his hair with water before squirtting a dollop of kid shampoo into her hand and running it through Roland's wet curls, massaging it in a little bit as she does. "We can definitely take some," she tells him, giving him a pointed look. "You don't need to eat s'mores every night."
"But they're so good!" the boy protests, a laugh escaping him as Regina tickles his bubble covered belly.
He loves watching her like this, with his son. She's such a natural mother, and he's reminded in these small moments just how lucky he and Roland got in finding her.
Looking over her shoulder toward him, she asks Robin to grab some bath toys she stashed under the sink while cleaning this weekend.
He stretches, opening the sink cabinet and pulling out the plastic containers that strain water. Roland is always fascinated with watching the water ooze out of the tiny holes, says it's like tiny waterfalls in his tub.
Just then, Henry joins them, leaning against the door jamb clad in his striped pajama pants and thin gray t-shirt.
He asks what they are talking about and upon hearing they're discussing what to take to Neal's for the holiday, he perks up a bit more. "We should take that new archery set Robin bought to play with!"
"Yeah!" shouts Roland with glee. "That'll be fun!"
Laughing, Regina looks over her shoulder to Robin who just shrugs. It was a kid's archery set, complete with two plastic bows and a dozen soft arrows, and he just couldn't resist buying it for the boys when he first saw it, despite neither one of them having a backyard to play with it in. Neal's lake house was the perfect excuse to pull it out. Regina rinses off Roland's body, saying with a smile, "Now that, we can take."
They discuss what all they want to do while at the cabin aside from archery practice - like fishing (of course), playing frisbee in the big front yard, lighting up sparklers to run around with, and watching the big fireworks.
Henry has apparently always loved Fourth of July, always fascinated with the bright lights of the fireworks. He tells them so, which causes Roland to alert the group that he is afraid of the loud noises.
"It'll be alright, lad," Robin reassures, saying they can even take headphones to help cancel out some noise if need be.
Regina smiles over at him, saying she has a pair that will work perfectly.
Roland squeals in delight at this news, splashing his green container into the water, causing a small bit to fly onto Regina's shirt.
"Oops," Roland mumbles, looking sheepish.
Regina just giggles, though, and ruffles his hair as best as she can with as wet as it is.
With that, Robin stands, stretching his back. "I suppose I'll go wash this forest smell off of me now." He winks in Regina's direction, causing her to smirk.
"'Bout time," she mumbles back playfully.
Swatting at her shoulder as he goes, he sees Henry take his vacated spot on the lid of the toilet and hears the three of them continue their discussion of Fourth of July, and fireworks, and all the games they'll play, and sleeping in a big house next to a lake.
The boys are all too excited for this trip, and he has to admit he's pretty excited, too.
{****************************}
Thoughts? :)