Chapter Twenty-Eight: Out With the Old, In With the New
It was an emotional morning to say the least. Once things had settled down and the living room was clear of scattered wrapping paper and open boxes, Regina drew herself a bath. Normally, she would prepare a beautiful breakfast for her family and she'd been particularly excited to have Robin's parents over to join them, but after he revealed his gift, she needed some time to herself.
She was submerged in the water, lavender scented bubbles completely surrounding her. Her body was motionless, but her mind was racing.
He's perfect. How is that possible? She wondered to herself. Wherever you are Daniel, I hope you can see how happy this man makes me and that he worships your son as much as you did.
She allowed more tears to escape her, although she wasn't sure she had any left to cry by that point. He wasn't envious of her love for the father of her son; he was fully accepting of it, he encouraged it. That was what made him honorable in her eyes.
Knock. Knock. Knock.
"Come in," she choked out, clearing her throat and sitting up when Robin entered.
"I just wanted to check on you. I hope our gift didn't upset you in a negative way," he said, sincerity in his voice as he sat on the closed lid of the toilet to face her.
"Not at all," she replied with a gentle smile and reached her hand out to him. He took it instantly, placing soft kisses to her wet knuckles. "It was just very overwhelming."
He nodded, understanding her reaction more clearly. "My parents just arrived for breakfast. They agreed with me about Daniel's piece, my father especially. Mum is curious to know where you'll hang it."
"I'll have to reorganize the living room so I can put it there. It should be on display," she decided.
"I couldn't agree more," he smiled against the top of her hand.
"Where did you hide it?" She questioned, amused that she was so curious about that. It was sneaky. The canvas was too large to hide in either of their apartments without her noticing.
"In the storage closet at the end of the hall. Gold left the key with the doorman for me once I picked it up from the museum."
"Is that what you talked to him about on Thanksgiving?" She leaned forward, stunned by his ability to successfully pull this off. He simply nodded to confirm her statement and she smirked.
When she was decent, Regina joined the family for breakfast. Roland steered most of the conversation toward his gifts and all the big plans he had for learning how to ride his bike at the first sign of Spring. While the boy rambled on and on, she remembered she had a gift for the Locksleys under the tree. She stood from the table and picked up the gift bag with their names on it.
When she made her way back over to her family, her children had commandeered her chair as a creation station for their latest Lego masterpiece. She shook her head and was going to remain standing before Robin pushed his chair out and patted his thigh, signaling for her to cuddle into his lap. It seemed so inappropriate with his parents around, but she realized that was such a juvenile way of thinking; they were adults and he was only trying to make her more comfortable. So she accepted his offer and sat gently atop his thigh, his hands holding her immediately; one around her back for support and the other resting on her knee.
"I was going to wait so you and my mother could open your gifts together, but it seemed silly to bring it there just to schlep it back," Regina stated, handing the bag to them. The couple smiled as Josephine removed the tissue paper and Richard moved closer to her for a better view.
"Oh my! This is just perfect!" His mother exclaimed as she pulled the two picture frames from the bag.
"Henry and Roland painted the frames," she beamed with pride. She'd considered purchasing regular picture frames, but decided a little touch of art from the grandkids would really mean a lot to them. Inside one frame was the photo of Robin and Roland with John by the big tree. In the other, Regina had put together a collage of all the photos- the same one she had hung in the living room only a few days prior.
"Thank you," Richard said, looking directly at Regina although he seemed to be addressing everyone. She merely nodded, thrilled that they were so pleased with their gift.
The Locksleys had given presents of their own to the children; knick knacks from England, mostly, but they also received a bundle of comics written strictly by British authors. It was a very nice gesture and the boys were so thankful for it. Robin was given some new clothes and a few treats from his native country that he missed dearly while living in America. As for Regina, she was so humbled by their generosity as she opened the few gifts they'd brought for her. There was a red scarf (hand knitted with love by Josie), a card (hidden with copies of photos from Robin's childhood that made Regina's heart melt), and what appeared to be a rock.
She looked up at them, holding it in the palm of her hand, with a clear expression of confusion. The couple chuckled and his mother explained, "It's a piece of the pavement from Abbey Road. Robbie told us how much you like The Beatles, but I didn't figure you for the band tee type."
"You figured correctly. I haven't worn a band tee since undergrad," she released a quiet laugh, remembering her cut up Stones shirt collecting dust in one of her drawers. She'd have to pull it out one of these days, she decided.
"We went to Abbey intending on taking a nice photograph to have it turned into a canvas for you to hang here or in your office, but we saw part of the crosswalk was slightly damaged and couldn't resist," she explained to the brunette who was examining it further.
"There is even some white from the paint, you see?" Richard pointed out.
"It was very thoughtful. Thank you," she smiled. She knew the perfect place in her office for it, but she made a mental note to purchase a small display case for it so it wouldn't get ruined.
After the family finished breakfast and got themselves ready for the day, they were on their way to Cora's penthouse yet again. Henry and Roland held hands as they walked down the quiet streets of the Upper East Side. Richard and Josephine were behind them, her arm looped around her husband's as they admired their grandchildren and the surrounding atmosphere of Manhattan in December.
Robin and Regina followed, but were a fair distance behind the rest of their family. His arm was around her waist, his hand resting gently upon her hip, as she placed her hand in the back pocket of his slacks. He held a bag in his other hand filled with various containers of food and desserts for the holiday meal. She had a bag of her own, packed with her gift to her mother and a few from his parents for the woman who so graciously invited them for supper.
The entire family was dressed rather well, each man sporting dark slacks and some sort of button down. Robin even went as far as to choose a vest and tie for the occasion while his father was more casual in a sweater vest. The women had very different styles, although they both looked beautiful.
Josie, a naturally eccentric woman, was colorful in a pair of green pants, a white turtleneck, and an adorably festive sweater vest of her own. The only way to properly imagine Robin's mother is to picture that outfit on Julie Walters. Richard reminded her of Gary Oldman in the way he looked and Kenneth Branagh in his demeanor. Not a likely pair, but somehow they fit perfectly together.
Regina looked lovely in black dress pants that fit tight to her legs, high-heeled suede boots, and a sheer red blouse. Her peacoat reached to the middle of her hips and she was already wearing the red scarf from the Locksleys. Her dark brown hair brushed against her cheeks in the winter breeze as they approached the front of her childhood home.
His mother asked her numerous times since her arrival what to expect when meeting Cora, but she thought it best not to divulge that information and frighten her. She simply told her she was a charming woman who was delighted to meet them and hoped it to be true.
"Merry Christmas!" The front door swung open to reveal a modestly dressed yet undoubtedly fabulous Cora. Her hair and makeup were flawless, as usual, and her outfit professional while also welcoming and surprisingly bright. She'd chosen an icy blue pant suit to brighten the dark features of her face, her nude pumps completing the look with perfection.
Henry and Roland wrapped their arms around Cora instantly in a group hug. Regina smiled when she noticed the pure happiness that brought her, a smile stretching from ear to ear on her mother's face. Each boy received a kiss from her, leaving smudged lipstick for them to wipe from their cheeks. Robin stepped forward and kissed her cheek softly offering, "Delightful to see you again, Cora."
"Always a pleasure, dear," she replied warmly, placing a gentle hand momentarily on the side of his face. This took Regina by surprise. When did they become so close? And why hadn't she noticed? She was distracted from her thoughts when her mother pulled her into an embrace, "Merry Christmas, my beautiful, darling girl."
She found herself grinning, having missed her mother greatly during the holidays. She always appeared to be chipper and light. They separated finally and Regina responded, "Merry Christmas, mother."
"And Robin, these must be your parents," Cora commented and the man nodded, stepping beside them to provide a proper introduction.
"Yes, this is my mother, Josephine, and my father, Richard. And our gracious hostess this evening is Regina's mother, Cora," he stated and the couple greeted her much the same as they did Regina only two days prior.
"Oh Cora dear, you have such a lovely home! Very elegant," Josie stated as she walked through the doorframe removing her jacket.
"I'm surprised by the Victorian elements in the architecture. I don't imagine many of the homes have that same design in Manhattan," Richard commented, taking his wife's coat and hanging it on the row of hooks beside the door.
"I'm not quite sure if they do, but I'd much agree with you, to the best of my knowledge," Cora replied, leading the way into the dining room.
The table was set with her mother's best China atop an elegant, crystalline blue tablecloth shimmering with silver through the sheer material. Each plate held a place card with their names to designate the seating arrangement. Next to the water glasses were small gift bags, a special souvenir for each of them from Spain.
Cora sat at one end of her exceptionally long table. To her right were Josephine, Richard, and Roland respectively. On the opposite side sat Robin, Regina, and Henry. Regina noticed there were two extra seats, one to Henry's left and the other at the head of the table directly across from her mother. They were not set with names, but she knew who they were for.
Her father always sat in that chair when they were entertaining guests; it allowed him to socialize with others and gave him the perfect view of his beautiful wife throughout the entire meal. The seat beside Henry would have been Daniel's, who enjoyed talking to her father and was comforted by the thought of their precious son sitting between him and his gorgeous lover.
Henry must have noticed as well because he leaned into his mother and whispered, "¿Cree que están aquí?"
Do you believe they are here? It took her by surprise. She couldn't remember the last time he'd spoken to her in Spanish, but she realized he was doing it to protect their conversation from the others. She considered his question for a moment and decided it was heartwarming to believe her father and Daniel were only an arm's length away.
"Claro que sí," she replied quietly, her arm around the back of his chair to get closer to him.
"Los extraño," he sighed, pain etching the features on his face the same way it did on his mother's.
"Yo tambien, Mijo," she placed her forehead against his and whispered, "I miss them too."
"Dick and Josie are all settled across the hall," Robin announced as he entered the master bedroom.
"And the kids?" She asked from the closet as she searched for whatever it is he wanted her to wear.
"Passed out 'till Tuesday, it seems," he quipped after locking the door and plopping down on the bed.
Regina finally spotted it hanging in the very back of her walk-in and rolled her eyes in disbelief. He can't be serious.
"Did you find it?" He asked, anxious to see it on her.
"Unfortunately, I did," she scoffed as she pulled on the lingerie accompanied with its surprise accessories. He merely laughed in response as he continued to anticipate her entrance. To make up for his obviously ridiculous request, he thought he'd make it easier for her by stripping down to his Calvins.
"Are you ready?" She asked through a heavy sigh.
"Mhmm," he hummed, seated on the end of the mattress parallel to the closet wiping his sweaty palms on his bare thighs. She walked sexily into the room and Robin nearly burst with an odd mixture of amusement and arousal.
Regina looked seductively scandalous in a red push up bra, cotton balls lining the edge nearest her cleavage. The thong matched with tiny ribbons tied into bows hanging down on each hip. She didn't mind the lingerie; it was sexy and she looked smoking hot in it. What amused her was the addition of the Santa hat with the word 'Naughty' written on the front and Mrs. Claus spectacles he'd found for her.
"I need you to know, this is an incredibly strange fantasy, Mr. Claus," she teased, inching her way between his openly inviting legs.
"Oh, but Mrs. Claus, it must be done," he said, his soft fingertips moving up the sides of her thighs to her hips.
"And why is that?" She pursed her lips and when he looked at them, she knew they wouldn't be sleeping a wink that night.
"Because even Santa has a wish list," he began and stood up, his hands gripping her obliques as his arousal grew for her. He leaned in, his lips touching hers ever-so-softly, "And everything I asked for, I found in you."
"You're sure you don't mind?" Regina asked as she walked along Madison Avenue, heading home from the market with Robin's mother.
"Of course not, dear. We'd be happy to!" Josephine smiled before adding, "What are your rules about snogging?"
Robin and Regina had been invited to what the tenants called 'Emma's Rockin' New Year.' It was an annual party that the detective would host at a local bar. Conveniently, she'd discovered that Robin was in a band that played at The Luck O' The Irish, so she arranged for it to happen there. Of course, leaving The Merry Men no other option, but to be the entertainment for the evening.
They felt horrible for not spending the holiday with their parents while they were in town, John especially because he ended up having to work on Christmas, but Richard and Josie weren't bothered by it at all. She had agreed to ring in the New Year with her grandsons and, of course, that meant Grace would be attending.
"They don't really show any affection while I'm around so it's never been an issue. But we certainly can't deny them their midnight kiss," Regina smirked and the older woman beamed.
"Oh I hope the lad isn't sensitive. I would fancy a bit of teasing at their expense," she giggled and the brunette shook her head in amusement.
"Be my guest, Josephine."
Henry and Roland were already comfortable in Apartment 8 with their grandparents while Robin and Regina were getting ready. They showered together for the first time in what seemed like months and with the obvious distractions that included, they were running late. At least Regina thought they were.
She rushed back and forth between the bathroom and the bedroom: brushing her teeth, deciding what to wear, putting on her makeup, still deciding what to wear, blow drying her hair, finally deciding on what to wear, getting dressed, and then changing into something else when she decided she didn't like what she'd picked out.
"Babe," she called from the bedroom, "I need your help."
He walked through the door, toothpaste foaming around his lips as he brushed his teeth. She was standing in front of her full length mirror in her bra and panties holding up two different outfits. "Which one?"
"I rather fancy what you're already wearing," he joked and she laughed, shaking her head and expecting a serious answer from him. "I don't know, my sweet. What is it about them that's making it so difficult to choose?"
In her left hand, she held up a red dress with a skinny black belt which she would pair with black pantyhose and her suede boots. On the other hand, literally, she'd put together a pair of dark blue jeans, a black blouse, and her leather jacket.
"I like the idea of wearing a dress, but I also want to be comfortable since we'll be drinking," she said.
He thought for a second and then suggested, "It gets pretty hot in the bar and I think the heaviness of the jeans will end up being less comfortable than the dress."
"What if I do the dress, but still wear the leather jacket? Does it look stupid?" She asked as she wrapped the garment around the dress and held it up for a better look.
"I think it's sexy," he said, but the toothpaste leaking out of his mouth ruined his attempt at flirting. She laughed as he rushed to the sink to spit and rinse before returning. "Apologies, milady."
She shook her head and walked toward him, rising on her toes to peck his lips. She closed her eyes and allowed the kiss to linger much longer than intended when she tasted the remnants of the mint flavor. He opened his mouth and she moved her tongue swiftly over his, both breathing out heavily through their noses as the passion grew.
He lifted her into his arms, her clothes dropping from her grasp to the floor as she pressed her palms to his neck. They collapsed onto the bed, her back falling into the cloud-like comforter. He parted their lips and hurried to take off her panties. She was catching her breath as she said, "But you just brushed your- oh fuck!"
His mouth was already around her opening as she cried out, relaxing her head into the mattress. His voice was muffled as he continued to work her sex, "I guess I'll have to brush them again."
The couple arrived just in time, much to Regina's surprise. Robin told her they needed to arrive at eight so when they walked through the doors at ten to nine, she expected to be embarrassed only to learn that it actually started at nine and he'd tricked her. He shrugged when she shot him a narrowed glare and said, "It worked, didn't it?"
She sat on one of the bar stools, crossing her denim-covered legs and shimmying out of her leather coat. He hung it on the rack with his own hunter green leather one before returning to her side. They looked good standing together; Regina in the jeans instead of the dress and Robin sporting a pair of his own accompanied with a gray thermal. His sleeves were already rolled up, revealing his tattoo, when he told her, "Wish me luck."
She placed a gentle kiss on his forearm, "You don't need it."
They shared a smile and a momentary kiss before he grabbed his beer and headed to the stage to warm up with his mates. She watched him, admiring his talent and the way they supported one another. It didn't hit her until that moment, when the men on stage all laughed as Will finished a story he'd been telling, that they were good friends to Robin. They helped him at Strawberry Fields that night and she was sure they could have been elsewhere doing more important things. But they weren't. They were by his side. Much like actual Merry Men, which she found particularly amusing.
She was pulled from her reverie when she heard a familiar female voice calling from behind her. She turned and spotted Emma waving her arms, "Come here! We're taking shots!"
Regina couldn't remember the last time she did a shot of anything besides cough medicine when she was sick five years ago. She considered declining her offer, but it was New Year's Eve; she didn't have to worry about her kids, she was off from work for a few days, and her sexy boyfriend was about to make her climax just from the sound of his singing voice. Shots suddenly seemed like an excellent idea.
She walked over to the group of women at the end of the bar and was greeted happily by each of them. Emma must have been tipsy because she gave the brunette a tight hug and said, "I'm glad we're friends again."
Regina decided not to question it and moved on to Mary Margaret Nolan, "Who's watching the twins?"
"Oh, my parents took them for a few days. We really needed a night out and I guess they could tell," she shrugged with a small giggle. She was on the shorter side, not that Regina was very tall without heels, but Mary Margaret was even smaller and always wore flats. Her complexion was very fair which accentuated the natural ebony color of her pixie haircut and her hazel eyes that often changed to blue and green.
They'd known each other since the day Mary Margaret was born. Before she became Mrs. Nolan, she was Ms. Blanchard, the only child of Leopold and Ava Blanchard. Cora and Leo were always getting their daughters together for play dates when they needed an excuse to work on the weekends. There was a seven year gap between them, exactly like Henry and Roland. They were always more like sisters than friends until Regina left for college.
They lost touch, made new friends, started dating; once the older of the two discovered she was pregnant with Henry, they became complete strangers to each other. They'd managed to remain friendly, but it was hard for Regina not to be irritated by the younger woman. Where she had struggled as a single mom and climbed the judicial ladder, Mary Margaret was taken care of by Daddy and David so she never had to lift a finger. It was probably better they spent minimal time together to avoid the aggravation.
The other women were just a few that she recognized from Enchanted Plaza: Elsa, Mulan, Aurora, Jacquelyn. Trina Bell was also there, surrounded by her roommates that called themselves TripleA: Ariel, Ashley, and Anna (Elsa's younger sister). They attended Hunter College together and Regina was grateful they didn't have the apartment next to hers. She thought about Lily Bolla and sympathized with the only girl out of their group who wasn't old enough to drink.
"What're ya havin?" The bartender asked as he approached the women. They all looked at each other indecisively and shouted random drink orders at the poor man.
Regina stepped forward and got his attention, "A round of Patron. On her."
She patted Emma on the back with a devilish grin and the blonde was happy to agree with whatever her 'bestest friend' had to say.
The bartender placed a row of shot glasses along the bar and poured the tequila in each one, adding the cost to Emma's increasingly large tab. Regina felt bad so she made sure to buy her friend a few more shots before the night was over.
"Alright, ladies!" Emma held her glass up with a lime wedge in her other hand. The women cheered and all dove in: licking the salt from their hand, downing the alcohol, and squeezing the lime as a chaser.
"Out with the old, in with the new," Regina muttered to herself before taking the shot straight and feeling it immediately in her head.
The Merry Men started playing their set and Regina listened while sipping her Washington Apple. She wasn't drunk, but she was feeling it. The room started to get hazy and she was having a good fucking time. She danced with her friends, sang along to the songs she'd learned from hearing them so often. But the lead singer kept watching her. He was hot. And she was hot for him.
"I'd like to ask a very special woman to join me on the stage for the next song," Robin said, a few beers in himself, but keeping his wits about him for the sake of the band. He walked into the crowd and took Regina by the hand, the women cheering her on and the men whistling at her. "For those who don't know, this gorgeous woman standing before you this evening is the love of my life, Regina Mills."
The crowd clapped and hollered, some shouting out her name and others chanting for them to kiss. He shook his head, "Did anyone know she has a secret talent?"
"I bet she does!" One man shouted and Robin nearly jumped off the stage to break his neck, but she grabbed his arm to calm him down with a surprise, passionate kiss. When their lips parted and the audience settled, he smiled, "Besides being a good kisser, Regina is a very beautiful singer."
Her cheeks turned red and she started to exit the stage when he pulled her back. She glared at him and whispered, "You better not."
"You don't have to do it alone. I'll sing too. Just let yourself go. Be free with me," he pleaded and those dimples sucked her right in. She nodded reluctantly and he signaled the band to start playing. He turned back to her and said, "I'll start it off and you sing with me when you're ready."
He stood next to the mic stand so she could face him on the other side. He leaned in and his melodious voice filled every part of the room.
Nobody ever loved me like she does
Oh she does, yeah, she does
And if somebody loved me like she do me
Oh she do me, yes, she does
Of course he would pick the sexiest Beatles song of all time for them to sing together in front of a crowd of drunken horn dogs.
Don't let me down, don't let me down
He repeated the chorus again and Regina stepped closer to the mic after clearing her throat. He smiled and his eyes were shining with excitement and reassurance. She opened her mouth and their voices sang the melody line of the bridge to perfection.
I'm in love for the first time
Don't you know it's gonna last
It's a love that lasts forever
It's a love that had no past
Robin continued on the melody and she rose up to the high harmony without a second thought, belting as she stared in his eyes. The entire room melted away as she sang only to him.
Don't let me down, don't let me down
Again, they repeated the phrase and he softly pulled back, allowing her to sing the next verse alone. She changed the lyrics from 'she' to 'he' as she moved her pelvis closer to him and gave the song her all.
And from the first time that he really done me
Oh he done me, he done me good
I guess nobody ever really done me
Oh he done me, he done me good
The crowd cheered as Robin came back in to finish with the final two lines of the chorus. Their harmonies seemed practiced, but were completely new to them. They each moved closer, his guitar the only thing separating their bodies as their lips kissed the mic. Her hands came up to his neck as he stopped so she could have the big finish, the band quieting their instruments so all that was heard was the sound of Regina belting out the final: Don't let me down!
Everyone stood and applauded, begging for an encore. She tuned them out and continued to gaze into Robin's eyes. He took the mic in his hand and pulled it out of their way, planting a kiss on her lips that he wished would never end. Their tongues embraced and the room filled instantly from the heat emanating from their bodies.
The Merry Men completed their show at ten to eleven so the TVs could be turned on to the New Year's Special. Various artists performed on the screen and the patrons continued to laugh and drink together as they anticipated the famous dropping of the giant ball in Times Square.
Robin joined Regina for shots, silently toasting to their final moments as a couple in this year and wishing only good things for the new one and many more to come. He stood behind her with his chin on her shoulder and arms around her waist, their bodies swaying comfortably as they enjoyed their time with friends, neighbors, and each other. He whispered softly, "I can't wait to spend the rest of my life with you."
She tilted her head back to get a better look at him. She smiled when she spotted the pure joy on his face and said, "Do you ever think about what it'll be like?"
"Sometimes. I imagine the kids going to college, getting married, making us grandparents. Eventually you'll give up on the contacts and stick to glasses full time," he teased and she laughed at the fact that he was probably right. "You'll be beautiful as ever. I'll go gray like my father, perhaps get a gut from your cooking."
"We'll be happy," she said as the people in the bar began counting down from ten. He turned her around so he could see all of her face, holding her close to him.
"And it'll feel fucking great," he said, quoting the end of his lecture she'd seen the evening of their first date to the very pub they were standing in.
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"It already does," Regina said and they both smiled.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
He leaned down and she lifted herself to the tips of her toes, sharing a tender, loving midnight kiss with the man she planned to love for the rest of her life.