(Special thanks to a friend for the art work for the 31 prompts and to Bekki for beta reading these. And thank you to all who read, review, follow and fav this.)
Day 11-Your Rumpled Sheets
(Set in the missing year)
Three months into the missing year, Regina was just about to leave her room this morning, when she turned and smiled at the figure laying in her bed. His dimples were showing even in sleep as he clutched at a pillow. She had woken up before him obviously, and had just stared at his cute features. She had put her hand to the top of his forehead and had pushed back a few hairs. He had smiled in his sleep and settled in more in the bed, her bed.
He had come to her room last night, they had talked and then he had asked her to if he could stay. She was hesitant at first, what would everyone think if she let him stay in her room, in her bed. She had taken a chance and allowed him to stay. So here she was about to leave her room and head down to go outside to clear her thoughts.
That man confused her. Made her feel things she never thought would be possible again. Wasn't sure she wanted them to be possible again. But somehow, he had awoken the darkened heart of hers to a possibility, however slight it might be, of a possibility of something else.
She opened her door and quietly closed it, not wanting to waken the person in her bed sleeping. She knew she would see him later this day, no doubt. He had made her seek him out as soon as she would enter the dining hall, searching for him, even though she knew others might be watching her do so.
She had just closed her door and was about to turn when she heard,"Regina, you're up early."
Great, it is Uncharming Part 1 she thought,"As are you David. Am I to be disturbed by your...I don't know whether to say better or worst half, it would depend on which one of you got on my nerves worse by the day."
David chuckled lightly,"I would definitely say, she is my better half."
Regina rolled her eyes at him,"If you say so."
"So where are you off to this early?" David asked.
"Is this an inquisition?" Regina asked sharply.
"And if it is?" David asked.
"Then it's none of your business," Regina said as she walked around him and continued down the hall.
"Have a nice day, Regina," David called out to her as she continued on her way.
She was out in the courtyard, looking at her apple tree. This apple tree had once been somewhat a symbol of hope for her, she would meet Daniel under it and they would discuss what their futures would be like. How many children they were going to have, a girl, then a boy, then another girl, then another boy.
Now another figure was making her rethink her future...
She was so lost in her thoughts, memories, that she didn't hear the sound of someone approaching her until they were right behind her.
"Good Morning, Regina," Mary Margaret said.
"And there goes my day," Regina said sharply. What was it with the UnCharmings' way of finding her? Was she to be tortured with their presence the rest of her life?
"David said he saw you heading this way," Mary Margaret said.
"Is there something you want?" Regina asked.
"David tells me Robin and the group are to return to the castle later today," Mary Margaret said with a smile on her face.
"Your point?" Regina asked.
"Come on, Regina," Mary Margaret said,"I'm not the blind witch, I can see that there is something between you two."
"With that statement, you are indeed the blind witch," Regina said,"Me? With a lonely thief of all people? Please, I have more respect for myself than that." Regina started to head back to her room, maybe she could find some peace from her there.
But Mary Margaret was not one to give up, as she quickly started to follow Regina,"Regina, you can deny it all you want, but I've seen the way you look at him."
"Like a stinking peasant," Regina said as she turned a corner in the hallways of her castle.
"And more importantly, I've seen the way he looks at you," Mary Margaret said as she continued to follow Regina. "He always looks at the dining hall's entrance when someone walks in, and when he sees you, a smile always appears on his face, and he has a look of...a look of..."
"Probably indigestion," Regina said,"too bad we don't have any pepto here."
"Regina," Mary Margaret said, as she took Regina's shoulders in hers to make her act serious or attempt to,"why don't you give him a chance? Spend some quality time with him, talk to him, listen to him. I think you two would have a lot to talk about."
"Like how he bathes in the river and uses pinecones for money, I'm more refined than that," Regina said sarcastically.
"So you're thinking of Robin in the nude then?" Mary Margaret asked with a smirk on her face.
"Oh, please," Regina said as she rolled her eyes at her,"the only way I would think of him like that, would be to watch him drown in the river."
"Me thinks, the woman does protest a little too much," Mary Margaret said, smiling.
"I've got better things to do than have this ridiculous conversation," Regina said, as she opened the door to her room, as she started in, she remembered a very important item...the male in her bed.
"I don't think it's ridiculous at all...Regina, why is your sheets rumpled?" Mary Margaret asked as she looked at Regina's bed...her empty bed.
Regina looked around the room, but saw nothing to indicate someone was still in her room, she turned and looked back at Mary Margaret, with a smile,"You're married, and have a child, and another on the way, I think you can figure that out for yourself."
Mary Margaret was speechless for a few seconds before she could say anything. She had been hoping that Robin would act on whatever this was between Regina and him. David had told her how Robin had briefly spoken to him one day in the stables, as well as one day when they were out hunting. Robin had asked about Regina's life, her son... her single status. David had kept to the important facts of everything, making sure to let Robin know that there was no one seeing Regina at the moment. David had also told her, upon hearing that particular answer, Robin had smiled briefly.
"Now, if you don't mind, you can see yourself out," Regina said, as she saw the down look on Mary Margaret's face.
Mary Margaret opened her mouth to say something, but nothing came out. So, instead she turned and left the room.
Regina leaned up against the door, and looked at her bed, sheets rumpled and all. The other pillow still had an indention from his head. She smiled as she went about making the bed back up.
Later that day, Robin and the group were just getting back from their hunt. They had made great progress in their hunting party. Robin was heading to his chamber that he shared with his son, he had missed his little man. Along with a certain someone...Regina.
He had thought about her the whole time while he had been gone these last three days, he was finally going to make a move on her and see what happened. He just hoped she wouldn't char him to a crisp for doing so. It had been a long time since he had tried to woo a lady, and he knew he was out of touch with it. Not since Marian, had he been so interested in someone else.
Their banter was what he could safely say, almost like foreplay in a way. She always tried to rile him up, in one way or another. Belittle him almost daily, especially in front of others was her favorite way he highly suspected. He tended to give as good as he got from her, hoping slightly that his words back to her didn't push her away too much. He wanted to get to know her. He had gotten some insight on her, from the Prince, David. He knew there was a lot of history between the Prince and Princess, more the Princess, with the former Queen. He wanted to talk to her, really talk to her.
But the question remained...how to court a Queen?
The answer would have to wait, as he had to see his son first. He went to open his door, and as soon as he did was met with,"Papa! You're home!" Roland yelled, as he ran to his father's arms. He was picked up by his father, and hugged.
"Roland, how I have missed you," Robin said as he hugged his little boy close to him.
"I missed you too, Papa," Roland said.
"Were you good while I was gone?" Robin asked as he sat down on the bed with Roland in his lap.
"Aren't I always?" Roland asked, his dimples showing clearly.
Robin had to laugh at his little boy's answer,"Most of the time, but I think that's because you have so many uncles to help keep you in line." Roland giggled in response to that statement.
Robin was about to ask him another question, when he heard a knock on his door, he sat Roland on the bed, while he went to go answer it,"Princess, sorry I haven't been to touch base with you upon my return, I was anxious to see Roland first."
"That's fine, and understandable," Mary Margaret said,"might I speak with you outside for a moment?"
"Of course, Roland I'll be right back," Robin said as he went out into the hallway. "Is something wrong? Is it Regina?"
Mary Margaret smiled then stopped, and Robin knew something was amiss,"What's wrong? Is she alright?"
"She's...fine, I just wanted to ask you...that is...,"Mary Margaret was stumbling with her words.
"Ask me what?" Robin asked.
"I...what are your intentions towards Regina?" Mary Margaret rushed it out.
"Well, I'm not exactly positive what they are, but she is a very fascinating woman to say the least," Robin admitted with a soft laugh.
"Robin," Mary Margaret whispered,"were you intending to get close to her?"
"That's a bold question," Robin said. "but to answer your question...yes."
"Why?" Mary Margaret asked,"don't get me wrong, just answer please."
"She intrigues me, like no one has in a very long time. She's bold and audacious in every way," Robin answered. "Where is all this coming from?"
"Robin, I hate to tell you this, but I don't think anything will come of you two now," Mary Margaret said.
"And why is that? What changed?" Robin asked,"Did Regina say something to you?"
"It's not what she said, exactly, it's what I saw," Mary Margaret said, "I was talking to her earlier today, and I followed her into her room, and her...her sheets were rumpled."
"She hadn't slept alone," Robin finished for her. His expression betrayed his inward turmoil he was feeling.
"I'm sorry, I was shocked when I saw it," Mary Margaret said.
"No, it's alright," Robin said as he let out his breath,"I mean a queen and a thief, it would never have worked out."
Mary Margaret sighed and inwardly cursed her former step mother for letting a prize like Robin slip through her fingers, she gave him a pat on the arm, before leaving.
Robin spent the next hour with his little boy before making his way down to the dining hall with Roland, on the way, they saw that the library was open, and Roland wanted to get a book for his Papa to read to him.
They walked in, and saw Regina reading deeply into a book. She looked up, upon feeling the presence of others.
"Regina!" Roland yelled as he tugged his little hand free of Robin's and ran towards her, Robin watched as Regina kneeled down and caught his little boy in a hug.
"My papa, is home," Roland said, clearly thrilled.
"I can see that, what are you up to my little knight?" Regina asked.
"We're getting a book for later," Roland answered. "Will you come and help Papa read to me?"
"Roland, the queen will probably be busy later," Robin said cooly.
Regina didn't like his tone, and said to Roland,"Why don't you go look over there by the window for a book, Roland?" Roland scampered away, leaving the two adults in a showdown.
"What was that crack about?" Regina asked sharply, her hands on her hips.
"I just thought you would be busy in your room, like you were obviously last night," Robin said.
"You weren't here last night, so how would you know...oh wait, let me guess, Mary Margaret," Regina said with her eyes rolled.
"Doesn't matter where it came from," Robin said.
"Obviously," Regina said,"but why would you care who was in my bed last night?"
Robin ended the space between them, and grabbed her shoulder,"Did you ever stop to think, I might want to be the one in your bed?" Robin said before he could help himself. Damn it, he thought, he hadn't meant to reveal that much.
"You? A thief? You really think I would let some peasant into my bed?" Regina asked.
"Obviously not now," Robin said. "I hope he pleased you well."
"Oh, I can assure you he did indeed," Regina said, her sass coming out.
"Is that so?" Robin asked, his jealously eating at his core at this mystery man in bed with Regina.
"Papa, can I sleep in Regina's chambers like last night?" Roland asked.
Robin turned to look at his son, then looked back at Regina who had now cut her eyes to avoid his,"Roland, are you telling me you slept in Regina's bed last night?"
"Yes, Papa, there was a storm and I was scared, and you always told me to go to where I feel the safest at," Roland answered. Robin looked at Regina, who had a lone tear going down her cheek, he let go of one shoulder to catch the tear with his thumb, stroking her cheek as he did so, which caused her to look at him.
"And let me guess, after you woke up, you left Regina's sheet rumpled," Robin said to Roland, while looking at Regina, it was taking all he could not to break out in laughter.
"Yes, Papa, I left her sheets rumpled, I'm sorry," Roland said.
"Well, I think everything will be okay then," Robin said.
"Roland, did you find a book?" Regina asked as she broke free of Robin and turned to the little boy.
"I did, it's a story about a magical lamp," Roland said.
"Well, then let's go to dinner," Regina said as she offered her hand to Roland, who took it, and together they headed towards the door, Robin following, smiling as he did so.
"Papa, are you going to let me stay in Regina's room and read to me tonight?" Roland asked before they left the library.
"Well son, that depends," Robin said as Regina looked at him, he winked at her before continuing,"it depends on if I get to rumple her sheets."