Chapter 6: Truth Revealed

Tink knocked on Robin's door, drawing his attention from the etiquette lessons he was still trying to complete. She gave him a contrite smile. "Am I interrupting something?"

"Not really," he said, knowing the etiquette manual was always secondary to whatever task he was assigned. "Do you need me?"

"The Queen does," she replied. "She wants to see both of us."

Robin stood, grabbing his notebook and a pen as confusion filled him. He walked toward the door, asking: "What about?"

"There's an event we put on every year," Tink said. "It's coming up and we need to go into the main preparations for it."

"An event? The presentation of the Guardian Angel award?" he asked, knowing that was due to be given soon. He didn't know if he could stomach watching it go to an undeserving organization masquerading as one.

She shook her head. "That's coming up too but someone else handles that, not us."

"Oh," he replied, not sure if he was relieved or not as they entered the Queen's office. Tink announced their presence and the Queen looked up. She stood and invited them to sit on her couch as she moved to join them.

She sat down as she turned to Robin. "Did Tink explain to you what this meeting is about?"

He glanced at Tink before nodding. "She did."

"Good," the Queen said, looking pleased. "We have a lot to do and I'm going to need all hands on deck. Understood?"

"I do," Robin said, wondering if she would elaborate more about the party. If not, he figured he could get more information from someone else on staff. August was probably his best bet and if not, Belle.

She nodded, turning to Tink. "Where are we in preparations?"

"It's honestly just confirming our standing orders," Tink said. "Do you know how many people we need to prepare for?"

"Yes," the Queen said. "I would say two hundred. I don't think we'll get that many but I'd rather be overprepared than under."

Tink nodded. "Of course."

Robin wrote down the number in his notebook, wondering how many people they would actually get and how much waste they would have by the end of the night. He wondered what the palace would do with the leftovers and made a note to casually ask someone when he got a chance.

"What do you need me to do?" Robin asked her, looking up at the Queen.

"I need you to order a few things," the Queen replied. "Tink can give you all the information. All the companies should be familiar with our orders."

He nodded. "So I can tell them it's for you or do I need to use a decoy name?"

The Queen hesitated for a moment before answering: "They'll know it's for the palace but they may not know it's for me."

"Ivy used to use her own name," Tink said, referencing Robin's predecessor. She looked at Robin. "You can do the same or use my name. Whatever you feel more comfortable doing."

"Okay," Robin said, wondering why they didn't use the Queen's name. He figured no one would do business with them if they knew it was her.

The Queen nodded before leaning closer. "It is important that the guests for this party remain secret. No one outside of those attending and working the party should know who was there. And absolutely no media."

He frowned. "No media?"

"Correct," she replied. "The privacy of my guests is the utmost importance."

"Understood," he said, the hard look in her eyes unnerving. The guests for this party were either very important or very embarrassing for the Queen. Or was it that whatever would happen at the party would be embarrassing for all of them?

Maybe it was both.

The Queen nodded. "Good. Now, let's discuss the menu."

"The kitchens have it all planned," Tink said, pulling a piece of paper from her folder. She handed it to the Queen. "You can review it and we can finalize everything."

"Good," the Queen said, taking the menu. She looked it over, nodding as she went down each item until she came to one. At that point, she frowned. "This vegetable dish is made with almonds, correct?"

Tink frowned as well, pulling out a copy of the menu. "Let me check."

Robin glanced over at the list and saw green bean almondine written on the menu. Tink nodded. "Yes, I do believe that it is made with almonds."

"No nuts," Regina said. "Of any kind. I can't risk it with my guests."

"Of course," Tink replied with a seriousness Robin understood. If any of the Queen's guests had a nut allergy, such a dish could be deadly. Tink promised to get the cooks to change it.

The Queen thanked her before looking over the list. "You know, a lot of this seems a little too fancy for our guests. Maybe we could make it more casual? Do the cooks remember what event this is?"

"I'll remind them," Tink said. "Maybe we can have two different menus. We usually serve this buffet style anyway. I think the guests would appreciate the choice."

"That's a good idea," the Queen replied. "Talk with the cooks. If you run into any issues, let me know. I'll handle it."

Tink nodded. "I will. Now, are we aiming to have this outside again?"

"Yes," the Queen said, tucking a few loose strands of hair behind her ear. She looked up at Robin. "Can you check with the companies to see if they have the Saturday after our planned date available as well? We can use that as our rain date."

"I will," he replied. "Do you want me to check for a third date?"

She shook her head. "If it rains both days, we'll just have to have the party in the main ballroom."

"It's easier to keep them contained in the ballroom," Tink said. "But I know they love being outside."

The Queen nodded. "Either way, everyone will have fun. I just know it."

"I'm sure they will," Tink said, nodding. Robin had the same feeling – who wouldn't have fun in a palace with the Queen pampering you and spending money that would better be used to help her people?

"Okay, so I think this is a good start," the Queen said. "Why don't we have a standing meeting until the event? Do we want to have it at this same time? Does that work?"

Both Tink and Robin pulled out their phones. He nodded as he checked his schedule. "This works for me."

"Me too," Tink confirmed. "We can add it to the calendars."

"Good," the Queen said, standing. "I look forward to our meetings."

Robin stood as well as Tink and they left the office as the Queen returned to her desk. Tink slowed as they reached Robin's office. "I'll forward you Ivy's files so you can start confirming everything. Ask if you have any questions," she said.

"I will," he replied. He glanced at the Queen's closed door before asking: "Who is this party for anyway?"

"You'll find out in good time," Tink told him. "Just know that it's for some very, very important guests."

He nodded, wondering if it was some secret gathering of world leaders. Or maybe the other kings and queens of the world gathered to celebrate or commiserate how few of them there were. The part of him that still identified with England wondered if he would meet William and Kate before he pushed that thought aside. It didn't matter who was coming – either way, they were just wasting resources that could go to people who needed it more.

Robin sat down at his desk and a few minutes later, he received an email from Tink. Opening the attachment, surprise filled him as he saw the list of contacts Ivy had left for him – tents, clowns, petting zoo, cotton candy, and so on.

"What is this? A party or a circus?" he asked, shaking his head. Royals, nobles and other rich people certainly were strange people.

But he wasn't paid to judge them. He was paid to arrange these bizarre parties for them. So he picked up his phone and began dialing, hoping this was as easy as Tink and the Queen believed it would be.

"Regina?" Tink asked, coming into the office. "Are you busy?"

Regina raised her head from reading the report Robin had delivered from the Ministry of Commerce, grateful for the distraction. Leaning forward, Regina smiled. "Yes, but I could definitely pretend I'm not."

"Good because Ruby called. Lady Blanchard would like to know if you're available for dinner tonight," Tink said, amused by the Queen's response.

Regina chuckled, knowing that meant Mary Margaret was already at the palace and was just waiting for permission to come up. "Yes, I'm available and she can come right on in."

"I'll let Ruby know," Tink replied with a laugh. "Shall I also alert the kitchen?"

"Yes, please," Regina said, wincing as she thought of her poor kitchen staff. "And apologize for the short notice."

Tink nodded. "I think the kitchens are used to it by now."

Her chief of staff left the office and Regina stood, smoothing down her black dress. She then picked up the phone and pressed a button. It rang a few times before the smooth, accented voice that made her stomach due flips answered. "Yes, Your Majesty?"

"Robin, can you have a tea service brought in, please?" she asked. "Lady Blanchard will be visiting with me."

"Yes, Your Majesty," he replied. "Right away."

He ended the call before she could say anything else, though she didn't know what she would've said. She sighed, setting her phone down before heading to the couch. Regina was glad Mary Margaret had decided to stop by – she could use some friendly advice.

She stood and walked toward the gray couch in her office, knowing it would be more comfortable to sit there. The door opened and Graham, her head of security stepped inside the room. "Lady Mary Margaret Blanchard, Your Majesty," he announced.

"Thank you, Graham," she said, watching as Mary Margaret entered the room. She wore a pink skirt paired with a white shirt – something that fit her personality perfectly.

Mary Margaret thanked him as well before rushing toward Regina. They hugged each other tightly and Regina relished the feeling of human connection. She didn't get it often – most people were not allowed to even breath in her direction let alone touch her – and she loved these moments more than she ever let on, though she had a feeling Mary Margaret knew.

"I'm sorry for just dropping by but there was something I needed to tell you myself," Mary Margaret said.

"And what is that?" Regina asked, pulling back with some concern. What was so important or serious that Mary Margaret had to tell her in person right away?

Mary Margaret held out her left hand, revealing a beautiful square cut emerald on a gold band. "David proposed last night and I said yes! I'm getting married!"

"Oh my god!" Regina exclaimed, happiness and excitement filling her. "Congratulations! You and David are going to have a wonderful life together!"

"And it's all thanks to you," Mary Margaret said, letting Regina lead her to the couch so they could sit down.

Regina shook her head, knowing her friend was exaggerating her role in the romance. "I just did what I could."

"You did a lot," Mary Margaret replied. "I don't know if David and I could've made it without your support given how much Daddy did not approve of my relationship with David in the beginning."

"He would've come around when he saw how happy you were," Regina insisted, though she had some doubts. While Leopold Blanchard loved his daughter and spoiled her, he also was very much like Regina's mother. Both had had clear plans for their daughters, including the type of men they would marry. Regina knew if her mother was still in her life, she likely would've been married to some awful nobleman or rich businessman who would've made Cora a very happy woman and Regina an absolutely miserable one.

It made her shudder to think of what nightmare she would've had to endure to appease her mother's selfish desires.

Thankfully Leopold was different from Cora in one regard – where Cora expected people to do everything to please her, Leopold was the type to please those he felt had more power than him. When Regina vocally supported Mary Margaret's new relationship, he quickly fell in line and started to accept it as well. It had made things much easier for her friend and cleared the way to this moment.

"I would like think he would've," Mary Margaret told her, "but I don't know. You heard how dismissive he was when I first told him about David."

Regina nodded, parroting Leopold's words. "You can do a lot better than a lowly police officer, Mary Margaret."

Someone cleared their throat and she looked up to find Robin standing with a tea tray. "The tea you asked for, Your Majesty," he said.

"Thank you, Robin," she replied. She motioned to the coffee table by the couch. "You can just set it down there. We can serve ourselves."

He did as she instructed and Mary Margaret tilted her head, studying him. She then looked at Regina, her eyebrow raised. Amused, Regina said: "This is my new assistant, Robin Locksley. Robin, this is Lady Margaret Blanchard."

"Pleasure to meet you," she said.

"You as well," he replied, his tone as warm as his eyes. But when he turned back to Regina, she could see he had cooled. "Do you need anything else, Your Majesty?"

"No, thank you," she told him, trying to conceal her disappointment.

He gave a small bow before leaving the office. Regina watched him go and sighed once the door closed behind him. She then turned to her friend. "Tea?"

"Yes, please," Mary Margaret replied. She paused before saying: "So that's the Robin I've been hearing so much about."

"It is," Regina said, pouring them some tea. She felt Mary Margaret's eyes on her and knew she was going to have to answer some uncomfortable questions.

She handed Mary Margaret a cup and then pushed the sugar bowl closer to her. Mary Margaret started to spoon some sugar into it as she said: "You forgot to mention that he didn't like you."

Regina paused as she poured some cream into her tea before asking: "It was that obvious?"

"Yes," Mary Margaret replied. "I'm surprised we aren't drinking iced tea from how cold he got."

"I was hoping he would warm up after a couple months on the job but it doesn't seem to be happening," Regina said with a sigh. "It seems he fully buys everything they say about me in the media."

Mary Margaret scowled. "So are you going to replace him?"

"No," Regina replied. "He's good at his job. Liking me is not really a requirement for the job and he's civil enough."

"He's your assistant," Mary Margaret said. "He's supposed to be the one you trust the most in this palace."

Regina knew she had a point and acknowledged it. "But I still have Tink. He can do almost every other duty Ivy did and Tink can do everything else."

"You're being awfully generous," Mary Margaret said, studying her. "I know you're smitten with him but now I really don't know why."

"When he's not with me, he's really a warm and kind man. He also has a clear sense of right and wrong, hates injustice, and when he believes in something, he does so with his whole heart," Regina told her. "He has a heart of gold and that's why I think he views me the way he does. According to the media, I represent everything he hates."

Mary Margaret hummed. "He does sound like your ideal partner except for the fact he hates you. What are you going to do about that?"

"Honestly? I'm waiting for this infatuation to die down," Regina told her. "And then he'll just be my assistant and hopefully the working relationship we have now works. Who knows? Maybe he'll start to warm up to me a little the longer we go."

Mary Margaret raised an eyebrow. "I've never really known you to take the wait and see approach."

"I have," Regina replied. "Robin is certainly not the first staff member to come in with preconceived notions about me. They tend to change their minds after several months working here, so it does seem to work."

"And if his mind never changes?" Mary Margaret asked.

She sighed. "Then I'll arrange for him to move to another department in a year. A recommendation from me will give him a great job anywhere in the palace. Then I'll try to move on."

Mary Margaret nodded. "Sounds good. But maybe don't wait a year to move on? David mentioned you spent his charity game with a man who you seemed to have a lot of chemistry with."

"Oh," Regina said, her stomach flipping. "That was Robin. His friend was one of the referees."

"And he didn't know it was you?" Mary Margaret asked, surprised.

Regina shook her head. "We haven't introduced Robin to my aliases or my wig collection. He really thought I was Wilma Nolan, librarian from Sheepshead. We've been emailing as well."

Mary Margaret's eyebrows went up. "Emailing?"

"He doesn't know my secret personal email account," Regina explained. "So I've been using that and signing them 'Wilma'."

"Regina," Mary Margaret warned. "That's not fair to him or you."

She knew that. Every time she wrote an email as Wilma and sent it to Robin, she knew it. It would make it harder for her to move on from her feelings for him. And while it was fun to fantasize that he would realize how much she really liked her as Wilma and decide he could give Regina a chance, she knew it was just a fantasy. When he found the truth, he would be hurt and angry that he told so much to her thanks to a deception. It would just reinforce everything bad he believed about her.

"I'll find a way to end it," she said, sighing. "This would be my luck. The first person I'm really attracted to can't stand me. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me I'm meant to be alone."

"Then the universe is wrong," Mary Margaret insisted. "Besides, you've never been one to believe in signs and fate and things like that. Don't start now – especially to give up. The person meant for you is out there and you'll find him. I just know it."

"Uh oh," Regina said, amused. "That sounds like a hope speech."

Mary Margaret sipped her tea before saying: "Maybe it is. It sounds like you could use a little hope."

"So you really do believe my perfect partner is out there?" Regina asked, doubting that was true. When Mary Margaret nodded, she said: "Well, if he does show up, I'll you a commission."

"Then I look forward to collecting," Mary Margaret replied smugly, taking another sip of her tea.

Regina rolled her eyes. "I'll keep that in mind. Now, can we switch topics? Tell me all about your proposal. I want to hear everything."

"Okay, but before I do that, I have a very important question to ask." Mary Margaret set down her cup before reaching out and taking Regina's hands. "Will you be my maid of honor?"

"I would be honored," Regina replied, pleased with her pun and overjoyed that her friend would ask her to stand by her side on the happiest day of her life. She squeezed Mary Margaret's hands. "Thank you."

"No, thank you. There's no one else I want there when I marry David," Mary Margaret said, hugging her.

Regina gave her a squeeze before they parted. Picking up her teacup again, she said: "Okay, no more stalling. Tell me about the proposal!"

Mary Margaret laughed but started to launch into the story. Regina leaned back, feeling lighter as she listened to her friend. She certainly was glad that Mary Margaret had stopped by and pushed all thoughts of Robin from her mind.

For now.

"So you've made it almost three months with the Queen. I think that deserves a drink." John, Robin's best friend, made that declaration as soon as Robin sat down across from him at their favorite pub. He waved down their server as he asked: "So, what do you want?"

"You even have to ask?" Robin teased him. "And you call yourself my best friend."

John chuckled as the server stopped at their table. He ordered Robin's favorite beer as well as his own. The server said she would get that right away and would then take their food order when she got back.

"So, how was your day?" John asked, handing Robin the menu so he could find what he wanted to order.

Robin sighed. "Busy. I'm not entirely sure who this party is for but the Queen is very insistent that it be perfect. She's even more demanding than usual."

"I didn't know that was possible," John said, amazed.

"Neither did I," Robin replied, sighing. "Thankfully Tink is dealing with her directly for the party and then let's me know what I need to do so I have a buffer. But some of the things I've had to order…"

John looked intrigued. "Anything you can share?"

"I suppose so," Robin mused, knowing that John would not blab. And it was likely no one would figure out anything anyway. But he lowered his voice as he said: "So, she wants a face painting station, a cotton candy machine, and a bouncy castle."

"That…sounds like a child's birthday party," John replied, speaking in the same low voice as Robin. "Does…does the Queen have a child no one knows about?"

Robin frowned, shaking his head. "I doubt I would be able to serve three months as her assistant without somehow figuring out she was a mother."

"Maybe," John said. "But you've also said that you've never been in her private quarters."

"True," Robin agreed, thinking about it. "Do you think the Queen could keep a child cooped up in her private quarters?"

"Given that her private quarters are probably bigger than most people's homes, I'd say yes," John replied.

Robin nodded, his mind working overtime. But his gut told him there was no child. It just made no sense that she would hide a possible heir or that no one would ever mention a child during his time so far. Besides, he couldn't see any man putting up with her long enough to get her pregnant, even for a one-night stand. He couldn't even imagine her flirting. She probably didn't flirt but demand men pay attention to her – the Queen always demanded things. And even if she did initiate sexual contact, he got the sense she would be very particular and careful about birth control.

So, no, he didn't think there was some secret illegitimate child running around the Queen's quarters.

"No," he said. "I think this might just be a case of royals are weird."

John chuckled, nodding. "Yeah, you're probably right. I mean, could you imagine having her as a mother?"

Robin shuddered. His experience of the Queen kept proving that she was a selfish person who didn't care for anyone else, including a possible child, and only cared about power and appearances. The first conversation he overheard between her and Lady Blanchard still haunted him. He had seen the noblewoman come in and she was so excited. Then when he had entered the room she had seemed more subdued, no doubt after the Queen had disparaged her relationship. Robin wasn't sure if Lady Blanchard needed the Queen's permission to marry but he hoped not. She didn't deserve to have her life upended by someone incapable of understanding love.

"Uh oh," John said, drawing Robin back to the present. "Did I lose you down a rabbit hole?"

"Not really," Robin replied. "I was just once again feeling sorry for Lady Blanchard. Especially as I think she thinks the Queen is her friend."

Their conversation was interrupted when the server returned with their drinks. She then took their food orders and left them to resume their discussion. John leaned forward. "You think so?"

Robin nodded. "Yeah. I mean, I can't imagine the Queen has to approve of every little detail about her ladyship's wedding but Lady Blanchard has been in there a few times, talking about her wedding. I even heard that the Queen is her Maid of Honor."

"Well, the Queen doesn't strike me as the type to demand to be in a wedding, so I would say yeah, Lady Blanchard thinks the Queen is her friend," John agreed, nodding slowly. "Poor thing."

"I know," Robin said. "The last time she was with the Queen, I went in to drop some papers off. Lady Blanchard was describing her dream wedding dress and the Queen just utterly tore into it, calling it a monstrosity."

John made a face. "How bad could it be?"

"I'm not sure," Robin replied, "but judging by Lady Blanchard's outfits, it's probably something traditional."

"Maybe it's too traditional and the Queen prefers sleeker looks?" John asked.

Robin shrugged. "Perhaps. It would align with her fashion tendencies. But still, why force someone to adopt what you wear?"

"It's the Queen," John replied. "She's probably used to just bossing people around and them doing what she wants."

"I hope Lady Blanchard doesn't give in. She deserves the wedding of her dreams," Robin declared.

John nodded before raising his beer. "One last word about royals and nobles and then we can talk like the two commoners we are. Here's to you surviving your first hundred days with the Queen. Hope you survive the next hundred."

"You and me both," Robin said, tapping his beer against his friend's. They both took sips before Robin asked: "So, how did your date go? I didn't get a chance to ask you last night."

"Ugh, it was so awkward," he replied with a groan. "She disappeared shortly after we ordered drinks. Ten minutes later, I got a text saying that it wasn't going to work out and she was on her way home. Thankfully the bartender took pity on me and didn't charge me for her drink. I ran into some mates from work and spent the night with them instead."

Robin scrunched his nose. "Did you report her to the app?"

John shrugged. "She's allowed to not want to go on the date with me."

"Yeah, but then she should be upfront about it and not sneak out," Robin replied. "Or sneak out before ordering a drink."

"I agree but I also understand that I might be intimidating," John said, motioning to his rather portly appearance. "A woman who doesn't know me might worry I will react poorly if she gets to a date and quickly decides that it's not what she wants."

Robin knew he had a point but was still offended on his friend's behalf. "It's not like you aren't upfront about what you look like."

"I know," John said. "But I just have to keep trying. You should do the same."

"I told you, I'm not really up for online dating," Robin replied. "I'd rather meet someone the old-fashioned way."

His friend raised an eyebrow. "Drunken hook ups in a dirty club bathroom?"

"I said old-fashioned," Robin retorted, "not how I did things in our university days."

"Ha, ha," John replied, rolling his eyes. "So how is the old-fashion way working out for you?"

Robin took another sip of his beer, thinking of the beautiful blonde who had captivated him almost a month earlier. Blondes usually weren't his type but she had soulful brown eyes that drew him, which were absolutely his weakness. They had been so vulnerable with each other as time seemed to stand still, he couldn't help but continue to be drawn to her. He swallowed before replying. "Not so bad. Wilma, the one from the football match, and I are still emailing constantly. I feel like we're getting closer and developing more of a connection."

John nodded. "So when's your next date?"

"We haven't really set one," Robin admitted. "But I'm sure we will soon. She just can't get back here to Storybrooke easily."

"And why can't you go to Sheepshead?" John asked.

Robin shrugged. "She hasn't invited me. If she's so busy she can't get here, I don't want to make matters worse for her and just show up uninvited."

"Uh huh," John said. "Well, while I hope this works out, it doesn't sound like you're in a relationship with her. It probably wouldn't hurt to expand your dating pool options."

"Probably," Robin agreed with a sigh. "I am settled at the palace. Maybe it's time to put myself out there."

John grinned. "So do you need help setting up your profile online?"

"Not just yet," Robin said. "I still want to give the old-fashioned way another try."

"Okay, but you know where to find me when you want to join us in the twenty-first century," John replied, sipping his beer. "Because I'm pretty sure the woman you're meant to be with is swiping right on another frog while her Prince Charming refuses to use modern dating practices."

"Very funny," Robin said wryly. "Maybe you should've become a stand-up comic."

John chuckled again as the server returned with their food. She placed their plates down and told them to enjoy their meals. As she walked away, John picked up a rib and eyed it hungrily. "I've been looking forward to this all day."

Robin laughed as he cut into his steak, popping the piece into his mouth. It was tender and juicy, just as he liked it and he let out a soft groan before swallowing. "Oh, yeah. This is what I needed tonight. Steak, beer and my best mate."

"Happy to oblige," John said, moving onto his next ribs. "You know I can never turn down ribs from here."

They ate and continued to chat. At one point, Robin looked up and was surprised to see a familiar figure by the bar. He leaned closer to John. "Lady Blanchard is here."

John raised an eyebrow. "I didn't think this would be a place a noblewoman went to."

"How would we really know? They do look like us, especially if they are dressed casually," Robin replied, looking over Lady Blanchard. She wore a white sweater paired with jeans. While he had no doubt both were designer and very expensive, she looked no different from the other women in the restaurant.

"Fair point. We may be surrounded by nobles and never know it," John agreed. "Of course, I doubt many of them also are marrying police officers."

Robin chuckled. "That is also true. He probably loves coming here like the rest of us commoners."

"Who can blame him?" John asked, motioning to their half-eaten meal. "Best ribs and beer in all of Storybrooke, maybe even Mist Haven."

"Can't argue that," Robin agreed, noticing as Lady Blanchard motioned in their direction. David looked over and nodded, making Robin's stomach twist a bit. "Head's up, I think they are coming over."

Lady Blanchard approached their table with her fiancé. She smiled as she placed her hand on Robin's chair. "Hello, Robin. How are you?"

"I am well, Your Ladyship," he replied, feeling a bit awkward as he usually didn't encounter people from inside the palace outside of it. "How are you?"

"The same," she said. She motioned to the man standing next to her. "May I introduce my fiancé, David Nolan? David, this is Regina's new assistant, Robin Locksley."

David nodded, holding out his hand to Robin. "We've met."

Robin shook his hand. "It's good to see you again. How's your cousin, Wilma?"

"Wilma's doing well," David said, pulling his hand back again. "Busy these days, as you know."

"I do. She's said as much in her emails," Robin replied, still glad to get the confirmation from Wilma's cousin. "I hope we can see each other soon."

David tilted his head, studying Robin. "I think you'll see each other sooner than you think."

As Robin puzzled over David's cryptic words, David turned to John and held out his hand. "Good to see you again, mate."

"You too," John said, shaking his hand. "Looks like our world is getting smaller, huh?"

"That it is," David agreed, turning back to Lady Blanchard. "John works in our 999 center and is one of our dispatchers. He also referees football matches, including our match between the firefighters and the police."

Lady Blanchard's eyes lit up. "That's why you look familiar! How do you know Robin?"

"John's been one of my best mates since we were children," Robin replied. "And we're roommates now."

John nodded. "Pretty much what he said."

"Do you come here often?" David asked them.

Robin nodded. "This is one of our favorite places. John is particularly fond of their ribs."

"Which I am now slightly embarrassed to have ordered since I am meeting a noblewoman," John admitted, trying to wipe his face with one of the wipes the server had left for him.

She chuckled. "Oh, don't worry. You can probably see sauce stains on David's shirts from his order of ribs."

David glanced down at his shirt and sighed as he touched a blob of dried sauce. "Yeah. My stomach loves them but my washing machine not so much."

"Well, we had a load to go in tonight anyway. We can just throw that in when we get home," Lady Blanchard replied, patting his arm. Robin was surprised but pleased to hear that she had no trouble doing their laundry. He imagined the Queen had never even seen a washing machine and just assumed her clothes magically appeared nice and clean in her closet.

"No," David told her gently. "We need to pretreat this first, remember?"

"Right," Lady Blanchard said, looking a little embarrassed. "You and Regina have told me that so many times but I keep forgetting."

Surprise filled Robin. The Queen knew about pretreating clothes? If so, did that mean she washed the clothes that she didn't have Robin send out for dry cleaning?

David chuckled. "That's probably the same face I made when I saw Regina doing her own wash. And when I discovered that when she offered to make cupcakes for Mary Margaret's birthday party, she really made them. I found her in the Blanchard's kitchen, icing the cupcakes while wearing a batter-splattered apron."

"Regina loves baking," Lady Blanchard said. "It's how she decompresses."

"She's a damn good baker," David replied. "Those were the best cupcakes I've ever had. And I understand the recipe is not easy."

Lady Blanchard smiled. "It's supposed to be a cake and she has to make adjustments for it to be cupcakes but she made them because she knows I like the cake but really prefer cupcakes. She's just a really great friend that way."

Robin grew more uncomfortable and confused. The woman who made a complicated recipe just because her friend enjoyed it as cupcakes did not mesh with the Queen he saw mock Lady Blanchard's fiancé and her outfit choices. Or had she really just put on a good show of icing the cupcakes but really had someone else make it? But then why would the Queen have gone through all that trouble for someone she didn't care about?

"I think we've held them up from their meal long enough," David said, taking Lady Blanchard's hand. "We should go."

"Oh!" she exclaimed, sounding embarrassed. "Right. Sorry. You two enjoy and have a good evening."

Robin and John said goodbye to them before they walked away. Questions continued to swirl around Robin's head and he set his napkin down, standing. "I'll be right back," he told John.

He left the restaurant and found Lady Blanchard waiting on the curb. Robin guessed David was bringing their car around and he took his chance to see if she would answer some of his questions. But he needed to be careful – there were rules he needed to follow with the Queen and all nobles as a palace staffer, whether in the palace or not. Prodding into the Queen's relationship with anyone could violate those rules but he hoped Lady Blanchard could give him a bit more insight into his employer.

"Lady Blanchard! I was hoping we could have a word," he said, jogging up to her.

"I was hoping we could as well," she replied, looking quite serious now. "I want to have a word about Her Majesty the Queen."

He paused, wondering why she wanted to talk about the Queen. Unless she did suspect that the Queen was not as good of a friend as she assumed and wanted his confirmation. He started to figure out how to gently let her down as he nodded. "Alright."

"You don't like Regina, do you?" she asked him, studying him.

The question caught him off-guard and he paused as he tried to diplomatically word his answer. "She's my employer. I have no real feelings toward her," he replied.

Lady Blanchard rolled her eyes. "You can spare me the neutral answers, Robin. I'm not going to tell anyone about this conversation. Regina would probably be cross that I'm having it in the first place. But she's my best friend, the closest thing I have to a sister, and I want to make sure she's not going to get hurt in the end."

"Hurt how?" he asked, even more confused. "She's the Queen and I'm her assistant."

"You're probably the one person she works the closest with every day, with the exception of Tink. That's a pretty important position," she replied. "Gives you greater access to the Queen. And I know they did a screening and background check at the palace but I still am not sure if you're the right person to be around her."

That surprised him and he frowned. "Because you sense I don't like her?"

She nodded. "You may not realize it but it's very obvious in your body language around her. You're very cold and stiff around her when you aren't with others, including me right now."

"No one's mentioned that before," he said, nearly panicking. Was his job on the line and he never knew?

"Because Regina didn't want to mention it," Lady Blanchard replied. "She believes you'll eventually warm up to her. I'm not so sure. I think you've been too brainwashed by the media."

He bristled at her comment and crossed his arms. "Brainwashed? I think the media's been very truthful when it comes to our queen."

"Is that so?" she asked, a hard look in her eyes.

"I haven't seen anything to the contrary," he said, feeling as if he was backpedaling a bit under her glare. It seemed Lady Mary Margaret Blanchard was not just some demure, kind-hearted noblewoman. She clearly had a backbone of steel and was not afraid to fight for those she cared about.

Though he still wasn't sure that the Queen deserved to be one of those people.

Lady Blanchard tilted her head. "Or are you are so already convinced about who she is, you view everything through a biased lens that just keeps reinforcing your belief?"

"I…I…" He wasn't sure how to answer that as it was something he never considered before. But thinking of some of the things he overheard, he cleared his throat. "Why do you defend a woman who doesn't respect your fiancé? Who thinks he is below you because of his job and that you can do better?"

"You overheard our conversation the first time we met." It was not a question but a statement of fact so he nodded. She pressed her lips together before responding. "But not enough to put Her Majesty's comments in context. We were talking about how my father was not supportive of my relationship at first. He only came around because Regina supported us and of course my father wanted to be on the same side as the Queen."

"Oh," Robin said, realization washing over him. The Queen hadn't been stating her opinion of David but repeating Lord Blanchard's earlier opinion of his daughter's then-boyfriend.

Lady Blanchard nodded. "Regina absolutely respects David and likes him. They consider each other family now and are as close as, say, cousins."

"What about her opinions about your wedding dress?" he asked, feeling even more confused – especially by how Lady Blanchard stressed the word cousins in her last statement. But he decided to focus on other things for now. "The monstrosity?"

"Oh, that," she said, chuckling. "When we were younger, Regina had a doll that had this pink, glittery, poofy dress. Like I'm pretty sure the doll's feet never reached the floor because the skirts of the dress held her up. Regina absolutely hated the dress and wanted to get a new one for the doll. But the dress was a gift from some ambassador so her mother wouldn't let her change it and made her keep it on display for the ambassador's entire appointment. Knowing how much she hated it, I would joke that I would model my wedding dress after it. Now that I'm getting married, we resurrected the joke."

By now, Robin was starting to feel like a heel. "So she's not making fun of your wedding dress?"

"Of course not," Lady Blanchard replied as a car pulled up. "I haven't picked it out yet. But I know no matter what I pick, Regina will support it because she wants me to be happy."

"I see," he said, feeling as if he was now three inches tall.

"I hope so." She opened the door but seemed to think of something. Turning back to him, she said: "Regina really admires you."

That surprised him and he wondered if she was trying to guilt him even more. "She does?"

Lady Blanchard nodded. "She thinks you're a good person. Me? I'm not sure. You're nice enough. But a good person would actually give someone a chance and not just automatically assume the worst in someone. I hope you prove Regina right though. If so, she deserves to have someone like you in her life."

She climbed into the car and closed the door behind her. Robin watched as David drove away and he felt like the horrible person Lady Blanchard thought he was. Despite everything he had told Johanna and Tink, he had walked into the Queen's office already convinced she was this Evil Queen who did not care about anyone but herself. As he played back all the incidents he had catalogued as proof her reputation was well-earned, he now wondered if he had taken them out of context as well. Or had he purposefully misunderstood and twisted them to fit who he had already decided the Queen was?

Was he completely wrong about her?

Robin wandered back into the restaurant, feeling as if he were in a daze. John looked up as he approached, frowning. "You okay, mate?"

"I don't know," Robin admitted honestly. "I feel like the world just went topsy-turvy."

"Just from you stepping outside?" John asked, sounding concerned. "Good lord, man, what happened out there?"

Robin waved down their server, motioning for the check. "Let's pay and I'll tell you as we head home. I don't think I want to discuss it in public."

John nodded, recognizing how serious it was. They paid the bill and finished their beers before heading home. It was a silent ride on the subway to their shared flat a few stops from the restaurant. As the train flew through the tunnel, Robin's mind was a jumble of thoughts as he kept replaying every interaction with the Queen over and over again, looking for what he had missed. Was she the Evil Queen? Or was she a kind and compassionate monarch? He had been certain about the answer only a couple hours earlier but now, he wasn't too sure. It left him with one prominent question.

Who was the real Queen Regina?

A/N: This is probably the chapter everyone's been waiting for since I started! And yes, I kept Mary Margaret's brutal takedown of Robin. It was just too perfect to change.

Everyone also keeps dropping hints to Robin about who Wilma really is as he continued to exchange emails with her. Will he now also learn the truth?

Also how will he change after Mary Margaret's truth bomb? Will he be able to change and prove he is worthy of Regina? Or is it too little, too late?

You'll just have to keep reading to find out!

See you next month!

-Mac