Chapter 8: Fall Into Something Spicy

After a few weeks of big revelations, Robin still couldn't relax. He held his breath each time he approached the palace, worried this would be the time his scan card didn't work and he was escorted off the premises. But his scan card kept working and he could still log into his computer. Everyone kept treating him the same way – though he did notice that Tink seemed more relaxed and more trusting around him now. He wasn't sure if it was just because he had passed his probationary period or because she picked up on the change in his demeanor toward the Queen. That wasn't a conversation he really wanted to have with her so he just accepted it without question.

During this time, they finalized plans for whatever party Regina was throwing. He still hadn't been given much information and when he tried to get some from his colleagues, they just said he would have to experience it to understand. It was a bit frustrating but Robin was working on trusting not only his coworkers but the Queen, so he just pressed on.

His phone rang one afternoon, just as he was finishing his lunch. Robin picked it up, swallowing before saying: "Her Majesty's office."

"Ooh, you must be the new assistant," a woman said. "I am Mal Draco, one of the Queen's friends. Is she available for a quick chat?"

"I'm afraid she's not," Robin said, glancing at the Queen's schedule. "Can I take a message?"

She sighed. "I suppose so. Tell her that I will be staying at the Storybrooke Plaza and have made reservations for their tearoom this Sunday at noon. And remind her that she owes me."

Before Robin could say anything more, she ended the call. He sighed, writing down the rest of the note and placing it with the other items he needed to discuss with Her Majesty once she was done with her meeting. Robin wasn't sure who Mal Draco was but he hoped she wasn't as demanding of the Queen's attention as she seemed. Now that he was being more open-minded, he was more observant and realized how many people made demands of the Queen. Too many people treated her like a doll they could just move about and force to do their bidding rather than a person with her own mind.

It was heartbreaking.

Taking a deep breath, Robin picked up his container and went to go wash it out in the staff kitchen. Belle and August were there and they greeted him warmly as he entered. August motioned to his container. "Still bringing in your lunch?"

"Yeah," he said, turning on the water. "Still trying to save money, you know."

"Do you think it's finally time to tell him?" August said, looking at Belle. "He has passed his probationary period."

She nodded, turning to Robin. "Lunch is free."

"What?" he asked, wondering if they were trying to pull a prank on him.

"Regina pays for us to have lunch," August said. "From her own money, not taxpayer funded though it would fit since we are technically government employees. But you can let the chefs know and they'll prepare personalized lunches for you."

Robin looked between his two colleagues, expecting one of them to reveal they were pranking him. But they just watched him, clearly waiting for his reaction. He took a deep breath and asked: "Really?"

Both nodded. "Really," Belle said.

"So I don't have to bring my lunch every day?" he asked, knowing that would save on groceries as well.

"Only if you want to," August replied. "There are times we all prefer to bring in food from home. And I think Ashley brings in her food more than she uses the free lunch option but her husband is a really good cook so I don't blame her."

Belle nodded. "If you like bringing in your own food, that's fine. But if you're really doing it to save money…well, it would probably be cheaper in the long run to order lunch from the kitchens."

Robin sighed, nodding as well. "How do I order lunch?"

"I can show you this afternoon," she offered. "Maybe before your meeting with the Queen?"

"That sounds good," he replied, grateful for her offer. "Thank you."

She nodded and a thought crossed his mind. "You two have worked here for the Queen for a while now. Do you recognize the name Mal Draco?" he asked them.

"Yes," Belle replied. "Mal is a good friend of Regina's. She's rather brash and blunt and a bit bossy so at first it may not appear to be so but she is also fiercely loyal and protective of Regina."

"You definitely don't want to cross her," August agreed. "Why do you ask?"

Robin rubbed the back of his neck. "She called and pretty much instructed the Queen to meet her somewhere and I just wanted to make sure that she was legit before I passed her message onto the Queen."

"She didn't mention anything about The British, did she?" Ashley asked, revealing she was standing in the room. Robin wondered when she had entered and how he had missed her.

"No," he replied, confused. "Why?"

She looked relieved. "Good. Regina hates that place. And it's also a place that if the media spotted her there…it would not go well for her."

"The British is a place?" he asked, a sinking feeling in his stomach indicating he was about to learn something else he had taken out of context and used to vilify the Queen in his mind.

"Well, now we know you're not part of that scene," August replied, grinning. "It's a sex club."

Robin grew even more surprised and understood why the Queen didn't want to go to such a place. While Mist Haven considered itself a progressive country, its people still had their limits. And a queen already painted in a bad light to them being found in a sex club would've brought out the worst in the people. No one would've deserved the slut shaming and misogyny that would likely follow such a reveal.

Especially not the Queen – though he had a feeling that was not the only reason she disliked the club as well. He wasn't sure if she was a prude but he definitely knew she was a private person. A sex club likely was the very last place she ever wanted to be.

He did have one remaining question. "Why is it called The British?" he asked.

"I think just irony," August replied, shrugging. "You know, a play on the stereotypes about the British."

"Well, I'm half-British so I don't particularly appreciate that," Robin said, crossing his arms. He did have to admit he was glad that the Queen only hated a place called The British and likely didn't have any hatred toward the British people. Now he felt more willing to talk about his British side.

Belle smiled. "Mom or dad?"

"Dad," he replied. "Came over for school, met mum, fell in love and decided to stay in Mist Haven."

"Sounds sweet," she said. "Do you still visit England?"

He nodded. "It's been a few years so we're probably overdue for a visit but we like to go back to see everyone. And I love visiting England. I love it almost as much as I love Mist Haven."

"Regina loves it when she goes to England too," Kathryn said, smiling. "I think you two would have a lot to talk about."

"I'll keep that in mind," he replied, not sure how that would come up in a conversation with the Queen. But if it did, he knew that he would be ready.

Tink entered the kitchen, looking amused. "I didn't know we were having a party in the breakroom."

"We finally decided to tell Robin that lunch is provided for free so he doesn't always have to keep bringing in his," August replied. "And we also had to explain what The British is to him and why Regina avoids it like the plague."

"Is Mal Draco trying to drag her down there?" Tink asked, scowling.

Robin shook his head. "No, she's, well, demanded that Regina join her at the tearoom at Storybrooke Plaza on Saturday."

Tink sighed, rolling her eyes. "That does sound like Mal. At least she picked someplace more respectable and appropriate for a queen."

"And some place that Regina likes," Ashley agreed.

"That too," Tink replied before checking her watch. "Regina's meeting is over and if it's not, then it needs to end. Let's go see what the case is, Robin."

He nodded, pushing away from the counter. "I'll follow you."

They excused themselves and Robin followed Tink past his office toward the doors leading to Regina's. She knocked twice before entering, a smile on her face. "I'm sorry to interrupt, Your Majesty, but you do have another meeting," she said.

"Right. Thank you, Tink," he heard the Queen reply. "I'm sorry, gentlemen but I do have to end this meeting. Perhaps we can continue our discussion another day?"

"Can't you cancel that other meeting? This is a very important matter," a man with a nasally voice insisted.

Robin frowned, recalling that the meeting was with a rather small department in the government that oversaw something rather minor. It seemed the director likely had an overinflated sense of his department's importance to demand the Queen cancel another meeting for him.

"I'm afraid Her Majesty can't," Tink said, doing her best to sound sympathetic yet have every word drip with disdain. "You need to leave now. Please come with me."

"You can always arrange for another meeting," the Queen said. "Tink will be more than happy to help you with that."

Tink nodded, her smile polite and frozen. "Please follow me."

She walked out of the office and Robin pressed his back against the wall, making sure to smile as two men followed her out of the room. Neither looked at him as they passed him, both dressed in expensive suits – one tall and thin with a weaselly appearance and the other smaller and more rotund. Robin slipped into the Queen's office once they left, closing the doors behind him as he readied for his meeting with her.

"You two were right on time," the Queen said, drawing his attention to her desk. She leaned back, smiling. "I couldn't end that meeting no matter how many times I tried."

"They didn't seem to be the sort to take 'no' for an answer," he replied, approaching her desk. "Do you need me to order you lunch?"

She shook her head, motioning to her computer. "I sent an email to the kitchens while those two just droned on so my food should be up here shortly. You don't mind if I eat during our meeting, do you?"

"Not at all," he said, leaning against the chair. "Or would you rather I come back after you've eaten?"

"I don't think that will be necessary," she replied, motioning for him to sit. "Do you have anything you want to discuss first?"

He nodded, sitting down. Robin told her about the call from Mal Draco and saw how she rolled her but smiled fondly. "Well, at least it's the tearoom. I love that place. Have you ever been?" she asked him.

"Once," he said. "We took my grandparents there. My parents must've saved up forever, though I'm sure my grandfather paid as well."

"Was it for a special occasion?" she asked, looking intrigued.

He nodded, recalling Ashley's words about Regina being an Anglophile. "It was one of the few times they visited from England. Usually we go to see them there."

"England!" Her eyes lit up and she leaned closer. "Where in England?"

"Nottingham," he replied, realizing she was really interested in learning more about him.

Her smile turned into a smirk as she asked: "Isn't that Robin Hood territory, Robin Locksley?"

"It is," he said, surprised as not many in Mist Haven made that connection when he talked about his father's family. "I don't know if we're descended from him but honestly, you never know, right?"

"That is true," she agreed. "He did live centuries ago or at least the historical person who inspired the legends did."

That intrigued him and he asked: "Are you fascinated by Robin Hood?"

She nodded. "I am. Aren't most people?"

"I suppose," he replied. "What draws you to Robin Hood?"

"The same thing that draws most people, I suppose," she replied. "His generosity and how he reminds us to always take care of and stand up for the people who can't do it for themselves."

He nodded. "Everyone loves a hero."

"Yes, they do," she said, still smiling though sadness filled her eyes. Robin felt like kicking himself as she no doubt was thinking about how she was constantly painted as a villain to her people.

Everyone loved a hero but no one loved a villain.

She cleared her throat before saying: "Well, I look forward to our first visit to England together then."

"I do too," Robin said, meaning every word. He was excited to travel to his father's native country with the Queen, not only to finally experience the British royal family but also so he could show her around the country.

A door opened and a porter rolled a dining tray into the room. He glanced at Robin before saying: "Your lunch, Your Majesty."

"Thank you," she said, standing. "You can leave it. I can serve myself."

"Of course, Your Majesty," the porter said, bowing. "Enjoy your meal."

The Queen moved toward the tray and stopped, looking back at Robin. "Are you sure you don't want to wait? I feel bad eating in front of you," she said.

He shook his head, not caring if she ate in front of him. "I already ate so I'm fine. Go ahead. Do you want to move to the table?"

"Would you mind?" she asked, looking relieved at his suggestion. When he shook his head, she picked up her plate. "Thank you so much. I don't really want to risk anything on my desk getting dirty."

"I get it," he said, standing. "I usually eat at my desk but even I sometimes wonder if maybe I should be eating at the table in the breakroom."

They sat around her table as she frowned. "Why do you eat at your desk?"

He hesitated as he considered his answer. Robin had yet to tell the Queen that he knew she was Wilma Nolan and so didn't want to act like she knew about his ADHD already. So he figured it was best to be nonchalant about it, as if it was no big deal to disclose it to his employer. If she hadn't taken any actions yet, he believed she wouldn't now that he was almost formally telling her about it.

"It started at my former job, before I got diagnosed with ADHD. I found leaving my desk would disturb my routine and break my flow so that I was almost useless for about an hour afterwards," he said. "So I just decided to eat at my desk to prevent that. And it just became a habit even though I have medication and ways to combat that now."

"Understandable," she replied. "We come up with different coping methods and don't feel comfortable letting them go even when we have something better and possibly even more effective."

He nodded, recalling what she told him about her anxiety. "Yes, I suppose it's something like that."

She swallowed her bite of chicken before asking: "Would you like a table in your office?"

"What?" he asked, surprised.

"If you don't feel comfortable leaving your office just yet, I can get you a table for it so you don't have to eat at your desk," she offered. "You can decorate your office however you want, you know."

Though he had been told that by Tink shortly after he started, he never really felt like he could. But maybe redecorating his office would be a help to him and mitigate any issues his ADHD could cause. So he nodded. "Thank you for the offer. I think I need to think about it," he said.

"Of course," she replied. "If you do decide you want it – or anything else – just let Tink know. She'll help you with the proper requisition requests."

"I'll do that," he said before tapping his notebook. "Shall we begin our meeting?"

She nodded, dabbing her mouth with her napkin. "What's first on our agenda?"

He turned to his notebook and easily slipped back into his more professional persona. Things no longer felt tense or stiff between him and the Queen. For the first time since he started the job, he believed they could even be friendly.

One day.


Regina dressed in a plain t-shirt and an old pair of jeans she only wore for major baking projects, like the one she had planned for today. She put her hair up into a simple ponytail before putting on a pair of sneakers, ready for a day spent in the kitchen. Leaving her room, she already smelled something delicious and wondered who had made breakfast. "Hello?" she called out.

"Good morning!" Granny called back. "I hope you're hungry because I made you a nice big breakfast to help you with your task today."

"You didn't have to do that," Regina said, coming into the kitchen to see Granny standing at the stove. It was a familiar and comforting sight that warmed her as she added: "But I'm glad you did. Thank you."

Granny chuckled as she handed Regina a plate laden with eggs, bacon and hashbrowns. "You're welcome. There's also a fruit salad in the fridge for you as well," she said.

Regina thanked her, retrieving the fruit salad before heading to the table. As she sat down, Granny placed a mug of coffee in front of her before sitting down herself. "So, who will be helping you today?" she asked.

"Everyone in my office," Regina replied after swallowing her bite of bacon. "Like usual."

"That include your new assistant?" Granny asked, sipping her own coffee.

Regina nodded. "Why?"

Granny shrugged. "It just seems that he's not your biggest fan. I didn't think you would want to spend almost all day in the kitchen with him."

"He's gotten a lot better recently," Regina said, thinking of her assistant. "He's acting the same way around me that he acts around everyone else – warm and friendly. It's like a switch was flipped inside him."

"And you don't find that suspicious?" Granny asked, her eyes narrowing.

She frowned. "No, not really. He just passed his one-hundred-day review. I would've thought it would be the other way – he would be nice to me until then and then turn cold once he felt secure in his job."

"I guess," Granny said, though her eyes remained narrow. "What does Graham think?"

"He's doing a check to make sure Robin isn't feeding the press any information," Regina said, annoyed. She didn't support her head of security's decision but she knew it had to be done. At least then everyone could stop suspecting Robin of something nefarious. "So far, nothing. But he's going to keep everything running until after the carnival."

Granny nodded. "Good. I guess that would be the real test."

"I suppose," Regina said. "I know you are all worried about him…"

"We're worried about you," Granny replied. "We don't want the wrong person getting too close to you again and using that to hurt you."

Regina paused, thinking of Sidney Glass and understanding Granny's concern. "I get it. But I don't think Robin is like them."

Granny hummed, taking another sip. "I guess we'll see."
"Yes, we will,' Regina said, finishing her breakfast as she hoped Robin would pass the tests of everyone who cared about her.

She then stood, thanking Granny again. "Do you want to come help with the baking?" she asked.

Granny shook her head. "I'll leave that to the young."

"Alright," Regina said, chuckling. "But you're more than welcome to join us if you want."

"I'll keep that in mind," Granny replied. "But don't hold your breath."

Regina nodded, thanking Granny again. She then slid on her most comfortable shoes before leaving her apartment. Instead of walking the hallway to her office, she took the one to her personal elevator. Only a select few had access to this elevator to make sure it was secure for her. She was able to relax, knowing that nothing and no one could get to her while she was riding it.

The elevator went down almost to the bottom before coming to a stop. Once the doors opened, Regina stepped out to find Graham waiting for her. She looked him over, taking in his suit, before saying: "You're not dressed for baking."

"You know you don't want me anywhere near that kitchen," he said, which was true. Graham was many things but a good baker was not one of them. "I'm just here to make sure everything is secure."

Regina raised an eyebrow at that. He had never come down here to check that the palace kitchen was secure before. Which meant that he had another reason for being down there. "Or are you here to check on Robin?"

"Maybe a little of both," he replied. "There's been at least one serious attempt on your life in the past couple months, Regina. We can't ignore that or get lax even here in the palace."

"Fine," she said, even if she still believed it was just food poisoning in Hyperion-by-the-Sea and nothing sinister. But he didn't and it was best to just let him do his job. "Just try not to scare anyone, okay?"

He shrugged. "No promises. A little intimidation can be good for the soul."

She rolled her eyes, pausing just outside the door to the main part of the kitchen. Regina turned to him. "Keep in mind this is my kitchen. And if you start interfering in our project, I will throw you out."

"Understood," he replied.

"Good," she said, pushing open the door and stepping into the kitchen. The staff stopped working and turned to face her. "Good morning, I'm afraid today is the day you hate the most – I'm about to invade your space and make all my goodies for the festival today."

The kitchen supervisor approached her with a smile. "We never mind your presence here. We're ready to help you prepare for the festival."

"Thank you," Regina said, grateful for her staff. "We just need the rest of my helpers and then we can get started."

"Wait no more," Tink said, entering the kitchen. "We're here."

The others trooped in behind her with Robin and August bringing up the rear. Everyone was dressed down today and Regina's eyes went to Robin, looking him over. This was the second time she had seen him in casual clothes and she loved how he looked in a simple t-shirt and jeans as much as he looked in a suit. She looked forward to discreetly admiring his toned arms again.

For now, though, she needed to focus on everyone. "Thank you for coming. We have a lot of goodies to bake so I'm going to assign you to your stations. Take breaks if you need them and we have plenty of water and snacks. We'll break for lunch around noon," she said.

"Sounds good," Tink replied. "So, where do you want us?"

Regina teamed people up and assigned them individual tasks until only Tink and Robin were left. "You two are with me. We're making cupcakes," she said.

"Cupcakes sound good," Robin replied, following her. "What kind?"

"A few of them," she said, approaching their station. "I like to make vanilla, chocolate and red velvet."

Tink nodded. "A good selection."

Regina grabbed two aprons and held them out. "You can put these on and then we can get started with the batter. I'll handle the red velvet so who wants vanilla and who wants chocolate?"

"I can do the chocolate," Tink said, taking an apron and donning it. "You don't mind vanilla, do you, Robin?"

He shook his head, tying the apron on. "Vanilla sounds easy enough."

Regina chuckled. "It is. So, I'll get all the ingredients and we can get started."

"I'll help you," Robin said, following her. "You don't have to do everything by yourself."

His words warmed her heart and she nodded. "Thank you."

She gathered ingredients and placed several items in Robin's waiting arms. Regina then took some into her own and they walked back to the station. After setting everything down, she divided everything up into threes. "Okay, I think we're ready to begin," she said.

"Okay," Robin said, resting his hands on the table. "What now?"

"Now, you're just going to follow my instructions," she replied. "And if you need help, just let me know, okay?"

He nodded and she began giving the instructions. She knew Tink was familiar with her process and so Regina focused more on Robin. He followed her directions perfectly and seemed to relax as their time together went on. Soon they had batter for the cupcakes and it was time to pour them into the pan.

"Here's your pan," Regina said, handing it to Robin. "Put a cupcake cup into each mold and then fill them with batter. Try to fill it about three-fourths of the way. We don't want too much or they will overflow and be lopsided once they are baked."

"Makes sense," he replied. "Can you watch me please just so I know I'm going it correctly?"

She nodded, moving closer to him. "Of course. Go ahead."

He went to pick up the bowl but she stilled his hand. Regina grabbed the ladle and held it out to him. "This might be easier to use," she said.

"Thank you," he replied, taking it from her. He dipped it into the bowl and almost started to move it toward the pan.

"Wait," she said, placing her hand on his arm. "You'll drip batter everywhere. Wipe the excess off on the rim of the bowl."

He frowned, looking over his arm at her. "What?"

She chuckled. "Are you okay with me touching you so I can guide you?"

"Do whatever you need to do," he told her. "I'm cool with it."

"Just wanted to check," she replied, leaning closer to him as she gently grabbed his wrist. She guided his hand until he brushed the ladle against the bowl and left the excess on the rim. "Like that."

He nodded. "I see."

"And now we'll pour the batter just so," she said, guiding his arm toward the pan and helping him pour the batter until the cup was about three-quarters full. "There. Just like that."

"Thank you," he replied, turning his head toward her.

She looked up, realizing how close she was to Robin. Regina looked right into his blue eyes, almost drowning in their depths. Her gaze also dropped to his lips, surrounded by his now familiar blond scruff, as they curled into a smile. It revealed his dimples, which again made her stomach do flips. Regina swallowed, knowing she was crossing into dangerous territory. Even if his attitude toward her had changed, he was still her assistant and while anything more than a professional relationship wasn't necessarily forbidden, it also wasn't encouraged either.

Regina swallowed, taking a step back as she tucked some loose hair behind her ear. "You think you got it?" she asked.

"Yes," he replied, nodding. "Thank you."

"If you need any help, I'll be at my station just over here," she said, motioning to her end of the table. She felt awkward as she walked away, hoping her face wasn't as red as she feared it was.

Hopefully she could blame it on the heat in the kitchen.

They all finished their first round of pans and together, they placed them in the oven. Regina set a timer before clapping her hands. "Well, that's the first batch! Now's prepare our second batch!"

"How many cupcakes do we need?" Robin asked, leaning against the table as he watched Regina.

"A few hundred of each flavor," she said, starting to combine the ingredients for red velvet again. "Thankfully we can make a lot of pans at once but it's still going to take some time."

He nodded, rubbing his hands together as he turned to his bowl. "Then I guess I need to make some more vanilla cupcakes."

"I think you both need to do a little less talking because I'm way ahead of you," Tink teased them, already preparing her next batch of chocolate cupcakes to go into the oven to bake.

Regina caught Robin's eye and he winked at her. She did her best to hide her laughter as she focused on her next bowl of batter. This was proving to be more fun than she expected and she had a feeling it was just getting started.


"Lunch break!"

The Queen clapped her hands, looking around at her staff. "Go ahead and wash your hands then help yourself. I hope you enjoy everything and I thank the kitchen staff for preparing what I'm sure is a delicious meal."

Robin applauded with the other staff members before he followed their lead in removing his apron. Tink moved closer to him. "So, how are you doing?" she asked him.

"Good," he replied, grinning. "This is a lot of fun and certainly not what I was expecting when you told me to dress down and put up an out of office message for today. Honestly, I almost expected to be setting up a tent or wrangling a lion."

"We have professionals to handle that," Tink assured him. "But Regina really likes us to make the desserts all together."

He nodded, glancing over at the Queen. Robin had never seen her smile so much and there was a light in her eyes that made her look even more beautiful. It struck him that she really was close in age to him – sometimes she came off as older, but he imagined now that was to ensure people treated her with the respect she deserved.

Even then, most didn't.

And for a long time, that had included him.

"Robin?" Tink asked, giving him a little shake. "Earth to Robin, you there?"

"Oh," he said, realizing he had drifted off. "Sorry, got lost in my thoughts there."

She chuckled, nodding. "I can tell. Do you want to go back to them or do you want to eat?"

He rubbed the back of his head. "I think I want to eat."

"Good choice," she said, gently pushing him forward. "Come on before everyone else gets the good food."

"There's bad food?" he asked, amused by Tink's antics.

She rolled her eyes. "You know what I mean."

They took some good together and Robin marveled at the wide selection. He took some salad, pasta and some chicken française before sitting with Belle, August and Ashley. One empty chair remained once Tink also took her seat and he wondered who it was for. Robin took a few bites of salad before getting his answer.

It was for the Queen.

She sat down between Robin and Tink, moving in her chair with a smile. "Thank you so much for all your work so far. I appreciate it," she said.

"No problem," August replied. "This is my favorite day of the year."

"Wow, not even the Christmas party tops this?" Ashley asked.

He shook his head. "But it's a close second."

Belle smiled as she looked over at Robin. "Wait until you experience the Christmas party. It's a lot of fun."

"I can't wait," he replied, glancing over at the Queen. She kept her eyes down but he saw her smiling as she enjoyed her pasta.

"But this is still fun," August said. "Get to make a mess while making lots of goodies and then you get to enjoy some of our hard work."

Ashley nodded. "And then we get to see others enjoy our hard work."

The Queen lifted her head, her eyes shining as she said: "I know our special guests always appreciate all your hard work. And they certainly enjoy all the sweets we provide them. This year will likely be no different."

"Everyone always has fun," Belle agreed. "Especially the children."

"And they deserve it," the Queen said, still smiling though there was an air of sadness about her now.

It made Robin even more curious about this festival they had spent weeks preparing for. But he didn't say anything just yet, not wanting to break the mood or sound foolish with his questions. He figured he would learn more in time.

"Are you enjoying your meal?" the Queen then asked him, leaning closer to him. He caught the scent of vanilla wafting off her and was transported back to the day they watched the football game together. He was coming to really love that scent.

"I am," he replied, realizing he had only taken a few bites of his meal. He felt sheepish as he said: "I think I got caught up in the conversation and forgot about it."

She chuckled. "Happens to me too. But you don't want the food to get cold. None of us do."

The Queen looked around the table and most turned back to their food. Only August kept his head up, smirking. "I can manage to eat and talk at the same time," he boasted.

"Mostly because you don't care how rude you look," Ashley replied, teasing him. He stuck his tongue out in response before turning back to finish his meal as well.

When they all finished, the Queen stood and picked up her tray. She walked over to the sink and set the plates and silverware inside it before placing the tray somewhere else. The others followed her example and Robin brought up the rear, also placing his dirty dishes in the sink and then his tray on top of the others. He stepped away from the sink, waiting for his next task.

The Queen clapped her hands, grinning. "Well, all our cupcakes are now baked. So now comes the fun part – making the frosting and icing them!"

"Oh, yeah!" Tink exclaimed, pumping her fist. She then playfully punched Robin's arm. "You are going to love this."

"I'm sure I will," he said, finding he was excited to make the frosting and decorate the cupcakes for the Queen's guests.

The Queen chuckled. "Follow me and we can get started."

She led them back to their station. Several bowls and new ingredients had been set up as well as mixers. Robin took his old spot, waiting for instructions from the Queen to prepare the icing.

"Okay, so Tink, you worked on the chocolate cupcakes so you can work on the chocolate icing as well. Robin, you can work on the vanilla icing and I'll work on the cream cheese icing," she said, pushing ingredients toward them. "Just follow my instructions and we should be good."

"So we're just going to ice the vanilla cupcakes with vanilla frosting and the chocolate with chocolate?" Robin asked, finding that rather boring in comparison to everything else planned for the festival. "Or are we going to mix it up?"

The Queen smiled. "We're going to mix up the chocolate and vanilla ones. And we're also going to add some food dye to the vanilla icing to make them more colorful as well."

"We did a nice purple and pink and blue combo last year," Tink said. "I do believe that if Regina wasn't queen, she'd be a baker and she would be renowned for her amazing creations."

"You flatter me," the Queen said, her cheeks turning pink. "I doubt I would do that well."

Tink sighed, shaking her head. "Sometimes you're too modest for your own good."

"Well, we can argue that out another time," the Queen said. "Now, we need to focus on icing."

Robin nodded, pulling a bowl toward him. "Sounds good to me."

"Then follow my instructions," she said. "We'll start with the sugar…"

He listened to her and carefully added the ingredients before she brought over a mixer for him to use. Robin mixed them together, creating a creamy icing that he knew her guests would love. And he couldn't wait to add the food dye and make some colorful creations for the event.

August was right – this was the best day he had had at the palace.

"It looks good, Robin," the Queen said, looking into his bowl. "You can put this one aside and then we can work on the next batch. We'll want about five bowls in total. Maybe six. I'll have to see."

"Okay," he said, setting the bowl aside and getting a new one. "Same process?"

She nodded. "Exactly. Do you need me to repeat anything?"

"You might have to repeat everything," he admitted as he looked at the ingredients. "I think I got a little too much running through my mind right now."

"Of course," she said, sounding contrite. "I'm sorry. Why don't I write everything down for you?"

Relief filled him and he nodded. "That sounds good. Thank you."

She nodded, needing no further explanation. He was grateful that he had shared his ADHD diagnosis with her and that she had been very accommodating with him. In her last email as Wilma, she had asked him for some information on ADHD and how he managed it under the guise that she wanted to help a new employee with the same diagnosis. He had played along, providing her with the answers she needed while he asked her for information on anxiety so he could help a friend with it.

The Queen didn't need to know that he was asking to help her better as her assistant. Or maybe she had figured it out but couldn't say anything to keep up their charade.

Who knew?

"Here you go," the Queen said, placing a piece of paper next to him. On it, she had written out all the steps he had to follow. "Will that help?"

"Yes," he replied. "Thank you."

She nodded, looking happy she was able to help him. "If you need anything else, I'm right over here," she reminded him, pointing to where she stood.

He chuckled. "Got it."

They each focused on their batches of icing and Robin easily made three bowls before he hit a snag. "I think I need more vanilla. Where can I get it?" he asked.

"I'll get it," the Queen replied, wiping her hands on her apron. "You can wait here."

He shook his head. "I can come. That way I'll know for the future."

"Alright," she replied, motioning for him to follow her. "It's over here."

She led him to a large pantry and turned on the light. The Queen glanced over her shoulder, looking a bit apprehensive. "It's a tight squeeze," she warned him.

He hung back for a second, worried she would be uncomfortable. The last thing Robin wanted to do was trigger her anxiety. "I can wait out here if you don't want to be crowded."

"I'll be fine," she assured him. "I wasn't sure if it would make you uncomfortable."

"Oh," he said, knowing that belief came from his demeanor toward her so far. But he was trying to change and he hoped he could show her that. "No, I'll be fine."

She nodded, stepping aside so he could fit into the pantry with her as well. Robin entered it and looked around all the shelves stacked with ingredients and other food items that surrounded them. "Wow."

"I know," she said, sounding very pleased. "It's a baker's paradise in here."

"You really like to bake, don't you?" he asked, hoping he sounded curious and not judgmental.

The Queen nodded again, looking at him now with bright eyes. "I find it relaxes me and calms my mind."

"Everyone needs a hobby," he said, deciding to pretend he didn't know she had been Wilma. "I find archery has the same effect on me."

"Archery?" she asked, pretending to be surprised. She wasn't as good an actress as he first assumed she was.

He nodded. "My grandfather taught me."

A faraway look came to the Queen's eyes as she said: "My father taught me how to bake."

"That sounds lovely," he said, sensing the Queen had a better relationship with her father than with her mother. "I didn't know His Majesty knew how to bake."

"It was a well-kept secret," she replied. "My father's advisors were afraid the people would think less of him if they knew he liked to do something as feminine as baking."

He frowned. "That's rather old-fashioned thinking."

She sighed. "I know. But that pretty much describes his advisors – now mine – old-fashioned."

"Why do you still have them as your advisors then?" he asked, confused. Now that he really saw the Queen, he saw that she was a modern monarch who had a better understanding of her people than the media made it seem. Did they perceive her as old-fashioned and out of touch because of her advisors and their decisions?

And were they why no one at the palace worked to counter the media's portrayal of the Queen?

"Because they were my father's," she said. "I wanted to keep some consistency from his reign as I started my own."

"I can understand that," he replied, certain that was only part of the issue. "But it's been three years since you became queen. I would think you could start to transition some advisors off the council and appoint new ones."

She just hummed before pointing to a shelf. "Could you get the sugar? I don't think I can reach it."

He nodded, realizing that particular conversation was over. Robin turned to where she pointed and easily found the sugar. Lifting his arm, he grabbed it and handed it to her. "There you go," he said.

"Thank you," she replied, looking up into his eyes.

Robin swallowed, realizing how close they were now. She was almost pressed again him and he could smell the scent of vanilla wafting off her. He didn't think it came from the baking they had done all day as he had caught the scent before when around her. So it was something she used, whether her shampoo or a body spray of some sort. It was simple yet alluring, which was also how he would describe her in that moment.

She wore her hair in a messy ponytail that was curling around her shoulders. A few loose wisps of hair fell across her forehead and he had to resist the urge to gently brush them away. The Queen also wore a plain t-shirt and simple jeans, much like she had at the football game that day when she was masquerading as Wilma Nolan. She looked just as beautiful dressed as a regular person as she did in her suits or the beautiful outfits she wore for her visit to Hyperion-by-the-Sea. And as he looked down into her brown eyes, he realized they were truly the windows to her soul and that she couldn't hide her feelings.

He just wasn't sure if the desire he saw in her eyes was real or if he was just imagining it because of the desire he felt toward her.

Because as he stood there, he realized that he did desire her. Robin didn't know if he would say he loved her but he certainly felt more open to the idea than he would've only a couple weeks ago. Of course, he doubted someone like her – Queen or not – would be attracted to someone like him. So it seemed he went from having to hide his intense dislike of her to now having to hide how much he liked her.

The more things change, the more they stayed the same, he guessed.

"We…We should head back," she said, almost whispering. "Tink must be wondering what's taking us so long."

"Right," he said, the spell broken. "After you, milady."

She nodded, stepping out of the pantry. Robin took a deep breath and let it out slowly before leaving as well. He followed her back to their station where Tink placed her hands on her hips. "What took you so long?" she asked.

"We were just having a chat and got distracted," the Queen said, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Sorry."

"Yes," Robin agreed, setting the ingredients down on the table. "We didn't mean to leave you alone."

Tink shrugged. "That's fine. I'm almost done with my frosting."

"Well, then I guess you can start frosting if you want," the Queen replied. "You know how to do it."

"I still have one more bowl to make," Tink said. "So I'm not jumping ahead yet. You know, just as long as you two don't disappear on me again."

Robin held up his right hand. "We won't. Promise."

The Queen nodded, holding up her right hand as well. "I promise as well."

"Good," Tink said. "So, do you two need any help since I'm done?"

"You can help me," the Queen replied, pushing some ingredients toward her. "I think Robin has the vanilla pretty much under control."

He grinned, feeling a sense of pride go through him. "Yes, I do."

They resumed making the icing and as Robin mixed his ingredients together, he glanced up at the Queen again. She was focused on Tink but he didn't mind. It gave him more time to admire how beautiful she looked, even with flour streaked in her hair. His stomach fluttered along with his heart but he tried to push those feelings down. She was the queen and he was just her assistant.

And that was all they would ever be.

He would just have to make peace with that.


"Thank you so much for all your work," Regina said, feeling as tired as her staff looked. But they had all the treats ready for that weekend and she was very proud of them. "So go home and get some rest. I'll see you all at the carnival."

They wished her a good evening and started to leave. As Robin walked past her, she reached out and gently grabbed his arm. "You did a great job today. I know it's not what you signed up for as my assistant…"

"It wasn't," he agreed, smiling. "I never thought this job would be so much fun."

"Well, it does have its boring parts," she said, knowing that some of her meetings had to be tedious and mind-numbing. "But I try to even it out."

He chuckled, nodding. "I'm learning that."

Robin then wished her a goodnight before following the others from the kitchen. Taking a deep breath, Regina turned around and was surprised to find one of the cooks standing there. "Yes?" she asked.

"I just wanted to let you know that we sent dinner up to your room for you," the cook said. "Have a good evening, Your Majesty."

"Thank you," Regina replied, grateful that she wouldn't have to cook that night. "And not just for the meal but for letting me take over your kitchen like this."

The cook waved her hand. "It's no problem. We love watching you bake. Tink is right – you probably could've been a famous baker in another life."

"Maybe," Regina said, feeling her cheeks heat up. "But I'm not sure I would like fame. It's not really as glamorous as it seems to be."

"That is true," the cook replied. "But I doubt the media is as hard on a famous baker as they are a queen."

Regina sighed, nodding. "I can definitely agree with that."

The cook wished her a good night before Regina left the kitchen, running into Graham in the hallway. He smiled. "Perfect timing. I'm here to escort you back to your apartment," he said.

"Again, I don't need to be escorted around my own palace," she replied. "Especially the private parts."

"You can keep saying that," he replied, pressing the button to open the elevator doors. "But it still won't change anything. My job is to keep you safe and that's what I'm going to do."

She sighed as they boarded the elevator. "Fine."

The elevator started to rise and she turned to him. "So, what are your thoughts about Robin?"

"I'm starting to think his change of heart is likely genuine," Graham replied. "But I'm not yet fully convinced."

"And what will it take to fully convince you?" she asked, interested to hear his answer.

He gave her a side-eye. "Why?"

She shrugged. "Curiosity."

"Uh huh," he replied, clearly not believing her. "You do know you tend to wear your heart on your sleeve, right?"

"Not always," she insisted, shifting from foot to foot. "Only around those I trust. Like you."

He hummed. "Anyway, I can tell you like him. So I want to make sure he's worthy of being around you."

"Shouldn't that be something I decide?" she asked him, feeling a bit annoyed. Her council controlled everyone around her as it was. The last thing she needed was for her chief of security and trusted bodyguard to do the same.

"It is," he replied. "I'm not going to tell you who to be friends with like your council. But it's also my job to keep you safe. So I'm just going to keep an eye on the people around you until I can trust them the same way you do."

The elevator arrived at her floor and the doors opened. He motioned for her to step out. "After you," he said.

"Thank you," she replied, stepping out. She then turned back to him. "And thank you for trusting me."

"I think you are a better judge of character than anyone else in this palace," he told her. "Your council should trust your judgment and just let me vet them for extra security. The only time we should intervene is if they pose a security threat."

She sighed. "I wish."

He nodded. "Have a goodnight, Regina. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Graham," she replied. "See you then."

She slipped into her apartment, knowing he would stay there until she was inside. Regina closed the door and rubbed her neck as she approached her table, finding her dinner there along with a glass of wine. It was the perfect way to unwind.

After eating dinner, she ran herself a bath and let herself soak as she continued to drink her wine. Music played from her phone and she closed her eyes, returning to the pantry with Robin. He had been so close she had been able to smell woodsy cologne. It suited him perfectly while also making her head spin. Despite wearing an apron while flour covered his hair, he just exuded masculinity that intoxicated her. For a moment, she just wanted to wrap her arms around him and kiss him until the world fell away.

But then she remembered herself and stepped back, no matter how disappointed she felt. For a moment, she thought that Robin was disappointed too but she dismissed that idea. It likely was just a figment of her imagination.

Still, it was nice to dream.

Closing her eyes, Regina imagined a different way their encounter could've played out. This time she grabbed Robin by the apron and pulled him even closer to her. He grinned before capturing her lips with his, pulling her hair free from its ponytail. Robin tangled his fingers in her curls as she deepened the kiss, enjoying this moment together.

The scene changed, replacing the pantry with her bathroom. Robin now joined her in the bathtub, his arms wrapped around her. He peppered her hair with kisses as she ran her fingers along the muscles in his arm. They relaxed in the water, just soaking in each other's company without it turning sexual. But she sensed that there was the promise of more once they were out of the bath and in her bed…

Buzzing interrupted her fantasy before it could go further. Opening her eyes, she found herself alone in her bathtub with her glass of wine and a ringing phone. She groaned as she checked the caller ID, not sure she really wanted to talk to anyone. But when she saw it was Mary Margaret, she answered the call and put it on speaker. "Hey, Mary," she said.

"Hi, Regina," Mary Margaret replied. "I know today was the big baking day so I wanted to check in and see how it went."

"It went well," Regina said, sitting up a bit more in the tub. "Everything is baked and ready to go for the carnival. Everyone did a great job today."

Mary Margaret hummed. "Even Robin?"

Regina scowled as she took another sip of wine. "Yes, even him. Why is everyone obsessed with him? You, Granny, Graham…"

"Everyone who cares for you, you mean," Mary Margaret replied. "And that's it. We care about you and don't want to see you hurt."

"Graham and Granny pretty much said the same thing," Regina said, sighing. "But Robin's gotten better. He's not as cold though he still keeps a respectable distance. Can't get him to use my name for the life of me."

She could imagine Mary Margaret shrugging as she said: "Baby steps. Sounds like he had a change of heart and needs some time to adjust."

Regina nodded, setting her glass down again. "That's what I'm hoping."

"Well, I guess I'll get to see him in action at the carnival," Mary Margaret said. "He is coming, right?"

"Yes," Regina replied. "My entire staff always works the carnival."

Mary Margaret hummed again. "And does he know who the carnival is for?"

"I don't know," she said. "I assume Tink told him. I can't imagine she would let him go into this blind. Why?"

"It just seemed like he didn't know as much as he should've when I last talked to him," Mary Margaret replied.

Regina frowned at that statement, wondering what her friend meant by it. "When did you last talk to him?"

"A few weeks ago," Mary Margaret replied. "David knows his friend John from the emergency dispatch center. So we went over to say hi and talked for a little bit."

"Talked about what?" Regina asked, growing suspicious of her friend.

"Just about his job and how he was settling in," Mary Margaret said. "David also teased me about how much help I need with the laundry. Robin was surprised that you did your own and that you baked."

Regina grew even more suspicious of this conversation, wondering if it was as innocent as Mary Margaret made it sound. "You said a few weeks ago? Seems he had a change of heart about me around that time. Did you say anything else to him?"

"Not that I recall," Mary Margaret replied. "Maybe just that alone made him reconsider all his preconceived notions about you."

"Maybe," Regina said, deciding to drop the subject for now. But she had a feeling Mary Margaret wasn't telling her the complete truth and that she had played a bigger role in Robin's change of heart than she was letting on.

She would figure it out later.

"I'm sure Tink will brief Robin on the carnival and all the rules around it," Regina said. "If not, he's pretty smart. I'm sure he'll figure it out quickly."

"And I guess we'll see how trustworthy he is if this doesn't end up in the news afterwards," Mary Margaret replied.

Regina hoped the same thing. "Would you all trust him after that?"

"Probably," Mary Margaret said. "Or at least, we would start to."

"I guess that's reasonable," Regina replied. "Besides, Robin's just my assistant. Maybe one day we could be friends but I doubt we would be anything more than that. I mean, could you imagine me asking the council for permission to date my assistant? They would probably flip their lids!"

Mary Margaret chuckled. "They probably would. But you could always just move Robin elsewhere into the palace if it came to that."

Regina knew the solution likely wouldn't be that easy. "We both know that wouldn't work. Sometimes I feel like I'll never marry because they will never approve of my choice of husband. But then I realize I'll just never marry someone I love because I'll end up having to marry someone they choose. And I doubt whoever it is would be a good husband let alone a good prince consort."

"I doubt it will come to that," Mary Margaret said. "Daddy and the others wouldn't allow that."

"I hope so," Regina replied. She knew Mary Margaret still had a rose-colored view of her father and the council. But Regina believed they were biding their time, waiting for her to give up and agree to whoever their choice was. That man would likely be their puppet and serve as another way to control her.

She didn't want that for her or for her children, who she knew would likely be controlled as well.

But she didn't want to think about that now. So she changed the subject. "Speaking of marriage, how goes your wedding plans?"

"That was another reason why I wanted to call you," Mary Margaret said. "I'm actually going dress shopping soon and I want you to come with me."

"Of course I will come," Regina replied, excited to help her friend find her perfect dress. But she knew the security concerns around her would likely put a damper on things. "But are you sure? We're going to have to be very stealth about having me there. I don't want to ruin your moment by worrying about the media getting wind of it and twisting it the way they always do."

Mary Margaret was quick to respond. "I'm already one step ahead of you. There are some perks to being nobility, after all. I've gotten the designers to agree to come to my father's house with some dresses that I might like. No one will question you visiting one of your councilors. And I think it would be really obvious that I'm the one trying on the wedding dresses if they do figure it out."

Regina felt some relief at that. "Thank you, though I still feel bad you have to go through all this."

"It seems a small price to pay," Mary Margaret replied. "Though you know if it was Kate Middleton or someone like that, they would have a million fluff pieces about how sweet it is that she's supporting her friend during their wedding."

"Believe me, I know," Regina said, wishing she got fluffy pieces like that. "But it is what it is."

Mary Margaret sighed. "I know. I still wish it was different. Wait until we shop for your maid of honor dress."

"What about the other bridesmaids?" Regina asked, both wanting and dreading having to shop as a group.

"They can be there but my plan was to have you in a different style because you're the maid of honor," Mary Margaret said. "I want you to stand out."

Regina frowned. "I may but not for the right reason."

"Don't focus on that," Mary Margaret said. "Because if you do, I can already tell you're going to talk yourself out of being in my wedding. I won't let you. You're my sister and I want you there. And I know you want to be there too."

"I do," Regina assured her. "I want to stand there and support you as you marry the love of your life."

"Then don't let anyone stand in your way – including yourself," Mary Margaret replied. "You're allowed to do normal things like be your best friend's maid of honor without people making a big deal about it. Live your life."

Regina sighed. "I'm trying. Anyway, less about me and more about you. What are you looking for in a dress?"

Mary Margaret groaned. "I don't know! One day I like traditional, the next modern. I'm hoping you can help me narrow it down."

"Okay, okay," Regina said, trying not to laugh. "Let me just get out of my bath and then we can look at dresses together. How does that sound?"

"Wonderful," Mary Margaret said with a relieved sigh. "Thank you so much, Regina. You're the best."

Regina chuckled, setting her phone down so she could climb out of her bath. She drained the water as she wrapped a towel around her. Once her hair was wrapped and she had donned her fluffy bathrobe, she picked up the phone again. "Okay, let's go start up my laptop and get looking," she said.

She settled on her bed as her laptop booted up. As she opened the internet, she typed in bridal gowns into the search engine. "Okay, well, let's start with an easy question. How long do you want your dress to be?"

"Floor length," Mary Margaret said. "But tea length is also nice as well. I do love a good tea length dress."

"Okay, I'm going to get myself another glass of wine," Regina said, climbing off her bed. "This is clearly going to be a long night."

Mary Margaret sighed. "I've dreamed of my perfect wedding for so long and now that I get to plan it, I feel like I can't make any decisions. What is wrong with me?"

"I think you're putting too much stress on yourself," Regina said, pouring herself another glass of wine. "Your wedding doesn't have to be perfect. It just has to reflect you and David as a couple and the start of your life together."

"You're right," Mary Margaret said. "I think I have an idea of what I want now."

Relieved to hear more confidence in Mary Margaret's voice, Regina settled back down on her bed. "Great. So, what length dress do you want?"

"Maybe I don't have to decide," Mary Margaret suggested. "Maybe I can have a long skirt for the ceremony and go tea length for the reception so it will be easier to move and dance the night away."

"That sounds like a plan," Regina said. "Good thing you can afford that."

Mary Margaret chuckled. "There are some perks to being a noble in this country."

"I suppose so," Regina replied, setting her glass down on her nightstand. "Okay, let's get ideas for your long dress first and then we can move to your shorter one."

"Sounds good," Mary Margaret said. "Thank you again, Regina."

Regina put the phone on speaker as she smiled. "You're welcome. I take my maid of honor duties seriously."

"I'm glad you do," Mary Margaret replied. "Okay, so what's next?"

"Well, let's do silhouette," Regina said, reading off the options to her friend for her to consider. And as she waited for Mary Margaret's response, she wondered if she would ever be the one looking for her perfect wedding dress to marry the man she would love. Or would she have to wear whatever her advisors picked for her to marry the man they choose?

Was it such a crime to want to have some control over her life?

Or at least her heart?


"So you just baked?" John asked, sipping his beer. "That's all you did today? That sounds pretty sweet."

"Did you just?" Robin asked, looking up from his dinner to shoot his friend a look.

John did look sheepish. "Sorry, mate. It was unintentional."

Robin hummed. "I'll let it go for now. And yes, all we did was bake. It was still a lot of work but it was fun. I really don't know what's happening tomorrow but the Queen is enjoying preparing for it."

"I can't wait to hear what this is," John said. "I think I might be more eager for tomorrow than you."

"Maybe," Robin replied. "But it's probably just a festival for members of the court."

John shrugged. "Then you get to tell me what the rich do for fun."

"I guess so," Robin said. "Unless I have to sign an NDA."

"That would be a very rich thing to do," John agreed. "And would mean that some crazy shit went down."

Robin chuckled before growing serious as he thought of the Queen. "I doubt it would be that crazy. Her Majesty just doesn't strike me as that type. I think she's going to have something that will be fun but not scandalous."

John shrugged. "Too bad."

"Anyway, I'm going to take a shower," Robin said, standing with his empty plate. "I'm pretty sure I have flour everywhere."

"Good luck," John said. "I'll be in my room gaming if you want to join me."

Robin nodded before leaving the kitchen. He crossed their small living room and entered the bathroom. Starting the shower, he quickly shed his clothes and then stepped under the cascading water. It washed whatever flour and other ingredients were still stuck to him as he relaxed, closing his eyes.

His mind wandered as she stood there, letting him return to the pantry. Robin again stood close to the Queen, looking into those beautiful brown eyes. Her pink lips were parted and all he wanted to do was kiss them. In his imagination, he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close, letting his lips finally claim hers as well.

They continued to kiss in his daydream as he switched positions with her, pressing her against the shelves. She wrapped her arms around his neck before wrapping her legs around his waist. He slid his hands to her ass, giving it a squeeze. It certainly hadn't escaped Robin's notice how much her jeans had shown it off today, though he did his best not to stare.

Being caught ogling the boss was the last thing he needed.

Now, though, he was alone in his shower. There was no one else who would know about his fantasy and so he let it continue. As he imagined kissing Regina's neck, he placed one hand flat against the tile wall and slid the other down his body until he could wrap his fingers around his half-hard cock. He began to slowly run his hand up and down his shaft as it hardened more in his grasp.

Robin let out a soft moan as the scene changed. He and the Queen were no longer in the pantry but now out in the open kitchen. Everyone was gone as he laid her on the silver counter, her lips swollen from his kisses. Imaginary Robin undid her jeans and slid them down, revealing she was wearing nothing underneath them.

"Fuck," he whispered while she just smirked in his mind. She sat up, kissing him as she wrapped her fingers around his cock. The Queen pumped it a few times before guiding it between her legs to where she wanted him the most.

And then he was inside her.

His speed picked up as she wrapped her legs around him. She tangled her fingers in his hair as he buried his face in the crook of her neck. The scent of vanilla filled his nostrils as he continued to thrust into her, hearing her gasp and moan with each movement. She told him to go faster and he obliged, feeling his own release approaching.

Robin cupped one of her breasts, teasing her pert nipple with his thumb. She moaned again as his balls tightened. He kissed her neck just as he came, his semen spilling out as he moaned her name for the first time.

"Regina!"

His orgasmed ebbed away as his knees turned to rubber. Robin slid down the wall as he returned to his shower stall. The remnants of his orgasm washed off his hand and ran down the drain as he waited for the haze to lift. He closed his eyes again, feeling a little guilty for having such thoughts about the Queen. But what she didn't know couldn't hurt her.

Could it hurt him though? He opened his eyes as he wiped water from his face, slicking back his hair. Robin had always noted her beauty but since his image of her as an ice queen without a heart had been shattered, he had started to notice her inner beauty as well. And he couldn't help but be drawn in by it. His feelings were starting to stray into dangerous territory and he needed to be careful. Masturbating in the shower was one thing, acting on his feelings outside a fantasy was another that could end badly not only for him but for the Queen as well.

Standing again so he could finish his shower before John came to check on him, Robin decided that it was best for him to get all his fantasies about the Queen out now. And since his career seemed secure, he would start focusing on his love life again in hopes of ridding himself of this dangerous infatuation.

For all their sakes.


A/N: Things got a little spicy there, huh?

Too bad it was in their imaginations. But it might become a reality sooner than they realize.

And there will be some more emails between Robin and "Wilma" soon as well.

I'll see you all next month! (Though I'll probably have a few more updates for other stories before then, so check those out too!)

-Mac