A Royal Affair Chapter 11: Stormy Weather, an once upon a time fanfic

Chapter 11: Stormy Weather

A shadow fell over the stack of paperwork Robin had delivered to Regina with an apologetic grimace shortly after lunch. She frowned as it became harder to see the words and the line where she needed to sign. Confused, she set her pen down and spun her chair to face the window, getting her answer.

Dark clouds filled the skies just beyond the palace grounds and had already blotted out the sun. They moved quickly and the trees in her garden swayed in the powerful winds that shook the glass in her window. She shivered, though she wasn't sure if the temperature had really dropped or if she was just nervous about how powerful this storm appeared it was going to be.

Regina stood and walked down to where most of her staff worked. They were all gathered by a window, including Robin, and were watching the storm she had just spotted. "I think you should all pack up and head home for the night," she said. "You might be able to beat the storm."

"I don't think so," August said, frowning. "It's coming in very fast."

"It might be better to wait it out," Belle agreed as Kathryn, there to help coordinate her trip to America, nodded. "If it's moving in this fast, it'll likely move out just as fast."

Regina knew they had a point. "Alright. But you have my permission to leave if you want."

Tink pointed to the TV. "Robin, can you turn to the news? Let's see what they are saying."

"Alright," he said, walking from the window to the TV. He easily reached up and changed the channel. "Don't you have a remote for this?"

"Yes," Tink replied, sitting on the corner of her desk. "Somewhere."

He shook his head as he found a news broadcast. After raising the volume, he stepped back and Regina moved to better see the screen as images of the storm filled the screen behind the anchors.

"This storm was supposed to stay offshore but it seems it had other plans," the male anchor said. He asked the meteorologist if she could explain what happened as the camera panned over to her.

She nodded. "It seems the airstream shifted and the high pressure we had expected to keep the storm away from land moved further south, allowing the storm to move in toward Storybrooke. And folks, we're predicting this will be a powerful one."

Regina groaned before turning to Robin. "Can you get the mayor on the phone for me, please?"

"Of course, milady," he replied, hurrying back toward his office.

"Thank you," she said to his retreating form. She then turned to Tink. "I also need the Director of Emergency Management on the phone as well."

Tink nodded, heading to her desk. "Right away."

Regina knew she needed to return to her own office but she again turned to the rest of her staff. "I again encourage you to leave while you can," she said. "But the choice is yours."

"I think I might go," Kathryn said, eying the storm. "I'll see if Ashley wants a ride as well."

As her staff determined their next steps, Regina returned to her office. Robin leaned out of his as she passed him, saying: "I have the mayor on the phone."

She nodded. "Transfer her to my phone and then come join us. Tink should come as well."

"Yes, milady," he replied, stepping back into his office as she stepped into hers. She settled into her desk chair as her phone rang, showing that Robin was transferring a call to her. Another line lit up as well, indicating that Tink was trying to transfer a call as well.

Good.

Regina conference both calls together as Robin and Tink entered her office. "Good afternoon," she said. "It seems we have quite the storm hovering over Storybrooke."

As if to punctuate her point, a clap of thunder shook the window behind her. Robin paused as he looked out the window, frowning. She didn't need to turn around to know things had gotten worse. "So, what information do you have?"

"Not much," the mayor admitted. "I'm hoping your office of emergency management has more."

"My assistant just passed me a note that the chief meteorologist is on the phone for us," the director replied. "Let me connect them."

Regina nodded even though they couldn't see her. "Thank you."

Another rumble of thunder sent a chill down her spine. She knew that the storm was going to be worse than they expected and she hoped they could quickly prepare the city for it. If not, she would make sure they were prepared to respond to any and all emergencies caused by the storm.

Her people deserved nothing less.

"I'm working a double," John said. "It's all hands-on deck right now. And it's not like I could get home if I left now."

Robin nodded, facing a window covered by a sheet of water as the storm raged overhead. It had stalled over Storybrooke and the chief meteorologist expected it to stay there for most of the night before it could move on. "I'm still at the palace as well. I'm likely going to stay the night," he said.

"Are you prepared for that?" John asked, sounding concerned.

"Yes," Robin replied. "Tink had me pack an emergency bag to leave in my office once I finished my first hundred days."

John hummed. "Are you going to have to sleep in your office?"

"I don't think so," Robin said. "Tink mentioned having rooms prepared for us so I think I'm going to sleep in a bedroom."

"Wow," John replied. "You get to sleep in the castle. You have to let me know if you're in a fancy bedroom like a dignitary or in a windowless cell with just a cot and a nightstand like a servant."

Robin chuckled, shaking his head. "Very few servants actually live here in the palace. And I've seen their rooms. They are pretty nice. Almost like apartments, honestly. They have their own kitchens and bathrooms. So if I'm in one of those, I certainly won't be complaining."

John let out a low whistle. "I wouldn't complain either. I'm probably going to catch a nap on a cot in our breakroom."

"Well, as long as you get rest and stay safe," Robin replied. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Hopefully," John said. "This seems like it's going to be a big storm. There will probably be a lot of clean up."

"I'll keep my fingers crossed," Robin said. "Good luck."

They ended their call and Robin set his phone down as Tink knocked on his door. "Dinner is ready. We're eating in Regina's apartment," she said.

He nodded, picking his phone up again. "I'm coming."

"No rush," she replied. "We're clearly not going anywhere else tonight."

"That is true," he said. "Neither is my roommate. He's a dispatcher so he's pretty busy tonight."

Tink nodded. "I can only imagine. So there's no one at your house?"

"Apartment," he replied. "So no one is in our unit but we have plenty of neighbors who can help if the storm damages the place."

"Well, I was worried more about a pet who might need to be fed and or walked," she said.

He shook his head. "No pet. I've considered a dog but I not until I have a house. Which I might be able to buy soon if I don't manage to fuck up here and lose this job."

She frowned. "You think you're going to fuck up here?"

"I worry about it, yes," he replied. "I'm sure you noticed I didn't have the best attitude toward the Queen when I first got here."

"Yes, I did," Tink said.

He nodded. "And I'm sure the Queen did too."

She sighed. "Yes, Regina did realize you were a bit standoffish with her but she believed you would come around after some time. She was right."

"Yes," he replied, knowing how far he had come since he started. "She was."

"And you've proven yourself to be exactly what she needs. You're a diligent worker and mesh well with our team. So if you hear a little voice telling you that you're about to mess up, tell it to shut up," she said.

He laughed. "That's what my mum says too."

She nodded. "Then maybe you should listen to us, eh?"

"Yeah," he replied, nodding. "Bit hard with the ADHD sometimes but I'll do my best to try."

"That's all you need to do," she said, opening the door in front of them. "Well, we're here."

He looked around, realizing they had somehow walked through Regina's office and down the hallway connecting it with her apartment. Robin took a deep breath. "Then let's go in and enjoy some dinner," he said.

She laughed as she opened the door. "Couldn't have said it better myself."

"Ah, there you are," August said as Robin and Tink entered the apartment. "I already called dibs on your food if you didn't show up in the next five minutes."

"How gentlemanly," Tink replied, rolling her eyes as she walked off to where August and Belle stood.

Robin, though, remained where he was as he looked around the apartment. He had been inside once before when he had brought some food to Regina that first time she had a migraine but he had been more focused on what she had said to really look around the room. Now, he was able to really see the place she called home.

The door from her office opened into a large room that was divided into a living room to his right and a dining room to his left just by what furniture used on those sides of the room. Regina's living room had a brown couch with cream-colored armchairs all surrounding a coffee table with a glass top but wooden legs. They all faced the wall next to the door, which contained a fireplace that Robin believed to be electric but had a wooden mantle that matched the ones he saw around actual fireplaces in the palace, which he believed was deliberate. A flatscreen TV was affixed over the mantle and he saw a few picture frames as well as a couple candles on it. She clearly preferred to keep pictures and knick-knacks in her living space rather than her office.

He saw a darkened hallway just beyond the living room and he figured it led to the Regina's bedroom and bathroom. Tink had mentioned spending the night when Regina had a migraine and he wondered if there were more bedrooms back there or if she slept on the couch. Maybe she shared Regina's bed, he thought before dismissing it. While Regina and Tink were close, he was certain they retained some professionalism and wouldn't go that far.

Robin decided not to think too much about it. After all, he would likely never see Regina's bedroom, no matter how long he served as her personal assistant.

Especially if she got together with the American ambassador.

"Robin looks amazed," August said, drawing Robin's attention to the dining room side of the room. It had a long wooden table with about eight chairs set around it. A nice chandelier rested over the table, lighting up the room even more as the storm continued to rage outside. Its lights were reflected in the beautiful wood and glass hutch nestled between the windows, several bottles resting on its shelves.

"I am," Robin said, walking over to the table. "This is really an apartment, albeit nicer than mine."

Regina chuckled as she left the kitchen next to the dining room, carrying a tray with bowls of salad on it. "Yes, it is. It may be a palace but my family has done our best to make it feel like a home," she said.

"It does feel homey," he agreed. "And thank you for inviting us for dinner."

"You're welcome," she replied, setting the tray down. "It was the least I can do since you're all spending the night after helping me with storm preparations."

She motioned to the chairs around the table. "Please, sit and enjoy."

Everyone pulled out a chair and sat down. They each grabbed a salad and August smirked as he held his bowl. "Did you use the seaweed salad recipe from the mayor of Hyperion-by-the-Sea for this?"

"Absolutely not," Regina replied, shaking her head. "I am staying far away from seaweed after that trip. Everyone else can enjoy it but I'll stick to regular salads."

"So you think the salad is what made you sick?" Belle asked, sipping her water.

Robin's blood froze in his veins as Regina shrugged. "I have no idea what made me sick but it seems the most logical conclusion," she said.

Tink frowned. "I still don't think it was food poisoning. No one else got sick."

"Can we not go into this now?" Regina replied, glaring at her. "The matter is closed. The most likely cause of my sickness was food poisoning, nothing else."

"But again, you were the only one who got sick," Tink repeated. "If you were eating the same food prepared by the same cooks as everyone else, why did no one else get food poisoning?"

Robin's stomach turned as he thought of the small, suspicious-looking man who cooked Regina's meal at the mayor's dinner. He then realized that what he had assumed was her being cold and aloof at the dinner was likely her trying not to throw up. The conversation he overheard in the hallway took on a different meaning – Tink had been trying to convince Regina to leave while she fought to stay, not the other way around. No wonder Regina had been so pale and had cut her visit short the next day. He couldn't imagine working while dealing with food poisoning.

Now, Regina shot Tink a look. "It was just food poisoning. Let's drop the conversation before no one has an appetite."

"Fine," Tink replied. She returned Regina's look with one of her own. "For now."

"Good," Regina said. "Now, I hope everyone enjoys your salad. I have chicken coming up next."

The conversation moved to another topic but Robin's mind continued to reel. He realized that again all the symptoms he attributed to being hungover were also symptoms of something else – in this case, food poisoning. She hadn't been disinterested in her people and was powering through her illness because the media – and people like him – would've torn her apart if she pulled out, even if she cited poor health. Robin now worried the media would send her to an early grave and couldn't believe that her council didn't realize it as well.

Or maybe they did and just didn't care, not when they were reaping the rewards of her poor approval rating.

"So, Regina, do you have any good movies?" August asked as Belle rolled her eyes. "I love watching them in your theater."

Regina chuckled. "I just got some new movies. You can check them out, if you want."

August grinned. "Thank you. I can't wait to see what you have. Do you have any recommendations?"

"Not really," she replied. "I haven't had a chance to watch them yet. You'll have to give me a recommendation."

Robin tried to remain focused on their conversation but his mind kept spinning as he replayed the visit to Hyperion-by-the-Sea again and again. He kept coming back to Skinner, working in his own corner of kitchen and the only one providing meals for Regina. At best, he had given her poorly cooked food, maybe to humiliate her, but suspected something more sinister.

And so he knew what he had to do.

The storm worsened before they could even finish dinner. Graham entered her apartment to inform her that roads were starting to flood. Everyone jumped to action with Tink connecting her to the military quickly. Regina gave the order for them to assist with rescues and to help with the storm. Her generals confirmed their orders and hung up, ready to carry them out.

Only seconds after hanging up with them, Robin connected her with the Office of Emergency Management. The director, Killian Jones, reported that the main river that ran through the center of Storybrooke was approaching flood levels and he was concerned it would overflow its banks which would affect everyone living within at least two blocks of the river. He needed her approval to order evacuations and she granted it, telling him to contact the military if they needed any assistance with that.

"The winds are getting worse," Belle said, standing at the window in the main office. "I can see the trees bending in them now."

"Power is holding but we don't know if it will last the storm," Tink added, reading something on her phone. "Mist Haven Power wants permission to strategically cut power if need be."

Regina frowned. "I don't really think I like the sound of that. They can reduce power but they can't cut it."

Tink nodded. "Will let them know."

"Thank you," she replied, sighing as she rubbed her neck. "I'll stay up through the storm but the rest of you should go and get some sleep. I'll be fine."

"Nonsense. You shouldn't do this alone," Belle replied as August nodded as he sat on his desk rather than at it.

He then spoke up. "Maybe we should create a schedule? We can rotate who keeps watch while the storm rages on so everyone has a chance to get some sleep, even you."

Robin nodded. "I think that's a good idea."

"Me three," Tink said, turning to Regina. "I think you're outvoted."

"It appears that way," Regina replied, sighing. "Alright, you can make up a schedule but I want the watch during the really early morning hours, whatever is after midnight and before six am."

Tink pressed her lips together before saying: "Fine."

Regina nodded. "Good. I'll be in my apartment if you need me for any reason. Don't worry about waking me up. I probably won't be sleeping."

"You should try," Tink told her. "Even just lying still with your eyes closed can do a lot even if you don't sleep."

"I know, I know," Regina replied. "I'll try to get some rest."

Tink hummed. "Alright. Let's make up the schedule."

After some debate between them, Belle drew the first watch while Tink took the last. Belle settled at her desk while Tink guided Regina back to her apartment. "Why don't you try to catch at least a nap?" Tink suggested.

"I guess a nap couldn't hurt," Regina replied, hoping it would appease Tink. "But I'm going to sleep on the couch."

"The couch? No," Tink said, frowning. "Your bed will be more comfortable."

Regina shook her head. "The couch is closer to the office in case I'm needed."

Tink sighed. "Fine. But if the storm subsides, you go to your room and sleep in your bed. Deal?"

"Deal," Regina replied, certain that wouldn't happen.

"Good," Tink said, looking pleased. "Goodnight, Regina."

She headed down the hall while Regina went to her bedroom, grabbing a pillow and her favorite blanket off her bed. Returning to the living room, Regina lay on the couch and made herself a little bed. As thunder and wind continued to rattle her windows, she sighed and closed her eyes, hoping sleep would come to her.

But she doubted it would.

Robin's phone alarm went off and he groaned as he turned it off. He sat up in the bed he had been given, stretching. The mattress was the most comfortable one he had ever slept on and the blankets were perfectly soft and warm. It was hard to push them aside and climb out of bed for his shift watching the office. Part of him hoped Regina had listened to Tink and was asleep while the other part hoped she was hope so they could talk, especially about what happened in Hyperion-by-the-Sea.

Changing back into his suit, he left the bedroom and walked back to the office. He opened the door and saw August sitting at his desk, watching TV. Robin knocked on the door to make his presence known and waited for August to look up. "How was it?" he asked.

"Pretty quiet," August replied. "We had a little excitement about an hour ago when Regina had to approve additional resources from the Navy to help with rescues but that was it."

"So it's still bad out there?" Robin asked, walking over to the window. But it was too dark to see anything outside, which made him frown. "Why aren't the lights on outside?"

August chuckled. "They usually turn them off after a certain time to save energy. Regina is big on conservation."

Robin nodded. "Makes sense, I guess."

"It's still raining, though," August replied, motioning to the TV. "The news is still covering it."

"I see," Robin replied, watching the scenes being broadcast by the news. In the lights of the rescue squads, the rain was clearly visible even before it hit the water everyone stood in. "Is that a street?"

August nodded. "They've pretty much evacuated it before the water got too high but there are other streets where they need boats."

Robin shook his head. "There's going to be a lot of clean up from this storm, huh?"

"Yeah," August replied, motioning toward Regina's office. "I think Regina is already working on it."

"Now?" Robin asked, frowning. "Shouldn't she be resting? She has the next shift."

August shrugged as he stood. "She should be but it doesn't mean she will. Maybe you can get her to rest but it's going to be an uphill battle."

Robin sighed, running his hand through his hair. "Why does she care about everyone else's wellbeing except her own?"

"Many reasons," August said. "But mostly, her heart."

"Yeah," Robin agreed. "Well, you get some rest. Goodnight, August."

August grinned. "Goodnight, Robin."

He left the office and Robin walked down the hallway to Regina's office, knocking on the door. "Milady?" he asked.

"Robin?" she called out. "Come in."

He pushed the door open and found her on her couch, sorting through paperwork. Frowning, he approached her. "August said you've bene working instead of resting," he said.

She nodded. "Everything is still bad. I need to be ready to make important decisions."

"You need rest to help make those decisions," he said, moving a little closer. "I'm on duty now. Why don't you lay down for a bit?"

"I won't be able to rest," she replied, placing the paperwork down. "My mind is going too fast."

He sighed before nodding. "Alright. Why don't I stay here with you and help you?"

She finally looked up at him but shook her head. "I have everything covered. You can watch the phones."

"I can set the phone up to ring in my office," he said, motioning to the door. "We can hear it from here if we leave the doors open."

"You're not going to take no for an answer, are you?" she asked, thankfully sounding more amused than annoyed.

He shook his head. "I'm very stubborn. Part of the reason why I'm a good assistant."

She chuckled. "I suppose so."

"So I'll go forward the phone and come back here in a few minutes," he said. "Okay?"

"Okay," she said, her smile softening.

Robin left the office and quickly forwarded the phone to the one in his office. He then opened his office door before returning to Regina's office. She had two glasses set up on her coffee table and stood near her mini fridge. Looking up as he entered, she smiled. "What would you like to drink?"

"I'll take a Coke, if you have it," he said. "Thank you."

"I do," she said, taking two bottles from the fridge. She turned to him and smiled. "It's my weakness too."

He chuckled, accepting one of the bottles from her. "Good to know."

She motioned to the couch. "Please, sit down and make yourself comfortable."

"Thank you," he said, sitting down. He looked over the papers spread over her coffee table. "What are you working on? Is it related to the storm?"

"No, there will be plenty of time for that," she said, sitting next to him as she sipped her soda. "This is related to the Hyperion-by-the-Sea investigation."

He swallowed as he recalled the conversation at dinner. "You mean about your poisoning?"

She gave him a look. "It was food poisoning. Nothing really to investigate there. I mean the investigation into Victoria Belfrey and the shady dealings you told me about as well as an investigation into the mayor."

"The mayor?" he asked, intrigued now. "Do you think he's tied to Belfrey?"

"Probably," she replied. "We pretty much have him nailed for embezzlement so why not add corruption too?"

He recalled the conversation she had with Tink where she decided to delay giving more money to the town's maritime museum because no one could account for the money already given to them. "You think the mayor stole the money for the museum?" he asked.

She nodded. "People like him think they are smarter than they are. He probably wouldn't have been caught so easily if he either didn't keep submitting proposals for the same museum or had at least used some of the money on the museum."

"Greed always gets people one way or the other," he agreed.

"I couldn't have said it better," she replied.

He moved a little closer to her. "How do you think he's using the money?"

She grinned, handing him some papers. "On himself and his wife, of course. Their lifestyle certainly doesn't reflect their reported income, which is just his mayor's salary since she doesn't work. And while his salary should be more than enough for them to live comfortably without her working, it doesn't cover their expensive wardrobes, expensive cars, exotic trips, and all their other toys, for lack of a better word. That's to say nothing of the renovations they've made to the mayoral residence next door to City Hall."

"Wow," he said, scanning the report she had handed him. "Two trips to Fiji within six months and a new sports car? People have had to notice, right?"

"You would think," she replied, sighing. "However, they can justify the changes to the mayoral residence due to all the important visitors and events they host. From what I can tell, they only use the sports car when going to their private residence just outside town and use a more economical car when in town. The clothes, toys and trips they just flat out lie about but the people believe them because, well…"

She trailed off but he knew what she was about to say. "Because they are popular and the people like them."

Regina took a deep breath before nodding. "Pretty much, yes."

"That's not fair," he said. "I'm sure if the people knew about this, they would be really upset."

"Well, some people are starting to suspect," she replied. "Especially at the Maritime Museum."

He nodded. "I'm sure they would notice they weren't getting money."

"People are also tired of the museum always being closed," she added. "But for now, they have a scapegoat."

"You," he said, certain of that. "They are blaming you."

She swallowed, tucking some hair behind her ear. "Yes, pretty much. I'm used to it though."

"You shouldn't be," he replied.

"Are we going to have this argument again?" she asked, giving him a look. "Because I can tell you it will be futile."

He sighed before the guilt started to gnaw at him. Setting down the papers, he angled his body toward her. "I owe you a big apology," he said.

She frowned, tilting her head. "You do? Why?"

"When I got here, I believed everything the media said about you and always saw you in the worst light possible," he said. "I always thought I was open-minded but I learned that I had my own biases. That wasn't fair to you and I wasn't the assistant you deserved."

"You were and still are a great assistant," she said, placing her hand on his arm reassuringly.

He shook his head. "I wasn't someone you could trust."

She paused before sighing. "I guess that is true."

"I'm working, though, to be someone you can trust," he promised her. "I'm working to be more open-minded."

"I think we can all work on that," she said.

He nodded, looking at the report again. Images from the trip flashed in his mind and he admitted: "I thought you were hungover."

She frowned, tilting her head. "Pardon?"

"The second day in Hyperion-by-the-Sea, I thought you were hungover," he said, still feeling guilty. "And that's why you were so pale and lethargic. I saw you drinking a lot of wine the night before. Or what appeared to be a lot of wine."

"I did have a little more wine than I wanted," she replied. "It was to help wash down the food since it tasted so bitter. Usually I don't drink that much. Just a glass or two depending on the situation."

He recalled the comment she had made as Wilma about feeling pressured to drink at events she went to because people were weird when she didn't. It had made sense even before he knew she was really the Queen – people just got weird about alcohol – but now it highlighted the pressures on her in her role. And how unfair everything was. People weren't happy until she drank but then were unhappy that she did.

She really couldn't win.

Robin still couldn't mention that he knew she was Wilma. He didn't want the emails to stop, to have her close herself off to him. Even if their professional relationship was getting better, he knew they would never get to the level of intimacy he had developed with her pretending to be Wilma. It allowed her to share more of herself.

"I could see why you thought I was hungover though," she replied. "I know I was pale, unable to stay upright for long and trying not to throw up. Pretty much describes a hangover as well."

"It wasn't just that," he said. "The media likes to portray you as a royal who prefers to party and get drunk rather than actually run the country and work on policy. What happened at Hyperion-by-the-Sea likely just reinforced that."

She nodded. "I know. But there's nothing I can do."

"You could've just issued a statement saying you weren't feeling well," he said. "You didn't even have to say you had food poisoning if you didn't want to insult the mayor and his wife."

"We both know that would've made things worse," she replied. "What's done is done, Robin. Let's just focus on the present."

He took a deep breath and nodded. "Alright."

She moved a little closer and placed her hand on his arm. "That also means it's time for you to forgive yourself for what you thought when you first got here. You don't anymore, right?"

"No," he replied. "I know the truth now."

"And that's what matters," she said.

He nodded. But it did little to alleviate his guilt. "Would it…would it be selfish to ask to hear you say you forgive me?"

She smiled softly as she shook her head. "I forgive you, Robin."

"Thank you," Robin said, feeling some relief. "I promise I will work to earn your trust."

"You have my trust," she assured him. "And the fact you've confessed and apologized has only strengthened it."

The weight on Robin's shoulders felt light. "I'm glad to hear that."

She nodded. "Good. Now, do you want to help me sort through these reports?"

"Are you sure you want me to help?" he asked. "Maybe Graham would be better? He is your chief of security."

"He is, but you have an eye for catching injustice," she replied, holding out some papers. "I want to hear your opinion before I get his."

He took the papers, his ego stoked by her words. "Alright."

"Wonderful," she said, turning to the pages in her hands. "Let me know if you find anything interesting."

"I will," he replied, settling back against the couch cushions to read the reports. As he read, he used his pen to note some information. With each new paragraph, his heart sank more. It seemed obvious that the mayor was at the very least embezzling from the town. And he likely didn't want Regina to find out about it.

Was this also a motive to make the Queen sick?

Or worse – kill her?

Robin glanced at Regina but didn't say anything. It was clear she wanted to believe she just suffered a bad case of food poisoning but the more Robin reviewed that evening, the less he believed it. He knew he had to talk to Tink about it and see what happened next. Until then, he would keep his theory to himself – for Regina's sake.

"You should go to bed."

Regina looked up from the paperwork she had been trying to read for the past few minutes, blinking a few times as Robin seemed to be blurry than usual. Still, she frowned and asked: "Why?"

He tilted his head. "Because you've yawned no less than five times in the last three minutes and have this glazed look in your eyes," he said.

"I just need some more caffeine," she replied, setting the paperwork aside and standing. "I'll be fine."

"No," he insisted, standing as well and blocking her path. "You need sleep."

She sighed. "I'm fine."

He shook his head. "No, you're not."

"Maybe," she said, allowing him to have that. "But I'll make it through."

"The storm is almost over," he told her. "The latest reports say it's finally moving away and back out to sea. We're done."

She shook her head. "Then we're not done. The clean up will need to begin."

He nodded. "Yes, and you've already discussed that extensively with Emergency Management. They are ready to go and you've given all of us on your staff the authority to approve it if necessary."

"So you're saying I'm not needed?" she asked, feeling as if she had been punched in the gut. Hearing him imply that hurt in a way she wasn't sure she wanted to ever unpack.

"Not at all," he replied. "I'm saying that you've prepared us so well that you can go rest and trust us to run things until you're ready to resume."

She knew he had a point and she felt her resistance crumbling. But her guilt still told her she needed to stay up, that there were people in Storybrooke who couldn't go to sleep. That until they could sleep, she couldn't.

He gently tucked two fingers under her chin and raised her head. "Your people need you to be clear-headed. They need you to be able to make the best decisions for them. And you can't do that if you're fatigued. I know you love our people, so please, for them, go to bed," he said.

"Okay," she said, his voice finally silencing the voice guilting her into staying awake. "I'll go to bed."

"Thank you," he said, looking relieved. His eyes then widened as he dropped his fingers, stepping back from her. "I'm sorry for being so forward, milady."

She shook her head. "No need to apologize."

He gave her a soft smile. "Thank you."

"So, you promise someone will come get me if I'm needed?" she asked him, wanting to make sure he wouldn't let her sleep through some emergency.

"I do," he said, holding up the index and middle fingers on his right hand and then saluting her. "Scout's honor."

She chuckled. "Of course you were a Scout."

He beamed. "Yes, I was."

"Alright, I trust you," she said. "When do you get off duty?"

"Another hour," he replied. "Then it's Tink's turn."

She nodded, trusting Tink to wake her up if needed. "Alright. Then you should go get some sleep too."

He smiled. "I will."

"Good," she said. "Goodnight, Robin."

"Goodnight, milady," he replied. "I'll see you later."

Regina walked back to her apartment, closing the door behind her. She sighed as she crossed her living room and entered her bedroom, collapsing onto her bed. Her head began to spin and she knew she was exhausted. She had pushed herself too far and her body didn't like that.

But she had to be careful. She couldn't fall asleep just yet.

She rolled out of bed and changed into her pajamas before shuffling into her bathroom, her feet sore and stiff after hours in her heels. Regina should've changed into her flats hours ago and regretted not doing so. Her feet would be grateful when she was prone, she thought as she washed her face and brushed her teeth.

Every inch of her would be grateful.

Once her face was washed and her teeth brushed, she returned to her room and climbed into bed. She pulled her blankets over her and turned on her white noise machine, which was set to a soft summer rain. As the sound filled her room, she closed her eyes and began to drift off to sleep.

Before she surrendered completely, Robin's face floated into her mind's eyes and her chin tingled with the memory of his touch.

She wasn't sure if that would be the one good thing that came from this storm or another entry for the list of bad things.

A/N: Happy New Year!

The beginning of this used to be part of the previous chapter and I'm glad it is now its own chapter. I think it shows Regina in action and finally lets Robin see her be a true leader. It also gave them time together and revealed how much danger Regina is always in.