(no subject)

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin had been thinking of doing something nice for Regina since she'd done so much for Roland and he earlier that month. It was hard, though, to plan such a thing in a place he did not know and with the ever present knowledge of the fact he certainly had to watch the coin - or paper bills, here - he spent. But he'd recently acquired work, and with it came a little extra to use as he wanted to, beyond the little he needed for necessities. It allowed him, finally, a bit of room he needed to do what he'd been wanting to do.

It took some asking around (the others who worked where he did had even offered some advice, based on their own experiences), but he eventually found someplace suitable to take her out for dinner. While it was certainly not extreme extravagance, he had heard more than once that it had a pleasant atmosphere and the promise of good food, which was exactly what he wanted. After that, it was the matter of tending to where Roland would be while they were out. He approached David after some consideration - he was honestly the only person he knew he could absolutely trust with the task - and requested the favor of watching his boy for the evening he planned to surprise her. He was thankfully fine with the idea, and it seemed like the pieces were in place.

What he had asked of Regina that day was if she wanted to spend a quiet night with Roland and him (she had agreed, of course - honestly, it was rare lately that she wasn't around at some point). What he actually did was drop Roland off early, dressed neatly, and showed up at her apartment early with a small array of red roses. He had settled on them after some time debating what he wanted to bring - in the end, he went with the bouquet that seemed simple yet elegant.

In the end, he only hoped he was doing things right. Properly. The city and time was all strange to him and it had been a long while since he'd attempted to court anyone, but he felt confident some tokens of affection never really changed. Still, as he stepped up to the door, he started to wonder if perhaps he should have told her ahead of time, even though he had made it a point to come early enough to give her time to get ready. He pushed through the nervous doubt by reminding himself it was certainly too late to change anything now.

He knocked on the door soon after.

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[gloriouscurse]

For a moment, Regina was speechless, a lump in her throat as his words took root. When she blinked, a tear rolled down her cheek and she wiped it away quickly, managing a wobbly smile at him.

"All I had for a long time was that letter. It was what made me feel like I really was worth something." It was pathetic, she knew, especially since it hadn't even been about her, and she looked down at her plate of chicken piccata. "The only person I've been worth anything to for the past...eleven years, was Henry." When she met his eyes again, her eyes never wavered again.

"This is taking getting used to. Being worth something to someone other than a child," she admitted.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin did wish such things weren't surprising to her. He had a sneaking suspicion that it wasn't just him that held her in far better regard than they used to. It took time, as most things did.

"You don't need the letter or anyone else to know there's worth in you," he replied, offering her a small smile of his own when she looked upon him again. "Though I will be happy to remind you any time you need to hear it."

And, he hoped, to show her as well.

[gloriouscurse]

She couldn't quite lean over and kiss him, so she did what she could and brought his hand to her lips, kissing his knuckles tenderly.

"I happen to like it when you remind me," Regina smiled, and then she let go of his hand so that they could eat. There was a soft smile on her lips, one she was unable to make disappear through dinner. There had never been a time she'd had this but she was finding very quickly that she enjoyed it, this time to simply be with him.

[thiefwithhonor]

"I shall remember that," Robin chuckled quietly, smiling himself as she kissed his knuckles. She seemed content now, and he was glad. He was glad, too, that the meal itself had lived up to expectations. It far outdid the meals he was used to, even the ones here.

Placing his utensils on his emptied plate by the end of it, he glanced over at her, hoping she had been equally satisfied.

"Did you enjoy your meal?" he asked, curious and perhaps a bit hopeful.

[gloriouscurse]

She took a sip of her wine, looking at him over the rim of her glass, smile making her eyes turn up, crinkling a little on the sides.

"It was perfect. Do you have any food that you find yourself particularly fond of that we didn't have back in the Forest?" Regina asked, wiping at her mouth with her napkin delicately.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin had, in fact, found himself trying quite a large amount of new foods as of late. Some were present already in Storybrooke.

"Though this...elegance here is certainly welcome," he began, hoping to not downplay the night. The food had been excellent, and one he very much enjoyed. He supposed he was always going to prefer simple. "The foods served along the wooden path near the boardwalk are interesting and quite different, though clearly not something that ought to be eaten often. Something I have to remind Roland of often."

He looked a little amused as he mentioned his son.

[gloriouscurse]

"Those foods are known as 'junk food.' Delicious, but usually not all that good for you. But Roland has the right idea, it's tempting to have a hotdog for every meal," Regina said with a little grin.

"There is something you should try though, something I've seen that would make for a good dessert tonight. Have you had the cotton candy yet?" She hadn't had such an indulgence since a school carnival of Henry's years ago, and now she could very nearly smell the sugar at the memory.

[thiefwithhonor]

"I quickly realized as much," he chuckled. Roland had been disappointed, but he still treated him to things once in a while. The boy seemed satisfied as long as he had that, which in turn made Robin glad. The mention of food he had yet to come across was interesting sounding, too. "No, I don't believe I have. I imagine it's something you enjoy?"

[gloriouscurse]

"Once in a while. It's very, very sugary. In fact, it is sugar. Spun into a very soft texture." Her wine was finished, her features relaxed and open, eyes soft. "We could take a nice walk on the boardwalk, unless you had something else planned."

Regina didn't want to step on his toes for the date, and didn't want to ruin anything he might have decided to do.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin had simply planned on spending time with her, until they'd have to go pick up Roland. Walking along the boardwalk seemed like it would be more than pleasant, especially given the fair weather. It was much cooler now that it was night.

"No, I think it's an excellent idea," he replied. Truly, he would have been happy as long as he was spending some time with her, regardless. "Are you done with your meal? I will wave over our server."

[gloriouscurse]

"I am," she assured him, and as he dealt with the bill, she stopped to take the time and simply observe him. She had, of course, found Robin attractive from the time she first met him and tried to subtly check him out. But now, she took in the finer features of him. The way his hair fell just slightly across his brow, the lines of his forehead that she enjoyed soothing her fingers over as she drifted to sleep.

Every nuance of him was perfect, and there was a small upturn of her lips as she watched him, happy to take him in, in what was such a simple moment.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin was simply glad he more or less understood the handling of money from his job, so as not to look odd. There were points in this place he did feel a bit like an outsider, though he often took it with good humor. He made small talk with the server as he handed over what was expected of him to pay for the meal. Once he bid the man goodnight, he turned to glance back at Regina to find her smiling at him.

"What?" he asked, and it's almost reflexive that he smiled back at her. He certainly was not going to complain about her being happy, regardless of the reasoning.

[gloriouscurse]

"Nothing," she replied, though she shook her head at that because it wasn't true. "You." She knew she was going to sound saccharine for this, but she said it anyway. "You make me happy. That's all."

That's all as if he hadn't brought her in from the dark to give her moments like this.

Standing from the table, Regina reached for his hand, forging tucking her arm into his for a closer touch. She hadn't considered herself this type of person at all, not for many years now, but here she was, smiling and light like a teenager, like a part of herself she'd locked away a long while ago to keep from getting hurt.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin would have pulled her seat out had he gotten up first. As it was, he simply smiled and interlaced with hers the moment she reached out to take his hand.

"I suppose it works out that you make me happy as well," he mused, though he did not take the words lightly. It had been a long time since he allowed himself to feel this way, and it meant a great deal to be reminded it was reciprocated.

[gloriouscurse]

"What you said, back in Storybrooke," she began as she walked with him out of the restaurant. "About this being a second chance? I do see that with you, Robin. But more than than that, you..."

Regina trailed off; she had never been good at this, or perhaps she'd forgotten how to be good at this somewhere in the time she'd learned to conceal her feelings, to push away her weakness so that no one could use it against her. She struggled now, but finally came up with the words she wanted.

"You give me hope for the first time in a long while."

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin was quiet, letting her speak. He even understood her own sudden silence as a moment of needing to collect herself. It was hard for her, he knew that. After the conversation they had had before, to hear her speak of hope was something truly wonderful.

"That I could help you find that humbles me. I still do mean it, you know," he said, glancing toward her as they continued to walk at an easy pace. "That this is surely a second chance. For both of us. What you have done for me and Roland has been immeasurable."

It had been a long time since he had been happy. Too long. And his son - well, to see him take to her so well was heartening.

[gloriouscurse]

Pausing with him there on the sidewalk, Regina tugged at his hand softly. He was typically the one to stop her, to slow her down and simply be in a moment. But she stopped him now and pulled him into a kiss, one hand still in his. That she could do this freely was amazing to her; someone who wanted her as much as she wanted them. Smiling against his mouth, she pulled back after one more kiss to his lips.

"Then I'll keep doing it," she finally replied. "As long as I can."

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin had been about to stop her to do exactly what she decided to do herself. His hand squeezed hers as she eased in closer to kiss him. His free hand lifted to cup her jaw, thumb softly smoothing over her cheek. It warmed him in a way few things did. And when she did pull away to speak, he could not contain the smile on his face, nor would he ever want to try.

"M'lady, nothing would make me happier," he spoke, honest as always.

[gloriouscurse]

Regina turned her cheek into his palm, her eyes closing as she spoke. "All of the sugar we could ever possibly want will still be there on our next date," she murmured.

"Would you be terribly disappointed to go home instead?" She pulled away from his hand enough to look up at him, a small smile tugging at her lips her eyes searched his.

[thiefwithhonor]

Robin admittedly found himself thinking along the same lines and was happy to hear her vocalize what he'd been considering suggesting. So he hadn't been the only one.

"I wouldn't terribly mind returning home, no," he replied, unable to hide his smile. "I believe Roland would enjoy it as well. He ought to be there when we go."

[gloriouscurse]

Regina took his hand in hers again, lacing their fingers together, then tugged him back that way. "Then let's go, and next time I want to cook a nice meal for you, just the two of us. Have a nice bottle of wine, and..." She had an image of something, of something she hadn't done before, but had always thought she might.

"...And dance. Barefoot."