Outlaw Queen Shorts

Modern AU / Part 2

A Year Later...

The final box lay on the table ready to be sealed up. Regina grabbed the tape from the floor and tore a piece off, pushing the cardboard flaps together and sticking them down. She moved from her knees and sat on the brown leather sofa, brushing her hand lightly over the familiar fabric.

"Is that the last?" His voice made her jump slightly, tearing her away from her memories.

"I think so," she tried to stay cheery, fighting back the tears pinching the bottom of her eyes. She felt like a rock had formed in her stomach as Robin walked towards her.

He reached the sofa and held out his hand to pull her up. She locked her palm on top of his and stood next to him, leaning into his shoulder. He brought his other arm up and wrapped it around her, enveloping her into his body, the pinewood scent of his shirt so comforting when she breathed it in.

This was the end. No more Robin living just down the corridor; no more sneaking into his apartment at midnight; no more late nights and early mornings spent talking about everything and nothing. He was going and she didn't want him to. It still felt like he'd only just arrived.

They stood for a while longer in silence, Robin's nimble fingers rubbing up and down her bare arm and her head resting in the crook of his neck. She thought that maybe if they stayed there for longer then Robin would change his mind. He'd forget he has to go, and they could live happily ever after.

Regina was pulled from her thoughts as he ran his hand through her hair and kissed the top of her head. She buried her face further into his shoulder and he brought both of his arms around her, squeezing her into a tight hug.

"This doesn't change anything." He held the back of her head in one hand and the small of her back in the other, breathing in the flowery shampoo scent of her hair. Regina lifted her head, looking into his eyes so blue you could drown in them. Maybe she already had.

"How can you say that?" She felt the hot tears beginning to gather at the bottom of her eyes and fought to keep them at bay. "You're not moving upstate, you're going to England." Her voice came out as no more than a whisper as the first tear rolled down her cheek.

"It doesn't change how I feel about you, Regina," he cradled her face in his palm, wiping away the tears with his thumb and gently rubbing circles over her cheekbone in the way she loved. "I will never stop loving you, not until the day I die. And even then I won't stop."

"But you're leaving!" It came out as a sob in between shallow breaths. "I don't know when I'll see you again." She dropped her eyes to the floor but Robin cupped her chin, bringing her gaze back in line with his. Her face was streaked with salty water.

"This year has been the best of my life," her glossy brown eyes were focused on him as he spoke, trailing down his jaw and landing on his lips. "Come with me!" His voice was pleading and hopeful as he caressed her cheek with his fingers.

"What would I do about a job? Or a place to live?" her words were slow and sad, they'd had this conversation so many times in the past month.

"You'd live with me--"

"Robin, what if it didn't work? I'd be half way around the world and--"

"Trust in me," he grasped her hands in his and brought them up to his chest so her palms were flat. She could feel his heart. His stare was boring deep into her skin and she looked away from his burning gaze. "Trust in us."

"Robin..." She didn't know what to say. A lump had nestled itself in her throat, pulling back her words before they could spill out.

"Please, Regina, I don't think I can do this without you." He bent his knees slightly and touched his forehead to hers, pushing a loose stand of hair behind her ear. He pressed his hand to her back and pulled her closer.

His breath was hot against her face and the tears were back, falling from her eyes in a constant, unstoppable stream as he moved his head and brushed his lips over hers. She let out a sob when he moved away slightly so he returned his kiss, taking her bottom lip gently between his teeth before soothing the skin with a swipe of his tongue. Regina grasped at his shirt, pulling fistfuls of material into her hands to be closer to him, eliminating any space that kept them apart. His stubble grazed against her chin sending fireworks up inside her body, a muffled moan escaping her lips, vibrating into him.

They stumbled back into the wall, Regina's hands frantically tugging the hem of his shirt. He broke contact momentarily to pull it over his head before crashing his lips to hers again, bringing her closer by her hip. She felt alive with his touch.

His kisses were long and passionate, desperation underlying each movement because they both knew but didn't want to admit the finality of their actions. He spun around on his toes so Regina was pressed up against the wall and lowered his mouth, littering her neck with soft, wet kisses. He reached her jaw and planted one just below her ear, tugging the skin with his lips and then returned to her mouth, running his tongue over hers and breathing heavily with each separation.

"I love you." His words were heavy, weighted with everything he's ever wanted to tell her. Like how the colour of her brown eyes flecked with gold seem to shine in the sun and swallow all of his problems. People look at blue eyes like his, but brown eyes they look into, loosing themselves in the marbled orbs. Or the fact he knows she's never been as comfortable with anyone else in her whole life and he's grateful because he feels the same. They've found themselves together, they can't be apart now.

"I love you too," Regina sniffed, the lack of contact suddenly dizzying. "I just wish things were different." She lowered her heels so her feet were flat on the floor and nuzzled into his neck.

"I'm sorry." He whispered into her hair, voice breaking as the words rolled out of his lips.

"I know."

(**Authors Note:
I really enjoyed writing this one! Part 3 - the final bit - will be up in the next couple of days, I know what's going to happen so I just need to write it :D
I hope you liked it, please comment what you thought.
Thanks again everyone for reading and voting!**)