Better When I'm Dancing

Week 10--The Finals (Night One)

Regina left her trailer, wearing the purplish-blue sequined outfit designed for the opening number. Her silver heels clicked on the pavement as she crossed the lot to head to the studio, her curls bouncing against her shoulder with every step. After three months, it was the finally the night of the finals. The show was almost over and she could walk away with the mirrorball trophy after her first season on the show, which she understood was quite a feat.

Most importantly, though, she was walking away with Robin. In a few days, they could finally go public with their relationship and stop sneaking around.

She couldn't wait.

Regina opened the doors to the studio and headed backstage. Merida smiled at her as she stretched out. "Ready for your first finals?"

"I am," she replied, stretching herself. "I just can't believe the season is pretty much over."

"I know. Sometimes it seems like it will never end but then we get here and it's like you just blinked your eye," Jacob agreed.

Killian approached their small group, smiling. "It is an honor to be a finalist with you three. I wish you all the best of luck."

"That was actually sweet, Killian," Regina said, touched by his words.

Narrowing her eyes, Merida held up her hand. "Wait for it..."

"You're going to need it to beat Ariel and me," Killian finished with a shit-eating grin.

Jacob groaned as Merida punched Killian's arm while Regina rolled her eyes. "Ass."

A PA motioned for them to be quiet, indicating that filming was about to start. Regina's heart started to beat rapidly as the lights went down in the ballroom and a hush fell over the crowd out there.

"Live from Storybrooke Studios in Hollywood California, this is Dancing With the Stars--the finale!" the announcer announced, his voice booming throughout the ballroom as the crowd began to cheer.

The music started up and Killian grinned at Regina. "Here we go!"

He took her hand and doors opened up, letting the four dancers join the rest in the ballroom. Killian and Jacob jumped off the stage before Regina and Merida fell into their arms, letting them swing them around before setting them on the ground. They hit their marks amongst the other dancers, moving into a salsa move as they continued with the opening number.

Everyone in the ballroom clapped along with the upbeat song as Regina moved toward one of the staircases by the stage. She saw Robin start to descend from it, dressed in the "banana" outfit for their redemption dance. He smiled at her as he met up with her as all the finalists were introduced. "Robin Locksley and Regina Mills!" the announcer said, drawing the largest cheers from the crowd.

He wrapped his arm around her waist and they headed out onto the dancefloor. Robin spun her a few times before they hit their mark, joining the rest of the finalists as the dancers posed behind them.

August and Belle took their spots as the cameras focused on them. They both smiled and August welcomed everyone to the finals. "It's been ten long weeks and by tomorrow night, one of our four finalists will be hoisting the mirrorball trophy as our newest winners."

"That's right," Belle said, taking over. "Will it be actress Ariel Tritoni, model Clorinda Tremaine, athlete Scott Campbell or musician Robin Locksley? Tonight, they dance two more times in hopes of getting good scores from our judges as well as your votes in order to win the mirrorball."