Outlaw Queen Shorts

Dinner at the Charmings / Part 4

They walked hand in hand, Regina slightly ahead leading the way. A calmness resonated from Robin and Regina tried to soak it up. As they began to climb the steps to the charming's apartment her mouth went dry and she felt a lump rising in her throat.

"Regina," Robin sensed her nerves and turned her to face him. "Please don't be nervous, I promise this will be fine." He smiled reassuringly, lifting his hand to her cheek and brushing his thumb over her bottom lip. He bent his head down and kissed her softly, pressing his forehead to hers. Regina pulled him closer, wrapping him into a hug and stood there for a second, comforted by his presence.

She lifted her hand and knocked on the door, quickly brushing down the front of her dress before anyone answered. The door opened to Mary Margaret, wearing a pink dress cut just below the knee and a white cardigan. Regina mentally sighed for forgetting to pick up her jacket after Robin distracted her; it was always cold in this apartment. "Come in, dinner's almost ready!" Mary Margret's smile was warm and welcoming as she stood away from the door letting them in.

The smell of cooking mixed with incense filled the air in the small apartment, gently wafting in their direction. Robin stepped into the room further so he could shake hands with David. He had a tea towel slung lazily over his shoulder despite wearing a suit just as dapper as Robin's. He stood up straight from looking into the oven. "Glad you could make it," he smiled at Robin and nodded towards Regina. "We're almost ready here."

Regina sat down in the seat Snow indicated for her and Robin plonked down next to her, searching for her hand under the table. He found it and locked his fingers with hers, slowly running his thumb across the back of her hand. Regina tried to hold back the smile edging it's way up her cheeks, accompanied by a heat she was sure had turned face slightly pink.

David and Mary Margret exchanged a quick glance, David smirking slightly as he carved the beef. "It looks divine," said Robin, not letting go of Regina's hand. "It's been years since I've had a proper roast."

Regina released her grip around Robin's fingers and lifted her hands to the table. She held the knife and fork delicately and sliced a potato in half. This isn't so bad she thought to herself, and tucked in to the food, trying to push back the nagging feeling it was all going just too well for her.

Mary Margret lifted her wine glass from the table. "To new friends," she said, smiling widely. "And old ones we didn't know we had." Regina looked up and lifted her wine glass too, followed by Robin and David. She couldn't help the small resentment for Mary Margaret building in the pit of her stomach. It seemed to always be there, but right now it was threatening to surface.