Authors Note:
I FINALLY UPDATED! I'm so sorry it took this long, but it's here now and fingers crossed I'll have another chapter up before Christmas.
Also a quick warning: there's a chunk of smut at the end of this chapter - please let me know if you didn't like it/thought it was too long because I won't put it in again/will shorten it next time (or on the other hand if you did like it let me know as well). I just want to see how it goes down. Thanks everyone!

"I put the kettle on, hope you don't mind." Zelena sauntered past Regina and out of the kitchen, hips swishing as she made her way into the living room, and finally perched on the end of the sofa. Regina followed, shocked disbelief colouring her features as the red haired woman made herself so comfortably at home.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Regina's words were dripping venom, leaving her lips with a disgusted snarl that lowered her voice by several octaves.

"That's no way to speak to a guest, Regina." Everything about her was false, sickly-sweet, sarcasm rolling off every syllable, fuel for the already burning flames which erupted inside her the moment Zelena came into view. Regina scoffed, her hands clenching at her sides, lips pressing together in a hard line as she glared at her, silently demanding to know why she was here. Zelena rolled her eyes, slamming the mug down on the coffee table when she stood up, her heels allowing her to tower over Regina as she approached. Regina didn't falter; she kept her eyes firmly locked on target, barely able to contain the sudden rage which rose up like smoke from an explosion.

"If you expect me to unfold my plans before your very eyes then you're sadly mistaken." She hissed, the wicked smile on her face fading into a grimace of barred teeth and wild eyes. She was edging closer, every word a gateway to her next step in Regina's direction but Regina didn't move, didn't flinch in the presence of such confrontation - "to show fear is to show weakness." Her mother's words played their oh-so familiar tune in the background - she just lifted her eyebrow in a perfect arch.

"So why are you here?" She repeated, slowly, enunciating each word as she brought a hand up to rest casually on her hip. Zelena laughed, a shrill and high pitched cackle that bounced off the walls of the small room.

"It's a warning, dear." She said, standing right in front of Regina, the silence around them in her pause almost deafening. "Back. Off." And with those final words, she brushed past Regina, their shoulders grazing, to the door. She strode out, leaving Regina gaping, her brow knitted and feet firmly frozen to the carpet.

.''.

"And she just...walked straight out?" Mal's hand dropped from her cheek and reached forwards to her laptop, fingers frantically tapping on the keyboard as her brows knitted further and further together.

"She said it was a warning, whatever that means." Regina folded her arms across her chest. She stood at the side of Mal, watching as her colleague scrolled through pages of text faster than she could read it. "But we know for one thing that Zelena is planning something." Mal hummed her agreement and flicked her eyes across to Regina, biting down on her lip as she looked back to the screen in front of her.

"The question is what." Mal spun the laptop around so Regina could see the screen, a grainy photo of the woman in question with dark, blood stained hands holding a dagger in one and something too blurred to see in the other. Regina felt a surge of nausea rising in her gut, because she knew what was in her other hand, she just knew and the thought had her pushing away from the table, stumbling on the chair that dug into the back of her knees before she left the room, leaving Mal calling after her.

She rounded the corner and slumped into the wall, the wooden beam that ran across the middle jutting into her back as she rested her head against the white surface. Her heart was pounding. This was beyond unprofessional, to storm out of a meeting with Mal, but she needed space, needed air, something to give her distance between her and the threat of Zelena.

"Regina," Mal had placed her hand on Regina's shoulder and she finally opened her eyes. "You need to tell me what's going on."

"I will, I promise. But we need help, Mal, someone who knows this case." Mal began to protest, to say there were plenty of agents up to the task but Regina shook her head and continued. "I know someone. I've worked with her before and she's familiar with this particular cast of people. Her name is Emma Swan."

.''.

Bean Stalk was almost empty when Emma walked in to meet Regina. The sun was setting, casting a golden-pink glow through the windows of the coffee shop and dancing over the polished tables where the light caught the corner of the window or bounced off the patisserie counter glass. August waved from behind the counter as she pushed open the door, then signalled he'd bring over her usual mocha (dusted with cinnamon), a gesture developed simply from the amount of times Emma had been in on August's shift and ordered the exact same thing.

Regina was huddled over a table in the corner. Scattered sheets of paper covered the surface as she scribbled notes under text.

"Hey," the greeting startled Regina, her pen slipping over the page as she jumped, hand flying instinctively to her chest. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, shuffling the papers into a pile so there was room for Emma at the table. "Are you okay?"

Pull yourself together, Mills. She was an agent for gods sake, why was she so jumpy this evening? Well, Zelena. That was why. But she mentally scalded herself for appearing so weak; imagine if it had have been Zelena, what would she have done then? Zelena would have torn her to shreds, that's for sure. Regina regained her composure, telling herself to be strong from now on.

"I'm sorry, it's just been a very long and stressful few hours."

"What's going on?" Emma asked, pulling out the chair and shrugging her red leather jacket off her shoulders as she sat down. Regina took a deep breath.

"Do you remember The Hearts case?" Her eyes flicked up from the pages and she saw Emma's jaw tighten. The blonde nodded so Regina continued. "It's happening again."

"Where?" Emma lowered her voice, leaning in further across the table to mirror Regina's actions.

"Most recent was in Boston, but there's been a string of them."

"You want me to help. And what about-"

"Zelena." Regina clenched her fists as she finished Emma's thought. "She's here. I don't know how she found me, but she was in my apartment last night." Her words were barely a whisper as the pair moved in closer and closer to each other, very aware that people like Zelena had eyes and ears everywhere.

"One mocha with extra cinnamon," August placed the mug down in front of Emma and she smiled up at him - she could see Regina rearranging the papers out of the corner of her eye. "And one chai latte."

Regina looked up, a scowl forming on her face, brow furrowed when she said, "I didn't order anything."

"I know, but I thought you could use a lift." He smiled, slinging his usual blue and white checked dish towel over his shoulder as he made his way back behind the counter.

"Careful," Emma smirked, "you don't want two charmingly handsome men fighting over you." Regina rolled her eyes, but there was no anger behind it. She smiled, glad for the distraction of normality within her hectic life.

She loved her job, she really did - solving cases and catching the bad guys - but when Zelena was involved, the challenge wasn't fun. It wasn't bank robberies or mysteriously connected suicides, or even gritty drug cartel cases; it was strategically targeted and cold blooded murders. And the worst part was Regina was never quick enough to save the target in time.

"Speaking of," Regina's focus snapped back to Emma and then the door as she inclined her head. Robin pushed the door open, palm flat on the wooden frame, eyes glued to his phone as he made his way over to the counter. Regina watched him waiting in the queue behind the customer who'd just beat him to ordering but his gaze never ventured from his screen until finally it was his turn at the counter and August nodded over to their table in the corner.

.''.

Robin's face lit up as his eyes settled on Regina. She waved him over, and he told August he'd order later.

"Good evening, ladies," he said, brimming with his usual charm, smoothing his hand over Regina's spine before he leant over and pressed a kiss to her temple. Emma was collecting the papers and stuffing them unceremoniously into a red folder, prompting Robin to ask, "what's all this?" with a tilt of his head.

The pair exchanged a glance before Regina told him, "Just work stuff. I was doing some paperwork before Emma came in." She smiled and he nodded, finally pulling up a chair from the next table to sit on.

August came over to take his order, an americano with half and half, and returned with it in less than five minutes. "Gotta keep the regulars happy," he explained, still smiling, always smiling.

"Who's in the shop?" Regina asked and Robin chuckled slightly as he pointed to the large clock on the far wall which read quarter to nine. Time, as it usually did for her these days, had escaped her. "I didn't realise how late it was."

"Well you have been kinda engrossed in those papers," August was still stood near their table straightening the stirrers and sugar pots sat on the back counter.

Emma lifted the oversized mug to her lips and swallowed the last dregs of her overly-sweet chocolatey drink before she pulled her jacket back over her shoulders. "I need to get home," She pushed the folder across the table to Regina, who quickly shoved it in her bag under the table, then waved over her shoulder as she began to walk away. "Call me."

And then there was two. Or, there would have been, but August seemed to have disregarded his barista duties for the time being to join in their conversation every now and then as he cleaned the nearby tables.

.''.

There was something about talking to Robin that made Regina forget everything else going on in her life. She loved the sound of his voice. Loved how his eyes crinkled at the corners when he made himself laugh, which in turn made her laugh. It wasn't a conversation she'd remember, nothing important or particularly topical, just mindless chatter, but because of that it was everything. Regina didn't often get the chance to just talk to someone and have them want to listen.

"You guys know we close at ten, right?" August shouted over from behind the counter, pointedly tapping his finger on his watch with a smirk. Regina looked at her own watch; it was 9:55. When she glanced back up, Robin's eyes were roaming her face, and when his eyes finally met hers again, he looked down sheepishly.

"What?"

"I was just..." He reached across the table and grasped her hand, twining their fingers, dragging his thumb over hers, "Would you like to come back to the shop for a while? Killian's at Emma's for the night."

So that's why she had to run off, Regina thought with an inward roll of her eyes, but quickly turned her attention back to Robin, who had practically just asked her to stay the night. Well, maybe not the night, but there was still an offer of something. She didn't know what this was between them, not really, she just knew she liked it. She liked him. She was in her mid-twenties, if she couldn't have fun now when could she? To hell with what mother would think of this.

"I'd love to."

She grinned, squeezing his fingers within her own. Robin's dimples winked from his cheeks as he let go of Regina's hand so she could put her coat on and sling her bag over her shoulder.

.''.

Robin fished his keys out of his pocket to unlock the door of his shop once they'd crossed the road and Regina followed him inside, instantly comforted by the warmth and familiarity of the shop's interior. The bell above the wood chimed when the door shut behind them and then his mouth was on hers, feverish, heated, tasting every inch of her lips. He brought a hand to her waist, pulling her closer, and laced his other hand into her hair as he walked them back to the stairs.

Regina's back hit the wall, her arms lifting to circle around his neck. She felt electric, burning under the touch his palm left behind over her sides as he mapped the surface. Robin tilted his head, altering the kiss, stubble grazing over her chin and sending a shiver up her spine, noses bumping and tongues gliding side by side in exploration.

They only broke apart for breath, their exhales mingling in the mere centimetres of space between their lips, shallow and panting. Robin touched his forehead to hers, his eyes moving to meet the line of her gaze, and she could purr at the way the back of his fingers caressed her cheek so softly on the way to tuck her hair behind her ear.

She lifted up on her toes to press a kiss to his lips, another, a third, her fingers twisting into the short hairs at the nape of his neck as she nipped his bottom lip with her teeth. His moan of satisfaction spurred her on, her leg leaving the ground to wrap around his calf and she drew him closer still by the shoulder. Her name fell from his lips and she ran her hand down his chest, then looped her thumb into his belt with a mirthful glint in her eyes. He was stood so close, his torso nudging into hers, and she could feel the strain of his jeans on her thigh.

"Upstairs?" He asked, grasping her hand and planting a kiss on her knuckles. She nodded, dragging her teeth across her lip and he pulled her with him up the stairs.

Her heart was pounding, blood thrumming round her veins and pulsing in her ears. Her cheeks felt hot - flushed pink from his close proximity - as they reached the landing and Robin guided her to the living room with a hand pressed to the small of her back.

Robin spun on his heel and grabbed her hands from her sides, swinging their arms as he looked at her. She felt scrutinised but in the best way, like he wanted to remember every plane of her face, to drink her in incase she disappeared at any minute. His eyes raked down her body and hot arousal flared in her stomach. With a swift tug, she was in his arms and his mouth was covering hers, sucking and nipping; she revelled in the way his hand ran up her back and underneath her shirt, fingers tracing warm skin.

"Robin," she breathed, breath catching on an exhale as his lips connected with the hinge of her jaw. He peppered a line of kisses along her neck, across her clavicle before returning to her mouth and continuing his assault of her tongue with his.

They stumbled over to the sofa, losing boots and jackets on the way, not breaking their kiss until Robin's calves hit the arm of the leather sofa and he fell onto the cushions, pulling Regina with him. She laughed, both of them pushing themselves up with their elbows to sit up straighter. He brought her more fully on top of him, her knees either side of his lap as she kissed him deeply, hands either side of his face.

The seam of her jeans was pressing into just the right spot; she began to rock her hips downwards into him and he groaned as she moved over his length. His fingers dug into her waist rhythmically along with each thrust of her hips. Their lips were sealed together, tasting and exploring before Robin furthered his advance, trailing hot, open mouthed kisses over her jaw, down and across both collar bones, his tongue swirling patterns into her creamy skin. Regina let out a small moan which urged Robin to slide his hand up between them and cup her breast, gently squeezing her through her shirt and she arched her back further into his palm.

Robin reached down and fumbled with her jeans button, "Wait," she stilled his hand and he looked up at her. They'd had one official date and sat in a coffee shop together a couple of times; was she really dry humping him on his couch? His eyes were searching her face, worry scrunching his brow as he looked up at her. She was wet, and she wanted him, there was no denying that, her whole body was sensitive to his touch but she couldn't help feeling she owed herself at least some time to process this development.

"We don't have to do this," he said, brushing strands of hair behind her ear and she smiled, leaning into his touch.

"I want to," she replied, closing her eyes to him as she continued, "but can we just...no sex tonight?"

"Of course," his thumb coasted over her cheekbone and she melted into him. "You call the shots."

She leant down and captured his lips in hers, gentler and less heady than before but still containing that spark which refuelled the embers of arousal in both of them. Regina tugged his hand back to her jeans and he raised a brow at her, "Are you sure?" Yes, she was sure, because although she didn't want sex (she did want it, she just knew they should wait), she still wanted this, wanted him. So "Yes," his hands moving over her skin was still very much on the cards.

He unzipped her jeans and ran his hand down her stomach, finally dipping his fingers under the waistband of her silk panties, a low groan falling from his mouth as he felt her slick, warm heat. "You're so wet," he said, and his breath sent shivers down her body when it touched the damp trails his kisses left behind on her neck.

Regina lifted her shirt over her head, exposing the lilac bra she had on underneath. Robin ran both of his hands over her body, up from her waist, over her ribs to land below her breasts, thumbs running under the wiring of her bra and around to the back. He placed his fingers over the latch and lifted his gaze to her, "Okay?" He asked and she nodded. The straps fell from her shoulders, Robin's eyes growing wider as the full top half of her body was bare in front of him. He locked eyes with her.

"You are so beautiful," he meant it. Regina pulled his lips to hers, smacking them together before she yanked his shirt over his head too.

He grasped her nipple in his fingers, pulling and twisting the pebbled nub. It sent a wave of pleasure through her, and as he slipped his other hand back beneath the fabric of her jeans she gasped and rocked further into his touch. He pulled her jeans down to her mid-thighs so he had room to work but she stood up and pushed them all the way down to the ground, leaving her clad only in her underwear in front of him. The look she was giving him was criminal - she observed the way he was enraptured by her - and he brought his hands up to knead her rear. He shifted to sit at the edge of the sofa and pressed a kiss to her sex through the material, but it still made her hips jerk and a soft moan tumble from her.

He tugged down the last remaining piece of clothing from her body and she stepped out of them and with Robin's guiding hand, lay back on the sofa. He began planting wet kisses to her inner thighs, she was squirming beneath his attentions, a hand coming to thread into his hair because she needed contact on her clit. He chuckled as she moaned his name and finally, finally, he pressed his tongue to her core and she could've cried as he swirled and sucked at the ball of nerves now throbbing with want. Her hips were lifting from the sofa but he placed a hand over her middle and kept her rooted, his other hand lifting to slip inside her and he moaned along with her as he felt her warm walls.

Another finger added and Robin was pumping rhythmically into her, his tongue laving over her clit and it felt so good; a coil of pleasure was wrapping itself tighter and tighter inside her. She still had one hand in his hair, but rolled her nipple between her thumb and finger with the other, the attention collectively making a throaty moan fall into the air and she was close, so close, told him so, "just let go, babe," and she did, pleasure spiralling from her centre as she cried out. Robin didn't stop, he was still firmly sucking at her, still moving his fingers in and out. She rode her high, finally falling boneless into his arms as he slowed his hand and brought his lips to hers.

Regina could taste herself on his tongue and his mouth moved languidly with hers. She felt like she was floating, just her and Robin in the middle of nothing but white space.

"That was amazing," she said, slowly, eyes dropping closed as Robin clambered up next to her and wrapped his arms around her, his front pressed to her back.

"So are you," he said, and nuzzled into her neck, breathing in the scent of her hair. Bliss.