@smells-likeforest
It hasn’t been long since they returned to the Enchanted Forest but it was enough for Regina to know that no matter what happened here, she would never be able to feel complete again.
She constantly roamed around the castle grounds, a familiar place she once called her home, trying to think of a plan to defeat her half-sister but her mind always wandered to him. Her son. Her everything. Henry, who will never have any memory of her.
This evening was no different than most. Regina found herself standing next to her apple tree, one that used to stand near where she grew up. It reminded her of Daniel and her apple tree back home (a home that no longer existed back in the land without magic) and the time she spent around it with Henry when he was younger. Painful memories that somehow also brought her some kind of peace and solace.
Preoccupied with memories, Regina hasn’t noticed the quick footsteps rushing towards her until she was startled by a mop of brown hair of a small child, trying to climb onto the fence surrounding the tree. “Careful there, Roland,” Regina breathed as she quickly rushed to pick up the little boy and seated him on the fence, keeping him steady with one hand supporting his back. “You don’t want to get hurt, wouldn’t you?”
Roland had wandered away from his father. The man was working on something, he wasn’t sure what. He didn’t like just sitting there. The young boy got bored quickly. He had wandered away from his father and a couple of the other Merry Men, heading outside. He liked spending time with Regina, perhaps he culd find her.
The little boy didn’t find her after a few minutes of looking, so he decided to climb Regina’s apple tree so he could have an apple. He was about to reach a branch, having not noticed Regina beside him. “My Majesty!” He cheered happily. He shook his head and snuggled her.
Robin had noticed his son was missing, unsure as to where his son had gone. He and the Merry Men set off in the direction of outside. Once outside, they split up. Roland’s favorite place to be was outside, so it made sense. “Roland?” He called, walking across the castle grounds. He spotted the boy then, as well as the queen.
“Your majesty...” He came up, letting her know she was not alone; or not alone with Robin. He smiled gratefully at the Queen. “It seems m’boy and I owe you a debt, Your Majesty.”