A Single Yellow Rose - “You bring joy to my life” “Let’s be friends” Staying Together verse, Alice/Roland.
Also on AO3
Roland paced the living room, trying to keep the negativethoughts out of his head. Today was a happy day, it was one that every highschooler dreamed of at one point or another. His sister was thrilled, she wasgoing with her girlfriend of 3 years (how she and Alice had made it so long wasa mystery to him). She was upstairs with their aunts, Roland had been kickedout of the room when he suggested that Regina was putting a bit too mucheyeliner on her.
Despite how happy everyone was, he couldn’t help butwish that his father was there. Robin Sr. had probably more excited than he wasfor his prom. He took him tux shopping and helped him with his tie. His date wasn’texactly a soulmate, just the current girlfriend he had at the time. Yet hisfather beamed proudly as he and Danielle walked out the door, he had waited upfor him to return from his after party. He was slightly buzzed and his dad hadplayfully chastised him, but was glad that he hadn’t drank and driven.
Now, he wouldn’t be there for Robin’s. It was hard tothink that in a few weeks time, he wouldn’t be there for her high schoolgraduation.
Quickly shaking it off, he heard the door open and amoment later, Alice was in the house. She was wearing a beautiful blue dresswith bits of red here and there. Roland gave her a soft smile.
“Where’s your dad?”
“He’s instructing the limo driver to be careful withus and threatening that if anything happens to us, he’ll kill him.”
Roland chuckled, shaking his head. “You’ve got a good dad.”
“Yeah.” She smiled. “Robin’s still getting ready?”
“My aunts have taken over and I think it’s best thatway.”
Alice giggled. “They offered to help me get ready, butI declined. I’m not that into makeup, this is the first time I’ve worn a dresssince…well, I don’t even remember.”
“They can be a bit much, but they just do it out oflove. I think they just try to make up for the fact that we don’t have our dadanymore.”
“Right.” Alice bit her lip. “As embarrassing as he is,I can’t imagine how hard all of this is on the two of you. Yet, you’re so brave.”
“I don’t know about that.”
“I do. You gave up your life to take care of Robin.You waited to go to college, heck it wasn’t even until this year that you got aserious relationship. I don’t know that I could’ve lived through all that.”
“Well, I do think you’ve played a role in that.” Hechuckled when she tilted her head. “You don’t realize how much you’ve helpedRobin. She went through a really dark period when our father died, she lashedout, she was really depressed. She was doing better when you two met, but Idefinitely think that coming out helped her. Being with you…it’s made her sohappy. I don’t think I could’ve asked for a better person for my sister. You’vebrought so much happiness to my life and to hers.”
Alice’s smile widened and she threw her arms aroundhis neck, hugging him tightly. “Well, I never had a brother before…but now Ifeel like…well at least I have a new friend.”
“I’d say we’re more than friends, you’re a part ofthis family, Al.”
The door opened and Killian walked in, interrupting thesweet moment. A little bit later, Regina and Emma came down the stairs, wipingtheir own tears, clearly emotional over their goddaughter’s big day. Soon, Robinwas walking down the stairs, biting her lip. She had opted for a black dress thatsparkled when the light it hit it. She knew all eyes were on her, but her firststop was Alice.
“You look beautiful,” she whispered.
“So do you.”
They exchanged corsages (Alice’s was a white rose,while Robin’s rose was yellow, which happened to compliment her dress) and akiss. Alice turned to her father, while Robin quickly hugged her aunts and wentover to her brother.
“Wow, you’re so grown up,” he said, a hint of nostalgiain his voice. “It seems like just yesterday you were begging me to play teaparty with you.”
Robin chuckled. “Yeah…a lot of time sure has passed.”
“I wish Dad could be here.”
“He is, in his own way.”
She reached into her purse and pulled out a picture.It was the last photograph that had been taken of the three of them, his armsaround both of his kids, that infamous smile on his lips. Roland grinned,tracing his father’s face.
“Always protecting us.”
“Always. We better get going, we have to pick up somepeople on the way.”
“Right. Just be careful, don’t drink and if you do, don’tdrive.”
“That’s what the limo’s for, Ro.” She kissed hischeek. “Love you.”
With that, she linked arms with her girlfriend andthey headed out the door.