Sentence starter from this post. Send me a line&a pairing and I’ll write a ficlet!
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Regina had thought she was on top of everything toadjust Roland to Storybrooke. She had enrolled him in school (and he looked sodarling in his little uniform), gotten him a physical at the pediatrician’s andeven made sure he was caught up on the movies he would see. While she hadreminded the doctor about most vaccines, there was one that she had clearlyforgotten about.
The chicken pox vaccine.
No one knew until Roland came downstairs, itching alot. It didn’t take long for the spots to be located. Robin was panicked,worried that it was from some bad poultry he had eaten. While holding back alaugh, Regina calmly explained it was okay, it had nothing to do with that. Shealso added it would pass and he would just have to wear lots of calamine lotionplus stay home from school.
The latter part did not go over too well with Roland.He loved school, particularly library day, when they would all walk over tovisit Belle. He always insisted sitting up front and center for story time andwould come home with a large stack of books.
“We have plenty of stories here,” Regina pointed outas she tucked him onto the couch, knowing it’d be better if he could watch someT.V.
“But not the same stories as at the library,” hewhined. “Can’t I go? Pretty please?”
“I’m sorry, my little knight,” she replied with asympathetic smile. “You’re contagious, the other kids could get sick.” Henryhad already had them when he was small, though since Sasha was too young to bevaccinated, she was spending her days at the Charmings’ for the time being.
“This stinks.”
“I know, but like I said, we have plenty of bookshere.”
She turned to the shelf and started to look throughthem. She returned with a few Curious George books along with some Cliffordones as well. Roland looked at them, clearly not interested. Regina remainedpatient, knowing that he wasn’t feeling too well and already bored.
“How about a story that’s not in any book?” Reginaoffered. That piqued Roland’s curiosity. “One from when I lived in the otherland.” She knew that he loved hearing those. “You can even pick which one.”
Roland thought about it for a moment. “How about theone where you met Papa?”
Regina could hear Robin laughing behind her and sherolled her eyes. She knew they had varying feelings on how that went. He didn’tmove from his spot in the doorway, though. He knew that Roland was feeling particularlyclingy to Regina that day.
“Well, I was in the forest with Snow. Suddenly, out ofnowhere, this flying monkey showed up.”
“Like mine?” He asked, gesturing to his plushie. Hestill had it after all that time.
Regina nodded. “Just like yours. We were trying tofigure out how to stop it, when suddenly an arrow came out of nowhere and shotit.”
“One of papa’s arrows?” Roland asked, his eyessparkling.
“That’s exactly right. He came over to us and…”
“And you were very rude,” Robin piped up from hisspot.
“I was not rude,” she replied with another eyeroll. “I simply corrected you on how to addressa queen.”
“My apologies….milady.”
“Papa, it’s yourmajesty,” Roland pointed out.
Regina’s grin returned and she kissed his forehead. “Thisis why you’re my favorite.”
Roland giggled and went to scratch his arm again, butRegina gently took his hand away, rubbing the spots instead. He sighed, though didn’tstop her from doing so.
“I’ll go get his lunch,” Robin said before headingback into the kitchen. Not much later, the smells of Roland’s favorite soup filledthe room.
“There we go. We’ve got Papa making your soup, Henry’sgetting more of your lotion after school and we’ve got Toy Story already to goon the DVD player. Can I get you anything else?”
Roland thought about it for a minute. “Can you bringme another blanket please?”
“Of course.”
Regina got up and grabbed a quilt from the chairbefore draping it over him. She went to go sit down elsewhere when he shot herpuppy dog eyes. Carefully, she laid down beside him and he cuddled into herside. She moved him onto her chest so he could have a better view of the movie.She noticed he was falling asleep and decided it wouldn’t hurt to shut her eyesas well.
Robin returned to theroom, a tray with a small bowl of soup and a sippy cup filled with orange juicein hand. He spotted two of the loves of his life cuddled up on the couch togetherwhile Woody and the gang went on some insane mission on the T.V. He smiledbefore walking back out of the room. Lunch could wait, for the moment, the twoneeded to catch up on some much needed rest.
Regina’s kitchen is a mess, but that tends to happen when cooking dinner with a six-year-old. Regina wouldn’t change that for the world though. Not when Roland’s got his tongue between his teeth as he stirs the sauce. She’s watching carefully even as she checks the chicken, making sure it’s grilled through. When it’s ready, she moves behind Roland, and he looks up at her with wide, adoring eyes.
“Like this, right, Regina?” he says, and she smiles down at him.
“Just like that,” she assures, though she takes his hand in hers and helps him give it a quick stir, blending the parts he’s missed. She drops a kiss on his curls. “You’re doing a great job, Roland.”
She gives the sauce another moment to simmer, then reaches for the two tasting spoons she set aside. Dipping one into the sauce, she blows on it a second, and then gives it a taste. With Roland looking up at her expectantly, she hums appreciatively, “Delicious.”
Roland beams, proud of his expert stirring abilities. “Can I taste, too?” he asks, and Regina tells him, But of course!
“The chef must always try his meal before letting others have his meal,” she says seriously, dipping his tasting spoon into the sauce and holding it out for him, a hand cupped under it to catch any drips. “Blow on it first, you don’t want to burn your tongue.”
Roland puffs up his little cheeks and blows, then takes a taste. “Delicious!” he echoes, grinning up at her and revealing those dimples that tug at Regina’s heart.
“Okay, now we just have to mix it all together and then we can get your papa and Henry,” Regina says, lifting him off the footstool he’s been standing on so she can add the chicken to the sauce.
“Do we have to share it with Papa and Henry? They didn’t even help!” he pouts with such a serious expression, Regina can’t help but laugh.
Still giggling, she presses a kiss to Roland’s cheek, releasing him with a loud mwah! as she pulls back. “Now, it wouldn’t be kind if we didn’t share. Being kind is important, isn’t it?” she says, and Roland sighs, long-suffering for all of his six years.
“You’re right. I should get Papa and Henry,” he says, but then peers up at Regina with puppy dog eyes. “But can I have another taste?”
Regina chuckles, grabbing a knife and fork to get him a bit of chicken and sauce together. “Our little secret.” She winks as she holds it out for him to try.
He eats it eagerly, once again declaring it delicious. “You’re right, it’s so good we should share it with Henry and Papa,” he says, smiling again, and he hugs her before dashing away. “Papa! Henry! Dinner’s readyyyy!”
She can’t help but laugh harder as he yells for the rest of their family. She tries to put the kitchen back into some sort of order, shaking her head at all the mess. It reminds her of Henry at that age and similar nights spent cooking dinner together, and she never thought she’d experience it again. And though it means more for her to clean, as her family files into the kitchen, Henry and Robin inhaling deeply and complimenting the food by smell alone, Regina finds she isn’t really too bothered by having a little more to do.
Send me a number and a pairing from this list, and I’ll write a mini fic for it.
Thank you for sending this in! This is a prequel to I Wanna Hold Your Hand.
“Whyare you up so early?”
This was submitted to me from this prompt post I reblogged. Send me a line&a ship and I’ll write a ficlet. :)
Also on AO3/FF
Regina was always a light sleeper. Whether it was fromher days as a feared queen who had potential threats coming at her left andright or from the ones as a mother, she could never quite figure out. However,this morning she knew it couldn’t be Henry, he was off on a vacation with theCharmings. Sasha was nestled in between her and Robin, still soundly sleeping.Even her boyfriend was snoring lightly. That had to mean only one other personcould be making the ruckus downstairs.
Getting out of bed and throwing on her robe, Reginadescended the stair case and headed into the kitchen. Roland stood on thecounter, grabbing the bag of coffee from the cabinets.
“A little young for coffee, aren’t you?” Reginaquestioned, cocking an eyebrow.
Roland turned around a bit, giving her his littlegrin. He had recently lost one of his two front teeth, making it more adorablethan usual. “Morning, Gina.”
“Morning,” she said, her stance not changing. Sheglanced over at the clock. It was 6:30, around the time she would get up.Roland, however, was not such an early riser. Normally, they were lucky to gethim out of bed before 8. “Why are you up so early?”
“I wanted to make you breakfast.”
“I make that for you every morning.”
“You and Papa have been busy with Peanut. Henry saidwe have to help out more, so I’m helpin’.”
A small smile replaced Regina’s bewildered look. Shewalked over to the countertop and took Roland off of it, placing him onto herhip and kissing his cheek. The boys had really stepped up since their returnfrom the Underworld. Things had been so hectic with the baby and they justseemed to be more independent.
“Well, I appreciate it, but how about some help?”Roland looked a bit skeptical. “We couldmake pancakes.”
“Apple ones?”
“What other kind do I make?”
Regina went about gathering the ingredients withRoland still on her hip. He made sure to point out the cinnamon and flour. Sheallowed him to count out the eggs for her, praising him when he got the rightamount without any help. She lowered him back onto the counter so she could mixeverything together.
“I like cooking with you, Gina,” he told her.
Regina briefly smiled at him. “Really?”
“Uh huh. It’s fun. I like spending time with you.”
She paused for a moment upon the realization that thiswas the first thing she had done with Roland since they returned from theUnderworld. Between trying to get the town back to normal and helping Robinwith the baby, along with regular mayoral duties, she hadn’t really had amoment to breathe. Before the whole Zelena incident, they had been able to bondand spend time with one another. It had been the same with Henry. She couldn’t rememberthe last time they had just sat down and talked.
She had to start making time for her boys again, noexcuses.
“I like spending time with you too, Roland,” she toldhim, meeting his eye. “We’ll be able to do it more soon, I promise.”
Roland brightened up at that idea. “Really?”
“Really. How about today we go get ice cream, justlike old times?”
“Okay!” He replied happily.
Regina’s smile returned, nodding. “Okay.”
Robin woke up to the sound of his daughter crying. Hetook her into his arms, gently cradling her to calm her down. He let out a yawnas he leaned over to kiss Regina awake, only to find her side of the bed empty.He could smell something good coming from downstairs, tipping him off that theyhad quite the feast awaiting them.
After getting Sasha and himself ready, he headed downthe stairs. Regina and Roland were setting plates around the table, a platterof apple pancakes and bacon sat in the center of the table. Roland looked up athis father with a grin.
“Papa, Gina and I made breakfast!”
“I can see that,” Robin ducked his head to kiss thetop of his son’s, a little perplexed. “You’re up early.”
“He decided to be my little helper,” Regina informedhim, kissing his lips before doing the same to the baby’s head.
At that moment, the back door to the head open. Henry appearedin the doorway, his duffle bag slung over his shoulder. He grinned at the sightof his family and the food.
“Looks like I came home right on time,” he said.
Regina walked over, wrapping her arms tightly aroundhim, which only made the teen hug her tighter. He loved spending time with hisother mom and grandparents, but he had really missed this part of his familytoo.
“Apple pancakes, Henry,” Roland told him, taking himby the hand to drag him to the table. Henry listened as he filled him in on allhe had missed while he was away. Robin crossed to the fridge, trying to slip inquestions to Henry in between his son’s ramblings while he also grabbed abottle for Sasha.
Regina hung back, sippinga rather large cup of coffee that she had brewed for herself. She took in thepicture before her and took a mental of snapshot. Yes, things were always goingto be hectic for their family, but that was what she’d remember to get throughit.
A/N. This is for the lovely @onceuponahappytime. Everytime someone spews uncomprehensible hate in your inbox, I’m gonna write a fic to fight fucked-up words with creative ones.
A huge, huge thank you to my adorable sister, @thisisamadhouse. You help me keep my chill when I’m insecure about what I write, you yell at me in all the right moments, you inspire me for all the sister feels in my writing. Thank you <3
This is post Robin’s death - but there’s no Jekyll/Hyde storyline, no Split Queen, only Dimples Queen angst and sweetness. Because this is what should have been in the show. You’ll also find Swan Queen Brotp and Mills Sisters feels.
Unedited, all mistakes are mine, I wrote this while listening to I will always return from the Spirit soundtracks, you’re welcome for the pain.
They’re nearing the town line when she gets the phone call.
“Zelena?”
“I don’t know where you are but you’d better get to the clock tower, and quickly. The extras from Camelot and else are freaking out and I’ve been asked to open a portal for them to go back home.”
She frowns and makes an impatient gesture at Emma who’s slowing down, waiting to hear about the new development, to keep driving.
“And why should I care about the medievals’ whereabouts?”
“Because Robin’s boy band is taking Roland home.”
She freezes, her grip bruising on her phone.
“I’m coming.”
She hangs up and barely spares a glance for Emma as she says, her words frantic, “Pull over and wait for me, Miss Swan.”
Then she’s gone in a wisp of purple.
.
She staggers and almost falls on the sidewalk as she materializes near the clock tower, her legs wobbly even as she runs towards the gathering, her heart pounding harshly in her ears, drilling frustration and fear into her skull, hazed words wheeling in her head to the rhythm of her heels I can’t lose him too I can’t lose him too I can’t-
He’s in her arms before she’s even managed to catch a glimpse of her sister’s red hair, before she sees the wooden frame tearing through reality and all set to be the mean of another heartbreak for her.
His head collide with her stomach and knocks the wind out of her, but she doesn’t need her breath to kneel down and cradle him against her chest, her lips finding his warm temple, her nose tickled by the thick, curly locks of Roland’s untamed dark hair.
He’s shaking against her and that’s enough to make her find her voice again.
“Hello, my little thief.”
He pulls back to look at her, and the tears he’s been too shell-shocked and confused to shed at his father’s funeral are pooling in his eyes, but he holds them back again, pale and brave and shivering, and she wants to cry herself when she thinks how he’s outgrown childhood’s easy sorrow in the last few days.
“Don’t send me away, please.”
He’s mumbling but looking straight at her, his eyes begging, and she cups his cheeks, kissing his forehead repeatedly, murmuring against his skin, “You’re not going anywhere without me.” She glares at John sheepishly coming towards them, his large hands fumbling with the hem of his jacket.
“We didn’t mean to leave without saying goodbye, but-”
“You’re not taking him back,” she cuts him, not caring much about an apology nor an explanation at this point.
He sighs, and looks over at his companions, slowly gathering around them, all watching her with a mixture of pity and dread, and she want to snarl, spit and hiss like the mad cat she once was, face them like the monster they’d thought her to be at first, yearning for a moment to be her enough to feel strong again, even if it’s only through the rush of an illusion.
But there’s a little boy in her arms, and the evil in her has always been kept at bay by this precious weight against her chest.
“Regina -- I mean, your majesty, we know it’s hard, but that’s his home over there. This is what Robin would have wanted, for his son to grow up in Sherwood.”
“This is absurd, Robin never mentioned it, he would never have wanted this!”
“All due respect, Ma’am, but we knew him.”
“And I love him!”
She’s always hated the silence that follows her outbursts -- this one more than any other.
“Loved him,” she corrects, her voice thin, on the verge of rupture. “He would have told me.”
John crouches down in front of them -- it doesn’t do much to reduce his giant size, but she finds a strange comfort in the gesture nonetheless, even more so when one of his large, warm hands settles over her tense ones still clutching at Roland’s jacket as her arms surround him securely.
“I don’t think he had much time for that, Regina.”
And no -- no they hadn’t, they had never time for anything, their I love you's weren’t even born on their lips when they died and withered along with him --
“Can you honestly tell me that this would be the best place for Roland? That you will always be there to protect him despite everything that goes on in this town? That he would never be in any danger after what happened with Robin?”
His voice is kind, but breaks her all the same. She hears a soft, whimpering “Regina…” as she slowly disentangles Roland from her embrace, fighting against his strong and desperate grip with the little strength she has left.
“We all have to think about what’s best for the lad. Sometimes, when you truly love someone, you have to let them go. I know you know that,” he adds quietly, and her heart shudders in revulsion at the past, Henry, she’s already sacrificed a piece of her soul to give her son a good life, unburdened by her shadow -- can she do it again for a little boy that doesn’t share her blood but is no less hers, too?
“We’re his family,” Little John concludes, wrapping his large hands around the boy’s shoulders, and she knows, she knows, but, one year of pretending not to be playing hide-and-seek in the corridors of her castle, one year of pretending she wasn’t charmed by the dimpled smile of a four-year-old boy, one year of stories and secrets whispered in the middle of the night, one year of desperate longing yet slightly mellowed by the sticky little palm slipping into her own, the light flashing in his eyes when he recognized her after the Second Curse broke, the desperation with which he clung to her at night after they came back from New York, his bright and astonished little face when he met the peanut-sized baby bundled up in her pink covers “That’s my sister?”
Is she not his family?
“‘Gina… please…”
She gently -- oh, so gently, as if he would crumble to dust under her fingers -- cradles his head, and his tears are running now, she wipes them off his cheeks with patient, caring fingers, brushes her forehead against his, and whispers, only for him, words to be carved into his little heart: “I love you, Roland. I will always love you. In whatever world you are, you’re alive in my heart. You are strong, and kind, and brave, just like (a sharp intake of breath) just like your father. You brought me so much joy when I knew so much pain. And now I have to... I have to keep you safe. I have to keep you safe-”
She can’t go on -- there’s no use to, what could words add now that her hands, her lips, her sobs are not telling him, and she feels his hands make a last grab at her arms -- missing, she feels Little John’s arm squeezing her shoulder with tenderness before dragging a wailing Roland away, she feels other soft touches on her back as the Merry Men walk by, sympathizing with her sorrow, unable to soften it.
“I’ll come visit you,” she whispers, low, too low because her voice can’t carry over her pain, over his cries, “I’ll come visit you, I promise.”
She hears her sister calls for her -- sees her heels just as sharp and high as hers stepping down the sidewalk to walk in her direction -- and she stops her with her hand, her head still down.
“Open the portal now, Zelena,” she says, sounding weaker by the minute, and she meets her sister’s eye, and Zelena understands, that she needs to make this quick, quick before her screaming instincts send her running towards Roland and snatching him from Little John’s arms.
She raises her wand -- Regina meets tearful brown eyes, pleading eyes, and she pleads as well, begs with all she has in her soul for him to forgive her -- and they go through the portal, the last ones to leave, Zelena closing the door behind them.
It’s over.
She feels a presence by her side, strong, silent, hovering -- Emma. She must have driven the car over here. She hadn’t heard her coming. Despite their most recent quarrel, Regina feels grateful. She feels grateful for the warm fingers lingering between her shoulder blades, not touching her like so many others would do, just bringing quiet support.
“Hey.”
She shakes her head-- can’t quite manage a sound right now, and gets back on her feet, brushing herself off the dirt she’d gathered on the road.
“Are you okay?”
She turns with a bitter smile, not quite meeting Emma’s eyes.
“I think we’re gonna have to rule out this question from the appropriate things to ask me these days. Let’s go find Henry. One crisis at a time.”
Emma nods, her hand brushing down Regina’s arm, a simple gesture of comfort.
“Alright. And for what it’s worth-”
“You feeling sorry is not worth anything to me at the moment. But you helping me find our son? That is. So let’s get in that car and cut the small talk.”
She doesn’t wait for Emma’s sad smile -- doesn’t wait either for her sister’s hesitant look, and the shy smile that tugs at her lips as her fingers brush against her empty pocket where the sorcerer’s wand should be.
…
.
…
It’s dark when they get home. The night had caught them unaware as they walked out of Emma’s temporary house (“Like hell I’m gonna keep a house with a dungeon in my basement”, she’d shivered, helping herself to another beer). To tell the truth Regina could have done without the family meal after a rather exhausting day, but she’d known they needed to talk, all three of them, especially, Emma had pointed out with her usual finesse, about how Henry needed to tone down the overreaction phase whenever Moms had a fight, because it wasn’t the first one and it certainly wouldn’t be the last -- but that didn’t mean they weren’t family, she’d added with a hopeful glance at Regina, and when she’d smiled, Emma’s whole face had erupted in relief and light.
It had been a good evening, overall, despite the several heartbreaks she’d been nursing at the same time, and when she enters her study, giving Henry an affectionate caress through his hair as he rushes up to take a shower, she removes her heels with a grateful sigh, sits and tucks her feet in on the couch, closing her eyes, allowing the small core of relief she’d felt coming back home with her son safe and sound to spread inside.
And then she hears the small but unmistakable sound of a young boy clearing his throat.
“Don’t be mad, Regina.”
For half a second, she doesn’t want to open her eyes.
She doesn’t want to meet the empty space in front of her, and hear the echo loved ones’ voices that exist only in her mind.
But warm, little hands gently probe and squeeze at her knees, and that’s real, and Roland’s there, and she opens her eyes with a wet, incredulous laugh.
“Roland?”
“My papa always said,” he starts, his face serious and tense, the words slow as if he’s been rehearsing a few times for them to be perfect, “that home is where you are safe and happy and loved. It is not a house and it is not a tent, it’s not a place and it’s not a land. It’s a person. And you are home to me.”
She’s too stunned to speak, or to move at all when he climbs into her lap and clings to her neck and mumbles against her shoulder: “I know you’re scared for me, but I’m never scared when I’m with you. I know you can protect me like you protect Henry. I want to stay with you. Please can you let me stay?”
She finally brings him against her chest, arms tight, tight and secure around him as she fights to regain her breath, recover her senses.
“How did you even -- how did you get back here? What -- Where is Little John and all the others, what -”
“Here,” he interrupts her rambling by searching through his pockets and pulling out a dirty piece of paper. “This is from Little John. And I gave the wand back to Zelena. I only stole it for a little while, I swear! Just so I could open the door again. It was sticking out of her pocket when we walked out, she didn’t even notice!”
Her whole face is hot, flushed with the tears she’s holding back, but her laughter spills out as she mumbles against his scalp, “My clever little thief.”
She rolls out the letter with shaky fingers, her eyes jumping over the quickly scrambled words.
Regina,
I am not a man of words, and I don’t know much about writing. I asked Will for help with this. But what I do know, is that a child not only needs protection, but love and happiness. Roland would have been plenty safe and loved with us, aye, but not as happy as he would be with you. I saw him with you, and I saw him today, and I understand, now. I believe you would have saved Robin with everything you have if you could. I believe that you’ll care for his little boy as you do your own. I believe you can give Roland a better childhood than we can. I know Robin’s life was better for having known you, no matter how it ended. Our lives, and Roland’s, are better too. Don’t be a stranger and visit sometimes. There’ll always be a place for you both among the Merry Men.
Hug him tight for me, and give him your everything. He deserves it.
Goodbye,
Little John.
She takes a deep breath, slowly wipes the treacherous tears leaking along her cheeks, laughing awkwardly as Roland tries to help, and she folds the letter reverently, slipping it into the breast pocket of the coat she didn’t get to take off yet. And then she looks at Roland. Deep, and long, and with eyes polished by tears.
“Can I stay?” he whispers with his gaze held down, and she slowly lifts his chin up with her fingers, her smile broadening, unable to ever stop.
“For as long as you want, Roland of Locksley.”
He hiccups with joy, all nerves suddenly loosening in relief, and he bumps his nose into her cheek in his haste to hug her again.
“Forever is good?”
“Forever is perfect,” she smiles, stroking his back while he breathes her in, and holds on to her like someone who’s just been pulled out of the water after having stared at the dark fathoms below, while she holds this truth in her heart:
Sometimes, to give someone their best chance, you have to let them go.
Sometimes, to give someone their best chance, you have to believe in yourself enough to let them in.
She’s making the right choice.
.
She’s getting ready for bed -- Roland safely tucked in in Henry’s room for tonight, which her boy has welcomed with surprising delight despite the day he’s had, and when he’d met her eyes and smiled so bright, she’d understood it was mostly delight for her, fond of Roland as he is, because it is at least one wound she won’t have to nurse for the rest of her life -- when her brows furrow under the inspiration of a sudden thought, and she reaches for her pocket mirror, calling forth her magic to reach for her sister.
Zelena’s raised eyebrow appears before the whole of her face, her smirk clearly teasing.
“You’ve been in this world longer than I, sis, shouldn’t you know how to use a cellphone by now?”
“Did Roland really steal that wand?”
Zelena’s smirk widens.
“Well, he’s certainly a clever little fellow with nimble fingers.”
Regina stares at her --
“You left the portal open,” she realizes. “He shouldn’t have been able to use the wand, not without magic. You left the portal open, made him believe he had a way home, and when he tried to use the wand, it brought him back to the caster -- to you.”
Zelena’s eyes shift away for a second -- as if she can’t quite decide how to deal with the breathless gratefulness she hears in her sister’s voice.
“Well. I owed him that. After what I’ve done. And the way I see it… family should stick together.”
Regina slowly drags her fingers around the frame of the mirror, in a light caress Zelena can’t feel but certainly sees in her eyes.
“Thank you, Zelena.”
“Goodnight, little sis. You should get some rest, now. You have a bigger family to care for than you had this morning.”
They smile at each other, and she closes the mirror.
I'm needing some Dimples Queen as well as more RR in "Bright Young Things". It's a drug, I tell you!!!
With Robin and Roland at the lead, Regina followed theothers inside the ornate front door and into the house. The home had obviouslybeen built rather recently (new money,Regina could almost hear her mother scoffing in her head), and was furnished ina similar way to Robin’s office, all dark wood and rich colors and simple butwell-made fabrics. When she inhaled, she could smell fresh paint and new woodas well as the lingering scent of pine from the forest outside. To think thatsuch wildlife existed so close to the steel and concrete of Manhattan seemedsurreal to Regina, as if she’d wandered into a dream. After the night she hadhad, it certainly wouldn’t have been too surprising. It was as if they wereentirely cut off from the outside world here—the perfect place for an outlaw, abootlegger like Robin, to hide from the law.
Immediately after entering the house, Roland began to squirmin his father’s arms. “I wanna help Emma!” he cried, and Robin obediently set himon the ground. Roland’s stocking-feet slipped on the floor as he scrambled offin search of hot chocolate, leaving the adults laughing in his wake.
“He never tires, that boy,” Robin said. His voice was soft,but Regina could still hear the pride and love in his voice. What would it beliked to be so loved by a parent? Yes, Regina had adored her father, and sheknew that he had loved her deeply as well. But as the years had gone on and hisgambling problems had worsened, he had become more distant, shrinking back awayfrom his daughter as if he was ashamed of what his behavior was costing her.And the more her father pulled away, the more her mother’s disappointment andcontempt for Regina started to shine through as she plotted Regina’s future insecret.
Henry Mills had loved his daughter. But his love had notbeen enough to counteract Cora’s resentment.
Captain Jones was the last one inside. He quickly locked thedoor behind them, ever watchful, as Regina took in the room. They were in somekind of foyer, but the smell of rich chocolate meant that the kitchen could notbe too far away. A staircase led to the second level, but the floor above themwas too dark to make anything out other than photographs on the walls. Shecould hear the faint strains of jazz playing somewhere deeper in the house,crisp and clear. Not a wireless then, a gramophone. A soft smile crossed Regina’s face. When hermother had been forced to start selling off some of their things in an effortto make ends meet—as discreetly as possible as to not alarm any gentlemencallers who might come to see Regina—her father’s gramophone had been among thefirst to go. Almost absentmindedly, she began to walk towards the source of thesound, but the soft click offootsteps on hardwood floors stopped her.
“There you are. I was worried. It usually doesn’t take youthis long to get here after something like that.”
A woman’s voice. The nanny Robin had mentioned, Reginaassumed. She turned, expecting to see a starched, stuffy woman with her hairscraped back in a severe bun, clad in some sort of awful uniform, but the sightthat met her eyes was quite different. This woman’s blonde hair hung freelydown her back, and she wore a simple blue dress with an apron over it. Theapron sported a few fresh-looking hot chocolate stains, but the nanny didn’tseem to care. For some reason, Regina liked that. She was young, or at leastyounger than Regina had expected, and her green eyes were sharp and bright withcuriosity as she took in Regina’s disheveled appearance. “Roland said you hadcompany,” she told Robin, and Regina didn’t miss the amusement in her voice.
“Ah. Of course, introductions are in order. Forgive me. It’sbeen a bit of a trying night.” Robin cleared his throat. “Emma Swan, this isRegina. She happened to be with me when all the trouble started and I promisedI’d give her a lift home. Would you mind fixing her a mug of cocoa as well? Andsome sandwiches, I think,” Robin added with another glance at her. Reginasuddenly realized she was starving.
“Of course. I hope you like chicken salad,” Emma said with asmile. Instantly Cora’s voice was in Regina’s ears, reminding her to watch herfigure, but she ignored it and nodded rigorously.
“Good. Coming right up. It’s nice to meet you, Regina,” Emmasaid softly before disappearing back into the kitchen, where Roland could beheard eagerly calling her name. Regina liked this sweet little boy already.
“Please, come in,” Robin said quickly, as if realizing forthe first time that they were lingering in the home’s entryway. He led themfurther into the house, into a sitting room of some sort. A fire was cracklingaway in the fireplace and photographs lined the mantelpiece, and it felt sohomey and welcoming that Regina almost wanted to cry. Captain Jones quicklyexcused himself, murmuring something about needing to make a phone call. Reginacould hear his voice in the hall as he spoke to the operator, mingling with themusic and chatter of Roland and Emma in the kitchen.
“Emma was a friend of my late wife,” Robin said by way ofexplanation. “They were both volunteer auxiliary nurses during the last year ofthe war, once America decided to get their act together and help us.” His voicedid not sound bitter, only matter-of-fact. “They became good friends over there.It’s thanks to Emma that Killian is still alive today—she helped save his lifeafter he lost his hand. And sheintroduced me to Marian. I guess you could say we all owe her a bit of a debtaround here.”
“She sounds lovely.”
Robin grinned at her. “Do you have any sisters?”
“No,” Regina said softly. Sometimes she wished she did—anolder one maybe, one that would take some of the pressure off Regina to makethe perfect marriage to ensure their future. One who Regina could talk to abouther hopes and fears and things she could never even dream of bringing up withCora. But just like in so many things, Regina is alone, bereft without herfather to provide a buffer of protection between her and Cora. “I’m an onlychild.”
“So am I,” Robin says quickly. “But Emma’s the closest thingto a sister I’ve ever had in my life, and I’d do anything for her. We call herthe nanny just so I have an excuse to pay her for her troubles—looking afterthis place can’t be easy, bless her—but she’s just as much a part of the familyas Killian and Will are.”
“Do you make a habit of hiring the people closest to you towork for you?” Regina asks before she can stop herself. “My father would saythat’s a very interesting business strategy.”
“And I would say in response that it’s the best businessstrategy I can think of,” Robin countered. “These are the people I trust morethan anything in the world. Who better to work alongside? I take care of them,and they take care of me, just like any other family. What better way is thereto do business?”
“I don’t know,” Regina admitted. “That sounds fairly good tome, personally.” Maybe if her father had worked alongside more people he knewhe could trust, he would not have lost their fortune so easily.
She could feel Robin’s eyes on her as she took in the room,turning on her heels this way and that in order to see everything it had tooffer. The photographs above the mantelpiece caught her eye. There was Robinstanding next to Killian—still sporting both of his hands—in crisp armyuniforms, their faces solemn but their eyes bright. Before they had seen anycombat, she supposed. Immediately next to it was a photograph of two women,seated with their hands clasped before them, wearing drab dresses and apronswith the familiar cross logo on them. One of them Regina immediately recognizedas Emma, giving the camera a smile that was more of a smirk as she sat there.The other woman’s hair was darker, waves spilling from her cap. Her smile wassoft and full of warmth, and her dark eyes seemed compassionate to Regina eventhrough the photograph. Before she could stop herself she reached for theframe, taking it from its spot on the mantle to study the picture further.Regina had been too young to volunteer as a nurse when the war had brokenout—and even if she had not been, there was no way on earth that her motherwould have let her go—but she had always admired the women that had droppedeverything to care for the men Over There, going off into the unknown to dowhat they believed was right.
“Marian,” said a voice next to her. Regina almost jumped.She hadn’t noticed that Robin had crept up behind her and was now studying thephotograph over her shoulder. His tone was soft, reverent, and Regina kept hereyes trained on the picture so that she did not have to turn around and see thepain that she knew was etched in his eyes. Why, why did she have to snoop?Didn’t she know by now to leave well enough alone?
“My wife,” he added, but he didn’t need to.
“She’s beautiful,” Regina whispered. Robin nodded wordlessly.Suddenly feeling like an unwelcome intruder, Regina passed the photo into hiswaiting hands. He held it as if it were precious treasure, brushing imaginarydust off of the edges of the frame with the tips of his fingers.
“Yes she is.”
“Roland takes after her.”
At that, Robin let out a tiny chuckle, returning the frameback to its proper spot. “Indeed he does. If—“
“It’s ready!”
Roland’s voice startled them both, and they looked up to seethe boy running towards them, a smile lighting up his entire face. He launchedhimself into Robin’s arms once again, and Robin picked him up withouthesitation. “Come on, Papa, before it gets cold!”
Robin chuckled again. “Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Hekissed his son quickly on the cheek before turning to his guest. “Come alongthen, Miss Regina. Our feast awaits.”
Robin led her down another hallway and into a bright, modernkitchen. The scent of hot chocolate and the sight of a heaping plate ofsandwiches on the small table made Regina’s mouth water. Three mugs had beenset out, and a fourth was cooling on a nearby countertop. Emma stood in frontof this one, reaching into a cupboard that turned out to be full of spices uponcloser inspection. Unsure of what to do, Regina lingered in the doorway,watching as Emma selected one and opened it, sprinkling a bit of rich brownpowder into her cup. The scent of cinnamon filled Regina’s nose.
“Anyone else want some?” Emma asked, turning around andbrandishing the cinnamon. Regina shook her head as Robin motioned her inside, pullingout a chair and indicating that she sit. Roland immediately hopped up into thechair next to her, wrinkling his nose.
“No. It tastes funny. You’re silly, Emma.”
“Roland!” Robin chastised, but he was smiling as he too tooka seat.
Emma smiled, crossing over to ruffle Roland’s dark curls.“To each their own,” she remarked, leaning down to place a little kiss on thetop of Roland’s head. “Oh, I almost forgot.” She turned and set a plate ofcookies on the table, much to Roland’s delight.
“He’ll never get to sleep now, Emma, I hope you realize,”Robin said, shaking his head as his hands curled around his cup.
“He’ll be fine.”
Regina smiled at the friendly banter between the two as shetook a bite of the sandwich Emma had made for her. She was so hungry that thefirst bite was like heaven on her tongue, and she focused the next severalminutes on eating her meal while Robin and Emma talked in hushed voices aboutthe raid. Killian had not yet returned from his telephone call, and Will wasnowhere to be found, but Regina was too hungry to pay much attention to whatwas being said. It was Roland’s voice who startled her out of her own thoughts.
“Regina,” Roland said, his mouth full of cookie, his browneyes wide and curious, “do you like trains?”
Regina was so surprised by the sweet, innocent question thatshe froze with her sandwich halfway to her mouth. Her eyes quickly shifted over to Robin andEmma, who were both smiling.“I…I do,” she said finally. “I like them quite alot. Do you?”
Roland gave a serious nod. “I have lots of them upstairs. Doyou want to see?”
“Roland, you are already up far past your bedtime,” Robininterjected before Regina could answer.
Roland stuck out his lower lip in an adorable pout. His cupof hot chocolate had been finished while Regina hadn’t been paying attention,and now it covered his mouth. “Emma said I could stay up!”
“Because this is a special occasion, but it’s late. Youshould be asleep right now. What would your mother think of me if she knew howlate I let you stay up?”
“Please, Papa! I promise I’ll go right to sleep!”
Robin sighed, looking at his son solemnly. Finally, henodded. “You may show her one of yourtrains, Roland. Run and bring it down here. And after that, it’s straight tobed and I don’t want to hear any complaints, you hear?”
“Yes Papa!” Roland cried happily, jumping down andscampering off again. Regina smiled, wiping her hands on a cloth napkin.
“I see what you mean by him never tiring.” Regina saidsoftly as Captain Jones strode in. Emma and Robin immediately snapped toattention, waiting for news.
“All clear,” Killian said simply. “Only two arrests that I knowof so far. Incompetence at the police station as usual.” He shot them a quickgrin. “There’s a fair bit of damage, though. Most of the stock that was storedaway was safe, but from what Little John tells me, we have a fair bit ofcleaning up ahead of us when we get back.”
“You’re going back?” Regina asked, setting her mug of hotchocolate down. “Isn’t it dangerous?”
They all stared at her, and Regina swallowed. “I mean…theyknow where Sherwood is now. They know exactly where to find you. Won’t thatmake it easier to come back and try to bust you again? Wouldn’t it be safer totry to find a new location?”
“I can see why you’d think that,” Robin replied. “It’s whatI’m sure my competitors would do, if given the choice. And it’s certainly whatthe police will be expecting. But the location is too good to pass up. We’lllay low for a while, get things cleaned up and get a few new shipments in, andwait for the police to get bored and go chasing after someone else. They alwaysdo. There’s too many men like me and not enough men who care enough to followthis ridiculous law. In a week or so, we’ll reopen and it will be like none ofthis ever happened. You’ll be back in Sherwood Forest in no time.”
“I hope so,” Regina said before she could stop herself. “Iddn’t even get the chance to dance tonight.”
“Well, we can’t have that, can we?” Robin asked. “How aboutthis? The next time you come to Sherwood, save a dance for me.”
Regina gaped at him, her mouth almost falling open. Robincontinued. “What do you say? You have to let me make things up for you for ruiningyour evening tonight. Just one dance, Regina? Please?”
Regina’s eyes flickered to the doorway, almost praying thatRoland would come rushing in to interrupt them. “Really, you don’t have to. You’vealready been more than kind to me—opening up your home, giving me food. Icouldn’t ask for more.”
“But you didn’t ask. I did.”
Regina was almost positive she was dreaming now.
“I found it!” Roland cried, rushing back into the kitchen.Killian had to sidestep out of his way to avoid being run over. Roland skiddedto a stop in front of Regina, holding up a red model train for her inspection. “See?This one’s my favorite. It’s pretty, like you.”
“W—Why, thank you.” Clearly, the son could be just ascharming and kind as the father. Regina couldn’t remember the last time she hadreceived that many compliments—and unlike those given by the suitors her motherfound for her, she had a feeling that these were sincere. “That’s very nice ofyou to say. And this is a very nice train.”
“If you come back here, will you play with me?”
Regina blinked in surprise, glancing up at Robin. “I…if you’dlike me to. And if your father says it’s all right. I wouldn’t want to impose—andit’s not polite to invite yourself to someone’s house without being asked. But if your father gave hispermission, and if you really wanted me to come…”
“I do! I like you so much better than—“
“That’s enough now, Roland,” Robin quickly interrupted,leaving Regina wondering what the boy had been about to say. It couldn’t beEmma, for she could tell that Roland adored his caregiver, and Will and Killianwere clearly surrogate uncles to him. Who could it be, then?
“I would be happy to have Regina back at the house whenever shewishes, if that’s what you’d both like,” Robin continued.
“Hooray!”
“But now, my little man, it’s time for bed. And rememberyour promise—no complaints.” Roland nodded, setting his toy train on the tablebeside Regina’s empty plate. The next thing she knew, a pair of little arms hadwrapped themselves around her neck, pulling her close for a hug that smelledlike hot chocolate and clean laundry.
“Good night, Regina,” Roland whispered into her neck.
It was all too much—her exhaustion after the night’s events,the stress of the ride over here, the overwhelming kindness that was beingshown to her by these strangers. She blinked back tears as she returned thehug, holding the boy close to her for a moment before pulling away. “Goodnight, Roland. It was very nice to meet you.”
“You’ll come back soon, right?” Roland asked, his eyes wide.“You promise?”
Regina nodded. “As soon as I can.”
Emma, standing in the doorway, smiled and held out her handfor Roland to take. “Come on, Roland,” she said gently. “Time for bed.” Rolandobediently toddled over, suddenly tired now that he had gotten what he wantedfrom Regina. He gave her a shy wave as Emma began to lead him from the room.
“I’ll be there in a minute to tuck him in,” Robin told Emma.
“And read me a story, Papa?”
“And read you a story. Of course.”
What a strange life this Robin Locksley led, Regina thoughtto herself.
With Emma and Roland’s departure, it was just the three ofthem left in the kitchen. “Under normal circumstances, I’d escort you back toManhattan myself,” Robin began. He sounded almost guilty. “But Roland…”
“Your son needs you,” Regina said immediately, getting toher feet. “I understand. I should be getting home anyway.”
“I leave you in Will and Killian’s capable hands.”
She managed a little chuckle. “Don’t you remember whathappened the last time you did that?”
“Unfortunately, I do.” He and Killian exchanged a glance, and Killian gave a subtle little nodbefore excusing himself, ostensibly to find Will and warm up the car. Regina’sarms wrapped around herself as she stood before Robin, the silence between themalmost deafening.
What was it about this man that made her feel this way?
“I do apologize for the unfortunate turn this night took,”Robin said sheepishly. “But I hope I’ve made it up to you at least a littlebit. At the very least, I believe you have a new friend in Roland.”
“He’s a wonderful boy, Robin.”
“That he is. I thank my Marian for him every day.” He took astep towards her, but hesitated. “And…I do hope you will consider my offer todance. Is there somewhere I can reach you, so I can let you know when were-open?”
“No,” she said quickly. The thought of her mother findingany correspondence between her and Robin made her feel slightly ill. “I mean…I’msorry. But I’m afraid not. Not right now, anyway. But I will see you again. Ipromise.”
She had her own ways of finding out when New York’s bestspeakeasy would be open for business.
“I’ll hold you to that promise, Regina.”
“I’m sure you will. You and Roland both.” She glancedtowards the doorway. “I…I should go.”
He gave a nod. Was she just imagining the look that cameover his face, as if he wished that she could stay?
“I—Good night, Robin. “
“Good night, Regina.”
With that, she gave him a smile before making her way backoutside, where the car was no doubt waiting. Her time with Robin had been likea dream, but now it was time to wake up.
