*Hey guys – This is my very first fic. I clearly don't own anything related to OUAT, if that were the case I wouldn't be writing fics.
*I wanna give huge shoutout to the twitter account Imagine_OQ (I think this was a fic that someone on the account requested not sure). As well as a huge shoutout to my beta Outlawqueensmores
*Being that this is my first fic I would really appreciate if you maybe didn't comment super rude things, gotta get my confidence up J
*Everyone loves a little DimplesQueen & Fluff, so here ya go. Here goes nothing.
Apple Turnovers
It was 3:15 in the afternoon and while for Regina, being the Mayor was a full time job, she figured she would finish the remainder of her paperwork at home and start her semi-weekend early. Henry was with Emma this weekend and Roland was at home with Regina, which was always a treat bonding with Roland. With the paper work completed she went upstairs, showered, put some comfortable clothes on.
On her way to the kitchen she stopped to see what Roland was doing and she wasn't at all surprised when she saw the adorable 4 year old snuggled in his blanket watching his favorite cartoon.
When she finally arrived to the kitchen Regina noticed a bushel of apples sitting on the counter. She had picked them about four days prior but due to her busy schedule that revolved around Henry, Roland, and Robin and herself things so minor often slipped her mind. As Regina sifted and sorted through the apples she thought to herself why not make some of her famous apple turnovers – the boys loved them and Robin was especially fond of them, and after all the hard work he's been doing lately why not give him something nice to come home too, something edible.
After few minutes into getting all the ingredients gathered, the knives out, and the pots and pans picked, all the clinking and clanking pots and pans got the attention of the young boy in the other room.
Roland had grown so very fond of "His Gina" probably quicker than his father had. He enjoyed watching her do the simplest things, and with Henry growing Regina loved that he was as fond of her as he was. All the things she used to do with Henry that he was to old to do and somewhat took for granted Regina was able to do with Roland, and Roland would think of her and look at her the same way Henry would, like everything she did was so amazing.
Once Regina had everything ready to peel the apples she heard little footsteps, and there he stood wearing his blanket like a cape (something Regina taught him how to do, just as she did with Henry). He inched his way over to the island and he carried his little steep stool right over next to Regina and observed her peeling the apples, he was like her shadow.
"Hey Ro, are you hungry or thirsty?" She smiled at the young boy examining his hair; those curly locks were so adorable.
"No" he said not taking his eyes off of what Regina was doing. "I wanna help you Gina". Her heart instantly melted. "Papa says good boys always help".
She picked Roland up and set him on the counter so he could have a better view of how she was cutting the apples and he was fascinated. "Your papa was absolutely right," she said shaking her head imagining Robin saying that verbatim. That man practiced what he preached because if anyone in the town needed help Robin would be the first one there with bells on, but how could she ever complain about that.
As Regina sliced and diced the apples she got to the last one and just as she moved it onto the cutting board a little voice said "Could I cut that last one Gina?" What choice did she have she thought. She picked the young boy up off the counter and onto his step stool; he wrapped his small hand around the handle of the over-sized knife and she wrapped her hand around his and put the other hand on the apple to secure it. "I did it Gina," as he boasted with a smile of accomplishment. With every slice his smile grew bigger and bigger, he was so very proud of his nicely sliced apple he couldn't believe it. When all the apples were sliced Roland was the "best helper she had ever had," according to his Gina, and he did the honors of putting all the apples into the mixing bowl while her pan was getting hot. Shortly after Regina added her cinnamon, sugar, a pinch or two of salt and butter and gave them a quick toss to show Roland and he tossed them around until "everyone apple was coated," just as Gina said. As Regina's pan heated she put the apples in the pan and sautéed them to the point they caramelized and were still a bit crunchy which took a few minutes, but she figured she'd talk to Roland until further noticed.
"Thank you for helping me Roland, I don't know if I could have done any of this without you, and were still not done" as she pretended to sound absolutely exhausted, which really wasn't that far off.
"Papa said good boys always help!" as he mumbled through the mouthful off apples he managed to set aside for himself, his cheeks looked like a squirrel carrying acorns in his mouth. All she could do was smile.
Regina knew deep down she had always had a bold maternal side, even with Snow, though she wasn't fond at all of the young princess she still was caring and loving and it very often times sincere. Regina Mills loved children- no if, ands, or buts.
"Papa will be really happy when he gets home Gina," he giggled and those dimples appeared clear as day.
"Is that so?" she question as she raised her eyebrow pushing around the apples in the pan, and all she got a was nod from the adorable young boy.
When the apples were done she looked in the fridge for crescent rolls, because she knew with a 4 year old it could get messy if in fact she had to make dough from scratch and luckily she had some crescent rolls. She pulled out her baking sheet, greased the sheet, opened up the tin and out came of the pastry. She gave Roland four to unravel and she herself unraveled two. Roland sat on the counter and put a spoonful of apples onto each pastry or what looked to be enough and Regina folded them in a triangular shape – Roland was absolutely taken by how she folded the pastries. He had seen her use magic but she tried to refrain from using magic around him, a rule that both Regina and Robin agreed on, but by the look on his face the stuff she could do without magic was just as entertaining.
Once the pastries were folded the oven was ready to be used, Regina took the tray and slid it into the oven and now all there was left to do was clean up. Regina cleaned everything that was used in a timely fashion, she'd done it so many times I was down to a science, and Roland insisted that he had to help with the clean up as well so with that being said Roland was in charge of cleaning the island countertop, and he made it shine – another trait he must have learned from his very detailed father, how to keep things neat and clean.
"Thank you my little knight for helping me clean", she said giving him a kiss on the forehead. He wrapped his little arms around her leg and displayed no signs of wanting to let go, but eventually he did when Gina said she would go watch TV with him.
Twenty minutes flew by and the pastries were golden brown as they came out of the oven. Regina took them off of the pan and onto the cooling rack. Roland had exited the kitchen the moment that they were done cleaning, but as soon as he got a whiff of what was happening in the kitchen he was right back in there.
"Gina I want one right now!" he whined, it was adorable but still whining.
"We have to wait baby, they are too hot and it'll burn your little hands and your mouth", he pouted for a good fifteen minutes. Just as she was getting ready to test the temperature she got the overwhelming aroma of forest, that could only mean one of one things – Robin was home. She heard the young boy sprint to the door and she heard the squeals and giggles as he jumped into his fathers' arms.
"Well hello there my boy!" he kissed his son on his forehead multiple times "Were you good for Gina today?" as he examined the boys facial expression as he set him down, Robin had realized that you can read a young child's face like a book.
"Course I was good for Gina! She said I was the most best helper she ever had! We made you something papa!" as he took his fathers hand and lugged him into the kitchen, Robin could hardly get his shoes off or a word in.
When he got in the kitchen he smiled at the beautiful brunette, "What is all this?"
"Just something I know you like, for all the hard work you've been doing lately." She smirked
"And how do you know I like these…apple turnovers?" he questioned the brunette, but looked over at his son who spilled the beans.
She let out small laugh, a laugh that he could never get enough of, and than stopped herself trying to maintain her serious face, "A little birdie told me you thief…but you have no obligation to eat them if you don't like them. I know a little knight who is dying to eat all six".
"Oh, but you do not know me your majesty, I am but a thief… with honor. If a beautiful lady prepares me food it would not be very honorable for me to turn down such an offer," he said wrapping his arms around her waist and giving her a soft kiss. "Thank you for these apple turnovers, they are my very favorite".
She smiled and Robin and than down at Roland, "For your information, I only did the things that required heat and sharp utensils. Roland did everything else, isn't that right Ro?"
"That's right papa, and I helped Gina clean up!" he bragged sounding oh so impressed with his work today, but Regina and Robin were very impressed with the young boys behavior. "Are they cold enough for me yet Gina?" he questioned waiting patient yet anxious.
"I believe that they are ready my little knight," she pulled them off the cooling rack and put them on a nicely decorated plate.
Regina plated the turnovers; one for Roland, Robin and herself and they all walked over to the dinner table to enjoy their apple-filled delight.
*If you liked this fic write a nice review, also if you have a twitter account follow the account Imagine_OQ and leave prompts that you would like to see happen between the ever famous #OutlawQueen #MillsHoodFamily. If you like this fic I'll write some more, if not I'll probably still go on J
*Hey atleast you know how to make an apple turnover now ;)