Roland came running down the stairs to where Henry was currently playing Grand Theft Auto. Henry was so into the game he didn't even notice the younger boy plop down on the couch next to him.
"I wanna play!"
Henry rolled his eyes as heard his brother.
"Not now, you can play after!" Henry answered.
"Henry, stop being mean to your brother."
Henry turned to see his Mother walking down the stairs as she put her left earring on.
"Wow Mom you look nice, going somewhere special?" Henry smiled, he knew that his Mother was upset that he was he was being rude to Roland, so he thought by complimenting her it would get him off the hook.
"Don't try to change the subject, you shouldn't even be playing that around your brother. Those videos games are not good for you." Regina lectured, grabbing her purse on the banister, "I suggest you turn that off and get ready for bed. The both of you. Your father should be here any minute with Nicole."
"Where are you going anyways?" Henry asked following her towards the front door.
"I have a dinner to go to with some friends." She checked herself on last time in the mirror before turning to Henry, "Make sure your brother eats, And you call me if you need anything."
"You have a dinner this late?" Henry's eyebrows raised in question.
"Yes, so don't wait up." Regina replied, heading towards the door.
"Bye Mom!" Roland called out from the living room.
"Bye sweetie! Don't stay up too late! You still have two weeks before summer break!" Regina called out.
Henry followed his Mother to the door, watching her make her way towards her Mercedes, she turned on her headlights and backed up from the driveway, then she was gone. Henry was so deep in thought that he barely heard Roland.
"I'm hungry." Roland said causing his brother to snap out of it.
"Don't you think it's weird that Mom is having dinner this late?" Henry turned to ask the younger boy.
"I dunno. But I'm hungry. What's there to eat?" Henry rolled his eyes at Roland and his lack of attention to the matters at hand. Like where was their mother going at this hour? As far as Henry knew his mother didn't have very many friends, and the ones she did have were all related to him! But instead of getting frustrated and fixating on where his mother was, Henry just sighed and made his way to the kitchen.
About an hour later of playing video games and eating leftover lasagne, they heard a light knock on the door. Roland rushed to open it, knowing exactly who it was.
"Dad!"
Robin set his daughter down to give Roland a hug. Henry went to go greet his father and sister. Nicole immediately went to Henry putting her arms up asking to be picked up by her older brother.
"Hi son." Robin said with sad eyes to Henry who was looking down, giving him a pat on the back. Henry just nodded and smiled slightly.
Robin looked around, as if looking for something or someone.
"She's not here, she left about an hour ago." Henry answered, knowing exactly what or who his Father was looking for.
"Oh," Robin didn't even bother hiding is disappointment, "Did she say where she was going?"
"Mm...I'm not sure." Henry lied, knowing his father might jump to conclusions and get upset that Regina went out.
"She went to have dinner with friends!" Roland interrupted. Ugh, the kid had impeccable timing Henry thought.
Robin furrowed his eyebrows and his eyes went red. Henry panicked, the last thing he needed was his Father getting angry. It's almost as if that's the only emotion his mother and father resort to when they talk about each other.
"Hey Dad, listen, she said she was going out with friends, that's all I know. I'm sorry." Henry looked at his Dad sympathetically, he knows it hasn't been easy on any of them since Regina and him decided to separate a month ago.
Robin was upset, not because Regina was out doing God knows what, but because every time he wanted to see her or talk to her, it was like she was doing everything she could to avoid having to meet him. She always made plans whenever he was coming over, even when they talk on the phone it was always 2 minute conversations, with Regina always hanging up and saying she was busy. Storybrooke is a small town, but being the Mayor had it's perks, meaning that Regina knew every nook and cranny the town had, also meaning that Robin was at a disadvantage. Every chance he would get to try and talk to her, she would just leave. It's been 3 weeks since he saw her and that last decent conversation they had. Robin looked at Henry and sighed. "No I'm sorry, I know it hasn't been easy on all of you either." Robin clasped on Henry and Roland shoulders and said,"But I assure you, things will get better."
Roland didn't really understand what was going on, but he knew it was something serious. When he asked his mother why his father wasn't staying with them anymore, all she said was that they needed a break from each other. All Roland knew was his parents always seemed sad.
"I should get going, I don't want your Mother getting upset that you're all still awake." Robin smiled slightly, Henry contemplated on asking him to stay for just little bit longer, he misses his Dad, but his Mother might be there any minute, and she would not be happy seeing him.
"Bye Daddy!" Nicole wiggled out of Henry arms to go to Robin to give him a hug.
"Bye Princess." Robin bent down to kiss her forehead. Roland and Henry gave their Father a hug. "Bye Dad, we'll see you tomorrow?" Henry asked following Robin towards the front door.
"Yes, I'll come pick you three up from school." Robin smiled then started making his way out the place he once called home.