"Regina!" called Roland as he tromped through the back door into the kitchen. She was still cleaning up after dinner, and turned from the sink to gasp at the sight of the boy.
He looked as if he'd been attacked by a mud monster. Every step he took left clumps of it behind, and she raised her hand to stop him. Each cheek was smeared with the stuff, and in his hands he held an obviously carefully crafted round patty of mud with sticks poked in the top.
"I made you dessert! See, it's a mud pie." He giggled and held it out to her. Behind him, Robin followed, closing the door his son had left open in his excitement. He grinned crookedly and held up his hands, as if he had been incapable of preventing the situation. In truth, he'd found his son's desire to make something special for Regina so endearing he hadn't wanted to stop him.
"Indeed you did, and such a big one! I'll have to have your papa help me eat it," Regina said, smiling at the boy she'd grown to love almost as much as she did his father. She dropped the dish sponge into the sink and walked over to Roland. She had no qualms about holding her hand out for the pie – because she was still wearing her dish gloves. He plopped it into her hands proudly, his dimples on full display.
"Now Roland," Robin said over his son's head. "I think it's time for you to get a bath."
The boy wailed in reply. He hated bathtime, because it meant the cold river. He cried and stomped his feet, more mud flying in all directions. Regina passed the pie off to Robin and knelt down to take Roland's face in her hands.
"Roland, have you ever gone swimming?" she asked. Robin wondered what she was up to.
"Yeah," Roland replied with a sniffle. He wiped his nose on the back of his sleeve, leaving more half-dried mud on his face. "Will taught me how, in the lake."
"Ohh," Regina replied. "But have you ever gone swimming inside?" With a glance up at Robin she saw that he was beginning to understand. Roland shook his head 'no'.
"Well I have a tub upstairs that is so big and so deep you could do the backstroke in it. And the water is always warm, and if you want, you can even have bubbles." The skeptical look in Roland's eyes changed to one of wonder.
"Bubbles?" He wanted that. He wanted that very much.
Regina nodded. "Lots and lots of them. Would you like to go for a swim in my tub?" she asked, and Roland nodded enthusiastically.
With Robin's help, Regina removed Roland's muddy shoes and clothes, then picked him up to carry him upstairs. Just before leaving the kitchen she turned and looked at the mess on the floor, then gave Robin a distinct look that he easily interpreted – 'when I get back, that mess better be gone'.