Welcome to the first day of The Twelve Days of Outlaw Queen Christmas.
We are so excited to share this with all of you.
Disclaimer: We unfortunately do not own these characters, despite the fact that they own us and we are trash.
Day 1: The Tree of Change
It's the first day of Christmas.
Well, not really. One could say that Christmas begins to take over the lives of Americans in mid to late November. But, it's the first day for them. Regina, Robin, and their boys. And it's their first as a couple.
Regina's excitement and nerves are aligned. The thought of creating this new memory with them makes her heart swell and feel warm and fuzzy, but there's that slight twinge of fear. She can't help but feel it and lately it's been overwhelming. But, she has been trying her best to ignore it, to push it aside.
So, she's walking through the streets of New York to her apartment, where they decided to spend Christmas day; her apartment is bigger, so there was little discussion about it. Robin has picked up Roland from school and met Henry for a bite to eat, but they are at her apartment now, awaiting her return from work.
The warm gust of air that latches onto her frozen cheeks feel heavenly as she opens her front door and she can't help but smile at the mix of voices coming from the living room. Her scarf, hat, and gloves are discarded hastily by the front door and she waltzes in with a small bag of bits and pieces she has purchased.
Robin's face lights up when he see's her, and she would be lying if she said it didn't make her blush a little. She wants to say that she would blush if any man looked at her like that, but that's false. It was Robin, and Robin alone, who makes her feel this way.
He is standing up and leaving Roland and Henry giggling away at the board game they were playing and wraps her up lovingly in his arms, pressing a delicate kiss to her lips. He shudders at the sudden chill, but she gladly reciprocates the gesture, returning her mouth to a more reasonable temperature; New York was definitely living up to its wintery reputation.
He hums happily as he moves his face away, "Hello, love."
"Hi," she smiles back, her ears catching the sound of their laughing children from behind them. Henry always impresses her with Roland, it's hard to embrace a boy of such a younger age, but he did it without a flaw.
"So, are we ready to bring some Crimbo into this place?" Robin inqures, rubbing his hands to the bottom of her back, having them linger there.
"Crimbo?" Regina asks, tilting her head.
"Christmas," Henry interrupts, splitting his attention between the game and their conversation, and Robin grinning pridefully at the almost teenager, "It's British slang."
Regina snorts, only slightly embarrassed that she didn't piece it together, "And where is my son learning such things?" She looks to Robin playfully. Shrugging his shoulders, he chuckles under his breath.
Then she sees it. Regina notices the tree in the corner of the room then, "You brought the tree in from storage?"
There's that annoying feeling again. It's rooted in her stomach and it's climbing upward.
"Henry mentioned that you hate dragging it upstairs from outside," Robin smiles, "He thought it would be a good idea to have it out before you were home."
"Oh," she says, a deadness in her tone and a blankness in her eyes. She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, "Thanks." Then, with a forced smile, she retracts herself from his hold and turns towards to kitchen, leaving Robin in a cloud of confusion.
He looks over to Henry, concerned, but Henry hasn't a clue either. Robin tells the boys to continue with their game and follows Regina into the kitchen, walking slowly and approaching with caution.
Regina's filling the sink with hot water, the steam is rising up around her face. This feeling inside, she can't shake it. It didn't start until yesterday morning, Robin had called her to talk about some little trinkets that used to belong to Marian, he wanted to bring them to hang on the tree.
Which is fine. Of course it is.
But, it made the cogs in her mind turn and now she can't help but think about Daniel. The traditions they used to have, the few memories she has of Christmas with Henry and Daniel. Her shoulders are slumped, trying to concentrate on the feeling of the steam on her face instead of the tingling, burning sensation of this unwanted conflicting that has taken up residence in her soul.
"Regina?" Robin whispers, sliding up behind her and rubbing his palms over her shoulder blades in the beginnings of a gentle massage, "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," she breathes, leaning back into his touch and she can hear the frown that develops on his face.
"Please don't lie to me…" Robin begs softly, using his fingers to move her hair, exposing her neck. He wraps his arms around her middle and brushes his lips on the skin just behind her ear; it's comforting, not overly seducing.
She gives in to him, the way she always does. Turning off the tap, she spins in his hold and sighs heavily, "It's silly."
"If it's bothering you, it's not silly." The way Robin's eyes fall to hers makes her melt and she feels safe. Safe to be open and honest with him.
"I don't handle change very well," Regina begins to explain, caressing the arms that are still embracing her, "This is the first Christmas in a long time where it hasn't been just me and Henry. The last time we were with someone…"
"You're worried about Henry forgetting Christmases with Daniel," Robin finishes her thought and she nods shamefully, hoping that he isn't bothered, "You're right it is silly." Regina frowns but Robin kisses it away softly. "You and Henry are special to me, to us. You have both become such important parts of my life. But, I would never do anything make Henry forget his Father, you know that right?"
"Of course I do," Regina whispers, licking away the remnants of his soft kiss from her lips.
"Daniel always lugged the tree in from outside didn't he?" Robin asks, suddenly piecing together what had set her off. He hates himself for a second, frustrated that he has stirred these feelings within her, that he had just assumed that she wouldn't mind.
With tears glistening her eyes, clinging to her eyelashes, she nods with a shuddered release of breath, "Every year without fail. The first year I had to do it myself, I could barely lift the thing. Then as time went on, when I would complain about it, Henry and I would always have such a wonderful conversation about Daniel. Henry would speak so highly of him and ask lots of questions. I was never worried about him forgetting Daniel."
"I would never let that happen," Robin assures, "Just like I know you would never let Roland forget Marian." Robin cups Regina's cheek and she practically purrs into it, "I don't want to replace your memories of Daniel. I want to create new ones with you. It may not seem that way right now, but I promise that some change can be good."
She clears her throat. It's the only way to keep her from falling apart in his arms. How did she get so lucky?
"I love you, Robin Locksley."
"And I, you," Robin grins giddily, peppering a kiss to her nose.
"Mom, Robin!" Henry calls out from the other room, "Come and check this out."
Regina takes his hand and guides him from the kitchen, the sink full of water long forgotten. The sight they walk in on makes Regina laugh out loud, a hand on her stomach.
Roland is wrapped tightly in red and silver tinsel, round and shiny baubles hanging in random places on his clothes. Robin is still grinning from ear to ear, watching Regina beam as she looks at Roland.
"What are you doing?" Regina asks, her voice light, the way Robin adores.
"Mama always says we have to practice decorating the tree before we do it for real, right Papa?" Roland looks to Robin.
Robin eyes up Regina and Henry, who are looking to him inquisitively, but looks back to Roland, "Practice makes perfect. But you're not quite finished are you, my boy?"
"Nope!" Roland runs over to Regina and takes her free hand and starts pulling her enthusiastically towards a box of decorations, "We need lights. Mama always did the lights. Regina you have to help."
Roland drops Regina's hand to rummage through the box, "Don't you think your Dad should do it?"
If this was something that Marian did, the last thing she wants is to insert herself, especially given the conversation they just had. But when Roland hums a soft No insisting that she help him, Regina turns back to look to Robin, who nods his head, encouraging her to go ahead.
Roland finds the string of lights, he pulls them out of the box, handing them to Henry who has been helping. Roland is smiling brightly as he explains to Regina how they are going to make it work.
It's pretty simple. Roland tucks one end of string of lights into his jean pocket and begins to spin gleefully with a squeal as Regina ensures that the lights circle him. Henry chuckles at Roland and his Mother, Robin moving to stand with the older boy.
"Now what?" Henry asks Robin when Roland has twisted the lights all around himself.
"Now we need to switch him on," Robin explains, "Would you like to do the honour, Henry?" Robin asks, indicating to the plug in Regina's hand.
"Really?" Henry wouldn't have said anything, but he did feel slightly left out, but this flipped his feelings completely.
"Absolutely, go ahead."
Henry takes the plug from Regina's hand and moves towards the nearest outlet with Roland shuffling his feet along the carpeted floor. The small boy becomes so festively illuminated when the electricity begins to flow through the wire. Every one smiling wide as Roland claps his hands.
"How do I look, Papa?"
"This might be the best year yet," Robin ruffles Roland's mopped curls, "What do you both think?"
"I think you look great, kid," Henry smiles, Regina agreeing just as quickly, "Are we ready to do the tree?" Henry asks, a wishful look on his face. Roland thinks they are ready, and they detangle him from all the decor.
The tree comes together pretty fast. Tinsel, lights and candy canes start to accumulate. Roland is very excited to hang Marian's favourite decorations and Regina eagerly listens to the young boys stories as he does.
Henry and Roland share a sweet exchange when it comes to the tree topper, after Robin insisted that Henry do it, since it is his tree after all. However, Henry disagreed, reminding everyone that it is their tree and lifted Roland as high as he can so he can stick the glittery star on top.
Music is flowing from the radio, Christmas music that has everyone singing and Regina feeling slightly weak at the knees when Robin's voice carries through the room.
She loves this man. She loves their boys.
And, when Robin asks Henry what Daniel's favourite Christmas song was, Regina's breath hitches in her throat as she stared at Robin gratefully with the happiest of tears threatening to fall from her eyes. Robin winks at her while Henry begins to talk of his Father, Regina biting her bottom lip, listening to their conversation.
By the end of the evening, the tree is garnished with a plethora of decorations. Lights illuminating the corner of the room, causing the shimmering tinsel to glimmer. The boys have retreated to Henry's room at the late hour, leaving their parents alone to sit in comfortable closeness and silence. As Regina's ear focusses on the faint heartbeat in his chest, leaning onto him and she concentrates on the feeling of his fingers combing through her hair, she realises he was right.
Some change is good, and for the first time in a long time, she is excited for more.
Be sure to check in with us tomorrow for Day 2! You are all in for such a treat.
Absolutely honoured to be writing with all of these lovely ladies.