Soothing Nightmares

Cold sheets, that's all his hand came into contact with as he blindly fumbled for her. His brow furrowed as he cracked an eye open, the clock on the bedside table blared out half past four. Sitting up slowly, he ran his hand through his tousled hair. The absence of her was something he had a strong distaste for. Searching quickly around the room it was empty and a small flicker of worry flared in him. Pushing the heavy duvet back, bare feet landed on the cool floor as he padded out to the door in search of her.

Henry's room was empty, the young lad opting to spend the night at Emma's. It was Roland's bare room that had his concern growing more though. The stairs creaked as he toed down them. The living room was dark, as was Regina's office but the small glow of light from the kitchen broke through the darkness. Silently he wandered over, the quiet of the house giving way to light hushed laughing. His heart threatened to burst as his eyes found his family. Roland perched on Regina's lap, fingers twirling in her long chocolate hair as she sat at the breakfast bar. He watched from the archway, the pair completely unaware of his presence. Roland's little giggles erupted as Regina swooped in to pepper his chubby face in kisses, her arms locking him in place as she relentlessly adorned the little toddler in affection.

"Gina‼" his tiny voice cracking through his laughter "Gina! Stop it". Roland fleetingly tried to wriggle from her grasp, half heartedly in truth from Robin's perspective. She pulled back from nuzzling into his neck, pecking his nose before a happy chuckle of her own escaped. Roland's little hands wiped over his nose as a small protest of "hey‼ not my nose!" bubbled out. She smiled before brushing the curly locks out of his face.

"Are you feeling better honey?" her tone warm like honey as she hugged him tight, his head automatically resting under her chin as his body curled into her. Roland nodded as he buried himself into her further, one hand resting flat on her chest, the other holding onto a long curl of hair. She rocked lightly back and forth, her eyes closing, chin coming to rest on the unruly mop of brown hair as she began to mindless hum the drifting off tyke a wordless lullaby.

Robin leaned against the doorframe, smiling at the perfect picture in front of him, letting his memory catalogue it.

"Gina?" Rolands sleepy voice broke Regina's tune

"Yes baby?" her hands rubbing small circles on his back.

"thank you for saving me from the monster" he all but whispered out, his chubby fingers drawing patterns on her skin absently.

She smiled into the crown of his head, her arms wrapping harder around his little body as she began to rock them back and forth once more.

"I will always protect you Roland"

He pulled back, staring up at her with his big brown button eyes.

"You Promise?" his little voice wavering

Leaning forward her lips pressed hard against his forehead for a moment before she dropped her face down, resting her own brow against his. Her eyes found his, warm and so full of love as she smiled.

"I Promise"

Robins heart clenched in his chest, as he watched Roland's arms fly around Regina's neck, hugging her fiercely. She cradled him back and let the quiet of the kitchen soothe him back to sleep. Robin decided that he wouldn't interrupt this moment, turning and walking back up the stairs. He waited for her, finally hearing her light footsteps head up the stairs and into Rolands room. A few minutes ticked by before the bedroom door opened and she slipped inside, unaware to the fact that Robin was awake and waiting for her.

She crawled back into their bed, immediately moving over to him before she tugged the heavy blanket over their body. Resting her head on his chest, her hand splayed across his abdomen, hugging him tight to her body as a leg drifted in between his. The steady beating of his heart began to lull her back to sleep as she snuggled into his warmth.

He wrapped her in tighter, one arms encircling her back as the other interlaced their fingers on his stomach. His lips pressed gently against her forehead as she hummed at the contact.

"Everything okay?" he asked as his fingers ran light circles over her shoulder.

"Roland had a nightmare again"

"Which one?"

"The Monkey in the Enchanted Forest"

Robin grimaced, the nightmare had haunted his son for the better of a year, and the only one who seemed to be able to soothe him was Regina.

"He's okay though" her voice whispered into his chest.

Robin hugged her tighter, letting the smell of roses that seemed to cling to her surround him. He could feel her breathing begin to deepen, her body laying heavier against his own.

"I Love You Regina" he kissed the soft skin of her brow once more before sagging into the thick mattress.

"I Love You To" she murmured back, giving him one last sleepy hug before completely drifting off.

His last thoughts before sleep claimed him were of that fateful day, when a Queen fell from the sky and claimed his heart…a day that he would be forever grateful for.

FIN.