this one is based on a prompt by nephilite on tumblr. Thank you, I hope you like it!

It wasn't voyeurism if the man forced her to spy upon him out of precaution. Every morning Regina was forced to wake up before her son to make sure Henry wouldn't open the curtains and be confronted with the image of yet another ruffled lady prancing from her neighbor's driveway. Even her keeping watch of the man's many escapades hadn't stopped her son from seeing one of her neighbor's conquests taking the walk of shame. It had led to questions, questions that her ten year old son was still a little too young to know the answer too.

Regina sighed and opened the curtains to let some light into the house. It was a Saturday, but the bleary red text on her alarm clock read 07:33. Getting up early had become a habit for her. As a social worker she encouraged the youngsters she helped too drop by whenever they felt troubled or in need of company, which sometimes happened to be early in the morning or late at night. It was thus that it did not bother her that much to wake at weekends to check if there would be anything inappropriate going on, on her neighbor's driveway. She could, however, not help a stirring annoyance every time she saw the man take yet another beautiful girl into his home. He was handsome man and a suave talker, she had spoken to him on occasion, but it irked her to see so many different women actually fall for his infuriating British accent and crooked, dimpled smile. She huffed and turned to her kitchen to brew Henry some hot chocolate, wondering why she even cared so much about her neighbor's escapades.

She spent a quiet morning with Henry drinking hot chocolate with whipped cream tipped with cinnamon and talking about little things. Henry's plans for the weekend, Regina's work and the big question whether or not Henry would get a puppy. (no). As she watched her little man talk about Grace from across the street, she couldn't help a slight stirring of nostalgia in her heart. Her son was still so young, yet growing old so fast. She wondered if he would take after his father when he got older. Daniel had been kind and calm, really only ferocious in his love. She herself had been volatile, troublesome even, only finding her calm after she'd been trusted with taking care of her son. She sometimes wondered what would have become of her if she hadn't had Henry to tether her to her sanity after she'd lost Daniel. It was something she did not prefer to think about.
"Mom!' Henry's voice pulled her from her thoughts and Regina quickly flashed him an absent smile. Henry narrowed his eyes, almost as if he were scolding her for a second, but finally but down his mug with and pushed his chair back. "Is that okay? I asked if I could go see Grace."
She could hardly deny her son anything when he was looking at her in that way. With a smile she nodded, to which her son replied by putting on his shoes and running out of the house with a grin. "Thanks mom! I love you."

She sat in contented silence for a while. Savoring the taste of chocolate on her lips and the warmth against her hands. After she'd finished the chocolate and washed the two cups, she watched the empty house with a slight sigh. Sometimes she thought it selfish that she wished Henry still spend all his time with her, but she couldn't help the thought at times like this. She shook her head, shook the thoughts away, and grabbed her laptop. Henry usually kept her from working during weekends, but since he was out for the day, Regina decided that it would be good to get some work done. She had just opened up a file on her laptop when she heard the shrill ringing of the doorbell. She slowly closed her laptop, wondering if any of her young subjects would actually visit her at such an early time.

She could never have predicted what she would face when she opened the door. Robin, her neighbor, looking more ruffled and bedraggled than she had ever seen him. Robin, the man who refused to grow up and seemingly didn't do much except take women home, was standing on her doorstep. Holding a baby in his arms, looking so distraught and disoriented that Regina couldn't do anything but open her door to let him in.

"One of your people –social people I mean, paid me a visit this morning. And she gave me …" Robin fell silent, peering into his cup as he seemed to wish it contained something with a lot more alcohol than hot cocoa. His eyes flew up from the cup only a second to peer up to the child, now sleeping contently in one of Henry's old baby carriers. "Him …"
Regina sighed and gave the man a small, sympathetic smile. She had her reservations about the man and could break into a speech about responsibilities and more importantly, taking them, but if her job had thought her anything it was to listen.
"She said his mother died bringing him into the world. Poor thing." He shook his head. "Apparently she make the doctor promise her to bring him to me. She wanted me to raise him." He frowned and shook his head. "I can't even begin to imagine why, to be honest. I've never even been a babysitter, haven't got brothers or sisters and…" He sighed again, lifting up his gaze to her, nothing short of desperation shining in his eyes. "I know what you think of me… And probably rightfully so, but .. .. I've watched you with your son and… You were the first –the only, person I could think of."
Regina bit her lip as she shifted her gaze between Robin and the still sleeping baby. "You didn't give him back, but you could have. You could have walked away, but you didn't. Why?'
Robin gave a bitter chuckle and shook his head. "My father walked away from me. I may not be a man of many principles, but I will not walk away from my child. Not if I can give him a home however. I want to, it's just … I don't know how." He took a shaky breath and bit his lip. 'I know I have no right to ask this of you, but … Will you help me, Regina? I want him to be happy."
Regina took another look at the baby, sleeping peacefully in the carrier on her couch. It wasn't this baby's fault that his mother died and that his father didn't know the first thing about responsibilities and taking care of something other than himself. She sighed and slowly nodded. "Okay. I will help you."
"Thank you." Robin breathed. Regina thought it were the most honest words she had ever heard come from the man's mouth. She couldn't help but smile at them, wondering in the back of her mind what crazy situation she had gotten herself into.

any good?