Chapter 1 - It's time to begin

Regina was staring at the house. This house, full of painful memories, belonged to the past. She wished she'd never had to come back there. But Henry would be away for a whole month and she had let Mary convince her that she'd be happier here with her friends than alone at home waiting desperately for her son's return. He had left only the day before and Regina already missed him like hell. Maybe her step sister was right, maybe being surrounded by friends would be better than staying home watching pictures of her son all day. Anyway, she had a tone of pictures of him on her phone.

Of course, she was glad Henry went on camp for the summer. He was a quiet child, didn't have a lot of friends, and it was a good thing for him to open himself up to new experiences. But it had only been her and her son for the last ten years and it was hard to watch him grow up so fast.

I should have stayed home, she thought. She didn't mind the loneliness. She was used to it. To spend all her days with Mary and the others would actually be much harder. How can I have let her convince me to come? I'm an idiot. But Mary and her puppy face and her insufferable optimism had made up her mind. So there she was, sitting in her car, parked in the alley of the big old white house. It was all too much. When she used to live there it felt like she lived in a castle. She even got lost a couple times. Now however, most of the rooms were closed, only the main part of the house were used. The gardens were truly beautiful, so full of flowers. There was a pond a bit farther, with a weeping willow and a swing. It used to be her favorite place, she came to sit and swing for hours, even though she was already sixteen. She was desperate for a way to escape her reality. That was when she wasn't at the stables of course. But she didn't want to think about that.

She took a deep breath and get out of the car, picking up her bags.

"Regina!"

Here we go, Regina thought when she heard Mary yelled her name, just a moment before her dear step-sister hugged her. Regina didn't hate hugs. She hated any displays of affection. Apart from her son, she never let anyone touch her willingly. It wasn't that she didn't like Mary, she did. Most of the time. She just wasn't comfortable with those things, it didn't come naturally to her.

"I'm so happy to see you!" Mary said on an enthusiastic tone as soon as she broke the hug. 'I'm glad you decided to come! We'll have a great summer, you'll see! Just like old times!'

Maybe not the best thing to say to begin with, Mary thought. True, she had memories of great time with Regina when they were younger, but she knew Regina didn't feel that way. She just had to hope Regina hadn't notice. Which she had, but seeing Mary's face freeze in a weird, uncomfortable smile, she chose better not to point it out and leave that poor girl alone.

"Glad to see you too," she replied. "How are you?"

"I'm fine! Great actually! I have so much to tell you!"

Mary took a bag from Regina, which had to pressure herself not to point out that she could take care of it by herself, before heading to the house. The inside was just like she remembered. Same furniture, same smell. It felt like home, even though she'd never felt quite like home there. Mary led her straight to her old room.

"It's okay if you stay here, right?" she asked. "I mean, I thought you'd want to, cause you know, it's yours, but of course if you'd prefer..."

"No, it's fine," she cut. "Thanks."

Awkward blank. It was so weird for Regina to be back, when she sworn years ago to never put a foot there again.

"Okay, so... I'll just let you unpack! Come down when you're done!"

Mary knew better than to linger and Regina silently thanked her for that. Alone in her old room, Regina took the time to unpack (clothes in the closet, and a photo of her and her son on the nightstand) before sitting on the edge of the bed, examining the room. She had taken every personal stuff when she'd left for college and the few that remained had been thrown away by her mother. But it was still her white with black baroque motifs wallpaper, her king size bed with red cover, and her mirror. A mirror who always made her thought about that stupid fairytale of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. A mirror in which she could spend hours staring at her reflection, trying to see the person she wanted to be. She never did.

After a sigh and a mental shake, Regina went downstairs, direction the kitchen. She hadn't eat for several hours. She found Mary and David, her husband, there. They greeted and she sat. "So, who exactly is gonna be here?"

"Well, Emma and Neal should arrive in any minutes and they're bringing a friend of Neal, Robin, and his son Roland."

"Wait, Emma and Neal are back together? Last time she kept swearing about him."

"You know Emma, she was just afraid off opening up to him again but now she's taken a chance, things are really working out between them!"

Great, surrounded by stupid people in love, Regina thought. "And what about that friend? Do you know him at least?"

"Yes, we've met him," David answered. "He's a decent man."

"He's a really nice guy! And father!" Regina could hear the exclamation point at the end of every sentences of Mary. So exhausting.

"And why are we making charity for him?" she asked, winning a glance from David and a Regina! from Mary. "What? You seem to barely know that guy."

"Look, this house is big enough for all of us, and Robin, well, could use some fresh air. Neal told us he hadn't got out a lot since his wife died a few years ago, and I thought him and his son could enjoy some vacations here, you know. He was reluctant to accept, at first, but you know me..."

"You can be pretty convincing, yes, I know."

"That's my girl," David said with a wink.

"So he said yes," continued Mary with a proud smile. "And wanted to meet us to thank us in person. And his son is adorable! You'll love him! Maybe he'll change your mind from Henry's absence. And Robin is an honorable, loyal, charming and funny..."

"Wait," Regina stopped. "Tell me you're not doing this to set me up with a guy, please!"

"Of course not!" Mary swear with a high voice. That was her guilty voice. Damn this girl.

"Look, I..." Mary began before Regina cut her off.

"No, no, no, you listen to me dear. That wasn't the plan. I don't need your help or whatever this is supposed to be." It's not like Regina wasn't used to it, Mary had done those kind of things a few times before. She loved to interfere in the love life of others, especially her step-sister's. It was kinda cute the first time; even if Regina had been mad at her for weeks, she had appreciated the gesture deep down. But the next times had just been infuriating. How could this woman always be so in a good mood? So happy, optimistic and confident?

"I know, Regina. That's what you keep telling anyway," she added muttering. "I didn't planed it like that, I just thought it'd be nice for you to... meet new people." She hadn't the time to add anything before they heard the front door opening and Emma calling for anybody. The pretty blond first thought they were all out but soon Mary arrived in the entry, followed by David and Regina, and her best friend automatically embraced her. Behind Emma, Neal made his appearance, followed by a man that must have been Robin.

Handsome. That was Regina's first thought. A good point for Mary. Even if she'd never acknowledge it.

"Hi, I'm Robin," he introduced himself with a charming English accent and a smile, and ooh! what smile.

"Regina," she replied shaking his hand and offering a polite smile. Blue eyes, light brown hair, good handshake. Everything in his appearance sweated benevolence, but not naivety, confidence, but not superiority.

"Come on Roland, say hi." A little head with brown curls appeared and a timid but curious look behind his father's legs. Regina automatically knelt at his height. "Hey there. My name's Regina."

"I am Roland. Happy to meet you," he said with a small smile.

"Enchanted, Roland." she replied extending her hand, which he shook with a proud feeling of doing just like grownups. He looked up at his dad then and declared he was hungry. "Yeah well, you'll eat after we take our bags upstairs, little man."

"But papa, my belly wants to eat!"

"You know, I was about to eat myself so I can take care of him if you want to," proposed the brunette.

"Yes, yes, papa, please!" Regina clearly saw Robin hesitated. He didn't want to bother her, a woman they just met, didn't want to impose themselves when they barely just arrived. But she had proposed by herself and her kind look was telling him she didn't mind.

"You know I can't resist your puppy look. You go with the lady and be nice, huh? I'll be right back." Roland uttered a cry of victory. Regina wondered if Robin had already forgot her name.

"Thank you, Regina." So he did remember her name. That shouldn't surprise her really, he wasn't a moron. Or didn't seem to be anyway. She watched him took the stairs with their bags and then cursed herself for watching him leave.

"He's kinda cute, huh?" Regina looked back at Mary who was standing right beside her and hadn't lost a piece of their meeting. Regina frowned in a way to say what is wrong with you? and rolled her eyes before taking Roland's hand in hers and leading him to the kitchen.

Regina and Roland were sitting at the counter, with hot chocolates and cookies. She didn't know why she had offered to take the little boy to eat, she didn't know him nor his father. But his dimples when he smiled were pretty charming. Roland's, of course. True he had inherited them from his father. Damn what was she thinking about? It was all Mary's fault who put silly ideas in her head.

"It's so yummy!"

"Yeah, it's pretty good," she replied amused by the boy who seemed to be eating the best thing he'd ever eaten when really it was just cookies, not even the best ones. "So Roland, are you happy you came here with your daddy?"

"Hmm, I dunno yet," he answered very seriously.

"Why so?"

"Well, I don't know anybody. And there're no kids to play with me. I don't want to play all alone all the time!" Her mother mode was instantly activated.

"Aw sweetheart, you won't be alone!" she reassured him. "Your daddy will always be there for you and you know, the other grownups can play with you too if you like. I can play with you."

"You would?" he asked, his eyes enlightening.

"Definitely."

"Does that mean we're friends?"

"It depends, do you want us to be friends?"

"Hmm... YES!"

"Then we've got a deal!" She smiled at how life seemed so easy for kids, and passed her hand in Roland's hair. She just couldn't help it when it came to kids, she always get attached very easily.

"You're the nicest person on earth Gina!" Regina couldn't hold a laugh.

"You're not so bad yourself."

"What about me, then?" Regina jumped with surprise. Robin stood at the entrance of the kitchen with a fake pout.

"Papa! We're eating cookies!"

"I can see that! You're a lucky boy." He stepped forward and sat next to his son. Then he looked at Regina and thanked her again, to what she only responded by a small smile. Robin had seen the sweet gesture from Regina to his son. Neal hadn't talked about her a lot. He knew she was Mary's step-sister, since her mother had married Mary's father and they came live in this house. He knew pretty much nothing else, but she clearly had a soft spot for children. And she truly was beautiful. Mary had affirmed so a couple times, speaking only with good terms about her sister, and Robin had seen clear as day what she was trying to do, not so subtly. He hadn't paid attention, was more amused than anything, but he had to confess she didn't lie about Regina's charm. Her hair was raven dark, cut to the shoulder, her lips full and red, and her posture graceful. Yet her smile didn't seem to quite reach her brown eyes.

Regina felt Robin's stare on her but refused to meet his eyes. It wasn't the first time, and surely not the last, a man admired her features. She used to take advantage of the fact men found her attractive. She even searched for this desire sometimes. But that was long ago now, before her son. She wondered what Henry was doing right now.

"Papa, Gina's my friend and she will play with me if you don't want to!"

"That's really sweet of her."

"Oh I have a great idea! We could all play together! Me, papa, and you Gina! It would be so cool! Right?"

"Of course my boy." Roland looked at Regina, waiting for her to respond. Where were the two idiots when she needed them? A little distraction right now would have been perfect. Of course, she'd love to play with Roland from time to time, but she didn't want to interact more than necessary with his father. He seemed to be a good guy, like Mary and David said, and yes, it wasn't unpleasant to look at him, but she was just not a very social person. People always disappoint one another, why bother trying to pretend otherwise?

"Yeah, great!" She couldn't bare disappointing this kid. He was in an unknown place, with strangers and nobody of his own age, this sounded like a nightmare for a kid! And well, a few hours with both of them wouldn't kill her.

Robin had seen her hesitation and wondered where it came from. Maybe for some reason she didn't like him? Okay, that was stupid, they just met and she couldn't already have judge him, just like he hadn't grasped her yet.

Robin took a cookie then and drank a bit of his son's chocolate. "Papa, it's my chocolate!"

Seeing his indignant face, Regina came as back up. "You'd dare steal your own son's chocolate?"

"Well, we all have to learn to share," he responded with his smirk.

She was about to say something in return when her phone vibrated on the counter. She smiled widely when she saw who was calling, and said quickly to Roland he could finish her chocolate before answering. "Hello, sweetheart!" she greeted, heading toward the garden.

"Hi, mum!"

"I'm so happy to hear you, Henry!" Regina didn't want to sound desperate. God, he only had left the day before! And he had call her the day before. But she missed him so much.

"So how are you? Tell me everything!" So he did. The guys he shared his room with were nice and they spend some good time together. He told her the activities they had done today, all the fun they had at lunch. Henry really seemed to enjoy himself and nothing could make Regina happier. She did felt an inch of jealousy, whishing she could share this with his son. She knew it was irrational, he needed a life on his own, he was ten after all and teenagers did not spend all their time with their mummy.

"And how are things for you? Did you arrived at Mary and David's?"

"Yeah, I arrived about an hour ago."

"You're making efforts, right?" That was her boy, he knew her too well. And was very protective. Regina guessed it was normal for a boy to worry about his single mom. She wished he didn't though, she could take care of herself, like she always had done. But she loved him even more for it too.

"What are you talking about? I always make efforts!"

"Liar," he teased her and she smiled. "Look, I just want you to have a good time while I'm away. They love you, so don't close yourself up. You could really enjoy your vacations, mom, if you tried!"

When did her little boy become that mature? "I love you."

"Love you too, mum."

"But I'm really making efforts! I have a new friend!" she said before telling him about Roland and his laugh resounded on the phone for a long minute.

"Okay, enough, stop laughing at your mother, you spoiled young man."

"Sorry, sorry. It's great really. And what about the father?"

"What? Robin?"

"Yeah."

"Well, what about him?" Henry knew she was pretending not to understand where he was going with this, and she knew he knew.

"How is he?" he continued.

"Henry," she stopped him on a firm tone, even if she was still smiling, but he couldn't know that.

"What? I was just wondering!"

"Yeah, sure. Now stop Marying me, and mind your own business, kid."

Henry knew better than to push her mother and so he lowered his arms and they went back talking about things and others. Then he told her he had to go, so they said goodbye and hangout after one last I love you. She had been walking around for almost an hour talking to her son. What now? She sat on the terrace's couch and counted. It was passed 6 pm there, so it was about 9 for him. He'd soon go to bed. As for her, she had to go back inside and be nice to people. Damn, that was going to be a long summer.