For the OQ Princess week!
Prompt two: First steps
Regina was sitting in the living room, taking advantage of the quiet moment to get into some paperwork from the city hall. Her little princess was sitting on her mat, entertained with her toy blocks and the little monkey her big brother Roland gave her. Every now and then she turned to her mother and said something in her baby language in such a lovely way that always brought out a smile on Regina's face as she answered her little one. The afternoon seemed pleasant enough for them.
When she heard the front door open, Regina immediately closed her eyes and mentally cursed. Sure Robin would be upset with her when he saw that she was working instead of resting, as he had asked her a million of times before leaving home for work this morning. Truth be told, lately they were often disagreeing. The reason was always the same: She left the city hall early to rest and be with their daughter, but always brought work home and ended the day exhausted.
The truth was that it wasn't actually the work that left her exhausted. She got tired because she had a baby at home, plus two kids and a husband. And while Robin was a great husband and tried to help as much as he could, they were only two against a preteen, a child and a baby. Three different schedules, three different wants and three different interests.
Robin entered the living room and approached Regina giving her a kiss on the forehead. She tried to hide what she was doing, but as he glanced at the papers, his face closed, he gave a low chuckle and decided to give attention to his daughter, who was already with her little arms raised and super excited with her daddy's presence.
"Robin ..." She tried, but Robin took his daughter in his arms and began to play with her, pulling the most delicious guffaws from his little girl and ignoring any attempt at dialogue from his wife. Even angry with her husband, Regina couldn't contain the smile that spread on her lips at the scene in front of her.
After a few minutes of interaction between father and daughter, the little one, who was still in his father's arms, seemed to be once again entertained with her monkey, rambling about something. Regina, then, took the opportunity to try to get the attention from Robin again.
"Robin"
"What? " He spoke in a low, unhappy tone, without taking his eyes of his little girl.
"Look, I know you don't want me to work at home, but I wasn't doing anything really big. Just reading some papers." She tried to explain, but he didn't answer, nor looked up.
"Oh really? silent treatment? How old are you? Roland's age? "
He sighed deeply, putting the child back in the mat and turned to Regina.
"What do you want me to say? "
"I want you to talk to me. As an adult. "
"I don't have anything to say anynore, Regina. Whatever I say, you will do what you want anyway. "
"Like I said, I wasn't doing anything major. We were both sitting here and I was only reading some papers while she was playing."
"How can you be so stubborn? "
They were angry and still arguing with each other. The little princess, who apparently hated when her parents used that tone of voice, decided to join the discussion using her particular language, but in the heat of the moment, was ignored by them.
Apparently, be neglected is not something the mini Mills Locksley liked, because only instants after trying to interact with her parents, they both saw a stuffed monkey flying between them. When they stopped and looked at their daughter, she was standing and looking at them with a frown.
"Oh my God, Robin! She is standing " Regina said, taking her husband's wrist. He stood there looking at his daughter. The little girl started to say something that they couldn't understand, as if scolding them. It was adorable. She definitely was her mother's daughter.
"Don't just stand there like a statue! Pick up the phone and record it! " Regina said kneeling on the floor.
"Why? " Robin asked not understanding a thing.
"Just do as I say! "Regina answered and opened her arms toward her little princess, who in return released her small hands from the sofa. Robin did as he was told by his wife and, once he looked back at his daughter, she was trying to give her first step, frowning in concentration.
"Come on my little princess, come to mommy! "Regina spoke to her daughter, her eyes filled with tears.
The little girl staggered, took four steps without too much of consistency and fell into her mother's arms.
"You did it! You are so smart! Mommy love you so much!" Regina said, standing with her little princess in her arms and whirling her, drawing a giggle from her. Robin, who shot all her daughter's achievement and also her iteration with her mother, put the cell down and joined the two, embracing them.
At that moment, a feeling of joy and love exploded through the house and the three of them laughed and celebrated the new accomplishment of their daughter, her very first steps. The fight was long forgotten and totally meaningless when compared to such a special moment like this. That's all he wanted. To share the silly joys of everyday life and the achievements of their little one. Nothing else mattered.