Coming Home For Christmas
A/N: Hello readers! I did edit the Epilogue a little bit – very minor changes and editing of the slight mishaps (I still probably missed some!). So, if you're so inclined, please give that another read. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter. Not much Robin & Regina but the OQ feels are still there, I think. Enjoy!
CHAPTER ONE
December 18, 2015; 3:55 PM – Storybrooke, Maine (Granny's Diner)
Regina winces as Daniel practically shoves her out of the way to get to his brother. But knowing how the two haven't seen each other since last Christmas – and seeing them now with big smiles as they hug one another – she supposes she could forgive him.
The brothers' current focus on each other allows her to take stock of the situation, as she stood there: musing.
The older of the Locksley: Robin Locksley – Mr. Big Shot Lawyer in New York, as Daniel referred to him – and whose picture hang in Daniel's apartment hallway along with that of the rest of his family. She couldn't believe she didn't recognize him sooner, especially now seeing them together. They weren't twins, per se, but there were similarities there. Guess she was a little blindsided. Literally.
Suddenly, Tink was beside her, grabbing onto Regina's shoulder as the brunette snaps out of her reverie. The blonde was looking quizzically at her so she mouths, "Daniel's older brother."
Tink nods, eyeing the older Locksley and nodding approvingly, whispering to her: "That's some Locksley gene, huh?"
"Robin, I want you to meet my friends," Daniel beckons, turning back towards them. "From left to right: Killian Jones. Katrina Bell – but we call her Tink. And last but not least – though I could see that you've already met her. My girlfriend, Regina Mills," he ends, his arm outstretched towards Regina.
The introduction startles Regina momentarily, but she quickly recovers, moving closer to Daniel – not quite meeting Robin's eyes.
"Yes," he says then, "We've met." He swallows, "I'd shake your hand, Ms. Mills, but…"
"Woah," Daniel said, now taking note of Regina's angry red palms. "What happened?"
"I may have hit her with the kitchen door," Robin supplied sheepishly.
"You what?" Daniel cried out, looking at his brother with wide eyes.
"It swings out," Regina explained, "It's really not his fault. And they don't feel as bad as they look."
"I thought you had said I should watch where I'm going and use the tiny window to scope out if anyone is passing by," Robin commented, looking at Regina now with a playful grin.
Regina narrows her eyes at him, matching his smirk, "And I thought you'd said – several times, actually – something about of taking responsibility and bringing me to the hospital."
They continued to grin at one another, until Tink nudged Regina – causing the unsuspecting brunette to lose her balance, toppling over towards Robin – who catches her effortlessly.
"Uhmm…uhmm," Regina clears her throat, quickly moving away from his touch and settling herself back to her 'neutral' spot. She glares at Tink before once again assuring everyone she was fine, "Really, I think maybe some ice would help would the swelling and then I'll be good as new."
"Are you sure nothing is broken?" Daniel asked, voiced laced with concern. "I could take a look…"
"Aren't you a vet?" Robin questioned out loud.
"I'm a doctor, Robin," Daniel replies easily, smirking at his older brother. "I can assess if there's something wrong."
"Just a reminder, what she has there are hands…not hooves," Robin quips back – making it quite clear that the Locksley brothers enjoyed ribbing each other.
Daniel moves to shove Robin playfully, who swings out of the way, but then holds up his hands in surrenders. Then he adds, more seriously: "I was just thinking of swinging by the hospital and having Doc give her a once over, just to be sure."
Regina shakes her head – tired of being discussed as if she wasn't there. "I'm fine, both of you!" she says with finality. "Maybe I'll just stick my hand in the snow for a while. And that's coming from my own professional assessment" she adds, looking back briefly as she sashays past the brothers on her way out the diner.
Killian lets out a low whistle, nodding his head in approval as Robin looks around questioningly.
"She's an optometrist," Tink explains to him, moving to shake his hand in greeting. "It's very nice to meet you, by the way."
"Likewise," Robin replies, before formally greeting Killian next.
"I guess we're going," Daniel announces. He walks up to diner's counter, "Ruby, dear…are the orders ready yet?"
The tightly-clad brunette came out, with their drink snug in a tray, "They'd been ready for a while, Dan-Dan, but I didn't want to interrupt your little pow-wow."
Daniel only smiles at her comment, kissing her on the cheek before thanking her and grabbing the drinks.
"See you at the house later," Robin tells her with a wave. "She's our cousin," he explains to Tink, who was walking beside him.
"Let's go," Daniel calls to the group, holding the door open for them.
December 18, 2015; 4:30 PM – Storybrooke, Maine
Once outside, Daniel had insisted in accompanying Regina to the hospital – despite her initial protest. But as she saw his face, she relented – was he winking at her? She figured he wanted to talk – or had developed a very sudden twitch. Regardless, she agreed with his plan.
She and Daniel went off to the hospital; while Robin, Tink, and Killian continued on to the house.
Daniel drove in the opposite direction, only to swing back around at the next turn – stopping the car at what looked like a children's park.
"So," Regina starts, turning towards him, "No hospital? So you were only fake concerned at my injuries. Good to know."
"Very funny," Daniel replies. "But we're here for more serious business. We have to review. You've already failed miserably, by the way…darling."
"We've literally been here for a half hour," Regina comments. "How could I have already failed?"
"You didn't recognize my brother!"
"I'd only seen him in pictures – picture, really – there's just that one in your hallway," she reasons. "Plus, he'd just attacked me with a door. Forgive me if my memory was momentarily lapsed."
"Good reflexes, by the way," he says, smirking at her. "Although, looking at your hands, I'm not sure if it was such a good idea. Maybe we should've gone to the hospital."
Regina gives him a dead-pan expression, "It was either my hands or my whole face!"
"But just think, you're red nose would've gone well with the season!"
She hits him hard on the arm and changes the subject quickly before he could even react, "Let's review, as you said."
"Are your hands actually alright?"
"I am fine," Regina assures him. "I swear. This is nothing. Well…what do you actually want to review?"
"My family," he answers. "And our relationship."
Regina groans. "Oh joy," she replies flatly, then waits for him to continue.
Daniel nods, "Okay…so I probably have mentioned you in passing over the last couple of years so my parents should know of you. Let's say dating for a year and half?"
"No," Regina said, "You broke up with Ana two years ago. No way they'd believe we got together six months after that. Plus, there's no way I would do that. Nothing screams more like a rebound!"
"Well, Ana didn't take that long to get on with Will," Daniel noted.
"That's because she was cheating on you," Regina says carelessly – until she notes Daniel's face. "Sorry," she adds quickly, "Sorry…foot in mouth disease, as you well know. I'll try to keep that under control."
"Thanks," Daniel says. "Where were we?"
"Seven months," she replies. "We've been dating for seven months – but since we've been best friends forever, our relationship just seems very natural."
Daniel nods his head. "That's actually good. Have you given this thought?"
Regina rolls her eyes, "Move on, Locksley!"
"Parent's name?"
"Lucia and Marco. Next?"
"Brother?"
Regina rolls her eyes (but her stomach was, for some reason, doing somersaults), "Robin."
"Nephew?"
She paused, recalling a time about five years ago when Daniel had announced he was an uncle, only to be followed by…
"Nephew?" Daniel pressed.
Regina turns towards him, "Roland. And…his mother? She…"
"Passed away during his birth," Daniel nodded his head, knowing she was remembering that time five years ago – when he'd called her excitedly about having a nephew only to call her back minutes later, sombre, asking for a ride to the airport because Marian had passed.
"Right," Regina mutters as a moment of silence passes between them.
"It broke Robin," Daniel adds. "I mean, they weren't together at that point – they had simply agreed to raise Roland as a unit but not a couple – but still, Marian was his first love. It was sad, I've known her my whole life. And Roland growing up without her." Regina takes his hand, as he continues – smiling now, "Roland's a great kid, though. If you think I have Locksley charm, you haven't seen nothing yet."
Regina nods her head softly, then adds: "Luckily, I'm used to your puppy dog eyes, I can handle it."
"Ah, but he's got more in his arsenal," Daniel replies amusedly, "He's got the eyes, this wild head of curly hair, and those dimples…oh, the dimples!"
"No doubt inherited from his father," Regina adds, a smile on her face. But at Daniel's puzzled look, she quickly adds, "Robin has dimples, right?"
Daniel slowly nods his head, "Yeah…"
"So," Regina continues, "who else is coming? Besides you're cousin, Ruby, who was at the diner."
"Impressive, Mills," Daniel says, nodding his head. "Uhmm. Let's see. There's my cousin, Mary Margaret and her family; husband is David and their daughter's name is Emma, she's eight. Uncle Leo and Aunt Eva, who are Mary's parents, will also be in attendance. As you mentioned, Ruby. Her parents died in a car crash when we were little, so Ma and Pa kind of raised her and her brother, August. Then there's my traitorous cousin, Will Scarlet, and his stolen bride, Anastasia Redd. Will's parents won't come, they always go on some cruise for the holidays."
"Is that it?" Regina asked.
"Well," Daniel starts. "Of course there's the whole town. But we'll get there when we get there."
"Sounds good, dear," Regina said as Daniel smirks at her, "I'm just practising, trying to make it sound less weird. Because it sounds really weird."
"Thanks, Mills," he replies, putting the car out of park and driving them both to his family home.
December 18, 2015; 4:30 PM – Storybrooke, Maine en route to the Locksley Estate
"So," Tink started, turning towards Robin, "you guys really call it an estate?"
Robin gives a short laugh, looks at Tink briefly, "Well, I just call it home. But that seems to be the term around town."
"Wow," Tink and Killian voiced at the same time.
"So, Daniel and Regina," Robin said tentatively after a minute of silence, eyes never leaving the road, "I mean, he's mentioned her before but – I mean, and yourself, of course, Tink – but I didn't know they were dating." He paused, clearing his throat, "When did that happen?"
Tink lets out a nervous laugh, "You know, I would ask those two crazy kids when they're anniversary actually is. I don't really know."
"Really?"
"I mean," she saves, "They've always been together, you know. So, it was hard to tell when they got together…together."
Robin nods his head slowly, and adds, "I was just curious."
"So, how about you, mate?" Killian bursts from the back seat, "Are you with anyone this holiday season?"
Robin gives a quick look to the rear view mirror, making eye contact with the man before chuckling. "I'm with my son," he answers easily.
"Oh right," Tink snaps to attention, "You have a little boy! Ro – something."
"Roland," Robin tells her, a big smile flashing on his face. "Yeah, he's five. He'll be excited to see you two. All he's had the past two days are Gran, Gramps, and good ol' Papa. His cousin, Emma, will be by tomorrow. Those two are usually thick as thieves. Meanwhile, he'll definitely welcome the new company!"
"He must be adorable," Tink comments.
"I'm biased," Robin says sheepishly, but then nods his head, "But he totally is!" Then he looks back at Killian, "I'm sure he'd love you – he's currently obsessed with Peter Pan. Although I'm a bit worried that he seems to relate more to Captain Hook. Any who, he's really into pirates, right now."
At Killian's confused expression, Tink explains, "Maybe it's the way you dress, Killi."
"Very goth like," Robin adds, trying to salvage. "Like a…gothic pirate thing. It's good."
"Goth pirate," Tink repeats, laughing a little. "You're not the only one that thinks that!"
"Who else thinks that?" Killian asked.
"I swear Regina said the exact same thing this morning," Tink answers, her gaze hovering at Robin – whose face just broke into a wide smile.
The blonde shakes her head a little, recalling how the two – Regina and Robin – couldn't tear their gaze away from one another at Granny's earlier. That was definitely something she needed to discuss with the brunette.
She let herself look at Robin from the corner of her eye: she was definitely not blaming Regina on this one. And so, she watches as Robin clenches his hands around the steering wheel, his rolled up sleeves allowing a view of the resulting rippling of the muscles in his arms. She sighed inwardly. Was that a tattoo? Gosh, she would fall for this guy's forearms alone!
Luckily, Robin halts the car before Tink embarrassed herself, turning from his seat with a wide smile, "Welcome to Casa Locksley!"
December 18, 2015; 4:50 PM – Storybrooke, Maine (Locksley Estate)
"Come on, you two," Robin gestured, one arm carrying one of Tink's luggage, urging Daniel's friends to follow him into the house.
As he pushed the door open, he called out, "Ma! Pa! Roland!"
Surprisingly, the only sound that met their ears were that of a barking dog. And soon enough a giant Dalmatian came bounding up the foyer. "Hello there, Pongo," Robin greeted, as Tink practically melted – moving to pet the dog immediately.
Luckily, Pongo was equally friendly.
"Where is everyone, buddy?" Robin said, giving the dog a scratch behind the ears.
Suddenly, a young boy came swinging around the corner; an eyepatch on an eye and a plastic sword on his hand, "Alas, you've come! But you cannot…cannot defeat me!"
"Oh!" Robin said, pretending to be surprised as he turns quickly towards the adults and mouths, "Pirates, I told you." Then swinging his focus back to his son, he cries out: "You must be the dread pirate, Rolando, feared leader of the Seven Seas!"
At that moment, two elderly individuals also made themselves visible, causing the boy to groan. "Gran! Gramps! You're not supposed to move! You're my prisoners, r'member?"
"Sorry, my boy," the elder man answered, ruffling the boy's curls, "But we have guests! You see!"
"Ooh!" Roland said, taking the eye patch off and focusing on the two strangers standing by the door. He waves enthusiastically, "Hello! I'm Roland!"
Tink moves to greet the young boy, "My name is Tink. It's very nice to meet you!"
Killian also does the same, shaking the boy's hand, "Killian Jones is the name, young lad. Good to meet you!"
At the sight of Killian, the young boy's eyes go wide as saucers and he taps his father's leg hurriedly, motioning for Robin that he wanted to whisper something in his ear.
Robin kneels, while Roland talks animatedly at his ear, causing Robin to laugh softly, and whisper back: "Sorry, Ro. He's not a pirate. I already asked. But I'm sure he'll play pretend if you asked nicely."
Killian looks at the father-son exchange and turns to Tink, "Do I really dress like a pirate?"
She shrugs, "Don't worry. I like the guy-liner."
Killian nods as Robin straightens and looks at his parents, finally moving to introduce Tink and Killian formally. "These are Daniel's friends, Katrina Bell and Killian Jones," he says, then turns, "My parents, Lucia and Marco Locksley."
The four shake hands and get acquainted.
"And where, pray tell, is your brother?" Lucia Locksley asked.
"Oh," Robin stammers, "He's at the hospital…"
"What?" his father interrupts, alarmed.
"He's fine," Robin quickly adds. "Let me finish, he brought his girlfriend for a hand thing."
"His girlfriend?" (His mom)
"A hand thing?" (His dad)
Robin scratched his head, brow knotting as he tried to explain, "Regina. Diner door. I hit. Swings out. Mills."
"What?" his mom asked, confused.
"What he means to say, Mrs. Locksley," Tink explains, taking over, "Daniel accompanied our friend and his girlfriend, Regina Mills, to the hospital because Robin accidently hit her with the diner door at Granny's."
Robin nodded his head, looking at his parents expectantly.
"He's dating Regina?" his mother asked, "When did that happen?"
"Who was Regina again?" Marco Locksley questioned, looking at his wife.
"Daniel's best friend," she answers. "The eye doctor, remember? He talks about her from time to time."
"And he didn't mention this to you before, Robin?" Lucia asked her son.
"Believe me, Ma," he answered. "I just found out."
"Wait! You hit her with the diner door?" Marco asked Robin hurriedly.
"I didn't know," Robin protested.
"That she was your brother's girlfriend?"
"Pa, I wouldn't have wanted to hit her with the door, whether she was Daniel's girlfriend or not," Robin said, "But she is and I did hit on her." A pause, "Hit her. Hit her with the door that swings out, by accident. It was an accident."
"We get it, Robin," Lucia said, rubbing his arm affectionately.
A beat.
"Is she pretty, son?" she continued the interrogation, "I mean, he's talked about her forever but I'd never even seen a picture of her, you know? And for some reason or other, she was never around when we visited him in Boston."
"She's…," Robin starts, struggling, "She has brown hair."
Tink looks at the man, red as a tomato, and silently wonders how he's what Daniel called 'Mr. Big Shot New York Lawyer'. The man before her did not exude the confidence she'd thought he'd have. But this made for a more amusing outcome, so she can accept it.
"Brown hair?" Marco repeated. "Are you blind, son?"
"No," Robin says quickly, defensive.
"Because if you are, she could probably be help you – being an eye doctor and all," Lucia quips, high-fiving Robin's father – and causing Tink to giggle.
"Ma!" Robin protests. "I just – I didn't…"
"Well, what about you?" Marco motions, turning towards Killian. "A man's opinion."
"Oh," Killian answers quickly, "Gorgeous, sir. Her face…I mean. Wow. A real jackpot. And her body…" He trails off, suddenly very aware of Roland's young eyes focused on him, "I mean, I don't want to say much in front of the young lad but she's a solid nine."
"Not to mention in front of your girlfriend," Tink jibes.
Killian quickly turns towards her, innocent smile on his face, whispering: "You're a ten, honey."
"I want to play now!" Roland exclaims, looking around at the adults, breaking the tension – a tension mostly felt by Robin.
"Yes," Robin said, picking up his son. "How about you and I run along outside while Gran and Gramps show our guests to their rooms?" He looked pointedly at his parents, before moving to find Roland's winter gear.
"Oh yes," Lucia says, grabbing Tink by the arm. "I can show you your room. And we're not prudes here, you and your man can share a room!"
Tink smiled at the woman, "Sounds good, Mrs. Locksley."
"Call me Lucia, dear," she says, smiling wide. Then she turns back to where her husband and Killian had struck up a conversation about sports. "Come along, boys, those luggage won't move themselves.
...
Once Robin got Roland dressed for the cold weather, father and son made their way outside – Pongo in tow.
Robin had amused Roland into making a lopsided Snowman until the boy had thrown a snow ball his way, catching Robin right smack in the chest.
"What was that, boy?" he bellowed, eyes dancing with amusement.
"You make a good target, Papa!" Roland giggled, running away to hide behind Pongo.
"I hope you know you've just declared war, Ro!" Robin said, moving sneakily towards his son.
"Papa, no!" Roland yelped gleefully, watching his father approach closer.
Robin took a running leap as Pongo ran away, grabbing Roland and swinging him around.
"Helicopter! Helicopter! More, Papa! More!
A couple of spins and Robin puts his boy down, quickly scooping up some snow and brushing it off above Roland's head – as the five-year old giggles in protest.
"No fair, Papa, you're bigger," Roland says running away, as Robin sees him prepare two snowballs – one for each hand.
He kneels at his spot, "Give it your best shot, then, bud!"
Roland runs towards him, launching one snowball to the right as Robin dodges left. The boy follows through with the next one, aiming left as Robin quickly moves to the right. He catches his small body as Roland leaps towards him, hugging the boy close – his giggles causing Robin to laugh heartedly.
As the two calm down, both panting, Robin senses Roland's head rise from it was resting on his shoulder. "Papa, who's that?"
Robin turns, Roland perched at his hip.
In all their excitement, it would seem father and son had failed to hear the sound of Daniel's car approaching on the driveway – where it was now parked.
Regina stood in front of the vehicle, face half caught between amusement and surprise – probably not expecting to be called out by the young boy – enjoying the moment she'd witnessed unnoticed.
Robin takes in her presence, unable to tear his eyes away – and only slightly aware of Roland's curious look swinging back and forth between himself and 'the stranger'.
Is she pretty, son?
"Stunning," Robin breathes out.