A/N: Hello everyone! I know it has been a year since I updated this story but since it's Christmas I thought it would be a good time to add to it. Just like last year I was hoping to work on this a little bit longer but I've been very busy and I see the next few days being quite the same. I have another chapter that will be posted this week once it's finished, either tomorrow or Christmas Eve I'm hoping. I hope you're all having a great holiday season so far!
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Regina and Robin were still standing in each other's arms, gazing out of the window as they watched the snow falling quickly to the ground. There was already quite a lot gathering in the backyard.
"If it keeps this up we'll have a few feet by morning." Robin commented.
Regina simply smiled, hoping it would.
Suddenly they heard scurrying footsteps approaching the dining room behind them and Roland entered the room, quickly followed by Henry.
"It's snowing it's snowing!" Roland said, jumping up and down excitedly in front of his father.
"Yes, it is." Robin said, letting go of Regina to pick up the five-year-old so he could get a better view of the backyard. Roland looked so excited at the arrival of the snow.
"I didn't think it was actually going to snow tonight." Henry said, moving to stand beside his mother and staring out into the backyard.
"It's amazing how much we have already." Regina smiled admiringly at it as she and Henry wrapped an arm around each other.
"I'll bet you're happy Mom," Henry smiled. He knew how much she had been hoping for it to snow for Christmas.
Regina's eyes softened before she pressed a gentle kiss to his cheek. "I am." She replied, looking over at Robin and Roland.
Before she could help herself she could feel a few happy tears welling up in her eyes. She quickly tried to blink them back, knowing that as soon as anyone noticed them they would only get worse. When she felt Robin's arm slip around her waist and the subsequent kiss to her temple, she knew he had already seen them. She also knew that he knew it wasn't just because of the snow.
She appreciatively leaned sideways into his embrace, keeping her arm wrapped around Henry.
"Can we go play in the snow?" Roland asked from Robin's other arm. "Pleease! I wanna make a snowman!"
"I'm sorry Roland but I'm afraid it's already past your bedtime." Robin answered.
"Roland, you and Henry can build as many snowmen as you want in the morning okay?" Regina responded.
"But what if it's gone?" Roland worried.
"Don't worry sweetheart, the snow shouldn't melt by then. It's very cold outside."
"But what if it does?"
"Well then I suppose we'll just have to get Henry's grandfather to make some more." Regina responded gently.
"We'll make one after breakfast tomorrow Roland, I promise." Henry agreed with his mother.
"Only if you let me join in." Emma's voice said, causing the family to turn around.
"Sorry." Emma said. "Didn't mean to interrupt. I thought it would be less awkward if I let you know I was here. I'm just looking for some whiskey. Killian doesn't have much of an appreciation for wine. Or tea."
"It's quite alright. You're not interrupting." Regina responded.
Emma's eyes softened as she noticed the tears that Regina was trying to hide.
"Mom of course you can come." Henry answered Emma. "It'll be fun."
"Thanks kid." Emma smiled in appreciation.
"And there's some rum in the kitchen I think if that's better." Robin said, knowing the pirate's preferred drink.
"You don't mean the eggnog my parents made do you?" Emma breathed a laugh. "I don't think Killian will touch the stuff."
"No," Robin chuckled. "The bottle should still be on the counter."
"Oh, thanks that's perfect." Emma said. She was about to head for the kitchen but Regina's voice stopped her.
"Are you all still coming back tomorrow for brunch?" Regina asked.
"Yeah for sure, as long as you guys are still up for it. It's totally cool if you want to spend your first Christmas together with just the four of you."
Regina smiled softly. "That's very sweet of you Emma, but of course we'd love it if you all came."
Emma beamed. "Then just give us a time and we'll be here."
"Perfect."
Seeing that Regina was still a bit emotional, Emma touched the brunette's arm gently in understanding before withdrawing into the kitchen.
"Are you alright?" Robin asked Regina softly.
Regina sniffled, blinking back more tears as she nodded. "Yes, it's just the hormones."
"Do you need to sit down?"
She smiled in appreciation. "No, thank you but I'm fine." She leaned into his embrace once more, wiping away a tear before wrapping her arm around Henry again and gazing out at the softly falling snow.
There were a few moments where the four of them simply stood in each others' arms and silently watched as the snow continued to fall outside. Despite the sizeable amount of it, it still managed to have a calming effect.
Suddenly a tissue was offered to Regina from around Henry, and she looked over to see Emma standing there.
"Thought you might want one." Emma explained.
Regina removed her arm from around Henry to take it.
"Thank you Emma."
Emma nodded before leaving to rejoin the others in the living room.
After dabbing the rest of her tears away, Regina tucked the tissue into her pocket. "What do you say we go back and join the others too?" She asked.
"Sure thing." Robin nodded, smiling as he rubbed her back comfortingly.
Roland yawned, leaning his head against his father's shoulder. "Can we read the story again?"
Regina ran her fingers through his hair, glancing at a clock on the wall. "Of course we can. But I think someone's ready for bed."
"I'm not tired."
"The sooner you go to sleep the faster Santa will come." Henry said.
"Really?!"
"Well yeah, he won't come if you're awake."
"What about everyone else?"
"We'll be going to bed soon too."
"Okaaay."
Regina gave Henry a thankful look. "But first, I think there's something we still need to do." She said to him and Roland.
"Santa's cookies!" Roland exclaimed.
"Of course, how could we forget about the cookies?" Robin replied. "Why don't you three go get started? I'll let the others know what we're up to." He said, setting Roland down on his feet again and kissing Regina's temple.
Henry took Roland's hand. "Come on, let's go pick out some good ones."
Roland reached his free hand up to take Regina's so he could walk between them into the next room.
"How many do we leave?" Roland asked as they made their way.
"Depends... How many do you think he wants?" Henry asked.
"Three?"
"Three sounds good." Henry grinned, picking Roland up so the five-year-old could sit on the counter.
As Regina retrieved a decorative Christmas plate from the cupboard, Henry opened the tin which had the extra gingerbread cookies from earlier that day.
"How about we all pick one to leave out for Santa?" Henry suggested.
Roland nodded in agreement.
Regina smiled as she placed the plate on the counter next to the tin. "Roland sweetie why don't you go first?" She said as she wrapped an arm around him, afraid he might fall off the counter.
"Umm..." Roland thought as he looked into the tin. He reached forward and selected a gingerbread man from amongst the different shapes.
"Good choice Roland." Regina praised. "Santa will love that one."
Roland smiled proudly. "Which one are you gonna pick?"
"Hmm." Regina smiled thoughtfully for him as she reached into the tin. "What do you think of this one?" She asked, holding out a snowflake-shaped cookie.
Roland nodded.
"And I think I like this one." Henry said, taking one of the candy-cane-shaped cookies from the box. "Do you want to put it on the plate for me?"
Roland nodded and took the cookie from his brother. "We need carrots right? For the reindeers?"
"Definitely can't forget about the reindeer," Henry said.
"Of course not. They're working very hard tonight." Regina agreed as Henry went to the fridge.
He took out a little bowl of carrots he and Roland had made up earlier and put it down beside the cookies.
"Well Roland what do you think?" Regina said. "There's still something else we need to leave out for Santa isn't there? Do you know what it is?"
Roland's brow furrowed as he thought. "A candy cane?"
"A candy cane?" She repeated with a smile, that hadn't been what she was going for but it was sweet. "I think that's a great idea. You can choose one from the tree when we go back into the living room."
"Okay!"
"Is there anything else we should leave?" Henry asked.
Roland shrugged with an embarrassed smile, looking to Regina for the answer.
"What do you usually like to have with cookies Roland?" She asked gently.
"Juice!"
Regina breathed a laugh. "Okay, what does Henry usually like to have with cookies?"
Roland looked to his brother. "Milk?"
"That's right, Santa loves milk with cookies." Henry grinned.
"He does?"
"Yup."
"How do you know?"
"He told me so."
"You saw him?!"
Henry laughed. "No, I wrote to him when I was a kid. He wrote back and mentioned it."
"He didn't tell me when he wrote to me!"
"That's because you didn't ask him." Henry tickled Roland, causing him to curl in on himself in giggles.
"He knew Henry would give you the message as well." Regina added, winking at her older son.
"Ohhhh." Roland replied, still laughing a little as Henry lifted him from the counter and back to the floor so Regina would have more room since kitchen was unusually full with Christmas food and dishes.
Robin entered the kitchen just then. "So how are we doing in here? All set?"
"Just getting the milk for Santa's cookies." Regina responded. Roland watched from beside her as she poured it into a glass.
"Now we're all set." She stated, putting the milk jug back into the refrigerator. "Roland would you like to take the cookies out into the living room yourself? Or would you like one of us to carry them for you?"
"I can."
"Okay, you can take the plate and Henry can carry the milk and carrots. But be very careful okay?"
"I will."
Robin took the plate of cookies and handed them down to his son. "The other's have cleared a spot in the living room for you. Why don't you lead the way? I can show you when we get there."
Roland nodded. After checking to make sure Henry was ready he began to slowly make his way back to the living room.
The four entered the living room, and Roland blushed when Mary Margaret couldn't help but say "Aww" as she saw him carrying the plate of cookies.
"Just over here Roland." Robin showed him. Roland carefully set the plate down on the table.
"Did you pick all those yourself Roland?" David asked in an impressed voice.
Roland shook his head.
"Me and Mom helped him." Henry filled in.
"Aw that's nice." Mary Margaret smiled.
"Maybe next year Neal could pick one out too." Regina said. "Roland what do you think?"
Roland nodded with a smile at the baby.
David and Mary Margaret shared a smile before looking down at their baby.
"Alright Roland what candy cane do you think we should leave out for Santa?" Henry asked.
Roland followed Henry and they walked over to the Christmas tree. Roland looked around the tree and saw one near the top. He pointed up to it.
"That one up there? Alright, why don't you get it down for us?"
Henry lifted up his brother so he could reach it. Roland took it from the tree and Henry set him back down on his feet.
"Good choice, let's go put it on the plate and then I think you have to go to bed."
Roland glanced around the room as he went back to the plate of cookies and realized that all eyes were on him. He placed the candy cane next to the cookies and then hugged Regina who was standing next to it. He buried his face against her to hide from the many faces that were now sending smiles in his direction. He wasn't usually shy but now that they were all watching him it embarrassed him a little. The adoring voices that could be heard throughout the room only made him burrow further.
"Roland why don't you say goodnight to everyone before we go up?" Robin asked.
Roland shrugged. "Okay." He mumbled.
"Come on."
Roland peeked at his father's outstretched hand, and then decided to take it.
Robin accompanied him as the boy went around the room hugging and saying goodbye to the rest of the family.
"'Night little guy, I'll see you tomorrow." Emma hugged him. "And don't worry, I'll make sure Gold doesn't eat any of the cookies you left for Santa."
Roland glanced uncertainly at the older man as he let go of Emma.
"Don't worry, she's kidding." Gold responded dryly.
Roland still looked unsure.
"I'm kidding." Emma assured him.
"No need to worry Roland we'll make sure he stays out of trouble." Belle said, patting her husband's hand and smiling at him.
Roland finished saying goodnight to everyone and then he and Robin joined Regina at the door.
"I can take him up by myself if you want." Robin said, taking the five-year-old into his arms. He knew Regina had been on her feet a lot that day and he didn't want her to push herself.
"No it's okay, I want to." Regina responded softly as she took one of Roland's little hands in her own. This was her first Christmas with Robin and Roland and she didn't want to miss a second of it.
"Okay." Robin nodded in understanding.
"We'll be back down soon." Regina said to the others.
Once the three were up in Roland's room, Regina held the covers back as Robin placed their sleepy son into his bed. Together Robin and Regina fixed the blankets around him and once they were finished, Regina sat on the mattress beside him and Robin sat closer to the foot of the bed.
"Did you still want to hear the story again Roland?" Regina asked softly as she brushed his hair back from his face.
Roland nodded.
"Okay."
Regina picked up the book that she had retrieved from the living room and settled back against the headboard. Eager to hear The Night Before Christmas again, Roland sat up too and burrowed himself into her side. He leaned his head against her as she wrapped an arm around him and opened to the first page.
Robin couldn't help but smile at the sight. He was so thankful for his family. He hadn't expected it to grow so much in such a short time.
As his wife began to read the story again, Robin could hear the voices of the rest of the family carrying up through the floor. He was so glad that his son was finally able to have this.
For years the only family he and Roland had were the Merry Men. The Merry Men had been a good a family, and they still were, but the family that he and Roland now had with Regina was something that deep down, Robin had always wished he could give to his son.
As Regina continued to read the book to Roland, Robin got up from his seat and moved around to the other side of the bed so he could sit on Roland's other side. Regina smiled over at him as she turned the page, and he wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
He listened as Regina read the rest of the story, and watched as Roland blinked sleepily from where he was huddled at his mother's side.
"He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle," Regina read.
"And away they all flew like the down of a thistle.
But I heard him exclaim, 'ere he drove out of sight,
Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good night."
Regina closed the book as she finished.
Her arm was still around Roland, and she smiled down at him as she that noticed he had fallen asleep against her side. She placed the book on the bedside table again and her hand came to rest on her belly. She thought of how different this Christmas had been from the previous one, and how different she was sure the next one would be.
"I guess we should go down and join the others." Robin whispered.
"Mmm," Regina absent-mindedly agreed, still staring lovingly down at Roland.
"What are you thinking?" Robin asked gently as he brushed a hand through her hair.
She blinked softly a few times before her eyes raised to meet his. "It's just..." She whispered.
"What?" He prompted with a soft smile, recognizing the happiness in her eyes.
"Only a few years ago a never would have believed I would ever have anything like this."
"What? A Christmas party with a drunken pirate in your living room?" Robin teased gently.
Regina breathed a laugh, dropping her gaze back to Roland. "No, a family like this. And... a Christmas like this I suppose." She looked back up at Robin again. "Last year we missed it because we were in the Enchanted Forest. And since adopting Henry last year was my first Christmas without him. It was his first Christmas without me too and... and he didn't even know that I existed."
"I know..." Robin said regretfully.
"And the few years before that were hardly much better... " She shook her head softly at the painful memory. "I knew his heart wasn't really in it."
"I'm sorry you had to go through that Regina." Robin rubbed her arm softly. "But Henry does remember you now, and he loves you. He's here with all of us; that's what matters."
Regina nodded with a soft smile.
Both of their heads turned slightly as a round of laughter could be heard coming from the living room.
Robin felt his heart warm as he saw Regina's smile grow at the sound. "And with me and Roland here, and with that wonderful albeit sometimes strange family you've got downstairs, you'll never have to have a Christmas like those past few ones ever again Regina, I promise."
Regina blinked back a tear as she gazed down at the sleeping five-year-old in her arms.
"Robin?" She whispered.
"What is it Regina?" He asked softly.
"I love you so much."
Robin's eyes softened. "I love you too Regina."
He leaned over and the two shared a kiss.
Regina gave a soft sigh. "You're right, we should go back down with the others."
"I don't mind staying up here a bit longer if that's what you want."
Regina gave him a soft smile. "No... we should get back. What kind of hosts are we if we abandon the guests at our own party?"
"Well, Henry is still down there." Robin teased. "I'm sure they're fine without us for a little while longer."
Regina patted his arm with a smile. "Come on."
They somewhat reluctantly got up, and made sure that the still-sleeping Roland was settled comfortably in his bed.
Robin gently rubbed Roland's arm. "Night little man." He said softly.
Regina leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to Roland's forehead. "Sweet dreams Roland. Merry Christmas." She whispered.
Robin wrapped his arm around Regina's waist. "Come on, let's go enjoy the rest of Christmas Eve with our family."
A/N: Thank you for reading! Please don't forget to leave a review!
