This is set in my You'll Find Her Somewhere In Time Verse and is inspired by the gorgeous art by ankareeda! Hope you like it!
When Robin arrived home from working at the studio with the production team, he'd expected to be greeted by Regina. Most days she would come running up to him as soon as she heard the door go, like some kind of excited child, ready to tell him about all the new and amazing things she'd discovered that day. However, it seemed today that wasn't going to happen.
He removed his coat and hung it up on a peg before heading off in search of his wife, "Regina?" he called out as he moved into the kitchen to put the kettle on. She could have gone out with the girls, but if she had, she'd left the front door unlocked and that wasn't like her, she was usually very cautious when it came to security. Maybe they had just come over and were chilling by the pool.
Once he'd made himself a cup of tea and one for Regina should she want it, he decided to check in the sitting room. He noticed her dark hair peeking over the top of one of the sofas, it was secured in a large messy bun on top of her head. She was talking to someone and from the tone he knew exactly who that someone was. Poppy. She would always talk to the cat in the same way.
"Hey babe."
"Shush," she tutted, glancing up at him briefly before turning her attention back to her lap.
Robin grinned and shook his head, then out of the corner of his eye he spotted a rather grumpy looking Poppy sat in her bed almost guarding her toy mice. If Regina wasn't talking to the cat, then who on earth was she speaking to. "Babe what are you…" his gaze fell to the small white ball of fur on Regina's knee and his eyes widened, "what is that?"
"This one is Mozart," she beamed, running her finger over the tiny kitten's nose, making it sneeze before curling into her more.
"Why do we have another cat in the house?"
"He lives here now," Regina shrugged, softly stroking the cat's fur.
"What about Poppy?"
"What do you mean?"
"You can't just replace Poppy with a newer version!"
"I'm not replacing her!" she scoffed, "Mozart is her new brother."
"I don't think we need a new cat, Poppy is more than enough." It was bad enough with Poppy scratching up the sofa's, the last thing they needed was another cat, especially when they were trying for a baby. More pets equalled more mess and more hassle.
"But they were homeless Robin! What else was I supposed to do? Just leave them to starve on the streets and fend for themselves. They are so tiny and its cold outside."
"Yeah but… wait, they? What do you mean they?" There was more than one? Oh god, just how many kittens had she gone and brought into their home? She was a stubborn woman and he knew that if she had made her mind up that the kittens, however many there were, were staying, then they most likely would be. He had a hard time saying no to her, she had him wrapped around her little finger.
"Tchaikovsky and Beethoven," she shrugged.
It was only then that he noticed yet another white kitten peering over the top of the sofa and another peeking out from underneath. Three more cats?! She wanted to take in, not one, but three more? No, that wasn't happening, they would have to reach some kind of compromise. He glanced over at Poppy, at least she was on his side, she was staring at the little kittens as though they were the face of evil. "I don't think Poppy is very appreciative of this. Where did you even find them?" More to the point, how did she manage to just find stray cats in general? It was as though they were attracted to her.
"A woman gave them to me, she was just giving them away on the street. Can you believe that?"
"No, not really," Robin groaned. He sat down on the ground beside Poppy and she crawled onto his lap, offering Regina a harsh cat glare as she cuddled into him. "We can't keep them all."
"Why not?" she furrowed her eyebrows and he watched as the little kitten that had been underneath the sofa came over to him, nudging him with its little pink nose. He glanced at Poppy and noticed her watching it intently before swatting at the tiny little cat, making Robin chuckle as he watched the baby stumble backwards before trying his luck and coming back for more, getting a little closer this time. Poppy still eyed him, pushing her paw out, but he simply grabbed hold of it and rolled onto his back as though he were wanting to play.
"You can keep one."
"How am I supposed to chose just one?" she complained, stroking the two that were on her lap.
"Who is your favourite composer?"
"Tchaikovsky, but I don't see what that has to do with… oh."
"Which one is Tchaikovsky, or Chai as he shall now be known."
"The one that seems to be biting Poppy's foot," Regina giggled. Robin glanced down to see the kitten that had come up to him now trying to put Poppy's paw in his mouth, only for her to swat him in return.
"Good choice."
"What about Mozart and Beethoven?"
"I'm sure we'll be able to find them homes. In fact, I think Mal was wanting a kitten. Cruella wanted a puppy, but Mal said that wasn't happening."
"Oh yes! Mal can have Mozart, but what about Beethoven?"
"I'll ask around. Who knows, Ana and Will might want him."
"Then they can all see each other and won't be separated!" she grinned as she stroked the two kittens on her lap. "Don't worry babies, we'll find you all good homes."
"Here, take Chai before he drives Poppy insane," Robin chuckled, scooping up the little kitten in one hand and Poppy in the other. "Can you call Ana and Mal? Poppy and I will go cook dinner."
"Yep!" Regina nodded, finding her phone, as he headed out of the living room with the black cat in his arms, hearing Regina's voice as he left. "Mal! I have the most perfect present for you, do you want to come around for drinks tonight?"
Robin grinned and kissed the top of Poppy's head, "what is your mother like?" he laughed as he headed into the kitchen, placing Poppy down on her raised bed in the corner and earning a meow in return. "We still love her more than anything though don't we?"
