Chaper 3
Henry shuts the door and goes to the back garden. He sees Roland on the swing, Regina is pushing him and Robin sits on the bench and watches them. "She left." Henry says quietly.
"Thank you Henry." Robin looks at him and replies, then looks back at Regina.
"No problem at all. I think you two should talk. Roland! Do you want to resume our PS3 game?" Henry asks.
"Sure!" excited Roland jumps of the swing, takes Henry's hand that he's offering and they go inside.
Regina is watching them with a smile on her face. When they disappear inside of the house, she joins Robin on the bench and her smile fades away. For a while they are sitting speechless, then Robin breaks the silence. "Thank you. You've handled the evening very well."
Regina looks at him, but he remains staring into nowhere in front of him, she puts her left hand on his right thigh and with the right touches his face. Under her soft touch he relaxes a bit, closes his eyes and takes a deep breath. "You don't have to thank me. I did my best. We both did. Given those circumstances, it all ended the best it could." She comes closer to him and kisses his cheek.
"You don't know Marian. This is not over yet. When she sets her mind on something, it's hell difficult to change her mind. Though apparently I don't know her either, because Marian I know wouldn't behave like this before our son." he remains quiet for a while, then sighs. "But let's not talk about that. She's gone for a while. Let's concentrate on more pleasant things."
She plays with his hair behind his ear. "Huh. For example? I can't really see positive now."
Robin deeply inhales, turns his head, looks into Regina's eyes and smiles."So we must change that. Tomorrow we'll have a wonderful day, just the four of us. And in the evening we'll watch some good movie. And as for tonight, we still need to do couple of things."
Regina looks still worried "What things? Where?"
"Bedroom."
Regina looks for a while confused, her mind troubled by Marian, then she gets it and enchantingly smiles. "Oh, that! Sounds like a very good distraction! Let's put the boys to the bed then." she kisses him, looks at him seductively and bites her lower lip.
"Ooh, Regina." He takes her head in his hands, looks into her eyes for a long time as if searching for some kind of answer and kisses her, gently lies her on the bench, the passion starts to take over them when a sudden voice from inside makes them stop.
"Hey papa! Regina! Come to look at me!"
They start laughing. "We are coming!" Regina shouts the answer. Robin gives her one last passionate kiss and helps her stand up. They enter the living room hand in hand, well left hand in the left hand, Robin has his right hand around her shoulders, he's whispering something into her ear and she's giggling.
Henry looks up, raises his eyebrow and grins. "Like teenagers." He says under his nose, no one can hear it through the noise of the game.
"Boys! Time to go to bed."
"Ooh, no papa! Please let us finish this game!" Roland begs.
Robin glances at Regina, she sees how happy the boys are, so she nods in agreement.
"OK then, finish, but then to bed. Both of you. It's getting late." Robin approves and goes to the study and brings full red wine glasses. He gives one to Regina, who is sitting on the arm of an armchair, watching silently the boys. Robin sits in the armchair and pulls Regina into his lap.
"I just can't imagine loosing you. Any of you in this room." Regina quietly says.
"You won't. Have faith." He answers into her ear.
"Mom, could you please whatsapp Emma that she can come to pick me up?"Henry asks, eyes glued to the TV screen.
"Pick you up? Why? I thought you're staying here. We have plans for tomorrow!" Regina freaks out.
"I know. And I'll be here. I just promised mom to have a breakfast with her."
Regina sighs. Emma, here we go again. So much for not loosing anyone. "Whatever. As you wish. I'm not going to argue with you. Just please come tomorrow." She takes her phone from the coffee table and writes Emma, sips her wine and gets reply. 'OK. Be there in 10.' Regina rests her head on Robin's chest.
"Yes! I won! Yes, yes, yes! Papa! Regina! Did you see? I won! Wee!" Roland jumps cheerfully around the coffee table.
"Oh yes honey! Congratulations!" Regina laughs as she replies, looks at Henry, who's getting up, not understanding how Roland could've won. Henry meets her eyes, winks and smiles. That's how.
"Roland, give Henry and Regina goodnight kiss and come with me to the bed." Robin approaches Roland.
He hugs and kisses Henry. "Goodnight, Henry! See you tomorrow!"
"Goodnight bro!" Henry smiles and Roland giggles, then jumps into Regina's open arms and gives her a sweet kiss on the cheek.
She kisses him as well and snuggles. "Goodnight, honey. Sleep well." She says while still holding him.
"Regina?" he shyly asks.
"Yes?" she encourages him to speak.
" Can you tell me a goodnight story and put me to bed with papa?" he asks with a stress on 'you'.
She smiles. "Of course. Let's go." She walks towards Henry, moves Roland on one side, seating him on her hip and holding him with one hand hugs Henry with the other. "If I don't see you tonight, see you tomorrow." Kisses him. "And goodnight."
Henry holds her longer and tighter than usually. "Goodnight and sorry I cannot stay. Love you mom."
Regina smiles "And I love you honey." They remain in embrace for a moment, then Roland leans his head against her shoulder. That's a sign of his tiredness, so she walks with him into his room, Robin at her heel.
"Be right back Henry, wait for me please," Robin says. Henry nods, takes a book from the library and sits back down.
Regina changes Roland into his pyjamas after he's brushed his teeth and puts him to bed, kisses his forehead and sits on the side of his bed. Robin comes closer, touches Regina's back and kisses Roland. "Goodnight son. Sweet dreams." And he returns to the living room.
…..
"Henry, I want to ask you something, but I want you to be honest with me, ok?" Robin asks as he's taking his seat.
Henry closes the book and puts it on the coffee table. He hesitates, "Mhm, sure? Is it so serious?" and looks at Robin.
"Yes, it's about your mom. Well, us. Do you like me?" Robin goes straight ahead.
"Of course! You are cool. You're Robin Hood!" he answers.
"I know, but me as a person. I mean, can you imagine having me around for the rest of our lives?" Robin continues with urgent voice.
"Of course I can. You are nice. Roland is great and last but not least you mean a lot to my mom. Before Marian returned, she… we were all so happy! But now? She's scared she's gonna lose another important person in her life. And that makes her vulnerable and sad. Can YOU do something about it?" Henry asks.
"Do you want me to make her sure that she's not going to lose me? That I'll be here for her no matter that Marian returned?"
"Yes! Can you do that?" he hopefully asks.
Robin smiles and pats Henry on the shoulder. "I can try. To convince her will be difficult I suppose, but I'll do my best. As soon as possible, don't worry. We will make her happy again. But can you do something as well?"
"Shoot! I'd do anything for her."
"Could you try to be here as much as possible? She feels like she's losing you for Emma and that doesn't help her either." Robin says.
"But Emma is my mom as well. I cannot be just here. You've got to understand…" Henry starts explaining, but Robin stops him.
"I do. Don't get me wrong. I'm just saying, if you have spare time, spend it with Regina. That's it. Could you do that?"
Henry takes a deep breath and thinks for a while. "Well I suppose I could spend more time here, at least for couple of weeks. I'm sure mom, Emma, will understand. I believe that until then you will think out something." The door bell rings. "I think that's mom." Henry reacts.
"I'll walk you out."
Henry grabs his backpack and they go to the front door. Robin opens "Hello Emma."
"Hiiii Robin." Emma starts with apologizing voice. "How's Regina?" She peeks inside over Robin's shoulder. "Looks like she doesn't want to see me."
"She's putting Roland to bed, but what do you think, how is she?" Robin answers.
Emma looks down at her feet. "I'm sorry. I really am. I hope I can talk with her about it later, but… And how are you?"
"I'm fine. Finally. Took me a lot of time and thinking but I figured out what I'm going to do next. This situation must be solved and quickly. For everyone's sake. I'm getting divorced." Robin resolutely answers.
"Well, that was quick. But good for you. OK then. Henry, time to go. Robin, take care and please, tell Regina that I'm sorry." Wraps one arm around Henry's shoulders and they walk towards the bug.
While they're walking away, Henry turns his head and says "Bye Robin. See you tomorrow."
"Yes, bye. And thank you!" Robin answers with a smile, then shuts the door behind him, makes himself comfortable on the sofa and rethinks his plan.
…
In the meantime…
"So, Roland. Which fairytale do you want me to tell you?" Regina asks while she's straightening his blanket.
"Hmm, can you tell me something I don't know?" Roland sits as he replies.
"What about Cinderella? Or Peter Pan? Mermaids?"
Roland shakes his head after each suggestion. "I've heard all of them."
Regina takes a deep breath and half closes her eyes while she thinks. "Lie down, I'm going to tell you a story about one sad queen, who just wanted to be happy." Regina starts.
"Was she pretty?" Roland as he's lying back down.
Regina smiles and answers after considering her reply "Well, she was told couple times that she's the fairest of them all."
"So she was pretty like you?" he asks seriously.
She smiles and kisses his forehead as a silent thank you. "She was younger and had longer hair, but she indeed looked like me."
Roland smiles. "Okay. Now I can imagine her being you. Can we call her Regina then?"
"Sure we can!"
"Continue please."
"So, once upon a time there was a young queen who was married to one king against her will. And that was making her really sad. Every day in her chambers she was thinking about her misery. One afternoon she went for a ride on her horse. She went deep into the royal forest, and there she met a green fairy. Her name was Tink. They sat down on a meadow and were talking for hours. Regina told her all about her situation and Tink decided to help her. She promised the queen that she'll help her find a new love. The next day, Tink came to the palace to see the queen. There he told her about a man whom they must visit. Regina agreed to come with the fairy the following day. The queen had gussied up in the morning, not for she would need it, just to kill time before Tink arrived. They went to a small town and stopped before one tavern's window. 'Look through the window Regina. Do you see the man with the lion tattoo on his arm?' Tink asked…"
"Like my papa's?" Roland butts in.
"Yes honey." She smiles.
"Then let's call him Robin, pleeease"
"Okay." Regina smiles and continues. "Where were we?"
"Tink asked something." Roland helps.
He's really paying attention. Cutie pie. "Right. Thank you. So Tink asked and the queen nodded. 'That's your love. That's your soulmate. Go inside and be happy!' after these words Tink flew away. Regina pumped and excited flies the door open and makes one step inside. The tavern is so full, that no one even notices that she went in. After a very short while standing there and looking at the back of his head she gets scared, makes two steps backwards and the tavern's door slam before her face. She turns around and starts running."
"No! Regina is like you. That means she's brave! She can't leave!" Roland doesn't agree.
If only you knew… Regina thinks for a while and finds a solution. "But I haven't finished yet, honey. Don't worry."She kisses his cheek. "When she passes 3 streets, she suddenly stops, shakes her head and tells to herself. 'Be brave Regina. Just talk to him. It cannot hurt.' So she slowly walks back towards the tavern. When she gets there, she steps on a crate and looks through the window again, but doesn't see him. He must've left in the meantime." Roland's eyes dilate. "It'd seem she lost him. 'Looking for someone mylady?' Unexpected voice behind her startles her, she loses stability and falls down."
"Hahaha" Roland laughs.
Regina raises one eyebrow and grins. " Surprisingly for her, she doesn't hit the hard cold ground, but is caught by two strong hands. Regina quickly stands up with his help, turns around and is looking into face of one handsome guy. For a while they're just silent, not moving looking into each other eyes. 'Thank you.' She says. 'You are welcome mylady. It was my pleasure.' He answers, takes her right hand and kisses it. She smiles and looks down because she's starting blush. Then she notices the lion tattoo on his right hand."
"That's him! Is that Robin?"
Regina nods and continues. "'My name is Regina.' 'Oh, how rude of me. Please accept my deepest apology. I am Robin. Nice to meet you.'"
Roland smiles and yawns. Time to end the fairytale.
"He invites her into the tavern, where they talk for a long time, they fall in love and live together happily ever after." Regina finishes the story.
"And what about the king?" Roland asks.
"The king. Well, he was told by Tink that the queen died, so he wouldn't search for her, but he didn't miss her at all. He was living with his daughter you know.."
"And did Regina and Robin have any kids?"Roland is tired but now too excited for sleeping.
"Of course! A boy named Roland and a girl named Rosanne."
"Like me!"
She laughs. "Just like you. Cute and nice like you. But now, time to sleep."
"Can you sing me a song first? Pretty please!" Roland begs.
Regina sighs and smiles "Fine. But then you'll sleep. OK?"
"I promise. Thank you. I love you."
"I love you too sweetie." Then she sings a song which she used to sing to little Henry. And just like with him, it works for Roland as well. She hasn't even finished the first verse yet and he was asleep. Regina kisses his forehead, covers him better, switches the light off and goes to the living room to join Robin.
"What took you so long? I missed you. Is he asleep?" Robin asks her when she enters the living room.
"He is. Took a while, but yes. I think he just wanted a company." She answers while taking a seat next to him on the sofa.
"Who wouldn't want your company?" he grins.
She smiles and rests her head in his lap. "I'm tired."
"Do you want to go to bed?" Robin asks while playing with her hair.
"Nah. Let's watch the news first and we can go afterwards."
"Sure. Your wish is my command mylady." And he turns on the TV. "God, I love your hair, the longer the better. It's like its gorgeousness is growing with its length."
"Aww, thank you. You really know how to flatter sometimes." Regina smiles.
"Excuse me? Sometimes?" He laughs and kisses her. Then they watch the TV, comment on the news, laugh together and at the end he looks at her and she's asleep. He turns the TV off. Robin tries to get up softly, not to wake up, but she half-wakes up anyway and wants to stand up. "No, no, no! Wait. Let me." He kisses her and picks her up from the sofa as if she weighted just like a feather. She wraps her arms around his neck and falls back asleep. He lays her gently on the bed, undresses her, kisses her, then undresses himself as well and lies closely next to her. She feels his presence, so moves even closer to him.
*pip, pip, pip* the alarm is off
"What the hell?" Regina says after she awakes. She hits the alarm clock on her night table and shuts it. 1.30am why did I set that alarm? Wait. I didn't. Alarmed she opens her eyes and stares at the ceiling. Why is it yellow? Lights from the outside never give yellow light. What is that?