Hi hi, thank you to those who have commented, it was so nice to get some feed back. I hope to continue this as an extended series. This chapter is slightly longer than the others, and I don't really know where the series is headed just yet, but i guess that's ok. It'll be a surprise for all of us :)
Robin woke to find streams of sunlight flooding through his curtains. The left side of the bed was empty, that meant Regina was already up - she had probably gone down to feed the boys. He chuckles to himself, remembering the days in the Enchanted Forest when he and the sun would always be racing to wake up first. Now his morning schedule was more relaxed (plus he actually had a bed and not a hard forest floor to sleep on, which made waking up just that much harder!).
Slowly he dragged himself out of bed, and maneuvers his way to the bathroom where he proceeded to start his day with a nice warm shower. Once he was all dressed and ready to go, he made his way downstairs and into the kitchen. Roland was sitting at the table in his little high chair, happily chatting away with Henry who is flipping pancakes by the stove. Regina however looks a little more frazzled, rushing around in her heels and a tight forest green dress (one of Robins favourites), packing bags and reminding Roland, who was still clad in pajamas, that he had to look he best when he met his mother later that today.
"But I know mommy, mommy is right here" he says, looking slightly confused while pointing a little pudgy finger at Regina. A smile that could light up the sun, spread across her face, as she made her way over to kiss him on the forehead.
"Not me silly boy, your other mother, Marian" Her smile quickly faded when she saw the look of panic on Roland's face.
"Gina is mommy, I don't want to go with Arian" He pouts.
"It's Mmmmarian sweety, and she is really looking forward to meeting you."
"Come on my boy, it'll be fun." Robin chimed in, pulling out a seat so he could sit next to his son. He tilts his face to the side, closer to Regina's and whispered, "to tell you the truth I had completely forgotten about the meeting, I would be a total mess without you." Regina smiled ruefully at the remark, why did she have to be so damn organized. They had yet to discuss the exact details of their future, and how it would play out, but they first wanted to sort out Roland's. He would be the most affected by all this.
The little boy still looked unconvinced, clinging onto Regina's hand, which had been stroking his thick black curls.
"Don't worry Ro, now you can be just like me, and we can both have two moms." Henry said encouragingly, only to quieten down when he saw the disheartened look on Regina's face. Robin is quick to notice it as well. In all truthfulness Regina had quite enjoyed the fact that she hadn't had to share Roland with anyone else, not like Henry. But now it seemed as though she would be co-parenting once again. She couldn't shake the dark, slightly jealous feeling that had started to bubble up inside her again at the thought of having to share yet another one of her children.
When it came to sharing her sons there was always a part of her that felt at a disadvantage, compared to their other mothers. Biologically neither boy was hers, and there was a part of her that just couldn't forget that. She wasn't their real mother. She never would be. Whether she liked it or not, blood was, and will always be thicker than water, Henry had shown he abided by that rule more than a couple times, and it still hurt her to this day. But she could not think of that now, her first priority was making sure her youngest boy didn't live his life without his birthmother. She couldn't be selfish.
"Henry is right baby boy, you'll love having two mommies," she looks around dramatically before bending down and whispering to him, "it also means twice the amount of presents for your birthday and christmas!" That statement lit his face right up. Regina and Robin both smiled, satisfied by his change of heart (even if it had taken the promise of presents to get him there).
"That's my boy, now let's eat a nice big breakfast and we can all get ready to go to the park."
"Dad," Robin smiled, he loved that Henry had taken to calling him that, "do you want me to come as well, or should I hang out with Emma today?" Robin thought about it for a moment, coming to the conclusion that it was a family affair, and all family should be there.
"I would love it if you could come, it might be handy to have someone to play with Roland if things get too heated." Henry smiled at the reply, his chest puffing up with pride at feeling needed and important.
They arrive at the park before Marian did. The little family made it's way over to a bench, and settled down. Regina truly did look nervous, and Robin couldn't help but feel like it was somehow all his fault.
In an effort to reassure her he reached for her hand, a gesture which she gladly accepted, squeezing it gratefully. Roland and Henry had already run off to the swings, happily going back and forth, without a care in the world.
"I truly am sorry about all this," Robin said, a wry smile on his face, as he gazes out in the direction of the boys.
"Why it's not your fault, you didn't bring her back, Emma did." He can hear the resentment in her voice as she said Emma's name, but for once, he almost agreed with her. This new development has made his perfect life a lot more complicated, and brought back memories he hadn't wanted. Marian was in the past, and he had come to terms with that, but now she was back and he didn't really know how to react to that, or what he was supposed to do. There were such fine lines between being a good partner, parent and person, how could he possibly navigate through all of them without making a couple wrong turns along the way.
"So what are we going to do now?" she asked, a worried look on her face, "what happens to us?"
"Honestly, I don't know, when i'm with you it's like the world is a completely different place, your so intense and pationant, so vibrant that when i'm not around you, it's like my whole world is black and white" Regina's frown drew into a reluctant smile as she gives him a look of disbelief.
"No really, i'm not kidding, it's like before I met you, I wasn't really living. My soul wasn't compete. I thought at first it was just an after effect of Marian's death, but she's back now, and I still feel that way when i'm not around you. You brings the colours and life into the black and white world around me. The love I had with Marian was, well, colour blind. An illusion of the love I wanted. But back then I was so young, I hadn't known any better. I hadn't met you."
"But Robin, your honour. You made vows, and I will not ask you to break them. But I will also not be the other woman." She said forcefully, sitting up straighter.
"I know and I would never ask you to be that." he said, cupping her cheek in one hand, "we will figure this out, I promise you." He looks her deep in the eyes, and sighs, "I truly do love you"
After a moment she replied, "and I love you" She leaned into kiss him, but was interrupted by a little boy running at full speed towards her.
"Mommy, Daddy! She's here!" Roland yelled, a mixture of excitement and caution in his voice. He hurtled straight into Regina's lap. Henry jogged up behind him, and made his way next to Robin, who had stood up, and unconsciously taken a protective step in front of Regina.
Marian looked nervous, she wasn't used to being the one on the outside. She had always had Robins protection and full support. But ever since she had entered this new land that has not been the case, and it's all because of that witch. She couldn't help but feel a little bit of hatred fester inside her heart when she saw her son clinging to that evil woman. The same woman who killed her. She had barely escaped with her life from the queen's dungeon before Emma and the pirate had taken her to Storybrooke, and from what she understood, in the other timeline, the one when they didn't help her escape, she was killed by Regina only days later. To Marian it had only been days ago that she had last held her son lovingly, having him snuggle into her chest. Smiling up at her like there was not better person on the planet.
But that woman was the reason that had all changed, she was the reason her husband was gone, and she was the reason Marian was currently plotting her revenge. It didn't matter if revenge was bad, because she was good, and the queen was evil. And Marian knows just as well as anybody does, that no matter what, good always wins.
With new found confidence, Marian made her way over to the small family, a spring in her step as she went.