Chapter 3: Flourishing Friendships

"Do you have to go?" Roland asked as Regina tried to get the squirming boy into his pajamas.

She nodded, fighting to get his arm in his sleeve. "I have to go see my papa."

"Can't he come here?" Roland asked after his head emerged and as she tugged his pajama shirt down.

"No, he can't." Regina sat down on his bed, pulling him onto her lap. "My papa is sick and can't go to too many places."

"Oh. Will he get better?" Roland asked.

Regina's smile faltered a bit. "I hope so."

She laid Roland down, pulling his blankets up to his chin as she smiled again. "Now, what story do you want tonight?"

"Pinocchio!" he chirped, holding out the book. "Please."

"Okay." Regina settled on the edge of his bed, holding the book so he could see the pictures. "Once upon a time, there was a wood carver who always wanted a child…"

By the time Pinocchio was turned into a real boy, Roland was almost asleep. He yawned and rubbed his eyes as Regina closed the book. "Good night, Roland," she said.

"Not yet," he whined. "Can I have another story?"

Regina shook her head. "It's getting late. You need to get some sleep."

"Not until Papa kisses me good night." He yawned again.

"He had to work late, Roland. You'll see him in the morning."

The boy shook his head. "Have to see him now."

Regina sighed, trying to keep her patience as Roland's fears reared their head again. She ran her hand through his curls. "How about I sing you a lullaby? Would you like that?"

"Okay," Roland said, clutching his teddy bear closer.

She began singing, soft but sure, as she kept running a hand through his curls. Roland put up a good fight and she watched as his eyelids would droop before he'd open them up wide again. Over and over until finally he stopped opening them. His breathing evened out and Regina brought the lullaby to an end.

Regina couldn't resist and dropped a kiss to his forehead. He sighed, rolling over as she turned on his nightlight and slipped out of his room. She leaned against the wall and took a deep breath, letting it out slowly.

"You have a lovely singing voice." She jumped at the sound of Will's voice, turning to find the butler leaning against the opposite wall.

She shrugged. "It's okay, I guess."

"You're too modest for your own good," Will said. "Be proud. You have a talent."

"Thank you, Will." She glanced down the hall. "Have you heard from Robin?"

"Yeah, he phoned a bit ago. He's left the office and will be home soon. Told us not to wait up. Said he's eaten already and just wants to go to bed himself."

Regina nodded. "As long as he's here in the morning. I don't want to see Roland if he's not."

"Neither do I," Will confessed. "Especially since it's your day off and I'll have to deal with him."

"Good night, Will." Regina rolled her eyes as she walked into her room.

She heard him chuckle before he called out: "Good night, Regina. I'll see you in the morning."


Her alarm went off and she hit it, stretching as she sat up. Laughter drifted from the next room and she smiled, knowing Robin was in there with his son. She pulled on her robe, checking on Roland just to be sure.

Robin held his son aloft, tickling him as Roland laughed in his arms. "Papa! Put me down!" he said between giggles.

"Not until you promise to put on actual clothes," Robin said. "Do you?"

"Yes, Papa. I do."

He put the boy down and Roland ran to his drawers, pulling them open. Robin watched him, arms crossed and a smile on his face. "I hope you don't give Regina as much trouble as you give me."

"I don't, Papa. Promise." Roland returned with some clothes and held up his arms. "Can you help me?"

As Robin helped his son dress, Regina shut the door and pulled out her own clothes for the day. She changed into a comfortable red sweater and paired it with a simple pair of jeans. It was best to be comfortable when she went to her father's sessions, she had learned. She wasn't planning on catching the eye of some handsome doctor and skirts did not go well with plastic chairs.

Her door opened and two small arms wrapped around her waist. She glanced down to find Roland, now dressed, hugging her. He smiled up at her. "I hope you have a good day with your Papa, Regina," he told her.

"Thank you, Roland." She crouched down in front of him. "And you promise to be good?"

He nodded as Robin peeked into the room. "Roland, let Regina get ready. You need to head downstairs for breakfast."

"Wait, could I just get your picture, Roland? To show my papa?" Roland nodded and Regina grabbed her phone, holding it up to snap the boy's picture. She smiled. "There we go. He'll love to see you."

"Okay, my boy. Head downstairs. We'll join you in a few minutes." Robin gave his son a little push as the boy hurried out of the room.

He turned to Regina. "Will can drive you home after breakfast. And he'll take you and your father to his appointment."

"Oh no," Regina protested. "Dad and I will be fine. You don't have to inconvenience yourself like that."

"I'm not. After how long I was in the office yesterday, I'm working from home so I'll be here with Roland. Besides, it'll be easier for you two if Will drives you."

She opened her mouth but he raised an eyebrow, as if challenging her to keep the argument going. Regina sighed instead. "Thank you, Robin."

"You're welcome," he replied. "And I hope we don't have to have this argument every week."

"Every…? No, Robin, that's too much."

"Regina, it's not." Robin took her gently by the arms. "Consider it an employment perk."

She sighed. "Fine. I guess it'll be better than taking the subway."

"Now come on before Will and Roland eat all the breakfast on us," Robin said, letting her go. "And before Will serves us cold coffee."

Regina smiled. "Well, he might serve you cold coffee. I have a feeling mine's going to be nice and hot."

He let out a belly laugh that echoed around the room and sent the butterflies flying in her stomach again as they headed down to the kitchen, shoulder to shoulder.


Will brought the limo around as Roland hugged Regina again. "And you promise you'll come back?" he asked.

"I will. I came back on Sunday, right?" Regina crouched down to look him in the eyes. "I'll see you tomorrow for breakfast, okay?"

He nodded, running back to his father and latching onto Robin's leg. Regina gave them one last smile before heading out to the limo. She climbed in and let out a deep sigh.

"Was Roland crying?" Will asked.

"No, thank goodness. I don't know if I could say no to tears yet."

Will chuckled. "Roland is hard to refuse when he's crying. But I think you'll find it in you to do it. You're tough."

"Thank you, Will. And not just for your kind words."

"Anytime. You're family now, whether you like it or not." He winked at her using the rearview mirror.

She smiled. "How long have you and Robin been family?"

"Years," Will replied. "Since we were children, actually. We grew up in the same neighborhood."

"And you ended up as his butler?"

"Assistant," Will insisted. "And this is actually a big step up career wise for someone from my family."

Regina tilted her head. "Why? What's the usual career?"

"Burglary."

"Oh," she replied. "Well, then, yes. This is a big step up. Did Robin save you from a life of crime?"

"Yeah, he did. Though not soon enough. I did get caught up in some trouble whilst he was at uni, studying business. He bailed me out and I promised I'd pay him back any way possible."

"So you cook and clean for him?"

Will shrugged. "And other things. I prefer it than being a janitor in his building. Didn't finish my schooling, you know, so there's not much out there for me."

"I know I haven't know you long, but I do know you're smart. Maybe smarter than you give yourself credit for."

"You sound just like Robin," he said.

Regina fought the urge to smile, choosing to shrug instead. "Then I guess it has to be true."

They lapsed into silence before she got the nerve to ask: "Will, you knew Marian, right?"

"Yes, I did."

"What was she like?"

Will smiled, thinking for a bit. "She was great. Had the prettiest smile ever. That's what drew Robin in. He came home from a charity event and was raving about this pretty brunette with a gorgeous smile. I could tell he was smitten."

"Charity? She ran one?"

"Nah, benefitted from it." Will glanced up at her. "She was a teacher at some specialized school in a poor neighborhood. They were trying to get funds for it."

"And I'm sure Robin suddenly became its biggest donor?"

"You're smart, like her." Will smiled. "You two would've gotten along well."

Regina smiled. "You think so?"

He nodded. "Absolutely. She was sweet and I had never seen Robin happier than when he was with her."

She had more questions to ask about Marian but they would have to wait. Will put the limo in park and she realized they were outside her father's Astoria apartment. "That was quick," she said.

"Time flies when you're with good company." Will smiled, winking. "You wait here and I'll go help your father."

"Oh, no. I can do that." Regina started to scooch over toward the door but he stopped her.

"Don't you dare move another inch," Will threatened. "Or I'll tie you up with the seatbelts."

"For some reason, I believe you can actually do that." Regina settled against the seatback. "Fine. Go ahead."

Will left the car and seconds later, the door by Regina opened. He and Emma helped Henry into the car as Regina reached out for her father. "Come, sit by me. I'll get you buckled."

"I'm not one of your charges, Regina," he snapped at her. She sighed; her father was already in a mood. This was not going to go well.

Emma slid in next to Henry, smiling at Regina. "Fancy ride."

"It's apparently an employment perk," Regina replied with a shrug. "So I guess you can get used to it."

Will climbed back into the driver's seat. "Everyone ready to go?"

"Yes, Dad," Emma shot back.

Chuckling, Will pulled back into traffic as Henry nodded off. Regina sighed, looking over at her friend. "Has he been cranky all day?"

"Try all week." Emma sighed. "He hasn't been sleeping well either."

Regina shook her head. "Maybe we can get the doctor to prescribe something."

"The trouble will be getting him to take it. You know he hates medicine."

"I know," Regina said, softly. "But he needs sleep more. He needs to keep up his strength to beat this."

She and Emma lapsed into a silence only broken by Henry's soft snores. They both stared out the windows until Will distracted them. "So, Emma, how did you meet Regina?" he asked.

"We were roommates in college," Emma answered. "All four years, which was amazing because the RA actually had to mediate our freshman year so we didn't kill each other."

"But after we talked things over and agreed that we didn't like each other but could respect each other, the strangest thing happened. We actually started to get along," Regina added.

Emma laughed as she nodded. "We got each other through a lot of things. Bad break ups, stressful tests and quite a few hangovers. And Regina was the one who convinced me to go into nursing when I finally had to declare my major at the end of our sophomore year."

"She took care of me so much that I told her she had a knack for it. And that she could have the grades if she applied herself." Regina shot her a look.

Emma rolled her eyes. "Anyway, we stayed close over the years and when Henry here got sick, she asked me to be his nurse. I couldn't refuse my friend. Or a free living space."

Will smiled. "Friends are always important. I know that myself."

"You and Robin?" Emma asked.

Regina smirked. "They are an old married couple. It's very sweet."

"Aww," Emma replied. "Will there be a wedding? Are we invited? Are you registered anywhere?"

"We should go in together on a big gift for them," Regina said.

Will rolled his eyes. "You two really are best friends. Could almost give Robin and me a run for our money."

"And it's a lot of money, I bet," Emma replied as Regina and Will nodded. She let out a low whistle. "Nice."

Henry lifted his head, blinking a few times. Frowning, he turned to Regina. "Are we almost there yet?"

"It's just a couple blocks up. I'll try to get as close to the hospital as possible so you don't have to walk too far," Will answered.

"Thank you, Will," Regina said. "You're great."

"While I'd love to take the full credit and all the glory, I do have to share it with Robin. He did insist on it before I could even finish my sentence." Will put the limo in park. "Here we are. Give me a few seconds and I'll have you out."

As they waited, Regina ignored Emma's looks. She knew they would be talking about it as Emma would not let it go.


"Here's some coffee. I'm guessing they took Henry in?" Emma handed her a Styrofoam cup as she sat down next to Regina.

Regina nodded. "You just missed him, so we have some time. You want to watch whatever talk show this is?"

She motioned to the TV with her coffee cup. Several people chatted about something or other, sounding more like babbling than English to Regina. And to Emma, judging by her shudder. "No, thank you. How about we talk?"

"We could read the magazines."

"They haven't changed them since last week."

Regina sighed. "Fine. I guess we should just get this over with."

"It's two friends talking, not an interrogation," Emma said.

"Then please remember that."

Emma nodded. "Okay. I won't press too much. Not until you're ready."

"What if I don't think I'm ready now?"

Leaning over, Emma took Regina's hand. "I won't push you. Just talk about whatever you want."

"But you want to know about Robin."

"Well, he is letting us use his limo and butler. And Will made it seem like he was pretty insistent."

Regina nodded. "He was. I know I've only worked for him for a week, but I get the feeling he really likes helping people. Especially those he considers friends."

"And he considers you a friend?"

"I think he does," she replied. "It's hard to tell if we're friends or if he's just a really open, giving man."

Emma hummed. "Or are you afraid to let him in? To let him be a friend?"

"Why would I be afraid of that?"

"Because of your attraction to him?" Emma suggested. "That if you actually get to know him, you may fall in love with him—despite your own rules?"

Regina scowled. "How do you know me so well?"

"It's a gift," Emma replied with a wink. "And you know me just as well. Admit it."

"I guess so." Regina shrugged. At Emma's nudge, she rolled her eyes. "Fine. You're a fucking open book. Happy?"

"Absolutely. Because I also got you to curse. Now, I just need to get you to admit your feelings for Robin…"

Regina whacked her with a magazine. "I haven't hid them from you. I can't."

"But they still haven't gone away?"

"It's only been a week."

Emma sighed. "Look, Regina, we get along because we don't believe in love in first sight. So I'm not saying you're madly in love with him. But attraction can be instant. Even you have to admit that."

"I do," Regina agreed. "And I guess it was that. Instant attraction."

"What was instant attraction?" Will wandered into the waiting room holding his own cup of coffee. He took a seat next to the women.

Regina tensed up as her mind sought for an answer. Thankfully, Emma's was working faster this time. "Instant attraction to her job," she said. "Regina was just telling me how much of a good fit she and Roland are."

"Yes, they are. It's a great relief to Robin," Will said, smiling. "He knows this time he's leaving his son in very good hands."

Emma nodded before frowning. "Wait, this time?"

"There was another nanny. Mary Margaret told me about her," Regina explained.

"Mary Margaret?" Emma exclaimed. "Like Mary Margaret Blanchard? As in Leopold's daughter? What does she have to do with anything?"

Regina kicked Emma as Will explained, "Mary Margaret is Roland's tutor."

"Oh, I see. Funny, Regina failed to mention that." She glared at her friend, who suddenly became fascinated with the floor.

Will frowned. "And who is Leopold? Is he how you know Mary Margaret, Regina?"

Emma glanced over at Regina, apologies in her eyes. Regina sighed and nodded. "I worked for her father when I first got out of school. She was in high school and we kinda got close because we were so close in age. We fell out of touch when I decided to pursue being a nanny. Excuse me, I want to ask the doctor about sleeping pills for my father."

She hurried after the doctor, hoping for a chance to calm down. But she could still hear Emma and Will as they continued their conversation. "So that's it, then?" Will asked. "She and Mary Margaret are just old friends?"

"Yes. Why?"

"Just wondering. There just seems to be…more…to Regina."

Emma laughed. "Of course there's more to her. She's a very complex person. Give her time and she'll show you all her facets."

Regina smiled and let out a sigh of relief. She knew that while Emma's mouth often ran faster than her brain, her friend would always keep her secrets. It was one of the things she treasured the most about Emma's friendship. So she slipped into the doctor's office, confident Will wouldn't learn anything else she didn't want him to know just yet.


Will helped Emma and Regina get Henry upstairs, supporting him as they stood in the elevator. As Emma settled her father, Regina thanked Will. "Can I get you anything for the road?"

"Nah, I'm good," he said. "But thank you anyway. What time are you coming back?"

"Early tomorrow morning. Don't worry about having to wake up to get me, I can just take a car service. I have the gate code now."

Will nodded. "And the keys, right? I gave them to you and didn't just imagine that?"

Regina laughed as she held up the keyring that held several keys to different doors in the Locksley household. Each were labeled, though she doubted she would ever need access to half the rooms. She had attached them to an apple keychain she had found lying in her room.

"Thank you so much again. I really appreciate it, Will," she said. And, in a rare moment, she threw her arms around him and hugged him. "I don't have many friends but I'm glad I have you."

He patted her back before pulling away. "If you need anything else today, don't hesitate to call."

"I won't keep bothering you or risk losing Robin's goodwill. Don't worry about me," she said.

Will paused at the door, looking back at her. "Robin's goodwill is endless. Especially if he considers you a friend. And he does want to be yours, Regina. I hope you give him a chance because you won't find anyone more loyal than Robin Locksley."

He left as she felt Emma's eyes on her. Regina sighed. "Don't say a word."

"Wasn't going to," she replied.

Regina walked past Emma, their shoulders brushing. "I'm going to go lie down. I need a nap."

"Okay," Emma said, softly. "I'll wake you when dinner is ready."

Inside her dark room, she slid under her covers but her nap wasn't as peaceful as she had hoped. Memories disguised as nightmares plagued her as Leopold Blanchard's face haunted her once again. She tossed and turned in the throes of leftover embarrassment and hurt, reliving the agonizing betrayal all over again.

Until she found a new player in her dreams. A man with dark blond hair and blue eyes who took her hands and begged her to trust him. Dimples formed when he smiled at her and Regina found herself unable to breathe. But she still calmed down long enough to slip into a sleep free of dreams.

She would deal with the fact that Robin was haunting her dreams now later.


Regina rose before dawn on Thursday and changed for the day. She slipped from her room and gently placed her overnight bag next to the door, careful not to wake Emma as she slept on the couch. Grabbing a few last things, Regina shrugged on her coat and left a note for her father. As Emma let out a snort and rolled over, Regina took her bag and left the apartment to begin the trek back to Robin's mansion.

She hit Granny's diner first, though, knowing it was the best place to get a halfway decent cup of coffee at this god-forsaken hour. Ruby had pulled the overnight shift again and was sulking against the counter when Regina entered. "What did you do this time?" she asked the young woman.

"I got another DUI," Ruby said, rolling her eyes. "So the courts took my license, Granny took my car and Stacey took my afternoon shift."

"Take a cab next time. Or get a DD. How hard is it?"

Ruby waved her off. "I was fine. The cop just didn't like me."

"Ruby, it's way too early for a lecture. I'll just take my usual for now and give you an IOU one lecture. How's that?"

"I'm not returning that IOU. I get plenty of lectures from Granny," Ruby replied, handing Regina a cup. "But here's your coffee anyway. Is this going to be your new routine now that you have a new job?"

Regina nodded as she paid for her coffee. "See you same time, next week. And chin up, Ruby. Overnight can't be too bad, right?"

"I guess not," Ruby said, shrugging. She then waved. "Have a good week, Regina."

Regina returned the wave as she climbed into the car service she had called. "Early morning, isn't it?" the driver asked once she was settled. He was an older man with gray hair combed neatly and wearing dark clothing from what she could tell.

"Yeah, but it'll only be once a week. I think I can handle that." Regina smiled as she took a sip of her coffee, the car rolling down the empty streets as they left the city.


A half hour later, the car pulled up to Robin's mansion. She leaned forward to give the driver the access code to open the gates but he punched it in himself. A buzz echoed around them before the gates swung open. Frowning, she looked at the driver. "How did you know that?"

"Oh, sorry, I thought I had introduced myself." He glanced at her using the rearview mirror. "I'm Marco."

"Marco? Robin's driver?" Regina was incredulous. Even without consulting the man, he still managed to arrange for her transport.

He smiled, nodding. "Nice to meet you. I'm afraid this is a bit too early for our Will so Robin asked me to pick you up instead."

"Well, thank you. I'm going to guess this is going to be a standing appointment, huh?"

"Yes, it is," he confirmed. "Robin wouldn't have it any other way."

Regina nodded, opening the door. Marco had dropped her off outside the kitchen entrance. She pulled out her keys and let herself into the darkened room. Regina was still trying to learn her way around the house and she crept into the room, feeling around for the counters. She knew the general direction of the stairs and headed toward them, hoping to get to her room without incident.

She found the opening to what she believed was the staircase leading to the upper floors and took the corner at a sharp turn. A hard body blocked her path and threw her off balance. Warm arms wrapped around her waist and held her up. "Are you okay, Regina?" Robin asked her.

Biting back a groan, she nodded. "Sorry, I didn't know someone was there."

"Of course not. Why didn't you turn on the lights?"

"I don't know where they are," she admitted, sheepish. "I've never had to turn them on before."

He chuckled. "Let me show you then, so you don't hurt yourself next week."

Keeping one arm around her waist, Robin guided her back toward the door. "Okay I want you to reach out so you can feel where it is. Got it?"

"Yes, sir," she replied, rolling her eyes as she did as he asked. Her hand ran along the cool wall and she counted how many steps she took from the door to when her fingers hit the light switch. They closed around the knob and she lifted it up, bathing the kitchen in light.

Robin's arm fell from her waist. "There you go."

"Thank you," she said, turning to face him. Her voice died then as she took him in. He wore a tight black workout shirt which highlighted every muscle she already knew was sculpted into his chest. It was paired with a loose pair of mesh shorts, which revealed equally defined legs. An iPod was strapped to a black holder on his left arm, the Velcro being pulled as his muscles flexed with each of his motions.

He smiled. "I was on my way downstairs to get in my work out before I need to get ready to head out to work. Have you seen the gym yet?"

"No, I didn't know you had one," she replied, dropping her bag onto the counter along with her coffee and keys. "I wondered though."

"You should've asked. Will knows where it is, even if he never uses it." Robin led her down a corridor she hadn't really noticed off the kitchen.

Regina smiled. "Will looks like he keeps himself fit in his own ways."

"That he does," Robin agreed. "If you ever find he's gone missing around four o'clock, that's when he likes to take his jog around the lake. I haven't figured out why that particular time though."

"Maybe it's just the best for him," Regina said.

He nodded. "Maybe."

After a few turns, he paused outside a door. "This is it. Feel free to use whenever you have some downtime. It's not just for me."

Inside was a fully equipped gym. She spied weight machines, a couple treadmills and several other machines she hadn't used since she gave up her membership at the Storybrooke YMCA due to work commitments. Regina glanced around at the basketball court as well as the mats lined up against the wall. "This is brilliant," she said.

"Thank you," he replied. "This was my baby. Marian said I went a little overboard but…"

His voice died off as it grew thick with emotion. She looked away, giving him time to compose himself. "Anyway," he said, voice somewhat normal. "I think I have everything one would need to keep fit."

Regina nodded before getting an idea. "Is it okay if I bring Roland here? He should get some proper exercise if we can't get him outside for a good run around the yard."

"That's a pretty good idea." He smiled, pointing at her. "Jefferson said you were smart and creative."

She laughed, hoping her hair hid her blush. Her brown eyes swept the room one more time before she asked him, "Do you have a pool?"

"A pool? Yeah," Robin answered. "It's a bit further down but you can't miss the smell of chlorine as you approach. Ariel comes a couple times a week to do maintenance. Do you like to swim?"

"I do," Regina admitted. "Though I haven't swam since I was a little girl. It'd be nice to get back into the water."

He tilted his head. "What kept you out of it for so long?"

"I guess my own head," she said, shrugging. "Anyway, I'll leave you to your workout and I'll go get settled before Roland wakes up. See you at breakfast?"

Robin nodded, that soft smile back. "Yeah, see you then."

She walked back toward the door. Before slipping out, she turned to find Robin already lifting weights as he listened to his music. Her heart fluttered watching his muscles flex with each pump and she fled down the hall before any other part of her could react.

Maybe befriending Robin wasn't going to solve her problem after all.


A/N: Thanks again to RegalMills on Wattpad for the new cover. The new cover also gave me an idea to change the setting, moving it from New York (originally an ode to the TV show "The Nanny") and to Storybrooke, where I could create my own little village and city to play with. So you can go back to Chapter 1 if you want and read the updated description I added.

One of my anonymous reviewers asked if we would see some of Robin's POV. And yes, we will. Right now, at least part of Chapter 4 will be written from his perspective and there may be a few more, though I do plan to have Regina being the predominant perspective.

I want to thank everyone for the warm reception this has gotten so far. I hope you enjoy this chapter!

-Mac