A/N: So, it has been nearly a year since I started this fic and many months since I've updated, but since Halloween is so near, I've suddenly be struck by my muse and hopefully I will finish this story lol! I will try to post more often now that I'm back into this story! Enjoy! :)
***Update: I just know realized I had my last two parts of this chapter switched around. I've now fixed it and I did this so the next chapter won't be so confusing. Sorry for the mishap!***
Robin would be a fool not to be suspicious of the Mills sisters, but he was never one to jump the gun. He wanted to really get a feel of the situation and decided he should pay a visit to the townspeople.
"Arrest her. She sits in her little shop and makes placenta bars. It's why the aunts never age. They just don't age." An elderly woman told him.
"Uh, placentas?" Robin asked.
"Placenta bars." She repeated.
Robin simply nodded and went on to the next person willing to give him something on the sisters. He came to a rather busy ice cream truck and began asking the people there, partaking in an ice cream himself.
"On Halloween, they all dress like witches and jump off their roof!" A child exclaimed.
"Yeah, and if you make them mad, they hex you." Another child said, covered in chicken pox.
"If you ask me, he's probably in a ditch somewhere." The diseased child's mother said.
"Shirley isn't saying they killed him," Another mother said, "she's just saying that they could've shook his hand and he died. It's really strange stuff."
Robin looked at the women with some amusement, but then headed towards Regina's shop. Maybe, her employees had something to say.
"Rich, yes. Evil, no." Emma said to Robin. "I mean, you get your psychos now and then - you now, animal slaughter, ritual human disembowelment, but that's really not her. You see, it's a Pagan label, but Regina-"
About the time he was one on one with Emma, Regina walked in.
"Yeah, Regina's not in to any of that." Emma finished.
Robin looked over to Regina, who was setting her things down and looking at the counter, then she lifted her eyes to meet his. His eyes then drifted down to her coffee mug, which was stirring itself. He blinked rapidly and she noticed him obviously because she quickly covered her hand over the mug, halting the spoon.
He decided to call it a day. From the old lady and placenta bars to shaking hands and automatic death, Robin was rather done with this strange town and the strange pull he had to these sisters, well, sister. He couldn't deny feeling something spark between him and Regina, even if they did only meet once, truly. And as if on cue, as he walked from her store, he heard her follow.
"I'm under surveillance of something?" She asked as she walked briskly after him.
"No, milady, just getting some answers, that's all." Robin said.
"Well, if there is anything you need to know, you can ask me." She challenged.
"I did." He smirked. "How about I stop by tomorrow."
"In the morning, my place." She said, standing straight.
"It's a date then." Robin smirked.
She nodded once and turned on her heal and walked back the way she came. Robin then caught himself wondering what a strange town this was, based on the expensive shampoo he just bought from Regina's store. He didn't need it, but he got it anyway.
That night, Zelena can't sleep, the wind whispering to her. She opens her eyes and realizes it's Killian's voice. She gets up and tosses on a robe, walking to the open balcony.
"Killian?" She whispers.
Nothing.
"Killian? Is that you?" She whispers.
The wind howls and Zelena pulls her robe closer to her.
"Go away." She said, backing back into the room and closing the doors.
If there was anything Regina hated more than anything, it was PTA. She wanted to be a part of Henry and Roland's life as much as possible, that meant going on field trips and making cookies for bake sales and going to every school play even if Henry was a tree and Roland was hobbit #3. Unfortunately, that also meant being a part of PTA, which she actually wanted to be a part of, if only the other mother's would let her.
So once again, Regina was sitting in a classroom, full of mothers who probably loathed her and couldn't pinpoint why, only to hear the same thing over and over again. She didn't make the phone tree. See, she hated this "phone tree" with a passion, yet she wanted to be on it so badly. The phone tree was basically a list of the mothers to call for emergencies, gatherings, etc. Whoever was at the top, was in charge of calling the others. And for some twisted reason, Regina wanted that top spot. But, alas, she would never get it because none of them liked her, even remotely acknowledged her.
Mrs. Blanchard-Nolan went through the list, starting from bottom to top. Each time a mother's name was called they'd all clap like it was the most accomplished thing they've ever done. And maybe for some, it was. If Regina didn't make the bottom, she sure as hell didn't make the top, so she was hardly on the edge of her seat in anticipation. Quite the opposite, actually. The teacher was nearing the top when the door opened and Zelena popped her head in. The room fell silent and Regina threw Zelena a glare before she walked in.
Mrs. Blanchard-Nolan looked over to Zelena, as did the rest of the room. Regina could see Mary Margret struggle with her words, so one of the more "outspoken" mothers took the reins.
"Can we help you?" She asked frostily.
"Sorry, just uh, looking for my sister." Zelena said. She spotted Regina in the back and began towards her.
The room was abuzz with murmurs and whispers.
"Is that a snake tattoo?"
"Yeah, and there's one on her boob, too."
Zelena then turned to face the small group of women.
"That's right, I'm back." Zelena said, throwing her arms up over her head and then wiggled her hips seductively. "Hold on to your husbands, girls." She clapped her hands to her hips and thrust them forward.
Regina is pinching the bridge of her nose and if she could hideaway in herself, she would. Zelena then took a seat next to her, all smiles and amusement, which Regina found slightly annoying.
"Anyway, the second name from the top is Abigale Little." Mary Margret said and the room burst with more clapping.
"Is this for real?" Zelena asked, trying to hide her amusement.
Regina glared at her, but then one of the mothers sitting in front of them whispered something to the woman next to her.
"You know, she screwed Coach Havacre." She whispered.
Zelena glared at the back of the mother's head and suddenly the rings on the binder in front of the mother slam shut, pinching her thumb in the process.
"Ow!" She exclaims and brings her thumb to her mouth.
"Don't do that." Regina whispers.
"I didn't do that." Zelena said, looking playfully offended.
"Well I certainly didn't." Regina tried to brush away.
"You did it." Zelena giggled hushed like.
Regina tried to hide her amusement, too, the both of them trying to rein in their almost silent giggling.
"And the moment we've been waiting for," Mary Margaret began, "the top of our phone tree will be..."
She paused, began flipping back and forth before she looked onto the group of women in utter shock.
"Regina Mills." She said. Everyone fell silent except for Zelena, who clapped and cheered, "Woo, go Gina."
Regina sat just as shocked as the other women before Zelena turned towards and said, "Now that, that was me."
The next day, Zelena grabbed Henry and Roland and insisted they help her with a potion. Henry was all too eager and Roland was told to keep watch.
"Okay, uh, blessing seeds.." Zelena said, looking in the spell book, then turning to push through bottles of herbs and other random potion ingredients. "What about Nigellus?" Zelena asked.
"It's the same thing." Henry said.
"Oh, okay. Good, good. You're good at this." Zelena said, grabbing the bottle and smirking at Henry.
"Why can't we tell mommy we're sending the policeman away?" Roland asked, leaving his post and leaning on the work table.
"Because you're mommy likes to pretend she doesn't do magic and we're banishing the man for you mommy's own good." Zelena said, pressing the tip of her finger to the worn pages of the book, reading for the next ingredient.
"Roland, I told you to listen out for Mr. Locksley." Zelena shooed him away and he rushed back to the door.
"blessing seed, blessing seeds. Oh right, milk thistle." Zelena said, turning back to the shelf.
Henry continued to mash the ingredients when he saw a little book on the table. He reached for it and then asked Zelena, "Was this mom's?"
Zelena turned around and saw what he was talking about and a small smile washed across her face.
"Yes. Where did you get this?" Zelena asked, looking it over and flipping to a page. "He can flip pancakes in the air...he'll have a lion tattoo on his right wrist...he'll hear my call a mile away." Zelena mumbled out loud, laughing slightly at the memory of young Regina, plucking petals and dreaming up a man, a true love, that would never exist just so she couldn't be hurt by love. Unfortunately, she had been hurt by love.
"Was that about daddy?" Henry asked.
"You know, um ... the truth is, this wasn't about your daddy. This was when your mommy was little and she was ... she was trying to invent a guy that didn't exist. To protect herself. It's crazy, but... oh, you know she loved your Daddy. Oh, she loved him very very much." Zelena told him.
Henry smiled and then Roland exclaimed, "He's here! He's here!"
Zelena shushed him and told him to go get the door. He nodded and ran out and to the front door. Roland opened it to see a man towering over him and said, "You're here for pancakes."
"Uh, no, buddy. I'm just here to talk to your mom." Robin said.
"Great. She's having pancakes, too." Roland said, grabbing his hand and dragging him in. He walked Robin into the foyer just as Regina was walking down the stairs.
"Do you have a gun?" Roland asked.
"Uh, yeah." Robin said.
"Can I see it?" Roland asked.
"Um, no." Robin laughed.
Roland looked slightly disappointed until he turned to see his mother descending the stairs.
"He's having pancakes!" Roland shouted, then ran off.
"I also have a question or two." Robin said, a little dumbfounded as Regina made it to him, a smirk across her face.
They walked to the herb room, where Robin was mindlessly looking at things, picking up a jar of belladonna.
"It's belladonna. People put it their tea to relax them, calm their nerves." Regina said.
Robin looked up and met her eyes.
"And some use it as a poison." Robin said, setting it down.
"Which people?" Regina asked.
"Witch people." Robin said.
"Oh, I see, 'witch' people." Regina smiled. "Well, I guess you found me out." She added, moving closer to him.
"You should stick around for Halloween. We all dress up and jump of the roof and fly. It's a real show." She said, then her smile faltering a bit, "We kill our husbands, too. Or is that out of your jurisdiction?" She said, moving past him.
"Do you have any idea how strange this all sounds to me? I got people telling me that you're up here cooking up placenta bars, that you're into devil worship -"
"Oh, no, there's no devil worship in the craft." Regina said, leaning against the table.
"So, what kind of craft do you do?" Robin asked her.
"Do I do? I manufacture bath oils and soaps and hand lotions and shampoo." Regina said, pushing herself from the table and moving around the room. "And the aunts, they like to meddle in people's love lives. Magic isn't just spells and potions. Your badge," Regina gestures to it clipped to his belt, "it's just a star; just another symbol. Your talisman. It can't stop criminals in their tracks, can it? It has powers because you believe it does."
Robin studied her, followed her as she spoke to him.
"Wish you could believe in me." She said.
Robin narrowed his eyes and eased closer to her.
"Miss Mills, are you hiding Killian Jones?" He asked.
"Not in this house." Regina shook her head, then met his eyes again.
"Did you or your sister kill Killian Jones?" He asked.
"Oh, yeah. A couple of times." Regina said before turning away from him and going into the kitchen.
Robin followed, wanting more than just that from her, but knowing he wasn't going to get it. He watched her walk over to her smallest one.
"Roland, could you make more of a mess?" Regina said, looking at the pancake batter all over the counter and his face.
"I'm cooking, mommy." He said.
"I can see that." She said, cleaning up his cheek and his chin.
Robin smirked.
"Have you boys ever seen a cactus?"
Both Roland and Henry shook their heads.
"Step aside, you. I'm about to show you." Robin said, Henry moving aside and letting him man the skillet.
He took a scoop of batter and poured it in the shape of a cactus. Once it was ready to be flipped, Robin held the handle of the skillet, slide the spatula under the pancake, then flipped it into the air.
Henry and Roland both looked at each other, then looked to their mother.
Robin caught the pancake on the skillet and bowed when Henry and Roland applauded his performance.
They were having breakfast outside this morning. It was nice out and Regina liked to boys outside as much as possible.
Both Henry and Roland had settled into their seats and were awaiting pancakes, but before Robin and Regina appeared, Zelena walked out with the syrup, which contained the potion meant for Robin.
Moments later, Regina and Robin emerged from the kitchen, Robin carrying the pancakes and Regina toting napkins.
"I assume you two don't want pancakes." Robin joked.
"We do! We do!" Roland and Henry said in unison.
"Okay, first troll." Regina said, tucking a napkin in Roland's shirt.
Roland began eating his cactus shaped pancake when he noticed Robin's right wrist.
"And second troll." Regina said to Henry.
Roland's eyes went wide and he nudged Henry on his arm.
"Look! A lion." Roland said.
Henry smiled knowingly, then saw Robin reach for the syrup. His eyes went wide.
"No no no!" He and Roland said at once.
Henry grabbed the syrup and he and Roland ran towards the ocean where the gleefully disposed of it.
Regina looked at Zelena, who was looking frustrated, then back to her boys with curiosity.
"What was that all about?" Robin asked.
"Oh, it was probably bad." Zelena said.
Robin stood then, looking a little irritated and suspicious.
"We'll be in touch." He said, picking up this things and walking towards his car. "And what was in that syrup?"
Regina sighed and looked at Zelena.
