Mario is the character in red, who jumps and throws fireballs sometimes. Roland loves him because of the fireballs, which are just like Regina. He's been playing this game for the last hour or so because he has some more energy today, but they're still trying to help him heal, which means keeping him inside and low key.

He talks non-stop, explaining everything he's been doing with great enthusiasm. He's collected a great many coins, and unlocked something called a Yoshi. Robin will need Henry to translate. Maybe when this is over he should just learn to play the game.

"I love you, be helpful for Lily and Mal."

"I love you too!" Roland says, leaving the video game. "Mal. Bye, Papa. " His little voice so bright over the phone. He passes it back to Maleficent and the rustling of clothing or blankets carries over the line

"He's gotten good at being Mario," Mal says, and her voice is rough, almost heavy. It's a sharp contrast to sweet little Roland.

"You've been sick," he says, without going through the denial phase they always go through.

"It wasn't bad."

"Are you eating enough?"

Maleficent makes that little noise that she always does when she rolls her eyes and he chuckles.

"I can hear that."

She sighs then, nearly defeated. "Would you believe that sometimes even when I've done everything right my stomach can still be engaged in active rebellion?"

He leans against the tree, staring up at the setting sun. Lily would like the stars out here. "I'm sorry."

"I know you are," Mal says. She starts to say something else then pauses. Then has a short discussion with Roland about Mario and how he can beat his level. He must have played it several times because Mal seems to know what to do. "Before you worry too much, Lily's here, and she and Henry are making dinner."

"I'm glad someone's feeding you two."

Mal laughs and it's a weary, grateful sound. "Roland reminded me that I needed to eat earlier. Papa would want me to."

"Did he?"

She hums in the affirmative. "He's as obnoxious as you are."

"He's a sweet kid," Robin agrees. "I'm glad you're with him. It's been impossible being away from him, but he's with you, Lily and Henry. I know he's well looked after."

"He misses you," Mal says, her voice fading for a moment. She's much more tired than yesterday. Hopefully Roland was well behaved for her.. "Waved at Marian today through the window when she brought lunch. It was hard, but he understands that he has to keep you safe."

Music starts in the center of the quarantine camp. The Merry Men live up to their name, keeping spirits high while they're all staying in the woods a good distance from town. A generator runs most of the day, keeping their phones charged and powering Whale's equipment while he studies their blood and offers more injections to protect them from disease. It's not a bad place to be stuck, and they're creative people, most of them are more comfortable in the woods than in Storybrooke still and if his family could be here, he'd be happy.

"Try and get some sleep tonight, hopefully the little flame and you will have an easier day tomorrow."

"Lily says dinner's almost ready," Roland says. He must be close to her head because he can hear him kiss her cheek.

"I'll be right there." Mal sighs again and she shifts, maybe she's sitting up, trying to prepare herself for dinner.

"You have to eat," Roland says.

Robin starts to laugh safely on his end of the phone. He does sound just like him.

"You'll feel better," Roland finishes, and there's the quick soft sound of another kiss. Mal sits in silence while Robin laughs, waiting for Roland to be out of the room. He doesn't know how she holds herself together because Roland fussing over her is the funniest thing he's heard all day. He can just picture his son, standing in front of the sofa with his arms crossed over his chest.

Mal holds it together, then laughs with him, giggling in that soft, gentle way of hers that strips centuries from her eyes. "Now you see what I have to put up with?"

Still laughing, Robin wipes tears from his eyes. "Good! Go, eat, allow yourself to be bullied by the adorable young man who worries so much about you."

"He does."

Robin nods, smiling up at the stars. He could not be more proud of the boy. "Call me to say goodnight."

"That means I have to stay awake through dinner."

"An unfortunate coincidence."

Her sigh is only a little exaggerated. Part of him wants to send Regina home immediately but he knows Henry, Lily and Roland can make sure she's looked after all on their own. He should be there, and his heart aches to be able to help, to do something for his family, but they have each other and they're caring for each other in a way he never would have imagined a month ago. His affection for all of them turns the ache in his chest to warmth.

Even in his absence, his family is loved and safe because they do that for each other. Even Roland.

"How many days are left in your exile?"

"Three," he answers. "And I missed you all terribly."

"We know," she sighs again and perhaps sigh is about getting to her feet. Sometimes she's still a little lightheaded and if he was there, he'd kiss her forehead and promise that it will be over soon. This will pass, like chicken pox and the summer storms. "Your absence is acute, though understandable. I've seen what this can do to adults, even some children. We need you safe."

"I promise I am hale and healthy."

"Good."

Voices carry: Lily, Henry, and Roland and it must be time for dinner.

"Eat now."

"I will, Lily's glaring for you, don't worry."

"Goodnight dragon."

"Goodnight thief."

When he returns to the main camp, still shaking his head over the sweetness of his son. Marian catches his eye and walks towards him, carrying a drink.

"Did you talk to Roland?"

"Yes," he says, still chuckling. "And Mal-" he stops, ready to turn the conversation away. He doesn't know how she feels about Maleficent and the place she occupies in his life.

"Maleficent?" she asks and he nods. There's no animosity in her face and that's a good sign. She's always been fair minded. "I had an interesting discussion with her and Lily today.

"Oh?" He sips his beer and grins as they head out under the stars. This is an odd time for her, but there's no reason for it to be unpleasant. Maleficent and Marian have no history.

"I brought over some food, things Roland likes, and she, and Lily, tsat with me on the steps of Regina's house, which was strange, but pleasant." She stares into her beer then looks up at him. "They told me that she's pregnant, Maleficent- her Lily- they trusted me with that."

He smiles into the night. "She's very open."

"I've gathered." Marian lifts her glass towards his in a toast. "Seems you're about to be a father again."

The mugs clink together. He keeps his grin but he wants to explain. "Oh no, not-"

"Oh I know," Marian says, halting his words. "I know this is Regina's child by blood, or magic, or however that works. But even without ties of blood, a baby who lives in your household will have you as a father, and that is a very fortunate child."

"Thank you." He meets her eyes. How many times has he stared into them in love? In joy? Now only affection warms his heart, different, more patient, but he wishes her happiness with every fiber of his being.

She meets his eyes, always so brave. "Whatever we are to each other now, I know your worth as father, Robin."

He touches her shoulder, then puts his arm around her. There's no need to pretend they weren't once everything to each other. "Thank you," he begins, fully overwhelmed by her kindness. "It's a surprise, for all of us, but a welcome one."

Marian nods at that and accepts his arm. "I didn't think dragons could get queasy, at all, let alone-"

He winces and drinks. "She''s had a rough time of it."

"And magic doesn't help?"

"It doesn't seem to." He doesn't understand the intricacies of it all, but if Regina could help her, she would.

Marian nods, and for a time they stand there, watching the stars, like they did in another world. "I didn't think she'd be funny."

"Who? Maleficent?"

"I'd heard: dragon, mistress of all evil, apparently, and when I met her, she was in her pyjamas, trying to convince her daughter that her nausea was really not that bad, and Lily was having none of it and I remember insisting it wasn't that bad and really, it was."

In another forest, they had conversations just like that, a lifetime ago. "I remember."

"She said that we're lucky she hasn't been in her other form, that it would be messy," Marian says. She searches her memories. "I've only seen her and Lily once, but they were impressive. It's difficult to imagine such a creature sharing a mind with one who looks like us. She spends so much time reading to Roland, and it seems your house must be full of books."

"There are more than you could ever read here, in this world and you simply go onto the computer and order more if you wish," he says. He's watched Henry do it. It's astonishing. "Roland will have so many opportunities here that he never would have had."

"And more family," she adds, smiling. "He's already so enamored with his siblings."

"As they are with him, you should see Henry teach him how the video games work, and the care with which Lily speaks to him."

"You trust them," she says, and her words are heavy with more meaning. It's not only a matter of trust, but caring, affection, and the love growing in all of their hearts. "So he does."

"He's been curled up with Maleficent all week, I hear. They're thick as thieves now."

Marian reads his face, studying his eyes before she nods, satisfied. "And you take care of her?"

"Every chance that I have," he insists. Remembering Roland, he has to tell her: "In fact, I was talking to her on the phone today and Roland interrupted to remind her that she'd feel better if she ate dinner."

Marian beams. "Roland did that?"

He nods to her, returning her smile. "I heard him over the phone, and he sounded just like me."

"Oh that's delightful."

"Our son is a marvel."

"Of course he is," she finishes. Marian lifts her mug once more and takes her leave of him. "Take care of your gifts," she says, reminding him that this life, all the lives in his protection, are precious.

He sits with his beer, listening to the camp behind him. They are gifts, the lives he shares, so many than it was. Just recently it was him and the boy, but now there's a family. It's supposed to be Roland's week with them, starting on Friday, but his illness has changed the schedule and he should go to Marian. They'll have to arrange that. Perhaps the break will give Mal some time to rest. Regina could also use several days off, and to get her out of the office he'll have to negotiate. He'll come up with something.

As if she could hear his thoughts, Regina arrives at camp in a swirl of smoke. She stands alone for a moment, then heads for his arms, letting him wrap her up. She smells faintly of perfume, and more strongly of stress and that chemical hint of the hospital's air filtration. "The town and you survived another day, it seems," he mutters into her hair. She should have gone straight home, and to bed considering how hard she's been working, but he loves her little visits.

"We found a way to help the critical patients," she says, smiling as she looks at him. She lives and breathes for her people, and this crisis is no different.

"You did?"

Regina nods, then rests her forehead against his cheek, as if drawing strength from him. "Mal came and drained their fevers."

No wonder Maleficent sounded so tired. "And it worked?"

"It did, all of them are still out of danger, and unless someone else's fever goes to high,' she stops, hopeful. "We're getting through it. And Roland's fine, he hasn't been feverish, at all for two days and his rash is scabbing over."

"Good." He runs his hands lazily over her back, wishing he could chase the tension from her shoulders.

Regina lifts her head and kisses his cheek. "He's spent so much time with Mal that he might speak dragon when you get home."

He smirks at that, wondering if it ilreally is a language one of them could learn. "I hear they are sweet."

"Incredibly."

He hands Regina his beer and she takes a sip, beginning to relax. "I called him, and after a lengthy explanation of his Mario level, I was treated to Roland doing his best impression of me fussing over Mal. 'Eat and you'll feel better.' How she held her composure until he left the room I'll never know."

"He did?"

"Oh he did," he assures her. "With as much force as a five year old can muster." They laugh, Regina's head falling to his shoulder before he lifts her chin to kiss her. Everything is returning to calm, and no one's been lost. She'll be able to stand down soon.

"I wore her out," Regina says, taking his beer again. "I shouldn't have asked for her help."

"It could be unrelated," Robin offers. "She's had some bad days before. Even threw up in the trash at the playground."

Regina drains the last of his beer and passes it back to him, her features dark with concern. "And neither of you said anything?"

"You worry too much," he says, taking back the empty mug. "On that we agree. We both have to accept that some things we cannot protect our loved ones from."

Regina snuggles closer. "It's not easy."

"Love is not, but that takes none of the joy."

"There's an upside in this?"

"Marian spent some time talking to Maleficent, and it seems they'll be friends, which I think would be good for both of them. They're often isolated and this world is new to both of them."

Regina nods to that, wrapping her fingers around his.

"And Lily made dinner, so all of our children and together now, watching a movie or telling stories," he continues, squeezing her hand. "What could be more wonderful?"

Wood smoke clings to her clothes when she teleports home. Regina stands in the entryway, centring herself, then removes her blazer and takes off her shoes. Voices carry from the study, and Roland's shriek of laughter cuts through all of it. She follows the voices and watches from the doorway, drinking th in before anyone notices her.

Roland and Henry sit before the fireplace, watching tiny figures of flame move across the bottom. She's too far to make them out, but they fit with the story Mal's telling them. Listening to her voice, Regina remembers hearing this herself, one night in a drafty castle.

The first time Mal met a human, she was so fascinated that she followed it home and hid in the barn with the horses. In the morning, the half-awake farmer fed her and scratched her muzzle before she realized that she had no scaly horses.

The little flame puppets act this out, and Mal's narration suggests that it was also the first time she heard a human curse. She was lucky, and the farmer didn't hurt her, or call knights of the realm down on her head.

"Did you like horse food?" Roland asks.

"Oh no, not at all," Mal says. The tiny flame puppet of her shakes its head vigorously and Roland claps. Everyone seems content, wrapped up in Mal's story and she shares stories of herself as a hatchling so rarely that even Henry's enraptured.

Retreating to the kitchen, Regina opens the fridge to find a full plate staring at her with a post-it note sitting on top with a crude smiley face.

"It's not horse food," Lily says from behind her, making her jump. "Henry and I made enchiladas, followed your recipe, and we're not you, obviously, but we did okay. If it's not hot enough there's more salsa on the door."

"Thank you," she says, staring at the plate while her eyes sting. It hasn't been that long of a day, surely there's just smoke in her eyes or something.

"Wine, or water, or both?" Lily asks, setting up glasses. "Ursula lets me take a bottle home when I want one, one of the perks of the job I guess." She holds up an open bottle of red so Regina can read the label, if she cared, which she doesn't. She just nods, then stares at the microwave.

Crying at the microwave is unacceptable, but maybe that's easier than the younger kids seeing. Lily sets the glass in front of her and brushes her shoulder.

"That kind of day?"

"I guess," Regina mutters, looking up in hopes that it will stop her tears.

"Henry suggested Roland might want to hear about what it was like to be a little dragon and Mom just came up with the flame puppet thing, like out of the blue, apparently it's how you tell a story when you're a dragon and talking is hard because of all your teeth." Lily sips her own wine, leaning on the counter next to Regina easily, comfortably, like this is her house too.

That just makes Regina's tears more insistent. The microwave continues to spin, heating up her plate.

"Mom says they're usually bigger, but usually you have a whole cave and not just a fireplace, because we didn't want to burn a nice part of your house, because it's a really nice house-" Lily stops, puts down her wine and looks at Regina. "You okay?"

Shaking her head, Regina rubs her eyes again but they just sting more. "No, and yes, of course, I'm fine. Everything's fine."

Lily takes her shoulder, and then hugs her tight. She has Mal's strength and that hint of fire comes from her as well, and for a moment she's safe, and then she remembers this is her daughter.

Her daughter hugs her tight while Henry meets her eyes in the doorway.

"Hey mom."

She waves him over and then all three of them are wrapped together, at least until the microwave dings.

"The enchiladas turned out great, I did that thing with the peppers you did last time and I think I finally chopped them fine enough," Henry says, rubbing her shoulder as they let go. "I'm glad you're home."

"Did you see Robin?" Lily asks, handing Regina her wine again.

Henry grabs silverware and they walk her to the table, sitting beside her while she eats. For the second time today, she looks up from her plate, overwhelmed with emotion. Her head wants to keep beating herself up, chastising herself that Lily had to cook, that Henry and Mal are spending so much time looking after Roland, that she dragged Mal out of the house, considering how wretched she must feel.

None of that is in their faces. Lily's calm, content, and Henry looks at her with such affection that her tears start all over again.

"He's good."

"Great!" Henry says, beaming at her. "That's great, Mom. We're good too. I promise."

She reaches for his hand and he squeezes her fingers. "I know."

BREAK

If he could just teleport in like Regina and Maleficent do, he would have, moments ago, because even being driven isn't fast enough.

Emma drops him off with a grin. "Bet you're glad to get home," she says, pulling up the Regina's driveway. "My parents gave Marian a ride over here earlier, so you're all set. The little guy's going to be so happy to see you both."

He nods, beaming at her. "Thank you, for everything, I heard you were a great help to Regina and Mal-"

"Hey, I mainly did grocery store runs with Henry and made sure Mal and Roland didn't run out of DVDs," Emma says, shrugging. "We all help."

"And it's appreciated," he says. He climbs out of the car and shuts the door. Running up the steps is entirely unnecessary but he does it, because he's only seen his son through a tiny screen for a week and he misses him in a way he wasn't sure he could feel. They've never been apart this long.

Roland meets him on the porch, launching himself, speckled face and all, into Robin's arms. Laughing, they collapse against the column.

"Mal's right, I've traded my son for a tiny dragon," he teases. Roland's face is still covered in little scabs, nothing like dragon scales but the comparison makes him giggle.

"Rar!" Roland teases, then kisses his cheek. "Mama's here too, She came with Grandma Snow and Grandpa David in a truck."

"Oh a truck, I see," he says, shifting Roland to his hip so he can let them through the door properly. "I came in a police car and it was very fast."

"Did you have a siren?"

"No, not that fast, my son," Robin says. He sets him down, studying his face. "I've missed you."

"I missed you too!" Roland answers, wrapping his arms around his neck. "So did Mal and Regina. There was a lot of missing you."

He ruffles his hair and points to the house. "Well, we should get in so we can all stop missing each other then."

Roland nods to this and takes his hand. "Come on, Papa, you're home now."

Marian, Henry and Lily are already in the dining room, Roland runs off to announce that he's here, and he finds Regina in the kitchen, of course, worrying over a cheesecake that's probably more delicious than any he and Marian have had, even in New York. He touches her back and she turns to him, spatula still in hand, and then she's wrapped around him.

She clings to him, breathing him in. Regina nearly trembles, and he holds her tighter. "I missed you," she whispers. He continues to hold her, waiting for her heart to still.

"And I you," he promises finally, lifting his head to kiss her. "And your cooking, amongst other things."

"Her wine cellar," Mal says, entering the kitchen from the other door. She holds up the bottle she must have been sent for. "Pinot grigio, the one with the castle on the label, not the leaf, and a sauvignon blanc, blue label, as requested." She tucks both into the bucket of ice and watches them hold each other. "You've been missed."

He kisses Regina again, because she needs it as much as he does. In contrast to the cool, unsteady Regina, Mal's warm in his arms, but steady and solid. She's wearing that pink sweater again, the soft one, which he's come to associate with Lily worrying about her.

He rubs his thumb over her cheek before he kisses her. "I hear you kept busy."

"We found ways," she replies, tracing his jaw with her hand. Her forehead leans against his, and then she kisses him, and her lips are even warmer than her skin. He raises his hand, waving Regina over from the cheesecake so he can hold both of them. Their hearts beat against his chest and he holds them so tight, just listening to their breathing. He kisses them each again, and Regina, still focused on dinner, pulls away first.

"She could use a good- release-" Mal whispers to him. "She's worked so hard."

He knows, but he appreciates it that Mal said it aloud, even in a whisper. He holds her when she makes no move to leave him. Her head falls to his shoulder and this heat, the warmth of her, has been missed, even in the summer heat. They watch Regina together as she puts the finishing touches on the cheesecake.

She licks her thumb, then drops the spatula into the sink, catching them watching her. "You could have brought the wine in."

"We couldn't leave you and the cake," Mal says. "That victorious grin of yours is too sweet to miss."

Regina rolls her eyes. "Weren't you hungry?"

"Famished."

Robin grabs the wine and lets them pretend to argue all the way to the table. He's home.