Author's Notes: Special thanks to ale_nena for helping me organize my thoughts about this fic and ImagineOQ for the prompt!
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She was being watched. She could feel it in the prickle at the back of her neck that snapped her focus to her surroundings, her magic twinging at her finger tips.
Those finger tips, however, were covered by knit and plastic providing a safe barrier as she calmed herself.
"Where are you?!" she demanded of her surroundings.
A faint rustle was her only answer.
Frowning, she twitched her fingers, "Oh, you think you can hide from me?"
Turning, she walked down the hall with slow but heavy footsteps, "I'll get you. You know you're no match for me!"
The house around her went quiet before a deafening thump sounded from behind her. She whirled around, to where Roland had jumped out from behind the door. Internally, she winced at the thought of the cowboy boots he was wearing hitting the wood floor so hard, but shoved that down as he yelled.
"Yes, I am! You don't scare me!" with that he aimed his orange plastic revolver at her, "Bang!"
Pitching backward as if hit, Regina cried out, grasping her chest and stumbling comically around the room before collapsing to the floor, her head flopped face down with her hair spilling over her face.
Behind her he heard Roland giggle and declare "You're dead, Freddy!"
She kept her forehead pressed against the floor but smiled. After a few moments of jubilantly laughing to himself, Roland went quiet, his boots clicking against the floor as he approached her.
"Mom?"
She remained quiet.
"Mom?" he repeated, sounding a little concerned. Out of her peripheral vision, she saw him bend down next to her, "Mom?"
"Gotcha!" she yelled, popping up and grabbing him. Roland yelped, but his cries immediately turned to laughter as she pulled him into her lap and began tickling him with the plastic claws on her fingers.
The young boy howled with laughter, squirming and kicking his legs. She laughed along continuing to tickle him until his struggles took on a new urgency. Looking at him curiously, she backed off. Immediately, he pushed himself up and dashed down the hall.
"Roland, what's wrong?" she called after him.
"I have to go to the bathroom!" he yelled, a door slamming behind him a moment later.
Pressing the back of her hand to her mouth to muffle a laugh, she answered, "Are you okay?"
"Yes!" a call came through the door.
"Okay," she answered, pushing herself up from the floor. As she stood, she sighed, pulling the Freddy Krueger gloves off. The costume was obviously a big success, but her hands were starting to get clammy.
She'd taken Roland shopping for a Halloween costume earlier that day. Unfortunately, however, after they picked out his cowboy costume, he'd caught sight of an adult Freddy Krueger outfit and gotten scared.
At the beginning of the month he'd accidentally seen Friday the 13th on TV, and had nightmares ever since.
When she noticed that he was alarmed by the picture on the costume, she'd initially sighed and made to reassure him they were leaving, but, suddenly, had an idea. Instead of taking him quickly to the register, she took him over to the rack and had him help her select a costume in her size then examine it, particularly the claws, which seemed to scare him the most.
After a good 10 minutes, he was laughingly running around the store waving the claws, so she asked him if he thought she should buy the costume for herself, to which he enthusiastically agreed.
So that was how she ended up chasing a miniature cowboy around her house in a striped sweater and gloves made to look like knife claws.
With a contented sigh, she dropped the claws on the coffee table in the living room and made her way over to the stairs.
"Henry!" she called, but heard no response.
The next sigh that came out of her mouth was more exasperated. Climbing to the top of the stairs, she continued to yell for son
"Henry! Are you ready? We leave in 15 minutes-" she said, opening the door to Henry's room.
"Mom!" his voice yelled out a protest as the door abruptly slammed shut again.
Stepping back in shock, she glared at the door and ordered authoritatively, "Henry!"
"I'm sorry," he called through the door, "I'm changing into my costume."
"Do you need help?"
"No, I'm fine," he answered.
"Are you sure?" she asked suspiciously. Henry had insisted on taking care of his own Halloween costume this year instead of going with her and Roland to buy one. However, he'd refused to share with her what this costume was, saying it was a surprise.
She'd been doubtful about that, but ultimately gave in. She couldn't imagine what he could have in mind or how he planned to make his own costume. Henry didn't know a thing about sewing, unless, by some miracle, Emma Swan taught him how.
The fact that he was still in his room when they were so close to leaving for the Storybrooke Halloween Fair, didn't make her feel any less suspicious that he'd found that, whatever this idea of his had been, he'd found it more challenging than anticipated.
However, she was going to let him make his own mistakes. She wasn't going to force him on this. Henry would just have to ask for help once he was ready to admit he needed it.
Turning away from her older son's door, she went back down the stairs.
In the hall she found Roland playing with the claw gloves. They were much too big for his hands, but he seemed to be having fun with them anyway.
"And what are you doing with those, Mister?" she asked, putting her hands on her hips.
Roland grinned dashing over to her, "Tickling you!"
Regina laughed and the young boy poked her ribs, a little bit to hard, with the plastic claws.
"Roland-" she started, but was saved by the sound of the front door opening, "Oh! Go tickle, your Daddy with them!"
"Yeah!" he exclaimed, running off to pester his father.
Smiling, she basked for a moment in the sound of father and son playing together.
"Where did you get those?" she heard Robin's smooth, accented voice ask once he managed to settle the boy down.
"They're Regina's!" Roland said excitedly, "She's Freddy Krueger!"
"Who?" Robin asked.
"Freddy Krueger. The scary man from the movie!"
Robin looked up just as she came over to join them.
"Ah, that's where those went," she said innocently. Taking the claw gloves and slipping them back on. Gnashing her teeth, she let a dark look cross her face as she twirled the claws.
"Hm," Robin hummed, "Scary? Not from where I'm standing."
"Eww, gross!" Roland protested, fleeing the room.
The two watched him run off in amusement.
"Hey," Regina called his attention, using one of the claws to turn his face toward her.
Catching her meaning, Robin's eyes flashed and he stepped toward her, sliding his arms around her hips.
"Hi," she whispered, lips inches from his.
"Hello," he answered, kissing her softly. When they broke apart he looked her up and down again, "You look amazing."
"I'm wearing a sweater and jeans," she laughed, indicating to her Freddy Krueger sweater and black pants.
"Yes, and you look amazing," he repeated.
Shaking her head, she pulled him back down for another kiss.
"Papa!" Roland interrupted, running back over to them, "We got you a costume too!"
He groaned, tearing himself away from her lips to turn his attention back to his son.
"What's that?"
"It's a-" Roland started, but stumbled over the word, looking to Regina for guidance.
"Gladiator," she prompted.
"A what?" Robin asked.
"A fighter!" Roland said, "From old times."
Regina bit her lip at the confused look on the outlaw's face as she explained, "A historical thing from this world."
"I see," Robin took the package form his son, looking at the picture on the front. He clearly didn't understand, from the way he was looking at the costume doubtfully. She knew that explaining gladiators would take a while, so the costume didn't exactly make sense for him. Even after she explained the purpose of dressing up on Halloween, he hadn't exactly been excited about the idea.
However, while they were looking through the men's costumes, Roland had taken a liking to the gladiator, commenting that the model in the picture looked like his father. Regina agreed, however, Robin was more handsome, so she decided to indulge herself a little in buying it.
Grinning to herself, she said, "Yes, we have to leave in 10 minutes, so go put it on!"
Robin glanced at the package again, then up at her with a bemused expression, but she simply crossed her arms expectantly.
"Yes, Papa!" Roland agreed, "Put it on!"
Seeing that he was outnumbered, Robin sighed and agreed, "Alright, I'll be right back."
When the bathroom door closed behind him, she and Roland looked at each other with triumphant grins.
"Did you remember you trick-or-treat bag?" Regina asked.
"Oh!" he perked up, running to retrieve the trick-or-treat bag they'd bought for him at the store.
As she waited, Robin emerged from the bathroom, looking less than happy.
She laughed, "What? The thief is now shy?"
He sighed, "I look ridiculous."
She glanced him up and down, admiring his arms in the sleeveless faux leather tunic, "No you don't."
He didn't look convinced, "I'm wearing a skirt."
"It's a kilt," she scolded, "Plenty of men in this world wear them."
"Where? I've never seen one."
"Well, not in Maine," she acknowledged, "But I promise it's not a skirt."
He didn't answer.
"Come on, stop pouting. I'm already wrangling two children tonight!" she teased, "And I'll make it up to you later."
Catching the implication, his expression darkened again and he agreed, "Alright."
Letting him get closer, she allowed him to steal another kiss before Roland rushed back to proudly show off his trick-or-treat bag.
"Are we going soon?" he asked excitedly.
Glancing at her watch, Regina frowned, "Yes, we should be going but Henry is late."
Turing around, she stormed toward the living room bellowing "HENRY!"
"I'm right here, Mom," stopping in her tracks, she caught sight of Henry at the bottom of the stairs, She stared in surprise as she caught sight of him. He was wearing jeans and a layered denim sweatshirt, along with one of Robin's scarves, and a quiver with a bow and plastic arrows on his back.
"What's this?" she asked.
"It's my costume," he answered, "What do you think?"
Before she could answer, however, two sets of footsteps echoed behind her. Roland was the one who finally broke the silence, "Wow, Henry! You look like Papa!"
"Yeah, that was the idea," Henry agreed.
"Henry," Regina asked, "What made you want to..."
"Remember when I was in 4th grade and we had that career day thing were we were supposed to dress as what our mom or dad did?" Henry asked.
Regina tired not to show too much emotion, but she definitely did remember it. It was the beginning of the end of their life in Storybrooke. She'd ended up sending Henry to his class in a suit as mayor, and he hadn't been happy about it. After that he'd started seriously asking about his father, prompting her to confess that he was adopted, and leading to the quest that eventually brought Emma Swan to Storybrooke.
She pushed away painful memories, reminding herself that it lead to the family she had now. Even if it meant sharing her older son with his birth mother and Snow White.
"Well," Henry continued, "I didn't know my real dad then, so I figured I could make up for it now and how cool is it when your dad's Robin Hood?"
Her breath caught in her throat at the words. For nearly a year now, Roland had been calling her 'Mom' but when it came to Robin...well neither of them pushed the subject, especially since Henry had just lost Niel when they met.
"Do you like it?" Henry asked, looking past her at Robin.
The outlaw stared at him quietly for a moment before saying, "It's wonderful, my boy."
He smiled brightly.
"Although," Robin went on, "There is one thing I'd suggest."
Glancing down at himself, Henry asked, "What?"
"Wait here a moment," Robin said quietly, walked away toward the garage.
Henry looked up at her questioningly, but she simply shrugged. She didn't know what he had in mind either.
He returned a few moments later carrying his bow and quiver, "Here."
Henry looked at them, "Really?"
Robin nodded.
Henry, wisely, glanced to her for confirmation. She sighed, "Alright, I guess you're old enough, but be careful!"
Both men smiled, and Robin quickly helped Henry shed the toy bow and quiver and replace them with the real thing.
Once they were on, Henry grinned widely, "Thanks, Robin!"
Squeezing Henry's shoulder, the thief said, "I'm honored."
Regina's breath also caught at the emotion in his voice, but she managed to hold it down. Clearing her throat, she said, "Alright, if we're all ready, we should get going!"
Both boys agreed, leading the way toward the door. Roland was so excited he practically ran the entire way to the city square. Henry followed at a more sedate, but still quick, pace.
Once they got there, Roland asked for a reminder of how to trick-or-treat and Henry offered to go with him to each booth as he collected candy.
The two adults followed at a distance, keeping the boys in sight. A few residents stopped to greet her, but, even after having been re-elected mayor, she still wasn't extremely popular in town so plenty of others gave her a wide berth.
She didn't let it get to her, though. It had been her life for a long time, and she wasn't going to let it spoil time with her family.
Roland was having a blast. He'd been excited before even leaving the house and after loading up on candy, he was bouncing off the walls.
Henry also seemed to be having fun. He didn't seem to mind watching Roland, even when he ran into some of his friends from school.
Robin, however seemed quite pensive. He gave her a smile when she took his hand, but she could tell his heart wasn't completely in it.
After a while it started to worry her, however, she forgot it as the night drew to a close.
Henry wanted to go to a Halloween party at his classmate's house. She was hesitant, but gave in when he swore it would be chaperoned.
Then, just as he left her with a hug, Roland came up to them with a mopey expression and told them he had a stomachache.
Glancing at each other ruefully, they decided to take him home. He made it about halfway before Robin was forced to carry him.
Back at 108 Mifflin Street, she took Roland's candy bag from him once Robin set him down and told him go upstairs and change into is pajamas.
Once he was on his way up the stairs, Robin turned to her, "I'm sorry."
She shrugged, "It's alright. He just ate too much candy. Every child overdoes it their first Halloween."
Robin nodded.
"I'll put the rest away if you want to go check on him," she offered, reaching for the bag.
Before he could pass it over, though, Roland's voice called quietly from up the stairs, "Mom..."
He smiled, "I guess he wants you. Do you mind?"
"Of course not," she told him, pulling off the Freddy Krueger gloves, "I'll be right back."
With that she made her way upstairs to Roland's room. She found him there, having changed into his Pjs. He'd left his cowboy costume scattered across the floor, but, since he was sick, she decided to let it go this once.
"How are you feeling, honey?" she asked, leaning down to feel his forehead.
"Bad," he frowned.
"Oh?" she stroked his hair, "Well you don't feel warm, so I think you just ate too much. Why don't you get into bed and I'll get you some medicine?"
"Okay," he agreed, climbing into bed.
She hurried over to the master bathroom to retrieve a bottle of Pepto Bismol and used the cap to give Roland a small dose.
He whined at the taste, so she also got him a small glass of water.
"Sip it slowly," she cautioned as she tucked him into bed.
"Sorry, Mom" he muttered into his pillow.
"It's okay, baby," she soothed, "Just close your eyes. You'll feel better in the morning."
Cuddling into his bed, he did as she instructed. Flipping off the light, Regina rubbed his back until she felt him relax and knew he was asleep.
Moving quietly, she tip-toed out of his room and shut the door behind her.
Taking a tired breath, she descended the stairs, expecting to find Robin in the living room with a book or watching TV. He wasn't there, however.
Furrowing her brow, she searched through the house, finding him in the kitchen leaning over the island.
She was just about to ask what he was doing when she heard a light sniff.
She blinked, approaching him quietly, "Robin?"
He turned to her, and then quickly turned away, but not in time to hide his glassy eyes.
"Are you crying?" she asked.
He wiped his hand across his face, "Sorry."
"What's wrong?" she walked over to him, putting her arm around him.
"It's nothing," he dismissed.
"It must be something," Regina argued, "Tell me."
"Henry," he answered quietly.
"Henry?" she questioned, "What about him?"
"He called me his father."
"Oh," she answered, not sure what it meant by that.
"I never dreamed he would…I figured he just accepted me out of love for you. I never thought he'd actually see me as his father," Robin wiped his eyes again.
She smiled, resting her chin against his shoulder, "Well, I know how you feel. I still remember the first time Roland called me 'Mom.'"
He smiled back at her, drawing her in to a soft kiss, "I love you."
"I love you too," she kissed him again, "and I love our family."
"I do too," he agreed, going in for a third kiss.
She allowed it with a mischievous glint, "Now...before Roland wakes up sick again, or Henry calls to tell us he shot someone's window out with your bow and arrow, I believe I promised you a celebration of our own for wearing the costume I picked?"
He purred against her lips, "You know, Ms. Mills, I think I might like this holiday after all."
She laughed, allowing him to lead her up to their bedroom.
THE END
