Chapter 8
As much as Robin was okay with Regina not being able to have children, he knew it still bothered her. He saw it in her eyes. Five months had passed since her confession and he still hadn't figured out a way to help her. He felt foolish for just blurting out his thoughts on another child with her. He didn't mean to cause her more stress and pain. He racked his brains trying to figure out what to do. There was one answer he kept coming back to, but it wasn't his favorite idea. The thought of going to Rumpelstiltskin with something so personal between the couple… well, Robin just didn't want to go there till he decided it was the last straw. For now, they had Henry and Roland.
He grinned as he heard the sound of laughter coming from the kitchen. Regina had spent the night with him and Roland in their forest cottage home. Henry was with Emma so it was just Robin, Roland and Regina this morning.
Robin pulled his faded Pearl Jam shirt over his head as he padded towards the sound of his favorite people in the world laughing. The sight he stumbled upon made his breath catch in his throat. The morning sunlight shone through the open windows, the golden rays illuminating the small home. Regina stood in the kitchen, wearing one of his oversized t shirts and tight yoga pants. Her bare feet tapped the wooden floors in tune with the song she was singing to Roland.
Ooh, I love the way you
Love the way you love me
There's nowhere else I'd rather be
Ooo, to feel the way I feel with your arms around me
I only wish that you could see the way you love me
Woh woh woh woh the way you love me
Roland shrieked with laughter as Regina twirled him around, dancing with the small boy in her arms. The love she felt for Roland was overwhelming. Robin held his breath, the sight making him weak in the knees. His son, his Roland, had a look of joy he had never seen in him before. Robin realized this is the first time anyone has ever danced with Roland. Regina laughed hard as Roland's giggles filled the room. This is what had been missing, Robin realized. Sure their home was full of love and warmth, just the two of them, but now, here with Regina, she made it complete. She added that touch of femininity that had been missing. He noticed the womanly touches she unknowingly added to the place. It pleased him to know she felt at home here, in his home. Robin longed for her to someday call this place her home too. Could he be so lucky? She would never want to give up her huge mansion… right?
Regina twirled with Roland again and this time she saw Robin standing in the doorway, watching them, a lazy smile on his face. She grinned at him and sucked in a breath at his intense gaze, full of love and wonder. She held his gaze as she sang the next chorus, to him.
You're the million reasons why
There's love reflecting in my eyes*
Regina gathered Roland in her arms as she made her way towards Robin who caught the two in his strong arms. Roland held onto Regina but watched as his father twirl his lady in his arms. Regina felt her heart burst when Robin began dancing with them. She grinned at Roland who had his little arms around her neck but his curious eyes watched his father. The little boy watched as his Papa gazed at R'gina like she was the most pretty queen in the world.
When the song ended, Regina fell back into Robin's arms who held his son and his queen as they caught their breath. Without her heels, Regina was tiny, barely coming up to his shoulders. A tiny, petite queen he longed to just hold in his strong arms forever.
"I have to admit, I could get used to waking up to this every morning." He murmured in her ear, pushing her silky dark locks off her neck to leave sweet kisses over the newly exposed skin. Regina blushed and looked over to Roland.
"Well, I had an excellent dance partner." She teased as she tickled Roland's sides, making the little boy laugh.
"Papa, look! R'gina was teaching me how to make pancakes!" he told his father as he wiggled out of Regina's arms. He grabbed his papa's hand and Regina's as he pulled the adults to the counter where the mixing bowl and ingredients were long forgotten.
"Yum! Are you being a good helper?" he asked his son, winking at Regina.
"The best! Right, R'gina?" he looked up at her with big round eyes.
"Yes, you are!" she kissed the top of his head.
Robin took Regina by the hand and pulled her into his arms. "Good morning to you, my beautiful lady." He whispered as he kissed her. Regina melted into his arms.
"Good morning my handsome thief." She said as she playfully smacked his hand away from the bowl of fruit Roland had just put together.
"What?" he pouted and grinned at her.
"Papa! No eating yet till we're done with the pancakes!" Roland scolded. Regina burst out laughing at Roland indignant voice to his father. Robin's mischievous grin widened at the beautiful sight of his soulmate and his son, so happy together. He sat at the table as Regina commanded him as she and Roland finished making breakfast. He watched her hips sway to the rhythm of the music she had playing in the background. He wished this could be his reality everyday… All that was missing was Henry.
Over the past couple months, Robin and Henry had spent countless hours practicing baseball while Regina (and occasionally Emma would tag along) would take Roland to the movies or to lunch at Granny's. The Locksley boys were now a priority in Regina's life. She was happier with all 3 of her boys than she had ever been in her life. Most week nights Robin and Roland would stay with Regina and Henry so they could get both boys off to school in the mornings. Since Storybrooke was so small of a town, the school building had grades preschool all the way to high school at the same building which made it easier to get both boys off to school at the same time. And on the weekends, they spent at Robin's forest cottage.
She hadn't told Robin yet but she secretly loved the small forest cottage more. She felt more at home there. Henry was with Emma over the weekends so he didn't spend many nights there but Robin made sure the teenager knew he was welcome there. It had become so routine to them that Regina had started doing Robin and Roland's laundry while she was there and some cleaning and cooking… it was like her second home. Robin tried to convince her she didn't have to do that for them, but she wanted to. She liked taking care of her boys.
"I love you." He said to her as he watched her zone out. He could always tell when she was thinking happy thoughts because her eyes would shine and a small, sweet smile would grace her beautiful face. She snapped out of her thoughts as her eyes met his dazzling smile. His dimples made her heart clench.
"I love you too." She whispered as her foot nudged his under the table. He immediately thought back to the first night she had dinner with them and she teased him under the table. Oh, how far they had come.
He was about to ask what she had been thinking about when a loud knock on the door interrupted them. Frowning, Robin looked at Regina.
"Are we expecting anyone?" he asked.
"Not that I know of." she answered.
Robin got up to answer it while Regina and Roland finished their breakfast.
"Little John!"
Regina paused. She knew the Merry Men knew of her and Robin's relationship but she hadn't spent much time with them.
"Come on in!" he heard Robin say to him. She made sure she looked presentable.
"Good morning Regina!" the cheery man greeted the mayor.
"Good morning, John! Would you like some breakfast?" she offered. She knew some people still looked at her as "evil" but she knew John didn't.
"I would love some!" he said as he looked over at Robin, asking if it was okay. Robin grinned and nodded, happy to have his best friend get to know his girlfriend better. She made the man a plate and gestured for him to sit and join them. Roland was beside himself to have his Uncle John, R'gina and his papa all with him for breakfast. Regina ginned as Little John fired off a new story of Robin and the Merry Men's shenanigans in the Enchanted Forest.
"Even in the Enchanted Forest, the Queen couldn't resist chasing me." Robin teased as they remembered out-witting the Evil Queen's Black Guards. Regina smirked at him.
"Maybe I was just going easy on you guys!" she taunted. Robin smirked back at her and grabbed her knee under the table.
"Why was she chasing you?" Roland naively asked, his mouth full of pancakes. The adults paused and all looked at each other, unsure how to answer him. But Regina knew she had to make peace with this part of her past. And it included being honest with Roland.
She stood up and knelt in front of the little boy. Regina brushed the hair out of his eyes.
"A long time ago I was very angry at someone. Someone whom I believed did something wrong to me. But in truth, I was mad at myself more. Mad that I wasn't strong enough to say no to the people who hurt me when I was young. So, I hurt other people to make myself feel better. But you know what? It didn't make me feel better. It made me feel worse. I hurt other people around me. And I am so sorry." Regina whispered, hoping that Roland wouldn't look at her the same way the others looked at her. Little John and Robin held their breath as Roland scrunched his eyes at her.
"I'm sorry people hurt you, R'gina." He whispered as he threw his little arms around her neck. Regina was stunned. Sympathy wasn't something she was used to getting. She looked at Robin who was staring at his two loves with a look of immense awe. The bond between his son and Regina was still something he couldn't get out of his head. Little John was amazed at Roland's unconditional love he showed the former Evil Queen. He had never seen anyone, except Robin and Henry, show any kind of affection to her. Maybe that's all she needs: people to truly accept her changes and show her affection and acceptance.
Henry grabbed the bright yellow paper from the high school bulletin board and raced out of the building with it. The level of excitement was bubbly out of him as he raced down the street to the local diner. Granny's was packed as usual but the teenager quickly found the people he was looking for. He pushed his way through the crowd to his two moms, Robin and Killian.
"Henry! What's wrong?" Regina noticed him first.
"Nothing's wrong but I have big news!"
The adults looked interested as Henry smoothed out the colored paper in front of them.
"I made the baseball team!" He beamed at them.
The table erupted with cheers for the boy. Robin couldn't help but feel especially proud. All their hard work practicing baseball together over the past months paid off. Henry was immediately smothered with hugs and claps on the back. He turned to Robin.
"Thank you so much! Without you, I wouldn't have even made it to the tryouts. Please tell me you and Roland will be at my first game?" he begged.
"Henry, I wouldn't miss it for the world." Robin promised him as Regina grinned at her boys. She scooted closer to Robin, feeling his strong chest against her back. She pulled her son down to sit next to her.
"Come have some dinner, a baseball player needs big healthy dinners!"
"Mom, the game isn't even till next Saturday." Henry mumbled but accepted the plate of salad and steak Emma pushed his way.
"Don't argue with your mother." The blonde smirked.
"But –"
"Or your other mother!" Regina raised her eyebrow at Henry.
Killian smirked. "I wouldn't argue with either of them, lad."
"I second that!" Robin joked as he stole the fries off Regina's plate.
The next week dragged by for Henry but Saturday morning came bright and early. He woke up to find his uniform laid out on the chair by his bed. He grinned and put it on before making his way down stairs. He hoped to make his family proud today. Not only his moms but also his grandparents and Killian and Robin. Mary-Margaret and David promised they wouldn't miss their grandson's baseball game. Even Gold and Belle would be there. Mr. Gold felt his heart clench as his only grandson bounded happily into his shop earlier that week, telling him and Belle the news of his baseball game. Gold didn't see the fascination in hitting a ball back and forth with a wooden stick but it was important to Henry so the Gold's promised to be there.
Emma finished preparing the hot cocoa with cinnamon just as Henry bounded down the stairs.
"Look at you!" Mary-Margaret clapped her hands excitedly as she gathered her camera. Henry made it down the stairs and flinched as a bright light blinded him.
"Sorry! I just want to make sure I catch every minute!" she was so excited for Henry's game.
"Maybe we can take some pictures later." Emma advised as she sat Henry down and pushed the plate of food to him.
"Thanks!" he said gratefully as he began wolfing down his breakfast.
"Slow down! Can't play with an upset stomach." David laughed as he ruffled his hair.
At the forest cottage, Regina was chasing Roland around the house. The toddler shrieked as he ran away from the Queen.
"Can't catch me, can't catch me!" he taunted as he looked back to see Regina laughing as she tried to catch him. Roland wasn't looking where he was going and ran right into Robin's legs. The archer reached down and grabbed his son, turning him upside down and holding him by his legs. Roland screamed with laughter.
"Gotcha!" he grinned as Regina caught up to them.
"So, what happens to little boys who don't eat their fruit for breakfast?" she wiggled her eyebrows at Robin who understood and held Roland tighter.
"I think they get tickled…" Robin replied thoughtfully as Regina smirked at him, her fingers ready for a tickle assault. Roland screamed as she tickled his stomach and sides.
"Mommy, mommy stop!" he gasped. Regina froze at his words. Mommy. She hadn't been called that since Henry was a little boy. Roland had never called her that before. Robin also froze and looked at Regina, slight panic in his eyes. He certainly didn't mind if Roland called her mommy but he didn't want Regina to get scared away. Robin gathered his son in his arms.
"Roland… you called me Mommy…" Regina felt her heart beat faster. She wasn't sure how Robin would react to that. She never wanted to take Marian's place in Robin and Roland's heart. But she saw love and acceptance from Robin. He was okay with Roland calling her Mommy.
"It's okay if you do… if it's okay with Regina." Robin reassured both of them.
"Well, at preschool they said that a mommy and daddy love their kids and take care of them. They get us ready for school and buy us things and pack lunches and help with homework and give kisses and hugs and… Well you do all those things R'gina… so I thought you could be my mommy… like you're Henry's mommy." Roland asked shyly.
Regina couldn't help but feel tears slip down her cheeks. Roland looked horrified. "R'gina, I'm sorry! If I mades you mad... I won't call you Momm-" but before he could finish his sentence, Regina scooped up the little boy and hugged him close to her heart.
"Oh Roland, my sweet boy. You can call me whatever you want." She whispered into his hair. She felt his arms around her neck.
"I love you, Mommy." He told her and Regina only sobbed harder. "I love you too, my little knight."
Robin didn't want to interrupt them. He knew this moment was everything to Regina. But he also knew this baseball game was everything to Henry. And if they missed it, he would be most upset.
"I love you both so much. But if we miss Henry's game…" he murmured against Regina's neck.
Regina pulled back and checked the clock. "C'mon, you ready to watch your big brother play baseball?" she grinned at Roland.
"Yay!"
The three made it to the field just as the Un-Charmings arrived. Robin clapped Henry on the back.
"You ready for this?" he asked the boy.
"Yeah, I think so…" Henry was suddenly nervous. He spied Gold and Belle sitting in the bleachers. Next to them were Ruby, Granny and Archie. Behind them, Tink and Maleficent sported the red and white colors of Henry's baseball team. Little John and Will Scarlett were sitting up on the top bleachers to Little John wouldn't block anyone's view.
"Everyone's here…" Henry said wide-eyed.
"You're surprised? You're very well loved in this town." Killian said as he and Emma walked up to them. Roland grinned and wiggled out of Robin's arms and ran to Emma for a hug. David noticed Robin's eyes linger on Regina's ass but smartly decided not to say anything… yet. As complicated as his past with Regina was, she was family to him and he needed her in their lives. Even if it was just to throw meaningless insults his way. He to make sure Robin wasn't going to hurt her. He knew the Queen and the thief had been together for quite a while now but he hadn't had a chance to speak to Robin privately yet. But now was not the time. Now it was about Henry and his game!
The men followed behind the ladies as Emma and Regina hugged their son.
"You'll be great!" Mary Margaret cheered him on as she made sure baby Neal was secured in his stroller. Henry smiled once more at his family before jogging to meet up with his team. Smee was coaching the team and he stopped to nod to his old Captain. Killian nodded back and wrapped an arm around Emma's waist, leading her over to the bleacher. Regina took Robin by the hand and pulled him up the bleachers to where Tink and Maleficent had saved their seats.
"Wow, you guys all made it! This means so much to Henry!" Mary Margaret said as she hugged Granny and Ruby. Regina hugged Belle and threw a genuine smile at Gold who had picked up baby Neal to hold him. Mal grabbed Regina by the arm and pulled her over to her.
"Regina, we haven't talked in forever. You must tell me EVERYTHING." The blonde dragon looked Robin up and down, letting the Queen know exactly what she wanted to know: Robin and Regina's sex life.
"Mal…" Regina blushed and smirked at Robin who pretended not to notice. He knew well enough that women talked… about everything. He took a seat next to his love and Tink who handed him two red and white baseball tees with Henry's lucky number 7 on it.
"Suit up!" the fairy demanded to the other two. They took them and put them on over their shirts.
"Robin dear, aren't you going to take off your shirt to put that new shirt on?" Maleficent grinned wickedly at the poor thief who only blushed furiously.
"Mal! Leave him alone!" Regina was quick to defend her man. Robin was about to respond when he was interrupted by loud music and cheering. The game had begun.
"Go Henryyyyyy!" Ruby and Mary Margaret screamed as Killian and Robin cheered him on. David and Emma were jumping up and down screaming for Henry to go for the home run while Gold calmly walked up and down the side of the field, softly explaining the baseball game to baby Neal, his hawk like gaze watching his grandson's every move. He wished Neal was there to watch Henry grow up. But Gold swore when Neal died, he wouldn't miss out on helping raise Henry. He looked back to the dysfunctional family he had joined here in Storybrooke. He watched as Emma and her mother and father screamed for Henry to "go!" He looked over to see his wife, Belle and Tink and Ruby hold hands and cheer like little girls. He smiled to himself. Belle looked so happy. Gold looked up to see Regina and Robin standing close together. Robin's arms were wrapped tightly around Regina and she looked so happy. She looked like a woman in love. She cheered Henry on and kept a watchful eye on Roland, who was sitting on Killian's shoulders cheering for his big brother. 'She's a wonderful mother, she deserves to have one of her own…I wonder if she's managed to fix that little problem Cora dragged her into.' He made a mental note to ask Maleficent later. If anyone knew about Regina's empty womb, it would be her oldest friend. It was too personal a question to come out and ask Regina herself.
As if she knew she was being watched, Regina peered over to see Gold looking over to them. She smiled to the man she looked at as a father. They two had come far in their years. They no longer wished any harm to the other. There were times when Gold was almost a father figure to Regina. She leaned on him for support when others didn't seem to know how to comfort her. There had been more times than he cared to admit when he would come down to his shop to find all the girls sitting around with Belle, gossiping about God knows what. And the strange part was, he didn't even mind. They were family.
He looked back to the field in time to watch Henry run over the home plate. The bleachers erupted with cheers!
"HOME RUUUUUUNNNN!" Smee yelled as he threw down his mitt to hug Henry. Before Henry knew what was happening he was surrounded by his team mates and family. Robin couldn't have been more proud. Roland was pushing his way through the crowd to reach Henry.
"Roland!" Robin called out to him as he lost him in the crowd.
"Don't worry, I see him." Gold said quietly, his eyes never leaving Roland.
"Thank you." Robin said. Gold turned to nod to him.
They watched as Regina threw her arms around Henry. "I'm so proud of you!" she yelled to him, over the screaming of the rest of the people around them. The rest of the family pushed their way in and gave their congrats to Henry and the rest of the players.
"Lunch on Granny's! Everyone's welcome!" Granny yelled to everyone, looking kindly over to the people she loved most. These people were her family, her loved ones. She took her job at making sure they're all well fed very seriously.
And so that's where they ended up. With Henry and his team mates laughing and stuffing their mouths with Granny's burgers and hot dogs. Robin held Regina as the couple leaned against the bar watching everyone who turned up to the game and after party. Emma was sitting on Killian's lap while he and Smee were telling Roland about their adventures on the high seas. Belle, Tink and Ruby were laughing over a joke Archie was telling. Gold was holding baby Neal in his arms and talking softly to the little baby while Maleficent was wiping drool from baby Neal's chin. Little John and Will Scarlett were arm wrestling at the next table over while they waited for their food. Mary Margaret was helping Granny in the back, while David was running plates to people.
'They're insufferable…' Regina rolled her eyes but had to smile in the end. Yes, they were insufferable. But they were family. All of them. This was the family she had always wanted, always thought she didn't deserve. But here she was. And here they are.
She looked up to see Robin watching her.
"Everything alright, Milady?" he asked softly as he pushed her hair back and kissed her lips. Regina smiled into the kiss.
"I just feel at home in the world."
Lemme know what ya think? :)
*song is Faith Hill's 'The Way You Love Me'
