Morning came and went far too quickly for her liking. Robin and his men had been assigned the task of leaving part of the royal grounds in order to hunt down food to feed the people of the castle. Thankfully though, Roland was left in her care, and after a morning in her room playing with the 'magic coloring sticks' as Roland had declared them to be, but then hunger had won them over. She had dressed Roland in the clothes that had been left for him, and when it came to get herself ready her Little Knight was front in line to pick out her outfit for the day. He was completely amazed by all the extravagant dresses, but much to her surprise, he picked out the most simplest of dresses she owned. A beautiful blue dress, one she wore so long ago, a time where she had hope, and loved by a stable boy who was ready to run away and lead a life full of love and joy.

She was unceremoniously snapped out of her trance by the same boy who was growing tired of trying to reach said dress. "Gina! Help! I can't get it!"

She chuckled as she made her way to the young boy, and reached for the dress. She then had asked him to stay on the bed while she went and got washed up. He managed to keep himself busy while she was preparing for the day, but it was in the solitude of the bath that she was able to think of her game plan. She was to meet Zelena the following night, and considering how things went the day prior, she couldn't just show up empty handed. She made a mental note to herself to escape to her library later in the evening, if her sister wanted a fight, a fight she will get.

When she emerged from the washroom, she found Roland on his belly, drawing pictures on the paper she conjured for him. Seeing him like this only added to the pain in her heart, for every second that passed was another second Henry was not with her, and the pain never ceased to take her breath away.

After Roland brushed her hair, which was an experience on its own, the two finally made it out of her room, out of her sanctuary, because beyond those doors she knew Snow White would soon track her down, and frankly that was a conversation she was desperate to avoid. She made an adventure out of it, she took Roland down the old servant's corridors down to the kitchen. She set Roland up on a stool, and together they made their brunch, but it was quickly decided that they day was far too beautiful to stay inside, so they got their things, packed it up, and hand in hand they made their way to her gardens.

/

It had been a long time since she has seen the Queen with an honest to god smile on her face. While they were in Storybrooke she knew that Henry had been her salvation, the one thing that truly made her heart whole, but when Emma came in and asked for a room in her inn everything had changed, and the Queens smile had not been the same. Children were something that she could tell her a soft spot for her, she knew because Regina had always been that way. With Red, Snow, Henry, and now the littlest of the Merry Men, Roland.

She had spent a good part of the morning with Red, and Charming trying to calm down Snow, the girl was ready to attack Regina with an endless amount of questions, but the last words that Granny had left her in were enough to have the Princess recoil.

"You go off and question that girl after everything that's happened and the queens wrath will be rainbows compared to mine. From what I understand, what she went through last night is not something you have any business digging into." She knew the moment the answers to the questions Snow was seeking were ones she would never be ready for. She had idolized her father, had placed him on a pedestal shrined with flowers, while Granny and Regina were the few who knew the terrible and horrendous man that he truly was. So no, Snow would not be spilling acid on Regina's opened wounds, when the time came for the truth to come then so be it, but hell would have to freeze over before Granny would let Snow go after Regina so soon after what Zelena did to her. So she had left the room, and went to the gardens, a place that held such memories of a girl so broken and used, yet so incredibly resilient.

And now here she was, smiling at the scene in front of her, Regina in her beautiful blue dress, and a little boy who was unknowingly chasing away her shadows.

She finally made herself be seen once Roland had fallen asleep on the Queen's lap after an hour of running around and playing, they had settled onto a blank Regina had brought, but once Roland rested his head on her lap, the boy was out like a light.

"The boys taken quite an admiration to you, you know?" She remarked as she made her way to Regina. But when she was only met with silence and a small smile, she simply stood over her.

"You gonna help me down, or are you gonna let me break my already hurting knees child?" At this Regina let out a small laugh, and with a wave of a hand, there was a nice cushioned chair for her to sit on.

"You know that magic can be really handy sometimes you know that?"

"Yes well, it does have its perks. I can help you with your knees if you'd like." Regina replied as her hands continued to roam over Roland's hair, and back.

It was when she felt Granny's hand caressing her hair that she finally looked up to the old woman and smiled sheepishly. Since the incident had happened she was secretly hoping that she would find her, after all she was the only one who knew exactly what Regina had suffered at the hands of the king, and while she may have told Robin some small details, every time she closed her eyes she felt as if she was still in that nightmare Zelena had put her in.

"How are you dear?"

Regina closed her eyes, and subconsciously leaned into Granny's hand, and released a loaded breath. She could feel the tears threatening to come to bay, but they stayed.

"I don't even know anymore to be honest." She admitted.

"Tell me, what happened to you yesterday. And don't tell me it was nothing, because I know you know that I know you better than that. I spend half my morning trying to calm Snow down, and even then I still don't know exactly what happened to you."

"I'm surprised she hasn't come barging into my room demanding answers she won't be able to handle." Regina answers.

"You'll have me to thank for that, and you're welcome, but you're still not answering my question child."

She hummed before she answered sitting up a bit more, and turning her head away from Granny. "Child, I don't even remember a time where I was just a child." She confessed as she looked back to her. "You know more than anybody in this realm what my life her was in this castle. You've picked me up beaten and battered more times than I can remember, and now were here in this damned place and your asking me how I feel."

"I don't know what to feel. Yesterday, Zelena got bored and decided to hash out my deepest of nightmares, and I relived them. Naturally that meant he was there. So no Granny, I don't know how to feel." As the tears started to form, she looked away from Granny, knowing a single word from the woman's mouth would be enough to send her over the edge.

"Regina, I've seen you, like you said beaten and bruised by an imbecile who called himself a man, but you know what, I've seen The Evil Queen at her prime, but I've also seen Regina Mills, the true Regina Mills. And every time I look at you, it's a pang of guilt that shoots through my heart, because I failed you. And for that, I will always be sorry Regina."

At Granny's declaration Regina turned her face to see her. With watery eyes, and a face of shock she whispered out to her, "What?"

"I'm sorry. I failed to protect you, to keep you safe, all because I was simply too much of a coward. What you went through, is something no one in this world should go through, and yet you pulled through. You raised your son to love and cherish others, your heart endured hell, but yet you love your son enough to sacrifice your happiness with him, in order to keep him safe. And if these people here fail to see that, then they too have failed you."

It was then that Regina quietly let the tears fall, and when Granny extended her hand, she took it, and allowed herself to be pulled closer to her until she reached the woman's legs. She wrapped her arms around the woman's waist, and laid her head on her lap, in an all too familiar positioned, she cried as Granny weaved her hands through Regina's hair. When the tears subsided she told Granny what truly happened when she opened Zelena's letter, and the panic and fear laced into each word she spoke, the tears returned again.

This time Granny lowers her head and scooted back until she was able to cradle Regina's face and wiped her tears as they fell.

"Shhh its ok child, he won't hurt you anymore, you're safe now."

"It felt so real Granny, every touch, every breath, I- I- I felt powerless." She sobbed into Granny's hands.

"Regina, listen me," She whispered as she pulled Regina into her and hugging tightly, "You're safe now you hear me? He's dead, and your alive, he won't ever hurt you, or lay hands on you, no one ever will treat you like that. So hush my sweet girl, its over."

/

It when Roland begins to stir that they finally break apart, and after a very unplanned heart to heart, Granny decided it was time to go back and set up the preparations for dinner. She managed to convince Roland and Regina to help her in the kitchens with a promise to Roland of teaching him how to bake the best chocolate pie had. Considering the boy never had the chocolate treat, he was still more than eager to go.

So they found themselves busing themselves in the kitchens, Regina helping with the vegetables, as Granny prepared the batter, and thanks to Regina's magic, Roland had finally been able to taste the sugary treat. His chocolate covered face and hands cause both woman to laugh at the young boy.

This is how Little John and Robin found them as they laid the days catch in the far table across the room. When they washed their hands, Little John made his way over to Roland, while Robin stopped to kiss Rolands head before moving to where Regina was standing. He wrapped his arm around her waist and kissed her cheek, while the smile she failed to suppress completely widened when she saw Little John hold a piece of chocolate between his fingers, examining it like it closely.

"Regina, what is that" Robin asked her while moving forward with her in his arms closer to when Roland and Little John were.

Granny smiled as she saw Regina and Robin together, something in her told her that this man and child was exactly what Regina had so longed for. Love. And while they themselves, especially Regina, may not see it, it was something Granny could see in the way Regina's eyes shined with joy since the outlaw arrived. Pure unaltered love.

"That my dear old friend is quite possibly the best treat our world had to offer. Here, try it." Granny claimed as she handed a piece to Robin, and another to Regina.

Both woman took their time to see the same reaction Roland had on the faces of two grown outlaws.

"By heavens woman, this is glorious! What is the magical concoction?!" Little John all but hollered as he made way for another piece. While Robin next to her all but moaned as the treat melted in his mouth.

"Chocolate" Regina stated as she turned to wipe away a drop that had fallen on Robin's mouth. Once wiped clean she popped her piece in her mouth, and smiled back as she saw Roland, Little John, and Robin reach over for another piece.

"Alright you three, stop before you make yourselves sick, especially you young mad, you're going to be on a sugar rush if you don't stop now." Regina chuckled.

"You heard her, now get out of here, I've got a dinner to cook. Go on, get going. And stop eating all the chocolate!"

All three of the men started to leave, but not without thieving away a couple more pieces of chocolate, having Regina laugh and shake her head. 'Men' she chuckled under her breath. She was about to leave with them when she heard her name, and turned around to see Granny slowly approaching her.

"This may be hard for you, but let him in, he cares for you, and its time you let yourself open up to someone like him. He's a good man who knows that one wrong move, and he'll be dealing with me. Now go on girl, get out." She said with a grin on her lips and with that Granny turned away, leaving Regina alone with a shy smile, and turning on her heals.

She didn't quite make it out of hall when she felt a pair of strong arms embrace her and turn her around, only to be met with a set of blue eyes and a devilish smirk gracing his face. Before she got a chance to react, or even respond, Robin crashed his lips on her with such passion that it took her breath away. Much to her surprise, all she could taste was a mouth full of chocolate as their tongues danced with each other. Chuckling as they kissed, she brought her hands around his neck, as his hand went to her waist, and the other into her hair. Cradling her head, he moved her, deepening the kissed as she moaned into his mouth.

After the need for air became over powering, they rested their foreheads desperately trying to catch their breaths, and she laughed as she said, "That was the best chocolate treat I think I ever had."

"I'll say, but I have to admit, it taste better with you."

He peppered kisses along her mouth then, cleaning the remnants their kiss had left behind, she in turn returned the favor and after they deemed each other 'clean' they made their way back to the gardens where Little John was chasing after an all too hyper four year old. When he spotted the pair, he made a b-line to Regina. "GINA! SAVE ME!" Roland screamed as Regina bent forward to catch him in her arms and spin him around in the air as they laughed. As she settled him on her hip, they turned to see Robin and Little John 'fighting' each other, With Robin proclaiming 'don't worry m loves, Ill keep you safe from this smelly hairy monster!' As Little John huffed at Robin's remark, Regina all but doubled over with Roland in her arms as she laughed hysterically at the scene in front of her.

As the two grown men continued their 'battle' Roland wiggled his way out of Regina's arms to go bravely save his father from the hairy beast. Once Robin was relieved from his battling duties by Roland, he crawled his way to where Regina was now sitting with her legs out stretched and arms spread out behind her supporting her.

"M'lady, I've been gravely injured." He claimed rather theatrically, and landed with a hand over his chest, and his head on her lap.

"Oh my, what ever will I do" She said as she played along with a smile gracing her lips.

"A kiss. It's the only way M'lady. I beg of you"

"You really are something else you know that?" Chuckling as she reached down and kissed his lips... "There, now all better?"

Without responding, Robin shot up in a second, and reaching for Regina's hands, and pulling her up until her hands landed on his shoulders while he picked her up off the ground and spun her around, as she let out a rather loud and surprised squeal.

Giggling as he put her down, he kissed her before exclaiming, "I've been kissed and saved by my beautiful Queen. I'm more than alright." In turn he bowed dramatically, and when he rose she just wrapped her hands around his waist, and cuddle her head against his chest laughing like a love struck teenager. As they made their way to the dining hall did Granny's words really sink in, she could open up to Robin, he and his son could be enough, while Henry would continue to hold her heart, she knew he would want her to be happy.

To hell with her mother's word, Love its magical, and empowering. In the last couple of days she knew she wouldn't be letting go of Robin, or Roland, for they had become another source of light in her life. Sisters and mothers be damned, Regina Mills swore to herself she wouldn't lose this. The only thing missing is her son, but that too in time will come.

Unbeknownst to her probably a lot quicker than she thought, but all in due time.

For now, Regina Mills smiled brighter than the sun.

A/N:

So sorry for the delay, but my muse has ran away from me, and im struggling, but none the less here it is for you. A quick little shout out to some of my reviewers, you guys are the reason this chapter is up, so thank you! Also, just know the Granny/Regina was all for you!

Please take a second to review, because god they made me happy!

-y