Chapter 12
As the bright sun light enters the nursery, Regina wakes to find her daughter that was once in her arms asleep, lying in her crib. On the night table next to the crib there is a note. It reads: Dear my beloved Regina. Gone to Red and her Grannies cottage, to retrieve Roland. Be back soon. I love you and our daughter Ariana very much. Love Robin.
Just then there was a loud crash of the main door opening. The sound echoed in the castle, making Arianacry from fright. Regina picks her daughter up just as Zelena is entering the nursery. "Hello dear sister," says Zelena. Seeing the infant in her sisters arms, Zelena says, "Oh! I see you had your little one, what good timing on my part." "You can't have her," yells Regina. "And how are you going to stop me little sister if I freeze you," mocks Zelena as she is freezing Regina in place. She then strides over and takes Ariana from Regina. She then walks away, and pulls out a pin with a cursing potion on it and pokes Ariana on the finger. She then dabs up the blood from the puncher disposes the evidence and unfreezes Regina.
Unaware of what just happened except for that fact that Zelena has her daughter, Regina rushes over and slaps her sister as hard as she can on the face. Which makes Zelena loosen her grip on Ariana, making it easier for Regina to steal her back. "Fine take her," says Zelena but I will get her when you least expect it, you just wait and see. She then leaves the room, goes down the stairs and out the main door slamming it shut with a wave of her hand. With the bang of the door echoing again through out the castle, Ariana begins to cry, but is quickly calmed down from the soothing cuddling embrace of her mother.
As soon as they could Snow Charming and Hook rush to the nursery to see if Zelena had gotten away with Ariana. Angry that they were not there to help her when she needed them, Regina yells "Where were you guys, why didn't you come she could have taken her?" Hook than says, "She locked us in our rooms, we couldn't get out, it wasn't till just now that she unlocked them." "Is Ariana alright Regina?" asks Snow, "Did she hurt her?" Starting to calm down, Regina answers, "As far as I can tell she is fine, nothing to worry about. But what I don't understand is why she would take her, and then give her back, to say I'll get her back again later when I least expect it." "Who cares," says Hook, "As long as she is here and alright that's all that matters right now." "Here let me help you changer her Regina," says Snow, "Then we can all go down stairs and have some breakfast."
The boys leave the room and head down the stairs, as the girls clean up and change Ariana. After they finish they head down the stairs to meet up with Charming and Hook, in the dining room where Matilda has plates of food waiting for them as they arrive.
Just as Regina is about to sit down at the table to eat, still cradling Ariana in one arm. In rushes Roland with a big smile on his face. "Pa tells me my little sister is here," says Roland, "May I meet her?" Regina looks at him and says, "Sure, but why are you so out of breath Roland?" "Oh, cause I ran all the way here," explains Roland. "I was so excited that I ran here as fast as I could." Then in walks Robin, "I ran so fast I even beat Pa here," says Roland proudly. He than looks at Ariana and says, "She's so tiny, I will do my best to protect her from Zelena." "I'm sure you will," says Charming. "And you will be her knight and shining armour too." "I don't know about that," Roland says, "But I know I'll be the best big brother she will ever have." He and Robin than sit down at the table and join them all for breakfast.
To let Robin enjoy his meal and his time with his children all together under one roof. Regina decides to wait till they are alone before she mentions anything to him about Zelena being here when he was gone. Or how Zelena had taken Ariana, but mysteriously gave her back. She didn't want to mention anything yet, because she was afraid of what would happen when he found out. Would he be calm about it, or would he go ballistic and storm out of the castle, to hunt Zelena down and try to kill her, possibly killing himself in the process.
After everyone had finished eating, Regina asked if she could have a moment alone with Robin, because she had something to needed to discus with him in private. Hook, Elizabeth, Roland, Snow and Charming then all get up and exit the room. Hook heads outside for some fresh air. Snow and charming head to the castle library, while Roland and Elizabeth go outside to play on the swing set.