Chapter 13.

On the day of Henry's eleventh birthday, Regina wakes up early to get everything ready for his party. Not that she has a lot to prepare, she had paid for his birthday to be in a place where her son and his friends could burn some energy – climbing walls, laser tag, a slide – but she still has to wrap his present (a Harry Potter's game he has been asking her to buy him for some time now) and she still has to collect his cake, not to mention she wants to doll up a little before they leave the house, it's her son's birthday after all.

"So, what do you need my help for?" Emma asks as she sits in one of the benches at the kitchen counter and takes a bite of the pancakes Regina cooked them for breakfast. She knows Henry loves them – loves to soak them in chocolate that's what it is, but she doesn't have in herself to care, not today – so she didn't think twice when she asked herself what she would cook, allowing herself and her family on a day to eat all the treats they love.

"I need you to fetch Henry's birthday cake from Granny's if you don't mind," Regina answers, taking the mug with her coffee to her lips before continuing, "I have to help them to get dressed and get ready myself, you know, do my hair and stuffs like that."

"Something I should know?" Emma asks, taking a sip of her own drink to help what's left of the pancakes in her mouth to descend to her stomach. That woman eats like a child and it was just able to ruin a perfect breakfast. So much for a meal with an adult.

She really needs to get out more, a day per week, maybe. She always spends her days with her sons or all by herself, she needs to have some girls' night out or just go to the movie to watch anything other than cartoons rated over four years old. She'll suggest that to her friends, and then will return to her life as a single mother. Or maybe she just needs to meet people, get a specific someone out of her head.

"Yes," Regina answers, causing Emma's brows to arch at her friend's confession, "It's a Harry Potter's cake and it must say 'Happy birthday Henry'."

The blonde's shoulders fall in defeat, "C'mon, Regina, any news on men's department?"

"I can't believe you are asking me that," Regina is out of her seat in seconds and makes her way towards the sink to wash her dishes, focusing more attention on it than the necessary, "You know what's been going on in my life."

"That's why I'm asking," Emma argues, "How are things with Robin?"

"Don't want to talk about it," Regina answers, scrubbing her mug with an excessive amount of strength, "And don't push me to do it, please. We both need time to deal with this, so respect that," the blonde nods, placing her own dishes in the sink beside Regina's, "I will talk to you when I'm ready."

Regina is glad she doesn't ask any more questions about him. It surprises her – this is not Emma's at all – but she appreciates it, makes sure to let her know that. She really thought they were making improvements, that he would forgive her. But, at the same time, she understands Robin. She had ruined everything.

"Alright, why don't I do this and you just go get ready," Emma says gently, pushing the brunette so she could finish to do the dishes, "You know, do your hair and stuffs like that."

Regina's lips tilt up in a smile as she hears her friend parroting her own words, Emma always knows how to make her feel better, "I invited my mother to his party."

The sound that comes from the sink when Emma lets the mug fall from her hands, let's Regina know that it was probably not the best idea, "You did what?" Emma glances at her friend, at the same time she wipes her hands on the dishtowel, her hazel eyes are wide, but she wasn't expecting less than that at this news, "You invited your mother?"

"I did," Regina confirms, her belly twisting with nerves. If she could just go back in time…

"How does Henry feel about that?" Emma asks, leaning her back against the counter and crossing her arms over her chest, studying the brunette, "I mean, he knows she's coming, right?" Regina's eyes fall to the floor, making Emma gasp, "You didn't tell him?"

"I don't want to ruin his birthday!" Regina protests, taking her hands to her face to cover her eyes in despair, "I didn't want to invite her, but she's my mother and she wants to see Henry. She pretty much invited herself when I mentioned this party."

Emma sighs in defeat, what can she do?

"You have to tell him before the party, Regina. Just think what will happen when Henry sees her. He has to know, he has to be prepared, at least."

"I know, I intended to tell him."

"When?" Emma asks, staring at her friend, "Your mother will walk into his party and be her usual self in front of your kid's friends. I'll not let her make Henry have a hard time at his own party, neither will allow her to make you feel bad. That's what she always does."

"She promised me to behave," Regina assures, her hands reaching for Emma, "Please, I need you to be on my side on this one, Henry will hate it."

Emma's reply is a can-you-blame-him look, and well, she's right, "I'll make her swallow every unpleasant word she throws at you two."

"I love you," Regina smiles, and then she stares at Emma for a moment, before she wraps her arms around the blonde and pulls her for a hug, "Is it a bad time to tell you Robin will be at the party as well?"

An awful time, Regina thinks when she feels Emma stiffen under her embrace, shaking her head as she tightens the grip around the brunette. This day will not be boring, that's for sure. Henry will never forget it, the question is: will it be for good reasons?

###

Friday night, Robin had talked to Marian to know if he could take Roland to a 'friend's kid party' since this was her weekend with their son. He'd not told her that the boy in question is his son, of course, but he had expressed proximity with that family, telling her his mother was an old friend (it's not a lie) and that the boy had wanted to meet Roland for a while now. She had accepted, so Robin had picked him up still that night, planning to use the following morning to buy something for Henry. He has no idea what to buy him, he probably will end up calling Regina to ask what he should buy for his own son. He hates this.

So here he is, parking his car in one of the few free spots he could find in the parking lot of the mall. It's nine in the morning, who goes shopping at nine in the morning? Apparently, everybody, judging by the amount of cars occupying every inch of the parking. But Robin has to find a gift. He'd searched on the internet for a few ideas, ending up with a list of typical things to offer to an eleven-years-old: clothes, books, games, all things he knows Henry isn't lacked of. Well, he'll have to buy him something. Maybe Roland will be more creative.

He wants something different. Wants to feel like a father who knows his son like the back of his hand, knows his every interest. Not someone who showed up ten years later in his life.

So he will search the whole mall if he needs to. Will just end up with the usual gifts if he doesn't find anything, if he runs out of time – he'd made sure to start this quest early, to make sure he has plenty of time (he has, almost four hours), but he doesn't want to spend that time in a mall, especially with a four-year-old.

So with that in mind, he had guided them towards the video game store first, even if he knows Henry doesn't need any more games to keep him in front of the TV. He had searched every rack, talked to the employee (he'd shown him the last game wanted by every boy Henry's age, but that means that, or he already has it, or probably will be Regina's gift for him) so as he expected, they leave the store with empty hands and a future expense for Robin who promised Roland he would buy him a new game on his birthday.

Now they were back at the beginning, with hundreds of options to follow. They had gone to the bookstore next, the biggest one Robin could find, with all types of books and novels. He didn't really believe he'd find something there, judging from the amount of books Henry owned already, but it didn't hurt to give it a try.

Robin searched on the kids and teens' section, and had not been surprised when nothing caught his eye – Regina had told him the boy liked Harry Potter, but that doesn't mean he has, and had, read all the books already? The amount of time they spent in that particular store had Robin carrying Roland in his arms, reminding him that the energy of a four-year-old didn't last for hours straight when they were shopping. He's still a baby, no matter what, and they needed to rush if Robin didn't want to take a sleepy child to Henry's birthday party. He'd already his head placed on Robin's shoulders, his little fingers playing with the small hairs on the back of his father's neck.

He's definitely getting tired, and they'd just checked two stores.

But they haven't found the gift for Henry yet, Robin thinks, looking at the map of the stores and trying to decide where they could go next. He'll try the clothing ones now, it's not a creative present, but maybe he'll offer him a garment from one of the brands the boys Henry's age like but that it's too expensive to fill the wardrobe with it. It's not like he can't spend more money on the first piece of clothing he'll buy his son.

It's settled then, he has a present to buy, something he can even say that Regina will find useful – that's a big bonus, the last thing parents want is all types of craps taking up space of the house.

He's already walking up the stairs towards the floor where all the clothing stores are located, decided to finish this to take his toddler home (he'd managed to convince Roland to hold on a little longer, promising he would allow him a trip to the toy store), when he's stopped in his tracks by the excited voice of his four-year-old, his hand pointing to something behind his father.

A stand displaying a stuffed griffin that immediately drawn Roland's attention.

It's awfully familiar to Robin, but he can't tell exactly where did he see that creature before. Probably in one of his son's cartoons, or in one of the commercials they insist on playing on TV the whole time. One thing Robin knows, he can't waste time window-shopping right now and would definitely be grateful if he can end this day without having to deal with a tantrum when he has to explain to his son that they are not shopping for them, they are looking for a gift for a friend.

He promises him he'll return here to buy him the plush toy another time, that they have to hurry now, but Roland is tired, and tiredness makes the children grumpy. He shakes his head strongly, and Robin shuts his eyes in despair, knowing he won't get out of that situation so easily – he's terrible at saying no to his boy and right now, he just wants to get this over with.

"Alright," Robin agrees, placing the boy back on the floor. His dimples show up immediately, his brown curls shaking as he starts to run towards the stand, pointing to the toy when he stops in front of the employee. Marian would scold him right away if she saw how he surrenders to their son's pleas, "Roland, I would just know how much it costs, alright?"

"This one is a little expensive," the girl admits, reaching for a similar but smaller toy, "But we have these ones."

Robin thanks her and turns to look at his son, noticing the boy wasn't where he just left him a few seconds before, "Roland!" Robin calls worried, looking around him to try to spot the boy, his eyes wide, his heart beating frantically in his chest. He was just beside him a few seconds ago, where could have he gone?

But as soon as he moves, he spots the boy on the other side of the stand, and Robin lets out a breath of relief, the thoughts of having lost his son in the mall quickly dissipating from his mind. He was already thinking the worst, but the boy was just checking the other toys in display, and Robin pushes those thoughts away from his mind. He won't get his eyes off his son again, though.

"Papa, what is this?"

Robin examines the wooden object his son is trying to show him, frowns, "What…?" his hands reaching for the item, "Roland, you're a genius."

"Why?"

"Because you found the gift we were looking for," Robin answers, feeling a little better now that they probably have the solution for their problem. They can finally go home, and he has the perfect gift for a Harry Potter's fan, "Excuse me," Robin turns back to the employee, "Can you tell me more about this?"

The girl nods, reaches for the toy, "This is an exact replica of Harry Potter's wand, collector's edition," she looks back at Robin to see him smiling widely at her, his dimples fully on display as every time he smiles. He's really afraid to ask the price – it has to cost a good amount of money – but it's so perfect, "Are you a fan?"

"Not me," Robin replies, "But I know someone who would love it."

The girl chuckles, her teeth trapping her bottom lip, "I'll tell you this, if you buy it, I offer you the stuffed griffin to your son."

"Oh, I…" Robin stumbles with her words, confused, he doesn't want her to think he was trying to get a promotion, it had nothing to do with that, he was just trying to be nice, "Thank you, I can't accept, I can pay for the two things."

"I know, I want to," the girl assures, decided to make him accept her offer even if he doesn't really understand why.

For a moment, there's silence while Robin considers her offer.

"Please," the girl starts again, her posture changing suddenly, her teeth trapping her lower lip once again, "You can pay me a dinner if you want."

Bloody hell.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean…" but why is he explaining himself? He didn't flirt with her, he didn't give her any signal that he could be interested in a date, "I'm sorry if I gave you the wrong impression," he shakes his head, wonder if he did or said something to draw her attention, he doesn't want any more women in his life, "I'll take the two items," he says, and doesn't even give her time to protest before he adds, "And I'll pay for the two, please."

###

It's two in the afternoon when Robin arrives with Roland to the birthday party.

To his now-eleven-year-old son's party.

He has no idea how this encounter may go, but he's curious to find out. Really curious. He'd let Regina know his son was coming with him, but he has no idea if she had told Henry. Not that he minds, maybe it's even a surprise for the boy, but he doesn't know what reaction expect from his son when he knows Regina has already met Roland – when Robin thought he would get Regina's friendship back. He knows how Roland loves Regina, there's no way the boy will be able to act like he didn't know her already.

So he can say he is curious, and a little anxious to spend another afternoon with Regina. He's still on guard when it comes to their relationship and he always ends up thinking with his heart rather than his brain – he wants to forgive her, really wants, but she hid a huge part of his life from him for ten years. It's early. Or at least should be early for the type of feelings he has towards her. Everything but hate.

And there she is.

In her high heels, comfortable dress, tending to a scratch one of Henry's friend had suffered during their games. The last thing Robin needed right now was a reminder that he could've witnessed her in her mother role if things didn't have turned the way they had, if they had remained together after the night they had created Henry. Or at least, they could have remained friends. He gets upset just to think of it, how could've him let her get away so easily? Now he just doesn't know how to deal with all types of emotions in his mind, at the same time he tells himself that she had no excuse to do what she did.

He likes her, and he doesn't know what to do about it, because that's just one more reason for him to have to be away from her. It's easier, but it's not like they can do that when they have a child together. And even if they choose not to see each other, he has to talk to her about their son.

And that's exactly why he's here today, because of their son. Because it's his birthday and Robin vowed to himself that he wouldn't miss another one. Ten is more than enough, he just wished to be able to really focus his attention on the boy rather than his mother. Only today, just for the time he is on his son's birthday party.

It's easier say than done, though.

As Regina finishes with the boy, she glances at Robin's direction, her brown eyes burrowing into his, making goosebumps appear all over his skin, his stomach turning when she starts making her way towards them.

There are a few kids in the party already, the place is big enough so they can play all they want, so it's not easy to know where did Henry came from when she calls him to greet Robin. He already seems bigger. He just met his son a few days ago and he's already turning eleven, he's almost a teenager now. He knows he missed almost all his childhood, the most important life's milestones, but couldn't they give him a little bit more time?

He looks happy, though, running towards them right after Regina had pointed to Robin to show her son where his father is waiting for him. Robin doesn't think he's seen Roland yet, or at least, give much importance to the fact that he has a four-year-old right there beside him, so the boy launches himself against Robin, making him wrap his arms around his son to lift him in a hug, "Happy birthday, lad."

Henry tightens his grip a little, then thanks him before Robin places him on the floor once again, watching as Regina approaches them a few seconds later. Roland is already bouncing on his feet, anxious to greet Regina with the same amount of happiness with Henry greeted Robin, so his son's cry of "Gina!" it's not even a surprise, immediately putting a smile on the brunette's lips.

"Hi, sweetheart," she replies, stretching her arms to pull him into her embrace, "How are you?"

"Daddy bought me a griffin!" he announces excitedly, showing her the toy in his hands as Robin notices the look on Henry's face for hearing the little boy call Robin 'daddy' – or maybe was just for recognizing the creature from the Harry Potter's movies. Well, there it goes the surprise for his older son's gift. Regina widens her eyes in response to the boy's enthusiasm, enough to make Robin's heart melt – she is always like this with his son, encouraging him to tell her everything he wants to, even if she doesn't really care.

"Does he have a name?"

"Buckbeak, it's from Harry Potter," Henry points out, approaching the boy and kneeling in front of him. Robin glances at Regina, noticing the smile on the brunette's lips - an emotional smile - before he looks back at Roland, watching his son handing the toy to Henry for him to hold. Robin longed to see moments like this, see the interaction between both his boys, "Cool, right…"

"Roland," Robin completes, the griffin going back to his owner's hands. The little boy hands the toy to his father then, and a chuckle leaves Robin's lips to know he'll probably have to carry the toy for the rest of the afternoon, "And Roland, this is Henry."

"Nice to meet you, Roland, do you want to play?" Henry's arm stretches towards his brother, intent to lead him towards the rides. Regina didn't really think of Roland when she booked her son's party here, there's a climbing wall, laser tag, slide, but none of those things seem to be suitable enough for a four-year-old to join the fun. Maybe she can take him to the bouncy house, Henry doesn't like it anymore, but the younger boy would find it funny.

It's just her luck that the place has that amount of offers, even if Henry could spare a few things. She thinks she saw a playground near the entrance too. So there are swings and a slide, that could do.

Regina looks around her and Robin, noticing they had been left alone and that Henry was already talking to the man responsible for the laser tag and pointing to Roland, probably knowing if they can play together. Her son will get a way, he always does. But now, she and Robin are just there standing awkwardly, and neither of them thought about this when Regina invited him to the party.

"Can I get you something?"

Robin shifts his gaze from his boys, knowing that Henry will take care of Roland, and he looks back at Regina, noticing her brown eyes staring at him. She starts to guide him towards the table with the snacks and the drinks, letting him know he can make himself at home. He could use a drink, not this type of drinks, but he's on a child's birthday party, so he imagines Regina doesn't have anything alcoholic. It's hard just to be around her, just for her standing there beside him, making sure he feels comfortable.

And he is. Too much comfortable, that's the problem. He shouldn't feel like that with her. Not with the woman who kept him from meeting his son.

He's upset with himself because he shouldn't care for her, but he does, very much.

"Robin?" she interrupts his thoughts, stopping right between him and the table. Is it too bad if he asks for a beer?

He has a few more hours to kill, and he won't get tipsy again, he just wants something to keep him entertained.

"I could drink something," he nods his head, and then she's turning around, signaling for him to follow her. He goes without questions, but he doesn't really want to be alone with her, not if they can avoid it. Regina reaches for a cooler, a few meters from where they were standing beside the table, and lifts the cover, "Help yourself."

"You brought beer for an eleven-year-old birthday party?" Robin raises his brow, reaching for one as he changes the subject, "Where is Dylan?"

"With Emma, she should be here soon," she reaches for one too, closing the cover once again. She didn't think much about the fact that Emma will face Robin again after all these years, after everything that happened between them, but that's the point. What happened was between them. Robin and Regina. There's nothing to do with her son's father and her best friend, "Are you okay with that?"

He takes a sip of his drink, thinking about her question. He'll see Emma again after all this time, is he okay with that?

"Regina, she's your friend, I don't have to say anything about that, but if you must know, yes, I'm alright."

Regina's lips tilt up slightly in a smile, and she takes her drink to her lips in an attempt to mask it as Robin keeps studying her with his gaze, a little proof of her anxiety in the way she tightens the grip around the bottle.

"There's something else I would like to tell you," her words make Robin stop halfway his sip, his attention now completely focused on her, "I invited my mother to the party," Regina spits out, "And I didn't even tell Henry yet."

"Why?" She's his grandmother, won't he be happy to know she'll be present at his birthday party? "Do you want me to keep it a surprise?"

Regina's eyes drop to the floor, her lips pressed together as she shakes her head. He recognizes a sad expression when he sees one, and he can definitely say that is the expression on Regina's features at that moment. Her body is tense, and he tries his best to remember Regina's mother, but they never met more than two or three times, so he doesn't really know what's bothering her right now.

"Why don't you get that off your chest?" Robin offers, urging her to sit on the chairs beside them.

She nods her head once again, and takes another sip of her drink, placing it on the cooler's cover as Robin does the same, giving her all his attention. He can do this for her. She's supposed to be his friend.

"Henry will be upset, my mother is… a difficult person to deal with," she starts to tell him, and Robin's expression turns into a frown, his eyebrows meeting in confusion.

"But she's his grandmother."

She bites her bottom lip, shakes her head and explains, "She never really cared about him, but… I guess she is, yes."

"Well, I think you did the right thing to invite her," Regina just blinks, "You're a good person."

"Even if that will spoil your son's birthday party?" she points out, starting to feel the burden of her decision. Regina reaches for her drink once again, takes a sip before place it where it was a few seconds before.

"I doubt that something or someone can ruin his party. He's really happy," he assures her, "And Henry is a good kid, he will understand."

"I don't want him to have to deal with her on his birthday," her frown deepens, and her eyes close, trying to compose herself. At least, she's not crying. He never knows how to deal with Regina when she's crying. So Robin gives her a sympathetic nod of his head, putting them in a deep silence as he moves to reach for his drink.

What now? He can continue to soothe her, but he doesn't even know the woman they are talking about.

Robin drinks his beer and looks at her again, keeping the bottle in his hands to stop himself the urge to reach for her, "I bought him the Harry Potter's wand. Do you think it will help?" he tries to cheer her up, almost succeeding.

He can see the shy smile on her lips and the way she raises her head to look back at him. She shakes her head when she giggles, and for a few seconds, her eyes lock with his, brown ones gazing deeply into light blue.

It's the second time they have a moment like this today, and he doesn't want to give her the wrong idea when he made pretty clear what he's feeling right now… or part of it.

Regina clears her throat, her teeth trapping her bottom lip.

"He will love it, I think it will be one of the few things that can soothe him after the news," Regina assures him. She's certain her son will be crazy about it. The Harry Potter's wand, it could just be better if it really worked, "I have to tell him, Robin."

"You have," he agrees. And the sooner as possible. Before Henry knows from someone else… or from seeing his grandmother arriving at his party. She should've already told him, "I can leave you two alone, if you want to."

Regina shakes her head, her hands reaching to grab his arm, "No, I would rather have you here."

It's both, torture and a blessing, that she wants him to be present for this conversation. She's welcoming him in Henry's life, he notices, for the good and bad moments, giving him an opportunity to be a real father to the boy. But this will have to be fixed between them two, and he can't really interfere with Regina's decisions about her family.

"Did you tell her…" Robin starts, "Does she know I'm Henry's father?"

"She doesn't," she answers, shaking her head and reaching for her drink, taking a sip. Robin feels a weight being lifted from his chest. But then she's addressing him again, telling him, "I didn't want to tell her just yet, she can be really mean, but if you want me to, we can talk about it," his lips are pressed together, considering her suggestion, "I'll get Henry."

And then she moves away from him, calling their son as he plays with Roland a few meters from them, and scooping the younger boy into her arms as they approach her. Regina wraps her free arm around her son and leads both kids to where Robin is waiting for them, still drinking his beer as he thinks about Regina's question. Does he want her mother to know about him? Is he ready to deal with her?

He's pushed away from his thoughts when Regina occupies her previous seat, seating Roland on her legs, Henry occupying the free spot on Robin's lap.

"So," the boy starts, looking between his father and mother before he continues, "What do you want to tell me?"

Regina looks at Robin, and he gives her a slight nod of his head. She needs to tell him, should've told him already before the party start, but since she can't go back in time, she has to make up for it now. Henry will understand, he's the best kid Robin could ask to have as his son. So he watches as he tightens the grip around Roland's little body, reshuffles him in her lap, and focus her attention on her own boy. He's waiting.

"I invited your grandmother to the party," she waits to see any reaction from the boy, but when nothing comes, she continues, "She called me earlier and she wanted to see you. You know she loves you."

She gives him a sad smile, even though she doesn't believe in her own words, keeping her eyes on his face and watching as he frowns in confusion, his lips resembling a pout. Cora has never shown any interest to get to know her own grandson, but if it looks good to appear at his birthday party, she'll do that. Because it's all about the appearances with that woman. And now is Henry who suffers. Regina shouldn't allow this.

Shaking his head, Henry rises from Robin's lap, surprising both his parents, "No, she doesn't."

"She wants to wish you a happy birthday," Regina settles for that, the only thing she thinks it may be true, but he rolls his eyes, sighing in exasperation, "She's your grandmother, Henry, and I promise you she'll just stay to sing you Happy Birthday, she can't stay longer anyway," Regina whispers those last words to herself, allowing Robin to remove his son from her lap and pulling Henry to occupy his spot, her arms encircling his waist.

Her promise seems to soothe him a little, just as the prospect that he won't have to dinner with his grandmother on the night of his birthday, "I know she's not easy to deal with, and is not a caring person," Regina moves her hand, running it up and down her son's back, "But she likes us, and cares about us, she just has her own way to show it."

He mutters something similar to a 'yeah, right', and it breaks Regina's heart to see that her mother's behavior doesn't let Henry know that she likes him. He's her grandson, how can she not care about him? Even if she knows the whole history about Henry's childhood. At least, she doesn't know about Robin. Regina never told her who the father was and her mother never asked either, so they remained like that, excluding Robin of their lives. With Cora had been for the best, Regina doesn't have any doubts about that.

That remembers her of another thing she wants to talk to her son, making Regina adjust him in her lap, turning him a bit towards her, "Henry, I think it's better if you don't mention Robin to her, alright? I'll talk to her when I think it's right."

"I won't," Henry promises her, asking if he can return to his games. She nods her head and kisses his cheek, "Oh, I almost forgot, can Robin and Roland stay with us for dinner tonight? Please, mom, it's my birthday."

"We'll talk about that after the party, alright?" Regina changes the subject, "Now go play with your friends."

"I love you," Henry says, making his parents chuckle as he grabs Roland's hand once again, "C'mon, I'll show you more games."

Robin's smile widens, watching as both his sons leave them alone to return to the fun. How was he so lucky? Despite what happened, and the fact that he wasn't able to witness his older son growing, Robin considers himself lucky, because life brought them together in the end. But then he turns more serious, and turns to Regina, pointing out, "You don't want to tell your mother."

"I don't," Regina agrees as she focuses her attention on the blue-eyed man, "Not before you have the opportunity to meet her, and what's better than a birthday party where you are just the father of one of Henry's friend."

"Alright," Robin nods, rising from his seat and grabbing the two empty bottles they had left over the cooler, throwing it into the dumpster, "Thank you, now tell me what do you need help for."

"Nothing," Regina assures, leaving her seat too and following him towards the table with the snacks, "Everything is taken care of."

Robin rolls his eyes and grabs a popcorn from one of the bowls, popping it into his mouth, "If you say so."

Regina assures him that it is, shifting her gaze to the several kids playing around the space, split over the several activities - it's a good thing there are counselors to watch them. And at least she's feeling better for having told everything to Henry. She finally can enjoy the party, enjoy the day with her son. She feels lighter, a bit more confident to deal with her mother. So she occupies a free seat near the table, allowing herself to relax for a bit.

A bit indeed.

Because her mother will arrive anytime soon, and she'll have to entertain her so her son can enjoy what's left of his own party. And then she'll have to put up with her rude conversations, where she'll probably criticize their choice of place for an eleven-year-old birthday party and Regina's ability to be a mother.

She shouldn't have invited her. It won't make anyone happy and she could've accepted to handle a dinner with her mother, in a place she would've chosen. It would have prevented a lot of what Regina knows is yet to come.

But then she hears the distinct sound of high heels hitting the pavement, the well recognizable voice of a woman, calling her, "Regina, dear!"

Hello, I had to split this chapter because it was getting too long, but I hope you liked it anyway, the best is yet to come ;)

Tell me if you liked it, and thanks for the reviews.