at Casey: Thank you very much. Yes, I guess Snow is a little naive at some things. On the other hand I think Snow's also very much aware of the situation, considering her time on the run.

at shikasgirl10: Thanks. Really, they had to. Who can resist Roland, anyway?

at TheRebirhtofPain: The Merry Men already do and they keep it a secret, because they promised. Yes, it's quite unfair, but that's life :) About Regina and Gold questioning her loss of magic. They already have and came to the conclusion it's simply the price for time traven (and in a way it was).

Thanks to everyone who reviewed.

I don't own anything.

What makes a family

Storybrooke – Present time

"What can I do?" Roland looked up at her with big brown eyes.

Regina tapped her index finger on her chin and pretended to think very deeply. "How about you go get Henry from his room and then we will start to cut the vegetables?"

Roland made a face at the mentioning at vegetables, "Do I have to eat the green stuff too?"

Regina looked at him with fake heartbreak, "Don't you like my cooking?"

Horrified Roland hurried to explain, "Nuhu, I like your food, R'gina. I will eat it, I promise and the Merry Men always keep their promises."

"And I promise you, that the vegetables will be tasty. You are helping, so how could it not?" Regina smiled and set him down.

Roland stormed upstairs to fulfil his first task, leaving two grinning adults staring after him.

Robin turned to Regina and imitated his son, "What can I do?"

He watched with agony in his chest how her posture shifted to defence and became guarded. She was shutting him out and he moved closer to her out of instinct and his hand reached for her.

Naturally Regina took a step back immediately and his hand dropped like he got burned. Regina tried her best to avoid his parching look full of pain and confusion.

"Regina…" he looked at her with a hopeless look in his eyes.

"Robin, let it go, please."

And he did. She had called him Robin again and that was something at least. Robin propped his hips against the counter and crossed his arms over his chest, it appeared for now he simply had to watch her.

Robin's presence discomfited her and Regina turned his back to him and started pulling the ingredients from the cupboard and the fridge. Not too long ago his gaze would have sent hot chills up and down her spine (but then he wouldn't have been standing all the way over at the counter, he would have been pressed against her back and bestowed hot kisses on her neck) but right now she felt like she was suffocating. Either that or she'd do something terribly stupid, like kiss him for example.

His eyes roamed over her body and his anger rose with every proof he found that showed how she was starving herself and how thin and emaciated her body was.

"Regina, you need to eat something," he remarked and had difficulties keeping his temper in check.

"I'm afraid you confuse the order. In order to eat one must cook first," Regina said stiffly.

"I mean it, Regina!" anger coloured his tone this time and he stepped behind her. He made sure however not to touch her because he wasn't about to give her a reason to throw him out or rethink their training arrangement. Her breathing faltered when his warmth surrounded her and the puff of his breath made the tiny hairs on her back straighten up and the shiver went over her whole body.

"You need to eat more, if not you won't last two minutes when we start training."

She stopped her movement and gave a curt nod. Robin stepped back only when he heard the children on the stairs and Regina didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed.

He watched every bite she took like a hawk. It was easier to find her appetite than it had been before, she felt better. Regina had to admit it was most likely because the scene felt almost domestic. She all but shoved her plate to the side when it occurred to her that they could have been her family if reality hadn't hit her in the face with brutal force. She flinched when Robin grabbed her plate and put it down before her again pointedly.

"Either you eat it or I will feed you. Your choice," he whispered heatedly, making sure the boys didn't hear him.

Regina was about to protest but the look in his blue eyes told her plainly that he was dead serious. She took the fork and stabbed into her food unwillingly. She managed to choke down a few more bites but then her stomach rebelled, it needed to get used to food again. This time Robin didn't object when Regina put the fork down, despite the fact that he would have preferred if she'd continued eating.

R&R

"Again!" Robin extended his hand to Regina to help her up. Regina preferred getting up by herself and so his hand hung uselessly in the air.

After they had finished lunch, the children had gone outside to plan their tree house, leaving Robin and Regina to start their lessons. They had gone into the basement, since Regina was still determined to keep Henry and everyone else for that matter, from finding out about her loss of magic.

Robin was proven right as Regina was barely able to stand anymore and she got more and more frustrated because she wasn't able to prevail against him at all. Her body had diminished and she was quickly gasping for air.

"We'll start with hand to hand combat. Later we can take on weapons, but you don't always carry around something like that with you, so we'll start with basic self-defence techniques. You land one good hit and then you run!" Robin had said. Up until now she hadn't been very successful at it.

Robin took it step by step and went thought one scenario at a time. Once he'd be back in the camp he'd assign a few of his men to keep an eye on Regina. He didn't like how she wasn't able to defend herself without her magic yet.

She picked herself up and Robin was about to tell her it was enough for today, Regina was pale and shook like a leave. For someone who acted so tough all the time, it was astonishing how much she depended on her magical powers. Robin had opened his mouth to suggest a break, but the poisonous look she threw him, challenged him to even try and call her weak. Robin closed his mouth again and supressed a sight. Did she have to be so stubborn all the time?

The garden door opened and two pairs of tripling feet alerted them to the presence of their sons. Regina stepped back and smoothed down her clothes. They climbed up the stairs and meet their respective sons in the living room, where they had been looking for them.

"R'gina!" Roland reached her first and lifted him off the ground. "Can we really build the tree house? The Merry Men will help."

Regina nodded with a smile, "Of course you can."

Roland answered with cheers and clapped his hands, his eyes gleamed.

Henry looked at the clock, he got nervous. Emma would be here any minute now and he hadn't talked to his mum yet. He had wanted to explain to her why he needed to go back and that he was going to come back right after. Regina looked a lot better today and Roland and Robin would be back tomorrow, so he thought it was safe to leave her alone for just a few days.

"R'gina, can we play something? Papa had you the whole day," Roland complained and Regina laughed at his pout.

"Of course Roland, I'd like that," her smile widened and Robin's heart lightened at the sight.

Henry leaped from his spot nervously and ran to the door, right after the bell rang. Regina frowned, she let Roland down and all three of them followed Henry to the door.

"Miss Swan," Regina greeted the blonde indifferently, "Captain Jones."

The pirate who hemmed and hawed behind Emma's back, nodded to the Queen in acknowledgement.

"How may I help you," Regina asked.

Henry looked at her with guilty eyes and Regina's heart stopped. Did Emma come to take Henry back? Did he want to leave? Why didn't he talk to her, if he wanted to go? She barely realised Robin stepping next to her, but she felt the warmth of his hands at her back sipping through the fabric. And she leaned into him by instinct – soaking in the comfort he was offering.

"Mum," Henry approached her and took her hand. "Emma wanted to pick up our stuff from New York and I…"

"You want to go with her?" Regina's voice shook and Robin stroked over her lower back with his thumb.

"We'll be back in a few days, I promise! It's just that I have friends there and I never said goodbye and…"

Regina pressed her lips together tightly but nodded. Robin's warm hand steadied her, gave her security and Regina was able to breathe.

"I'll call every day and mum and I are going to be back in a week at the latest!" Henry promised. "But I can stay."

Regina shook her head. A few days ago she had been willing to give Henry up because she wanted nothing more than his happiness, she would most certainly not keep him from saying goodbye to his friends. She was an adult and more importantly his mother.

"Have you packed a bag?" Regina asked.

Henry looked flustered and negated. Emma sighed loudly behind them.

Sheepishly Henry turned, "Sorry, mum." He raced up the stairs, taking two steps at once. He almost knocked Roland over who had watched with big eyes. Then his face adopted a quizzical expression and he wadded behind Henry. Four adults stayed back in uncomfortable tension.

Regina made no move to step away from Robin's hand and the man was afraid to breathe in case she realised and did step away from him. The mayor looked at Emma for a few long minutes. She had behaved like a child for the past weeks and she was done with it. Robin's hand on her back had absolutely nothing to do with her renewed strengths, she told herself.

"Miss Swan, I expect you to be punctual once we resume training when you're back," Regina remarked. Her magic powers might be gone, but she was still able to share her knowledge. If Emma was able to control her powers she'd be able to protect Henry; therefore it was important to Regina.

Round-eyed Emma asked, "Are you serious?"

"Unless you have found a better teacher," Regina raised an eyebrow.

"No! I mean, I'd like to start with the lessons again," Emma smiled brightly and Regina gave her a curt nod.

"Would you like to wait inside?" Regina stepped aside politely and moved away from Robin's hand elegantly and without attracting attention. His eyes burned into her and Regina ignored him.

Upstairs Henry was throwing clothes and shoes in his bag haphazardly while Roland eyed his room wide-eyed.

"Is all of this yours?" he asked the elder boy.

"Yeah, that's my room," Henry told him absentmindedly.

Roland looked around in amazement and climbed on the big bed. He bounced a little, "This is soft!"

"Yep, it's pretty comfy," Henry grinned.

He snatched another pair of socks and stuffed it in his bag.

"Henry?"

Something in Roland's tone made Henry stop and turn to the younger one. He sounded somewhat confused.

"This other woman… Why did you call her mama?"

"Emma? Because she's my mother," Henry said.

"But R'gina is your mama," the little boy looked up, his face all scrunched up from the thinking.

Henry said down on the bed next to Roland, "Emma is my mama, who gave birth to me, but she couldn't take care of me, because she was in a bad place. And Regina took me and raised me and became my mama."

He tried to explain it a simple as he could.

"You have two mamas?" Roland asked after a few heartbeats.

" Yes, Emma and I share the same blood, but Regina took care of me. She's my mama too," Henry didn't know how to make it easier; his family situation was quite complicated.

Roland nodded, but still appeared to have trouble grasping the situation.

"Are you going away?" he asked pointing to the bag.

"Emma and I lived in New York for the last year and now we are back, but all our stuff is still there so we have to get it. It will take a few days to get everything organized but not more than a week," Henry held up his fingers. "In that many days we'll be back."

Roland looked relieved and hugged Henry, "I like you."

Henry was touched, "I like you too, Roland."

R&R

Regina's heart was heavy as she watched the yellow Beetle drive away. She felt like drowning and the irrational fear of never seeing her son again rose in her.

A slight tug on her sleeve made her look down.

"Don't be sad, R'gina," Roland held up his fingers, "in this many days Henry will be here."

He grinned proudly at getting it right, and Regina smiled back.

She was about to close the door, when Roland protested vigorously. He went over to his father and pulled him to the door by his sleeve.

"Papa has to go. You have all the alone-time with R'gina today. Now I get to."

Robin's jaw dropped in disbelief. His son was seriously throwing him out of Regina's house!

Regina laughed loudly and Robin's head jolted up. He'd allow his son to throw him out a thousand times, if it meant she'd laugh like that.

Roland pushed him by his leg.

"Regina!" Robin protested, his eyes filled with mirth. Regina grinned as she stepped to the door.

"Well, well it would appear we have figured out who the alpha is around here. I'll bring Roland to you later," she threw the door shut and heard his loud laugh even through the closed door.

"Alright Roland, what would you like to do?"

"Ludo!" Roland cheered.

It took five rounds for Roland to give into his urge to yawn.

"I think it's time for you to go home, young man," Regina decided.

Roland nodded solemnly with an almost sad look in his eyes. Regina crouched down before his chair.

"Roland, what's wrong?"

"I want my own room too, where everything is mine."

Regina was speechless, "I thought you liked living in the woods and camping." Roland didn't know anything else and Regina was surprised he wanted it.

The heart-breaking look in his eyes made her say something reckless, "You know, I have a lot of rooms here and no one needs them. You can pick one and that'll be your room," then she thought that maybe Robin wouldn't be pleased with this. "But we'll need to ask your papa for permission."

Roland shouted in approval and fell around her neck, "Thank you, R'gina. Can I come back tomorrow?"

"Of course you can. You can come whenever you want. But you'll need to ask your papa first and someone has to go along with you. How about I'll show you how to make apple pie tomorrow?"

Roland nodded against her shoulder and Regina frowned. She had expected more eagerness.

"Roland, is everything alright?"

"Can't you be my mama?" his voice was small and nervous.

Regina froze, her head was empty and her heart beat rapidly in her chest. Her mouth was dry and she was struggled for words.

"Roland…" she angled her upper body back and supported Roland on her hip. She used her thumb to wipe away a few stray tears from his face. "Do you remember how you mama was here? You met her in the diner."

Roland tilted his head to the side and shook his head a few second later. Of course the boy couldn't remember, he was only five and met his mother for five minutes. Regina still didn't understand why the Merry Men brought Roland to the hospital to her instead of giving mother and son some time together or why Marian hadn't asked for Robin and her son. She hadn't thought much of it, didn't care really, but now she had to wonder.

"Roland, listen to me. Your mama was a great woman and she and your papa loved each other very, very much. And your mama loved you very much as well."

"And you don't love me?"

Regina's heart clenched, "Of course I love you, Roland."

"Like a mama?"

What was she supposed to say to that?

"Yes, honey, but listen. You have a great mama and there isn't anything she'd rather do than be with you, but she can't," Regina explained helplessly, her heart was breaking in her chest. There was nothing she'd love more than being his mother.

"That's not fair," the little one murmured. "Henry gets to have two mamas. I want you to be my other mama."

"Darling…" she hugged Roland tightly. "Your papa loves your mama very much, and he doesn't want you to forget her." Especially because you can't call the woman your mother, who took your real one from you.

"You don't want to be my mama?"

The question was enough to bring tears to her eyes and it spilled before she could stop it.

"Roland, I… your papa… Listen, I will always be there for you and love you and I will always protect you. It doesn't matter whether you call me mama or Regina, alright?"

Roland nodded, but didn't look at her and Regina hugged him tighter again.

R&R

When Regina had carried Roland to the camp Robin initially thought that maybe his subdued mood and his red eyes were from fatigue but when Roland was still unusually passive the next morning, it was a whole other question indeed. And after Robin had told him they'd visit Regina again today, Roland's mood hadn't lifted very much either, so Robin knew something must have occurred. He sat down on a stub, Roland on his lap.

"Roland? Did something happen at Regina's after I left?" he asked carefully and Roland snuggled into his chest.

"Papa…" his voice was small. "Can R'gina be my mama? Because I asked her."

Robin blinked a few times. He tried to get to terms with all the emotions struggling within him. On one hand, there was this part of him which was still reproaching him because of Marian. Regina had been the one to rob them of their time together and there was a part of him that refused to replace her. On the other hand, there was a much stronger part of him that was happy, Regina was supposed to become a part of his family, he loved her, had forgiven her and he wanted her.

Then there was his son. His son wanted and needed a mother. He would always put his son first and Roland didn't remember his mother, not even after meeting her, yet Robin knew that he'd always make sure Roland remembered Marian.

He looked at his son, whose eyes were filled with hope. He wanted Regina and it wasn't a surprise that Roland loved her. She loved him too and she was absolutely wonderful with him.

"What did Regina say?"

"That my mama loved me very much and that you do not like me to forget her. But papa, I won't! Henry has two mamas and I want too!" Roland looked defiantly.

"I'll talk to Regina and tell her, that you may have two mamas. Is that ok, with you?" Robin wasn't a fool, if Roland asked Regina a few weeks ago, she'd have been delighted. Marian's appearance had changed everything.

"Really?" Roland asked beaming and it warmed Robin's heart seeing his beloved son that happy.

"Of course my son! I'm a Merry Men and we always keep our word."

"Can we go now? Papa please!"

"Didn't you want to ask the Merry Men because of the tree house?" Robin distracted him. It was only half past eight and as much as he'd like to see Regina (really he would have wanted to stay the night and hold her and… maybe it was better not to go there). She was all alone in her big house and he didn't like it one bit, but really he knew Regina wouldn't have let him anyway. Well, she would if Roland was with him.

When they finally did make their way to Regina's two hours later, it wasn't just the two of them, they also had half of the Merry Men in tow. Accordingly one could picture Regina's expression when she opened the door.

Robin looked up sheepishly, "Well,…" he bit his lip. "You see, Roland wants to surprise Henry with the completed tree house and..."

"And we've heard the mayor was the best cook in town," John tossed in from the side.

"Besides, Roland kept talking about how there was going to be cake," Samuel added and grinned cheekily.

And before Regina was able to utter a single word, the men had already conquered the house. Leader to the victory being Roland, who bestowed a quick hug to her, and rode onwards on John's shoulders.

She hadn't even closed her mouth yet when Robin, grinning just as bright, his blue eyes sparkling, asked, "So are we going to cook now or do we start with training?"

R&R

"Regina?"

After Regina had fed the Merry Men, she and Robin had started their lessons. It was not for an hour later that they were on their first break. Robin had worked up the courage to talk about Roland and they were sitting on the porch.

"Roland came to me this morning. He was devastated. Why don't you want him to call you his mother?" Robin cursed himself. That came out less sensitive than he had hoped. He literally felt her walls go up and Regina retreated from him. She even went was far as to build physical barriers between them, she wrapped her arms around her upper body and rubbed up and down her arms.

"Regina, please don't misunderstand. I just want to know what happened," he added softly.

"I took care of it, so you don't have to worry," she let her gaze drop to the ground. "I have no intention to take Marian's place."

"Regina," he couldn't stop his hand from falling to her knee. Robin yawned for her touch, needed her proximity and it hurt when she flinched at the touch, but she shake his hand off. "Roland loves you very much. And if you really think, I have objections, your wrong. I know you love him like he's your son and he needs a mother."

"You've managed well up until now. Roland's a great boy."

Robin smirked happily, "I don't believe my ears. Is it possible that that was a compliment from the Queen herself?" he joked.

"But seriously, Regina, Marian will always be Roland's mother and he won't forget about it. But he loves you and I'd be happy if... Regina, you know what I feel for you. Why are you making this so hard? I want you to be part of my family and…"

He didn't get any further, Regina stood up abruptly.

"Stop it!" her voice was rough. "Stop saying that. I ripped your family apart; I killed your wife, your son's mother. I am a monster and you should keep your son as far away from me as humanly possible."

Furious he leaped up, "No, you're the one who should stop. I get that you feel guilty, but I never want to hear you say something like this again. You are not a monster! I love you and Roland loves you. Yes you've done terrible things, and yes the Evil Queen killed Marian. But you are not her, not anymore, not for me and not for Roland."

Regina staggered a few steps back, "I think it's better we don't see each other anymore at all."

Robin laughed humourlessly, "Yeah, you can forget that. You don't want a relationship with me? Fine! But that doesn't mean I'm giving up on us or that I'm about to leave you alone. I…"

Whatever he was about to say was interrupted by the slamming of the front door.

"R'gina! You have to come. We made a plan of the tree house," Roland pulled at her hand and Regina didn't resist. She let the boy drag her into the house.

Once they reached the kitchen table Roland demanded to get up and Regina scooped him into her arms. Most of the Merry Men had gathered around as well.

"See, see there's where the tower will be. See? See?"

The Merry Men as well as Regina had to grin at his enthusiasm.

"Yes, Roland, I see it. It looks very good," Regina praised. "Was that all your idea?"

"Nuhu. Arthur helped."

"Surely he only helped a little," Regina replied, but she had to admit that the plans looked very impressive. If Arthur had been part of the first curse he most likely would have been an architect.

"R'gina?"

"What is it, Roland?"

"Did papa talk to you? He sayed he would."

Regina swallowed hard, she knew what Roland was talking about. Nervously she looked around. The men looked more curious than anything but she didn't find a single one looking at her with hostility, and she frowned.

"Can you be my mama now?"

She met Little John's face and where she expected disgust, anger or hatred in his gaze, she found cheekiness and even fondness (tough that was for Roland). Regina didn't understand in the slightest. She didn't find condemnation no matter where she looked. A lump formed in her throat.

Robin leaned in the doorframe and Regina's eyes met his. He raised an eyebrow and while he still was angry, the gaze he gave her was enough to take her breath away. It was filled to the brim with love.

"I…" Regina turned back to Roland and cleared her throat. "I'd like to be your mama very much."

Roland cheered and gave her a loud smooch on her cheek, "Papa, R'gina is my mama now!"

"So I've heard, my boy!" Robin approached them and tousled Roland's brown locks.

R&R

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