After last night's episode I need to remind you that this story WILL NOT BE RUINING THE MILL'S SISTERS' RELATIONSHIP. Nope. Not here people. I admit, I'm very excited for the return of the Evil Queen but last night I only got one scene with her, and it was crap. The writer's teased Hook's-a character's-death but I don't feel like they'll follow through-how terribly unfortunate. Anyway, I wasn't too impressed with the episode last night-although Regina was perfect, obviously. If you want to chat about the episode, message me or comment and we can freak about it. Otherwise, here's a new chapter and on the bright side it's mostly fluff and the next chapter is almost finished :)
After Regina hung up her phone, she headed into the kitchen in time to catch a bowl about to fall from Roland's grasp as he sat atop the counter. A stern look from her had him scampering down to kneel on a stool. She set the bowl back down in front of him so he could begin to stir again as Henry and Granny moved frantically around her kitchen. Zelena sat on a stool next to Roland with a look of amusement on her face.
She glanced at Regina and gave her a smirk before turning back to the two bickering on the other side of the island.
"No Granny! That's not right. You're going to burn them!" Henry exclaimed.
"Child, I've been cooking longer than your mother has been alive. I know what I'm doing. Go over there at let me finish this in peace!" Granny scolds good-naturedly.
Henry rolls his eyes; "Well then you've been cooking wrong for a very long time!" Henry sasses back.
"I do hope you're not cracking a joke at my age, dear," Regina quips, drawing attention to herself. Both parties look at her and she raises an eyebrow, asking them to deny it.
Henry looks at the ground sheepishly, "Of course not, but Granny here is old. It was a quip at her age, not yours, Mom. Promise," he adds with a cheeky grin.
"Mhmm, it better not be," Regina says with a smirk as she leans her elbows onto the counter next to Roland and asks, "What are you making, Roland?"
"Ffffff!" he yells excitedly, causing Birdie to jump in Zelena's arms at the loud noise.
"I'm sorry?" Regina asks, looking from Roland to Henry, the former having his mouth completely full of food. "Roland, chew first, then tell me what you're doing, okay?"
Roland nods animatedly and proceeds to swallow what look like-marshmallows? Cool whip?–Regina wonders as she watches him go back to stirring whatever was in the bowl. "Fluff Gina! Henry says we're making fluff!"
When Regina gives Henry a strange look he supplies, "We're making homemade fluff to put on the strawberry dessert tonight."
"Oh you are?" Regina asks with a raised eyebrow.
Henry nods enthusiastically, causing Regina to smile. "Thought it could be a surprise but I guess not," he says with a shrug.
This causes Regina to chuckle and says, "Well, I'll pretend if you'd like."
Zelena rolls her eyes, "So courteous, Your Majesty," she mutters.
A quick glare from Regina has her smirking but looking away from her and to Roland, offering him a wink.
Roland giggles and continues stirring the fluff.
Dinner preparation continues with minor bickering (spoken with love), a small food fight (ending in every person having sticky marshmallow fluff on their face), and constant awareness on Regina's part to prevent Roland's mixing bowl from meeting an untimely demise upon her floor. Soon, everything is ready and they wash up for dinner.
Everyone does their share to set the table and bring the food from the kitchen to the dining room. They sit around talking and laughing until their bellies are full; after finding room for desert of course. They take everything back to the kitchen; leftovers are put into containers and placed in the fridge, dirty dishes are placed in the dishwasher, and the table and kitchen are cleaned. Everyone heads outside to enjoy the last rays of light the sun has to offer.
Granny takes Birdie from her bouncer and walks out to sit on the outdoor swing and talks quietly to the little girl about nothing in particular, enjoying the way her eyes light up as she watches the old woman talk animatedly to her.
Henry and Roland tear off to chase each other through the grass, giggling the entire time. Regina can't help the smile that crosses her face when Henry picks up Roland and spins him around before carefully placing him back on his feet and beginning the game again. Regina sits on one of the patio chairs, allows the sun to warm her, and watches the boys play together. Zelena sits next to her in another patio chair and smiles when Regina looks her way.
"What's the plan?" Zelena asks after a moment.
Regina turns away from Henry and Roland to look at her sister. She studies her for a moment before saying, "Kathryn is coming over tonight and I'm going to talk about some logistics before I make a decision. I put in a call to the lawyer in Boston and he's expecting a call from me tomorrow sometime."
Zelena nods and goes back to sneaking glances at Granny and Birdie. They're both quiet for a few minutes before Zelena whispers, "When did this happen?" so quiet that only Regina can hear.
Regina turns back to her sister and asks, "When did what happen, Zelena?"
"This," Zelena says gesturing her hands to the backyard. When all she gets is a confused look from Regina, she huffs and says, "Us. You, me, these kids, all living under one roof, a shewolf protecting us; when did it happen?" Regina shrugs and Zelena whispers somberly, "I know some terrible things have occurred to us, Regina. I know we've contributed to some of those terrible things against ourselves and against each other." Regina raises an eyebrow and Zelena grumbles, "That's as close to admission of wrongdoing as I go, Regina." They share a smirk and she continues, "I was going to say that I'm glad we're here together; with this crazy, dysfunctional family. A lot has happened to us but I don't think we'd be here right now if it hadn't happened." Regina nods along in agreement. "I'm not going to say I'm glad this has happened because we've both lost more than anyone should have to go through but I am glad that we're here for each other right now."
Regina tentatively reaches out and grasps Zelena's hand with a small smile. "Me too," she says quietly. She turns back to watch the boys playing, not letting go of Zelena's hand.
They sit quietly, grasping each other's hands tightly, listening to young squeals of happiness and Granny talking to Birdie. Once the sun starts to fall behind the horizon and the moon and stars are in the sky, Regina calls to Henry and Roland, "Come inside. It's getting dark now and I don't need you two to catch cold by staying outside too long."
"Yes Mom," Henry grumbles as he heads to the door.
Roland watches him before hanging his hand in a same defeated manner, mumbling, "Okay Gina."
Regina smiles at the boys and follows them inside. She sees Zelena standing next to Granny, who is still talking animatedly to the little girl in her arms. She turns her attention to the two sulking boys, "Alright, say goodnight to Granny and Zelena and then head upstairs, it's bathes and bed for you two."
Henry rolls his eyes at his mother's tone but moves over to give Granny a one-armed hug, receiving a kiss to his head in return. "Night Granny," he murmurs before kissing Birdie's head, "Night Little Bird, sleep tight." He turns and wraps his arms tightly around Zelena's middle, surprising his aunt. She's quick to recover and wraps her arms around his shoulders just as tight. "Night Aunt Z," he says quietly.
"Goodnight Henry," she says just as quietly, afraid that if she speaks too loudly, he'll jump away and she'll have imagined the whole thing. She's still in awe of the freely given affection as he lets go and she smiles at him.
Henry smiles back and moves toward his mom and Roland. He kneels on one knee in front of Roland and opens his arms, when Roland hugs him tight he wraps his arms around Roland's back and says, "Night Ro."
"Night Henry," Roland says in a strained voice, trying to squeeze Henry tighter and tighter.
Henry chuckles and when the little boy releases him he stands and hugs his mom, resting his head on her shoulder, Night Mom," he whispers.
"Goodnight dear," she says as she kisses his forehead. "I'll come check on you after I put Roland to bed, alright?"
Henry pulls back and nods at her before completely releasing her and heading for the stairs.
Roland watches him climb the stairs before repeating the goodnight process. He makes his way toward Granny, who kneels in front of him and gives him a smile as he looks at Robin. "Night, night Little Sister," he says in a mock whisper as he kisses her head. "G'night Granny," he says as he leans into her side as she wraps an arm around his waist.
"Goodnight, Child," Granny says after she kisses his cheek.
He scrunches his nose and turns toward Zelena, who also kneels to be on his level, "Night, night Lena."
Zelena wraps her arms around the young boy and holds him close, "Goodnight Roland."
When he lets her go, she stands back up and tries to gain control of her emotions. The last time she had hugged Roland, she was pretending to be his mother. Now is not the time to think about that. I was wrong. Ugh, she mentally groans. Please don't let Regina know how much I regret it. She already has enough to hold over my head for eternity. What, with trying to kill her and then trying to go back in time to take her place. Zelena huffs in her mind, I will never live that down, especially since I came back here pretending to be her Soul mate's wife. Zelena tries to shake herself of these thoughts No. Now I'm here as Regina's sister, one she actually seems to care for. We finally have our memories of when we first met as children and we cared for each other. All before we tried to kill each other, but – semantics.
Zelena looks up to find Regina giving her a strange look. She gives her a tight smile and a nod before watching Roland reach up for her.
Regina's attention is drawn away from her sister and to the little boy reaching his hands for her expectantly. She smiles down at him as she reaches under his arms and lifts him onto her hip. He lays his head on her shoulder and waits quietly as she murmurs about getting him ready for bed before Kathryn shows up. Granny and Zelena nod their understanding as Regina and Roland make their way up the stairs.
Granny and Zelena move into the living room where Granny rests Birdie on her lap to look at the little girl. Zelena pauses before moving to sit next to the old werewolf.
"Little Bird, huh?" Granny coos at Robin, "Where on earth did they come up with that?"
Zelena lets out a breathless chuckle as Granny gives her the side-eye. "It was Henry's idea, actually."
Granny nods, "I had assumed as much."
After a moments pause Zelena adds, "Regina was having a harder time with her name than she let on. Calling her Robin seemed to be causing extra stress and reminders she wasn't quite ready for. So, Henry started calling her Little Bird or Birdie."
Granny nods her understanding and the room is filled with a casual silence. Finally, she says, "And Regina has been able to use those?"
Zelena nods, "She seems to have taken a shine to using Birdie. I think it makes it easier for her."
Granny stares at her a moment-making Zelena feel like the wolf can see straight into her soul-before asking, "And you?"
Zelena's taken aback, "Wha-what about me?"
"How are you dealing with everything that's happened?" Granny asks.
"I-" she pauses and clears her throat, clearly caught off guard. "I am dealing with things the only way I know how."
Granny gives her a look-a look Zelena's only seen grandmother's in TV shows give-and says, "Maybe it's time to find another way." She turns her attention to Birdie and talks to the girl like she hasn't just completely turned Zelena's world on its axis.
Zelena sits flabbergasted. She sits staring at the shewolf, wondering what her agenda is, no one is this nice. Especially since she wasn't a fan until Robin died. What's she working at? But then Zelena watches the old woman talk animatedly with her daughter, causing Birdie to smile and coo. Do I block her before she hurts us all? Look at her with your daughter, think of her with Henry and Roland. Does she really want to hurt them too? Zelena shakes herself, this is not the time to ponder something that hasn't happened. Why would Granny put all this effort into helping us if-
Her musings are cut off when the doorbell rings. Granny looks up with confusion and Zelena gives a tight smile, "I'll get it. It's probably Kathryn."