Tethered To You 21.
**Previously on TTY: With little baby Rose here, the people of the Enchanted Forest decide it's time to go back to Storybrooke but the dark magic bean comes with a price, the loss of memories and Regina wakes up in her Mansion with a little girl she doesn't know and a father she has no idea of**
Her mansion isn't exactly baby proofed. Thankfully, Regina hadn't thrown out any of Henry's old things, and well she has her magic, so she can pretty much get whatever this little girl needs. But apparently feeding from a bottle just isn't working. The baby in her arms fought, fidgeted and cried at the rubber synthetic nub placed against her lips. Whined and batted it away with a cry.
It's making Regina nervous. That she won't eat. It's been a good two hours since she woke up with the adorable little stranger in her home, and she has to be hungry. But every time Regina grabs the bottle, the girl screams, tears flow out harder and she cradles herself into Regina's breast. Which is odd. Because they are sore. In a way Regina's never felt before. Swollen and sensitive. Probably the most bizarre is that she is leaking, for lack of a better term. Which has to be impossible. She can't surely be lactating just from mothering intuition when she's not even sure who this baby belongs to.
That too is strange. The little girl, dare she say it, looks just like her, except the eyes, those are the brightest blue Regina's ever seen. Everything else though resembles Regina. The dark head of soft hair, the slant of her nose, pout in her lips, even the expressions she's gurgled out. It's bizarre, and yet fondly entrancing at the same time. If, and it's a very big if, this little girl is in fact her own, that means there's a father out there, but who is a complete mystery. There isn't anyone here in Storybrooke she would have gotten into bed with, least of all made a child with.
The tiny whine brings her attention back down to the babe nestled into her chest, and she wonders rather embarrassed if perhaps the bottle isn't what she wants. "What's wrong sweet girl? What do you need?" She coos gently, swaying the baby back and forth as she wriggles and whimpers in the purple swaddled blanket Regina had found her in. Chewing on her lower lip, she strokes gently across the tiny head of hair, frowning nervously as she walks down over to the living room couch, sitting easily back against the cushions.
Brown eyes lock onto sparkly blues, wary meeting curiosity. Regina stills for a moment before releasing a few buttons of her blouse, her heart thumping with each button that pops open and the slide of silk down her chest as she removes her bra. A swirl of soft pink trickles from the little girls palms and Regina can feel it immediately, the comforting gratitude that sinks into her skin at the touch of magic. It's gentle like a petal, beyond delicate as she adjusts her arms and the little girl latches onto her nipple.
She lets a shaky breath go at the feeling. Tears flushing her eyes as the baby suckles from her. "You're mine. I know you are." Sighing with a small disbelieving smile, she leans back against the couch, playing with a chubby foot as she lets her body do what it needs, feed her daughter. She'd expect it to be strange, uncomfortable even, nursing a baby she has no memory of birthing. But it's the exact opposite in fact. It feels normal. Right even. Her daughter suckles and suckles, eyes closing as she finally fills her belly, a curled up fist laying against Regina's chest, holding onto a locket of hair.
Regina lets her mind go, wandering into how this could have happened. Well she knows how, but with who, is the more important question. They should be in the Enchanted Forest. Her spell should have worked. They watched Emma and Henry drive across the townline as Pan's curse swallowed the town whole. But this little girl has to be at least five or six months old, what with the chubby rolls of fat along her arms and legs. Which means they had to be in the Enchanted Forest for at least fifteen months, and that's if Regina had gotten pregnant the second they hit the dirt. Which is ridiculous. Perhaps it's been two years, maybe longer even.
The thought makes her heart ache. She's missed so much of Henry's life. A life he doesn't even remember. She wonders if he is happy. If he's grown taller, what he likes, what subjects in school he prefers, if he has friends there. She may never know.
A tiny gurgle pulls her back from the wandering of her thoughts, and she smiles down at her daughter, "All done, sweet girl?" She tugs her bra back on, buttons her shirt quickly, and moves the baby to her shoulder, rubbing and patting her back gently till a soft burp escapes. The baby nuzzles into Regina's shoulder, her little feet kicking happily at her mother's stomach as she rocks them back and forth.
She smells perfect. That baby smell Regina had wanted to bottle up from Henry just so she could have it for the rest of her life. He had this light airy scent to him, like a gentle summer's wind, warm and kind. This little girl, smells like flowers, soft delicate petals. It calms Regina, has her eyes closing as she sways her daughter back and forth, her tiny body growing heavy as sleep claims the full belly. This had always been her favorite part of having a baby. Nap time. The feeling of a weight in her arms, warm and soft, little puffing breaths on her chest and a steady heartbeat against her skin. She loves this.
Running her nails up and down the cotton onesie she closes her eyes, humming out a soft tune she isn't exactly sure she knows where it's coming from. But she knows it. Can hear a low timbered voice lingering the melody in her ears, or rather into her daughters. It's familiar. This voice. From where she can't exactly put her finger on, but it's comforting, like an old memory cracking through to the surface. Perhaps it's the father. A man she clearly felt enough affection for to become intimate with.
A knock at the door interrupts the quiet time and Regina scowls at the sound, peering down at her daughter who still sleeps soundly in her arms. Well that's good, she's a heavy sleeper. Kissing the soft curls she stands, wrapping the baby up in her blanket as she makes her way to the door.
"Regina!"
"Keep your voice down." She hushes a bewildered Snow White standing on her doorstep, her eyes pointedly flicking down to the fast asleep baby she carries. That has Snow's eyes widening, her jaw dropping as she takes in the sight. "Whose baby is that?" She questions with a hint of concern, one that almost seems like mild accusation.
Regina rolls her eyes, hugs the little girl tighter, a flash of her son being taken away from her by the Charmings and Emma swirling in her heart. "She's mine." Her answer is quick and sharp, tone enough to have Snow's eyes softening as a flush of embarrassment creeps into her cheeks. "I'm sorry. It's just…."
"What? Unbelieveable I could have a baby?"
"No." She shakes her head, "Regina that's not what I meant. It's just surprising that's all."
"Seems there is a lot of that right now." She spies David walking up her pathway with a baby of his own babbling away in his arms. Snow turns, smiles at the sight and then back at Regina. "Yeah, that was interesting to wake up with. I'm sure you know." She nods back down to the little girl. Regina shrugs, and walks back into her house, knowing fully well that the Charmings will come in with out without an invitation.
The sound of voices stirs her daughter who whimpers softly, rubbing her face against Regina's neck as she awakes drowsily. It makes Regina's heart flutter at the indignant look the girl gives to the people who have so rudely interrupted her nap time. Like mother like daughter clearly. She sits back on the sofa, turning so that her daughter can sit in her lap, back against her chest, a fist of Regina's fingers going straight into her mouth. Leaning down, Regina kisses her temple, letting her finger be sucked on, slobbery and messy as it may be, but it appears to be soothing to the little girl, so sticky fingers be damned, it just means she will have to get a pacifier soon.
"Who's this?" David sits with his own boy in his arms, shock written across his features as he stares down at the little girl across from him.
"She's my daughter."
"Well I can see that. She looks just like you." He replies with a smile. "Except the eyes." His gaze flicks curiously up to Regina's. "Any idea who the father is?"
"If I did, do you not think he'd be here as well?"
David flushes, licks his lips and avoids Regina's stare. Thankfully, Snow is there to bail him out of what could have been a very awkward conversation. "She's beautiful, Regina."
"I think so." She smiles down at her daughter who wriggles happily her arms, moving onto Regina's thumb with a mouthy grip.
"What's her name?"
The question stills Regina. She honestly hadn't even thought about that. Her name. What is her name? Surely she must have one. She wouldn't have just let that slip. But what would it be?
"You don't know do you?"
She shrugs with a shake of her head, "I woke up and she was here this morning. I didn't think about it to be honest." The confession is quiet as guilt rakes up her spine. What kind of mother doesn't even know their own child's name? She watches as the little girl eyes up the woven bracelet on her wrist, the dangling rose being batted around by chubby fingers. It makes her smile when her daughter finally clutches it in her hands. The second her hand grips the trinket, a puff of pink magic blooms out, up into Regina's face and seeps into her brain. It's a flower. A swirling single color of red and soft petals, that same voice she heard humming in her ears not to long ago, mumbling out into the fog a happy "Hello, my little Rosie." She can hear her daughter babble gleefully as the vision melts away.
"Are you a little Rose?"
Blue eyes meet bright brown.
"What was that?" David huffs out confused as Regina stares down at the sky blue hue that holds her gaze, carved flower trinket now stuffed into her gummy mouth.
"She was showing me her name."
"She has magic?"
Regina rolls her eyes, "She's my daughter, of course she does."
"I'm sorry. I just didn't realize babies this small could actually use it."
"Honestly, neither did I. But she is special. Aren't you, Rose?" She tickles the foot that bounces about. Rose. Rose Mills. It's rather pretty. Why she chose it she doesn't know, perhaps it has some connection to her father. Maybe it's a family namesake? The idea has her heart tumbling over. There is a family out there. Somewhere. Maybe back in the Enchanted Forest, or perhaps here in Storybrooke, just outside her door.
"Well. Little Rose, we'd like to introduce you to your… uh… cousin Neal." Snow pipes up, taking her son from David's arms. It makes Regina laugh at the ridiculous state of their family tree. Technically she would be this little boys step-grandmother, Rose being an aunt. But it's strange, and she certainly doesn't feel like a grandma.
"It's nice to meet you, Neal." She smiles at the chubby baby boy. He's cute. Looks exactly like David. Her inner monologue sarcastically biting out at the fact it's another Prince Charming. But he is adorable. Parental lineage be damned. "We guess he's about seven or eight months. Not that we can remember how it happened."
"Oh I am sure you both know what goes into making a baby." Regina grins with a pointed look at the pair that squirm and flush under her gaze. David's muffled, Yes well… anyway, delectably childish as Regina turns her eyes back to her daughter, her little Rose. She is perfect. No one will be able to tell Regina otherwise. Her fat pink lips finally let go of the trinket, and her hands clench and flex into the air playing with nothing. And that seems to make her rather unhappy as she frowns and cries out indignantly. With a chuckle and a press to her soft curls, Regina's hand swirls in a light lavender, a stuffed white bear blooming into her palm. Rose squeals and nabs it straight away, bunching the toy into her face, the pink fuzzy nose straight into her mouth.
"She's a doll, Regina. Truly." Snow smiles, bounces her own baby in her lap. "So... any idea why we are back here without our memories?"
"Honestly," Regina sighs, "I don't have a clue."
"Well someone has to know something. Perhaps we should call a town meeting?"
That just means she has to leave this little precious bubble of her daughter and go face the people who are clearly going to assume it was her who cast this curse. How she is going to get them to believe her is uncertain enough to have Regina's palms sweat. They never do trust her, regardless of the many times she has saved them all since the Dark Curse. She's the villain in this story.
"Regina?"
She swallows the anxious bubble in her throat and nods in agreement. "We can do it this afternoon. I am sure people have a lot of questions."
"And maybe some answers." Snow spells out, in that nauseating hopeful sing song voice as she looks down at Rose once more and then back up to Regina. Maybe she is right. Perhaps whoever is Rose's father will also be here. The thought has Regina's heart tripping over it's beats as she stands swiftly, baby girl in tow and bids the Charmings goodbye. She just wants a few more hours before everything becomes chaotic.
The door closes and Regina lets out a heavy breath, cuddling her daughter in tight as they sway back and forth in the living room. The tumultuous pace of her heart clearly felt by Rose, who snuggles in closer, patting her little hands against Regina's chest as soft pink tendrils of smoky magic escape and lace around Regina's heart, a sweet attempt at soothing the nerves building within.
"Oh, my sweet girl." She kisses the crown of black hair, "Thank you." This feeling is incredible. Having a daughter, one who has magic this early on, something she definitely needs to find out why she is apparently able to use her magic so early on. Children don't usually tap into their powers until much, much later. Rose is clearly just special. "How about a bath before we face the town?"
"Ba!"
"Yes, baby. Ba." She chuckles, climbing the steps with her precious cargo, "Whatever that means."
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Well. This is clearly not the Enchanted Forest. That much is certain as Robin takes in the different clumping of trees around he and his Merry Men. They last thing he remembers is walking through the forest he called home, a shriek from a beast in the sky, and then nothing. It's all dark after that. Something is definitely wrong. Even the men can sense it as they pitch tents and start a fire in the clearing.
He'd woken up a few hours ago, a pounding headache and the lingering feeling of slender fingers sliding away from his own. Fortunately Roland is safe, confused just as much as everyone else, but he is here, sitting quietly with Tuck and Alan with a look on his face Robin can't place. It must be terrifying for him. To wake up in an unknown world. The strange thing is (besides waking up wherever they are), is the ache in his heart that thumps with every step he takes. It's like he's lost someone, or something dear to him.
This kind of pain he's only ever truly felt maybe three times in his life before, and it always came from the loss of someone he loved. First it had been his sister, taken at a young age for the fear of the townsfolk about her magic. The second had been losing Marian to that god forsaken illness. And the third, well, he hasn't let the pain of losing her go since the day she'd banished him to a life of a thief.
Walking over to the fire, the face of the woman he hasn't let surface in many years lingers. He knows what she did, the curse she cast that took so many away from the Enchanted Forest, leaving the rest frozen in time behind her. Perhaps this new curse was her doing as well. It's entirely possible. But why bring them this time? The thought stews and rots in his gut as he takes his place beside Roland who fiddles with the hem of his coat.
"Did you have breakfast, my boy?"
His son nods, a sullen thing that has Robin's heart tightening. He's clearly troubled by something, and no boy this little should have to deal with such confusion. Quietly, Roland moves his way into Robin's lap, nuzzling into his arms like he used to do as a much smaller child. He hasn't done it in years, cuddled this tightly into his father who wraps his arms around him protectively. "What's wrong, son?"
He hears a whimpered sniffle against his tunic, little hands gripping harder at Robin's coat as he shakes his head, not answering a word in return. He must be scared. "Oh, Roland, it's alright lad. Don't be afraid."
"I'm not."
"Then what has you looking like a sad puppy?"
Sitting back so he can tip up Roland's cheeks, Robin smiles as best he can, hoping it can soothe the ache in his son's eyes that stare wetly up at him. "Where's Regina?" He whispers quietly.
The name freezes Robin to the very core. His son doesn't know of Regina. He has never spoken of her to anyone, not even his Merry Men. How could Roland possibly know of her? Swallowing thickly against the image of the face he's kept hidden for years, he leans down, carding his fingers through Roland's curls. "Who is Regina?" He tries to sound as calm as possible, though the tremble in his voice shakes heavily.
Roland frowns, "You don't remember her?"
Of course he does. He remembers every last detail about her. Every smile that had his heart soaring into the clouds. Each changing color of her stunning eyes, from the darkest of chocolate when the days were taking their toll, to the lightest of whiskey gold when she laughed. His heart thumps and flips as he tries to remain calm.
"No son. I don't know who she is." He lies.
The sadness floods Roland's face, a pouting lip quivering as the tears bubble into his eyes. "But she was in the Enchanted Forest. We lived in her castle."
Perhaps this is a delusional dream Robin is in. It's not possible that she was in the Enchanted Forest with them. It's not possible that they crossed paths again without him remembering anything about it. And he honestly doesn't know if he would allow his son to be anywhere near her. Chewing on his bottom lip, Robin catches Tuck's eye, who sits just as stunned beside them. Flicking his gaze between his son and the Friar, Robin silently tries to ask his mentor, what in the bloody hell is going on? Sadly, Tuck just shakes his head with a shrug. It appears no one understands what is happening.
"Papa?"
"Yes, my boy."
"Can you tell me a story?"
"Of course, which would you like to hear?"
Rolands hands pat against his chest as he thinks, long and hard before muffling out, "One with Regina. I miss her." Robin stills, frowns out at nothing as his mind conjures up a complete blank. What is he supposed to say? He can see her face, hear her voice in his ears, even feel the gentle touch of her hands against his own. But that was years ago. And yet, his heart flickers and flips at the thought of her. Of this crazed notion that his son knows her.
There is still anger there though. When he thinks of her and what she had done. Resentment and bitterness to the life she forced him into living. Alone. On the run. Without her. Why he has no idea, he just wanted her to be happy. Apparently that was not a two way street. It couldn't have been with what she sentenced him to. Scowling, he says nothing to Roland who waits patiently in his arms, fights the burning in his heart at the mere mention of her name.
"Papa? Who's that?"
He turns, following the pointed finger of his son, and there is a woman standing there. Draped in a red glowing gown, brown ringlets and a bewildered look on her face as she steps into the camp.
"Rosetta?"
"Robin!" She beams, skipping over to him and his son. "Oh I am so glad I found you. Have you any idea where we are?"
"Not a clue."
"Well that's a pity."
She sits down beside him, surveying the pitched tents and toasty fire, "Hello, young sir. What's your name?"
He eyes up the stranger for a moment before his lips break into a wide smile. "Rosetta! It's me!" His body leaps from Robin's into her stunned frame. She chuckles a bit, shocked, but holds the child tight anyway, staring at Robin for an explanation, though he is just as dumbfounded as she. Roland never met this fairy. She had only shown up that one night, when her words had been kind and heartfelt, a vial of red pixie dust pressed into his hands and the notion of hope that there was love still out there for him.
"Roland knows you?"
She shakes her head, hugging Roland regardless, "I guess? What's going on?"
Robin sighs, watches the way his son naturally relaxes into this woman's arms, one who should be an absolute stranger to him. His boy has always been rather shy with newcomers, quiet and curious in the shadows. But this, well, this is clearly not the timid child he knows.
"I think our memories have been erased."
"Erased? By magic?"
"I don't know. I assume as much."
"That explains why I have no idea where we are or how we got here." Her hand waves out around them, glittering sparkles of red and gold following in its path. Robin can tell by the expression that etches into the woman's face that there is uncertainty and nervousness licking through her. Waking up in a strange place with no recollection is rather unsettling.
"Rosetta?"
"Yes, Roland?"
"Papa doesn't remember Regina."
The fairies eyes lock onto Robin's, or at least attempt to as he avoids her curious gaze. A story untold clearly. Her knees bounce Roland as she turns back and smiles, "And who is Regina?" Robin waits, leans in a fraction more, desperate to hear what his son has to say.
"She's the Queen."
"Oh? The Queen of where?"
"The Enchanted Forest! You know her too!"
Rosetta hums out, interested at the utter certainty of the boy in her arms. Magic is always different with children. It doesn't always administer the same effects on young souls as it does grown ones.
"Tell me about her, Roland. This Queen Regina."
The question seems to ignite Roland, who squirms happily in her lap, a smile reaching high into his dimples. "She is really pretty. And we lived in her castle. But she was sad for a long time so Papa and I went to go see her lots."
"She sounds lovely."
He nods, babbling on as Robin sits frozen at his son's story of how she'd saved him twice from flying monkeys with a bubble of magic. How they had had picnics by a lake and rode horses and played in her room.
"Roland? Can you describe her room?" Robin fumbles out, kneeling beside his son and the fairy with disbelief.
"Uh huh. It was big. And had a big bed and a balcony that looked at the mountains."
Well that could be anywhere, though the memories of Robin's time spent on a similar balcony with Regina overlooking the rocky landscape has his breath hitching through twisted lungs. Perhaps it's just Roland's imagination gone wild… "And she used to make grass bracelets with us, like the ones you make, Papa."
Robin's brain fizzles out, spikes and snaps frantically about. He's not touched a blade of grass in that way for decades, swore to never twine together the strands for it only reminded him of her. Sweat pools on his back, lines along his temple as he slumps into the dirt and stares astonished into the burning flames. Is it even possible? Was she truly there? Had they honestly spent time together?
"Rosetta? Why doesn't anyone remember her?"
"I am not sure, but I bet we'll find out soon enough."
"Do you think she is here?"
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She knew it. They are all here, sitting clamoured into steel chairs, staring at her with accusatory eyes. Not a single drop of trust in any one of them. Well save for the Charmings, and Granny apparently, who sits rather gruffly on the side of the hall, arms tucked securely around Rose. Oddly, when Regina had walked through the door, Rose had been quietly nestled against her chest, happy to play with Regina's necklace while the townspeople gawked openly at her in shock. Upon seeing the older woman, however, Rose had flailed and wriggled incessantly in Regina's hands, babbling out happily in Granny's direction who merely cocked a curious eyebrow at the baby.
If there was anyone in this bloody town Regina could honestly trust, it was the diner head. The one woman who had been there since the beginning of Regina's days as Queen. Their history… is complicated, but even here in Storybrooke, amongst all the pandemonium and allegations thrown at Regina, Granny was always quietly by her side. So when her daughter had squealed and reached out for the woman, Regina's eyes had flushed with tears when Granny simply smiled and cuddled the little girl into her arms without question, just a gentle easy chuckle, "I'm not sure who you are little one, but you are beautiful, just like your mommy."
Quickly they had spoken before the town hall began to line with more and more confused townsfolk. A squeeze from Granny's hand on Regina's forearm unable to soothe the nerves that fluxed through the mayor. "I'll keep watch over her. You go do what you need to." Regina smiled, kissing Rose's cheek and untangling her daughter's hand from Granny's beaded glasses chain, which didn't last long once she'd walked away and saw a blue bead being suckled on merrily by her daughter without a second look from Granny.
"How do we know it's not you!?" Someone hollers, and she is pretty sure it's that insipid angry dwarf.
"Yeah! You expect us to believe this isn't your doing?" Another chimes in, garnering the crowd into a few cheers and hollers as Regina takes her place at the front of the crowd. Might as well let them get it all out now, so they can actually have a proper discussion afterwards.
"Curses are your thing!"
She rolls her eyes at that one, angling a sharp eyebrow at the man who freezes at her glare and shifts behind a few other patrons. Funny how they are so brave in a crowd but not one on one. Cowards.
Drumming her nails on the tabletop she waits, lets the murmurs finally die down when David stands with a hand in the air, asking for silence. Funny how they will listen to him, but not to their actual Queen. Mayor. Whatever. She is still their superior right now.
"Okay. Okay. That's enough. We called this meeting to find out answers, not throw accusations." David calls out, earning a dopey smile from his wife who holds their baby proudly. "Now. We've spoken with Regina." He gestures her way and the crowd grumbles, "She did not cast this curse."
"Yeah right!" Grumpy once again decides to throw his allegations out. If she could only dispose of him… things would be so much happier. She can dream.
"We know that Pan's curse was supposed to take us back to the Enchanted Forest. And clearly we spent some significant time there." David smiles at his son, much the same as Regina's eyes flicker over to Rose who is dead asleep against Granny's chest. "Snow and I would like to take this moment to formally introduce you to our son. Prince Neal."
The crowd cheers, and Regina cringes as she sees her daughter's arms stretch as a tiny whimper escapes her at the noise. Perhaps she should go to her. Twitching in her chair, she watches as everyone turns to the little sound in Granny's embrace, a gasp and shock echoing through the air.
"Who's kid is that?" Whale gruffs out, eyeing the baby girl. And bless the Gods for Granny and the protective snarl she sends back.
"Mine." Regina stands, quickly pacing towards her daughter who is crying sadly at the drilling of a hundred eyes.
"Someone had a baby with you?" Grumpy hollers out, "Poor schmuck."
The fireball burns into her hand as Regina faces the dwarf. His miserable life ends now. Seven dwarves is far too many anyway. Six will do just fine.
"Leroy!" Snow scolds the grump with a frown. "If we are going to figure out who cursed us we need to stick together. Not tear one another apart. Apologize to Regina."
The dwarf flushes red hot with embarrassment, opting to not do as the princess asked, but simply cross his arms and sit down with a huff into his chair.
Sliding Rose from Granny's arms, Regina sways her daughter back and forth gently, letting the trinket on her bracelet get gummed on. She doesn't care if these people don't like her. They can send every nasty retort her way. But Rose is a different story. She is pure. And Regina is a fierce mother, they should know that already.
"So if Regina didn't cast this curse then who did?" Ruby questions out from beside Granny. When she saddled up beside Regina and her grandmother, Regina is unsure, but it gives her this strange sense of security. If Granny follows Regina, Ruby will too. It's pack mentality. And Regina is grateful more than ever for the older woman's faith in her.
"I don't know. But we are going to find out and get our memories back." Snow smooths out, steadying the unwary crowd. "Now, if anyone has any information please come talk to us. The rest of you, just be careful and watch out for new residents in the town."
"You mean like the guys that are camped out in the forest right now?" Grumpy heaves indignantly, rolling his exasperated eyes. "What? You're telling me no one else has seen them? That's comforting."
Men in the forest? Who the hell are they?
Regina scowls, she doesn't like strangers, they only bring trouble. But her heart flickers for some odd reason. Flutters when Rose nuzzles into her neck, finally exhausted from her tears prior. On more than one occasion, newcomers into the town means nothing good for Regina. More often than not, they are here for her, to seek some sort of revenge. And while her own well being hasn't always caused her that much thought, her children on the other hand are a different story. She will die protecting them. She doesn't care how many forest dwelling men there are. If they are here to harm her child, well they can simply burn along with the trees.
The hall door swings open as if it's ears were burning, revealing a gang of grown men dressed with bows and arrows on their back, wary glints in their eyes as they enter the hall. There is at least eight of them. All holding some sort of weapon at their hips as they slowly tread inside.
Regina's heart burns and her palm flexes with a pulse of magic in her fingertips. If they want to fight here, well then so be it.
"Regina!"
A squealing voice echoes through the silent parting crowd as a young boy wriggles his way through them, brown curly hair and big chocolate button eyes that shine up at Regina who stands frozen to the spot. He looks familiar. But she is certain she's never seen the boy before. Her heart flips over at his face. She knows him. Rose babbles in her arms at the young boy.
"Rosie! You're here!"
What the hell?
"Roland! Son, you were supposed to stay at camp!" A timbered, exasperated voice booms out as a man comes crashing through the doors, and the breath runs from Regina's lungs, the world tilting on it's axis as he runs to his son, hoisting him up with a stern frown. He's here. It's him. But how? How is this possible?
"Papa! Papa, look! It's Regina and Rosie! We found them!"
Robin turns, and his jaw drops as his gaze locks onto a pair of whiskey brown eyes, both wide in shock.
"Regina?"
She shakes at the sound of his voice, the bright blue of his eyes that drill straight into her as he stands straighter, bewildered at the sight of her.
"Ba!"
TBC.