Chapter 12: Small snip

"Very well, Regina." Robin praised as Regina lowered the bow. "Roland, will you fetch the arrows for Regina?"

"Yes, papa." Roland said as he ran to fetch all the missed arrows.

"That was awful." Regina complained. "I only hit the target like twice."

"Practise makes perfect." Robin said as he kissed her. "Like I am able to ride horse myself now." Robin gestured to the horses that were grazing a little further away.

"Gina?" Roland interrupted when she wanted to say something.

"What is it Roland?" Regina asked, looking at the child that had now acquired red cheeks while he did his best not to bounce in his excitement.

"There is something on your arrow."

"What?" Regina frowned as she took the arrow from Roland's hand. "What?" Regina asked again as simple silver ring caught her eye.

"Regina." Robin gently called her attention while a smile grew on his face.

"Robin." Regina curiously returned with a smile on her face.

"Regina." Robin replied as his smile grew even bigger on his face. He took the small ring from the arrow and reached for her hand. "Regina?" Robin asked as he slowly blinked against the light.

"Are you all right?" Regina gently asked as she ran her hand gently over his brow. "You are burning up." She softly said.

"I what?" Robin asked as he caught Regina's hand. Rather surprised when his other hand came up empty.

"You have fever." Regina gently replied. "Would you like to stay here, or would you prefer to go to bed?"

"For now, I am good here." Robin replied as he slowly pushed himself in a sitting position. He must have dozed off while he was watching the telly. Regina gave a small nod before she walked away. She came back several moments later, carrying an aspirin and a glass of water.

"This should help." She said as she handed the items over, before gently running her fingers though Robin's hair. "It is about time you should go to the barber again."

"Thank you." Robin replied before he popped the medicine in his mouth, drinking the glass of water in two big gulps. "I agree that Roland is long due for a round."

'Would you like me to schedule something when you are feeling better?"

"That is okay I think." Robin nodded. Regina softly smiled as she stood and fetched a fleece blanket. She gently tucked the blanket around Robin, before settling next to him.

"Is there anything else you would need?" Regina softly asked as Robin settled against her.

"Only for you to stay here with me." Robin replied with a sheepish smile. She kissed his temple before drawing him closer as they both mindlessly watched the telly that was still on. It did not take very long before Robin was asleep again. Regina smiled at the sleeping man before she carefully freed herself from the dead-weight that anchored her to the couch. Roland was still playing outside when she looked out of the window. She started to cook, knowing that one of the best things for flu would be home-made chicken soup.

"What are you doing?" Roland curiously asked when he came inside, done with playing outside. "It smells good, I am hungry." He told her as he tried to have a peek in the big kettle that stood on the furnace.

'You will have to wait for another thirty minutes before we can have dinner." Regina told him. "Why don't you go and wash up?"

"Okay Gina." Roland replied before he walked off, to wash his hands and face. "Why is papa asleep with a blanket? It is way too warm for a blanket." Roland stated as he returned.

"Your father felt a little ill, that is why he is asleep with a blanket."

"Papa is sick?" Roland asked with a thoughtful expression on his face.

"That is why I am making him some good chicken soup." Regina said as she filled a spoon and blew upon it several times. "Come and taste if it is good enough to serve your papa."

"Hmm." Roland said as he smacked his lips. "Do I need to awake him?"

"Just be gentle, but I do not think I need to tell you, do I?" Regina asked with a small smile as Roland shook his head. Regina watched from the doorpost as Roland walked over to his father.

"Papa." The boy called. When Robin did not as much as stir, Roland thought for a moment before he decided the 'tickle monster' would attack his father's side. Robin blearily blinked as he reached out for his son's hands, making it stop.

'What gave you the idea that the tickle monster would attack a sleeping person?" Robin asked before a small smile grew on his face. How he loved his little boy.

"Gina made really yummy soup for you." Roland said as he freed his hands to point to the kitchen. "You cannot eat soup while sleeping." Roland giggled.

"Can't I?" Robin asked with a frown. "I have never tried before." In the meantime, Regina assembled a tray.

"Do not think of moving." Regina called from the kitchen before she came out, carrying the tray.

"What is this?" Robin asked as he slowly sat up.

"The soup Roland talked about." Regina said and gently put the tray on Robin's lap. "For one time I think we can eat here." Roland cheered. He was never allowed to eat in front of the TV. Regina went back and made two more trays.

"You have to keep sitting nicely, otherwise you are going to eat at the kitchen table." Robin warned as Regina returned. Roland eagerly nodded as Regina placed the tray on his lap.

"Thank you." Roland said. He waited until Regina was seated before he started to eat. The tree of them ate quietly as some kind of series played on the TV.

"Let me help you." Regina said as he brought back the trays to the kitchen. They watched the telly for a while before Regina spoke up again. "I think it is time for you to go to bed if you want to get better." She said with her hands on her hips after she stood.

"You are the queen of the house." Robin said with a shrug and a little smile before he slowly moved himself from the couch into his wheelchair.

"Let me help you." Regina said as soon as they were in Robin's room.

"Are you sure you can do this?" Robin asked as Regina's arms snaked under his knees and back.

"I am sure." Regina said with a little smile before Robin wrapped his arms around Regina's neck. A moment later he was already seated on the bed. "Is there anything else you need?" She asked as she put the wheelchair to the side.

"I cannot remember taking my medicines…" Robin said as he went to settle himself underneath the blankets.

"I'll go and see." Regina said and soon returned with the box and a large glass. "I almost forgot as well." She smiled and handed them to Robin. "I will go and put Roland to bed." She said. Roland quickly darted in and climbed on the bed to give Robin a hug.

"Good night, buddy." Robin gently said.

"Good night papa." Roland returned before he went with Regina to get tucked in. It took quite a while before Regina returned, now dressed in some grey silken nightgown.

"You do not mind, do you?" She asked as she softly closed the door.

"Never." Robin said with a little smile.

"Then I will be close if you need any help." Regina said as she got into bed before kissing Robin goodnight.

Two weeks passed until they were able to get their scheduled haircut at Mother Gothel's. "Good afternoon." Mother Gothel chirped as Robin together with Regina and Roland entered. "Edward, darling. Would you mind to take care of mister Hood?" A young man with a pale complexion came into the room. Scars criss-crossed on his face, but his dark eyes stood friendly.

"Yes madam." The young man quietly said. Robin's eyes grew big when he noticed the young man had scissors as hands. "Please sit still." The young man said as soon as Mother Gothel had put on a cloth to protect his clothes from hair.

"Be careful of my ears." Robin cautiously said before the young man started to clip his hair. Edward was done in no time, without hurting him. "Well?" He asked Regina as he turned his wheelchair around.

"As handsome as ever. Can't you do his facial hair as well?" Regina curiously asked. Edward gave a little nod before he set out to trim the remaining hair. Robin watched over his nose as the big scissors carefully cut away the points of his moustache. When he was done, Edward stepped away with a little nod. "It looks good." Regina said with a smile.

"Thanks." Robin said as Regina took away the cloth. Roland soon jumped out of the chair, now short curls upon his head that would not get in his eyes.

"Thank you." Roland chirped.

"You are very Welcome." Mother Gothel said as Regina payed. "I hope we will see you again soon." She said and Edward gave them a small wave with his scissors.

"That is done. I think I would like some ice cream." Robin said as he pushed himself forward.

"Ice cream!" Roland cheered as they went to the small ice cream shop of Ingrid, the Snow Queen.

-A/N Long time no see! It is not abandoned, you see! Please leave me a reviews with idea's and things you like to see. Thank you!-