Chapter 15: Growing Closer
"The kids are watching TV in the living room," Robin said, coming into the kitchen. "Can I help you with anything?"
Regina nodded, motioning to a nearby towel. "Can you dry these pans for me, please?"
"Of course," he replied, picking up the towel and taking a pan from her hands. He started to dry it, letting her focus on the next pan in the sink.
They finished cleaning from dinner in a comfortable silence as Regina wondered if this would've been their routine had they been able to stay together. Even years later, they were in sync with each other and moved with the ease of a couple who had been together for those years rather than apart.
"Penny for your thoughts?" he asked her. He now leaned against the counter and had placed the towel over his shoulder.
It was downright sexy.
She pushed that thought away as she gave him a soft smile. "Just thinking about what our lives could've been."
He hummed before reaching out, rubbing her cheek with his thumb. "I sometimes like to go there too. But I try not to stay there too long. If I do, I get angry and forget to enjoy what I do have now."
"When did you get so wise?" she asked him, hugging him. She rested her head on his chest as he rubbed her back.
Robin chuckled, swaying them gently. "I don't know if I'm wise. Just taking this one day at a time."
She hummed in response, closing her eyes as she listened to his heartbeat. "Maybe I should do that."
"I think you're doing fine," he told her. "Actually, I think you're just amazing."
"You're biased," she reminded him.
He shrugged. "Perhaps I am."
They stood there a bit longer, just holding each other in silence. After a little while, Robin kissed her forehead. "I was thinking we're overdue for a proper date night."
"You were?" she asked, raising her head and opening her eyes to look up at him.
He nodded. "What are you doing this Saturday?"
"Nothing for now," she replied. "Are you sure you want to have a date night the day after Roland meets Marian?"
"I think he'll be fine. We're going to meet in Archie's office and so I think it'll go well, nothing to traumatize him. He might be more curious about her but I don't think he's going to be upset if we go out," he said.
She nodded, knowing he had a point. But she still worried, especially as she considered the request she had wanted to make of him. Toying with her bottom lip, she decided to ask her question. "Do you think he'd be okay if we made it an overnight date?"
His widened slightly but his lips curved into a smirk. "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"
"That I want to spend a night with you doing adult things? Yes," she said, licking her lips at the prospect.
"Oh," he replied, sucking in some air. He let it out again before smiling. "I think Roland would love to have a sleepover with his Uncle Will. I'll check with him."
She smiled, relieved and glad that he was okay with it. But then another concern popped into her head and she frowned. "Unless you're not ready. I don't want to pressure you into anything. I know we just essentially got back together and so if you want to wait a little while longer, that's fine."
Robin pressed his hand to her cheek, gently rubbing her skin with his thumb. Love and adoration filled his eyes as he gazed down at her. "Oh, I am ready, sweetheart. You aren't pressuring me into anything."
"Promise?" she asked.
He nodded. "Promise."
She rose up on her tiptoes and pressed her lips to his. He responded, wrapping his arms around her and holding her close. Gripping his t-shirt, she sighed into the kiss, just enjoying sharing it with him.
They broke the kiss and he held her close, rocking her gently. She kept her eyes closed, certain she could fall asleep standing up as long as he continued to hold her. But she knew it would be more comfortable lying down in her bed. Without moving, she asked: "Stay tonight?"
"Yes," he replied. "I even packed overnight bags for myself and Roland and was going to ask you."
She chuckled. "Good."
He kissed the top of her head. "Do you want to go join the children? Have some quality time with them before bed?"
"That sounds perfect," she said, moving away from him. They kept their arms wrapped around each other as they headed into the living room, finding Sophie and Roland lying on the floor as they watched Frozen. It appeared luck was on their side and they had missed the dreaded "Let It Go."
Robin and Regina settled on the couch. She tucked her feet under her as she leaned against him. He wrapped his arm around her again, rubbing her arm as they watched the movie with their children. Leaning her head against his shoulder, she closed her eyes and let herself relax in his embrace.
She floated between consciousness and sleep, hearing only snippets of the movie. Regina couldn't remember the last time she had felt so comfortable and so relaxed. Maybe Robin needed to spend every night with them – for her own health.
The couch dipped and she felt a little body curl against her. She wrapped an arm around him, knowing it was Roland. They cuddled together as she felt herself start to fall deeper into sleep. It wouldn't be the first time she had slept on the couch and she doubted it would be the last—especially now that she had Robin to cuddle on it.
When the movie ended, Robin was loathed to move. Regina was sound asleep against his shoulder and Roland slept next to her. They both looked so cozy that he didn't want to disturb them. But he also knew that they would be more comfortable in beds and he needed to make sure Sophie got to bed, especially as her eyes were starting to glaze over. So reluctantly, he stood from the couch and waited to see if Regina or Roland woke.
Both slept on and Roland rolled closer to Regina, who curled around him. It made Robin's heart skip a beat and he watched then for a few more moments before turning to his daughter, who was almost asleep on the floor. Crouching, he shook her. "Time for bed, sweetheart."
"I don't want to move," she moaned, her eyes still closed. "Can't I just sleep here? Please?"
He chuckled, shaking his head before holding out his hand. "Your bed is way more comfortable. Here, I'll help you up."
She groaned but took his hand, letting him help her to her feet. He held her steady as she swayed a bit. "I need you to stay awake long enough to get changed and brush your teeth. Can you do that?" he asked her.
"I think so," she replied, taking his hand. "Can you walk me upstairs, though?"
He kissed the top of her head. "Of course, sweetheart. Let's go."
Robin walked Sophie upstairs, wishing he could carry her like he did with Roland just so he could experience it at least once. He left her at her bedroom door, taking out her braid for her. "I'll be back to kiss you goodnight," he promised her.
"Okay, Daddy," she said, entering her room.
He returned downstairs and lifted Roland off the couch. The boy was dead weight in his arms but Robin was able to make it to the spare bedroom. Lying Roland on the bed, he unzipped the bag and pulled out his son's pajamas. It was easy to change him as Roland was more like a rag doll, limbs easily movable. Robin then covered him with the blankets and kissed his head. "Sweet dreams, my boy," he whispered.
Closing the door, Robin went next door to Sophie's room. He found her in bed, hugging her stuffed horse tightly as she fought sleep. Smiling, he sat on the edge of her bed. "Goodnight, sweetheart," he said.
"Good night, Daddy," she replied, finally closing her eyes. He kissed her forehead before heading out of her room, turning off the lights as he left.
Robin returned to the living room, going down on one knee as he shook Regina. "Time to wake up, milady."
She moaned as she blinked her eyes open, frowning. "What?"
"You feel asleep on the couch," he told her with a smile. "And I think it's time to move to the bed."
"Oh," she replied, blinking a few times. It was clear she wasn't truly awake yet and Robin found it adorable.
He grinned as he asked: "Do you want me to carry you to bed?"
"That is a very tempting offer," she said, stretching. She then held out her hand. "But no. Just help me up please."
Robin stood and helped her to her feet. He wrapped his arm around her waist. "Let's walk up together," he said.
"Good idea," she replied, leaning against him. "I'm a little wobbly."
He kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry. We'll be in bed in no time."
"That sounds great. I just want to cuddle with you as I fall back to sleep," she told him, smiling up at him as they headed upstairs.
Robin guided her down the hallway until they got to her room. She pulled away, rubbing her face. "Okay, I'm going to jump into the bathroom. I shouldn't be too long."
"I'll wait for you," he assured her, kissing her forehead. "Take all the time you need, sweetheart."
She smiled. "Thanks, but if I do take too long, please come make sure I haven't fallen asleep in there."
He laughed, nodding. "I promise to come check on you if I feel you're taking too long."
"Good," she replied, grabbing her pajamas and heading into the bathroom. The door shut behind her and Robin grabbed his duffle to get ready as well.
He shed his clothes and folded them before placing them in his duffle. Robin then pulled on his pajama pants and debated if he wanted to leave his undershirt on or not. In the end, he took it off as well before also removing his socks. He sat on the bed, waiting to make sure Regina didn't stay too long in the bathroom.
The door opened and she walked out, yawning. He stood, kissing her cheek as he headed into the bathroom. "I'll be right out. Don't worry if you fall asleep."
He closed the door behind him and quickly went through his nightly routine, starting to feel his own exhaustion start to seep in. Setting his toothbrush in with Regina's, he flipped the light off and left the bathroom to find Regina sitting up in bed. "I thought you would already be asleep," he said.
"I want to snuggle," she told him as he climbed in next to her. "And I can't snuggle if I'm out cold."
"That is an excellent point," he replied, turning off the lights and plunging the room into darkness. Settling down, he held out his arms for her. "Okay, come here."
She rolled over until she was pressed against his side, wrapping an arm across his chest. Regina let out a contented sigh as she rested her head on his chest. Their legs tangled up as he held her close, playing with her hair. Kissing her forehead, he whispered: "Goodnight, my love."
"Sap," she whispered before adding: "Goodnight, Robin."
He held her as her breathing evened out. She felt back asleep easily enough and he kissed her forehead once more, happy that he could hold her as she fell asleep again. It had been one of his favorite things to do with her back during that magical summer, knowing she felt safe enough with him to let herself relax.
Robin wished he could experience every night but knew that Regina had been right earlier – their relationship was still too new. They were still learning who the other had become in the past decade and needed space for their relationship to grow. And he also had to consider Marian. She was unpredictable and he didn't know what she would do if he moved Roland in with Regina.
Sighing, he tried not think of his former fiancée. It shouldn't matter what Marian thought – she had walked out of his and Roland's lives. Just because she had stumbled back into them, it didn't mean that she could control what they did or didn't do. Yet he knew had to be respectful of her to a degree as she was still Roland's mother and he did want his son to have a relationship with her.
When had his life gotten so complicated?
Regina nuzzled him as she got even more comfortable against him. He decided to not think about Marian for now and to just focus on the beautiful brunette in his arms. Closing his eyes, he concentrated on her breathing and he soon found himself drifting off with a smile on his face.
Regina felt two strong arms wrap around her before Robin kissed her cheek. "Good morning."
"Good morning," she replied, leaning back to kiss his cheek before returning her attention to the eggs she was making. "Still prefer scrambled over sunny-side up?"
"I do," he replied, resting his chin on her shoulder. "You can cook mine a bit longer. I prefer them that way."
She nodded. "I remember. Do you also want some bacon with this?"
"You have bacon?" he asked her, giving her an incredulous look.
"I do," she replied. "Sophie is your daughter. She can't stand turkey bacon and will only eat the real deal."
He chuckled and she felt the rumbling in his chest. "That's my girl. Then I would love bacon."
She motioned to the refrigerator. "Can you get it out for me, please?"
"Anything for you," he replied, kissing her cheek. His arms fell away and she felt a little bit colder as he walked over to the refrigerator.
From the corner of her eye, she watched him take out the bacon and place it on the counter. He then reached up and grabbed two mugs. "Coffee?" he asked.
"Yes, please," she replied, gratitude flowing through her. "You're the best."
"It's just coffee," he told her, laughing as he set up her Keurig to brew hers first.
She hummed. "Tell me it's just bacon when you take your first bite in a little bit."
"It will be," he insisted, setting the mug down next to her. He then added: "Because I'm going to make it."
Regina plated the scrambled eggs she had been making before turning to protest. He held up his hand. "You don't have to do everything, Regina. Let me help. We're a great team and we can have breakfast made in no time."
She relaxed and nodded, relenting. "Fine. Just don't get in my way at the stove."
"Oh, don't worry," he told her. "I wouldn't dream of it."
Regina laughed before giving him a playful shove. Together, they managed to get four plates laden with scrambled eggs and bacon – though hers did have turkey bacon rather than regular bacon. He then went up and woke up their children, carrying Roland down while Sophie stayed close to his side.
"Good morning," Regina greeted them, holding out her arms. Sophie rushed into them, giving her a big hug. Regina returned it, hugging her daughter close.
"I wanna hug too!" Roland declared, straining against his father's hold as he leaned toward Regina. Sophie stepped away and Regina took him from his father, cuddling Roland close. He kissed her cheek. "Morning, Regina."
She rubbed noses with him. "Good morning, sweetheart. Are you hungry for breakfast?"
"Yes, I am!" he said happily. "What are we having?"
"Scrambled eggs and bacon," Robin said, taking him from Regina again. He set the boy down in his chair, pushing his plate closer to him. "Your sister wants orange juice. What about you?"
Roland thought about it before saying: "The same please!"
"Coming right up," Robin said. He dropped a kiss into Sophie's hair as he passed her before heading to the refrigerator.
Grabbing her mug, Regina joined the children at the table. "Does anyone need anything else?" she asked.
"Ketchup, please?" Roland asked.
Sophie frowned. "What do you need ketchup for?"
"Some people like to put ketchup in their scrambled eggs and I think your brother is one of them," Regina told her daughter.
Robin set the bottle down in front of the boy as he nodded. "His Uncle John got him to eat it that way."
Sophie made a face and Regina thought she was going to comment on how her brother ate her food. Instead, she looked up at her father and asked: "Who is Uncle John?"
"He helps me run my camps," Robin explained. He studied her before turning to Regina. "Maybe I should bring her to our current offices soon. Let her meet everyone?"
"That sounds like a great idea," she replied, feeling a bit guilty. While she knew that Robin had a job, it was sometimes easy to forget that meant he had coworkers who he was close to and who would probably want to meet his newly found daughter.
He turned back to Sophie. "What do you say? Take Your Daughter to Work Day in the summer?"
She nodded happily. "Sounds fun!"
"Great! We'll go Thursday," he said. He then glanced at Regina. "Unless you're busy, then we can find another day."
"I'm not busy!" Sophie said. She then also looked at her mother. "Right?"
Regina smiled. "You are not. Thursday sounds perfect."
"I'll let everyone know," he said, turning back to Sophie. "Everyone is going to be so happy to meet you."
Looking at Roland, who was intently mixing ketchup into his eggs, Regina leaned closer to him. "Would you like to come see my work when Papa takes Sophie to his?"
Roland gasped and looked up at his father. "Can I go with Regina, Papa? Please?"
"Of course you may," Robin replied. "I'm sure you'll have a lot of fun."
Sophie nodded. "Everyone at Town Hall is really nice and you can learn a lot about running a town."
"That sounds cool!" Roland said, awed as he looked up at Regina. "Are you like the queen? And everyone has to do as you say?"
Chuckling, she shook her head. "While I have to make important decisions, I can't just boss people around. I have to listen to them and get their help so I do what is best for everyone in Storybrooke."
"Oh," he replied, frowning. "That sounds like a lot of work."
"It is," she said, laughing a little. "But I really like doing it."
Sophie nodded. "And she's the best."
Pride filled Regina and she reached over, tucking her daughter's hair behind her ear. "I think you're a little biased."
"Maybe," Sophie said, "but everyone else says that you're the best mayor and they re-elected you because of that."
"Sounds about right to me," Robin replied, winking at her.
Warmth spread throughout her chest and face, especially when Roland chimed in: "Regina is the bestest!"
"You all are very good for my ego," she teased them. "Maybe you should run my next re-election campaign."
"We'll be an awesome campaign team," Robin replied.
Roland nodded. "You'll definitely win!"
She laughed. "Maybe with all of you, I can try to be President of the United States!"
"YEAH!" Roland cheered, standing on his chair as he pumped his fist in the air.
"Okay, okay," Robin said, gently tugging on his son's pajama top. "Please sit down before you hurt yourself."
Sheepish, Roland sat back down in his chair. "Sorry, Papa."
Across the table, Sophie had grown quiet and was just pushing her eggs around rather than eating them. Regina frowned. "Is something wrong, sweetheart?"
"You're not really going to run for President, are you?" she asked. "I don't want to leave Storybrooke."
Regina softened, feeling bad that their joke worried her daughter. She shook her head. "I'm happy to be the mayor of Storybrooke. Why give up our beautiful little town for Washington, DC?"
Sophie's mood improved and she smiled. "Storybrooke is definitely better than Washington, DC. I like visiting it, but I don't think I'd want to live there."
"I've never been to Washington, DC. Can we go?" Roland asked his father, looking up at him with pleading eyes. "Please?"
Robin chuckled. "We'll go, just not right away. School is going to be starting soon."
"Oh," Roland said, disappointed. "When can we go?"
"We'll find a good time," Regina promised him, patting his hand. "Maybe during one of the long weekends coming up."
Sophie grinned. "Our first family trip!"
"Yes," Regina replied, surprised she hadn't thought of that. "It would be our first family trip."
Robin grinned. "That sounds like a lot of fun. There's a lot to for us to do in Washington as a family."
"Then it's agreed. Why don't we aim for Columbus Day weekend? The schools will be closed on Friday as well as Monday, so we can leave Thursday night or early Friday morning," she said, her mind already making plans to look up flights and trains to see which would be better.
"I think we can definitely work something out for then," Robin replied. He then checked the time. "But we can discuss this later. You and I both have to go to work."
She glanced at the clock and panic rose inside her. It felt more like a Saturday then a Tuesday. "Yeah, we should get ready."
"You first," he said. "I'll clean up down here."
"Thank you," she replied, standing. She leaned down and kissed his cheek as she walked past his chair. "You're the best."
He chuckled, patting her hand. "I try."
As she left the kitchen, she heard him gathering up the children and getting them to help clean up. Certain everything was under control, she headed upstairs to get ready for the day. One day, she knew this would be their normal.
"Be good for your father," Regina told Sophie, kissing her cheek. "I'll see you tonight."
"Okay, Mom," Sophie replied. She then jumped off the stoop and hugged Robin. "Hi, Daddy."
He hugged her back, holding her close. "Hello, sweetheart. Are you ready for a fun day at my office?"
She nodded and he let her go. Roland then hugged her. "Hi, Sophie."
"Hi, Ro," she replied, hugging him back. "Have fun with my mom today."
He nodded before hurrying over to Regina, hugging her as well. "Hi, Regina! I'm looking forward to spending the day with you!"
She held him close as she cupped the back of his head. "I'm glad to hear that! I'm looking forward to spending the day with you too.
"Why don't you head inside for a few moments while I talk with your papa?" she asked, guiding him into the house.
Robin turned to Sophie. "Why don't you go wait in the car? I won't be long," he told her.
"Okay, Daddy," she said, skipping down the walk to his car.
He turned back to Regina. "Anything I should know?"
"For a day with our daughter? Nothing that comes to mind," Regina replied with a shrug. "Just don't overload her with sweets, okay?"
"I won't. But I think you'll be tempted more than me. Roland has some very powerful doe eyes and I fear you haven't built up enough immunity," he said, teasing her but also concerned that his son would have her wrapped around his finger by the end of the day.
Well, even more than she already was.
She nodded. "I will do my best to resist those big brown eyes and irresistible dimples."
"You are a sucker for dimples," he said, smiling to flash his own.
"Oh no. You'll make us both late," she told him even as she grabbed his shirt and pulled him closer for a kiss. It was a quick one and she pulled back, grinning. "Have a good day."
He chuckled, nodding. "Thanks. You two have a good day as well. We'll see you for dinner tonight."
"See you at Granny's," she replied, still leaning against the door.
Robin gave her a little wave before walking back to his car. He climbed into the driver's side and buckled himself. Starting the car, he smiled at Sophie. "You ready, sweetheart?" he asked.
"Yep," she replied, beaming at him.
He motioned to the window. "Let's wave goodbye to your mother and brother as we pull away."
She nodded and looked away, waving as Robin slowly rolled down the block. Regina and Roland waved back and he knew they continued as he stopped, focused on finally pulling away and driving. Sophie twisted her body, trying to wave out the back window until he turned off her street.
"I can't wait to see where you work, Daddy," she said, settling back into her seat. "I bet it's really cool!"
Robin grinned, glad she was excited. "I think it's pretty cool but I'll leave that for you to decide. I can tell you everyone is excited to meet you."
"They are?" she asked, her face lighting up. "Really?"
He nodded. "Everyone has been very excited about you since I told them that I have a daughter."
"Are they nice?" she asked.
"Of course," he replied. "I only hire nice people."
She nodded. "That makes sense."
"Thank you," he replied.
"Can you tell me about them? So they're not complete strangers?" she asked him.
He nodded. "Of course. Well, let's start with John. He's one of my best mates, after your Uncle Will, of course. And he's a teddy bear, the sweetest man you will ever meet…"
By the time they got the camp, Sophie felt as if she knew all her father's coworkers. Still, she was nervous as she climbed out of the car and took Robin's hand as they headed in. While he had said they were all excited to meet her, it didn't mean it would go well. They had known Roland his whole life. She had already lived ten years. Would that make it harder for them to connect with her? Or easier?
Robin squeezed her hand. "You okay, sweetheart?"
"Just nervous," she admitted to him.
He stopped, pulling her in for a hug. She melted a bit into his embrace, feeling comforted as he said: "It's going to be fine. Everyone is going to love you. You're an amazing girl, Soph, so just be yourself."
She nodded, taking a deep breath. "Okay. Just be myself."
Robin opened the door and they entered his office. A tall, burly man with long curly hair greeted them with a smile. "Robin! And Sophie! I recognize you from your pictures."
"Sophie, this is John Little. He's my COO, which makes him my second-in-command here," Robin said, introducing the man. "John, this is my daughter."
John held out his hand and Sophie took it. He smiled as they shook hands. "It's nice to meet you, Sophie. And you can call me Uncle John like Roland does, if you want."
She smiled, feeling comfortable around John though she wasn't sure if she was ready to call him "uncle" just yet. "Thank you."
"She's a bit nervous meeting everyone," Robin told John, hugging Sophie to his side. "So let's do this slowly, yeah?"
"Of course. But don't worry, Sophie. Your father has talked about you so much this summer, we all feel like we know you as well as we know Roland," John assured her.
That bolstered her a bit and she smiled. "Really?"
He nodded. "You're all he's pretty much been talking about for the past like month. He's very proud of you."
"I am," Robin replied, hugging her tightly. "And I love you so much."
"Love you too," she said, though her face was squished so she didn't know how much sense she made.
They walked into the main part of the office, judging by all the desks positioned around the room. People milled about, some working at the desks and a few talking amongst themselves. Robin let out a sharp whistle and they all looked up, giving him their attention.
"Good morning, everyone," Robin said, stilling hugging Sophie against him. "I'd like to introduce you to my daughter, Sophie Mills."
"Hi," she said, waving at them.
They all waved back before saying: "Hi, Sophie!"
She laughed, finding it funny but also feeling more comfortable with everyone. Looking up, she saw her father's smiling face. "See? I told you they were friendly," he told her.
"Yeah," she replied. "They do seem very nice."
"We are. And you're just in luck. We just got Much to stop biting people just last week," a woman with red hair and a funny accent said. She ruffled the hair of a younger man, who tried to shoo her away before fixing his hair.
Sophie glanced up at her father who just sighed. "Much doesn't bite people. Merida just likes to tease him."
"We're like a family around here," Merida replied. "What's a little loving ribbing between family members?"
"I'd like a little less loving ribbing from time to time," Much said, shooting her a look. Merida rolled her eyes in response.
Robin sighed. "Alright, moving on. So, you've met John, Merida and Much. We also have Mulan."
A Chinese-American woman stepped forward, smiling as she held out her hand to Sophie. "It's very nice to meet you."
"You too," Sophie said, shaking her hand. "What do you do here at my father's camps?"
"Mulan keeps everything running for me as Vice President of Camp Programming," Robin replied. "She also teaches fencing and martial arts at the camps."
Sophie looked up at Mulan with awe. "Are you like a ninja or something?"
Mulan laughed. "Nothing of the sort, I promise. Just a former soldier using her skills to help children develop skills they can use in life."
"That is still so cool," Sophie replied, excitement coursing through her. "Could you teach me?"
"If it's okay with your parents," Mulan replied, glancing up at Robin, "I'd love to teach you. Just after the summer. I'm a bit busy with the campers."
Sophie nodded, understanding. "Of course."
Her father gave her a little squeeze before motioning to an older gentleman. "This is Tuck. He's our money man."
"Money man?" she asked, confused as she shook Tuck's hand.
Tuck chuckled. "I manage the finances for the organization."
"Like the budget and stuff like that?" Sophie asked. When he nodded, she smiled. "That's cool."
"Ahh, someone who understands the importance of budgets. You are a smart girl," Tuck told her with a smile.
"Thanks. I like math," she replied.
His eyes lit up and his smile widened. "Maybe you'll go into finance once day then."
"Maybe," she said, still not sure where her future would take her and eager to explore her options.
Robin wrapped his arm around her again. "Okay, Tuck. You can continue recruiting her later. There's a few more people I want her to meet before I take her on a tour of the camp."
"Want some help?" Merida asked, raising her hand.
He shook his head. "Thanks, Merida, but I'm fine. We'll be back in a little bit."
Sophie followed her father out of the office. "Daddy, what does Merida do for you?" she asked.
"She's in charge of advertising," he said. "She's the one who comes up with how we promote the camps. And she's also another archery instructor."
"And Much?" she asked, recalling the young man Merida had been teasing. "And why is his name Much?"
He chuckled. "It's his last name. His first name is also John so we started using his last name to differentiate between them. And Much oversees anything with aquatics in our camps."
"Aquatics?" she asked, not entirely sure what he meant.
"Anything to do with water," he replied. "Pools, lakes, water activities, etc."
She nodded, connecting aqua with water. "It takes a lot of people to run a camp. Almost as many people to run a town."
He chuckled, hugging her. "Yes, it does. But we have to make sure those people are good at what they do so the camp or the town operates smoothly."
She nodded. "That's true. And your team is good?"
"They are the best," he replied, winking at her. He opened a door and motioned for her to step outside.
Several children ran about the large field next to the building, all of them in different colored shirts. Counselors also raced around, everyone brandishing water guns and shooting water at each other. Looking up at her father, Sophie asked: "What's going on?"
"Water gun fight," he said. "Campers against counselors. It's always a favorite during camp."
"It looks like fun," she replied. "What else do the campers do?"
Robin took her hand and led her toward a path. "We have a lot of options for them to do. They can do sports or arts and crafts or performing arts…"
"That's a lot! Can they pick and choose or do they have to follow a schedule?" she asked, her curiosity growing with every passing second.
He chuckled. "We try to vary the schedules so everyone has a chance to try everything and find out what they like."
"That sounds cool," she said. "Because I think I would want to do everything and be sad if I couldn't."
"I can see you wanting to do everything. Maybe you can join some of the campers before you leave," he replied.
She paused, gasping as she looked up at him. "Really?"
He nodded, cupping the back of her head. "Of course. I didn't just bring you here to watch me sit around all day doing paperwork. That'd bore you."
"But I'd be with you," she replied, knowing she would just be happy to spend a day with her father no matter what.
Robin hugged her, kissing the top of her head. "I know. But I want you to have some fun. And you still will be with me. Promise."
"Good," she replied, hugging him tightly.
They stood there for a few more moments before he pulled back, taking her hand. "Come on. Let's continue the tour."
She skipped next to him as they continued on their way. This was going to be the best day of her summer – she just knew it.
"Here you go, sweetheart," Regina said, setting out a coloring book and some crayons on the table in her office. "You can color while I finish up some paperwork."
Roland looked up at her with his bright smile, dimples on full display. "Thank you, Regina."
"You're welcome, sweetheart," she told him, leaning down and kissing his forehead. "If you need anything, I'll be right over there."
She pointed to her desk and he nodded. "Okay, Regina."
He opened the coloring book and found the perfect picture to start working on. Content he was occupied, Regina walked over to her desk and pulled out the paperwork the town council needed her to finish as soon as possible.
But it was hard with such a cute office mate as she kept sneaking glances at Roland, watching as he carefully colored. He had been a big hit at her office so far. Everyone had stopped to fawn over him and answer any questions he had, though he did grow shy as the crowd of people around him grew in numbers. Ruby and Regina shooed them all away, not wanting to overwhelm the poor boy.
Regina then took Roland on a tour of city hall. He was fascinated by all the offices and how many people worked to keep Storybrooke running. "You have almost as many employees as my papa," he told her.
"It takes a lot of people to keep a town going," she said. "Even one as small as Storybrooke."
"And they all report to you?" he asked.
She shook her head. "Some report to department heads who report to me. And some report to the town council."
He frowned. "What's a town council?"
"They are people chosen by those who live in Storybrooke to come together to determine new laws and certain aspects about the town," she explained, hoping it wasn't too confusing for him.
"I thought you made all the rules everyone had to follow," Roland said, tilting his head in confusion.
She sighed before kneeling to be eye level with him. "I'll explain it to you later, okay?"
"Okay, Regina," he said, taking her hand again and letting her continue with the tour before they got back to her office.
And now there they were – he was coloring and she was working on paperwork. Just a quiet morning in her office. She hoped he didn't get bored and decided to do something fun with him that afternoon.
Ruby knocked on the door as she stepped into Regina's office. "Do you want me to order lunch for you and Roland?"
Leaning back, Regina was going to say yes when an idea struck her. She shook her head. "I think Roland and I will go out to eat."
"Sounds good to me," Ruby replied. "Enjoy you two."
Roland perked up, letting his crayon fall from his grip. "Where are we going, Regina? Granny's?"
She shook her head as she placed the paperwork in a drawer. "There's a place nearby I like to take Sophie to and I think you'll enjoy it."
"Really? Cool!" He jumped up. "Can we go now?"
"First you need to put the crayons back in the box," she said. "We don't want to leave a mess, even if we're coming back."
He glanced at the items before nodding. "Okay, Regina."
As he cleaned up his crayons and stacked the coloring books, she locked her computer and picked up her purse. She placed it on her shoulder before approaching him, looking over his work. Regina nodded before holding out her hand. "Now we can go."
Roland cheered as he took her hand. They left the office, waving to Ruby as they passed her desk. He waved to other people as they walked past and they waved back to him, smiling happily. The little boy just brought joy wherever he went.
He paused by her car and looked up at her, waiting for her to unlock it. She smiled, shaking her head. "We're going to walk."
"I like to go on walks," he said, walking again when she moved forward. "Is it far?"
She shook her head. "It's only a few minutes away and we get to cut through the park to get to it."
"I love the park!" he replied, a bounce in his step now. "Can we stop and play on the swings?"
"Maybe later," she said, giving his hand a squeeze. "I can't stay away from Town Hall for too long."
He seemed to think that over before nodding as they entered the park. Roland skipped along beside her, his hand still tucked in hers. With his free hand, he pointed at the lake. "Look, Regina. There are ducks! Do you like the ducks?"
She chuckled. "I love ducks. Sophie and I sometimes like to come here and feed them."
"Can we do that all together?" he asked, eyes bright. "I would love to feed the ducks with Sophie."
"Maybe we can do it this weekend," she suggested, giving his hand a squeeze. "How does that sound?"
Roland jumped and down, smiling brightly. "Yes! I'd love to! And then can we also go on the swings?"
She laughed. "We'll have to check with your father, but I think we can make a whole day of it."
"So we can have a picnic too?" he asked hopefully.
"We can," she replied. "And maybe we can even get some ice cream."
He gasped. "Ice cream is the best!"
As he did a little dance while walking, Regina bit her lip. Roland was such a ray of sunshine and she loved having him in her life. Even after a few weeks, he felt like a son to her. With his own mother about to be back in his life, though, she didn't want to overstep her boundaries. So she would keep that feeling to herself for now and wait to see how things played out with Marian.
They arrived at the café at the edge of the park's lake. A waiter greeted her before glancing down at Roland. "I see you have a new friend with you, Madam Mayor," he said.
"Yes," she replied, giving Roland's hand a squeeze. "This is Roland."
"Hi," he said sheepishly as he tried to hide behind her leg.
The waiter chuckled as he picked up a few items, including crayons for Roland. "Your usual table?" he asked her.
"Yes, please," Regina replied, giving Roland's hand a little squeeze. They walked forward together, following the waiter to the outside patio that overlooked the lake.
He set out the menus on a small table for two that was right next to the railing. Roland gasped when he saw it. "We can watch the ducks while we eat!"
The waiter chuckled. "He's just like Sophie."
"Yes, he is," Regina said, helping Roland into his seat. As she took hers, the waiter said he would get them some water and would be back shortly. She thanked him.
Roland looked out at the lake before turning back to her. "Sophie likes to come here and watch the ducks too?"
"It's one of her favorite places to eat in the summer because of that," Regina told him, watching as his face lit up. She knew he idolized Sophie and that it had to thrill him to have something else in common with his big sister.
She tapped the menu. "Do you need me to help you read the menu or do you think you can look it over?"
"I can see the pictures," he told her, pointing to the colored images of the different meals for children. "And I can ask you for help."
"Okay," she said, settling back against her chair as he looked everything over. She turned to her own menu, eager to find something for lunch.
The hairs on the back of her neck stood on edge and she paused as the feeling of being watched washed over her. She slowly looked up and glanced around, trying to find why she felt that way. Only a few other patrons ate on the patio and all of them were absorbed in their own meals or conversations. The same could be said for the people inside. And no one on the lake appeared to be looking their way either.
Yet the feeling persisted.
She glanced around the lake again, finally spotting a person on the other side. Regina was unable to make out anything about the person except for dark hair. The person seemed to stare at her for a few moments before realizing that Regina knew she was being watched. Whoever it was started to walk away, leaving behind an unnerved Regina.
"Regina?" Roland asked, sounding concerned. "Is something wrong?"
Looking back at him, she found him frowning at her. Putting on a smile, she shook her head. "No, just enjoying the view. Do you need something?"
"I can't decide what I want," he told her, holding out the menu. "Can you help me pick?"
"Sure, sweetheart," she said, standing and moving to crouch next to him. "Are you stuck between a couple options or do you need help narrowing them down?"
He looked at her with pleading eyes. "I need help."
She nodded. "Okay, which ones are you thinking about?"
"The chicken nuggets," he said, pointing to the picture of the golden-brown nuggets nestled amongst French fries. Then he moved to the picture of the macaroni and cheese. "Or macanoni."
"Macaroni," she corrected gently. Her mind came up with a good solution. "How about we see if you can get the nuggets and the macaroni?"
He gasped. "You think I can?"
She nodded. "I think they can replace the French fries with the macaroni. So we just need to find you something green to eat with it so it's a balanced meal."
"Okay," he said, sounding resigned to eating something healthy. "I think I can eat some broccoli."
"Good," she replied, proud of him. She kissed his forehead before taking her seat again. When she spotted their server, she waved him down so they could place their order.
Once their orders were in – and Roland was assured that he could get macaroni and cheese with his nuggets instead of French fries – Regina leaned forward. "So, Roland, are you looking forward to starting school?"
He nodded, now coloring the picture on the back of the menu. "I can't wait to be as smart as you, Papa and Sophie!"
Regina chuckled, taking a sip of her seltzer before asking: "What do you want to learn in school?"
As he told her everything he wanted to learn – from math to science to how to be a mayor like her – she started to relax. While she was still concerned about the person she felt was watching them, she decided to put it from her mind for now and just focus on her day with Roland.
Nothing would probably come of it anyway.
"Hey, Mulan, have you seen Sophie?" Robin asked, coming out of an impromptu meeting. He had sent his daughter to enjoy lunch with the campers and now wanted to spend the afternoon with her.
Mulan nodded. "She went with the others to the archery lessons. She's definitely your kid – she nearly ran there to get to a bow sooner."
He chuckled. "She did seem very excited about archery."
"Yeah," Mulan agreed. "As I said, your daughter."
"Regina keeps saying that she's very much my daughter," he said. "I think she's a perfect but dangerous combination of the two of us."
She raised an eyebrow. "Dangerous?"
"Yeah," he said. "I'll tell you about it another time. If I don't see you before the end of the day, have a good weekend. I won't be in tomorrow."
"Right," she replied. "Roland is meeting his mother tomorrow. You nervous about that?"
He nodded. "Yeah. But I hope it goes well for his sake."
"Me too. We're all rooting for you and Roland," she told him, giving his arm a comforting squeeze.
"Thank you," he said. "I'll see you on Monday and tell you all about it – good or bad."
She nodded, telling him she looked forward to it. They then parted ways and he headed toward the door. Robin stepped aside and took a deep breath of fresh air before following the path that led to the archery area.
As he approached the gate, he saw the campers standing in front of their targets as they practiced firing arrows at them. Robin surveyed the group before spotting his daughter in a corner. She released an arrow and it landed only a few feet away from her. Her shoulders sagged in disappointment and he jogged over to her, ready to help her.
"Need some pointers?" he asked.
"Yes," Sophie replied, looking relieved when she saw him. "Please."
Robin stepped behind her. "Okay, let's work on your stance first. Spread your legs a bit more, really spread out your weight."
He helped her get into the proper stance and then fixed her arms so that her hold on the bow was better. "Does that feel better?"
"It does," she said, looking up at him with the brown eyes she had inherited from her mother. "What next?"
"Pull back on the string and if you need to, use your mouth as an anchor," he told her, moving so she didn't accidentally elbow him.
She glanced at him, her eyes wide. "Wait, like Nicholas tells Mia in The Princess Diaries two?"
"Umm…yeah, I guess," he said, caught unawares as he had never seen the movie. It was not something that would interest Roland and served as a reminder that he needed to expand his own movie knowledge to incorporate his daughter's tastes too.
"Okay," she replied. "I can do that."
As she pulled back on the string, using her mouth as an anchor, he studied her form. He made some small adjustments before telling her to take a deep breath. "When you exhale, release the arrow," he instructed.
Sophie did as he instructed and her arrow flew toward the target, landing in one of the outer rings. Gasping, she looked up at him with pride shining in her eyes. "I did it! Look, Daddy!"
"Congratulations!" he praised, pulling her in for a hug. He kissed the top of her head. "That was a great first shot!"
"Chip off the old block, I see," Merida said, coming up to them with a grin. She then placed her hands on her hips. "But I have a bunch of wee ones now asking why you can't teach them like that."
He sighed, seeing all the children crowded together and staring at him. Robin was something of a Rockstar to all of them, especially when it came to archery. No doubt they would want him to teach them.
Glancing down at Sophie, she shrugged. "I don't mind sharing you, Daddy. I can keep practicing over here."
"Thank you, sweetheart," he said, proud of her for being selfless. "I promise I won't be long."
"I'll watch her while you deal with them," Merida promised him, moving closer to Sophie as he jogged over to the campers.
He stopped in front of them, clapping his hands together. "Okay, who wants an archery lesson?"
All their hands went up in the air and he laughed. "Then grab your bows and line up."
They did as he instructed and he glanced over at his daughter, watching as Sophie fired another arrow. It landed on the target, a bit higher this time, and he pumped his fist proudly. Merida was right – she was a chip off the block and he couldn't wait to spend some more time helping her hone her skill.
But for now, he needed to focus on the campers who were eagerly lapping up his attention and knowledge. After all, they were the reason he had started his camps and so deserved a piece of him, especially since they only had him for a limited time.
Sophie, on the other hand, would have him for as long as he could be in her life and he vowed to make that last a long, long time.
"I don't see why you've labeled this as an emergency," Regina said, looking over the man in her office.
"Our partners have accelerated the timeline and so we need those permits now," the contractor replied.
She frowned, thumbing through the paperwork Ruby had brought in. "Well, your application is missing many required documents and plans. I can't fast-track a permit for a project that I know almost nothing about."
"Can't you do it anyway and then we can provide the documents you need later?" he asked.
"No," she said. "I know you're beholden to the company that's hired you but I'm beholden to the people of Storybrooke. And it doesn't suit them if I just give a permit to someone who hasn't even submitted an environmental impact report."
The contractor grew more desperate. "Please. I can't go back to them without these permits."
Regina felt a pang of sympathy for him, knowing he probably had been hired by unreasonable people who would take it out on him. "I am sorry but I cannot make an exception on the whims of your clients. If they have any problems, they need to reach out to me," she said.
"I will let them know," he said, sighing warily. "Thank you for your time, Madam Mayor."
He left her office and Regina leaned back, sighing. She closed her eyes until a little voice asked: "Are you okay, Regina?"
Remembering that Roland was there and regretting not sending him out with Ruby, she opened her eyes and sat up with a smile. She turned to face where he once again sat at her table, looking up from his coloring book with a frown. "Yes, sweetheart. Sometimes, my job can be very aggravating," she told him.
"Oh. Papa says that about his job too," Roland said. He slid off the chair and walked over to her, holding out his arms. "But he says a hug makes it all better."
She laughed as she pulled him in for a hug. "It certainly does. Thank you, sweetheart."
He seemed to melt into her, wrapping his legs around her. Regina held onto him tightly, breathing in the scent of his baby shampoo as she buried her nose in his soft curls. She loved him and considered him as much hers as Sophie was, even if his mother was back.
After all, he could have two mothers. Other children did all around the world and she hoped one day, Marian would be open to working with her to give Roland his best life possible.
She pulled away from the hug, noticing the time. "Well, that was my last meeting. Let's close up and go meet your father and sister for dinner, okay?"
"Okay," he said, hopping down from her lap to go gather his things. She did the same, putting her files in her bag. After shutting down her computer, she helped Roland pack up the last of his items.
"Got everything?" she asked. When he nodded, she took his hand. "Then let's go."
They both said goodbye to Ruby as they left her office and boarded the elevator. Roland bounced beside her, saying he could wait to tell his Papa and Sophie all about his day with the mayor. It made her feel lighter than a balloon and she worried she would float away as they walked to her car.
Minutes later, she pulled into Granny's parking lot and she smiled when she saw Robin's car pull in right behind them. They parked side by side and got out together. He smiled as he leaned against his door. "Perfect timing," he said.
"I'll say," she agreed, closing her door and opening the backdoor. She unbuckled Roland and lifted him out of his booster seat, setting him on the ground. He took her hand as they moved around the car to join Robin and Sophie.
Roland raced over to his father, who picked him up. Robin kissed his cheek. "Hello, my boy. Did you enjoy your day with Regina?"
Sophie ran over to Regina and hugged her. Regina held her tightly, kissing the top of her head. "Hello, sweetheart. Did you have fun today?"
"I did," she replied. "Daddy's camps are so cool and his coworkers are so nice. And he taught me to fire an arrow!"
"Of course he did," she said, only surprised that it took this long to get a bow into their daughter's hands. She looked up at him. "How did she do?"
Robin smiled. "She was amazing. With practice, she could be a great archer. If she wants, of course."
"I want," Sophie replied, looking up at Regina. "Can I, Mom? Please?"
"We'll talk about it later," she said, though she had a feeling she was going to give in to her daughter's demands. There wasn't much she denied Sophie when it came to extracurricular activities – unless they were too dangerous. But with Robin guiding her, Regina knew Sophie would be safe.
Robin motioned to the entrance. "Shall we head in?"
He carried Roland into the diner while Regina kept her arm around Sophie. She leaned against her mother, smiling the entire time. Regina knew she would enjoy the day with her father but was still pleased to see her so happy.
Granny met them once they stepped inside. "Ahh, if it isn't one of my favorite families. How are the combined Mills and Locksley members doing today?"
"Very good," Robin replied, "but I think we're all very hungry now too."
She laughed, grabbing a few menus. "Then we should handle that. You four want a booth or a table?"
"Booth, please," Regina said, following the older woman as she led them to an empty booth. Granny laid down their menus and told them their server would be right with them.
Once they were all in the booth, Regina picked up her menu and looked it over. She then realized she was the only one doing so and raised an eyebrow. "Do you all know what you want?" she asked her family.
They nodded before informing her, in unison, that they were all getting hamburgers. She laughed and set her menu down. "Then you know what? I think I'll get a hamburger too."
"Can we get milkshakes too, Mom? Please?" Sophie asked, looking at her with pleading eyes. Beside her, Roland did the same and Regina felt her resolve crumble, agreeing they could get milkshakes with their burgers.
"Softie," Robin whispered to her.
She shot him a look before whispering: "Like you wouldn't have caved either."
"Fair point," he agreed. He sat back before asking Roland about his day in Regina's office. Roland's eyes grew wide and he excitedly explained everything he had seen in the mayor's office, finishing with how Regina had stood up for the town to make sure a building was built safely.
He almost made her sound like superhero and she felt her cheeks warming. "I just refused to let someone get special treatment and put safety at risk," she said.
"Regina is a great mayor," Roland said, looking at her like she was one of the heroes in his books.
It warmed her.
"And how was your day at your father's camp? Did you learn anything else besides archery?" Regina asked her daughter.
"I learned a lot," she said. "We went on a hike through the woods and Daddy told us all about the different plants, especially the ones that are dangerous."
Robin looked at Regina. "I taught them how to identify poison ivy and poison oak."
"I remember when you taught me that too," she replied, recalling their hike through the woods.
"And I remember it didn't really help you," he said. "I remember having to rub lotion on you for the entire weekend."
Sophie's mouth fell open and she stared at her mother. "You got poison ivy, Mom? Was it bad?"
"It was uncomfortable," she replied. "I was very itchy and splotchy all weekend long but your father was very attentive, taking very good care of me."
She took his hand and gave it a squeeze. He grinned at her before kissing the side of her head. "It was my pleasure."
Their server approached their table and took their orders before taking away the menus. She left some activity sheets and crayons for the children but they were still busy talking about their day. Regina leaned against Robin, letting them talk and loving how excited both looked. She didn't know when she had last been so happy and content and hoped the feeling would last forever.
"Regina? Sweetheart, where are you?" Robin asked, setting down the bag of items he had picked up from the local pharmacy. He toed off his shoes, waiting to hear her response.
"Bedroom," she said, almost moaning. "Were you able to get everything?"
He grabbed the bag again, heading to the bedroom as he said: "Yes, I was. This should help."
Robin entered the bedroom to find Regina lying face down on the bed. She had her arms out to the side and he could see that the red rash on them had gotten darker as well as spread. He sighed as he approached her.
She turned her head, looking as miserable as she sounded. "Does it look as bad as it feels?"
For a moment, he considered lying to her but then knew that wouldn't appease her nor would it help. He sighed. "Unfortunately. But let's get some of the lotion on you. Hopefully that will help."
"Thank you," she said, relief in her voice. "Do you need me to do anything?"
"Take off your shirt," he replied, pulling a pink bottle and some cotton balls from the plastic bag.
She turned her head, giving him a look. "Really?"
"It'll only get in the way of spreading the lotion," he told her. "And I doubt you're on your stomach because you want to be."
"Fine," she said, groaning as she rose to her knees. She winced as she pulled off her shirt and hissed as she tossed it aside. "This is almost as bad getting a sunburn."
He grimaced as he looked at the rash spread over the top of her back. "It looks as bad as a sunburn."
She groaned again as she laid back down on her stomach. Regina looked over at him, her eyes filled with trust. "Do what you have to. Just…make it stop."
"Okay," he assured her, pouring some lotion onto a cotton ball. He then sat on the edge of the bed. "This will be cold and may sting a bit. I'm sorry."
"As long as it makes the itching and burning stop, I don't care," she said, closing her eyes in preparation for what was to come.
He spread the lotion across her back and then over her arms. By the time he was done, he had a pile of used cotton balls on the nightstand and Regina's back looked a shade of pink he knew she would hate. But it would hopefully help her and that was all he cared about – her comfort.
After cleaning up, he returned to the bed and sat down again. "Do you want me to get you anything else?"
She shook her head. "I think I'm going to nap. Stay with me?"
"Of course," he replied, lying down next to her. He covered them with a thin blanket as she curled against him. Careful of her rash, he wrapped his arm around her and held her close as her breathing evened out.
Robin played with her hair as he watched her sleep. She looked more peaceful now and he hoped the lotion was helping ease her discomfort. He kissed her forehead, honored that he was the one she let take care of her. Though they had only known each other for only a couple months, he knew that she was the one for him. He couldn't imagine spending the rest of his life without her.
Yes, they were young and yes, they had only known each other a short time but Robin knew his heart. And his heart belonged to Regina and hers belonged to him. It wouldn't be easy but they were both stubborn fools. They would build a life together, full of happiness and love.
He just knew it.
A/N: A bit of a filler chapter but it is necessary to get us to the next chapter. Just let them have these sweet moments as a family before things get a bit more complicated for them.
I hope you all have a great week!
-Mac