Chapter 5: How Do You Solve a Problem Like Zelena?
"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you, happy birthday dear Henry. Happy birthday to you!"
Henry blew out the candles on the cake and everyone gathered in Granny's cheered as the diner plunged into darkness. "Quick, someone turn on the lights!" the older woman ordered. Within seconds, the place was flooded with light again.
Regina stood next to Henry, beaming, and Emma stood on the other side. Both hugged him. "Happy birthday," she whispered in his ear.
"Thanks, Mom," he said, leaning into her hug. He then leaned toward Emma. "And thanks, Mom."
"We're all so happy you're in ours lives," she told him, kissing his head.
Mary Margaret stepped forward, holding up her camera. "Say cheese!"
"You're a menace with that thing," Regina said, shaking her head. "Who gave you that camera anyway?"
"It came with the curse, so I guess you did," Mary Margaret replied. She gave Regina such a look that Regina knew if there hadn't been company, Mary Margaret likely would've stuck her tongue out at her.
Regina rolled her eyes. "Fine. But that doesn't mean I meant for you to harass us with it every chance you get."
"Can you argue about this later so she can take the picture? Some of us want to eat that cake tonight," Will called out from where he sat with the other Merry Men. They all chuckled as he smirked at Regina.
She shot him a look before sighing. "Fine. On the count of three please?"
Mary Margaret nodded, raising her camera to her eye. "One…two…three!"
"Cheese!" Regina, Emma and Henry said at the same time. All three leaned in closer as they smiled before getting blinded by the camera's flash.
Henry recoiled, blinking a few times as he held up his hands. "Whoa, Grandma. I think we need to introduce you to your camera phone. The flash isn't as blinding."
"I didn't think it was that bright." Mary Margaret turned to David, frowning. "Was it really that bright?"
He patted her back as he led her back to their booth where Belle sat with little Neal. "Come on. Let's let Henry cut the first slice so Granny can start doling out the cake."
Robin approached, holding out the knife to Henry. "Here you go."
"Not too big," Regina warned him, knowing her son would try to take almost a quarter of the cake if left unchecked.
He rolled his eyes. "Yes, Mom."
She watched as Henry made the first cut. He then moved the knife to the right a little before looking up at her, raising his eyebrow in an unasked question. Regina nodded and he made the second cut, pulling out his slice of the cake and placing it on a nearby plate.
Granny stepped closer to him, reaching for the knife. "You go enjoy your cake. I can take over from here."
"Thank you, Granny," he said, picking up his plate and bounding over to one of the tables.
A cloud of dark green smoke appeared between Regina and Robin. It died away to reveal an eager Roland, who tugged on her hand. "Can I have a slice, please, Mom?"
"A small one," she advised. "It's getting close to your bedtime."
He sighed but nodded. "Okay, Mom."
"Here you go," Granny said, handing him a plate with a thin slice on it. "Enjoy!"
"Thank you," Roland replied, brightly. He skipped away to join his brother and eat his cake.
Granny straightened up. "Do you two want slices?"
"Yes, please," Regina said, her mouth watering at the sight of the chocolate cake and vanilla frosting. "It looks delicious, Granny."
"Thank you," Granny said, handing them both slices. "You two go relax. I have everything under control."
Robin pressed his free hand to Regina's back. "Come on. You've been on your feet all day. You deserve some rest."
"I'm fine," she lied. Her feet did hurt and she was tired, still adjusting to raising a teenager, an active second-grader, and two babies. All she wanted to do was go home and curl up with one of her children for a nap.
He leaned forward, whispering: "I don't even need to read your mind to know that's not true."
She shot him a glare before softening her gaze, knowing he only ever had her best interest at heart. "You know me."
"I do," he replied, pulling out the chair for her. "Which is why I know that you're pushing yourself too much. Sit down. Relax. Enjoy your cake."
"You do the same," she told him. "You've been busy too."
He nodded. "I will as soon as you sit down. Deal?"
"Deal," she replied, sitting down in the chair he pulled out for her. He pushed in her chair before taking his own seat.
She dug into her cake, enjoying the sweet treat. "This is delicious."
"I agree," he said. "Almost as good as yours."
Regina smirked, scrunching her nose a bit. "You're just sucking up to me."
He shook his head. "I'm just speaking the truth."
She shook her head before looking around, frowning. Henry and Roland were accounted for but that still left two children she needed to check on. "Where are our daughters?"
"Relax. Emma has Haven," he said, motioning to a booth near to them. She leaned over a bit and relief swept through her when she saw the sheriff fighting to keep a curious Haven from stealing bites of her cake.
That was one daughter. She needed to find her other one. "And Honor?" she asked.
"Right here," Belle said, handing the sleepy girl over to Regina. "She needed a diaper change and you were busy with Henry, so I took care of it."
Regina smiled as she held out her arms for her daughter. "Thank you, Belle, I appreciate it."
"You're welcome," Belle said, placing Honor in Regina's arms. "And I'm always available if you need someone to watch the children. I love them."
"We'll keep that in mind. Thank you, Belle," Robin told her, grinning at her. She nodded before walking over to join Gold at their booth.
Regina cuddled her daughter closer as Honor yawned. "Someone is getting sleepy."
"Good. Maybe she'll let us sleep a bit longer than usual," Robin commented, taking another bite of his cake.
"You knew going into this that sleep was going to become a precious commodity," Regina teased him, rocking Honor as her eyes closed.
He chuckled, nodding. "True. But it doesn't mean I still can't hope for it."
"I can always take the nighttime feeding if you need more rest," she offered, concerned for his wellbeing.
"And steal my bonding time with my girls? No, thank you," he replied, pretending to be affronted. She smiled, loving how much he adored their daughters.
David walked over to them, motioning to one of their unused chairs. "Mind if I join you?"
"Be our guest," Robin said, nodding as he took another bite of cake.
As he sat down, David asked: "So, what's going with Zelena? I know she got community service and probation for breaking in."
Regina nodded. "She did. And we've temporarily barred her from seeing Haven until it's completed, to give her more of an incentive to do so."
"And how did she take it?"
"How do you think she took it?" Regina shot back at him, glaring at him. "She tried to curse us."
David winced. "What would've it done had it worked?"
"Turned us into frogs," she replied, annoyed. "She wasn't very original there."
Robin nodded. "At least it would've been better than a flying monkey."
"Well, at least she still had that cuff on then," David replied, shaking his head. "And thank goodness Haven is safe."
He glanced over to where the baby girl had fallen asleep against his daughter's shoulder before looking back at Robin and Regina. "So what happens next? I mean, with Zelena's custody?"
"We're just playing it by ear now," Robin replied. "She has no visitation rights and we'll make a further determination in the upcoming months."
Regina nodded. "And I'm going to give her regular updates about Haven, so she can't claim we're hiding important information or accuse us of neglecting her. She seems to be hyper-focused on that."
"Why?" David asked, tilting his head.
"Archie thinks unresolved issues from the fact that she was rejected by Cora while Regina was kept," Robin said, motioning to where the therapist sat with Marco and a couple dwarfs. "So she worries that we're neglecting Haven because we have Honor now."
He nodded. "Makes sense, in a twisted way. But you two love Haven. You'd never neglect her."
"You know that, we know that. Zelena refuses to believe it," Regina replied. "We're going to have to keep an extra close eye on her."
"You know I'll help however you need me to do that," David offered. "Emma too. We won't let anything happen to that beautiful little girl."
Regina smiled, pressing her hand to her heart. "Thank you, David."
He reached over and took her free hand in his. "We've certainly come a long way, haven't we?"
"We have," she said, looking over at everyone in the room. She had once called most of them enemies and now they were friends and family. "I've come a long way."
David stood, pushing his chair in. "I'm going to head back to my family. But remember, I'm only a phone call away."
He walked away, passing Emma as she approached the table with a fussy Haven. "I think she wants you two," Emma told them.
Robin took Haven from her, cradling the girl against his shoulder. "Thank you for entertaining her."
"Glad to do it," Emma replied, gently stroking Haven's cheek. "I'm always up for some quality godmother-goddaughter time."
"We'll keep that in mind next time we need a babysitter," Regina told her, smirking at her.
Emma didn't blink. "I look forward to it."
"Also, do you think you can drive Henry home?" Regina asked. "I think it's time we got the younger ones home but don't want to end the party for him."
"Of course we'll take Henry home. Don't worry about him. You two focus on the others and have a good night," Emma told them. She gave them a quick smile before walking back to the table where the rest of her family sat.
Robin placed Haven into her carrier, snapping the buckles together. He kissed her forehead. "Time to go home, sweetheart."
"Same for you," Regina cooed to Honor, who was already sound asleep in her arms. She carefully placed her daughter in her carrier and buckled her in. Covering her with a blanket, she nodded at Robin. "I think we're ready to go. What about Roland?"
They glanced over to where their younger son sat with the Merry Men. His eyes were starting to glaze over and he looked ready to collapse into the remnants of his cake. Regina looked at Robin, who nodded before heading over to him. He knelt next to Roland and rubbed his back. "I think it's time for bed, my boy," he said.
"But the party isn't over," he protested. "I don't want to miss any of the fun, Papa!"
"I think the party is starting to wrap up. You're not going to miss anything," Robin replied, trying to convince him to come home.
The other Merry Men came to his aid, nodding. "We're going to head back to camp ourselves. We're ready to turn in. Right, men?" Will asked, looking around at the others.
"Absolutely," Little John agreed. He let out an exaggerated yawn. "I'm ready for bed."
Convinced, Roland said goodnight to his uncles, going around the table to hug them all. He then took Robin's hand and let him lead him over to Regina. She smiled at the boy. "How about I read you a bedtime story when we get home?"
He brightened. "Can we continue reading Harry Potter, Mom?"
"Absolutely," she replied, bopping his nose. "Why don't you go say goodbye to your brother and everyone else?"
Roland nodded and bounded over to the other tables. He said goodbye to everyone else and hugged them. As he hugged Henry, the older boy stood up and walked toward them. "We're leaving?"
"Just us," Regina assured him, hugging him. "Emma's already said she would drive you home. So you can stay and continue celebrating with everyone else."
"Thanks, Mom," he said, hugging her. He then looked up at her. "Will you be up when I get home?"
She nodded, getting a little choked up that he still wanted to see her before going to bed despite being a teenager now. "I won't go to sleep until you do."
"Thanks, Mom." He then hugged Robin and told him goodnight before wishing his sisters the same.
Robin picked up both carriers, balancing his daughters easily as he grinned at Regina. "You ready?"
"I am," she said, taking Roland's hand. "How about you, sweetheart?"
He nodded before pointing toward the door. "Let's go home!"
Laughing, she and Robin headed out of the diner. They paused at the door to bid everyone a goodnight and then stepped out into the summer night. After loading the children into the truck Robin now drove, they climbed in and buckled up. He didn't start the car right away, reaching over to take her hand. "You okay?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said, not sure why he asked her that. "Why?"
"I know it sometimes hurts to think of Henry as growing up and birthdays are perfect reminders of that," he replied.
She smiled, touched that he would be concerned about her feelings. Henry's birthday was bittersweet—he was getting older but she knew he would always be her little prince. And she had three more children to love just as much as she loved him.
Regina squeezed his hand. "I'm fine and really happy that Henry came into my life. Just like I'm happy about Roland, Haven and Honor being part of my life as well."
"I'm happy to be a part of your life too, Mom!" Roland declared from behind her, smiling widely at her.
She looked back, returning his smile. "We need to plan for your birthday too. It's coming up, right?"
"Yes, it is," Roland said, holding up all five fingers on one hand and one finger on the other. "I'm going to be this many."
"Which is?" she asked, having quizzed him over the summer to make sure he was ready for school to start again in the fall.
"Six!" he declared proudly.
She smiled at him. "That's right! What do you want to do for your birthday?"
"Can I go camping?" he asked. He looked to his father as Robin pulled out of his parking spot. "Please, Papa?"
Robin shared a look with Regina and she knew he had the same concerns she did. "It's going to be cold by that time, Roland," he said.
"Too cold to go camping," Regina added.
"Oh," he replied, frowning. "I guess I can do something else…"
Regina hated seeing him so disappointed, so she came up with a compromise. "What if you go camping in our living room?"
He perked up, looking intrigued. "How?"
"We can set up a blanket fort you and a few friends can sleep in. And we can roast marshmallows in the fireplace and turn off all the lights and turn on sounds to make it seem like we're outside," she rattled off, already planning the perfect winter camping party for her younger son.
Roland cheered. "Thank you, Mom! You're the best!"
"You're only going to be able to invite a few friends though," Robin warned. "We don't have a lot of room in the living room."
"That's okay," Roland replied. "I can figure out who I really want there."
His father nodded. "Good. And then we can have a separate party with the Merry Men. You know they'll want to celebrate."
"Can we have everyone there? A family party?" Roland asked.
Regina pressed her hand over her heart, glad that he knew their ragtag group was a family. "Of course we can have the family there. Everyone will want to celebrate with you."
"Good," Roland replied, his eyes starting to close as his head fell back against the seat. "I want everyone there too."
Exchanging a pleased look with Robin, Regina leaned back and closed her eyes. She was starting to have a normal life—or as normal as life got in Storybrooke—and she loved it. Happiness at last was hers.
"You look tired, sis," Zelena said as Regina sat down across from her at Granny's. She gave her a smug smile. "Family life wearing you down?"
"Not at all," Regina replied. "Haven is teething and isn't getting a lot of sleep right now. Robin and I are alternating who stays up with her. Last night was my turn."
Zelena's smug look faded into one of concern as her blue eyes widened. "Haven is in pain?"
"Yes, but it's natural," Regina assured her sister. "Every child teethes and experiences it. You just have to comfort them, give them something for the pain and comfort them until their teeth are in."
"I don't understand why you just don't use magic," Zelena said. She waved her hand. "Poof! Pain gone."
Regina sighed, rubbing her eyes. "You know all magic comes with a price. And this is something that is natural. No need to magic it away."
"Would you say the same thing if it was Honor who was up all night long, crying with pain? Or would you pay the price for her?" Zelena asked.
"I would do the same for her," Regina told her sister. "Robin and I are not neglecting Haven or giving Honor special treatment. They are both our daughters and we love them equally."
Zelena rolled her eyes. "Please. I'm not stupid and neither are you. You can't actually believe that."
Regina sighed, picking up her bag again. "If you're just going to keep making these baseless accusations, I'm just going to go. We can try again next week."
"You can't do that!" her sister protested, anger flashing in her blue eyes.
"Yes, I can," Regina replied. "There are rules. And if you break them, there are consequences."
Zelena scowled. "The rules are stupid. I'm a grown woman and a mother."
"The rules exist because you act like neither," Regina shot back, standing. "We'll try again next week, Zelena."
"Like hell! We're going to talk now!" Zelena demanded, standing up as well. She stomped her foot.
Regina crossed her arms. "You're behaving like a child."
"You want me to just do whatever you say," her sister snapped. "I'm not a puppet. I see the real you. And you're just a controlling bitch."
"Maybe we should make it two weeks," Regina told her coldly. Inside, though, her blood was boiling and she clenched her fists to keep from doing something stupid.
Granny stepped up to them, her hands on her hips as she glared at them over the rims of her glasses. "Is something wrong here?"
Regina opened her mouth to respond but Zelena jumped in first. "My sister is being unfair. She won't let me see my daughter."
"Good," Granny said. "This whole town agrees you're an unfit mother. That baby girl is better off with Robin and Regina."
"Oh, right, because they are so much better!" Zelena yelled, drawing the attention of everyone in the diner. "Have you forgotten that she is the Evil Queen, who terrorized all of you in the Enchanted Forest and cursed you to live in this strange world? Or that he was the Dark One who nearly tried to destroy this town? And you think they are fit parents?"
Granny nodded. "I do. And I think many people in this town do as well."
Other diners chimed in their agreement and Regina swear steam was coming out of her sister's ears. She stomped her foot. "Why do you all forgive them and not me? What's so different?"
"They've asked for forgiveness," Granny told her. "They've showed us that they are remorseful for their actions and have worked to be make amends. You've done nothing but loudly complain, expecting us to just forget and move on. That's not how it works."
Regina nodded. "You need to apologize—genuinely apologize—for the pain you caused, Zelena. And you need to show that you won't do it again."
Zelena stewed. "You just want to see me suffer. You want to see me weak and vulnerable so you can feel superior to me because you know I'm the more powerful sister."
"This is not a competition," Regina told her, growing even more tired. "And this isn't about you or me. This is about Haven and what's best for her. Right now, you aren't it."
"Bullshit. And I'm going to prove it to you. I'm going to prove it to everyone!" Zelena yelled before storming out of the diner.
Granny placed a hand on Regina's shoulder. "Don't let her get to you. It's easier for her to believe she's the victim and everyone is against her. It means she doesn't have to do any work and change. Rather, she's just going to wait for us to change. And she's going to be waiting a long, long time."
Regina nodded. "Thanks. It's just so frustrating. I don't want this constant struggle of us versus her. I want us to be on the same team at least where Haven is concerned. And her accusations that I love Honor more than Haven…"
Her voice broke and she felt her body tremble from unshed tears. The last thing Regina wanted to do was breakdown in the middle of Granny's, with everyone watching. She didn't think she could handle that embarrassment nor the sympathy the people would rush to give her afterwards.
"Come on," Granny said softly, gently grabbing her arm. "Let's go to my office. It's more private."
Regina let her guide her past the kitchen and into the small office in the back. Granny urged her to sit down before leaving briefly. She returned with a glass of ice water as well as both Dr. Hopper and Dr. Whale, much to Regina's annoyance. Taking the glass from Granny, she said: "I don't need a medical intervention."
"That's not why they are here," Granny assured her, sitting down. "They just want to make sure you're okay."
"I'm fine," she replied. "I'm just frustrated with my sister and this whole situation. That's all."
Dr. Whale sat next to her. "That's understandable but I am concerned by how you're shaking. Can I at least just check a few things?"
She wanted to protest but decided it couldn't hurt. After nodding, he picked up her arm and started to check her blood pressure. "Have you been eating?" he asked.
"Yes," she replied, annoyed. Robin would never let her skip a meal on his watch and seemed to have a sixth sense about her blood sugar levels, appearing with something whenever she started to feel her energy sag.
"Good," he replied. "I'd ask about sleep but you have two babies, so I know the answer to that."
She nodded and he checked a few things out before nodding. "Okay, I'm satisfied you're fine. But I would recommend getting more sleep if possible. Get a babysitter or something and just sleep. And I would suggest avoiding your sister for a couple weeks. The last thing you need is that stressor."
"You mean I can have a doctor's note out of meeting with my sister?" she asked, not sure if that was a thing.
"If you want," he said. "I can write one for you right now."
She shook her head. "Thank you, but that won't be necessary. I'm sure it wouldn't work to keep Zelena away."
He shrugged. "Thought I would offer. And if you do ever want it, just give me a call. I'll happily write it for you."
Whale stood and headed out of Granny's office, nodding at Archie as he left. Archie stepped forward and took the seat next to Regina, who raised her eyebrow. "You think I need some therapy."
"I think you need someone to talk to, yes," he said. "And even though I got my degree from a curse, I like to think I might still be useful."
She smirked, recognizing the insult she had flung at him only a few years earlier. It felt like a lifetime. "Thank you, Doctor. I think I'm okay for now."
He nodded. "Okay. But if you ever want to talk…"
"I know where to find you," she assured him. She bit her lip before saying: "I may stop by during the week, if that's okay?"
"Of course. Just call ahead so I can make sure my schedule is cleared." Archie patted her shoulder before standing. He tipped his hat to both her and Granny, wishing them a good day, before leaving the office.
Granny leaned forward, studying Regina. "Are you really okay?"
"For now, yes," she repeated. "If I have to continue dealing with my sister…I don't know."
"We all think you're going over and beyond what she deserves after everything she did to you and especially Robin," Granny replied.
Regina sighed, sinking down in her seat and ignoring her mother's voice in her head telling her that queens don't slouch. "I know but Robin and I talked about it. We want Haven to have a relationship with Zelena. And I guess…I changed for Henry. I'm hoping she will for Haven."
"Zelena isn't you," Granny told her. "What worked for you may not work for her. Especially as by the time Henry came along, you were ready to be a mother. You were ready to change for him. She's not there yet. And I don't know if she'll ever be there."
"I know but I also don't want Haven to be mad at us when she's older for not letting her have a relationship with her mother," Regina replied, feeling even more tired. She wondered if Granny had a cot somewhere so she could take a nap.
Granny nodded. "I understand. But will all this fighting be good for her growing up? Also, will she come to resent you for keeping such a negative influence in her life?"
"I don't know," Regina replied, feeling as if her mind stopped working. She rubbed her forehead. "I just want to be a good mother and do right by her."
"Of course you do," Granny told her. "And I know it won't be easy to determine what's right for her. Just trust your gut and your heart. I'm pretty sure it will lead you down the right path."
"Thank you, Granny," she said softly.
"You're welcome." Granny studied her again. "You okay to drive yourself home or do I need to call someone?"
Regina stood. "I can drive home. But thanks for the concern, Granny."
She nodded, standing again. "And my door is always open if you need someone to talk to."
After thanking her again, Regina shouldered her bag and sighed. "I think I'm going to go home and go straight to bed. Robin can figure out dinner."
"Or I can give you something," Granny offered. "A tray of my lasagna, perhaps? Or maybe some chicken nuggets?"
Regina toyed with her lip before saying: "Maybe just some of your fabulous BLTs, please?"
Granny chuckled, heading to the door. "Four BLTS, coming right up! And I assume four orders of onion rings too?"
"Yes," Regina said, her mouth watering. She wanted to lose more of the baby weight from her pregnancy with Honor but she couldn't turn down the onion rings.
As Granny ushered her out of the office, Regina could help but feel so grateful for the people of Storybrooke. Once upon a time, she had viewed them as collateral damage and they saw her as a villain. Now, they accepted her as one of them and she was starting to call them friends.
It was something she wished Zelena could experience but feared her sister would never be able to change her ways to do so. And she would have to decide when she needed to give up on her sister for her mental health.
Robin crept into their bedroom, careful not to wake Honor. He laid her in the bassinette next to the bed before checking on his wife. Regina slept soundly, lying on her side as she held the blankets close to her body. She had looked exhausted when she had returned home from Granny's with dinner. No one had pushed her as they ate and when she said she wanted to go straight to bed after nursing Honor, he kissed her goodnight and told her not to worry about them.
He, though, worried about Regina all evening long. Not even cuddles from his baby girls could distract him from thoughts about their mother. She hadn't said anything about her meeting with Zelena, which told him that it was the reason she was so drained. He longed to know what her sister had done or said now but knew Regina needed her rest. She would tell him what happened in her own time.
Even still, he worried about the toll dealing with Zelena took on Regina. They both still believed it was best to try to include her in Haven's life but if she kept fighting them every step of the way, he wondered if there would have to come a time where they just gave up and cut her out of their lives until she either proved herself or Haven was old enough to decide for herself if she wanted to deal with the woman who gave birth to her.
Knowing he would not be able to sleep just yet, Robin kissed Regina's forehead before tiptoeing out of the room. He headed down to the one room they never changed back after the modifications he had made to Regina's house as the Dark One. Inside was the guitar he had conjured for himself, the dark magic having reawakened his artistic side. He picked up the instrument and began strumming, letting the music calm his mind.
He knew when he made the decision to let Zelena have a relationship with Haven that it wouldn't be smooth sailing but he didn't think it would be so hard. Or perhaps he had been foolish enough to think Zelena would suddenly change the moment she became a mother. Or that she would be determined to be a good mother and so play nicely with them in order to have a relationship with Haven.
Looking back, maybe he had been more naïve than he thought.
Robin started to play some minor chords, his impromptu song taking a darker tone. Sometimes he would wish his magic could allow him to travel through time so he could stop himself from sleeping with Zelena while she was disguised as Marian. Then he wouldn't be tied to Zelena for years to come and Regina wouldn't have had to experience all the pain she had to because of that one stupid night.
But then he wouldn't have his beautiful and sweet Haven. Nothing was worth erasing her from his life and he hated that he even considered doing anything of the sort. He would put up with anything—including Zelena—for her sake.
He continued to strum, singing along now. It was a lullaby he recalled from his childhood, though he didn't know if his mother or his father had sung it to him. The words flowed from his memory, soothing him just a little as he closed his eyes and let the music wash over him.
"My father used to sing that to me," Regina said. He opened his eyes to find her sitting across from him, curling her legs under her as she watched him. "Whenever I had a nightmare, he always made sure he got to my room before my mother could hear me crying. He would soothe me and sing me back to sleep."
"Did you have a nightmare?" he asked her, stilling strumming softly. "Need me to sing you back to sleep?"
She smiled. "No nightmares. I don't think I actually dreamed, that's how deep my sleep was."
"Good. You deserved a good rest," he replied, pleased.
"I then woke up to find Honor in her bassinette but no sign of my husband," she said. "You deserve a good night's sleep too."
He shrugged. "I'm fine."
She tilted her head, studying him with a frown. "No, you're not. Talk to me, Robin. Please."
"I don't want to burden you," he replied honestly. "You have enough on your shoulders already."
"And if I told you that, what would you say to me?" she asked him, raising an eyebrow.
He bit the inside of his cheek, knowing she had him there. "I'd tell you that we're in this together and that we need to share the burden."
"So…?" she prompted.
Robin sighed, setting his guitar down. "I hate that I brought Zelena into our lives."
"You?" She raised her eyebrow again. "I believe I did that. She is my sister and she did try to destroy me. You ended up collateral damage, which pains me every day."
He sighed, scooting to the edge of the chair. Robin reached out and took her hand. "But I slept with her even though I could sense something was off and my heart told me it was too soon."
She leaned forward as well, pressing her free hand to his cheek. "You were doing what you thought was best to try to salvage your marriage for Roland's sake."
"I know," he replied softly. His guilt continued to eat at him. "I still hate how much pain she's brought into our lives and I hate knowing that means she won."
Regina shook her head. "She hasn't won. We're together and we're happy raising our children—our two sons and our two daughters. And no matter how much she tries and frustrates us, she can't take that away from us."
"That is true." He smiled, knowing she had a point. It then fell as he added: "I just wish we could eject her from our lives completely."
She grew silent and rubbed the back of his hand with her thumb before asking: "What if there was?"
That surprised him and he tilted his head. "What do you mean?"
"Just something Granny mentioned earlier," she replied. "That maybe we need to stop trying to force Zelena to change and wait for her to do it on her own."
"And keep her from Haven?" he asked.
She nodded. "Granny pointed out that while we don't want Haven to resent not having a relationship with Zelena, she could also resent that we kept such a negative influence around her too. Until she can prove herself, I think it might be best to keep Haven from her."
"Are you sure?" he asked, surprised by her change of heart. He had his doubts about preventing Zelena from seeing time with Haven but he had to admit her argument made a lot of sense.
"I honestly don't know," she admitted with a sigh. "But I think it's something we need to consider seriously."
He nodded, relieved there could be a way to get Zelena out of their lives—if just for a little while. "We should probably discuss it in the morning," he suggested.
"Yes," she agreed, tugging on his hand. "Which means you should come to bed. You need your rest as much as me."
"Okay," he relented, standing with her. He pulled her in for a hug, holding her tightly. "I love you, Regina. And I love our family. So, so much."
She relaxed into his embrace as she hugged him just as tightly. "I love you and our family too."
They broke apart and she took his hand, walking out of the room with him. They returned to their bedroom and he checked on Honor, pleased to see she was still asleep. He leaned down, kissing her forehead. "Sweet dreams, princess," he whispered to her.
He then climbed into bed next to Regina. She curled against him and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her close as he kissed her forehead. "Goodnight, my queen."
"Goodnight, thief," she replied, smirking. He chuckled, drifting off to sleep with her safe and loved in his arms.
Regina carried up a basket of fresh clothes from her laundry room, hitting the light switch with her elbow as she passed it. She forgot how often she had to wash baby clothes, though Henry and Roland created their own mess of dirty clothes as well. It was good she was still out on maternity leave, giving her time to handle all of that. Though she was itching to get back to being mayor, she also knew it was best to take as much time as she could. She didn't want to miss any moments with her girls.
She set the basket on her bed as Honor started to mew from her bassinette. Regina recognized it – it meant her daughter had seen her and wanted attention from her. She bent over and picked Honor up, holding her close. "Do you want to help Mama sort and fold the laundry?" she asked the baby, who cooed in response.
Laying Honor on her bed, the baby girl kicked her little legs as Regina folded the clothes in the hamper. Every so often, she reached over and tickled Honor's stomach. It drew giggles from her and kept her entertained enough.
"Do you want to come with me as I put everything away?" she asked Honor. She settled Honor into the baby carrier they owned and made sure she was secure against her chest. Grinning down at her, she said: "Let's go!"
She toted Honor around with her as she put the clothes away in everyone's bedrooms. Before leaving the nursery, she checked on Haven. She slept on peacefully, much to Regina's relief. It was easier to handle one baby at a time.
"What do you want to do now?" she asked Honor. The baby once again cooed in response and she nodded. "Cuddling on the couch sounds perfect. You have great ideas."
Regina carried Honor down to the living room, taking her out of the carrier. She laid down on the couch with the baby, laying her on her chest. Honor squirmed a bit, finding a comfortable spot before settling down. Regina felt her heart beating against her and felt even more connected with her baby girl.
She closed her eyes as she rested her hand on Honor's back. "Mama's gonna rest for a bit, okay, baby girl?"
A sense of love and happiness washed over her and she knew it was coming from Honor. They still shared a magical connection but it always amazed her each time she was able to feel her daughter's emotions. Her lips curved into a smile as she dozed, drifting between sleep and consciousness.
Regina didn't know how long she laid there before she felt a gentle hand brush some hair from her face. A few seconds later, whoever it was lifted Honor from her chest. She started to stir but her husband said softly: "It's okay, sweetheart. You rest. I've got her."
She opened her eyes to find Robin cradling a sleeping Honor against his chest. He smiled down at her. "Sleepy?"
"Yes," she said, reaching out for Honor. "We were cuddling together."
He glanced down at Honor before looking back at her. "How about we relocate the cuddling to someplace more comfortable?"
"That would require moving," she told him, her body feeling like it had turned to lead. "I don't think I can do that."
"I think I have a solution," he replied, holding up his hand. He winked at her before flicking his wrist, engulfing them in a cloud of dark blue magic.
She felt the familiar tug in her navel as the couch disappeared from under her. A few seconds later, she landed on the soft comfort of their mattress, her head resting on a pillow as Robin stood next to the bed with a still sleeping Honor in his arms. He smirked at her. "Problem solved."
"Cheeky bastard," she told him, rolling her eyes as she settled under the blankets. She then held out her arms again. "Can I resume cuddling with my daughter now?"
He chuckled as he lay Honor in her arms. She settled the baby girl on her chest and waited as Honor squirmed around, trying to get comfortable. Once she stopped moving, Regina started to rub her back as she closed her eyes.
The bed dipped and she felt Robin lay next to her. His hand covered the one she had on Honor's back as he asked: "May I cuddle with you too?"
"Of course," she replied, moving over until she felt his body against hers. She angled her body so that she could rest her head in the crook of his neck and Honor was gently cradled between them.
Robin kissed the top of her head. "You comfortable, love?"
She hummed in response. "Very comfortable."
"Good," he replied. "Get some rest. You deserve it. Or do you need a little help?"
"No," she told him, knowing he would happily cast his spell to make her fall asleep if it meant she got some rest. But she already felt the natural tug. "I'm good."
He kissed her forehead this time. "Sweet dreams, my love."
It was the last thing she heard before surrendering to sleep, enveloped in their blankets and the comfort of her husband and their baby daughter.
Regina's breathing evened out after a few minutes and Honor continued to sleep on, comfortable on her mother's chest. It was a beautiful sight and Robin lay next to them, just taking it in with amazement. He still couldn't believe that this was their life now. Robin Hood and the Evil Queen were just now Papa and Mama, enjoying domestic bliss.
It was heaven.
He didn't know how long he laid there, watching his dark-haired wife sleep with their dark-haired baby girl. Robin brushed some strands from her face, loving how peaceful she looked. She carried a lot of stress on her shoulders and while he still felt guilty for his role in it, he was coming to accept more and more that most of it was about her sister. He knew they were doing the best they could by trying to ensure Haven had a relationship with her biological mother but it was causing them more heartbreak than not. Zelena was too much of a loose cannon and they needed a way to either reign her in or expel her from their lives completely.
An idea formed in the back of his mind and he kissed Regina's forehead. Robin carefully climbed out of bed so he didn't disturb her or Honor. Grabbing the monitor so he could hear Haven should his other daughter wake from her nap, he treaded down the hall to his study.
Setting the monitor down on his desk, he crossed over to the bookcase he had there. He crouched down and opened the bottom cabinet, revealing a few books left over from his time as the Dark One. Robin pulled a few out and returned to the desk. Taking a seat, he sighed as he started to read one. He knew there was an answer in one of these books, though he was hesitant to use something his darker self would've done. It would just be a last resort, he told himself.
He made it through two books before someone placed a hand on his shoulder, making him jump a little. An aroma of apples and vanilla made him relax as he realized it was his wife before she spoke. "Sorry to disturb you," she said.
"It's okay," he replied, placing his hand over hers as his heartrate slowed. "I guess I was really concentrating."
She hummed, leaning down to see what he was reading. He glanced up at her, watching her frown. "Robin, this is…"
"Dark magic," he confirmed. "I know."
"Then why are you reading it?" she asked, looking concerned and confused.
He sighed. "Because I feel desperate and think there may be a solution to our Zelena problem in one of these books."
She closed the book, glaring at him. "No."
"I'm not going to kill her," he assured her, confused at her reaction. "But I think this is a situation where maybe we need to think in shades of gray rather than in black and white."
"That's not the point!" she snapped at him, scowling.
He frowned, standing. "Then tell me your point."
"Dark magic is dangerous," she told him, picking up the book and giving it a shake for emphasis. Worry filled her brown eyes. "The road to hell is paved with good intentions after all. You were cleansed of the Dark One, Robin, but not of all darkness. It's a decision whether or not to be dark. And using dark magic, even for a reason you think is good, is still being dark."
She held his gaze but he refused to back down, especially as he was certain he knew what spell he was looking for. "I found a spell to take away her magic for good. We'd never have to worry about that cuff coming off again," he told her.
"And you think she's going to do agree to that?" she asked him, glaring at him. "Or were you going to do it against her will?"
"Of course not!" he protested, recoiling as if slapped. It disheartened him that she would believe he would do that, even to Zelena.
She crossed her arms. "Then how did you plan on convincing Zelena to give up her magic?"
"We offer her something she wants," he replied.
"You're going to use Haven as a pawn?" she asked, horrified.
His face grew hotter as anger surged through him. "Of course not! I would never use our daughter like that!" he yelled back. "And I would never give her Haven!"
"Then what were you going to do?" she asked, yelling now as well.
"Make giving up magic one of the requirements for her to see Haven again," he replied. "She's too dangerous with it."
Regina's expression didn't change as she snapped: "Would you give up your magic?"
"For my children? In a heartbeat," he replied hotly. "You?"
"Of course. I would do anything for any of my children," she said, "but Zelena is not there yet. She's still too selfish and would never agree to this. In fact, even the offer will make things worse before you even consider the fact that the spell will most likely kill her!"
Silence descended upon the room as horror filled Robin. He hadn't seen anything about that in the book. "What?"
"Not everyone can be taught magic," she said. "It has to be inherent to the person, in the blood or DNA or whatever you want to call it. But magic is part of us. You can block magic but removing it means removing an essential part of the person. This spell killed everyone it was used on."
Regina gave the book a shake before she tossed it down on the table. Crossing her arms, she glared at him. "This is why we don't mess with dark magic, Robin. It's dark for a reason."
His knees gave out and he collapsed in the chair, pressing his hand to his mouth as his body began to shake. It hadn't occurred to him that the spell could hurt Zelena. All he thought was that they could take away her magic so she couldn't hurt them anymore and maybe start to work toward being a better person.
"Oh gods," he groaned, leaning forward to rest his elbow on his knees. A sick feeling filled him as he rubbed the back of his neck. "I am so sorry, Regina. I should've known better. I should be better."
She sighed, kneeling in front of him and resting her hands on his shoulders. "I'm sorry, too. I know how tempting the darkness can be, even once you reject it. Its siren call is always there. And even though you were the Dark One for a short period of time, that's all it takes. And I forgot that."
"I'm a monster," he moaned, feeling like the worst person in the world. Even Zelena had to look better than him at that moment.
"You're human," Regina replied, pressing her hands to his cheeks and trying to get him to look at her. "We all make mistakes."
He shook his head. "This isn't a mistake, Regina."
"So you meant to kill my sister?" she asked.
"What?" He lifted his head, finally meeting her eyes as he said: "Of course not! I would never."
She nodded, giving him a soft smile as she pressed a hand to his chest. "I know. I know your heart and your soul. And both are good. You are the furthest thing from a monster."
He almost let out a little laugh, thinking of time sitting on the couch with her in her office. "I said that to you," he pointed out.
"When I thought I was a monster. And you were right. I was not a monster. And neither are you," she replied.
Robin leaned forward, pressing his forehead to hers. "I don't really deserve you."
"Well, I feel the same way about you," she said, "so maybe that's even more proof than pixie dust that we're meant to be together."
He chuckled, reaching out for her hands. She slid them into his as he said: "Two lost souls doing our best to stay in the light."
She grinned. "How poetic."
"I have my moments," he replied. "I might even give Alan a run for his money as a songwriter."
"I believe you could," she said with a chuckle. She pulled back and cupped his cheek with her hand. "No more dark magic?"
He nodded. "No more dark magic. I promise."
"Good," she replied. "And do you feel better?"
This time, he shook his head. "I still feel like shit. I should've known better. I do know better. I just…"
"Are you human? Prone to temptation like the rest of us?" she supplied, smiling.
He laughed, knowing she was right – he was just human and still susceptible to making mistakes, honor code or not. So he nodded. "Yeah."
"It sucks, doesn't it?" she asked, scrunching up her nose.
"It certainly has its cons along with its pros," he agreed, kissing her nose.
She stood, tugging on his hands. "Come on. Henry and Roland will be home soon. Why don't you get some rest while I make dinner?"
He frowned. "No, you should rest. I can make dinner."
"I had a lovely nap today," she told him, pressing her hand to his cheek. "And you look like you could use one. So go ahead. I've got everything under control."
"Promise me you'll wake me if you need any help," he said, still reluctant to leave her alone.
She gave him a look. "Robin, I'm fine. You can take care of yourself every now and then. I need you to do that, okay? You can't run yourself ragged trying to do everything."
He nodded, knowing he would tell her the same thing if the situation were reversed. "Alright."
"Good," she replied, kissing his cheek. "Go lay down. I've got everything under control, so you just focus on getting rest."
"I'll do my best," he said, taking her hand as they left his study. They walked into their bedroom, where she released his hand. She picked up Honor, who was awake, and rocked her as Robin climbed into bed. Regina told him to have a good nap before leaving.
He laid down and wrapped the blankets around himself. With a sigh, he closed his eyes and let the exhaustion carry him away.
"Alright, baby girl, what should we make for dinner?" Regina asked, settling Honor into her bouncer. Honor gummed her fingers and Regina laughed, gently pulling them from her mouth. "I don't think everyone wants your fingers, sweetheart."
She stepped away from Honor, looking through her refrigerator. "Maybe a meatloaf is in order. It's been a while since I made it."
"I love your meatloaf," Henry said. She closed the door to find her teenage son standing there, grinning. "Hi, Mom."
She smiled, reaching out to cup his face. "Hello, sweetheart. I didn't hear you come in."
"We were pretty quiet," Henry replied.
"We?" she asked, confused. He motioned to the island and she looked over, smiling when she saw Roland sitting on a barstool there. Roland made funny faces at Honor, who kept kicking her feet happily as she watched her brother.
It was a beautiful sight and Regina quickly grabbed her phone, taking a few pictures of the scene.
She set her phone down and smiled at her children. "Alright, so I guess we'll have meatloaf. What do you want with it?"
"Can we have potatoes, please?" Roland asked her, looking up at her with pleading eyes.
"What kind? Mashed? Baked? Roasted?" she asked, though she figured it would be the first option. He loved mashed potatoes.
As expected, Roland asked for mashed potatoes. "Will there be gravy too?" he asked.
She chuckled, running her fingers through his curls. "I can make you some gravy too. But we also need something green to go with it."
"How about the broccolini? We all liked that the last time you made it," Henry suggested, leaning against the island now.
Roland nodded eagerly. "Especially if you make the melty cheese with it like last time. That was really good!"
She laughed, nodding. "Okay. So we'll have meatloaf, potatoes with gravy and broccolini with cheese. It sounds great!"
"Can I help you make it?" Roland asked, looking up at her pleadingly.
"Of course you can," she told him, tucking her fingers under his chin. She smiled at him before gently bopping his nose.
Regina then turned to Henry. "Do you want to help too?"
He shrugged. "Sure. Why not? Is Robin going to help as well?"
"He's resting," she said, trying not to think about their argument and serious talk only an hour earlier. "And we should let him. He needs it."
Roland frowned. "Why? Is Papa sick?"
She shook her head, not wanting him to worry. "He's just been doing a lot to help me and it's made him tired. So I want him to rest as a thank you for all his hard work."
"Oh," he replied. He then nodded. "That makes sense."
"So shall we get started on dinner?" she asked, clapping her hands together. When they nodded, she grinned. "Good. Why don't you and Henry go wash your hands and then we can get started."
Henry nodded, holding out his hand to his brother. "Come on, Ro. We can wash our hands together."
Roland hopped off the stool and took Henry's hand. They left the kitchen just as cries came from the baby monitor on the counter. Regina frowned, picking it up and heading to the doorway. "Henry? Can you get Haven when you're done?" she called out.
"Sure, Mom!" he called back.
With that taken care of, she then retrieved the bouncy seat Haven loved. She set it up in the doorway to the pantry, knowing it would be the perfect spot for her to still cook dinner and keep an eye on Haven.
Passing by Honor, she shook her daughter's foot. "Looks like this is going to be a family affair. We're all going to spend time together," she cooed to her.
Honor just laughed in response as Roland returned to the kitchen. He held up his hands for Regina to inspect. "All clean!"
"Very good," she said, looking over his hands. "Let me go get your stool so you can reach the counter. Can you keep an eye on your sister?"
"Of course, Mom," he said, rising on his tiptoes to look at Honor in her carrier. He waved to her. "Hi, Honor!"
She chuckled as she grabbed the little stepstool Roland used to help her in the kitchen. Regina placed it by the counter just as Henry returned to the kitchen with Haven. "I had to change her diaper," he said.
"Thank you, sweetheart," she said, taking Haven from him. "Why don't you wash your hands again?"
He nodded and left the kitchen as she settled Haven into her bouncy seat. "You just bounce to your heart's content," she told her eldest daughter.
Roland took his place on the stepstool, smiling up at her. "What are we going to do first, Mom?"
As she went over the steps to make meatloaf with him, Henry slipped back into the kitchen. Regina looked around the room and saw all her children together. She had never thought she would have such a big family though she had wanted one after being alone for most of her childhood. Her wish had come true and she promised herself to never take it for granted, to always cherish every moment she had with her children – good and bad.
She was going to relish every moment of this evening, her heart full of love and happiness.
A/N: This story lives! I actually have a few other chapters written and didn't realize how long I had gone without posting a chapter. So I'm hoping to rectify that now.
Robin and Regina certainly have their hands full with Zelena. It's like they are raising five children rather than four. But for how much longer? Will Zelena change? Or will she lose everything?
Find out soon! I promise!
-Mac