Based on the prompt: Robin, Ashley, Belle, Ruby and Chef Lucas hanging in the kitchen while Regina and Roland make lasagna.


"No, no, no, sweetie, the sauce goes first, remember?"

"Oops! Sorry," he apologizes immediately, scooping up the cheese he's just mistakenly dumped atop the noodles and promptly shoving it in his mouth, laughing when Regina gives him a suspicious look.

"You did that on purpose, young man," she accuses with a laugh.

"No I didn't!" Roland protests, but he's smiling guiltily, and Regina pounces, tickling him all over and making him laugh and laugh as he squirms in her grasp.

"Okay!" he admits between guffaws, "I did! I did! I'm sorry!"

"What's going on here?" Robin says as he wanders in with Ruby in tow, and the young brunette laughs when she sees Roland's face, bits of mozzarella sticking to his cheeks and mouth as he giggles.

"He was eating the cheese again, wasn't he?" she asks Regina knowingly, and she nods with a smile.

"Ah, the cheese monster has been unleashed," Robin jokes just as his hands find Regina's waist and pull her close, pressing a soft kiss to her temple before he peeks at the offerings on the counter.

"Lasagna?" He asks, and she nods, smiling when his eyes widen and he smiles so big it lights up the room.

Ever since her body started accepting decent food again, she's been craving lasagna, but not just any lasagna, her lasagna, with her own recipe and the secret ingredients she's never revealed to anyone, not even Robin.

Chef Lucas appears from the back door of the kitchen, carrying with her a few sprigs of fresh basil from the herb garden just outside and handing them to Regina, then giving Roland a mock-stern look when she realizes what he's been doing.

"We're gonna have to start hiding the cheese around here," she says, making Regina laugh, and then, because she notices Roland is starting to look a little guilty now that everyone has joked about his cheese-stealing habits, she sneaks a bit of mozzarella to him when Chef Lucas has her back turned. Roland looks conflicted, not knowing whether to take it or not, but then Regina winks, puts a finger to her lips in a Shh gesture, and the boy gives her a conspiratorial grin, grabbing the cheese from her and shoving it into his mouth.

Robin takes a seat next to Ruby by the counter, clips one of the few basil leaves left on the sprig Regina's just placed there and brings it to his nose, closing his eyes as he breathes in the scent, something he likes to do whenever she's cooking this particular dish. She's never made lasagna at the White House before, though, and the familiar gesture makes her smile, makes the entire thing feel more domestic, homey, like they've been doing this forever within these particular walls.

"Regina, can I add the cheese now?" Roland asks later, as he watches her dollop a small amount of meat sauce over the noodles and spread it around, until it coats the entirety of the pasta.

"Yes, dear, add it in," she allows, and watches as he excitedly scatters grated mozzarella over the red, meaty goodness. She's already added her secret condiment to the sauce: basil leaves sauteed with red pepper flakes and garlic powder, and the smell of it all is mouthwatering.

"That looks amazing," Ashley says as she and Belle walk into the kitchen carrying certain dessert ingredients Chef Lucas had sent them out for earlier.

"Thanks," Regina replies, smiling at the young girl. Belle remains quiet, staring timidly at the space around her. She's shy around Regina, maybe even a little scared, but she hopes in time it'll lessen, once they've spent more days like this. It's a goal Regina has set for herself, to get to know her staff better, to be more involved in their lives and enjoy their friendship, if they're willing to offer it. For too long she's lived secluded from others, not letting anyone in besides Robin and Roland, and as much as she loves them, it's not healthy to limit her emotional interaction to them and them alone. It's time to turn over a new leaf, and making lunch for the people who've been on constant watch over her seems like the best way to start.

They eat in the spacious kitchen, choosing to avoid the protocols of sitting down at the table. Everyone moans and raves over the lasagna when they finally taste it, even Belle seems less shy as she congratulates Regina on a job well done, and Roland eagerly explains that it's all about how you place the cheese on the plate, prompting Chef Lucas to jokingly exclaim she's shocked there was any cheese left to put on the lasagna with him being in charge of it, and they laugh and share fun cooking anecdotes for the entirety of the meal.

Robin's hand is on her knee the whole time, thumb rubbing up and down as he listens to Ashley's stories of when she and Roland first started cooking together back in Maine. Regina moves her free hand down to her lap to grab Robin's, her heart full and happy. It feels right, to be here, surrounded by these people and their warmth, to laugh and joke and enjoy a nice lunch with family and friends.

Roland eats his portion and takes a bite out of Robin's as well, giggling when his father gasps in mock outrage and grabs his fork to steal a piece from Regina's own portion, making her glare at him.

"You just stole from the President of the United States," she berates, moving her plate out of his reach as he chews the morsel with smug satisfaction, swallows and grins at her.

"It's alright," he tells her as he ducks his head and plants a kiss on her lips, "I have immunity."

"You two are so adorable, it's nauseating," Ruby says with a fond roll of her eyes, beaming at them when Robin thanks her. Regina blushes, then buries her face in his neck to hide the redness of her cheeks, and Robin grins, kisses her hair and rests his chin on the top of her head.

Chef Lucas's famous tiramisu follows the lasagna, and they spend another hour there, Robin feeding her bites of dessert and kissing her cheek as the others talk and laugh together.

Regina has never felt more at home...