"Archery"

"I hope you don't mind that Henry's asked Robin to teach him archery rather than you," Regina told Mary Margaret as they had breakfast in Granny's.

It had somehow become a weekly tradition. Both women would meet and spend an hour just catching up. Regina didn't want to admit it, but it felt nice. Like it was further proof she was no longer a villain if Snow White was willing to treat her like a friend.

Mary Margaret smiled as she tried to keep Neal from putting everything in his mouth. "No, of course not. I understand why he asked Robin."

"You do?"

"Of course. He wants to spend some quality time with his future stepfather."

Regina's mouth fell open as she shook her head. "Robin and I haven't discussed marriage yet."

"I know, but we all know it's where you are heading toward. It's just a matter of time."

"We all? Everyone is speculating on my love life?" Regina raised an eyebrow.

Mary Margaret shook her head. "That's not what I meant and you know it. You're just avoiding the topic."

"For a reason," Regina said, giving her stepdaughter a pointed look. Mary Margaret held up her arms in a placating manner. So Regina relaxed as she took a sip of her coffee. "So, is there anything besides my love life that you would like to discuss?"

"Actually, yes." Mary Margaret reached into her bag and pulled out a stack of papers, dropping them on the table. "What are these and how do I fill them out?"

Regina thumbed through them, smiling as she recognized the forms. "Oh, these. These are fun."

"And by fun you mean…?"

"Writing lots of tedious answers drawn from several different reports and taking several days, if you don't pull any late nights."

Mary Margaret groaned, pulling the fork from her toddler son's hand. "Great. I hope David and Neal don't mind being left alone for a while."

"If you want, I can give you a hand. I'm sure between the two of us, we can eliminate the need for a few of those late nights."

"Thank you, Regina." Mary Margaret's shoulders sagged in relief. "That'll really help."

The bells above Granny's door tinkled and Regina heard Robin's voice. "You're really improving, Henry. Just keep practicing and you'll be good enough to be a Merry Man."

"Really? I could be a Merry Man? Cool," Henry said as Mary Margaret shot an amused look at Regina.

For her part, Regina turned to her son with a frown. "You are too young to be a Merry Man."

"Come on, Mom," Henry said. "I'm a teenager now."

"Don't remind me." Regina shuddered. "But that doesn't mean you can just go up and live in the forest."

Robin placed his hand on Henry's shoulder. "While I think your son will be a great addition to my men, I do think it's not yet time."

Henry sulked as Regina smiled. "Good. Now, are you hungry, Henry?"

"No, I'm good." His stomach rumbled, though, and he clutched it as he grew sheepish. "Okay, maybe I'm a little hungry."

Regina pulled out some money. "Go order something. I don't want your other mother to give me grief about sending you home hungry."

Henry took the money, crumpling up the bills as she ran toward the counter. The three adults watched him, amused, before Regina turned to Robin. "He didn't give you any trouble?"

"Henry? Of course not!" Robin scoffed. "You and Emma have raised a polite young man."

"Thank you. Though he's heading into those troublesome teen years."

"Henry will be fine, Regina. He has a good head on his shoulders." Mary Margaret smiled before adding: "As well as the heart of the truest believer."

Regina scooted over to make room for Robin to sit next to her. He took her hand. "And David, Killian and I will make sure he stays on the right track."

"David and you, yes. I'm not so sure about Hook," Regina said.

Henry returned with his breakfast, sitting down next to his grandmother as he gave Regina back her change. She took it with a smile. "So, Henry, tell me about your lessons."

"They're amazing. But rather than tell you about them…" He got a sly look in his eyes that put his mother into a defensive mode. "While don't you come and take some with me?"

Regina shook her head. "I'm fine. I'll leave the archery to Robin and Mary Margaret."

"Come on. It'll be a lot of fun. And you should know how to fight with something that isn't your magic. You know, just in case."

She crossed her arms. "I'll have you know I'm an expert swordswoman. Ask your grandmother."

"She is," Mary Margaret confirmed. She then turned to Regina. "But maybe some archery lessons wouldn't be too bad. At the very least, they could be a bonding experience."

Regina glanced between her son and her boyfriend, sighing. "Fine. One lesson."

One early morning, Regina rose with her son to join him down in the community center where Robin had set up a target practice area since January in Maine was too cold for them do so outside. She looked around. "So there's nothing breakable nearby?"

"No. Frederick and I moved everything before Henry's first lesson in here." Robin approached her, smiling. "The only thing you can hurt are the walls. Or the ceiling, like your son."

She looked up at the tiled ceiling. "How did he do that?"

"No! Please, not the story," Henry pleaded, coming to stand next to his mother.

"As you wish, Henry." Robin nodded. But as Regina walked by, he whispered: "I'll tell you later."

She smiled as Henry handed her a bow. "So, what now?"

"Do you want to or shall I?" Robin asked Henry.

He thought about it before pointing to Robin with a sly smile. "I think you should do it."

Robin nodded before looking back to Regina. "If that's okay with you?"

"I thought I was taking a lesson with Henry, so I was expecting you to teach me." Regina frowned. "So is Henry going to join me?"

"Not yet, Mom. I'm a bit more advanced than you," Henry said.

"Not by much," Regina muttered.

Robin chuckled as he started to help her assume the proper stance. She had to admit she enjoyed being so close to him. Even though his motions had nothing erotic to them, his mere touch made her grow hot. She swallowed, trying to remain composed.

"Okay, now keep both eyes open. You need to focus on your target." Robin's warm breath tickled the back of her neck.

The only thing she could focus on was him and his nearness. She calmed her breathing and followed his instructions to release her first arrow. It flew past the target and bounced off the padding on the wall. She frowned. "Damn."

"Don't worry. That's why we have the padding." Robin rubbed her shoulder. "Let's just try again."

"Or maybe we should call it quits now before I do some serious damage," Regina said.

Robin and Henry shook their heads. "You can't give up now, Mom. Just think of the example you're setting," Henry said.

She shot him a look. "Oh, you're good."

"So that means you'll keep it up?" He beamed.

Regina sighed. "Yes, it does."

"Excellent. Now let's resume the posture I showed you…" Robin guided her again and she knew this was going to be a long session.

Several hours later, Regina had at least started hitting the targets. Hitting the center still seemed to be an impossible task, but she knew she was getting tired. "I give. I need a nap. And maybe some aspirin."

"I think we need to let your mother rest," Robin said to Henry. "Your turn."

"Okay, I'll go get my stuff." Henry ran off, leaving Robin and Regina alone for a few minutes.

Robin stood behind her, rubbing her shoulders. She relaxed against him, everything going limp. "Oh, that feels good."

"I can tell." He leaned closer to whisper: "I can give you a more…thorough…one tonight."

She tilted her head back to look him in the eyes as she smiled coyly. "Is that a promise?"

"Absolutely, milady."

"Are you two going to flirt all day or am I going to get my instructor back?" Henry's teasing tone broke into their moment.

Regina shot a look at her son. "Fine. I'll just head back home and have a nice soak in the tub."

"No!" Robin and Henry shouted, causing her to jump.

She narrowed her eyes, staring down her son and boyfriend. "What's going on?"

"Nothing," Henry said, too quickly for her liking. "I just want you to watch me. Please, Mom?"

Regina was still suspicious, but she couldn't deny Henry this. She sighed. "Fine. I'll go sit over on that bench."

"Thanks, Mom." Henry followed Robin over to the target area as she took a seat on the rather uncomfortable bench.

Despite the ache in her bones and the hardness of the bench, Regina found herself nodding off. She closed her eyes for only a few minutes. At least, that's what she thought.

"Regina? You have to wake up now." Robin's voice was low in her ear. She was also being shaken.

Opening her eyes, Robin's face came into focus. He smiled. "It's time to go. We've inconvenienced Frederick long enough."

"Oh. Right." She looked up at Henry. "Sorry for dozing off. I did want to see you."

"That's okay, Mom. Maybe another time," he said.

Robin held out his hand to her. "Come on. Let's get you down to the showers."

"I'd rather take a bath in my own tub."

"You'll feel better after just a blast under the showers. I promise." He wiggled his fingers. "Come on."

She sighed but took his hand, letting him help her stand up. Henry led the way down to the locker rooms, where they parted ways. "Only a few minutes," she said.

They nodded and she slipped inside. It was a nice locker room, she decided. Clean and well-lit. She would have to compliment Frederick on its upkeep when she was done.

Regina shed her clothes and stepped into the shower, letting the lukewarm water wash over her. She sighed, feeling relieved to get the grime of the day off her. Soap and shampoo would've been better but she was still planning on a warm bubble bath later. Maybe with a glass of wine and Robin…

She shook her head of those thoughts. Now was not the time to go there. She needed to get out, get dressed and go home. Maybe stop to get something to eat on their way there because she certainly wasn't cooking tonight.

Turning off the water, she stepped out of the shower and dried off with a towel the center kept nearby. Hurrying back to where she left her clothes, she stopped. Her jeans and shirt were gone. Instead, a black dress hung by the lockers.

Regina looked around but there was nobody else there. The dress was for her and it meant either Henry or Robin had dropped it off while she was in the shower. She knew she should've been mad at that idea but for now, she was too confused as to why she needed a nice black dress.

The door creaked open. "Regina? You almost ready?" Robin asked.

"I think so. But someone seems to have taken my clothes."

He chuckled. "That dress is for you."

"Do I want to know why?"

"Just put it on. Henry and I will be out here waiting." The door creaked closed as Regina chuckled.

She slid into the black dress and located the stockings and shoes her boys had packed for her as well. They had forgotten her brush but she had one in her purse. It was a struggle with some knots in her hair but soon it was perfect.

Outside, Henry and Robin both waited for her. They were wearing suits and Regina was starting to get really suspicious. She narrowed her eyes at them. "What aren't you telling me?"

"You'll see." Robin placed his hands on her arms, looking her in the eyes. "Do you trust me?"

"What a silly question. Of course."

"Good. Henry, the blindfold, please."

"Blindfold? What is going on?"

Robin covered her eyes, tying the blindfold tight. "Does that hurt?"

"No."

"Good. Can you see out?"

"No."

"Even better. Henry, you have the bags?"

"Yes. You going to lead Mom?"

"Lead me where? Off a cliff?"

"Regina, I thought you trusted me?"

"I do."

"Would I walk you off a cliff?"

"No."

"Good." He took her hands. "Follow me."

She took a few steps forward, letting Robin guide her. He told her everything they were doing, from climbing steps to getting in the car. "Wait, who is driving?"

Henry's voice came from behind her. "Robin. He got his license the other day."

"Surprise," Robin said, his voice coming from next to her.

Regina pressed her lips together as she grabbed onto the door. "You couldn't have told me sooner?"

"I like surprising you."

She leaned back, admitting to herself that he was a good driver. He wasn't speeding and he seemed to obey all the traffic laws. Of course, it was hard to gauge with her eyes covered.

The car came to a stop and she heard him put it in park. "Okay, Regina, we're here. Just sit tight and I'll help you out."

"Where are we?" she asked as the car door opened.

He chuckled as he took her hands to help her. "That would ruin the surprise."

"Of course it would," she deadpanned. She followed him as he guided her up a few more steps and into someplace very quiet.

Too quiet…

No…

"SURPRISE!" The blindfold was removed and Regina saw Granny's was full of people. A giant cake sat in front of her, lit up with several candles that illuminated the writing on the vanilla frosting: HAPPY BIRTHDAY REGINA

She blinked a few times before turning to a smiling Robin. "Did you do this?"

"I wish I could say yes, but the credit goes to Henry." He motioned to the teenage boy now standing next to her.

Henry beamed as he engulfed her in a hug. "You hardly celebrate your birthday. I wanted to change that and so did Robin. Everyone helped."

"Including me!" A young voice piped up and Regina pulled away to find Roland standing by his father. He held a present wrapped in red paper with a lot of scotch tape on it and had a large smile on his face as he held it out to her. "I wrapped this myself."

Regina looked up, making eye contact with Marian. She nodded and Regina smiled, crouching down to look Roland in the eyes. "You did an amazing job. Thank you."

"Come on, Mom. Let's go cut the cake," Henry said.

Roland's eyes lit up. "Cake!"

Taking his hand, Regina wrapped her hand around Henry's shoulders. Robin rested his hand on the small of her back and she glanced up at him, smiling. "I love you."

He leaned down, kissing her as everyone started to sing. This was her best birthday ever.