This Inspired by OQ entry was inspired by GlindaLoveShoes's amazing color by numbers (found here) from OQ Prompt Party 2019!
Despite his fears, Roni didn't disappear on Robin overnight. Nor did she disappear the next day. In fact, he was still enjoying her company a week after her arrival in his life, and was starting to get used to the idea that whatever force had brought her to him was a permanent arrangement. Unlike Cinderella, he was beginning to believe that Roni wouldn't disappear at midnight, leaving only memories and a fragment of her clothing behind for him to cling to as he reminisced.
In the week that Roni had been with him, she had greatly improved her cooking prowess. She had mastered every recipe that Robin presented her with so rapidly that he knew it was time for her to take advantage of her talent and use it to earn a living.
A few days ago, he had been certain enough of her presence that he took her around the town to show her the secret alleyways and roads that made up the place where he lived. He had purchased a map for her to help her learn, but just like with cooking, she swiftly learned how to navigate the town. Maybe she had an innate ability to follow directions that allowed her to master both of the challenges he had presented her with thus far.
Today was a Friday, and Robin was jubilant because he would have the rare opportunity to spend the weekend with Roland, John and Marian's son, an occasion that only occurred every so often. He always offered to watch his godson for them so the couple had time to themselves. This resulted in him watching Roland for a day or two approximately once a month, which Robin felt was far too infrequent. The boy's interests changed so drastically over that time that Robin feared he wouldn't even know him soon.
The minute Roland was in his car when he picked him up from kindergarten, he was babbling animatedly about something that had happened in school that day. Robin listened, determined to know as much as possible about the day-to-day happenings of kindergarten.
"So then August started juggling the oranges while he sang the circus song, and everyone was laughing until Mrs. Nolan took the oranges away. It was so funny!" Roland declared, his head nodding so quickly that his brown curls, so like Marian's, bounced.
"That does sound funny," Robin indulged him with a smile. "What do you want to do with me this weekend, Roland?"
"Eat ice cream and pizza and go to the park!" the little boy exclaimed immediately.
Robin laughed. As with many children, both foods were Roland's favorites, so of course he would want these delicacies while he wasn't around his mother, who encouraged him to eat healthy foods much more than Robin did. "I can promise pizza and the park, but we'll see about the ice cream. Can you promise me you'll be good? If you're good all day tomorrow, we'll get some ice cream."
"Okay, I promise!" Roland declared.
With that settled, Robin and Roland arrived at Robin's house. They did order pizza, then played games until it was time for Roland to go to bed.
Just as Roland was being tucked in, Robin heard the sound of his front door opening. Roni had been out looking for jobs, and apparently had only just remembered to come home. It was surprising, as most nights she was adamant about cooking a nice dinner either with him or, as her talent developed, for him. But apparently other matters had taken precedence that evening, and Robin hoped that meant that she had found a job, or at the very least had acquired an interview.
"Who's that?" Roland asked sleepily.
"Shh, Roland, it's all right. It's just my friend, you'll meet her tomorrow," Robin promised.
With the innate trust that only a child could have, Roland murmured, "Okay," as he closed his eyes, sleep overtaking him at last.
Robin walked out to the living room, where he found Roni sitting on the couch. "How'd it go?" he asked gently. He knew how hard the job market could be, especially for someone as delicate as Roni.
She sighed. "We'll see. I applied to so many, but none of them seemed to want to interview me." Tears welled up in her eyes. "It's me, it has to be. I have no job skills or references, so no one will hire me. Every single one of them has asked for those things, and I don't know what to say."
Robin took her hands in his. "Don't worry about it. Everyone struggles with finding a job, you aren't the only one. It took me years to find the perfect job writing for the paper. But now I have a job I love, and I'm sure we'll find one for you too. Your cooking prowess speaks for itself, and I'm sure that in time, someone will notice it and want to snap you up before any other company or restaurant can claim you."
"Are you sure?" she asked, her childlike dependence on his opinion reminding him of Roland.
He nodded. "Positive."
They stayed like that for a few more minutes, and as he held her, Robin couldn't help wondering what it would be like to hold Regina this way. As promised, he had visited the library every day, and although she hadn't been working when he stopped by today, he had clearly earned himself a reputation for trying to earn her trust, because the librarian he had talked to had known exactly who he was looking for and why before he had even uttered a sound. He hoped that meant that he was getting to her in a good way, and that eventually, she would open up to him. Only time would tell, and in the meantime, particularly this weekend, he had more than he could manage with Roland and Roni for company.
With that thought, he bid Roni good night, making sure every light was turned off before he went to his room.
The next morning, Robin was woken by a blinding light and hands frantically shaking his shoulders. He opened his eyes to find Roland staring at him, a panicked expression on his face. "Uncle Robin, wake up, wake up! There's a strange lady here!"
Robin smiled, knowing that Roni and Roland had met. "She's not a strange lady, Roland, she's my friend, Miss Roni. Didn't she introduce herself?" He had reinforced the importance of this courtesy before Roland had arrived, knowing that he would be having this experience or worse if Roland didn't know who Roni was. Apparently, his words had fallen on deaf ears.
"Yes, but she's still a stranger," Roland protested, hopping in bed with his godfather and cuddling close to him.
Robin sighed. Evidently, Marian had instilled the concept of "stranger danger" in her son a little too well. He would have to assuage his godson's fears then introduce them, so that he wouldn't fear Roni anymore.
Robin couldn't help chuckling. How anyone but a child could fear Roni was a mystery to him. She was so sweet and innocent that it was impossible to be afraid of her for even a moment. Unlike her double, she wouldn't even harm a fly in any way, shape, or form, and in fact, would likely not even contemplate the possibility that his godson could be afraid around her, and with good reason.
"What's funny, Uncle Robin?" Roland inquired.
Robin hesitated, answering the little boy carefully. "Miss Roni is so sweet that I can't imagine her hurting anyone, least of all someone as handsome and charming as you. I understand why you were afraid of a stranger, and it's good to be careful around strangers sometimes so you can stay safe, but this stranger is Uncle Robin's friend. You don't need to be afraid of her."
"Really?" Roland asked, uncertainty darkening his expression, still unsure if he could trust his godfather on this very important issue.
"Really," Robin replied, taking the boy's hand and leading him out of the room. "Come on, I'll introduce you properly."
He steered Roland into the kitchen, where Roni was already preparing breakfast. Under his gentle guidance, Roland overcame his fear of Roni, so much so that at the breakfast table, he asked her shyly, "Where did you come from, Miss Roni?"
Roni turned rapidly to Robin, clearly unsure of what to say. He had warned her not to tell anyone of her true origins, but it was evident that she didn't know if that warning applied to his godson. He nodded with a smile, hoping that she would get the message that it was all right to tell him the truth.
"Here," Roni answered, standing up and offering her hand to Roland. "Let me show you."
Robin followed them to his studio, then to the corner where Roni's portrait was displayed.
Roland's eyes grew wide, so big that they seemed too large for their sockets. "You drew her and she came to life, Uncle Robin?" he asked, his voice and gaze filled with wonder befitting a boy his age.
Robin nodded, smiling down at his godson. "I did."
He crouched down to look Roland in the eye. "But we can't tell anyone else that that's how I met Ms. Roni, all right?"
"Why not?" Roland asked, his brows furrowing with confusion.
"Because it's unlikely that anyone will believe that I drew her and she came to life. I know you believe in fairy tales, but a lot of adults- like Mama- don't." Robin gently explained.
"But Mama does believe in fairy tales!" Roland insisted. "She always says so!"
"Well, yes, in books, but it might be a bit of a shock to her that one is here," Robin rushed to explain, covering his tracks. Of course Marian had told Roland that she believed in fairy tales. Roland was at an age when it was likely that neither of his parents wanted him to lose his imagination. But he knew that Marian was practical, and would immediately deny Roland's claim that Roni had come to life.
"Okay Uncle Robin!" Roland readily acquiesced.
Later that day, as they were playing with a ball in the park, Roland commented, "I love the picture of Roni, I wanna make one too! Can I?"
A slow smile spread across Robin's face as he contemplated how to grant his godson's wish. "Of course you can, Roland. I have an idea that I think you'll love, so we'll do that the next time you're here, all right?"
"Okay!" Roland readily agreed.
Over the next few weeks, Robin did everything he could to help Roni find a job, from visiting restaurants around town to searching for jobs on various websites. Although he knew it could potentially be a valuable resource, Robin purposefully kept Roni away from the library, remembering how catastrophic it would be if Regina came face-to-face with someone who looked exactly like her.
Finally, one day they were having lunch at Granny's when Robin heard her granddaughter Ruby shout furiously, "That's it! I'm done! Don't count on me being your waitress or assistant chef ever again! I quit!"
She stormed out of the diner, slamming the door behind her. The whole restaurant fell silent, and every eye turned toward the proprietor, affectionately known as Granny.
"Well, stop staring at me so I can prepare your food in peace!" she told them all with a huff. "I'm sure you all have drama in your lives too, no need to stick your noses in mine."
Chastised, everyone in the establishment returned to their conversations.
Robin turned to Roni. "This is it."
"This is… what?" she asked, a confused expression on her face.
"This is your chance to find a job as a chef. It's always packed in here, so I'm sure Granny's desperate to find Ruby's replacement soon, and if there's anyone who can help you hone your talent for cooking, it's her. She's the best in town… that I've tried anyway," he clarified, thinking of Regina's supposedly stellar cooking that he had yet to sample. "She does know Regina though- the woman who inspired your portrait. So that may be a hurdle we'll have to jump over."
"Oh, ok," Roni said quietly, casting her eyes down to the brown wood of the table between them. "Do you really think I could? With this place being so popular, I'm sure she has the highest standards for people who work for her…"
"I'm positive," Robin affirmed, reaching to cover her hands, the fingers of which were nervously tapping on the table, with his own. "If anyone can do it, it's you."
Roni slowly nodded, turning her hands over so she could squeeze his hands in gratitude. "Wish me luck."
"I will, but you won't need it- good luck," Robin responded before she let go and walked over to Granny.
Robin watched the two women converse, hoping the discussion was going well. He hoped that in her desperation, Granny wouldn't ask Roni for references- after all, the most she needed was verification of Roni's skills in the kitchen.
Sure enough, Roni came back ten minutes later, a spring in her step. "She's going to give me a chance if she likes my cooking! So do you mind staying for a while longer, so I can show her that I'm capable?"
"Of course," Robin reassured her with a smile. "Take all the time you need to prove to her that you're the person she wants."
An hour later, Roni came back to him, her eyes shining. "I got the job!"
I knew you would, congratulations!" Robin exclaimed, standing to hug her.
As he walked toward the door, Robin was held back by Granny's hand on his arm. "One minute, Locksley."
"What?" he asked, feigning innocence.
"I know that girl is practically Regina's twin. I hired her to keep an eye on her, but make no mistake: if you hurt Regina, you'll have to answer to me."
"Understood," Robin agreed, quickly following Roni out of the diner.
A week later, Robin was on his way to pick up Roland again. This time, he had a surprise for him and a way for them to spend some of their time together.
"Hi Uncle Robin! What are we going to do this weekend?" Roland asked, excitement making his eyes shine brilliantly.
"Well, I was thinking we could go to the park- and while we're there, we can do something together, but I'm not going to tell you what it is until tomorrow."
"But I wanna know now!" Roland pouted.
Robin grinned. Despite the fact that they weren't biologically related, Roland was just like him at his age- so impatient for every good thing to come. He hadn't yet learned the lesson that Robin had: that sometimes, even better things come to those who wait.
When they got back to Robin's apartment, Roland asked, "Where's Miss Roni?"
Robin smiled. It seemed that in the short time he had known her, his godson had grown fond of his guest. He hoped the same would be true if he ever met the real Regina… which reminded him, he needed to ensure that he told the little boy not to tell Regina about Roni so she didn't shy away from him, or worse.
He knelt down to look his godson in the eye. "Miss Roni found a job at Granny's last weekend, and she's working tonight and tomorrow afternoon, so she can't play with you then. But she'll have all of tomorrow morning, night, and Sunday to play with you, all right?"
"Okay," Roland said dejectedly. His eyes brightened. "We're here now! So what's my surprise?"
Robin couldn't keep the grin off his face as he walked to his studio, the eager five-year-old following him. He led him to a little easel, where he had placed a single sheet of paper that showed a color by numbers of a queen in her regal attire. The numbers and their corresponding colors were in a box to the right of the queen.
Robin made a big show out of revealing it to Roland, saying, "Ta-da!" as he gestured toward the painting with a flourish.
Roland gasped and clapped his hands. "I love color by numbers, thank you Uncle Robin! But who is she?"
"It's Roni!" Robin explained. "I know it doesn't look much like her now, but once you color it, you'll be able to see it's her. I imagined her as a queen, because I know that she would be the kindest queen there ever was, right?"
"Right!" Roland readily agreed. "And she would make lots of treats and have lots of feasts for her people too!"
Robin couldn't help smiling at the mental picture his godson's words created, because he knew Roland couldn't be more correct. "Right! So do you want to color Roni tomorrow?"
"Yes please!" the curly-haired boy begged.
So that's what they did. The next afternoon was spent at the park happily coloring. Robin used the activity as a teaching moment as well, asking his godson, "What do you think makes a queen good?"
"Well," Roland answered thoughtfully, "She has to be really nice, and play with all the children, and help everyone. But she has to be kind of like Mama too, so when something goes wrong, she can be strong and fix it."
Thinking of Roni and Regina, Robin smiled. He couldn't have described both of them better if he tried. "Well said, my boy. Well said."
His next thought was of Regina. Did she believe she possessed all of these qualities? Or did she get caught up in what was expected of her and lose some of herself in the process? He couldn't wait to find out.