Unfortunately I own nothing and none but Alyson. As always an HUGE THANK YOU to LaNaniuska.

I hope you enjoy the chapter!

Chapter 4

"Hi mom."

It was hard tell what both women were feeling because both of them were able to mask their emotion perfectly, but now Neil didn't know what to do: stay there, go in the other room and give them space or go to take the good stuff and three glasses? In the end he decided to go in the other room to call his father; he wasn't going to him what was happening on the phone but at least he could tell him that something had happened and he needs to come home real fast. His father was confused but he agreed to come home as soon as possible.

"Hi mom? You've be gone for three years, I thought you were dead for three years, three fucking years of hell, three years of seeing your kids struggling because they missed you more than it could be said, three years where I thought I had to bury you, and no parent should buried her own daughter, and you come here and the first thing you say is 'Hi mom'. After your brother came here and he told me you're alive, like it was normal?"

"The second thing would have been 'I'm sorry' but it doesn't even began to cover for what I put you and anyone else through. So I'm just going to say 'Hi mom, I'm sorry for everything I did' and wait for you to yell at me the way I know I deserve." Regina expected screams and anger, telling her she shouldn't have come back because it complicated everything, that it would be better if she stayed dead, but once again her mother surprised her

"Come here you, I can yell at you later. My little earthquake." Regina didn't expect that hug until she received it and oh boy, she couldn't describe how much she missed her mother and how much she needed that hug.

They ended the hug when they heard noise from behind them. Regina could swear on her life, okay maybe not on her life given the situation but on something really important, that her almost emotionless and strange stepfather Robert had never cried but she could also swear that in that moment he had tears in his eyes.

Robert didn't know if he could believe his eyes or not because the woman he had seen as his daughter since he had married her mother and that they had to bury was wrapped in her mother's arms and both women were crying; not that he could blame them since he himself was about to cry, not that he would never admit it though.

"I didn't want to tell you over the phone that she was alive, she already had to face Robin and I don't think it went so well."

But the only answer Robert was able to give was: "I'm going to take the rum and the glasses, I'll be right back." and with that he left the room.

Regina and Cora sat on the couch with their arms still linked together, Neil sat on the armchair while Robert came back and he passed a glass to Regina as he sat on the other armchair, but she refused:

"Thanks but I can't accept, I have to go back to the hospital to Henry. I promised him I would go back after his dinner to stay with him" she said leaning her head on her mother's shoulder.

"So you already saw Robin and the kids?" her mother said a bit surprised,

"I've only seen Robin and Henry. When I found out that Henry was in the hospital I came back, against my best judgment, and I went immediately to him." she said.

"Of course you came back, your baby boy was sick. But come back from where? From what? Why did you go away in the first place? Why pull all of this? Not that I'm not happy to have you back because I really am, Regina. It's just I don't understand..." her stepfather said.

"I was in Portland, my boss and my boss's boss sent me there to save your life and mine. I was in the witness protection." And then she went on explain what she could. When she finished, they could have done a competition of who had cried more between Regina, Cora and Neil. Robert had tears in his eyes but they didn't fall. All of that was just so surreal that they didn't know how to behave or what to feel. Cora tightened her arms around her daughter like she could vanish before their eyes but then Regina stomach rumbled.

"When was the last time you eat?" Regina laughed a bit knowing that the answer wasn't going to pleased her mother,

"Yesterday evening for sure and this morning I drank a coffee and took a few bites of I don't remember what because it was terrible hospital food. I left home really early this morning, I wanted to fix some things before going to Henry" and to this Neil's eyes go widen

"You haven't really eaten since yesterday? Who are you and what have you done with my sister, the one that would always steal my food since she never had enough and could eat an elephant without gaining weight?" he said laughing only to receive a slap and a stern look from his father.

"This won't do, come on there's some leftovers in the kitchen." They ate in silence, only sometimes one of them asking some question. One of these questions was from her mother about her sister and if she already had seen her since she was at the hospital that morning,

"No, I haven't seen Ze. From some reason I don't think it will be a good idea seeing her after three years in the place where she's working knowing her temper." Regina said. She loves her sister, but they have the same temper and confronting her at the hospital wasn't a great idea. "We need a neutral place, I can go to her home with one of you or she could come here. God she'll hate me for this and I'll be lucky if she doesn't try to kill me with a scalpel." Regina and Zelena were really close and after their father's death they become even more close; all this situation is going to be very hard on her.

"We can talk about how to break the news to your sister tomorrow. Now you need to finish eating." Cora wouldn't have let her daughter out of the house unless she finished her food. After they ate Regina got ready to leave.

"I have to go, dinner time is almost over and I don't want to leave Henry alone more than I already did." The guilt of abandoning her family was eating her alive and she couldn't do anything about it.

"Where are you staying now?" Cora asked,

"In an hotel room"

"What? In an hotel? Why don't you come here? Your room hasn't go anywhere." For her it was unacceptable that her daughter continue to stay alone.

"What? It wasn't her room the one I saw running away from home the other day? If not hers, whose room was that?" Neil said, earning a glare from everyone and a punch from Regina who also laughed a bit.

"I really missed you, you know? I missed you and your stupid sense of humor." She said to her brother, then to her mother,

"Thanks but I don't count of staying there for too long. I already found a little apartment nearby and I'm going to move my things in there in tomorrow or the next day at latest." She said and then she hugged her mother, her brother and her stepfather before she moved toward the door. But before she could go towards the door her mother hugged her again, making her promise to call and not disappear again otherwise "I'll find you and I'll kill you with my bare hands, have I been clear?" She whispered in Regina's ear,

"Yes, you've been clear enough. I won't disappear again and I'll call you every day. I promise." Regina then hugged Robert and Neil and left to go back to her son. 'Back to her son', what an amazing thing to say again.

Meanwhile at the hospital, Henry wasn't still so sure that his mom would came back. "Are you sure mom will came back?" Henry asked to his father,

"Yes, she will. And about mom, I have to talk with the nurses to let them know it's ok for her to be here with you for tonight. I have to talk to the doctor too, I'll be right back." And with that Robin left the room to go looking for the doctor.

Doctor Whale was a strange man but a good doctor. It was difficult explain who was the woman that would stay with Henry was, but fortunately he had an open mind and he didn't asked to many questions. While he was coming back to his son's room, he saw Regina from the elevator. She looked more tired and her eyes were puffy and red like she had been crying. He waited for her and he had to resist the urge to take her into his arms.

"Hey, you're okay?" She let out a strange sound at that question, it was obvious that she wasn't okay but she smiled a bit at the thought that he still care enough. "

I'm not okay, I don't think I will be okay any time soon but one day I'll be okay. Don't worry about me." He was ready to say that he will always worry about her but Regina stopped him with a question. "Have you talked to the doctor and the nurses about tonight and the fact that I'll stay with Henry?"

"Yes, he didn't ask too many questions and he said it was okay. He also said that tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow evening at most, he will be discharged." Saying this brought a big smile on both Regina and Robin's face.

"This is an amazing news!"

"It is. They don't keep patients in the hospital too long for an appendicitis if there aren't complications. And this brings me to ask you something. I have an appointment with doctor Hopper before going home to Alyson and Roland. I'm going to let the kids skip school tomorrow so I can tell them in the morning. Can you stay here with Henry for breakfast too?" He asked her, like there was the need to ask her if she wanted to stay with her son,

"I'm here for the night, of course I'll stay for breakfast too. Let me know if you need anything after the appointment and how you want to proceed."

"Of course. I'll ask the doctor some advice but I'm going to tell the kids what happened tomorrow for sure. They need to know. I think I'll go with telling them directly that you're alive, see how they react and then move from there." And together they began to walk towards Henry's room.

"I think we should talk too. You asked almost nothing of what happened and I know you want to ask and you have every right to know. Maybe it could be better if you know something more, so if the kids will ask you something you could answer them. But it's just an idea, we don't need to…", she couldn't finish her sentence because Robin interrupted her.

"I think that us talking is a good idea, however I think it will be better if you are the one answering their question."

"You think they will want to talk to me? You are too optimistic. Please never change." He smiled before he went on with his thought

"They'll have to talk to you if they want answers. I wouldn't answer their questions even if I knew what to say, which I don't since we still didn't really had the time to talk."

"This is manipulation, you know that right?"

"It's not manipulation"

"Forcing them to ask me questions to ensure they'll speak with me is not manipulation? And how do you call it?"

"Well okay maybe it is, but I think it's the best if they heard the truth from you instead of me. In this way they can't say I had invented anything."

"This is still manipulation, but works for me. Maybe it's better if I'm not here when you come to get Henry, this way they won't see me right away and I could come later when you all are home."

"I think you are trying to find a way to postpone the inevitable. I'm sure that once I tell them everything they'll want to see you right away. We'll see you here and if we need to change plans I'll call you"

Regina stared at him with widen eyes "Wow, you're more understanding than I thought about all of this. Not that I'm complaining, but I thought you would put up more of a fight when I asked about the kids. Instead you're going to talk to them tomorrow."

"Maybe I haven't elaborated everything that happened completely. And Henry knows. It wouldn't be fair ask him to not talk about you because his siblings don't know. Come on, let's go to Henry."

They reached Henry's room, who raised his head when he heard voice. "Mom you came back!" Regina put her purse on a chair and she went to hug his son,

"I told you I would come back didn't I?" Henry just smiled and cuddled more into his mother.

"I have to go now. Mom will stay with you tonight and tomorrow morning but I'll see you both tomorrow in the late morning." Robin said glancing to his watch; if he wanted to be on time to meet Dr. Hopper he really needed to leave.

"Why late morning and not morning as usual?" Henry asked to his father; the kid was a bit worried about this change of plan.

"Because before coming here I have to talk with your siblings, so I'll come later with them. There's nothing to be worried about, Henry."

"And you wanna know what the doctor told us earlier?" Regina asked, trying to distract Henry from the fact that he wouldn't see his father in the morning, and Henry nodded, "He said that tomorrow afternoon or tomorrow evening at most you can go home."

"Finally! The food here is terrible. I can't wait to go home and eat your lasagna." he exulted. Right, they haven't told Henry that she wouldn't live with them

"Henry, I'm not going to come home and live with you guys. I've found an apartment and you can come visit whenever you want but I won't live with you." Henry's bottom lip began to tremble

"But… but why not? You're here again, why you can't come home? You two are married, we are a family." and now he was openly crying.

"Henry come here little prince," she said taking him into her lap, "I can't come home with you because what I did created a huge mess, it hurt a lot of people included you, your siblings and your father. Just because I'm back it doesn't mean we can go back like we were before. We can't just pretend that nothing happened and erase this past three years. I have to live with the consequence of what I did and everything I changed. You made a life, the four of you, in these three years and neither that can be erased." she said sweeping away Henry's tears and her own. This was an easy way to put it. She had said everything and nothing in that little speech but she didn't know how to explain the situation.

"It's not fair. You just got back and you're going away again." This time it was Robin who speak,

"Hey, none of that. The fact that she's not gonna live with us doesn't mean she will go away. It only means that she'll live in a different house and, as far as concern me, you can see her whenever you want and so your siblings, if they want."

"You promise we will see her again even if she doesn't live with us? You pinky promise?"

"I pinky promise. Now give me a big hug. I have to sneak out of here before nurse Blue sees me. And you know how she is when someone is where he's not suppose to be. I love you, Henry."

"I love you dad."

"Good night Regina."

"Good night Robin." and with a last glance behind his shoulder, Robin left the room.

"Come on Henry, it's time to sleep. I'll be right here with you in the morning when you wake up, I promise, but now you have to sleep. Come here." she said opening her arms so that Henry could lay down, "Good night Henry, I love you."

"I love you too, mommy." he said snuggling more into his mother while dreamland called him.

Robin went a couple of floors up, to Dr Hopper's office. The doctor had been very helpful three years prior for him and the kids and still was when Robin needed to talk with someone. So it was natural that for this delicate situation, he asked Dr Hopper's help.

"It's been a while Robin, I thought things were going better." the Dr said.

"They were until Regina raised from the ash and came back into our lives." Robin said, too much calmly for the situation.

"What? Regina isn't dead? But I thought… That man... Wow… This is a lot to elaborate, right? How are you doing? You seem so calm about the situation."

"As it can be expected, it's a shock. I'm in shock. But I'm sure it will be better once Regina explains everything. It's not for me that I'm here. I need an advice on how to tell the kids. At least Henry already knows"

"I… well this is certainly a difficult situation, one that I never face before. How come Henry already knows but Alyson and Roland not?"

"Because when Regina found out that Henry was in hospital, she decided to come back. She didn't plan for Henry to see her but he woke up while she was still in the room. He knows she's alive but he doesn't know why she did all of this. She's with him now and she'll stay with him in the morning so I can talk with the other two little monster. I was planning on telling them in a few days but the fact that Henry already knows and tomorrow he will be discharged, it made sure I have to tell the kids tomorrow morning."

"And how did you find out she was alive? How do you feel?"

"She was in Henry's room when I arrived so I basically walked in on her. She didn't plan either for me to see her. And, as I said, now I'm not here for me now. I just need a way to tell them without traumatizing them more."

"How did you tell them that their mother was dead?"

"I sat them down, I told them to remember that their mother loved them very much and that something terrible had happened to her because of a bad man. But they were so little, they didn't really understand what had happened. They just understood that their mother wouldn't come home anymore. Of course the twins understood that better than Roland."

"You could approach the situation in the same way and now they're older, they'll understand more and better. I think a direct method is better with them. They're smart and from what I know, they don't like it when you sugarcoat something for them too much. Even for little Roland."

"Direct method, okay. Thank you doctor. And I think I'll make an appointment at least for the four of us. I can't speak for Regina."

"Of course. And I'm here for anything you might need."

"You're paid for saying this, Doc." And with that Robin left the Doc's office.

When Robin got home it was really quiet. Hopefully the kids went to bed easily even if he wasn't at home. Alyson and Roland didn't like when they couldn't see their father and the fact that he had talk to them just one time that day didn't help either.

"Beer?" Will asked, scaring the hell out of Robin.

"What the fuck, Will? You almost gave me an heart attack. I had enough excitement and surprise for today." Robin said, taking the beer from his brother.

"And exactly what happened that was so exciting and surprising?" Will asked taking a sip of his own beer.

"Oh nothing, beside the fact that Regina is alive, today Henry and I saw her and in the morning, I have to tell that to the kids." Robin said like it was a normal thing while Will began to splutter his beer,

"Sorry, can you repeat? Because I think I just hear you saying Regina is alive but I'm not that drunk yet so I didn't imagine it. It's not funny at all. Can you repeat it please?" Will was trying to understand what was wrong with his brother for saying something like this.

"Regina is alive. God, in a day it happened so many things that is could be a month. I found her this morning in Henry's room. I still don't know the whole story."

"And you say it like this? Like it's a normal thing that she disappeared on you and the kids and then came back like this? Because I don't think I could be so understanding and neither you are. And she didn't even tell you the whole story? Come on man, really? And you are here apparently so relaxed?"

"Trust me I'm everything but relaxed. I don't know the whole story because we didn't had the time to talk about it. And I'm partially understanding because it wasn't her choice leave us. Knowing that actually help a bit."

"It wasn't her choice? What that is supposed to mean?"

"I mean that her boss decided everything without her agreeing to it because she was unconscious, in order to save her and us."

"Wow, all of this is crazy."

"Definitely crazy. I'm going to see my kids and I'm going to bed. Feel free to crash here tonight. And thank for taking care of the kids all day."

"That's ok. This is why there are the cool uncles, to stay with the kids, spoil them and make sure they don't do their homework." Will said laughing and then he added:

"Goodnight Robin. And don't worry, they did all their homework and ate their vegetables."

"Night Will".

While Will went to the guest room, Robin went to his daughter's room. She was sound asleep, hugging tight a teddy bear that was half her size; in the last three years not once she went to bed without it: it was the last gift her mother had give to her. Robin fixed her covers before kissing her head and left the room to go to Roland's. The boy was sleeping like a starfish: head on the pillow, arms hanging on either side of the bed like the legs; the covers were on the floor like always, Roland always kicked them away, so he fixed them, he kissed his head and he went in his own bedroom. Sleep didn't come, he was thinking at his life before Regina's death, at his life after her death and trying to imagine how his life could be now that she was back.

Robin tossed in the bed until 5 AM when he decided to get up, he turned off his kid's alarms since he decided to let them sleep in considering the long day that waited for them.

Will left around 7.30 AM in order to go to work so Robin was on his own until the kids wake up. In the meantime he exchange texts with Regina, who had barely closed her eyes that night. Around 9 AM the kids came running down the stairs yelling, "Dad we're super late, why you didn't wake us up?" Alyson said; she likes school and she loves learning; like mother, like daughter. Roland, on the other side, was happy that their father didn't woke them up,

"What's the problem, we slept in, we don't have to sit in class all day, what's wrong with that Aly? And stop yelling this early in the morning." Roland said; he really hates school and he prefers staying outside; like father, like son.

"I thought that today we could all stay at home and then go get your brother since he's coming home today. Come on guys, let's have breakfast." Robin was trying to act normal but it wasn't easy and his kids were perceptive so they picked up the fact that something was wrong and they shared a questioning look.

"This is not normal. Beside the fact that Henry is coming home today, why dad kept us home?" Alyson asked Roland but the boy was more focused on the pancakes on the table.

"It's not important, we're at home and that's okay." They sat at the kitchen island and they began to eat but Alyson knows that something was wrong.

"Why are we really at home? And don't say that it's just because Henry will come home. I know there's something else." And from they way Alyson said it, it was clear that it wasn't a question.

"You're right, there's something else. So why don't we eat breakfast and then we talk about it?" Robin was trying to postpone that conversation as much as possible. It wasn't that he didn't want to tell them about Regina, but he thought he had more time to adjust to her return and to tell the kids.

"It's something bad?" Roland asked now curious to know what was going on.

"Well… It's not bad but I don't know how you are going to react to the situation. Finish your breakfast, we'll talk later." And this buys him at least another half hour, or so he thought because ten minutes later Alyson and Roland were ready to talk; they never eat their breakfast this fast when they didn't have to go to school. Robin sat the kids on the couch, he knelt down in front of them, he took a deep breath and then he start talking.

"What I'm going to tell you is something that is very difficult to understand even for an adult, so I need the two of you listening to me very carefully."

"You are scaring us daddy. What are you talking about?" Alyson was on the verge of crying but she tried to stay strong for Roland and her father, who seems rather sad.

"It's about mom and what happened after that man hurt her."

"She died. That's what you told us had happened. A man shoot her and she died."

"Yes and it's true. It was true. Now I want both of you to remember how much your mother loved you and before jumping to conclusions, I want you to listen to what I have to tell you." Before continuing, Robin took a hand of each of his kids into his, looked into their eyes and he started talking.

"You know that mom's job was to chase the bad guys, right" - Alyson and Roland nodded - "One of this men was really angry at her because she found out that he was guilty of some horrible things and decided to get revenge on her. Mom's boss already imagined that the man wanted to hurt her so they did something, they were ready in the case the man really went after her. But in order to outsmart him she had to do something extreme and there was a lot of lying and that something and the lies weren't entirely her choice, most of them weren't. Yesterday morning when I went to your brother I found out he wasn't alone, there was a woman with him. You see… That woman… God this is so difficult… Alyson, Roland that woman was yo…" But Robin couldn't finish the sentence because his daughter surprised him once again.

"It was mom, isn't it? She was the woman in Henry's room."

"What? What are you talking about, mommy is dead you dummy!" Roland said, speaking for the first time since the beginning of the conversation. "You told us she was dead daddy, you said a bad man took her away from us." His 6 years old brain was trying to understand what was happening. All he knew was that his mommy was dead but now his father is here telling them there was a woman with their brother and that woman was their mommy. But if she was dead, how was it possible?

How his daughter arrived at that conclusion was a mystery to him, but instead of asking that he decided to answer his son. "Yes, I told you that because it was what her boss and the doctor told me. They told me that man hurt her and even if they had try really hard they weren't able save her. But this morning I saw her, while she was with Henry." Robin stopped and took a deep breath then he started to talk again, saying the words that would have change all their life all over again "Alyson, Roland your mom is alive."

Both Alyson and Roland stare at their father. The question in their head was the same but the one who give voice to that was Alyson: "How is it even possible? You said she was dead, she was gone but now you say she alive. How she was able to come back? I don't understand."

"Aly, your mother never really died. You can't come back if you're dead, you know that. Her boss made her go away for a while to protect her."

"She had to go away in order to save us." Aly said. Wow, her daughter was really a genius, Robin thought. But Roland didn't have the same idea as his sister.

"She abandoned us. She just left…" Robin took a deep breath; he knew making Roland understand would be more difficult than make Aly understand. He was only three when they said to him that mommy was gone and she wouldn't come home anymore and that was his life in the last three years.

"No buddy, it's more complex. She didn't just left and abandoned you. She had to leave because the man that hurt her wanted to hurt the three of you, me and the rest of our family. The people who helped your mom did all of this to make that man believe that she was gone so he wouldn't come after us. This is all I know but if you want to know more I'm sure mom would tell you."

"We can see her? Really?" Alyson asked with a light in her eyes whom Robin hadn't seen in three years. "Yes, if you want you can see her."

"When?" Now that she knew that her mommy was alive Alyson wanted nothing more than hugs and a lot of cuddles from her. Roland on the other hand wasn't so sure about seeing her, "I don't know if I want to see her…"

"It's okay Roland, you don't have to. And Aly we'll go in a bit. She still at the hospital with your brother so when we'll go to him you'll see her. Why don't you go get dress so we can go?" Alyson didn't need to be told twice and as soon as her father finished to talk she sprint up the stairs instead Roland remain still on the couch.

"What's going on Roland? "Why you don't want to see mommy?"

"I don't remember her. I see the picture but I don't remember her being my mommy, I don't remember playing with her or do my homework with her like Henry and Aly do. I don't know her and she's my mom." Robin took a crying Roland and put him in his lap before talking

"I know all of this is difficult, it's difficult for me so I can't imagine how it is for you. I know that for you she is a stranger, you don't remember her and this is normal, you were only three… But how about this: we go there, you see her and if you don't want to talk to her it's okay. I won't force you. And if want to go away then we'll think about something. You know it's difficult for us but it's difficult for mom too. Can we gave her a chance? Deal?" Robin asked extending his hand; Roland took and shake it

"Deal. I'm going to get dressed."

And both Locksley boys went to get dressed. Not five minute later Alyson appears on his door

"I'm ready daddy."

"I see that. Alyson how… How did you know I was talking about mom earlier? And how do you know she went away to protect us?" Alyson plop herself up on her mother's side of the bed

"I read a book where a man had to go away because he was in danger and he stayed away for a while. When you said that mommy had to go away for a while and come back I thought about it. Mom gave me that book a month before..." she said shrugging, she didn't need to finish that sentence. Robin was amazed: his ten years old had figured out the situation better than he did, like it was something so simple.

"I'm ready daddy." the littlest Locksley said appearing on the door while Robin was hugging Alyson.

"Okay, let's go."

Regina was passing her hand through Henry's hair while he slept; she was still amazed by the fact that she was here with him. She almost hadn't slept that night; it didn't matter that she was overtired and hadn't sleep decently in three years, because she wanted to be able to see Henry as much as possible. So she continue to look at him and didn't listen to the nurses that told her that if she slept Henry wouldn't go anywhere.

Henry woke up with a start when he realized that someone was touching his head. He opened his eyes, blinked a couple of times before remembering what happened the day before and realized that the body next to him was his mother. With this thought he threw himself in her arms, thanking her for not disappearing; she hugged him back, holding him as close as she could.

They eat breakfast and when they finished the doctor came in for the last visit "Well everything is okay so you can go home this afternoon. I'll get all the paperwork ready to sign for your father" Dr Whale said.

"Thank you, doctor. For everything." After Whale left they went back to cuddling on the bed. Robin, Alyson and Roland arrived almost an hour later.

Robin was the first to enter and like the day before he found the pair cuddle on the bed; Henry was almost on top of his mother and he was the first one to see him. "Dad! Aly! Ro!" In his excitement Henry completely missed the whispered 'Oh my God' from her mother when she saw her other two kids or the fact that she got up from the bed; Robin on the other hand didn't miss it.

"Come on guys, come on in." Both kids where sort of hiding behind their dad. It was strange seeing her there, considering that they went to the cemetery a couple of weeks before. Alyson looked at her with widen eyes while Roland looked at her for a second before putting his gaze on the floor.

Regina continued to stay still next to bed, leaving the decision of going to for the kids to make, without forcing them.

Robin had texted telling her what had happened during their conversation so she could be ready, or at least trying to be, for both kids behavior. She won't force them, they have every right to hate her. The first one to come out from the hiding spot was Alyson; she stared at her mother for five good minutes before speaking "It's really you-" Regina only nodded and went down on her knees so she could look in her eyes, "-you come back, like the man of the book." Her eyes were still wide.

Regina nods again. "Yes, butterfly." The use of her nickname was all it took to Alyson to run into her mother's arms and hug her fiercely. It was difficult to say who cried more between Alyson and Regina. Alyson was asking her mother to not leave again and saying how much she loves her. Regina was telling her she would never leave again without telling them where she was going and how much she loves her, how much she missed her and how big she become "I love you butterfly, so much!"

"Me too mommy!"

'Mommy', that sound would never grow old to her. Roland was still standing near Robin even if the man was trying to coax him to at least say 'Hi' to his mother. Regina tried to pull away a little from Aly but the little girl embraced her tighter, but in the end she was able to move her daughter on her side so she could finally look at her son.

"Hi Roland. I know you probably don't remember me and that's okay, you were so little when I had to go away."

"You're my mommy. There're a lot of your pictures at home. Daddy, Tweedledum and Tweedledee tell me stories about you." The use of that nickname for the twins cause them to let out an 'Hey!' before their father silent them. "I remember you calling me 'knight' or something like that."

"Yes, I called you 'little knight'. Like I call your sister 'butterfly' and your brother 'little prince'."

"Even if I don't remember you, can I have un hug too? They said you always gave a lot of hugs, so maybe I can remember them..." After that Regina asked herself how she could still cry since she hadn't stopped since Robin's arrival and now she was crying like a waterfall.

"Of course sweetheart, you can have all the hugs you want. Come here." Still a little hesitant Roland moves close to Regina but he was a little unsure of what to do. The problem was solved when Alyson took his arm and pulled him into her mother embrace, who gladly hug tightly both of them before saying "I think we should move all this on the bed with Henry. If that is ok with you." She said looking also at Henry. The twins both nod their head vigorously and Alyson was already on the bed before Regina could even get up from the floor and they were discussing the best accommodation for all of them.

Roland looked between his parents and then he opted to go to sit with his father who was sitting in the armchair. Regina got herself up on the bed and immediately Henry and Alyson snuggled in both her sides.

They didn't talk much if not for some questions from Regina to the twins and from the twins to her. They stayed like this, the twins almost laying on Regina and Roland snuggled with his father, until lunch time and the hospital's stuff brought Henry his lunch.

Robin, Alyson, Roland and Regina would have lunch later. But just before starting eating Henry asked the question Regina feared the most:

"Will you ever tell us why you went away and were you where?"

N.A.: I don't know a thing about hospital and their rules, hopefully I haven't wrote it too wrong.

Let me know what you think and if you have time (and if you want) please leave a review?