Hi! First of all and even if I know I'm late Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone!
Thank you to everyone who read and left a review. It means a lot to me.
A super huge THANK YOU to LaNaniuska for the support, for the betareading and for the help (and for not killing me because of what I have written in this chapter).
I own nothing but Alyson and another couple of names.
Chapter 9 - Meetings
Weeks went on and the situation between Regina and Robin became more tense now that the news about the girlfriend was out. They didn't know why, after all they weren't a couple any more.
The kids were not happy but this was the new reality either. Roland in particular, now that he was again getting close to his mother, couldn't understand why his father couldn't give Regina a chance after Robin had insisted so much on the fact that he should give his mother a chance.
The three kids had met Marian, and while she tried to be in their good grace, they weren't too impressed.
Robin invited Marian for lunch that Saturday, they spent the afternoon together playing some board games and trying to get to know each other.
"So I was thinking, why don't we say something about ourselves in turns, just to get to know each other a little? It can be anything, really. What do you say?"
The children looked at her for a moment before going back to their game without saying a word.
"Ooookkay... I guess I can start. Well, let's see, I can speak French. Do you know any other language?" Marian tried again.
Henry was the one who answered after a look from his father. "Aly and I can speak a bit of Spanish and we know some Italian words."
"Really? Where did you learn them? At school?"
"Mom taught us." the little girl replied like it was the most obvious answer to that question.
"And you Roland?"
"I guess I was too little to learn with them." he said, shrugging his shoulders.
"Actually, mom spoke in Spanish to you too, Roland, but yes, maybe you were just too little to remember. There's a video somewhere where she's talking to you in I don't even remember what language, and you two try to answer her while Roland just laughs." Robin spoke for the first time.
"Can we watch it?" the littlest of the Locksley siblings asked.
"Sure, I just have to find it." Robin assured him. Then they all fell in an awkward silence.
"I can ride a horse." Aly broke the silence.
"Really?! That's awesome!" Marian replied maybe with a bit too much force.
"Yes. Mom once took us and I've been doing it since we were five." Aly said very proud of herself.
"She has her own horse, you know." Henry added. "Grandma brought Moonlight, her horse, for Aly."
"Oh, that was nice of her." because really, what else could she say? "Maybe one day we could go to the stable and ride together? You know, I'm a photographer, so we could take really good shots. Not necessarily with the horses, but just of you."
The lack of an answer was enough for Marian to understand that was a big NO.
"Have you already met our mom?"
"No Aly, I haven't."
"Did you know she's a cop?"
"Yes I knew that, your father told me."
For a while they continued to talk about their abilities and passions, but when they ended all topics to talk about, silence became awkward once again so Marian decided to leave.
She told Robin that everything was okay, but it was clear that 'things' were everything but okay.
She left with the promise of calling him the same night.
As soon as Marian left, the children went to their 'cave', as they called their playroom. Robin was a bit confused, he wanted to know what they thought about Marian, but he knew it was better not to push them. Like mother like kids, after all.
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"I need to get drunk, like really drunk, this weekend. Wanna join me?"
"Something wrong? Oh yes the kids are going to meet the new girlfriend tomorrow."
"Yes. That's why I need to get drunk, Mal. So are you coming or not?"
"I'll bring the wine, Lily is at her friend's house for a sleepover. I'll see you in the afternoon Mills."
Mal let herself in when she arrived at Regina's apartment and she was met by the strong smell of homemade pizza.
"Hey."
"Hey yourself."
"I have four bottles of red wine. They should be enough for you to get drunk."
Regina smiled at her friend. "Thanks. Pizza's ready, where do you want to eat? Table or couch?"
"Since when do you eat on the couch?" Mal wondered while taking two wine glasses, after opening the first bottle.
"Since I don't care anymore about these superficial things. Do you know how many times I wished I could eat one more time with my family and say 'Yes Henry we can eat our pizza on the couch while watching a movie?' That was such a stupid rule that I had. I mean, we would just eat, it wasn't like we were going to throw food at each other."
Regina continued to ramble about all the stupid rules she had for her kids, and how stupid all of that seemed now. Mal continued to listen because if her friend needed that in that moment, then she was ready to listen, even if it was all a bunch of nonsense
The two women moved to the couch. Mal decided to switch to another topic, not that it was better but at least it was different.
"How do you feel about the new girlfriend?" the blond woman asked, taking a bite of pizza.
"I don't know. I mean I shouldn't care, we are not married anymore. I was dead, he was single…"
"But something is bothering you." it was more a statement then a question.
"Yes but I don't know what or why." Regina exclaimed as she proceeded to empty her full glass of wine like it was water, and she hadn't drank all day.
"And the kids? How do they feel about that?"
"They are not happy, especially Roland. Now we just have to wait and see after their meeting today." with that said, Regina poured more wine for Mal and herself.
"You know you're going to regret all that wine in the morning." Mal warned Regina.
Regina looked at Mal with a look that was something between 'so?' and 'I don't care' and she poured herself another glass.
Mal just observed without saying another word, happy with her decision to buy Advil when she bought the wine."
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"I don't like her." Henry spatted out.
"Me neither."
"What about you Roland?" Aly questioned while the three of them got situated into their pillows fort.
"She's okay." His siblings's eyes widened at the affirmation.
"WHAT!" they both said together.
"If she wasn't daddy's girlfriend she would be okay, but since she is she's not okay and mommy needs to be with daddy, not her so I don't like her."
"That makes sense." Henry agreed.
"We need to find a way to get rid of her." the two boys nodded at their sister's words. Aly's mind has started to work and now there was no way to stop it.
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"So how did it go?" Will asked, taking a beer from Robin. Instead of dragging Robin to the bar, leaving the kids with a sitter, and pressing him to have informations about the meeting, Will decided he would go to his brother's house. That way, there was no chance he could escape the interrogation.
"I honestly don't know. I thought everything was going well. We played some board games and they talked a bit, but suddenly Marian decided to leave and the kids ran to the cave." Robin paused to take a sip of his own beer. "They haven't said a word about her. They're worse than their mother about saying what they're really feeling." Will just snorted, that was just so true.
"What are you planning to do now?"
"Marian wants to meet Regina, so I have to organize a meeting between the three of us. Then I have to convince Regina to say yes."
"Good luck with that man." Will commented finishing his beer.
"Thanks." Robin answered sarcastically.
Robin called the kids to say bye to their uncle, then he told them to go get ready for bed, but he couldn't resist and he had to ask "Hey before you're going upstairs, what do you think about Marian?"
The siblings looked at each other, then the older took upon himself to answer: "We are still debating it." then they left to get ready for bed, leaving an opened-mouth Robin.
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On Monday morning, Regina arrived to work still slightly hungover from Saturday. Thank God for the sunglasses, she thought.
"Hey, are you okay?" Kristoff asked, noticing her.
"I'm fine. I just had too much wine this weekend." she dismissed the question with a wave of her hand.
"If you say so…"
"Nothing that a cup of coffee won't cure. Here." Graham put a coffee on her desk. Regina smiled at him as a thanks before inhaling the aroma.
"How did it go?" her partner wondered, knowing what had happened that weekend.
Regina snorted and took a sip of her coffee, but before she could answer, Mulan appeared behind her asking what they were talking about. Graham filled her in.
"Oh ouch! How did that go?"
"The kids weren't particularly impressed or happy about it. I wasn't happy heither when my mother introduced us my stepfather; I guess they just needed time to adjust." she took another sip of her coffee.
"But that was different!"
"How so Graham?"
"Because, don't get me wrong on this, but your father was dead, it wasn't like someone was getting between your parents. You're here, so they might see her like an obstacle between you and Robin."
"You know what? you could be right."
"Wow! This would be a first time thing: Regina just said you are right!"
"Thanks Mulan, really." Graham fired back sarcastically.
"You're welcome!"
"Thanks for this and for the coffee."
"It was nothing." he dismissed with a wave of his hand as he watched Mulan going to her desk.
Regina looked at the pair, there was something different, like how they interacted, and she might have an idea of what it could be, but she decided to keep it quiet. At least for now.
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The kids's humor went up again when they saw their mother once school let out. Regina decided to avoid the elephant in the room at first, but after dinner, when the four of them were snuggled on the couch, she asked them what they thought about Marian.
"We don't like her." was the answer she got from the three children.
"And why is that? Did she did or said something wrong?" Regina questioned a bit worried, but not too much because if something serious would have happened, she was sure Robin would have called her.
"Not really, we just don't like her."
"But why? There must be a reason." They didn't answer.
"She suggested we could go riding together." Aly added a moment later, spatting out the words like they were poisoned.
"And what is wrong with that? You all love riding."
"Yes, but riding is something between the three of us and you, mommy, and sometimes daddy." Aly explained quietly.
"But mostly only you." Henry added as if to underline how much riding was "their" thing and no one else.
Regina looked down at her three beautiful children with tears in her eyes before squeezing them in a hug.
"What do you say if during the holiday, the four of us go to the stable?" she proposed, knowing that even if she hadn't had the opportunity to teach to her youngest son, he knew how to ride thanks to his father, so all the four of them could enjoy that trip.
A choir of 'yes!' erupted from the kids and they began to talk about everything they could do during that trip.
When bedtime rolled around, it was an effort putting them to bed. All the children could do was talk about going riding, but as soon as their heads hit the pillow and the light was turned off, they were fast asleep. Regina shaked her head at the thought of how they were full of energy but one second later they were out, then she kissed their heads before going to bed herself.
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That Wednesday night, Robin decided to go to Marian so they could talk about the Saturday meeting. They hadn't spoken since Saturday, and Robin was curious to know what she thought about the kids and why she ran away so fast.
He knocked on a door that was open a moment later, revealing Marian.
"I have chinese food. Can I come in?"
Marian smiled. "Of course." she said with a shy smile.
The pair ate in silence, but when they finished, Robin decided to ask. "So what do you think about my three lettle monsters?"
Marian took her time to answer, she wiped her mouth, drank some water and wiped her mouth again. Then she took a deep breath and looked at her boyfriend. "They are kids, what 's there to not like about them? They are sweet, they are full of abilities, thanks to their mother, and I would say they are pretty attached to her."
"You… Are you… Are you jealous of the relationship they have with their mother?" Robin asked with a bit of disbelief.
"Of course not! What kind of question is that?"
"So do you think everything went well?"
"Yes…" but that yes was really uncertain.
"And why did you run away if everything was okay?"
"I didn't run away, I had things to do. I really did!" she added when Robin looked at her doubtfully.
"So it would be okay if I organize another dinner with them?"
"Of course." was the answer, but it was like Marian was distant, like she didn't want to be there.
"What is really going on?"
"Can you be honest?"
"Really Marian?" Robin took a deep breath. "Yes of course."
"Do you still love her? Would you prefer to be with her right now instead of me?"
Robin's head snapped up, he moved nearer her and he took her hands. "Do I still love her? Yes, a part of me will always love her. Before being my wife and the mother of my children, she was my best friend. We have known each other since we were four, she was there for me in every moment of my life as I was there for hers. I feel a lot of things right now, but being in love with her is not one of them. Now I'm where I want to be; it would be better if the kids were here too, but I'm happy that they have their mother back and that they are with her." Robin said looking into her eyes. He then put an arm around her shoulders so she could lay her head on his shoulder while they were sitting on the couch.
"Feeling better?
"A bit."
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Since Thanksgiving would be spent at Robin's, Regina decided that weekend (since she had the kids even if it was the one before Thanksgiving) was perfect for going to buy a tree and start decorating the house, so their Friday afternoon was spent between looking for a tree and buying decorations, followed by a round of hot chocolate.
"We should buy this one!"
"It's huge, we don't have enough space for that, sweetheart." Henry's big smile fell a bit but not even a second later he was with his sister searching for the perfect tree.
After many 'way too big', 'come on that is ridiculous', 'way too small' and 'it's horrible', it was Roland the one who found the perfect one.
"I think I found it." the little boy said with an hint of hope in his voice.
His mother came up behind him so that his back was against his mother's legs and his siblings were at each side of him.
Putting her arms around her children Regina took a proper look at the tree. It wasn't huge but it wasn't small either; it was a 5.9 feet tree with thick branches.
"What do you think?"
"It's perfect." the three of them answered in unison.
They spend the weekend decorating, and when it was time for Henry, Alyson and Roland to go back to their father, it was like a christmas bomb had exploded in Regina's house.
"So I can expect you here around eleven to celebrate with us, right?" Cora asked her daughter. The woman was set on making sure her daughter didn't spend another Thanksgiving alone.
"Yes and no mom. I'm at Robin's for lunch so we can celebrate together with the children, but when I leave there I can come directly there."
"You think that's wise?"
"What? Celebrating with my kids?"
"Going to Robin's when the new girlfriend will be there." her mother saying the word 'new girlfriend' like it was a disease.
"I have to meet her sooner or later, and I'm going for the monsters, not to spend time with her and Robin so it's okay."
Cora answered back after a moment of hesitation, telling her to be careful, about what it was unknown to her, and that they, Zelena and her family, Neal and his new girlfriend Belle, would wait for her to arrive in the afternoon.
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The dreadful day arrived, and Regina was a second away to call Robin and tell him that she wouldn't go, but her three little monsters were waiting for her and there was no way she was going to disappoint them and spend another Thanksgiving away from them.
Aly, Henry and Roland were jumping on their feet since the first light of the day, waking up their father and telling him that they needed to get everything ready so everything would be perfect when their mother arrived.
'Right' Robin thought. First Thanksgiving with Marian and Regina, new girlfriend and ex wife together, and they haven't even met yet. Plus his parents, sister and sister in law. Add to all of that that his parents adored Regina... It was a recipe for a disaster. Robin had tried to organize a meeting between the two women and himself before that day, but every time, one of the two said women would cancel, problem at work they would say.
Regina arrived for second, well technically third, right after Ruby and Will. She was whisked away by the little monsters as soon as she put the food on the table and was greeted by her exes-in-law. Graham and his mysterious plus one, who turned out to be Mulan, arrived after Regina. 'So I was right', the black haired woman thought, seeing the pair together. She threw a dirty look to the man that meant he was safe for today, but he would have to answer to some questions. Graham hurried to the other room where Robin was, while Mulan joined the others.
The last one to arrive was Marian, and what until a moment before was a really pleasant get-to-gether, became a really awkward situation.
Robin was sitting on the couch looking where his sons and daughter were playing with their mother, when the doorbell rang.
He got up to greet who was on the other side of the door. Marian and Robin talked for a bit, they did a bit of review about who was there before guiding her to the livingroom to introduce her.
He left Regina for last.
"Sorry kids I'm just going to steal your mom for a second. Don't throw me those dirty looks, it's just for a moment." he said as he guided Regina to where Marian was.
Robin looked between the two women at either side of him.
"So… Marian, this is Regina. Regina, this is Marian."
An awkward exchange of 'Hi' passes between the two women.
"Nice to meet you."
"Really? Nice?" but she hurried to add "I mean, it's strange for an ex-wife to say it's nice to meet the new girlfriend."
"Well, all I wanted for him was to be happy again, and if you make him happy then it's nice meeting you." with that she left Marian and Robin and she went back to the kids, who had temporarily replaced her in the game with Mulan.
The introduction to his parents was almost as awkward as the one to Regina, but at least they got it out of the way.
Since there would have been a lot of people, they decided that everyone would bring or prepare something.
Robin was in charge of the turkey and of the pumpkin soup. Ruby and Will were in charge of the drinks, alcoholic and non-alcoholic. Nora, who had arrived a couple of days prior with the rest of the family, made pumpkin pie and cinnamon muffins. Ella made the cornbread and the fried pumpkin and Ursula made the mashed potatoes and the sweet potatoes cake. Michael prepared the grilled corn on the cob and the baked sweet potatoes. Regina made the cranberry and the gravy sauce as well her famous apple turnovers. Mulan and Graham were there too with a pecan pie. Marian brought a bottle of wine and something with way too much sugar for the kids, claiming that she was so good at cooking that she could burn water so it was safer this way
Everyone was talking and laughing while eating and Regina had to admit that it was nice being there again. Everyone said about what she or he was grateful for that year: everybody, minus Marian, were grateful that Regina was back, or better in the kids's words they were super duper thankful that their mom was back; Mulan and Graham, Will and Ruby, Ella and Ursula and Robin and Marian were grateful for each others and so Nora and Michael.
"I don't know how it works here, if there is someone else who is going to do this but I've brought with me my camera. Maybe I could take some pictures? If that it's okay with you of course." Marian asks, speaking with someone else other than Robin for the first time since the beginning of the meal.
Everyone nodded or said their agreement so Marian excused herself and went to grab her camera, then she proceeded to take pictures of everyone and everything.
They eat so much that the food coma was inevitable. They all collapsed on the couches and the armchair, watching a movie.
While the others stayed a bit more, Regina decided to leave around 3 PM. The kids weren't too happy with that, so Robin proposed that they could go with their mother so the group of four went towards their grandparentes's house.
The rest of the day was spent with more eating, how they found the space to fit other food in their bellies, it was unknown, but it was a good day after all.
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Regina cornered Graham as soon as they went back to work. She asked him some general questions, like how long they have been together, how did it happened and when, why they haven't said anything, and if they were happy. At the beginning he played it difficult, but then he answered that they were together for almost two years, that after her "departure", to say it in a nice way, they started spending more time together and then it just happened. They were very happy and they still hadn't saying anything to anyone because of work.
She let him go just to corner Mulan, asking the same questions and receiving the same answers.
And as a gift to them that afternoon she brought donuts and coffee just for them.
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The time between Thanksgiving and christmas had flown so fast, that it was christmas eve before Robin and Regina could actually realize it.
Marian had gone to Robin's house some more times, to spend time with him and to try to get to know the kids better, but they always had their wall up when she was there.
Regina instead threw herself into work even more, if it was possible. When she didn't have children, she would go to work really early and she would go home really late. More than one day, it was Mal who forced her to go home. But really what she could do at home alone?
'We need to talk about christmas.' was the message he received from Regina and that was why he was sitting in a booth at Granny's with her.
"We promised them we would spend christmas together."
"And we will. You can call me so I can be there when they open their present."
Robin stopped as he thought about that, but he wasn't really convinced, judging by his expression.
"What's going on in that head of yours?" she asked, munching on a frie.
"Okay hear me out before yelling at me how wrong this suggestion is. What about this: you come to sleep at home so you can be there tomorrow morning and after opening the gifts and breakfast we can all go together to that huge place your parents call home. What do you think?"
Since they had Thanksgiving at Robin's it was only fair, his words, that they had Christmas at Regina's, well her parents since their home was huge.
Regina looked at him with widened eyes. "I think it's a terrible idea." she said, making his smile fall.
"Why?"
"Why? Apart from the fact that you have a girlfriend and that your parents, Ella and Ursula are there too, this could completely confuse the kids. Have you read their letters to Santa right?" Robin nodded so she continued. "One thing those three letters have in common is 'please bring mommy and daddy back together'. If they found me tomorrow morning at your house, how will they interpret that?"
She had a point, Robin reasoned, but he still wasn't ready to give up on the option.
"Marian is at her parents for the holidays. And we can explain it to my family and the children. We can tell them that tonight you're going to be there so we can open the presents together as soon as we wake up. I don't want to have another christmas morning without you there and the kids because of that." then he proceeds to take her hands "Please Regina, I'm asking for the kids you know that. That sad look on their face when they looked where you were supposed to be with them. I don't think I can bear that again. They should be jumping up and down on christmas morning, not being sad because they didn't receive the only present they really wanted" The pair just stare into each other eyes, still hands in hands, the pain visible on their faces and eyes about what they have lost.
"Okay."
"Okay, you'll be there?" Robin asked, surprised. Not even a second before she was set on saying 'no' to that request.
"Yes." she nodded.
And so they did. Regina went home and prepared a bag with everything she would need the next day. She put it in the car, next to all the gifts she had brought for her monsters.
Robin also went home, he made everyone sit on the couch and he explained to them what was going to happen. The kids were obviously very happy, while the other adults in the room had some doubts and disapproval that they didn't express loudly, but their expressions said it all: you can't keep playing with the two of them, you have to take a decision between them. No other words were needed, that looks were enough.
After a shower and a call to her family to let them know her plans, Regina took her car to go toward what she knew was going to be pure hell when the kids would go to bed.
"Are you sure about what you are doing?"
"Making sure the kids have what they have been asking for the last three christmas? Yes I'm sure."
"Don't play dumb with me. You can't keep doing that. I know it's terrible when it is said like this, but you have to choose Marian or Regina. You can't keep using Marian to punish Regina, but at the same time always keeping Regina around, and you can't keep deceiving Regina by always calling her here but at the same time, talking about the dates with Marian."
"It's not like that. I'm calling her here to spend time with the children."
"If that is what makes you feel better, keep telling it to yourself, but know it's not only for them that you call Regina here."
"Oh yes, and what would be the reason if not for the kids?"
"You like having her around here again, you are happier now that she's back."
"Mom please."
"I'm just saying." she said lifting her hands, "You'll figure it out in your own time. I'm going to prepare the guest room." Nora patted Robin's hand before leaving the room to go upstairs.
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"Tell me I haven't completely lost my mind and it's right to do this for the kids, because right now I'm thinking the opposite."
"You already said it all, it's crazy."
"Thank you Zel, really helpful." Regina said sarcastically.
"You're welcome." then a pause where Regina knew her sister was drinking tea, "Is it worthy? Is it worth going there and seeing your kids being happy, smiling and laughing because you are there?"
"Of course!"
"There. You have your answer. You're not crazy, you're just a mom who wants her kids to be happy and will do everything to ensure that."
"Thank you Zel." her eyes wet, thanks god her sister couldn't see her.
"Always Reg." then she proceeded to end the call before Regina could insul her for calling her 'Reg'.
"I hate you Zelena." but her sister had already ended the call.
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Aly, Henry and Roland had their noses stuck to the window when their aunt came up behind them.
"What are you three looking at?"
"Mom." they replied together without turning around.
"You know she'll ring the doorbell when she'll arrive, right?"
"Yes." same reaction as before.
"Leave them alone, they're impatient."
Ursula said, handing Ella a glass with some kind of cocktail.
"Here. We're going to need this if we have to bear your brother make googly eyes at Regina and vice versa."
"True." and they proceed to cheer their glasses.
Out of nowhere the kids started to jump and shout "She's here! She's here! Daddy! Mommy is here!"
They ran to the door, but they stopped in front of it, waiting for an adult to open it.
Regina didn't even have the time to enter the house when the kids were already jumping on her and telling her that they had missed her and they love her. Something that she would never get tired of hearing.
Robin was finally able to literally remove the children from Regina so he could take her things and bring them to her room.
As soon as she had done greeting the other people in the house, Regina was one again assaulted by the monsters who were demanding her individual attention.
They played, laughed, ate and watched a movie all together. It was a good night.
A night where Ursula was right by saying that Robin would have made googly eyes and looked at Regina all the time.
A night where Nora's words keep wandering in Robin's head.
A night where before going to bed, the kids hanged a stocking for their mother too because she deserved one too, so on the fireplace, there were now hanging nine stockings, one for each person in the house.
A night where the monsters begged her to read them a story and that was how she ended up asleep on the bed in the guest room with her babies, yes for her they were still little and no one could change her mind, asleep on her.
Not hearing a sound, Robin went to check, finding the four of them asleep and Regina with the book still open on her lap. He took the book, covered them better with the blankets; he kissed their heads, whispering a 'thanks God you're back' in the woman's ear and saying an 'I love you all' before heading to Regina's car to retrieve the gifts that he knew were still hidden in there.
Roland was the first one to wake up and he wasted no time in waking up everyone in the house with his yells of 'it's christmas!' and 'Santa came! Santa came!'
They all gathered in the living room, the kids waiting patiently to have the permission to open their gifts once their parents were done with the pictures.
The floor was replaced by wrapping paper, but no one was worried about that. The kids were still looking between all the gifts they had received. Regina got a little carried away while buying them, when out of the blue Roland stood up with a bow that was attached to one of the presents and attacked it to his mother's shoulder.
At the questioning looks he explained: "because you are the best gift we had received."
With tears in her eyes Regina gathered her little knight in her arms and hugged him tight. "I love you Roland."
Soon that two people hug became a four people, then six, eight and finally nine people hug, Robin being the last one to join the group.
The family used to have a big christmas celebration at the Mills-Gold household, everyone would go there, including Robin's parents and siblings with their respective plus one other than all Regina's family. This year would have been no different, so after breakfast they all went to get ready, putting on the best clothes they had.
They opened the gifts that Santa had brought there, ate, talked, laughed and they collapsed on the couches in a comatose state. Or at least the adults did, because as soon as they had finished eating, the kids and the teens were already playing some kind of video game all together.
It was a good time. Regina didn't remember the last time she was this happy. She was curled up on the couch, with her head on her mother's lap while her sister was literally using her butt as a pillow, how she could be comfortable no one knew.
All the men but Neal, who was snoring on an armchair, were talking about sports; Ursula, Ella, Ruby and Belle were in a deep conversation about fashion, style and trends; Nora and Cora were also in a deep conversation while the latter was stroking her youngest daughter's hair making her falling asleep like when she was little.
New year's eve was a different story. Regina had decided that she would have spent that night at her mother's house, with also her sister and her family, but the kids wanted to spend that night with her so Robin decided that it would be better if she took them with her.
And that was also why she was facetiming at 30 second past midnight so that Aly, Henry and Roland could wish happy new year to their father, well at least the twins, since Roland was practically asleep on his mother with his arms around her neck. She stroked his hair and kissed his head while Henry and Aly talked to their father.
It was strange for Robin not to have the kids with him on new year, so while at midnight his mother kissed his father and Ella kissed Ursula, he just stared at the picture of the last new year that they spent together. He smiled remembering a Henry way too much awake because of all the sugar he had eaten, Aly in his arms with her head on her daddy's shoulder and Roland asleep in his mother's arms, he was a momma's boy after all and he always slept well in her arms.
His mother was right, he really needed to sort out his feelings and his life…
Thank you so much for reading.
I know the apple turnovers are not a Thanksgiving speciality but I couldn't not put them in the story.
Reviews and constructive criticism are always well welcomed. And if I have written something in the wrong way or it's not accurate please tell me so I can fix it!