With their European trip more than halfway through, Henry calls his family for an update.

Meanwhile, overhearing a private conversation, Roland Locksley discovers something deeply disturbing about his mother. His birth mother.

Mifflin Street

One week later.

At just before three in the afternoon, the Locksley and Swan-Mills families assembled around the large sofa, with Robin's newly purchase MacBook (a gift from Regina, as he was getting more computer-savvy) resting on the coffee table, far enough away for them all to be seen by its camera. Hope and Faith were both sleeping soundly in their cots, having just got back from an afternoon walk around the park, in an attempt to settle them before the call. Emma and Regina sat side-by-side in the middle, with Margot and Honour bunched on their knees. On the floor in front, sat Roland. "Okay everyone. Ready? Robin could you make the call please?" Regina was anxious to finally get a chance to speak to their son for the first time in a fortnight.

Moments later, a weird beeping noises indicated the video call had connected, and a second later Henry's face appeared in the centre of the screen.

"Hi guys! How're you all doing?"

"Hi Henry!" Emma was the first. "We're all fine. Never seen you with a beard before? Looks kinda cool."

"Hello my prince, we've missed you. Where are you now? What time is it over there?"

"Hi mum. It's coming up to nine in the evening and we're in northern Norway, right up in the Arctic Circle, in a city called Tromsø. It's brilliant!"

"We saw the pictures you posted; it looks beautiful. I've always wanted to see the fjords and the mountains. It looks a bit like where Elsa and Anna live, doesn't it? Is there anything to actually do up there, apart from skiing and snow fights?"

"Are you kidding me? There's a big film festival this week in town. Grandpa and I are going dog-sledding tomorrow and a whale spotting trip. We're out shortly seeing the Northern Lights this evening. There's also quite a decent university and student population up here. There's loads to do. And Robin? They've got a decent brewery!"

"Ah, civilisation then? Sounds like a great place. How's my godson doing?"

"Gideon's fine. He just started walking and now they can't stop him! He's playing merry hell, trying to climb out of his crib at night, but the three of them have got him under control. It's hilarious watching them, though."

"So, they all get along? No tension between Gold and Ariel?"

"No ma, just the opposite! The three of them seem really happy." Henry wasn't going to mention the underwear on the floor incident. "I've never seen grandpa like this! I think it must be that the Dark One can't control him when he's away. He's a new man. Happy, and it's taken years off him. Probably even more so, once they fix his leg..."

"Fix his leg? What are you talking about?"

"He's staying in London for a few weeks, after I leave. He's booked into a private clinic, and they're going to operate on his leg and ankle. He's put it off for years, but now he's ready to get it fixed. Belle and Ariel are staying back with him, until they discharge him."

"And happy? That doesn't sound like Gold."

"You're right, it doesn't. But he's different away from home, mum! A lot more relaxed. It's great being with him, like he's discovered a new life!"

Robin stayed quiet, remembering Merlin's plans for the Dark One once he came home.

"And you've got quite a sun tan there, young man! I hope you packed some sun screen?" Regina couldn't help going into protective mamma mode, despite his age. Beneath the new light scruff of beard, his cheeks were quite red.

"It's just a bit of wind-burn from skiing. We went down some serious slopes over the weekend. I got a few lessons too. Belle's really good at it! Ariel didn't want to come, so she stayed with grandpa and Gid."

Honour was getting bored with the adults monopolising the conversation. "Henny, have you met any trolls yet? I read about them at school!"

Henry then went on to tell his little sisters about a troll village nearby, careful to embellish his story enough to make it exciting, but believable. He loved telling Honour and Margot fairy tale stories.

"So, you're back in just over a week, Hen? As you're not flying back with Gold, would you like us to come and meet you at the airport? Your mum and I need to go back to New York anyway for a final fitting. If you're with us, we can get yours, and Roland's, morning suits sorted out, too! We could spend some time together, then go with you to Cambridge and perhaps spend a little time in Boston?"

"That sounds great, ma. If everyone came down, we could have our first-ever real big family break away from Storybrooke! The rest of you guys can see where I live too. Ro, I can even take you to see a proper football game live!"

Everyone turned to look at Roland, who seemed completely distracted. And, unusually for him, sad. Until now, they'd hardly noticed that he hadn't said a word all afternoon. "Roland, are you all right?" asked Regina, feeling awkward for having just noticed his silence. He didn't answer.

"Roland? Your mum's talking to you!" said Robin, a little louder. His mind seemed miles away.

"Hmm? What?" he said, coming out of his trance. He gave Regina a very odd look!

"Henry was talking to you! He asked you if you wanted to meet him in New York?" Said his father.

"Huh? Oh…New York…yeah, sounds great." He said, without any trace of enthusiasm and looking almost tearful.

"Roland, is something wrong?"

"It's fine, dad. I'm just…sorry, I'm not feeling too good. I'm going upstairs."

Without saying another word, he stood up and went off quickly, despite their calls to him.

Henry saw it all on the video link. "Did I say something wrong?" had he upset the boy?

"No, I don't think so Henry. But something is bothering him. Perhaps there's a problem at school; either way, I'll deal with it!" He shared a look with Regina. Roland was always the most ebullient, happy, positive child she'd ever met. This really wasn't like him?

"So, Hen, where are you off to next?"

"France. We'll leave in two days then fly to Paris. Belle and will Ariel stay there a bit longer, while grandpa and I take a fast train down to Strasbourg. It's a really old medieval city, and according to him there's a magic realm near there too. After that, its two days in Geneva in Switzerland. Then we meet up again in Rome for a few days After that we split up again…"

Robin lost his focus on their call, worried about Roland. Is being bullied? Problems at school? Perhaps something to do with a girl? At twelve years old, girls were beginning to notice him, though as usual, at that age they matured before the boys and tended to look at the older boys instead.

For the rest of the call, they gave Henry their latest news. About Regina starting to give Neal more lessons to control his magic. About the celebrity chef coming next weekend to plan their wedding banquet. And other minor news about the wedding planning and David's recovery. Once they finished the call, Regina was by his side in an instant.

"What's going on with Roland?"

"Really not sure. I'll go up and talk to him."

~oOo~

After leaving him a good ten minutes, he knocked on his son's door. "Roland, may I come in?"

He asked twice, and getting no answer, slowly opened it to find his son sitting on the bed, fully clothed, staring blankly at the television screen. "Roland? Talk to me please?"

"Hmm? Sorry, it's nothing. I'm fine…"

"Clearly you're not fine, Roland! And you and I have never held secrets from each other, have we? Talk to me? You know by now you can tell me anything. Please?"

Roland sighed, loudly. "Not about this…"

By this time, Regina had walked up the stairs, but hesitated about joining them, listening instead from outside the door, unseen.

"Roland, I'm serious! Are you being bullied at school? Just tell me?"

The red-eyed twelve-year-old looked up at him, with a grief-stricken stare. "No. If I ask you something, something personal. You swear you'll tell me the truth? And nothing but?"

That was a surprise! "I swear." He didn't hesitate. He'd never lie to his son.

"I heard some old women talking in the village. I think one of them might have been Gilbert's mum. They obviously didn't know I was listening because they were talking about you. And Emma and Regina. The fact that everyone knows you're going to get married. Again. Then they started talking about my real mum, Marian."

It was very rare for Roland to refer to Regina as anything over than his mum these days. Her ears pricked up.

A hint of hardness entered his voice as he looked into his father's eyes.

"Is it true Regina murdered my mum?"

~oOo~