Prompt: Schooled in Love verse—Regina and Robin dealing with Roland entering junior high school

Thanks again to whoever sent in a Schooled in Love prompt! This one was interesting to write because Roland is little always and forever in my head lol but this was a fun prompt, and I enjoyed writing it!

Hope y'all enjoy. Please review!

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Her Baby:

Regina sits, propped in a cushioned chair inside the dressing rooms at the department store. She watches as Roland comes out of his assigned room, stepping in front of her, Robin and the mirror to show off the new outfit she'd picked out for him.

He's sulking, like any good almost-middle-schooler would do being dragged to the mall with your parents to try on clothes for the upcoming school year. But he's her baby, and she wants to make sure he looks nice for middle school.

Middle. School.

She can't believe this precious little dimple faced boy that came into her classroom five years ago is now old enough to be starting junior high.

The thought makes her heart ache, and without thought, she reaches over and takes Robin's hand in hers.

He gives her a little squeeze, but she can't help the laugh she snorts out when she looks over, expecting him to look as misty-eyed as she, but sees him sulking just like his son. Clearly the boys are not enjoying this shopping trip like she is.

"Well, I think you look wonderful," she tells Roland, smiling over to her son.

He rolls his eyes, as expected, but she can spot the little grin tugging on his lips when he looks at her.

Even after all these years—moving in with the boys, their engagement, her marriage to Robin, becoming Roland's stepmom—he still looks at her like that six year old little boy that was so enamored with his teacher.

Robin used to joke that Roland was more in love with Regina than even he was, and all she could do was laugh and beam, because she knew it was true. She loved him just as much, and still does, more than anything.

"Gina," he huffs, turning to look at himself in the mirror. "Everyone will make fun of this shirt." He points wildly to the words I don't get distrac—, and she giggles; she'd thought the shirt was funny.

Regina shrugs, telling him as much. "People will laugh."

"Maybe the teachers," he grumbles, looking to Robin for help.

"Henry will like it," she tries, smiling encouragingly at her husband, giving him a look to help her out, then over to Roland.

"He's a baby, Gina!"

She grins, thinking of their other little boy. They'd adopted him nine months ago, the perfect pre-Christmas gift for the whole family. He was fifteen months old when they were finally able to pick him up from his foster family, and would be turning two this month.

He's been an amazing addition to the family, and sometimes Regina can't believe this is their life.

They'd gotten married when Roland was in second grade, tried to get pregnant for two years but quickly realized they couldn't. Even before their infertility issues, they'd discussed adoption so when the doctor told them it was next to impossible to conceive, they knew adopting was the way to go.

They had to wait almost a year to get the call about Henry, but as soon as Regina and Robin saw his picture, they knew that was their little boy.

It'd taken some time to get all the necessary paperwork completed, but once it was, they were able to pick him up this past November to finally bring him home.

She hears Robin chuckle beside her, bringing her from her thoughts of the chubby-faced little boy. He stands up to inspect his son and agrees that Roland looks nice in the black t-shirt and jeans, but, "If you don't like it, we don't have to get it."

With that, Roland rushes to the dressing room, locking the door behind him.

"At least keep the jeans on, Ro!" she calls, "Those looked nice."

Sighing, her shoulders slump, and Robin slides into the oversized chair with her. She has to lift up a bit, sitting halfway in his lap, but they make it work.

Robin squeezes around her middle, kissing the back of her ear. "It's one shirt, darling," he whispers. "He'll like the other ones you picked out."

She sighs again, leaning into his chest. "He's just growing up so fast. Last year, he would've laughed at that shirt."

Robin snorts, his breath blowing onto the back of her neck as he nods. He reminds her that he's going to middle school, and that comes with more responsibility to be cool.

Rolling her eyes, she glances over her shoulder at him. She leans in as best she can from this angle and kisses the tip of his nose, settling against his chest.

Her phone vibrates in her purse that's at her feet, so she reaches down, retrieving it. It's a text from Mary Margaret—a picture of Henry and Neal playing together on the floor at her house. Neal had been born three years ago and was enthralled with Henry from the first time they brought him over. They're only about a year apart, so Neal was thrilled to have a play buddy so close in age to him.

Adorable! Thanks again for watching him today, she sends back, turning her phone to show Robin the picture.

It was nice, having someone who was willing to watch Henry in moments like this. She knew Roland sometimes felt neglected, as any only-child-suddenly-turned-into-a-sibling would, thinking they spent all their time with Henry.

She was glad to spend a day just the three of them, because, really, it'd been a while, and she truly loved spending time with Roland.

Thoughts of all their early morning drives to school flash through her mind, and her smile falls. "I won't get to drive him to school anymore," she murmurs sadly, shaking her head to keep the tears at bay.

Ever since she moved in with Robin and Roland just before he started second grade, she'd driven him to school every day. It only made sense, not needing a bus when she worked at his school. Now, though, he'd ride the school bus each morning again and she'd drive to work by herself.

She so enjoyed those morning drives, not that the school was far from their house, but having fifteen minutes every day just the two of them was always so special to her.

Robin kisses her cheek, pulling her closer as he says, "I know, love, I know."

He doesn't tell her it will be okay, which she appreciates. She's allowed to be a little sad that their baby is growing up so quickly.

Before she can dwell on it too long, Roland comes out again, this time with a smile on his face. "Now this, I like!" he announces, beaming at himself in the mirror.

He looks at himself, turning from side to side, and she can just imagine him when he starts to gel his hair back like the cool guys in middle school, trying his best to charm the little girls at school with his good looks—his dimples and glasses only adding to his handsome-factor, she's sure.

Robin chuckles, wiggling out from under Regina to walk around his son, observing his new digs from every angle. "Lookin' sharp, my boy!"

Roland rolls his eyes, but this time there's a goofy grin accompanied with it. He turns to Regina then, his curly hair flopping about on his head. "Well?"

She beams, glad to get an input on this one as well. She surveys the dark denim, glad he kept those on from the last outfit, then checks out the grey polo he's put on. It's tucked into the jeans with a camel belt looped through the bottoms. "I think it looks very handsome." She smiles, loving how much like a little man he looks even though it stabs at her heart at the same time.

He grins, nodding as he agrees. "They have this shirt in black and green, too."

Robin and Regina both nod, Regina saying they'll pick them up on their way to the counter.

"Go try on the lighter jeans," she instructs, shooing him back into the dressing room.

He groans, mumbling that he thought he was done, and she snickers, knowing she'll owe both her boys some ice cream for all their hard work today.

Robin chuckles as Roland sulks back into the dressing room, ruffling his hair as he goes.

He comes to sit on the arm of Regina's chair, sighing as he does. "How many more outfits does he have left to try on?"

"Too many!" Roland shouts from inside his room, causing both adults to laugh softly.

Regina rolls her eyes, wondering in the back of her mind if she's where Roland gets that particular mannerism from, and pats Robin on the leg. "Just a few more. We can't send him to school with only three shirts and one pair of jeans."

She knows he has other clothes at home, and a closet full at Marian's as well, but, well… this is middle school. She wants him to look nice. And besides, he's a growing boy, all of the clothes he currently has won't fit him in a few months anyway.

"Mom is still gonna drag me here this weekend, too, I bet," he grumbles from the dressing room.

Robin smirks, looking down to Regina with a sympathetic shrug. They know he's right; Marian was upset that she couldn't make it today because of work, but she'd told them not to buy everything because she wanted to get him some things as well.

"At least this way, you and your mum won't have as much to do," Robin reasons.

Roland slinks out of the dressing room at that, sporting the lighter jeans and a more casual t-shirt. He looks as if they're torturing him, but nods at his father's words.

After another twenty minutes of trying on clothes, Regina finally deems it time to leave.

Robin and Roland both sigh with relief, high fiving each other as Regina shakes her head.

"Can we get ice cream now?" Robin asks, making Regina chortle.

"You sound like your son," she tells him, slapping his butt playfully as they exit the dressing room behind Roland.

With four new pairs of jeans and a handful of shirts in tow, they make their way to the register and then the ice cream shop, Regina dutifully fulfilling her promise to the boys.

They make their way from the mall, each munching happily on their treats as they walk to the car, while their shopping bags swing from Robin's arms.

Roland comes up beside her, his free arm wrapping around her waist.

Looking down, she smiles at her little boy, her free arm mirroring his as it wraps around his shoulders.

"Thanks for the new clothes, Gina," he says sheepishly, giving her an innocent little shrug of one shoulder.

Grinning, she slows their walking enough to be able to kiss the top of his head. "Anything for you, Ro."

He smiles at her, and she tries her best not to get teary-eyed at how big he seems in this moment. He hasn't grown an inch since yesterday, but for some reason, right this very second, he looks so much older, so much more mature, and she's not ready to handle these emotions.

"I love you, you know that?"

Roland smirks, his head falling to one side as he rolls his eyes, saying, "Yeah, I know," in a drawn out way that makes her laugh. She smirks, trying to contain her laughter; she's almost surprised he doesn't look around to make sure no one is within earshot to hear his stepmom be so mushy gushy. "I love you too," he mumbles quietly, making her heart swell.

They catch up to Robin then, Roland skipping a few steps ahead, and she takes two of the bags so her husband isn't carrying them all. He pulls her close, and she tucks her empty ice cream cup under his before he tosses them in the nearest trash can on their way to the car.

"Should we have gotten any for Mary and David?" Roland asks, turning to look at them.

Regina smiles at his thoughtfulness, shaking her head. "No, they're doing a cleanse right now, anyway, and Mary wouldn't want the temptation."

Roland shrugs, shoving his last bite into his mouth, dumping the container in the trash can as well.

Once the bags have been loaded in the back of the car and everyone is buckled up, Regina sends Mary a text, letting her know they're on their way.

Mary responds back with a thumbs up emoji and another picture—this one of Henry pulling all of Neal's toys off of the shelf, and Regina can't help but to laugh.

Henry is a happy little guy, always smiling, but definitely always curious and exploring new surroundings.

She shows Roland and Robin the picture, both her boys getting a good laugh out of it, and even more so when Mary sends a video of three-year-old Neal scolding two-year-old Henry for making a mess.

"We better go get him before Neal has a melt down," Robin quips, smirking as he pulls out of the parking spot.

As they drive away, she lets her head lean back against the headrest, listening to Robin and Roland discussing how he wants to spend the rest of his quickly-dwindling summer break.

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"I'm exhausted from today," Robin says, climbing into bed.

She snorts, shaking her head as she adjusts the baby monitor. "All you did was sit there. Ro did all of the work."

With a chuckle, he burrows into the bed beside her, reluctantly agreeing. "Well it was tiring just sitting there."

She grins, rolling her eyes as she reaches over to turn off the lamp by the bed.

Situating herself back under the covers, she wiggles herself over to Robin, his arm wrapping around her.

"He's growing up so fast," Robin whispers, kissing the top of her head.

She nods against his chest, listening to his heart beat beneath her ear.

They lay there in silence for a few moments, Regina tracing soft patterns against his skin.

Before long, she hears a sniffle and tilts her head up, trying to see him in the dark of the room.

She can see his silhouette, just barely visible from the moonlight shining through the window, but she reaches up nonetheless, cupping his jaw.

Scooting up so she's closer to his face, she kisses his cheek, his jaw, then his lips, peppering loving kisses there. "It'll be okay," she murmurs, nuzzling his neck.

Robin takes a deep breath, chuckling wetly. "And here I was the one comforting you earlier."

She giggles, her arm draping over his stomach. "Well, it's emotional for all of us."

He nods, then kisses her head again before lapsing into silence once more.

Images of first grade Roland filter through her mind—she thinks about how his face lit up when he realized she wore black glasses like him, how excited he'd been to make Native American headbands for Thanksgiving, his face on Christmas morning when he realized his Regina was there, too. That first year was filled with so many wonderful memories, as has every year since.

The way he'd giggled through Robin's proposal, making her smile but Robin pout, wanting that moment to be perfect. Little did he know at the time, though, that having Roland there made it perfect in every way.

Roland walking down the aisle at their wedding carrying the little pillow with their rings on it, his little dimpled smile beaming up at her as she cried and promised in her vows to be a good stepmom to him, to always keep him safe and love him. And she'd meant it.

Roland may not be her blood, but he is her son, and she's thankful everyday that she was gifted such a wonderful little boy.

"Remember when he was in third grade and got in trouble for kissing girls on the playground?"

She guffaws, burying her face in Robin's chest at the memory. "Oh god," she laughs, choking for air, "I will never forget his face when his teacher came to my room after school that day to tell me."

He'd been on the computer, waiting for Regina to finish her work, and she thought his eyes were going to practically pop out of his face when he saw Mrs. Brogdon walk in, knowing exactly what she was going to tell her.

Robin laughs, his chest shaking with the movement. "I thought he'd never come out of his room that night."

They chuckle at the memory, spending the next few moments reminiscing on all the funny memories their little boy has provided over the years.

After a while, Robin sighs, rubbing slowly, soothingly, up and down Regina's back. It's lulling her to sleep, but she knows her husband isn't ready for bed; he's still too much in his head over Roland growing up.

"Middle school," he breathes, his hand patting her hip gently before resuming it's slow pattern on her spine.

Sighing, she whispers a yeah before leaning up, kissing Robin on the lips. His arms pull her closer, pressing their lips together more firmly, and she smiles into the embrace.

Pulling back, she pecks his lips once more, then settles back against his chest. "We'll be okay," she declares, patting his stomach. "We better enjoy middle school because before we know it, he'll be off to high school."

"Oh, god," Robin groans, a hand coming up to scrub at his face. "Don't remind me."

Giggling, she kisses the skin over his heart before snuggling back into his side.

A teenager and a toddler all under the same roof. Life was certainly about to get a whole lot more interesting, especially with Henry now walking and grabbing at anything he could reach. His terrible threes (because everyone knows three is worse than two) would be hitting around the time Roland would become a tweenager, and she can't even imagine what this house will be like when that happens.

She giggles, thinking about Roland's attitude earlier in the day, and Robin squeezes her shoulder, mumbling a sleepy, "Wh'is it"?

"Nothing," she sighs with a chuckle, "just thinking about him becoming a teenager... And Henry being a moody toddler."

"Shit," Robin laughs, "It's going to be like having two teenagers in the house."

Laughing, she agrees, but promises, "It'll be the adventure of a lifetime."

"That it will, Milady," he jokes, kissing her nose when she looks up at him. "But there's no one I'd rather survive it with than you."

Her nose scrunches at the sensation, and she smiles, leaning her head back against his chest.

As they drift off to sleep, visions of their baby going to middle school plague her mind. It's scary, but exciting, and she knows no matter what junior high may bring, her little boy will always be her baby.