Personal Prompt: Schooled in Love verse - Roland has a problem at school but is too embarrassed to tell Regina.
This takes place a few months after we last saw the family. Last time, Roland was preparing for middle school and shopping for new clothes with Robin and Regina. They adopted a little boy, Henry, back in November, and he's now 2.5. The one shot this comes after is chapter 12 in this collection of one shots and was written for last year's prompt party!
Enjoy!
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Banner Day:
He's hiding something.
Regina can just tell. Roland isn't her little first grader anymore, he's now in sixth grade—a middle schooler—but he's still her baby boy in her mind.
But something is bothering him. She can tell in the way he slinks to his room with barely a hello to her or his little brother.
Henry, in all his two and a half year old glory, pouts up at Regina with a furrowed brow that reminds her so much of herself, despite him not sharing a single gene with her. "Ro mad?"
Regina can't help but grin, bending down to pick her son up. "I'm not sure, baby," she says, pressing a kiss to his pudgy cheek and setting him down on the kitchen counter.
She stands in front of him, hands on Henry's legs to keep him in place. "How about we start dinner and let him cool down?"
"Mmtay!"
Regina lets the toddler down, walking over to the refrigerator to pull out the contents for their meal.
"What eatin', Mama?"
"Lasagna," Regina tells him, bopping him on the nose as she moves around the little boy that always likes to be underfoot while Regina is in the kitchen.
After bargaining with Henry that if he watches a movie while Mama cooks, then he can have a snack—fruit snacks to be exact, nothing that will ruin his appetite—Regina finally starts preparing the casserole dish with all of the ingredients (including her secret one that Robin has yet to figure out after all these years.)
All the while, she keeps glancing over her shoulder to see if Roland has come down the steps yet. Henry is contentedly sitting in a pile of his blankets that he'd dragged down from his bedroom (with her help, of course) as soon as Regina brought him home from daycare, surrounded by his stuffed bunny, fox and elephant. They all seem to be watching the movie with him as he whispers softly to them.
Regina grins, wishing her hands were free to snap a picture to send to Robin.
Sighing, she turns back to the oven, worrying about Roland the whole time. He'd seemed fine this morning, grabbing some toast and gulping down some apple juice as he ran out to the bus stop, waving off his father as Robin started lecturing him about being responsible and waking up on time for school.
It's almost Christmas time, and ever since school started in August, Regina has been so sad not to have her car buddy with her anymore. She always loved driving to work each morning with Roland as her co-pilot. It was wonderful in the beginning of her relationship with Robin, giving her time to bond with the little boy, and as he progressed through the grades, she was able to glean an insight to the world of older students that she never got teaching first grade.
He would chatter away on the way home each day, telling her about his day and his teachers (which endlessly amused her since she was their co-worker). He would talk about his friends and activities they loved, and if he ever had a problem, their car ride home was when he'd open up to her. It was the perfect time to listen and give advice.
She missed that terribly. And she's convinced she cried harder than Robin on Roland's first day of middle school four months ago. She wasn't able to watch him get on the bus since she had to be at work (the elementary school starts earlier than middle), but Robin was sure to secretly snap some pictures—both of us knowing if Roland had caught him, he would have been beyond embarrassed.
"Daddy's home!" Regina hears, pulling her from her own thoughts.
Before she can even turn to greet her husband, she hears Henry's little feet pitter pattering across the hardwoods to see him.
"Hello, my little love!" Robin says, hanging his jacket on the rack by the front door and slipping his shoes under the entryway bench.
Henry bounces on his heels, waiting for Robin to settle his belongings, then leaps into his arms as soon as they're free.
"Woah," Robin laughs, kissing his cheeks. "Someone is excited."
"Wash'in Mow-annna," he drawls, struggling over the big words but pointing to the television in the next room where Moana is setting off on her grand adventure.
Robin smiles, murmuring something to him before setting him down. Henry scurries back to his pallet in the living room as Robin makes his way into the kitchen.
"Something smells delicious," he purrs, wrapping his arms around Regina from behind. He kisses her neck, inhaling as he trails his nose up to her jawline. "And I don't mean the food."
She snorts, rolling her eyes. She pushes back her hips to move him back a step, but he tightens his hold. "Hold out on that move until tonight, darling."
Laughing, she sets the bag of cheese down on the counter, turning in his arms. She wraps her arms around his neck, trying her best not to let her hands touch his hair since they're messy from cooking. She leans up, pecking a kiss to his lips. "If you're lucky." She gives him a coy smile, then asks, "How was work?"
Robin kisses her cheek, smiling down at her as he steps from her embrace. "It was wonderful." He goes on to tell her about the high school that came on a field trip and how a few of the students were asking him questions and seemed genuinely interested in what they do at the museum.
"Might have found some future employees," she grins, stepping around him to wash her hands.
He chuckles, walking to the other side of the counter and sitting in one of the bar stools. "How was your day, love?"
She sighs, recounting the god-awful staff meeting they'd had after work and how the most annoying second grade teacher started asking questions when their principal asked 'Does anyone have any questions'. "Everyone knows you're not supposed to actually ask! We were all so tired." Robin grins at her, taking the glass of water she's just offered him with a small thanks. "It was just a long day," she admits, shoulders slumping. She braces her hands on the counter across from him, sliding up onto it so her back is pressed into the corner where the cabinets meet. She tells him how one student peed his pants, her assistant principal came in for an observation while she was dealing with it, and two students got into a fight on the playground.
"Sounds like a banner day."
She huffs. "You have no idea." She takes a sip of water, glancing over Robin's shoulder to see Henry is still occupied by the movie and stuffed animals. His fruit snack wrapper is on the table and Regina calls out, "Henry, are you done with your snack?"
"Yes, Mama!" he absentmindedly calls, little hazel eyes still trained on the television screen.
"Well come throw your trash away."
Henry lets out a little sigh, making Robin and Regina both smirk at one another. He grabs his trash off the coffee table and begins wobbling cautiously backwards into the kitchen, his eyes never leaving the screen.
He bumps into Robin's chair, giggling when he turns around. "Oopsa, 'ere go, Dada."
"No, sir," he says, holding up his hands. "You have to be a big boy and do it yourself."
He huffs, walking around the counter and tossing the trash away before running back to the living room and settling in once more.
Regina smiles, looking at Robin. "On top of my bad day, it seems Roland had one, too."
Robin's brow furrows, looking over towards the stairs. "He's been in his room since he got home?"
"Yep," she says, smacking her lips. "I was waiting for you to get home so I could talk to him. Didn't want to leave Henry down here alone."
"Lord knows what the house would look like if you'd done that," Robin laughs, looking over his shoulder toward his youngest child.
Regina grins, walking around the kitchen counter and patting Robin on the shoulder. "I'll be right back."
With a kiss to the back of his head, she heads upstairs.
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"Knock, knock," she says, rapping her knuckles against his door gently.
When he grants her access with a mumbled come in, she opens the door slowly, peeking around it to look inside his room.
He's on his bed, book in his lap.
"So," she says, coming to sit down at his feet.
Roland sits up, pulling his legs in to sit criss-cross and closing his book. He sets it aside, sighing as he gives her a look that says he knows exactly why she's in here.
"I noticed you didn't say much when you got home. Henry was wondering where you went."
He smiles softly, tucking his head to his chin. He loves his little brother, it's always warmed Regina's heart to see him with Henry over the last year, but she knows the older he gets, the more he'll pretend he doesn't like his younger sibling.
"Sorry about that," he murmurs, head still down.
Regina places a crooked finger under his chin, tilting his head up gently. She stares into his chocolatey brown eyes she'd fallen in love with almost six years ago now, and she's randomly hit with a pang of sadness. His little glasses are gone, replaced with contacts just before school started. It had made him look so grown-up, and Regina misses her little chubby cheeked first grader.
"That's okay," she assures, patting his knee. "Want to talk about it? Or do you want to talk to your dad? He just got home a few minutes ago."
Roland shakes his head, giving her a small smile. "Nah," he breathes, "it's okay."
She sits there for a moment, knowing her step-son better than most. She knows he's sorting out his feelings, or working on the right way to word whatever it is he needs to tell her.
Those car rides to and from work from second to fifth grade had really bonded them, and Roland had always found a confidant in Regina. It made Robin a little jealous at first when he realized Roland was opening up to her on their way home and he was missing it, always wanting to be a part of his son's life, but after a while, he grew to love how close she and Roland had become.
With an exaggerated sigh, Roland looks up at her. "It's just…" Another sigh, and his eyes glance toward his bedside table. "We got progress reports today."
"Okay…" she says, not wanting to rush him.
"And, well, ugh," he grunts, reaching over for it and handing it to her.
She opens it up, scanning the grades. These aren't final, just a report to show parents the progress their child is making before report cards come out in March.
Language Arts - 96
Social Studies - 100
Science - 89
Math - 68
Oh.
"I'm failing math, Gina."
She smiles sympathetically, brushing his hair away from his face. "Oh, sweetheart, it's alright."
He rolls his eyes in his pre-teen way, shrugging away from her. "I didn't wanna tell you or dad… but especially you."
Hurt flashes across her face, and she's glad he's not looking at her just now. "Why not?"
Before he can answer, his door bursts open, Henry running in and climbing into Regina's lap with a grunt and a groan. "Hi, Ro!"
Roland smiles, taking Henry's little hand in his as he glances up at his doorway where Robin stands.
"Hi, Dad."
"Hey, bud. You alright?" He looks to Regina, who is currently having her hair styled (tangled) by their toddler. "I tried to stop him from running up here, but he's a slippery little bugger."
Henry laughs in delight, looking over his shoulder at Robin. "Mm' no bugger!"
Everyone chuckles, Regina telling Robin it's fine and that he can stay. "Will you check on the lasagna, though, please? It should be about finished."
"Sure thing," Robin says, heading down the stairs.
Regina turns her gaze back to Roland, reassuring him, "You have time to get your grade up, sweetheart. This isn't your final grade."
"I know," he sighs, leaning back against his pillows as Henry settles in the space between his bent knees and Regina. Henry flops back onto the mattress, rounded belly sticking up and apparently playing some game with himself as he whispers things about baseballs and trucks to no one in particular.
Regina grins, looking back to Roland as he tells her, "I just didn't want you to know because you always told me how good I was at math. I didn't want to disappoint you."
Her face goes soft, and she feels like her heart could explode from loving this child so much. "Roland," she says, bracing her hand behind Henry's back as he slides off of the mattress. "I said that when you were in first grade," she chuckles, tapping his knee. "Math is much, much harder in middle school."
He nods but shrugs, his eyes trailing down to his brother as he lays on the floor, feet propped against the mattress, his little bare feet beating a rhythm into it.
"Hey," Regina calls quietly, getting Roland's attention again, "don't ever be afraid to tell me these things… or any things," she adds, knowing the older he gets, the more personal problems he will face. She thinks for a second, knowing she can't tutor him in middle school math. She's an expert at two-digit addition and subtraction thanks to her job, but middle school is a whole other ballgame. "How about your dad and I look into getting you a tutor, hm?"
He groans, rolling his eyes and looking up at the ceiling. "That's so embarrassing."
"No, it's not," she croons. "There's nothing wrong with asking for a little help sometimes."
She watches as Roland stares at the ceiling, head lolling side to side as he thinks it over. He finally looks back to her and huffs dejectedly. "Fine. But I don't want anyone to know. No one else has a tutor."
"That you know of," she says pointedly, giving him one of her mother-looks with a raised brow. "We could even hire one that comes to the house so you wouldn't run the risk of seeing someone you know."
She wants to grin, or laugh, knowing how silly it is, but he's twelve and to him, that would be a big deal. So she squashes her grin, catching Henry's foot as it bangs against her shin for the fourth time.
Henry giggles wildly, standing up and making his way in between Regina's knees. He lays his head down one way, then the other, watching his big brother closely. He sucks on his thumb, smiling and laughing at who knows what around the appendage at Roland, the drool creating a wet spot on Regina's yoga pants she'd changed into as soon as she got home.
"Yeah, that might be okay," Roland relents, reaching out to ruffle Henry's dark hair.
The younger boy rights himself at that, pressing his little hands onto Regina's thighs and lifts himself into the air, his tiny legs bending backwards to swing in the air.
"Your father or I could take a certain someone," she darts her eyes down to the acrobat currently bruising her legs, "to the park while they're here so there isn't any distraction."
Roland chuckles, nodding his head. "I guess that could work."
She smiles at his attempt to not fully agree with the plan, trying to play it cool. Taking his progress report, she folds it up, telling him she'll show Robin after dinner.
Roland nods, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "Thanks, Gina."
Smiling from him to Henry, she gently stands, causing Henry to have to stand once more. This apparently is the end of the world as his face crinkles up in annoyance before it grows red with his cries. He falls to the ground dramatically, kicking and crying, all the while mumbling something almost incoherent. "Wan'swing… onna leeeeegs."
Closing her eyes to collect herself, knowing these toddler tantrums won't last forever, Regina sighs. "Well, it's time to eat, so Roland and I will be downstairs," she declares, motioning with her eyes for Roland to join her at the door. He grins, stepping over the wild man who has now flipped himself onto his stomach, tiny fists hitting the carpeted floor beneath him. "When you're ready, come to the table."
"Carry me!" he calls, reaching his chubby arms up into the air and giving Regina the most puppy dog eyed expression she's ever seen.
"Lord," she mumbles to herself, "you get that look from your father, genetics or not." She lifts Henry up into her arms, his head clunking into the nook between Regina's jaw and shoulder, tears and snot collecting there.
They follow Roland down the steps and into the kitchen where Robin has already set the table. Henry magically stops crying as soon as he hears Robin ask, "What's wrong, little guy?" as he perks up from Regina's hold, reaching out for Robin.
He grins, taking the toddler in his arms but telling him softly that he has to be a big boy and walk so they can fix their plates.
"Mmtay," he sniffles, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. He holds his little plastic plate out so Robin can scoop lasagna onto it.
Roland walks behind his brother, ever vigilant with his hands practically carrying the plate for Henry to make sure he makes it the few wobbly steps to the table before going over to fix his own plate.
Robin stands back, watching his oldest son. He looks over to Regina who is getting the fruit out of the refrigerator. Without needing words, she knows he's asking Is everything okay?
Smiling, and thankful the way the kitchen is set up that Roland can't see her from his spot at the table, she nods. She walks over to Robin, her hands still full with the fruit bowl. She leans up, kissing his cheek. "Everything is fine," she whispers, "I'll tell you after dinner."
He nods, taking the bowl from her hands and walking it over to the table while she fixes her plate.
They eat peacefully, Henry rambling on about something his friend did at school in his ever increasing vocabulary, and Roland joins in, chatting with him about what he'll get to do when he goes to big boy school.
"Imma bi'boy!"
"Yeah," Roland laughs, "but in two years, you'll get to go to big big boy school." Henry's eyes light up as he perks up in his seat, looking at his big brother in wonderment. "And you'll get to ride with your mom to school every day. It's great."
Robin reaches over, taking Regina's hand in his at the statement. She looks over, trying to hide the fact that her eyes are misting up with emotions.
He smiles knowingly at her, squeezing her hand before letting it go so they can both eat.
Robin winks at her, causing her to giggle, and she blinks, trying to clear her eyes.
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After dinner, and baths, and one too many bedtime stories for Henry (one that had to be read by Ro and the other by Daddy and finally another read by Mama), Regina tugs on a long-sleeve top and climbs onto their still made bed. She opens the book she's been reading, waiting for Robin to finish his shower.
He comes out from their bathroom, towel wrapped around his waist. He starts to dry off, changing into his flannel pajama pants as he inquires, "So, what happened with Roland?"
She closes her book with a sigh, setting it on her bedside table. She glances at her husband's naked form appreciatively before reaching over and picking up Roland's progress report that she'd brought in here earlier. "This," she replies, opening it up and tossing it to the end of the bed.
Robin pulls on his green t-shirt, padding over to the end of the bed. He looks it over, forehead scrunching when he sees the failing grade. "He's failing Math?"
Regina nods, removing her glasses and setting them on her nightstand as she recounts her conversation with Ro from earlier. "He was embarrassed and didn't want to tell us."
"And that's why he was hiding up here until dinner," he finishes for her, climbing onto the foot of the bed and patting her thigh.
He falls back, laying horizontally across the end of their mattress, one hand on his chest, the other stretched out to hold hers as he stares up at the ceiling.
He's quiet for a moment, and she can see his mind whirling with thoughts. "So, we get a tutor for him."
"That's what I told him," she says, maneuvering herself onto her stomach, knees bent up into the air behind her. She lifts their joined hands in the space between them, playing with his fingers.
The winter chill in the air, even with the heat on, makes her shiver, and Robin turns his head to look at her, grinning. "Cold?"
"Yeah," she laughs, swatting at his belly. "I kind of want some warm apple cider before bed, though."
He chuckles, groaning as he stands from the mattress and reaches out a hand. "Milady."
Grinning, she takes his hand, swinging her legs off the side of the bed and following him quietly down the stairs and into the kitchen.
She turns on the stove top, heating a pot before pouring the cider into it. She adds a bit more cinnamon while it's heating up while Robin places a hand on her hip, leaning to her right to grab two mugs from the cabinet. "Thank you," she says, pouring their cider in.
He smiles, taking one mug from her and walking over to the kitchen table. She joins him, both silently sipping their drinks before she speaks. "He wants them to come here, though, the tutor," she clarifies, "says he doesn't want anyone to see him going into the learning center."
She watches her husband's stomach jiggle as he tries to stifle his laugh.
"He's already a teenager," he groans dramatically, rubbing a hand down his face and scratching at his stubble. "I can't imagine what it'll be like around here when he's a little older."
Regina smiles into her mug, the steam warming her face. "It'll be interesting for sure," she relents, "but we'll make it."
"Yes, we will," he agrees, leaning over to kiss her cheek.
They talk for a bit longer over their options, wanting to respect Roland's need for privacy when it comes to being tutored in Math. They agree to find someone who will come to the house, both whole-heartedly agreeing that one of them will have to take Henry somewhere for that hour each week so Roland can truly focus and learn.
"We really need to get him into little league or a gymnastics class, or," she huffs as a laugh bubbles up in her throat, "something to get his energy out of his system."
Robin laughs, but agrees. "Our little wild one."
She grins, still not fully believing that this is her life.
"Come on," he says, taking her now empty mug from the table. "Let's go to bed."
He rinses the mugs out and places them into the dishwasher before joining her in their bedroom.
He climbs into bed, kissing her goodnight before she turns off the bedside lamp and burrowing herself under the covers. "Love you," she says, rolling so she's cocooned in his arm.
"Love you, too."
A few quiet moments later, she feels Robin's breath even out, and she knows he's already asleep. She's always been envious that he can fall asleep so quickly while she's left to lay there, mind racing with too many thoughts.
She thinks back on the day, how hard work had been, but knows that's just how it goes some days as a teacher. Tomorrow would be much better. Her mind shifts to her own children, and she replays her conversation with Roland.
Regina smiles to herself, hoping that no matter what and no matter how old he gets, he'll always be willing to open up to her about it.
He'll always be her little boy that had her wrapped around his little finger the moment she met him, but now that he's truly part of her family, she's thankful every day that Robin Locksley decided to move to town… and even happier that he showed up for a parent-teacher conference so many years ago because her life has only gotten better with her boys, including their newest little guy, in it.
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Thanks for reading! Thoughts? :)
