Here's the third chapter! I hope you guys are enjoying the story.
It was a mild autumn day. Robin and the boys were out in the back yard raking up leaves. Well, Robin was raking the leaves. Any pile that Henry and Roland made was promptly destroyed when they decided to jump into it. Regina decided to take a break from watching her men and make lunch. She opened the refrigerator and pulled out fixings for turkey and cheese sandwiches. She then went to the cupboard and pulled out a can of tomato soup. She turned on the stove and dumped the tomato soup into a sauce pan to warm. While the soup was heating she buttered the bread and stacked heaps of turkey and slices of cheese to make toasted sandwiches. For her sandwich however, she decided she wanted pimento cheese and sliced green olives. It was going to be the best sandwich ever, she decided. With the soup heating on the stove and one last turn of her sandwich, Regina opened the cabinet doors again. Even though it wasn't too chilly outside, she thought warm apple cider might go well with the soup and sandwiches.
"Hey wifey, whatcha up to? It smells wonderful in here!" Robin greeted her with a kiss. In followed Roland and Henry each who pulled up chairs to the kitchen table.
"Hey honey. Boys, please take off your coats, and hang them in the hall closet before sitting down. I'll set everything out, ok?"
"Mkay," mumbled the boys in unison.
It had taken a few months of adjustment, but the boys seemed to getting along a lot better than when Robin and Regina first married. Sure Henry and Roland had gotten along surprisingly well while Robin and Regina were dating. In fact, Robin and Regina took it as a good sign to continue dating once they introduced their children to each other. Never had Regina been so nervous when Robin first introduced her to Roland. She wanted to make a good impression on the young boy seeing as she was stealing Robin all for herself. Well, that's what Robin told her Roland said to him one day. Regina told Robin they couldn't have the poor boy thinking she was stealing his father and that perhaps if they met she could explain herself. Robin was a bit taken aback with her forwardness but he consented that if they were truly serious, which he thought they were, he would love it if she could meet his little boy.
Robin's attention then went to when he would get to meet Regina's son. She blinked in surprise. Well of course she should introduce Robin to Henry, her little over protective knight. Robin and Regina always met wherever they were going for their date, or they would sometimes meet at the other's respective workplace. Robin had nudged her when she seemed to be taking too long to respond, he was a little worried. That was fine, she told him, but it might be easier if they worked on Roland getting used to the idea of them being together first, she suggested. Robin seemed hesitant, but then again this was the first time since he started back dating after his wife Lydia's passing that he had dated long enough to introduce the lad to his newest lady friend.
They decided on a neutral meeting place. The school's Fall Festival was coming up and the entire town was coming out to celebrate. Regina thought it might be a nice stress-free place for Roland and she could also bring Henry without having to worry about keeping an eye on him. Regina told Robin how Henry had volunteered them to make her famous apple pies which caused Robin to almost choke on his beer from laughing at the innuendo. Regina simply rolled her eyes.
"Do boys ever really grow up?" she quipped before taking a sip of her apple cider.
"Mmm, of course they do! Do women know how to have fun?" Robin retorted.
Two weeks later found Regina and Henry heading across the school campus carrying her famous apple pies.
"Hey, can I help you carry those?" Robin approached the pair. For a brief moment Regina looked like a deer caught in headlights. He'd forgotten that today was for Roland and that Henry was still off limits.
"Oh, hey Mr. Hood! I didn't know you'd be here. Hey mom, this is the assistant soccer coach. He's cool" Regina's eyes softened. She didn't know Robin assisted with soccer. She was learning more and more about this man. The more and more she learned, the more she liked.
"Hello Mr. Hood, a pleasure to meet you. I suppose you could help me carry the pies over to the dessert table." Regina said as she allowed Robin to take a couple pies off the top of her stack. Robin eyed her with that dopey grin he always seemed to reserve just for her. After they dropped the pies off Henry headed over to the bouncy house as he tossed over his shoulder something about the two of them talking about Henry's future in soccer. Regina rolled her eyes.
"So, I see you already know my son then. Well, where's Roland?"
"I had no clue he was your son! You don't make it to the games?"
"Sure I do, but I think you only pay attention to women when they're dressed in plunging necklines waiting for a tow truck," she scoffed, referencing to how they met.
"So you don't wear plunging necklines to the soccer games?" She shook her head and she took Robin's lead to start walking over to a bench.
"Roland! Roland my boy! I have someone I'd like you to meet!"
"Who is it daddy?" screamed the little boy from the playground. He was swinging on the swings, kicking his little legs and not really getting any higher.
"A thief!" he called back to his son. Regina cocked her head.
"A thief?!" she responded.
"A thief daddy? Like we are?" Regina did a double take and mouthed Roland's response seeing the boy trot over to where they were sitting.
"Ha ha, he uh, he means like when we play Robin Hood. It's currently on repeat on our DVD player." Robin responded while Roland climbed into his father's lap and stared curiously at Regina.
"Oh, I see. Hello, you must be Roland. Your father has told me all about you!" Regina stuck out her hand towards Roland for him to shake. The little boy continued to stare at Regina.
"It's okay Roland, she won't bite, I promise." Robin tried to coax Roland to shake Regina's proffered hand.
"Is she the lady who stealeded you away?" Roland questioned looking up at his father.
"Yes, my boy. She has stolen me away, she has stolen my heart." Regina's eyes went wide again. Was this man confessing his love for her in front of his son?
"She stoleded your heart?! Hey lady, you need to give that back! Daddy will die without that! I don't want him to die and leave me like my mommy left me," the little boy began to cry. Oh no, what had Robin done?
"Hey, hey little man. It's just a figure of speech! My heart is still in my chest. Here, let me see your hand," Robin pulled Roland's tiny little hand against his chest so he could feel it beating. "See? It still beats, it beats for you, mommy in Heaven and now, for Regina." Regina wasn't quite sure what to make of this scene. She wasn't sure how she felt about this relationship and here Robin was practically professing his love for her. How could Robin be so sure? So forward. So downright infuriating. She wanted to get up and leave, she was feeling a little panicky.
"Regina? Are you okay?" Robin called out to her, looking a little worried. He suddenly realized what he was doing. "Oh my, oh my god, I am so sorry Regina. I didn't mean to, my this must be a bit overwhelming for you, isn't it?"
"Yeah, just a little," Regina nervously chuckled. She pulled her hair behind her ears.
"Hey mom! There you are! I've been looking for you! Are you and Mr. Hood having a nice chat about my soccer career?" Henry called as he bounded towards the adults.
"Oh, hey Henry. Sorry to tell you but Mr. Hood agrees with me, you should stick with Math!" Regina nervously supplied. She was glad Henry chose that moment to interrupt the awkwardness that was Robin confessing his love for Regina.
"Mo-om!" Henry whined. "Fine. Mary-Margaret needs you to come help out at the apple table, she said something about you being the Evil Queen who knows her way around apples or other, if we hurry we can get an apple and decorate them!" Henry supplied pulling his mom to her feet. Just then Regina got an idea.
"Hey Henry, have you met Roland, Mr. Hood's son?" She gestured to the small boy sitting on Robin's lap.
"Oh, hey Roland. I think I've seen you around soccer practice sometimes, yeah?"
"Hee hee, yea! I help pick up the balls! It's fun!"
"Henry, why don't you and Roland get a head start towards the apple table, hmm? Tell Mary-Margaret the Evil Queen shall make her grand entrance in a few moments." Regina sighed before turning towards Robin. He could feel her eyes on him. As much trepidation he was feeling right now, he wasn't sad at all about his sudden confession. It just felt right.
"So, I'm the thief who has not only stolen time away from your child, but I have also stolen your heart?"
"Yes, yes, you have stolen my heart. Although, had you asked, I most certainly would've given it to you," he said, reaching for her hand.
"Well then, Mr. Hood would you like something in exchange?" Where was thing coming from? She didn't know. It had certainly been a long time since she's felt this way about anyone since Daniel, and she still wasn't quite sure what it was exactly she was feeling.
"Something in exchange, milady? I'm not sure what you're getting at here."
"Oh, don't you know? I may be a thief of hearts, but I am also a giver." Regina grasped Robin's hand and guided it towards her chest.
"Milady, I don't think it's appropriate to have me grope you in public, here, at a children's event," Robin laughed nervously.
"Shhh, I'm trying to be romantic here," she hushed Robin as she splayed his hand where her heart lay beating rapidly in apprehension. "I am trusting you with my heart. I have not given such trust to anyone in a long time, Mr. Hood. You have no idea the gravity of this situation," she supplied. Robin turned serious, for he definitely did have an idea of the gravity of the situation. He hadn't been kidding when he told his son that Regina had stolen his heart.
"My dear, I will cherish this for as long as God allows us to," he leaned in, about to capture her lips in a simple kiss when Henry's voice rang out.
"Mom! You guys are taking too long! All the candied sauce is gone! Mary-Margaret says all she has left is caramel!" Henry shouted from a distance. The pair chuckled and stood.
"Well, let's get going then, Mr. Hood. We'll finish this up later?" Regina said as she pulled Robin into a standing position and took his hand in hers.
"See Roland? I told you your dad would be a perfect match for my mom!" Henry whispered conspiratorially to the little boy.
"You did Henry! I can't wait for you to be my brother! We'll go on all sorts of advent, advent, what's that word again?" Roland whined.
"Adventures, Roland, adventures." The two boys walked hand in hand towards the picnic table area that housed the apple decorating supplies. Sure enough all the candied sauce was gone and so the four of them made caramel apples. It was a good day.
"Regina, hey, what are you thinking about?" Robin said calling his wife out of her reverie.
"Oh, nothing. Just thinking about the first time you said you loved me. Do you remember?"
"Oh, yes, you stole my heart." Robin supplied as he pulled her into a hug.
"Do you remember anything else about that day?" She inhaled the outdoor scent that clung to his shirt.
"Um, you trusted me with your heart too?" Regina huffed in a slight annoyance.
"Anything else?"
"Um, Regina dear, you're gonna have to help me out here."
"We made caramel apples. And I've suddenly lost my appetite for this sandwich I made."
"You have, have you?" Robin teased as he lifted her sandwich to take a bite, and chewed awkwardly before spitting out the contents. "Regina, what is this? This is disgusting."
"That? Hmmm, I don't know, pimento cheese and green olives? I know it sounds strange, but that's what I felt like eating," she said shrugging her shoulders.
"I don't see how; out of all your culinary concoctions this one should probably go in the dud pile." Regina scoffed at Robin's comment. "Come on now, you know I'm right. You don't even want it now."
"I know I don't want it now, I want something else."
"Good, what is it that you want?"
"Remember the Fall Festival?"
"You keep bringing that up."
"Yes, we made caramel apples that day. That day I stole your heart and gave you mine. I feel like caramel apples."
"Well then, my dear, if caramel apples is what you want, then caramel apples you shall have. I'll go to the store right now. Is there anything else you want?" Robin asked, grabbing his coat.
"Hmmm, yes, I think…I think chopped walnuts and banana peppers would be great toppers!"
"Walnuts I get, banana peppers? Are you feeling alright?"
"What? Of course! I meant the banana peppers…would be a great topper for salad. I am going to make a salad for dinner and I think banana peppers would go great on top of it," nice save Regina thought to herself. She had been coming up with some strange concoctions lately. Strange yes, delicious, most definitely yes. Robin left with a puzzled expression and all Regina could think about was banana peppers and walnuts on top of caramel apples.
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