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Robin entered the kitchen to find Regina leaning on the kitchen counter, lips pursed with a scowl on her face. She was chewing on the eraser of the pencil she had in her hand while she stared at the piece of paper resting on the counter. He called out to her,
"Hey Regina. Shopping list gotcha stumped?" He said as he opened the fridge and pulled out the orange juice and poured himself a glass. Regina simply hummed in response and jotted something down on the paper. Robin came to stand beside Regina. She reached out, taking his glass of orange juice and took a sip.
"Ohhhh kay. Well I'm just gonna grab the boys and we'll play ding dong ditch, starting with our house." Robin was quite perplexed by Regina's attention to the shopping list. Really, they usually just jotted down when someone took the last of something on the magnetic list on the fridge. This list was different. The regular list still hung on the fridge. He came to stand beside her again and leaned over her shoulder.
"Hey! Robin, you're kinda stressing me out here." Regina stalked off towards the kitchen table and sat down in front of what he supposed was her breakfast. That is if you call regular salted potato chips and pimento cheese breakfast.
"Hey, what's going on? How complicated could a shopping list be? Why aren't you using the one we always write on anyways?" Robin asked while sitting down next to Regina and attempting to swipe some chips before Regina could slap his hand away.
"This is just not some list, Robin. This is the list for Thanksgiving dinner. Our first one as a family and I want it to be perfect." Robin chuckled.
"Oh Regina, love. It would be a perfect dinner if it only consisted of spaghetti and garlic bread just because we are spending it together as a family." Robin leaned in and kissed Regina's cheek. She huffed out again.
"You don't understand! I really really want this to be special, okay? Don't make fun! If you're not going to help then you can take the boys out for a while so I can finish the list and get the shopping done." She was almost in tears. Robin didn't quite understand this sudden rush of emotions but he gave her a gentle hug and peered down at the list.
"Okay, well you've got turkey and a ham? Hmm. Mashed potatoes, love those and so does Roland. Dressing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, corn, sweet potato soufflé . This is a lot of food! Who are you feeding, an army?"
"Well, I thought since it was so special we could invite our close friends over to celebrate since they're like our family, if that's alright with you."
"Oh Regina, love. It would be a perfect dinner if it only consisted of spaghetti and garlic bread just because we are spending it together as a family." Robin leaned in and kissed Regina's cheek. She huffed out again.
"You don't understand! I really really want this to be special, okay? Don't make fun! If you're not going to help then you can take the boys out for a while so I can finish the list and get the shopping done." She was almost in tears. Robin didn't quite understand this sudden rush of emotions but he gave her a gentle hug and peered down at the list.
"Okay, well you've got turkey and a ham? Hmm. Mashed potatoes, love those and so does Roland. Dressing, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, collard greens, corn, sweet potato soufflé . This is a lot of food! Who are you feeding, an army?"
"Well, I thought since it was so special we could invite our close friends over to celebrate since they're like our family, if that's alright with you."
"Well if that's what you want to do and if it will make you happy, then it will make me happy. Let's do it! I only have one request for your menu and I hope you'll oblige."
"Hmmmm, what's that?"
"I need one of your famous apple pies. Al.l To. My. Self," he punctuated the words with a kiss on her cheek, forehead, nose and lips.
"Well, I suppose that can be arranged," Regina leaned into Robin with a smile. The doorbell rang and Robin and Regina could hear the footsteps of their boys running down the steps. "Boys! No running! You know the rules!" Regina called out.
"What's got them all excited? I've never seen them in such a hurry to answer the door."
"Oh, that might be because I arranged a play date for today."
"Really now? And how do you plan on getting the shopping done for this feast you're so anxious about while entertaining kids on a play date?"
"Easy, you're in charge of the play date!" Regina laughed as she stood up from the table and went to the front door to greet her guests, Mary-Margaret, David and little Neal. "Why, hello Neal!" Regina reached out to take the toddler from David's arms so Mary-Margaret and David could step inside.
"Hey Regina, Robin. Hello Roland and Henry," Mary-Margaret greeted the family. "Regina, are you ready to go? We've got a lot to do today."
"Wha? What is going on here? Today is Saturday, a day of rest. I was planning on lounging around the house, resting." Robin complained.
"Oh, this is what they do! They secretly plan your days off and then tell you last minute you get to watch three boys while they go shopping so they can, and I quote, 'slave over a hot stove for a Thanksgiving feast sure to knock your socks off!' end quote," David said, complete with air quotes. Regina turned and smiled. Robin looked at her. She had the biggest grin on her face and seemed completely content with Neal resting on her hip. He pulled out his phone and snapped a picture. He stepped to her and took Neal out of her arms.
"What was that for?" She asked as she handed the toddler over.
"Nothing, you just looked incredibly happy and I wanted to savor the moment. Now you two go! I hope this feast will be worth it!" Robin pulled out Regina's coat and held it out to her.
"Alright. Boys, behave for Robin and David. We might bring you back a treat. Please don't destroy the house. Santa's watching."
"Santa can see us? Where is he? I'm not done with my list yet!" Roland chattered away and the adults couldn't help but laugh at his precociousness.
"Ro, Santa's just watching to make sure we're doing what we're supposed to be doing, otherwise we don't get presents. Come on, I'll let you pick out a movie as long as it's not Robin Hood, Lady and the Tramp or The Lion King." Henry responded before dragging the five year old towards the den.
Regina and Mary-Margaret settled themselves into Mary-Margaret's car. Regina still had a few things she wanted to add to the list, she just wanted to run them by Mary-Margaret first since they would be the ones cooking all the food. She was also hoping to rope Emma into joining their little feast as well. While she was thinking about what other items besides Thanksgiving food to put on her list, she was acutely aware of Mary-Margaret calling her name.
"Regina!"
"Hmm? Did you say something?"
"What's the matter? You looked like you were miles away!"
"Oh, yes, I'm fine. Just thinking about what else we might like to cook."
"Well, what have you already got on there?"
"Oh, um I have turkey, ham, macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, corn, sweet potato soufflé, collard greens. Can you make green bean casserole? I'm sure I could manage from a recipe. Robin wants me to make apple pies. What else do you think we might need?"
"Well, I'm sure I could manage a green bean casserole just as well as you can. We need more green things. How about some broccoli? I make an awesome broccoli stir fry. What other desserts...Regina? Are you listening?" Mary-Margaret snapped her fingers to get her friend's attention.
"Oh, yes I'm listening. I think writing while riding isn't sitting well with my stomach," she said as she placed the grocery list in her bag and rested her head in her hands.
"Are you okay Regina? You're looking a little pale. We're almost to the store. Please don't get sick in my car." Mary-Margaret said half-jokingly, hoping to ease Regina's pain. Regina shot her a death glare. Apparently she wasn't in the mood for jokes.
"Um, do you think you can pull over? I think I'm gonna," Regina cracked the window to catch a breeze.
"Oh, no you don't! Wait two seconds, Regina. Regina?!" Mary-Margaret pulled the car over just in time for Regina to wrench the car door open and vomit what looked like orange chunks.
The pixie-cut brunette parked her car, quickly hopped out and rounded the car to help her friend. She rubbed soothing circles on Regina's back while she finished vomiting what Mary-Margaret supposed was Regina's breakfast. After a few moments, Regina's episode subsided into dry heaves and she eventually stopped. Mary-Margaret reached into her glove compartment for some napkins and handed them to Regina.
"Ahem, uh, thanks Mare. I don't know what came over me. Perhaps I shouldn't have eaten those potato chips with pimento cheese," Regina eased herself back into the car with an uneasy chuckle. Mary-Margaret stared at Regina for a few seconds and then walked back around to the driver's side of the car. She fastened her seatbelt and resumed driving. A few moments passed before Mary-Margaret decided to address Regina.
"Regina, Robin mentioned to me you've been getting sick and that you refuse to see a doctor." Regina paused and stared at her friend for a moment before responding.
"Oh he did, did he? Well Robin needs to mind his own business. Sometimes food just doesn't sit well with me. I try to stick to a very careful diet, which was easier when it was just me and Henry. Being married to Robin, I have had to indulge in some rather unhealthy food choices sometimes. I don't want to be a spoil sport when we go out for pizza and I eat a salad," she huffed out in annoyance.
"Regina, he's just concerned. He doesn't want to lose you like he's already lost his first wife. You can't blame him for that." Regina softened a bit, and then her eyes seemed to well up with tears. What was going on…oh. Oh no, Mary-Margaret thought to herself. "Regina, if I may, can you jot something down for me to get on your list?"
"I just threw up from getting car sick while riding, but if you need me to write one item down for you because you can't remember, by all means, let me get out the pen and paper!" Mary-Margaret chuckled to herself. She couldn't believe this at all. Yet, it all made sense when you really thought about it. She was going to have to be very delicate with this one.
"Oh thank you Regina, you're awesome. Pregnancy test." At that moment Mary-Margaret wished she could've taken a picture of Regina's face.
"A pregnancy test? Neal's not that old! Do you think it's really a good idea to have another child so soon?" Oh yes, Mary-Margaret thought, definitely delicate.
"Um, well you know how these things happen on, on accident," Mary-Margaret stuttered out. Someone give me an Oscar! She thought to herself.
"Well, yes accidents happen. That's why they make condoms and birth control pills," Regina plainly stated. Soon they arrived at the store. Regina was the first out of the car, glad to no longer be in a moving vehicle. "Let's swing by the in-store coffee shop and get some peppermint tea to help settle my stomach," Regina tossed over her shoulder, tired of waiting for Mary-Margaret to get out the car. Mary-Margaret hurried out of the car to catch up with Regina. Peppermint tea might actually be a nice Fall drink. The two women strolled into the store, stopping by to pick up a shopping cart and then heading over to get their tea. They sipped at their tea for a moment before Regina whipped out her list and headed over to the produce section.
"So Regina how is married life treating you?"
"Oh, it's treating me just fine. Robin is so kind and caring. I wouldn't have needed to get my own peppermint tea," Regina added with a hard stare into Mary-Margaret's direction. Both women chuckled. "Alright, let's get green and red apples for the apple pie. And cranberries and mandarin oranges for the homemade cranberry sauce."
"Homemade cranberry sauce? You're making that, right? My parents usually just get the stuff in the can. I like to slice the can-shaped gelatin and plate it," Mary-Margaret chuckled to herself as she tossed in a bag of mandarin oranges. Regina simply rolled her eyes. It was statements such as those that made it painfully obvious the age difference between them. Regina headed for the collard greens and scanned the offerings for some that hadn't picked through and Mary –Margaret headed over to the broccoli. Regina then pushed the cart over to the next aisle and continued their shopping adventure. Tea. Peppermint tea. She'd been drinking so much of it lately she was almost out. Perhaps she should get checked out. She's had stomach problems before and tried to control it best with diet and she certainly didn't want to resume medication. Perhaps though, she might need it to jump start things. She tossed in two boxes and headed for the coffee.
Their shopping continued on in relative silence as Regina seemed miles away. Eventually they made it over to pharmacy section of the store that contained those pregnancy tests Mary-Margaret made Regina put on the list.
"Alright, we're here. Which test would you like?" Regina turned to ask Mary-Margaret.
"Oh, um, I don't know. They each have different benefits, right?" Mary-Margaret picked up two different brands and studied the back. Regina was impatient.
"Oh for Christ's sake, get the cheaper one, we just need to know if you're pregnant or not, then you can make an appointment with the doctor and they can tell you any other pertinent information," Regina stated as she took the cheaper pregnancy test out of Mary-Margaret's hand and tossed into the cart.
"Hey, Regina?" Mary-Margaret called out before the woman could get too far away.
"What is it now? If you can recall I vomited my breakfast on the side of the road and it's well past lunch. I was trying to be patient, but I am hungry and cranky. I would like to get this stuff home, please."
"I'm a bit nervous to actually take the test. Do you think, uh,"
"Spit it out already," Regina huffed out in annoyance.
"Um, do you think you could take one with me?" Mary-Margaret stuttered out. Why did this woman make her so nervous? Regina's eyes popped so far out of her head that Mary-Margaret thought they would actually fall out and she would have to go chasing the rolling eye balls around the store.
"What? Seriously?"
"Yes, it would make me feel better. And as a kind, caring, compassionate, friend, I know you would do this for me. Please." That's right Mary-Margaret, play Regina's compassionate side, which she was sure was in there, somewhere, she hoped. Regina took a moment to seriously consider her friend's request.
"If it gets us out of this store sooner, fine. Get me one too," and Regina stalked off towards the checkout section of the store.