Regina was quiet for a few seconds, trying to comprehend what Roland just said. It didn't make any sense. "Sweetheart, what do you mean she doesn't feel like her?" she wondered, still softly running her fingers through his hair. He sighed shakily, and she saw the hesitation and slight fear in his eyes. "Baby, what are you so afraid of? Whatever it is you want to say, you can. I won't be mad, I promise," she assured him, and held his terrified gaze for a few seconds, until she saw the belief in his eyes.

"Mommy always came to me when I sleep," he started. "She always had light all around her," he waved around with his hands, doing his best to show Regina where the light was. And she realized that he meant that she had an aura of light, and that her spirit visited her son. So she nodded at the little boy to continue. "She hugged me, kissed me, said she loved me, and that I was her little boy. She's warm, like you..." he trailed off, and Regina smiled at how sweet his last statement was. "That's why I liked you when we were in the forest, you were just like her," he stated innocently, and Regina had to push back her tears at his little innocent declaration of love. She also realized that he was having trouble vocalizing his next thought, so she tried to help. "I know that she may seem different since she came back, but maybe it's just the new world?" she offered, and he shook his head.

"NO!" he objected firmly. "She doesn't feel like her. She's not warm; not like you. She doesn't say 'I love you'. She doesn't know our special nickname," he said sadly, and Regina couldn't help but think he had a point. No matter how weird and unusual this world was to Marian, she wouldn't be neglectful of her own son. She was a mother herself and she knew that for a fact. And besides, none of this fit any of the stories that Robin and the Merry Men told her about Marian. And she strongly believed that Roland's instinct was right. Everybody knew how a mother would know her child anywhere; but she also believed that that bond worked both ways. After all, Henry felt a connection to her when he was still under the curse.

"Gina!" Roland exclaimed softly, and the small voice broke her reverie. She looked down at him, and saw two big brown eyes who looked at her like she held the answers to everything, clearly waiting for her to say something about what he just said. Slight fear of consequences creeping slowly into the chocolate irises.

"I'll tell you what. How about we both go to sleep for now, and I promise you that I will find out what is making your mommy that way, okay?" she suggested, and he wordlessly nodded, as he snuggled more into her at that, his eyes already heavy with sleep. She adjusted herself, and the covers around both of them. She reached behind her to turn off the side lamp, and when she looked at Roland again, he was fast asleep.

The next day found both her and Roland in Archie's office; she had called him as soon as she woke up and asked if she can swing by with Roland that day. She had also called Robin, who was worried sick about his son, and his voice showed the lack of sleep. She had guessed - correctly - that he hadn't slept all night fretting over his son. He had answered on the second ring, his voice shaking with concern, and she was quick to assure him that Roland was indeed alright. He asked her if she had managed to get anything out of him, and she was forced to lie. She asked him if she could keep him over for a few more hours, and he quickly agreed. It wasn't lost on either of them that Roland didn't like being there, and neither of them wanted to force him into anything. She had neglected to tell him that she was taking him to Archie, wasn't entirely sure how he would react, and slightly worried that he would want to come with them. And as much as he had a right to be there, she feared Roland would clam up in his father's presence.

Roland was in her lap, his small hands softly petting Pongo as the Dalmation nuzzled and licked him in greeting. Archie was watching the boy closely; he seemed content, sitting in Regina's lap and playing with Pongo. He wasn't worried, seemed like he had no care in the world. He wasn't even slightly warry of Regina, and if memory served Archie correctly, that was the case since the Enchanted Forest. And he guessed that was one of the reasons why Robin didn't hesitate in getting involved with Regina; he had his son's seal of approval. He had noticed the boy's rigid posture when he first arrived, but it didn't take him long to loosen up, especially with Regina's assurances.

"Roland," he called softly, and the boy turned his toothy grin onto him, his hands still playing with Pongo's collar. "Regina told me you had a bad dream last night," he started, and Roland's smile immediately fell, as he nodded. "Can you tell me about it?" he wondered calmly, and the boy coward away into Regina's arms, who simply tightened her arms around him. "It's okay, Roland. You can tell him," she said soothingly.

"Whatever it is, Roland, I promise I won't be mad," Archie assured him.

"Will you tell Daddy?" the boy wondered, his voice barely audible.

"Do you want me to?" Archie countered, and Roland quickly shook his head adamantly, seemingly the only thing he was sure about. "Then I won't," Archie stated.

Roland sighed audibly before he once more relayed the events of the nightmare. Archie listened carefully, his brain going a thousand miles an hour, as he analyzed Roland's words and added them to the pieces of this seemingly very large puzzle that he already had from other sources. He was trying to see how what Roland was saying fit into all that he knew so far, when Regina's voice filtered through his thoughts. "Tell him what you told me too, sweetheart," Regina instructed gently, and Archie noticed how Roland immediately stiffened, and looked terrified. For her part, Regina pulled him further into her embrace, and ran her fingers through his hair.

"Roland," Archie encouraged. "My promise still stands. I won't tell your father anything you don't want me to, and I won't be mad."

Archie had expected almost anything to come out of Roland's mouth; that Marian was short-tempered with him, like he heard many say, or that she said bad things about Regina in front of him, and didn't care how it was all affecting him, like he had seen with his own eyes. But he wasn't prepared for this, and his face showed the shock that he felt. He was still trying to process what Roland had said, when his small voice interrupted him. "I'm sorry!"

What shocked Archie wasn't just the apology, but Roland's tone of voice. The little boy seemed drastically different from the vibrant, energetic four-year-old he met in the Enchanted Forest last year. He was scared, careful of every word he said, worried about how others were going to react to what he said or did. Archie knew those signs, they were signs of early childhood abuse, and it tore him to pieces that Roland had to go through it. He knew with all his heart that Robin wasn't the culprit, but he also knew that the honorable thief was at too much of a loss to know how to handle the situation, and Marian - or whoever/whatever she may be - managed to land a few hurtful words if Roland's apprehension was anything to go by.

"Okay, Roland. You don't have anything to be sorry for. I'm very glad you trusted me with your secret, and I promise you I'm not mad, and you didn't do anything wrong," Archie started, and saw the boy's entire face light up.

"Really?" he beamed, and Archie nodded smiling. "I will keep my promise and keep this between us, but I do need to call your father and talk to him about a few things. Is that okay with you?" he wondered, and Roland furrowed his eyebrows.

"Why?" his inquisitive nature seemed undeterred by the most recent events.

"Well, I might be able to tell him how to help you with these nightmares so you don't have to be scared all the time that you have to go to Regina's house," Archie explained gently.

Roland, for his part, looked at Regina with sad eyes, before he snuggled more into her embrace. "But I like sleeping in your bed," he mumbled against her body, and Regina could feel the tears prick the corner of her eyes. Her mouth fell to the top of his head, as she tightened her arms around his body, and feathered kisses into the messy brown curls.

"I love it too, sweetheart," she choked out into his hair. She still had no idea how that little boy had managed to wrap her around his finger in such little time, but she wasn't going to throw away such a rare and pure gift like a child's unconditional love.

"Well, I can tell him that it would be good for you to spend some time with Regina as well," Archie suggested.

"Really?" Roland practically squealed, and Archie nodded. And judging by the toothy grin Roland had plastered on his face, Archie guessed that he was on board with the plan, so he excused himself to make a few phone calls. One to Robin, and another that he didn't want Regina to hear about just yet.

I know. A year and half wait, and a short chapter. I'm a terrible writer. But I had one of the worst cases of writer's block that I"ve ever had when it came to this story. And I have another one that I haven't been able to finish for three years.

To my anonymous guest who kept asking for updates, I thank you. You kept my belief in this story going when I had many thoughts of taking it down.

To my other anonymous guest who thought I abandoned the story - not sure if you both are the same person or not - I can't blame you for thinking that, but have no worries, if I ever decide that I can't finish it, I will take it all down so that I don't lead people on.

Thank you both for nagging me about an update.

Reviews are very much appreciated as they drive me to write more, and help my muse start humming, so keep'em coming.