AN: An added drabble for outlaw queen day and right on time.
Sandpiper: SO everyone can know, Regina thinks Robin would want him to know where he was from and be with the merry men.
Phoebesmilee and Guest: glad you liked the chapter! I also cried a little while writing it.
Other guest: Regina isn't falling for Rob. Does she feel some sort of pull towards him? Yes. After all wouldn't Robin feel some sort of pull towards the evil queen. This is robin, remember?
Without further adoo, chapter 12. Forgive bc mistakes are all mine. No beta.
Chapter 12: At Home in the World.
Hold on, to me as we go
As we roll down this unfamiliar road
And although this wave is stringing us along
Just know you're not alone
Cause I'm going to make this place your home
Settle down, it'll all be clear
Don't pay no mind to the demons
They fill you with fear
The trouble it might drag you down
If you get lost, you can always be found
Just know you're not alone
Cause I'm going to make this place your home
Phillip Phillips—Home
Immediately after dinner, Regina took a sleepy Roland and Henry home. While Henry ran to the living room to play his video games, she took Roland upstairs to the room she had intended to become his. Once she opened the door and turned the light on, Roland peaked his head out from her neck. "We're home, Gina?" he asked a little sleepy as he rubbed his small fist against his eye.
"Yes, Sweetheart." Regina smiled down at him
"Is this going to be where I sleep?"
"Yes, baby." She said as she swiped her fingers through his hair. "You're going to get your very own room and you know what?"
"What!?" he popped his head up in excitement in order to look at her better.
"I thought we could decorate it exactly how you would like."
"Really?!" he asked with thrill in his voice.
"Yes." She bopped him on the nose with her forefinger." "And I thought we could cheat just a little and use magic, so you will feel at home right away."
"Ok." Roland agreed. "How will that work?"
"Well, I want you to close your eyes and imagine how you want to room to be. I'll also add in some of my own touches and things you may not think of. Does that work for you?" Roland nodded his head enthusiastically. "Good. Now close your eyes and imagine how you want your room to be."
So Roland did as directed, shut his eyes, and imagined how he wanted his room to be. He knew he wanted it to be green like the forest and used inspiration from Henry's room that he loved so much. Once Regina saw that he was concentrating, she raised her hand, called forth her magic, and waved it slowly from left to right, watching as the room changed from the dull guest room into the fun room of a playful child. A forest green hue took over the walls with a forest theme animal border adorning the top of the walls with a single size bed with a forest theme covering it in the middle. His prized monkey sat in the middle of the bed. There was a cherry oak dresser and student desk opposite of the bed that she had added in for him, knowing she would enroll him in school in the fall. Next to the bed was a matching bed side table with a monkey lamp sitting on top of it and alarm clock. Then in the corner of the room, stood a play tent that she had added in case Roland ever missed sleeping in one.
"You can open your eyes Roland." She whispered into his hear and he opened his eyes with a child like wonderment that only someone his age could have. He gasped. "This is all for me Gina!" Wriggling from her grasp, he ran to the middle of room and turned in wonderment. "Is that a tent? Indoors?"
Regina walked up to him and bent down with a smile at him. "Yes it is. I figured if you missed your one from the Enchanted Forest, you could sleep there, or if not, you could use it to play in."
"Wow! Cool!" he said as he went to the tent, slid in, and then poked his head out with a goofy smile. "I love this, Gina."
Regina kneeled down and laughed at his excitiement. "I'm so glad to hear that. I want you to feel at home here Roland." Before she could react, he jumped into her arms and squeezed her tight. "I missed you and Henry and being here."
"I missed you too my little knight and I want you to know, anytime you miss the merry men, you just tell me and we will go for a ." he nodded against her chest, his long curls hitting her chin as he did so. She would have to get him a haircut, his curls were becoming unruly. Leave it to men not to think about this. "I have one more surprise."
"Yeah! What?" he looked up at her.
"This." Waving her hand, the lights turned off and stars began to glow in the dark, adorning the entirety of the ceiling. "Awesome." Roland whispered as he looked up in wonderment at the ceiling.
She squeezed Roland, who now sat in her lap as he looked up the ceiling. "I know you and your father would watch the stars at night and he would tell you it was your loved ones that were no longer with us looking down on us. I want you to believe that your daddy is watching over us now and you can see the stars, even when you're in doors. Know that he is looking down at you and helping protect you from those nightmares. And I want you to look at me when I say this Roland."
Turning his neck, Roland looked over his shoulder at her. "No matter what those other children said, you are no orphan. Your Mama and Papa loved you SO much and You have me, Henry, and all your uncles. You will never be alone." She choked a little on her last words. Ever since Roland had told her what the other children called him, she couldn't help but to feel a little guilt over what happened to Emma and how she grew up without her family. She would not let that happen to Roland and she loved him as if she had given birth to him. Roland turned and hugged her like a koala bear hugged its mother. "I love you, Roland."
"I love you too, Gina."
After Regina gave him a squeezing hug, Roland crawled from her lap and laid down in the middle of floor, looking up at the ceiling. "What are you doing?" Regina asked him with a curious tip of her head.
"Laying down and Looking up at the stars like daddy and I used to do. Want to look with me?"
"Of course." Without hesitation, she laid down next to him and they looked up silently at the glow in the dark stars together. A few minutes later, the sounds of Henry's video games stopped and they heard incoming footsteps.
"Whoa! This room is cool." Henry said as he looked around the best he could with just the light from the hall way. His gaze eventually fell on the too laying in the middle of the room. "What are you two doing?"
They both looked towards Henry and Roland poked his little head up. "Looking up at the stars like my daddy and me used to do. They're not the same ones at outside but it's like we're outside. Want to join us?"
"Sure thing kid." Henry responded as he walked into the room and laid down on the other side of his mother. The three had situated themselves with Henry and Roland on either side of Regina who had her arms around each of her boys with their head pillowed on her shoulders. As the three of them just stared up at the glow in the dark stars on that carpeted floor, she couldn't help to think that she almost felt like she was home in the world. Almost.
"I Love both of you, so much." She whispered as she kissed both of their heads.
Popping his head up, Henry responded to her with a knowing grin. "We know mom and we love you too. You should also know that you'll never be alone again either." She smiled at him before the three of them continued to stare upwards.
Next Chapter: Best Friends Forever.
