Disclaimer: Not mine
A week had passed since the night of the ball and Henry hadn't seen his mom this happy in like … Ever. He walked into the kitchen to the sight of her peeling apples. Henry always enjoyed watching her bake. She looked so peaceful when she did it. "Hey, mom! What are you baking for?" He didn't even have to ask what she was making, he could tell by the ingredients sitting around her. "Robin is bringing Roland over here so Ruby can watch you both. You'll have fun introducing him to your comic books, and he'll have fun trying to be just like you. They should be here in about two hours."
Henry got a smug smile on his face. "Oh yeah, I forgot that your date's tonight." Regina rolled her eyes, "You're never going to let me live it down are you? Would you like me to admit that you were right? Would that make you happy, Dear?" She laughed when Henry just leaned against the counter, his arms folded with his face practically screaming, 'I'm waiting'. He looked just like Emma in that moment. "Fine. You were right. I should have listened to you the first time you tried to get us together. I haven't been this happy, romantically, since Daniel. Are you happy now?"
He pushed off the counter and enveloped her in a tight hug, squishing her arms and catching her off guard. "Mom, you have no idea how happy I am that you are finally getting your happy ending." Regina dropped the apple and knife and hugged him just as tight. Well, as tight as she could without getting her sticky hands on him. "Mom." When she didn't answer, he tried again, "Mom, I can't breathe." She pulled back and he noticed the tears in her eyes. He reached up and wiped them away with the pad of his thumb. "What's wrong?" She smiled at him, "These are tears of joy, Henry. I'm so lucky to have a son who cares so much that he would go out of his way to help me out. You knew how I felt about everything and you made it your mission to prove me wrong."
He gave her a sideways glance, "Of course. Roland and I called it 'Operation Arrow Queen'. He actually came up with it. I wanted 'Outlaw Queen', but he didn't understand what an outlaw was and I didn't feel like explaining how his dad is a thief." Regina actually laughed at that. "He knows that his papa does what he does for good reasons. That's all that matters. Now," she paused to wipe her eyes with the hand towel draped over her shoulder, "could you be a dear and help me finish these turnovers, please?" Henry gave her his signature crooked smile, "I'd love to."
Roland was sitting on the couch with his stuffed monkey watching Scooby Doo when Robin was dressed and ready to go. "Are you ready to go, lad?" Roland looked over at his dad with a fearful expression. He then noticed the monkey's head was about to be ripped off by the force of which it was being held. "What is it, son? Why are you frightened?" Roland sniffled once and then pointed to the television. "The ghost of Redbeard," he said as if that explained everything. To Robin, it did. He walked over to his son and sat him in his lap. "The ghost of Redbeard isn't going to hurt you, Roland." Conveniently, the episode picked that time to reveal the true person behind the mask. "See? It was only C.L. Magnus. He was just a man in a mask and they caught him. You know what else?" Roland shook his head. "This monkey that Gina gave you, it is proof that no matter what comes your way, we will protect you. Got that?" Roland nodded a bit. "I asked if you got that," he pressed as he started tickling his son. "Yes, Papa! I got that! No m-more!" Robin stopped tickling him and stood up as he turned off the television. "It's time to go, my boy." He knelt down in front of the couch and Roland hopped onto his back with his monkey still in his arms.
The walk over to the Queen's home was quite enjoyable. They stopped at Granny's to escort Red so she could keep an eye on the boys in case a new evil secretly lurked about. Roland insisted that he could run faster than Red, so she gracefully accepted his challenge, handing the basket she held to Robin. "I'll race you to the big tree on my count. Ready?" Roland nodded and bent his knees into ready position. "Set?" His eyebrows set in concentration. "Go!"
As they set off, Red tried to take smaller steps and slow down without it being obvious. It was extremely hard to go so slow with her werewolf abilities. Roland made it to the tree a split second before she did. "I did it! Papa, did you see me!? I beat a rarewolf!" Red bent over laughing at his pronunciation. "It's 'werewolf', Sweetie." Roland blushed, but soon forgot about it. "Can you carry me on your shoulders, Papa? My legs are tired now." Robin rolled his eyes, but still picked his son up after handing the basket back to Red. "Of course they're tired, silly. You just beat a werewolf in a race."
Regina was just finishing up her hair when she heard the doorbell ring. "Henry, answer the door please," she yelled from her bedroom. She gazed into the mirror to look herself over before looking into her own eyes, "You can do this, it's just Robin. You have ruled an entire kingdom, you can handle one man." She took a deep breath and released it. Satisfied by her outfit, she turned to leave.
"So then, Roland thought it would be a great idea to challen-" Robin's breath hitched as he caught sight of Regina. She wore a mid-thigh length, red dress with black lace swirled in decorative patterns around the bodice. Her tall, black heels accenting her muscular calves. "Wow." Red couldn't contain her chuckle. Regina looked at her and tried to suppress her smile before looking back at Robin, "You're not so bad yourself." He cleared his throat and remembered that they were in the presence of their children before he attacked her lips.
He walked over to her and leaned in to kiss her cheek. He breathed in her ear, "You look more and more beautiful each day, My Love." She blushed at that and her cheeks hurt from smiling. Regina turned to Red, "Henry and I've made apple turnovers for dessert since you brought dinner. You know Henry will help you with finding anything if you so need it. Right, honey?" He sighed, "Mom, I'm thirteen, I've got this. We're gonna have a blast. Right, guys?" He looked between Red and Roland. A "Yeah!" and an "Absolutely!" came from each of them in return. He turned back to the new couple and turned them around to face the door and pushed. "You guys have fun. Don't worry, we won't wait up."
Regina turned around and placed a chaste kiss to Henry's cheek. "Alright, we're going. Have a good night and don't get into any trouble." Roland ran up to Robin and jumped in his arms, "You will come back, won't you, Papa?" Robin smiled and gave him a small tickle to his side. "Always, my boy." As soon as Roland's little feet hit the ground, he wrapped his arms around Regina's bare legs. "I love you, Gina." She bent down to give him a hug and kiss on the crown of his head, "I love you too, little one."
"So, where're you taking me?" She had been asking him all week and he would only reply with, "It is a surprise." Regina rolled her eyes. "Come on, you said you would tell me when it was time. Well, we have started our date, there is no better time." He chuckled and wrapped her hand in the crook of his elbow, "I disagree. There is a much better time than right now. Be patient and you will soon see." She huffed, but leaned in closer to him. " This better be worth the wait. I am very impatient, Dear."
He laughed at her restlessness, "Oh, I'm fully aware." She sent him a look that was very much Evil Queen and asked, "What exactly does that mean?" Robin kissed the glare off her face; "Just that I spent an entire year with you and I know your patience can be easily tried. It's not a bad thing. In fact, I find it quite adorable." Regina scoffed, "Adorable? Most would find it quite unappealing, rather than adorable."
He stopped walking and turned her face toward him with his finger, "I am not most." She touched his cheek and smiled when he leaned into her hand, "No, you are positively not. For which, I am very grateful." He turned his head to kiss the palm of her hand. Holding his elbow out to her, he gestured with his other hand out toward the path they were taking. "Milady?" She slid her hand through his elbow and smiled. Her cheeks always hurt when she was around him. Even in the Enchanted Forest before all of this. Before when they were just friends and had not confessed their undying love for one another.
She could get used to this.
Let me know what you think. Their date will be next chapter and it shall be lovely.
