You are all allowed to virtually slap me as hard as you please. I deserve it. I have no excuse for my lateness. From now on, I will update every other Friday, I just don't know an exact time due to work scheduling.

This chapter has a bit of everyone in it. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Obviously not mine.


"So, how did your date go?" Snow walked through the door that was being held for her at Granny's. They hadn't really had time to talk to each other for a few weeks due to conflicting schedules. Regina quietly laughed, dropped the door handle and followed her in, "It went up in flames… Quite literally." When the princess raised her eyebrows, she went on to explain, "We went about a mile into the forest and he had candles scattered all over the place. We waltzed to the music on the boombox that he brought and-" Snow cut her off, "You don't waltz."

"Do not and cannot are not the same thing, according to Robin." She rolled her eyes at Snow's smirk, "Anyway, when we finished dancing he brought out the homemade dinner he had cooked for us and we sat down on the blanket. While we were eating, the blanket caught fire behind him so we cleaned up and went home." Snow's jaw had dropped at the nonchalant tone Regina had just delivered that last bit in.

"That's it?! 'Oh, the blanket caught fire so we left. The end.'?" The older woman crossed her arms and leaned back as Ruby approached with a coffee and a hot chocolate, "The usual." Both women showed their gratitude to her as she walked away to help another table. Snow turned her attention back to her step-mother. "Come on, Regina. What happened when you both went home? Did you go to the same home?"

The queen smirked, "Wouldn't you like to know."


"Did everything go as planned?" David asked as he pushed the stroller back and forth. Henry was chasing Roland around the park while Robin and David watched from the bench. The outlaw scratched the back of his neck and laughed, "About that." David snapped his head to his friend, "What happened? Did she not like the place you picked?" Robin sighed, "Not exactly that, Mate. You know how I told you that it would be really romantic if I placed candles everywhere?" The prince nodded and his eyes got wide as he started putting two and two together, "No. Please tell me you didn't catch the forest on fire."

"Not exactly, just the blanket. Regina put it out easily enough, but the mood was ruined so we blew the candles out, smothered the fire, then headed back to her house where the boys were." He chuckled, "Of course, when we got there things didn't get much better." Robin proceeded to tell David about the vase breaking and Henry trying to take the fall for it.

David's smile reached his eyes, "That kid's heart never ceases to amaze me." Robin chuckled, "I'm sure Roland was grateful for it. You should have seen him cowering behind Henry like Regina was going to throw a fireball at him or something." The image of that put David in a small fit of laughter until he looked at his watch. "What time are we supposed to be at Regina's again?"

Regina invited the whole family, including Killian and the Hoods, to have dinner at her mansion as a sort of celebration. "She wanted us to get there around five so we could gather and visit before we ate. Why, what time have you?" David jumped out of his seat and started waving down Henry and Roland, "It's half past three, and we've still got to get these boys cleaned up. You know how Regina hates it when people are late." The thief jumped up behind him, "Oh yeah, why don't you go put Anagail in the car and I'll gather the boys?" The men carpooled to pick up the boys from school and then decided to bring them to the park to have some fun. "Alright, we've got to hurry, Henry takes the longest showers."


Loud giggling could be heard coming from the Jolly Roger. "Killian!" Hook was chasing Emma around the captain's quarters half naked, "Yes, love?" She stopped when she had the desk placed between them, "We have to be at Regina's in an hour! That means you have to stop chasing me so we can get dressed and ready."

A sinister grin passed over the captain's face, "Darling, that gives us plenty of time." He reached over the desk and pulled her onto it with a yelp. Killian climbed on top of her and started kissing her down her stomach tenderly. She brusquely rolled him off of her. "We have to look nice, which means I need to go home, take a shower, and grab some nice clothes! It's Regina Freaking Mills!"

He looked up at her from his new place on the floor, "Fine, you win." She hastily searched the cabin for her clothing before leaning down to kiss him, "I'll meet you there." All she could hear were mumbles as she left the ship.


Regina was buzzing about the kitchen while struggling to zip up her dress when the doorbell rang. She'd left the diner a little later than she'd meant to and barely had enough time to get dinner started and change clothes. When she opened the door, a small body was slammed against her legs.

"Well, hello to you too, Roland." She chuckled, "You are a bit early, dear." Robin leaned over so not to smash his son and gave her a quick peck. "Roland and I got ready faster than expected and figured you could use some help. So, here we are." Regina opened the door wider for them to come through. "Roland, how about you go watch some cartoons in the den while your father and I finish up dinner?" With a curt nod, the boy skipped away into the familiar room.

"So, what can I do to help?" Regina turned around and showed him her exposed back; "First, you can zip this up for me." He did so with trembling fingers, "Dear, you've already seen me nude. There is no reason to be nervous while helping me dress." He scoffs, "I'm not nervous, I'm trying to hold back from taking you right here and now." The queen raised an eyebrow at him and then beckoned with her finger to follow her.

As they made their way into the kitchen, Regina grabbed her apron and went back to attending the frying pan where the pork chops were sizzling. "Mmm… That smells wonderful! What all do you have left?" She flipped a pork chop and gestured with her head to the other burner on the stove. "Just have to put the beans on the stove to heat up, if you could do the honor." He over exaggerated a bow to her that would have ended up very badly for him is she were still the Evil Queen, however, now she just laughed. "The honor will be mine, Milady."

She put the last four pork chops on to cook when she thought she heard her name. She looked up at Robin, but he was just stirring the beans. He looked at her, "Did you need something, Love?" She shook her head in confusion, "No, I just thought you said my name." He smiled at her and went back to stirring. Regina walked to the other side of the kitchen to throw the wrapping away that the meat had come in. Her head snapped up, "There it was again!" He had his back to her, but still couldn't hide the fact that his shoulders were shaking as if he were laughing. "Whatever are you speaking of, Regina?"

At this, Regina smirked, "You know exactly what, Robin. Quit screwing with me, or you will come to regret it." She slowly, calmly conjured a small fireball in her right hand and stared at him with a glint of mischief in her eye. He visibly gulped, "Okay, okay. I will stop screwing with you." He shot her a wink and turned back to the stove, "The beans are done." She was opening her mouth to reply when the doorbell chimed.

Roland jumped off the couch and sprinted past the kitchen, "I'll get it!" Roland and his father had been spending a lot of time at the queen's home, so Roland pretty much made himself comfortable.


Snow and David were cuddled up on the couch sitting next to Emma, who was holding her baby sister. "What did you and Killian do today, Em?" Her daughter turned crimson as she thought about what they had been up to all day. She cleared her throat, "You know, we just-", she was interrupted by the pirate. "Stayed on my ship and played games." Everyone's eyes widened at the response and Emma was quick to cover it up. "Board games! Like 'Monopoly' and, um, 'Life'." Regina smirked, "Yeah, I bet there was a lot of life happening in his cabin." David shot his daughter, who looked like she was about to die of embarrassment, a look and then stood up. "Hook, can I see you outside, please?"

Killian took a step back with hand and hook out in front of himself, "Look, Mate, she's a grown woman and grown women have needs that need to be fulfilled." Snow grabbed David's arm and pulled him back down, "Killian, you should really stop talking now or I may just have to let him go."

Robin picked then to change the subject before anyone was murdered in Regina's living room. "So, shall we eat, then?" Emma threw him a grateful expression and sighed in relief. "Yes, please!"

Regina jutted out her bottom lip, "Oh, but it was just getting interesting."


"And then he showed me his Green Arrow books, and Papa, Green Arrow is just like you!" Roland had been telling the group what he and Henry had been up to while they almost had a showdown in the other room. "He shoots arrows for good, just like you and he likes the color green! Right, Henry?!" He looked at Henry, who nodded and chuckled, "Yeah, Buddy. Just like your dad."

Robin stood up with his glass in hand, "I'd like to propose a toast." Everyone grabbed his or her drink; Henry, Roland, and Snow with water. "I never thought I'd get over my being a downright coward enough to confess my true feelings for Regina." He raised his glass to her, "Regina decided to take a chance on me and now here we are. Killian and Emma finally got over they're silly banter and are happy as can be. Snow and David have this beautiful baby girl. Henry and Roland have made a connection that none of us can explain." His smile got wider at the thought, "So, without further ado, to new beginnings!" Everyone clinked glasses.

Robin reclaimed his seat next to Regina and leaned over to kiss her. "Gross! Don't get me wrong; I am super excited that you guys finally got together, but seriously. It's bad enough that I have to watch my grandparents get all gross and mushy, I don't want to see my mom do it too," Henry cringed. Regina laughed, "You're just going to have to get used to it, dear. And what, Emma never kisses Killian in front of you?" He looked over to the blonde and noticed she was making weird eye contact with Hook. "Not more than a peck, unless I walk in the room while they're already kissing," he cringed. "It's not like I had my tongue down his throat, you know." Regina may have purposely grossed him out with that one, but it was too funny not to. He cringed further.

"Speaking of mushy love, did you have fun with Grace at the movies yesterday?" Henry blushed at his grandfather's question and shrunk back in his seat. "Yes, and we're just friends. No mushy love." Killian scoffed, "Funny, isn't that what those two," he motioned toward the outlaw and the queen, "were saying not last month?" Robin snapped his head to the captain, "Sorry, Mate, what about what we were saying last month?" Regina was wearing her trademark smirk and Snow knew exactly why he had missed that statement. "Killian was just mentioning the fact that you two were only claiming to have friendly feelings for one another." Robin cleared his throat, "Right, yes, just last month. It's okay to admit you like her Henry. Grace is quite a beautiful girl."

Regina took her foot away from Robin's thigh and stood. "Dessert anyone?"

The rest of the night, the family enjoyed the apple turnovers and the movie that Roland got to pick, "Toy Story". Roland curled up to Regina, Regina curled up to Robin, and Robin counted his lucky stars.

Henry looked over at the pair and his smile grew wider as he leaned back on Emma's legs that were behind him.


"Today was interesting," Regina stated as she settled in bed. Robin stripped down to his boxers and climbed in next to her. "How so? I thought it was a lot of fun." She nuzzled her nose into his neck, "Yes," she smiled, "I suppose it was. I just never could have imagined spending almost the entire day with Snow White and her family because I wanted to." He chuckled and rolled them over so he was on top. "New beginnings, right?"

She leaned up to kiss him, "Yes, dear. New beginnings."


Please let me know what you think. It helps me out a lot.