A/N: Prompt: Roland decides that he is too old for something. Done for DOQ Week Family day!
A month after Roland's seventh birthday he decides that he is too old for bedtime stories.
He doesn't need them to tuck him into bed. Is a big boy now and is perfectly capable of putting himself to sleep without the soothing rise and fall of their voice as they weave tales of magic and mayhem, heroes and villains. They don't read to Henry before he goes to sleep.
Though it surprises Regina, she doesn't give it too much thought or worry. Children go through phases. She's gone through plenty of them with Henry. Roland will grow out of this one and they'll be back to their nightly ritual. Robin is an easy going father, stoically accepts what his boy is telling him and takes to Regina's way of thinking.
The announcement guts Mal, however.
Bedtime has become their special thing. Her and Roland. It's what she most looks forward to at the end of a long day. Cuddling in bed with him, having the little boy tuck himself into her side as she flips the pages of their latest adventure, Roland occasionally reading aloud with her. He's becoming quite skilled. Has graduated from picture books to chapter books and his teachers rave at how quickly he has picked it up.
To say that the two of them have become quite close is a bit of an understatement. Something that had surprised both Regina and Robin, but that they had both embraced whole heartedly. How could they not when the mixture of their son and the woman they love's laughter floats to their ears as they bake cookies in the kitchen. Or as Mal tickles him until Roland is shrieking and gasping, begging her to please stop. The bubble wars they have when bath time rolls around and Mal insists on supervising.
It's quite precious honestly.
So it's harder for her to accept that he is growing up on them. She puts on a brave face for Roland, pretending like the sudden change in routine doesn't bother her, but Robin and Regina know differently. Hard as it may be, there's not much they can do to help the situation.
. . .
A week goes by and Mal does her best not to let Roland's newfound revelation get to her. Fails miserably. But does her best.
They're just finishing up dinner when Regina commands, "Alright, mister, time for bath and bed," as Roland licks the last bit of chocolate from the corner of his mouth, having devoured the cake she'd prepared. It had been quite delicious.
He agrees enthusiastically. Unlike most children, Roland loves bath time. Can't wait to splash around in the water and play with the bubbles and his bath toys. If they let him, he'd spend hours in there. Half the time he already comes out of it looking like a prune. At least on that front, they know they will never be met with any resistance.
Robin takes point for bath time this evening as Regina and Mal clean up, Henry retreating to his room and turning his music up (Regina has her own similar burden to Mal's to bear as she is forced to accept that he is becoming a teenager).
It takes a bit longer than usual as Regina flirts with her, teasing her with kisses every now and then as they're loading the dishwasher. For ten lovely minutes, Regina corners her against the counter and kisses her breathless, leaving her eager and wanting, thoughts of having her and Robin later on swirling around her mind.
As a result, Roland is already done with his bath and slipping into his pajamas, Robin handing him his shirt while sitting on his bed, discarded towel in his lap, as she steps into his room. "You all ready for bed?"
Roland's head peeks through the neck and he grins at her and bursts, "Mmmhmm"
Robin chuckles at his son, ruffling his still damp hair as he stands and kisses the top of his head. "Sleep well, my boy." He leans in for a quick peck to Mal's lips as he passes her in the doorway and she smiles at him before turning back to watch Roland as he climbs into bed, moving to sit beside him.
Once perched on the side of the bed, Maleficent runs her fingers through unruly, bouncy curls affectionately, smoothing them off of Roland's forehead as he grins up at her. Those dimples that are just like his father's two tiny little dots in his cheek that make her heart flip over in her chest. Like father, like son it would seem. She leans down, places a kiss to the young boy's forehead, humming as she pulls away. "Why don't you smell fresh and clean."
Roland nods, smiling at her and exclaiming, "Yup! I gots new soap. It's tree scented. Like Daddy's!"
Chuckling, Mal reaches for the book on his nightstand automatically, only realizing what she's done the moment her fingers wrap around the warn and weathered spine and Roland proclaims, "No! I don't want you to read to me. I can do it!" He pulls the book from Mal's lap and her heart shatters marginally. Not that she would ever allow Roland to see how much his words have hurt her.
"Are you sure?" She questions, hoping (foolishly it would seem), that he will change his mind. She doesn't understand this sudden unwillingness to have them read to him. Though, she supposes that Roland is fiercely independent. Likes doing things for himself, proving how much of a big boy he is. Perhaps that's what has sparked this sudden insistence.
She hates it all the same.
Roland nods, his brown curls bouncing wildly. With a barely perceptible sigh, Mal sweeps her hand through his hair one more time. "Alright, sweetheart. I'll see you in the morning. Don't read too long."
He'll be sacked out in no more than twenty minutes. He always is. And her heart aches that she won't be snuggled in his bed with him tonight, glancing down at the end of a chapter to discover him fast asleep against her side.
She'll come back in his room in a bit. Pull the forgotten book from his grasp and turn off his bedside lamp (leaving only his glowing night light for illumination), will tuck him in once more and return back to their room. Just as she's done every night since he's insisted on reading to himself before bedtime.
Exiting the room, Mal makes her way back to the living room, finding Regina and Robin curled up on the couch together. The brunette's legs are draped over his lap as he casually massages at the arch of her foot as they murmur to each other, Regina sipping on her wine occasionally.
Her eyes lift to Mal's when she notices her and a frown instantly forms on her face. "What's wrong, darling?" Robin cranes his neck around to look at her with concern as well as Mal strides into the room and collapses into the chair opposite them. Desperately wishing for her own glass of wine.
With a flick of her wrist, one appears in her hand and she takes a long gulp of it before she finally answers them. "Roland wouldn't let me read to him again tonight."
Understanding dawns across both their faces and they glance at one another for a moment before turning their attention back to her. "Love…" Robin begins, but Mal waves him off, spatting out a frustrated, I know, I know, and sipping more wine. "He's just in a phase. It will pass. I promise you."
Maleficent frowns, glares into her glass for a moment before her shoulders sag and she admits quietly, "I know." Her eyes lock with Robin's as she whispers, "I just miss our time together."
It breaks his heart, and Regina's along with it. Setting her own glass on the coffee table, she swings her legs off of Robin's, scooting to the right enough that there's now room for her between them. "Come here, darling." Regina requests, holding out a hand. One Mal gratefully accepts as she stands and cross the room, settling between the two of them.
Robin's palm slides over her thigh comfortingly, stroking up to her hip and back down to her knee as Regina turns to her and lays an arm over the back of the couch behind her shoulders, playing with the ends of Mal's blonde curls absently.
An errant tear leaks out from the corner of her eye, sliding slowly over her cheek and Regina reaches out to swipe it away. It would come as a shock to many to discover it, but Mal is a crier. Weeps far too easily at too many things. She's tough as hell, but her heart is sensitive. And right now it's terribly bruised.
Hooking a finger beneath her chin, Regina turns her face toward hers, leaning in and capturing Mal's lips with her own, hoping to offer the woman a bit of comfort. She wants nothing more than to ease the pain in her pale blue eyes. The kiss is soft and leisurely. When they part, Mal sighs and leans her head on Regina's shoulder, threading her hand with Robin's on her lap and taking comfort from the both of them.
Robin nuzzles his face to Maleficent's neck, kissing her lightly as he promises her, "It's going to be alright, love. I promise."
She nods. Doesn't know if she quite belives his words, but for now they will do.
. . .
It takes a month. Four awful, torturous weeks before Roland finally caves.
She's tucking him as always, letting him tell her about all the exciting things he had done that day and the silly antics of the Merry Men, how Uncle John had let him chase him round and round the camp. And he'd found a giant fallen tree that had been big enough for him to crawl in, like a little hideaway. He'd used it for hide and seek and it had taken ages for Tuck to find him. Roland's enthusiasm amuses her as she smooths her hands over his comforter.
"It sounds like you had a very eventful day." She offers, a grin tugging at the corners of her mouth.
"Mmhmmm—" Roland answers, the sound morphing into a yawn that Mal can't help but chuckle at.
"Alright, time for bed, young man." She reaches for the book on the nightstand. He's moved on to the next Magic Tree House novel without her, she realizes. That familiar pang hitting her once more as she moves to hand it to him.
Roland frowns sleepily at her for a moment, biting his bottom lip just like Robin before he requests, "Would you read to me tonight, Mal? Please?" He's a bit bashful about it. After all, he's been insisting he doesn't need the bedtime stories anymore. But perhaps he's missed the nightly ritual as much as she has.
At least, she hopes so. Mal's heart soars and she struggles to contain her elation as she grins from ear to ear and nods at him. "Of course, sweetheart. I would love to." She shifts on the bed, resting her back against the headboard and opening her arms to Roland who instantly tucks himself against her, leaning his head against her breast as she opens the pages of the book and begins to read.
Too wrapped up in the tale and the pine scent of Roland's shampoo, she doesn't notice Regina peek her head in on them from the hallway. Nor, does she see her gesture to Robin to come look as he stops right behind her and gazes into the room over her shoulder. The sight of the woman he loves and his son reading together once more has his heart squeezing painfully with love and affection. He grins, encircles his arms around Regina's waist and place a light kiss to her neck, content to stand here and watch and listen for the next little while.
It would seem all is right in their little family once more and Roland isn't quite too old for bedtime stories after all.