The air was brisk and chilling; the autumn had came to Storybrooke. The dress she was given in Messene offers little protection and so when she shivered, Robin chivalrously gave her his jacket and Henry gave her his scarf. Robin was somewhat haunted by the sight of Esme in his jacket; he understood that it would be far too big for her, but as it drowned her slender frame, it made her look even more thin and even more frail.

"You okay?" Esme asked Robin. "It's not like you to be quiet," Esme joked.

"Me? Oh yes i'm fine," he said. Esme knew that he was still blaming himself, but he was making a wonderful effort to hide it. He wrapped his arm around Esme's shoulder, kissed her head and watched as Regina came towards them, carrying Roland in her arms.

"Well look at the little baby that I found in the street!" Regina teased as she cradled Roland like a very large babe.

"I'm not a baby Gina! I'm Roland!" Roland giggled as he squirmed to get out of Regina's arms. It didn't take long for him to manage it; Regina could barely hold him as he lay still. Esme was shocked; he had grown so much in nearly a month.

The family of 5 laughed and joked while they walked home; it was idilic and uneventful. Esme knew that they were all itching to ask her questions, just like everyone at the diner, but she was grateful they didn't. She knew that she would have to talk to them about it, for herself as well as for them, but not tonight. Tonight all she wanted was nice warm bath, one of Henry's mugs of tea and to sleep in a bed that wasn't on the floor. Maybe even a pillow.

After a few moments of laughter and walking, they eventually made it home. Esme stared at the house in all of its splendour; the leaves of Regina's apple tree were beginning to litter the grey stone path, and the surrounding trees engulfed the grey and white house in a warm red and orange hue. The warm, golden glow of the lamp illuminated the house's porch and the lamps on the inside all seemed to be lit.

"Come on let's go!" Roland said as he grabbed Esme's hand and ran towards the door, pulling her quickly behind him. Henry quickly ran after them and jumped up onto the porch, just in time to cover Esme's eyes.

"Wh- Henry what are you doing?" Esme laughed, but her only response was a giggle. Roland continued his attempt to lead Esme through the house as Henry concentrated on covering her eyes, however Roland's navigation was particularly poor. So after Esme bumped her head and toes one too many times, Robin quickly took Roland's place while Regina took a frustrated Roland into her arms.

"Okay we're going up some stairs," Robin explained as he wrapped Esme's arm in his and carefully coaxed her up the stairs.

"Why can't I just see the stairs?"

"Because it's a surprise!" Henry explained.

"The stairs are a surprise?" Esme joked and although she couldn't see him, she knew Henry had probably rolled his eyes because Roland was in a fit of giggles behind her. Esme could feel it when they arrived at the top of the stairs and from the direction Robin was taking her, they were heading carefully to the bedrooms on the left.

"Okay, we are here," Robin said before Henry dramatically removed his hands from her eyes. The sight she was greeted with was Roland's room. With the stunning white walls and mouldings, the room looked even bigger than Esme remembered.

"Roland's room?" Esme said, utterly bemused as to why this was a surprise; her family knew that she had seen Roland's room countless times.

"Nope," Roland said with a very large, mischievous grin on his face. Regina had set him down and so he was not standing in the doorway with his arms crossed and looked very pleased with himself. Esme, still bemused, looked around her for someone to explain to her what was going on however this did not happen; Henry was stood in the doorway with Roland and Robins arms were wrapped tightly around Regina's waist, with his smiling face rested on her shoulder. All of them were simply smiling.

"What?" Esme laughed. "Roland this is your room. I've been here before you know," she explained.

"No it's not." Roland giggled.

"Wh- Roland yes it is!" Esme laughed as she replied.

"It's yours," Henry explained, he knew that Esme would never assume. Esme was in shock. She looked at Henry and Roland, waiting for them to laugh or giggle or somehow show her that this was a joke but they didn't. Then she looked at Regina and Robin, both of whom were beaming.

"Seriously?" Esme gasped. She couldn't remember the last time her heart had soared quite so much.

"Yes. I mean.. if you want it-" Regina explained but her talk was cut short when Esme's arms were wrapped tightly around both her neck and Robins.

"Oh my god are you kidding?! Thank you! Thank you so much!" Esme gushed as she kissed them both emphatically on their cheek. She somewhat awkwardly pulled away eventually, knowing it was unlike her to react in such a manner, but she was simply elated.

"Wait. But where does Roland sleep?" Esme asked.

"In our old room," Robin explained but Esme was still confused.

"But then where do you guys sleep?" Esme asked.

"We turned the second lounge into our room," Robin explained as he put his arm around Regina's shoulders. Esme smiled; every time Robin touched her, Regina smiled just a little. It was small. Almost unrecognisable. But it was there.

"Thank you so, so much!" Esme gushed as she grabbed one of each their hands in hers.

"Darling, you live here," Robin explained in his pretty English accent. It seemed so simplistic but she couldn't believe it. When she was away, she had thought about them every moment of every day. Silly as it seemed, to her this room was proof that they had done the same.

She turned around to look at the room, her room but her brothers remained in the doorway. She saw a huge smile spread across each of their faces and she knew exactly what they were thinking; they all raced to the large, luxurious white bed. Esme bounced upon impact and, although her bones ached, she couldn't help but giggle. The second she rolled over onto her back, Roland jumped onto her belly and Henry lay on top of them both; Esme had forgotten they loved to play pile-on.

"Okay! Okay! Don't smush your sister!" Roland bellowed.

Henry quickly got off, allowing Esme some more room to breath, but Roland needed to be tickled by Robin to relinquish the fun he was having.

"Here honey, you jump in your shower and we'll fix you some dinner," Regina explained as she handed Esme two soft black towels. Esme was having so much fun with her brothers that she didn't even notice Regina had left, but she was grateful for the towels; she desperately wanted a shower. Esme smiled as her brothers kissed her cheeks and Robin and Regina kissed her head; as if they were worried she was going somewhere. The irony was that hhe had absolutely no intention of ever leaving them again; she couldn't remember ever being quite as happy as she was in that moment. She had parents that fought for her, two brothers who adored her, a gorgeous room to herself and even her own bathroom. As she entered the bathroom Esne smiled some more; they had given her all soft, baby pink things. Pink soap, pink shampoo and conditioner, a pink lampshade and pink hand towels draped across the towel rack; this was definitely Henry's doing for he knew she loved pink. Once she had eventually figured out how to turn on the shower, which had at least 10 buttons, she stepped in and enjoyed the sensation of fresh, warm water bouncing off her back. The water was warm but not too warm, and although it initially stung each of her scrapes, it made her feel clean; something she hadn't felt in weeks. She washed her hair twice with shampoo and once with the conditioner and only left once she was sure that she had scrubbed off all of Messene's dirt. She emerged from the shower feeling fresh. She carefully strolled over to her pretty white bed and noticed that there was something set on it. As she lifted it up, it looked like a giant baby-grow. It was super soft, extremely fluffy and was soft pink with black hearts dotted across it. It also had a note.

'We bought this when you were away,

We missed you.

Love Henry and Roland'

Esme smiled and almost cried at the incredibly sweet gesture. Although she wasn't entirely sure how to put on a giant baby-grow, but it looked warm, and Esme was freezing so she eventually wore it. She towel dried her hair, which now smelled beautifully of cherries, and put it in a plait before walking down the stairs. She wasn't sure why, but the heat seemed to have made her joints hurt that little but more.

Just as she walked to the kitchen, she saw Regina pulling out Granny's lasagne from the oven; it looked steaming hot and delicious. The smell of it made Esme's stomach grumble and it wasn't until then Esme realised that she was starving hungry.

"Hey, just in time," Regina said with a huge smile. Robin was pouring everyone a drink, Henry was setting out the knives and forks and Roland was already sitting at the table, waiting patiently for his food. Esme looked to Robin to see what he wanted her to do.

"You sit, we'll look after you m'lady," he joked and performed an overly dramatic bow that made Esme laugh. The second that Esme sat at the table, Roland moved from his chair to her knee, and the two began to talk about everything she had missed; apparently Roland played in the woods and shot Henry with his toy bow and arrow a lot when she was away. Henry and the rest of the family quickly joined them and the five of them enjoyed their food and discussed everything that Esme had missed; Zelena was working with Emma on something but they didn't know what, the two of them had been missing ever since Zelena helped Cyrus take Regina and Rumplestilskin had awoken from his coma and was not longer evil. Esme couldn't quite grasp that in just under one month so much had happened. She was still processing everything when she was suddenly overcome with a wave of tiredness; her eyes felt heavy and she couldn't prevent a yawn from escaping her.

"I'm sorry," Esme said. She was annoyed at herself; she was having such a lovely time catching up with everyone. She didn't want to sleep and miss a second more than she had to but she could no longer deny it; she was exhausted.

"Don't be silly. Why don't you get to your bed and we'll bring you up that tea you wanted," Robin explained as he took her fragile hand in his.

"Thank you," Esme said as she returned his warm smile and patted his hand with her free one. She then got up and just as she was about to leave the kitchen, Roland quickly jumped from his chair into Esme, who whirled around just in time to catch him.

"Oh!" Esme gasped. She tried to mask it as surprise, but Roland's little knee had whacked off Esme's very bruised ribs, causing a sharp pain to shoot through Esme's chest.

"You okay?" a concerned Henry asked as he stood up.

"Oh, yeah i'm fine. This little monkey just surprised me," Esme said as she tickled Roland until he giggled.

"Mind if we join?" Henry asked as Esme put Roland back onto the ground.

"Sure," Esme said happily. To be truthful, she was glad of the company. She hadn't slept much when she was in Messene, however when she had, she either had a vision or had nightmares of all of the fighting. Neither of these made for a particularly rejuvenating sleep.

"Love the onesie, by the way," Henry joked.

"Is that was this is? It's very comfortable," Esme explained.

"Ha! I'm glad you like it," Henry joked.

"I love it! And I love you, you know that right little brother?" Esme said as she put her arm around Henry who was practically her height now.

"Love you too sis. You're okay?" Henry asked. He desperately wanted to ask her everything that had happened, but Regina had warned them before she left that they weren't to talk about anything unless Esme brought it up.

"I am now," Esme smiled. It wasn't a complete lie; she was fine right now. In fact she was better than fine; she was happy. She was in agony and terrified as well, but Henry didn't need to know that. Once Esme had slowly made her way up the stairs, with the aid of Henry, she heard Roland shouting:

"Sissy? Henry? Sissy! Henry!"

As they got closer to Esme's room, they saw a very excited Roland bouncing up and down on Esme's gorgeous white bed.

"Well hey there!" Esme laughed. Roland bounced onto his butt and sat panting on the bed.

"Can I sleep now?" Esme laughed.

"Can we watch your TV while you sleep?" Roland asked.

"Sure," Esme laughed. She knew that she was tired, but she didn't quite anticipate how exhausted she really was. She fluffed the delectably soft cushions and sat up in her bed as the mattress hugged every inch of her aching body. Once Henry grabbed the remote, he sat next to Esme on her left, sitting on the covers Esme was firmly wrapped up under. Roland quickly lay with his head on Esme's now cushioned belly and wrapped his arm around her waist. Esme relished the comfort, but the second she placed her head on Henry's shoulder, she fell quickly asleep.

"Okay honey here's your-" Regina began but she was quickly shushed by Henry.

"She just fell asleep," Henry whispered as Robin quickly joined Regina in the doorway.

"And Roland?" Robin asked. Henry tried to check, but he didn't want to move and wake Esme.

"I don't know but could you check? I don't want to wake her," Henry explained seconds before he yawned.

"I'm sure she won't mind being woken up if you want to go to bed," Regina said as she carefully sat on the edge of the bed next to Henry and brushed his black hair away from his face.

"Nah, I think i'll just sleep here with them tonight," Henry explained. Regina couldn't help but look at him with adoration; he had become such a warm and caring young man. She was immensely proud.

"Okay. I love you, Henry," Regina said as she cradles his still childlike face.

"Love you too, mom," Henry said with a smile. Regina looked to Robin, who was wrapping a blanket carefully around a sleeping Roland. He nodded, assuring her that Roland was sleeping, and after they both kissed each child carefully on the head they tentatively closed the door as they left and stared at one another.

"Hi," Robin said with a smile.

"Hi," Regina laughed as Robin wrapped her in his arms and held her tight. Together, the two just stood there. Frozen. Relishing in each and every moment of comfort that they gained from their embrace. Regina couldn't help but smile as Robin gently lifted his head from her shoulder and tantalisingly began kissing her neck.

"Mmmmm" Regina laughed. "We can't! Henry isn't even asleep yet!" she whispered.

"I just missed you!" Robin proclaimed in an almighty loud whisper that made Regina laugh.

"Robin, I was gone for one day," Regina laughed as the two slowly began to make their way downstairs, hand-in-hand. Regina couldn't help but smile; ever since her return, Robin hadn't left her side. He constantly needed be be close to her, touching her; as if he needed reassurance that she wasn't going anywhere again.

"Well, my love, that was one day too many," Robin said as he kissed the top of her head. When they reached the bottom of the stairs, Regina turned to him, put her arms around his neck and kissed him. Slowly and gently, but still enough to send shivers up Robins spine. The way she gently ran her fingers through his hair and gradually brought it to his cheek made Robin quiver. Robin was desperate for it to last longer, for it to go further, but Regina pulled away. She saw the look of disappointment on his face, and smiled.

"We have a kitchen to tidy! We have three kids now remember? That's even more washing up," Regina joked.

"Yes, how did that happen, by the way?" Robin joked in return and the two simply laughed. They knew that neither one regretted their life, or wished it was entirely different, but the circumstances in which they had formed their family was somewhat ridiculous.

"What happened when you got there?" Robin asked Regina as he began to lift the dishes from the table and bring them to the sink.

It was during the cleaning up process that Regina began explaining what had happened when in Messene. She told him all about the fighting, about Esme's powers, about Esme giving up being Empress. All of it.

"Is she alright?" Robin asked.

"Honestly? I don't know," Regina explained.

"Are you alright?" he asked as set down the towel he had been using to dry the dishes Regina had washed. He moved behind her and gently wrapped his arms around her waist; wanting desperately to make her feel safe.

"I am now," Regina said after a slight pause. She ran her fingers along Robin's hand and arms.

"Were you scared?" he asked.

"Yes. There were so many of them I…. I wasn't sure I could get her out. I wasn't sure that we'd come home to you, " Regina told him honestly.

"Regina," Robin said as he carefully spun her around until she was facing him.

"I will spend the rest of my life thanking you for bringing our daughter home. I give you my word," Robin vowed. Robin had known he'd loved Regina for years now however, seeing her risk her life to protect their daughter, and to bring her home, made him fall head over heels in love with her, yet again. Regina had a glint of tears in her eyes as he spoke, but Robin continued.

"Come here," he said as he grabbed her hand and carefully pulled her to their living room.

"Robin what are you doing?" Regina giggled.

"Shh, i'm trying to be spontaneous and romantic!"

"In our living room?" Regina giggled.

"Yes! In our living room! Now shh and let me get back to the romance and spontaneity," he said as he sat Regina down next to the fire; where they had their first date. Regina giggled, but she gladly obliged.

"Do you remember what happened here?" Robin asked. Regina raised her eye-brow in a way that made Robin smirk; Robin hadn't quite thought that question through entirely for the two had enjoyed many wonderful… sleeps… in this particular spot, but that wasn't what he wanted Regina to remember.

"No not that. I mean, do you remember the first date that we had?"

"Of course," Regina said as she took off her heels and returned her gaze to Robin. Usually, he was charming and confident and funny, but tonight he was so concerned and flustered that he could barely speak.

"Do you remember what I said?"

"You're going to have to narrow that one down.."

"About timing.." Robin said before closing his eyes in frustration. His initially intention was to coax the answer out of Regina, but he quickly realised that he realised he had just given her the answer.

"You said it's all about timing," Regina giggled as she gently soothed Robin by stroking his cheek.

"This isn't even close to how I wanted this to go," Robin laughed as he leaned forward and buried his head in Regina's should in mock embarrassment.

"But I am so glad i've made you smile," Robin said and kissed her gently on the lips. He rested his head on hers for a moment, breathing in her smell.

"What isn't going as you planned?" Regina asked as she continued to rest her head on Robins.

"I had a vision when you were away," Robin whispered, completely avoiding Regina's question.

"What?!" Regina said as she pulled away from him; she needed to see him better.

"Are you okay?!" Regina asked desperately; logically she knew that he was fine but she also knew the pain that was involved.

"I'm fine," Robin said as he kissed her nose reassuringly.

"I don't mean to worry you, my love. I just … I saw us."

"Okay…?" Regina said, waiting for more information before she properly responded.

"I asked you to marry me," Robin explained. Regina was stunned; they had never had the same memory. When Regina failed to answer, Robin continued.

"And I think you know that," he explained. Regina looked to the ground.

"Regina why didn't you tell me?" Robin implored.

"I.. I got the vision when we were in Messene and I.. I didn't want you to feel like you had to.. do anything," Regina tried to explain.

"Have to- what? Marry you?" Robin asked.

"Well, yes."

"Regina listen to me," he said as he took her hand in his.

"I got this a month ago," he said as he reached under one of the cushions from the couch and pulled out a small little black box. Regina looked at it and then looked at Robin; as if she needed him to reassure her that this was real, that this was actually happening.

"I have loved you for a very long time. The only thing that that vision proved to me what that we are meant to be together. I love you; I loved you then and I love you now. I will always, always love you. You being taken away from me was.. it was one of the worst things imaginable, but it proved something to me. I need you. I don't ever want to wake up without you beside me. I don't ever want to live without you as my wife. I know that I have put you through hell, but if you'll let me, I will spend the rest of our lives making it up to you."

"You don't have to-"

"I do. Regina I was born to love you. I was born to protect you. I was born to be your husband. And if you'll let me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove that to you."

"Now it's my turn," Regina said with a warm, calm smile.

"What?" Robin laughed.

"It's my turn! In the vision I didn't say anything even though there were a million things that I wanted to so i'm going to say them now. Robin, years ago, I gave you my heart, and from that moment, I never quite got it back. You showed me that I was worthy of love at a time I didn't think I deserved it. You saw a light in me that only Henry saw. You are my second chance. Robin, I love you - with every bone in my body, I love you - and I would be so honoured and so proud to be your wife. I know it's not much, but all that I am and all that I have is yours. It's always been yours," Regina explained. She stopped and gently wiped a tear that had rolled down Robin's cheek.

"Ask me," Regina said through teary eyes and a huge, toothy smile.

"Well that's oddly nostalgic-" he laughed.

"Just ask me," Regina implored. Robin wiped away the remaining tears that fell down his cheeks and opened the delicate looking, antique black box. It revealed a ring. Regina's ring.

"Where did you-" Regina exclaimed but she was too amazed to even complete the sentence. The emerald was small and delicate, and the band was an intricate design of gold branches delicately encompassing the emerald.

"Regina?" Robin asked.

"Yes?"

"Will you do me the great honour, of becoming my wife?" he asked. Before Robin could even finish his proposal, Regina was lifting the ring from the box and placing it on her finger; all Robin could do was laugh.

"Hmmm," Regina teased, to which Robin acted offended.

"Yes!" Regina proclaimed mere seconds before Robin's lips met hers. Their kiss was soft and gentle. Teasing. But their separation from one another and their recent engagement got the better of them, and within moments their kisses became hot and fevered. The two desperately tugged at one another clothes, teasing one another while they did so.

"Wait! The kids are just upstairs!" Regina panted as Robin kissed her neck with his soft, hungry lips.

"Well my love, there are advantages to having our bedroom downstairs?" he said as he grabbed her hand and led her to their room. He waited until they were mere meters away from their bedroom before he kissed her once again. He held her perfect face in his hands and had to tear himself away from her to walk any further. In the brief moment that their lips parted, the two looked at one another; Regina gave him a devilishly flirtatious smile. In response, Robin hungrily lifted her up into his arms.

"What are you doing?!" Regina giggled.

"I am going to … sleep…. with my future wife," Robin stated as he carried Regina into the bedroom and promptly shut the door.