A/N: Here we go with Day 2: Dadd's Girl, and this one is for the sweetest of them all, my dear Alexia (aka Coralexia, sometimes) - because she's a proper cheerleader! Luv ya!
DAY 2 - DADDY'S GIRL
- Love goes on and on -
Regina opened the door and entered her house, immediately kicking off her heels. She put her bag on the table and tossed the keys beside it.
"Is someone home?" she asked, and she entered the living room, searching for her family.
"Hello, love," Robin greeted her with a smile. He was sitting on the sofa next to Hazel, and the little girl immediately turned her head, lifted up and flew to hug her mother.
"Hi, sweetie," Regina tapped her nose and Hazel looked up from her short height.
"Guess what movie found Roland, mommy?" she loosened the embrace, practically starting to jump, excited.
"What movie?" asked Regina with an exaggerated imitation of her tone. Hazel took her hand and led her to the sofa. Regina shot a glance to the screen and then looked at Robin, already starting to laugh.
"As you can see, it's my turn, milady," he said. "My lovely boy thought that showing Robin Hood to his sister wouldn't ruin my reputation forever"
"You're a fox," grinned Regina, as his Disney version was running through the forest.
"And that's uncle John, mommy," instructed Hazel, pointing at the bear.
"Oh yes, I see," nodded Regina. She moved towards the sofa, placing her hands on Robin's shoulders. "I have to say that your father is a very dashing fox"
"I still don't understand why we are animals," he protested.
"It suits you," approved the queen. "Sadly, I have some work to finish, so I'll leave you two -" she pecked a kiss on his cheek "- to your movie"
"Okay" he nodded, and she exited the room, muttering something that sounded a lot like Damn Emma and her hormones.
"Come here next to daddy, Hazel," he said, and she jumped on the sofa and cuddled on his side. They watched as Robin-the-fox explained they stole from the rich to give to the poor – Hazel would happily beamed and said "See, Daddy, it isn't so wrong, this movie," – and as the two thieves stole the money from Prince John.
"Was there a Prince John in the Enchanted Forest, daddy?" Hazel asked.
"Not really," explained her father. "There was a very annoying sheriff, and he lives in Storybrooke now"
"I don't know if I wanna meet him," shivered the girl.
"You won't," he assured. The red fox was giving to the little rabbit his hat, as a birthday gift. Hazel watched as the rabbit and his friends entered sneakily in the palace's garden – where they met a chicken and a fascinating vixen, who were playing at badminton.
"Who are these?" asked Hazel, and a sad smile spread on her father's face.
"I guess the vixen would be Maid Marian, baby," he answered. "She was Roland's mother"
"And where is she now?"
"She's in the sky, Hazel," said Robin, holding her tighter. "But I'm sure she is watching over us, even right now". He knew he couldn't tell her the truth about Marian's death – that either Regina or Zelena, depending on the timeline, had killed her… not yet… she's too young, he thought. She lives in a world of hidden truths…
"Do you miss her?"
"Sometimes, yes," he answered. "But I have your mother now, and Marian would not want me to spend all day crying, right?"
"She would want you to be happy"
"You're very wise, to be so tiny" he laughed, tickling her belly and making her giggle.
They watched Robin-the-fox and Little John talk about Marian and plan to infiltrate at the archery tournament. Hazel held her breath as Prince John said that the competition could begin, and Robin chuckled, seeing the golden arrow that represented the prize.
"Why are you laughing?" asked Hazel, a puzzled look on her face.
"Because the golden arrow comes from a different story," he answered. "When I met your mother in the Enchanted Forest, I helped her with a… secret mission, and then she gave me a quiver full of arrows with a golden tip," he heard a noise and turned slightly his head: Regina had just appeared on the doorway, crossed arms and raised eyebrows, "because she couldn't have accomplished the mission without me" he ended, a wide grin on his face.
"Now, don't tell the girl nonsense" she grumbled, coming to sit next to Hazel. "Your father overestimates his importance in that mission"
"I have to remind you that I saved your life, honey," he replied, crossing his legs and extending them on the sofa.
"Yes, you have been useful," she admitted. Hazel, oblivious of their debate, shut them up with a face that made Robin chuckle, because it was the exact replica of Regina's angry frown. "Daddy, they're about to kill him!"
"I sentence you to sudden, instant and even immediate death!"
"Oh, no! Oh! Please. Please, sire. I beg of you to spare his life. Please have mercy," cried Marian.
"My dear emotional lady, why should I?"
"Because I love him, Your Highness."
Regina took Robin's hand and he squeezed it gratefully.
"Love him? And does this prisoner return your love?"
"Marian, my darling, I love you more than life itself."
"Ah, young love. Your pleas have not fallen upon a heart of stone… but traitors to the crown must die!"
"Traitor to the crown? That crown belongs to King Richard."
"They're not killing him, right?" asked Hazel, biting her lip.
"Wait and see," whispered Regina, taking her in her lap. They watched as the archery tournament became a mess of yelling animals, and Prince John was clearly losing.
"Marian, my love, will you marry me?"
"Oh, darling, I thought you'd never ask me. But you could've chosen a more romantic setting"
"And for our honeymoon, London..."
"Yes!"
"Normandy! Sunny Spain!"
"Yes! Why not?"
"Did you ask Marian to marry you in that way, daddy?" said Hazel, offended by her father's lack of romanticism. Regina laughed and Robin looked almost guilty.
"Well, not after an archery tournament, but after a successful mission as outlaws, baby"
"Yes, sounds like you," nodded Regina, and he raised his eyebrows. "With your mother I worked harder on that," he said, and she kissed chastely his lips. The animals on the screen started running towards the forest, and Marian and Robin were all alone under the shining stars.
Once we watched a lazy world go by
Now the days seem to fly
Life is brief
But when it's gone
Love goes on and on
"Now that's more romantic," said Regina, and Hazel approved, her red curls bouncing as she nodded. They stayed silent for a while, the little girl too engrossed in the movie to notice her parents, all cuddled up together. Prince John increased the taxes, and the Merry Men planned a mission to steal the golden pieces from his chambers.
"So, Hazel, who's your favorite character?" asked Regina, lazily wrapping a red curl around her finger.
"The snake, he's funny" answered Hazel, and her father let out an offended "What?"
"She has good taste" observed the queen, grinning.
"I'm not your favorite, little lady?" he asked with a playful pout. Hazel turned her head to face him and she smiled. "No, because that fox is not as skilled as you"
"Come here, you" he placed his hands on her hips and lifted her, and she started to giggle – Put me down! – as he hugged her. Regina looked at them, a wide smile on her face. "Well, aren't you a daddy's girl" she said, and he pulled her closer too, tangling all three bodies in a mess, all three shaking with laughter.
In that moment, Henry and Roland entered, finding them in the middle of their wrestling of tickle. Henry looked at his brother and rolled his eyes. "It's always a sad day when we are the most mature in here, bro"
"I heard that!" exclaimed his mother.
"No, really" said Roland. "If I knew the movie had this effect…"
"Come on, we brought pizza" cut Henry, and Hazel lifted from her parents' legs to reach her brothers. Left alone, Regina looked at Robin, his smile now gone.
"Are you okay?" she asked.
"It's been awkward… and a bit sad" he answered. "But I'll have to admit, I like being a fox"
"My favorite fox" she smiled, kissing his lips. Roland let out a huff from the hallway. "We leave you for a minute and here you go, already snogging"
"It's the fox in me, son," Robin replied, against his queen's lips.