Chapter 5

Leroy said his goodbye to Snow when he had dropped her off at her house. He kept rethinking what Snow had said, she was right. He was also one of the those that weren't exactly treating Regina all that well but he knew what to do about that. He got home, gathered his tools and went straight to the Mansion. He knocked and when Henry opened he asked him where Regina's winter stock has been stored.

'Her what' Henry exclaimed. Leroy had followed him into the kitchen.

'You don't think that your fire place burns on nothing does it'

'Oh, you mean the fire wood'

Leroy nodded.

'Out back, next to the shed. Why do you want to know'

Leroy didn't say anything but stood up and went out the backdoor and started chopping Regina's fire wood into manageable pieces.

Regina woke up from the sound of wood being split and joined Henry in the kitchen, both of them were now staring out the kitchen window.

'What is the dwarf doing?'

Henry shrugged his shoulders. 'Chopping our fire wood. I guess'

Regina stared wide eyed at Henry. 'The Dwarf is chopping my fire wood, what the hell is going on here'

'He came by, asked where our recently delivered fire wood was and started chopping' Henry explained.

Regina had left the kitchen and was heading towards Leroy.

'What are you doing?'

'Can't you tell Sister. I am chopping your fire wood'

'Yes. I can see that'

'I figured you earned it.'

'Excuse me?'

Leroy nodded. 'you've saved the town several times now so I figured, you've earned it'

Regina didn't know how to respond to the kindness Leroy was showing so she muttered something and walked off.

Henry and Regina stayed inside while Leroy did his work and after about an hour Regina huffed and puffed when Henry suggested that she should call Leroy in for some coffee but she did call out to Leroy none the less.

'Dwa….Leroy, want some coffee'

Leroy waved indicating that he had heard her. He cleaned up, dusted himself off and went inside. He was greeted with Mother and Son bickering about what to do with the frosting on a cake.

'Mom, that's boring. Why not try something different'

'I am not the cake boss on TLC, Henry. I cannot do such an elaborate thing. I can bake but decorating the cake is a whole other ball game and why in heavens name why did you make the frosting green. I hate green'

'Just give it a try' Henry whined. '

'Are you whining?'

'yes, does it help'

'No, not really' Regina was concentrating on the cake. Leroy looked at the cake and was very impressed with the end result. It took mother and son several more minutes of decorating but after that it was done.

When all was said and done and Leroy had his cake and coffee he packed up his gear, thanked Regina for the cake and the coffee and was about to head out.

'Leroy !' Regina had followed him to her front door. 'Thank you'

The Dwarf and the former Evil Queen were seizing each other up. 'You're welcome' Leroy said all of a sudden. He nearly bumped into Robin who had just come the front porch. Leroy stood there, he tried to intimidate Robin, staring him square in the eyes. 'You better treat her right, cause if not…' Regina stepped in. 'It's ok, Leroy. I'll be fine' after that Leroy left.

'What is it that you want, Robin' Regina questioned him. She was getting tired and to be honest she was getting tired of him trying to redeem himself in every possible way but never with her.

'I am only here so I can ask how you are doing' Robin looked at her. 'You seem to be doing well'

'Oh, am I' Regina got mad. 'Well, let's see. I have 31 stiches in my shoulder, I have a headache that has been killing me ever since I got up. I can't sleep cause every time I move in my sleep my shoulder and ribs hurt and lets not even begin with my face. So if you seem to think I am doing well then I probably must be doing very well'

Robin stepped forward and was horrified by the fact that he saw Regina flinch again and step back, just like she had when she visited him in jail. She was afraid of him. Robin's heart sank, he had lost her trust, her faith in him. He stepped back immediately.

'What would you have me do, please tell me. I'll do anything' He begged.

'Leave me alone. I just want to be left alone, go away.' Regina was fed up with everything. Robin nodded, he was hurt to the core but if that was what she wanted then that is what he would give to her. Space and time.

Robin said nothing, his shoulders were slumped when he walked away from her and with each step his heart broke a little more, knowing he had no one to blame but himself.

Regina closed the door and slowly sank to the floor. Her head in her hands, she was sobbing. Henry had seen everything. He gently lowered himself next to him mom and hugged her.

TBC..