"The Jolly Roger"

Extinguish these miseries,
since no one else can stamp them out . . .

Regina was still packing up her kit when Robin sent Roland to get his coat.

Robin watched her a moment and then raised his eyebrows.

"A protection spell for Snow's apartment," Regina answered the silent question.

"Why don't you do one for your house first?"

Regina sighed, "I would, but it got complicated when I learned the witch is my sister. "

"Blood magic?"

"Yes," Regina's snapped her case closed. "How do you know about that?"

Robin seemed to consider it, "I don't know. Am I right?"

"You are."

Her eyes met his in the mirror, "Lost year?"

"Perhaps." Regina's lips tightened. This memory loss was more than annoying. "Would you like Roland to stay at Snow's?"

Robin nodded, "At night, if she'd have him."

"Of course she would." She chuckled, "give them a preview." Her eyes nearly twinkled.

And….

"Your men could come into town and…"

Robin slowly shook his head.

OK.

They never really talked about that. How thrilled his Merrie Men really were about the seriousness of their relationship.

He stepped closer to her, "I do have a heart to protect."

Regina smirked, "When all this is over, I look forward to finding out where you chose to stash it."

Robin took both her hands in his, those blue eyes with that look that made her melt.

Then kissed them.

She enjoyed the moment, and then, "Let's go."

Several hours later Regina found herself in a situation that her wildest dreams could not have conjured. She was having a family dinner.

At Granny's.

With the Charmings.

At Granny's.

And they were actually not trying to kill each other.

How things changed!

And …

"Mommy!"

Regina whipped her head to the entrance and saw Roland run over to where the family was sitting. Regina jumped up as he crashed into her arms.

An apologetic Robin was behind him, surprised.

She really needed to get him an iPhone.

"Henry!" Roland shouted, jumped down, and threw his arms around the pre-teen.

"Uh, hi." Henry looked embarrassed.

"Henry! Where have you been? We were looking for you!"

"Yes," Emma stammered a little, looking at her son, "um, Roland has heard about you."

Henry smiled down at him, "Hi, Roland."

Robin stepped up. Regina cleared her throat, "Henry, this is my fiancé, Robin."

"Nice to meet you." Henry politely shook his hand.

Roland was peering excited into Henry's face, "You come to our house? We can watch the hobbit!"

"It's too late for Henry to come over Roland," Regina said gently.

"Oh," he looked at Emma, "He's staying with his other Mommy tonight?"

"My other mom?" Henry frowned.

"The one from your tummy," Roland told him, "Regina is our Mommy from…"

Regina quickly interrupted, "Yes, sweetie, I'm your mommy from the heart."

"And so is Hen…"

"Roland," Regina said quietly, but firmly, "why don't you go out with your daddy? I'll be there in a minute."

Roland nodded and ran off with Robin.

Thank the gods for little children easily being distracted.

"I'm sorry, Henry," Regina said. "He gets confused. Thinks everyone has two mommies. His mother passed away and . . ."

"And you're the one from his heart," Henry finished. "It's ok. I get it. I have a friend who's adopted. That's how his mother explained it when he was little."

"Exactly." A lump started to choke her.

"He's cute." Henry smiled.

"Yes. I'm . . ." Regina looked down now, blinking back tears, "I'm a lucky woman."

And she quickly bade goodbye to the group.

Robin was waiting for her.

"I'm sorry, Regina. I had no idea Henry would be here."

"It's ok."

He hugged her, "you ok?"

"No." The tears spilled out. "But I am a lucky woman."

Robin placed a kiss on the top of her head. "If you want me to stay with you again, I will."

"No,'" Regina shook her head. "You need to be with your men. I'll see you tomorrow."

He placed his hands on her shoulders, peering earnestly at her, "This will end, Regina. We will get Henry's memories back."

She nodded, and kissed her beloved goodnight.