Interlude 1

Regina woke up, once again in her bed. She sat up, wondering if this was another movie or something else. Pushing her blankets back, she padded over to the door and opened it. Looking down the hallway, she called out: "Hello?"

"Mom?" Henry called back from downstairs. "I'm in the kitchen."

She walked down the stairs, recognizing the house as her own. As she entered the kitchen, she found Henry eating some cereal. He smiled at her. "Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," she replied. "You're home early."

"No," he said, grinning. "You slept late."

Regina frowned, looking up at the clock. Surprise coursed through her as she realized it was after eleven AM - it was closer to lunch than breakfast. It had been years since she had slept so late and wondered how tired she had been the night before.

Henry tilted his head. "Are you okay, Mom? You still look tired."

"Oh," she said, though she wasn't sure if she should be surprised. Her rather detailed dream hadn't felt very restorative. So she just shrugged. "I guess I didn't sleep as well as I thought or hoped."

"You didn't fall asleep on the couch again, did you?" he asked, sounding concerned.

Embarrassed that he knew about that and was calling her out on it, she shook her head. "I fell asleep in bed."

He nodded. "Is it Roland?"

"What?" she asked, surprised.

"You seemed sad after the show," he said. "And I realized that the kindergarteners went last, which would've been Roland's class. So I was wondering if you had been thinking of him."

Regina sighed, nodding. It was the truth, after all. "I was. I miss him."

"I do too," Henry replied. He looked anguished as he asked: "Do you think if I hadn't tried to destroy magic, he would still be with us?"

She frowned, sitting next to him. "What do you mean?"

"Well, the main reason the Merry Men left when they did was because magic was so unstable and everyone who wanted to return to the Enchanted Forest wanted to go before they were stuck here forever," he said. "And when they left, you were on your way to stop me. Which makes me wonder that if you were here and the threat of magic going away wasn't there, would you have been able to convince the Merry Men to stay? Or at least to let you keep Roland?"

Regina had also wondered what would've happened if she had been in town or if the others hadn't been in such a rush to leave Storybrooke. And though it pained her, she knew that it likely would've ended up the same way - just that Regina could've said goodbye to Roland herself and accepted his gift rather than Zelena being the middleman.

She took Henry's hand. "Robin and I…well, we never discussed his wishes. There was never any time and maybe even after what happened in Camelot, I was too scared to have that conversation because it could make the chance of losing him become a reality."

"Okay," Henry said, sounding confused.

"So I don't know if Robin would've wanted Roland to stay with me," she said. "I had to defer to the Merry Men, who would've known Robin's wishes better. And they already raised Roland from a baby with him. They know him best."

Henry nodded, though he didn't look too convinced. "I guess."

"I believe we will see him one day," she said, though her heart constricted as she feared it was a fool's hope. "Our goodbye wasn't forever."

"I know," Henry replied, trying to smile. "I just miss him."

Regina walked closer and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. "I know. I miss him too."

They hugged each other for a little while longer before she pulled back. "I'm going to change and then make myself some breakfast. When I'm done, we'll do whatever you want."

"Anything?" he asked, raising both eyebrows as he gave her a cheeky smile.

Realizing that she likely wouldn't like what he was thinking of, she added: "Within reason."

He chuckled, nodding. "Alright."

"Good," she said, kissing his cheek. "I'll be right back down."

She left the kitchen and headed back upstairs, still a little shaken from her strange dream but feeling better. Regina was certain the feeling would continue to fade over the day and then she would go to bed for what likely would be a dreamless night. That was what usually happened after a night where she had a strange and memorable dream.

Picking out her outfit for the day, Regina missed the wardrobe she had had in her dream for a moment. It had been so easy to get ready while living in a movie. Or a dream, as it had turned out. She chuckled at her thoughts before pushing them aside so she could get ready.

Regina sat down to remove her pajamas and she paused when she realized there were socks on her feet. She frowned, preferring to go to bed in bare feet. Leaning down, she pulled one off and held it up. Her heart froze as she recognized the soft, knitted garment.

It was the one she and Mary Margaret had made in her dream.

Or maybe it wasn't a dream after all.

She pulled off the other sock and held the pair together. Confusion filled her as she asked: "What is going on?"

There was no response.

Unnerved, Regina took the socks and conjured up a special box for them. She placed them inside before locking it and sticking it in her closet. There was something weird going on and she promised to get to the bottom of it - after she spent a day with her son.

Henry first.

Everything else could wait.


"For dessert, some Christmas cookies and hot chocolate with cinnamon," Regina said, carrying the tray into the living room.

Henry sat up, setting his comic book aside. "Awesome!"

"I thought we could finish up with a Christmas movie," she said, handing him a mug before setting the cookie plate down on the coffee table. "What do you say?"

"Sounds good," he replied, grabbing a cookie. "Which one do you want to watch?"

Regina swallowed her sip of hot chocolate before shrugging. "Why don't you choose?"

He shrugged, picking up the remote. "Okay. Let's see what's on."

"Sounds good," she said, grabbing a cookie as well. She bit into it as he went through the guide, trying to find the right movie for them to watch.

"This looks new," Henry said, choosing the Hallmark Channel. "Christmas CEO?"

Regina frowned, shaking her head. "I've never seen it. Let's give it a watch."

"Okay," he replied, setting the remote down and picking up another cookie. He tapped his mug against hers. "Cheers."

Laughing, she repeated it before they cuddled together and watched the movie together.

"Well, that was interesting," Henry said, crinkling his nose.

Regina laughed, recognizing her son's tell. "You didn't like it, did you?"

He shrugged. "I liked the romance between Chris and Joe but I didn't like that she had to lose her business in the end? I know she got another one but still, it didn't seem fair."

"I know," she replied. "But I think they were more focused on the romance than the business."

"I guess," he said, shrugging. "They can't all be winners, right?"

She chuckled, shaking her head. "I guess not."

He kissed her cheek before standing. "Goodnight, Mom. I'll see you in the morning."

"Goodnight, Henry," she replied, giving his hand a squeeze. "Pleasant dreams, sweetheart."

"You too, Mom," he said, giving her a smile before leaving the living room to head upstairs.

Sighing, she gathered up the empty mugs and plate. After carrying them to the kitchen and cleaning them, she shut everything off on her first floor and made sure her door was locked - though there wasn't much crime in Storybrooke. But one never knew when a villain might blow through town looking for revenge against someone, especially her, so she could never be too careful.

Heading upstairs, she first checked on her son. The lights were off and she could tell that he was already sound asleep under his blankets. Pleased, she closed the door and walked to her room, turning off the hallway light as she reached her bedroom door.

Closing her door behind her, she took a deep breath. Fatigue was settling over her and she wanted to just crawl into bed to sleep until morning. But she had a nighttime ritual and she forced herself to go through it first.

Even if it meant thinking about Robin and Roland.

While she enjoyed her day with Henry, she couldn't help but miss Robin and Roland. She believed they should've been with them as they did last minute shopping for stocking stuffers and admired some of the window displays in town. And they should've been with them on the couch that night, cuddling and watching the movie together. This was supposed to be their first Christmas together.

Life was cruel.

She rinsed out her mouth and tucked her toothbrush back in its holder, ignoring the green one that she had bought for Robin. Regina still couldn't bring herself to remove it and so it sat next to her black one, dry and unused.

It broke her heart to see it but it broke her heart more to think of not seeing it. And so it stayed, waiting for an owner who would never use it.

Regina climbed into bed and turned off the lights before wrapping herself in the blankets. She lay on her side, staring at the empty half of the bed Robin barely got to occupy. Yet she still missed having his solid warmth next to her. Tears pricked her eyes again as she placed a hand on the cold sheets. "I miss you," she whispered.

Somewhere, she believed Robin whispered it back to her.

Closing her eyes, Regina let sleep carry her off to what she hoped would be a less confusing night than the one before.