#oq ff

He cleaned up the kitchen for Mary Margaret’s return. It was a holiday for the schools and the Nolans had already made plans for the day before Regina’s accident. They asked Robin if he would be okay staying a little later than normal but promised they would be back by five. He had arranged for John to watch Roland for the day and he knew John would wait until Robin got back, no matter what time.

Though Robin hoped they were on time as he wanted to spend some time with Roland before he had to go to bed.

Realizing it had almost been a half hour, he decided to go check on Regina and Henry in the living room. He crossed the foyer and entered the other room, noticing Regina was on the phone. She frowned as she changed the channel to the news. “They aren’t reporting the weather yet. Is it really bad?”

“Henry, who is your mother talking to?” Robin asked, picking up the empty plate.

“Aunt Mary Margaret,” Henry said. “They’re talking about the weather. I don’t know why.”

Regina shushed them. “The weather is on. Let me listen to it.”

They fell silent and watched the TV as the meteorologist stood in front of map of their county. “We are tracking a serious nor’easter that’s already passed over Augusta and is coming our way.

“If we time it out, we anticipate it hitting the towns on the shoreline, like Cabot Cove and Storybrooke, within the hour,” he continued. “They are going to collide with a low pressure system that will keep them stationery over the shoreline for most of the night. The storm is expected to produce high winds, lightning and lots of rain, which means downed trees, power outages and flooding are all possible.”

“It sounds bad, Mary Margaret,” Regina said, frowning. “I think you and David should find a hotel for the night and wait out the storm.”

Watching the large storm mass heading for them on the TV, Robin agreed that was the best thing for them to do. He turned back to Regina, who was listening to something Mary Margaret said before saying: “I’ll be fine for one night. Don’t worry about me.”

He frowned as a pit formed in his stomach. Regina was going to be alone once he left for the day. While Henry was there with her, there were some things a ten-year-old boy wouldn’t be able to help his mother with. Could he just walk away from them when five o’clock rolled around?

Of course not.

“No, no,” Regina replied. “You stop and spend the night somewhere safe. No questions. We don’t need you and David laid up like me.”

“Tell her I can stay with you,” Robin said, hoping that would convince Mary Margaret and David to stop for the night.

She frowned before repeating his words. Regina listened to the response as relief filled her eyes. “Good. Text me where you’re staying and I promise to keep you updated through the night,” she said.

Once she ended the call, Henry grinned. “You’re staying the night, Mr. Locksley?”

“No,” Regina said just as Robin said: “Yes.”

“Henry, can you go to your room for a bit?” Regina asked, her eyes narrowed as she remained focused on Robin. “Mr. Locksley and I need to talk.”

In those days, my father Henry was my lifesaver. He bought me my first chemistry set and snuck science books in for me to read. And he hid them for me so Mother wouldn’t find them. When she was trying to get me to go to dance recitals, Dad and I drove to different science museums. I would have gone insane if not for him.

Pain gripped my heart as tears pricked my eyes. Dad's death hurt still. Which was understandable as it had only been a month earlier. It had been cancer. Dad and his doctors had fought it with everything available in medicine. I used my connections and was able to research a new experimental drug. Long days and late nights followed but I was relentless. If I wasn’t experimenting, I was reading everything I could. Dad and I weren’t going to go down without a fight.

In the end, the disease won. It was the first time science let me down. That hurt almost as much as the fact that my father wasn't there anymore.

A tissue was pressed into my hand. I glanced up, looking at my husband Daniel through tear-filled eyes. He smiled at me though his eyes were filled with concern. Wrapping an arm around me, he pulled me in close. Daniel kissed the top of my head before whispering, "It'll be all right. It's okay to cry. It's okay."

I rested my head on his shoulder and let the tears fall. My sobs shook my body as he held me close, muttering nonsense in my ear. It was soothing nonetheless.

Our taxi hit a bump, sending us into my window. “God fucking damn it! Did you have to hit the one bump in the road?”

"Sorry about that,” the driver said, sounding contrite. “I didn't mean to but it was unavoidable.”

"It's okay. We're fine," Daniel assured him. He turned to me with a pointed look. "Right, Regina?"

"Yes, of course. No worries.” I was working on my temper, one more unwanted gift from Mother. Daniel was a saint in my opinion for putting up with it. When he didn’t run after the first time I exploded at him, I knew he was “The One.” But he was also right when he sat me down and said I had to learn how to control my anger. It hasn’t been easy, but I was making progress. Only a year ago, that man would’ve had his head chewed out.

But he seemed to have brushed off my hotheaded response. He glanced at us in his rearview mirror. "So, what brings you two to Edwinstowe? On your honeymoon?"

"Oh, we're not on our honeymoon. Did that already to someplace a bit more romantic than here. Right, Regina?" He nudged me.

I smiled, remembering our honeymoon in the south of France. It had been a wedding present from Dad, who said we deserved to go someplace filled with sun, sand and history. He gave Daniel strict orders to make sure I didn’t get absorbed in my work and I was to make sure he didn’t drag his typewriter along for the trip. “This time is for you two to get to know each other as husband and wife. Use it wisely. Your experiments and your writing will be here when you get back,” he told us. We took his advice to heart and I believed we were stronger as a couple for it.

“Yes, dear. It was amazing.” I threaded my hand through his, squeezing. His silver wedding band caught the sunlight and shone. I smiled at the sight.

Daniel leaned forward to talk to our driver better. His blue eyes shone in excitement and he grew animated as he spoke. “We’re here on vacation, and to conduct some research into Robin Hood.”

The driver chuckled. “Robin Hood, eh? Any particular reason why?”

“My husband is a writer.” I couldn’t keep the pride from my voice and I didn’t want to. “And he’s working on book featuring Robin Hood.”

“Is he now? Well, that should be a good read.” The driver chuckled as he turned off the highway. “You can tell me if I’m being nosy but you aren’t staying in a hotel or even a bed and breakfast.”

I fixed him with a hard look using the rearview mirror. “Yes, you are being nosy.”

“Regina,” Daniel said in a warning tone. He turned back to the driver. “Sorry about that.”

“It’s okay. She isn’t the first jetlagged traveler to snap at me. Probably won’t be the last either.” He chuckled. “So, care to tell me more about the book? Or is it a secret?”

“It is a secret.” Daniel laughed. “All I can say is something drew me to him. Told me I had to write about him, had to come to England to learn about him. I’m not sure why. But thankfully, a friend of mine put me in touch with a professor here—that’s where my wife and I are staying, with him and his wife—and things have been rolling along since.”

"Do you want a drink?" Robin asked, pulling away from her.

"I do," she replied. "Thank you."

Roland turned away from his sister, who was now asleep, smiling. "Can I get a drink too?"

Chuckling, Robin nodded. "I'll see if Granny has some chocolate milk for you since we are celebrating."

"Thanks, Papa," he said, watching as Robin walked away. He then looked up at Regina. "What about Peanut?"

"I think she'd rather sleep," Regina replied, rubbing the baby's foot. "And it's best we let her."

Roland nodded. "Yeah."

She sat down across from Roland, reaching for his hand. "Are you happy we're all home again?"

"I am," he said. "It's more fun when everyone is together."

"Yes, it is," she agreed.

Robin returned, setting two glasses of whiskey down before handing Roland a cup of chocolate milk. "Enjoy, my boy," he said.

"Thanks, Papa," Roland replied, pulling the cup toward him.

"You're welcome," he said, sitting down next to Regina and picking up his glass. "To life?"

She nodded, clinking her glass against his. "To life."

"I want to cheers too!" Roland said, holding out his glass with a big grin. Robin and Regina tapped their glasses against his and they all took a sip.

"That's good," Robin said, setting his glass down. "They didn't have good booze in the Underworld."

She chuckled. "No, they didn't."

Roland frowned. "What's booze?"

"A drink for adults," Robin replied, winking at Regina.

"Oh," Roland said, shrugging. "Okay."

He turned back to his chocolate milk as Robin chuckled. "I wish all his questions were so easy to answer."

She nodded. "Me too."

"Well, we'll figure out the answers together," he said, taking her hand. "Right?"

"Of course," she assured him, squeezing his hand before continuing to sip her whiskey. She felt content and believed she could get used to the feeling.

Henry walked over to their table, grinning. "Looks like everyone gets their happy ending this time."

She nodded, smiling as well. "Yes, I suppose they do."

"I'm really glad," he said. "We've had enough sad endings around here for now."

"I agree with that," Robin replied, raising his glass in salute. "This town could use a lot of good news."

Henry laughed, nodding. "Yes."

She motioned to the spot next to Roland. "Do you want to sit with us?"

"Yes, please," he said. "If you don't mind."

"Not at all," Robin replied as Regina urged Roland to move in to create more room for Henry. "We're all family."

Henry's smile grew bigger. "I like that."

Regina smiled as well. "Me too."

"Me three!" Roland added, grinning as he looked up from his chocolate milk.

"Then it's unanimous," he said before glancing at the baby. "Well, at least from everyone who is awake at the table."

Everyone chuckled before Henry asked: "Does she have a name?"

Robin groaned, shaking his head. "Not yet. I haven't found the one that fits her," he said.

"I'm sure you'll find it," Regina assured him, rubbing his arm. "The name is there, just waiting for you."

"Do you have an idea of what kind of name you want to give her?" Henry asked. "Like, do you want to name her after a bird? Or a tree? Avoid nature all together?"

Robin rubbed his chin. "I guess I want to give her a nature-inspired name. She loved being out in the woods."

"That's a start," Regina said, giving Henry a pleased smile. "We can look up some names and see what works."

"I'd like that," Robin replied. "Thank you, Henry."

Henry shrugged in response. "Just happy to help with my sister."

Regina's heart skipped a beat and she saw tears form in Robin's eyes. "Sister?"

"Well, yeah," Henry replied, frowning. "That's what she is to me, right?"

"Of course," Regina assured him. "It's just overwhelming to hear you say it out loud."

Roland frowned. "Then why is Papa crying?"

Picking up a napkin to wipe his eyes, Robin said: "I'm crying because I'm very happy."

"You can cry if you're happy?" Roland asked, confused.

"Yes, you can," Regina replied. "You can cry for a lot of reasons."

He looked up at Henry. "Really?"

Chuckling, Henry nodded. "Yes, really."

"I see Henry is a more trusted source over us," Robin said, whispering in Regina's ear. It made her chuckle as well.

"I guess I learned something new today," Roland replied, turning back to his chocolate milk.

Regina nodded. "Yes, you did."

"Then it's been a good day," Robin said, wrapping his arm around her. "A very good day, indeed."

"I agree," she said. She raised her glass. "Here's to many more good days to come."

Robin chuckled, picking up his glass and clinking it against hers. "Here, here."

"I think we've nailed this whole international flight thing," he said, relaxing in his seat as he finished his coffee.

"Well, we've nailed the flight that took place during a time when Henry is normally asleep," she told him. "We'll have to see what the flight home is like."

He sighed, knowing she had a point. "True."

She reached over and squeezed his hand. "But we've made it this far. We'll handle whatever happens next together."

"Absolutely," he said, letting Henry squeeze his finger. "All three of us."

"How's our little world traveler?" the flight attendant asked, crouching next to Robin's seat. "Everything good?"

Regina nodded. "For now, thank you."

The flight attendant smiled before holding out two cups and some cotton pads. "I heated these up in case you need to make a compress for him as we land," she said.

"Thank you," Regina replied, taking them from her. "We really appreciate it."

"Yes, you've been wonderful throughout his first flight," Robin added. "You've helped make this so easy."

The flight attendant smiled. "I'm happy to help. I may not be able to do so while we're landing but any time before or after, just press that button and I'll come back here."

Robin nodded. "We'll keep that in mind, thank you."

"You're welcome," she said, straightening up. "See you soon."

"There's England," Regina said as the flight attendant walked away and she was able to turn toward the window. "I've been here so many times now and each time it's so thrilling to see it."

Robin smiled. "I love how much you also love England."

She shrugged. "How could I not love it? I love you, right?"

"Yes," he said, warmth spreading through him. He leaned closer when Henry began whimpering.

Looking down, Robin noticed that Henry kicked his feet while his little hands hit against the headphones. He scrunched up his face and continued to whimper, getting closer to crying with each passing moment.

Regina sighed. "Guess the pressure is affecting him. You remove his headphones and I'll place the warm compresses on his ears?"

"Sounds like a plan," he replied, taking off Henry's headphones. Regina pressed the cups to his ears. She held the left cup and Robin took the right one. They sat there as Henry's whimpers turned to sniffling as a few tears rolled down his cheeks.

"It's okay, sweetheart," Regina said, wiping his tears with a tissue. "It'll be over soon. Mommy promises."

Robin nodded as he looked out the window. "We're getting lower. Should be only a few more minutes. Do you want to try the bottle?"

She shook her head. "I think the compresses are working for now. But the bottle is ready just in case."

"Okay," he said, trusting her judgment. "I'm ready."

The pilot asked the flight attendants to take their seats and he took a deep breath. "Almost there."

"It's okay, Henry," Regina said as Henry started to whimper again. "The pain will go away soon."

Robin threw his arm up across Henry as the plane landed with a little bounce. The reverse thrusters were deployed, causing most of the people to jerk forward. Henry bumped into Robin's arm but remained safely in his carrier as the plane slowed to taxi to the gates.

He nodded before holding up his Captain America shield. "Everyone loves our costumes and I think they are giving us extra treats."

"I think he's right," Henry agreed, approaching them. "Haven and Honor are our secret weapons to extra candy."

Robin chuckled, pushing the double stroller toward her. "They are pretty adorable."

She nodded, looking down to take in her two daughters in their costumes. Haven was awake, kicking her covered feet as she sat dressed as the Black Widow. Beside her, Honor slept in her Captain Marvel costume, oblivious to the festivities going on around her. Neither really understood the holiday just yet but she had a feeling they would love it once they were older. For now, all they had to do was just sit there and be cute – and they were doing a superb job of it.

"Well, I think your costumes are also getting you extra candy," Regina said, kissing Roland's forehead before kissing Henry's cheek.

Henry adjusted the crossbow that was part of his costume as Hawkeye, grinning. "Thanks, Mom."

"Now, why don't we head to the next house?" she suggested. "There's a lot more candy to be collected!"

Roland cheered and started to walk down the street. Henry followed him as Robin pushed the stroller, falling in step with Regina. "Our little Avengers are pretty awesome," he said.

"Yes, they are," she agreed. "Though I do wonder if that bow my son is carrying is real or not."

"It is," he replied. "But it's unstringed. It's an old one so if he breaks it or loses it, it won't matter. And he can't shoot any arrows with it."

Relief swept through her. "Good."

"Besides, we discuss safety at every archery lesson I give him," he continued. "Safety is paramount."

"Good," she said. "I'm glad you're training him."

He nodded. "I'm happy to do it. He's a great student and shows real aptitude for it. And he has a great passion for it as well.

She smiled. "I'm not surprised. It connects him to someone he really admires," she said.

"Of course," he replied, looking distant now. "I just hope that person doesn't mind me teaching him instead of her."

Regina frowned as she studied him. He continued looking ahead as the boys hurried to the next house. She stopped at the end of the walk as he followed them so the owner could look at their daughters' costumes as well. The older woman fawned over all four children before giving them plenty of candy. As they collected their haul, Regina considered her husband's answer as she realized something important.

"Okay, boys," he said, returning to her. "Let's head to the next house. We'll probably only get a couple more blocks in before your sisters will need to head home."

They nodded before walking to the next house. Regina placed her hand on Robin's arm and he looked at her, frowning. "What's wrong?" he asked.

"You do know I was referring to you earlier, right?" she asked. "Not Snow."

He chuckled, nodding. "Yes, I do. I was joking earlier. Well, somewhat. I still worry she might come hunt me for training her grandson instead of her."

"I think Snow understands," Regina replied, relief flooding through her. "Especially the part that she would have to go through me to get to you."

They arrived at the next house and Robin stepped away, joining their sons at the door so the occupants could see the girls as well. Once the candy was doled out, the family continued with their festivities and Robin fell into step with her again.

"I know Henry admires me," Robin said, "and I hope that doesn't sound too vain. But after everything he did to save me in Camelot…well, I never have reason to doubt how he feels about me again. I just hope I never give him reason to doubt how much I love and admire him too."

"I doubt you will," she assured her husband. "I think you two are always going to have an amazing relationship."

Robin grinned. "I hope so."

"Papa!" Roland called out, already standing in front of another door. "Are you coming with Haven and Honor?"

"Duty calls," Robin told her, pushing the stroller toward the door. Regina pulled out her phone and took some pictures as her children gathered up more candy.

"Anyone need to do a dump?" Regina asked, holding out a bag. Roland nodded, dumping his basket into the bag marked with his name. He then thanked her before rushing down the street.

She then turned to Robin. "Do you want me to push the stroller for a few blocks? Give your arms a rest?"

"Thank you," he said, letting go so she could push the stroller now. He rubbed his arms. "I didn't realize how sore my arms were until now."

"Do you think you can hold the candy bags?" she asked holding out the two bags she had for Henry and Roland to dump their candy into so their buckets didn't get too heavy.

He nodded, taking the bags from her. "I think my arms can handle these."

"Good," she replied, pushing the stroller so they could catch up with their boys. "It probably won't be much longer now."

"We're almost at Granny's," he said. "I planned this route so we would arrive there for her Halloween party."

Impressed, Regina nodded. "Good work."

"Before I was the best husband and father, I was the best thief in the land," he reminded her. "I had to know every escape route from a job and so got very good at planning."

"Good point," she replied, turning the next corner. She glanced around before lowering her voice to say: "And very sexy."

He bit his lip, making her stomach flip. "Is that so?"

She nodded, leaning closer to him. "Oh yes. Maybe tonight, I'll show you how sexy I think it is."

"Is that a promise?" he asked, his voice now husky.

"Because I'm a bridesmaid," Regina replied, fighting the annoyance coursing through her. "I need to help the bride. Besides, I want to spend time with my friends. I'm going to be in London for the next three months. I think I can spend these days focused on something other than work."

Mother sighed. "I really want to retire soon, Regina, and I need to know the company is in good hands before I do."

Regina took a deep breath, counted to five and then released it. "Taking a week off doesn't mean I'm not committed to the company. Everything will be fine while I celebrate Belle's wedding. Then Monday, I'll be back at work."

"Fine," Mother said, huffing. "But you will be reachable in case of an emergency, right?"

"I may not have my phone with me at all times so my assistant has the number to reach me," Regina replied. "Everything will go through her."

She felt her mother stewing through the phone. Cora Mills was not used to being handled and that was what Regina was doing to her. But she couldn't trust her mother to not come up with some "emergency" to pull Regina away from Belle's wedding and lock her away in the office instead. So Tink would be in charge of determining what was and was not a true emergency while Regina enjoyed her time with her friends.

"Alright," Mother said after a lengthy pause of almost a minute according to the counter on her car's dashboard. "But when you get back from this frivolity, we need to have a serious discussion about how committed you really are."

Regina gritted her teeth before answering: "I am committed."

"I hope so," Mother said in a tone that felt like a knife plunging into Regina's chest. "Because I wonder if you really want the job."

Three rapid beeps signaled that Mother ended the call, allowing her to have the final word. Regina shook her head, knowing that nothing would ever convince her mother that she was serious about taking over the company. Even if she gave up any semblance of work-life balance and moved into her office, Mother would always believe Regina didn't want the job because as a high schooler, she wanted to study history. Though she had compromised and double-majored in history and business and had gotten serious about the family company once Daddy died, Mother still saw that starry-eyed teenager who wanted to forge a path separate from the family business.

Maybe Regina should've just followed her dream back then if she was just going to be a disappointment to her mother anyway.

"Stop that," she told herself. "You made your decision and you chose to carry on Daddy's legacy. And you're happy about that. Just focus on that and don't let Mother get to you."

She then turned on the radio, hoping the music would drown out her thoughts.

It didn't work.

Especially as a sappy love song came on, reminding Regina that she was driving to a wedding where she would be the only one of her friends without a plus one.

And that bothered her more than she would ever admit.

Regina didn't believe that she needed a man to feel complete. But she had always wanted a family of her own – a loving spouse and a couple children, maybe a dog or a cat to roam their home. She wanted to bake Christmas cookies with her children, dance with her husband after they had gone to bed, split chores with someone else and have a calendar filled with recitals, games, school projects, meetings and parties as her family lived a full and happy life.

It was a life, though, that she felt slipping away now that she was in her early thirties. Though it had less to do with her age – she knew she was still young given that most people were now getting married later these days – but with her lifestyle. Despite her best intentions, she often worked long hours and even during the weekends. And she bounced between the London and New York offices throughout the year, making it hard to meet someone in either city. Because even when she did manage to meet someone, any relationship she had usually petered out once she was across the ocean from them.

While she was incredibly happy for her friends as they married the loves of their lives, each wedding felt like a stab in her heart as she realized she was no closer to following them down the aisle. She knew watching Belle marry Will would be the most painful as that left Regina as the only single member of their group now. And it made her nervous knowing that the tiara they had bought together would now pass into her possession. Though they would be well-meaning, her friends would be watching her love life even more closely to see if the tiara worked its magic on her.

But she was certain there would be no fifth wedding next year. The tiara was not magic and Regina doubted she would find someone to love, not until she could take over as CEO and finally set her own hours without Mother's interference. Which would likely correspond perfectly with when her mother would start hounding her to get married and have children.

Regina just wished everyone would let her live her life on her own timeline and not their own, no matter how well they meant.

She knew her friends – even Emma – believed in the magic of the tiara. But Regina had learned a long time ago that fairy tales weren't real. The love of her life wasn't going to trip into her life. She was going to have to find them but only once she had the time.

The friends were split with two dismissing the story, two skeptical but enchanted by the story and one who believed the story. She convinced her friends to buy the tiara as the other four agreed it would be nice to have something they shared, another way to remain connected. And though none were even close to being married, they bought the tiara and agreed to a customary schedule before their trip ended and they parted yet again.

Mary Margaret Blanchard, the one who believed the legend, took possession of the tiara first. She brought it home with her to Storybrooke, Maine, where she met new sheriff deputy David Nolan. They had a rather bumpy beginning as he thought she was engaged after seeing the tiara. She also was helping a colleague, Ariel, with her wedding which added to his confusion. And Mary Margaret had been told he was married to a woman named Kathryn, so she thought he was off-limits as well. They soon cleared the air – she was not engaged, he was divorced – and they began dating. Within a year, the other four friends travelled to Storybrooke to serve as bridesmaids when Mary Margaret married David, her late mother's veil affixed to the tiara.

After the wedding, Mary Margaret gave the tiara to the next friend scheduled to care for it – Ruby Lucas. She flew home to San Francisco where she worked in an art museum. Ruby hoped to put together an exhibit on jewelry as art and feature the tiara with her friends' blessing so she decided to have the tiara professionally cleaned. Fate brought her to Dorothy Gale and a friendship developed between the two women. Their friendship soon blossomed into love and they were married the next year as Ruby wore the tiara, deciding not to display it after all. Once again, the friends gathered to support the bride as her bridesmaids.

Ruby had been one of the two friends hesitant to believe the legend about the tiara though enchanted by it. Now a believer, she passed the tiara to one of the skeptics, Emma Swan. Emma took it back to Boston and her private investigation business. A client was waiting for her, eager for Emma to prove whether her husband was having an affair or not. Hitting the ground running, Emma locked up the tiara in her safe until things calmed down enough for her to take it home. Just as she was about to do that, Killian Jones burst into her office – nearly colliding with her and the tiara. He was a rival PI who realized he was trailing the same target as Emma, hired by one of the man's girlfriends, and suggested they should work together. Emma reluctantly agreed and as their target's relationships fell apart, theirs grew into a romance. The friends attended their third wedding in as many years as Emma married Killian while wearing the tiara. She was still hesitant to say the legend was real but she admitted at the reception that there were no such things as coincidences.

The tiara then went to Belle French, who took it with her as she went to do research on ancient myths and legends. She hoped to find out more about the tiara's history while traveling from city to city along with a guide arranged by her university in Chicago, Will Scarlet. Love followed them across the continent and Belle had a whirlwind romance like the ones she always read about. Like Ruby, she had been enchanted by the legend of the tiara but hadn't fully believed it. But when Will followed her back to Chicago and proposed, she came to fully accept the legend.

Once Belle married Will, the tiara had one last journey to go on with the final friend and skeptic.