Chapter Ten: Home

September arrived in a flash. Robin returned to work, the children went back to school; Henry finally starting his senior year. Regina couldn't believe it; her Little Prince would be going to proms, graduating, and by this time next year, he'd be a freshman in college. The idea of it excited her because she knew how hard he worked and she was so incredibly proud of him, but it also terrified her. As Henry grew older, so did she. It wouldn't be long before Roland was in high school and bringing home girlfriends. Henry would be married at some point, Roland too... She wouldn't allow it. They were her boys and she refused to share them. Of course whenever she mentioned this to Robin, he laughed at her stubbornness and convinced her that everything would be okay.

Just like that, September went by as quickly as the cool Autumn breeze that welcomed the month of October. Robin's birthday wasn't nearly as exciting as the year before, but he enjoyed it all the same. He came home from work to a homemade cake baked by the most beautiful woman in the world and decorations hung by his fantastic sons. There were a few gifts, nothing too extravagant: Henry gave him a copy of Game of Thrones (after providing a convincing argument to which Robin finally agreed to read the series) and Roland presented his father with a card he made in school and a new belt (conveniently purchased and wrapped by Regina, but Roland insisted it was from him). Regina gave him something small, but something she knew he needed before he drove her insane: a bookmark. The way he treated his books always bothered her so she had the photo of their family in front of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree put onto a personalized bookmark for him. She hoped because their faces were on it, he'd be less likely to lose it.

Halloween turned out to be slightly less exciting than the previous years. Henry begged his mother to let him attend a costume party hosted by one of his classmates. Henry and Grace wanted the opportunity to show off their award-winning costumes (The Dairy Queen and The Burger King sent them home with the costume award for Best Duo) and to spend more time with their friends since senior year seemed to be flying by. She was hesitant to give him permission. Aside from how heartbroken Roland would be that his big brother wasn't trick-or-treating with him, Regina wasn't born yesterday; there would be drinking at this party and although she could trust her son, she sure as hell couldn't trust the others. After a long conversation with Robin, she finally allowed her son to attend the party, but gave him a strict curfew. Roland was disappointed, of course, but Regina and Robin made up for it by inviting the Nolans to join them. The Locksley boys dressed up as Batman and Robin; Roland insisted on being Batman of course, which led to Regina's amusement at the sight of her fiancé sporting a leotard and tights. She dressed as Catwoman, the leather jumpsuit cinched tightly to her body in a way that drove Batman's loyal sidekick crazy with desire.

And just like that, it was November. The family was forced to skip their trip to the mountains considering the couple would be taking a week off after their wedding to enjoy their honeymoon and they simply couldn't afford the expense of a weekend away from the city. They made the best of their time together, however, by creating a cabin-like atmosphere in the apartment for the weekend and cuddled their boys close to them the whole time. She was nearing three months left to finish planning one of the most important days of her life and there was still so much to do: alterations for her dress, making favors for the guests, deciding if it was worth the money to hire someone to do her hair and makeup or if she should just do it herself, making an itinerary for the big day, reminding Robin to pick up the tuxedos for him and the boys... The list went on and on. Regina hadn't anticipated that the most difficult task would be deciding on dresses for her bridesmaids. Originally, she intended to give the women swatches of the color and send them off to buy whatever they wanted. After some consideration, she realized she's much too organized and would have gone mad if they didn't match. It was easy for Regina to make time for fittings with Mallory and Mary Margaret, but with Emma still in Tallahassee, it was proving to be quite the challenge.

"You're making this a lot harder than it needs to be, Regina," Mal said to her over lunch one afternoon. She shrugged, her tight curls bouncing as she continued, "Emma and I aren't much different in size and we have the same hair color. When you see me next to Mary Margaret, you'll know how Em will look too."

Regina considered her friend's statement as she finished chewing. She did have a point. Maybe she was making it more difficult than it had to be. She just never expected to be doing all of this without Emma's involvement and the anxiety of not knowing when she'd be back was weighing her down. The brunette sighed and nodded, "You're right. I'll make an appointment for the week after Thanksgiving."

When the holiday finally arrived, Regina busied herself in the kitchen preparing the dishes for the potluck. Her cell phone was pressed to her ear as she stirred the applesauce and checked the turnovers as they baked in the oven, "You can't spend Thanksgiving alone, mother."

"I can do whatever I damn well please," Cora quipped from the other end. She was growing increasingly snippy in her old age and Regina wasn't sure how much more she'd be able to handle. Every Thanksgiving, her mother took a small vacation to Spain to visit her late-husband's family. They told her to stay home since they'd be flying to America in February for the wedding, but she was so stubborn when it came to intruding on Regina and her plans with her family that she continued to refuse her daughter's invitation.

"You've always done whatever pleases you, but how about doing what will please your grandchildren? When was the last time you saw Henry for Thanksgiving?" She asked, wiping her hands on her apron.

She heard Cora sigh through the receiver and was certain she was rolling her eyes as she said, "It's not just a small gathering in your apartment, Regina. This is for your entire building."

"It'll be fun," she insisted, "And there's an open bar."

There was silence for a moment as Cora contemplated her daughter's last statement. Regina was thrilled when she finally heard her mother say, "But what will I wear?"

The younger woman chuckled and tasted her applesauce before shutting the flame on the stove and replying, "I'm sure you have something. It starts at four. Don't be late."

"No promises," Cora replied and the conversation ended there with a click.

Robin entered the kitchen, hearing the end of her conversation and smelling the sweet scent of apples and cinnamon as he wrapped his arms around her waist. He placed a gentle kiss on her exposed neck and asked, "Will the Queen be in attendance this evening?"

Regina chuckled and nodded, "After days of fighting her stubbornness, yes, she finally agreed to go."

"I don't suppose I should admit this, but I rather enjoy listening to you arguing with your mother," he stated, dipping his finger into the warm applesauce and stealing a taste.

"And why is that?" She asked curiously as she turned to face him.

He smiled and pushed a stray piece of hair away from her face when he replied, "Because she gives you a taste of your own medicine."

She rolled her eyes, "That may be so, but Cora Mills gives the word 'stubborn' a whole new meaning," Regina smirked as she peered into his captivating blue eyes and leaned forward for a kiss. The feeling of his lips against hers, his stubble tickling her upper lip, gave her butterflies even after all this time. She leaned back and placed her hands against his chest, giving him a slight push as she instructed, "Get dressed. I don't want us to be late."

It was nearly four o'clock when the family from the top floor of Enchanted Plaza was finally ready. Henry was dressed in a pair of fitted, grey jeans with an untucked light blue button down and a tan patterned sweater overtop. His hair was slicked back and parted to the side, similar to the way Robin kept his hair, and he sported a pair of brown boat shoes his mother bought him, but he never found the need to wear until that day. Upon seeing Henry's outfit, Roland chose a pair of blue denim jeans and a forest green sweater over a checkered green and white button-down with his brown timberland boots to match. His hair was a mess of unkept curls from his refusal to let anyone brush it out after his shower, but overall he was the spitting image of his older brother. Inspired by the semi-casual attire his sons were modeling, Robin stood waiting in the living room for Regina in black slacks, a navy blue button-down, and a brown corduroy blazer. He kept a red pocket square in his jacket to match the laces of his brown Oxfords and held the tupperware containers meant for the party along his forearm as he called out, "Regina, my love, you're going to make us late."

"As usual," Henry muttered under his breath, earning him a giggle from his younger brother.

"I'm coming, I'm coming," she said breathlessly as she walked briskly out of their bedroom and through the foyer, fastening the back of her earring into place as she did so. She entered the living room wearing a navy blue shift dress with three-quarter inch sleeves and a brown, high-waisted belt. Her brown Oxford heels clicked against the hardwood floor as she approached the counter and gathered her purse. Her ebony hair flipped as she turned to face Robin, her cheeks flushed from the blush she was wearing and in response to the way he was staring at her. She smiled and pushed a strand of her hair behind her ear as she asked, "Ready?"

Robin cleared his throat and opened the door, holding it open for each member of his family. The boys exited first, leading the way down the hall toward the elevator, with Regina not far behind. He admired the way her hips swayed when she walked, especially in heels, and couldn't help noticing her firm bottom covered by the material of her dress. He locked the door and caught up to his family, slipping his free arm around her and pulling her against him by the small of her lower back. She chuckled and pressed her chest into his, careful not to knock the containers from his grasp. He leaned forward, his lips kissing her ear lobe softly as he whispered, "Do you know what I'm most thankful for?"

She smirked and shook her head, "What?"

"The designer of that dress," he quipped, earning him a laugh from his beloved before she stole his lips in a tender kiss.

The elevator arrived with a ding, the couple so entranced by one another that they failed to hear it. Roland poked his head around the corner and spotted his parents kissing, his father pushing his mother against the wall. He scrunched his little nose and exclaimed, "Yuck!"

Henry held the elevator door open and peeked around to get a look. He rolled his eyes and sighed, "Really guys? We're already late."

Robin waved his hand toward his sons, signaling them to go on to the party. Regina parted her lips from his only long enough for him to say, "Go on without us, lads. We'll be down in a minute."

"At least give us the food," Roland stomped his feet as he walked toward them, snatching the containers out of his father's hands and marching back to his brother's side as he huffed, "It doesn't look like you'll be needing it up here."

The boys got into the elevator and took it down to the party, Robin and Regina remaining in the hallway of the top floor of the Enchanted Plaza apartments. She smiled sweetly as she ran her fingers through his hair, pushing back the dirty blonde strands that fell near the corner of his eye every time passion overcame him. He took a deep breath and closed his eyes, pressing his forehead against hers. They were rarely awarded quiet moments like this to enjoy one another's company, especially in the recent months. Holiday preparations were always chaotic, but with the addition of wedding planning on top of everything else they had to do, it was nearly impossible to find time for one another. So they took their time going to the party that evening. Whether they spent most of their time in the hallway making out or just staring into one another's eyes, I'm afraid we'll never know; that is one of the many secrets kept between Robin Locksley and Regina Mills.

When the couple finally managed to make their way down to the party, they were pleasantly surprised to find Cora Mills already present and mingling with the other guests. Of course, she needed to make a statement in a brown business suit, which she dressed up with a pair of pumps and her finest jewels. Her hair was blown out straight, her bangs falling effortlessly to brush against her perfectly plucked eyebrows. Her makeup was flawless as usual, accentuating her magnificent jaw line and captivating cheekbones. Regina may have found her mother to be stubborn, difficult, and condescending at times, but there was one thing she couldn't deny: Cora knew how to dress to kill and she did… Every single time.

They approached where she was sitting amongst a small group of tenants when she finally spotted them. The look on her face was one Regina knew all-too-well; it was the same face she made when she was about to tell her mother about her pregnancy in college. Cora wore her expression with pride, knowing full well what her daughter was up to with that handsome professor of hers and approving more than a mother probably should in regards to her child's sex life. She smirked, standing to greet the couple with warm hugs and kisses as she exclaimed, "Here comes the blushing bride now!"

"I'm glad you could make it, Mother," Regina rolled her eyes and kissed her cheek before taking the open seat beside Mary Margaret.

"You're as beautiful as ever, Cora," Robin stated politely, his charm winning him over once again as she leaned forward to kiss the scruff of his cheek with a giggle of fake embarrassment.

She sat beside Regina, but continued to look up at Robin when she said, "You're much too kind, dear. But perhaps you could kick that polite bottom of yours into gear and fetch your future wife and mother-in-law some refreshments?"

He nodded with a chuckle, understanding her quips were not meant to be jabs at his character; it was the only way she knew how to express her love and overall approval of him, "Of course. Apologies for the temporary misplacement of my manners. Any requests from the bar?"

Regina's eyes widened and suddenly felt the urge to get incredibly drunk. She knew it was probably the stress of her overbearing mother being present for the holiday celebration, but whatever the reason, she didn't care. She just wanted something strong and as soon as her fiancé could bring it to her, the better, "You know what I like."

"Indeed I do," he smirked, obviously making reference to his knowledge of how to please her sexually, which caused Regina to blush, a wetness pooling between her legs that took her by surprise.

Cora seemed to have caught on to their little game and rolled her eyes with disgust and an odd sense of satisfaction that they were able to keep their flame lit after all this time together, "Vodka Martini, dry, with extra olives."

Robin nodded and took his leave toward the bar. The women wasted no time in starting a conversation about the wedding. Regina sat between her mother and Mary Margaret as they discussed the details, but she couldn't help feeling extremely overwhelmed and anxious. Her wedding to the man of her dreams was just a few short months away and every time she heard her friends or family mention it at all, the butterflies fluttered around in her stomach so quickly she was sure she would either faint or regurgitate her lunch.

It had only been a few minutes before she realized how warm she felt. Her palms were sweaty and her breathing was heavy. She'd been having such a stress-free day, enjoying the company of her love, and now just the thought of how much she had left to do was driving her to insanity. She stood up abruptly, wiping the perspiration from her forehead as she made a bee-line for the bar.

Robin saw her making her way toward him. He smiled, always his first reaction to the sight of her closing in on him, but it faded when he noticed the nervous expression on her face. He stood up straighter from where he was leaning against the bar waiting for their drinks and placed his hand gently on her hip once she was close enough, "What happened?"

Regina shook her head and released an exasperated sigh, "All they can talk about is the wedding."

"That should be exciting, but why do I get the sense that's not what you're feeling at the moment?" He asked.

"There's so much left to do, Robin. It's Thanksgiving already and I feel like I've accomplished absolutely nothing," she sighed, taking her drink the moment it was placed on the bar and practically chugging it.

"There's still plenty of time, love, and I'll help you with whatever you need. You know that," he replied, taking her drink from her and placing it gently beside Cora's martini. He wrapped his arms around her and smirked, "Unless you're getting cold feet."

"Maybe I am," she said, toying with him.

He laughed, not expecting her to agree with him. He kissed her lips gently before saying, "We'll have to change that."

Suddenly feeling much better, Regina smiled and walked with Robin back toward the other guests. She stopped in her tracks, catching him off guard. He turned to face her and asked, "Regina, what's wrong?"

"Look," she stated, tilting her head in her mother's direction. Mary Margaret was no longer seated with Cora. Instead, her place was taken by none other than Mr. Gold, the owner of the apartment building. That, in and of itself, was not very surprising. What was surprising was the way Cora giggled and flipped her hair when he made her laugh or the way she listened intently to one of his tall tales about how he injured his leg. She was flirting and it was obvious that he was flirting back.

"Well," Robin said with a smirk, "That's a pairing I never would have expected. Oddly enough, they're quite a match though, aren't they?"

Regina didn't respond. She wasn't sure how. Her heart felt heavy in her chest as she realized her mother was lonely. She would never admit to it, but she'd gone so long without anyone since her father died that she hadn't seen her truly smile or laugh that way since he was alive. Cora never dated after Henry Sr. passed, at least not that Regina ever knew about.

"Don't think so much about it," Robin interrupted her inner struggle, knowing she would be overanalyzing the situation, "She should be happy too. That's what your father would want."

"I know," she sighed, taking his hand, "You're right."

The couple left Cora and Mr. Gold to their conversation and walked toward the buffet. The guests continued to mingle and started to fill their plates with turkey and the fixings. Henry and Grace ate together at a small table set near the stairs while Roland gobbled down his food so he could go back to playing with the Nolan twins. Robin found pleasant conversation with David, whom he'd started to consider a real friend. Mary Margaret was not the most exciting of the guests, but even Regina had to admit it was nice having her back in her life in a more consistent way. She listened, but only partially, as she observed the way Mr. Gold fetched Cora another martini to accompany the meal they seemed to be enjoying together. She watched as her mother moved closer to him, her body language open and inviting. He behaved like the perfect gentleman, even standing when she excused herself to the powder room momentarily. It was interesting to see the way he straightened his tie and smoothed his long hair while she was gone, as if he knew she would notice those small details. And as Regina knew, she definitely would notice. As much as she hated to admit it, they really were a perfect match; the power couple Enchanted Plaza never expected. She smiled when Cora returned, looking refreshed and as vibrant as ever. She looked happy. Whether it worked out between them or not, she could tell that her mother felt wanted and appreciated by this man; something she was sure Cora hadn't felt in many years.

Distracted from her daze, the swinging of revolving doors in the main lobby caught her attention. She peered up and couldn't believe her eyes. Standing before her was none other than Emma Swan, entering hand-in-hand with Killian Jones. Regina was beside herself with surprise. It had been weeks since she last heard from Emma and this was the last place she would have expected her to be. As far as she knew, she was still in Tallahassee, but the way she stood next to Killian gave her the inkling that she hadn't just arrived back into town that afternoon.

The room burst with excitement to see their old friend. Mary Margaret nearly sprinted to the blonde and pulled her into a tight embrace. Henry couldn't help, but to do the same and Grace wasn't far behind. Roland and the twins harassed her with questions of her journey while the college girls who lived on the same floor as Emma's old apartment gushed over her new beau. Regina remained standing near the buffet, staring at the sight of her friend being bombarded by the tenants. Robin stood and watched alongside her, continuing to eat his stuffing.

"Did you know she was back?" She asked, her eyes still fixated on the blonde.

Robin shook his head and swallowed, "Nope. Killian didn't mention a word to me. Perhaps she wanted it to be a surprise."

Before Regina could respond, Emma and Killian were walking toward them, smiling from ear to ear. Robin politely hugged the blonde and teased his friend about the sudden romance that appeared to be blossoming between them. Regina and Emma were finally face to face, both unsure of what to say and who should try to speak up first.

"You're back," Regina managed to mutter. She couldn't explain why she felt so hurt, but she thought she might have been informed.

"I am," Emma replied before adding, "Killian actually talked me into it."

"Is that so?" Robin chimed in, directing his question to his mate.

He nodded, "That's right. Flew all the way to Tallahassee and convinced her to come home."

"You're barkin', mate!" Robin nudged his friend.

"When?" Regina asked. The others fell silent. She thought about when this could have happened without her noticing. Had she really been that busy that she failed to realize one of her closest friends was home? She took a deep breath, "When did all of this happen?"

"We drove back within the last week, but he came to Tallahassee about two weeks before that. I wanted to tell you, but I know how busy you've been with the wedding and work. I don't know, I guess I wanted to surprise you guys for the holidays."

Regina moved before she could stop herself. Her arms wrapped around the blonde and pulled her into a heartfelt embrace. Her friend was home. Her friend was happy. And as she felt the woman's arms wrapping around her in return, all of the stress she'd been feeling moments before seemed to fade away. She sighed, "Welcome home, Emma."

The blonde smiled, the familiar scent of apple cinnamon entering her nostrils as she replied, "It's good to be home."