A.N: It's been forever and a day but I felt a certain muse for this story. I hope it continues. Fingers crossed.

The wonderful aroma filled the house in no time at all, prompting Marian's stomach to growl as she idly sat at the table and waited just as instructed. Henry finished setting the table and sat across from the maiden, and though he usually would've just pulled out his phone and played a game, the teen chose another option and softly smiles, "How do you feel?" Brows raising, she quickly gets over her initial shock and returns the smile, "A lot better, but still a bit sore. Thank you for asking, Henry."

He offers a sympathetic grin, another question on the tip of his tongue when his mother walked in carrying food, a beaming Roland right behind her. "Dinner is served," Regina comments, placing the dish in the center and sitting down beside her son. The little archer took his seat beside his mother, proud of his improving cooking skills. "It smells wonderful, Regina," the brunette replies, her growling stomach almost causing her smile to falter. Okay, that is the last time she goes anywhere without a granola bar in her pocket. Nodding her head as thanks, Regina takes to serving everyone, putting food in her bowl last.

No one waited for instructions to dig in, the maiden being the first to sink her teeth into a soft chunk of potato and relishing in how heavenly it tasted, kissing her taste buds as she savored every bite. She didn't talk much during dinner, too busy eating and listening to Roland and Henry talk about their day. When all the bowls are spotless, thanks to hearty appetites, Henry and Roland take off upstairs to change into their pajamas and read the newest edition of Spider-Man that the young teen had persuaded Doc into letting him buy for half the price.

Stuffed and feeling kind of like the Christmas turkey she shared with the Charmings last year, Marian breathes a content sigh as she sits up from the slumped position she had been basking in for the better part of ten minutes, "That was delicious, Regina. Thank you, really. For everything." Regina's smile is effortless as she locked eyes with the maiden and slid her chair back to stand up after a beat of silence. "Don't mention it, dear. Why don't you go back upstairs and get some rest? I'm sure you could use it." But the younger woman is swift at standing from her chair to collect the few dishes the former monarch had begun collecting to take to the kitchen, "I'm fine for now, if I sleep anymore I'll be prone to more nightmares about the past and I-"

She hadn't realized how she'd been babbling until her eyes lifted from the dishes to catch the puzzled but curious expression on Regina's face and abruptly paused. "Sorry, sorry. I tend to accidentally carry on like that sometimes." But it was unnecessary for the straight-haired brunette, who found herself only wanting to know more about her houseguest and whether the demons they both carried were in similar in any way, to understand her on another level. "You don't have to apologize, Marian. And I know we aren't close or anything but if you ever need someone to talk to, my ears are always open." With that, she took the dishes from Marian's grasp and headed to the kitchen. "I appreciate that," The archer responded a moment later, having followed her. "And all this. You didn't have to open your home up to us." Marian fiddles with the bandage covering her knuckles on her left hand, "Roland and I will head home first thing in the morning."

Regina didn't pause for a second as she washed dishes, "You most certainly will not. I don't mind having either of you here and you aren't leaving until you're healed and that band of idiots is securely removed from my town." My town. She hadn't initially noticed how protective she sounded about both the town and the other woman in the room. "Are you sure? I don't want to be a burden and I know Roland can be a handful sometimes." At that, the former mayor stopped what she was doing and turned around, capturing Marian's gaze with her own serious one, "Those cute dimples aren't anything I can't handle, I assure you. Now would you let me be hospitable for once and accept that I'm not letting you leave yet?" The small grin splayed on painted lips didn't go unnoticed by the younger brunette and she nods with her own small inkling of a smile.

"Thank you." Once Regina resumed washing dishes, Marian quietly retreated upstairs, chuckling to herself when she passed Henry's room and heard the two of them reading the comic book in voices they assumed matched the characters. Settling back into the plush bed she had been assigned, she initially had intended on watching television but as soon as she pulled the covers up over her and felt that warmth shroud her body, Marian fell right back to sleep.