Behind Closed Doors

Chapter Thirty

They had spent the entire day with the Charmings, crammed in their tiny loft and as much as Regina thought that would grate on her nerves, she actually missed the couple and enjoyed their company, even if she vowed to never admit that piece of information out loud. Emma went off on a tangent, explaining everything about Hook's wish to her parents. Then Snow, informed them what happened the entire year they were gone, starting off when they had first disappeared.

Gold had came to them in the middle of the night, pounding on their door and explaining that his shop had been broken into and the magic lamp had been missing. After Hook's public display of indecency at Granny's, it didn't take much convincing from everyone in town to draw up the same conclusion, that he was the culprit and considering Emma, Regina and Henry were all missing, it was safe to assume that the magic lamp was involved.

Gold offered to help search for them, using his blood to track down Henry on the same magic globe he used when they ventured to Neverland. Except, every attempt failed and even Snow and David's blood didn't lead them to their family. They had hoped for the first six months that Emma and Regina would find their way back, but as time progressed, people stopped believing and the future started to look bleak. Especially since nobody knew what kind of damage Hook inflicted upon them.

After the reunion, the entire crew went to search for the scoundrel, dwarves included, hoping to banish him from their town, but there was no sign of the pirate in Storybrooke. Of course, they searched the docks, assuming he would be with his beloved ship, however, that was long gone.

They can only hope that he feared for his life when they returned to Storybrooke and took off running like the coward he truly is.

~~~~~

"If something should happen, promise me you'll look after Robin," Zelena requested and the vulnerability pleading within those crystal blue eyes instantly melted Regina's heart.

"Of course...but nothing is going to happen," she demanded, gently placing her hand on top of her sister's for comfort.

"Just promise."

"I promise," Regina vowed, inspiring Emma to place her hand on Zelena's other arm for moral support.

"Me too," Emma promised as well, those green eyes flicking over to Regina for some extra reassurance, "she's one of us. We will protect her with our lives," she confirmed.

Regina gently smiled at Emma and nodded in agreement for her sister's sake, but honestly, she couldn't get over the fact that this woman is ready to jump at the opportunity to raise another child with her. Emma didn't even hesitate and Regina was overwhelmed with the amount of love swelling in her chest for this astonishing woman.

Thinking about that moment, securely protected in Emma's warm embrace in the shadows of her bedroom, she knows she can't possibly wait any longer to bring up the subject. So, she spins around in her lover's arms and props herself up on one elbow, gazing down upon a very bewildered looking sheriff.

"What's wrong?"

"There's something I need to discuss with you," she confesses, prompting her girlfriend to curl a chunk of dark tresses behind her ear.

"Alright, go ahead," and even though she's nodding her encouragement for Regina to proceed, she does appear a bit squeamish.

"After spending a year with Roland, I consider him my son now. Frankly, I had always hoped to be a mother figure to him before all the chaos and I love him very much," she explains, but Emma just stares deeply into her eyes, refusing to interrupt the train of thought. "When we were searching for the lamp and I knew we were coming back home...I panicked. Truthfully, I didn't want to leave him behind, but then I remembered he's not real. However, there is a very real Roland off in Sherwood Forest, that needs me." This is the part where Emma's face relaxes, and she actually softens. "When Robin and I were together, I helped take care of Roland. I don't know why I didn't go looking for him when Robin passed away. I should have and I feel terrible," she says, but then she pauses, and Emma is right there, gently stroking her cheek and making sure she feels at ease with revealing her whole truth.