The Hole in Our Hearts

Forging a New Life

Robin collapsed onto the bed, feeling absolutely exhausted. He had barely managed a shower and now just lay there in his towel. In the back of his mind, he could hear Regina scolding him for getting the blankets damp. And his heart broke anew as his mind continued to process everything that had happened since the funeral only a couple days earlier.

Namely, the reading of Regina's will.

Dr. Hopper was the executor of her estate - which Robin learned meant he was responsible for making sure Regina's last wishes were carried out. Robin believed she had made a good choice as Dr. Hopper was fair and empathetic but would respect her wishes. It had been difficult, though, to sit in that room and watch Regina's life get neatly divided up. But he was there to support Henry, who still looked absolutely lost and hadn't really shown much emotion since his outburst at Zelena at the repast.

Robin was worried and wished he knew what was going on inside the boy's head but knew he had to be patient. Henry would open up when he was ready.

Unsurprisingly, Regina had left most of her estate to Henry. She named Emma, Charming and Snow as his guardians, leaving him with his family. Henry also inherited the house and it was up to him to decide where to live until he was considered an adult. Everyone assured Henry that he did not need to make any decisions right away and could take as much time as he needed. But Henry said he wanted to stay at his grandparents' loft for now and invited Robin to move into the house with Roland and Margot, which surprised Robin.

"Mom and I talked about you all moving in before we went down to the Underworld," Henry explained. "And I think she would want you three to live there."

"Thank you," Robin said, covering the boy's hand with his own. "We will be honored."

Henry nodded. "I just have one condition. I get to keep my room and can stay over whenever I want."

"Deal," Robin replied. "You are always welcome. It is still your home and you will always be part of my family."

"Well, now that that's settled," Archie said. "There's just the matter of the trusts."

Emma blinked a few times before asking: "Trusts?"

Archie nodded. "Regina made one last update to her will before heading to the Underworld. She set up three trusts - one for Henry, one for Roland and one for, well, Baby Girl Locksley."

"I'm sorry," Robin said, confused. "What exactly is a trust?"

"It's money that Regina has set aside for each child," Archie explained. "I control them until each child turns twenty-one. Until then, money can only be withdrawn to be used for something for the child, such as school. Then at twenty-one, they can use the money however they see fit."

His words sank in and Robin sat back, stunned. "Regina set aside money for my children?"

Archie nodded. "I can get into the particulars later but suffice it to say that each trust is for a substantial sum."

"So Roland and Margot will always have money here?" he asked, relieved his children will never know what it was like to go without when Archie nodded. Gratitude then filled him and though he wished Regina was still with them, he was glad she had managed to help care for his children from beyond the grave.

There had been a few odds and ends Archie had to wrap up as well but soon everything was done. Regina's entire life had been neatly divvied up and the group went out for a rather somber lunch, everyone still processing what they had learned from Regina's will before continuing to adjust to life without her.