Outlaw Queen Baby

Early Awakening

The next morning Robin was woken just before the sun by a small finger tapping him on the nose. It took him a moment to realize what was happening. He thought something in his dream kept hitting him on the nose. When his attempts to make it stop failed he started to realize why he couldn't. He was slowly coming into awakeness but couldn't bring himself to open his eyes just yet. He had been up late with Regina. About an hour after his first song the baby started kicking again, and again he sang to Regina's belly to calm the child. They did that a few times during the night so he was exhausted. When he finally did open his eyes he saw a very excited four year old smiling up at him.

Roland whispered, "Papa, can we go to the woods today?" Then hopped up and down because he couldn't contain his anticipation. Despite his overtired state Robin couldn't help but smile at his sons excitement.

Robin knew what Roland meant, he wanted to go see the Merry Men.

Roland loved living with Regina, but he often missed the woods. He missed being surrounded by the men. They were his family, after all. It seemed at least once a week he would ask to go visit the camp, and Robin would always comply. He missed being with his men as well. Regina never really minded when they would disappear to the woods for the day, he couldn't think why this time would be any different.

He sat up slowly, as not to wake Regina, and thought a moment on his son's request.

Regina could go into labor at any time, she would kill him if she did and he wasn't there. Then he figured, since she hadn't gone into labor yet what were the odds it would happen today.

"Yes, my boy, we can go to the woods today." Robin answered in a hushed tone as he glanced back to Regina over his shoulder to assure she was still asleep.

Roland suddenly yelled, "Yay!," and began jumping around the room.

Robin leapt off the bed, quickly scooped Roland up by the waist with one of his arms and carried him out of the room. "We have to be quiet, my boy, so mum can sleep."

Roland nodded his head and brought his finger up to his lips as he shhhed.

"You go get dressed, brush your teeth and wake Henry. I'll go make us some breakfast." Robin said, then placed Roland back on the ground and pat him on the bum. He immediately ran down the hall and into his room to get dressed. He could heard him shuffling around in his room before he sprinted out and burst into Henry's room. He could hear the bed squeezing, likely from Roland jumping up and down on the mattress in order to wake his brother.

Robin chuckled at his boys enthusiasm then began his journey down the stairs to the kitchen to prepare breakfast. A hearty meal of cereal for the men of the house.

Henry came shuffling down the stairs a little while later rubbing his tired eyes. "Why did Roland wake me up so early? He keeps saying something about the woods." Henry mumbled as he sat down in a stool at the counter and rested his head on his arms on the counter.

"We are going to spend the day with the Merry Men. He is very excited about it." Robin said as he shuffled around the kitchen grabbing three bowls from the cabinet to the left of the sink. Which reminds him, he should probably wash the dishes that are still sitting in there. He placed the bowls down on the counter across from Henry and pulled out three spoons from the drawer just to his right.

He then walked across the kitchen towards the cupboard and asked, "what type of cereal would you like today?"

Henry just moaned then grumbled, "it's too early to think about food."

Robin took a glance at the clock on the oven and it read seven o'clock. No wonder Henry was so tired. It was a Saturday afternoon and he likely stayed up late last night playing video games as it wasn't a school night. Poor lad.