Forever and Always {neighbours sequel}

Chapter 24

The next day, Regina decided she was ready to go back to work. Robin on the other hand, was against the idea.
"I just don't think you ready" Robin said, whist getting his shoes from under the bed.
"Look Robin, I need this. Being stuck in this house is not doing me any good. I'm going out of my mind! No, let me rephrase that I'm actually going into my mind! I'm going to work Robin! If I don't feel up to it then Marcus said I can go home. Okay?" Regina said, looking up to him from the desk where she was doing her makeup.
"Okay, but promise me you'll come home and ring me if you don't feel up to it" Robin said, walking over to her.
"I promise, now go to work" Regina laughed and kissed his lips softly.
"I love you" Robin said walking out of their bedroom door.
"I love you too" Regina smiled and continued to get ready for work.

Regina knew that in some form this was a bad idea, but she was beginning to get bored of sitting in the house by herself, going over what she'd been though over and over again. The silence of the place was doing her no good at all. Emma had said to her that she should think about getting out of the house and trying to get back to normal, so what better way than to go back to work.

Robin walked down the stairs and into the kitchen, where he found Henry and Grace playing with Roland and Ava, making a smile creep on his face.
"Hey, that's cheating!" Henry laughed, playing along with what ever it was that he and Roland were doing.
"Don't be a sore looser Henry" Grace laughed, earning a giggle and high five from Ava.
"Is Belle coming today?" Ava asked.
"No baby, she's on vacation with her fiancé." Robin smiled.
"Can Henry and Grace take us to school this week?" Roland asked with a smile.
"Ask them" Robin laughed and headed for the door.
"Henry can I have a word?" Robin asked and Henry nodded, raising to his feet.
"Everything ok?" Henry asked.
"You know what's happened with Regina don't you?" Robin asked.
"Yes, I was going to talk to her last night about it, but I could tell she really didn't want to talk about it, especially in front of Grace seeing as they don't really know each other." Henry said with a sad smile.
"Well, she's decided to go back to work today, so I was hoping you and Grace could stay here until she leaves, make sure she's okay?" Robin asked.
"Of course! Regina is more of my mom than she knows. I'll stay until she's gone. I was hoping I could talk to her actually, I miss our little secret conversations and stuff so I'll stay" Henry said with a smile.
"Okay, well, I'll see you tonight for tea? Unless your having it in your new home?" Robin asked.
"Yeah, we're staying for tea" Henry said.
"Bye Henry, bye Roland, bye Ava, bye Grace" Robin said and left for his busy day at work, full of worry for his wife.

Regina walked down stairs just as Robin left, she pushed her hair behind her and put on a brave face, when in fact, she was terrified of having a panic attack at work.
"Morning mommy!" Ava said still playing with grace, sitting on her lap, her and Roland ready for school.
"Morning baby, sleep well?" Regina asked, the fear threatening to break out in her voice.
"Yep!" Ava smiled as Regina walked over.
"You sure you don't mind taking them to school?" Regina asked, having heard that part of the conversation from upstairs.
"Of course" Grace smiled.
"Thank you, so.. When's the big day?" Regina laughs
"No idea actually, we're getting settled first then organising it." Henry smiles.
"Well, I'm really happy for you. Feels like yesterday I was getting Henry ready for his first day with you" Regina laughs, getting her coat.
"I'll see you all tonight" Regina smiles and walks out, her face dropping and makes her way to work, lucky lasting the whole day, with no problems.

Once Regina and Robin had left Roland and Ava stand up get their shoes on.
"Did Regina look a bit worried to you?" Grace asks, not wanting to over step the mark.
"Yeah, she'll be fine though hopefully, I know her, if she was going to breakdown today, she'd look a lot worse than that" Henry said and took Graces hand and they took Roland and Ava too school.
When they got back, they got into their new home and started setting out the furniture.
"I think we should put the TV there, so then we can fit a coffee table of something over here" Grace said and Henry agreed and they moved it.
After a few hours of that they head upstairs, to paint the bedrooms.
"Hey, look at that!" Grace said and as Henry looked she threw paint at him.
"Oh, well, two can play that game" Henry laughed and threw more at her. The paint fight when on for a good hour.
"What time do we have to pick up Roland and Ava?" Grace asked, getting changed.
"Not for another hour, want some dinner?" Henry asked.
"Yes! Could you go to the shops and get me a pasta pot? Please?" Grace laughs, looking at him with puppy eyes.
"I mean, I guess I could.." Henry teased, waking towards her and grabbed her waist.
"You guess you could? Well, we can't have you guessing now can we" Grace laughed, and kissed his lips, grabbing his neck, and him holding her by her waist. After a few minutes, they pulled away.
"How about now?" Grace said, tilting her head.
"Mm, not quite sure" Henry teased again. Grace then kissed him more passionately than before, then pulled away.
"You know what? I'm not that hungry anymore" Grace laughed and pulled them both onto the bed.

Once at home, Regina was welcomed by a hug from Ava.
"Hello little one" Regina smiled hugging back.
"Mommy, where you been? You wasn't here when I got home?" Ava asked. Regina forgot that Roland and Ava would be used to her home when they got in.
"I've been at work, you didn't need to worry ok? I won't be home when you get in anymore. Is that okay?" Regina said
"Yeah" Ava smiled and hugged her once more.

Regina walked into the kitchen and found Henry and Grace kissing. Regina coughed to make her presence known.
Grace turned around and went a red shade quickly, putting her hair behind her ears.
"Ms Locksly" Grace smiled, making Regina laugh and she quickly left the kitchen.
"Got any holy water in that fridge?" Regina joked.
"I have my own little stash for when I found you and dad doing the same thing" Henry joked back, throwing her an actual bottle of water.
Regina raised an eyebrow and laughed along.
"I'm glad your back" Regina said, patting his shoulder.
"Me too" Henry said, and then continued "I missed our little secretive chats" he laughed.
"Me too kid, so how was California?" Regina asked him, as he went there after college before his graduation, which is another reason he's back.
"Great! It's such a beautiful place!" Henry said
"I know, I'm glad you liked it" Regina smiled.
"So, what's been going on here then?" Henry said, making Regina tense up, wondering if he knew or not.
"Fine" Regina said, even her voice unsure of her answer, after a cough she answered again, "fine" she said and drank her water.
"Mom" Henry said, knowing she was lying. Henry had been calling her mom ever since the wedding, she was more of a mom than Marian was, who went back to drinking and is now no where to been seen, ever.
"What?" She asked, acting like nothing was wrong.
"I know, it was on the news for like 3 months, we actually though you had died. I was on the phone with dad when I could asking if there was anything new" Henry said. Regina turned away, holding back her tears.
"I'm just glad you okay" Henry said, and hugged her, Regina hugged back.
"Now, when did you propose?" Regina asked him.
"Last week" Henry said
"Where?" Regina asked.
"At a meal" Henry said with a smile.
"Did you cry?" Regina teased.
"No, she did" Henry laughed.
"Well, go in their with her and don't make out in front of my children please" Regina laughed and Henry laughed and walked away.

Once Robin was home, the family all sat down for tea. Each person talking about their day, well, expect for Grace and Henry, who had consumed in other activities that nobody should hear.
Soon, there was a knock at the door, Regina excused herself and went to get it, she opened the door and her smile lit up when she saw Zelena.
"Hey sis" Zelena smiled and Regina hugged her.
"I missed you" Regina smiled.
"I missed you too" Zelena smiled.
"Come on, foods out in the kitchen" Regina said and her and Zelena walked in. Zelena sat down and got involved with the family's conversation.
And bit by bit, this family was getting back on track.