We Can Love Again

Persuasion

The sound of tiny feet scampering across the floor was the only thing heard early Saturday morning. Wiping the sleep from his eyes, Roland climbed up on the windowsill of his and Henry's room, abandoning his blanket as he slowly pushed the drapes aside to look out of the window. He thought he heard someone outside the house. Roland's eyes widened when he caught sight of a man getting out of a rusty, broken down car.

Climbing back down, the boy quickly scampered towards the door and down the hallway, past Henry's neatly made bed- the boy wished his brother didn't have to stay with Emma so often. He made his way to his mother's room, surprised to see it empty.

"Mommy?" Roland called, beginning to wander around her room. He was surprised to see her emerge from the bathroom, looking pale, exhausted, and quite honestly, half asleep. Little did he know Regina had spent most of the night hunched over a toilet.

"It's early, Roland." She said, sitting down on the edge of her bed.

"I know, but mommy there's someone outside!" He told her, in a voice that could pass for fear as well as excitement.

Regina gave him a look. "The mailman comes every morning, we've been over this."

Roland shook his head. "No, a person!"

Just as he said this, the doorbell rang, causing Regina to jump a bit. She glanced down at her checkered pajama bottoms and bit back a swear word as she darted into her closet, leaving a confused Roland behind. Regina tugged on a pair of jeans and ran her fingers through her hair.

"Stay here, I'll go see who it is." She sighed, rushing out of the bedroom and downstairs. When she opened the door, she let out another swear word- this time, an audible one.

"Hey there, sis." Came Will's voice, obviously forcing some cheerfulness this time.

Regina was done with playing games. She set her eyes firmly on his, never wavering.

"What the hell are you doing here? It's eight in the morning!"

Will gave her a cocky smile. "I thought about what you said yesterday," he began, "and, you're right. I'd love to meet that little nephew of mine- R...onald?"

"Roland." Regina corrected, "his name is Roland and he's asleep right now. That's what people usually do at eight in the morning on a Saturday. Honestly, I'm surprised you're even up."

He gave her a hollow laugh. "There's that evil queen everyone's talking about."

"I don't think you're here for Roland," she said, her voice beginning to reflect her inner irritation, "I think you're here for something else. So let's get this over with- what the hell are you doing here?"

Will raised his eyebrows. "Well I thought since, you know, we're family now, we could have more brother- sister bonding time."

Regina laughed, resting her arm on the doorframe. "Let's get one thing straight- you and I aren't related. I wouldn't accept you as my brother even if you were the last available man on earth. For all I know you could be lying about this whole thing anyways."

"Hey there, let's play nice!" Will said, trying to act offended, "I was thinking the best way for us to bond as a family would be for me to move in, keep you company."
Regina waited him to tell her he was joking, but all she got was silence.

"Did you just say you want to... Move in to my house?" She asked, sending him a stunned glare. "My house?"

Will shrugged. "Yeah, I think it's a pretty good idea."

"You don't have a place to live, do you?" She asked blandly, already knowing the answer.

"No I do not," Will said with a sigh, "so when can we start some family bonding?"