We Can Love Again

Not So Evil Queen

She couldn't be more proud of her son. In just a few months, he had learned how things worked in the new realm (Robin was still a work in progress) and was doing extremely well for his first year of school. It was amazing how easily the child retained knowledge, soaking it in like a sponge. He walked about Storybrooke with huge brown eyes, full of such innocence and potential. Sure, Regina had to teach him a lot of things. But for the most part, it was the other way around. Roland had taught her so many wonderful things, she didn't know what her life would be without him.

"One, two, three, four." The child counted a row of freshly peeled orange slices, a proud smile on his face as his mother praised him.

"You're getting so much better!" Regina tightened her arms around him, resting her chin on top of his mess of brown hair as he picked up a slice with his fingers and popped it in his mouth.

"Ms. Carson will be very proud of you." She told him, causing Roland to let out another giggle. Grabbing another slice, he turned around with the little space he had on his mother's lap and held it out to her. She opened her mouth, and Roland placed it in for her to chew. Immediately, she made a face.

"These are sour!"

Roland shook his head. "They're yummy!"

Their argument was disrupted by the sound of the doorbell sounding. Regina let out a sigh, honestly not wanting to get up and answer it. But she gently set her son down anyways, and headed towards the front door.

"Snow?" She asked, seeing her stepdaughter dressed in her blue coat and boots to keep out the cold that was settling in.

"Hey Regina, I know you're probably busy right now, but I wanted to ask you something."

"I'm not busy, it's a Wednesday morning. Just getting Roland ready for school." She complied, wondering what she could possibly want.

"Well, do you have any plans for tomorrow?"

Regina gave her a look. "What's special about tomorrow?"

"Thanksgiving!" Snow said, looking shocked, "it's thanksgiving- did you forget?"

She supposed she had. Recently, she seemed to be forgetting everything. "Yeah, completely forgot. So... No. We don't have any plans. Henry is still over with Emma at the apartment."

Snow laughed at her remark. "This is your first Thanksgiving as a family!"

"Life is busy!" That was the only excuse Regina could think of. The baby was her excuse for pretty much everything else.

"Do you uh, want to come over to our house tomorrow afternoon? I'll invite plenty of other people- just for a huge get together dinner type thing."

Of course Regina knew about Snow and Charming's annual get together. It had been her tradition even back in the Enchanted Forest, even if they technically didn't celebrate the holiday. Eighteen year old Snow would invite anyone and everyone and they would have a party that seemed to last for hours. She remembered how Snow had begged her to come join them, but she would always claim she wasn't feeling up to it. Regina never thought that Snow would ever attempt to invite her again.

"Really?" That was all Regina could say at the moment. She was so taken aback.

Her stepdaughter nodded. "It'll be fun! You've made lots of friends since you came back. And plus, you're an excellent cook. Do you think you'd be up to coming over in a little bit to help us start cooking food? We have to make lots if we're going to feed everyone."

Turning back to peer inside her house, Regina responded with a nod and a smile. "That'll work. I have to take Roland to school in a few minutes but I can come by afterwards."