We Can Love Again

Just Regina

This one's super fluffy! Hope ya'll enjoy :)

Even though Roland had finished going through every item in his room, his father was still talking with the other man. Regina wondered what they were talking about. She stood up from his bed and walked towards the window, glancing at her wrist for the time. An hour and a half had passed since she arrived- it certainly didn't feel that way.

Then, something caught her eye outside the window. A small horse was grazing in the backyard, its coat a shiny black color. Regina let out an excited grin when she saw it.

"What is it?" Roland asked innocently, seeing her sudden burst of happiness.

"Do you want to know a secret?" She asked, raising an eyebrow and causing a surge of curiosity to radiate from the child.

"Yes!"

"Horses are my favorite animals,"

She could've sworn she heard Roland gasp with excitement. "Really?! We have horses!" He put his hands on the windowsill and hoisted himself up, crawling on it and pointing towards the black mare. "That's Nightshade. Daddy got her for me," he grinned from ear to ear, "daddy's horse is over there. He won't let me ride him."

Regina caught sight of the other horse on the far side of the yard; this one, unlike the other one, was big and sturdy, seeming like one used for military purposes.

"I named him Weston," came Robin's voice, causing her to spin around, "he's not the friendliest horse, but he's great with hauling loads to the village." He paused for a moment, suddenly unsure of his next words. "Do you... Want to ride them?"

Regina's eyes widened slightly. "Oh no, I was just-"

"I wanna ride!" Roland talked excitedly before she could finish her protest. "Please Regina?"

She was so weak to his pleads- which wasn't a good thing at all. "...sure. It's been a long time since I've ridden."

Once they got outside, Regina approached Nightshade cautiously, seeing his ears perk up when he heard her footsteps. The black horse came to her and allowed her to run her hands along the sides of his face. "You're lucky to have such a nice horse," she smiled, letting the horse lick over her fingers.

"You know a lot about horses Regina," Robin said, observing the glow that seemed to be around her as she interacted with the horse.

"I... I learned from an old friend."

Robin then called his own horse, stroking his neck affectionately before grabbing a saddle that lay nearby. Eventually they got both horses properly saddled and ready; Regina finishing Nightshade's in no time flat.

"Roland, you want to ride with me?" Robin asked his son.

Immediately, the boy shook his head, causing his hair to flop around as he did so. "I want to ride with Regina."

"Well okay then," Regina said, "but I have to warn you- I go fast."

Robin picked up Roland and watched Regina place her hands on the black horses back and take three light bounces before swinging her leg over his body- quite gracefully, he noted. He then walked over and carefully placed the boy behind her, giving him a stern look.

"Now you hold on tight and listen to Regina, okay?"

Roland nodded.

" You're sure you can handle him?" Robin asked Regina cautiously, placing his hand her leg without even realizing it. She felt a rush of something she couldn't quite understand when he touched her; she has no idea what it was, but it made her heart flutter, making her forget where she was.