January 2017
( part one ; january 1-15 )

Regina spent her New Year's Day mostly alone. Henry spent the day with his friend, doing who knows what, and Regina hadn't made any plans. She ended up deciding to watch Supergirl while grading the last of the papers she needed to grade over winter break.

She picked up Henry before supper time, and since most of their go-to restaurants were closed for New Year's, Regina put a pizza in the oven per Henry's request. Regina didn't care much for frozen pizza, but Henry loved it, so she'd grown used to it over the years.

As they waited for the timer to go off, signalling their dinner was ready, Henry told Regina all about what he and Nicolas had done to celebrate the New Year. Nicolas's twin sister, Ava, was at another friend's house, so it was just Henry, Nicolas, and Nicolas's dad. According to Henry, Nicolas said that Ava's friend - Grace - said a new girl would be attending their school after winter break.

After dinner, Henry and Regina watched a few episodes of Stranger Things before Henry made his way to his room to read until he fell asleep. Regina went to bed as well, and allowed her mind to wander, hoping that would somehow lull her to sleep.

Instead, she found herself thinking about Robin and the Cassidys' New Year's party. His striking blue eyes and his annoying smirk. Regina turned on her side and tried to clear her thoughts. The last thing she needed on her mind was Robin, or any guy for that matter.

( ~ )

Because of Christmas falling on a Sunday, school had let out for break on a Wednesday and returned on a Thursday. Henry wasn't too thrilled about having to go back to school before the other school systems in the area, but there wasn't anything Regina could do about that, so she coaxed him out of bed on the first day back at school by making chocolate chip pancakes - Henry's favorite.

As much as Henry didn't want to go back to school, he also didn't want to cause his mother to be late on the first day back, so he reluctantly got ready. They made it to school on time (on time for Regina, at least). It was a good thing because the principal, Mr. Midas, called Regina and Mary Margaret in for a meeting a few minutes after Regina arrived.

"Mrs. Nolan and Ms. Mills, thank you for coming. Over the break, I have been notified that a man going to college for elementary education has recently moved to the area and needs somewhere to do his student teaching. I was wondering if you would allow him to student teach in your classrooms? He would be in Ms. Mills' for six weeks, and then Mrs. Nolan's for eight weeks."

"Yes, of course that would be okay!" Mary Margaret exclaimed. The last time she had a student teacher - a Middle Eastern woman named Jasmine - the two had become friends almost immediately and they still were. Midas turned to Regina for her answer.

Regina nodded. "I would be okay with that."

Midas smiled. "Wonderful. He'll start next Monday, and will be here after school tomorrow so you can both meet him."

After school the next day, Regina and Mary Margaret walked down to the office together so they could meet the student teacher that would be spending fourteen weeks in their classrooms. They were talking in hushed voices until Regina looked up and saw who the student teacher was.

"Robin?"

"Regina," Robin offered her a smile. "I didn't know you were an elementary school teacher."

"I didn't know you were going to school to be an elementary school teacher."

"I take it you two have already met?" Midas asked as he emerged from his office. "I expect that will make this easier for you to work together."

"Of course," Robin replied respectfully. "I'm sure Regina and Mary Margaret will both be wonderful to work with." Robin looked over at Regina and smiled, which caused Regina to blush.

( ~ )

"So how was your day?" Regina asked as she set a plate of food down in front of Henry.

"Violet sat with us at lunch again today. She seems really nice." Violet had transferred into the school system over Christmas break and was neighbors with Grace Hatter, who Henry had been friends with since kindergarten.

"Well I guess it's a good thing you guys are friends with her. It's never a good thing when new kids get in with bad crowds."

Henry nodded in agreement and shoved a spoonful of mashed potatoes into his mouth. "What about you?" Henry asked after he swallowed. "How was your day? Who was that guy you were talking to in the office?"

"His name is R-- Mr. Locksley. He's going to student teach with Mrs. Nolan and I."

Henry groaned. "Does that mean he'll be there when I get done with school? I don't have anywhere else to go because your second graders get out of school a half hour after us!"

"You need to be nice to him, Henry. You haven't even met him yet. How'd you even know I was talking to him anyways?"

Henry's eyes widened and he stared down at his food. "Sometimes, I have nothing better to do than spy on teachers so I know all the teacher drama."

"You, mister, are going to have to start riding the bus."

"Please no," Henry pleaded in a small voice. "You know how much I hate the bus."

Regina shrugged. "You don't need to know all of the 'teacher drama'. Now, I expect you're going to be nice to Mr. Locksley when he starts his student teaching on Monday?"

Henry nodded. "Yes, yes. I'll be nice."

( ~ )

Monday rolled around and Robin Locksley arrived bright and early, not wanting to be late on his first day student teaching. Regina was already in her classroom, drinking a cup of coffee and looking at her computer screen while Henry rushed to finish his Algebra homework before it was time for him to walk to the high school, which was next door.

"Good morning, Milady."

Regina and Henry both looked up at Robin. Regina was smiling while Henry glared at him. But Robin didn't notice Henry's glare because he was only focused on Regina.

"Good morning, Robin." Regina set her mug down and stood up. "Henry, would you like to--?"

"I gotta go," Henry shoved his math notebook into his backpack and zipped it up before swinging it over his shoulder. "It's 8:20." He gave Regina a side hug, said goodbye, and walked out of the room without even glancing at Robin.

Robin raised an eyebrow at Regina.

"That's my son, Henry," Regina explained. "He's...not too sure about me having a student teacher. He's used to it being just me and him before and after school."

"Mr. Midas allows your son to be here before and after school?"

Regina nodded. "Yep. I've been bringing him since he started kindergarten. Now, he's old enough to stay at home alone and wait for the bus, but he refuses to ride the bus, so he still comes with me. So," Regina clapped her hands together, "you ready for your first day?"

"As ready as I'll ever be."

A half hour later, the kids in Regina's class of second graders were all seated, quietly chattering amongst themselves, wondering who the man they'd never seen before was. After the morning announcements ended and the kids had quieted down, Regina spoke, "Good morning, everyone. I'm sure you've all noticed Mr. Locksley, here," Regina gestured to Robin. "He's a student teacher and will be with us for the next six weeks, and then he'll be in Mrs. Nolan's class for eight weeks. He's going to start out just observing my teaching style, but by the end of the six weeks, he will be teaching a lot by himself. But I'll still be here in the classroom with you. Now, I'll let Mr. Locksley introduce himself to you." Regina stepped backwards and Robin took that as his cue to step forwards so the class's attention was on him.

"As Ms. Mills said, I'm Mr. Locksley. I have a son who goes to kindergarten here and we just moved here from New York over the summer. I worked at an archery range in while in New York, but decided I wanted to go back to college to become a teacher. So, here I am. Any questions?"

( ~ )

"Mom," Henry looked up from his homework and set his pencil down, "where'd you meet Robin? You acted like you knew him before Mr. Midas introduced him to you and Mrs. Nolan."

"You know the New Year's party that the Cassidys throw every year?" Henry nodded and Regina continued speaking, "I went this year since you were at Ava and Nic's. I guess Emma or Neal knew him because he was there. We talked for a little while around midnight."

"Oh." Henry turned his focus back to his homework, but was only silent for a few minutes before he asked another question. "Is Robin going to start bringing Roland before and after school?"

Regina shrugged. "It's up to him. If he wants to, he'll probably asked Mr. Midas first. How'd you know his son's name? Not more spying, I hope."

Henry shook his head. "I asked Mrs. Nolan, because she teaches kindergarten and Robin said his son was in kindergarten. All I had to do was ask about kids with the last name of Locksley and she knew exactly who I was talking about."

"Sometimes, I worry you're too smart for your own good."

"If I was too smart, I'd have this stupid Algebra homework finished already," Henry pointed out.

Regina frowned and sat down next to her son. "Your teacher gave you homework over the long weekend?"

"Yup," Henry said, popping the 'p'. "Because 'we're honors students, and we should be able to handle it'," the boy rolled his eyes. "I only took honors Algebra because the older kids said it was just as easy as regular."

"Tell you what, why don't you take a break from your homework, and tonight, we can go see a movie? I know you've been wanting to see Rogue One."

Henry's eyes lit up. "Really?! ...Is there something happening here that I don't know about?"

"What, can I not just take you to see a movie?"

Henry gave his mother a suspicious look. "Are you trying to soften the blow of some bad news?"

"No. Honestly. We've got a three day weekend because of Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and I wanted to do something special with you. So, what do you say, Rogue One?"

"Only if we get Chick-fil-A afterwards."

"I think we can work that out."

Henry jumped up from his seat and grabbed his coat. Regina smiled to herself as she watched him hurriedly put it on and wrap his Gryffindor scarf around his neck.

( ~ )

On Sunday night, Henry plopped down on the couch next to Regina, who was waiting for the new Librarians episode, which would start in a few minutes. He leaned his head on his mother's shoulder and she smiled.

The weekend had been a good one. Regina was in a good mood for reasons she refused to confess to even herself, though Henry figured it had something to do with a certain student teacher. And since there was no school on Monday, Henry knew he would be able to stay up and watch the new Sherlock episode as well.

With scenes of Flynn Carsen and Sherlock Holmes still running through her mind, floating amongst her thoughts of Robin, Regina fell asleep with one sure thought;

2017 was already shaping up to be better than 2016.