Nathan stirred awake, the faint golden morning light spilling across the unfamiliar ceiling. For a few seconds, he simply lay there, listening to the quiet hum of the house. It wasn't the chatter and footsteps of dozens of children. It wasn't the creaking floors of the orphanage.
This was different. Quieter. Warmer.
He pushed himself upright, platinum hair with crimson streaks tumbling messily into his eyes. As the haze of sleep faded, memory rushed back, Regina signing the papers, Henry bundled in her arms and the social worker announcing it final. Adopted. He was Nathan Mills now.
The thought alone sent a strange mix of relief, excitement and disbelief curling in his chest. He had a family.
Just then, a faint ding flickered across his vision.
[System Notice: Key Player has settled in Storybrooke.]
[Perks Active. Monitoring begins. ???????.]
Nathan's breath caught, this was it. The system's words felt heavier here, as though Storybrooke itself unlocked something hidden. He wondered, briefly, what it all meant but the faint creak of footsteps outside his door pulled him back.
Regina's voice, warm but still carrying her usual calm composure, called through.
"Nathan? Breakfast is ready."
Nathan swung his legs out of bed, feet brushing the soft rug beneath. The room was simple a bed, a dresser, plain curtains but it was his. That alone made it feel extraordinary.
He opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Regina was waiting by the stairs, Henry cradled carefully in her arms. The baby's hazel eyes fluttered open, unfocused but searching, his small body squirming lightly against her chest.
"Morning," Nathan said, his voice quieter than he intended.
Regina gave him a small smile, softer than he expected. "Good morning, Nathan. Did you sleep well?"
He nodded quickly. Smiling softly at her. "Better than I thought I would."
She seemed pleased with that, and motioned for him to follow her down the stairs.
The kitchen smelled faintly of fresh coffee and toasted bread. On the table, Regina had set out breakfast: scrambled eggs, toast, and a glass of milk. Nothing extravagant but it was neat, deliberate thought put into it.
She gently placed Henry in a cushioned infant seat nearby, carefully adjusting a rolled towel behind his neck to keep his head supported. The baby fussed for a moment, his little arms twitching, but Regina soothed him with a soft touch to his chest.
Nathan hovered a little awkwardly before slipping into a chair. His eyes kept flicking toward Henry, who made small noises but didn't cry.
"You'll need your strength," Regina said, setting a plate in front of him. "It's your first day here."
He gave a small smile and started eating. "Thank you."
She sipped her coffee, watching him in that quiet, measuring way of hers, though not unkindly. After a moment, she asked, "Do you like eggs? Or would you prefer something else next time?"
Nathan blinked, a little startled. No one had ever asked him something like that before. "No, this is… really good," he admitted, cheeks warming.
Henry gave a sudden whimper, his face scrunching. Regina immediately shifted her attention to him, preparing a warm bottle of milk she had waiting. Nathan watched as she lifted Henry into her arms, supporting his fragile head carefully in the crook of her elbow, then gently guided the bottle to his lips. The baby latched on, suckling hungrily.
Nathan couldn't help but smile. "He drinks fast."
Regina's lips quirked slightly. "Yes. He's been like this always impatient and restless."
For a moment, the kitchen felt strangely calm the baby feeding, the quiet clink of Nathan's fork against his plate, and Regina watching both of them with a thoughtful look.
When Henry finally finished and dozed against her shoulder, Regina turned her gaze back to Nathan. "The social worker mentioned you helped quite a lot with the younger children at the orphanage."
He shifted, unsure how to respond, but nodded. "Yeah. I just… liked helping. Especially with the babies. They trusted me with them, since I was careful."
Her eyes softened at that. "I noticed," she said quietly, almost to herself, remembering how Henry seemed calmer when Nathan was near.
Nathan's chest warmed at the small note of approval in her voice.
The rest of the morning unfolded gently. Regina showed Nathan the living room, the small library filled with books, and the back garden with a big apple tree in the middle. She wasn't overbearing rather, she gave him space, letting him ask questions where he wanted. Still, Nathan could feel her studying him in quiet moments, as though trying to piece together who he was.
By afternoon, Henry stirred again, crying with the shrill sharpness of an infant who wanted attention. Regina rocked him, but the crying didn't lessen much.
"May I try?" Nathan asked hesitantly.
Regina studied him for a long moment, then carefully handed Henry over, showing him how to support the baby's head. Nathan just gave a small chuckle and adjusted his hold after receiving Henry slow and steady, speaking softly under his breath as he rocked side to side.
To Regina's surprise, Henry's cries softened into hiccupy whimpers, then into silence. His tiny body relaxed against Nathan's chest, hazel eyes blinking half-closed.
Regina exhaled, tension she hadn't realized she carried slipping from her shoulders. "You really do have a gift."
Nathan glanced up at her, a little embarrassed but proud. "I just… talk to them like they understand. It usually works."
Her expression softened into something almost maternal, though she quickly composed herself. "It's remarkable."
That evening, as the sky turned amber outside, after finishing supper Regina set Nathan's bed with fresh sheets and checked on Henry one last time before carrying him to his bassinet. Nathan lingered in the doorway, watching.
"Good night, Nathan," Regina said, glancing back at him.
"Good night," he replied, smiling faintly.
As he lay in bed, the quiet of the house settling around him, Nathan's mind raced with new thoughts. A home, family an nee beginning.
The last flicker of the system's interface lingered faintly in his vision before he drifted to sleep:
[Affinity with Regina Mills— Bond Strengthened]
( Hey guys just letting you know might miss a few days this week because I'm moving house so might not upload tomorrow but I will try if I'm not exhausted 😅 Thanks again guys for the support)