Chapter 23 — The Seventh Day (Sunday)
Light came in soft and slow through the Mills' curtains. Nathan woke without the old knot in his chest. He rolled out of bed and padded down the hall. Henry's small sounds floated from the nursery occupied with his mobile above his head.
Regina was at the kitchen island, list in hand, tapping a pen against her lip. The morning's plans were written down like everything else in her life precise, considered. Today a short trip to pick up school supplies. Nathan set his bowl down and slid into his seat.
"We'll be gone a couple of hours or so" Regina said without fuss. "Just getting the essentials. Nothing extravagant."
"Got it but could we also go to Granny's Diner for lunch?" Nathan answered looking hopeful. Hes been enjoying going to the diner and meeting new people as that was basically like a hub for the town.
Regina looked up at him and show those eyes sparkling with hope to go and sighed a bit, when he stared at her like that how could she say no. " Sure we can go for lunch" A small smirk finding the edge of her mouth.
He smiled wide and finished quietly, stacking his plate. There was nothing awkward about the way she trusted him now no rehearsed surprise, no repeated praise. They moved with the same easy efficiency they had fallen into over the week she handled the logistics, he handled the small hands-on parts. That was the pattern of a household settling into itself.
The shop they chose was the small stationery store at the corner of Main, the one with the hand-painted sign and a bell that chimed a bright, cheerful note. Inside smelled like paper and glue and fresh ink. Shelves were lined with notebooks, pencil cases, protractors in plastic, glue sticks that clicked when you pushed them.
Nathan moved through the aisles with a calm, decisive air. He picked a sturdy backpack no cartoon prints, just dark canvas with reinforced seams and slid it over his shoulders to test the straps. He chose notebooks with plain covers (a blue for math, a green for stories), a slim pencil case, mechanical pencils, and a small ruler that felt solid in his hand. On impulse he added a cheap lined journal something to write down different thoughts and something to maybe through Regina off if she ever came snooping , which most likely she won't unless I give her a reason.
Regina watched him choose, then reached for a few practical extras, a lunchbox, trousers, and a slate-blue jacket she thought would suit him. She paid, efficient and exact. The clerk bagged everything with a smile that was polite but distant; this was the town's way friendly on the surface, careful underneath.
As they came out into the street, Nathan shouldered his new bag. The weight felt good, small, ordinary and promising.
They then went for a quiet walk.
They didn't linger on the familiar landmarks already shown to him. Instead Regina pointed out a few smaller places the little antique shop with the crooked window, the tiny bakery that opened in the mornings and sold cinnamon knots, also a ice cream shop with a very attractive woman who runs it. (A/N 😏)
People nodded as they passed. Politeness in Storybrooke was a habit, faces rarely betrayed surprise. Nathan noticed it he'd observed the sameness before and tucked the observation away. For now, he cared more about the small, human things: the clerk who tied Regina's bag ribbon in a neat knot, the baker who tossed them an extra sample when he smiled. Those small kindnesses knitted the town into something that felt less like a stage and more like a place to live.
When Henry fussed in the stroller, Regina adjusted the blanket with a practiced motion. Nathan moved to her side without being asked and steadied the handle it was automatic, natural and the two of them fell into the rhythm of parenting that didn't need words.
By now it was afternoon and they were getting hungry so they came to the hub of the town.
Granny's was warm and familiar. The bell chimed as they entered; Ruby waved first. "Back so soon!" she called, already rushing over towards Nathan and picking him up in her arms and smothering him. Nathan couldn't breathe but he was happily enjoying it.
[Affinity Update: Ruby Lucas.]
Nathan sighed, it took it long enough.
Regina narrowed her eyes towards her glaring, Ruby catching her nervously laughed and slowly put him down and went to get menus.
They took a corner table as usual. Ruby fussed over the order for Nathan already refusing to acknowledge the glaring she was getting and Grandma grumbled from behind the counter, but both were softer than they had been a week ago their curiosity had shifted into an affectionate fondness.
Archie Hopper happened to pass by, his ever-present umbrella tucked neatly at his side. He paused when he spotted Nathan, eyes bright with curiosity behind his glasses. "Ah, so this must be the young man I've been hearing about," he said with gentle warmth. "Settling into Storybrooke, are you?"
Nathan straightened, meeting the psychiatrist's gaze with calm composure. "Yeah. It's… quiet. But I like it."
Archie's smile deepened. "Quiet can be a gift. A place like this it well, it grows on you." He tapped the umbrella lightly against the floor and gave Regina a small nod, a wordless acknowledgment of the changes he saw but wouldn't press on. "If you ever need to talk, Nathan, my door's always open." Then left the diner.
Conversation around the table was light. Ruby kept a running, gleeful commentary about which pastries Nathan needed to try. Granny eyed the napkins warily and then, in the way of small-town grandmothers, served a generous slice of pie just because she felt like it.
No dramatics: no sudden revelations, no repeated warnings. People were curious, kind, and for now content to let the newness settle. Nathan liked that. He liked the small talk, the easy warmth, the way names and faces were becoming familiar without fanfare.
Back at the mansion, afternoon light lay long across the parlour. Henry slept in his bassinet; the house breathed in gentle, regular rhythms. Regina set the shopping bags down and folded the receipts into a neat little stack. Nathan emptied his backpack on the floor and tested the zipper, smoothed the edges of his new notebooks.
Regina sat across from him for a long beat, not with ceremony but with something steadier approval that didn't need to be pronounced. "Tomorrow will be a change" she said finally. "You have what you need?"
"I do," he answered. He laced his fingers together and found himself feeling small and ordinary and entirely settled all at once. "Thanks."
Regina's gaze softened and stayed on him longer than business required. "You're doing well, Nathan remember if I'm pushing too hard let me know." There was no pressure in it only the quiet of someone who meant to keep her promises.
A slight flicker crossed his vision, " Will do." Giving her a smile. Regina seeing that smile couldn't help but give one back, Nathan is such a sweet and handsome boy I wonder why he was alone when I went to the orphanage.
That thought only crossed her mind for second slowly shaking her head as she watched him put the things back in his bag. That doesn't matter now, it only matters that he's mine now.
Outside, Storybrooke's afternoon moved on in its patient, predictable way. Inside the mansion, for the first time in months and perhaps across a lifetime, Nathan felt the small, steady comfort of home.
(If you find any spelling mistakes or wording that's wrong just let me know. I've said this too a commenter a bit ago but during winter from October to March I'll be be busy — NOT saying there won't be updates, it'll just be quite irregular since I'm going to be working alot more close to 12hrs shifts and be oncall alot often then not. Please be patient with me and please don't drop this. Thanks ☺️)
(The personal thanks will still be in the author thoughts)