Chapter 1
Two months later
Regina looked at the test. Positive. She was pregnant. Robin wouldn't want it. He wouldn't even care. His perfect Marian had been returned to him.
She swallowed hard and continued to debate with herself on what to do. She picked up her phone and called Tink. "I have a question." She began.
"Okay…" Tink replied.
"I was unable to get pregnant before…" Regina started.
"But Robin got you pregnant?" Tink finished.
Regina bit her bottom lip. "Yes." Was all she could reply.
"Because he is your true love." Tink stated matter of factly.
"But he is with Marian now!" Regina practically shouted into the phone.
"I know," Tink began to slightly soothe the angry queen. "I know that. But…Have you talked to Robin since all of this?"
"And what would I say?" Regina asked. "Hi…I love you…I am pregnant and you are my true love…"
Tink couldn't help but crack up.
"Its not funny." Regina then giggled a little. "Maybe it is a little."
"Look Regina," Tink started again. "At some point, he deserves to know about the baby…"
"I know." Regina told her. "I just wish Marian had never come here."
XXXXXXXXXX
Ever since her return, something had been different about Marian. Robin observed her with Roland, and she didn't seem to know what to do at all. Top that off with the fact that she had no idea how to cook over an open fire, the Marian he knew and married did, and add it to the list that his brain had already compiled of things that were off with her, and Robin would say that she was a completely different woman. Either that, or he had just grown enough since her passing to really, truly, let her go.
From his spot next to the tree in the forest, he walked over to them, Marian attempting to play, and Roland hopping all over as he usually did. "It's so good to be back with you two." Marian said sappily. She had been saying that a lot lately.
"It's good to have you back." Robin would always reply. But deep down, he knew that something was off with her. He debated with himself on if he should test her in some way, but he always came to the conclusion that so much had happened, he really should let it all go.
XXXXXXXXXXX
Regina hated resisting the urge to have a shot of something before bed. Her nightmares had been getting worse and worse ever since Marian's return, and prior to her pregnancy, she would use that shot to sleep better. Sighing, she climbed into bed and attempted to not worry about her dreams. She focused on the child, and the future that she would be responsible for giving it.
Robin watched, as Marian and Roland slept. He was never one to sleep on time, always on guard and keeping everyone safe. For some reason, tonight, he couldn't not think of Regina. She had really filled his thoughts.
"Can you keep watch, Little John. I have a quick errand." Robin asked.
"Of course." Little John replied.
"Thank you my friend." Robin made his way to Regina's. The place was dark, and her room was on the second floor, but that had never stopped him from entering in through the window. Climbing in, he stood on the balcony and watched her sleep for a moment, before going closer to the bed.
In perfect gentleman fashion, he took off his boots and the heavy stuff, but as quietly as he could, laid down beside Regina. Part of him wanted her to wake up, and part of him wanted to just enjoy watching her sleep. He wanted her to see that he had chosen her inside his heart of hearts. He wanted her to see that he was there.
Kissing her forehead and brushing some of the brown hair out of her eyes, he looked at her lovingly.
Her eyes fluttered open. "Robin?" She whispered.
"It's me." He replied, his hand now resting on her waist.
She smiled sleepily. "What are you doing here?" She asked gently. "I mean," she began. "Isn't Marian here now? She is your wife."
"Somehow it just doesn't feel like home when I am with her." Robin replied.
Regina nodded. "I am empty without you too." She rolled away from him, but allowed him to big spoon her from behind, as she drifted back off to sleep. He slept soundly too, but his internal alarm clock awoke him before Regina could be completely alert. He left without a trace early in the morning.
XXXXXXXXXXXXX
Regina rolled over to find her bed empty except for her. The window was tightly closed now. No one was in her house. She could have sworn Robin had been there. She felt him. He had helped her sleep. Was it just a dream? Was it the baby causing such a dream?
Every bit of her house felt empty without him there. She had every gadget, all the magic she could want, but not Robin. He had filled every part of her, and he was gone. Why did he have to no longer be her man? Why did Emma have to meddle with things?
XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Marian had her suspicions about where Robin had been the night before. Robin had acted as if he had just been in the forest, but deep down, Marian knew he had gone to at least watch Regina's place. He was a good man; one that wanted to make sure everyone was happy. Regina was likely miserable that Marian had returned, and so, Robin would want to make sure that she was safe. That was his nature.
She once again attempted to keep up with Roland, and enjoy her time in the forest with all of them, but she was discovering that with age came less energy than she had, had before. She wasn't used to chasing after a child. She didn't even really know this one. It was hard for her. She remembered him being handed to her as an infant, but this four year old wasn't what she remembered at all. She had skipped a huge part of his life.
